House Bill 4497

    Florida House of Representatives - 1998                HM 4497

        By Representative Bullard






  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.

  6

  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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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida House of Representatives - 1998                HM 4497

    546-158A-98






  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 - 1998                HM 4497

    546-158A-98






  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:

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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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