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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-166RESOLUTION NO. 2007-166 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY FLORIDA, SUPPORTING ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR FLORIDA FOREVER AND THE CREATION OF A SUCCESSOR PROGRAM. WHEREAS, the Florida Forever program and its predecessor Preservation 2000 program have immeasurably contributed to environmental health, quality of life, recreation, and sustainability in Florida for this and future generations; and WHEREAS, Florida Forever has acquired over one million acres throughout Florida since 2000 and allocates $300 million annually to purchase and restore environmentally sensitive and outdoor recreation lands, and has done so through numerous successful partnerships with cities, counties, state agencies, water management districts, nonprofit organizations, private landowners, and others in achieving its conservation purposes and WHEREAS, Florida Forever, through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Water Management Districts, Division of Forestry and others produces benefits that include clean air and water healthy fisheries and wildlife habitat; improved water supply protection; and protected open spaces including greenway corridors, recreational and park lands, forests, and water bodies; and WHEREAS, Florida Forever, through the Florida Communities Trust, has assisted Florida's cities and counties in protecting their cultural and historical resources, meeting the challenges of growth management, and providing recreational outdoor experiences in both urban and rural settings, and WHEREAS, Florida Forever has helped to save many of Florida's beaches, rivers, bays, forests coral reefs and estuaries that provide the foundation for our $3 billion tourism industry that attracts more than 80 million visitors each year; and WHEREAS, thirty Florida local governments, including Indian River County, have enacted land acquisition financing programs in the past decades, and these conservation programs serve to leverage Florida Forever funding and increase the impact of State land conservation funding; and WHEREAS, Florida is experiencing rapid population growth, with approximately 1,100 new residents every day; and Floridians demand a high quality of life that includes clean water and air, green open space access to water and recreational opportunities; and WHEREAS, Florida Forever and other land conservation programs must compete in Florida's market of surging land and housing prices; and, WHEREAS, the effectiveness of Florida Forever has diminished because of escalating land prices and the impacts of inflation; and, RESOLUTION NO. 2007-166 WHEREAS, the funding for the Florida Forever program will sunset in 2010 and may be substantially exhausted prior to that date; and, WHEREAS, research by the Florida Forever Coalition has found that well in excess of $10 billion in State funding is currently needed to purchase wildlife and wilderness areas, parks and open space for our state's ecological sustainability and increasing human population; and WHEREAS, research by the Florida Forever Coalition has also found that additional billions of dollars in local funding is necessary in order that cities and counties can protect additional wilderness areas, parks recreation areas and open space, in ways fully complementary with those of the State, and WHEREAS, a 2005 public opinion survey conducted by members of the Florida Forever Coalition found that 78% of Florida's voters approve of the Florida Forever program, and WHEREAS, the benefits of Florida Forever have included joint funding for several Indian River County projects, including the Lost Tree Islands and other land within the Indian River Lagoon Blueway; and WHEREAS, Preservation 2000 and Florida Forever have been essential to the longevity and success of Indian River County s Environmental Lands Program by providing nearly $35 million in funding towards properties preserved through this program, and WHEREAS, this Resolution was authorized by the Indian River County Board of County Commissioners ("Board") at its regularly scheduled meeting of December 11, 2007; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA, that: 1. The Board supports an increase in the funding allocated to the Florida Forever land acquisition program. 2. The Board declares its support for the State of Florida Legislature to create and fund a successor land acquisition program to the Florida Forever program. 3. The Chairman is authorized to send letters to the County's Legislative Delegation relaying this Resolution and advocating additional funding for Florida Forever, as well as the creation and funding of a successor program to Florida Forever as a priority of the County. 4. This Resolution shall be effective upon adoption. 2 RESOLUTION NO 2007-166 This Resolution was moved for adoption by Commissioner O'Bryan, and the motion was seconded by Commissioner Flescher and, upon being put to a vote, the vote was as follows: Chairman Sandra L Bowden Aye Vice Chairman Wesley S Davis Aye Commissioner Joseph E Flescher Aye Commissioner Peter D 0 Bryan Aye Commissioner Gary C. Wheeler Aye The Chairman thereupon declared this Resolution duly passed and adopted this 11 to day of December, 2007. Attest: J. K. Barton, Clerk BY a"d^ anis— Deputy Clerk BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, LORIDA B S. ndra L. Boes wden, Chairman as to fo nd legal sufficiency: Marian E Fell, Sr. Assi nt County Attorney