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RESOLUTION URGING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO PASS LEGISLATION REENACTING THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, INCLUDING THE FLORIDA HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION AND THE DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, AND FURTHER URGING THE LEGISLATURE TO RETAIN THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AS SEPARATE DEPARTMENTS OF THE STATE

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WHEREAS, Florida Department of Community Affairs (DCA) is designated by law as the state�s land planning agency, and includes the Division of Community Planning and the Division of Housing and Community Development; and
WHEREAS, the Florida Housing Finance Corporation and the Division of Emergency Management are also housed within DCA; and
WHEREAS, the Florida Housing Finance Corporation is a public corporation and is the state entity primarily responsible for financing the construction and reconstruction of new and rehabilitated affordable housing in Florida and encouraging the investment of private capital in affordable housing; and
WHEREAS, the Division of Emergency Management directs and controls the state�s emergency response and recovery operations through the operation of a State Emergency Operations Center; is responsible for coordinating a statewide program of emergency management; and
WHEREAS, under the Florida Government Accountability Act, most state agencies, including DCA, are subject to a two-year sunset review process to determine whether the agency should be retained, modified or abolished; and
WHEREAS, the Legislature began its review of DCA during the 2010 session and will continue through the 2011 session; and
WHEREAS, bills were filed during the 2010 session that would have reenacted DCA, SB 282 by Senator Michael S. �Mike� Bennett (RBradenton) and HB 7105 by the House Government Accountability Act Council, but these bills did not pass; and
WHEREAS, DCA is the conduit for federal funding through the stimulus packages and 93 percent of DCA�s funds come from annual federal appropriations for various federal programs; and
WHEREAS, DCA works with local governments to implement and administer our growth management laws and associated programs, such as Local Government Comprehensive Planning, Areas of Critical State Concern, Rural Land Stewardship Areas, Developments of Regional Impact, Option Sector Planning, Springs Protection, Military Base Compatibility Planning, and planning support for long-term recovery from disasters; and
WHEREAS, Florida Housing Finance Corporation has the mission of increasing affordable housing opportunities, including homeownership programs such as the First Time Homebuyer Program, down payment assistance programs and the Homeownership Pool program; as well as rental housing programs, such as multifamily housing development programs, Florida Affordable Housing Guarantee Program, HOME Investment Partnerships, Elderly Housing Community Loan program, Low Income Housing Tax Credit program, the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP), Predevelopment Loan Program, Demonstration Loans, and the Affordable Housing Catalyst Program; and
WHEREAS, given these important functions, this Board supports legislation reenacting the Department of Community Affairs, including the Florida Housing Finance Corporation and the Division of Emergency Management; and
WHEREAS, Governor Scott�s transition advisors have recommended consolidation of DCA with the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Transportation into the �Department of Growth Leadership�; and
WHEREAS, these three agencies have distinct and significantly different missions that could be negatively impacted by such a consolidation,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Urges the Florida Legislature to pass legislation reenacting the Department of Community Affairs, including the Florida Housing Finance Corporation and the Division of Emergency Management and further urges the Legislature to retain the Department of Community Affairs, Department of Environmental Protection, and Department of Transportation as separate agencies of the State.
Section 2. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit certified copies of the resolution to the Governor, the Senate President, the House Speaker, and the Chair and Members of the Miami-Dade State Legislative Delegation.
Section 3. Directs the County's state lobbyists to advocate for the issues identified in section 1 above, and authorizes and directs the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to include this item in the 2011 state legislative package.