MINUTES OF GMCA ADVISORY BOARD MEETING

May 16, 2019

The meeting was called to order at 11:05 a.m. by President Pio Ieraci at Nick�s Italian Restaurant..

Board Members present: Ieraci, Berkowitz, Hamaker, Hashek, McBride, Nesbitt, Surdovel, Abruzzino, Barrickman, Bazerghi, Bendis, Bibace, Carcia, Cave, Deevy, DeLouise, Ellison, Harris, Johnson, Kessler, Kochanowski, Korn, Larson, Madgett, Papineau, Pohan, Short and Tegov.

Guests present: Melissa Coningsby, Assistant to City of Fort Lauderdale District 1 Commissioner Heather Moraitis; Mabel Hurtado, Assistant to District 4 Broward Commissioner Lamar Fisher; Fort Lauderdale Police Department Officers Gestal and Lau; Daniel Kariamis, DVK Designs.

Approval of Minutes - Minutes of the April 18, 2019 Advisory Board Meeting were approved.

Old and New Business

• Melissa Coningsby, Assistant to Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner Heather Moraitis:

  • Told about a street lamp that was knocked down near L�Hermitage.

  • Part ordered to repair blinking light at crosswalk; will be received and installed in two months.

  • Was asked to check on synchronizing the traffic lights on Galt Ocean Drive.

• Daniel Kariamis of DVK Designs was introduced and gave a presentation about customizing an updated Galt Mile web site, which is scheduled to go online by the end of May.

• Fort Lauderdale Police Officers Gestal & Lau:

  • April crime stats were good; attempted break-in to L�Ambiance garage on 4/26/19, items taken from BMW convertible outside of Walgreens at 12:26 p.m.

  • Homeless: allowed outside of Chick-fil-A on Federal Highway.

  • Discussed scooter issue; banned in beach area during Spring Break and banned on sidewalks, etc.

  • Passed out brochures: �Cons, Frauds & Scams� and �Keeping Yourself Safe When Out and About�

Engineered Life Safety Systems � ELSS

• Pio shared information on the status of conflicting bills that either advocate or oppose an ELSS Opt-Out.

FACTSS

• Discussion about whether to stay focused on one issue (the mandated ELSS installation) or shift the focus to include other issues, such as the lack of legislative oversight for Florida�s Fire Prevention code, Building Code. If the scope is broadened, other associations may join; however, support for the group could be diluted if other issues are taken on. Keeping FACTSS alive is paramount. Noted that the 40-year inspection is only in Broward and Miami-Dade counties.

Beach Raker

• Service is now expanded to seven days a week which is keeping the beach cleaner. Discussed the fact that the trash is buried and there is a smell at times.

Street Lighting / Landscaping

• Discussed updating street lighting on the Galt.

• John Jors sent message to the City identifying which test trees need to be removed and replaced.

• Discussed repairing of existing sidewalks, lighting and pavers.

• The City will be asked to come up with a project plan.

Galt Mile Web Site � Newsletter � Eric Berkowitz

• A plan is underway to modernize the Galt Mile website

• April 2019 Website statistics: 590,261 hits and 24,507 unique site visits (first timers)

• Articles posted during the past month include:

  • April 25, 2019 - Fisher: April 2019 - Traffic, 911, Solar, FLL - In his April 2019 Newsletter, District 4 Broward Commissioner Lamar Fisher marvels at how Broward County�s Traffic Engineering Division Management Center struggles to keep the wheels rolling on County and City roadways; reviews the limits of a Text-to-911 emergency service that was recently integrated into Broward�s county-wide Emergency 911 Dispatch System; applauds the cost-saving opportunities for constituents who participate in the recent revival of Solar Co-ops in Broward County; and supports the newly launched Ride Safe Campaign at Fort Lauderdale - Hollywood International Airport, which urges travelers to avoid using unauthorized ground transportation providers, given the attendant risk for rip-offs, robberies - or worse.

  • May 5, 2019 - Moraitis: Rebirth of Lockhart Stadium - In her April 2019 Newsletter, District 1 City Commissioner Heather Moraitis describes the rebirth of iconic Lockhart Stadium as a major sports venue - at least for two years. The City approved a plan to transition Lockhart Stadium from a browned out wasteland overgrown with weeds to a major league soccer complex with an 18,000-seat modern stadium, a training academy, administrative offices, a community center, a dog park, a running trail, playground, public park and facilities that will accommodate a second professional soccer franchise from the United Soccer League (USL). She also applauds the �Uptown 5k on the Runway� - a Run / Walk event at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport; congratulates the Westminster Academy men�s basketball team for winning their third consecutive FHSAA Class 4A State Basketball Championship; and celebrates April as Water Conservation Month by promoting the Broward Water Partnership�s (BWP) Conservation Pays program.

  • May 17, 2019 - ELSS: Bumps in the Road - In February 5, 2019, Statehouse Representative Michael Grieco (D - Miami Beach), filed House Bill 647, entitled �Community Association Fire and Life Safety Systems�. The bill provided for the right of high-rise association homeowners to forgo retrofitting a costly Engineered Life-Safety System (ELSS). On February 18, 2019, Senator Jason Pizzo (D � Miami) filed Senate Bill 1152, a companion bill in the other chamber. On May 3, with the help of thousands of association homeowners, former lawmaker Ellyn Bogdanoff won approval in the House and Senate despite a steady stream of false testimony and dirty tricks by an army of opposing lobbyists with bottomless wallets, and somehow managed to stretch an approaching 7-month installation deadline to 2024, creating four additional opportunities to quash this scam - unless the legislation is drop-kicked by the Governor.

  • May 27, 2019 - LaMarca: Tallahassee in April & May - In his late-session legislative updates, District 93 Statehouse Representative Chip LaMarca�s April message distinguishes between Vacation Rental bills that empower local governments to protect home values and those that systematically destroy residential communities. In his May report, LaMarca announces the approval of Sales Tax Holiday events that offer savings on hurricane preparedness supplies, school supplies & clothing; notes new funding for tighter clean water standards, Everglades Restoration, Beach Renourishment and other critical environmental priorities long neglected by the previous administration; and applauds passage of a comprehensive firefighter cancer benefits program that will help plug a gap in the nationwide safety net for afflicted firefighters.

Galt Roving Patrol

• Chabad wants to be included in Security Patrol

• Discussed whether the Coral Ridge Towers buildings want to be included.

• The Galt Marketplace and leasing merchants will be contacted to see if they are interested in participating in the Galt Mile Security patrol.

• Discussed integrating the use of cameras to enhance security.

Other Business

• Construction of Publix on NE 30 Street may begin soon.

• We were admonished not to give money to homeless; there are facilities that provide free care and services.

Treasurer�s Report - Fred Nesbitt

• The Treasurer reported a balance of $10,847.49. Invoices are being sent.

Adjournment - The next regular Advisory Board Meeting will be held on Thursday, June 20, 2019 at Nick�s Italian Restaurant.

• The meeting was adjourned at 12:55 p.m.

Fern McBride
Fern McBride, Secretary

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