HB 1555 2003
1	CHAMBER ACTION
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6	The Committee on Local Government & Veterans' Affairs recommends
7	the following:
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9	Committee Substitute
10	Remove the entire bill and insert:
11	A bill to be entitled
12	An act relating to the West Palm Beach Downtown
13	Development Authority, Palm Beach County; codifying the
14	district’s charter, chapters 67-2170, 77-664, 83-534, 84-
15	540, 90-460, and 93-381, Laws of Florida; providing
16	legislative intent; amending, codifying, and reenacting
17	all special acts relating to the West Palm Beach Downtown
18	Development Authority as a single act; repealing all prior
19	special acts related to the authority; providing an
20	effective date.
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22	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
23
24	Section 1. Pursuant to section 189.429, Florida Statutes,
25	this act constitutes the codification of all special acts
26	relating to the West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority,
27	an independent special district. It is the intent of the
28	Legislature in enacting this law to provide a single,
29	comprehensive special act charter for the West Palm Beach
30	Downtown Development Authority including all current legislative
31	authority granted to the West Palm Beach Downtown Development
32	Authority by its several legislative enactments and any
33	additional authority granted by this act. It is further the
34	intent of this act to preserve all authority of the West Palm
35	Beach Downtown Development Authority.
36	Section 2. Chapters 67-2170, 77-664, 83-534, 84-540, 90-
37	460, and 93-381, Laws of Florida, are amended, codified,
38	reenacted, and repealed as herein provided.
39	Section 3. The charter for the West Palm Beach Downtown
40	Development Authority is re-created and reenacted to read:
41	Section 1. Short title.--This Act shall be known and may
42	be cited as the “West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority
43	Act.”
44	Section 2. Definitions and rules of construction.--Unless
45	qualified in the text the following definitions and rules of
46	construction shall apply hereto:
47	(a) “Authority” means the West Palm Beach Downtown
48	Development Authority, hereby created, and any successor to its
49	functions, authority, rights, and obligations.
50	(b) “City” and “West Palm Beach” mean the City of West
51	Palm Beach, Florida.
52	(c) “City Commission” means the West Palm Beach City
53	Commission and any succeeding governing body of the City.
54	(d) “Downtown” and “Downtown area” mean the area herein
55	described and to which this Act primarily relates, including the
56	central business district and its environs.
57	(e) “Herein,” hereby,” “hereof,” and similar compounds
58	refer to the entire act.
59	(f) “Including” shall be construed as merely introducing
60	illustrative examples and not as limiting in any way the
61	generality of the inclusive term.
62	(g) “Majority” without qualification means a majority of a
63	quorum.
64	(h) “State” means the State of Florida.
65	(i) “Mayor” means the Mayor of the City of West Palm
66	Beach.
67	Section 3. Downtown area description.--The Downtown area
68	includes all lands lying within boundaries described as:
69
70	A parcel of land lying within the limits of the City
71	of West Palm Beach, Florida, being more particularly
72	described as follows:
73	BEGINNING at a point formed by the intersection of the
74	centerline of the Intracoastal Waterway channel in
75	Lake Worth and the Easterly extension of the
76	centerline of Okeechobee Boulevard; thence from said
77	POINT OF BEGINNING Westerly along said centerline of
78	Okeechobee Boulevard to its intersection with the
79	centerline of South Dixie Highway, as shown on
80	PHILLIPS POINT ADDITION OF WEST PALM BEACH, as
81	recorded in Plat Book 1, Page 52, Public Records of
82	Palm Beach County, Florida; thence Northerly along
83	the centerline of South Dixie Highway to its
84	intersection with the centerline of Hibiscus Street,
85	as shown on POTTER ADDITION to West Palm Beach, as
86	recorded in Plat Book 2, Page 42, Public Records of
87	Palm Beach County, Florida; thence Westerly along the
88	centerline of Hibiscus Street to its intersection with
89	the main line track of the Florida East Coast
90	Railroad; thence Northerly along the centerline of
91	the main line track of the Florida East Coast Railroad
92	to its intersection with a 14 foot alley, lying North
93	of and adjacent to Block 62, Plat of MODEL LAND
94	COMPANY ADDITION, as recorded in Plat Book 1, Page
95	106, Public Records of Palm Beach County, Florida;
96	thence Westerly along said centerline of the 14 foot
97	alley, to its intersection with the centerline of
98	Georgia Avenue, as shown on HIGHLAND PARK LAND COMPANY
99	ADDITION, as same as recorded in Plat Book 1, Page
100	122, Public Records of Palm Beach County, Florida;
101	thence Southerly along the centerline of Georgia
102	Avenue to its intersection with the centerline of Iris
103	Street; thence Westerly along the centerline of Iris
104	Street, to a point 62.00 feet West of the West line of
105	Lot 9, Block 75, said HIGHLAND PARK LAND COMPANY
106	ADDITION; thence Southerly along the line parallel to
107	and 62.00 feet West of as measured at right angles to
108	the West line of said Lot 9, Block 75, to its
109	intersection with the centerline of an existing paved
110	road, lying East of the location of the existing
111	Connie Mack Ballfield, said existing paved road being
112	the Northerly extension of Lake Avenue; thence
113	Southerly along the centerline of said Lake Avenue, to
114	its intersection with the centerline of Jasmine
115	Street, as same as shown on said HIGHLAND PARK LAND
116	COMPANY ADDITION; thence Southerly along the
117	centerline of said Lake Avenue to its intersection
118	with the centerline of Okeechobee Boulevard, said
119	centerline also being the South line of Section 21,
120	Township 43 South, Range 43 East, Palm Beach County,
121	Florida; thence Westerly along said centerline of
122	Okeechobee Boulevard to its intersection with the
123	centerline of the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad main
124	line track; thence Northerly along the centerline of
125	said Seaboard Coast Line Railroad to its intersection
126	with the Easterly extension of the South line of a
127	commercial Tract “A”, as shown on CLEARWATER PARK, as
128	recorded in Plat Book 33, Pages 120 and 121, Public
129	Records of Palm Beach County, Florida; thence from
130	said point of intersection, Southwesterly to a point
131	formed by the intersection of the centerline of the
132	existing Australian Avenue and the centerline of
133	Okeechobee Boulevard; thence from said point of
134	intersection, continue Northerly and Northwesterly
135	along the centerline of Australian Avenue, as shown on
136	the Plats of said CLEARWATER PARK and CLEARLAKE PARK,
137	as same as recorded in Plat Book 30, Pages 149 and
138	150, to its intersection with the centerline of First
139	Street, as shown on said Plat of CLEARLAKE PARK;
140	thence easterly along the centerline of said First
141	Street, to its intersection with the centerline of the
142	Seaboard Coast Line Railroad main line track; thence
143	Northerly along the centerline of said Seaboard Coast
144	Line Railroad main line track to its intersection with
145	the centerline of the Florida East Coast spur track,
146	as shown on the PLAT OF THE ORIGINAL TOWN SITE OF WEST
147	PALM BEACH, recorded in Plat Book 1, Page 2, Public
148	Records of Palm Beach County, Florida; thence
149	Easterly along the centerline of said Florida East
150	Coast Railroad spur track, to its intersection with
151	the centerline of Rosemary Avenue; thence Northerly
152	along the centerline of Rosemary Avenue, to its
153	intersection with the centerline of Third Street;
154	thence Easterly along the centerline of Third Street
155	to its intersection with the centerline of the Florida
156	East Coast main line track; thence Northerly along
157	the centerline of the Florida East Coast Railroad main
158	line track, to its intersection with the centerline of
159	Seventh Street; thence Easterly along the centerline
160	of Seventh Street to its intersection with the
161	centerline of North Railroad Avenue, as shown on
162	BRELSFORD PARK, recorded in Plat Book 8, Page 21,
163	Public Records of Palm Beach County, Florida; thence
164	Northerly along the centerline of North Railroad
165	Avenue to a point formed by the Westerly extension of
166	the centerline of an alley, lying in Block 4, of said
167	PLAT OF BRELSFORD PARK; thence Easterly along the
168	centerline of said alley through Block 4, to a point
169	formed by the intersection of the centerline of the
170	North/South alley running through said Block 4 of said
171	Plat of BRELSFORD PARK; thence Northerly along the
172	centerline of said alleyway, to its intersection with
173	the centerline of Eighth Street; thence Easterly along
174	the centerline of Eighth Street, to its intersection
175	with the centerline of North Flagler Drive; thence
176	Northerly along the centerline of North Flagler Drive,
177	to its intersection with the Easterly extension of the
178	North line of Lot 21, Block 8, revised Plat of GROVER
179	CARLBERG ADDITION, as recorded in Plat Book 9, Page
180	16, Public Records of Palm Beach County, Florida;
181	thence Easterly along the line being the Easterly
182	extension of the North line of said Lot 21, to its
183	intersection with the centerline of the Intracoastal
184	Waterway channel in Lake Worth; thence Southerly
185	along the centerline of the Intracoastal Waterway
186	channel to the POINT OF BEGINNING.
187
188	The annual tax levy made by section 8 shall hereafter apply to
189	and extend to the entire area hereinabove described.
190	Section 4. Creation of the Authority, composition, and
191	provisions relating to members.--There is hereby created a board
192	composed of seven members to be known officially as the “West
193	Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority.” It is hereby
194	constituted a body corporate and an agency of the City; and
195	performance by the Authority of its duties and exercise of its
196	powers are hereby designated municipal functions and shall be so
197	construed.
198	(a) The Mayor shall appoint the members of the Authority
199	subject to the ratification of the City Commission by vote of
200	three-fifths of its entire voting membership. By vote of four-
201	fifths of its entire membership, after notice specifying the
202	charges and a hearing held not earlier than 10 days after
203	personal delivery of notice or mailing thereof by registered or
204	certified mail addressed to the member at his or her latest
205	known residence, the City Commission may remove a member of the
206	Authority for good cause, including willful neglect of duty,
207	incompetence or unfitness to perform his or her duty, or
208	conviction of an offense involving moral turpitude. A member so
209	removed shall be entitled to review by the circuit court of the
210	action taken.
211	(b) Of the initial members, one shall be appointed for a
212	term expiring July 1, 1968, two for terms expiring July 1, 1969,
213	two for terms expiring July 1, 1970, and two for terms expiring
214	July 1, 1993; and thereafter each member shall be appointed for
215	a term of 3 years beginning July 1.
216	(c) To qualify for appointment to the Authority, and to
217	remain qualified for service on it, a prospective member or a
218	member already appointed shall reside in or have his or her
219	principal place of business in the City, shall not be serving as
220	a City officer or employee, and shall be an owner of realty
221	within the Downtown area, a lessee thereof required by the lease
222	to pay taxes thereon, or a director, officer, or managing agent
223	of an owner or of a lessee thereof so required to pay taxes
224	thereon. The membership of the Authority shall be reasonably
225	representative of property owner, residential, retail,
226	professional, and financial interests in the District.
227	(d) Vacancy in office, which shall be filled within 10
228	days after its occurrence for the remainder of the unexpired
229	term, shall occur whenever a member is removed from office,
230	becomes disqualified or otherwise unable to serve, resigns, or
231	disappears without explanation for a period of 6 months. The
232	Mayor shall fill any vacancy in office for the unexpired term,
233	in accordance with subsection(a).
234	(e) Each member of the Authority shall serve without
235	compensation for services rendered as a member but shall be
236	reimbursed by the Authority for necessary and reasonable
237	expenses actually incurred in the performance of duty. The
238	Authority need not but may require that all its members or any
239	or all of its officers or employees be required to post bond for
240	faithful performance of duty, and the Authority shall pay
241	bonding costs. No member of the Authority shall be personally
242	liable for any action taken in attempting in good faith to
243	perform his or her duty, or for a decision not to act, except in
244	instances of fraud or willful neglect of duty.
245	Section 5. Authority bylaws and internal governance.--The
246	Authority shall formulate and may amend its own rules of
247	procedure and written bylaws not inconsistent herewith. A
248	majority of its entire membership shall constitute a quorum for
249	the transaction of business, but fewer than a quorum may adjourn
250	from time to time and may compel the attendance of absent
251	members. Except as otherwise provided herein or in the
252	Authority bylaws or rules of procedure, all action shall be
253	taken by vote of a majority of those present and voting, and
254	each member present shall vote on each matter unless barred from
255	voting as herein provided. The Authority shall select one of
256	its members as Chair and another as Vice Chair and shall
257	prescribe their duties, powers, and terms of serving. It shall
258	hold regular meetings at least once a month and shall provide in
259	its bylaws for holding special meetings. All meetings shall be
260	open to the public.
261
262	The bylaws may provide for the Mayor of the City, or his or her
263	representative, to attend meetings of the Board as an ex officio
264	member, but he or she shall not have any vote or power over the
265	Board except that he or she shall be entitled to speak on any
266	issue or question before the Board.
267	Section 6. Functions of the Authority.--The Authority
268	shall perform the following functions:
269	(a) Prepare an analysis of the economic conditions and
270	changes occurring in the Downtown area, including the effect
271	thereon of such factors as metropolitan growth, traffic
272	congestion, lack of adequate parking and other access
273	facilities, and structural obsolescence and deterioration.
274	(b) Formulate long-range plans for improving the
275	attractiveness and accessibility to the public of Downtown
276	facilities, promoting efficient use thereof, remedying the
277	deterioration of Downtown property values, and developing the
278	Downtown area.
279	(c) Recommend to the Mayor and to Downtown businesspersons
280	and residents the actions deemed most suitable for implementing
281	the Downtown development plans, including removal, razing,
282	repair, renovation, reconstruction, remodeling, and improvement
283	of existing structures, addition of new structures and
284	facilities, relocation of any of those existing, and changes in
285	patterns of and facilities for getting thereto and therefrom.
286	(d) Participate actively in the implementation and
287	execution of Downtown development plans, including
288	establishment, acquisition, construction, ownership, financing,
289	leasing, licensing, operation, and management of public
290	facilities deemed feasible and beneficial in effecting
291	implementation, but this paragraph shall not give the Authority
292	any power or control over any City property unless and until
293	assigned to it by the City Commission under the provisions of
294	paragraph(e) of this section.
295	(e) Carry on all projects and undertakings authorized by
296	law and within the limits of the powers granted to it by law,
297	such additional public projects and undertakings related to the
298	Downtown area as the Mayor may assign to it with its consent.
299	Section 7. Powers of the Authority.--In the performance of
300	the functions vested in or assigned to the Authority, it is
301	hereby granted the following powers:
302	(a) To enter into contracts and agreements, and to sue and
303	be sued as a body corporate.
304	(b) To have and use a corporate seal.
305	(c) To acquire, own, convey or otherwise dispose of, lease
306	as lessor or lessee, construct, maintain, improve, enlarge,
307	raze, relocate, operate, and manage property and facilities of
308	whatever type, and to grant or acquire licenses, easements, and
309	options with respect thereto.
310	(d) To accept grants and donations of any type of
311	property, labor, or other thing of value from any public or
312	private source.
313	(e) To receive the proceeds of the tax hereby imposed.
314	(f) To receive the revenues from any property or facility
315	owned, leased, licensed, or operated by it or under its control,
316	subject to the limitations imposed upon it by trusts or other
317	agreements validly entered into by it.
318	(g) To have exclusive control of all funds legally
319	available to it, subject to limitations imposed upon it by law
320	or by any agreement validly entered into by it.
321	(h) To cooperate and enter into agreements with any
322	governmental agency or other public body.
323	(i) To make or receive from the City or Palm Beach County
324	conveyances, leasehold interests, grants, contributions, loans,
325	and other rights and privileges.
326	(j) To request by resolution that the City exercise its
327	municipal power of eminent domain in specific instances for the
328	use and benefit of the Authority and, if the City complies with
329	the request and the property involved is acquired, the Authority
330	shall take over and assume control of such property on terms
331	mutually agreed upon between the City and the Authority, but the
332	Authority shall not thereafter be authorized to sell, lease, or
333	otherwise dispose of such property so acquired without the
334	formal consent of the City Commission.
335	(k) To issue and sell revenue certificates as hereinafter
336	provided, or in any other manner permitted by law and not
337	inconsistent with the provisions hereof, and to take all steps
338	deemed by it necessary or expedient for efficient preparation
339	and marketing of the certificates at public or private sale at
340	the best price obtainable, including the entry into binding
341	agreements with corporate trustees, underwriters, and the
342	holders of the certificates, and the employment and payment, as
343	a necessary expense of issuance, for the services of consultants
344	on valuations, costs and feasibility of undertaking, revenues to
345	be anticipated and other financial matters, architecture,
346	engineering, legal matters, accounting matters, and any other
347	fields in which expert advice may be needed to effectuate
348	advantageous issuance and marketing.
349	(l) To fix, regulate, and collect rates and charges for
350	facilities and services furnished by it or under its control and
351	to pledge the revenue to the payment of revenue certificates
352	issued by it.
353	(m) To borrow money on its unsecured notes, for a period
354	not exceeding 9 months, in an aggregate amount for all
355	outstanding unsecured notes not exceeding 50 percent of the
356	proceeds received during the immediately prior fiscal year from
357	the tax hereby imposed, and at an annual rate of interest not
358	exceeding the rate being charged at the time of the loan by
359	banks in the City on unsecured short-term loans to local
360	businesses.
361	(n) To acquire by rental or otherwise and to equip and
362	maintain a principal office for the conduct of its business and
363	such branch offices as it may from time to time deem expedient.
364	(o) To employ and prescribe the duties, authority,
365	compensation, and reimbursement of expenses of the Director of
366	the Authority, who shall act as its chief executive officer, a
367	general counsel, who shall be an attorney with at least 5 years
368	of experience in active Florida practice and so engaged at the
369	time of appointment, and such other personnel as it may, after
370	consultation with the Director, deem necessary from time to
371	time, provided that its personnel shall not be under civil
372	service regulations, may be employed to serve at its pleasure,
373	shall not in any event be contracted with for a term of
374	employment longer than 5 years, shall not while employed by it
375	serve as City officers or employees, and, with the exception of
376	its Secretary, shall not while employed by it serve as a member
377	of it.
378	(p) To exercise all powers incidental to the effective and
379	expedient exercise of the foregoing powers to the extent not in
380	conflict herewith or inconsistent herewith.
381	Section 8. Levy of ad valorem tax.--For the fiscal year of
382	the Authority beginning within the calendar year 1967, and for
383	each fiscal year thereafter, an ad valorem tax in addition to
384	all other ad valorem taxes is hereby levied annually for the
385	purpose of financing the operation of the Authority on all
386	property in the Downtown area that is subject to ad valorem
387	taxation for City operating expenses. The tax base shall be
388	assessed valuation made annually by the property appraiser. The
389	rate shall be 2 mills on each dollar of tax base in 1967 and
390	each year thereafter, provided that, for each year after the
391	first year of levy, the Authority may set a millage rate of less
392	than 2 mills for the ensuing fiscal year. The tax collector
393	shall collect the tax when and in the same manner in which he or
394	she collects the City ad valorem taxes, with the same discounts
395	for early payment, and shall pay the proceeds to the Authority.
396	Section 9. Authority records and fiscal management.--The
397	fiscal year of the Authority shall coincide with that of the
398	City.
399	(a) All funds of the Authority shall be received, held,
400	and secured like other public funds by the appropriate fiscal
401	officers of the DDA. The funds of the Authority shall be
402	maintained under a separate account, shall be used for only the
403	purposes herein authorized, and shall be disbursed only by
404	direction of or with the approval of the Authority pursuant to
405	requisitions signed by the Director or other designated chief
406	fiscal officer of the Authority and countersigned in such
407	instances and manner as the Authority bylaws may prescribe. The
408	Authority may pay the City as an operating expense a reasonable
409	amount for the services rendered by the City to it at its
410	request.
411	(b) The Authority bylaws shall provide for maintenance of
412	minutes and other official records of its proceedings and
413	actions, for preparation and adoption of an annual budget for
414	each ensuing fiscal year, for internal supervision and control
415	of its accounts, which function the appropriate City fiscal
416	officers may perform for it at its request, and for an external
417	audit at least annually by an independent certified public
418	accountant who has no personal interest, direct or indirect, in
419	its fiscal affairs. The bylaws shall specify the means by which
420	each of these functions is to be performed and, as to those
421	functions assigned to Authority personnel, the manner and
422	schedule of performance.
423	(c) No member or employee of the Authority shall
424	participate by vote or otherwise on behalf of the Authority in
425	any matter in which he or she has a direct financial interest or
426	an indirect financial interest other than that of the benefits
427	to be derived generally from the development of the Downtown
428	area. Participation with knowledge of such interest shall
429	constitute malfeasance and shall result, as regards a member, in
430	automatic forfeiture of office or, as regards an employee, in
431	prompt dismissal.
432	Section 10. Tax exemption of Authority property.--All
433	income, property, and facilities of the Authority are hereby
434	dedicated to the effectuation of essential municipal purposes,
435	and their use is declared an essential municipal function; and
436	they are granted the same exemptions from taxation as are
437	afforded to income, property, and facilities of the City.
438	Section 11. Provisions governing issuance of
439	certificates.--Issuance of revenue certificates by the Authority
440	shall be governed by the following general provisions:
441	(a) Revenue certificates for purposes hereof are limited
442	to obligations that are secured solely by pledge of revenues
443	produced by the facility or facilities for the benefit of which
444	the certificates are issued and the sale proceeds used, that do
445	not constitute a general debt of the Authority, that are not
446	secured directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, by pledge
447	of taxing powers, and that do not constitute a lien or
448	encumbrance, legal or equitable, on any real property of the
449	Authority or on any of its personal property other than the
450	revenues pledged to secure payment of the certificates.
451	(b) The faith and credit of the City shall not be pledged
452	and the City shall not be obligated directly or indirectly to
453	make any payments on or appropriate any funds for certificates
454	issued by the Authority.
455	(c) The rate or rates of interest and the sale price of
456	the certificates by the Authority shall be such that the net
457	interest cost to it on the proceeds received from the sale shall
458	not exceed an average annual rate of 6 percent, computed with
459	relation to the absolute maturity of the certificates in
460	accordance with standard tables of bond values and excluding
461	from the computation the amount of any premium to be paid on
462	redemption of the certificates prior to maturity.
463	(d) Before issuing any revenue certificates, the Authority
464	shall as to each issue:
465	(1) Prepare or procure from a reputable source detailed
466	estimates of the total cost of the undertaking for which the
467	certificates are contemplated and of the annual revenues to be
468	obtained therefrom and pledged as security for payment of the
469	certificates.
470	(2) Determine that the anticipated net proceeds from their
471	sale, together with any other funds available and intended for
472	the purposes of the issue, will be sufficient to cover all costs
473	of the undertaking and of preparing and marketing the issue or
474	connected therewith.
475	(3) Determine that the annual revenues anticipated from
476	the undertaking will be sufficient to pay the estimated annual
477	cost of maintaining, repairing, operating, and replacing to any
478	necessary extent not only the undertaking but also the punctual
479	payment of the principal of and interest on the contemplated
480	certificates.
481	(4) Shall specify these determinations in and include the
482	supporting estimates as parts of the resolution providing for
483	the issue.
484	(e) The Authority may, as to any issue of revenue
485	certificates, engage the services of a corporate trustee for the
486	issue and may treat any or all of the costs of carrying out the
487	trust agreement as part of the operating costs of the
488	undertaking for which the certificates are issued.
489	(f) The Authority shall from time to time establish such
490	rentals, rates, and charges, or shall by legally binding
491	agreement maintain such control thereof, as to meet punctually
492	all payments on the certificates and also the costs of operation
493	of the undertaking and its maintenance and repair, including
494	reserves therefor and for depreciation, replacement, and any
495	necessary extensions.
496	(g) Revenue certificates may be issued for the purposes of
497	funding, refunding, or both.
498	(h) All revenue certificates issued pursuant hereto shall
499	be negotiable instruments for all purposes.
500	Section 12. Transfer upon cessation of the
501	Authority.--Should the Authority cease to exist or to operate
502	for whatever reason, all its property of whatever kind shall
503	forthwith become the property of the City, subject to the
504	outstanding obligations of the Authority, and the City shall use
505	this property to the maximum extent then practicable for
506	effectuating the purposes hereof and shall succeed to and
507	exercise all powers of the Authority insofar as such exercise is
508	not in conflict with or inconsistent with the provisions of the
509	City charter or other law applicable to the City.
510	Section 13. Act cumulative; no notice required.--Neither
511	this Act nor anything herein contained shall be construed as a
512	restriction or limitation upon any powers which the Authority
513	might otherwise have under any laws of this State, but shall be
514	construed as cumulative of such powers. The foregoing sections
515	of this Act shall be deemed to provide a complete, additional,
516	and alternative method for the doing of the things authorized
517	thereby and shall be regarded as supplemental and additional to
518	powers conferred by other laws, provided that the issuance of
519	revenue certificates and revenue refunding certificates under
520	the provisions of this Act need not comply with the requirements
521	of any other law applicable to the issuance of certificates and
522	bonds, including, particularly, chapters 670-680 of Florida
523	Statutes 2002 (also known as Uniform Commercial Code, Title
524	XXXIX), as same may be amended. No proceedings, notice, or
525	approval shall be required for the organization of the
526	Authority or the issuance of any certificates or any instrument
527	as security therefor, except as provided herein or pursuant
528	hereto, any law to the contrary notwithstanding, provided that
529	nothing herein shall be construed to deprive the State and its
530	governmental subdivisions of their respective police powers over
531	any properties of the Authority.
532	Section 14. Establishment and Amendment of Charter.--The
533	West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority was established
534	by special act of the Legislature. The Charter of the West Palm
535	Beach Downtown Development Authority may be amended by special
536	act of the Legislature.
537	Section 15. Liberal construction and severability.--The
538	provisions of this Act, being necessary for the welfare of the
539	City and its inhabitants, shall be liberally construed to
540	effectuate the purposes herein set forth and are severable.
541	Should any portion hereof be finally held invalid by a court of
542	competent jurisdiction, each other portion shall remain
543	effective to the maximum practicable extent.
544	Section 4. The provisions of this act, being necessary for
545	the welfare of the City and its inhabitants, shall be liberally
546	construed to effectuate the purposes herein set forth and are
547	severable. Should any portion hereof be finally held invalid by
548	a court of competent jurisdiction, each other portion shall
549	remain effective to the maximum practicable extent.
550	Section 5. Chapters 67-2170, 77-664, 83-534, 84-540, 90-
551	460, and 93-381, Laws of Florida, are hereby repealed.
552	Section 6. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.
553
554