Notes of the Commission Meeting May 14

On May 14, the Commission met, and the following matters of interest were discussed and acted upon:

PRESENTATIONS:
1) Recognizing members of the Lauderhill Middle School Basketball Team (Division 5 Champs) and Shot Put winner (3rd Place to Andrew Wilson).
2) Recognizing and awarding officers of the Lauderhill Police Department for their outstanding accomplishments.

SECOND READING:
1) Approved on final reading changing the penalty on delinquent bills from 2% to 1% to coincide with a change in the water bill from bi-monthly to monthly billings.
2) Approved the six months budget review adjustments in the amount of $2,360,379.
3) Tabled granting FPL an exclusive electric franchise for another 30 years.


RESOLUTIONS:
1) Approved the distribution formula of Broward County from receipts on local Gas Tax. However, a request was made to explain why the University of Florida population numbers, which are used for the formula, are lower than that produced by Broward County Urban Planning Department, and why the county does not use its own numbers for the formula.
2) Disapproved the Resolution on a 1 to 4 vote to encourage the Broward County Fair to hold the Fair in Lauderhill annually in November at the Regional Park. Concerns over public safety and county support were expressed. Commission Berger sponsored the Resolution and was the sole vote in favor of it. Commission Berger attempted to table the item because of the concerns, but that failed on a 2 to 3 vote (Berger and Kaplan in favor of tabling). Mayor Kaplan felt that he could not vote in favor of it because of the lack of information, and because the Commission would not table the item, he joined in the dissent. Commission Bates expressed that the item could come back to the Commission as a new item in the future if concerns were addressed.
3) Approved Community Development Block Grants Funds in the amount of $125,805.
4) Approved the SHIP budget in the amount of $567,402.
5) Approved funding and authorization for the Lauderhill Housing Authority, in an amount not to exceed $4,000,000, for purchase of 34 units in Central Lauderhill for rehabilitation and management, for rental purposes.

QUASI-JUDICIAL MATTERS:
1) Special Exception Use request was denied 0-5. This house of religious worship never was given approval to operate, nor had ever requested such approval, though it has been operating since 2000. The city had issued a license to operate, in violation of city ordinance because of this lack of approval. Also, it is in the same shopping center as another house of religious worship that has been in operation since 1994, and therefore is in violation of the separation requirement. Staff had recommended against its approval due to these violations.
2) Special Exception to allow a convenience store at 5510 W. Oakland Park Blvd. was denied 1-4, with Commission Berger voting in favor of it. Staff had recommended against its approval. There were numerous issues concerning the property which has been in violation of law. Normally such approvals are not granted until violations are cleared, if they can be cleared. Several of the violations were not possible to clear, and therefore did not qualify for approval. Alternatives were suggested to the applicant to help them recover, but the city was not a source to resolve this situation.

NEW BUSINESS:
None