On October 27, the City Commission met at its Regular Commission Meeting. The following are some items of interest:
ORDINANCES ---- FIRST READING:
1. Tabled to a Workshop ORDINANCE NO. 08O-08-139 AMENDING THE LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS TO ADD CONSERVATION; ADDRESS LIGHT EMISSION; PROVIDING LIGHT CONSERVATION AND ADDING REQUIREMENTS ON MATERIALS, LANDSCAPING, REFLECTIVITY, REVIEW, AND SHIELDING (REQUESTED BY MAYOR RICHARD J. KAPLAN). Also, City Manager will obtain the necessary lighting expertise to advise the Commission.
2. Approved ORDINANCE NO. 08O-10-156 AMENDING THE LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS AND PERTAINING TO CONVENIENCE STORES; ADDING AND DEFINING CONVENIENCE STORE, GROCERY STORE, SPECIALTY FOOD STORE, AND SUPERMARKET; AMENDING PERMITTED AND SPECIAL EXCEPTION USES, BY ALLOWING WITHIN THE COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL AND GENERAL COMMERCIAL ZONING DISTRICTS GROCERY STORES AND SPECIALTY FOOD STORES AS A PERMITTED USE; ADDING SECTION 5.15.A., CONVENIENCE STORE AND ADDING SUBSECTIONS ADDRESSING MINIMUM SEPARATION, LOCATION, MAXIMUM SIZE, VISIBILITY, EMPLOYEE TRAINING, AND AMUSEMENT DEVICES; PROVIDING FOR FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS.
RESOLUTIONS
COMMISSION
3. Approved RESOLUTION NO. 08R-10-224 APPROVING THE DATES REQUESTED BY THE LAUDERHILL MALL FOR SPECIAL EVENT PERMITS TO HOLD VARIOUS CARNIVALS IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE MALL AS PART OF FUNDRAISING EFFORTS WHERE A PORTION OF THE PROCEEDS WOULD BE DONATED AS SPONSORSHIPS TO VARIOUS CITY EVENTS.
4. Approved RESOLUTION NO. 08R-10-225 APPROVING THE ELECTION OF DR. MERCY MOORE TO SERVE AS THE EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATIVE MEMBER OF THE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD FOR THE TWO-YEAR TERM ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2010.
5. Approved RESOLUTION NO. 08R-10-226 APPROVING THE BOARD APPOINTMENT OF GRACE D. KING TO FILL A VACANT POSITION ON THE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD FOR A ONE (1) YEAR TERM EXPIRING OCTOBER 2009.
6. Approved RESOLUTION NO. 08R-10-227 APPOINTING FOUR (4) MEMBERS TO THE CITY OF LAUDERHILL CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD BY VARIOUS INDIVIDUAL CITY COMMISSIONERS; APPOINTING ONE (1) ALTERNATE TO THE BOARD BY THE CITY COMMISSION AS A WHOLE FOR A ONE (1) YEAR TERM.
7. Approved RESOLUTION NO. 08R-10-228 APPROVING TWO (2) APPOINTMENTS BY MAYOR RICHARD J. KAPLAN AS APPROVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION TO THE LAUDERHILL HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD FOR A ONE (1) YEAR TERM AND A TWO (2) YEAR TERM RESPECTIVELY.
8. Approved RESOLUTION NO. 08R-10-231 APPROVING THE APPOINTMENT OF JANICE CARTER AS AN ALTERNATE MEMBER OF THE RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD AS SELECTED BY THE BOARD TO SERVE A TWO (2) YEAR TERM.
9. Approved RESOLUTION NO. 08R-10-233 making an appointment to FILL THE UNEXPIRED TERM OF WIN HOFFMAN FOR THE CITY OF LAUDERHILL LOCAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE BY THE CITY COMMISSION AS A WHOLE FOR THE TERM ENDING JUNE 2010.
10. Approved RESOLUTION NO. 08R-10-234 APPROVING AND APPOINTING THE TWO (2) INDIVIDUALS SELECTED BY THE TASK FORCE ITSELF TO SERVE ON THE MASTER PLAN TASK FORCE FOR THE CITY OF LAUDERHILL.
11. Approved RESOLUTION NO. 08R-10-235 APPOINTING MEMBERS AND ALTERNATE MEMBERS OF THE UNSAFE STRUCTURES BOARD FOR THE CITY OF LAUDERHILL TO FILL VACANT POSITIONS.
12. Approved RESOLUTION NO. 08R-10-236 APPROVING THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE BROWARD METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION (BMPO) AND THE CITY OF LAUDERHILL RELATIVE TO THE OAKLAND PARK BOULEVARD TURNPIKE INVESTIGATION.
13. Approved RESOLUTION NO. 08R-10-239 URGING THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA TO FULLY FUND AND SUSTAIN BROWARD COUNTY’S TRAFFIC MAGISTRATE CITATION PROGRAM; IN THE ABSENCE OF FULL FUNDING BY THE LEGISLATURE, URGING THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF BROWARD COUNTY, THE BROWARD COUNTY CLERK OF THE COURTS, THE BROWARD SHERIFF’S OFFICE, THE POLICE CHIEF’S ASSOCIATION, ALL MUNICIPALITIES IN BROWARD COUNTY AND ANY OTHER INTERESTED ENTITY TO COLLABORATE TO DEVELOP A MECHANISM TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT FUNDING IN ORDER TO CONTINUE THE BROWARD COUNTY TRAFFIC MAGISTRATE CITATION PROGRAM; URGING THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF BROWARD COUNTY AND ALL MUNICIPALITIES IN BROWARD COUNTY TO CONSIDER IMPOSING A SURCHARGE ON ALL TRAFFIC TICKETS ISSUED WITHIN THE COUNTY TO ASSIST WITH THE FULL FUNDING OF THE TRAFFIC MAGISTRATE PROGRAM; URGING THE ABOVE-REFERENCED ENTITIES TO JOIN IN THIS REQUEST FOR FULL FUNDING OF THE BROWARD COUNTY TRAFFIC MAGISTRATE CITATION PROGRAM (REQUESTED BY CITY COMMISSION).
14. Approved RESOLUTION NO. 08R-10-240 APPROVING THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF LAUDERHILL AND BROWARD COUNTY FOR THE JOINT FUNDING OF THE BUFFER WALL CONSTRUCTION ALONG THE EAST SIDE OF PINE ISLAND ROAD FROM SOUTH OF NORTHWEST 45TH COURT TO SOUTH OF NORTHWEST 50TH STREET AND FROM NORTH OF NORTHWEST 50TH STREET TO SOUTH OF NORTHWEST 52nd STREET.
15. Withdrew RESOLUTION NO. 08R-10-241 APPROVING THE LEASE RENEWAL PROPOSAL FROM FORAM GROUP, INC. REGARDING THE EXTENSION OF THE LEASE FOR THE CURRENT CITY HALL SITE LOCATED AT CORPORATE PARK AT INVERRARY COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2008 AND ENDING MARCH 31, 2010; PROVIDING A SIX (6) MONTH EARLY TERMINATION CLAUSE FOR THE CITY; REQUIRING A MINIMUM OCCUPANCY THROUGH JULY 30, 2009.
16. Approved RESOLUTION NO. 08R-10-242 URGING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO EQUALIZE FUNDING BASED ON POPULATION TO PROVIDE EACH REGION OF FLORIDA, INCLUDING SOUTH FLORIDA, ITS FAIR SHARE OF STATE FUNDING (REQUESTED BY VICE MAYOR M. MARGARET BATES).
17. Approved RESOLUTION NO. 08R-10-244 REQUESTING THE MASTER PLAN TASK FORCE TO EXPLORE THE CONCEPT OF ESTABLISHING AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCY; REQUESTING THE MASTER PLAN TASK FORCE TO PROVIDE A SUMMARY REPORT REGARDING THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCY IN THE FINAL REPORT TO THE CITY COMMISSION (REQUESTED BY DEPUTY VICE MAYOR HAYWARD J. BENSON, JR.).
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
18. Approved RESOLUTION NO. 08R-10-245 APPROVING THE SUBMISSION OF A PAYMENT REQUEST TO BROWARD COUNTY PURSUANT TO THE LAUDERHILL STATE ROAD 7 CORRIDOR INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT FOR FUNDING UNDER THE REDEVELOPMENT CAPITAL PROGRAM FOR THE STATE ROAD 7 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (CRA); PROVIDING FOR CONVERSION OF THE $3,000,000,000.00 LOAN FOR THE ACQUISITION OF PREMPART MOTORS TO A GRANT; PROVIDING FOR A DRAW OF $183,826.00 FOR COMPLETED IMPROVEMENTS TO STATE ROAD 7 INTERSECTIONS.
D.E.E.S.
19. Approved RESOLUTION NO. 08R-10-247 ACCEPTING THE PROPOSAL FROM KIMLEY-HORN AND ASSOCIATES, INC. IN THE AMOUNT OF $78,500.00 TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES FOR THE DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION OF CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS AND TO COORDINATE THE INTERIOR RENOVATION AND EXTERIOR HURRICANE WILMA REPAIR TO THE SADKIN COMMUNITY CENTER, INCLUDING THE NECESSARY BIDDING AND PERMITTING.
FINANCE
20. Approved RESOLUTION NO. 08R-10-248 APPROVING THE WAIVER OF COMPETITIVE BIDDING; APPROVING THE MAINTENANCE CONTRACT WITH MOTOROLA, INC. FOR THE CITY OF LAUDERHILL’S PUBLIC SAFETY RADIO EQUIPMENT BASED UPON THE BIDS SOLICITED BY THE BROWARD COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE; PROVIDING FOR A TERM COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2008 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2009; PROVIDING FOR PAYMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $44,008.32 TO BE SPLIT AMONG ALL DEPARTMENTS FROM FUND BUDGET CODE FUND 4620.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
21. Approved RESOLUTION NO. 08R-10-249 APPROVING THE WAIVER OF COMPETITIVE BIDDING; APPROVING THE LEASE/PURCHASE IN THE AMOUNT OF $199,963.00 FROM HALL-MARK FIRE APPARATUS OF ONE (1) 2009 HORTON CUSTOM ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT TRANSPORT VEHICLE BASED UPON THE BIDS SOLICITED BY THE FLORIDA SHERIFF’S ASSOCIATION CONTRACT #07-07-0828; PROVIDING FOR PAYMENT FROM BUDGET CODE NUMBER 305-311-6614.
HUMAN RESOURCES
22. Approved RESOLUTION NO. 08R-10-252 APPROVING THE MODIFICATION OF JOB TITLE FROM GRANTS WRITER TO GRANTS MANAGER.
POLICE
22. Approved RESOLUTION NO. 08R-10-253 APPROVING THE WAIVER OF COMPETITIVE BIDDING; APPROVING THE PIGGYBACK OF THE BROWARD SHERIFF’S OFFICE CONTRACT #07C-206; APPROVING THE EXPENDITURE OF FEDERAL FORFEITURE FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $14,631.52 TO PURCHASE RADIO EQUIPMENT TO BE INSTALLED IN THE POLICE BUILDING FROM MOTOROLA, INC.; PROVIDING FOR PAYMENT FROM BUDGET CODE NUMBER 110-683-9936.
23. Approved RESOLUTION NO. 08R-10-254 APPROVING THE WAIVER OF COMPETITIVE BIDDING; APPROVING THE EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FEDERAL FORFEITURE FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $31,554.49 FOR THE PURCHASE OF FIVE (5) DELL SERVERS AND SERVER TAPE RACK FROM THE DELL COMPUTER CORPORATION WHICH IS A SOLE SOURCE SUPPLIER FOR THE COMPATIBLE HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE TO AVOID THE NEED FOR ANY CONVERSION; PROVIDING FOR PAYMENT FROM BUDGET CODE NUMBER 110-683-9936.
24. Approved RESOLUTION NO. 08R-10-255 APPROVING THE EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FEDERAL FORFEITURE FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $8,136.40 FOR THE PURCHASE OF FIVE (5) TACTICAL RIFLES FOR USE BY THE SPECIAL RESPONSE TEAM FROM CARBONE’S CUSTOM FIREARMS.
QUASI-JUDICIAL MATTERS:
QUASI-JUDICIAL MATTERS, FIRST READING:
25. Approved RESOLUTION NO. 08R-10-256: GRANTING TO THE LESSEE, EVOLUTION GAMES TECHNOLOGY, INC., A SPECIAL EXCEPTION DEVELOPMENT ORDER, SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS, TO ALLOW WITHIN THE GENERAL COMMERCIAL ZONING DISTRICT, A 2,730 SQUARE FEET ADULT GAME ROOM USE ON AN APPROXIMATE ± 4.80 ACRE SITE KNOWN AS INVERRARY PLAZA WEST, 7301 A. WEST OAKLAND PARK BOULEVARD, LAUDERHILL, FLORIDA.
26. Approved RESOLUTION NO. 08R-10-257 GRANTING TO THE OWNER, DAGAM OIL COMPANY, INC., A SPECIAL EXCEPTION DEVELOPMENT ORDER, SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS, TO ALLOW WITHIN THE GENERAL COMMERCIAL ZONING DISTRICT, A SERVICE STATION AND CONVENIENCE STORE USE ON AN APPROXIMATE ± 0.33 ACRE SITE LOCATED AT 3609 WEST BROWARD BOULEVARD, LAUDERHILL, FLORIDA.
We were supposed to hold a Regular Commission Meeting on November 10. However, because of the election, and the potential changes in the Charter, it is unknown at this time whether a meeting will be held that day.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
Commissioner Lee Mirsky Passes
Commissioner Leanna "Lee" Mirsky passed away on Friday, October 24,2008. She will be buried in New Jersey. The family advised if anyone wishing to do a donation to send it to the Alzheimer's Foundation in her name.
New Home Buyer Tax Credit
When President Bush signed the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 into law on July 30, a world of opportunities became available to first-time home buyers, home owners struggling to pay their mortgages and renters alike.
In addition to giving local governments the assistance they need to support and expand local programs and initiatives through a one-time allocation of nearly $4 billion in additional Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) neighborhood stabilization funds to help ease the burden of vacant housing caused by foreclosure, the legislation brings additional relief to homeowners in response to the mortgage foreclosure crisis and is intended to strengthen the economy by restoring confidence in the housing and credit markets.
“This landmark bill contains several provisions to help home buyers, stop the slide in home prices, provide a lifeline to borrowers facing foreclosure, improve mortgage liquidity and expand the supply of affordable rental housing,” said National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) President Sandy Dunn.
NLC President Cynthia McCollum, council member, Madison, Ala., recently praised the act, saying, “The legislation will help thousands of Americans stay in their homes, provide cities with the funding they need to stop the downward spiral of home vacancies and neighborhood deterioration, and stabilize the home financing system.”
A centerpiece of the act is a temporary, $7,500 first-time home buyer tax credit for the purchase of any home. The tax credit can be used for homes purchased between April 9, 2008 and July 1, 2009. It is expected to provide a significant financial incentive for qualified home buyers who may not have been able to afford to buy during the past few years.
According to Dunn, the tax credit “will increase housing demand, get home buyers back into the marketplace and fight falling home prices, which threaten the economy as a whole.”
NAHB has set up a website, http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/, to help educate consumers about how the tax credit works and how they can put it to their advantage. The site has attracted enormous interest — since July 30, more than 100,000 people have visited.
Combined with near-record low interest rates, a large selection of homes on the market to choose from, and competitive prices, the tax credit is one more reason that now is an ideal time to buy a home.
Details: For more information on the First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit and resources available from NAHB, visit http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/.
In addition to giving local governments the assistance they need to support and expand local programs and initiatives through a one-time allocation of nearly $4 billion in additional Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) neighborhood stabilization funds to help ease the burden of vacant housing caused by foreclosure, the legislation brings additional relief to homeowners in response to the mortgage foreclosure crisis and is intended to strengthen the economy by restoring confidence in the housing and credit markets.
“This landmark bill contains several provisions to help home buyers, stop the slide in home prices, provide a lifeline to borrowers facing foreclosure, improve mortgage liquidity and expand the supply of affordable rental housing,” said National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) President Sandy Dunn.
NLC President Cynthia McCollum, council member, Madison, Ala., recently praised the act, saying, “The legislation will help thousands of Americans stay in their homes, provide cities with the funding they need to stop the downward spiral of home vacancies and neighborhood deterioration, and stabilize the home financing system.”
A centerpiece of the act is a temporary, $7,500 first-time home buyer tax credit for the purchase of any home. The tax credit can be used for homes purchased between April 9, 2008 and July 1, 2009. It is expected to provide a significant financial incentive for qualified home buyers who may not have been able to afford to buy during the past few years.
According to Dunn, the tax credit “will increase housing demand, get home buyers back into the marketplace and fight falling home prices, which threaten the economy as a whole.”
NAHB has set up a website, http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/, to help educate consumers about how the tax credit works and how they can put it to their advantage. The site has attracted enormous interest — since July 30, more than 100,000 people have visited.
Combined with near-record low interest rates, a large selection of homes on the market to choose from, and competitive prices, the tax credit is one more reason that now is an ideal time to buy a home.
Details: For more information on the First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit and resources available from NAHB, visit http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Notes of Commission Workshop of October 20
On October 20, the City Commission held a Regular Workshop Meeting. The following are notes of interest from that meeting:
1. 2009 STATE LEGISLATIVE PREVIEW - State has another budget shortfall, and it is expected to continue. Special session may be necessary just to get through to the next legislative session. They used non-recurring dollars to cover recurring costs, and it didn't get them through. Now those funds are not available to use again. Money will be very tight. However, money from the federal government will be more available than the State, and a federal component is important. Energy and water will be big issues in the legislature.
2. PRESENTATION BY INTEREST COMMITTEE FOR FLORIDA CARIBBEAN GAMES - Explanation of the development of the games. Also, a presentation to add to the Central Regional Park a track & field and football/soccer field on the 2 east fields of the park. Cost estimates run from $3 million with 1000 seats, to almost $5.4 million with 5000 seats. During special events, temporary seats could occur to bring seating up to 10,000. The project is expected to be phased in. The expected date of the Florida Caribbean Games is May 2010. It was requested for the City to support this development and make it a priority. By Consensus, the Commission all agreed to support to the next level. It was noted that Community support is crucial to this process to pursue this further.
3. REPORT FROM CITY MANAGER ON NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION PROGRAM GRANTS (REQUESTED BY MAYOR RICHARD J. KAPLAN). The City Manager advised on the law, and the time constraints. It requires the funds to be obligated within 18 months, and expended within 4 years. The deadline for applying for the funds by the city is December 1 through a consolidated plan amendment. Eligible projects are purchasing and redeveloped foreclosed property, establishing land banks, demolishing blighted abandoned structures and redevelop, purchase property through short sales discounts and resale, and others. It can not be used for foreclosure prevention. Staff will put together a plan quickly so that we can approve a timely application by the end of November.
1. 2009 STATE LEGISLATIVE PREVIEW - State has another budget shortfall, and it is expected to continue. Special session may be necessary just to get through to the next legislative session. They used non-recurring dollars to cover recurring costs, and it didn't get them through. Now those funds are not available to use again. Money will be very tight. However, money from the federal government will be more available than the State, and a federal component is important. Energy and water will be big issues in the legislature.
2. PRESENTATION BY INTEREST COMMITTEE FOR FLORIDA CARIBBEAN GAMES - Explanation of the development of the games. Also, a presentation to add to the Central Regional Park a track & field and football/soccer field on the 2 east fields of the park. Cost estimates run from $3 million with 1000 seats, to almost $5.4 million with 5000 seats. During special events, temporary seats could occur to bring seating up to 10,000. The project is expected to be phased in. The expected date of the Florida Caribbean Games is May 2010. It was requested for the City to support this development and make it a priority. By Consensus, the Commission all agreed to support to the next level. It was noted that Community support is crucial to this process to pursue this further.
3. REPORT FROM CITY MANAGER ON NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION PROGRAM GRANTS (REQUESTED BY MAYOR RICHARD J. KAPLAN). The City Manager advised on the law, and the time constraints. It requires the funds to be obligated within 18 months, and expended within 4 years. The deadline for applying for the funds by the city is December 1 through a consolidated plan amendment. Eligible projects are purchasing and redeveloped foreclosed property, establishing land banks, demolishing blighted abandoned structures and redevelop, purchase property through short sales discounts and resale, and others. It can not be used for foreclosure prevention. Staff will put together a plan quickly so that we can approve a timely application by the end of November.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Listen to the Lauderhill Commissioner Candidates Speak
The Inverrary Association hosted a Candidates Night to allow each of the 7 Candidates that attended to address the audience, and answer questions on a variety of subjects. This event was recorded, and is available to be heard on Lauderhill's web' site, using the following link: http://lauderhill-fl.net/102208.html.
Monday, October 20, 2008
eLauderhill News Recommends
On November 4, eLauderhill News Recommends the following items on the ballot:
PRESIDENT/VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
Barack Obama/Joseph Bidden-Dem. eLauderhill News ENDORSES
John McCain/Sarah Palin-Rep.
Bob Barr/Wayne A. Root-LBT
Alan Keyes/Brian Rohrbough-AIP
Ralph Nader/Matt Gonzalez-ECO
20th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
Debbie Wasserman Schultz-DEM eLauderhill News ENDORSES
Margaret Hostetter-NPA
23rd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
Marion D. Thorpe, Jr.-REP
Alcee L. Hastings-DEM eLauderhill News ENDORSES
PRESIDENT/VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
Barack Obama/Joseph Bidden-Dem. eLauderhill News ENDORSES
John McCain/Sarah Palin-Rep.
Bob Barr/Wayne A. Root-LBT
Alan Keyes/Brian Rohrbough-AIP
Ralph Nader/Matt Gonzalez-ECO
20th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
Debbie Wasserman Schultz-DEM eLauderhill News ENDORSES
Margaret Hostetter-NPA
23rd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
Marion D. Thorpe, Jr.-REP
Alcee L. Hastings-DEM eLauderhill News ENDORSES
29th STATE SENATE
Christopher "Chris" Smith-DEM eLauderhill News ENDORSES
93rd STATE HOUSE
Perry E. Thurston, Jr.-DEM eLauderhill News ENDORSES
SHERIFF
Scott Israel-Dem. Qualified
Albert Lamberti-Rep. eLauderhill News ENDORSES
CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT
Howard C. Forman-DEM eLauderhill News ENDORSES
Beverly B. Kennedy-NPA
SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS
Brenda C. Snipes-DEM eLauderhill News ENDORSES
Ellen H. Brodsky-NPA
LAUDERHILL SEAT #1
Howard Berger
Tyson T. Jones
Randy Robinson
NO RECOMMENDATION
LAUDERHILL SEAT #2
Terry Corrado
Jacob Greene
Dale V. C. Holness eLauderhill News ENDORSES
Ruth Roman Lynch
Paul R. Shelton
CITY OF LAUDERHILL 2008 REFERENDUM BALLOT QUESTIONS
1) Referendum Amending City Charter, Section 3.06, to Eliminate the Position of Deputy Vice Mayor.
eLauderhill News RECOMMENDS AGAINST, since it is a needed position and has no additional cost to the city
2) Referendum Amending the City Charter, Section 3.03, to Provide City Commission Term Limits of 12 consecutive years.
eLauderhill News GIVES NO RECOMMENDATION
3) Referendum Amending City Charter to Create Section 1.04, listing in the Charter a Citizens’ Bill of Rights that are already provided by law.
eLauderhill News GIVES NO RECOMMENDATION, though it needs to be known that it creates no new rights, and therefore is misleading, plus it clutters the Charter
4) Referendum Amending the City Charter, Section 3.08, Regarding Procedures for a Public Reprimand to Elected Officials who violates the Lauderhill Charter by "Interfering with the Administration."
eLauderhill News RECOMMENDS FOR
5) Referendum Amending the City Charter, Section 3.04, Regarding the First Meeting for New City Commission, to be set 2 weeks after the election to provide time for certification of the election.
eLauderhill News RECOMMENDS FOR to resolve a technical problem
ALL SUPREME COURT AND COURT OF APPEAL JUSTICES
eLauderhill News RECOMMENDS ENDORSES
CIRCUIT JUDGE, 17TH CIRCUIT
GROUP 3
Bernard Isaac "Bernie" Bober
Pedro E. Dijols which is a vote for Marty Levy
Considering what has happened in this court involved dispute, NO RECOMMENDATION IS GIVEN
GROUP 21
Merrilee Ehrlich
Paul D. Eichner eLauderhill News ENDORSES
GROUP 27
Steven Brian Feren eLauderhill News ENDORSES
Mark W. Rickard
BROWARD COUNTY CHARTER AMENDMENTS
Creation of a Metropolitan Transit Authority: Would create an advisory body to be known as the Metropolitan Transit Authority, governed by an appointed Board of Trustees, which will have the responsibility to recommend improvements to the County's public transit plan, programs, operations, and to assist with the coordination of a comprehensive, regional public transit system.
eLauderhill News RECOMMENDS AGAINST since it is duplicative of other funded boards and therefore waste taxpayers dollars
· Non-Interference in County Administration: Would prohibit the County Commission or individual County Commissioners from interfering directly with County employees and provide that all recommendations to County Administration be made through the County Administrator, except for the purposes of formal inquiries and investigations.
eLauderhill News RECOMMENDS FOR
· County Commission Meetings, Rules and Voting (Recusal): Would require Commissioners who recuse themselves due to a voting conflict resulting from a financial interest in the matter to leave the Commission chamber and not communicate or participate in any discussion.
eLauderhill News RECOMMENDS FOR
· Broward County Housing Council: Would provide for a Broward County Housing Council to serve in a non-taxing advisory capacity to facilitate coordination between the County, municipalities, businesses and not-for-profit groups to address such issues as affordable and workforce housing and homelessness, and to make annual recommendations regarding streamlining governmental regulations and enhancing housing stability.
eLauderhill News GIVES NO RECOMMENDATION since there is insufficient information to make a decision
· Broward County Regionalism Policy Statements: Would add a policy statement to the Broward County Charter defining Broward County government’s duty to develop and implement programs, policies and budget with a countywide and regional focus, without being precluded from delivering services on a less than regional basis.
eLauderhill News GIVES NO RECOMMENDATION since there is insufficient information to make a decision, and being that Broward County is not a region, but a sub-region.
· Broward County Parks Preservation: Would designate County-owned parks as either natural area parks or regional parks, and would prohibit the sale, transfer or change of use of such parks without an affirmative vote of sixty percent (60%) of the electorate.
eLauderhill News RECOMMENDS FOR though there is little information
· Broward County Environmental Policy Statement: Would add an environmental policy statement to the Broward County Charter clarifying Broward County government’s duty to enact ordinances which protect its citizens’ right to a sustainable environment, including clean air and clean water, while encouraging the stewardship of natural resources.
eLauderhill News RECOMMENDS AGAINST since there is insufficient information to make a decision, and too many concerns remain
· Broward County Ethics Commission: Would create a Broward County Ethics Commission for the specific purpose of preparing a Code of Ethics regulating the behavior of Broward County Commissioners, to be considered by the County Commission and/or the electors of Broward County.
eLauderhill News RECOMMENDS FOR
· Redistricting Process: Would provide for the use of an independent redistricting consultant to develop plans for redistricting of the County Commission’s single-member districts.
eLauderhill News RECOMMENDS FOR
· One Year Hiatus between End of Management & Efficiency Study Committee (MESC) and Beginning of Charter Review Commission: Would require the MESC to meet in 2009 and every six (6) years thereafter in order to provide for a one (1) year hiatus between the meeting of the Charter Review Commission and MESC.
eLauderhill News RECOMMENDS FOR
FLORIDA CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
No. 1
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ARTICLE I, SECTION 2
DECLARATION OF RIGHTS
Ballot Summary:
Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to delete provisions authorizing the Legislature to regulate or prohibit the ownership, inheritance, disposition, and possession of real property by aliens ineligible for citizenship.
eLauderhill News RECOMMENDS FOR
No. 2
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ARTICLE I, NEW SECTION
FLORIDA MARRIAGE PROTECTION AMENDMENT
Ballot Summary:
This amendment protects marriage as the legal union of only one man and one woman as husband and wife and provides that no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized.
eLauderhill News RECOMMENDS AGAINST
No. 3
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ARTICLE VII, SECTIONS 3 AND 4 ARTICLE XII, NEW SECTION
CHANGES AND IMPROVEMENTS NOT AFFECTING THE ASSESSED VALUE OF RESIDENTIAL REAL PROPERTY
Ballot Summary:
Authorizes the Legislature, by general law, to prohibit consideration of changes or improvements to residential real property which increase resistance to wind damage and installation of renewable energy source devices as factors in assessing the property’s value for ad valorem taxation purposes. Effective upon adoption, repeals the existing renewable energy source device exemption no longer in effect.
eLauderhill News RECOMMENDS AGAINST
No. 4
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ARTICLE VII, SECTIONS 3 AND 4 ARTICLE XII, SECTION 28
PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION OF PERPETUALLY CONSERVED LAND; CLASSIFICATION AND ASSESSMENT OF LAND USED FOR CONSERVATION
Ballot Summary:
Requires Legislature to provide a property tax exemption for real property encumbered by perpetual conservation easements or other perpetual conservation protections, defined by general law. Requires Legislature to provide for classification and assessment of land used for conservation purposes, and not perpetually encumbered, solely on the basis of character or use. Subjects assessment benefit to conditions, limitations, and reasonable definitions established by general law. Applies to property taxes beginning in 2010.
eLauderhill News RECOMMENDS AGAINST due to a lack of information of the impact of this amendment
No. 6
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ARTICLE VII, SECTION 4 ARTICLE XII, NEW SECTION
ASSESSMENT OF WORKING WATERFRONT PROPERTY BASED UPON CURRENT USE
Ballot Summary:
Provides for assessment based upon use of land used predominantly for commercial fishing purposes; land used for vessel launches into waters that are navigable and accessible to the public; marinas and drystacks that are open to the public; and water-dependent marine manufacturing facilities, commercial fishing facilities, and marine vessel construction and repair facilities and their support activities, subject to conditions, limitations, and reasonable definitions specified by general law.
eLauderhill News GIVES NO RECOMMENDATION due to a lack of information
No. 8
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ARTICLE VII, SECTION 9
LOCAL OPTION COMMUNITY COLLEGE FUNDING.
Ballot Summary:
Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to require that the Legislature authorize counties to levy a local option sales tax to supplement community college funding; requiring voter approval to levy the tax; providing that approved taxes will sunset after 5 years and may be reauthorized by the voters.
eLauderhill News RECOMMENDS FOR
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Early Voting Starts October 20
While it has been nearly impossible to ignore that there is an upcoming election, I can’t express to you more the importance of voting. Early voting begins Oct. 20. In the area of Lauderhill, the closest places are the Lauderhill Mall and Tamarac Library on Commercial Blvd. Considering how many may vote, Early Voting may be very desirable. For more information: http://www.browardsoe.org/content.aspx?id=152.
If you wish to absentee vote, you must do so ASAP. I do not know when the cut off is. To get information and to request an absentee ballot: http://www.browardsoe.org/items.aspx?id=28.
The City of Lauderhill has an Official Web Site on voting issues (without recommendations), which also contains the full text of the Charter Amendments: http://lauderhill-fl.gov/voting.html
Remember, the most important thing is to vote. Be prepared for a very long ballot, front and back, 8 to 10 pages long. The city elections and referendums will be at the end.
Also, please be aware that there will be a Candidates Night (sponsored by the Inverrary Association) on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 7 PM at the Environ Cultural Center. All are invited, and bring questions to ask. Signs are on Inverrary Blvd., advertising it. We are planning to tape this debate and try to broadcast it later on the city's radio station 1650 AM.
Castle Gardens is having their debate on the 21st at 7 PM. There may be other groups hosting such nights, but I have not been advised of them.
eLauderhill News Recommendations will be published on October 20.
If you wish to absentee vote, you must do so ASAP. I do not know when the cut off is. To get information and to request an absentee ballot: http://www.browardsoe.org/items.aspx?id=28.
The City of Lauderhill has an Official Web Site on voting issues (without recommendations), which also contains the full text of the Charter Amendments: http://lauderhill-fl.gov/voting.html
Remember, the most important thing is to vote. Be prepared for a very long ballot, front and back, 8 to 10 pages long. The city elections and referendums will be at the end.
Also, please be aware that there will be a Candidates Night (sponsored by the Inverrary Association) on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 7 PM at the Environ Cultural Center. All are invited, and bring questions to ask. Signs are on Inverrary Blvd., advertising it. We are planning to tape this debate and try to broadcast it later on the city's radio station 1650 AM.
Castle Gardens is having their debate on the 21st at 7 PM. There may be other groups hosting such nights, but I have not been advised of them.
eLauderhill News Recommendations will be published on October 20.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Special to the Jewish Week by Rabbi Arnold Jacob Wolf
Not everyone can claim to be the neighbor of a Presidential candidate - I can, though, because I am. Barack Obama's Chicago home is across the street from KAM Isaiah Israel, the Hyde Park synagogue at which I've served for 27 years. He spoke to our congregation as an Illinois state senator; more recently, his Secret Service agents have made use of our, shall we say, facilities. But it's not neighborly instinct that's led me to support the Obama candidacy: I support Barack Obama because he stands for what I believe, what our tradition demands. We sometimes forget, but an integral part of that tradition is dialogue and a willingness to disagree. Certainly many who call me their rabbi have taken political positions far from mine - just as Barack Obama's opinions have differed from those of his former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.
On March 18, the candidate gave a speech that made abundantly clear that he and Wright often disagree. Obama condemned Wright's 'incendiary language,' and 'views that have the potential not only to widen the racial divide, but that denigrate both the greatness and the goodness of our nation.' Of course, race is only one issue on which Wright has stepped beyond the bounds of civil discourse. He's frequently made statements regarding Israel and the Jewish community that I find troubling. But to limit our understanding of Obama to the ill-conceived comments of the man who once led his church is dishonest and self-defeating.
Obama's strong positions on poverty and the climate, his early and consistent opposition to the Iraq War, his commitment to ending the Darfur genocide - all these speak directly to Jewish concerns. If we're sidetracked by Wright's words, we'll be working against these interests. After all, a preacher speaks to a congregation, not for the congregation.
Many people remain concerned that Obama isn't committed to Israel . Some want him to fall in line behind the intransigent, conservative thinking that has silenced Jewish debate on Israeli policy and enabled the Bush Administration's criminal neglect of the diplomatic process. Clearly, though, anyone who thinks Obama waffles on Israel hasn't been paying attention.
In 2007, he spoke to AIPAC about 'a clear and strong commitment to the security of Israel .' Today, his website states clearly that America 's 'first and incontrovertible commitment in the Middle East must be to the security of Israel .' For my part, I've sometimes found Obama too cautious on Israel . He, like all our polits, knows he mustn't stray too far from the conventional line, and that can be disappointing. But unlike anyone else on the stump, Obama has also made it clear that he'll broaden the dialogue. He knows what peace entails. Speaking recently before a Jewish audience in Cleveland , Obama did the unthinkable - he challenged the room. He talked about the need to ask 'difficult questions' on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: 'I sat down with the head of Israeli security forces,' he said 'and his view of the Palestinians was incredibly nuanced.. There's good and there's bad, and he was willing to say sometimes we make mistakes. and if we're just pressing down on these folks constantly, without giving them some prospects for hope, that's not good for our security.'
Yet, in spite of all of Obama's strengths, we've been loathe to admit a difficult truth: Among some American Jews, race plays a key role in the hesitation to support the Obama candidacy. We've forgotten that Black and Jewish America once shared a common vision. In the civil rights era, I and many in our community stood shoulder to shoulder with the giants of our generation, demanding freedom for all Americans.
Obama himself doesn't share our amnesia, however. 'I would not be sitting here,' he said in Cleveland , 'if it were not for a whole host of Jewish Americans.' That was literal truth, but not everyone remembers it.
I've worked with Obama for more than a decade, as has my son, a lawyer who represents children and people with disabilities. He has admired Obama's dedication and skill as he worked on issues affecting our most vulnerable citizens. Obama is no anti-Semite. He is not anti-Israel. He is one of our own, the one figure on the political scene who remembers our past, and has a real vision for repairing our present. Barack Obama is brilliant and open-hearted; he is wiser and more thoughtful than his former minister. He offers what America , Israel , and the Jewish community need: a US President willing to ask hard questions, and grapple with difficult answers. I am very proud to be his neighbor. I hope someday to visit him in the White House.
Rabbi Arnold Jacob Wolf is rabbi emeritus at Chicago 's KAM Isaiah Israel, Illinois' oldest Jewish congregation
On March 18, the candidate gave a speech that made abundantly clear that he and Wright often disagree. Obama condemned Wright's 'incendiary language,' and 'views that have the potential not only to widen the racial divide, but that denigrate both the greatness and the goodness of our nation.' Of course, race is only one issue on which Wright has stepped beyond the bounds of civil discourse. He's frequently made statements regarding Israel and the Jewish community that I find troubling. But to limit our understanding of Obama to the ill-conceived comments of the man who once led his church is dishonest and self-defeating.
Obama's strong positions on poverty and the climate, his early and consistent opposition to the Iraq War, his commitment to ending the Darfur genocide - all these speak directly to Jewish concerns. If we're sidetracked by Wright's words, we'll be working against these interests. After all, a preacher speaks to a congregation, not for the congregation.
Many people remain concerned that Obama isn't committed to Israel . Some want him to fall in line behind the intransigent, conservative thinking that has silenced Jewish debate on Israeli policy and enabled the Bush Administration's criminal neglect of the diplomatic process. Clearly, though, anyone who thinks Obama waffles on Israel hasn't been paying attention.
In 2007, he spoke to AIPAC about 'a clear and strong commitment to the security of Israel .' Today, his website states clearly that America 's 'first and incontrovertible commitment in the Middle East must be to the security of Israel .' For my part, I've sometimes found Obama too cautious on Israel . He, like all our polits, knows he mustn't stray too far from the conventional line, and that can be disappointing. But unlike anyone else on the stump, Obama has also made it clear that he'll broaden the dialogue. He knows what peace entails. Speaking recently before a Jewish audience in Cleveland , Obama did the unthinkable - he challenged the room. He talked about the need to ask 'difficult questions' on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: 'I sat down with the head of Israeli security forces,' he said 'and his view of the Palestinians was incredibly nuanced.. There's good and there's bad, and he was willing to say sometimes we make mistakes. and if we're just pressing down on these folks constantly, without giving them some prospects for hope, that's not good for our security.'
Yet, in spite of all of Obama's strengths, we've been loathe to admit a difficult truth: Among some American Jews, race plays a key role in the hesitation to support the Obama candidacy. We've forgotten that Black and Jewish America once shared a common vision. In the civil rights era, I and many in our community stood shoulder to shoulder with the giants of our generation, demanding freedom for all Americans.
Obama himself doesn't share our amnesia, however. 'I would not be sitting here,' he said in Cleveland , 'if it were not for a whole host of Jewish Americans.' That was literal truth, but not everyone remembers it.
I've worked with Obama for more than a decade, as has my son, a lawyer who represents children and people with disabilities. He has admired Obama's dedication and skill as he worked on issues affecting our most vulnerable citizens. Obama is no anti-Semite. He is not anti-Israel. He is one of our own, the one figure on the political scene who remembers our past, and has a real vision for repairing our present. Barack Obama is brilliant and open-hearted; he is wiser and more thoughtful than his former minister. He offers what America , Israel , and the Jewish community need: a US President willing to ask hard questions, and grapple with difficult answers. I am very proud to be his neighbor. I hope someday to visit him in the White House.
Rabbi Arnold Jacob Wolf is rabbi emeritus at Chicago 's KAM Isaiah Israel, Illinois' oldest Jewish congregation
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Lauderhill to Receive $4.293 Million to Help Foreclosures
It was announced that more than $541 million in federal foreclosure aid is coming to Florida. The money will be distributed through the state to cities and counties throughout Florida for the redevelopment of abandoned and foreclosed homes. The funding is provided through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program under The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008. The CDBG program is administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Lauderhill's portion is $4.293 Million.
The Housing and Economic Recovery Act appropriated nearly $4 billion for assistance to state and local governments for the redevelopment of abandoned and foreclosed homes. State and local governments may use the funds to purchase and redevelop foreclosed and abandoned homes and property. The funds can also be used to offer downpayment and closing cost assistance to low- to moderate-income homebuyers. State and local governments will also have the ability to create “land banks” to assemble, temporarily manage, and dispose of vacant land to encourage re-use or development of property.
At this time no specific discussion has taken place on how this money will be spent. It is anticipated that staff may be advising the Commission at the October 20th Commission Workshop about these available funds, and how they could be utilized. However, it will take more time to properly make the determination on how best this could help Lauderhill and its residents.
The Housing and Economic Recovery Act appropriated nearly $4 billion for assistance to state and local governments for the redevelopment of abandoned and foreclosed homes. State and local governments may use the funds to purchase and redevelop foreclosed and abandoned homes and property. The funds can also be used to offer downpayment and closing cost assistance to low- to moderate-income homebuyers. State and local governments will also have the ability to create “land banks” to assemble, temporarily manage, and dispose of vacant land to encourage re-use or development of property.
At this time no specific discussion has taken place on how this money will be spent. It is anticipated that staff may be advising the Commission at the October 20th Commission Workshop about these available funds, and how they could be utilized. However, it will take more time to properly make the determination on how best this could help Lauderhill and its residents.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Lauderhill Charter Amendments
In addition to all the other items on the November ballot, the City of Lauderhill will have two groups of items to vote on. The first is the election for Commissioners in Seat 1 and 2. The other is the 5 Charter Amendments being presented to the residents.
Each of the Amendments went through the Charter Review Board. They presented to us several items, of which 5 were approved to vote on. Each of these items which the Board reviewed were at the request of one of the elected officials. They took the position of trying to present to the Commission what Commissioners requested to be submitted for a vote. Not all of the amendments were supported by Commissioners. Discussion on these Amendments can be seen on the June 13th posting on the "Notes of the Commission Meeting of June 9."
At the end of each item you will find eLauderhill News' recommendations.
The 5 items are:
CITY OF LAUDERHILL 2008 REFERENDUM BALLOT QUESTIONS
1) Referendum Amending City Charter, Section 3.06, to Eliminate the Position of Deputy Vice Mayor.
Shall the City of Lauderhill amend its Charter, Section 3.06, to eliminate the position of deputy vice mayor, as more particularly described in Ordinance 08O-06-123.
_____ YES.
_____ NO.
Mayor Kaplan voted against this because of his belief that if the Mayor and Vice-Mayor was absent, the laws of the city do not provide who would run meetings and assume the responsibilities of the position. This in fact has happened several times in the past, and that is why the position was created.
eLauderhill News RECOMMENDS AGAINST.
2) Referendum Amending the City Charter, Section 3.03, to Provide City Commission Term Limits.
Shall the City of Lauderhill amend its Charter, Section 3.03, to provide terms limits for City Commissioners to serve no more than three (3) consecutive four-year terms, as more particularly described in Ordinance 08O-06-124.
_____ YES.
_____ NO.
While several Commissioners expressed that they do not support this, only Commissioner Berger voted against it. Those that did not support, but voted to place it on the ballot, felt that at a minimum the public should have a right to vote on this topic.
eLauderhill News GIVES NO RECOMMENDATION
3) Referendum Amending City Charter to Create Section 1.04, Citizens’ Bill of Rights.
Shall the City of Lauderhill amend its Charter to create Section 1.04, the Citizens’ Bill of Rights as more particularly described in Ordinance 08O-06-125.
_____ YES.
_____ NO.
This item originally failed until an amendment to the item was approved on a 3-2 vote. The amendment required the Charter Amendment to show where each "Right" originates from. So that the public knows, just like Broward's Bill of Rights, THIS AMENDMENT CREATES NO NEW RIGHTS IN LAUDERHILL, but seeks now to only restate them in a manner that is more condensed. Unlike the US Bill of Rights that does create new rights not found anywhere else. These "Rights" originate from the Florida Constitution, Florida Law, or Lauderhill Charter already, and is listed in the full text of the Amendment.
The original objection was that by not showing where the rights originates from, it was misleading the public into thinking that new rights were being created. If this items fails, the Rights of Residents will remain exactly the same as they already exist.
eLauderhill News GIVES NO RECOMMENDATION
4) Referendum Amending the City Charter, Section 3.08, Regarding Procedures for a Public Reprimand.
Shall the City amend its Charter, Section 3.08, to provide that a public reprimand be pursuant to ordinance(s), requiring a unanimous vote of the remaining members to approve, or as otherwise prescribed by State law, as more particularly described in Ordinance 08O-06-126.
_____ YES.
_____ NO.
The language in the ballot item is incorrectly stated, in that it left out that the Public Reprimand is only for Lauderhill Elected Officials. This was to address the loophole in the City Charter that prohibits Elected Officials from "Interfering with the Administration." Present law provides no penalty if they do. Originally, the language proposed was to create an option to remove the Elected Official that interferes. However, the consensus was to only provide for a Public Reprimand process. Commission Berger voted against this and did not support any penalties on first reading.
eLauderhill News RECOMMENDS FOR
5) Referendum Amending the City Charter, Section 3.04, Regarding the First Meeting for New City Commission.
Shall the City of Lauderhill amend its Charter, Section 3.04, to provide a procedure to determine the first meeting date for the new city commission, as more particularly described in Ordinance 08O-06-127.
______ YES.
______ NO.
Presently the Charter requires swearing in of newly elected officials to occur 3 days after the election, or upon certification of the election results, whichever occurs first. In the past, the results use to come in within a day or two. The city was informed that election results will no longer be available within the 3 days. In 2006, the results in a much smaller election took 7 days, and therefore caused a delay in the swearing in. It is expected that in the November election it could take even longer, up to 2 weeks possible.
To avoid the problem of when elected officials will be sworn in, the Amendment proposes to delay the swearing in for 2 weeks, which hopefully should be enough time for the Supervisor of Election to complete their certification process.
eLauderhill News RECOMMENDS FOR
Each of the Amendments went through the Charter Review Board. They presented to us several items, of which 5 were approved to vote on. Each of these items which the Board reviewed were at the request of one of the elected officials. They took the position of trying to present to the Commission what Commissioners requested to be submitted for a vote. Not all of the amendments were supported by Commissioners. Discussion on these Amendments can be seen on the June 13th posting on the "Notes of the Commission Meeting of June 9."
At the end of each item you will find eLauderhill News' recommendations.
The 5 items are:
CITY OF LAUDERHILL 2008 REFERENDUM BALLOT QUESTIONS
1) Referendum Amending City Charter, Section 3.06, to Eliminate the Position of Deputy Vice Mayor.
Shall the City of Lauderhill amend its Charter, Section 3.06, to eliminate the position of deputy vice mayor, as more particularly described in Ordinance 08O-06-123.
_____ YES.
_____ NO.
Mayor Kaplan voted against this because of his belief that if the Mayor and Vice-Mayor was absent, the laws of the city do not provide who would run meetings and assume the responsibilities of the position. This in fact has happened several times in the past, and that is why the position was created.
eLauderhill News RECOMMENDS AGAINST.
2) Referendum Amending the City Charter, Section 3.03, to Provide City Commission Term Limits.
Shall the City of Lauderhill amend its Charter, Section 3.03, to provide terms limits for City Commissioners to serve no more than three (3) consecutive four-year terms, as more particularly described in Ordinance 08O-06-124.
_____ YES.
_____ NO.
While several Commissioners expressed that they do not support this, only Commissioner Berger voted against it. Those that did not support, but voted to place it on the ballot, felt that at a minimum the public should have a right to vote on this topic.
eLauderhill News GIVES NO RECOMMENDATION
3) Referendum Amending City Charter to Create Section 1.04, Citizens’ Bill of Rights.
Shall the City of Lauderhill amend its Charter to create Section 1.04, the Citizens’ Bill of Rights as more particularly described in Ordinance 08O-06-125.
_____ YES.
_____ NO.
This item originally failed until an amendment to the item was approved on a 3-2 vote. The amendment required the Charter Amendment to show where each "Right" originates from. So that the public knows, just like Broward's Bill of Rights, THIS AMENDMENT CREATES NO NEW RIGHTS IN LAUDERHILL, but seeks now to only restate them in a manner that is more condensed. Unlike the US Bill of Rights that does create new rights not found anywhere else. These "Rights" originate from the Florida Constitution, Florida Law, or Lauderhill Charter already, and is listed in the full text of the Amendment.
The original objection was that by not showing where the rights originates from, it was misleading the public into thinking that new rights were being created. If this items fails, the Rights of Residents will remain exactly the same as they already exist.
eLauderhill News GIVES NO RECOMMENDATION
4) Referendum Amending the City Charter, Section 3.08, Regarding Procedures for a Public Reprimand.
Shall the City amend its Charter, Section 3.08, to provide that a public reprimand be pursuant to ordinance(s), requiring a unanimous vote of the remaining members to approve, or as otherwise prescribed by State law, as more particularly described in Ordinance 08O-06-126.
_____ YES.
_____ NO.
The language in the ballot item is incorrectly stated, in that it left out that the Public Reprimand is only for Lauderhill Elected Officials. This was to address the loophole in the City Charter that prohibits Elected Officials from "Interfering with the Administration." Present law provides no penalty if they do. Originally, the language proposed was to create an option to remove the Elected Official that interferes. However, the consensus was to only provide for a Public Reprimand process. Commission Berger voted against this and did not support any penalties on first reading.
eLauderhill News RECOMMENDS FOR
5) Referendum Amending the City Charter, Section 3.04, Regarding the First Meeting for New City Commission.
Shall the City of Lauderhill amend its Charter, Section 3.04, to provide a procedure to determine the first meeting date for the new city commission, as more particularly described in Ordinance 08O-06-127.
______ YES.
______ NO.
Presently the Charter requires swearing in of newly elected officials to occur 3 days after the election, or upon certification of the election results, whichever occurs first. In the past, the results use to come in within a day or two. The city was informed that election results will no longer be available within the 3 days. In 2006, the results in a much smaller election took 7 days, and therefore caused a delay in the swearing in. It is expected that in the November election it could take even longer, up to 2 weeks possible.
To avoid the problem of when elected officials will be sworn in, the Amendment proposes to delay the swearing in for 2 weeks, which hopefully should be enough time for the Supervisor of Election to complete their certification process.
eLauderhill News RECOMMENDS FOR
Friday, October 10, 2008
Lauderhill Candidates Debate
On Tuesday, October 14 at 7:15 PM, the NW Lauderhill Neighbors Association will conduct a Candidates night at Veterans Park. Also, on Wednesday, October 22 at 7 PM, the Inverrary Association will conduct a Candidates Debate at the Environ Cultural Center. Candidates for Lauderhill Commission Seat 1 and 2 will speak, along with information given about the Lauderhill Charter Referendums.
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
A Women's View
Editor's Note: The following was a request from a group of women that asked that this message be posted as a Letter to the Editor.
Friends, compatriots, fellow-lamenters,
We are writing to you because of the fury and dread we have felt since the announcement of Sarah Palin as the Vice-Presidential candidate for the Republican Party. We believe that this terrible decision has surpassed mere partisanship, and that it is a dangerous farce on the part of a pandering and rudderless Presidential candidate that has a real possibility of becoming fact.
Perhaps like us, as American women, you share the fear of what Ms. Palin and her professed beliefs and proven record could lead to for ourselves and for our present or future daughters. To date, she is against sex education, birth control, the pro-choice platform, environmental protection, alternative energy development, freedom of speech (as mayor she wanted to ban books and attempted to fire the librarian who stood against her), gun control, the separation of church and state, and polar bears. To say nothing of her complete lack of real preparation to become the second-most-powerful person on the planet.
We want to clarify that we are not against Sarah Palin as a woman, a mother, or, for that matter, a parent of a pregnant teenager, but solely as a rash, incompetent, and all together devastating choice for Vice President. Ms. Palin's political views are in every way a slap in the face to the accomplishments that our mothers and grandmothers and great-grandmothers so fiercely fought for, and that we've so demonstrably benefited from.
First and foremost, Ms. Palin does not represent us. She does not demonstrate or uphold our interests as American women. It is presumed that the inclusion of a woman on the Republican ticket could win over women voters. We want to disagree, publicly.Therefore, we invite you to reply here: womensaynopalin@gmail.com, with a short, succinct message about why you, as a woman living in this country, do not support this candidate as second-in-command for our nation.
Please include your name (last initial is fine), age, and place of residence.We will post your responses on a blog called "Women Against Sarah Palin," which we intend to publicize as widely as possible. Please send us your reply at your earliest convenience the greater the volume of responses we receive, the stronger our message will be. Thank you for your time and action.VIVA!
Sincerely,
Quinn Latimer and Lyra Kilston
New York , NY
womensaynopalin@gmail.com
Friends, compatriots, fellow-lamenters,
We are writing to you because of the fury and dread we have felt since the announcement of Sarah Palin as the Vice-Presidential candidate for the Republican Party. We believe that this terrible decision has surpassed mere partisanship, and that it is a dangerous farce on the part of a pandering and rudderless Presidential candidate that has a real possibility of becoming fact.
Perhaps like us, as American women, you share the fear of what Ms. Palin and her professed beliefs and proven record could lead to for ourselves and for our present or future daughters. To date, she is against sex education, birth control, the pro-choice platform, environmental protection, alternative energy development, freedom of speech (as mayor she wanted to ban books and attempted to fire the librarian who stood against her), gun control, the separation of church and state, and polar bears. To say nothing of her complete lack of real preparation to become the second-most-powerful person on the planet.
We want to clarify that we are not against Sarah Palin as a woman, a mother, or, for that matter, a parent of a pregnant teenager, but solely as a rash, incompetent, and all together devastating choice for Vice President. Ms. Palin's political views are in every way a slap in the face to the accomplishments that our mothers and grandmothers and great-grandmothers so fiercely fought for, and that we've so demonstrably benefited from.
First and foremost, Ms. Palin does not represent us. She does not demonstrate or uphold our interests as American women. It is presumed that the inclusion of a woman on the Republican ticket could win over women voters. We want to disagree, publicly.Therefore, we invite you to reply here: womensaynopalin@gmail.com, with a short, succinct message about why you, as a woman living in this country, do not support this candidate as second-in-command for our nation.
Please include your name (last initial is fine), age, and place of residence.We will post your responses on a blog called "Women Against Sarah Palin," which we intend to publicize as widely as possible. Please send us your reply at your earliest convenience the greater the volume of responses we receive, the stronger our message will be. Thank you for your time and action.VIVA!
Sincerely,
Quinn Latimer and Lyra Kilston
New York , NY
womensaynopalin@gmail.com
Saturday, October 04, 2008
TIS, Large Cities Council Focus on Regional Transportation Planning by Julia Pulidindi
The Transportation Infrastructure and Services (TIS) Steering Committee and Large Cities Council (LCC), met jointly in Laramie, Wyo., from September 4-6 to discuss some of the key issues surrounding transportation.
With the upcoming expiration of Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users( SAFETEA-LU), the revenue shortfall in the Highway Trust Fund, increased cost of gas and overall state of the economy and the environment, both the TIS steering committee and LCC faced the meeting with a full agenda on what’s going on with transportation at the federal, state, and local levels.
The LCC, formerly known as the Central Cities Council, met on its own to review results of a survey sent out in July. The survey was developed to gauge the biggest issues for large cities in a variety of policy areas. The survey will help guide the LCC’s work for the next few years.
The LCC also heard from Dr. Marc Weiss at Global Urban Development on his work on the Climate Prosperity Project. This project is in its initial phase and it is geared to educate the public on the idea that climate prosperity is vital to economic development. Their message is that rather than climate action being costly and harmful to the economy, climate protection saves everyone money by spending less on energy through increased conservation and efficiency. The Climate Prosperity Project plans to release its first-ever guidebook in October. The guidebook will provide information on how to design and implement climate change policies and programs most effectively and creatively.
Committee and council members heard from Joshua Schanck, director of transportation research, Bipartisan Policy Center, and Paul Schmid, legislative assistant, Rep. Ellen Tauscher’s (D-Calif.) office about the state of transportation funding and what the outlook was like on the upcoming expiration of SAFETEA-LU.
This was followed by a panel of speakers on regional transportation planning. Christy McFarland, NLC research manager, presented an overview of regional transportation planning and how it relates to local land use decisions.
Council Member Susan Burgess, board representative to the TIS steering committee, talked about her city, Charlotte, N.C., and the regional collaboration that has taken place there. She highlighted the fact that regional transportation strategies and local land use strategies go hand in hand and the value of a regional organization, such as a metropolitan planning organization (MPO), to manage this.
Steven Rudy, director of transportation planning and operations at the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG), talked about the success of DRCOG, the regional MPO, in the Denver area’s FasTrack project and transit-oriented development.
“The speakers were informative and caused the group to join in with lots of good dialogue on land use as related to transit oriented development,” said Council Member Kathryn Wilemon, Arlington, Texas. “We always leave these TIS meetings with new thoughts on addressing the transportation challenges in our own cities and regions as well as updates on the legislation affecting the needs of the country.”
The TIS committee reviewed the U.S. DOT’s proposal on surface transportation funding. The committee had concerns with several components of the proposal, especially the replacement of MPOs with a new body, the Metropolitan Transportation Board (MTBs).
Several other members at the meeting shared their experiences of the value of an MPO. The proposal ignores the already established and functioning MPOs that have made significant strides in coordinating regional transportation planning and have helped influence land use practices. To abolish one entity in favor of a new one, which would require significant changes in state, local and regional policies, is counterproductive.
The committee also voiced its concerns with the other components of the proposal, such as the emphasis on direct road and congestion pricing, instituting benefit-cost analysis, and cost comparisons between public-private partnerships and federal funding for projects of more than $250 million. Several members volunteered to send local examples of various problems they have seen with some of the components, such as benefit-cost analysis, that staff will keep to further strengthen NLC’s position on this proposal.
The TIS committee concluded its meeting with a review of policy amendments and resolutions for 2009.
(Note: Mayor Kaplan is a member of the TIS Steering Committee, and was in attendance during this meeting)
With the upcoming expiration of Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users( SAFETEA-LU), the revenue shortfall in the Highway Trust Fund, increased cost of gas and overall state of the economy and the environment, both the TIS steering committee and LCC faced the meeting with a full agenda on what’s going on with transportation at the federal, state, and local levels.
The LCC, formerly known as the Central Cities Council, met on its own to review results of a survey sent out in July. The survey was developed to gauge the biggest issues for large cities in a variety of policy areas. The survey will help guide the LCC’s work for the next few years.
The LCC also heard from Dr. Marc Weiss at Global Urban Development on his work on the Climate Prosperity Project. This project is in its initial phase and it is geared to educate the public on the idea that climate prosperity is vital to economic development. Their message is that rather than climate action being costly and harmful to the economy, climate protection saves everyone money by spending less on energy through increased conservation and efficiency. The Climate Prosperity Project plans to release its first-ever guidebook in October. The guidebook will provide information on how to design and implement climate change policies and programs most effectively and creatively.
Committee and council members heard from Joshua Schanck, director of transportation research, Bipartisan Policy Center, and Paul Schmid, legislative assistant, Rep. Ellen Tauscher’s (D-Calif.) office about the state of transportation funding and what the outlook was like on the upcoming expiration of SAFETEA-LU.
This was followed by a panel of speakers on regional transportation planning. Christy McFarland, NLC research manager, presented an overview of regional transportation planning and how it relates to local land use decisions.
Council Member Susan Burgess, board representative to the TIS steering committee, talked about her city, Charlotte, N.C., and the regional collaboration that has taken place there. She highlighted the fact that regional transportation strategies and local land use strategies go hand in hand and the value of a regional organization, such as a metropolitan planning organization (MPO), to manage this.
Steven Rudy, director of transportation planning and operations at the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG), talked about the success of DRCOG, the regional MPO, in the Denver area’s FasTrack project and transit-oriented development.
“The speakers were informative and caused the group to join in with lots of good dialogue on land use as related to transit oriented development,” said Council Member Kathryn Wilemon, Arlington, Texas. “We always leave these TIS meetings with new thoughts on addressing the transportation challenges in our own cities and regions as well as updates on the legislation affecting the needs of the country.”
The TIS committee reviewed the U.S. DOT’s proposal on surface transportation funding. The committee had concerns with several components of the proposal, especially the replacement of MPOs with a new body, the Metropolitan Transportation Board (MTBs).
Several other members at the meeting shared their experiences of the value of an MPO. The proposal ignores the already established and functioning MPOs that have made significant strides in coordinating regional transportation planning and have helped influence land use practices. To abolish one entity in favor of a new one, which would require significant changes in state, local and regional policies, is counterproductive.
The committee also voiced its concerns with the other components of the proposal, such as the emphasis on direct road and congestion pricing, instituting benefit-cost analysis, and cost comparisons between public-private partnerships and federal funding for projects of more than $250 million. Several members volunteered to send local examples of various problems they have seen with some of the components, such as benefit-cost analysis, that staff will keep to further strengthen NLC’s position on this proposal.
The TIS committee concluded its meeting with a review of policy amendments and resolutions for 2009.
(Note: Mayor Kaplan is a member of the TIS Steering Committee, and was in attendance during this meeting)
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
City Fiscal Conditions Take a Turn for the Worse, by Chris Hoene and Amanda M. Straub
Today, NLC released the City Fiscal Conditions in 2008 report, which finds a troubling combination of developments that will likely affect the financial health of cities over the next several years.
Just as American families are facing economic stress from rising costs, increasing health care premiums, and a collapse in home prices, American cities seem to be facing the same fiscal burdens.
“Cities are getting hit with an alarming wake up call about city budgets,” said NLC President Cynthia McCollum, council member, Madison, Ala. “Because of these declining financial factors, cities are going to have difficulties meeting budget requirements with their normal revenue streams this year. Cities, however, have prepared responsibly and many have historically high rainy day funds to get them through these tough economic times.”
The report found that the decline in property tax revenues (3.6 percent from the prior year, in inflation-adjusted terms) is having an impact on the fiscal health of local governments. Unlike the previous economic downturn in 2001, when property tax revenues were able to buffer the effects of declining income and sales tax receipts, the weak housing market is likely to affect city budgets until 2010.
Moreover, the report found that other sources of revenue are headed downward as well, with sales tax receipts declining by 4.2 percent and income tax revenues expected to decline by 3.3 percent in inflation-adjusted dollars in 2008 compared to 2007.
As a result, 64 percent of city finance officers surveyed expect cities to have a harder time meeting fiscal needs in 2008, and 79 percent forecast even bigger problems ahead in 2009.
“Even if economic conditions improved immediately, the nation’s cities are likely to be realizing the effects of the current downturn through 2010,” said Michael A. Pagano, co-author of the report and dean of the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois at Chicago. “The sharp decline in property tax receipts erodes a critical buffer that has helped cities through economic downturns for the last three decades.”
On the spending side, increases of 3.0 percent in 2007 were met with flat or declining revenues, according to the report. Taken together, city finance officers project a budget gap of 2.8 percent in 2008, with revenues declining by 4.3 percent and spending declining by 1.5 percent in inflation-adjusted dollars over 2007.
The areas affecting city budgets most heavily include prices and inflation (including energy prices), which were identified by 98 percent of respondents. Increases in infrastructure (85 percent) and public safety spending (83 percent), and employee-related costs for wages (95 percent), health care (86 percent), and pensions (79 percent) were also cited as budget-busters.
To meet budget shortfalls, half of the cities responding (49 percent) have increased fees, while 28 percent have increased the number or types of fees and 23 percent increased the level of impact and development fees.
Regionally, cities in the West are being hit hardest, with 74 percent of finance officers stating that their cities are worse off in 2008, followed by cities in the Midwest (67 percent), Northeast (61 percent) and the South (53 percent).
The situation also varies depending upon local tax authority. Finance officers in cities reliant upon the property tax were most likely to say their cities are worse off (75 percent), compared to cities that utilize a mix of sales and property taxes (60 percent), or cities that use a mix that includes a local income tax (52 percent).
The pessimistic assessment is registered regardless of city size. Sixty-nine percent of the nation’s largest cities reported a lessening ability to meet needs, 68 percent for cities with populations 100,000-299,999, 65 percent for cities 50,000-99,999, and 61 percent for cities with populations under 50,000.
“Cities have implemented creative solutions for making do with less, while managing their budgets responsibly in the face of legal requirements that they be balanced annually,” said NLC Executive Director Donald J. Borut. “There is, however, only so much cities can do when faced with the macro-economics of a housing market in crisis, flat revenues and soaring health care and energy costs. It’s time we recognize that we must support strong cities if we are to expect to benefit from a healthy, growing economy. Federal and state policies need to support local economies if we want to improve the national outlook.”
The City Fiscal Conditions Survey is a national mail survey of finance officers in U.S. cities. Surveys were mailed to a sample of 1,055 cities, including all cities with populations greater than 50,000 and, using established sampling techniques, to a randomly generated sample of cities with populations between 10,000 and 50,000. The survey was conducted between April and June 2008. The 2008 survey data are drawn from 319 responding city finance officers, for a response rate of 30.2 percent. The responses received enable NLC to generalize about all cities with populations of 10,000 or more.
Just as American families are facing economic stress from rising costs, increasing health care premiums, and a collapse in home prices, American cities seem to be facing the same fiscal burdens.
“Cities are getting hit with an alarming wake up call about city budgets,” said NLC President Cynthia McCollum, council member, Madison, Ala. “Because of these declining financial factors, cities are going to have difficulties meeting budget requirements with their normal revenue streams this year. Cities, however, have prepared responsibly and many have historically high rainy day funds to get them through these tough economic times.”
The report found that the decline in property tax revenues (3.6 percent from the prior year, in inflation-adjusted terms) is having an impact on the fiscal health of local governments. Unlike the previous economic downturn in 2001, when property tax revenues were able to buffer the effects of declining income and sales tax receipts, the weak housing market is likely to affect city budgets until 2010.
Moreover, the report found that other sources of revenue are headed downward as well, with sales tax receipts declining by 4.2 percent and income tax revenues expected to decline by 3.3 percent in inflation-adjusted dollars in 2008 compared to 2007.
As a result, 64 percent of city finance officers surveyed expect cities to have a harder time meeting fiscal needs in 2008, and 79 percent forecast even bigger problems ahead in 2009.
“Even if economic conditions improved immediately, the nation’s cities are likely to be realizing the effects of the current downturn through 2010,” said Michael A. Pagano, co-author of the report and dean of the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois at Chicago. “The sharp decline in property tax receipts erodes a critical buffer that has helped cities through economic downturns for the last three decades.”
On the spending side, increases of 3.0 percent in 2007 were met with flat or declining revenues, according to the report. Taken together, city finance officers project a budget gap of 2.8 percent in 2008, with revenues declining by 4.3 percent and spending declining by 1.5 percent in inflation-adjusted dollars over 2007.
The areas affecting city budgets most heavily include prices and inflation (including energy prices), which were identified by 98 percent of respondents. Increases in infrastructure (85 percent) and public safety spending (83 percent), and employee-related costs for wages (95 percent), health care (86 percent), and pensions (79 percent) were also cited as budget-busters.
To meet budget shortfalls, half of the cities responding (49 percent) have increased fees, while 28 percent have increased the number or types of fees and 23 percent increased the level of impact and development fees.
Regionally, cities in the West are being hit hardest, with 74 percent of finance officers stating that their cities are worse off in 2008, followed by cities in the Midwest (67 percent), Northeast (61 percent) and the South (53 percent).
The situation also varies depending upon local tax authority. Finance officers in cities reliant upon the property tax were most likely to say their cities are worse off (75 percent), compared to cities that utilize a mix of sales and property taxes (60 percent), or cities that use a mix that includes a local income tax (52 percent).
The pessimistic assessment is registered regardless of city size. Sixty-nine percent of the nation’s largest cities reported a lessening ability to meet needs, 68 percent for cities with populations 100,000-299,999, 65 percent for cities 50,000-99,999, and 61 percent for cities with populations under 50,000.
“Cities have implemented creative solutions for making do with less, while managing their budgets responsibly in the face of legal requirements that they be balanced annually,” said NLC Executive Director Donald J. Borut. “There is, however, only so much cities can do when faced with the macro-economics of a housing market in crisis, flat revenues and soaring health care and energy costs. It’s time we recognize that we must support strong cities if we are to expect to benefit from a healthy, growing economy. Federal and state policies need to support local economies if we want to improve the national outlook.”
The City Fiscal Conditions Survey is a national mail survey of finance officers in U.S. cities. Surveys were mailed to a sample of 1,055 cities, including all cities with populations greater than 50,000 and, using established sampling techniques, to a randomly generated sample of cities with populations between 10,000 and 50,000. The survey was conducted between April and June 2008. The 2008 survey data are drawn from 319 responding city finance officers, for a response rate of 30.2 percent. The responses received enable NLC to generalize about all cities with populations of 10,000 or more.
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