Our coalition hoped that if North Florida could stand together, perhaps they could demand a greater amount of funding for much needed conservation and water projects here at home. Funding that could help us protect our rivers, lakes, springs and beaches. These natural resources that are a vital part of our tourism, economy and way of life.

We feared, and rightfully so, that a proposal by Senate President Joe Negron to spend $1.5 billion in South Florida on a single reservoir would further jeopardize our chances of receiving the dollars our region needs and deserves. And not just now, but for the next 20 years.

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Tallahassee, Fla. — Today, Stand Up for North Florida announced the addition of 16 leadership committee members from around the state who are joining the group, which was formed last year to focus on the water and conservation needs of North and North central Florida. The coalition has voiced concern over Senate President Joe Negron’s plan to use farmland in south Florida to build a multi-billion dollar reservoir project to address Lake Okeechobee’s water filtration needs.

“Today, the Florida Senate continued to show that they are prioritizing South Florida’s needs over those of the rest of the state,” said former Congressman Steve Southerland, the coalition’s chair. “SB 10, as amended, will still bond $1.5 billion dollars, creating huge debt, and establishing a project that could cost multiple billions of dollars. This project will undoubtedly jeopardize funding for conservation projects for not only North Florida, but all of the state’s important water issues.”

Southerland continued, “Our coalition’s message is resonating with people around the state, not just in north Florida. Obviously, we originally formed to protect our own area of the state, but these new coalition members, a cross section of men and women from all over Florida, recognize that President Negron’s plan won’t solve the problem and will have a detrimental impact on the state as a whole. We look forward to working with them as we continue to highlight this issue and work toward a solution that is effective and fair to all Florida taxpayers.”

The new coalition members include:

• Charlotte Barber, Tallahassee, retired teacher
• Tom Barnette, Brooksville, President of Euro-American Tours
• Nina Beezer, Lutz, retail manager
• Kathryn Cimato, Ft. Myers, small business owner
• Leslie Dougher, Clay County, Republican State Committeewoman and former Republican Party of Florida Chairman
• Karen Dove, Palm Bay, community activist
• Mara Frazier, Panama City, banker
• Ellie Kramer, Palm Harbor, community activist
• Kaye Miller, Leesburg, retired teacher and grassroots organizer
• Margie Patchett, Port Orange, co-founder of Volusia Tax Reform and local public opinion leader
• Charity Pearrow, Ft. Lauderdale, small business owner
• Jeb Smith, St. Johns County Commissioner
• Jimmie T. Smith, Citrus County Commissioner
• Leslie Steele, Midway, media production
• Wanda Range, Midway, Midway City Councilwoman
• Ysryl Yrsyl, Jacksonville, President of the Jacksonville Black Chamber of Commerce

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The post Stand Up For North Florida Voices Continued Concern With Negron-Bradley Bill As Coalition Grows appeared first on Stand Up For North Florida.

That’s why I am an executive committee member of Stand Up North Florida, a group dedicated to ensuring that North Florida receives their fair share of state conservation funding — funding that is currently overwhelmingly going to South Florida.

In fact last year, South Florida received more than 75 percent of all state dollars appropriated for water quality projects. The quality of our natural resources directly relates to the quality of life in our great city.

We must continue to fight for our fair share of the pie. Our future and that of our children and grandchildren depend on this funding.

The post Mayor Jake Godbold: Jacksonville deserves its fair share of state conservation funds appeared first on Stand Up For North Florida.

This bill calls for the state purchasing anywhere between 60,000 and 100,000 acres of farmland to be used for water storage south of Lake Okeechobee at a cost of over $1 billion. The idea behind it is to help alleviate water from flowing into the estuaries, which is believed by some to be the cause of the algae bloom issues that South Florida is facing.

However, many scientists and environmental researchers, including researchers from the University of Florida and the Southwest Florida Water Management District, have come to the conclusion that this idea is just that, an idea. They don’t see any scientific evidence to prove that this idea will work. Studies show that it is vital to clean the water before it enters the Lake. Better cleanup efforts are needed in North and Central Florida to help the entire state.

The post David Biddle in Gainesville Sun: Land buy would be a job killer appeared first on Stand Up For North Florida.

Commissioners…unanimously approved a resolution urging the Florida Legislature and Cabinet to more equally disburse funds for water conservation projects across the state.

Commissioner Jeb Smith cited concerns expressed to him in “no less than 19” correspondences about a proposal put forward by Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, to spend nearly $2.4 billion to purchase 60,000 acres of farmland from sugar producers (who are not interested in selling) and build a reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee to store and clean water.

Smith has said Negron’s proposal would constitute a “narrow use” of funding that was supposed to be set aside for land and water maintenance and acquisition statewide as provided in the Florida Water and Land Conservation Initiative (or Amendment 1), approved by Florida voters in 2014.

Commissioner Henry Dean, a former head of the St. Johns River Water Management District, said there are other reservoirs and stormwater treatment facilities already on the books he believed would fix the problem and save the state the $2.4 billion.

“Frankly, it just doesn’t work,” he said of the proposal.

The post St. Johns County Commission Unanimously Passes Stand Up North Florida Resolution appeared first on Stand Up For North Florida.

TALLAHASSEE — Today, the Florida Senate Committee on Environmental Preservation and Conservation met and passed SB 10, a proposal sponsored by Senator Rob Bradley and on behalf of Senate President Joe Negron that aims to spend billions of state dollars to buy farm land in South Florida to build a reservoir.

Former Congressman Steve Southerland, the Chairman of Stand Up North Florida, released the following statement after today’s meeting:

“Today’s committee meeting made clear that the interests of North and Central Florida are being ignored. There is no way that the Negron-Bradley Plan outlined in SB 10 does not negatively impact North and Central Florida, as it sets up for billions of dollars to be spent in South Florida on a single project while leaving North and Central Florida’s taxpayers holding the bag.”

Being from North Florida, Senator Bradley should have first hand knowledge of the needs we have for important restoration of our lakes, rivers, springs and beaches that will be hampered by sending even more of our limited conservation funds South.

The fact is South Florida received more than 94 percent of the Land Acquisition Trust Funds that were allocated for water projects last year. South Florida is already receiving the lions share of these conservation funds, and the Negron-Bradley Plan will send even more of these funds South, further putting important restoration projects in the rest of the state in jeopardy.”

Stand Up North Florida is a grassroots coalition of Floridians from North and Central Florida that believe the vital water resources of our region must be protected. Water plays an important role for our region – directly impacting economics through tourism, agriculture and fishing, while directly impacting our daily life and survival. With more than 70 percent of Florida’s river water sheds and nearly all of the state’s springs, North and Central Florida impact statewide water issues as well and provide nearly all of the recharge to the Floridan Aquifer, the state’s largest drinking water source.

In 2014, Florida voters passed Amendment 1, creating the Land Acquisition Trust Fund and a dedicated pot of funds for conservation projects for 20 years. In order to protect the waters of North and Central Florida, these and other dollars should be equitably shared across the state, rather than having a majority of funds dedicated to one region or area.

The post The Negron-Bradley Plan Will Hurt North Florida appeared first on Stand Up For North Florida.

Tallahassee, Fla. — Today, state and local leaders gathered at the state capitol to announce the formation of Stand Up for North Florida, a coalition focused on the water and conservation needs of North and North Central Florida. Former Congressman Steve Southerland, the Coalition’s chair, was joined by State Representatives Brad Drake (R-5), Jay Fant (R-15), Jacksonville City Councilman Matt Schellenberg, and members of the volunteer steering committee of Stand Up for North Florida to discuss the needs of North Florida and voice concern over Senate President Joe Negron’s plan to buy more than 60,000 acres of farmland in south Florida to build a another reservoir for water filtration. State Reps. Liz Porter (R- 10) and Stan McClain (R-23) could not be in attendance but are supportive of the effort.

“Water is one of our most precious resources, and it is vital that North and Central Florida are treated equitably when it comes to state dollars spent to protect our water,” said Southerland. “Certainly there are very real issues regarding Lake Okeechobee that need to be addressed, but we plan to work hard to make sure that taxpayer money is not spent on a plan that is scientifically questionable and that unfairly benefits South Florida over the rest of the state.”

Despite the fact that North and Central Florida are home to seventy percent of the state’s river watersheds and the vast majority of the state’s springs, which provide nearly all of the recharge to the Floridan Aquifer, 75 percent of all specific water conservation budget funds went to South Florida last year. Counties across North Florida are considering resolutions calling on the Florida Legislature to equitably provide funding for Florida water projects and not send a majority of funding to one region. The resolution has already been adopted by eight cities and counties.

“Any spending decision we make must be wise and with the taxpayers’ interests fully in mind,” said Rep. Jay Fant. “Florida is facing a tight budget over the next two to three years, and it is important that we not unfairly penalize one part of the state over another.”

Rep. Brad Drake added: “Those of us from the Panhandle and all across North Florida are united in our belief that making sure water resources in our part of the state is not just good for us, but for the entire state. We look forward to working together to make sure Amendment 1 resources are spent in a way that protects all of us, not just South Florida.”

In 2014, Florida voters overwhelmingly approved Amendment 1 to fund conservation projects. However, last year South Florida received 94 percent of the Amendment 1 dollars appropriated to specific water projects. The newly proposed land buy and reservoir are estimated to cost $2.4 billion. However, questions have been raised regarding whether that figure would be the true cost of the project as well as how effective the plan would be in actually addressing the issues surrounding Lake Okeechobee.

“As I’ve talked with legislators and local leaders from across North Florida, I have not found anyone eager to spend billions of dollars on a project we are not sure will work and that favors one region over another,” said Southerland. “It’s just common sense, and I believe we can count on our state leaders to come together to make sure our water resources are properly stewarded. We’re here to make sure that North Florida is part of both the conversation and the solution.”

Other volunteer steering committee members of the coalition include the following:

• Mr. David Biddle, Gilchrist County, small businessman, volunteer springs advocate, and GOP State Committeeman
• The Honorable Christine Dobkowski, Marion County, Mayor of Belleview, FL
• The Honorable Wayne Harris, Okaloosa County, former Okalooosa County Commissioner
• Mr. Rick Joyce, Lake County, CEO of Central Florida Mediators, former Co-CEO of Dixon-Ticonderoga, and former board member of the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission
• Mr. Maurice Langston, Wakulla County, former undersheriff and Vice Chair of the Florida Council for Safe Communities
• The Honorable Matt Schellenberg, Duval County, Jacksonville City Council
• Mr. Jake Godbold, former Jacksonville Mayor and City Council
• The Honorable Jeb Smith, St. Johns County, St. Johns County Commission
• Mr. Mike Williams, Madison County, local businessman, former President of the Madison County Cattleman’s Association, and GOP State Committeeman

The post North Florida Leaders Come Together to Protect Water Resources appeared first on Stand Up For North Florida.

Jacksonville City Councilman Matt Schellenberg wants to urge the state to dedicate more conservation dollars to Northeast and Central Florida.

His resolution says too much money is going to projects down south.

“I think that we need to be as aggressive as other areas of Florida and I think we should not be left out and that’s why I want to send a message through the City Council, through our local delegation and to the state legislators that we should be considered and allocated properly in the disbursement of that money,” Schellenberg said.

If the bill passes, it let’s Florida legislators know council members support more environmental funding.

The money Schellenberg is referring to is revenue from a real estate transaction tax. In 2014, voters agreed to earmark 1/3 of it for land conservation and restoration. Last year, the bulk of that money went to the Everglades and surrounding areas.

Schellenberg said Jacksonville could also use help to deal with septic tank runoff that’s polluting the river.

The post Council Member Wants More Jacksonville Conservation Dollars appeared first on Stand Up For North Florida.