Vice Mayor Rogers' Nov. 2014 Newsletter

Vice Mayor and District IV Commissioner Romney Rogers

My very best wishes are extended to you and your family for a Happy Thanksgiving!

Homeless Update – I would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to provide input on the homeless situation. Your concern is truly appreciated, and I recognize this is a very difficult and emotional issue. My position has always been that the City of Fort Lauderdale needs to be part of the community effort to address homelessness, but our Charter does not enable us to lead the effort. We simply don’t have the resources. The Broward County Charter, however, does call for the County to address social services, and there’s at least a $20 million budget for that agency to do so. That being said, the City, our neighbors, and our businesses have a long and distinguished history of compassion toward those in need. The homeless need shelter, clothing, and medical and social services to help them get back on their feet. In this regard, few cities have done more for the homeless than Fort Lauderdale. Taking a comprehensive approach, we work with numerous agencies, including non-profits, charitable groups, and faith-based organizations, which, like us, are dedicated to addressing the issue. In fact, this City Commission engages in substantial charitable work for the homeless here in South Florida. We volunteer at the local homeless assistance center, contribute financially to assist homeless programs and benefits, and work on several successful homeless veterans programs and projects. Our new ordinances aim to reduce the public safety hazards and inappropriate nuisance activities negatively impacting our community. Quality of life and economic viability are directly linked to our stewardship of public spaces. As such, we have a responsibility to ensure that all our public spaces are accessible and can be safely enjoyed by everyone – families, children, residents, and visitors. The outdoor food distribution ordinance will help ensure the health, safety, and welfare of our community. The ordinance does not prohibit feeding the homeless; it regulates the activity to ensure it is carried out in an appropriate, organized, clean, and healthy manner. Indoor food distribution is permitted at houses of worship throughout the City. By allowing houses of worship to conduct this activity, the City is actually increasing the number of locations where the homeless can properly receive this service. At recent outdoor food distributions, citations were rightly issued for non-compliance with the process enacted to ensure public health and safety. Contrary to some reports, no one was taken into custody. You can view Mayor Seiler’s recent interviews, read the ordinance, learn more about the City’s homeless initiatives, and contribute to a solution all via the City’s website at http://fortlauderdale.gov/Home/Components/News/News/159/16?backlist=%2f.

All Aboard Florida (AAF) Project – I attended the Public Meeting at the Convention Center on Oct. 28. The groundbreaking for the AAF Fort Lauderdale Station, NW 2 Avenue between NW 1 and 2 streets (west of the FEC Railway tracks), was held the next day. For more information on the project, see http://www.allaboardflorida.com.

Riverwalk Water Trolley – The City is sponsoring the new Riverwalk Water Trolley, along with the Downtown Fort Lauderdale Transportation Management Association (TMA) and Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale. (TMA administers service for the Sun Trolley; I am a member of TMA’s Executive Board of Directors.) This complimentary service operates from 11 AM - 2 PM and 4 - 11 PM daily. Stops on the north side of the New River include Esplanade Park, Riverfront Plaza, Huizenga Plaza, and Riverwalk Laura Ward Park. Stops on the south include Smoker Park, Downtowner Saloon, New River Yacht Club, and Tarpon River. The Tracker App is at http://www.suntrolley.com/water-trolley/.
Nominate a Neighbor – The City is accepting nominations for the 2014-2015 Citizens' Committee of Recognition Awards. Visit http://fortlauderdale.gov/ccr/index.htm for details and a nomination packet. Nominations are due by 5 PM on Friday, Dec. 12, 2014. For more information, call 954-828-4742.

Make A Difference Day – On Oct. 25, I participated in some community projects around the City. More than 315 participants cleaned up the beach, removed invasive plants, and beautified neighborhoods. I volunteered at the Fort Lauderdale Woman’s Club and the Fire Museum and stopped by Snyder Park and the Poinciana Park neighborhood.

Rededication of Boat Ramp – On Nov. 1, we hosted a public ceremony to celebrate completion of the renovated 15th Street Boat Ramp at 1784 SE 15 Street. The facility was rededicated as Cox’s Landing, in honor of Robert O. “Bob” Cox, Fort Lauderdale’s mayor from 1986-1991, who helped turn the City into a marine industry powerhouse.

Household Hazardous Waste – The next event is Dec. 6, City of Tamarac, 9 AM ‐ 2 PM, 6011 Nob Hill Road. For 2015, see http://fortlauderdale.gov/departments-/public-works-/sustainability-division/household-hazardous-waste.

For Your Calendar
 Christmas on Las Olas: Tuesday, Dec. 2, 5 - 10 PM, between SE 6th and 11th avenues.
 Winterfest Boat Parade: Saturday, Dec. 13. See http://www.winterfestparade.com.
 Christmas Pageant at First Baptist Church runs through Dec. 14. See http://ChristmasTickets.com.
 Las Olas Sunday Market, 9 AM - 2 PM, 333 E Las Olas.
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 My City Hall Office Hours are Mondays from 2 – 5:30 PM and Tuesdays from 9 AM – Noon (in non-Commission weeks). For appointments, please contact MJ Matthews at 954-828-5028 or mmatthews@fortlauderdale.gov.

Croissant Park Civic Association October 2014 General Meeting

Michelle DiMaria called the meeting to order at 7:10 pm

Board Members Present: Michelle DiMaria, Rhonda Kramer, Heather Cuniff, and Beth Falkenhagen

Fort Lauderdale Police were not available.

Susan Riestra from Parks and Recreation discussed a new program available to 55 and over residents.  Croissant Park Recreation Center is one of 11 locations where the City will offer activities for older persons for a modest fee.  The activities will include fitness classes, including yoga, all inclusive outings, social clubs, and more.  The City will also schedule events so a member can participate in alternate activities at nearby rec centers, such as, Riverland Park and Riverside Park. The kickoff is November 17-19, check with the staff at the Rec Center for exact date.  For more information, visit www.fortlauderdale.gov/parks 

Suzanne Johnston and Shelby Proie provided a presentation on behalf of the South Florida Wildlife Center.  The Wildlife Center is one of the largest rehabilitation centers in the nation treating over 14,000 patients per year.  They treat native and non-natives species.  For exotic species, the Center operates adoption services via Pet Finder.   The native species are returned to local neighborhoods.  

Shelby advised people not to assume a baby is abandoned, sick, or injured.  Often the parent will return.  Placing a baby bird back in its nest is ok because birds have a very poor sense of smell.  Baby squirrels are another species brought to the Center needlessly because baby is neither sick nor injured.  With respect to foxes, our only native species is the grey fox.  Shelby warned people not to feed the foxes because the foxes become habituated to human contact easily making them more vulnerable.  No one should be feeding the wildlife, and no one should be leaving cat food outside.  

Our local owls are the Eastern Screech Owl and the Burrowing Owl, which is on the threatened list.  The Center will provide a homeowner with an owl nesting box if the homeowner is willing to foster owlets.  If a homeowner needs assistance removing a wild animal from their home, they may contact the Wildlife Center and someone will come out to catch the animal and release it. 

Three young students volunteering for the Pantry of Broward announced they will be picking up donated items from doorsteps this Sunday; everyone should leave items outside by 11:00 am.  They have already left notices on homeowner’s doors.

Rhonda Kramer, who attended the public meeting on All Aboard Florida held today at the Convention Center, provided an update.  Rhonda advised that the only rr crossings in our neighborhood, which are being upgraded so trains will not have to blow their horns, are SR 84 and SW 2^nd St.  None of the crossings located in Croissant Park will be upgraded.  Rhonda indicated that the best we can hope for is to have wayside horns installed to mitigate the increase in noise from the additional trains coming through.  Rhonda urged everyone to submit comments, either in writing or online, requesting the wayside horns.

The 50/50 drawing was won by the boys and since they had to leave before the drawing, we put their winnings into a bag of food that they picked up on Sunday.

Meeting adjourned at 8:15 pm. 

Minutes by Beth Falkenhagen

Croissant Park General Meeting--September 30, 2014

Croissant Park General Meeting--September 30, 2014

Patricia Rathburn & Officer Dejo

Happy Autumn, Neighbors

The meeting began at 7:10 with the Pledge of Allegiance.  All eight Board members were in attendance.  The June General meeting minutes were approved.

Our first speaker was FLPD Officer Dejo reporting that in August we had 4 residential break-ins and 2 stolen cars.  There were three arrests made so far as a result of those crimes.  In September we had 1 residential break-in and 1 vehicle break-in.  All in all, our crime stats in the neighborhood are substantially reduced.  Ofc. Dejo reminds us to leave nothing in our cars overnight; take all your laptops, phones, etc inside the house for the night, and lock your car.

Ryan Henderson

Our second speaker was Ryan Henderson, Senior Management Fellow at the Div. of Neighbor Support in the Office of City Manager.  Ryan will be our liaison with the City when we have issues in our neighborhood.  He is pleased to know that we use the various social media sites, especially Nextdoor.com to communicate among ourselves, with other neighborhoods and with the City. Ryan has provided us with his email and phone number: rhenderson@fortlauderdale.gov. (954) 828 5213.

Our president Pat reminded us of the ‘No Sleeping Zone’ ordinance recently adopted in September 2014 that prohibits transients from sleeping in the downtown area, causing these homeless people to find new areas in which to sleep, usually in nearby neighborhoods such as Croissant Park. It is suggested that residents can call police if a person is found sleeping on their property.

A motion was made, seconded and passed by a simple majority to approve the newly revised Croissant Park Civic Association Bylaws, which were posted for all to review on the blog in April of this year.  

Every September we invite  Association members to become Board members.  The slate this year will be Pat Rathburn, Michelle DiMaria, Rhonda Kramer, Heather Cunniff, Beth Falkenhagen, and Manny Carrera.  It is not too late to add your name to the slate that will be voted on at the October 28th meeting.  If you are interested please send an email to Beth at falkenha@gmail.com. 

Medical marijuana will be on the ballot in November as a Constitutional Amendment.  There will be many restrictions put in place, for example: 1)the number of dispensaries in any area, 2) a prescription must be written by a licensed doctor not affiliated with a dispensary, 3) only designated growers can produce the product, to name only a few of the restrictions.  In California they have had legal medical marijuana dispensaries since 1996, and in the cities that imposed strict regulations from the start, they have had few problems.  Massive amounts of information is available if you google ‘medical marijuana florida’.  No matter how you stand on this topic you can make your opinion count by voting on Tuesday, November 4th.

A neighbor asked about the random patchwork paving that has been going on in Croissant Park, where some streets are paved and others are not.  Ryan Henderson explained that it isn’t paving, but ‘microsurfacing’.  It is a stopgap measure to make the worst of the street surfaces last a little longer until the actual paving project starts. The microsurfacing with eventually fade and blend in over time.

Regarding free trees for swales: the City Forester Gene Dempsey has to approve the sight because some swales are too narrow and others have overhead power lines.  A member asked about the legality of a neighbor cutting down a mature mango tree.  No one was able to give her a definite answer and she was advised to call Code Enforcement.

Don’t forget the annual Halloween event on October 25th from 4-6pm  at the Community Center.  We sell hot dogs and drinks for a buck, and help judge the costume contest. It’s a blast and you can join us--just show up at 4pm and we’ll give you something to do.  If you can’t volunteer your time, how about a donation of candy or $$$ for candy for the kiddies at the event.  You can leave your donations on Rhonda’s front porch at 712 SW 14th Street or call her at (954) 294-6630. 

The Pantry of Broward annual food drive will be starting on Sunday, Oct. 26th when they will deliver flyers to doors, then return in one week, Sunday, Nov. 2nd to pick up donated food. What better way to put all that leftover Halloween candy to good use.  Also, we will be collecting donated food items at our next Croissant Park General meeting on October 28th, so open your cupboards and hearts and share the wealth with those less fortunate.   

The 50/50 raffle drawing this month featured boxes of Swiss chocolates donated by our good friend Jack Timmins, owner of T & T Realty. Yum. Thank you, Jack .  Alan McClung won $10 in the cash portion of the 50/50 raffle and graciously donated it back to the Association.  Thanks, Alan.

Jack Timmins, Jean & Marian Ready

Thanks to everyone who brought brownies and other baked goodies.  And thank you also to our friend Suzy, owner of Expresso Drive-Thru on Andrews for supplying the coffee.

See you at next month’s meeting on Tuesday, October 28th

Minutes by Virginia

Upcoming CVC Project

If you need points for your HOA (for NCIP projects) or community service hours for your kids, or just want to take part in making your community a better place, please join us:

Maxine Singh

Commission Assistant Coordinator

City of Fort Lauderdale

Office of the Mayor & City Commission

954-828-5005