Item # 20Association Alliance Committee Report

February 26, 2010

The full Committee consists of Danielle Slaterpryce, P.E. from Kimley-Horn and George Recktenwald from Volusia County.

Since our last board meeting the committee attended the Florida Association of Counties Legislative Conference on November 17th to prepare for the 2011 Legislative Session and to meet with members of the FAC legislative affairs team. The APWA Position Paper was prepared and we identified what legislation may effect Public Works. Last week I attended the Florida Engineering Society’s Legislative Days in Tallahassee. This is the event where we meet with legislators and their staff to discuss bills impacting the public works profession. We also distribute the 2011 position paper for APWA. It was a very productive two days in Tallahassee. As we have focused on this effort over the last three years we certainly have begun to see greater recognition for APWA.

Legislator                    NotesRep. Weatherford We already have an excellent rapport with him built over the years,

stated he felt the STTF was safe this year.

Rep. Stargel                  Met with staff (Rachel) went over top 3 issues.  She listened & asked great questions.  It went well.

Rep. Legg                     Met with Rep. and he sounded receptive to our issues.  Was not as familiar with them though.

Rep. Hooper                  Left info.

Rep. Schenck                By far the most difficult meeting.  He was cold and uninterested.  Did not ask any questions or indicate support for our positions.

Rep. Corcoran               Left info.

Sen. Fasano                  Left info.

Sen. Norman                 Met with the Senator indicated he supports our positions.  Went very

well.

Rep. Brandes                This is my representative who is a freshman and serves on the transportation committee.  The meeting went very well.

Sen. Storms                  This is the Senator from EJB’s district. She wanted more information on the Limitation of Liability bill.

Two bills have been filed in the Legislature regarding the CCNA Statute.  You will find links to copies of the bills (SB 276 and HB 135) for your review and reference.Another bill (SB 288 and HB 605) relating to Public Works has been filed addressing the Limitation of Liability for professional services such as engineering and architecture. You can find it attached as well.

SB 276 CCNAhttp://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_s0276c1.DOCX&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=0276&Session=2011

HB 135 CCNAhttp://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h0135__.docx&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=0135&Session=2011

SB 288 Limitation of Liabilityhttp://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_s0288__.DOCX&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=0288&Session=2011

HB 605 Limitation of Liabilityhttp://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h0605__.docx&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=0605&Session=2011

As far as state legislation, the FDOT is going to propose a budget that has 75% of the money going to SIS facilities (up from 67%) meaning less money for state smaller state roads and for local road programs. Also the state should support theindexing of local option gas taxes. Of course any attempted raid on the state Transportation Trust Fund should be opposed.

In addition members of APWA from the Florida Chapter and Nationals took part in a meeting with Congressman Mica in DC on February 9th. George Recktenwald helped lead the Florida delegation. Below you will find the notes for their meeting:

Notes from APWA meeting with Congressman MicaThe meeting went well. As far as project delivery he was all for what ever could be done to speed up the process and cut red tape. We discussed some the issues such as what dollar amount or percentage of federal funding "federalizes" a project (currently if any federal dollars touch it) and could there be a small project category created to help smaller local governments overcome the burden of the federal process. Another related issue, at what point federal dollars hit a project, can previous non-federal processes such as PD & E studies and right of way purchases be preserved if they followed state or local laws and money is obtained for the actual construction. Currently a local government would have to go back re-do those processes following federal guidelines if it wanted to accept federal funding.

Congressman Mica did say he does not support any increase in federal gas taxes and says we will have to make do by streamlining these processes. He also informed us that there were 33 freshmen congressmen on the transportation subcommittee so he expects a learning curve and feels the APWA needs to help by making sure these congressmen are educated in their home districts. The Washington APWA folks (Jim Fahey) will help identify these members so local chapters can make contact and attend local meetings. He is also preparing written testimony for local subcommittee hearings.