Protecting Cone Ranch as Public Wetlands.  The Platform and Issues Committee recommended many resolutions on this issue during 2010.  Among them:

Whereas the damage that has already been done to the historic wetlands that make up the property labeled Cone Ranch threatens the health of the Hillsborough River; and

Whereas the restoration of the Cone Ranch historic wetlands will significantly benefit the Hillsborough River as a water source for the City of Tampa; and

Whereas the City of Tampa over the last two years spent $14.2 million “replacing” the water that has been lost because of the degradation of the Cone Ranch wetlands; and

Whereas the Site Selection Committee of Hillsborough County’s Environmental Lands Acquisition and Protection Program has given the Cone Ranch property its highest priority, the ranking of A; and

Whereas the voters at the last election cycle approved ELAPP’s request for up to $200 million in bonding authority to fund ELAPP capital purchases;

WHEREAS accepting the FCEG offer to broker the privatization of the Cone Ranch property will expose Hillsborough County to risk of considerable financial loss; therefore be it

RESOLVED that the Democratic Party of Hillsborough County demands that in order to assure restoration of the Cone Ranch property the Board of County Commissioners cut off further discussion of the FCEG proposal and, using appropriate financial instruments, authorize the transfer of the Cone Ranch property in its entirety from the Hillsborough County Water Enterprise to the Hillsborough County Environmental Lands Acquisition and Protection Program.

Note:  The County Commission in early 2010 took steps toward transferring Cone Ranch from the Water Enterprise to ELAPP at a reasonable cost. 

Still, the Hillsborough Democratic Party and its Platform  Committee urge all citizens to watch carefully that those steps lead to the desired end.  Please send your comments to Platform-Issues-Legislation@yahoogroups.com