059-2000 LTC
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
C,TY HALL 1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA 33139
http:\\cLmiami-beach.fl.us
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L.T.C. No.
59-2000
LETTER TO COMMISSION
April 3, 2000
TO: Mayor Neisen O. Kasdin and
Members of the City Commission
FROM: Lawrence A. Levy ~
City Manager
SUBJECT: LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
Attached please find an update from our State Lobbyists on the City's legislative priorities. We will
continue to monitor and aggressively pursue funding for the grants listed.
If you have any questions, please contact me.
LAL/C~/rar
F:ICMGRI$ALLIRARIL TCILEGISLST,APR
attachment
c: Christina M. Cuervo, Assistant City Manager
Randolph Marks, Assistant Director of Community and Economic Development
Kevin Crowder, Economic Development Specialist
APR-03-00 07,43 FROM,RUTLEOGE ECENIA ET AL
IO,S04SBlSSlS
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2
RUTLEDGE, ECENIA, PURNELL & HOFFMAN
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION
ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELORS AT LAW
';TEPHION A. ECENIA
JOH~I A. ELLIS
KF,WIETH A. HOFFMAN
THOMAS W, KOf.IRAD
MICI.W::L G, MAIDA
,I. STEPHEN MENTON
R. DAVIt:> PRESCOTT
HAROLD F. X, PURNELL
GARY R RuTLEt:>GE
POST OFFICE BOX 551. 32.302-0551
21~ SOUTH MONROE STREET. SUITE 420
TALLAHASSEE. FLORIDA 32301-18111
OF COUNSEL:
CHARLES F DUDLEY
TELEPHONE (860) 681-S728
TELECOPIER r850) 681.6515
GOVERNMENTAL CONSIJLTAfITS
""TRICK R. MALOY
AMY J, YOUNG
M E M 0 RAN DUM
BY FACSIMILE TRANSMISSION
TO:
Christina Cuervo, Assistant City Manager
City of Miami Beach
FROM:
Gary R. Rutledge
Bob Levy
Fausto Gomez
Margie Menduni
DATE:
March 27, 2000
RE:
Week of March 20-24, 2000
The following report reflects activity on City of Miami
Beach priorities during the week of March 20-24, 2000.
Fundinq Priorities
1. Fire Station Historic Preservation Grant
Although the House amended its budget in committee it did
not change its original appropriation for historic preservation
grants at $10.2 million. This would not cover the fire station
grant. However, on the Senate side, the amending process
resulted in full coverage of the entire historic preservation
grant list at $17.1 million. This puts us in good position for
conference.
2. C~ltural Facilities Grant--Colony Theater
The House did not alter its original appropriation of $9.85
million for cultural facility grants. This would not cover the
Colony Theater. However, the Senate did amend its budget in
committee to fully fund the cultural facilities grant list at
$18.26 million. Under this scenario the Colony would be covered.
Again this puts us in good position for conference.
APR-03-00 07,43 FROM,RUTLEOGE ECEN1A ET AL
10,9046816516
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l~url'LEJ)GE, ECENtA. PURNF-LL & IIoJ"FMAN
March 27, 2000
Page 2
3. Fast Track
Senator Silver was able to amend the Senate budget to
include $450,000 for the Miami Beach Fast Track application.
However, efforts on the House side were not as successful. This
appropriation item becomes eligible for conference and we will
continue to work with local legislators.
7. FRDAP Grants
The House has kept its original appropriation of only $9.46
million which does not cover the North Shore application.
However, the Senate has funded the entire list for $39.331
million. In this scenario North Shore would be covered. This
will go to conference but there is a very large difference which
will be played out at a leadership level.
8. Librarv Construction Grants
Th~ House has amended its budget to fund proj~cts 1-10 at a
$300,000 level for a total of $3 million. As you know, the Miami
Beach grant is number 13 of lS grants, so it would not be covered
on the House side. The Senate has opted to fund all 15 grants at
$300,000 each for a total of $4.5 million. This looks good for
conference.
11. Juvenile Justice Grant~
Unfortunately, neither the ACHIEVE grant for $28,500 nor the
Cops & Teens grant for $22,000 are contained in the House or
Senate budget. A great deal of money was taken out of j\lvenile
justice and dedicated to hiring new guards for the prison system.
Legislative Prioritie~
1. Nuisance Abatement Boards
House Bill 65 passed the Huuse Floor and 'was sent to the
Senate this week where it also passed. There waS extensive,
heat~d debate in both chambers on this bill. opponents of the
bill cited a lack of protection for the elderly and the poor.
The bill was amended to protect homestead property from liens.
This seemed to appease the opposition and allow for passage of
the bill. The bill also passed the Senate Floor so it just needs
the Governor's siqnature now. We watched the Floor interaction
with staff of the-League of Cities and discussed with them our
idea to suggest an interim project on the authority of nuisance
abatement boards. They agreed with US and we will work together
with legislators after Session to propose such a study.
APR-03-00 07,44 FROM,RUTLEOGE ECEN1A ET AL
10,9046816516
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RUTLI;~DGE. ECE.,NIA. PURNELl. & HOFl1"MAN
March 27, 2000
Page 3
7. QQP-ose Bed Tax Increase for Baseball ~tadium
As you are probably aware from the press, the current
attempt to tax cruise ship passengers to fund the stadium is
running into considerable opposition from seaport representatives
as well as the County. At this time no attempt has been made to
increase the bed tax for the stadium.
8. Priv~te prooertv Riqhts Bill
House Bill 659 which amends the Bert Harris Private Property
Act unfortunately has passed through all of its committees and is
ready for Floor action. Many in House leadership are co-
sponsoring this bill. Luckily, the Senate version, SB 2476, has
only one sponsor who is term-limited, the bill has been
referenced to three committees and has not been heard in any
committee as yet.
This report reflects activity on specific priorities but
does not fully reflect the amount of work done by the team on
behalf of the City.
We would also like to remind you that the appropriation
process will go through one more amending process on the Floor of
each chamber prior to going to conference.
cc: Randy Marks
Kevin Crowder