Gazette
Volume 2 • Issue 16 August 19, 2015
Wilton Manors
Twice-Monthly Neighborhood Outlook
Page 2 No New Taxes!
Page 2 Wilton Drive BID
Page 3 Real Estate Geek
Page 4 Search For Parking
Page 4 Walmart Could Bring Lawsuit
Community Business
Pink Flamingo Picks You Up Where Hopper Left Off By Michael d’Oliveira As Uber fans wait hopefully for that service’s possible return to Broward County, residents and visitors in Wilton Manors already have an alternative to taxi cabs. Started in May by residents Erica Werner and Janet Conklin, the Pink Flamingo offers rides to and from Wilton Drive and anywhere else in the city. Now, they say they’re giving at least 16 to 17 rides a day and have 15 regular customers. So far, they have one electric vehicle but are working on two more with additional drivers for September or October. “We’ll pick you up at your home within five to seven minutes,” Werner said. And just like a taxi, the Pink Flamingo will take riders anywhere in Wilton Manors and a couple spots close to the city. “People don’t have to worry about drinking and driving,” Werner said. “We’ve gotten a really good response from the bar owners,” Conklin said. The service was started partly, they said, because of the parking problems the city faces. “We can’t even park on the Drive when we want to go out. We thought Wilton Manors really needed us,” Conklin said. This is the third electric vehicle service to come to Wilton
Submitted Photo.
Manors. The first two, The Hopper and then The Green Hopper, were halted because their owners said they couldn’t generate enough money to keep going. Asked how they thought they could succeed where previous efforts had failed, Werner and Conklin said their service is more extensive and accommodating than the others before them. “We feel like the timing is right. It’s safe, reliable transportation.” The cost per rise is $5 for up to three people and $2 for each additional person. Riders using the Pink Flamingo to go to work are charged $3. Eventually, they plan to expand further, including stops to and from Funky Buddha in Oakland Park. “We want to bring customers into Wilton Manors,” Conklin said. Rides are available Monday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. The Pink Flamingo can also be hired for weddings and other private events. Credit cards are accepted. For a ride, call 954-888-8187. The Pink Flamingo is also on Facebook.WMG
Carlos Bethart Fernandez Found Dead in his Home
Community Photo: Facebook.
By Michael d’Oliveira Carlos Bethart Fernandez, 59, a resident who regularly spoke out at commission meetings, was found dead in his home on July 26. According to a police report, no foul play is suspected. All the windows and doors were secured and nothing unusual was found
inside the home. According to the report, Fernandez was found lying face up on his bed. Police also found two empty prescription pill bottles on the floor of the bedroom. A toxicology report was not yet available from the Broward Medical Examiner’s Office at the time of publication. WMG
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • www.WMGAZETTE.com • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • // 1 • soflagaynews August 19, 2015
SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 8.19.2015 //
31
Opinion
No New Taxes! …Because life is just more expensive here
By Sal Torre
Gazette Wilton Manors
AUGUST 19, 2015 • VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 16 2520 N. DIXIE HIGHWAY • WILTON MANORS, FL 33305 PHONE: 954-530-4970 FAX: 954-530-7943
PUBLISHER • NORM KENT NORM.KENT@SFGN.COM CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER • PIER ANGELO GUIDUGLI
Heading into the city’s budget process, members of the Budget Review Advisory Committee (BRAC) were happy to see a proposed city budget with the millage rate remaining the same. As in the previous year, we once again see rising property values over 8 percent, which automatically brings in a sizeable amount of additional revenue into the city’s General Fund. Most cities in Broward County, such as Oakland Park and Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, who have sizeable increases in property values, have lowered the millage rate in their proposed budgets. Alas, that is not the case here in Wilton Manors. While surrounding cities’ elected officials have voted to lower millage rates, Wilton Manors elected officials have voted to raise the millage rate. This decision goes against the proposed budget put forth by city staff and against the advice of their own advisory board, the Budget Review Advisory Committee, who unanimously supported no increase in the millage rate. Wilton Manors already has one of the highest millage rates in Broward County; and if our elected officials have their way, our ranking might be even higher. With more tax dollars rolling in due to higher property values, most cities choose to lower the millage rate, since residents will be paying more in taxes. At a minimum, the millage rate should be kept the same. Unfortunately, at a budget workshop a few weeks ago, our elected officials voted to raise the millage rate, much to the surprise of BRAC members and city staff. Absolutely amazing, dumbfounding, shocking--the list of adjectives can go on and on; but a few adjectives you will not see listed here …….responsible, sensible, prudent… The proposed city budget already met the needs of our city. Public safety was addressed with the inclusion of one new police officer. Future city growth and development were addressed through the inclusion of a City Planner position. Unfortunately, our commissioners want more police officers, additional Leisure Services positions, a salary increase for themselves, and other additional spending. Personnel is always a major expense, not just for one fiscal year, but for all the fiscal years thereafter. Along with the cost of each new officer, you have to add the additional expense of a new take-home patrol car and the maintenance of that vehicle. The same goes for park expansion or additional recreational programs, the city needs to consider personnel cost and additional maintenance expenses. So, before we decide to permanently burden future budgets with the cost
Community By Michael d’Oliveira
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER / EXECUTIVE EDITOR • JASON PARSLEY JASON.PARSLEY@SFGN.COM
Editorial
ART DIRECTOR • BRENDON LIES ARTWORK@SFGN.COM ONLINE PRODUCER • DENNIS JOZEFOWICZ DENNIS.JOZEFOWICZ@SFGN.COM EDITORIAL ASSISTANT • JILLIAN MELERO JILLIANMELERO@GMAIL.COM NEWS EDITOR • MICHAEL D’OLIVEIRA
of additional personnel, we must look at all other possible solutions. Are we utilizing existing personnel correctly and efficiently? Are there too many supervisors and not enough boots on the ground? Are we top-heavy with administrative positions which can be combined or eliminated? These are the questions we need to address first, before we make the quick and easy choice of hiring more people. How many more people can a city of just under 12,000 residents continue to add to the payroll, and how much are residents willing to see their tax bill increase, along with the usual increases in Fire Assessment, Water and Utility billing, and more? Residents should be aware that the decisions being made in the next month will affect the cost of living in this city, not just for the next fiscal year, but for many years to come. Raising the millage rate is not a done deal, until Commissioners vote on a final budget on Sept. 21. Voice your concerns at the two Public Hearings on the FY 2016 Budget. The first Public Hearing will be held on Friday, Sept. 11, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at City Commission Chambers. The second Public Hearing will be held on Sept. 21, also at 6:30 p.m., followed by final adoption of the FY 2016 Budget. Better yet, contact your elected officials directly and let them know you thoughts, their emails are listed on the city website. One closing thought…if our Commissioners think it’s OK to raise the millage rate now, when we have another year of large property value increases and with tax rolls moving higher, ask yourself how much will they have to raise the millage rate next year or the year after when we see property values level off but still have to pay for everything they added to the budget along the way. That’s right Wilton Manors…life is just more expensive here. WMG
City Ready to Accept Applicants for Wilton Drive BID
Residents and Wilton Drive business owners who want to have a voice in the future of the city’s main thoroughfare can now apply to be on the Business Improvement District [BID] board. The Wilton Drive BID, approved by the majority of street’s property owners, is a special taxing district approved by commissioners to raise money to improve the street. Property owners will be assessed additional millage and the funds generated could be used for more parking, landscaping, a marketing campaign or other improvements related to the street. The goal is to raise $1 million over the next 10 years; a cap of $100,000 per year has been set. Properties would be assessed starting in 2016. The bill for each property owner will be based on square footage. The board, which has the authority to set the assessment but has to have
its budget approved by the commission, will be comprised of three property owners, three business owners and one home owner. That home owner must be homesteaded within Wilton Manors. Those interested can submit their applications. On Sept. 24, the commission will hold a special meeting to interview applicants. Commissioner Julie Carson said it’s important for applicants to “demonstrate they have abilities related to the responsibilities” of the board, which has “broad and far-reaching powers.” Commissioner Tom Green said the board needs to attract creative people. To apply, call 954-390-2100. WMG
Correspondents
CHRISTIANA LILLY • DENISE ROYAL • NATALYA JONES • JOHN MCDONALD • JAMES OAKSUN
Staff Photographers
J.R. DAVIS • POMPANO BILL • STEVEN SHIRES
Sales & Marketing
DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETING • MIKE TROTTIER MIKE.TROTTIER@SFGN.COM
SALES MANAGER • JUSTIN WYSE JUSTIN.WYSE@SFGN.COM ADVERTISING SALES ASSOCIATE • EDWIN NEIMANN EDWIN.NEIMANN@SFGN.COM ADVERTISING SALES ASSOCIATE • CINDY CURTIS CINDY.CURTIS@SFGN.COM ADVERTISING SALES ASSOCIATE • JIM ALBRIGHT JIM.ALBRIGHT@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.
Associated Press
Copyright © 2014 South Florida Gay News.com, Inc.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • www.WMGAZETTE.com • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 32
// 8.19.2015 // SFGN.com //
soflagaynews //
2 •
SouthFloridaGayNews August 19, 2015
Single Family Homes Without a Six-Figure Income
Real Estate Geek
By James Oaksun Last time I reviewed Wilton Manors pricing during this past high season. I found the median sales price of a singlefamily home in Wilton Manors (arms length transactions only) was $360,000. As a practical matter, what this means is that unless your household income is comfortably into six figures, or you're bringing a large bag of your own coin to closing, you're not going to be buying a single family home in the Island City.
But do not despair. Dry your tears and consider some other options nearby. Previously I have done extensive research on one Wilton alternative, and I will update that in my next column. Today, let's consider another alternative, the North Andrews Gardens neighborhood of Oakland Park. For those unaware, North Andrews Gardens is generally the area bounded by Prospect, Route 95, Cypress Creek and NE 6th Avenue. (There is also a small section between NE 6th and Dixie, bounded by 56th and Cypress Creek.) From the heart of that neighborhood, you're just a straight (or if you prefer, gaily forward) shot of 8-9 minutes (maybe 2.5 miles) down 6th Avenue to Wilton Drive. You're probably five minutes to the Crunch, and six minutes to LA Fitness Cypress Creek. No it's not the same as Wilton Manors. It's also not priced the same. The chart here shows pricing trends in North Andrews Gardens since the overall market trough in mid-2011. (The low point in this neighborhood didn't come until a couple quarters later.) I've found, generally, the area south of Commercial has seen stronger pricing than the area north of Commercial, even though
// 3 •soflagaynews August 19, 2015
the homes in each area are similarly sized (generally 10001200 square feet under cooling). More importantly, pricing in North Andrews Gardens runs half of pricing in the Island City. In closing, I will remind you of a point I've made before. Yes many got burned in the 2006-2011 market crash. Still there are points in the cycle where real estate can be a sound investment and not just a place to live. From their low point, valuations in the area south of Commercial have doubled over just 42 months. Assuming a conservative down payment of 30 percent, that's a cash on cash return (after brokerage but before taxes) of more than 33 percent per year, compounded. WMG James Oaksun, Broward's Real Estate GeekSM, is a Realtor with the Wilton Manors office of RE/MAX Preferred. In addition to having degrees from Dartmouth and Cornell, he is a graduate of the Realtors Institute (GRI).
SouthFloridaGayNews // SFGN.com // 8.19.2015 //
33
Community
Business
Submitted photo.
Photo: Wiki User UpstateNYer.
City to Negotiate For More Walmart Rejection Parking on Wilton Drive Could Lead to Lawsuit
By Michael d'Oliveira
A move to try and add more parking near Wilton Drive will depend on the cost. Commissioners, receptive to the need for more parking but wary of the cost of a previous parking lot, told City Manager Joseph Gallegos and City Attorney Kerry Ezrol to begin negotiations with the owner of 1008 NE 23 Drive. The lot, undeveloped and empty, is located behind Bona Pizza on the north end of Wilton Drive. “That’s where we need it,” said Commissioner Tom Green. Adrienne Foland, a real estate agent who represents the owner, Scott Manin, said he’s willing to sell the property, which is listed for $499,000, but won’t for less than the $458,000 he has already invested. The commission wants to acquire it for the appraised value – $367,000 – or less. If the city can’t convince the owner to sell, Foland says he plans to build three highend townhouses. “It has to be under $400,000,” said Vice Mayor Scott Newton during the Aug. 11 commission meeting. Newton also promised that, should the developer decline the city’s offer, three townhouses is all he would be allowed to construct. “He can build his three or he can negotiate with us.” Before Manin purchased the property in 2014, code liens had accrued for unpaid lawn and maintenance bills totaling $70,142.45. Since he purchased it though, city staff said he’s maintained the property in good condition. The city may use that to its advantage to get Manin to sell for less than he wants. “He owes us a lot of money,” Gallegos said. Mayor Gary Resnick and Commissioner Julie Carson also said the purchase cost has to be at or below the appraised value. “I can’t support a blank check. It has to make financial success,” Resnick said.
By Michael d’Oliveira
Engineering firm Chen & Associates estimates 18 to 24 spaces could be built at a cost between $180,000 and $240,000 “depending on the level of hardscaping, landscaping, irrigation, site lighting, and drainage required on the site.” The city’s parking firm, Lanier, said between 40 and 45 cars are packed into the lot during peak business hours. The city’s last parking lot, at the corner of Northeast 26 Street and Northeast 8 Terrace across from Kids In Distress, was opened in April of 2014. It provides 42 spaces and the final cost, including the purchase of the properties, the demolition of the existing structures and the paving, was $788,000. In March of 2012, before the properties were purchased, city staff members estimated the cost of buying and paving the properties would be about $650,000. In November of 2013, before commissioners voted to pave the lot, the estimate had increased to the final number. Resnick, at the time of the construction and at various times since, has criticized the cost as “inordinate” but a necessary project. “I’m tired of this commission getting numbers and they’re way askew [after we decide to build],” Newton said. Green defended city staff, saying that the improved economy resulted in an increase in construction costs. He also declined to instruct Gallegos to put a ceiling on the cost of purchase so he would be “free to negotiate.” According to Finance Director Bob Mays, $800,000 is available in the Parking Fund to pay for parking improvements. Out of that money, $150,000 is pledged towards new parking meters and $526,000 comes from what’s left of the $1.1 million the city borrowed in 2011 to specifically make parking improvements along Wilton Drive. WMG
Although Walmart’s proposed Oakland Park Supercenter had a majority of votes in favor, the city’s charter kept officials from approving it. On Aug. 5, the Oakland Park Commission approved Walmart’s site plan in a 2-1 vote but failed to approve the plat. Walmart wants to build a 121,345 square foot building to replace the existing 117,692 square foot one, 670 E. Oakland Park Blvd., that used to be operated by Kmart. Mayor Jed Shank and Commissioner Shari McCartney voted in favor of the site plan and plat but Commissioner Sara Guevrekian voted against both measures. Because the city charter requires at least three votes to pass a resolution, as was attempted with the plat, the commission failed to approve the project. The county could still approve the plat but City Attorney D.J. Doody said they would most likely adhere to the city’s decision. Vice Mayor Tim Lonergan and Commissioner John Adornato abstained from the vote because their companies do business with Walmart. Guevrekian said she was against the project because she predicted it would bring increased traffic and crime, more so than the Kmart. “A larger store offering more wares 24 hours a day will certainly draw more patrons.” As part of its efforts to gain site plan approval, Walmart agreed to conditions including limiting truck delivery times, keeping its delivery trucks from using Northeast 6 Avenue and providing Oakland Park with a $100,000 letter of credit for landscaping and $300,000 for the city’s tree fund – an increase over the original offer of $150,000. Walmart also agreed to provide a greeter and hire BSO officers to work private details if incidents of crime reach a certain level. McCartney said it was better for the city to
approve the project and get the benefit of the agreed upon conditions than to get nothing. “The difficult part we’ve already done. This is ministerial. This is a rubber stamp. We passed the part that allows us to have control,” she said. “I’d rather have some ability to control the obvious problems that will arise than none.” If Walmart chooses, it can still move into the existing Kmart building. No approval from the city is needed to use the existing building because it’s already zoned for commercial use. McCartney was also worried that denying the plat could result in a lawsuit against the city. She tried to find a way around the charter’s three-vote requirement but was unsuccessful. “This is not something we can deny. I’m trying to find a way to save us from ourselves.” Shank said he also wanted to see the project approved but felt compelled to follow the rules. “I can’t change the rules just to get my way. I want the thing to pass but I want to do it the right way.” Doody said any lawsuit brought by Walmart would be tough for the city to prevail. “The city would have a challenge in defending an action brought in approving the plat. It would be a challenge to defend relative to a ministerial act.” In an interview with The Gazette, Steven Wherry, the Fort Lauderdale attorney representing Walmart, said it’s very unlikely his client will go forward with the conditions if it is not allowed to construct a new building. “I think that’s probably unlikely.” Wherry said Walmart has not yet decided if it will file a lawsuit but will try to go before the commission again. “Our preference is to avoid a lawsuit. We will try to find a more amicable route. We want to do our best to not create circumstances that are not adversarial.” WMG
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • www.WMGAZETTE.com • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 34
// 8.19.2015 // SFGN.com //
soflagaynews //
4 •
SouthFloridaGayNews August 19, 2015