Notes of the Commission Meetings of January 8

The City Commission met on January 8 at a Special Workshop and at Regular Commission Meeting. The following is notes of specific interest:

SPECIAL WORKSHOP - DR. BOBBY JONES GOSPEL COMPLEX

The Lauderhill Commission received a presentation concerning the development of a Gospel Complex at the corner of 441 and Sunrise Blvd. Consensus was obtain to have a special commission meeting on January 12 at 9 AM at the Golf Center, before the Annual Retreat, to receive additional requested information by individual members, receive a recommendation from administration, and to vote on supporting the facility. Included is a proposal to provide funding at $50,000 by the city.

REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING

A) PRESENTATION - Honoring the Lauderhill Lions in the Pee Wee Division for winning the Super Bowl for 2006

B) RESOLUTIONS:

1) Tabled Resolution to Co-Sponsor the Unitown Event because the Agenda Request form was missing from the package. The form does not add additional information to the items, but summarizes the back up. The matter will be heard at the special commission on the 12th.

2) Approved a 3 year extension to the Caribbean National Cultural Association to hold Unite-a-Fest. The agreement does not include an contribution from the city, but does include the ability to cancel the agreement upon 60 days notice. Appropriations to support the event are made through the budget process each year.

C) QUASI-JUDICIAL MATTERS:

1) Approved the allowance of a Drive-Thru Bank at the site of United Theatre on Commercial Blvd., which will be torn down.

2) Approved the allowance of a Drive-Thru Restaurant at the site of United Theatre on Commercial Blvd., which will be torn down. The restaurant is a proposed Steak and Shake. Also on site will be a Chili's. NOTE: The issue about the wall on the rear of the property has not been resolved. The Northwest Homeowners Association will be meeting to discuss this issue, and the Commission is expected to hear a variance to reduce its size. The Commission reserves the right to revisit the height of the wall through the special exception process, or as part of any other variance that may come up on this matter.

D) OTHER BUSINESS:

1) Received consensus for the city to pursue, with the City of Lauderdale Lakes, a traffic engineer, to study a turnpike interchange at Oakland Park Blvd. The cities met with their mayors, city managers and officials of Florida Medical Center, to discuss on proceeding with the study. Cost will be divided between the cities to the extent the cost is not picked up by the MPO. Mayor Kaplan is seeking funding from the MPO for the study.

2) The city will be contributing to the Friends of the Library-Town Centre Branch a $1000 donations for their operations.

3) The Commission cancelled the Regular Workshop meetings of January 15 (MLK Day) and February 19 (Presidents Day).