Legislative Matter

Miami-Dade Legislative Item
File Number: 150516

Clerk's Official Copy

File Number: 150516

File Type: Resolution

Status: Adopted

Version: 0

Reference: R-155-15

Control: Board of County Commissioners

File Name: FUNDING FOR UNDERLINE TRAIL

Introduced: 3/5/2015

Requester: NONE

Cost:

Final Action: 2/3/2015

Agenda Date: 2/3/2015

Agenda Item Number: 11A35

Notes:

THIS IS FINAL VERSION AS ADOPTED. ALSO SEE 150216.

Title:

RESOLUTION WAIVING RESOLUTION NO. R-764-13; AMENDING RESOLUTION NO. R-1143-14 TO REVISE THE BOARD’S STATE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR THE 2015 LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO INCLUDE FUNDING FOR THE UNDERLINE AS A PRIORITY; APPROVING THE 2015 STATE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES (SEE ORIGINAL ITEM UNDER FILE NO. 150216)

Indexes:

LEGISLATURE

Sponsors:	Jose "Pepe" Diaz, Prime Sponsor
	Rebeca Sosa, Co-Sponsor

Sunset Provision: No

Effective Date:

Expiration Date:

Registered Lobbyist:

None Listed

Legislative History
Acting Body	Date	Agenda Item	Action	Sent To	Due Date	Returned	Pass/Fail

County Attorney	3/5/2015		Assigned	Javier Zapata

Board of County Commissioners	2/3/2015	11A35 Amended	Adopted as amended				P
REPORT:	Commissioner Sosa expressed concern that adding the request for funding for the Underline Trail as a priority could impact the efforts currently underway regarding the previously approved request for funding for the Ludlum Trail. Commissioner Diaz advised that he supported both items as being equally important to the community. Commissioner Sosa stated that Ludlum Trail was located within Districts 6 and 7 and that the neighbors had initiated steps to create charrettes for this item. She noted both, the Underline and Ludlum Trail should be included as priorities; however, she requested that the Legislature be urged to fund each item separately. Chairman Monestime spoke in support of the Underline Trail; however, he pointed out that it would end at the Miami River. He noted that the County could extend the Underline Trail all the way to Hialeah, as the Metrorail territory was County-owned. Commissioner Levine Cava expressed her support of both projects; however, she pointed out that no request supporting the urgency of Amendment 1, which would protect the County’s endangered lands and water supply. She stated that she was working to bring legislation forward pertaining to this important issue. Commissioner Souto spoke in support of bike paths and referenced a previous project entitled “From Rails to Trails.” He noted he supported the foregoing proposed resolution. Commissioner Sosa asked to be listed as a co-sponsor to the request for the Underline Trail, asking that it be separate from the Ludlum Trail, with both included as priority items. Chairman Monestime noted the County would work with representatives of the Underline Trail to extend the trail northward and northwestward. County Attorney Robert Cuevas clarified that the resolution, as currently written, proposed to amend the prior resolution to include funding for the Underline in addition to the Ludlum Trail as a priority to the 2015 Legislative Session. Commissioner Sosa reiterated her concern with adjoining the two items together after the approval for the Ludlum Trail had already been done. Responding to Commissioner Diaz’ comment on his intent to include the Underline Trail as a priority also, Mr. Cuevas reiterated the clarification that this item would amend the prior resolution listing the Ludlum Trail as a priority, to include funding for the Underline Trail. Commissioner Diaz asked that the foregoing resolution be amended to include the Underline Trail as a separate item on the County’s 2015 List of Legislative Priorities. Responding to County Attorney Cuevas’ inquiry as to whether the requirement to limit the Legislative Priorities to no more than ten would be waived, Commissioner Diaz answered yes. In response to Commissioner Edmonson’s question whether the Board had voted already on this item, Commissioner Diaz’ stated that the Board had voted to add the Underline Trail, but not as a priority. He explained that in a previous meeting, the Underline Trail was added to this item; but not as a priority at that time. Commissioner Sosa stated that since this item was voted previously, she wished to change her amendment to waive the rules and add the Underline Trail as an additional priority. There being no further questions or comments, the Board voted to adopt the foregoing resolution as amended to provide that the Board’s rules will be waived to include the Underline in the County’s Legislative Package as a legislative priority.

Legislative Text

TITLE
RESOLUTION WAIVING RESOLUTION NO. R-764-13; AMENDING RESOLUTION NO. R-1143-14 TO REVISE THE BOARD�S STATE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR THE 2015 LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO INCLUDE FUNDING FOR THE UNDERLINE AS A PRIORITY; APPROVING THE 2015 STATE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES

BODY
WHEREAS, the 2015 session of the Florida Legislature will begin on March 3, 2015; and
WHEREAS, on January 24, 2012, this Board approved Resolution No. R-59-12, which directed the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, when it presents the proposed federal or state legislative agenda to the Board, to include all �urging� resolutions and other resolutions related to federal or state legislation passed by the Board of County Commissioners to date for the current Congress or session; and
WHEREAS, on September 17, 2013, this Board approved Resolution R-764-13, which directed that the federal and state legislative packages each be presented to the Board in two separate companion items, one consisting of no more than ten (10) priorities for distribution to the Miami-Dade Legislative Delegation and the other to include guiding principles, Board �urging� resolutions enacted to date, and departmental items for approval by the Board; and
WHEREAS, Resolution No. R-764-13 provided that upon the priorities, including any amendments by the Board, being approved and effective, the Chair of the Board or a County Commissioner designated by the Chair shall transmit the priorities to the respective federal or state legislative delegation; and
WHEREAS, on December 16, 2014, this Board adopted Resolution No. R-1148-14, which urged the Florida Legislature to apportion 10 percent of the funding dedicated to the Land Acquisition Trust Fund, pursuant to the Florida Water and Land Conservation Initiative, Florida Constitutional Amendment 1, to greenway and trail projects, including the proposed Underline project (�the Underline�); and
WHEREAS, on December 18, 2014, this Board adopted Resolution No. R-1143-14, which approved ten state legislative priorities for the 2015 session; and
WHEREAS, the Underline endeavors to transform various lands below the County�s elevated Metrorail system into a contiguous, 10-mile linear park and urban trail; and
WHEREAS, the Underline seeks to connect communities, improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety, provide an accessible space for exercise, attract development along the trail�s path, and generate a positive economic impact; and
WHEREAS, the Underline land is primarily Metrorail right-of-way, publicly owned, and is thus available for immediate development; and
WHEREAS, over 19 architectural design firms have submitted master plan proposals to develop the land comprising the Underline; and
WHEREAS, the Underline seeks to make the County a safer and more enjoyable place for bicyclists, motorists, and pedestrians; and
WHEREAS, securing funding for the Underline should be a top priority of this Board for the 2015 Legislative Session; and
WHEREAS, this Board has long supported projects geared towards enhancing the livelihood of Miami-Dade County residents while improving the environmental footprint and economic impact of our County; and
WHEREAS, the proposed 2015 state legislative priorities are attached to this resolution and incorporated by reference,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Waives Resolution No. R-764-13 to permit inclusion of more than 10 state legislative priorities.
Section 2. Amends Resolution No. R-1143-14 to revise the Board�s state legislative priorities for the 2015 legislative session to include funding for the Underline.
Section 3. Approves the state legislative priorities for the 2015 session as set forth in the attached.
Section 4. Directs the County's state lobbyists to advocate for the state legislative priorities for the 2015 session.

OTHER
Miami-Dade County
2015 State Legislative Priorities

1. Reauthorization of the State Enterprise Zone Program: SUPPORT the reauthorization of the state Enterprise Zone program for another 10 years.

2. Film, Television and Entertainment: SUPPORT incentives for Film, Television and Entertainment that foster economic development and create jobs.

3. Medicaid Contributions: OPPOSE any further cost shifts to Miami-Dade county related to county Medicaid contributions and OPPOSE any delay or elimination of the transition to a Medicaid enrollees formula; urging the Florida Association of Counties to identify this issue as one of its priorities.

4. Ludlam Trail:� Resolution urging the Florida Legislature to provide funding for the acquisition and improvement of the proposed Ludlam Trail Corridor pursuant to the Florida Water and Land Conservation Initiative, Florida Constitutional Amendment 1.

5. Equal Pay:� Resolution urging the Florida Legislature to pass ''equal pay'' laws designed to equalize pay disparities between men and women.

6. Medicaid Expansion:� Resolution supporting Medicaid expansion in Florida pursuant to the patient protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010; urging the Florida Legislature to enact legislation expanding Medicaid in Florida.

7. Elder Meal Program:� Resolution urging the Governor and Florida Legislature to fully fund elder meal programs/local service providers in Miami-Dade County and opposing legislation that might result in reductions for funding of elder meal programs and local service providers in Miami-Dade County.

8. Transportation Funding: SUPPORT increased funding for transit and transportation projects in Miami-Dade County.

9. Sadowski Act Affordable Housing Trust Fund: SUPPORT using Sadowski Act Affordable Housing Trust Fund revenues, not allocated under the state�s conservation land buying program, solely for affordable housing; OPPOSE any further sweeps to the state general revenue fund.

10. Historic County Courthouse Preservation and Restoration:� Resolution urging the Florida Legislature to create a program providing state funding for historic county courthouse preservation and restoration.

11. Underline Trail: Urging the Florida Legislature to include funding for the Underline pursuant to the Florida Water and Land Conservation Initiative, Florida Constitutional Amendment 1.