| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to the North Naples Fire Control and |
| 3 | Rescue District, Collier County; amending chapter 99-450, |
| 4 | Laws of Florida; providing for the applicability of s. |
| 5 | 171.093, F.S., in the event of annexation by a |
| 6 | municipality within the boundaries of the district; |
| 7 | authorizing the district to provide housing or housing |
| 8 | assistance for district employees; providing an effective |
| 9 | date. |
| 10 |
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| 11 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 12 |
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| 13 | Section 1. Section 3 of Article III and section 1 of |
| 14 | Article IV of section 3 of chapter 99-450, Laws of Florida, are |
| 15 | amended to read: |
| 16 | ARTICLE III |
| 17 | Boundaries of the District |
| 18 | Section 3. Section 171.093, Florida Statutes, applies to |
| 19 | annexations by a municipality within the boundaries of the |
| 20 | district. In the event that property in the district is annexed |
| 21 | by the City of Naples between January 1 and July 1 of any year, |
| 22 | the property shall be regarded as removed from the North Naples |
| 23 | Fire Control and Rescue District as of January 1 of that year |
| 24 | for the purpose of the levy of general ad valorem taxes by the |
| 25 | district. If annexation occurs after July 1, the property shall |
| 26 | be assessed by the district for ad valorem taxes for that year. |
| 27 | On and after the effective date of annexation, the district |
| 28 | shall be relieved of providing fire service to the annexed area. |
| 29 | The city and the district may reach an agreement to determine |
| 30 | what portion, if any, of the existing indebtedness or property |
| 31 | of the district shall be assumed by the municipality of which |
| 32 | the annexed territory will become a part, the fair value of such |
| 33 | indebtedness or property, and the manner of transfer and |
| 34 | financing. Nothing herein shall relieve the property annexed |
| 35 | from the payment of general obligation debt service incurred by |
| 36 | the district before annexation. |
| 37 | ARTICLE IV |
| 38 | Powers of the District |
| 39 | Section 1. The district shall have the authority to |
| 40 | establish, equip, operate, and maintain a fire department and |
| 41 | rescue squad within the district and may buy, lease, sell, |
| 42 | exchange, or otherwise acquire and dispose of firefighting and |
| 43 | rescue equipment and other property, real, personal, or mixed, |
| 44 | that it may from time to time deem necessary to prevent and |
| 45 | extinguish fires or provide rescue services. This shall include, |
| 46 | but is not limited to, the authority to hire and fire necessary |
| 47 | firefighters and other personnel; to provide water, water |
| 48 | supply, water stations, and other necessary buildings; to accept |
| 49 | gifts or donations of equipment or money for the use of the |
| 50 | district; and to do all things necessary to provide adequate |
| 51 | water supply, fire prevention, and proper fire protection for |
| 52 | the district. Recognizing that the dramatically increasing |
| 53 | housing costs in Collier County may have a detrimental impact on |
| 54 | the ability to hire and retain personnel needed for the |
| 55 | provision of fire protection services to district residents, the |
| 56 | district shall also have the authority to provide housing or |
| 57 | housing assistance for its employed personnel, with use of such |
| 58 | funds being deemed to be in the public interest. In addition, |
| 59 | the board shall have the authority to extend its services |
| 60 | outside the district when provided in cooperation with another |
| 61 | governmental entity. |
| 62 | Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law. |