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Florida Legislators Honored with 2017 Legislative Appreciation Awards

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Florida League of Cities Recognizes 21
Legislators for Home Rule Advocacy Efforts

The Florida League of Cities honored the following Florida legislators with the organization’s Legislative Appreciation Awards for their tireless efforts to protect the home rule authority of Florida’s cities by supporting the League’s legislative agenda during the 2017 regular legislative session.
Special recognition goes to the League’s Defenders of Home Rule, Sen. Jeff Clemens and Rep. Danny Burgess, for consistently leading the fight to preserve Home Rule during the legislative session.
“On behalf of Florida’s 412 cities and thousands of municipal officials, both elected and appointed, the Florida League of Cities and its advocacy team are proud to recognize these home rule advocates for their continued support,” said Florida League of Cities Legislative Director Scott Dudley. “We believe the government closest to the people should make the decisions affecting the quality of life of the citizens they have been elected to represent. These hardworking legislators continually supported that ideal, and we owe them a great deal of thanks.”
Legislative Appreciation Award recipients are legislators who advocate on behalf of the League and its member cities time after time. These lawmakers consistently voted in support of League positions, offered amendments to help prevent pre-emptions and unfunded mandates, and/or worked behind the scenes to rally support for League positions during the 2017 legislative session.
Defenders of Home Rule
Sen. Jeff Clemens, Lake Worth
Rep. Danny Burgess, Zephyrhills
Freshman Legislative Appreciation Award Recipients
Sen. Gary Farmer, Fort Lauderdale
Rep. Kamia Brown, Ocoee
Rep. Mel Ponder, Fort Walton Beach
Legislative Appreciation Award Recipients
Sen. Aaron Bean, Jacksonville
Sen. Audrey Gibson, Jacksonville
Sen. Kathleen Passidomo, Naples
Sen. Bobby Powell, West Palm Beach
Sen. Perry Thurston, Fort Lauderdale
Rep. Loranne Ausley, Tallahassee
Rep. Jose Felix Diaz, Miami
Rep. Bobby DuBose, Fort Lauderdale
Rep. Joe Geller, Dania Beach
Rep. Bill Hager, Boca Raton
Rep. Don Hahnfeldt, The Villages
Rep. Shawn Harrison, Tampa
Rep. Mike Miller, Orlando
Rep. George Moraitis, Fort Lauderdale
Rep. Kathleen Peters, St. Petersburg
Rep. Richard Stark, Weston 
Founded in 1922, the Florida League of Cities is the united voice for Florida’s municipal governments. Its goals are to promote local self-government and serve the needs of Florida’s cities. Florida’s cities are formed by their citizens and governed by their citizens. The League is founded on the belief that local self-government is the keystone of American democracy. For more information, visit www.floridaleagueofcities.com.

City Officials from Across the State Honored with 2017 Home Rule Hero Awards

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More than 70 municipal officials from around the state were honored by the Florida League of Cities as recipients of 2017 Home Rule Hero Awards. These local government officials earned this prestigious recognition for their tireless efforts to advance the League’s legislative agenda and help protect the home rule authority of Florida’s cities during the 2017 regular legislative session.
“Our Home Rule Heroes are shining examples of local advocacy in action,” said Boca Raton Mayor and Florida League of Cities President Susan Haynie. “These dedicated municipal officials take time out of their busy schedules to cultivate relationships with their legislators and help them understand the issues that are most important to their constituents back home. The Florida League of Cities is proud to recognize them and say thank you for all they do to help protect home rule and preserve the quality of life in their cities.”
Home rule is the authority for a city to establish its own form of government and enact ordinances, codes, plans, and resolutions without prior state approval. Recipients of the Home Rule Hero Award are local government officials – both elected and non-elected – who consistently responded to the League’s request to reach out to members of the Legislature and help give a local perspective to an issue.
The 2017 Home Rule Hero Award recipients are:
Mayor Mitchell Reeves, City of Atlantic Beach
Vice Mayor Leo Longworth, City of Bartow
Commissioner Trish Pfeiffer, City of Bartow
Mayor Jordan Leonard, Town of Bay Harbor Islands
Commissioner Thomas Shelly, Town of Belleair
Debra Sullivan, City Clerk, City of Belleair Bluffs
Mayor Susan Haynie, City of Boca Raton
Mayor Peter Simmons, City of Bonita Springs
Mayor Wayne Poston, City of Bradenton
Councilmember Jim Burch, City of Cape Coral
Councilmember Bill Jonson, City of Clearwater
John Titkanich, City Manager, City of Cocoa
Mayor Greg Ross, City of Cooper City
Vice Mayor Dan Daley, City of Coral Springs
Commissioner Scott Black, City of Dade City
Mayor Robert F. Apgar, City of DeLand
Mayor Scott Fischer, City of Destin
Carisse LeJeune, City Manager, City of Destin
Bea L. Meeks, City Clerk, City of Edgewood
Lee Feldman, City Manager, City of Fort Lauderdale
Mayor Jack Seiler, City of Fort Lauderdale
Councilman Forrest Banks, City of Fort Myers
Mayor Randy Henderson, City of Fort Myers
Councilwoman Teresa Watkins Brown, City of Fort Myers
Mayor Linda Hudson, City of Fort Pierce
Michael Beedie, City Manager, City of Fort Walton Beach
Mayor Matthew Surrency, City of Hawthorne
Mark Ryan, City Manager, City of Indian Harbour Beach
Mayor Drinda Merritt, Town of Inglis
Councilmember Matthew Schellenberg, City of Jacksonville
George Forbes, City Manager, City of Jacksonville Beach
Mayor Charlie Latham, City of Jacksonville Beach
Vice Mayor Kimberly Glas-Castro, Town of Lake Park
Commissioner Phillip Walker, City of Lakeland
Mayor R. Howard Wiggs, City of Lakeland
Vice Mayor Jamie Robinson, City of Largo
Mayor Joe Durso, City of Longwood
Mayor Kathy Meehan, City of Melbourne
Councilmember Cal Rolfson, City of Mount Dora
Mayor Bill Barnett, City of Naples
William Moss, City Manager, City of Naples
Councilman William Schaetzle, City of Niceville
Councilman Anthony DeFillipo, City of North Miami Beach
Mayor George Vallejo, City of North Miami Beach
Mayor Linda Yates, City of North Port
Jim Hanson, Town Manager, Town of Orange Park
Mayor William Partington, City of Ormond Beach
Mayor William Capote, City of Palm Bay
Mayor Carol McCormack, Town of Palm Shores
Douglas J. Sale, Attorney, City of Panama City Beach
Councilmember P.C. Wu, City of Pensacola
Kenneth Buchman, Attorney, City of Plant City
Councilperson Dawn Pardo, City of Riviera Beach
Council Vice Chair T. Patrick O’Neill, City of Rockledge
Mayor Kevin Ruane, City of Sanibel
Commissioner Willie Shaw, City of Sarasota
Councilman Dominick Montanaro, City of Satellite Beach
Mayor Leslie Waters, City of Seminole
Commissioner Vincent Barile, Town of Sewall’s Point
Commissioner Tom Campenni, City of Stuart
Mayor Troy McDonald, City of Stuart
Commissioner Scott Maddox, City of Tallahassee
Kent Olson, Deputy Treasurer/Clerk, City of Tallahassee
Commissioner Gil Ziffer, City of Tallahassee
Council Chairman Michael Suarez, City of Tampa
Mayor Heyward H. Strong, Jr., City of Valparaiso
Terry Atchley, City Manager, City of Wauchula
Chevelle Nubin, Village Clerk, Village of Wellington
Mayor Daniel Stermer, City of Weston
Darrel Thomas, Assistant City Manager/CFO, City of Weston
Mayor Gary Resnick, City of Wilton Manors
Mayor Gary Bruhn, Town of Windermere
 
Founded in 1922, the Florida League of Cities is the united voice for Florida’s municipal governments. Its goals are to promote local self-government and serve the needs of Florida’s cities. Florida’s cities are formed by their citizens and governed by their citizens. The League is founded on the belief that local self-government is the keystone of American democracy. For more information, visit www.floridaleagueofcities.com.

Florida League of Cities Announces 2017-2018 Legislative Policy Committee Appointments

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The Florida League of Cities has announced appointments for its 2017-2018 Legislative Policy Committees. Each committee focuses on a specific area of interest to Florida’s cities.
“Municipal officials are the driving force behind the League’s legislative success. In addition to setting the legislative priorities, the League’s policy committee members help to provide League staff with a better understanding of the real-world implications of proposed legislation,” said FLC Legislative Director Scott Dudley. “We appreciate their willingness to serve, as there is a significant commitment of time and energy that goes into developing a policy direction for our legislative efforts.”
Legislative Policy Committee chairs, vice chairs, and members are appointed annually by the League’s president. Any city official is eligible to serve on a Policy Committee, and appointments are typically based on a city official’s support and advocacy of the League’s adopted Legislative Action Agenda and participation at meetings, Legislative Action Day, and other legislative-related activities.
The chairs and vice- hairs for the 2017-2018 Legislative Policy Committees are:
Finance, Taxation and Personnel
Chair: Council Member Natalie Kahler – City of Brooksville
Vice Chair: Mayor Bill Partington – City of Ormond Beach
Land Use and Economic Development
Chair: Commissioner Hayward J. Benson, Jr. – City of Lauderhill
Vice Chair: Mayor Kathy Meehan – City of Melbourne
Municipal Administration
Chair: Commissioner Willie Shaw – City of Sarasota
Vice Chair: Councilman Jon Burgess – City of Homestead
Transportation and Intergovernmental Relations
Chair: Commissioner Tony Ortiz – City of Orlando
Vice Chair: Mayor Linda Yates – City of North Port
Utilities, Natural Resources and Public Works
Chair: Vice Mayor Deborah Kynes – City of Dunedin
Vice Chair: Councilwoman Helen B. Miller – Town of White Springs
For more information on the Florida League of Cities’ legislative policy development process and a complete list of committee members, click here.
Founded in 1922, the Florida League of Cities is the united voice for Florida’s municipal governments. Its goals are to promote local self-government and serve the needs of Florida’s cities. Florida’s cities are formed by their citizens and governed by their citizens. The League is founded on the belief that local self-government is the keystone of American democracy. For more information, visit www.floridaleagueofcities.com.

Florida League of Cities Urges Governor to Veto Bad Telecom Bill That Strips Local Authority

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Writing on behalf of Florida’s 412 municipalities, Florida League of Cities Executive Director Michael Sittig urged Governor Rick Scott to veto a bill that would deprive cities of their authority to regulate the use of public rights of way. The bill may leave local governments minimal ability to control the aesthetics of their public rights of way, but it effectively hands significant control to the wireless industry, Sittig said.
“Florida cities embrace the deployment of 5G technology in their communities; however, this bill offers deep discounts to multibillion dollar telecommunications companies at the taxpayers’ expense,” Sittig wrote in urging the governor to veto CS/CS/HB 687.
The bill preempts city control of taxpayer-owned rights of way for the placement of supposedly “small” or “micro” wireless antennas and equipment, which can actually be the size of a small refrigerator, and sets a maximum fee of $150 per year for each attachment. By setting this arbitrary and artificially low cap on the fee, Sittig wrote, cities could lose $50 million to $100 million a year in revenues they would otherwise receive if free-market rates were allowed to apply.
Sittig also criticized the reasoning behind a handful of exemptions written into the bill, including ones for the Florida Department of Transportation and for The Villages, a provision he called “both illogical and ultimately indefensible.” He wrote, “Why should the FDOT be allowed to monetize the infrastructure in its rights of way but cities not be able to receive fair market value for city-owned infrastructure that the taxpayers have invested in?”
Sittig noted that the apparent rationale for the exemption for The Villages was the community’s planned layout and culture, but said that describes each city in Florida. “All municipalities have a distinct personality and look, which are important to the quality of life of their residents. By their very nature, each city is unique and special,” he wrote.
Finally, Sittig noted that the telecommunications industry has acknowledged that the technology to enable 5G communications will not be ready to be deployed until 2022, and asked, “Why rush and pass legislation that creates and undercuts city police powers? Rather, Florida should protect the free market.”
A copy of Sittig’s letter asking the governor to veto the bill is available here.

FSU Team Wins Statewide "Hackathon" Competition to Help Modernize Municipal Government

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FSU Team Wins Statewide “Hackathon” Competition to Help Modernize Municipal Government
Students craft innovative solutions to defeat teams from nine Florida universities
ORLANDO, FL – A team of Florida State University students emerged victorious from the first-ever statewide civic hackathon, MuniMod, which was hosted by the Florida League of Cities in partnership with Tallahassee’s Domi Station over this past weekend in Orlando. The MuniMod Hackathon is the Southeast’s largest civic tech competition, bringing together students studying fields ranging from electrical engineering to public administration to computer science, all with the goal of addressing problems affecting cities and communities.
The event brought together ten teams representing nationally ranked universities across Florida. Teams of various sizes first completed virtual webinars to gain an understanding of the current climate within municipal government, and then were presented with civic problems challenging our cities. The competitors worked through the night to craft innovative solutions to those problems.
“What Florida needs now is a generation of young minds who are invested in the success of their communities,” said Susan Haynie, president of Florida League of Cities and mayor of Boca Raton. “This competition created the chance to connect with these future leaders and help them start their journey toward improving cities, towns, and villages across the state.”
The two-person FSU team, seniors Maxwell Brecher and Tucker Russ, presented Safebriight, a faster, easier, and overall more effective solution for cities to fix traffic lights. After an intense round of questions and answers with a judging panel of civic tech experts and municipal leaders, the Florida State duo captured the grand prize of $10,000. The competition was so intense that the Florida League of Cities made an on-the-spot decision to award a second-place team, recognizing a concept developed by a quartet from the University of Florida.
The students were given the opportunity to work with world-class advisers and mentors to find a creative solution using their unique skills and backgrounds. The goal of the competition is to find new approaches incorporating modern methods and technology. After 24 hours, the teams presented their solutions to a panel of judges.
“These students see problems in a way that no one else does,” said Dr. Haris Alibašić, assistant professor and advisor for the University of West Florida team. “They have a unique perspective and provide valuable insight that leads to innovative solutions to the world of civic engagement.”
The competition focuses in the areas of civic services, civic analytics, and civic engagement. This includes aspects such as utilities, infrastructure, big data analytics, public outreach, and participation. These factors have been identified as areas in need of improvement in recent years, and the competition provides a platform for students to bring a fresh perspective on how to enhance the current municipal government system.
The ten teams presented an impressive array of municipal solutions, including:
• The University of Florida introduced Idencity, a modern 2-way communication channel to increase civic engagement
• The University of South Florida presented QuicklyGive, a community based platform that allows citizens to donate to local nonprofits
• The University of North Florida focused on keeping pedestrians safe with FloridaSAFE, a platform that provides alerts in real time for pedestrians
• Florida State University tackled the challenge of making fixing traffic lights faster, easier, and more cost effective for cities with its winning Safebriight entry
• The University of Miami proposed engaging all citizens in local issues with CityHub, a mobile app designed to make it easy for anyone to have a voice
• Florida Atlantic University worked to prevent pedestrian-vehicle collisions with a movable solar powered crosswalk named MAT
• Florida International University tackled water management with KUNA, a set of sensors added to pipes that detect and report water leaks in real time
• Florida A&M University debuted Native, a one-stop-shop for local civic resources and events available in every city
• The University of West Florida introduced WalkAbout, a mobile app to allow anyone to discover a city from a local perspective
• The University of Central Florida presented Open Ballot, a free platform to make voting at any level more accessible and transparent
The MuniMod competition lays the foundation for a new generation of civic problem solvers by giving students a way to apply their skills to real-world issues. By working to bridge the gap between technology and cities, the students will help cities throughout Florida, and potentially nationwide.
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City Officials from Around State Gather for Florida League of Cities Legislative Action Days

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Florida’s municipal leaders bring the fight for local control to Tallahassee

City officials from across the state will gather next week in Tallahassee to discuss the latest issues and developments affecting municipalities and how they are being addressed in Tallahassee during the current legislative session. These issues are all part of the Florida League of Cities 2017 legislative agenda.
With numerous bills filed this session that attempt to limit or outright eliminate cities’ local decision making authority, the preservation of local control remains a top priority for Florida’s cities. Many of the League’s 2017 priority issues are directly related to local self-government, including public records reform, regulation of wireless communication infrastructure and short-term rentals, economic development through Community Redevelopment Agencies (CRAs) and promoting a sustainable Florida.
“Florida’s cities are as diverse as the citizens who make up our unique communities, and Home Rule — the ability to make decisions at the local level – is what allows them to prosper,” said Florida League of Cities President and Boca Raton Mayor Susan Haynie. “Bringing the voice of citizens from across the state to Tallahassee will provide valuable perspective to lawmakers as they consider issues that will impact our cities, towns and villages.”
Nearly 200 city officials, including 48 mayors, are expected to participate in Florida League of Cities 2017 Legislative Action Days.
The events begin Tuesday, March 21, with an opening luncheon and legislative briefing at the DoubleTree Hotel in downtown Tallahassee followed by meetings with lawmakers at the Capitol. In addition to meeting with state lawmakers, attendees will also hear from such speakers as Sen. Jack Latvala, Rep. Kristin Jacobs, Rep. Danny Burgess, Rep. Jayer Williamson and Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum.

For more information about Florida League of Cities, visit www.floridaleagueofcities.com.

Statements from Florida League of Cities, Florida League of Mayors

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The Florida League of Cities and the Florida League of Mayors issued the following statements today in response to approval of SB 596 by the Senate Communications, Energy, and Public Utilities Committee:

Florida League of Cities President and Boca Raton Mayor Susan Haynie:

“The Florida League of Cities has profound concerns about Senate Bill 569. This legislation will strip away local authority in favor of private utility companies, giving Big Telecom a massive corporate handout by granting them virtually unlimited access to use resources within public rights of way.  

“We look forward to continuing to work with Senator Hutson and other interested parties to prevent the harm this bill would inflict on the ability of local communities to shape the character of their own hometown.”

Palm Shores Mayor Carol McCormack, President of the Florida League of Mayors:

“It’s well established that the best decisions for the future of a community are made by leaders within that community. Senate Bill 596 disregards that proven fact, ignoring the views of local decision-makers and instead handing authority to giant telecommunications corporations.

“While Florida’s mayors embrace innovation and new technological advancements, this legislation threatens our ability to help shape the look and feel of our hometown communities and gives private corporations unfettered access to public rights of way. This would be a terrible mistake, and we strongly oppose Senate Bill 596.”

Florida League of Cities to Host Media Roundtable on 2017 Legislative Priorities

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MEDIA ADVISORY

The Florida League of Cities will host a media roundtable event with members of the Capitol Press Corps to discuss the League’s priorities for the upcoming legislative session. The League is Florida’s foremost advocacy organization on behalf of home rule powers and has served as the united voice for the state’s municipalities since 1922.

What: Media roundtable on 2017 legislative priorities
When: Monday, March 6
10:30 am
Where: Raymond C. Sittig Hall
301 S. Bronough Street (Kleman Plaza)
Tallahassee

Florida League of Cities Center for Municipal Research and Innovation Releases 2016 State of the Cities Report

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Regional and statewide reports now available on a wide range of local government topics

The Florida League of Cities Center for Municipal Research & Innovation has released the 2016 State of the Cities Report. Produced annually, the report focuses on trends and key issues related to municipal governments in Florida.

With data and statistics from nearly three-quarters of Florida’s municipalities based on statewide data from the League’s 2016 CityStats Survey, the report provides a comprehensive look at the current status of our cities in such areas as employment, the economy, budgets, services, utilities and public safety.

 Themes from the report include prioritizing the quality of life for city residents – more than 90 percent of cities provide city parks and 60 percent of cities provide recreation centers. In Florida, there are 192 cities with populations less than 5,000 and only 42 cities with populations over 60,000.

“Many people don’t have a clear picture of the diversity of Florida’s cities. We may imagine that Florida’s cities are all like the cities in which we personally live and work. But Florida’s cities vary dramatically in size and service delivery, as the State of the Cities and regional CityStats reports make clear,” said Scott Paine, director of Leadership Development and Education for the Florida League of Cities University. “These reports are a great place to start to appreciate what our citizens have chosen for themselves, community by community. And the data on which the reports are based is readily available for those who wish to know more.”

In addition to the overarching State of the Cities report, the Center offers numerous statewide and regional reports identifying trends and analyzing local government data based on the results of the 2016 CityStats survey. General municipal information, including lists of Florida’s cities by county, form of government, population and size of council/commission are also available in the Center’s online reports portal.

“The Center for Municipal Research & Innovation is the foremost provider of local government research and resources,” said Research Analyst Liane Schrader. “Since the Center’s inception in 2011, we have partnered with numerous state agencies and academic institutions, and it has been very rewarding to see the local government and academic communities come together and utilize these resources to foster innovation and create regional solutions that address the issues facing Florida’s cities.”

The full State of the Cities report and results of the 2016 CityStats Survey are available online at http://www.floridaleagueofcities.com/research/data-statistics. Contact Liane Schrader at [email protected] or (850) 222-9684 for more information. 

Founded in 1922, the Florida League of Cities is the united voice for Florida’s municipal governments. Its goals are to promote local self-government and serve the needs of Florida’s cities. Florida’s cities are formed by their citizens and governed by their citizens. The League is founded on the belief that local self-government is the keystone of American democracy. For more information, visit www.floridaleagueofcities.com.

The Florida League of Cities’ Center for Municipal Research & Innovation is the primary source for local government research at the League. Through the center, Florida’s city officials have access to municipal resources and data needed to effectively lead their local governments and Florida’s municipal government research institutes have opportunities to collaborate with municipal government practitioners across the state. Founded in 2011, the Center bridges the gap between academics and public policy makers and administrators.

City Officials Talk Tax Reform, Flood Insurance and Infrastructure Funding with Florida’s Congressional Delegation

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Florida League of Cities Federal Action Strike
Team (FAST) Members Bring Local Issues to D.C.

Florida’s 412 municipalities have to deal with a wide range of issues in their communities, many of which are governed and financed by federal legislation and programs. With a new Congress in Washington that includes several freshman members from Florida, municipal officials have a unique opportunity to build relationships with members of the state’s Congressional Delegation and discuss issues of importance for cities and citizens.

With tax reform, infrastructure funding and flood insurance high on the list of pressing issues for Floridians, the Florida League of Cities Federal Action Strike Team (FAST) recently visited members of Florida’s Congressional Delegation in Washington, D.C., to remind them about what’s most important to their constituents back home.

Twenty-eight Florida municipal officials representing all regions of the state participated in the 2017 FAST Fly-in. On this bi-annual advocacy trip, the FAST team met with 20 members of Florida’s Congressional Delegation and staff, including Senators Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio. Before attending meetings with Florida’s senators and members of Congress, the group visited the National League of Cities (NLC) offices for a federal briefing from the NLC Federal Relations Team.

“Our Florida League of Cities Federal Action Strike Team had yet another successful trip to Washington,” said FAST Chair and Longwood Mayor Joe Durso. “League members should be proud of the leadership that FAST members showed as we continued to advocate for tax reform policies that are not harmful to cities, a fair playing field for our local businesses, commonsense flood insurance reform and reliable infrastructure funding.”

FAST team members were prepared to discuss statewide issues with real-world examples of how their hometowns are affected and may be affected in the future. This year’s federal agenda focused on preserving the tax-exempt status of municipal bonds, improving the FEMA Public Assistance Program, and maintaining support for an equitable federal flood insurance program. 

“One of the best things about the FAST team is the many different cities its members represent. From small to large, rural to urban and everything in between, these municipal officials demonstrate the wide range of challenges that a state as geographically and economically diverse as Florida faces,” said FLC Legislative Director Scott Dudley. “Each participant brought a unique perspective to our meetings, which helped our members of Congress get a better understanding of how the issues we discussed really impact Florida’s cities.”

The FAST committee was created in support of the League’s strategic plan objective to strengthen its federal relations. The primary purpose of the committee is to establish proactive and reactive communications with the Florida Congressional Delegation in support of federal municipal policy. The committee takes its policy positions and direction from the League’s resolutions and the National League of Cities policy priorities, as well as from the League’s officers and board.

FAST members meet throughout the year, at the two FLC conferences in Florida and two delegation visits to Washington, D.C., each year.

Founded in 1922, the Florida League of Cities is the united voice for Florida’s municipal governments. Its goals are to promote local self-government and serve the needs of Florida’s cities. Florida’s cities are formed by their citizens and governed by their citizens. The League is founded on the belief that local self-government is the keystone of American democracy. For more information, visit www.floridaleagueofcities.com.