HB 723

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to the Braden River Fire Control and
3Rescue District, Manatee County; amending chapter 2000-
4404, Laws of Florida; revising the district charter to
5rename the district, provide it with specified statutory
6powers and authority, and delete unnecessary or redundant
7provisions relating to the district board of
8commissioners, special powers of the district, and taxes,
9non-ad valorem assessments, impact fees, and user charges;
10providing an effective date.
11
12Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
13
14     Section 1.  Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 through 13 of
15section 3 of chapter 2000-404, Laws of Florida, are amended to
16read:
17     Section 1.  Incorporation.--Upon the effective date of this
18act, all of the unincorporated lands in Manatee County, Florida,
19as described in this act, shall become and be incorporated into
20and as an independent special fire control district. Said
21special fire control district shall become and be a public
22municipal corporation, having the powers and duties herein set
23forth under the name of East Manatee Fire Braden River Fire
24Control and Rescue District.
25     Section 2.  Jurisdiction.--The lands to be incorporated
26within the East Manatee Fire Braden River Fire Control and
27Rescue District are described as follows:
28
29Begin at the intersection of the centerlines of the
30Manatee River and the Braden River; thence easterly
31along the centerline of the Manatee River to the
32intersection of the Rye Road bridge; thence northerly
33along the centerline of Rye Road to a point of
34intersection of the North section line of Section 24
35Township 34 South, Range 19 East; thence easterly to
36the Northeast corner of Section 24; thence southerly
37along the east line of said Section 24 to the
38centerline of Lake Manatee; thence easterly to S.R.
3964; thence westerly along the centerline of S.R. 64 to
40old S.R. 675; thence south along the centerline of
41S.R. 675 and its southerly extension to the line
42dividing Manatee County and Sarasota County which same
43point being the Southeast corner of Section 33,
44Township 35 South, Range 20 East; thence westerly
45along said dividing line to point being the
46intersection of the line dividing Manatee and Sarasota
47Counties and the Southerly extension of the West
48right-of-way line of Interstate I-75, said point being
49located in Section 36 Township 35 South Range 18 East;
50thence northerly along said west right-of-way line to
51the centerline of the Braden River; thence westerly
52and northerly along said centerline to the centerline
53of the Manatee River, also being the point of
54beginning; specifically excluding all lands lying and
55situate within the corporate limits of the City of
56Bradenton.
57
58     Section 3.  District board of commissioners; memberships,
59officers, meetings.--
60     (1)  The business affairs of the district shall be
61conducted and administered by a board of five commissioners who
62shall reside within said district and who shall be elected as
63provided for in accordance with section 191.005, Florida
64Statutes.
65     (2)  Each elected member of the board shall assume office
6610 days following the member's election. Annually, in January,
67and/or within 60 days after the newly elected members have taken
68office, the board shall organize by electing from its members a
69chair, a vice chair, a secretary, and a treasurer. The positions
70of secretary and treasurer may be held by one member. Funds of
71the district may be disbursed only upon the order or pursuant to
72resolution of the board, by warrant or check signed by the
73treasurer or other person authorized by the board. However, a
74petty cash account may be authorized by the board. The board may
75give the treasurer additional powers and duties that it deems
76appropriate.
77     (3)  Members of the board may each be paid a salary or
78honorarium to be determined by at least a majority plus one vote
79of the board, which salary or honorarium may not exceed $500 per
80month for each member. Special notice of any meeting at which
81the board will consider a salary change for board members shall
82be published at least once, at least 14 days prior to the
83meeting, in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in
84which the district is located. Separate compensation for the
85board member serving as treasurer may be authorized by like vote
86so long as total compensation for the board member does not
87exceed $500 per month. Members may be reimbursed for travel and
88per diem expenses as provided for in section 112.061, Florida
89Statutes.
90     (4)  If a vacancy occurs on the board due to the
91resignation, death, or removal of a board member or the failure
92of anyone to qualify for a board seat, the remaining members may
93appoint a qualified person to fill the seat until the next
94general election, at which time an election shall be held to
95fill the vacancy for the remaining term, if any. The board shall
96remove any member who has three consecutive, unexcused absences
97from regularly scheduled meetings. The board shall adopt
98policies by resolution defining excused and unexcused absences.
99     (5)  Each member shall, upon assuming office, take and
100subscribe to the oath of office prescribed by s. 5(b), Art. II
101of the State Constitution and section 876.05, Florida Statutes.
102Each member, within 30 days after assuming office, must give the
103Governor a good and sufficient surety bond in the sum of $5,000,
104the cost thereof being borne by the district, conditioned on the
105member's faithful performance of his or her duties of office.
106     (6)  The board shall keep a permanent record book entitled
107"Record of Proceedings of (name of district)," in which the
108minutes of all meetings, resolutions, proceedings, certificates,
109bonds given by commissioners, and corporate acts shall be
110recorded. The record book shall be open to inspection in the
111same manner as state, county, and municipal records are open
112under chapter 119, Florida Statutes, and s. 24, Art. I of the
113State Constitution. The record book shall be kept at the office
114or other regular place of business maintained by the board in
115the county or municipality in which the district is located.
116     (2)(7)  All meetings of the board shall be open to the
117public consistent with chapter 286, Florida Statutes, section
118189.417, Florida Statutes, and other applicable general laws.
119     Section 4.  General powers.--The district shall have, and
120the board may exercise by majority vote, the following powers
121and authority set forth in chapters 189 and 191, Florida
122Statutes, as amended from time to time.:
123     (1)  To sue and be sued in the name of the district, to
124adopt and use a seal and authorize the use of a facsimile
125thereof, and to make and execute contracts and other instruments
126necessary or convenient to the exercise of its powers.
127     (2)  To provide for a pension or retirement plan for its
128employees. Notwithstanding the prohibition against extra
129compensation as provided in section 215.425, Florida Statutes,
130the board may provide for an extra compensation program,
131including a lump-sum bonus payment program, to reward
132outstanding employees whose performances exceed standard, if the
133program provides that a bonus payment may not be included in an
134employee's regular base rate of pay and may not be carried
135forward in subsequent years.
136     (3)  To contract for the services of consultants to perform
137planning, engineering, legal, or other professional services.
138     (4)  To borrow money and accept gifts, to apply for and use
139grants or loans of money or other property from the United
140States, the state, a unit of local government, or any person for
141any district purposes, and enter into agreements required in
142connection therewith, and to hold, use, sell, and dispose of
143such moneys or property for any district purpose in accordance
144with the terms of the gift, grant, loan, or agreement relating
145thereto.
146     (5)  To adopt resolutions and procedures prescribing the
147powers, duties, and functions of the officers of the district,
148the conduct of the business of the district, the maintenance of
149records, and the form of other documents and records of the
150district. The board may also adopt ordinances and resolutions
151that are necessary to conduct district business, if such
152ordinances do not conflict with any ordinances of a local
153general purpose government within whose jurisdiction the
154district is located. Any resolution or ordinance adopted by the
155board and approved by referendum vote of district electors may
156only be repealed by referendum vote of district electors.
157     (6)  To maintain an office at places it designates within a
158county or municipality in which the district is located and
159appoint an agent of record.
160     (7)  To acquire, by purchase, lease, gift, dedication,
161devise, or otherwise, real and personal property or any estate
162therein for any purpose authorized by this act and to trade,
163sell, or otherwise dispose of surplus real or personal property.
164The board may purchase equipment by an installation sales
165contract if funds are available to pay the current year's
166installments on the equipment and to pay the amounts due that
167year on all other installments and indebtedness.
168     (8)  To hold, control, and acquire by donation or purchase
169any public easement, dedication to public use, platted
170reservation for public purposes, or reservation for those
171purposes authorized by this act consistent with applicable
172adopted local government comprehensive plans and land
173development regulations.
174     (9)  To lease to or from any person, firm, corporation,
175association, or body, public or private, any facility or
176property of any nature for the use of the district when
177necessary to carry out the district duties and authority under
178this act.
179     (10)  To borrow money and issue bonds, revenue anticipation
180notes, or certificates payable from and secured by a pledge of
181funds, revenues, taxes and assessments, warrants, notes, or
182other evidence of indebtedness, and mortgage real and personal
183property when necessary to carry out the district's duties and
184authority under this act.
185     (11)  To charge user and impact fees authorized by
186resolution of the board, in amounts necessary to conduct
187district activities and services, and to enforce their receipt
188and collection in the manner prescribed by resolution and
189authorized by law. However, the imposition of impact fees may
190only be authorized as provided by section 191.009(4), Florida
191Statutes.
192     (12)  To exercise the right and power of eminent domain,
193pursuant to chapter 73, Florida Statutes, or chapter 74, Florida
194Statutes, over any property within the district, except
195municipal, county, state, special district, or federal property
196used for a public purpose, for the uses and purposes of the
197district relating solely to the establishment and maintenance of
198fire stations and fire substations, specifically including the
199power to take easements that serve such facilities consistent
200with applicable adopted local government comprehensive plans and
201land development regulations.
202     (13)  To cooperate or contract with other persons or
203entities, including other governmental agencies, as necessary,
204convenient, incidental, or proper in connection with providing
205effective mutual aid and furthering any power, duty, or purpose
206authorized by this act.
207     (14)  To assess and impose upon real property in the
208district non-ad valorem assessments as authorized by this act.
209     (15)  To impose and foreclose non-ad valorem assessment
210liens as provided by this act or to impose, collect, and enforce
211non-ad valorem assessments pursuant to chapter 197, Florida
212Statutes.
213     (16)  To select as a depository for its funds any qualified
214public depository as defined in section 280.02, Florida
215Statutes, which meets all the requirements of chapter 280,
216Florida Statutes, and has been designated by the State Treasurer
217as a qualified public depository, upon such terms and conditions
218as to the payment of the interest upon the funds deposited as
219the board deems just and reasonable.
220     (17)  To provide adequate insurance on all real and
221personal property, equipment, employees, volunteer firefighters,
222and other personnel.
223     (18)  To organize, participate in, and contribute
224monetarily to organizations or associations relating to the
225delivery of or improvement of fire control, prevention,
226emergency rescue services, or district administration.
227     Section 6.  Special powers.--The district shall provide for
228fire suppression and prevention by establishing and maintaining
229fire stations and fire substations and acquiring and maintaining
230such firefighting and fire protection equipment deemed necessary
231to prevent or fight fires. All construction shall be in
232compliance with applicable state, regional, and local
233regulations, including adopted comprehensive plans and land
234development regulations. The board shall have and may exercise
235any or all of the following special powers relating to
236facilities and duties authorized by this act:
237     (1)  Establish and maintain emergency medical and rescue
238response services and acquire and maintain rescue, medical, and
239other emergency equipment, pursuant to the provisions of chapter
240401, Florida Statutes, and any certificate of public convenience
241and necessity or its equivalent issued thereunder.
242     (2)  Employ, train, and equip such personnel, and train,
243coordinate, and equip such firefighters and volunteer
244firefighters as are necessary to accomplish the duties of the
245district. The board may employ and fix the compensation of a
246fire chief or chief administrator, who shall reside within the
247district. The board shall prescribe the duties of such person,
248which shall include supervision and management of the operations
249of the district and its employees and maintenance and operation
250of its facilities and equipment. The fire chief or chief
251administrator may employ or terminate the employment of such
252other persons including, without limitation, professional,
253supervisory, administrative, maintenance, and clerical
254employees, as are necessary and authorized by the board. The
255compensation and other conditions of employment of the officers
256and employees of the district shall be provided by the board.
257     (3)  Conduct public education to promote awareness of
258methods to prevent fires and reduce the loss of life and
259property from fires or other public safety concerns.
260     (4)  Adopt and enforce fire safety standards and codes and
261enforce the rules of the State Fire Marshal consistent with the
262exercise of the duties authorized by chapter 553, Florida
263Statutes, or chapter 633, Florida Statutes, with respect to fire
264suppression, prevention, and firesafety code enforcement.
265     (5)  Conduct arson investigations and cause-and-origin
266investigations.
267     (6)  Adopt hazardous material safety plans and emergency
268response plans in coordination with the county emergency
269management agency as provided for in chapter 252, Florida
270Statutes.
271     (7)  Contract with general purpose local government for
272emergency management planning and services.
273     Section 7.  Taxes, non-ad valorem assessments; impact fees;
274and user charges.--
275     (1)  The district shall have the right, power, and
276authority to levy non-ad valorem assessments as defined in
277section 197.3632, Florida Statutes, to construct, operate, and
278maintain district facilities and services. The rate of such
279assessments must be fixed by resolution of the board pursuant to
280the procedures contained in section 191.011, Florida Statutes.
281Non-ad valorem assessment rates set by the board may exceed the
282maximum rates established by special act, the previous year's
283resolution, or referendum in an amount not to exceed the average
284annual growth rate in Florida personal income over the previous
2855 years. Non-ad valorem assessment rate increases within the
286personal income threshold are deemed to be within the maximum
287rate authorized by law at the time of initial imposition.
288Proposed non-ad valorem assessment increases which exceed the
289rate set the previous fiscal year or the rate previously set by
290special act by more than the average annual growth rate in
291Florida personal income over the last 5 years must be approved
292by referendum of the electors of the district. Non-ad valorem
293assessments shall be imposed, collected, and enforced pursuant
294to section 191.011, Florida Statutes.
295     (2)  The district shall provide to the county property
296appraiser a notice of fire tax rates as adopted by resolution
297not later than June 1 of each year. The county property
298appraiser shall then furnish to the commissioners of the
299district a tax roll covering all taxable properties with the tax
300rate levy placed on each parcel of property by July 1, which tax
301roll is consistent with and as set forth by section 193.1142,
302Florida Statutes. Not later than 21 days after receipt of the
303tax roll from the county property appraiser, the district shall
304return the tax roll, having first checked and noted any
305corrections or adjustments to the fire tax levy against each
306parcel of property.
307     (3)  Prior to adopting a rate of assessment, the board of
308commissioners of the district shall properly advertise and hold
309a public hearing with respect to the proposed rate of
310assessment. At such hearing, any property owner in the district
311shall have the right to file written protest and/or testify at
312such hearing regarding the proposed rate of assessment. After
313due consideration of all comments or protests, the board of
314commissioners shall adopt a resolution specifying the rate of
315assessment on all taxable property.
316     (4)  The board of commissioners of the district shall, not
317earlier than 30 days or later than 45 days after the mailing of
318the notice of proposed property taxes as required by section
319194.011(1), Florida Statutes, hold a properly advertised public
320hearing to hear appeals from any property owner in the district
321with respect to the method of calculation and/or the amount of
322fire tax levied against a parcel of land. Within 20 calendar
323days after the conclusion of the public hearing to hear appeals,
324the board of commissioners of the district shall notify all
325concerned parties and the county property appraiser in writing
326of its decision. The decision shall include reasons for granting
327or denying the appeal.
328     (5)  The county property appraiser shall then include the
329assessments thus made by the board of commissioners of the
330district in the Manatee County tax roll and the same shall be
331collected in the manner and form as is provided for the
332collection of county taxes and paid over by the county tax
333collector to the board of commissioners.
334     (6)  Such special assessments shall be a lien upon the land
335so assessed along with the county taxes assessed against the
336same until said assessments have been paid, and, if the same
337become delinquent, shall be considered a part of the county tax
338subject to the same penalties, fees, and remedies for
339enforcement and collection, and shall be enforced and collected
340as provided by the laws of the state for the collection of such
341taxes.
342     Section 6 8.  Schedule of special assessments.--The
343assessment procedures and amounts, as set forth herein,
344represent the manner to be followed and the maximum allowable
345rates the district may charge but shall not exceed, except as
346provided in section 191.009(2), Florida Statutes. For assessment
347purposes, all property within the district shall be divided into
348three general classifications: vacant parcels, residential
349parcels, and commercial/industrial parcels.
350     (1)  Vacant parcels shall include all parcels which are
351essentially undeveloped and are usually classified by the
352property appraiser as use code types 00, 10, 40, 99, and 50
353through 69. The maximum annual assessment for these parcels
354shall be:
355
356Vacant Platted Lot     $6.50 per Lot
357Unsubdivided Acreage    $ .80 per Acre
358Except that not more than $1,500 shall be assessed against
359any one vacant parcel.
360
361Whenever a residential unit is located on a parcel defined
362herein as vacant, the residential plot shall be considered as
363one lot or 1 acre, with the balance of the parcel being assessed
364as vacant land in accordance with the schedule herein. Whenever
365an agricultural or commercial building or structure is located
366on a parcel defined herein as vacant, the building or structure
367shall be assessed in accordance with the schedule of
368commercial/industrial assessments.
369     (2)  Residential parcels shall include all parcels which
370are developed for residential purposes and are usually
371classified by the property appraiser as use code types 01
372through 08 and 28. All residential parcels shall be assessed by
373the number of square feet of structures located on the parcel.
374Mobile homes shall be assessed by the number of units located on
375the parcel. Surcharges may be assigned by the district for
376dwellings located on the third or higher floors. The maximum
377annual assessment for these parcels shall be:
378     (a)  Single Family Residential:  The base assessment for
379all buildings and structures shall be $69 for the first 1,000
380square feet on a parcel. The schedule for all square footage
381above 1,000 square feet is $.05 per square foot.
382     (b)  Condominia Residential:  The base assessment for all
383buildings and structures shall be $69 for the first 1,000 square
384feet on a parcel. The schedule for all square footage above
3851,000 square feet is $.05 per square foot.
386
 
Mobile Homes (Use Code 02)$65.70 per Unit/Space
387
 
Multifamily Residential (Use Codes 03 and 08),Cooperatives (Use Code 05),Retirement Homes (Use Code 06),And Miscellaneous ResidentialUses (Use Code 07)$78.90 per Unit/Space
388
 
Any Other Residential Unit, Travel Trailer Parks$52.60 per Unit/Space
389
 
Mobile Home Parks (Use Code 28)$53.10 per Unit/Space
390
391     (3)  Commercial/Industrial:  The base assessment for all
392buildings and structures shall be $348.60 for the first 1,000
393square feet on a parcel. The schedule for all square footage
394above 1,000 square feet is as follows:
395
 
CategoryUse CodesSq. Ft. Assessment
396
 



397
 
Mercantile (M)11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 29$.09
398
 
Business (B)17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 30, 36$.08
399
 
Assembly (A)21, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 76, 77, 79$.08
400
 
Factory/  Industrial (F)41, 44, 45, 46, 47$.10
401
 
Storage (S)20, 27, 28, 49$.10
402
 
Hazardous (H)42, 43, 48$.13
403
 
Institutional (I)70, 73, 74, 75, 78$.08
404
405Agricultural storage building located on parcels that are
406bonafide commercial agriculture, as determined by the property
407appraiser's office, shall be fire tax assessed at $.020 per
408square foot.
409     Section 9.  User charges.--
410     (1)  The board may provide a reasonable schedule of charges
411for special emergency services, including firefighting,
412occurring in or to structures outside the district, motor
413vehicles, marine vessels, aircraft, or rail cars, or as a result
414of the operation of such motor vehicles or marine vessels, to
415which the district is called to render such emergency service,
416and may charge a fee for the services rendered in accordance
417with the schedule.
418     (2)  The board may provide a reasonable schedule of charges
419for fighting fires occurring in or at refuse dumps or as a
420result of an illegal burn, which fire, dump, or burn is not
421authorized by general or special law, rule, regulation, order,
422or ordinance, and which the district is called upon to fight or
423extinguish.
424     (3)  The board may provide a reasonable schedule of charges
425for responding to or assisting or mitigating emergencies that
426either threaten or could threaten the health and safety of
427persons, property, or the environment, to which the district has
428been called, including a charge for responding to false alarms.
429     (4)  The board may provide a reasonable schedule of charges
430for inspecting structures, plans, and equipment to determine
431compliance with firesafety codes and standards.
432     (5)  The district shall have a lien upon any real property,
433motor vehicle, marine vessel, aircraft, or rail car for any
434charge assessed under this section.
435     Section 7 10.  Impact fees.--The board shall establish a
436schedule of impact fees in compliance with any standards set by
437general law for new construction to pay for the cost of new
438facilities and equipment, the need for which is in whole or in
439part the result of new construction. The impact fees collected
440by the district under this section shall be kept separate from
441other revenues of the district and must be used exclusively to
442acquire, purchase, or construct new facilities or portions
443thereof needed to provide fire protection and emergency services
444to new construction. As used in this section, "new facilities"
445means land, buildings, and capital equipment, including, but not
446limited to, fire and emergency vehicles, radiotelemetry
447equipment, and other firefighting or rescue equipment. The board
448shall maintain adequate records to ensure that impact fees are
449expended only for permissible new facilities or equipment. The
450board may enter into agreements with general purpose local
451governments to share in the revenues from fire protection impact
452fees imposed by such governments.
453     Section 8 11.  Borrowing power of the district.--The
454district may issue general obligation bonds, assessment bonds,
455revenue bonds, notes, bond anticipation notes, or other
456evidences of indebtedness to finance all or a part of any
457proposed improvements authorized to be undertaken under this act
458or under general or special law, provided the total annual
459payments for the principal and interest on such indebtedness do
460not exceed 50 percent of the total annual budgeted revenues of
461the district as provided in section 191.012, Florida Statutes.
462     Section 9 12.  Existence.--The district shall exist until
463dissolved by law. Should any part of the territory covered in
464the act be held not to be included herein, then this act shall
465continue in effect as to the balance of said territory.
466     Section 10 13.  Definitions.--
467     (1)  "District" means the special fire control district.
468     (2)  "Board" and "board of commissioners" mean the board of
469commissioners of the special fire control district, unless
470otherwise specified.
471     Section 2.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.


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