The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a new set of numeric nutrient criteria for water runoff in the State of Florida. The EPA will hold public hearings in Florida on February 16-18, 2010 for the purpose of seeking and recording citizen input on these changes. These criteria will be the basis for a new set of broad-reaching regulations which will uniquely penalize Florida land owners and businesses.

The voice of impacted Florida land owners must be heard and placed on the official record at these hearings. The EPA must be made aware of the negative consequences to Florida property owners and businesses. Strong land owner participation at these hearings is necessary to send a message regarding the political consequences of lawmakers enacting new, burdensome regulations during a recession.

DEFEND YOUR RIGHTS.  LEARN MORE. HAVE YOUR VOICE HEARD.

• Associated Industries of Florida (AIF) has produced an outstanding Statement of Concern Regarding Proposed New Water Quality Regulations for the State of Florida which all Florida land owners should review: https://ssl.capwiz.com/flfb/attachments/NN_Statement_of_Concern___AIF_Final.pdf
• To view the Florida Farm Bureau's Ag Policy Bulletin on this critical issue, please visit: http://www.capwiz.com/flfb/issues/alert/?alertid=14542881
• To review a collective letter sent to Florida's Congressional Delegation which land owners can use as a sample for communications, please visit: https://ssl.capwiz.com/flfb/attachments/111309_DelegationLetter.pdf

Florida land owners should plan to attend one of the six public hearings being held February 16, 17 &18 to learn more and let your voice be heard.  In order to participate in the public workshop, citizens are required to register online:  http://yosemite.epa.gov/ost/WaterSciHearingReg.nsf/SignUp_Web?OpenForm

The dates and locations of the public hearings:

• Tallahassee - February 16, 2010, 1:00-5:00 p.m. and 7:00-10:00 p.m., Holiday Inn Capitol East,1355 Apalachee Parkway, Tallahassee, Florida.
• Orlando - February 17, 2010, 1:00-5:00 p.m. and 7:00-10:00 p.m., Crowne Plaza Orlando Universal, 7800 Universal Boulevard, Orlando, Florida.
• West Palm Beach - February 18, 2010, 1:00-5:00 p.m. and 7:00-10:00 p.m., Holiday Inn Palm Beach Airport, 1301 Belvedere Road, West Palm Beach, Florida.

MAITLAND ADVANCES MORATORIUM ON DRIVE-THRUS

On Monday, January 11, after testimony offered by CPR and lengthy debate, the Maitland City Council voted 3-2 to advance a proposed one-year "Moratorium on Commercial Drive-Through Facilities." At the hearing, Council members Dr. Jeff Flowers and Linda Frosch offered articulate and inspiring comments in opposition to the moratorium and should be applauded for having the intelligence and political "backbone" to oppose a completely unsubstantiated restriction on property rights. (CPR members can email these leaders at jflowers@itsmymaitland.com and lfrosch@itsmymaitland.com)  Shamefully, two legal and real estate professionals serving on the Maitland City Council openly ignored the fact that there is absolutely no data or evidence supporting the need for this extreme regulatory sanction. No documentation or evidence was presented to the public to justify this measure. No testimony was offered by any public safety official as to specific problems relative to existing Maitland drive-thrus. Two City Council members, attorney Phil Bonus and teacher Bev Reponen, vocally declared the moratorium was necessary to conduct a drive-thru study and yet, humorously, during the discussion, each also commented on the official record they had no idea what exactly would be studied. In direct conflict with the purported "urgent need" to restrict the construction of new drive-thrus elements, these leaders also voted to include a special exception for public facilities when they realized the planned construction of a downtown Fire Station might be considered a drive-thru and could be delayed for up to a year. Apparently, the critical drive-thru/pedestrian interaction issue they are seeking to arrest through the moratorium does not apply to public properties. On this point, Dr. Flowers positively reiterated his strong "equal-schmequal" position that government should not elevate its rights and privileges above those of the people.

A second and final hearing on the moratorium is planned for Monday, January 25, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. (Ironically, the address of Maitland City Hall is 1776 Independence Lane.)

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL

It's time to renew your Annual CPR Membership! Keep CPR fighting for you. Renew Your Membership or Join CPR Today via our secure and convenient online service at www.proprights.com/contribute/. A mail-in form is also available online. Contributions can be remitted to Coalition for Property Rights, 2878 S. Osceola Avenue, Orlando, FL 32806. For more information about corporate sponsorships, please call us at 407-481-2289.

Reader responses welcomed!  CarolSaviak@aol.com