CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.House Bill 1909
Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HM 1909
By Representatives Bullard and Cosgrove
1 House Memorial
2 A memorial urging the Federal Government to
3 proceed expeditiously with the transfer of
4 surplus lands located at Homestead Air Force
5 Base.
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7 WHEREAS, in August of 1992, Hurricane Andrew devastated
8 the South Dade community, and
9 WHEREAS, South Dade's three major economic catalysts,
10 agriculture, tourism, and the Homestead Air Force Base, were
11 decimated, and
12 WHEREAS, as a result of the destruction brought upon
13 the base facilities, the Federal Government decided to close a
14 portion of the military property, which became surplus federal
15 property, and
16 WHEREAS, the Dade County civic, business, and
17 governmental community joined together to create a model reuse
18 plan for civilian use of the property as a commercial aviation
19 facility and petitioned the Federal Government to designate
20 Dade County government as a reuse authority for that purpose,
21 and
22 WHEREAS, the Federal Government accepted Dade County's
23 request to convey the property to the local government for
24 redevelopment, and
25 WHEREAS, the Florida Legislature, understanding the
26 urgency of redeveloping this major economic catalyst, created
27 an expedited land use plan process in 1994 embodied in chapter
28 288, Florida Statutes, and
29 WHEREAS, the two other main economic catalysts,
30 agriculture and tourism, have yet to reach economic levels
31 existing before Hurricane Andrew, thereby making redevelopment
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Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HM 1909
546-158-97
1 of the base property a more pressing need to revitalize a
2 still stagnant economy, and
3 WHEREAS, recent decisions by the Federal Government
4 dealing with welfare and immigration reform threaten to create
5 an economic crisis in Dade County, where job creation and
6 economic development will become the most important priority
7 of our citizens, and
8 WHEREAS, in the first 15 years of development of the
9 project, the reuse of Homestead Air Force Base may generate in
10 excess of 6,000 direct jobs, 12,000 indirect jobs, and 10,000
11 induced jobs, and
12 WHEREAS, failure to create adequate employment
13 opportunities in South Dade will lead to further depression of
14 the local economy, an increase in crime, and a greater need
15 for local and state welfare and social service assistance, and
16 WHEREAS, Dade County has conducted numerous studies
17 that indicate that redevelopment can occur in a prudent,
18 responsible fashion that balances the needs of economic
19 development and environmental protection, and
20 WHEREAS, Metropolitan Dade County has applied for
21 permits before the South Florida Water Management District to
22 allow initial development activity while further environmental
23 protection measures are studied and implemented, and
24 WHEREAS, this initial development activity will not
25 result in intensity of use or impacts at or above the levels
26 that existed before closure in 1992, and
27 WHEREAS, the Federal Government and the Department of
28 Defense are still evaluating the final conveyance application
29 by Metropolitan Dade County, and
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Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HM 1909
546-158-97
1 WHEREAS, a prompt and positive decision on the
2 conveyance is necessary to begin construction and economic
3 activity at base property, and
4 WHEREAS, the Federal Environmental Impact Statement
5 completed in 1994 regarding the reuse activity contemplates
6 all the uses and activities that will occur during the initial
7 phases of development, and
8 WHEREAS, the Federal Government, consistent with its
9 Environmental Impact Statement, should allow expedited
10 redevelopment of the initial facilities contemplated at the
11 base to proceed while further studies are conducted to
12 determine long-range impacts of future phases of development,
13 NOW, THEREFORE,
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15 Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
16
17 That the Florida Legislature strongly urges the Federal
18 Government and the Department of Defense to proceed
19 expeditiously with the conveyance of surplus Homestead Air
20 Force Base property in order to create the conditions
21 necessary to permit expedited redevelopment and generation of
22 jobs and economic activity in south Dade County.
23 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be
24 dispatched to the the President of the United States Senate,
25 the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives,
26 each member of the Florida delegation to the United States
27 Congress, and the Secretary of Defense.
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