§ 42-441. Findings of fact.

(a)

Florida Statutes § 163.08 authorizes local governments defined as a county, a municipality, a dependent special district as defined in F.S. § 189.012, or a separate legal entity created pursuant to F.S. § 163.01(7), to establish and administer PACE financing programs pursuant to which owners of real property may obtain funding for qualifying improvements.

(b)

Several PACE local governments have been created and the availability of the voluntary, non-exclusive PACE program offered by the separate PACE local governments is able to be utilized by Pinellas County through interlocal agreement without cost, assumption of liability by, or demand upon the credit of Pinellas County.

(c)

Florida Statutes § 163.08(3) authorizes a PACE local government to levy non-ad valorem assessments to fund qualifying improvements.

(d)

It is in the best interests of the citizens of Pinellas County to create a PACE program through the adoption of an ordinance that sets uniform consumer protections that apply to all PACE local governments who implement and manage PACE programs in Pinellas County excepting any municipality that has opted out of the Pinellas County PACE Program.

(e)

PACE local governments shall be authorized to implement the PACE program through individual PACE interlocal agreements.

(f)

The installation and operation of qualifying improvements not only benefits the affected properties for which the improvements are made, but also provides a public benefit by assisting in fulfilling the goals of the state's and county's energy and hurricane mitigation policies.

(g)

The voluntary participation in the PACE program by property owners will provide an alternative financing option to finance and repay the costs to provide and install qualifying improvements to property located within Pinellas County.

(h)

It is within the best interests of the citizens of Pinellas County to have uniform consumer protection regulations that apply to all PACE local governments and PACE administrators who implement and manage PACE programs in Pinellas County excepting any municipality that has opted out of the Pinellas County PACE Program.

(Ord. No. 17-37, § 2, 12-12-17)