Notes of Commission Meeting and CRA Meeting of May 12

On May 12, the City Commission met for its CRA Meeting and Regular Commission Meeting. The following are some points of interest from those meetings:

CRA MEETING:

1. RENAISSANCE PLAZA VACANCY - The City is working to have business vacate the plaza, and eventually the facility will be torn down. However, we need to wait until all leases expires. One of the leases that we were working to buy out expires in July. Therefore, we are just allowing it to expire without buyout. In the meantime, we are renting out the remaining spaces for art related activities. Recently, a letter was received to provide space to "The West Side Poets Care & Cultural Theatre." The leases cover the expenses of the plaza.

2. BUSINESS AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE WITH SUZANO, BRAZIL - A delegation from Lauderhill is going to visit our sister city. Commission Holness is going on behalf of the city, but due to the objection of some residents concerning city paid foreign travel, the Commissioner is paying for this without city funds. However, this trip is solely for the city's benefit. In the fall, a delegation from Suzano shall be visiting our city.

3. BROWARD COUNTY HOUSING LINKAGE FEE - The CRA Board received a report concerning a fee to be created by the county on new development to fund affordable housing programs. At this point concerns related to the program were raised. Lauderhill's housing stock is adequate and affordable. The needs of the city is to improve the condition of the housing stock by rehabilitation of properties. Therefore, the fee would not be of any benefit to the city, and more likely it would be a detriment by discouraging businesses to develop.

4. STRATEGIC PLAN, FLORIDA BENCHMARKS, AND CRA PLAN - Lauderhill is developing a Strategic Plan which incorporate Benchmarks.

5. DIRECTOR’S REPORT - ULI Conference is moving forward. The dates are October 27-30, and the Broward Alliance is creating a Broward Pavilion at the conference in Miami.


REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING:

A PRESENTATION TO RECOGNIZE AND CONGRATULATE THE FOUR WINNERS OF THE $1000.00 LAUDERHILL COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP ESSAY AWARD (REQUESTED BY MAYOR KAPLAN). The winners are Tracki Walton, Ariel Deray, Chelsea Kramish, and Lauren A. King. Their essays will be posted on the city web site, http://www.lauderhill-fl.gov/.


ORDINANCES & PUBLIC HEARINGS ----- FIRST READING:

1. ORDINANCE NO. 08O-05-120: Approved an Ordinance amending and re-adopting the Zoning District Map identified in Land Development Regulations, in order to apply zoning districts to the annexed areas, to change the zoning district of any city park not currently zoned Open Space Park (PO) district or local park (pl) district to PO or PL district, to correct two map errors, and to make other map amendments; amending the Zoning District Map boundaries to include the Broward Estates, St. George, and West Ken Lark neighborhoods and the Swap Shop; PROVIDING VARIOUS NEW ZONING DISTRICT CHANGES IN DESIGNATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY INCLUDING THE ANNEXED AREAS AS PROVIDING MORE SPECIFICALLY HEREIN.

ORDINANCES & PUBLIC HEARINGS --- SECOND READING: (AS ADVERTISED IN THE SUN-SENTINEL)

1. ORDINANCE NO. 08O-04-117: APPROVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION ON A 4-1 VOTE (COMMISSIONER BENSON VOTING AGAINST) AN ORDINANCE PROHIBITING LOBBYING ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE CITY OF LAUDERHILL BY PUBLIC ELECTED OFFICIALS EXCEPT IN THEIR OFFICIAL CAPACITY OR ON BEHALF OF THEMSELVES OR THEIR IMMEDIATE FAMILY; (REQUESTED BY MAYOR RICHARD J. KAPLAN).

RESOLUTIONS

COMMISSION

1. RESOLUTION NO. 08R-05-120: APPROVED A RESOLUTION TO APPOINT MEMBERS TO THE LAUDERHILL LOCAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE AS REQUIRED BY FLORIDA STATUTES, SECTION 420.9076; PROVIDING THAT THE COMMITTEE SHALL CONSIST OF ELEVEN MEMBERS AND PROVIDING REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPOSITION OF BOARD MEMBERS; (REQUESTED BY CITY MANAGER, CHARLES FARANDA). VOLUNTEERS ARE BEING REQUESTED TO SERVE ON THIS AND OTHER BOARDS OF THE CITY.

2. RESOLUTION NO. 08R-05-121: APPROVED A RESOLUTION APPROVING AND APPOINTING THE EDUCATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD’S SELECTION OF PATRICIA A. TAYLOR AS THE FIRST ALTERNATE TO THE BOARD FOR THE TERM EXPIRING NOVEMBER 2010 AND PAULA WOODBURN TO SERVE AS SECOND ALTERNATE TO THE BOARD FOR THE TERM EXPIRING NOVEMBER 2010.

3. RESOLUTION NO. 08R-05-122: APPROVED A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LAUDERHILL REQUESTING THE SCHOOL BOARD OF BROWARD COUNTY TO ESTABLISH A MAGNET PROGRAM WITH THE THEME “HEALTH AND WELLNESS” AT LAUDERHILL MIDDLE SCHOOL.