Furthermore, it should be noted;
Senate Bills, 310 & 380 were combined as Sb 310c1 and is compared to Hb 1617 aluded to herein as well as; Hb 1616, Sb 380, 432 & 2046.

In other words, there's a bigger picture to review to determine which provisions to oppose and support as this legislation moves to fruition and the Governor's desk.

No doubt, 1000 Friends of Florida, et al., have staked a claim that educational infrastructure is a very important and neglected consideration during review and approval of Growth Mangement Vs Uninhibited Growth.

While in agreement, we should mention; the stakeholders rejecting educational infrastructure considerations under the premise it interferes with their property rights for Uninhibited Growth are the same stakeholders that have had the power and influence to thwart meaningful reform of homeowners associations and full disclosure statutes to the detriment of Citizens enticed to relocate to the Sunshine State.

For more information on this and other issues facing the Florida Legislature, go to:
1000 Friends of Florida's Web site (click on Logo)  and click on "Growth Management Alert."

Protecting and     ImprovingFlorida's Quality of  Life

Call to Express Your Support for House Bill 1617.

House Bill 1617, introduced by Representative Paula Dockery (R-Lakeland), is the Governor's bill on growth management, which focuses on full cost accounting and coordinating school planning with comprehensive planning. 1000 Friends is supporting this bill but homebuilders, other development interest and the Florida League of Cities are strongly opposed to the school 
provisions, and are actively working to defeat the bill. The House Local Government and Veterans Affairs Committee has heard this bill once, but reached an impasse and recalled and held the bill. The bill will be heard again by the House Local Government and Veterans Affairs Committee the morning of Thursday, April 12, where homebuilders, other development 
interests, and the Florida League of Cities are expected to oppose the school provisions again. No testimony for or against was heard regarding the fiscal impacts assessment/full cost accounting provisions of the bill.

1000 Friends continues to support this bill, with sensible growth management reforms that address two of Florida's most pressing issues: overcrowded schools and calculating the "real" cost of development. These common sense approaches (1) limit density increases ONLY where schools are already over capacity - property owners can build what they're already authorized to build without limit; and even where schools are over capacity, a density increase can be granted where a developer pays his or her fair share first, and then they can build; and (2) a fiscal tool is to be applied to development so that local decision-makers, and citizens, can understand IF development projects really pay their way BEFORE permission to build is granted.

Please take a few minutes to call the members of the House Local Government and Veterans Affairs Committee by the afternoon of Wednesday, April 11:
The message: 
(1) I support this bill "as is," without amendments; and
(2) I oppose allowing the bill to be gutted by interests intent on maintaining the status quo.

House Local Government and Veterans Affairs Committee:
Representative Ken Sorenson (R-Key West), Chair, 850.488.9965
Representative John Carassas (R-Largo), Vice Chair, 850.488.9960
Representative Michael Bennett (R-Sarasota), 850.488.6341
Representative Annie Betancourt, (D-Miami), 850.488.5047
Representative Don Davis (R-Jacksonville Beach), 850.488.0001
Representative Andy Gardiner (R-Orlando), 850.488.9770
Representative Bob Henriquez, (D-Tampa), 850.488.9460
Representative Matthew Meadows, (D-Lauderhill), 850.488.8234
Representative David Mealor (R-Lake Mary), 850.488.5843.

Call to Oppose House Bill 1135
This bill places severe limits on citizens and environmental groups ability suing to stop inappropriate development in wetlands. It imposes attorneys' fees on citizens if they fail to present evidence to support their claims even if they ultimately win their cases, and applies to more than just environmental groups, i.e., ones dealing with elderly, children, and family issues. The most mean-spirited part of the bill repeals the broad standing provided by the Environmental Policy Act of 1971, which allows statewide groups like Sierra Club, Florida Wildlife Federation, Save The Manatee Club, Audubon of Florida, and 1000 Friends to challenge permits which threaten to pollute air and/or water resources. These bad changes to the Administrative Procedures Act would substantially curtail citizen standing and appeal rights. The Sierra Club calls this "... the most anti-environmental bill.." this year.

The House version could appear as early as Thursday, April 12 in either or both the Judicial Oversight and/or State Administration Committees. Please make calls by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 11.

The message:
I strongly oppose this bill. It rolls back 30 years of environmental law, inappropriately makes citizens pay attorneys' fees, and is meant to intimidate citizens to keep them from ever considering challenging a permit. This bill is not supported by ANY environmental or growth management group.

House Committee on Judicial Oversight
Larry Crow, Chair (R-Dunedin), (850) 488-9240
Jeffrey Kottkamp, Vice Chair (R-Cape Coral), (850) 488-7433
Nancy Argenziano (R-Crystal River), (850) 488-0805
Loranne Ausley (D-Tallahassee), (850) 488-0965
Allen Bense (R-Panama City), (850) 488-9696
J. Goodlette (R-Naples), (850) 488-4487
Jerry Melvin (R-Ft. Walton Beach), (850) 488-1170
Joe Pickens (R-Palatka), (850) 488-0665
Dennis Ross (R-Lakeland), (850) 488-9890
Timothy Ryan (D-Dania Beach), (850) 488-0245
John Seiler (D-Ft. Lauderdale), (850) 488-0880

House Committee on State Administration
Frederick Brummer, Chair, (R-Apopka), (850) 488-2023
Paula Dockery, Vice Chair, (R-Lakeland), (850) 488-2270
Donald Brown, (R-DeFuniak Springs), (850) 488-4726
Will Kendrick (D-Carrabelle), (850) 488-7870
Perry McGriff (D-Gainesville), (850) 488-0887
Thank you for your assistance.
 

You've probably read similar stories in your local newspaper about the recent confrontation during a committee hearing considering the subject of this dispatch? 

However, the following story places a different perspective on how a final enactment might emerge from the current Legislative session. 

* SEE BELOW *

Incidentally, when you're able to access the Online Sunshine Network, we suggest taking the time to read Hb 1617 sponsored by Rep. Paula Dockery. 

This could be the primary legislation which includes recommendations of the Growth Management Study Commission and might carry other bills with it including two 'skeleton' bills in the Senate, Sb 310 & 380, which were combined during committee hearings.

We all agree; the way in which growth is managed or mis-managed in Florida affects our daily lives in some way, shape or form. As you can tell by reading the story the stakeholders have come well prepared to scuttle attempts to place their clients in a position of accountablity. 

Therefore, since 'ordinary Citizens' aren't represented by a lobbyist in  Tallahassee and you decide to participate in the process we must rely on those we've elected to represent our interests. 

Contact the Chair and Vice Chair of the approriate committees, especially, members of your Legislative delegation serving on same to express your views and opinions as a proponent or opponent of certain provisions or the Legislation as a whole. 

Thank you for your continued interest in this subject matter. 

The best to you and yours, 
Bob, 
Ocala, FL 
Public Relations -- CCFJ, Inc. 
http://www.ccfj.net/ 
---------------------------- * SEE BELOW * -----------------------------------------
Submitted as written; Courtesy of the Palm Beach Post Capital Bureau, by Jim Ash

Freshman challenges Bush curb on growth 

By Jim Ash, Palm Beach Post Capital Bureau
Friday, April 6, 2001
 

TALLAHASSEE -- The aftershocks of term limits rumbled through a House committee on Thursday when a renegade freshman lawmaker, backed by powerful developers, nearly toppled one of Gov. Jeb Bush's highest legislative priorities. 

With a group of Bush's top aides staring in disbelief from the front row, Rep. Mike Bennett, R-Sarasota, successfully pushed an amendment that would have blocked Bush's controversial effort to link growth to the availability of classrooms. 

Rep. Ken Sorensen, R-Key Largo, the gravel-voiced chairman of the Local Government and Veterans Affairs Committee, was flabbergasted. 

"I'm not sure what just happened here today," Sorensen said. "If that votes stands, ladies and gentlemen, it probably comes pretty close to gutting growth management for this year. We can all fold our tents and go home." 

The nine-member committee voted 6-2 to tack the poison-pill amendment to a sweeping reform measure (HB 1617) by Rep. Paula Dockery, a Republican from Lakeland who chairs a powerful spending committee and who worked closely with Bush aides to write the 61-page bill. 

The amendment would have delayed changes until at least 2003, after state officials could determine how much development would be denied because of a lack of school space. 

The committee is composed of six Republicans and three Democrats. Two Democrats and three Republicans joined Bennett in the vote. Another Republican, David Mealor of Lake Mary, was present but a clerk failed to call his name for the official tally. 

House rules allow any member who voted on the winning side to ask for another vote. But a painful silence fell over the committee room when Sorensen, who voted against the measure, gruffly demanded supporters to reconsider. 

Bennett eventually relented and the amendment was withdrawn, but not before he reminded Bush and his supporters about how shaky the political ground has become since 62 true freshmen -- the largest class since 1962 -- were swept to power in the wake of term limits that were written into the state constitution in 1992. 

"I want to send a message that I am extremely concerned about property rights," Bennett said before he withdrew the amendment. Racing to beat a deadline, the committee agreed to hold up the bill for another vote next week, a risky move when there are fewer than four weeks left in the legislative session. 

In the past, when seniority ruled, freshmen were seldom seen and almost never heard. Challenging a committee chairman, let alone a governor in the same political party, was the kiss of death for a political career. 

Bennett said he was not worried about retaliation. "I'm a big boy. I'll get over it," he chuckled. 

Sponsors of the growth management legislation say they are not preventing development in areas where schools are over capacity. Instead, the legislation would prevent local officials from approving increases in density until there is a better way to compare the benefits of developments -- more tax revenues and new jobs -- with the costs of building more roads, sewers, water lines and classrooms. 

But developers aren't buying the argument. 

Preventing a developer from seeking zoning upgrades, from five homes per acre to 50, would rob property owners of anticipated profits, Bennett said. 

Term-limit opponents warned that freshmen would be easy prey to special interests. Charles Lee, veteran lobbyist for the Florida Audubon Society, said Thursday's vote was proof. 

If Bennett faces any retribution from the governor or House leaders, he will have some powerful friends to console him. 

Bill Hunter, president of the Association of Florida Community Developers, testified angrily against the bill. 

"Their language doesn't give us any options," Hunter said after the meeting. "Call it what you want; it's a moratorium." 

Liz Hirst, a spokesman for Bush, said her boss wasn't worried about the success of the bill. 

"While we were disappointed in the proposed amendment today, Gov. Bush remains confident that he will work together to pass meaningful legislation that addresses growth management in our state."