Lauderhill Housing Authority Home Ownership Fair This Weekend

You're invited to attend the Lauderhill Housing Authority Homeownership Fair
The Working Professionals Guide to Homeownership

This weekend, the Lauderhill Housing Authority will continue to provide the dream of homeownership to new and existing residents in the City of Lauderhill.  The Housing Authority Board of Commissioners invites you to join us at the Lauderhill Mall this Saturday May 30, 2015 from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm for a Homeownership Fair that will focus on “The Working Professionals Guide to Homeownership”. The Lauderhill Mall is located at 1267 NW 40^th Avenue.

During the Homeownership Fair, presenters will provide an overview of the home buying process. Representatives from the Lauderhill Housing Authority, City of Lauderhill, local banks, credit unions and other companies/organizations involved in the home buying process will be available to provide information and answer questions. In addition, the Housing Authority will conduct bus tours throughout the day to showcase a selection of condominiums available for sale and lease. Also featured will be new single family home and townhome developments that are available for sale.

The fair is free and open to everyone. Whether you are ready to buy or just starting to think about owning a home, the Lauderhill Homeownership Fair is the place for you. For more information regarding the Homeownership Fair, please contact the Lauderhill Housing Authority at 954-730-3041.

Registration Window For 2015 BCPS Summer Voluntary Prekindergarten Program is Now Open

Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) program from June through August 2015. The Summer VPK program is available to children that will be 5-years-old on or before September 1, 2015, and who did not use their VPK Certificate of Eligibility during the 2014/15 school year.

Under the instruction of District certified teachers, Summer VPK classes operate Monday through Thursday, from 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., beginning Tuesday, June 9, 2015, through Wednesday, August 5, 2015. Students will receive free breakfast, lunch and a snack.  

To participate in the BCPS 2015 Summer VPK program, parents/guardians must apply for, receive and present a VPK Certificate of Eligibility to their selected school. To receive a Certificate of Eligibility, visit https://vpkcp.floridaearlylearning.com. Parents/Guardians also need to provide required documents such as, proof of age (child’s birth certificate, passport, military dependent card or immunization record) and proof of residency (driver’s license, utility bill or pay stub).

To enroll students in the BCPS 2015 Summer VPK Program, parents/guardians must bring their VPK Certificate of Eligibility to one of the three participating schools listed below.

Liberty Elementary School 2450 Banks Road Margate, FL 33063 754-322-6750

Mirror Lake Elementary School 1200 NW 72ndAvenue Plantation, FL 33313 754-322-7100

Sea Castle Elementary School 9600 Miramar Boulevard Miramar, FL 33025 754-323-7250

For more information about the District’s VPK Program, contact one of the schools listed above or the District’s Head Start/Early Intervention Department at, 754-321-1954.

2015/16 School Choice Late Applications Accepted Beginning May 1, 2015

Parents and guardians interested in submitting a 2015/16 School Choice late application for magnet and reassignment seats still available following the original application window earlier this year, can do so starting this Friday, May 1, 2015.  Seats are available on a first come, first served basis.

Beginning May 1, 2015, parents and guardians can view a list of schools with seats available, download/print the paper application and get answers to frequently asked questions, by visiting browardschools.com and clicking on the School Choice - It’s Easy as 1,2,3 icon.   

Applications will also be available at the first floor security desk in the Kathleen C. Wright Administration Center. Applications may be submitted by mail or in person.

Mail completed applications to:

Attn: Demographics & Student Assignments

School Board of Broward County, Florida

600 SE Third Avenue

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

Hand-deliver~completed applications to:

Security Desk - 1st Floor

Kathleen C. Wright Administration Center

Attn: Demographics & Student Assignments

School Board of Broward County, Florida

600 SE Third Avenue

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

For more information, contact the Demographics and Student Assignments Department at 754-321-2480.

Ms. Linda Dimeo's 8th Grade Class at Parkway Middle School Wins Contest

CONGRATULATIONS

to PARKWAY MIDDLE SCHOOL - Ms. Linda Dimeo’s 8^th Grade class, for the

City of Lauderhill’s Educational Advisory Board Black History poster Contest:

FIRST PLACE for Lauderhill’s Middle schools.

A winner was chosen on April 29^th 2015.

The prizes to Ms. Dimeo and her participating class will be presented at the school’s end of the year awards ceremony by the

EAB Chairman.

Notes of the Commission Meeting of May 11

On May 11, the City Commission held its regular meeting and the following are notes of interest (all items passed unanimously unless otherwise indicated):

PROCLAMATIONS / COMMENDATIONS:

A. A PROCLAMATION PROCLAIMING STUART GREENBLATT DAY IN THE CITY OF LAUDERHILL, FOR HIS MANY YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE CITY AND TO THE LAUDERHILL PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD.

B. A PROCLAMATION HONORING LAUDERHILL 6-12 AND THE GREEN CITY GARDENING GROUP FOR RECEIVING THE GOLDEN SHOVEL AWARD.


ORDINANCES & PUBLIC HEARINGS - FIRST READING:

ORDINANCE NO. 15O-05-117:  PROVIDING FOR THE ISSUANCE OF NOT EXCEEDING $25,000,000 CITY OF LAUDERHILL, FLORIDA GENERAL OBLIGATION REFUNDING BONDS, SERIES 2015 FOR THE PURPOSE OF ACCOMPLISHING THE CURRENT REFUNDING OF THE CITY’S OUTSTANDING GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS, SERIES 2005 PREVIOUSLY APPROVED PURSUANT TO A BOND REFERENDUM HELD IN THE CITY AND PAYING COSTS OF ISSUANCE OF SUCH BONDS; PLEDGING THE CITY’S FULL FAITH, CREDIT AND TAXING POWER TO THE PAYMENT OF SUCH BONDS.  The estimated savings to be about $4.5 million.  The bonds will be available to the general public to purchase like the original GO Bonds were.

ORDINANCE NO. 15O-05-118:  AMENDING THE LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS AND PERTAINING TO EDUCATION, BY CREATING A NEW SECTION 5.48., EDUCATION, PRIMARY AND SECONDARY, CHARTER AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND ADDING SUBSECTIONS ON APPLICATION FILING REQUIREMENTS, SITE REQUIREMENTS, PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT REQUIREMENTS, OTHER REQUIREMENTS, EXEMPTION, AND EXISTING SCHOOLS IMPLEMENTATION, (REQUESTED BY MAYOR RICHARD J. KAPLAN).

ORDINANCE NO. 15O-05-119: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF LAUDERHILL, CHAPTER 12, BUSINESS REGULATIONS, ARTICLE II, CERTIFICATE OF USE AND LOCAL BUSINESS TAX RECEIPT, CREATING SECTION 12-59, DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT FEE.


RESOLUTIONS:

RESOLUTION NO. 15R-05-92:   AUTHORIZING AND APPROVING THE BROWARD REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAM GRANT APPLICATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $1 MILLION TO BE USED FOR PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS SUCH AS PARKING, LANDSCAPING, PUBLIC ART, OUTDOOR SEATING AND WALKWAYS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE OLD K-MART SITE ON THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF SUNRISE BOULEVARD AND STATE ROAD 7; FINDING THAT SUCH IMPROVEMENTS WOULD BE A BENEFICIAL USE OF PUBLIC DOLLARS IN SUPPORT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND THAT THE SITE WOULD HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ANY NECESSARY DOCUMENTS; PROVIDING TERMS AND CONDITIONS; PROVIDING THAT NO MATCHING FUNDS ARE REQUIRED.

RESOLUTION NO. 15R-05-93:   WAIVING COMPETITIVE BIDDING; AUTHORIZING THE PIGGY BACK OF THE FLORIDA SHERIFF'S ASSOCIATION AND FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES BID AWARD (14-22-0904) FOR THE PURCHASE OF UP TO FOUR (4) 2016 FORD FUSION VEHICLES FROM ALAN JAY FLEET SALES FOR USE BY THE NEW MOBILE TEAM DIVISION; PROVIDING FOR PAYMENT IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $110,832.00 FROM BUDGET CODE NUMBER 305-311-6117.

RESOLUTION NO. 15R-05-94:  RESCINDING AND REPLACING RESOLUTION NO. 15R-04-89; APPROVING THE NON-EXCLUSIVE REVOCABLE PARKING LICENSE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF LAUDERHILL AND THE INVERRARY ASSOCIATION, INC. TO ALLOW ACCESS FOR THE PARKING OF TWO AXLE PASSENGER VEHICLES BY THE INVERRARY ASSOCIATION ON THE PROPERTY KNOWN AS THE LAUDERHILL CITY HALL ANNEX LOCATED  AT 3300 INVERRARY BOULEVARD, LAUDERHILL, FLORIDA.

RESOLUTION NO. 15R-05-95:  APPROVING THE 2015 AMENDMENT TO THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN BROWARD COUNTY AND THE CITY OF LAUDERHILL PROVIDING FOR THE DIVISION AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE PROCEEDS OF THE “ORIGINAL” LOCAL OPTION GAS TAX IMPOSED BY THE BROWARD COUNTY LOCAL OPTION GAS TAX ORDINANCE; PROVIDING FOR CITIES TO RECEIVE A PERCENTAGE OF THE PROCEEDS OF THE SIX CENTS OF GAS TAX.

RESOLUTION NO. 15R-05-96:   APPROVING THE 2015 AMENDMENT TO THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN BROWARD COUNTY AND THE CITY OF LAUDERHILL FOR THE DIVISION AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE PROCEEDS FROM THE BROWARD COUNTY FIFTH CENT ADDITIONAL LOCAL OPTION GAS TAX ON MOTOR FUEL FOR TRANSIT.

RESOLUTION NO. 15R-05-97:   APPROVING THE 2015 AMENDMENT TO THE "ADDITIONAL" LOCAL OPTION GAS TAX INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN BROWARD COUNTY AND THE CITY OF LAUDERHILL FOR MOTOR FUEL PROVIDING FOR DIVISION AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE PROCEEDS FROM THE BROWARD COUNTY ADDITIONAL LOCAL OPTION OF THREE CENTS OF GAS TAX ON MOTOR FUEL ORDINANCE.

RESOLUTION NO. 15R-05-102:  AUTHORIZING PARTICIPATION IN THE BANK’S COMMUNITY INVESTMENT SERVICES PROGRAMS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING; AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AND APPROVING THE ACCESS FORM FOR SPONSOR WEB SYSTEM ACCESS AND TERMS AND CONDITIONS.


QUASI-JUDICIAL MATTERS, FIRST READING:

RESOLUTION NO. 15R-04-90:   GRANTING TO VC LAUDERDALE, INC., D/B/A VEGAS CABARET A SPECIAL EXCEPTION USE DEVELOPMENT ORDER TO ALLOW EXTENDED HOURS OF OPERATION TO 4 AM ASSOCIATED WITH A BAR AND ADULT ENTERTAINMENT KNOWN AS VEGAS CABARET, 5426 - 5428 NORTH UNIVERSITY DRIVE, LAUDERHILL.   Failed 5-0.

CASA / UNIFEST PRESENT SOCCER AND NETBALL SPORTS EXTRAVAGANZA

CASA / UNIFEST joint annual soccer knock out final for the Hazelle Rogers challenge trophy.

Venue: Lauderhill Sports Complex 7500 West Oakland Park Blvd, Lauderhill Fl 33319.

When: May 16^th, 2015

Activities: 

5:00 PM          Dominoes

Soccer Game – Master’s League Defending Champion Lauderhill Lions versus United FC

                        Netball

         
6:30PM           Soccer game – Links United of Orlando versus Lauderhill Juniors

8:30 PM          Feature Game Plantation FC versus Oakland Stars

                        (this promises to be a very exciting game - Oakland Stars who is undefeated in both leagues, met earlier this season with Plantation and played to an exciting 3 / 3 draw)

Admission:      FREE

                        Food and Refreshment on sale. Family Fun day and entertainment

Miami Dolphins Post Draft Report

So another NFL Draft has come and gone.  Now everyone is grading how each team did.  The funny thing is that if you look to past years grades given by "Professionals," it is amazing how off they can be.

Take for instance last year's Dolphin pick of JaWuan James.  He was considered a 2nd round pick as well as Dolphins 2nd round pick of Jarvis Landry.  Both are now considered 1st round quality and James is among the best picks of the 1st round.

Teddy Bridgewater was a 2nd round projected pick and both Blake Bortles and Johnny Mazeil was considered to be a much better 1st round projected picks.  Right now Bridgewater is excelling, Manzeil is borderline bust (but still with some hope) and Bortles is just holding his own.

Then the top draft pick in 2014 was Jadeveon Clowney, who while still may turn out excellent, was injured most of last year.  And don't get me started on the 3rd pick of the draft 2013 of Dion Jordan.

But from this draft, given what has happened, what would you have done at the Dolphin picks when they came up?  Well I would have picked a little differently.

The first round pick of DeVante Parker was a consensus right pick.

The trading down of the second round was also the right move.  But instead of picking Jordan Phillips, which was a gutsy and potentially excellent choice, it is also an incredibly risky choice which could be a major bust, and the Dolphins really don't need that kind of risk for now from the second round.

A much better selection would have been Jake Fisher who could play OG and OT, which the team really needs.  Honestly I didn't think he would be available by this pick and was a borderline 1st round possibility, early second at worse.

If they had picked Jake Fisher (which was much safer and he will be immediately a starter), then the pick of Jamil Douglas would not have been necessary in the fourth round.  My choice would have been Jake Ryan to fill the linebacker need. NOTE:  I am glad they picked up Mike Hull as a UFA (and was surprised he wasn't drafted).

In the fifth round I have no qualms with the selections since they fit the Dolphins needs, but then I might have taken a huge risk on the last pick and not selected Tony Lippett.  I would have selected La'el Collins.

If the investigation clears him, then the Dolphins would have been sitting pretty and addressed every team need.  If it didn't, then we lost a 5th round pick and not everyone makes the team.  That would have been worth it.  Especially now that everyone is trying to sign him as a UFA, and the Dolphins are competing to sign him.  And we could have had him for the taking.   We still might get him, but it's going to be a lot harder than it should have been.

So that's my take on it for what it is worth.  Next up, Rookie Camp, and Training Camp.  Should be fun.

Bank on Lauderhill - Free Financial Fair at Lauderhill 6-12 School, May 14 at 7 PM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact: Bill Mills, Bank On Florida Director

           Bill@FloridaProsperityPartnership.org, 321-209-4377

            Leslie Johnson, City of Lauderhill

           ljohnson@Lauderhill-fl.gov, 954-739-0100

__________________________________________

Mayor Kaplan Announces Launch of Bank On Lauderhill

Program Aimed at Improving Financial Futures for Half of Lauderhill’s Residents

Lauderhill, Fla. (May 8, 2015) – Lauderhill Mayor Richard J. Kaplan, in collaboration with local nonprofits, financial institutions, and Florida Prosperity Partnership, will be announcing the launch of Bank On Lauderhill, a public-private partnership among the area’s regional financial institutions and community-based organizations aimed at increasing the financial stability of the “unbanked” and “underbanked.”

This announcement will happen at a special Bank On Lauderhill Financial Fair being held at Lauderhill 6-12,  1901 NW 49th Ave., Lauderhill, on Thursday, May 14, 2015 at 7 p.m.  This free event invites everyone in the community to come in and speak with representatives from banks, credit unions and non-profit/social services agencies to assist them to begin or advance their financial planning.

Over half of Lauderhill residents are either unbanked (no checking or savings account) or underbanked (have an account, but frequently use alternative financial services, like check-cashing stores). It’s estimated that a full-time worker without a bank account spends $40,000 over the course of a lifetime just to cash paychecks.  In Lauderhill, 18.4% of households don’t have bank accounts – surpassing the national average of 7.7%. Likewise, 31.9% are underbanked – topping the national average of 20.0 percent. This equates to over 12,000 households in the city.

A few reasons that people cite for not having a bank account include minimum balance requirements, difficulties with an account in the past, lack of appropriate identification, and feeling they don’t have enough money or don’t write enough checks. Bank On Florida has worked to reduce or eliminate those barriers. Participating financial institutions will offer accounts with no or low minimum balance, no or low monthly maintenance fee, and free basic online services. Most partners will make a reasonable effort to open an account even if an individual has had difficulties with an account in the past, such as unpaid overdraft fees. Several partners will also accept alternative forms of identification.

Mayor Kaplan stated, “It is extremely important that our residents are able to develop and maintain a banking relationship to help them handle their financial affairs.  Without it, our residents will have a difficult time trying to grow their savings and properly provide for the financial future.”

  

Bank On Lauderhill was modeled after the Bank On Florida blueprint created by Florida Prosperity Partnership. The Bank On program, originally started in San Francisco, has spread throughout the country and is based on a collaborative effort with local communities and their financial institutions, local governments, and community-based and nonprofit organizations, like the United Way of Broward County.

“A successful relationship starts when a financially educated client is able to choose from a variety of checking and savings account options,” said Bill Mills, Bank On Florida Director and Florida Prosperity Partnership Vice President. “This initiative provides families with reliable choices being offered by banks and credit unions that care about the communities in which they operate.”

For a media kit of Bank On Lauderhill materials, visit http://lauderhill-fl.gov/economic-development/bank-on-lauderhill  or for more information on Bank On Lauderhill, visit http://www.BankOnLauderhill.com.

 ______________________________

About Florida Prosperity Partnership

The Florida Prosperity Partnership (FPP) is a statewide collaboration dedicated to improving the financial stability for low-to-moderate income Floridians. Established in the fall of 2008, the FPP includes over 500 partner organizations from all sectors of Florida. For more information, please contact Bill Mills, Vice President at 321-209-4377.

Notes of the Commission Meeting of April 27

On April 27, the City Commission met and the following are notes of interest (all items passed unanimously unless otherwise indicated):

ORDINANCES & PUBLIC HEARINGS - FIRST READING:

ORDINANCE NO. 15O-04-114:  PROVIDING THAT THE CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD SHALL PERFORM EX OFFICIO THE DUTIES OF THE NUISANCE ABATEMENT BOARD.

ORDINANCE NO. 15O-04-115: AMENDING SECTION 21-47, SCHEDULE OF RATES AND CHARGES, TABLE 4, WATER SYSTEM MINIMUM CHARGE/AVAILABILITY CHARGE; TABLE 5, WATER SYSTEM VOLUMETRIC RATE AND TABLE 6, SEWER RATES AVAILABILITY CHARGE AND VOLUMETRIC RATE TABLE; PROVIDING THAT THE NEW RATE STRUCTURE SHALL BE EFFECTIVE COMMENCING JUNE 1, 2015.

ORDINANCE NO. 15O-04-116:  AMENDING THE CITY OF LAUDERHILL CODE OF ORDINANCES, CHAPTER 2, ADMINISTRATION, ARTICLE VII, CHARTER REVIEW BOARD, SECTION 2-211, COMPOSITION AND APPOINTMENTS.  This provides that two year appointments to the Charter Board so that their work can begin will move from 2018 to 2016, and occur every 10 years thereafter.

ORDINANCES & PUBLIC HEARINGS - SECOND READING:

ORDINANCE NO. 15O-04-111:   APPROVING THE SALE AND PURCHASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF LAUDERHILL AND WE FLORIDA FINANCIAL FOR WE FLORIDA FINANCIAL TO PURCHASE THE VACANT PARCEL OF LAND LOCATED AT 6279 WEST OAKLAND PARK BOULEVARD, LAUDERHILL SUBJECT TO DEED RESTRICTIONS FOR THE PURCHASE PRICE OF $850,000.00.

RESOLUTIONS:

RESOLUTION NO. 15R-04-84:   AUTHORIZING THE DISPOSAL OF OBSOLETE, DAMAGED, INOPERABLE AND SURPLUS EQUIPMENT IN THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE AND FAVORABLE MANNER.

RESOLUTION NO. 15R-04-86:  APPROVING THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER (SRO) AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE SCHOOL BOARD OF BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA AND THE CITY OF LAUDERHILL, FLORIDA REGARDING THE ASSIGNMENTS AT THE PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS; PROVIDING FOR THE ASSIGNMENT OF TWO (2) SROS AT THE TWO (2) PARTICIPATING MIDDLE SCHOOLS FOR TEN (10) MONTHS; PROVIDING FOR THE ASSIGNMENT OF TWO (2) ADDITIONAL SROS AT THE PARTICIPATING ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS FOR A PERIOD OF SEVEN (7) MONTHS; PROVIDING FOR A TERM COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2015 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2016.

RESOLUTION NO. 15R-04-87:   APPROVING THE EXPENDITURE IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,500.00 FOR THE SPORTS ADVANCING KIDS EDUCATION (S.A.K.E.) AWARD RECIPIENT GIFTS TO THE WINNERS; PROVIDING FOR PAYMENT FROM BUDGET CODE NUMBER 001-713-5710.

RESOLUTION NO. 15R-04-89:  APPROVING THE NON-EXCLUSIVE REVOCABLE PARKING LICENSE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF LAUDERHILL AND THE INVERRARY ASSOCIATION, INC. TO ALLOW ACCESS FOR THE PARKING OF TWO AXLE PASSENGER VEHICLES BY MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC DURING MEETINGS AND OTHER EVENTS HELD BY THE CITY ON THE PROPERTY KNOWN AS THE LAUDERHILL CITY HALL ANNEX LOCATED AT 3300 INVERRARY BOULEVARD, LAUDERHILL, FLORIDA.

QUASI-JUDICIAL MATTERS, FIRST READING:

RESOLUTION NO. 15R-04-90:  GRANTING TO VC LAUDERDALE, INC., D/B/A VEGAS CABARET A SPECIAL EXCEPTION USE DEVELOPMENT ORDER TO ALLOW   EXTENDED HOURS OF OPERATION ASSOCIATED WITH A BAR AND ADULT ENTERTAINMENT ESTABLISHMENT  KNOWN AS VEGAS CABARET, 5426 - 5428 NORTH UNIVERSITY DRIVE, LAUDERHILL, FLORIDA. (Tabled at request of Applicant and re-set for May 11)

Lauderhill 6-12 Wins Award

Lauderhill 6-12 has WON Florida Farm to School Golden Shovel Award for the Best New School Garden in the State of Florida. 

The award recognizes extraordinary school garden projects developed during or sustained throughout the school year.