S TAT E O F T H E C I T Y
2018
A MESSAGE FROM YOUR CITY COMMISSION AND CITY MANAGER We aren’t the frst to experience tragedy on a large scale, and we won’t be the last. But the loss of lives at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School – and with it, our innocence – can still take our breath away. The events of that fateful day, which took the lives of 17 students and educators, has left an indelible mark on our community and forced us to reevaluate what is most important – our safety. We are working with the Police and Fire Departments, the School Board of Broward County and elected ofcials to prevent this type of violence from ever being inficted upon our community and its residents ever again.
We can be especially proud of our Police and Fire Departments, which faced challenging decisions about responding during the storm – emergencies don’t wait for winds to die down, or the weather to be safe for our crews. Calls from a woman in labor, a man unable to breathe and another with a cardiac event came in and were handled with special equipment, which is the care our residents expect from their frst responders. The city also reached out to the Florida Keys, other areas of Monroe County, the Florida west coast, and Texas to help restore infrastructure and deliver food, clothing and other items.
Weathering the storm There were other storms to contend with too. For most of Coral Springs, Irma was no Wilma – and for that, we are exceptionally grateful. We breathed a sigh of relief that the monster storm that devastated other areas, gave us a relative pass. Still, Irma caused enough trouble for city departments and residents to remind us that we can never be complacent during hurricane season.
After the storm cleared, our Parks and Recreation teams cleared our green spaces in less than a week to re-open them to the public. Public Works crews contributed in remarkable ways – removing trees from roadways and working to clear drains of debris. In the end, the clean-up cost was $7.5 million: 301,386 cubic yards of debris was removed, producing nearly 73,000 cubic yards of mulch. More than 13,000 trees that intruded on the right of way were trimmed and 296 dangerous trees were removed.
In all the debris, under tarped roofs and sweating out the loss of power, our community came together. Again. We never doubt that, but it’s heartwarming to see neighbors helping neighbors, meeting each others’ needs and pitching in with a “we’re-all-in-this-together” attitude. Whether it was a gathering to clear debris so neighbors could get out of their driveways, or a massive collection efort to gather needed supplies for areas less fortunate, the heart of Coral Springs shone through.
That’s what community is all about. Change for the better Every community struggles with retaining its core appeal. Infrastructure ages and economies see-saw, but through all of this, we have not stood still. In ways both obvious and subtle, change has come to town – most clearly in the revitalization of Downtown. From the new City Hall, beautiful ArtWalk, updated fre stations and Safety Town building, to lighting, park improvements and street upgrades, the City is working hard to meet the ever-changing needs of our community.
John J. Hearn
City Attorney
Dan Daley
Commissioner
Larry Vignola
Commissioner
Skip Campbell
Making a diference We know the decisions we make as your representatives impact your life, whether it’s approving a Cleveland Clinic location or moving forward with enhanced external defbrillators. We continually look for efciencies in the way the City operates, as well as opportunities to improve services you receive. They may be as simple as streamlining a process to implementing new technology that saves money – and lives. We are honored to be recognized for everything from excellent fnancial reporting to delivering superior cardiac care in the community. A strong working relationship between City staf, the City Manager and the City Commission make this possible. We strive for an interactive, inclusive, and transparent
Mayor
Lou Cimaglia
Vice Mayor
Joy Carter
Commissioner
Michael W. Goodrum
City Manager
government that the people we serve can participate in. Our social communications have exploded, with new channels and virtual communications to make government more accessible, and an ever-expanding list of events and activities designed to help connect people in the community. As a result, we hear from residents and visitors about how well we are doing. As one resident says, “An awesome place to grow up. A great city full of great people.” We saw the very best in those “people” in the wake of the MSD tragedy – from fundraisers to vigils – reafrming a city is not just great because of its buildings, parks and other services, but rather because of its people. We look forward to continuing the work we have done in the City at all levels, but most importantly we look forward to continuing to build our community with you.
To read about the City’s Business Plan initiatives, visit CoralSprings.org/budget.
A FAMILY-FRIENDLY COMMUNITY
Recreation renovations Visitors to the Aquatic Complex will be better informed, now that a new PA system has been installed for announcements, warnings and meets. Those swimmers and divers will also enjoy renovations to the 50-meter pool. In addition, Parks and Recreation has improved restrooms at the American Little League building and ofcially opened the new Safety Town building, providing a safer environment for children who attend the program.
PERFORMANCE MEASURES Fiscal Year 2017
Goal
City crime rate (crimes per 100,000 residents, calendar year) 2,500 92% Resident rating of City eforts to prevent crime (Resident Survey 2017) Resident rating of City government for respecting religious and ethnic diversity (Resident Survey 2017) 94% 96% Rating of quality of life (Resident Survey 2017) 96% Rating of quality of life (Business Survey 2016) Coral Springs Charter School graduation rate 95% Injury accidents at or near 14 major intersections in the City 165
Actual 2,075 93% 97% 94% 98% 99% 116
Under the summer sun For the second year, the Police Department and volunteers made summer special for underserved youth in the community through the Summer BreakSpot program at Coral Springs Elementary. The summer program grew by 25 percent, fostering positive relationships in the community.
Shop with a cop Back-to-school shopping became a special outing for eight students from the Summer BreakSpot program. As a reward for outstanding behavior and citizenship, they got to cruise store aisles with School Resource/Youth Liaison Ofcers who had served as mentors to shop for $100 worth of items for themselves and their families.
Holiday joy Police department put smiles on kids’ faces for the holidays, with the annual Angel Tree program reaching about 140 children in 50 families with presents and food gift cards. They also collected 10,000 toys for distribution throughout the community.
Crime prevention pays Our Police Community Involvement Unit was awarded Florida Crime Prevention Unit of the Year, recognizing the importance the City places on programs that boost security, improve the quality of life for residents and empower them to build a future for their communities. One program aimed at auto-theft prevention resulted in a 30 percent decrease within the City.
Safe kids With the completion of the new Safety Town complex in Kiwanis Park, children have a new place to learn about safety. This nationally-recognized program has been in place for nearly three decades. Police host educational feld trips to teach 4-6 year-olds personal, pedestrian, bicycle, canal, animal, and fre safety using ageappropriate stations. And during the summer, student volunteers and Kiwanis members work with police and fre representatives to run the Safety Town summer camp.
A THRIVING BUSINESS COMMUNITY
Construction continues Development Services has been busy with large-scale healthcare, retail and new industrial projects underway in the City: Cleveland Clinic, Broward Health Coral Springs, Costco, Coral Springs Commerce Center I & II, Wawa, Cumberland Farms and Outback Steakhouse.
PERFORMANCE MEASURES Fiscal Year 2017
Business rating of the image of the City (Business Survey 2016) Net new taxable value as % of total taxable assessed value (BCPA) Non-residential tax base growth Coral Springs’ June unemployment rate
Goal 95% 2.24% 12.4%
below FL avg. of 4.9%
Actual 97% 0.25% 6.5% 4.0%
Meet Up Downtown The completion of the City’s new Municipal Complex has ignited interest in Downtown development. With the sale of the Coral Springs Financial Plaza the Downtown area is positioned for economic growth and new business opportunities. Plans for the southwest corner include an entertainment complex with retail shops and a hotel. To prepare for upcoming development, downtown zoning was changed to a Downtown Mixed-Use (DT-MU) Zoning District. This will help create a more urban feel in the Community Redevelopment Agency’s Downtown area, with a lively mix of both commercial and residential. The rezoning will help attract new development, increase walkability, and establish identifable character and economic vitality for the area.
Boosting business There’s always something new to learn when you operate a business. The Coral Springs Regional Chamber Business Academy ofers workshops on varying topics, such as workplace culture and social media, to encourage local businesses to continue to grow.
Come on in Certifcates of occupancy were issued by the Building Division for Marquis Coral Springs Apartment buildings, Coral Lago and The Reserve. In addition, University Place in Downtown completed a major renovation that includes state-of-art ofce space and frst foor restaurants.
Everything Under the Sun The new “Downtown Interactive Icon” by Greensboro, NC sculptor Jim Gallucci was installed on the corner of City Hall’s Grand Lawn. The Sculptor was inspired by the 2-D logo used by the City of Coral Springs and incorporated the Community Redevelopment Agency’s Downtown logo. Fabricated out of aluminum, it stands 12’ tall by 12’ wide and is 4’ deep. The arching shape encourages visitors to walk under the sun to take photos.
AN ACTIVE, HEALTHY COMMUNITY
Work it out Looking for an outdoor workout? Four pieces of exercise equipment have been installed by Parks and Recreation outside of the Senior Center, and is available for use by anyone. The department has also improved the Aquatic Complex’s ftness center locker rooms and added a new bubbler system in the dive well, making it safer for divers and to attract more top-level dive meets.
PERFORMANCE MEASURES Fiscal Year 2017
Resident rating of appearance of Parks and Recreation facilities (Resident Survey 2017) Resident rating of range of activities at Parks and Recreation facilities (Resident Survey 2017) Athletic league participation
Goal 95% 95% 8,100
Actual 92% 92% 8,056
So many events, so little time In the ArtWalk area, residents and visitors alike enjoyed Downtown in December, Unplugged and Savor the Notes events. The City also ofers many other fun activities, including the annual Holiday Parade, Halloween Haunted House and more. Top high school basketball players competed in the annual Kreul Tournament, drawn from 40 teams from across the country – just one of many tournaments and meets hosted by the City. From gymnastics to lacrosse, tennis to martial arts, Coral Springs facilities continue to be the premier choice of competitive sporting events.
Checking the pulse Coral Springs and Parkland residents who need CPR now have a chance at a much faster response with a new CPR smartphone app for both iOS and Android devices. Called PulsePoint, the app uses GPS technology and notifes CPR-trained subscribers that a sudden cardiac arrest event is nearby and where the nearest automated defbrillator is located. The alert is triggered at the same time Coral Springs frefghter/paramedics are dispatched. While the Fire Department has an impeccable response record, seconds can save lives.
Park and play Developers of Village Green have now turned over the four-acre park to the City, with restrooms, a picnic pavilion, playground, tennis court, walking/jogging path, open play area and lots of parking. After three Cypress Park felds were converted from grass to clay, youth softball leagues moved from Betti Stradling Park to give them a more suitable environment and room to grow.
AN ATTRACTIVE COMMUNITY
Art notes The Public Art program, under Community Development, has been actively engaged in new work throughout the City, including a new integrated art piece Celestial by Ray King inside the new City Hall and a lighted interactive sculpture at the ArtWalk, Ascent (shown above) by Jen Lewin. The program also opened a call to artists for a project to wrap fve trafc signal boxes with art. In addition, the City continues to host monthly public art lectures at the Coral Springs Museum of Art.
PERFORMANCE MEASURES Fiscal Year 2017
Ratings of litter collection on City streets (Resident Survey 2017) Ratings of condition/appearance of medians (Resident Survey 2017) Ratings of City eforts at maintaining quality of neighborhoods (Resident Survey 2017) Fuel consumed by City operations (diesel and unleaded) Pounds of recycled materials per capita
Goal
87% 90% 85% 400,000 120
Actual 88% 91% 84% 350,703 126.2
Fence me in An old PVC fence at Lakeview Park has been replaced with a new recycled lumber barrier, which makes the park more open, while keeping vehicles from driving into restricted areas.
Play ball Two baseball felds at Cypress Park got a facelift as Parks and Recreation removed grass from the infelds and added new clay. The felds can now be used for T-Ball and shifting base distances for travel baseball and softball teams.
Clean and beautiful Our dedicated volunteers help keep our City clean and pristine as part of our Keep Coral Springs Beautiful program. This past year, we’ve had almost 300 adult and teen volunteers collect an estimated 950 lbs. of trash, and 190 lbs. of recyclable material. We are so thankful for the community coming together to make a diference.
AN INNOVATIVE, HIGH-PERFORMING ORGANIZATION
Best and brightest To continue to attract top-quality candidates for open positions at the City, Human Resources implemented a new application management process with NeoGov. The solution will streamline existing recruitment processes, automate screening, expand reporting and improve the applicant experience. The department also was able to remarket the City’s life and disability insurance plans, resulting in a 21.9 percent reduction in annual premiums and overall improvement in the ofering. Without a change in insurer, the City would have faced a more-than $130,000 increase in annual premiums.
Achieving accreditation Our Public Works Department received the prestigious American Public Works Association (APWA) Accreditation. The Accreditation award shows the department has dedicated itself to concepts of improvement and in-depth self-assessment of policies, procedures and practices in more than 347 operational areas.
PERFORMANCE MEASURES Fiscal Year 2017
Satisfaction ratings with City communications (Resident Survey 2017) Employee satisfaction rating (Employee Survey) Maintain Bond Ratings: S&P AAA, Fitch AAA, Moody’s Aa1 Rating of value for tax dollars and fees (Resident Survey 2017) Ratings of customer service (Resident Survey 2017)
Goal 95% 92% AAA 75% 95%
Actual 92% 93% AAA 84% 93%
Can you hear me now? The City continues to look for ways to improve conversations with the community. With live video streams to CityTV, Twitter and Facebook, the City’s social media presence is up more than 30 percent. Instagram activity was up more than 57 percent. The move to more virtual communications included the use of Facebook Live during Hurricane Irma, and a Virtual Slice experience to supplement the onsite meetings held throughout the City, resulting in an additional 52,000 views. The City’s radio station received an upgrade, and Coral Springs became the frst city in Broward to be permitted to fy a drone because of our work with the Federal Aviation Association (FAA). Drone technology has been a big help to support public safety.
Plug and play With the growing interest in alternative-fuel vehicles, the City has invested in stations to help ensure that electric car drivers who need a charge are able to fnd one. Charging stations are in place at the Coral Springs Gymnasium and the City Hall parking garage.
Process and platforms To improve efciency and cost, a number of programs have been improved: a new computer-aided dispatch for Police and Fire; new records management system for Police; a major enterprise resource planning solution and other Information Services security and networking projects are underway; as well as a switch to LED lights in parking lots and sports felds to save energy and improve visibility.
Fire kudos The Fire Department is going to need a bigger shelf for its awards. For the past fve years, the department has focused on exceeding state standards, with numerous fre departments reaching out to Coral Springs to benchmark their models. The payof? The State of Florida named Coral Springs the 2017 “EMS Provider of the Year.” Chief Frank Babinec also received the 2017 Fire Chief of the Year from the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association. In addition, the American Heart Association recognized the department with the Mission Lifeline Silver Award for eforts to improve cardiac care in the community. This award required real data which demonstrated patient care practices that made a diference, including essential electro cardiograms, early diferential diagnoses, as well as prompt treatment and transport by responders.
CITY OFFICIALS AND EXECUTIVE STAFF All of these accomplishments could not have been possible without the City’s dedicated staf and department directors. A special thanks to everyone involved in making these initiatives a reality.
City Commission Mayor Skip Campbell Vice Mayor Lou Cimaglia Commissioner Dan Daley Commissioner Larry Vignola Commissioner Joy Carter
Senior Management Team Michael W. Goodrum, City Manager John J. Hearn, City Attorney Cynthia Birdsill, Deputy City Manager Melissa P. Heller, Deputy City Manager Frank Babinec, Assistant City Manager/Fire Chief Bob Curnow, Director of Information Services Rick Engle, Director of Parks and Recreation Catherine Givens, Director of Budget and Strategy Susan Hess Krisman, Director of Development Services Liz Kolodney, Director of Communications and Marketing Rich Michaud, Director of Public Works Kim Moskowitz, Director of Financial Services Clyde Parry, Chief of Police Dale Pazdra, Director of Human Resources Debra Thomas, City Clerk
Special appreciation goes to all our dedicated volunteers and members of our Boards and Committees: Afordable Housing Advisory Committee Architectural Review Committee Building Focus Group Charter School Advisory Board Code Rangers Community Assisted Patrol Community Emergency Response Team Community Redevelopment Agency Construction Review Committee Customer-Involved Government Committee Economic Development Advisory Committee Financial Advisory Committee Fire Pension Board General Employees Pension Board Historical Advisory Committee Holiday Parade Committee Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee MLK Monument Committee
Multi-Cultural Advisory Committee National Day of Prayer and Peace Committee Neighborhood and Environmental Committee Nuisance Abatement Board Opioid Task Force Committee Parent Education Advisory Committee Planning and Zoning Board Police Pension Board Police Reserve Ofcer Corps Principal Education Committee Public Art Committee Senior Advisory Committee Sports Coalition Sports Commission Teen Political Forum Committee Unsafe Structures Board WorldFest Committee Youth and Family Committee
The new City Hall lobby features a convenient One Stop Shop, community meeting rooms and a rotating exhibit by local artists.
PRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID
9500 W. Sample Road Coral Springs, FL 33065
CITY OF CORAL SPRINGS
For more information about recent accomplishments, visit CoralSprings.org/stateofthecity.