HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso 2001-302
RESOLUTION NO.: 2001- '30~
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SUNNY
ISLES BEACH, FLORIDA, OBJECTING TO THE RECENT WINDSTORM
INSURANCE RATE INCREASE BY THE FLORIDA WINDSTORM
UNDERWRITING ASSOCIATION (FWUA); URGING THE GOVERNOR OF
FLORIDA AND THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO CONVENE A SPECIAL
SESSION TO ADDRESS THE RATE INCREASE AND THE STRUCTURE
OF THE FLORIDA WINDSTORM UNDERWRITING ASSOCIATION
PANEL RESPONSIBLE FOR APPROVING THE RATE INCREASE; AND
DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO FORWARD A COPY OF THIS
RESOLUTION TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE;
PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, property owners of the State of Florida, particularly those in South Florida
including the City of Sunny Isles Beach, face yearly threats of hurricane and tropical storm
damage to their homes and property; and
WHEREAS, the Florida Windstorm Underwriting Association (FWUA) IS a state-
created insurer of last resort for windstorm coverage; and
WHEREAS, over 450,000, residents of Florida are in the FWUA windstorm pool, of
which 65 percent live in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties; and
WHEREAS, the FWUA has recently raised its windstorm rates as much as 268 percent
in some communities and many homeowners are facing rate increases as much as $100 to $200
per month; and
WHEREAS, Florida Insurance Commissioner Bill Nelson rejected the request for the
rate increase last year, but was overruled by a 2-1 vote of an arbitration panel; and
WHEREAS, Commissioner Nelson filed a lawsuit to prevent the increase but that effort
and subsequent appeal ended unsuccessfully in June; and
WHEREAS, the drastic rate increase is so great as to force some homeowners out of
their homes; and
WHEREAS, the South Florida community has formed a grassroots effort to fight the rate
increase; and
WHEREAS, recent administrative and legislative actions have resulted in astronomical
increases in insurance rates and diminished coverage for property owners throughout the state,
including those in the City of Sunny Isles Beach; and
Windstorm Insurance Rate Objection Res.
Data/legislation/attorney
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WHEREAS, the City of Sunny Isles Beach wishes to lend its support to a Citizens'
Initiative to amend the Florida Constitution to require the State to provide affordable and
adequate windstorm insurance for all, Florida property owners;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF SUNNY ISLES BEACH, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1: The City of Sunny Isles Beach hereby expresses strong objection to the
economically devastating windstorm insurance rate increase, and further urges the Governor of
Florida and the Florida Legislature to convene a Special Legislative Session to address the
approved rate increase and the reduction in coverage, as well as the structure and authority of the
Florida Windstorm Underwriting Association panel responsible for these changes.
Section 2: The City Commission hereby authorizes the City Manager and the City
Attorney to provide all reasonable assistance in the process of a Citizens' Initiative petition to
amend the Florida Constitution in such a way as to require the Department of Insurance to
provide affordable and adequate windstorm coverage to all Florida property owners.
Section 3: The City Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to
the Governor of Florida, the Florida Legislature and to provide copies of this Resolution to the
Miami-Dade League of Cities, the Florida League of Cities and to the Mayors of all Miami-Dade,
Broward and Monroe County Municipalities.
Section 4: All resolutions or parts of resolutions in conflict with this resolution are
repealed to the extent of such conflict.
Section 5: This Resolution shall be in full force and effect immediately upon its
passage and adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 18th day of January,
-fi1i~'
Iravid Samson, May
ATTEST:
~~~~~~~
Richard Brown-Motilla, City Clerk
Windstorm Insurance Rate Objection Res.
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APPROVED AS TO FORM AND
LEGAL FFICIENCY
Vote: 5-0
Mayor Samson
Vice Mayor Kauffman
Commissioner Iglesias
Commissioner Morrow
Commissioner Turetsky
Windstorm Insurance Rate Objection Res.
Data/legislation/attorney
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