Community Affairs to be continued?

When the Florida Legislature finished its business April 30, one of the many things it didn't get around to putting a bow on was keeping the Florida Department of Community Affairs.

To hear DCA's spokesperson tell it, the world has ended as we know it. They might be proven right come election day in November, but other planner-types seem much less concerned.

The agency charged with reviewing local government comprehensive plans, regulating large development projects, doling out city and county grant funds, and overseeing a few housing programs, went through a legislative sunset review process during the past two legislative sessions.

While to many observers it seemed touch and go for a while, the Senate ultimately passed legislation to re-enact the agency headed by Secretary Tom Pelham. But the House never got around to it, dealing with little things like the economy, health care, abortion, education, insurance, redistricting, etc.

“Our lack of re-enactment means that the agency remains in limbo until next session,” explains James Miller, DCA's director of public affairs. “We don't lose any positions or responsibilities, but it makes us extremely vulnerable and the circumstances look less favorable next session with new House/Senate leadership taking over.”

Miller also worried that “we should expect changes to be coming next year.” Some would only hope.

Such changes may depend on the outcome of the vote on Amendment 4, or “Hometown Democracy.” That's the state constitutional amendment that would require citizens to vote on all changes to local comprehensive plans.

Miller writes, “By not re-enacting DCA, the Legislature has given more fuel to the Hometown Democracy fire.”

The Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association doesn't seem too concerned, expecting it to come up next year.

Perhaps DCA doth protest too much.