Placement: Proclamations and Special presentations
Action Requested: Discussion
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Discuss the 2021 State Legislative Update - Week 9
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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 convened on Tuesday, March 2, 2021 and adjourned on April 30, 2021. 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.
Issues/Analysis: The House and Senate passed a $101.5 billion budget, by a significant margin the largest in state history. The St. Lucie River/C-23 Water Quality Restoration Project (Area 4) is in the underlying budget in the amount of $1,024,862.
The status of the remaining City of Port St. Lucie appropriations requests are as follows:
Port St. Lucie Septic to Sewer Conversion Program - HB 2123 and Senate #1952 - House Referred to Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Committee. Approved on March 11. This project did not receive funding.
Port St. Lucie - St. Lucie River/C-23 Water Quality Restoration Project (Areas 5 & 6) - Senate #1958 and HB 2125 - Referred to Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee - Approved on March 3. This project did not receive funding.
Hegener Drive Extension Tradition Center for Commerce - HB 2159 and Senate #2038 - Referred to House Infrastructure & Tourism Appropriations Subcommittee. This project did not ultimately get funded.
House Speaker Chris Sprowls and Senate President Wilton Simpson have also called a Special Session for the week of May 17 to address the 2021 Gaming Compact. After months of negotiations, Governor DeSantis and the Seminole Tribe of Florida executed a historic 30-year gaming compact that will need to be ratified by the Legislature. The Special Session will give lawmakers more time to vet what is in the compact.
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 9 Summary (April 26 - 30)
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 6167
Legal Sufficiency Review:
Reviewed by Ella M. Gilbert, Deputy City Attorney. Approved as to Legal form and sufficiency by James D. Stokes, City Attorney.