City Commission Workshop Notes of October 20

On October 20, the City Commission held its regular monthly workshop and the following are notes of interest:

1) BUS TRANSFER STATION – LAUDERHILL MALL (MAYOR RICHARD J. KAPLAN) - Plans are proceeding but taking longer to accomplish then originally expected.  There is a matter related to supplying security to the facility that is being addressed.

2)  Ordinance No. 150-06-123:  Campaign contributions by Charter Officers and Attorney Discussion - Consensus of the Commission was not to pursue this law as it was felt to possibly not be needed over the objections of Mayor Kaplan.  However they did agree to hold off any further action until the Florida Bar issues an Ethics Opinion concerning the Supervisor of Elections Attorney on whether it is legal for a person in that capacity can be involved in a campaign, or is it a conflict to their client's interest.

(REQUESTED BY MAYOR RICHARD J. KAPLAN)

3) GOOD NEIGHBOR STORE INITIATIVE (REQUESTED BY VICE MAYOR HAYWARD J.

BENSON, JR.) - Agreed to let it move forward and provide support

4)  BUSINESS LICENSEE FOR RENTAL PROPERTIES (REQUESTED BY VICE MAYOR
HAWYARD

5) FLORIDA PACE FUNDING AGENCY (REQUESTED BY VICE MAYOR BENSON) - Agreed to support.  This conforms to the prior Ordinance passed by the City Commission in 2011 to authorize PACE within the city.  However, a small amendment is now required to that ordinance, plus a resolution specifically to authorize funding.

6) CITY COMMISSION MEETING TIMES (REQUESTED BY COMMISSIONER M. MARGARET BATES) - Discussion on possibly moving Commission Meetings once a month to the afternoon.  Consensus was against this however as an experiment, one future meeting could be tried to see if there is a change in attendance.

7) DISCUSSION AND CLARIFICATION OF SECTION 3.03 – ELECTION AND TERM OF

OFFICE. (REQUESTED BY COMMISSIONER M. MARGARET BATES.) - Clarification was that the 12 year consecutive terms limits applies to the person and not the seat.  Therefore, a Commissioner who had already served 10 years could run for Mayor, but if elected could only serve for 2 of the 4 years of that term. 

8) RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS DIRECTORS/ EMPLOYEES/ CHIEFS (REQUESTED BY CITY MANAGER CHARLES FARANDA) - Present law requires the Police and Fire Chief to live in the city.  It is possible that this may be changed to allow them to also live in a contiguous city to Lauderhill.

9) DISCUSSION/PROCEDURE TO CHANGE THE MAILING ADDRESS OF ANNEXED

AREAS FROM FT. LAUDERDALE TO LAUDERHILL (REQUESTED BY COMMISSIONER M. MARGARET BATES.) - This is a function mostly of the Post Office.  The City Attorney will send them a letter to see what can be done about it.

Lauderhill Officials to Celebrate the Opening of the New Fire Station - #110 on Oct. 29, 2015

The addition of Fire Station #110 in 2006 followed the City of Lauderhill’s annexation of the St. George, West Ken Lark and Broward Estates Communities. The City’s Fire Department has been operating out of a temporary trailer facility located at 3120 NW 12 Place since that time. 

On Thursday, October 29, 2015 at 10 am, the City’s Officials along with the Fire Department Staff and the residents of the City of Lauderhill will celebrate with a Ribbon Cutting for a new state of the art Fire Station to be located at the same address as the long standing temporary facility.

The new 15,000 square foot state of the art facility was Designed and Built by West Construction, Inc and West Architecture + Design, LLC to meet the LEED Silver standards.  These standards conform to the City’s ordinance requiring all newly constructed City buildings to be environmentally friendly.

Fire Station #110 includes three fire truck bays, living quarters for fire rescue staff, a kitchen, a dayroom, an exercise room, separate restroom/shower facilities for both male and females, offices, storage rooms, a stand-by emergency generator, a police sub-station, and a medical triage room on the first floor.

The second floor includes a multi-purpose room and serves as the City’s back-up Emergency Operations Center - as Fire Station #57 serves as the primary.

“The opening of Fire Station #110 is a great accomplishment for the City and a real source of pride for our residents in the southeast corridor of Lauderhill. The building is the flagship for our very honorable fire department but it is also a beautiful addition for our community,” explains Mayor Richard J. Kaplan.   

Although the City’s Official Ribbon Cutting will commence at 10 am, there will be an Official Cornerstone Laying Ceremony by the Masonic Grand Lodge of Florida at 9:00 am. The Honorable Stephen P. Boring, Grand Master of Masons of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge will preside over the proceedings. Both the 9 am Masonic Cornerstone Laying Ceremony and the 10 am Official City Ribbon Cutting Ceremony are free and open to the public.

Please join the City Commission as we celebrate the Opening of the Fire Station on October 9, 2015 at 10 am. If you have any questions, please call us at 954-730-3000.

LPD Community Connection - Bridging the Gap

Meet Lauderhill Police Officers, Supervisors, and Command Staff

 

Get information on Patrols/First Responders, Investigations, Traffic Concerns,

and Community Policing

 

November 2

6 to 9 pm

Lauderhill City Hall

Lights on Afterschool

On October 22 from 4 to 6 pm at Castle Hill Elementary a Lights on Afterschool program will be held to celebrate andhighlight programs that support communities by providing afterschool care to families that need. it.

All Broward Voters: Be On the Lookout for Vote-By-Mail Information Brochure

Broward County, FL (October 9, 2015) — The Broward County Supervisor of  Elections, Dr. Brenda C. Snipes,  would like to inform all Broward voters that they will be receiving a Vote-By-Mail Information Brochure in the mail beginning Tuesday, October 13.  Mailings will continue throughout the month of October until all 1.1 million plus Broward registered voters have received the brochure. 

This information brochure will contain information relative to how to request a Vote-by-Mail Ballot for any, or all, the 2016 elections by returning the form attached to the mailing, or visiting the website at www.browardsoe.org, or by calling the vote-by-mail line at 954-357-7055.   

 “We are pleased to advise all voters that effective with the March 2016 Presidential Preference Primary election, the postage to return a voted ballot will be pre-paid by the Elections Office.  Voters may continue to drop off a voted ballot at the two Elections Offices as well.” said Dr. Snipes. 

For any questions or concerns, please call the main office at 954-357-7050 or visit www.browardsoe.org

I am too old to learn chess ... Really?

Many adults don't know how to play ... and ... are a just wee bit intimidated by the game of kings and queens.  Of course, many can understand being apprehensive watching second and third graders play -- many have been humbled by elementary school players!

So, here is a short video you can use to learn enough to sit down with a student (or a friend) and at least be able to move around the board.  You can use this to be ready for the Mayors' Chess Challenges. 

http://www.chesskid.com/video/player/the-magic-of-chess?url=learn-video.html

To find out more about the upcoming schedule for the Mayors' Chess Challenge,

http://elauderhill.blogspot.com/2015/09/mayors-chess-challenge-schedule-of-games.html

BCPS Head Start/Early Intervention Department Launches Early Learning Messaging Initiative

Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) Head Start/Early Intervention Department is launching a new initiative for families. The department is sending messages with early learning tips and activities directly to parents and guardians across the community.  The messages are targeted to support “learning on the go” for infants, toddlers and pre-kindergarten children through everyday routines and events.  

It’s easy for families to receive these messages.  On social media, follow the Head Start/Early Intervention Department on Twitter @BCPSHdStrtVPK or like them on Facebook at facebook.com/HeadStartEarlyIntervention.

Parents and guardians can also choose the messages they want to receive via the District’s free mobile app.  Just visit an app store from a mobile device to download the BCPS app.  From the BCPS app, choose the “configure app” option, click on "Follow Schools," then scroll down to “follow” one or more of the following:

• BCPS4Infants
• BCPS4Toddlers
• BCPS4PreK

From the “configure app” option, you can also choose your language preference.

“The first years of a child’s life are crucial for their development,” said Dr. Nicole Mancini, director of BCPS Head Start/Early Intervention. “Research indicates that children who are nurtured and engaged from birth through the preschool years are better prepared for kindergarten and are more likely to be successful throughout their lives. These messages showcase how simple actions can make a big impact on a child’s development.”

The BCPS4 Infants/Toddlers/Pre-K messages are delivered twice a week beginning Monday, September 28, 2015. 

Notes of the Commission Meeting of September 21

On September 21, the City Commission met and the following is notes of interest (all items passed unanimously unless otherwise noted):

ORDINANCES & PUBLIC HEARINGS - SECOND READING:

ORDINANCE NO. 15O-09-133:   PROVIDING FOR THE ISSUANCE OF ITS $4,135,000 STORMWATER UTILITY REFUNDING REVENUE BOND, SERIES 2015B AS REFUNDING BONDS UNDER ORDINANCE NO. 04O-04-124 ENACTED ON MAY 10, 2004; AUTHORIZING THE PROCEEDS OF THE SERIES 2015B BOND TO BE APPLIED, TOGETHER WITH OTHER LEGALLY AVAILABLE FUNDS OF THE CITY, TO REFUND, ON A CURRENT BASIS, THE CITY’S OUTSTANDING STORMWATER UTILITY REVENUE BONDS, SERIES 2009  AWARDING THE SALE OF THE SERIES 2015B BOND TO BRANCH BANKING AND TRUST COMPANY PURSUANT TO A NEGOTIATED SALE.

RESOLUTIONS:

RESOLUTION NO. 15R-09-222:   APPROVING THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD) SUBRECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF LAUDERHILL AND WINDERMERE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, INC. FOR DISBURSEMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) FY 2013-2014 FUNDING IN THE FORM OF A LOAN IN THE AMOUNT OF $380,000.00 FOR RESIDENTIAL BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS.

RESOLUTION NO. 15R-09-225:   APPROVING THE SOLE SOURCE PURCHASE OF SPECTRA BOX OFFICE TICKETING SYSTEM FROM PROFESSIONAL FACILITIES MANAGEMENT ("PFM") IN THE AMOUNT OF $40,845.00.

RESOLUTION NO. 15R-09-228:   APPROVING THE CANCELLATION AND RESCHEDULING DATES CALENDAR PRESENTED BY CITY STAFF FOR THE 2016 FISCAL YEAR; ENABLING STAFF TO PROVIDE ADVANCED NOTICE AND PUBLICATION TO THE PUBLIC OF SUCH DATES.

QUASI-JUDICIAL MATTERS, FIRST READING:

RESOLUTION NO. 15R-09-227:  GRANTING TO HM KOREAN D/B/A IZZIBAN SUSHI & BBQ A SPECIAL EXCEPTION USE DEVELOPMENT ORDER WITH CONDITIONS TO ALLOW  A RESTAURANT WITH FULL SERVICE BAR WITH A 4COP LIQUOR LICENSE; FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 7225 WEST OAKLAND PARK BOULEVARD, LAUDERHILL, FLORIDA.