Quality Cities | 2023 Advocacy Edition

Advocacy Edition

RELATIONSHIPS DRIVE LEGISLATIVE SESSION

LVU AMBASSADORS BEING RECRUITED

LEAGUE HOSTS LEGISLATIVE ACTION DAYS

Providing KALI9/E+/GETTY IMAGES

INVESTMENTS:

Investing Together for Local Benefit

Are your investments properly diversified in today’s current environment?

RETIREMENT:

Protecting the Retirement of Those Serving the Public

Could hidden fees be derailing your retirement plans?

LOANS:

Making Your Dollars Do More for Local Communities

CONTACT Jeremy Langley • Account Executive jlangley@flcities.com •

Quality Cities Magazine

Volume 97 | Number 1

PUBLISHER

Jeannie Garner

EDITOR AND CREATIVE PROJECT MANAGER

Joy Dickinson

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Kelli Gemmer

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

Sydney Fraser

Bonnie Gaupp

CIRCULATION

Eryn Russell

Stay informed: Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. Visit our website at flcities.com.

Quality Cities (formerly Quality Cities ’90) (ISSN 0892-4171) (USPS Number: 201-780) serves as a medium of exchange of ideas and information on municipal affairs for the public officials of Florida. The views expressed and the data presented by contributors and advertisers are not to be construed as having the endorsement of the Florida League of Cities unless so specifically stated. No material from this publication may be reprinted without the express permission of the editor.

The mailing address for the publishers of Quality Cities is P.O. Box 1757, Tallahassee, FL 32302-1757. The telephone number is 850.222.9684, and the email address is jdickinson@ flcities.com. Offices are located at 301 S. Bronough St., Suite 300, Tallahassee, FL 32301-1722. Quality Cities is published twice a year by the Florida League of Cities. Postage Paid at Tallahassee, FL, No. 669.

Postmaster: Send address changes to Quality Cities, P.O. Box 1757, Tallahassee, FL 32302-1757.

The yearly MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION rate for members is $10.00, other governmental agencies –$15.00 and nonmembers – $20.00 for two issues.

EDITORIAL STATEMENT:

Stories that spotlight Florida cities, celebrate their impact on our quality of life and inspire city leaders to advocate for local voices making local choices.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PRESIDENT

Jolien Caraballo, Vice Mayor, Port St. Lucie

FIRST VICE PRESIDENT Greg Ross, Mayor, Cooper City

SECOND VICE PRESIDENT Michael Blake, Mayor, Cocoa

DISTRICT DIRECTORS

(1) William Schaetzle, Councilman, Niceville

(1) J.B. Whitten, Mayor, Crestview

(2) Thomas DeVille, Mayor, Penney Farms

(2) Jake Hill, Councilmember, Lake City

(3) Don Burnette, Mayor, Port Orange

(3) William Partington, Mayor, Ormond Beach

(4) Mindy Gibson, Councilmember, Satellite Beach

(4) Sarah Stoeckel, Councilmember, Titusville

(5) Louie Davis, Mayor, Waldo

(5) Cal Rolfson, Councilmember, Mount Dora

(6) Nathan Blackwell, Mayor, St. Cloud

(6) Joseph McMullen, Commissioner, Oakland

(6) Rosemary Wilsen, Mayor Pro Tem, Ocoee

(7) Dorothea Taylor Bogert, Mayor, Auburndale

(7) Marlene Wagner, Vice Mayor, Lake Hamilton

(8) Tyler Payne, Mayor, Treasure Island

(8) Trish Springer, Councilor, Seminole

(9) Ed Dodd, Councilman, Sebastian

(10) Brian Williams, Commissioner, Palmetto

(11) Julie Wilkins, Mayor, LaBelle

(12) Julia Botel, Councilmember, Riviera Beach

(12) Kimberly Glas-Castro, Vice Mayor, Lake Park

(12) Lawrence Gordon, Vice Mayor, Haverhill

(12) Jeff Hmara, Councilman, Royal Palm Beach

(13) Felicia Brunson, Mayor, West Park

(13) Traci L. Callari, Commissioner, Hollywood

(13) Joy Carter, Commissioner, Coral Springs

(13) Todd Drosky, Commissioner, Deerfield Beach

(13) Bob Mayersohn, Commissioner, Parkland

(13) Iris Siple, Commissioner, Pembroke Pines

(13) Susan Starkey, Councilwoman, Davie

(14) Joseph Corradino, Mayor, Pinecrest

(14) Karyn Cunningham, Mayor, Palmetto Bay

(14) Anthony DeFillipo, Mayor, North Miami Beach

(14) Rodney Harris, Mayor, Miami Gardens

10 MOST POPULOUS CITIES

Vacancy, Jacksonville

Vacancy, Miami

Vacancy, Tampa

Robert Stuart, Commissioner, Orlando

Kenneth T. Welch, Mayor, St. Petersburg

Esteban Bovo Jr., Mayor, Hialeah

Stephanie Morgan, Councilwoman, Port St. Lucie

Dianne Williams-Cox, Mayor Pro-Tem, Tallahassee

John Gunter, Mayor, Cape Coral

Dean Trantalis, Mayor, Fort Lauderdale

PAST PRESIDENTS

Scott Black, Commissioner, Dade City

Frank C. Ortis, Mayor, Pembroke Pines

Joy Cooper, Mayor, Hallandale Beach

Patricia Bates, Mayor, Altamonte Springs

Matthew D. Surrency, Commissioner, Hawthorne

Leo E. Longworth, Vice Mayor, Bartow

Isaac Salver, Council Member, Bay Harbor Islands

Antonio “Tony” Ortiz, Commissioner, Orlando

FCCMA EX-OFFICIO MEMBER

Michael Pleus, City Manager, DeLand

Jeannie Garner, Executive Director/CEO

Kraig Conn, General Counsel/Chief Legal Officer

Penny Mitchell, Board Relations Administrator

ACCESS TO EMPLOYMENT LAW ATTORNEYS AT NO COST

The Florida Municipal Insurance Trust’s exclusive Employment Law Advisor program offers access to a Floridabased attorney with significant publicsector employment law experience. And, the best part is there is no cost to members of the FMIT with liability coverage for employment practices.

Help is only a phone call away. FMIT members can speak with an attorney Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET, by calling 888.368.FMIT (3648).

We can help with a wide range of employment-related matters, including:

∙ Hiring

∙ Discipline

∙ Promotion/Demotion

∙ Transfer

∙ Reassignment

∙ Layoff

∙ Termination

∙ ADA Compliance

∙ Complaints of Discrimination, Harassment, Unfair Treatment and Retaliation.

Meetings Calendar

JULY 10-13, 2023

Florida Local Government Information Systems

Association Annual Conference

Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek

Contact Becky Brennan

AUGUST 10-12, 2023

Florida League of Cities Annual Conference

Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek

Contact Melanie Howe

OCTOBER 6-7, 2023

Institute for Elected Municipal Officials

Embassy Suites by Hilton Tampa Airport Westshore

Contact Angela Delune

OCTOBER 16-20, 2023

Florida Government Finance Officers Association

School of Governmental Finance

Luminary Hotel & Co., Fort Myers

Contact Jill Walker

OCTOBER 22-26, 2023

Florida Association of City Clerks Fall Academy

The Shores Hotel, Daytona Beach Shores

Contact Rachel Embleton

OCTOBER 23-27, 2023

Florida Redevelopment Association Annual Conference

Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort, Ponte Vedra Beach

Contact Merrily Bennett

OCTOBER 27-28, 2023

Institute for Elected Municipal Officials II

The Shores Hotel, Daytona Beach Shores

Contact Angela Delune

NOVEMBER 15-18, 2023

National League of Cities City Summit

Atlanta

Contact Allison Payne

Relationships are integral to advocacy

Congratulations on a successful 2023 Legislative Session!

Your advocacy efforts and outspoken support for Home Rule were key to our success. The conversations you’re having year-round with your legislators and the relationships you’ve built are making a difference in our communities. Advocacy is vital to protecting local voices making local choices, which is why this issue of Quality Cities magazine is dedicated solely to advocacy.

This session, many bills that would have negatively impacted Home Rule did not cross the finish line. For many other issues, the Florida League of Cities (FLC) worked with legislators to significantly reduce negative impacts to cities. The result: By working together to improve legislation, we strengthened our cities, and this, in turn, makes for a stronger Florida. (Read the full recap of the legislative session on p. 34.)

President Jolien Caraballo Vice Mayor City of Port St. Lucie

Thank you for embracing my finding #commongrounds initiative and joining me in this year’s vision. (See p. 50.) With your help, we achieved even greater success in advocating for and protecting our cities. I hope you will continue meeting with your legislators and building those critical relationships in these interim months. Get to know them over coffee, share what is happening in your city and invite them to visit projects and facilities.

The success we’re seeing, and the work we’re doing, goes beyond what happens in Tallahassee. By working together, we can continue to serve our residents better and strongly impact our communities across the state.

Let’s continue to find #commongrounds.

Jolien Caraballo

Do you love our fresh, modern look?

Our newly redesigned QC magazine will hit mailboxes twice per year.

This issue focuses on Advocacy, including a legislative wrap-up and coverage of Legislative Action Days. Our fall issue will focus on Membership. If you’re looking for our city spotlights and stories submitted by cities about their recognitions, head to QualityCities.com

Be on the lookout for our redesigned website to come this summer!

Fly-In Sets Record Attendance

More than 50 municipal officials go to Washington

By Allison Payne Florida League of Cities

City leaders from all over Florida traveled to Washington, DC, with the Florida League of Cities (FLC) for the Federal Action Strike Team (FAST) Fly-In. Over 50 municipal officials, the largest-ever number of FAST attendees, participated in the federal advocacy trip. They met with Florida’s congressional delegation members and advocated for key issues affecting cities.

The FAST Fly-In had paused for the last three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and security issues at the Capitol. This delegation trip provided an opportunity to build relationships with Florida’s congressional leaders, introduce the FLC to freshmen members and help them better understand the local impacts of the issues discussed.

“The League’s FAST Fly-In trip allows us to have in-person conversations with members of Florida’s congressional delegation and build relationships that will strengthen Florida,” said FLC President Jolien Caraballo, Vice Mayor for the City of Port St. Lucie. “When local, state and federal officials work together, our residents benefit, and our communities thrive. We appreciate the members of

▴ FAST Chair Anne Gerwig, left, with FLC President Jolien Caraballo and FLC First Vice President Greg Ross.

FAST Fly-In attendees outside the U.S. Capitol.

Congress meeting with us to discuss important issues impacting our local communities.”

During their time in our nation’s capital, local leaders focused their advocacy efforts on discussing key priority issues including reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), simplification of the federal grants process and cybersecurity assistance, among other issues. It was a busy time to be in Washington, as the Fly-In coincided with President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address.

FAST Chair Anne Gerwig , Mayor of the Village of Wellington, said, “Each participant brought a unique perspective to our meetings, which helped our congressional delegation better understand how the issues we discussed impact Florida’s cities. I was proud to stand beside my fellow municipal officials and advocate for Florida cities with a unified voice.”

The group met with 21 members of Florida’s U.S. House delegation, or their staff, as well as Florida’s two Senators, Marco Rubio and Rick Scott. Fly-In attendees also had a briefing with the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, where they spoke with representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), as well as the Director of the Office of National Cybersecurity.

Allison Payne is Manager of Advocacy Programs and Federal Affairs at the Florida League of Cities. QC

▸ Top to bottom: Palm Beach County League of Cities officials with U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, third from right; Gold Coast officials with U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz, right; Space Coast League city officials meet with U.S. Rep. Bill Posey, left, in his office; FLC members meet with U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna; Municipal officials with U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack, front center.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES

FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES

2023 FEDERAL ACTION AGENDA

The Florida League of Cities (FLC) represents Florida’s 411 cities, towns and villages in the Sunshine State. The League’s mission is to serve the needs of Florida’s cities and promote local self-government. We support local voices making local choices to protect and enhance Florida’s communities. The League and its members have identified the following federal issues as part of our 2023 Federal Action Agenda.

NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM (NFIP)

ACTION NEEDED

We urge Congress to advocate for a long-term NFIP reauthorization package that provides:

▸ Affordability for existing and future policyholders

▸ More accurate flood mapping

▸ Resiliency incentives.

BACKGROUND

The NFIP is set to expire on September 30, 2023, and Congress continues to pass short-term extensions to a flawed program. We need a long-term comprehensive rewrite of the NFIP that adheres to insurance principles and ensures the following:

▸ Rates. Rates must not be excessive, inadequate or unfairly discriminatory.

▸ Premiums. Any necessary increases in premiums should be implemented with regard to the customer’s ability to absorb those increases.

▸ Property ratings. Properties should be rated based on their ability to withstand risk, not on their use or ownership structure.

▸ NFIP participation. Incentives should be created to encourage participation in the NFIP for property owners not located in high-risk flood zones. This participation will not only help protect those who are caught off guard by unpredicted flooding, but it also will help the program become more financially stable.

▸ Mapping. Nationwide, NFIP flood maps are generally outdated and don’t accurately measure a community’s flood risk.

▸ Risk Rating 2.0 (RR2). Provide more details on the methodology for RR2, and ensure there are reasonable affordability controls that limit the percentage increase that policyholders will face.

SIMPLIFYING LOCAL GOVERNMENT GRANTS ACTION NEEDED

We urge Congress to support legislation that simplifies the process for local governments to apply for federal grants.

BACKGROUND

Some studies have shown that smaller cities, counties and other local governments do not typically receive their fair share of federal grant dollars. The unequal distribution of federal dollars can be explained by numerous factors, including the complexity of the application process. The problem is increasingly important as the total number of federal grants to state and local governments has grown significantly. Naturally, some larger local governments have more resources to hire dedicated grant writers and coordinators, so they can submit better applications and be more equipped to effectively and efficiently implement awards – to the detriment of Americans in less populated areas.

The Florida League of Cities supports making it easier for smaller local governments to apply for funds under federal grants.

OTHER POLICY POSITIONS

CYBERSECURITY FUNDING

The Florida League of Cities supports federal funding for technical assistance, threat assessments, employee training, infrastructure improvements and data protection to help cities better prepare for the next cyberattack. The

2023 FEDERAL ACTION AGENDA continued

State and Local Cybersecurity Grant is a new grant to assist state and local cybersecurity risks and threats to information systems they own or operate.

Specifically, FLC urges Congress and the administration to broaden the eligibility of this grant program so that cities can apply directly to the Department of Homeland Security for this funding.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG)

The CDBG, which provides funding directly to cities and allows local autonomy and flexibility, is the most effective form of federal assistance currently available to local governments. CDBG successfully mobilizes resources and addresses housing, community and economic development and physical infrastructure needs. It is the most successful federal block grant and the model against which all future federal programs must be measured.

The Florida League of Cities urges Congress to fully fund CDBG and supports the flexible use of CDBG funds to address certain immediate and unanticipated needs for its communities.

TAX EXEMPTION FOR MUNICIPAL BONDS

The Florida League of Cities supports the right of cities to issue governmental debt for essential public services by marketing bonds to investors with interest on such bonds remaining totally exempt from federal taxation. Just as federal debt is exempt from local taxes, municipal governments vigorously oppose any action in the context of tax reform or deficit reduction that would directly or indirectly tax, under the federal income tax, interest on state or local government municipal bonds or would place these bonds in an inferior competitive position with federal debt instruments and corporate securities. Tax-exempt bonds are a critical tool for budgeting and financing long-range investments in the infrastructure and facilities necessary to meet public demand for government services.

Florida’s municipalities oppose restrictions that would drive up the cost of issuing tax-exempt bonds and endorse simplifications that would ease existing burdensome restrictions on tax-exempt financing.

FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (FEMA) LOAN INTEREST RELIEF

The Florida League of Cities supports legislation that would require FEMA to reimburse local governments for interest incurred on loans used to restore essential functions after natural disasters. More than half of Florida’s cities, towns and villages have a population under 15,000. When a natural disaster strikes, these smaller cities don’t always have enough financial resources and must secure loans to offset the costs of post-storm cleanup and recovery.

Requiring FEMA to cover the interest incurred from these loans provides certainty to local governments and electric cooperatives while they await FEMA reimbursement.

For more information, contact Allison Payne, Manager, Advocacy Programs and Federal Affairs, at apayne@ flcities.com or Scott Dudley, Director, Field Advocacy and Federal Affairs, at sdudley@flcities.com.

LVU Ambassadors Being Recruited

By Erika Branchcomb Florida League of Cities

In a democratic society, citizens have the right to be heard and be part of the decision-making process. Unfortunately, when it comes to state-level legislation, this right is often ignored. In many cases, the state Legislature preempts local ordinances, taking away the voice of citizens in their communities. This is where the Local Voices United (LVU) Ambassador program comes in. It empowers communities to be heard and fight for the right to make their own decisions.

Cities reflect the civic groups, neighborhood associations, local chambers of commerce and other organizations that make up the community. When the Legislature preempts, they not only take municipal regulatory options off the table for issues that may arise in a city, but they also strip the voice of citizens in their communities.

Preemption means that communities lose their ability to solve problems in the way that best fits their unique needs. It also means that citizens lose their voice in the decision-making process. We have seen unprecedented attacks on self-governance over the past few legislative sessions, and these attempts to wrest control from Florida’s cities will only escalate.

Now, more than ever, the power of local voices is critical for Florida’s 411 cities. The LVU Ambassador program empowers elected officials to advocate for their communities. These ambassadors work to engage their community leaders, raise awareness about the negative impact of preemption and fight for the right of communities to make their own decisions. They work alongside Florida League of Cities (FLC) staff, who bring their experience and knowledge to bear on any legislation they engage with.

The LVU Ambassador program is designed to make it easy for elected officials to get involved. The program provides ambassadors with resources and tools to effectively engage community members and build support for their cause. These resources include training sessions, webinars and other materials to help ambassadors share the importance of decision-making at the local level.

“Every elected official should be participating in the Local Voices United Ambassador program. It is incredibly easy to do, both as a citizen and city official,” said Auburndale Mayor Dorothea Taylor Bogert. “Being an LVU Ambassador has allowed me to connect with citizens to help them understand that our legislators really do listen when they speak up and educate them on how they can get involved in the issues that directly impact their daily lives.”

FLC staff members are experienced advocates for local government. With years of experience working with state officials and legislators, they serve as a valuable resource for ambassadors, who can rely on their expertise to help convert community leaders and residents into grassroots advocates.

The LVU Ambassador program is already making a difference in municipalities across Florida. Ambassadors are working hard to engage their communities. They are actively raising awareness about the negative impact of preemptions and fighting for the right of cities, towns and villages to govern themselves in accordance with the needs of the community. And they are doing all of this with the support of FLC staff members, who provide them with the necessary resources and tools.

But the LVU Ambassador program is about more than just fighting preemption. It’s about empowering communities to be heard and participate in decision-making. It’s about giving citizens the right to make decisions that best fit their distinctive needs. It’s about creating a society where everyone has a voice and is heard. And as the government closest to the people, Florida’s elected officials are ready to lead the way.

Are you ready to help carry local voices to the state Capitol? Visit localvoicesunited.com/ambassadors to sign up for the Local Voices United Ambassador program.

Ambassadors Wanted

You can defend local decision-making and take action for Florida’s communities. Become a Local Voices United (LVU) Ambassador and help build support for local decision-making.

Learn more at bit.ly/41PPfEc.

Erika Branchcomb is the Senior Communications Specialist for the Florida League of Cities.

LVU’s Chief Ambassador

5 questions with Scott Dudley about Local Voices United program

WHAT IS THE LOCAL VOICES UNITED (LVU) AMBASSADOR PROGRAM?

The Florida League of Cities (FLC) started LVU in October 2020. We wanted a grassroots effort to empower citizens and community leaders. LVU helps them speak out and support local decision-making. We want to educate and engage business and community leaders and other residents. We give them the tools to engage their state legislators on issues that are important to them and their cities. And we help them do it quickly and effortlessly!

We even have a motto: Elevating Florida’s Voices from Sidewalks to the State Capitol. The ambassador program gives municipal officials like you the tools you need. You can help us educate and engage citizens so we add manpower to our grassroots advocacy. You know your community best. You know the local chamber leaders, the neighborhood activists and the local business leaders. With that in mind, the LVU ambassador program makes sure you have the resources to lead and inspire these citizens to help fight for local decision-making. We have lots of resources to share, including social media posts, a PowerPoint presentation, sample speeches, outreach materials and more!

HOW HAVE PEOPLE RESPONDED TO THE LVU AMBASSADOR PROGRAM?

Our municipal officials responded like we knew you would. You are up to the task, and a lot of you signed up as ambassadors. Not only that, but many of you scheduled hundreds of meetings around the state to speak to Rotary

Clubs, Kiwanis Clubs, chambers of commerce, neighborhood associations and more. We have many more meetings scheduled in different parts of the state. I’m looking forward to growing the number of ambassadors as well as citizen involvement in the LVU network!

SPEAKING OF CITIZENS, WHAT TYPE OF REACTIONS ARE YOU GETTING FROM THEM ABOUT THE LVU PROGRAM?

The feedback has been great. The typical response from citizens is that they had little or no idea about how many ways the Legislature strips away their voice. People are busy with their lives. The legislative process is complex and happens “in Tallahassee” at a fast pace. Citizens mostly feel like they can’t keep up with what’s going on. When they learn there’s a way to keep informed about important issues that will impact their city and THEIR neighborhood through the LVU program, they’re eager to get involved.

People understand that local decision-making means they have more say in what goes on in their community. They don’t like the Legislature stripping that power away from them. Citizens want to be able to tailor regulations that allow them to keep the special, unique character of their city. And that applies whether it’s vacation rentals, height or density requirements, building design standards or even local regulation of water quality standards.

They know that a legislator, who may never have stepped foot in their city, shouldn’t be making decisions about that city. That applies to how the city collects the garbage, runs its building department or regulates where electrical or telecommunications structures are placed.

HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE IN THE LVU NETWORK?

We have almost 50,000 people who are in the LVU network, and we continue to grow with the help of our LVU Ambassadors.

WHAT IS THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS FOR ENGAGING LVU ON A PARTICULAR ISSUE?

The League’s legislative team monitors around 500 bills every legislative session. Many bills deal with obscure issues that, while they do impact the way a city functions and operates, don’t necessarily directly impact citizens. However, each legislative session, there are a few bills that directly impact city authority in a way that also directly and adversely impact neighborhoods and the residents.

In the past dozen years, the Legislature has enacted almost 100 preemption bills. These bills limited citizens’ ability to govern themselves at the local level. These are the bills that Local Voices United focuses on. This past session, we engaged the LVU network several times. They helped us fight bills that limited local authority over vacation rentals, contracts for hauling municipal solid waste and unrealistic timeframes for expedited building permits. With their help, we succeeded!

Our Local Voices United Ambassador Toolkit includes tips and templates for reaching out to residents, community leaders and city employees.

Home Rule Advocates

Policy, Advocacy and FAST committees play critical roles

Each year, municipal officials from across the state volunteer to serve on the Florida League of Cities (FLC) committees as advocates for local self-government: the Advocacy Committee, the Federal Action Strike Team and the five legislative policy committees. We are grateful to the Chairs, Vice Chairs and members of these committees for their faithful service. Their participation is essential as League members advocate year-round for Home Rule.

The legislative policy committees set the legislative platform for the League and Florida’s municipalities:

▸ Finance, Taxation and Personnel

▸ Land Use and Economic Development

▸ Municipal Administration

▸ Transportation and Intergovernmental Relations

▸ Utilities, Natural Resources and Public Works.

These policy committees send their recommendations to the Legislative Committee. With that Committee’s approval, the recommendations go before the full membership for a vote.

The Advocacy Committee strengthens advocacy at the grassroots level. The Committee builds support among League members and the Legislature for the legislative priorities adopted by members.

The Federal Action Strike Team (FAST) strengthens the League’s federal relations by communicating with the Florida congressional delegation about federal municipal policy.

Appointments are typically a one-year commitment. The FLC President appoints Chairs, Vice Chairs and Members. For more information about committees, visit flcities.com/advocacy.

2022-2023

Advocacy Committee

The Advocacy Committee builds support among FLC members and the Legislature for the legislative priorities adopted by the members of the League. The Advocacy Committee directly contacts state and federal elected officials to advocate for the FLC Legislative Platform and other key issues. It also helps provide strategic direction on the League's lobbying initiatives.

CHAIR

Mayor Lois A. Paritsky, Town of Ponce Inlet

VICE CHAIR

Councilwoman Stephanie Morgan, City of Port St. Lucie

MEMBERS

Commissioner Jen Ahearn-Koch, City of Sarasota

Vice Mayor Troy G. Avera Jr., City of Monticello

Commissioner Scott Black, City of Dade City

Mayor Dorothea Taylor Bogert, City of Auburndale

Commissioner Jeremy Clark, City of Davenport

Mayor Chris Cloudman, City of DeLand

Commissioner Lisa DeVitto, City of Crescent City

Councilmember Yvette Drucker, City of Boca Raton

Commissioner Joe Elliott, City of Wildwood

Councilwoman Mary Estimé-Irvin, City of North Miami

Councilman Shaun Ferguson, City of Rockledge

City Manager Brenda Fettrow, City of Rockledge

Vice Mayor Sam Fite, City of Bowling Green

Deputy Mayor Fred Forbes, City of Bonita Springs

Mayor Mark Franks, Town of Shalimar

Councilwoman Mindy Gibson, City of Satellite Beach

Deputy Mayor Stuart Glass, Town of Indialantic

Vice Mayor Kimberly Glas-Castro, Town of Lake Park

Councilwoman Sandy Golding, City of Jacksonville Beach

Mayor Janice L. Hart, Town of Havana

City Manager Michael Herr, City of Bartow

Councilmember Denise Horland, City of Plantation

Assistant City Manager Steven M. Hunnicutt, City of Davenport

City Clerk Vanessa Joseph, City of North Miami

Executive Director Rachel Keesling, Southwest Florida League of Cities

Councilwoman NanDrycka King Albert, City of Midway

Commissioner Sarah Malega, City of Lake Worth Beach

Mayor Carol M. McCormack, Town of Palm Shores

Commissioner Debbie McDowell, City of North Port

Mayor Rob Medina, City of Palm Bay

Mayor Nancy Miller, City of Daytona Beach Shores

City Manager Brian R. Moree, City of Atlantis

Councilmember Bernard W. Oder, City of Mary Esther

Mayor Frank C. Ortis, City of Pembroke Pines

Mayor Karen M. Ostrand, Town of Ocean Breeze

Commissioner Susan Persis, City of Ormond Beach

Commissioner Trish Pfeiffer, City of Bartow

Mayor Joe I. Rasco, Village of Key Biscayne

Councilmember Cal Rolfson, City of Mount Dora

Councilman Bill G. Sanders, City of Bradenton

Mayor Dan Saracki, City of Oldsmar

Councilman William G. Schaetzle, City of Niceville

Mayor Ken Schneier, Town of Longboat Key

Councilmember Holly D. Smith, City of Sanibel

Commissioner Fortuna Smukler, City of North Miami Beach

Councilmember Susan Starkey, Town of Davie

Councilmember Sarah Stoeckel, City of Titusville

Commissioner Diane Velazquez, City of Apopka

Vice Mayor Jeniffer Viscarra, City of Sunny Isles Beach

Vice Mayor Marlene M. Wagner, Town of Lake Hamilton

Councilwoman Teresa Watkins Brown, City of Fort Myers

Mayor J.B. Whitten, City of Crestview

Mayor David Will, City of Redington Beach

“The Advocacy Committee strives to help the FLC lobbying team by communicating with legislators on a moment’s notice and providing feedback on the municipal impact of proposed legislation. Serving on the committee with other city leaders across the state has been extremely rewarding as we share strategies to effectively advocate for Florida’s cities.”

Chair Lois A. Paritsky, Mayor, Town of Ponce Inlet

2022-2023

Federal Action Strike Team

The Federal Action Strike Team (FAST) supports the FLC’s strategic plan in strengthening its federal relations. The Committee communicates with Florida’s 28-member congressional delegation and two Senators to support federal municipal policy. The Committee takes its policy positions and direction from the League’s resolutions, the National League of Cities’ (NLC’s) policy priorities and the FLC officers and Board.

“It was very fulfilling to serve as Chair for the FAST Fly-In. Being in Washington, D.C., and sharing our cities’ struggles with our Congressional members keeps our issues at the forefront. If you are ready to up your advocacy game, it’s a great way to get involved. We made sure, as a team, that our legislators knew that the flood map update is important. We made them aware of our local projects that should be considered in the flood rating calculations. Serving our residents really does extend out of the state as we work to improve the quality of life here in Florida.”

Anne

CHAIR

Mayor Anne Gerwig, Village of Wellington

VICE CHAIR

Vice Mayor Sam Fite, City of Bowling Green

MEMBERS

Councilor Thomas Barnhorn, City of Seminole

Mayor Patricia J. Bates, City of Altamonte Springs

Commissioner B.J. Bishop, Town of Longboat Key

Commissioner Scott Black, City of Dade City

Councilmember Richard H. Bryan, City of Daytona Beach Shores

Commissioner Traci L. Callari, City of Hollywood

Commissioner Joy Carter, City of Coral Springs

City Clerk Jimmy Crosby, City of Starke

Mayor Bradley T. Dantzler, City of Winter Haven

Councilmember Yvette Drucker, City of Boca Raton

Councilwoman Mary Estimé-Irvin, City of North Miami

Deputy Mayor Fred Forbes, City of Bonita Springs

Councilmember Randy Foster, City of Palm Bay

Mayor Mark Franks, Town of Shalimar

Mayor Joshua D. Fuller, Town of Bay Harbor Islands

Councilwoman Mindy Gibson, City of Satellite Beach

Intergovernmental Relations Coordinator Christopher Hawks, City of Largo

Councilmember Janet Hernandez, Village of Indiantown

City Manager Michael Herr, City of Bartow

Councilman Dan Janson, City of Jacksonville Beach

City Clerk Vanessa Joseph, City of North Miami

Executive Director Rachel Keesling, Southwest Florida League of Cities

Mayor Brent Latham, City of North Bay Village

Executive Director Mary Lou Tighe, Broward League of Cities

Commissioner Bob Mayersohn, City of Parkland

Councilmember Daniel McDow, City of West Melbourne

Commissioner Janice D. Mortimer, City of Starke

Mayor Frank C. Ortis, City of Pembroke Pines

Commissioner Tony L. Ortiz, City of Orlando

Director of Strategic Initiatives and Innovation Kate Parmelee, City of Port St. Lucie

Commissioner Susan Persis, City of Ormond Beach

Executive Director Richard Radcliffe, Palm Beach County League of Cities

Vice Mayor Thomas B. Reid, City of South Pasadena

Councilmember Cal Rolfson, City of Mount Dora

FLC First Vice President Greg Ross, Mayor, City of Cooper City

Vice Mayor Seth E. Salver, Village of Bal Harbour

Councilman Bill G. Sanders, City of Bradenton

Mayor Dan Saracki, City of Oldsmar

Councilman William G. Schaetzle, City of Niceville

Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline, City of St. Augustine

Councilmember Holly D. Smith, City of Sanibel

Councilmember Susan Starkey, Town of Davie

Commissioner Fabiola Stuyvesant, City of Sunny Isles Beach

Councilmember Alex S. Tiamson, City of Orange City

Councilwoman Teresa Watkins Brown, City of Fort Myers

Mayor J.B. Whitten, City of Crestview

Mayor Steve B. Wilson, City of Belle Glade

Chair

Gerwig, Mayor, Village of Wellington

2022-2023

Finance, Taxation and Personnel Committe

The Finance, Taxation and Personnel Committee addresses municipal roles in several areas. Those areas include general finance and tax issues, Home Rule revenues, infrastructure funding, insurance, local option revenues, pension issues, personnel and collective bargaining issues, revenue-sharing, tax and budget reform, telecommunications and workers’ compensation.

senators;

CHAIR

Former Mayor Paul R. Shalhoub, Town of Lake Clarke Shores

VICE CHAIR

Assistant City Manager/CFO Darrel L. Thomas, City of Weston

MEMBERS

Commissioner Erik J. Arroyo, City of Sarasota

Commissioner Omar Arroyo, City of Haines City

Vice Mayor Troy G. Avera Jr., City of Monticello

Councilor Thomas Barnhorn, City of Seminole

Mayor Blake Bell, City of Brooksville

Councilman Anthony Bonna, City of Port St. Lucie

City Manager Brian Bulthuis, City of Clermont

Assistant City Manager Christine C. Davis, City of Orange City

Deputy Mayor Mark A. Douglas, City of Sunrise

Commissioner Brent Eden, City of Lake Alfred

City Clerk Julie A. Hennessy, City of DeLand

Director of Finance Lori Houghton, City of Tavares

City Manager Patricia R. Jackson, City of Polk City

City Manager Antonio Jefferson, City of Gretna

Commissioner Lewrissa Johns, City of Chiefland

Councilman Kenny Johnson, City of Palm Bay

Financial Services Director David Keller, City of Hollywood

Town Manager Lynne Ladner, Town of Ocean Ridge

Mayor Barbara Langdon, City of North Port

and certain legislative measures passed that benefit the residents of our town. Personally, I’ve picked up the phone in the middle of session and talked to Chairs of committees to discuss important issues facing them, the bills we needed to get passed or appropriations we needed for our town. Over the last six years, I’ve been very active in participating with our legislators through a planned call or visit, or a spontaneous phone call, to accomplish what we needed to get done.”

Assistant City Manager John C. Lege III, City of Fort Myers

Town Financial Administrator Emil C. Lopez, Town of Southwest Ranches

Mayor Kevin McCann, City of Winter Springs

Mayor Carol M. McCormack, Town of Palm Shores

Councilperson Tradrick McCoy, City of Riviera Beach

Chief Financial Officer Christopher McCullion, City of Orlando

Councilman Fernando Meza, City of Jacksonville Beach

Councilmember Mike Miller, City of Sanibel

Mayor Maria Puente Mitchell, City of Miami Springs

Mayor Wes Morrison, City of Cape Canaveral

Mayor Bill Partington, City of Ormond Beach

Commissioner Sara Perez, City of Pahokee

City Manager Leslie Porter, City of Dade City

Vice Mayor Michael Radzik, City of Groveland

Town Manager Francine L. Ramaglia, Town of Loxahatchee Groves

Council Member Gary M. Ready, Village of Palm Springs

Bryan Reardon, Business Watch

Vice Mayor Patti Reed, City of Pinellas Park

Assistant City Manager Brittany Retherford, City of Satellite Beach

Vice Mayor Jan Rodusky, Village of Royal Palm Beach

Mayor Mark Sheldon, City of Panama City Beach

Finance Director Rebecca Spuhler, City of Largo

Councilmember Johnny W. Streets Jr., City of Fort Myers

Director of Financial Administration Kelly Rae Strickland, City of Sarasota

City Administrator Debra S. Sullivan, City of Belleair Bluffs

Commissioner Matthew D. Surrency, City of Hawthorne

Director of Financial Services Andrew M. Thompson, City of Oakland Park

City Manager Ann Toney-Deal, City of Seminole

Comptroller Nick Walsh, City of Satellite Beach

Councilmember Judy Wertz-Strickland, City of Arcadia

Councilmember Robert H. Yaffe, Town of Bay Harbor Islands

Commissioner Brian Yates, City of Winter Haven

Councilman Brandon L. Young, City of South Daytona

Mayor Molly Young, Village of Tequesta

“I’ve personally been involved in the legislative process by not only going to Tallahassee and meeting with our state representatives and

I’ve also met with those outside my area to achieve and get support when we need to have local bills passed

Chair Paul R. Shalhoub, Former Mayor, Town of Lake Clarke Shores

2022-2023

Land Use and Economic Development Committee

The Land Use and Economic Development Committee addresses policies specific to municipal concerns in several areas. Those areas include community redevelopment, economic development, growth management and land use planning issues, annexation, eminent domain, tort liability and property rights.

Chair Linda Hudson, Mayor, City of Fort Pierce

CHAIR

Mayor Linda Hudson, City of Fort Pierce

VICE CHAIR

Councilman William G. Schaetzle, City of Niceville

MEMBERS

Mayor David Alfin, City of Palm Coast

Village Manager Jeremy Allen, Village of Tequesta

Mayor Antonio V. Arserio, City of Margate

Mayor Keith W. Babb Jr., City of Pahokee

Mayor Patricia J. Bates, City of Altamonte Springs

Communications and Government Relations Administrator Lana Beck, City of Pinellas Park

Commissioner B.J. Bishop, Town of Longboat Key

Councilman Liston D. Bochette III, City of Fort Myers

Mayor Dorothea Taylor Bogert, City of Auburndale

Village Manager Michael Bornstein, Village of Palm Springs

Councilperson Julia Botel, City of Riviera Beach

Assistant Director of Community & Economic Development Pegy Boule-Washington, City of Pahokee

Mayor Woody Brown, City of Largo

Councilmember Richard H. Bryan, City of Daytona Beach Shores

Councilmember Doug Bryant, City of Mount Dora

Commissioner Traci L. Callari, City of Hollywood

Councilmember Bryan Calvo, City of Hialeah

City Manager Leondrae D. Camel, City of South Bay

Town Manager Daniel P. Clark, Town of Lake Clarke Shores

Commissioner Jeremy Clark, City of Davenport

Director of Developmental Services Shane Corbin, City of New Smyrna Beach

Director of Planning Steven R. Cover, City of Sarasota

Town Manager John O. D’Agostino, Town of Lake Park

Mayor Bradley T. Dantzler, City of Winter Haven

Mayor Jack Dearmin, City of Lake Alfred

Chief of Staff, Mayor’s Office, Rebecca J. DeLaRosa, City of West Palm Beach

Councilmember Joshua Dieguez, Town of Miami Lakes

Councilmember Ed Dodd, City of Sebastian

Commissioner Melissa P. Dunn, City of Lauderhill

Vice Mayor Joshua D. Fuller, Town of Bay Harbor Islands

Mayor Anne Gerwig, Village of Wellington

Council Member Bobby Gonzalez, Town of Lake Clarke Shores

Vice Mayor Lawrence Gordon, Town of Haverhill

Mayor John Gunter, City of Cape Coral

Councilman Dan Janson, City of Jacksonville Beach

Commissioner Ted Johnson, City of Winter Springs

Councilmember Andrew Knapp, City of Oldsmar

Attorney R. Max Lohman Jr., Lohman Law Group, P.A.

Economic Development Director Sara Maxfield, City of Delray Beach

Commissioner Debbie McDowell, City of North Port

Commissioner Andrea McGee, City of Pompano Beach

Commissioner Matt McMillan, City of Longwood

Commissioner Joseph McMullen, Town of Oakland

Mayor Rob Medina, City of Palm Bay

Mayor Roger Michaud, Town of Lake Park

Councilman MG Moran, City of Fort Walton Beach

Mayor Pro Tem Knute Nathe, City of Dade City

Commissioner Daniel Nugent, City of Starke

Mark Ogles, Business Watch

Mayor Steve L. Osmer, City of Satellite Beach

Mayor Karen M. Ostrand, Town of Ocean Breeze

Commissioner John Penny, City of Holly Hill

Councilman David Pickett, City of Port St. Lucie

Mayor Jacquelyn Randall, City of Hawthorne

Mayor Chelsea S. Reed, City of Palm Beach Gardens

Commissioner Kevin Reid, City of DeLand

Vice Mayor Thomas B. Reid, City of South Pasadena

Mayor Betty Resch, City of Lake Worth Beach

Commissioner Marie Rosner, Town of Jupiter Inlet Colony

Commissioner Thomas E. Shelly, Town of Belleair

Mayor Megan Sladek, City of Oviedo

Commissioner Alexander Smith, City of Apopka

Councilwoman Kassandra Timothe, City of North Miami

Commissioner Debbie Trice, City of Sarasota

Mayor Leslie Waters, City of Seminole

Mayor Jamie Watts, Town of Welaka

Commissioner Morris L. West, City of Haines City

Councilmember Delarian Wiggins, City of Pensacola

Councilmember Don Willis, City of Cape Canaveral

Mayor Evelyn A. Wilson, City of Groveland

Commissioner Justin York, City of Lake Mary

Deputy Mayor Andrea Young, City of West Melbourne

“In my 10 years as Mayor of Fort Pierce and as an advocate for my city’s residents, I have learned the importance of keeping our legislators informed with facts and data on how legislation affects my city. I treat legislators like I want to be treated, with respect for their office and their time.“

2022-2023

Municipal Administration Committee

The Municipal Administration Committee addresses municipal concerns in multiple areas. Those areas include code enforcement, elections, emergency management, gaming, homeland security, public meetings, public property management, public records, public safety and procurement, as well as charter counties and special districts.

“The legislative process is based upon relationships. Those connections have allowed me to send a short text before a hearing that might shift the direction of a bill. I have also had the opportunity to testify at committee hearings, collaborate with legislators to file amendments to bills and meet individually with legislators to discuss bills that preempt the ability of our cities to govern. However, I have found that being proactive is the strategy that has been the most successful.“

Chair Bob Mayersohn, Commissioner, City of Parkland

CHAIR

Commissioner Bob Mayersohn, City of Parkland

VICE CHAIR

Councilwoman NanDrycka King Albert, City of Midway

MEMBERS

Village Clerk Chevelle D. Addie, Village of Wellington

Battalion Chief Robert Anderson, City of Fort Walton Beach

Mayor Kyle Battie, City of Sarasota

City Clerk April L. Beggerow, City of Plantation

Councilmember Pat Bentley, City of West Melbourne

Commissioner Matt Benton, City of Winter Springs

Mayor Sandra L. Bradbury, City of Pinellas Park

Deputy City Manager George S. Brown, City of Boca Raton

Commissioner Shirley G. Brown, City of Alachua

Town Clerk Lakisha Burch, Town of Loxahatchee Groves

City Clerk Rosemarie Call, City of Clearwater

Commissioner Joy Carter, City of Coral Springs

Commissioner Ivan Chavez Jr., City of West Miami

Deputy Town Clerk Savannah Cobb, Town of Longboat Key

Chief of Police Michael Adam Connor, Indialantic Police

Department

City Manager Ed Cook, City of Callaway

President Keith W. Davis, Davis & Associates, P.A.

Councilmember Brad Doyle, Town of Hypoluxo

City Manager Brenda Fettrow, City of Rockledge

Vice Mayor Sam Fite Jr., City of Bowling Green

Mayor Mark Franks, Town of Shalimar

Commissioner Mac Fuller, City of Lake Alfred

City Clerk Elizabeth Garcia-Beckford, City of North Lauderdale

Town Manager Elmon Lee Garner, Town of Sneads

Deputy City Attorney Ella Gilbert, City of Port St. Lucie

Vice Mayor Kimberly Glas-Castro, Town of Lake Park

Councilwoman Sandy Golding, City of Jacksonville Beach

City Clerk Christian Gowan, City of Winter Springs

City Clerk Angelia Guy, City of Dade City

City Clerk Leslie Guyer, City of Gulf Breeze

Mayor Janice L. Hart, Town of Havana

Intergovernmental Relations Coordinator Christopher Hawks, City of Largo

Town Clerk Sherry D. Henderson, Town of Hillsboro Beach

Councilmember Janet Hernandez, Village of Indiantown

Code Compliance Manager/Fire Inspector David Hooker, Town of Ponce Inlet

Councilmember Denise Horland, City of Plantation

City Clerk Traci R. Houchin, City of Sanford

Mayor Anne Huffman, City of Haines City

Development Manager Adnan Javed, Mott MacDonald

City Clerk Vanessa Joseph, City of North Miami

City Clerk Amber M. LaRowe, City of St. Pete Beach

Commissioner Sarah Malega, City of Lake Worth Beach

Village Clerk Lori McWilliams, Village of Tequesta

Mayor Nancy Miller, City of Daytona Beach Shores

Councilperson KaShamba Miller-Anderson, City of Riviera Beach

Councilmember Yvonne Minus, City of Melbourne

Chief of Intergovernmental and External Affairs Marcia Monserrat, City of Miami Beach

City Clerk Cheryl A. Mooney, City of Temple Terrace

City Clerk Alyson Morales, City of Parkland

City Manager Brian R. Moree, City of Atlantis

Executive Assistant to the Council Marcia Morin, City of Cooper City

Commissioner Clara Murvin, City of Pahokee

Councilmember Christopher R. Nunn, City of Sebastian

Councilmember Bernard W. Oder, City of Mary Esther

Councilor Jim Olliver, City of Seminole

Mayor Nicholas Pachota, City of Venice

Director of Code Compliance Krystal Patterson, City of North Miami

Mayor Tyler Payne, City of Treasure Island

Executive Director Richard Radcliffe, Palm Beach County League of Cities

Vice Mayor Mary Richardson, Town of Dundee

Commissioner Jamie Robinson, City of Largo

Councilmember Cal Rolfson, City of Mount Dora

FLC First Vice President Greg Ross, Mayor, City of Cooper City

Vice Mayor Seth E. Salver, Village of Bal Harbour

Commissioner Arlene R. Schwartz, City of Margate

Vice Mayor Robert M.W. Shalhoub, Town of Lake Clarke Shores

Partner Brian Sherman, Goren, Cherof, Doody & Ezrol, P.A.

Vice Mayor Iris A. Siple, City of Pembroke Pines

Councilmember Holly D. Smith, City of Sanibel

Commissioner Suzy S. Sofer, City of Belleair Bluffs

City Manager Mike J. Staffopoulos, City of Jacksonville Beach

Councilmember Susan Starkey, Town of Davie

Councilmember Sarah Stoeckel, City of Titusville

Commissioner Fabiola Stuyvesant, City of Sunny Isles Beach

Douglas B. Thomas, Business Watch

Mayor Kenneth Thurston, City of Lauderhill

Executive Director Mary Lou Tighe, Broward League of Cities

Commissioner John Tornga, City of Dunedin

Vice Mayor Marlene M. Wagner, Town of Lake Hamilton

Councilwoman Teresa Watkins Brown, City of Fort Myers

Councilmember Lori Wurtzel, City of Maitland

2022-2023

The Transportation and Intergovernmental Relations Committee addresses municipal concerns in several areas. Those areas include transportation and highway safety as well as aviation, affordable housing and homelessness, billboards, building codes, charter schools, rights of way and veterans affairs.

Transportation and Intergovernmental Relations Committee

by our

positions

on

FLC

CHAIR

Councilman Jeff Hmara, Village of Royal Palm Beach

VICE CHAIR

Mayor Steve B. Wilson, City of Belle Glade

MEMBERS

Councilmember Diana Adams, City of West Melbourne

Vice Mayor Liz Alpert, City of Sarasota

Mayor Pro Tem David Ashbrook, City of Port St. Joe

Commissioner Esther E. Berry, City of South Bay

Commissioner Rufus J. Borom, City of Palatka

Councilmember Keith Britton, City of Oviedo

Mayor Donald O. Burnette, City of Port Orange

Intergovernmental Affairs Liaison Debon Campbell, City of Miramar

Council Chair Joseph Citro, City of Tampa

Mayor Christopher Cloudman, City of DeLand

Mayor Karyn Cunningham, Village of Palmetto Bay

Commissioner Nancy Z. Daley, City of Lake Alfred

Commissioner Lisa Kane DeVitto, City of Crescent City

Councilmember Yvette Drucker, City of Boca Raton

Don Duckworth, Business Watch

Commissioner Joe Elliott, City of Wildwood

Commissioner Pete Emrich, City of North Port

Vice Mayor Mary Estimé-Irvin, City of North Miami

Commissioner Eric S. Gerard, City of Largo

Councilmember Mindy Gibson, City of Satellite Beach

Commissioner Penny Gold, Town of Longboat Key

Commissioner Juan Gonzalez, City of Pahokee

Commissioner Jeff Gow, City of Dunedin

Councilmember Frank Guertin, City of Indian Harbour Beach

Vice Mayor Jayne Hall, City of Haines City

Councilmember John Henshaw, City of Sanibel

Assistant City Manager Steven M. Hunnicutt, City of Davenport

Commissioner Curtis Johnson Jr., City of Fort Pierce

City Manager Steve Kennedy, City of Green Cove Springs

Vice Mayor Lori Lewellen, City of Dania Beach

Commissioner John L. Linden, Town of Lake Park

Commissioner Tracy Mercer, City of Winter Haven

Councilwoman Stephanie Morgan, City of Port St. Lucie

Commissioner Janice D. Mortimer, City of Starke

Mayor JohnPaul O’Connor, City of Westlake

Mayor Frank C. Ortis, City of Pembroke Pines

City Engineer Nikesh Patel, City of Sarasota

Councilor Michael Petruccelli, Town of Indian Shores

Mayor Pro Tem Angela Raymond, City of Cape Canaveral

Vice Mayor Joanne M. Ribble, Village of Estero

Mayor Pro-Tem Gary Russ Jr., City of Gretna

Mayor Richard A. Rynearson, City of Fort Walton Beach

Government and Economic Development Manager Daphnee A. Sainvil, City of Fort Lauderdale

Director of Intergovernmental Relations Kyle Shephard, City of Orlando

Vice Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline, City of St. Augustine

Commissioner Joshua Simmons, City of Coral Springs

Commissioner Jordan Smith, City of Lake Mary

Councilor Latisha Springer, City of Seminole

Councilwoman Terolyn P. Watson, City of Fort Myers

Government Affairs Associate Director Ian Whitney, City of Tampa

Mayor J.B. Whitten, City of Crestview

Director of Engineering Services Jerald Woloszynski, City of Largo

Village Clerk Kimberly Wynn, Village of Palm Springs

“One of my goals is to become a trusted resource for our legislators before and during a session. Sharing this perspective with our legislators and their staffs before these bills become law is critical to maintaining Home Rule decision-making authority. Guided

excellent FLC staff, the policy committees establish coherent, savvy

with key rationale

the bills

supports and opposes. The policy committees provide clear statements of the desired actions to present to our Legislators – “the ask.” Through the FLC legislative advocacy process, we city officials are empowered and equipped to effectively influence the state legislative process in the best interest of our cities and our residents. Local Voices Making Local Choices.”

Chair Jeff Hmara, Councilman, Village of Royal Palm Beach

2022-2023

Utilities, Natural Resources and Public Works Committee

The Utilities, Natural Resources and Public Works Committee addresses policies specific to municipal concerns in several areas. Those areas include coastal management, energy, environmental and wetlands permitting, hazardous and toxic wastes, recycling, solid waste collection and disposal, stormwater, wastewater treatment and reuse, water management and water quality and quantity.

CHAIR

Commissioner Jen Ahearn-Koch, City of Sarasota

VICE CHAIR

Mayor/Police Commissioner Dr. Daniel J. Comerford III, Town of Jupiter Inlet Colony

MEMBERS

Councilmember Robert “Bob” F. Auwaerter, Town of Indian River Shores

Councilmember David Bailey, City of Brooksville

Commissioner Joseph A. Barkley III, City of Belleair Bluffs

Vice Mayor Joyce D. Barton, Town of Melbourne Beach

Mayor Pro Tem Nathaniel J. Birdsong Jr., City of Winter Haven

Councilwoman Darla Bonk, City of Fort Myers

Vice Mayor Phyllis Butlien, City of DeBary

Vice Mayor Anthony N. Caggiano, City of Margate

Councilman Chase Chambliss, Town of Palm Shores

Attorney Thomas A. Cloud, GrayRobinson, Orlando

Councilmember John Cotugno, City of Vero Beach

City Manager Bart Diebold, City of Pinellas Park

Director of Public Works James Dillon, City of Tavares

Councilor Roger Edelman, City of Seminole

Mayor Cherry Fitch, City of Gulf Breeze

Deputy Mayor Fred Forbes, City of Bonita Springs

Commissioner Maureen Freaney, City of Dunedin

Council President Pro Tem Gregory Freebold, Town of Lake Clarke Shores

Deputy Mayor Stuart Glass, Town of Indialantic

Councilman Ted J. Hartselle, City of Rockledge

City Manager Robin Hayes, City of Cocoa Beach

Stormwater Manager Kate Helms, City of Satellite Beach

Commissioner Donna Holck, City of Largo

Utility Services Director Gary Hubbard, City of Winter Haven

Vice Mayor Richard Johnson, City of Sanibel

Mayor Fred Jones, City of Sebastian

Councilmember John S. Jones Jr., City of Monticello

Public Services Administrator James Keene, City of Haines City

Executive Director Rachel Keesling, Southwest Florida League of Cities

Councilman Michael McComas, City of Everglades City

Commissioner Jane Mealy, City of Flagler Beach

Capital Projects Engineer Camden Mills, City of Sarasota

Deputy City Attorney Francis Moehrle Jr., City of Port St. Lucie

Mayor Danielle H. Moore, Town of Palm Beach

Mayor Lois A. Paritsky, Town of Ponce Inlet

Commissioner Susan Persis, City of Ormond Beach

Vice Mayor Richard J. Roney, Town of Hypoluxo

Utility Chief Operator Peter Roussell, City of Palm Coast

Commissioner Brian Sackett, City of Longwood

Mayor Dan Saracki, City of Oldsmar

Scott Shannon, Business Watch

Mayor Beverly Smith, Village of Palm Springs

Commissioner Marty Sullivan, City of Winter Park

Councilmember April Thanos, City of Gulfport

Commissioner Jim Turney, City of Altamonte Springs

Councilman David A. Vigliotti, City of Satellite Beach

Mayor Bobby Wagner, City of Destin

Commissioner Beth Wetzel, City of Treasure Island

Mayor Julie Wilkins, City of LaBelle

Commissioner Brian T. Williams, City of Palmetto

Commissioner Rosemary Wilsen, City of Ocoee

“The FLC staff make participating in the legislative process easy and powerful. I’ve been able to meet and, more importantly, have meaningful discussions with our elected officials at the state and federal levels. It’s a two-way conversation as local elected officials share valuable experiences and information, details about which they otherwise wouldn’t have access. Likewise, state and federal elected officials can share important information about grant opportunities, appropriations and bill details. Participating in the legislative process is not only part of our job; it is an invaluable experience!“

Chair Jen AhearnKoch, Commissioner, City of Sarasota

Relationships Drive Legislative Session

Municipal officials’ engagement was at the forefront

By Casey Cook Florida League of Cities

Much of the success during the 2023 Legislative Session is attributed to the strong relationships that you, our members, have with your legislators. The relationships that you built and fostered leading up to and throughout session proved pivotal.

Some of you had new legislators serving in the House or the Senate. You built those relationships early, ensuring that your legislators see you as a resource for them. You provided the Florida League of Cities (FLC) Legislative Affairs Team with vital information so that we could tell better stories at the Capitol when we met with legislators. And you told your personal stories to the legislators that you’ve gotten to know over the last few months or years.

We also had greater engagement from our members this session, including higher participation in our Monday Morning Call-Ins and record-breaking registrations for Legislative Action Days. (See p. 40 for more on Legislative Action Days.) We gave legislative briefings to over 30 cities that came to Tallahassee to make sure that they felt comfortable speaking on our issues.

You engaged with the League often and when it mattered most. You met with legislators to advocate on behalf of our communities. You responded to the League’s legislative alerts by taking action. You picked up the phone to call your legislator when an important bill was up. And you thanked your legislator when they supported our position. You stood up for Home Rule, and it made a difference this session.

LEGISLATIVE RECAP

Because we have Home Rule authority, we rarely ask the Legislature to pass a law that allows us to solve a problem. Instead, most of what we fight for at the Capitol is preserving our ability to come up with local solutions and not have a onesize-fits-all approach implemented at the state level. In other words, we play 99% defense.

This year, several preemption bills put us on high alert early in session:

▸ Partisan local elections (HJR 405), a proposed Constitutional amendment that would have required cities to have partisan elections

▸ Solid waste management (SB 798 and CS/HB 975), bills eliminating solid waste franchises for certain property types in a city

▸ Municipal utilities (CS/HB 1331 and SB 1380), bills limiting enterprise fund transfers from utilities to general funds of cities

▸ Sovereign immunity (CS/HB 401 and SB 604), bills drastically raising sovereign immunity caps, thereby increasing the liability that cities would have

▸ Residential building permits (SB 682 and CS/HB 671), bills severely shortening the timeframe that residential building permits had to be approved.

The above bills died in committee. You, our members, were in your legislators’ ears early and often talking about the impacts that those bills would have on your communities. Those education efforts proved to be a difference-maker because the bills fizzled out about halfway through session. Because they never made it to the finish line, we successfully defeated those bills this year.

Sometimes threats emerge late in the process via floor amendments. The vacation rental bill (CS/CS/CS/SB 714) passed the full Senate and was later amended by the House with language that would have been detrimental to cities. Because of your advocacy, when the bill came back to the Senate for final approval, the Senate held firm and ultimately rejected that language. As a result, the bill died.

▴ City officials from the Southwest Florida League of Cities meet with Sen. Jonathan Martin, center.

▴ From left, Sen. Tom Wright with Port Orange Mayor Donald Burnette, Town of Ponce Inlet Mayor Lois Paritsky and FLC Senior Legislative Advocate Jeff Branch.

In today’s Legislature, if a bill makes it on an agenda, it’s pretty much guaranteed to pass through that committee. Most of what FLC’s Legislative Team does is try to keep bills off an agenda. Your advocacy efforts and the relationships you have with your legislators are a big part of this strategy.

Two major bills that were a priority of House and Senate leadership dealt with housing and the ordinance adoption process. The League was at the table and provided feedback to Senate leadership on what should be included and where our concerns were. The housing bill (CS/SB 102) is a comprehensive housing bill that sunsets after 10 years. If the legislative changes found in the housing bill cause problems for cities, we will pursue legislation to address them in upcoming sessions.

The local ordinances bill (CS/CS/SB 170), which returned from the 2022 Legislative Session, imposes new requirements on municipalities for adopting and enforcing ordinances. However, the League was instrumental in making significant changes to that bill from where it started last session and ended this

session. The bill aims to ensure local governments know the impacts of pending ordinances on business in their community. The League successfully narrowed the scope of what needed to be included in those business impact statements.

Two areas where we proactively pursued legislation or appropriations were:

▸ Water and wastewater facility operators, part of the FLC Legislative Platform

▸ Cybersecurity.

The bills relating to water and wastewater facility operators, CS/CS/HB 23 by Representative Melony Bell and CS/CS/CS/ SB 162 by Senator Jay Collins, deal with license reciprocity for water and wastewater operators from other states moving to Florida. Cities are facing challenges in hiring operators to run their water and wastewater plans. These bills will, we hope, increase the number of licensed operators that could go to work for cities.

▴ Local officials from the Suncoast League of Cities meet with Rep. Randy Maggard, center.

▸ FLC members from the Volusia League of Cities.

Regarding cybersecurity, for the last two years, we’ve been successful in getting the state to set aside funding for local cybersecurity grants so that cities can protect themselves from hackers. We’re happy to report that $40 million was included in the FY 2023-2024 budget to continue those grants. This funding is for the Florida Department of Management Services to administer a competitive cybersecurity grant program. That program transfers nonrecurring financial assistance to local governments to develop and enhance cybersecurity risk management programs. (See the League’s cybersecurity portal at bit. ly/3LYdCKc.)

The bills above have passed both chambers and, at the time of publication, are awaiting action by the Governor.

This information is a just summary of legislation that impacted Florida cities during the legislative session. For more information on other bills, visit flcities. com/advocacy to access bill summaries, view the legislative Final Report and watch the FLC Post-Legislative Session Webinar.

WHAT’S NEXT

Although this year we stopped these five preemption bills – partisan local elections, solid waste, municipal utilities, sovereign immunity and residential building permits – they will likely be back next year.

Advocacy doesn’t end with sine die. Building relationships with legislators is a year-round effort. You should spend the summer and fall educating your legislators on the real-world impacts of some of the bills that died this year. Know that we’re trying to build our army of proponents for next year.

The 2024 Legislative Session begins January 9, so we’ll be back into session prep again in just a few short months. Legislative committee weeks start in the fall, and the 2023 Legislative Conference will be held November 29 to December 1 in Orlando. (Stay updated with additional information on Legislative Conference at bit.ly/418JNen.)

Continue to foster relationships with your state leaders so that they better understand local government. Become a valuable and trustworthy source of information and insight on municipal issues. Successful advocacy starts at home, not in Tallahassee.

Celebrate the 2023 Home Rule Heroes

Recipients of the Home Rule Hero Award are local government officials, both elected and nonelected, who consistently responded to the Florida League of Cities’ request to reach out to members of the Legislature and help give a local perspective on an issue. They worked tirelessly throughout the legislative session to promote local voices making local choices, protect the Home Rule powers of Florida’s municipalities and advance the League’s legislative platform.

Casey Cook is Chief of Legislative Affairs for the Florida League of Cities. QC

View the 2023 Home Rule Hero Award recipients at bit.ly/3HGnsOG.

▴ Lake Hamilton Vice Mayor Marlene Wagner, left, with Rep. Jennifer Canady.

Ce rtificate Program for Ele cted Municipal Officials

This multi-level certificate achievement program lets you earn points for Florida League of Cities activities in which you already participate! Earn or renew certificates annually based on a points system:

Level 1: Bronze Certificate of Merit – 10 points

Level 2: Silver Certificate of Leadership – 20 points

Level 3: Gold Certificate of Excellence – 30 points.

• Sign up.

• Attend training events.

• Track your progress with quarterly reports.

• Be recognized at Annual Conference, by Quality Cities magazine and in a press release.

League Hosts Legislative Action Days

City officials bring local voices to the state capital

By Kelli Gemmer Florida League of Cities

Nearly 250 municipal officials brought the power of local voices to the state capital for the 2023 Legislative Action Days. Hosted annually during legislative session by the Florida League of Cities (FLC), Legislative Action Days provides opportunities for city leaders across the state to network with other elected officials, meet with lawmakers about local impacts and advocate for legislative issues affecting cities. This year’s event had the highest number of registrations to date.

The three-day event kicked off with a Know Before You Go Session that prepared attendees for Legislative Action Days. The next day, attendees gathered at City Hall for a legislative briefing and heard from FLC President Jolien Caraballo, Vice Mayor for the City of Port St. Lucie. “Our strategic approach is working,” said Caraballo. “We’re at the table with leadership. We’re changing the outcome of bills. Telling your story is helping our state officials understand the value of local self-government.”

Caraballo also recognized the legislative policy committee chairs, the Advocacy Committee Chair and the Federal Action Strike Team (FAST) Chair for their dedication. These committees meet regularly to bolster the League’s advocacy efforts. (See p. 18 to learn more about the committees and chairs.)

The FLC Legislative Affairs team then provided an issue briefing on major bills and key messages to share when meeting with legislators. In a panel setup, the team also explained the League’s lobbying strategies and how members’ advocacy efforts through President Caraballo’s finding #commongrounds initiative help bolster their efforts.

“Advocacy starts locally,” said Jeff Branch, Senior Legislative Advocate for the League. “You are your city’s first advocates. When you share your feedback

▸ FLC President Jolien Caraballo addresses attendees and emphasizes the impact of their hard work throughout session.

FLC members hear an update from the FLC Legislative Affairs team.

from meeting with your legislators to us on the lobbying team, it further tells your local story.” FLC Chief of Legislative Affairs Casey Cook added that the more information and stories the League’s Legislative Team hears from members, the better they can communicate those impacts to legislators during their lobbying efforts so that legislators see the whole picture.

These lobbying efforts boil down to building rapport, said Lois Paritsky , Mayor of the Town of Ponce Inlet and FLC Advocacy Committee Chair. “This event is very significant because it is an opportunity for us to do the relationship-building that is talked about,” Paritsky said, “because once you have a relationship with someone, you’re then in a position to effectively advocate.”

Following the briefing, members headed to the Capitol to meet with legislators and discuss priority issues. Arcadia City Administrator Terry Stewart, who has worked in local government for almost 54 years, said, “One of the things that I’ve known over the years is that in order for your voice to be heard, you’ve got to express it.” Let people know your concerns, needs, desires and hopes, said Stewart. “One of the ways in which we do that is to come to Tallahassee to address those issues that are important to local communities.”

For Ella Gilbert , Senior Deputy City Attorney with the City of Port St. Lucie, Legislative Action Days helps foster existing relationships. Before making a request to a legislator, you need to get to know the member on a personal level, she said. “Legislative Action Days helps us as we build on our relationships with members of our legislative delegation, and it’s important to carry the message of Home Rule and local government control here in the state capital.”

By finding common ground and building relationships with legislators, the League’s members and legislative team were able to make an impact during this legislative session. (See p. 34 for more about the 2023 Legislative Session.)

Caraballo said, “You are so important in being a bridge for what League staff is doing in Tallahassee. With your help, we’re achieving even greater success. We’re advocating for and protecting our cities.”

▴ FLC lobbyists discuss the League’s advocacy strategies and how members’ efforts contribute to those strategies. From left, Chief of Legislative Affairs Casey Cook, Deputy General Counsel Rebecca O’Hara, Legislative Advocate Tara Taggart, Legislative Counsel David Cruz, Senior Legislative Advocate Jeff Branch and Legislative Consultant Charles Chapman.

Kelli Gemmer is the Assistant Editor for the Florida League of Cities. QC

▴ Legislative Action Days attendees at Tallahassee City Hall before they head to the Capitol to meet with legislators.

◂ FLC Second Vice President Michael Blake, right, and FLC First Vice President Greg Ross, second from right, during the legislative briefing in Tallahassee City Hall.

FLC Hosts Youth Council Legislative Action Days

By Eryn Russell

Youth councils from across the state met in Tallahassee this spring for a two-day program during the Florida League of Cities (FLC) Legislative Action Days. Representatives from Cape Coral, Fort Pierce, Largo, Miramar, Niceville, Ocoee, Pensacola, Sanford and West Park attended.

To kick off the program, Steve Vancore, President of VancoreJones, led the youth council members in a two-part workshop on youth engagement within their municipality. The program’s first half focused on building skills in issue identification, message development and public message delivery. The second half focused on the do’s and don’ts of advocacy. Participants closed with a practice session to enhance the skills they learned during the day’s workshop.

To dive deeper into state government, Florida 4-H provided an overview of the Florida Legislature and led students in a mock legislative session, acting as the House of Representatives. Students met in committees to discuss and vote on bills later debated on the House floor. Special guest Tallahassee Mayor Pro-Tem Dianne Williams-Cox concluded the program by connecting how state and local governments work together.

For more information on municipal youth councils, visit flcities. com/municipal-youth-councils

Eryn Russell is a Membership Programs Specialist at the Florida League of Cities. QC

Florida League of Cities

Tallahassee Mayor Pro-Tem Dianne Williams-Cox discusses collaboration between different levels of government.

▴ Steve Vancore, President of VancoreJones, gave a fun and engaging workshop about youth engagement.

The Advo-Kit Proves Valuable

Experienced and newly elected officials use tips in advocacy resource

By Sheryl S. Jackson

City officials understand the importance of advocating for issues that are critical to their residents and communities, but they might not be sure where to start when it comes to interacting with state representatives in Tallahassee.

The Florida League of Cities (FLC) created The Advo-Kit as a tool to help city leaders better understand their role in legislative advocacy and provide a foundation of knowledge about Home Rule and what it means to cities. Along with the background on the importance of local decision-making, the toolkit includes specific tips on how to initiate contact, discuss issues and follow up with legislators.

During the recent legislative session, newly elected and experienced city officials used the interactive digital resource to develop or strengthen their advocacy skills. The videos, tips, examples and guides address questions such as the following.

“WHERE CAN I LEARN ABOUT THE FLORIDA STATE LEGISLATURE AND HOW LAWS ARE MADE?”

A succinct but comprehensive overview of the legislative session, how a bill becomes a law and who’s who in the state Legislature are a few of the resources. When municipal leaders weren’t certain who represents the districts their city encompasses, they referenced a list of tools that identified them and provided contact information.

“I’VE NEVER ADVOCATED FOR A CITY BEFORE. WHAT IS HOME RULE?”

With Home Rule serving as a guiding principle for city leaders as well as FLC staff representing Florida cities, understanding Home Rule and the proposed bills that would preempt local control over local issues is important. Officials accessed the explanation of Home Rule, examples of past proposed bills that challenged Home Rule and a link to FLC’s Legislative Bill Summaries, which was updated weekly during session.

“WHAT ARE THE BEST WAYS TO LOBBY?”

Creating good relationships with legislative representatives is the first step in effective advocacy. Local officials who used the toolkit followed the tips to respect the legislator’s and staff’s time by always making appointments and agreeing to meet with staff when the lawmaker was unavailable. They also followed the directions to tell the city’s story with data, facts about the city’s unique nature and anecdotes about the proposed bill’s

effect on individuals and businesses. They accessed specific tips about virtual and in-person meetings and making contacts via letter or email, including a checklist of items to include in written communication.

“HOW CAN I IMPROVE MEDIA COVERAGE OF MY CITY’S ISSUES?”

Local officials who accessed the toolkit learned they needed to become familiar with reporters’ work and understand what beats they cover so their story ideas could be pitched to the person who was most likely to be interested. They followed other tips in the toolkit, including choosing the most appropriate author for op-eds, respecting deadlines and keeping their main point at the top of any press release, media advisory or letter to an editor.

“I’VE BEEN AN ADVOCATE FOR MY CITY FOR YEARS BUT HAVE TO TESTIFY BEFORE A COMMITTEE. HOW DO I PREPARE?”

Elected officials looked at and followed recommendations on ways to research the committee so they knew who would hear the testimony. They also accessed a template for remarks. By following directions in the toolkit, they knew to be brief but prepared to answer questions during the hearing or via written response if they needed to gather or verify information. They followed the 10 tips on how to communicate confidence and presence via their body language, which is included in the Advo-Kit.

Starting advocacy at home is the foundation for the finding #commongrounds initiative, which promotes informal meetings for coffee and conversation between legislators and city officials – in local coffee shops. (For more on the #commongrounds initiative, see p. 50.)

“The combined resources of the Advo-Kit and the finding #commongrounds toolkit provide a wealth of support for city officials as they create relationships that will form the foundation for effective Home Rule advocacy,” said FLC President Jolien Caraballo, Vice Mayor for the City of Port St. Lucie “The commitment and enthusiasm of local elected officials to share their cities’ distinctive stories enhance legislators’ understanding of the challenges, impacts and benefits of the proposed bills they consider.”

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Finding #CommonGrounds Brews Up Success

President Caraballo’s vision strengthens relationships with legislators

By Kelli Gemmer Florida League of Cities

Florida League of Cities (FLC) President Jolien Caraballo , Vice Mayor for the City of Port St. Lucie, likes her coffee strong and her relationships stronger.

Coming into her presidency, Caraballo knew she wanted to focus on improving working relationships between the state and municipal levels of government. What better way to build stronger relationships with legislators than over coffee?

The finding #commongrounds initiative, powered by the FLC, is the idea that visiting the local coffee shop with state lawmakers can be an excellent first step to building or strengthening relationships. This initiative is rooted in Caraballo’s passion for Cuban coffee and advocacy. Throughout her presidency, Caraballo has encouraged city leaders to find common grounds with their state representatives and senators by breaking the ice through coffee and conversation.

To kickstart the finding #commongrounds initiative, local officials received a package in September 2022 that included a coffee mug, coffee grounds and call-to-action postcards explaining the initiative. Caraballo also shared an advocacy toolkit to lay the foundation for a good start and aid local officials in finding common grounds with the state legislators representing their communities. The toolkit provides tips for overcoming the political divide, a three-step process for advocacy, suggestions for hosting roundtables with local lawmakers and more.

At the 2022 Legislative Conference in November, Caraballo hosted a finding #commongrounds Cuban Coffee Station that allowed attendees to network with fellow elected officials and share stories about their advocacy efforts. Following elections, which resulted in new and returning lawmakers, Caraballo encouraged members to

find common grounds with their new legislators and develop relationships to help ensure cities would have a successful legislative session.

“Common grounds was the right message at the right time,” said Caraballo at Legislative Action Days in April. “The conversations you’re having with your legislators are making a difference. With your help, we’re achieving even greater success. We’re advocating for and protecting our cities.”

Throughout Legislative Action Days, many members wore finding #commondgrounds pins when meeting with legislators to support the initiative. For Michael Blake, Mayor of the City of Cocoa and FLC Second Vice President, the common ground approach of sharing stories with state legislators is key in advocacy. “That’s very effective because a lot of our state legislators were local too,” he said. (See p. 40 for the Legislative Action Days recap.)

Lois Paritsky , Mayor of the Town of Ponce Inlet and FLC Advocacy Committee Chair , said the finding #commongrounds initiative is excellent. Paritsky shared that Ponce Inlet has hosted legislators for coffee and roundtables with their constituents. “It’s an opportunity to find what is common, and then we can work from there.”

Getting to know legislators and what is important to them is a critical part of the finding #commongrounds initiative. Kimberly Glas-Castro, Vice Mayor of the Town of Lake Park, said, “We’re always asking for something, so when we’re meeting with our legislators, we’re also saying, ‘What can we do for you?’” This question includes learning what their priorities are, what

bill they’ve sponsored, where it is in committee and how local elected officials can help them. This strategy helps strengthen the relationship by ensuring it’s a two-way partnership.

By building this partnership with legislators, local elected officials can become trusted advisors on municipal issues. During session, the League saw members’ relationships with their legislators benefit FLC’s advocacy efforts. (For more on the 2023 Legislative Session, see p. 34.) Through these relationships, local elected officials help legislators understand the real-world impacts of proposed legislation, which opens the door to compromise.

Although this session has ended, it’s vital to continue advocacy year-round, Caraballo said. Stay engaged and communicate with legislators when they’re back home and discuss issues that are likely to return next year, she advised. The 2024 Legislative Session begins in January, which means session prep will begin this fall.

“With an early session, we’ll have only a short time to meet with our legislators,” said Caraballo. “With your help, we’ll continue to find compromise. With your voices, we will find common grounds.”

Kelli Gemmer is the Assistant Editor for the Florida League of Cities. QC

▸ FLC President Jolien Caraballo hosted a finding #commongrounds Cuban Coffee Station at Legislative Conference.

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Legislative Conference Is a Key Event

League members set the stage for session

By Kelli Gemmer Florida League of Cities

Florida League of Cities (FLC) members are essential to the League’s legislative success, and Legislative Conference plays a key role in this process. FLC Legislative Conference provides the opportunity for city leaders to discuss and learn about important issues and finalize and adopt the legislative priorities.

The Conference is held annually in November or December. The FLC President presides over the conference and rallies the membership in support of the annual Legislative Platform. Throughout the conference, Florida’s city leaders share ideas and strategies on collaborating with state legislators and finding common ground. (See p. 50 for more on the finding #commongrounds initiative.) Attendees also learn how they can educate and engage their residents in support of local voices making local choices by becoming a Local Voices United (LVU) Ambassador. (See p. 14 for more on the LVU Ambassador program.)

CONTINUED ON PAGE 58

▴ Legislative Conference attendees including FLC President Jolien Caraballo and FLC First Vice President Greg Ross, top right, and FLC Second Vice President Michael Blake, bottom of this page, left, network with fellow elected officials.

▸ FLC members participate in workshop sessions, Legislative Policy Committee meetings and a Keynote Luncheon featuring Keynote Speaker Dr. Nathaniel Glover, p. 57, right. The luncheon provided another opportunity for attendees to network and share ideas.

The most recent Legislative Conference included a diverse panel of workshop sessions, topics and speakers focused on important issues such as addressing the housing crisis, grant readiness and success, amplifying your advocacy efforts and deconstructing the midterm election. Keynote Speaker Dr. Nathaniel Glover, Duval County’s first African American sheriff in Jacksonville, presented on leadership through challenging times.

The conference closed with the adoption of the 2023 Legislative Platform FLC President Jolien Caraballo thanked local elected officials for their time and for lending their voices in support of Florida’s 411 municipalities. “Your attendance at this conference speaks volumes about your commitment to your city and to the people you serve.”

FL C Legislative Conference

November 29 -

December 1, 2023

Hilton Orlando

▴ Local elected officials at a workshop session.

Kelli Gemmer is the Assistant Editor for the Florida League of Cities. QC

Florida Municipal Officials MANUAL

This updated manual is a Floridaspecific reference guide for elected officials and municipal staff.

Historical information about municipal government in Florida

Review of forms of municipal government in Florida

Municipal financial and budget information

Florida’s planning, zoning and land-use requirements for municipal governments

Review of basic municipal services

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