STEERING THE MPSC AWAY FROM TRIPPING UP ON THE DETAILS …TO THE HIGHER LEVEL VISION … WILL BE A LONG -WINDED ROAD…

Dear Readers … the MPSC met last night in Jarvis Hall …All members were present with the exception of Marjorie Evans who was “excused” according to Chair Paul Novak… Also in attendance as we knew she would be from the agenda was Town Manager Connie Hoffmann… as well as other members of staff … Paul took care of the roll call and the past minute approval and decided to make a statement before he began this evenings agenda… In his opening remarks he said he had heard comments that as a group they had not accomplished much..He countered those comments by bringing up agendas which have been changed…lack of direction from the previous administration and a group that is not all that familiar with the past…He stated that while some of the committee is “green” he did not think it was fair what was being said and he wanted to “defend you guys”… He went on to change the agenda a bit by stating there would be public comment both before and after the Town Manager spoke and she would speak first under the discussion item rather than member John Panitsas…

The attorney for Aruba Beach Cafe came up to speak on behalf of Aruba, Peggy and Guy and spoke about the sketch that was included in the Master plan  (the map shown in prev. agenda post and backup online by member John Panitsas) and to address the use of that alley and their private parking lot as shown …She stated the alley had some major renovations done to enclose the dumpsters costing approximately $250,000 …The alley is used by the garbage trucks…She stated they have flooding problems there as well and they did not think it would appropriate to put in public restrooms there as Mr. Panitsas  included in his drawing…Thew Attorney also spoke of the parking lot being the primary lot owned and operated by Aruba and their valet service and his plan would eliminate their parking …She ended by stating they were aware this was part of the discussion of the MPSC…and “free flowing dialogue” but wanted to make the committee aware earlier rather than later where they stood on these plans …After that she spoke of looking at the Town code and reading it prohibits any construction in the Right of Ways and the alley is a ROW… She was the only speaker at this time…

Paul then turned the meeting over to Town Manager Connie Hoffmann …stating she “did a lot of work, hopefully it will give this committee  a lot of focus going down the road”….This writer had high hopes that he was on to something with the Town Manager’s participation and leadership being offered to  this floundering committee (I must respectfully disagree with Chair Novak on his opening remarks )..but in the end…I had the same feeling tonight as I did when I attended the meeting which interestingly enough was brought up tonight when then-Chair Sandra Booth brought Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk .. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Plater-Zyberk … to speak and she was met with deaf ears and no responsiveness to what she was offering and what she could bring to that committee and the future of the Town…  Those sentiments came flooding back throughout the exercise Ms. Hoffmann offered up to the committee in an effort try to kick-start the process of revising the Master Plan in concert with the community as a whole… I believe in hindsight Ms. Hoffmann probably did not think it would have been necessary to provide the group with a pre-meeting outline in order for them to fully participate …but it might have helped them get on board…

Town Manager Hoffmann came to the podium and had both a board and powerpoint ready to assist her in her presentation to the group… She introduced herself and asked them to “indulge her” as she first talked about “the whole issue of planning a town at a higher level.”… She spoke that “in her experience it’s the details that trip things up.”…She stated they needed to “concentrate on the larger components”…Ms. Hoffmann spoke about the “whole idea of what makes a town memorable”…She used examples such as New York “energizes us” and of other places that are peaceful..She asked each of them to think about their favorite places …asking them to “gather their thoughts…take a moment”… She then stated she would go around the table and received no response…Ken Kugler spoke up first and said the Smokey Mountains ..the Tennessee side …Gatlinburg …the North Carolina side….Ms. Hoffmann prodded for why and he responded he felt energized…relaxed and peaceful …As he spoke Ms. Hoffmann wrote down on the board the place and the feelings…She s had to push for participation and Helene Wetherington responded Paris…for good shopping and good food…TM Hoffmann stated she was looking for the feeling not what she was seeing…Helene responded she felt awe and appreciation…Ms. Hoffmann said it was a sensuous pleasure found in Paris…Another member chimed in that in Paris there was people watching and an appreciation of the lifestyle…I believe Bob Eckblad spoke next adding his favorite place was park City for skiing … due to it being different from the norm…As for the skiing as he was prompted to explain how he felt by Ms. Hoffmann he described he felt challenged and exhilaration …also of the social interaction…Ms Hoffmann went on to ask about landscapes and travel ..and Paul Novak spoke of his times in Key West and the comparisons he makes with LBTS …He finds Key West alive..He feels great there and when coming back wishes he could stay an extra day…He spoke of it being historic …Truman and Hemingway …TM Hoffmann said it was the architecture and the history…Paul responded he loves history and spoke of a recent trip and the learning process…Ms. Hoffmann said the enjoyment of growing and learning…Ken Kuglar added that what appeals architecturally…is aesthetically pleasing to the eye and mind…a form of art …Europe is pleasing to the senses…Ms. Hoffmann then changed gears and asked the committee to talk about places they did not like …while not naming the places to address how they felt when they were not enamored with a place…Edmund Malkoon stated he felt discomfort and Paul said overcrowded …Ken added claustrophobic and Jim Rogers added nervous about the unknowns…Ms. Hoffmann gently guided them and asked about those places that were “physically unattractive”…Ken responded that would a place “devoid of green space”…a place that “feels monotonous, unnatural, boring”…TM Hoffmann spoke of “identifying” with places that make you feel good…that “we know these things innately” …She spoke of traveling trough Pennsylvania and driving through farm land…She honed in on “connection” and “open land”… She spoke of “human memory”…and the common sights associated with her travel such as the barns, silos and the farm houses…She tied that in with the hiring of planners…adding that when farmers built their farm houses they were not designed by architects …She explained they were built by what the farmer knew from his surroundings…the other farm houses standing and built upon Paul’s input of the farmer building for the weather and functionality of where the farm was located…Ms. Hoffmann said it was as Frank Lloyd Wright said “form follows function”..She went on to say the farmer knew how to put together his house from life experience…She said it was “not rocket science”…we “intrinsically know”…and she tied it all together in a neat bow by stating we “need to get back to what we already know”… She said she was “hesitant to go through the Master Plan details”…and again stated they needed to “work at a higher level”…”patterns” ..”rules of thumb that has worked for millenniums”…in “Egypt, Greece, Paris, South Beach”…She said the challenge for them, residents, businesses and staff  to figure out and re-educate what we already know…”public squares ..town…neighborhood…elements” …(all common threads brought forward in the places we like exercise) … They need to be educated in the process of what has to happen to get there…She stated it we are not working off the same page…don’t know the big picture…the rules of thumb you cannot violate… how can you create a Key West…create a vision…for this group  and the Town…She went back to the exercise once more to emphasize those common threads ..using Venice and its distinguishing characteristics the waterways…canals… Paul added that in Venice it is falling apart with exposed wires that would never be allowed in our country… TM Hoffmann asked Paul if that detracted from his enjoyment and he responded he loved it there..More discussion on the attributes found in Venice…such as the public squares…marketplace…people…cafes and walking….Ms. Hoffmann was most likely thinking she had finally found that “aha” moment as she connected the Venice responses to what we have in LBTS the interaction…the design elements seen in Venice with 3-4-5 story buildings…the common areas of a public square…church…water and where each area has the public congregating…She gave a further example of “pattern” with New England …public squares…architecture …no more than two stories and homes being only brick or clapboard…”repetition” found…She went on to Amsterdam “patterns”…”roof lines” ..”timelessness”…”rules of thumb”…”repetition”…and “people doing it over and over again” …”repetition but nothing is ever exactly the same”… She spoke of orchards and vineyards and the rows and rows offering a pattern… stating we “need to figure out those patterns”…in LBTS …but not restrict what makes uniqueness…On what patterns there are in LBTS Edmund replied the ocean…breezes and waves…Ken added low rise structures…Ms. Hoffmann said “human scale”…Paul stated the building on the ocean were different…not cookie cutter…The TM spoke of pedestrian activity..not needing a car to live here…She spoke of neighbors …walking on Commercial and El Mar Drive…interacting…Paul responded tourists were on El Mar and did not think pedestrians on El Mar knew many of those walking ( the experience this writer has walking on El Mar …is seeing many owners…walkers…dog walkers…bike riders….and business owners from one end to the other to meet and greet)… Ms. Hoffmann ended this portion by saying she brought this because they have to think about the future of this town at this level….that it won’t make it a memorable town just by going through the list the planner (Walter Keller) gave them…She asked what the rules of thumb were that they had to be mindful of …She spoke of wanting to bring in speakers to discuss the patterns we can build on… She spoke of the 2004 Master Plan being expansive but not implemented which was surprising in what she stated was the biggest boom seen since the 20’s …She spoke of how they get it moving this time…having the community embrace it …especially after it was not embraced by the community after it was voted on in 2004…She asked what role this group plays…their input on the 2004 plan ..that it would be the topic for the next few months with possible additional meetings required…She said a plan like this could take 20 years to implement…and they would have to narrow down their priorities in a certain time frame …To move forwrd she again said she would like to bring in some people and this is where Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk came up…Paul stated she had been there and asked Sandra..Sandra Booth gave him the name and spoke of Ms. Plater-Zyberk’s vision when she came …Ms. Hoffmann added that Ms. Plater-Zyberk and her husband were behind Seaside Florida …Paul stated the TM would need to be the one to invite Ms. Plater-Zyberk…OOPS!…It was Ms. Booth who brought her here and would be the one to be successful in her return…although I do question whether it might be a repeat performance by a committee at this point in time she would be faced with….So maybe she could come on-board later after some other people to be safe… Paul asked about a 20 year plan and felt it was pie in the sky… Ms. Hoffmann again asked them to “indulge me” as she spoke of her experience in Fort Lauderdale with their vision which stemmed from a city that had declines…with people moving away…and not taking advantage of opportunities when they should have…She said they had a 10 year plan that  was embraced by the community and 9/10ths of it was completed in 15 years…:never underestimate what a good plan can accomplish”…Bob Eckblad asked how they could get people to be involved as he pointed out the hall this evening had a small attendance…he said there was indifference…Ms. Hoffmann said people needed to participate in the process …Jim Rogers countered by stating this committee would establish the basic guidelines and let the community comment….Ms. Hoffmann said that meant they wanted to control them … Edmund said they could go directly to the POA and stakeholders and invite them…Sandra Booth spoke of the last time the Master Plan was reviewed in 2004 and how the hall was packed and they needed extra chairs…they communicated through a myriad of ways…mail..tv…etc….Ms. Hoffmann again asked if the response was as described …people were fully engaged why did it flounder …John Panitsas stated he was in the hall in 2004 and that Peter J. Smith produced this document for around $100,000 …it was a very good plan and he went on to talk about this group and their role they are not reinventing the wheel that they need to discuss a few things and once they agree …they make a report …then there are comments…He said some of the members went through the 2004 Master Plan page by page and if they don’t discuss it they cannot get anything done…they cannot discuss it in 10 minutes…Ms. Hoffmann asked if anyone disagreed with him …She asked again why it was stopped dead in its tracks for being a great plan …and how do they avoid that happening again… Edmund stated the repeals of the overlays was due to lack of education..people misunderstood..there was an aversion to it…and it was not fully explained..lacking full communication…

BC- The real answer is that a small …loud group built a political opposition on fear-mongering what was in the plan and used some actions from bad elected officials and administrators to inflate and inflame voters which dug a wedge into the town and the plan…that lasted from the time that plan was finished until now…. Unfortunately what has happened over the last months with this committee including some of the comments made this evening could revive that faction big time…

Ms. Hoffmann stated Helene had been quiet and Helene responded she was not here when the 2004 plan was developed …and she stated she concurred with the TM… formulating the same questions and the need for adjustments on the higher level…She stated she was one of the “green” members …but added she felt they were walking in circles as a committee …She felt the 2004 plan had solid concepts…and due to its failure why do it again…She felt there should be public participation first and appreciated ms. Hoffmann’s framework… Ms Hoffmann responded she had some ideas on how to do both (public participation/MPSC) at the same time and would deal with that at the next meeting…With that she said they should go through some of the plan itself …the data…She said it was a real education …she met with some people and staff…She turned everyone’s attention to the screen and the powerpoint (the video is archived on Town website and MPSC backup-has copy of the summary as well…links below)….She started by saying there were colors for what had been implemented…strikeouts for what was not enacted or removed from voters, Comm. ot MPSC as well what was not adhered to but in the plan such as architectural style… She asked the committee to let her know if there were any corrections needed to the summary… Helene asked if an item was stricken was it still open for discussion …Ms. Hoffmann said that was up to the committee…She stated once more to stay on that higher level and to focus in on the three development nodes for this meeting…Those were the Downtown area …the Beach Center  (El Prado Park)and the Community Center (Town Hall and accessory buildings/municipal park)… She stated the Downtown node was Comm. and one street north/south..John Panitsas interjected that we only have three streets….Commercial/El Mar Drive and A1A the rest are residential…It was his opinion the three streets need to be coordinated and you cannot ignore A1A …He brought up Ft. Lauderdale improving A1A to Oakland park and the north end of LBTS A1A plan saying we need to address the south end in between …. Ms. Hoffmann asked if the consensus was El Mar-Commercial and then A1A or should A1A receive greater emphasis?…Ken replied they are the main thoroughfares but not to focus on A1A as a main priority…He felt the concentration should be from the bridge to the Pier… Edmund agreed …Helene stated she did not agree that A1A was the entry into the Town and it looked bad coming in from the south and would impact those coming to town…with the south not looking as inviting as the north…Edmund asked if she just meant entryways…Ms. Hoffmann said she heard it was more than just the entryway… Bob asked about the back-out parking and the limitations (which had been brought up at a prior meeting by Asst. TM Bentley of why it would be for naught)…Ms. Hoffmann responded not to be restrictive …to define what you want to accomplish and then decide how to do it…She addressed possibly buying properties in order to accomplish redevelopment…Ken then changed his stance on A1A citing his past recommendations of south A1A needing more attention then the north end …John added there are grants available for downtown redevelopment as well…He also added that A1A could have fixed landscaped medians (as he included in his map sketch)…TM Hoffmann once more implored the committee to keep the discussion at a higher level… Jim Rogers added that A1A is the first thing people see…Comm. not as bad and El Mar is ok as is…to reverse the priorities….Ms. Hoffmann stated she would add A1A as a 4th focus node… The TM went on to the 2nd node …the Community Center of Town…She spoke of destination…shop…dine…interact…and the main focus…”sort of a no-brainer”…She said it is the elements that are controversial…She spoke of L Mar not really being for cars…more for pedestrians …Incredulously John Panitsas stated the board had already voted and decided that El Mar would be two lanes with a multi- purpose lane …They decided a couple of meetings ago and it may not be publicized but he sounded like it was a done deal…

BC- this type of behavior will not go far in helping to get people engaged in a positive way…

Ms. Hoffmann said they dealt with the design of the street …then the buildings… Paul said El Mar is a hybrid of tourists and condos and how do you keep the tourists coming … TM Hoffmann said they would get to that when they discussed the economic development… She asked about improving the alleyways and spoke of the 2004 plan that called for bountiful alleyways…for pedestrian use…was this a priority?…

BC- The responses from the committee did not show they were fully aware of the extent of those alleyway improvements…with the exception of Helene… The alleyways were a big focus point of connecting the west to the east with walking…shopping carts for vendors and seating…

Edmund stated it was still desired to add to the environment…Ms. Hoffmann said that there were tow different things…neater alleyways & serving pedestrians..Ken stated the alleyway by Oriana was to be used for parking and exiting the pier…he wanted to see it more pleasing but not eliminated…Paul spoke of his alleyway (Aruba/High Noon which he owns)…the garbage trucks…and nothing could be done to improve it…adding they put a mural up on his building… Jim said alleyways should not invite pedestrian traffic…Ms. Hoffmann spoke of Commercial and improving the pedestrian experience…Paul then brought up his longtime desire for a pedestrian bridge or tunnel to go across something he says people avoid doing Ms. Hoffmann added to the summary the need for pedestrian crossing to be vastly improved… Helene then spoke of the alleyway from A1A (Bougainvilla) parking lot and using that alleyway by Ham N’Egg to get to Town Square and how it should be enhanced… Paul agreed with that…Bob was concerned about the crosswalk and John concurred with heavy traffic there …Edmund then went into timers for the sequencing the Comm/A1A lights as a immediate remedy…Ms. Hoffmann must have been biting her lip …trying not to say “higher level” once more…She went on to the El Prado park portion of the Master Plan from 2004 …She spoke of the park only…

BC-it changed due to exchange with Minto of land from the original vista of a green space from Town hall to the ocean… Mark Brown has spoken for some time privately that the Town should look into purchasing the adjoining oceanfront land Minto has not built on to expand the park and views to the water…

John Panitsas wants to build a parking garage in El Prado parking lot…and then spoke of the little park by the water …brushing it off…Ms Hoffmann asked them to remain n the major focus… John responded for the time let it go…and spoke of the public restrooms needed there and downtown as well as small concession stands and why were they ignoring that discussion this night…Ms. Hoffmann asked for other people’s input…Ken responded the El Prado Park was not a priority at this point…Sandra spoke of when Ms. Plater-Zyberk was there and that she felt the El Prado Center was the 2nd most beautiful area in town …She also said they needed to remember the Marina area (Basin Drive west of Comm.) …the best kept secret that needs to be emphasized…TM Hoffmann said that would be on another night…and stated as she added to the powerpoint that El Prado Park will be left on but is not a priority… The last area was node #3 the Community Center …aka Town Hall-Jarvis Hall-Municipal Park-Public Safety Building …redeveloping for a center that is all inclusive ….Ms. Hoffmann also asked about the possibility of the Town Hall being elsewhere if a developer offered to buy the land…and if they could see that happening…Edmund replied it would be controversial..citing costs and the need for functionality…He added he coul;d see a 2nd story overhanging to the green…the ocean with a park… Bob replied it was a 5-10 year plan due to the costs..not a priority… TM Hoffmann asked about any deed restrictions…no on responded …

BC- there could be …there is with other areas we are told left in place from some of the founding families…A few years ago before he was ousted VM Yanni spoke of the possibility of buying the SunTrust Bank he thought was for sale …and moving Town Hall there…it never went anywhere …

There was some more discussion on size…parking…with Ms. Hoffmann putting it as a 5-10 year item but not on the top three….Ken thought it was important and Ms. Hoffmann said it could always be moved up…She also thought this was a good stopping point…She stated the top 3 were the Downtown Center node…A1A…moved Beach Waterfront out of the top 3… but not off the list …Town Hall…. It is a discussion in progress…Helene said she thought they were visioning too small …the importance of El Mar…and bringing the nodes together…the underutilized park …connecting the downtown to Town Hall …that they needed to be more expansive…

BC- as previously posted years back the MPSC had the Arker plans for a Town Hall that connected up to the Town by way of Bougainvilla a shorter walkway…It was all encompassing for all agencies and the bus…parking ….Grants could be obtained and a rooftop area for vistas and gatherings… and as Readers will remember …this writer stood at the podium and posted many times before when the prev. TM bought the miserable..crappy 2 million dollar motel next door… we had the funds to build such a complex!…

Ms. Hoffmann responded to Helene to say they could combine El Prado and Town Hall as a new node… Bob again spoke of the costs…and it being unrealistic …Sandra replied they were the visionaries and did not need to address the money at this juncture …the committee laughed…

BC- Ms. Booth was correct and showed she was listening to TM Hoffmann…in thinking and working on a higher level …taking away the restrictive thinking…as she was asked to do….

Bob went on to add though this was the time to make acquisitions for the future in a soft market…. Ms. Hoffmann that’s why you need big scale visions..and said she would combine the two  (El Prado/Town Hall) …With that she said it had been fun for her…

BC- This writer cannot see how…and if so that “fun” had to fly out the door for the TM quickly as she sat down to watch the rest of the meeting…

Paul asked for any additional public comment…Guy Contrada from Aruba came up to address the alleyway use from the A1A (Bougainvilla) lot saying it was better for the businesses if pedestrians were walking across A1A in front of the businesses..

BC- This is where Chair Paul Novak should have made a leadership decision and stopped the meeting…He did not..He let John Panitsas go forward with his plan …which totally wiped away what the TM was there to stop…getting tripped up by the details!…UGH!…

Mr.Panitsas went over his diagrams…maps…backtracking a little by stating they were his ideas for the purpose of discussion…to talk about…He spoke of the prior Master Plan having a pedestrian only area downtown and how it would benefit restaurants…people could park at the municipal lot…Paul asked how cars would get to the pier and Me. Panitsas replied about his vision using the alleys …He showed he is not up on what has taken place with the Oriana Alley by stating it was 2 way traffic and not pedestrian …Paul asked how people were to get to the hotels if El Mar was not open from north to south…John backtracked for the moment saying it could be opened …it could be closed …and we cannot redesign the town around people driving!…Paul was clearly astounded by that response…Edmund Malkoon thanked John for doing all the hard work on this and stated it showed he was passionate…He stated he went around to businesses and asked about this …he stated he had heard at one time a building was to be bought to widen the alleyway …He said if this was not functional keep El Mar open and close it elsewhere …He talked about eliminating parking spaces …as well as the need for a diving center …

John said he would stop and continue on at the time the TM discussed other items at another meeting… Paul said the next meeting would be addressing the economics….John unfortunately did not stop and went on to talk of his plan further the 3 streets already discussed and parking garages at least 2…leaving Basin Drive and Town Hall for later… Paul said they would discuss that later as we go along…after the TM went over and appeared to inform Paul it was time to end the meeting…

Bob stated that he wanted to express  an idea he had brought forth in the past to purchase land near Datura/Bougainvilla/A1A and the Chamber of Commerce…for the Town to re-zone it to allow for shops, offices and parking….to redevelop that portion of A1A…Paul stated again that would fall under the economic revitalization discussion to come…

With no other business…they adjourned…

BC- What can the Town Administration and the Commission do with this committee moving forward?… Can the MPSC and the people of this town both deal with the vision of this town at the same time?….Should that be the way this proceeds?…While they serve at the pleasure of the Commission…to disband them or remove some members would probably not bode well for the Commission in the court of public opinion…or would it?…

Archived video … http://lbts.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=2 / MPSC Backup …. http://www.lauderdalebythesea-fl.gov/town/backup2010MPSC.htm

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more to come…

Tags: Lauderdale By The Sea Oct. 19 2010 Master Plan Steering Committee Meeting... Master Plan Revisions, Scoops
Posted in Boards, LBTS Agendas/Meetings, Local Politics, Scoops, local government

IT LOOKS LIKE THIS HORSE IS FINALLY BEING PUT IN THE RIGHT PLACE ….

Thanks To Town Manager Hoffmann and her Staff …..

Dear Readers…this writer originally thought it was likely the October MPSC would be canceled due to the Commission not yet having a roundtable discussion with the newly hired Town Manager to discuss a game plan on how the revision of the 2004 Master Plan fits into the bigger picture of the vision of LBTS …We saw what happened at the the last few MPSC meetings when a few newcomers thought they were coming to the table with new ideas of progress only to show they had no idea of the past history of this town and showed many watching including this writer that they really did not care to know…or listen to those who could provide them that insight… This alone left many including some in the administration and on the dais questioning the committee as a whole … We also saw what happens when all input and concise direction is not in place at the P & Z Board meeting in Sept. (prev. post) …leading ultimately to what I knew would happen as well as those who have watched this scenario play out before …far too many times for comfort… time and money wasted by the Commission/Board/Attorneys/Administration /Staff and the taxpayers…for those ordinances will be coming back to the P & Z next month to deal with the entire ordinance and not the purported “clean-up” that was touted which clearly not so…

As we begin a new fiscal year…it’s definitely time to get these long suffering boards and committees up to snuff and productive…under an agreed upon specified criteria that comes from the top down… From what I can see this agenda and the backup provided online, that appears to be the reason that Town Manager Connie Hoffmann did not cancel the monthly meeting and why she will be in attendance for this discussion and has stated she will be at several MPSC meetings in order to aid in the process moving forward…(see her agenda item memo/update to the Master Plan…use link below) …The agenda also shows there will be no more of Administration presentations made for a second time to the committee as was the case at prior such meetings …(prev. posts)…and was set to happen again at this one…The Panitsas plan is now publicly distributed in the backup ….(see below) …It was brought out at the last MPSC member Panitsas went ahead and sent his plan to at least one fellow member by email beforehand…which was disconcerting at the least as well as a possible ethics violation on its face.. A look at his plan shows much of what was contained in the 2004 Master Plan…such as no cars in the Town’s main square ……He provides maps that  show traffic making a u-turn at the El Mar parking lot ….with traffic going in and out of the Aruba alley used currently for Aruba to return valeted cars and turning around in Aruba’s privately owned parking lot ….The same goes for the alleyway set to be re-open by Oriana for the Pier parking to exit only …Mr. Panitsas said to be an engineer obviously has not looked at the width of the alleyways as well as the ownership of the lots …which can not accommodate 2-way traffic as well as pedestrian walkways to the beach and public bathrooms….He is still sticking to one-lane El Mar and just calling the 2nd lane a multi-purpose lane. …something it appears this MPSC thought would fly in 2010-11 at their last meeting…He states there is no need to park near your motel room door in 2010…Hmmm……He wants the promenade that was just dropped by the Admin./Comm. due to the history of knowing LBTS beachfront condos and hotels have repeatedly stated they will not support it…Mr. Panitsas again wants public restrooms not only on Commercial (by MPSC Chair Paul Novak’s hotel and Aruba in the alley) …. and El Prado but at the the Washingtonia portal….Forget the turning lane on A1A he wants landscaped islands and u-turns at certain locations…(Does he ever drive A1A in season?)….He also wants multiple parking garages …at A1A and El Prado as well as bringing back an old idea of one at either end of El Mar at Pine and Palm….He wants a new Town Hall…

Town Manager Hoffmann provides a summary of the January 2004 Master Plan with the updates for what has been accomplished from the 2004 Master Plan…what is a no-go per the Commission /voters or the MPSC…….as well as actions that run contrary to the 2004 plan such as architectural style of projects built …repealing overlay districts… entryways…and code revisions …heights etc….making sure everyone will be on the same page and that this “horse” remains where it should be …no longer behind the cart… (especially after reading the above Panitsas plan)….

Note to MPSC…change up the agenda and go through the TM provided memo and summary before going over Mr. Panitsas plan…It will save a lot of time…and anguish both for the committee members and those of us watching….

Note to Readers… This is one meeting you do not want to miss…..

Note to TM Hoffmann…Kudos…Nice job!….

Note to Steve D’Oliveira…please put the MP summary included above in the next Town Topics as was done with the sewers in the Oct/Nov. TT…

……………….

TOWN OF LAUDERDALE-BY-THE-SEA

MASTER PLAN STEERING COMMITTEE

TUESDAY, OCT. 19, 2010
AT 7 PM IN JARVIS HALL

AGENDA BACKUP DOCUMENTS

I. Call to order

II. Roll call

III. Approval of minutes from last meeting

IV. Public/Member Comments

V. Discussion with Town Manager regarding Town Master Plan

Master Plan Review

BC- John Panitsas plan…. http://www.lauderdalebythesea-fl.gov/town/backup2010MPSC.htm

Map 1

BC- John Panitsas maps….

Map 2

Town Manager Memo

http://www.lauderdalebythesea-fl.gov/town/backup2010MPSC.htm

VI. Old Business

a) Update to the Master Plan

BC- TM summary …. http://www.lauderdalebythesea-fl.gov/town/backup2010MPSC.htm

I. New Business

II. Adjournment

The meeting will be on Comcast ch. 78/ live-streamed on the Town website video archived online afterward…. link below…

http://lbts.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=2

more to come….

Tags: Lauderdale By The Sea Master Plan Steering Committee Oct. 19 2010 Agenda /Revising LBTS 2004 Master Plan, Scoops
Posted in Boards, LBTS Agendas/Meetings, Scoops

Lilly and her mom Lauren

Lilly and her new dinosaur ….

Lilly takes a ride with mom …

Lilly takes a walk with mom….

Dear Readers …hard to believe but Lilly is 6 months old today…She zones in on everything in every direction …with such wonderment and inquisitiveness it reminds her Nana of Lilly’s mom more and more everyday!… Lilly is standing and taking a few steps with a little help and her arms held high…She’s now sitting up in highchairs and even shopping carts… and she loves her new dinosaur that lights up …plays music…and lets her ride around …It splits apart to become a kiddie walker as she steps forward under her mommy’s watchful eye… She now eats bananas…pears…peaches …applesauce and carrots…squash and sweet potatoes….Lilly goes down with Nana to Kangaroo Park 2-3 times a week this fall and watches intently all the toddlers with envy in her eyes for how they move …jump …draw and build blocks ….Naps are fewer and farther apart each day ….as Yo gaba gaba …Barnyardigans and Wonder Pets on Nickelodeon for Kids becomes not only a form of pre-school but a godsend for an active baby’s caretakers!… What a ride this last 6 months has been for…. for Lilly…and her Nana….pun intended …

more to come….

Tags: Lilly Is 6 Months Old, Scoops
Posted in Scoops

FINAL REPORTS DO NOT BRING FORTH FINAL DECISIONS ….

Dear Readers … for the last post on the Oct. 12, 2010 Reg. Comm. Mtg. we deal with the Town Manager/Town Atty. Reports…. Unfortunately these did not go well either…The disconnect was evident from the get-go and due in part because of there being no directives or final decisions made at the last roundtable dealing with the budget as well as no questions or discussion at the final adoption of the FY 2010-2011 budget … leaving items hanging as witnessed this night…in this writer’s opinion… The Town Manager asked for clarification and direction on the Chamber and the LETF Funds as well as parking time for the spaces once designated beach permit parking that had no time limit and are now residential parking spaces …..

The Town Manager Report  contained three items for the Chamber (see prev. post agenda for this meeting/on Town website backup for TM Report 16a)… The Chamber was asking for the $9,400 they were shorted last year due to former TM Colon withholding it and stating they made a profit…which they did…and that profit was shown again in the backup received this year… Vice Mayor Dodd was a proponent that it was wrong when it happened and so were the new Commissioners when they were sitting in the audience last year… During the budget meetings VM Dodd offered up a compromise to the Chamber’s larger budget by using the $9,400 as a portion of that increase… It went nowhere …The VM was and is still against giving the Chamber the $11, 500 (or $11,159 depending on which backup you look at …the Chamber’s advertising backup state $11, 500/ Town budget shows $11,159)  for advertising for the Welcome Center due to it coming to them as for the Welcome Center only after a more comprehensive expanded plan was poo-pooed by the Chamber’s executive board and board member-liaison Yann Brandt resigned … Now to give them the $9,400 on top of the increase was not what he had in mind…although he tried again to put that idea forth and give them the difference to come up with the $11,000+…. Comm. Sasser stated he thought long and hard about this and while he thought the VM’s point was good he reminded all they had scratched their heads when the monies were withheld ..He felt the Town made a commitment to pay the $9,400 …and then stated if the VM wanted to take it off the $11,5000 he had no problem…due to it still honoring the commitments of the past… The Town Manager stated the $9,400 was still in the budget for 2009/2010…Comm. Vincent said he “tossed this around” and he wanted to “look at this in a business sense”..”personal, if I’d done the job”..He went on to discuss that they were talking about 2 different years…2 budgets and he would not want anyone to take it away from him…He said the Chamber is entitled to both the issues were completely different…The Vice Mayor stated if they had received the $9,400 they would have needed to ask for another $11,500 this year and he would still go for the$9,400 to rectify the last years actions and $2,100 to being the amount to the $11,500…Comm. Sasser said it should be taken as two separate issues to pay the $9,400 and then continue on to discuss and deal with the $11,500 …Comm. Vincent then did some addition and stated that this would  brings it up to the $55,000 the Chamber originally requested….The Mayor clearly miffed said that was not the consensus …She called for a motion to approve the $9,400 already in the 2009-10 budget for the Chamber .. Comm. Sasser made the motion with Comm. Vincent making the 2nd…it passed 5-0…Clarification was made that the actual amount budgeted for the 2010/2011 advertising for the Welcome Center is $11, 159 (the Chambers adv. report is based on $11,500 as mentioned above and posted below) …A motion was made to approve the $2100 for the advertising budget for the Welcome Center for FY 2010/2011 by VM Dodd and it received no 2nd… Comm. Vincent made a motion for the $11,159… again there was no 2nd (shades of the Commission during the Parker-McIntee days)…Comm. Vincent then proposed offering 50% of the $11,159 to the Chamber…The Vice Mayor was incredulous and stated then you are intending to increase their budget by $3,000…Comm. Vincent responded no to approve half of the $11,159…again stating the $9,400 had nothing to do with this in his view…Still there was no 2nd… Comm. Sasser said he had a question and also stated he heard what everyone was saying and stated the obvious that they were not going to come to any agreement …they were in a stalemate ..He went on to state the $11,159 is for advertising and if there is no provision for advertising there will be no advertising…The Mayor chimed in that we still do not have an agreement with the Chamber (the 3rd portion of the TM Report for direction/clarification concerning the Chamber)….A motion for $5,578 was made and again no 2nd…Comm. Clottey said there was an agreement with the Chamber before (the Chamber operated without a contract last year we were informed by the Chamber last year unable to get any response from the former TM)…Comm. Clottey wanted the TM to proceed with an agreement with the Chamber and hold off on the dollar amounts until the agreement is in place…Comm. Sasser stated he agreed with everybody but also reminded those on the dais who were still stating they wanted the Chamber to provide advertising information…the Chamber had (it was sent to all weeks prior before the budget adoption and is contained below the 3 items on the Chamber in this TM Report -see below)…The Mayor said she wanted an agreement in place before any amount of money was given…Comm. Clottey wanted a contract that delineates what the Chamber brings and what the Town brings…Comm. Sasser stated he could not understand how we get there…The Mayor said the Clottey motion died for lack of a 2nd…Comm. Clottey said this was more than just advertising … a need for a “cleaner contract”… The Town Manager agreeing there was a stalemate asked if there was any interest in funding any advertising …The plan is not detailed enough is what they seem to be saying and if it is not what they want to do why frustrate themselves and the Chamber (I like this TM more and more )…The Vice Mayor said he wanted a sample advertising budget …give $1759 and get back to the same agreement …He also added as he has before…is it up to the Commission/Town how they advertise…not wanting to micro-manager the Chamber…He asked if they agreed to get back to the $11,159?…Comm Vincent said Comm. Sasser did a wonderful job as liaison between the Commission and Chamber and he still did not want to put last years funds and this years together…he was “vehemently against it”…He said it should be stipulated they are separate…Comm. Sasser stated they would all feel better if there’s a contract agreement with the Chamber and the terms …as well as the $11,159 …He said let’s see what the contract looks like…But he asked how can they agree to a contract not knowing the advertising dollar amounts…Comm. Clottey stated she agreed with Comm. Vincent they are two separate items…The Mayor said she agreed with members of the Commission the amount to the Chamber is $35,000 (per the adopted budget last month)…what is missing is the $11,159 for advertising (for the Welcome Center which is how the Chamber asked for it to be separated out …prev. posts) …She asked were they able to do this type of advertising before…there was no response …The TM stated they spent a sizable amount in prior years using  the County money …and were impacted by not getting the $9,400..(BC- backup prior showed the severe drop on advertising over the past years…but never before were either statements made by the TM used as a reason for why there was less advertising )…The Mayor passed the gavel to the Vice Mayor to make a motion…Comm. Vincent  picked up on the statements made by the TM and said we “choked them (Chamber) and this “bonus” will get people in LBTS …HUH?… The Chamber as stated previously made a profit last year…they were not “choked”!… Comm. Clottey stated the Chamber was getting the $9,400 and should make an adjustment for what is needed (back to the VM’s motion?)…Comm. Sasser jested that they just spent the $11,000 on keeping the TAtty. past 10 pm…The Mayor still without the gavel in order to make a motion said they get a contract and stipulate that any funding from the County would offset the advertising budget of $11,159 and come back to the Town…The VM made a point of information stating that had already been stipulated prior to the budget …A second came from Comm. Vincent and it passed 4-1 VM Dodd voted no…

BC- What was not discussed as was discussed prior…The Chamber is not to get the full amount…The TM in her report stated again it was monthly payments …keeping them accountable …What this writer would want from the Chamber in addition to the below report is what the online costs actually are from the providers and what they get for that amount and less or more…I also believe there must be a Business Development Committee with a member of the Chamber on the committee other than the president or executive director as put forth by a longtime member to this writer at the start of this back and forth for funding this next year.. This is the only way to move the Chamber and advertising for the Town forward in this writer’s opinion…The TM stated during the item’s discussion that PIO Steve D’Oliveira could not take on the advertising …

THE CHAMBERS REPORT ON ADV. FOR THE WELCOME CENTER …

“LAUDERDALE-BY-THE-SEA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Projected Advertising Budget Overview 120101
The Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Chamber of Commerce has formulated a strategic plan to aggressively market the
Town of Lauderdale-By-The-Sea  as an appealing and highly desirable tourist destination throughout the world
Using the$11,500 budgeted for this purpose decisions were made to obtain the best results within these
constraints If additional advertising funds become available new campaigns will be considered
While print media has been a popular outlet for advertising in the past the present and future realities are
overwhelmingly in favor of focusing direction online where the worlds traveling population looks for information
when considering vacation destinations The decision to go exclusively online is a wise one and also necessary
due to current limitations placed on the budget In short the best use of all monies presently allocated is
through electronic media including but not limited to ads placed on Google, Facebook, TripAdvisor, Expedia
Orbitz and other mega-sites
The massive worldwide popularity of Google needs no explanation or introduction It therefore stands to reason
that advertising on this search engine is a bright use of funds Through Goggle’s AdWords program it is possible
to target ads according to keywords performed in popular searches for travel to beachfront destinations like
Lauderdale-By-The-Sea The monthly budget can be customized throughout the year using a dynamic plan
which can also be modified as necessary based on results Numerous campaigns can be launched simultaneously
using different configurations of keywords as well as international region targeting all of which make Google
an excellent choice for maximizing this years advertising budget
Placing a variety of ads on the worlds most popular social networking web site Facebook is one of the best
opportunities on the Internet for targeted advertising Because Facebook users provide information about
their age gender location and interests the Chamber can target its ads directly to the demographic the town
wants to reach This is truly the most powerful form of advertising available today as nearly half the wsorld
population is now on Facebook People treat Facebook as an authentic part of their lives so we can be sure we
are connecting with real people with real interest in travel This maximizes the potential results exponentially
The campaign also ties in directly with the Chamber’s own Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Facebook page
TripAdvisor
A recent site satisfaction survey revealed that 97 percent of travelers are likely to use TripAdvisor to plan
their next trip and 96 percent would recommend TripAdvisor to a friend relative or colleague TripAdvisor
has emerged as the undisputed leader in the online travel category by providing its members with the most
comprehensive unbiased and honest travel information on the web for hotels restaurants and attractions
worldwide With over 25 million monthly visitors TripAdvisor is not only the largest online travel resource it
is also one of the most trusted To promote Lauderdale-By-The-Sea using this resource is truly one of the best
choices in online advertising
Expedia Orbitz
With the highest brand recognition of any online travel site Expedia.com is a trusted resource for consumers
In turn Expedia is the ideal place for Lauderdale-By-The-Sea to reach targeted shoppers who are researching
or planning trips Visitors to Expedia.com represent a global audience with significant purchasing power The
LETS Chamber’s plan is to tap into that vast network of in-market consumers and maximize exposure for the
town internationally Likewise Orbitz has established itself as one of the top destinations for hotel shoppers and
destination decision-makingOrbitz targeted banners allow Lauderdale-By-The-Sea to aim messages directly at
the town’s target markets Banners will be delivered to travelers in the LBT5 feeder market and to customers
who are looking for information about travel to the South Florida region

SAMPLE ADVERTISING BUDGET LBTS Chamber of Commerce 2010
Preliminary distribution projection Actual disbursement of funds may vary between media outlets as contracts are negotiated
Only Internet spending is represented as budget does not allow for alternate types of advertising (copy below-online in backup ..link item 16 a. http://www.lauderdalebythesea-fl.gov/town/backup2009.htm )…

……………………..

Next up was the LETF funds and the discussion and decision making from the dais did not fare  any better on this topic… Readers will remember that  then-Comm. Dodd and this writer felt it was wrong to use LETF funds for the LBTS-VFD’s new quarters in the public safety building…The VFD and AMR were funded for renovations by the Town and the items in the BSO quarters were not out of the ordinary or in the scope of what LETF funds should be used for… While the Fl. ATTy. Generals opinion in the past and this time around give Commission’s a pass for blurring the lines…due we are told to the office not wanting to take on municipal governments…and because so many do it…but it was still the wrong use of those funds… The Comm. stated they wanted to wait on this to see what the millage/budget would be before deciding to reimburse the funds to the LETF funds… The breakdown was still incorrect in the backup of what the VM was looking for..The TM rectified that by stating the numbers …the total was $65,160 …$12,141 was for the jail cell (Readers will remember the prev. BSO office had a chair bolted to the floor with a handcuff … legally allowable but an embarrassment nevertheless…prev. posts) ..$9,700 for the Sally port and the rest for renovation …The VM stated that amount for the jail cell and the Sally port could be viewed as legitimate use…This writer disagrees…perhaps the Sally port…but not the jail cell…In any event he again asked as he had for this Comm. to rectify a wrong decision made by the prior TM/Comm….He made a motion for $43,319 to be returned…Comm. Vincent asked the TAtty. if the opinion of the government was this was correct to refund it?…The TAtty. reiterated what she had prior by downplaying the importance of the AGO’s opinion compared to the original opinion used at the time this vote went down…She stated they felt it was not a legitimate use..but essentially Commission trumps that if they all decided to use the funds this way…Comm. Sasser asked about the General Fund and if this money was budgetd to return the funds…The TM said it was not budgeted…The Vice Mayor made a motion and the TM asked to identify where the funds would come from in the motion…undesignated funds…The Mayor passed her gavel to 2nd the VM… It failed 3-2 (Clottey/Vincent/Sasser voted no)…

BC-This was a big mistake in this writer’s opinion and quite a blunder when you look at righting the wrong of the Chamber’s $9,400 from last year’s budget… The LETF funds were improperly used…this would be righting another wrong from last year’s budget… The Town has approx. $10 million in cash …right now…The LETF funds can only be used int he Town of LBTS…and those returned funds could have been used this year for the cameras needed as discussed prior when addressing the uptick in burglaries etc…To not use the funds in the wrong way going forth does not rectify the wrong use for just one of our public safety providers …..who just happened to have funds available to offset their new renovations especially in a sub-standard building they did not want to move in to…prev. posts…. The 3 that voted against this dropped the ball big time…in this writer’s opinion…sorry to say….

On the topic of the beach patrol and the change of allowing fire assessment funds to be used for per Burton & Assoc. Comm. Sasser asked about liability arriving from the change ..The TAtty. said this was looked into previously and she would email it…Comm. Vincent thanked Comm. Sasser and spoke of the concerns and the perception of VFD  being lifeguards (BC-we’re not really gong “there” again)… Com. Clottey told Comm. Vincent the VFD ATVs state not lifeguards …and the Chief had informed them they were all being certified (per Comm. Vincent’s question at the start of the evenings meeting…see above)…Comm. Vincent stated “I think I’m an intelligent man” and stated that if they were certified as 1st responders it could be looked upon as they are lifeguards…UGH!….

The Mayor then reminded all they needed to address the other point of clarification and direction requested by the TM in the report…beach parking…It is now residential parking…t and the Asst. TM ( Bud Bentley is listed as Asst. TM w/out Int.in Town Topics Oct/Nov. issue…but not on Town website as of today)… spoke of the unlimited time that was afforded those beach permit parking patrons (prev. post)… The Mayor asked for this to go on the Oct. roundtable …The Asst. TM asked for it to be on the Nov. roundtable with a draft revision…Comm. Sasser asked about enforcement in the interim…The Asst. TM stated it was now residential and no longer beach per the signage changed that week…The TM said no one had really been abusing the time and they would deal with it using discretion…The Asst. TM briefly touched on residential parking and the use of business parking it can turn in to…Comm. Vincent once more felt the need to state “for the viewers ” that 3 hour parking is the residential parking time limit and asked how we monitor it …chalking the tires…(BC- again,we’re not going “there” again!)… The Asst. TM said they would deal with it administratively..The Vice Mayor stated the old beach parking has meters..The Asst. TM reiterated the past summary of what spaces were changed and where …some becoming handicapped…and stated there are no meters at the beachfront spots…El Prado or the portals…it was never proposed..

The TAtty. report was to include an update and discussion on the Coral Reef Project…Ms. Trevarthen stated the discussions had not gone far enough along to bring to the Commission for discussion…Hmmm… This writer surmises that the reef crowd of Furth…Cry of the Water and Dr. Goreau are not responding to perhaps give the CIC an issue and perhaps due to the liaison being VM Dodd…the wrongly charged as a “traitor” former Chair of the CIC (pre. posts)…Too bad due to VM Dodd being the proponent of trying to move this forward…in the right way…Readers…do not fall for any CIC-Furth led ploy of sinking this project by anyone on this Commission…While we have been treading water and expending funds on this type of coral reef project since 2005-2006…a project we all thought was going to be led by Dr. Goreau and not a former Town Comm. and a non-profit organization from Pompano Beach not even listed in the agreement…our neighbors to the south..Ft. Lauderdale…have not only been successful in accomplishing their project to restore the coral ….they have done it with federal grant monies… This writer’s opinion…If the Goreau Group do not want to come to the table before the Nov. meeting and come to terms advantageous to all…Call em on the breach…and take a field trip to Ft. Lauderdale to come on board in LBTS… Any traction for the CIC on this in a 2012 municipal election…I’ll have the facts to post to sink it!….

The TAtty. ended with a an addition put on at the start of the meeting…Senate Bill 360 (prev. posts)…Weston is going to appeal and asked for municipalities already on board to let them know if they want to continue at no cost to do so…The TAtty. explained the summary judgment and the process…In the end it was decided to vote to stay in…with discussion further at a future date…due to Weston requiring a response asap and the ability to opt out…It passed 5-0…

Due to the late time the Mayor told the TAtty. she could take a pass on the Notice of Intent costs etc…she had asked the TAtty. to give when the vote for the signage did not go her way…

The meeting was adjourned at 10:50 pm…

archived video on Town website link … http://lbts.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=2

more to come…

Tags: LKauderdale By The Sea Oct. 12 2010 Regular Commission Meeting, Scoops
Posted in LBTS Agendas/Meetings, Public Safety, Scoops, local government, organizations

Dear Readers… this writer is posting this on both sites…Why?… Because Candidate Chip La Marca  could very likely be the next County Commissioner that will be the go-to guy for funding the LBTS-Chamber of Commerce Welcome Center …which needs attention from the County as an ongoing partner in the only Broward County Welcome Center near the beach and on the A1A scenic Highway route…

If there are any such meet and greets with his opponent I will be happy to post a flier for it as well if I receive the information prior to the event for LBTS residents and businesses in order to carry forth the same message to him…

Of Note- If and when the Commission puts together a Business Development Committee it makes perfect sense to have Yann Brandt spearheading that committee to aid in not only the future of the town as young family man who has chosen to raise his son in the town he grew up in…but as our liaison to many County and State elected officials who can aid in the town’s future as well…

more to come…

Tags: Reception For Candiate For Broward County Commissioner District 4 Chip LaMarca At Mugs In Ft. Lauderdale Oct. 22 2010, Scoops
Posted in Local Politics, Scoops

Incident: SEARCH WARRANT

Case: LS10-09-00316

Date: 10/14/10

Time: 2000 hours

Location: Thunderbird, 4521 N. Ocean Drive, Lauderdale by the Sea, FL.

Deputies Eric Weiner and Manuel Alvarez-Jacinto were working an active
narcotics investigation regarding the selling of crack cocaine from the
Thunderbird hotel.

A search warrant was ultimately obtained for the residence / hotel.

The search warrant was executed at the target residence / hotel
resulting in the seizure of U.S. Currency, a 2005 Lincoln, Felony Crack
Cocaine and Paraphernalia.

Two targets were charged accordingly and transported to the BSO jail.

more to come…

Tags: Lauderdale By The Sea BSO Incident Report For Oct. 14 2010 Crack Cocain Bust At The Thunderbird Hotel, Scoops
Posted in Public Safety, Scoops

LBTS-BSO DIDN’T HAVE FAR TO LOOK .. TO CRACK DOWN ON THE CRACK HOUSE ….

Dear Readers … the LBTS-BSO took down a crack house last night …Busted it big time… and where was it…right next door to their department office on A1A …at the Thunderbird Hotel!…

We hear there was an army of deputies and what they found was more than anyone would want to find on the other side of the neighbor’s hedge!…

As we await the incident report …with the details to be posted …this writer encourages all LBTS residents and businesses to make sure you take the time to give a big thanks and congrats to our police department deputies and especially Chief Oscar Llerena and Lt. Angelo Cedeno for another job well done!…

more to come…

Tags: Lauderdale By The Sea BSO Bust Crack House In Lauderdale By The Sea At Motel Next Door To Their Department, Scoops
Posted in Public Safety, Scoops

GET OUT THE RED PEN …

Dear Readers … the red pen is needed to severely cut down on the unnecessary dais time spent in explaining what was just said on the dais for the “viewers out there” and for dais members to either ask pertinent questions  that have just arisen or pass …One of the reasons Atty. Weiss recommended the one Comm. Mtg/one Roundtable forum was to keep the endless discussion and the “competition” of Commissioners feeling the need to take multiple turns at the mike..(the meeting is archived online at the Town’s website )….He described exactly what happened last night…Hopefully, after the first roundtable on the 26th…this will be the last time this occurs…The new Town Manager should be having a meeting with all Commissioners prior to the meeting now that we have a TM that is easy to deal with for all five Commissioners and any lengthy questions should be asked beforehand of her or through her to department heads …vendors etc… Then the Commissioners should be succinct in summarizing in 3 minutes (occasionally longer) what led to their decision showing their constituents they have done their due diligence as well as the reasons for their vote on each item….The new explanations on each agenda cover page provided now by the Town as previously pointed out by a few of the dais members as well as this writer who now uses them for the agenda posts should aid in any interested parties knowing what is behind or what has led up to the item being voted on at each meeting … Future e-alerts will also aid in allowing the public to know what’s going on in advance of the meetings … Of course all backup and videos are now archived on the Town website and a specific agenda item can be retrieved quickly and easily ….The meetings with one break …(note to Comm. make it customary to take a break half way through)… should be over by 10 pm at the latest if the Weiss proposed way is adhered to…. which is easy to do …in this writer’s opinion…

OF NOTE:…before continuing on with the rest of the Commission Meeting …a follow-up on the VFD (prev. post)… After posting late Tues. night I realized a number of questionable statements made by the new Chief beyond what I posted …This writer was informed last year that former Chief Perkins had purchased a computer for his car..If so that should be available for Chief Paine…On the subject of the plans etc. for condos…all of that info was compiled prior to former Battalion Chief Pointu leaving in September of 2008…He sent VFD members out to collect all that was needed to fill in the holes left from what BSO turned over…In fact this writer received from a PRR at the start of the VFD’s return sheets that were compiled of this info and it had some codes that were not redacted…among them was the code for Paul Novak’s hotel …I contacted him to inform him.. The Fountainhead I am told had some violations that needed attention over the past few years…Who found those…Inspector Paine… The Fountainhead was home to the VFD benefactor that gave the VFD the purported half million intended for a fire house and then used for truck purchases… There must have been training done over the past 2 years there… I am told the information was printed out and in notebooks readily available… So the excuses used Tues. night are even more disturbing ….and the P.R. plans being touted…are not needed …in this writer’s opinion…if the new chief just does the job right ..follow the procedures … don’t make multi-offices positions for a chosen group  ….and be transparent in documentation of meetings…minutes,,,investigations and the like …the correct P.R. will come from doing just that….One last point …we hear that volunteers have no required training hours per state mandate not the 40 brought forth at this meeting …in discussing the increase to 70 in the new contract…. (see below)…

10. Ordinances …1st reading …the explanations/recommendations are contained in the agenda posted previously and on the Town’s website… 10a. was the zoning for businesses in town …Ord. 2010-15  was read by the TAtty. and then as is his usual style …Dir.of Development Jeff Bowman came to the podium and read the cover page …there was no public comment…and VM Dodd asked a question about height being contained in the ordinance…This opened the door to another round of the TAtty.’s “mantra” last seen at the Sept. P & Z meeting (prev. post) describing her role which was to make the ordinances “legally defensible” and to clean them up…and not go beyond that to change policy or existing code…Comm. Sasser wanted to address the recommendations that would be coming separately as was stated by the TAtty. and why…The TAtty. explained that Mr. Keller (Walter Keller Town’s consultant) had some recommendations that went beyond the scope of the notice of intent (published items in the paper at $300-600 a pop to publish in Sentinel as req.) … She stated it was better to go back to address those… This was also a hot topic at the Sept. P & Z…and would continue this evening…do you do the codes piecemeal or one-time to address content as well as clean-up?… Comm. Sasser asked if the Commission has not considered all these uses but passed it on 1st reading…could they go to the roundtable to discuss or make changes before the 2nd reading…The TAtty. replied they could or do it at this meeting…or individually before the 2nd reading …The TAtty. also asked to respond back and further explain the height clean-up to the VM after she found where text had been moved to rather than removed…Comm. Clottey asked why not make an ordinance that list exceptions rather than permitted businesses ….The Mayor stated she wanted to make sure there was a way for the Town Manager to have discretion to help a business not listed to get in process rather than that business being stuck for 6-8 mos. while an additional permissive business went through the channel to be included… The TAtty. stated exceptions as well as discretion could be implemented…another possibility as form based regulations…using similar uses …more  interpretation… The Mayor stated they should go with Comm. Sasser’s suggestion to go to roundtable for discussion before 2nd reading…it passed 5-0… 10b. Ord. 2010-17 …the signs …(see Sept. P & Z) was read by the TAtty. and she began this one after reading it by again stating the changes of “legal defensibility” …”a nice tool” in our “arsenal if we have a challenge”…She stated she worked with Bowman and spoke of the memo description of what was changed …She stated the P & Z had lengthy discussion on this… There was no public comment …and then just as I figured he would Comm. Vincent brought up page 14 line 556 ..No I did not think he would choose the “any part of the human body” to ask about …but that he would choose to ask about existing text…just as the P & Z had done…Of course this led to the TAtty. explaining the underline/strike-out were all that were being addressed …But Comm. Vincent then went on to talk about temporary signs such as open house signs requiring phone numbers/addressed on them and stating that it was cost prohibitive to require this…not the norm for such signs and mentioning his wife is a real estate agent and he would like to see this removed…The Mayor looked miffed and sounded it as she stated  it was existing as well…and “this is exactly what she did not want to happen”…

BC- Herein lies the problem..you cannot ask members of the boards or the dais to ignore what is between the underlined and strikeout portions of the codes…It’s the elephant in the room scenario…

The Mayor clearly of one mind while the rest of the dais was the other tried mightily to explain that to deal with the existing code of signage could take years …and stated the changes made were not substantive and asked do we need to move forward or step back and do the whole ordinance… Comm. Sasser stated he understood the position of the TAtty. but he did not necessarily agree with it..He asked who sets policy the Commission or the Staff …he wanted this sent back to the P & Z to deal with the whole ordinance …He stated we should “open the hood just once”…The Mayor stated she was looking for direction and the Vice Mayor agreed with Comm. Sasser and stated it was his point all along (to provide the boards with all the information and let them have at it)…VM Dodd then asked Development Director Bowman how many signs we had in town …”do we know?”…Jeff Bowman responded “no”… (This question was asked at the P & Z as well and the answer was not known)… The Vice mayor spoke of the Sea Lord and their signage reconstruction …he then stated let’s do it once and do it right…he wants the signs and to respect what came before us …stating the existing code needs to be addressed as well …to get it right… Comm. Clottey agree to send it back to P & Z to have a thorough look …The VM thought it might need to go to roundtable then P & Z …The Mayor said it needed to be a workshop with the businesses and it would need to be looked at line by line…it would be costly and asked the TAtty. to confer there would be need for notice of intent…The TAtty. concurred …stating it would call for a larger role for staff to play…focus groups and a planning..it could be quite elaborate and take a year and a half.. The Mayor stated it was done by a previous committee and not so easily tackled…that this would put a lot on staff at this time… Comm. Clottey asked about old signs being grandfathered in …The TAtty. did not know the details of the specific sign and as a point of order (which Clottey clearly did not want) VM Dodd said not under the current code…The TAtty. said they could approve this on 1st reading and then discuss it further at the roundtable as they were to do with the previous ordinance …continue the process and get input from staff or they could defer… The Town Manager stated the Oct. roundtable already had over 15 items and asked if it could go to the next roundtable (Nov.) The Mayor took that input to state at the next roundtable they would need to discuss the parameters of the roundtable itself… Comm. Sasser again stated he wanted it to go to P & Z and then to the Nov. roundtable..He stated P & Z was canceled this month (will meet in Nov.?)…He also stated “just because it’s hard doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do it.”…He said the businesses and Mr. Keller could come to P & Z …The TAtty. stated she could work on the notice of intent while P & Z were working on it…Comm. Sasser was clearly pleased with her comment and it then passed 5-0 to go to P & Z… The Mayor still not happy about it asked the TAtty. to take some time during her TAtty. report  to address the notice of intent process and include the expensive costs involved..

BC- I must respectfully disagree with the Mayor…the NOI is racking up due to piecemeal ordinance changes of ordinance changes that die upon 2nd reading as so many have done …especially in the in her first term…This is the perfect time to address the whole ordinance for this and others that will tie in with the Master Plan revisions and the vision of the Town… The signage it would seem could be revised without a major overhaul just as the Master Plan itself…

10c. Ord. 2010-17 was an easy one …it is to offer  the Town legal defensibility when someone comes forth after exhausting all other options and is looking for relief..it is used in other cities and started with the fair housing act…it is the last line of defense for those seeking relief from the Town…There was no public comment and nos discussion..it passed 5-0…10.d. Ord. 2010-18 was not to be so easily passed …and again it was the Mayor who was on a different playing field of how she looked at this one …it dealt accessory sheds and storage buildings… The P & Z had made some changes such as no setback for non-permitted sheds (Rubbermaid) and that they needed to be removed for a warning and not a watch ..After the TAtty. read it…Dir. Bowman again read the cover page with the changes…and no public comment…Comm. Vincent thanked Dir. Bowman for “spearheading” this and offering “better clarity” of what can and cannot be done with such sheds…(this stemmed from the 101 Ocean storage problem ..in which they were allowed to use a movable Home Depot type shed to hold their outdoor items …long denied by the previous Admin…. Comm. Vincent aided in that process after being elected)… Comm. Sasser thanked staff for including the detailed P & Z meeting minutes to get the full context of their decisions… The Mayor was none too pleased and stated she had a real problem with this one …stating it was “opening up a Pandora’s Box ” …(BC-I thought that comment left the podium and headed north) ..and asked who would oversee the removal in an emergency …who would monitor …stating staff has enough problems as it stands…she did not want storage sheds anywhere and was “not pleased with it at all.”… The vote was 4-1 with mayor Minnet dissenting…

BC-Before they moved on Comm. Sasser stated that the mayor was clearly concerned and asked it they should discuss this at the roundtable as well as the others and put it on after that… The Mayor stated she would like to see what other coastal communities do with this….. No vote was needed …it was a directive… I must respectfully disagree with both Mayor Minnet and Comm. Sasser on this one..the ordinance and the re-visit… The non-permitted storage sheds are abundant throughout town and a necessity for homeowners in S. Fla. where most do not have enough storage and their garages are already used…I don’t not see any problem with having them out of sight and believe most will move them just as they do lawn furniture and the like if a storm comes …In any event this practice should not happen again…a difference of opinion is allowed and a 4-1 vote means the prevailing side should not be questioned after the fact in this manner… Once again it only adds to the fact the codes need to be done as Comm. Sasser and VM Dodd and Comm. Clottey stated once …as a whole…and thoroughly … Also the statement that staff is overwhelmed and has enough to do …that too I thought left the dais and went north… TM Hoffmann in her progress report as well as on the dais this evening will let the Commission know if it needs to be moved to allow other priorities first…

Ord. 2nd reading  2010-14 this was the one to allow a Fema to reimburse us for any clean-up done on private roads…The TAtty. read it…Dir. Bowman read the cover sheet …The TAtty. stated a change that had been included arising from Comm. Sasser’s inquiry upon 1st reading of the TM and who else could be the designee …The TAtty. looked at the charter and said in an emergency can be declared by the Commission and the Mayor may make that declaration through proclamation but it was only  two  lines..This ord. now allows for the TM/Asst. TM or designee … There was no public comment….Comm. Sasser thanked them and had a bunch of questions …Municipal Director Don Prince came to the podium to explain after the TM explained this is purely a service responsibility for debris ..and used the Palm Club and other municipalities as an example of why this was needed to get re-paid for Town services used….not the same as what the proclamation would be (no police or something with public safety etc)…This one too should have been settled before the dais …perhaps with that explanation sent to the the Commissioners after it was found and changed earlier than the Friday before the meeting… It passed 5-0

Resolutions….. 11a. Resolution 2010-13 was the first of two financial housekeeping ..it dealt with who would be the contact…no longer the Town Clerk …whew… …The TAtty. read it…no public comment…Int. Finance Dir. Doug Haag came to the podium and the Vice Mayor asked about the pools and if they were the same ones we thought we were out of per the prev. TM  (we are not) …Mr. Haag affirmed they were and stated the amount still in that was restricted in our getting our any funds out…He reiterated from a previous meeting with the TM adding as well that the funds are to be released annually over an extended time…hopefully…but there is no guarantee said Haag… it passed 5-0…Resolution 2010-34 was read by the TAtty. …This was to allow the Town Manager and Asst. TM or designee to use a credit card issued from the Town’s current bank to order items which is currently not done and was not done in the past…It left personnel to purchase…get taxed and get reimbursed by the Town …except for the tax they paid…There was no public comment …Comm. Vincent stated this had never been presented to the Town before.. Doug Haag stated it had not…common practice in towns and explained the above scenario of not using one…Comm. Vincent is doing way too much micro-managing by playing 20 questions on the use and dumbing down the procedure required for purchasing orders using his own business as an example …Come on…not necessary… Of course the procedures will be in place…Dir. Haag assured him of that…Comm. Sasser asked if they had vetted other banks and if there were fees attached…. Mr. Haag did not know…he and the TM stated SunTrust was to be used at present due to our banking being only there and using our account to pay it out of our account in full so there was no interest…A memo was sent the next day stating no fees…Mr Haag also said the credit card would be bundled in the banking search to get out of Sun Trust… VM Dodd joked about who gets the miles and Comm. Vincent again felt it necessary to add “for the viewers at home” how we will be saving the sales taxes …It passed 5-0

BC-Note to Comm. Vincent do not emulate Comm. Silverstone…emulate Comm. Clark..he never spoke unless it was necessary to make a salient point or question…the viewers at home do not need explanations of what they just heard on a rudimentary level…

11.c…Reso 2010-35…this was the new parking signs that will go up for the Bougainvilla/El Prado Parking lot on A1A… again it was done within 2 months after 2-3 years of stalled Town Administration non-action… The TAtty. read it…no public comment…Comm. Sasser who was the Commissioner who had asked when this came up to go back and ask again stated ” I can barely hold back my excitement” stating his prior statement made “it never hurts to ask again”…Feeling lucky he stated they should “take on the zip code again” …

BC- note to Comm. Sasser…That one is not so cut and dry… If the north can get the 33308…no problem…but if the only way to have one uniform zip code is for all to change theirs…the rest of the Town will be lining up in protest …

Comm. Vincent stated this would put the Bougainvilla parking lot on the map.. Comm. Clottey stated she personally heard DOT say no in the past after 2nding the motion made by Comm. Sasser …The Mayor thanked staff for pulling this together and Don Prince stated Int. Asst. TM Bud Bentley was instrumental in this happening…(DOT came out and saw what we wanted …imagine that)… passed 5-0 …

Resolution 2010-36 …this was the one dealing with amending the VFD contract…The original contract runs to 2013…It was read by the TAtty…There was one public comment by Bill Vitolo ..who stated that in the past BSO arrived at medical calls with 5 guys and AMR was turning up with 3 while the 2nd ambulance could be a 15 minute wait for 2 more guys… He wanted the VFD to not stop all medical call responses…He was also unhappy about taking out the 20% requirement of all members going on call for 70 hours of training instead…He felt the push back time from 7 min. to 9 min. should not allow any member from getting credit if their was a 10 minute response… He asked about the fire inspector who approved him the fire chief and manager it was not in the amended version…He said the command car should be allowed 35 miles outside of town (huh?) …and that the training only makes the fire department a fire school…

BC- The BSO still only had 2 paramedics and sent a truck ..AMR is sending 2 paramedics and an EMS …AMR can send backup in minutes as their record shows and can always call in the VFD to bethere in minutes as well if need be… Many AMR drivers on the 1st responding ambulance are also VFD officers…On the 20% of call…that was not ever enforced or happening  we are told… On the Fire Inspector ..in the contract from Sept. 25, 2008 Article 3 Employment Responsibility and Staffing ….3.2 “The VFD have at minimum one (1) Fire Chief, one (1) Deputy Fire Chief, one (1) Battalion Chief, one (1) Fire Administrator, one (1) Safety Officer,one (1) Fire Inspector, and one (1) Training Officer.”… Also, the Fire Inspector is hired and employed by the VFD because the VFD pays him from the funds received from the fire assessment….currently as he has been since 2008 new Fire Chief Steve Paine is the Fire Inspector…no longer the Fire Marshal we are told..he will pull down close to $100,000 in his dual jobs within the department…

BC- After a lull coming in response to the Mayor’s asking for the Commissions input…Comm. Sasser stated “heck, I’ll go”…He went through the amended contract dealing with the amount and stated the amount was different than stated…and we were not really saving any money with the breakdown of a portion going in the apparatus fund…The Town Manager responded we would see savings in year two …that this amended contract takes away the 4% increase from the original contract and gives to ability to negotiate from this $725,580 base in the future…Comm. Sasser was concerned their was no cap on the increase such as the 4%…The TM statd the control of the increase amount will come from the dais …Comm. Sasser asked about what happens if the VFD asked for 10-20% as an example…The TM responded that if the Town is not in agreement and it not settled by Spt. 1st of the year it reverts back to the $725,580… Comm. Sasser asked about the $187,315 apparatus fund and how it can be spent and the Town’s say in it…The TM stated it was required that the Town Comm. and VFD agree on the purchase…no agreement the monies will continue to be held by the Town until there is agreement… Comm. Sasser asked about leasing a new truck …The TM stated this agreement does not contemplate that …that would come out of our operating budget … Comm. Sasser asked if the VFD was to lease a truck now…(we are told a new one came to town a few weeks ago …prev. post…and the VFD wants to lease a new truck with benefactor $)…The TM stated that was VFD discussion but was not brought formally to the Town… Comm. Sasser asked about the legalities of using the fire inspector funds…The TM stated those funds can only be used by state law for fire inspections…such as billing etc… and that is how it will be used… (this was an ongoing question while the prev. administration split profits from prior fire inspections with the VFD)…Comm. Sasser went on to ask about the requirements for covering VFD pension audits and liability…The TM explained the requirements are required by the employer which we are…the costs are minimal and again stated Doug Haag had found and affirmed pension audits can be done every 2 yrs rather than annually… Comm. Sasser asked Chief Pain about the 70 hours training annually and why less than 2 weeks was enough…Paine stated statute requires 40 hrs ..and the VFD are exceeding that number (we are told as stated above …volunteer fire departments have no training hr. reqs.)…He also stated with so few fires in town they are not able to meet the 20% requirement in any event…He is spiking up the trainign standards… Comm. Vincent dumbed it down and stated they had lowered the base…removed the apparatus …prior they got the full amount and asked if they had to come to the Town prior to buy apparatus…The TM stated they could spend however they wanted to ..Comm. Vincent stated this no where in the contract and asked if any monies were left did they go back …the TM said no…He went on to ask a hypothetical about if a 5% increase would be entitled to the VFD with this $700,000 …The TM no entitled increase to the amount…  Comm. Clottey was in agreement with “the public speaker” and wanted the 20% response to calls…she wants them trained but they owe it to the Town to go out on calls… The TM responded it was 2 issues and it is in their by-laws and constitution for the 20% calls …Chief Paine concurred and added it is in the SOPs as well (standard operating procedures)…He added there was no lax time in responding…Comm. Clottey pressed on about the contract amendments being piecemealed (HUH?) …The TM stated this was a negotiation a compromise and thanked the VFD and its members …it was give and take…The VFD did not have to come to the table…they were cooperative …(Touche’) … Comm. Clottey stated she still had a problem with “taking out important things”…”it raises red flags”… The Vice Mayor stated the changes were excellent …”in a new era of working together” …adding the VFD would be quicker than the minimum requirements…Comm. Sasser said he wanted to reiterate what the Vice Mayor had stated and he understood what Comm. Clottey and the resident were concerned about and asked if that 20% could still be in the contract…The Mayor again asked the Chief if it was in his by-laws and Chief Paine stated it was NFPA standards and they were more restrictive than a volunteer fire department… The TM stated the nature of what is required to make these changes …the Chief…the VFD Board and the membership voting to adopt the changes… The Mayor thanked the Chief and the board and added this was among many such contracts that needed review by this new administration …thanking the Town Manager …She said she had concerns as well and listened to her colleagues…but they had been assured  the response was covered in the by-laws … She also brought up the oversight committee and stated Mr. Vitolo and others in town could be beneficial to the department…The VM had made the motion with a 2nd by Comm. Vincent …passes 5-0..

They took a break…

The Mayor afterward addressed the concerns of Comm. Clottey and asked the TM to go back to the VFD …Comm. Clottey said she wanted to make a motion to that “but I was cut off”… Clottey wanted the 20% in the agreement and Comm. Vincent 2nd it for discussion…He added the fire inspector…The TM was not sure about the fire inspector and stated she would look into it…(Why were the Comm./Residents not given the orig. contract in the backup…a look back at the VFD cat. a few years ago shows a post comparing the VFD contracts by Cherof and then by  Colon in 2008 and how much was removed) …The Vice Mayor was concerned and confused by Comm. Clottey’s desire asking if she wanted to rescind the resolution..and agree with the TM that entering into more negotiations brings more give and take…Comm. Clottey stated they passed the one and this was the next step to take…She did state the wording she used might be improved upon… The Mayor stated it would be to continue the 20% requirement and the fire inspector clarification …The Mayor wanted to add the oversight committee but Comm. Clottey stated that would be too controversial…she would only add Comm. Vincent’s clarification… Comm. Vincent asked if a motion was needed or direction ..the Mayor said she recommended it… it passed 5-0 … Afterward the VM asked that the discretion go to the TM and that it was not just limited to what was voted on in any further talks …The TM stated she was okay with what was done …would negotiate further and come back with any stumbling blocks that occur…

WANT TO LOOK AGAIN AT YOUR SOPs/By-LAWS/ CONSTITUTION & CONTRACT…CHIEF?…

BC- a look at the VFD- SOP HANDBOOK shows under training on pg. 68 recurring training for certain procedures 2 drills a month for FFs   / probationary shows a list of one training for each task…the fulfillment of each task equals credit toward training requirement…Article 8 of the By-laws in place that are in contained the SOP Handbook pg.87 show NO training hour requirements ..Also No hours for training contained in the membership section .. The questions that needs to be asked are …. How long are the 2 drills a month?…How many attend?….. And what was and is now considered a drill? …

ALSO OF INTEREST ….

Article 5 page 83 Section 7…does show that the TM “shall be an ex-officio member of the Department with no voting power”…AND…above that on pg 83 in Section 2 to Sec. 6 the VFD can appoint a Citizen Advisor as well … The Town needs a copy of the above that this writer received a few years back..ASAP!…

Commissioner Comments were very brief this evening… The Mayor congratulated the Pier on being in the paper …as she held it up and described a man from Boca Raton in LBTS and all he wants is Pompano …in jest…for the fish was a Pompano he had caught… She asked all to vote on Nov. 2nd …She thanked the Chamber for the Fish Fry the week prior …spoke of season and the Garden and Women’s Clubs now meeting for the new season encouraging viewers to join…and adding they do not need to be LBTS residents to do so… She thanked staff for the excellent backup…and how it allows for open and transparent government… Comm. Vincent took a pass… Comm. Sasser gave an update on Halloween…thanking all the volunteers..who met the previous Sat. morning and said anyone who wanted to join in to volunteer was welcome…it is going extremely well…businesses have received letters to participate again this year with a candy table…as well as organizations…Interested parties can contact the Town… The Vice Mayor complimented staff on the use of the agenda forms. “This dais now receives concise information on the direction staff want to go on each agenda item. The staff recommendation and the reasons for the agenda item. In the past this was left blank and it was up to the commission to decide why staff wanted to make any changes.” He said there hasn’t been an inlet meeting so there was nothing to report….and went on to state “I am meeting a local recycling contractor tomorrow to further understand how this town can improve on the way we deal with trash. For every ton of trash the town pays a premium to put it in a landfill. If that ton includes recyclables then the town is paying twice. We miss the credit for recycling tonnage and pay the premium to place recyclables in a land fill. At the next round table I will try to show people that we need to change the statistic from 25% recycling and 75% trash to read the other way around and we as a commission have the responsibility to provide the tools to make it happen.”…

There was no old business…New business was changing the dates for roundtables in Nov. and Dec…After looking at their calendars…the dates are now as follows…

Nov. Comm. Mtg.Nov. 9th/Rountable Nov. 22nd…both a 7 pm  & Dec. Comm. Mtg Dec. 7th/Roundtable Dec. 14th…

The next Comm. Mtg. post will be the remainder on the agenda TM /TAtty. report…The Chamber/The Reef etc….

archived video on Town website link … http://lbts.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=2

more to come…

Tags: Lauderdale By The Sea Oct. 12 2010 Regular commission Meeting, Scoops
Posted in LBTS Agendas/Meetings, Scoops, VFD, local government

A LITTLE ROUGH AROUND THE EDGES …THAT’S TO BE EXPECTED ….

Dear Readers … the first single monthly Regular Commission meeting took place last night …The Mayor addressed the change after welcoming the Town Manager attending her first meeting as the Town Manager …Mayor Minnet explained this was brought to the Commission by the Town’s law firm …specifically Atty. Richard Weiss  (prev. posts)…She went on to describe what the new model would be with one Comm. Mtg and one Roundtable each month…and detailed the ability for the public to still have the same amount of input for comment as before … if not more-so as she spoke of the more accessibility to public input and asking the public to inform the Comm. as they move forward whether it is working or not working…She added it was her desire and belief it would be a positive move in the right direction for the Comm./Staff  and the public …The TAtty. added the resolution allowed for additional meetings and there was no need to re-address the resolution they just passed to make any adjustments going forward…

The only public comment was from Linda Ritchie the president of the POA stating flier from the Chamber had the incorrect date of the POA’s Oktoberfest and giving the proper date Oct. 16th from 6-9 pm in Jarvis Hal…members are free..$10 to join…# to call to attend is 954-784-9495 and to bring a dish for 4-6 …drinks will be served as well as brats and sauerkraut… dancing … silent auction .. Bill Vitolo asked to speak on the VFD contract item under resolutions…

The public safety reports included BSO Chief Llerena coming to the podium to speak of the recent events (prev. agenda post) including a bust prior to the meeting involving burglaries in the north end… He spoke of good police work and an uptick in crimes that are filtering into town from our neighboring communities to the north and south…He answered VM Dodd’s question about the update  on the cameras explaining infrastructure was needed before the cameras were placed…He added the license plate zoom-in cameras are very expensive and something to work up to…including changes in technology…Comm. Clottey asked about cameras in neighborhoods indicating constituents had inquired and Chief Llerena stated it was more effective to use them on main thoroughfares …adding he would like to get as many cameras as money would allow… Comm. Vincent added to inform residents to feel free to put cameras in on their own and stated it can aid in surveillance and the Chief concurred… Comm. Sasser thanked the Chief and the BSO and encouraged residents to look at the backup with their monthly report regularly to see what these guys are do…The Mayor asked about the recycling box in the BSO offices and the Chief explained it is for aluminum pop tops that go for cancer research charities…encouraging everyone to come in and visit and donate…

Next up was the VFD and newly elected Chief Steve Paine… Comm. Vincent asked Paine for an update to his question at the prev. Comm. mtg. about fire training on the beach (lifeguard cert.) stating he did not see it on the report…Paine stated the books had been ordered and it was to start in Nov. …(BC- Comm. Vincent obviously forgot this conversation and the prev. discussion by the end of the meeting when he addressed the issue again… The Vice Mayor spoke of a meeting he had with Chief Paine that day which he stated was good and asked Paine to comment on the medical calls and the hi-rises…Chief Paine answered stating he and VFD Administrator Chavez had spent 3 hrs. at the Sheriff’s office getting eleven pagers re-set and re-programmed and they would continue on with ten at a time…and it would take a month to get all them all done …The plan is to target Monday to switch over to medical rescue only on the medical calls …There was no specifics whether the list of medical calls still bringing the VFD would be adhered to that Chief Paine brought forth at a previous meeting or if this meant no medical calls unless it was a major call or AMR required the aid of the VFD… The VM stated there would not be full fire response any longer …again no mention if this over-rode the previous criteria Chief Paine included such as accident/child etc… On the matter of the hi-rises Chief Paine stated they voted in 4 new members the evening before and they would doing a power point presentation on hi-rises at a Roundtable in approx. 2 months for feedback as well as letters to condo associations and public service announcements on channel 78… The Mayor asked if the Chief had been given manuals when he took over…The Chief was on shaky ground with these questions and his responses … in this writer’s opinion…. He answered the information was on the computer and not kept up…He spoke of ISO and asking for lists from the condos of information and it was part of the plan he has… He spoke of getting a grant to have computers on the trucks with this information…The Mayor informed him she was not comfortable waiting 2 months for the condos.. Comm. Sasser brought up a letter from the Fountainhead Condominium they all received last month and asked that the response to the FH Board who sent the letter be copied to the Comm. The TM stated she and the Chief were reviewing the tapes and then they would both be meeting with the FH Board …Comm. Sasser also asked that the Chief remain for the upcoming resolution to the VFD contract …Comm. Clottey also spoke of the FH letter and her concern…stating it “should not have happened” and asked if other condos were in the same situation…agreeing with the Mayor they could not wait 2 months …She also asked how records could be missing… The Chief threw the onus to the BSO stating they would not believe what missing…adding that is why it’s important to have annual inspections …

BC- Chief Paine was the fire marshal while awaiting the arrival of former Fire Marshall Alex Stevenson and then fire inspector and then both …since the VFD came back in 2008… The Chief was the one that did the inspections annually on these buildings…The Chief had to have the fire keys and the knox box as well as codes to get into businesses over that time…So to go back to the BSO and pre-2008 is a cop-out…

The letter they were talking about was truly scathing for the BSO as well as AMR and especially Chief Paine and should be followed through on asap…

The letter dated Sept. 27, 2010 was to mayor Minnet and sent to Town Hall…

“Dear Mayor Minnet,

On the morning of Wednesday, September 15, 2010 there was a fire in apartment 3F at the Fountainhead Condominium located at 3900 N. Ocean Drive, Lauderdale By The Sea, Fl. 33308.

We would like to express our disappointment in the Lauderdale By The Sea Volunteer Fire Department, not only in their poor response time, but also in the unprofessional manner in which they performed.

When the first fire truck pulled up to the front of the building, several residents were in the Lobby and observed three(3) Firemen get out of the truck and proceed to suit up. This took approximately six to eight minutes.

When they finally entered the building, they walked to the elevators and pressed the call button. The residents standing around informed them that the elevators were already locked down and pointed them the direction of the stairs. At no time did anyone ask for the fire keys and it appeared that none of the three men were familiar with the layout of the building.

When the Lauderdale By The Sea EMS team arrived, they appeared confused as well and asked the Lobby attendant to explain the nature of the emergency. It should be noted , for the safety of all the residents and because we are a 55 and over building, we keep an emergency list at the Lobby desk with the name and apartment numbers of the residents who require special assistance in the event of an emergency. No EMS team member asked for the list.

After approximately one hour, Fire Chief, Steve Paine, asked to see the Building Manager. The Manager, Carl Ellis, went outside where the Chief appeared to be monitoring a control board at the front of the building. Chief Paine abruptly demanded keys to all the apartments on the 3rd floor and informed Mr. Ellis that if he did not get keys to every apartment on the 3rd floor immediately, he would break the doors down. This was his first and only request for door keys.

Please understand there is a staff member from the Security Department on duty at all times, who is readily available to assist in getting keys or to provide information regarding the status of residents.

It is very fortunate doe the Fountainhead residents, that out Maintenance Manager located the fire and extinguished it by the time the firemen made it to the 3rd floor.

It would be an understatement to say residents were not happy with the performance of the Fire Department. In fact, they were very concerned. When we call 911 for a medical emergency, the response is very good and the personnel very professional. Unfortunately, this was not the case with the Volunteer Fire Department on September 15th.

Will it be possible for the Town to correct the performance deficiencies noted above? In addition, would it be useful for the Fire Chief to visit the Fountainhead for a briefing regarding capabilities and procedures? (We have held such briefings in the past).

It is with much regret that we must send this letter to you; however, we feel the issue is much too important to be ignored.

Sincerely, Fountainhead Association

Board of Directors”

BC-It was Cc’d to the Comm. (except VM Dodd-an oversight we are sure) and the TM /Chief Paine …We are told that fire keys should be on each truck…and again we were told of condo visits and plans etc… being done over the past 2 years…by previous leadership/Comms. (2-hats)…. Also in charge of the computer and the implementation of the books as well as the VFD site is the same Administrator Chavez who went with the Chief to the Sheriff yesterday …We are also told that the department which currently has 60 members… give or take …now has 16 officers…1 Chief/ 1 Deputy Chief/ 4 Battalion Chiefs (former Dep. Chief Padden is said to be both Battalion Chief & Pres. of the Board) / 4 Captains/ 6 Lieutenants…and they have extended the limits of “in-town” members to be 3 miles outside of Town limits… We are told that Chief Paine ’s brother was made a member last night as well as the wife of one of the Captains… There is still much concern of the status quo under Chief Paine … and that some of the members …most likely the officers are making approx. $3000 a month on calls and training… For this writer …right now…. it’s a feeling of deja vu …Nope, not just of the past leadership in the VFD …but of Chief Paine being another Esther Colon who we thought was going to be a straight arrow who would not allow anything less than going by the book… only to have her turn out to be completely the opposite in a myriad of different rules for different people…allies or foes…and carrying on with bad habits learned from her predecessor…

Oversight was discussed later in the meeting by the Mayor when the contract was discussed and the Comm. gave further direction on going back to negotiate further (more on this to come) …It was rejected by Comm. Clottey to add to her motion…as being too controversial and the Mayor did not pass the gavel and make a motion for it as afterward… I do not believe we need an oversight committee if the new Town Manager will continue to attend the VFD Board meetings as the past TM would not…and is contained within the VFD by-laws for her to be a non-voting member of the board… We hear she did attend last evening… She should also be privy to the board minutes which are not a public record according to the VFD and a letter this writer received stating their attorney informed them of such…and should have all income/expense reports to be on top of what is happening… and reported within her TM report to the Commission in order to decide what to do with the VFD whose contract is up in 2013…Do they stay a vendor or become a Town department as they were prior to the annexation and BSO becoming a Town contractor thus making it necessary for the VFD to be one as well…

The Mayor ended by stating the VFD needed to protect condos and we have 39 of them …

AMR was next and the Vice Mayor jumped the gun by stating a job well done again and no questions for Chief Liddle…The Mayor said no she had a few about two incidences she witnessed with AMR ambulances traveling in the wrong lane of traffic…She asked for Liddle to explain the procedures.. Chief Liddle explained it was a national policy allowing the drivers to do so when appropriate in transporting a patient..What was not allowed was the increased speed used by the particular driver the Mayor observed and that driver was “re-educated” ..He added he sent her a written report as well..The Mayor asked if it was a national policy or an AMR policy… Liddle stated an AMR national policy… Comm. Vincent began what was an ongoing theme for him this evening…asking non-important questions and adding on time to the meeting just to have time on the mike…He asked about the guidelines being  solid or discretionary …Liddle answered it’s gray area…the operator needs to use sound judgment…Vincent asked if it was reviewed and discussed …Liddle answered yes…The Mayor chimed in to remind Liddle the rate of speed allowed was 15mph and Liddle confirmed that was correct…

All three public safety reports passed 5-0/ same went for the minutes of Sept. 27th 2010 special and regular…

The Consent Agenda was up next and the Mayor pulled all of them for discussion…When the meeting began the Mayor added in free parking for a few of the consent items as well as additional item requiring a venue change.. 9a was a sweet 16 in Jarvis Hall…free parking just within Town Hall lot was asked for after clarification was asked from the TM on being just this lot… it passed 5-0/ 9b was the same free parking for a condo…passed 5-0 …

BC- Jarvis Hall use needs to be re-addressed in the usage and the charges…a nominal cost would be to charge a fee for the free parking since there is no residential charge for residents for the hall unlike most towns…Also the doors should re-open for non-residential use at a charge …only if not in use by Town and giving Town residents/businesses first gibs…

9c addressed the Chabad Menorah lighting ceremony on Dec. 5th…The Mayor pulled it to address port-a- potties and electrical charges…a while back when discussing the public bathrooms …the question was asked who wanted to be the “Bathroom Czar”…. Seems the “Bathroom Czar” is still Comm. Vincent who said he went to Aruba/ 101 Ocean & Village Grille and had letters the Chabad ceremony could use their bathrooms to cover for any port-a-potty requirements… Electrical will not be charged and it passed 5-0….Surprisingly there was no discussion on 9d..the Asst. TM position and forgoing the advertising for the position while amending the future requirement for an $50,000 position to be advertised in the Sentinel… It was good the request was acceptable but some discussion should have taken place on specifics of the amended portion…passed 5-0…. 9e also surprising  that no discussion came on the trial of the valet parking…I would have thought the code enforcement would have been questioned as well as continued use of the alley…and the low amount of meter revenue…passed 5-0…9f was the add on to change Music by the Sea to the Pier parking lo due to the Chamber craft fair…passed 5-0….

Next  Comm. Mtg. post……..Ordinances…

Town archived video link… http://lbts.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=2

more to come….

Tags: Lauderdale By The Sea Oct. 13 2010 Regular Ciommission Meeting Part 1, Scoops
Posted in LBTS Agendas/Meetings, Public Safety, Scoops, VFD, local government, organizations

What: The first Unite Our Town, Fall 2010 meeting
Where: Assumption Church (the Rectory at the back of the Church grounds)
When: Monday, October 11, 2010
Time: 7:00 P M

Dear Supporters:

Come and meet our new Board. We will talk about our new directions and future plans. Meet and greet – new and old friends with the same agenda for our “United Town”. Some things do not change, as we will have our 50-50 raffle, back by popular demand. If you have any town business or questions, bring them with you.

Ray Wolowicz,
Chairperson for Unite Our Town

Tags: Lauderdale By The Sea Unite Our Town Meeting Oct. 11 2010, Scoops
Posted in Civic Organizations