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The reality that 2015 has moved past the “new year” stage is beginning to hit home. Easter is fast approaching, the June Stonewall Festival is on the front burner, and this year will be sliding fast into the yearbook before we know it.
After all the talk about 2015 being the Year of Code Enforcement here in Wilton Manors, our City staff better kick it into high gear if residents and business owners are to see some real results that have been long promised.
The past few years have been rough on our Code Enforcement personnel, being moved around from one city department to another like an unwanted step-child. A few years back, the decision was made to move this vital function from the Community Services Department and place it under the command of the Police Department.
Code Enforcement came under the supervision of a series of Police Department personnel who also had other duties and prioritiesto juggle. Unfortunately, city residents and our hard-working Code Enforcement offi cers suff ered dealing with a department and ever-changing structural and management issues. Residents complained, and the City Commissioners took action last year to put this vital city function under new management and on a fi rm course towards success.
The City Commission appropriated the necessary funds in the FY 2014/15 budget to hire a new department supervisor whose sole responsibility would be managing Code Enforcement and reporting directly to Commanders within the Police Department. Everything was in place to move ahead into the new year and make 2015 the Year of Code Enforcement.
Well, the beginning of the year has now passed, and it is time to start seeing some results. The new supervisor of Code Enforcement has had time to settle in, reach out to neighborhood associations and community groups to request a meeting, but has not yet done so.
The Police Department has had time to update their website with all this new information, but their site still has an incident dating back to September 2014 on the main page. Residents could have been invited to a Town
Hall Meeting to be introduced to our new head of Code Enforcement and to be informed how best to interact with this vital community service, but have not.
There has been virtually no outreach to the community. Now is the time for the Police Department to start implementing the changes that residents would like to see happen with this department. Changes such as enforcing city code provisions in a fair and consistent basis, maintaining and publishing a phone number that actually gets answered during day-time business hours, having a more user-friendly online reporting system, and putting an end to neighborhood nuisances such as unlicensed vehicles parked in driveways, churches using unpaved lots for parking while the city cracks down on struggling business owners for the same practice, overfl owing rental properties that have far too many occupants living under the same roof, commercial properties with poor maintenance practices such as litter/trash removal, decaying parking lots, no landscaping, and poor public safety records.
It is time to step up WMPD. Spring is here, summer is around the corner, and 2015 Year for Code Enforcement will be moving by very quickly. The patience of our citizens is wearing thin as we wait for promised results.
We are not asking for much. We need a Code Enforcement Department that is professionally and fairly run, and more responsive to community needs and neighborhood interests. Code Enforcement is the front line in promoting the health, safety, and welfare of our community. Properly managed and proactive Code Enforcement offi cers are community advocates who enhance our property values, educate residents and the business community, and support our quality of life here in Wilton Manors.
We welcome the new Code Enforcement Supervisor Vincent Aff anato and urge all residents to reach out and voice your neighborhood issues and concerns. You can reach him at 954-390-2186 or vaff [email protected] .
Let us all work together to make our community a safe, clean, and healthy place to live, work and play! WMG
Well the whistle has blown, and it's time for the James Oaksun Halftime Report, brought to you by Broward's Real Estate Geek himself.
No, I have nothing intelligent to write about football, unless you want to discuss Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski, about whom I have many and various thoughts. I'm referring to the fact that with the end of February we're pretty much at halftime of the 2014-15 winter sales season in South Florida.
I was at an inspection last week with buyer clients, and the inspector asked me how the market in Wilton Manors was doing this season.
Great question! Many of you might have the same curiosity.These are the Facts, not the opinion. I went and
looked at closed sales of single family homes in all three parts of the Island City, and condo and townhome sales in the center part of town (between Andrews and the railroad tracks). To see how “halftime” this season looks relatively, I also looked at sales for the preceding three seasons.
The short answer, before we get to the data, is summarized by the headline. The center of town is this year's story, so far.
Generally, the market pricing trough in greater Fort Lauderdale occurred in the second quarter of 2011. Thus the fi rst post-trough “season” was 2011-12. The charts included here show what the underlying trends have been from that point.
Last year the east side of the city (east of the train tracks) was the hot neighborhood. The sales count was up 50 percent compared to the 2012-13 season, and prices increased 32 percent. However, the story this year is very diff erent. Sales have dropped 40 percent — falling below their level in the 2012-13 season — with prices down nine percent. This may be in part a function of the types of properties on the market, but it is more likely that the market recognized it had jumped a little too far ahead of itself in the 2013-14 season.
Moving west and crossing over to the west side of Andrews Avenue, pricing has been relatively fl at over the last four seasons. Sales are indeed occurring, but the increase in activity has not come with more
aggressive price points. Is the west side the best longer-term opportunity in the Island City, or will the stall continue?
Finally we get to where the action is, so to speak – the center part of town. Hard as it may be to believe, the median sales price of a single family home between Andrews and the train tracks now exceeds (by a bit) the median sales price on the east side. A remarkable development! But does it make sense?
Perhaps buyers found valuations on the east side to be excessive and went for lower priced alternatives, particularly if the homes could be enhanced through updating and renovation. Perhaps newer and younger buyers wanted to be within walking (or stumbling, as the case may be) distance of the restaurants and nightlife of Wilton Drive. Regardless, it's happening and has been happening consistently the last four seasons.
This season, median single family home prices are up 10 percent versus last year. Compared with the 2011-12 season, prices are up 56 percent!
And it's not just the single-family homes in the center of town that are skyrocketing. Condo and townhome sales are up similarly in both volume and price. Just this season, prices are up roughly 20 percent compared to last year, and have come close to doubling since the trough!
Something else of interests jumps out of the condo data. Up through last season, it had been possible to fi nd a small number of basic 1/1 condos in the center of town for under $100,000. With the rapid appreciation in prices, these are now a rare fi nd indeed.
No I don't have a crystal ball. I can't say what the rest of the season portends. But I can say that I fi nd my buyer and investor clients are very sophisticated, and can recognize value (as well as overpricing) when they see it. WMG
James Oaksun, Broward's Real Estate GeekSM, is a Realtor with the Wilton Manors offi ce of RE/MAX Preferred. In addition to having degrees from Dartmouth and Cornell, he is a graduate of the Realtors Institute (GRI).
City alleges history of non-compliance By Michael d’Oliveira
When Deanna Brizuela founded Eucalyptus Gardens over two years ago, she wanted to create a place where people could escape the outside world and relax. Now, the realities and requirements of the outside world are seeping in.
Eucalyptus Gardens, 2430 NE 13 Ave., named after the seven Eucalyptus trees planted throughout the property, is home to a coff ee shop, vegan restaurant, bakery, orchid seller, wine bar and grocery store, is a collection of businesses that sell organic and natural products.
“This is just somewhere to get away,” said Brizuela, who added that it’s a combination of the Florida Keys, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard. “Everybody’s welcome.”
In contrast to the property’s green theme, the city is requiring the dirt parking lot be paved with a minimum of seven spaces. “Rules are rules. But, being a green facility, adding concrete just goes against what we are. It kind of sucks,” said Danielle Perry, owner of the Chateau D'vine wine bar.
To pay for the parking spaces, which will be constructed of eco-friendly material, Brizuela, who manages Eucalyptus Gardens and owns The Farm Store, is organizing a campaign to raise the $15,000
it will take to build the spaces. As of March 16, 41 people have donated $3,022. A total of 11 spaces will be built.
The lack of parking, claims Brizuela, has led the city to force her to shut down the Farm Store. “We’re losing money and four or fi ve employees are out of a job. We need to get this [parking lot] built.”
Roberta Moore, director of Community Development Services, said the city only wants Eucalyptus Gardens to come into compliance with the parking requirements and has not forced any business there to close. “That’s for Eucalyptus gardens and anywhere else,” Moore said.
Brizuela said that after the city declined to issue a business license, because of parking, she viewed it as a de facto shut down. “How am I supposed to operate without a license?” she asked.
She said she’s also tried to hire a valet service to help with parking. A lack of license has prevented that in at least one case. In an email from John Daniels, CEO at Omni Valet Services in Deerfi eld Beach, to Moore, Daniels told the city he would provide valet services as soon as a license was issued.
One former city employee, who asked not to be named, said Eucalyptus Gardens has never been in
compliance with the parking requirements because, after getting approval from the city to open as a nursery, non-nursery businesses started opening up and it became a “party place,” exceeding the parking capacity. Soon after, complaints from the neighbors began. Both business licenses in 2013 and 2014 had “nursery, shrubs, trees” stated as the description of the use.
“This actually has been occurring for quite some time before I came to the city,” Moore said.
Evan Anthony, owner of the property where Eucalyptus Gardens is located, credits Brizuela with creating such a unique space in Wilton Manors, but added that the city has made a serious eff ort to work with her. “This city has bent over backwards for her.”
Spencer Jenkins, a Wilton Manors attorney recently hired by Brizuela, said his client is working with the city to get the Farm Store license. “There have been some miscommunications between my client, the city and the landlord. All parties are working together now to resolve the issues.”
New business license applications were submitted to the city on March 16.
To donate to Eucalyptus Gardens, visit GoFundMe.com/EucalyptusGardens. WMG
Residents who want churches and non-profi t organizations to start paying fi re assessment fees may get part of what they want.
“It’s not a tax and not something for which they should be exempted,” said resident Kate Donohue, who compared the fi re assessment to water, sewage and other services the city provides. “This taxpaying citizen, who exists on a fi xed income, wants them to pay their fair share.”
In interviews with the Gazette, four city commissioners have said they don’t want to charge churches and non-profi ts the entire cost of the fi re assessment but they do want to charge something. Mayor Gary Resnick declined to talk about the issue.
Fire assessment fees are levied on residents and businesses as a way to pay for fi re and EMS services. The larger the facility, the more money the organization has to pay. Not levying the fees on non-profi ts will cost the city about $67,000 in 2015.
According to a city budget document, since 2001, exemptions for all non-profi ts have cost the city about $500,000. That money is taken out of the city budget to cover the cost of fi re and EMS services from Fort Lauderdale. In a column published recently by The Gazette, Sal Torre, president of the Westside Association of Wilton Manors, warned that the cost of exemption would only go higher as costs increased.
“I am very, very, very much in favor of having a partial assessment on non-profi ts. This is not about revenue collection. We are delivering a service and residents are paying for a service,” said Commissioner Julie Carson.
The majority of commissioners also stated they would most likely vote to initiate a phased increase where non-profi ts would pay a higher percentage of the costs each year. “I’m not in favor of suddenly hitting them with a big percentage of the fee . . . unexpectedly for the fi rst time. They have to plan their budgets ahead just as we do,” said Commissioner Tom Green.
Commissioner Justin Flippen said he asked city staff to look into what other cities charge their non-profi ts for fi re assessment. Lauderdale-By-The-Sea does not but Fort Lauderdale does.
Vice Mayor Scott Newton said he would take into account who the non-profi ts served, whether their clients were from outside or inside the city. “It’s something to think about. Does that make a diff erence? I don’t know. I’m not saying yes. I’m not saying no. I’ve just got to ponder on it more.”
If they were charged the full amount for 2015, the Archdiocese of Miami would have been assessed $15,721 for St. Clement Church. The First Church of Wilton Manors would have been assessed $2,977. Other fi re assessment fees not collected include Kids In Distress [$12,255], Goodwill [$4,114], Poverello [$4,063] and Pride Center [$3,110].
Dr. John Stauff er, pastor of First Christian Church of Wilton Manors, said the assessment would be “imposing on the church” and other non-profi ts. “It’s just a sign of the times. It’s just not honoring a nation with a godly foundation.”
So far, no date has been set for commissioners to vote on the future of the exemption but they must make a decision by May 1. That’s when the county requires cities to submit their assessments. WMG
Non-Profits May Have To Start Paying Partial Fire Assessment Fee
By Michael d’Oliveira
The majority of commissioners also stated they would most likely vote to
Wilton Manors Elementary Student Wins Spelling BeeBy Michael d’Oliveira
ADVERTISE IN THE
GAZETTEAS LITTLE AS $75EACH ISSUE!
One by one, the chairs around Serenity Miller became vacant until only one opponent was left sitting between her and ultimate victory.
Then, a misspelling of A-V-A-R-I-C-I-O-U-S gave her the chance to spell the winning word: E-G-O-T-I-S-T-I-C-A-L. It was the only chance she needed.
Miller, a fourth grader at Wilton Manors Elementary School, won the 75th Miami Herald Spelling Bee on March 10 at Signature Grand in Davie after successfully spelling egotistical.
“It was awesome. I was nervous but I really didn’t show it a lot.”
Miller said she studied for weeks, but when she heard egotistical, derived from the Latin, ego, she
knew she was going to win. “When they said the part of the word that was Latin, I knew.”
The win still came as a shock though. “I was pretty surprised. There’s a lot more kids who have a lot more experience.”
It was the fi rst time Miller has won the Herald’s spelling bee. It’s also a fi rst for Wilton Manors Elementary.
“She’s the fi rst ever to win for our school,” said Principal Melissa Holtz.
The Scripps National Spelling Bee will be held in May in Washington, D.C. Miller won’t advance there [elementary students can’t qualify for Scripps] but she hopes to pull off a win at the middle school level someday and make it to the national competition. WMG
Lovers of the beach and wanna be mermaids take note – there is a Shell Club of Broward County and yes, you should join.
The purpose of the club is to interact with others who also enjoy collecting or simply admiring sea shells. Members do a variety of things with these shells, such as collect them, scientifi cally analyze them, or turn them into art.
The Shell Club emerged in the 1962. Although there were Palm Beach and Miami shell clubs, there was nothing for Broward County. Passionate collectors decided to create the club, complete with small shell shows in local malls and eventually the Swimming Hall of Fame. As of now, the Shell Club shows, meetings and events take place in the Emma Lou Olsen Civic Center, formally known as the Pompano Civic Center.
The Shell Club recently had its 50th Anniversary Show where both scientifi c and artist exhibits were displayed and judged. Accolades include trophies from areas such as from DuPont and the American Museum of Natural History located in New York. Attendees of this event had the opportunity to purchase shells for their collection or home decoration.
The next event is the annual auction in March. Other fun events
include the Annual Conchologists of America Convention in July at Weston’s Bonaventure Resort, collecting fi eldtrips, education outreach programs, and events at the Museum of Science and Discovery.
“The Broward Shell Club has quite a cross-section of members from all walks of life,” said Richard Sedlak, one of the executive members. “The common bond is that we are all friendly and helpful and are like one big family. Our membership also includes a great group of gay/lesbian members. Among that lot we have our club photographer, another whose parents were the club founders, a university professor, a fi ne art painter, and others who volunteer in various capacities, one who has become a close friend; I was privileged to know his grandmother who was the club president when I joined in 1973.”
To join the Shell Club, attend a monthly meeting on the second Wednesday at the Civic Center in Pompano. Dues are $18 per year. WMG
For more information, contact Richard Sedlak at 954-296-5633 or [email protected]. You can event write to the Broward Shell Club at P.O. Box 10146, Pompano Beach, FL 33061.
March 4, 11, 18 & 25 — 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Hagen Park
Brains and Balance Past 60 is designed for the unique needs of active older adults who know the importance of staying mentally sharp and physically stable. Researchers no longer believe that falling or losing your mental capacity are inevitable parts of the aging process and this fascinating class series operates based on the premise that specifi c exercises will decrease the risk of falling while increasing mental
acuity.
Community Yard SaleMarch 14, All Day at Hagen Park
Wilton Manors Historical Society
March 19, 7 p.m. at City Commission Chambers
Wilton ManorsGreen Market
March 7, 8 & 14, 15 & 21, 22 & 28, 29 — 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Wilton Manors City Hall / Hagen Park
Wilton Manors Green Market every Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m.– 2 p.m. in the Wilton Manors City Hall / Hagen Park parking lot. The Market features Organic Produce, Regular Produce, International Baked Goods, specialty items, spices & herbs, soups, cheeses, coff ees & tea, bagels, Nuts & dried fruits, baked goods, and various other international and local vendors. The Market gives residents and visitors to Wilton Manors an exciting shopping alternative and a chance to view, sample and purchase products. For more information on The Market or to become a vendor, visit GreenWilton.com or contact Frank and Ron at 954-
531-5363.
City Commission Meeting
March 10, 7 p.m. at City Hall Commission Chambers
2020 Wilton Drive
Tip-a-CopApril 3, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Shawn & Nick’s Courtyard Café,2211 Wilton Drive
On Friday, April 3, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., Wilton Manors police offi cers will temporarily work as waiters and waitresses during Tip-a-Cop at Shawn & Nick’s Courtyard Café, 2211 Wilton Drive. Tips will be donated to Special Olympics Florida. “It’s going to be fun to see our police offi cers as waiters,” said Mayor Gary Resnick. For more
information, call 561-386-1233.
Free Tax AssistanceMarch 21 & 28, 10 a.m. to noon at Richard C. Sullivan Public Library
Free face-to-face tax help for those of low to moderate income from the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly
programs.
City Commission Meeting
March 24, 7 p.m. at City Hall Commission Chambers
Gay Nuptials WorkshopMarch 22, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Hagen
Park Community Center
Are you planning to get married? Now that "our" time has come, don't miss this exclusive opportunity to learn how to best plan your special day. Let Bobby Kyser, wedding specialist, guide you down the aisle of bliss. Learn more about the importance of having a planner, how to personalize your wedding and how to choose the right fl owers, decor and entertainment. Also enjoy light refreshments, vendor
exhibits and more!
City Commission Meeting
March 24, 7 p.m. at City Hall Commission Chambers
SpringEggstravaganza
March 28, 10 a.m. to noon at St. Clement Church
Join the Wilton Manors Leisure Servicess Department for this years Spring Eggstravaganza! This years event includes an Egg Hunt for children 12 and under, Magic Show, Bounce
