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About the Florida League of Cities
by FLC Staff
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It’s estimated that each year one-third of Florida’s elected city officials are new. With a majority of municipal elections being held during the first quarter of the year, now is the time there is the biggest influx of newly elected municipal officials. To you, welcome to the Florida League of Cities. Throughout your term of office, we strongly encourage you to take advantage of our programs and services, and we encourage you to become active in the association. There are a variety of committees, conferences and programs for officials to participate in each year.
We are proud that the Florida League of Cities is one of the largest and most progressive state municipal leagues in the nation. We recognize that we are strong because our members are active.
Founded in 1922 with 14 cities represented, the League has grown to include almost all (99 percent) of Florida’s 410 cities as members, as well as several charter county governments.
When created in 1922, the membership vowed to concentrate its influence upon other lawmaking bodies for the purpose of shaping legislation, sharing the advantages of cooperative action, and exchanging ideas and experiences. Today our mission remains the same.
League Governance
The Florida League of Cities is governed by a 54-member Board of Directors consisting of a president, first vice president, second vice president; 30 directors who represent 14 geographical districts; one director from each of the 10 most populous cities; all past presidents; and an at-large seat for any elected municipal official beginning his or her 50th year in elective office, for as long as the official is otherwise qualified to serve as a director. The executive director serves as the secretary-treasurer. The immediate past president of the Florida City and County Management Association serves as a non-voting member. The Charter provides that officers and directors shall be elected officials of municipalities in good standing.
Advocacy
One of the most important services provided by the League is representing municipal government interests at the state and federal levels. It is critical that League members express their positions on current and emerging constitutional, legislative and regulatory issues, because of the significant impact these actions can have on municipal operations.
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Policy Committees
Policy work at the committee level continues to be one of the most important activities of the League by combining the first-hand experience of municipal officials with the statewide opportunities of the League. Six policy committees, appointed by the League president, meet several times during the year to study, analyze and recommend positions on state legislative issues having an impact upon members.
Each year the president also appoints a Legislative Committee, which meets at the Legislative Conference. This committee considers legislative proposals from the six standing policy committees and recommends the annual legislative policy statement to the League membership.
It is significant to note that, along with municipal growth and expanded League services, committee activity has also continued to set a record pace to meet the growing needs of Florida cities.
Federal Relations
The League’s Resolutions Committee, which meets at the annual conference, adopts resolutions pertaining to select federal issues. These resolutions form the platform for the League’s federal advocacy. In addition, the League has a federal policy committee, known as the Federal Action Strike Team (FAST), that lobbies our congressional delegation and federal agencies. The League maintains a close liaison with Florida’s congressional delegation and actively participates in the National League of Cities.
Conferences and Training Programs
Each year, the League holds and co-sponsors a variety of training programs for municipal officials.
The premier educational event is the annual conference held each August. It includes workshops, plenary and general sessions, and networking opportunities for members to learn and share information about municipal issues and operations.
Each November, the League holds its Legislative Conference to adopt a policy statement to guide the League’s lobbying efforts for the upcoming session of the state Legislature.
In addition, the League maintains a municipal training calendar that is published annually and is available on our Web site.
Periodically, the League will hold other workshops for its members, often co-sponsoring them with the John Scott Dailey Florida Institute of Government. Two of these joint programs are the Institute for Elected Municipal Officials (IEMO) and the Advanced Institute. During these intensive training sessions, city officials learn tools and information to assist them in effectively meeting the requirements of their elected role.
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Membership Development
In addition to conferences, seminars and workshops, the League works to develop new programs for members in response to their requests. The Membership Development Department oversees training development, the League’s international relations activities, provides resource information on state agencies and other linkages that will assist members. This department often serves as our members’ initial point of contact with the League.
Publications
The League publishes a newsletter, the Datagram, twice a month. It provides brief summaries of information of interest to municipal government.
The Legislative Bulletin, published throughout the Florida legislative session, is a summary of the Legislature’s work each week, with action steps specified for members to help in the League’s lobbying efforts.
Quality Cities, the League’s 64-page magazine, is published every other month.
Every other year, the League produces the City Innovations Showcase, which features innovative ideas from our members in a wide variety of issue areas.
Annually, the League compiles and publishes the Financial and Technical Assistance for Florida Municipalities Handbook, which provides information on state and federal agency programs that assist our members.
The League also prepares a membership directory each year, and other newsletters and publications as needed.
Legal
The League provides legal services designed to ensure its membership remains apprised of legal matters affecting their duties and responsibilities, and to advance its membership’s point of view at the various levels of state government. The League’s legal staff is available to consult with Florida’s city attorneys on legal problems facing their particular municipalities.
The legal staff maintains the codes of approximately 300 Florida municipalities, and can provide sample ordinances to the membership upon request (also available online through the Municipal Code Corporation). These codes include the charters and ordinances for almost all cities.
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Fraud Division
Housed in the League’s Legal Department, the Special Investigation Unit investigates suspected fraudulent insurance acts against the Florida Municipal Insurance Trust.
Public Risk Services
The Florida Municipal Insurance Trust, governed by elected officials, is a non-assessable, nonprofit, tax-exempt risk-sharing pool. As administrator for the Trust, the League’s Public Risk Services Department provides marketing by licensed League field agents; an underwriting/rating and policy service offering customized program and placement capabilities to address the changing needs and exposures of public entities; risk management seminars, publications and other assistance aiding the membership in managing risk; risk control and loss prevention programs to promote safe work environments; and claims management, which includes in-house adjusting for workers’ compensation, liability and health claims. Based in Orlando, the Florida League of Cities has administered the FMIT for more than 25 years.
Financial Services
The Department of Financial Services offers a variety of programs created to provide local governments high quality, professionally managed financial services, including:
The Florida Municipal Investment Trust – a local government investment pool that offers high-quality investment options for surplus and pension dollars.
The Florida Municipal Pension Trust Fund – offers retirement plan administration for defined benefit, defined contribution and deferred compensation plans.
The Florida Municipal Loan Council – a fixed-rate pooled loan program that issues debt on behalf of its members. It provides local governments with a simplified, cost-effective way to finance capital projects or refinance existing debt.
Equipment Financing Program – a cost-efficient way to lease purchase equipment on an annual basis.
Financial Technical Assistance – a revenue enhancement and budgeting information training program, customized specifically to a municipality’s needs.
Telecommunications Cost Recovery Services – provides a detailed analysis of records that can 1) discover billing errors and negotiate refunds and 2) identify and implement cost savings.
Government Purchasing Alliance – U.S. Communities is a government purchasing alliance that establishes the best available price for products such as office supplies and computers.
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Technology Services
The Technology Services Department is responsible for the League’s internal technology operations and offers several external programs for the membership. These programs include BetterPlace, an online citizen service request management tracking system; GovDeals, an online auction service that allows League members to conduct online transactions of surplus, abandoned and confiscated equipment; Web hosting; and consulting services to assist members with questions about computer software and equipment, Web site development and other technology issues.
Local and Regional Leagues
County or regional leagues of cities, which are developed by city officials to resolve local municipal problems, cover a majority of the state. In some instances, regional leagues serve as “umbrella” organizations for local county leagues of cities.
Local and regional leagues have an independent affiliation with the Florida League of Cities, although some receive financial support from the state League for administrative purposes. The types of activities within each league vary greatly from networking opportunities, educational programs, state and federal advocacy work, intergovernmental relations with county and school board officials, and other projects.
Secretariat Programs
The League provides contractual support services to several municipal and professional associations. This includes conference and meeting planning, membership databases, newsletters and other publications, records management and general and financial administration. Currently, the Florida Local Government Information Systems Association, Florida City and County Management Association, Florida Government Finance Officers Association, Florida Association of City Clerks, Florida Redevelopment Association and Florida Municipal Attorneys Association enjoy this relationship.
This is just a sample of the many programs and services the Florida League of Cities offers to its members. For more information, including how you can get involved in League activities, call the Florida League of Cities at 1-(800) 342-8112.
Reprinted from Quality Cities March/April 2005
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