Opinion ID: 1813487
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Two Readings

Text: Bay County argues that section 163.346 of the Community Redevelopment Act requires that resolutions adopted pursuant to the Act be read twice. Statutory interpretation is a question of law subject to de novo review. BellSouth Telecomm., Inc. v. Meeks, 863 So.2d 287, 289 (Fla. 2003). Because section 163.346 incorporates only the public notice requirements of sections 166.041(3)(a) and 125.66(2), Florida Statutes (2006), we conclude that two readings are not required for municipal resolutions adopted pursuant to the Community Redevelopment Act. Section 163.346 of the Community Redevelopment Act reads: Before the governing body adopts any resolution or enacts any ordinance required under s. 163.355, s. 163.356, s. 163.357, or s. 163.387; creates a community redevelopment agency; approves, adopts, or amends a community redevelopment plan; or issues redevelopment revenue bonds under s. 163.385, the governing body must provide public notice of such proposed action pursuant to s. 125.66(2) or s. 166.041(3)(a) .... (Emphasis added.) And section 166.041(3)(a), which applies to municipalities, provides: Except as provided in paragraph (c), a proposed ordinance may be read by title, or in full, on at least two separate days and shall, at least 10 days prior to adoption, be noticed once in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality. The notice of the proposed enactment shall state the date, time, and place of the meeting; the title or titles of proposed ordinances; and the place or places within the municipality where such proposed ordinances may be inspected by the public. The notice shall also advise that interested parties may appear at the meeting and be heard with respect to the proposed ordinance. (Emphasis added.) Finally, section 125.66(2), which applies to counties, provides in relevant part: (a) ... The board of county commissioners at any regular or special meeting may enact or amend any ordinance, except as provided in subsection (4), if notice of intent to consider such ordinance is given at least 10 days prior to said meeting by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the county. A copy of such notice shall be kept available for public inspection during the regular business hours of the office of the clerk of the board of county commissioners. The notice of proposed enactment shall state the date, time, and place of the meeting; the title or titles of proposed ordinances; and the place or places within the county where such proposed ordinances may be inspected by the public. The notice shall also advise that interested parties may appear at the meeting and be heard with respect to the proposed ordinance. Read in light of the referenced statutory provisions, section 163.346 is clear and unambiguous. Section 163.346 specifies that the governing body of a municipality or county must give public notice and mail a timely notice to each relevant taxing authority before adopting resolutions pursuant to the Community Redevelopment Act. This public notice is subject to the standards set forth in section 166.041(3)(a) or 125.66(2). Although sections 166.041(3)(a) and 125.66(2) include additional procedures for enacting municipal and county ordinances respectively, they contain the identical public notice requirements. Both require (1) that at least ten days' notice be given; (2) that notice be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the pertinent county or municipality; (3) that a copy of the published notice be available for inspection by the public; (4) that the notice state the date, time, and place of the meeting; the title or titles of the proposed ordinance; and the place or places where the proposed ordinance may be inspected by the public; and (5) that the notice advise that interested parties may appear and be heard at the meeting. §§ 166.041(3)(a); 125.66(2)(a), Fla. Stat. Because section 163.346 incorporates only the public notice requirements of sections 166.041(3)(a) and 125.66(2), we find that section 163.346 does not impose a two-reading requirement for resolutions adopted pursuant to the Community Redevelopment Act. As a result, Cedar Grove was not required to conduct two readings at two public meetings when enacting its redevelopment resolutions.