Coral Springs Forum | Sun-Sentinel.com

The Parkland City Commission, which recently conducted its annual review of City Manager Caryn Gardner-Young, praised her for doing a great job despite the hard financial times.

Gardner-Young has been handling the day-to-day operations of the city since early 2007. Commissioner Jay Smith noted she attends the numerous city special events. Mayor Michael Udine said she is an extremely hard worker who has saved the city dollars since she has been city Mmanager. Vice Mayor Weissman indicated that she has a difficult job dealing with five different personalities but she does a great job.

The City Commission felt that the city manager deserved a raise but decided a raise not appropriate in the trying economic times. Gardner-Young supported the Commission’s decision and said even if a raise was offered, she would not accept since other city workers are not budgeted to receive merit raises.

Buoyed by the relocation of Vutec Corporation to the city but not losing sight of the fact that commercial, retail, and industrial vacancy rates in the city have more than doubled in 2009, the Coral Springs Economic Development Foundation is gearing up to create focus groups to tackle issues specific to each sector.

“Vacancies are the issue,” said Paul Cawley, foundation executive director. “Vutec is a great company; it is exactly the kind of company we were looking for. It’s really good for us that they are coming, but much more needs to be done. In 2010, we are going to get much more aggressive in our efforts.”

“We are going to break the city down into sectors,” Cawley said. “We will have focus groups for industrial, retail, and commercial sectors. We need them as the problems in each field are different. The focus groups will be able to tell us what we need to do.”

The vacancy rate in the commercial sector is anywhere between 30 to 40 percent, said Cawley. “It’s a little better in the industrial sector. In the Corporate Park, the rate has come down to the mid twenties due to the Vutec purchase.”

“The economy has never been like this; the vacancy rate was 15 to 18 percent a year ago,” said Cawley. “It was 5 to 6 percent in good times, in the 1993-1995 period. We were in the single digits as recently as in 2007.”

The city will continue to pursue “good and solid companies” that are looking for a Coral Springs address, City Manager Mike Levinson said. “We have had a number of high profile companies come in the last few years. Vutec is an excellent company; they bring 32 years of experience and corporate culture into the city. I give all the credit to Paul and the EDF.”

Face to face with a 17 percent decline in gross taxable property value, Parkland city officials are contemplating increasing the property tax rate during fiscal year 2010. City staffers are proposing a rollback rate of 4.15; the millage rate was 3.40 in 2009.

The city’s taxable property value fell from a little over $3.7 billion to a little under $3.1 billion, a direct result of the recession and the face that some of the homes in the city had Chinese drywall; no other city in the county has had to face such a drastic drop. Property taxes form a big chunk of the city’s sources of revenue – 63 percent. The loss in ad valorem revenue is $2,254,474. Unlike neighboring cities like Coral Springs, the city is not touching its reserve funds.

The city has $19,317, 770 in the general fund, compared to $19,525.539 in 2009. The city proposes to spend 52 percent on public safety and fire, 9 percent for culture and recreation, 17 percent for public works, and 6 percent for development services. The city’s library gets just 3 percent. Since 2007, the city’s budget has decreased by $2.7m, or 12.3 percent.

For additional revenue, the city is also increasing fire assessment fee to $195, from $151. The increase in special assessment revenue will be $258,759. The budget includes $4,000 for the Council for Aging, $4,000 for the city’s lobbyist, $3,500 for the education advisory board and $800 for Family Central. There is money in the budget to fund school resource officers in all schools within the city.

The Parkland City Commission recently approved new fees for the coming fiscal year that starts Oct. 1.

Two years ago, the commission adopted an administrative and use fee schedule which is reviewed annually for any modifications. Based upon economic times, various charges will be increased in the parks and recreation and building departments as well as the library. Summer and year-round camp fees will increase as well as pavilion rentals. In addition, the non-resident sports card will increase by $13.

Existing library fees were included in the schedule and there is a new charge for lost Library cards. Also different from last year is the addition of a family DVD membership. For a fee of $10 per year, members can rent movies at the library.

Last year, residents needed to pay for notary services unless they were related to city documents. The City Commission agreed to delete this charge. For the full fee schedule, visit www.cityofparkland.org. Contact the city at 954 753-5040.

Temple Beth Orr in Coral Springs has opened a baby room, for babies from 3 months to 15 months, at its nationally accredited Kuhn Early Childhood Center.

The school’s experts know activities to improve listening, spark curiosity, and increase awareness for building the complex circuitry in little ones’ brains will remain with them the rest of their lives.

The infant class at Temple Beth Orr has a 1 to 3 ratio with qualified staff that encourages babies to play and learn. Hours are Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. with options for two, three, or five days a week.

Temple Beth Orr, which welcomes singles, seniors and families of all ages, including interfaith families, is in Coral Springs at 2151 Riverside Drive. E-mail info@templebethorr.org, or call 954-753-3232. Visit www.templebethorr.org.

After initially ruffling feathers of Coral Springs officials and city staff by asking the city to provide fire and paramedic services next year at the same price as the current year, the Parkland City Commission voted last week to pay its neighboring city more. It, however, threatened to look elsewhere for the services when the contract ends in September next year.

After Parkland officials voted to pay Coral Springs the additional money, they discussed whether to continue ties with Coral Springs after the five-year contract runs its course by October 2010.

Mayor Michael Udine said he would like his city to continue working with Coral Springs. “I just want to see it is a fair contract. I see that there are other options. For the life of me, I can’t see why Coral Springs is not coming to the table to discuss the contract. If they do want the contract, let them meet with our city staff. It’s not complicated.”

Steven Savia of Sage Group, the consult appointed by Parkland to look at other options said It would be "very viable" for Parkland to contract with Palm Beach County. "Palm Beach actually has the three closest locations outside of Coral Springs. Parkland can also get together with Margate and Coconut Creek for a joint department serviving the three cities. Another option is to have a new contract with Coral Springs; one that is not an extension of the existing contract,” he said.

Parents of students in three Coral Springs elementary schools have joined hands to make life a little bit easier for students and teachers in the schools.

“Ten for Ten,” a joint fundraiser between the PTO and PTA Boards at Riverside Elementary, Eagle Ridge Elementary and Coral Park Elementary, is aimed at providing supplies or new technology to classrooms. The idea is to ask parents to donate up to $10 per child for 10 months; all the money raised will go directly into the classroom.

Elisa Wolfe, Riverside Elementary Parent Teacher Organization vice president, is hoping the fundraiser gets good support from parents. “Schools have had to cut money for supplies and technology to save jobs. Teachers spend a lot of their own money on supplies for the classroom. We don’t want that happening. Teachers this time are not getting raises like they did in previous years.”

The idea of joining hands came up when the budget cuts came through, Wolfe said. “Each school is losing about half a million dollars. This fundraiser is a direct response to budget cuts. The principals in all three schools have approved the idea. The donation is completely voluntary. We are well aware of economic restraints and don’t want anyone to donate if they don’t have the money.”

Money collected in a school will stay within the school, said Melissa Reid, Coral Park Elementary Parent Teacher Association corresponding secretary. “We are trying to do this as a community. The situation has never been this bad.”

Contact Elisa Wolfe at 954-701-5312, Denise Straus at 954-899-1680, or Melissa Reid at 954-254-1188.

Coral Springs will hold its first 2010 budget hearing at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 14, in the Commission Chambers at City Hall, 9551 W. Sample Road. The hearing also will be televised on CityTV Channel 25 on Advanced Cable Communications and Channel 99 on AT&T’s U-Verse.

The purpose of the meeting is to review the city’s fiscal year 2010 budget. At the business plan workshop held on July 28, the city manager presented a financial strategy focused on combating the effects of the global recession while maintaining current service levels and ensuring the community’s continued long-term financial stability.

The city’s strategy for the next fiscal year centers on a three-pronged approach to cutting a $10.5 million deficit while still maintaining high-quality service delivery. The strategy includes a one-year wage freeze for all city employees; judicious use of $14.5 million from unrestricted reserve funds during the next three years; and adoption of a portion of the property tax rolled-back rate pursuant to State Statutes.

A second budget hearing is tentatively scheduled for at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 21 in the Commission Chambers at City Hall. The adopted millage and assessment rates will be confirmed at this time.

To view the city’s adopted fiscal year 2009 business plan, visit www.coralsprings.org/publications.

The Rotary Club of Coral Springs, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, will support a hospital in Cali, Colombia, in association with the Rotary Club of Cali.

The club will be assisting the hospital in development of their services, said Paul Alcock, club president. “We have established a close relationship with the club in Cali.We will help the hospital through the year and will raise money for that. Our initial target is $11,000.”

The club will also help a school in Colombia, said Ralph Abrahamson, club secretary and its student exchange program chairman. “We are excited about helping out the school; that is the other project we are doing in partnership with the Rotary Club of Cali. The club is also participating in a polio eradication project; that is a Rotary and Bill Gates Foundation joint project.”

The club is also looking for members from the international community to increase diversity among its members, Alcock said. “We have 24 members now and we obviously want more. The more members we have, the more our links will be with the community. When we are looking for community projects to support, we often identify them due to our members’ work in the community.”

The club meets every Thursday at 12.15 p.m., at Carrabba’s Italian Grill, 2501 N. University Drive in Coral Springs. Visit www.coralspringsrotaryclub.org or contact Paul Alcock at 954-736-7114.

The Northwest Regional Library in Coral Springs, which suffered last year due to budget cuts imposed by the county following a sharp decline in property tax revenue, is set to take another hit this year.

The library, the only one in the city, now opened seven days a week is likely to change to a six-day schedule on Oct. 1. Sometime during the next few weeks, the County Commission will decide on a cost-cutting proposal to keep 11 larger libraries, including the one in Coral Springs, closed on Sundays. The library is now open from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

“It all depends on what the county commission decides,” said Mimi Hershenson, regional library manager. “It’s another tough year; libraries are funded primarily from dollars that the county receives from property tax. We expect them to accept the proposal, but it is not a done deal yet.”

“Sunday is a busy day,” Hershenson said. “We get more people per hour on Sunday than on other days. Closing on Sundays might make our Saturdays busier.”

The issue came up for discussion at the city commission meeting recently. Mayor Scott Brook said he had heard from Northwest Regional librarian Ken Engel that people in the community are opposed to the library being closed on Sundays. “Sunday is a day available for all residents,” Brook said.

City Manager Mike Levinson said the city needed to be careful in dealing with the issue. “The library is next to the charter school; the students use the resources. The library needs to be open Monday to Friday. Let us look at the numbers and see what’s a better day.”

A Coral Springs resident who is running for the post of city commissioner wants the city to make use of a county program that provides bike parking facilities free of cost.

Mark Gendal, an optometrist by profession, brought the issue up before the City Commission last week. “Bike racks are very important. It will encourage people to ride their bikes,” he said. “When gas goes up again, more people can save money by riding their bikes. These bike racks are free, functional and beautiful; all you need to do is install and take care of them.”

The bike racks project will provide bicycle parking facilities to commercial property owners, local governments and businesses within Broward. Implemented by the Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization, the program will be funded through the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality program of the Transportation Efficiency Act for the 21st Century.

“The objective is to get cars off the road,” Gendal said. “They want to encourage the use of bicycles for personal transportation as an alternative to motor vehicles. That will improve the air quality and reduce air pollution. We can use the program to make the city better.”

Mayor Scott Brook wanted the city to find out more about the project. “We will take a look at it and see if we can have a discussion in two weeks,” he said. “I brought up the idea of adding more bike racks a few months ago. I am all for more bike racks. I will push for an ordinance that requires new buildings in the city to install bike racks.”

The Board of St. Andrews Towers in Coral Springs recently recognized Officer Paul Kempinski for his dedication and service to the citizens of the city. It also presented a check for $350 to the Coral Springs Fraternal Order of Police.

Kempinski was shot in the line of duty this past May during an armed robbery pursuit. Thus far, he has made a wonderful recovery.

“The residents at St. Andrews Towers are great and I’ve had the pleasure of working with them at sometimes the best and worst of times, including a large fire last year,” Kempinski said. “Thank you for your generosity. I don’t have words enough to thank you.”

In another development, city commissioners proclaimed September as National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month. During this month, the city wants to remind residents that recovery is possible. Officials also commended those who have faced these struggles and succeeded, and encouraged others to start treatment.

“One of the things that we find in the criminal justice system is that so many problems can be attributed to a drug and alcohol problem and if we can get the folks the necessary help, we know that, many times, they’re not going to end up in the criminal justice system," police chief Duncan Foster said. "Our prisons are full of people that have problems with narcotics and it really does start prior to entering the criminal justice system, so I think this is important and it will go a long way for our community.”

Coral Springs police are investigating a stabbing that occurred last week at the 10100 block of Northwest 17th Street. Police is charging one of the juveniles involved in the incident with attempted first degree murder.

A juvenile suffered at least one stab wound with a kitchen knife to the upper back as result of an altercation he had with another juvenile; both of them are Coral Springs residents. The second juvenile also suffered a stab wound to the stomach that appears to be self-inflicted, according to witness information.

Both of them attend a middle school in the city where they have been having disputes recently. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Ken Johnson of the Coral Springs police department at 954-346-1223.

Coral Springs residents interested in joining forces with United Way of Broward County's Building Generations should attend a coalition meeting from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 1 at Family Success Center, 10077 NW 29th St.

In November 2008, the board of directors of United Way of Broward County unanimously decided to fund ARC Broward’s proposal, “Building Generations,” to address the financial stability of low-income families and seniors in Coral Springs.

“The program was well presented, strongly collaborative and has the potential to be replicated throughout our community,” O’Flannery Anderson said.

In June this year, the Building Generations initiative held its first community wide event—a free Financial Literacy Fair for Coral Springs residents. The event provided quality financial information and education in a fun environment and increased awareness of financial issues and supportive services for Coral Springs residents.

Administered by ARC Broward, Building Generations is a major impact initiative of the United Way of Broward County. Other community partners of the Building Generations initiative include The City of Coral Springs, CareSource, FLIPANY, Minority Development and Empowerment, Inc., RESBEAT, Senior Volunteer Services and Broward County. Teen service hour opportunities and job placement are also available.

Visit www.buildinggenerations.info or call 954-746-9400.

If you are a student at a high school in Coral Springs or at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas, you are invited to join the city's Teen Car Club. Project CS was created in 2007 and since then, students have revamped two vehicles and hosted annual car shows.

If this sounds like something you might be into, the kick-off meeting at Coral Springs Gymnasium is definitely where you should be on Sept. 23 at 4 p.m.

The club is all about whatever the members want, from choosing out of about seven cars to remodel, the new paint design of the vehicle, how you want it hooked up inside, all the way to what you want to do with it when it's finished. With the help of some local mechanics and businesses, the finished products are entirely your decision. This club needs more than just car enthusiasts, we need people interested in business, mechanics, art, and advertising.

Joining the club is free. The Coral Springs Gymnasium is at 2501 Coral Springs Drive, near the intersection of Royal Palm Boulevard and Coral Springs Drive. For more information, call 954-345-2204.

The Coral Springs Woman's Club will be participating in the city’s annual Mullins Park garage sale Oct. 3 from 8 to 11 a.m.

Items being offered for sale at the club’s booth will be home goods only. All donations raised will be donated to charity. The club is looking for women in the community to assist it as volunteers at the event.

Those who are interested should e-mail deesachar@bellsouth.net or attend the club’s monthly meeting on the third Tuesday of each month at Cypress Hammock Park, 1300 Coral Springs Drive in Coral Springs.

Texting while driving within Parkland limits could soon leave you with $100 less.

Parkland officials are getting ready to introduce an ordinance that bans texting while driving within the city. The ordinance passed on first reading recently and will become law after it comes up for discussion again in the next few weeks.

There is a state law that limits the ability of municipalities to regulate the use of commercial mobile radio services and other electronic communications devices while driving, but city officials and staff are hopeful the city will be able to enforce the ban on texting.

The inspiration for the proposed law is TTYL, Inc., a group of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School sophomores. Commissioner Jared Moskowitz brought the idea before the commission after Michael Ross, Max Spiegelman, Joshua Feinzig, Adam Feinzig, Danielle Levy, and Justin Levy met him to discuss their efforts to create awareness about the dangers of texting while driving.

“Back in July, I met with these students,” Moskowitz said. “I believe the issue has merit. Parkland has led on a lot of issues. I believe Parkland should take a lead on this issue… I believe the march has begun.”

“Seventeen states already have banned texting while driving; Miami-Dade has already passed a ban against texting while driving in a school zone. Let us see how they are enforcing the law,” Moskowitz said. “The ordinance calls for a fine of $250 for an offence but I think the fine should be $100. The law won’t be enforced until we get the AG’s opinion.”

Mayor Michael Udine wanted the city to put the students’ presentation on its website. “We want to help you move the ball forward. This is not an issue that will be solved by the city. It’s important that we pass this.”

Parkland’s decision to increase property taxes to make up for the revenue shortfall caused by plunging real estate prices has not gone down too well with a section of its residents.

The city commission adopted a millage rate of 4.0198, which is 3.2 percent less than the rolled back rate of 4.1532, and decided to limit the increase in fire assessment fees to $10 instead of the proposed $44, but not everyone was satisfied. Budget meetings in Parkland have a history of attracting les than a handful of people, but with many homeowners in the city having to deal with a tax increase of about 20 percent, it was different this time.

Keats Soder, a resident, said he did not believe that 50 percent of the people in Parkland were in favor of property taxes being raised by 20 percent. “Majority of people are going to have a 20 percent tax increase. You got to cut your expenses more; simple as that. Why not lower salaries of city employees?”

Cliff Kaufman, another resident, also spoke against the increase in taxes. “We understand revenue going down but these rate increases seem unusually large. You have raised taxes to cover the shortfall in revenue. You need to take even more of the budget so that you have to raise taxes. We should look at whether we need the added services.”

Mayor Michael Udine defended the city’s $22 million budget and the decision to raise taxes. “It is not easy to cut everything. We are one of the few cities that have let go of employees….Most of our residents are paying less in tax dollars this year compared to last year because property taxes have gone down.”

Coral Springs, Margate, Coconut Creek and Parkland are exploring the feasibility of a joint fire rescue system.

The proposal, which has already been approved by city officials of all four cities, comes at a time when cash-strapped local bodies are trying to find ways to reduce expenses. City managers from the four cities will soon get together to discuss hiring a consultant to push the idea forward.

Of the four cities that are part of the equation, only Coral Springs and Margate have their own fire departments. While Coral Springs provides fire and emergency services to Parkland, Margate services Coconut Creek. According to the plan that is being considered, the Coral Springs fire department will act as the provider of services for the four cities.

The joint system will be in place by Oct. 1, 2010, if the four cities agree to such an arrangement, said Coral Springs City Manager Mike Levinson. “We are exploring the option for purposes of safety and cost-effectiveness. The intent is to spend the next fiscal year engineering a system that will serve the four cities. I have talked individually with other city managers; the fire chiefs have held discussions as well.”

The plan is to try the joint system out for two years. “The intent is to use the expertise the four cities have to create the fire rescue system,” said Levinson. “We will then take the plan to a qualified consultant. Coral Springs will in effect be the provider (of services.) The Margate fire department will merge with our department; their fire fighters will become part of our department. The services will be provided through interlocal agreements.”