MINUTES OF GMCA ADVISORY BOARD MEETING

June 13, 2019

The meeting was called to order at 11:13 a.m. by President Pio Ieraci at Nick�s Italian Restaurant.

Board Members present: Ieraci, Berkowitz, Hamaker, Hashek, McBride, Nesbitt, Surdovel, Abruzzino, Adams, A., Adams, B., Axelson, Bazerghi, Cave, Claire, DeLouise, Ellison, Ghersi, Hall, Kessler, Larson, Madenfort, Madgett, Murcado, Papineau, Pohan, Sarelakos, Shields and Tegov.

Guests present: City of Fort Lauderdale District 1 Commissioner Heather Moraitis; Clara Harms, Commissioner Moraitis� Intern; Bob Wolfe, Property Appraiser�s Office; Fort Lauderdale Police Department Officers Gestal and Ryan.

Approval of Minutes - Minutes of the May 15, 2019 Advisory Board Meeting were approved.

Old and New Business

A respectful Moment of Silence commemorated the passing of Eric Berkowitz�s mother, Miriam Berkowitz, and longtime Advisory Board member Michael Katz.

Pio conveyed two messages from Broward Commissioner Lamar Fisher, who was unable to attend the meeting. Repairs to the damaged bus stop on Galt Ocean Drive have been approved and will soon begin. Renovation of the Galt Mile Library is awaiting permit approval.

Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner Heather Moraitis was introduced and addressed the following issues:

• Multi-family water rates should decline based on the impending water rate study. The changes should apply when the rates are set in October.

• Water meters are being audited.

• Storm water charges will substantially increase.

• Ramp signaling along I-95 in District I starting in October.

• Scooters are currently banned on the barrier island; and are prohibited on sidewalks.

• Spoke about reviving the community bus service. Pio observed that the Sun Trolley was discontinued along the Galt Mile, but may hopefully resume service. �Freebee� electric shuttles are privately funded and operated.

• Damage to pedestrian crosswalk is being repaired.

• Discussed planned improvements to the Lockhart Stadium site by Miami Beckham United and addressed parking issues.

New Galt Mile Website - Eric Berkowitz

• The Galt Mile website will be modernized in a few months.

Engineered Life Safety System (ELSS) Retrofit Legislation

• Pio explained how the bill extending the ELSS installation deadline must next be sent to the Governor for approval.

Fort Lauderdale Police Officers Gestal & Ryan:

• An unlocked car was broken into at 4040 Galt Ocean Drive (Ocean Manor)

• Purse reported taken from bed in an apartment; the door was not secure.

• Arrests and citations have little impact on Homeless issues.

• Safety Tips for the prevention of car jackings at gas stations: lock the car, do not leave keys in car. Skimmers: Do not use the pump if the tape is broken. Use a credit card, not a bank card.

Beach Raker

• The new seven-day service is a great success. The beach is much cleaner.

Street Lighting / Landscaping

• Jon Jors is monitoring the replacement of damaged or failing trees.

• Eight buttonwoods have been replaced

• New irrigation systems are effective.

• Few associations responded to Pio�s recommendation for fully renovating the Galt Mile. He will send a second correspondence to member associations. A discussion was held about a prospective self-assessment to fund the project.

Galt Ocean Mile Reading Center - Terry Claire

• Terry reported having sent inquiries to Lamar Fisher on 4/22 and 6/10 about proposals for renovating the reading center but had not yet received a response.

Galt Mile Web Site � Newsletter � Eric Berkowitz

• May 2019 Website statistics: 531,193 hits and 27,629 unique site visits (first timers)

• Articles posted during the past month include:

  • 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.

  • June 6, 2019 - Fisher: Hurricanes, Text Ban, Housing - In his May 2019 Newsletter, District 4 Broward Commissioner Lamar Fisher suggests preparing for the June 1 through November 30 Hurricane Season and recommends attending the 5th Annual Open House on Hurricane Preparedness at the African American Research Library and Cultural Center, 2650 Sistrunk Boulevard, on Saturday, June 1st from 10 AM � 2 PM; notes the enactment of House Bill 107, which tightens a Texting While Driving ban; summarizes an updated Broward Housing Needs Assessment by Florida International University Metropolitan Center, which underscores a critical shortage of affordable housing for low- and moderate-income populations, afflicting Broward with a housing cost burden rated worst in the nation; and closes by inviting constituents to take advantage of two-for-one Summer discounts on a wide range of goods and services - as compiled by the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Other Business

• Pio thanked Fred Nesbitt for his work on the water rates issue.

• Bob Wolff: The Property Appraiser is creating a new website next year.

• Starbuck�s is closing on June 30, and will be replaced by a French bakery

• Bank of America in the Galt Marketplace is closing this summer

Treasurer�s Report - Fred Nesbitt

• The Treasurer reported a balance of $10,288.77. Invoices have been sent.

Adjournment - The next regular Advisory Board Meeting will be held on Thursday, September 19, 2019

• The meeting was adjourned at 12:54 p.m.

Fern McBride
Fern McBride, Secretary

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