House Bill 1091

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    Florida House of Representatives - 1999                HB 1091

        By Representative Wasserman Schultz






  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to the Hillsboro Inlet

  3         District, Broward County; combining and

  4         codifying chapter 96-541, Laws of Florida,

  5         chapter 94-454, Laws of Florida, chapter

  6         83-381, Laws of Florida, chapter 75-351, Laws

  7         of Florida, chapter 73-422, Laws of Florida,

  8         chapter 63-1178, Laws of Florida, chapter

  9         61-1966, Laws of Florida, and chapter 57-1183,

10         Laws of Florida, which created and incorporated

11         a special taxing district in Broward County,

12         known as the Hillsboro Inlet and Maintenance

13         District; repealing all prior special acts of

14         the Legislature relating to the Hillsboro Inlet

15         District; providing for an amendment to the

16         charter section titled "Prevention of Erosion

17         of City of Pompano Beach Area," previously

18         codified under chapter 75-351, Laws of Florida,

19         to allow the district to perform erosion

20         prevention activities to the extent possible

21         with existing district equipment and littoral

22         sands; providing that this act shall take

23         precedence over any conflicting law to the

24         extent of such conflict; providing an effective

25         date.

26

27  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

28

29         Section 1.  Chapters 96-541, 94-454, 83-381, 75-351,

30  73-422, 63-1178, 61-1966, and 57-1183, Laws of Florida, as

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  1  amended, are hereby codified, reenacted, amended, and repealed

  2  as herein provided.

  3         Section 2.  The act creating, establishing and

  4  providing for the operation of the Hillsboro Inlet District is

  5  recreated and reenacted to read:

  6         Section 3.  Section 1 of chapter 57-1183, Laws of

  7  Florida, as amended by chapter 96-541, Laws of Florida, is

  8  amended to read:

  9         Section 3. 1.  Created; boundaries.--That a special tax

10  district is hereby created and incorporated, to be known as

11  the "Hillsboro Inlet District" in Broward County, Florida,

12  which said district shall embrace and include the following

13  described property, situate, lying, and being in Broward

14  County, State of Florida, to-wit:

15

16         Beginning at the intersection of the Atlantic

17         Ocean and the Broward County-Palm Beach County

18         line; thence run Westerly along said Broward

19         County-Palm Beach County line to West

20         right-of-way line of Dixie Highway; thence

21         South along the West right-of-way line of Dixie

22         Highway to a point on the South line of Section

23         2, Township 49 South, Range 42 East; thence

24         East along said South line of Section 2,

25         Township 49 South, Range 42 East and Section 1,

26         Township 49 South, Range 42 East to the east

27         right-of-way line of Federal Highway U.S. #1;

28         thence South along East right-of-way line of

29         Federal Highway U.S. #1 to a point on the South

30         boundary of Section 13, Township 49 South,

31         Range 42 East; thence East along said South

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  1         boundary of Section 13, Township 49 South,

  2         Range 42 East and Section 18, Township 49

  3         South, Range 43 East, to the Atlantic Ocean;

  4         thence North along the mean low water mark of

  5         Atlantic Ocean to the Point of Beginning.

  6

  7         Section 4.  Section 2 of chapter 57-1183, Laws of

  8  Florida, as amended by chapter 96-541, Laws of Florida, is

  9  amended to read:

10         Section 4. 2.  Board of commissioners district.--

11         (1)  That the governing body of the Hillsboro Inlet

12  District shall consist of nine commissioners, who shall serve

13  without compensation, except as provided for in section 9. One

14  (1) representative on the governing body or Board of

15  Commissioners of the Hillsboro Inlet District shall be

16  appointed by each of the City Commissions or Town Councils of

17  the Cities of Deerfield Beach, Florida; Hillsboro Beach,

18  Florida; Pompano Beach, Florida; Lauderdale-By-The-Sea,

19  Florida;  Lighthouse Point, Florida; Fort Lauderdale, Florida;

20  and, Sea Ranch Lakes, Florida, and two (2) representatives

21  shall be appointed by the County Commission of Broward County,

22  Florida. Each representative so appointed by the

23  aforementioned municipalities shall represent the municipality

24  making such appointment, and the representatives appointed by

25  the said county commission shall represent the unincorporated

26  areas. The duties, functions, and responsibilities of the

27  district shall continue as provided for herein in the event

28  that any municipality represented hereby is dissolved, merged,

29  or fails to appoint representatives to the district board.

30  Said representatives shall be qualified electors, residing in

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  1  the district from which they are appointed for more than six

  2  months prior to appointment.

  3         (2)  A majority of the quorum at a regular or special

  4  meeting shall be sufficient for any legal action to be taken

  5  by the governing body of the district. Said commissioners

  6  shall be known and designated as the "Board of Commissioners

  7  of the Hillsboro Inlet District."

  8         (3)  All members currently qualified and holding office

  9  as commissioners shall continue in office until their terms

10  expire or as otherwise provided by law. The said commissioners

11  shall hold office for a term of 5 five (5) years from the date

12  of their respective appointments from the appointing

13  municipality or until their successors are appointed and

14  qualified. To the extent that any members of the board of

15  commissioners are members at the time of the adoption of this

16  act as appointees of the Board of County Commissioners of

17  Broward County, such members member(s) shall continue as

18  members member(s) until the expiration of their respective

19  appointment. The Governor of the State of Florida shall have

20  the power to remove any member of said board of commissioners

21  for cause and shall fill any vacancies that may at any time

22  occur therein. Each member shall give bond to the Governor of

23  the State of Florida for the faithful performance of his or

24  her duties in the sum of $10,000 Ten Thousand Dollars

25  ($10,000.00) with a surety company qualified to do business in

26  the State of Florida, as surety, which bond shall be approved

27  and kept by the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Broward County,

28  Florida. The premiums on said bonds shall be paid as part of

29  the expenses of said district.

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  1         Section 5.  Section 3 of chapter 57-1183, Laws of

  2  Florida, as amended by chapter 96-541, Laws of Florida, is

  3  amended to read:

  4         Section 5. 3.  General powers of the board of

  5  commissioners.--

  6         (1)  The Board of Commissioners of said Hillsboro Inlet

  7  District shall have all the powers of a body corporate,

  8  including the power to sue and be sued under the name of

  9  Hillsboro Inlet District, to contract and be contracted with;

10  to adopt and use a common seal, and to alter the same at

11  pleasure; to acquire, purchase, hold, lease, and convey such

12  real and personal property as said board may deem proper or

13  expedient to carry out the purposes of this act; to appoint

14  and employ such other agents, legal counsel, and employees as

15  said board may deem advisable; to act as an independent

16  special district and to comply with the applicable provisions

17  of chapter 189, Florida Statutes, as amended from time to

18  time; and to carry out the provisions of this act in the

19  manner hereinafter provided.

20         (2)  The Board of Commissioners of the said Hillsboro

21  Inlet District shall have the power to borrow money for the

22  purpose of paying current obligations and operating expenses

23  of the district, in accordance with the approved budget,

24  repayable out of current revenues reasonably to be anticipated

25  during the fiscal year in which the loan is made, provided

26  that the interest rate on such shall not exceed the market

27  rate then prevailing at the time of such borrowing.

28         (3)  The board of commissioners is hereby authorized to

29  pledge the current anticipated tax revenues as security for

30  any loan so made, provided that prior to any said loan the

31  board shall have first, by resolution, duly passed by not less

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  1  than two-thirds of the membership of the board, levied a tax

  2  on the real property in accordance with the provisions of

  3  sections 7 and 8 of this act.

  4         (4)  The board of commissioners shall, by duly passed

  5  resolution, authorize the loan to be secured by a note, or

  6  notes, signed by the chairman, and its seal impressed thereon.

  7         (5)  The board of commissioners is hereby authorized to

  8  pledge anticipated revenues to be derived during the extended

  9  life of the district for the purpose of securing a bond issue

10  for the purpose of affecting permanent improvements to the

11  Hillsboro Inlet; provided however, said bond issue be first

12  approved by not less than two-thirds of the membership of the

13  board.

14         Section 6.  Section 4 of chapter 57-1183, Laws of

15  Florida, as amended by chapters 61-1966 and 96-541, Laws of

16  Florida, is amended to read:

17         Section 6. 4.  Quorum; minutes; records.--

18         (1)  A majority of said commissioners shall constitute

19  a quorum. The commissioners shall cause true and accurate

20  minutes and records to be kept of all business transacted by

21  them, and shall keep full, true, and complete books of account

22  and minutes, which minutes, records, and books of account

23  shall at all reasonable times be open and subject to the

24  inspection of inhabitants of said district; and any person

25  desiring to do so may make or procure a copy of said minutes,

26  records, or books of account, or such portions thereof as he

27  may desire, all in accordance with the provisions of chapter

28  119, Florida Statutes, as amended from time to time.

29         (2)  There shall be at least one regular meeting of the

30  governing body each month. The regular meeting of the

31  governing body shall be conducted at a public building located

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  1  within the geographical boundaries of the district. The

  2  regular meetings of the governing body shall be conducted on

  3  the third Monday of each month commencing at 7:30 p.m.;

  4  however, the governing body by appropriate motion may change

  5  or cancel the date and time of the holding of the regular

  6  monthly meeting of the governing body. If such a change is

  7  made, a notice of the holding of the meeting at a time or date

  8  different then 7:30 p.m. on the third Monday of each month,

  9  shall be advertised pursuant to s. 189.417, Florida Statutes.

10         (3)  Special meetings or workshop meetings of the

11  governing body may be called from time to time by the chair,

12  vice chair, or by a majority of the members of the governing

13  body. A notice stating the date, time, and place of such

14  workshop meetings or special meetings of the governing body,

15  shall be posted at the customary location where the governing

16  body shall meet at least 24 hours prior to the holding of such

17  a meeting and with appropriate notification to the media, and

18  as may otherwise be required by law.

19         Section 7.  Section 5 of chapter 57-1183, Laws of

20  Florida, as amended by chapter 96-541, Laws of Florida, is

21  amended to read:

22         Section 7. 5.  Improvements, facilities, etc.,

23  authorized; declaration of public purpose.--

24         (1)  Said board of commissioners is hereby authorized

25  and empowered to establish, construct, operate, and maintain

26  such improvements, facilities, and equipment as in their

27  opinion shall be necessary for the maintenance of navigation

28  and drainage at Hillsboro Inlet. Said improvements,

29  facilities, or equipment shall be established, constructed,

30  operated, and maintained by said board of commissioners for

31  the preservation and aid of navigation and for the public good

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  1  and for the use of the public of said district at Hillsboro

  2  Inlet; and maintenance of such facilities within said district

  3  is hereby found and declared to be a public purpose and

  4  necessary for the preservation of navigation and for the

  5  public use and welfare of said district and inhabitants

  6  thereof.

  7         (2)  The district is hereby authorized and empowered to

  8  enter into interlocal agreements, from time to time, by,

  9  between, and among lawfully qualified governmental entities

10  described and defined in chapter 163, Florida Statutes, as

11  amended from time to time.

12         Section 8.  Section 6 of chapter 57-1183, Laws of

13  Florida, as amended by chapter 96-541, Laws of Florida, is

14  amended to read:

15         Section 8. 6.  Payment of funds out of district.--The

16  funds of said district shall be paid out only upon check

17  signed by the chair, or in his or her absence, the vice chair

18  of the board, or any other commissioner so designated; and no

19  check shall be drawn or issued against funds of said district,

20  except for a purpose authorized by this act, and no such check

21  against funds of this district shall be drawn or issued until

22  after the account or expenditure for which the same is to be

23  given in payment has been approved by the board of

24  commissioners.

25         Section 9.  Section 7 of chapter 57-1183, Laws of

26  Florida, as amended by chapter 96-541, Laws of Florida, is

27  amended to read:

28         Section 9. 7.  Tax levy authorized.--The board of

29  commissioners of the said Hillsboro Inlet District is hereby

30  authorized, empowered, and directed annually to levy upon all

31  the real taxable property in said district a sufficient tax

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  1  necessary for the purposes and needs of said district incurred

  2  in the exercise of the powers and purposes herein granted;

  3  provided, however, the amount of the tax levied shall not

  4  exceed, in any event, one-half of one mill on the assessed

  5  valuation of such real property so taxed.

  6         Section 10.  Section 8 of chapter 57-1183, Laws of

  7  Florida, as amended by chapter 96-541, Laws of Florida, is

  8  amended to read:

  9         Section 10. 8.  Resolution levying tax, assessment, and

10  collection by county.--That the levy by said board of

11  commissioners of the taxes authorized by any provision of this

12  act, shall be by resolution of said board duly entered upon

13  the minutes of the board, in accordance with the provisions

14  contained in chapter 200, Florida Statutes, as amended from

15  time to time. The Tax Collector of Broward County, Florida,

16  shall collect such tax so levied by said board in the same

17  manner as other taxes are collected, and shall pay the same

18  over to the Board of Commissioners of Hillsboro Inlet

19  District within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.

20  The said taxes shall be assessed by the same officer as are

21  county taxes upon such property, and such taxes shall be

22  remitted by the collecting officer to the Board of

23  Commissioners of Hillsboro Inlet District. All such taxes

24  shall be held by said board of commissioners and paid out by

25  them as provided in this act. The board is authorized to pay

26  necessary expenses consistent with chapter 200, Florida

27  Statutes, as amended from time to time, for the assessment and

28  collection of taxes on a reasonable fee basis.

29         Section 11.  Section 9 of chapter 57-1183, Laws of

30  Florida, as amended by chapter 96-541, Laws of Florida, is

31  amended to read:

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  1         Section 11. 9.  Expenses.--The board of commissioners

  2  is authorized to pay from the funds of the district all costs,

  3  fees, and expenses of the board and all other reasonable and

  4  necessary expenses, as provided for in chapter 112, Florida

  5  Statutes, as amended from time to time. This section, however,

  6  shall not be construed to restrict any of the powers vested in

  7  said board of commissioners by any other section or provision

  8  of this act. At their option, members of the board of

  9  commissioners shall be entitled to continue to receive health

10  and medical insurance otherwise available to employees of the

11  district. Members of the board of commissioners shall be

12  entitled to receive reimbursement for expenses provided for in

13  chapter 112, Florida Statutes, as amended from time to time.

14         Section 12.  Section 10 of chapter 57-1183, Laws of

15  Florida, as amended by chapter 96-541, Laws of Florida, is

16  amended to read:

17         Section 12. 10.  Publication of annual statement.--The

18  board of commissioners shall publish, one time in a newspaper

19  of general circulation, in the district, a budget summary of

20  the district coincidental with the annual budgeting and

21  appropriation process associated with the district's

22  compliance with chapter 200, Florida Statutes, as amended in

23  its adoption of an annual millage and budget provided for in

24  this act.

25         Section 13.  Section 11 of chapter 57-1183, Laws of

26  Florida, is amended to read:

27         Section 13. 11.  Construction of provisions.--It is

28  intentioned that the provision of this article shall be

29  liberally construed for accomplishing the work authorized and

30  provided for or intended to be provided for in this article

31  and where strict construction would result in the defeat of

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  1  the accomplishment of any part of the work authorized by this

  2  article, and a liberal construction would permit or assist in

  3  the accomplishment thereof, the liberal construction shall be

  4  chosen.

  5         Section 14.  Section 11A of chapter 57-1183, Laws of

  6  Florida, as created by section 1 of chapter 75-351, Laws of

  7  Florida, is amended to read:

  8         Section 14. 11A.  Prevention of Erosion of City of

  9  Pompano Beach area.--Should any improvement or maintenance of

10  the Hillsboro Inlet by the Hillsboro Inlet District contribute

11  to or accelerate erosion of any beach area in the City of

12  Pompano Beach or cause any area of the City of Pompano Beach

13  to be denied drainage and navigation through the inlet which

14  it formerly enjoyed, then the Hillsboro Inlet District is

15  hereby authorized to build such structures and perform such

16  activities as a part of its regular duties, to the extent

17  possible with then existing district equipment from the sand

18  available from the littoral drift, as will:

19         (1)(a)  Ensure that the inlet's improvements or

20  maintenance no longer contribute to or accelerate erosion of

21  any beach area in the City of Pompano Beach; and

22         (2)(b)  Ensure that any area in the City of Pompano

23  Beach which formerly enjoyed drainage and navigation through

24  the inlet will continue to enjoy drainage and navigation

25  through the inlet.

26         Section 15.  Section 12 of chapter 57-1183, Laws of

27  Florida, as amended by chapter 96-541, Laws of Florida, is

28  amended to read:

29         Section 15. 12.  Purchase; competitive bidding.--

30         (1)  All purchases of supplies, equipment, and

31  materials for use in the operation and maintenance of said

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  1  district in excess of $2,500, shall be approved by the Board

  2  of Commissioners of the Hillsboro Inlet District after

  3  competitive conditions shall have been maintained and

  4  competitive bids or price quotations sought from at least

  5  three (3) different sources of supply. During unusual

  6  conditions or emergencies, the board of commissioners may by

  7  resolution authorize the purchase of designated supplies and

  8  equipment in excess of the limitations herein prescribed when

  9  in the discretion of the board of commissioners the purchase

10  contemplated is deemed to be in the best interests of the

11  citizens and residents residing in the district.

12         (2)  If in the opinion of the chair or vice chair an

13  emergency situation exists which poses a threat to life,

14  health, and safety or for the protection of the assets of the

15  district, the chair, or in his absence, the vice chair,

16  subject to later ratification by the governing body, may incur

17  costs and expenses associated with remedying the aforesaid

18  conditions in an amount not to exceed $50,000 dollars and

19  further subject to future annual increases as occasioned by

20  the most closely aligned Consumer Price Index applicable to

21  South Florida. Contracts for construction of public

22  improvements authorized under this act shall not be let by the

23  board of commissioners except after advertisement for

24  competitive sealed bids has been made; but this provision

25  shall not apply to work performed by regular employees of the

26  Hillsboro Inlet District.

27         Section 16.  Section 12 of chapter 96-541, Laws of

28  Florida, is amended to read:

29         Section 16. 12.  Section 15 of chapter 57-1183, Laws of

30  Florida, is hereby repealed and The Hillsboro Inlet District

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  1  shall have continuous existence unless otherwise Sunsetted by

  2  the Legislature, as provided by law.

  3         Section 17.  Section 13 of chapter 96-541, Laws of

  4  Florida, is amended to read:

  5         Section 17. 16.  Disposition of property upon

  6  termination of district.--Upon the termination of the

  7  Hillsboro Inlet District, all real, personal, or mixed

  8  properties of the district shall become and be vested in the

  9  State of Florida, by operation of law, and all money on hand

10  or thereafter received, after satisfaction of all indebtedness

11  and obligations of the district, shall revert to the several

12  subdivisions comprising the district, and refund shall be made

13  to each subdivision in the same proportion that the several

14  subdivisions have contributed to the revenues of the district

15  for the fiscal year in which the termination takes place.

16         Section 18.  Section 18 of chapter 57-1183, Laws of

17  Florida, as created by chapter 61-1966, Laws of Florida, and

18  amended by chapter 96-541, Laws of Florida, is amended to

19  read:

20         Section 18. 17.  Removal of commissioners.--The

21  appointing bodies appointing commissioners pursuant to section

22  2 of this act shall have the right and power to remove such

23  appointees, with or without cause.

24         Section 19.  Except as specifically provided herein,

25  chapters 96-541, 94-454, 83-381, 75-351, 73-422, 63-1178,

26  61-1966, and 57-1183, Laws of Florida, are repealed.

27         Section 20.  In the event of a conflict of the

28  provisions of this act with the provisions of any other act,

29  the provisions of this act shall control to the extent of such

30  conflict.

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  1         Section 21.  In the event any section or provision of

  2  this act is determined to be invalid or unenforceable, such

  3  determination will not affect the validity of or

  4  enforceability of each other section and provision of this

  5  act.

  6         Section 22.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a

  7  law.

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