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!