Orange County’s Charter Review Commission meets every four years to deliberate changes to the document that guides how the county is governed. This time around, the commission came up with three proposed charter changes, which are on the general election ballot.
The Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board recommends passing all 3:
Question No. 1: Yes
Considering the dismal condition of waterways throughout Florida, it’s hard to argue that state and local authorities have done enough to protect them.
Deteriorating water quality conditions in Central Florida were the driving force behind this charter amendment, which relies on an emerging legal concept called “rights of nature.” Not surprisingly, opponents conjure up images of rivers strolling into courthouses to sue for their rights.
And that’s what this charter amendment was aimed at doing — halting government and corporate pollution of waterways in Orange County.
That sounds like an admirable goal that’s worthy of the litigation that might result.
Sadly for voters, this charter amendment likely won’t do what was intended, thanks to the Florida Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Lawmakers earlier this year passed a bill called “The Clean Waterways Act,” which included a provision banning local governments from establishing the kind of natural rights clauses on Orange County’s ballot.
The bill is being challenged in federal court. But unless it’s overturned, this question is little more than a straw vote. Still, it gives Orange County voters an opportunity to tell Tallahassee and county commissioners how important clean water is to them. That’s reason enough to vote yes.
Question No. 2: Yes
Orange County commissioners last year were presented with a rotten choice courtesy of Osceola County, which approved huge development plans that necessitated extending the Osceola Parkway east. One plan had the highway plowing straight through the heart of the preservation area called Split Oak Forest.
Transportation officials came up with a compromise to take the road extension south so it would slice off just one corner of the forest. Plus, landowners offered to add another 1,500 acres to the forest. It was do that deal or plow down a bunch of homes.
Orange commissioners were in a box, and voted to approve the deal. We supported it at the time, though reluctantly.
This charter question, aimed specifically at Split Oak, would prevent the county from doing further harm to the forest. Considering how badly the road plan went over with the public, that seems unlikely. But who can blame Orange County voters for not wanting to take that chance?
The question would have had more appeal to us if it had been broadened to capture other public lands in Orange County to ensure no more preservation deals were undone. It also might have consequences to the road deal if the state, which also has to sign off on the Osceola Parkway plan, asks for changes.
It should never have come to this. Growth management at the state level used to force local officials to address road issues like this before it was too late. But the state gave up its role in growth management, leaving decision-making to sometimes irresponsible locals.
This charter question is an imperfect answer to an imperfect decision, but we think voters should support it to ensure Split Oak Forest isn’t put into danger again.
Question No. 3: Yes
Like a lot of charter amendments, this one is a housekeeping item. But unlike a lot of charter amendments, this one has consequences for Orange County voters…
See the rest of the article in the Orlando Sentinel HERE.