HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem R13
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
Meeting Date: Feb.17. 2010 (KL)
Division:
Bulk Item: Yes
No~
Department: County Attorney
Staff Contact Person/phone #: Suzanne Hutton X3473
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Approval to advertise a public hearing for an ordinance creating the
Key Largo Special Recreational District.
ITEM BACKGROUND: A group of citizens known as the Key Largo Recreation Committee has
been working on the creation of a special recreation district since late 2008. In December 2009, they
requested Mayor Murphy to take such steps necessary for the BOCC to address the adoption of an
ordinance subject to referendum in order for such a district to be formed. Their request is in the back-
up.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION: None
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS: No recommendation as to whether or not the recreation district
should be created. However, if the ordinance is approved, it is recommended that it be changed to be a
dependent district with the Board of Supervisors being composed of the County Commission. The
explanation for this recommendation is in the County Attorney memo of 2-2-10, included in the back-
up.
----- J) . If, l/iJecll3~+ I.eJI ,J-hc,i'I 1IIt~CfllO
TOTAL COST: 10 e 0 INDIRECT COST:
BUDGETED: Yes _NO/
DIFFERENTIAL OF LOCAL PREFERENCE:
COST TO COUNTY:
SOURCE OF FUNDS:
REVENUE PRODUCING: Yes No AMOUNT PER MONTH Year
APPROVED BY: County Atty ~MB/PurChaSing _ Risk Management_
DOCUMENTATION: Included Not Required_
DISPOSITION:
AGENDA ITEM #
Revised 7/09
Mayor Murphy
ORDINANCE NO. - 2010
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING MONROE COUNTY CODE CHAPTER
22, ARTICLE VII, PROVIDING FOR CREATION OF AN
INDEPENDENT SPECIAL RECREATIONAL DISTRICT; PROVIDING
FOR AN ELECTED BOARD OF SUPERVISORS; PROVIDING FOR
POWERS OF DISTRICT; PROVIDING FOR AUTHORITY TO LEVY
AD VALOREM TAX AND ISSUE BONDS; PROVIDING FOR A
REFERENDUM QUESTION TO BE PLACED ON THE BALLOT;
PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL
OF ALL ORDINANCES INCONSISTENT HEREWITH; PROVIDING
FOR INCORPORATION INTO THE MONROE COUNTY CODE OF
ORDINANCES; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, a group of citizens calling themselves the Key Largo Recreation
Committee have signed, in person or by proxy, a letter to Mayor Murphy requesting the
creation of a recreation district under Section 418.20, F.S., et.seq.; and
WHEREAS, the request sets forth certain provisions which the committee has
requested be incorporated into the ordinance; and -
WHEREAS, language in Chapters 418 & 189, Florida Statutes require that some of
those requested provisions be modified to conform to state law; and
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners has determined that it is the
interest of the residents of Key Largo to enact an ordinance which will become effective
only if approved by referendum of the registered voters in the affected area;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA:
SECTION 1. Chapter 22, Article VII, Section 22-130, et.seq., Monroe County Code, is hereby
created to read:
22~ 130. Purposes.
This ordinance shall be known as the Key Largo Special Recreational District
Ordinance. and shall serve as the charter of the district. The primary purpose of the
District shall be to provide the citizens and residents of the area included in the District
with publicly -owned and -operated recreational venues.
Prohibit Commission or other Compo
1
Mayor Murphy
22~131. Definitions.
For purposes of this Article, the following definitions shall apply:
Board of Supervisors shall mean a seven-member board of supervisors which governs
and administers the business and affairs of the district,
Charter means the ordinance creating the Key Largo Special Recreational District
Ordinance, as it shall from time to time be amended by ordinance subject to referendum.
District means the Key Largo Special Recreational District Ordinance, the special park
and recreation district established hereunder.
Land authority means the Key Largo Special Recreational District
Supervisor means one of the members of the Board of Supervisors.
22~132. Kev Lanw Recreational District - Created.
There is hereby created. pursuant to Sections 418.20-418.26. Florida Statutes. and in
conformity with Chapter 189. Florida Statutes, an independent special district which
shall be named the Key Largo Recreational District. subject to a referendum vote of the
electors within the district. which shall have the territory within the unincorporated area
of Monroe County that includes all of Cross Key south of the Miami-Dade/Monroe
County line. and all of Key Largo south of the intersection of the right-of-way County
roads 905 and 905A. to Tavernier Creek.
22~133. Same~ Governing Bodv.
Pursuant to chapter 418. Florida Statutes. the business and affairs of the district shall be
governed and administered by a seven-member board of supervisors elected from among
the residents of the district.
(a) Initial Election - The seven members of the initial board shall be elected on a Tuesday
not less than 30 nor more than 60 days after the date this ordinance is approved by
referendum. in an election conducted and supervised by the Supervisor of Elections of
Monroe County. Persons desiring to have their name on the ballot for election to the
Board of Supervisors shall be qualified electors and freeholders within the district and
shall present a petition to the Supervisor of Elections of Monroe County on August 25.
2010. between 8:30 AM and 5:00 PM, which petition shall be signed by the applicant
and not less than 25 persons qualified to vote in said election in the district. In lieu of the
petition being signed by 25 persons. the applicant may submit a $25 qualifying fee. The
terms shall be staggered such that those four candidates who receive the highest number
of votes in the initial election shall serve four-year terms. The remaining three
candidates who are elected to the Board shall serve two-year terms. The succeeding
terms for those three seats shall be four-year terms after the initial two-year terms are
served.
(b) All Elections -
Prohibit Commission or other Camp.
2
Mayor Murphy
(1) All persons desiring to be placed on an election ballot for the Board of
Supervisors shall submit to the Supervisor of Elections of Monroe County a $25
qualifying fee
(2) Notice of the election setting forth the names of persons proposed to be on the
Board of Supervisors shall be given by the Supervisor of Elections in writing to each
resident within the district not less than 15 days before the date of each election, and
shall also be published one time at least ten days prior to such election. in a
newspaper of general circulation in the district. Notwithstanding the provisions of
F.S, 101.20, the publication of a sample ballot is not required.
(3) Each property owner or resident in the district has the right to vote in the
election.
(c) Members of the board of supervisors shall serve without compensation.
@ In the event an elected supervisor cannot complete. his or her term of office. a
replacement may be appointed by the remaining Board of Supervisors until the next regularly
scheduled election of supervisors.
22-134. Same - Powers of.
The Key Largo Recreational District shall have the following powers:
(a) To sue and be sued and to have a corporate seal.
(b) To contract and be contracted with.
ec) To acquire. purchase. construct. improve. and equip recreational facilities of all types,
including real and personal property, within the boundaries of the district: such acquisition
may be by purchase. lease, gift. or exercise of the power of eminent domain.
(d) To issue bonds. secured by ad valorem taxes or by pledge of both such taxes and other
revenues of the district. if approved at a referendum held in such district. and to levy and
collect ad valorem taxes. not to exceed .25 mills. on all real property subject to taxation
within such district in order to pay the principal of and interest on such bonds as the same
respectively fall due or to accumulate a sinking fund for the payment of principal and interest.
The referendum required by this section may be held on the same day as any other
referendum related to the district: provided that such bonds shall bear interest at a rate
pursuant to Section 215.84, Florida Statutes. and be sold at public sale. In the event an offer
of an issue of bonds at public sale produces no bid. or in the event all bids received are
rejected, the district is authorized to negotiate for the sale of such bonds under such rates and
terms as are acceptable: provided that no such bonds shall be sold or delivered on terms less
favorable than the terms contained in any bids rejected at the public sale thereof or the terms
contained in the notice of public sale if no bids were received at such public sale.
Prohibit Commission or other Compo
3
Mayor Murphy
(e) To operate and maintain recreational facilities or to enter into arrangements with others
for such operation and maintenance pursuant to contract. lease. or otherwise.
(1) To establish. charge. and collect fees for admission to or use of recreational facilities and
to apply such fees to the operation. maintenance. improvement. enlargement. or acquisition
of recreational facilities or to the payment of bonds or revenue bonds of the district.
(g) To issue revenue bonds payable solely from the revenues to be derived from recreational
facilities owned or operated by such district if approved at a referendum held in such district~
provided that such bonds shall bear interest at a rate pursuant to Section 215.84. Florida
Statutes. and be sold at public sale. In the event an offer of an issue of bonds at public sale
produces no bid. or in the event all bids received are rejected. the district is authorized to
negotiate for the sale of such bonds under such rates and terms as are acceptable~ provided
that no such bonds shall be so sold or delivered on terms less favorable than the terms
contained in any bids rejected at the public sale thereof or the terms contained in the notice of
public sale if no bids were received at such public sale.
(h) To adopt and enforce rules for the use of the recreational facilities owned or operated by
the district.
(i) To employ all personnel deemed necessary for the operation and maintenance of the
facilities of the district.
0) To invest any funds held by the land authority not required for immediate disbursement
in such investments as may be authorized for trust funds under'F.S, ~ 215.47 and in any
investment made on behalf of the land authority by the state board of administration or by
another trustee appointed for the purpose.
(k) To contract for and to accept in any form whatsoever gifts. grants. loans or other aid and
assistance from the United States government. the state. the county. or any other person.
association or corporation.
(1) To ensure and procure insurance against any loss in connection with any action of the
land authority. including the issuance of bonds and to pay premiums therefore.
(m) To employ personnel. including an executive director. as are necessary and convenient
to carry out the purposes of this article and the land authority.
(n) To engage the services of private consultants on a contract basis as is necessary and
convenient to carry out the purposes of this article:
2-135. Same - Limitations on power.
Any changes to this charter shall be made by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe
County and approved by the electors in the district. and may include limitations on power
granted by the charter but shall not result in impairing the ability of the district to carry out
any contract made by the district prior to the adoption of such restriction.
Prohibit Commission or other Compo
4
Mayor Murphy
22-136 Same-- Meetin2s.
(a) Meetings. A meeting of the board of supervisors of the district shall be held upon the
call of the chair or at the request of three members of the board of supervisors. All meetings
shall be open to the public. and notice of meetings of the authority shall be given as required
by Ch. 289. Florida Statutes. At least one meeting shall be held quarterly.
(b) Quorum and voting. A majority of the governing body of the board of supervisors shall
constitute a quorum; provided. however, that no action shall be taken by an affirmative vote
of less than a majority of the total membership of the governing body.
(c) Expenses. Members of the board of supervisors shall receive no compensation for
services. but shall be entitled to necessary expenses. including per diem and travel expenses
incurred in the discharge of official duties, as provided by law.
Cd) Attendance. Only members physically present at a meeting may be counted for purposes
of establishing a quorum.
22-137 Same--Title to and Disposal ofPropertv.
(a) All real property acquired by the Key Largo Recreational District shall be titled in the
name of the District.
(b) A referendum of the electors in the district shall be required to approve the sale or trade
of any real property owned by the District.
(c) In the event the District is dissolved, title to all property owned by the District which is
within the boundaries of an incorporated municipality shall be transferred to that
municipality; and title to all property owned by the District which is within the
unincorporated county shall be transferred to Monroe County.
(d) The Key Largo Recreational District shall be dissolved only by a referendum vote of a
majority of the electors in the District or by act of the State.
SECTION 2. SEVERABILITY. Should any provision of this Ordinance be declared by a
court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, the same shall not affect the validity of this
Ordinance as whole, or any part thereof, other than the part declared to be invalid. If this
ordinance or any provision thereof shall be held to be inapplicable to any person, property or
circumstances, such holding shall not affect its applicability to any other person, property or
circumstances.
SECTION 3. CONFLICT WITH OTHER ORDINANCES. All ordinances or parts of
ordinances in conflict with this Ordinance are hereby repealed to the extent of said conflict.
SECTION 4. INCLUSION IN THE CODE OF ORDINANCES. The provisions of this
Ordinance shall be included and incorporated in the Code of Ordinances of the County of
Monroe, Florida, as an addition or amendment thereto, and shall be appropriately renumbered to
conform to the uniform numbering system of the code.
SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Ordinance shall take effect on August 24, 2010,
provided that this Ordinance shall be filed with the Department of State as provided in section
125.66(2), Florida Statutes, and that it is approved by referendum of voters in the district.
Prohibit Commission or other Camp.
5
Mayor Murphy
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of MOlioe County,
Florida, at a regular meeting of said Board held on the _th day of ,2010.
Mayor Sylvia Murphy
Mayor Pro Tern Heather Carruthers
Commissioner Mario DiGennaro
Commissioner George Neugent
Commissioner Kim Wigington
(SEAL)
Attest: DANNY L. KOLHAGE, Clerk
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
By
Deputy Clerk
By
Mayor/Chairperson
MOj'JROE COUNTY ATTO
WROVED AS T
Prohibit Commission or other Compo
6
Suzanne A. Hutton, County Attorney**
Robert B. Shillinger, Chief Assistant County Attorney **
Pedro J. Mercado, Assistant County Attorney **
Susan M. Grimsley, Assistant County Attorney **
NatiJeene W. Cassel, Assistant County Attorney
Cynthia L. Hall, Assistant County Attorney
Christine Limbert-Barrows, Assistant County Attorney
Derek V. Howard, Assistant County Attorney
Lisa Granger, Assistant County Attorney
(~.~~
BOARD OF COUNTY
O~~Y~O~~~E-
(305) 294-4641
Mayor Sylvia J. Murphy, District 5
Mayor Pro Tem Heather Carruthers,
District 3
Kim Wigington, District 1
George Neugent, District 2
Mario Di Gennaro, District 4
*
Office of the County Attorney
111112'h Street, Suite 408
Key West, FL 33040
(305) 292-3470 - Phone
(305) 292-3516 - Fax
** Board Certified in City, County & Local GOVI. Law
February 2, 2010
TO:
County Commissioners
County Administrator
Suzanne Hutton ~
County Attorney
FROM:
RE:
Key Largo Special Recreational District Ordinance _
The back-up includes the state statutes regarding the special recreational district which has been
requested to be formed.
The recommendation of staff is contrary to the desires of the Key Largo Recreation Committee,
whose request is also included in the back-up, and was reached only after research by, and
discussion between, the County Attorney and the Supervisor of Elections.
The state statute says that the ordinance must provide that "each property owner or resident in
the district has the right to vote in the election," Sec. 418.21(2)(a), F.S. Section 418,20, F.S.,
states the referendum to approve the creation of the district has to be approved by a vote of the
electors in the district. Since that statute requires the vote to be by registered voters, and the
subsequent section states property owners or residents, it is clear that some class of people other
than registered voters must be empowered to vote on the board of supervisors. The ordinance as
drafted uses the exact language of the statute, to wit: "each property owner or resident."
Arguably, it could use either property owners or residents, but if so, the statute should specify
either/or.
The debate as to who votes has been visited by approximately 10 other jurisdictions. Six of the
twenty-two special recreation districts are dependent. Other than the independent districts which
have been created solely by ordinance and referendum for mobile home park recreation districts
under a subsequent set of statutes, it appears that all independent special recreation districts have
been created by special acts of the state legislature. The Supervisor of Elections in Sarasota
County cited the difficulty in ascertaining who could vote as the reason they went to the
legislature.
A special election will cost the taxpayers of the entire County, not just the District, thousands of
dollars. At this point, I do not have an estimate for a special election just in the district
boundaries, but the estimate last year for a county-wide special election was $160,000. Even if
the special election can be processed for 115 that amount, the $25 qualifying fees are not even a
drop in the bucket compared to the costs of the elections of the board of supervisors for as long
as the district exists.
Whether election is by a property owner or freeholder or by residents, either category does not
correspond to the registered voters. There will be persons not qualified to vote in the general
election who could vote for the board of supervisors. The logistics of operating the polls would
require that the election of board of supervisors be kept separate from general elections.
Due to the difficulties and costs of elections required for an independent board of supervisors, it
is recommended that if an ordinance is passed to create a special recreation district, that it be a
dependent district with the county commission sitting as the board of supervisors.
Key largo Recreation Committee
Dec. 11, 2009
The Honorable Sylvia Murphy
Mayor of Monroe County
Dear Mayor Murphy:
Section 418.20, Florida Statutes, authorizes each county to create one or more
recreation districts comprising the whole or any part of the unincorporated areas by
ordinance, approved by a vote of the electors in the district with the ordinance, as it
may be amended by the Bacc and approved by a vote of the electors in the district,
which shall constitute the charter of the recreation district.
We, the undersigned, hereby request that the Monroe Board of County
Commissioners pass an ordinance, subject to referendum,. to create a Key Largo
Recreation District that would accomplish the following,
1. The Key Largo Recreation District (hereafter referred to as the KLRD), an
independent district, would geographically cover the unincorporated area of Monroe
County from the Tavernier Creek Bridge on the south to the Monroe/Dade County
line on the north, with the exclusion of Ocean Reef Club and the Anglers Club.
2. The purpose of the district would be to provide its citizens arfd visitors with
publicly-owned and -operated recreational venues.
3. The Board of Supervisors would be composed of seven elected members who
reside within the district boundaries, who pay a $25 qualifying fee to the Supervisor
of Elections and qualify during the county's normal qualification period. The terms of
office shall be four years and staggered as follows: In the initial election, the four
candidates receiving the highest vote will receive four-year terms_ The remaining
three candidates will receive two-year terms. Thereafter all elected candidates will
receive four-year terms. Supervisors shall be elected district-wide. In the event any
elected supervisor cannot complete their term of office, a replacement may be
appointed by the remaining Board of Supervisors to serve until the next regular
election.
(a) The voting for the approval of this ordinance shall be by a majority of the
registered voters residing within the district boundaries and shall also Include
approval for an ad valorem tax, not to exceed .25 mills per $100,000 for a period of
20 years, to be placed on the primary election ballot of August 2010.
(b) The voting for the election of thelBoard of Supervisors shall be held
among all registered voters within the district boundaries and shall be placed on the
ballot of the General Election November 2010.
(c) Members of the Board of Supervisors shall serve without compensation.
4, The charter of the Key Largo Recreation District created by this ordinance should
include those powers that may be deemed necessary or useful, including the
following:
(a) To sue and be sued and to have a corporate seal.
(b) To contract and be contracted with.
(c) To acquire{ purchasel construct{ improve, and equip recreational facilitIes
of all types, including real and personal property, within the boundaries of the
district; such acquisition may be by purchase, lease or gift; whether the recreational
facilities shall be available exclusively for district residents and property owners, or
there should be restrictions on access to recreational facilities by nonresidents by
rules adopted by the governing body of the district apply and whether the recreation
district shall be available exclusively for the district residents. The recreation district
may construct and maintain security buildings and other structures needed to
regulate access to, and provide security for, the recreational facilities.
(d) To issue bonds, secured by ad valorem taxes or by pledge of both such
taxes and other revenues of the district, if approved at a referendum held in such
district, and to levy and collect ad valorem taxes{ without limitation or with such
limitation as may be Imposed by charter, on all real property subject to district
taxation within such district in order to pay the principal of and interest on such
bonds as the same respectively fall due or to accumulate a sinking fund for the
payment of prinCipal and interest. The referendum required by this section may be
held on the same day as any other referendum related,to the district; provided that
such bonds shall bear interest at a rate pursuant to s. 215.84 and be sold at public
sale. In the event an offer of an issue of bonds at public sale produces no bid, or in
the event all bids received are rejected, the district is authorized to negotiate for the
sale of such bonds under such rates and terms as are acceptable; provided that no
such bonds shall be sold or delivered on terms less favorable than the terms
contained in any bids rejected at the public sale thereof or the terms contained in the
notice of public sale if no bids were received at such public sale..
(e) To operate and maintain recreational facilities or to enter into
arrangements with others for such operation and maintenance pursuant to contract,
lease, or otherwise.
(f) To establish, charge, and collect fees for admission to or use of
recreational facilities and to apply such fees to the operation, maintenance]
improvement, enlargementl or acquisition of recreational facilities or to the payment
of bonds or revenue bonds of the district.
(g) To issue revenue bonds payable solely from the revenues to be derived
from recreational facilities owned or operated by such district if approved at a
referendum held In such district; provIded that such bonds shall bear interest at a
rate pursuant to s. 215.84 and be sold at public sale. In the event an offer of an
issue of bonds at public sale produces no bid, or in the event all bids received are
rejected{ the district is authorized to negotiate for the sale of such bonds under such
rates and terms as are acceptable; provided that no such bonds shall be so sold or
delivered on terms less favorable than the terms contained in any bids rejected at
the public sale thereof or the terms contained in the notice of public sale if no bids
were received at such public sale.
(h) To adopt and enforce rules for the use of the recreational facilities owned
or operated by the district.
(I) To employ all personnel deemed necessary for the operation and
maintenance of the facilities of the district.
S. Any venues obtained by the KLRD shall be titled in the name of the KLRD. A
referendum of the registered voters of the district shall be required to approve the
sale or trade of any venue owned by the KLRD. If the KLRD becomes defunct for any
reason, all venues would become the property of the municipality within the
boundaries of the district. Any facility outside the municipal boundaries would
become property of Monroe County.
6. Dissolution of the KLRD shall take place only by referendum vote of a majority of
the voters of the district.
~ Jer~~
J
418.20 Creation of recreation districts authorized.--Each municipality and county in
the state is authorized to create one or more recreation districts comprising the whole of or
any part of the territory of said municipality and by counties only in the unincorporated
areas of each county. Each such district shall be established by ordinance approved by a
vote of the electors in the district in accordance with s. 165.041. Such ordinance, as it may
from time to time be amended by the governing body of said municipality or county and
approved by a vote of the electors in the district, shall constitute the charter of the
recreation district, The electors residing in a proposed district may petition the governing
body of the city or county to create a recreation district. If a majority of electors has signed
the petition, no referendum shall be required to create the district.
418.21 Governing body.--
(1) The governing bOdy of a recreation district shall be determined by ordinance of the
municipality or county that created the district and must be either:
(a) A five-member or larger board of supervisors elected from among the residents of the
district, or
(b) The governing body of the municipality or county that created the district.
(2)(a) If the governing body is a board of supervisors, the ordinance must specify the date
of the election and must provide that each property owner or resident in the district has the
right to vote in the election. The ordinance may also provide for the staggering of terms of
the supervisors. The ordinance may also provide for the establishment of designated
geographic areas within the district from each of which are elected one or more members of
the board of supervisors to represent that area, provided the ordinance is made contingent
on approval by a majority vote of the electors in each designated area.
(b) Members of the board of supervisors shall serve without compensation,
(3) If the governing body is the governing body of the municipality or county that created
the district, that body may appoint a district advisory board to advise it on all matters
relating to the district. Members of the advisory board shall serve without compensation.
418.22 Powers of recreation districts.--The charter of a recreation district may grant to
the recreation district the following powers and all further or additional powers as the
governing body of the municipality or county establishing the district may deem necessary
or useful in order to exercise the powers for which provision is hereinafter made, The
powers which may be granted by such charter include the following:
(1) To sue and be sued and to have a corporate seal.
(2) To contract and be contracted with,
(3) To acquire, purchase, construct, improve, and equip recreational facilities of all types,
including real and personal property, within the boundaries of the district; such acquisition
may be by purchase, lease, gift, or exercise of the power of eminent domain. If the
governing body of the municipality or county that created the recreation district for
exclusive use by a condominium established under chapter 718 or a cooperative established
under chapter 719 makes the finding described in s. 418.24(4), the governing body of the
district may make the recreational facilities available exclusively for district residents and
property owners, and may restrict any access to recreational facilities by nonresidents by
rules adopted by the governing body of the district. Prior to any vote of the electors in the
district adopting or amending a charter pursuant to s. 418.20, the governing body shall
decide whether the criteria in s. 418.24(4) apply and whether the recreation district shall be
available exclusively for the district residents. The recreation district may construct and
maintain security buildings and other structures needed to regulate access to, and provide
security for, the recreational facilities,
(4) To issue bonds, secured by ad valorem taxes or by pledge of both such taxes and other
revenues of the district, if approved at a referendum held in such district, and to levy and
collect ad valorem taxes, without limitation or with such limitation as may be imposed by
charter, on all real property subject to city taxation within such district in order to pay the
principal of and interest on such bonds as the same respectively fall due or to accumulate a
sinking fund for the payment of principal and interest. The referendum required by this
section may be held on the same day as any other referendum related to the district;
provided that such bonds shall bear interest at a rate pursuant to s, 215.84 and be sold at
public sale. In the event an offer of an issue of bonds at public sale produces no bid, or in
the event all bids received are rejected, the district is authorized to negotiate for the sale of
such bonds under such rates and terms as are acceptable; provided that no such bonds
shall be sold or delivered on terms less favorable than the terms contained in any bids
rejected at the public sale thereof or the terms contained in the notice of public sale if no
bids were received at such public sale.
(5) To operate and maintain recreational facilities or to enter into arrangements with others
for such operation and maintenance pursuant to contract, lease, or otherwise.
(6) To establish, charge, and collect fees for admission to or use of recreational facilities
and to apply such fees to the operation, maintenance, improvement, enlargement, or
acquisition of recreational facilities or to the payment of bonds or revenue bonds of the
district,
(7) To issue revenue bonds payable solely from the revenues to be derived from
recreational facilities owned or operated by such district if approved at a referendum held in
such district; provided that such bonds shall bear interest at a rate pursuant to s. 215.84 and
be sold at public sale, In the event an offer of an issue of bonds at public sale produces no
bid, or in the event all bids received are rejected, the district is authorized to negotiate for
the sale of such bonds under such rates and terms as are acceptable; provided that no such
bonds shall be so sold or delivered on terms less favorable than the terms contained in any
bids rejected at the public sale thereof or the terms contained in the notice of public sale if
no bids were received at such public sale.
(8) To adopt and enforce rules for the use of the recreational facilities owned or operated
by the district.
(9) To employ all personnel deemed necessary for the operation and maintenance of the
facilities of the district.
418.23 Limitation on power of districts.--The charter of any recreation district may
contain such limitations and restrictions on any of the powers named in s. 418.22 as the
governing body of the municipality or county may from time to time determine, but no such
restriction shall result in impairing the ability of a district to carry out any contract made by
such district prior to the adoption of such restriction.
418.24 Filing of ordinance.--Any ordinance creating or amending the charter of a
recreation district, upon being finally adopted, shall be filed in the minutes of the governing
body of the municipality or county, and certified copies thereof shall be filed with the county
clerk of the county in which said district is located and with the property appraiser of said
county. The charter of a recreation district may contain findings by the governing body of
the municipality or county:
(1) That the creation of such district is the best alternative available for delivering
recreational service.
(2) That such district is amenable to separate special district government.
(3) That all of the territory in the district will be benefited ,by proposed improvements to be
made by said district.
(4) That, for recreation districts created for exclusive use by a condominium established
pursuant to chapter 718 or a cooperative established under chapter 719, based upon the
number of residents, potential for proliferation of crime, automobile traffic flow, district
development, availability of other recreational facilities outside the district, excessive noise
levels, or other factors applicable to the particular district, a valid and paramount public
purpose will be served by making the recreational facilities available exclusively for district
residents and property owners.
If such charter contains anyone or more such findings, each such finding may be reviewed
by a court only as part of any review of the ordinance making such finding.
418.25 Actions by aggrieved parties.--Any person feeling aggrieved by the adoption of
an ordinance granting or amending the charter of a recreation district may bring, within the
period hereinafter prescribed, an appropriate action in the circuit court of the state for that
county in which the municipality is located for declaratory or injunctive relief on the grounds
that the adoption of said ordinance or any part thereof was arbitrary, capricious,
confiscatory, or violative of constitutional guarantees. Such action may be brought at any
time during a period beginning immediately upon the adoption of said ordinance and ending
no later than the earlier to occur of:
(1) One year from the date of adoption of said ordinance~ or
(2) The date of judicial validation of the first bonds, tax bonds, or revenue bonds of said
district to be authorized and validated after the adoption of the ordinance under chapter 75.
After the expiration of said period, no one shall have any right or cause of action to
challenge such ordinance or the existence of any recreation district created thereby,
whether such challenge be brought under this law or under any other law.
418.26 Assessment records.--The assessment records for the municipality or county in
which a recreation district is located shall be the official assessment records for any
recreation district created pursuant to this act. The official charged with keeping said
assessment records shall, at the request of the governing body of any recreation district,
provide an assessment roll for any such district showing the assessed valuation of taxable
property in said district. Unless otherwise provided by the charter of a recreation district,
the official who collects taxes in the municipality or county shall be the tax collector of said
district. Taxes of any such district shall be payable at the same time as, and shall be
secured by a lien on taxable property the same as, municipal or county taxes. Enforcement
of any such tax lien shall be in the same manner and by the same officials as enforcement
of liens for municipal or county taxes.
FS 189.4031 provides that even though there may be other statutes
specifically setting forth rules for creation, dissolution, Ch. 189 still has to be
adhered to.