Placement: Proclamations and Special presentations
Action Requested: Discussion
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Discuss the 2021 State Legislative Update - Week 7
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Submitted By: Ella Gilbert, Deputy City Attorney, City Attorney’s Office
Strategic Plan Link: The City’s Mission to provide exceptional municipal services.
Executive Summary (General Business): To provide an update of the 2021 Florida Legislative Session.
Presentation Information: Deputy City Attorney Ella Gilbert will be present for discussion.
Staff Recommendation: Request that the Council hear the presentation.
Background: The Florida Legislative Session convenes on Tuesday, March 2, 2021 and is scheduled to adjourn on April 30, 2021 or at another time agreed upon by the House of Representatives and Senate. City Council approved the State Legislative Program on November 16, 2021. City Manager Blackburn presented the City’s Legislative Program to the St. Lucie County Legislative Delegation on January 19, 2021. Our lobbyist, Gray Robinson prepared the attached 2021 Legislative Update for City Council and will provide weekly updates throughout the duration of the Legislative Session.
Issues/Analysis: Budget conference began the evening of April 16, 2021 with the House and Senate Appropriations Chairs holding the first organizational meeting. Entering budget conference, our projects were positioned as follows. The Septic to Sewer and C-23 Phase 4 projects are both in the underlying Senate budget. As of Sunday, April 18, 2021, the “water list” had not yet been published.
In addition to the projects listed below, our team is working with the City’s staff to ensure that the FRDAP grants are funded enough to cover the City’s large project that is ranked fifth on DEP’s list.
Port St. Lucie Septic to Sewer Conversion Program - Senate Local Funding Initiative Request #1952 and HB 2123 (Trabulsy) was referred to the House Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Committee and approved on March 11, 2021. The Senate funded this project at $250,000 (Line 1607A).
Port St. Lucie - St. Lucie River/C-23 Water Quality Restoration Project (Area 4) - Senate Local Funding Initiative Request #1957 and HB 2127 (Trabulsy) was referred to the House Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee. The Senate funded this project at $500,000 (Line 1607A).
Financial Information: N/A
Special Consideration: N/A
Location of Project: Projects are located city-wide.
Attachments: Memo from Gray Robinson re: 2021 Legislative Session - Week 7 Summary (April 12 - 16)
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: Legal Intake 6166
Legal Sufficiency Review:
Reviewed by Ella M. Gilbert, Deputy City Attorney. Approved as to Legal form and sufficiency by James D. Stokes, City Attorney.