Florida’s 10 Regional Planning Councils (RPCs) are the result of the trend toward regionalism. They are public organizations which bring together the state’s local governments to share responsibility for the future of Florida.
Each regional planning council is like a bridge between state and local governments representing an area in which mutual resources, characteristics, and issues exist. Your regional planning council includes members from the counties and municipalities located in your region’s planning district and gubernatorial appointees who represent the state.
Florida’s regional planning councils are multi-purpose organizations, charged with accomplishing the following:
CONVENE
Florida’s regional planning councils bring together a variety of viewpoints from various jurisdictions, agencies, and private interests to focus on regionally shared issues such as transportation, planning, economic development, emergency preparedness, housing, infrastructure, and community development.
PLAN
Florida’s regional planning councils were commissioned under Chapter 186, Florida Statutes, to provide comprehensive planning and intergovernmental coordination for managed, responsible growth. In 1985, a series of laws known as “The Growth Management Act” directed regional planning councils to adopt regional policies as part of Florida’s integrated growth management process. Your regional planning council reviews local plans in your region to make sure they complement one another and are consistent with the regional standards defined in the Strategic Regional Policy Plan.
ASSIST
Florida’s regional planning councils are dedicated to providing technical assistance and support to meet the needs of their member local governments. Both the state and local governments often lean on the regional planning councils to provide assistance in the areas of economic development, emergency planning and transportation. Additionally, many programs are implemented at the regional level and housed within the regional planning council resulting in an overall administrative cost savings.
INFORM
Florida’s regional planning councils foster information exchange across jurisdictional lines. Regional planning councils provide a convenient information resource for public and private interests region-wide.
COLLABORATE
Florida’s 10 regional planning councils work collectively as a statewide network by pooling their efforts to protect and enhance the quality of life in Florida. The Florida Regional Councils Association (FRCA) meets monthly to exchange information about regional activities and works with the state and other public organizations to further regional coordination and planning.
