HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-010RESOLUTION NO. 2022- mo
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, and its predecessor Preservation 2000,
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. 2022- 010
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, the State of Florida experienced the second largest population
growth in the country from July 2019 -July 2020, adding over 240,000 new residents, and
again experienced the second largest population growth in the country from July 2020 -
June 2021, adding another 211,196 residents, which accelerated the pressures of
development on environmentally significant lands, and
WHEREAS, The Board of County Commissioners for Indian River County
has directed staff to present at a future board meeting a resolution approving the
placement of a new land conservation bond referendum on the general election ballot in
2022. If passed, this new bond will provide a source of funds for Indian River County to
purchase environmentally significant lands. As with the previous bonds, the overall
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RESOLUTION NO. 2022-_010
success of the program will be significantly enhanced with matching State funds from the
Florida Forever program.
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 levels.
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.
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 Earman , and the
motion was seconded by Commissioner Flescher , and, upon being put to a vote, the
vote was as follows:
Chairman Peter D. O'Bryan AYE
Vice Chairman Joe Earman AYE
Commissioner Susan Adams AYE
Commissioner Joseph E. Flescher AYE
AYE
Commissioner Laura Moss
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RESOLUTION NO. 2022- 010
The Chairman thereupon declared the resolution duly passed and adopted
this 8th day of February 2022
N•.w..rwywM•
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BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONER,�yc,,. ..S!o,,;•.,
IN IAWR1XER COUNTY, ORIDA ;'oJ�'�' • •' F9
By ° *'
Peter D. O'Bryan, Cha' an
ATTEST: Jeffrey R. Smith ?o • r ? •c
Clerk of Court �9�R�vfR CO...
101 ......
Deputy Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM
Ao• ,;,Ct LE-EGAL SUFFICIENCY
BY
,~A IEINGOLD
ngHWY. ?%TTORNEY
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