Subject:
Title
2020 Federal Legislative Priorities.
label
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval of the 2020 Federal Legislative Priorities.
• The 2020 Federal Legislative Program illustrates the Board’s federal priorities for the upcoming year.
• Priorities include:
1.) National Flood Insurance Program
• Support a long-term extension to the program that ensures financial sustainability, while not pricing out policy holders. This includes providing premium discounts for private and community-based mitigation efforts.
• Oppose the implementation of Risk 2.0 until further details of the program are released.
2.) Beach Nourishment
• Request the Army Corps of Engineers reevaluate its Perpetual Storm Damage Reduction Easement policy, requiring beachfront property owner easements in perpetuity for areas landward of the Erosion Control Line where the Army Corps has historically placed sand.
• Support an additional $1 million of funding for the feasibility study to assess coastal storm risk management to extend for 50 additional years the federal authorizations for the Treasure Island and Long Key Nourishment Projects currently set to expire in 2025 and 2030, respectfully.
• Support the continued funding for Pinellas County beach nourishment projects including Pass-a-Grille Beach, which is in an eroded state, not funded, and tentatively scheduled for nourishment in 2021.
3.) Transportation/Infrastructure
• Support reauthorization of a transportation package that includes funding for hardening and increased resiliency of infrastructure, local projects that combat coastal water level changes and increased storm surge, and Advanced Traffic Management Systems.
• Support strategies that address the Federal Highway Trust Fund’s declining revenues in order to adequately fund future transportation needs.
4.) Offshore Oil Drilling
• Support an extension to the current moratorium on oil drilling in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico within 125 miles of Florida, set to expire in 2022.
• Oppose expansion of additional Gulf of Mexico lease agreements in Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program.Body
Strategic Plan:
Deliver First Class Service to the Public and Our Customers
5.1 Maximize partner relationships and public outreach
5.2 Be responsible stewards of the public’s resources
Summary:
Summary
The Federal Legislative Program illustrates the Board’s federal priorities for the upcoming year. In addition to the priorities included in the program, County staff, and the County’s federal governmental relations firm, Van Scoyoc Associates, will closely monitor all issues that emerge, and have potential to impact Pinellas County Government’s ability to deliver services to its residents and visitors alike.
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Background Information:
After receiving input from the Board at its February 6, 2019 work session, feedback is incorporated into the program which is presented today.
Fiscal Impact:
N/A
Staff Member Responsible:
Brian Lowack, Assistant to the County Administrator
Partners:
Federal Legislative Delegation
Van Scoyoc Associates, Federal Governmental Relations Firm
Attachments:
2020 Federal Legislative Program