Advances:  Week of February 24, 2019

NSF Staff

TALLAHASSEE --- After a year plagued by problems such as red tide and algae blooms, water quality has become one of the highest-profile issues in Florida.

Gov. Ron DeSantis seized on the issue after getting sworn into office last month, releasing a wide-ranging water proposal and replacing members of the South Florida Water Management District Governing Board.

But a key player in the effort to clean up waterways and coastlines likely will be a holdover from former Gov. Rick Scott’s administration: Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Noah Valenstein.

The state Cabinet will vote Tuesday on DeSantis’ recommendation to keep Valenstein as the leader of the environmental agency. When DeSantis announced Feb. 15 that he wanted to reappoint Valenstein, the governor’s office released a series of statements from environmental groups supporting the pick.

“Secretary Valenstein is a Florida-grown conservationist and has the experience with the science and politics of Florida’s environment to make real progress for our state,” Julie Wraithmell, executive director of Audubon Florida, said in one of the statements. “During his brief tenure at DEP, we’ve already seen Florida Forever funding restored to $100 million, strategic springs restoration projects implemented and DEP stepping up to drive state efforts on sea level rise adaptation.”

If the Cabinet signs off on Valenstein remaining as secretary, he will need to quickly be prepared to discuss water quality. He is expected to be among the speakers Wednesday in Washington during a Florida congressional delegation hearing about water issues.

“Last year, Florida faced an environmental disaster with serious economic consequences, when toxic algae coated both coasts,” U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Fla., said in a news release announcing the hearing. “The devastation closed beaches, made Floridians sick, and harmed all aspects of our fishing, tourism, and recreational industry. It is critical that we reach across the partisan divide to truly solve this pressing problem.”

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2019

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ISSUES ON TABLE: The Florida Board of Occupational Therapy will hold a conference call. (Monday, 9 a.m. Call-in number: 1-888-585-9008. Code: 564341766.)

FPL LAUNCHES NORTH FLORIDA SOLAR PLANT: Florida Power & Light will hold an event to mark the completion of a solar power plant in North Florida. (Monday, 10 a.m., FPL Sunshine Gateway Solar Energy Center, 9604 Adams Road, Wellborn.)

CRUZ DISCUSSES EDUCATION PROPOSALS: Sen. Janet Cruz, D-Tampa, will hold a news conference to discuss education issues. She will discuss proposals by Gov. Ron DeSantis and Senate leaders to expand school vouchers and a school-safety bill that would allow teachers to be armed. (Monday, 10:30 a.m., Ballast Point Elementary School, 2802 West Ballast Point Blvd., Tampa.)

BP FUNDS EYED FOR HURRICANE HELP: The board of Triumph Gulf Coast, a non-profit organization that administers BP settlement money from the Deepwater Horizon disaster, is expected to finalize a plan that would make money available to local governments struggling to recover from Hurricane Michael. The board also will consider a series of other funding proposals. (Monday, 10:30 a.m. Central time, Bay County Commission chamber, Bay County Government Center, 840 West 11th St., Panama City.)

RISK MANAGEMENT ANALYZED: The Self-Insurance Estimating Conference will discuss issues related to risk management. (Monday, 11 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

RUBIO HOLDS ‘MOBILE’ OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hold “mobile” office hours in Bay and Gulf counties. (Monday, noon, Panama City Beach Public Library, 12500 Hutchinson Blvd., Panama City Beach. Also, 2 p.m., Port St. Joe Library, 110 Library Dr., Port St. Joe.)

TRANSPORTATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AT ISSUE: State Rep. Tom Leek, R-Ormond Beach, and Mike Shannon, the District 5 secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation, are scheduled to speak about issues related to transportation and economic development during an event held by the Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce and the River to Sea Transportation Planning Organization. (Monday, 3:30 p.m., Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, 600 South Clyde Morris Blvd., Daytona Beach.)

NASSAU COUNTY DELEGATION MEETS: The Nassau County legislative delegation, made up of Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, and Rep. Cord Byrd, R-Neptune Beach, will meet to consider local bills. (Monday, 4 p.m., Nassau County Commission chamber, James S. Page Governmental Complex, 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee.)

HERBICIDES GET ATTENTION: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will continue a series of public meetings about the agency’s aquatic-plant herbicide treatment program. (Monday, 5:30 p.m. Astor Community Center, 24148 Ann St., Astor.)

DEMOCRATS HOLD TOWN HALL: State Sen. Jose Javier Rodriguez, D-Miami, Rep. Nicholas Duran, D-Miami, Rep. Mike Grieco, D-Miami Beach, and Rep. Javier Fernandez, D-South Miami, are slated to hold a town-hall meeting to discuss issues before the March 5 start of the legislative session. (Monday, 6:30 p.m., Miami Dade College, InterAmerican Campus, 627 S.W. 27th Ave., Miami.)

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2019

ELECTIONS COMMISSION MEETS: The Florida Elections Commission will take up numerous cases and receive a legislative update. (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

CABINET CONSIDERS LAND BUYS: Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state Cabinet will consider spending $2.54 million in the Florida Forever conservation program to buy land in Lake and Hamilton counties. The proposals would lead to paying $540,000 to acquire 83.4 acres in Lake County and paying $2 million for 316 acres in Hamilton County. The Lake County land, which is part of the Wekiva-Ocala Greenway Florida Forever project, includes five contiguous lakefront parcels on Lake Norris, near the small community of Paisley. The land in Hamilton County, known as the Hardee Spring property, is adjacent to Twin Rivers State Forest and includes about 1.5 miles of frontage along the Withlacoochee River. Also during the meeting, the Cabinet is expected to vote on DeSantis’ nomination of Noah Valenstein to remain as secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and is expected to interview two candidates to become commissioner of the Office of Financial Regulation. Those candidates are Ronald Rubin, a former special counsel in the Division of Enforcement at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and Linda Charity, a former director of the state Division of Financial Institutions, (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Cabinet meeting room, the Capitol.)

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WATER BOARD MEETS: The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board will meet in Hillsborough County. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Southwest Florida Water Management District, 7601 U.S. 301 North, Tampa.)

NEW COLLEGE TRUSTEES MEET: The New College of Florida Board of Trustees will meet. (Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., New College of Florida, Sudakoff Conference Center, 5845 General Dougher Place, Sarasota.)

LOBBYIST COMPENSATION AT ISSUE: Staff members of the Joint Legislative Auditing Committee will select lobbying firms whose compensation reports will be audited. (Tuesday, 2 p.m., G-01 Claude Pepper Building, 111 West Madison St., Tallahassee.)

CHIROPRACTIC MEDICINE BOARD HOLDS CALL: The Florida Board of Chiropractic Medicine is scheduled to hold a conference call. (Tuesday, 2 p.m. Call-in number: 1-888-585-9008. Code: 136103141.)

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DISCUSSED: The Agency for Health Care Administration will hold a meeting about a series of rules related to behavioral-health assessment services, medication management services, community support services and therapy services. (Tuesday, 3 p.m., Agency for Health Care Administration, 2727 Mahan Dr., Building 3, Tallahassee.)

DEVELOPMENT FINANCE BOARD MEETS: The Florida Development Finance Corporation Board of Directors will meet. (Tuesday, 3 p.m., Florida Development Finance Corporation, 156 Tuskawilla Road, Suite 2340, Winter Springs. Call-in number: 1-646-741-5292. Code: 1117681826.)

WATER RATES AT ISSUE: The Florida Public Service Commission will hold a meeting in Highlands County about a proposed rate increase by LP Waterworks, Inc., which provides water and wastewater service. (Tuesday, 3 p.m., Lake View Clubhouse, 231 Shoreline Dr., Lake Placid.)

VETERANS COURT GRADUATION HELD: A graduation ceremony for the Leon County Veterans Treatment Court will be held. The program provides treatment to veterans with mental-health or substance-abuse issues to try to divert them from the criminal-justice system. (Tuesday, 3:30 p.m., Leon County Courthouse, 301 South Monroe St., Tallahassee.)

HERBICIDE INPUT SOUGHT: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will conclude a series of public meetings on the agency’s aquatic-plant herbicide treatment program. (Tuesday, 5:30 p.m. Eustis Community Center, 601 Northshore Dr., Eustis.)

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2019

WATER QUALITY ISSUES GET ATTENTION: Florida’s congressional delegation will hold a hearing on water-quality issues such as red tide and algae blooms. Speakers during the hearing, which will be chaired by Republican Vern Buchanan and Democrat Alcee Hastings, are expected to include Noah Valenstein, secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. (Wednesday, 8:30 a.m., 2261 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C.)

PAROLE CASES HEARD: The Florida Commission on Offender Review, which considers parole cases from across the state, will start a two-day meeting in Duval County. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Jacksonville Beach City Hall, 11 North Third St., Jacksonville Beach.)

HOMELESSNESS DISCUSSED: The Council on Homelessness, which works to reduce homelessness in Florida, will hold a conference call. (Wednesday, 9 a.m. Call-in number: 1-888-585-9008. Code: 351186925.)

RUBIO HOLDS ‘MOBILE’ OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hold “mobile” office hours in Orange and Sumter counties. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Englewood Neighborhood Center, 6123 La Costa Dr., Orlando. Also, 10 a.m., Laurel Manor Rec Center, 1985 Laurel Manor Dr., The Villages.)

UNEMPLOYMENT CASES CONSIDERED: The state Reemployment Assistance Appeals Commission will meet. (Wednesday, 9:30 a.m., 101 Rhyne Building, 2740 Centerview Dr., Tallahassee.)

SENIOR SCAMS TARGETED: The Florida Department of Financial Services will hold one in a series of "Be Scam Smart" workshops to help seniors avoid financial scams. (Wednesday, 10:30 a.m., Brandon Senior Center, 612 North Parsons Ave., Brandon.)

CARUSO DISCUSSES RECOUNT: State Rep. Mike Caruso, R-Delray Beach, will speak to the Republican Club of the Palm Beaches about the November recount in his victory over Democrat Jim Bonfiglio in House District 89. (Wednesday, noon, Holiday Inn Hotel and Conference Center Palm Beach Airport, 1301 Belvedere Road, West Palm Beach.)

CRIMINAL JUSTICES ISSUES DISCUSSSED: The Criminal Justice Estimating Conference will hold what is known as an “impact” conference. (Wednesday, 1:30 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

ELECTION REFORM AT ISSUE: State Rep. Geraldine Thompson, D-Orlando, will host a town-hall meeting about election reform issues. (Wednesday, 5:30 p.m., Windermere High School, Performing Arts Center, 5523 Winter Garden Vineland Road, Windermere.)

PIRRO SPEAKS AT UNIVERSITY: Fox News host Jeanine Pirro is scheduled to appear at Palm Beach Atlantic University. (Wednesday, 6 p.m., Palm Beach Atlantic University, DeSantis Family Chapel, 300 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach.)

RADER, WILLHITE HOLD TOWN HALL: Sen. Kevin Rader, D-Delray Beach, and Rep. Matt Willhite, D-Wellington, will hold a town-hall meeting to discuss issues in advance of the 2019 legislative session, which starts March 5. (Wednesday, 7 p.m., Village of Wellington, 12300 Forest Hill Blvd., Wellington.)

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2019

HIGHWAY SAFETY MONEY ANALYZED: The Revenue Estimating Conference will discuss highway safety revenues. (Thursday, 9 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

PAROLE CASES HEARD: The Florida Commission on Offender Review, which considers parole cases from across the state, will continue a two-day meeting in Duval County. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Jacksonville Beach City Hall, 11 North Third St., Jacksonville Beach.)

RUBIO HOLDS ‘MOBILE’ OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hold “mobile” office hours in Miami-Dade and Okaloosa counties. (Thursday, 10 a.m., Metropolitan Senior Center, 1407 N.W. Seventh St., Miami. Also, 2 p.m., Niceville Library, 206 Partin Dr. North, Niceville.)

SUPREME COURT RELEASES OPINIONS: The Florida Supreme Court is scheduled to release its weekly opinions. (Thursday, 11 a.m.)

NORTHWEST FLORIDA WATER BOARD MEETS: The Northwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board will meet after holding committee meetings. (Thursday, committees start at 11:30 a.m., with full board at 1 p.m., district headquarters, 81 Water Management Dr., Havana.)

MEDICAID MONEY DISCUSSED: The Social Services Estimating Conference will discuss the Federal Medicaid Assistance Percentage, or FMAP, which helps determine how much federal money is available for the state Medicaid program. (Thursday, 1 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

KIDCARE COSTS AT ISSUE: The Social Services Estimating Conference will analyze expenditures in the KidCare subsidized health-insurance program. (Thursday, 2 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

LEEK DISCUSSES LEADERSHIP: House Public Integrity & Ethics Chairman Tom Leek, R-Ormond Beach, is expected to discuss leadership during a Leadership Daytona reception. (Thursday, 5:15 p.m., Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Student Union, 600 South Clyde Morris Blvd., Daytona Beach.)

I-95 INTERCHANGE WORK EYED: The Florida Department of Transportation will hold an open house to discuss proposed improvements to the interchange at Interstate 95 and Copans Road in Pompano Beach. (Thursday, 5:30 p.m., Broward County Water and Wastewater Services, 2555 West Copans Road, Pompano Beach.)

CRAPPIE MANAGEMENT DISCUSSED: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will continue a series of public meetings across the state as it seeks input on a draft plan involving the management of black crappie, a game fish commonly known as “speckled perch” or “specks.”  (Thursday, 6:30 p.m., Tenoroc Public Shooting Range, 3755 Tenoroc Mine Road, Lakeland.)

FOLEY SPEAKS TO GOP WOMEN’S CLUB: Former U.S. Rep. Mark Foley, R-Fla., is slated to speak to the Republican Federated Women of South Florida. (Thursday, 6:30 p.m., Boca Country Club, 17751 Boca Club Blvd., Boca Raton.)

FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2019

FSDB BOARD MEETS: The Board of Trustees of the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind will meet after holding an Audit Committee meeting. (Friday, committee at 8 a.m., with full board at 9 a.m., Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, 207 North San Marco Ave., St. Augustine.)

TRUST FUNDS DISCUSSED: The Revenue Estimating Conference will discuss what are known as “outlooks” for the Education Enhancement Trust Fund, the Tobacco Settlement Trust Fund, the State School Trust Fund and general revenue. (Friday, 8:30 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

RAIL PROJECT BONDS AT ISSUE: The Florida Development of Finance Corp. will hold a public hearing about the issuance of bonds for the Brightline rail system, which is planned to link Miami and Orlando. (Friday, 9 a.m., Residence Inn Tallahassee Universities at the Capitol, 600 West Gaines St., Tallahassee.)

PERDUE AT ‘COMMODITY CLASSIC’ EVENT: U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue is expected to appear at the 2019 Commodity Classic, billed as “America’s largest farmer-led, farmer-focused agricultural and educational experience.” Perdue is slated to discuss international trade, farm bill implementation, rural development and the role of agriculture in America’s food security and economic health. (Friday, 9 a.m., Orange County Convention Center. 9800 International Dr., Orlando.)

COMMUNICATIONS TAX CONSIDERED: The Revenue Estimating Conference will take up issues related to gross receipts and the communications services tax. (Friday, 9 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

RUBIO HOLDS ‘MOBILE’ OFFICE HOURS: Staff members for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will hold “mobile” office hours in Orange, St. Johns, Flagler and Putnam counties. (Friday, 9 a.m., Park of the Americas, 201 Andes Ave., Orlando. Also, 10 a.m., St. Johns County Library Hastings Branch, 6195 South Main St., Hastings. Also, noon, Flagler First, Flagler County Fairgrounds, 150 Sawgrass Road, Bunnell. Also, 2 p.m., United Against Poverty, 150 West Michigan St., Orlando. Also, 2:30 p.m., Palatka City Hall, 201 North Second St., Palatka.)

EMPLOYEES’ HEALTH INSURANCE AT ISSUE: The Self-Insurance Estimating Conference will analyze issues in the state employees’ health-insurance program. (Friday, 1:30 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)