Despite the MILLION$ at stake, Hallandale Beach City Comm. DOESN'T do simple due diligence, but DOES cave-in to Forest City/Village at Gulfstream Park

Above, artist rendering of The Village at Gulfstream Park retail project, and, below, the sign as posted in May of 2008 and seen on U.S.-1, with the Gulfstream Park Racetrack grandstand in the distance. May 2008 photo by South Beach Hoosier.

The letter below was sent to the Hallandale Beach City Commission and City Manager Mark A. Antonio on Wednesday the 14th, prior to their 5 p.m. City Comm. meeting, and was written and signed by myself and my friend, Hallandale Beach civic activist Csaba Kulin, who will be making some news of his own next week.

For you readers out in the blogosphere, wherever you are, it's a bit of a follow-up to my post yesterday about the efforts of the folks at The Village at Gulfstream Park and their parent, Forest City to get out of complying with the mitigation requirements that were placed on them in order to get the city and Broward County to sign-off and give their final approval for the Village project many years ago.

That post was titled, No surprise given what I've told you here: A "challenging retail leasing environment" at Village at Gulfstream Park according to Forest City's execs

http://hallandalebeachblog.blogspot.com/2011/12/no-surprise-given-what-ive-told-you.html

That vote by the city was prior to Keith London, Anthony A. Sanders and Alexander Lewy were elected to the HB City Commission.

Along with their various hired guns and minions, they showed-up for the December 7th HB City Commission meeting determined to persuade the Commission that they should modify those requirements thru amendments.

#12 A. A Resolution of the City of Hallandale Beach, Florida, Accepting Amendments to the Village at Gulfstream Park Plat ( This Resolution is a result of Application# 10-12-PR by Gulfstream Racing Association, Inc.) (Staff: Development Services)(See Backup) CAD#029/04 (Staff Report, Supporting Docs)

http://www.hallandalebeachfl.gov/files/00439/Exported%20OV%20Docs/Staff%20Reports/00008546.htm

http://www.hallandalebeachfl.gov/files/00439/Exported%20OV%20Docs/Item%2012A/index.html

The City Commission, in my opinion, operating largely out of woeful ignorance -even more than usual- caved-in and made some terrible decisions that night that most citizen taxpayers of HB STILL know nothing about, all these days later, given that ZERO members of the South Florida news media bothered to attend the meeting, which as you regular readers of this blog know, is NOT exactly a new trend in general in terms of covering local government.

That's particularly true in HB, where the city remains one of the area's perennial laughingstocks in the media due to what its elected officials and administrators have actually said and done over the recent past, much of that due to the buffoonish and jaw-dropping antics of former HB Commissioner and 2012 candidate William "Bill" Julian.

Trust me, well-informed and attentive news reporters and columnists are as rare around Hallandale Beach as Three Wise Men and a Virgin -at any time of the year.

This news media blackout came despite the fact that they were talking about well over $10 Million in changes, not to mention, a change in sound public policy to... what exactly?

The City Commission vote was 5-0.

The Broward County Commission is the ultimate authority on whether or not these modifications desired by Forest City and the Village will be made, and next week, I hope to find out when their public meeting will be scheduled in the new year so that I can mention it here and make sure that everyone is aware of the fact that this is NOT a DONE DEAL.

I also should let you know now that as of today, it's my plan to post this same letter in the next few days with some accompanying photos documenting what Csaba and I have written, so that those of you far from these sub-tropical shores can see for yourself how completely inept and inattentive the folks running things on both sides of U.S.-1 were and remain.

So, all that said, this is what was actually sent to the HB City Commission and City Manager on Wednesday:

Honorable Mayor, Vice Mayor, City Commissioners:

Christmas came early this year for Forest Cities, Gulfsteam Park Race Track & Casino and the Village at Gulfstream Park, LLC.

Under the Christmas tree were at least three gifts worth about $17 Million, collectively, courtesy of the citizen taxpayers of Hallandale Beach, delivered by you, our elected City Commission.

This action comes after an approximately $15 Million gift/loan under TIF about two years ago.

As is so often the case with important issues at Hallandale Beach City Hall, the debate and then votes on the issue took place just before Midnight, when most HB citizen taxpayers were fast asleep.

Why no continuance to a reasonable time?

The City entered into what both parties agreed at the time was a reasonable Development Agreement (DA) about six years ago, and the Developer, eager to get started on the project, agreed to it, anxious to change the dynamic and image of the property make it a destination attraction.

Now, six years later, the Developer wants to renegotiate the uncompleted portions of the DA, claiming changed economic conditions.

While we all want the property to succeed and become a source of both pride and profits, our primary concerns today in writing are that Hallandale Beach taxpayers' best interests are protected, and believe that should be your paramount concern, too.

Simply put, you have completely dropped the ball.

The Developer’s main argument for modification now has been that “economic times” have changed since 2007.

While we agree that the economy is not one that any of us likes, your answer in response to them should have been that, as a starter, to be one of modification based on revisiting these issues 5-10 years from now, with time-certain dates for doing so.

Economic activity and spending may indeed be much better in the future than currently, and then those requirements could be re-examined for their suitability, but simply waving the white flag NOW is NOT a strategy that best represents the short-term and long-term financial and Quality-of-Life interests of Hallandale Beach taxpayers.

For the record, we came up with the $17 Million size of gift by using your own consultant, Mr. Paul Lambert’s number for the Transportation Mitigation relief portion.

For the Affordable Housing relief, we have used our own recent experience with Highland Park Village (HPV), Mayor Cooper’s estimate of the expected subsidies needed to sell the units in HPV, and Paul Lambert’s own admission that $50,000 per unit is closer to reality than VGP’s offered $5,000 per unit.

A developer is obligated to have 15% of the total units to be built be “affordable/workforce” housing units.

While developers traditionally try to have some or all the affordable housing units located off-site, we believe these units should be dispersed among the rest of the 85%, not displaced west of the Mississippi River.

This is a community, not an Indian Reservation.

Additionally, we believe that the amount of money offered ought to be the price difference between a market-priced unit and an affordable/workforce-priced unit.

Based on the City’s recent experience with Highland Park Village, we know that it will take $50,000 dollars or more to make a market-price unit an affordable and desirable housing unit.

You can use the same logic for the other two properties the City owns to come up with the dollar amount needed to complete.

The cost per unit subsidy ought to be very similar to HPV.

After all, what good are units that nobody wants?

Based on these calculations for the 225 affordable/workforce housing units the VGP is obligated to build over time, the City’s CRA should have received roughly $11,250,00 (at $50,000 per-unit), not the measly $1,125.000, ($5,000 per-unit) that you all agreed to last Wednesday night.

That is a $10,045,00 gift to the Developers, money that more appropriately should be going to the City’s CRA at some definite time in the future, as the 1,500 housing units were actually built and ready for purchase.

It was extremely distressing to city taxpayers that on such an important issue, some of you were and are remarkably uninformed about the facts, and the $5,000 contribution per-unit mentioned by Broward County toward affordable housing.

We firmly believe that financial number is the “floor,” NOT the “ceiling” for contributions.

We are quite confident that Broward County would NOT object if the Developers were prepared to contribute $50,000 dollars per unit to the City's CRA, an opinion that we will soon be sharing with the Broward County Commissioners and staff as they deal with this subject, too.

The elimination of the off-site 500-car parking garage saves the Developer $5,000,000, and while we agree that such a garage is not needed at present, absent requirements that this issue be revisited at some definite point in time in the future, how do we know what the situation and need will be five or ten years from now? This is the very definition of short-sighted and self-defeating.

As best we can figure, the elimination of the Tri-Rail shuttle service saves the Developer $200,000-$250,000 per year.

While it may or may not be needed at this time, why agree to give it up entirely at this time, not knowing the future demand?

And more to the point of your collective oversight and accountability, or rather the lack of it on Wednesday night, where is ANY PROOF that the general public even knows about the Tri-Rail shuttle, as there is no posted schedule anywhere at the Super-Stop, and there is NOTHING in their newspaper promotions which specifically mention it.

NONE of you seem to have actually visited the Super-Stop, despite how close it is to your office, one block away.

In fact, many of not most of their own employees DON'T even know about it, including the security personnel who patrol that particular area, as recent conversations we've had with them have proven time-and-again.

They didn't know what we were talking about!

You can hardly expect unaware consumers to use a so-called service that the Developer themselves adamantly refuse to properly promote or feature, and you should wonder yourselves why they have done this if they really want to increase their number of visitors.

They seem entirely oblivious to this -and so do you.

And what do HB taxpayers receive in return for giving up these two major Transportation mitigation requirements?

Well, we get to relocate the City's mini-bus stop from behind City Hall to the Super-Stop.

What a deal!

If the Developer was truly interested in increasing the visitors to their property, that should have been done for free to the residents as soon as the Super-Stop was completed in January of 2010.

There should have been a little ribbon-cutting ceremony, but instead, that aspect of the mitigation was NOT completed on time -in time for the beginning of the racing season- as were many of the adjoining areas, and we have photographic proof of the Developer's inability to meet reasonable deadlines. Among other things...

And yes, that would be the same bus Super-Stop that has never really been properly maintained by the Developer the past two years, as anyone who uses it regularly could tell you.

What could possibly explain your collective failure -and that of the City Manager and his staff- to stay on top of such a simple thing, located only one block from City Hall?

There's really no excuse.

We remain profoundly disappointed in the way that this entire matter has been negotiated, presented to the citizen taxpayers of this city, and resolved -near Midnight.

We are quite confident that Broward County's Commissioners and their professional staff will take a much more nuanced look at the facts on-the-ground in determining whether or not this change is appropriate and in the community's best long-term interests, or whether it would be more appropriately revisited at agreed-upon time-certain dates in the future.

You can rest assured that this issue and the way that it has been mis-handled by you and the City Manager's staff, will NOT fade away in the coming months.

Quite to the contrary, it will be a subject that ever more residents of this city will become angry about as they learn the true facts of your White Flag strategy.

No surprise given what I've told you here: A "challenging retail leasing environment" at Village at Gulfstream Park according to Forest City's execs

Above, entrance to Gulfstream Park Race Track & Casino and The Village at Gulfstream Park retail complex on Hallandale Beach Blvd., Hallandale Beach, FL.

December 7, 2011 photo by South Beach Hoosier.

Many of you who are regular readers of this blog have no doubt wondered why I haven't yet taken the opportunity to write anything about the recent 'Opening' two weeks ago of the new season of racing at Gulfstream Park Race Track & Casino, as well as comment on what I've heard and observed of late there and with The Village at Gulfstream Park retail complex, and their parent, real estate developer Forest City.

I know this because you've contacted me to ask as much.

I have quite a lot to say, actually, and have been sitting on some troubling information for a bit, waiting for some more shoes to fall, even while I've already attended a few hours worth of races the past two weeks.

Mostly, though, I've been patiently biding my time waiting to see what actually transpires at Hallandale Beach City Hall -directly across the street from the racetrack and the retail complex- where the developer and their myriad minions and flacks, along with other interested parties, have, unfortunately, tried to use the current sour U.S. economy like a cudgel against the best long-term financial and Quality-of-Life interests of the HB community.

These well-paid forces have tried their best to persuade the elected City Commission to waive or modify mitigation requirements the city and Broward County required them to agree to in writing in exchange for the developer getting their desired final approval for the giant retail complex, as well as their long-term housing plans for lots of pricey condos on the HB side of the property.

(Property which, lest you forget, also extends south into the City of Aventura and Miami-Dade County, where the powers-that-be keep the entrance/exit on N.E. 213th Street closed with barricades. The adjoining sidewalk entrance onto the property is STILL full of dangerous potholes and loose wires as they have been for YEARS. And did I mention yet that it was STILL the very picture of pitch-black at night, as it has been for -wait for it- YEARS?

That area is a litigation disaster waiting to happen, but STILL they do nothing.)

I'll have more to say about all of that over the next few days, but until then, please mull over the following news directly from the mouths of the upper echelons of developer Forest City.

The following is an excerpt from an email I sent out on December 9th:

Highlight of Forest City Enterprises CEO Discusses Q3 2011 Results - Earnings Call Transcript

http://seekingalpha.com/article/313017-forest-city-enterprises-ceo-discusses-q3-2011-results-earnings-call-transcript

Let me take a moment to address the other primary impairment, the Village at Gulfstream Park and Hallandale Beach, Florida, where we recognized a $34.6 million impairment in the third quarter. The lease up of Gulfstream began during the death of the recent recession and has continued through what remains a challenging retail leasing environment, particularly for new properties.

Our house wares, home furnishings and restaurants at the Gulfstream have done well, but our fashion tenants have struggled and we are actively working to remerchandize the center to match the demands of the market. Repositioning that component of the center will require additional investment. Also the original construction loan for this equity method property matures in September of next year. The uncertainty of the repositioning, together with the standard of the loan required us to impair our investment.

Long term we continue to believe in the strength of the market and will focus on repositioning the asset to meet the needs of the market. We also have additional future entitlements at the site that we can activate when economic conditions and the performance of the center improve.

Well-informed people I know tell me that many of the owners of the struggling retailers at the Village are already taling about fleeing toute-de-suite in the coming months when their rents get jacked-up in the new year as their current leases end.

And you thought the Dolphins and the City of Hallandale Beach were badly mis-managed...

One last thing to consider: despite their millions and resources, do you know what Magna Entertainment/Gulfstream Park has actually told the residents and business owners of Hallandale Beach about their intentions for having at least some night racing next year -which I support in theory- since I last wrote about the subject here on the blog?

NOTHING.

Nothing at all.

They still send their PR rep, Suzanne Friedman, across the street to HB City Commission meetings once in a while to paint an optimistic portrait of the doings on the east side of the street, but in her defense, she is NOT empowered by top management to actually level with everyone here about the truth of the matter.

So what's the plan?

What's the plan?

Well, they won't say, despite the fact that it would have a tangible -maybe even severe- effect on the ability of HB residents to actually get around and navigate thru the city at night on the evenings racing takes place, given that there is only one street in the entire city that has east-west capability throughout most of the city -over-loaded Hallandale Beach Blvd.

Yes, the street that is the north-side entrance and exit for Gulfstream Park and the Village, right next to the sign at the top of this post.

But then Magna Entertainment is STILL having problems launching their new website, which was supposed to already be up and running: http://www.stronachgroup.com/

As of today, December 15th, it still reads, "Site Launch Fall 2011."

Well, facts are facts and Winter officially starts one week from today.

Draw your own conclusions.

Regulating signage & advertising during a bad economy? Oh, so that's the ticket to economic recovery in Hallandale Beach

Above and below, where we set our tale today: Hallandale Beach, FL, looking south-bound on U.S.-1 & Hallandale Beach Blvd., home of one of the city's two red-light cameras that made it infamous in South Florida.

Go ahead and ignore all the gang graffiti you see on all these signs and posts on the main roads in town - HB City Hall already does.

September 23, 2011 photos by South Beach Hoosier.

Somewhat out-of-the-blue Tuesday night, I found myself discovering that one of the other things that will be going down at Wednesday afternoon's HB Planning & Zoning Board meeting at 1:30 p.m., besides the previously-mentioned attempt by Mayor Cooper & Co. to thwart the will of the majority of the homeowners in Golden Isles, is, of all things, regulating signage and advertising.

Yes, signage, one of my longstanding bête noires in the poorly-managed Broward city on the ocean that is as dysfunctional as any city in South Florida.

The same city that on its own electronic message board, across the street from Gulfstream Park Race Track & Casino, off U.S.-1 & SE 3rd Street, was running the wrong meeting time for its second City Commission get-together of the month for many months AFTER I'd already told the head of the city's IT Dept. about the problem, AFTER first mentioning it publicly minutes before during Public Comments of a City Commission meeting in which I focused on the city's inability to see extant problems right in front of their own face, but which everyone else can see.

The sign is less than a block from City Hall, but somehow, we're supposed to believe that over many months, nobody but me noticed?

Even I don't believe that.

It's hard not to get the impression right now that this effort on Wednesday is a solution in search of a problem, when there already are longstanding problems -including lack of appropriate and sufficient signage- the city is NOT handling competently, efficiently or with any degree of smarts.

Problems that have existed for many years...

The very city that, as mentioned here more than a few times in the past, DOESN'T have a single directional sign anywhere within its borders indicating exactly where City Hall is, or the Police Dept. HQ, or the Fire/Rescue HQ or... even a sign on busy U.S.-1 for the municipal swimming pool just three blocks away.

The city swimming pool that even many usually well-informed residents don't even know exists.

Yes, that city.

Across the street from the main U.S.-1 entrance to Gulfstream Park, one block north of HB City Hall and the HB Police Dept., gangs use Gulfstream Park signs as Post-Its to let everyone know who did it. There's no mystery folks. September 23, 2011 photo by South Beach Hoosier.

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Meanwhile, HTC shows who's really boss across the street from The Village at Gulfstream Park, one block south of HB City Hall and the HB Police Dept. HQ., and in front of the U.S. Post Office.

September 23, 2011 photo by South Beach Hoosier.

Per Analysis item #12 below, will that include Gulfstream Race Track & Casino, the Village at Gulfstream Park retail complex and the Mardi Gras Casino, all of whom are currently using LED signs that appear to my eyes to currently be illegal based on what the city is now proposing, per "animated, flashing or moving lights are prohibited."

That's exactly what they do all right.

You know, the large monument signs on U.S.-1/Federal Highway and on Hallandale Beach Blvd. that not only weren't up in time before the racing season actually started two years ago -despite plenty of time to put them up- but which weren't even constructed in time for them to be used for Thanksgiving/Christmas promotional purposes by the few retail shops that were then up.

Above and below, the eastern monument sign for the Mardi Gras Casino on U.S.-1 & Atlantic Shores Blvd., and the not-so-grand eastern entrance to it. That's why they call it blight!

If you weren't paying attention before, you can see that this area is AQ!

September 23, 2011 photos by South Beach Hoosier.

Above and below, the signs on U.S.-1 and HBB. September 23, photos by South Beach Hoosier.

Yes, the same Gulfstream Park/Forest City geniuses who used their Aventura sign on U.S.-1 recently for weeks in a way that caused even me to think they had reached a new nadir.

The only words that appeared there? "It's all here."

Really.

Above and below, heading north-bound on U.S.-1/Biscayne Blvd. at NE 213th Street thru the last two blocks of Aventura and Miami-Dade County before hitting Hallandale Beach. Gulfstream Park sign on your right. September 23, photos by South Beach Hoosier.

THAT message in black letters on a purple background that's hard to read for drivers passing by on the road. Real genius!

Seriously, given the City's of Hallandale Beach self-evident terrible job of public safety as well as properly maintaining its own signage and lighting, and keeping them either un-obstructed or working or both, or even contacting FDOT, FP&L, or Broward County Traffic & Engineering to alert them to street lighting that is out for months or YEARS at a time, even including in front, near and adjacent to HB City Hall, the Police Dept. HQ, the Fire/Rescue HQ, and other city properties, the idea of the city deciding during a bad economy to create new rules for signage and advertising is rich.

But that's how it goes here.

Can you tell what color that traffic signal on the right is? No, not the one on the left that is red. Yes, the one obstructed by the tree branches on west-bound Atlantic Shores Blvd. & Diplomat Parkway.

You can tell what color it is once you almost pass the tree and are almost IN the middle of the intersection. There are dozens and dozens of similar situations like this all throughout HB and Hollywood, but nobody from either city ever notices. Nope. September 23, 2011 photo by South Beach Hoosier.

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PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD AGENDA

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2011 1:30 PM

1. CALL TO ORDER

2. ROLL CALL

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

A. Approval of Draft Minutes from August 24, 2011 (Supporting Docs)

4. OLD BUSINESS

A. An Ordinance of the City of Hallandale Beach, Florida, amending Chapter 32, Article III of the City of Hallandale Beach Code of Ordinances, the "Zoning and Land Development Code", by amending Section 32-151, RS-5 Single-Family District and by creating Section 32-181, entitled Golden Isles Neighborhood Overlay District, providing supplemental standards relative to permitted uses, site development standards, signage and notice requirements. Providing for conflicts; providing for severability; providing for an effective date. (City of Hallandale Beach Application # 02-11-TC) (Staff Report, Supporting Docs)

5. NEW BUSINESS

A. Application # 04-10-P by Alan Waserstein Requesting Approval of the "Waserstein Gulfstream Plat" in Accordance with Article II, Division 2 of the Zoning and Land Development Code at the Property Located at 900 South Federal Highway. (Staff Report, Supporting Docs)

B. An Ordinance of the City of Hallandale Beach, Florida Amending Chapter 32, the Zoning and Land Development Code, Article IV Division 17, Signs, Relative to Prohibited Signs, Permitted Signs, and Nonconforming Signs, Providing for Conflict, Providing an Effective Date. (City of Hallandale Beach Application # 67-10-TC) (Staff Report, Supporting Docs)

6. SCHEDULING NEXT MEETING

A. November 23, 2011

7. OTHER

8. DIRECTOR'S REPORT

9. ADJOURNMENT

Interested parties may appear at the aforesaid time and place and be heard with respect to the above. The agenda and related cases may be inspected as of Wednesday, August 17, 2011 at the Development Services Department, 400 South Federal Highway, Hallandale Beach, Florida during normal business hours, and Monday through Friday.

http://www.hallandalebeach.org/files/PLANNING%20AND%20ZONING%20BOARD%20AGENDAS/2011-10-26/Staff%20Reports/00008363.htm

DATE: October 17, 2011

TO: The Planning and Zoning Board

FROM: Christy Dominguez, Director of Planning and Zoning

THRU: Thomas J. Vageline, Director of Development Services

SUBJECT: Application #67-10-TC – Sign Code Amendment

CAD #022/03

PURPOSE:

To amend Chapter 32, Article IV Division 17 of the Zoning and Land Development Code regarding the City’s sign requirements.

BACKGROUND:

The City Commission requested staff review studies related to digital sign technology (LED) to determine its safety and whether the City should consider amending the sign code to permit such signage. Staff has also received many inquiries from business owners regarding the use of LED signs. Based on the increased demand for LED signs and research conducted on the topic, staff concluded the City should consider amending its sign code to permit the use of LED signs and provide regulations for size, light intensity and display duration for those signs.

In addition, the City has recently experienced an influx of human signs, particularly along Hallandale Beach Blvd. The term “human sign” is typically used to describe any type of signage that is held or worn by a person advertising a business or activity and usually involves someone standing in the right-of-way holding a large sign. Not only can this type of attention-seeking signage be unsightly, it can also be extremely dangerous as the intent is to distract a driver’s attention.

On May 12, 2011, staff reviewed the current sign code with the Code and Permitting Advisory Board and discussed possible amendments to the Code related to digital signage and human signs. The Board was in agreement with staff’s proposal and supported moving forward with the draft Ordinance.

On June 7, 2011, staff attended a webinar with the City Attorney on drafting regulations for signage which discussed regulations for both digital signage and human signs. Staff was able to incorporate similar regulations from other municipalities into the attached draft Ordinance.

DISCUSSION:

Staff conducted research on the use of digital sign technology (LED), particularly regarding the safety of such signs. In 2009, a report was issued for the National Cooperative Highway research program which evaluated the safety impacts of digital technology in outdoor signs. The report summarized multiple studies which analyzed various factors that distract a driver’s attention. Although the report concluded that there may be a correlation between digital sign technology and the occurrence of automobile accidents, there was no conclusive evidence that a digital sign is any more distracting to a driver than any other type of sign. As such, staff proposes to incorporate several new regulations for LED signs into the attached ordinance with the goal of achieving a balance between the safety and aesthetics of the community while maintaining a business-friendly attitude.

In addition, the increased number of attention-seeking or human signs has become a major concern for Hallandale Beach residents. Further, regulating human signs has become a challenge for staff to enforce. Although the current Code prohibits off-premise signs and movable or portable signs, it does not specifically address human signs. Staff has reviewed other municipalities’ codes and while some cities do permit human signs subject to strict regulations, most cities such as Dania Beach, Aventura, Coral Gables, and Boca Raton outright prohibit them. Staff also proposes to prohibit the use of human signs for both safety and aesthetic reasons.

Other revisions to the sign code are also proposed such as allowing accessory restaurants with more than 100 seats in multifamily zoned districts to have a wall sign, which was a recommendation of the Citywide Master Plan for the Oceanfront Neighborhood (S. Ocean Drive).

ANALYSIS:

Based upon the research conducted by staff, the following is a summary of the proposed amendments in the attached draft Ordinance:

1. Adds definitions for Changeable Message Signs, Human Signs and LED signs.
2. Expands the wall sign definition to include LED signs.
3. Adds human signs to the list of prohibited signs.
4. Expands language permitting signs at churches or synagogues to also include other houses of worship.
5. Adds the RM-HD-2 zoning district to the list of multi-family districts.
6. Allows restaurant uses in multi-family residential districts with more than 100 seats to have 1 wall sign, not exceeding 20 square feet. In addition, properties with an existing freestanding sign identifying a permitted residential use may be permitted an additional 8 square to identify the restaurant.
7. Clarifies that commercial properties are permitted 1 temporary real estate and 1 construction sign per street frontage, instead of per establishment
8. Reduces the permitted height of freestanding signs at service stations from 18 feet to 8 feet, which is consistent with maximum permitted height for other commercial freestanding signs.
9. Eliminates awning and window sign size restrictions for properties with nonconforming pole signs, as the majority of pole signs within the City have been removed.
10. Single-use properties with at least 200 linear feet of frontage may utilize LED technology for two LED wall signs, provided only one LED wall sign shall be permitted per wall face and be no greater than 25 square feet. This restriction provides a limited use of LED signs with the intent of preserving the character of Hallandale Beach.
11. Shopping centers on Hallandale Beach Blvd. or U.S. 1 having more than 3 acres and a main street frontage of 500 linear feet may utilize LED technology for one of the permitted monument signs on the property.
12. Staff has included several regulations regarding the use of LED signs in the City. In addition to strict distance requirements from residentially zoned property, there are maximum brightness levels, minimum display length requirements, a default mechanism to freeze the screen in the event of a malfunction, and animated, flashing or moving lights are prohibited. These safety measures are consistent with provisions in other municipalities’ sign codes.
13. Permits temporary banner signs no greater than 10 square feet for businesses adversely impacted by construction due to exterior renovations or improvements.

RECOMMENDATION:

The Planning and Zoning Board recommend approval of the attached ordinance. The Ordinance will subsequently be presented to the City Commission for First and Second Readings.

Prepared By: _________________

Sarah Suarez, AICP

Senior Planner

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

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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

http://www.browardbulldog.org/2011/10/hallandale-beach-takes-a-bath-on-land-purchases-properties-for-redevelopment-sit-idle-for-years/

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

http://hallandalebeachblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/role-of-pal-in-city-of-hallandale-beach.html

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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