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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDocumentation_Workshop_Tab 02_8/29/2022Workshop STAFF Meeting: Staff Contact MEMO Workshop - Aug 29 2022 Jeremy Allen, Village Manager Discuss Future Purchase and Financing of Park Land Department: Manager At the August 11, 2022 Regular Council meeting a request was made for staff to discuss at a future workshop a referendum to bond money for use to purchase park land. In addition to the request, staff was asked to look at additional options for acquiring park land. Staff has provided options for funding future parks and open space. Also attached in the packet is some sample ballot language (utilized by Jupiter) if council adopts an ordinance to move forward with a referendum. This document and any attachments may be reproduced upon request in an alternative format by completing our Accessibility Feedback Form, sending an e-mail to the Village Clerk or calling 561-768-0443. PROJECT NAME: NA Proposed: NA PROJECTED TOTAL: NA BUDGET: NA ENCUMBERED: NA Projected Remaining: NA Future Purchase and Financing of Park Land Jupiter 2019 Ballot Language TC-Resolution-FT - 85-18 concerning LAND ACQUISITION BOND AD 01.19.20 Donation Policy Amended 8-11-2022 he 2022 Florida Statutes a..i cn O O U ate-+ C6 U tw O -0 O O CU � O O Ln =3 O O � cu v cu —0 U CU O +J LL V) v a� c6 L O L Q v +-J i blo 0 N CT U C6 N c� N blo C6 �U O N C6 cn U Im 0 _ .Cl. O O i N N J r-I E N a m cu V •� (U Cf 0 SIMON L 0 � C a U r. 0) u O m Ln . �' a DIMEN - M M _ ,, c m o Z a O 0 ,> a i�. O O O 0O O p W O O O 00Ln O r- r4 � 0�0 0 Ln En M j. O r-I N -ch f6 O O N O O 0000 O O 0 O O �O � 000 000 0 00 Ln O O v O O 01 0 O O� O O m o � � O M N ca v {/?- -(/)- {n X ca C O O � N U C f6 � f0 N co O � N 0 O N N d1 N N t�A +, N O +�' 41 +� E c: > Q N d N O Q C: oi O N +j c6 N N 4-j 4-j O cv �p >- -0 E r-I >. O � J d c6 C6 m N fu ra a O f0 a-•+ 06 O f6 f6 U i O U U O O N �_ N �_ O m m fa ro Q C6 C6 �_ � O U t]A a--+ af6+ ate-+-+ ate++ ate-+ N 0M 0 w a � U OOOOM"1 4--J O u W U L— D r E O 4--J O Q 0 0 cn LL L— O O a--+ c� O 0 0 N O Q V O O Co O 0 V) V QL Ln • V) U_ L (a •Q O s 4A 4-1 U E O U � � to � > > Ln s V •V M =3 Ln E 4- 0L i O cn cr .� W E I= to � L SAMPLE BALLOT - MUESTRA DE BOLETA Official Ballot Boleta Oficial Town of Jupiter- Municipal General Election Ciudad de Jupiter- Elecci6n General Municipal March 12, 2019 12 de Marzo de 2019 Palm Beach County, Florida Condado de Palm Beach, Florida Instructions: To vote, connect the head and tail of the arrow painting to your choice 4n ---y next to your choice. Use a black or blue per. If you make a mistake, ask for a new ballot Do not cross out or your vote may not count. Instruceones: Para votar, conecte la punta y la cola de la Flecha qua senala su eleccion 40�y at lade de su eleccion. Utilice on lapicero de tinta negro o azul. Si comete on error, pida una boleta nueva. No tache c no se podra contar su veto. TOWN OF JUPITER, FLORIDA LAND ACQUISITION PROGRAM GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS Shall the Town of Jupiter issue Bonds not exceeding $20,000,000, at not exceeding the legal rate, maturing not later than twenty years from issuance, payable from the Town's ad valorem taxes to finance a land acquisition program for environmentally sensitive, waterfront and recreational lands and lands for open spaces, archeological or historic preservation and traffic mitigation, including costs incidental thereto, as described in Resolution #85-18? CIUDAD DE JUPITER, FLORIDA PROGRAMA DE ADCQUISICION DE TERRENOS BONDS DE OBLIGACON GENERAL �Debera la coded de Jupiter emitir Berea qua no excedan $20,000,000 a on interes qua no exceda la tasa legal, qua venzan a mas tardar 20 anos despues de su emision, pagaderos de los impuestos a la propiedad Begun su valor, para financier la adquisicion de terrenos de esparcimiento, terrenos can front e al agua y terrenos importantes para el medio ambiente y terrenos pare espacios abiertos, preservacion arqueologica o historica y para atenuacion del traficc, que incluye los costos incidental as de esto, tal come se describe an Is Resolucion 485-189 For Bonds y A Favor de Bones Against Bonds En Contra de Bono, ~ YOUR POLLING LOCATION is listed on your Voter ID Card. You must notify the Elections Office if you move from the address listed on your Voter ID Card. If you are unsure of the polling location of your new Precinct, call 561-656-6200. The polls are open from 7:00 A.M. to 7:00 P. M. on Election Day. SU CENTRO ELECTORAL esta nombrado en su Tarjeta de Identificacion Electoral. Tendra que informar a la Oficina de Elecciones si se muda de la direccion nombrada en su Tarjeta de Identificacion Electoral. Si no esta seguro del Iugar donde debe votar en su nuevo distrito electoral, Ilame al 561-656-6200. LAS URNAS ESTAN ABIERTAS DE LAS 7 AM A LAS 7 PM EL DIA DE LAS ELECCIONES. CURRENT AND VALID PICTURE AND SIGNATURE ID IS REQUIRED when you go to your polling place to vote. Each elector is required to present a current and valid Florida Driver's License, a Florida Identification Card, or any other acceptable picture ID listed under F.S. 101.043. SE REQUIERE IDENTIFICACION VALIDA Y VIGENTE CON SU FOTOGRAFIA Y FIRMA cuando usted va a los centros de votacion a emitir su voto. Cada elector debera presentar la licencia de conducir de la Florida, Tarjeta de identificacion de la Florida valida y vigente o cualquier otra identificacion con foto aceptable bajo la lista del FS 101.043. I RESOLUTION NO. 85-18 2 A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE 3 TOWN OF JUPITER, FLORIDA, IMPLEMENTING A 4 LAND ACQUISITION PROGRAM BY PROVIDING FOR 5 THE ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS 6 FOR THE PURPOSE OF FINANCING THE 7 ACQUISITION OF ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE, 8 WATERFRONT AND RECREATIONAL LANDS AND 9 LANDS FOR OPEN SPACES, ARCHEOLOGICAL OR 10 HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND TRAFFIC 11 MITIGATION, AND COSTS INCIDENTAL THERETO, 12 INCLUDING THE COST OF CLEARING EXOTIC 13 VEGETATION AND CREATING PUBLIC ACCESS TO - 14 THE ACQUIRED LANDS, IN A PRINCIPAL AMOUNT 15 NOT TO EXCEED TWENTY MILLION DOLLARS 16 ($20,000,000.00) BEARING INTEREST NOT TO 17 EXCEED THE LEGAL RATE; AND MATURING NO 18 LATER THAN TWENTY YEARS FROM THE DATE OF 19 ISSUANCE; ORDERING A BOND REFERENDUM OF 20 THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF THE TOWN OF 21 JUPITER TO BE HELD ON MARCH 12, 2019, TO 22 DETERMINE WHETHER GENERAL OBLIGATION 23 BONDS FOR THE PROJECTS SHOULD BE ISSUED; 24 PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND PROVIDING 25 FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. 26 WHEREAS, The Florida Constitution, applicable laws of the State of Florida and the 27 Charter of the Town of Jupiter, Florida (the "Charter"), authorize and empower the Town of 28 Jupiter, Florida (the "Town"), to adopt this Resolution; and 29 WHEREAS, the Town Council of the Town of Jupiter, Florida, the governing body of 30 the Town (the "Council"), has determined that it is in the best interest of the Town to 31 implement a land acquisition program by financing the costs of acquiring environmentally 32 sensitive, waterfront and recreational lands, lands for open spaces, archeological or 33 historic preservation and traffic mitigation and costs incidental thereto, including the 34 cost of clearing exotic vegetation and creating public access to the lands acquired 35 (herein referred to as the "Land Acquisition Program"); and R# 85-18 Page B 1 WHEREAS, the Council hereby finds that the Land Acquisition Program will serve 2 a valid public purpose; and 3 WHEREAS, the Council finds it to be in the best interest of the Town to issue 4 General Obligation Bonds (the "Bonds") in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed 5 Twenty Million Dollars ($20,000,000.00) to finance the costs of the Land Acquisition 6 Program, including all costs incidental thereto and the costs of issuing the Bonds. 7 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE 8 TOWN OF JUPITER, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS: 9 Section 1. That a bond referendum is hereby ordered to be held in the Town on the 10 12�' day of March, 2019, to determine whether General Obligation Bonds of the Town should 11 be issued in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding Twenty Million Dollars 12 ($20,000,000.00), for the purpose of financing the costs of the Land Acquisition Program, 13 maturing at a time not exceeding twenty (20) years from the date of issuance of the Bonds, 14 bearing interest at a rate not exceeding the legal maximum rate of interest, and payable at 15 such times and in a manner, as shall be determined by subsequent proceedings of the 16 Council. The Bonds will be issued for the purpose of financing the costs of the Land 17 Acquisition Program, including all costs incidental thereto and the costs of issuing the Bonds, 18 and shall be payable from ad valorem taxes levied and collected in the Town (without 19 limitation as to rate or amount) on all taxable property in the Town, and sufficient to pay the 20 principal of, and interest on, the Bonds as the Bonds become due and payable. 21 Section 2. That the Land Acquisition Program is a valid public purpose, and 22 therefore, accordingly, subject to approval of the issuance of the Bonds by the 23 qualified electors of the Town, the financing of the costs of the Land Acquisition R# 85-98 Page C 1 Program shall be payable from the proceeds of the Bonds and such payment is 'hereby 2 authorized and approved. 3 Section 3. That the Bonds may be issued all at one time, or in part from time to 4 time as the Council may, in its discretion, hereafter determine by subsequent proceedings, 5 R 7 Section 4. That the Bonds shall not be issued to finance the costs of the Land 8 Acquisition Program unless such Bonds authorized for such Land Acquisition Program shall 9 be approved. at the bond referendum by a majority of the qualified electors of the Town and 10 the voting in the election shall be in the manner provided in the Florida Constitution and the 11 laws of the State of Florida. 12 Section 5. That polling locations or places shall be determined by the Supervisor of 13 Elections for Palm Beach County, and all qualified electors of the Town who vote in the 14 election shall vote at the designated polling places. The polls shall be opened on the date 15 of the bond referendum from seven o'clock a.m. until seven o'clock p.m. on the same day, 16 and, in the case of early voting, at such times, on such days prior to the date of said bond 17 referendum and at such polling locations or places as determined by the Supervisor of 18 Elections for Palm Beach County, Florida. Only the duly qualified electors of the Town will 19 be permitted to vote in the bond referendum. 20 Section 6. That the Town Manager shall prepare and give notice of the bond 21 referendum by causing appropriate notice to be published in accordance with the 22 provisions of Section 100.342 of the Florida Statutes, the Charter and other applicable 23 provisions of local law at least twice in The Palm Beach Post, a newspaper of general 24 circulation within the Town, provided the first publication shall take place in the fifth week 25 prior to the week in which the referendum is to be held, and the second publication shall R# 85-18 Page D 1 take place in the third week prior to the week in which the referendum is to be held. The 2 first publication shall be at least thirty (30) days prior to March 12; 2019. The Town Clerk 3 shall secure from the publisher of the newspaper an appropriate affidavit of proof that the 4 notice has been duly published as herein set forth and said affidavit shall be made a part 5 of the record of the Council. 6 Section 7. That the vote at the bond referendum shall be by such voting 7 device/equipment (the "Device"), as approved by the Florida Department of State pursuant 8 to the Florida Election Code, comprising Chapter 101 of Florida Statutes, and in each 9 polling place there shall be at least one such Device. It shall be the responsibility of the 10 Supervisor of Elections for Palm Beach County to have prepared and furnished to the 11 election inspectors, said Devices in such numbers as are required to carry out the intent of 12 this Resolution, and to have prepared and approved by the proper authorities for use in 13 said Devices such ballots (or mechanical ballot record) as shall be necessary to conduct 14 the referendum to determine whether the qualified electors approve the issuance of Bonds 15 to finance the costs of the Land Acquisition Program, including all costs incidental thereto 16 and the costs of issuance of the Bonds. Ballots in the same general form as hereinafter 17 described shall be available for absentee voting. 18 Section 8. That the ballot to be used in the bond referendum shall be 19 substantially in the following form: 20 BALLOT 21 TOWN OF JUPITER, FLORIDA 22 LAND ACQUISITION PROGRAM 23 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS 24 Shall the Town of Jupiter issue Bonds not exceeding 25 $20,000,000, at not exceeding the legal rate, maturing not 26 later than twenty years from issuance, payable from the 27 Town's ad valorem taxes to finance a land acquisition 28 program for environmentally sensitive, waterfront and R# 85-18 Page E 1 recreational lands and lands for open spaces, archeological 2 or historic preservation and traffic mitigation, including costs 3 incidental, thereto, as described in Resolution #85-18 4 For Bonds: 5 Against Bonds: 6 Section 9. That the returns of the referendum shall be canvassed in the manner 7 provided by law, and the returns shall be certified to the Council, who shall declare the 8 results thereof. Upon canvassing the returns of the referendum, the results of the 9 referendum shall be recorded in the minutes of the Council in the manner prescribed by 10- law. 11 Section 10. That the bond referendum shall in all other respects be held and 12 conducted in the manner provided in and by the laws of the State of Florida and the 13 Charter. 14 Section 11. That in the event that any word, phrase, clause, sentence or 15 paragraph hereof shall be held invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, such 16 holdings shall not effect any other word, clause, phrase, sentence or paragraph hereof. 17 Section 12. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its execution. 18 The foregoing Resolution was offered this. 6t" day of December, 2018 by Councilor Ilan Kaufer who moved its adoption. The motion was seconded by Councilor Wayne R. Posner and upon being put to a roll call vote, the vote was as follows: MAYOR TODD R. WODRASKA VICE -MAYOR RON DELANEY COUNCILOR ILAN KAUFER COUNCILOR JIM KURETSKI COUNCILOR WAYNE R. POSNER AYE X X X X X NAY The Mayor thereupon executed Resolution 85-18 on this day of 018. ATTEST: Jim 6�6 1 SALLY k . BOYL P, MMC TOWN CLERK (TOWN SEAL) TOWN OF JUPITER, FLORIDA BY: T DD R. WODRASKA MAYOR ' •• • -•vim• c• •• legal- EXHIBIT A Directive Number: Effective Date: August 1, 2022 Approved by: Jn y AlleUill'age, Manager TITLE: Village of Tequesta Donation Policy OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this policy is to establish rules and regulations governing the acceptance, valuation, and recognition of all types of donations, gifts, and sponsorships from third parties to support Village governmental activities that serve a public purpose. This policy is intended to create practices that adequately safeguard public funds, provide for accountability, and ensure compliance with all federal, state and local laws. This policy is separate and distinct from the Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees, Part III, Chapter 112, Florida Statutes, as well as the gift policy included in the Palm Beach County Code of Ethics. SCOPE/RESPONSIBILITY: This policy applies to all Village employees, organizations, volunteers and individuals who receive, authorize, accept, value, or record donations, gifts, or sponsorships on behalf of The Village. PROCEDURES: Definitions 1. Donation or Gift — refers to a contribution made to the Village of Tequesta without expectation of goods, services, or significant benefit in return. Donations may be in the form of money or in -kind contributions of products, services, investment securities, real or personal property or any combination thereof. For purposes of this policy, the terms "donation" and "gift" shall be synonymous. 2. Donation Agreement- an agreement between the Village and the donor that details any restrictions on a donation as well as the respective obligations of the donor and the Village. 1 3. Donor— a person or other legal entity that proposes or provides a donation to the Village. 4. Endowment — donations that are restricted to the extent that only earnings, and not principal, may be used for a particular purpose. 5. Fundraising— any activity conducted with the intent of generating donations to the Village. Fundraising activities may include, but are not limited to, promoting endowment programs, program adoption or pledge drives, and contacting individuals, companies, foundations, or other entities with a request for a donation to the Village. 6. In -Kind — a donation provided in the form of products, goods and/or services that do not include a monetary exchange. 7. Public Funds - defined as money, funds, and accounts, regardless of the source from which the funds are derived, that are owned, held, or administered by the state or any of its political subdivisions. All monies received through donations, gifts, or sponsorships are considered public funds. 8. Sponsorship — an arrangement in which one party provides money, goods or services in exchange for access to the commercial marketing potential associated with the other party's activities. 9. Vendor— any person or entity who has a pending bid proposal, an offer or request to sell goods or services, sell or lease real or personal property, or who currently sells goods or services, or sells or leases real or personal property to the Village. For purposes of this definition a vendor entity includes an owner, director, manager or employee. General Policy Statements 1. The Village welcomes donations that enhance Village services, reduce costs that the Village would incur in the absence of the donation, or that otherwise provide a benefit to the Village. It is the policy of the Village of Tequesta to consider all donation requests and decide if accepting such donations is in the best interest of the community. 2. The Village has no obligation to accept any donation proposed by a donor. 3. All donations shall be in compliance with Chapter 112, Florida Statutes, as well as Sec. 2-444, Palm Beach County Code of Ethics. 4. The collection of funds or assets associated with donations, gifts or sponsorships will comply with the Village's cash receipting policies. The expenditure of any public funds associated with donations, gifts, or sponsorships will also comply with the Village's purchasing policies. 5. Donations, whether in -kind, cash, or otherwise, shall be complete transfers of ownership, rights, privileges, and/or title in or to the donated goods or services and become exclusive property of the Village upon delivery. 6. Donations, gifts, and sponsorships shall not be directed at specific Village employees, vendors, or brand name goods or services. 7. Donated funds shall not compensate public employees, directly or indirectly. 8. Donations or gifts shall not be accepted that advertise or depict products that are prohibited by law for sale or use by minors, such as alcohol, tobacco, or other substances that are known to endanger the health and well-being of minors. 9. Village employees are not permitted to accept personal payments or gratuities in any form from a vendor or potential vendor as a precondition for purchase of any product or service. 10. The Village shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations of the Internal Revenue Service regarding the acceptance of donations. All costs, including initial installation, labor and materials associated with a donation are the responsibility of the donor, unless otherwise agreed to by the Village. Some projects may require an endowment to ensure the longevity of the gift and to assist the Village with future maintenance. 11.The Village reserves the right to decline donations, gifts, and sponsorships that are deemed to have not been made with the intent of furtherance of a public purpose. 12. The making of a donation to the Village will not provide any extra consideration to the donating or sponsoring party in relation to any Village procurement, any regulatory activities of the Village, or other Village business. No Village employee or other Village official is authorized to offer any such extra consideration to a donating party. 13. In no event shall the Village be held liable for value or tax assertions/claims by the donor. The donor(s) agree(s) to hold the Village harmless and indemnify the Village for any and all claims which might arise from any person, entity or corporation, resulting from the donor's use of the Village property or right-of-way for installation purposes, or arising from the donor's performance or improvement/item donated pursuant to this policy. 3 14. The Village does not provide legal, accounting, tax or other such advice to donors. Each donor is ultimately responsible for ensuring that the donor's proposed donation meets and furthers the donor's charitable, financial and estate planning goals. As such, each donor is encouraged to meet with a professional advisor before making any donation to the Village. Process 1. Types of Donations: Donations may be received in the form of cash, financial securities, real or personal property. Donations may be restricted or unrestricted. 2. Who May Accept Donations: Donations of $5,000 or less may be accepted by the Village Manager. All donations exceeding $5,000 must be brought before the Village Council for approval and acceptance. All donations other than real property may be evaluated and accepted by the following persons or bodies ("authorized person") based on the value and nature of the donation — as follows: Description of Donation ;Authorized Person Donations of $5,000 or less .....---- Village Manager I Donations reater than $5,000 ........ ......... g .. ...... ........................ ._..... Village Council Anonymous donations ................................... Village Council ......... ........ ............................_ .... 3. For Donations greater than $5,000 a memo/letter detailing the intended purpose for using these funds must be submitted by the donating party to the Village Manager. As necessary, the Village may develop a review team to consider the proposal. In certain instances, the appropriate Advisory Board or the Village Council may be involved in the review process. The following guiding principles will be considered when evaluating a donation: • appropriate and safe location for placement, easements, utilities, existing structures; • durability, high -quality materials, longevity, conformity with Village's architectural standards; • liability, safety; • future or ongoing maintenance, budget impact; • future site development plans; • natural environment; • accessibility, usefulness; and/or • overall public acceptance/approval. 4. Depending on the nature of the donation, the Village may request supplemental information. 5. Before acceptance of a donation valued at more than $5,000, the respective obligations of the donor and the Village shall be set forth in a donation agreement. 6. The Village Manager may accept or decline any donation in the Village Manager's sole discretion or may choose to request Village Council consideration of any donation. 7. Because the Village is prohibited from investing in equities and many debt securities, donations of publicly traded equity and debt securities will be immediately sold upon receipt in the Village's designated brokerage account. The sales proceeds are then transferred from the Village's brokerage account to its depository bank account. 8. For gifts of property that require an independent qualified appraisal, Internal Revenue Service regulations require the following to be included in the appraisal: • Full description of the property. • The physical condition of any tangible property. • Date (or expected date) of contribution. • List how the property will be used by the Village • Name, address, and taxpayer identification number of the appraiser. • Qualifications of the qualified appraiser. • A statement that the appraisal was prepared for income tax purposes. • Date (or dates) property was valued. • The appraised fair market value (one figure, not a range) on the date (or expected date) of the contribution. • Method of valuation (income approach, comparable sales or market data approach, replacement cost less depreciation, etc.) • The specific basis for the evaluation • Name, address, taxpayer identification number of the donor • Manner and date of acquisition and cost basis • Name, address and tax ID number of donee (Village of Tequesta) 9. For donations of real property, the following information shall be submitted for consideration to the Village Council through the office of the Village Manager: a. the appraised value of the donation; 5 b. any expenditure or maintenance obligations for the Village associated with the donation; c. whether any encumbrances or liens exist on the real property through the review of a preliminary title report; d. potential liabilities associated with the donation, such as hazardous conditions or environmental concerns; or whether an environmental audit is necessary to determine whether the property contains any hazardous material or has been used in a manner prohibited by environmental laws; e. whether the donation has any special restrictions, and if so, if those restrictions are acceptable to the Village Council; f. any recommendations for conditions of acceptance. 10.Once the proposal is reviewed, Village staff will respond to the applicant if the donation was accepted or with the reasons the donation was rejected. 11.All costs, including initial installation, labor and materials are the responsibility of the donor unless the Village agrees otherwise. Some projects may require an endowment to ensure the longevity of the gift and to assist the Village with future maintenance. In special situations, such as when the donor is allowed to hire a contractor, a memorandum of understanding or a project agreement may be required. A contingency fund may also be required to cover necessary change orders and overruns associated with the project. Remaining contingency funds will be applied to the endowment fund for future maintenance costs or returned to the donor pursuant to the pertinent project agreement. 12. Unless specifically agreed to in writing, the Village may, at any future date, elect in its sole discretion to remove or relocate the donation (donated property). No permanent right, title, or interest of any kind shall vest in the donor's behalf by virtue of donation acceptance. 13.AI1 donations will receive appropriate recognition as determined by the Village Manager or Village Council at the time the donation is accepted. 14. The Village Manager shall prepare a monthly report to the Village Council notifying the Council of all donations accepted since the previous report, including the form of the donation, restrictions on its use, its approximate value, and the name of the donor. he 2022 Florida Statutes Title XVIII Chapter 255 View Entire PUBLIC LANDS AND PUBLIC PROPERTY AND PUBLICLY OWNED Chapter PROPERTY BUILDINGS 255.065 Public -private partnerships.— (1) DEFINITIONS. —As used in this section, the term: (a) "Affected local jurisdiction" means a county, municipality, or special district in which all or a portion of a qualifying project is located. (b) "Develop" means to plan, design, finance, lease, acquire, install, construct, or expand. (c) "Fees" means charges imposed by the private entity of a qualifying project for use of all or a portion of such qualifying project pursuant to a comprehensive agreement. (d) "Lease payment" means any form of payment, including a land lease, by a public entity to the private entity of a qualifying project for the use of the project. (e) "Material default" means a nonperformance of its duties by the private entity of a qualifying project which jeopardizes adequate service to the public from the project. (f) "Operate" means to finance, maintain, improve, equip, modify, or repair. (g) "Private entity" means any natural person, corporation, general partnership, limited liability company, limited partnership, joint venture, business trust, public benefit corporation, nonprofit entity, or other private business entity. (h) "Proposal" means a plan for a qualifying project with detail beyond a conceptual level for which terms such as fixing costs, payment schedules, financing, deliverables, and project schedule are defined. (i) "Qualifying project" means: 1. A facility or project that serves a public purpose, including, but not limited to, any ferry or mass transit facility, vehicle parking facility, airport or seaport facility, rail facility or project, fuel supply facility, oil or gas pipeline, medical or nursing care facility, recreational facility, sporting or cultural facility, or educational facility or other building or facility that is used or will be used by a public educational institution, or any other public facility or infrastructure that is used or will be used by the public at large or in support of an accepted public purpose or activity; 2. An improvement, including equipment, of a building that will be principally used by a public entity or the public at large or that supports a service delivery system in the public sector; 3. A water, wastewater, or surface water management facility or other related infrastructure; or 4. Notwithstanding any provision of this section, for projects that involve a facility owned or operated by the governing board of a county, district, or municipal hospital or health care system, or projects that involve a facility owned or operated by a municipal electric utility, only those projects that the governing board designates as qualifying projects pursuant to this section. (j) "Responsible public entity" means a county, municipality, school district, special district, or any other political subdivision of the state; a public body corporate and politic; or a regional entity that serves a public purpose and is authorized to develop or operate a qualifying project. (k) "Revenues" means the income, earnings, user fees, lease payments, or other service payments relating to the development or operation of a qualifying project, including, but not limited to, money received as grants or otherwise from the Federal Government, a public entity, or an agency or instrumentality thereof in aid of the qualifying project. (l) "Service contract" means a contract between a responsible public entity and the private entity which defines the terms of the services to be provided with respect to a qualifying project. (2) LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT. —The Legislature finds that there is a public need for the construction or upgrade of facilities that are used predominantly for public purposes and that it is in the public's interest to provide for the construction or upgrade of such facilities. (a) The Legislature also finds that: 1. There is a public need for timely and cost-effective acquisition, design, construction, improvement, renovation, expansion, equipping, maintenance, operation, implementation, or installation of projects serving a public purpose, including educational facilities, transportation facilities, water or wastewater management facilities and infrastructure, technology infrastructure, roads, highways, bridges, and other public infrastructure and government facilities within the state which serve a public need and purpose, and that such public need may not be wholly satisfied by existing procurement methods. 2. There are inadequate resources to develop new educational facilities, transportation facilities, water or wastewater management facilities and infrastructure, technology infrastructure, roads, highways, bridges, and other public infrastructure and government facilities for the benefit of residents of this state, and that a public -private partnership has demonstrated that it can meet the needs by improving the schedule for delivery, lowering the cost, and providing other benefits to the public. 3. There may be state and federal tax incentives that promote partnerships between public and private entities to develop and operate qualifying projects. 4. A procurement under this section serves the public purpose of this section if such procurement facilitates the timely development or operation of a qualifying project. (b) It is the intent of the Legislature to encourage investment in the state by private entities; to facilitate various bond financing mechanisms, private capital, and other funding sources for the development and operation of qualifying projects, including expansion and acceleration of such financing to meet the public need; and to provide the greatest possible flexibility to public and private entities contracting for the provision of public services. (3) PROCUREMENT PROCEDURES. —A responsible public entity may receive unsolicited proposals or may solicit proposals for a qualifying project and may thereafter enter into a comprehensive agreement with a private entity, or a consortium of private entities, for the building, upgrading, operating, ownership, or financing of facilities. (a)1. The responsible public entity may establish a reasonable application fee for the submission of an unsolicited proposal under this section. 2. A private entity that submits an unsolicited proposal to a responsible public entity must concurrently pay an initial application fee, as determined by the responsible public entity. Payment must be made by cash, cashier's check, or other noncancelable instrument. Personal checks may not be accepted. 3. If the initial application fee does not cover the responsible public entity's costs to evaluate the unsolicited proposal, the responsible public entity must request in writing the additional amounts required. The private entity must pay the requested additional amounts within 30 days after receipt of the notice. The responsible public entity may stop its review of the unsolicited proposal if the private entity fails to pay the additional amounts. 4. If the responsible public entity does not evaluate the unsolicited proposal, the responsible public entity must return the application fee. 5. If the responsible public entity chooses to evaluate an unsolicited proposal involving architecture, engineering, or landscape architecture, it must ensure a professional review and evaluation of the design and construction proposed by the initial or subsequent proposers to assure material quality standards, interior space utilization, budget estimates, design and construction schedules, and sustainable design and construction standards consistent with public projects. Such review shall be performed by an architect, a landscape architect, or an engineer licensed in this state qualified to perform the review, and such professional shall advise the responsible public entity through completion of the design and construction of the project. (b) The responsible public entity may request a proposal from private entities for a qualifying project or, if the responsible public entity receives an unsolicited proposal for a qualifying project and the responsible public entity intends to enter into a comprehensive agreement for the project described in the unsolicited proposal, the responsible public entity shall publish notice in the Florida Administrative Register and a newspaper of general circulation at least once a week for 2 weeks stating that the responsible public entity has received a proposal and will accept other proposals for the same project. The timeframe within which the responsible public entity may accept other proposals shall be determined by the responsible public entity on a project -by -project basis based upon the complexity of the qualifying project and the public benefit to be gained by allowing a longer or shorter period of time within which other proposals may be received; however, the timeframe for allowing other proposals must be at least 21 days, but no more than 120 days, after the initial date of publication. If approved by a majority vote of the responsible public entity's governing body, the responsible public entity may alter the timeframe for accepting proposals to more adequately suit the needs of the qualifying project. A copy of the notice must be mailed to each local government in the affected area. (c) If the solicited qualifying project provided in paragraph (b) includes design work, the solicitation must include a design criteria package prepared by an architect, a landscape architect, or an engineer licensed in this state which is sufficient to allow private entities to prepare a bid or a response. The design criteria package must specify reasonably specific criteria for the qualifying project such as the legal description of the site, with survey information; interior space requirements; material quality standards; schematic layouts and conceptual design criteria for the qualifying project; cost or budget estimates; design and construction schedules; and site development and utility requirements. The licensed design professional who prepares the design criteria package shall be retained to serve the responsible public entity through completion of the design and construction of the project. (d) Before approving a comprehensive agreement, the responsible public entity must determine that the proposed project: 1. Is in the public's best interest. 2. Is for a facility that is owned by the responsible public entity or for a facility for which ownership will be conveyed to the responsible public entity. 3. Has adequate safeguards in place to ensure that additional costs or service disruptions are not imposed on the public in the event of material default or cancellation of the comprehensive agreement by the responsible public entity. 4. Has adequate safeguards in place to ensure that the responsible public entity or private entity has the opportunity to add capacity to the proposed project or other facilities serving similar predominantly public purposes. 5. Will be owned by the responsible public entity upon completion, expiration, or termination of the comprehensive agreement and upon payment of the amounts financed. (e) Before signing a comprehensive agreement, the responsible public entity must consider a reasonable finance plan that is consistent with subsection (9); the qualifying project cost; revenues by source; available financing; major assumptions; internal rate of return on private investments, if governmental funds are assumed in order to deliver a cost -feasible project; and a total cash -flow analysis beginning with the implementation of the project and extending for the term of the comprehensive agreement. (f) In considering an unsolicited proposal, the responsible public entity may require from the private entity a technical study prepared by a nationally recognized expert with experience in preparing analysis for bond rating agencies. In evaluating the technical study, the responsible public entity may rely upon internal staff reports prepared by personnel familiar with the operation of similar facilities or the advice of external advisors or consultants who have relevant experience. (4) PROJECT APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS. —An unsolicited proposal from a private entity for approval of a qualifying project must be accompanied by the following material and information, unless waived by the responsible public entity: (a) A description of the qualifying project, including the conceptual design of the facilities or a conceptual plan for the provision of services, and a schedule for the initiation and completion of the qualifying project. (b) A description of the method by which the private entity proposes to secure the necessary property interests that are required for the qualifying project. (c) A description of the private entity's general plans for financing the qualifying project, including the sources of the private entity's funds and the identity of any dedicated revenue source or proposed debt or equity investment on behalf of the private entity. (d) The name and address of a person who may be contacted for additional information concerning the proposal. (e) The proposed user fees, lease payments, or other service payments over the term of a comprehensive agreement, and the methodology for and circumstances that would allow changes to the user fees, lease payments, and other service payments over time. (f) Additional material or information that the responsible public entity reasonably requests. Any pricing or financial terms included in an unsolicited proposal must be specific as to when the pricing or terms expire. (5) PROJECT QUALIFICATION AND PROCESS. — (a) The private entity, or the applicable party or parties of the private entity's team, must meet the minimum standards contained in the responsible public entity's guidelines for qualifying professional services and contracts for traditional procurement projects. (b) The responsible public entity must: 1. Ensure that provision is made for the private entity's performance and payment of subcontractors, including, but not limited to, surety bonds, letters of credit, parent company guarantees, and lender and equity partner guarantees. For the components of the qualifying project which involve construction performance and payment, bonds are required and are subject to the recordation, notice, suit limitation, and other requirements of s. 255.05. 2. Ensure the most efficient pricing of the security package that provides for the performance and payment of subcontractors. 3. Ensure that the comprehensive agreement addresses termination upon a material default of the comprehensive agreement. (c) After the public notification period has expired in the case of an unsolicited proposal, the responsible public entity shall rank the proposals received in order of preference. In ranking the proposals, the responsible public entity may consider factors that include, but are not limited to, professional qualifications, general business terms, innovative design techniques or cost -reduction terms, and finance plans. The responsible public entity may then begin negotiations for a comprehensive agreement with the highest -ranked firm. If the responsible public entity is not satisfied with the results of the negotiations, the responsible public entity may terminate negotiations with the proposer and negotiate with the second -ranked or subsequent -ranked firms, in the order consistent with this procedure. If only one proposal is received, the responsible public entity may negotiate in good faith, and if the responsible public entity is not satisfied with the results of the negotiations, the responsible public entity may terminate negotiations with the proposer. Notwithstanding this paragraph, the responsible public entity may reject all proposals at any point in the process until a contract with the proposer is executed. (d) The responsible public entity shall perform an independent analysis of the proposed public - private partnership which demonstrates the cost-effectiveness and overall public benefit before the procurement process is initiated or before the contract is awarded. (e) The responsible public entity may approve the development or operation of an educational facility, a transportation facility, a water or wastewater management facility or related infrastructure, a technology infrastructure or other public infrastructure, or a government facility needed by the responsible public entity as a qualifying project, or the design or equipping of a qualifying project that is developed or operated, if: 1. There is a public need for or benefit derived from a project of the type that the private entity proposes as the qualifying project. 2. The estimated cost of the qualifying project is reasonable in relation to similar facilities. 3. The private entity's plans will result in the timely acquisition, design, construction, improvement, renovation, expansion, equipping, maintenance, or operation of the qualifying project. (f) The responsible public entity may charge a reasonable fee to cover the costs of processing, reviewing, and evaluating the request, including, but not limited to, reasonable attorney fees and fees for financial and technical advisors or consultants and for other necessary advisors or consultants. (g) Upon approval of a qualifying project, the responsible public entity shall establish a date for the commencement of activities related to the qualifying project. The responsible public entity may extend the commencement date. (h) Approval of a qualifying project by the responsible public entity is subject to entering into a comprehensive agreement with the private entity. (6) INTERIM AGREEMENT. —Before or in connection with the negotiation of a comprehensive agreement, the responsible public entity may enter into an interim agreement with the private entity proposing the development or operation of the qualifying project. An interim agreement does not obligate the responsible public entity to enter into a comprehensive agreement. The interim agreement is discretionary with the parties and is not required on a qualifying project for which the parties may proceed directly to a comprehensive agreement without the need for an interim agreement. An interim agreement must be limited to provisions that: (a) Authorize the private entity to commence activities for which it may be compensated related to the proposed qualifying project, including, but not limited to, project planning and development, design, environmental analysis and mitigation, survey, other activities concerning any part of the proposed qualifying project, and ascertaining the availability of financing for the proposed facility or facilities. (b) Establish the process and timing of the negotiation of the comprehensive agreement. (c) Contain such other provisions related to an aspect of the development or operation of a qualifying project that the responsible public entity and the private entity deem appropriate. (7) COMPREHENSIVE AGREEMENT. — (a) Before developing or operating the qualifying project, the private entity must enter into a comprehensive agreement with the responsible public entity. The comprehensive agreement must provide for: 1. Delivery of performance and payment bonds, letters of credit, or other security acceptable to the responsible public entity in connection with the development or operation of the qualifying project in the form and amount satisfactory to the responsible public entity. For the components of the qualifying project which involve construction, the form and amount of the bonds must comply with s. 255.05. 2. Review of the design for the qualifying project by the responsible public entity and, if the design conforms to standards acceptable to the responsible public entity, the approval of the responsible public entity. This subparagraph does not require the private entity to complete the design of the qualifying project before the execution of the comprehensive agreement. 3. Inspection of the qualifying project by the responsible public entity to ensure that the private entity's activities are acceptable to the responsible public entity in accordance with the comprehensive agreement. 4. Maintenance of a policy of public liability insurance, a copy of which must be filed with the responsible public entity and accompanied by proofs of coverage, or self-insurance, each in the form and amount satisfactory to the responsible public entity and reasonably sufficient to ensure coverage of tort liability to the public and employees and to enable the continued operation of the qualifying project. 5. Monitoring by the responsible public entity of the maintenance practices to be performed by the private entity to ensure that the qualifying project is properly maintained. 6. Periodic filing by the private entity of the appropriate financial statements that pertain to the qualifying project. 7. Procedures that govern the rights and responsibilities of the responsible public entity and the private entity in the course of the construction and operation of the qualifying project and in the event of the termination of the comprehensive agreement or a material default by the private entity. The procedures must include conditions that govern the assumption of the duties and responsibilities of the private entity by an entity that funded, in whole or part, the qualifying project or by the responsible public entity, and must provide for the transfer or purchase of property or other interests of the private entity by the responsible public entity. 8. Fees, lease payments, or service payments. In negotiating user fees, the fees must be the same for persons using the facility under like conditions and must not materially discourage use of the qualifying project. The execution of the comprehensive agreement or a subsequent amendment is conclusive evidence that the fees, lease payments, or service payments provided for in the comprehensive agreement comply with this section. Fees or lease payments established in the comprehensive agreement as a source of revenue may be in addition to, or in lieu of, service payments. 9. Duties of the private entity, including the terms and conditions that the responsible public entity determines serve the public purpose of this section. (b) The comprehensive agreement may include: 1. An agreement by the responsible public entity to make grants or loans to the private entity from amounts received from the federal, state, or local government or an agency or instrumentality thereof. 2. A provision under which each entity agrees to provide notice of default and cure rights for the benefit of the other entity, including, but not limited to, a provision regarding unavoidable delays. 3. A provision that terminates the authority and duties of the private entity under this section and dedicates the qualifying project to the responsible public entity or, if the qualifying project was initially dedicated by an affected local jurisdiction, to the affected local jurisdiction for public use. (8) FEES. —A comprehensive agreement entered into pursuant to this section may authorize the private entity to impose fees to members of the public for the use of the facility. The following provisions apply to the comprehensive agreement: (a) The responsible public entity may develop new facilities or increase capacity in existing facilities through a comprehensive agreement with a private entity. (b) The comprehensive agreement must ensure that the facility is properly operated, maintained, or improved in accordance with standards set forth in the comprehensive agreement. (c) The responsible public entity may lease existing fee -for -use facilities through a comprehensive agreement. (d) Any revenues must be authorized by and applied in the manner set forth in the comprehensive agreement. (e) A negotiated portion of revenues from fee -generating uses may be returned to the responsible public entity over the life of the comprehensive agreement. (9) FINANCING. — (a) A private entity may enter into a private -source financing agreement between financing sources and the private entity. A financing agreement and any liens on the property or facility must be paid in full at the applicable closing that transfers ownership or operation of the facility to the responsible public entity at the conclusion of the term of the comprehensive agreement. (b) The responsible public entity may lend funds to private entities that construct projects containing facilities that are approved under this section. (c) The responsible public entity may use innovative finance techniques associated with a public -private partnership under this section, including, but not limited to, federal loans as provided in Titles 23 and 49 C.F.R., commercial bank loans, and hedges against inflation from commercial banks or other private sources. In addition, the responsible public entity may provide its own capital or operating budget to support a qualifying project. The budget may be from any legally permissible funding sources of the responsible public entity, including the proceeds of debt issuances. A responsible public entity may use the model financing agreement provided in s. 489.145(6) for its financing of a facility owned by a responsible public entity. A financing agreement may not require the responsible public entity to indemnify the financing source, subject the responsible public entity's facility to liens in violation of s. 11.066(5), or secure financing of the responsible public entity by a mortgage on, or security interest in, the real or tangible personal property of the responsible public entity in a manner that could result in the loss of the fee ownership of the property by the responsible public entity, and any such provision is void. (10) POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE PRIVATE ENTITY. — (a) The private entity shall: 1. Develop or operate the qualifying project in a manner that is acceptable to the responsible public entity in accordance with the provisions of the comprehensive agreement. 2. Maintain, or provide by contract for the maintenance or improvement of, the qualifying project if required by the comprehensive agreement. 3. Cooperate with the responsible public entity in making best efforts to establish interconnection between the qualifying project and any other facility or infrastructure as requested by the responsible public entity in accordance with the provisions of the comprehensive agreement. 4. Comply with the comprehensive agreement and any lease or service contract. (b) Each private facility that is constructed pursuant to this section must comply with the requirements of federal, state, and local laws; state, regional, and local comprehensive plans; the responsible public entity's rules, procedures, and standards for facilities; and such other conditions that the responsible public entity determines to be in the public's best interest and that are included in the comprehensive agreement. (c) The responsible public entity may provide services to the private entity. An agreement for maintenance and other services entered into pursuant to this section must provide for full reimbursement for services rendered for qualifying projects. (d) A private entity of a qualifying project may provide additional services for the qualifying project to the public or to other private entities if the provision of additional services does not impair the private entity's ability to meet its commitments to the responsible public entity pursuant to the comprehensive agreement. (11) EXPIRATION OR TERMINATION OF AGREEMENTS. —Upon the expiration or termination of a comprehensive agreement, the responsible public entity may use revenues from the qualifying project to pay current operation and maintenance costs of the qualifying project. If the private entity materially defaults under the comprehensive agreement, the compensation that is otherwise due to the private entity is payable to satisfy all financial obligations to investors and lenders on the qualifying project in the same way that is provided in the comprehensive agreement or any other agreement involving the qualifying project, if the costs of operating and maintaining the qualifying project are paid in the normal course. Revenues in excess of the costs for operation and maintenance costs may be paid to the investors and lenders to satisfy payment obligations under their respective agreements. A responsible public entity may terminate with cause and without prejudice a comprehensive agreement and may exercise any other rights or remedies that may be available to it in accordance with the provisions of the comprehensive agreement. The full faith and credit of the responsible public entity may not be pledged to secure the financing of the private entity. The assumption of the development or operation of the qualifying project does not obligate the responsible public entity to pay any obligation of the private entity from sources other than revenues from the qualifying project unless stated otherwise in the comprehensive agreement. (12) SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY. —This section does not waive the sovereign immunity of a responsible public entity, an affected local jurisdiction, or an officer or employee thereof with respect to participation in, or approval of, any part of a qualifying project or its operation, including, but not limited to, interconnection of the qualifying project with any other infrastructure or project. A county or municipality in which a qualifying project is located possesses sovereign immunity with respect to the project, including, but not limited to, its design, construction, and operation. (13) DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT SERVICES. — (a) A responsible public entity may provide a copy of its comprehensive agreement to the Department of Management Services. A responsible public entity must redact any confidential or exempt information from the copy of the comprehensive agreement before providing it to the Department of Management Services. (b) The Department of Management Services may accept and maintain copies of comprehensive agreements received from responsible public entities for the purpose of sharing comprehensive agreements with other responsible public entities. (c) This subsection does not require a responsible public entity to provide a copy of its comprehensive agreement to the Department of Management Services. (14) CONSTRUCTION. — (a) This section shall be liberally construed to effectuate the purposes of this section. (b) This section shall be construed as cumulative and supplemental to any other authority or power vested in or exercised by the governing body of a county, municipality, special district, or municipal hospital or health care system including those contained in acts of the Legislature. (c) This section does not affect any agreement or existing relationship with a supporting organization involving such governing body or system in effect as of January 1, 2013. (d) This section provides an alternative method and does not limit a county, municipality, special district, or other political subdivision of the state in the procurement or operation of a qualifying project pursuant to other statutory or constitutional authority. (e) Except as otherwise provided in this section, this section does not amend existing laws by granting additional powers to, or further restricting, a local governmental entity from regulating and entering into cooperative arrangements with the private sector for the planning, construction, or operation of a facility. (f) This section does not waive any requirement of s. 287.055. History.—s. 2, ch. 2013-223; s. 1, ch. 2016-153; s. 1, ch. 2016-154; s. 7, ch. 2022-5. Note. —Former s. 287.05712. No Text