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[1. CALL TO ORDER]
EVENING.WELCOME TO THE CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP AGENDA.
MME. CLARK, COULD YOU CALL THE ROLE FOR ME, PLEASE? MAYOR EDWARDS PHILLIPS.
HERE, VICE MAYOR SWELL PRESENT.
COMMISSIONER HARRISON, PRESENT, COMMISSIONER MAXWELL WILLIAMS. PRESENT.
COMMISSIONER THOMAS, CITY MANAGER.
PRESENT CITY ATTORNEY CALLAWAY.
MADAM VICE MAYOR, LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT MAYOR EDWARDS PHILLIPS IS ONLINE FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY, BUT WILL BE ABSENT.
[REVIEW OF THE MARCH 10, 2025 CITY COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA]
CITY MANAGER.MADAM MAYOR, WE WILL GO THROUGH THE REVIEW OF THE MARCH 10TH, 2025 CITY COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA.
OKAY? AS YOU WILL NOTE, WE HAVE SEVERAL PROCLAMATIONS ON TOMORROW, BUT BEFORE I MOVE ON, I DO WANT TO STATE THAT WE HAVE A TIME CERTAIN SIX O'CLOCK WE'LL REGROUP WHEN, YEAH.
[4. DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE(S)]
DOWN TO SECOND READING, CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCES ON SECOND READING.ORDINANCE 2 0 2 5 DASH ZERO FIVE OF THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES, BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA, AMENDING SECTION 86 DASH FIVE, FLORIDA UNIFORM TRAFFIC CONTROL LAW ADOPTED TO INCORPORATE ENFORCEMENT OF SCHOOL ZONE SPEED LIMITS, UTILIZING SPEED DETECTION SYSTEMS CONSISTENT WITH FLORIDA STATUTES.
CHAPTER THREE 16, STATE UNIFORM TRAFFIC CONTROL.
MADAM MAYOR, THIS WAS DISCUSSED DURING FIRST READING ON OUR LAST MEETING AND ALSO AT A PREVIOUS WORKSHOP.
HOWEVER, AT THIS TIME, THROUGH YOU MADAM MAYOR, WE CAN HAVE MS. BOBBY WILLIAMS TO GIVE A BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF THAT ITEM.
GOOD EVENING, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONER, CITY ATTORNEY, CITY MANAGER, CITY, CITY, CLERK, STAFF, AND OUR AUDIENCE.
FOR THE RECORD, I AM BOBBY WILLIAMS, DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL SERVICES.
UH, SO, UH, THROUGH YOU, VICE MAYOR, THE ITEM ON SECOND READING, UH, FOR TOMORROW NIGHT IS THE CITY'S, UH, CITY'S, UH, ATTEMPT TO UPDATE, UH, OUR ORDINANCE, SECTION 86 DASH FIVE, WHICH IS THE FLORIDA UNIFORM TRAFFIC CONTROL LAW, UM, TO ALLOW SPEED DETECTION SYSTEMS IN THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES.
UH, AS YOU KNOW, UH, IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT WE WILL BE INSTALLING THE SPEED DETECTION SYSTEMS AT SOME POINT.
UH, WE DID HAVE AN INDEPENDENT SURVEY CONDUCTED IN OUR DESIGNATED SCHOOL ZONES A FEW MONTHS AGO IN OUR, IN OUR FOUR DESIGNATED SCHOOL ZONES, AND IT YIELDED ALMOST 3000, UH, VIOLATIONS.
UH, SO WE ARE HOPING TO UPDATE OUR CODE TO ALLOW THE CITY TO, UH, INSTALL THE SPEED DETECTION SYSTEMS. AT THIS TIME, I CAN ANSWER ANY CONCERNS OR QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
COMMISSIONERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY? NO.
THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS ON COORDINATE CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCES ON FIRST READING.
MOVE TO ITEM NINE, CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTIONS ON CONSENT AGENDA.
WE HAVE ITEM A RESOLUTION 2025 DASH 0 4 1 APPOINTING A MEMBER TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY BOARD.
MADAM VICE MAYOR, THIS IS YOUR APPOINTMENT OF MS. DAPHNE EDWARDS.
AND YES, MADAM CITY MANAGER, SHE'S EXCITED ABOUT IT AND SHE'LL BE HERE.
ITEM B, RESOLUTION 2025 DASH 0 4 2.
APPOINTING MEMBER TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD, ALSO SPONSORED BY VICE MAYOR SWELL.
THIS IS MS. JENNIFER CHAMBERS, CONDI.
YES, SHE'S, SHE, SHE'S EXCITED ALSO.
ITEM C, RESOLUTION 2025 DASH 0 4 3.
APPOINTING AN AT LARGE MEMBER TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY BOARD.
AND THIS IS APPOINTING MR. NEIL RAMSEY, WHICH WAS PRESENTED AT A PREVIOUS WORKSHOP MEETING VIA COMMISSIONER HARRISON.
OH, AND DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ABOUT THAT APPOINTMENT? NO.
WHAT ABOUT YOU? OH, MADAM VICE MAYOR.
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SAY, UH, MR. NEIL RAMSEY IS ALSO EXCITED AND POISED TO BE IN THE ROLE, AND I THINK WE ARE GONNA BE VERY GLAD TO HAVE HIM ON BOARD.THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
ITEM D RESOLUTION 2025 DASH 0 4 4, URGING THE FLORIDA STATE LEGISLATURE TO ENACT LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE PUBLIC RECORDS EXEMPTIONS FOR MUNICIPAL CLERKS AND EMPLOYEES WHO PERFORM MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS WORK OR HAVE ANY PART IN CODE ENFORCEMENT FUNCTIONS OF A CITY, MADAM MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
THIS WAS PRESENTED AT THE PREVIOUS WORKSHOP.
HOWEVER, OUR CITY CLERK, MS. BERNICE HOWARD, WILL PROVIDE A BRIEF UPDATE ON THIS ITEM THROUGH YOU.
CITY MANAGER, CITY COMMISSIONERS, MADAM VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE AND THE COMMISSIONERS AND MAYOR THAT'S ONLINE.
LET THE RECORD REFLECT ALSO THAT COMMISSIONER SHARON THOMAS IS ONLINE FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES.
UM, I EXPLAINED AT THE LAST, LAST WORKSHOP THAT MANY MUNICIPAL CLERKS WHO PERFORMED DUTIES THAT INCLUDE OR RESULT IN INVESTIGATIONS INTO COMPLAINTS REGARDING ELECTION FRAUD, LEGAL ENFORCEMENT OF HEARINGS RELATED TO THE CODE OR NEGLECT OR ABUSE OR OTHER ACTIVITIES OR SOME, UH, THAT COULD POSSIBLY LEAD TO PROSECUTION OR SOMETIMES EXPOSED TO THREATS AND OTHER ACTS OF VIOLENCE.
UM, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE WE ADMINISTER MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.
SOME ELECTION WORKERS HAVE BEEN TARGETED FOR THREATS OR VIOLENCE DUE TO THE NATURE OF THEIR EMPLOYMENT.
SO THE FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF CITY CLERK, UM, IS PURSUING LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE A PUBLIC RECORDS EXEMPTION FOR THE PERSONAL INFORMATION OF THOSE STAFF.
AND THOSE BILLS ARE BEING SUPPORTED.
THERE IS, UH, A SENATE AND THE HOUSE BILL AND, UM, LET'S SEE, IT'S BEING SPONSORED BY REPRESENTATIVE JOE CASTELLO AND SENATOR ANNA MARIA RODRIGUEZ.
IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, I CAN ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME.
THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS ITEM E RESOLUTION 20 25 0 4 5 AUTHORIZING THE CITY TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT TO ACCEPT GRANT FUNDING FROM THE FLORIDA BLUE, A TRADEMARK OF BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD FOR FUNDING ALLOCATIONS IN THE AMOUNT OF $100,000 FOR UPGRADES TO THE ALZHEIMER'S CARE CENTER.
MADAM MAYOR, WE, THE CITY APPLIED FOR THIS GRANT A FEW MONTHS AGO, AND WE ARE NOW IN POSITION TO ACCEPT THE GRANT.
AND MR. VINCENT MULLEN, OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND HUMAN HUMAN SERVICES, WILL PROVIDE AN UPDATE AND BRIEF SUMMARY ON THIS ACCEPTANCE THROUGH YOU MADAM MAYOR.
MADAM MAYOR, CITY ATTORNEY, CITY COMMISSION, CITY MANAGER AND CITY CLERK, UH, AS STATED BY THE CITY MANAGER AS STATED BY THE CITY MANAGER AT THE JUNE 24TH, 2024 MEETING.
THE CITY COMMISSION APPROVED FOR THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDING FROM FLORIDA BLUE IN THE AMOUNT OF A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
THIS FUNDING WILL SUPPORT A MUCH NEEDED UPGRADES AND RENOVATIONS TO THE ALL TIME'S CARE CENTER, INCLUDING THE RESTROOM RENOVATIONS TO BECOME MORE A D ALY COMPLIANT KITCHEN IMPROVEMENTS, FURNITURE REPLACEMENTS, AND OTHER ESSENTIAL ENHANCEMENTS.
UH, THE ALZHEIMER'S CARE CENTER HAS BEEN SERVING CLIENTS IN BROWARD COUNTY SINCE 1993 AND HAS YET TO UNDERGO ANY MAJOR RENOVATIONS, UM, AS A VITAL RESOURCE INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.
THE CENTER FACES SEVERAL CHALLENGES, INCLUDING OUTDATED FACILITIES THAT HAVE A NEED FOR MODERN TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENTS.
AND ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES WILL MAINTAIN A HIGH STANDARD FOR CARE, IMPROVING THE OVERALL USER EXPERIENCE.
UM, STAFF IS REQUESTING PERMISSION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH ACCEPTING THE AGREEMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $100,000.
UM, SHE LIKES TO USE THE WORD EXCITED.
'CAUSE, YOU KNOW, A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS NOW MEANS A LOT TO A CITY LIKE LAUDERDALE LAKES, ESPECIALLY THE ALZHEIMER'S CENTER.
ANY COMMENT FROM NO COMMENT COMMISSIONERS? NO.
I'M JUST EXCITED THAT WE ARE GETTING THAT MONEY, SO KUDOS TO ALL THE PEOPLE THAT, UM, HELP PUT THE GRANT, UM, REQUEST, UH, SUBMISSION TOGETHER.
COMMISSIONERS ITEM 10, CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTIONS ON REGULAR AGENDA ITEM A RESOLUTION 2025 DASH 0 4 6 REQUESTING A
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DECREASE IN PROPERTY INSURANCE PREMIUMS FOR HOME AND CONDO OWNERS.THIS ITEM IS SPONSORED BY COMMISSIONER SHARON THOMAS THROUGH YOU MADAM MAYOR.
AND I THINK THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY MAY ALSO HAVE SOME COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM.
YES, SHE TOLD ME THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY WOULD LEAVE THE YEAH.
YES, MADAM VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS ON RESOLUTION 2025 DASH 0 4 6.
UM, I THINK IT'S PROBABLY BETTER TO READ THAT RESOLUTION IN FULL.
OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS A RESOLUTION THAT IS DESIGNED TO ASSIST, UH, HOMEOWNERS AND CONDOMINIUM OWNERS IN PARTICULAR WITH, UM, HIGHER PROPERTY INSURANCE.
AND SO THE RESOLUTION READS, WHEREAS HOMEOWNERS AND CONDOMINIUM OWNERS IN THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES AND THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF FLORIDA HAVE EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN PROPERTY INSURANCES, PLACING PROPERTY INSURANCE PREMIUMS, PLACING MANY AT RISK OF FINANCIAL HARDSHIP AND DISPLACEMENT.
AND WHEREAS WITHOUT LEGISLATIVE INTERVENTION AND INCREASING NUMBER OF PROPERTY OWNERS, PARTICULARLY SENIOR AND LOW INCOME RESIDENTS, FACE THE IMMINENT RISK OF LOSING THEIR HOMES DUE TO THE INABILITY TO AFFORD RISING INSURANCE PREMIUMS AND COMPLIANCE COSTS.
UH, AND YOU'LL ALL REMEMBER, UH, THE, UH, FLORIDA SAFE BUILDING, UH, LEGISLATION THAT PASSED THAT, UH, HAS HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON, UH, CONDOMINIUM OWNERS AND THEIR MAINTENANCE RESPONSIBILITIES.
UM, AND WHEREAS SENATE BILL 5 54 INTRODUCED BY SENATOR GOETZ IN THE FLORIDA SENATE FOR THE YEAR 2025 AMENDS SECTION 55.03 OF THE FLORIDA STATUTES TO REVISE THE CALCULATION METHOD FOR SETTING THE INTEREST RATE ON JUDGMENTS OR DECREES, REQUIRING THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER TO ADJUST THE RATE QUARTERLY BASED ON THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF NEW YORK'S DISCOUNTS RATE ADDING 400 BASIS POINTS.
AND THEN, WHEREAS SENATE BILL 5 9 2 INTRODUCED BY SENATOR LEE IN THE FLORIDA SENATE FOR THE 2025 YEAR AMENDS FLORIDA STATUTE, SECTION TWO 15.55871, TO REVISE THE DEFINITION OF CONDOMINIUM AND LIMITS PARTICIPATION IN THE MY SAFE FLORIDA CONDOMINIUM PILOT PROGRAM TO CERTAIN CONDOMINIUMS THAT ARE THREE STORIES OR MORE IN HEIGHT AND INCLUDE AT LEAST ONE RESIDENTIAL UNIT.
AND WHEREAS SENATE BILL 5 9 2 REVISES THE APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THOSE RECEIVING A MITIGATION GRANT THAT REQUIRES A MAJORITY OF THE BOARD OF ADMINISTRATORS OR THE TOTAL VOTING INTERESTS OF THE ASSOCIATION AND A UNANIMOUS VOTE OF ALL UNIT OWNERS RESIDING WITHIN THE STRUCTURE HOUSE.
BILL 4 51 INTRODUCED IN THE FLORIDA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AMENDS SECTION 55.03, AGAIN TO REVISE THE CALCULATION METHOD FOR SETTING INTEREST RATES, UH, AS SENATE BILL 5 5 54 DID.
UM, THE CITY COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THE URGENT NEED FOR RELIEF MEASURES, INCLUDING LEGISLATIVE ACTION TO DECREASE PROPERTY INSURANCE PREMIUMS AND ESTABLISHED GRANT PROGRAMS TO ASSIST AT RISK CONDOMINIUM OWNERS IN MEETING COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS WITHOUT UNDUE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP.
THE FLORIDA STATE LEGISLATURE HAS THE ABILITY AND THE RESPONSIBILITY TO IMPLEMENT REFORMS THAT PROTECT RESIDENTS, PRESERVE HOME OWNERSHIP, AND MAINTAIN THE STABILITY OF COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE.
SENATE BILL 5 5 4, SENATE BILL 5 9 2 AND HOUSE BILL 4 51 ARE SET TO TAKE EFFECT IF PASSED ON JULY 1ST, 2025.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY COMMISSION DEEMS THESE BILLS TO BE IN THE BEST INTEREST, HEALTH AND SAFETY OF CITY RESIDENTS, THAT THE COMMISSION SUPPORTS THE EFFORTS OF SENATE BILL 5 5 4 5 9 2 AND HOUSE BILL 4 51, AND IT CONVEYS ITS SUPPORT OF THOSE BILLS TO THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE AND SUPPORTS THEIR PASSAGE BY THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE, MADAM VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
THAT IS THE ESSENCE OF, UH, THIS PARTICULAR RESOLUTION AGAIN, WHICH IS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT LEGISLATION THAT PROTECTS HOME OWNERSHIP, PARTICULARLY THOSE CONDOMINIUM UNIT OWNERS THAT ARE OWNED BY SENIORS AND, UM, LOW OR AT RISK HOMEOWNERS.
I READ SOMETHING WHEREBY THEY WERE, THEY ARE TRYING TO CHANGE
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THE LAW NOW THAT THEY, THEY WANT TO GO INSTEAD OF THREE STORIES.THEY, WERE THEY HIGHER THAN WE START AT THREE? UM, YOU GOT SO MADAM VICE MAYOR, I'VE NOT SEEN THAT LEGISLATION.
IF IT DOES EXIST, AND AGAIN, MY OFFICE IS NOW WORKING ON A, UH, UH, DOCUMENT THAT WILL BRING AS MUCH AS WE CAN FOR THAT LEGISLATION THAT IS IN THE SESSION THIS YEAR, THAT IS LIKELY TO AFFECT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
IF THAT ITEM IS ON THAT, I CERTAINLY WOULD, UH, BE HERE, UH, REPORTING ON, ON THAT LEGISLATION.
AND IF, IF WE CAN, WELL, I WOULD HOPE THAT SOMETHING CAN BE DONE BECAUSE IT, IT'S TO LOSE YOUR, YOUR HOME AT 80 90 IS HARD.
THEY, THEY WERE CONTEMPLATING, THEY SAID THAT THEY WERE GOING TO WHERE THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO GET SOME LOANS.
IT WAS NEVER LAST WEEK THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT IT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, TALKING DOESN'T, SOMETIMES THERE THEY WILL.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WILL BE ANY ACTION VICE MAYOR.
MY OFFICE DEFINITELY HAS, UM, ANY LEGISLATION THAT AFFECTS THOSE WHO ARE IMPACTED BY THE SAFE BUILDING, UH, LEGISLATION THAT WAS PASSED SEVERAL YEARS AGO.
UH, WE CERTAINLY WILL HAVE THAT ON OUR RADAR FOR AN ONGOING, UH, TRACKING, BUT ALSO A, A REPORT TO THIS COMMISSION AS TO, UH, THOSE EFFORTS.
ANY COMMENT MADAM COMMISSIONER? NO.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WAS NO COMMENTS ONLINE AS WELL.
NO, COMMISSIONER THOMAS WAS, THEY'RE ON THROUGH YOU, MADAM MAYOR.
MOVING TO ITEM 10 B, RESOLUTION 2025 DASH 0 4 7, APPROVING THE DEPARTURE OF THE CITY MANAGER THROUGH YOU, MADAM MAYOR.
I HAVE NO COMMENT FOR THIS EVENING.
I THINK WE DID GO THROUGH IT A WEEK OR TWO WEEKS AGO.
SO FOR ME, I HAVE NO COMMENT ON THIS MATTER.
MADAM MAYOR, IF I MAY MM-HMM
OH, THANK, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
YEAH, MY, MY, UH, COMMENT FOR THIS EVENING ON THIS PARTICULAR DISCUSSION IS SIMILAR TO THE COMMENTS THAT I HAD PREVIOUSLY.
WE DISCUSSED THAT I HAVE NOT HEARD TO DATE ANY OBJECTIVE REASONS WHY THE COMMISSION SHOULD CONSIDER TERMINATING THE CITY MANAGER AT THIS TIME.
I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT AT THIS TIME FOR MY COLLEAGUE'S CONSIDERATION.
I KNOW I CANNOT MAKE A MOTION, BUT FOR MY COLLEAGUE'S CONSIDERATION THAT WE HAVE NOT COMPLETED AN EVALUATION ON OUR CITY MANAGER SINCE SHE BECAME OUR CITY MANAGER.
I DO RECALL BACK IN OCTOBER THAT WE WERE GIVEN AN EVALUATION FORM FOR THE CITY MANAGER WITH A REQUEST TO HAVE IT RETURNED TO MS. DEANDRE IN HUMAN RESOURCES, WHICH WE DID NOT.
AND THERE WAS NOT ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.
SO I WOULD LIKE FOR MY COLLEAGUES TO CONSIDER AN EVALUATION FOR OUR CITY MANAGER BECAUSE SHE HAS NOT HAD ONE, SO THAT WE CAN HAVE SOME OBJECTIVE ITEMS IN WHICH TO EVALUATE THE CITY MANAGER.
MADAM MAYORS, AS FAR AS THE EVALUATION, WHO, WHO AND, AND ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY QUESTION ALSO, WHO BRINGS THE, THE EVALUATION FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY FORTH FOR US TO, TO DO, HOW, HOW DOES THE PROCESS WORKS? UM, MADAM MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, YOU WILL RECALL, AND I KNOW THE MAYOR MENTIONED OCTOBER OF 2024 MM-HMM
UM, AND I DO RECALL AN ITEM, UM, ON THE COMMISSION, UH, RELATIVE TO AN ANNUAL EVALUATION
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OF BOTH THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.PROBABLY WILL RECALL, AT LEAST AS IT PERTAINS TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, I MADE CLEAR TO THE COMMISSION THAT I'M NOT AN EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY MM-HMM
AND THEREFORE UNDER VARIOUS STATUTES, THE CITY COMMISSION HAS THE LIBERTY TO RETAIN OR NOT RETAIN ME ON ANY GIVEN DAY OF THE WEEK, NOT UNDER THE RUBRIC OF, UH, ME BEING A EMPLOYEE, THE CITY MANAGER.
HOWEVER, UH, AND WE DIDN'T HAVE THIS DISCUSSION, BUT I'M BRINGING IT, PUTTING IT FORTH NOW.
BASED ON THE QUESTION POSED BY, UH, THE COMMISSIONER.
UH, THE CITY MANAGER DOES HAVE A CONTRACT WITH THE CITY, UH, BUT THE CITY MANAGER IS AN EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY.
UM, AND EVALUATION OF, UH, THE EMPLOYEES WOULD BE PART OF HER ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES.
HOWEVER, AN EVALUATION OF THE MANAGER IS PART OF THE RESPONSIBILITY, UM, AND MANDATE FOR THIS COMMISSION.
AND SO WHEN THAT ITEM CAME FORWARD, I'M NOT SURE IF THERE WAS ANY DISCUSSION RELATIVE TO WHAT THE COMMISSION THOUGHT OR DID AS IT PERTAINS TO THE CITY MANAGER, BUT THE EVALUATION DOES COME UP, IT'S IN HER CONTRACT AS WELL.
UH, AND THE CITY COMMISSION WOULD BE THE ENTITY RESPONSIBLE FOR ASSESSING THE MANAGER'S PERFORMANCE, UM, AND RESPONDING TO WHATEVER CONCERNS OR WHATEVER MATTERS THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO RAISE IN A EVALUATION.
UH, I BELIEVE THE HR, PROBABLY THE HR DEPARTMENT PROBABLY HAS A DOCUMENT THAT CAN BE USED FOR PURPOSES OF EVALUATING THE CITY MANAGER.
I KNOW SINCE MY TENURE HERE, BEGINNING IN 2017, THAT THE CITY MANAGER HAS BEEN ANNUALLY EVALUATED BY THE COMMISSION.
UH, I DO RECALL, AND I'M SPEAKING OF OUR FORMER CITY MANAGER, I KNOW THAT THERE WERE EVALUATIONS DONE FOR THE FORMER CITY MANAGER.
THANK, THANK YOU FOR THAT ATTORNEY.
BUT A QUESTION IS, WHO BRINGS IT TO US? TO WHO BRINGS, WHO INITIATE THE, THE EVALUATION? THE HR DIRECTOR, I BELIEVE, BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE COMMISSIONER.
AND AGAIN, WE'D HAVE TO GO BACK TO SEE THE, UH, OKAY.
SO THE, THE CONTRACT WAS IN JUNE.
EVERY, THAT MEANS EVERY YEAR, STARTING IN JUNE, THERE SHOULD BE AN EVALUATION, RIGHT.
BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T BE THE, THE, IT STARTS FROM THE DATE THE CONTRACT WAS SIGNED.
IT SHOULD, AN EVALUATION SHOULD BE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, ANNUAL, SO FROM THE COMMISSION CAN DETERMINE OKAY.
BUT NOW AGAIN, I'M SAYING I DON'T HAVE THE, HER, HER CONTRACT IN FRONT OF ME NOW.
SO THE CONTRACT MAY HAVE SOME VERY SPECIFIC LANGUAGE AS TO WHEN THE NO, I, I KNOW THE LANGUAGES.
SO I'M SAYING IT WAS IN JUNE, NO ONE BROUGHT IT TO US TO EVALUATE.
AND THEN IN OCTOBER, I THINK WE BROUGHT IT UP LIKE, HEY, WE HAVEN'T SEEN IT.
SO IT'S JUNE AND WE ARE GOING BACK, THERE'S ANOTHER JUNE COMING UP, SO IT'S GONNA BE ALMOST TWO YEARS AND, UH, GOING INTO THE SECOND YEAR, AND THERE'S NO EVALUATION.
SO MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, WHO BRINGS THIS TO US? DO WE GO AND RUN TO THE CITY MANAGER AND SAY, HEY, WHERE'S YOUR EVALUATION? WE STAND FOR US TO EVALUATE YOU.
WHO'S RESPONSIBILITY IS THAT? ULTIMATELY I WOULD SAY THE COMMISSION.
SO IT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY TO CALL HER AND TELL HER IT'S JUNE, 2025.
CAN I HAVE YOUR, UM, REVIEW TO YOUR QUESTION, COMMISSIONER? MM-HMM
I'M SAYING I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ANY INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONER, BUT IS IT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COMMISSION TO EVALUATE? AND, AND, AND AGAIN, YOUR POINT IS HOW, HOW IS THAT TRIGGERED SO WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING? UM, I FRANKLY WOULD LEAD THIS TO THE CITY MANAGER WHO MAY HAVE SOME INSIGHT ON WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION'S PROTOCOL HAS BEEN IN RECENT YEARS ON THIS SUBJECT.
BUT WITHOUT, AND AGAIN, I'M, I'M NOT AN ADMINISTRATOR, SO I WOULDN'T NECESSARILY BE ABLE TO TELL YOU WHAT THE CITY HAS DONE HISTORICALLY IN TERMS OF
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APPRISING THE COMMISSION OF THE NEED FOR A ANNUAL EVALUATION.I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE CITY MANAGER HOW THAT COMES ABOUT.
'CAUSE I WANNA UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING.
I COMMISSIONERS MR. CITY ATTORNEY AND MISS MADAM CITY CLERK.
I REMEMBER CLEARLY THAT SOMETHING CAME UP IN OCTOBER WHEN THREE, THREE OR THREE COMMISSIONERS ON THE FOUR COMMISSIONERS WERE RUNNING FOR ELECTION.
THE MAYOR, MAYOR EDWARDS, VERONICA EDWARDS, PHILLIPS COMMISSIONER COLLIN, MAXWELL WILLIAMS, VICE SMEAR, MARK SPENCE, AND OF COURSE TY
THERE WAS NO TIME IN OCTOBER FOR ANYONE TO CONCENTRATE ON AN EVALUATION.
AND I REMEMBER CLEARLY, I THINK IT WAS THE ENDING OF MAY IN 2023 WHEN THE CITY MANAGER WAS APPOINTED.
SOMETIMES THERE NEAR, NEAR ON TO, COULD HAVE BEEN THE LAST WEEK IN MAY LAST COMMISSION MEETING.
SO BRINGING UP AN EVALUATION IN THE HEART AND THE HEAT OF ELECTION MODE, WHO WAS GOING TO SIT DOWN THERE AND REALLY DO A GOOD JOB? I DON'T KNOW.
I, I, THERE WAS NO ONE, THE MAYOR DID NOT TAKE, I WOULDN'T WANT TO SAY OWNERSHIP, BUT SINCE SHE IS THE PRESIDING OFFICER AND SHE SIGNS ON ALL DOCUMENTS, THEN I WOULD'VE EXPECTED MAYOR EDWARD PHILLIPS, IF THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO HER SO SHE COULD CALL A SPECIAL MEETING.
'CAUSE I THINK THAT IS HER PREROGATIVE.
UM, MADAM VICE MAYOR, TO YOUR QUESTION, DOES, IS IT THE, DOES THE VI DOES THE MAYOR HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO CALL A SPECIAL MEETING? SHORT ANSWER IS YES.
UM, ANOTHER PIECE OF THAT IS THAT THE, A MAJORITY OF THIS COMMISSION MM-HMM
COULD ALSO TRIGGER A SPECIAL MEETING IF IT DETERMINED IT WANTED TO DO SO, WANTED TO DO SO.
I WOULD'VE EXPECTED THE MAYOR TO TAKE THE HELP.
BUT AS I SAID, I CANNOT SEE ANYONE WHO WOULD'VE FOUND TIME BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME TO GO THROUGH.
'CAUSE WE WERE ALL IN AN ELECTION MODE.
ELECTION WAS NOVEMBER 5TH, AND IN ANY CASE, ELECTION REALLY STARTED BY OCTOBER 4TH WHEN EARLY VOTING STARTED IN BROWARD COUNTY.
UM, AND VICE MAYOR, TO YOUR COMMENT, I WILL JUST ADD SOMETHING THAT I, I DO SAY OCCASIONALLY IS THIS COMMISSION REGULATES ITSELF QUITE CORRECT.
YOU, YOU, YOU DO HAVE THE DISCRETION AND THE OVERALL AUTHORITY TO DETERMINE HOW BEST TO PROCEED ON CERTAIN MATTERS.
UM, AND SO THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE COMMISSION WANTS TO DO AN EVALUATION IN THE SAME MONTH THAT IT'S DUE SOMETIME THEREAFTER.
I'M SAYING THE COMMISSION DOES HAVE THE ABILITY AND THE DISCRETION TO PERFORM WHATEVER DUTIES THAT IT HAS BEFORE IT IN A WAY THAT MEETS THE INTERESTS OF THE PUBLIC.
AND THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE LAW.
COMMISSIONER WILL, PER THE BOTTOM LINE IS RIGHT.
THE, THE CONTRACT WAS SIGNED ON JUNE 27TH.
I BELIEVE IT IS THE CITY MANAGER RESPONSIBILITY.
WHEN THE TIME COMES TO HER CONTRACT TO, OR HER, UM,
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EVALUATION TO BE DONE, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PUT ON THE AGENDA FOR A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION OR REVIEW.WE, WE HIRE HER AS ADMINISTRATIVE.
WE DON'T HAVE TO GO BEHIND HER AND SAY, OH, HIRE THIS FIRE THIS, DO THIS, DO THAT.
WE DON'T, WE ALLOW HER TO DO HER JOB.
'CAUSE THAT'S HER JOB ADMINISTRATIVELY.
SO WHEN IT COMES TO HER AND HER EVALUATION, IT IS HER JOB TO BRING IT TO OUR ATTENTION.
SPEAK TO US ON INDIVIDUALLY, LET US KNOW.
I'LL BRING IT ON AS A DISCUSSION THAT WE CAN PUT THE PROCESS IN OR SEND US AN EMAIL OF THE FORMS FOR THE EVALUATION THROUGH HR THAT WE CAN HAVE THAT COMPLETED IN THE MONTH OF JUNE.
IT CAME UP IN OCTOBER WHEN WE STARTED TO DISCUSS IT, AND WE ARE WONDERING WHERE IT IS.
SO THE BALL WAS DROPPED ON HER.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THE MAYOR'S TALKING ABOUT, BUT I THINK WE SHOULD LEAVE THIS DISCUSSION AND CONTINUE IT FOR TOMORROW.
IN REFERENCE TO OCTOBER, WHEN WE WERE GIVEN THE EVALUATION FORM FOR THE CITY MANAGER, AND AS PART OF THE DISCUSSION FOR THOSE OF US WHO WERE RUNNING FOR OFFICE, DECIDED THAT THE TIME WAS REALLY VERY CRUNCH AS YOU STATED.
HOWEVER, IF THE EVALUATION OF THE CITY MANAGER WAS OF SUCH AN URGENCY OR NEED, AFTER THE ELECTION WAS OVER AND THERE WERE FIVE OF US ON THE COMMISSION, ALL FIVE OF US, INCLUDING THE MAYOR, THE VICE MAYOR, AND THE COMMISSIONERS, HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY, OKAY, NOW THE ELECTION IS OVER.
LET'S EVALUATE THE CITY MANAGER.
SO IT WAS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ALL FIVE OF US IF THAT WERE AN IMPORTANT ITEM FOR US TO PURSUE AT THAT TIME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM VICE MAYOR.
UM, CITY MAN, YOU GO AHEAD PLEASE.
THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, I JUST WANTED TO JUST ADD SOME CLARITY AND TO MAKE SOME ACCURACY OF SOME DATES THAT WERE PROVIDED.
MY ORIGINAL CONTRACT WAS SIGNED APRIL, 2023.
MY SALARY WAS CONFIRMED IN JUNE AS STATED, THE EVALUATION WAS BROUGHT UP AT A WORKSHOP MEETING ON SEPTEMBER THE NINTH.
THE PACKET WAS PROVIDED TO THE COMMISSION ON OCTOBER 1ST.
ON OCTOBER 4TH, I PROVIDED MY SELF EVALUATION, WHICH INCLUDED MY AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT AND MY ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE DID NOT RECEIVE THE COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSION AT THAT TIME.
I WOULD ALSO FURTHER REQUEST THAT, UM, AT THIS TIME I DO RECEIVE AN EVALUATION SO I CAN PROMPTLY AND CAREFULLY CARRY OUT THE PRIORITIES OF THE COMMISSIONERS.
I WILL SAY THAT IN THE PAST WEEKS, I HAVE DEFINITELY LISTENED TO YOUR AREAS OF CONCERN, AND MY STAFF AND I HAVE TAKEN IMMEDIATE, UM, PROCEDURES TO REASSURE THAT WE ARE MAKING STRIDES TO, TO ADDRESS YOUR, UM, AND MANAGE YOUR EXPECTATIONS.
I THINK, I THINK WE ARE FINISHED HERE.
AND YOU DO HAVE A HAND IN THE, YOU CAN'T ALLOW.
I CAN, LEMME JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, OH.
UM, THIS IS A, UM, A MATTER BEFORE THE, UH, COMMISSION, UH, AND I BELIEVE THIS SUBJECT HAS BEEN ON THE COMMISSION'S AGENDA BEFORE.
AND AS SUCH, UH, ACCORDING TO YOUR RULES AND PROTOCOL, YOU COULD HAVE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION OR COMMENT ON THIS MATTER IF YOU CHOOSE MADAM VICE MAYOR, FORMER COMMISSIONER.
I'M FORMER COMMISSIONER BEVERLY WILLIAMS. UH, ON, I SERVED THIS COMMUNITY FROM 2014 TO 2022.
WHEN I TURNED OUT, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I LEARNED WHEN I WENT TO THE LEGAL CITIES, THERE'S NEVER I, ME, WHOEVER, IT'S WE.
SO WE WOULDN'T INCLUDE EVERY PERSON THAT'S ON THIS COMMISSION.
SHE, SHE SHOULD HAVE HAD AN EVALUATION.
WE EVALUATE VIA MR. DALENE EVEN WHEN HE WAS SICK.
SO NOW THE RESPONSIBILITY IS NOT ON.
WE WOULD GET OUR PACKAGE FROM THE HR DIRECTOR.
WE HAVE A CERTAIN LENGTH OF TIME THAT WE HAVE TO FILL IT IN AND I JUST DON'T LIKE HEARING, OH, I AIN'T GOT TIME.
YEAH, YOU GOT TIME WHEN YOU PUT YOUR TIME INTO THIS COMMITTEE TO SAY YOU WANTED TO RUN.
YOU SHOULD HAVE TIME FOR EVERYTHING THAT THESE, AND WE ARE RESPONSIBLE TO
[00:35:01]
OUR RESIDENTS.FORMER COMMISSIONER BEVERLY WILLIAM.
THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA.
I DO SEE THAT WE HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT ONLINE.
WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO ALLOW? YES, MADAM.
IS EVERYONE ABLE TO HEAR ME? YES.
SO I'M CONFUSED, BUT AT THE SAME TIME I LIKE TO THINK THAT I'M LEARNING, UM, THE PROTOCOL OF GOVERNMENT.
WE CAN, YEAH, WE CAN HEAR YOU HEAR YOUR HEARING.
SO I'M SAYING I'M CONFUSED, BUT I ALSO LIKE THE FACT THAT I'M ABLE TO LEARN PROTOCOL FOR GOVERNMENT AND HOW YOU NAVIGATE.
UM, IS THE SUGGESTION TO TERMINATE THE MAN, CITY MANAGER HINGED ON A, AN, AN EVALUATION? OR IS IT HINGED ON ACTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN THAT HAVE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED THE CITY? I'M JUST TRYING TO GET CLARITY ON WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON, BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS A MATTER THAT HAVE NOT BEEN DISCUSSED WITH THE PUBLIC.
UM, SO NOW I'M ONLINE AND I'M HEARING THIS AND I'M WONDERING WHAT IS EXACTLY IS GOING ON AND WHAT IS THE JUSTIFICATION OF THIS PARTICULAR, UM, ISSUE ON THE AGENDA IN TERMS OF A SUGGESTION TO TERMINATE THE CITY MANAGER.
IS IT HINGED ON AN EVALUATION THAT NEVER TOOK PLACE? OR IS IT BASED ON ACTIONS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE TO MOVE THE COMMISSION? WHO IS HER BOSS BOSSES TO MAKE THIS DECISION? IF I'M MAKING ANY SENSE? HELLO? HELLO, CHAPLAIN.
YOU ALL ARE SAYING YOU HEAR ME, BUT THEN NOW IT'S QUIET AS A CHURCH HOUSE MOUSE.
I'M NOT GETTING ANY RESPONSES.
MADAM VICE MAYOR, IS THIS MADAM CITY? UM, MAYOR? YES, MA'AM.
NO, I, UM, WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I CANNOT THINK OF ANYTHING THAT HAS OCCURRED DURING THE CITY MANAGER'S TENURE THAT HAS ADVERSELY AFFECTED THE CITY.
UM, COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU, HARRISON.
UM, TO THE QUESTION OF, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT, I THINK HER, HER QUESTION IS, IS IT CONTINGENT UPON AN EVALUATION? UH, BASED OFF OF WHAT I'M HEARING, I DON'T THINK IT'S CONTINGENT UPON THAT.
I THINK IT'S ON THE AGENDA AND, UM, A VOTE IS TO BE MADE.
UM, ANOTHER COMMENT WAS MADE IS THAT THE LAST COMMISSION DID SOMETHING AND NOW WE HAVE A NEW COMMISSION.
SO, UM, I DON'T KNOW WHY AN EVALUATION DIDN'T TAKE PLACE.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT SHOULD BE SOMETHING ROUTINE.
AND JUST LIKE MS. DENNIS, I'M LEARNING THE PROTOCOL OF GOVERNMENT MYSELF.
UM, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT, UM, IT'S NOT CONTINGENT UPON AN EVALUATION AS TO WHAT TAKES PLACE.
IT'S BASED ON THE COMMISSIONS.
SO THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THAT.
AND CAN I SAY SOMETHING ALSO? YES, MADAM.
UM, WHAT, WHAT, MS. MS. CHAPLIN.
UM, THE CONTRACT FOR THE CITY MANAGER IS THAT WE, WE AS HER BOSS, AS YOU SAID, CAN, UM, RELEASE HER FROM HER POSITION WITH CAUSE OR WITHOUT CAUSE WE ARE RELEASING HER FROM HER POSITION WITHOUT CAUSE.
UM, YOU'RE WELCOME, COMMISSIONER.
MADAM VICE MAYOR A YES, MADAM MAYOR.
I WAS ABOUT TO SAY SOMETHING, BUT YOU GO AHEAD.
UH, I JUST WANT TO REFLECT ON A COMMENT THAT WAS MADE THAT WE ARE RELEASING MADAM MANAGER WITHOUT, CAUSE AS I UNDERSTAND IT, A VOTE HAS NOT TAKEN PLACE YET.
SO I'M NOT SURE AT THIS POINT IN TIME THAT THAT'S AN ACCURATE STATEMENT.
[00:40:01]
MADAM MAYOR.IF I THANK YOU, THAT WOULD MADAM MAYOR, THAT WOULD, A VOTE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN.
BUT I, UNDER FLORIDA LAW, WHICH I WAS ABOUT TO SAY, FLORIDA LAW HAS, IS ONE OF THOSE WHAT THEY CALL THE RIGHT TO WORK LAW.
THAT THERE IS NO, YOU CAN BE FIRED AT ANY TIME WITH CAUSE OR WITHOUT CAUSE.
THAT IS ONE, THERE WAS A TIME IF YOU WERE ON WORKMAN'S COMPENSATION, YOU COULD NOT BE FIRED AND ACT DURING MR. GOVERNOR RCO.
SO THAT'S ONE OF MAYBE THE DRAWBACKS OF FLORIDA, THAT YOU DON'T NEED A REASON TO FIRE SOMEONE.
I CAN GET THE BEST EVALUATION TODAY AND TOMORROW MY BOSS CALLS ME IN, TAKE ME FOR TO LUNCH AND GIVE ME A PINK SLIP UNDER FLORIDA LAW.
AND I DON'T THINK IT'S BASED ON EVALUATION.
AND AS I SAID, I WOULD PREFER US TO TALK ABOUT THAT SINCE WE HAD HEATED CONVERSATION TWO WEEKS AGO WHEN THEY, IT CAME UP DURING THE WORKSHOP.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANY THERE IS ANYTHING ELSE TO SAY BETWEEN THE THREE OF US AND THOSE TWO THAT ARE ONLINE.
IS THERE ANYTHING FOR YOU, MR. NO MA'AM.
MADAM CITY MANAGER, BACK TO YOU.
WE ARE MOVING TO OUR CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP AGENDA.
OH, COMMISSIONER SHARON, GO AHEAD.
UM, AND IT'S, UM, IN REFERENCE WHEN I OPENED MY EMAIL DAY, I RECEIVED CORRESPONDENCE FROM A CORPORATION BUSINESS STATING, UM, THAT THEY COULD ASSIST WITH ANY ASSISTANT, UM, INTERIM CITY MANAGER OR WHATEVER ELSE IS NEEDED.
I AM JUST SURPRISED THAT, UM, HOW I WOULD RECEIVE THIS.
THEY, THEY ABLE THE, UM, PERHAPS THIS MESSAGE, UH, IS TO MR. ATTORNEY, UM, THEY, THEY USED THE REV IN REFERENCE TO THE RESOLUTION THAT WOULD ALLOW THE CITY MANAGER TO EXIT AS WELL AS THEY PUT IN THEIR BID FOR OR HAVING CONVERSATION TO TALK ABOUT A INTERIM CITY MANAGER.
UM, I KNOW IT'S PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE.
SO FROM WHEN IT'S PUBLISHED TO THIS CURRENT DAY, UM, AT POSSIBLE OR SOME, COULD THAT BE SOMETHING THAT PUT OUT? I'M NOT SPECULATING, I'M JUST INQUIRED TO MR. ATTORNEY.
MADAM VICE MAYOR TO COMMISSIONER THOMAS'S INQUIRY, UH, AS TO WHAT CIRCUMSTANCE OR SCENARIO COULD, UH, WE ENVISION THAT A COMMISSIONER WOULD RECEIVE AN EMAIL, UM, SUCH AS THE ONE THAT SHE DESCRIBED FROM APPARENTLY A THIRD PARTY, UH, COMPANY, PERHAPS A WANNABE VENDOR TO THE CITY TO ASSIST WITH ANY, UM, EFFORTS BY THE CITY TO DESIGNATE A INTERIM MANAGER.
UM, MADAM COMMISSIONER, THE ONLY THING THAT I CAN SAY IS IF THE RESOLUTION ON THIS ITEM WAS PUBLISHED, IT DOES BECOME A MATTER OF PUBLIC RECORD.
[00:45:01]
AND I, LIKE YOU AM ONLY SPECULATING AT THIS POINT, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY PLAUSIBLE TO, UH, MOST OF US WHO ARE INVOLVED IN GOVERNMENT PRACTICE TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN AN ITEM IS PUBLISHED, UH, IT BECOMES A PUBLIC RECORD.UM, AND PARTICULARLY THERE ARE THOSE FOLKS IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY WHO ARE LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES.
AND IT MAY WELL HAVE BEEN A THIRD PARTY VENDOR WHO PICKED UP THIS MATTER FOR WHATEVER REASON AND DECIDED TO MAKE THAT COMMUNICATION.
I DON'T KNOW THAT PER SE, AND IT COULD CERTAINLY BE OTHER SCENARIOS THAT WE COULD, UH, UH, UH, ACCOUNT FOR THAT.
BUT, UM, THIS RESOLUTION DOES BECOME PART OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS.
AND IT, IT IS NOT, UH, FARFETCHED TO ME TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT MAY VERY WELL BE SOMEONE WHO'S JUST LOOKING FOR BUSINESS.
IT COULD BE OTHER THINGS, BUT THAT'S, AGAIN, IT, IT, IT WOULD BE TOTAL SPECULATION, AT LEAST ON MY PART WITHOUT MORE INFORMATION, UM, ON THE WHO WHYS OR WHERES ON, ON, ON THIS MATTER.
UM, MR.
I JUST HERE AND I DIDN'T GET ANY, SO I, YEAH.
MAD MAYOR COMMISSIONERS ONTO OUR CITY COMMISSION
[B. DISCUSSION REGARDING THE ROLE OF THE MAYOR AND COMMISSION (SPONSORED BY VICE MAYOR CAUSWELL)]
WORKSHOP.AGENDA ITEM FIVE, A DISCUSSION REGARDING THE ROLE OF THE MAYOR AND COMMISSION.
THIS ITEM IS SPONSORED BY VICE MAYOR SWELL.
THANK YOU, MADAM CITY MANAGER.
I AM BRINGING THIS UP IN A WORKSHOP BECAUSE THE LAST MEETING I WOULD SAY THAT IT WAS A HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT FOR ME SITTING UP HERE.
AND I JUST BACKGROUND TO WHERE WE ARE NOW.
BEFORE 2016, THE MAYOR SLASH THERE WAS NO MAYOR SLASH COMMISSIONERS.
AND THE MAYOR AND THE MAYOR ONLY HAD A CEREMONIAL ROAD.
THE ONLY TIME THE MAYOR HAD A VOTE WAS WHEN THERE WAS A TIE BETWEEN 2014 TO 2016.
I SAT ON THE CHARTER ADVISORY BOARD.
THEY DECIDED THAT THEY WERE GOING TO TAKE OFF TWO COMMISSIONERS, MAKE IT FOUR, AND THEN THEY WOULD HAVE A MAYOR SLASH COMMISSIONERS.
AND WENT IN 2016, COMMISSIONER KAY ROGERS WAS BEING TERMED OUT IN TALLAHASSEE AS A STATE REP.
AND SHE WAS THE FIRST REALLY MAYOR OF THE CITY OF LORD DE LAKES, WHERE FOR THE FIRST TIME SHE HAD A VOTE.
AND I SPENT TIME GOING BACK OVER THE CHARTER BECAUSE I WONDERED THE LAST TIME THAT THE, I WOULD SAY MAYOR PHILLIPS WAS HOSTILE TOWARDS THE COMMISSIONERS DOING WHAT THEY ARE ELECTED TO DO.
AND WHAT I WOULD SAY, SUN, THE SUNSHINE LAW PREVENTS US FROM TALKING ABOUT ANYTHING ON THE, THE AGENDA.
THE SUNSHINE LAW GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE FOR YOURSELF.
AND I, I MAY, I, SHE WAS EXTREMELY HOSTILE.
SHE HAD A RIGHT TO DEFEND HER POINT OF VIEW, BUT I ALSO, AND OTHERS HAD A RIGHT TO DEFEND OUR POINT OF VIEW.
AND I CAN'T THINK OF ANY TIME THAT I WANT SOMEONE IN MY HEAD THAT I AM GOING TO PARROT WHAT THAT PERSON IS SAYING.
AND I WOULD HOPE THAT IT'S NOT ANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS.
SO I HAVE THIS ON THE AGENDA, AND I WOULD LOVE FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY
[00:50:01]
TO EXPLAIN THE ROLE OF THE MAYOR SLASH COMMISSIONERS.UH, MADAM VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
I AM LOOKING TO GET TO MY, UH, HERE WE GO.
I THINK TO ANSWER THE QUESTION, VICE MAYOR, IT'S JUST REALLY BEST TO READ OUR CODE PROVISIONS THAT SPEAKS TO THE MAYOR'S ROLE.
I'M HAVING AN ISSUE ON THE, UH, THAT, UH, THE MAYOR DOES HAVE LIKE ALL OF, OR EACH OF THE COMMISSIONERS A VOTE TO TAKE ACTION ON ANY MATTER BEFORE THIS COMMISSION.
UM, THE MAYOR ALSO SERVES AS THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE CITY, PARTICULARLY IN, UM, EVENT OF EMERGENT EVENTS.
FOR EXAMPLE, NATURAL DISASTERS, IE COVID WAS ONE OF THOSE INSTANCES, BUT DOES SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE CITY FOR PURPOSES OF, UH, BEING THE CENTRAL SPOKESPERSON.
UM, AND THAT IS A, UM, A MATTER THAT ALLOWS OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, FOR EXAMPLE, THE STATE OF FLORIDA, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, UM, TO, AS WELL AS BROWARD COUNTY VICE MAYOR, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT, TO UNDERSTAND WHO THE PERSON IS THAT THEY SHOULD LOOK TO ON MATTERS THAT CONCERN THE CITY.
UM, THE MAYOR ALSO HAS, UH, THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR EXECUTING, UH, MATERIAL DOCUMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY.
FOR EXAMPLE, EVERY, EVERY TIME THIS COMMISSION MEETS AT, AT YOUR REGULAR MEETINGS, YOU ADOPT RESOLUTIONS, YOU AUTHORIZE CONTRACTS OVER, UM, CERTAIN AMOUNTS, UH, IN PARTICULAR $25,000.
UH, YOU APPROVE, UH, MATTERS THAT ARE MATERIAL AS BETWEEN THE CITY'S RELATIONSHIPS AND THIRD PARTIES.
UM, THE MAYOR IS THE PERSON WHO EXECUTES THOSE DOCUMENTS SOMETIMES, AGAIN, WITH THE ATTESTATION OF THE CITY CLERK.
UH, AND THAT IS, AGAIN, A MEANS OF ENSURING THAT THE PERSON WHO IS THE DESIGNATED, UH, LEADER, SPOKESPERSON FOR THE CITY, UH, ALSO IS IN A POSITION TO, UH, CONVEY THE CITY'S, UM, AUTHORITY ON MATTERS AS IT PERTAINS TO THOSE DOCUMENTS.
SO, UM, IN A NUTSHELL, THAT IS A BASIC BUT A PRETTY ACCURATE DESCRIPTION OF THE MAYOR'S, UH, ROLE.
UM, AND IT STARTS WITH, AGAIN, THE BASIC FUNCTION THAT THE MAYOR HAS ONE VOTE LIKE EACH COMMISSIONER.
UM, AND WE DO KNOW THAT IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS, THE MAYOR HAS OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES AS SOMEWHAT CALL IT A STRONG MAYOR FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
UH, THE CHARTER AGREEMENT AND THE CHARTER HERE FOR THE LAUDERDALE LAKES IS NOT ONE OF THOSE, UH, FORMS OF GOVERNMENT WHERE THE MAYOR IS, UM, EXERCISING AUTHORITY AND DISCRETION.
UH, THAT IS, UM, UNLIKE, UM, THE ROLE THAT EACH COMMISSIONER WOULD PLAY.
UM, THE VICE MAYOR'S POSITION, OBVIOUSLY, AGAIN, IS CREATED FOR THE PURPOSE OF, UM, PERFORMING THOSE SAME FUNCTIONS THAT THE MAYOR, UH, WOULD PERFORM IN THE, UM, MATTERS RELATING TO EITHER A RESIGNATION, A, UH, ABSENCE OR A VACANCY IN THE OFFICE.
IN FACT, YOUR CHARTER, UM, IN A VERY REAL SENSE, UH, PLACES
[00:55:01]
MORE, UM, SIGNIFICANCE ON THIS COMMISSION'S APPOINTMENT OF THE VICE MAYOR POSITION, UM, AS A MATTER OF, UM, MATERIAL CONCERN TO HOW THE COMMISSION PERFORMS ITS DUTIES.I HOPE I ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION.
BUT THE PART THAT I REALLY WANT FOR YOU TO STRESS, AS YOU DID STRESS IT, IS THAT WE ALL HAVE ONE VOTE ON THE COMMISSION AND IT TAKES THREE TO TANGO.
UM, COMMISSIONER, VICE MAYOR, YOU ON, ON THE QUESTION OF WHAT IS REQUIRED TO ACT ON ANY MATTER, UH, AS A MATTER OF YOUR CODE AND CHARTER, YES, YOU NEED THREE PERSONS TO, UM, CALL A MEETING.
YOU NEED, UH, THREE PERSONS OUT OF THE FIVE TO, UH, ACT AFFIRMATIVELY ON ANY MATTER.
AND WHEN I SAY ACT AFFIRMATIVELY, THREE OF THE FIVE COMMISSIONERS COULD VOTE NOT TO DO SOMETHING OR COULD VOTE AGAINST SOMETHING.
BUT THAT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION TAKEN BY ANY THREE OF THE FIVE, UH, COMMISSIONERS, AND, AND AGAIN, LET ME JUST BE CLEAR.
WE, WE DO GET OURSELVES INTO A, UH, A POSITION SOMETIMES WHERE WE DO THINK THE MAYOR'S POSITION IS, OTHER THAN WHAT I'VE DESCRIBED SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
BUT IF YOU ACTUALLY LOOK AT THE, UH, CHARTER AND YOUR CODE, UM, IT DESCRIBES THIS FORM OF GOVERNMENT AS A MAYOR, COMMISSIONER FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
BUT IT PLACES SOME EMPHASIS ON, UM, UNDERSTANDING OR CONVEYING THAT THE ROLE OF THE MAYOR IS CONSISTENT WITH THE ROLE OF A COMMISSIONER, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THOSE ADDITIONAL DUTIES THAT YOU HEARD ME SPEAK TO EARLIER.
UH, AND SO THAT'S ANOTHER WAY OF SAYING THAT.
AGAIN, THIS IS A COMMISSION DRIVEN, UM, FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
YOU DO HAVE A MAYOR FOR ALL THE REASONS THAT I'VE JUST, UH, UH, UH, DESCRIBED.
UM, BUT NO ACTION CAN BE TAKEN, UM, UNLESS IT IS A AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF A MAJORITY OF THE PERSONS WHO ARE SITTING AS THE COMMISSION.
AND SO MAYBE IT MAY BE HELPFUL AT SOME POINT WHERE WE, UH, WHEN WE ARE IDENTIFYING YOURSELVES, UM, THAT YOU IDENTIFY YOURSELVES AS THE COMMISSION AS OPPOSED TO THE MAYOR END COMMISSION.
AND THAT MAY HELP WITH SOME, UH, DESCRIPTION.
BUT ESSENTIALLY, AGAIN, WHAT I'VE DESCRIBED IS THE DUTIES AND THE FUNCTION OF THE, UH, ROLLUP OF, OF THE MAYOR AS DESCRIBED IN YOUR CHARTERING CODE.
THANK YOU CITY MANAGER YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
I'M SORRY, MADAM COMMISSIONER, YOU STILL HAVE A TIME CERTAIN FOR SIX O'CLOCK, DO YOU? YES.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE TO TALK ABOUT IT? I DON'T THINK THEY'RE HERE.
[C. UPDATE ON CODE COMPLIANCE DIVISION (SPONSORED BY VICE MAYOR CAUSWELL)]
AND COMMISSIONERS.MOVING TO ITEM FIVE C, AN UPDATE ON CODE COMPLIANCE DIVISION.
THIS ITEM IS SPONSORED BY VICE MAYOR SWELL.
ITEM CITY MANAGER AND CITY COMMISSIONERS.
THIS IS VERY, VERY, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SAY THAT.
THE CITY IS DOWN, I THINK TO MAYBE ABOUT ONE AND A HALF CODE COMPLIANCE OFFICERS NOW.
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW COULD WE REACH THAT STAGE BECAUSE I DON'T THINK ANYONE WALKED OFF THE JOB AND THEY DID NOT TENDER THE RESIGNATION.
I, KAREN MADAM CITY MANAGER, CAN YOU TELL ME HOW MANY CODE COMPLIANCE OFFICERS WITH SUPERVISOR THE CITY HAS HAD OR HAD? 'CAUSE WE NO LONGER HAVE THAT.
AT THIS TIME, MS. TANJA MCCOY WILL PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE CODE COMPLIANCE
[01:00:01]
DIVISION THREE.OH, I, I DIDN'T SEE DEANDRA THERE.
AND MS. DEANDRA, GIDDENS JONES, OUR HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR.
MADAM VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONER, CITY ATTORNEY, CITY CLERK, CITY MANAGER, OUR VIEWING AUDIENCE AND STAFF.
I'LL JUST PROVIDE THE UPDATE ON OUR CURRENT COMPLIMENT.
SO FOR THE CODE COMPLIANCE DIVISION, WE HAVE SEVEN AND A HALF, UH, CODE COMPLIANCE OFFICERS.
'CAUSE WE DO HAVE A PART-TIME PERSON.
CURRENTLY WE ARE DOWN THREE OFFICERS 'CAUSE WE JUST RECEIVED A RESIGNATION LAST FRIDAY.
WE HAVE ONE NEW CODE COMPLIANCE OFFICER THAT WILL ACTUALLY GONNA BE STARTING ON MONDAY.
HE'S FINISHING UP HIS BACKGROUND.
AND THEN, UH, THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DIRECTOR HAS TWO ACTUALLY GREAT APPS THAT JUST CAME IN THAT SHE'LL BE INTERVIEWING FOR.
UM, MS. HR, I WAS TOLD ON WEDNESDAY BY THE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, MS. TANJA MCCOY, THAT I THINK SHE TOLD ME THEY HAD TWO IN TRAINING.
AND I DID ASK HOW LONG WAS THE TRAINING GOING TO LAST FOR? AND I WAS TOLD IT WOULD END IN MAY.
AND AS I SAID BEFORE, I DON'T THINK ANY OF THE CODE COMPLIANCE OFFICERS WALKED OFF THE JOB WITHOUT TENDERING THEIR RESIGNATION.
NOW, DID ANY OF THE, ON WEDNESDAY I WAS TOLD, I THINK YOU HAD THREE, YOU HAD TWO IN TRAINING AND YOU WERE ABOUT TO BRING TWO MORE.
DID ANY ONE OF THEM WALKED OFF THE JOB WITHOUT TENDERING THE TWO WEEKS NOTICE? MADAM MAYOR, CITY, ATTORNEY CITY, I MEAN COMMISSION, CITY MANAGER, CITY CLERK, UM, HELLO.
AND UM, TANJA MCCOY, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DIRECTOR.
AND THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IS NO.
UM, EVERYBODY DID GIVE A TWO WEEK NOTICE, BUT OFTENTIMES THEY DON'T STAY FOR THEIR ENTIRE TWO WEEKS.
I, THAT'S ONE OF THE BEEF I WOULD SAY THAT I HAVE WITH MY CITY AND HAVING IT, I WOULD SAY WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, WHEN I CAME HERE DECEMBER 12TH, 2022, THERE WAS ONLY ONE COMMISSION AIDE OR LEGISLATIVE AIDE.
MR. DWIGHT HINKSON LEFT WITH COMMISSIONER HAES ROGERS TO BROWARD COUNTY.
AND IT TOOK SIX MONTHS WITH THREE NEW COMMISSIONERS COMING ON BOARD.
THERE WERE THREE NEW COMMISSIONERS COMING ON BOARD AND THERE WAS ONLY ONE COMMISSION.
IT TOOK HR SIX MONTHS FROM NOVEMBER UNTIL APRIL.
AUGUST SOMETIMES THE 14TH, SHE TENDER HER RESIGNATION AND SHE LEFT IN THE ENDING OF AUGUST.
AND I CANNOT, FOR THE LIFE OF ME, I JUST CAN'T SEE WHY DOES IT TAKE THIS LONG WITH HR FOR LEVEL ONE, THERE ARE, ALL OF THESE PEOPLE ARE LEVEL ONE PEOPLE DOING A BACKGROUND CHECK.
I REMEMBER CLEARLY LAST YEAR THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES LEFT IN FEBRUARY.
AND I, UM, CITY MANAGER
I KNOW SHE LEFT IN FEBRUARY, THEN THE DIRECTOR TENDERED HER RESIGNATION, GAVE HER 30 DAYS NOTICE.
[01:05:01]
TOOK FOREVER, A LONG TIME.AND CALLED IS IMPORTANT IN THIS CITY, PEOPLE CALLING, OH, WHEN YOU HAVE ONE OR TWO PERSONS FROM SEVEN AND A HALF AND THREE AND FOUR HAVE LEFT AND THEY KNOW THE POSITION IS TAKING ALL YEAR TO FILL, HOW CAN I SAY MY CITY IS ON THE RIGHT TRACK? NO, IT'S NOT.
I CALLED LAST YEAR, I MADE SURE TO CALL FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT TO FIND OUT HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR A LEVEL ONE OR LEVEL TWO BACKGROUND CHECK, THREE TO FIVE DAYS, MAXIMUM SEVEN DAYS.
YOU TAKE THIS CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES THREE, FOUR MONTHS AND EVERY TIME, OH, THIS IS THE BACKGROUND CHECK, IT'S THIS, IT IS THAT NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME.
WORKING HERE IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT FOR WHEN I WORK.
IF I WORK HERE, WHEN EVENING COMES, I TAKE MY BAG, GET MY CAR KEYS AND DRIVE OUT AND NEXT DAY I COME BACK.
I LIVE HERE 24 7 AND IT'S JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME.
AND I, I STILL, I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY IT WOULD TAKE FIVE, SIX MONTHS TO DO SOME TO GET PEOPLE ARE APPLYING.
AND WHAT ABOUT CONTRACT WORKERS? WHAT ABOUT GETTING A CONTRACTOR TO COME IN AND FILL THIS SPACE? SINCE MONIES WERE ALLOTTED IN THE BUDGET, THESE PEOPLE ARE NO LONGER HERE.
THE MONIES ARE GOING TO BE HERE.
IT, IT DOES NOT, DOES NOT GO WELL FOR ME.
IT JUST DOES NOT GO WELL FOR ME.
IT MEANS THAT, I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE I, I DON'T WANT TO SAY I'M PASSIONATE, BUT THIS IS MY HOPE.
THIS IS WHERE I LIVE, THIS IS WHERE MY INVESTMENT IS AND IT SHOULD NOT BE.
SO IT CANNOT TAKE SIX MONTHS TO DO SOMETHING TO, I DON'T KNOW.
SO COUPLE QUESTIONS, RIGHT? SO HOW MANY PEOPLE WE HAVE WORKING REALLY ON THE GROUND WORKING RIGHT NOW AS FAR AS UM, CODE ENFORCEMENT? HOW MANY? RIGHT NOW WE HAVE FOUR CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN PLACE.
UM, TWO ARE SEASONED OFFICERS AND THEN WE HAVE TWO THAT ARE IN TRAINING.
SO HOW MANY THE TRAINING ONES, ARE THEY WORKING OR ARE THEY JUST, THEY'RE WORKING OR YES, YES MA'AM.
SO WE HAVE FOUR AND WE HAVE, WE STILL HAVE THE PART-TIME.
YES, WE DO HAVE PART-TIME AS WELL.
SO IT'S FOUR FULL-TIME WORKING ON THE GROUND AND ONE PART-TIME ON THE GROUND.
THEY ARE WORKING FOUR FULL-TIME WORKING AND ONE PART-TIME.
NOW, AS FAR AS THE, THE AIDE, I REMEMBER WHEN WE NEEDED AN AIDE AND UM, WE PASSED THE RESOLUTION THAT WE NEED TO GET AN AIDE.
IT WAS NEVER UPDATED ON THE CITY WEBSITE.
AND FOR THEM TO APPLY, I HAD TO CALL, I SEND AN EMAIL AND ONCE I SEND THE EMAIL, IT WAS MONTHS BEFORE IT WAS PUT IT ON.
AND THEN WHEN I SEND THE EMAIL, THEY PUT IT ON LIKE TWO MINUTES LATER.
THEY DIDN'T EVEN PUT, I WOULD FIGURE WHEN THE RESOLUTION HAD PASSED, IT WOULD'VE BEEN ON THE NEXT DAY.
IT WAS MONTHS, LIKE MAYBE A MONTH, A GOOD WHILE.
'CAUSE I WATCH AND I WAIT AND I GIVE PEOPLE TIME TO DO THINGS.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M EXCUSE I WON'T SAY IT, BUT, UM, IT WAS, IT TOOK A WHILE.
SO HOW MANY, HOW, HOW, ANOTHER QUESTION IS HOW MUCH MONEY, WHAT, WHAT IS, WHAT IS OUR BUDGET? HOW MANY, UM, CODE ENFORCEMENT, UM, WE CAN HIRE, WHAT IS OUR BUDGET FOR? WHAT'S THE MAX? SO FOR THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS MM-HMM
[01:10:02]
WHAT'S THE AMOUNT WE CAN, WE SHOULD HAVE LIKE WHAT'S THE MAX OUR BUDGET ALLOW US TO HAVE THE BUDGET AMOUNT THAT, THAT I THOUGHT YOU WERE SAYING THE NUMBER OF STAFF THAT AMOUNT I, I DON'T HAVE, BUT WE CAN PROVIDE IT FOR YOU.WHAT WAS BUDGETED BECAUSE ONE CODE COMPLIANCE OFFICER WAS ADDED WITH THE FY 2025 BUDGET.
SO HOW MANY SHOULD WE BE HAVING? LIKE HOW, HOW MANY CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER SHOULD WE HAVE IN THIS CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES? HOW MANY? WE SHOULD HAVE SEVEN AND A HALF WITH THE ONE THAT WAS ADDED.
SO FULL-TIME, ONE PART-TIME, YES.
AND NOW, BUT WE ONLY HAVE THROUGH YOUR MANAGER.
AND HAVE WE PUT THE AD ON THE, THE WEBSITE? UM, FOUR GOT THE POSITION THAT ARE OPEN AND TRYING TO RECRUIT THROUGH HUMAN MAYOR.
AS I STATED EARLIER, WE ACTUALLY HAVE ONE PERSON WHO WILL BE STARTING ON MONDAY WHO'S FINISHED HIS BACKGROUND.
AND MS. MCCOY WILL BE INTERVIEWING THOSE APPLICANTS THIS WEEK AND HOPEFULLY THEY WILL WORK OUT, UM, WHEN WE DO THE INTERVIEW PROCESS AND SHE'LL MAKE A MEMORANDUM FOR CONDITIONAL OFFERS TO BE SENT.
MADAM, MADAM COMMISSION, YOU FINISH.
ON WEDNESDAY WHEN I WAS IN THE AGENDA REVIEW, I THINK YOU TOLD ME THAT YOU HAD TWO THAT WERE GOING OUT WITH OTHER CODE COMPLIANCE OFFICERS.
SO IF THEY ARE GOING OUT, NOT ON THEIR OWN GOING WITH SOMEONE, HOW CAN I USE TELUS NOW, NOW THAT THEY ARE FULLY EMPLOYED? IF I AM IN A, IN TRAINING, BECAUSE REMEMBER I DID ASK YOU WHAT, WHEN WOULD THE TRAINING BE FINISHED? AND YOU TOLD ME IN MAY, BUT I JUST HEARD YOU TELLING THE COMMISSION THAT YOU HAVE TWO NEW ONES THAT ARE OUT THERE.
BUT I'M SURE YOU TOLD ME OVER ON ZOOM THAT THEY WERE GOING OUT WITH OTHER THEM COMPLIANCE OFFICERS.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT TO ME? YES, THROUGH YOU MADAM MAYOR, I'M, I'M RESPONDING TO THE QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ARE WORKING AND IN THE BUILDING.
YES, THEY ARE WORKING, THEY'RE IN THE BUILDING, THEY ARE DOING RIDE-ALONGS.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED WITH THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AS WELL IS THAT, UM, WE DIDN'T GET A LOT OF APPLICATIONS AT FIRST BECAUSE WE HAD SOME HIGHER STANDARDS.
WE WANTED THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO HAVE THE LEVEL ONE PHASE TRAINING, BUT WE WEREN'T GETTING ANY APPLICATIONS FOR THAT.
SO IN LIEU OF THAT, I MADE THE DECISION TO GO AHEAD AND HIRE SOME, UM, PEOPLE WHO DO NOT HAVE THE TRAINING.
AND THESE OFFICERS, THESE NEW OFFICERS WILL HAVE TO GET THAT TRAINING.
THAT TRAINING IS COMING UP IN APRIL AND MAY.
BACK TO YOU AGAIN, MS. MCCOY, I REMEMBER CLEARLY YOU TOLD NOT ME ALONE ALL THE, WITH THE CITY MANAGER LISTENING THAT YOU GOT TWO NEW COMMISSION COM UM, COMPLIANCE OFFICERS AND THAT THEY WERE GOING OUT WITH THE, AND IF I AM TAGGING ALONG, I GOT A NEW JOB, I DON'T KNOW THE JOB AND I HAVE TO TAG ALONG WITH ANOTHER PERSON WHO CAN I SAY THAT PERSON IS FULLY TRAINED? THAT PERSON IS OUT ON THE JOB NOTE AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.
I DON'T KNOW HOW, BECAUSE I SPECIFICALLY ASK YOU WHEN WOULD THE TRAINING BE FINISHED? AND YOU TOLD ME MAY THAT WAS LAST WEDNESDAY.
SO I JUST WANT YOU TO CLARIFY FOR ME, CLEAR IT UP BECAUSE IT DOES MAKE SENSE THAT YOU ARE TELLING US RIGHT NOW THAT YOU HAVE FOUR COMPLIANCE O OFFICERS OUT AND IF THEY'RE OUT, THEY'RE OUT IN THE FIELD DOING THE WORK.
SO PLEASE CLEAR IT UP FOR ME BECAUSE IT DOES NOT FOR ME RIGHT NOW.
IT DOESN'T MAKE MUCH SENSE THROUGH YOU MADAM
[01:15:01]
MAYOR.UM, AGAIN, I DO HAVE FOUR COMPLIANCE OFFICERS IN THE FIELD.
THEY'RE RIDING WITH TWO AT A TWO TOGETHER IN A CAR.
UM, AGAIN, THE TWO NEW OFFICERS DO NOT HAVE ALL OF THE TRAINING THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE TO BE OUT IN THE FIELD ALONE AT THIS TIME.
AND THEY STARTED ON APRIL, APRIL 28TH AND THEN APRIL, I'M, I'M SORRY, FEBRUARY 28TH AND THEN MARCH 3RD.
SO THEY ARE VERY NEW OFFICERS.
THEY ARE RIDING ALONG WITH THE SEASONED OFFICERS AND THEY ARE RECEIVING TRAINING AT THIS TIME.
SO THEY ARE WORKING OUT IN THE FIELD.
THEY'RE PICKING UP SNIPE SIGNS.
THEY'RE LEARNING THE PROCESS OF THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKE.
MADAM BEMAN, I GO AHEAD COMMISSIONER.
UH, THANK YOU FOR TANJA AND UM, HR DIRECTOR.
UM, I, I HAD A MEETING WITH, UH, DIRECTOR TANJA.
UH, I WANTED TO PROACTIVELY MEET THE DEPARTMENT AND UH, OBVIOUSLY TALK ABOUT SOME OF HER GOALS.
AND THAT'S WHEN I LEARNED SHE'S ACTUALLY NEW.
UM, AT THAT TIME WE ONLY HAD TWO ON THE BOOKS, TWO OFFICERS.
AND, UM, MY INTENTION FOR THAT MEETING WAS TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE CITY.
I THINK WE HAVE SO MUCH WORK TO DO AROUND CODE ENFORCEMENT.
UH, BUT I I WILL SAY FROM THAT MEETING, I WAS GLAD TO HEAR THAT DIRECTOR TANJA WAS ON THE SAME BOARD, WAS ON THE SAME PAGE WITH ME.
SHE TOO WANTS TO BE AGGRESSIVE IN THAT APPROACH.
AT LEAST I WAS CONVINCED THAT SHE WANTS TO MAKE SURE OUR CITY IS CLEANED UP.
AND WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROCESS AND TIMELINES OF HIRING NEW PEOPLE.
UM, I THINK SHE IS MAKING IT A PRIORITY.
I KNOW THESE THINGS ARE GONNA TAKE TIME.
I'M PLEASED TO HEAR THAT YOU RELAXED SOME OF THE REQUIREMENTS BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT'S THE HARDEST JOB IN THE WORLD.
AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE NEED THE CITY TO BE LOOKED AFTER.
UM, I I JUST WANTED TO SAY, I THINK WE HAD A GOOD CONVERSATION AND UM, I, I KNOW IT'S GONNA TAKE SOME TIME TO GET THESE PEOPLE ON BOARD AND TRAINED PROPERLY.
THINGS CAN GO GOOD FOR CODE ENFORCEMENT, BUT IF NOT TRAINED RIGHT, THINGS CAN GO VERY BAD.
SO, UM, I HOPE THAT BY THE END OF THE YEAR, YEAR, IF NOT BEFORE FOURTH QUARTER, WE HAVE SIX OR SEVEN CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
AND I REMEMBER US TALKING ABOUT THAT.
SO, UM, IN ORDER TO DO IT PROPERLY, I JUST WANT TO SAY, UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THAT.
MADAM, BACK TO YOU, MS. MCCOY.
DO YOU DO AN EXIT INTERVIEW WHEN THEY LEAVE, WHEN THEY, BETWEEN YOU AND THE HR THROUGH YOU MADAM MAYOR? UM, I HAVE NOT DONE EXIT INTERVIEW ON ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE EXITED, BUT I HAVE DONE ONE THAT WAS MOST RECENT.
AND, UM, DID YOU WANT ME TO ELABORATE ON YES.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SHE TALKED ABOUT WAS PAY AS WELL AS, UH, OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVANCEMENT.
SO THAT IS TO THE CITY MANAGER THAT, UM, WHEN ONE DEPARTMENT CAN LEAVE IN WHAT, THREE, FOUR MONTHS OR A YEAR, THEN IT MEANS THAT SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT.
AND I WOULD HOPE THAT THAT IS AN AREA THAT THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD BE LOOKING ON.
WHY ARE THEY LEAVING? THEY WOULD NEED MORE MONEY OR THEY SAID ADVANCEMENT.
SO MADAM MAYOR, IF I MAY MM-HMM
ONE THING THAT I HAVE ASKED STAFF TO PRESENT TO THIS, UH, COMMISSION AT THE UPCOMING BUDGET RETREAT IS TO LOOK AT A RETENTION, COMPENSATION, COMPENSATION AND SALARY.
UM, PLAN FOR THE, UH, NOT ONLY THE SALARIES FOR CODE ENFORCEMENT, BUT FOR THE ENTIRE CITY AND COMPLIMENT.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, UM, THE HR DIRECTOR IS AWARE THAT WE WILL BE REQUESTING AND BRINGING TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH THE MAYOR AND COMMISSION.
THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR AND COMMISSION.
[D. DISCUSSION ON BLACK EXCELLENCE PARADE AND FESTIVAL EXPENDITURES (SPONSORED BY VICE MAYOR CAUSWELL)]
BACK TO THE WORKSHOP AGENDA, I, ITEM FIVE D, DISCUSSION ON BLACK EXCELLENCE PARADE AND FESTIVAL EXPENDITURES.MADAM MAYOR, THIS IS SPONSORED BY BY MADAM VICE MAYOR THROUGH YOU.
I WAS A PART OF THE BLACK EXCELLENCE PARADE AND WHEN I WENT TO THE PARK, THE ONLY THING THAT WAS MISSING WERE THE CAME BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT, YOU KNOW, I WAS EITHER MAYBE IN DUBAI OR SOMEWHERE THERE
[01:20:01]
'CAUSE I, THERE WERE GOLD ROT ON CHAIRS WITH BLACK VELVET SEAT, WHITE SOFAS OF VIP, PALMS OF ALL DESCRIPTION, BIG CANOPIES, NAME IT.AND AS I I JUST SAID, THE CAMELS WERE NOT THERE.
THAT'S THE ONLY THING WHY I THOUGHT THAT I WAS NOT IN DUBAI.
IN A PLACE WHERE THERE IS A LOT OF MONEY, AND I FIND IT HARD, THAT HARD EARNED TAX DOLLARS ARE WASTED LIKE THIS.
I GO TO OTHER CITIES TO PARK AND THEY SAY, BRING YOUR CHAIR OR YOUR BLANKET.
YOU CHOOSE TO BRING A CHAIR, OR IF YOU WANT TO BE ON THE GRASS, YOU PUT YOUR BLANKET OR WHATEVER IT IS.
AND THE OPULENCE THAT I SAW FOR A CITY WITH A LITTLE OVER A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS, NOT FORT LAUDERDALE WITH OVER A BILLION DOLLAR OR CORAL SPRINGS, IT IS BEYOND ME.
AND I, THIS IS ONLY ONE PART TO PUT UP THE TENT, THE CHAIRS, AND THE CANOPY BECAUSE COSTS $12,500.
AND THERE ARE SEVERAL PEOPLE IN THIS CITY THAT WANT AN AIR CONDITION FOR $3,500.
AS MS. MCCOY WOULD TELL YOU THAT THE BUDGET WAS RELEASED IN OCTOBER LAST YEAR.
AND BY NOVEMBER, EVERY DOLLAR THAT WAS EARMARKED WAS GONE.
IT MEANS THAT PEOPLE ARE HURTING, PEOPLE ARE HURTING.
AND TO SEE WASTE, AND I CONSIDER IT W-A-S-T-E OR W-A-I-S-T, AND NOT JUST A FEW PEOPLE WERE THERE.
SOME OF HALF OF THE GOLD ROT AND CHAIRS WERE UNOCCUPIED.
AND I, FOR THE LIFE OF ME, CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY CITIES LIKE MINE.
I WAS REPRIMANDED FOR SAYING IT'S A BLACK CITY, BUT I'LL STILL SAY IT IS A BLACK CITY.
ACCORDING TO THE CENSUS, IT IS A BLACK CITY AND IT'S A POOR CITY.
THE MEDIAN INCOMING LAW, THE DE LAKES IS ABOUT 46 OR $47,000 AND PEOPLE ARE HURTING.
AND I WON'T, I DON'T KNOW, I'LL BE ASKING FOR THE OVERTIME BECAUSE THERE WERE MORE STAFF THAN PATRONS, AND I DON'T THINK THE STAFF CAME OUT FOR FREE.
THERE WERE T-SHIRTS THAT COST A LOT OF MONEY, AND I DON'T KNOW WHO WOULD'VE DECIDED THAT THAT WAS GOING TO MAKE PEOPLE COME OUT.
18 PALMS WERE OUT IN THE, IN THE PARK.
I, I DON'T THINK IT WAS THE WHITE HOUSE OR THE MANSION UP IN TALLAHASSEE THAT THEY WERE HAVING A TEA PARTY OR A GARDEN PARTY.
AND I REMEMBER FOR VICE MAYOR PENCE HAS WAS SAYING FOR MANY, MANY TIMES WHEN THEY'RE DOING THINGS LIKE THAT, THE COMMISSIONERS NEED TO BE INVOLVED.
THEY DON'T NEED JUST TO PUT ON THEIR CLOTHES AND COME, THEY NEED TO BE INVOLVED BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY I WOULD'VE EXPECTED ANY COMMISSIONER SITTING UP HERE WOULD HAVE APPROVED WHAT WAS AT THE PARK VINCENT TORRIS PARK ON FEBRUARY 1ST.
FOR BLACK EXCELLENCE, WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL THAT
[01:25:01]
IT IS TAXPAYERS DOLLAR GOING TO WASTE.I WILL SAY LOTS OF OLD PEOPLE LIVE HERE, THEY WANT A COUPLE DOLLARS TO FIX UP THEIR PROPERTY SO THAT MAYBE WE CAN GET SOME MORE MONEY.
GET THE, FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY, MADAM MAYOR OR VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, YOU DO HAVE PROTOCOL IN YOUR CODE THAT ESSENTIALLY REQUIRES, UM, A PREDICATE MEETING, WORKSHOP OR OTHER MEETING OF THE COMMISSION ON ANY PARTICULAR MATTER.
UM, FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU ARE, IF THIS IS AN ITEM OF FIRST IMPRESSION, THEN YOUR PROTOCOL REQUIRES THAT THE DISCUSSION ONLY BE HAD BETWEEN THE COMMISSION AND STAFF.
UM, AND IF THERE IS A LATER DISCUSSION ON THE SAME ITEM AT THAT POINT, THEN THE, UM, UH, COMMISSION CAN ALLOW PUBLIC COMMENT AS WELL AS PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS.
SO WHAT SHOULD I DO? QUESTION IS WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS A MATTER OF FIRST IMPRESSION BEFORE THE COMMISSION ASK FOR YOUR GUIDANCE.
UM, I WILL DEFER TO THE ADMINISTRATOR, TO THE CITY MANAGER ON THIS, ON THE SUBJECT OF WHETHER OR NOT THIS ITEM HAS BEEN PLACED ON THE COMMISSION'S AGENDA BEFORE.
PERHAPS NOT IN THE SAME EXACT TERMINOLOGY, BUT THE SUBJECT MATTER IN GENERAL.
I WAS GOING TO ACTUALLY STATE THE SAME.
THIS IS THE FIRST THAT WE'VE HAD THE DISCUSSION ON BLACK EXCELLENCE FOR THIS YEAR.
HOWEVER, THE PARADE ITSELF HAS BEEN DISCUSSED IN THE PAST.
SO IF WHAT DO IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE.
IF YOU WANT, HE CAN SPEAK IF YOU WANT.
HI, I DO JUST WANNA SAY THAT I, CAN YOU STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE? ANTONIO GOS.
I DO WANNA SAY THAT I THINK BLACK EXCELLENCE, THE EVENT WAS AMAZING.
UM, WE KEEP BRINGING UP THE IDEA OF PEOPLE WITH THEIR HOMES AND THEIR AIR CONDITIONS.
I SEE THE WORLD AS BLACK AND WHITE.
IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD WHERE YOU LIVE AT OR YOUR AIR CONDITIONING UNIT, THAT IS YOU.
I NEVER BEEN TO AN EVENT THAT IS JUST SURROUNDED BY BLACK EXCELLENCE.
AND THAT'S WHAT THAT EVENT WAS.
IT WAS SURROUNDED BY BLACK EXCELLENCE.
UM, THAT'S WHAT ATTRACTS TEENS TO OUR CITIES OR YOUTH TO OUR CITIES.
WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT LIKE, OH, THE YOUTH ARE THE FUTURE.
AND THAT'S MY FAVORITE LINE TO SAY, THE YOUTH ARE THE FUTURE, BUT HOW CAN THE YOUTH BE THE FUTURE IF EVERYTHING IS AS A YOUTH, I DON'T WANNA GO NOWHERE THAT I HAVE TO BRING A BLANKET AND SIT ON THE FLOOR.
I THINK THE EVENT WAS VERY NICE AND IT EX IT, IT SHOWED BLACK EXCELLENCE, THE TRUE DEFINITION OF BLACK EXCELLENCE.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M GONNA LEAVE YOU GUYS WITH.
I ALSO SEE CHAPLAIN DENNIS WITH HER HANDS RAISED.
OKAY, GO AHEAD, CHAPLAIN DENNIS.
AND FOR THE RECORD, STATE YOUR NAME.
ARE YOU ALL ABLE TO HEAR ME? YES.
WHAT ABOUT NOW? CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES.
WE CAN HEAR, YOU CAN HEAR YOU CHECK.
WAIT A MINUTE, LET ME SEE SOMETHING.
BECAUSE I HAD ON MY EARPHONES AND I TOOK THEM OFF.
WHAT ABOUT NOW? CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? YES, YES, YOUR NAME.
YOU'RE STILL ON THAT MOLD WITH MY EARPHONES, BUT SORRY.
ON MS. DENNIS, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
UM, UH, CHAPLAIN BESSIE DENNIS, A 30 PLUS YEAR RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY BOARD CHAIR.
SO I'D LIKE TO SAY, UM, I, I UNDERSTAND THE HEART OF VICE MAYOR T AND I'D LIKE THAT TO KNOW THAT EVERYBODY IS ON THE SAME PAGE WITH HER IN TERMS OF, UM, HOW ARE WE SPENDING FUNDING IN OUR COMMUNITY KNOWING THAT WE ARE THE SECOND LOWEST LITERATE, ILLITERATE, UH, UH, CITY IN BROWARD COUNTY, UH, KNOWING THAT, UH, THE MEDIUM INCOME IS ONLY 40 PLUS THOUSAND, WHICH
[01:30:01]
IS NO MONEY.UM, ALSO THE TO, UH, NOT TO ADDRESS ANYBODY IN, IN PARTICULAR, BUT EVERYBODY DOESN'T HAVE THE, UM, PRIVILEGE OF LIVING IN A LAP OF LUXURY TO SAY THAT SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN IN THEIR HOME FOR 30, 40 PLUS YEARS, WELL, IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD YOUR AC THEN MOVE, OR IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY YOUR BILLS, WELL MOVE IT.
IT IT THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT, HOW IT COMES OFF.
AND, AND THERE'S NO EMPATHY THERE WHEN YOU SAY THINGS LIKE THAT BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHY SOMEBODY IS IN A POSITION.
THEIR HUSBAND COULD HAVE DIED A FEW MONTHS AGO, AND THAT'S AN INCOME THAT THEY NO LONGER HAVE.
THEY MAY, HE MAY HAVE BEEN SICK FOR A YEAR PRIOR TO HIM, THIS BEING DECEASED, YOU KNOW, IT'S MAYBE SOMEONE IS ILL THAT DOESN'T HAVE A HUSBAND.
AND WE HAVE TO ALWAYS BE CONSCIOUS OF ARE WE SAY WE A CITY THAT CARES.
WHAT PEOPLE NEED TO DO IS GO BACK AND READ THE MISSION STATEMENT OF THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES.
OUR MISSION STATEMENT SOMETIME DOES NOT LINE UP WITH WHAT WE ARE DOING IN OUR CITY.
UM, I PULLED UP THE MISSION STATEMENT IN OUR MEETING TODAY, UH, AT THE EAP MEETING.
AND, UM, I NEVER REALLY READ THE, THE ADMISSION STATEMENT, UM, BUT I WAS VERY, UH, SHOCKED AT WHAT WE SAY WE BELIEVE IN.
UM, AND IT DOES NOT LINE UP, UH, FOR OUR CITY.
AND I AGREE, YOU KNOW, WE CANNOT BE WASTEFUL IF WE KNOW THERE IS A NEED.
NOW, I'M GOING TO ADD TO THIS, AND I'M GOING TO SAY, UM, I HAVE A BRAND NEW AIR CONDITIONER IN MY HOUSE, SO THAT'S NOT MY CONCERN.
BUT MY CONCERN IS THAT I HAD A, UH, THREE POINT INSPECTION RECENTLY IN MITIGATION, IN INSPECTION ON MY HOME, A A A 0.4, A FOUR POINT, OR WHATEVER YOU WANNA CALL IT.
AND, UH, THE, THE, THE LEASE, UH, INSURANCE THAT IT WOULD COST ME TO HAVE HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE IS $650 A MONTH.
NOW, TO SOME PEOPLE, THAT IS A MORTGAGE PAYMENT, ESPECIALLY TO YOUR ELDERS WHO HAVE HELPED THEIR HOME IS PAID OFF.
AND THERE IS A THING, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU ALL ARE AWARE OF IT.
THERE IS A THING WHERE NOT ONLY ARE THEY TRYING TO RE GENTRIFY THE COMMUNITY AND PUSH US OUT OF THE COMMUNITY TO, TO SAY, WE'LL BUY YOUR HOME FOR LESS THAN WHAT IT IS APPRAISED FOR.
BUT A LOT OF US, UH, I HAVE CONSULTED WITH OTHER NEIGHBORS ARE GETTING THESE LETTERS, CONSTANT POSTCARDS, CONSTANT CALLS SAYING, WE WANNA BUY YOUR HOUSE.
DON'T COME TRYING TO RE GENTRIFY AND SEND US SOMEWHERE LIKE YOU DID IN SISTRUNK.
AND NOW THE PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD TO EVEN COME BACK TO SISTRUNK.
'CAUSE WE NOT AS CRAZY OVER HERE AS LAUDERDALE LAKES, AS SOME PEOPLE THINK WE ARE.
I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE AND I NEED INSURANCE ON MY HOME.
LIKE A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE NEED HOME INSUR OWNER'S INSURANCE.
YOU DON'T WANNA LIVE IN YOUR HOUSE AND GOD FORBID ONE EVENT HAPPENED AND YOU ARE HOMELESS.
I KNOW I'M BLACK AND I KNOW I HAVE EXCELLENCE.
I DON'T NEED TO GO TO AN EVENT TO TELL ME THAT I'M EXCELLENT.
ALTHOUGH I YES, FOR COMRADERY.
COMRADERY, YES, WE, WE'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO, UH, ENCOURAGE OUR YOUNG YOUTH TO COME OUT TO THOSE THINGS.
BUT CAN SOMEONE TELL ME HOW MANY PEOPLE WAS IN ATTENDANCE THERE? BECAUSE I'M HEARING THE ATTENDANCE DOESN'T MATCH THE COST FOR THE EVENT.
THEN YOU'VE GOT EVENTS LIKE WHAT WE PUT ON, UH, FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY BOARD, UH, FOR THE FINANCIAL LITERACY, AND ALSO FOR THE BUSINESS RESOURCES TO BRING AWARENESS TO OUR PEOPLE THAT THEY NEED TO GET BETTER EDUCATED AND THEY NEED TO LOOK INTO RESOURCES TO BETTER EQUIP THEIR SELF OR BE TO IMPROVE BUSINESSES AND TO HOW TO GET FUNDING AND HOW TO GET GOVERNMENT, UH, UH, CONTRACTS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
YOU KNOW, WE DID THE BOOGALOO FOR TOO LONG.
THE BOOGALOO AIN'T GOT US NOWHERE.
WE NEED TO START HAVING THINGS THAT ARE IMPACTFUL TO TEACH OUR YOUTH HOW TO SAVE YOUR MONEY, HOW TO INVEST YOUR MONEY, HOW TO GO OUT AND GET THE MONEY AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
NOW, I DON'T, I'M NOT AGAINST EVENTS, OF COURSE, YES,
[01:35:01]
WE, WE WANNA HAVE EVENTS TO BRING HARMONY AND TO BRING LOVE INTO THE COMMUNITY, BUT WE NEED TO HAVE A SOLID FOUNDATION ON OUR ECONOMY.WE NEED TO HAVE A GRIP ON IT BECAUSE THINGS ARE CHANGING.
WE SEE THAT NOW IN THIS NEW OFFICE WITH OUR NEW PRESIDENT.
HE'S ALREADY COMING IN THE DOOR, TAKING AWAY THINGS.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE'VE GOT TO START TEACHING OUR PEOPLE HOW WE NEED TO SURVIVE WITH THIS RECESSION HIT AND POSSIBLY A A A THIRD WORLD WAR HIT.
AND IF WE HELP OUR RESIDENTS, GUESS WHAT? OVERALL WE ARE GOING TO SEE PROGRESS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND LASTLY, LET ME JUST QUICKLY SAY THIS.
OUR MISSION FOR OUR LAUDERDALE LAKES IS TO SAFEGUARD THE VITALITY OF THE COMMUNITY BY ENFORCING COLDS AND REGULATIONS, WHILE ALSO STRIVING TO CREATE A SAFE, CLEAN, PROSPEROUS, AND SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES WHILE CELEBRATING ITS CULTURAL DIVERSITY.
THE CITY DID NOT WANNA SPONSOR THE FOOD FOR THE BUSINESS RESOURCE FAIR AND THE LITERACY FAIR THAT WE HAD LAST YEAR IN JUNE.
TELL ME WHY I HAD TO GO OUT AND BEG BUSINESSES IN OUR CITY TO DONATE FOOD FOR OUR EVENT TO FEED THE PEOPLE THAT CAME, WHICH MIND YOU, WE HAD 62 IN ATTENDANCE, WHICH WAS MORE THAN SOME OF THE STUFF Y'ALL HAD.
WHEN YOU WANNA DO THE BOOGALOO, THANK YOU.
THEN WE HAD AN EVENT WHERE WE CHARGED $25 FOR PEOPLE TO GO INTO A, A PARK, AND THEN THEY HAD TO BUY THEIR FOOD FROM THE FOOD TRUCK.
YOU GOT FOUR PEOPLE IN YOUR HOUSE, YOU GOING TO SPEND A HUNDRED DOLLARS TO GET IN THE PARK AND THEN BUY YOUR FOOD FROM THE FOOD TRUCK? COME ON MAN.
Y'ALL NEED TO GET YOUR PRIORITIES IN ORDER.
OH, MADAME DENNIS, PLEASE WIND DOWN NOW FOR ME.
I THINK IT WAS PRETTY VALID AND I THINK IT WAS LOUD AND CLEAR.
MADAM MAYOR, TO YOU, MADAM MAYOR, LET ME SAY SOMETHING.
SO I WANTED TO SAY A LITTLE BIT STORY HERE SINCE I GOT HERE.
WE ARE DOING THE BLACK EXCELLENCE.
I HAVE ALWAYS ASKED IN MY TALKS WITH MY CITY MANAGER THAT WHEN WE ARE MOVING FORWARD TO ALWAYS INCLUDE THE MAYOR AND COMMISSION, LET US HAVE A SAY.
LET US HAVE, YOU KNOW, LET'S, LET'S ALL COME TOGETHER AND PLAN IT BECAUSE YOU'RE SAYING IT'S BLACK EXCELLENCE.
SO I AM ASSUMING, I KNOW WE ARE ALL BLACK EXCELLENCE HERE AND WE ALL HAVE GREAT IDEAS.
AND I'VE ALWAYS, AND ALWAYS, ALWAYS TELL HER AND SHE CAN.
SHE'S HERE TO, SHE CAN TELL YOU THAT I'VE BEEN SAYING, LET US HAVE A PART IN THE PLANNING OF IT.
GIVE HER FEEDBACK, GIVE HER IDEAS, HAVE A MEETING.
AND WE ARE NEVER, NEVER, NEVER INVOLVED IN THE PLANNING.
WE ARE NEVER ASKED OR OPINION OF ANYTHING.
AND I'M HOPING THAT NEXT YEAR, MOVING FORWARD NEXT YEAR, THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE A PART OF THE PLANNING THAT WE CAN GIVE SOME IDEAS AND MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
NOW, IF WE DO THAT, THEN NO ONE WILL COME UP HERE AND COMPLAIN BECAUSE THEY ALL HAD A, THEY ALL HAD A HAND IN, IN THE POT.
SO AGAIN, I'VE BEEN SAYING IT SINCE I'VE GOT HERE THAT WE SHOULD BE A PART OF THE PLANNING OF THIS, UM, UM, PARADE, UM, THING.
AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD REALLY HELP US MAKE IT BETTER.
THANK YOU MADAM COMMISSIONER, GO AHEAD, MADAM CITY MANAGER.
AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE'S COMMENTS AND FEEDBACKS.
IT WILL HELP US, UM, BE BETTER AND DO BETTER.
I KNOW, UM, FOR LAST YEAR WE WERE TALKING ABOUT DOING ENHANCED EVENTS, HOWEVER, WE DO ALSO RECOGNIZE THE SENTIMENTS OF THE COMMISSION AND THE SENTIMENTS OF THE ENVIRONMENT.
RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE ALREADY, UM, I HAVE ALREADY TASKED THE DIRECTOR OF PARTS AND STAFF TO SCALE BACK ON OUR SPECIAL EVENTS.
SO YOU'LL SEE IMMEDIATE CHANGES.
I THINK I, I'M LOOKING AT MELODY AND THE NEXT EVENT IS EXTRAVAGANZA AND WE HAVE ALREADY SCALED BACK.
AND MOVING FORWARD, ALSO AT OUR BUDGET RETREAT, WE WILL TALK ABOUT SIGNATORY EVENTS AND HOW WE SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD ON CERTAIN EVENTS.
NOT ONLY THOSE EVENTS, BUT EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR BECAUSE WE DO HAVE QUITE A FEW.
SO THAT WILL ALSO GIVE US ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THOSE SIGNATURE EVENTS, ESPECIALLY AT BUDGET TIME.
BY THE TIME THE EVENTS OCCUR DURING THE YEAR, YES, STAFF IS TASKED WITH MOVING FORWARD WITH THOSE EVENTS AS ADMINISTRATION, WE DO WITH ALL PROGRAMS AND EVENTS.
HOWEVER, IT IS PERTINENT THAT WE MOVE FORWARD AT THE BUDGET RETREAT AND SPECIFICALLY TALK ABOUT EVENTS.
[01:40:01]
IN ORDER TO GET THE COMMENTS OF THE, UH, COMMUNITY, WE HAVE A, UH, SPECIAL EVENTS SURVEY THAT IS LIVE RIGHT NOW.SO PLEASE, THOSE THAT ARE PROVIDING COMMENTS, PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU, UH, COMPLETE THOSE SURVEYS AND PLEASE GIVE US YOUR FEEDBACK SO WE CAN REST ASSURED THAT WE HAVE THE INFORMATION READY TO GO FOR THE UPCOMING BUDGET MEETING.
AND MADAM MAYOR AND COMMISSION, ALSO, I KNOW THAT, UM, INTERNALLY WE ARE ALL ALSO TALKING ABOUT DOING A MIDYEAR BUDGET.
SO THE MAYOR AND COMMISSION CAN ALSO, UH, LOOK AT THE PRIORITIES OF OUR CURRENT BUDGET.
SO IF THERE ARE ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES BECAUSE OF THE, UH, CONCERNS OF THE ENVIRONMENT, THE COMMISSION WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE THEM DURING OUR MIDYEAR BUDGET THROUGH YOU.
WHEN YOU'RE TALKING, SEE TALK ABOUT SPONSORSHIPS.
I HAVE A COMMENT ON THAT AS WELL.
BETWEEN MS. PEGGY AND MS. ERICA, THEY HAVE PROVIDED A DRAFT OF, OF A SPONSORSHIP PACKET.
WE WILL HAVE OUTSIDE ENTITIES OR ORGANIZATIONS BE ABLE TO SPONSOR, UM, SEVERAL EVENTS.
SO YES MA'AM, WE WILL BE DOING THAT AS WELL.
OKAY, GO AHEAD NOW, MADAM CITY MANAGER.
[E. DISCUSSION REGARDING THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES YOUTH COUNCIL PARTICIPATING IN THE 2025 CHILDREN'S WEEK EVENT IN TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA]
TO ITEM FIVE E.DISCUSSION REGARDING THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES YOUTH COUNCIL PARTICIPATING IN THE 2025 CHILDREN'S WEEK EVENT IN TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA.
MADAM MAYOR AND COMMISSION, WE WILL HAVE AN UPDATE ON THIS ITEM BROUGHT TO US BY MR. VINCENT MULLEN AND TEAM FROM PARKS AND HUMAN SERVICES.
GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR, CITY ATTORNEY, CITY MANAGER COMMISSION, UH, LIKE CITY MANAGER SAID, I'M HERE TO OPEN UP TOPIC FOR A DISCUSSION ON THE CITY OF LADALE LAKE'S YOUTH COUNCIL PARTICIPATING IN CHILDREN'S WEEK.
TO START, I'LL GIVE YOU ALL SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON WHAT CHILDREN WEEK ACTUALLY IS AND WHAT IT ENTAILS.
CHILDREN'S WEEK IS A LONG STANDING STATEWIDE INITIATIVE THAT BRINGS TOGETHER COMMUNITY LEADERS, POLICY MAKERS, AND ORGANIZATIONS TO ADVOCATE FOR CHILDREN'S ISSUES.
THIS IS AN ANNUAL EVENT THAT TAKES PLACE FOR A WEEK LONG IN TALLAHASSEE.
THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES YOUTH COUNCIL HAS PARTICIPATED IN THIS EVENT FOR SEVERAL YEARS, ENGAGING IN ACTIVITIES SUCH AS LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS, CAPITAL TOURS, AND INTERACTIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE OF OUR PARTICIPATION IN THE PAST, IN 2022 AND 2023, THE CITY PARTNERED WITH THE KIWANIS CLUB OF LAUDERDALE LAKES, THE CITY OF LAUDERHILL, AND THE YOUTH EMPOWERMENT VILLAGE, ALSO KNOWN AS YEV TO ENHANCE PARTICIPATION.
MOST RECENTLY IN 2024, THE CITY PARTICIPATED INDEPENDENTLY, EXCUSE ME, AND SUCCESSFULLY BY SUCCESSFULLY REDUCING COSTS WHILE ENRICHING THE EXPERIENCE.
UH, SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES NOTED WERE COLLEGE TOURS AT FLORIDA A AND M UNIVERSITY, FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY, UH, VIEWING OF A SCREENING, THE SPEAK OF LIFE TO END BULLYING TO ETIQUETTE DINNERS.
UM, IF THE CITY CHOOSES TO PARTICIPATE INDEPENDENTLY THIS YEAR IN 2025, THE PROGRAM WILL CONTINUE TO REDUCE COSTS WHILE ENHANCING THE EXPERIENCE WITH THE SIMILAR ACTIVITIES SUCH AS THE CHILDREN'S DAY AT THE CAPITAL A TEAM THERE AT THE CAPITAL, A TOUR OF TALLAHASSEE COLLEGE TOURS AT BOTH MAJOR UNIVERSITIES AND A TOUR OF THE JOHN GILMORE RILEY MUSEUM.
UH, JUST RECENTLY STAFF WAS CONTACTED BY THE OFFICE OF COMMISSIONER, COUNTY COMMISSIONER HAER ROGERS WITH A REQUEST TO POTENTIALLY PARTNER WITH THE CITY OF LAUDERHILL FOR 2025.
UH, IN FRONT OF YOU ALL, YOU JUST RECEIVED FROM THE CITY OF CLERKS SOME COMPARISONS WHERE YOU ALL COULD SEE BOTH ITINERARIES, BOTH FROM WHEN WE PARTICIPATED INDEPENDENTLY, AS WELL AS WHEN WE PARTNER WITH THE CITY OF LAUDERHILL.
YOU'LL ALSO SEE A COMPARISON OF COST ANALYSIS.
UH, FOLLOWING THIS DISCUSSION, STAFF IS SEEKING GUIDANCE FROM THE MAYOR COMMISSION ON HOW TO PROCEED THIS YEAR.
WHETHER WE DO THAT INDEPENDENTLY OR TO COLLABORATE WITH THOSE MENTIONED PARTNERS ALONGSIDE, I HAVE OUR YOUTH COUNCIL, UM, OUR YOUTH PROGRAM COORDINATOR, MS. LASANDRA WALLACE, WHO LED, WHO ACCOMPANIED THE YOUTH COUNCIL ON THE TRIP IN PREVIOUS YEARS.
AND I ALSO HAVE A MEMBER OF THE YOUTH COUNCIL WHO PARTICIPATED IN CHILDREN'S.
WE, MR. ANTONIO GOS IN THE CROWD.
WHAT'S, UM, WHAT'S HIS NAME? VINCENT.
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, PARTS AND HUMAN SERVICES.
I WANNA GIVE YOU KUDOS TO COMING UP WITH YOUR PRESENTATION AND BRINGING US ALL THE INFO THAT I CAN SEE.
THAT'S, THAT'S HOW I WANT TO SEE IT HAPPEN.
YOU COME, YOU BRING YOUR STUFF TO AND WE SEE IT.
THERE'S NO, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? THAT'S HOW IT NEEDS TO BE.
SO ANOTHER ONE, CAN WE PART, CAN I, I I'M
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A MEMBER OF THE CORNERS CLUB AND I KNOW THEY, CAN THEY BE A PARTNER ALSO? YES.THEY'RE ACTUALLY INCLUDED AS ONE OF THE REQUESTS FOR PARTNERS.
THE CITY OF, UH, LAUDERDALE LAKES, KIWANIS CLUB, AND THE CITY OF LAUDER HILL.
HOW MANY KIDS ARE YOUTH DO YOU PLAN ON BRINGING TO TALLAHASSEE AND DO YOU COME WE CURRENTLY HAVE SIX MEMBERS, A PART OF OUR YOUTH COUNCIL.
SO IT'LL BE OUR GOAL TO TAKE ALL OF THEM.
TRUE YOU MADAM MAYOR, GO AHEAD.
CAN I, CAN WE, THE COMMISSION CHOOSE A CHILD OR, OR, UM, TO GO AND WHAT ARE THE AGE GROUP? DO YOU MADAM MAYOR? I DON'T THINK THE AGE GROUP IS AGES 13 THROUGH 18, IF I'M CORRECT.
UM, LIKE I SAID, WE DO HAVE IT, UH, GEARED TOWARDS OUR YOUTH COUNCIL, BUT I'M SURE THERE IS ROOM FOR, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE COMMISSION TO SELECT OTHER STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE.
AND HOW MANY, MR. MOLLY, HOW MANY CHAPERONES? SIX.
HOW MANY CHAPERONES YOU'RE GOING TO NEED? IN THE PAST WHEN WE TOOK SIX STUDENTS, WE TOOK THREE CHAPERONES.
SO YOU'RE LOOKING AT NINE, 10 PEOPLE? YES.
I MEAN, I'M IN FAVOR BECAUSE YES, I'M IN FAVOR.
THE MORE EXPOSURE YOUNG PEOPLE GET, THE BETTER IT IS.
AND I LIKE WHAT I SEE AT THE BACK.
REALLY LIKE DRESS CODE
THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR, IF I MAY, WE ARE LOOKING FOR, I THINK THE TEAM IS LOOKING FOR DIRECTION.
UM, MR. MULLEN, IF YOU CAN POINT OUT, ONCE AGAIN, THE COST.
I KNOW THAT WE ARE, UH, LOOKING FOR A RECOMMENDATION TO MOVE FORWARD EITHER WITH THE GROUP OR AS A PARTNERSHIP, BUT WHAT IS THAT PARTNERSHIP AMOUNT AGAIN, MR. MULLEN, UH, THROUGH YOU, MAYOR, IF WE WERE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COLLABORATION WITH THE KIWANIS CLUB AND THE CITY OF LAUDER HILL, THAT COST WOULD BE $1,150 PER PARTICIPANT.
UM, VERSUS IF WE WERE TO INDEPENDENTLY GO ON THE TRIP WITHOUT PARTNERSHIP, THAT COST WOULD BE AN ESTIMATE BETWEEN 560 AND $600 PER PARTICIPANT.
JUST FOR THE RECORD, I'M NOT, I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE IF THE KIWANIS CLUB HAS JOINED THAT PARTNERSHIP OR NOT.
SO I WOULD JUST MAKE, I'LL FIND OUT, MAKE THAT CORRECTION.
YEAH, I'LL FIND, I'LL FIND OUT MA'AM THROUGH YOU MAYOR TO SEE HIM.
MR. VINCENT, WOULD YOU REPEAT THE DIFFERENCE IN THE COST BETWEEN THE COLLABORATION AND IF WE WERE TO DO IT INDEPENDENTLY? I COULD NOT QUITE HEAR MY APOLOGIES THROUGH YOU, MAYOR.
IF WE WERE TO COLLABORATE WITH THE CITY OF LAUDERHILL, THE CURRENT COST PROPOSED WAS ONE $1,150 PER PARTICIPANT.
AND IF WE WERE TO DO IT INDEPENDENTLY, THE ESTIMATED COST IS BETWEEN 560 AND $600 PER PARTICIPANT.
AND VICE MAYOR MADAM MAYOR, GO AHEAD.
MR. VINCE, THE DIFFERENCE IN THE 1100 AND THE 600, WHAT ARE THOSE DIFFERENCES AND WHAT WOULD THAT COVER? I WOULD THINK THAT IF WE HAD SPONSORSHIPS OR PARTNERS, THAT THE COST WOULD BE LESS PER PARTICIPANT THAN IF WE WERE TO DO IT INDEPENDENTLY THROUGH YOU MAYOR, MADAM MAYOR.
NORMALLY THAT IS THE CASE, BUT, UH, FOR ONE THING THAT I COULD HIGHLIGHT, WITHIN THE PARTS OF HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, WE DO HAVE TRANSPORTATION.
SO THERE'S ONE COST THAT WOULD BE CUT, UH, ENORMOUSLY IF WE WERE TO DO IT INDEPENDENTLY VERSUS PARTNERING WITH OTHER CITIES AND CLUBS WHO DO NOT HAVE THEIR OWN TRANSPORTATION AND WOULD HAVE TO RELY ON PURCHASING THOSE MEANS VERSUS US WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT HAVING OUR OWN CITY VEHICLES.
AND I GUESS THE CHAPERONE WILL BE OUR EMPLOYEES AND IF WE GO THE WE'LL HAVE TO PAY, UH, PAY FOR THE CHAPERONE IF WE COLLABORATE WITH THEM.
IS THAT WHY THROUGH YOU MADAM MAYOR? THAT'S ACTUALLY CORRECT.
AND NOT ONLY THAT, MR. MULLIN, THESE ARE YOUR KIDS, YOU KNOW THEM.
CORRECT? MAKES A LOT OF DIFFERENCE.
VERY FAMILIAR WITH THESE KIDS AS WE MEET WITH THEM ON A WEEKLY BASIS.
I'M IN FAVOR OF NOT, NOT ONLY THE LOWER COST, BECAUSE SOMETIMES A LOWER COST COULD COST AND THE END COST MORE.
BUT YOU KNOW THEM AND YOU ARE, YOU ARE WILLING TO TAKE THE CHANCE WITH THEM TO TALLAHASSEE.
LET THEM GET THE EXPOSURE WITH THE KABUL, WITH THE COLLABORATION OR WITHOUT COLLABORATION, OR
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WITHOUT THE CA WITHOUT, WITHOUT NO COMMISSIONER HARRISON.UM, TAKE SO YOU, YOU SAID IT WOULD BE CHEAPER TO DO IT WITHOUT A COLLABORATION.
IS THAT WHAT I HEARD? MM-HMM
COMMISSIONER? I'M OKAY WITH IT BEING EITHER OR.
UM, I'M IN SUPPORT OF YOU GUYS TAKING THE KIDS UP TO TALLAHASSEE.
UM, TELL YOU WHAT, I'M IN SUPPORT OF YOU GUYS DOING IT AS COST EFFECTIVE AS POSSIBLE.
SO, YOU KNOW, DOING SO WITHOUT COLLABORATION IS BEST THEN.
I'M ALL FOR THAT WITHOUT COLLABORATION.
FOR THE RECORD THROUGH YOU, MAYOR.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER, WE WILL TAKE THOSE CONSIDERATIONS CAN TO YOU MADAM MAYOR, CAN WE STILL HAVE, UM, WITHOUT THE COLLABORATION, BUT STILL HAVE KCLL BE A PART OF IT IN SOME WAY, UM, WITHOUT THE, THE, YOU KNOW, WITH, WITH OURS HERE, BUT JUST HAVE KCL PLAY A ROLE AS FAR AS MAYBE BEING A CHAPERONE OR, YOU KNOW, JUST LET THEM BE A PART, UH, OF THE EVENT IN SOME WAY.
MADAM MAYOR? AYE, MADAM COMMISSIONER, VICE MAYOR.
I NO, COULD YOU, YOU DID YOU NO, NO.
DIDN'T UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTIONS.
SO CASE CORNERS CLUB OF LAUDERDALE LAKES.
UM, SO I WANT TO GO WITH THE NON COLLABORATION, BUT IN A WAY, A LITTLE BIT OF COLLAB WITH KCLL AND IN A WAY, YOU KNOW, MAYBE, I DON'T KNOW, WE WOULD HAVE TO BRAINSTORM THE IDEA HOW WE CAN HAVE THEM HELP US WITH THIS.
MAYBE ADD ANOTHER CHAPERONE OR, I, I DON'T KNOW HOW, BUT I FIGURE MAYBE THEY COULD BE INVOLVED.
JUST THE, THE QAS CLUB OF LAUDERDALE LAKES.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S SOMETHING WE COULD, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT AND SEE IF COULD WORK.
'CAUSE YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ALL, THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF IT FOR SO LONG AND THEY'RE PART OF THE CITY, YOU KNOW, LAUDERDALE.
NO, BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE PART OF THE CITY.
SO, YOU KNOW, SAY IF WE CAN, UM, JOIN FORCES WITH THEM IN, IN SOME KIND OF WAY AND, YOU KNOW, WE'LL BRAINSTORM SOME IDEAS THROUGH YOU, MAYOR, THAT'S MOST CERTAINLY POSSIBLE.
COMMISSIONER, UH, WE CAN DEFINITELY FIGURE OUT UNIQUE WAYS TO TAILOR A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE KIWANIS CLUB VERSUS JUST COMPLETELY PARTNERING WITH THEM IN ANOTHER CITY TO MAKE THE TRIP.
AND I'LL, I'LL, YOU CAN REACH OUT TO ME AND, UM, I KNOW THE, THE, THE PRESIDENT, SO I'LL TALK TO HER AND WE CAN SEE HOW WE CAN, I'LL TALK TO HER AND SAY, WE CAN BRAINSTORM SOME IDEAS AND IT WON'T, YOU KNOW, PUSH THE COSTS EVEN ANYWHERE, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY STAYING THE SAME.
COMMISSIONER HARRIS, YOU WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING? YES, MADAM VICE MAYOR.
UH, I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE DONE THIS FOR SOME YEARS NOW, SPEAKING OF THE WANIS CLUB, WHAT'S THE IMPLICATIONS AROUND HAVING ADULTS NOW TRAVELING WITH KIDS? UM, AND I KNOW THEY MAY HAVE TO GO THROUGH A BACKGROUND CHECK AND HAS THAT POSED AN ISSUE IN THE PAST? I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY HISTORY ON THAT, UH, THROUGH YOU, MAYOR.
AS FAR AS THOSE, UH, QUALIFICATIONS FOR ADULTS TO TRAVEL WITH KIDS, UM, SPECIFICALLY WITH OUR KIDS LIKE MAYOR STATE, LIKE CITY MANAGERS, STATE, THESE ARE OUR KIDS AND WE HAVE OUR STAFF THAT HAVE BEEN ACCOMPANIED THEM IN THE PAST.
THAT HAS NOT CAUSED ANY CHALLENGES BECAUSE AS WE PARTNER WITH THE KIWANIS CLUB, THEY, UH, THEY HAVEN'T POSED ANY CHALLENGES TO TRAVELING WITH OUR CHILDREN.
THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR AND COMMISSION.
AND WE WILL DEFINITELY, UH, REACH OUT TO THE KIWANIS CLUB AS THEY HAVE ASSISTED IN THE PAST.
[A. PETITION FROM THE PUBLIC]
MADAM MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, WE HAVE JUST A COUPLE OF, UH, BRIEF UPDATES FROM PETITIONS FROM THE PUBLIC THAT WE HEARD LAST WEEK.A BRIEF UPDATE IN REFERENCE TO MRS. LATOYA MORGAN, UM, THAT PROVIDED, UH, AN UPDATE ON HER CONCERNS WITH THE HLMP APPLICATION.
MS. TANJA MCCOY, WE PROVIDE A BRIEF UPDATE ON THAT ITEM THROUGH YOU.
MADAM MAYOR, GO AHEAD, MS. TANJA, THROUGH YOU.
UH, I AM HERE TO PRESENT A UPDATE FROM LATOYA MORGAN.
UH, SHE DID, UH, APPLY FOR THE H-M-L-A-H-L-M-P PROGRAM AND, UM, WE WORKED WITH HER IN ORDER TO TRY AND, UM, GET HER APPLICATION COMPLETED AND SENT DOWN STATE.
HOWEVER, DUE TO A MISSED, UM, INSPECTION, WE WERE NOT ABLE TO COMPLETE HER APPLICATION.
UM, AND DUE TO OUTSIDE CONSTRAINTS ON THE PROGRAM, SO WE, UM, SPOKE WITH MRS. MORGAN ON THE DAY THAT HER APPLICATION WAS DENIED AND TOLD HER ABOUT UPCOMING
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PROGRAMS THAT WAS COMING UP IN MARCH, AND SHE AGREED THAT SHE WOULD APPLY FOR THOSE.WE'VE ALSO CONTACTED HER THIS WEEK TO GIVE HER THE EXACT DATE, WHICH WAS, IS, UM, CURRENTLY MARCH 19TH, WHICH IS THE MINOR HOME REPAIR PROGRAM WORKSHOP DATE.
UM, IT WILL BE ON MARCH 19TH AT SIX 30.
AND WITH MY CONVERSATION WITH MS. MORGAN, SHE HAS AGREED TO TRY AND ATTEND THAT WORKSHOP AFTER WORK.
WHAT DAY IS THAT, MS. MCCOY? THE WEDNESDAY.
AND WHERE IS IT GOING TO BE HELD? THE MULTIPURPOSE ROOM AT SIX 30.
AND THAT IS FOR THE MINOR HOME REPAIR HERE.
HAVE YOU POSTED IT AS YET, MS. MCCOY? YES, WE HAVE THAT.
AND WHERE YOU'RE PUTTING IT IN THE NEWSPAPER.
AND YOU SAID SOMETHING, MS. MCCOY, THE HLMP APPLICATION.
COULD YOU, THAT'S THE ACRONYM.
COULD YOU TELL US WHAT IS HLMP? HURRICANE LOSS MITIGATION PROGRAM? OKAY.
FOR THOSE WHO ARE LISTENING THROUGH YOU, MADAM MAYOR.
THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR AND COMMISSION.
WE ALSO HAVE A BRIEF UPDATE IN REFERENCE TO THE CONCERNS THAT WERE BROUGHT FORTH BY MR. ANTONIO GOINS AND THE SHOOTINGS THAT OCCURRED IN THE CITY.
AND I HAVE AN UPDATE ON BEHALF OF CAPTAIN PHILLIPS FROM LIEUTENANT KATE THROUGH YOU MADAM MAYOR.
GO AHEAD, MS. AND I BELIEVE CAPTAIN PHILLIPS MAY BE ON, I'M NOT SURE IF HE WAS ABLE TO JOIN OR NOT, BUT HE HAS HIS LIEUTENANT IN HIS STEAD.
GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR COMMISSIONERS.
I'M LIEUTENANT CAPE, UH, OF THE CENTRAL BROWARD DISTRICT.
UH, IN REFERENCE TO THE ISSUES THAT YOU'VE BEEN HAVING IN A LOT OF DALE LAKES IN REFERENCE TO SHOOTINGS, BASICALLY WE'VE COME TOGETHER WITH A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO COMBAT THESE SHOOTINGS.
A LOT OF THESE SHOOTINGS HAVE BEEN OVER NEIGHBORHOOD BEEFS BETWEEN JUVENILES, SOME FROM LOT HILLS, SOME FROM LAUDERDALE LAKES.
SO OUR CRIME SUPPRESSION TEAM IS GONNA BE PUTTING TOGETHER AN OPERATION TARGETING THAT LOCATION.
AS YOU ARE AWARE, WHEN WE HAD THE ISSUES IN THE PLAZA OFF 4 41, WE ALSO DID SOME OPERATIONS AT THE PARK IN WHICH ONE OF THE JUVENILES ACTUALLY DID A ARMED ROBBERY WITH A FIREARM, UH, THROUGH INVESTIGATIONS, OUR ST PEOPLE WAS ABLE TO TARGET HIM AND GOT HIM WITH THE SAME FIREARM THAT HE USED.
SO WE'RE GONNA TAKE THAT SAME APPROACH AND PRETTY MUCH TARGET THESE VIOLENT INDIVIDUALS AT THE PARK.
NOW, WHEN I SAY TARGET, I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK THAT I'M GOING AFTER KIDS WHO ARE JUST THERE TO ENJOY THE PARK.
WE'RE THERE FOR THE GUYS THAT ARE DOING THE ROBBERIES, THE FIGHTING, STARTING THE TROUBLES.
ALSO, ONE THING THAT WE ALSO WANNA VISIT IS USING A STATE STATUTE THAT PREVENTS PEOPLE FROM WALKING AROUND WITH MASKS AT THE PARKS.
A LOT OF THE KIDS CALL 'EM THE SHAY MASK.
THEY DON'T SERVE A REAL PURPOSE, RIGHT? KIDS SHOULD NOT BE AT THE PARK WITH FULL FACIAL COVERINGS UNLESS YOU LIVE IN LIKE NEW YORK, PENNSYLVANIA, AND IT'S SNOWING OUTSIDE.
WE'RE, WE'RE HERE IN SOUTH FLORIDA, IT'S SUNNY.
IT'S USUALLY 85 TO 90 DEGREES, RIGHT? BUT WE ALSO NEED HELP FROM THE CITY AS FAR AS PUTTING UP SIGNS, LETTING 'EM KNOW THAT YOU CAN'T WEAR THE MASK, RIGHT? THE FOOTBALL GAMES.
I KNOW IN THE PAST WE'VE ALSO HAD ISSUES WITH VIOLENCE AMONGST JUVENILES.
SO WE CAN ALSO GET WITH SERGEANT JOHNSON TO COLLECTIVELY COME UP WITH A PLAN TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES.
SHE HAS SOME REALLY GREAT IDEAS AS FAR AS HOW TO MITIGATE A LOT OF THESE INSTANCES AT THE PARK.
AND BASICALLY IT'S GONNA HAVE TO BE A COLLECTIVE EFFORT, RIGHT? A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN BSO, THE CITY AND THE COMMUNITY.
THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO ADDRESS THIS.
AND AGAIN, I WANNA STRESS THAT THESE TARGETED OPERATIONS ARE NOT GOING TO AFFECT THE KIDS WHO ARE ACTUALLY THERE TO ENJOY THE PARK.
A LOT OF TIMES WE HEAR TARGETED OPERATIONS AND PARENTS MIGHT GET A LITTLE ANTSY, SAY, OH, THE POLICE ARE GONNA MESS WITH MY KID.
THAT'S, THAT'S NOT WHAT IT'S FOR.
IT'S TO KEEP THESE KIDS SAFE AT THE PARK.
KIDS SHOULDN'T HAVE TO GO TO THE PARK AND WORRY ABOUT WHETHER I'M GONNA GET SHOT, ROBBED, OR BEAT UP.
RIGHT? IT, IT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN.
THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO ENJOY IT AND HAVE FUN AND GO HOME AFTER THAT.
A PARENT SHOULD NOT HAVE TO CALL 9 1 1 BECAUSE THEIR KID GOT ROBBED AT THE PARK.
AND WE HAVE TO HAVE A ZERO TOLERANCE APPROACH, RIGHT? WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SAFETY OF BOTH THE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS OF LAUDERDALE LAKES.
SO THAT'S THE APPROACH THAT WE'RE TAKING.
NOW, ALSO, AGAIN, WHEN YOU RUN THESE OPERATIONS, NOT EVERYONE'S GONNA BE HAPPY, RIGHT? IF YOUR KID'S OUT THERE COMMITTING A CRIME AND HE
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GETS ARRESTED, OR SHE GETS ARRESTED, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE AN ANGRY PARENT.WE COULD JUSTIFY WHY THAT CHILD GOT ARRESTED.
'CAUSE AGAIN, WE'RE NOT GOING AFTER KIDS WHO ARE THERE JUST TO ENJOY THE PART.
WE'RE THERE TO KEEP THOSE KIDS SAFE A LOT OF TIME.
WE INVEST TIME AND ENERGY INTO PEOPLE WHO ARE BREAKING THE LAW, BUT WE ALSO DON'T INVEST THAT SAME ENERGY INTO PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLY OBEYING THE LAW, RIGHT? SO I DON'T WANT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLY THERE TO ENJOY THE PARK.
I WANT TO REITERATE THAT WE'RE THERE TO KEEP THEM SAFE.
I KNOW WE HAVE SOME TECHNOLOGICAL IDEAS THAT WE'RE GONNA GO WITH THE CITY MANAGER AS FAR AS HOW TO HELP BSO BETTER KEEPING OUT ON A LOT OF THESE LOCATIONS, LIKE THE PARK AND OTHER FEW HIGH PRIORITY AREAS, RIGHT? I KNOW WE'RE GONNA COME UP WITH A COMPREHENSIVE PUBLIC SAFETY MASTER PLAN THAT'S ACTUALLY GONNA MAKE THE CITY OF DALE LAKES SAFER.
SO AGAIN, STARTING THIS WEEK, THERE WILL BE A TARGETED OPERATION FOR THE PARK AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS.
AND I WANT YOU TO THINK THAT JUST BECAUSE WE SHIFT OUR ATTENTION TO THE PARK, THAT I'M GONNA FORGET ABOUT THE PLAZAS ON 4 41 OR ANY OTHER AREA IN A LOT OF LAKES, RIGHT? WE'RE NOT TAKING AWAY SERVICE FROM ANYONE ELSE.
WE'RE JUST MAKING THIS A PRIORITY.
NOW, A LOT OF TIMES THESE KIDS GET INTO INCIDENTS BETWEEN FOUR AND 6:00 PM SO WE'RE GONNA PUT A FEW VOTE, UH, ZONE DEPUTIES THERE TO ADDRESS THAT.
BUT I DO ASK THAT IF YOUR STAFF SEE ANY ISSUES, CALL BSO.
DON'T TRY AND ADDRESS IT ON YOUR OWN.
WE GET PAID TO DEAL WITH THAT STUFF.
YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT.
SO PLEASE STRESS TO YOUR STAFF TO CALL BSO AND LET US KNOW, RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR.
AND AGAIN, WE ARE NOT GOING TO TARGET THE KIDS WHO ARE THERE TO ENJOY THE PARK.
I DON'T WANT A PARENT GETTING UPSET SAYING THAT POLICE ARE GONNA TARGET MY KID.
AND THE SAME FOR CAPTAIN PHILLIPS.
WE'RE NOT TARGETING PEOPLE WHO ARE THERE TO ENJOY THE PARK, JUST THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THERE FOR NEFARIOUS REASONS, RIGHT? THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO.
AND AS FAR AS OVER THE WEEKEND, SUNDAY MORNING, WE HAD A ISOLATED HOMICIDE.
IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE PARK OR THE SURROUNDING AREAS.
IT'S TWO KNOWN PARTIES WHO GOT INTO AN ALTERCATION AND IT LED TO A HOMICIDE.
WE'RE FAIRLY CONFIDENT WE HAVE ALL THE FIREARMS INVOLVED IN THAT INCIDENT.
SO THAT'S BEING WORKED, AND IT'S AN OPEN INVESTIGATION.
SO THERE'S NOT MUCH I CAN REALLY SAY IS AS FAR AS THAT, BUT JUST KNOW IT'S AN ISOLATED INCIDENT.
YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME? I HAVE ONE.
I SAW WHERE IS THIRD OR FIFTH COURT? WHERE THE HOMICIDE HA IS IT NORTH OF OAKLAND OR SOUTH OF OAKLAND? BECAUSE NORTH OF 35TH AVENUE RUNS IT, IT SHOULD BE NORTH OF IT'S, IT'S IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I BELIEVE IT'S 35TH COURT, BUT I KNOW WHERE 35TH AVENUE, 35TH WAY.
AND I'M TRYING TO PICTURE IN MY MIND, WHERE IS 35TH COURT? I, I CAN'T GIVE YOU THE EXACT CROSS, BUT IT'S IN THAT AREA.
BUT AGAIN, THAT WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT.
IT'S BETWEEN TWO KNOWN PARTIES, AND WE'RE PRETTY CERTAIN WE HAVE ALL THE PIECES PUT TOGETHER AND ALL THE FIREARMS THAT WERE USED, WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT WE HAVE 'EM IN OUR CUSTODY.
THE NEWS, I HEARD IT SUNDAY MORNING WHEN I WAS GETTING READY TO GO TO CHURCH UHHUH, IT WAS ON CHANNEL FOUR THAT, YEAH, THE MEDIA'S OUT THERE.
AND AGAIN, SOMETIMES DOES NOT MAKE IT NICE FOR LORD DE LAKES.
AND THAT'S UNDERSTANDABLE, RIGHT? A LOT OF TIMES WHEN THESE CASES HIT THE MEDIA, IT CAN NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE CITY.
AGAIN, WE'RE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT, SO WE'RE HERE TO SERVE YOU.
WE REALLY TRY TO MITIGATE THESE INSTANCES.
BUT SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT'S ISOLATED INSIDE OF A RESIDENCE, IT'S KIND OF HARD FOR BSO TO REALLY LIKE, KEEP THAT FROM HAPPENING.
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE A HOUSE PARTY BETWEEN TWO PARTIES AND IT TURNS PHYSICAL AND THEN VIOLENT.
THAT, AND IT SPILLS OUTSIDE TO THE DRIVEWAY.
AGAIN, IT'S ONE OF THOSE PARTIES WHERE WE WERE NOT AWARE OF IT.
AND HONESTLY, SOMETIMES WHEN THEY'RE HAVING THOSE BIRTHDAY PARTY, THE NEIGHBORS AREN'T GONNA CALL.
RIGHT? SO IF THEY DON'T CALL, WE WON'T KNOW.
UNLESS SOMETIMES THE ZONING UNIT MIGHT CATCH IT.
BUT AGAIN, THAT WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AND IT, IT'S NOT CONNECTED TO THE OTHER OPERATIONS THAT WE'RE GONNA RUN.
BUT AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, WE'RE HERE
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TO KEEP YOU GUYS SAFE IN THESE OPERATIONS.LIKE I'VE TOLD THE CITY MANAGER BEFORE WHEN I FIRST GOT HERE, WE'LL ADDRESS THE ISSUES.
IT'S, IT'S A DIFFERENT WAY THAT WE DO IT.
SOMETIMES I CAN LETTER HER IN ON CERTAIN THINGS AND SOMETIMES I CAN'T.
BUT WE WILL ADDRESS IT AND WE'LL SEND HER THE PICTURE TO SHOW THE FIREARMS THAT WE RECOVERED AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
BUT WE'RE GONNA ADDRESS THE ISSUES.
MAD VICEMAN, ANY QUESTION? YES, GO AHEAD.
LIEUTENANT CADE, UM, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S IN THE FOREFRONT OF WHAT I WANNA FOCUS ON.
BUT SINCE I'VE BEEN ELECTED, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF SHOOTINGS THAT'S TAKEN PLACE AND, OR MORE THAN COMFORT, I SHOULD SAY.
UM, IN THE SPIRIT OF USING TECHNOLOGY TO ENHANCE SAFETY, I I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE SHOT SPOTTERS AND, UM, DO YOU THINK THAT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT'S EFFECTIVE? I'VE LEARNED RECENTLY THAT A LOT OF THE LAKES DOESN'T HAVE ANY, BUT WHAT WOULD USUALLY BE THE PROCESS FOR A CITY TO ACQUIRE SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
BUT DO YOU THINK IT'S EFFECTIVE? WELL, THROUGH YOU MADAM MAYOR, IT'S, THAT'S A TRICKY TOPIC, RIGHT? 'CAUSE SHOT SPOTTER IS VERY, IT, IT'S, IT'S HIT OR MISS.
SOMETIMES IT'S GOOD TO HAVE LIKE, PARTNERING TECHNOLOGY TO GO ALONG WITH IT.
UM, FOR INSTANCE, I, I CAN TELL YOU MY TIME IN DEERFIELD, I USED A TECH TECHNOLOGY SYSTEM THAT WE SET UP IN OUR HIGH CRIME AREAS TO WHERE WE CAPTURED PRETTY MUCH A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF OUR SHOOTINGS AND WAS ABLE TO SOLVE THESE ISSUES RELATIVELY QUICK.
ONE WAS THE SHOOTING IN BROAD DAYLIGHT WHERE IT TOOK 30 MINUTES TO IDENTIFY ALL THE PARTIES INVOLVED AND ANOTHER HOUR TO TAKE ALL THREE IN CUSTODY, RIGHT? BUT THERE'S ALSO A PROCESS FOR EACH CITY TO GET THIS TECHNOLOGY.
SO THAT'S WHY I'M, I'M NOT GONNA LIKE STEP ON ANYBODY'S TOES, BUT IT'S, IT'S TECHNOLOGY OUT THERE TO HELP THAT'S BETTER THAN SHOT SPOTTER.
SHOT SPOTTER IS, AGAIN, IT'S, IT'S IN MY OPINION, A HIT OR MISS SYSTEM.
IT WORKS SOMETIMES AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T.
SOME THINGS IT, IT'LL PICK UP AND SOME THINGS IT WON'T.
BUT ON ITS OWN, IT'S, IT'S NOT GONNA STOP CRYING, RIGHT? SHOT SPOTTER WILL LET YOU KNOW THAT A SHOOTING TOOK PLACE HERE.
BUT AS FAR AS WHO DID THE SHOOTING, WHERE THE SHOOTING OCCURRED, IT, IT NARROWS DOWN.
WHEREAS YOU HAVE OTHER COMPANIES THAT PROVIDE TECHNOLOGY TO WHERE IT CAN ACTUALLY HELP YOU IDENTIFY SHOOTERS AND SOMETIMES WHERE THEY MIGHT HAVE TOSSED A FIREARM OR WHERE THE SHOOTING ACTUALLY TOOK PLACE.
SO AGAIN, THERE'S TECHNOLOGY OUT THERE THAT CAN BENEFIT LAUDERDALE LAKES.
IT'S JUST THAT AGAIN, YOU HAVE TO INVEST IN YOUR PUBLIC SAFETY, RIGHT? THE TECHNOLOGY, IN MY OPINION, WORKS.
AGAIN, I'VE USED IT IN MY TIME IN DEERFIELD BEACH.
SO AGAIN, SHOT SPOTTER ON ITS OWN.
I DON'T THINK THE CITY CAN BE DEPENDENT ON THAT.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT.
UM, I, I THINK WE HAVE TO INVEST IN THAT TECHNOLOGY.
UM, WE HAVE TO INVEST IN OUR PUBLIC SAFETY OVERALL.
AND DOING SO THROUGH TECHNOLOGY, I THINK IS KEY.
UH, LIKE HOW YOU SAID, HOW IT WORKS IN DEERFIELD, I'M, I HEARD IN OTHER CITIES USING DIFFERENT TYPES OF TECHNOLOGY.
AND I, I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT IN OUR UPCOMING BUDGET, UM, SEASON.
UM, I'M, I'M ALL IN FAVOR OF WHATEVER'S GONNA KEEP THE, UH, COMMUNITY SAFE.
UM, SOME PEOPLE TALK ABOUT CAMELS AT EVENTS.
I THINK WE SHOULD INVEST IN SOME SAFETY, UH, PRECAUTIONS.
BUT
SO LET'S TRY TO INVEST IN KEEPING, KEEP KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE.
AND UM, JUST, JUST THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO, UH, BETWEEN YOU.
THANK YOU CAPTAIN PHILLIPS AND THE REST OF BSO OFFICERS.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO.
YOU GUYS HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS? JUST, JUST, JUST TELL CAPTAIN PHILLIPS I MISSED HIS SURPRISE BIRTHDAY PARTY ON THURSDAY.
TELL HIM IT'S NOT THAT WE DIDN'T WANT TO BE THERE, BUT WE HAD ALL THE ENGAGEMENT.
HE'S ON MADAM MAYOR, VICE MAYOR.
WE HAVE COMMISSIONER SHARON THOMAS, CAPTAIN PHILLIPS AND CHAPLAIN DENNIS.
NO, HE IS ON AND HE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SPEAK CAPTAIN PHILLIPS.
I THINK HE'S STILL UPSET THAT SHE DIDN'T COME TO THE BIRTHDAY PARTY.
AND WE HAVE COMMISSIONER SHARON THOMAS, COMMISSIONER THOMAS, GO AHEAD.
[02:10:01]
I'M ALLOWED TO TALK.UM, TODAY IN ONE OF OUR SESSION, BECAUSE WE'RE OUT OF TOWN, THAT WAS ONE OF THE SESSIONS WE ATTENDED ON SAFETY.
AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST THING THAT THEY BROUGHT FORTH WAS COLLABORATION AS YOU ALSO, UM, EXPRESS.
BUT THAT COLLABORATION GONNA TAKE ALL OF US.
IT'S GONNA TAKE THE SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, MAYBE COLLABORATING WITH THE TEACHERS OR THE PRINCIPALS AND EVERYONE TO DO THEIR PART IN THE OVERALL SUCCESS AND SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY.
YOU KNOW, SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, TO BE VIGILANT WHERE COMMUNITY IS REALLY BEING COMMUNITY.
I KNOW IT'S HARD AND SOMETIME IN A FEARFUL WAY.
I LOVE THE WAY YOU EXPRESS, UM, YOU STRESS THE POINT, CONCERN AND SAFETY.
AND THAT'S PART OF OUR MISSION AS, AS WELL AS CHAPTER, UM, BESSIE BROUGHT OUT.
SO, UM, I THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO AS WELL, BUT IT'S GONNA TAKE A COLLABORATION OF ALL OF US CLEAN OUR PART.
MADAM MAYOR, HE SAID THAT HE WAS TRYING TO SIGN BACK ON, BUT THIS PAGE IS BEING UNRESPONSIVE.
IS THERE ANYONE ANSWER CHAPLAIN BENNETT QUESTION.
MADAM CLA, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU WANNA I WAS JUST ST.
CHAPLAIN, UH, BESSIE DENNIS, WHEN YOU'RE DONE, COMMISSIONER.
UM, SO THAT NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE THE SHOOTING TOOK PLACE IS ACTUALLY WHERE I GREW UP.
SO IF YOU THINK OF THE POPEYE STREET 35TH AVE.
OKAY, IT'S ON, ON THE RIGHT SIDE.
I KNOW WE WERE 35TH WAVE OH WAY.
SO, UM, THE, THE NATURE OF THE PARTY, I, I'M NOT TOO CERTAIN OF THE DETAILS, BUT IF IT, IF IT TOOK PLACE OUTSIDE IN THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE, WHAT IS, UM, I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE IT'S BACK TO UM, CITY CODE.
UH, BUT IF ANYBODY CAN ANSWER WHAT'S, WHAT'S THE DOS AND DON'TS, WHAT'S ALLOWED, WHAT'S NOT ALLOWED NOW WHEN IT COMES TO PARTIES AND GATHERINGS THAT YOU CAN CITE 'EM ON YOUR CODE SIDE, RIGHT? 'CAUSE YOU GUYS HAVE ORDINANCE IN PLACE AS FAR AS PARTIES, NOISE, ORDINANCE, STUFF LIKE THAT.
BUT AGAIN, IT'S ONE OF THOSE EVENTS THAT IF WE DON'T CATCH IT SOMETIMES BY RIDING AROUND OR GET A PHONE CALL, WE WON'T KNOW WHAT'S TAKING PLACE.
'CAUSE THE ACTUAL EVENT TO MY UNDERSTANDING WAS INSIDE THE RESIDENCE YOU JUST HAD SOME PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE RESIDENCE AND IT WAS AN ALTERCATION THAT KINDA LIKE SPILLED OUT INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND LED TO THAT, THOSE INCIDENT.
UH, COMMISSIONER, SOMETIMES THEY CAN BE TRICKY BECAUSE AGAIN, IF IT'S, LEMME PUT IT THIS WAY.
IF IT WAS LIKE TWO RIVAL GANGS AND WE KNOW THEY HAVE ISSUES AND WE'RE DOING SURVEILLANCE ON THEM, IT'S EASIER FOR US TO CATCH THOSE INCIDENTS BEFORE THEY HAPPEN, BUT AT A BIRTHDAY PARTY AND THEN, YEAH, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S HARD.
YEAH, LIKE I SAID, IT'S, IT'S AN ISOLATED INCIDENT.
IT'S A LOSS OF LIFE NONETHELESS, BUT IT'S ISOLATED.
AND UH, TO, TO FOLLOW UP MADAM MAYOR, IF I CAN, UM, I ASKED BECAUSE, UH, AND I COULD BE WRONG, BUT I HEARD THAT IF SOMEONE REPORTS SOMETHING TO CODE ENFORCEMENT IN THE CITY, THEIR INFORMATION CAN BE REQUESTED AND BE PUBLIC.
WHICH I BELIEVE IS UH, BEING A DETERRENT TO PEOPLE WANTING TO ACTUALLY COMPLAIN ABOUT STUFF.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT CAN BE CHANGED.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE BINDING TO OR LOCKED INTO.
UM, JUST, UM, UH, UH, MR. CITY ATTORNEY MAYBE IF YOU CAN ELABORATE ON THAT, WHERE I KNOW IF THEY REPORT TO BS O THAT'S CONFIDENTIAL, BUT FOR, FOR CODE ISSUES, IF THEY REPORT AS TO A CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, WHOEVER IS COMPLAINING, IF I SAY, HEY, THESE NEIGHBORS ARE LOUD, SOMEBODY COME GET 'EM.
AND IF THAT NEIGHBOR SAID WHO SNITCHED ON ME OR WHO TOLD THEY CAN GET MY NAME, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU CAN NO LONGER ANONYMOUSLY REPORT CODE VIOLATIONS.
SO IT STATE THE ATTORNEY WE'RE NO, WE NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT THAT.
ANYBODY ELSE? NO CHAPLAIN, BESSIE, DENNIS.
BESSIE, DENNIS, ARE YOU STILL THERE GOING ONCE
YOU GOTTA UNMUTE ME BEFORE YOU CAN GO AWAY THREE TIMES.
HELLO? CAN YOU ALL HEAR ME? YES.
OKAY, SO I WANTED TO ASK WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE AS FAR AS WHEN HE SAID, 'CAUSE HE SAID PARK AND I WANTED TO KNOW IS THAT ONE PARK OR IS THAT ALL OF THE PARKS IN OUR CITY? AND UM, I JUST WANT TO SHARE THAT MY, I HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT WILLY.
WE PARK 'CAUSE WE JUST DUMPED OVER $50,000 INTO UM, RENEWING OR UPGRADING,
[02:15:01]
I SHOULD SAY OUR EXERCISE EQUIPMENT.BUT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT CHILDREN BEING AT THAT PARK FOR ELDERLY AND IT'S BACK IN THE CUT LIKE THAT, I BE THINKING I HAVE TO WEAR A HELMET AND A, AND A BULLETPROOF VEST.
SO I WANNA KNOW HOW SAFE IS IT FOR ME TO GO THERE DURING, YOU KNOW, CERTAIN HOURS OF THE DAY.
AND, AND CAN OUR CITY CONSIDER SECURITY? NOW I KNOW WE TALKING ABOUT DOING SEVEN, UM, CODE ENFORCEMENTS, BUT CAN WE, DO WE HAVE A BUDGET FOR SOME SECURITY AT SOME OF OUR PARTNERS, ESPECIALLY WILLIE? WE, UH, AS FAR AS THE TARGETED OPERATIONS, WE'RE GONNA FOCUS PRIMARILY ON, ON VINCENT TORRES.
IT'S NOT TO SAY THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO ADDRESS ISSUES AT OTHER PARKS WITHIN THE CITY.
SO WE'LL, WE'LL GET AROUND AND MY CONCERN WITH THAT IS YOU ALREADY HAVE SO MANY ACTIVITIES GOING ON AT VINCENT TORRES TILL WHEN YOU HAVE A LOT OF ACTIVITY, THE CHANCES OF SOMEBODY COMING UP TO YOU AND ROBBING YOU AT YOUR CAR OR BEATING YOU UP OR MUGGING YOU IS SLIM TO NONE.
IF YOU GOT 50 KIDS AND 40 PARENTS OUT THERE, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? AND A LOT OF EVENTS GOING ON, BUT YOU GOT PLACES LIKE WILLIE WEBB AND IT'S IN THE CUT AND YOU GOT A NEW GYM, YOU GOT ELDERLYS WANNA GO OUT THERE OR WHATEVER.
AND THEN YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN GET MUGGED OR ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN AND NOBODY WILL EVEN SEE YOU.
NO, I UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERN CHAPLAIN.
BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE GOING OFF BASED OFF WHAT THE DATA SHOWS US, RIGHT? LOOKING AT IT, THERE'S AN UPTICK IN THE ACTIVITY AT VINCENT TORRES.
SO WE KIND OF HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT.
AGAIN, I I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO ADDRESS ISSUES, I'M SORRY, OTHER ISSUES THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
IT'S JUST WE'RE GONNA PRIMARILY RUN THIS OPERATION TO REDUCE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AT VINCENT TORRES.
THE DATA SHOWS US THAT THERE'S A SPIKE IN CERTAIN CRIMES, SO WE HAVE TO ADDRESS IT.
WE TRY TO BE PROACTIVE ABOUT HOW WE DO THINGS AND ALSO WE USE KINDA LIKE AN INTELLIGENCE LED SYSTEM.
SO IF THE INTELLIGENCE SHOW US THAT THERE'S A SPIKE IN THIS AREA OR THIS CRIME AT THIS PARK, WE HAVE TO ADDRESS IT.
AND AGAIN, WE'RE NOT GOING TO SHY AWAY FROM WILLY WEBB OR ANY OTHER AREA OF LADALE LAKES, IT'S JUST THAT RIGHT NOW OUR PRIOR, I'M SORRY, OUR PRIORITY IS GONNA BE VINCENT TORRES.
SO AS USUAL AND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS SOMETHING BAD HAVE TO HAPPEN BEFORE YOU REALLY GIVE IT A PRIORITY OR PRIORITIZE THE SECURITY IN THAT AREA.
I GET I GET WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AND I'M NOT TRYING TO BE SARCASTIC IN ANY WAY, BUT I'M SAYING IT'S, IT ONLY TAKES ONE EVENT WHEN YOU KEEP A OPPORTUNITY AVAILABLE.
IF YOU OPEN UP AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE THERE'S NO SECURITY, AND I'M SAYING I'M SWITCHING IT NOW OFF OF YOU AND THE BSO ONTO OUR CITY, CONSIDERING A SECURITY SERVICE FOR PARKS LIKE WILLIE WEBB THAT'S HIDDEN AND THAT NOBODY IS AROUND AND WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE LOW INCOME HOUSING THAT MAY FIGURE, YOU KNOW, HEY, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY, YOU KNOW, I SEE SOMEBODY ELDERLY GETTING OUT OF THEIR CAR, GOING IN THE GYM, BOOM.
I CAN WALK UP TO THEM AND, YOU KNOW, DEMAND THE MONEY OR THE WALLET OR WHATEVER.
EVEN THOUGH YOU, YOU REALLY BE SMART TO LEAVE, YOU KNOW, MONEY AND ALL THAT.
HOME VALUABLES IF YOU'RE GOING TO A GYM, BUT YOU COULD EVEN BE HURT.
THEY DO THAT RIGHT THERE AT WALMART.
SO, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST JUST PLAYING THE ADVOCATE HERE, BUT I I DO RESPECT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING SIR.
AND, AND AGAIN, UH, I UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERN AND THE, THE COMMENT ON SOMETHING THAT YOU SAID, WE'RE NOT WAITING UNTIL SOMETHING HAP UM, BAD HAPPENS.
WE, WE TRY AND LOOK AT SLIGHT INCREASES IN UPTICKS AND ACT OFF THAT.
LIKE I SAID, IF THE DATA DRIVES US A CERTAIN WAY, THEN WE GO IN THAT DIRECTION.
SO WE WON'T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THERE'S A, A BIG SHOOTING THERE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
WE TRY AND ADDRESS THINGS PROACTIVELY.
AND AGAIN, I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO KEEP AN EYE ON WILLY WELL PARK OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
LIKE WE'RE JUST SAYING WE'RE PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT'S GOING ON AT VINCENT TORRES.