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IN PROGRESS.[1. CALL TO ORDER]
EVERYONE.I'M SO GLAD TO SO SEE SO MANY OF YOU ALL HERE.
THANK YOU FOR COMING WITH US TONIGHT TO OUR CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
AT THIS TIME, MY CITY COMMISSION MEETING IS CALLED TO ORDER.
ROLL CALL MADAM CLERK, PLEASE.
COMMISSIONER MAXWELL WILLIAMS. PRESENT.
COMMISSIONER THOMAS, PRESENT ACTING CITY MANAGER HOWARD PRESENT CITY ATTORNEY CALLOWAY PRESENT.
MADAM MAYOR, WE HAVE A QUORUM.
OUR INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
OUR INVOCATION THIS EVENING WILL BE GIVEN BY PASTOR BENZ.
PASTOR, IT SAYS SOMETHING ELSE.
OH, HE'S, YEAH, HE'S JUST WALKED IN.
I'M, YEAH, I'VE BEEN HERE FOR A WHILE.
WE COME GIVEN YOUR PRAISE AND GLORY.
WE COME THIS DAY, LORD, LIFTING BEFORE YOU OUR NATION, THESE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THE STATE OF FLORIDA, AND IN PARTICULAR THE THE CITY.
THE CITY THAT IS OUR CITY OF LOVE AND HOPE AND PEACE.
BLESSED WITH
AND LORD, USE US ONLY TO BUILD UP THIS CITY FOR THE GOOD OF ALL.
MAY ALL THAT WE ENCOUNTER, ALL OUR CHALLENGES, ALL OUR OPPORTUNITIES BE USED, AND WE, AND COME TO A PLACE WHEREBY WE CAN BECOME STRONGER AND BOLDER IN ALL THAT WE DO.
WE COMMEND OUR MEETING THIS EVENING INTO YOUR HANDS.
MAY ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD.
AND MAY YOUR NAME BE GLORIFIED IN THIS SPACE.
TO THE GLORY AND HONOR OF YOUR NAME WE PRAY.
WOULD YOU PLEASE MIND STANDING AND JOINING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? I PLEASURE.
ALLEGIANCE OF UNITED STATES, AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS OR NATION UNDER GOD IN WHICH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
PASTOR WILLIAMS OF MERRI UNITED METHODIST CHURCH.
THANK YOU FOR PRAYING FOR OUR CITY, FOR PRAYING FOR OUR OFFICIALS, PRAYING FOR OUR RESIDENTS, PRAYING FOR OUR STAFF.
AND THANK YOU PASTOR BENZ FOR WANTING TO BE THAT RAM IN THE BUSH FOR ME IF NEEDED.
[A. PRESENTATION - LEGISLATIVE UPDATE BY THE CITY'S LOBBYISTS MAURICE J. KURLAND OF ALCADE & FAY, LTD. AND RONALD BOOK OF RONALD L. BOOK, P.A.]
OUR PROCLAMATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS THIS EVENING.IS THAT WHY ALL OF US ARE HERE TONIGHT? FOR WE THANK YOU FOR COFFEE, UH, PRESENTATION.
OUR LEGISLATIVE UPDATE FIRST WILL BE GIVEN BY THE CITY'S LOBBYIST, OUR NATIONAL LOBBYIST, MAURICE KLIN OF ADE AND FAYE LIMITED.
COMMISSIONERS, UM, ACTING CITY MANAGER COUNCIL.
UM, THE AUDIENCE HERE, FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA SAY IT'S A REAL PLEASURE TO BE HERE.
I'M MAURICE KURLAND WITH THE LOBBYING FIRM, ALDE AND FEY GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS.
UH, FOR SOME OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW THE WORD ALDE ACTUALLY MEANS IN SPANISH, MAYOR.
AND SO WE'RE ALWAYS PROUD TO SAY THAT OUR FOUNDER WAS HECTOR ALDE, AND WE'VE BEEN VERY PROUD TO REPRESENT THE CITY FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
AND, AND I'VE BEEN THE LEAD PARTNER IN REPRESENTING THE CITY IN WASHINGTON.
SO, UH, I FEEL BLESSED, UH, TO BE HERE AND HONORED.
AND WE ARE VERY COMMITTED TO THIS CITY IN WASHINGTON.
UM, AS YOU ALL IMAGINE THERE'S BEEN A NUMBER OF THINGS HAPPENING, UH, A NEW CONGRESS IN JANUARY, UH, A NEW ADMINISTRATION IN A SENSE, IN A RETURN, UM, AND MANY THINGS THAT YOU ALL ARE FOLLOWING IN THE NEWS.
UM, SEEMS LIKE EVERY DAY THERE HAS BEEN A BIT OF, UH, NEWS COMING OUTTA THE ADMINISTRATION OR THIS CONGRESS.
AND SO IN FRONT OF YOU IS A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION.
UM, AND SPECIFICALLY AS TO WHAT WE ARE DOING, I ALSO WANTED TO MAKE A SPECIFIC MENTION.
COMMISSIONER HARRISON, I KNOW WE HAVE
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NOT HAD A CHANCE TO MEET, UH, BUT CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, SIR, FOR, FOR YOUR SERVICE.AND, UM, YOUR FELLOW, UH, COMMISSIONERS AND THE MAYOR HAVE BEEN TO WASHINGTON.
AND I WOULD CERTAINLY, OUR FIRM WOULD WELCOME YOU.
ANYTIME YOU'RE, YOU WANT TO COME OR THERE'S BUSINESS TO ATTEND TO, WE ARE THERE FOR YOU.
SO I JUST WANTED TO INTRODUCE MYSELF AS WELL.
AND I HAVE A TEAM THAT WORKS WITH ME AND OUR ASSOCIATES AND OUR ENTIRE FIRM ARE AT THE DISPOSAL OF, OF THE CITY.
UH, JUST TO KIND OF GIVE YOU SOME BACKGROUND AND WITH THE FIRST SLIDE THAT YOU ALL HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU, THERE'S JUST SOME BACKGROUND ON WHAT WE HAVE DONE FOR THE CITY OVER THE COURSE OF OUR TENURE.
AND IT INVOLVES COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING, UM, FUNDING FOR YOUR BUSINESS RESOURCE CENTER, FUNDING FOR YOUR LIBRARY, FUNDING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT TECHNOLOGY FUNDING TOWARDS YOUR EOC FUNDING FOR ADDITIONAL OFFICERS, UM, FOR YOUR PUBLIC SAFETY NEEDS.
AND IN ADDITION, UM, FOUR YEARS AGO, FIVE YEARS AGO WHEN THERE WAS THE JOBS AND TAX CUT ACT, IT ALLOWED FOR WHAT WAS CALLED OPPORTUNITY ZONES.
AND THIS, UH, CITY AND THIS COMMISSION WAS ABLE TO DESIGNATE AND, AND PRESENT TO YOUR GOVERNOR THREE PARTICULAR CENSUS TRACKS WITHIN THE CITY TO BE DESIGNATED AS OPPORTUNITY ZONES.
AND I'M GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT.
AND THEN MOST RECENTLY, UM, THERE WAS A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS THAT WAS DIRECTED THROUGH THE ASSISTANCE, UH, OF CONGRESSWOMAN SHIRTLESS MCCORMICK, UM, FOR YOUR CANAL BANK STABILIZATION.
AND WE KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A LONG RUNNING, UH, CHALLENGE FOR THE CITY AND SOMETHING THAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN VERY FOCUSED ON AND WORKING WITH THE CONGRESSWOMAN, UH, SINCE SHE WAS ELECTED, UM, AND THE TOOLS AT HER DISPOSAL TO HELP SECURE THAT FUNDING.
SO THAT'S JUST KIND OF A BACKGROUND ON SOME OF THE MAJOR ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN, UM, FUNDED THROUGH FEDERAL FUNDING THIS YEAR AND LAST YEAR.
UM, AND THE, AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WORKS ON THESE FISCAL YEARS THAT ARE ACTUALLY A YEAR IN ADVANCE.
SO WE'RE RIGHT NOW LOOKING AT FISCAL YEAR 2026, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE IN CALENDAR YEAR, UH, 2025 LAST YEAR WORKING WITH THE CONGRESSWOMAN'S OFFICE, UH, AND ALSO ADVISING THE TWO UNITED STATES SENATORS AT THAT TIME LAST YEAR, OF COURSE, IT WAS SENATOR MARCO RUBIO, WHO, UH, OF COURSE IS NOW THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
AND HE'S BEEN SUCCEEDED BY, UH, SENATOR ASHLEY MOODY AND SENATOR SCOTT, WHO YOU ALL KNOW AS THE FORMER GOVERNOR.
UM, THE CITY AND YOUR CITY STAFF HAD PROPOSED THREE DIFFERENT PROJECTS FOR SUBMISSION AND WORKING THROUGH THE CONGRESSWOMAN'S OFFICE THAT INVOLVED PEDESTRIAN CONNECTIVITY, UH, LINEAR PATHWAY.
UM, IN ADDITION TO THAT, YOUR STORMWATER CONVEYANCE PROJECT, WHICH I ALWAYS CALL CANAL BANK STABILIZATION AND ALSO, UH, HURRICANE SHELTER AND DISTRIBUTION CENTER.
AND THESE WERE THE THREE PROJECT PRIORITIES THAT HAD BEEN SUBMITTED LAST YEAR.
AND THE CONGRESSWOMAN GIVEN, UH, THESE THREE TOP PRIORITIES FOR THE CITY WENT AND MOVED FORWARD AND SUBMITTED THE PEDESTRIAN CONNECTIVITY.
AND THAT WAS BETWEEN STATE ROAD SEVEN, UH, EAST TO WEST AND SOUTH OF THE C 13 CANAL.
AND THEN WE WENT THROUGH THE ENTIRE APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS, AND IT'S A YEAR LONG PROCESS.
AND I'M JUST KIND OF DESCRIBING SOME OF THIS FOR YOU BECAUSE IT'S VERY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT TALLAHASSEE DOES.
THEY'VE GOT THEIR SESSION, WHICH IS COMPRESSED, THE CONGRESS WORKS YEAR ROUND AND VERY EARLY IN THE YEAR WE'RE WORKING WITH THE CITY STAFF.
AND THEN USUALLY AROUND MARCH OR SO IS WHEN THESE SUBMISSIONS HAPPEN THIS YEAR.
UH, THE CANAL BANK EROSION, UH, CANAL BANK STABILIZATION, AGAIN, HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROJECT AND AN ONGOING NEED FOR THE CITY.
AND THE CITY HAS ONCE AGAIN SUBMITTED IT.
THERE ARE LOCAL MATCH REQUIREMENTS.
SO THE CITY ONCE AGAIN SUBMITTED THIS YEAR, AND I'M PLEASED TO REPORT THAT CURRENTLY THANKS TO THE CONGRESSWOMAN, YOU ALL HAVE AN A MILLION DOLLAR PENDING COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING REQUESTS.
THERE ARE STILL MORE STEPS IN THE PROCESS.
UM, SO IT'S NOT DELIVERED YET.
BUT WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE TRANSPORTATION AND HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, UH, APPROPRIATIONS BILL, WHICH IS ONE OF 12 BILLS THAT CONGRESS MUST PASS EVERY YEAR OUT OF COMMITTEE, THIS PROJECT WAS INCLUDED FOR THE CITY.
AND, AND SO YOU ALL ARE EXTREMELY WELL POSITIONED FOR THAT AND THAT WILL GO TOWARDS THESE NEEDS.
BEYOND THAT, I'M GONNA OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS REALLY QUICK SO YOU ALL DON'T HAVE TO HEAR ME JUST DETAILING ALL THESE FACTS.
WE ARE NOW, LIKE I SAID, WE'RE IN WHAT I CALL THE THIRD OR FOURTH QUARTER OF THE YEAR.
AND CONGRESS HAS LESS THAN 30 DAYS TO PASS ITS BUDGET.
YOU ALL ARE USED TO DEALING WITH PASSING YOUR BUDGETS.
CONGRESS HAS, LIKE I SAID, LESS THAN 30 DAYS TO PASS THEIRS BY THE END OF
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SEPTEMBER.THAT'S WHEN THE NEW FISCAL YEAR WILL BEGIN.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, I CAN TELL YOU THEY HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
SO RIGHT NOW THEY'VE ONLY PASSED THREE BILLS IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE HAS PASSED THREE BILLS.
AND WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO TO KEEP THE GOVERNMENT FUNDING AND FUNDED AND AVOID A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IS PROBABLY PASSED WHAT'S CALLED A CONTINUING RESOLUTION.
THIS WILL GIVE THEM ADDITIONAL TIME TO NEGOTIATE THESE 12 BILLS.
BUT AGAIN, LAUDERDALE LAKES PROJECT IS CURRENTLY INCLUDED IN ONE OF THOSE BILLS, AND THAT'S FOR THE MILLION DOLLARS FOR CANAL BANK RESTORATION.
WE SAVED THEM FOR THE A STUDENTS.
AND SO THAT'S WHERE YOU ALL ARE WITHIN WHAT'S CALLED COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING.
AND FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE BEEN, UH, WORKING ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOR MANY YEARS AND KNOW THE HISTORY, THEY USED TO BE CALLED EARMARKS, IT'S REALLY THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A MEMBER OF CONGRESS WHO KNOWS THE CITY, KNOWS HER CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
UH, AND, AND BEFORE HER TIME WAS MR. HASTINGS OF COURSE, AND SAY, OKAY, WHAT DOES MY COMMUNITY NEED AND HOW CAN I ASSIST? THE CONGRESSWOMAN IS LIMITED BY THE RULES THAT SHE CAN ONLY SUBMIT A TOTAL OF 15 PROJECTS.
SO SHE DOES HER BEST TO SAY, WHAT IS THE NUMBER ONE NEED AMONG THE MULTIPLE NEEDS THAT YOU ALL HAVE.
SO BEYOND THAT, UM, JUST KIND OF TO GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW, EARLIER IN THE YEAR, YOU ALL HEARD ABOUT THIS THING CALLED THIS ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL.
OTHER PEOPLE DESCRIBE IT IN OTHER WAYS.
IN PRIOR YEARS, IT WAS CALLED BUDGET RECONCILIATION.
IT'S BASICALLY A MEANS TO EITHER SPEND ADDITIONAL FUNDING, REDUCE SPENDING, CHANGE THE TAX CODE.
AND WHAT THIS BILL DID, AND, AND I THINK IT'S JUST IMPORTANT, I'M GONNA HIGHLIGHT A FEW THINGS.
IT EXTENDED THE TAX CUTS FROM 2017 AND KIND OF MORE IMPORTANTLY FOR YOU ALL, IT REAUTHORIZED WHAT'S CALLED THE OPPORTUNITY ZONE PROGRAM.
AND THAT IS WHERE THE CITY CAN IN THE FUTURE NEXT YEAR, PROBABLY IDENTIFY SOME OTHER CENSUS TRACKS WHERE YOU WANT TO HAVE SOME PRIVATE INVESTMENT COME IN.
AND THERE ARE TAX BENEFITS TO THAT THAT WAS REAUTHORIZED ALONG WITH WHAT'S CALLED NEW MARKET TAX CREDITS.
AND YOUR AND YOUR CRA, THE CITY ITSELF WOULD BE LOOKING AT THESE THINGS FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PURPOSES.
SO THOSE WERE SOME POSITIVES IN THAT BILL.
THERE WERE OTHER ITEMS THAT WERE VERY CONTROVERSIAL.
UH, SOME CHANGES TO MEDICAID, SOME CHANGES TO SNAP, WHICH IS KNOWN AS FOOD STAMPS.
AND THERE WERE MANY PEOPLE THAT OPPOSED THE BILL.
IT ACTUALLY, FOR EVERYONE'S INFORMATION, IT PASSED ON PARTY LINE COMPLETELY.
THERE WAS NO BIPAR, REALLY NO BIPARTISANSHIP ON THIS.
THIS WAS DRIVEN BY THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP AND WITH THE PRESIDENT'S PRIORITIES.
BUT THERE WERE SOME ITEMS WITHIN IT THAT ARE OF INTEREST TO THE CITY.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, UM, SOMETHING ELSE YOU GUYS HEARD ABOUT WAS CALLED RESCISSIONS.
WE HADN'T SEEN THAT IN A LONG TIME.
AND WHAT THAT WAS WAS A, A, A PIECE OF LEGISLATION TO CLAW BACK FUNDS THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN APPROPRIATED.
IT'D BE LIKE THE CITY DESIGNATES CERTAIN FUNDING FOR THIS COMING YEAR, AND THEN NINE MONTHS LATER YOU COME BACK AND SOMEBODY SAYS, WELL, LET'S, LET'S PULL THAT BACK.
THAT PRIMARILY DEALT WITH FINANCIAL, UM, INTERNATIONAL AID.
AND OF COURSE THAT WOULD INVOLVE SOME COUNTRIES THAT, UM, WHERE SOME OF YOUR IMMIGRANT POPULATION HAVE SOME CONCERN ABOUT BECAUSE IT INVOLVES INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND AID.
AND THAT WAS CUT BACK TO THE PLATOON OF $7 BILLION.
AND ALSO FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT WATCH PUBLIC BROADCASTING OR NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO, YOUR LOCAL PBS STATIONS, PART OF THAT WAS TO CUT OVER A BILLION, UH, WHICH IS ABOUT TWO, TWO YEARS OF FUNDING TO THE CORPORATION OF PUBLIC BROADCASTING.
NOW THEY GET SOME FUNDING FROM PRIVATE DONORS, BUT THAT WAS A SIGNIFICANT CUT.
SOME ADDITIONAL ITEMS THAT I'M GONNA TOUCH ON REALLY QUICKLY, 'CAUSE I, I, I KNOW YOU HAVE OTHER SPEAKERS HERE AND YOUR AGENDA ITEMS, SOMETHING THAT'S CALLED THE FEMA ACT OF 2025.
I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU ALL HERE.
I MEAN, HURRICANES ARE PART AND PARCEL OF FLORIDA HEAVY STORMS, FLOODING, RAIN, ALL THESE OTHER THINGS.
AND YOU KNOW, LAST, UH, LAST HURRICANE SEASON, OF COURSE SOME MAJOR HURRICANES THAT CAME ROLLING THROUGH FLORIDA, UH, MOSTLY ON THE WEST SIDE, UH, NORTHWEST.
UH, BUT, UH, AS A RESULT OF THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, FEMA WAS COMING UNDER SOME CRITICISM THAT, HEY, MAYBE WE NEED TO REVISE IT, UPDATE IT.
SO ON A BIPARTISAN BASIS, UH, A BILL THAT'S CALLED THE FEMA ACT OF 2025 WAS INTRODUCED.
WHAT IT WILL DO, IT WILL ELEVATE FEMA TO CABINET LEVEL POSITION EQUIVALENT TO ALL THE OTHER SECRETARIES, HAVE A UNIFORM FORM, SO TO SPEAK, IF YOU GUYS NEED TO, UH, IF THERE'S A NATIONAL EMERGENCY AND THERE'S AN EMERGENCY DECLARATION, INSTEAD OF HAVING MULTIPLE
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FORMS, BE ONE FORM THAT YOU ALL COULD SUBMIT MUCH EASIER AND THEN ADD IN ADDITION TO THAT, UM, LIKE I SAID, IT WOULD BE AT A CABINET LEVEL.SO THIS ACTUALLY PASSED OUT OF THE HOUSE LAST WEEK, 57 TO THREE.
SO THAT'S THE KIND OF SUPPORT THAT THIS BILL HAS, WHICH HOPEFULLY WOULD HELP ALL COMMUNITIES AND ESPECIALLY THOSE IN FLORIDA.
AND THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST, ALSO ON A BIPARTISAN BASIS, SENATOR TIM SCOTT OUTTA SOUTH CAROLINA, ELIZABETH WARREN, DEMOCRAT OUTTA MASSACHUSETTS INTRODUCED A BILL CALLED THE ROAD TO HOUSING ACT.
I KNOW ALL OF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT AFFORDABILITY OF HOUSING, SUPPLY OF HOUSING, UM, JUST THE ABILITY FOR PEOPLE TO, TO FIND HOUSING AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SO THESE TWO SENATORS ON DIFFERENT SIDES OF THE AISLE INTRODUCED THIS BILL.
IT'S CALLED THE RENEWING OPPORTUNITY, THE AMERICAN DREAM ACT.
THIS WAS CAME OUT OF THE SENATE BANKING COMMITTEE AT THE END OF JULY.
IT'S THE FIRST COMPREHENSIVE HOUSING BILL THAT'S COME OUTTA COMMITTEE IN LIKE A DECADE.
AND SO WHAT IT BASICALLY DOES IS EXPANDS AND PRESERVES HOUSING SUPPLY INCENTIVES FOR MORE HOUSING, UM, TO TRY TO STREAMLINE, UM, THE PRODUCTION OF HOUSING.
AND SO THIS BILL, UH, LIKE I SAID, IT'S COME OUTTA COMMITTEE, IT STILL NEEDS TO GO THROUGH THE FULL HOUSE.
AND THEN KIND OF TURNING TO THE LAST PAGE HERE, WHICH IS A HUNDRED AND 19TH, SECOND SESSION.
SO WE'RE ALREADY HERE WE ARE IN SEPTEMBER.
I KNOW YOU ALL ARE ALREADY LOOKING AT TALLAHASSEE.
THEY START A LITTLE BIT AHEAD OF US, BUT IN JANUARY WE'LL HAVE THE SECOND SEC SESSION OF CONGRESS.
AND WE'LL, WE'VE ALREADY BEEN TALKING TO YOUR CITY MANAGER ABOUT WHAT WOULD BE THE PRIORITIES FOR THE CITY.
SOME OF THEM ARE ONGOING, THIS CANAL BANK STABILIZATION, OTHERS ARE YOUR ROADWAYS.
UM, I KNOW I'VE TALKED TO THE MAYOR IN, IN PRIOR VISITS TO WASHINGTON AND YOUR OTHER COMMISSIONERS ABOUT YOUR HEAVILY TRAFFICKED SR SEVEN INTERSECTION AND THE SAFETY ISSUES THERE.
SO TRANSPORTATION WILL BE A BIG ONE.
WATER INFRASTRUCTURE, A BIG ISSUE FOR, UH, ALL COMMUNITIES THAT O ARE OLDER.
PUBLIC SAFETY, I MEAN, IT'S IN THE NEWS NOW, UM, IN OTHER AREAS, BUT PUBLIC SAFETY AND OVERALL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
THESE ARE THINGS WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING MORE WITH YOUR CITY STAFF ABOUT.
AND THEN WE'LL GET AN IDEA KIND OF A LITTLE BIT, UH, CLOSER TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR AS TO WHAT YOU ALL WANNA SUBMIT AGAIN TO THE CONGRESSWOMAN.
THE OTHER THING I WOULD MENTION IS EVERY FIVE OR SIX YEARS, THE CONGRESS PASSES WHAT'S CALLED A HIGHWAY BILL.
THAT'S WHAT THEY USED TO BE CALLED, OR A TRANSPORTATION REAUTHORIZATION.
THE LAST ONE WAS THE, UH, BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW UNDER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.
IT WENT WELL BEYOND JUST ROADS AND BRIDGES THAT INCLUDED BATTERY, ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING, IT INCLUDED INTERNET, LIKE BROADER INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT TRADITIONALLY IT'S HIGHWAYS, ROADS, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
THERE WILL BE ANOTHER BILL NEXT YEAR.
SOMETIMES PROJECTS ARE ALLOWED IN THAT BILL.
WE'LL BE ADVISING YOU OF THAT.
UM, THEY START TRYING TO LOOK AT THIS A YEAR IN ADVANCE, SOMETHING ELSE, WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT, SOMETHING SIMILAR.
IT TELLS CONGRESS, HEY, WE'RE GONNA AUTHORIZE THESE PROJECTS OR THESE, OR THESE POLICY CHANGES.
AND THEN IT SETS THE POLICY FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.
AND THE OTHER THING I WANT TO MENTION REALLY QUICKLY IS FEDERAL GRANT FUNDING.
WE ARE ALWAYS CONSTANTLY ADVISING THE CITY OF FEDERAL GRANTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
SOME OF THESE ARE FORMULA, SOME OF 'EM ARE COMPETITIVE.
AND FOR, FOR THE CITY'S AWARENESS, BECAUSE EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS, WE KNOW THAT'S IMPORTANT TO YOU.
AND SO SOME OF THIS IS WHETHER IT'S RELATED TO YOUR FIRE SAFETY, PUBLIC SAFETY, SOME TRANSPORTATION.
THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL GRANT FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES.
AND WE ON A WEEKLY BASIS OR ADVISING THE CITY OF THOSE, OF THOSE, UM, TYPES OF, UH, UH, UH, GRANT AVAILABILITIES AND SOME OF 'EM IS FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT COME DOWN TO THE STATE.
SO IT'S FEDERAL MONEY, BUT THE STATE ADMINISTERS IT.
WE TRY TO KEEP AN EYE ON THAT.
SO THAT WAY, EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE WORKING WITH YOUR STATE LOBBYIST, WE'RE ALSO LETTING YOU KNOW, HEY, THESE ARE FEDERAL DOLLARS.
AND THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST, SOMETHING I WAS TALKING TO, UH, COMMISSIONER MAXWELL WILLIAMS AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS, JUST AS A, IN, AS AN ASIDE LOOK, NEXT YEAR THERE WILL BE ELECTIONS, MIDTERM ELECTIONS, AND THERE'S A DISCUSSION ABOUT REDISTRICTING, UM, WHICH LIKE I SAID, YOUR STATE LOBBYISTS CAN TALK ABOUT OR YOU ARE READING ABOUT IT, WHAT'S GOING ON IN TALLAHASSEE.
AND THAT MAY AFFECT THE LINES OF CONGRESSWOMAN CHEERLESS MCCORMICK'S DISTRICT.
SO WE ARE PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO ALL OF THESE ITEMS. UM, AND WITH THAT, AGAIN, UH, IT'S JUST A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.
I'VE BEEN TO LAUDERDALE LAKES BEFORE.
I'VE SEEN YOUR ALZHEIMER'S CENTER.
IT'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF A WHILE SINCE I WAS LAST HERE.
YOU GUYS HAVE COME TO ME, COME TO WASHINGTON.
BUT I WANNA OPEN IT UP TO ANY QUESTIONS YOU ALL MIGHT HAVE.
AND AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH, COLLEAGUES.
COMMISSIONER MAXWELL WILLIAMS. THANK YOU.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO, UH, WERE SLOWLY
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COMING IN, THERE WAS MAURICE KLIN, WHO IS OUR NATIONAL LOBBYIST IN WASHINGTON, DC AT THIS TIME, ITEM FOUR B.WE'LL HAVE A PRESENTATION AND A LEGISLATIVE UPDATE FROM OUR STATE LOBBYISTS.
RONALD BOOK, MADAM MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, UM, MANAGER, CITY ATTORNEY.
UM, I'D LIKE TO TELL YOU THAT WE DID BIG AND BEAUTIFUL IN TALLAHASSEE, BUT IT WOULD BE TOO MUCH LIKE WHAT THEY THINK THEY DID THAT WAS BIG AND SEMI BEAUTIFUL IN WASHINGTON.
SO WE DON'T EVEN WANT TO JOKE ABOUT THAT.
BUT, UM, IN ALL CANDOR, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
AND I THINK I SAW COMMISSIONER ROGERS, WHERE IS SHE? MM, WHERE DID SHE GO? I, SO THERE SHE IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME FOR THE RECORD.
SHE MAY BE A COMMISSIONER, SHE MAY BE A MAYOR, BUT WE SURE MISS HER IN TALLAHASSEE.
AND, AND I WANNA START BY, BY THANKING YOUR ENTIRE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION AND WHILE ALL OF THE PROJECTS THAT WENT TO TALLAHASSEE DIDN'T GET FUNDED, I WANT TO START BY THANKING REPRESENTATIVE DUNKLEY, WHO I BELIEVE IS IN THE AUDIENCE, SENATOR OSGOOD, WHO ARE DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR ALZHEIMER'S PROJECT.
UH, MAKING IT NOT ONLY INTO THE BUDGET, BUT MAKING IT TO WHERE WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENCOURAGE THE GOVERNOR TO AGAIN APPROVE YOUR ALZHEIMER'S PROJECT.
AND I MIGHT ADD THAT IF YOU LOOK AROUND THE COMMUNITY, THERE WERE TONS AND TONS AND TONS OF BROWARD VETOES, YOUR PROJECT DIDN'T GET VETOED.
UM, AND SO I WANT TO THANK SENATOR OSGOOD, REPRESENTATIVE DUNKLEY, BUT I ALSO WANNA THANK REPRESENTATIVE, UH, CAMPBELL AND REPRESENTATIVE ROSENWALD FOR THEIR WORK ON YOUR WATER PROJECTS THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT THIS YEAR, BUT WE GOT SOME NEW PLANS TO HELP MAKE SURE WE HELP FACILITATE THAT GOING FORWARD.
I WANT TO TAKE A COUPLE OF MINUTES AND NOT TALK ABOUT RESCISSIONS AND NOT TALK ABOUT SNAP AND MEDICAID AND ALL THE BAD THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN WASHINGTON.
THERE ARE A LOT OF GOOD THINGS HAPPENED IN TALLAHASSEE.
THERE ARE A LOT OF BAD THINGS THAT HAPPENED, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF GOOD THINGS.
BUT I THINK I, WHAT WOULD BE BEST IS TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THE STATE OF FLORIDA'S ECONOMY LOOKS LIKE AND WHERE WE THINK WE'RE GOING.
THIS YEAR WHAT LEGISLATURE DID WAS APPROVE ALL OF THOSE TEMPORARY SALES TAX HOLIDAYS.
THEY PUT 'EM INTO PERMANENT LAW.
WHAT THEY ALSO DID WAS PASS THE ELIMINATION OF THE LAST 2% OF THE COMMERCIAL RENTAL TAX.
AND WHILE THAT SEEMS LIKE A GREAT THING FOR LARGE AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, AND IT IS A GREAT THING BECAUSE IF YOU PAY THAT MUCH LESS, WHETHER YOU'RE A MOM AND POP OR YOU'RE A LARGER COMPANY, IT'S A GOOD THING.
WHAT THEY DIDN'T DO WAS PROTECT OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT LIKE YOU, BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE IN BROWARD COUNTY, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY HAVE IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, BROWARD COUNTY, WE GOT A PENNY FOR TRANSPORTATION SALES TAX.
MIAMI-DADE TO USE AS AN EXAMPLE, HAVE A HALF A PENNY FOR JACKSON MEMORIAL AND THEY HAVE A HALF A PENNY FOR TRANSPORTATION.
WHEN THEY REPEALED THE COMMERCIAL RENTAL TAX, WHAT THEY DIDN'T DO IS STRIP IN ONE SENTENCE THAT SAID LOCAL GOVERNMENTS COULD CONTINUE.
IF THEY HAVE IT AUTHORIZED BY BALLOT MEASURE A SALES TAX, IT WOULD CONTINUE TO BE CHARGED ON COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES.
AND THAT COST THIS COUNTY AND OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS $50 MILLION A YEAR ON A RECURRING BASIS OVER THE BALANCE OF THE TIME THAT THAT'S HER TAX IS IN PLACE.
AND IT'S NOT GOOD FOR SMALL COMMUNITIES LIKE YOURS THAT RELY ON THAT MONEY TO DO ALL OF THE VARIOUS TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS THAT HAD BEEN AGREED TO BETWEEN NOT ONLY THE COUNTY WHEN THEY PUT IT ON THE BALLOT, BUT THE AGREEMENTS THEY STRUCK WITH YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT CITIES THROUGHOUT THIS COUNTY.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY DID WAS PAY DOWN THE DEBT BY ANOTHER LARGE CHUNK OF BILLION DOLLAR TYPE CUT, WHICH IS GOOD FOR ALL OF US BECAUSE IF YOU PAY DOWN THE DEBT, YOU'RE NOT PAYING INTEREST PAYMENTS.
AND SO IT BRINGS DOWN THE NEED TO PUT RECURRING MONEY IN TO PAY DOWN THE DEBT THE FLORIDA HAS.
THE GOVERNOR HAS A PLEDGE TO PAY THAT DOWN BY 50% BY THE TIME HE IS DONE WITH HIS EIGHT YEARS IN OFFICE.
AND THAT IS A GOOD THING FOR FLORIDA'S ECONOMY.
WHAT THEY ALSO DID IS PUT FURTHER MONEY AWAY IN RESERVES.
WHY? BECAUSE THE BELIEF IS, IS THAT WHILE OUR ECONOMY IS GOOD FOR 25 26 AND IT LOOKS FAVORABLE FOR 26 27, THEY BELIEVE IN 28, 29 AND 29 30 FISCAL YEARS, WE WILL HAVE A IN, IN 26 27, WE WILL HAVE
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A $1.7 BILLION DEFICIT.AND IN 27 28 WE WILL HAVE A SIX AND A HALF BILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT.
SO WHAT THEY'VE TRIED TO DO IS PUT ENOUGH MONEY AWAY TO SAVE SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO GO BACK INTO THE BUDGET THE WAY WE HAD TO DO IN 2010 AND 11 COMMISSIONER ROGERS AND MAKE THOSE MASSIVE BUDGET CUTS THAT WE HAD TO DO THAT TRAUMATIZED EVERYBODY PRIMARILY IN THE SOCIAL SERVICE ARENA.
SOME OF THE CAUSES OF THIS, WHILE THE MEDICAID BUDGET IN FLORIDA HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN THE LARGEST BUDGET INCREASE ANNUALLY YEAR OVER YEAR FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS, THERE IS A NEW ITEM IN OUR BUDGET THAT EATS UP MORE IN THE GROWTH CATEGORY THAN THE MEDICAID BUDGET AND WILL SOON SURPASS THE MEDICAID BUDGET IN THE GROWTH OF WHAT IT IS ON A RECURRING BASIS.
AND COULD ANY OF YOU TELL ME WHAT IT IS? I'LL MAKE IT EASY.
SO RONNA DOESN'T YELL AT ME AT THE END OF THE NIGHT THAT I DID THE QUIZ.
THEY CAN ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE TELL ME THE VOUCHER, WHAT'S GROWING FASTER THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN THE BUDGET? THE VOUCHER PROGRAM.
AND YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.
AND WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH SCHOOL CHOICE, WHICH I THINK ALL OF US WOULD AGREE, HAVING CHOICES TO GO TO TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOL TO GO TO A CHARTER SCHOOL WHICH IS DEFINED AS PUBLIC TO GO TO A PRIVATE SCHOOL OR TO BE HOMESCHOOLED.
WHAT NONE OF US ANTICIPATED WHEN JEB BUSH CREATED CHARTER SCHOOLS IS THAT CHOICE WOULD GO AS FAR AS DEEP AND AS WIDE AS IT HAS.
AND EACH OF US, EACH OF US IN THIS ROOM KNOW SOMEONE THAT'S RUNNING AN AT HOME SCHOOL WITH FIVE STUDENTS, EIGHT STUDENTS, NINE STUDENTS.
AND TO EVERYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE THAT DOESN'T KNOW THIS, THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE COLLECTING A VOUCHER FOR EVERY ONE OF THOSE CHILDREN THAT THEY'RE TEACHING IN THEIR HOME IN A HOMESCHOOL TYPE PROGRAM.
THAT IS NOT WHAT WAS NECESSARILY INTENDED WHEN ALL OF THESE EDUCATION REFORMS TOOK PLACE.
BUT SO BETWEEN WHAT GOES TO AT HOMESCHOOLING, WHAT NOW GOES DOWN THE ROAD TO AMERICAN HERITAGE, WHAT GOES DOWN THE ROAD TO PINECREST OR GO DOWN THE ROAD TO THE OTHER PRIVATE SCHOOLS, THOSE VOUCHERS OF CHOICE.
IS IT A GOOD THING? DOES IT ALLOW LOTS OF STUDENTS WHO WOULD OTHERWISE NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, IF YOU WILL, TO ATTEND A SCHOOL OF THEIR CHOICE, HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO UTILIZE THAT 77, 70 $800 YEAR VOUCHER? IT IS.
BUT AT WHAT COST AND HOW DO YOU BALANCE THAT IN THE SCHEME OF WHAT WE'RE DOING TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT OTHER NEEDS ARE ALWAYS MET? JUST LAST FRIDAY, THE ECONOMISTS AT STATE LEVEL DID A NEW BUDGET OUTLOOK AND WHILE IT LOOKS GREAT THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A MILLION, 1,000,000,007 IN ADDITIONAL SURPLUS DOLLARS TO SPEND, IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE FACT THAT IT'S BEGINNING TO CRUNCH DOWN.
AND THE MORE OF THE EX, MORE OF THE, IF YOU WILL, TAXES THAT WE REPEAL CONTINUES TO CONTRACT HOW MUCH WE HAVE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE GENERAL SPENDING PURPOSES.
THE TOPIC THAT EVERY CITY COUNTY SPECIAL DISTRICT, NORTH DISTRICT, SOUTH DISTRICT SPECIAL DISTRICTS IN GENERAL WANT TO TALK ABOUT TODAY.
AND IF I ASKED EVERYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE, HOW MANY OF YOU DELIGHT PAYING PROPERTY TAXES, EVERYBODY WOULD SAY, I HATE IT.
BUT IF I LOOKED UP HERE STARTING WITH THE MANAGER AND THE COMMISSION AND I SAID, CAN YOU LIVE WITHOUT PROPERTY TAXES? NO.
NOT IF YOU WANNA DIAL 9 1 1 AND HAVE SOMEBODY TAKE THE CALL, LET ALONE DISPATCH A POLICE OFFICER OR A FIRE TRUCK OR AN EMS VEHICLE TO YOUR HOME OR TO YOUR BUSINESS.
AND SO THE DEBATE AND THE DISCUSSION OVER THE NEXT 210 DAYS, GIVE OR TAKE, FOR THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT ARE UNAWARE THIS YEAR, THE LEGISLATURE GOES INTO SESSION IN JANUARY, FINISHES THE END OF THE FIRST WEEK OF MARCH, THEY'RE GONNA FINISH IN MARCH AND THEY'LL PROBABLY GO DIRECTLY INTO A REDISTRICTING SESSION OF WHICH YOUR COMMUNITY WILL BE A FOCUS OF WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO IN REDISTRICTING.
AND THEY WILL NOT MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHETHER THEY WANNA CREATE TWO NEW SEATS OR FIVE NEW SEATS UNTIL AFTER THE NOVEMBER
[00:30:01]
ELECTION IN CALIFORNIA.AND THEY CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT CALIFORNIA DID OR DIDN'T DO AND WHETHER TEXAS OFFSET ANY OF IT.
AND THEN THEY'RE GONNA EITHER TRY TO CREATE TWO NEW OR FIVE NEW.
AND LET ME BE CLEAR, THIS COMMUNITY WHERE WE ARE SITTING RIGHT NOW WILL BE ONE OF THE MOST DIRECTLY AFFECTED COMMUNITIES WHEN THAT REDISTRICTING SPECIAL SESSION TAKES PLACE NEXT SPRING AFTER THE REGULAR SESSION IS CONCLUDED.
I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE SPECULATING THEY WERE GONNA DO THIS IN OCTOBER OR NOVEMBER.
THEY ARE NOT, THEY ARE WAITING TO SEE WHAT CALIFORNIA DOES TO MAKE THAT DECISION.
AND THEY'RE NOT GONNA DO IT DURING THE REGULAR SESSION 'CAUSE THEY'RE NOT GONNA DISTRACT FROM WHAT THEY WANNA DO.
AND BESIDES THAT, THERE'S A TON OF EARNED MEDIA THAT GETS INTO THE PICTURE WHEN THEY DO A SPECIAL SESSION.
AND THAT'S WHAT'S PLAYING IN THE THEATER NEAR YOU REAL SOON.
HOWEVER, ON SEPTEMBER 22ND AND SEPTEMBER 23RD, THE HOUSE WILL BEGIN THEIR DELIBERATIONS ON WHAT TO DO.
LET'S BE CLEAR, I DO NOT BELIEVE, AND WE CAN WRITE ALL THIS DOWN, WHATEVER TIME IT IS, 7 45, 7 30 ON THE NINTH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, WE'LL COME BACK HERE IN MARCH OR APRIL OR JUNE AND SEE IF I'M RIGHT.
BUT I DO NOT BELIEVE THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT WILL APPEAR ON NOVEMBER BALLOT NOVEMBER OF 26 WILL GIVE ANY RELIEF TO COMMERCIAL AND RENTAL PROPERTY OWNERS.
I DO BELIEVE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS MANAGER, YOU ARE LOOKING AT A VERY MONSTER SIZED INCREASE IN HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION THAT IF I HAD A CRYSTAL BALL I WOULD PREDICT WILL APPLY TO PEOPLE WHO AREN'T BRAND NEW HOMEOWNERS BUT HAVE OWNED THEIR HOME FOR SOME PERIOD OF TIME.
THERE MAY BE A CONDITION OF, OF, OF A MORTGAGE BEING PAID DOWN TO A CERTAIN LEVEL.
UM, I THINK THERE'LL BE LOTS OF, OF, OF LIMITATIONS IF YOU WILL, SO THAT THE FULL IMPACT OF WHAT IT IS ISN'T GOING TO HIT YOU ALL AT ONCE.
HOWEVER, ON THE ALL AT ONCE AGAIN FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE AUDIENCE AND THOSE THAT ARE WATCHING THIS, I WILL REMIND YOU THOSE TWO GUYS BACK THERE, THEY DON'T COME FOR FREE AND THEY DON'T COME INEXPENSIVE.
THOSE TWO GUYS BACK THERE AND THE REST OF THE GUYS AND GALS THAT WORKED FOR BSO OR WORKED FOR BROWARD FIRE OR ANY OTHER INDEPENDENT DEPARTMENTS IN THIS COMMUNITY, MUNICIPALITY BY MUNICIPALITY, SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 46 AND 57.5% OF EVERY CITY AND COUNTY BUDGET IS MADE UP OF FIRST RESPONDERS BUDGET ITEMS. AND LET'S JUST BE CLEAR, WHEN YOU CUT, WHEN YOU CUT HOW MUCH IS COMING IN? WE'RE NOT CUTTING THEM.
I CAN PROMISE YOU WE'RE NOT CUTTING THEM.
AND I CAN TELL YOU WHY WE'RE NOT CUTTING THEM.
'CAUSE THERE'S A PROVISION IN THE CONSTITUTION THAT SAYS THAT IF THE SHERIFF IN NOW IN EVERY ONE OF OUR 67 COUNTIES USED TO ONLY BE 66, NOW IT'S 67.
'CAUSE MIAMI DAY NOW HAS AN ELECTED SHERIFF.
THERE IS A PROVISION THAT SAYS THAT IF THE SHERIFF IN YOUR COUNTY IS UNHAPPY WITH THE BUDGET THAT THE COUNTY COMMISSION AWARDS TO THEM, THEY'VE GOT A DIRECT APPEAL TO THE GOVERNOR OF THE CABINET.
NOW YOU ALL TELL ME POLITICALLY, WHEN THE SHERIFF GOES TO THE GOVERNOR OF CABINET, ARE THEY GONNA TELL THAT SHERIFF, GEE, WE'RE SORRY WHEN I'M NOT GONNA TELL THAT COUNTY COMMISSIONER TO GIVE YOU MORE MONEY.
'CAUSE WE ALL KNOW THAT'S NOT GONNA WORK THAT WAY.
AND WHILE POLICE DEPARTMENTS DON'T HAVE THAT SAME OPPORTUNITY AND WHILE THESE GENTLEMEN AND THE OTHER MEN AND WOMEN THAT WORK FOR BSO AND SERVE THIS COMMUNITY ARE UNDER CONTRACT, IT ISN'T GONNA CHANGE WHAT THAT CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION IS TO MEET THOSE NEEDS.
AND IF YOU DECIDED TO DO AWAY WITH WHAT THEY DO HERE AND GO BACK TO YOUR OWN MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENT THAT ISN'T GONNA DO YOU ANY GOOD EITHER.
SO WHEN I ASKED THE AUDIENCE, HOW MANY OF YOU LIKE PAY VALOR, PROPERTY TAXES, AND EVERYBODY WANTS TO RAISE THEIR HANDS, JUST REMEMBER ON SEPTEMBER 9TH, 2025 AT SEVEN 30 IN THE EVENING, SOME GUY WHO THINKS HE KNOWS WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT.
I MAY NOT COME BACK HERE SIX MONTHS FROM NOW AND WE'LL SEE WHETHER I DID.
AND THROUGH ALL THE RHETORIC AND ALL THE DEBATE, WE'LL SEE IF I'M RIGHT AS TO WHAT GETS ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER OF 26, WHATEVER HAPPENS, I PROMISE YOU THIS,
[00:35:01]
THEY WILL FIND ENOUGH VOTES IN THE SENATE.THEY WILL FIND ENOUGH VOTES IN THE HOUSE TO PUT A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER AND IT WILL DEAL WITH THAT REDUCTION OF ADD LOAN PROPERTY TAXES SOME WAY, SHAPE OR FORM.
I'VE GIVEN YOU WHAT I THINK IT'S GONNA BEGIN TO LOOK LIKE.
SEPTEMBER 22ND, THE HOUSE COMMITTEE STARTS ITS CONVERSATION ABOUT IT.
THE SENATE HAS NO MEETING SET TO DISCUSS IT.
THE GOVERNOR HAS NOT ROLLED OUT A PROPOSAL AT THIS POINT.
BUT I REALLY CAUTION AND, AND AND, AND LEMME DIGRESS FOR A MINUTE.
TWICE IN THE LAST 15 OR SO YEARS THERE HAVE BEEN CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS ON THE BALLOT TO INCREASE THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.
THEY HAVE BOTH FAILED BECAUSE IT STILL TAKES 60% TO PUT SOMETHING INTO CONSTITUTION.
THEY ARE GOING TO JUICE THIS AMENDMENT UP SO THAT EVERYBODY IS CLAMORING TO GO TO THE POLLS.
I SIMPLY REMIND EVERY VOTER, UNDERSTAND WHAT MAY LOOK GOOD IN THAT ICE CREAM SUNDAE MAY HAVE SOMETHING HIDDEN DOWN UNDER THAT ICE CREAM THAT YOU DON'T LIKE.
I WOULD, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T MENTION THE FACT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DEFEAT THE EFFORT TO MAKE CHANGES IN THE GOVERNANCE OF CRASS.
I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T SAY TO YOU THAT THERE WAS A STRONG PUSH TO REQUIRE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS LIKE OURS TO PUT THE TRANSPORTATION SURTAX BACK ON THE BALLOT EVERY EIGHT YEARS BECAUSE THE VOTERS DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE DOING WHEN THEY VOTED ON THE FIRST TIME.
COMMISSIONER ROGERS, I'M SORRY, VOTERS DIDN'T KNOW AND THE TDT OH THAT'S RIGHT.
THEY DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THAT EITHER.
SAID WE'RE GONNA MAKE US DO THAT EVERY EIGHT YEARS.
YOU COULDN'T BOND THOSE REVENUES.
YOU'D HAVE TO PAY AS YOU GO AND YOU'D GET A FRACTION OF THE TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS YOU'RE GETTING OUT OF THAT.
AND IF YOU'VE REPEALED THE TDT HAVE A GOOD TIME CONTINUING TO TRY TO FILL THAT NEW BRAND NEW CONVENTION CENTER HOTEL AND ALL THOSE CONFERENCE ROOMS AT THE CONVENTION CENTER THAT ARE RENOVATED, THAT BRING PEOPLE TO OUR COMMUNITY, THAT PAY THOSE SUR TAXES, THAT PROVIDE US FED TAXES THAT ALLOW US TO CONTINUE TO BE A VIBRANT TOURISM DESTINATION IN OUR GREAT STATE.
THERE ARE SOME OTHER THINGS THAT DIDN'T PASS THAT WE CARE ABOUT.
AND I WOULD SAY, UH, TO YOUR CITY ATTORNEY, YES, WE DEFEATED SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY AGAIN, AND MANY PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THE CONCEPT AND THE DOCTRINE OF SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY MEANS.
BUT IN 1977, I WROTE A LAW REVIEW ARTICLE ABOUT SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY AND IT'S ALL ABOUT PROTECTING THE KING'S MONEY.
AND IN OUR CASE, THE KING'S MONEY ARE THE TAXPAYER'S MONIES.
AND SO EVERY TIME THERE'S AN UNFORTUNATE PERSONAL INJURY, SOMEBODY GETS INJURED AND THEY SUE YOUR CITY, THERE'S A CAP AND THAT'S CALLED THE SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY CAP.
IF YOU RAISE IT, IF YOU INDEX IT, YOU WILL DRIVE YOUR CITY MANAGER, YOUR BUDGET DIRECTOR AND YOUR CITY ATTORNEY NUTS AND WHATEVER HAIR IS LEFT ON ANYBODY'S HEADS AFTER THEY GO NUTS, THEY WILL PULL THE BALANCE OF IT OUT BECAUSE THEY'RE GONNA BE FORCED TO RESERVE MONEY IN RESERVES THAT WILL COME OUT OF EVERY TAXPAYER'S POCKET.
SO WHEN YOU COME HERE FOR YOUR MILITARY HEARING AND YOU COME HERE FOR YOUR BUDGET HEARINGS IN THE FUTURE AND YOU SEE THIS MONSTER LINE ITEM SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY RESERVES, IT WILL BE BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE AND ITS INFINITE WISDOM DECIDED TO RAISE THOSE SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY TAPS.
I AM NOT GOING TO STAND HERE AND SAY THAT IF ONE OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND THEY ARE OUR EMPLOYEES HAS AN ACCIDENT AND INJURES SOMEBODY IF THAT'S SOMEBODY SHOULDN'T GET COMPENSATION FOR IT.
BUT IT'S QUITE ANOTHER THING TO SAY THAT IT SHOULD BE SOME OPEN LEVEL OF LIMITS AGAINST THE SOVEREIGN ENTITY KNOWN AS YOUR CITY GOVERNMENT.
AND I WILL TELL YOU ALL BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN GIVING CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE, THAT BILL DIED BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR GOT ENGAGED TO KILL IT.
HE DIDN'T LIKE THE FACT THAT THE TRIAL LAWYERS HAD REGAINED A FOOTING IN THE HOUSE AND HE THREATENED TO VETO THE BILL IF IT PASSED AND THEY KILLED IT.
I KNOW MADAM MAYOR, I'VE OVERSTAYED MY WELCOME AT THE PODIUM.
UH, I WANNA LEAVE A FEW MINUTES, UM, FOR COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM YOU AND YOUR TEAM.
UM, NOBODY'S HAPPY WITH IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT WHERE THE AMENDMENTS TO LIVE LOCAL WENT.
[00:40:01]
BUT I WOULD SAY TO YOU THAT ALL OF THE THINGS RELATED TO LIVE LOCAL STILL CONTINUE TO BE ABOUT STIMULATING MORE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITIES LIKE OURS.AND WHAT DID I LEAVE OUT THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDED? YOU'RE SURE
AND AND TO EACH OF, AND TO EACH OF YOU, I STAND UP HERE AND I GET ALL THE CREDIT FOR WHAT WE DO.
RONNA BROWN FROM MY FIRM AS COMMISSIONER ROGERS KNOWS, DOES ALL OF YOUR WORK.
AND SO I AM REMISS IN NOT RECOGNIZING HER AND ALL SHE DOES, WORKING WITH YOUR STAFF TO PUT YOUR BUDGET ITEMS IN THE PROPER PLACE, DOUBLE DOTTING EVERY I TRIPLE CROSSING EVERY T AND MAKING SURE WE'RE IN THE PROCESS TO COMPETE.
COMMISSIONERS FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS.
THANK YOU FOR THE HONOR OF CONTINUING TO REPRESENT YOUR FINE CITY.
AS YOU ALL CAN SEE, UH, THE PASSION THAT GOES IN WITH THIS BEFORE WE THANK YOU SO MUCH.
BEFORE WE MOVE TO OUR NEXT ITEM, I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, UM, OUR REPRESENTATIVES FROM BECKER, WHO IS ALSO OUR STATE LOBBYIST, ATTEND, JUST STAND AND WAVE YOUR HAND, NO QUESTIONS.
WE JUST WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO SEE OUR REPRESENTATION IN TALLAHASSEE.
ITEM FOUR C PRESENTATION, OUR CODE COMPLIANCE EMPLOYEE GRADUATION, MADAM MAYOR, THAT ITEM, IF YOU MAY, WILL BE PULLED UNTIL WE HAVE ALL MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE.
[D. PRESENTATION - RECOGNIZING LOCAL FOOD BANKS (SPONSORED BY COMMISSIONER THOMAS)]
D PRESENTATION RECOGNIZED IN LOCAL FOOD BANKS SPONSORED BY COMMISSIONER SHARON THOMAS.MR. THOMAS, DO WE, DO WE GO DOWN OR DO WE GO DOWN OR I'LL, YOU HAVE TO GO DOWN.
AS AS COMMISSIONER THOMAS IS COMING, I WOULD LIKE TO OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZE STATE REPRESENTATIVE LISA DUNKLEY IN BROWARD COUNTY.
COMMISSIONER HAZEL ROGERS, COMMISSIONER THOMAS.
IF I WASN'T SO AFRAID OF CROWD, I WOULD SAY, MY GOODNESS, THIS LOOKS GOOD.
THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT.
UM, YOU KNOW, THIS MONTH IS, UM, FOOD INSUFFICIENCY MONTH AND UM, I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE NOT ONLY THE FOOD BANKS IN LAUDERDALE LAKES AND I WOULD BE REMISS THAT ONE IS NOT ON.
I FOUND OUT LATE, BUT I WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THEM IN THE END.
BUT I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE HUNGER ACTION MONTH AND FOR TWO ORGANIZATION THAT GIVES TO A LOT OF THE LOCAL FOOD BANKS, I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE, UM, FARM SHARE AND ACCEPTING THAT AWARD FOR FARM SHARE IS MARIO LOPEZ.
AND THE PROCLAMATION READS, THUS CELEBRATE AND FARM SHARE SPONSORED BY A COMMISSIONER SHARON THOMAS.
WHEREAS FARM SHARE IS A FOOD BANK THAT WAS FOUNDED IN 1991 TO MAKE SURE THAT NO ONE IN FLORIDA GOES HUNGRY WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY NOT ALLOWING GOOD FOOD TO WASTE.
THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL FARMERS AND CORPORATE PARTNERS, FARM SHARE HAS DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN 104 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD TO MORE THAN 23 MILLION HOUSEHOLD RESIDING IN ALL OF FLORIDA'S 67 COUNTIES, COUNTIES.
WHEREAS IF THE 104 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD DISTRIBUTION, THE RECIPIENTS OF THE FOOD HAVE RECEIVED MORE THAN 38 MILLION POUNDS OF FRESH.
AND WE HAVE BEEN RECIPIENTS OF IT HEALTHY AND NUTRITIOUS LIFE SUSTAINING FRUITS, VEGETABLES, PROTEINS THAT THEY COULD NOT OTHERWISE OBTAIN DUE TO RESTRICTION IN INCOME OR GEOGRAPHIC ACCESS LIMITATION.
AND WHEREAS WHEN DISASTER STRIKES, FARM SHARE IS OFTEN ONE OF THE FIRST ON THE SCENE WITH SUPPORT AS RELIABLE RESPONDERS.
FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS, THE TEAM HAS PLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE IN ASSISTING BEFORE, AFTER,
[00:45:01]
AND FOR YEARS FOLLOWING HURRICANES, FIRES, TORNADOES, AND OTHER NATURALS DISASTERS.AND WHEREAS FARM SHARE HAS COLLABORATED WITH THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES FOR MANY YEARS, PROVIDING DEDICATED SERVICE BY ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY AND SUPPORTING 35,924 LAUDERDALE LAKES RESIDENTS IN NEED.
I THINK THAT DESERVES A HAND RIGHT THERE.
NOW, THEREFORE, I VERONICA EDWARDS PHILLIPS, BY VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME AS MAYOR OH RIGHT THERE OF THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES, DO HEREBY CELEBRATE FARM SHARE AND URGE ALL RESIDENTS TO JOIN HER TOGETHER WITH THE VICE MAYOR TACY SWELL COMMISSIONER EASTON HARRISON, CARLENE MAXWELL WILLIAMS, AND SHARON THOMAS, AS WE APPLAUD THE STEADY AND CONTINUOUS EFFORT OF FARM SHARE, WHO CONTINUES TO COME BACK, FOOD INSECURITY IN OUR COMMUNITY, IN WITNESS THEREOF.
I HAVE HERE ON TO SET MY HAND AND CAUSE THE OFFICIAL SEAL OF THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES TO BE AFFIXED ON THIS NINTH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 20, 20, 25.
VERONICA EDWARDS PHILLIPS MAYOR AND PAV EE P IS THE DEPUTY CITY CLERK.
I, ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US AT FARM SHARE, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THIS DEEP HONOR.
THERE ARE DARK TIMES AHEAD, SOMETIMES THERE ARE BRIGHT SKIES SOMETIMES AHEAD, BUT WE WILL CONTINUE DOING WHAT WE DO.
OUR DISTRIBUTIONS ARE PUBLISHED REGULARLY.
I CONTINUE WORKING WITH THIS CITY IN PROVIDING DISTRIBUTIONS CLOSE TO YOUR COMMUNITY.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
MAY, MAY I JUST MAKE A COMMENT THAT I CAN DO THE OTHER ONE AND THEN WE DO IT TOGETHER.
THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD BE FINE.
[E. PROCLAMATION - RECOGNIZING FEEDING SOUTH FLORIDA (SPONSORED BY COMMISSIONER THOMAS)]
IS, UM, HUNGER ACTION MONTH THAT IS DEDICATED TO FEED IN SOUTH FLORIDA.WHEREAS SINCE 1981, FEED IN SOUTH FLORIDA HAS WORKED TO ADDRESS HUNGER AND FOOD INSECURITY IN THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES BY PROVIDING OUR COMMUNITY IN IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS FOOD AND OTHER VITAL RESOURCES AND SUPPORT.
WHEREAS HUNGER DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE, IT KNOWS NO RACE, RELIGION, OR AGE.
IN SOUTH FLORIDA, APPROXIMATELY 1 MILLION INDIVIDUALS FACE HUNGER FOOD SHOULD NOT BE AN IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE FOR THE COMMUNITY OF CITY OF FLORIDA, DALE LAKES.
AND WHEREAS HUNGER, AND WHEREAS FEEDING SOUTH FLORIDA LEADS HUNGER AND POVERTY ADVOCACY EFFORTS IN OUR COMMUNITY, WHILE TRANSFORMING LIVES THROUGH INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING AND EDUCATION THAT PROVIDES ECONOMIC GROWTH AND OVERALL WELLBEING.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES IS THEREFORE COMMITTED TO SUPPORT AND FEED IN SOUTH FLORIDA SO THAT TOGETHER WE CAN ACHIEVE A HUNGRY FEE FREE SOUTH FLORIDA.
NOW THEREFORE, AS I'VE READ WITH FLO BEFORE, THE MAYOR VERONICA EDWARDS FILLET, BY VIRTUE OF HER, HAS VESTED IN HER AS MAYOR OF THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES, DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER, 2025 OF HUNGER ACTION MONTH AND URGE ALL RESIDENTS TO JOIN, MEET HER TOGETHER WITH VICE MAYOR TY SWELL AND COMMISSIONER EASTON HARRISON, CARLY MAXWELL WILLIAMS, UP ON THE D AND SHARON THOMAS IN SUPPORTING FEEDING SOUTH FLORIDA DURING THE MONTH OF, OF THIS ACTION,
[00:50:02]
A FIX BY VERONICA EDWARDS, PHILLIPS MAYOR AND PAV, THE DEPUTY CITY MAYOR.AND HERE TO ACCEPT IS ALLISON VOX, ARE YOU HERE? EXCELLENT.
PLEASE GIVE HER A HAND IN CHICAGO.
I, I WAS TRYING TO FIND MY ORANGE, BUT I DIDN'T HAVE ANY ORANGE JACKET IS BEAUTIFUL.
OKAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR, UH, VICE MAYOR AND THE ENTIRE COMMISSION.
UH, ON BEHALF OF FEEDING SOUTH FLORIDA, WE TRULY APPRECIATE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH LAUDERDALE LAKES.
UH, FEEDING SOUTH FLORIDA IS A LARGE ORGANIZATION, BUT OUR WORK IS LOCALIZED AND LAUDERDALE LAKES, WE DO MOBILE FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS.
WE SERVE ABOUT 40 SENIORS WHO RECEIVE HOME DELIVERED MEALS.
WE ALSO PROVIDE DIRECT FOOD ASSISTANCE THROUGH, UM, SEVERAL PARTNER AGENCIES.
AND SO WE APPRECIATE THIS PROCLAMATION, THIS AWARENESS.
AND THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE, UH, MONTH OF SEPTEMBER, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE ONE ACTION.
UM, SHARE A POST, ENCOURAGE SOMEONE TO CONTRIBUTE TO ORGAN HUNGER RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS.
VOLUNTEER AT ONE OF YOUR LOCAL LAUDERDALE LAKES PANTRIES, UH, TO BE ABLE TO REALLY RAISE THE, UM, SERIOUSNESS AND THE CRITICALNESS OF HUNGER AND FOOD INSECURITY.
UH, ESPECIALLY WITH THE RECENT GOVERNMENT CHANGES, SO MANY ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS ARE, UH, CHALLENGED AND FEEDING.
SOUTH FLORIDA IS HONORED TO ACCEPT THIS.
UH, I'M EXCITED, I'M HONORED TO ACCEPT THIS ON BEHALF OF THE ORGANIZATION AND LOOK FORWARD TO OUR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP.
I AM NOT NOW, BELIEVE ME, AUGUST, I'M NOT SURE THE CITY ATTORNEY.
SO IT CONTINUES WITH THE LOCAL FOOD BANKS.
AND WE HAVE FOUR PRESENTATION, A CERTIFICATE OF A PRESENTATION, UH, APPRECIATION.
IN HONOR OF HUNGER ACTION MONTH, THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES RECOGNIZES AMBASSADOR SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH FOR ITS DEDICATED EFFORTS TO COME BACK FOOD INSECURITY, AND TO ENSURE ACCESSIBILITY TO FOOD.
THIS DAY'S SEPTEMBER 9TH, 2025.
MAYOR VERONICA EDWARDS, PHILIP VICE MAYOR, TY SWELL, COMMISSIONER EASTON HARRISON, COMMISSIONER SHARON THOMAS AND COMMISSIONER CARLENE MAXWELL WILLIAMS. AND THE REPRESENTATIVE ACCEPTING IS MR. BIN HERE IS PASTOR BINS HERE.
YOU RECOGNIZE HER, THE WARRIOR.
UH, MADAM MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS, UM, WE'RE GRATEFUL TO BE A PART OF THE, UH, THE, UH, THE, THE COALITION THAT FIGHTS HUNGER IN OUR CITY.
WE'VE GOT SOME WARRIORS IN THE HOUSE THIS EVENING.
I'M GONNA ASK THEM TO PLEASE STAND.
WE'VE GOT A FEROCIOUS LEADER WHO IS FULLY COMPASSIONATE
[00:55:01]
BUT ALSO FULLY FIERCE IN MAKING CERTAIN THAT PLEASE STAND GUYS, PLEASE STAND.THEY ARE OUT EVERY WEEK WEAK, PREPARING, ENCOURAGING, SUPPORTING, UM, FOOD INSECURITY IN OUR CITY.
AND WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THEIR UNTIRING TASK DAILY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS RECOGNITION.
DO NOT SIT, WE'RE GONNA GO OVER, I HAVE TO DO THIS INDIVIDUALLY.
I YOU BROUGHT THE WHOLE CHURCH WITH YOU.
I DIDN'T KNOW THAT
SO THERE'S NO QUESTION WHERE YOU CAN GO TO GET ASSISTANCE.
HOW ARE YOU? YEAH, I SAW ON THE END I EMAILED.
ATTORNEY THAT THEY MENTIONED TODAY HAVE THESE THEY SAID, AND THE OTHER ONE HAS OUR NEXT PRESENTATION.
AND IT'S ESSENTIALLY READS THE SAME THING, BUT IT'S BEING PRESENTED, RECOGNIZES ALL NATION NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH OF GOD FELLOWSHIP AND THAT RECOGNITION IS BEING RECEIVED.
EVAN GRANT, BISHOP MADAM MAYOR CITY COMMISSION, I STAND ON BEHALF OF THE OUR NATION NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH OF GOD.
IN, IN ACCEPTING THIS RECOGNITION, THERE IS A SAYING THAT SAYS ENCOURAGEMENT SWEETENS LABOR.
THIS SWEET GESTURE THAT THE CITY COMMISSIONERS CONFERRED UNDER OUR NATION.
NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH OF GOD FELLOWSHIPS CERTAINLY WILL IN ENCOURAGE OUR LABOR TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
WE WANT TO SAY A VERY SPECIAL THANKS TO THE MAYOR AND THE COMMISSION.
I'M GONNA ASK THOSE WHO ARE HERE WITH US SOME BISHOP EVAN, GRANTED JUST STAND.
[01:00:01]
ALTHOUGH OUR BREN THAT ARE HERE FROM THE CHURCH, THEY'RE THE ONES THAT MAKE IT HAPPEN FOR US EVERY THURSDAY.ALRIGHT, LET'S TAKE OUR POST OVER THERE.
WE HAVE TO MAKE IT TELL YOU, MY DAUGHTER LIVE IN M LIFE, YOU KNOW WHERE SHE IS TODAY.
LET HER KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA TO BRAZIL ON MY MONEY.
THAT THAT THING, BUT, AND IF SHE THINKS SHE'S GOING TO BRAZIL, HUH? NO, NO, NOT ON MY, OKAY.
IT'S JUST, WE, UM, IT, YOU KNOW, I I'M HONORED TO RECOGNIZE THIS CHURCH AS WELL.
I GOT MARRIED 40 YEARS AGO IN THE CHAPEL NEXT TO THIS CHURCH.
AND THIS IS NO OTHER THAN MERRILL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH.
FOR ITS DEDICATED EFFORTS TO COMBAT FOOD INSECURITY AND TO ENSURE ACCESSIBILITY.
REVEREND BANCROFT WILLIAMS HAS COME.
REVEREND WILLIAMS, YOU'RE BY YOURSELF.
JUST DON'T LEAVE AFTER EVERYBODY.
LEMME JUST SAY THANKS TO, UM, MAYOR COMMISSIONERS, OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND OTHERS FOR GIVING US SUCH A GREAT HONOR.
AND WE ARE GLAD TO SERVE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
LIKE MY COLLEAGUES EVERYWHERE.
AND WE ARE HERE TO JUST BE THE PEOPLE OF GOD AMONG THE PEOPLE OF GOD.
AND LEMME JUST RECOGNIZE MY SMALL CREW, UM, LED BY SISTER CHARLOTTE.
UM, AND CHARLOTTE IS THERE AND EVERYBODY ELSE GO STAND.
THEY MAKE SURE THEY WEAR THEIR UNIFORMS. OKAY.
[01:05:30]
STOP YOU.AND OUR LAST PRESENTATION IS PRESENTED, THE FIRST UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST, JESUS OF APOSTOLIC INCORPORATED FOR ITS DEDICATED EFFORTS TO COME BACK FOOD INSECURITY, AND TO ASSURE ACCESSIBILITY TO FOOD AND RECEIVING THAT AWARD IS BISHOP EVANTON WALKER IS OH, EXCELLENT.
YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY? UH, TO THE MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND, UH, COMMISSIONER AND TO EVERYONE OF THE COMMUNITY.
UH, JUST THIS YEAR OUR PASTOR PASSED AWAY, SO I'M NOW FILLING HIS SHOES.
I FEEL LIKE I'M IN SHAKI ON YOUR SHOES.
BUT
AND SO TO FEED THIS, UM, HERE WE HAVE BEEN DOING A GOOD JOB.
WE HAVE TWO DEDICATED MEMBERS.
WE HAVE TWO OTHER ONES WHO ARE TRAVELING AT THIS MOMENT, WHO ARE DEATH IN THE FAMILY IN JAMAICA.
BUT IN TERMS OF DEDICATION, THEY ARE TRULY DEDICATED.
AND IT IS NOT JUST FROM THE FOOD BANK.
WE HAVE BROTHER AND SISTER WILLIAMS. PLEASE STAND.
UH, THEY ALSO GO TO CORAL SPRINGS TO OTHER SUPERMARKETS AND GET FOOD AND TAKE IT TO THE CHURCH LOCATION THAT WE ALSO DISTRIBUTE.
UM, ON BEHALF BEHALF FOR THE COMMUNITY, THANKS FOR THIS RECOGNITION.
UH, GOD BLESS YOU, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN DO VERY MUCH MORE IN THE FUTURE.
[01:10:01]
ALL RIGHT.LET'S GIVE THEM A, A ROUND OF THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT THEY DO AND FEEDING THE HUNGER.
AT THIS TIME WE WILL HAVE A PROCLAMATION CELEBRATING.
I, I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO RECOGNIZE AND WILL, THEY WILL BE RECOGNIZED AT A LATER TIME.
BOYD ANDERSON ALSO HAS A FOOD BANK AND WE ARE SO THANKFUL.
WHEN IS YOUR FOOD BANK TIME AND WHEN DOES IT BEGIN? PRINCIPAL? ANOTHER THURSDAY.
THREE TO SIX AT BOYD ANDERSON.
SO THINGS ARE HAPPENING IN THE CITY AND WE ALSO HAVE A FOOD BANK HERE.
I THINK IT'S, WHEN IS IT MAYOR? WHEN THEY DISTRIBUTE THE THURSDAY.
UH, AT THE MULTIPURPOSE CENTER.
THE FIRST THURSDAY OF THE MONTH.
THIRD THURSDAY UNTIL SUPPLIES LAST RIGHT HERE IN THE WE CARE CITY.
[G. PROCLAMATION - CELEBRATING LAUDERDALE LAKES SCHOOLS FOR RECEIVING A/B SCHOOL GRADES (SPONSORED BY COMMISSIONER HARRISON)]
PROCLAMATION, CELEBRATING LAUDERDALE LAKE SCHOOLS FOR RECEIVING A AND B SCHOOL GRADES SPONSORED BY COMMISSIONER HARRISON.UH, I JUST WANNA START OUT BY SAYING I'M VERY EXCITED TO SEE THE AMAZING TURNOUT HERE TODAY.
SO PLEASE GIVE YOURSELVES A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR BEING OUT HERE.
THIS PART OF THE AGENDA IS GONNA BE ABOUT ACKNOWLEDGING AND HONORING OUR LOVELY, WONDERFUL SCHOOLS HERE IN THE WECARE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES.
WE DON'T USUALLY GET MUCH SHINE AS FAR AS OUR EDUCATION HERE, BUT WE HAVE SOME AMAZING SCHOOLS HERE IN THE CITY AND SOME AMAZING PRINCIPALS.
I'M ACTUALLY GONNA CALL THEM UP TO STAND UP HERE NEXT TO ME AS I PRESENT THEM WITH THE PROCLAMATION.
UH, STARTING WITH, UH, BOYD ANDERSON HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, PLEASE, MR. PRINCIPAL GRIFFIN.
THEN I'M GONNA ASK LAUDERDALE LAKES MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL.
MS. LINDA LOPEZ, PLEASE JOIN ME UP HERE.
WE ALSO HAVE OREO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
I DON'T KNOW IF PRINCIPAL BOLDEN IS IN ATTENDANCE.
AND WE HAVE ONE SCHOOL THAT'S NOT ABLE TO BE HERE AND MAKE IT WITH US TODAY, BUT WE STILL WANT TO MENTION THEM FOR THEIR EFFORTS.
AND THAT'S CENTRAL CHARTER SCHOOL.
SO PLEASE GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE AS WELL.
WE ALSO WANT TO, UH, MENTION PARK LAKES.
UH, MR. BO, UH, BOMAN MUSTAFA, PLEASE COME UP HERE.
HE'S NOT THE PRINCIPAL, HE'S THE COMMUNITY LIAISON.
PLEASE GIVE HIM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
PARK LAKES PARKLETS, UH, PRINCIPLE.
RHONDA PARIS IS DOING AN AMAZING JOB, SO I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE HER AS WELL.
SO I'M GONNA READ OFF THIS, THESE, UH, THIS PROCLAMATION AND THEN, UH, ALLOW THEM TO SPEAK AND THEN OF COURSE WE'LL DO THE PICTURES.
SO THESE ARE FOR ALL OF OUR LAUDERDALE LAKE SCHOOLS, WHEREAS EDUCATION IS THE FOUNDATION OF A STRONG, THRIVING COMMUNITY.
AND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE REFLECTS THE DEDICATION OF STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND FAMILIES WORKING TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES PROUDLY RECOGNIZES THE OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF LOCAL SCHOOLS, WHOSE COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE HAS RESULTED IN NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS DURING THE MOST RECENT ACADEMIC YEAR, WE WILL GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THESE SCHOOLS EARNING AN A SCHOOL GRADE BOYD ANDERSON HIGH SCHOOL.
AND, UH, IF I CAN SAY SOMETHING ABOUT BA REAL QUICK, UH, MR. GRIFFIN ALWAYS HAD SOMETHING THERE.
I, I'M ALSO THE FORMER COMMUNITY LIAISON AT BOYD ANDERSON.
SO WORKING WITH HIM AND SEEING HIS VISION, HIS LEADERSHIP IS JUST SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
AND HE HAD A SAYING, UH, HOW I GO B TODAY, A TOMORROW.
AND HE ACTUALLY LIVED THAT OUT.
AND, UH, IT IS TRUE THAT YOU REALLY CANNOT, UH, HAVE A SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL UNLESS YOU HAVE A PRINCIPAL WITH VISION.
SO, JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT ABOUT BOYD ANDERSON HIGH SCHOOL, ALSO RECEIVING AN A SCHOOL GRADE.
PLEASE GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR OREO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
OREO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NOW UNDER LEADERSHIP OF PRINCIPAL BOLDING.
THEY'RE DOING AMAZING THINGS OVER THERE AT OREO.
HAD THE PLEASURE OF VISITING THEIR SCHOOL AND TOURING THEM.
THEY HAVE AN AMAZING SCHOOL, AMAZING PROGRAMS. AND AGAIN, THEY'VE ACHIEVED THE SCHOOL GRADE OF AN A SO KUDOS TO THEM.
BY ACHIEVING AND EARNING AN A SCHOOL GRADE, THIS IS A TESTAMENT TO THE HARD WORK OF THEIR STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, AND LEADERSHIP TEAMS. AND WHEREAS LADALE LAKES MIDDLE SCHOOL,
[01:15:01]
UM, HAS EARNED A B SCHOOL GRADE, GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.AND TO MS. LINDA LOPEZ, OF COURSE, MS. LINDA LOPEZ IS AN AMAZING PRINCIPAL, AN AMAZING INDIVIDUAL.
SHE TOO USED TO WORK AT BOYD ANDERSON, AS WAS IT ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL.
SO AGAIN, PIPELINE OF LEADERSHIP, KEEPING IT HERE IN THE CITY, WE HAVE AN AMAZING CONTINUITY OF EXCELLENCE, PLEASE.
ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR A LOT OF THE LAKES.
MIDDLE NOW WE HAVE PARK LAKES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, ALSO EARNING A SCHOOL OF A B GRADE.
GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE AGAIN, MS. RHONDA PARIS COULDN'T MAKE IT TODAY, BUT WE HAVE, UH, MR. BOMANI HERE, MUSTAFA, UH, HE'S GONNA BE RECEIVING A PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF THEM, BUT PARK LAKES AS WELL.
UH, SHE'S A MIAMI DOLPHINS FAN JUST LIKE ME.
AND, AND I TOLD HER THAT'S GONNA MAKE ME REMEMBER HE HAS HIS THUMBS UP.
UM, UH, BUT UH, SHE'S AN AMAZING, AMAZING PERSON.
THEY'RE ACTUALLY WORKING ON GETTING A COMMUNITY GARDEN AT HER SCHOOL.
ALL OF THE SCHOOLS WANNA WORK TOWARDS A COMMUNITY GARDEN.
SO KUDOS TO PARK LAKES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND OF COURSE, UM, WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT TODAY.
BUT WE ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE THEM CENTRAL CHARTER SCHOOL FOR ALSO RECEIVING A B GRADE.
NOW ALL OF THESE SCHOOLS ARE HERE IN THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES AND THEY REFLECT A CONTINUED SPIRIT OF ACADEMIC SUCCESS, SUCCESS AND STUDENT DEVELOPMENT.
AND WHEREAS THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THESE SCHOOLS BRING PRIDE TO THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES AND INSPIRE A CULTURE OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY.
SO I'M GONNA INVITE PRINCIPAL GRIFFIN, UM, EACH OF THESE REPRESENTATIVES UP HERE TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT THEIR SCHOOL AND THEM RECEIVING THESE PROCLAMATIONS.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO STAND HERE AND I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE IN THIS CITY, ESPECIALLY, UH, MADAM MAYOR IN THE WE CARE CITY BECAUSE YOU ARE THERE WHEN BA WAS STRUGGLING FOUR STRAIGHT YEARS, UH, ONE PERCENTAGE POINT AWAY FROM A D YOU WAS THERE WITH US WHEN WE STARTED.
YOU WAS THERE WITH US WHEN WE STARTED TO, UH, DO BETTER ACADEMICALLY.
AND UH, SO THE A IS NOT JUST WHAT MR. GRIFFIN WAS DOING.
THEY STARTED WITH BEING THE WEED WE CARE CITY AND THE WORK THAT YOU WAS DOING.
AND WE KNOW THAT FROM BSO COMING, 'CAUSE YOU WAS THERE WHEN WE HAD A LOT OF FIGHTS AT VA.
UM, AND YOU MADE SURE THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS THERE.
YOU WERE THERE WHEN OUR FIRE ALARM GO OFF 1:00 AM IN THE MORNING, WE STILL HAVEN'T FIXED IT.
AND, AND AND THEY COME OUT ALL THE TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, YOU ALL HEAR EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON IN THE NEWS ABOUT ENROLLMENT.
SO, MADAM MAYOR, YOU WAS DEALT WITH US WHEN WE ONLY HAD TWO TH UH, 1,635 STUDENTS AT BA AND THEY WERE LOOKING AT TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO IN THE CITY, UH, AS FAR AS DO WE KEEP THAT HIGH SCHOOL IN THE CITY.
AND, UH, NOW I'M PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE OVER 2100 STU SCHOOL, UH, STUDENTS.
UM, SO WE RANK NUMBER, WE RANKED NUMBER 13 OUT OF ALL BROAD KIND OF SCHOOLS.
WHEN WE SAY INNER CITY SCHOOLS, WE'RE THE LARGEST NOW IN SOUTH FLORIDA.
SO THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF OUR TEAM.
NOW WE'RE GONNA HAVE FROM OREO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS, SEIA, BOLDEN, GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, AND ALL OF THE APPOINTED, UH, DIGNITARIES HERE AND TO THE COMMUNITY.
ON BEHALF OF OUTSTANDING OREO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, I STAND BEFORE YOU AS THE PROUD PRINCIPAL, FORMER ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL OF OUTSTANDING OREO AS WE ACHIEVE OUR FIRST A IN ITS SCHOOL'S HISTORY.
SO, AS MR. GRIFFIN HAS STATED, IT'S NOT THE WORK THAT WE DO AT OREO, BUT THE WORK THAT WE DO AS A COMMUNITY AND WE STAND COMMITTED TO CONTINUING TO SERVE OUR SCHOLARS AND OUR COMMUNITY.
SO THANK YOU FOR THIS PROCLAMATION AND THIS RECOGNITION.
AND NOW, MS. PRINCIPAL LINDA LOPEZ, LAUDERDALE LAKES MIDDLE SCHOOL.
UM, THANKS TO EVERYONE HERE THIS EVENING.
I KNOW I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK AT BOYD ANDERSON HIGH SCHOOL UNDER MR. GRIFFIN'S LEADERSHIP, AND I HAVE NOW TRANSITIONED INTO MY THIRD YEAR AS PRINCIPAL OF LAUDERDALE LAKES MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2015, BECOMING A B SCHOOL.
UM, AND THAT'S THANKS TO THE DEDICATION OF OUR TEACHERS, THE COMMITMENT OF OUR STUDENTS, THEIR RESILIENCE, SHOWING UP EVERY DAY AND DOING THEIR BEST, AND OF COURSE, THE SUPPORT OF THEIR ENCOURAGING FAMILIES WHO ARE PUSHING THEM EVERY DAY AS WELL.
UM, WE'RE CONTINUING TO WIN WORK WITH PURPOSE, INSPIRE GROWTH, AND NEVER SETTLE BECAUSE GROWTH IS COMING OUR WAY AND WE'RE REACHING FOR THAT.
A I'M SANDWICHED BETWEEN TWO A SCHOOLS, SO I HAVE NO OTHER REASON, UM, TO LEVEL UP AND MAKE SURE I'M MATCHING MY COLLEAGUES.
AND I KNOW, UM, DEVELOPING THAT PARTNERSHIP
[01:20:01]
BETWEEN OREO, LAUDERDALE LAKES AND BOYD ANDERSON, IT'S CERTAINLY GONNA M MAKE US LEVEL UP TO NEW HEIGHTS.I'M HONORED TO RECEIVE THIS PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF MY STUDENTS, MY STAFF, AND OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
AND NOW WE'RE GONNA HAVE MR. ANI MUSTAFA ON BEHALF OF PARK LAKES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, THEIR COMMUNITY LIAISON.
THIS WAS IMPROMPTU, UH, OF COURSE, MR. HARRISON CALLED TODAY.
AND, UM, MRS. UM, PARIS WANTED ME TO REPRESENT THE SCHOOL.
UM, THE LEAD UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF MRS. PARIS AND, UH, MRS. TERRY GLASSPORT.
THEY HAVE DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB FROM BRINGING THE SCHOOL FROM LIKE A D FOR THEIR NINE YEARS AND BRINGING IT ALL THE WAY UP TO A BA QUARTER PERCENTAGE POINT FROM BEING AN A.
SO FROM BEING FROM B TO A RIGHT,
AND SO THIS YEAR WE ARE GOING, WE GOING FORWARD.
AND OUR THEME IS, UH, GOALS EXPECT, I MEAN, GOALS, ATTAINABLE, MASTERY EXPECTED.
SO WE EXPECT TO GET THAT QUARTER PERCENTILE TO GO TO AN A.
WE ARE RIGHT IN YOUR BACKYARD AND EVERYTHING.
AND SO WE ARE GONNA BE DOING GREAT THINGS HERE.
AND AL, ALWAYS SOAR EAGLE SOAR.
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH, GUYS.
ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR ALL OF OUR LOT AT SCHOOLS.
OH, NO, GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER HARRISON.
ALRIGHT, SO I'M BACK UP AGAIN THIS TIME.
SORRY, ONE SCHOOL DIDN'T GET THEIR PROCLAMATION.
WE'LL JUST HOLD IT TO THE SIDE.
[H. PROCLAMATION - CELEBRATING NATIONAL DIAPER NEED AWARENESS WEEK (SPONSORED BY COMMISSIONER HARRISON)]
IS FOR NATIONAL DIAPER NEED AWARENESS WEEK, WHICH IS DURING SEPTEMBER, DURING THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 15TH TO THE 21ST.AND THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROCLAMATION IS TO, UM, RECOGNIZE THE NEED FOR DIAPERS IN OUR COMMUNITIES AS WELL AS THE, UH, THE INEQUITY THAT EXISTS WITHIN COMMUNITIES WITH FAMILIES THAT NEED DIAPERS, PARTICULARLY IN THESE ZIP CODES.
UH, JUST IN RESEARCHING THIS, I DID NOT KNOW OR REALIZE HOW MUCH DIAPERS COST.
I DON'T HAVE ANY LITTLE ONES, NO LITTLE MINI EASTON.
[01:25:01]
TO SEE HOW MUCH DIAPERS COST, HOW MUCH IT CAN COST A FAMILY A YEAR.UH, SO, UM, WHAT I DECIDED TO DO ALONG WITH THE PROCLAMATION IS WE'RE ALSO GONNA DO A DIAPER DISTRIBUTION ON OCTOBER 11TH.
AND IT'S GONNA BE A RECURRING THING BECAUSE WE WANNA FILL IN THAT NEED.
BUT THIS IS A, UH, NATIONAL DIAPER NEEDS AWARENESS SPONSORED BY MYSELF.
AND IT GOES WHEREAS THE LACK OF A SUFFICIENT SUPPLY OF DIAPERS TO KEEP A BABY OR TODDLER CLEAN, DRY, AND HEALTHY IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AFFECTING NEARLY HALF OF US FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN.
AND WHEREAS AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF DIAPERS IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF INFANTS AND TODDLERS, AND IS A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF THEIR EARLY DEVELOPMENT AND CARE.
AND WHEREAS THE INABILITY TO ACCESS CLEAN DIAPERS CAN LEAD TO INCREASED HEALTH PROBLEMS, SUCH AS A DIAPER RASH, URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS, WHILE ALSO CONTRIBUTING TO MATERNAL DEPRESSION AND LIMITING ACCESS TO CHILDCARE, WHICH PREVENTS PARENTS FROM WORKING OR ATTENDING SCHOOL.
AND WHEREAS THE GREATER FORT LAUDERDALE DIAPER BANK PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN ADDRESSING DIAPER NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY BY COLLECTING, STORING, AND DISTRIBUTING DIAPERS TO FAMILIES IN NEED ACROSS BROWARD COUNTY, INCLUDING RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES.
AND WHEREAS NATIONAL DIAPER NEED AWARENESS WEEK OBSERVED DURING THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 15TH TO 21ST 2025, RAISES PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE AND ENCOURAGES COMMUNITY ACTION TO SUPPORT THE HEALTH AND DIGNITY OF OUR YOUNGEST RESIDENTS.
AND NOW, THEREFORE, UH, BY VIRTUE OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS MAYOR, MAYOR VERONICA EDWARDS PHILLIPS, UH, THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES DO HEREBY COMPLAIN, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM, UH, NATIONAL DIAPER NEEDS AWARENESS WEEK SEPTEMBER 15TH THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21ST.
I ALSO WANT TO INVITE FROM THE FORT LAUDERDALE DIAPER BANK, WHO WE'RE PRESENTING THIS PROCLAMATION TO MS. O'CONNOR TO PLEASE RECEIVE THIS PROCLAMATION.
PLEASE HELP ME WELCOME MS. O'CONNOR.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COMMISSIONER HARRIS.
UM, AND TO EVERYONE, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU GUYS ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE, UM, OUR GREATER DIAPER BANK OF FORT LAUDERDALE, BUT IF YOU GUYS ARE NOT, PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE.
PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD BECAUSE WE TRY TO DO A LOT FOR OUR COMMUNITY FOR THOSE THAT ARE NOT ABLE TO.
SO, AGAIN, YOU GUYS MAY NOT BE TOO FAMILIAR WITH IT, BUT PLEASE, WHEN YOU GET A CHANCE, UM, LOOK AT OUR WEBSITE, SPREAD THE WORD 'CAUSE WE ARE HERE AND TRY TO HELP EVERYONE THAT'S NOT ABLE TO, UM, HAVE DIAPERS THAT ARE IN NEED.
SO ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF THE GREATER DIAPER BANK, FORT LAUDERDALE.
UM, FORT LAUDERDALE GREATER DIAPER MATE.COM OKAY.
PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD AND SPREAD FORWARD.
SO, ONE MORE, UM, IF I CAN HAVE MEMBERS OF THE LAUDERDALE LAKES SCHOOL ADVISORY TEAM, PLEASE STAND UP IF YOU'RE HERE IN ATTENDANCE.
WELL, I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEM AS WELL.
THEY DO A LOT OF GREAT WORK HERE IN THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES LIAISON IN BETWEEN THE CITY AND OUR SCHOOLS.
SO THEY, THEY DO A WONDERFUL JOB.
SO PLEASE GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO THEM AS WELL, AND KUDOS TO THEM FOR THEIR EFFORTS.
UM, AREN'T YOU GLAD THAT YOU CAME OUT TONIGHT? AT THIS
[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETING]
[01:30:01]
TIME, WE WILL MOVE TO ITEM FIVE, APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETING, FIVE A JULY 21ST, 2025 CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP, MINUTES, JULY 22ND, 2025, CITY COMMISSION MEETING, MINUTES JULY 30TH, 2025, BUDGET WORKSHOP, MINUTES, AND AUGUST 6TH, 2025 SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING.MA'AM, I HAVE READ JULY 21ST, 2025, CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP, MINUTES, JULY 22ND, 2025, CITY COMMISSION MEETING, MINUTES JULY 30TH, 2025, BUDGET WORKSHOP, MINUTES, AUGUST 6TH, 2025, SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
THERE ARE NO ERRORS OR OMISSIONS.
I MOVE THAT THE MINUTES BE CONFIRMED.
MAYOR EDWARDS PHILLIPS FOUR VICE MAYOR, SWELL FOUR.
COMMISSIONER HARRISON FOR COMMISSIONER MAXWELL WILLIAMS. FOUR, COMMISSIONER THOMAS, FOUR.
[6. PETITIONS FROM THE PUBLIC]
SIX PETITIONS FROM THE PUBLIC.MADAM CLERK, ARE THERE ANY PETITIONS FROM THE PUBLIC? YES.
YES, MADAM MAYOR, WE HAVE SIX PETITIONS FROM THE PUBLIC.
THE FIRST ONE IS FROM MS. I WANNA SAY MS. PERRIN.
AT THIS TIME TOO, I WOULD LIKE TO OFFICIALLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE PRESENCE OF LORD HILL CITY COMMISSIONER MR. JOHN HASSEN, MS. COMMISSIONER, MR. MADAM MAYOR, UM, VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS OF, UH, CITY OF LORD D LAKES,
I REPRESENT THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE ATONEMENT, ONE OF THE OLDEST CHURCHES IN THE COMMUNITY OVER 60 YEARS OLD.
I AM NOT, UM, I DO NOT INTEND TO PUT A DAMPER ON WHAT HAD TRANSACTED EARLIER, BUT MY PETITION, WHAT I AM ABOUT TO TALK ABOUT IS NOT ONE THAT IS GOING TO GET THE APPLAUD.
EARLY, SOMETIME IN JULY, THE CHURCH CENTER, UM, WE DECIDED TO HAVE A PICNIC ON THE CHURCH GROUNDS AT THE CHURCH OF THE ATONEMENT.
WE WERE TOLD THAT WE NEED A PERMIT.
SO AS A CHURCH AND WE WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING, WE SENT TO THE OFFICE AND WE COLLECTED THE APPLICATION FORM, AND WE SUBMITTED THE PERMIT COMPLETED AND SENT IT.
IN THE FOLLOWING DAY, I RECEIVED AN EMAIL THAT THE PERMIT HAS BEEN RECEIVED AND WE GOT A PERMIT NUMBER.
I HAVE HERE ABOUT EIGHT DIFFERENT TRANSACTIONS FOR COMMUNICATION THAT BETWEEN THE CHURCH AND THE OFFICE AT THE CITY OF LORD DE LAKES, THE PERMIT WAS FOR US TO HAVE A PICNIC.
AND WE STATED THAT WE WOULD HAVE TWO GRILLS ON THE OUTSIDE AND WE WOULD PITCH TWO TENTS.
THAT WAS, THAT WAS IN, IN THE APPLICATION FORM.
WE HAD TO STATE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN.
WE ALSO STATE THAT WE WOULD HAVE A BOUNCE HOUSE FOR THE CHILDREN.
WE, WE, WE WERE TOLD THAT FOR THE PERMIT, WE, OKAY, WE GOT INFORMATION VIA EMAIL THAT THE PERMIT WAS DECLINED.
I CONTACTED ONE OF MY CHURCH MEMBER WHO HAS QUITE CLOSE ASSOCIATION WITH COMMISSIONERS, AND I REMEMBER SENDING A TEXT TO COMMISSIONER HAZEL ROGERS AND SAY, I NEED YOUR HELP, BECAUSE IT WAS JUST SOME DAYS
[01:35:01]
BEFORE WE WOULD BE, WE THE, WE SHOULD BE HAVING THE PICNIC.AND I KNOW COMMISSIONER ROGERS CAME TO THE OFFICE AND SPOKE WITH SOMEONE BECAUSE WHILE I WAS IN THE OFFICE WITH OUR PRIEST, SHE CALLED AND SHE SAID, I AM AT THE OFFICE.
AND THEN WE GOT A, AN EMAIL TO SAY THE COST FOR THE PERMIT WOULD BE $419 FROM THE FILE.
AND A FORM CAME ON THAT EMAIL TO SAY, TELL US HOW TO MAKE THE PAYMENT.
THE FOLLOWING MORNING, I WILL GOT A CALL FROM THE OFFICE TO ASK IF WE ARE GOING TO COME IN TO MAKE THE PAYMENT BY 10 O'CLOCK, BECAUSE THE OFFICE IS CLOSED ON A FRIDAY.
REMEMBER NOW WE ARE GOING TO BE HAVING THE PICNIC THIS SATURDAY.
I SENT A LETTER TO SAY, I'M SORRY.
AND AT THAT TIME WHEN I GOT THAT CALL, SHE SAID, THE COST IS NOW $670.
I WROTE A LETTER AND THE ONE I WROTE, I SENT IT TO MY PRIEST BECAUSE HE WAS NOT IN OFFICE ON THE FRIDAY.
AND I SENT THE EMAIL OVER TO HER TO SAY, I AM SORRY, BUT AT THIS TIME, IT'S NOT POSSIBLE FOR US TO FIND $670 AND 95 CENTS.
SO WE'LL ELIMINATE COMPLETELY THE GRILL AND THE 10 IF THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE HAVE TO PAY THAT.
BUT WE STILL HAVE A BOUNCE HOUSE THAT WE HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR.
SO WE WOULD LIKE, WE WOULD LIKE THE CHILDREN TO STILL ENJOY THE BOUNCE HOUSE.
I GOT AN EMAIL TO SAY, FOR THE CHILDREN TO ENJOY THE BOUNCE HOUSE, IT'S $510 AND 95 CENTS.
SO THEY CAME WITH THE BOUNCE HOUSE, THEY TOOK IT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND THEY LEFT IT THERE ON OPEN BECAUSE WE COULD NOT OPEN THE BOUNCE HOUSE.
SOMEONE FROM THE CITY, THOUGH, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A FIRE DEPARTMENT OR WHERE CAME, AND I KNOW ONE OF MY, UM, CHURCH SISTERS WENT OUT TO THE PERSON AND HE SAID, IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO USE THE BOUNCE HOUSE, WHY TAKE IT OUT OF THE VEHICLE? AND SHE SAID TO HIM, BECAUSE WE HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR IT.
AND AT THIS LATE STAGE, WE CANNOT, WE, WE CANNOT CANCEL IT BECAUSE WE ARE NOT GETTING BACK THE MONEY.
SO MIGHT AS WELL IT STAYS THERE.
SO MY QUESTION IS, WHY WERE WE QUOTED DIFFERENT PRICES FOR THE SAME PERMIT? AND THE OTHER QUESTION, IS THERE A STANDARD FEE TO BE PAID FOR THE USE OF A BOUNCE HOUSE? BECAUSE WE HAVE CALLED AROUND TO OTHER CITIES, OTHER CHURCHES IN THE COMMUNITY AND OTHER RESIDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY, AND THEY DIDN'T PAY ANY EXORBITANT FEE, LIKE $510.
SO IS THERE SOMETHING IN THE OFFICE THAT, OR A NEW EMPLOYEE HAS NO IDEA.
AND JUST WRITE AN EMAIL AND STATE AN AMOUNT.
MS. KAREN, I THINK OUR DIRECTOR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES IS, OH YEAH, SHE'S SITTING RIGHT OVER THERE.
SHE WOULD BE MORE THAN GLAD TO TALK WITH YOU ABOUT THE DIFFERENT FEES, THE DIFFERENT PERMITTING FEES FOR THAT.
MS. TANJA MCCOY, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE SPEAK WITH HER.
AND I WONDER WHY SOME PLACES DON'T PAY AND WE HAVE TO PAY MS. TANJA, WE'LL TALK WITH YOU.
THANK YOU MS. KAREN MADAM MAYOR, NEXT WE HAVE, I'M SORRY, BUT CAN I JUST SAY THANKS TO COMMISSIONER ROGERS AND COMMISSIONER THOMAS BECAUSE DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME, THOSE TWO COMMISSIONERS WERE DEAR TRYING TO HELP US.
NEXT WE HAVE MR. RENEE PIMENTEL.
HELLO COMMISSIONERS, MADAM MAYOR, MADAM VICE
[01:40:01]
MAYOR, CITY EMPLOYEES.UM, UNFORTUNATELY I'M NOT HERE AS AN ATTORNEY OR, UM, AS PART OF MY CHURCH, I'M HERE AS PART OF MARKETPLACE PLAZA AND BURGER COMMERCIAL, UH, FOR THE LIENS OF OVER $940,000.
UH, THERE WAS AN AGREEMENT THAT WAS REACHED TO PAY OFF A PORTION OF THAT.
HOWEVER, IN THE LIEN CALCULATIONS THERE WERE MISTAKES.
UM, TWO OF THE, WELL, ACTUALLY THREE OF THE VIOLATIONS WERE ALREADY CLEARED, AND TWO OF THEM, THE COMPLIANCE STATE WAS INCORRECT.
I DO HAVE CORRECTIONS AND PROOF OF THE CORRECTIONS, UM, AND I CAN PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION.
IT'S ABOUT $336,000 AND I'D LIKE TO PETITION TO HAVE THAT ADJUSTED IN THE AGREEMENT IF POSSIBLE.
ALSO, IF YOU WOULD SPEAK WITH MS. MCCOY, BUT THANK YOU FOR BEING, I HAVE SENT HER AN EMAIL WITH ALL THE INFORMATION BEFORE AND DIDN'T GET ANYWHERE, SO THANK YOU, SIR.
NEXT WE HAVE MR. WADE SQUIRES.
MADAM CLERK, WE HAVE NEXT MS. TIMOTHY SINGH.
MS. SINGH, GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.
UH, VERONICA PHILLIPS, VICE MAYOR, SWELL COMMISSIONER EASTON, COMMISSIONER CARLENE MAXWELL COMMISSIONER SHARON THOMAS, OUR ACTON CITY MANAGER, COUNCIL COMMISSIONER ROGERS AND STATE REP DUNKLEY.
WHY I FEEL IT NECESSARY TO ADDRESS EVERYONE ESPECIALLY IS BECAUSE BEING IN THE CITIES OF, UH, LOT OF DE LAKES, WE SING ROAD TO DELIGHT OF 15 YEARS IN THE CITY, HAVE TRULY BEEN BLESSED TO BE WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH MOST OF THESE, UH, IN, UH, POWER.
SO WHAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO, AND IT'S BECAUSE, UH, OF COURSE BUSINESS IS VERY HARD AND COMPETITIVE.
WE HAVE GROWN FROM A 900 SQUARE FOOT, UH, RESTAURANT, AND WE ARE NOW IN 303,250 SQUARE FEET, BEING ABLE TO SEAT 150 PEOPLE.
HOWEVER, WE DO NEED YOUR HELP AND I'VE WRITTEN A LITTLE LETTER HERE, UH, YOU ALL HAVE A COPY OF.
UM, AND I'LL JUST READ THAT SO THAT I DON'T GO OFF TRACK.
WE ARE THANKFUL AND GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE HELP AND GUIDANCE THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED OVER THE 15 YEARS IN BUSINESS, ESPECIALLY GETTING US TO THIS POINT THAT WE'VE BECOME A HOUSEHOLD NAME, A LANDMARK, AND A DESTINATION LOCATION FOR THE PEOPLE.
NEAR AND FAR WE ARE, HOWEVER, FACED WITH TIGHT MARGINS DUE TO THE CURRENT ECONOMIC IMPACT AND SHIFTING CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS DUE TO AN EVER CHANGE IN DEMOGRAPHIC.
THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND PROVEN WAY TO BOOST COMPETITIVENESS IS TO INCREASE OUR ABILITY TO GIVE OUR CLIENTELE WHAT THE COMPETITION SIMILAR ROTI SHOPS IN OUR NEIGHBORING CITIES ARE PROVIDING.
WE ARE ASKING, AS A CARIBBEAN BUSINESS, WE NEED TO CREATE A SIGNATURE IDENTITY AS IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT WE PROVIDE THE NECESSARY AMBIANCE TO CREATE A LASTING IMPRESSION, A VIBE, WHICH INCLUDES ENTERTAINMENT BY WAY OF KEEPING A STAGE AND A DJ BOOT LIKE THOSE OF OUR COUNTERPARTS IN THE NEIGHBORING CITIES.
FOR EXAMPLE, LAUDERHILL SUNRISE, NORTH LAUDERDALE, WHICH ARE VERY NEAR TO US.
AS YOU WOULD APPRECIATE CUSTOMERS REMEMBER STORIES, NOT JUST DISHES.
THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF OUR CITY ARE CHANGING, THE RESIDENTS ARE YOUNGER AND IT'S OUR GOAL TO GIVE THEM THE AMBIENCE THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE TO LEAVE OUR LOCAL CITY AND LOCAL BUSINESSES TO PATRONIZE OTHER LIKE BUSINESSES OUTSIDE OF LAUDERDALE LAKES.
WE ARE, WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO STAND OUT SHOWCASING OUR AUTHENTICITY, HERITAGE, AND FUSION OF FLAVORS NEIGHBORING CITIES.
MUCH LIKE WITH, UH, MS. KAREN JUST, UH, NOTED NEIGHBORING CITIES DO NOT HAVE THE BARRIERS WE HAVE FACED.
AND IN OUR CASE, LITTLE OR NO GUIDANCE AS TO MAXIMIZE OUR OPTIONS, WHETHER IT MAY BE, UM, CHANGING THE CODES, WHICH I KNOW WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR A WHILE, OR EVEN CHANGING THE USE OF OUR LOCATION.
[01:45:01]
THERE CAN AFFORD MORE ATMOSPHERE, LIVE MUSIC AND EXTENDED HOURS WITHOUT ADDED COSTS, IT MAKES KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES UNFAIRLY LOPSIDED.IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STAY AFLOAT.
IT HAS BECOME NECESSARY TO BRING LIVE ENTERTAINMENT TO MIRROR OUR COMPETITORS.
WITH THIS SAID, WE FEEL IT NECESSARY TO EVEN BE ABLE TO CHARGE PATIENTS TO HELP OFFSET THESE COSTS.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE CASE OF A FUNDRAISER BEING HOSTED BY A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DOING A SIP AND PAINT, WE NEED TO CHARGE FOR THE SUPPLIES.
THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS CONTINUES TO RISE AND WE HAVE HIGHER RENTS, STRICTER ENFORCEMENTS AND LICENSING FEES ALL STACKED ON TOP OF ALREADY THIN MARGINS.
LIGHT CONTINUES TO PROVE YEAR AFTER YEAR WHY WE ARE A VIABLE FAMILY FRIENDLY, FAMILY ORIENTED BUSINESS.
HERE ARE SOME OF THE WAYS THAT WE HAVE SUPPORTED THE COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE HIRED MANY PEOPLE WHO RESIDE IN THE LAUDERDALE LAKES AND CONTINUE TO DO SO.
CURRENTLY WE HAVE FOUR OF OUR STAFF THAT ARE RESIDING IN OUR WE AIR CITY.
WE CONTINUE TO FREE THE HOMELESS AND NEEDY AND PARTNER WITH OTHER INDIVIDUALS WHO DO SO ON A REGULAR BASIS.
EVERY SUMMER BEFORE SCHOOL REOPENS, WE DO OUR ANNUAL BACKPACK GIVEAWAY.
WE HAVE GIVEN ALL OUT ALMOST 1200 BACKPACKS TO DATE.
EVERY DECEMBER WE DO OUR ANNUAL TOY DRIVE GIVEAWAY TO TOTS, NEEDY TOTS WITH SANTA CLAUS FOR THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE.
WE HAVE PROMOTED CARIBBEAN CULTURE BY MEANS OF ALWAYS HOSTING KID FRIENDLY PARADE OF THE CARNIVAL COSTUMES, WHICH THE STAGE IS NEEDED.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE HOSTED A FUNDRAISER FOR THE MISS MIAMI BROWARD CARNIVAL COMPETITORS WITH A SPECIAL APPEARANCE OF THE FIRST BLACK MISS UNIVERSE, MISS JANELLE PENNY, COMIS YOUNG.
WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH SCHOOLS NEARBY, INCLUDING BOYD ANDERSON AND BROWARD COUNTY SCHOOLS FOR GAME NIGHT AND KARAOKE.
THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE THINGS THAT SAINTS ROT A LIGHT HAS BEEN DOING ALONGSIDE PREPARING AUTHENTIC TRAINING CUISINE.
WE WOULD LIKE TO APPEAL FOR YOUR KIND CONSIDERATION ON THIS MATTER AND WE WOULD LIKE TO EXPLORE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO LEGALLY.
WE THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR WORKING WITH US TO ACHIEVE VERY ENOUGH FAVORABLE SOLUTION.
NEXT WE HAVE FORMER VICE MAYOR, MARK SPENCE, FORMER VICE MAYOR.
GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, AND THOSE WHO PRESENT.
UH, MY NAME IS MARK SPENCE, FORMER VICE MAYOR OF CITY OF LARGER LAKES.
UM, I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE BOUNCE HOUSE.
UM, I DID GET THE CALL BECAUSE THEY WERE CALLING GET COMMISSIONER THOMAS' PHONE NUMBER.
AND I WENT BACK AND FORTH FOR TEXTS WITH THE CITY MANAGER TO SEE HOW WE CAN GET THIS, UM, RESOLVED.
AND I STILL GOT THE NO ANSWER.
SO I WENT DIGGING INTO OUR CITY CODES AND OUR COUNTY CODES AND OUR ESTATE CODES.
THERE'S NOTHING THERE TO REGULATE THE BOUNCE HOUSE USE.
THERE'S NOTHING THERE TO REGULATE THE USE OF GRILLS.
SO I DON'T SEE HOW THE CITY NOW COMES UP, UM, ARBITRARY TO, TO PLACE THIS AS A SPECIAL, FIRST OF ALL, AS A SPECIAL EVENT.
UM, IT'S IN A CHURCH, IT'S IN OUR CITY'S VIEW THAT ANYTHING WHERE YOU INVITE THE PUBLIC BECOMES A SPECIAL EVENT.
I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT APPLIES TO CHURCH CHURCHES BECAUSE THAT IS OUR MISSION AS CHURCHES TO INVITE THOSE TWO FELLOWSHIP AND TO KNOW CHRIST.
THAT IS THE WHOLE MISSION OF THE CHURCH.
SO WHEN OUR CITY THINKS THAT JUST BECAUSE WE'RE INVITING THE PUBLIC IS NOW A SPECIAL EVENT THAT IS NOT SO, AND AGAIN, THE BOUNCE HOUSE IS NOT IN OUR CITY CODES.
I DON'T THINK IT'S IN THE FIRE CODE.
I DON'T THINK IT'S IN THE BUILDING CODE.
THERE IS NO REASON ONCE THEY GAVE THE APPLICATION, THE CITY SHOULD HAVE GAVE IT BACK TO THEM AND SAID, THANK YOU.
BUT WE CAN'T DO NOTHING WITH THIS.
THE OTHER THING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS LAST NIGHT'S, UM, COMMISS WORKSHOP.
UM, YOU GUYS DO THE, THE FORMER FIN, SORRY, THE FORMER FINANCE DIRECTOR UNDER THE BUS.
SO ON JUNE 9TH WORKSHOP, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO BACK AND LOOK.
SHE EXPLAINED THE WHOLE PROCESS FOR GETTING THE SEARCH TEAM FOR THE CITY MANAGER.
AND IN THAT PROCESS, SHE TOLD YOU EVERYTHING, EVEN THE DETAILS ABOUT WHEN THEY GET THE NUMBERS BACK, THAT IF THAT, UM, IF THERE'S TOO MANY NUMBERS THAT THEY'LL FIND IT COME BACK TO YOU TO FIND A WAY HOW TO, TO, TO BRING THE NUMBERS DOWN AND GIVE IT TO YOU.
SHE SAID, IF WE HAVE 20, WE'LL FIND OUT HOW TO BREAK IT TO 10 TO GIVE IT TO YOU.
YOU GUYS GOT 11 APPLICANTS AND THEN YOU GUYS PRETEND AS IF THAT SHE DIDN'T TELL YOU WHAT EXACTLY WAS GONNA BE DONE, BUT IN THE FOLLOWING, UM,
[01:50:01]
WORKSHOP, JUNE 7TH, UM, I GUESS SHE WAS GONE BY THEN.UM, YOU GUYS SAID THAT YOU'RE GONNA, UM, DO A THOROUGH PROCESS, VET THEM, THIS IS AFTER THE CLOSING AND VET IT AND THEN SEND IT TO THE CITY MANAGER FOR HIS APPROVAL.
AND YOU SAID IT AGAIN ON JUNE 10TH, AND THEN NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN ALL THAT GOES OUT THE WINDOW AND YOU GUYS STARTING OVER.
LAST NIGHT IT WAS SAID THAT YOU GUYS ARE PAID TO COME UP HERE AND LOOK BEAUTIFUL, TO DRESS NICE AND COME UP HERE AND SIT EVERY TUESDAY.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THERE'S WORK TO BE DONE.
THAT WE'RE PAID TO COME UP HERE AND LOOK BEAUTIFUL.
RIGHT? AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT.
I'M A FORMER COMMISSIONER, FORMER VICE MAYOR.
MY TWO YEARS I WORKED HARD FOR THE CITY AND I KNOW SOME OF YOU ARE RIGHT THERE.
AS WE DO WORK THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, WE JUST DON'T COME UP HERE ON TUESDAYS TO LOOK GOOD.
AND SO I TAKE OFFENSE OF THAT AND ALSO TAKE OFFENSE THAT WE KEEP ON PUSHING MATTERS THAT WE NEED TO TAKE CONTROL OF.
WHY IS A BALANCED HOUSE GONNA COST YOU $700? AND THAT APPLIES TO EVERYONE.
SO IF MY SCHOOL HAVE A BALANCED HOUSE, AS A MATTER OF FACT, I HAD A BOUNCE HOUSE THE THURSDAY BEFORE THEY HAD, THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE THEIRS.
SO I'M SUPPOSED TO PAY 700, $700 FOR A BOUNCE HOUSE THAT COSTS $150.
YOU COULD GO TO A COUNTY PARK AND THE MOST YOU CHARGE IS $50 FOR THEM TO, TO COME INSPECT THE BOUNCE HOUSE AT THE COUNTY PARK.
WHY IS IT 700 OR 400 OR IS IT 300? WHATEVER THE AMOUNT IS, WHY IS IT THAT IN OUR CITY? AND THERE IS NO BASIS ON IT, MR. ATTORNEY.
I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY DON'T WANNA GO TO YOU FOR IT.
I GUESS THE THE MONEY'S TOO MUCH.
BUT LISTEN, THIS CAN'T BE CONTINUED.
WE CAN'T MAKE UP STUFF AS WE GO.
IT'S NOT GOOD FOR OUR CI CITY, FOR OUR RESIDENTS, FOR OUR BUSINESSES.
THANK YOU FOR COMMISSIONER SMITH.
OUR LAST PETITION TONIGHT IS FROM FORMER COMMISSIONER EILEEN ROTHERY, FORMER COMMISSIONER ROTHERY.
UM, FIRST, UM, LAST NIGHT, I WAS HERE LAST NIGHT AT THE WORKSHOP ALL EVEN.
AND AS A FORMER COMMISSIONER AND SERVE AS VICE MAYOR FOR TWO YEARS OUT OF THE FOUR YEARS, I THINK IT WAS VERY DISRESPECTFUL.
AND EVEN TONIGHT ALSO, I WASN'T, UH, RECOGNIZED.
NONE OF US GONNA SIT THERE ALL THE TIME WHEN YOU COME DOWN.
AND I THINK PROTOCOLS ARE OUT OF RESPECT BECAUSE I SERVE THIS CITY VERY WELL IN MY TENURE.
AND EVEN I'M NOT A SETTING COMMISSIONER, I'M STILL SERVING MY COMMUNITY.
SO I JUST WANNA PUT THAT CLEAR.
UM, COMMENT, UM, GOING OFF A LITTLE BIT, WHAT FORMER VICE MAJOR SAID, IT WAS SAID LAST NIGHT, BUT I DON'T THINK IT WAS MEANT FOR THAT REAL PURPOSE.
SOMETHING WAS GOING ON WAS SOME DISCUSSION WAS GOING ON LAST NIGHT AND ONE OF THE COMMISSIONER DID SAY THAT.
BUT NOT IN YOUR CONTEXT LIKE IT WAS SAID JUST A WHILE AGO.
'CAUSE I'M A FAIR PERSON, I LIKE TO BE FAIR AND UM, I DON'T HAVE TO BE FRIENDS WITH ANYBODY, TO BE FAIR.
NEED TO GO ACROSS THE BOARD FOR EVERYONE.
JUST NOT IN THE CONTEXT THAT IT WAS SAID HOW SHE, HOW IT WAS REPEATED, BUT IT WAS SAID LAST NIGHT.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON UM, ITEM 10 B.
IT WAS, UM, DISCUSSED LAST NIGHT.
KIWANIS CLUB, I WAS A FORMER MEMBER OF THE KIWANIS CLUB FOR MANY YEARS.
I WANNA COMMENT THEM FOR TAKING UP THE RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP THE PARK CLEAN, THE TRAILHEAD PARK CLEAN AND BEAUTIFUL.
THEY'RE VERY GOOD AT COMMITTEE STUFF AND UM, I KNOW THEY'LL DO A VERY GOOD JOB ON THAT.
AND THERE ARE SOME MORE THINGS THAT ARE MORE LAST NIGHT FOR THE WORKSHOP.
A WORKSHOP ITEM FIVE B, UM, A NEWLY FORMED LADALE LAKES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
I'M HAPPY BECAUSE IT'S GONNA BE SUPPORTING THE BUSINESSES IN LADALE LAKES.
BUT THE, THE, UM, REQUEST THAT WAS MADE FOR A OVER $8,000 TO FUND SOME PORTION OF IT AS A RESIDENT OF LAUDERDALE LAKES, I'M NOT IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT AND I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE FUNDING IT EITHER.
AS UM, FROM OUR MONEY, THIS IS OUR MONEY, OUR TAXPAYER'S MONEY, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE PAYING FOR IT.
THE BUSINESSES ARE, THERE'S A LOT OF BUSINESSES.
THE MR AGREED MENTIONED LAST NIGHT, OVER A HUNDRED AND SOMETHING BUSINESS.
I THINK THEY SHOULD COLLECT THEIR DUES AND STUFF AND PAY FOR WHAT THEY HAVE TO PAY FOR AND MOVE FORWARD.
I DON'T THINK OUR MONEY SHOULD PAY FOR THAT.
[01:55:09]
UM, YES AND ITEM, ANOTHER ITEM.ALRIGHT, I'M NOT EVEN GONNA GO 'CAUSE THE PAGE IS GONE.
I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S STILL FIVE.
OH, SO FIVE, UH, 5G LAST NIGHT FROM THE WORKSHOP DISCUSSING ABOUT $75,000 TO GET A CONTRACT PERSONAL TO COME IN AND DO SOME WORK IN THE CANAL.
I, UM, MY QUESTION IS, BECAUSE THEY SAID IT'S $64,000 TO HAVE OUR OWN STAFF, UH, WHY? I MEAN, IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE A LOT, BUT TO ME IT'S A LOT.
AND THE REASON I WOULD ASK WHY OUR EMPLOYEES THAT I EMPLOY HERE YEAR ROUND NOT DOING THAT JOB BECAUSE THEY SAID IT'S FROM MAY TO SEPTEMBER.
YOU'RE GONNA PAY $75,000 FROM MAY TO SEPTEMBER.
WHILE WE HAVE STAFF HERE, ARE OUR STAFF QUALIFIED? ARE THE DIRECTOR OR MANAGER OR SUPERVISOR, ARE THEY QUALIFIED? DO THEY HAVE THE QUALIFICATION TO DO THE WORK THAT THEY'RE GONNA BE SUB, UM, YOU KNOW, CONTRACTING OUT? THAT'S JUST A QUESTION.
ALSO, UM, FOR THE DESIGN TEAM, THAT'S ALSO WHERE THEY WANT TO ALSO CONTRACT.
WHY WE HAVE THESE EMPLOYEES, OUR DIRECTORS OR WE'RE PAYING SO MUCH MONEY TO PER YEAR FOR THE SALARY.
BUT EVERYTHING IS BEEN CONTRACTED OUT.
I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THAT.
WHY EVERYTHING BEING CONTRACTING OUT.
THAT'S MY FOR SO MUCH MONEY, I JUST DON'T GET IT.
AND UM, ANOTHER THING, POLICY DESIGN.
OH, FOR THE, TO HIRE THE NEW CITY MANAGER.
MY QUESTION IN THAT WHOLE THING, UM, WHEN I THINK IT WAS THE DIRECTOR HERE WAS SPEAKING OR MANAGER FOR WHOEVER DOING THE HIRING.
UM, NO, THE PROCUREMENT CODE PERSONNEL, UM, HE'S NEW TO ME.
UM, HE'S SAYING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO REVIEW WHATEVER PAPERWORK THEY HAVE TO REVIEW FOR THE NEW EMPLOYEE, THE NEW PERSON THEY WANNA EMPLOY.
BUT THEY HAVE TO, BUT THEY HAVE TO GIVE IT TO THE CITY MANAGER.
FIRST MY QUESTION IS, IS THE CITY BEING RUN BY THE CITY MAN, CITY ATTORNEY OR IS THE COMMISSIONER? BECAUSE I THINK TO ME IT'S GOING BACKWARDS.
I THINK IT SHOULD GO TO THIS, THE COMMISSIONERS FIRST, THEN THE REVIEW IT AND DISCUSS IT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY.
AND THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME.
ONE RECOMMENDATION, UM, LAST NIGHT WHEN I HEARD, UH, 'CAUSE I DIDN'T SEE IT ON THE AGENDA, SO IT APPLAUD ME A LITTLE BIT FOR FORMER MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONER, STATE REP, AND THEN A COMMISSIONER, COUNTY COMMISSIONER HAZEL ROGERS.
WHEN I HEARD LAST NIGHT ABOUT THE NAMING THE BUILDING AFTER HER, I WAS A BIT PERTURBED BECAUSE I'M LIKE, NORMALLY I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THE CODE CHANGE.
AND NORMALLY WE DON'T NAME A BUILDING OR A STREET OFF SOMEONE NORMALLY WHEN THEY'RE ALIVE.
BUT THEN AFTER THE MEETING WAS OVER, I DO MY OWN DIGGING AND MY OWN INVESTIGATION AND I FOUND OUT IT WAS CHANGED.
'CAUSE SHE'S ONE OF THIS PERSON THAT I LOOKED UP TO POLITICALLY, NOT ONLY IN THE CITY OF LYTICS, BUT AS A JAMAICAN.
THIS IS SOMEBODY THAT I, UM, TRY TO MIMIC SOMETIMES BECAUSE SHE'S ONE OF THE BEST POLITICIAN I EVER SEEN AND RECOGNIZE AND UNDERSTAND.
SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T, YOU KNOW, HAVE EVERYTHING TOGETHER AND THAT'S WHAT POLITICS DO.
BUT I LEARN A LOT FROM HER AND I'M VERY, VERY PROUD OF HER.
AND I'M HAPPY THAT THE BUILDING GONNA BE NAMED AFTER HER.
'CAUSE MY CONCERN WAS NORMALLY YOU, YOU WAIT UNTIL THE PERSON DIE.
AND SO I'M VERY HAPPY AND I'M VERY PROUD.
ALL RIGHT, I'LL MADAM MAYOR, WE HAVE NO MORE PETITIONS FROM THE PUBLIC.
THANK YOU TO ALL YOU WHO GAVE COMMENTS TONIGHT.
WE ARE NOW GOING TO ITEM SEVEN CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCES ON SECOND CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCES ON SECOND READING.
[8. CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCES ON FIRST READING]
CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCES ON FIRST READING.THIS IS WHERE WE WILL HAVE OUR GOLDEN ROD AND OUR GOLDEN ROD.
UM, THE ORDINANCE WILL BE READ BY OUR CITY ATTORNEY, MADAM MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS ORDINANCE 2 0 2 5 DASH 0 1 1.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES, BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA, APPROVING THE RENAMING OF THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES MULTIPURPOSE CENTER AS THE HAZEL P ROGERS MULTIPURPOSE CENTER, PROVIDING
[02:00:01]
FOR ADOPTION OF RECITALS, PROVIDING FOR IMPLEMENTATION, REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.COLLEAGUES, PLEASE REMEMBER, IN ORDER TO PLACE THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA OFFICIALLY, WE MUST HAVE A UNANIMOUS VOTE.
COMMISSIONER MAXWELL WILLIAMS. FOR COMMISSIONER THOMAS FOR MAYOR EDWARDS PHILLIPS FOR MOTION PASSES.
WE DO NEED A MOTION, UM, FOR DISCUSSION FOR ORDINANCE 2025.
ALSO, THIS MUST BE A UNANIMOUS VOTE, HONOR MAYOR, COMMISSIONER MAXWELL WILLIAMS. I BRING ORDINANCE 20 25 0 1 1 ON THE FLOOR FOR DISCUSSION.
VICE MAYOR SWELL FOR COMMISSIONER HARRISON.
FOR COMMISSIONER MAXWELL WILLIAMS. FOR COMMISSIONER THOMAS FOR MAYOR EDWARDS PHILLIPS FOR MOTION PASSES.
AIX, AT THIS TIME, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS? AND WE WILL TAKE A FEW COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC IF YOU WOULD LIKE A FEW COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC IF YOU, COLLEAGUES, IF WE HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY.
MAD MAYOR, YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS? OH, WELL, I'LL BRIEF MADAM.
MAD MADAM MAYOR, JUST A, UH, POINT OF INFORMATION.
WE FORGOT AN IMPORTANT PROCESS HERE, MADAM.
MADAM MAYOR VINCE MULLIN WILL APPROACH THE, THE MICROPHONE AND HE'LL PRE PRESENT A REPORT.
GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR, VICE MAYOR.
COMMISSIONER, CITY MANAGER, CITY CLERK, CITY ATTORNEY FOR THE RECORD.
MY NAME IS VINCE MULLEN, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND HUMAN SERVICES.
UH, AS IT RELATES TO THE ITEM WE ARE DISCUSSING ON THE, AT THE COMMISSION WORKSHOP ON JUNE 23RD, A NOMINATION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER CARLENE MAXWELL WILLIAMS DOING THIS WORKSHOP.
UM, AND BECAUSE DUE TO THAT NOMINATION, THE PARKS ADVISORY BOARD WAS DESIGNATED AS THE AD HOC COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE FOR REVIEWING AND MAKING A RECOMMENDATION REGARDING THE PROPOSED RENAMING OF THE CITY FACILITY.
FOLLOWING THE FORMATION OF THE AD HOC COMMITTEE, A PUBLIC NOTICE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE SUN SENTINEL ON AUGUST 31ST, 2025.
THE NOTICE INFORMED THE PUBLIC OF THE INTENT TO HOLD A PUBLIC MEETING TO DISCUSS THE PROPOSED RENAMING OF THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES MULTIPURPOSE BUILDING, LOCATED AT 43 40 NORTHWEST 36TH STREET, LAUDERDALE LAKES, FLORIDA 3 3, 3 1 9.
IN HONOR OF COUNTY COMMISSIONER HAZEL P ROGERS, COMMISSIONER ROGERS HAS EXPRESSED HER DESIRE TO HAVE THE FACILITY NAMED IN HER HONOR ON SEPTEMBER 3RD, 2025 AT 5 43.
THIS MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER BY THE PARKS ADVISORY BOARD CHAIR.
THE MEETING AGENDA, WHICH IS ATTACHED FOR YOUR READING TO YOUR, TO YOUR DOCUMENTS, UH, THE CITY, I'M SORRY, THE PARK ADVISORY BOARD CHAIR, UH, CALLED THE MEANINGFUL ORDER AND THE AGENDA WAS FOLLOWED.
ACCORDINGLY, A PRESENTATION WAS DELIVERED BY THE CITY LIAISON, WHICH IS MYSELF, VINCE MULLEN, OUTLINING THE OFFICIAL PROCEDURES FOR RENAMING THE CITY FACILITY.
THESE PROCEDURES, ALONG WITH THE PURPOSE OF THE MEETING, WERE ALSO EXPLAINED VERBALLY TO ALL BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT.
FOLLOWING MY PRESENTATION, THE DISCUSSION WAS HAD AMONGST THE BOARD MEMBERS REGARDING THE PROPOSED RENAMING.
SUBSEQUENTLY, A FORMAL VOTE WAS CONDUCTED, A COPY OF THE MEETING MINUTES DOCUMENTED.
THE DISCUSSION AND VOTE IS ATTACHED TO THIS REPORT.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT I LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT THERE WERE NO PUBLIC, THERE WERE NO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN ATTENDANCE AT THIS MEETING.
THE PROPOSED RENAMING OF THE MULTIPURPOSE BUILDING CARRIES NO FISCAL OR BUSINESS IMPACT TO THE CITY AS THE PROPERTY IS OWNED AND MAINTAINED BY THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES.
YOU ALL CAN REFER TO ANY THE ATTACHED DOCUMENTS FOR ANY DETAILS, INCLUDING THE PUBLIC NOTICE, THE MEETING AGENDA, AND THE MINUTES.
AND I'LL ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO THIS ITEM? QUESTIONS? COLLEAGUES? I HAVE NONE.
MR. MAXWELL WILLIAMS, I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO NO, SHE ASKED IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
THERE'S NO QUESTIONS, BUT I WOULD LIKE IF THERE, OH, ANY BRIEF COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? THERE NOT BEING ANY COMMISSIONER MAXWELL WILLIAMS, MAD MAYOR, LIKE TO, UH, BRING OR ORDINANCE 2025 DASH
[02:05:01]
0 1 1 FOR THE FLOOR FOR APPROVAL.COMMISSIONER MAXWELL WILLIAMS. FOUR FOR COMMISSIONER THOMAS.
MAYOR EDWARDS PHILLIPS MOTION PASSES.
THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS.
[9. CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTIONS ON CONSENT AGENDA]
NINE, CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTIONS ON CONSENT.AGENDA ITEM NINE A, NINE B, NINE C, MS. MADAM MAYOR AND COMMISSIONER'S RESOLUTION, OH, EXCUSE ME, EXCUSE ME.
RESOLUTION 2 0 2 5 DASH 1 0 7.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF LAUDERDALE LAKES, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING AN ANNUAL DONATION TO THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES FROM WESTWAY TOWING INC.
IN THE AMOUNT OF $10,000 PER FISCAL YEAR TO SUPPORT CERTAIN CITY EVENTS TO BE DETERMINED BY THE CITY COMMISSION PROVIDING FOR ADOPTION OF RECITALS, PROVIDING FOR INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CITY CLERK, PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE RESOLUTION 2 0 2 5 DASH ZERO EIGHT A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF LAUDERDALE LAKES, FLORIDA, IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 13, SECTION 82 DASH 3 58 SUB D OF THE LAUDERDALE LAKES PROCUREMENT CODE.
AND PURSUANT TO TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE INTERLOCAL PURCHASING SYSTEMS TIPS COOPERATIVE PROGRAM, CONTRACT NUMBER TWENTY ONE ZERO THREE ZERO THREE, TELEPHONE AND COMMUNICATION DATA SYSTEMS AND SOLUTIONS BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES AND RINGCENTRAL INC.
AUTHORIZING AND PROVIDING FOR THE PAYMENT OF AN INVOICE CD 0 0 1 1 3 8 7 9 1 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $26,631 81 CENTS.
AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF ADDITIONAL LICENSES FOR THE CITY'S UPGRADED TELEPHONE SYSTEM IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $30,000 FOR AN ANNUAL COST OF LICENSES AND SERVICES.
COPY OF THE RING CENTRAL 60 MONTH ESTIMATE AND INVOICE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 IS ATTACHED HERE TO ITS COMPOSITE 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 1 0 9 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF LAUDERDALE LAKES, FLORIDA AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF SOFTWARE SUBSCRIPTIONS FROM CHI INTERNATIONAL CORP.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 13, SECTION 82 DASH 3 58 D OF THE LAUDERDALE LAKES PROCUREMENT CODE.
AND PURSUANT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THAT CERTAIN ALTERNATE CONTRACT, SOURCE NUMBER 4 3 2 3 0 0 0 DASH TWO THREE A SP ZERO A CS SOFTWARE VALUE ADDED RESELLER AND EXECUTED CONTRACT NUMBER CTR 0 6 2 8 SOFTWARE VALUE ADDED RESELLER MASTER CONTRACT COMPETITIVELY PROCURED BY THE STATE OF ARIZONA IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $40,000 PER FISCAL YEAR, INCLUDING A 5% CONTINGENCY FOR AN AMOUNT OF $42,000.
A COPY OF THE ALTERNATE CONTRACT SOURCE IS ATTACHED HERE TO AS EXHIBIT A COPY OF THE SHY INTERNATIONAL COURT PRICE PRICE SHEET IS ATTACHED HERETO AS EXHIBIT B, COPIES 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.
FIRST WOULD, UH, INTERVIEW, WOULD LIKE TO PULL ANY FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? NO.
MR. THOMAS, I MOVE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2025 DASH 1 0 7, RESOLUTION 2025 DASH 1 0 8, RESOLUTION 2025 DASH 1 0 9 1 9.
COMMISSIONER HARRISON FOR COMMISSIONER MAXWELL WILLIAMS. FOR COMMISSIONER THOMAS FOR MAYOR EDWARDS PHILLIPS FOR VICE MAYOR SWELL FOR MOTION PASSES.
[A. RESOLUTION 2025-110 APPROVING THE ADDITION OF THE FLORIDA LICENSING ON WHEELS (FLOW) EVENT TO THE CITY'S SPECIAL EVENT CALENDAR (SPONSORED BY COMMISSIONER MAXWELL-WILLIAMS)]
RESOLUTIONS ON REGULAR AGENDA.ITEM 10 A MS. ION COMMISSIONER'S RESOLUTION 2 0 2 5 DASH A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF LAUDERDALE LAKES, FLORIDA APPROVING THE ADDITION OF THE FLORIDA LICENSING ON WHEELS.
SPECIAL EVENT CALENDAR FOR FISCAL YEAR
[02:10:01]
20 25, 20 26 AS AN OFFICIAL INITIATIVE BY COMMISSIONER CARLENE MAXWELL WILLIAMS TO BE LAUNCHED IN OCTOBER, 2025, PROVIDING FOR ADOPTION OF RECITALS, PROVIDING FOR INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CITY CLERK, PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DAY.MADAM MAYOR, COMMISSIONER THOMAS, I'D LIKE TO BRING RESOLUTION 2025 DASH ONE 10 TO THE FLOOR FOR DISCUSSION.
COMMISSIONER MAXWELL WILLIAMS. FOR COMMISSIONER THOMAS FOR MAYOR EDWARDS PHILLIPS FOR VICE MAYOR SWELL.
FOR COMMISSIONER HARRISON FOR MOTION PASSES.
MADAM MAYOR, THIS ITEM WAS, IS BEING SPONSORED BY COMMISSIONER CARLENE MAXWELL WILLIAMS. COMMISSIONER MAXWELL WILLIAMS. THANK YOU, UH, MADAM MAYOR.
SO THIS ITEM IS TO, UM, STARTING NEXT MONTH WE'LL BE BRINGING THE, UH, FLORIDA LICENSE ON WHEELS.
IT IS A PART OF THE FLORIDA HIGHWAY SAFETY AND MOTOR VEHICLES, AND OUR MISSION IS TO HAVE THIS ONCE A MONTH HERE IN OUR CITY WHERE YOU CAN MAKE AN APPOINTMENT ONLY TO HELP DEVIATE THE LINE THAT IS THERE AT THE MOTOR VEHICLES OFFICE ALL THE TIME.
SO NOW IT'LL BE HERE AND YOU KNOW, IT'LL HELP A LITTLE WON'T SOLVE IT, BUT IT'LL HELP.
WILL BRINGING THIS TO THE CITY, ANYONE IN BROWARD COUNTY WOULD BE ABLE TO COME? YES.
MADAM MAYOR, COMMISSIONER HARRISON, UH, I MOVE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2 0 2 5 DASH 10.
COMMISSIONER MAXWELL WILLIAMS. FOUR, COMMISSIONER THOMAS FOUR, MAYOR EDWARDS PHILLIPS FOUR VICE MAYOR SWELL FOUR.
[B. RESOLUTION 2025-111 AUTHORIZING AND APPROVING THE ADOPTION OF TRAILHEAD PARK BY THE KIWANIS CLUB OF LAUDERDALE LAKES UNDER THE CITY’S ADOPT-A-PARK PROGRAM, TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE PARKS AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAINTAINING THE SAFE AND CLEAN ENVIRONMENT OF CITY-OWNED PARKS (SPONSORED BY COMMISSIONER MAXWELL-WILLIAMS)]
MAD MAYOR AND COMMISSIONER'S RESOLUTION 2 0 2 5 DASH ONE ONE A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF LAUDERDALE LAKES FLORIDA APPROVING THE KIWANIS CLUB OF LAUDERDALE LAKES KIWANIS CLUB ADOPT A PARK PROGRAM APPLICATION AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND CITY CLERK TO EXECUTE, ENTER TEST RESPECTIVELY.THAT CERTAIN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES AND THE KIWANIS CLUB FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE TRAILHEAD PARK IN THE CITY AS PART OF THE CITY'S ADOPTIVE PARK PROGRAM TO BE OPERATED BY THE CITY THROUGH THE PARKS AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAINTAINING THE SAFE AND CLEAN ENVIRONMENT OF CITY OWNED PARKS.
A COPY OF THE KIWANIS CLUB ADOPT A PARK APPLICATION AND AGREEMENT IS ATTACHED HERE TOO AS COMPOSITE EXHIBIT A, A DRAFT DOCUMENT, 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 THOMAS.
I'D LIKE TO BRING, UH, RESOLUTION 2025 DASH 1 1 1 TO THE FLOOR FOR DISCUSSION.
COMMISSIONER THOMAS FOR MAYOR EDWARDS PHILLIPS FOR VICE MAYOR SWELL FOR COMMISSIONER HARRISON FOUR, COMMISSIONER MAXWELL WILLIAMS. FOUR.
MS. ERICA LOCKETT WILL BE PRESENTING THIS ITEM.
MAD VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS' PROTOCOL IS ESTABLISHED.
SO MADAM MAYOR AND COMMISSION, UM, 2019, UM, THE ADOPT A PARK, UH, WAS BROUGHT TO FRUITION.
THE, UM, KIWANIS CLUB EXPRESSED THEIR INTEREST IN TRAILHEAD PARK.
AT THAT TIME, THE PARK WAS NOT COMPLETE.
THEY WERE THE ONLY ONES TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION.
SO THEY RESUBMITTED AN APPLICATION AND EXPRESSED THEIR INTEREST.
UM, WE TOOK IT TO THE PARKS ADVISORY BOARD.
THEY VOTED UNANIMOUS LEAP FOR THE KIWANIS CLUBS TO ADOPT TRAILHEAD PARK.
SO NOW WE'RE BRINGING IT TO YOU FOR YOUR FINAL APPROVAL.
UPON, UPON, UPON THE PASSING OF THE UM, RESOLUTION, WE WILL ERECT THE SIGNAGE TO SAY THAT THE PARK IS ADOPTED BY THE KIWANIS CLUB AND WE'LL HAVE A FORMAL MINI GRAND OPENING.
THE KIWANIS CLUB OF LAUDERDALE LAKES, KAWANIS CLUB OF LAUDERDALE LAKES.
ANY QUESTIONS, COLLEAGUES? I DON'T REALLY HAVE SOLICIT A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.
MADAM VICE MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO BRING
[02:15:01]
RESOLUTION 2025 DASH 1 1 1 TO THE FLOOR FOR APPROVAL.COMMISSIONER THOMAS FOR MAYOR EDWARDS PHILLIPS VICE MAYOR SWELL FOR COMMISSIONER HARRISON.
FOR COMMISSIONER MAXWELL WILLIAMS FOR MOTION PASSES.
ITEM 10 C MATTER MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS RESOLUTION 2 0 2 5 DASH 12.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF LAUDERDALE LAKES FLORIDA AUTHORIZING THE RENEWAL OF THE CITY INSURANCE POLICIES PROVIDING FOR HEALTH INSURANCE WITH BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF FLORIDA INC.
FLORIDA BLUE, PROVIDING FOR DENTAL INSURANCE COVERAGE WITH SOLSTICE BENEFITS INC.
PROVIDING FOR VISION INSURANCE COVERAGE WITH HUMANA INC.
PROVIDING FOR LIFE INSURANCE COVERAGE WITH MUTUAL OF OMAHA INSURANCE COMPANY AND PROVIDING FOR GAP INSURANCE COVERAGE WITH AMERICAN PUBLIC LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY PROVIDING FOR ADOPTION OF RECITALS, PROVIDING FOR INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CITY MANAGER, PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
MADAM MAYOR, COMMISSIONER HARRISON, I MOVE TO BRING RESOLUTION 2 0 2 5 DASH ONE 12 TO THE FLOOR FOR DISCUSSION.
MAYOR EDWARDS PHILLIPS VICE MAYOR SWELL FOR COMMISSIONER HARRISON.
FOR COMMISSIONER MAXWELL WILLIAMS. FOR COMMISSIONER THOMAS FOR MOTION PASSES.
[C. RESOLUTION 2025-112 APPROVING THE FY 2026 GROUP INSURANCE BENEFITS FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES]
YEAR WHERE WE LOOK TO APPROVE OUR GROUP INSURANCE BENEFITS AND OUR HR DIRECTOR, TARA WILLIAMS, WILL PRESENT THIS ITEM THROUGH YOU.GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS ACTING CITY MANAGER AND ACTING CITY CLERK.
OUR BROKER, THE GALLIUM BENEFITS GROUP, UM, WENT SHOPPED OUT FOR, UM, THE BEST MEDICAL COVERAGE FOR, UM, OUR EMPLOYEES.
UH, AETNA DID RESPOND WITH A HIGHER OFFER THAN FLORIDA BLUE.
HOWEVER, UM, DUE TO OUR UTILIZATION AED, UNITEDHEALTH AND CIGNA DECLINED, UM, THE COVERAGE FLORIDA BLUE BLUE RESPONDED WITH THE BEST OFFER OF 8.3% INCREASE.
UM, AND THIS ITEM IS BEING REQUESTED FOR FINAL APPROVAL FOR OUR, OUR, UM, PHYSICAL YEAR 2026 GROUP BENEFITS.
IN SHORT, I CAN ASK ANY ANSWER, ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
THIS IS A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.
MR. HARRISON, I MOVE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2 0 2 5 DASH ONE 12.
MAYOR EDWARDS PHILLIPS FOR VICE MAYOR SWELL.
FOR COMMISSIONER MAXWELL WILLIAMS. FOR COMMISSIONER THOMAS FOR MOTION PASSES.
[D. RESOLUTION 2025-113 APPROVING THE ADDITION OF THE DIAPER DISTRIBUTION EVENT TO THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES’ (“CITY”) SPECIAL EVENTS CALENDAR FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025 (SPONSORED BY COMMISSIONER HARRISON)]
MAYOR AND COMMISSIONER'S RESOLUTION 2 0 2 5 DASH A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF LAUDERDALE LAKES OF FLORIDA, APPROVING THE EDITION OF THE DIAPER DISTRIBUTION EVENT TO THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES CITY SPECIAL EVENT CALENDAR FOR FISCAL YEAR 20 24, 20 25, AS A OFFICIAL INITIATIVE BY COMMISSIONER EASTON HARRISON TO BE HOSTED ON SEPTEMBER 20TH, 2025, PROVIDING FOR THE ADOPTION OF RECITALS, PROVIDING FOR INSTRUCTIONS TO THE DEPUTY CITY CLERK PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE FOR DISCUSSION.MADAM MAYOR THOMAS, I'D LIKE TO BRING RESOLUTION 2023 TO THE FLOOR FOR DISCUSSION.
COMMISSIONER THOMAS FOR COMMISSIONER MAXWELL WILLIAMS. FOR COMMISSIONER HARRISON FOR VICE MAYOR SWELL.
FOR MAYOR EDWARDS PHILLIPS FOR MOTION PASSES.
MADAM MAYOR, COMMISSIONER THOMAS.
UM, BEFORE COMMISSIONER HARRISON SPEAK, I THOUGHT I HEARD IN THE, UH, I HEARD SEPTEMBER 20TH, THE DATE, YEAH, THE DATE.
AND LAST NIGHT WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS OCTOBER 11TH.
SO I NEED CLARIFICATION ON THE DATE, PLEASE.
THROUGH YOUR MADAM MAYORS OCTOBER 11TH.
I, I WORKED WITH THE A CM TO MAKE SURE IT WOULD BE REFLECTIVE IN THE WRITING.
MADAM MAYOR, I MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND, UH, THE RESOLUTION FROM SEPTEMBER 20TH TO OCTOBER 11TH.
MAYOR EDWARDS PHILLIPS FOUR VICE MAYOR.
SWELL FOR COMMISSIONER HARRISON.
COMMISSIONER MAXWELL WILLIAMS FOR COMMISSIONER THOMAS.
MOTION PASSES MADAM MAYOR, COMMISSIONER THOMAS.
I MOVE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2025 DASH ONE THREE, WHICH THE AMENDMENTS MAYOR EDWARDS PHILLIPS FOR VICE MAYOR.
SWELL FOR COMMISSIONER HARRISON.
FOR COMMISSIONER MAXWELL WILLIAMS. FOR COMMISSIONER THOMAS FOR MOTION PASSES.
[02:20:01]
IS THERE ANY CORRESPONDENCE? MADAM CLERK? MADAM MAYOR, WE HAVE NO CORRESPONDENCE.ALRIGHT, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH AGAIN.
[12. REPORT OF THE MAYOR]
SAY GOOD EVENING AND TO THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT.IT WAS SO MUCH EXCITEMENT TONIGHT.
OUR SCHOOLS AND THEIR GRADES, OUR, OUR FARM SHARE, THOSE WHO PROVIDE FOOD FOR US, OUR APPROVAL RENAMING OF THE MULTIPURPOSE CENTER AND JUST IN GENERAL THE THE CLOSENESS THAT WE FELT WITH SO MANY OF Y'ALL IN OUR CHAMBER.
WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING YOU TO COME BACK AGAIN, EVEN THOUGH I'M TALKING TO NOT AS MANY AS AT THE BEGINNING, BUT I CERTAINLY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE INVITE YOU THOSE WHO ARE VIRTUAL, THOSE WHO ARE HERE, AND TO PASS THE WORD ABOUT THOSE WHO WERE HERE PREVIOUSLY.
AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE.
I WANT TO START OFF BY SAYING, AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH CITY COMMISSION MEETING, PART OF THE WORDS THAT I READ TO US AND TO THE PUBLIC, THE WORDS ARE, THE CITY COMMISSION MEETING IS A BUSINESS MEETING.
AND AS SUCH, PLEASE CONDUCT OURSELVES IN A RESPECTFUL AND PROFESSIONAL MANNER, BOTH IN TONE OF VOICE AS WELL AS CHOICE OF WORDS.
IT IS ABOUT SHOWING RESPECT TO OUR FELLOW COMMISSIONERS, OUR RESIDENTS, OUR BUSINESSES, OUR STAFF AND VISITORS AND RESPECT EVEN FOR THE SERIOUSNESS OF THESE COMMISSION CHAMBERS.
WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES, DIFFERENT LIFE EXPERIENCES, DIFFERENT WAYS OF EXPRESSING OUR THOUGHTS, IDEAS, SUGGESTIONS, ET CETERA.
HOWEVER, EACH OF US IS ENTITLED TO BE HEARD WITHOUT INTERRUPTION, INTRUSION OF THOUGHT OR RUDENESS.
WE ALL LOVE THE GREAT WE CARE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES, WE ALL SERVE WITH PASSION FOR THE GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT, AND PROSPERITY OF OUR GREAT CITY.
EVERYTHING WE DO, WE ARE SERVING AND WORKING TO BRAND OUR CITY AS THE INVOLVED, EVOLVING CENTRAL HUB OF BROWARD COUNTY.
BUT BRANDING IS NOT JUST OUR PROGRAM, SERVICES, RESOURCES, EVENTS, AESTHETICS, ET CETERA.
BRANDING INCLUDES HOW WE COMPORT OURSELVES IN THE COMMUNITY, RELATE AND INTERACT WITH RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES, AND VISITORS.
BRANDING INCLUDES SPEAKING POSITIVELY ABOUT OUR CITY, BUT WITH FACTS AND TRUTH.
THE LAUDERDALE LAKES MAYOR COMMISSION, OR THE LEGISLATORS AND POLICY MAKERS OF OUR CITY.
I THINK THAT I CAN COMFORTABLY SAY THAT LEGISLATORS OTHERWISE HAVE STAFF ASSISTANCE, A RESEARCHERS WITH THEIR EARS TO THE GROUND AND THEIR EYES TO THE FUTURE FOR OUR CITY.
WE RECEIVE INFORMATION FROM THEM, DISCUSS, DISSECT, REVIEWS, TABLE AND OR DECIDE TO VOTE TO DETERMINE THE DISPOSITION OF EACH ITEM PRESENTED.
WE DO THIS WITH THE WELFARE OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES.
WE DO THIS WITH TRANSPARENCY, RESPONSIBILITY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
WOULD WE INDIVIDUALLY HAVE TIME TO RESEARCH, INVESTIGATE EVERY AGENDA ITEM? WOULD WE HAVE TIME TO GO THROUGH OUR ARCHAIC BUT EVOLVING DOCUMENTATION AND RECORD KEEPING SYSTEM WITH ALL, WE ALL HAVE THE AUTHORITY, WRITE AND PRIVILEGES OF PRESENTING OUR OWN IDEAS AND SUGGESTIONS.
LET US CONTINUE TO EXERCISE AND PROTECT THAT RIGHT FOR ALL OF US.
WE TALK ABOUT HOW WE DON'T WANT TO BE SEEN IN THE LIGHT WE WERE SEEN IN SEVERAL YEARS AGO.
NO, WE DON'T WANT TO BE SEEN IN THAT LIGHT, BUT IN A MUCH, MUCH DIFFERENT MANNER.
THE ONLY LIGHT WE WANT TO BE SEEN IN IS FOR THE SAFETY AND SECURITY, HEALTH AND WELFARE AND FUTURE GROWTH OF OUR BELOVED CITY.
LET US REMEMBER WHO WE ARE, WHO WE REPRESENT, AND WHAT LAUDERDALE LACE IS LOOKING TO BECOME.
ONE OF MY FAVORITE AUTHORS IS DR.
AS I HAVE SAID QUITE OFTEN, DR.
SEUSS SAID, AND I'M PARAPHRASE TODAY, I WILL BEHAVE AS IF THIS IS THE DAY THAT I WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED.
WE ARE MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER LAUDERDALE LAKES NOW FOR SOME ANNOUNCEMENTS.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH, I WILL HAVE MY MAYOR'S COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WALK.
I WILL BE WALKING THE COMMUNITY OF CAREFREE COVE.
CAREFREE COVE IS OUR MOBILE COMMUNITY IN THE NORTHGATE AREA, UH, WHICH A LOT OF US PROBABLY DO NOT KNOW EXISTS, BUT IT IS A VERY VIBRANT COMMUNITY.
AND I WILL BE WALKING THE CAREFREE COVE COMMUNITY ON SEPTEMBER 20TH, ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 4TH.
PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE MAYOR'S BREAST CANCER AWARENESS WALK RUN BIKE.
IT WILL BE HELD AT THE VINCENT TORRIS PARK FROM 9:00 AM UNTIL 12 NOON PM PLEASE COME OUT AND ENJOY THE WALK THE RUN.
THERE WILL BE VENDORS, NOT FOOD VENDORS, BUT THERE WILL BE
[02:25:01]
RESOURCE VENDORS AT THE MARS WALK RUN.SO PLEASE COME OUT AND SO WE CAN SPREAD MORE AWARENESS AS IT RELATES TO CANCER RESEARCH, CANCER SURVIVOR AND TO HONOR THOSE.
GOODNIGHT AND GOD BLESS, MADAM VICE
[13. REPORT OF THE VICE MAYOR]
MAYOR.I HAD AN EXCELLENT SUMMER AND I'M HAPPY TO BE BACK.
MADAM MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS ACTING, CITY MANAGER, CITY ATTORNEY AND OUR DEPUTY CITY CLARK.
I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE, I WOULD SAY MY, MY WALKING PARTNER, NOT FRIEND, WALKING PARTNER, COMMISSIONER HAYES ROGERS, JUST I AM GLAD THAT SHE WAS GIVEN THE NEW NAME OF A BUILDING, OLD BUILDING, WHICH IS BAD.
MAYBE IF THEY HAD WAITED UNTIL WE GOT THE NEW COMPLEX, THEN AT LEAST MAYBE THAT WOULD'VE LASTED ANOTHER WHAT, 50, 60 YEARS.
BUT THEN ALL BUILDINGS SOMETIMES ARE BECOME HISTORICAL MM-HMM
AND I'M GLAD THAT IT HAPPENED WHILE YOU ARE ALIVE.
SO THAT I WOULD SAY I PREFER TO GET THE FLOWERS THAT I CAN SMELL IT AND FEEL IT WHEN I'M ALIVE.
I DON'T HAVE MUCH TO SAY TONIGHT, BUT I'M GLAD TO BE BACK AND IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THINGS ARE MOVING SOMEHOW IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
I JUST WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO THAT, THAT NO MATTER HOW OLD THE BUILDING OR WHEN WE GET OUR NEW COMPLEX, THAT THAT NAME WILL TRANSFER.
[14. REMARKS OF THE COMMISSIONERS]
MAXWELL WILLIAMS. HARRISON.YOU WANNA DO IT TOGETHER? MAXWELL WILLIAMS
UH, UH, I TWO WONDER CONGRATULATE COUNTY COMMISSIONER HAZEL ROGERS.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY INTERESTING.
WHEN I WAS IN LAUDERDALE LAKES, I USED TO SEE THE NAME ALL THE TIME.
AND I DID NOT KNOW WHO YOU WERE FOR SO LONG IN MY YOUTH GROWING UP.
AND I REMEMBER MY FIRST TIME MEETING YOU, YOU DID NOT, UH, HAVE TOO MUCH PATIENCE WITH ME.
YOU JUST TOLD ME STRAIGHT UP HOW IT WAS IN POLITICS, WHAT IT IS YOU WANNA DO.
YOU HAVE TO BE SERIOUS, AND TO THIS DAY YOU HAVE THE SAME EXACT TONE.
SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR STAYING TRUE TO YOURSELF AND WHO YOU ARE.
AND AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS FOR HAVING YOUR NAME BEING PUT UP ON THAT BUILDING.
I THINK IT'S GONNA BE A, A GOOD THING FOR THE CITY.
UM, BEFORE I GET TO MY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS, I WANTED TO, UM, MAKE SOME COMMENTS IN, UM, IN RESPONSE TO THE PUBLIC, UH, PETITIONS THAT WERE MADE EARLIER.
UM, I WANTED TO FIRST MAKE MENTION ABOUT, UH, WHAT THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM SINGS ROTI SHOP MADE.
AND I THINK IT HIGHLIGHTS NOT JUST WHAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH, BUT WHAT A LOT OF OTHER BUSINESSES IN OUR CITY IS GOING THROUGH AS WELL.
UM, WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR IS ESSENTIALLY A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD.
AND US AS COMMISSIONERS, WE HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO DO A WEEKEND TO HELP PROVIDE THAT FOR THEM.
UM, AND THIS ISN'T JUST OFF OF HEARING THEM SPEAK, I ACTUALLY HAD THE PLEASURE OF GOING TO THEIR RESTAURANT, UM, JUST RANDOMLY AND JUST TO SEE HOW IT IS OVER THERE.
THE FOOD IS GREAT, BY THE WAY.
AND UM, ALSO THEIR EVENTS AS WELL.
THEY HAVE THEIR OWN CROWD WITHIN THE CITY THAT WE COULD BE PARTNERING WITH THEM TO HELP TAP INTO.
UH, BUT THEY NEED SUPPORT AS A BUSINESS.
UH, I REMEMBER JUST TALKING TO THE BUSINESSES AND RESTAURANTS AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STOOD OUT TO ME AND THEY SAID, COMMISSIONER HARRISON, DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE THAT WE CAN MAKE ALL OF THE MONEY WE NEED JUST OFF OF FOOD? AND I WAS LIKE, I NEVER THOUGHT OF THAT.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN? THEY SAY, LISTEN, WHEN YOU LOOK AT OTHER CITIES AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING WITH THEIR RESTAURANTS, THEY CAN HAVE PERFORMANCES.
AND IT'S NOT JUST A PERFORMANCE LIKE A NEIGHBORHOOD RAP STAR COMING NO, NO.
THEY HAVE A PAGEANT THAT THEY DO.
UH, THEY WANT THE FLEXIBILITY TO BE ABLE TO DO THESE THINGS TO INCREASE, UH, THE WAY THEY DO BUSINESS.
AND WE SHOULD BE HELPING THEM WITH THAT.
UH, I THINK THE BIGGEST ISSUE WITH THAT IS THAT OUR CODE IS COMPLETELY OUTDATED.
IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, OUR BUSINESS CODE WAS WRITTEN BEFORE THE INTERNET.
AND LIKE WHAT WAS STATED, UM, IN THE, IN THE, UM,
[02:30:01]
IN THE LETTER OF JUSTIFICATION, OUR RESIDENTS ARE ONLY GETTING YOUNGER.SO THE YOUNGER RESIDENTS ARE PAYING ATTENTION.
WHEN THEY GO TO A RESTAURANT IN ANOTHER CITY AND THEY COME TO, LET'S SAY A SINGS, THEY'RE GONNA SAY, WELL HOW COME YOU GUYS DON'T DO THESE TYPES OF THINGS? AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO, IT'S 'CAUSE THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO.
ONE OF THE ISSUES, AND THIS IS JUST ONE, UM, IS HOW WE CODE OUR BUSINESSES IN THE CITY.
WE HAVE RESTAURANTS, LOUNGES, BARS, AND NIGHTCLUBS ALL UNDER ONE SPECIFIC CRITERIA, WHICH MEANS THAT THEY'RE ALL FACING THE SAME EXACT, UH, CRITERIA TO ABIDE BY.
AND THOSE ARE FOUR DIFFERENT, VERY FOUR DIFFERENT THINGS.
AND I THINK WE CAN ENCOURAGE AND HAVE MORE ROOM TO SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFY WHAT ARE THE RULES FOR EACH ONE OF THOSE FOUR THINGS.
UH, BUT ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT, UM, SINGS IS NOT A NIGHTCLUB, IT'S A LOUNGE.
THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING TO PORTRAY OUTSIDE OF GOING THERE AND BUYING FOOD.
YOU CAN JUST WALK IN THERE AND BUY FOOD AND WALK OUT OR UBER EATS IT.
UH, BUT WHAT'S GONNA MAKE YOU STAY? WHAT'S GONNA MAKE YOU THINK LIKE, OH, THERE'S STUFF TO DO IN LAUDERDALE LAKES.
THIS IS NOT JUST SOMETHING I'M HEARING FROM THEM.
IF IT WAS, I WOULDN'T EVEN BE SPEAKING ON IT.
I'M HEARING THIS FROM ALMOST EVERY SINGLE BUSINESS I SPEAK TO.
THEY, THEY START A BUSINESS, THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY CAN AND CAN'T DO.
AND, UM, AND, AND, AND ONE OTHER THING TO TO THAT, THAT I'VE NOTICED, WE ALSO HAVE TO HAVE FAIRNESS IN THE CITY.
SO IF ONE BUSINESS CAN'T PUT UP STROBE LIGHTS ON THEIR WINDOW SILL, THAT HAS TO APPLY TO EVERYBODY.
EITHER EVERYBODY CAN DO IT OR NOBODY CAN DO IT.
AND WE, WE HAVE TO, UM, AS, AS YOU STATED, MADAM MAYOR, UH, BE MINDFUL OF HOW WE PORTRAY OURSELVES.
AND, UH, WE WANT, WE DON'T WANT TO BE THE, THE CITY THAT'S KNOWN FOR PICKING AND CHOOSING.
SO, UM, I, I SAY THAT BECAUSE I LOOK FORWARD TO INTRODUCING SOME IDEAS IN THE NEAR FUTURE AS TO HOW WE CAN ENHANCE OUR BUSINESSES, PARTNER WITH OUR BUSINESSES MORE CLOSELY, AS WELL AS, UM, UPDATE OUR CODE.
AND I'M, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING THE INPUT FROM MY COLLEAGUES ON DOING JUST THAT.
AND IF YOU HAVEN'T YET, PLEASE GO AND VISIT, UM, SING'S ROTI DELIGHT SHOP.
THEY, THEY HAVE AN AMAZING ATMOSPHERE, AMAZING VIBE.
I WAS THERE FOR A FEW EVENTS, BUT MOST NOTABLY, THE TRINIDAD INDEPENDENCE DAY WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.
UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE MENTION OF THAT.
UH, SECOND THING BEFORE I GET TO MY ANNOUNCEMENTS IS THERE WAS ANOTHER COMMENT MADE IN REGARDS TO THE, THE BURGER, SORRY, THE, THE MARKETPLACE PLAZA.
AND I'M, I'M JUST LOOKING FOR GUIDANCE ON THIS 'CAUSE I'M NOT SURE, AND THE CITY ATTORNEY HELPED ME OUT HERE.
BUT IF THERE WAS A MISTAKE MADE, IF THERE WAS A, A, AN ERROR IN, IN VERBIAGE OR WHATEVER, IF THERE WAS A MISTAKE, HOW WOULD THAT BE CORRECTED? DOES THAT HAVE TO COME TO THE COMMISSION FOR US TO AMEND THAT AND OVER VIEW THAT PROCESS? OR CAN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND ANOTHER DEPARTMENT WITHIN THE CITY JUST SIMPLY CORRECT THAT MISTAKE? SO, CITY ATTORNEY, IF YOU CAN HELP ME OUT HERE, I'M NOT SURE IF IT, I'LL ADDRESS IT OKAY.
UM, SO, UH, JUST TO WRAP THAT UP WITH MY, UM, UH, WITH MY UPDATES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS, UH, I'M HAPPY TO SEE EVERYBODY HERE, A PART OF THE CITY COMMISSION.
UM, IT WAS AN IDEA THAT BROUGHT UP THAT SAID MAYBE WE SHOULD DO THE, UH, PROCLAMATIONS AT THE END SO YOU ALL COULD STAY.
BUT, UM, NEVERTHELESS, UH, THANK YOU GUYS FOR, FOR COMING OUT AND BEING A PART OF THE CITY HEARING UPDATES.
I ALSO WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CAME OUT TO THE CHESS CHALLENGE, UH, ON THE FIRST WEDNESDAY OF SEPTEMBER.
WE'RE GONNA GO BACK TO THE FIRST THURSDAY, STARTING NEXT MONTH.
WE HAVE THE DIAPER DISTRIBUTION THAT'S GONNA BE GOING ON ON OCTOBER 11TH.
THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR SUPPORTING THAT.
AND ALSO, UH, PLEASE BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR SOME UPCOMING INITIATIVES, UM, WITHIN THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES.
COMMISSIONER MAXWELL WILLIAMS. THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR.
SO WHAT, WHAT TO SAY TODAY, UM, UH, WHAT MY COLLEAGUE SAID ABOUT THE RESTAURANTS AS SOMETHING THAT I WAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE OLD CITY MANAGER TO IMPLEMENT, AND I THINK OUR NEW CITY MANAGER IS WORKING ON MAKING THAT HAPPEN.
UM, WE HAVE THE CITIZENSHIP DRIVE COMING UP ON THE 20TH IN LAUDERDALE LAKES AT THE MULTI 10 TO TWO.
UH, VISIT THE WEBSITE TO REGISTER, UH, FOR NEXT MONTH FOR BREAST CANCER AWARENESS.
WE'RE IN OUR THIRD ANNUAL, UH, BREAST CANCER AWARENESS HEALTH FAIR.
WE'LL BE HAVING THE BIG, BIG PINK VAN OUT THERE.
AND THEY'LL BE DOING MAMMOGRAMS ON SITE.
SO GO ON OUR WEBSITE AND REGISTER TO DO YOUR MAMMOGRAM.
AND THEN THE NEXT DAY WE'LL BE HAVE, WHICH IS THE 25TH, WE'LL BE HAVING OUR PINK OUT DINNER.
AND THAT IS GOING TO BE AWESOME.
IT'S GOING TO BE A FASHION SHOW.
UM, WE ARE HOPING THE, THE FASHION MODELS WILL BE BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS,
[02:35:01]
UM, THAT ARE GOING TO MODEL THE CLOTHES.WE HAVE A COMEDIAN COMING OUT.
UM, WE HAVE STITCH, UH, FROM THE RADIO SHOW.
SO IT'S GONNA BE A LOT OF FUN.
AGAIN, BOTH EVENTS, INCLUDING THE CITIZENSHIP DRIVE, IS ALL FREE FOR THE RESIDENTS.
SO GO ON OUR WEBSITE AND JUST REGISTER.
THANK CONGRATULATIONS TO MS. ROGERS AND THANK YOU ALL MY COLLEAGUES FOR FOLLOW, JUMPING ON AND, UH, SAYING YES TO THE GOLDEN ROD AND MAKING IT GO THROUGH.
SO I'M EXCITED TO HAVE EVERYTHING COME TO AND SEE, SEE IT ON THE WALL, ON THE, ON THE BUILDING.
SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
THANK YOU FOR AGREEING TO MY OTHER PROJECTS THAT I HAVE COMING UP.
AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE THAT CAME OUT.
COMMISSIONER MAX WILLIAMS, COMMISSIONER THOMAS.
AND I DITO MY COLLEAGUES FOR THOSE THAT ARE STILL IN THE AUDIENCE AND THOSE THAT ARE ONLINE.
UM, YOU BASICALLY SAID EVERYTHING I WANTED TO SAY, BUT I WANNA THANK THOSE THAT CAME OUT TO CONVERSATION WITH YOUR COMMISSIONERS LAST WEEK.
THURSDAY, I, THEY WERE FIVE EXPERTS IN THE ROOM GIVING YOU INFORMATION ON HOW YOUR MORTGAGE CAN BE AFFECTED, UM, IN VARIOUS DIFFERENT WAYS.
UM, WE HAD MR. MARTY SEDMAN WHO SPOKE ABOUT REVERSE MORTGAGE THAT ARE HAPPENING WITH SOME OF OUR SENIORS.
AND HE MOST DEFINITELY TOLD THE PUBLIC AND THOSE THAT WERE THERE, ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT, UM, CAN AFFECT YOUR MORTGAGE.
SO IT'S GOOD WHEN THESE THINGS ARE HAPPENING TO COME OUT AND SUPPORT OR PERHAPS GET ONLINE AND HEAR WHAT IT'S ABOUT.
BECAUSE WITH THE RISE IN TAXES OR THEY'RE TRYING TO TAKE AWAY TAXES, PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY, UM, CAUSING FRAUDULENT, WILL PULL IN LIENS AND, UM, GET IN PEOPLE'S TITLES.
SO, MR. UH, MARTY CARR WAS THERE TELLING YOU TO SIGN UP.
IF YOU HAVE NOT SIGNED UP TO HAVE YOUR HOUSE ON ALERT, JUST GET DOWN TO THE PROPERTY OR CALL THE PROPERTY APPRAISAL'S OFFICE AND GET YOUR HOME ON ALERT.
SO ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS, ANYONE TRY TO TOUCH BASE WITH YOUR LEAN, UM, AN ALERT WILL COME TO YOU.
AND ALSO, I, I LOVE WHEN THE SCHOOLS COME OUT BECAUSE I, I TOOK THIS OVER FROM FORMER COMMISSIONER MARILYN DAVIS AND, UM, THE CLEANUP WE WERE IN, UH, OAKLAND ESTATES AND I MUST COMMEND YOU, COMMISSIONER CARLENE MAXWELL WILLIAMS TONIGHT, THAT YOUR COMMUNITY WAS VERY CLEAN.
BECAUSE SOMETIME WE DO GO IN SOME COMMUNITIES AND THE BAGS ARE FILLED UP, BUT OAKLAND ESTATE GOING DOWN 41ST ALL THE WAY ROUND TO 39.
UH, WE HAD ABOUT ALMOST 50 STUDENTS OUT THAT MORNING LEARNING ABOUT THEIR, UH, THE NEED TO BE IN THEIR COMMUNITY, KEEPING IT GREENER, AND ALSO SHOWING OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY, UH, THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.
I DON'T FEEL LIKE I HAD A VACATION 'CAUSE IT APPEARS THAT I WAS HERE A LOT OF TIME.
SO
NO, I'M JUST JOKING WITH THAT.
NEVERTHELESS, I WANT TO SAY ALSO CONGRATULATION TO BROWARD COUNTY COMMISSIONER HAZEL ROGERS.
AND I KNOW IT MUST GIVE YOU A SENSE OF PRIDE BECAUSE THAT'S THE PLACE WHERE YOUR MOM PLAYS DOMINO, UH, FOR YEARS.
AND IT'S A SENSE OF PRIDE TO REALLY HAVE YOUR NAME UP THERE AND, UM, TO WALK IN, IN HONOR OF HER AS WELL.
UM, ALSO WANNA SAY, YOU KNOW, A FEW DAYS FROM NOW, WE ARE SAYING IN REMEMBRANCE OF 9 1 1, AND I WANT TO TELL THE CAPTAIN, THE CHIEF, AND ALL THE OTHER OFFICERS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, UM, SERVES.
AND MA'AM, UH, I JUST WANT YOU, WHEN THE CALENDAR TURNS TO THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER, ESPECIALLY SEPTEMBER 11TH, IS INGRAINED IN OUR MINDS OF MANY AMERICANS IN REMEMBRANCE, WE REMEMBER THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES AND THOSE WHO SAW THE CHAOS AND CHOSE TO RENDER ASSISTANCE.
[02:40:01]
ON THAT DAY TO PAUSE ON THE DAY IN REMEMBRANCE AND REMEMBER THAT LIFE IS FLEETING AND UNCERTAIN.WHEN AMERICANS LEND A HAND TO ONE ANOTHER.
NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED ON NINE 11.
WHERE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED ON NINE 12.
THAT'S WHAT IT'S ABOUT RIGHT NOW.
WHAT CAN WE DO? NOW WE ARE REMEMBERING, BUT WE ARE PAST THAT.
WHAT ARE WE DOING NOW? AND JUST A RECOMMENDATION ON SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO IN ORDER TO REMEMBER, MAKE THANK YOU CARDS FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.
I KNOW LAST YEAR THE STUDENTS FROM SOME OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DID MAKE CARDS AND WE DELIVERED THEM.
DONATE BLOOD, PARTICIPATE IN A CLEANUP, MAKE TOILETRIES FOR THOSE IN NEED.
SEND A LETTER TO A DEPLOYED SOLDIER.
DO YARD WORK FOR A FRIEND OR A NEIGHBOR.
ALL RIGHT, THAT'S THAT SIDE CALL
REMEMBER, IT'S NOT NINE 11, IT'S WHAT'S HAPPENED ON NINE 12.
I SALUTE YOU AND I TELL YOU, THANKS FOR YOUR CONTINUED HELP TO THE COMMUNITY.
I KNOW WE ARE DOING SOMETHING HERE AT THE CITY JUST TO RECOGNIZE THAT DAY.
AND WITH THAT, I SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND I AM OF SERVICE IN ORDER TO ASSIST YOU IN ANY WAY I CAN.
[15. REPORT OF THE CITY MANAGER]
AC THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR.WE DO HAVE A SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING ON SEPTEMBER THE 10TH, WHICH IS TOMORROW AT 6:00 PM HERE IN THE CITY COMMISSION CHAMBERS.
IT IS OUR FISCAL YEAR BUDGET, PUBLIC HEARING, OUR FIRST PUBLIC HEARING, SO WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO COME OUT.
WE'RE ALSO HAVING OUR, UH, CUSTOMER APPRECIATION DAY.
IT WILL BE A LAKES BLOCK PARTY AND BARBECUE ON SEPTEMBER THE 18TH FROM 1:00 PM TO 4:00 PM HERE IN CITY HALL PARKING LOT.
WE WOULD LIKE TO INVITE ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS, ALL OF OUR BUSINESS OWNERS TO COME OUT AND JOIN US.
WHILE WE APPRECIATE YOU, WE HAVE OUR SPOOKTACULAR EVENT ON OCTOBER THE 31ST, 2025 FROM 6:00 PM TO 9:00 PM AT VINCENT TORRE MEMORIAL PARK.
THE SAMUEL S. BROWN ROOM WILL BE OPEN DURING THE FIRST COMMISSION MEETING OF THE MONTH FROM SEVEN 30 TO 8:30 PM THE COMMISSIONER'S CHEST CHALLENGE SPONSORED BY COMMISSIONER EASTON HARRISON WILL BE HELD ON TUESDAYS FROM 5:30 PM TO 6:30 PM INSIDE AT THE MULTIPURPOSE RESOURCE ROOM, THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES AND FARM.
SHELL WILL HOST A FOOD DISTRIBUTION ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER THE 18TH AT 10:00 AM AT THE MULTIPURPOSE AUDITORIUM.
JOIN THE PING PONG CLUB ON MONDAYS AND TUESDAYS FROM 9:00 AM TO 12:00 PM AT VINCENT TORRE PARK FOR ACTIVE ADULTS AND DOMINO'S CLUB ON MONDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS FROM 5:00 PM TO 9:00 PM AT THE RESOURCE ROOM AT THE MULTIPURPOSE BUILDING.
THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES IS EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE OUR RECREATIONAL TENNIS PROGRAM RUNNING ON SATURDAYS FROM 2:00 PM TO 3:00 PM AT VINCENT TOURS MEMORIAL PARK.
THIS FREE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED FOR YOUTHS AGES SIX TO 18 AND FOCUSES ON BUILDING TENNIS SKILLS THROUGH FUN DRILLS, GAMES AND SKILL BUILDING EXERCISE.
JOIN THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES FOR LEVEL TWO FLORAL DESIGN CLASS AT THE EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL CENTER FROM 5:30 PM TO 8:30 PM BEGINS ON SEPTEMBER 10TH, 2025.
JOIN THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES FOR OUR CANDLE MAKING WORKSHOP, BEGINNING ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 7TH, 2025.
SO THIS HAS ALREADY STARTED AT THE EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL CENTER.
AND CLASSES START AT 5:30 PM TO 8:00 PM WE HAVE ESOL CLASSES.
REGISTRATION IS CURRENTLY OPEN, AND APPLICATION FORMS CAN BE PICKED UP AT THE EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL CENTER.
SEPTEMBER'S BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT IS SPONSORED BY COMMISSIONER CARLENE MAXWELL WILLIAMS. WE'RE THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE CASPIAN DENTAL AND ORTHODONTISTS AS OUR LAKES BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT FOR SEPTEMBER.
THEY'RE LOCATED AT 29 10 NORTH STATE ROAD SEVEN.
BROWARD HEALTHPOINT IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES, PROVIDES ACCESSIBLE HEALTHCARE TO THE COMMUNITY VIA A MOBILE HEALTH UNIT, AND DELIVERS ESSENTIAL MEDICAL SERVICES
[02:45:01]
TO RESIDENTS ENSURING CONVENIENCE AND COMPREHENSIVE CARE CLOSE TO HOME.THEY'RE HERE IN OUR PARKING LOT.
MONDAYS 9:00 AM TO 5:00 PM AT VINCENT TORRES BROWARD COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES IS PROUD TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH PROPERTY TAXES, LOCAL BUSINESS TAX, AUTO TAG, AND REGISTRATION RENEWALS ON FRIDAYS ON OCTOBER THE THIRD, WHICH IS A FRIDAY FROM 10:00 AM TO 2:00 PM INSIDE OF THE CITY HALL GIRAFFE ROOM.
INVITE STUDENTS IN GRADES TWO TO 12 TO JOIN US FOR SUPER STEAM SATURDAYS, A FUN AND EDUCATIONAL SERIES OF HANDS-ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND ART.
AND THIS PROGRAM IS ON SATURDAYS FROM OCTOBER THE FOURTH THROUGH MAY 30TH, 2026.
THAT CONCLUDES THE CITY MANAGER'S REPORT.
[16. REPORT OF THE CITY ATTORNEY]
ATTORNEY KELWAY.UH, YES, MADAM MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
I, UH, WILL NOT PROLONG, UH, MY REPORT, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO JUST TAKE A MINUTE AND RESPOND TO, UM, THE, UH, COMMISSIONER HARRISON'S, UH, QUESTIONS RELATIVE TO, UH, THE MARKETPLACE PLAZA MATTER.
UH, MADAM, UH, MAYOR AND, AND COMMISSIONERS YOU'LL RECALL BACK IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR, THE COMMISSION, UH, APPROVED THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING MYSELF, UH, TO WORK WITH, UM, THE MARKETPLACE PLAZA, BRISTOL COURT, ANOTHER CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, UH, AND THE LEVY REALTY PROPERTY GROUP ON THE MATTERS RELATIVE TO THEIR SIGNIFICANT CODE ENFORCEMENT LIEN AMOUNTS THEY WERE OWED TO THE CITY.
UH, AFTER THAT, UH, ACTUALLY, UH, I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM A FRIEND THAT I'VE NOT TALKED TO IN PROBABLY 15 YEARS, BUT SHE CALLS ME AND ASKED COULD SHE COME TO MY OFFICE AND MEET WITH ME.
UH, I SAID, OF COURSE, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE SUBJECT MATTER WAS, BUT SHE CAME TO MY OFFICE.
UH, AND AS SOON AS WE STARTED, UH, A DISCUSSION, I UNDERSTOOD THAT SHE HAD BEEN SENT BY MARKETPLACE PLAZA, UH, TO BEGIN TO DISCUSSIONS WITH ME REGARDING THEIR LIENS.
I'VE BEEN PRACTICING FOR WELL OVER 35 YEARS.
ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I DID AFTER I MET WITH THE CONSULTANT FOR THE PROPERTY OWNER, I ADVISED THEM THEY NEEDED A LAWYER.
THEY SUBSEQUENTLY HIRED PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST LAND USE LAWYERS IN THE CITY.
UH, FORMER CITY ATTORNEY FOR FORT LAUDERDALE.
UH, AND THAT'S WHO I CONDUCTED DISCUSSIONS WITH.
AFTER THAT, UM, I LEARNED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY THAT THE OWNER WANTED TO NEGOTIATE A SETTLEMENT PROB PRIMI, PRIMARILY BECAUSE HE WAS LOOKING TO CLOSE ON A REFINANCING OF THAT PROPERTY.
UH, SO I SAID, I'VE GOT A MOTIVATED OWNER.
UM, THE CITY HAS ISSUES WITH THE LIEN AND WE'LL DO OUR BEST TO GET IT DONE.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE OWNER EXECUTED A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY.
UM, HE EXECUTED, OR THE CITY ACTUALLY EXECUTED A RELEASE OF LIEN.
WE SETTLED ON THE TERMS EVEN BEFORE THE SETTLEMENT.
HE RAISED THE ISSUE THAT YOU HEARD THIS EVENING WITH MYSELF WHILE I WAS AWAY ON OTHER BUSINESS.
I TOLD HIM HE SHOULD SPEAK WITH CITY STAFF THERE.
ANY ERRORS, ANY MISCALCULATIONS, ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU WANT TO DISCUSS, TAKE IT UP WITH CITY STAFF.
I'M HERE TO MAKE SURE THE AGREEMENT IS DONE.
HE HAD THAT DISCUSSION WITH STAFF PRIOR TO THIS MATTER COMING BEFORE THE COMMISSION.
FOR WHATEVER REASON, HE DECIDED THAT THEY WANTED TO ENTER INTO THE AGREEMENT.
HAS THERE BEEN ANY REVISIONS TO THE AMOUNTS THAT MR. OWNER HAS SUGGESTED WERE INACCURATE? HIS LAWYER SAID, NO, THERE HAVE NOT.
UM, THEY ALSO CAME TO ME ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS ASKING FOR CONCESSIONS RELATING TO THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT BASED ON THE LAWYER'S COMMENT.
I GAVE THEM THOSE CONCESSIONS THAT MADE SENSE.
THEY HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO NEGOTIATE.
[02:50:01]
AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY EXECUTED THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT.THAT SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WENT TO NOT, WE ENTERED INTO ANOTHER SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT.
HE HAD THE RIGHT NOT TO DO ANYTHING HE DIDN'T WANT TO DO.
HE SIGNED THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT.
HE ASKED THE CITY TO, UM, RECORD A, A RELEASE OF HIS LIEN.
THE CITY RECORDED A LIEN AND I DID A SPECIAL DOCUMENT BECAUSE OF THESE KIND OF ISSUES, WE RECORDED THE RELEASE OF LIEN.
WE ALSO ENTERED INTO A ADDENDUM TO THE CONTRACT, TO THE AGREEMENT TO MODIFY THE DATES BY WHICH HE HAS MADE PAYMENTS.
HE INITIALLY MADE A PAYMENT OF $165,000 JUST TODAY OR YESTERDAY.
HE PAID ANOTHER 30,000, I BELIEVE TODAY IS THE FIRST TIME I'M HEARING THAT.
NOW, HE WANTS TO GO BACK AND REVISIT OR TO, NOT REALLY TO REVISIT, BUT TO BREACH THE AGREEMENT.
TO YOUR QUESTION, COMMISSIONER HARRISON, HOW DO WE CORRECT A MISTAKE? I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S A MISTAKE.
HE HAD EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO NEGOTIATE, AND I'M NOT, I DON'T DO BUSINESS TERMS, I DON'T DO THE AMOUNTS.
TALK WITH THE MANAGER, TALK WITH THE, UH, MS. MCCOY, WHATEVER Y'ALL DECIDE ON THAT WORKS FOR ME.
HE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN WHAT'S IN THE DOCUMENT.
IF YOU READ THE CONTRACT, THE TERMS ARE WHAT THEY ARE.
UM, NOTHING THAT HAS BEEN SAID OUTSIDE OF THIS DOCUMENT SAYS ANYTHING DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THE PARTIES AGREED TO.
HE NEEDS TO BE HELD BY THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACT.
I'D GIVE THAT ADVICE TO STAFF.
I'D GIVE IT TO THIS COMMISSION IF IT CAME UP BEFORE THE COMMISSION THAT WE HAVE AN EXECUTED AGREEMENT.
UM, AND IF, IF, IF THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR HIM TO REVISIT THAT HE HAD IT MM-HMM
BUT RIGHT NOW HIS PROPERTY HAS BEEN REFINANCED.
HE HAS, HE'S MADE TWO PAYMENTS NOW.
HE'S SUGGESTING THAT HE DOESN'T WANNA MAKE THE REST OF THE PAYMENTS DON'T WORK LIKE THAT.
THAT'S NOT HOW WE DO BUSINESS.
BUT THAT'S ALSO WHY, AGAIN, I GAVE HIM RECOMMENDATIONS FOR COUNSEL SO THAT HE WOULDN'T BE HERE SAYING, SIDNEY CALLOWAY DID THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER TO HIM.
I LET HIM SPEAK WITH OUR BUSINESS PEOPLE.
IE THE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
SO IF, IF THE QUESTION IS, SHOULD WE GO BACK AND REVISE OR REDUCE OR MODIFY THE DOCUMENT, MY RECOMMENDATION TO THE COMMISSION IS THAT THE AGREEMENT IS SOLID.
AND BASED ON THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES, I DON'T SEE ANY REAL REASON TO REVISIT THAT ISSUE JUST BECAUSE HE'S GOTTEN WHERE HE WANTS TO BE TO TODAY.
UM, AND AGAIN, I ONLY GOT THIS MESSAGE LATE THIS EVENING FROM HIS LAWYER AS WELL.
MADAM MAYOR, COMMISSIONER HARRISON.
THANK YOU FOR THAT, UH, MR. CITY ATTORNEY.
AND, UM, TO BE CLEAR, I DIDN'T WANT TO ADVOCATE FOR NO PARTICULAR BUSINESS, BUT JUST IN CASE OTHER PEOPLE HAD THAT WE WOULD UNDERSTAND AND I THINK WHAT YOU SHARED, HELP US AS COMMISSIONERS KNOW THE PROCESS.
AND I, I ALSO AGREE WITH YOU AS WELL, IF THEY'VE EXECUTED THE CONTRACT AND MADE PAYMENTS IN CONSIDERATION, I DON'T SEE WHAT ELSE THERE IS REALLY TALK ABOUT.
CAPTAIN PHILLIPS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE ANYTHING WITH US THIS EVENING? NO.
SELLERS REMORSE, BUYER REMORSE.
MADAM MAYOR, CAPTAIN VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONS CITY ATTORNEY, ACTING CITY MANAGER AND CITY CLERK.
I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY JUST TO GIVE YOU A QUICK, UM, UPDATE WITH YOUR LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY FOR THE MONTH OF, UM, AUGUST.
UM, IN THE MONTH OF AUGUST, WE HANDLED 2,802 CALLS FOR SERVICE MADE.
89 ARRESTS ISSUED 609 CITATIONS AND MADE WHAT WE CALL, UM, FIELD CONTACTS.
78 OF THOSE, UM, IN THE MONTH OF JULY, YOUR OVERALL CRIME RATE,
[02:55:01]
UM, WAS, UM, SHOWED A DECLINE.HOWEVER, IN AUGUST THERE WAS A SLIGHT INCREASE.
UM, THIS UPTICK IS PRIMARILY ATTRIBUTED TO, UM, THE RISE, THE RISE IN JUVENILE RELATED OFFENSES, WHICH ALIGNS WITH THE NATIONAL AVERAGE AROUND THIS TIME PERIOD.
UM, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY WERE, SOME OF THE MISCHIEF THEY WERE INVOLVED IN WERE BURGLARY, CONVENIENCE, AUTO THEFTS, AND, UM, LARCENY INCIDENTS.
UM, WITH THAT BEING SAID, I ALSO INVITED MY NEIGHBORHOOD SUPPORT TEAM WHERE THEY AT
SO, SO I DID THIS BECAUSE AS I JUST READ OFF TO YOU THE STATS THAT WE TYPICALLY DEAL WITH ON A MONTH, UM, DAILY BASIS.
I ALSO WANTED TO GIVE SOME RECOGNITION TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD SUPPORT TEAM BECAUSE THESE ARE OUR UNSUNG HEROES WHO REALLY GET OUT AND MAKE A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY EVENTS COME TOGETHER.
AND I CAN SIT UP HERE AND READ FOR PROBABLY 15 TO 20 MINUTES JUST WITH THE ACTIVITIES THAT THEY'RE INVOLVED IN THROUGHOUT THE MONTH.
BUT I'M JUST GONNA GIVE YOU A QUICK SNAPSHOT OF SOME OF THE THINGS THEY'VE DONE.
UM, WE HAD A BACK TO SCHOOL OPERATION THAT WAS GOING ON WHERE AT SCHOOL STARTED FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR.
THEY WERE INVOLVED IN GETTING AN OPERATIONAL PLAN AND, UM, THAT INVOLVED, UM, MAKING SURE THAT THEY, THE SCHOOLS WERE INVOLVED IN SAFETY INITIATIVES TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT THE INTEGRATION INTO THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR WAS POSITIVE AND THEY HAD POSITIVE FEEDBACK.
UM, THEY ALSO DID A SRO TRAINING PREPARATION, AND THAT'S THE OFFICERS WHO ACTUALLY WORKED AT SCHOOLS.
THEY KIND OF GAVE THEM A QUICK BRIEFING ON THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR WHEN CERTAIN CHANGES THAT WERE HAPPENING THIS SCHOOL YEAR SO THEY COULD MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNEW THEIR JOBS AND WERE WELL EQUIPPED WITH CHANGES THAT THEY HAD TO, UM, APPLY WITH.
UM, THERE WAS ALSO A SCHOOL SAFETY WALKTHROUGH, UH, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SCHOOL EXPO.
AND THEN THEY ACTUALLY DID AN EMERGENCY COMMUNITY SUPPORT.
AND THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE THINGS THAT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SUPPORT TEAM ARE INVOLVED IN ON A DAILY BASIS.
AND WE DON'T ALWAYS GET 'EM THE RECOGNITION THAT THEY DESERVE.
AND IN ADDITION TO THESE THINGS THAT THEY WERE INVOLVED IN, THEY ALSO ORGANIZED AND COORDINATED THAT, UM, NATIONAL NIGHT OUT EVENT THAT WE ALL, UM, PARTICIPATED IN BACK IN, UM, UH, AUGUST THE FIFTH.
SO THEY ARE THE ONES WHO COORDINATED THAT, MADE SURE EVERYTHING ASSOCIATED WITH THAT EVENT WENT WELL AND SMOOTHLY.
SO I WANTED TO BRING THEM UP, GET THEM SOME RECOGNITION, JUST LET YOU SEE WHO YOUR DEPUTIES ARE AND SHOW THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY WORKING HARD FOR THE COMMUNITY.
SO, UM, I JUST THINK THAT THEY DESERVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
AND, UM, WITH THAT, I WILL CLOSE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME.
BUT I, I WANT, UM, THE OTHER NIGHT I WENT TO THE OPEN HOUSE FOR LAUDERDALE LAKES MIDDLE AND THERE IS A NEW, UH, DEPUTY THERE.
I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR BEING IN PLACE THERE.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE OTHERS ARE.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO, EACH AND EVERY ONE.
AND I ALSO WANT TO ADD CAPTAIN PHILLIPS TO THANK YOU FOR THE RIDE ALONG WITH ONE OF YOUR DEPUTIES THAT I PARTICIPATED IN.
I DEVELOPED A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ONCE I DID THE RIDE ALONG TO SEE WHAT OCCURS, THE HOME HEALTH CHECKS THAT ARE DONE THAT I WAS SURPRISED ABOUT.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU AND THANK YOU TO DEPUTY MORGAN FOR BEING SUCH A VERY, VERY INFORMATIVE AND PROFESSIONAL DEPUTY.
AND SOMETIMES WE WORK IN A VACUUM.
WE JUST GO OUT AND GET THE JOB DONE.
WE DON'T ASK FOR ANY RECOGNITION.
BUT I THINK THOSE, UM, OPPORTUNITIES ARE VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT REALLY HELPS US BRIDGE THE GAP WITH BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE COMMUNITY.
AND IT KIND OF ALLOW YOU ALL TO BE AMBASSADORS FOR US WHEN WE'RE BEING SCRUTINIZED AND PEOPLE ARE LOOKING.
AND WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT TO ACTUALLY SEE THE MULTITUDE OF THINGS THAT WE'RE INVOLVED IN ON A DAILY BASIS.
SO ALL THE COMMISSIONERS, YOU ALL WELCOME.
WHENEVER YOUR SCHEDULES ALLOW, PLEASE COME AND DO ONE WITH US SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT YOUR DEPUTIES ARE DOING.
AND, UM, IF THAT, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? AND I DID THE RIDE ALONG AT NIGHT TOO,
SO CAPTAIN PHILLIPS, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND I, AND I APOLOGIZE, I FORGOT TO, UM, INTERVIEWS SERGEANT JOHNSON.
UM, SERGEANT DORSETT, I'M SORRY.
DEPUTY DORSETT AND DEPUTY BOSWELL.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
[03:00:03]
GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR.MADAM VICE MAYOR COMMISSION, CITY MANAGER.
CITY ATTORNEY, AND TO THE MEMBERS, AND SORRY, THE, UH, MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE FOR THE RECORD.
MY NAME IS CHAZ HACKETT, THE DISTRICT CHIEF OF FIRE RESCUE FOR BSO, REPRESENTING LAUDERDALE LAKES.
UH, JUST READING THE ROOM AS CAPTAIN PHILLIPS WAS GOING ON, I SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? I MIGHT AS WELL PREPARE MYSELF TO, TO GIVE A LITTLE ORIENTATION TO THAT AS WELL.
UM, SO JUST SOMETHING THAT, UH, I HAVE UP HERE FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST.
TOTAL CALLS FOR EMERGENCY SERVICE, 647 TOTAL TRANSPORTS TO THE HOSPITALS.
UH, WE GET INTO THE FIRE INSPECTIONS.
I WON'T GET INTO THE MINUTIA, BUT WE ARE 98.2% COMPLETE FOR THE YEAR AS THE END OF AUGUST.
WE'RE WORKING ON A FISCAL YEAR, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT HAVING THAT COMPLETED AS WELL.
UH, WE CONDUCTED MULTI-AGENCY DRILLS WITH OUR NEIGHBORING, UH, MUNICIPALITIES SUCH AS LAUDER HILL, TAMARACK, NORTH LAUDERDALE, AND MARGATE.
UH, MORE SO YOU GUYS MIGHT HAVE SEEN AIR RESCUE LANDED IN VINCENT TORRES PARK, AND THAT'S A FAMILIARIZATION OF OUR NEW HELICOPTER WITH OUR SURROUNDING AGENCIES, SO THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TO DO, WHAT TO CALL FOR, THE CAPABILITIES OF THAT, UM, THAT UNIT.
UM, WE ALSO WORK CLOSELY WITH WHOLE BLOOD.
SO WE ARE THE FIRST ONES IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA THAT HAVE IMPLEMENTED WHOLE BLOOD ON TRAUMATIC, UH, INJURIES.
AND IT'S SUPPOSED TO DECREASE THE MORTALITY RATE, WHICH WE'VE SEEN QUITE A BIT OF.
SO GETTING OUT THERE AND HAVING AN EMS CAPTAIN WHO CARRIES WHOLE BLOOD WITH THE AIR RESCUE, WHO ALSO CARRIES WHOLE BLOOD AND FORMING THESE NEIGHBORING MUNICIPALITIES OF OUR CAPABILITIES SO WE CAN HELP THEM OUT WHEN THEY NEED IT.
WE HAD CREWS GO OUT TO BOY ANDERSON HIGH SCHOOL.
WE MET WITH THE NEW EMT PROGRAM THAT THEY STARTED UP, UH, VERY WELL RECEIVED.
AND IN THIS PAST MONTH ALONE, WE HAD THREE NEW, UH, FIRE CADET APPLICANTS, WHICH ARE BEING PUSHED THROUGH AT THIS POINT IN TIME FOR LAUDER DOORWAYS.
ONCE THEY'RE FINALIZED, WE DO PLAN ON BRINGING 'EM OUT HERE SO WE CAN INTRODUCE 'EM TO YOU AND YOU'LL SEE THEM DURING THE RIDE TIMES AND COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS HERE WITHIN LAUDERDALE LAKES.
OTHER THAN THAT, I'M OPEN FOR ANY COMMENTS, SUGGESTIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS, MADAM MAYOR, MR. THOMAS, I, I DON'T WANNA LABEL THE TIME, BUT I'M APPALLED WITH THE AMOUNT OF CALLS, YOU KNOW, UM, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.
CHIEF, I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR WHAT YOU DO AND THE PROFESSIONALISM OF YOUR TEAM.
I HAD TO UTILIZE THE SERVICES OF THE TEAM, UH, AT THREE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.
AND I MUST SAY THAT, UM, THEY'RE VERY PROFESSIONAL, VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU AND TO THANK THEM.
AND SORRY, I HAVE, I JUST WANTED TO SAY, YOU KNOW, ALL THE WORK YOU GUYS DO, UH, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, BUT TOURING THE, THE FIRE STATION SENIOR FACILITY REALLY HELPED PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE.
AND I KNOW WE HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS AROUND, YOU KNOW, A NEW FIRE TRUCK AND ALL OF THESE THINGS, AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY, I, I THINK THAT BASED ON THE CALLS THAT WE RECEIVE, IT'S AMONGST THE HIGHEST IN THE COUNTY.
SO AS A CITY, WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME, UH, IN SOME WAYS TOUGH CONVERSATIONS AND, UM, STRATEGIC CONVERSATIONS AND IN SOME WAYS CREATIVE WAYS ON HOW WE CAN BETTER SUPPORT OUR, UH, FIRE CHIEF.
UH, BECAUSE THEY DON'T JUST PUT OUT FIRES, THEY'RE ALSO ATTEND TO MEDICAL ISSUES, WHICH IS A BIG THING.
AND OVER THERE IN SOMERSET, THERE'S A ELDERLY POPULATION.
THERE'S A LOT OF ELDERLY PEOPLE IN THE CITY.
UM, HE DIDN'T GET INTO THE DIFFERENCES OF DEMOGRAPHICS, BUT I'M SURE A LOT OF THOSE CALLS, IF NOT MAJORITY, ARE FROM ELDERLY PEOPLE.
SO, UH, WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE WELL RESOURCED AND, UM, JUST WANT TO MAKE COMMENTS ON THAT.
ANYTHING ELSE COME TO MAX WILLIAMS.
THANK SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.