Citizen Snubbing Update !
The Citizen's proposal is on life support.
Which is an improvement from last week!
You will remember that the Citizens had banded together and worked on a proposal to make changes to the Development Code (all the rules for building anything in Fort Lauderdale), that would make the next bunch of homes and townhouses that get built fit better into the neighborhoods. The Committee was a broad spectrum of all the Citizens, about 100 of them.
They met for over a year, and worked out a plan...... a great plan!
The proposal wound it's way to the City Commission for consideration.
They liked it, sent it to staff.
They hated it, stalled it, moved it around in circles.
Another year later, it finally arrived back at the Commission, and the Commission was to pick a consultant to study it ( Caution: watching government work can be painful!).
They didn't pick the consultant. They squashed it without comment.
The Citizens were about to revolt! And it's an election year.
At the next meeting, Commissioner Teel brought it back to the Commission for reconsideration.
It got tabled until the next meeting! Are you dizzy yet? Maybe that's the point!
Stay Tuned ! (if you dare).
i hear it got held up because Cindi wants to host a fundraiser for the new consultant
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Ah Tim, you are correct; watching government can be painful. It's like watching sausage being made..you don't want to! Remember, voters get the government they vote for and they richly deserve that privilege.
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I was so surprise what happened . I watched it on TV from home and it appeared some of the Commissioners wanted to shoot arrows at someone, (or at this idea). They first go against the select committee recommendation, then they table it for more review. This project as been going on for two years .I wish some on the Commission would please place there egos to the back burner and let this continue.
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Many of the code amendments proposed by the Code Reform Committee should be implemented without the hiring a consultant. I am speculating that the Mayor and Commissioners opposed to taking action are listening to the input of a former city bureaucrat.
If PORTABILITY survives the legal challenges against it and is deemed constitutional, the city of Fort Lauderdale may find itself competing with more progressive Broward cities for residents. I for one am eying a neighborhood in another city. Judging by the number of "For Sale" signs in Tarpon River, Croissant Park and other Fort Lauderdale neighborhoods, I would guess that I am not alone. It will be very interesting to see what happens when the Real Estate market begins to recover in a couple of years...
I fear that the appeal of living in Fort Lauderdale, especially in and around downtown, has been grossly overestimated. If our elected officials and city planning staff do not take action to improve the quality of life, property values and the tax base could decrease even further.
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Living downtown Ft. Lauderdale is a total joke! Who in their right mind 100% would buy a condo there that is totally over priced in my eyes? What does downtown have to offer the citizens that move there? Nothing! Oh excuse me we would have the River walk, & Las Olas ~ big deal. Sears town once use to be considered part of downtown Fort Lauderdale back in the younger years (what a joke it is now)
Downtown Fort Lauderdale is getting over built & one day the elected officials are going to regret what they did (ones that were involved)
I just hope to hell that our new elected officials stop the BS & do right for our city. Enough is enough.
Bye Bye Naule ` your part to blame!
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Tim the below e-mail is from Irene Lieberman...now I am Just a taxpayer and dont know much about much, but I'll tell you what got my tail feathers in a dander this week-end..the Sun-sentinel posted a story about mismanagement and inappropriate funding going to minorities: When I read this I got pissed to say the least and wrote an e-mail to Irene Lieberman and she was gracious enough to write me back on Sunday.This is how it went:
I have read that you are this woman's biggest supporter. With today's article
I would venture that may not be such a good idea. I highly suggest you back away
from this support or it will appear to many constituents that you dont have the
most sound of judgments in this area. The commission is walking a then line. Your
alliance with this woman will be one more kick in the taxpayers face.
Minority business program mismanaged in Broward County, audit says
Among the missing records:
•Documents on the availability of minority businesses.
•The rationale behind the set-aside goal.
•An up-to-date directory of minority businesses.
Auditors found cases where federal affirmative action goals were set for projects
that never received federal funding. They also uncovered instances where the federal
rules were applied to the entire contract rather than just the federal government's
share of the work.
According to the audit, five times as much work was set aside for minority firms
at the airport as required.
Interim County Administrator Bertha Henry promised better oversight.
link to Sun-sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbminority0921sbsep21,0,6793101.story
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Her response:
Valerie:
Thanks for your response. Your perception is interesting, but inaccurate. The County
suspended this program over a year ago on recommendation of County Attorney, Jeff
Newton, and Ms. Henry, after the lawsuit was filed, in order to performa through
investigation of the allegations. There is no evidence to suggest that the actual
work performed by these small disadvantaged firms was costly or substandard despite
the "inaccurate" goals. There is some evidence which shows that some
small firms have been helped by this program to become bigger firms and have graduated
from the program. Thus, this is really old news.
As to your sugggestion that the Commission should have brought Ms. Warren to task,
you may be surprised to learn that the County Commissioners are prohibited from
doing so under the County's non-interference ordinance. In fact, the Charter
review commission is suggestion that this prohibition be embedded in the charter
and you will asked to vote on this in November.
As far as the public, the community response supporting Ms. Henry is significantly
greater that those who oppose her. However, that's not a reason to hire her
or not. I believe she has proven herself in troubling financial times. Given the
economy and the number of foreclosures depressing property value, her financial
skills will help greatly meeting the challenge of the FY 2010 budget.
Regards,
Ilene
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My Response:
Thank you for being so kind to respond at length to my e-mail, especially on a Sunday.
You need not take any more of your time to respond, but the public's perception
is Ms. Henry was in the position as interim director a little over year. The timing
doesn't look good for her and many think she should have been the one to bring
this to the forefront, not investigators and auditors. Also if Gwen Warren was such
a problem as you say, the public wonders why she wasnt brought to task under a more
watchful commission.
Sunday.
Valerie in Ft. Lauderdale.
Her response:
Valerie:
Thanks for your response. Your perception is interesting, but inaccurate. The County
suspended this program over a year ago on recommendation of County Attorney, Jeff
Newton, and Ms. Henry, after the lawsuit was filed, in order to performa through
investigation of the allegations. There is no evidence to suggest that the actual
work performed by these small disadvantaged firms was costly or substandard despite
the "inaccurate" goals. There is some evidence which shows that some
small firms have been helped by this program to become bigger firms and have graduated
from the program. Thus, this is really old news.
As to your sugggestion that the Commission should have brought Ms. Warren to task,
you may be surprised to learn that the County Commissioners are prohibited from
doing so under the County's non-interference ordinance. In fact, the Charter
review commission is suggestion that this prohibition be embedded in the charter
and you will asked to vote on this in November.
As far as the public, the community response supporting Ms. Henry is significantly
greater that those who oppose her. However, that's not a reason to hire her
or not. I believe she has proven herself in troubling financial times. Given the
economy and the number of foreclosures depressing property value, her financial
skills will help greatly meeting the challenge of the FY 2010 budget.
Regards,
Ilene
Tim...this sounds like a weasel clause, exactly what is a non-interferance clause? and how in the hell did Broward ever get one?
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Now just come out and tell me I am stupid about these things I wont take it too personally: But how can a city government hire companies or employees or even sub contract them and not have full oversight over those companies who continue to either suck money from the county or do business in some way with them? Another words, If myself and my husband has contract with the city and their MONEY,I get mad at my husband, and I run to the city to say my husband is stealing you blind and here's how. Are you telling me the city cant interfere in this? What am I reading here? What is a non-interference clause?
I have heard of Weasel Clauses but this tops them, Tim how long as the city been operating with this clause? Do you know anything about Bertha Henry or Gwen Wynn, will Wynn be prosecuted or do I have to look forward to funding her retirement also???
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