Hollywood civic activist and blogger extraordinaire Sara Case recently sent the following note out to folks to remind everyone in SE Broward about Monday night's HCCA meeting on the referendum taking place in two weeks.
From: Sara Case
Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2011 4:23 PM
Subject: HCCA's Public Education Meeting on Pension Referendum
Hi All,
Here are the details of HCCA's public education meeting on the Sept. 13 pension referendum election. Please notify your all your association members and friends as this meeting will provide a good opportunity for voters to learn the implications of this special election.
Date: Monday, August 29, 7 PM
Place: Fred Lippman Multi-purpose Center, 2030 Polk Street (large meeting room)
Purpose of Meeting: To provide fact-based information on how the referendum will affect city operations, city services and employees, and city taxpayers -- both if it passes and if it is defeated.
The Interim City Manager Cathy Swanson-Rivenbark will make the presentation.
The exact ballot language can be found at this link on the city website:
Why-oh-why can't the union officials who represent the individual members of the City of Hollywood Police and Fire Dept., Jeff Marano and Dan Martinez respectively, accept the fact that no matter how many times they say it to reporters or their members, the City of Hollywood CRA funds are not "found" money for the Hollywood City Commission to do with as they choose for whatever purpose?
(For that, you have to go to where I live, Hallandale Beach, There, things are so upside-down in the logic and common sense dept., that a perfectly preposterous idea for putting TVs/monitors -that run nothing but local ads- in HB businesses and public areas of condos NOT even in the CRA zone, got approved 4-1, with little to show for it but money down a rat hole. Money that the city is NOT trying very hard to get back from some of the individuals involved, once it went kerplunk.)
Over-and-over for years I have heard whining from them and Hollywood beat cops about there being this magic pot of gold over the rainbow.
But showing in many cases the very poor value of a Florida public school education, many persist in ignoring the facts and constructing arguments that result in them getting more, more, more.
It's NOT your money!
Given that taxes in Hollywood will still go up 11% even if this is approved, I believe that if it is rejected, the City Commission should fire about 300 City of Hollywood employees, not the 170 or so suggested in the Herald article below by Carli Teproff that appeared in this morning's newspaper.
Consider the extra people fired both a margin of error and a shot across the broadside that there are far too many people in the city's employ who are NOT earning their paycheck.
I know, I see it every week with my own eyes and have experienced it many times.
The condescension is the worst part.
People with Masters Degrees who think they know everything and are NOT interested in what you say about something, even when you have photographs that show that THEY are doing something that is NOT appropriate or safe, and even likely to lead to injuries to the public.
Nope, they just can't be bothered with your facts, they have workshops to go to.
-----
Miami Herald
HOLLYWOOD
With YouTube video and city mailings, Hollywood residents are learning about upcoming pension referendum
The gloves are off and both sides are coming out swinging with their campaigns to educate Hollywood voters on why they should or shouldn’t vote to change the city’s pension system
Please be sure to read this excellent overview of the government employee pension situation by the Tallahasse Democrat's Senior Political Writer and ColumnistBill Cotterell.
I meant to mention it here weeks ago when the controversy over whether or not the City of Hollywood and the Police and Fire unions would work things out without a referendum being necessary.
Taxpayers kick in an average $8.60 for every dollar that city employees contribute to their pensions, a sweet deal costing the Big Apple a bundle.
Even though their own retirements are less secure, as private businesses have shifted from traditional pensions to riskier savings plans like 401(k)s, taxpayers' support for rock-solid public employee pension plans is growing. That's because pension funds are guaranteed to grow 8 percent a year -- and taxpayers have to make up the difference if they don't.
Taxpayers' share of city pension costs has skyrocketed more than 900 percent in the last decade -- from $703.1 million in 2000 to $6.5 billion in 2009, according to the city comptroller's annual reports.
The cost is expected to hit $7.6 billion this fiscal year and $8.7 billion next year.
"It's a double-whammy for taxpayers," said E.J. McMahon, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute.
"If they're privately employed, they shoulder the risks of saving for their own retirement. At the same time, they have to pay a steadily mounting cost of guaranteed pensions for government workers."
Teachers get the biggest bang for their pension contributions -- the city puts in $15.50 for every $1 they contribute.
Taxpayers pay $10 for every $1 firefighters put in, $9 for every $1 from cops and $5.60 for every $1 from transit, sanitation and other civil servants, the 2009 report shows.
"The cost has risen because employee benefits were dramatically increased in 2000, just as the [stock] market began to collapse," said John Murphy, former executive director of the New York City Employee Retirement System, NYCERS, the largest city pension fund.
"In retrospect, it was one of the most irresponsible things to have done," he said.
Many private companies cut back or suspended matching contributions to employee 401(k) plans after the most recent dramatic market downturn in 2008. Some have begun to restore contributions, depending on profits.
Teachers hired after 2008 contribute 4.85 percent of their salaries for their first 10 years, then 1.85 percent a year thereafter.
Cops and firefighters make annual pension contributions depending on their age at swearing in, at most 8 percent at age 20. But in a benefit called "Increased Take Home Pay," the city subsidizes 5 percent of that.
Cops and firefighters are guaranteed an 8.25 percent return on their contributions, and can take loans from the plans up to twice a year, interest-free.
It's only fair, said Anthony Garvey, who recently retired as executive director of the Police Pension Fund.
He said the benefits befit the Finest and Bravest who risk "getting shot or running into burning buildings."
Retire it's on us
Taxpayers kicked in $7.35 billion to the city pension funds last fiscal year, while employees contributed $853.5 million.
An average of: $8.60 to $1
TEACHERS
Average pension: $54,268
Taxpayer contribution: $15.50 to $1
FIREFIGHTERS
Average pension: $53,347
Taxpayer contribution: $10 to $1
POLICE
Average pension: $41,319
Taxpayer contribution: $9.13 to $1
SANIT., TRANSIT, OTHER
Average pension: $24,889
Taxpayer contribution: $5.60 to $1
Source: Comprehensive Annual Financial Report of the NYC Comptroller for fiscal year 2009.
Had a very interesting time and learned a lot yesterday at the Garfield Community Center on Hollywood Beach for the Hollywood CRA and U-M mash-up I had posted about, though I was a bit disappointed that the number of local residents taking advantage of the opportunity was lower than I thought it'd be. No doubt much of that can be blamed on the rain we got in the area right before the event.
Above and below, some of the brain-storming, fact-finding and magic realism that went on yesterday on Hollywood Beach.June 3rd, 2010 photos by me, South Beach Hoosier Among those present from the City of Hollywood to see the interaction between local residents and the eager U-M grad students were new Hollywood CRA Executive Director Charlotte Burnett, whom I finally met, City Attorney Jeffrey Sheffel, as well as City Manager Cameron Benson and Assistant CM Cathy Swanson-Rivenbark, who always increase the all-important Big Ten factor wherever they go, since as I've mentioned previously, they went to the University of Illinois and University of Wisconsin respectively.
And for the record, I actually didn't put on my IU cap until near the end of the 90 minutes. While I was there, I asked around and found out that there will be more open sessions over the weekend, running from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.I may swing by again. I should also mention that if you have never been there before, the session is being held on the second floor of the Community Center connected to the parking garage, but though it's called Garfield, if you're driving there, when you're on State Road A1A, you actually need to make your turn on Connecticut, since Garfield is a one-way street south of the garage going west from the Broadwalk.
I'll have more comments here later tonight about this matter but wanted to post this basic info before 6 p.m. just in case it caught someone's attention who had forgotten it was scheduled for Thursday.
My comments follow the press release about Thursday's very interesting foray into planning, economic development and public policy, Hollywood-style.
It's the next step in a process of getting something in place over at Johnson Street and State Road A1A that is appealing and captures the imagination of both tourists and Hollywood residents alike, creates jobs, is aesthetically attractive if not iconic -and F-U-N!
FYI: The Margaritaville Casino Resort project in Biloxi, Mississippi, backed by Harrah's Entertainment, is currently on hold http://www.grandcasinobiloxi.com/casinos/grand-biloxi/casino-misc/margaritaville.html
See what their Orlando complex looks like: http://www.universalorlando.com/Citywalk/Restaurants/jimmy_buffett_margaritaville.aspx -----
The Evaluation Committee meeting for JohnsonStreet Beach Stage II Detailed Development Proposals has been scheduled for Thursday, March 4, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Hollywood City Hall, Room 219. The public is invited to attend, but not speak at this meeting.
The meeting will be taped and later aired on the Government Channel 78 and also on the City's website at www.hollywoodfl.org. RSVP's are not required to attend either meeting.
A Community Forum has been set for Monday, March 15, 2010 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Hollywood City Hall, Room 219. Developer presentations to the public followed by a Questions/Answer session. Refreshments will be served.
Please be advised the "Cone of Silence" remains in effect preventing Developers from communicating with Members of the City Commission and most City Staff.
The March 4, 2010 Evaluation Committee Meeting sequence was determined as follows:
Margaritaville Resort at Hollywood Beach, LLC
Presentation from 9:15 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.
Consultant Reports and Question/Answer session from 10:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Lunch Break 12:15 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.
Hollywood Beach Partners, LLC
Presentation from 12:45 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.
Consultant Reports and Question/Answer session from 1:45 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Evaluation Committee will begin deliberations and rankings at 3:45 p.m.
The March 15, 2010 Community Forum Agenda:
1. Introduction and Opening Comments
2. Oral Presentations from Proposers:
Hollywood Beach Partners, LLC
20 minute presentation
20 minute question and answer session with the Public
Margaritaville Resort at Hollywood Beach, LLC
20 minute presentation
20 question and answer session with the Public
3. Adjournment
We look forward to seeing you at these very important meetings!
---------- And this related bit of news from Terry Cantrell, President of the Hollywood Lakes Section Civic Association
http://www.hollywoodlakes.com/ NEXT HLSCA MEETING: Tuesday, March 9th, 2010. Time 7:30 p.m. at the Hollywood Beach Community Center, 1301 S. Ocean Drive.
Guest speaker: Asst. City Manager Cathy Swanson-Rivenbark on the Johnson Street Beach project and other important issues. Refreshments will be served. For info, call 954-923-1940.
Free parking.
ALL RESIDENTS are always WELCOME!
---------- I hasten to add that Terry Cantrell has been a great friend to the concerned citizen taxpayers of Hallandale Beach even while we have been sold-out by our own mayor and Commissioners Ross and Sanders and most of the Hallandale Beach business establishment, such as it is, led by HB Chamber of Commerce head Patricia Genetti, a woman who has continually spoken publicly in favor of the Diplomat'sabsurd and incompatible proposals for turning this small ocean-side city into a pinball machine, with multiple towers towering over residential neighborhoods and plunging them into near-permanent darkness, while their thousands of additional cars make the current gridlock even worse. As if that was possible. But we all know it is.
Here's the statement put out by HLSCA
-Lakes Residents:
The Broward County Planning Council heard the Diplomat Golf and Country and City of Hallandale Beach request for a land use change to Local Activity Center (LAC) on Thursday and voted 12 to 4 to approve the plan despite the Council's Staff recommendation of denial. The plan consists of 950 new condo units in a number of high rise buildings (from 20 to 27 stories) spread out along the perimeter of the existing golf course. The golf course would remain as is. In addition, a new hotel would be built for approximately 500 rooms. The HLSCA as well as many Hallandale Beach residents and condo associations urged the Planning Council to deny the application due to incompatibility with the surrounding neighborhoods as well as a potential increase in traffic and congestion. The Planning Council vote of approval is based upon the applicant working with the City of Hallandale Beach to further refine the plan by lowering the building heights and creating a workable traffic plan. The plan will ultimately come before the Broward County Commission for final approval in late March.
It should be noted that the City of Hollywood Dept. of Planning and Development also supported the Planning Council's Staff recommendation of denial. The HLSCA thanks our City's Staff for their support. They recognize that this project, if and when if ever gets built, will, indeed, increase traffic through the Lakes neighborhood. Currently, many Hallandale Beach residents use the Lakes streets to cut through to the north as no one wants to drive on the very congested Hallandale Beach Blvd.
The HLSCA would like to recognize the well organized United Condo Association of Hallandale Beach led by Luis Paredes for all their hard work on this issue. They are truly a force in Hallandale Beach and deserve respect and admiration for strongly advocating on behalf of their membership and all the residents of Hallandale Beach.
We will continue to monitor this project as it, hopefully, morphs into an acceptable development that will not negatively impact the surrounding residential neighborhoods. Stay tuned....
What to do about Johnson Street will be the subject of two meetings
By Ihosvani Rodriguez
June 11, 2009
HOLLYWOOD
City officials are asking residents to put on their thinking caps and come up with ideas on what to do with a city-owned property on the beach.
The first of two informal public meetings will be held next week to gather input on the long-awaited redevelopment of the city-owned Johnson Street property at A1A on Hollywood beach.
The first meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall.
A second meeting will be at the Hollywood Beach Culture and Community Center on June 18.
The city has also established an e-mail address to gather comments: johnsonstreetrfp@hollywoodfl.org.
The meetings come after a developer walked away from a plan
to build a $100 million hotel and beach resort on the property
now occupied by an aging garage and a parking lot.
--------------------
See also:City seeks community input for Johnson Street property