BCC Briefs

At the Nov. 1, 2011, Board of County Commissioners meeting, the board took the following action:

Redistricting – discussed proposed BCC boundary changes to rebalance district populations based on the 2010 Census; Option 4 was tentatively selected. The board directed staff to make a few more adjustments and bring back the item for two required public hearings.

Online sales tax – agreed to support state legislative efforts to collect sales taxes on goods purchased online. Currently, Florida has a “use tax” on the books, but there is no practical way to enforce collection.

Small Business Development Center – reinstated $34,000 that had been cut from the annual contract with Palm Beach State College’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and approved a budget transfer from contingency.

Financial policies – discussed and approved general financial policies as recommended by the Government Finance Officers Association for the FY-2013 budget cycle.

SFRTA – adopted a resolution opposing state legislation that eliminates the county’s ability to appoint local citizen members to the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA), allows the governor to make appointments from outside the tri-county area, and alters control and allocation of SFRTA funding

Restricted-use properties – approved on preliminary reading and to advertise for public hearing on Nov. 15 an ordinance waiving the annual renewal application requirement for restricted-use properties if such classification has previously been applied for and granted.

Roads – discussed and approved on preliminary reading and to advertise for public hearing on Nov. 15 a series of amendments to the county’s five-year road program.

Vehicles for hire - approved on preliminary reading and to advertise for public hearing on Nov. 15 an ordinance extending for another six months a moratorium on new vehicle-for-hire companies wishing to do business in Palm Beach County.