House Bill 1543er

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  1

  2         An act relating to Pinellas Suncoast Transit

  3         Authority; providing for codification of

  4         special laws relating to Pinellas Suncoast

  5         Transit Authority; providing a short title;

  6         providing definitions; creating the Pinellas

  7         Suncoast Transit Authority; providing for

  8         membership and terms of office; providing

  9         purpose and powers; providing boundaries;

10         providing for exemption from regulation and

11         taxation; providing for special district

12         taxation; providing for future expansion;

13         providing for severability; repealing chapters

14         70-907, 82-368, 82-416, 90-449, 94-433, 94-438,

15         and 99-440, Laws of Florida; providing an

16         effective date.

17

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

19

20         Section 1.  Chapters 70-907, 82-368, 82-416, 90-449,

21  91-338, 94-433, 94-438, and 99-440, Laws of Florida, are

22  codified, reenacted, amended, and repealed as herein provided.

23         Section 2.  The Pinellas County Suncoast Transit

24  Authority is re-created and reenacted to read:

25         Section 1.  Short title.--This act shall be known and

26  may be cited as the "Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority Act."

27         Section 2.  Definitions.--As used in this act, unless

28  the content clearly indicates otherwise, the following terms

29  shall have the meanings set forth below:

30         (1)  "Authority" means the body politic and corporate,

31  an independent special district, created by this part.


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  1         (2)  "Members" means the governing body of the

  2  authority and "member" means one of the individuals

  3  constituting such governing body.

  4         (3)  "Pinellas Suncoast Transit Area" means the

  5  municipalities of Clearwater, Dunedin, Largo, Safety Harbor,

  6  Belleair, Belleair Bluffs, Indian Rocks Beach, St. Petersburg,

  7  Tarpon Springs, Oldsmar, Pinellas Park, Gulfport, Seminole,

  8  South Pasadena, Indian Shores, Madeira Beach, North Redington

  9  Beach, Redington Beach, Redington Shores, and the

10  unincorporated areas of Pinellas County located directly

11  between the aforesaid municipalities as determined by an

12  extension of a municipal boundary directly to the next

13  neighboring municipal boundary and such other areas as

14  provided by this law.

15         (4)  "Municipality" means any city, village, borough,

16  or town.

17         (5)  "County" means the County of Pinellas.

18         (6)  "Public transit" means transportation of

19  passengers for hire by means, without limitation, of a street

20  railway, elevated railway, subway, motor vehicle, bus, or

21  other means of conveyance operating as a common carrier within

22  the public transit area as provided, and charter service

23  originating therein.

24         (7)  "Public transit system" means, without limitation,

25  a combination of property, structures, improvements,

26  equipment, plants, parking or other facilities, and rights, or

27  any thereof, used or useful for the purposes of public

28  transit.

29         (8)  "Mass transit system" means a public transit

30  system to provide rapid public transit for large numbers of

31  passengers.


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  1         (9)  "Operator" means any person engaged in or seeking

  2  to engage in the business of providing public transit, but

  3  does not include persons engaged primarily in the

  4  transportation of children to or from school, in operating

  5  taxicabs, buses, limousines, or other means for the

  6  transportation of passengers between a common carrier terminal

  7  station and a hotel or motel, in operating a common carrier

  8  railroad, or a person furnishing transportation solely for his

  9  or her or its employees or customers.

10

11  Words importing singular number shall include the plural

12  number in each case and vice versa, and the words importing

13  persons shall include firms and corporations.

14         Section 3.  Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority; status

15  and governing body.--

16         (1)  There is hereby created and established a body

17  politic and corporate, an independent special district, to be

18  known as the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority, hereinafter

19  referred to as "authority."

20         (2)(a)  The governing body of the authority shall

21  consist of 11 members, serving and selected as provided in

22  this paragraph.

23         1.  One member shall be appointed by the City

24  Commission of the City of Clearwater from its membership.

25         2.  One member shall be appointed by the City

26  Commission of the City of Dunedin from its membership.

27         3.  One member shall be appointed by the City

28  Commission of the City of Largo from its membership.

29         4.  One member shall be appointed by the City Council

30  of the City of Pinellas Park from its membership.

31


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  1         5.  One member shall be appointed by the City Council

  2  of the City of St. Petersburg from its membership.

  3         6.  One member shall be appointed by the combined

  4  municipal governing bodies of the Cities of Oldsmar, Safety

  5  Harbor, and Tarpon Springs from their membership.

  6         7.  One member shall be appointed by the combined

  7  municipal governing bodies of the Cities of Belleair, Belleair

  8  Bluffs, Gulfport, Kenneth City, Seminole, and South Pasadena

  9  from their membership.

10         8.  One member shall be appointed by the combined

11  municipal governing bodies of the Cities of Belleair Beach,

12  Belleair Shores, Indian Rocks Beach, Indian Shores, Madeira

13  Beach, North Redington Beach, Redington Beach, Redington

14  Shores, St. Petersburg Beach, and Treasure Island from their

15  membership.

16         9.  One member shall be appointed by the Pinellas

17  County Commission from its membership.

18         10.  One member shall be appointed by the Pinellas

19  County Commission, and this member may not be an elected

20  official.

21         11.  One member shall be appointed by the City Council

22  of the City of St. Petersburg, and this member may not be an

23  elected official.

24

25  After the expiration of each term of each member of the

26  governing body of the authority, that member's successor shall

27  be chosen by the same appointing authority as the member and

28  must possess the same qualifications.  Each term of office

29  shall be 3 years, and a member may not serve more than 3

30  consecutive terms as a member of the governing body of the

31  authority.


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  1         (b)  Each appointed member shall hold office until his

  2  or her successor has been appointed and qualified.  A vacancy

  3  occurring during a term shall be filled only for the balance

  4  of the unexpired term.  A selection to fill a vacancy or

  5  select a successor shall be made within 60 days after the

  6  occurrence of the vacancy or before expiration of the term,

  7  whichever is applicable.  If any selection is not made as

  8  provided in this subsection, the Board of County Commissioners

  9  of Pinellas County shall appoint an eligible person to the

10  authority with like effect as if the selection were made by a

11  municipality or group of municipalities.  Any member of the

12  authority is eligible for reappointment, except that the

13  member may not serve more than 3 consecutive terms.

14         (3)  Each appointed member of the authority shall be a

15  person who is a qualified elector of the county with an

16  outstanding reputation for civic pride, interest, integrity,

17  responsibility, and business ability.  No person who is an

18  officer or employee of any city or of the county in any

19  capacity, except elected officials, shall be an appointed

20  member of the authority.  Further, no member shall have any

21  private financial interest, directly or indirectly, in any

22  contract, work, or business of the authority or any public

23  transit system subject to regulation by the authority or be in

24  the employ of or hold any stock, bond, investment, or other

25  financial interest or private business relationship to any

26  operator of a public transit system in the Pinellas Suncoast

27  Transit Area.

28         (4)  The authority shall elect one of its members as

29  chair of the authority and one as a vice chair to serve for 1

30  year in that capacity or until their secretary/treasurer

31  successors are elected.  At the same time, a


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  1  secretary/treasurer shall be elected who may or may not be a

  2  member of the authority, and he or she shall serve at the will

  3  of the authority. A majority of the appointed board shall

  4  constitute a quorum, and the vote of a quorum shall be

  5  necessary for any action taken by the authority.  No vacancy

  6  in the authority shall impair the right of a quorum of the

  7  authority to exercise all of the rights and perform all of the

  8  duties of the authority.  Upon the effective date of his or

  9  her appointment, or as soon thereafter as practicable, each

10  appointed member of the authority shall enter upon his or her

11  duties.

12         (5)  The authority may employ an executive director who

13  shall be a person of recognized ability and experience to

14  serve at the pleasure of the authority.  The executive

15  director may employ such employees as may be necessary for the

16  proper administration of the duties and functions of the

17  authority, and may determine the qualifications of such

18  persons; however, the board must approve such positions and

19  fix the compensation for employees.  Also, the authority may

20  contract for the services of attorneys, engineers,

21  consultants, and agents for any purpose of the authority,

22  including engineering, management, feasibility, and other

23  studies concerning the acquisition, construction, extension,

24  operation, maintenance, regulation, consolidation, and

25  financing of transit systems in the area.

26         (6)  Members of the authority shall be entitled to

27  receive from the authority their traveling and other necessary

28  expenses incurred in connection with the business of the

29  authority, as provided in section 112.061, Florida Statutes,

30  but they shall receive no salaries or other compensation.

31  Members of the authority may be removed from office by


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  1  four-fifths vote of the members of the board of county

  2  commissioners for misconduct, malfeasance, misfeasance, or

  3  nonfeasance in office.

  4         (7)  The authority shall provide a report to the

  5  Pinellas County legislative delegation each July.

  6         Section 4.  Purposes and powers.--

  7         (1)  The authority created and established by the

  8  provisions of this act is hereby granted and shall have the

  9  right and power to purchase, own, and/or operate transit

10  facilities, to contract for transit services, to exercise

11  power of eminent domain, to conduct studies, and to contract

12  with other governmental agencies, private companies, and

13  individuals.

14         (2)  The authority is hereby granted, and shall have

15  and may exercise all powers necessary, appurtenant,

16  convenient, or incidental to the carrying out of the aforesaid

17  purposes, including, but not limited to, the following rights

18  and powers:

19         (a)  To sue and be sued, implead and be impleaded, and

20  complain and defend in all courts.

21         (b)  To adopt, use, and alter at will a corporate seal.

22         (c)  To acquire, purchase, hold, lease as a lessee, and

23  use any franchise, property, real, personal, or mixed,

24  tangible or intangible, or any interest therein, necessary or

25  desirable for carrying out the purposes of the authority, and

26  to sell, lease as lessor, transfer, and dispose of any

27  property or interest therein at any time acquired by it.  Any

28  sale, lease, or transfer of any property or interest shall be

29  upon competitive bid.

30         (d)  To fix, alter, charge, and establish rates, fares,

31  and other charges for the services and facilities of the


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  1  Pinellas Suncoast Transit System, which rates, fees, and

  2  charges shall be equitable and just and sufficient to meet the

  3  operating requirements of the system along with other revenue

  4  that may be available.

  5         (e)  To regulate other operators of public transit in

  6  the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Area as to franchises, permits,

  7  fares, and other charges to establish rules and regulations

  8  pertaining to these matters for distribution to the operators

  9  and public transit facilities in said area.

10         (f)  To make contracts of every name and nature and to

11  execute all instruments necessary or convenient for the

12  carrying on of its business.

13         (g)  To enter into management contracts with any person

14  or persons for the management of a transit system owned or

15  controlled by the authority for such period or periods of

16  time, and under such compensation and other terms and

17  conditions as shall be deemed advisable by the authority.

18         (h)  Without limitation, to borrow money and accept

19  gifts or grants or loans of money or other property and to

20  enter into contracts, leases, or other transactions with any

21  federal agency, the state, any agency of the state, the County

22  of Pinellas, or with any other public body of the state.

23         (i)  To do all acts and things necessary or convenient

24  for the conduct of its business and the general welfare of the

25  authority in order to carry out the powers granted to it by

26  this part or any other law.

27         (j)  To prescribe and promulgate rules and regulations

28  as it deems necessary for the purposes of this act.

29         Section 5.  Pinellas Suncoast Transit Area.--

30         The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Area shall consist of the

31  municipalities of Belleair, Belleair Bluffs, Clearwater,


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  1  Dunedin, Indian Rocks Beach, Largo and Safety Harbor, St.

  2  Petersburg, Tarpon Springs, Oldsmar, Pinellas Park, Gulfport,

  3  Seminole, South Pasadena, Indian Shores, Madeira Beach, North

  4  Redington Beach, Redington Beach, and Redington Shores, along

  5  with certain contiguous unincorporated areas, all located

  6  within Pinellas County and more specifically defined as

  7  follows:

  8

  9         Beginning at a point where the line dividing

10         townships twenty-six and twenty-seven south if

11         projected in a westerly direction intersects

12         with the western boundary of the jurisdictional

13         waters of the State of Florida in the Gulf of

14         Mexico; thence east on said line to the

15         northeast corner of section one in township

16         twenty-seven south, range sixteen east; thence

17         south to the shore of old Tampa Bay; thence in

18         a southerly direction through the middle waters

19         of old Tampa Bay and Tampa Bay, to a point in

20         Tampa Bay due east of the north shore of Mullet

21         Key; thence due west to a point due north of a

22         point 100 yards due east from the easternmost

23         point of Mullet Key; thence in a line 100 yards

24         from the shoreline around the southern portion

25         of Mullet Key to a point 100 yards west of the

26         northernmost shore of Mullet Key; thence west

27         to a point where such line intersects the

28         western boundary of the jurisdictional waters

29         of the State of Florida in the Gulf of Mexico

30         and northward, including the waters of said

31


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  1         gulf within the jurisdiction of the State of

  2         Florida, to point of beginning.

  3

  4         Less and except:  The City of St. Petersburg

  5         Beach, the Town of Belleair Shores, the City of

  6         Treasure Island, and the Town of Kenneth City,

  7         each as more particularly described as Parcels

  8         I through IV below:

  9

10         Parcel I. City of St. Petersburg Beach:

11

12         From a point of beginning at the intersection

13         of the center line of Blind Pass and a line

14         which is 40 feet south of the south boundary of

15         74th Avenue extended in St. Pete Beach; thence

16         run northerly along the center line of Blind

17         Pass to a point 870 feet north of [and]

18         measured at right angles from the center of

19         Blind Pass Bridge where it now crosses Blind

20         Pass on the present State Road No. 699; thence

21         run north 81 degrees, 31 minutes, and 3 second

22         east along a line parallel to Blind Pass Bridge

23         to the center line of the Government Channel in

24         Boca Ciega Bay; thence run southeasterly and

25         southerly along the center line of said

26         Government Channel in Boca Ciega Bay to where

27         said channel intersects what is known as

28         Pass-a-Grille Channel lying east of what is now

29         Vina Del Mar, formerly known as Mud Key; thence

30         run southerly along the center line of said

31         Pass-a-Grille Channel to a point 500 feet south


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  1         of the southernmost tip of Long Key as it now

  2         exists; thence run due west into the Gulf of

  3         Mexico 10 miles; thence run due north to a

  4         point which lines south 60 degrees west from

  5         the point of beginning; thence run north 60

  6         degrees east to the point of beginning.

  7         Together with the tracts of land described in

  8         fee simple deed from Elsie S. Allen, widow, to

  9         the Long Key Sewer District, a political

10         subdivision of the State of Florida, dated May

11         3, 1956, and filed May 4, 1956, in deed book

12         1594, page 526, as clerk's instrument No.

13         274302A, Pinellas County Records, and in fee

14         simple deed from Kenneth Eriksen and Jacquelyn

15         M. Eriksen, his wife to the Long Key Sewer

16         District, a political subdivision of the State

17         of Florida, dated December 13, 1955, and filed

18         October 16, 1956, in deed book 1625, page 261,

19         as clerk's instrument No. 311304A, Pinellas

20         County Records, said lands being the land on

21         which the sewer plan of the Long Key Sewer

22         District is to be located; and including any

23         and all submerged lands lying between the side

24         lines of said tracts extended in straight lines

25         in a westerly direction to the center line of

26         the Government Channel of Boca Ciega Bay. All

27         of the lands described above line in Pinellas

28         County, Florida, and said descriptions include

29         all of the keys known as Long Key, Boca Ciega

30         Isle (Coon Key), Vina Del Mar (Mud Key), the

31         Long Key Sewer District lands, and land


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  1         adjacent thereto in Boca Ciega Bay, together

  2         with all lands adjacent thereto.

  3

  4         Parcel II.  Town of Belleair Shores:

  5

  6         The Town of Belleair Shore is bound on the

  7         south by the Town of Indian Rocks Beach; on the

  8         East by the West Right-of-Way line of Gulf

  9         Boulevard; on the north by the City of Belleair

10         Beach and on the West by the waters of the Gulf

11         of Mexico to the limit of the jurisdiction of

12         the State of Florida, and is more particularly

13         described as follows:

14

15         Beginning at the SW corner of Section 31,

16         Township 29 South, Range 15 East, thence

17         Northerly along the Range line 4.11 ft., thence

18         N. 10°15'40" East, 205.47 ft., thence N.

19         11°52'02" East, 5219.96 ft. to a point on the

20         North boundary of Section 31, Township 29

21         South, Range 15 East, thence N. 89°03'13" West

22         along said North boundary 285 feet more or less

23         to the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, then

24         extending along the same line into the waters

25         of the Gulf of Mexico to the limit of the

26         jurisdiction of the State of Florida, thence

27         South 11°41'44" West along the jurisdictional

28         limit line of the State of Florida in the

29         waters of the Gulf of Mexico to the

30         intersection of the jurisdictional limit line

31         of the State of Florida in the waters of the


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  1         Gulf of Mexico, with the Township line between

  2         Township 30 South, Range 14 East, and Township

  3         29 South, Range 14 East, and including the

  4         waters of the Gulf of Mexico within the

  5         jurisdiction of the State of Florida, thence in

  6         an easterly direction along said Township line

  7         to the point of beginning, being otherwise

  8         known and described as Lots 1 to 67 inclusive,

  9         Belleair Beach Unit No. 1, which is an

10         unrecorded Plat; a map of said Plat, however

11         being contained in a Deed recorded in Deed Book

12         963, page 473, of the Public Records of

13         Pinellas County, Florida; and Lots 1 to 20

14         inclusive of Tinny's Subdivision; a Plat of

15         said subdivision being recorded in Plat Book 5,

16         page 2, of the Public Records of Pinellas

17         County, Florida; and the waters of the Gulf of

18         Mexico within the jurisdiction of the State of

19         Florida adjacent thereto.

20

21         Parcel III.  City of Treasure Island:

22

23         From the southeast corner of Section 15,

24         Township 31 South, Range 15 East, run north

25         along the east boundary of said Section 15,

26         1950 feet more or less to the centerline of

27         John's Pass Channel for a point of beginning;

28         then run north 46 degrees east to the

29         centerline of Government Channel in Boca Ciega

30         Bay; thence southerly along said centerline of

31         Government Channel to a point 870 feet


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  1         northerly of and measured at right angles to

  2         the centerline of the bridge across Blind Pass

  3         as established by the right-of-way of State

  4         Road No. 699 (Gulf Boulevard); thence run

  5         southwesterly parallel to said bridge

  6         centerline to the center of Blind Pass Channel

  7         to a point 40 feet south of the south boundary

  8         of 74th Avenue, extended; thence south 60

  9         degrees west, 10 miles along a line parallel to

10         said extension of 74th Avenue; thence north to

11         a point south 46 degrees west from the point of

12         beginning; thence north 46 degrees east to the

13         point of beginning.

14

15         And

16

17         Parcel IV.  Town of Kenneth City:

18

19         Beginning at the north 1/4 corner of Section 5,

20         Township 31 South, Range 16 East, said point

21         also being the south 1/4 corner of Section 32,

22         Township 30 South, Range 16 East, Pinellas

23         County, Florida; thence north 50 feet along the

24         north and south 1/4 line of said Section 32,

25         Township 30 South, Range 16 East, thence east

26         50.0 feet north and parallel to south line of

27         Section 32, Township 30 South, Range 16 East,

28         to the west line of Lot 1, Block 1, Plat of

29         Lealman Highlands Subdivision as recorded in

30         Plat Book 26, page 63; thence south along said

31         west line of Lot 1, 17.0 feet to a point 33.0


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  1         feet north of south line of Section 32,

  2         Township 32 South, Range 16 East; thence east

  3         parallel to and 33 feet north of south line of

  4         Section 32, Township 30 South, Range 16 East,

  5         along the south line of said Lealman Highlands

  6         Subdivision, Lot 1, Block 1, Lot 1, Block 3

  7         along south line of Lots 1 and 2, Block 1 and

  8         Lots 1 and 2, Block 3, Lealman Highlands

  9         Subdivision No. 2, as recorded in Plat Book 26,

10         page 42, and along south line of Lealman

11         Highlands Subdivision No. 3, recorded in Plat

12         Book 26, page 68, to southeast corner of Lot 2,

13         Block 2 of said Lealman Highlands Subdivision

14         No. 3; thence north 17 feet to the southwest

15         corner of Lot 1, Block 1, Lealman Highlands

16         Subdivision No. 4, as recorded in Plat  Book

17         26, page 92; thence east parallel to and 50

18         feet north along the south line of Lots 1 and

19         2, Block 1 and Lots 1 and 2, Block 3 of the

20         last mentioned subdivision, to the southeast

21         corner of Lot 2, Block 3 of said subdivision;

22         thence north along the east line of said

23         Lealman Highlands Subdivision No. 4, said line

24         also being the west line of west 1/2 of east

25         1/2 of southeast 1/4 of southeast 1/4 of

26         Section 32, Township 30 South, Range 16 East;

27         thence east along the north line of the west

28         1/2 of the east 1/2 of southeast 1/4 of

29         southeast 1/4 of Section 32 to east line of

30         said west 1/2 of east 1/2 of southeast 1/4 of

31         southeast 1/4 of Section 32, Township 30 South,


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  1         Range 16 East; thence south along east line of

  2         aforementioned parcel to the north line of east

  3         1/2 of southeast 1/4 of southeast 1/4 of

  4         Section 32, Township 30 South, Range 16 East;

  5         thence east along said north line to a point

  6         110 feet west of east line of said Section 32;

  7         thence south parallel to east line of said

  8         Section 32, 115.0 feet; thence east parallel to

  9         north line of east 1/2 of southeast 1/4 of

10         southeast 1/4 of Section 32, Township 30 South,

11         Range 16 East, 143 feet to a point 33.0 feet

12         east of the west line of Section 33, Township

13         30 South, Range 16 East; thence south parallel

14         to and 33 feet east of line to a point 163 feet

15         north of south line of Section 33; thence east

16         parallel to south line of Section 33, Township

17         30 South, Range 16 East 135 feet; thence south

18         parallel to line of Section 33, 130 feet to a

19         point 33 feet north of south line of Section

20         33, Township 30 South, Range 16 East; thence

21         east and parallel to south line of Section 33,

22         to the east line of southwest 1/4 of southwest

23         1/4 of southwest 1/4 of Section 33, Township 30

24         South, Range 16 East and the northwest 1/4 of

25         northwest 1/4 of northwest 1/4 of Section 4,

26         Township 31 South, Range 16 East to the North

27         line of southeast 1/4 of northwest 1/4 of

28         northwest 1/4; thence east along north line of

29         southeast 1/4 of northwest 1/4 of northwest 1/4

30         of Section 4, Township 31 South, Range 16 East

31         to the east line of west 1/2 of the northwest


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  1         1/4 of Section 4, Township 31 South, Range 16

  2         East; thence south along the east line of west

  3         1/2 of northwest 1/4 and the west 1/2 of

  4         southwest 1/4 of Section 4, Township 31 South,

  5         Range 16 East to the south line of the north

  6         3/4 of west 1/2 southwest 1/4 of Section 4,

  7         Township 31 South, Range 18 East; thence west

  8         along said south line of north 3/4 of west 1/2

  9         of southwest 1/4 to west line of Section 4,

10         Township 31 South, Range 16 East; thence

11         continue west to southerly extension of west

12         line of Lots 1 thru 7, inclusive Block 12,

13         Sunhaven Homes Unit 2, Plat Book 37, page 78

14         and 79; thence north along west line of Lots 7

15         thru 1 inclusive, Block 12 Sunhaven Homes Unit

16         2, and its extension to the south line of Joe's

17         Creek Right-of-Way; thence west along south

18         line of Joe's Creek Right-of-Way to west line

19         of southeast 1/4 of northeast 1/4 of southeast

20         1/4 of Section 5, Township 31 South, Range 16

21         East; thence north along west line of southeast

22         1/4 of northeast 1/4 of southeast 1/4; thence

23         east along the north line of southeast 1/4 of

24         northeast 1/4 of southeast 1/4 of Section 5,

25         Township 31 South, Range 16 East, to a point 50

26         feet west of east line Section 5, Township 31

27         South, Range 16 East, said point along in the

28         west line of 58th Street North; thence north

29         along said line and 50 feet west of east line

30         of Section 5, Township 31 South, Range 16 East

31         to the east and west 1/4 line of Section 5,


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  1         Township 31 South, Range 16 East; thence west

  2         along said east and west 1/4 line of Section 5,

  3         Township 31 South, Range 16 East to the east

  4         line of north 1/2 of northwest 1/4 of southeast

  5         1/4 of Section 5, Township 31 South, Range 16

  6         East; thence south along east line of north 1/2

  7         of northwest 1/4 of southeast 1/4, Section 5,

  8         Township 31 South, Range 16 East to the

  9         southeast corner of said north 1/2 of northwest

10         1/4 of southeast 1/4 thence west along south

11         line of north 1/2 of northwest 1/4 of southeast

12         1/4 to the east line of southwest 1/4 of

13         northwest 1/4 of southeast 1/4 of Section 5,

14         Township 31 South, Range 16 East; thence south

15         along east line of southwest 1/4 of northwest

16         1/4 of southeast 1/4 of Section 5, Township 31

17         South, Range 16 East to the north line of Joe's

18         Creek Right-of-Way; thence west along the north

19         line of Joe's Creek Right-of-Way to the north

20         and south line of Section 5, Township 31 South,

21         Range 16 East; thence south along said north

22         and south 1/4 line of Section 5, Township 31

23         South, Range 16 East, to south line of north

24         1/2 of southwest 1/4 of Section5, Township 31

25         South, Range 16 East; thence west along south

26         line of north 1/2 of southwest 1/4 to the west

27         line of Section 5, Township 31 South, Range 16

28         East; thence north along the west line of said

29         Section 5, Township 31 South, Range 16 East to

30         a point 50 feet west of the extension of the

31         north line of Lot 5, Hazelcrest Subdivision as


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  1         recorded in Plat Book 26, page 119, public

  2         records of Pinellas County, westerly to the

  3         intersection with west line of Section 5,

  4         Township 31 South, Range 16 East; thence east

  5         along said extension and north line of Lot 5,

  6         Hazelcrest Subdivision to the northeast corner

  7         of said Lot 5; thence south along east line of

  8         Lot 5 and its extension to a point 30 feet

  9         north of the east and west 1/4 line of said

10         Section 5, Township 31 South, Range 16 East;

11         thence east on line 30 feet north and parallel

12         to said east and west 1/4 line, Section 5,

13         Township 31 South, Range 16 East, to the west

14         line of the south 3/4 of the east 1/2 of Farm

15         25, Pinellas Farms, as recorded in Plat Book 7,

16         page 4 and 5, public records of Hillsborough

17         County, Florida, of which Pinellas County was

18         formerly a part; thence north along the west

19         line of the south 3/4 of east 1/2 of Farm 25 to

20         the north line of said south 3/4 of east 1/2;

21         thence east along north line of south 3/4 of

22         east 1/2 of Farm 25 to east line of Farm 25;

23         thence south along east line of Farm 25 to a

24         point 30 feet north of the east and west 1/4

25         line of Section 5, Township 31 South, Range 16

26         East; thence east along a line 30 feet to north

27         and parallel the east and west 1/4 line to the

28         west line of the southeast 1/4 of the northwest

29         1/4; thence south along the west line of

30         southwest 1/4 of northwest 1/4 to east and west

31         1/4 line, Section 5, Township 31 South, Range


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  1         16 East; thence east along east and west 1/4

  2         line to its intersection with the north and

  3         south 1/4 line; thence north along the north

  4         and south 1/4 line of Section 5, Township 31

  5         South, Range 16 East, to the center line of

  6         50th Avenue North, thence west along center

  7         line of 50th Avenue North, 50 feet; thence

  8         north 50 feet and parallel to north and south

  9         1/4 line to a point 339.94 feet south of north

10         line of Section 5, Township 31 South, Range 16

11         East; thence east 17 feet to a point 33 feet

12         west of north and south 1/4 line; thence north

13         parallel to and 33 feet west of the north and

14         south 1/4 line of the north 1/4 corner of

15         Section 5, Township 31 South, Range 16 East;

16         thence east along north line of Section 5,

17         Township 31 South, Range 16 East, 33 feet to

18         the point of beginning.

19

20         Together with: The north 281.66 feet of the

21         east 165 feet of west 1/2 of the east 1/2 of

22         the southeast 1/4 of southeast 1/4 of Section

23         32, Township 30 South, Range 16 East, Pinellas

24         County, Florida.

25

26         Pursuant to Ordinance No. 232, together with:

27         Parcel of land in southwest 1/4 of southwest

28         1/4 of southwest 1/4 of Section 33, Township 30

29         South, Range 16 East, described as follows:

30         Commencing at the southwest corner of Section

31         33, Township 30 South, Range 16 East; thence


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  1         north 0°02'28" west along west line of Section

  2         33, Township 30 South, Range 16 East, 332.50

  3         feet; thence south 89°46'45" east parallel to

  4         and 325.44 feet south of south line of

  5         Whitewood Terrace, as recorded in Plat Book 47,

  6         page 39, 200.0 feet to point of beginning;

  7         thence continue south 89°46'45" east, 321.10

  8         feet, thence south 1°47'47" east, 80.0; thence

  9         south 0°15'52" east, 20.0 feet to a point 233.0

10         feet north of south line of Section 33,

11         Township 30 South, Range 16 East; thence north

12         89°30'37" west, 322.93 feet to a point 200.0

13         feet east of west line of Section 33, Township

14         30 South, Range 16 East; thence north 0°02'28"

15         west, 99.82 feet to point of beginning.

16

17         The west 703 feet of the south 1/2 of the north

18         325.44 feet of the south 1/2 of the southwest

19         1/4 of the southwest 1/4 of Section 33,

20         Township 30 South, Range 16 East, Pinellas

21         County, Florida, less the east 120 feet

22         thereof.

23

24         West 703 feet of north 1/2 of north 325.44 feet

25         of the south 1/2 of southwest 1/4 of southwest

26         1/4 of Section 33, Township 30 South, Range 16

27         East, Pinellas County, less and except road

28         right-of-way.  There has been not taking or

29         dedication of record as yet for this portion of

30         property for street purposes.

31


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  1         The above-described tract of land includes the

  2         right-of-way at 58th Street North, which is the

  3         east 120 feet of said described tract.

  4

  5         Pursuant to Ordinance No. 241, together with:

  6         Begin at the northeast corner of Sun Haven

  7         Homes Unit Three, as recorded in Plat Book 39,

  8         page 25, public records of Pinellas County,

  9         Florida, said point also being the northeast

10         corner of the northeast 1/4 of the southeast

11         1/4 of Section 5, Township 31 South, Range 16

12         East, Pinellas County, Florida; thence south

13         0°24'59" west, along the center line of 58th

14         St. North, a distance of 50.00 feet; thence

15         south 89°55'19" west, along the south

16         right-of-way line of 46th Avenue North a

17         distance of 1318.92 feet to the center line of

18         60th St. North; thence north 0°24'27" east,

19         along said center line a distance of 50.00 feet

20         to the north line of the southeast 1/4 of said

21         Section 5 and with the center line of 46th Ave.

22         North, a distance of 1318.93 feet to the point

23         of beginning.

24

25         Pursuant to Ordinance No. 257, together with:

26         The north 1/2 of the west 1/2 of Pinellas Farm

27         26 and the south 30 feet of the southwest 1/4

28         of Farm 29, all in the north 1/2 of Section 5,

29         Township 31 South, Range 16 East, according to

30         the plat thereof as recorded in Plat Book 7,

31         page 4 and 5, public records of Hillsborough


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  1         County, Florida, of which Pinellas County,

  2         Florida, was formerly a part.

  3

  4         The east 1/2 of north 1/4 of Farm 25, of

  5         Section 5, Township 31 South, Range 16 East, as

  6         shown by plat of Pinellas Farms as recorded in

  7         Plat Book 7, page 4 and 5, public records of

  8         Hillsborough County, Florida, of which Pinellas

  9         County was formerly a part.

10

11         Pursuant to Ordinance No. 260, together with:

12         The north 115 feet of the east 110 feet of the

13         east 1/2 of the southeast 1/4 of the southeast

14         1/4 of the southeast 1/4 of Section 32,

15         Township 30 South, Range 16 East, Pinellas

16         County, Florida.

17

18         Pursuant to Ordinance No. 269, together with:

19         The east 55 feet of the south 263 feet of the

20         west 1/2 of the east 1/2 of the southeast 1/4

21         of the southeast 1/4 of Section 32, Township 30

22         South, Range 16 East, of the public records of

23         Pinellas County, Florida, less road

24         right-of-way for 54th Avenue North.

25

26         Pursuant to Ordinance No. 275, together with:

27         The east 120.00 feet of the west 708.00 feet of

28         the south 162.72 feet of the north 325.44 feet

29         of the south 1/2 of the southwest 1/4 of the

30         southwest 1/4 of Section 33, Township 30 South,

31         Range 16 East, less the north 30 feet thereof,


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  1         being known as Lots 10 and 11, according to the

  2         unrecorded map of Emfinger Acres, together with

  3         an easement in perpetuity over and across the

  4         north 30.00feet of the said west 703.00 feet of

  5         the south 162.72 feet of the north 325.44 feet

  6         of the south 1/2 of the southwest 1/4 of the

  7         southwest 1/4 of Section 33, Township 30 South,

  8         Range 16 East, for ingress and egress, Pinellas

  9         County, Florida;

10

11         And together with a perpetual easement for

12         installation and maintenance of public

13         utilities across the south 5 feet of the west

14         583 feet of the south 162.72 feet of the north

15         325.44 feet of the south 1/2 of the southwest

16         1/4 of the southwest 1/4 of said Section 33,

17         Pinellas County, Florida.

18         Section 6.  Exemption from regulation.--The public

19  transit systems operating in and under the authority of this

20  law and for the purposes created thereunder, shall be exempt

21  from any of the regulatory provisions of chapter 350, Florida

22  Statutes.

23         Section 7.  Exemption from taxation.--Notwithstanding

24  any other law to the contrary, the property, monies, and other

25  assets of the authority and all revenues or other income of

26  the authority, shall be exempt from all taxation, licenses,

27  fees, or other charges of any kind imposed by the state or by

28  the county or by any municipality, political subdivision,

29  taxing district, or other public agency or body of the state.

30         Section 8.  Special district taxation.--The Pinellas

31  Suncoast Transit Authority shall be deemed a special district


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  1  and is authorized to levy an ad valorem tax on the taxable

  2  real property in the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Area at a rate

  3  sufficient to produce an amount that may be necessary for the

  4  purposes of this act, but not to exceed three-quarters of a

  5  mill; provided such millage limit is approved by a vote of the

  6  qualified electors who are residents of the transit area.

  7  Property taxes determined and levied under this section shall

  8  be certified by the authority to the county property

  9  appraiser, extended, assessed, and collected in like manner as

10  provided by law for regular property taxes for the county or

11  municipalities.  The proceeds under this section shall be

12  remitted by the tax collector to the treasurer of the

13  authority who shall credit them to the funds of the authority

14  for use for the purposes of this act.  At any time after

15  making a tax levy under this section and certifying the same

16  to the county, the authority may issue tax anticipation notes

17  of indebtedness in anticipation of the collection of such

18  taxes.

19         Section 9.  Expansion of area.--Upon a resolution

20  adopted by the governing body of municipalities adjoining the

21  present transit area or by the board of county commissioners

22  for adjoining unincorporated areas, the authority may include

23  such areas in the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Area subject to

24  approval of qualified electors in the added area for tax

25  purposes as provided herein.

26         Section 10.  Nothing contained in this act shall in any

27  way effect the appointment of the present members of the

28  governing body of the authority, the terms of said members, or

29  the number of consecutive terms that any of said members may

30  serve.

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  1         Section 11.  It is declared to be the legislative

  2  intent that if any subsection, sentence, clause, or provision

  3  of this act is held invalid, the remainder of the act shall

  4  not be affected.

  5         Section 12.  This act shall supersede any general or

  6  local law in conflict with the intent and purposes of this

  7  act.

  8         Section 13.  Repeal of prior special acts.--Chapters

  9  70-907, 82-368, 82-416,  90-449, 91-338,  94-433, 94-438, and

10  99-440, Laws of Florida, are repealed.

11         Section 3.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a

12  law.

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