HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-004RESOLUTION NO. 2020- 004
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY,
FLORIDA, EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR
RESTORING FUNDING FOR FLORIDA FOREVER
TO ITS HISTORICAL LEVELS
WHEREAS, the Florida Forever program and its predecessor Preservation
2000 program have contributed immeasurably to environmental health, quality of life,
recreation, and sustainability in Florida for this and future generations, and
WHEREAS, Florida Forever historically allocated $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 was the vehicle to deliver funding for land
conservation by various state agencies, including the Florida Communities Trust (FCT).
The FCT has been a successful local -government assistance program under the Florida
Forever umbrella. It 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
RESOLUTION NO. 2020- 004
WHEREAS, over thirty local Florida governments, including Indian River
County, have enacted land -acquisition financing programs in past decades, and those
conservation programs serve to leverage Florida Forever funding and increase the impact
of State land -conservation funding, and
WHEREAS, the residents of Indian River County have benefited
greatly from the FCT program by receiving matching funds that helped fund twenty-one
different acquisition projects while receiving over $25,000,000.00 from the program, and
WHEREAS, after years of neglect by the Florida Legislature, the citizens of
Florida voted overwhelmingly in 2014 to support the Florida Water and Land Conservation
Amendment ("Amendment 1") to restore funding to Florida Forever, and
WHEREAS, the Florida State Legislature has continued to underfund
Florida Forever specifically, and land conservation generally, despite the passage of
Amendment 1 with approval by over 75% of voters, and
WHEREAS, Indian River County desires to direct their local legislative
delegation to make land conservation a priority again.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA, that:
1. The Board encourages the Florida Legislature to fund the Florida
Forever program at its historical annual allocation of $300 million.
2. The Board declares its support to have Florida Forever completely
funded so that programs under the act, such as the FCT program, which has been vital
to our residents by providing financial assistance to acquire parks and other conservation
lands, are funded fully.
2
RESOLUTION NO. 2020- 004
3. The Chairman is authorized to send this resolution to the Legislative
Delegation and the Governor relaying its support for funding Florida Forever.
4. This resolution shall be effective upon adoption.
The resolution was moved for adoption by Commissioner 0Bryan , and the
motion was seconded by Commissioner zorc
vote was as follows:
Chairman Susan Adams
Vice Chairman Joseph E. Flescher
Commissioner Bob Solari
Commissioner Tim Zorc
Commissioner Peter D. O'Bryan
, and, upon being put to a vote, the
AYE
AYE
NAY
AYE
AYE
The Chairman thereupon declared the resolution duly passed and adopted
this 7th day of January , 2020.
ATTEST: Jeffrey R. Smith
/7 Clerk of Court
a/ia weal»
Deputy Clerk
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONE
INIIIVER COU F •'<IDA f*
Qui ,/f
usan Adams, Chairman
3
APPROVED AS TO FORM
AND LEGAL SUFFICIENT
BY
DYLAN AEINCOLD
COUNTY ATTORNEY