HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity of Tamarac Resolution R-2021-009 Temp. Reso #13553
January 15, 2021
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CITY OF TAMARAC, FLORIDA
RESOLUTION NO. R-2021- C(-
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF TAMARAC, FLORIDA; APPROVING THE CITY OF
TAMARAC 2021 FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA;
DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT A COPY OF
THE CITY OF TAMARAC 2021 FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE
AGENDA TO THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES, THE U.S.
SENATORS FROM FLORIDA, FLORIDA CONGRESSIONAL
DELEGATION AND THE BROWARD COUNTY BOARD OF
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS; PROVIDING FOR
CONFLICTS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND
PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
11111 WHEREAS, the City of Tamarac actively monitors and comments on Federal,
State and local legislation that may impact the City and its residential and business
communities; and
WHEREAS, the City of Tamarac has developed a 2021 Federal Legislative
Agenda outlining the City's position on particular national legislative issues, attached
hereto as Exhibit A; and
WHEREAS, the City Manager and the Assistant City Manager recommend
approval and distribution of the City of Tamarac 2021 Federal Legislative Agenda; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission of the City of Tamarac deems it to be in the best
interest of the citizens and residents of the City of Tamarac to approve the City of Tamarac
2021 Federal Legislative Agenda and direct the City Clerk to transmit a copy of said
Agenda to the National League of Cities, the U.S. Senators from Florida, Florida
• Temp. Reso #13553
January 15, 2021
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PASSED, ADOPTED AND APPROVED this 27 ^day of ii/M-t j , 2021.
,,,,,„(-2 ,_
MIC LLE J. GOM , MAYOR
ATTEST:
.L .+fit ,,° `.-- _-L_ I` / A_ t,
N FER JOSON, MC
Ci Clerk
RECORD OF COMMISSION VOTE
MAYOR GOMEZ
S DIST 1: COMM. BOLTON 2_
DIST 2: COMM. GELIN _AIA)
DIST 3: V/M VILLALOBOS
DIST 4: COMM. FLACK()
I HEREBY CERTIFY that I have
approve t ' ESOLUTION as to form.
v2, / . .Zk(
IN T, Interi C. Attorney
Ili
EXHIBIT A
At A VIE A
'' r
The City For Your Life
CITY OF TAMARAC, FLORIDA
2021 FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
Michelle J. Gomez, Mayor
Marlon D. Bolton, Commissioner
E. Mike Gelin, Commissioner
Elvin Villalobos, Commissioner/Vice Mayor
Debra Placko, Commissioner
Michael C. Cernech, City Manager
Hans Ottinot, Interim City Attorney
January 27, 2021
Coronavirus Relief
• The City of Tamarac supports passage of direct Coronavirus Relief Fund
payments to local governments enabling municipalities to make up for budget
shortfalls directly related to COVID-19 and making this funding available for the
local COVID-19 recovery efforts significantly faster rather than relying on the
County or the State for fund distribution, which may delay the implementation of
recovery and assistance programs.
• The City of Tamarac supports federal coronavirus relief stimulus legislation that
provides the following:
o enables local governments to expediently enable the COVID-19 vaccine
roll-out and ensures the availability and implementation of personal
protective equipment, sanitation and social distancing measures;
o provides funding to assist small businesses and restaurants, schools,
eligible non-profits, hospitals and local first responders, and those
unemployed due to COVID-19,
o helps provide affordable housing, protections from eviction, homelessness
prevention, other necessary assistance and support to struggling renters
and homeowners.
Economic Development
The City of Tamarac supports the Federal programs that promote economic
development, creation of jobs that pay a living wage, business attraction, retention and
growth, and ongoing assistance to small businesses. Towards that end the City
supports the following:
• Assistance, grants, and/or tax incentives for retail plaza owners to reposition
the failing plazas in light of changes in retail in the post-COVID-19 economy;
• Continued renewal of the New Markets Tax Credit;
• Funding for education and workforce development programs that create
opportunities for employment in the industries that pay a living wage and
support business community's workforce needs;
• Grants for public art programs that support economic growth and job creation
through arts and placemaking;
• The extension of the Federal Opportunity Zone program timeframe to give
investors more time to maximize the value of investing in the zones to attract
high quality projects and the expansion of program to additional low-income
neighborhoods.
Sustaining the Affordable Housing Stock via HUD Programs
The Citysupports recurringand increased fundingfor CDBG and HOME programs, that
pP p 9
help municipalities to provide quality housing, preserve and sustain existing housing
stock for low to moderate income households while contributing the vitality of
neighborhoods and communities.
Infrastructure
The City of Tamarac supports investment in addressing the existing and future
infrastructure needs, including support for the following:
• Preservation of the tax-exempt status of municipal bonds, which serve as the
primary financing mechanism for state and local infrastructure projects and are
critical to local government's ability to address the infrastructure needs and fund
infrastructure projects by utilizing public funds in a prudent and equitable
manner;
• Adequate and reliable long-term funding for infrastructure projects reflecting
local needs and priorities, including SMART fiber for digital connectivity;
• Funding for the development of a convenient and connected transportation
network, including a variety of transit options, as a means to reduce congestion,
protect the environment, and stimulate economic development;
• Continuous reauthorization of the Water Resources Development Act and funding
for Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act and the Drinking Water
State Revolving Loan Fund Program with a higher level of support for water
infrastructure projects, including projects that ensure the safety of drinking
water, with the exception of a requirement for biannual consumer confidence
reports. The City is committed to continuously ensuring the quality and safety of
drinking water provided to its consumers and to annually publishing a Water
Quality Report to ensure transparency. Compliance with the biannual reporting
rule would place an undue burden on the cities due to the significant monetary
and human resources required to collect an extensive set of data twice a year.
Public Safety
The City of Tamarac supports federal funding through Department of Justice grants to
support community oriented policing strategies.
The City of Tamarac supports federal funding through grants to improve fire rescue
response times and serve emergency operations needs.
Disaster Preparedness and Recovery
The City of Tamarac supports and encourages sustained and increased funding for
FEMA to ensure the full and timely reimbursement of expenditures incurred by local
governments in response to emergencies. The City further supports FEMA's ongoing
efforts aimed at assisting the local emergency preparedness efforts through grants.
National Flood Insurance Program
The City supports policies that ensure all property owners receive affordable flood
insurance within a framework that helps NFIP become financially stable.
Green Initiatives
The City of Tamarac supports policies that fund programs, grants and initiatives that
promote environmental protection and sustainable practices. To that end, the City
supports legislation that allocates funding and resources to encourage projects aimed
at increasing energy efficiency, clean, renewable energy, sustainability and resiliency to
extreme weather events.
Parks and Open Space
The City supports grants and federal investment in land acquisition, development,
rehabilitation, and enhancement of new and existing parks.