HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES LOCAL BILL STAFF ANALYSIS
BILL #: HB 1105 Lake County Water District, Lake County
SPONSOR(S): Truenow
TIED BILLS: IDEN./SIM. BILLS:
REFERENCE ACTION ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR or
BUDGET/POLICY CHIEF
1) Local Administration & Veterans Affairs 15 Y, 1 N Darden Miller
Subcommittee
2) Ways & Means Committee 12 Y, 3 N Davis Aldridge
3) State Affairs Committee 16 Y, 5 N Darden Williamson
SUMMARY ANALYSIS
The Lake County Water Authority (Authority) was created by the Legislature in 1953 to conserve freshwater
resources in Lake County, foster tourism business in the county, provide recreational facilities, improve fish
and aquatic wildlife, and protect freshwater resources from damage from stormwater runoff.
The bill renames the Authority to the “Lake County Water District” (District) and declares that the District is a
dependent special district of Lake County. The bill replaces the current governing board with a new five-
member board appointed by the Lake County Board of County Commissioners. Board members are appointed
to four-year terms, but two of the initial appointees serve two-year terms to provide for staggered terms.
The bill revises the powers of the District to clarify that the board may only pay necessary costs and expenses
and enter into agreements with local, state, or federal governments for purposes directly related to carrying out
the provisions of the charter. The bill removes the board’s authority to operate passive parks.
The bill directs the board of the District to draft a proposed budget for the District and to determine the millage
rate necessary to fund the budget, but requires the final budget and millage rate to be approved by the Lake
County Board of County Commissioners, subject to amendment.
The bill provides that no later than 30 days after its effective date, the Lake County Board of County
Commissioners must appoint initial members of the District’s board.
The bill provides that upon becoming a law, ch. 2005-314, Laws of Fla., as amended by ch. 2017-218, Laws of
Fla., and the bill, becomes a separate chapter of the Lake County Codification and is subject to revision,
amendment, or repeal by the Lake County Board of County Commissioners. Future amendments to the
District’s charter may be made by the Legislature or the Lake County Board of County Commissioners.
This docum ent does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill sponsor or House of Representatives .
STORAGE NAME: h1105e.SAC
DATE: 2/8/2022
FULL ANALYSIS
I. SUBSTANTIVE ANALYSIS
A. EFFECT OF PROPOSED CHANGES:
Background
The Lake County Water Authority (Authority) was created by the Legislature in 1953.1 The Authority
was created to:
Control and conserve the freshwater resources of Lake County;
Foster improvements to the streams, lakes, and canals;
Improve the fish and aquatic wildlife in the County with improvements to the streams, lakes, and
canals; and
Protect the freshwater resources through assisting local governments in treatment of
stormwater runoff.2
The Authority is governed by a seven-member Board of Trustees (Board) elected by residents of Lake
County. Two members of the Board are elected at-large, while the remaining members are elected
from each county commission district. The members of the Board are elected in nonpartisan elections
to four-year terms. The Board selects a Chair and a Vice Chair from among its members. The Clerk of
the Circuit Court for Lake County serves as the secretary and treasurer of the Board. The Board is
responsible for selecting a non-member to serve as Executive Director for the Authority.3
Members of the Board receive $25 per day as compensation when performing Authority duties.4
Members of the Board and employees of the Authority are entitled to reimbursement for expenses
incurred in the discharge of their duties. The Board may approve expenses directly or delegate the task
to the Executive Director of the Authority, subject to parameters set by the Board.5
The powers of the Board include:
Conducting business on behalf of the Authority;6
Acquiring real property and use rights by purchase, gift, lease, or other methods reasonably
necessary;7
Making improvements to streams, lakes, and canals within the county; 8
Controlling all streams flowing into water reservoirs within the county or adjacent to the county; 9
Removing significant hazards to navigation and blockages from the major public waterways of
Lake County, whenever those hazards and blockages substantially affect public navigation on
large lakes and their connecting streams and canals; 10
Entering into contracts with the local, state, or federal governments for the purposes of carrying
out the provisions of the charter;11
Recommending to the Lake County Board of County Commissioners, by resolution, to acquire
private property by eminent domain;12 and
1
Lake County Water Authority, General Information, http://www.lcwa.org/budget/ (last visited Mar. 8, 2017). See also ch. 53-29222,
Laws of Fla.
2
Ch. 2005-314, s. (3)(1), Laws of Fla., as amended by ch. 2017-218, s. 1, Laws of Fla.
3 Ch. 2005-314, s. 3(4), Laws of Fla. The charter of the Authority was codified by ch. 2005-314, Laws of Fla.
4 Ch. 2005-314, s. 3(7), Laws of Fla.
5 Ch. 2005-314, s. 3(8), Laws of Fla.
6 Ch. 2005-314, s. 3(9)(a), Laws of Fla.
7
Ch. 2005-314, s. 3(9)(b), Laws of Fla., as amended by ch. 2017-218, s. 1, Laws of Fla.
8 Ch. 2005-314, s. 3(9)(d), Laws of Fla.
9 Ch. 2005-314, s. 3(9)(f), Laws of Fla.
10 Ch. 2017-218, s. 1, Laws of Fla., creating s. (9)(e) of the Lake County Water Authority Charter, as codified by ch. 2005-314, s. 3,
Laws of Fla.
11
Ch. 2005-314, s. 3(9)(h), Laws of Fla.
12 Ch. 2017-218, s. 1, Laws of Fla., creating s. (9)(h) of the Lake County Water Authority Charter, as codified by ch. 2005 -314, s. 3,
Laws of Fla.
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Operating “passive parks” for the purpose of allowing public observation of natural conditions
and environmentally sensitive areas or providing public access to streams, lakes, and canals for
waterborne activities.13
The Board is required to publish a detailed financial statement at least once a year on the Authority’s
website and in a newspaper published in Lake County. The statement must include a list of all moneys
received and disbursed during the preceding year.14
The Authority must prepare annual updates on its five-year plan, listing projects it plans to undertake.
The Authority is required to update the plan periodically and to publish an annual report evaluating and
assessing the effectiveness of the five-year plan. The Authority must submit the annual report to the
Legislature, the St. Johns River Water Management District, and the Lake County Board of County
Commissioners.15
Effect of Proposed Changes
The bill renames the Authority the “Lake County Water District” (District) and declares that the District is
a dependent special district of Lake County. The bill replaces the current governing board with a new
five-member board appointed by the Lake County Board of County Commissioners. Board members
are appointed to four-year terms, but two of the initial appointees serve two-year terms to provide for
staggered terms.
The bill revises the powers of the District to clarify that the board may only pay necessary costs and
expenses and enter into agreements with local, state, or federal governments for purposes directly
related to carrying out the provisions of the charter. The bill removes the Board’s authority to operate
passive parks.
The bill directs the Board to draft a proposed budget for the District and determine the millage rate
necessary to fund the budget, but requires the final budget and millage rate to be approved by the Lake
County Board of County Commissioners, subject to amendment.
The bill provides that no later than 30 days after its effective date, the Lake County Board of County
Commissioners must appoint initial members of the District’s board.
The bill provides that upon becoming a law, ch. 2005-314, Laws of Fla., as amended by ch. 2017-218,
Laws of Fla., and the bill, becomes a separate chapter of the Lake County Codification and is subject to
revision, amendment, or repeal by the Lake County Board of County Commissioners. Future
amendment to the District’s charter may be made by the Legislature or the Lake County Board of
County Commissioners.
B. SECTION DIRECTORY:
Section 1: Amends ch. 2005-314, Laws of Fla., as amended, to make the Lake County Water
Authority a dependent special district of Lake County and to make conforming changes.
Section 2: Requires the Lake County Board of County Commissioners to appoint initial members of
the District’s new governing board within 30 days of the bill becoming a law.
Section 3: Provides that upon becoming a law, ch. 2005-314, Laws of Fla., as amended by ch.
2017-218, Laws of Fla., and this bill, will be become a separate chapter of the Lake
County Codification and subject to revision, amendment, or repeal by the Lake County
Board of County Commissioners.
13 Ch. 2017-218, s. 1, Laws of Fla., creating s. (9)(j) of the Lake County Water Authority Charter, as codified by ch. 2005 -314, s. 3,
Laws of Fla. The Authority is prohibited from operating “active parks” (parks developed for the purpose of public recreation with man-
made improvements), with the exception of Hickory Point Park.
14 Ch. 2005-314, s. 3(15), Laws of Fla., as amended by ch. 2017-218, s. 1, Laws of Fla.
15 Ch. 2005-314, s. 3(17), Laws of Fla., as amended by ch. 2017-218, s. 1, Laws of Fla.
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Section 4: Provides an effective date of upon becoming a law.
II. NOTICE/REFERENDUM AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS
A. NOTICE PUBLISHED? Yes [x] No []
IF YES, WHEN? September 2, 2021.
WHERE? The North Lake Outpost, a weekly newspaper of general circulation published in
Lake County, Florida.
B. REFERENDUM(S) REQUIRED? Yes [] No [x]
IF YES, WHEN?
C. LOCAL BILL CERTIFICATION FILED? Yes [x] No []
D. ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT FILED? Yes [x] No []
III. COMMENTS
A. CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES:
None.
B. RULE-MAKING AUTHORITY:
The bill does not provide rulemaking authority or require executive branch rulemaking.
C. DRAFTING ISSUES OR OTHER COMMENTS:
None.
IV. AMENDMENTS/COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE CHANGES
None.
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DATE: 2/8/2022