Showing posts with label Hallandale Beach Water Tower. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hallandale Beach Water Tower. Show all posts

Saturday, February 8, 2014

Latest news re The Hyde Beach Resort project on Hollywood Beach -the former Beach One Resort- right next to the Hallandale Beach Water Tower on State Road A1A: goes to the Hollywood Planning & Development Board on Thursday February 13th at 6 p.m.

Inline image 1

Notice that the artist's rendering of the project above, to the right, which I snapped at Hollywood's Planning Dept. this week -a plan which is completely different in design and scope from the original plan approved by the Hollywood City Comm. for the Beach One Resort, which was truly beautiful- does NOT show the Apogee right next to it 
And also does NOT show the effect of The Related Group's North Beach plans for a building where the old Beachside Cafe was located.

(Which the City of HB had ZERO renderings of at the beach for residents and visitors to see at both its groundbreaking weeks ago or at any point since then, contrary to common sense or any sense of getting the community to buy into it.)

Also NOT shown -the iconic HB Water Tower.
That's THREE neighbors NOT shown in one rendering.

But then the rendering for Apogee wasn't so accurate back in 2012 either, were they?
Just saying.

Below, from February 2012.


February 10, 2012 photo by South Beach Hoosier © 2012 Hallandale Beach Blog, All Rights Reserved

My previous blog posts on this very important parcel on A1A are here:


June 2008 Artist rendering of aerial view of Beach One Resort, Hollywood, FL
Carlos A. Ott, Architect from submitted documents to the City of Hollywood Development Review Board. September 11, 2008 photo by South Beach Hoosier

October 4, 2008

Naming Names Herald-style -Beach One Resort Hotel in Hollywood Passes Round One 

http://hallandalebeachblog.blogspot.com/2008/10/naming-names-herald-style-beach-one.html and 



October 18, 2008
Beach One Resort's Approval in Hollywood Provokes Wrath and Harsh Words at Hallandale Beach City Commission
http://hallandalebeachblog.blogspot.com/2008/10/beach-one-resorts-approval-in-hollywood.html


October 21, 2008
Cleavage Grows Larger b/w City of Hallandale Beach and Hollywood After Beach One Resort Approved


December 5, 2008
Sue-happy Hallandale Beach vs. Hollywood re Beach One Resort
http://hallandalebeachblog.blogspot.com/2008/12/first-shoes-drop-sue-happy-hallandale.html


JUNE 15, 2012 
Hallandale Beach Mayor Joy Cooper's old threats & lawsuits re-emerge as Hollywood's Beach One Resort sues over its access to the beach, the latest shoe to drop in The Related Group's Beachwalk project that'd make HB's North Beach a de facto private beach for The Related Group's properties, NOT a public beach for HB residents
http://hallandalebeachblog.blogspot.com/2012/06/hallandale-beach-mayor-joy-coopers-old.html

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Stop thief, stop! So guess whose campaign website contains 3 of my original blog photos -all taken without permission or paying for them? Bill Julian. Yes, just like Hallandale Beach City Manager Mark Antonio's serial copyright theft of many of my original photos. Antonio will soon learn that stealing just doesn't pay!


Stop thief, stop! So guess whose campaign website contains 3 of my original blog photos -all taken without permission or paying for them? Bill Julian. Yes, just like Hallandale Beach City Manager Mark Antonio's serial copyright theft of many of my original photos. Antonio will soon learn that stealing just doesn't pay!

Yes, it was exactly who you thought would be that incredibly clumsy just 20 weeks before a pivotal city election where voters will have yet another chance to thoroughly reject him, and keep him far away from any important decision-making about this city's future - former Hallandale Beach City Commissioner William "Bill" Julian


The very person whom I personally hold most responsible -along with Mayor Joy Cooper- for the sorry state of this city with so much potential, because of their consistent bad judgment, embarrassing decision-making, inattention to detail and complete unwillingness to ever learn from their many mistakes.
In that respect, they are both forever re-inventing the wheel of exasperation.


Circled in orange on this screen capture I made are the three original photos of mine that illegally appeared on Julian's campaign website as of 8 p.m. June 19, 2012.

So, let's take a close look at what Julian and his dim-witted campaign decided to use on their temporary campaign website, things which better completely disappear from there very soon -or else!
And really, Julian's lived here for multiple decades and he doesn't have any good photos of his own that he can use for his own campaign website, even temporarily?
Wow, that's pathetic!

Here are the captions that I've had on these photos since I first took them and uploaded them to my blog, with the occasional updates: 

Hallandale Beach Water Tower on A1A/South Ocean Drive
Hallandale Beach Water Tower on A1A/South Ocean Drive. Located below the Hallandale Beach Water Tower on A1A/South Ocean Drive, on the south side (right) is the "Community Center" that HB City Hall, thru their gross incompetency, had made impossible for HB citizen taxpayers to use now for 41 MONTHS as of January 2011. (And where's the American flag on the Fourth of July weekend? Missing in action as it had been for months!) July 3, 2009 photo by South Beach Hoosier

Hmm-m... where have I seen this photo before...


My July 3rd, 2009 photo of the HB Water Tower as seen on the City of Hallandale Beachs website, via their computer next to the public notice board at HB City Hall. The city's website has contained numerous of my photos for well over a year without ever asking for my permission and without ever paying for them. That's how they do things under the current crew running the city. February 10, 2012 photo by South Beach Hoosier.

A FISH ROTS FROM THE HEAD DOWN, AND SO DOES LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN BROWARD COUNTY, FL


A fish rots from the head down, and so does local government in Broward County, FL
City of Hallandale Beach Municipal Complex: A fish rots from the head down, and so does local government in Broward County, FL. This monument sign on U.S.-1 and S.E. 5th Street, across from Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino and the Village at Gulfstream Park retail complex, alerts you to your proximity to way from the HB City Hall and Police Department. 
It's a government that by their words and actions has given taxpayers every impression of holding itself apart and above from the citizens it's supposed to serve, often acting like they don't have to follow the laws that govern everyone else in the state of Florida and the U.S., whether of logic and reason, contracts, or, more to the point for this blog, the Florida Statutes on Sunshine Laws and Public Records. 
City employees in Hallandale Beach routinely refuse to answer reasonable questions posed to them by resident taxpayers, and as I have found out myself, often berated you for even having the nerve to ask! Comm. Dotty Ross has a solid record for her put-downs of the public even before they speak. 
As it happens, it's also not a very safe area, despite who's supposed to be there, and in the past few years, the public parking lots have been pitch black for 6-9 months at a time, even next to the Police Dept. HQ. The then-Police Chief just shrugged his shoulders, even at City Comm. meetings. As if they couldn't make a worse first impression, at one point, even the lights on this sign didn't work at night for over FOUR YEARS, either. March 3, 2009 photo by South Beach Hoosier.



HALLANDALE BEACH. ACTUALLY, IT'S A CITY OF GROSS INCOMPETENCY, RED-TAPE & MYOPIA


Hallandale Beach. Actually, it's a city of gross incompetency, red-tape & myopia
Hallandale Beach, City of Choice. The sign that greets northbound drivers on U.S.-1/South Federal Hwy. as they leave the City of Aventura and Miami-Dade County in the rear window; one of the three main streets into Hallandale Beach. Unfortunately, it's the perfect metaphor for the City of Hallandale Beach and its elected officials and employees: short-sighted and lacking in common sense. This sign was originally placed so far west on the median strip -and practically BEHIND a palm tree- that drivers can't actually read it even if they wanted to. In any case, because of the longtime gross incompetency and negligence of the city, the spotlights that are supposed to illuminate the sign at night HAVEN'T worked since about mid-January of 2004. 
Which is to say, yes, LONGER than the U.S.'s involvement in WW II. 
Welcome to the City of Hallandale Beach! Begin heavy traffic, chronic red tape and mis-adventures in government! Hallandale Beach, FL; Original photo here was taken January 2007; this one taken May 8, 2008; photo by South Beach Hoosier. 
The three palm trees that had been in front of it on the median are gone, so now you can REALLY notice that it DOESN'T work! 
February 2009 update: In order to make room for a left-turning lane at S.E. 5th Street into The Village of Gulfstream retail complex, the 'invisible' sign was removed and placed farther north. As of June 19th, 2012, the lights on this sign STILL don't work! In fact, the light fixtures have been gone for months. Yet another sign of the ruinous reign of Mayor Joy Cooper and City Manager's Mike Good & Mark A. Antonio. No attention to detail!

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Well, as people are always saying, you only get one chance to make a good first impression.

Not to worry, though, within the next week, I'll get to the self-evident and serial copyright thievery of City Manager Mark A. Antonio at Hallandale Beach City Hall, which goes back more than a year.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

These are the 'Mean Streets' I cover. I cover the waterfront... Hallandale Beach, Florida, U.S.A. and the Rubber Stamp Crew that holds it hostage

Aerial views of Hallandale Beach, Florida, U.S.A.
http://youtu.be/vXRFoLZ7oN8

These are the 'Mean Streets' I cover.
"I cover the waterfront..."

And I cover and observe with alarm the sham community meetings fronted by lobbyists and developers, the ungodly long City Commission meetings where logic, reason and common sense are, more times than not, no-shows to proceedings whose results are known before they ever start.

And I cover the graffiti-filled streets and drug-dealing back-alleys, dirty and unattractive public city beaches and pitch-dark public city parks where the first impressions drawn by residents and visitors are decidedly negative -and stay negative because of the apathy and neglect of those in charge at City Hall, who are oblivious and defensive about what is entirely self-evident.

Hallandale Beach has enormous potential, and, literally, an ocean of possibilities because of its great location and weather.
It's a city that ought to be a LOT BETTER place to live in and work in than it is now.
And everyone knows it.

But Hallandale Beach is also an ocean-side community that for years has been held hostage by the myopic, condescending and completely under-performing Rubber Stamp Crew of Mayor Joy Cooper, with the result that Hallandale Beach City Hall is genuinely afraid of open public debate and the public they purport to represent, as well as the voices of change that seek to hold THEM accountable.

In 48 weeks, the future of this city will be in the hands of Hallandale Beach voters to decide what kind of community this is going to be: more of the tyranny of the status quo, or, transparent, accountable and hard-working representatives who don't sleep-walk and shirk their responsibilities
In short, what kind of Quality-of-Life they and their families and neighbors will enjoy.

You all know what side I'm fighting for.


A classic scene from 1953's "On the Waterfront": Edie and Terry reminisce, verbally spar and connect; Marlon Brando and Eva Marie Saint make movie magic!

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Tuesday, January 25, 2011

The Great Hallandale Beach 'North Beach' Dedication Debacle of 2011 is Today


Above and below, January 21, 2011 photos by South Beach Hoosier
.



With less than 22 hours to go 'till the The Great Hallandale Beach 'North Beach' Dedication Debacle of 2011...

Yes, m
y new name for the fiasco that's scheduled to go down at 5:30 p.m. on the beach Tuesday under the iconic HB Water Tower is The Great Hallandale Beach 'North Beach' Dedication Debacle of 2011.

January 21, 2011 photos by South Beach Hoosier.

Curious to see what the city was finally doing to promote something that should've taken place in the Fall of 2007, I drove by the North Beach facility on State Road A1A/South Ocean Drive and Hallandale Beach Blvd. on Monday evening around 8 p.m.

There, with the clock ticking, and everyone in the city perfectly aware of how badly this fiasco reflects on the people at HB City Hall, I saw for myself that the city
finally decided to do what it should've done ten days ago -and often has for other MUCH LESS important reasons.


January 24, 2011 photo by South Beach Hoosier.

Meanwhile, the Golden Isles Tennis Club has had their sandwich board in the highly-visible spot of the median on Hallandale Beach Blvd. and 14th Avenue, near the Publix and the Walgreens, for at least three weeks.

Whom do we all know who plays tennis over there?


January 24, 2011 photo by South Beach Hoosier.

When I got there, the first thing I noticed was how ridiculously dark it was over there, as ALL the safety lights were NOT on between the A1A sidewalk and the front of the building, and we all know that there are ZERO turtles in that city water fountain, since until last month, there was no water in it for 16 months.

So unless something changes between now and then, about 15 minutes into Tuesday's 5:30 p.m. dedication, it will be pitch black.
The perfect metaphor for this city in a black hole.


January 24, 2011 photo by South Beach Hoosier.

I caught the west-bound traffic light on A1A right away and so didn't see whether or not the city actually spelled everything correctly on the board, but I wouldn't count on it.
Could someone please check in the morning?


January 24, 2011 photo by South Beach Hoosier.

And did anyone happen to notice what day and time the city's electronic board FINALLY made it over there, since it wasn't there late Friday afternoon?

If so, please share the knowledge in the morning so we all know!



I wonder if anyone from the community will heckle the parties directly responsible for this black eye, like Mayor Joy Cooper, City Manager Mark Antonio or DPW Director John Chidsey, who was hired what seems like years ago specifically to speed-up the process and open the facility?

Didn't happen, did it?


In any case, as usual, there will no doubt be far too many HB police officers present, hanging around with nothing to do, with some no doubt parking their police cars right on the brick sidewalk that surrounds the water fountain that was empty for so very long, another Chidsey success.


They may even leave their emergency lights flashing as they do for the other events I've witnessed over there the past few years that defied description, like the Air Supply concert, where well-known cronies of the City Hall crowd and PAL used the public facility and parked in the city's public garage, while the public was forced to park many blocks away and walk.

Yes, it often seems like the elected officials and employees of this small city forget that they work for the people here, not the other way around, and that it's their thinking -not ours- that needs to Change, as my friend Michael Butler forcefully reminded City Manager Antonio on Wednesday night after city employee Antonio insulted Michael, myself and about two-dozen other HB citizens by patronizingly saying that we needed to change our behavior, not him.

No, we know EXACTLY who needs to change their myopic thinking and their way of doing things, and it's NOT us.

Steps and strategies towards "fixing" that kind of outmoded thinking at Hallandale Beach City Hall is already well under way, and one of them employs a management method that I've mentioned here on the blog before as being one of my personal favorites -
addition-by-subtraction.


Change Hallandale:
http://web.me.com/mike.butler/Change_Hallandale/Updates/Updates.html

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Final Hallandale Beach Parks & Rec. Master Plan meeting with consultants at HB's A1A Community Center on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Above, September 2008 photo of Hallandale Beach Water Tower by South Beach Hoosier.

Above, July 12, 2010 photo of Hallandale Beach Water Tower and A1A Community Center by South Beach Hoosier.

The final Hallandale Beach Parks & Recreation Dept. Master Plan public meeting with the city's consultants, Bermello Ajamil Partners, Inc., is scheduled for Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. at the A1A Community Center under the iconic Hallandale Beach Water Tower on State Road A1A and East Hallandale Beach Boulevard. When your view looks like this one below the Water Tower, you're in the right place.That's The Beach Club condo towers on the left. July 11, 2008 photo by South Beach Hoosier.

As of now, it's my intention to record the meeting if there's any sort of formal presentation, though there may not be.

I've intentionally waited until this very last meeting with the consultants so that I would not have to go to it already disappointed or resigned to notions of mediocrity.


I spoke to the two principal consultants at the HB Parks & Rec. Advisory Board meeting in early June for just a bit under ten minutes out in the HB Cultural Center hallway, out of earshot of the Advisory Board that was still discussing something inside the room after the consultant's Q&A.


They seemed
genuinely open to suggestions and comments and at one point, after they told me about some past clients and a general idea of what they'd done for them, I told them that I'd been looking forward to their outreach for quite some time.

But I also told them that their firm had a lot more work ahead of them than they might've thought, since there are so many people in this city besides myself who have come to the inescapable conclusion that it's in the best interests of the city's taxpayers for the responsibility for the city's public beaches to be wrested away from HB DPW, and given to either Parks & Rec., or have it contracted out completely, so that the public beach can begin to approach the level of fun and aesthetics the community deserves and expects.


The sort of beach some in the community want will be sort of like a South Florida version of...
Above, Nikki DeLoach, Brooke Burns and Amanda Righetti from FOX-TV's fantastic and preposterous 2004-'05 program, North Shore.


But for other reasonable residents of this city, a clean, well-maintained beach that shows a little civic pride would be a good first start.

That's especially the case with people who have bought property nearby to really enjoy the beach, yet, paradoxically, are perpetually dumbstruck by how poorly maintained it is, coupled with the general neglect and apathy of the city's leaders to make better use of it as a resource, to say nothing of the Hallandale Beach Police avoiding patrolling the area, something that the local criminal class knows well and exploits.

Above, May 12, 2008 photo of obstructed genus sign at Hallandale Beach's South Beach by South Beach Hoosier. It's even worse now if you can believe it. This sort of apathetic approach to maintenance is a longstanding problem at the beach.Where's the HB version of the proactive steps that Hollywood Mayor Peter Bober is making regarding erosion on Hollywood Beach?

Have you seen how old and graffiti-scarred the South Beach life guard tower is?
They've been waiting for a replacement since...

How about a beach that's
thoroughly cleaned with the actual sand sifted like it was in Haulover Beach thirty years ago, when my friends and I were going there regularly on weekends and during the summer, and not simply leveled with a rusty pipe with claws that seems straight out of 1930's Russia?


It's a piece of low-tech equipment that is left right on the beach during the day instead of being stored somewhere nearby like would be normal anywhere else.

Here, though, it's all about doing what is easiest for the city employees, which is the situation with recycling bins on the beach also.

Which aren't on the actual beach!


Since the vast majority of the people seeing this post weren't at the last -ONLY!- meeting held at the "Community Center," the A1A Quadrant meeting, you really owe it to yourself to come by and check it out from the inside.

Without giving away too many secrets about my super-powers,
I think I can accurately predict what will happen if you do.
You will get angry all over again that it's only the second time the two-story building has been open to HB citizens in 35 months, though VIP friends of City Hall have used it many times before, of course, esp.
PAL and the Kessel Crew.

And 35 months later, the second floor
STILL isn't fixed and the elevator STILL doesn't work.

And most galling of all, as I've written here several times in the past, there's still nothing on the building saying what it is, when it's open or when a public forum will be held in the city where citizen taxpayers can tell the city's elected officials exactly what they want it to be.

What it shouldn't be is strictly a rental space, as seemed to be the preferred option of former HB City manager Mike Good, yet another reason for me and so many other concerned citizens of this community to be glad he's gone. It should be a positive and dynamic resource, not a storage closet on the beach! 


Now, though, as you can see in my photos below, it's just an airy storage room for stacked-up chairs, albeit in a room that just happens to be steps from the shore of the Atlantic Ocean.
Pathetic!Above, July 12, 2010 photo by South Beach Hoosier looking east from front door of HB A1A Community Center. The Palm trees you see thru the window are on the beach.


Above, July 12, 2010 photo by South Beach Hoosier looking north from window of HB A1A Community Center, opposite The Beach Club condo towers.

Above, July 12, 2010 photo by South Beach Hoosier looking west from window of HB A1A Community Center, reflecting the Palm trees behind me and the Atlantic Ocean less than 80 yards behind me. The color teal you see is the bottom of the Water Tower outside the front door.


Now that you have seen a small snapshot of this facility opposite the beach, you can better appreciate why this issue has been driving so many other concerned citizens of HB crazy for years, including me.

A two-story facility with an observation area on the roof that is but a stone's throw from the Atlantic Ocean, one that other towns and cities in South Florida would positively kill to have, which was given to Hallandale Beach for free, and yet under Mayor
Joy Cooper and former City Manager Mike Good, for 35 long months, it's been strictly off-limits to its rightful owners, the citizen taxpayers of Hallandale Beach.

A week from Tuesday, August 3rd, will mark exactly THREE YEARS that it has belonged to us.
And yet we are on the outside looking in.

If this was happening in Miami Beach or Fort Lauderdale, the South Florida news media would be crawling all over this story, because it is so easy to understand, but because it is here in Hallandale Beach, it is completely ignored, despite my best efforts to get reporters interested.

----

From COHB's website:http://www.hallandalebeachfl.gov/CurrentEvents.aspx?EID=2793

Title: Citywide Parks Master Plan Community Meeting - A1A/Beach Corridor
Date: July 24, 2010
Start Time: 1:00 PM
End Time: 2:00 PM
Description: The project consists of the development of a Citywide Park Master Plan, including a redesign to the City Parks sites, needs assessment and analysis, capital improvement plan and funding options, with a forward-thinking strategy to support the residents and Community’s needs and programs. The Consultant for this project is Bermello Ajamil Partners, Inc.
This will be the first of several meetings facilitated by Bermello Ajamil Partners, Inc. as part of the Parks Master Plan creation process. The Community is encouraged to participate and share their thoughts and ideas.
The Community’s input is essential. If you cannot attend one of the listed meetings please visit the City’s website where you can provide your feedback, suggestions and input at www.cohb.org under the Parks Department/Parks Evaluation.
Address: North Beach Municipal Building
2801 E. Hallandale Beach Boulevard
Hallandale Beach, FL 33009
Contact: (954) 457-1452
Link: Citywide Parks Master Plan Community Meetings

Friday, December 25, 2009

Happy Holidays from Hallandale Beach: A taste of chutzpah, hypocrisy and incompetency with your eggnog; Joy Cooper's change of heart after getting elected is just another one of those things that makes us all shake our heads

December 25, 2009

Dear faithful readers: 

On this day, as any other, a trip on Hallandale Beach Blog's Time Machine is never for the faint of heart or the intellectually dis-honest.

First, the set-up piece:

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RESIDENTS: KEEP RELIGION OFF DISPLAY - COMMISSION AGREES, CHANGES HOLIDAY PLANS

South Florida Sun-Sentinel
By Thomas Monnay
October 8, 1997

Arnold Lanner wanted to please Jews and Christians when he persuaded his fellow commissioners to approve funds for a menorah and a Christmas tree for the city's holiday lighting display.

The move, however, has landed the city in church-and-state hot water

Several upset residents, including Alan R. Griffith, a lawyer, have warned officials against using taxpayer's money to erect religious symbols on public property.

The lighting display, the city's fifth in a row, kicks off Nov. 22.

"We hold both the city and its employees responsible for making such an unwise decision accountable," Griffith told commissioners in an Oct. 1 letter. "Please be advised that we take the Constitution very seriously and will, if necessary, seek help of the courts to protect its provisions."

Joy Cooper, an activist who also criticized the proposed use of religious symbols, said she would be willing to sue the city.

"The government has no right to get involved in religion," Cooper said.

She is concerned that city officials might some day add a cross or a nativity scene to the display.

Fearing a nasty court challenge from the residents, commissioners on Tuesday backed down from their plan with a 4-1 vote, leaving Lanner an angry man.

The symbols would have cost the city $3,000.

"I'm very unhappy about it," Lanner said. "I feel it's a holiday that denotes the two major religions [Christianity and Judaism)."

When commissioners unanimously approved Lanner's request in January, they thought the city was "mature" enough to deal with the change. But the public protest continued to mount as the holiday season approached.

City Attorney Dick Kane has told commissioners that it is probably illegal to use tax dollars for such purposes, but Lanner is not so sure.

Lanner said he could not understand why the federal government can spend tax dollars to erect a giant Christmas tree on the White House lawn and Hallandale can not do something similar.

He pointed out that Broward County's main library, a tax-supported facility, also displays a Christmas tree.

"Where do you draw the line," Lanner said. "It's kind of saying Christmas doesn't exist; it's kind of saying Hanukkah doesn't exist."

Commissioner Sonny Rosenberg said many Jewish residents requested that a menorah be part of the holiday display. But the latest uproar made him realize that there are more people who don't want one.

"If it's illegal, I think we ought to obey the law," Rosenberg said. "We don't always [do that), but in this case we will."

Lanner is still not convinced.

"I think we have to be more lenient as far as religion is concerned in the city of Hallandale," Lanner said.

City officials launch the display each year with a lighting ceremony and entertainment in the Diplomat Mall's parking lot. It illuminates Hallandale Beach Boulevard with thousands of colorful lights.

Cooper and Griffith, who have small children, said they love the event. But they want it to remain a holiday display _ not a religious celebration.

"I like it the way it is now," Cooper said. "I don't think it needs to be bigger, I don't think it needs religion in it.

----------
In the City of Hallandale Beach, though there are literally dozens of self-evident public safety and Quality-of-Life issues that city employees really ought to be spending their time on first, something I only mention here constantly, city employees are often dispatched to work on matters that seem to have very little to do with the real priorities of a living, working city.

In my opinion, that's the case with the city's annual holiday lights display on Hallandale Beach Blvd., often BEFORE Election Day in the first week of November, as was the case last year.

Really

Above, South Beach Hoosier photo of holiday light display on HBB, looking southwest from in front of Boston Market, November 6, 2009, a month before the official ceremony.

This attitude by HB City Hall is nothing new, though, as the year of Hurricane Wilma, three years ago, city employees were busy working on putting-up holiday lights in front of Hallandale Beach City Hall (on the U.S.-1 side, due to road construction on HBB) even while there were complaints

about piles of garbage and debris on city streets and curbs all over the city, even right near City Hall, many of which I saw for myself.

In fact, even as I saw the lights go up, the STOP signs in the city's very own parking lot were lying on the ground, where they'd remain for WEEKS.
Why?

Because that's the way they like to do things.
Logic and reason?
Where do you think you are?

Who has time to deal with public safety when there are holiday lights to go up?

In fact, the first day that they city started putting those lights-up three years ago -a three day process as it turned out- I was talking on my cell phone to a Miami Herald reporter about the city's rather dismal cleanup effort compared to next door Aventura and Hollywood as I came across the workers wrapping lights around palm trees.

And what about the Sun-Sentinel article at the top of this post from 12-years ago, that revolved around city residents' concerns about the city placing religious items, to wit, a menorah and a nativity scene, on city property, including "activist" Joy Cooper among others?

When push came to shove, though, what has history shown us has actually happened in the intervening years?

Well, since I've been living here, it seems like every mid-December, I suddenly see a giant menorah emerge out of nowhere, placed near the entrance to the city's beach at State Road A1A and HBB.

It's NOT sponsored by some private group, it's the city's.

(And in any case, it's PUBLIC property.)

No, there's nothing there that says a generic "Happy Holidays" nor are there cheery plastic candy canes, but rather an actual menorah, often propped-up by sand bags as I recall.

Frankly, it looks both sad and pathetic, especially after it's fallen and is just lying there on the ground.

What do you know, here's a photo I snapped of the menorah from last year, Dec. 26th to be exact.


Above,looking east from State Road A1A/S. Ocean Drive sidewalk.  December 26, 2008 photo by South Beach Hoosier

And more recently you ask? Well, how about Dec. 19th, last Saturday?December 19, 2009 photo by South Beach Hoosier


And what about the situation right in front of Hallandale Beach City Hall itself?

Here are some photos I took on of light displays there, one of a menorah and the other of a three-piece silhouette that, to my eyes at least, looks exactly like your standard generic Joseph, Mary and Baby Jesus.

Not exactly Sugar Plum fairies or Nut Crackers or reindeer...
Or am I wrong in my description?



Above, December 24, 2009 photo by South Beach Hoosier looking west at entrance to Hallandale Beach City Hall on U.S.-1 from the sidewalk in front of Village at Gulfstream.



December 22, 2009 photo by South Beach Hoosier.
Directly in front of Hallandale Beach City Hall.



Dec. 22, 2009 photo by South Beach Hoosier. Directly in front of Hallandale Beach City Hall.



Dec. 22, 2009 photo by South Beach Hoosier. Menorah decoration in front of Chabad of South Broward, on HBB, which suffered a lot of flooding damage a week ago.
Nobody cares about this one being here since it's on private property.


Dec. 20, 2009 photo by South Beach Hoosier.
The U.S.-1 sign right near the religious displays in front of Hallandale Beach City Hall.
To the right is the near pitch black HB City Hall parking lot, a recurring Guest Star of so many
previous posts here on the blog for obvious safety reasons.


Not that that the city has shown the slightest inkling to resolve the self-evident public safety
problem there they all know about...

That's how they do things in the City of Hallandale Beach under Joy Cooper and Mike Good.


Thanks for taking this trip aboard the Hallandale Beach Blog Time Machine.

What is it with the City of Hallandale Beach and American flags? The city's DPW perpetually seems unable to handle the small things and the big things. It's long past time to outsource some of their responsibilities since they are not performing satisfactory and not meeting taxpayers expectations

Above, another shot of the missing American flag in front of the Hallandale Beach Water Tower and the HB Fire/Rescue Station at the intersection of State Road A1A/South Ocean Drive and Hallandale Beach Blvd. It's next door to the so-called North Beach Community Center that average HB taxpayers haven't been able to access since it was given to them, not the HB City Commission and PAL, on August 3rd, 2007, 28 months ago. The person most-responsible for this: Mayor Joy Cooper.
The same person who won't allow a public meeting about the building's future to be held because her interests are in complete conflict with the community's, who want to actually be able to use their city building steps from the ocean and with a great view of the ocean. 
December 19th, 2009 photo by South Beach Hoosier. All photos on this page © 2013 Hallandale Beach Blog, All Rights Reserved

Just the latest in a never-ending series of missing American flags at that site over the years, in this case, missing since August.

Just saying...For those of you who've been paying close attention to what I've written here on the blog over the years to the damage done by the longstanding gross indifference to the importance of first impressions, appearances, aesthetics and public safety by Hallandale Beach City Hall, to say nothing of ethics, laws and proper procedures, the following bit of old news will not surprise you a whit.

You may recall my specifically commenting
here five weeks ago on the truly embarrassing situation involving the American flag at the Hallandale Beach City Hall and the HB Fire/Rescue Station on Three Islands, where I even had video.

See my November 16th blog post

Oh, say can you see... Guess which city's
 flag ignored Fort Hood and Veteran's Day?

http://hallandalebeachblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/oh-say-can-you-see-guess-which-citys.html

And that criticism itself only dovetails with the longstanding, year-after-year problems with the
American flag next to the HB
Fire/Rescue Station at the intersection of State Road A1A/South  Ocean Drive and Hallandale Beach Blvd., in front of the HB Water Tower, which I've written about after first speaking to people in the city nominally in charge, who did NADA.

As it happens, as of last week, the American
flag over on A1A has been missing since August.


Well, that sort of general indifference and turning a blind eye to what's patently obvious has been par for the course under Mayor Joy Cooper and City Manager Mike Good since I returned to the area, as well as under HB Fire Chief Daniel Sullivan & Company, and to prove that point, I include here now some photos that I meant to run on Nov. 16th to show that very fact pattern.


These photos are from Oct. 26th of 2008 and show rather conclusively that the sort of thing that would be completely unacceptable in most American communities, continually flying a badly-damaged American flag for WEEKS above a government building, is just a normal day for officials of the City of Hallandale Beach.

They just shrug their shoulders and move on,
pretending they're busy earning their salaries.

They're not, and we know it.

Below, photos taken on October 26, 2008
by South Beach Hoosier.





Tuesday, August 25, 2009

HB Mayor Joy Cooper's faltering damage-control of budget facts while unelected Mike Good giveth and taketh from HB taxpayers. Mostly taketh!

July 3, 2009 photo by South Beach Hoosier © 2012 Hallandale Beach Blog, All Rights Reserved

Below the Hallandale Beach Water Tower on State Road A1A/Ocean Drive, on the south side (right) is the "Community Center" that HB City Hall, thru their gross incompetency, has made impossible for HB citizen taxpayers to use now for 105 weeks and counting, as of August 22, 2009.
And where's the American flag on the Fourth of July weekend? 

Missing in action as it has been for months!


July 3, 2009 photo by South Beach Hoosier  © 2012 Hallandale Beach Blog, All Rights Reserved

This building underneath the city's iconic Water Tower, just steps from both the Atlantic Ocean and State Road A1A, was turned over to the City of Hallandale Beach on August 3rd, 2007, and yet STILL remains OFF-LIMITS to everyday HB citizens, taxpayers and residents, the true "owners" of the building, TWO YEARS later.
There has STILL not been a single public open forum held by the city to gauge how citizens want to utilize it best.

Instead, the building remains a veritable clubhouse for the cronies and pals of HB City Hall's elected officials and employees.July 3, 2009 photo by South Beach Hoosier  © 2012 Hallandale Beach Blog, All Rights Reserved


Below, a letter of mine that made the rounds on Monday 
to myriad in-boxes all over Hallandale Beach and media in-boxes all over South Florida.
------------------------------
Monday August 24th, 2009
8:25 p.m.

Fellow Hallandale Beach citizen taxpayers, once again, un-elected Mike Good is making deals and not just spending money poorly, as is his usual wont, but literally giving it away like he's a benevolent free-spending Santa Claus with an unlimited expense account.
And you're paying!
Without the proper amount of HB City Commission input or scrutiny or the public being told about it until after-the-fact.

And to show how serious City Manager Good is about public safety, especially on weekends when most HB residents use their boats -and he's back home with his family in Cooper City- he is proposing to effectively kill the HB Marine Patrol for lack of money, even though
that amount is actually LESS than the amount that he is giving away in his role as Santa Claus.

Giving away city funds to individuals whom the general public not only doesn't know, but who lacked even the common sense, class or gumption to show-up in person at HB City Hall before the City Commission and public to make their case.
Yes, yet another Mike Good back-door deal, to the tune of $25K.
And now, Mayor Joy Cooper, for the first time as as mayor, is asking the public to come to
her house Tuesday night to talk about the city's budget?

Even before you consider the sad-but-inescapable fact that an unelected person like Good and his staff and not the elected (Rubber Stamp) City Commission are driving the whole process, ask yourself this obvious question:
Why is Mayor Cooper inviting the public to come to her house at night, when she's someone who has personally always argued for keeping City Commission meetings in the day, even though common sense informs us that more citizens, taxpayers and residents could attend and participate if all the proceedings were held at night?
(So, having wasted months and months this year, when is the ONE-and-ONLY public budget workshop? During the day, of course.)
The sad but obvious answer is because Mayor Cooper is a thin-skinned hypocrite of the worst sort, which is the sort that NEVER EVER learns from history and experience, and almost always makes bad problems worse because she is unable to admit that she might've been wrong in the first place.
Hubris.

Consider OUR own collective history with her the past few years, where her illogical mis-steps, mis-statements and false assertions could literally fill a book.
(Or a blog!)

Aren't the pages of recent HB history replete with examples upon examples where she's shown that she doesn't care what actual HB citizens and residents think, as long as her close pals, cronies and supporters around the city, county and state -and at the local and state League of Cities- think she's doing a good job.

It's the appearance she's concerned with, not the actual results.

If you don't think her getting her own new office at City Hall for just under $4,000 back in January, when there wasn't anything physically wrong with her old one, wasn't proof, then why don't you ask her some time why she and her cohorts are keeping it a secret?

Her city hall is so incompetent that more than SEVEN MONTHS later, her name STILL does not appear on the building directory when you walk in downstairs.


These are the same geniuses I remind you, who left former State Senator Steve Geller's name on the directory for SEVEN MONTHS after Eleanor Sobel had been elected, and made it her district office, too.
Good luck to the hapless constituent looking for her office.

But to be fair, though it took HB City Hall employees over seven months to actually put Sobel's name on the directory, they did so.
One month before Sobel & Company moved out!


Of course, if Sobel and her staff were actually paying any attention to genuine constituent concerns instead of the frivolous ones she's been consumed with so far -tanning beds, tattoos and Shylock- something they've not seemed esp. keen on doing, it would seem, they'd have noticed it right away, the same way that you and I have, since the public HAS to walk right by it in order to get into the building.

But because the Cooper & Good tag-team don't ever learn from history or pay any attention to what's actually going on around them, there's still nothing on the directory about Joy Cooper new office.
Sh-h-h!! 

Top Secret!!
(Personally, I've got plenty of photos of all this chronic HB City Hall incompetence since Election Day, but you may want to snap a shot of your own on Wednesday on your way in.)


But if you think spending tax dollars for a new City Hall office for Joy Cooper when she doesn't really need a new one seems like small potatoes, consider for a moment the logic of ALL FIVE members of the City Commission of a town of under 38,000 going to Orlando on the taxpayers' dime two weeks ago, for the recent League of Cities confab,
There's your HB City Commission at work.

But if you think that's just too 'inside baseball,' let me return to one of my favorite and most obvious examples of the collective longstanding failure of the Cooper, Good & the Rubber Stamp Crew: the so-called "community center" under the HB Water Tower on A1A and Hallandale Beach Blvd..
The one that I've told you about so many times in emails and on my blog -complete with photos- that you and haven't been able to use for over two years now,

To quote myself, imagine what sort of hoops land-locked South Florida cities like Pembroke Pines, Coral Gables, Hialeah or Miramar would jump thru in order to have a nice two-story public building for their residents, just steps from the beach?
That they didn't have to pay for.I have and so have you.

Yet here in Hallandale Beach, under Cooper, Good & the Rubber Stamp Crew, we've had such a PUBLIC building for 105 weeks and counting.

You all know from the dozens and dozens of photos I've taken of it over the two-plus years, there is NOT now nor has there ever been so much as a sign anywhere on the building telling you that it
a.) belongs to the citizens of this city, or,
b.) WHEN it will be open for use by taxpayers like you and I, not just used by the PALs and cronies of Hallandale Beach City Hall, who think they're VIPs..

These are all things that I've told the city manger and his staff, in person, many times over the years, including LAST YEAR'S budget meeting..

Cooper's rank hypocrisy at asking the public to come over to her house Tuesday night, in an obvious PR stunt, when she's the person who has continually sleepwalked for months as other South Florida communities have made good faith efforts to host numerous public budget meetings involving their citizens and residents, knowing full well when the legal deadline is, could hardly be more self-evident.

Instead, Cooper chose to do NOTHING and took the summer off.

Now, with a deadline breathing down upon the city, she wants to invite you over so she can try to finesse you.
Beware, for if you let her, she may try to wave a magic wand over you when you're not paying attention so she can erase your common sense, curiosity and sense of propriety about how things are supposed to be done in a representative democracy that's actually accountable to the people.

Well, you can go to chez Cooper Tuesday night if you wish, but I'd really be remiss if I didn't advise you that I've already seen this movie before, a few times, actually, so let me give this SPOILER ALERT.

The shallow, thin-skinned witch and her coterie of dim-witted flying monkeys holed-up in their redoubt will NEVER ever admit they're wrong, and will only use the time to verbally attack the very people who HAVE actually been paying attention, as they have so many times before.

Yes, attack the very people who have been telling their friends and neighbors the true facts about what Cooper & Co. have been doing at HB City Hall and environs .
Or NOT doing.So, all these various elements, plus the mayor's strange attempt to engage in damage-control,
promise to make Wednesday a day to remember in Hallandale Beach.

Please make plans NOW to be there in person to speak your mind and bear witness to what
happens when the truth finally comes out, as it surely will.

And don't forget to bring as many of your friends as possible, along with your camera
or camcorder, too.


FYI: In the emails below, I've deleted some un-necessary graphics and made all the fonts the same so it would be more compact and, hopefully, easier to read.
Otherwise, it's verbatim.
And still hard to believe -but all-too-true.
----------------
From: Barry Webber
Subject: Hallandale Beach Marine Patrol
To: "Joy Cooper" <JoyCooper@aol.com>, "Bill Julian" <wjulian@hallandalebeachfl.gov

>, "Keith London" <bikerguy69@bellsouth.net>, "Dottie Ross" <dross@hallandalebeachfl.gov>, onevision4life@aol.com
Cc: "Mike Good" Office@hallandalebeachfl.gov>, "Tom Magill" office@hallandalebeachfl.gov>
Date: Thursday, August 20, 2009, 10:06 PM

Dear Mayor and Commissioners,
I have read the summary memorandum of the proposed 2009-2010 Fiscal Year Budget submitted by the City Manager's Office. I am once again extremely disappointed to see that they recommend elimination of the Marine Patrol. The recommendation is located in the first paragraph of page 6 of the document. I believe the recommendation is based upon incorrect information as well as a lack of historical perspective which I want to bring to your attention and to the attention of the City Manager.
The memorandum states that "for the past several years the Police Department has operated a Marine Patrol with the assistance of a County-funded grant". In fact the City has participated in the grant program every year since the programs inception in 1994. The program was started fifteen years ago for the purpose of ensuring that the entire Intracoastal Waterway throughout Broward County would have sufficient law enforcement officers on the water to protect the public safety. At the time of the commencement of the program in 1994 the City did not have a Marine Patrol. The City applied for a grant for the purchase of the boat to be used for this purpose. The City was awarded a grant for the purchase of the boat and started it's participation in the program. It has applied for and received funds to operate the boat on weekends and some evenings, every year since that time, including applying for a grant for the 2009-2010 Fiscal Year. In this years application the City acknowledged that over the years since 1994 it has received funds for the purchase of the following equipment.
1) 23 foot Intrepid vessel
2) Twin 150 hp 1997 OMC engines
3) Twin 150 hp 1999 OMC engines
4) Twin 150 hp 2003 Yamaha engines
5) Construction of a boat dock with a boat lift
6) Construction of a Marine Storage Facility
7) Panasonic laptop computer which is currently used for warrant and registration queries

There have been a great deal of funds awarded to the City recognizing the importance of this public safety issue. Every single portion of the Intracoastal Waterway is patrolled by various law enforcement agencies having jurisdiction over their portion of the waterway. If the City of Hallandale Beach abandons it's waterways as proposed it will be the only portion of the waterway in all of Broward County which will have absolutely no law enforcement presence.

The budget memorandum states that the total cost to operate the Marine Patrol is $78,665.19 of which $39,680.00 is reimbursed by the County and the City expends $38,985.19. The City Managers office was apparently given inaccurate information. According to the Broward County department that administers the grant, the amount awarded to the City for the 2009-2010 Fiscal Year is $52,416.00, not $39,680.00. I am sure that you will see that as unexpected good news, as the actual cost to the City will not be $38,985.19 as thought, but will actually be only $26,249.19 which is approximately the same cost as last year. The actual cost to the city will be $12,736.00 less than was thought. Since the grant is paying double what the City is paying for this important public safety service, the city will be losing the right to receive two dollars for every dollar it spends. I fail to see how this makes economic sense in this very difficult budget year. I can't imagine any situation where the City gets more bang for the buck for funds expended for a very significant public service to insure the public safety.
The memorandum states that only two citations were issued in this fiscal year. I would bring the following to your attention concerning this issue.

1) Issuing citations is not the purpose of the patrol. The purpose of the patrol was articulated very well in the City's grant application. In the application which covers the City's portion of the waterway, which is described as Zone "X", the City stated the following: "High visibility in Zone "X" will serve as a deterrent to speeders and other violators. Continuous public contact, including boating inspections, educates the public and provides for a safer boating environment".
2) There is no question that City could write a great many citations. This is apparent to anyone who spends any time observing the Intracoastal Waterway. The Police Department however, knows their purpose is to discourage bad boating behavior and educate the boaters.
3) As part of the City's application they are required to provide information as to their activities on the water during the last full fiscal year. The City represented the following information on their application for the fiscal year 2007/2008.
PUBLIC CONTACTS --------------1,410
SAFETY INSPECTIONS -------- 74
WARNINGS--------------------------- 250
BOAT ACCIDENTS ---------------- 0
CITATIONS --------------------------- 18
Obviously they are a very active unit and a very important presence on the water in this city.
4) Citations issued on the Intracoastal Waterway to enforce state statutes do not provide revenue to the City. The fines that are paid, are paid to the State of Florida. The EMLEG grant program was never set up to provide revenue from citations. It was created to assist law enforcement in providing for the public safety.
Finally, the memorandum states that the boat is in need of replacement. Just last year, the Sergeant that is in charge of the Marine Patrol stated at a meeting of the City's Marine Advisory Board that the boat was in good condition and was only in need of cosmetic work. The engines were also operating well for the boats mission. There is no reason to believe that the boat went from good condition to needing replacement in less than one year.
The City of Hallandale Beach has a responsibility to protect it's citizens and the boating public traveling through the City. I know that each one of you takes this responsibility very seriously and works hard to protect your residents. I would urge you to fulfill this responsibility and not leave the City's waterways totally unprotected. Please don't leave the waterfront residences of your citizens totally unprotected from water born criminal activity. Please don't throw away over $52,000.00 in this critical budget year and please do not tell your residents that they are not entitled to protection by their police department. The benefits provided by the Marine Patrol are great, the cost is small. I would urge you to provide for the Marine Patrol in the 2009-2010 budget.
I would be happy to discuss any of these issues with you. My numbers are listed below.
Sincerely,
Barry Webber

Michael is the person behind the fact-based website, Change Hallandale Beach

http://changehallandale.com/ and the person who sent me the letter that Mayor Cooper was circulating

From: Michael Butler

Date: August 24, 2009 1:43:26 PM EDT

once again she's representing the city manager and his staff, not the residents.
if there have been so many opportunities to discuss the budget, why then does she have to have something at her private home?
why isn't this a public meeting?
why wasn't adequate discussion and time provided by the city at the official budget
workshop?
and if the city commission takes July off, then why wasn't the first budget workshop
scheduled earlier in August instead of the last week?
why is her meeting scheduled in the evening and not during the day like the official
workshops, which should be in the evening as well?
speaking of misleading the residents, why were Good's numbers wrong on the
marine patrol?
if the budget issues is so important, then why has she scheduled this meeting with
ONE DAY'S NOTICE?
NOW she decides the budget is important enough to have a meeting at her private home?



Begin forwarded message:


Date: August 24, 2009 1:09:14 PM EDT
Subject: (no subject)


Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I have been writing articles on a weekly basis to keep everyone informed. Regretfully again Commissioner London has been sending out information that is not 1000% factual and are lies about commission actions.
This in not the time for politics it is time for work.
Since the budget is such an important issue in deciding our quality of life have decided to host a meeting at my home to listen to your concerns, questions and ideas.
301 Holiday Drive
from 5:30 to 6:30 PM
Everyone is welcomed this is not a formal meeting of the commission just a open forum
Please let me know if you will be attending so I can plan accordingly.
Budget workshops are scheduled for two days. Not one.
The discussion will be on the "CITY MANAGER'S PROPOSED BUDGET" The commission will work on the budget makes changes. The commission has had the proposed budget transmittal letter since Friday August 7th. This lays out the major changes and proposed cuts. After the commission workshops the budget then is published for full review. The budget then is reviewed at two public hearings in September.The Final Budget will not be adopted until Sept 24th, a month from today.
The tentative tax rate was set on June 17th which is and increase. This something that I have also written about.
The one good thing that he has done is sent out the budget transmittal letter for your review.
There is only ONE budget workshop scheduled for the commissioners and citizens to review the budget in detail, and it occurs on Wednesday August 26th 2009. EVERY other municipality has already had the multiple meetings and budget workshops. While some may imply that previous meetings included budget review discussions, its laughable to assert that a budget was reviewed before it was available. In addition, to date, there have been NO public notices of the budget workshop in either the Miami Herald or the Sun-Sentinel.
Many cities take off in August, we take off in July . The suggestion that there has been any negligence on this matter is mislleading to you the residents and lying. It is also frankly an insult to our staff that has worked tirelessly over the months facing up to 25 layoffs and working to make cuts while preserving basic services .
As always please contact me at anytime with your questions and concerns!
Warm regards! Joy
----------------------------------

Caution: facts ahead!
As you read this email from Commissioner Keith London to some of the city's citizens
and residents,
keep in mind that the absurd situations he describes, which I've been a
witness to and described here in this space, is what passes for normal at Hallandale
Beach City Hall under Mayor Joy Cooper and City Manager Mike Good.


Wrap up of the City of Hallandale Beach City Commission Agenda for Wednesday, August 19, 2009 1:30 PM Meeting


London, Keith <KLondon@hallandalebeachfl.gov> Mon, Aug 24, 2009 at 8:18 AM

To: "London, Keith" <KLondon@hallandalebeachfl.gov>

Everyone,

The following is an update of the agenda items and other issues that were discussed at the City of Hallandale Beach Commission Meeting held Wednesday, August 19, 2009 at 1:30 P.M.

Highlights of this Wrap-Up
  • Commission approves a 4 month lease of a city-owned property for $10. The subject was not on the Agenda, nor was any backup provided.
  • Mike Good gives $25,000 of your tax dollars, without commission discussion or input.
  • Follow up from the August 5, 2009 Commission meeting on Mike Good spending $300,000.with nothing in writing (see very bottom of this wrap up).


Please remember to visit www.changehallandale.com for the latest updates on the city.
New update on the City’s purchase of the property at 501 NW 1st Ave.

REGULAR AGENDA
CITY COMMISSION, CITY OF HALLANDALE BEACH
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2009 1:30 PM
1. CALL TO ORDER
5. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION (to be heard at 1:30 P.M.)
History was made when the commission waited over 10 minutes for me to return to chamber from being sick for a vote on a 501 NW 1stAve (this was previously Commissioner Sanders' property, purchased by the City for $235,000).
He Here are some of the facts:
· The item was not on the agenda and NO backup material or documentation was provided.
· There was neither public notice nor a competitive bid made for the $10 lease for a 4 month term, which commenced on May 21, 2009.
· The lessee was given a open ended lease with no expiration date for the same terms.
· The lessee was given $25,000, without public discussion, by Mike Good.
o I want to note here that the City Commission has given the City Manager the authority to spend up to $50,000 without Commission approval. This authority is in addition to the City Manager's authority to spend up to $200,000 per unit for structures, without Commission approval.
· The operator is ZAMAR OF MINISTRY AND PERFORMING ARTS, INC. not Zamar School of Performing Arts Inc. as is listed on the lease.
· The operator’s license is inactive with the State of Florida Division of Corporations see document N96000002475.
· This is the same property purchased from Commissioner Sanders for more than the appraised value, with no back up provided, and never appearing as a noticed agenda item.
· The property was acquired in February 2009 for future affordable housing. Six months later we are leasing the property to a corporation whose license is inactive with the State of Florida (see attachment at bottom of email)
· Passed 5:0. It has been my personal policy to never vote on anything without being given proper notice and appropriate backup. I restated my policy during this vote. But on the surface, this appeared to be a good cause. However, with a little personal research into the background,I've determined my vote was a mistake, and in future I will stick with my policy. (I am continually surprised how little basic research is conducted by this City Manager before approving large sums of taxpayer dollars).
6. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Approval of Minutes - Regular Meeting of August 5, 2009
B.
  • Vice Mayor Julian required an explanation of a Florida Statue (F.S. 286) because he did understand the intricacies regarding a commissioner and their voting requirements. He required an explanation regarding the difference between a conflict of interest, a recusal, and being absent from the room while a vote is taking place. The Assistant City Attorney, Melissa Anderson, provided a quote from the statue as well as a citing from a precedent setting case, but provided no written material. At the conclusion of the meeting I asked for a written copy of the Statue she quoted and was informed that it would take a week to produce (see email below). How this information that was cited verbatim at the meeting and then possibly take a week to produce is mindboggling.
----- Original Message -----
From: Good, Mike
To: London, Keith
Sent: Thu Aug 20 11:38:29 2009
Subject: RE: CR Legal Statue For Minutes and Case study 081909

Good morning Commissioner London,



Your request has been assigned a CR#140/09, with a suspense date for a response to my office of August 27, 2009. As always, should you have any further questions, do not hesitate to give me a call.



City Manager Mike Good



From: London, Keith
Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 2009 4:50 PM
To: Good, Mike; Rafols, Nydia M; Jove, David
Cc: 'londonshow@bellsouth.net'
Subject: CR Legal Statue For Minutes and Case study 081909
Importance: High



Commissioner Request (CR) For Florida Statue and legal case Assistant City Attorney Melisa Anderson referred to at the City of Hallandale Beach commission meeting today 081909



Mike Good,



Please provide me with a copy of the Florida Statue (section and subsection) that Assistant City Attorney Melisa Anderson referred to at the City of Hallandale Beach commission meeting today August 19, 2009; also provide the president setting Hallandale Beach case she referenced.



Please include this complete email in my Commissioner Request and provide me with a CR number to track this request.



Thank you,



Commissioner Keith S. London
7. CITY BUSINESS (Voting on Items Deferred to Evening Consent Agenda to be Heard at 7:15 P.M.)
Passed 5:0
A. Presentation by PFM Asset Management, LLC for the Investment Results for Surplus Funds for the Period April 1, 2009 through June 30, 2009.


B. Presentation by Principal Financial Group of the Quarterly Results of the General Employees and Professional/Management Pension Plans for the Period April 1, 2009 through June 30, 2009.


C. Consideration of City Nominations for Broward Pioneer Days
Passed 5:0
D. Discussion of Creating an Abandoned Real Property Ordinance
  • Staff will research the issue and bring back information during the budget workshop
Passed 5:0
8. COMMISSIONER REPORTS
9. OTHER
10. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION (to be heard at 7:00 P.M.)
None
12. PUBLIC HEARINGS (to be heard at 7:30 P.M.)
A. An Ordinance of the City of Hallandale Beach, Florida, Approving and Authorizing the Lease of up to a 90,000 Square Foot Portion of City Owned Property to Broward County for Library Purposes, Said Property Described as: All of Hallandale Lawn, According to the Plat Thereof, Recorded in Plat Book 7, Page 32 of the Public Records of Broward County, Florida, and Lot 1 and Lot 4, in Block 11 of the Subdivision 27, Township 51 South, Range 43 East, According to the Plat Thereof, Recorded in Plat Book "B", Page 13, of the Public Records of Dade County, Florida, and including Lots 11-15 Block 3 of the Unrecorded Plat of Federal Park Sub-Division, Said Property Commonly Being Known as the "Annenberg Tract,"
The following are some of the highlights of the discussion pertaining to this topic:
· The building is owned by the City and the County operates the facility
· Being part of a county system has many advantages (pick up and drop off of material at any location)
· This item (lease) will be on the Broward County Commission Agenda on Wednesday, September 2, 2009
· I requested more computer stations at the library to decrease wait time
· I requested the building have WIFI capabilities for those individuals with their own computers
· I requested the contract provide for a minimum amount of hours the library stays open or the contract becomes void
· I requested the library not close for more than 30-60-90 days or the contract becomes void
· This item is scheduled to be heard for a second reading next month and I hope to support the continuation of the county system with some of the suggestions incorporated into the final version of the contract
Passed 5:0

  • Follow up from the August 5, 2009 Commission meeting on Mike Good spending $300,000.00 with nothing in writing (see very bottom of this wrap up).
  • Please see the information and exchange of communication between myself and Mike Good with regards to this topic
  • I do NOT support spending $300,000 of the residents/taxpayers money without any written documentation and due diligence.

REGULAR AGENDA
CITY COMMISSION, CITY OF HALLANDALE BEACH
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 05, 2009 10:00 AM



B. Consideration of Approval to Apply for Florida Department of Transportation County Incentive Grant Program Matching grant funding is $300,000.00
· This is funding for the construction/continuation of the SE 2nd Hibiscus roadway behind the FPL substation which continues behind the 1250 Building and then runs parallel to East Hallandale Beach Blvd. all the way to the entrance to Gulfstream on East Hallandale Beach Blvd.
· In order for this project to become a reality, Gulfstream would have to give us land.
· Mike Good has made CONTACT with Gulfstream but has NOTHING in WRITING and wants to spend $300,000.00 for a “maybe” at best.
· This is the issue where the Cooper and Good want to give away/swap the Golden Isles Tennis Center for land development (ultimately a 450-500 unit high-rise condominium development) on the Saint Matthews property.
Passed 4:1 London no
COMMISSIONER REQUEST
















REQUEST #128/09

DATE: August 10, 2009

TO: City Manager Mike Good
FROM: Commissioner Keith S. London

THRU: D. Mike Good, City Manager

The following information/action was requested by Commissioner Keith London as noted:

RE: Roads, SE 2nd Street/Hibiscus Street – Request for Written Documentation
Commissioner Request (CR) – SE 2nd/Hibiscus Street Request for Written Documentation/Repot 081009

Mike Good,

Please provide me with a detailed and documented written report describing your meetings with any and all of the individuals at Magna Entertainment Corporation (MEC) or associated with MEC as it pertains to the SE 2nd/Hibiscus Roadway.

This issue was discussed at the last (Wednesday, August 5, 2009) City of Hallandale Beach Commission meeting. You specifically mentioned you have met with Frank Stronach, Bill Murphy, and Don Cameron to discuss this issue.

Please include this complete email in my Commissioner Request and provide me with a CR number to track this request.

Thank you,

Commissioner Keith S. London

Please take the necessary steps to complete the request and submit a Summary Report to my office no later than August 18, 2009.





















DATE: August 10, 2009

TO: Commissioner Keith London

FROM: D. Mike Good, City Manager

< RE: Above Commission Request

Commissioner London,

As I have explained before, the above have been discussions not only with Mr. Stronach, Don Cameron, and Bill Murphy, but also with Father Quinn, representing the Archdiocese of Miami. There is no written documentation of these meetings.

This CR is now considered closed. City Manager Mike Good



Department Head Signature __________________________ Date _____________

Department Director/Staff Time to Complete:







< City Manager/Staff Time to Complete: 15 Minutes
**Time Certains are Provided as a Guide and May Not be Heard at the Time Specified**
I welcome and will gladly add those individuals who may not currently be included on my email distribution lists. Please feel free to forward those email addresses and contact information to me.

Thanks, and I look forward to seeing you at the next Commission meeting.

Best Regards,

Commissioner Keith S. London
954-457-1320 Office
954-494-3182 Cell

For all you who are unable to physically attend and participate at the City Commission meetings, these meetings are replayed on Comcast Channel 78 on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday @ 12:00 P.M. and Mondays and Wednesdays @ 6:00 P.M.

You are always welcome to contact me with questions or suggestions and I encourage you to contact the rest of the City Commission with your questions or comments.


Other good contact information:








Florida Department of State - Division of Corporations www.sunbiz.org Florida State Flag
Detail by Entity Name
Florida Non Profit Corporation

ZAMAR OF MINISTRY AND PERFORMING ARTS, INC.

Filing Information

Document Number N96000002475
FEI/EIN Number NONE
Date Filed 05/09/1996
State FL
Status INACTIVE
Last Event ADMIN DISSOLUTION FOR ANNUAL REPORT
Event Date Filed 09/26/1997
Event Effective Date NONE


Principal Address

2201 SW 42ND AVE
HOLLYWOOD FL 33023


Mailing Address

2201 SW 42ND AVE
HOLLYWOOD FL 33023


Registered Agent Name & Address

BROWN, DEBORAH R
712 NW 9TH CT
HALLANDALE FL 33009 US


Officer/Director Detail

Name & Address

Title D

BROWN, DEBORAH R
712 NW 9TH CT
HALLANDALE FL 33009


Title D

JACKSON, JOSEPH
708 NW 9TH CT
HALLANDALE FL 33009


Title D

LAMPKIN, LOWELL
401 NW 2ND AVE
HALLANDALE FL 33009


Title D

SCOTT, RANDY
2848 SW 4TH ST
FT LAUDERDALE FL


Title D

BROWN, EVELYN
657 NW 9TH CT
HALLANDALE FL 33009


Title D

SIMS, INEZ
4431 NW 13TH ST
FT LAUDERDALE FL


Annual Reports

No Annual Reports Filed

Document Images