Res 72-99RESOLUTION NO. ?2-99
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
DRI.RAy BEACH, FLORIDA, SUPPORTING CONTINUED
FUNDING OF THE EASTWARD HO! INITIATIVE.
WHEREAS, the City Commission of the City of De. kay Beach strongly supports the
continuation of the same level of funding of the Eastward Ho! Initiative through the South Florida and
Treasure Coast Regional Planning Councils; and
WHEREAS, the Delray Beach City Commission recognizes the success and value of the
Eastward Ho! Initiative throughout the commtmities of the South Florida and Treasure Coast regions; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission recogmZes that funding for the Eastward Ho! Initiative
is necessary so that the South Florida and Treasure Coast Regional Planning Councils can continue to
perform numerous efforts to support sustainable urban redevelopment and economic development planning
activities; and
WHEREAS, the City ComrmSsion believes that not fully and consistently funding the
Eastward Ho! Initiative through the South Florida and Treasure Coast Regional Planning Councils will
jeopardize the state's existing and future investment in the Everglades and Restudy efforts, and the furore
growth and redevelopment of urban communities in the Eastward Ho! Initiative corridor; and
WHEREAS, having to compete for other sources of funding out of dwindling revenue
sources is not an efficient allocation of resources and dedication of staff time and energy to support sources
of annual funding, and reduced the amount of time dedicated by regional planning councils to support the
Eastward Ho! Initiative.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. That the foregoing redtals are hereby deemed to be true and correct.
~ That the City Commission of the City of Delray Beach hereby requests that the
Governor appropriate dedicated funding on a recurring basis for the Eastward Ho! Initiative through the
South Florida and Treasure Coast Regional Planning Councils, at the current level of funding, as a line item in
the Department of Community Affairs base budget.
A'ITE~ST:
- City Clerli~ /
PASSED AND ADOPTED in regular session on this the 2~d day of November, 1999.
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
DIANE DOM,NGUEZ, PLANNING AND ZONI~:)~C~t~'~ v~'4'~'/' u'L~"/
MEETING OF NOVEMBER 2, t999
RESOLUTION SUPPORTING CONTINUED FUNDING OF THE EAS~ARD
HOI INTITIATIVE
The idea for the Eastward Ho! initiative was generated in 1995 by the Governor's Commission
for a Sustainable South Florida. The Eastward Ho! movement is intended to help slow the
urban sprawl that is impacting South Florida's wetlands and agricultural areas, and revitalize
older urban areas. The Eastward Ho! corridor includes the eastern communities from southern
Miami-Dade County to north/central Palm Beach County. Located within this area are
Southeast Florida's major downtowns, airports, rail corridors, and seaports. Development in the
area dates back to the early part of the century. Much of the infrastructure is old and obsolete,
and many areas are characterized by blighted buildings, environmental contamination, and
poverty.
The Eastward Ho! movement has promoted and supported the revitalization of these areas
through brownfields programs, technical assistance in the development of revitalization plans
and programs for urban areas, and matching grants for planning and implementation measures.
The intent is to once again make these older communities desirable places to live and work, and
stem the flow of population to areas where it has the greatest environmental impacts. The
movement has been a unique collaborative effort among local governments, regional planning
councils, the state, and various environmental groups and agencies. It has been supported in
part by state funding, but the new Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Secretary, Steve
Siebert, has stated his intention to discontinue the funding of this effort. His reasoning for the
cut, as stated in his address at the Florida Redevelopment Association conference held here in
Delray Beach in September, is that the initiative does not have applicability elsewhere in the
state and therefore represents an inequitable distribution of dollars.
Delray Beach has benefited from the Eastward Ho! initiative indirectly in the increased
awareness on a regional and statewide level of the importance of reinvesting in existing urban
communities, and directly through the financial and technical assistance provided by the
Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council on the North Federal Highway Redevelopment Plan.
We were unsuccessful in obtaining an Eastward Ho! grant for our CBD Plan, but we were
hopeful that future funding would be available for other plans and programs. As we've learned
through our continued work with the City's various homeowner groups, the need for funding to
improve the condition of our older neighborhoods is tremendous. This initiative does not
represent a significant source, but it is certainly a worthwhile program for the state to continue to
fund.
By motion, approve the attached resolution supporting continued State funding of the Eastward
Ho! initiative.
Attachments: Letter of Request; Resolution
st. lucie
Fecj gnal
p ann ncj
council
October 21, 1999
The Honorable Jay Alperin
Mayor
City of Delray Beach
100 NW First Ave.
Delray Beach, FL 33444
Subject: Continued Funding for the Eastward Ho! Initiative
Dear Mayor Alperin:
The proven success of the Eastward Ho! Initiative in Southeast Florida over the past few
years has been exciting and encouraging - hundreds of locally driven efforts have helped
spur the revitalization of the region's "main streets" and communities.
This continuing success depends on a sustained long-term effort, but the state funding for
the Eastward Ho! Initiative is going to stop. For the Treasure Coast Regional Planning
Council to continue to provide quality redevelopment, town planning assistance and
technical support, an adequate and stable soume of funding at the current level from the
Department of Community Affairs and from the State of Florida is crucial.
You can help by sending a letter of support or by adopting a resolution in support of
continued funding for the Eastward Ho! Initiative to Governor Jeb Bush and to Secretary
Steve Seibert, Department of Community Affairs, Tallahassee. Enclosed is a sample letter
of support and a sample resolution for your review.
Council sincerely appreciates your support and participation. Please telephone me if you
have any questions.
Sincerely,
Michael J. Busha, AICP
Executive Director
MJB:jb
Enclosure
RECEIVED
OCI 2 5 1999
PLANNING & ZONING
301 east ocean boulevard
suite 300
stuart, florida 34994
phone (561) 221-4060
sc 269-4060 fax (561) 221-4067
Date
Governor Jeb Bush
Executive Office of the Governor
The Capitol
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
Secretary Steve Seibert
Department of Community Affairs
2555 Shumard Oak Boulevard
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
Subject: Continued Funding for the Eastward Ho! Initiative
Dear Governor Bush (Secretary Seibert),
The proven success of the Eastward Ho! Initiative in Southeast Florida over the past few
years has been exciting and encouraging. Hundreds of locally driven efforts have helped
to spur revitalization of the region's "main streets" and communities, created new job and
economic opportunities, and has assisted in providing alternatives to the sprawl that is
threatening one of the state's largest investments and most valuable natural resources -
the Everglades Ecosystem.
Continued success depends on a sustained, long-term effort and an adequate and stable
source of funding for the South Florida and Treasure Coast Regional Planning Councils
to administer Eastward Ho! Initiatives.
Through these initiatives, the two southeast Florida regional planning councils provide
the community education and technical assistance to bridge the difference between state
programs and local needs; serve to facilitate cormmunity,based plar~&~g and visiening
efforts, coordinate community activities, assist in implementing plans at the local level,
and create and maintain partnerships of all types.
We appreciate your support for continued funding for the Eastward Ho! Initiative.
Sincerely,
cc: John Flanigan, Chairman TCRPC
[lTV I]F I]ELA#Y BERgH
1993
CITY CLERK
December 13, 1999
The Honorable Jeb Bush
Office of the Governor
State of Florida
Tallahassee, FL 32399-001
100 N.W. 1st AVENUE
· DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA 33444 · 407/243-7000
Re: Resolution No. 72-99 (Continued Funding for the Eastward Ho! Initiative)
Dear Governor Bush;
The proven success of the Eastward Ho! Initiative in Southeast Florida over the
past few years has been exciting and encouraging. Hundreds of locally driven
efforts have helped to spur revitalization of the region's "main streets" and
communities, created new job and economic opportunities, and has assisted in
providing alternatives to the sprawl that is threatening one of the state's largest
investment and most valuable natural resources - the Everglades Ecosystem.
Continued success depends on a sustained, long-term effort and an adequate
and stable source of funding for the South Florida and Treasure Coast
Regional Planning Councils to administer Eastward Ho! Initiatives.
Through these initiatives, the two southeast Florida regional planning councils
provide the community education and technical assistance to bridge the
difference between state programs and local needs; serve to facilitate
community-based planning and visioning efforts, coordinate community
activities, assist in implementing plans at the local level, and create and
maintain partnerships of all types.
We appreciate your support for continued funding for the Eastward Ho!
Initiative.
Sincerely,
Alison M
City Clerk
John Flanigan, Chairman Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council
Diane Dominguez, Director of Planning and Zoning
THE EFFORT ALWAYS MATTERS