WMG Volume 6 • Issue 20 October 16, 2019
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Wilton Manors Bans Plastic Straws By Sallie James
Wilton Manors has become the latest was pleased with the new law. “I can’t help but say how pleased I am city in Broward Country to ban the sale and distribution of single use plastic that we are finally doing something on this. We have beaten 11 of the cities in straws. City officials in September voted 4-1 to Broward County. I had hoped we would be No. 2 or No. 3 but we’re here,” Green said. approve the ban. Exceptions include prepackaged drinks Commissioner Gary Resnick opposed that come with plastic the ordinance, saying straws, straws used at he was concerned about medical or dental facilities, prohibiting all retail Straws are and at county, state, and businesses from selling permitted if needed federal properties, and at straws in the city. The new Broward County schools. law goes into effect on by someone with Straws are permitted if Sept. 1, 2020 and includes a medical or needed by someone with a $100 fine for the first offense, a $200 fine for a physical condition. a medical or physical condition. The ban also second offense and a $500 The ban also does does not apply to those fine for every subsequent violation. not apply to those who receive special events to host events of “People who use plastic who receive special permits 200 or few people. straws are going to have to events permits to City contracts or buy them outside the city,” concession agreements Resnick noted. “I can’t host events of 200 that were entered into support the ordinance on or few people. before the ordinance was that basis.” approved are also not The city’s ban also affected. includes the sale of The city of Fort Lauderdale passed a single-use plastic stirrers in the spirit of protecting the environment. According to ban on single-use plastic straws in January the ordinance, 8.8 million tons of plastic 2019 which goes into effect in January pollution flows into the ocean each year, 2020. Like the Wilton Manors law, the an amount that is expected to double by Fort Lauderdale ban will also prohibit both the distribution and sale of plastic 2025. Wilton Manors Vice Mayor Tom Green straws in the city.
And as of July 2019, businesses in Fort Lauderdale may only provide plastic straws upon request. Other cities that have approved a ban on single-use plastic straws include Deerfield Beach, Pompano Beach, Lauderdale-bythe-Sea, Dania Beach, Hollywood, and Hallandale Beach. Green said many of the businesses in
Wilton Manors already comply with the new ordinance. “I have gone around as a public servant to as many of the bars and restaurants to check what they are using and there are very few, so I don’t think it will really affect a lot of the businesses. I am so very happy about it,” Green said. WMG
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COMMUNITY
City Debates Special Magistrate to Handle Liens Commission Divided
WMG October 16, 2019 • Volume 6 • Issue 20 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 piero@sfgn.com
By Sallie James The Wilton Manors City Commission. Photo via the City of Wilton Manors, Facebook.
Associate publisher / Executive Editor • Jason Parsley jason.parsley@sfgn.com Copyeditor • Kerri Covington
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Sales Manager • Justin Wyse justin.wyse@sfgn.com Advertising Sales Associate • Edwin Neimann edwin.neimann@sfgn.com Advertising Sales Associate • Clark Rogers clark.rogers@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
Should property owners who accumulate Flippen said he has received numerous hefty fines for code violations appear before comments from the general public saying a Special Magistrate? they did not “see consistency from us.” City Commissioners here want to explore “How we arrive at our decisions is not very the possibility. Currently violators’ cases are consistent,” Flippen said. “I prefer a clearly reviewed by the City Commission, which articulated policy to ensure consistency, levies fines or reduces equity of treatment. I don’t liens. Under the existing see this as a ceding of According to system, property owners authority. We are establishing can file an application for a process.” Code Compliance a lien reduction, which is According to Code Supervisor Julio either approved or denied Compliance Supervisor Julio by the City Commission, Davila, the sum of the total Davila, the sum of explained Commissioner liens in the city to date is the total Julie Carson. $1,764,000, an amount was liens in the city to Mayor Justin Flippen reduced to $975,753.54 in and Commissioners Gary fines. Of that, $769,696.46 date is $1,764,000, Resnick and Paul Rolli want has been paid, Davila said. an amount to explore the possibility City Manager Leigh Ann of switching to a Special Henderson suggested that was reduced to Magistrate to remove a proposed ordinance set $975,753.54 in the subjectivity from the limitations for how much a existing process. fine could be reduced. She fines. Commissioners directed proposed that a lien on an City Attorney Kerry owner occupied property be Ezrol to research the matter and create an reduced by no less than 15 percent of the total ordinance for future review. lien, and a lien on a non-owner occupied
property be reduced no less than 25 percent of the total lien. Vice Mayor Tom Green was strongly opposed to the proposed switch to a Special Magistrate, saying it was against his personal philosophy. “I feel this City Commission has less authority than most City Commissions in the county. I certainly would not be in support of another such thing happening,” Green said. Carson agreed. “I think the City Commission has done a good job is expressing their authority and not losing our small town atmosphere. I would like to continue in similar manner. I really believe it is critically important we remain accessible to the community and be able to make decisions,” she said. Resnick disagreed, saying the city needs a more objective way to review liens. “There is no objectivity to this. It’s based on the opinions of five people. I think we’re not doing a good service to the residents of our city,” he noted. Rolli said he would like to see a process that is more transparent. “I’m in favor of it,” Rolli said. WMG
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Woof & Wine, an event for you and your favorite sidekick, is on October 10, 2019. Don’t forget to get your dog permit before the event! For more information, visit http://bit.ly/WMDogPark Photo via the City of Wilton Manors, Facebook.
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this, justin
LOCAL NAME. GLOBAL COVERAGE.
Keeping a Sound City Budget By Justin Flippen Wilton Drive. Photo via The City of Wilton Manors, Facebook.
SOUTHFLORIDAGAYNEWS.COM
OUR BUSINESS IS MAKING YOU BUSINESS. We deliver solutions • We Promise Service
The City Commission has approved the 2019-2020 Wilton Manors budget of almost $39 million. While small by most city comparisons, the budget is big to us, and encompasses new programming, capital improvements, and programmed costs for employee health care and collective bargaining agreements. It also maintains the recommended unassigned fund balance percentage of 17%. I’m proud your city commission voted unanimously to NOT increase the general tax rate, maintaining the previous year’s millage rate of 5.9587, and establishing the lowest combined debt and operating millage rate in 11 years. This kind of fiscal responsibility sets an important precedence for us to consider for future budget years. Most of the key elements of our budget relate to the goals and objectives of the city’s strategic plan, which is our roadmap to the future. A few key highlights include: Hiring an economic development manager to act as a liaison between the city and businesses, both new and existing. The manager will also help recruit developers for the property owners who wish to redevelop their aging infrastructure.
beautification project and renovations of Jaycee Park. Setting aside funds to invest in the proposed train station platform when the timing is right. Reduced dog park fees for both residents and non-residents alike. Resources for a Fourth of July celebration event (something we haven’t had in years which I was pleased to work with the city commission on including in the budget). I believe one of the best ways forward to maintain funding for our city’s level and quality of services and alleviate the burden on current property owners is to expand the tax roll through carefully and limited increased density along our commercial and transit oriented corridors with redevelopments that conform to our city’s scale and small town sensibility. The fiscal year to come should bring progress in this area by us all working together. And the way we work together in the City of Wilton Manors, is just one more reason why our city’s tagline is ‘Life’s Just Better Here.’
Forward progress on the Andrews Avenue/Oakland Park Boulevard corridor land use amendment. Funding for due diligence should we wish to move forward with redevelopment of the land surrounding City Hall.
Call Piero Guidugli at 561-866-3963 or email him at piero@sfgn.com for all issues, related compliance and cooperation, service or sales at any time!
Funding for the Wilton Drive
Justin S. Flippen, J.D. “The People’s Mayor” Wilton Manors Mayor WMG
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