Special Meeting--March 2023

 Special General Meeting-March 2023

—The meeting began at 7 pm and was attended by Board members Pat, Michelle, Rhonda, Heather, Carlos, Joe, and Virginia. This Special meeting was called so we could invite Mayor Trantalis to speak. Heather led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

—FLPD Crime report had good news. Crime is down in our area; they reported one burglary. Purses were stolen, then returned. Our neighbor, Jarrod, on 18th Court, continues to report speeders on his street. Ofc. Jackson recommends reporting the speeder but adds that they cannot make an arrest if an FLPD officer did not witness the speeding. Jarrod is petitioning his neighbors to agree to speed bumps on 18th Court. Once he has all the required signatures, he can get on the list with the City for the speed bumps.

—TIP-A-COP is a program where FLPD officers serve as celebrity waiters in various restaurants in town. They donate all the tips they receive to the Special Olympics. They can be found at Tap 42, Red Lobster, Slackers, Chick-Fil-A, and other local restaurants. Look for them and help raise money for the Special Olympics!

—Our speaker tonight was Mayor Dean Trantalis. He reported that the new Police Department facility would begin construction next-door to the east of the existing station. The old one will be torn down when the new one is complete.

—The Mayor is a big fan of the affordable housing being built in various locations in the City. He considers it a success.

—Five-Ash water treatment facility is not producing suitable water and cannot withstand a Category 1 hurricane. A new, very expensive water treatment plant will be built to replace Five Ash. Various audience members commented about the water bills increasing. The Mayor reminded them that the water bill includes trash pick up and sewage treatment in addition to water usage.

— Q and A with the Mayor tonight regarding the Pickleball development at Snyder Park revealed that he is very much in favor of the project, though not fully aware of the contract terms with the developer. CPCA Pres. Pat Rathburn and VP Michelle DiMaria attended the DRC (Development Review Committee) meeting that discussed the contract terms between Snyder Park and the developer earlier today. Croissant Park was denied the status to speak at the meeting. Mayor Trantalis was unaware of this and guaranteed that Croissant Park would have status at the next DRC meeting. 

—The tree ordinance that prohibits cutting trees without a permit is not being enforced. Mayor says they are not listening at the City.

—According to the Mayor, the “Tesla Tunnel” from Performing Arts to the beach is on hold. Price tag of $100 million. Also on hold is a project connecting the airport and the port, a $200 billion project.

—Mayor Trantalis addressed the many concerns affecting our quality of life, one of which is the many high-rise buildings being built that will create excessive traffic and burden our aging infrastructure. 

—A big Thank You to My Market for providing sandwiches for tonight's meeting. Thanks to Carlos for setting that up. And thank you, Michelle, for the desserts and beverages you provide at all the meetings!

Minutes by Virginia

Pictures by Rhonda

CPCA General Meeting February 2023 - Megan Kelley, speaker

 CPCA General Meeting February 2023

—The meeting began at 7:10 pm with the Pledge of Allegiance. Board members attending were Pat Rathburn, Michelle DiMaria, Joe Russell, Rhonda Kramer, Heather Cunniff, Jodi Perraud, Carlos Lang, and Virginia Russell.

Guess what street they chose for their group shot!!!

—FLPD Sergeant Graves, Officer Jackson, and their team gave us the crime report for February. There were three larcenies: an audio system was stolen from a vessel on 12th Street, a square of sod was stolen from a property, and some kids swiped a tandem bicycle garden decoration, which was returned to the owners. Excellent stats says Ofc. Jackson.

Ofc. Santos reported that a tag reader was recording license tags on SW 18th Street due to some complaints by neighbors. The officers remind us that if anything looks suspicious, like a car in your neighbor’s driveway that doesn’t belong, call FLPD. 

Ofc. Jackson invites all for a “Walk and Talk” with the police to get to know each other on an afternoon. Please email her at ajackson@fortlauderdale.gov for an appointment. 

Sgt. Graves has invited us all to take a survey to let them know how they’re doing. Visit the website at flpd.org/community/communitysurvey  

Our guest speaker tonight was Megan Kelley, a noted scholar of Regenerative Gardens, Whole Systems Design, and Permaculture Education. Megan spoke of the history of Ft. Lauderdale and the origins of names of the New River (Coontie Hatchee and Himarshee, depending on the Seminole you talked to at the time) long before any of us existed. Megan brought many samples of plants we will find in our gardens, their uses, and how to propagate them to keep your garden full of butterflies and edible plants. Megan described permaculture and explained what a food forest consists of. We happen to have a food forest growing and maintained by volunteers in Snyder Park. Email 

jrdill49@gmail.com if you would like to learn more about our food forest and volunteer at Snyder Park. 

For the attendees at the meeting tonight, we had a drawing for a dozen native plants to give away. Many neighbors who came tonight went home with a plant.

—The flooding at the 600 block of SW 12th Court will be addressed with new catch basins for the flooding in that area. 

—The proposed pickleball courts at Snyder Park may violate zoning codes. More on that in the future. 

We are adding a General meeting on March 28th. Stay tuned.

Minutes by Virginia, Secretary, CPCA

Pictures by Rhonda, Director, CPCA

Our newest neighbor, George!