THE
GAZETTE VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 19 SEPTEMBER 30, 2021
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WILTON MANORS
Wilton Manors Puts Finishing Touches On $40 Million City Budget By John McDonald Wilton Manors Commissioners finalized the We’ve been pushing the employees for the last few years to do more work for the same money 2021-22 budget — barely. At a final public hearing on Sept. 20, the and it’s time that we try to help out some of the commission mustered the three votes required employees that are here working very hard and to fund municipal operations. Mayor Scott need some help.” Half of the money in the Newton, Vice Mayor Paul Rolli budget — $19,946,696 — and Commissioner Chris Caputo goes into the general fund. voted in favor of the nearly $40 Permits, fees, fines and taxes million budget. generate a majority of the “It takes money to be better revenue streams in the general here in Wilton Manors so if fund. The city is forecasting we want the quality of life that $10,068,015 in ad valorem we want here it takes so much taxes next fiscal year. services,” said Newton before “We cannot expect property casting the third vote that values to continue to rise essentially kept the city alive. the way they did in 2020,” Commissioner Mike Bracchi Bracchi said. “Realistically voted no, citing rising costs, low we’re not going to have enough revenue forecasts and missing development over the next data. two to three years that would “I don’t think we can do this significantly increase the tax in a vacuum or with tunnel - Scott Newton base. The only way we’re going vision,” Bracchi said. “We need MAYOR to be balancing these future to approve budgets that can be budgets will be to drastically sustainable long-term, yearincrease taxes, slash costs or after-year and I’m not overly confident that this upcoming budget looks cut employees.” Four employees were added to the budget, beyond next fiscal year.” With Bracchi signaling his objections said Finance Director Pennie Zuercher. An coupled with the absence of Commissioner administrative coordinator for the utility fund, Gary Resnick, the city’s future was briefly in a full-time and part-time code enforcement officer and a community planning technician. limbo. Newton’s vote put any doubt to rest. “We’re in a different world,” Newton said. Collectively, the four positions will cost the city “There are different things going on that we $236,977 plus benefits. “I can’t in good conscience support adding 4 have to take care of and they need some help.
“It takes money to be better here in Wilton Manors so if we want the quality of life that we want here it takes so much services.”
Wilton Manors Mayor Scott Newton. Photo credit: Carina Mask.
FTEs to the budget,” Bracchi said. “I have not received any data, no information, statistics or bench marking to show these positions are critical to the operations of the city. I like to make data driven decisions all the time, not when it’s convenient for me. We need to stop looking at this budget in a silo. On paper this budget looks good, but looking ahead at a 50,000-foot level I don’t think it would be fiscally responsible. I think it would be poor fiscal management.” City Manager Leigh Ann Henderson said the new budget accounts for 150 employees, including 10 seasonal part-time staff working
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in the summer camp program. A school resource officer position, funded through a $60,000 grant with the Broward County Public Schools, was also added to the new budget. “Our employees are underpaid,” admitted Caputo. “I don’t disagree that the future budget has some really serious risks in it and we are headed for some real serious challenges.” Commissioners also voted to lower the operational millage rate to 5.8360, marking the 10th year in a row the rate has been reduced. “In future years we’re going to have to look very carefully at where we are spending our money,” said Rolli.
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LETTER TO THE EDITOR
WILTON MANORS
Life Is Just Better Here
THE
GAZETTE September 30, 2021 • Volume 8 • Issue 19 2520 N. Dixie Highway • Wilton Manors, FL 33305 Phone: 954-530-4970 Fax: 954-530-7943
Publisher • Norm Kent norm.kent@sfgn.com Associate Publisher / Executive Editor • Jason Parsley jason.parsley@sfgn.com Webmaster • Kimberly Swan webmaster@sfgn.com
Editorial
Art Director • Brendon Lies artwork@sfgn.com Oakland Park Editor • Christiana Lilly Wilton Manors Editor • John McDonald
Correspondents
Sal Torre • James Oaksun
Staff Photographers
J.R. Davis • Carina Mask • Steven Shires
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Sales Manager • Justin Wyse justin.wyse@sfgn.com Advertising Sales Associate • Edwin Neimann edwin.neimann@sfgn.com Accounting Services by CG Bookkeeping South Florida Gay News is published weekly. The opinions expressed in columns, stories, and letters to the editor do not represent the opinions of SFGN, or the Publisher. You should not presume the sexual orientation of individuals based on their names or pictorial representations. Furthermore the word “gay” in SFGN should be interpreted to be inclusive of the entire LGBT community. All of the material/columns that appears in print and online, including articles used in conjunction with the AP, is protected under federal copyright and intellectual property laws, and is jealously guarded by the newspaper. Nothing published may be reprinted in whole or part without getting written consent from the Publisher, at his law office, at Norm@NormKent.com. SFGN, as a private corporation, reserves the right to enforce its own standards regarding the suitability of advertising copy, illustrations and photographs. MEMBER
Jimmy Cunningham, P.A. (left) with Tim Smith, P.A., pose together at the Cunningham-Smith Community Appreciation Event. Photo credit: J.R. Davis.
I’ve spent a lot of time lately reflecting on our city’s tagline of “Life is just better here.” It’s a gigantic promise to live up to, but these last few weeks have provided plenty of reasons why it is true for so many of our residents. In particular, the Cunningham-Smith Community Appreciation Event and the SFGN Best Of nominations shine a light on why our little city is a piece of paradise. The Cunningham-Smith event, hosted by Realtors® Jimmy Cunningham and Tim Smith at Richardson Park, demonstrates why our community is thriving. Their decision to throw a Community Appreciation event (instead of a Customer appreciation event) brought together over 200 residents, business owners, and community leaders to celebrate our city and one another.
Jimmy and Tim reached out to numerous area non-profits, offering them free space and the opportunity to invite guests to enjoy delicious food, drinks and fun entertainment. The event also highlighted just how lucky we are to have Richardson Park in our city – it truly is a gem! Everybody in attendance had a great time, and I’m personally looking forward to next year’s celebration already! Professionals like Jimmy Cunningham and Tim Smith are the backbone of our thriving business community. We are fortunate to have so many great businesses and organizations in our small city. If you’ve cast your ballot for SFGN Best Of 2021 Awards (SFGN. com/BestOf), you almost certainly voted for
We are fortunate to have so many great businesses and organizations in our small city.
a dozen or more businesses that call Wilton Manors home. Though nominations were accepted for any Broward County business, 90+ of the nominated businesses and non-profits are based in the City of Wilton Manors. Regardless of who takes home the “Best Of” award in their respective categories, every nominee should feel honored. As city commissioner, I take great pride in the fact that we have so many delicious restaurants, lively nightlife hotspots, unique shops, and amazing organizations based in Wilton Manors. Thank you to every resident, business owner, and community leader who works hard to make Wilton Manors a great place to live. Our community is second to none! I’d love to hear from you – whether you have a story about why “Life Is Just Better Here” or have a suggestion on what we can do to improve our city – please e-mail me at ccaputo@wiltonmanors.com. WILTON MANORS CITY COMMISSIONER
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— Chris Caputo
SEPTEMBER 30, 2021
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Associated Press MEMBER
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Bahama Bananaquit or Bahama Honeycreeper (Coereba flaveola bahamensis) at Historic Richardson Park in Wilton Manors. Photo credit: Brandon Trentler.
NEWS
OAKLAND PARK
COMMUNITY
WILTON MANORS
Commission Covers Lazy Lake, Millions for City, Term Limits and More By John McDonald
Oakland Park City Commission. Photo credit: Carina Mask.
Oakland Park Passes ‘Record-Breaking’ Budget Millage Rate Decreases By Christiana Lilly The Oakland Park City Commission passed a $127.9 million budget for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, what the city’s finance director Andrew Thompson called “record breaking.” During the Wednesday evening meeting, the commission also agreed to a millage rate of 5.8890, a decrease from last year’s 5.8910. Last year’s budget was $91.6 million — since 2015, the budget has grown by 40% with about a third of it paid for by grants and federal funding. “It’s more than just a few million dollars,” Thompson said of the budget. “It’s a really huge change in how the city operates and the level of intensity of the work being contemplated and being performed today.” Last week, the commission approved an increase in the city’s fire assessment fees (with exemptions for the elderly and those with disabilities) and solid waste fees with no changes to the stormwater assessment fee. Mayor Jane Bolin said she wouldn’t be surprised if talks of having a chief planning officer came to fruition, because of the
“exponential growth that we’re experiencing right now.” Looking forward to next year, first-time Commissioner Mitch Rosenwald challenged staff to try and make a more “significant reduction” to the millage rate as well as taking a closer outlook at the number of consultants that the city employs. “I would be interested in the number of consultants we have and the amount of money we pay them,” he said. The city has major plans for rebuilding Oakland Park’s downtown as well as the burgeoning Oakland Park Design Development District (also known as OP3D). It was this innovation that earned the city a recommendation by the Florida Department of Transportation to consider the city for a commuter rail stop. In a survey by the city, a majority of its residents are in favor of redevelopment. Other plans in the city include improving its fire stations, more recreational facilities, walkability and green space in downtown, and welcoming more businesses to Oakland Park — Sprouts Farmers Market and ALDI have plans to move in.
Last year’s budget was $91.6 million — since 2015, the budget has grown by 40% with about a third of it paid for by grants and federal funding.
The last item on the Wilton Manors commission meeting agenda generated the most robust discussion of the evening. Officials with the Village of Lazy Lake have declared intentions to explore an alternate form of governance with Wilton Manors. The action item was the last one commissioners discussed under new business at Tuesday evening’s regular meeting. Mayor Scott Newton called the potential annexation a “win-win” for both municipalities. City attorney Kerry Ezrol said there is a process that must play out which could take several years. “All liabilities must be addressed,” Ezrol said. Incorporated in 1953, the Village of Lazy Lake is the smallest municipality in Broward County, surrounded entirely by Wilton Manors. It is approximately 13.17 acres in size with a population of 26 people. Vice Mayor Paul Rolli and Commissioner Chris Caputo signaled their support for the annexation on the condition no unfair burden would be placed on current residents. Newton suggested creating a special taxing district to bring the village’s sewer system and road up to code. Other notes from the Sept. 28 meeting: Mayor Newton asked for a moment of silence in honor of the passing of former Fort Lauderdale High School teacher Janice March and Dolphins Democrats president Tim Ross. March died Sept. 19 at the age of 70. Ross, who served on the city’s community affairs advisory board from 2015 to 2017, died unexpectedly last weekend in Texas. City Manager Leigh Ann Henderson said the city had received $3.2 million from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Commissioners voted unanimously to create a historical preservation board. The board would be an offshoot of the planning and zoning board. Community Development Services Director Roberta Moore anticipated the new board would request funding for
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Wilton Manors will now have its own historical preservation board. Photo credit: Brendon Lies.
surveys and evaluations. Commissioner Gary Resnick said only two properties in the city have ever been designated historic. Commissioners voted unanimously to pursue a $200,000 grant with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for improvements to the amenities at Hagen Park. Leisure Services Director Patrick Cann said the grant would cover amenities such as pickleball, basketball, a children’s playground and a walking trail. Mayor Newton said applying for the grant was a “no brainer.” The Charter Review Board recommended a ballot referendum on term limits. The referendum would impose a 12 consecutive year maximum for elected officials — allowing for a two-year absence. Commissioner Caputo said residents are in favor of term limits. Commissioner Resnick proposed eliminating the civil service board and Vice Mayor Rolli asked for a timeframe on the distribution of evaluation forms for the city manager.
City Manager Leigh Ann Henderson said the city had received $3.2 million from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
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ANNOUNCEMENT
WILTON MANORS
Business Group Seeking Wilton Manors Historical Documents, Photos By John McDonald As Wilton Manors prepares to celebrate its 75th anniversary next year, one organization is seeking memories to share. The Wilton Manors Business Association is asking for public participation in the creation of its annual city business guide and directory. To commemorate the city’s diamond jubilee, WMBA needs articles, photographs and other pertinent documentation to include in its annual publication. “We’re making a very public appeal for the history of Wilton Manors,” said Peter Jackson, WMBA vice president. Historical content can be submitted through Oct. 22. This year marks the 32nd edition of the guide and directory, said Jackson. “The evolution of Wilton Manors since the first mayor was elected in 1947 is a fascinating one because of the way the business community has mirrored the ever-changing social landscape,” Jackson said. A list of all the city’s mayors is still hard to
Photo credit: Brendon Lies.
come by, said Jackson. Some of the pioneering businesses are even harder to unearth. “There’s been very little history saved,” Jackson said. “We’re trying to put together a list of some of the oldest businesses but we don’t know who they are.” Jackson is hoping interested residents can fill in some of the historical gaps. Plans are to include old photos and newspaper clippings in this year’s book, scheduled for a Dec. 2 general release.
To submit or request information, email info@WiltonManorsBusinessAssociation.com.
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ISLANDER A WILTON MANORS NEWSLETTER
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