Latest news with #FloridaLeagueofCities
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
FLC recognizes Jonathan Hayes as a 2025 Home Rule Hero
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) – The Florida League of Cities has recognized City Manager of the City of Panama City, Jonathan Hayes, as a 2025 Home Rule Hero on Wednesday. According to a news release, the FLC recognized Hayes for his exceptional advocacy during the 2025 Legislative Session. The prestigious award honors municipal officials who relentlessly defend the principle of home rule, the right of local governments to address community needs with local solutions, free from excessive state interference. The 2025 Home Rule Hero Award honors almost 180 municipal officials statewide. The FLC Chief of Legislative Affairs, Casey Cook, commended the leaders for their dedication. 'The dedication and effort of these local officials who tirelessly advocated for local decision-making was a difference-maker this legislative session,' Cook said. Hayes was appointed City Manager of Panama City in January 2024. He has a distinguished public service career that includes roles as Director of Public Works and Logistics. City of Panama said that Hayes' role has included managing vital infrastructure and public services, underscoring his commitment to enhancing the City's resilience and quality of life. During the legislative season, Hayes was constantly engaged with state lawmakers, their staff and senior agency officials, where he provided valuable local perspectives on important issues. Hayes's efforts contributed to the advancement of the League's legislative agenda, promoting glocal voices in policymaking. City of Panama said that Hayes's resignation as a Home Rule Hero emulates his unwavering commitment to empowering the City's residents and businesses through effective local governance and advocacy. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Florida lawmakers pass hurricane bill amid restriction fears
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Florida is just days away from the start of hurricane season, and NOAA is predicting another above average season ahead. State lawmakers are hoping their latest hurricane bill will help ease the recovery process, but not everyone was behind the effort from the start. The hurricane bill package (SB 180) lawmakers pushed across the finish line aims to help Floridians rebuild after future storms, as well as increase disaster planning on the local level; but critics of the bill say it could actually prevent resiliency after a hurricane hits. DeSantis signs bill allowing gold, silver to be used as currency 'I think it will make our state stronger going forward, and it will help those of us who are recovering from a really terrible hurricane year,' said State Rep. Fiona McFarland (R-Sarasota). A sponsor of the bill, McFarland, says there is no 'perfect' bill out there, but is proud of the work her and her colleagues did this session. However, that didn't stop local lawmakers from raising concerns with the bill language during committee debate. 'Although there's lots and lots of great things in this bill, I think we still have a little more work to do,' said State Rep. Linda Chaney (R-St. Pete Beach). She's especially concerned about the section focusing on building back better after the storms, with the bill language possibly adding restrictions to local disaster recovery (LDR) and comprehensive emergency management plans (COMPLANS).'It's a hurricane every year, we're always 100 miles from the track. So that's in essence telling all local governments you cannot change your COMPLANS and your LDR'S to be more restrictive,' Chaney said. Chaney added that counties along the coast were raising red flags, pointing to unintended consequences that could restrict local governments who want to develop and recover their properties. Matthew Singer, with Florida League of Cities, who represents 411 Florida cities, towns, and villages, echoed those remarks.'Whether it's anti-growth interests or business competitors, a city updating its drainage system after a storm or approving a new project could face a legal challenge if someone argues that it's burdensome to their operations, which can delay recovery and progress,' Singer said. Sponsors of the bill shared that lawmakers learn something new during and after each hurricane season, and they hope to continue to work with Floridians and local municipalities across the state to develop future legislation in the year ahead. DeSantis has yet to sign the bill into law. He also has the option to veto it, but local lawmakers don't see that happening and believe it will get the green light from the governor. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
League of Cities brief local officials on new hurricane-response legislation
The Florida League of Cities briefed local government officials on May 15, 2025, about the implications of a new law controlling post-storm planning. Local government officials are attempting to come to terms with recent legislation (SB 180) intended to make sure they are better prepared to handle the aftermath of a a major storm or hurricane. Pinellas County Republican Sen. Nick DiCeglie sponsored the measure. He said it was 'personal' for him, having observed homeowners' frustrations dealing with their local governments in the aftermaths of Hurricanes Helene and Milton last fall. After the Senate initially passed the bill last month, he issued a statement saying that, following a major storm, citizens need a 'clear path to recovery, not roadblocks.' 'When local bureaucracy overshadows the needs of citizens, Floridians are left picking up the pieces,' he said. 'We're fighting for families to focus on rebuilding without additional delays or burdens, especially for those who sustained damage or lost their homes. Working with our state and local responders, we can streamline restoration efforts and improve emergency response coordination, fortifying and strengthening our communities before the next storm.' The bill contains more than a dozen provisions affecting everything to do with emergency management preparedness and response, as described during a Zoom conference call Thursday organized by the Florida League of Cities, Perhaps most controversially for local governments is that it prohibits a county or a city located entirely or partially within 100 miles of a hurricane's track from proposing or adopting moratoriums on construction, reconstruction, or redevelopment of any property. It also prohibits adopting a 'more restrictive or burdensome amendment' or 'burdensome procedure' to their comprehensive plans or land development regulations concerning review, approval, or issuance of a site plan, development permit, or development order until Oct. 1, 2027, applied retroactively to Aug. 1, 2024. 'You may be asking what is 'burdensome' and what is 'more restrictive?' said Matt Singer with the League, who cited a lack of a clear definition as the reason the League opposed the measure. The bill allows for a 'cause of action,' meaning citizens and/or business owners would be able to challenge any local update on the ground that it is burdensome or more restrictive to them. 'And so it's really, really important that you check this language and see if any of your local updates that have already been made would be affected, and whether's there's any liability created there,' Singer said. 'As a result of that, there's a lot of legal uncertainty,' he said, adding that the League worked closely with DiCeglie and the House bill (HB 1535) sponsor, Sarasota Republican Fiona McFarland, to have that provision removed, but it was ultimately placed back in the House bill. That provision is already drawing attention from local lawmakers who say that it could prevent them from making changes to prevent future flooding from storms. 'It affects every county and every city in the state that you can't control the way that you're developing and the way that you're managing your own land,' Volusia County Commission Chairman Jeff Brower told WESH-TV in Orlando this week. 'And local governments should be doing that.' The bill requires local governments to develop post-storm permitting plans to expedite recovery and rebuilding by providing for special building permitting and inspection procedures following a hurricane or tropical storm. Plans must include adequate staffing for building inspection, permitting, and enforcement and provide multiple locations offering building permit services. The measure says that local governments participating in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) may not adopt what is known as a 'lookback' period. That means any work completed on a house within a specified period (which can be as long as 5+ years) when determining what counts towards FEMA's 50% rule. The NFIP's 50% Rule states that repairs made to a home in a designated flood zone cannot exceed 50% of the home's market value unless the entire structure is brought into full compliance with current flood regulations. Singer did tell members of the League that 'there are positive things in this bill,' specifically a $5,000 penalty for breach of contract for goods and services during a storm. 'This is in response to some local perspectives that we were able to share with the legislators where cities have had contracts in place with debris removal, and contractors unfortunately just no-show, no-call, and go to another place where they can get some more money,' he said. 'The bottom line here is that Senate bill 180 would reshape many aspects to municipal emergency response across the board, and it imposes a lot of new planning and publication duties,' Singer added. The measure has yet to be sent to Gov. DeSantis desk. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
House budget chair orders review of local budgets during sovereign immunity debate
House Budget Committee Chair Rep. Lawrence McClure (Photo via Florida House of Representatives) State. Rep. Lawrence McClure on Thursday called for a review of county budgets — the results of which, he said, will help guide the legislative debate on appropriate payout limits for people injured by the government or its entities. His comments came during debate on HB 301 by Rep. Fiona McFarland, which cleared the House Budget Committee with three 'no' votes. The bill heads to the Judiciary Committee next. The Senate companion, SB 1570, has been referred to three committees but has yet to be scheduled for a hearing. The bill would increase the state's sovereign immunity limits in damages claims, taking them from $200,000 per person to $1 million and from $300,000 per occurrence to $3 million. The caps were last adjusted in 2010. The bill is opposed by the Florida League of Cities, Florida Association of Counties, the Safety Net Hospital Alliance, and insurance industry representatives, among others, who argue the proposed new limitations (a 400% increase over the existing cap for individuals and a 900% increase per occurrence) are too high. To determine new limits that strike a balance between those who've been injured and local municipalities, McClure said, the State Administration and Budget Subcommittee should 'get into these local budgets' — examine their bottom-line increases, spending increases, and 'most importantly' the annual legislative funding requests cities and counties routinely make of legislators to fund things such as parks, improvements at local emergency operation centers, and hospital programs. McClure asked that the subcommittee review 14 years of information. 'I think in that, we'll find the right balance we are looking for,' McClure said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX We are more than willing, like I said, to come to the table and figure out what the appropriate number is. – Florida League of Cities Deputy General Counsel Sovereign immunity stems from the Latin phrase 'rex non potest peccare,' which translates to 'the king cannot commit a legal wrong.' In legal terms, it refers to the state's authority to exempt itself as a legal sovereign from civil lawsuits, although the state does allow negligence claims against itself and its subdivisions — agencies, cities, counties, and public hospitals — within limits. Injured parties can sue for damages and collect within the liability thresholds established by law, but if they win awards in excess of the limits, they must go to the Legislature seeking what's called a claims bill to collect the payment. McClure's remarks followed comments made by some committee members who worried that the proposed caps could be too high. The members were repeating concerns raised by Florida League of Cities Deputy General Counsel and lobbyist David Cruz during public testimony on the bill. Cruz said the proposed increases come at a time when the Legislature also is considering limiting ways that local governments can collect taxes on property and from businesses. The tandem, he said, threatens to limit cities' revenues while increasing their costs. 'And in the middle, we would be left with a significant impact to our cities. So, I would just ask, please balance the scales accordingly,' Cruz said. Cities understand the need to increase the caps, Cruz said, but he suggested the Legislature consider doubling them to $400,00 per person and $600,00 per person, as it did in 2024. When McClure asked whether the League of Cities supported the 2024 bill (which ultimately died) Cruz acknowledged it had not. The association supported adjusting the limits to $300,000/$500,000, instead. McClure pressed Cruz as to why the League of Cities would support the $400,000/$600,000 limits now, but Cruz didn't directly answer the question. Instead, he pitched compromise. 'We are more than willing, like I said, to come to the table and figure out what the appropriate number is. Whether we start at 400/600 or 300/500, we are happy to engage in those conversations,' Cruz said. 'We just strongly feel that 1 million/3 million is too much.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'It takes a team': Former Mayor Coniglio praises Palm Beach's early COVID-19 response
Gail Coniglio's final year as mayor of Palm Beach was a challenging one, as COVID-19 upended life across the island. The longtime public servant, who was halfway through her fifth term as mayor when the pandemic got underway, confronted an increasingly complex situation amid rising concerns about public health and safety. By early March 2020, Florida had confirmed its first case of the illness, prompting Gov. Ron DeSantis to declare a state of emergency on the ninth of that month. That same day, the town published a webpage to keep residents informed about the coronavirus. It included information on how the illness is transmitted, its symptoms, ways to prevent being exposed, and links to the websites for the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Florida Department of Health, and Florida League of Cities. "All we were trying to do is kind of get our feet under ourselves," Coniglio told the Daily News. "Because it was certainly a catastrophe and uncharted territory." Coniglio and town officials quickly took action, agreeing to develop preventive measures and emergency response plans to protect the public, particularly those who were more vulnerable to serious illness. In consultation with staff, department heads and local health officials such as Palm Beach County Health Department Director Dr. Alina Alonso, the town closed beaches, canceled public meetings and other large-scale events, implemented mask mandates and issued a town-wide curfew. Those measures were intended to ensure public well-being, Coniglio said, but they remained flexible in the early days of the pandemic as guidance frequently changed. "Alina was able to guide us probably moment by moment, because the protocols were very fluid," Coniglio said. "Once the decision was made to go through lockdowns, the town then took the steps to manage that even in Town Hall. We held meetings by Zoom for the first time ever. Once we started to reopen, there was social distancing. There were measurements that people had to stay within." While some people resisted the COVID-19 restrictions in their communities, Coniglio said Palm Beach residents expressed few concerns. "I think there was a total buy-in from our community," she said. "All of the residents understood that." The town's first vaccine distribution event, which occurred near the end of Coniglio's term, was one of its most important achievements during the pandemic. Held Jan. 5, 2021, the clinic drew 800 residents to the South Fire Station on South County Road. Two more events brought the total number of residents who took part in the town's vaccination program to 1,200. Coniglio praised the efforts of town administrators, led by then-Fire-Rescue Chief Darrel Donatto, to secure vaccines for residents. "I think it takes a team, and it was an effort, not only from the perspective of the elected officials and town staff, but the community at large," Coniglio said. "We all rallied together to make that happen." Reflecting on the start of the pandemic, Coniglio praised the town's efforts to protect the community's health and safety. When asked if there was anything the town should have done differently, she responded with a firm no. "I don't want to say we did everything right," she said. "But we checked all the boxes to make sure we were staying within the protocol and the measures that kept everyone safe." Jodie Wagner is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at jwagner@ This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Former Mayor Coniglio praises Palm Beach's COVID-19 response efforts
