Notes of the Commission Meeting of September 25

On September 25, the City Commission met and addressed the following matters of interest:

SECOND READING ON BUDGET:

The final budget for the 2006-7 passed. It maintains the property tax rate, $6.02, plus $.631 on repayment of the GO Bond, along with no increase in the fire rescue fee.


FIRST READING ON REGULAR AGENDA:

Approved an increase in EMS fees to address increased expenses of providing the service.


SECOND READING ON REGULAR AGENDA:

1) Approved the prohibition of Fortune Telling as an occupation in the city, phasing out those presently operating over the next 3 years.


RESOLUTIONS:

1) Approving the increased use of CSA Southeast, Inc. to provide inspection services.
2) Approved Firefighter Union Contract commencing on Oct. 1, 2006, for a period of 3 years.
3) Approved the use of $18,300 from Lauderhill's Federal Forfeiture Fund to provide 1 emergency/disaster relief traffic signal.
4) Approved a speed hump in the 4200 block of NW 73rd Avenue, based upon the request of petitions signed by residents located there.
5) Approved agreement to obtain property/casualty insurance through the Florida League of Cities, saving over $900,000 in premium.
6) Cancelled the October 9 Commission Meeting, due to conflict with a legal holiday, Columbus Day.


QUASI-JUDICIAL:

Tabled the Christ for the Nations Church Special Exception Use Application until either they obtain a proper survey showing they are more than 1 mile from an existing House of Religious Worship, or apply for a Variance from the LDR from the 1 mile separation requirement in the LDR.

New Address For eLauderhill News

Effective immediately, to reach eLauderhill News, you can use the following easier link: www.elauderhillnews.com

Happy Rosh Hashanah

Inventors Expo

"It's In You" Speakers Network with host AWAKE! An Inventors Expo. Keynote Speaker Bob Levy Product Designer will speak on Patents, Trademarks, Service Marks, Copyrights, and attorney or agents that can assist in the process. The event is schedule for Saturday October 8, 2006, 9 AM to 3:30 PM, at the Inverrary Plaza Resolrt Hotel, 3501 Inverrary Blvd.

Vendor Participants are $100. Attendees admission is $10. Contact 754-245-4093 or
www.Itsinyou2.com for more information. This information was distributed by the Lauderhill Chamber of Commerce

Notes of CRA and Commission Meeting of September 11

The Commission met, heard and acted upon the following items of particular interest:

CRA MEETING:

1) Approve the tenatative budget for the upcoming year.
2) Authorized the CRA Director to proceed with necessary steps to acquire property located at 4037-4039 NW 19th Street.


COMMISSION MEETING:

FIRST READING:

1) Approved adopting a tentative property tax rate for next years budget of $6.02, plus $.631 assessment for repayment of the voter approved GO Bond. This is the same rates from this year.

PROCLAMATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS:

1) The City recognized Principal Sevier of Paul Turner Elementary (C to A), Principal King of Larkdale Elementary (F to C) and Principal Phillips of Smart School (D to A), for increases in their FCAT scores at least 2 letter grades.
2) Received Principal Nesmith as the new principal for Lauderhill Middle School.
3) Received a $1000 scholarship to the Martin Luther King Task Force by the Oscar Thomas Foundation.

SECOND READING:

1) Approved a $3 million purchase of property on Oakland Park Blvd. (the site of the old Publix and CVS) for future construction of a new city hall.

RESOLUTIONS:

1) Re-appointed Arnie Seldon to the Code Enforcement Board as a member, and appointed Theodore D. Taylor (who lives in the newly annexed area of Broward Estates) as an alternate member.
2) Approved rankings of the auditor for the city main accounts in the following order: Watson Rice, Harvey Covington, and Sharpton Burson.
3) Approved the construction and a mobile unit purchase on property for a temporary fire station on 31st Ave., to serve the new southeast side of the city. This was needed since the county failed to turn over the fire station in St. George on 31st Ave., for the city to use in servicing these new areas. Before annexation the county promised to turn over all county assets in those areas to the city, which we relied upon. The fire station, which we expected to be turned over, is an asset of the county, presently within the control with the Sheriff Department, which is a department of the county.

QUASI-JUDICIAL:

1) Tabled the Special Exception Application for Christ for the Nations Church, on property on Commercial Blvd. The table was because of two issues which may require variances first. One, if it is determined to be within 1 mile of another House of Religious Worship. Second, if it is determined to be a free standing building, as they stated it was in their testimony. Variance are heard before Special Exception Use Applications can be heard.

Notes of Commission Meeting of August 28

Because of the impeding Tropical Storm Ernesto, the Commission still conducted its regular commission meeting, but expedited matters. Only items that were either deemed critical to be heard, or could be approved by Consent Agenda or with little discussion, were heard. This way minimal staff could attend the meeting, and instead prepare for the storm. At the time of the meeting, we were unaware if Ernesto would remain a Tropical Storm, or increase in intensity to a Hurricane again.

The following items were acted upon:

FIRST READING:
1) Approved purchase of old Publix/CVS site on Oakland Park Blvd., for $3 million. The purpose of this property is for the construction of the new Lauderhill City Hall

RESOLUTIONS:
1) Approved agreement with FDOT for maintaining landscaping improvements on State Road 7;
2) Approved Assignment Agreement with Broward County for assigning Comcast Cable franchise services in Broward Estates to the City of Lauderhill;
3) Approved a Resolution asking the Governor to convene a special session of the Florida Legislature to address the crisis in the Florida's Windstorm Insurance Market, requested by Mayor Richard J. Kaplan and Commissioner Benson.
4) Approved increasing the value of a home from $185,000 to $250,000 to qualify for HOME/SHIP Funds under Lauderhill's Local Hosing Assistance Plan;

All remaining matters were either tabled until the next Commission Meeting of September 11, or Regular Commission Workshop of September 18.

Broward Estates Joins Lauderhill and Workshops Scheduled

Effective September 15, 2006, 8000 more residents will become part of the City of Lauderhill. This has been accomplished by the completion of annexing that area known as Broward Estates. This area is south of NW 7th Street to Broward Blvd., between NW 31st Ave. and just east of State Road 7. It completes the agreed upon annexation which previously included West Ken Lark, the Swap Shop and St. George. Total population of the city now is approximately 70,000. At this time, no further expansion of the city is under consideration.

Since these newly annexed areas pay taxes to the city, including sharing in the cost of the 2005 $35 million GO Bond, meetings have been scheduled in this areas to better hear from the community their needs and what capital improvements they would be seeking. This area, which also has been called the Southeast Section of Lauderhill, has had limited opportunity for such workshops that were conducted throughout Lauderhill before the vote on the bond was put forward.

The meetings are scheduled as follows:

1) St. George - 7 PM, September 12 at St. George Community Center
2) West Ken Lark - 7:30 PM, September 13 at West Ken Lark Community Center
3) Broward Estates - 7 PM, September 19 at Parkway Middle School

The meetings are open to all, and public participation will be encouraged. Discussion is limited to short to long term budgeting issues, particularly related to capital improvements over the next 5 years.

2nd Annual Hispanic Festival

On Sunday, October 8, from 10 AM to 9 PM, the City of Lauderhill will be holding its 2nd Annual Hispanic Festival. The event, held at the Lauderhill Sports Park on Oakland Park Blvd., is free for all.

This year the featured artist is Grammy Nominee, Carlos Oliva. For more information call 954-730-3000 or check with the City's web page at: http://www.lauderhill.net/happ_coe.html

3rd CRA District Created

The Lauderhill Community Redevelopment Agency has announced a third geographic area for revitalization. The boundaries of this area in Lauderhill are State Road 7 to the west; NW 19 Street to the north; NW 31 Avenue to the east; and, NW 7 Street to the south, with the exception of some residential areas.

The CRA extends beyond Lauderhill and is designated to be an Enterprise Zone, targeted for economic revitalization. It does this by providing tax advantages and incentives for businesses to located within the zone. More information can be found at: http://www.lauderhill.net/dept_cra.html and www.floridaenterprisezone.com.

Vote September 5th Primary. Your Vote Counts

On September 5th Voters will be asked to decide several races. Please refer to eLauderhill News for information and recommendations in an earlier article.

Operation Kidsafe Florida Safety Tour