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2016 South Palm Beach CountyBusiness Legislative Agenda
UNITED STATES SENATEMarco Rubio8669 NW 36th Street, #110Miami, FL 33166305-418-8553B40A Dirksen Senate OfficeBuildingWashington, D.C., 20510202-224-3041
Bill Nelson 413 Clematis Street, # 210West Palm Beach, FL 33401Phone: 561-514-0189Fax: 561-514-4078716 Senate Hart Office BuildingWashington, DC 20510202-224-5274 Protecting Business
UNITED STATESHOUSE OF REPRESENTIVESTed Deutch, District 218177 West Glades Road, Suite 211Boca Raton, FL 33434561-470-55401024 Longworth HouseOffice Building
Adam PutnamCommissioner of AgricultureFlorida Department of Agri-culture andConsumer ServicesThe CapitolTallahassee, FL 32399-0800850-488-3022www.doacs.state.fl.us
STATE SENATE www.flsenate.gov
Joseph Abruzzo, District 2512300 West Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 200Wellington, FL [email protected]
Maria Sachs,District 34955 N.W. 17th Avenue, Suite EDelray Beach, FL [email protected]
FLORIDA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESwww.myfloridahouse.gov
Lori Berman,District 902300 High Ridge Road, Suite 161Boynton Beach, FL [email protected]
Bill Hager,District 87301 Yamato Rd., Ste. 1240Boca Raton, FL [email protected]
Kevin Rader,District 819045 LaFontana Blvd., Suite 117Boca Raton, FL [email protected]
Irving L. “Irv” Slosberg, District 917499 W. Atlantic Avenue, Suite 200Delray Beach, FL [email protected]
Local OfficialsCOUNTY COMMISSIONERSwww.pbcgov.com301 N. Olive AvenueWest Palm Beach, FL 33401
Steven L. Abrams,
District [email protected]
Priscilla A. Taylor, Mayor, District [email protected]
Hal Valeche,District [email protected]
Paulette Burdick, Vice Chair, District [email protected]
Shelley Vana,District [email protected]
Mary Lou Berger, District [email protected]
Jess R. Santamaria, District [email protected]
CITY OF BOCA RATONCOUNCILwww.ci.boca-raton.fl.us201 W. Palmetto Park RoadBoca Raton, FL 33432561.393.7708
Mayor Susan [email protected]
Deputy Mayor Robert Weinroth [email protected]
Councilman Michael [email protected]
Councilman Jeremy [email protected]
Councilman Scott [email protected]
Elected Officials
Making Government More Efficient• Reduce the economic burden of regulation, bureaucratic red tape and costly
mandates on private employers.• Modernizing pension/retirement-benefit systems to create fiscally stable
state and local governments.• Improving government efficiencies and limiting excessive costs being
passed down to employers and employees.
Preparing Florida’s Infrastructure for Smart Growth & Development• Clarifying and streamlining permitting and regulatory processes to help
manage our state’s growth.• Creating long-term, science-based water policies that will address water
needs in a fiscally responsible way and help protect our precious naturalresources.
• Providing families with reliable and cost-effective energy options bychampioning energy policies that focus on the long-term needs of our state.
• Support legislation that works to lessen the burden of the government healthcare law while promoting strategies and solutions to help businesses get costsunder control, improve quality, and increase coverage of the uninsured.
• Support an immigration policy that encourages employment-based andnational security immigration reform as well as job protections for US citizens.
• Support a national effort to encourage pro-growth energy action that increasesdiverse energy supplies, improves efficiency, and promotes environmentalstewardship while putting Americans back to work.
• Oppose tax increases that reduce businesses’ ability to grow, invest, andcreate jobs.
• Support fair workplace rules that protect workers and promote employerflexibility and economic growth, while opposing harmful proposals andburdensome regulations that will generate litigation instead of jobs.
• Support work to strengthen the nation’s educational standards and promoteeffective workforce training programs.
• Support legislation to end lawsuit abuse and to ensure that businesses receivethe fair, efficient, and consistent justice system they deserve.
• Support the charge to modernize and expand our nation’s transportation,telecommunications, energy and water networks.
Federal Issues
Championing Florida’s Unique Quality of Life
• Supporting an innovative and proactive healthcare system that providesgreater access to quality care, controls costs and promotes a healthypopulation.
• Support legislation that would extend coverage to nearly a million ormore working, uninsured Floridians by lowering costs, creating additionalcompetition and taking advantage of all federal funds being made availableto the state in a manner that makes Florida’s business climate morecompetitive.
• Creating a medical liability environment that will attract world-class
Washington, DC 20515202-225-3001www.deutch.house.gov
Lois Frankel, District 222500 N. Military Trail, Suite 490West Palm Beach, Florida 33431Phone: 561-998-90451037 Longworth House Office BuildingWashington, DC 20515Phone: (202) 225-3026www.frankel.house.gov
Alcee L. Hastings, District 202701 West Oakland Park Blvd., Suite 200561-676-79112353 Rayburn Office BuildingWashington D.C. 20515202-225-1313www.alceehastings.house.gov
Patrick Murphy, District 182000 PGA Blvd., Suite A3220Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33408561-253-84331517 Longworth House OfficeBuildingWashington, D.C. 20515202-225-3026www.patrickmurphy.house.gov
STATE OFFICIALS FLORIDA CABINET STATE OFFICIALSRick ScottGovernor, State of FloridaThe Capitol400 S. Monroe StreetTallahassee, FL 32399-0001850-488-7146www.flgov.com
Ken DetznerSecretary of StateR.A. Gray Building500 South Bronough StreetTallahassee, FL 32399-0250850-245-6500www.dos.state.fl.us
Jeff AtwaterChief Financial Officer200 East Gaines StreetTallahassee, FL 32399-0300850-413-2850www.fldfs.com
Pam BondiAttorney GeneralOffice of Attorney GeneralState of FloridaThe Capitol PL-01Tallahassee, FL 32399-1050850-414-3300www.myfloridalegal.com
Chamber, President & CEO/SecretaryRandy Nobles, Croskey Lanni PC, Immediate Past Chair
DIRECTORSVic Beninate, AT&T
Eric Brown, Aliant Payment Systems Inc.Michael Daszkal, Daszkal Bolton LLP
Charles Deyo, CendynMelanie Dickinson, South Florida Business Journal
Jim Dunn, JM LexusMark Edoff, The ADT Corporation
Mitch Feldman, West Boca Medical CenterPeter Gallo, Ph.D., Saint Andrew’s School
Elisa Garcia, Office Depot, Inc.Larry Katz, Wells Fargo
John W. Kelly, Ph. D., Florida Atlantic University Richard Pollock, YMCA of South Palm Beach County
Jackie Reeves, Bell Rock CapitalRocki Rockingham, Jarden Consumer Solutions
Kevin Ross, Ed.D., Lynn UniversitySal Saldana, Town Center at Boca Raton
Susan Saturday, Bluegreen VacationsChuck Stout, CBIZ Meridian Insurance Group
• Support Florida Atlantic University’s leveraging of its resources and strategicpartnerships to enhance and/or develop programs that foster entrepreneurshipand expand the region’s high tech workforce.
• Support the research and enhancement for alternative water resources on theeast coast of Florida.
• Advocate for the use of public/private partnerships to deliver capital andinfrastructure improvements in the County.
• Support a regional approach for beach re-nourishment projects by the PalmBeach County Commission.
The objective of the Boca Chamber’s Legislative Agenda is to advocate for our members as it relates to Federal, State and local government
agendas.
MISSIONTo Promote and Sustain Economic Prosperity in Boca Raton
and South Palm Beach County.
OFFICERS Jerry Fedele, Boca Raton Regional Hospital Chair
Ethel Isaacs Williams, Florida Power and Light, Chair ElectMichael Kaufman, Kaufman Lynn Construction, Treasurer
Troy M. McLellan, CCE, FCCP, Boca
Continued on other side
• Streamline and enhance the City of Boca Raton’s building permit issuanceprocedures, Individual Development Approvals and approve and fully implementthe pattern book and IDG . Fully implement all Planned-Mobility (“PM”) districtsand ensure sufficient housing units are contained therein
• Support an ordinance that allows a local preference positive adjustment in the bidprocess when the company holds a Business Tax Receipt issued by the City ofBoca Raton.
• Support Florida Atlantic University’s efforts to work in collaboration with the Cityof Boca Raton on the reinvention of the 20th St. district and the developmentof an ongoing comprehensive “Town and Gown” relationship. In addition,the Chamber supports the University as it seeks to achieve these goals bycreating a steering committee of partners, which include representativesfrom the University’s administration, student body, faculty, and police andfire departments; representatives from City of Boca Raton’s leadership; andcommunity representation, including Chamber leaders, local business owners,and residents.
• Monetize the City-owned former Wildflower property for purposes of increasingCity revenue to improve infrastructure and the downtown while creating a senseof place.
• Create an Independent CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) Director toenhance the CRA district and create a sense of place in Downtown Boca Raton.
• Create additional parking and transportation opportunities that meet thedemands of sustainable growth to include the construction of a parking garage,establishment of a Downtown and FAU circulator.
• Support targeted and timely annexation of those areas that provide opportunityto enhance the City of Boca Raton and increase its tax base tax and revenue,create jobs and support economic development.
• Support the BID (Business Improvement District) Steering Committee and itsactivities to provide a funding mechanism to enhance and improve the Downtowninfrastructure, parking, transportation and marketing.Support the BID (BusinessImprovement District) Steering Committee and its activities to provide a fundingmechanism to enhance and improve the Downtown.
• Support the Research Park at Florida Atlantic University’s efforts to furtherintegrate its activities with those of the wider business community and FloridaAtlantic University in order to ensure a viable environment for technologyentrepreneurs to develop and grow successful companies that create jobs andimprove the quality of place in Boca Raton.
• Support a Foreign Trade Zone (“FTZ”) encompassing the airport, the ResearchPark at FAU and adjoining commercial areas.
• Advocate for the use of public/private partnerships to deliver capital andinfrastructure improvements in the City of Boca Raton.
• Support pension and other benefit reforms to sustain the City of Boca Raton and mitigate financial risk to the city.
• Support those public policies which sustain Boca Raton’s quality of life as a placeto live, work, learn and play.
City Issues
• Support the elimination of the statewide sales tax on commercial leases.
Building the Perfect Business Climate
• Support the elimination of the sales tax on machinery and equipment• Remove burdensome property taxes on machinery and equipment for a
period of time after purchase, and encourage businesses to expand byexempting property taxes on improvements for 10 years.
• Ensure fair and consistent private-sector wage regulations.• Continuing efforts that will create competitive and stable private-sector
insurance markets.• Lowering the burden of unemployment compensation taxes on employers.• Work with the lending community and venture funds to ensure small
businesses have appropriate access to capital while ensuring Florida’s shareof venture capital dollars increases significantly.
Improving Education for a Better Workforce
• Support Florida Atlantic University as it pursues, the intention of becoming thecountry’s fastest-improving public research university. Specifically, supportFAU as it implements initiatives and measures designed to achieve continuedsuccess within the framework of the State University System PerformanceFunding Model.
• Support legislation and/or regulation that provide universities and collegesgreater flexibility to engage in public/private partnerships.
• Continuing to champion quality school choice options so parents can take thelead on choosing the best learning environment for their children.
• Expanding the use of cost-effective digital learning throughout Florida’seducation system and establish digital technology standards.
• Support STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics)and entrepreneurial initiatives that fuel competitiveness and advance the“knowledge economy” in our region.
• Strengthening Florida’s innovation economy by advocating for programs thatattract and retain world-class talent in targeted industries like healthcare,technology, research and development, and engineering.
Diversifying Florida’s Economy and Growing Jobs • Significantly increase investments in research and development to leverage
and grow businesses in emerging technology sectors as well as increase thetotal amount of research and development tax credits available.
County Issues• Support an ordinance that allows a local preference positive adjustment in
the bid process when company holds a Business Tax Receipt issued by PalmBeach County.
• Encourage Palm Tran to further serve Boca Raton and contribute to Boca’sefforts to improve and coordinate public transportation circulation betweendowntown, the train station and FAU campus.
• Advocate for Palm Beach County School Board to find efficiencies in cost andservices and enhance educational and management performance.
• Incentivizing businesses to create high-wage, high-skills jobs in our state.• Championing the defense industry by opposing cuts that provide valuable
jobs and grow Florida’s economy.
State Issues
