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Showing posts with label Bermello Ajamil Partners Inc.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bermello Ajamil Partners Inc.. Show all posts

Friday, October 4, 2013

Why is it so hard for Hallandale Beach officials to be honest about public policy with residents, taxpayers and small business owners? City's 2014 Parks Bond issue increasingly looks like a very dubious deal that'll backfire on taxpayers, and more like a ploy by city officials to get good short-term PR while simultaneously allowing them to use voter-approved funds for other purposes, like pet projects of the mayor and city commission, instead of Parks. Aesthetics/maintenance of city's parks have long been an embarrassment to residents! But Mayor Joy Cooper, the City Commission and the current and past 2 City Managers have just looked the other way for YEARS instead of holding people -and themselves- accountable for results, even though compelling proof was just a block away at Peter Bluesten Park

City of Hallandale Beach Monument sign at 400 S. Federal Highway in front of Hallandale Beach City Hall. Yes, the sign's lights STILL DON'T come on at night, and haven't since current HB City Manager Renee C. Miller has been in charge of the day-to-day operations of this city -June of 2012. So, that's about 15 months and counting. And it's just the tip of the iceberg here. July 11, 2013 photo by South Beach Hoosier. © 2013 Hallandale Beach Blog, All Rights Reserved
Well friends, here we are a month later and there's still no official response from responsible officials at the City of Hallandale Beach regarding what I and many other Hallandale Beach residents believe are some highly-questionable decisions being made regarding the city's proposed 2014 Parks Bond issue involving that involves tens of million$ and an effort to finallt try to improve the city's Quality-of-Life.

Among other questions currently lacking an obvious answer is:
a.) Why is the Hallandale Beach Parks Bond vote now scheduled for August instead of November's General Election, when greatest number of HB voters can vote at the same time that they are voting for Governor, other statewide races, state legislative races and two Hallandale Beach City Commission seats -those of Comm. Alexander Lewy's and Comm. Anthony A. Sanders?
b.) Why does the city seem absolutely determined to phrase the Bond question in such a manner that voters will NOT have assurance that all funds voted upon and approved are ONLY spent for city parks maintenance and expansion? Instead, based on what has been heard publicly on this matter, it seems that it will be written so that the City Commission could use any voter-approved Parks Bond revenue for other purposes, instead of only for Parks, like more pet projects of the mayor and the city commission, despite the city's parks long being an open source of embarrassment and frustration to HB residents, esp. those with kids who know what other area cities offer their residents.

As of Noon today, there has been no response from Sarah Shamah, whom HB Parks and Recreation Director Cathie Schanz said I should contact regarding my germane questions about some park issues. (Schanz even cc'd her.)

Not that Director Schanz has tried to answer these questions, either, despite my sending an email reminder to both of them on September 20th, reminding them both that I expected a full response to my handful of very reasonable questions that the city's taxpayers are entitled to know before it's too late.

Since I didn't have any luck hearing from them, why don't you contact them yourself and ask them why they won't answer some simple questions honestly and in a reasonable time frame?

From my perspective, one month seems plenty of time to get around to answering some pretty simple questions.
Here's their contact information:
"Shamah, Sarah" - sshamah@hallandalebeachfl.gov
"Cathie Schanz" - cschanz@hallandalebeachfl.gov

Cathie Schanz, CPRE Director, Parks and Recreation   
Cultural Community Center 
410 SE 3 Street Hallandale Beach, FL  33009 
Phone:  (954) 457-1452   
Hours: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday – Friday

As most of you regular readers of the blog know from my many past posts on the subject of the city's poorly-maintained city parks, while I have been a very strong and vocal supporter of the HB Parks Master Plan  in general, 
http://hallandalebeachblog.blogspot.com/2010/07/final-hallandale-beach-parks-rec-master.html
and have attended 95% of all the meetings on it all over this city from the  very beginning -even attending the Parks Advisory mtg. to hear the pitch from the consultants at Bermello Ajamil Partners Inc. before the public officially heard it at a City Commission meeting-
I remain unconvinced that in a city that's only 4.2 square miles in total, that it ought to have two separate swimming pools within two miles of one another, since that makes zero financial sense for this city's already under-the-gun taxpayers, especially since Northwest HB comprises only 13% of the city's population according to the 2010 U.S. Census, and you can catch a city MiniBus for free that takes you from that exact spot to the existing pool in less than 15 minutes.
Fix the existing pool you have and make it better.
But that sort of logic doesn't appeal to City Hall, since this is a city that annually borrows millions of dollars from its Reserve fund simply to pay normal operating expenses instead of cutting costs and expenses.

Here's the original email and below that are some reason that i think things are being constructed in such a deliberate fashion that disadvantages Hallandale beach taxpayers and gives the City Commission more money to squander and waste on pet projects that help them politically.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Schanz, Cathie
Date: Tue, Jul 30, 2013 at 10:39 AM
Subject: RE: re Hallandale Beach Parks/Rec. and taxpayer dissatisfaction with cost of B.F. James Park DOUBLING and a prospective Parks bond issue that prevents strict accountability of taxpayer dollars
To: "DBS", Parksrecreation
Cc: "Shamah, Sarah"


Hello Mr. Smith,

Thank you for contacting me with your comments and concerns regarding the Parks projects. 

I trust you found last night’s meeting informative.  If you require additional information on the projects, you may wish to contact our Capital Projects Manager, Sarita Shamah, directly.  I have copied her on this email.

All the best,

Cathie Schanz, CPRE
Hallandale Beach Parks and Recreation Director

From: DBS  
Sent: Monday, July 29, 2013 11:47 AM
To: Schanz, Cathie; Parksrecreation

Subject: re Hallandale Beach Parks/Rec. and taxpayer dissatisfaction with cost of B.F. James Park DOUBLING and a prospective Parks bond issue that prevents strict accountability of taxpayer dollars

----
And yes, after I wrote it and sent it out, on very little sleep, I realized that I'd actually reversed what I'd meant to say about what sort of Bonds that voters should be voting upon. But you get that by now I suspect, so I've left it below as it was when originally written -and very tired.

After the fact-filled Bulldog article that really makes a great predicate for better understanding this whole issue of the city's longstanding habit of purchasing land, then largely neglecting it and then buying yet more land, all with little actual idea of what to do with it, is my original letter to HB Parks Director Schanz. 
The one that led her to emailing me the name of Sarah Shamah, someone whom I'd never heard of, as a person to speak with.
Trust me, you'll be reading that name more in the future here on the blog as we investigate the doubling of costs of the new city park in Northwest HB, something my friend Csaba Kulin has already been hard at work looking at for a while.

Broward Bulldog
Hallandale Beach takes a bath on land deals; properties for redevelopment sit idle for years
By William Gjebre, BrowardBulldog.org
OCTOBER 6, 2011 AT 6:13 AM

-----
July 29, 2013

Dear Parks Director Schanz:

As the city's public budget meetings begin today, and despite the fact that the HB City Commission participated in a groundbreaking last week at the proposed B.F. James Park, did you know that there is STILL NOTHING on the City of Hallandale Beach's website explaining why the costs of that
particular park have DOUBLED.

No public explanation, no nothing.
From around $2.6 Million to over $5 Million.

This week the taxpayers of this city will expect to hear a serious and detailed explanation for why this park in Northwest Hallandale Beach will now cost TWICE AS MUCH as originally planned, but whose additional cost will now put at serious risk any work anytime soon at dowdy and depressing South Beach Park, the busiest part of the city's public beach

They will also expect a detailed explanation for how it is that despite knowing this fact for some time, you, the City Manager and the City Commission have completely failed to provide ANY sort of public explanation to this city's residents on the city's own website.

An explanation that sounds reasonable and plausible, not just a case of the City Hall being unable to control themselves and deciding to turn the proposed park and pool into a Christmas Tree, with more and more elaborate decorations and ornaments laden on top of it.

If the Hallandale Beach City Commission votes this week 
a.) for General Obligation bonds, wherein monies approved by voters via a referendum can be spent by the HB City Commission on something other than Parks, instead of voting for Revenue Bonds that strictly limit any
voter-approved monies to Parks usage,

and/or,

b.) votes to place this Bond issue on the ballot in August of 2014 when much of the city is still out-of-town for the summer, rather than in November of 2014 during the General Election, when the largest number of Hallandale Beach voters can participate, in conjunction with other concerned Hallandale Beach residents, I will happily lend my enthusiasm to a public effort to initiate a public signature campaign to negate these Commission votes.

Votes that would, necessarily, give Hallandale Beach taxpayers less control, accountability and confidence in the future use of any prospective Park funds, and which would, necessarily, punish Hallandale Beach voters who are NOT present -during the hottest month of the year.

You know, August.
It's the same entire month that the HB City Commission will be taking off in a few days?

I have long publicly supported the improvements of parks and recreational spaces in this city, often finding myself the only person in this entire city who  would publicly declare how poorly they were maintained by DPW, and publicly say how unsafe they were at night, with little concern shown by either the City Manager or Police Chief at the time, to say nothing of the DPW Director, who was unconcerned with park lights that were out for years at a time.

But make no mistake about it, we'll vigorously fight against and vote NO on any Parks Bond issue that is of a General Obligation nature or which is held in August.
We will help educate and encourage other HB taxpayers and small business owners to vote NO as well for reasons of lack of appropriate financial accountability and oversight mechanisms.

Here's how simple the math is.
Using the city's own rules, 25 people with signature sheets each only need to get 4 signatures a day of registered HB voters for three weeks to get the minimum required number of signatures to negate the vote.
But of course we'd have much more time than merely three weeks to get the desired signatures  

And honestly, what HB citizen would be against the idea of making sure that the Bond vote is taken when the largest numbers of voters could participate, in November of 2014, rather than in sweltering August?
And what HB citizens who are in favor of HB Parks improvement and expansion, like me, would be willing to let the present or future City Commission take the money that voters might approve in a Bond issue and use that money instead on their own pet projects or more goodies for the professional staff instead of only to be used for Parks? 
Or towards the construction of more unnecessary city buildings?.

The correct answer is nobody I know in the entire city, except maybe the current HB City Commission itself. And the City Manager and her well-paid staff who don't actually live here.

Remind me again why B.F. James Park will have a brand new pool with bells-and-whistles 1.7 miles from the existing city pool at Peter Bluesten Park, the city's largest park, that's also scheduled to be changed and 
improved in the next few years? (Or at least, so we were told last year.)

The main city pool that in the nine-plus years that I've lived here has NEVER had even one directional sign on U.S.-1, two blocks away from it?

Which is why some people don't even know the city has a pool.
Even people who in the past few years have been elected President of the HB Chamber of Commerce.

And yet despite all these things, HB taxpayers just can't seem to get any straight answers.

A search for docs on B.F. James Park leads us here:

Take a good look at what it says there.
Or rather what it doesn't.

There was nothing on the city's website prior to last week's groundbreaking about what this park will actually look like when it's finished, though we know what the city said they wanted most on the 2.35 acres in Northwest HB:
 Family orient pool  Basketball Courts  Passive Open Space  Pedestrian walkways  Playground  On and off site parking 

That is to say, at
there's nothing that's more recent than 18 months ago -February  10, 2012!

Oh, wait, that link to the city's Park Master Plan doesn't show what it will look like either.
Awesome!

It looks like Hallandale Beach and its 4.2 square miles may well soon have two, with the new one located exactly 1.7 miles from the other.

The reality of the matter is that if you want to go swimming in this city it is both cheap and convenient already. 
In fact, you can catch the city's mini-bus at O.B. Johnson Park and be taken to Peter Bluesten Park and the existing swimming pool for free in less than ten minutes.

Here's a Google Map that shows exactly this point..

While I have been a very strong and vocal supporter of the HB Parks Master Plan  in general, 
and have attended 95% of all the meetings on it all over this city from the very beginning -even attending the Parks Advisory mtg. to hear the pitch from the consultants at Bermello Ajamil Partners Inc. before the public officially heard it at a City Commission meeting- you can't convince me that a city this small having two separate swimming pools within two miles of one another makes financial 
sense for this city's taxpayers.

Especially in a city that borrows money every year from its reserve fund to pay normal operating expenses instead of cutting costs and expenses.

The money used for the second pool would be much-better spent being used to create something in the spaces that the city has already bought and purchased for park land for MILLIONS, esp. on Old Dixie Highway, since at present, all those acres of dirt have had nothing done to them other than, foolishly, a fence
being erected around it in June of 2012, even though nobody was ever there because, oh right, there's nothing there.
So why the fence?

In any case, the city left the gate open -there was NO lock on it!!!

Which is why in no time, people were consistently dumping materials there that became hills, which I have dozens of photos of from the past year.
That area only got cleaned-up LAST MONTH!
It only took a year for the city to get that mess a block from HB City Hall cleaned-up!

Even worse, there is no sign of any kind along Old Dixie Highway indicating WHEN it will be an actual city park after MILLIONS of dollars have already gone out the door.
Where's the specific timetable and benchmarks?

That, Director Schanz, is why a line in the sand is being drawn right now.

--------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Dobens, Peter <pdobens@hallandalebeachfl.gov>
Date: Fri, Jul 26, 2013 at 4:37 PM
Subject: Hallandale Beach Breaks Ground, Begins Work on Two City Parks
To: "Dobens, Peter" <pdobens@hallandalebeachfl.gov>


LOGO C
Hallandale Beach
Breaks Ground, Begins Work
On Two City Parks
B.F. James Park, Joseph Scavo Park  
For immediate release                                                                              Contact: Peter F. Dobens, public relations
DATE: Friday, July 26, 2013                                                                               954-457-1493, orpdobens@cohb.org

HALLANDALE BEACH –Construction crews have dug in and started turning soil in the redevelopment of the first two of 10 Hallandale Beach parks slated for reconstruction in the Citywide Parks Master Plan.
Hallandale Beach City Commissioners broke ground on the two projects this week; B.F. James Park, 101 NW 9th St., on Tuesday, July 23, and Joseph Scavo Park, 900 Three Islands Boulevard, on Wednesday, July 24. Hours later, both parks had construction fences up and crews clearing the way for the new parks. B.F. James Park is expected to open in June 2014. Joseph Scavo Park is planned to open in March 2014.
B.F. James Park, a $5 million project, will include a new swimming pool, basketball courts, exercise area and playground. The park includes lighting and restrooms.
Joseph Scavo Park, undergoing a $2.6 million redesign, will include two dog parks, exercise trail, covered sitting area, basketball court, covered playground and restrooms.
Hallandale Beach earned the “Playful City USA” designation this year and is living up to the moniker. The Citywide Parks Master Plan designed by architects and engineers Bermello Ajamil & Partners, calls for complete makeovers for 10 of the City’s parks over the next few years. Along with B.F. James Park and Joseph Scavo Park, the City is working to secure state, county and City permits to rebuild South Beach Park and North City Beach Park. Both projects are expected to begin as soon as the permits are issued.
Also, the park projects are part of the City’s award winning Community Benefit Plan.  The plan requires contractors to use City residents and City-based subcontractors in any municipal capital project worth more than $1 million. More than 50 percent of the skilled and unskilled laborers and sub-contractors working for the projects’ general contractor, Burkhardt Construction, are Hallandale Beach residents or businesses. The Community Benefit Plan attracted national attention from the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
Hallandale Beach
“Progress. Innovation. Opportunity”


B.F. James Park Groundbreaking, Construction
07-23-13 BF James (101)a
07-26-13 BF James Construction (18)a
Groundbreaking, Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Under construction Friday, July 26, 2013



Joseph Scavo Park Groundbreaking, Construction
07-24-13 Joseph Scavo (71)a
07-26-13 Joseph Scavo Construction (10)a
Groundbreaking, Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Under construction Friday, July 26, 2013


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Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Part 1 of 2 - re Hallandale Beach's groundbreaking tonight at B.F. James Park and the lingering controversy re the swimming pool situation in this small city. Why did the cost for this Hallandale Beach city park DOUBLE to $5 Million, which means that there's now NOT enough money to fix South Beach Park, the busiest part of the city beach?

Groundbreaking for the new B.F. James Park in Hallandale Beach
Tuesday 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. 
B.F. James Park, 101 NW 9th Avenue

So, why did the cost for this Hallandale Beach city park -B.F. James ParkDOUBLE, which means that there's now NOT enough money to fix South Beach Park, which is actually the busiest park in the city and the busiest part of the city beach?

Remind me again why B.F. James Park will place a brand new pool with bells-and-whistles 1.7 miles from the existing city pool at Peter Bluesten Park, the city's largest park, that's also scheduled to be changed and improved in the next few years? 

The city pool that in the nine-plus years that I've lived here has NEVER had even one directional sign on U.S.-1, two blocks away from it?
Which is why some people don't even know the city has a pool.
Even people who've been elected President of the HB Chamber of Commerce.

HB taxpayers can't seem to get answer for any of these simple questions.

A search for docs on B.F. James Park leads us here:
http://fl-hallandalebeach2.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/7190

Take a good look at what it says there.

Hey, look at us, we can waste money AND win an award from a group that's directly associated with Mayor Joy Cooper!

There was nothing on the city's website last night about what this park will actually look like when it's finished, though we know what the city said they wanted most on the 2.35 acres in Northwest HB:
http://hallandalebeachfl.gov/documentcenter/view/2725
 Family orient pool 
 Basketball Courts 
 Passive Open Space 
 Pedestrian walkways 
 Playground 
 On and off site parking 

That is to say, at
http://www.hallandalebeach.org/Search/Results?searchPhrase=B.F.%20James&page=1&perPage=10
there's nothing that's more recent than 18 months ago -February  10, 2012!
http://hallandalebeachfl.gov/DocumentCenter/Home/View/2305

Oh, wait, that link to the city's Park Master Plan doesn't show what it will look like either.
Awesome!

The City of Hollywood, over four-times larger in both physical size and population than HB, has exactly one municipal swimming pool. 
It looks like Hallandale Beach and its 4.2 square miles may well soon have two, with the new one located exactly 1.7 miles from the other.

The reality of the matter is that if you want to go swimming in this city it is both cheap and convenient already. 
In fact, you can catch the city's mini-bus at O.B. Johnson Park and  be taken to Peter Bluesten Park and the existing swimming pool for free in less than ten minutes.
Here's a Google map that shows you what I've said is true.

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Peter+Bluesten+Park,+501+S.E.+1st+Avenue,+Hallandale+Beach,+FL+33009&daddr=O.+B.+Johnson+Park,+900+N.W.+8th+Avenue,+Hallandale+Beach,+FL+33009&hl=en&sll=25.979959,-80.147796&sspn=0.012037,0.021157&geocode=FTBsjAEd1Ao5-yFxqf7UVASENykt18h6fKzZiDFxqf7UVASENw%3BFR6kjAEdkN84-yEoBldmyFOA5SljsI5NiavZiDEoBldmyFOA5Q&t=h&gl=us&mra=ls&z=15

While I have been a very strong and vocal supporter of the HB Parks Master Plan in general, 
http://hallandalebeachblog.blogspot.com/2010/07/final-hallandale-beach-parks-rec-master.html
and have attended 95% of all the meetings on it all over this city from the very beginning -even attending the Parks Advisory mtg. to hear the spiel from the consultants at Bermello Ajamil Partners Inc. before the public officially heard it at a City Commission did- you can't convince me thru the use of facts that a city this small having two separate swimming pools within two miles of one another makes financial sense for this city's taxpayers.

The money used for the second pool would be better spent being used to create something in the spaces that the city has already bought and purchased for park land for MILLIONS, esp. on Old Dixie Highway, since at present, all those acres of dirt have had nothing done to them other than, foolishly, a fence being erected around it in June of 2012, even though nobody was ever
there because, oh right, there's nothing there.
So why the fence?

In any case, the city left the gate open -there was no lock on it!!!

Which is why in no time, people were consistently dumping materials there that became hills.
That only got cleaned-up LAST MONTH!

It only took a year for the city to get that mess a block from HB City Hall cleaned-up!

Even worse, there is no sign of any kind along Old Dixie Highway indicating WHEN it will be an actual city park after MILLIONS of dollars have already gone out the door.
Where's the specific timetable and benchmarks?

Is it because they simply don't have a plan that makes sense, and are afraid to share THAT with the public, its true owners?

But then the lack of an actual logical plan is not something that has troubled mayor Cooper and the City Commission in the past, now is it?
Broward Bulldog
Hallandale Beach takes a bath on land deals; properties for redevelopment sit idle for years
By William Gjebre, BrowardBulldog.org
OCTOBER 6, 2011 AT 6:13 AM

Yet again we are confronted with first-hand experience of seeing that everything in this city, esp. the simple things, seems to have a preference for being done in an obviously indifferent half-assed fashion.
When will it end?

To get some answers, I suggest some of you start calling the city's PR flack, Peter Dobens at 954-457-1493 or pdobens@cohb.org and ask him for some answers on why such basic information about the park is STILL NOT on the city's (second-rate) website for taxpayers and residents to see.


-----
http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2013-02-08/news/fl-cn-james-0210-20130208_1_green-certification-leed-foster-park
City seeks green certification for park building
February 8, 2013
By Sergy Odiduro, Forum Publishing Group

Hallandale Beach is planning an environmentally friendly building at B.F. James Park.

The city is planning to seek a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification for the 3,800-square-foot building, which will house restrooms and administrative offices. Construction will start later this year, and the city recently approved two contracts (totaling about $70,000 and funded by Hallandale's Community Redevelopment Agency) to help with the LEED process.

The LEED standards are established by the U.S. Green Building Council and recognize eco-friendly designs, construction and other environmentally friendly projects.

"It's a whole new building, and when we put it up, we will be using renewable materials," said Rafael Perdomo, a city engineer and green initiatives coordinator. "The playground materials will also have recyclable content, and the lighting in the park will be high efficiency."

Renovations at the park, at 101 NW Ninth St., are part of a citywide master plan that involves the overhaul of several recreational facilities. Phase I of the project includes Scavo, South Beach and B.F. James parks.

"It's 60 percent complete and in the design phase," Perdomo said.

Plans for B.F. James also include a swimming pool, a playground, basketball courts and parking spaces.

Perdomo said the LEED project is part of a larger focus on being more environmentally friendly, including exploring eco-friendly alternatives to using chlorine in its municipal pools.

"At the Foster Park building, we have limited parking on purpose because we want to encourage walking or riding a bicycle to the park," he said. "We have bicycle racks, and we also have priority parking for hybrid vehicles and for those who carpool."

Friday, October 14, 2011

Comm. Keith London's take on Hallandale Beach City Comm. mtg., financial concerns re possible purchase of Post Office property on US-1 mirror my own


Below is the latest take from Hallandale Beach Comm. Keith London on last week's very odd HB City Commission meeting, which I stayed for 75% of.
I only spoke once during the meeting, though I was itching to speak 2-3 times on separate agenda items based on some of the mis-information and faulty renderings of the facts I heard from up on the dais.
But I bit my tongue each time. (After all, I can't put out every fire.)

That was especially painful while listening to the discussion of the discussion on the possibility of purchasing the Main U.S. Post Office on U.S.-1/Federal Highway, located across the street and just south of HB City Hall, and across the street from Gulfstream Park Race Track & Casino and the Village at Gulfstream Park retail complex.
In case of the latter, directly across from the Crate & Barrel.

(For the record, the Main Post Office here in Hallandale Beach is one of THE worst-designed and managed Post Offices I've ever been in, and one that under no circumstances should be located anywhere near U.S-1/Federal Highway, not least of all because it's interior is so small and yet wastes far too much space around it that could and should be bringing the city valuable tax revenue.
In my opinion, it ought to be re-located on Hallandale Beach Blvd., a few blocks west of the FEC R.R. tracks along Dixie Highway, but under the proposal offered to the city -see below- they have to get a site within a half-mile of their present location.
I'll have some very scathing news -with photos- on that Post Office and the way it's run soon, as I've been biting my tongue for MONTHS on the unsafe public safety situation there at night. Yes, directly across the street from the HB Police Dept.!
But it's all too true!)

Much as I like the abstract idea of the city purchasing the land with the idea of expanding the Bluesten Park recreational/ball field area and making that whole are from U.S.-1 to the FEC train tracks green and recreational space -City Hall/Police Dept. HQ, north of the property, would stay in place- since the city has far too little "open space," an idea discussed in the city's Parks Master Plan created by Bermello Ajamil & Partners, Inc., most of whose many public meetings I personally attended, videotaped and participated in, Comm. London's very legitimate financial concerns about this possible purchase are very sound.
Especially when you know as well as I do, how for years this city has purchased land with absolutely no written plan or agreed-upon strategy in place with what to do with it afterwards.

Broward Bulldog
Hallandale Beach takes a bath on land deals; properties for redevelopment sit idle for years
By William Gjebre, BrowardBulldog.org
OCTOBER 6, 2011 AT 6:13 AM

Links to Hallandale Beach Parks Master Plan (Staff Report, Supporting Docs)

There are FAR TOO MANY uncertainties to proceed now without some concrete idea of where the money is coming from, something the City Manager can NOT answer to the satisfaction of anyone I know, despite the info on the links above, esp. given how much money the city has taken from reserves.

The U.S. Post Office remaining there or anywhere within a half-mile of their present location is a flat-out terrible idea, for the reasons already stated, plus traffic.

By the way, FYI, to give you some idea how things work in South Florida, here, HB counts water, specifically, canals and lakes, as "open space" for purposes of determining the city's ratio, despite the fact that Chaves Lake is actually CLOSED to the public.
I don't know about you, but the last time I tried to walk on water...

My last post on the city's Parks Master Plan was from July 14th titled, The role of PAL in the City of Hallandale Beach, and specifically, in the larger debate about the HB Parks Master Plan and the city's priorities


Everyone,

The following is an update of agenda items and other issues discussed at the Wednesday, October 5, 2011 City of Hallandale Beach Commission Meeting.

Highlights of the Meeting

· City wants to purchase the US Postal Service property on US1, without a plan or funding source ($5 – 50 million dollars)

· Bluestein Park Water Tower is to be dismantled due to lack of maintenance which will cost the City $100,000 - $250,000

· City Attorney short list is finalized and Commissioner London makes a motion to add acting City Attorney Dion to the list. Passed 5:0

· City attorney workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, October 18, 2011 from 9:00AM to 6:00PM, in City Commission Chambers. Go to: http://www.cohb.org/index.aspx?NID=822&ART=3404&ADMIN=1 for all the resumes and back up material. The workshop provides the city commission the opportunity to openly discuss the merits and issues with each of the candidates. This meeting is open to the public.

· City staff to evaluate the hiring of potential lobbyists for the fiscal year 2011-2012 on Wednesday, October 12, 2011 from 9:00 AM Cultural Center. In Fiscal Year 2010-2011 the City budget was approximately $50,000 for lobbying.

· Commissioner London asks about the Beach Walk project on the old Manero’s Restaurant site – Please attend my next “Public Forum” when I will discuss this item in length

· Visit www.ChangeHallandale.com Recently awarded The New Times “Best of 2011 Award” – See recent post regarding CRA Land Purchases

· Please visit www.KeithLondon.com for any and all updates regarding the upcoming audit report for the City

REGULAR AGENDA

CITY COMMISSION, CITY OF HALLANDALE BEACH

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

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)

· Rosemary Gilchrist spoke regarding Item #9E – Water Tank Replacement

· Csaba Kulin spoke regarding the lack of timely information to the residents regarding the City Budget

· Jerry Biller spoke regarding the high fees the City charges for the following:

o Gross receipt tax

o Franchise fee for electric bill

o Franchise fee for cable bill

o Franchise fee for sanitation bill

o Hallandale Utility tax on water bill

o In addition, he felt the fire assessment fee was high compared to other cities

· Dave Smith spoke regarding Item 8D – Security Cameras and explained he felt the City was contradictory by not holding themselves to the same standards for signage as they require businesses in the City.

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)

7. CONTINUATION OF CITY BUSINESS FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS

8. CONSENT AGENDA

A. Approval of Draft Minutes - Regular City Commission Meeting of September 21, 2011

· Commissioner London voted against minutes and will continue to vote against minutes until we return to summary minutes so the residents have transparency in their government

· Please go to the link to see what Hallandale summary minutes look like: The minutes are from CITY COMMISSION REVIEW OF THE PROPOSED FY 2001-02 BUDGET

· http://library4.municode.com/minutes/home.htm?infobase=30094&doc_action=whatsnew

· Passed 4:1 London No

9. CITY BUSINESS

A. Investment Policies Update - General Employees and Professional Management Pension Plans (Staff: Director of Finance)

· The City Pension Plans required updating of the City Investment Policy plan because it was never appropriately updated in 2009 when required. Evidently, the City just forgot to update the plan accordingly.

o The new City auditors, Marcum, LLP, caught this oversight and brought it to the City’s attention

· Passed 5:0

B. Consideration of Approval of the 2011 Annual Floodplain Management and Hazard Mitigation Plan Evaluation Report (Staff: Director of Public Works, Utilities & Engineering)

· Passed 5:0

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)

TO BE HEARD AT 3:00 PM

· Due to increased savings the City experienced with the new sanitation disposal vendor, Choice Environmental and Recycling, the City voted to extend the existing contract for up to 5 years

· Choice is responsible for disposing of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) and recycling.

· This contract does not change any existing contract for pick up of MSW or commercial waste in Hallandale

· Passed 5:0

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)

· Commissioner London made a motion to utilize 10% - 15% of the additional $20,000 earmarked for miscellaneous upgrades to acquire additional signs to make the public aware of the cameras

o The logic behind the motion is the more visible the signs, the bigger the deterrent

o Motion passed 5:0

· Commissioner London also suggested the signs be the image/picture of a surveillance camera; eliminating the need to have the sign in 6-12 different languages

· Passed 4:1 – Ross NO

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)

· Commissioner London originally felt rehabilitating the Bluestein Park Water Tank is important because it is a critical piece of infrastructure for the following reasons:

o The water tank provides storage capacity of 250,000 gallons

o The water tanks provide “head pressure” meaning if everyone flushed their toilets at the same time this would allow for equalization of the pressure during high demand and not damage the system while still providing the service to meet the demand

o The water tanks also provide the City the opportunity to isolate parts of the community in case of a water line break

o Last but not least, the water tank is a the opportunity for enhanced fire protection

· Unfortunately, it is cost prohibitive ($100,000 - $250,000) to rehabilitate the water tank and the City has already spent approximately $39,000 renovating the interior of the tank up to the required standards, and another $45,000 in consulting fees for a detailed examination of the exterior

· Currently, the City will potentially have to spend another $100,000 to have the tank dismantled when regular proper maintenance would have allowed us to preserve this backup source of storage and capacity

· To renovate the Water Tank, it would cost the City approximately $250,000

· We are still living with the short sighted legacy of Mike Good, David Jove and Joy Cooper

· Commissioner London voted yes to remove the water tank at this time on the recommendation of staff, the advancement in pump technologically, and the fact that we are so far down the path of no return

· Passed 5:0

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)

· Commissioner London stated he was in favor of purchasing the US Post Office property to be added to our existing park inventory, but not without knowing all the costs involved and source of funding

· The Request for Proposal (RFP) from the US Post Office has the following requirements for purchase of the existing land:

o The City must provide at least an 11,000 square foot building located on 2 acres of property with at least 150 parking spots within ½ mile from the existing property

o The property and building must be “deeded” to the US Postal Service

· Commissioner London while in support of acquiring the property asked the following questions of City staff:

o How will the City fund payment for the property (estimated cost $6.5 million) and provide a new location (approximate cost $2 million)?

o What two acres are we going to deed back to the US Post Office as required by the RFP?

o There are currently many other projects approved by the city but are unable to be funded as follows:

· Parks Master Plan (4:1 -London No) estimated cost $17 - $39 Million, the City only had $5 to $7 million dollars allocated for this project

· Prior Bluestein Park land purchase – still a pile of empty dirt 3 years after the land was acquired?

· This year the City utilized $11 million in reserves to balance the budget

o How will be able to fund this purchase and what is the plan?

· Ultimately, there are way too many unknowns and lack of funding available for the City to complete the projects it has already approved let alone purchase the post office property

· Commissioner London is in favor of acquiring the property but requested information to appropriately identify how to fund the purchase and build out of the property

· Passed 4:1 – London NO

G. Consideration of an Alternative City Budget Process (Commissioner Lewy)

· Passed 4:1 – ROSS NO – she said it was not necessary

10. COMMISSION PLANNING

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

· Jerry Biller spoke regarding the Bluestein Water Tower and the reckless spending on the US Post Office land purchase

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)

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

· Passed 5:0

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)

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

· Passed 5:0

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)

· Passed 5:0

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)

· This change of ordinance was required to have the city be in compliance with Florida State Law. The law states no municipal government may have ordinances which are more stringent than the State Statutes regarding guns, gun ownership and the possession of weapons in and around municipal buildings

· Passed 5:0

13. COMMISSIONER COMMUNICATIONS - Items not on the Agenda

A. COMMISSIONER LEWY

B. COMMISSIONER LONDON

· Commissioner London requested the following information regarding the Beach Walk project which will be located on the old Manero’s Restaurant site:

o How many Flex units is the developer requesting to build condominium units?

§ Answer – 84 Units

o How many square feet is the developer asking Hallandale Beach to vacate for the project?

§ Answer - approximately 18,000 sq. ft.

o What is the number of hotel rooms proposed to build on the property?

§ Answer 432

o Is the developer requesting a reduction in the required amount of parking provided?

§ Answer - Yes

o Was the parking information included in the required mail out sent to residents in the area?

§ Answer - NO

C. COMMISSIONER ROSS

D. VICE MAYOR SANDERS

E. MAYOR COOPER

· Mayor Cooper nominated Terry Dillard as one of her appointees to the Planning and Zoning Board

14. CITY ATTORNEY COMMUNICATIONS - Items not on the Agenda

15. CITY MANAGER COMMUNICATIONS - Items not on the Agenda

16. ADJOURN

Keith S. London

City Commissioner

Hallandale Beach

954-457-1320 Office

954-494-3182 Cellular

www.KeithLondon.com

http://www.facebook.com/KeithSLondon