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MINUTES OF GMCA ADVISORY BOARD MEETING

OCTOBER 16, 2014


The meeting was called to order at 11:15 a.m. by President Pio Ieraci at Nick�s Italian Restaurant.

Board Members present: Ieraci, Berkowitz, Hamaker, Nesbitt, Surdovel, McBride, Bazerghi, Bendis, Cella, Cipriani, Correa, Friedman, Garcia, Hashek, Kellly, Kessler, Korn, Larson, Ledbetter, Lewandowski, Neill, Solewin, and Vega.

Guests present: Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner Bruce Roberts; Fort Lauderdale Police Department (FLPD) Officer Zachary Baro.

Approval of Minutes - Minutes of the September 18, 2014 Advisory Board Meeting were approved.

Old and New Business/Guests

  • Pio introduced Galt Mile liaison Officer Zachary Baro, Fort Lauderdale Police Department:

    • He exhorted members to exercise heightened safety precautions throughout the upcoming Holiday season. To deter an anticipated increase in vehicular break-ins, store valuables out-of-sight and lock car doors at all times when leaving the vehicle.

    • Baro can be emailed at: [email protected] and his phone number is 954-361-5405.

    • A new non-emergency number for the FLPD is 954-764-4357.

    • A new city crew has begun to cover the downtown district and the beach.

    • Fred Nesbitt inquired about increasingly aggressive soliciting activity by the homeless in certain alleys and other neighborhood sites.

  • Pio introduced Fort Lauderdale District 1 Commissioner Bruce Roberts, who spoke of the following:

    • The City�s participation in the newly consolidated �911� emergency response system.

    • Roberts detailed how a consolidated system will shorten response times for police, fire and EMS calls.

    • To optimize the new system�s Public Safety dividend, operators County-wide need to be provided with upgraded technology and trained in its use.

    • Gave update about neighborhood corridors marked by development in the City.

    • Enumerated current infrastructure improvements; discussed parking issues, rezoning the area adjacent to Executive airport, and the impact of discontinuing CRA�s.

    • Planned improvements to A1A and intersecting streets along the Galt Ocean Mile (from Oakland Park Boulevard to Lauderdale-by-the-Sea) will begin in spring or summer of 2015.

    • Fred Nesbitt confirmed that work on Fire Station 54 is progressing.

In welcoming several Galt Mile building managers to their first Advisory Board meeting, after explaining its format and objectives, Pio distinguished between Advisory Board luncheon meetings held on the third Thursday of the month and President�s Council meetings convened on the first Monday evening of each month.

Council of Fort Lauderdale Civic Associations - Fred Nesbitt & Richard Bazerghi

  • Now regulated, the sport of parasailing should be safer and subject to fewer problems.

  • Flyers about various activities and events were distributed.

  • Discussed the $800 million Broward school bond ballot question, which could increase the burden on Galt Mile taxpayers by an estimated $50 - $100.

  • Discussed landscaping ordinance.

Galt Ocean Mile Street Landscape - Chepo Vega

  • Chepo praised Parks official Mark Almy for his continuing efforts to address Galt Ocean Mile landscaping concerns.

  • Trees lining neighborhood sidewalks need to be trimmed.

  • Chepo distributed pictures demonstrating why severely leaning trees pose a threat to inattentive elderly pedestrians.

  • Chepo will reach out to Parks Director Phil Thornberg and Commissioner Bruce Roberts to help resolve the safety hazard.

  • Trees on Southpoint property that extend over the public right-of-way caused mold to develop on the sidewalks below. Southpoint representatives will bring this issue back to their association officials for consideration.

Beach Renourishment

  • A long-delayed biological opinion has finally been submitted by NOAA Fisheries, finalizing Segment II compliance with regulatory requirements.

  • Aspects of the beach renourishment project have already been placed out to bid.

  • The project is still scheduled to commence in November or December.

Galt Mile Web Site � Newsletter � Eric Berkowitz

  • September 2014 Web Site Stats: 622,677 hits, 24,262 Unique Site Visits (First Timers)

Articles posted during the past month include:

  • September 24, 2014 - LaMarca: Budgets & Buses - In his Autumn 2014 Newsletter, District 4 Broward Commissioner Chip LaMarca disparages plans by the Broward Commission and Broward County Transit to stick it to Taxpayers � and fare payers. For years, the County Board relentlessly funded an endless quest for pork. When the recession vaporized the seemingly bottomless property tax windfall, it forced a temporary suspension of irresponsible county spending. As the housing market rebounded last year, LaMarca proposes to leave some of the incremental property tax revenues in your pocket. Having finally implemented policies that began reversing years of decline, Broward County Transit (BCT) earned an upswing in ridership. Instead of utilizing increased farebox revenues to finance additional improvements, BCT decided to bang their new customers. Transit Gurus agree that nothing deters ridership like a fare hike. What�s wrong with this picture?

  • October 2, 2014 - Constitutional Target Practice - On November 4, 2014, as Floridians reconfigure their Federal, State and local governments, Galt Mile residents will wrestle with decisions about their representation on the County Commission (Chip LaMarca or Ken Keechl), in the Florida Statehouse (George Moraitis or Scott Herman), in the Florida Senate (Maria Sachs or Ellyn Bogdanoff) and on the �Hill� (Lois Frankel, Paul Spain or Raymond Schamis). We will also be asked to decide myriad open Judgeships and positions on District Boards and Commissions. Given the limited impact they have on our lives, most voters would rather flip a coin than self-educate about filling more obscure elected positions (County judges, the Water Board, Children's Services, etc.). Unfortunately, since this also holds true for most Ballot questions and proposed Amendments, unscrupulous politicians use them as vehicles for realizing outrageous measures that would otherwise wither under minimal scrutiny. The 2014 ballot houses three proposed amendments to the Florida Constitution and 2 Broward County Ballot questions. Sponsored by tricky doggies, some aren�t what they appear to be. Read on...

  • October 11, 2014 - Broward Ballot Backwash - The 2014 General Election Ballot contains two questions raised by Broward County, one sponsored by the Broward Board of County Commissioners and one proposed by the Broward School Board. Given the ethical tar pit that serves as the Broward County Commission�s historical bioniche (along with numerous County agencies - including the School Board); approving these initiatives without some measure of insight is tantamount to shooting oneself in the foot. The following missive will help Galt Milers sort through the two issues. After the official title and ballot summary (as featured on the actual ballot) - we scripted a brief diagnosis of underlying issues surrounding each voter �inquiry�. While most voters will see past the reauthorization oversight glitch in the first ballot question, the second question will epidemically fuel an $800 million Election Day migraine.

Other Business

  • Observing that several member associations hadn�t yet submitted input to the President�s Council Wage & Salary Survey, unless they did so within 24 hours, they will have deprived their owners of a critically important budgeting tool.

  • Ocean Riviera representative Franci Bindler broke her leg and foot. After a lengthy hospital stay, she is recuperating at home. Fern was asked to send a get well card on our behalf.

Treasurer�s Report - Fred Nesbitt

The Treasurer reported a balance of $18,719.78

Adjournment - The next regular Advisory Board Meeting will be held on Thursday, November 20, 2014 at Nick�s Italian Restaurant.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:07 p.m.

Fern McBride
Fern McBride, Secretary

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