HomeMy Public PortalAboutRES 93/02RESOLUTION NO. 93 -2
A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COMMISSION OF
THE TOWN OF GULF STREAM, FLORIDA, OBJECTING
TO A PROPOSED STATE -WIDE RATE STRUCTURE
AND TERRITORIAL DISPUTE JURISDICTION OF
THE FLORIDA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION OVER
GOVERNMENTAL WATER AND SEWER UTILITY SYSTEMS;
AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the Town of Gulf Stream, Florida, a local
governmental authority, owns and operates a water utility
distribution system; and
WHEREAS, under Article VIII of the Florida Constitution,
and Home Rule Powers Acts, the Town Commission has legislative
responsibility and authority to regulate the rate structure and
rates, fees and charges of its utility system and resolve
territorial disputes; and
WHEREAS, the Town Commission of the Town of Gulf stream, as
the elected local representatives of the customers of its utility
system best understand and can respond to the local needs and
circumstances of its customers, which allows provision of utility
services to the public in the most environmentally sound and
economically responsible manner; and
WHEREAS, local governments have been at the forefront of
Florida's efforts to conserve water via effluent reuse, water use
restrictions, innovative conservation, rate - making and stormwater
management, individual structures to meet locally recognized
circumstances; and
WHEREAS, the Florida Public Service Commission is far removed
from local environmental conditions, local economic conditions and
local use characteristics, and is not representative of the
customers of the utility system; and
WHEREAS, transfer of rate structure and territorial dispute
jurisdiction from our local governmental representatives to the
Florida Public Service Commission in Tallahassee will usurp the
sovereignty of local government, will remove local accountability,
will unduly add another layer of bureaucracy and significantly
increase and duplicate costs and expenses for the operation of our
public utility systems, will result in increased rate burdens on
our customers; and
WHEREAS, transfer of rate structure and territorial dispute
jurisdiction will significantly impair existing public utility bond
issues and covenants and threaten the stability of governmental
municipal finance of water and sewer utility systems; and
WHEREAS, numerous other State agencies and our judicial
systems already provide comprehensive regulatory protection of
environmental and territorial issues, including the Department of
Environmental Regulation, the State Water Management Districts,
the local environmental protection agencies and the Department of
Community Affairs, obviating the necessity of any additional
regulatory layers; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWN COMMISSION OF
TOWN OF GULF STREAM, FLORIDA THAT:
Section 1. The Town Commission of the Town of Gulf Stream,
Florida, vigorously opposes and objects to any proposed transfer
of jurisdiction to the Public Service Commission of rate structure
jurisdiction, territorial dispute jurisdiction or any other
jurisdiction over the rates, fees and charges and operations
of utility systems of local governmental authorities.
Section 2. The current constitutional, legislative and
judicial framework of environmental and economic regulation of
governmentally owned water and sewer systems best serves the
public interest and ensures protection of the environment and
the economic needs of the public by the governmental authority
most representative and responsive to the needs of the locality.
Section 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately
upon passage and shall be delivered to the Governor, our local
State Representatives and legislative delegation, the Department
of Environmental Regulation and the Water Management District.
PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE TOWN COMMISSION OF THE TOWN OF
GULF STREAM, FLORIDA, THIS 12 DAY OF FEBRUARY, 1993.
OF j U F S�'.R A/0 FLO
-maryor
Vice Mayor
Commissioner
Commissioner
Commissioner
ATTEST:
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own Clerk
(Corporate Seal)