MINUTES OF GMCA ADVISORY BOARD MEETING

November 15, 2018

The meeting was called to order at 11:19 a.m. by President Pio Ieraci at Nick�s Italian Restaurant.

Board Members present: Ieraci, Berkowitz, Hamaker, McBride, Nesbitt, Surdovel, Abruzzino, A. Adams, R. Adams, Bazerghi, Bendis, Bibace, D. Larson, K. Larson, Madenfort, Madgett, Matsas, Muchantef, Mullan, Lewis Paleias, Linda Paleias, Papineau, Pohan, Santiago, Short, Toussaint, Tripoli and Wenberg

Guests present: Melissa Coningsby, Assistant to City Commissioner Heather Moraitis; City of Fort Lauderdale Police Officer Tom Gestal

Approval of Minutes - Minutes of the October 18, 2018 Advisory Board Meeting were approved.

Old and New Business

• Assistant to City Commissioner Heather Moraitis, Melissa Coningsby:

  • Shared flyer for the Light Up the Galt event on November 28, 2018

  • Reported on recent block maintenance walk-through with officials from the city and the Galt Mile

• Beach Raker

  Buildings will be contacted about proposed weekly service expansion from 5 to 7 days.

• Galt Ocean Drive Street Landscape:

  • Response to test trees indicate that 2 species are preferred (Japanese Blueberry & Bulnesia), and irrigation is insufficient, Adjacent associations could possibility adjust onsite sprinkler heads to help irrigate the trees

  • 40 trees must be replaced

  • Contractors damaged sidewalks � patched using different color aggregate, marred with utility graffiti. Can be replaced individually, or by implementing a full-scale neighborhood-funded project

  • Contractors should be held responsible for fixing what they damage

• Galt Patrol: Officer Tom Gestal

  • One car stolen; robbery at 7-11

  • - Important to be aware when approaching our cars

  • BE ALERT!

• Engineered Life Safety Systems � ELSS:

  • New information website: FACTSS.org

  • Former Statehouse Representative and State Senator Ellyn Bogdanoff has formally been hired

  • Ellyn is reaching out to House & Senate lawmakers

  • House Speaker Jos� R. Oliva is committed to this project

  • 36,000 letters are going out

  • Of the $20,000 expected from locally impacted member associations, $17,000 has been received

  • Will contact the 4,337 associations in Florida that had opted out of sprinkler retrofit and invite their participation and financial support

  • This self-determination issue is statewide � not just the Galt

  • Discussed responsibilities (statutory authority, limitations, etc.) of Fire Marshals

Galt Mile Web Site � Newsletter � Eric Berkowitz

• October 2018 Website statistics: 721,996 hits and 46,046 unique site visits (first timers)

• Articles posted during the past month include:

  • October 23, 2018 - Heather Moraitis: Penny Tax, OK to Park - In her September 2018 Newsletter, District 1 City Commissioner Heather Moraitis explores a Broward ballot question certified for the November election. A planned bump in the sales tax from 6% to 7% would provide County officials with 30 years of blank checks for the buildout and maintenance of countywide transportation improvements - a growing burden that will otherwise bloat homeowner and merchant property taxes. While outlining a County plan to relieve congested roadways and enhance connectivity, her report seeks to mitigate the confusion and distrust that tanked a similar ballot measure in 2016. Moraitis also notes a monthly opportunity for local businesses to buy parking permits at the Beach Community Center; invites constituents to attend her Pre-Agenda Meetings; endorses a free Neighbors App by Ring to enhance community safety; and suggests using the Lauderserv app to conveniently contact the City. .

  • November 2, 2018 - Pilot Project: New Trees on the Galt - Since his appointment as the neighborhood association�s block maintenance liaison with the City in late 2016, Galleon resident John Jors has worked closely with Galt Mile officials, City Parks Department personnel and Fort Lauderdale Urban Forester Mark Williams to improve spotty municipal maintenance, facilitate post-Hurricane Irma damage recovery, and replace crisis management with strategic planning. In his October 2018 Advisory Board Report, Jors updates progress of an on-street pilot project in which a sample of 26 heavily damaged trees are replaced with three test species better adapted to thrive in a windblown coastal habitat, laments unresolved lighting failures and incompatible vendor-installed sidewalk panels, and cites insufficient irrigation as a fatal impediment to the pilot project's success. Jors and Williams hope to replace decades of firehouse block maintenance with a research-based roadmap. .

  • November 11, 2018 - A Grateful LaMarca Heads North - Chip LaMarca changed hats. On November 6, the 8-year District 4 Broward Commissioner snatched up the District 93 Statehouse seat vacated by departing Representative George Moraitis, defeating Democrat challenger Emma Collum by a 7% vote margin; 40,426 (53%) vs 34,927 (46%) with 1176 votes (1%) to Kelly Milam. Despite a Democrat majority, many Galt Mile voters subordinate partisan ties in favor of candidates who�ve reliably delivered on local issues - whether Republican or Democrat. Shortly after his election to the Broward Board, LaMarca saved the popular Galt Mile Library from terminal budget cuts. Later, he ended decades of frustration by restoring the shrinking beach. On November 6, he rode the banked good will to Tallahassee - but not without dropping a transitional thank you note.

Other Business

• Members Mel Kessler and Mike Katz are having serious health issues. Dr. Alex Moyyad now has a pacemaker.

Treasurer�s Report - Fred Nesbitt

• The Treasurer reported a balance of $13,363.20.

Adjournment - The next regular Advisory Board Meeting will be held on Thursday, January 17, 2019 at Nick�s Italian Restaurant. There will be no meeting in December.

• The meeting was adjourned at 1:03 p.m.

Fern McBride
Fern McBride, Secretary

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