LWVVC Positions

League of Women Voters of Volusia County

THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
OF VOLUSIA COUNTY

President Sandra Horikami

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LWVVC Positions
Although non-partisan, The League of Women Voters of Volusia County studies many local issues. Below is the current list of positions we have taken on these, as amended or re-adopted at the LWVVC General Meeting, April 12, 2008:
CHILDREN’S SERVICES

The League of Women Voters of Volusia County supports efforts to make children's services a priority in Volusia County, with the emphasis on:
Prenatal health care for pregnant women

Comprehensive health care for children from birth to eighteen

High quality, age-appropriate educational services for children from birth to eighteen

COUNTY CHARTER
The League:

Supports protections of the County Charter and its principles, to include monitoring County Council to ensure that the principles are implemented.

Supports an appointed (rather than elected) sheriff, property appraiser, and supervisor of elections, all with professional qualifications.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT (revised position, adopted April 28, 2007)
The League of Women Voters of Volusia county is concerned about the negative consequences of rapid growth throughout the region. In order to preserve the quality of life in Volusia County and to direct regional growth in a responsible manner:

LWVVC believes Volusia County and the municipalities within its borders should work together to protect the environment while providing reasonable use of the land and restricting the use of wetland mitigation.
LWVVC supports the buffering of environmentally sensitive land and water bodies and encourages the preservation of open, recreational, and green spaces to enhance and maintain quality of life within the county and its municipalities.
LWVVC supports giving public interest priority over private interest regarding the conservation of our natural habitats in Volusia County.
LWVVC supports increased attention to potable water issues, including the assurance of clean water in the Comprehensive Plans of Volusia County and its municipalities.
LWVVC supports development of effective drainage systems to improve recharge and retention areas and reduce flooding in Volusia county and its municipalities.
LWVVC support measures to ensure that any comprehensive plan amendment or rezoning that permits increased residential density may be approved only if public school capacity will be adequate to serve the projected increase in student population.

NATURAL RESOURCES
1. The League of Women Voters of Volusia County supports efforts to conserve and protect our water supply as an essential part of ecosystem management. These efforts include:
a) The County Council’s continued implementation of Volusia County’s stormwater management ordinance.
b) LWVVC’s continued participation in the LWV Coalition to monitor the St. Johns River Water Management District.
c) Sound management of Volusia County’s designated sole source aquifer.
d) Protection of Volusia County’s recharge area.
e) Establishment of a county-wide entity to govern water usage.
2. LWVVC opposes the development of a Ponce Inlet Marina. (At the annual meeting, April 28, 2007, it was decided that a committee should be established to study the entire county and possible marina developments)

STORMWATER
1. Because stormwater basins and sub-canal systems cross city/community boundaries, LWVVC believes that Volusia County should be primarily responsible for their maintenance.
2. LWVVC supports both county and local stormwater fees.
3. There should be incentives for using reclaimed water.
4. Local municipalities should include streetsweeping in their stormwater management plans.
5. In addition to preventing flooding, effective stormwater management plans must provide for:
a) reduction of pollutants entering the waterways,
b) reduction of desalination of salt water tributaries in the county,
c) reclamation of stormwater to reduce the demands on the aquifer and
d) reduction of runoff pollution entering the aquifer.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE - ZERO TO FIVE
1. The League of Women Voters of Volusia County supports the following recommendations to the Florida legislature:

Amend statutes to require improved ratios of adults to children.
Provide funding to assist child care programs in becoming Gold Seal certified.
Increase the payment rate per subsidized child to child care providers.
Develop and implement a state-wide quality rating system of child care programs. The rating system should include program curriculum and environment and be available to the public.
Require licensing of all Family Child Care Homes.
Provide funding for adequate licensing personnel.

2. Recommendations for Community Involvement:

Develop facilities for night and weekend child care.
Develop alternative programs for children who have temporary illnesses.
Encourage companies to collaborate on establishing quality child care for employees.