ENROLLED HB 0277 2003 Legislature
   
1 A bill to be entitled
2          An act relating to the South Trail Fire Protection and
3    Rescue District, Lee County; amending ch. 2000-484, Laws
4    of Florida; conforming the district charter to Florida
5    Statutes relating to annexations within the district;
6    providing an effective date.
7         
8          Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
9         
10          Section 1. Section 5 of section 3 of chapter 2000-484,
11    Laws of Florida, is amended to read:
12          Section 5. Section 171.093, Florida Statutes, as it may be
13    amended from time to time, is applicable to any annexation of
14    land located within the District's boundaries.Beginning on the
15    effective date of this act, any properties that may be annexed
16    by the City of Fort Myers and located within the District shall
17    remain the responsibility of the District until January 1 of the
18    following year, at which time the City shall assume the
19    responsibility for fire control and such property shall no
20    longer be a part of, or subject to, the taxing authority of the
21    fire control taxing District. The municipal governing authority
22    shall enter into an agreement to purchase, lease, or maintain
23    real property and equipment of the District, if it is located
24    within the area so annexed. Such agreement shall be reached by
25    negotiated settlement. Should the City and the fire control
26    taxing District not be able to reach a negotiated settlement,
27    then the City shall have eminent domain authority for all real
28    property owned by the fire control District and annexed by the
29    City. The presently appointed or elected commissioners of the
30    District who reside within the areas annexed by the City of Fort
31    Myers shall continue to serve as the commissioners of the
32    District until the local governing authority assumes
33    responsibility for the lands so annexed.
34          Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.