September 2017 CPCA Neighborhood meeting

September 2017 Neighborhood CPCA meeting

The meeting began at 7:10 pm and was attended by Board members Pat, Michelle, Rhonda, Heather, Beth, Jodi, Joe and Virginia, and 18 Croissant Park neighbors.

Dr. Ben Sorenson in white shirt

After the Pledge of Allegiance, our Neighborhood Crime Watch team Officers Fernandez and Cuevas gave us the crime report for July and August: 6 auto burglaries, 3 of which were stolen auto parts, and 3 of which were from unlocked cars.  One stolen bike from a bike rider.  No residential or business burglaries.  We are reminded to lock our cars and leave items inside the car hidden or remove them to the trunk.  FLPD is promoting a campaign called “Not fun to lose your gun”.  Don’t leave it in your car, bring it with you if you have a carry permit.  A grant has provided the police department with gun

George and Fritz center

lock boxes with combination locks for cars that are tethered underneath seats.  Our Crime Watch team will bring some to our October meeting, first come, first serve.  A neighbor asked if a lot of people carry guns, the answer was a resounding YES.  Some post-hurricane looting  occurred and they are considered “heightened crimes” and bring tougher charges.  Another neighbor asked for the definition of trespassing: it occurs when a person enters private property unwanted, however they must be forewarned.  A “no trespassing” sign is considered fore warni

Walter Duke on right

ng but the perpetrator must be given the opportunity to leave.  If they are stealing fruit in a yard, it takes 2000 pieces of fruit to make an arrest.  Another neighbor asked about parking enforcement where people are parking in a manner that obstructs the view of traffic.  Ofc. Fernandez will look at the code and get back to us.

Two well known and beloved Croissant Park neighbors have passed: Marian Ready, a long-time resident passed away at the age of 94. Joe Shover, also a long-time resident who served as a CPCA President.  Joe moved back to Michigan where he celebrated his 100th birthday last year.  He passed away this year.

Nominations for the CPCA Board of Directors for 2018 was announced.  Virginia nominated the current Board and officers.  There is still time to nominate anyone who might be interested to serve.  We will vote at our next meeting which will be held at the Community Center on Tuesday, October 24th at 7pm.  We are holding the meeting on the 3rd week of October instead of the 4th because Halloween falls on the 4th Tuesday and we all might be well-advised to be home for Trick-or-Treaters on the 31st.  

Speaking of Halloween, the annual Ft. Lauderdale Halloween event at the Community Center will be on the afternoon of Saturday, October 28th.   If you would like to contribute candy please drop it off at the Community Center before the event.  There is also a local event in the ‘hood “Phineus Taylor’s Circus & Freak Emporium” at 510 SW  16th Street on Tuesday, Oct. 31st. staring at 7pm  Great fun for all ages.  Games for little ones, candy and prizes.

Our Board member Beth Falkenhagen reminded us that volunteers are needed for the Ocean Conservancy  Beach Cleanup.  She will post the details on nextdoor.com.  

Michele DiMaria & Beth Falkenhagen

Beth would like to propose an Adopt-a-Street for GreenYour Routine(GYR).  It would hopefully be SW 4th or 9th Ave and would require  a quarterly trash pick up. High school students who must fulfill volunteer requirements could be a perfect fit for this project. 

Beth is hoping to coordinate with the City for a Tree Giveaway in the near future.  Good timing after the hurricane. 

Beth wants to thank the volunteers who turned out for the butterfly garden at Snyder Park.  

As you might have guessed, Beth is doing a great job of keeping us “green” and lighting a little fire under us to volunteer for these activities.  CPCA receives points from GYR for our volunteering efforts, the points then turn into money for the Association’s activities and contributions to various needs.

We had three candidates attend our meeting tonight: Mayoral candidate Charlotte Rodstrom, and two District 4

Commissioner candidates, Ben Sorensen and Walter Duke.  Each candidate introduced him/herself and spoke briefly.  We hope to have a candidates’ night to hear all before the election in March 2018.

Charlotte Rodstrom

Joe Russell

We had an in-depth discussion about waste water moving from one neighborhood to another.  Many neighbors have spoken up about this issue, so its best we get an idea of why this is happening. Our Board member Joe Russell described how a sewer lift station works, and doesn’t work sometimes.  Charlotte Rodstrom tells us these sewer problems will continue because of an aging infrastructure.  The sanitation trucks are taking from areas that may overflow with storm water and sewage and depositing it in various neighborhoods that can handle it.  Croissant Park is not being singled out.  It is acknowledged that dumping in a manhole next to your home can be frustrating and seemingly illegal, but it’s happening all over the City and the infrastructure is groaning under the pressure.  Yes, major things need to be fixed and it may take bond issues and accountability.  We are all disappointed in the way this has been handled.

Vegetative debris on swales is beginning to be picked up by crews from all over the country.  16th Street has a crew from Iowa.  These are hard working great guys who appreciate an offer of cold water. At this time FEMA will not allow them to pick up anything but vegetative debris, no black bags, no fences, or anything else!!  We are told Friday, September 29th will resume normal pick up of trash in black bins.  

Neighbors have suggested some apps that have proved to be very helpful during and after the storm: GasBuddy is helpful in finding gas stations that are pumping gas/diesel, have generators, etc.  WhatsApp is an app that a group or neighborhood can stay in touch with each other during and after a storm.  Zello is another app that works like a walkie-talkie and does not require the Internet.

Janet & John

Our 50/50 raffle featured our brand-new roomy cotton canvas CPCA shopping bags (we’re keeping it green!) and 50/50 money, of course.  The winners of the canvas bags were our new neighbors Janet and John, who just met and will share the bag, and George, who provided the sandwiches tonight and could have used the bag beforehand to haul the grub!  The 50/50 money was won by  Chris Falkenhagen who promptly donated it back to the Association.  Thanks Chris!

Meeting adjourned at 8:20pm.

Minutes by Virginia

Photos by Rhonda