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Thank You from the Governor's Office on Human Trafficking
Source: Deborah Polston, Florida’s Human Trafficking Advocate, Governor’s Office of Adoption and Child Protection
Children at risk of being sexually exploited in Florida have a new hope with the implementation of the state’s Safe Harbor Act, effective January 1, 2013. The Safe Harbor Act, passed by the 2012 Florida Legislature and signed into law by Governor Rick Scott, helps ensure the safety of child victims who have been trafficked for sex. The Safe Harbor Act allows children who are rescued from prostitution to get help from child welfare professionals instead of being placed in juvenile delinquency. This allows the Department of Children and Families, the Department of Juvenile Justice, law enforcement and our local partners across the state to treat and help the victims of this abuse.
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The Florida League of Mayors Welcomes a New City Leader
The Florida League of Mayors would like to congratulate Mayor Carmel Monti, City of Holmes Beach on his recent election. We wish you much success in your tenure.
Get acquainted with Mayor Monti as he begins his new role, we asked him:
What politician do you admire most? Why?
What do you think is the most important issue facing your city?
What do you enjoy most about your position?
What do you hope to accomplish for the city during this coming year?
What is the strangest or funniest request you have ever received in public office?
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Municipal Revenue and Expenditure Data
Did you know the FLC Center for Municipal Research and Innovation has revenue and expenditure data for every city in Florida? By simply going to the League’s website (www.flcities.com) and visiting the Center for Municipal Research page, you’ll have access to all 410 municipalities’ revenues and expenditures from 1991-2009. This data comes from the most recent Department of Financial Services reports and is organized in a simple format. You can download the data directly to your computer and see how other municipalities are managing their finances. Make sure to take advantage of this valuable resource!
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Muni Bond Market a Political Pawn in 2013
Source: Governing - By Liz Farmer | January 21, 2013
Bond investors breathed a sigh of relief when the last-minute fiscal cliff deal in January left municipal bonds untouched. But experts say that 2013 will still be a minefield of uncertainty for those investors as the tax debate in Washington, D.C. and financial volatility at home for some states will raise questions about market stability.
Whether Congress would remove the tax free status of municipal bond interest was the number one threat to those bonds at the end of 2012 and a new year has not changed that, experts say. The tax exemption on municipal bond interest allows states and localities to issue the bonds at a lower interest rate, making it cheaper to borrow money for key infrastructure projects. But the exemption comes at a cost of about $40 billion annually in lost revenue to the U.S. Treasury, according to some estimates.
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Technology Tip: Protect Yourself at Home
Source: Florida League of Cities
The Technology Services Department goes to great lengths to protect data and internal systems from malicious activity. PCs and servers receive daily anti-virus updates, applications are regularly patched and staff receives annual security training. However, when you at home, it is up to you to protect your computing resources. As we like to say, when it comes to SEC-U-R-IT-Y... You are it!
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League Partners to Commemorate Viva 500
This year, Florida is commemorating a monumental milestone - the 500th anniversary of Juan Ponce de Leon's arrival on Florida's shores. The Florida League of Cities is partnering with the state by launching a "History Happened Here" campaign to educate Florida residents and visitors alike about the rich history of Florida's cities. To help our members localize events,
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National League of Cities Appoints Clarence Anthony as New Executive Director
Source: National League of Cities
November 29, 2012 Washington, DC
The National League of Cities (NLC) today announced that Clarence E. Anthony has been named the association's new Executive Director. Anthony will assume the Executive Director role at NLC in early January 2013. He will direct the operations, initiatives and staff of the association while working closely with NLC's leadership and membership to develop and implement a strategic plan advancing the interests of NLC's member cities. He will also serve as a key spokesman for America's cities and towns, advocating before federal policymakers and promoting municipal issues on behalf of the more than 18,000 cities represented by NLC.
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Call for Nominations: Bob Graham Center Citizen of the Year Award
Source: Bob Graham Center for Public Service
Former Governor and U.S. Senator Bob Graham and the Bob Graham Center for Public Service at the University of Florida have established the “Bob Graham Center Citizen of the Year” Award. The award recognizes an individual who has made substantial contributions to improving the quality of life in the Sunshine State. The purpose of this award is to recognize citizens who have made an extraordinary contribution to the state and its people, who serve as an example to other Floridians, and whose accomplishments will help encourage young people to embrace an ethic of service throughout their lives.
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Good News from the City of Lakeland
Matheson Tri-Gas
In March of 2013, Matheson Tri-Gas will become Lakeland Electric’s second biggest user of power with the completion of a $40 million air separation plant within Lakeland’s city limits. Built on a 15 acre site that was purchased from the City in 2011 for $750,000, the plant will filter, compress and freeze atmospheric air to cryogenically create liquid oxygen, nitrogen and argon. These products manufactured in Lakeland by Matheson will be distributed to hospitals, health care facilities, food and chemical companies in central Florida. Once production begins, Matheson will purchase 65 million Kilowatt hours of electricity energy per year from Lakeland Electric and use 100,000 gallons of reused water per day from Lakeland Water
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Congratulations to the City of Keystone Heights!
In this past year, the planning commitment of rural communities in this Region has been very evident. For this reason, three such municipalities were nominated for an Award of Excellence in Planning and Growth Management in the Northeast Florida Regional Council Regional Awards Program. The City of Keystone Heights' commitment to update your Comprehensive Plan in light of negative forces such as the economic downturn and reduction in State oversight indicates a commitment to the future growth of the city. For these reasons, the City of Keystone Heights has been selected by the Board as one of three winners this year in this category!"
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SeeClickFix.com
Source: City of Pembroke Pines
The City of Pembroke Pines has launched a new program that will benefit interactivity between our residents and city government. We have partnered with a third party provider, SeeClickFix.com in a pilot program to provide citizens and businesses with a method of reporting issues within the city. SeeClickFix.com is an online web application that allows any individual to report non-emergency issues such as graffiti, potholes or traffic safety issues on a map for everyone to see. Today’s technology is giving new tools to helping cities resolve and solve various issues easily and efficiently. Launched on January 1st 2013, the Pembroke Pines Technology Services Department has made such an application available for residents and business owners directly from their smart mobile devices.
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City of Belle Isle
n 2010, the City of Belle Isle opened Orange County’s first K-12 Charter School, the Cornerstone Charter Academy. Capitalizing on the burgeoning Medical City south of the city, Cornerstone emphasizes a biotechnology and life sciences curriculum called Project Lead the Way: Gateway to Technology (Grades 6-8) and Biomedical Sciences (Grades 9-12). Cornerstone provides promethean boards, tablets and computers in 100% of its classrooms. Over the last two and a half years, the school has grown to become a true Cornerstone of the City, steadily growing enrollment from 841 in 2010-11, to over 1,000 students in 2012-13. Over 1,000 prospective families attended its February Open House.
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Windermere…… Taking Pride in Our History and Our Environment
Source: Town of Windermere
Windermere is a town that takes great pride in its history, its environmental efforts and its small town character. Windermere was bestowed its name from Dr. Stanley Scott, whose father purchased 160 acres among the chain of lakes in 1885. Dr. Scott built his home on the shores of Lake Butler, and he named the area after England’s famous Lake Windermere. And to this day, the Windermere Town Crest features four attributes directly related to Windermere, England.
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Women Mayors Discuss Public Employee Benefits, Leadership Opportunities
Source: US Conference of Mayors - Joan Crigger - January 2013
 The Women Mayors met on opening day of the 81st Winter Meeting of The U.S. Conference of Mayors. Miramar Mayor Lori Moseley, Chair of the Women Mayors, opened the session with brief remarks and then introduced Conference of Mayors CEO and Executive Director Tom Cochran to talk to the mayors about moving up in the leadership of Conference of Mayors.
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Newberry Goes Solar
Source: City of Newberry
As we begin the New Year, now is the perfect time to think about how we can be more efficient in the coming year. Wouldn’t it be great if we could get electricity from the sun and not have those big electric bills? We wouldn’t need as many polluting power plants, transmission lines and power poles all over town. That day is not as far off as you think.
The City of Newberry just completed the installation of a solar demonstration project at the Easton Newberry Sports Center. This 10 Kilowatt photovoltaic system will provide enough energy during the daylight hours, to run most of the building’s electrical appliances minus air conditioning and water heaters. Any excess electricity generated by the solar system, will be fed back into the power grid and bought back by the City. TV monitors at the Easton Newberry Sports Center and at City Hall will show the public how much electricity the panels are generating
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New Smyrna Beach 3rd Annual Mayor’s Fitness Challenge
Source: City of New Smyrna Beach
 Mayor Adam Barringer is please to announce the New Smyrna Beach has just begun the 3rd Annual Mayor’s Fitness Challenge; a program designed to motivate the community to lose weight and improve overall health through better eating habits, improving cardiovascular exercise and muscle strength. He is proud to have 110 participants this year, which is a 145% increase from year one (2010) when there were 41 taking part in the challenge. The program has received a lot of community support, including Bert Fish Hospital, several of the local gyms and instructors, and some very generous sponsors. In the first year of the program, the average weight loss was 19.8 pounds per person over a 12 week period; year two resulted in 15.5 pounds per person over a 10 week period; the goal for the current year
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January - Human Trafficking Awareness Month
Source: City of Homestead, Mayor Steven Bateman
In an effort to bring attention to the victims of human trafficking and the crime itself, I recognized Homestead Police Department Project SOS and proclaimed January 2013 as Human Trafficking Awareness month. As the mayor, I am responsible for all of our citizens and I am honored to recognize Project SOS and all that they do to locate, serve and protect the victims of this terrible crime. Human Trafficking is not just a national problem, it is something we all need to be aware of right here where we live, we need to report it, whenever we see it. I commend SOS for their work and want to help them bring attention to this horrible, but very present crime.
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Mayor Resnick appointed to the National League of Cities’ Information Technology & Communications Steering Committee
Source: GRAYROBINSON
 FLM Board Director - Mayor Resnick, City of Wilton Manors appointed to the National League of Cities’ Information Technology & Communications Steering Committee
Gary I. Resnick, a shareholder in the Fort Lauderdale office of GrayRobinson, P.A., has been appointed to the National League of Cities’ (NLC) 2013 Information Technology & Communications Steering Committee. As a committee member, Resnick will play a key role in shaping the NLC’s policy positions on issues such as telecommunications and information systems, privacy concerns and universal service.
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2nd Annual American Cancer Society Fundraiser
Source: Town of Palm Shores
The Town of Palm Shores will sponsor 2 events in the very near future. The first, the 2nd Annual American Cancer Society Fundraiser to be held on February 23, 2013 beginning at 9:00 AM at Town Hall and the second event will be the 7th Annual Florida Wildlife Hospital Baby Shower to be held on May 18, 2013 beginning at 10:00 AM also at Town Hall. The public is welcome to both events and the proceeds received go directly to each organization.
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Shadow government: City leaders swap roles, ideas
Source: City of Destin - Matt Algarin
Municipal Shadowing Week was an effort through the Okaloosa County League of Cities and was designed to encourage the facilitation of communication among municipalities and their elected leadership as part of City Government Week. Twenty-three officials from around the county participated in this inaugural program, including Seevers, Crestview Mayor David Cadle, Fort Walton Beach Councilwoman Joyce Gossom, Destin Fire Chief Kevin Sasser and Niceville Assistant Fire Chief Tony Lohrman. “For me, I really appreciated the opportunity to get a greater awareness of the complexity that’s in Destin,” said Gossom, who shadowed Seevers. “It’s definitely a great program that I would like to see continue. I would go as far as saying that this should be a requirement for newly-elected officials.”
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2013 Florida League of Mayors Proposed Meeting & Key Dates
dates subject to change
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2013 Legislative Action Days – March 19-20 in Tallahassee
Registration information is now available for the 2013 Legislative Action Days! Be part of this year’s advocacy efforts as President Manny Maroño and the League’s legislative team strategize and prepare for this critical legislative session. You’ll hear directly from key legislators on an array of important issues. If you plan to attend this year’s event, be sure to make your hotel reservations early.
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National League of Cities 2013 Congressional City Conference
Source: National League of Cities
Make Your Voice Heard
The 2013 Congressional City Conference, March 9-13, 2013 will offer attendees the opportunity to stand up for the federal issues that matter most to cities. At NLC's annual legislative conference in Washington, D.C. you will have the chance to learn why these three issues are important to your community and your constituents, and take the opportunity to lobby your Member of Congress during the conference.
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Cities Against Racism Meeting Set for September in Birmingham
Source: US Conference of Mayors by Tom McClimon
A special announcement was made at 81st Winter Meeting that The United States Conference of Mayors has been designated as the North American representative for the United Nations UNESCO organization in its international program, Coalition of Cities Against Racism. Announced by Conference of Mayors Executive Director and CEO Tom Cochran, this effort to address civil rights issues has been long supported by the Conference of Mayors. The effort will culminate in 2013 with a meeting in Birmingham to be held on September 13. Support for this effort is being given by the U.S. State Department.
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