Regional Planning Councils
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{{Short description, Quasi-governmental organizations designated by Florida law Regional Planning Councils (RPCs) are quasi-governmental organizations that are designated by
Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
law (''Ch. 186,
Florida Statutes The ''Florida Statutes'' are the codified, statutory laws of Florida; it currently has 48 titles. A chapter in the Florida Statutes represents all of the relevant statutory law on a particular subject. The statutes are the selected reproduction of ...
'') to address problems and plan solutions that are of greater-than-local concern or scope, and are to be recognized by local governments as one of the means to provide input into state policy development. With regard to transportation-related issues, RPCs are empowered to provide technical assistance to local governments on
growth management Growth management, in the United States, is a set of techniques used by the government to ensure that as the population grows that there are services available to meet their demands. Growth management goes beyond traditional land use planning, zon ...
matters; coordinate land development and transportation policies in a manner that fosters region-wide transportation systems; review local government comprehensive plan amendments, evaluation/appraisal reports, and Developments of Regional Impacts for consistency with state and regional plans; and, review the plans of independent transportation authorities and
metropolitan planning organization A metropolitan planning organization (MPO) is a federally mandated and federally funded transportation policy-making organization in the United States that is made up of representatives from local government and governmental transportation authoriti ...
s to identify inconsistencies between those plans and applicable local government plans. RPCs are a type of
Regional planning organization A Regional Planning Organization is a government body that guides the development of public and private resources in a manner that ensures public safety, well being and livability. Regional planning organizations take different forms and may also in ...
, specific to the state of Florida.


RPC Products

In addition to various studies of the resources of the region, the principal product of each RPC is the ''Strategic Regional Policy Plan (SRPP)''. The ''SRPP'' identifies key regional resources and facilities, examines current and forecast conditions and trends (including expected growth patterns), and establishes regional goals and policies that guide a program of actions to address identified problems and needs. An example of strategic subject areas that a ''SRPP'' may address includes
affordable housing Affordable housing is housing which is deemed affordable to those with a household income at or below the median as rated by the national government or a local government by a recognized housing affordability index. Most of the literature on af ...
,
economic development In the economics study of the public sector, economic and social development is the process by which the economic well-being and quality of life of a nation, region, local community, or an individual are improved according to targeted goals and ...
,
emergency preparedness Emergency management or disaster management is the managerial function charged with creating the framework within which communities reduce vulnerability to hazards and cope with disasters. Emergency management, despite its name, does not actuall ...
,
natural resources Natural resources are resources that are drawn from nature and used with few modifications. This includes the sources of valued characteristics such as commercial and industrial use, aesthetic value, scientific interest and cultural value. ...
and regional transportation. RPCs may also be involved in a variety of other programs other than growth management, such as emergency preparedness programs planning, GIS services, statistical analysis, small business development and
public health Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals". Analyzing the det ...
projects.


RPCs Composition

Each county in the region shall have a member on the Board of Directors of the RPC in its region and shall have at least one vote. Local governments and the
Governor of Florida A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...
may appoint either locally elected officials or lay citizens, provided that at least two-thirds of the voting members are locally elected officials. Each RPC's Board may be composed of the following members: *Local elected officials (city and county commissioners). *Officials appointed by the Governor, including an elected school board member to be nominated by the Florida School Board Association. *Ex officio nonvoting members appointed by the Governor.


RPC Organization

There are 10 RPCs in the State of Florida; one for each comprehensive planning district of the state:
West Florida RPC, PensacolaApalachee RPC, TallahasseeNorth Central Florida RPC, GainesvilleNortheast Florida Regional Council, JacksonvilleEast Central Florida RPC, OrlandoCentral Florida RPC, BartowTampa Bay RPCSouthwest Florida RPC, Ft. MyersTreasure Coast RPC, StuartSouth Florida RPC, MiamiWithlacoochee RPC, Ocala
(Written out of existence by 2015 SB 1216; Fl Stat 186.512)


Concept of Operations

Florida’s Regional Planning Councils (RPCs) are government agencies recognized by Florida Statutes and created by Interlocal Agreements between local governments. The RPCs are available to assist in the planning and implementation of State, Federal, and Local Government programs. The staffs of the Councils represent a wide variety of skill sets and are experienced in program design. Working with the Councils through an agreement / Purchase order or contract will maximize your program dollars by ensuring your program is implemented in an efficient and cost effective manner. The issues of public safety, education, health care, community and economic development and redevelopment, protection and conservation of natural and historic resources, transportation, and public facilities transcend the boundaries and responsibilities of individual units of government. Coordination among all levels of government is necessary to promote intergovernmental coordination and the effective allocation of resources. The RPC’s provide an effective mechanism is assisting the State in articulating its policies/programs at the regional and Local levels. A public agency of this state may exercise jointly with any other public agency of the state, of any other state, or of the United States Government any power, privilege, or authority which such agencies share in common and which each might exercise separately. An interlocal agreement may provide for a separate legal or administrative entity to administer or execute the agreement, which may be a commission, board, or council constituted pursuant to the agreement, and a separate legal or administrative entity created by an interlocal agreement possesses the common power specified in the agreement and may exercise it in the manner or according to the method provided in the agreement. All of the privileges and immunities from liability and exemptions from laws, ordinances, and rules which apply to the municipalities and counties of this state apply to the same degree and extent to any separate legal entity, created pursuant to the provisions of this section, wholly owned by the municipalities or counties of this state, the membership of which consists or is to consist only of municipalities or counties of the State.


See also

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Government of Florida The government of Florida is established and operated according to the Constitution of Florida and is composed of three branches of government: the executive branch consisting of the governor of Florida and the other elected and appointed con ...
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Growth management Growth management, in the United States, is a set of techniques used by the government to ensure that as the population grows that there are services available to meet their demands. Growth management goes beyond traditional land use planning, zon ...
*
Land use Land use involves the management and modification of natural environment or wilderness into built environment such as settlements and semi-natural habitats such as arable fields, pastures, and managed woods. Land use by humans has a long ...
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Regional planning Regional planning deals with the efficient placement of land-use activities, infrastructure, and settlement growth across a larger area of land than an individual city or town. Regional planning is related to urban planning as it relates land ...
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Urban planning Urban planning, also known as town planning, city planning, regional planning, or rural planning, is a technical and political process that is focused on the development and design of land use and the built environment, including air, water, ...
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Zoning Zoning is a method of urban planning in which a municipality or other tier of government divides land into areas called zones, each of which has a set of regulations for new development that differs from other zones. Zones may be defined for a si ...


External links


National Association of Regional CouncilsFlorida Department of Community AffairsAssociation of Metropolitan Planning OrganizationsFlorida Emergency Preparedness Association
Urban planning in the United States Government of Florida