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[1. CALL TO ORDER]
GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
WELCOME TO THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKE CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
WE ARE PLEASED THAT YOU HAVE DEMONSTRATED AN INTEREST IN THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES BY ATTENDING A CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
WE HOPE THAT YOU ENJOY THE MEETING AND WILL ATTEND MORE OF THESE MEETINGS IN THE FUTURE.
PLEASE TURN OFF A SILENCE YOUR CELL PHONES.
ANY PERSON REQUIRING AUXILIARY AIDS AND SERVICES MUST HAVE CONTACTED THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE AT LEAST 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THIS MEETING.
ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO WISHES TO ADDRESS THE CITY COMMISSION MAY DO SO.
PROVIDING IT IS ACCOMPLISHED IN AN ORDERLY MANNER AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROCEDURES OUTLINED IN SECTION TWO DASH FIVE FOUR PARENTHESES TWO OF THE COURT OF ORDINANCES PETITIONS FROM THE PUBLIC SECTION TWO DASH FIVE FOUR OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES.
EACH PERSON DESIRING TO PETITION THE CITY COMMISSION WILL BE ALLOTTED FIVE MINUTES UNDER THE APPLICABLE ORDER OF BUSINESS FOR THE CITY COMMISSION.
MEETING PETITIONS FROM THE PUBLIC SHALL NOT EXCEED 30 MINUTES IN AGGREGATE TIME.
THE MAYOR AT HER DISCRETION MAY ALLOW MORE TIME THAN ALLOTTED.
EACH PERSON WHO WISHES TO ADDRESS THE CITY COMMISSION MUST SIGN IN WITH THE CITY CLERK PRIOR TO 7:00 PM BY COMPLETING THE PETITION FROM THE PUBLIC FORM LOCATED JUST OUTSIDE ON THE PODIUM.
THE CITY COMMISSION MEETING IS A BUSINESS MEETING, AND AS SUCH, PLEASE CONDUCT YOURSELVES IN A RESPECTFUL AND PROFESSIONAL MANNER, BOTH IN TONE OF VOICE AS WELL AS CHOICE OF WORDS.
PLEASE DIRECT YOUR COMMENTS TO THE CITY COMMISSION AS A BODY THROUGH THE PRESIDING OFFICER, THE MAYOR, AND NOT TO THE AUDIENCE OR INDIVIDUAL.
MADAM CLERK, MAYOR EDWARDS PHILLIPS.
HERE, VICE MAYOR SWELL PRESENT, COMMISSIONER HARRISON PRESENT, COMMISSIONER MAXWELL WILLIAMS. COMMISSIONER THOMAS, PRESENT, ACTING CITY MANAGER HOWARD PRESENT CITY ATTORNEY CALLAWAY.
MADAM MAYOR, WE HAVE A QUORUM.
ITEM THREE, INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
A INVOCATION WILL BE PROVIDED BY REVEREND DR.
PASTOR, THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, PINEY GROVE, PASTOR OF THE HISTORIC FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, PINEY GROVE, THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH IN FORT LAUDERDALE.
AND MY PASTOR, PASTOR TILLMAN, ARE YOU THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR AND TO VICE MAYOR AND TO COMMISSION.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
AND I WANTED TO EXTEND, UM, PERSONALLY APOLOGY ON OUR PART.
YOU EXTEND US THE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR YOUTH TO COME TO SHARE IN ONE OF YOUR PROGRAMS AND WE DIDN'T MAKE IT.
SO PLEASE FORGIVE US FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
IF YOU GRANT OPPORTUNITY AGAIN, WE'LL MAKE SURE TO MAKE IT RIGHT.
FATHER HAS FOR A MOMENT PRAYER.
FATHER GOD, WE THANK YOU TODAY FOR THIS PRIVILEGE.
YOU ALLOW US TO COME TOGETHER AS COMMUNITY TO SHARE IN THIS SETTING WITH THE LEADERSHIP, LORD GOD THAT SPEAKS FOR THE PEOPLE.
I PRAY, LORD GOD, THAT YOU'LL ALLOW US TO BIND OURSELF TOGETHER AS COMMUNITY, AS WE ADDRESS THE ISSUES COLLECTIVELY TO MAKE THIS PLACE BETTER.
THE CITY THAT CARES, I PRAY, LO GOD, YOU'LL MOVE OUR HEARTS, OPEN OUR EARS TO HERE, UH, TO HAVE VISION AND TO CAST IT TO BEING ABOUT THE BETTERMENT OF THIS CITY.
WE PRAY, LO GOD FOR JUSTICE TO TAKE PLACE.
WE PRAY GOD FOR KINDNESS, SINCERITY, TO LEAD US IN ALL THAT WE DO, FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE PEOPLE AND FOR THE FUTURE OF THIS CITY.
ACTS OF GOD, YOU WILL LEAD YOU A GUIDE AND YOU PROTECT AND THAT YOU'LL GIVE US THE VISION AND MAKE IT PLAIN.
THIS WE ASK IN JESUS NAME, WE PRAY IN ESCO ALL.
WOULD YOU PLEASE JOIN ME FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO OF THE UNITED OF AMERICA UNTO THIS REPUBLIC, ONE NATION, GOD, INDIVISIBLE, LIBERTY AND THANK YOU.
YOU MAY BE SEATED AND THANK YOU PASTOR TILLMAN.
ITEM FOUR, PROCLAMATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS.
THERE ARE NOT ANY AT THIS PARTICULAR MEETING.
[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETING]
APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETING, A MAY 12TH, 2025, CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP, MINUTES B MAY 13TH, 2025.CITY COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES.
MADAM VICE MAYOR, MADAM MAYOR, I HAVE READ MAY 12TH, 2025 CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP, MINUTES, MAY 13TH, 2025.
THERE ARE NO ERRORS OR OMISSION.
I MOVE THAT THE MINUTES BE CONFIRMED.
MAYOR EDWARDS PHILLIPS FOR VICE MAYOR SWELL FOR COMMISSIONER HARRISON.
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COMMISSIONER THOMAS FOR MOTION PASSES.[6. PETITIONS FROM THE PUBLIC]
THE PUBLIC.MADAM CLERK MADAM MAYOR, WE HAVE FOUR PETITIONS FROM THE PUBLIC.
THE FIRST ONE IS FROM, UH, MR. JOSH LEVY.
MR. LEVY, THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR AND COMMISSION.
I'M HERE STANDING BEFORE YOU TODAY REPRESENTING THE LAUDERDALE LAKES INDUSTRIAL PARK.
WE HAVE BEEN THE HEART OF INDUSTRY IN THIS CITY FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS.
WE'RE THE LARGEST INDUSTRIAL PARK IN THE WE CARE CITY, AND WE CARE TOO ABOUT THE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT WE REPRESENT, ONE OF THOSE BUSINESSES.
WELDING IS A STORY THAT'S SYMPTOMATIC OF THE PROBLEMS FACING THE CITY, AND IT TIES INTO SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT YOU WERE SPEAKING ABOUT IN THE WORKSHOP AGENDA, AS WELL AS THE OPENGOV SOFTWARE THAT MCCOY HAS PROPOSED AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT LATER.
WE ARE FACING A $740,000 LIEN AGAINST OUR PROPERTY AND TOGETHER WITH THE BORDEAUX FAMILY.
MR. LEVY, WOULD YOU TALK INTO YOUR MIC PLEASE? WE CAN, YES.
I THINK YOU CAN PULL IT OUT IF THAT WOULD BE MORE COMFORTABLE FOR YOU.
WE ARE FACING A $740,000 LIEN AGAINST OUR PROPERTY AND TOGETHER WITH THE BORDEAUX FAMILY, THERE'S OVER A MILLION DOLLARS OF LIENS SITTING IN THIS ROOM BEFORE YOU TODAY.
PROBLEMS ARE GROWING IN THIS CITY.
THERE'S UNDERSTAFFING STRAINED BUDGETS, REVOLVING DOOR OF EMPLOYEES AND ECONOMIC HARDSHIPS FOR BUSINESSES THAT ARE LOOKING TO ESTABLISH THEMSELVES HERE EVERY DAY.
WE ARE A CRITICAL PART OF THE CITY'S BUSINESS TAX RECEIPT PROCESS AND COLLECTION EFFORTS.
IT IS AN EXPENSIVE AND ONEROUS PROCESS WHEN COMPARED TO DOZENS OF OTHER CITIES.
WE HAVE SPENT OUR OWN MONEY HIRING ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS, AND STATE LICENSED PRIVATE PROVIDERS TO HELP SHEPHERD BUSINESSES THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND ENSURE THAT THE CITY CAN COLLECT ON THEIR FEES.
VARUN MADE SOME SMALL UNAPPROVED CHANGES TO HIS WAREHOUSE, BUT THESE WERE NOT LIFE SAFETY ISSUES PER HIS LEASE.
HE WAS RESPONSIBLE TO PULL PERMITS.
WE HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH VARUN.
HE'S A HARDWORKING WELDER WHO'S DONE A LOT OF BUSINESS WITH US, AND HE'S ALWAYS DONE THE RIGHT THING.
UNFORTUNATELY, IN THIS CASE, HE HIRED A BAD CONTRACTOR, BUT WE'VE ALL BEEN THERE.
WE TRUSTED THE PEOPLE THAT VARUN HAD HIRED TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
AND AFTER THE INITIAL FEBRUARY, 2022 NOTICES OF VIOLATION BY MARCH, 2023, RE-INSPECTIONS REVEALED THAT MOST OF THE CODE COMPLIANCE ISSUES WERE BEING RESOLVED.
PROGRESS WAS BEING MADE ON AT LEAST SEVEN OUT OF THE 11 ISSUES IDENTIFIED AT THE TIME, BUT THINGS WENT SOUTH A MONTH LATER WHEN PLANS SUBMITTED BY VA'S CONTRACTOR WERE GETTING DENIED DURING A HEARING.
SHORTLY AFTER WE BECAME CONCERNED AND DIRECTLY GOT INVOLVED, THE CITY GRANTED US A 45 DAY EXTENSION OF TIME, BUT IT WAS SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH.
WE WERE GETTING INTO IT TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE.
WE SLOWLY DISCOVERED OVER SIX MONTHS THAT VA'S CONTRACTOR WAS INCOMPETENT IN NOT ADDRESSING THE CITY'S ISSUES PROPERLY.
BY DECEMBER, 2023, THE CITY IMPOSED $600 PER DAY PENALTIES, RETROACTIVELY AMOUNTING TO A $390,000 RETROACTIVE PENALTY.
WE IMMEDIATELY TOOK OVER THE PROJECT AND THE CLOCK STARTED TICKING, BUT OUR EFFORTS WERE SLOWED DOWN BY A LACK OF A DIGITAL PLAN SUBMISSION AND REVIEW PROCESS.
HOPEFULLY, OPENGOV WILL SOLVE THAT, AND THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS UNDERSTAFFED.
IT'S NOT OPEN DURING THE FIVE WORKING DAYS OF THE WEEK.
AND THESE ISSUES TOGETHER RESULT IN THE NEED FOR PHYSICAL DOCUMENTS TO BE DROPPED INTO A DROPBOX.
THIS IS A SYSTEM WHERE THE FIRST TO SUBMIT IS THE LAST TO BE REVIEWED UNDER A PILE OF GROWING DOCUMENTS.
THINGS HAVE BEEN LOST IN THIS SYSTEM, RESULTING IN DELAYS AND ACCRUED PENALTIES FOR US, AND I'M SURE OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME.
THE PART-TIME THIRD PARTY PLAN, REVIEWERS AND INSPECTORS IN THE FIELD ARE DOING THE BEST THAT THEY CAN, BUT THEY ARE STRETCHED THIN AND THEY LACK AVAILABILITY FOR IMMEDIATE FOLLOW-UPS.
THIS NECESSITATES THAT PIECEMEAL PLAN COMMENTS COME BACK TO US, AND FEEDBACK FROM THE FIELD FORCES MULTIPLE ROUNDS OF CHANGES TO THE PLANS INSTEAD OF ADDRESSING EVERYTHING ALL AT ONCE.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT ISSUES NEED TO BE FIXED, IT TAKES TIME, AND IT MUST GO THROUGH THE VARIOUS DISCIPLINES.
THAT MEANS THAT THERE ARE WEEKS IN BETWEEN MULTIPLE ROUNDS OF COMMENTS AND FIELD INSPECTIONS.
I JUST ASKED THE COMMISSION TODAY, WHY PENALIZED PROPERTY OWNERS FOR A PROCESS THAT LACKS EFFICIENCY AND HAS INHERENT DELAYS WITH PROBLEMS, YOU KNOW, NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.
EVEN A PERFECT RESPONSE FROM A PROPERTY OWNER IS GOING TO MEET THIS IMPERFECT PROCESS AND BE SUBJECT TO MONTHS LONG DELAYS BECAUSE OF THESE ISSUES.
FOR A VERY SIMPLE $18,000 JOB THAT SHOULD HAVE
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ONLY TAKEN A FEW MONTHS TO COMPLETE THE CITY'S PROCESS, DRAGGED IT OUT FOR 13 MONTHS AND RAN UP AN EGREGIOUS FINE.WE MOVED AS FAST AS THE SYSTEM ALLOWED US AND WE KEPT THE CITY OFFICIALS VERY WELL INFORMED ALONG THE WAY.
WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN GOOD PARTNERS WITH THE CITY AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE.
WE WANNA FIX WHATEVER THAT YOU BRING TO OUR ATTENTION AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
WE HAVE TRIED TO RESOLVE THIS LIEN FOR THE LAST THREE MONTHS.
WE HAVE REACHED OUT FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY.
WE ARE ASKING FOR A FORMAL RESOLUTION TO ADOPT A LIEN REDUCTION POLICY.
AMNESTY WOULD BE OUR FAVORITE APPROACH.
LIENS, DETER BUSINESSES FROM MOVING INTO THIS CITY AND FURTHER INVESTMENTS.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF, UH, KENNETH AND MARGARET BORDEAUX.
UM, AND I ACTUALLY, UH, ADDRESSED YOU ALL AT THE LAST, UH, I ACTUALLY ADDRESSED YOU ALL AT THE LAST COMMISSION MEETING.
UM, AND I, I HAVE TO SAY, I I WAS QUITE HEARTENED, UM, TO HEAR THE DISCUSSION THAT WAS TAKING PLACE DURING THE, I GUESS THE COMMISSION WORKSHOP, UM, CONCERNING LIEN REDUCTION, UM, UH, A POSSIBLE CHANGE TO POLICY IN ADDRESSING, UH, LIENS, UH, OF CERTAIN TIERS.
UM, YOU KNOW, BUT LEADING UP UNTIL TODAY, I HAVE TO SAY THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS, UM, SITUATION MY CLIENTS ARE GOING THROUGH HAS, HAS TAKEN UP A LOT OF MY THOUGHT AND, AND I I COULDN'T STOP THINKING ABOUT THE NUMBERS, UM, INVOLVED, UH, $65,000, 55,000 750, 50 5,300, UM, AND SOMEONE LISTENING TO OR HEARING THOSE NUMBERS MIGHT THINK, WOW, THIS IS SOME, SOME SERIOUS STUFF.
UM, AND IN MY CLIENT'S CASE, IT WAS NOT WHERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ONE SINGULAR, UH, BROKEN WINDOW CRANK, ONE SINGULAR, UH, UH, CRACKED LIGHT SWITCH COVER 42 CENTS AT ANY HOME DEPOT, UM, PEELING PAINT.
UM, AND AND I, WHEN I SPOKE LAST TIME, WHEN I SPOKE LAST TIME, UM, I ADMIT I WAS KIND OF SPEAKING FROM A VACUUM.
I, I I, I, I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY AND DIDN'T REALLY FEEL LIKE I HAD MY FINGER ON, ON THE PULSE OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT WAS GOING ON.
UM, AND THEN I, I, I READ SOMETHING, UM, A CALL TO CITY STAFF TO FIND CREATIVE WAYS TO REDUCE EXPENSES AND CREATE REVENUE, TO REDUCE EXPENSES AND CREATE REVENUE.
UH, A 161% EARMARK, UM, UH, INCREASE RATHER, UH, FOR COLLECTIONS ON THINGS LIKE, UH, FINES, UH, LIENS.
UM, AND I, I KNOW THAT, UH, IN ADDITION TO BEING A A, A GOVERNMENT, UM, AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU ARE A BUSINESS, RIGHT? YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT MONEY COMING IN, MONEY COMING OUT, AND HOPEFULLY THERE'S ENOUGH MONEY COMING IN TO PAY WHAT'S NEEDED, GOING OUT WITH A LITTLE BIT LEFT OVER.
YOU HAVE A HEIGHTENED, I I I THINK A HEIGHTENED RESPONSIBILITY TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS, YOUR PEOPLE.
UM, AND IT'S NOT JUST A, A BALANCE SHEET EXERCISE, A PROFIT AND LOSS EXERCISE.
THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE ANCHORED, UM, TO THIS CITY BY THEIR PROPERTIES MOST OFTEN.
THAT'S THEIR, THEIR THEIR DEEPEST ANCHOR.
UM, AND SO I I I, I THINK THAT WHEN, WHEN I HEAR THINGS LIKE THERE'S A, A 10% CAP ON THE ABILITY TO APPLY, UH, A REDUCTION ON LIEN AMOUNTS, MY CLIENTS HAVE A $366,000 LIEN AMOUNT.
AND I'M NOT GONNA GET INTO THE SPECIFICS OF WHY I THINK IT SHOULDN'T BE THAT HIGH.
I DON'T THINK THIS IS MAYBE THE RIGHT FORUM FOR THAT.
UM, BUT WHEN I HEAR THINGS ABOUT A A 10% CAP, UM, IT, IT, IT ALMOST SEEMS LIKE PEOPLE ARE GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT, RIGHT? BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE A 10% CAP, THEN YOU'RE ALMOST SAYING, WELL, THEY, THEY DESERVED IT.
SO EVEN IF WE'RE GONNA GIVE THEM SOMETHING, IT'S NOT GONNA BE MORE THAN MORE THAN 10%.
AND I WAS LISTENING TO WHAT YOU SAID, VICE MAYOR COWELL, AND, AND I CAN, I CAN, I CAN IMAGINE THAT IT'S FRUSTRATING TO, TO, TO FEEL AS THOUGH, UH, PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIVE HERE TREAT IT LIKE A PLACE THEY DON'T LIVE IN.
UM, BUT, BUT I ALSO THINK THAT THERE IS A WAY TO, TO ACCOMPLISH BOTH ENDS.
AS, AS, UM, MR. CALLAWAY, UH, SAID TO, TO BALANCE, UM,
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CODE ENFORCEMENT, RIGHT? ENFORCEMENT AND OBLIGATION TO COMPLY WITH, UH, THE THE NEED, NOT JUST THE NEED.I THINK THE, THE, THE OBLIGATION TO DO THE RIGHT THING, ONE CALLED FOR HAVING A, UM, A, A A A BLANKET AMNESTY PROGRAM WOULD BE GREAT, RIGHT? BUT ALSO I THINK YOU NEED TO CONSIDER, UM, EVERYONE BY THEIR OWN CASE, EVERYONE BY THEIR OWN SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES, WHICH ARE UNIQUE TO ALL OF THESE CODE CASES, RIGHT? UM, AND SO GIVING YOUR STAFF THE ABILITY TO OFFER MORE THAN A 10% REDUCTION DOESN'T COMPEL YOU TO, DOESN'T OBLIGE YOU TO, BUT IT GIVES YOU THE ABILITY TO CONSIDER THE FACTS AND TO, TO, TO WALK THAT LINE, TO BALANCE THOSE TWO NEEDS, I THINK EFFECTIVELY AND APPROPRIATELY.
UM, UH, OBLIGE COMPLIANCE WHEN IT'S REQUIRED, BUT WHEN IT'S ALSO REQUIRED TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND, AND JUST TO FINISH UP WHEN, WHEN YOU HAVE CIRCUMSTANCES, I THINK THAT COMPEL DOING THE RIGHT THING, OFFERING A LARGER REDUCTION, THAT'S WHAT CARING IS ABOUT.
UM, AND, AND I THINK THAT THAT IS THE, THE SPIRIT OF GOVERNMENT, AND IT'S THE SPIRIT.
I THINK THAT, UM, THAT, THAT, THAT COMPELS YOU TO REVISE, UM, YOUR POLICY AND HELP YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
NEXT WE HAVE MR. MATTHEW OLSON.
MR. SORENSON, UH, MADAM MAYOR, MY NAME IS MATTHEW RESON.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF LAUDERDALE LAKES, UH, FOR JOSH.
I JUST WANNA ADD A COUPLE OF THINGS VERY, VERY BRIEFLY.
UH, COMMISSIONER HARRISON, YOU TALKED ABOUT PEOPLE COMING PROACTIVELY TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM.
HE'S HERE AT A COMMISSION MEETING, RIGHT? THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO PROBABLY HAVE LIENS.
THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT, MAYBE THEY HAVEN'T PAID IT, MAYBE THEY DON'T CARE.
WATER TO LAKES IS THE EXACT OPPOSITE.
THEY'RE HERE AFFIRMATIVELY WANTING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND RESOLVE IT.
THEY'RE CURRENTLY FULLY COMPLIANT, BUT THE BUSINESS TAX LICENSE HAS BEEN WITHHELD.
THE CERTIFICATE OF USE HAS BEEN WITHHELD, THEY'RE NOW FULLY COMPLIANT.
AND VARUN, WHO'S IN THE BACK, WHO'S THE TENANT? THESE ARE LOCAL BUSINESSES, LOCAL OWNERSHIP.
THERE IS A LOT OF REAL ESTATE TAX THAT COMES INTO THE CITY FROM THIS MASSIVE PROJECT.
AND SO, AS YOU DELIBERATE AND TALK ABOUT THESE ISSUES GOING FORWARD, I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT HOW, UH, HOW INTERESTED IN MY CLIENT IS IN HELPING THE CITY, WHETHER IT'S HELPING THE CITY MODERNIZE WITH TECHNOLOGY FOR THE PROPER SOFTWARE, FOR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE, THEY'RE HERE AND THEY'VE HIRED AN ENTIRE TEAM TO WORK PROACTIVELY WITH THE CITY TO MOVE FORWARD, BECAUSE THIS INDUSTRIAL PARK'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
IT'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE FOR A HUNDRED YEARS.
THEY WANNA BE ACTIVE, THEY WANNA REACH OUT, THEY WANNA WORK TOGETHER FOR A CONCRETE AND FAIR, UH, RESOLUTION OF THIS.
THANK YOU, MRS. SO MAD CLERK, MADAM MAYOR.
UM, FINALLY WE HAVE MISS, UM, FORMER MAYOR, COMMISSIONER BEVERLY WILLIAMS, FORMER COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
I MOVED TO LAUDERDALE LAKES IN 1974.
A LONG TIME WHEN WE CAME ON BOARD, THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES DID NOT HAVE A COMMISSION.
OUR DEPARTMENT, AS IN THE LATE EIGHTIES, I REMEMBER COMING HERE, STOOD RIGHT THERE MY FIRST TIME COMING TO CITY HALL.
AND MY QUESTION TO THE CITY COUNCIL WAS, WHY ARE YOU ALLOWING SO MANY PAWN SHOPS INTO THIS COMMUNITY?
THEN WE HAVE A, SO I DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU ALL HAVE NOTICED THERE ARE FIVE PAWN SHOPS.
THAT'S THAT STARTED RIGHT HERE.
WE HAD ONE THAT WAS HERE THAT WAS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF OAKLAND PARK.
I MEAN, UH, YEAH, OAKLAND PARK AND 4 41.
I WAS TOLD THAT, THAT A BUSINESS COULD PUT ANYTHING IN HERE THAT THEY WANTED TO, THEY COULD OPEN UP ANYTHING.
AND I SAID TO, AND I RESPONDED.
THEY WERE ABLE TO RESPOND BACK AND FORTH.
AND I SAID, WELL, THERE PEOPLE ARE BREAKING INTO OUR HOMES, SNATCHING GOLD OFF PEOPLE'S NECK, AND THEY'RE TAKING 'EM TO THE PAWN SHOP.
AND I WAS TOLD, NO, THAT'S AGAINST THE LAW, BECAUSE PAWN SHOP DEALER WOULD NOT DO THAT.
IN 1998, MAYOR BROWN AND COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS WAS ADDED, AND DURING THAT TIME, THE RESIDENTS ALSO VOTED TO HIRE A CITY MANAGER, CHANGED THE FORM OF GOVERNMENT TO COMMISSIONER.
HE HAD CAME IN AND HAD THE, HAD THE BUSINESS OF ORGANIZING THE ENTIRE CITY.
THE NEW MANAGER WAS EXPERIENCED AND WAS ABLE TO GET THE CITY READY.
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CONDOS AT THE TIME WAS VALUED AT $15,000, WHICH THEY PAID NO TAXES.THE MANAGER PUT IN PLACE THE EMS SYSTEM FOR THEM TO PAY A $50 A YEAR, NOT NOT A MONTH, $50 A YEAR FOR, UH, AMBULANCE SERVICES HERE IN THE, IN THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES.
THIS MAN, HE KNEW BUDGETING HOW TO EVALUATE THE SERVICES NEEDED.
HE HAD EXPERIENCE ON HOW, HOW TO GOVERN.
HE WAS NOT FRIENDS TO THE EMPLOYEES.
THEY COMPLAINED EVEN THOUGH THE, THOUGH THE HOUSING WAS CARRYING THE LOAD, THEY DIDN'T EVEN WANNA PUT A SWIMMING POOL IN HERE BECAUSE THEY SAID IT WAS DANGEROUS.
NOW, MY, MY DAUGHTER WAS THREE WHEN WE MOVED HERE, AND I HAD NEVER HEARD OF ANYBODY, ANY CHILD GETTING DROWNED IN OUR 11 MILES OF POOLS.
THE MAIN REASON FOR OBTAINING US AN EXPERIENCED CITY MANAGER TO EVALUATE, ALLEVIATE WHAT IS OCCURRING NOW WHEN YOU PLACE COUNT COUNTRY OVER CITY, IS THE REASON WE ARE HAVING THE ISSUES WE ARE HAVING NOW.
WELL, LET ME SAY WHAT I SEE TOO MANY SNUFFS TAKING PLACE.
COMMISSIONS, NOT TAKING THE CLASSES NEEDED TO UNDERSTAND HOW GOVERNMENT WORKS, HAVING A RESPONSIBILITY, ALL TO THAT.
ALL OF YOU NEED SOMEONE WITH EXPERIENCE, NOT SOME THAT WILL DO WHAT THE COMMISSIONERS WANT.
EVERY DAY WE HAVE A CAR WASHING TAKING PLACE WITH PEOPLE LINING UP ON 38TH AVENUE AND 28TH STREET.
I BOUGHT THIS UP BEFORE, EVEN HAVE CHAIRS OUT THERE SO THAT THE CLIENTS HAVE A PLACE TO SIT WHILE THEIR CARS ARE BEING CLEANED AT THE INTERSECTION OF 41ST AND 31ST AVENUE AT BY THE SERVICE THAT BY THAT, UH, UH, GROCERY STORE IN THAT CORNER, FULL PLEDGE BUSINESS BEING TAKEN CARE OF.
I DON'T LIKE THAT IT'S GOTTEN TO THE PLACE THAT I EVEN, I USED TO TAKE PICTURES.
EVERYBODY KNEW, UH, I WOULD SEND YOU A PICTURE.
'CAUSE EVERYBODY CAN'T SEE EVERYTHING.
BUT EVERY DAY WE HAVE THE CAR WASHING, ALL YOU DO IS JUST PASS THROUGH THERE.
A IMAGINE A LOT OF POSITIONS ARE BEING HELD WITHOUT POLITELY BEING, UH, UH, THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO DO THE JOB.
ASK THIS QUESTION AT THE BUDGET MEETING LAST, LAST WEEK, IS THE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONER HAVE TAKEN A SERIOUS LOOK AT WHAT'S COMING DOWN THE PIPE? IT SHOULD, IF WE SHOULD HAVE A HURRICANE, IS THE CITY MONETARILY READY TO BE, TO HANDLE ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT FOLLOWS THAT WITH DEBRIS PICK UP AND WHAT HAVE YOU? IT'S A LOT.
WILL A CITY MANAGER BE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE WITH EXPERIENCED DEVELOPERS, UNDERSTAND THE TRENDS THAT'S TAKING PLACE WITH OUR FUND BALANCES? BEING A MANAGER IS MORE THAN JUST SIGNING ON OFF ON WHATEVER YOU WANT TO HAVE.
I LOVE MY CITY, AND I KNOW I'VE TOLD YOU ALL I I WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HIRE CITY MANAGER.
WE MAKE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S QUALIFIED, OUR CODE.
I KNOW IT'S BELOW STAFF, UH, STAFF OF WHAT WE HAVE.
NO ONE IS KEEPING YOU UP WITH WHATEVER.
LIKE WE SAID, THINGS LIKE THAT SHOULD NOT BE OCCURRING HERE IN THE CITY.
I DON'T LIKE THE WAY THE CITY IS LOOKING NOW.
ALRIGHT, I'M, I'M ALL, THIS IS MY CITY.
AND YOU KNOW, I WAS AT AN EVENT ON LAST WEEK AND PEOPLE WERE ASKING ME, WHAT IS GOING ON IN LAUDERDALE LAKE? I CAN'T ANSWER THAT BECAUSE I'M NOT ON THE, ON THE COMMISSION.
I HAVE BEEN COMING HERE SINCE 1998 COMING.
I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY COMMISSION MEETINGS THAT I HAVE ATTENDED HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY BECAUSE I CARE ABOUT MY COMMUNITY.
SO I'M ASKING YOU ALL, PLEASE PUT ASIDE, DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO MAKE SURE WE GET A CITY MANAGER THAT'S QUALIFIED.
AS I TOLD YOU BEFORE, WHEN WE GOT ONE CITY MANAGER, IT WAS, IT WAS, WE DID NOT HAVE THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING HERE FOR FIVE YEARS.
EVERY TIME WE HIRE SOMEBODY, WE KEEP CONTINUING TO DO VALUE AND I DON'T LIKE IT.
BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
FORMER COMMISSIONER WILLIAMS THAT SAID MATTER.
[A. ORDINANCE 2025-007 IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 5, SECTION 5.04 OF THE LAUDERDALE LAKES CODE OF ORDINANCES, AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025 ADOPTED BUDGET; PROVIDING FOR REVISIONS TO THE APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS FOR THE OPERATION OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES (“CITY”) IN THE AMOUNT OF ONE MILLION ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-THREE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED FIFTY AND NO/100 DOLLARS ($1,123,750.00), PERTAINING TO COMMISSION APPROVED PURCHASE OF REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 4301 NW 48TH AVENUE PURSUANT TO RESOLUTION 2025-027; PERTAINING TO APPROPRIATING THE NEW GRANT AWARD NO. 21469 FROM BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF FLORIDA, INC. D/B/A FLORIDA BLUE PURSUANT TO RESOLUTION 2025-046; PROVIDING FOR REVISION TO FUNDING AMOUNTS ALLOCATED TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM FUND PURSUANT TO RESOLUTION 2025-034]
CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCES ON SECOND READING.ITEM SEVEN, A MAD MAYOR AND COMMISSIONER'S, ORDINANCE NUMBER 2 0 2 5 DASH 0 0 7 IN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES, BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA, IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE FIVE, SECTION 5.04 OF THE LAUDERDALE LAKES CODE OF ORDINANCES AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 20 24, 20 25, ADOPTED BUDGET PROVIDING FOR REVISIONS TO THE APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS FOR THE OPERATION OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,123,750 PERTAINING TO COMMISSION APPROVED PURCHASE OF REAL PROPERTY, LOCATED AT 43 0 1 NORTHWEST 48TH AVENUE, PURSUANT TO RESOLUTION 2025 DASH 2027, PERTAINING TO APPROPRIATING THE NEW GRANT AWARD NUMBER 21 4 6 9 FROM BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF FLORIDA, INC.
DBA FLORIDA BLUE, PURSUANT TO RESOLUTION 2025 DASH 0 4 6, PROVIDING FOUR REVISIONS TO FUNDING AMOUNTS ALLOCATED TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM FUND PURSUANT TO RESOLUTION 2025 DASH 0 3 4 AS IDENTIFIED IN
[00:25:01]
THE BUDGET AMENDMENT.NUMBER TWO, ATTACHED HERE TO AS EXHIBIT A, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE INSPECTED IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK, PROVIDING FOR ADOPTION OF RECITALS, REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT, PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY, PROVIDING FOR INCLUSIONS IN THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
MADAM MAYOR, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING.
A MOTION TO BRING TO THE FLOOR FOR DISCUSSION.
MADAM MAYOR, COMMISSIONER THOMAS, I'D LIKE TO BRING ORDINANCE 2025 DASH 0 0 7 TO THE FLOOR FOR DISCUSSION.
VICE MAYOR SWELL FOR COMMISSIONER HARRISON.
FOR COMMISSIONER THOMAS FOR MAYOR EDWARDS PHILLIPS FOR MOTION PASSES.
MADAM MADAM MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, THIS ORDINANCE AMENDS THE FISCAL YEAR 20 24 25, ADOPTED BUDGET PER ORDINANCE 20 24 0 1 6 TO SUCCESSFULLY OPERATE THE CITY AND CONFORM TO ACCOUNTING PRI PRINCIPLES AND STANDARDS.
A BUDGET AMENDMENT IS REQUESTED FOR THE GENERAL FUND, ALZHEIMER'S CARE FUND AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUND.
MS. BOBBY WILLIAMS IS HERE TO PRESENT THAT ITEM THROUGH YOU.
GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR, UH, VICE MAYOR, CITY COMMISSIONER, CITY ATTORNEY, OUR CITY MANAGER, OUR CITY CLERK, OUR AUDIENCE, AND OF COURSE OUR STAFF.
FOR THE RECORD, I AM BOBBY WILLIAMS, THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL SERVICES, AND THIS ITEM IS ON FINAL OR SECOND READING.
IT'S TO AMEND THE, UH, FISCAL YEAR 2025, OPERATING IN CAPITAL BUDGET.
UH, WE ARE ASKING FOR THREE SEPARATE ITEMS. UM, THE, THE FIRST ITEM IS IN THE GENERAL FUND, AND IT IS TO INCREASE THE BUDGET BY A TOTAL OF $986,647.
AND THAT IS TO FACILITATE, UH, THE MOST RECENT PURCHASE OF THE, UH, CITY'S PROPERTY AT THE ADDRESS 43 0 1 NORTHWEST 40TH AVENUE, UH, FEBRUARY 19TH.
HE DID APPROVE, UH, TO THE STAFF TO ON BEHALF OF THE CITY TO MAKE THIS PURCHASE, WHICH WE DID, UH, BOTH THE, UH, PURCHASE PRICE ALONG WITH THE, UH, FEES FOR BOTH THE COUNTY AND THE STATE TOTAL, THE 9 980 $6,647.
SO IF, UH, IF APPROVED TONIGHT, THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET WILL BE $45,897,086.
THE SECOND ITEM THAT WE ARE REQUESTING TO AMEND IS THE ALZHEIMER CARE CENTER FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $100,000.
UH, AT THE CITY COMMISSION MEETING, UH, MARCH 20, MARCH 25TH, UH, THE COMMISSION DID APPROVE THE ACCEPTANCE OF A GRANT FROM BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF FLORIDA DOING BUSINESS AS FLORIDA BLUE, UM, FOR THE PURPOSE OF RENOVATING THE ALZHEIMER, UH, CARE CENTER KITCHEN AND SOME OTHER, UH, UPGRADES TO THE, TO THE CENTER, UM, TO THE TUNE OF, AGAIN, $100,000.
UH, SO WE NEED TO, UH, APPROPRIATE THESE, UH, APPROPRIATE THIS NEW REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES, UH, TO THE CITY'S OVERALL BUDGET.
IF APPROVED TONIGHT, THE REVISED BUDGET FOR THE ALZHEIMER CARE CENTER FUND WILL BE $766,075.
AND THE THIRD AND FINAL ITEM IS THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUND, UH, FOR AN AMOUNT OF 37,000 103, UH, ANNUALLY.
THE CITY, UH, DOES RECEIVE THE, UM, THE, UH, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUND FROM THE COUNTY, UH, FOR MINOR HOME REPAIR SERVICES.
UH, THE UH, COUNTY DID APPROVE US FOR AN ADJUSTMENT, UM, TO THOSE TWO PROGRAMS, ONE BEING THE 49TH YEAR AND THE 50TH PROGRAM YEAR.
AND THE ADJUSTMENT INCREASED OUR ALLOTMENT UP TO 37,000 103 IN ORDER TO BOTH, UH, RECEIVE THE MONEY AND ALSO TO EXPAND.
WE NEEDED TO INCREASE THE BUDGET BY THIS AMOUNT.
UH, IF APPROVED TONIGHT, UH, THE REVISED BUDGET FOR THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUND WILL BE 501,261.
UM, ALL THREE, UH, AMENDMENTS, REQUESTED AMENDMENTS TOTAL, THE $1,123,750.
UM, IF, EXCUSE ME, IF EVERYTHING IS APPROVED TONIGHT, THE ALL FUNDS OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET WILL BE $109,333,878.
AT THIS TIME, I COULD ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR ENTERTAIN ANY CONCERNS THAT YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT THE AMENDMENT.
THIS ITEM SEVEN A IS A PUBLIC HEARING, SEVERAL FROM THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO HAVE INPUT.
THIS ITEM IS A PUBLIC HEARING.
ITEM SEVEN A IS A PUBLIC HEARING.
MADAM, MAY I I HAVE NO OTHER QUESTION.
[00:30:01]
DOES A GOOD JOB IN EXPLAINING, AND I THINK THIS IS A SECOND READING, AT LEAST IT'S THE MONEY COMING BACK TO US IN THE JANUARY FORM, SO THAT'S GOOD FOR ME.I DON'T, MADAM MAYOR? YES, I MOVED TO APPROVE ORDINANCE 2025.
THAT'S 0 0 7 VICE MAYOR SWELL FOR COMMISSIONER HARRISON.
FOR COMMISSIONER THOMAS FOR MAYOR EDWARDS PHILLIPS FOR MOTION PASSES.
ITEM EIGHT, CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCES ON FIRST READING.
THERE ARE NOT ANY CONSIDERATION
[9. CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTIONS ON CONSENT AGENDA]
OF RESOLUTIONS ON CONSENT.AGENDA ITEMS NINE A, NINE B, AND NINE C.
DOES ANYONE WANT TO PULL ANY ITEM FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? NO, MR.
ALRIGHT, MADAM MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS RESOLUTION 2 0 2 5 DASH 0 6 7 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF LAUDERDALE LAKES FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING AND APPROVING THE PROGRAM DESIGNED FOR THE CONDOMINIUM MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
A COPY OF THE PROGRAM DESIGNED FOR THE CONDOMINIUM, A MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS ATTACHED HERE TOO AS EXHIBIT A, A DRAFT COPY OF WHICH MAY BE INSPECTED IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK PROVIDING FOR THE ADOPTION OF RECITALS, PROVIDING FOR INSTRUCTIONS TO THE DEPUTY CITY CLERK PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE RESOLUTION 2 0 2 5 DASH 0 7 4, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF LAUDERDALE LAKES FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING AND APPROVING THE PROGRAM DESIGNED FOR THE HOME IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
A COPY OF THE PROGRAM DESIGNED FOR THE HOME IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM IS ATTACHED HERE TOO AS EXHIBIT A, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE INSPECTED IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK PROVIDING FOR ADOPTION OF RECITALS, PROVIDING FOR INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CITY CLERK, PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE RESOLUTION 2 0 2 5 DASH SEVEN FIVE, THE RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF, OF THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES RATIFYING AND APPROVING THE AMENDED SCHEDULED MEETING DATES FOR THE CITY ADVISORY BOARDS FOR THE REMAINDER OF CALENDAR YEAR 2025, PROVIDING FOR ADOPTION OF RECITALS, PROVIDING FOUR INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CITY CLERK, PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
MADAM MAYOR THOMAS, I MOVE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2025 DASH 0 6 7, RESOLUTION 2025 DASH 0 7 4 AND RESOLUTION 2025 DASH SEVEN FIVE.
COMMISSIONER HARRISON FOR COMMISSIONER THOMAS, OR MAYOR EDWARDS PHILLIPS VICE MAYOR SWELL FOR MOTION PASSES.
[A. RESOLUTION 2025-076 APPROVING THE PURCHASE OF THE OPENGOV CLOUD SOFTWARE PURSUANT TO ARTICLE XIII, SECTION 82-358(D) OF THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES' PROCUREMENT CODE PROVIDING FOR EXCLUSIONS AND EXCEPTION TO BID AND PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS, THAT CERTAIN CONTRACT WITH CARAHSOFT, COMPETITIVELY SOLICITED AND AWARDED BY THE STATE OF UTAH, LEAD AGENCY ACTING BY AND THROUGH THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE PROCUREMENT OFFICIALS (NASPO) VALUEPOINT, COMPETITIVELY PROCURED AND AWARDED A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL RESULTING IN MASTER AGREEMENT NUMBER AR2472, ON BEHALF OF THE CARAHSOFT COOPERATIVE PURCHASING PROGRAM, IN AN AMOUNT NOT EXCEED TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-TWO THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED THIRTY-THREE DOLLARS AND SIXTY CENTS ($262,233.60), IN FISCAL YEAR 2025 THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2026 ADDITIONALLY, AUTHORIZING AN ANNUAL MAINTENANCE PLAN STARTING IN FISCAL YEAR 2027 IN THE AMOUNT OF ONE HUNDRED FIFTEEN THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS AND EIGHTY-FIVE CENTS ($115,925.85) PLUS AN ADDITIONAL FIVE PERCENT OF SUCH AMOUNT FOR EVERY FISCAL YEAR THEREAFTER]
CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTIONS ON REGULAR AGENDA.ITEM 10 A MADAM MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS RESOLUTION 2 0 2 5 DASH 0 7 6, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF LAUDERDALE LAKES, FLORIDA PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 13, SECTION 82 DASH 3 5 8 D OF THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES PROCUREMENT CODE PROVIDING FOR COOPERATIVE PURCHASING AS AN EXCLUSION AND EXCEPTION TO BID AND PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS AT FORTH IN THE LAUDERDALE LAKES PROCUREMENT CODE AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THAT CERTAIN ALTERNATIVE CONTRACT, SOURCE NUMBER 43 23 0 0 0 DASH NASP DASH 16 DASH ACS MASTER AGREEMENT AR 2 4 72 COMPETITIVELY PROCURED AND AWARDED BY THE STATE OF UTAH TO CARESOFT TECHNOLOGY CORP FOR PROCUREMENT OF CLOUD SOLUTIONS, AKA OPENGOV CLOUD SOFTWARE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND CITY CLERK TO EX EXECUTE AND ATTEST RESPECTIVELY THAT CERTAIN CONTRACT AND OR PRICE QUOTATION BETWEEN THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES AND CARESOFT TECHNOLOGY CORP FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE OPEN GLOVE OPEN GOV CLOUD SOFTWARE IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $262,233 AND 60 CENTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024 AND 2025 AND FISCAL YEAR 2025 THROUGH 2026 AUTHORIZING EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS FOR ANNUAL MAINTENANCE PLAN BEGINNING IN FISCAL YEAR 2027 FOR THE AMOUNT OF $115,925 AND 85 CENTS, PLUS AN ADDITIONAL 5% OF SUCH AMOUNT FOR EVERY FISCAL YEAR.
THEREAFTER, A COPY OF THE MASTER AGREEMENT AR 24 72 IS ATTACHED HERE TO AS EXHIBIT A COPY OF THE CARESOFT PRICE QUOTATIONS ATTACHED HERE TO AS EXHIBIT B, BOTH OF WHICH MAY BE INSPECTED IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK PROVIDING FOR ADOPTION OF RECITALS, PROVIDING FOR INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CITY CLERK PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
MADAM MAYOR, COMMISSIONER THOMAS, I'D LIKE TO BRING RESOLUTION 2025 DASH 0 7 6 TO THE FLOOR FOR DISCUSSION.
COMMISSIONER THOMAS, FOUR, MAYOR EDWARDS PHILLIPS VICE MAYOR SWELL FOUR, COMMISSIONER HARRISON FOR MOTION PASSES.
MADAM MADAM MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, THIS RESOLUTION REQUESTS CITY STAFF
[00:35:01]
TO PURCHASE THE OPEN GOV CLOUD SOFTWARE ALONG WITH AN ANNUAL MAINTENANCE PLAN FROM CARESOFT TECHNOLOGY CORP.AND WILL BE PRESENTED BY MS. TANJA MCCOY.
MADAM MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, CITY COMMISSION, CITY ATTORNEY, CITY CLERK.
I'M HERE TO, UH, REPRESENT A AND REQUESTING THAT STAFF BE ALLOWED TO PURCHASE THE OPENGOV, UM, CLOUD SOFTWARE.
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF OPENGOV WILL DIRECTLY ENHANCE THE OPERATION OF SEVERAL KEY DIVISIONS WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING HOUSING GRANTS, BUSINESS SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
THE SOFTWARE WILL STREAMLINE PERMITTING INSPECTIONS, ZONING APPLICATIONS AND CODE ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES, ALLOWING STAFF TO PROCESS CASES MORE EFFICIENTLY.
AND WITH GREATER TRANSPARENCY IN THE HOUSING GRANT DIVISION, OPENGOV WILL STRENGTHEN THE ADMINISTRATION OF HOUSING RELATED GRANTS BY IMPROVING APPLICATION TRACKING PROGRAM COMPLIANCE AND REPORTING CAPABILITIES, CRITICAL FUNCTIONS.
AS THE CITY EXPANDS EFFORTS TO ADDRESS HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION, THE SYSTEM WILL ALSO PLAY AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN SUPPORTING RENTAL PROPERTY REGISTRATION, ENABLING AUTOMATED RENEWALS, OWNER COMMUNICATION AND REGULATORY COMPLIANCE TRACKING IN THE BUSINESS SERVICES DIVISION.
OPENGOV WILL IMPROVE THE BUSINESS TAX RECEIPT PROCESS BY DIGITIZING APPLICATIONS, INTAKE, RENEWAL WORKFLOWS, AND INTERDEPARTMENT COMMUNICATIONS AS AN ADDITIONAL INCENTIVE FOR OPENGOV HAS PROPOSED AND HAS, UM, IMPLEMENT, APPLIED A PROCESS BY WHICH THE CITY CAN ALSO RECEIVE A PROCUREMENT MODEL MODULE THAT WILL ALLOW THE CITY TO, UM, USE THAT PROCUREMENT PROGRAM TO, UH, PROCURE VENDORS AND, UH, COMPLETE THE BIDDING PROCESS.
SO THROUGH THIS PROCESS, I AM NOW GOING TO, UH, INTRODUCE TO YOU THE OPENGOV REPRESENTATIVE WHO WILL GIVE US A DEMONSTRATION OF HOW THE PROJECT, THE PRO PROGRAM WORKS.
MS. JAKE, CAN I GET YOUR LAST NAME FOR THE RECORD? UH, FOR THE RECORD, MY LAST NAME IS SPELLED T-H-E-U-T.
UM, MADAM MAYOR, MADAM VICE MAYOR, UH, COMMISSION CITY, ATTORNEY CITY, UH, ACTING CITY MANAGER.
UM, I OVERSEE ALL THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND I'VE BEEN WORKING DEAL DILIGENTLY WITH, WITH TANJA.
UM, I DID PRESENT A, I DID HAVE A PRESENTATION TO KURT.
UM, I DON'T KNOW IF HE COULD PULL THAT UP OR I CAN SHARE MY SCREEN, UH, VIA THE ZOOM.
UH, I THINK IT WOULD HELP AID OUR CONVERSATION.
[00:40:10]
APOLOGIES FOR THAT.THERE'S, UH, SOME TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES, BUT I'LL JUST, I'LL JUST SPEAK TO IT.
UM, THROUGH OUR, OUR CONVERSATION WITH TANJA, UM, JUST TO KIND OF GIVE A LITTLE BACKSTORY, TANJA UTILIZED OPENGOV, UM, AT COCOA BEACH AND WITH HER SUCCESS, UH, HER AS LEADING THAT DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY, UM, THEY DID A, SHE DID A CASE STUDY FOR US, UH, TO, TO, TO DEMONSTRATE THE RESULTS, UM, THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE WITH HER LEADERSHIP AND THEN ALSO OUR SOFTWARE AT THE SAME TIME.
UM, SO, SO TANJA IS A VERY HUGE ADVOCATE FOR OPENING UP, BUT THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT, UH, WITH THE CITY.
NOW, YOUR GUYS IS LIKE FIVE FUNCTIONAL KEY AREAS, RIGHT? AS A CITY, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE, PUBLIC SAFETY, GROWTH MANAGEMENT, CULTURE AND RECREATION AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES, OPENGOV KIND OF TOUCHES ALL THOSE FIVE MAIN KEY ASPECTS, UM, WITH OUR SOFTWARE.
UM, 'CAUSE OUR SOFTWARE IS CITYWIDE, UM, ALL DEPARTMENTS CAN USE IT.
UH, SO REALLY AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE'S NO LIMITATIONS FOR THE CITY WITH OUR SOFTWARE, WHEN WE KIND OF, WHEN YOU GUYS IN YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN, IN YOUR BUDGET BOOK, YOU KIND OF BREAK IT DOWN INTO FOUR SUBCATEGORIES OF THAT CUSTOMERS OPERATIONS, EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT, AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, RIGHT? THIS, OUR SOFTWARE ALLOWS CUSTOMERS TO HAVE A BETTER EXPERIENCE WITH THE CITY.
THEY CAN APPLY TRACK, UH, AND PAY FOR ANY APPLICATION ONLINE.
UH, THEN THEY CAN ALSO TRACK THAT APPLICATION.
WHAT WE KIND OF JOKE INTERNALLY, WE CALL IT THE DOMINO'S PIZZA TRACKER, RIGHT? WE DO LIKE TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF FUN, BUT THOSE APPLICANTS CAN TRACK THE STATUS OF THEIR APPLICATION AT ANY TIME, 24 HOURS A DAY, UH, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK OPERATIONS, RIGHT? WITH OUR SOFTWARE, IT'S GONNA ALLOW FOR A FASTER APPROVAL TIMES WITH, UM, ANY APPLICATIONS.
WE'RE SEEING THAT FROM A FOUR WEEK, UM, PROCESS TODAY, THAT'LL BE ROUGHLY TO ABOUT FOUR DAYS.
THAT'S TALK ABOUT RETURN ON INVESTMENT AND TIME BEING A SIGNIFICANT VALUE, EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT AS WELL.
THE PRIOR, UH, VENDOR, UM, HAD REALLY A LOT OF TROUBLE, YOU KNOW, MAINTAINING THE SYSTEM AND A LOT OF CONSCIOUS TEAM WAS MAINTAINING THE SOFTWARE DAY IN AND DAY OUT, RIGHT? REALLY DELAYING PROJECTS WITH OPENGOV.
WE HAVE A DEDICATED TEAM OF PRIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO ENSURE THAT TANJA AND HER TEAM FOCUS ON DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, UM, ACTIONS INSTEAD OF TRYING TO BE IT PROFESSIONALS.
AND THEN FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT WITH OPENGOV, IT'S A ONE CONCISE SOFTWARE, UM, SUBSCRIPTION MODEL WHERE THERE IS NO MORE UPCHARGES, RIGHT? YOUR NEIGHBORS PAY A, A RIDICULOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY JUST FOR UPGRADES, UM, ADDING USERS, ET CETERA.
WE HAVE OVER 120 PARTNERS HERE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, AND THAT'S FOR A REASON.
WE DELIVER RESULTS AND WE'RE A CONCISE, UH, SOFTWARE INVESTMENT DAY, YOU KNOW, EACH YEAR, DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
THAT REALLY ELIMINATES FOR, YOU KNOW, PRESENTING TO COUNCIL AND ASKING FOR MONEY.
NO ONE LIKES TO DO THAT WITH OPENGOV.
AND REALLY WHAT'S UNDERSTANDING WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO TANJA AND HER REALLY DECISION CRITERIA IS A CUSTOMER.
SHE WANTS HER SIT LIKE THE CITIZENS OF LAUDERDALE LAKES TO BE ABLE TO, UH, APPLY PAY AND TRACK FOR APPLICATIONS ONLINE.
AND REALLY THE TIME TO VALUE IS THE BIGGEST ASPECT THAT OPENGOV CAN DELIVER.
SINCE TANJA UTILIZED HER, UM, OPENGOV AT COCOA BEACH, WE'RE ABLE TO COPY HER WORKFLOWS OVER INTO LAUDERDALE LAKES' PORTAL AND TO THEIR SYSTEM.
SO WE CAN DRIVE A, A TREMENDOUS VALUE OF GETTING THE PORTAL UP WITHIN ROUGHLY ABOUT A MONTH OR TWO.
SO THE, A STANDARD BILLING APPLICATION AND A BUSINESS TAX RECEIPT WILL BE LIVE, UM, IN LESS THAN TWO MONTHS.
THE PREVIOUS VENDOR COULDN'T DO THAT IN FIVE YEARS.
THAT IS TIME TO VALUE WITH OPENGOV.
UH, AND THEN ALSO TOO, SINCE WE ARE A CITYWIDE SOFTWARE, THAT PORTAL WILL BE THAT KIND OF CENTRAL REPOSITORY FOR ALL APPLICATIONS, UH, FROM BUILDING PERMITS TO, UM, BUSINESS TAX RECEIPTS, ANY APPLICATION BECAUSE THERE'S NO GUARDRAILS.
AND THEN EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT, RIGHT? TANJA WOULD REALLY ALLOW FOR HER TEAM TO DEVELOP MORE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES SKILLS INSTEAD OF RELYING ON IT AND TRYING TO BE AN IT PROFESSIONAL.
THIS IS MORE, YOU KNOW, VALUE FOR THE EMPLOYEES, BUT THEN ALSO THAT LEADS TO THE CITIZENS FOR APPLICANTS TO BEING DONE, UH, A LOT, UH, SWIFTLY AND, UH, QUICKLY.
SO WHY OPENGOV? FOUR KIND OF MAIN KEY ASPECTS.
WE DO HAVE AN ONLINE PORTAL THAT REALLY INCREASES THAT CITIZEN AND DEVELOPER ENGAGEMENT.
OUR STAFF IMPROVEMENT, WE TALKED ABOUT THE, THE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY THERE.
WE DO HAVE CONFIGURABLE WORKFLOWS, SO YOU CAN MAKE CHANGES IN THE SOFTWARE WITHOUT CONTACTING IT.
APPLICATION TIMES BEING DONE, INCREASE COLLABORATION SINCE IT IS CITYWIDE, THERE'S NO LIMITATIONS.
AND THEN ALSO WE DO HAVE A REPORTING AND TRANSPARENCY FUNCTION WITHIN OUR SOLUTION, SO SHE CAN EASILY, UH, GENERATE REPORTS FOR COMMISSION AND YOU GUYS CAN HAVE THE VISUAL ASPECTS IN TRACKING ALL DIFFERENT ASPECTS.
YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE LIENS, YOU CAN TRACK ALL THAT AND HAVE THAT CENTRAL REPOSITORY FOR A MORE EFFICIENT WORKPLACE.
[00:45:01]
UM, SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT ARE THE RESULTS THAT WE'RE GONNA DRIVE FOR THE CITY? WE'RE GONNA HAVE THAT ONLINE PORTAL UP WITH THOSE TWO APP, UH, APPLICATIONS ROUGHLY WITHIN THAT FIRST MONTH OR TWO.WE DO HAVE PREMIUM SUPPORT AND THEN WHAT WE KIND OF TALKED ABOUT OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY WISE, FOUR WEEKS TO ABOUT FOUR DAYS FOR A STANDARD APPLICATION.
AND THEN ALSO WE TALK ABOUT GENERATING REVENUE AS A CITY.
OUR, WE HAVE A GREAT CASE STUDY WITH TANJA BEFORE SHE DID A THREE X REVENUE INCREASE FROM COCOA BEACH.
THEY'RE DOING ABOUT 600,000 IN REVENUE TO DOING OVER 2 MILLION.
THAT'S PRETTY SIGNIFICANT AND THAT ALLOWS FOR MORE INVESTMENT INTO THE CITY AND HAVING BETTER, UM, WORKPLACE, UH, AND OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES.
UM, I, WE WERE GONNA DEMONSTRATE, BUT WE'RE HAVING SOME KIND OF DI DIFFICULTY ON THE BACKEND.
WHAT WE CAN DO IS I CAN HAVE OD UM, HE'S MY SOLUTIONS ENGINEER, DO A KIND OF A VISION DEMO.
HE WILL RECORD IT AND I WILL PUT IT IN MY FOLLOW-UP EMAIL TODAY.
I'LL OPEN UP FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
M SIR, HOW LONG, WHAT'S THE TIMEFRAME IF WE PASS THIS RESOLUTION TONIGHT? YEP.
WHAT TIMEFRAME ARE WE GOING TO LOOK ON TO SEE THE PROGRAM WORKING? YEP, IT'S ON MY, UM, THROUGH MAN, MADAM MAYOR, SIR, SORRY.
UM, WE HAVE A DEDICATED TIMELINE ALREADY BUILT OUT.
WE TALKED ABOUT THOSE TWO APPLICATIONS BEING LIVE IN THE FIRST MONTH OR TWO.
FULL CO UH, PROJECT COMPLETION WILL BE SEVEN MONTHS.
UM, SO I THINK THAT'S NOVEMBER, DECEMBER AREA, UH, BEING FULLY OPERATIONAL ACROSS ALL DEPARTMENTS, UH, WITHIN OPENGOV.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER HARRISON.
UM, TO THOSE SEVEN MONTHS, I UNDERSTAND OVER THAT TIME THERE WILL BE CERTAIN MODULES THAT WILL BE COMPLETE BEFORE SEVEN MONTHS, CORRECT? TO THE DEPARTMENTS AND, UM, I ALSO BELIEVE THAT OUR MOST MOSTLY USED AND UH, MOST IMPORTANT ONES WILL BE DONE PROBABLY WITHIN TWO TO THREE MONTHS.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS THROUGH MADAM MAYOR, THAT IS CORRECT.
THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION.
EVEN WITH THE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES, THESE THINGS HAPPEN WITH TECHNOLOGY, UM, NEVERTHELESS, UM, WHICH ARE, I, I HEARD MY COLLEAGUES SPEAK ABOUT THE ONES THAT ARE MORE PERTINENT TO NOW.
WHAT WOULD THOSE ONES, THAT WOULD COME QUICKLY? ABSOLUTELY.
SO IF I WERE TO, OH, TO MADAM MAYOR, IF I WERE TO SHOW YOU VISUALLY, IT'D BE BUILDING PERMIT AND A BUSINESS TAX RECEIPT IS OUR FIRST PRIORITY.
SECOND WILL BE CODE ENFORCEMENT AND TAX AMENDMENTS.
THEN WE'LL BE GOING TO ZONING CHANGE REQUEST RIGHT AWAY PERMITTING HOME REPAIR APPLICATION.
AND THEN THAT WILL BE THE, THE REMAINING OF THE SEVEN MONTHS.
SO THOSE ARE THE, THE APPLICATIONS THAT WERE ELECTED TO BE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF HANDBUILT WITH THE CITY THROUGH YOU.
UM, I HEARD BUILD IN PERMIT, SO THAT'S WHAT KEY COMPONENT RIGHT THERE.
THAT'S WHY THROUGH MAD MAYOR, THAT'S WHY IT'S NUMBER ONE WITH BUSINESS TAX RECEIPT, JUST WITH THE EMPHASIS OF IT.
MADAM MAYOR, GO WITH YOUR HARRISON.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT THE CURRENT SYSTEM WE ARE USING NOW AT INTER GOV DOES NOT CURRENTLY DO BTR FOR US, UH, BUSINESS TAX RECEIPTS.
AND I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT AND THAT'S JUST A BIG THING FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR ME, THIS IS MR THIS IS VERY ENCOURAGING TO HEAR THAT WITHIN A SEVEN MONTH PERIOD VERSUS A COUPLE OF FEW YEARS OF AN OLD SYSTEM, THAT WE'LL BE UP AND FULLY OPERATIONAL WITHIN SEVEN MONTHS, BUT WITHIN THAT SEVEN MONTHS, THERE WILL BE SOME OF OUR MOST PRESSING ONES THAT WILL BE ALREADY OPERATIONAL BY THAT TIME.
SO WE ARE LOOKING AT JANUARY, 2026 FOR FULL OPERATION, GIVE OR TAKE.
ALRIGHT, I HAVE A QUESTION, MADAM MAYOR, COMMISSIONER THOMAS.
UM, MAY I ASK YOU TO EXPLAIN THE ANNUAL MAINTENANCE? WHAT DOES THAT ENTAIL, PLEASE? YEP.
SO THE ANNUAL MAINTENANCE OF THE SOFTWARE INCLUDES ALL THE DEPARTMENTS CITYWIDE.
UH, SO THAT'S BUILDING PERMITS, UH, PLANNING AND ZONING, CODE ENFORCEMENT, BUSINESS, TAX RECEIPT, MORTGAGE APPLICATION, ET CETERA, RIGHT? THAT ALSO INCLUDES CUSTOMER SUPPORT, ANY UPGRADES.
SO, UH, ONE KEY FACTOR OPENGOV IS THAT WE HAVE QUARTERLY UPGRADES.
SO FOUR TIMES A YEAR YOU GUYS ARE ALWAYS GETTING THE BEST OF OPENGOV, AND THAT'S INCLUDED IN YOUR SOFTWARE SUBSCRIPTION.
UNLIKE ONE OF YOUR NEIGHBORING CITIES IMPLANT, THEY HAD TO PAY OVER A $200,000 UPGRADE.
AND THAT'S JUST ONE WE DO FOUR A YEAR, AND THAT'S ALREADY INCLUDED.
UH, AND THEN ANY, YOU KNOW, BUGS OR FIXES, WE TAKE THAT, UM, THAT RISK.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF SOMETHING WERE TO BREAK, THAT'S ON US, THAT'S NOT ON THE CITY, SO THERE'S NO MORE SURPRISES.
[00:50:01]
HARRISON.UH, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE RESOLUTION 2 0 2 5 DASH 0 7 6.
COMMISSIONER THOMAS FOR MAYOR EDWARDS PHILLIPS FOR VICE MAYOR SWELL FOR COMMISSIONER HARRISON FOR MOTION PASSES.
THANK YOU MR TH THANK YOU MS.
[B. RESOLUTION 2025-077 RATIFYING THE FINANCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT’S FILING OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITY REPORT FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL (PERIOD 7) OF FISCAL YEAR 2025, AS PREPARED FOR THE PURPOSE OF FULFILLING THE REQUIREMENTS OF SEC.82-327 OF THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES CODE OF ORDINANCES]
MADAM MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS RESOLUTION 2 0 2 5 DASH 0 7 7, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF LAUDERDALE LAKES FLORIDA RATIFYING THE FINANCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT'S FILING OF THE FINANCIAL ACTIVITY REPORT FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL, PERIOD SEVEN OF FISCAL YEAR 2025, AS PREPARED FOR THE PURPOSE OF FULFILLING THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 82 DASH 3 27 OF THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES CODE OF ORDINANCES.A COPY OF SUCH FINANCIAL REPORT IS ATTACHED HERE TO AS EXHIBIT A COPY OF WHICH CAN BE INSPECTED IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK PROVIDING FOR ADOPTION OF RECITALS, PROVIDING FOR INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CITY CLERK PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
MADAM MAYOR, COMMISSIONER HARRISON, I MOVE, WE BRING RESOLUTION 2 0 2 5 DASH SEVEN SEVEN TO THE FLOOR FOR DISCUSSION.
COMMISSIONER THOMAS FOR MAYOR EDWARDS PHILLIPS FOR VICE MAYOR CROSWELL FOR COMMISSIONER HARRISON FOR MOTION PASSES.
MADAM MAD, MADAM MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS ITEM 10 B PARDON, THIS RESOLUTION SERVES TO RATIFY THE APRIL, 2025 PERIOD SEVEN FINANCIAL ACTIVITY REPORT PROVIDED BY FINANCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND MS. BOBBY WILLIAMS WILL BE PRESENTING THAT ITEM THROUGH YOU.
ONCE AGAIN, OUR PROTOCOL HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED, BUT FOR THE RECORD, I AM BOBBY WILLIAMS, DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL SERVICES, AND THE ITEM TONIGHT IS TO REVIEW AND APPROVE THE FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL.
UH, SO YOU HAVE A COPY OF THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AS WELL AS THE FINANCIAL DATA IN FRONT OF YOU, AND ALSO THE IT DIVISION WILL BE DISPLAYING THE PERFORMANCE FOR EACH OF THE FUNDS.
WHILE WE GET THE PRESENTATION QUEUED UP, I'LL GO AHEAD AND START WITH THE GENERAL FUND.
AS THE GENERAL FUND DOES REPRESENT THE LARGEST PORTION OF OUR ALL FUNDS BUDGET.
IN TERMS OF THE OVERALL CONDITION OF OUR FINANCIALS, THEY ARE POSITIVE AT THIS, AT THIS MOMENT.
UH, THE CURRENT REVENUE, UH, RECEIVED TODAY, OR THROUGH THE MONTH OF APRIL WAS, UH, $21 MILLION EQUIVALENT TO 47% OF THE BUDGET.
UH, THE EXPENDITURES, HOWEVER, JUST, UH, TRENDING BELOW TARGET AT 36%, HOWEVER, BELOW OR UNDER THE REVENUE THAT WE COLLECTED, UM, SO FAR FOR THE GENERAL FUND.
IN TERMS OF THE ACTUAL REVENUE CATEGORIES, UM, THE AVALOR TAX, THE CITY DID RECEIVE CLOSE TO 100% OF THE, THE BUDGET.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT 98 PER PERCENT, UH, COLLECTION RATE, UH, ALMOST ABOUT $13 MILLION.
OUR, UH, FRANCHISE FEES, WE'VE COLLECTED 43% OF THE BUDGET EQUIVALENT TO $1.6 MILLION.
THE UTILITY TAX, UH, WE'VE COLLECTED 59% OF BUDGET EQUIVALENT TO ALMOST $2 MILLION.
OUR, UH, SERVICES REVENUES SOMETIMES REFERRED TOCHAR AS CHARGES FOR SERVICES.
WE'VE COLLECTED, UH, ROUGHLY AT 39% OF THE BUDGET, UH, EQUIVALENT TO JUST SHORT OF $800,000.
THE CATEGORY FOR PERMITS, LICENSES AND INSPECTION IS 8% OF BUDGET.
UM, JUST A LITTLE BIT BEHIND TARGET.
UM, EARLIER WE, UH, HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE ENGINEERING, UH, BUDGET OR THE ENGINEERING FEES BUDGET.
UH, WE TRY TO BE AS CONSERVATIVE AS WE CAN, HOWEVER, UM, THE, THAT PARTICULAR CATEGORY IS UNDERPERFORMING, BUT WE ARE MANAGING IT IN TERMS OF THE FINES AND FORFEITURES CATEGORY, WHICH DOES INCLUDE THE, UH, CITY ATTORNEYS, UH, GENERAL AND LITIGATION, UH, SETTLEMENTS.
HOWEVER, UH, WE DID SEPARATE FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE REPORT.
SO ALL ITEMS OUTSIDE OF THE COURT SETTLEMENTS ARE 4% OF BUDGET OR EQUIVALENT TO ALMOST $20,000 IN COLLECTION.
AND OF COURSE, THE, UH, SETTLEMENT, UH, AGAIN LITIGATED BY OUR CITY ATTORNEY HAVE COLLECTED, UH, 69% OF BUDGET, UH, OR $103,000.
WE, WE DO ANTICIPATE COLLECTING, UH, JUST A LITTLE BIT OVER, UH, $200,000 IN THIS PARTICULAR AREA.
[00:55:01]
IN TERMS OF OUR, UM, MISCELLANEOUS REVENUES AND OTHER, UH, REVENUE SOURCES WE'RE AT 5% COLLECTION EQUIVALENT TO $730,000.UH, AGAIN, FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL, THE JOURNAL FUND COLLECTED APPROXIMATELY $21 MILLION EQUIVALENT TO 40%, 47% OF ITS BUDGET.
IN TERMS OF THE EXPENDITURES FOR THE GENERAL FUND, UM, OVERALL, THE, UH, EXPENDITURES ARE UNDER TARGET AND THERE ARE NO CONCERNS WITH ANY OF THE DEPARTMENTS.
UH, YOU WILL NOTE THE CITY ATTORNEY'S EXPENDITURE BUDGET IS UP SUM OF 83% OF BUDGET.
HOWEVER, IN THE NOTES, YOU'LL, YOU'LL SEE WHERE WE SEPARATED HIS, UH, RETAINAGE FROM HIS ACTUAL LITIGATION THAT HE DOES PERFORM ON THE BEHALF OF THE CITY.
UH, SO RIGHT NOW, ALTHOUGH HIS EXPENDITURE IS, UH, UPWARDS OF, UH, $500,000 ONLY 77 PER 77,000, EXCUSE ME, IS FOR HIS ACTUAL RETAINAGE.
EVERYTHING ELSE, UH, WAS HIS SERVICE, UH, PERFORMING BOTH GENERAL AND SPECIAL LITIGATIONS ON THE BEHALF OF THE CITY.
IN TERMS OF THE OTHER FUNDS, WHICH ARE JUST TO THE RIGHT, UM, OF THE, UH, SPREADSHEET THAT YOU HAVE, CAN WE, CAN WE GO TO THE ALL PHONES REVENUE? SO AGAIN, WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS THE PERFORMANCE, UM, OF, OF EACH OF OUR FUNDS.
SO RIGHT NOW, THIS IS A GENERAL FUND.
CAN WE DO REVENUE FOR FUNDS? HERE WE GO.
ALL RIGHT, SO, SO FOR THE RECORD, THIS IS JUST THE PERFORMANCE OF OUR FUNDS THAT, UH, HAVE BUDGETS OVER $1 MILLION, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF OUR ALZHEIMER'S CARE CENTER FUND.
WE KNOW HOW PRECIOUS THAT FUND IS, AND WE DO TRY TO MANAGE IT AS BEST AS WE CAN.
SO EVERYTHING ELSE IS OVER A MILLION EXCEPT FOR THAT ONE FUND.
UM, SO, UH, REALLY MOST OF OUR FUNDS ARE, ARE DOING GREAT.
UH, GENERAL FUND OF COURSE, ALTHOUGH IT SAYS 35, WE ARE 47%, UH, COLLECTION RATE.
OUR FIRE RESCUE FUND, WE'RE AT 85% COLLECTION.
THE, UH, FIRE RESCUE FUND IS, UH, MOSTLY FUNDED THROUGH THE SPECIAL ASSESSMENT.
THE, UH, GRANTS FUND AND THE ALZHEIMER FUND ARE SIMILAR.
UH, THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT BEHIND OUR TARGET.
UM, HOWEVER, UH, WE DO REQUEST REIMBURSEMENTS AFTER WE'VE ALREADY, UH, SPENT, UH, OR EXPENDED IN THOSE AREAS.
UH, BOTH OF THOSE FUNDS ARE AREAS THAT ARE MAJORLY, UM, PRIMARILY, EXCUSE ME, UH, FUNDED THROUGH GRANTS.
UM, THROUGHOUT THE, UH, REST OF THE SUMMER, YOU WILL SEE THE CATCH UP OF BOTH OF THOSE, BOTH, BOTH OF THOSE TWO FUNDS.
IN TERMS OF THE CITY'S GENERAL CIP FUND, WHICH IS A THREE 15 FUND, UH, 9%, UH, COLLECTION, AND ALL THAT IS, IS JUST, UM, MONEY COMING FROM OUR GENERAL FUND CASH BALANCE INTO THAT FUND TO FUND THOSE, UH, 40 PLUS PROJECTS THAT WERE APPROVED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE, UH, FISCAL YEAR.
IN TERMS OF THE, UH, SURTAX FUND, UH, THESE ARE THOSE, UH, FOUR PROJECTS THAT ARE FUNDED THROUGH THE, UH, PENNY TAX OR OR FUNDING FROM THE COUNTY.
UH, WE DO ANTICIPATE TO RECEIVE, UH, SOME, UH, CASH FOR ONE OF OUR PROJECTS IN THE NEAR MONTH OR TWO BASED UPON THE APPROVAL OF THE UPCOMING FUNDING AGREEMENT FOR ONE OF OUR PROJECTS.
AND FOR THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS, WHICH ARE THE FUNDS THAT ARE NOT SUPPORTED BY THE GENERAL FUND, WE HAVE OUR SOLID WASTE, EXCUSE ME, STORMWATER FUND, UH, BEING AT 10% COLLECTION AND THE MAJORITY OF OUR STORMWATER, OR FOR THE OPERATING, I'M SORRY, IS FUNDED THROUGH THE STORMWATER SPECIAL ASSESSMENT.
UM, THE, THE OTHER FUNDING THAT YOU SEE, UH, IN THAT $12.4 MILLION BUDGET IS RELATED TO GRANTS, GRANTS OR OTHER APPROPRIATIONS FROM THAT FUND BALANCE.
IN TERMS OF THE SOLID WASTE, THE SOLID WASTE, WE'RE AT 50% COLLECTION RATE AND THE MAJORITY OF THE REVENUE TO THIS PARTICULAR FUND COMES FROM THE SPECIAL ASSESSMENT FOR OUR SOLID WASTE OR OUR GARBAGE PICKUP.
IN TERMS OF THE BUILDING SERVICES, ALSO ENTERPRISE FUND, WE HAVE 41%, UH, COLLECTION, UM, FOR OUR REVENUE, WE'RE RIGHT ON TARGET WITH THE EXPENDITURES.
SO WE ARE MONITORING THIS PARTICULAR FUND VERY CLOSELY AS THIS IS WHAT WE CALL THE USER FEE, UH, TYPE OF, UH, FUND.
UH, SO WE ARE SPENDING THE MONEY THAT WE ACTUALLY COLLECT FOR PERMITS AND THOSE TYPES OF ACTIVITIES, UH, TOWARDS THE BOTTOM OF YOUR, UH, SPREADSHEET ON OUR OTHER BUDGETED FUNDS, UH, WE DO NOT, UM, HAVE ANY, UH, WE HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED ANY NEGATIVE TRENDS.
UH, THESE FUNDS ARE PERFORMING AS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
I COULD ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE OR ANY CONCERNS THAT YOU MAY HAVE REGARDING THE FINANCIAL CONDITION
[01:00:01]
OF OUR CITY COLLEAGUES.COMMISSIONER HARRISON, I MOVE.
WE BRING RESOLUTION TWO, I MOVE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2 0 2 5 DASH 0 7 7.
COMMISSIONER THOMAS FOR MAYOR EDWARDS PHILLIPS FOR VICE MAYOR SWELL FOR COMMISSIONER HARRISON FOR MOTION PASSES.
IS THERE ANY CORRESPONDENCE? MADAM CLERK, MADAM MAYOR, WE HAVE NO CORRESPONDENCE.
[12. REPORT OF THE MAYOR]
EVENING AGAIN TO EVERYONE.I WANT TO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR COMING OUT THIS EVENING TO OUR VIRTUAL AUDIENCE.
WE WANT TO THANK YOU ALSO FOR BEING WITH US VIRTUALLY.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO PROVIDED INPUT TO OUR DISCUSSIONS THIS EVENING AND WE WELCOME YOU TO COME AGAIN.
THERE ARE A FEW THINGS I WANT TO SHARE WITH US.
FIRST OF ALL, FOR HAITIAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH, I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE, THE CULTURE AND THE SKILLS AND THE PARTICIPATION AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT OUR HAITIAN COMMUNITY HAS PROVIDED TO US.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THE PARTICIPATION.
HAITIAN FLAG DAY WAS ON MAY 18TH AND WE SAW A LOT OF FLAGS.
SO AGAIN, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR, OUR HAITIAN AMERICAN RESIDENTS HERE IN THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES, THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED IN ACTIVITIES AT OUR SCHOOLS.
SO THANK YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
I ALSO WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT ON SATURDAY THE MAYOR HAD HER MAYOR'S ENGAGEMENT WALK IN THE NORTH GATE COMMUNITY.
IT WAS AN INTERESTING WALK, IF YOU WILL, BUT A VERY INFORMATIVE WALK.
AND I MUST SAY THAT THIS IS THE SECOND MAYOR'S ENGAGEMENT WON THAT I'VE DONE.
AND I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY RESISTANCE OR ANY CONFLICT OR, OR ANY NAYSAYERS THAT EVERYONE HAS BEEN RECEPTIVE.
I DID NOT SAY I DID NOT RECEIVE ANY COMPLAINTS, BUT THOSE COMPLAINTS HAVE VERY MUCH SO BEEN FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE COMMUNITY.
THEY WERE VERY ENGAGED, RESIDENTS WERE VERY ENGAGED.
THOSE WHO OPENED DOORS, THOSE WHO I ENCOUNTERED ON THE SIDEWALK, THOSE WHO WERE IN THEIR CARS AND WANTED TO KNOW WHY WAS I WALKING.
SO I HAD A VERY, VERY PRODUCTIVE DAY.
I WANT TO THANK MR. ALBAN FOR ACCOMPANYING ME AND FOR ENDURING THE 90 SOME DEGREE HEAT ON SATURDAY.
BUT ALL IN ALL, IT WAS A WORTHWHILE EFFORT.
THE NEXT MAYOR'S ENGAGEMENT WON WILL BE IN THE OREO COMMUNITY.
SO IF YOU LIVE IN THE OREO COMMUNITY, PLEASE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOUR MAYOR IN JULY IN THE MIDST OF THE HEAT AGAIN, BUT FOR WORTH, WORTHWHILE CAUSE.
AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO SAY AS IT RELATES TO THE CITY MANAGER'S POSITION, PLEASE BE ASSURED THAT EVERY EFFORT WILL BE MADE TO HIRE A QUALIFIED CITY MANAGER WITH SKILLS, WITH KNOWLEDGE, WITH VISION THAT CAN MOVE THE GREAT WE CARE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES FORD, WE VALUE YOUR INPUT.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT DISCUSSION.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT PROCESS AND WE CERTAINLY WANT YOU TO BE A PART OF THIS GREAT DECISION.
SO WITH THAT, I WANT TO SAY GOODNIGHT AND GOD BLESS, MADAM VICE MAYOR.
[13. REPORT OF THE VICE MAYOR]
THANK, THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR, TO THE RESIDENTS VISITORS, I SEE QUITE A FEW VISITORS HERE IN THE AUDIENCE, IN THE CHAMBER TO THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING ONLINE.AND I'M STARTING WITH HURRICANE JUNE 1ST IS GOING TO BE ON SUNDAY.
HOW MANY DAYS? FIVE, SIX DAYS, FOUR DAYS, FIVE DAYS.
WE NEED TO BE PREPARED JUST LIKE THE SCOUTS AND FEMA, AS WE ALL KNOW, IT HAS BEEN TURNED UPSIDE DOWN.
THEY SAID UPSIDE DOWN AND TURNING, CONTINUE TO TURN AROUND.
SO WE ARE NOT SURE IT IS GOING TO BE HERE FOR US.
I THINK THEY'RE LOOKING ON THE STATE TO TAKE OVER SOME OF THE DISASTER.
IF IT COMES, IT IS NOW MAY, AND I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU HOW HOT IT IS,
[01:05:01]
THE MAYOR, THANK YOU MAYOR, FOR BEING OUT THERE ON SATURDAY, 95, 97 DEGREE WEATHER.SO PLEASE, RESIDENTS, DON'T WAIT UNTIL THE DISASTER COMES.
START, PREPARE, GET YOUR DOCUMENTS READY, YOUR CANNED FOOD FOR AT LEAST WHAT THREE DAYS, WATER.
IF YOU HAVE PETS, MAKE SURE THEY ARE SECURED.
AND IF YOU HAVE OTHER THINGS HANGING OVER YOUR HOUSE, PLEASE GET RID OF IT.
SCHOOL WILL BE OUT IN ANOTHER WEEK.
AND OF COURSE THE KIDS ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT, BUT KIDS ARE OUT.
MANY TIMES IT CAUSES A PROBLEM BECAUSE PARENTS ARE AT WORK.
BROWARD COUNTY LIBRARY IS A SAFE PLACE FOR YOU TO SEND THE KIDS.
THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE LOTS AND LOTS OF ACTIVITIES FOR THEM AND FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SMALL CHILDREN.
REMEMBER, FLORIDA IS THE NUMBER ONE STATE FOR KIDS DROWNING KIDS ON THE FIVE.
SO IF YOU HAVE POOL OR IF YOUR NEIGHBOR HAS POOL AND YOU KNOW, EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY, YOUR KIDS WILL TRY TO GET OVER THERE, PLEASE KEEP THEM SAFE.
AND I'M SURE THE MAYOR HAD A LOT OF WATER BOTTLES WITH HER ON SATURDAY, SO PLEASE HYDRATE SO AS TO PREVENT HEAT EXHAUSTION.
AND OF COURSE, I THANK YOU AGAIN FOR COMING OUT, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU IN ANOTHER TWO WEEKS.
THANK YOU, MADAM AMBASSADOR, MR. HARRISON.
[14. REMARKS OF THE COMMISSIONERS]
YOU, MADAM MAYOR.UH, I TOO WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT TODAY, UH, TO EVERYONE WHO SPOKE PUBLICLY.
AS I SAY, EVERY MEETING YOUR COMMENTS DID NOT FALL ON DEAF EARS.
UH, WE'RE ALWAYS WORKING HARD TO DO WHAT WE CAN FOR THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES.
UH, WANTED TO ALSO, UH, SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE STUDENTS THAT ARE GRADUATING THIS SCHOOL YEAR.
UH, BELIEVE ON JUNE 4TH IS WHEN SCHOOL IS GONNA BE OUT.
UH, MANY STUDENTS WILL BE GRADUATING.
AND I WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL.
UH, JUST A REMINDER HERE IN A LOT HERE IN THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES, UH, WE HOUSE THE TEACHER OF THE YEAR AND THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF.
AND THE WHOLE SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE SIXTH LARGEST IN THE COUNTRY THAT WE'RE ABLE TO SAY THAT FOR THIS LITTLE OLD CITY LAUDERDALE LAKES.
UM, WANT TO ALSO PROMOTE THIS, UH, CHESS CHALLENGE THIS THURSDAY, UH, WHERE YOU CAN PLAY CHESS WITH ME.
UH, PLEASE COME OUT THIS THURSDAY AT 6:00 PM OVER AT THE MULTIPURPOSE CENTER, UH, TO BE A PART OF OUR CHESS CHALLENGE, WHERE YOU CAN COME AND PLAY CHESS.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO PLAY CHESS, YOU CAN COME AND LEARN THERE AS WELL.
AND I TOO WANTED TO LET OUR CITIZENS KNOW ABOUT A HURRICANE SEASON THAT IS COMING UP.
PLEASE BE READY, AND PLEASE BE VIGILANT AS WELL.
AND WITH THAT, THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT.
UM, I, I THANK EVERYONE FOR STAYING ON.
UM, THANK YOU FOR THE COMMENTS.
THANK YOU FOR PUTTING ME ON CAMERA.
BUT NEVERTHELESS, I'M HAPPY THAT EVERYONE IS IN THE CHAMBER RIGHT NOW.
AND THOSE COMMENTS THAT WERE GIVEN, THEY ARE NOTED.
UM, WE ARE THE, WE CARE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES.
UM, AND THAT ALSO APPLIES TO THE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE HERE AS WELL.
IF WE CARE, I HOPE YOU CARE AS WELL.
NEVERTHELESS, MY COLLEAGUES SPOKE ABOUT THE HURRICANE SEASON, AND SO CONVERSATION WITH THE COMMISSIONERS IS NEXT WEEK, THURSDAY.
UM, AND THAT WILL BE THE TOPIC, THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM.
AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME CITY STAFF THERE.
WE PARK FROM SIX TO EIGHT, AND I HOPE YOU WOULD COME OUT RESIDENTS AND THOSE ONLINE.
I HOPE YOU WOULD COME OUT TO SEE WHAT IT IS THAT'S NEEDED.
[01:10:01]
AGAIN, BUT YES, BECAUSE THE WEATHER IS GETTING HOTTER.SO WHEN THE HEAT RISES, THEN YOU KNOW, THE HURRICANE SEASON, IT STARTS BUILDING UP.
AND THEY'RE EXPECTING MORE HURRICANES FOR THIS SEASON.
WE HAVE OUR OWN MS. TANGER MCCOY WILL BE THERE.
TALK ABOUT THE COLD COMPLIANCE.
WE HAVE OUR CHIEF, UM, HACKETT THAT WILL ALSO BE THERE, A FIRE CHIEF AS WELL AS WE'LL HAVE OUR PUBLIC WORKS, UM, DIRECTOR MR. RON DES BRUS.
AND HE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW TO PREPARE YOURSELF, YOUR TREES, ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
AND WE'RE ALSO GONNA HAVE, UM, CLAY TRO, THE CEM DIRECTOR OF BROWARD COUNTY OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
UH, TRUST THAT WE'LL HAVE DISPLAYS THERE TO SHOW YOU WHAT IS NEEDED, WHAT YOU NEED, UM, COLLABORATE WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS.
MAYBE THERE MAY BE A NEIGHBOR THAT CAN'T BUY A FEW THINGS.
THEN YOU'RE ABLE TO SHARE WITH THEM.
SO COME OUT, BRING THEM OUT AND HEAR WHAT IS NEEDED FOR THIS HURRICANE SEASON.
'CAUSE AS WE, WE HEARD, FEMA IS IFFY RIGHT NOW.
SO WE HAVE TO PULL TOGETHER AS COMMUNITY, AS COMMUNITY, AND ALSO FOR WHAT THE CITY NEEDS TO DO TO GET READY FOR THAT.
I THANK EVERYONE, UM, FOR COMING OUT.
AND THAT SATURDAY, WHICH IS JUNE 7TH, WE'LL HAVE OUR, UM, QUARTERLY CLEANUP, AND WE WILL BE IN THE CITY OF, UM, OREO OVER OFF 30 30TH TERRACE.
UM, AND IT'S NOT TAKEN AWAY FROM THE CITY.
IT'S TO LET OUR COMMUNITY KNOW THAT WE CARE ABOUT OUR CITY, AND THEY OUGHT TO CARE AS WELL, TO LOOK AFTER THE STREETS, LOOK AFTER THEIR PROPERTIES, AND SO IN ORDER TO BEAUTIFY OUR CITY, AND IT ALSO GETS OUR STUDENTS, UM, COMMUNITY HOURS AND LEARNING HOW TO RECYCLE AS WELL, AND TAKING CARE OF THE ENVIRONMENT.
GOD BLESS AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER THOMAS.
I JUST WANT TO ADD THAT WHEN THE CHILDREN ARE OUT FOR SUMMER RECESS, THAT THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES POOL DOES OFFER SWIMMING LESSONS, SO PLEASE ENROLL THEM IN SWIMMING LESSONS.
AND PARIS, IF YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW TO SWIM, WE ALSO GIVE ADULT SWIMMING LESSONS.
IT IS SO VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.
SO AGAIN, THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES DOES OFFER SWIMMING LESSONS FOR YOUTH, CHILDREN, AND ADULTS.
[15. REPORT OF THE CITY MANAGER]
THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR.IN REGARD TO MY CITY MANAGER REPORT, WE HAVE EVENTS THAT ARE UPCOMING.
COME CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUR COMMISSIONERS ON JUNE 5TH FROM SIX TO 8:00 PM AT WILLIE WEBB SENIOR PARK, LAUDERDALE LAKES CLEANUP EVENT ON JUNE 7TH FROM EIGHT TO 12:00 PM UM, MEET AT THE MULTI AUDITORIUM OUT FRONT JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION ON JUNE 18TH FROM SIX TO 8:00 PM AT THE MULTI AUDITORIUM.
WE WILL BE CELEBRATING THE CITY'S ANNIVERSARY AND BIRTHDAY ON JUNE 24TH.
IMMEDIATELY AFTER OUR CITY COMMISSION MEETING IN THE GIRAFFE ROOM, WE WILL BE ALSO BE HAVING A CARIBBEAN HERITAGE EVENT ON JUNE 27TH FROM 6:00 PM TO 9:00 PM IN CELEBRATION OF CARIBBEAN HERITAGE MONTH.
THAT WILL BE IN THE VINCENT TORRES PARKING LOT.
OUR STATE OF THE CITY EVENT WILL BE HELD ON JULY 23RD AT 6:30 PM IN THE MULTIPURPOSE AUDITORIUM.
OUR SAMUEL S. BROWN ROOM WILL BE OPEN FROM SEVEN 30 TO 8:30 PM DURING THE FIRST CITY COMMISSION MEETING OF THE MONTH.
WE WILL BE HAVING FARM SHARE DISTRIBUTION THE THIRD THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH AT 10:00 AM WHILE SUPPLIES LOT LASTS, WE DO HAVE ESOL CLASSES ON TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS FROM 5:00 PM TO 8:00 PM AND THIS WILL BE HELD AT THE EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL CENTER.
WE HAVE ADULT DI DANCE CLASSES EVERY WEDNESDAY AT THE EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL CENTER FROM 6:00 PM TO 7:00 PM MAY'S BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT IS SPONSORED BY COMMISSIONER CARLENE MAXWELL WILLIAMS. AND WE'RE THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE DIANE'S DESIGN AND ALL STITCHES LOCATED AT 39 75 NORTHWEST 19TH STREET.
WE HAVE OTHER ADULT CLASSES, ACTIVE ADULT CLASSES.
JOIN THE PING PONG CLUB ON MONDAY AND TUESDAYS FROM 9:00 AM TO 12:00 PM AT VINCENT TORRES PARK AND DOMINO'S CLUB ON MONDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS FROM 5:00 PM TO 9:00 PM IN THE RESOURCE ROOM AT
[01:15:01]
THE MULTI-PURPOSE BUILDING, OUR MOBILE HEALTH UNIT, BRINGING HEALTH TO LAUDERDALE LAKES WILL BE HERE IN THE VT PARKING LOT ON MONDAY, JUNE 2ND FROM 10:00 AM TO 5:00 PM AND THEN STARTING ON JUNE 9TH, ON MONDAYS UNTIL JU JULY 28TH, THEY'LL BE AT THE WILLY WEBB SENIOR PARK.WE DO HAVE COMMISSIONER'S CHESS CHALLENGE ON THURSDAYS FROM 6:00 PM TO 9:00 PM IN THE RESOURCE ROOM AT THE MULTIPURPOSE CENTER.
THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES IS HIRING.
ADDITIONALLY, WE ARE CLOSED ON THURSDAY, JUNE 19TH, IN CELEBRATION OF THE JUNETEENTH HOLIDAY.
[16. REPORT OF THE CITY ATTORNEY]
CITY ATTORNEY.YES, MADAM MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, AND TO THE PUBLIC AT LARGE.
UM, MADAM MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, UH, RELATING TO THE PROPERTY THAT HAS BEEN KNOWN AS THE OAKLAND VILLAS.
UH, WE DID REPORT THAT THE, UM, PROPERTY OWNERS, OR THROUGH THE, UM, UH, THEIR LAWYERS HAD, UM, FILED A MOTION TO VACATE THE PUBLIC SALE.
UH, THAT MOTION WAS HEARD BY THE JUDGE ON, UH, MAY 16TH.
UH, I, UH, APPEARED AND PRESENTED ON BEHALF OF THE CITY.
UH, THE LENDER ACTUALLY PRESENTED ON BEHALF OF THE LENDER.
UH, AND AT THE END OF A HOUR AND A HALF HEARING APPROXIMATELY, UH, THE COURT, UH, DID ENTER, UH, A RULING, UH, THAT DENIED BOTH THE, UH, DEFENDANT'S EMERGENCY MOTION TO VACATE THE PUBLIC, UH, SALE, UH, AS WELL AS A THIRD PARTY'S MOTION TO VACATE THE PUBLIC SALE.
UH, THE JUDGE IN THAT MATTER, ALSO GAVE A VERY DETAILED SET OF FINDINGS OF FACTS, UM, REALLY TO IDENTIFY AND TO, UH, MAKE SURE THAT, UH, ANY APPELLATE COURT WOULD HAVE A SUFFICIENT BASIS TO REVIEW THE COURT'S RULING ON THIS MATTER.
UH, THE PARTIES ARE NOW, UM, EXCHANGING A DRAFT ORDER, UH, THAT WAS, THAT WOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH THE COURT'S RULING.
UM, THE LENDER AND MY OFFICE HAS BEEN WORKING TOGETHER THAT, UH, DRAFT ORDER IS NOW IN THE HANDS OF THE, UM, UH, DEFENDANTS, AND WE'RE ANTICIPATING THAT THEY'LL GET BACK WITH US.
AND, WE'LL, AGAIN, THE IDEA IS TO COORDINATE WHAT THAT FINAL ORDER SHOULD LOOK LIKE.
BUT THE ESSENCE OF, UH, THE, UH, HEARING IS THAT THE COURT DID, UH, OVERRULE THE OBJECTION.
SO WE FULLY EXPECT THAT, UH, ABSENT A APPEAL, WHICH IS NOT UNLIKELY, IT COULD HAPPEN, UH, BUT, UH, ABSENT A APPEAL, WE DO EXPECT THAT THE, UH, CITY, UH, UH, WILL, UH, RETAIN, UH, THE, UH, PROPERTY RIGHT AND INTEREST IN THE PROPERTY IDENTIFIED AS, UH, OAKLAND VILLAS, UH, KNOWN AT, AT, UH, 43 0 1 NORTHWEST 48TH, UH, AVENUE.
UM, AS FOR, UH, THE, UH, LEGISLATIVE SESSION, UM, THERE WERE, UH, SEVERAL BILLS THAT, UH, WE BELIEVE ARE IMPORTANT, AND WE WILL HAVE SOME MORE DETAIL AS THEY BECOME CURRENT.
BUT I DID WANNA MAKE YOU AWARE OF SENATE BILL 4 62, WHICH DID PASS AND WILL BE EFFECTIVE JULY ONE.
IT DOES PROVIDE SOME REFORM TO THE METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION TO IMPROVE TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND TO, UH, ALSO, UM, INITIATE SOME INTEGRATION OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES.
THAT BILL ALSO HAS, UH, SOME LANGUAGE THAT IS DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN SCHOOL BUS SAFETY ENFORCEMENT, INCLUDING, UH, PROCEDURES FOR HANDLING, UH, INFRACTIONS.
UM, SENATE BILL 10 80, UM, IS ONE OF THE BILLS THAT, UH, AGAIN, WOULD BE, UH, UH, AFFECTING, UH, THIS CITY AS WELL AS OTHERS.
IT'S A BILL THAT WAS, UH, WILL BE EFFECTIVE AS OF OCTOBER 1ST, 2025, IF, UH, SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR.
BUT THAT WOULD REQUIRE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO SPECIFY IN WRITING THE MINIMUM AMOUNT OF INFORMATION THAT MUST BE SUBMITTED IN APPLICATIONS FOR ZONING APPROVALS, REZONINGS SUBDIVISION APPROVALS, CERTIFICATIONS, UH, AND THE MYRIAD OF DEVELOPMENT ACTIONS THAT WOULD COME BEFORE THE CITY'S DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
UH, AND SO, UH, IT DOES ALSO ESTABLISH TIMEFRAMES FOR WHICH CITIES AND COUNTIES HAVE TO PROCESS THESE APPLICATIONS FOR DEVELOPMENT PERMITS.
UH, AND IT PROHIBITS A LOCAL GOVERNMENT ALSO FROM, UH, INCREASING IMPACT FEES USING EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES METHODOLOGY, IF THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT INCREASED THAT PARTICULAR IMPACT
[01:20:01]
FEE WITHIN THE FIVE PAST FIVE YEARS.UH, AND SO THERE'S MORE THAT, UH, WE COULD SHARE WITH YOU ON, UH, SENATE BILL 10 80.
THAT, AGAIN, IS ONE OF THE MORE IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF WHAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS DONE RELATIVE TO CITY AND COUNTY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
UM, ALSO, THERE'S A, UH, SENATE BILL 1730, UH, THAT, UH, WILL BE EFFECTIVE JULY ONE IF, UH, EXECUTED BY THE GOVERNOR.
UH, THAT BILL ALSO PROHIBITS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FROM REQUIRING A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF RESIDENTIAL USES, UH, IN MIXED USE DEVELOPMENTS.
IT REQUIRES LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO REDUCE PARKING REQUIREMENTS BY 15%, AND ALSO AUTHORIZES A LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO INCLUDE AN ADJACENT PARCEL OF LAND TO BE INCLUDED IN A PROJECT AUTHORIZED UNDER THE LIV LOCAL ACT.
SO THIS, UH, LEGISLATION, AGAIN, IS, WAS MEANT TO REALLY, UH, LOOK AT SOME CHANGES AND TWEAKS TO THE LIV LOCAL ACT.
SOME OF THE BILLS THAT DID NOT PASS WAS, UH, UH, SENATE, UH, BILL 1242, UH, WHICH WAS, UH, DESIGNED TO, UH, INCREASE SOME RESTRICTIONS ON, UH, CRAS.
UM, PROBABLY READ SOME LANGUAGE REQUIRING SOME SUN SETTING AND SOME AMOUNTS THAT COULD NOT BE, UH, UH, SPENT OVER A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME THAT BILL FAILED, UH, FOR LACK OF ACTION.
UH, HOUSE BILL 3 0 1, UH, WHICH WAS A BILL THAT WAS DESIGNED TO RAISE THE LIABILITY LIMIT FOR TORT ACTION CLAIMS AGAINST, UH, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS OR AGAINST GOVERNMENT ENTITIES UNDER CHAPTER 7 68.
THAT BILL ALSO WAS SIGNIFICANT, UH, BUT IT TOO, UH, FAILED FOR, UH, WANTS OF ACTION.
UM, IN THE, UH, LAST, UH, SESSION.
UM, THERE ARE A FEW OTHER BILLS THAT WE WILL BRING BEFORE THE COMMISSION, UH, AS, UH, THEY LOOK LIKE THEY HAVE SOME MORE WEIGHT.
BUT, UM, THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT SORT OF STRIKE, UH, OUT.
UM, ONE OF THE OTHER BILLS THAT, UH, UH, DID FAIL WAS SENATE BILL FOUR 20.
UH, AND YOU MAY RECALL THAT WAS THE BILL THAT SOUGHT TO PROHIBIT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, UH, FROM, UH, SUPPORTING AUTHORIZING, UM, UH, DIVERSITY EQUITY OR INCLUSIONS IN, UH, GOVERNMENT ACTIONS AND CONTRACTS.
THAT BILL, AGAIN, WAS, WAS WITHDRAWN FROM CONSIDERATION.
SO, UM, THAT'S JUST A SNAPSHOT OF WHAT WE BELIEVE ARE THE, UM, RELATIVE, UH, MATTERS THAT WERE, UH, UH, LEFT TO THE LEGISLATURE IN THE FINAL MOMENTS.
UM, UH, MAYORS AND COMMISSIONERS, UM, LAST WEEK, UH, AGAIN, THERE WAS, UH, A, UH, ATTORNEY WHO, UH, DID APPEAR, UM, UH, REPRESENTING PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE CITY OF WATERDALE LAKES.
UM, I BELIEVE THE LAST NAME IS BORDEAUX.
UM, THEY APPARENTLY OWN PROPERTY AT 4,100 THROUGH 41 0 2 NORTHWEST 39TH AVENUE, UH, WATERDALE LAKES.
UH, AND THE ASSERTION WAS MADE THAT THE CITY HAD LEVIED FINES AGAINST THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY.
UM, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE AGAIN, THAT THE RECORD WAS CLEAR BECAUSE THE, UH, IMPLICATION WAS THAT THE PROPERTY OWNERS WERE, UH, THE SUBJECT OF THE LIENS.
UH, THE SUBJECT OF THE LIENS IS THE PROPERTY THAT IS LOCATED IN THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES.
UM, AND, AND SO, UH, WE UNDERSTOOD FROM THE COMMENTS THAT, UH, THERE WERE, UH, SOME DOORKNOBS OR A WINDOW KNOB THAT WAS, UH, LEFT, UH, UN UH, UH, CORRECTED.
UM, AND WHAT, UH, WE KNOW, AND I HAVE, UH, TAKEN THE TIME OVER, UH, THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS, INCLUDING A CONVERSATION WITH MR. RAGAN, THE ATTORNEY FOR THE BODO.
UH, BUT I REVIEWED THE CITY'S FILE, PUBLIC FILE, RELATING TO, UH, THE CODE ENFORCEMENT MATTER RELATING TO THIS PROPERTY.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, THIS PROPERTY, UH, IS NOT HOMESTEAD PROPERTY.
THE BORDES LIVE IN THE CITY OF OAKLAND PARK AND HAVE FOR A TIME BEING AT THE TIME OF THE CODE ENFORCEMENT MATTERS, WHICH BEGAN, I BELIEVE THE NOTICE OF VIOLATION TOOK PLACE, UH, UH, WAS IN SEPTEMBER OF 2024.
UM, AND WHAT I THINK HAS BEEN MISSING FROM THE CONVERSATION IS, AGAIN, THE CLAIM IS WHAT THE CITY'S SUBJECTED THESE PROPERTIES TO THESE EXCESSIVE LIENS.
CODE ENFORCEMENT, UH, IS NOT AN ACTION THAT THE CITY TAKES WITHOUT SOME VERY IMPORTANT FUNDAMENTAL DUE PROCESS RIGHTS THAT EVERY PROPERTY OWNER
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WHO HAS PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES HAS A RIGHT TO COMMISSIONERS.YOU'LL RECALL, WHEN WE HAVE A QUASI-JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS RELATIVE TO A PROPERTY OWNER WHO WANTS TO COME IN FOR DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION, WE HAVE TO TAKE OFF THE LEGISLATIVE HATS.
WE ASK YOU TO PUT ON YOUR FACT FINDING HATS.
WE ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THE DUE PROCESS RIGHTS OF EVERY PROPERTY OWNER THAT MAY COME BEFORE THE CITY.
NOTHING LESS THAN THAT APPLIES TO PROPERTIES THAT ARE SUBJECT TO CODE ENFORCEMENT MATTERS IN THIS CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES.
I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC IS AWARE THAT UNDER CHAPTER 1 62 OF THE FLORIDA STATUTES AND CHAPTER 30 OF THE CITY'S CODE OF ORDINANCES, THEY ABSOLUTELY ADOPT AND IMPLEMENT ALL OF THE FLORIDA DUE PROCESS RIGHTS THAT ARE AFFORDED TO PROPERTY OWNERS.
IN FACT, WHEN I LOOKED AT THIS 400 AND ALMOST 450 PAGE, UH, CITY FILE RELATING TO THAT, UH, I DIDN'T FIND VIOLATIONS RELATING TO, UH, JUST A, UH, KNOB ON A WINDOW, UH, THAT WAS LEFT UNCORRECTED.
WHAT I FOUND WAS OVER 20 VIOLATIONS FROM FIVE DIFFERENT MATTERS THAT A CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WHO'S BEEN TRAINED AND AUTHORIZED BY THIS CITY TO CONDUCT CODE INSPECTIONS OF PROPERTY FOUND AS IT PERTAINS TO THIS PROPERTY.
UH, THIS PROPERTY WAS INHABITED AT LEAST BY ONE TENANT AT THE TIME, PERHAPS TO, UH, DIDN'T GET A REAL GOOD PICTURE FROM THAT BASED ON THE NOTES.
BUT I KNOW THAT ONE PROPERTY OWNER WAS IN THIS PROPERTY, UH, AND THE PROPERTY WAS SUBJECT TO VIOLATIONS BASED ON MINIMUM HOUSING STANDARDS, MOST OF WHICH AGAIN, RELATE TO THE CONDITION OF A PROPERTY.
EVERY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY SHOULD HAVE A BASIC MINIMUM STANDARD THAT IT MEETS IN ORDER TO BE HABITABLE.
THE VIOLATIONS FOR ONE WAS FIVE VIOLATIONS RELATING TO MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR ANOTHER SIX VIOLATIONS RELATING TO MINIMUM STANDARDS.
THERE WAS A VIOLATION FOR A, UM, BUILDING PERMIT, UH, THAT WAS NOT TAKEN, UH, BUT SOMEONE APPARENTLY INSTALLED A ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT BREAKER, UH, IN, UH, ONE OF THE, UH, UH, PROPERTIES.
UH, THERE WAS A FAILURE TO DO RENTAL INSPECTIONS, AND THEN THERE WAS A MYRIAD OF BASIC PROPERTY MAINTENANCE ISSUES, UM, ALL IN ALL, ABOUT 20 VIOLATIONS, MOST OF WHOM WERE CORRECTED OVER TIME.
WHAT I DO WANNA MAKE CLEAR THAT WHEN THERE IS A CODE VIOLATION, APPROXIMATELY 90 DAYS PASSES BEFORE A LIEN IS EVER IMPOSED, THE PROPERTY OWNER GETS A NOTICE OF VIOLATION.
THAT NOTICE IS POSTED, THAT NOTICE IS SENT BY CERTIFIED MAIL.
AND ALL OF THESE DOCUMENTS, THE NOTICES ARE IN HERE, CERTIFIED MAIL NOTICE OF PUBLIC, THE MATTER AFTER 30 DAYS OF NON-COMPLIANT GETS SET FOR A HEARING BEFORE A SPECIAL MAGISTRATE.
A SPECIAL MAGISTRATE IS NOT A CITY EMPLOYEE, A SPECIAL MASTER IS A MEMBER OF THE FLORIDA BAR.
THE, THE, THE ABILITY AND THE RESPONSIBILITY OF A SPECIAL MASTER, OR A SPECIAL MAGISTRATE IN THIS CASE, IS NOTHING LESS THAN SHORT OF ALMOST A COURT MAGISTRATE WHO, AGAIN, AT THE BEGINNING OF EVERY HEARING, ENSURES THAT THE DUE PROCESS RIGHTS HAVE BEEN FOLLOWED.
HAS THE PROPERTY OWNER GOTTEN NOTICE? WAS THE NOTICE PROPER? THOSE PROCESSES WERE FOLLOWED WITH RESPECT TO THIS PROPERTY? IN FACT, WE LEARNED THAT OVER, UH, UH, MORE THAN, UH, 255 DAYS PASSED FOR, UH, BEFORE THERE WAS TOTAL COMPLIANCE WITH REGARD TO THE BORDEAUX PROPERTY ASSERTIONS WERE MADE THAT, UH, SOMEHOW OR ANOTHER, UH, THE CITY WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR, UH, THESE EXCESSIVE LIENS.
THE QUESTION I ASKED TO MR. BRAGAN, MR. BRAGAN, PLEASE TELL ME WHAT IS IT THAT THE CITY DID THAT YOU BELIEVE WAS IMPROPER? HIS COMMENT WAS, I WAS TOLD, UH, BY MY CLIENTS THAT THEY WERE TOLD BY THE CITY THAT IF THEY CORRECTED THE VIOLATIONS, THERE WOULD BE NO FINES.
I READ THE 400, ALMOST 450 PAGES OF
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DOCUMENTS IN THESE 455 PAGES OF DOCUMENTS.THERE ARE MULTIPLE NOTICES OF HEARING THAT IS ISSUED BY THE CITY THAT GIVES THE RIGHTS AND ALL OF THESE NOTICES OF HEARING, THERE IS PARAGRAPHS UPON PARAGRAPHS THAT EXPLAINS TO THE PROPERTY OWNER IN THIS PROPERTY, YOUR PROPERTY, YOU COULD INCUR FINES OF UP TO $250 A DAY.
THAT IS IN THE PUBLIC RECORDS IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO READ THEM.
THE PUBLIC RECORD ALSO REVEALS THAT A SPECIAL MASTER COULD ENTER A, A, A PER DIEM, UH, FINE FOR A HUNDRED DOLLARS A DAY.
SO IT IS ALWAYS NOT INTERESTING, BUT IT IS PERTINENT TO UNDERSTAND WHY A SPECIAL MAGISTRATE, AND I HAVEN'T ASKED THE QUESTION, I HAVEN'T SPOKEN WITH THE SPECIAL MASTER, BUT I FIND IT INTERESTING THAT A SPECIAL MAGISTRATE WOULD ENTER AN ORDER THAT IMPOSES A $250 PER DAY ON MULTIPLE VIOLATIONS, AS OPPOSED TO, SAY, A HUNDRED DOLLARS A DAY.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE PUBLIC AND MADAM MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, I SUSPECT THE REASON HAS TO DO WITH, AGAIN, THE SUBJECT THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IN ORDER FOR THIS CITY TO HAVE ITS CODE TAKEN, UH, SERIOUSLY, WHEN YOU HAVE TENANTS WHO ARE INVITED TO LIVE IN A APARTMENT DUPLEX, IT OUGHT TO MEET THE MINIMUM STANDARDS THAT EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE A CHANCE TO LIVE IN.
THE MINIMUM STANDARDS WERE NOT MET UNTIL OVER 255 DAYS PASSED.
I ASKED MR. RAGAN, MR. PGAN, WOULD YOU PLEASE TELL ME HOW MUCH IS IT? WELL, FIRST OF ALL, LET ME ASK YOU, UM, OUR NOTES AND, AND WE REFLECT THAT THE PENALTY AMOUNT RANGED OVER ALMOST 250 DAYS BEFORE THERE WAS CORRECTION.
TELL ME, DO YOU, IS THAT THE DATE THAT YOUR CLIENT IS SAYING THAT IT TOOK THEM TO CORRECT THE VIOLATIONS? NO, THAT'S THE DATE THAT THE CITY DETERMINED THAT THE VIOLATIONS WERE CORRECTED.
WHAT DATE DOES YOUR CLIENT SAY THEY CORRECTED THESE VIOLATIONS? THERE WAS NO ANSWER TO THAT.
THERE'S STILL NOT AN ANSWER TO THAT.
IF YOU LOOK AT THESE 400 PLUS PAGES, YOU WILL SEE THAT THE CITY'S CODE INSPECTION, UH, OFFICERS, UM, COMMUNICATED WITH MR. BORDEAUX IN PARTICULARLY, THEY ALSO GAVE HIM A EXTENSION.
HE ASKED FOR 90 DAYS TO CORRECT THE VIOLATIONS.
THEY GAVE HIM 30 DAYS BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE VIOLATIONS.
MR. BURDO ALSO ON THE DAY OF A HEARING THAT WAS SCHEDULED FOR MAY, UM, EIGHTH IS WHEN HE ASKED FOR A EXTENSION, A 90 DAY EXTENSION.
PART OF HIS COMMUNICATION IN THAT 90 DAYS WAS TO SAY TO STAFF THAT HE NEEDED MORE TIME BECAUSE HE HAD DETERMINED HE WAS GOING TO SELL THE PROPERTY.
UM, MADAM MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, YOU PROBABLY KNOW THAT IF A PROPERTY IS FACING CODE VIOLATIONS, IN ORDER FOR, UH, THEM TO SELL THE PROPERTY, THEY HAVE TO GIVE NOTICE TO WHOEVER MAY BE A PURCHASER OF THAT PROPERTY.
SO HE MADE IT CLEAR IN HIS COMMUNICATIONS THAT HE NEEDED THE TIME.
UM, AND, UH, THE, UM, THE BUYERS WERE AWARE OF THE CONDITION OF THE PROPERTY, AND NOT ONLY THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE CONDITION OF THE PROPERTY, BUT THEY, ACCORDING TO HIM, UM, I'M SUMMARIZING.
BUT HE ESSENTIALLY SAID THE BUYERS WERE OKAY WITH, UH, AND UNDERSTOOD THE ISSUES.
UM, WHICH AGAIN, LEAVES THE IMPRESSION THAT FOR WHATEVER REASON, UH, THE CONCENTRATION OF THE BORDEAUX'S ATTENTION ON CORRECTING THE VIOLATIONS MAY HAVE BEEN MORE DIRECTED TOWARDS THEIR DESIRE TO
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SELL THE PROPERTY THAN TO CORRECT IT SO THAT IT SATISFIED THE MINIMUM, UH, STANDARDS, UH, THAT WERE THE SUBJECT OF THE VIOLATIONS MATTER, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, AND TO THE PUBLIC.UM, THE LAST THING THAT I'LL, UH, UH, INDICATE JUST BASED ON THIS IS THAT, UM, THE FINES RAN FOR 255 DAYS.
UM, THE PROCESS, UM, THAT RESULTED IN THIS LIEN BEING IMPOSED, UH, WAS IMPOSED BY A SPECIAL MAGISTRATE, A FLORIDA BAR ATTORNEY.
UM, AND MY RESEARCH, MY ANALYSIS, MY OPINION IS THAT THE CITY HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING IMPROPER WITH REGARD TO THE BORDEAUXS.
IF THEY WANT A LIEN REDUCTION, THEY CERTAINLY HAVE A RIGHT, AS DOES ANY PROPERTY OWNER IN THIS CITY TO REQUEST A LIEN REDUCTION FROM THE CITY.
BUT TO SUGGEST THAT THE LIENS IN THIS CASE ARE EXCESSIVE, UH, AND THAT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS TRIGGERED BY THE CITY'S, UH, LACK OF A RESPONSE, LACK OF INSPECTIONS, OR, UM, WHATEVER ELSE LAWYERS, UH, TEND TO COME UP WITH, UH, IS AN ABSOLUTE, UH, MISREPRESENTATION OF THE FACTUAL RECORD THAT WE HAVE IN THIS DOCUMENT.
AND IT'S AVAILABLE FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO READ IT.
UM, AND MAD MAYOR WITH THAT, UM, I WILL, UM, UH, AGAIN, I DID HEAR COMMENTS FROM ANOTHER PROPERTY OWNER, UM, AND I'VE HAD PHONE CALLS, UH, EXCHANGE PHONE CALLS WITH, UH, COUNSEL FOR, UH, MR. LEVY.
UM, THAT IS A MATTER THAT, UH, THIS, UH, UH, COMMISSION HAS ASKED ME TO LOOK INTO.
UH, AND I PROMISE MR. LEVY AND HIS COUNSEL, I WILL REVIEW THIS MATTER, THEIR MATTER WITH THE SAME LEVEL OF DETAIL AND UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'VE REVIEWED THE BORDES.
UM, WHAT I'VE SAID TO MR. RAGAN IS, EVERY PROPERTY OWNER CAN COME BEFORE THIS COMMISSION AT THE END OF THE OF THE DAY, AND THIS COMMISSION HAS THE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY WITH REGARD TO WHETHER OR NOT IT CHOOSES TO REDUCE A LIEN.
LIEN REDUCTION IS NOT AN ENTITLEMENT THAT ANYONE HAS PROVIDED.
SO MY FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS TO REVIEW THE MATTER TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THE LIEN IS VALID.
UH, AND I WILL NOTE, PARTICULARLY AS IT PERTAINS TO THE BODO AND MR. PGAN, THEY HAD EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO CHALLENGE THE FINDINGS OF THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE.
IN FACT, UNDER CHAPTER 1 62 AND UNDER CHAPTER, UH, 30 OF THE CITY'S CODE, THERE'S A REQUIREMENT THAT IF YOU WANT TO APPEAL A SPECIAL MAGISTRATE'S FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS OF LAW, YOU CAN DO SO, BUT YOU HAVE TO DO IT WITHIN 30 DAYS THAT THE LIENS ARE IMPOSED.
THAT'S A MATTER OF FLORIDA STATUTES AS A MATTER OF THE FLORIDA CODE.
AND IN FACT, UH, MAD MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, IT'S IN EVERY NOTICE THAT THEY RECEIVED BY CERTIFIED MAIL.
IT'S IN EVERY NOTICE OF HEARING.
IT'S IN EVERY DOCUMENT WHERE IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE.
SO FOR THEM OR ANYONE ELSE TO SUGGEST THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW THEIR RIGHTS, THAT CERTAINLY HAD ACCESS TO MR. RAGAN, UM, OR, OR A, A COUNSEL AT ANY OTHER HEARING.
UH, AND SO A AGAIN, UH, THE SUGGESTION THAT THE CITY HAS ACTED IMPROPERLY, HAS DRUG ITS FEET, OR, UH, HAS SLOWED THE PROCESS, UM, NOT WITH RESPECT TO THE BORDEA.
UH, AND WE WILL REVIEW THE MATTER WITH RESPECT TO MR. LEVY.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING AND SPEAKING WITH THEIR COUNSEL.
AND WITH THAT, I WISH EVERYONE A GOOD EVENING.