Letter from the City Manager

August 8, 2007

To: Mayor and City Commission

Re: Synopsis of Accomplishments for the period of 10/01/2007 through 08/07/2007

I am pleased to report that over the past year we have made significant progress toward the goals the City commission has established. Specifically, our fund balance has steadily risen to above 10%, we have emphasized public safety by reaching full staffing in our police department, revitalization of our blighted areas (CRA) is in full swing, and we have promoted several of our top managers from within our ranks.

In an effort to create an environment of participation and inclusion, staff and I have attended or facilitated numerous community meetings, thus, we have nurtured public participation because of the openness and accessibility of our government. For example, regularly, community leaders are gathered to discuss current events in a friendly lunch setting. Moreover, we have created processes that allow residents easy access to public information (e.g. our new radio station, email lists used to spread information). Finally, I have made myself available to community leaders, 24/7, via my home and cell telephones. The feedback we are able to collect is then forwarded to the City Commission via my weekly reports or through direct discussions.

The most significant challenge we have dealt with was presented by the recent legislation to reduce the City’s ability to collect tax revenues. Indeed, the loss of $3.8M presented unique and difficult obstacles. However, because our resourcefulness, guidance from the Commission, and the expertise of staff, we able to cope with these challenges. Many changes were made. Staff was redeployed, vacant positions were not filled, and job duties were consolidated. Subsequently, staff is working harder, but thankfully we did not have to lay anyone off!

Many positive changes were made this year. Beautification projects are being completed in all areas. These investments are now beginning to attract the private improvements we forecasted. The Villas on N.W. 56th Avenue is in the process of a major site improvement, including complete facelifts to all of the buildings. Also, many new residential, owner occupied units are being built. Our Tax base will certainly improve because of these improvements.

All of this is not going unnoticed. In fact, our image has steadily improved over the past few years to the point that we are now the focus of discussions at many Broward County planning meetings. Also, many of our projects like the Renaissance Village, a single family home project, have received very positive press.

In summary, we have made steady and substantial process toward our goals. This progress is seen wherever you travel in our City. More importantly, our progress can be felt when we speak with our community leaders. Their pride of accomplish, and their desire to do more, is obvious. In my view, the ‘report card’ we are getting from our residents is good.

I have created the following abridged list of some of the major accomplishments we have made over the past year:

· We were awarded $8.3M in grant funds from Broward County for redevelopment projects

· Purchased Mission Lake plaza and 8 Townhomes as part of the Central revitalization plan

· Created an arts incubator to further the vision of the 441 CRA

· Installed >21,000 linear feet of decorative walls and landscaping

· Utilized City staff for major beautification projects for a >$100,000 savings to taxpayers

· Installed decorative fencing at many of our parks

· Consolidated personnel to save costs and meet the demands presented by loss of tax revenues

· Successfully obtained our HUD housing authority number

· Established the unsafe structures board created by the City Commission
Synopsis of Accomplishments for the period of 10/01/2007 through 8/07/2007

· Fire/Rescue passed a ‘spot’ inspection by the State with zero (0) deficiencies found

· Obtained ~$1M in grants for numerous projects (excluding CDBG and SHIP)

· Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program was started with a group of community leaders.

· Established a Summer Literacy Camp, sponsored by JM Family and the Oscar Thomas Foundation. 3 year commitment for $100,000

· Developed a partnership with the Florida Youth Athletic Association (FLYAA) and the Princeton Review to provide free tutoring classes to youth football participants

· Secured the Staples Dream Park Challenge Championship and a $25,000 purse

· Installed of the Thorguard Lightning Detection System (protects all parks throughout the city)

· Administered over 1000 swim lessons to local Lauderhill youth

· Assumed responsibility for investigating homicide cases in the City of Lauderhill

· Secured Federal Grant funding to continue offering the following programs to the community: Police Impact Program (PIP), PAL programs and the Citizen’s Police Academy

· Safely conducting over 30 drug search warrants, seizing just under a half million dollars worth of drugs, 21 motor vehicles, and $38,100 in cash

· Receiving State recognition by the Department of Transportation for winning two first place awards in the Florida Law Enforcement Challenge. The awards relate to traffic enforcement, safety, and education. $25,000 in traffic enforcement equipment was the award to the Police Department

This list represents only a small portion of the total accomplishments we have all made over the past year. Please refer to my ‘weekly reports’ for additional details.


Goals for 2008

The primary goal for my staff and I will be to meet the future challenges of tax reform. Indeed, it will be imperative for us to be innovative to ensure that the progress we have made toward revitalization and economic development continues.

Areas we will explore to increase revenues and/or reduce costs include:

· Special taxing districts

· Cooperatives and other cost sharing partnerships with both private and public entities

· Utilization of additional centralized operations, and outsourcing

Economic Development:

· Staff will actively pursue attracting events to our area , e.g. sporting events to fill seats at the CBRP stadium, and cultural events for our new cultural center

· We will continue to work toward creating the Arts district near 441

· We will work diligently to complete as many beautifications projects as possible to create a desirable business corridor on 441 and OPB


Charles Faranda
City Manager