City Council — Jan 24, 2024

Good evening and welcome. The Wednesday, January 24th, 2024 City of Plantation City Council meeting is now called to order at 6-11. Ms. Beggaroe, please call the roll. Councilmember Anderson. Here. Councilmember Andreu. Here. Councilmember Fadgen. Here. Councilmember Horland. Here. Councilmember Einstein. Here. Mayor Sortel. Here. City Attorney Azrael. Here. Thank you. Thank you. Tonight's opening remarks and Pledge of Allegiance will be provided by Councilmember Horland. Thank you, Mr. President. For my opening remarks tonight, I'd like to acknowledge that the city, through our wellness center, has instituted a book club, and it's a wonderful initiative that I believe improves the culture of a workplace. And the book choices have been inspired no more so than this month's selection of The Gift, 14 Lessons to Save a Life, by Edith Eager, who at 97 is still going strong, which is the best revenge of a Holocaust survivor, a long, fruitful life. So it seemed fitting with International Holocaust Remembrance Day this weekend to share a few words by Edith about facing challenges, which we all do in life. She said, we can't take away the suffering. We can't change what happened, but we can choose to find the gift in our lives. We can even learn to cherish the wound. Life, even with its inevitable trauma, pain, greed, misery, and death, is a gift. So to celebrate the gift of life is to find the gift in everything that happens, even the parts that are difficult and that we're not sure that we can survive, to celebrate life, period. So whether you're dealing with an illness, the death of a loved one, a divorce, or some other challenge, we must remind ourselves to live with joy, love, and passion. And I don't know anybody who does that better than children. So I'm so pleased tonight to call up the student council members of Plantation Park Elementary. So guys, you want to come up to the podium? So I'd like to ask my fellow council members, how many of us served in student council when we were younger? Uh-huh. Okay. You had to behave. Because I told the, I told, you had to behave? So I, I told the students that this is the beginning for them. They're leading their school, and one day they might be sitting up here and making decisions on behalf of their state. So, um, anyway, so you guys ready? All right. So everybody, please stand up, and the students are going to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. The light on? Yeah. Pledge of Allegiance. To the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, and liberty and justice for all. Okay, guys, so I want you to introduce yourselves, tell everybody your name and your grade, and what you like about being a student council. I'm Tazine Houghton, and I'm in fifth grade, and I like that in student council, you get to choose the events that you can do for the school. Okay. I'm Jackson Black, and I'm in fourth grade, and my favorite part about student council is you get to, like, help people and stop bullying. Good. I'm William Moeller, and I'm in fourth grade, and my favorite part about student council is getting to pick up trash around the school. My name is Amelia Gonzalez, I'm in third. What grade are you in? Should we guess? Third? Fourth? Fourth? Third? It's okay. We're good. Okay. All right. Okay. I'm sorry. It's okay. My name is Azaria Henry, I'm in fifth grade, and I like how we spread kindness to others. Wonderful. And that's, those are all great traits for public servants. So I want to tell you guys a little something. Before I became a council member, I used to come up here sometimes and speak on city issues, and I would stand there and my legs would shake. I'd be so nervous. So there's, you don't have to be nervous. That's the reason we started this program, so you can come to city hall and get to know us and not be so nervous. So you guys stay there. I'd like to ask Mrs. Codd, the student council advisor, and Dr. Osgood to come up and just very quickly tell us there's an event coming up at PPE. It's one of my favorite events, and I know some of the students have participated, so I want to hear about what's going on. Hello, everybody. Good evening. For a point of clarification, we do not ask them to pick up trash. They tell us when they think we need to do a better job keeping our campus clean. So I just want that for the record. Okay. Very proud of our students. We have elocution that will be coming up very quick, very soon. Many of our council members will be present as judges. It's a big event where students practice their public speaking skills. I want to thank Mrs. Codd because she does a wonderful job leading our student council members. Would you like to say anything? It's an honor to be able to hear what the students think the school needs, because it is their school. And to give them the power to have ownership of the building, of their domain, where they come every day to learn, is a privilege and an honor. Thank you so much. Thank you for having us. Thank you, guys. Great job. Can I get the council to stand up? Dr. Osgood, we're going to stand up behind so we can get in the picture with you. Yes, next thing is items submitted by the mayor, service awards. Thank you very much. We have one person celebrating five years with the city. He works in the building department, and his name is Richard Molineski. So, please come up and receive your pen. I offered him a chance to speak, and he already declined. You're on top. Unless you want to change your mind? No, no, no. I'm like that little young lady. So, I'm totally... You're like... He's like the young lady. So, you can commiserate. I don't feel bad. Thank you, sir. I appreciate it. He works in the structural part. He inspects to make sure buildings are structurally sound. So, we need this guy. Thank you. Oh, excuse me. Parks and Recreation upcoming events. Mr. Goodrich. All choked up already. Yes. Good evening. Phil Goodrich, Parks and Recreation. Thank you for letting us make some announcements. I was handed this today to make the normal announcements, and I said, that's never going to work. So, we blew it up to a little bit more manageable size. So, here we go. As I've said before, we've entered into our event season, and things have picked up, and we've got activities going on through all the different divisions, and we're very excited about that. So, this Friday, we have a Friday night exhibition at the Veltree Tennis Center. It is the pros from the Veltree Tennis Center going to be playing against the Hawks Landing pros. So, that'll be at the Veltree Tennis Center, 6.30 p.m., entrance is free, if you'd like to come out and join everybody. This Saturday, we have our, I'm sorry, January 27th is Doggypalooza. I don't know, but I believe we're closing in on 20 years of doing Doggypalooza now. So, the 27th is the date, but, no, because today's the 24th. Oh, gotcha, gotcha. Okay, so, I knew it was around 20, so I sent a text out, but didn't get it back yet. Anyway, so that is Happy Tails Dog Park, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., $2 entrance fee for human companions to benefit. Boxer Friends Incorporated, a local nonprofit. All kinds of activities going on at the park, including best dressed pooch, pet owner look-alike contest, and best pet trick. So, come on out if you have a four-legged one, and enjoy the day. Saturday, the 27th through Monday, the 29th is the USTA Level 4 Closed Junior Tournament at the Veltree Tennis Center. Those are for young kids up-and-comings that are from the local area. Saturday, the 27th, we also have the beginning of our swim lesson evaluations. They start that weekend. I challenged our aquatics division. Clearly, we've developed a lot through the Midtown Corridor, has a lot of young families there. All those developments have swimming pools and have young children. Previous years, we averaged in the high 300s for swim lessons in a year. Last year, we did almost 800. So, we have definitely stepped that up, and we are prepared, and we're even prepared to do more this upcoming year. But we basically sold out last year and did a very good job with that. So, very happy with that. Obviously, life safety and everything else that goes along with those. Friday, February 2nd, we've got movies in the park. That will be Super Mario Brothers, the movie. That will be at Volunteer Park. Notice that's the first Friday of the month. It's not a concert. It's a movie. So, Saturday, the 3rd, there we go. We've got Rock the Park that night. That is going to be Brass Evolution, which is a nine-piece brass band. They cover, like, Chicago, Earth, Wind, and Fire, and other popular horn bands from the 70s and 80s. So, great music. They've done some chamber events, and they've been fantastic and have a great following. So, we're really excited about having them out there. Pine Island Park, gates open at 6. There's food trucks available. Concert starts at 7. No dogs, please. Thursday, the 8th, we have a senior trip to Birch State Park, 55 and over. Bus leaves from Jim Moore Community Center at 10.30 a.m. and returns at 3 p.m. We did make it back from the Keys safely, so we were good there. Saturday, February 10th, first annual Charlie Brown Valentine's Day event. That will be held at the Plantation Community Center from 2 to 4. Cost is $15 per person for ages 4 and up. It'll be a guided art project. It's got chocolates, pictures, snacks, and movies. So, we're looking forward to starting a new program there for Valentine's Day. Sunday, February 11th, the 18th annual run through Central Park. Check-in is at 6 a.m. Race starts at 7 a.m. All proceeds benefit the concerns of police survivors. I've got a special thanks out to the police department and Chief Harrison, who's always out there supporting that. But, obviously, the fundraiser goes to police survivors and their families, which is a very important cause, and we're very happy to support that project. Sunday, February 11th, we have Super Bowl tailgate mixer at the Veltree Tennis Center that will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Cost is $20 for members, $25 for guests. Registration is currently open for PAL spring softball. Baseball, I believe, just closed and is filled up. Monday night kickball is still in need of a couple teams, so if anybody's interested, contact Melvin Johnson at 954-452-2507. I have one last announcement that I'd like to make. We are now in, I think, our fourth year of partnership with Broward County Parks and Recreation as well as the Broward County Parks Foundation to host, to help support the Love Fest that will be held not in our park but in our city at Heritage Park run by the county. So we've done a lot of collaboration with both the foundation as well as with the sponsors there. That will be featuring the Florida Youth Orchestra and Nestor Torres will be a free concert. That will also have the Police Fuzz Band will play from 1 to 2.30, and then the Florida Youth Orchestra will play from 2.30 to 4 p.m. Again, that's Park Fest, Love and Music Day at Heritage Park on February 18th from 1 to 5. Thank you. Thank you. Public request of counsel regarding municipal affairs. Those who wish to speak will request that you complete a speaker form. If you have not done so already, please do. Please state your name and address, and please address your remarks to the council president, not the mayor, or individual members of the council. Please keep your remarks to the allotted three minutes. And with that, Mr. Wynn, you're up. Joe Wynn, 944 Northwest 92nd Terrace. Good evening, all. Happy New Year. No, I think we've already had one. Normally, I come up here and I talk about some issue, some challenge, something that we need to focus on or work on completely revamping or something like that. Today, I wanted to come up and express appreciation and thanks. If you haven't already been to the Central Park multi-use building to see the mural there, it is absolutely fantastic. It's gorgeous. A picture online on Facebook doesn't really give you the scale of the fact that it's big, really big. And we, as a city, could do really well with having more and more of that type of thing, more art, more ways to give people a smile and a little sense of joy and a sense of nature whenever they're out and around. Central Park alone already has sculptures and other things. That same concept, spreading that mural, spreading that joy, spreading that idea of nature, we can continue doing that. That fits in with my personal pet projects of improving walkability and safety and excitement of being outside. When we make the area more welcoming with art, with wider sidewalks and things like that, we contribute for everybody. And we make the place and the city a better place. So I wanted to say thank you to everybody who was involved in getting that project done, especially to the artist, and to encourage everyone to go there, see it, enjoy it, spend a day at the park, and then encourage more of those to be done. That's all. Thank you. Thank you. Ms. Andelieb. Hi, I'm Phyllis Andelieb. I just wanted to talk about something that's been- Could you state your address for the record? 1460 Southwest 57th Avenue, Plantation, 33317. Is that good? Yep. Okay. All right. I just wanted to- I really want to read a letter that I wrote because it was never acknowledged. We have had a pipe in our yard since we've lived there, and it's supposed to be in the easement, and it's not. And we've been trying to get that done for the past four years and have not been able to. So, I wrote a- the last letter I wrote was to the City Council, and I'd never received a reply either. I just want to read the letter, and I've already spoken to Mr. Sortow, and I appreciate him calling me very much. I really, really do. Okay. The City of Plantation has been using our property illegally for 27 years plus. We've been trying to rectify this for four years, starting with the previous mayor and previous engineer. The previous engineer who recognized the drainage pipe was in the wrong place, not in the easement, was working with us to correct the problem. However, unfortunately, he's no longer with the City of Plantation. We need to know what your plan is concerning the misplaced drainage pipe in our property, which is 1460 Southwest 57th Avenue in Plantation Isles. In my previous letter of February 20th, 2023, to Mr. Neunamaker, and you have a copy of that. I sent it to everybody. I expressed our wishes concerning the action we want the City of Plantation to take, which is to place the drainage pipe in the center of the easement where it belongs. This is alternative number two in Mr. Neunamaker's letter of February the 1st, 2023. I attempted to contact Mr. Jason Neunamaker by phone, and this is not recently. I understand about what's happening recently. This was not recently. But he did not answer, nor have an answering machine. I called back and spoke with someone whose, I believe his name was Greg. He said he would give Jason the message that I had telephoned. My call has not been returned to date. We look forward to hearing from you about your plan for moving the misplaced drainage pipe into the easement. And that's what I have to say. Well, first of all, I apologize for not returning the message. I misread the email. I thought it was an active thread with someone from the City addressing the issue. Mr. Mayor, is that as wrong? Mr. President? Again, I have sat in on a meeting with Ms. Andilab and Mr. Neunamaker and the city engineer and others. And my understanding is that we did attempt to resolve the issue, but we have not been able to resolve the issue. And not knowing where this issue may head, I really hesitate to get into much of a conversation about the facts of the matter. Okay. With that being said, do you want to? I'd just like to make a comment. Council Member Horner. I want to apologize. I don't know if anyone else up here. I've never received the email. Me as well. I just checked again. I'm checking my email as well, so I apologize that you didn't get a response. It was not an email. It was a letter that I brought to the city, a real letter. Okay. But what I'm saying is you said you didn't hear from the council, and I never saw the letter. This is the first I'm hearing of it. I didn't either. I apologize. I didn't either receive it. One was given to Jason Neunamaker, one to Carrie Ezra, one to Samira Shillon, and one to Matt Thompson, and one to you. Okay. But you had mentioned that you hadn't heard from the council. I just wanted to make sure that we weren't copied on something that we didn't know about. Okay. Okay. Okay. Sounds like you're... Thank you. Okay. Thank you. Ms. Thanjul? Oh, I'm sorry. I misread. You're... Not yet. Mr. Conklin. Dennis Conklin, 4581 Northwest Sixth Court. Heavenly hosts protect you and your families. Stay 1,412 of martial law, a shutdown of churches, mask and shot mandates, loss of our unalienable God-given rights, it's day 525, 35, excuse me, of the FBI invasion of the Trump home, violating their 4th, 5th, and 6th amendment rights. It's day 176 of the arraignment of the president, violating his 1st amendment rights to free speech through a gag order. It's day 121 of the violation of the president's rights, a 7th amendment to trial by jury of his peers. And it's sad to say, it's 110 days since the attack by the Hamas terrorists. And this is ongoing every doggone day. It's already been mentioned Holocaust Remembrance Day is coming up in just a few days. The 6th commandment is thou shalt not commit murder. When I was up here two weeks ago, I mentioned that the rockets were flying into Israel and killing them. This week I learned of a father whose son was in the IDF, and they paid a $10,000 bounty for that man's head. They beheaded him. I also learned of a pregnant mother and a baby waiting to be born. The baby was struck from the mother's abdomen, killed in front of her, and then they killed the mother just this week. I've been harping about the first thing because the state has now opened up a grand jury, and I've been after the city to get involved to recover the damages that occurred during the mandates. And that's what I always request. I may not always say I request, but that's what I'm about. And you can go to www.dailyclout.io to get the report on the Pfizer documents that were supposed to be locked up like the Kennedy assassination for 75 years, but they were forced out by freedom of information through the courts. And I sent a podcast to you, Dr. Peter McCullough, a podcast. And it featured him and Dr. Ryan Cole, who I've mentioned several times before, in their testimony, congressional testimony. And that was just yesterday. I'll yield back my time. Thank you, Dennis. Ms. Gelfand? Vicki Gelfand, 9381 Northwest 18th Place Plantation. First of all, Mr. Goodrich is, I just said to somebody, that his parks and rec calendar sounds like my doctor's appointments calendar. It's like, you know, whoa. Last week, I went to the University of Plantation first presentation, and I found out a lot that Charles Spencer doesn't just look good, he works hard. And I learned a lot about procurement and things like that. He, well, yeah. He's great. I mean, and it was very, it was very impressive. And I'm looking forward to the next one for the landscaping. I also like what the young gentleman said about the art in public places. I spoke to one of the council members about that, that in the city of Sunrise, in the city of Tamarack, there's some awesome public places with art in beautiful places. Plus, they also did the covering of the traffic boxes. And I think that it's something that we could look into to cover up all the building and the cement that is covering all of our green spaces. And that's about it, except I live in plantation by choice. I elected the people on the dais by choice. And I appreciate how hard you all work. And I appreciate that you care for the city as much as I do. But I also need to say that if you don't respect us, we're not going to respect you. Thank you. Thank you, Vicki. I do not have any online requests for comments. So last call from the chamber. Anybody wants to make a public comment? Mr. Buehler, come on up. Perfect timing. 30 seconds later, you would have missed out. Don't hurry. Kyle Buehler, 6831 Southwest 11th Street, Plantation, Florida. And I'm sorry I wasn't here for the workshop. I would have got here earlier, but I was pretty tired out today. But I'm glad I got here after all. I just want to say back in, this is a weird story, back in the 70s, I had a girlfriend, Greta Barline. She was really a tough person. And, you know, she was totally Irish. She had five Irish brothers. They were all brawlers. They were always looking for a fight. In fact, they were always fighting amongst themselves. So, you know, Greta had to learn how to defend herself. So in the mid-70s, we come out of this gay bar, the River Queen, in sort of an isolated area of Milwaukee. Had to be sort of out of the way because gays were sort of persecuted back then. And we run into three skinheads. One of them's got a, what do you call it, baseball bat. Probably they want to do us some harm. So I look at one of Greta's friends, this gay hairdresser, Mark Knacker. He had a little shop down in the basement of this luxury high-rise. And his clients were all real rich and famous. And I look at him and say, hey, let's head back. We can get back into the door of this club. The girls, on the other hand, Greta and her girlfriend Irma, who was this giant Amazon Iranian refugee. Greta pulls out a motorcycle belt from one of her, she wears it as a belt from one of her brother's motorcycles. And Irma pulls out a pair of brass knuckles and a switchblade. And they start screaming all kinds of crazy stuff at these three guys. How they're going to cut them up and stuff their parts in where the sun don't shine or whatever. And they chase these guys. They chase these guys in that one block, two blocks. And so one of the guys drops his baseball bat. Greta grabs that, comes running back. She is happy. She goes, look what I got. I'm going to call this the persuader. And she throws it in her 76-month stand convertible. So the point of the story is, you know, what is the city council going to do to stop being bullied by Tallahassee? You know, the Tallahassee takeover, you know, you see an article in the Sun Sentinel every week, you know. And we can't even defend ourselves here in terms of the problems with affordable housing, with the short-term rentals coming in, sucking up homes, jacking up the prices, taking houses off the market. You know, it's destroying the quality of life, right? So what I'm saying is, in fact, I talked to Kerry at the last AHEC meeting. And he said, you know, things were bad the last two years. Wait until this year. And so, you know, you need to do something. You need to fight back. You need to ask, what would Greta do? You need to hook up with the League of Cities, which Ms. Horland, of course, is very involved in. You need to get a much stronger legislative agenda. And as I heard somebody speak at the workshop, you need to involve the public. You need to go all out, you know, like I would just, 10 more seconds. You need to go all out and, like every one of those water bills, they need to have a letter in them explaining what Tallahassee takeover it is, how it adversely impacts citizens here in plantation, and how they need to put pressure on the state legislatures. You need to fight. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Buehler. Council Member Horland, I, if you need brass knuckles, I have the mayor's discretionary fund. I got you. I'd like the baseball bat. I know. Okay. I guess a quick comment regarding the murals and the art. This is something that Mr. Korman has brought up several times about putting plaques about who the artist is, maybe incorporating a QR code. So that would kind of encourage maybe a walking tour of the city as we all hope that these murals will expand. So hopefully that's something we, I don't know if that's at the original one that's on a private property, but it certainly should be on all of our public hearts. Good call. We'll talk to Parks about it. Parks has done a good job getting this going, and they're well aware. We're going to have a whole catalog of here. You go here, and then 500 feet from here you have this, and so on and so on. Yeah. Okay, so last call, not seeing anyone, public requests of the council regarding municipal affairs are now closed. To the consent agenda, the consent agenda consists of items 1 through 10 and may be approved with one motion. Does any members of the council wish to pull an item? I have one item from the public, number 5 and number 1. Any other items that anybody in the public would like to pull? All right, seeing none, can we have a motion? Motion to approve items 2 through 10 minus 5. Second. 1 and 5. Well, I said 2 through 10. I heard what you said. Okay. And then Council Member Reinstein? Second. Okay. Ms. Beggro, please call the roll. Council Member Reinstein? Yes. Council Member Anderson? Yes. Council Member Andreu? Yes. Council Member Horland? Yes. Council Member Faget? Yes. Thank you. Okay. Item number 1, Municipal Elections Agreement with Broward County. Mr. Conklin? Dennis Conklin, 4581 Northwest Sixth Court. The reason I pulled this, the history of the voting in Florida really got messed up with the 2000 election, which resulted in the legislature passing for the 2002 election, voting on machines. When that happened, we all actually lost our citizenship rights for an election because it's turned over to the companies and their protected protocols for their machines and all of their activities. So that's number 1. The way that we can get back to this is to a number of states have counties that are acting on their own behalf because it's our rights, we the people are the government, to turn back to the paper ballots. I like to call it Vote Amish, and it's basically you vote in person on election day. What a concept. It's in the Constitution. It's in the Constitution on paper, and it's hand-counted in each precinct and reported. When you look at the expenses in here, a lot of people don't realize how expensive this system is now that we're under with machines. One-third of the back of the Water Hill Mall is the VEC Voting Equipment Center. They have to store these things, and they have to run them so they don't go bad when there's no elections, and they have to be constantly maintained and so forth and so on. So it's not inconceivable that people don't realize the true expense to voting with machines. It's much cheaper to vote on paper, hand-counted and like that, as I mentioned, vote by the Amish way. And it's not just because they don't do machines. It's because they're very frugal and prudent with their stewardship of their money, which they believe is all the Lord's. So that's what I wanted to bring up. One of the things that's interesting, Plantation moved from March elections, we were an odd number year, to Congressional elections. I was an advocate of that, but I was hoping that we would be placed in the August primaries, so we would not get lost in the milieu of a national election for President or Congress, but in the primary. And that didn't happen, so I regret that. But if you look at the stand-alone cost to the machine per ballot, if we were back on that system, $3.35 per ballot, as opposed to $0.70 per ballot. I was going at it for the purpose of having the federal government pay the most for our elections, but again, I wanted it in August primary on even years. Thank you all. You'll back my time. Vote Amish. Motion to approve item one. Second. One little comment regarding that. Because I inquired about having elections in August, and my understanding is Broward is not allowed by state law to have municipal elections in August. So it wasn't an option, unfortunately. Okay. Ms. Begaro, would you call the roll? Council Member Reinstein? Yes. Council Member Anderson? Yes. Council Member Andreu? Yes. Council Member Horland? Yes. Council Member Fagin. Yes. Thank you. Item five, agreement number 027-24, investment advisory services term agreement. Can I have a motion? Should I have – don't we do public – do a motion? Didn't we take the public comment? Are you the one who pulled it? No. Council Member – Dennis pulled it. He can go ahead and comment on this. He can go ahead and comment on this. Go ahead, Dennis. Once again, Dennis Koppel, 4581 Northwest Sixth Court. The investment side of this, I've attended both the general employees' pension fund meetings and the police officers' pension fund meetings. I've been encouraged forever that the city move to 401k and disperse, put to bed the defined benefit plan. And for a few years, we could have done it at negligible cost, right up until two years ago before the lockdown of the economy and destruction of the economy. One of the things that I was very pleased to see in the agreement and that I've always asked about is that there is no BDS, right? That's actions economically against Israel, right? So that's been included. It's always been included. And the point that I've tried to bring up at some of these meetings is there is – and the city has done ESG training. I've asked them to stop that. Each year, apparently, they still do it. That's a cost. And ESG is environment, sustainability, and government, and basically it's socialism. Some of the advisors in here – and to go along with that, there's D-E-I, which in Latin, that means God. But in English, it means the devil, okay? So a day is God in Latin. In English, it's the devil. And what I'm hoping is that they will not use Blackstone. Now, you had a workshop about affordability, housing affordability. They're one of the biggest movers and shakers that destroys affordability of housing. They already destroyed – this is kind of to our benefit, but it's not because we're infected with it, too. They destroyed the communist Chinese land. They went bankrupt about three years before the lockdown. So they're about five or six years into their destruction of their real estate. So I'm hoping that you'll follow up on the affordable housing because it was mentioned. It's really out of our hands because when we went off the gold standard, okay, President Nixon was basically forced to close the gold window because cities – excuse me, countries could go to the United States and redeem our pretty much back then worthless dollars from LBJ's guns and butter, right? The Vietnam War and the social programs. And that took us off the gold standard at $35 an ounce. And since that time, it's been Katie barred the door. So today, the gold is $2,000 an ounce, and the wages have never kept up with that gold marker. So thank you. I'll yield back my time. Thank you, Dennis. Motion? Motion to approve. Second. Ms. Begaro, please call the roll. Council Member Reinstein? Yes. Council Member Anderson? Yes. Council Member Andrejews? Yes. Council Member Horland? Yes. Council Member Fajan? Yes. Okay. Administrative items. Number 11, status update, brief swept, phase D. Good evening. This is just transmittal of a copy of the quarterly report that we filed on this. As you know, this is an appropriation from two sessions ago. The project is moving ahead, and we are still on schedule. Thank you. All right, legislative items. Item number 12, resolution condemning rape as a weapon of war, sponsored by Council Member Reinstein. Council Member Reinstein, go ahead. Thank you very much. Thank you for the opportunity to present this. I do have some remarks. In April 2014, when Boko Haram, an Islamic terrorist group, kidnapped 276 schoolgirls in Nigeria, figures like Michelle Obama, Oprah, Angelina Jolie, Kim Kardashian, and others took to social media demanding, bring back our girls. Why isn't the world making the same demand now? We are at 110 days since the brutal massacre and attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023. Still today, approximately 136 hostages. At least 20 are young women who we fear are not being released because Hamas does not want them to tell the world what has been done to them in captivity. At least two of the hostages are infants. Recently, we observed Martin Luther King Jr. Day here in Plantation, and it was then that we were reminded of some of the wise words of this great leader. Dr. King said to us, our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter, and in the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. I bring this resolution tonight not because the Red Cross or the United Nations or many prominent organizations will necessarily heed our calls here in Plantation, but because our residents will hear us. When you are silent in the face of evil, then it is easy for others to hear you as unaffected or at worst condoning. The evidence is clear of horrible and sadistic acts of rape and terror committed by the Hamas terrorists against Israeli women and girls on October 7, and we are beginning to hear of the continuation of these acts on Jewish girls while held in Gaza tunnels. Despite the evidence, right here in the United States, we are seeing crowds blocking the streets in Manhattan, blocking the airport in Los Angeles, and not chanting against Hamas and to free the hostages and to free the Palestinians of Hamas, but they are chanting in support of the rapists and terrorists. And we see not just the ripping of Israeli flags, but the ripping of American flags and pro-Hamas rallies. Our residents in Plantation need to know that we do not have those sentiments here in Plantation, that Plantation is a safe place for everyone, and we will not be silent when others who should be speaking out are not doing so. This is even more important when city councils and school boards in San Francisco, Ann Arbor, Raleigh, and other places are not only not supporting their Jewish community, but they're putting the victims on trial and denying the rapes and torture even have occurred. By bringing forth this resolution, we say we support our Jewish community. As Albert Einstein and others have been quoted as saying, if we remain silent, we are guilty of complicity. I want to thank Vice Mayor Taub of Hallandale Beach that first brought a version of this resolution to my attention. But this resolution tonight is brought in the name of 19-year-old Nama Levy, and it is on behalf of all of the women and girls held hostage by Hamas. But it's also for our mothers, our wives, our sisters, our nieces, and for all to know that they are not alone. I also must note the importance of the timing of this resolution, as mentioned by Councilmember Horland, is that we will be commemorating International Holocaust Remembrance Day this weekend, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau in January 1945. After the end of the war, the Jewish community and the world thought that we would never see such evil again. I ask tonight for unanimous support of this resolution from our Council so that our residents hear our support loud and clear and so that we go on record that we were not silent when so many others were. Thank you. Thank you. Councilmember Reinstein? Do you want to make a motion? I'd like to make a motion on the resolution. Do we have a second? Second. Mr. Conklin, you wanted to speak on this item? Dennis Conklin, 4581 Northwest Sixth Court. I was very pleased to see this, and particularly not in the front of the meeting under regular resolutions but in the legislative session. I'll yield back my time. Thank you. Ms. Van Jewell? Good evening. Kathleen Von Hul, 11901 Northwest 24th Street, Plantation. What happened in the kibbutz on October 7th was not an act of war. It was an act of mad murderers of innocent people. They were families in their homes and young people at a concert. I don't even know why it's difficult to believe that these madmen who committed these atrocities would also commit the rapes and murders and the tearing apart of human bodies. Since when are eyewitnesses' accounts not proof enough? Medical documentation and Hamas' own video recordings. How much more torture must women of Israel be put through? It is unfortunate beyond words that so many people in this world only get their news from social media, and of course they only look at social media accounts that align with their beliefs. For heaven's sake, there was a massive campaign online to deny Sandy Hook even happened, and those deniers tortured already devastated families. We have Holocaust deniers. Well, for that matter, some believe the earth is flat, and many other indisputable facts. As a community, as well as a council, for the city of Plantation, we must do what we can, even if it's simply a proclamation. The fact that so many organizations are not speaking out, and when they do, barely still cannot fault Hamas is incredulous. I, for one, strongly urge the city of Plantation to make a stand and to accept this proclamation. It would make me even more proud of the city that I love. Thank you. Thank you. Mr. Buehler? Carl Buehler, 6831 Southwest 11th Street, Plantation, Florida. I want to say that I understand the sentiment of this proclamation, and I'm very sympathetic towards it. However, the way it's written, it's actually going to have an effect that sort of counters what its intent is, and that's to reduce or eliminate terrorism in the Middle East. Here's the problem. It's true. Hamas is a terrorist organization, and they have done terrible things. No doubt about it. The problem is, there's the other side. 25,000 civilians have also been murdered in Palestine. And that's been done through indiscriminate bombings and attacks by the Israeli Defense Force, which much of their actions have been actually in violation of international law and UN resolution. So, in effect, they too are terrorists. In effect, they too are a terrorist organization. A bite one that is much more efficient than Hamas. Their kill rate is about 10 to 1. Again, the atrocities by Hamas are terrible. But when you talk about remaining silent, we are guilty of complicity. Well, if we remain silent about the actions of the IDF, yes, we are guilty of complicity. When you talk about a safe place for everyone, is it a safe place only for the Jewish people, for the Jewish settlers who are there actually illegally? Recently, a Jewish settlers shot a Palestinian right in front of an IDF person. Nothing happened, because that's the way it is there. You talk about the murder of innocent people and how much torture must be put, you know, on these people. Well, how much more torture must be put upon the general population of Gaza? How many more homes must be destroyed? The country is being annihilated. It's basically genocide. And I hate to say it, but what difference is there between that and Holocaust? It's pretty much along the same line. Round everybody up, force them into a small area, and kill them. Some, in support of the resolution, risk one modification. And that is, if it's, you know, amended to include, you know, a condemnation of the acts of the IDF, in terms of their indiscriminate killing of civilians. You know, 25,000 civilians. That's a lot of people. A lot of women and children. You know, the people of Gaza, they need protection too. They need someone to identify what's going on and happening to them. And I don't think by doing that, you're supporting terrorism or supporting Hamas. You're just giving them equal protection that you're trying to give the women and children under the IDF. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Bueller. Mr. Mayor, you changed your mind? Yep. Okay. Any other comments from the chamber? Come on up. Lisette Hampton, 11460 Northwest 8th Street. I'd like to respond to the comments that were just made regarding the protection of the people of Gaza. Absolutely, they deserve protection. But it is the people of Gaza who protected a terrorist government and a terrorist system, who built tunnels for terrorist activity underneath their homes, underneath their school, who also victimized the people of Gaza. So, no one did anything to the people of Gaza other than the people of Gaza themselves. I also want to address the fact that the most persecuted people throughout the world are the Jewish people. I am Catholic, and I am the granddaughter of a Lebanese, a Catholic Lebanese. So, the persecution of the Jewish people, of the Israeli people, is from the beginning of history. Enough is enough. I am speaking on emotions, so it is ludicrous to say that ITF is victimizing the people of Gaza. Hamas is victimizing the people of Gaza, and the people of Gaza, for one reason or another, chose elect Hamas. Speak to us. Okay. Sorry. It is okay. I understand. So, that's... All right. Thank you. Councilmember Reinstein. I have been on this council for a little over a year, and there are often times that people say things that I don't respond to, because everybody has an opportunity to speak when they come before our council. People have spoken during general comments, and there have been times that I have not agreed with comments made by members of our public, but I respect the process. I've often times made my own comments at the end of our meetings when I thought there was something that I needed to add, but I'm not going to do that right now. I'm going to speak now on the motion, on the resolution, on the resolution that I've brought before this council, and that I've carefully revised and drafted for this city. Another comment was made earlier by a member of the public regarding, we often times are so focused on the news or the social media that fits our mode of thinking or understanding. And I know that that can, from one point of view, warp a mind in one direction, and maybe somebody will say that it's warped another mind in another direction. However, there are some things that I do believe are indisputable. One, Holocaust did happen. If you say that you deny it, you're wrong. Unfortunately, the people that are out there defending Hamas and supporting Hamas are defending a terrorist organization, an organization deemed to be terrorists by the United States and by other countries. The fact is that the State of Israel has not prevented the Palestinians from declaring a state in Gaza. The Israeli government and the Israeli Defense Forces left Gaza to the hands of the Palestinians in 2005, where they elected Hamas to rule their government. On October 6th, there was a ceasefire. On October 6th, there was no war between the people of Gaza, controlled by Hamas, and the State of Israel, the Jewish State of Israel. On October 7th, Hamas broke the ceasefire. They did that by a surprise attack on men, women, and children sleeping in their homes and teenagers dancing at an all-night party. Now, you may not have seen some of the footage. Maybe the footage is blocked from your view because of censor, but look harder. You see the footage of the burned mothers holding their babies. You can hear the testimony regarding what was done to these women and girls in Israel and now is being done, held in Gaza. If you can't say free the hostages and also talk about free Gaza from Hamas, then you are akin to a Holocaust denier in my view. You have a right to say what you want to say, and hopefully there will be many who won't be silent and will respond to let you know that what you're saying is wrong. Thank you, Council Member Reinstein. Any other comments from the Chamber? Seeing none, we have a motion and a second. Ms. Beggaro, can you please call the roll? Council Member Reinstein? Yes. Council Member Anderson? Yes. Council Member Andrew? Yes. Council Member Horland? Yes. Council Member Fajan? Yes. Item 13, resolution approving the release of utility easement plantation point development. Did we just make a motion? Motion to approve. Second. Is there anything we need to be presented or discuss? Yes. My office was involved in reviewing and preparing this. If you have any questions, it's a routine matter, removing a portion and replacing an easement. Okay. Ms. Hall? Yeah, just to explain, the existing line is going through the commercial development parcels. That line has been relocated to the ring road, and so we need to vacate the portion that's in the future development parcels. Okay. Okay. I can't remember. Did we make a motion? Yes. Okay. I second it. Oh, very good. Any other public comment? Seeing none, Ms. Beggaro, please call the roll. Council Member Reinstein? Yes. Council Member Anderson? Yes. Council Member Andrew? Yes. Thank you. Okay. Item 14, PD 23-0037, public hearing, second reading of an ordinance of the City of Plantation, Florida, pertaining to the subject of zoning and land development, specifically pertaining to updating development procedures throughout the City Code of Ordinances. City Attorney Ezra, please read the ordinance. Excuse me. Good luck. Thank you. Thanks again, Michael. This is public hearing. Second reading of an ordinance of the City of Plantation, Florida, pertaining to the subject of zoning and land development, specifically pertaining to updating development procedures throughout the City Code of Ordinances, including the elimination of references of the Plans Adjustment Committee, Board of Adjustment, and Landscape Review Board, clarifying the process for temporary storage structures, removing smoke and heat detector provisions, clarifying certain processes for properties within the Plantation Acres Improvement District, removing grandfathering provisions, for vacation rental registrants, removing a reference to Section 19-66, and modifying requirements for development agreements and letters of credit related to construction, specifically amending Chapter 1 General Provisions Section 1-15 entitled Access to Local Public Officials, amending Chapter 2 Section 2-32 entitled Annual Review of Appointees or Elected Officials, Uniform Appointment Process, amending Chapter 5 Section 5-16, entitled Temporary Storage Structures, amending Chapter 5.5 Article 2 entitled Telecommunications Facilities, repealing Chapter 8 Article 2 entitled Smoke and Heat Detectors, amending Chapter 9 Article 1 entitled Flood Plane Management Ordinance, amending Chapter 10 Article 2 entitled Recovered Materials Dealer Registration, amending Chapter 14 Article 4 Division 7 entitled Massage Establishments, Article 7 entitled Massage Establishments and Massage Practice, amending Chapter 14 Article 5 Division 1 Section 14-219 entitled Grandfathering Vested Rights, amending Chapter 19 Planning and Development Article 2 Comprehensive Plan Section 19-67 entitled Provisions Regarding Applying Certain Types of Comprehensive Plan Flexibility, amending Chapter 19 Planning and Development Article 4 entitled Impact Fees, Article 4 Subdivisions Section 20-158 Section 20-158 entitled Construction Agreements and Financial Assurances for Promised Improvements, amending Chapter 25 Traffic and Vehicles, Article 2 Division 2 Article 2 Division 2 entitled Stopping Standing and Parking, amending Chapter 27 Land Development Regulations, specifically Article 2 entitled Definitions and Rules of Construction, Article 3 entitled Decision Making and Administrative Bodies, Article 5 entitled Development Review Procedures, Article 6 entitled Use Regulations, Article 8 entitled Off-Street Parking, Article 27-128 Electric Vehicle Charging Stations and Parking Stations and Parking Spaces, Article 11 Entitled Development Standards of General Applicability, amending the physical and digital versions of the land development regulations providing for codification, severability, a savings clause, conflicts and an effective date. I like when we put you to work. Councilmember Andreu? Thank you, President Fadgen. Mr. Holmes, this was a busy, heavy lift, this one. But I do have a few questions. So, I think it was mentioned earlier, but going back to the local business tax receipt. So, there's wording in here, I just want to make sure we're not being too restrictive, that says within 60 working days the city will issue the local business tax receipt. So, before I know that we have been majorly backlogged, what happens if on our end we go beyond that 60 working days? And if I try to, well, I'll tell you the section because you have the page numbers in the future. Could we maybe just do them in numerical order, even though I know it's like 6 of 13, but if you could, it would make it a lot easier to help us find each others. Okay, but it's section 14.165, approval or denial of the local business tax receipt applications and renewals. So, I hope we're caught up. I don't know where we are, but what happens if we go beyond the 60 days? I can give you a quick status. We are catching up. We're not fully caught up yet. But we have gotten quite a few out. I know there's some individuals that have been calling and complaining. We've been actually dealing with them and getting them out. Update, we have pretty much concluded our round of interviews and everything. In fact, I'm going to be contacting HR tomorrow with the two recommendations that we have to fill the two positions. So, we are moving forward with that and also with regard to our zoning position as well. So, that would bring us up to full, you know, complement of staff there. So, we're getting there. I don't know, did you? So, Michael Albert, it was written that way. I didn't want to change it because it really is an aspirational goal to try to get those things out, even though the reality right now is not meeting it. Yes, but we will be able to meet that. You think once that year fully staffed? Yes, absolutely. But then just are there any legal ramifications? Like, are they automatically entitled? Like, because what happens after the 60 days? Nothing? They just have to wait? Well, it says we're either doing a mail, the written statement of the reasons for denial. So, it's either approval or telling them why they weren't denied within that 60-day period. That's what I'm… Right. But that's… If they just don't hear back from anyone… Oh, wait a second. If we didn't respond at all… Correct. …what are the implications of that? What are the implications? I'm assuming they're not going to be issuing a citation for somebody who has a pending application. That's correct. That's correct. And that's really the consequence of not having a business tax receipt. And again, we haven't had a discussion about this, so I don't know all the details. I mean, there is a state law that provides for when the city is required to issue the business tax receipt. Okay. Yeah. But administratively, I understand there have been challenges. I think it'd be hard-pressed to cite somebody with a violation because an application for renewal or a new application is pending. Certainly, we don't want to violate our own code of ordinances. Right. Right. Okay. I think Council Member Reincey would like to make a comment on this point before you move on, or is that okay? Okay. Go ahead. Just to… Thank you. Just to follow up on that is that I think Attorney Ezra's last point is that the concern is less the effect on the resident requesting the business tax license, but the city not being in compliance. And so, you know, as long as there's… it's not a question of if the city is not in compliance with the 60 days, it's not an automatic… You know, acceptance of the request or, you know, there's not some other… There's no penalty towards the city by the city, right? Just confirming that. I think that… Was that also what you were… No. That's how I understood that. Not so much. I mean, that's accurate too, but more for the business because quite honestly, we have had different scenarios and business owners come before us, and that has been a topic of conversation that they have let their local business tax receipt expire, and we have not looked upon that favorably. So, we need to make sure that we're doing our part if we're expecting the business owner to do theirs. I think we should change the number. And so, I don't know if that's reasonable. That's really the bottom line. Do we need to adjust that number or if you think you can get to 60 days, that's great, but… I'd rather have very strict windows inside the department and a little bit more flexibility. I mean, if we're not meeting it now, what is the backlog in days? But I would say that there are some instances where I would say that and kind of go back through some of the ones that were behind. I'm not so sure that we never responded within that 60 days. There's a loop. What I'm finding is that there's kind of a loop of they submit this information, we give it back to them, then they bring something back that's still not completed. And it restarts the clock. It goes back. No, it doesn't restart the clock. We're just backing this back and forth, you know, but it doesn't restart the clock on them. But, I mean, in terms of this is really getting to whether we have the ability to respond within a 60-day period. And I don't recall that we have not ever responded within a 60-day period. Now, it may not have been the response that you were looking for, but, you know, the response and the review has taken place. So what I'm finding is that there are people that come in and say, hey, I've submitted this, you know, you gave it back to me, then I resubmitted it, I gave you everything you needed, and then there's an issue that's found there, and then we're going back and forth. But that, you know, provision A has been met technically because it was reviewed and given back to the applicant. Mr. Mayor? Yeah, what you're saying is there's a difference between approving and responding. Right. Is what it is. And we had an instance where somebody was really upset that we weren't doing stuff, and it turns out the person, instead of sending the application, sent in the check. Yes. And not the application. So at some point, you've got to hold these people. They gave us a copy of receipt. We just had one this week where someone was complaining and they didn't really, they thought they were complying. They gave us a copy of a receipt for something, but it really wasn't the document we were looking for. Now, we have been taking a much more proactive approach. We've been bringing people in, sitting them down, going through the whole process. Fuching them hard. Right, right. A lot of people who kind of get caught in that. I mean, I think we are resolving those matters now because instead of just going backwards and saying, hey, come in, sit down, bring those, bring your documents in. We're going to walk you through this process. We're going to get you through this process. And now they're leaving, you know, happier. And that's the approach we're trying to take now. Excellent customer service. Because I agree that there was not, there was some issues with user-friendliness. Right. And if you're setting that time yourself, you're not going to set a goal that you don't think you can make. Right, right. Yeah. I don't see a problem with the 60-day window. Okay. It was just food for thought and great conversation. Councilmember Reinstein. Can I get some further clarification? Because I'm hearing you say response. And I had read it as the response meaning approval or denial. Are you saying that a response is simply that you've been in touch with the applicant? No. A response means that the application has been submitted, we've reviewed it, and we provided you either we've approved it because everything was, you know, submitted and everything was perfect, or we provided you comments as to why it was not approved and what you need to do to bring it into compliance. Yes. So, unfortunately, and maybe this is something that you're working on right now, is that I definitely know some anecdotal, right, information that there are people who have submitted their applications and not received any response and are still waiting, waiting patiently because there's been some upheaval and turmoil, but that they've never received anything in response. So, well, I'd have to look into that because I'm not aware of that. Okay. I'll get those examples and I'll bring them to you. Yes. There's, you know, my, frankly, my advice to the residents has been that there's been some turnover and some changes and we're working on that so that if there's been no response, that's part of what you're working on right now. But if you're not even aware of those, then maybe those examples are missing you. Okay. Thank you. Are you satisfied with the 60 days? Okay. Yeah. All right. Continue. And just switching subjects, I'm on Section 27-310 and this is an easy one. Just, I was wondering if we wanted to update our language. It's about the accessory buildings, but we always use the term ADUs now and I just didn't know if you wanted to also kind of bring us into the 21st century. Okay. 27-310. Again, nothing. Actually, the ADU ordinance which went before you for first reading, a lot of this section was also part of that. There are various definitions, accessory building, accessory structure, accessory dwelling unit, so we're trying to reconcile all of those. That's why I brought it up because I just thought this would be a good opportunity for us to be consistent with the language when people are referring to. Yes. Okay. Yeah. The different documents. Right. Yeah. He's correct. In terms of the ADU ordinance, we did make some revisions and definitions there as well. And I have one more question about boundaries. Which section? Which section? Oh, my gosh. Don't kill me. Don't kill me. I'm sorry. I didn't. It must be either 26 or 27 because it's right above 27-125. And I'm sorry. I did a screenshot of it, so I didn't do the top. But it's right above use of permitted facilities. She said 27-125. Don't, though. But. You said it's above, it's 27-125 or the section above that? It's the section above that. Okay. About dealing with the boundaries and paid, or the plantation acre special public interest, SP1 overlay, that area. Yeah, overlay zoning district. Right. So all of that verbiage about the drainage system was removed. It was removed and put back into Chapter 9. Okay. And basically that's, and we also included OPWCD and, because not every drainage district is, you know, the paid is covers plantation acres. So we included the other two districts in there as well. Okay. I didn't see where it was put back in. Okay. I'd like to ask you what page Chapter 9 is, but can you find it? It's okay. You can give it to me if other people have additional comments and questions. Thank you. Okay. It is, it is the end of Section 9-6. Page 11 of 36 of Chapter 9. Okay. I don't see any other comments. Do we have a motion? Motion to approve. With the wording changes? Yes, sir. Second. Okay. And I have Mr. Conklin would like to make a comment. Dennis Conklin, 4581, Northwest 6 Court. My comments were on two of the sections. One sort of in the middle, one toward the end. Mainly the one in the middle, which is the Section 19-67 provisions for applying certain types of comprehensive plan flexibility. I always come up here and I'm always talking about flexibility. I think I've come up with a good example of it. I think you know what hypothecation is, right? It's creation of money out of thin air by creating a debt for a borrower. And you could look at flexibility in the same way. It basically creates ka-ching money for the city out of thin air by creating residential units basically that don't exist, that you can collect money from for developers for eating away at our diminishing commercial acreage. So that's sort of, it's sort of like city government's ability to print money for themselves. The other one was about the electric vehicles. It's down here, Section 27, 128 electric vehicle charging stations and so forth and so on. We're really hurtling down the wrong path with these electrical vehicles. And that's all I wanted to say. I don't think we should be spending city funds on vehicles themselves or putting in infrastructure for people that have electric vehicles. People that have the internal combustion engines, of course, they can use any of the economic vendors for that product. And that's it. I'll yield back my time. Thank you, Dennis. Is there any other comments from the Chamber? Seeing none, Ms. Begaro, could you please call the roll? Councilmember Reinstein? Yes. Councilmember Anderson? Yes. Councilmember Andreu? Yes. Councilmember Horland? Yes. Councilmember Fajan? Yes. Thank you. Councilmember Reinstein. City Attorney Ezra, please read the procedures for the quasi-judicial hearing. Yes, sir. The City Clerk will swear in all witnesses before speaking. Please state your name and whether you have been administered an oath. Any speaker may be cross-examined. If you refuse to be cross-examined, your testimony may not be considered. Cross-examination shall be conducted in a courteous manner. The material in the City Clerk's agenda packet will be made part of the record. The City staff will make the first presentation, followed by presentations from the applicant. May I extend? Mayor. May I extend? We're ahead of schedule. Any effective parties in the public, the elected officials may set reasonable time limits for speakers. The hearing will then be closed and the matter decided. The City Council's decision will be delineated in its motion and rendered in writing by way of a development order, resolution, or ordinance evidencing its decision. The City Council may also decide to continue the matter to a designated time to allow for the additional research or review. Thank you. Ms. Begaro, can you swear in all who wish to speak? Everybody wanting to speak on this item, please stand and raise your right hand. Okay. Do you swear or affirm that the evidence you're about to give is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? All right. Thank you. So, items 15, 16, and 17 will be presented as one item, discussed as one, and public comment will be one, and then will be voted on individually. So, item 15 is PM22-0032, consideration of a request to approve a landscape waiver for Chevron store number 371. The property is located at 1301 South University Drive and zoned M-PM, mixed use Plantation Midtown. Item 16, PP220032, consideration of a request for conditional use approval for Chevron store at number 371. The property is located at 1301 South University Drive and zoned M-PM, mixed use Plantation Midtown. Item 17, PP220032, consideration of a request for site plan elevation and landscape plan approval for Chevron store number 371. The property is located at 1301 South University Drive and zoned M-PM, mixed use Plantation Midtown. Before you start, thank you for having the presentation in there. And I really appreciated that we didn't put that, you know, the memo package in every single item that we referred to the one. It really cuts down on a lot of page flipping. Yeah, we're trying. So, keep doing that. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Well, thank you, Mr. Chair. For the record, Dan Holmes, Planning, Zoning, Economic Development Director. This is, as you indicated, application PP22.0032. This is a request for site plan elevation landscape plan approval to construct a new 2,250 square foot accessory convenience store and a 6 fuel pump, 12 fueling station gas area. The existing, as you know, this is an existing service station. The new site plan almost mirrors the previous site plan. As you see, the convenience store, size of the convenience store is changing, and the number of pumps is being modified as part of this request. There's also conditional use approval associated with this request, and there's one landscape waiver associated with the request as well. Again, the location is 1301 South University Drive. You can see here along South University Drive right at Peters Road. The intersection there, the southwest corner. The agent for the application is Edwin Stacker. The overall size of the parcel is .87 acres. The underlying zoning, this is within the city's midtown district. So NPM is the underlying zoning, and the existing use, as indicated, is convenience store with four fuel pumps. The surrounding zoning districts are NPM to the north, west, and south, and to the east across from university is single-family residential with RS3 of zoning designation. This is just an aerial photo, kind of showing you the location of the map. You can also see the city's boundary there of persons who would have been notified with regard to this proposal. This is the site plan. Again, as I indicated, the site plan pretty much mirrors the existing site plan. Again, there will still be ingress, egress from Peters Road located here, and then the other ingress, egress point is off of University Drive. There, we did indicate, and I'll get into that a little more. I want to talk about parking. But there are some EV installed parking spaces that will be added to the site as well. This is just some general renderings of the property. So you can see it's a much more modernized look to the convenience store, which we think is a nice addition to the Midtown area. Just some more renderings just to give you a perspective there. And again, this kind of shows the gas canopy there as well. The gas canopy and some of the maneuvering has been improved. If you've been there, I've kind of visited this site quite a bit. It's a tight site right now to kind of maneuver around. So that's been improved a bit as well. This is the material board. We do have it here as well for you to take a look at. The overall landscape plan is seen here. And this is the floor plan of the site. So as you walk in, you have the cashier area. There's some storage area here, coolers, a refrigerator or cooler area, refrigerated areas here, restrooms, and then just some general shelving for merchandise located there. Circulation. This kind of looks at the pedestrian circulation around the site. So there's the sidewalks here. There is ADA accessibility into the site here. And as you can see kind of circle there, we kind of indicate ADA accessible facility here. And there's some ADA accessibility points here to improve that as well. As you know, University Drive, if you've driven along there, there's a lot of construction that's kind of going on there. So there's some improvements that are taking place where bike lane route is being added along University Drive with some improvements to the overall lanes as well. So that will, you know, as that's kind of completed, you'll see the bike lane there. We still have this remains the Broward County bus stop, which will remain here as well. In terms of parking, the overall requirement for convenience store parking is one per 300. So the required parking would be eight spaces here. The applicant is providing nine spaces. So they are providing plus one space. Again, one ADA space and two EV installed spaces. In terms of trip generation, this kind of shows what the existing is. Because there's sort of a decrease in the size of the convenience store, the a.m. peak and the p.m. peak you see kind of decrease slightly. We've looked at that. I don't know that much demand will change. The same people will kind of be frequenting the site. But according to the ITE equation, because of that reduction, you see a little bit of a reduction there as well. Trip generation summary. FDOT is currently constructing, as I indicated, some roadway improvements on University Drive, which includes widening the roadway to accommodate bike lane, 10-foot sidewalk, and improvement to the bus stop adjacent to the property. And in terms of the overall analysis criteria, this is consistent with the general plan for the physical development of the districts, compatible with the general character of the neighborhood. Again, no change really to the overall use of the site. And this should not adversely affect the general welfare of the residents, visitors, or workers within the neighborhood. The one landscape waiver deals with the landscape pedestrian zone on the east side of the building. The required landscape pedestrian zone there is 10 feet. The applicant is proposing to provide 5.5 feet for landscaping. But only one waiver there. We've worked very hard with the applicant to kind of reduce all the waivers there. Again, the convenience store is a little smaller than the previous convenience store. And we kind of improved some of the maneuvering in the site. And that's kind of why you have the reduction there of the LPZ. Other pertinent information. Community meeting was held on November 15, 2023. There was one person in attendance at the meeting and provided a little bit of information. But overall, no major issues with it. Citizen comments. To date, the planning and zoning staff has received no emails or objections to the application. 10 notices were mailed to surrounding property owners within that notice boundary. And there are no violations issued for the subject site at this time. And overall, staff's analysis, we have found it compatible with the general zoning code. Compliance with the comprehensive plan. Consistent with these specific sections. The site development plan areas. Section 2741, Notice of Zoning Measures. 2745, Conditional Use Criteria. And 2752, Practical Difficulty Waiver. And based upon our review of the item, we are recommending approval. Happy to answer any questions. I know that the applicant is here as well. They should have any questions of the applicant. Thank you. Councilmember Horland. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Mr. Holmes. I just want to say, what an improvement. I think it really is going to elevate that whole area. And I'm excited for that shopping center with the hotel going in. And I think this was badly needed. And I'm so happy that staff was able to work with the applicant in improving that accessibility in there and the maneuverability. I just have two. I want to make that comment. I just have two quick questions. This for the applicant. This gas station, as many others have been, the target of credit card skimmers in the past. I don't want to make an assumption, but I'm going to assume with the upgrades, you're going to upgrade the pumps. We can't completely avoid that. But I'm assuming there will be contactless payment available. And that may be one way that we can avoid that to improve security for people. Anybody want to answer that? Yeah. Yes, please. Good evening. Mr. Mayor, council members, my name is Ed Stacker. And I'm an attorney with Shudson, Bowen, LLP, 201 East Los Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. And you've been sworn in? I have been sworn in. Thank you. I'm sorry. No problem. I swear I don't know the answer to that. So I don't want to. With technology today, Sunshine Gasoline Distributors, Inc., the station's been there. The Chevron's been there since 96, I think. Correct. And Sunshine acquired it about 10 years ago. And it is a much-needed redevelopment site, and we appreciate staff having worked with us. I can only assume that it's the highest technology available and that my – I've learned finally how to use my touchless card. And I think it will be – they will be installed, but I'll take it back and – And I want to assume the same thing. But it's one of the stations that people will tend to mention on social media if there's been a rash of skimming. So I'm going to assume the same thing that will be upgraded to the contact list. I had a card compromised a month ago. And everybody knows how difficult that is. So it's a timely question. Thank you, Mr. Stacker. Is Mr. Damien Leslie here with you tonight? Hi, Mr. Leslie. I really enjoyed your market study. But there was something – I just want to ask you a brief question, if you wouldn't mind coming up. Something caught my eye in there? Sure. Don't worry. I'm making a motion to approve. I just – it was very interesting to me. We have other comments. But I'll still make the motion to approve. Thank you. Thank you again, because I enjoyed reading. Can you state your name for the record and have you been sworn in? I have been sworn in. Damien Leslie with MDM Services, 2151 West Hillsborough Boulevard. The traffic study was actually done by a traffic engineer. Right. You did the market study. Sorry. Yeah, no, that's what I – The market study is also – was also worked on – Okay. Mine has to do with the market study, because your name was on that. Okay. I'm sort of deferring to – Okay, you're deferring. That's what a good manager does. Hey, he did it. It's such a simple question. On page 19 of the market study, it mentions the station partnering with Plantation Elementary and National Safe Place. Do you recall that? That's you. Okay. Well, it was nice to meet you, Mr. Leslie. I'm sure you have another comment. I'll be here. No, I found that interesting, and I was also questioning why it would be Plantation Elementary, which is further away from the station, and why not the two closest elementaries included in that. I was just curious. Hi. My name is Boris Belfer. I'm a transportation engineer for MDM Services. Okay. I was sworn, and yes, we would take it as a very valuable input and recommend that they should possibly contact you to implement that would be even better. Yes, I agree. Well, I wasn't aware of National Safe Place, and I loved that it was mentioned in the study, and I would love to see the two closest elementary schools included as that as well. Make perfect sense, of course. Wonderful. Thank you very much, Tom. I know there are other comments, but I'm going to make a motion to approve. And, by the way, I prepared CPTED crime prevention through environmental design plan for the same project, so I can answer your previous question that, yes, there are measures put in place. Some of them are not secret. Those are cameras. Great. That sunshine equip every station now for even for liability purposes because not just scammers, there are out people there who are making false claims. Sure. So there are cameras everywhere, and it is, and we allow police to connect to the cameras. Oh. And there are also Florida Administrative Court that has a number of items for the convenience stores. So that is included in our plan. It's actually in a part of our civil plans, and this is called crime prevention through environmental design. Wonderful. Anything that keeps our residents and your customers safer. So I'm excited about the project. Thank you. Thank you. Hi. I'm not sure if anybody could answer this that's present, but I noticed with the sweeping angled roof, I assume there's some kind of built-in drainage system. I just noticed it when they showed the picture. I didn't notice it when I was going through the documents, but the filling, the covering over the filling part, that one. With the angled back to where people are walking into the store, are they going to walk through a curtain of water, or are there gutters on there that go to a drain field, an underground drain field somewhere? Damian Leslie. Yes, there are, under the roof, there are drainage systems that capture the water, and we typically have them coming through downspots through the columns that are by the pumps. It doesn't make sense. I just saw it and thought, wow, that angle right towards where everybody's walking perfect. It is connected to the catch basins. Right. There are conduits that go down, as the engineer of record just explained, and it is connected straight to the exfiltration trenches. Through the, again, there are buffels, pollution, pollution prevention mechanism that filters out, obviously, what needs to be, and then the clean water goes down the drain. Thank you. That's all. Mr. Mayor. I'm not holding you to it, but about when are you planning on shutting it down? You'll be closed for a while, and about when might you reopen? And again, it's a guess, and I realize there's a lot of air. Yes. Well, they are anxious to get going, so I, you know, as soon as we can get through the building department, I imagine that they will start processing going through that. So that could be as soon as, you know, third quarter of this year, possibly. Yeah. I have a couple of real quick questions. So we're replacing the tanks, and then I believe I read that the, it's going to have new technology to detect leaking and all that kind of stuff, so even more environmentally sound? Absolutely. Okay. And then in the market study, I guess based on the calculation of households and plantation and drivers and all that stuff, the volume, the estimated volume for all the gas stations, the city was like 1,800 visits per day is what's necessary, but the city only has capacity for 1,500 visits a day with our existing gas station. Did I interpret that correctly, Damien? Mr. Bell, you have the traffic station. Yes. I think I did it about a year ago. I looked at the numbers. Okay. I don't think we had any new gas stations come online, but. Yes. And that was probably the reason that there was some disbalance that I could see based on the numbers. Right. And obviously when we do the, we have holistic approach, we have to look at so many parameters. One of them, strangely enough, was the city code historically was antagonistic towards gas stations. Yeah. Because maybe previous city key employees didn't realize that it is a neighborhood. It is a convenience. It is not just something that brings pollution. And as we said before, the technology went ahead with giant steps. And now we are looking at environmental solutions who will be a complement to the residents, to the city, and to motorists and to people in need who may be. There was one case. I guess what I'm trying to ask is the demand is 1,800 visits per day, but the capacity of our city gas stations is 1,500 per day? That's what I figured, yes. Okay. Based on the numbers. Will this relieve that or is this just going to keep a status quo because we are just replacing an existing gas station? You are adding more pumps. Well, I'm asking him. Whoever can ask it. No. Obviously, with, again, new equipment, new technology, safer, and better circulation, you can handle more cars. Okay. So this will help this deficit that we have? Yes. That will definitely be an improvement. Okay. Yes, go ahead. I only have one more question, but go ahead. With that deficit, did you take into account the gas station that is coming online or that was not part of the equation? I looked at the gas stations that were already existing and at their capacities. So any improvements from that point over, if you will want to renovate, redevelop somebody else's gas station and it will provide better service rate, you have a demand, but you need to increase service rate. So that we can do with better equipment, better access, and better circulation. Very good. And then I'm going to try to ask you another question, but if you pass it off, I'm going to be very upset. In the market study, it was talking about the convenience stores and what a valuable business investment it is for immigrants, I think they were talking about. But I'm trying to figure out what my question is. It was suggesting it was going to be a small business, but this is a corporate, a very large corporately owned store, right? It made me feel good about convenience stores, but it's not like a mom and pop kind of convenience store. Well, it's a hybrid actually. Well, Sunshine is family owned. Sunshine is family owned and they have several hundred facilities and they're different brands and different arrangements. And I'm not exactly sure how this one is going to be, but some of them, they actually have a small business proprietor who operate the convenience store. And I think many of them, they do. Okay. So that's the nature of the small business. I mean, Sunshine is small compared to Chevron. Well, it's probably the best markets that I've read up here. So, and Damon, you'll just have to come back. Well, I'll come up with a question for you some other time, but. I just wanted to say, and I apologize for interrupting. No, you're fine. We appreciate staff and we've reviewed thoroughly their analysis. And there's really little that I can add except to say we concur with staff's recommendations and we feel that approval is appropriate. We also have the landscape architect here, Mr. Richard Bartlett, this evening. If there's any issues or concerns. He'll just pass off to somebody else. Right. Well, I did a good job of that, you noticed. You did a good job. Councilmember Andreu, you still want to. My question was just really one of, it's not a question actually, a comment of gratitude as well. I think this is exactly what this area needs. It's a great facelift for the area. Also, you know, a few other businesses have come before us and they've only committed to doing the infrastructure for the EV cars. But you're actually, well, I should say they're putting in the ground work, right, the electric or what. But you're actually putting in the entire infrastructure so that we can have charging stations. I think it's so needed and particularly in that area, too, because I can't think of a lot of charging stations that are in that vicinity. Right. The fountains. Yeah. But I mean a little closer to that sunrise corridor. So, thank you for doing that. You're more than welcome. So, I don't see any other comments. We have a motion from Councilmember Horland. I don't believe we have a second. I'll second it. Is there any public comment? Anybody else want to make a comment regarding this? Seeing none, Ms. Beggaro, can you please call the roll for item 15? Councilmember Reinstein? Yes. Councilmember Anderson? Yes. Councilmember Andreu? Yes. Councilmember Horland? Yes. Can we have a motion for item 16? A motion to approve. Item 16? Second. Ms. Beggaro, can you please call the roll? Councilmember Reinstein? Yes. Councilmember Anderson? Yes. Councilmember Andreu? Yes. Councilmember Horland? Yes. Councilmember Fagin? Yes. And can we have a motion for item 17? Motion to approve item 17. Second. Okay. Ms. Beggaro, please call the roll. Councilmember Reinstein? Yes. Councilmember Andreu? Yes. Councilmember Horland? Yes. Thank you. Good luck. Thank you. And since council wants to hear more of my sultry voice, I do also want to say that I've been practicing engineering for 20 years, and I remember when I first started a project in plantation, it felt a little bit more challenging. Your staff is excellent. They have worked very hard and well with us as a development team to produce a product that we can be proud of and still meet your code's desire. And apparently dining has very good taste. Great. Great pants. Seems like a conflict. Your staff has great taste as well. There we go. Thank you, guys. Thank you all. All right. Thank you very much. All right. So administrative update, item 18, advisory board reports, I believe are just transmittal. Mayor Sortel. And everyone's hoping for a short meeting. I have item six or seven of which are pretty fundamental. All right. First off, back to Israel. I wanted to point out, Ramat Shalom is sending 14 people a 10-day volunteer mission, including my brother-in-law and sister-in-law, and including Paha co-president Jennifer Fain. So at 5 o'clock, we get on the Zoom. You can sign up, too, and they give the updates, which it's 5 o'clock to 5.30. There is 12 o'clock to 12.30. I'm sorry. It's 12 to 12.30 there, p.m., and it's 5 to 5.30 p.m. here. So they're trying to go to bed, and they're tired. But they're going to be living on an IDF base. Many of their days will be spent preparing and cooking lunch for hundreds of IDF soldiers who are coming in and going into the battlefield in Gaza. In addition to feeding the soldiers, they will be there to support and love all of them. And when not working on a base, they will be harvesting fruits and vegetables on a farm north of Gaza, where most of the staff are now serving in the IDF. So they're being backup farmers. And so very proud of them. And my wife threw a nice going-away dinner for them, by the way. That's the part we do. As you guys saw, Jason's mother passed away last week. Funeral is in Virginia. He'll be gone a day or two up there. He was an excellent son operating her there the last couple months here. He should be very proud. And the obiette on her was a fascinating lady, as you guys saw. So I sent you guys a note about Peter Licata was going to have the mayor, and I can't make it. I presume there's a couple people here that would have interest. Can we just work that out right now? Did you see the email? Did everybody just look at Denise? Is that what happened? No, I'm available if somebody else. I mean, I think two people here probably cannot attend. I cannot go. You okay if Denise goes? Yeah. I would love for you to go. I'm available. Are you okay with that? Yeah. Okay. Yeah, all right. I'd really appreciate that. Run through Central Park is – yeah, I know. Yeah, I mean, if you have an overriding desire. You two work it out. If something happens at the last minute, if you trip over your dog. If I trip over my dog and – yeah. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, you're good through that. You guys are well aware, as a city initiative, we ran the corporate run last year, and a lot of people said, oh, we wish we could train and practice for it. So this year, HR lined up three races, a January and a February and a March. So the February run through Central Park, they'll pick up your entry fee if you show up and do it, and you get health points and everything. JJ in Utilities is a team captain and appreciate it. He's a very good team captain. I think the February 11th one, yeah. We had two other things. There's a Thursday and a Friday next week. The Thursday is some kind of business thing, and Friday is Broward Workshop. I'm going to talk with Gregory and Pam tomorrow to get all that stuff nailed down. I'm out of town on Friday. Broward Workshop, I think, is a great thing to go. You guys get invites here and there, and we've got other seats. I just wanted to remind you of that. Saturday is first-time homebuyers. You guys know that, and Edlin is working hard. Very good on that. Form 6, many cities are joining the lawsuit. I just get, take your temperature. How do you all feel about we put that on the agenda and discuss? What was the? The Form 6, many cities are joining the lawsuit. I saw that. My opinion is I find it incredibly invasive. Incredible. Yep. I hate it. I do not, but I have a problem spending city money to fight against transparency, even though I don't think the Form accomplishes anything, because the guys of, same thing with tax returns. You know, you want to see a tax return, and it's going to prove that they're crooks, but if you're a crook, it's never going to make Form 6. It's never going to make the tax return. If you're a good crook, you'll get away with it. My opinion would be not to join in that lawsuit if it's going to cost us any money, because I feel like it's kind of self-serving for us up here. Okay. But I'll probably put it on an agenda anyway. We can talk it through. May I ask a question? Thank you, Mr. Ezraal, because it was brought up. We did talk about it at our Briar League of Cities Board of Director meetings. Jamie Cole is heading up the lawsuit? Yes. Weiss-Sirota. Weiss-Sirota. Weiss-Sirota. Yes, they are. We didn't get into the details of the lawsuit, but what I wanted to ask, and I agree because this is something we fought at the legislature last year, and it was a tough fight because they're doing it. But if you look at their disclosures, they're not really doing it. Well, I've never seen a form one that I thought was accurate. Right. But if you look at their form six, but they're holding us to, I believe, with a different standard. So it's a little hard to fight, but I think that one of the things that we were trying to fight was the fact that they were implementing this, and it was not fair to elected officials who were elected to their office without that requirement. And so we had even asked for it to be implemented at a later date. So my question to Mr. Ezraal is, I'm not familiar with the wording in the lawsuit. Does it address that part of it? Yes, it does. That is one of the bases. So there's a – if I can just give a little brief, because I've been dealing with this recently. We have several – Wilton Manor's. – cities in our law firm that we represent who have joined Cooper City, Lighthouse Point, one other one, but I can't think of it right now. Oh, Wilton Manor's just voted to approve it yesterday. And so it's a $10,000 flat fee per city, regardless of the number of cities. It takes you through trial. My understanding is that they wanted 10 cities in order to proceed. I understand they have a commitment from 16 cities. As of now, they're expecting more. I also understand that they have, as of at least today was communicated to me, 19 individual members of various municipalities that have agreed to be named plaintiffs. One of the issues that Mr. Cole has raised is the possibility that an interim injunction or a final ruling may only apply to the named parties in the lawsuit. So that's an issue that you would also need to discuss. But that, to me, is not an issue for you as a council. That's an issue for you individually. Because the $10,000 that's paid by the city, if the city chooses, covers any number of elected officials that want to be named plaintiffs. So we can talk about it. So my feeling is I'd like to talk about it. We'll talk about it. We'll go from there. I agree with your point. But I think, you know, to Mr. Bueller's point earlier, you know, we go up and we fight these things in Tallahassee. But at some point, this may or may not be it. But at some point, we need to take a bolder stand. We've got to punch back. And you've got to push back a little bit because we're being held to a different standard. Because it's not quite what everybody else is being held to. So I think it's something that we should discuss. So your intention would be to try to have it on the next agenda? Whatever we could work out. And you'll try to give us as much backup information about it as possible? Yeah. I would and Kerry would. Well, I'm just saying administration or whoever's sponsor. So, yeah. Okay. We'll talk it through. All right. And this is the big one I want to talk about. Speaking of Tallahassee. I was in Tallahassee. I spoke to six school board members about the idea of teacher housing at hiatus in Broward. And all six would be excited about it. They were all amenable to it. Had a good talk with Brenda Pham. Actually, it's her district. So I respected the chain of command. Went to her first. Jeff Holness loves it. He would put it on the agenda right away. But the point is, let's take the temperature first. The city council, you guys are going to be driving it. Because the question is going to be how many if we do it. If we vote yes. Some of you are going to have to pick a number, and I can't control the number that go there. And I just wondered if that's something you all would have an interest in. Us going to the school board and saying, guys, because, look, everything we've done for affordable housing, we've done many things to make it easier for housing through an affordable housing committee and all this. So we've lined up the laws and everything the best we could for something like this to happen. Go ahead. I think it's a fantastic idea. I don't think Hawks Landing would be agreeable to anything in excess of what it's already zoned for. So I think that's 39 homes. I don't see how they have an argument. That land several years ago was, I believe, $11 million. It's certainly worth a lot more now. And that relieves a lot of cost in the, you know, if the school board was to partner with a developer, and they don't have land acquisition costs, that solves a significant affordable housing thing. And then maybe the school board supplements their employees to get in there. I don't know, but I don't see how Hawks Landing or the acres would be open to us creating more density there. I think it would have to be like a 39-home townhome, like the last proposal that we had, or was those single-family homes, my opinion. Disagree? Okay. Well, you got the mics. No, I'm looking at them to see if they disagree. I don't know if they agree or disagree. Well, they didn't click in. Okay. Council Member Andrea? Yeah, it's not working. And there we started. I've been talking about this for quite some time with a couple of people, including Minority Builders Association. There might already be something in the hopper. Yes. A lot of people have had this idea, and it's been kicked around and tossed. The idea would be to formalize and say, school board, we're here for you. Yeah, yeah. Okay, good to hear, because I didn't hear from Mr. Lacana, but that's okay. Council Member Reinstein would like to comment. Just since you're asking for a response or some type of consensus or opinions of the council, I'm interested in hearing more. This is the first time I've heard of that proposal. So I'd like to hear more as to what it would mean and get the – I'd like to hear the thoughts of the surrounding neighborhoods and communities as well. Yeah. Okay. Council Member Horland? Very briefly, I did have a conversation with Mr. Noonmaker, and one of the reasons I would like to attend that meeting with Mr. Lacana, I had a brief discussion with him when I went down to the school board. Not about that property, but another one. And I think that finally the school board is taking a look at the school board-owned properties, taking a look at the underused school facilities. And I think, again, we and they need to get creative in what's going to be the best fit for the community. I mentioned one of our schools that we've all talked about, Plantation Middle. You know, what can we do there? And if that school is to be condensed, it fits on a transportation corridor. There are a lot of schools up north where they've been able to convert that to teacher housing and staff housing as well. So I think that we need to look at all the options and explore. It's got to be a thoughtful exploration. Yep. But I think that something needs to be done with that property, and I think teacher housing would be fabulous there if we could get the right fit. So – And the only way in my mind I see it working is not if I drive it, but if the city council drives it. Well, and I think – Because you're going to have the vote on the density. And, look, we've got volunteer, teacher, accountant, school board person, person with school experience. So we've got four out of five people with a lot of connections, a lot of tentacles reaching different ways. And you guys have your key on this. And if it came from you all that this is something we wanted to do, I think it would be more palatable. Well, again – But, you know, it's all of us. It takes a team. And I think if you think that – But it's going to have to be all of us. And there, if you think back to the original proposition on the enclave and when the community was engaged and we had very thoughtful conversations with Mr. Weiss at Hawks Landing, he put forth some designs, potential designs that would have worked in there, you know, more of a village feeling. So I think that, you know, again, it's got to be very thoughtful. It's got to be very careful. Right. But I think that if we listen to one another, hopefully we can come up with something great there. Okay. I'm open to it. Okay. Councilmember Anderson? Yes. Yes, I'm open to it. Obviously, we need to hear more. I don't remember what the density was. I know that's the number we fell on was we went for 42 down to about 39 homes. But I don't remember what the actual density is there. Can you talk about it? I thought it was RS. Danny, could you talk about that, that we talked about? Well, we can get into details later. Yeah, yeah. But the point is we can make an argument. I mean, obviously, the powers that be already know we're amenable to 39 or 40 or 41 homes. It's if we're going to go denser than that, you've got to have a lot more details to take that temperature. I'm just taking the temperature right now. But it's school board property, and if it's for workforce housing for educators that everybody needs, I would be amenable to go in slightly more if they were done right. Anyway, that's just a generic without more details. I think we ended up approving, I think what was approved in terms of the overall density was about 43. No, I think it was 39. I think they proposed 39. Right, and then we ended up shutting down on 30. I think they were trying to do like 43, and then we went to 39 in the end. All right, let me, I can look up the records. That was our, but yeah. I think it's going to require like, you know, making sure we have proper town halls to get the community's buy-in on it to get their opinions on this stuff. I could see. But explain how you looked at everything and came up with an average density. Yeah, well, when we talked about it, I kind of looked around the property itself to kind of see what's compatible. You know, we looked at the density, of course, of Hawks Landing, and then across from Broward, there's, you know, the development that's across from there is around, I think there's one about 7 PRD, like 7.8 or something like that, and then there's another PRD with a density of around 13. I think that would create a firestorm. I think that would create, I think we need to get an incredible buy-in by the community. I do not think anybody in Hawks Landing would be, except, would have an agreeable opinion if we put 7 per acre. I just think, I don't know, I think we need to self-reflect and think about how this whole thing started with that property and then, what's the other property called, Reflections, right? Yeah, Reflections was, yeah, within the acres here. We can figure out how we can avoid that to make sure that everyone feels that they're informed on it and that we can get a buy-in to get more density. But I don't think we can get incredibly a lot more density on that property without a revolt. And I don't want to spend the next three years fighting. I think there's a lot of bright people in Hawks Landing, and when they come up with the idea of teacher housing and the idea of doing something that could better our community, their opinion could be different. I don't disagree. I'm just saying we've got to figure out how do we communicate to them without them feeling like they're getting railroaded. Council Member Anderson has a comment. I was just going to point out, I just had Michael look it up. So it was like about 3.4 units per acre that's based upon the last. Times what, 11 point? Yeah, and it would work out to 40 is what it was reduced to 40. But I think they went down to 30 because I remember there was an issue with one of the 39, I'm sorry, one town home that they did remove because it was the way it was situated. It didn't go right, that's all I'm saying, all right? Let's try to avoid it. Do you recall, didn't Lenar, the other iteration before that, they wanted like just row housing, and it was an absurd number. Wasn't it way up there? It was 111. Yeah, it was a non-starter for most of us. So we know the ceiling is not happening, and we know where we were, and I'm amenable to something a little above that but not crazy. And, yes, everything counts, basically all said, we would need to do a lot of groundwork, a lot of communication. Yeah. But if the school board is the big player here, they're the ones that own it. They have to decide if they want it. And they have a big road ahead to repurpose schools, close schools. They need to capture money, so they have a lot to. The school board owns more property than anybody else in Broward as far as vacant property. You guys know that. So, and you've been quiet, so I understand, and I listen to your point. Yeah. I'm good. Thank you, Mayor. Next up, item 19, advisory board vacancy appointments. Does anybody have any positions they want to fill? I do. Go ahead, Council Member Horland. I'd like to reappoint Christina Ryer as the rotating position on the Education Advisory Board. Motion to approve. Second. Thank you. Okay. Ms. Beggarro, please call the roll. Who was the second on that? I was. Or wait, two of us answered at once, so it doesn't matter to me. I answered and someone else did. Go ahead. You can have it. I didn't know who it said. I was looking to Anderson as the second. All good. Sorry. Okay. Council Member Reinstein. Yes. Council Member Anderson. Yes. Council Member Andreu. Yes. Council Member Horland. Yes. Council Member Fadgen. Yes. Thank you. Any others? Council Member Horland? Me. No. Okay. We go. Council Member Anderson. Sorry. Me? Yeah. I have, so for my, I have, for this is for both for planning and zoning board, I have my seat one. I'm keeping the people that are in my two seats because I also have the rotating seat. So I have Dale Spear and the alternate for my seat one is going to be attorney Ryan Horland, land use attorney. Okay, April. Got it. And then my rotating seat will be the former person who was in the seat. I'm going to make him the alternate, which is, which was the mayor's appointment previously, Mark Plass. And I've already spoken to both of them. They've already accepted. So that's my appointment. Thank you. I'm sorry. Not that I read or told. I'm just going to chime in because I'd like an opportunity to research the conflict issue because you have a member of the planning and zoning board who is related to a- You're right. You know what? So then that means before we have only, we haven't voted on it, right? No, we haven't made a motion. So then, yeah. Yeah. So then we shouldn't vote first. I should withdraw and just wait until next meeting. You could move forward with the other appointment. Yeah, I could do the other appointment. So then my motion, my, okay, let's start over. Let's handle it one at a time because it is easier for the clerk to. So make your first appointment on, I think it was Dale? No. He's the one that was already there. I was just saying he was there. I was naming the alternate. All right. Just make your appointment. Well, then I'm only going to do the one. Okay. Go ahead. Which is for the rotating seat, alternate will be the person who used to be the primary, Max Plass. Okay. So Max Plass, the alternate. Mark. Mark. Mark. Mark Plass for PNZ. He's your alternate. Okay. And I'm not going to do my seat one for now. Just leave it. That's fine. We're going to do one at a time though. I'll make a motion to approve. Second. Ms. Beggarow, please call the roll. Council Member Reinstein. Yes. Council Member Anderson. Yes. Council Member Andre. Yes. Council Member Horland. Yes. Council Member Fetchon. Yes. So now we're on hold for the rest of your appointments at this point. Or do you have, it sounded like you're making three, but now I think I understand what was happening. I'm not going to, I will, I want to talk to Attorney Ezra and have him look into what I originally stated. And then the very next meeting I'll have it resolved in one way or the other, whether it's that person or a different person. Council Member Andrea. I don't think there were any additional appointments, right? I just want to ask a question. And, oh, I think the mayor thought I had, he had one. Mark Plass and I had spoken and he had told me he wanted sustainability to be a voting member rather than to be an alternate member of planning and zoning. But if you spoke to him and got something different, unless there's two Mark Plasses, we've got to figure this out. I just talked to him literally days ago. Okay. And I made sure he knew it was alternate. And I said, if either of the seats open, I would be amenable to possibly promoting him up. He'd be great. He never mentioned any other board. He's better than the guys you got. He's happy to serve. And I know he's got a good background for it. Yeah, he'd be fantastic. But if you, if you, you're welcome to. No, I'm going to, I would, I have some other sustainability people. That's the right decision. If he buys into that, I would love for him to buy into that. Okay. Great. So, Mayor, you didn't have any appointments to make. Okay. Council Member Andgera, you had a comment? We did. So, Council Member Anderson, did you last year have the rotating member for Gateway? Oh, because I was going to say I would. All right. If you did. She just sent out the thing and I looked more. No, no, no. That, the one that Ms. Begaro sent out, at least the most recent one, was what it is currently. So, I have the rotating person now, which is my question to Mr. Ezra earlier. So, my person is not eligible because he does not live here. He only has two businesses in the Gateway. So, if you had the Gateway rotating, I was going to, you know, speak to your former rotating person. But you can get back to us next meeting. Can I ask a question of City Attorney Ezra? So, we, it's so confusing. I'll read it. I promise I'll get up to speed on it. So, Gateway, you either have to be a business owner, a property owner. Or a resident. You don't have to be a resident, but a property owner. Or a resident. Now, can the business owner get permission of the property owner? Is that something we would have to discuss and change if we wanted to do that? That is not currently provided for in the code as drafted. So, you said a resident. So, the resident doesn't have to have any connection to the Gateway, which I thought wasn't, I thought they had to be part of Gateway. And, you know, either they had to live there or they had to be a property owner in Gateway. The ordinance itself does not expressly state resident of the district. It says resident. There is already a code section 2-32 that requires residency anyway. So, again, I don't know what the history is. If there have only been appointments to the board for residents of the district, it's certainly a reasonable interpretation. I think that it seems to me like the people who have served on this board over the last 30 years have had some connection to it. You know, like Mrs. Simmons with HCA, or is she Midtown? She was Midtown, but she was, what's that? We had the permission of the property owner. I think it's probably something we have to clean up. Right. I don't think it should just be a resident, a general, because, you know, we have an extra tax on there. I think it really, we need people, I think we need to address it. I agree with you. I think that makes more sense. And just as an FYI, the ordinance for Midtown is identical to Gateway as far as appointments go. So maybe if we could put that on the near horizon to maybe have a discussion and clean it up so that, I think that's how it's been appointed with that intent, but I don't think that, obviously, the code doesn't reference that. Mr. Alpert, you had something? Or Danny? I can't have a quick meeting. What's that? I'm not on the record. Which section? This is Section 233A. Right. And I'm kind of in the middle there. This provision shall not apply when the enabling law for a specific board, agency, or committee permits owners or employees of business residents to serve, though such persons may not be residents, by way of example, Plantation Gateway or Plantation Midtown Board. Right. I was referring, because there's a specific ordinance for Gateway. It's not codified. Okay. You have to go, if you go to the website, you could look at Gateway or Midtown, and both of the enabling ordinances talk about you have to be a property owner or a resident. It doesn't say resident of the district, but, again, it makes sense. So, yeah. Okay. Any other appointments at this time? Okay. Councilmember comments. Let's start with Councilmember Reinstein. So, first, I want to congratulate the South Plantation I-Zone and all the schools in that zone for a great evening last night, presenting the program at their school. We have great schools in our city, and these showcases are a great way to see it. On a third – tomorrow night, the Central Region's Middle School Showcase is taking place at Plantation Middle School, 630 to 8 p.m. And it's not just teachers or parents talking. It's the students talking, which is really wonderful. And last night, they concluded the program with a group of students all singing together and students from all of the schools. So, it was really wonderful. I know we've talked about – the mayor mentioned about some of the different organized walks and runs that the city is participating in, and thought it would be a good time to mention that February 4th at the David Posnack JCC, there's a 5K run and walk supporting Lauren's kids. And also, April 13th, it's not too early to start helping out with American Cancer Society Relay for Life at Central Park. And hopefully, we'll talk more about that as a city and see what the city can do to help with that. The mayor mentioned about the group from Ramachalom Beth Israel, who is volunteering in Israel. I wanted to add, it's with a program called the Emergency Volunteer Project, which is the same program that our lieutenant Aston Bright participated in when he went to help fight the fires there. Also, I want to bring up again an issue that we've discussed from this day is quite a bit regarding the attention or lack of attention to the deaf and hard of hearing community in some of our plantation schools. I think all of the council receives from Dr. Natalie Lynch-Walsh, who is the District Facility Task Force chair, some updates. And I know that this is an issue that Jesse Valenzuela has brought to the attention of the city many times from the Educational Advisory Board. This is a serious issue that, while we occasionally get updates, and I'm going to say lip service, we're not getting the regular attention and updates that were promised, and we're not getting the attention to all of the schools that need it. We've had an update that South Plantation High School is close to completion, but no work at Seminole, Tropical, or Peters regarding the deaf and hard of hearing projects and programs there to help keep those kids and the teachers there safe. And so I'd like to see that, in addition to what the individual members of this council are doing, that the mayor and the administration, again, follow up with Dr. Licata and try and re-engage them on this issue for our schools. The last thing that I want to comment on, you previously heard that this weekend is International Holocaust Remembrance Day. And while I do not think there would be a need to further encourage people to speak to survivors or to read survivors' testimony, I want to make sure that I put on the record is that using the word genocide to describe the actions by the Israeli Defense Forces as it involves their response to the attack by Hamas and the massacre is nothing short of what I would view as Hamas-esque propaganda. Genocide is a legal term, and in no way do Israeli policies or actions meet that legal threshold. The sensationalist use of the term genocide in relation to the response by Israel to Hamas' massacre is not only inaccurate and misleading, but it only serves to demonize the state of Israel, the only Jewish state in existence, and to diminish the recognition of acts of genocide. In fact, the word genocide was coined in 1944 in response to the Nazi actions against the Jewish people. So I encourage people to use their words carefully, and in memory of those that were slaughtered in the Holocaust and now in Israel on October 7th, that if you're so inclined to please continue to keep the hostages in your prayers for their release and keep the Gazans in your prayers that are being used as human shields by Hamas and that their homes are being used as places to house rockets. Thank you. Thank you. Council Member Horland. Thank you, Mr. President. Council Member Reynstein, as a woman, as a mother of a daughter, and as a human being, I want to thank you for bringing forth such a thoughtfully crafted resolution tonight. Mayor, you mentioned I tripped over the dog. I did. I hurt my knee, and I could not join you in Tallahassee, and Council Member Reynstein. And I wanted to ask, because at the previous meeting you had mentioned that you were trying to get a meeting with Kevin Guthrie at Florida Department of Emergency Management. I wanted to find out if you were able to do so and how that went. Yes, it went very good. I'm very proud to report that with Eric's lobbyist and I, we saw Kevin Guthrie, who replaced Jared Mosquist, I'm pretty sure, and he's the person who advises Governor DeSantis on writing emergency orders. And so we showed him everything. We showed him pictures of seritage and everything, and we said, hey, this should not be protected by an executive order. They've had all their time. They're not affected by the hurricane. And his quote was, you're right, that's the easy button. So he will be lifting the executive order that he placed that was protecting seritage. Great. Well done. Well done. Thank you. Wow. I appreciate that. I had a good night there. I was happy that day. You know, and I think that you've heard me say it when I go up there and the importance of our lobbyists and the relationships they have up there. I mean, I've said it before, in many instances, whether it's our appropriations or our bills, to go in there and to get an audience with someone when they may know the aid. And those relationships are so important, and they tend to sit and listen more. So that's the importance of having those connections up there. So thank you, Mayor, for that. I was wondering how that went. Thank you. I want to give you a quick update. I was on access. I've got one other piece I've got to give you on that. I'm sorry. Okay. So he said he was going to do it, but I'm being cautious because you never know until somebody actually does something. Okay. Right. So they actually do it. That's why I haven't really crowed about it. Okay. For now. Learn my lesson. And Carmen and everybody in building has a plan for once that is lifted, what the process is. Okay. And we can share that with you some more. I can't find it on my phone right now. But we have a plan. That's the most movement we've had in a while. The air conditioning is rotted in there, and there are trees growing inside underneath, for crying out loud. That's terrible. Okay. Thank you. I just want to give you a quick update. I was on the Florida League of Cities advocacy meeting before I got here this evening. The short-term rental bill, as I mentioned two weeks ago, is being fast-tracked. I did get a text message earlier, though. It was supposed to be heard in the Senate tomorrow. And unfortunately, a Senate sponsor came down with the flu. I don't wish any ill will on anyone, but it's been delayed. If there's any good news, the House is very reluctant to take this up. What it would mean for us this year is we'll completely repeal our ordinance. So they're, yeah, completely repeal all that hard work that planning and zoning and we have done. So I'll keep you posted on that. Still very concerned about the attacks on our revenue stream. This homestead, and I've been talking to residents, you know, when you hear homestead exemption, and this is why they want to put it on the ballot, because everyone will vote for it. But we have to continue to have the conversation. That's why I sent that memo out to everybody, that it's not a good thing. And the way they're doing it's two-part implementation bill, an extra $25,000 in homestead exemption. And we calculated, you know, it's going to be about, I think, $2.7 million we came up with. And Anna gave me those figures that would hurt us. But then there's a second part of that, which would tie that $25,000 to a CPI. But they're using a 1% CPI, which is not reasonable, I think. What was it, 7% in 2022, 23? So think about that impact on the city. And, you know, we're talking about the millage rate would have to increase to make up that revenue. And one of the arguments we're using is 1 million people have moved to the state of Florida since 2020. So we are servicing more people, costs have gone up, and they want to continue to attack our revenue. And, again, the business tax license bill by Rep Botana is still on the table, where they want to completely eliminate cities from issuing that, and that's another chunk. So continue to keep you posted. I don't want to be the bearer of bad news, but it's always a battle. And some good news. I don't think that we've mentioned it up here, but Mirror Lake Elementary Principal Marlin Velez is one of the finalists for Broward County Principal of the Year next week. I cannot make the Caliber Awards. I don't, you're going to be there? Great. So I'll take the Lakata meeting. You take the Caliber Awards. I think it's just wonderful that we've had finalists, you know, teacher, principal, assistant principal the last couple years. There are a lot of good things happening in our schools, so that's great. And I just wanted to add with, I want to get out of here tonight. I know that you're going to try to stop by Rock and Brews. One of our paramedics is battling lymphoma. He's in his 30s. He's got a 10-month-old baby, and they've been out there, I think, since 11 o'clock today. And I'll tell you, Rock and Brews has made such a commitment to this community. They partner with our, you've got your shirt there? I've got mine in my bag. They've partnered with our schools and with philanthropic organizations, and now they're out there for our rescue, plantation rescue. So I think it's a really great thing if everybody wants to go out there. Until midnight tonight, they'll be giving 20% back on the bill to our paramedics. So thank you. That's all. Thank you. Mr. Baird, are you good? Council Member Anderson? Council Member Andreo? I have a few things. So our February 21st meeting, I am asking council and administration if we could possibly change that date. I know that in the past we did not want to conflict with the school board meeting, and that particular date is the school board meeting. And not only the school board meeting, it's going to be a later meeting because they're trying to get more community input. So that one will not start until 2 p.m. and will go to 8 p.m. What day? That is the 21st of February. So I don't know if the council would be amenable to changing ours to the 20th, and that would give also Ms. Bigger enough time to publicly notice that. But, or if you want to leave it, as is. Can we take the night off? You create the agenda. I don't think we should move it to a different day. I think it needs to stay on a Wednesday. So I don't know. How does everyone else feel? I agree with it. It should stay on a Wednesday, either move to the next week. I think that if we have a consensus, then administration can take a look at it, see what we've got coming up on the agenda with planning and zoning. There may be some quasi-judicial items that are scheduled. So I think that would be the consideration. But I have no problem with it. Okay. No? Well, I just thought I would bring up the conflict. Mr. Anderson might not realize, but him and I will have a comment. I'm glad you brought it up. Well, then we may not have a question. I have an agenda item. Yes, sir. We'll work on that. I will be at that meeting. But it starts at 2, and we don't have a workshop beforehand. The meeting starts at 6, so I thought I could probably make it, but it might be tight. No, sir, you will not. Can we start later? I would suggest we change the date, but whatever the will is of the… Well, I'm just sort of thinking, like, if there's quasi-judicial or anything we've advertised is what the problem is. We don't have anything scheduled for 221. I think if we're going to move the date, let's push it a week, go to the 28th. I don't know. How does everyone else feel? I'm fine with that. I'm fine with that, too. And if administration decides that there isn't enough to put on the agenda, then you can load us up on this. We'll work on it tomorrow, and we'll contact all the department heads to see if there's any objection from them and through staff. And let's check all parties in case there's a leak in the ship somewhere. Perfect. Okay. Just wanted to bring it to everybody's attention. Thank you. And I will be virtual that March meeting because that March meeting does fall into our spring break. Now you're pushing it. I know. But I will, yeah. We're doing the college tour thing, so I will be virtual for the March. That's right. That spring break that week. And then just a few other general announcements. I know in the past, Council Member Reinstein has attended, but South Plantation La Crosse Car Wash Fundraiser will be Saturday, February 3rd. So if you need your car washed, you can go out to South and join them. Also, one of our wonderful residents who I know all of you probably know, Allison Frank, she is doing her project, Beauty. It will take place Friday, February 2nd, at 630. It will be such a great event to empower our teens in plantation with really recognizing their natural beauty, and it raises money for mental health awareness with our teens. So that's just a great fundraiser to support as well. And then going back to what Council Member Reinstein said regarding our deaf and hard of hearing community. So I will tell you that an update is going out every two weeks. Dr. Licata puts out a news and update briefing, and the most recent one as of Friday was that you mentioned South Plantation being 90% complete, but also the electrical drawings at Tropical Elementary have passed inspection, and the electrical drawings have been submitted for Peters and Seminole, and they are awaiting approval. So the project is absolutely behind, but it is moving. So I just want to be clear about that. And then I always mention it annually, so this is the fourth annual NextGen Scholarship for high school seniors. So if you know any class of 2024 graduates, please let them know that it's a very short application, and it's a $1,000 scholarship for our high school's implantation. And last, I just want to compliment Mayor Sordo. I loved Monday, the mayoral minute. I thought it, again, was a great way of just communicating and engaging the public and letting them know what's happening. A really quick blurb for them to digest, you know, and so kudos to that. We've learned people want to plan their week. Exactly. Let's help people plan their week. Yes. So that concludes all of my announcements. Thank you, President Fatchin. All right. Thank you. So all I have to say is Melvin and Ray are both looking forward to the 22nd annual Doggypalooza this weekend at Happy Tails Park from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It's a lot of fun, so if you've got a dog, bring them on out. And with that, it is 8.39, and the meeting is adjourned.