Croissant Park Neighborhood Meeting-May 26, 2015

Hi Croissant Park Neighbors,

Our May meeting began on time with the Pledge of Allegiance led by our President Pat Rathburn.

The minutes of our last meeting in February as presented on the blog were approved.

Our first speakers were FLPD Officers Tisch and  Pekrol with the neighborhood crime report. The month of March had one residential burglary and two vehicle burglaries. April had 2 residential burglaries, 4 vehicle burglaries, 2 vehicle thefts and one business burglary.  May had no residential burglaries, 2 car burglaries, 2 vehicle thefts and one business burglary.  The good news is that all of these statistics show some improvement, however Ofc. Pekrol reminds us that these stats tend to go up in the summer when school is out.  Remember that “we are the best eyes and ears in our neighborhood” and if you see anything that doesn’t look right to you, call 911 or the Non-Emergency number (954) 764 4357.  FLPD has established a new unit, ROC (Rapid Offender Control) that will provide 24-hour “responders to offenders”.  There are also many more unmarked police vehicles out there patrolling at all hours.  The police department is planning a Crime Prevention forum in September. They will fill us in with more information as the time gets closer and we will publish anything we know as we get it.  Ofc. Tisch has provided us with her email address if you have any concerns: mtisch@fortlauderdale.gov 

Our next speaker was Ali Soule from All Aboard Florida (AAF).  Her objective was to give us an overview of the project, an update on the progress of the project and to answer our questions.  

AAF is owned by Florida East Coast Industries but is totally separate from the freight division.  They are conducting studies in ways to improve on horn noise, but the entire area from Miami to Palm Beach will be one continuous Quiet Zone.  Presumably, the only time horns would be blown in this area would be in an emergency, i.e. a person, animal, vehicle or any object on the track.

There will be no closings at any of the railroad crossings, except for the temporary closings that will occur when they are upgrading or doing any work on that particular crossing.  The NW 2nd Street crossing will be become the platform/terminal for the train in Fort Lauderdale.
 

There will be four AAF stations: Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, W. Palm Beach and Orlando.  The entire trip will take just under 3 hours from Miami to Orlando.  Orlando will have a multi-level terminal, similar to the one in Miami that will connect with local modes of transportation.

The train will run at a speed of 79 miles per hour from Miami to W. Palm Beach, 110 mph from W.P.B. to Cocoa, 125 mph from Cocoa to Orlando.  The train will be equipped with Automatic Speed Control.

The New River Bridge in Ft. Lauderdale will be up-graded and will have a bridge tender, however the bridge will still be controlled from Jacksonville, not by the bridge tender on site.  AAF tells us that “the northbound train will cross the bridge within one minute of the southbound train for each opening, thus two trains per bridge closure, two passenger trains per hour.  During daytime hours the bridge will probably be in a down position for a total of 30 minutes per hour.”  Capt.  Ben Stanley stressed the imposition this puts on the countless boats and yachts upriver of the bridge.  There are dozens of marinas and shipyards, and hundreds of private docks that would be affected by the frequent closures of the bridge for AAF trains.

Operating hours for all AAF north and southbound trains will be 6 am to 9 pm daily.  There will be 32 AAF trains per day, and an unknown number of FEC freight trains running on the same tracks.

The price of the train ticket will be “cheaper than airfare to Orlando, and comparable to driving, depending on the method of ticket purchase.”

A neighbor asked who AAF’s target market would be.  “Locals, tourists and workers in the downtown areas of Miami, Ft.L and W.P.B will be the typical AAF riders.” Why would these people use AAF and not Tri-Rail? The answer was “faster, more luxurious, no local stops, but more expensive.”

A neighbor stated that he believed there would be great expense to the taxpayers and that AAF is actually a preview to the increase of two-mile long freight trains resulting from Panamax port expansion.  According to AAF, there will be no expense to Broward County taxpayers. The County will continue to pay maintenance at grade crossings, as it does now.  AAF is funded by bonds, the collateral is the AAF’s assets.

(Note from the CPCA Secretary: this is my best attempt to accurately report the information presented and the questions posed by our neighbors).
  

You are invited to email Ms. Soule at: Ali.Soule@AllAboardFlorida.com for any further information.

Our 50/50 drawing was won and generously donated back to the Association by Paul Ruble.  Thank you, Paul!

Minutes by Virginia Dill Russell-Secretary

“Ask Lori…Parrish on Appraisal” - May 2015

Broward County Property Appraiser Lori Parrish Answers Your Questions…

“Protecting the Integrity of Our Tax Exemptions”

Dear Lori,

I’m a Broward Senior who has been receiving the Additional Low Income Senior Homestead Exemption for years.  Why did your office send me a letter asking me to prove my household income for 2014 was less than $28,448? 

M.J. Century Village - Deerfield Beach, FL (via email)

The letter you received was a Senior Exemption audit letter for previously approved recipients of the Additional Low-Income Senior Exemption.  Florida Homestead Exemption, Low-Income Senior, Disability, Widow/Widower, Granny Flat, Portability, Non-Profit and all other exemptions grant property owners significant tax savings each year.  Thus, we are constantly working to protect the integrity of these valuable exemptions for all eligible taxpayers.

The Senior Additional Low-Income Homestead Exemption requires property owners to re-qualify annually based upon a specific adjusted household income cap.  The Florida Department of Revenue adjusts the amount each year, based upon the cost-of-living index.  This year the household adjusted gross limit was set at $28,448.  Florida Statute (Section 196.075) requires our office “to generate random audits of the taxpayers’ sworn statements to ensure the accuracy of the household income reported…The Property Appraiser may not grant or renew the exemption if the required documentation requested is not provided.”

Recipients of the senior exemption audit letter must submit a copy of their 2014 Income Tax Return 1040 for all persons residing in the home (excluding renters and boarders) to our office no later than June 1, 2015.  Those who did not file 2014 income taxes must complete lines 1 through 4  of the IRS Form 4506-T, sign the form and return it to our office no later than June 1, 2015. 

Please understand you were selected entirely at random by our computer system.  If you have questions or concerns about this random audit or other property tax exemptions, please feel free to contact our Customer Service Division at 954.357.6830 or visit our website at www.bcpa.net.  We are happy to assist you.

Sincerely,

Lori Parrish, CFA 

If you have a question for Lori, please call her office at 954-357-6904, or email her at Lori @bcpa.net or write to her at the Broward County Property Appraiser’s Office, 115 South Andrews Avenue, Room 111, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale, 33301 (May 2015)

“Ask Lori…Parrish on Appraisal” February 2015

 

Broward County Property Appraiser Lori Parrish Answers Your Questions…

“Missed the Traditional Homestead Exemption Filing Deadline?”

 

Dear Lori,

 

I understand the deadline to file for property tax exemptions was March 2, 2015.  I was out of town on a cruise and missed the March deadline. I was told by your office  March 2 was not really a deadline at all?  What is the real deadline to have my property tax exemptions applied for 2015?    

              

S.D, Pembroke Pines, FL (via email)

 

You still have time to file for your 2015 exemptions!  The traditional filing period for 2015 Homestead and all other exemptions was March 3, 2014 through March 2, 2015. The absolute deadline to “Late File” for any 2015 property tax exemption – if you missed the March 2, 2015 timely filing deadline is September 18, 2015.  State law (Sec 196.001(8), Fla. Stat.) does not allow late filing for property tax exemptions after the September 18 late filing deadline, regardless of any good cause reason for missing the late filing deadlines.

 

The Broward County Property Appraiser’s Office accepts late applications for 2015 Homestead, Senior, Disability, Widow/Widower, Granny Flat, Portability, Non-Profit and all other exemptions until September 18, 2015.  To qualify for a 2015 exemption, you must have owned the property and made it your primary residence on or before January 1, 2015.

 

You may also be eligible for Portability.  Portability allows Homesteaded owners to transfer some or all of their Save Our Homes (SOH) benefit from their old home to their new home.  Your Portability amount is determined by the difference between the “Just Value” and the “Assessed/SOH Value” of your previous property in the year of Homestead abandonment.  If you had a Florida Homestead Exemption in 2013 or 2014, gave up the exemption, and moved to a new Homestead by January 1, 2015, you may be eligible for Portability.  In order to receive your Portability for tax year 2015, you must file for Homestead and complete a Portability application with our office by September 18, 2015.

 

There are several ways to complete your exemption application.  You can apply online at www.bcpa.net, visit our office at 115 S Andrews Ave., Room 111, in Fort Lauderdale, or you can apply at one of our many community outreach events throughout the county.  View our entire outreach calendar at www.bcpa.net/events.asp to find out when we will be in your neighborhood. If you have any questions or need help with your tax exemption applications, please do not hesitate to contact us at 954.357.6830.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Lori Parrish, CFA

 

 

If you have a question for Lori, please email her at lori@bcpa.net or write to her at the Broward County Property Appraiser’s Office, 115 South Andrews Avenue, Room 111, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301.  (March, 2015)

 

 

 

Robert L. Wolfe, Jr. CFE
Community Outreach Specialist II
954.357.6871 – office
954.357.8474 – fax
954.445.5732 – cell

rwolfe@bcpa.net

Follow our office at:  http://www.facebook.com/propertyappraiser and http://twitter.com/loriparrish

CPCA Meeting

Croissant Park Civic Association Meeting

February 24, 2015

Hi Neighbors,

The February meeting started at 7:05 pm with the Pledge of Allegiance.  All CPCA Board members were present: Pat Rathburn, Rhonda Kramer, Joe Russell, Michelle DiMaria, Heather Cunniff, Beth Falkenhagen and Virginia Dill Russell.  Joe greeted people as they arrived and was happy to report that we had 10 new and renewed memberships tonight.  It’s never too late to become a first time member or to renew your membership to the Association.  Membership runs from January 1 to December 31 each year.

Officer Tisch

Chief Hoecherl

Our first speaker was Officer Tisch from FLPD who reported one very recent burglary on SW 16th Street in Croissant Park. The suspects, a male and female, entered the home through a doggy door and were later apprehended.  Their “safe house” was discovered in Coral Springs, full of loot from many burglaries.  The residents of the home on 16th Street were interviewed and all the local TV stations broadcast the interview on the evening news. BSO is responsible for the surveillance and arrest of the burglars.  Nice work BSO!

Chris Wren

Our next speakers were Chris Wren from the Downtown Development Authority and Diana Alarcon from the City of Fort Lauderdale.  Also in attendance were Fire Chief Robert Hoecherl and Debbie Griner from the City.  Chris Wren is one of the main architects of the WAVE streetcar project, an environmentally-friendly streetcar system that will service Downtown Fort Lauderdale and the surrounding neighborhoods, including Croissant Park.  The goals of the WAVE are to provide transit, encourage economic growth in the city, provide quality of life, safety and vitality, and offer a ‘green’ approach to transportation by rendering us less dependent on cars.  There are 14 proposed stops for the WAVE and the routes will be expanded in the future to include 17th Street Causeway, Port Everglades and the airport.  The WAVE vehicle maintenance and storage facility was originally set for the property downtown that housed the “one stop shop” permit offices, but in a complicated land swap that the City has made, the new site for the maintenance facility will be located at 1801 SW 1st Ave, directly across the tracks from the Croissant Park Community Center recreation field. Fire Chief Hoecherl informed us of the need for a new fire station to service the area east of the tracks, which will be built adjacent to the WAVE maintenance facility. The powers that be promise that these developments will vitalize the area with the new buildings, lighting and landscaping, thereby lighting areas that are currently dark and unsafe.  A vigorous Q and A followed.  If you would like more information about the WAVE you can visit www.wavestreetcar.com 

Train horns--are they louder lately?  Do they appear to last longer?  Diana Alarcon from the City responded to these questions by saying that the City will apply for “quiet zone infrastructure upgrades” that would be done by All Aboard Florida (AAF).  Diana does not represent AAF.  We hope to have a representative from AAF at a future meeting.  For any complaints about the train horns Diana suggested going to sunsentinel.com which has a place for such complaints.  It will ask for specifics: time/day/which track/reason for complaint.

The 50/50 raffle was won by Paul Stickl in the yellow shirt.

The next Croissant Park meeting will be on May 26th.  See you there!

Minutes by Virginia-Sec’y

Croissant Park Civic Association

Why Be a Member? Because bigger is better, at least when it comes to being
paid attention to by the City of Fort Lauderdale.

Please join us at the Croissant Park Civic Association Membership meeting
Tuesday night Feb. 24th at 7pm.

Representatives of the Downtown Development Authority and the City
Transportation planning departments will be there to tell us why they think
it is a great idea to swap land next to City Hall for land next to the rail
road tracks south of 17th Street for Wave/All Aboard Florida facilities.

They will update us on the Wave and other transportation issues - should be
a fascinating meeting - get there early to get a seat - and don't forget
your $20 membership checks/cash (no, we don't take debit or credit) because
the bottom line is - if we, as an Association want to be heard-  our best
bet is to have a membership list makes us worth reckoning with. Remember
-you can't vote on a issue if you are not a member

“Ask Lori…Parrish on Appraisal” February 2015

Broward County Property Appraiser Lori Parrish Answers Your Questions…

“The Perfect Home and the Perfect Partner – Be Sure To Protect Yourself!”

Dear Lori:

We are a same-sex married couple who bought a home in Broward County.  Since Florida finally grants legal recognition to the rights of same-sex married couples, what steps can we take to help us enjoy the same rights and financial protections under the law?

P.K. & S.W., Fort Lauderdale, FL (via email)

On January 6, 2015, Florida began recognizing LGBT marriages performed in other jurisdictions and issuing marriage licenses for LGBT couples married in Florida.  This tremendous step forward for equality allows new legal status for married LGBT couples with ownership of real property as Tenants By The Entireties (TBTE).

Tenants By The Entirety (TBTE):  This applies only to married couples. This TBTE status -- which is automatic when the Grantees of a deed are identified as a married LGBT couple -- gives each spouse overlapping 100% interests in their Homestead Property Tax Exemption, full exemption coverage (when one spouse receives the Homestead Exemption), Widow/Widower, qualified Veteran’s related exemptions, and rights of survivorship (inheritance) for the surviving spouse.

The creation of a tenancy by the entireties is not automatic as a result of marriage.  A new deed changing the ownership type of a couple to a married couple must be recorded in Public Records. Be sure to consult with your attorney and get his/her assistance before making changes to the ownership of your property. Even if you choose not to execute a new deed amending your marital status, we recommend you provide our office with a copy of your marriage license so we may notate your marital status and extend to you all exemptions available to married couples.

It is very important both spouses with an ownership interest in the property file individually for Homestead Exemption.  The Homestead Exemption and related Save-Our-Homes (SOH) protection saved the average Broward homeowner in 2014 with an assessed value of $75,000 or higher anywhere from $646  to $1,114 a year in taxes.  With SOH, your property’s assessed value can increase by no more than 3% per year – regardless of how much it climbs in actual value. Florida law protects a legal spouse in the event their spouse dies and the title passes to the survivor.

Under Florida law, married couples are only permitted one Homestead Exemption/permanent residency based property tax exemption.  Prior to January 6, 2015, LGBT couples married outside of Florida could maintain two permanent residency based property tax exemptions because their legal status was not recognized in Florida. Now, LGBT married couples (as any married couple) cannot claim more than one Florida Homestead Exemption and cannot claim a Florida Homestead Exemption if either person is claiming a permanent residency based property tax exemption anywhere in the world.

Since recognition of LGBT marriages in Florida took place after January 1, 2015, beginning with the 2016 tax year LGBT married couples will be subject to a loss of their Florida Homestead Exemption, back assessment liens, penalties, and interest, if they are found to be claiming a Florida Homestead Exemption and another permanent residency based exemption anywhere else. Florida law requires a Homestead Exemption recipient/applicant to notify the Property Appraiser of any change in circumstance which affects his/her eligibility for exemption. To avoid any of these consequences, married couples should determine which Homestead Exemption/permanent residency based exemptions to surrender and which one to keep as soon as possible then notify the Property Appraiser’s Office of their decision.

We recommend you consult with your attorney to best protect your LGBT rights under Florida law.  If we can be of any assistance on questions relating to Homestead Exemptions or Save Our Homes and Exemptions, visit our website at www.bcpa.net, or call 954-357-6035, or email kbrown@bcpa.net.  You can also call our General Counsel’s office at 954.357.6934.

Sincerely,

Lori Parrish, CFA

If you have a question for Lori, please email her at lori@bcpa.net or write to her at the Broward County Property Appraiser’s Office, 115 South Andrews Avenue, Room 111, and Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301.  (02/15).

Robert L. Wolfe, Jr. CFE
Community Outreach Specialist II
954.357.6871 – office
954.357.8474 – fax
954.445.5732 – cell

rwolfe@bcpa.net

Follow our office at:  http://www.facebook.com/propertyappraiser and http://twitter.com/loriparrish

Officers Tisch & Pekral

 General Meeting, January 27, 2015

Happy New Year, Croissant Park Neighbors!

Our annual Pot Luck Supper January meeting was a big hit, with good attendance that had many people renewing their CPCA membership along with some new members signing up.  It’s never too late to send in your $20 to become a voting member of Croissant Park Civic Association. Good to see familiar neighbors and great to meet new neighbors.  

Our new FLPD Officers Meredith Tisch and Eric Pekral reported that we had a significant decrease in neighborhood crime this past period.  Ofc. Tisch told us that the only crimes reported were two vehicle burglaries that occurred on Davie Blvd. and on SR 84.  They remind us to lock our cars at all times and to never leave any valuables in plain sight inside the car. If you must leave anything of value in the car, put it in the trunk and make sure you lock the car.  Officer Tisch can be contacted by email at mtisch@fortlauderdale.gov and by cell at (754) 333-0993.



foreground - Maylou & Nina

There was some lively discussion about the imminent arrival of All Aboard Florida.  Our President, Pat has attended a City meeting in which she brought up the AAF subject and received no information regarding our concerns.  Neighbors are asking who we can talk to about the trains, what will happen to our property values, and whether the rumors about street closures across the tracks are true, i.e. 15th Street, our “gateway to the Wave” that will give us access to Andrews Avenue and the Wave stops. Our February meeting will provide some answers regarding the proposed Wave transportation throughout downtown Fort Lauderdale.  Hope to see you there if you want to find out the latest poop on that subject, along with any more info we might be able to obtain on the All Aboard Florida trains that will affect our neighborhood in a major way.

Joe & Virginia Russell

After all the spirited discussion we were let loose to fill our plates at the Pot Luck table that consisted of a hot wing appetizer, healthy and delicious salads, hearty entrees and sublime desserts.  Coffee was generously supplied by Suzy at Expresso on Andrews, soft drinks and water were available too.  Paul Stickl won the 50/50 raffle.  Thank you Lisa (community center) for all your help.  

Dessert Destruction

New neighbors - The Bowers

Minutes by Virginia, CPCA Secretary
pics by Rhonda

Paul Ruble - left, Peter Bowker - right

Alys, Heather, Michele, George, Pat & ?

Paul Stickl won the 50/50