Scrap Metal Theft on the Rise

Scrap Metal Theft on the Rise

Move over gold market! There are other metals gaining attention today. The cost of scrap metals (such as aluminum, copper, iron and steel) has been on the rise in recent years. As a result, there has been an upward trend in metal theft. Representative Baxter Troutman, during the 2008 Florida Legislative Session, took the lead to help pass a bill strengthening regulations of recyclable metals.¹ Local Governments in Florida are taking steps to further regulate the metal market.

In August 2010 the Orlando City Council adopted an ordinance hoping to make metal sales to secondary dealers more difficult and less desirable. This ordinance “prohibits secondary metals recyclers from entering into cash transactions in excess of $50 (rather than $1,000) with the same seller in a single day and requires any payment to a seller in excess of $50 to be made by check and mailed to a seller’s physical street address.”²

Hillsborough County is taking a step further and requiring secondary metals recyclers to electronically report all purchase transaction information to law enforcement. Hillsborough County’s new ordinance is expected to cause an increase in law enforcement activity, but the County Commission is hoping to see a decline in metal theft.³

Other metal ordinance trends have also been tracked by OrdinanceWatch™. For example the Hialeah Gardens City Council (in Miami-Dade County) recently adopted an ordinance to allow metal as an acceptable residential roofing material.⁴ In Clay County, the Commission recently approved revisions to the Building Code to allow metal in the construction of Accessory Buildings.⁵

Have you taken advantage of the recycled metal materials market? What have you bought or sold recently? Have you been a victim of recycled metal theft? Do you feel that ordinances can make much of an impact on recycled metal crimes? Please comment and share your thoughts!

Listed below are Scrap Metal issue examples tracked by OrdinanceWatch™. Visit our website at www.OrdinanceWatch.com where you can sign up for advance notice of pending local government action.

• Hillsborough County, FL Approves Amendment to the Secondary Metals Recyclers Ordinance

• Orlando, FL Adopts Ordinance Regarding Secondary Metal Recycling

• Hialeah Gardens, FL Adopts LDR Ordinance regarding Metal as an Acceptable Residential Roofing Material

• Clay County, FL Approves Revisions to the Metal Accessory Building Code

• Riviera Beach, FL Rejects Ordinance Regarding Zoning for Scrap Metal Processing Facilities

^{1. Maready, Jeremy. “As Scrap Metal Theft Problem Grows, New Law May Help | TheLedger.com.” Lakeland FL News, Sports, Weather, Classifieds | TheLedger.com | The Lakeland Ledger. 6 May 2008. Web. 22 Sept. 2010. <http://www.theledger.com/article/20080506/BREAKING/898636106>.}

^{2. “Office of the City Clerk.” City of Orlando. 30 Aug. 2010. Web. 22 Sept. 2010. <http://www.cityoforlando.net/cityclerk/citycouncil/ag_min.html>.}

^{3. “Agendas.” Hillsborough County Government Online. 21 Apr. 2010. Web. 22 Sept. 2010. <http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/agendas/home.cfm>.}

^{4. “Agendas.” Hialeah Gardens City Council. 16 Jun. 2010. Web. 22 Sept. 2010. http://www.cityofhialeahgardens.com/cohg2/.}

^{5. “Clay County Commission.” Welcome to Clay County, Florida. 27 July 2010. Web. 29 Sept. 2010. <http://www.claycountygov.com/>.}

75% Recycling Goal by the Year 2020

75% Recycling Goal by the Year 2020

The Energy, Climate Change and Economic Security Act of 2008 (House Bill 7135) created a statewide recycling goal of 75% by 2020 in Florida.  The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is now required to issue recommendations on how to achieve this goal by January 1, 2010.  The next public meeting held by DEP is scheduled for 11/5/09 in Tallahassee, FL.¹

Some Local Governments in Florida are passing initiatives to promote sustainable waste management systems.  Single Stream Recycling is one example, where businesses and residential customers simply place their reusable products into one container to hopefully encourage more recycling.  Weston, Florida in Broward County just adopted an ordinance to provide for single stream recycling, which will commence on 10/1/09.²

Would you like to see single stream recycling practices in your area?
Winter Park, FL of Orange County has recently approved a request to require a recycling surcharge for special event rental rates in parks.  With a 10% increase in rates, the City Commission now requires recycling for all events that take place in city parks.  The surcharge will help cover the cost of recycling bins.³

In Miami, FL the City Commission is currently discussing possible implementation of a RecycleBank Program, a rewards program that is headquartered in New York City.⁴ RecycleBank participants earn points for recycling and for practicing sustainable efforts.  Points are accumulated for actions such as “using renewable energy, reusing products, digital downloads, recycling your electronic waste, and much more”.⁵ Recycle customers can then redeem their points at over 2,400 participating retailers.  For more information visit www.recyclebank.com.

Do you feel that the recycling goal of 75% by 2020 is achievable?  Would this deter from business development and/or economic growth stimulation in FL?  What are your thoughts on recycling in general?

The following are some examples of recent recycling activity in Florida tracked by OrdinanceWatch™.  Sign up for pending local government action advisories at http://www.ordinancewatch.com/.

• Fort Myers, FL Adopts Ordinance Creating Mandatory Recycling Regulations

• Winter Park, FL Approves Request to Increase Special Event Rental Rates for Parks to Allow for Recycling Surcharge

• Miami, FL to Consider Possible Recyclebank Rewards Program

• Weston, FL Adopts Ordinance to Implement Single Stream Recycling

<sup>1. Florida 75% Recycling Goal. (2009, August 18). Florida Department of Enviornmental Protection.
Retrieved September 10, 2009, from http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/recyclinggoal75/
2. City Commission; Agendas/Minutes. (n.d.). The City of Weston [Weston Government]. Retrieved
September 10, 2009, from http://www.westonfl.org/Content.aspx?f=/Content/cityCommission/
agendas_Minutes.aspx#
3. “Winter Park City Commission.” Winter Park City Commission. Web. 10 Sept. 2009. <http://www.cityofwinterpark.org/Pages/Government.aspx>.
4. City of Miami. (n.d.). Retrieved September 10, 2009, from http://www.miamigov.com/cms/
5. Curbside Recycling. (n.d.). RecycleBank :: How It Works. Retrieved September 10, 2009, from
http://www.recyclebank.com/how-it-works</sup>

Trees Can Help Lower Your Energy Bill and May Raise Property Value

 

Trees Can Help Lower Your Energy Bill and May Raise Property Value

Kermit the Frog would agree that it is “not easy being green” in the world today. However many local governments in Florida are regulating tree protection and encouraging an increase in tree planting activity. Tree canopies, among other things, can provide many benefits such as reduced energy consumption because of lowering ambient air temperature, they provide cleaner air, absorb noise, reduce storm water runoff by filtering heavy metals and other pollutants, as well as reduce erosion. Trees may also increase property value and create an aesthetically pleasing surrounding.¹ Are there any Tree Protection/Planting programs in your area? If not, would you like to see some? Do you think these benefits are worth the potential cons to tree protection mandates? For example, what if tree removal becomes overly regulated?

The City Commission of Wilton Manors in Broward County, FL just adopted a resolution amending the Comprehensive Plan to achieve a 30% increase in tree canopy coverage by the year 2030.² Lauderhill in Broward County, FL is currently considering a similar resolution as well.³

Cutler Bay in Miami-Dade County, FL just adopted an ordinance to regulate safeguarding, maintenance, and removal of trees within the rights-of-way in the Town.⁴ Another trend Local Governments in Florida are following is tree planting programs such as the one recently adopted in Winter Springs in Seminole County, FL.⁵

Here is a list of recent examples from the OrdinanceWatch™ Database:

• Wilton Manors, FL Adopts Resolution Regarding Tree Canopy Coverage
• Winter Springs, FL Unanimously Approves Resolution Regarding the Establishment of a Memorial Tree Planting Program
• Cutler Bay, FL Adopts Ordinance Regarding the Protection of Trees
• Lauderhill, FL Tables Resolution Regarding a Thirty Percent or More Tree Canopy Coverage by 2030
• Gainesville, FL Tables Request to Develop Goals and Objectives for the City’s Comprehensive Plan with respect to Trees
• Sarasota County, FL Adopts Ordinance Affecting Street Tree Protection

^{1. Wilton Manors, FL City Commission Meeting Minutes. (2009). A Resolution Regarding Tree Canopy Coverage. Retrieved April 8, 2009, Web site: http://www.ordinancewatch.com/files/LocalGovernment/LocalGovernment35229.pdf}

^{2. Wilton Manors, FL City Commission Meeting Agendas. (2009). A Resolution Regarding Tree Canopy Coverage. Retrieved March 10, 2009, Web site: http://www.wiltonmanors.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={09547161-FB8E-4436-8239-3729C7C00CE2}}

^{3. Lauderhill, FL City Commission Meeting Agendas. (2009). A Resolution Regarding a Thirty Percent or More Tree Canopy Coverage by 2030. Retrieved March 30, 2009, Web site: http://lauderhill-fl.gov/dept_city.asp}

^{4. Cutler Bay, FL Town Council Meeting Agendas. (2009). An Ordinance Regarding the Protection of Trees. Retrieved February 18, 2009, Web site: http://www.cutlerbay-fl.gov/agenda.php}

^{5. Winter Springs, FL City Commission Meeting Agendas. (2008). A Resolution Regarding the Establishment of a Memorial Tree Planting Program. Retrieved November 24, 2008, Web site: http://weblink.winterspringsfl.org/weblink7/docview.aspx?id=231385}

Local Governments Allow the Use of Golf Carts on Public Roadways

 

Local Governments Allow the Use of Golf Carts on Public Roadways

Golf Carts are four-wheeled, electric vehicles that are great for a game of golf or for leisure activity.  But would you consider driving one on a public road?  Ordinances allowing golf carts on public roadways have been a recent trend in Florida.  Local governments are looking at this as a step toward becoming more sustainable, as well as possibly helping to ease traffic congestion.  Florida Statute 316.212 requires appropriate signage be posted in areas where golf carts are allowed on public streets. ¹

St. Johns County, FL has just adopted an ordinance implementing provisions for the operation of golf carts on designated county roads. ² Miramar in Broward County, FL has also just adopted an ordinance amending the Traffic and Motor Vehicles Code to permit the use of golf carts on certain roadways in hopes of reducing gas consumption and greenhouse gas emission and is open to the idea possibly expanding the permitted areas of use.  ³ Inverness in Citrus County, FL is in the very beginning stages of discussing this topic.  The Inverness City Council heard a presentation at the 3/17/09 meeting on allowing golf carts and similar type vehicles on city streets. ⁴

This is a great step toward reducing pollution, but golf carts’ maximum speed is only between 20 and 25 mph.  It sounds to me like it would do the opposite of helping to ease traffic congestion.  Does this look like a growing trend in Florida, or do you feel this idea will die out?  Would the use of golf carts be safe in your area?  If traffic accidents occur, do you feel that local governments should propose changes on the regulations of electric cars on public roads?

Here is a list of sample issues from the OrdinanceWatch™ Database regarding the Allowance of Golf Carts on Public Roads.

• Inverness, FL to Hold Discussion of Golf Carts on Streets
• Miramar, FL Adopts Ordinance Regarding the Use of Golf Carts On
• St. Johns County, FL Adopts Ordinance Regarding Provisions for Operation of Golf Carts on County Roads and County Right of Ways
• Bay County, FL Adopts Ordinance Affecting Operation of Golf Carts on Certain Public Roads

<sup>1. Online Sunshine, The Official Internet Site for the Florida Legislature. (2009). Florida Statute for Golf Carts. Retrieved March 25, 2009. Web site: http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?StatuteYear=2008&AppMode=Display_Results&Mode=Search%2520Statutes&Submenu=2&Tab=statutes&Search_String=316.212++
2. St. Johns County, FL County Commission Ordinances. (2009). An Ordinance Regarding Provisions for Operation of Golf Carts on County Roads and County Rights of Way.  Retrieved March 25, 2009. Web site: http://www.clk.co.st-johns.fl.us/minrec/minutes/2009/minutes2009.htm
3. Miramar, FL City Commission Ordinances. (2009). An Ordinance Regarding the Use of Golf Carts on Local Roadways. Retrieved March 25, 2009. Web site: http://www.ci.miramar.fl.us/cityclerk/docs/DCCOMarchives.html
4. Inverness, FL City Council Ordinances. (2009). Discussion of Golf Carts on Streets. Retrieved March 25, 2009. Web site: http://www.inverness-fl.gov/index.asp?nid=61</sup>