04-1476 Legislative Policy - Laserfiche WebLink

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Priorities The Florida League of Cities will support legislation that limits the scope of the pre- emption of local gov- ernment's authority over State Highway System projects and facilities to specific circumstances and conditions. Further- more, the Florida League of Cities will support legislation that assures local ~, ~ government trans- portation planning, project selection criteria, programming, funding sources, and comprehensive plans are not adversely impacted by the project and facilities. The Florida League of Cities will support legislation that preserves the Home Rule authority of munici- palities to create and effectively use Community Re- development Agencies (CRAs) to redevelop and vitalize their urban areas, including the authority to use tax increment financing. Furthermore, the League supports local control and disposition of any disputes between local governments over CRAs and their financing. Home Rule 300 The Florida League of Cities believes the es- sence of Home Rule is simple: the citizens of a municipality have the constitutional right to manage and fund their own affairs with minimum interference from the state and other governmental agencies. Home Rule provides for local issues to be addressed by locally elected officials, allowing the state to concentrate on pressing state affairs. Home Rule asserts that a municipality is free to perform functions and provide services in a manner best suited to meet the needs of its citizens. Home Rule implies intrusion by the state and other governmental agen- cies into the affairs of municipal government shall be limited to only those issues that af- fect the essential welfare of the entire state. Home Rule requires that a municipality be free to adopt and amend its charter with- out intrusion, interference or oversight by other govemmenta~ entities. The Florida League of Cities will support legislation that: 300.1 Enhances the ability of municipalities to manage their local affairs in accordance with the wishes of their citizens. 300.2 Restores local authority over the procure- ment of professional services. 300.3 Exempts municipal facilities, activities and programs from state licensing requirements. 300.4 Ensures municipalities can provide munici- pal services and determine appropriate ser- vice levels without interference from county governments. 300.5 Establishes simplifier and uniform notice procedures for all local government actions. 300.6 Provides the maximum authority to munici- palities to craft solutions based on local cir- cumstances to address historically discrimi- natory practices. 300.7 Removes all restrictions on local govern- ment's authority to recover the costs of services provided by the local government, including costs associated with the recov- ery and retrieval of shopping carts and the removal of political campaign materials. 300.8 Authorizes municipalities to utilize geo- graphic positioning systems (GPS) and geo- graphic information systems (GIS) to record or map information and data without be- ing required to hire a licensed surveyor as defined in Chapter 472, Florida Statutes. Tort Liability 301 The Florida League of Cities recognizes that tort liability for most governmental actions must remain limited. Unlimited tort liability will have a substantial impact on a government's ability to provide for the gen- eral health, safety and welfare of its citizens. Expenditures of public funds to satisfy tort judgments are a taxpayer's expense. Gov- ernments provide unique services to the general public, and these services require that traditional standards and notions of tort liability should not apply to official tax sup- ported governmental agencies. The Florida League of Cities will support legislation that: 7