May Croissant Park Neighborhood Meeting

May 2018 Croissant Park Civic Assoc.Neighborhood Meeting

—Meeting began at 7:20 with the Pledge of Allegiance led by Michelle. All Board members were present.

V.P. Michelle DiMaria & Pat Zeiler

—We were happy to have as our speaker Pat Zeiler from the Fort Lauderdale Historical Society.  Pat treated us to a fascinating slide show and narrative that highlighted the early architects and architecture of our City and, specifically of Croissant Park.  We are lucky to have such a rich history of homes, public buildings, and sites that have survived the test of time. The preservation of our heritage is mostly due to a Federal program enacted in the 1970’s and the enactment of a City of Ft. Lauderdale ordinance in 1983.  The programs encouraged public and private property owners to participate in the Historic Preservation Program, a mechanism created to identify and preserve historic properties.  By protecting these buildings we are improving the local economy by promoting tourism, encouraging historical research of our City’s rich culture, and improving property values.

For more information visit the Fort Lauderdale Historical Society, 219 SW 2nd Avenue or visit their website at www.flhc.org.  

—A few neighbors have reported an oil spill from Davie Blvd. to the cemetery via 8th Ave. caused by a sanitation truck earlier in the week. A City worker came out and sprayed an inferior product for clean-up and called it “good”.  Neighbors involved all agree that the clean-up was unsatisfactory. Pat has said she will look into the matter.

—As an update on Sober Homes: the City is trying to identify where these homes are located and require them to register and comply with ordinances. Please notify our CPCA President Pat of known addresses of sober homes in your area.  You can email this info to Pat at patrathburn@gmail.com.  

50/50 Raffle and CPCA shopping raffle were won by Alan McClung who generously donated his $$ winnings back to the Association.  Thank you, Alan.  (He kept the cool shopping bag).

Minutes by Virginia

Photos by Rhonda

February 2018 Croissant Park Neighborhood Meeting

 February 2018 Neighborhood Meeting

front row: Buddy Sherman, Michael Lawrence, Jennifer Ripple

Croissant Park Civic Association meeting began at 7:10 pm, was attended by all Board members: Pat Rathburn-President, Michelle DiMaria-Vice President, Joe Russell-Treasurer, Virginia Dill Russell-Secretary, and Directors Rhonda Kramer, Heather Cunniff and Jodi Perraud.

—Pledge of Allegiance

Officer Fernandez

Karla Carlson, Karen Vaughn, Rosemary Stamm, Jean Ready

—FLPD Neighborhood Crime Team report: Officer Fernandez reported that in the last month we had one residential burglary with one suspect currently, six vehicle burglaries in the Cemetery, one robbery where the victim claims to have been stabbed but provided no ID of the perp,  and one stolen motorcycle.  There have been a series of “bank follow-outs”, where a perp will follow someone who has made a cash withdrawal out of the bank.  Yachties are a typical target because they often withdraw cash for yacht business.  All in all Ofc. Fernandez told us we are lower in crime incidents than many surrounding neighborhoods.  The most common crimes occur when people leave valuables in plain sight in their cars, often when parked at the Cemetery.  Captain Dietrich replaced Capt. Dodson as District Commander at FLPD.

—Ben Sorensen, candidate for Commissioner District 4 spoke to us about sober homes and the WAVE.  He suggests that you email him at Ben@BenSSorensen.com to discuss any issues with him.  

Dr. Warren Sturman

—Warren Sturman, also candidate for Commissioner District 4 gave us a few minutes to discuss various issues.  Contact him on Facebook @WarrenSturmanFortLauderdale.

—The election for Commissioner Dist. 4 and for City Mayor is on Tuesday, March 13th.  This is an important election, so let’s all get out and VOTE.

—CPCA President Pat reports to us that she and some CP neighbors attended the Planning and Zoning Board meeting regarding legislation of sober homes in our neighborhoods.  There is legislation pending in Tallahassee that these homes will be required to be certified by the State.  They will have 60 days to get the certification as soon as the law is enacted.  Let Pat know by email patriciarathburn@gmail.com of known sober home addresses on your street.  Pat will assemble all the information she collects and present it as one entity to the powers that be.  A discussion followed, as our neighbor Buddy Sherman passionately expressed the great aspects of our family-friendly neighborhood and the threats that sober homes pose to the safety of our children and to our property values.

Tammy McClung

Tammy, Jodi, Heather, Virginia

The 50/50 raffle was won by Tammy McClung, who promptly returned her winnings over to the Association. Thank you, Tammy. There were also two lucky winners of our CPCA canvas shopping bags that are rapidly becoming collectors’ items.

Minutes by Virginia-Sec’y
Pics by Rhonda

January 2018 CPCA Neighborhood Meeting

January 2018 Neighborhood Meeting and Potluck Supper

Happy New Year, Neighbors

Our first meeting of 2018 began at 7:15 with the Pledge of Allegiance lead by Vice-President Michelle.  Meeting was attended by CPCA Board members Pat, Michelle, Heather, Joe and Virginia.

The minutes from the October 2017 meeting were approved.  

A reminder to all who attended that they can pay their CPCA membership dues tonight.  Our Treasurer Joe will be happy to sign you up.

Candidate for Commissioner Warren Sturman dropped by and was given a few minutes to re-introduce himself and remind us that there are several important issues and to urge us to get out and vote on March 13.

At this point in the meeting we decided to chow down and fill our plates with the yummy looking dishes that neighbors brought to share.

Steve Cook reported that the bike lanes are still being painted on SW 4th Avenue.  The route that heads north of Davie Blvd. is scheduled to be finished.  There will be dotted lines added to the intersection of Davie and 4th to help drivers stay in their lanes, heading north on 4th Ave.

Congratulations! to Christina and Thomas Flood for winning the $50 prize for best holiday lighting.

Neighbors on the 800 block of 15th Street have reported that the late night meetings at the Sunshine Cathedral sometimes last until the wee hours, the early morning bus that provides transportation for construction workers to venues downtown, and all noise that results from the many people who are arriving, congregating and leaving at early and late hours, most  days of the week has become  intolerable. There are issues with security lighting that shines in a nearby residence and needs adjustment, and a noisy waste removal truck that services the church dumpster before dawn.The CPCA Board has been working on these issues and have met with the church administrators, who have assured us that they will fix the problems.  At this point we will have to give them a little time and re-address all the problems in the very near future.

The 50/50 raffle was won by Mary Lou and Michael Jaramillo.  Julia Brescia won the coveted CPCA eco-savvy canvas shopping bag.

Thanks to all who brought a potluck dish to share.  And, thank you to Jack Timmins who generously shares goodies with us.  Love those Toblerone candy bars!

Minutes by Virginia

CPCA October 2017 Neighborhood meeting

October 2017 Neighborhood CPCA meeting

The meeting began at 7:10 pm with the Pledge of Allegiance.  Board members in attendance were Pat, Michelle, Rhonda, Heather, Beth Jodi, Nicohle, Virginia and Joe.  As advertised we had our traditional October Fall dessert buffet.

FLPD Officer Pekrol, our Crime Watch team member reported that we had 3 vehicle burglaries and 1 residential burglary through a back window during the day, sometime between 9am and 5pm.  Watches were stolen.

GYR (GreenYourRoutine) spokesperson Beth reports that we have “adopted” SW 9th Avenue between 20th Street and Davie Blvd. for the Adopt-a-Street program. Beth will post on nextdoor.com for volunteers to help pick up trash on 9th Ave on Saturday, November 18th.  If your know of any school age kids who want to fulfill their volunteer requirements, or if you are a civic-minded person who wants to help clean up our ‘hood, sign up and we’ll all go to work together.

Allen Dodd with the Waste Water Operations of the Public Works Department reported that Phase One of the project in Sailboat Bend will be finished by December 1, 2017, thereby ending any waste water shipping to other areas.

Our big event this evening was our Meet the Candidates night.  We invited all the Mayoral candidates and Commissioner candidates for the 2018 election that will hold its primary on January 16, 2018.

For Mayor: Charlotte Rodstrom, Bruce Roberts and Dean Trantalis 

For Commissioner for District 4: Warren Sturman, Walter Duke and Ben Sorenson.  All candidates were given three minutes to introduce themselves and state their main issues to the audience.  For the Q and A portion, our President Pat put together a well thought-out list of questions based on feedback she received from her inquiries on nextdoor.com.  Each candidate was given 45 seconds to one minute to respond to the question, depending on the nature of the question. Here is a sample of some of the questions asked: how to handle the homeless issues in our city, waste water and storm water issues, sober homes and treatment centers, development projects including, can water, sewer and road handle all the new development?, preservation of historic properties, and last but not least-the WAVE project.

[I cannot begin to record here all the answers to these questions from the six candidates but I can say every single candidate is not in of support the WAVE considering the state of our water, sewers, etc.]

The slate for the CPCA Board was elected.  All Board officers and Directors: Pat Rathburn-President, Michelle DiMaria-Vice President, Joe Russell- Treasurer, Virginia Dill Russell- Secretary, Directors Rhoda Kramer, Heather Cunniff, Beth Falkenhagen, Nicohle Kallio andJodi Perraud will serve on the Board through 2018.

We had a record turnout of 70 people attending tonight. Whether it was to meet the candidates or to sample all our luscious fall desserts or maybe both we are glad to see the participation in the neighborhood.

The 50/50 raffle was won by Maxine Streeter who donated it back to the Association.  Paul Ruble won one of our GYR canvas shopping bags and I don’t have info on who won the other bag.  Thank you to Jack Timmins for his very generous contribution of Toblerone chocolates. 

Minutes by Virginia-Sec’y 

District IV Commissioner Romney Rogers Newsletter

District IV Commissioner Romney Rogers

Fall is in the air! And, while we were fortunate to have escaped the major wrath of Hurricane Irma, now is not the time to let our guards down. Hurricane Season runs through Nov. 30 each year. I would like to thank everyone who put “neighbor helping neighbor” into practice, time and again, both before Irma’s arrival and in its aftermath. Going forward, we must remind residents to trim trees and take other precautionary measures when Hurricane Season approaches. Some of our neighbors were without power for nearly two weeks.

Debris Removal – We ask for your continued patience with the ongoing debris removal process. Crews are working seven days a week from sun up to sun down in every zone in the City to remove 1,000,000 cubic yards of storm debris, along with thousands of hazardous trees and limbs. The Hurricane Irma Debris Removal Map may help you follow the schedule, which has been divided into zones. See www.fortlauderdale.gov/debris.

How to File for Disaster Assistance – If you believe you may qualify for federal disaster assistance due to Hurricane Irma, you can log on to http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov. After you enter your address, the system will verify whether your property is eligible. Then, simply follow the instructions to file a claim. The filing deadline is Nov. 30, 2017.
Also, you should make sure to file any insurance claims in a timely manner and to record the cost of any casualty loss. The casualty damage that is not covered by insurance reimbursement may be deductible on your 2017 tax return, so make sure to check with your accountant or tax advisor on that issue.

King Tide Predictions – The City reviews NOAA’s tide predictions for the Andrews Avenue Bridge. The average high tide for the year is then calculated, and the following dates on which high tide will exceed the average high tide by six inches or more are predicted as Oct. 4-11, Oct. 15-22, Nov. 2-9, and Dec. 2-6. The City website will provide updates, as needed. To prepare and for safety tips, please review the information at http://www.fortlauderdale.gov/kingtide.

City Budget – On Sept. 13, the City Commission adopted the FY 2018 City Budget, calling for no increase in the current millage rate of 4.1193 per $1,000 of taxable value and no increase in the fire assessment fee for FY 2018, which begins on Oct. 1. This marks the eleventh consecutive year that we have kept the same millage rate. You can access budget information via the Financial Transparency Portal of the Quick Links menu on the City’s homepage at http://www.fortlauderdale.gov.

2017 Telephone Town Hall Meetings (TTHMs) – To review the TTHMs already held this year, please visit http://www.fortlauderdale.gov/tthm. My TTHM is set for Tuesday, Oct. 10 (originally scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 12) at 7 PM. To join the call, the dial-in number is 1-855-840-6970.
SE 17th Street Mobility Working Group – After the formal adoption of the SE 17th Street Mobility Plan this past summer, a working group was formed to shepherd the implementation of the plan. At the Aug. 29 kick-off meeting, I explained the intent of the working group: “To Evaluate, Educate, and Implement” the Mobility Plan.

Following up on the small-group stakeholder meetings I convened in April and September of last year, this working group is made up of representatives from seven nearby neighborhood associations, commercial property owners along the corridor, the Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization, Broward County (including Port Everglades and Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport), the Florida Department of Transportation, the FEC Railway, Brightline, and the City. The group has been tasked with prioritizing plan recommendations to take the necessary next steps toward implementation. Two meetings have been held to date, and the group reached consensus that an “origin and destination study” should be completed to better understand where people are going to and where they are coming from. The group ranked the Top 10 Recommendations out of the plan and will prioritize the Top 5 Recommendations at our October meeting.

“Go Big, Go Fast” Update – To follow the City’s progress on infrastructure projects, you can check the webpage at http://www.fortlauderdale.gov/Home/Components/News/News/1626/16?backlist=%2f. Additional details are at http://www.fortlauderdale.gov/gobiggofast. For example, a sewer main replacement in Tarpon River is having an impact on several neighborhoods, as tanker trucks are being used to vacuum and transport sewage. Neighbors may notice tanker trucks with hoses in manholes until the project is complete. To report overflowing manholes or sewage spills, contact our 24-hour Neighbor Call Center at 954-828-8000. Your understanding is appreciated.
Advisory Boards – I have one upcoming opening on the Community Appearance Board and two openings on the Community Services Board. You may apply online via http://fortlauderdale.granicus.com/boards/w/535c460f8191bab3. Thank you for your interest.
________________________________________________________________________________________________  My City Hall Office Hours are Mondays from 4 - 5:30 PM and Tuesdays from 9 AM - Noon (in non-Commission weeks). To schedule a meeting or sign up to receive this newsletter and other information about what’s going on in the City, contact MJ Matthews at 954-828-5028 or mmatthews@fortlauderdale.gov.

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