Board of County Commissioners
Agenda Request
Date of Meeting:
August 5, 2013
Date Submitted:
July 30, 2013
To:
Honorable Chairman and Members of the Board
From:
David Edwards, County Administrator
Sheree T. Keeler, Governmental Affairs Coordinator
Subject:
Request Board Approval of 2014 State and Federal Legislative Priorities
Statement of Issue:
This agenda item requests Board approval of State and Federal Legislative Priorities for the 2014
legislative cycle.
Background:
The County’s state and federal legislative priorities are determined each year by the Board. After
priorities are approved by the Board, staff work with state and federal entities to seek legislative
changes and/or funding for the critical projects identified and deemed important by the Board.
Establishing County priorities is important when communicating with state and federal
representatives to ensure they are fully informed and aware of the critical issues and projects
important to our citizens.
State Appropriation Requests
Requests are typically submitted to members of the Legislative delegation through Community
Budget Issues Requests (CBIR), also known as member projects. At the time of this Board meeting,
staff has not received notification that CBIRs will be accepted. However, that does not preclude the
Board from seeking support of projects from the Governor, legislature or state agencies.
Federal Appropriation Requests
Appropriation requests are submitted separately through each U.S. Congressman and U.S. Senator by
separate submission procedures. Historically, the deadline for submitting Federal appropriation
requests is February. At the time of this Board meeting, staff has not received notification that local
appropriation request will be accepted. However, that does not preclude the Board from seeking
support of projects from Congress.
Wakulla’s current Federal and State delegation are:
Bill Nelson, U.S. Senator
Steve Southerland, U.S. Representative
Bill Montford, Florida Senator
Halsey Beshears, Florida Representative
Agenda Request Board Approval of 2014 State and Federal Legislative Priorities
July 30, 2013
Page 2
Important 2013-14 Legislative Activities and Dates:
 State agency 2013-14 budget requests due to the Governor September 2013, for the state
fiscal year beginning July 1, 2014-June 30, 2015.

Legislative committee meetings are scheduled to begin in September 2013.

Town-hall meetings with local legislative leadership, dates to be determined.

Governor’s Recommended Budget comes out in late January-early February.

2014 Legislative session will official begin March 4, 2014 and end on May 2, 2014.
Lobbyist Services
The Board did not include funding for state or federal lobbying services for the last three years,
including 2013-14. Staff served as primary lobbyist/legislative coordination for the County since
2009, and will continue to do so unless otherwise directed. To stay current with 2014 legislative
activities staff will continue to monitor state and federal legislative websites; monitor bills filed and
legislative calendars; participate in Florida Association of Counties’ legislative annual conference
and weekly calls; and, continue to stay engaged with legislators and their staff, state agency
leadership, Florida Association of Counties (FAC), Florida Small County Coalition (SCC) and others
as may be appropriate. Staff will also communicate with the Board on a regular basis regarding
legislation filed, legislative activities and events, as well as coordination of appearances before the
Legislature to speak on topics critical to Wakulla County.
Summary
County resources statewide are becoming more strained each year, placing more demand and
increased competition on state and federal funding opportunities. It is important that we engage
legislative and state agency leaders early on as we are competing with Florida’s other 66 counties for
funding and relief from federal and state mandates.
In January 2013, the Board approved the following 2013 legislative priorities:
1. U.S. 319 Crawfordville Corridor and major intersection improvements
2. SIS Designation of the U.S. 319 Crawfordville Corridor
3. Countywide Sewer and Wastewater Treatment upgrades and expansions
4. Funding to complete the design and construction of the Ocholockonee Bay Bike Trail
(OBBT), as well as enhancements such as trailheads, rest stops, and other amenities
Staff re-visited the 2013 legislative priorities and the County’s approved Adopted Infrastructure Plan
for developing the following 2014 legislative priorities, which are representative of needs
countywide:
Agenda Request Board Approval of 2014 State and Federal Legislative Priorities
July 30, 2013
Page 3
1)
2)
3)
4)
OBBT Funding to complete Phase 2 and Phase 5B ($2.6 Million)
U.S. 319 Corridor Improvements and Lane Expansion
FDOT SIS Designation of U.S.319 from U.S. 98 to the Tallahassee Regional Airport
Sewer and Wastewaters Needs – Countywide with the following in priority order:
 Wakulla Springs Watershed Protection – septic tank inspection, replacement,
repair ($1.4 million)
 WWTF Modifications for Establishing a Public Access Reuse Option ($1 million)
 Testing/Repair of Southern Portions of Otter Creek Wastewater Collection
System ($800,000)
 Regional Storm Water Facility- Crawfordville ($20 million)
 Panacea Sewer and Storm Water ($6 million)
 Sopchoppy Sewer and Storm Water ($2 million)
 Wakulla Gardens ($26 million)
5) Replace/Repair Bridges
 Sopchoppy River ($4.5 million)
 Tide Creek ($2.2 million)
 Wakulla River CR 365 (Upper Bridge) ($5.6 million)
6) Sidewalks
 Ochlocknee Street ($96,000)
 High Drive ($128,000)
 Crawfordville Senior Center to Community and Commercial Facilities ($367,000)
 Shadeville Road ($400,000)
 US 319 Downtown Crawfordville ($750,000)
 Panacea along US 98 ($268,000)
 Wakulla Highshool/Medart ($200,000)
7) Crawfordville Fire and EMS ($2 million)
8) Dredging at Shell Point, Mashes Sands and Spring Creek for ease and safety of boaters
(estimated cost unknown)
9) Paddling Trail Canoe/Kayak Launches and signage to encourage and enhance tourist and
economic activity in the County ($50-75,000 per location):
 Wakulla River Paddling Trial
 Sopchoppy River Paddling Trail
 Ochlockonee River Lower Paddling Trail
 Florida Circumnavigation Saltwater Paddling Trail
 Mashes Sands Park
 Shell Point Beach Park
 Purify Bay
10) Community Center – demonstration kitchen
Agenda Request Board Approval of 2014 State and Federal Legislative Priorities
July 30, 2013
Page 4
Staff is seeking Board approval of the recommend 2014 Legislative priorities or direction for
changes to the recommended projects and/or priorities.
Budgetary Impact:
This agenda item has no fiscal impact to the County.
Options:
1.
Approve the 2014 Legislative Priorities
2.
Do not approve the 2014 Legislative Priorities
3.
Board direction.
Recommendation:
Option #1