Town Manager Casals provided an overview of the state appropriations and grants received in 2022.
Town Manager Casals introduced Town Lobbyists Jonathan Kilman and Gerard O'Rourke from Converge Public Strategies for a preview of the 2023 Florida Legislative Session. Key topics to be addressed included resiliency, inflation, insurance, affordable housing, hurricane response, information on newly elected Representative Lina Garcia and Senator Alexis Calatayud and the committees they have been appointed to and key dates during session.
Town Manager Casals introduced Frank Bernardino and Edgar Fernandez from Anfield Consulting for a preview of the 2023 Florida Legislative Session, including their plan to continue to fight for resiliency and stormwater management.
Vice Mayor Callahan thanked Mr. Bernardino and Mr. Fernandez for their work in helping secure a grant of $700,000 from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to restore a 53-acre wetland mitigation area located at SW 97th Avenue south of SW 224th Street, which is currently owned by the South Florida Water Management District. There was discussion on exploring the possibility of the South Water Management District deeding these 53-acres of wetland to the Town.
There was discussion on creating and implementing a statewide program to help those properties with septic systems to transition to the central sewer system or upgrade their current septic system to an advanced treatment system at no cost to the property owner.
Edgar Fernandez announced that the Florida League of Cities' Legislative Action Days in Tallahassee will take place on April 3rd to April 5th 2023. Mr. Fernandez also discussed the reasons for resiliency and hurricane recovery as recurring topics due to the fact that there are still needs for recovery from previous storms beyond the most recent ones.