Senate Bill 2758
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
    Florida Senate - 2000        (NP)                      SB 2758
    By Senator McKay
    26-1261-00                                          See HB 965
  1                      A bill to be entitled
  2         An act relating to Southern Manatee Fire and
  3         Rescue District; providing for codification of
  4         special laws relating to Southern Manatee Fire
  5         and Rescue District pursuant to s. 191.015,
  6         F.S.; providing legislative intent; amending,
  7         codifying, and reenacting all prior special
  8         acts; providing for incorporation as a special
  9         fire control district; providing a district
10         boundary; providing for a governing board of
11         said district; providing for non-ad valorem
12         assessments and impact fees; providing a
13         schedule of non-ad valorem assessments;
14         providing for district powers, functions, and
15         duties; deleting a reference to the district
16         from chapter 93-352, Laws of Florida, as
17         amended by chapter 94-373, Laws of Florida;
18         providing for construction and effect;
19         providing for repeal of chapter 92-249, Laws of
20         Florida; providing an effective date.
21
22  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
23
24         Section 1.  Chapters 92-249 and 94-373, Laws of
25  Florida, are codified, reenacted, amended, and repealed as
26  herein provided.
27         Section 2.  The Southern Manatee Fire and Rescue
28  District is re-created and reenacted to read:
29         Section 1.  Intent.--Pursuant to section 191.015,
30  Florida Statutes, this act constitutes the codification of all
31  special acts relating to Southern Manatee Fire and Rescue
                                  1
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    Florida Senate - 2000        (NP)                      SB 2758
    26-1261-00                                          See HB 965
  1  District.  It is the intent of the Legislature to provide a
  2  single, comprehensive special act charter for the district
  3  including all current legislative authority granted to the
  4  district by its several legislative enactments and any
  5  additional authority granted by this act and chapters 189 and
  6  191, Florida Statutes, as they may be amended from time to
  7  time.  It is further the intent of this act to preserve all
  8  district authority.
  9         Section 2.  Incorporation.--All of the unincorporated
10  lands in Manatee County, as described in this act, shall be
11  incorporated into an independent special fire control
12  district. Said special fire control district shall be a public
13  municipal corporation under the name of the Southern Manatee
14  Fire and Rescue District. The district is organized and exists
15  for all purposes set forth in this act and chapters 189 and
16  191, Florida Statutes.  The district was created by the merger
17  of the Oneco-Tallevast and Samoset Fire Control Districts in
18  chapter 92-249, Laws of Florida.  This charter may be amended
19  only by special act of the Legislature.
20         Section 3.  Jurisdiction.--The lands to be incorporated
21  within the Southern Manatee Fire and Rescue District are
22  located in Manatee County, Florida, and are described as
23  follows:
24         Begin at the northwest corner of the southwest
25         quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 36,
26         Township 34 South, Range 17 East, thence run
27         generally east along the south line of the city
28         limits of the City of Bradenton and an easterly
29         extension thereof to the center line of the
30         Braden River at a point in Section 33, Township
31         34 South, Range 18 East; provided however that
                                  2
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    Florida Senate - 2000        (NP)                      SB 2758
    26-1261-00                                          See HB 965
  1         those unincorporated enclaves located within
  2         the corporate limits of the City of Bradenton
  3         within Sections 29 and 32, Township 34 South,
  4         Range 18 East are included; thence meandering
  5         the center line of the Braden River in a
  6         southeasterly, southerly and southwesterly
  7         direction to a point where the Braden River
  8         intersects the westerly Right-of-Way line of
  9         I-75, said point located in Section 25,
10         Township 35 South, Range 18 East; thence
11         southerly along said West Right-of-Way line of
12         I-75 and the extension thereof to the line
13         dividing Manatee County and Sarasota County,
14         said point being located in Section 36,
15         Township 35 South, Range 18 East; then west to
16         the Southeast corner of Section 36, Township 35
17         South, Range 17 East; thence north to the
18         Northeast corner of Section 36, Township 35
19         South, Range 17 East; thence west to the
20         Southwest corner of Southeast corner of Section
21         25, Township 35 South, Range 17 East; thence
22         north to the north line of said Section 25,
23         Township 35 South, Range 17 East; thence West
24         to the Southwest corner of Section 24, Township
25         35 South, Range 17 East; thence north to the
26         point of beginning.
27         Section 4.  Governing board.--
28         (1)  In accordance with chapter 191, Florida Statutes,
29  the business and affairs of the district shall be conducted
30  and administered by a five-member board of fire commissioners
31  elected pursuant to chapter 191, Florida Statutes, by the
                                  3
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    Florida Senate - 2000        (NP)                      SB 2758
    26-1261-00                                          See HB 965
  1  electors of the district in a nonpartisan election held at the
  2  time and in the manner prescribed for holding general
  3  elections in section 189.405(2)(a), Florida Statutes.  Each
  4  member of the board shall be elected for a term of 4 years and
  5  shall serve until his or her successor assumes office.
  6         (2)  The office of each board member is designated as a
  7  seat on the board, distinguished from each of the other seats
  8  by a numeral:  1, 2, 3, 4, or 5.  Each candidate must
  9  designate, at the time he or she qualifies, the seat on the
10  board for which he or she is qualifying.  The name of each
11  candidate who qualifies shall be included on the ballot in a
12  way that clearly indicates the seat for which he or she is a
13  candidate.  The candidate for each seat who receives the most
14  votes shall be elected to the board.
15         (3)  In accordance with chapter 191, Florida Statutes,
16  each member of the board must be a qualified elector at the
17  time he or she qualifies and continually throughout his or her
18  term.
19         (4)  In accordance with chapter 191, Florida Statutes,
20  each elected member shall assume office 10 days following the
21  member's election.  Annually, within 60 days after the newly
22  elected members have taken office, the board shall organize by
23  electing from its members a chair, a vice chair, a secretary,
24  and a treasurer.  The positions of secretary and treasurer may
25  be held by one member.
26         (5)  Members of the board may each be paid a salary or
27  honorarium to be determined by at least a majority plus one
28  vote of the board, pursuant to chapter 191, Florida Statutes.
29         (6)  If a vacancy occurs on the board due to the
30  resignation, death, removal of a board member, or the failure
31  of anyone to qualify for a board seat, the remaining members
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    Florida Senate - 2000        (NP)                      SB 2758
    26-1261-00                                          See HB 965
  1  may appoint a qualified person to fill the seat until the next
  2  general election, at which time an election shall be held to
  3  fill the vacancy for the remaining term, if any.
  4         (7)  The procedures for conducting district elections
  5  or referenda and for qualification of electors shall be
  6  pursuant to chapters 189 and 191, Florida Statutes.
  7         (8)  The board shall have those administrative duties
  8  set forth in this act and chapters 189 and 191, Florida
  9  Statutes, as they may be amended from time to time.
10         Section 5.  Authority to levy non-ad valorem
11  assessments.--Said district shall have the right, power, and
12  authority to levy non-ad valorem assessments as defined in
13  section 197.3632, Florida Statutes, against the taxable real
14  estate lying within its territorial bounds in order to provide
15  funds for the purpose of the district.  The rate of such
16  assessments shall be fixed annually by a resolution of the
17  board of commissioners after the conduct of a public hearing.
18  Such non-ad valorem assessments may be imposed, collected, and
19  enforced pursuant to the provisions of sections
20  197.363-197.3635, Florida Statutes.
21         Section 6.  Schedule of non-ad valorem
22  assessments.--The assessment procedures and amount, as set
23  forth herein, represent the manner to be followed and the
24  maximum allowable rates that may be charged by the district,
25  if needed.  For assessment purposes, all property within the
26  district shall be divided into three general classifications:
27  vacant parcels, residential parcels, and commercial/industrial
28  parcels.
29         (1)  Vacant parcels shall include all parcels that are
30  essentially undeveloped and are usually classified by the
31  property appraiser as use code types "0000," "0004," "1000,"
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    Florida Senate - 2000        (NP)                      SB 2758
    26-1261-00                                          See HB 965
  1  "4000," "9800," "9900," and "5000" through "7000."  The
  2  maximum annual assessment for these parcels shall be:
  3         (a)  Vacant platted lots (use code 0000) or unbuilt
  4  condominia (use code 0004) $4 per lot or condominium.
  5         (b)  Unsubdivided acreage (use codes 5000 through 7000
  6  and 9800, 9900, and 9901) $2 per acre or fraction thereof,
  7  except that not more than $250 may be assessed against any one
  8  parcel.
  9         (c)  Vacant commercial and industrial parcels, per lot
10  or parcel (use codes 1000 and 4000) $4 per lot or parcel.
11
12  Whenever a residential unit is located on a parcel defined
13  herein as vacant, the residential plot shall be considered as
14  one lot or one acre, with the balance of the parcel being
15  assessed as vacant land in accordance with the schedule
16  herein.  Whenever an agricultural or commercial building or
17  structure is located on a parcel defined herein as vacant, the
18  building or structure shall be assessed in accordance with the
19  schedule of commercial/industrial assessments.
20         (2)  Residential parcels include all parcels that are
21  developed for residential purposes and are usually classified
22  by the property appraiser as use code types "0100" through
23  "0800," "0801," "0803," and "2802."  All residential parcels
24  shall be assessed by the number and size of dwelling units per
25  parcel. Surcharges may be assigned by the district for
26  dwelling units located on the third or higher floors.  The
27  maximum annual assessment for these parcels shall be:
28         (a)  Single family residential (use code 0100) shall be
29  assessed per dwelling unit.  The base assessment for all
30  dwellings may not exceed $60 for the first 1,000 square feet.
31
                                  6
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    Florida Senate - 2000        (NP)                      SB 2758
    26-1261-00                                          See HB 965
  1  Each square foot above 1,000 square feet shall be assessed at
  2  a rate not to exceed $0.04 per square foot.
  3         (b)  Condominia residential (use code 0400) shall be
  4  assessed $90 per dwelling unit.
  5         (c)  Mobile homes (use codes 0200 or 0204) shall be
  6  assessed $80 per dwelling unit.
  7         (d)  Multifamily residential (use codes 0300 and 0800),
  8  cooperatives (use code 0500), retirement homes (use code
  9  0600), and miscellaneous residential uses (use code 0700)
10  shall be assessed $90 per dwelling unit or, in the case of
11  group quarters, per bedroom.
12         (e)  Mobile home or travel trailer parks (use code
13  2802) shall be assessed $80 per dwelling unit or available
14  rental space as applicable.
15         (f)  Any other residential unit, including, but not
16  limited to, the residential portions of mixed uses (use code
17  1200), shall be assessed $90 per dwelling unit.
18         (3)(a)  Commercial/industrial parcels shall include all
19  other developed parcels that are not included in the
20  residential category as defined above.  All
21  commercial/industrial parcels shall be assessed on a square
22  footage basis for all buildings and structures in accordance
23  with the following schedule and hazard classification. The
24  district may or may not vary the assessment by hazard
25  classifications as set forth herein.
26         (b)  The base assessment for all buildings and
27  structures shall be $200 for the first 1,000 square feet on a
28  parcel.  The schedule for all square footage above 1,000
29  square feet is as follows.  However, the district may grant an
30  improved hazard rating to all or part of the buildings and
31
                                  7
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    Florida Senate - 2000        (NP)                      SB 2758
    26-1261-00                                          See HB 965
  1  structures if they are equipped with complete internal fire
  2  suppression facilities.
  3    Category         Use Codes            Square Foot Assessment
  4
  5    Mercantile (M)   1100,1200,1300,1400,
  6                     1500,1600,1604,2900  $0.0525 per sq. ft.
  7    Business (B)     1700,1704,1800,1900,
  8                     1904,2200,2300,2400,
  9                     2500,2600,3000,3600  $0.0525 per sq. ft.
10    Assembly (A)     2100,3100,3200,3300,
11                     3400,3500,3700,3800,
12                     3900,7600,7700,7900  $0.0675 per sq. ft.
13    Factory/         4100,4104,4400,4500,
14      Industrial (F) 4600,4700,9100       $0.0900 per sq. ft.
15    Storage (S)      2000,2700,2800,4900  $0.0900 per sq. ft.
16    Hazardous (H)    4200,4300,4800,4804  $0.1050 per sq. ft.
17    Institutional    7000,7100,7200,7300,
18      (I)            7400,7800,8400,8500,
19                     9200                 $0.0600 per sq. ft.
20         (c)  Whenever a parcel is used for multiple hazard
21  classifications, the district may vary the assessment in
22  accordance with actual categories.
23         (d)  The board of commissioners shall have the
24  authority to further define these use code numbers subject to
25  information received from the property appraiser's office.
26         (e)  Whenever one industrial complex under single
27  ownership has more than 2.5 million square feet of structures
28  on a site of contiguous parcels or a site of parcels that
29  would be contiguous except that they are dissected by one or
30  more transportation rights-of-way, the maximum fire tax
31  assessment may not exceed one-half of the adopted fire tax
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    Florida Senate - 2000        (NP)                      SB 2758
    26-1261-00                                          See HB 965
  1  rate for that tax year for factory industrial use.  Such rate
  2  shall be applied to all structural square footage in the
  3  complex regardless of actual use or use classification.
  4         Section 7.  Impact fees.--
  5         (1)(a)  It is hereby found and determined that the
  6  district is located in one of the fastest growing areas of
  7  Manatee County, which is itself experiencing one of the
  8  highest growth rates in the nation.  New construction and
  9  resulting population growth have placed a strain upon the
10  capabilities of the district to continue providing the high
11  level of professional fire protection and emergency service
12  for which the residents of the district pay and which they
13  deserve.
14         (b)  It is hereby declared that the cost of new
15  facilities for fire protection and emergency service should be
16  borne by new users of the district services to the extent new
17  construction requires new facilities, but only to that extent.
18  It is the legislative intent of this section to transfer to
19  the new users of the district's fire protection and emergency
20  services a fair share of the costs that new users impose on
21  the district for new facilities.
22         (c)  It is hereby declared that the amount of the
23  impact fees provided for in this section are just, reasonable,
24  and equitable.
25         (2)  No person may issue or obtain a building permit
26  for new residential dwelling units or new commercial or
27  industrial structures within the district, or issue or obtain
28  construction plan approval for new mobile home or recreational
29  or travel trailer park developments located within the
30  district, until the developer thereof has paid the applicable
31  impact fee to the district as follows:  each new residential
                                  9
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    Florida Senate - 2000        (NP)                      SB 2758
    26-1261-00                                          See HB 965
  1  dwelling unit, $150; new commercial or industrial structures,
  2  $310 up to 5,000 square feet, and $310 plus $0.08 per square
  3  foot above 5,000 square feet for structures 5,000 square feet
  4  or over; new recreational or travel trailer park developments,
  5  $40 per lot or permitted space.
  6         (3)  The impact fees collected by the district pursuant
  7  to this section shall be kept as a separate fund from other
  8  revenues of the district and shall be used exclusively for the
  9  acquisition, purchase, or construction of new facilities or
10  portions thereof required to provide fire protection and
11  emergency service to new construction.  "New facilities" means
12  land, buildings, and capital equipment, including, but not
13  limited to, fire and emergency vehicles and radio-telemetry
14  equipment.  The fees may not be used for the acquisition,
15  purchase, or construction of facilities which must be obtained
16  in any event, regardless of growth within the district.  The
17  board of fire commissioners shall maintain adequate records to
18  ensure that impact fees are expended only for permissible new
19  facilities.
20         Section 8.  Other district powers, functions, and
21  duties.--In addition to any powers set forth in this act, the
22  district shall hold all powers, functions, and duties set
23  forth in chapters 189, 191, and 197, Florida Statutes, as they
24  may be amended from time to time, including, but not limited
25  to, ad valorem taxation, bond issuance, other revenue-raising
26  capabilities, budget preparation and approval, liens and
27  foreclosure of liens, use of tax deeds and tax certificates as
28  appropriate for non-ad valorem assessments, and contractual
29  agreements.  The district may be financed by any method
30  established in this act, chapter 189, Florida Statutes, or
31
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    Florida Senate - 2000        (NP)                      SB 2758
    26-1261-00                                          See HB 965
  1  chapter 191, Florida Statutes, or any other applicable general
  2  or special law, as they may be amended from time to time.
  3         Section 9.  Planning.--The district's planning
  4  requirements shall be as set forth in this act, chapters 189
  5  and 191, Florida Statutes, and other applicable general or
  6  special laws, as they may be amended from time to time.
  7         Section 10.  Boundaries.--The district's geographic
  8  boundary limitations shall be as set forth in this act.
  9         Section 11.  Officers and employees.--Requirements for
10  financial disclosure, meeting notices, public records
11  maintenance, and per diem expenses for officers and employees
12  shall be as set forth in chapters 112, 119, 189, 191, and 286,
13  Florida Statutes, as they may be amended from time to time.
14         Section 12.  Bonds.--The procedures and requirements
15  governing the issuance of bonds, notes, and other evidence of
16  indebtedness by the district shall be as set forth in this
17  act, chapter 191, Florida Statutes, and any other applicable
18  general or special laws, as they may be amended from time to
19  time.
20         Section 3.  Construction.--This act shall be construed
21  as remedial and shall be liberally construed to promote the
22  purpose for which it is intended.
23         Section 4.  Effect.--In the event that any part of this
24  act should be held void for any reason, such holding shall not
25  affect any other part thereof.
26         Section 5.  Repeal of prior special acts.--Chapter
27  92-249, Laws of Florida, shall be repealed upon the effective
28  date of this act.
29         Section 6.  Paragraph (1)(a) of section 1, chapter
30  93-352, Laws of Florida, as amended by chapter 94-373, Laws of
31  Florida, is amended to read:
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    Florida Senate - 2000        (NP)                      SB 2758
    26-1261-00                                          See HB 965
  1         Section 1.  Manatee County district boards of fire
  2  commissioners; membership.
  3         (1)(a) The business affairs of the Cedar Hammock Fire
  4  Control District, Parrish Fire Control District, Southern
  5  Manatee Fire and Rescue District, Trailer Estates Fire Control
  6  District, Westside Fire Control District, and Whitfield Fire
  7  Control District in Manatee County shall each be conducted and
  8  administered by a five-member board of fire commissioners that
  9  is elected by the electors of the respective district in a
10  nonpartisan election held at the time and in the manner
11  prescribed for holding general elections in section
12  189.405(2)(a), Florida Statutes.  Each member of a district
13  board shall be elected for a term of 4 years and shall serve
14  until his successor is chosen and qualified, except that
15  members elected to seats 2 and 4 in the first election held
16  after the effective date of this act shall be elected for a
17  term of 2 years.
18         Section 7.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a
19  law.
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