Placement: New Business
Action Requested: Motion / Vote
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Adopt the City of Port St. Lucie/St. Lucie County Legislative Program
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Submitted By: Ella Gilbert Deputy City Attorney and Kate Parmelee, Strategic Initiatives Director
Strategic Plan Link: The City's Goal of a high-performing city government organization.
Executive Summary (General Business): The City currently prepares an annual federal and state legislative program. At the June 2020 Strategic Planning workshop, the Council proposed the addition of an annual County Legislative Program to the Strategic Plan. Staff has prepared the County Legislative Program to encompass City/County issues of importance to Port St. Lucie for prioritization and adoption prior to an upcoming City/County Joint meeting.
Presentation Information: A 10-minute presentation will be provided by Deputy City Attorney Ella Gilbert and Strategic Initiatives Director Kate Parmelee.
Staff Recommendation: Move that the Council prioritize the issues identified in the program and adopt the City of Port St. Lucie’s County Legislative Program.
Alternate Recommendations:
1. Move that the Council amend the recommendation and prioritize and adopt the County Legislative Program.
2. Move that the Council provide staff direction.
Background: The City of Port St. Lucie is the largest municipality in St. Lucie County with a population of 201,846 (according to the most recent U.S. Census estimates as of July 1, 2020) and encompasses approximately 61% of the population of St. Lucie County (population 328,297). The City of Port St. Lucie plays an integral role in the growth and development of St. Lucie County. At the 2020 Strategic Planning Session in June 2020, the Mayor and Council identified the need for an annual legislative program to encompass and articulate the areas where partnerships are critical to the sustained growth and development and effectiveness of the City of Port St. Lucie and St. Lucie County.
Issues/Analysis: The draft County Legislative Program identifies the following issues, outlined further in the proposed legislative program: 1. Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act Funding; 2. Impact Fees; 3. Transportation; 4. Water Quality; 5. Parks, Recreation & Tourism; 6. Transit: opportunities to improve access to transit; 7. Emergency Management: Intergovernmental Coordination; 8. Ordinances: Consistent approaches to ordinances concerning dogs, backyard chickens; and 9. County-wide Aggregate Tax Rate
Financial Information: Resolution of various City/County issues have a financial impact on the City of Port St. Lucie.
Special Consideration: A City/County Joint meeting has been scheduled for January 26, 2021 and March 9, 2021 and is to be held at the Pruitt Campus at Indian River State College.
Location of Project: N/A
Attachments:
1. Draft County Legislative Program
2. Draft County Legislative Program PowerPoint Presentation
NOTE: All of the listed items in the “Attachment” section above are in the custody of the City Clerk. Any item(s) not provided in City Council packets are available upon request from the City Clerk.
Internal Reference Number: N/A
Legal Sufficiency Review:
Reviewed by Ella M. Gilbert, Deputy City Attorney. Approved as to Legal form and sufficiency by James D. Stokes, City Attorney.