Commission Meeting Agenda Item

WHEREAS, Municipalities are voluntarily created and chartered by their citizens as the embodiment of local self-determination; and

WHEREAS, in 1968, Florida voters amended the state constitution to confer broad “Home Rule” powers to municipal government, under Article VIII, Section 2(b); and

WHEREAS, numerous bills being considered by the Florida Legislature contradict the will of the people of Florida, who expressed an unequivocal desire for broad Home Rule powers in their state constitution; and

WHEREAS, these bills undercut the intent of the citizens of every municipality in Florida, who voted to incorporate their community and exercise the broad Home Rule powers granted by the Florida Constitution to govern themselves and, thereby, effectively address the unique concerns of their communities; and

WHEREAS, a municipality’s ability to timely act on local problems and opportunities will be limited by these bills to a state Legislature that holds session only once a year, and whose ability to address local problems will be contingent on the relative effectiveness of its representative in the state Legislature; and

WHEREAS, under these bills, state legislators will find themselves spending increasing amounts of time arbitrating over local problems and legislating on local issues, and less time attending to pressing statewide needs; and

WHEREAS, the Lady Lake Town Commission believes opposing these bills is in the best interests of the residents and businesses of the municipalities in the State of Florida, and ultimately the state itself; and

WHEREAS, the Lady Lake Town Commission would respectfully ask the state legislature to be mindful that regulations enacted by local governments have to be enforced by those same governments and, if excessive or burdensome, the peoples’ local elected representatives are quickly made aware of those burdens and any unintended consequences; and

WHEREAS, should these bills become law, and not be overturned, the ability of Florida’s municipalities to narrowly address local issues of public concern would be destroyed.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Commission of the Town of Lady Lake, Lake County, Florida, opposes the State of Florida’s overbroad attempt to repeal or restrict constitutional municipal home rule powers to protect the health, safety and welfare of citizens and urges all members of the Florida Legislature to oppose the adoption of unwarranted or overly broad preemptions.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to members of the Florida Legislature, the Florida League of Cities, and any other interested parties.

THIS RESOLUTION shall become effective immediately upon passage.