Still a case of different rules for goose and gander in Hallandale Beach, depending upon whether you're a citizen or the City

Still a case of different rules for goose and gander in Hallandale Beach, depending upon whether you're a citizen or the City.

I'll be at City Commission meeting at 3 pm to talk about agenda item 9D -highlighted in red below- the city's so-called security cameras, maintained by the HB Police Dept. and the city's abject failure for almost 4 YEARS under former (sleepwalking) City Attorney David Jove to have the city itself be in compliance with State Law.

Yes, the very warning signs it requires businesses in HB to publicly post when they use security/surveillance cameras on the premises.

That it fines business owners who don't comply.

After all, as we are always told, ignorance of the law is no excuse.

But the City of Hallandale Beach has known for years that it didn't comply -it just didn't care.

Still doesn't.

Underneath the city's only security camera on the City Hall side of the municipal complex. The parking lot light closest to it -less than 10 feet away- has only worked for about one month out of the past 44 months since the camera was first placed there. But at a City Commission meeting, in response to my complaints that he and the city had neglected safety problems at City Hall for years -how many dozens of photos have I placed here that proved THAT?- former Police Chief Magill said that the public parking lot light(s) being out didn't really matter. Well, it's STILL out. Who could make this up? October 2, 2011 by South Beach Hoosier

In case you don't want to take my word for it, here's some proof of the above from almost exactly THREE YEARS ago. Just saying...

Arturo O'Neill under the same security camera. October 15, 2008 photo by South Beach Hoosier.

A pitch black parking lot is not an inviting prospect at any time, especially after a HB City Commission meeting that was long on hot air and short on, yes -wait for it- ILLUMINATION. October 15, 2008 photo by South Beach Hoosier.

"And the flag was still there..."
That pitch black parking lot behind Arturo is the one closest to the Hallandale Beach Police Dept. HQ. October 15, 2008 photo by South Beach Hoosier.

In fact, the city's Code Compliance office has already cited RK Associates in the past two years because the parking lot on Hallandale Beach Blvd. for Publix, that placed cameras in front of their building when, they opened their liquor store next door, STILL does NOT have those simple signs that Target has always had.

I've seen the city's written complaint myself.

That was soaking wet.

That was lying on a sidewalk on HBB & SE 14th Avenue.

That I took inside and gave the Publix manager for his attention, knowing that I'd mention it publicly when it was appropriate.

Now you know.

At the HB City Hall complex that is roughly two city blocks by two city blocks, there is but ONE warning sign -near the Employees entrance on U.S.-1.

Above and below, the employee entrance to Hallandale Beach City Hall off U.S.-1/S. Federal Hwy. Note the parking lot pole to the right of the entrance. Do you see THE sign?

Just ignore those city vehicles in the foreground that never seem to leave the parking lot's reserved spaces for city vehicles.

If they don't use them, why don't they move the cars to the back so the public can park there instead?

If you wonder about that, too, clearly you've never lived here. That's SOP hereabouts.

October 2, 2011 photos by South Beach Hoosier

There's no signs near the public entrances to HB City Hall, the HB Police Dept or the HB Cultural Center buildings, or the three vehicular entrances to the complex -nada.

FYI: Below, a shot of this month's calendar captured on Sunday afternoon when my friend and fellow HB civic activist Csaba Kulin and I walked around the HB City Hall complex before the Dolphins-Chargers game, and I personally showed him the graffiti and vandalism directly in front of the complex that HB City Manager Marc Antonio STILL says he NEVER noticed in front of the building he's worked at for the past ten years.

Which, no doubt, pleases the very people who put it there to no end, since it proves how truly disconnected from reality City Hall really is.

As if we needed any more evidence of that...

REGULAR AGENDA

CITY COMMISSION, CITY OF HALLANDALE BEACH

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 05, 2011 1:00 PM and 7:00 P.M.

http://www.hallandalebeach.org/files/00413/Exported%20OV%20Docs/Agenda%20Outline%20for%202011-10-05%2013-00.htm

1. CALL TO ORDER

2. ROLL CALL

3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

4. STUDENT CITIZEN OF THE MONTH AND SCHOOL ACTIVITY UPDATE

5. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION - Items not on the Agenda ( To be heard at 1:15 PM)

6. PRESENTATIONS

A. Proclamation Celebrating October 16-22, 2011 as "Florida City Government Week"

B. Proclamation Proclaiming October 10-14, 2011 as " National School Lunch Week"

C. Proclamation Proclaiming October 9-15, 2011 as "Fire Prevention Week"

D. Proclamation Proclaiming October, 2011 as "National Domestic Violence Awareness Month"

E. Presentation Regarding Activities at the Village of Gulfstream Park (Suzanne Friedman, Development Representative, Village of Gulfstream Park) CAD#029/04

7. CONTINUATION OF CITY BUSINESS FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS

8. CONSENT AGENDA

A. Approval of Draft Minutes - Regular City Commission Meeting of September 21, 2011 (Supporting Docs)

9. CITY BUSINESS

A. Investment Policies Update - General Employees and Professional Management Pension Plans (Staff: Director of Finance)(See Backup) CAD# 007/11 (Staff Report, Supporting Docs)

B. Consideration of Approval of the 2011 Annual Floodplain Management and Hazard Mitigation Plan Evaluation Report (Staff: Director of Public Works, Utilities & Engineering)(See Backup) CAD# 030/03 (Staff Report, Supporting Docs)

C. Pursuant to Chapter 23, Article III , of the City of Hallandale Beach Code of Ordinances, Consideration of an Extension to the Short Term Agreement with Choice Recycling, Incorporated, for the disposal of Municipal Solid Waste in accordance with the terms and conditions of said Agreement, as amended. (Staff; Director of Public Works, Utilities & Engineering) (See Backup) CAD# 018/10 (Staff Report, Supporting Docs)

TO BE HEARD AT 3:00 PM

D. Pursuant to Chapter 23, Section 105, Award of Contracts, of the City of Hallandale Beach Code of Ordinances, Request Authorization to Increase Contract for Additional Services under RFP # FY 2006-2007-004, Cameras System Upgrade and Expansion, to Aware Digital, Inc., in an Amount Not -To-Exceed $143,653.90, plus an additional $20,000.00 for miscellaneous upgrades and maintenance. (Staff: Director of Public Works, Utilities, & Engineering) (See Backup) BP#023/07 & CAD #038/05 (Staff Report, Supporting Docs)

TO BE HEARD AT 4:00 PM

E. Pursuant to Chapter 23, Section 105, Award of Contracts, of the City of Hallandale Beach Code of Ordinances, Request Authorization to Award RFP # FY 2010-2011-006, Hallandale Beach Elevated Water Storage Tanks Project, to the Lowest Responsive, Responsible Bidder, Worth Contracting, Inc., in an Amount Not-To-Exceed $289,025.00 for the Beach Tank Rehabilitation, and to reject the Utility Services Company Inc., bid for the Bluesten Tank Rehabilitation. Furthermore, Authorize a 5% Contingency for Unforeseen Circumstances. Also Consideration of Permanent Removal of the Bluesten Elevated Water Tank and Replacement with a Monopole for Community Utilization. (Staff: Director of Public Works, Utilities & Engineering) (See Backup) BP#005/08 (Staff Report, Supporting Docs)

F. Resolution of the City of Hallandale Beach, Florida, Authorizing the Submittal of a Response to the Request for Proposal for the Purchase of the Hallandale Beach Post Office Property Located at 500 South Federal Highway and Authorizing the City Manager to Negotiate the Purchase of said Property under the First Right of Refusal as Set Forth in the Property's Warranty Deed. (Staff: Director of Parks and Recreation) (See Backup) BP# 012/08 (Staff Report, Supporting Docs)

G. Consideration of an Alternative City Budget Process (Commissioner Lewy) (See Backup) (Staff Report, Supporting Docs)

10. COMMISSION PLANNING

11. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION - Items not on the Agenda (To be heard at 7:00 P.M.)

12. PUBLIC HEARINGS (To heard at 7:15 P.M.)

A. Application #38-11-CU by Alvaro Lopez d/b/a Hallandale Reception Requesting a Conditional Use Permit to Operate a Banquet Hall Pursuant to Section 32-175(d)(1) of the City's Code of Ordinances at the Property Located at 772 E. Hallandale Beach Blvd. (Staff: Director of Development Services) (See Backup) CAD# 015/08 (Staff Report, Supporting Docs)

The Planning and Zoning Board Recommended Approval of this Item at their August 24, 2011 Meeting by a Roll Call Vote (4-0).

This is a Quasi-Judicial Item

B. Application #39-11-CL by MB Gulfstream LLC d/b/a Martini Bar Requesting a Nightclub License Pursuant to Section 5-9 of the City's Code of Ordinances in Order to Serve Alcoholic Beverages Seven Days a Week Until 6:00 A.M. at the Proposed Martini Bar Located at 601 Silks Run, Suite #2497 in the Village at Gulfstream Park. (Staff: Director of Development Services) (see backup) (Staff Report, Supporting Docs)

The Planning and Zoning Board Recommended Approval of this Item at their August 24, 2011 Meeting by a Roll Call Vote (4-0).

C. Application #52-11-AV by Julio Berrio Requesting a Variance from Chapter 5, Section 5-6(d), Relative to the Distance Requirements Between Establishments Selling Alcoholic Beverages and a Church, School or Public Park at the Property Located at 1630 E. Hallandale Beach Blvd. (Staff: Director of Development Services) (See Backup) (Staff Report, Supporting Docs)

D. An Ordinance of the City of Hallandale Beach, Florida, Amending the Code of Ordinances to Address Firearm Regulations Preempted by State Law by Amending Chapter 19, "Offenses and Miscellaneous Provisions'; and Amending Chapter 21, "Personnel"; Providing for Conflicts, Providing for Severability; and Providing for an Effective Date. (Staff: Acting City Attorney) (See Backup) CAD# 008/11 (Staff Report, Supporting Docs)

13. COMMISSIONER COMMUNICATIONS - Items not on the Agenda

A. COMMISSIONER LEWY

B. COMMISSIONER LONDON

C. COMMISSIONER ROSS

D. VICE MAYOR SANDERS

E. MAYOR COOPER

14. CITY ATTORNEY COMMUNICATIONS - Items not on the Agenda

15. CITY MANAGER COMMUNICATIONS - Items not on the Agenda

16. ADJOURN