Sunday, January 27, 2013

Public Hearing - Oakland Park Blvd. Transportation Alternatives Analysis

On Thursday, Jan. 31, from 4 to 7 pm, a Public Hearing on the Oakland Park Blvd. Transportation Alternatives will be conducted at the Lauderdale Lakes Branch Library on Oakland Park Blvd. (just east of 441).

It is proposed to create Premium or Express Bus service along Oakland Park Blvd., and the meeting is to reach out to the Public to get their comments on the proposals and discuss potential solutions.

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Notes of the Commission Meeting of January 14

The following are notes of interest from the City Commission Meeting of January 14 (all items passed unanimously unless otherwise indicated):


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

ORDINANCE NO. 13O-01-100:  AMENDING THE CITY OF LAUDERHILL CODE OF ORDINANCES  TO INCREASE THE RECYCLING RATES BASED UPON THE CONTRACT WITH ALL SERVICE, INC. TO ADJUST THE COLLECTION COMPONENT OF RECYCLING BY 80% OF THE JUNE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (CPI) TO AMEND THE RATES CURRENTLY IN EFFECT; AMENDING AND UPDATING THE PROVISIONS RELATIVE TO THE PROCEDURE FOR INCREASES/DECREASES IN RECYCLING RATES.

ORDINANCE NO. 13O-01-101:  AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES,   APPROVING THE AMENDMENT TO THE SCHEDULE OF RATES, FEES AND CHARGES PURSUANT TO THE FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS WITH REPUBLIC SERVICES OF FLORIDA, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP D/B/A ALL SERVICE REFUSE AND INCORPORATING THEM INTO THE CITY CODE OF ORDINANCES SPECIFICALLY REGARDING THE RATE FOR 96-GALLON COMMERCIAL BACKDOOR SERVICE OF $145.12; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE OF OCTOBER 1, 2012.

ORDINANCE NO. 13O-01-102:   IMPOSING A 120 DAY MORATORIUM ON THE ESTABLISHMENT, LOCATION, LICENSING, PERMITTING, MAINTENANCE OR CONTINUATION OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS ENGAGED AS “DEFERRED PRESENTMENT      PROVIDERS,” "MONEY SERVICES BUSINESSES,” “CHECK CASHING STORES,” “PETTY LOANS,” AND “PAYDAY LENDING” AS DEFINED BY THE FLORIDA STATUTES, AND SIMILAR USES.


RESOLUTIONS

RESOLUTION NO. 13R-01-01:   URGING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE IN AMERICA AND TO HELP PREVENT FUTURE MASS SHOOTINGS BY PASSING   THE FIX GUN CHECKS ACT, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE A BACKGROUND CHECK FOR EVERY GUN SALE AND WOULD ENSURE THAT ALL CRIMINALS AND OTHER DANGEROUS PEOPLE WHO ARE PROHIBITED FROM BUYING A GUN ARE LISTED IN THE NATIONAL INSTANT CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK SYSTEM; SUPPORTING LEGISLATION THAT WOULD KEEP MILITARY-STYLE WEAPONS AND HIGH CAPACITY MAGAZINES OFF OUR STREETS  (REQUESTED BY MAYOR RICHARD J. KAPLAN).  Passed 4-1 with Commissioner Berger voting No.

RESOLUTION NO. 13R-01-02:   SUPPORTING AN INITIATIVE TO DEMAND THE BOARD OF RULES AND APPEALS FOR BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA (BORA) CEASE AND DESIST THE UNAUTHORIZED AND ILLEGAL CERTIFICATION OF MUNICIPAL BUILDING DEPARTMENTS AND BUILDING OFFICIALS AND INSPECTORS  (REQUESTED BY MAYOR RICHARD J. KAPLAN).  Tabled to review BORA's attorney response which was received just before the meeting.  Discussion among the parties was suggested by Mayor Kaplan, and there is an interest to try to resolve the issue.

RESOLUTION NO. 13R-01-09:  ACCEPTING THE FUNDING FROM THE MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS FOUNDATION GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $12,500.00 ON BEHALF OF THE POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE OF LAUDERHILL TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE LAUDERHILL POLICE DEPARTMENT’S POLICE EXPLORER PROGRAM; PROVIDING THAT NO MATCHING FUNDS ARE REQUIRED.

Friday, January 18, 2013

BCPS Magnet Schools to Host Open Houses and Live Web Chats


Thinking about a magnet program, but not sure which one to choose? During the month of January, Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) will hold its annual magnet schools open houses and live web chats to offer interested students and parents an opportunity to learn more about the program themes, specialized curriculum and activities available at magnet schools.

During the open houses, parents and students will be able to tour the magnet school facilities and talk with magnet coordinators and teachers. In addition, some magnet schools are reaching out to students and parents through virtual live web chats. Web chats provide a convenient way to gain insight about a magnet school by logging on from a desktop or laptop.  Once connected, a magnet coordinator will present the program through a webinar and chat remotely with parents and students.

For more information about the unique academic options offered in magnet schools, the schedule of open houses, and to log on to the live web chats, visit the Innovative Programs website at (www.browardschoolsinnovativeprograms.com). Applications are also available online. The deadline to apply to a magnet school is February 13, 2013.

Following is the Magnet Schools Open Houses and Web Chats Schedule – January 2013:

Elementary School Open Houses

January 22
•     Sanders Park 6 p.m.  

January 23
•     Riverland 5 p.m.                               
•     North Fork 6:30 p.m.

January 24
•     Broward Estates 7 p.m.   
•     Markham 5 p.m.                                                                            
•     Palmview 7 p.m.                                        
•     Wilton Manors 7 p.m.
                                                                                        
January 25                  
•     Thurgood Marshall 7 p.m.

January 29           
•     Virginia Shuman Young 5:30 p.m.      
•     Beachside Montessori 6 p.m.   

January 30  
•     Bethune 7 p.m.
•     Deerfield Park 7 p.m.                                          
•     North Andrews Gardens 7 p.m.                
•     Walker 6 p.m.

January 31
•     Charles Drew 6:30 p.m.                   
•     Colbert 7 p.m.                                          

Middle School Open Houses

January 9
•     Driftwood 6:30 p.m.
•     Lauderdale Lakes 7 p.m.
•     Lauderhill 7 p.m.

January 10
•     Apollo 6 p.m.                                    
•     Arthur Ashe 6 p.m.                                                        
•     Sunrise 6 p.m.                                 
•     Crystal Lake 7 p.m.

January 15
•     Attucks 6:30 p.m.                      
•     McNicol 6:30 p.m.                         
•     Deerfield Beach 7 p.m.                           
•     New River 7 p.m.

January 16
•     Parkway 6:30 p.m.                           
•     Silver Lakes 7 p.m.

January 17
•     Margate 7 p.m.                                     
•     Pompano Beach 7 p.m.             
•     William Dandy 7 p.m.

High School Open Houses

January 9
•     Deerfield Beach 7 p.m.
        
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January 15
•     Northeast 7 p.m.      

January 16
•     Hollywood Hills 6 p.m.
•     Atlantic Technical 6 p.m.                           

January 22
•     Pompano Beach 6 p.m.                
•     Stranahan 7 p.m.     

January 23
•     Boyd Anderson 7 p.m.                                             
•     Miramar 7 p.m.
•     South Plantation 7 p.m.

January 24
•     Blanche Ely 6 p.m.                            
•     Dillard 6 p.m.                          
•     Fort Lauderdale 6 p.m.                                
•     McFatter Technical 6:30 p.m.                      
•     Hallandale 7 p.m.

January 29
•     South Broward 5:30 p.m.

Following is the Magnet Web Chats Schedule – January 2013:

January 9
•     Hollywood Hills High 6:30 – 7 p.m.

January 10  
•     Parkway Middle 6 – 7 p.m.

January 14
•     Arthur Ashe Middle 6 – 7 p.m.
•     Atlantic Tech High 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.

January 15
•     Attucks Middle 6:45 – 7:45 p.m.

January 17
•     Northeast High 5 – 7 p.m.

January 18
•     Crystal Lake Middle 11 a.m. – Noon

January 22
•     Deerfield Beach Middle 9 – 10 a.m.

January 23
•     Miramar High 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
•     Riverland Elementary 5 – 6 p.m.
•     New River Middle 5 – 6 p.m.
•     Silver Lakes Middle 6 – 7 p.m.

January 24
•     Blanche Ely High 5 – 6 p.m.
•     Coral Springs Zone 6 – 7 p.m.
•     Margate Middle 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
•     Palmview Elementary 5 – 6 p.m.
•     South Broward High 5 – 6 p.m.
•     Stranahan High 5 – 6 p.m.
•     Colbert Elementary 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
•     North Fork Elementary 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
•     Margate Middle 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

January 25
•     Thurgood Marshall Elementary 5 – 6 p.m.

January 28
•     Pompano Beach High 10 – 11 a.m.

January 29
•     Beachside Montessori Village 10:30 – 11 a.m.
•     Hallandale High 1 – 2 p.m.
•     Virginia Shuman Young Elementary 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
•     Dillard High 6 – 7 p.m.

January 30
•     McFatter Technical High 2 – 3 p.m.
•     Boyd Anderson High 3 – 4 p.m.
•     Walker Elementary 4 – 5 p.m.
•     North Andrews Gardens Elementary 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
•     Deerfield Park Elementary 7 – 8 p.m.

January 31
•     Charles Drew Elementary 6 – 7 p.m.
•     Bethune Elementary 6 – 7 p.m.

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Lauderhill Breakdown of Capital Improvements $$$

Because of inquiries concerning where capital improvements were being constructed in Lauderhill and whether the funds (mostly from the GO Bond) were fairly distributed throughout the city, a report was generated documents the improvements.

The following is a summary of those expenditures from 2005 to date and the area of the city it occurred:

CENTRAL AREA (west of the Turnpike and south of Oakland Park Blvd.)  $6.77 Million
INVERRARY & INVERRARY HOMES $4.80 Million
NORTHWEST AREA (west of University Dr.) $4.47 Million
EAST AREA (between 441 and the Turnpike) $5.55 Million
SOUTHEAST AREA (St. George/Broward Estates/West Ken Lark) $8.38 Million
MAJOR CITY ROADS (441, Oakland Park Blvd and 56th Ave.) $17.09 Million
CITY WIDE PROJECTS (PAC and City Hall) $11.34 Million

Wednesday, January 09, 2013

Okey Dokey Grocery Market Grand Opening in Lauderhill

Okey-Dokey, the small-format grocery chain founded by Russian retail magnates, is having its Grand Opening of its new Lauderhill store this Saturday, January 12 from 10 to 3 pm.  The store is located at 4450 N. University Drive and is its 5th store.

The grocery chain is planning to open 400 neighborhood grocery markets between Homestead and Jupiter over the next 4-5 years.  National expansion is next.  The stores will be community hubs with fresh groceries, real nutritional offerings, and prices on the level of big-box chains in the size of a 5,000-7,000 square foot market.  Each store will employ 15-20 people and allow local businesses to set up kiosks within.

Sunday, January 06, 2013

Jazz Picnic in the Park - Sunday, January 13

Sponsored by the Inverrary Association, the 2nd concert of the Jazz Picnic in the Park Series will take place at the Amphitheatre in Lieberman Botanical Gardens, on Sunday, January 13 from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm.  Performing will be SOUND OF VISION.

For more information go to www.lauderhilljazz.com.

Thursday, January 03, 2013

FFCA Public Information Officer of the Year


Congratulations to Division Chief Jeff Levy "FFCA Public Information Officer of the Year."

It's with great pride Lauderhill announces that Division Chief Jeff Levy has been awarded the Florida Fire Chief's Association 2012 Public Information Officer of the Year. This prestigious award is given to those individuals who have made significant and valuable contributions to the FFCA PIO section and who has demonstrated excellence as a Public Information Officer.

Chief Levy was instrumental in designing and implementing the FFCA's Mobile Joint Information Center (JIC). Chief Levy will receive his award at Fire Rescue East in January.