MINUTES OF GMCA ADVISORY BOARD MEETING

September 15, 2016

The meeting was called to order at 11:10 a.m. by President Pio Ieraci at Nick�s Italian Restaurant.

Board Members present: : Ieraci, Berkowitz, Hamaker, Nesbitt, McBride, Abruzzino, Adams, Allen, Bazerghi, Bibace, Cintron, DeLaFuente, Friedman, Gudger, Katz, Larson, Lewandowski, Madgett, Mancke, Neill, Pohan, Sacca, Santiago, Solewin, Soucy, Tripoli, Wenberg and Worsnop.

Guests present: Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner Bruce Roberts; Fort Lauderdale Police Department Officer George Brandner.

Approval of Minutes - Minutes of the June 16, 2016 Advisory Board Meeting were approved.

Old and New Business/Guests

• Pio addressed the following topics:

  • Sprinkler Retrofit - Engineered Life Safety System (ELSS) � this code requirement isn�t driven by safety concerns, but the $billion windfall at stake for Sprinkler Associations, the Plumbers and Pipefitters union, etc.. State Representative George Moraitis is sponsoring a bill enabling associations to opt out of the requirement to install an ELSS and is sending city officials a letter requesting their support. Ron Bibace shared info regarding how the Fire and Life Safety Codes crafted by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) � a Boston-based trade association � are rubber-stamped into the Florida Fire Code and enforced by local Fire Marshalls. Those members of the Fire Marshals union who also serve as Sprinkler Association employees (and executives) line their pockets when certain codes are implemented.

  • A moment of silence was observed for two very active veteran GMCA members who recently passed away: Leah Glickfield and Frank Casier.

  • Solar panels: This is a complicated issue because of hurricane regulations/codes.

  • Habitat Conservation Program on our beach (HCP) � supported by every Federal and State Agency, an Incidental Take Permit (ITP) will enable the relocation of turtle nests to a more protected beach.

• Pio introduced Fort Lauderdale Police Officer George Brandner who reported:

  • Three models of Infiniti S automobiles are vulnerable to breach and ignition by a thief using a device that�s easily obtainable. This impacts cars parked outside, not in a garage.

  • Lock your car doors, no matter where they are parked.

  • Each officer in the detail has been assigned 2 - 4 buildings to contact each week.

  • Pio will be inviting the Coral Ridge Towers Cooperatives to participate in the Galt Security Patrol program.

  • Pio stated that the homeless problem has improved but persists.

• Pio introduced Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner Bruce Roberts, who shared the following:

  • Hotwire Communications � a leading fiber optic telecommunications provider � relocated its headquarters to Fort Lauderdale.

  • Florida leads the country in new jobs.

  • The City budget was passed unanimously.

  • Discussed fire bond to build new fire stations.

  • The Bokamper�s land swap was closed on August 18, 2016.

  • Two interlocked ballot questions, each for a half-penny sales tax increase, will appear on the November 8 ballot. Funding for Municipal infrastructure and countywide transportation must both be approved or neither will survive. Contact Commissioner Roberts if you would like him to attend a meeting at your building to speak about these items.

Galt Mile Web Site � Newsletter � Eric Berkowitz

• September 2016 Website Statistics: 502,697 hits, 21,513 Unique Site Visits (First Timers)

Articles posted during the past month include:

• August 13, 2016 - Retrofit Roulette in Tallahassee - In the past few months, Florida community association homeowners have been perplexed by unexpected regulatory bear traps. A requirement to retrofit condominiums and cooperatives with a budget-busting automatic sprinkler system, which the Florida Fire Code limits to existing high-rise associations, has suddenly evolved into a mandate for every association in the State, regardless of size. Although Broward Senator Jeremy Ring, Senate sponsor of the governing 2010 statutory opt-out amendment, informed DBPR Director Kevin Stansfield that the agency misinterpreted the relevant Statutes, it hasn't detered DBPR from enforcing a law that seemingly doesn't exist. Simultaneously, a May 2016 Declaratory Statement has empowered local fire marshals to require the installation of sprinklers in associations whether or not they voted to forego a sprinkler retrofit.

• August 23, 2016 - July 2016 LaMarca Letter - In his July 2016 Newsletter, District 4 Broward Commissioner Chip LaMarca explains his recognition by the Florida Association of Counties for successfully lobbying Tallahassee lawmakers to boost allocations to beach renourishment projects and Seaport improvements, examines a new funding source for homeowners and businesses planning energy-saving property enhancements, reviews how a litany of new partnerships, improvements, and business agreements have strengthened Port Everglades� operational and economic underpinnings, and applauds a new Broward Library Division service model that increased certain branch hours of operation without exploding the budget.

• September 10, 2016 - Roberts: PACE; Sales Tax, FXE; King Tides - In his September / October 2016 Newsletter, City Commissioner Bruce Roberts prods constituents to complete hurricane preparations, suggests a new financing option for energy-efficient property improvements, thanks Fort Lauderdale bean counters for a spending plan that enhances City services while freezing the millage, congratulates the Budget Division for earning the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award, reviews sales tax ballot initiatives to upgrade failing infrastructure, applauds Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE) for hosting a drill to sharpen tactical emergency response, welcomes the installation of Global Entry Kiosks to expedite Customs procedures at FXE, encourages utilization of the CodeRED emergency notification system, updates high-level staff changes and alerts residents to impending flood risks during September�s King Tides.

• September 20, 2016 - August 2016 LaMarca Letter - In his August 2016 Newsletter, District 4 Broward Commissioner Chip LaMarca congratulates eleven County departments named by the National Association of Counties for Achievement Awards (four snagged by the Risk Management Division); notes that Port Everglades rated Green Marine Certification and won German-based Hapag-Lloyd as a new customer; cites Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) for a Green Practices Program that earned the J. Bryan Cooper Environmental Award for its Sustainable Strategic Initiatives in Terminal 4 and newly opened Concourse G; warns constituents to prepare for Hurricane Season and introduces a new mobile access to online tax data. LaMarca also details State and County efforts to choke off the slippery Zika Virus. After racing across South America and the Pacific, this mystery pandemic surged into South Florida, where health authorities worldwide know little more than we do about stamping it out

Other Business

• Discussed BCT Route 72 busses laying over on Galt Ocean Drive - still working on a solution to the bus blocking traffic and a handicap ramp.

• Discussed condition of our sidewalks, replacement of missing grass patches and palm tree branches that drop on the road. There is a schedule to remove tree branches from the road.

• Comments shared about the success of our beach renourishment.

• Eric reminded everyone to complete and return the Wage & Salary Survey immediately, if not already done.

Treasurer�s Report - Fred Nesbitt

• The Treasurer reported a balance of $18,719.79.

Adjournment - The next regular Advisory Board Meeting will be held on Thursday, October 20, 2016 at Nick�s Italian Restaurant.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:22 p.m.

Fern McBride
Fern McBride, Secretary

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