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All right. Good evening, everyone. I'd like to call the regular town commission meeting of Tuesday, March 10 to order. Please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

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All right. So we've got a couple deferrals on this agenda item. Until the next meeting, we're going to be deferring 5A, 12A.

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13A and 19A.

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Are there any other addition solutions or deferrals?

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Pretty much all the items, right?

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And we're going to be moving up.

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We will also be moving up the item 18B

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until after our invocation.

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So everybody understands.

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All right, Rabbi Singer.

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OK, if they can increase the microphone now, would you be good to?

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Please,

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head in the podium as well,

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once I can wrap it.

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Thanks.

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Is it working?

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I'm not sure.

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Yep.

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Go ahead, sir.

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Honourable mayor, vice mayor, commissioners, town staff, town attorney, distinguished residents

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of Lord of the day by the sea, good evening,

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and a couple of weeks on Wednesday, April

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First, we are sure in a Jewish holiday called Passover, which is known as the celebration

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of freedom.

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The Passover celebration begins with a traditional Seder meal, which we start with an invitation

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for whoever is hungry to come and eat.

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This custom began where there were many hungry people, many years ago, who could be expected

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to accept the invitation.

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Thank God today in the United States, I believe, actual hunger for the most part no longer exists.

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Nowadays, food insecurity could possibly mean that someone doesn't know today where

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tomorrow's dinner is coming from.

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God has blessed us with such abundance that even obesity is common amongst many segments

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of the society.

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But yet we still have hunger. Nearly 3,000 years ago, the Prophet Amos predicted,

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days are coming, says the Lord our God, when I will send the famine into the land.

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Not a famine for bread, nor thirst for water, but to hear the word of the Lord.

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Those days of famine are here. We are surrounded by many people who have all the food they need.

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But yet they are hungry and thirsty for knowledge. Because what we really hungry for is connection, meaning, direction and spirituality.

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and the ancient invitation goes out to them, whoever is hungry, come and eat, whoever is in need, come and learn.

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Almighty God, we thank You for giving us plenty. We thank You for giving us much physical needs.

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We ask you to help us satisfy the psychic family that you have sent us.

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Guide our elected leaders in their efforts to create and maintain an environment in which

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those seeking your word can find it free of distraction, of physical want, and free of

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man made barriers between us and you. In this season of freedom, refresh us with a spirit

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of redemption and freedom that we may be free to serve you without trials and tribulations

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and despite all the hardships and challenges which we may encounter may be blessed to be

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to be focused, to be able to serve you with joy, with happiness, with clarity, and maybe you'll be blessed with an abundance of health for us and for our loved ones.

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Amen. Thank you.

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All

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right, so we're going to be moving up 18 B. I do have a statement that the town attorney provided for me to read and we will get to the public comments, we'll have a presentation and then get to the public comments.

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All right, as provided in section 2-23 of the town code and the town's meeting procedure resolutions it is my obligation as mayor to maintain strict order and decorum at the commission meetings.

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All comments should be related to town business and we strive to conduct the meeting in a polite and respectful manner.

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The broadest possible accommodations will be provided for statements of personal opinion.

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but no one should engage in personal attacks.

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Please do not delay or interrupt the proceedings or piece of the meeting.

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Unauthorized remarks from the audience, stamping a feet, whistles,

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yells, and similar demonstrations are prohibited.

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Any person who causes an interruption of the meeting will be given

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the option to stop the interruption or to leave the meeting.

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Failure to comply following a warning may lead to it order the sergeant of arms,

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to remove you from this room for the remainder of this meeting.

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Continued willful interruptions or disturbances may lead to arrests pursuant to section 871-01 of Florida statutes.

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Town Clerk, how many do we have to speak?

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We have 46 speakers.

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46 speakers.

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Okay, so we are going to also limit this to two minutes.

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We do have a clock right underneath me, which will warn you also our podium will flash yellow when 30 seconds remains to give you a warning.

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Obviously, if it turns red and it buzzes and just complete your thoughts, we're not going to shut you off.

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So let's be mindful of everyone allowing everyone to speak.

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If there's an option to say something like, oh, I'm speaking on behalf of two other people with me and we all want to agree,

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It would help aid the process so that people don't have to wait.

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With that many speakers, this is going to be like a two hour, so your consideration would be greatly appreciated.

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So with that, we will call the first person that speaks up on 18th.

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I'm sorry, I apologize, we're going to have a presentation first, and then we'll get to public comments.

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Commissioner DiNapoliis, is your item, would you like to present it?

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Thank you, Mayor, fellow commissioners, and everyone who has joined us here tonight.

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Before we take public comment, I want to take some time to clearly explain what this motion is and what it is not because there has been some confusion in media reports and public discussion.

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I have some final belt and suspender edits to the draft resolution, which have been passed around and I enter them into the record.

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I'm happy to answer any questions on those later during the discussion period.

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They've been passed around to the commissioners.

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We routinely edit resolutions up here, which is why they are presented as drafts ahead

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of time.

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This version printed is the version I'm seeking the motion on.

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Can I see you've queued the slides?

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So ladies and gentlemen, please follow along and look at the slides as I walk through

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the presentation.

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So we currently have what is called a secondary code designation.

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That's right there.

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at SeaGrip and Commercial for President Donald J. Trump Drive.

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This was approved by this commission on September 10th, 2025.

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The commission later approved meeting minutes from that September 10th meeting on December

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9th, 2025, and those minutes referenced the final draft resolution approved, which is a

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routine administrator process.

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The sign we currently have is a green lamppost sign for President Donald J. Trump drive, similar in style to that of Barack Obama Boulevard, which also exists in Broward, so you could see it right there at the bottom.

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So, why are we discussing this again today, because the Florida legislature overwhelmingly passed legislation 82 to 30 in the House in 27 to 10 in the Senate, so that 73% in each chamber to create an honorary state designation for commercial boulevard within the town limits of Lauderdale by the sea for President Donald J. Trump boulevard.

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I'm

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sorry one second. Those outside could you please be respectful and let the commissioner make his presentation?

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Or you can leave either way.

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As I've said, the state has passed an honorary state designation for commercial boulevard within the town limits of Lauderdale by the sea for President Donald J. Trump boulevard.

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It's important to understand what this means. This does not rename commercial boulevard.

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Let me repeat that clearly. This does not change the name of commercial boulevard. The state would simply install two brown and yellow honorary roadway markers for President Trump that are added on the street rather than replacing any commercial boulevard signage.

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So what the state legislature has voted on is to add two standard markers like this image on commercial boulevard.

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You've probably there about six to eight feet off the ground.

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You've probably seen similar ones all across Florida.

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There's one for POE Arache along the beach there.

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They named them after many different people.

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So the motion before us tonight is actually very simple.

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If the governor signs the bill already passed by the Florida legislature

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and the two brown and yellow state markers go up,

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then the town will contingently remove the two local green

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lamppost signs at sea grape and commercial.

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That's it.

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What this motion does not do is permanently create two

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designations at the same intersection.

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So we are not trying to create a Trump and Trump intersection

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with this motion.

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The intent here is actually the opposite.

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It's to be reasonable and to ensure there is only one

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designation if the state law takes effect.

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So to be very clear, here's how the vote works.

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Scenario one, if the commission votes yes, and the governor signs the bill,

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the state installs two standard brown and yellow roadway markers up on commercial like the one in the picture.

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The town removes the two local green lamppost code designation signs at sea grape and commercial.

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The end result, one clear state designation, and we call it a day.

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Scenario two, if the commission votes yes and the governor for some reason does not sign the bill,

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the town local signage at sea grief and commercial remains the result status quo.

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If the commission votes no today, town local signage at sea grief and commercial also remains the result status quo.

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So a yes vote simply prepares the town to implement the state designation if it becomes

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law while leaving the current sign in place if it does not.

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We are hearing this today to let everyone know we are not trying to have people meet at

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a Trump and Trump intersection.

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The goal here is to have one remaining at the end.

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So now I'm going to talk to you all about history and precedent.

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Every governmental body that is considered this state honorary designation has approved

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it, often unanimously and with bipartisan support.

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The following slides show that communities across Florida handle presidential roadway

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designations as nonpartisan ceremonial

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Tax. They have done so quietly, respectfully, and reasonably. The following evidence also shows that naming streets after people, politicians and presidents, often during their presidency, is part of the history of Florida and part of our towns and counties history. It is not unusual, it is not partisan, it is part of the historical record. The next series of slides shows that recognizing presidents with roadways has

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happen for generations in Broward and the Tri-County area.

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It has happened during their presidencies and while they are alive.

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There is no reason we should treat the current President differently.

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So as you can see in Hollywood and Broward, right here in Broward County in the 1920s,

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27 Presidents including then incumbent Calvin Coolidge received streets.

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You've got Eisenhower, Kennedy, George H.W. Bush, received a street in Del Rey in Palm Beach County.

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You can see it right there, back in the early 90s.

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During his one and only term, he received it.

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So, once again, during his term.

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We have the Ronald Reagan term pike, named during his lifetime.

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Barack Obama Boulevard.

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Next slide.

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was designated in Broward in 2009 during the first year of his presidency,

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followed by a street in Miami-Dade and not one but two streets in Palm Beach County

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during his second term. More recently in 2023, the City Commission of

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Hylia, home to the second largest Hispanic population in the United States,

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unanimously approved a Trump Street. In 2024, the Miami-Dade County Commission

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approved a Trump Street, 9-1, with Democrats and Republicans joining

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together. Palm Beach County acted last year unanimously to co-designate part of

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Southern Boulevard in the president's honor. All three Republicans and all four

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Democrats voted for it.

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The town of Palm Beach voted unanimously on a consent agenda to approve the designation

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for President Trump on Southern Boulevard last September, unanimously.

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West Palm Beach approved that same designation, four to one, including three Democrats, so

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they all have to vote on that because it crosses towns.

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Why did these commissions vote this way so overwhelmingly in favor because they recognize something

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simple, they were honoring the President of the United States not making a partisan statement.

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The facts are that all of these votes were done with very little controversy.

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So the question becomes, why should it be any different here?

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If counties just

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continue to speak, please.

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If counties where

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commissioners run openly on party lines can come together and pass this

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with bipartisan support, surely our small town where commissioners don't run on a party

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line can and should do the same.

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Why should we be divided on this issue when literally no one else has?

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If our neighbors in the tri-county area from all walks of life can honor President Trump

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with bipartisan support, just as other presidents have been recognized, then surely our town

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can do so as well and be just as inclusive as they have been.

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Some people have said we should not name things after people, but that is simply not reality.

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Our town itself reflects this tradition.

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We have Freight Family Park.

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We have the building we are presently meeting in, Jarvis Hall, named after a person.

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Our beach portals, our Connie Hoffman-Blasa, all named for people, even while living.

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Across Broward County and the entire country,

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There are parks, roads, and buildings named after people.

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It's part of the civic life here in Florida, as well as other states.

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If you fly in a Little Rock, Arkansas, a well known Republican state now,

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you land at the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport.

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This is not about politics, it's about honoring and recognizing history.

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It's a standard practice, not a partisan act.

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To deny recognition now is to erase history, and that is simply unreasonable.

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Some have asked why here in Lauderdale, by the sea.

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Well, the answer is simple.

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Besides our town approving our local sign last year,

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the Florida legislature recently weighing in,

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and Florida law requiring us to have a vote on this.

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Supporters of presidents often seek these recognitions

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in communities where those presidents

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were strongly supported.

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The President Obama's streets in Broward, Palm Beach,

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and Miami-Dade were all promoted by his supporters

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in communities that voted for him overwhelmingly.

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This is natural and the same dynamic is true here.

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Supporters make these requests and opponents

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may voice objections.

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You're always more likely to hear

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from the opposition for these resolutions.

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But I also know that there are just as many,

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if not more, in support.

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They simply don't feel the need

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to come to a microphone.

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They have already.

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Excuse me, Commissioner, one second.

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For those that are yelling outside,

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Here's your one warning if you continue. I'm going to ask them to have you leave. Please

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Yeah, I don't care. You can keep yelling. You're going to be sent home if you continue. Go ahead commissioner

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So your buttons not press it's

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not green one second. Go ahead

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It's not working for me

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That

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hit the button again

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Okay, one

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second guys are having some issues

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It's green now

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Okay, go ahead.

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As I was saying, you're all more likely to hear from the opposition for these resolutions.

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But I also know there's just as many, if not more, in support.

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They simply don't feel the need to come to a microphone.

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They've already spoken at the ballot box.

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The fact is that lateral by the sea gave President Trump very large victories in all three of his elections in 2016, 2020 and 2024.

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The present supporters here are neighbors, small business owners, parents, retirees, volunteers, and families.

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They're part of the civic fabric of our town.

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It's a fact that you can take a walk on commercial boulevard and see small businesses selling some Trump theme merchandise, even a restaurant that serves a Trump burger.

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Whether you agree with it politically or not, it is a reality of our community.

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That's why it's fitting to recognize President Trump in the place where so much support has always been centered.

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Their voices in this town's voice is clearly unique in Broward County, which tends to vote the mere opposite, but it deserves to be recognized no less.

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Right here in Broward, Barack Obama Boulevard was co-designated in 2009, shortly after his election.

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Not in a place he lived, but in a place that supported him strongly.

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He's got four streets in the tri-county area.

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There were no protests of that decision, it was respected.

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Today, I simply ask for the same courtesy and fairness.

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There should really be no controversy that we recognize the president who carried our

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town three times by large majorities who has our only president from Florida, and he

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was shaped national history.

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Now, I understand that for some, this may feel controversial, and I want to acknowledge

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that openly.

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Look, I know this is a passionate issue.

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I know there are strong feelings on both sides.

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That's the nature of democracy.

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Our job up here is not to avoid every tough conversation, it's to handle them fairly and respectfully.

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I want to assure you that my goal is to represent all of our community's diverse perspectives.

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This resolution is about division, it's about recognizing a legacy that matters to many residents

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while respecting all viewpoints. I've heard some say, oh, we don't need this. My answer is simple,

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Fairness is always needed, balance is always needed.

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We need it because this recognition reflects the voices of so many in our community.

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Give those voices their due.

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We are merely transitioning a local sign to a state sign.

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The time is right, the Florida legislature passed this designation, and

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small towns can make history just as big cities can.

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Some may, I've heard this said, don't politicize our town.

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You know, I hear that concern, and I want to be clear, this is not about politicizing anything, and this is not about partisanship.

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I'll repeat, this is not about politicizing anything, and this is not about partisanship.

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Honoring one president does not diminish another.

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Code designating Obama Boulevard in Broward did not erase the Ronald Reagan turnpike.

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Approving a Trump Boulevard does not erase Obama.

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It's about adding, not subtracting, about inclusion, fairness and respect, not division.

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If honoring President Obama with a boulevard wasn't politicizing, then this should not be either.

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Fairness is not politics, it's respect and recognition.

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And beyond symbolism, there are benefits here.

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This could put Lauderdale by the sea on the map in a whole new way.

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As a place that recognized history while it was being made,

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a landmark that attracts visitors, photos, even national attention.

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I've seen plenty of people taking selfies and visiting the existing sign at Siegrey.

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Our town has been packed with visitors lately, undeniable,

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tourists love symbolic landmarks.

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Those who support the new state markers, what they're going to do is proudly take a photo.

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Those who don't will simply walk away or drive past it.

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The state markers are not going to disrupt daily life.

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They're certainly not going to hurt tourism on the contrary, they're going to enhance it far from driving visitors away

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They will be a draw and it could still bring a presidential visit now that it has the blessing of the state legislature

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You never know

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I don't think we should ignore the overwhelming vote of the legislature

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Approving this might even help us in Tallahassee where too often Broward is seen as only part of the opposing team

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Showing the true diversity of our communities voice in a positive way can only help us

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Now, it's important to address some false claims that I've seen circulating.

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Some of the suggested the Florida legislature was somehow misled about a resolution passed

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by this commission.

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That is simply incorrect.

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First of all, legislature knows about our local sign and referenced its desire to codify

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our earlier local vote.

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The honorary local sign resolution was passed by this town commission on September 10, 2025.

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The date of December 9th, 2025, which has been referenced by some, refers only to the town

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commission's later approval of the meeting minutes from that September 10th meeting,

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minutes that are naturally approved at a later meeting.

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The minutes provide legal support for the resolution adopted during the earlier meeting.

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This is standard procedure since the minutes approved include reference to the minor changes

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is made to the initial draft that were approved the night of that September 10th meeting.

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So just like I offered some minor changes to tonight's draft for resolution, the minutes

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re-approved at a later meeting would naturally reflect that.

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So there's no vast conspiracy at play here just referencing the minutes related to the final

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resolution.

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So to be clear, the resolution itself was passed on September 10th, and the minutes reflecting

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that action were approved on December 9th, which is a routine administrative step taken

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by every commission. There is no misinformation provided to the legislature and the public record

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clearly reflects the September vote as well as the later minutes being approved.

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00:27:35,540 --> 00:27:41,160
Others have suggested this process was somehow hidden or secret. Again, that is not true.

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We are discussing this tonight in a public meeting with public comment followed by a vote in front

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of the public with plenty of people here. Exactly how local government is supposed to work.

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Transparency is exactly what tonight's meeting represents, an open discussion followed by a vote in front of the public.

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Some have also argued that having the Commission vote on any names of streets is

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somehow against the democratic process and should require

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townwide referendums. I've showed you the history on those slides of how representative governments have named streets and roads all over the

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state and country.

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Representative government functions because voters elect commissioners to make decisions after hearing public input.

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If every routine decision required a townwide referendum, local government simply would not function.

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I've shown you that the state law is what governs this process, not our local charter.

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State law requires the state designation to come before us at the local commission.

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So we do have a state locally through our commission.

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It's also important to remember that commercial boulevard is a state roadway.

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The state of Florida has the authority to designate state roads, and this resolution

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simply clarifies how the town would respond if the governor signs the bill.

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Contrary to some things I've read, nothing here tonight is stopping a local charter amendment

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governing local signage.

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Lastly, I've heard some of the most partisan voices I've ever met claim they are defending

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non-partisanship.

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yet many of those same voices have themselves acted with extreme partisanship

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attacking commissioners personally and spreading misinformation. This

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resolution is not about partisanship, it's about recognizing and honoring

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history, not politics. Florida is the home state of the president, our only

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president from Florida, and I've shown you that communities across Florida have

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honored presidents of both parties in similar ways. We should treat our current president

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no differently. Let me also point out something important about the resolution before us

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tonight because I believe it reflects a reasonable compromise that you might not all see. Some

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people will say they want to remove any reference to the president entirely.

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But that's not what we are here to do tonight, and that approach doesn't solve disagreement. It simply tries to erase history.

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Respectfully, that's not compromised. On the other hand, I've received some calls that ask for both the C-grave sign and the state markers to go up. And that's also not what this resolution does. In many ways, this resolution is actually a win-win for everyone involved.

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For those who support the current local sign, a yes vote ensures that President Trump is

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still honored through the state designation that has already passed the Florida legislature.

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And for those who oppose the current local lamppost sign at C-Greypin commercial, a yes

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vote also means the local sign will come down once the state markers go up.

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So if you think about it, this resolution actually reduces conflict rather than creating

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it.

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It's very reasonable and common sense solution.

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It replaces a local sign that some people object to, with a standardized state designation that is used across Florida to honor historical figures.

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In other words, the town takes a step back and allows the state recognition to stand on its own on a state road.

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That's why this is balanced and a reasonable outcome.

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00:31:24,150 --> 00:31:29,850
And in government, when you can find a path that resolves concerns on both sides, that's

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usually the right path to take.

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00:31:31,810 --> 00:31:36,690
I also want to acknowledge that some commissioners previously voted against the original designation.

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I respect that.

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00:31:38,930 --> 00:31:43,950
Reasonable people can disagree, but tonight we are not deciding whether recognition should

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exist.

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Recognition for the president exists currently at C-GRAPE.

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Tonight, we are deciding whether to adopt a reasonable compromise that aligns our town with the state designation already overwhelmingly approved by the Florida legislature.

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I hope we will be on the side of history.

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So I would simply ask my colleagues to consider whether supporting this resolution now might reflect exactly what our residents expect from us, practical cooperation and

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and reasonableness when circumstances evolve.

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Because in many ways, this proposal accommodates both perspectives.

358
00:32:22,230 --> 00:32:24,410
Now I want to acknowledge that I know this is a passionate issue.

359
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There are strong feelings on both sides.

360
00:32:27,010 --> 00:32:30,150
This is democracy, but something else is also true.

361
00:32:30,770 --> 00:32:34,030
Often the loudest voices in a room are those opposed to something.

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00:32:34,750 --> 00:32:38,410
Those who support something are often simply satisfied to see it moving forward

363
00:32:38,750 --> 00:32:40,270
and do not always come to the microphone.

364
00:32:40,270 --> 00:32:44,010
They also might not await a couple hours to just say a few words.

365
00:32:44,530 --> 00:32:47,510
My responsibility is not just to the people in this room tonight.

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It is to the more than 6,000 residents of Lauderdale by the sea.

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And many residents have contacted me privately, and I've received probably over 100 public

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00:32:56,870 --> 00:33:01,210
comments, positive public comments, about this resolution in the last few days.

369
00:33:02,050 --> 00:33:02,610
I'll be candid.

370
00:33:02,850 --> 00:33:05,150
I like the local sign at Sea Great personally.

371
00:33:05,930 --> 00:33:08,510
Plenty of people have shared with me how much they love it.

372
00:33:08,510 --> 00:33:14,110
I thought it was a nice local recognition, but I'm also willing to be reasonable and step

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aside for the state markers.

374
00:33:16,850 --> 00:33:21,530
This resolution reflects compromise, fairness, and the same approach other counties and municipalities

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have taken successfully.

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So the question before us tonight is really very simple.

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Does lawter will by the sea treat this president the same way other presidents have been treated

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across our region?

379
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or do we make this town the one place where recognition becomes controversy?

380
00:33:39,070 --> 00:33:40,870
I believe the answer should be fairness.

381
00:33:41,430 --> 00:33:46,150
I believe the answer should be respect for history, and I believe the answer should be

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00:33:46,150 --> 00:33:48,090
respect for the office of the president.

383
00:33:48,770 --> 00:33:54,290
By approving this resolution, we affirm that our town respects its history, values all of

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its people, and is willing to extend recognition in a way that is measured, dignified, and

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and beneficial to the community.

386
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A yes vote is a common sense compromise.

387
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And I hope that we've followed lead of every other elected body on this issue and vote overwhelmingly in favor of this resolution.

388
00:34:12,870 --> 00:34:16,490
With that, I reserve my further comments on this motion for after public comments.

389
00:34:16,910 --> 00:34:21,050
I proudly present this resolution and ask for your support and a second.

390
00:34:21,050 --> 00:34:27,680
And so just to be clear, you're making the motion before we have public comments.

391
00:34:28,840 --> 00:34:29,760
That is a yes.

392
00:34:30,160 --> 00:34:31,200
You're not on mic.

393
00:34:31,680 --> 00:34:31,820
Okay.

394
00:34:32,880 --> 00:34:33,460
May I speak?

395
00:34:34,480 --> 00:34:34,860
I'll press the button.

396
00:34:35,400 --> 00:34:35,580
All right.

397
00:34:36,040 --> 00:34:36,740
Let me press the button.

398
00:34:37,460 --> 00:34:38,140
You already lit up.

399
00:34:38,600 --> 00:34:39,200
You're lit up.

400
00:34:39,280 --> 00:34:39,460
Go ahead.

401
00:34:39,820 --> 00:34:39,960
Okay.

402
00:34:40,780 --> 00:34:43,080
If the motion's been made, then I'll probably second the motion.

403
00:34:44,600 --> 00:34:44,960
Okay.

404
00:34:45,320 --> 00:34:45,540
All right.

405
00:34:45,720 --> 00:34:50,200
So we have a first and a second, but we are going to have public comments and then I'll

406
00:34:50,200 --> 00:34:51,800
I'll come back to you for that second.

407
00:34:51,940 --> 00:34:53,520
If you want to make additional comments

408
00:34:54,080 --> 00:34:55,840
since you made the motion and then we'll take it

409
00:34:55,840 --> 00:34:56,580
for the rest of us.

410
00:34:57,660 --> 00:35:00,000
So with that, Claire, please call the first person.

411
00:35:01,020 --> 00:35:01,740
Oh, I'm sorry.

412
00:35:02,400 --> 00:35:05,620
When you come up to the microphone, the microphone flexes

413
00:35:05,620 --> 00:35:07,880
so make sure that you raise it and flex it

414
00:35:07,880 --> 00:35:09,140
so that everybody could hear you.

415
00:35:09,760 --> 00:35:11,940
Again, there is two minutes and please state your name

416
00:35:11,940 --> 00:35:13,280
and address for the record.

417
00:35:13,280 --> 00:35:14,320
So we have that as well.

418
00:35:14,580 --> 00:35:14,940
Thank you.

419
00:35:17,330 --> 00:35:20,130
In mere disverification, I received a final list

420
00:35:20,130 --> 00:35:27,710
So we have 55 total speakers 55 speakers, okay, so we're going to call them three in a row.

421
00:35:27,950 --> 00:35:34,970
So the first three speakers are Patrick Ferguson, Michael Ferguson and Laura Ortiz.

422
00:35:44,630 --> 00:35:50,770
Patrick Ferguson, 4550 West Trade Rins Avenue, mayor, commissioners, good evening.

423
00:35:51,650 --> 00:35:53,990
A long time resident here in Lauderdale, by the sea.

424
00:35:54,390 --> 00:35:58,390
And what brings many of us here today is not just a road sign, it's something more fundamental than that.

425
00:35:58,390 --> 00:36:02,730
trust in the local democratic process, and trust in our local elected officials.

426
00:36:03,370 --> 00:36:07,610
Back in September, after the resolution co-designating Seagrape Drive was passed,

427
00:36:08,110 --> 00:36:11,630
several residents including myself making up the no politics and paradise.

428
00:36:12,090 --> 00:36:17,590
Initiative got together, drafted, and submitted a charter amendment to the town.

429
00:36:18,070 --> 00:36:22,470
Purpose of this charter amendment was so that going forward all honorary

430
00:36:22,470 --> 00:36:31,410
Co-Name Designations, other be roads, public places in town, would ultimately go back to the residents for a vote of approval before being enacted.

431
00:36:32,230 --> 00:36:44,750
Now, unfortunately, we submitted our charter amendment back in January, and unfortunately our great town attorney has been held up from giving her final legal form opinion on that at the behest of one commission.

432
00:36:45,990 --> 00:36:52,790
And we found out that there was a secondary process going on the whole time, whereby language

433
00:36:52,790 --> 00:36:59,730
was snuck into a bill in Tallahassee as an amendment, and which included the code designation

434
00:36:59,730 --> 00:37:00,790
for commercial boulevard.

435
00:37:01,070 --> 00:37:06,610
This was done, folks, because it is a state road, and that would make it outside the authority

436
00:37:06,610 --> 00:37:09,390
of our planned charter amendment that was underway.

437
00:37:10,350 --> 00:37:14,670
And regardless of where you stand on the political spectrum with this issue,

438
00:37:15,030 --> 00:37:20,330
it sends a wrong message under your undermines local trust in our democratic process.

439
00:37:20,510 --> 00:37:24,930
But this commission can do a lot to repair that by voting no on this resolution.

440
00:37:25,130 --> 00:37:30,130
I want everyone in this room to know that the streets of Lauderdale by the sea don't belong to politicians.

441
00:37:30,610 --> 00:37:32,610
They don't belong to political parties.

442
00:37:33,010 --> 00:37:35,030
They belong to the people.

443
00:37:35,530 --> 00:37:36,530
Thank you very much.

444
00:37:45,430 --> 00:37:46,830
Michael Ferguson.

445
00:37:57,910 --> 00:38:01,030
Good evening, Michael Ferguson, 4550 West

446
00:38:01,030 --> 00:38:05,730
trade winds Avenue. I'm a long time resident and veteran of the United States

447
00:38:05,730 --> 00:38:11,010
Air Force, and I have a proposal for this commission that I believe can

448
00:38:11,010 --> 00:38:16,270
unite this town and put aside this unnecessary partisan divide to do this

449
00:38:16,270 --> 00:38:22,690
honorary Trump sign. And that proposal is to vote no on this resolution, remove

450
00:38:22,690 --> 00:38:27,750
move the President's name and honor a true hero, a commercial boulevard.

451
00:38:28,450 --> 00:38:35,930
And that hero is Army Captain Cody Cork, a true son of Florida who decided to serve

452
00:38:35,930 --> 00:38:43,090
his nation and was tragically killed when the President started a war with Iran without

453
00:38:43,090 --> 00:38:44,830
congressional authority.

454
00:38:45,530 --> 00:38:46,550
So let's,

455
00:38:51,330 --> 00:38:56,330
so let's honor Captain Cork, who served the residents in this room

456
00:38:56,330 --> 00:39:03,690
honorably. In for the residents in this room, I also have a proposal for you. If you

457
00:39:03,690 --> 00:39:09,710
feel that your local officials are ignoring you, if you are sick and tired of

458
00:39:09,710 --> 00:39:14,990
these officials focusing more on culture wars and partisan puffery than the

459
00:39:14,990 --> 00:39:16,830
issues that actually matter,

460
00:39:18,920 --> 00:39:20,940
if you want full

461
00:39:24,940 --> 00:39:30,490
leadership in this community, instead of

462
00:39:30,490 --> 00:39:38,690
a certain town commissioner that ignores the people, goes the Tallahassee and sidestepped

463
00:39:38,690 --> 00:39:40,870
a local democratic process.

464
00:39:41,330 --> 00:39:47,010
If that makes you sick and tired then I have a proposal for you and that proposal is to

465
00:39:47,010 --> 00:39:56,530
this and me to tell Hassee, to be your voice, because I intend to run for Florida House District 100, because this community deserves true leadership.

466
00:39:57,070 --> 00:39:58,590
All right.

467
00:40:05,060 --> 00:40:12,660
Let speakers, Laura Ortiz, followed by Linda Thompson Gonzalez, followed by Kimberly Birch.

468
00:40:12,880 --> 00:40:13,300
Hi.

469
00:40:22,470 --> 00:40:22,650
How are you?

470
00:40:23,150 --> 00:40:23,670
Good evening.

471
00:40:24,010 --> 00:40:27,210
I'm Linda Thompson Gonzalez, mayor and commissioners.

472
00:40:27,210 --> 00:40:29,930
Thank you for the opportunity to be with you this evening and speak.

473
00:40:31,890 --> 00:40:36,070
The people of Lauderd, I'm a long time resident, excuse me, of Lauderd, of all the CLIV

474
00:40:36,070 --> 00:40:37,930
and C Ranch building A. Thank you.

475
00:40:38,830 --> 00:40:42,490
The people of Lauderdale by the sea really want home rule.

476
00:40:42,850 --> 00:40:48,690
We voted for each of you because we believe in the democratic process and we really want

477
00:40:48,690 --> 00:40:55,270
you first and foremost to defend our home rule to stand up for the right of the people in

478
00:40:55,270 --> 00:41:00,030
our town to make our decisions about what happens within our town.

479
00:41:02,150 --> 00:41:08,930
We don't really want that our voices are diminished or

480
00:41:08,930 --> 00:41:11,810
overridden by state preemptions.

481
00:41:12,150 --> 00:41:18,010
We do not want you to hand over control to legislators in Tallahassee to force their decisions

482
00:41:18,010 --> 00:41:18,870
on all of us.

483
00:41:19,290 --> 00:41:24,450
In fact, you're handing us, presenting us with a Fed a complete, but only requires the signature

484
00:41:24,450 --> 00:41:26,510
of the governor to make all of this happen.

485
00:41:27,550 --> 00:41:30,810
So instead of a code designation of the C great road,

486
00:41:31,010 --> 00:41:35,030
we now have a state law that code designates commercial

487
00:41:35,030 --> 00:41:37,010
as has been described previously,

488
00:41:37,550 --> 00:41:39,650
that will code designate commercial boulevard,

489
00:41:39,930 --> 00:41:41,050
which is our main road.

490
00:41:41,270 --> 00:41:44,530
The main road that runs the entire length of our small town

491
00:41:44,850 --> 00:41:46,230
from the bridge to the beach.

492
00:41:47,270 --> 00:41:49,730
This was done really without ever allowing.

493
00:41:50,090 --> 00:41:52,650
We can talk, say this, we have a democratic process,

494
00:41:52,650 --> 00:41:55,910
but this was not done in a democratic or fair way.

495
00:41:56,390 --> 00:41:58,710
This was done without ever allowing the people of our town

496
00:41:58,710 --> 00:42:02,310
to have a vote, to express our opinions beforehand,

497
00:42:02,670 --> 00:42:04,830
before we were presented with a federal complete,

498
00:42:05,550 --> 00:42:09,330
in a denigration really of our home rule,

499
00:42:10,090 --> 00:42:12,570
which we all really cherish.

500
00:42:13,550 --> 00:42:16,510
You have taken our voice, we betrayed our trust.

501
00:42:17,350 --> 00:42:21,210
Several residents have proposed a charter amendment

502
00:42:21,210 --> 00:42:28,910
and we urge you to support the Charter Amendment which would have placed this vote in the hands

503
00:42:28,910 --> 00:42:31,670
of our residents to vote up or down.

504
00:42:32,470 --> 00:42:40,490
It's quite apparent that this democratic process was not acceptable and instead there was

505
00:42:40,490 --> 00:42:45,210
an end run which we are aware of that was made to Tallahassee.

506
00:42:45,210 --> 00:42:49,630
So, you know, we can say that this is a democratic process.

507
00:42:50,410 --> 00:42:55,010
You know, we can, it's really a betrayal of our home rule.

508
00:42:55,490 --> 00:43:01,410
This action, you know, you can say, put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig.

509
00:43:01,930 --> 00:43:05,450
And I think we've had a process here that's not fair.

510
00:43:05,850 --> 00:43:07,550
It's not supportive of our home rule.

511
00:43:07,950 --> 00:43:14,490
We ask you to please restore our trust in our town commission, restore trust in our town

512
00:43:14,490 --> 00:43:16,930
leadership and restore a home role.

513
00:43:17,290 --> 00:43:20,070
Please vote no on 18B.

514
00:43:20,370 --> 00:43:21,390
Thank you very much.

515
00:43:21,490 --> 00:43:22,110
Thank you, Excuse me.

516
00:43:37,160 --> 00:43:37,660
Good evening.

517
00:43:38,300 --> 00:43:39,500
My name is Kimberly Birch,

518
00:43:39,540 --> 00:43:40,780
Lauderdale by the C resident.

519
00:43:41,560 --> 00:43:44,320
After the September vote on the code designation,

520
00:43:44,600 --> 00:43:47,660
many of us resident felt our voices were not being heard.

521
00:43:48,220 --> 00:43:49,240
So we followed the law.

522
00:43:49,780 --> 00:43:52,540
We exercised our rights under the state constitution

523
00:43:52,540 --> 00:43:55,920
by organizing, protesting, and submitting a charter amendment.

524
00:43:55,920 --> 00:43:59,160
So the voters could decide this issue at the ballot box.

525
00:43:59,540 --> 00:44:05,520
Instead, we read in the news that House Bill 33 passed code designating commercial boulevard,

526
00:44:05,740 --> 00:44:14,360
and that a state representative was asked by one of our commissioners to add the commercial boulevard language to this bill.

527
00:44:15,100 --> 00:44:17,320
Thereby taking away our local voice.

528
00:44:18,600 --> 00:44:25,020
When residents follow the law and use the democratic process to be heard, their voices should not be bypassed.

529
00:44:25,920 --> 00:44:29,080
In fact, the Fort Lauderdale Young Republicans said it directly.

530
00:44:29,480 --> 00:44:34,680
They wrote the other day, this move would ensure the sign remains permanent and

531
00:44:34,680 --> 00:44:38,960
protected from potential removal by future local commissioners.

532
00:44:39,560 --> 00:44:43,720
Commissioner Denopoli, disagreement is not extremism.

533
00:44:44,450 --> 00:44:50,420
You referred to residents who oppose this issue as extremist partisans and hypocrites.

534
00:44:50,600 --> 00:44:51,460
Yes, you did.

535
00:44:52,400 --> 00:44:54,440
But those people are your constituents.

536
00:44:54,440 --> 00:44:59,180
They are residents who care deeply about this community and they deserve respect.

537
00:44:59,180 --> 00:44:59,880
You

538
00:45:00,000 --> 00:45:29,420
Even when you disagree with them, representative government requires listening to the people and earning their trust. You are elected to represent us, not replace our voices, when the majority of speakers at the September meeting oppose this measure, and those voices were dismissed, and the trust was eroded. You said that you know what most people in this town want through private conversations. If that's true, then there should be no fear in letting the residents vote.

539
00:45:29,420 --> 00:45:35,880
You also stated, because we're a beach town that doesn't mean we check our first amendment rights at the beach or bridge.

540
00:45:36,140 --> 00:45:37,840
That may be true in private life.

541
00:45:38,200 --> 00:45:45,680
But when you said on the day I was representing this town, personal politics should never out overshadow the voices of the residents you represent.

542
00:45:46,600 --> 00:45:49,640
I have a last sentence, commissioners, tonight you have a choice.

543
00:45:49,980 --> 00:45:54,600
Listen to the residents of this town, or listen to party politics.

544
00:45:55,560 --> 00:45:56,240
Thank you.

545
00:45:56,240 --> 00:45:57,460
Thank you.

546
00:45:57,460 --> 00:45:57,720
Thank

547
00:46:02,230 --> 00:46:02,230
you.

548
00:46:02,230 --> 00:46:08,310
Next speakers, Judith Robbins, Rosemary Coons, and Sherry Kimball.

549
00:46:13,410 --> 00:46:14,570
Judith Robbins.

550
00:46:16,110 --> 00:46:17,350
Ms. Robbins, are you here?

551
00:46:22,130 --> 00:46:22,290
Yes.

552
00:46:22,530 --> 00:46:23,610
Rosemary Coons.

553
00:46:28,230 --> 00:46:28,890
Hi, Ms. Kins.

554
00:46:29,790 --> 00:46:34,070
Good evening, Mayor, Vice Mayor, Commissioners, and town staff.

555
00:46:35,870 --> 00:46:37,550
Just stay your name and your address, please.

556
00:46:37,610 --> 00:46:39,230
My name is Rosemary Coons.

557
00:46:39,490 --> 00:46:42,270
I reside at 1431 South Ocean Boulevard.

558
00:46:43,490 --> 00:46:47,390
I had a prepared speech to make, but I'm now very curious.

559
00:46:49,640 --> 00:46:58,780
I keep hearing referral to that this resolution was brought to the State Senate by one of the commissioners here,

560
00:46:59,660 --> 00:47:03,240
and not all commissioners were aware that this was happening.

561
00:47:04,000 --> 00:47:11,420
So I'm going to ask each of these commissioners their participation in this.

562
00:47:11,420 --> 00:47:13,360
I'm going to start with you, Mr. Graziano.

563
00:47:13,600 --> 00:47:23,620
We don't ask, if you want to ask, we can answer after, but we don't go back and forth with comments, so we can ask them to do that when we speak in.

564
00:47:24,460 --> 00:47:26,180
That's how it works. Sorry, guys, outside.

565
00:47:26,780 --> 00:47:30,000
That would be fine. I would just like that on the record before the vote.

566
00:47:31,160 --> 00:47:34,500
Mr. Graziano, will you party to this being taken to the Senate?

567
00:47:34,860 --> 00:47:39,600
You're doing the same thing. It's not cross-examination. We're trying to hear your comments as well.

568
00:47:39,600 --> 00:47:44,460
If I can ask these questions, then you can ask them, but we don't do back and forth.

569
00:47:44,680 --> 00:47:47,900
You can request it, and if he wants to do something later, he can do that, sure.

570
00:47:48,020 --> 00:47:50,880
That's all I'm going to do, so I could like to ask these questions, please.

571
00:47:51,220 --> 00:47:51,320
Okay.

572
00:47:51,740 --> 00:47:56,580
Mr. Graziano, would you party to this, going to the State Senate, and

573
00:47:56,580 --> 00:47:58,140
were you aware that this was happening?

574
00:47:59,860 --> 00:48:03,100
He can answer you when we bring it back, where we don't go back and forth.

575
00:48:03,240 --> 00:48:04,100
I apologize, ma'am.

576
00:48:04,100 --> 00:48:08,520
Mr. Polo-Apolis, were you ready to-

577
00:48:08,520 --> 00:48:13,340
Madam, can you give your opinion maybe, so that we could hear what you feel on this issue?

578
00:48:13,480 --> 00:48:13,640
Yes.

579
00:48:14,000 --> 00:48:14,340
Thank you.

580
00:48:14,640 --> 00:48:27,040
My issue, my response to this situation is that I believe that the commission was fearful that the vote would go against their vote.

581
00:48:27,040 --> 00:48:36,060
And therefore, they did this end around and snuck up to Florida Senate with this resolution and passed it.

582
00:48:36,640 --> 00:48:39,740
This is unacceptable.

583
00:48:40,480 --> 00:48:46,220
There's democratic process should be allowed to go on and we should let the voters decide.

584
00:48:46,900 --> 00:48:52,100
Please vote no on this commission and let the voters decide in November.

585
00:48:52,580 --> 00:48:52,920
Thank you.

586
00:48:52,920 --> 00:48:54,000
Thank you, ma'am.

587
00:49:03,810 --> 00:49:04,390
Good evening.

588
00:49:04,770 --> 00:49:05,370
Sherry Kimball.

589
00:49:05,610 --> 00:49:07,590
I live on North Trade Winds.

590
00:49:08,970 --> 00:49:14,050
Once again, the residents are being subjected to a code name change with little notice.

591
00:49:14,710 --> 00:49:17,090
And now we're finding out the state has already voted on it.

592
00:49:18,230 --> 00:49:23,670
One person with an agenda should not be able to dictate their direction of an entire town.

593
00:49:24,950 --> 00:49:30,410
For Broward County, there are many cities in this state where politics are embraced, and

594
00:49:30,410 --> 00:49:32,890
They celebrate Trump's name on a street, even in airport.

595
00:49:33,350 --> 00:49:35,650
Clearly, there's lots of places with his name on our ready.

596
00:49:36,170 --> 00:49:41,530
But again, this is a nonpartisan town, and we don't want any politicians' name on anything.

597
00:49:42,170 --> 00:49:44,610
Lauderdale by the sea is not red, it's not blue.

598
00:49:44,930 --> 00:49:48,030
We are white, all colors, and black, the absence of color.

599
00:49:48,830 --> 00:49:52,010
Residents from other cities may speak tonight, but their opinions should not matter.

600
00:49:52,390 --> 00:49:54,530
What matters is what our residents think.

601
00:49:55,070 --> 00:49:58,570
I ask each of you, as you said on the dius, who do you represent?

602
00:49:58,570 --> 00:50:04,390
The residents of this city or the Republican Party because clearly you can't represent both.

603
00:50:05,030 --> 00:50:09,010
We voted for you because we thought you'd represent us and you should do this.

604
00:50:09,710 --> 00:50:12,490
And it's just wrong that you're not.

605
00:50:13,650 --> 00:50:16,030
Mayor Malkoon, I want to address you personally.

606
00:50:16,410 --> 00:50:20,890
I regularly see you at lots of things in this town, more than most other commissioners.

607
00:50:21,230 --> 00:50:24,430
You hold your Monday meetings with the mayor to engage the residents.

608
00:50:24,430 --> 00:50:30,630
It's when I had an issue with an unruly Airbnb, you reached out to me, you helped me,

609
00:50:30,790 --> 00:50:32,810
you were responsive and I appreciate that.

610
00:50:34,250 --> 00:50:38,450
It's apparent to many of us that being a council member in Lauderdale by the sea is just

611
00:50:38,450 --> 00:50:42,390
a stepping stone to go on to something bigger and better with a Republican party if you play

612
00:50:42,390 --> 00:50:43,010
the game right.

613
00:50:43,770 --> 00:50:49,510
I think you genuinely enjoy being mayor and I think that you don't have that same ambition.

614
00:50:50,670 --> 00:50:54,450
There's a lot of people here who are going to remember how this vote goes down tonight.

615
00:50:55,110 --> 00:50:57,210
And they're going to vote that way in the next election.

616
00:50:57,710 --> 00:51:00,590
And I'd like to see somebody whose responsive stay on this mayor.

617
00:51:01,130 --> 00:51:07,710
So I'm asking you, I don't think there's other people I can appeal to, but I'm asking you, please, to consider how you vote.

618
00:51:08,190 --> 00:51:09,010
Thank you.

619
00:51:14,490 --> 00:51:20,630
Net speaker, Herbert Dale, followed by a machine Simpson, followed by Paul Novak.

620
00:51:27,570 --> 00:51:28,430
Herbert Dale.

621
00:51:28,430 --> 00:51:30,610
Well, there he is.

622
00:51:39,830 --> 00:51:40,630
Good evening.

623
00:51:40,930 --> 00:51:45,250
My name is Herbert Dalham, a long time resident of Lauderdale,

624
00:51:45,370 --> 00:51:48,410
but it's by the sea approximately 26 years.

625
00:51:49,870 --> 00:51:52,810
Having lived here a long time, I usually mine my own business

626
00:51:53,480 --> 00:51:55,310
and take care of my own needs.

627
00:51:55,930 --> 00:51:59,790
I was absolutely flabbergasted a couple of months ago

628
00:51:59,790 --> 00:52:02,930
when I saw Donald Trump's name go up on secret.

629
00:52:02,930 --> 00:52:06,550
I believe that was the best kept secret in this town.

630
00:52:07,190 --> 00:52:21,970
Recently, what seems to have evolved is now turned to a- it's just legislation by secrecy and surprise.

631
00:52:22,670 --> 00:52:29,490
There is absolutely no reason why this issue should not be presented to the voters if it were.

632
00:52:29,490 --> 00:52:35,330
and the voters were to decide to honor Donald Trump, I believe we could all accept that.

633
00:52:36,030 --> 00:52:43,670
Hopefully, they would not do that because based upon my opinion, he's not worthy of that recognition.

634
00:52:44,250 --> 00:52:46,770
I would respectfully

635
00:52:49,780 --> 00:52:53,520
request that each of you vote no on this resolution.

636
00:52:53,680 --> 00:52:59,100
And speaking for myself, any of you who vote yes, I guarantee you one thing.

637
00:52:59,100 --> 00:53:05,500
you will not have my vote in the next election, and perhaps you could look for a position working for ICE.

638
00:53:05,880 --> 00:53:06,620
Thank you very much.

639
00:53:22,360 --> 00:53:23,980
All right, let me.

640
00:53:25,260 --> 00:53:30,820
Hi, my name is Michonne Simpson, a resident of Lauderdale by the Sea of Interimar.

641
00:53:31,120 --> 00:53:38,020
I am 100% against naming a road in our town after a living or a dead person right now.

642
00:53:38,620 --> 00:53:39,760
I urge the commission to vote no.

643
00:53:39,760 --> 00:53:43,920
This isn't about opposing recognition for President Trump.

644
00:53:44,540 --> 00:53:48,240
It's about process, transparency, public trust,

645
00:53:48,620 --> 00:53:50,780
and president have four key concerns.

646
00:53:51,200 --> 00:53:53,240
The transparency and good governance that our town

647
00:53:53,240 --> 00:53:57,720
is known for, the reputation of harm that our town

648
00:53:57,720 --> 00:54:00,480
could experience, setting bad precedent,

649
00:54:00,780 --> 00:54:02,440
and also what would President Trump say?

650
00:54:03,620 --> 00:54:04,860
Transparency and good governance.

651
00:54:05,160 --> 00:54:07,760
We all know under Florida's law, the sunshine law,

652
00:54:07,760 --> 00:54:15,800
public boards must conduct business openly in a manner that allows meaningful public participation and transparency that hasn't happened here.

653
00:54:16,420 --> 00:54:23,480
Like others, I learned about a lot of this from a newspaper and an email. I saw no invitations to participate in any discussions on this topic.

654
00:54:24,020 --> 00:54:30,160
I'd love to see who was who was consulted as far as third parties on this topic. Make it all public and let us see.

655
00:54:30,260 --> 00:54:34,700
It does not feel like it was a transparent properly disclosed process.

656
00:54:35,680 --> 00:54:39,700
Our town projects itself on openness and community involvement didn't happen here.

657
00:54:39,880 --> 00:54:40,360
I'm running out of town.

658
00:54:40,880 --> 00:54:43,700
Reputational harm, I just feel like it's a divisive issue.

659
00:54:43,920 --> 00:54:45,380
Some people want it, some people don't.

660
00:54:45,660 --> 00:54:49,620
This is the most people I've ever seen at any town meeting, and there's a reason for it.

661
00:54:49,800 --> 00:54:51,000
Why even get into this?

662
00:54:51,120 --> 00:54:54,280
There are more important issues for the commission to be talking about.

663
00:54:54,860 --> 00:54:57,400
And it is the medical commission of the building.

664
00:54:57,520 --> 00:55:00,440
You started your presentation with President Obama's sign.

665
00:55:00,800 --> 00:55:02,940
That tells me that you know it's political.

666
00:55:02,940 --> 00:55:05,180
I wouldn't want that sign here either.

667
00:55:05,680 --> 00:55:08,140
I don't want a president's name there.

668
00:55:08,700 --> 00:55:13,380
I think the naming of the sign and having party leaders

669
00:55:13,380 --> 00:55:15,140
participate in our process is really...

670
00:55:16,220 --> 00:55:17,880
Anyway, I'm going to skip ahead and just say,

671
00:55:18,020 --> 00:55:18,920
what would Donald Trump want?

672
00:55:19,280 --> 00:55:21,100
I'm not sure that Donald Trump would want this.

673
00:55:21,300 --> 00:55:23,240
Commercial road at Boulevard, I looked it up.

674
00:55:23,240 --> 00:55:25,340
It's been called that since the 1940s.

675
00:55:25,760 --> 00:55:29,560
15.2 miles, we're going to give them 0.4 stretch of it.

676
00:55:29,920 --> 00:55:31,440
Who wants the tip of the road?

677
00:55:31,440 --> 00:55:34,020
I don't think Donald Trump would, he's much too big.

678
00:55:34,500 --> 00:55:36,080
I think he would want the entire thing.

679
00:55:36,540 --> 00:55:39,360
I think you guys need to make sure Trump wants this road.

680
00:55:39,560 --> 00:55:44,680
It's a simple fix, you at least need to pause this process and get participation from the community.

681
00:55:45,000 --> 00:55:46,500
Do what's right, vote no.

682
00:55:47,240 --> 00:55:47,940
Thank you.

683
00:56:00,220 --> 00:56:00,920
And Mr. Nidak.

684
00:56:03,140 --> 00:56:08,360
Mayor commissioners, my name is Paul Novak, I've been a long time resident here in Lauderdale by the sea.

685
00:56:08,360 --> 00:56:22,600
I will be brief, regarding putting Trump-named street signs on the proposed areas mentioned, I would not favor until a proper method of determining the majority vote of our citizens.

686
00:56:24,040 --> 00:56:30,780
A townwide referendum should be the determining factor in this important matter.

687
00:56:31,380 --> 00:56:32,800
This is called democracy.

688
00:56:33,240 --> 00:56:33,800
Win or lose?

689
00:56:41,160 --> 00:56:46,620
Annette Speaker, Diane Maxson, I'm sorry, we'll

690
00:56:48,860 --> 00:56:49,400
get to you.

691
00:56:49,800 --> 00:56:57,380
Diane Maxson, followed by Bruce Novak, followed by Christy Firth, Diane Maxson, are you here?

692
00:56:58,460 --> 00:56:59,620
Last name, Maxson?

693
00:57:00,440 --> 00:57:01,620
Is it Dwayne, Dwayne Maxson?

694
00:57:01,620 --> 00:57:03,180
Dwayne Maxson, sorry, I'm sorry.

695
00:57:03,280 --> 00:57:03,780
My apologies.

696
00:57:04,000 --> 00:57:05,220
I should know that in my neighbor.

697
00:57:06,400 --> 00:57:07,280
Dwayne Maxson.

698
00:57:07,500 --> 00:57:08,980
Yes, sir, come up from here.

699
00:57:09,500 --> 00:57:11,500
Yes, please come up to the microphone, sir.

700
00:57:14,740 --> 00:57:19,220
And if you can bring the microphone down so we can all hear you, thank you, sir.

701
00:57:21,470 --> 00:57:25,290
Before I get started, Commissioner, please stay your name in.

702
00:57:25,290 --> 00:57:26,930
We've all been kicked out of better bars.

703
00:57:27,150 --> 00:57:27,330
Mr.

704
00:57:30,110 --> 00:57:32,490
Matten, can you just express your name and your address?

705
00:57:32,490 --> 00:57:39,210
I am entirely in favor of naming the avenue down Jake Trump Boulevard.

706
00:57:39,490 --> 00:57:41,010
And that's all I have to say.

707
00:57:41,790 --> 00:57:42,190
Thank you.

708
00:57:42,430 --> 00:57:43,130
Thank you.

709
00:57:50,650 --> 00:57:51,810
Now, it's your turn, sir.

710
00:57:54,910 --> 00:57:58,650
Good evening, Mr. Mayor, Mr. Vice Mayor, commissioners.

711
00:57:59,130 --> 00:58:00,730
My name is Bruce Novak.

712
00:58:00,850 --> 00:58:05,410
I'm here today as a former resident and current manager of one of the owners of the

713
00:58:05,410 --> 00:58:08,770
Heinen Beach Resort, who cares deeply about our community.

714
00:58:09,490 --> 00:58:15,710
I was born in Holy Cross Hospital and grew up on Algiers Avenue for the first 15 years of my life,

715
00:58:15,890 --> 00:58:20,430
with my parents Carol, Paul, and my siblings, Brian and Jennifer.

716
00:58:20,430 --> 00:58:23,270
what a town to grow up in so many memories.

717
00:58:24,530 --> 00:58:29,470
I believe the mayor and the commission work for the residents of the town and I would

718
00:58:29,470 --> 00:58:34,970
encourage you, gentlemen, to be advancing an agenda that builds community, unifies

719
00:58:34,970 --> 00:58:38,310
the town, preserves our history as a seaside oasis.

720
00:58:38,950 --> 00:58:42,930
Let's keep Waterdale by the sea welcoming, unified, and above politics.

721
00:58:43,250 --> 00:58:43,590
Thank you.

722
00:58:44,090 --> 00:58:44,470
Thank you.

723
00:58:51,220 --> 00:58:52,060
Who is next?

724
00:58:53,680 --> 00:58:54,240
Okay.

725
00:58:54,700 --> 00:58:54,820
Okay.

726
00:58:55,020 --> 00:58:55,140
Sorry.

727
00:59:01,670 --> 00:59:02,450
Good evening, everyone.

728
00:59:02,650 --> 00:59:04,370
I'm Christy Firth, a 54-year,

729
00:59:04,490 --> 00:59:06,970
lauded out by the sea resident and business owner.

730
00:59:07,770 --> 00:59:09,430
Our new citizen referendum,

731
00:59:09,710 --> 00:59:11,090
the No Politics in Paradise,

732
00:59:11,550 --> 00:59:13,590
was submitted to the town in January.

733
00:59:14,290 --> 00:59:15,830
And went on the ballot,

734
00:59:15,830 --> 00:59:18,170
well, undoubtedly passed this November.

735
00:59:18,670 --> 00:59:21,870
It states that naming the town public spaces and streets

736
00:59:21,870 --> 00:59:23,930
will now be voted on by the people,

737
00:59:24,170 --> 00:59:25,210
not the politicians,

738
00:59:25,210 --> 00:59:28,670
and that any current political signage will have to come down.

739
00:59:29,030 --> 00:59:33,710
Shortly after submission, an alternate plan was hatched to override the no politics

740
00:59:33,710 --> 00:59:38,990
and paradise referendum by passing a bill at the state level, making political signage

741
00:59:38,990 --> 00:59:42,930
for state roads like commercial boulevard beyond the reach of town residents.

742
00:59:43,450 --> 00:59:47,790
A Sun Central article alerted the public to the state bill, which prompted the following

743
00:59:47,790 --> 00:59:50,770
letter to state officials from Commissioner Razziano.

744
00:59:51,210 --> 00:59:54,770
He writes, hi, just was informed that your committee is considering

745
00:59:54,770 --> 00:59:58,810
HB33 that would co-designate commercial bill of art from West

746
00:59:58,810 --> 00:59:59,970
straight ones have a new east.

747
01:00:00,000 --> 01:00:05,680
To A1A is President Donald J. Trump Boulevard. This boulevard is entirely within Laudalia by the

748
01:00:05,680 --> 01:00:10,800
sea where I am an elected commissioner. Commercial boulevard may be a state highway, but the

749
01:00:10,800 --> 01:00:15,820
bill is an extremely aggressive move by state officials never elected by our residents

750
01:00:15,820 --> 01:00:21,680
to rename a tiny portion of a road entirely within our town footprint. To my knowledge, our

751
01:00:21,680 --> 01:00:27,300
commission was never consulted by you, the house sponsor or staff to the intention of this

752
01:00:27,300 --> 01:00:32,240
bill. If that happened, it could have been discussed and voted to support or oppose.

753
01:00:32,680 --> 01:00:36,940
Why would less than one mile of this boulevard and lorded by the sea interest state officials

754
01:00:36,940 --> 01:00:42,720
to initiate a name change? I am not in favor of renaming roads which do not have positive

755
01:00:42,720 --> 01:00:48,380
quantifiable social or economic value to local residents. In this case, it is a potentially

756
01:00:48,380 --> 01:00:54,200
divisive flashpoint for controversy within our welcoming Florida persona and if possible,

757
01:00:54,200 --> 01:00:59,480
with draw this bill from consideration from your committee, and vote against this unnecessary

758
01:00:59,480 --> 01:01:01,080
puffery respectfully.

759
01:01:01,580 --> 01:01:05,260
John A. Graziano, Commissioner Town of Lauderdale, by the state.

760
01:01:09,040 --> 01:01:10,460
He got it all in.

761
01:01:13,570 --> 01:01:19,750
Net speaker, Mark Firth, followed by Rico Petrocelli, followed by Henry McKinnon.

762
01:01:20,870 --> 01:01:23,750
Good evening mayor and commissioner, this is Mark Firth.

763
01:01:30,390 --> 01:01:37,350
I have to sit up, I had the opportunity to sit up there with you, and it was a difficult decision to make sometimes.

764
01:01:38,050 --> 01:01:41,170
But I believe that you can kick the can down the road.

765
01:01:41,730 --> 01:01:44,290
You don't need to make this resolution tonight.

766
01:01:44,830 --> 01:01:48,770
You can pass it after the next election.

767
01:01:49,430 --> 01:01:55,690
When you find out whether or not the people of this town pass them the referendum, or they don't pass it.

768
01:01:56,990 --> 01:02:00,050
Commissioner Dunnopoli says that he has a lot of people calling him.

769
01:02:00,950 --> 01:02:04,610
There's a chance that it would pass if there's a chance that it won't pass.

770
01:02:05,150 --> 01:02:08,990
If it doesn't pass, you have carte blanche to do whatever you like, right?

771
01:02:09,390 --> 01:02:14,230
And it's a mandate if the people pass it that you're doing the wrong thing for the people.

772
01:02:14,230 --> 01:02:21,290
Well, please do the right thing, respect the people of the town, and listen to the people of the town.

773
01:02:21,970 --> 01:02:25,710
Have this election, have our referendum, which is going forward.

774
01:02:26,710 --> 01:02:27,850
Thank you very much.

775
01:02:39,930 --> 01:02:43,770
Good evening mayor, city commissioners, everybody here.

776
01:02:44,890 --> 01:02:51,650
No, I am not a Lorde d'Albieta city resident, but I did swim here once, you know, that was as good as it got for me.

777
01:02:51,650 --> 01:03:02,510
You know, I come here always prepared for speeches anywhere I go, but I did observe a lot of things here before I got here, and I'm going to have to correct it.

778
01:03:03,790 --> 01:03:04,330
I was outside.

779
01:03:04,790 --> 01:03:05,990
Stay your name, I'm sorry.

780
01:03:06,150 --> 01:03:08,330
Rico Petrucelli Plankation, Florida.

781
01:03:10,030 --> 01:03:17,190
I was outside with the deputies and we were talking and I happened to notice and look down at your mat leading into the Jarvis Center.

782
01:03:17,190 --> 01:03:20,490
It says, relax, you're here.

783
01:03:21,210 --> 01:03:27,330
I'd like to point that out to the people out there in the back, relax, where were you

784
01:03:27,330 --> 01:03:30,710
when all of these other signs were placed up?

785
01:03:31,030 --> 01:03:31,670
There was never.

786
01:03:32,250 --> 01:03:39,350
I've been in this county and elected people, this has never happened before, never.

787
01:03:39,350 --> 01:03:50,930
I came by here from Rabbi Horror Boulevard in Plantation, Rick Case Drive, Alcy Hastings,

788
01:03:51,690 --> 01:03:55,490
Boulevard, Ronald Reagan Turnpike.

789
01:03:56,310 --> 01:04:04,510
You can't let the people who elected you, you said it, you saw the numbers here in

790
01:04:04,510 --> 01:04:05,910
in Lauderdale by the sea.

791
01:04:06,570 --> 01:04:08,870
Donald Trump is well-liked here.

792
01:04:09,310 --> 01:04:11,830
This group, the other thing I noticed

793
01:04:11,830 --> 01:04:15,190
is that they had to ask every person coming up

794
01:04:15,190 --> 01:04:18,370
or you a resident, so they don't even know them.

795
01:04:19,110 --> 01:04:21,030
They didn't know the residents, they asked me.

796
01:04:21,310 --> 01:04:21,970
Oh, you're a resident?

797
01:04:22,330 --> 01:04:24,790
No, they were just asking everybody,

798
01:04:25,270 --> 01:04:29,270
so don't tell me what a tight knit group this is.

799
01:04:29,410 --> 01:04:30,410
They don't know anybody.

800
01:04:31,070 --> 01:04:33,790
Go ahead, make the approval, live with it.

801
01:04:33,790 --> 01:04:35,350
It's the right thing to do.

802
01:04:39,460 --> 01:04:40,640
Next, right,

803
01:04:54,020 --> 01:04:54,200
all right.

804
01:04:54,580 --> 01:04:54,960
Please.

805
01:04:55,960 --> 01:04:56,680
Good evening.

806
01:04:57,040 --> 01:04:57,380
Yes, sir.

807
01:04:57,660 --> 01:04:58,200
Please stay here.

808
01:04:58,480 --> 01:04:59,840
My name is Henry McKinnon.

809
01:05:00,320 --> 01:05:04,160
I'm a lawyer, a small business owner, and a resident of Lauderdale by the sea.

810
01:05:04,640 --> 01:05:05,820
Thank you for your time tonight.

811
01:05:06,920 --> 01:05:11,340
Voting yes for this legislation is a very risky economic move for our community.

812
01:05:12,060 --> 01:05:15,840
The commission should take careful warning from a virtually identical event

813
01:05:15,840 --> 01:05:18,380
which occurred recently in our nation's capital.

814
01:05:18,380 --> 01:05:23,820
In December of last year, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, our nation's cultural

815
01:05:23,820 --> 01:05:28,620
arts center for over 50 years, added Trump to the name of the Kennedy Center.

816
01:05:29,400 --> 01:05:33,860
This was done without input from the residents of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and

817
01:05:33,860 --> 01:05:36,600
Virginia, all of whom are major patients at the center.

818
01:05:37,180 --> 01:05:38,660
A new sign was put up overnight.

819
01:05:39,160 --> 01:05:44,500
Residents and tourists, citizens from both parties, were outraged and firmly expressed their

820
01:05:44,500 --> 01:05:45,900
outrage with their wallets.

821
01:05:45,900 --> 01:05:51,120
Ticket sales at the Trump Kennedy Center dropped 50% within one week.

822
01:05:51,660 --> 01:05:54,760
Season ticket subscriptions dropped 36%.

823
01:05:55,160 --> 01:05:59,380
More than 40% of all theater seats are now empty during performances.

824
01:06:00,160 --> 01:06:03,600
Less than three months after the name was changed to Trump Kennedy Center,

825
01:06:04,080 --> 01:06:09,120
on February 1st, it was announced the center would be closing for construction and revitalization.

826
01:06:10,060 --> 01:06:14,780
In truth, the closing is because of the public's negative reaction to the name change,

827
01:06:14,780 --> 01:06:17,940
which may keep in the art center open financially impossible.

828
01:06:18,620 --> 01:06:21,320
As a result, surrounding businesses such as restaurants,

829
01:06:21,620 --> 01:06:25,340
coffee shops, ice cream shops, much like the shops we have in our downtown,

830
01:06:25,960 --> 01:06:27,980
lost customers and are currently closing.

831
01:06:29,220 --> 01:06:31,480
We are known as a non-partisan beach town.

832
01:06:32,060 --> 01:06:34,440
Our businesses are heavily dependent on income from tourists.

833
01:06:35,040 --> 01:06:40,360
The hard fact is that in these politically divided times, we risk losing half of our consumers,

834
01:06:40,360 --> 01:06:44,100
Just as happened after the name Trump was added to the Kennedy Center.

835
01:06:44,420 --> 01:06:48,020
I respectfully urge each commissioner to vote no on 18B.

836
01:06:48,400 --> 01:06:49,300
Thank you.

837
01:06:50,140 --> 01:06:50,860
Thank you.

838
01:06:54,800 --> 01:07:02,420
Next speaker, Karen Campagna, followed by Eileen Cretzer, followed by Mary Hayes.

839
01:07:08,250 --> 01:07:10,150
Hello, if you can bring the mic down.

840
01:07:10,350 --> 01:07:10,450
Yeah.

841
01:07:11,310 --> 01:07:12,310
I'm Karen Campagna.

842
01:07:12,510 --> 01:07:15,350
I live in Imperial Lane in Lauderdale by the sea, I'm a resident.

843
01:07:16,010 --> 01:07:19,370
And I have in my hand the latest Fox News poll.

844
01:07:19,930 --> 01:07:31,050
This came out on Wednesday and I think it might go a long way to explaining a little bit of why there's so many people here tonight and also predict a little bit about the future.

845
01:07:31,870 --> 01:07:43,820
First off, as of the poll released on Wednesday, the number of Americans that disapprove of Trump's handling of immigrations is 53%.

846
01:07:43,820 --> 01:07:45,760
and that's one of his better marks.

847
01:07:47,020 --> 01:07:51,660
The number that disagree of his performance on the economy, 61% and

848
01:07:52,300 --> 01:07:57,180
disagree on tariffs, 63% and the cost of living, 67%.

849
01:07:57,180 --> 01:08:01,200
When you look at that overall, it's pretty damning, but

850
01:08:01,200 --> 01:08:06,360
when you look at underneath, beneath those statistics, there's something very,

851
01:08:06,360 --> 01:08:09,360
very interesting that I think goes a long way to predicting the future.

852
01:08:10,220 --> 01:08:13,260
And that is when you look at each disapproval rating,

853
01:08:13,260 --> 01:08:22,360
It can be split into people that self identified as not only disapproving of that metric, but who are angry about that metric.

854
01:08:23,260 --> 01:08:33,520
And if just picking out one, his overall job performance, 32% identify as angry, that's unprecedented.

855
01:08:34,280 --> 01:08:42,360
How that is manifesting itself is that people in all of the primaries that we have had,

856
01:08:42,700 --> 01:08:48,000
the midterms rather that we've had, and also in the special elections,

857
01:08:48,480 --> 01:08:51,140
they are voting out people who support Trump.

858
01:08:52,180 --> 01:08:56,800
Also, by the way, they're voting out people who stood by and did nothing to oppose Trump.

859
01:08:58,200 --> 01:09:11,120
I think some of you are up for reelection come November, and I think in predicting the future, I certainly wouldn't vote for anybody that supported this measure, and I think I'm not alone in that.

860
01:09:11,120 --> 01:09:12,100
Good

861
01:09:22,280 --> 01:09:23,580
evening, my name is Eileen Craitzer.

862
01:09:24,300 --> 01:09:26,280
I am a resident of Largo, by the sea.

863
01:09:26,560 --> 01:09:29,400
I live off of Allenwood Drive for many years.

864
01:09:29,880 --> 01:09:31,540
Well, eight years, to be exact.

865
01:09:32,220 --> 01:09:35,380
Our town has long been a welcoming, nonpartisan community.

866
01:09:36,400 --> 01:09:41,540
As residents, many of us worry that turning our public streets

867
01:09:41,960 --> 01:09:44,980
into political statements changes our unique character.

868
01:09:45,480 --> 01:09:47,900
You are all elected to improve our community.

869
01:09:48,480 --> 01:09:50,420
I don't think this designation does anything

870
01:09:50,420 --> 01:09:52,000
to improve our community at all.

871
01:09:53,100 --> 01:09:56,400
By moving this designation to commercial boulevard, a state road,

872
01:09:56,860 --> 01:10:01,580
the resolution that you're proposing creates a way to bypass us, the local voters.

873
01:10:02,780 --> 01:10:06,620
Decisions about our town should involve the people who live in this town.

874
01:10:07,160 --> 01:10:09,480
Our streets belong to us, the residents.

875
01:10:10,480 --> 01:10:16,180
Please let the voters decide if you want to make our town political or keep it free of politics,

876
01:10:16,660 --> 01:10:18,160
so we can all relax here.

877
01:10:18,160 --> 01:10:23,500
I respectfully ask the commission to vote no on this resolution and thank you.

878
01:10:35,670 --> 01:10:39,480
My name is Mary Hayes, I live on Tropic Drive, Lauderdale, by the sea.

879
01:10:40,420 --> 01:10:50,860
I agree with most of the comments that have been made here tonight, especially Kudos to Commissioner Graziano for his wonderful letter.

880
01:10:52,850 --> 01:10:59,750
I agree with the comments that outline that we must respect the democratic process and

881
01:10:59,750 --> 01:11:06,350
And we must ensure and try to rebuild trust that has been sorely eroded by this crazy

882
01:11:06,350 --> 01:11:08,490
work around that you've been working on.

883
01:11:08,910 --> 01:11:10,210
This is about process.

884
01:11:10,450 --> 01:11:15,250
It should not be about politics, and we need to protect our town's character.

885
01:11:15,910 --> 01:11:21,450
I know you cannot answer questions directly, but I'm just wondering, how much, what is

886
01:11:21,450 --> 01:11:23,490
the cost of this nonsense?

887
01:11:24,030 --> 01:11:29,270
How much does it cost to put up a sign, take down a sign, hire all the sheriffs, have

888
01:11:29,270 --> 01:11:39,590
have bodyguards, have searches, we're a small community, we're supposed to relax and just live our lives apolitically.

889
01:11:40,030 --> 01:11:46,830
I can disagree with my next door neighbor, we each get one vote, that's fine, don't shove it down our throats.

890
01:11:47,250 --> 01:11:50,390
Kudos to Commissioner Graziano, and thank you for your time.

891
01:11:51,190 --> 01:11:53,010
Thank you, Miss Hayes.

892
01:11:56,770 --> 01:12:03,610
Met speakers, Deborah Armenti, followed by Stuart Dodd, followed by Barbara Struppt.

893
01:12:06,590 --> 01:12:07,630
Deborah Armenti?

894
01:12:10,280 --> 01:12:11,340
Miss Armenti?

895
01:12:11,620 --> 01:12:11,820
Is that?

896
01:12:12,500 --> 01:12:13,280
Did I say that right?

897
01:12:14,980 --> 01:12:16,240
Okay, Stuart Dodd.

898
01:12:16,360 --> 01:12:17,260
Okay, Mr Dodd.

899
01:12:30,800 --> 01:12:31,760
Stuart Dodd.

900
01:12:32,580 --> 01:12:34,260
Are you afraid of public comments?

901
01:12:35,140 --> 01:12:40,700
When I was sitting up there, we welcomed them on any subject, not even limited to the agenda

902
01:12:40,700 --> 01:12:47,360
at any time. It is our right as residents having the freedom of speech to talk to you publicly

903
01:12:47,360 --> 01:12:54,600
on any topic. Any time we had more than six people speaking on a topic, you had to stop

904
01:12:54,600 --> 01:13:01,900
and start listening. We used to have the town clerk, Tally, on the score. Had you done that

905
01:13:01,900 --> 01:13:08,280
at the previous meeting, you would have learned that the vast majority of residents were against

906
01:13:08,280 --> 01:13:15,640
renaming seed rate drive. Do you want to commit political suicide and hand the next election

907
01:13:15,640 --> 01:13:23,500
to anyone who puts a yard sign up with the letters R, T, F, S at the bottom? Within a couple

908
01:13:23,500 --> 01:13:31,580
of days it will be townwide that the polite version stands for remove Trump's f-ing sign with 60%

909
01:13:31,580 --> 01:13:43,300
support was 67. I didn't say anything rude. With 60% support, you're guaranteed you'll

910
01:13:43,300 --> 01:13:48,100
be voted out. I'm not joking, you're handing the next election to anyone running for office.

911
01:13:49,180 --> 01:13:54,660
Some of you weren't around in 2008, but Mr. Mayor, do you remember CIC against United

912
01:13:54,660 --> 01:14:00,480
R. Town? Within two years, every old guard commissioner was history because they stopped listening

913
01:14:00,480 --> 01:14:07,780
to the citizens. You are all headed in the same direction if you continue this stupidity

914
01:14:07,780 --> 01:14:13,640
of trying to rename our roads after any politician, Democrat, Republican, dead or alive.

915
01:14:14,920 --> 01:14:20,700
National politics is getting progressively more acrimonious and your job as elected representatives

916
01:14:20,700 --> 01:14:26,620
for this town is non-political. You are elected to do the will of the people. To the best

917
01:14:26,620 --> 01:14:31,760
of your ability and renaming streets isn't one of them. The way you're headed, if you vote

918
01:14:31,760 --> 01:14:35,540
yes, you probably won't be up there for much longer. Thank you.

919
01:14:41,770 --> 01:14:42,490
Barbara Scott.

920
01:14:50,710 --> 01:14:54,850
Good evening, I'm Barbara Strupp. I'm a long time resident of Lauderdale

921
01:14:54,850 --> 01:14:59,970
by the C. I strongly urge you to vote no.

922
01:15:02,000 --> 01:15:29,780
We really enjoy living in a town that's quiet, apolitical, and I really believe common sense will tell you that this is not a good idea. Just based on not only people who agree with me politically, even on the other side, they don't want this. I don't know who these people are that you say want this, but more of them should have come here tonight to say that they want this.

923
01:15:30,600 --> 01:15:31,400
Thank you.

924
01:15:35,490 --> 01:15:42,090
Next speaker, Michael Frietta, followed by Macy Shchopinski, followed by Bill Ciani.

925
01:15:44,400 --> 01:15:46,240
Good evening, Mr. Mayor, commissioners.

926
01:15:46,820 --> 01:15:50,840
My name is Michael Farora, and I am a resident of Lauderdale, by the sea.

927
01:15:52,000 --> 01:15:56,300
I'm here tonight to urge a no vote on the resolution to co-name commercial Boulevard.

928
01:15:57,300 --> 01:16:00,120
My opposition isn't about partisan politics.

929
01:16:00,120 --> 01:16:05,020
It is about the integrity of our local democratic process.

930
01:16:05,640 --> 01:16:12,720
For months, the residents of this town have been working on the no politics and paradise referendum.

931
01:16:13,500 --> 01:16:20,440
This is a lawful charter amendment intended to give voters a say in how our public spaces are named.

932
01:16:21,440 --> 01:16:25,800
By moving the designation to a state road like commercial boulevard,

933
01:16:25,800 --> 01:16:37,720
This commission is effectively creating a work around, permanent work around, to bypass the will of the people and place this decision beyond the reach of local voters.

934
01:16:38,880 --> 01:16:42,740
Furthermore, the backstory of how we got here is deeply troubling.

935
01:16:43,340 --> 01:16:54,920
This began with a request to the state legislature that bypassed open discussion with this commission, with this commission or businesses and our residents.

936
01:16:54,920 --> 01:16:59,620
The public only learned of this through a newspaper article last week.

937
01:17:00,760 --> 01:17:04,020
Transparency is the bedrock of public trust.

938
01:17:05,160 --> 01:17:09,520
And in this instance, that trust has been bypassed.

939
01:17:09,980 --> 01:17:16,020
Our town has long prided itself on being a welcoming nonpartisan community.

940
01:17:16,820 --> 01:17:20,880
Turning our main thoroughfare into a permanent political statement

941
01:17:20,880 --> 01:17:24,460
Without a single public workshop or voter input,

942
01:17:25,140 --> 01:17:28,240
changes the very character of our paradise.

943
01:17:28,960 --> 01:17:33,660
Please, respect the referendum process already in motion.

944
01:17:34,320 --> 01:17:37,480
Do not circumvent the residents, you represent.

945
01:17:38,080 --> 01:17:42,160
I respectfully ask you to vote no and let the voters decide.

946
01:17:42,160 --> 01:17:43,280
May

947
01:17:51,830 --> 01:17:52,610
I see Sapinski?

948
01:17:54,540 --> 01:17:55,590
Nancy Sapinski?

949
01:17:56,010 --> 01:17:58,170
Ms. Sapinski, are you here?

950
01:17:59,610 --> 01:18:01,270
That speaker, Bill Sianney.

951
01:18:02,010 --> 01:18:02,830
Mr. Sianney.

952
01:18:09,700 --> 01:18:11,700
The measure is town manager.

953
01:18:12,720 --> 01:18:16,940
I've been in this town all my life, which is a long time.

954
01:18:17,580 --> 01:18:20,860
I am a firm, drunk supporter.

955
01:18:21,700 --> 01:18:25,640
But in this case, I'm watching my town,

956
01:18:25,640 --> 01:18:35,690
act and bring out a very serious ugliness it's gonna drive people out of this

957
01:18:35,690 --> 01:18:41,430
town it's gonna make people not want to come here and I don't even want to see

958
01:18:41,430 --> 01:18:46,310
it come to a vote because there are partisan people whether they say they are

959
01:18:46,310 --> 01:18:52,510
not they will never accept a vote even if they went lose or draw on either side

960
01:18:52,510 --> 01:18:58,690
But I say table it, get rid of it, and let's forget about it and move on to more important things.

961
01:19:05,550 --> 01:19:12,310
Next speaker, Sufana Sosa, followed by Charles Leachman, followed by Michael Ross.

962
01:19:13,610 --> 01:19:14,490
Last name, Sosa?

963
01:19:15,690 --> 01:19:16,430
She left, okay?

964
01:19:17,050 --> 01:19:18,010
Charles Leachman?

965
01:19:27,740 --> 01:19:28,640
I know, that's right.

966
01:19:29,340 --> 01:19:30,420
Good evening, commission.

967
01:19:30,720 --> 01:19:32,660
You do a great job and thank you for your service.

968
01:19:33,000 --> 01:19:34,640
To state your name and your address.

969
01:19:34,840 --> 01:19:35,060
Thank you.

970
01:19:35,160 --> 01:19:36,280
That's next on my list.

971
01:19:36,620 --> 01:19:37,120
Thank you, sorry.

972
01:19:37,120 --> 01:19:41,540
My name is Charles Leachman, I live on Oceanic Avenue, and quite a while.

973
01:19:42,760 --> 01:19:44,880
All right, let me get up a little closer to this microphone.

974
01:19:45,220 --> 01:19:46,980
You can raise the whole thing up.

975
01:19:47,560 --> 01:19:48,080
Yeah, there you go.

976
01:19:48,480 --> 01:19:49,300
Flexible, how about that?

977
01:19:50,100 --> 01:19:50,460
Flexible.

978
01:19:50,680 --> 01:19:52,300
All right, I'll keep it simple.

979
01:19:52,780 --> 01:19:54,260
Well, there's a kiss principle.

980
01:19:54,440 --> 01:19:55,100
We'll let that go.

981
01:19:55,860 --> 01:19:58,880
Please vote no on resolution 2026 that I showed for.

982
01:19:59,020 --> 01:20:01,860
That's my request as a resident.

983
01:20:02,580 --> 01:20:09,120
the other thing is I just somehow I think a lot of this stuff should just let's

984
01:20:09,120 --> 01:20:12,740
wait till this administration is out of office before we go do some of this

985
01:20:12,740 --> 01:20:18,480
stuff I mean what's the urgency to do this now and I mean I'm not happy that

986
01:20:18,480 --> 01:20:24,960
it's already done and I'd be more than happy to see it go away and again just

987
01:20:24,960 --> 01:20:30,060
to reiterate let's see how this all turns out before we go honoring people thank

988
01:20:30,060 --> 01:20:30,260
Thank you.

989
01:20:46,760 --> 01:20:48,040
I'm Michael Ross.

990
01:20:48,460 --> 01:20:52,020
I've been a resident of Notre-Date-Wadda-Sea for 28 years.

991
01:20:52,180 --> 01:20:54,980
I live at 5,100 North Ocean Boulevard.

992
01:20:55,800 --> 01:21:02,400
In my opinion, you rush to approve the Sea grape sign, and it has been a flash point

993
01:21:02,400 --> 01:21:08,940
of controversy, resulting in the initiation of a soon-to-be proposed citizen referendum to

994
01:21:08,940 --> 01:21:12,640
let the voters decide street name changes.

995
01:21:12,640 --> 01:21:16,760
is. Now you are rushing to approve a state designated

996
01:21:16,760 --> 01:21:21,260
commercial boulevard sign, again, without the consent of

997
01:21:21,260 --> 01:21:26,120
the residents. This resolution will result in your taking

998
01:21:26,120 --> 01:21:31,120
down the new secret sign that costs my money, taxpayers

999
01:21:31,120 --> 01:21:37,820
money. And it's only been up for a couple of months. And I

1000
01:21:37,820 --> 01:21:41,940
think that your haste has made a lot of waste in this

1001
01:21:41,940 --> 01:21:48,480
town. And it was totally unnecessary to do. I respectfully ask the commission to vote

1002
01:21:48,480 --> 01:21:55,460
no on this resolution and allow the voters to decide in November. I do not see why this

1003
01:21:55,460 --> 01:22:01,120
matter is so urgent. Surely there are more pressing issues in Lordeau by the sea that

1004
01:22:01,120 --> 01:22:04,860
you can spend your valuable time working on. Thank you.

1005
01:22:04,860 --> 01:22:05,820
Thank

1006
01:22:07,860 --> 01:22:08,060
you.

1007
01:22:10,670 --> 01:22:16,230
Next speaker, Bruce Frankel, followed by Shelley Goldstein, followed by Kathy Henley.

1008
01:22:20,460 --> 01:22:21,280
What was the first name?

1009
01:22:22,360 --> 01:22:23,100
Bruce Frankel.

1010
01:22:24,380 --> 01:22:25,180
Bruce Frankel.

1011
01:22:27,200 --> 01:22:28,160
Shelley Goldstein.

1012
01:22:34,900 --> 01:22:36,760
Good evening. My name is Shelley Goldstein.

1013
01:22:36,900 --> 01:22:40,380
This is my first meeting here, so I'm going to start.

1014
01:22:40,600 --> 01:22:40,900
Well, okay.

1015
01:22:42,960 --> 01:22:46,240
Actually, I'm going to direct this to you, Commissioner DiNapoli.

1016
01:22:46,420 --> 01:22:47,580
Thank you for your presentation.

1017
01:22:47,580 --> 01:22:53,040
and whether I agree with it or not, you asked questions and could you put up the slide

1018
01:22:53,040 --> 01:23:02,760
with the percentages of overwhelming percentages of people that voted in favor of other, yeah.

1019
01:23:03,140 --> 01:23:12,340
So, I was impressed with the overwhelming positive votes for certain presidents nine to

1020
01:23:12,340 --> 01:23:19,500
wine, overwhelming majority, unanimous consent, and then you ask the questions, why should

1021
01:23:19,500 --> 01:23:22,420
there not be bipartisan support for this?

1022
01:23:22,900 --> 01:23:26,520
Why should there not be overwhelming support for this?

1023
01:23:26,940 --> 01:23:30,720
And why should this be different than any other president?

1024
01:23:31,100 --> 01:23:34,860
And I hope that you just got the answer to your question tonight.

1025
01:23:35,660 --> 01:23:36,460
Thank you.

1026
01:23:36,460 --> 01:23:37,440
Kathy

1027
01:23:47,710 --> 01:23:48,130
Henley.

1028
01:24:04,570 --> 01:24:08,470
My name is Kathy Heinley. I've lived in Lauderdale by the sea on

1029
01:24:08,470 --> 01:24:11,410
Pointe and since 1947.

1030
01:24:13,880 --> 01:24:19,980
So regardless of anyone's political, leanings and views,

1031
01:24:20,720 --> 01:24:27,500
decisions about having our town's public spaces named should involve all the

1032
01:24:27,500 --> 01:24:32,960
residents of our town. Transparency builds trust in our

1033
01:24:32,960 --> 01:24:37,520
government. So I ask you to please respect the democratic

1034
01:24:37,520 --> 01:24:42,940
process of the United States of America and vote no today on

1035
01:24:42,940 --> 01:24:50,020
resolution 18B. Then we can have the right to vote on the

1036
01:24:50,020 --> 01:24:54,760
no politics in paradise referendum on the November ballot and

1037
01:24:54,760 --> 01:24:57,600
we make the decision of what we want for our town.

1038
01:24:58,080 --> 01:24:59,320
Thank you for your time.

1039
01:25:04,130 --> 01:25:12,990
Net speakers, Jim Datson, we have a true main truthy followed by Chris Soto.

1040
01:25:21,680 --> 01:25:25,540
How many are left, by the way, are you sorry?

1041
01:25:26,940 --> 01:25:28,580
We have about 30 speakers left.

1042
01:25:28,880 --> 01:25:33,840
Okay, sorry, Mr. Mayor, vice mayor commissioners.

1043
01:25:34,460 --> 01:25:35,980
My name is Jim Datson.

1044
01:25:37,200 --> 01:25:39,600
This has been my hometown since 1960.

1045
01:25:40,300 --> 01:25:41,920
That's 66 years.

1046
01:25:43,260 --> 01:25:46,040
I'm a registered independent in Laudal, by the sea.

1047
01:25:47,060 --> 01:25:49,040
And I vote right here, probably standing right

1048
01:25:49,040 --> 01:25:50,740
in this area here.

1049
01:25:52,700 --> 01:25:53,840
I'll cut to the chase.

1050
01:25:54,040 --> 01:25:58,560
I heard all the verbiage about why this is such a great idea,

1051
01:25:59,700 --> 01:26:03,700
but can someone really tell me and explain to me,

1052
01:26:03,700 --> 01:26:13,700
What's the real value added to the residents and visitors of our special town by voting yes to this resolution?

1053
01:26:14,680 --> 01:26:24,300
You probably can't because there isn't any. It's pure politics. It's about putting a lightning rod in here to divide us.

1054
01:26:25,620 --> 01:26:33,160
I'm counting on the two commissioners that already voted against the first one to hang

1055
01:26:33,160 --> 01:26:33,620
in there.

1056
01:26:34,800 --> 01:26:41,160
And Mr. Mayor, I hope you can be the one to step up to the plate and display some strong

1057
01:26:41,160 --> 01:26:43,620
leadership by voting no.

1058
01:26:45,000 --> 01:26:52,460
Let the voters decide and don't let the passage of this resolution become the cornerstone

1059
01:26:53,060 --> 01:26:58,080
I'm legacy of your service as mayor of the town and commissioners.

1060
01:26:58,160 --> 01:26:58,460
Thank you.

1061
01:26:59,480 --> 01:27:00,260
Thank you.

1062
01:27:00,380 --> 01:27:01,360
And thank you for your service.

1063
01:27:12,360 --> 01:27:12,880
Good evening.

1064
01:27:13,140 --> 01:27:14,980
My name is Trudy Robos.

1065
01:27:15,220 --> 01:27:20,980
I've lived here since 1990, so I'm a long-standing resident, and I'm going to keep it short because

1066
01:27:20,980 --> 01:27:22,220
Jim started on it.

1067
01:27:22,320 --> 01:27:24,260
There was an Eileen, another woman, Michelle.

1068
01:27:25,060 --> 01:27:30,340
Don't you all have something better to do with your time at, oh, I will also include

1069
01:27:30,800 --> 01:27:32,000
my neighbor, Chris Vincent.

1070
01:27:32,000 --> 01:27:36,880
Don't you have something better to do with your time and our money, even though it may

1071
01:27:36,880 --> 01:27:38,340
be state-sponsored, whatever?

1072
01:27:38,760 --> 01:27:45,400
How many extra additional soup kitchens is a lot or doubt by the sea sponsoring now

1073
01:27:45,400 --> 01:27:46,160
this year?

1074
01:27:46,440 --> 01:27:47,480
How many additional new ones?

1075
01:27:47,820 --> 01:27:53,980
How about starting or thinking about running a blood pressure clinic in Jarvis Hall-free

1076
01:27:53,980 --> 01:27:59,040
blood pressure monitors and then people can take their blood pressures and figure out if

1077
01:27:59,040 --> 01:28:00,520
they need to follow up with the doctors?

1078
01:28:00,520 --> 01:28:07,560
How about doing something constructive for the community, as opposed to this divisive nature measure?

1079
01:28:08,420 --> 01:28:09,980
Thank you, that's all I have to say.

1080
01:28:16,450 --> 01:28:19,950
Net speaker, Soto Stanberg.

1081
01:28:21,670 --> 01:28:23,490
Now it's neck-wreckly.

1082
01:28:24,690 --> 01:28:28,490
Followed by Margaret Davis, followed by Mark Pearson.

1083
01:28:32,480 --> 01:28:33,200
Margaret Davis?

1084
01:28:37,080 --> 01:28:37,820
I don't want to.

1085
01:28:37,860 --> 01:28:38,240
All right.

1086
01:28:38,700 --> 01:28:39,820
Okay, Mark Pearson.

1087
01:28:39,820 --> 01:28:40,880
Good

1088
01:28:47,310 --> 01:28:50,550
evening, everybody. Mark Pearson, 1921 water's edge.

1089
01:28:51,470 --> 01:28:58,430
And while we're on that subject of water's edge, my street got renamed a few years ago without my involvement.

1090
01:28:58,910 --> 01:29:02,910
Used to be southeast 18th street, and the town just renamed it.

1091
01:29:03,390 --> 01:29:06,250
So I figured, okay, I like the name, that was it.

1092
01:29:07,070 --> 01:29:13,910
I did not know anything about the renaming of the C-grade part into the Truman also.

1093
01:29:13,910 --> 01:29:15,410
Well, excuse me, Trump also.

1094
01:29:16,270 --> 01:29:19,010
However, when I heard it, I said, why do we do that?

1095
01:29:19,390 --> 01:29:24,090
And then I heard, I read the explanation, and I said, gee, now I understand it, made

1096
01:29:24,090 --> 01:29:24,710
sense to me.

1097
01:29:25,670 --> 01:29:27,290
Made sense to me at that time.

1098
01:29:28,630 --> 01:29:33,930
I'm listening to everybody talk tonight, and it's pretty neat listening to all these ideas

1099
01:29:33,930 --> 01:29:38,790
because getting up here and doing public speaking is pretty hard for a lot of people.

1100
01:29:38,790 --> 01:29:59,650
Having said that, the reality is, I believe, that the state has passed the law, or the state legislature and Senate has already passed a document that when Governor DeSantis signs it, and I feel pretty certain that Governor DeSantis will sign it, that the

1101
01:30:00,000 --> 01:30:27,620
Point four miles of commercial boulevard is going to be re-designated, commercial, and Donald J. Trump boulevard. I believe that is the way it's going to be. So, the reality is if the commission, I believe, and yes, once I was an elected politician in a small town on the shore in a different state had very similar issues and politics here.

1102
01:30:27,620 --> 01:30:37,120
I believe that if the commission doesn't vote yes, then we will end up with a Donald J. Trump, Donald J. Trump corner.

1103
01:30:38,040 --> 01:30:39,860
That's what I believe is going to happen.

1104
01:30:40,280 --> 01:30:48,540
Now having said that, I also would like to point out that I am a tremendous President, Donald J. Trump's supporter, and I love the way it's going.

1105
01:30:49,040 --> 01:30:49,680
Thank you.

1106
01:30:50,560 --> 01:30:51,740
Thank you, Mr. Pearson.

1107
01:30:51,740 --> 01:30:52,860
Next

1108
01:30:56,060 --> 01:31:02,900
speakers, Corey Andrews, followed by Martin Marsquitz, followed by Karen Sylvester.

1109
01:31:14,910 --> 01:31:16,010
Good evening.

1110
01:31:16,510 --> 01:31:21,950
I'm Corey Andrews, I live at 1481 South Ocean Boulevard.

1111
01:31:23,530 --> 01:31:31,530
As a visitor to Lauderdale by the sea since 1994 and a permanent year-round resident for

1112
01:31:31,530 --> 01:31:32,690
13 years.

1113
01:31:33,810 --> 01:31:40,730
I ask the commissioners and mayor to vote no on the code designation of commercial boulevard.

1114
01:31:41,810 --> 01:31:49,450
My wife and I, both from the Chicago area, where we know partisan politics and political

1115
01:31:49,450 --> 01:31:58,730
pandering were drawn to the town in part by its unique culture of non-partisanship in government

1116
01:31:58,730 --> 01:32:06,370
and elections. Consider that what is said here tonight will not long be remembered.

1117
01:32:07,270 --> 01:32:13,890
However, what is done here tonight will have ramifications long into the future,

1118
01:32:14,470 --> 01:32:23,750
and a vote to co-designate commercial boulevard will ruin what for my wife and I has been a paradise

1119
01:32:23,750 --> 01:32:27,010
in which to live, work, and worship.

1120
01:32:28,090 --> 01:32:35,910
I urge you to keep politics out of paradise and reject this political pandering.

1121
01:32:37,290 --> 01:32:39,090
Voters have long memories.

1122
01:32:40,370 --> 01:32:50,550
And those who vote yes on agenda item 18B, I hope will pay a price for that vote at the next election.

1123
01:32:51,130 --> 01:32:51,630
Thank you.

1124
01:32:51,630 --> 01:32:51,630
So,

1125
01:32:57,730 --> 01:33:01,670
Martin Marshquiz, Martin,

1126
01:33:04,220 --> 01:33:04,960
Karen Syvester.

1127
01:33:09,220 --> 01:33:10,200
Good evening.

1128
01:33:11,640 --> 01:33:15,780
My name is Karen Syvester, I live on Terramar Island, I'm a resident.

1129
01:33:16,480 --> 01:33:23,900
I would like to encourage the commission to focus its time on the most important issues facing the town of Lutterdale by the sea.

1130
01:33:24,680 --> 01:33:30,960
We have significant matters that deserve the commission's attention, public safety,

1131
01:33:30,960 --> 01:33:36,200
including our law enforcement contract, the selection of new fire rescue provider.

1132
01:33:36,860 --> 01:33:42,600
We have infrastructure needs, including the need for a new public safety building, concerns about flooding,

1133
01:33:43,420 --> 01:33:46,740
and maintaining and enhancing our beautiful downtown area.

1134
01:33:47,980 --> 01:33:52,820
There are several issues being considered at the state level that could impact our community and

1135
01:33:52,820 --> 01:33:55,420
require thoughtful engagement from this commission.

1136
01:33:56,500 --> 01:34:02,000
Most importantly, you must focus on developing a balanced and responsible budget that considers

1137
01:34:02,000 --> 01:34:03,100
all of these priorities.

1138
01:34:04,440 --> 01:34:10,760
For these reasons, I respectfully request that the commission remove this item from the

1139
01:34:10,760 --> 01:34:16,900
agenda and future agendas so that focus can remain on the issues most important to residents

1140
01:34:16,900 --> 01:34:17,960
who elected you.

1141
01:34:19,440 --> 01:34:24,800
The proposal to co-name commercial boulevard is clearly generating a great deal of discussion

1142
01:34:24,800 --> 01:34:31,700
and division. In my opinion, renaming a street is not among the most pressing issues facing

1143
01:34:31,700 --> 01:34:39,160
our town. I support our current president. And I think he'd like having a road named

1144
01:34:39,160 --> 01:34:45,160
after him. But I also believe he would encourage local leaders to focus at first on the issues

1145
01:34:45,160 --> 01:34:51,280
that most directly impact the residents they serve. Thank you.

1146
01:34:56,430 --> 01:35:02,730
Let's speaker Bob Worf, first name Bob followed

1147
01:35:04,810 --> 01:35:07,030
by Thomas Weissnett.

1148
01:35:12,380 --> 01:35:16,240
Yes, a good evening. My name is Bob Wood. I'm a resident of Palm Beach County.

1149
01:35:17,060 --> 01:35:22,500
And I find this event tonight quite entertaining here with everybody's opinions.

1150
01:35:23,120 --> 01:35:27,680
But basically I came here to support Donald Trump. Donald Trump is our president.

1151
01:35:27,680 --> 01:35:41,520
He's done a fantastic job and how you honor him and respect him is really why I'm here because I don't know anybody who would want to run for office again after the stuff that he's had to go through.

1152
01:35:41,900 --> 01:35:48,080
So I support whatever is good for your county and for Donald Trump, have a good evening.

1153
01:35:48,500 --> 01:35:48,920
Thank you, sir.

1154
01:35:51,940 --> 01:35:53,480
Beers, respectful of each other, please.

1155
01:35:53,580 --> 01:36:00,430
Let's speaker Thomas Weissenit, Wagner, excuse me, Thomas Wagner.

1156
01:36:06,460 --> 01:36:08,040
I'm not a resident of your town.

1157
01:36:08,080 --> 01:36:10,120
I'll go to this microphone with the light on, sir.

1158
01:36:10,760 --> 01:36:13,240
I'm not a resident of your town, Thomas Wagner, right?

1159
01:36:13,460 --> 01:36:14,180
Say you're not, Thomas Wagner.

1160
01:36:14,740 --> 01:36:17,960
I come from a county way up north, quote, Pike County, Pennsylvania.

1161
01:36:18,900 --> 01:36:19,880
I am an independent.

1162
01:36:20,660 --> 01:36:25,460
I will let you know that I do not agree with everything that Donald Trump has to say or does.

1163
01:36:26,080 --> 01:36:27,660
But I'm here, quite often.

1164
01:36:27,760 --> 01:36:28,640
And you speak into the mic.

1165
01:36:28,760 --> 01:36:29,680
I'm here quite often.

1166
01:36:30,400 --> 01:36:32,500
I bring money into your town.

1167
01:36:33,380 --> 01:36:36,380
I'm quite here at C-Watch restaurant, quite often.

1168
01:36:36,480 --> 01:36:37,760
I come down here for several months here.

1169
01:36:38,760 --> 01:36:41,580
So what I would encourage, some of those consider that,

1170
01:36:41,880 --> 01:36:43,100
I've heard a lot about democracy.

1171
01:36:44,640 --> 01:36:46,940
Now, I'm not a constitutional or expert,

1172
01:36:47,540 --> 01:36:49,740
but we do not live in a direct democracy.

1173
01:36:49,740 --> 01:36:53,380
We live in a representative democracy, as I understand it.

1174
01:36:54,320 --> 01:37:01,940
So, I would take and urge the council to take that consideration and to balance the opinions

1175
01:37:01,940 --> 01:37:06,920
of those that you represent with the opinions that those of those of you who young, those

1176
01:37:06,920 --> 01:37:12,120
who come to your town and basically enjoy the wonderful paradise you have here.

1177
01:37:13,240 --> 01:37:19,600
And we certainly want to see any conflict as an outsider though, I can tell you that when

1178
01:37:19,600 --> 01:37:28,060
And I see both sides represented, what the feeling that it gives me as an outsider is

1179
01:37:28,060 --> 01:37:32,880
that it's a place that actually considers democracy, considers so-cratic debate.

1180
01:37:34,080 --> 01:37:39,260
What I've seen a lot of is I've seen a lot of objection, but I haven't heard a lot of

1181
01:37:39,260 --> 01:37:40,760
justification for the objection.

1182
01:37:42,120 --> 01:37:46,420
Now, you're each entitled to your vote, you're each entitled to your opinion.

1183
01:37:46,420 --> 01:37:51,380
but I would encourage you if you want to attract people like myself to your

1184
01:37:51,380 --> 01:37:57,920
talent to respect the opinion of the opposing side in a civil way and I think

1185
01:37:57,920 --> 01:38:01,420
that's really the core of our democracy and unfortunately we've moved away from

1186
01:38:01,420 --> 01:38:10,200
that so the message that you send tonight is will resound beyond your town okay so

1187
01:38:10,200 --> 01:38:15,340
if I was in your position I would vote in the affirmative to send the message

1188
01:38:15,340 --> 01:38:21,820
that you're bipartisan, that you're representative democracy, and that you expect everyone's opinion.

1189
01:38:22,340 --> 01:38:23,580
Okay, thank you, sir.

1190
01:38:23,840 --> 01:38:24,020
Thank you.

1191
01:38:26,060 --> 01:38:30,080
Next speaker, Eli Dill, followed by Grace Gartner.

1192
01:38:30,340 --> 01:38:30,720
More

1193
01:38:36,450 --> 01:38:36,930
time, sorry.

1194
01:38:37,270 --> 01:38:37,990
Eli Dill.

1195
01:38:39,370 --> 01:38:40,450
Mr. Dill.

1196
01:38:44,030 --> 01:38:45,270
Grace Gartner.

1197
01:38:47,070 --> 01:38:47,890
There she is.

1198
01:38:48,410 --> 01:38:49,370
Now you're on this.

1199
01:38:52,620 --> 01:38:53,980
Hi, I'm Grace Gartner.

1200
01:38:53,980 --> 01:39:02,980
I live on Elmar Drive, and I would like to encourage you to vote no, and to represent the people who put you in those seats.

1201
01:39:04,400 --> 01:39:05,080
Thank you.

1202
01:39:08,960 --> 01:39:11,500
I have a last name, Sinelli.

1203
01:39:12,560 --> 01:39:13,080
Cinelli.

1204
01:39:17,160 --> 01:39:18,780
Is that you do the first name?

1205
01:39:19,660 --> 01:39:20,600
No, it's not eligible.

1206
01:39:21,140 --> 01:39:24,040
No, it's not Cione.

1207
01:39:24,640 --> 01:39:24,840
All right.

1208
01:39:25,440 --> 01:39:26,420
No, he already won.

1209
01:39:26,900 --> 01:39:27,420
All right.

1210
01:39:27,420 --> 01:39:30,460
All right, next speaker is Nicholas Bett, I'm sorry.

1211
01:39:30,680 --> 01:39:31,600
I'll wait for someone to say it.

1212
01:39:31,640 --> 01:39:33,300
Some one second, one second.

1213
01:39:36,720 --> 01:39:37,740
Oh, they're getting wanted.

1214
01:39:39,580 --> 01:39:40,360
Oh, geez, all right.

1215
01:39:45,580 --> 01:39:45,880
Hello.

1216
01:39:47,040 --> 01:39:47,520
Yes.

1217
01:39:48,180 --> 01:39:49,020
All right, good evening.

1218
01:39:49,200 --> 01:39:50,700
My name is Colleen Cinelli.

1219
01:39:50,900 --> 01:39:52,160
I live on C Great Drive.

1220
01:39:52,880 --> 01:39:55,440
So third time I've been addressing the commission

1221
01:39:55,920 --> 01:39:57,440
all three about the signage.

1222
01:39:58,840 --> 01:40:00,460
First of all, I need to do something.

1223
01:40:04,430 --> 01:40:07,650
I don't like turning my back on the residents of Lauderdale

1224
01:40:07,650 --> 01:40:16,490
by the sea. So I urge all of you not to turn your backs on us now. Ben here three times

1225
01:40:17,510 --> 01:40:26,010
and to quote a commissioners presentation tonight about fairly and respectively speaking,

1226
01:40:26,670 --> 01:40:35,970
I would like the same opportunity for the residents here to be fair and respectful and put this vote

1227
01:40:35,970 --> 01:40:41,970
off until we've had the referendum and the vote to see if some of the information that was given

1228
01:40:41,970 --> 01:40:48,610
tonight by the commissioner is true that people are overwhelmingly in favor of this. I know when

1229
01:40:48,610 --> 01:40:57,130
I spoke the last two times, we were not. And I disagree that people don't come out if they agree

1230
01:40:57,130 --> 01:41:05,370
with something going on. My tally tonight is about five four and the rest of the speakers have been

1231
01:41:05,370 --> 01:41:12,310
against those in the city, in our town, the rest of them are from out of the town, which

1232
01:41:12,310 --> 01:41:14,370
was the same thing that happened at the first meeting.

1233
01:41:15,450 --> 01:41:22,630
I would like to address the transparency of some of the new commissioners, and it does

1234
01:41:22,630 --> 01:41:29,030
seem that you were elected and never stated what your goals were for the town of Lauderdale

1235
01:41:29,030 --> 01:41:29,670
by the sea.

1236
01:41:30,430 --> 01:41:42,810
The mayor has been here for years, I think everybody knows his policies and his appreciation of the town he's been in the political scene here for a very, very, very, very long time.

1237
01:41:44,030 --> 01:41:55,130
However, it seems just within the past year or so the agenda has switched and again, I don't want you turning your back on us, so please vote no tonight.

1238
01:41:55,870 --> 01:41:56,310
Thank you.

1239
01:41:56,310 --> 01:41:57,270
Thank you.

1240
01:42:00,660 --> 01:42:06,880
Net speakers, Nicholas Beck, followed by Brianna Reeves, followed by Chris Fincent.

1241
01:42:11,660 --> 01:42:13,440
Hello, sorry if you could just state your name.

1242
01:42:13,940 --> 01:42:14,160
Yes.

1243
01:42:14,920 --> 01:42:16,220
My name is Nicholas Beck.

1244
01:42:16,400 --> 01:42:18,460
I'm an up and coming resident of Lauderdale, by the state.

1245
01:42:19,800 --> 01:42:22,760
Good evening, Mayor, commissioners and members of the community.

1246
01:42:23,160 --> 01:42:24,560
I appreciate that you're listening tonight.

1247
01:42:25,280 --> 01:42:32,120
I'm an honorary nation related to commercial law, by the state, as President Donald J. Trump,

1248
01:42:32,120 --> 01:42:36,200
in Boulevard. I want to start by emphasizing something important about this proposal.

1249
01:42:37,120 --> 01:42:40,880
It's fairly symbolic. Commercial Boulevard would remain commercial Boulevard.

1250
01:42:41,220 --> 01:42:44,300
This is not the same in the road and it's not changing one's legal address.

1251
01:42:44,900 --> 01:42:49,280
It doesn't create a particular residence or businesses and it doesn't disrupt daily life.

1252
01:42:49,580 --> 01:42:54,420
It's simply an honorary recognition. Across prior county and throughout Florida,

1253
01:42:55,100 --> 01:42:59,360
communities have long recognized presence and historic figures through honorary street designations.

1254
01:42:59,360 --> 01:43:04,400
Many of those names represent leaders from both major political parties.

1255
01:43:04,780 --> 01:43:10,960
That tradition really isn't about politics, it's about recognizing people who have served in one of the most significant roles in our country.

1256
01:43:12,020 --> 01:43:17,040
President Trump served as the 45th President and is now the 47th President of the United States.

1257
01:43:17,500 --> 01:43:22,000
Regardless of anyone's personal views, Honella office is historically significant.

1258
01:43:22,600 --> 01:43:26,140
Communities across the country have recognized President in similar ways for decades.

1259
01:43:26,140 --> 01:43:29,220
and this would simply follow that law and stand in practice.

1260
01:43:29,880 --> 01:43:33,320
Another thing I think is important to remember is that Lario Bice is a unique community.

1261
01:43:33,820 --> 01:43:36,100
It's a town with a strong identity and a sense of history.

1262
01:43:36,680 --> 01:43:40,720
And honorary designation like this can reflect moments of our nation's story and

1263
01:43:40,720 --> 01:43:42,000
the leaders who have shaped it.

1264
01:43:43,120 --> 01:43:46,800
And honestly, one of the most positive things about tonight is simply seeing people show up and participate.

1265
01:43:47,380 --> 01:43:49,660
Whether people support this proposal or oppose it,

1266
01:43:50,340 --> 01:43:55,080
the fact that people care enough to attend the town meeting and speak their minds shows that civic engagement is alive and well.

1267
01:43:55,080 --> 01:44:02,400
Well, at the end of the day, this proposal is modest, symbolic, and consistent with the way many other communities recognize President Trump's certain nation.

1268
01:44:02,820 --> 01:44:05,680
So I respectfully ask the commission to support this honorary designation.

1269
01:44:06,180 --> 01:44:08,900
Thank you for your time, and thank you for your service to the town of Lauderdale to see you.

1270
01:44:09,140 --> 01:44:09,840
God bless everybody.

1271
01:44:10,200 --> 01:44:10,480
Thank you.

1272
01:44:15,970 --> 01:44:18,430
No, no, no, no, please, please.

1273
01:44:18,690 --> 01:44:19,550
Brianna Reeves?

1274
01:44:24,260 --> 01:44:25,000
I didn't hear.

1275
01:44:25,680 --> 01:44:28,440
Yes, if you can state your name and your address and your word.

1276
01:44:28,600 --> 01:44:31,980
Brianna Reeves, I'm not a resident of Lauderdale by the city of Fort Lauderdale.

1277
01:44:31,980 --> 01:44:33,280
Okay, four letter, resident.

1278
01:44:33,660 --> 01:44:41,460
Good evening, Mayor and Commissioner, as I'm here in support of the proposal to designate a portion of commercial boulevard as Donald J. Trump boulevard.

1279
01:44:41,820 --> 01:44:47,120
This matter has already been addressed by the Florida legislature and CSHP33.

1280
01:44:47,640 --> 01:44:56,200
Language directing this designation appears in lines 16 through 19 and the bill passed both the Florida House and the Senate in late February and early March.

1281
01:44:56,200 --> 01:44:59,960
In short, the issue has already been debated, considered, and

1282
01:45:00,000 --> 01:45:29,620
And decided at the state level. It is also worth noting that designating roads in honor of presidents and national leaders is a long-standing American tradition. Across the country, roads, highways, and public spaces bear the names of past presidents as a recognition of their role in nation's history. This proposal follows that same tradition. I fear that continuing to revisit this issue here is not the most productive use of the commission's or lauderdale by the sea's taxpayers' time.

1283
01:45:29,620 --> 01:45:42,380
By moving forward on this proposal today, allows this body to focus its attention and energy in more productive places such as the many local issues that directly impact the residents and businesses of Lauderdale by the seat.

1284
01:45:42,760 --> 01:45:44,320
Thank you for your time and consideration.

1285
01:45:44,780 --> 01:45:45,480
Let's move on.

1286
01:45:45,980 --> 01:45:47,280
Thank you.

1287
01:45:47,480 --> 01:45:48,880
No, please, please.

1288
01:45:49,660 --> 01:45:50,040
No, please.

1289
01:45:51,560 --> 01:45:53,200
Mayor Vincent, how are you, sir?

1290
01:45:59,240 --> 01:46:05,560
Good evening mayor vice mayor commission and most of all BSO thank you captain and your staff for your

1291
01:46:05,560 --> 01:46:13,580
service and the public state that you provide to the town of Lauderdale by the sea and especially the sea and making sure everyone's safe. Thank you to the to stay your name and

1292
01:46:13,580 --> 01:46:15,900
Vincent resident. Thank you. Thank you mayor

1293
01:46:17,440 --> 01:46:18,500
You start off with

1294
01:46:19,080 --> 01:46:25,000
residents of every right to pursue a charter amendment regarding future honorary street name decisions

1295
01:46:26,180 --> 01:46:28,300
That's the democratic process should continue

1296
01:46:28,740 --> 01:46:30,440
And I believe we can all agree on that.

1297
01:46:31,420 --> 01:46:37,540
However, the charter amendment effort concerns town-controlled streets and future decisions

1298
01:46:37,540 --> 01:46:42,040
commercial boulevard, as we know, is a state road governed by state authority.

1299
01:46:43,240 --> 01:46:45,680
These are separate legal jurisdictions.

1300
01:46:47,020 --> 01:46:51,540
As past mayor and recent chair of the charter review board for the town of Lodera by the

1301
01:46:51,540 --> 01:46:53,820
sea, I understand those differences.

1302
01:46:53,820 --> 01:46:57,920
Supporting this resolution is not a rejection of voter input.

1303
01:46:58,740 --> 01:47:01,060
It's a recognition of existing state authority.

1304
01:47:02,100 --> 01:47:04,080
This is not about partisanship.

1305
01:47:04,620 --> 01:47:14,260
It's about respecting state law, maintaining procedural water, providing clarity, reducing confusion, and moving forward responsibly.

1306
01:47:14,260 --> 01:47:23,400
Lauderdale by the sea can respect differing opinions while also respecting the legal processes already completed and in place.

1307
01:47:24,860 --> 01:47:28,520
In summary, commercial boulevard is a state roadway.

1308
01:47:28,960 --> 01:47:34,640
The legislation that has acted, this resolution simply aligns our town with that lawful action.

1309
01:47:35,440 --> 01:47:41,560
Residents are free to pursue the future charter changes for town controlled streets and that process should be respected.

1310
01:47:41,560 --> 01:47:43,820
But this matter involves state authority.

1311
01:47:44,540 --> 01:47:48,380
Supporting this resolution brings clarity, consistency, and closure.

1312
01:47:49,220 --> 01:47:50,920
I fully support this resolution.

1313
01:47:51,240 --> 01:47:56,220
I want to thank commission Dadapli for your understanding of the state law and

1314
01:47:56,220 --> 01:47:58,920
why we choose to live in this great state of Florida.

1315
01:47:59,440 --> 01:48:00,280
Thank you for your time, Joe.

1316
01:48:00,720 --> 01:48:01,060
Thank you.

1317
01:48:03,450 --> 01:48:05,450
Perfectly timed, everyone's doing so good.

1318
01:48:05,450 --> 01:48:12,710
Annette Speakers, Nancy Demko, followed by Kiki and Larry Kaiser, followed by Yani and Najar.

1319
01:48:15,410 --> 01:48:16,390
Ms. Demko.

1320
01:48:23,120 --> 01:48:23,440
All right.

1321
01:48:24,020 --> 01:48:25,460
Kiki and Larry Kaiser.

1322
01:48:30,000 --> 01:48:30,440
Kaiser.

1323
01:48:32,680 --> 01:48:34,300
Yani and Najar.

1324
01:48:37,160 --> 01:48:38,600
You could raise it up for you.

1325
01:48:38,840 --> 01:48:39,320
Yeah, perfect.

1326
01:48:41,660 --> 01:48:42,480
Good evening.

1327
01:48:42,820 --> 01:48:45,020
My name is Yani and Najar, I'm not a resident.

1328
01:48:47,890 --> 01:48:49,490
I was born and raised here.

1329
01:48:49,490 --> 01:48:54,410
I listen to a lot of residents in the previous meeting, so respectfully, so I'm going to ask that you do this.

1330
01:48:54,670 --> 01:49:00,910
All right, I appreciate Mr. Mayor, where do you live and for a lot of help?

1331
01:49:00,990 --> 01:49:01,670
Yeah, for a lot of help.

1332
01:49:01,710 --> 01:49:03,250
He lives in for a lot of help.

1333
01:49:03,250 --> 01:49:15,390
Okay, but before I begin, I want to sincerely acknowledge and thank all the law enforcement officers from BSO, both outside and inside this building, for ensuring this evening remains orderly and peaceful.

1334
01:49:16,070 --> 01:49:18,270
In my opinion, this is not about naming a road.

1335
01:49:18,790 --> 01:49:23,050
It's about acknowledging historic achievements that had a lasting impact on our nation on the world.

1336
01:49:23,810 --> 01:49:29,370
President Trump delivered historic economic growth, secure borders, and strong support for small businesses.

1337
01:49:30,470 --> 01:49:35,230
One of the most significant accomplishments of his presidency was the historic Abraham Accords,

1338
01:49:35,630 --> 01:49:38,890
which brought peace agreements between Israel and multiple Arab nations.

1339
01:49:39,390 --> 01:49:41,730
Something experts believe could not be possible.

1340
01:49:41,730 --> 01:49:47,470
Achievance of this magnitude and this kind would ordinarily earn a person a Nobel Peace Prize.

1341
01:49:48,070 --> 01:49:52,710
It's worth noting that many in this room speak passionately about defending democracy,

1342
01:49:53,390 --> 01:49:56,050
yet proposal itself is a product of the democracy.

1343
01:49:56,910 --> 01:50:04,490
Of citizens participating in civic process and electing representatives to enact laws reflective of their constituents.

1344
01:50:05,070 --> 01:50:10,150
And attempts to silence or suppress that, participation won't contribute to the very democratic principles.

1345
01:50:10,150 --> 01:50:21,070
We all claim to value an honorary designation is a modest, but meaningful way for this community to recognize leadership that made history.

1346
01:50:21,290 --> 01:50:24,890
It acknowledges an achievement that advanced peace, strength in America, and

1347
01:50:24,890 --> 01:50:29,170
demonstrated the power of bold leadership so I strongly encourage the council to support this proposal.

1348
01:50:29,470 --> 01:50:29,950
Thank you very much.

1349
01:50:30,740 --> 01:50:31,990
Thank you, Mr. Andrews.

1350
01:50:34,190 --> 01:50:37,390
Mayor, as a point of information, we have ten remaining speakers.

1351
01:50:37,390 --> 01:50:46,370
Okay, the next three speakers, Allen Barski, followed by Lynn Swanson, followed by Spiro Marshelos.

1352
01:50:46,830 --> 01:50:47,370
Marshelos.

1353
01:50:54,540 --> 01:50:58,500
Allen Barski, here he comes.

1354
01:51:08,030 --> 01:51:09,970
Sir, with the light on, yes, right there.

1355
01:51:10,750 --> 01:51:14,510
Thank you very much for hearing all of the constituents.

1356
01:51:14,510 --> 01:51:19,990
My name is Allen Barski, I'm a resident of Flutterdale by the sea for 26 years on Corsair Avenue.

1357
01:51:20,810 --> 01:51:27,510
Just wanted to highlight many people have said the importance of transparency and honesty

1358
01:51:27,510 --> 01:51:29,230
and honesty also in the debate.

1359
01:51:29,510 --> 01:51:32,490
There's been a number of things that have been said here tonight that just do not ring

1360
01:51:32,490 --> 01:51:38,650
through at all and we really want to raise the level of discussion and make sure that decisions

1361
01:51:38,650 --> 01:51:40,150
are based upon facts.

1362
01:51:40,430 --> 01:51:45,750
So when people say that President Trump is not controversial, just hearing tonight all

1363
01:51:45,750 --> 01:51:47,750
of the controversy, how can you even say that?

1364
01:51:47,750 --> 01:51:55,430
There was a statement that was said tonight about the state has passed a law, so we have to respect it and we have to pass this law.

1365
01:51:55,750 --> 01:52:03,050
If we don't agree with the state law, how about the city go back to the state and say, hey, we really want to keep politics out of Lauderdale by the sea.

1366
01:52:03,430 --> 01:52:07,710
Let's not have any streets named after politicians, it really hasn't done us any good.

1367
01:52:08,350 --> 01:52:15,650
There was a comment earlier about the value of this sign that people are taking pictures and it's a spot that's attracting people.

1368
01:52:15,650 --> 01:52:19,830
I live in work and I live in this area and I walk around it all the time.

1369
01:52:20,230 --> 01:52:25,810
The only people I see around the signs is on Saturday and they're protesting Donald Trump.

1370
01:52:26,270 --> 01:52:32,050
Do you want the whole town to be known as this is the place where we protest, Donald Trump?

1371
01:52:32,590 --> 01:52:38,790
Why don't we just leave the law in place and show them how ridiculous it is to have two streets that are named Donald Trump Boulevard?

1372
01:52:38,930 --> 01:52:39,450
It's ridiculous.

1373
01:52:39,890 --> 01:52:42,310
Why don't you just name all of the streets, Donald Trump Boulevard?

1374
01:52:44,720 --> 01:52:55,100
Seriously, let's keep this town nonpartisan, let's take away all this controversy, it can be done very easily with your support. Thank you.

1375
01:52:55,100 --> 01:52:55,440
Thanks.

1376
01:52:55,960 --> 01:52:57,120
Thank you so much.

1377
01:52:59,810 --> 01:53:00,650
Lynn Swanson.

1378
01:53:03,260 --> 01:53:04,340
Lynn Swanson.

1379
01:53:04,740 --> 01:53:05,940
Lynn Swanson.

1380
01:53:06,220 --> 01:53:07,240
Lynn Swanson.

1381
01:53:07,240 --> 01:53:08,440
Lynn Swanson, sorry.

1382
01:53:11,250 --> 01:53:12,330
Spiro Marcellos.

1383
01:53:18,930 --> 01:53:21,490
Mr. Marcellos, if you could raise the mic up your kind of talk.

1384
01:53:21,750 --> 01:53:21,850
Yeah.

1385
01:53:22,650 --> 01:53:25,650
Spiro Marcellos, two commercial boulevards.

1386
01:53:26,930 --> 01:53:28,350
Tonight's very important.

1387
01:53:29,610 --> 01:53:34,470
People are giving their opinions as part of America freedom of speech.

1388
01:53:35,070 --> 01:53:38,130
Donald Trump has done an excellent job as President of the United States.

1389
01:53:38,950 --> 01:53:41,770
He has stopped the drugs from coming into America,

1390
01:53:42,310 --> 01:53:45,250
saving hundreds of thousands of people's lives.

1391
01:53:45,910 --> 01:53:49,070
Those are lives. We want to save lives. He's done a great job.

1392
01:53:49,070 --> 01:53:59,090
He's protecting, as we speak, where in war with Iran, Iran has been attacking us for

1393
01:53:59,090 --> 01:54:00,090
the last 47 years.

1394
01:54:00,190 --> 01:54:03,270
We lost thousands of soldiers the last 47 years.

1395
01:54:03,270 --> 01:54:05,890
We lost in the army, Marines.

1396
01:54:06,450 --> 01:54:11,850
We've been attacked by them, and now Donald Trump has said this has to stop, and we are cutting

1397
01:54:11,850 --> 01:54:12,410
the devil.

1398
01:54:12,890 --> 01:54:14,310
The devil is in Iran.

1399
01:54:15,310 --> 01:54:17,610
Donald Trump understands what's going on in this world.

1400
01:54:17,610 --> 01:54:19,290
It's time to step up.

1401
01:54:19,690 --> 01:54:22,110
We have domestic terrorists in our cities.

1402
01:54:22,510 --> 01:54:30,130
People that come Saturdays and sit in front of the bank and protest, or they're in Oakland Park and US one, it's ridiculous.

1403
01:54:30,890 --> 01:54:34,970
Instead of Sunday protesting, they should maybe go to church and see what's all about.

1404
01:54:35,930 --> 01:54:42,010
God bless America, Trump has done an excellent job, and you can redeem yourselves tonight people and vote positive.

1405
01:54:42,490 --> 01:54:45,270
Donald Trump will help Lordeal by the sea.

1406
01:54:46,390 --> 01:54:52,050
God bless Donald Trump and God bless America, and that's it, and let's go to the vote.

1407
01:54:52,310 --> 01:54:53,070
Thank you very much.

1408
01:54:53,310 --> 01:54:54,910
All right, thank you, Mr. Marchellus.

1409
01:54:56,960 --> 01:55:05,060
Net speakers, Sim draw dorsi, followed by Jonathan Renzi, followed by Eileen O'Brien.

1410
01:55:10,830 --> 01:55:11,650
Sparkly jacket.

1411
01:55:14,350 --> 01:55:15,230
Good evening, gentlemen.

1412
01:55:15,990 --> 01:55:18,350
If you can bring the mic down so they can get a little bit, thank you.

1413
01:55:18,350 --> 01:55:27,090
Good evening my name is Sandra Dorsey I want to see give her a second please give me a second

1414
01:55:27,090 --> 01:55:33,210
And thank you so much for your service everyone here who's doing service just say your resident or not

1415
01:55:33,210 --> 01:55:40,090
I think not a resident. Thank you. I know it's okay. It doesn't matter. You still listen to everyone. It's an open. It's an open forum

1416
01:55:40,090 --> 01:55:41,150
It is an open forum

1417
01:55:41,150 --> 01:55:46,830
So I want to see again my name is Sandra Dorsey while I am not a resident of Lodidia by the sea

1418
01:55:46,830 --> 01:55:55,310
I am a Broward, I am here engaged in civic service in Broward County and I'm here tonight

1419
01:55:55,310 --> 01:56:01,930
to support those who have actually asked for this honorary designation of the portion

1420
01:56:01,930 --> 01:56:05,150
of Commercial Boulevard as President Donald J. Trump Boulevard.

1421
01:56:05,650 --> 01:56:11,450
This is not just about a name or a sign, it's about recognizing leadership, respecting the

1422
01:56:11,450 --> 01:56:16,590
voices of the community and honoring the principles that make our country great.

1423
01:56:17,730 --> 01:56:23,590
President Trump served as the 45th president of the United States during his administration.

1424
01:56:23,870 --> 01:56:31,330
He oversaw significant economic growth, historic tax reforms and policies that strengthen national

1425
01:56:31,330 --> 01:56:36,650
security, many Americans, including residents here in this area, feel that his leadership

1426
01:56:36,650 --> 01:56:41,410
had a lasting positive impact in deserving recognition.

1427
01:56:42,030 --> 01:56:45,850
The honorary designation is one small but meaningful way

1428
01:56:45,850 --> 01:56:47,990
to acknowledge that contribution.

1429
01:56:48,830 --> 01:56:50,750
Commercial Boulevard is a state road

1430
01:56:50,750 --> 01:56:52,430
making it an appropriate location

1431
01:56:52,430 --> 01:56:54,510
for a state honorary designation.

1432
01:56:55,110 --> 01:56:58,810
Approving the resolution could also bring attention,

1433
01:56:59,170 --> 01:57:02,050
visitors and commerce to the town,

1434
01:57:02,330 --> 01:57:05,790
benefiting local businesses and communities as a whole.

1435
01:57:05,790 --> 01:57:12,910
The Republican Party headquarters has been located in this immediate area for decades, and the surrounding communities

1436
01:57:12,910 --> 01:57:18,010
include many voters who proudly support President Trump.

1437
01:57:18,590 --> 01:57:23,290
Thank you so much, and I know that the right thing will be done.

1438
01:57:23,930 --> 01:57:24,490
Thank you, ma'am.

1439
01:57:24,490 --> 01:57:24,710
Come in.

1440
01:57:24,970 --> 01:57:25,350
Thank you.

1441
01:57:29,130 --> 01:57:30,370
Jonathan Renzi?

1442
01:57:31,430 --> 01:57:34,890
No, sir, please respect each other, please.

1443
01:57:40,850 --> 01:57:41,230
Hello, sir.

1444
01:57:41,970 --> 01:57:48,690
Good evening, my name is Jonathan Renzi, my family owns a residence on North Ocean Boulevard not far from here.

1445
01:57:49,410 --> 01:57:59,310
I'm here tonight to thank the mayor, Mr. Malcolm, vice mayor, Mr. Strauss, and the various commissioners for taking the time to be here tonight.

1446
01:57:59,830 --> 01:58:04,590
I urge all of you to vote yes to move forward on this proposal.

1447
01:58:04,590 --> 01:58:10,110
I understand that a lot of people who have voiced different opinions are saying that

1448
01:58:10,110 --> 01:58:14,270
we are renaming commercial boulevard, that's not correct, that's not a fact.

1449
01:58:14,710 --> 01:58:20,470
This seems to be a very simple honorary designation, a sign that goes both directions.

1450
01:58:21,290 --> 01:58:29,110
There are many, many ways that make President Trump one of the greatest presidents in decades.

1451
01:58:29,110 --> 01:58:31,150
There are many reasons for it.

1452
01:58:31,310 --> 01:58:32,790
It was touched on previously.

1453
01:58:33,650 --> 01:58:41,130
Something that was not touched on is the fact that he has greatly pushed forward eight peace deals

1454
01:58:41,830 --> 01:58:45,130
among different wars that were going on that.

1455
01:58:45,190 --> 01:58:47,890
Most of us didn't even know about it for the last few years.

1456
01:58:48,310 --> 01:58:53,750
And hopefully we'll be on the edge of number nine, Iran, and number ten, Russia and Ukraine.

1457
01:58:53,750 --> 01:58:59,670
So I'd like for everyone to vote yes to move forward on this, let's focus on making

1458
01:58:59,670 --> 01:59:05,350
Lauderdale by the sea a safe neighborhood and finding ways to move forward.

1459
01:59:05,450 --> 01:59:12,510
And I also want to take the rest of my time to appreciate the fact that over $500,000 was made

1460
01:59:12,510 --> 01:59:19,250
thanks to Commissioner DiNapoli from responsibly investing the funds that can you believe it?

1461
01:59:19,250 --> 01:59:24,490
The funds in the city were not even invested, like, that's just wild to me.

1462
01:59:24,810 --> 01:59:30,030
So I want to just express my gratitude for doing a great job investing the funds,

1463
01:59:30,470 --> 01:59:34,330
making Lauderdale by the sea a great place for everyone to live in and enjoy.

1464
01:59:34,870 --> 01:59:36,990
And let's move forward, let's honor our president.

1465
01:59:37,290 --> 01:59:40,310
He's our commander in chief, and let's just get this done.

1466
01:59:40,610 --> 01:59:40,970
Thank you.

1467
01:59:41,350 --> 01:59:41,670
Thank you.

1468
01:59:44,670 --> 01:59:47,750
I'm loving everyone's keeping the rack the time good, huh?

1469
01:59:48,030 --> 01:59:49,450
Everything great for them.

1470
01:59:49,830 --> 01:59:55,950
Next speaker is Eileen O'Brien, followed by Steve Cutt, followed by Robert Mark.

1471
01:59:55,950 --> 01:59:56,270
Mark.

1472
01:59:59,070 --> 01:59:59,930
Let me set Brian.

1473
02:00:01,100 --> 02:00:29,860
Hi, my name is Alina Brine. I'm a Catholic, and I stand here and taking an excerpt. I'm not a resident of Loderdale by the sea, and I'm taking an excerpt from the full text of the Epstein case documents case number 18-2868. This is not relevant to the discussion. This is relevant because somebody said that you didn't give a good reason why this shouldn't be done. This is your reason. Epstein files, plaintiffs, Katie.

1474
02:00:29,860 --> 02:00:40,280
for causes of actions against defendants, Donald J. Trump and Jeffrey Epstein alleges as follows factual allegations.

1475
02:00:40,820 --> 02:00:52,280
On the fourth final factual encounter with defendants Donald J. Trump, the plaintiff Katie Johnson was tied to a bed by defendant, Donald J. Trump,

1476
02:00:52,940 --> 02:00:58,060
who then proceeded to forcibly rape plaintiff Johnson during the course of-

1477
02:00:58,060 --> 02:01:00,980
Ma'am, I'm going to stop your, I apologize,

1478
02:01:04,220 --> 02:01:06,960
this is grease feature, this is

1479
02:01:25,640 --> 02:01:25,840
in,

1480
02:01:45,780 --> 02:01:48,260
no, no, no, no, no, please, please stop.

1481
02:01:52,060 --> 02:02:00,200
All right, you're out of order, you're out of order, be respectful and not use bad language, please.

1482
02:02:03,230 --> 02:02:05,910
Your time is up, please have a seat, ma'am.

1483
02:02:06,430 --> 02:02:07,750
Ma'am, please have a seat.

1484
02:02:07,750 --> 02:02:11,790
No, thank you, please have a seat sir

1485
02:02:20,980 --> 02:02:24,080
if you can press the button on the on the thing please it'll turn green

1486
02:02:24,080 --> 02:02:31,280
There you go. Okay. My name is Stephen Kutner. I'm a resident of Fort Lauderdale

1487
02:02:35,230 --> 02:02:35,790
I'm

1488
02:02:37,970 --> 02:02:45,390
first-generation American to two German parents my father escaped Nazi Germany in February of 1938

1489
02:02:46,910 --> 02:02:52,590
The only reason why I am here today is because he was able to escape while the rest of my grandparents

1490
02:02:52,590 --> 02:02:57,590
were not allowed to escape. I know this has nothing to do with it, but what I heard in the beginning

1491
02:02:57,590 --> 02:03:10,860
was a lot about history and a lot about this history is how let's just say it sounded like a

1492
02:03:10,860 --> 02:03:21,200
lot of propaganda from East Germany to me. I lived in West Berlin in 1986 to 1987 while the wall was up.

1493
02:03:21,200 --> 02:03:31,560
I understood German fluently. I heard German radio, East German radio propaganda.

1494
02:03:32,500 --> 02:03:40,200
What I heard today, this opening was exactly that. So if you want to talk about history,

1495
02:03:41,060 --> 02:03:49,620
let's talk about history because this is not how democracy works. However you slice it

1496
02:03:49,620 --> 02:03:56,740
and dice it, we, as residents, or at least the people of Fort Lauderdale by the sea, get

1497
02:03:56,740 --> 02:04:06,220
to have a voice overwhelmingly, overwhelmingly, the people here have are disgusted with

1498
02:04:06,220 --> 02:04:06,980
this decision.

1499
02:04:08,620 --> 02:04:11,860
So I'm asking respectfully that you vote no on this.

1500
02:04:11,860 --> 02:04:31,780
What I'm also going to say, is that Republicans have had their best worked on was being able to convince evangelicals that a vulgar greedy racist man who has had five children without three wives, pays porn stores for sex, groups, women,

1501
02:04:45,870 --> 02:04:45,870
and

1502
02:04:45,870 --> 02:04:49,120
Mark, Jin Forte.

1503
02:05:00,030 --> 02:05:04,630
Hi, good evening, mayors, commissioners.

1504
02:05:06,170 --> 02:05:10,190
You need to be patient, you need to be able to speak, please, thank you.

1505
02:05:12,930 --> 02:05:15,090
I can have my hat, this is a free country.

1506
02:05:18,740 --> 02:05:22,660
Hi, thank you, good evening mayors and commissioners.

1507
02:05:22,880 --> 02:05:25,600
My name is Jennifer Forte, and I'm from Fort Lauderdale.

1508
02:05:26,600 --> 02:05:30,240
While I visit Lauderdale by the sea often,

1509
02:05:30,240 --> 02:05:36,500
because I truly enjoy the quaint charm and lively atmosphere of this community.

1510
02:05:38,620 --> 02:05:44,920
I feel very strongly about this proposal.

1511
02:05:46,120 --> 02:05:54,020
From what I've heard tonight, some residents have created what they have called as a movement, no politics and paradise.

1512
02:05:54,740 --> 02:05:59,660
However, the reality is that many of these individuals involved in that movement

1513
02:05:59,660 --> 02:06:03,180
and have been protesting here every single weekend.

1514
02:06:03,900 --> 02:06:07,060
These protests have caused traffic disruptions

1515
02:06:07,060 --> 02:06:10,920
and have negative impacts on local businesses in the area.

1516
02:06:12,640 --> 02:06:18,000
As I was walking here from my card to the meeting this afternoon,

1517
02:06:18,520 --> 02:06:21,660
several people have stopped me and complimented my hat

1518
02:06:21,660 --> 02:06:22,800
and said they loved it.

1519
02:06:23,360 --> 02:06:26,920
That interaction alone shows that there are many people

1520
02:06:26,920 --> 02:06:32,040
in this community with different perspectives who feel comfortable expressing them.

1521
02:06:32,640 --> 02:06:38,980
For that reason, I believe in this proposal to designate an honorary street, Donald J. Trump

1522
02:06:38,980 --> 02:06:47,080
Boulevard, and it should pass. President Trump accomplished a great deal of, sorry, accomplished

1523
02:06:47,080 --> 02:06:54,860
a great deal of things during his presidency for so far, and many people should recognize

1524
02:06:54,860 --> 02:06:57,260
and appreciate those accomplishments, including myself.

1525
02:06:57,540 --> 02:06:58,680
Thank you for your time.

1526
02:06:58,980 --> 02:06:59,420
Thank you.

1527
02:07:02,310 --> 02:07:05,410
Last speaker, Alfonso Connelliz.

1528
02:07:05,790 --> 02:07:05,950
Out

1529
02:07:12,610 --> 02:07:13,030
of resident.

1530
02:07:16,580 --> 02:07:17,400
Hey, good night.

1531
02:07:17,440 --> 02:07:19,000
Everybody belongs here, thank you.

1532
02:07:19,120 --> 02:07:24,100
Good evening, I am a 37 year old resident of the County of Broward,

1533
02:07:24,240 --> 02:07:25,900
a long time for Lauderdale resident.

1534
02:07:27,200 --> 02:07:28,980
Comes a Lauderdale by the sea a lot.

1535
02:07:29,120 --> 02:07:30,180
I've been coming here as a child.

1536
02:07:32,500 --> 02:07:36,840
I see Deja Vu here tonight because I was here six months ago.

1537
02:07:36,920 --> 02:07:45,420
So the night Charlie Kirk passed away and I see the same people and I hear the same arguments.

1538
02:07:45,880 --> 02:07:52,700
I think heard arguments that the town was going to run dry, that the businesses were going

1539
02:07:52,700 --> 02:07:56,060
to go away, that this was going to become like one of those ghost towns you see in a movie.

1540
02:07:56,880 --> 02:08:01,640
And I on every weekend I'm here and as I was driving here, the town seems to be booming

1541
02:08:01,640 --> 02:08:02,480
and full of people.

1542
02:08:04,160 --> 02:08:09,540
A lot of the people from all over the county come over here to take a picture with the

1543
02:08:09,540 --> 02:08:11,260
sign and they absolutely love it.

1544
02:08:11,580 --> 02:08:16,940
This county has, this city has about 6,000 residents, it's had a state house that's been

1545
02:08:16,940 --> 02:08:23,640
Republican for decades and I hear a lot of threats about, we're not going to vote for you

1546
02:08:23,640 --> 02:08:24,140
next time.

1547
02:08:24,340 --> 02:08:27,500
I guarantee you all the people that we hear never voted for you in the first place are

1548
02:08:27,500 --> 02:08:29,140
and we're going to vote for you next time anyways.

1549
02:08:29,840 --> 02:08:30,320
So who cares?

1550
02:08:33,280 --> 02:08:34,840
There's a sign on Southern Boulevard.

1551
02:08:35,120 --> 02:08:36,720
It's great, people absolutely love it.

1552
02:08:37,400 --> 02:08:39,640
I hear people complaining about protesting,

1553
02:08:40,140 --> 02:08:42,520
but they protest at the Tesla every weekend.

1554
02:08:42,660 --> 02:08:45,640
They protest at the corner at the target every weekend.

1555
02:08:46,180 --> 02:08:47,900
And I mean, last weekend they were protesting

1556
02:08:47,900 --> 02:08:50,940
in front of the home depot about ICE.

1557
02:08:51,240 --> 02:08:53,280
So it seems like they're never going to be happy anyways.

1558
02:08:53,300 --> 02:08:54,600
They're going to protest about something.

1559
02:08:54,600 --> 02:09:02,420
So let's stop complaining, get this done, and keep a lot of deal by the C-grade and good night.

1560
02:09:02,680 --> 02:09:02,980
Thank you.

1561
02:09:03,260 --> 02:09:03,740
Thank you, sir.

1562
02:09:05,300 --> 02:09:06,900
That was the last speaker you said?

1563
02:09:08,500 --> 02:09:09,080
Oh gosh.

1564
02:09:09,300 --> 02:09:09,480
All right.

1565
02:09:12,560 --> 02:09:18,000
So what we're going to do is I'm going to first ask, given the testimony that was provided,

1566
02:09:18,180 --> 02:09:22,200
I'm going to still ask the maker of the motion if they still wish to make their first and the second.

1567
02:09:25,220 --> 02:09:26,360
Yes, I move the motion.

1568
02:09:26,880 --> 02:09:28,360
Okay, and is there still the second?

1569
02:09:28,840 --> 02:09:29,880
Yes, I second the motion.

1570
02:09:30,380 --> 02:09:34,100
Okay, so what we're going to do, I just before we get the debate and bring it back to the commission,

1571
02:09:34,100 --> 02:09:39,340
I don't want to clarify one point because it was mentioned several times from the audience members.

1572
02:09:40,080 --> 02:09:46,940
And that is what is the reason, I think you had a slide on there regarding what a yes and a no vote mean.

1573
02:09:48,060 --> 02:09:53,240
Because I want to, I just want to clarify that for people that were in the audience if it was not already cleared.

1574
02:09:54,080 --> 02:10:00,340
So, the state legislature passed a resolution, and what does that mean?

1575
02:10:00,660 --> 02:10:08,220
Commissioner, do you want to state that, it means it's basically going to happen if the governor signs it, correct, regardless of a yes or no tonight?

1576
02:10:08,220 --> 02:10:11,240
Okay, this is just approval of markers.

1577
02:10:12,460 --> 02:10:20,320
When the state legislature passes legislation, it has to come before the local commission as a requirement for approval.

1578
02:10:21,000 --> 02:10:26,100
For approval of designating the state road, or is that the markers on the state road?

1579
02:10:26,540 --> 02:10:34,680
Okay, all right, so we're gonna go ahead and commissioner Polopolis as the maker of the second, do you want to state something?

1580
02:10:34,680 --> 02:10:36,820
The reason why you second in it, or do you want to make a comment?

1581
02:10:38,180 --> 02:10:40,780
If we're going to start Commissioner commons and sure I'll begin.

1582
02:10:43,830 --> 02:10:45,950
I first want to thank everyone who came this evening.

1583
02:10:46,810 --> 02:10:49,990
This is what civic engagement is all about.

1584
02:10:50,370 --> 02:10:54,690
People coming out where they agree with something or not agree with something but voicing their opinions.

1585
02:10:55,550 --> 02:11:00,550
And I always say this, it's unfortunate that we don't have this kind of a turnout when it's a budget meeting

1586
02:11:00,550 --> 02:11:03,570
or when we're talking about a public safety building

1587
02:11:03,570 --> 02:11:06,910
or when we're talking about looking at a new fire department.

1588
02:11:08,270 --> 02:11:10,350
Everyone here, please come to those meetings.

1589
02:11:12,050 --> 02:11:14,210
Ron Prasad is here every meeting, right Ron?

1590
02:11:14,910 --> 02:11:15,390
Every meeting.

1591
02:11:16,990 --> 02:11:18,730
Listen, everyone is entitled to their opinions.

1592
02:11:19,550 --> 02:11:21,690
Everyone's entitled to voice their opinion

1593
02:11:21,690 --> 02:11:24,010
in a respectful manner.

1594
02:11:24,510 --> 02:11:27,270
And like I said in September, we're all adults.

1595
02:11:27,850 --> 02:11:29,170
Let's all act like adults.

1596
02:11:29,170 --> 02:11:36,030
Let's drop the hate, drop the animosity towards one another because we all belong here.

1597
02:11:36,650 --> 02:11:41,070
I don't care if you're a resident or not, every person in this room belongs here.

1598
02:11:41,350 --> 02:11:44,790
This is an open forum and everyone can speak their mind in my opinion.

1599
02:11:45,950 --> 02:11:51,950
I also mentioned September that I believe an honorary sign recognizes Donald Trump's patriotism.

1600
02:11:52,510 --> 02:11:57,890
We're talking about a president who's actively neutralizing threats to our country and whether

1601
02:11:57,890 --> 02:12:03,970
Whether you agree with him or not, whether you like his politics or you abort them, I truly

1602
02:12:03,970 --> 02:12:08,030
believe that President Trump is doing what he believes is best for this country.

1603
02:12:09,170 --> 02:12:10,170
And I respect that.

1604
02:12:11,140 --> 02:12:13,310
He's not a politician's politician.

1605
02:12:14,290 --> 02:12:17,110
He doesn't take the conventional approach to the office.

1606
02:12:17,890 --> 02:12:22,130
And in my personal opinion, that's what's been needed in at least my lifetime.

1607
02:12:22,130 --> 02:12:28,910
time. If you don't agree with him, then that's perfectly fine. But that doesn't take away

1608
02:12:28,910 --> 02:12:34,650
from the fact that what we are doing here tonight is simply honoring a sitting president.

1609
02:12:35,150 --> 02:12:35,630
Again,

1610
02:12:37,720 --> 02:12:41,820
a resident this evening stated that putting a Trump sign would be damaging to the businesses

1611
02:12:41,820 --> 02:12:46,920
and a lot of other things. I drive the streets of this town every single day, and I walk

1612
02:12:46,920 --> 02:12:53,220
them at least a few times a week. It's busy, everyone. The traffic is tremendous. Spring

1613
02:12:53,220 --> 02:12:57,220
break us here and people are not turning away from our town, they haven't been.

1614
02:12:58,440 --> 02:13:03,620
Another resident mentioned that we cannot represent the people of this town in the Republican

1615
02:13:03,620 --> 02:13:08,480
Party, and I agree with her, 100%, I don't represent the Republican Party.

1616
02:13:09,520 --> 02:13:14,020
If I agree with their politics, that's my personal belief, and I'm entitled to that just as

1617
02:13:14,020 --> 02:13:15,580
anyone else is entitled to their beliefs.

1618
02:13:16,700 --> 02:13:21,000
But I've always sat up here and I've done what I think is in the best interest of the town,

1619
02:13:21,000 --> 02:13:27,820
Whether you agree with it or not, I've set up here for four years, and I made decisions that have been very unpopular.

1620
02:13:28,880 --> 02:13:34,860
I've had four one votes against me multiple times, but I still believed in what I was moving for.

1621
02:13:35,460 --> 02:13:37,480
But I'm not here to win a popularity contest.

1622
02:13:38,520 --> 02:13:41,280
And I'm here to do what I think is right for this town.

1623
02:13:42,040 --> 02:13:43,040
That's why I'm up here.

1624
02:13:44,760 --> 02:13:49,020
I support the motion this evening because we're essentially doing the same thing that we just did in September.

1625
02:13:49,020 --> 02:13:50,760
In my mind, it's the same vote.

1626
02:13:51,460 --> 02:13:54,680
It's the same public comments, it's the same people,

1627
02:13:55,080 --> 02:13:57,020
it's the same complaints, it's the same support.

1628
02:13:57,700 --> 02:13:59,220
I don't really see much of a difference.

1629
02:14:02,010 --> 02:14:03,530
I want to end with this.

1630
02:14:04,110 --> 02:14:07,410
We had an attendance of about 120 participants this evening.

1631
02:14:08,230 --> 02:14:11,110
Our town is composed of about 6,000 residents.

1632
02:14:11,930 --> 02:14:14,150
It's about 2% of the population was here today.

1633
02:14:14,810 --> 02:14:17,250
Assuming that everyone here, assuming that everyone here

1634
02:14:17,250 --> 02:14:19,010
was a resident, which we know was not true.

1635
02:14:19,010 --> 02:14:25,410
But I represent all of Lauderdale by the sea, and those who are home, who are constantly

1636
02:14:25,410 --> 02:14:30,050
silenced from their opinions, those who oppose my position, those who support it, it doesn't

1637
02:14:30,050 --> 02:14:33,670
matter to me, and those who like me and those who don't.

1638
02:14:34,010 --> 02:14:36,690
I'm always going to do what I feel is right in my heart.

1639
02:14:38,710 --> 02:14:44,610
Honoring the sitting president in my opinion, my belief in my heart is the right thing for

1640
02:14:44,610 --> 02:14:44,950
the town.

1641
02:14:45,430 --> 02:14:46,970
I don't think there's anything wrong with it.

1642
02:14:48,670 --> 02:14:49,750
That's why I support my motion.

1643
02:14:50,690 --> 02:14:51,070
I yield.

1644
02:14:51,770 --> 02:14:52,030
All right.

1645
02:14:52,210 --> 02:14:53,410
So we have a first and a second.

1646
02:14:53,590 --> 02:14:55,350
We're going to bring it back to commission discussion.

1647
02:14:55,530 --> 02:14:56,290
I'm going to go first.

1648
02:14:56,610 --> 02:14:58,450
I think I'm going to go first.

1649
02:14:58,570 --> 02:14:59,150
I believe in them.

1650
02:14:59,210 --> 02:14:59,910
We'll open it up top.

1651
02:15:00,000 --> 02:15:29,400
So there's if they press their buttons, okay. All right, first of all, I want to thank everyone who spoke this evening in Commissioner Jean Applee for presenting the item. I would like to briefly address some of the comments we've heard and clarify a few points. Some residents have told me that they feel underrepresented politically in a county that is overwhelmingly aligned one way. There are many residents here and throughout this region who feel their views are not always reflected locally.

1652
02:15:29,400 --> 02:15:35,140
whether people agree with those views or not, those residents are part of this

1653
02:15:35,140 --> 02:15:41,360
community and their voices matter as well. At the same time, we have heard the

1654
02:15:41,360 --> 02:15:46,740
phrase no politics in paradise. Repeat it quite a bit over the last year,

1655
02:15:47,280 --> 02:15:51,820
along with accusation that this commission somehow brought politics into this

1656
02:15:51,820 --> 02:15:58,520
town. That claim is simply not accurate and the timeline makes that very clear. The

1657
02:15:58,520 --> 02:16:03,360
The protest began more than a year ago as demonstrations aimed at the president.

1658
02:16:03,780 --> 02:16:08,580
Well before this commission ever considered Seagrave Drive co-designation for the first

1659
02:16:08,580 --> 02:16:09,600
time in September.

1660
02:16:10,660 --> 02:16:16,800
After the September vote, a second weekly protest about the designation was added and that

1661
02:16:16,800 --> 02:16:21,040
issue became a justification to continue those demonstrations.

1662
02:16:22,080 --> 02:16:26,660
Organized by many of the same individuals who have been involved in broader advocacy efforts

1663
02:16:26,660 --> 02:16:33,820
in this town for years. That timeline is important because it makes clear that the political

1664
02:16:33,820 --> 02:16:39,480
activity surrounding this issue did not begin with this commission's actions in September.

1665
02:16:40,720 --> 02:16:46,840
These demonstrations also appear to be part of a broader protest movement across the county,

1666
02:16:47,080 --> 02:16:51,700
with similar protests occurring in multiple communities on rotating schedules.

1667
02:16:51,700 --> 02:16:57,920
Many participants have come from outside Lauderdot by the sea and while some local residents

1668
02:16:57,920 --> 02:17:02,740
have participated, a significant number appear to be coming from other communities.

1669
02:17:03,420 --> 02:17:09,580
At the same time, many residents who support this designation have shared their view privately

1670
02:17:09,580 --> 02:17:11,360
through emails and conversations.

1671
02:17:12,340 --> 02:17:19,240
That broader context is important to understand as we discuss the claim that politics were somehow

1672
02:17:19,240 --> 02:17:21,740
introduced into this town by this commission.

1673
02:17:23,060 --> 02:17:29,480
It is important to remember that Lauderdale by the Sea has nonpartisan elections, but

1674
02:17:29,480 --> 02:17:33,720
that does not mean residents or elected officials do not have political views.

1675
02:17:34,780 --> 02:17:40,400
Nonpartisan simply means candidates do not run under party labels on a ballot.

1676
02:17:40,880 --> 02:17:44,800
It does not mean politics or opinions disappear from the community.

1677
02:17:44,800 --> 02:17:50,280
So, the claim that the Commission brought politics into Lauderdale by the sea is simply

1678
02:17:50,280 --> 02:17:51,000
not accurate.

1679
02:17:51,760 --> 02:17:57,280
Politics and civic advocacy has existed in this town for many years.

1680
02:17:57,820 --> 02:18:04,400
I know that firsthand, I've lived here for 51 years and have seen many of those debates

1681
02:18:04,400 --> 02:18:05,040
unfold.

1682
02:18:05,900 --> 02:18:12,940
Political action committees, organized advocacy groups and local publications, have long been

1683
02:18:12,940 --> 02:18:18,640
part of its history often led by many of the same individuals and groups we are hearing

1684
02:18:18,640 --> 02:18:25,660
from today, including those organizing protests, circulating flyers, and advocating for

1685
02:18:25,660 --> 02:18:32,940
the proposed charter amendment. Given that history, it is difficult to reconcile the phrase

1686
02:18:32,940 --> 02:18:39,420
no politics and paradise with the longstanding reality of political advocacy that has existed

1687
02:18:39,420 --> 02:18:40,300
here for decades.

1688
02:18:41,680 --> 02:18:46,700
Setting that broader context aside, it is important to recognize that the issue before

1689
02:18:46,700 --> 02:18:49,140
the commission is a routine function of government.

1690
02:18:50,120 --> 02:18:56,180
Across Florida and across the country, roads and public places are regularly designated

1691
02:18:56,180 --> 02:18:57,760
in an honorary manner.

1692
02:18:58,500 --> 02:19:04,320
To my knowledge, requiring voter approval for honorary street designations would be unusual

1693
02:19:04,320 --> 02:19:09,500
and would make a lot of deal by the sea an exception amongst municipalities in South Florida,

1694
02:19:09,880 --> 02:19:10,580
certainly Florida.

1695
02:19:11,220 --> 02:19:20,100
For that reason, the level of controversy surrounding this issue here is not something we typically see

1696
02:19:20,100 --> 02:19:23,620
when similar honorary designations are considered in other communities.

1697
02:19:24,760 --> 02:19:31,900
This makes it somewhat ironic that a proposal framed as keeping politics out of our town

1698
02:19:31,900 --> 02:19:38,560
It's self-require turning routine municipal decisions into political-refrendums.

1699
02:19:39,480 --> 02:19:44,760
This type of action is simply part of ordinary municipal governance.

1700
02:19:45,420 --> 02:19:48,340
Our system of local government is representative.

1701
02:19:49,380 --> 02:19:54,220
Residents elect a commission to make legislative decisions on behalf of the community.

1702
02:19:55,080 --> 02:19:58,220
And that is how municipalities across Florida operate.

1703
02:19:59,040 --> 02:20:06,560
I would also like to note that the proposed referendum that has been discussed publicly is not currently before the town.

1704
02:20:07,000 --> 02:20:11,200
No language has been approved and no petition signatures have been submitted.

1705
02:20:12,140 --> 02:20:20,740
Municipal government must operate under the rules that exist today, not under rules that may or may not be adopted in the future.

1706
02:20:22,300 --> 02:20:27,780
It is also important to address the concern that has been raised about how this matter reached the commission.

1707
02:20:28,500 --> 02:20:34,760
There has been an accusation that this change was pursued without the consent of the commission or the residents.

1708
02:20:35,320 --> 02:20:43,120
Regardless of how an idea originates, nothing becomes policy unless this commission approves it at a public meeting,

1709
02:20:43,540 --> 02:20:45,900
which is exactly what is happening tonight.

1710
02:20:47,300 --> 02:20:50,960
Please, I also view this as a practical compromise.

1711
02:20:50,960 --> 02:21:00,200
The state designation will move forward, and this allows the town to remove a local code designation, so there is only one designation in place.

1712
02:21:01,000 --> 02:21:03,700
Let me explain the resolution before us.

1713
02:21:04,140 --> 02:21:11,560
The state of Florida has approval legislation designated a portion of commercial boulevard as President Donald J. Trump boulevard.

1714
02:21:12,200 --> 02:21:18,940
Because commercial boulevard is a state road, Florida law requires the town to approve the installation and

1715
02:21:18,940 --> 02:21:23,940
and approval of the state markers within our jurisdiction before they can be installed.

1716
02:21:24,760 --> 02:21:28,540
This resolution simply allows the state markers to be installed and

1717
02:21:28,540 --> 02:21:36,400
provides that once those state markers are in place, the town's existing secondary code designation at C Great Drive will be removed.

1718
02:21:36,700 --> 02:21:39,440
So again, there will be only one designation.

1719
02:21:40,360 --> 02:21:43,760
Strong opinions and disagreements are part of democracy.

1720
02:21:43,760 --> 02:21:50,980
But threats, intimidation, and personal attacks are unacceptable and have no place in

1721
02:21:50,980 --> 02:21:54,520
our community or in the way that we conduct public debate.

1722
02:21:55,320 --> 02:22:00,080
For those reasons, I will be supporting this resolution this evening.

1723
02:22:00,760 --> 02:22:06,760
People have different opinions about the designation itself and that is normal in a democracy.

1724
02:22:07,460 --> 02:22:13,400
But my responsibility as mayor is to represent the entire community and to approach these

1725
02:22:13,400 --> 02:22:16,840
issues based on the facts and the law that governs us.

1726
02:22:17,460 --> 02:22:22,260
Lauderdale by the sea is a community where people with different views can live together

1727
02:22:22,260 --> 02:22:25,780
respectfully, even when we do not all agree.

1728
02:22:26,860 --> 02:22:29,960
And with that, I will take Vice Mayor, you have the floor, sir.

1729
02:22:31,080 --> 02:22:31,420
Oh, boy.

1730
02:22:34,060 --> 02:22:41,600
Yeah, I was hoping we'd take a break, but let's keep going, and we'll try to finish in time

1731
02:22:41,600 --> 02:22:46,640
I have to see the USA meet Italy and the World Baseball Classic tonight, God blesses.

1732
02:22:47,760 --> 02:22:51,940
Okay, well, there's a lot to talk about last September.

1733
02:22:52,120 --> 02:22:52,880
Here we go again.

1734
02:22:53,540 --> 02:23:03,720
My good friend, Commissioner DiNapoli has served up more from that old punch ball that we talked about earlier this past year.

1735
02:23:04,400 --> 02:23:08,860
Except this time, things are a little different.

1736
02:23:08,860 --> 02:23:14,580
This is not wholly initiated from the town commission as it was before this.

1737
02:23:14,920 --> 02:23:21,520
From what my understanding was initiated by a Miami representative as a house bill 33, somebody down in Miami.

1738
02:23:21,860 --> 02:23:26,640
Quickly ram through the Florida legislature, through the house, through the senate,

1739
02:23:26,780 --> 02:23:34,560
ultimately, in place in front of the governor, which I believe, and I'm gonna suspect the governor will sign it, it's sitting on his desk.

1740
02:23:34,560 --> 02:23:41,600
Now, this is brought to the town for resolution and approval by the commission representing the town.

1741
02:23:42,620 --> 02:23:53,760
My understanding and everybody could correct me as come before us because we have to approve it as a commission in order for

1742
02:23:53,760 --> 02:23:57,840
the legislature's action to proceed forward with this designation.

1743
02:23:57,840 --> 02:24:04,060
If we don't approve it, it doesn't get designated, and in essence it dies.

1744
02:24:06,500 --> 02:24:13,600
Since this is a designation, and since this is a legislated designation by the State of Florida,

1745
02:24:14,940 --> 02:24:20,540
this designation and the signs are in essence permanently affixed to this town.

1746
02:24:20,740 --> 02:24:26,940
Much like a tattoo, this tattoo will not be easily removed if desired in the future.

1747
02:24:26,940 --> 02:24:32,380
without undergoing a long and painful process, which involves going back to Tallahassee.

1748
02:24:32,920 --> 02:24:37,060
For example, if a future commissioner, two years, three years from now,

1749
02:24:38,900 --> 02:24:48,000
once this designation removed, it would require the commission in the town to obtain state representation,

1750
02:24:48,580 --> 02:24:53,020
to champion their cause up in Tallahassee for a legislative action to remove the designation.

1751
02:24:53,640 --> 02:24:59,460
It's not as simple as two, three years from now, we as a commission don't want to have

1752
02:24:59,460 --> 02:25:02,600
the sea grapes sign anymore and we decide not to have it.

1753
02:25:02,920 --> 02:25:05,720
We have to go up to the big guys up in Tallahassee.

1754
02:25:08,100 --> 02:25:17,060
It's this permanency that's being thrust upon us by Tallahassee that really in my opinion

1755
02:25:17,060 --> 02:25:33,140
raises the need, exactly the need for something like this to go through referendum rather than us as voted officials voting for this because we may believe in doing the right thing.

1756
02:25:33,480 --> 02:25:43,080
Since this is being thrust upon us through the state and now we have to decide as a town if this action is acceptable.

1757
02:25:44,000 --> 02:25:48,680
I think that raises the need for a referendum on this issue.

1758
02:25:49,740 --> 02:25:51,520
I'm going to, don't clap.

1759
02:25:53,480 --> 02:25:54,240
I'm going to finish.

1760
02:25:54,520 --> 02:25:59,460
I'm going to suspect that my fellow commissioners will vote the same way that we did in September.

1761
02:25:59,580 --> 02:26:00,080
And that's fine.

1762
02:26:00,320 --> 02:26:04,880
And that's part of the democratic process, which I deeply and wholeheartedly respect.

1763
02:26:05,620 --> 02:26:11,880
But I'm just throwing out my opinions here and how I feel about certain things and why certain things should happen

1764
02:26:11,880 --> 02:26:26,780
And how I think this is happening, this item that's being thrust upon us from Tallahassee raises much more bigger issues in my opinion, much more bigger concerns in my opinion.

1765
02:26:27,640 --> 02:26:31,760
This is Tallahassee designating us, telling us we're going to have this road.

1766
02:26:32,560 --> 02:26:41,220
This is Tallahassee telling us we control issues of short-term rentals, you don't have the right to do that.

1767
02:26:41,220 --> 02:26:43,500
We know better than you, we're a big brother.

1768
02:26:44,300 --> 02:26:45,760
This is my big concern.

1769
02:26:46,060 --> 02:26:51,840
And is this what is happening now maybe just a crack in the armor of the future

1770
02:26:52,600 --> 02:26:56,760
to the point where we need as a town to be concerned about losing our home rule?

1771
02:26:56,960 --> 02:27:03,900
Will we be seeing 30 story buildings in downtown Lordeau by the sea in the future?

1772
02:27:04,240 --> 02:27:08,380
I hope not, and I will do what I can't to fight against that.

1773
02:27:08,380 --> 02:27:19,080
But this is something that we should always keep in mind on who we vote for here, for the town as well as who we vote for, as our representatives in telehassy.

1774
02:27:20,220 --> 02:27:37,480
I have personally always thought of Lord Elba to see, maybe naively, as a oasis protected from politics and conflict, the politics and conflict that we see, I don't know, I hate to say what Lord Elpompano or the state of Florida.

1775
02:27:37,480 --> 02:27:41,020
But I'd like to think of us as an oasis of safety.

1776
02:27:41,920 --> 02:27:46,220
And I understand that people in this town, including myself, do have political views.

1777
02:27:46,500 --> 02:27:53,320
I just simply don't wear it on my sleeve publicly, and I don't endorse doing that.

1778
02:27:54,160 --> 02:27:59,620
Same thing I was brought up religious, and I still think of myself as a religious person.

1779
02:27:59,700 --> 02:28:01,380
But I don't wear my religion on my sleeve.

1780
02:28:01,400 --> 02:28:04,480
I don't try to force my religious beliefs on other people as well.

1781
02:28:04,920 --> 02:28:07,140
And I just don't think that's the right thing to do.

1782
02:28:07,140 --> 02:28:13,460
We were told when we sit around the dining table or playing cards, you know, don't talk about religion or politics.

1783
02:28:13,960 --> 02:28:15,700
There's a lot of other things in the world to talk about.

1784
02:28:15,820 --> 02:28:18,980
I talk about fishing, it seems to work, a lot.

1785
02:28:19,220 --> 02:28:32,300
I know too much, but despite my personal feelings, I believe bringing presidential names into the town is plain old partisan politics.

1786
02:28:32,300 --> 02:28:37,580
Whether it's Trump or Obama, I just don't see it right for either one.

1787
02:28:37,920 --> 02:28:38,960
I'd rather not have it.

1788
02:28:39,420 --> 02:28:41,140
I don't see a need for it.

1789
02:28:41,560 --> 02:28:45,220
You want to have an honorarium for our presidency.

1790
02:28:45,660 --> 02:28:48,940
Let's call it President Boulevard, simply.

1791
02:28:55,830 --> 02:29:01,530
Regardless of your political feelings, I do not support the agenda item as you probably guess that.

1792
02:29:01,530 --> 02:29:14,350
I think it brings conflict or divisiveness to the town rather than a sense of community and what I generally try to inspire is a sense of togetherness for this town.

1793
02:29:14,610 --> 02:29:21,390
If you know me, you've known me for the last eight years, that's what I've been trying to work forward and I still will continue to work for that.

1794
02:29:22,170 --> 02:29:27,610
I want to thank everybody who's here, people that left, the people that were outside, the people that are watching.

1795
02:29:29,310 --> 02:29:33,510
And especially the people that called me up at the time to talk to me on the phone.

1796
02:29:34,030 --> 02:29:41,310
I got, I don't know, maybe 100 emails, you probably all got that too, from people on both

1797
02:29:41,310 --> 02:29:44,170
sides saying they don't support it, they do support it.

1798
02:29:44,610 --> 02:29:47,750
Some people, they were just those, what do you call those things, those blank things, they

1799
02:29:47,750 --> 02:29:49,850
just put their name on both sides.

1800
02:29:50,530 --> 02:29:56,290
I liked the ones, and I took the ones more to heart, the people actually wrote something

1801
02:29:56,290 --> 02:29:59,350
from their heart, and I thought that was good.

1802
02:30:00,000 --> 02:30:29,060
Whether it was, whatever side it was, it was heartfelt, and they took a time out of their life to be involved in the community, which Commissioner Palopoulos talked about. We would love to see this kind of full room when we're talking about simple agenda items. We would love to see this kind of community involvement on a day-to-day basis when we're up here. We don't only want to see this when we're talking about a signage issue.

1803
02:30:30,120 --> 02:30:39,280
So take that to heart and consider that, you know, as we move forward towards November or towards the next year, come out to the meetings.

1804
02:30:40,320 --> 02:30:46,900
You have something to say, voice your opinion. You like what we're doing up here, say it. If you don't like it, don't be afraid to say it as well.

1805
02:30:47,940 --> 02:30:57,080
The fact that you took the time to reach out and be here today shows an involvement and I salute everybody here. Thank you very much, and I'll pass the torch.

1806
02:30:57,080 --> 02:30:57,980
All

1807
02:31:01,340 --> 02:31:02,900
right, thank you, Commissioner Cretziano.

1808
02:31:06,520 --> 02:31:09,560
As you know, I am not a lawyer.

1809
02:31:10,880 --> 02:31:16,320
I am a common sense person, and I very much love loaded over the sea.

1810
02:31:17,320 --> 02:31:23,920
I have done everything that I possibly can do to convey that to anybody who wrote to me.

1811
02:31:23,960 --> 02:31:27,040
I wrote back to them if you were from Artown.

1812
02:31:27,640 --> 02:31:31,580
You told me why you support or why you deny.

1813
02:31:31,580 --> 02:31:33,600
and I write back to you.

1814
02:31:35,270 --> 02:31:42,820
We have excellent public speakers on this dius, most of them are lawyers, okay?

1815
02:31:43,600 --> 02:31:47,560
And they're trained to convince you of their point of view.

1816
02:31:48,420 --> 02:31:54,640
I'm trained to tell you how I vote in the best interests of our town.

1817
02:31:54,640 --> 02:32:02,900
And I will oppose this resolution once again.

1818
02:32:03,180 --> 02:32:07,560
I do not think that we should be surprised.

1819
02:32:08,220 --> 02:32:13,080
I didn't hear about this bill until it was in the Sun Sentinel.

1820
02:32:13,880 --> 02:32:20,920
That's like last week, so I wrote, so I wrote and asked.

1821
02:32:20,920 --> 02:32:26,840
And some of you know that I probably write better than I speak, and that's me.

1822
02:32:27,690 --> 02:32:32,520
But I'm telling you, I do not like how this process was initiated.

1823
02:32:33,140 --> 02:32:34,260
Think about this.

1824
02:32:34,460 --> 02:32:42,060
Two, two, two, two representatives from Miami Dade.

1825
02:32:42,400 --> 02:32:47,840
Put forward a resolution honoring somebody who just was killed, Charlie Kirk.

1826
02:32:48,680 --> 02:33:01,160
So that bill, people who are in the political arena know that that bill was going to receive special priority and automatic approval.

1827
02:33:01,880 --> 02:33:04,700
That bill did, it was HB 33.

1828
02:33:05,580 --> 02:33:10,620
So it was sent to the Senate and the Senate agreed and you saw the numbers, the numbers were good, big.

1829
02:33:11,180 --> 02:33:23,680
But do you think anybody cared about the tag-a-law-and-bill designating commercial drive as a code designation, or the sign that's going to be put up there, whatever we want to call it?

1830
02:33:24,240 --> 02:33:26,600
It's just not right.

1831
02:33:27,480 --> 02:33:32,680
So I wrote to the governor, yes, I didn't know that somebody was going to read what I wrote to the governor.

1832
02:33:33,420 --> 02:33:39,220
I wrote to the, and believe me, I don't think that it's law.

1833
02:33:39,660 --> 02:33:42,840
I think that it's legislation that has been sent to the governor.

1834
02:33:43,180 --> 02:33:47,560
And I don't know, floor to law, because I'm not a lawyer,

1835
02:33:47,800 --> 02:33:50,480
but just because something passes the legislation,

1836
02:33:51,020 --> 02:33:57,960
a legislature, I should say, that does not mean that it's law until the governor signs it.

1837
02:33:57,960 --> 02:34:05,480
And now, whether it's law or codification or whatever they want to call it, it's still

1838
02:34:05,480 --> 02:34:14,380
a very, very untransparent process that does not serve our community and therefore I still

1839
02:34:14,380 --> 02:34:23,600
remain opposed to this and I wanted to go to the people in our town to represent the feelings

1840
02:34:23,600 --> 02:34:25,400
and the votes in our town.

1841
02:34:25,400 --> 02:34:36,080
Voting is the best way. You go to the ballot box, you've told the world how you feel about things and you don't go to the ballot box, that's a real problem.

1842
02:34:36,380 --> 02:34:48,420
Just like if you don't come here and tell us how you feel about things, that's a real problem. We have to know and I had 149 emails sent to me.

1843
02:34:49,640 --> 02:34:55,380
Most of them were sent with the same script on it.

1844
02:34:56,140 --> 02:35:00,760
Vote for Trump because it's common sense and it's a win-win.

1845
02:35:01,700 --> 02:35:02,860
Well, I don't know what that means.

1846
02:35:03,400 --> 02:35:04,640
You tell me what that means.

1847
02:35:04,760 --> 02:35:06,580
But somebody told them the right to the same thing.

1848
02:35:06,960 --> 02:35:08,820
Like 60 of them said that.

1849
02:35:10,420 --> 02:35:13,200
I didn't respond to them because they were non-residents.

1850
02:35:13,940 --> 02:35:15,840
When the residents wrote to me and said,

1851
02:35:15,840 --> 02:35:18,580
I like Trump, and here's why I like him.

1852
02:35:18,940 --> 02:35:24,680
I wrote to him and said, yeah, but I'm really concerned about the process and the transparency.

1853
02:35:25,360 --> 02:35:34,760
And wasting so much time of this commission up here without dealing with the management of our town.

1854
02:35:35,500 --> 02:35:37,960
We have BSO to worry about.

1855
02:35:38,320 --> 02:35:40,080
We have BSO to worry about.

1856
02:35:40,080 --> 02:35:46,900
You know, BSO, we all say everybody here says BSO does a great job, okay, how are we going

1857
02:35:46,900 --> 02:35:47,400
to pay them?

1858
02:35:47,640 --> 02:35:50,140
That's the next issue because they want a lot more money.

1859
02:35:50,800 --> 02:35:55,740
We have the crisis at the, at the, at the, with the fire department, you know, pomp and

1860
02:35:55,740 --> 02:35:56,860
old cancel their contract.

1861
02:35:57,040 --> 02:35:58,140
We got another year to go.

1862
02:35:58,640 --> 02:35:59,860
How are we going to do that?

1863
02:36:00,200 --> 02:36:06,560
Why shouldn't we spend what, two and a half hours discussing that and everybody come here

1864
02:36:06,560 --> 02:36:08,220
and tell us how they feel about that?

1865
02:36:08,220 --> 02:36:12,820
We had we had a workshop, which was authored by the mayor

1866
02:36:12,820 --> 02:36:17,420
I had asked for a workshop to be held in September of last year

1867
02:36:17,420 --> 02:36:24,080
We held it in January and it was a very very good workshop. We learned from BSO

1868
02:36:24,960 --> 02:36:26,020
and we learned

1869
02:36:26,620 --> 02:36:32,620
That Pompano is not interested in doing anything with us even though some people went and made

1870
02:36:32,620 --> 02:36:37,400
made overtures to them and Pompano came back and said, well maybe we'll do something.

1871
02:36:37,940 --> 02:36:40,580
But, you know, they have not been a reliable partner.

1872
02:36:40,960 --> 02:36:45,320
We just signed a contract two years ago which they, after one year, said no.

1873
02:36:45,500 --> 02:36:47,360
We don't like it anymore so it's done.

1874
02:36:47,920 --> 02:36:53,960
So there are a lot of issues that we could be dealing with, you know, and we're dealing

1875
02:36:53,960 --> 02:37:00,900
with something that does not have any economic or social value to our town.

1876
02:37:00,900 --> 02:37:02,940
And thank you.

1877
02:37:11,560 --> 02:37:12,900
All right, is anybody else?

1878
02:37:16,410 --> 02:37:17,950
I don't see a button pushed.

1879
02:37:19,730 --> 02:37:21,250
Okay, Commissioner Jean-Napoli, go ahead.

1880
02:37:27,400 --> 02:37:30,440
Yeah, I just want to thank everybody for being here, both for and against.

1881
02:37:30,920 --> 02:37:34,040
I like to think he came out here because it's the mayor's birthday this week.

1882
02:37:34,840 --> 02:37:36,560
So, but I know you didn't.

1883
02:37:37,500 --> 02:37:40,140
But I'm just letting everybody know it is his birthday this week.

1884
02:37:40,780 --> 02:37:44,220
To the person that just mentioned facts and propaganda,

1885
02:37:44,220 --> 02:37:47,160
And they referenced the list there.

1886
02:37:48,420 --> 02:37:50,840
So that's the list you were talking about,

1887
02:37:51,040 --> 02:37:54,040
saying how they were voting for other presidents.

1888
02:37:54,340 --> 02:37:56,480
But all these overwhelming votes were actually

1889
02:37:56,480 --> 02:37:58,840
to designate streets for President Trump

1890
02:37:58,840 --> 02:38:00,620
and Miami-Dade and Palm Beach County.

1891
02:38:01,500 --> 02:38:06,960
So what I was trying to explain was that all these other

1892
02:38:06,960 --> 02:38:11,340
municipalities voted in overwhelming majorities,

1893
02:38:11,340 --> 02:38:13,400
both Democrats and Republicans to recognize

1894
02:38:13,400 --> 02:38:18,640
President Trump on signage in these two other counties and I felt that it's a shame here,

1895
02:38:18,760 --> 02:38:22,900
unlike every other city and town on that list, some have made this an issue where in every

1896
02:38:22,900 --> 02:38:29,900
other county and town and city it hasn't been. I did get hundreds of emails against in favor,

1897
02:38:30,240 --> 02:38:35,980
over a hundred in favor. I saw the mayor gave a great recitation of the political history of the

1898
02:38:35,980 --> 02:38:40,500
town for decades to say it hasn't been political, really doesn't reflect history.

1899
02:38:41,840 --> 02:38:46,020
A referendum is not the law which we operate under for a state designation.

1900
02:38:46,620 --> 02:38:49,460
Statue currently requires a town commission to have a vote.

1901
02:38:49,900 --> 02:38:50,780
It's not a referendum.

1902
02:38:52,000 --> 02:38:54,280
I've heard as mentioned that signs are permanent.

1903
02:38:54,700 --> 02:38:56,020
No signs are truly permanent.

1904
02:38:56,280 --> 02:38:57,900
The legislature could change it in the future.

1905
02:38:59,480 --> 02:39:04,230
So, local, I heard a mention like, why are we talking about this?

1906
02:39:04,350 --> 02:39:05,270
We should talk about other things.

1907
02:39:05,530 --> 02:39:08,970
Well, local governments regularly address ceremonial recognitions

1908
02:39:08,970 --> 02:39:12,710
while simultaneously handling budgets, contracts, and public safety.

1909
02:39:12,870 --> 02:39:19,410
We can walk and chew gum at the same time, and at the end of the day it's a common sense motion, and I just asked to call the question.

1910
02:39:23,510 --> 02:39:24,910
All right, is any other public comments?

1911
02:39:25,110 --> 02:39:26,730
Anybody else wish to speak again?

1912
02:39:29,560 --> 02:39:34,100
All right, so, hearing none, ma'am, I don't know why you have your arm up the whole time.

1913
02:39:34,640 --> 02:39:35,760
I can't see anything you're holding.

1914
02:39:36,680 --> 02:39:43,660
We have a first by Commissioner DiNapoli, and a second by Commissioner Polopolis, please call the rule.

1915
02:39:43,660 --> 02:39:44,320
are the vote.

1916
02:39:46,100 --> 02:39:47,300
Please catch your vote.

1917
02:39:52,250 --> 02:39:57,710
Motion passes, three, two, with Vice Mayor Strauss and Commissioner Graziano voting

1918
02:39:57,710 --> 02:39:57,950
no.

1919
02:39:58,590 --> 02:39:58,930
All right.

1920
02:39:59,090 --> 02:39:59,430
Thank you.

1921
02:39:59,730 --> 02:40:04,070
We're going to take a 15-minute break and come back to the actual agenda.

1922
02:46:26,990 --> 02:46:51,560
No, we're not doing the invocation. All right, we're going to call the meeting back to order. Yes, we do have to ask that anybody else sign up for other public comments. Courtney. Did anybody sign up for any other public comments? No. Okay. All right. So that brings us to public safety discussion, B.S.F. February, 2026, public safety report. You have two minutes.

1923
02:46:51,560 --> 02:46:52,380
That's much better.

1924
02:47:02,520 --> 02:47:04,240
Time-erring commissioners.

1925
02:47:04,400 --> 02:47:06,580
Town Manager, Captain Christopher Sutter,

1926
02:47:07,100 --> 02:47:07,780
and Brad Sharves office.

1927
02:47:09,240 --> 02:47:13,880
I'd like to go quickly over the February 20th, 2026 BSO Public Safety Report.

1928
02:47:14,700 --> 02:47:20,540
As you guys know, on February 21st, the former executive officer,

1929
02:47:20,640 --> 02:47:23,840
Lieutenant Christmas Fowler, was transferred to the BSO Civil Division.

1930
02:47:25,120 --> 02:47:29,220
And on that same date, we acquired the Lieutenant Tony Hopkin.

1931
02:47:29,220 --> 02:47:30,680
Americans is here today sitting with us.

1932
02:47:31,460 --> 02:47:35,820
I'd like to just go over a brief synopsis of her career with the Broward Sheriff's Office.

1933
02:47:36,560 --> 02:47:40,660
Ten and Tony Hopkins, a law enforcement leader, nearly two decades of service at Broward Sheriff's Office,

1934
02:47:40,840 --> 02:47:44,060
currently serving as a lieutenant and executive officer in the Lauderdale by the sea district.

1935
02:47:44,720 --> 02:47:48,400
Throughout her career, she's held progressive leadership roles including administrative sergeant,

1936
02:47:48,820 --> 02:47:53,960
core sergeant, and role basso sergeant, overseeing district operations, specialized community units, and

1937
02:47:53,960 --> 02:47:55,120
high profile event planning.

1938
02:47:55,120 --> 02:47:58,260
She has coordinated operational plans for major community events and

1939
02:47:58,260 --> 02:48:01,900
dignitary visits, supervising multiple disciplinary teams and

1940
02:48:01,900 --> 02:48:06,820
lead critical incident responses as a hostage negotiator team leader with the agency SWAT

1941
02:48:06,820 --> 02:48:07,900
hostage barricade team.

1942
02:48:08,360 --> 02:48:11,940
Known for a strong leadership, operational oversight and community focused approach.

1943
02:48:11,980 --> 02:48:15,740
She brings both tactical expertise and strategic management experience to her role.

1944
02:48:16,560 --> 02:48:19,400
It's kind of but Hopkins combines field experience with advanced education and

1945
02:48:19,400 --> 02:48:20,500
professional development.

1946
02:48:20,500 --> 02:48:23,820
She holds a master's in disaster management from Florida National University.

1947
02:48:23,820 --> 02:48:26,880
a master of business administration from Nover, Southean,

1948
02:48:27,120 --> 02:48:32,900
so a southeastern university, and a bachelor's degree in management information systems from the University of West Florida.

1949
02:48:33,240 --> 02:48:37,720
In addition to their agency responsibilities, you served as a unit supply leader with the southeastern Florida Regional.

1950
02:48:38,180 --> 02:48:42,480
All hazards, incident management team, supporting disaster response, effort state-wide,

1951
02:48:42,520 --> 02:48:46,180
her background reflects commitment and leadership to public safety, emergency management, and

1952
02:48:46,180 --> 02:48:47,840
continuous professional growth.

1953
02:48:48,500 --> 02:48:51,200
And I would like to welcome her to the watered out by the city.

1954
02:48:51,200 --> 02:48:53,300
Yes, welcome, thank you,

1955
02:48:55,860 --> 02:49:05,680
and that really quickly next thing I'd like to recognize is our deputies of the month for February 2026.

1956
02:49:06,540 --> 02:49:10,320
Deputy Scott Clier, Deputy Brian Swatkins, and Deputy Kairan Ranferan.

1957
02:49:10,800 --> 02:49:18,960
On February 21st, these three deputies demonstrated professionalism teamwork and resolving a delayed burglary that led to a subject's identification and arrest.

1958
02:49:19,440 --> 02:49:23,120
The victim reported an unknown individual had entered his real curtailage overnight and

1959
02:49:23,120 --> 02:49:27,200
its stolen electric bicycle, a scooter, and clothing valued at over $1,000 from an unlocked

1960
02:49:27,760 --> 02:49:28,520
storage room.

1961
02:49:29,120 --> 02:49:32,720
Later that day, the victim located the suspect riding stolen bicycle near Beach Portal.

1962
02:49:33,240 --> 02:49:36,160
Recovered the bicycle and alerted Deputy Rantran, who was in the area on patrol.

1963
02:49:37,320 --> 02:49:41,520
Deputy Rantran immediately broadcasted a detailed description of the suspect enabling Scott

1964
02:49:41,520 --> 02:49:45,740
Clier to quickly vent canvas the area and locate the subject matching the description as he

1965
02:49:45,740 --> 02:49:46,720
attempted to leave the town.

1966
02:49:46,720 --> 02:49:52,760
Subject was contained without incident and a show of identification was conducted during which the victim positively identified the offender

1967
02:49:53,380 --> 02:49:57,880
Suspect was also be found to be wearing the clothing that he had stolen from the same storage unit

1968
02:49:59,320 --> 02:50:04,080
Debbie Swatkins conducted a postman interview obtaining a full confession of the burglary and theft

1969
02:50:04,720 --> 02:50:10,760
The confession of I combined with the positive identification and recovery of stolen property strength in the case and insured accountability

1970
02:50:10,760 --> 02:50:13,240
to their swift and coordinated efforts to investigate

1971
02:50:13,240 --> 02:50:15,420
a worth of deputy secured critical evidence,

1972
02:50:15,720 --> 02:50:16,720
recovered valuable property,

1973
02:50:17,300 --> 02:50:19,120
and upheld the standards of the prior Sheriff's Office.

1974
02:50:19,820 --> 02:50:21,000
This is just one of those incidents

1975
02:50:21,000 --> 02:50:23,500
where they worked in tandem as a team,

1976
02:50:24,120 --> 02:50:26,080
quickly grabbed this suspect

1977
02:50:26,080 --> 02:50:27,600
as he was actually leaving the town,

1978
02:50:28,140 --> 02:50:30,740
which had he evaded, it might have eluded capture

1979
02:50:30,740 --> 02:50:32,340
because we didn't have the correct video,

1980
02:50:32,460 --> 02:50:34,440
but we had a good description at that time.

1981
02:50:35,000 --> 02:50:36,380
So the quick work of these three gentlemen

1982
02:50:37,000 --> 02:50:39,240
insured a good case here and we got the property back

1983
02:50:39,240 --> 02:50:43,680
back to the victim, and we got a good case for prosecution, so I want to congratulate them on their job well done.

1984
02:50:48,200 --> 02:50:51,620
We did have one special event this past month that we attended myself and

1985
02:50:53,360 --> 02:50:54,420
CSAG of Anna Anderson.

1986
02:50:54,820 --> 02:50:57,060
We attended the on February 19th, 2026.

1987
02:50:57,400 --> 02:51:01,380
The party in the park, Oceans of Love event held by the town at the Freak Park playground.

1988
02:51:02,260 --> 02:51:07,680
It was a very well attended event, positive interaction with the deputies and

1989
02:51:07,680 --> 02:51:10,280
the community members and strong partnership with the town.

1990
02:51:10,280 --> 02:51:12,720
We enjoyed doing that event, all these events with the town.

1991
02:51:13,340 --> 02:51:18,520
We get very good feedback from the residents and enjoy just interacting with everyone and

1992
02:51:19,080 --> 02:51:22,660
giving them a smile, giving them a little beach ball to kick around while they're playing at the park and

1993
02:51:22,660 --> 02:51:24,760
then joining a very family-friendly event.

1994
02:51:25,980 --> 02:51:30,200
Other than that, we had a couple crimes this month, nothing really serious.

1995
02:51:30,520 --> 02:51:32,220
It was really kind of a slow month.

1996
02:51:32,220 --> 02:51:34,960
If you guys have any questions on that, I can obviously go into any event as well.

1997
02:51:41,540 --> 02:51:45,040
No questions and thank you for you and your men for tonight.

1998
02:51:45,420 --> 02:51:48,620
I know you had a pretty good team out there and I appreciate that as well.

1999
02:51:48,900 --> 02:51:49,220
Thank you, sir.

2000
02:51:49,500 --> 02:51:49,600
Yep.

2001
02:51:52,250 --> 02:51:52,530
All right.

2002
02:51:52,750 --> 02:51:53,370
Town Manager Report.

2003
02:51:54,070 --> 02:51:54,710
Good evening.

2004
02:51:55,010 --> 02:51:59,510
So on the manager's report this evening, our next party in the park series serves a dual purpose.

2005
02:52:00,090 --> 02:52:05,070
It will be called party in the park, art in the park, as well as our freed park mural unveiling.

2006
02:52:05,290 --> 02:52:08,770
So I encourage anyone who hasn't stopped out there ready to take a look at that mural.

2007
02:52:09,590 --> 02:52:15,470
several options were proposed to the commission and we put out to the residents to vote so that mural has been completed.

2008
02:52:16,290 --> 02:52:23,530
It's beautiful so we're going to have a chance to meet the artist and as well as do some arts and crafts out in our new beloved

2009
02:52:23,530 --> 02:52:32,430
Freed Park playground. The event takes place March 18th from 5 to 630 and the unveiling of the mural will take place at 530.

2010
02:52:32,430 --> 02:52:37,750
Again, Wednesday, March 18th, from 5 to 630, and the unveiling of the mural will be at 530.

2011
02:52:39,070 --> 02:52:47,270
So, Broward League of City's annual dinners coming up, the sponsorship tier that we have done in the past cost $5,000.

2012
02:52:48,610 --> 02:52:51,950
I'm looking for a direction if that's something the commission would like to do again this year.

2013
02:52:52,010 --> 02:52:55,050
There's also the option for a lower tier if

2014
02:52:57,830 --> 02:53:01,870
there's any input on that, or what the commission's thinking.

2015
02:53:03,830 --> 02:53:07,210
Yeah, I mean, I'm going to stay consistent with my opinion of this on the last meeting.

2016
02:53:09,270 --> 02:53:10,190
It's a nice event.

2017
02:53:10,370 --> 02:53:16,130
I fully support the Barrel League of Cities, but at the same time, my goal this year is to save money.

2018
02:53:16,250 --> 02:53:23,850
I mean, if I'm not willing to donate to some of these charities because I think we need to save for tax purposes.

2019
02:53:23,870 --> 02:53:28,410
And then quite frankly, I don't want to obviously purchase tickets for ourselves to go to an event.

2020
02:53:28,410 --> 02:53:34,030
I know they go to a good cause, but it's something, in my opinion, where the money needs to go somewhere else.

2021
02:53:34,650 --> 02:53:34,970
It's not legal.

2022
02:53:37,100 --> 02:53:37,900
Anybody else?

2023
02:53:39,440 --> 02:53:40,240
Commissioner Diably.

2024
02:53:40,960 --> 02:53:42,880
Yeah, I'd tend to agree with Commissioner Poulopoulos.

2025
02:53:44,900 --> 02:53:46,380
I'm fine with that.

2026
02:53:47,380 --> 02:53:48,960
Okay, thank you for the direction on that.

2027
02:53:49,840 --> 02:53:52,760
So back to our public safety workshop.

2028
02:53:53,140 --> 02:53:55,680
Several good questions were brought up by members of our commission.

2029
02:53:55,680 --> 02:54:03,280
The vice mayor had brought up looking at what it would take to change our methodology for

2030
02:54:03,280 --> 02:54:10,040
the fire assessment fee, so in speaking with a consultant, it would cost 35 to $40,000 to

2031
02:54:10,040 --> 02:54:12,660
do that study and would take approximately three to four months.

2032
02:54:13,140 --> 02:54:18,740
The caveat with that is in order to do that, the study would essentially have to be done

2033
02:54:18,740 --> 02:54:20,840
by May 1st, which this timeline doesn't allow.

2034
02:54:21,360 --> 02:54:25,220
So I'm looking for input if that's something we want to move forward with, or if we're okay

2035
02:54:25,220 --> 02:54:31,700
skipping that release for this year yeah can this this again just a reminder

2036
02:54:31,700 --> 02:54:36,720
this is for the issue of whether it was feasible for us to do our own fire

2037
02:54:36,720 --> 02:54:42,340
department so this issue was for looking at the square footage for condos to

2038
02:54:42,340 --> 02:54:45,180
figure that number out and see if we could charge differently because we charge a

2039
02:54:45,180 --> 02:54:50,440
flat fee right now for the fire assessment for resident. Oh I'm sorry I'm sorry it's

2040
02:54:50,440 --> 02:54:53,640
two different. No I was putting two different things on there okay yeah that

2041
02:54:53,640 --> 02:54:55,440
Actually, that was something that I brought up to you.

2042
02:54:55,680 --> 02:54:55,700
Yes.

2043
02:54:55,880 --> 02:54:56,280
Yeah, I'm sorry.

2044
02:54:57,060 --> 02:54:57,760
Forgive me.

2045
02:54:58,420 --> 02:54:59,480
So, do you want to do it in Tuesday?

2046
02:54:59,880 --> 02:55:03,040
Are you okay with also the fire department study?

2047
02:55:03,960 --> 02:55:10,100
So, to do that study by May, it's not possible.

2048
02:55:10,160 --> 02:55:14,480
It's not possible, so assuming we don't do that,

2049
02:55:14,580 --> 02:55:18,600
which is looks like we're not, when's the next time we can do that?

2050
02:55:18,760 --> 02:55:20,060
And when would it be effective?

2051
02:55:20,260 --> 02:55:22,700
We can do the study this year, but it would not apply

2052
02:55:22,700 --> 02:55:26,960
to this year's fire assessment rate, so it would be then in next year.

2053
02:55:27,280 --> 02:55:32,480
Okay, but at least some point we can look forward to doing this so that we can hopefully

2054
02:55:32,960 --> 02:55:42,460
help the commercial people who are getting possibly overcharged more than they should be.

2055
02:55:42,740 --> 02:55:47,600
And then we could also have the knowledge of what the condos are paying and at least for

2056
02:55:47,600 --> 02:55:49,460
their common areas and per square foot.

2057
02:55:49,460 --> 02:56:10,900
Right, so for this year is it would stay status quo in terms of methodology for the fire assessment rate, so how much that needs to be increased versus other avenues of revenue that something we could then play with next year should we choose to go forward with the study really what we're looking at the big increases that we're going to be facing is really coming next year or the year after is I think the big ones, right?

2058
02:56:10,900 --> 02:56:16,140
Yeah, I mean, I think, you know, coming up, it depends how quickly we transition to another provider.

2059
02:56:16,500 --> 02:56:26,340
That's going to be the ultimate determiner, but we are seeing increased costs from Pompano starting to get up in the range of one of those provided costs that we were given.

2060
02:56:26,640 --> 02:56:32,580
And if we skate into this, for neck, not May 1st, but for next year, can we skate into it at a lower cost?

2061
02:56:33,640 --> 02:56:37,380
We can ask, but I can always go back to the consultant and see if it would be cheaper.

2062
02:56:37,380 --> 02:56:43,640
It would be a rushed item, it would be an item they could do and take somewhat of their time on it, right?

2063
02:56:43,660 --> 02:56:50,260
Yeah, I'm happy to go back and ask if that's something that we want to consider for a budget item and then be prepared to discuss that further during budget season.

2064
02:56:50,680 --> 02:56:53,400
Okay, let's keep it on the table, but on the back part.

2065
02:56:54,440 --> 02:56:55,480
Okay, thank you.

2066
02:56:56,220 --> 02:57:00,840
And then the second item is for a study for, sorry, go ahead, Commissioner.

2067
02:57:00,920 --> 02:57:04,880
Sorry, sorry, before we get to the second study,

2068
02:57:06,060 --> 02:57:11,080
I'm admittedly I'm the only one up here I think who lives in a condo in La Riva, see.

2069
02:57:12,000 --> 02:57:15,880
And I'm going to speak for those who do live in condos because the one thing that has

2070
02:57:15,880 --> 02:57:21,720
happened over the last four years since surfside, obviously a tragedy, is HOA fees have gone

2071
02:57:21,720 --> 02:57:22,280
crazy.

2072
02:57:22,760 --> 02:57:24,340
Special assessments have gone crazy.

2073
02:57:25,640 --> 02:57:31,500
With throwing more burden on a condominium unit owner is probably unfathomable to those

2074
02:57:31,500 --> 02:57:31,940
residents.

2075
02:57:31,940 --> 02:57:36,900
I guess my question is this, what does this study actually, what is this study looking into?

2076
02:57:37,040 --> 02:57:42,180
Is it whether or not the square footage of common area should be included as part of a fire assessment?

2077
02:57:42,740 --> 02:57:48,060
Because my understanding is the unit owners, the square footage of their unit is what's looked at.

2078
02:57:48,220 --> 02:57:48,700
Am I wrong?

2079
02:57:52,170 --> 02:57:52,270
Yes.

2080
02:57:52,410 --> 02:57:53,490
Whoever, who ever, who ever, obviously.

2081
02:57:53,690 --> 02:57:54,190
Go ahead, Vice Mayor.

2082
02:57:54,510 --> 02:57:59,350
Yeah, it was my intention not to raise the prices for the condo owners and the condo livers.

2083
02:57:59,590 --> 02:58:00,070
I don't think so.

2084
02:58:00,490 --> 02:58:01,750
But to see if it's fair.

2085
02:58:01,750 --> 02:58:04,570
to see if it's fair number one and number two.

2086
02:58:05,410 --> 02:58:13,570
Potentially to reduce what the commercial people are paying for their minimal use of fire in general.

2087
02:58:14,170 --> 02:58:21,830
So that, because I think they get swept into the same bucket as the condo common area is commercial.

2088
02:58:22,510 --> 02:58:31,130
If I understood it right, and I said let's take a look and separate it so we have some idea of the metrics of how much people are paying in general.

2089
02:58:31,130 --> 02:58:38,410
per square foot, so as a condo person, as a condo dweller, you can know now, if you're

2090
02:58:38,410 --> 02:58:44,390
paying too much as compared to other people. So we have some kind of something to

2091
02:58:44,390 --> 02:58:50,110
wait against. Sure. I wasn't looking for condo people to pay more money at all.

2092
02:58:50,750 --> 02:58:53,770
I mean, I don't think they can afford to at this point, but I guess my question is I'm

2093
02:58:53,770 --> 02:58:59,370
claiming ignorance, okay? How is it currently assessed at this point? Is it per the

2094
02:58:59,370 --> 02:59:03,250
The square footage of the individual unit's dwelling, you're shaking your head and

2095
02:59:03,250 --> 02:59:03,510
commersion.

2096
02:59:03,750 --> 02:59:07,310
Not for residential, only for commercial is the name of the square footage basis.

2097
02:59:07,530 --> 02:59:08,550
Residential is a flat fee.

2098
02:59:09,050 --> 02:59:14,230
So whether you're in a condo or a single family house or a multi-family, it's a flat fee across, right?

2099
02:59:14,490 --> 02:59:15,890
Yes, that's what I was trying to figure out.

2100
02:59:15,990 --> 02:59:17,210
Except for the common areas.

2101
02:59:17,710 --> 02:59:20,730
Well, no, except commercial is the only thing that is done differently.

2102
02:59:21,090 --> 02:59:23,530
Commercial property is the only thing that's done on a square footage basis.

2103
02:59:24,690 --> 02:59:29,830
So again, what defines commercial property then for somebody living in?

2104
02:59:29,990 --> 02:59:32,830
So it's not a business, so it would be a business.

2105
02:59:33,090 --> 02:59:38,110
Okay, so common areas for a condo would not be defined as commercial in any way.

2106
02:59:38,270 --> 02:59:46,990
So it's straight, so the thought process was to look at if a 1,200 square foot condo

2107
02:59:46,990 --> 02:59:51,230
should be paying the same as a 4,000 square foot house to see what that pie looks like.

2108
02:59:51,230 --> 02:59:59,970
Right. I'm just saying that there are condos that are larger than single family houses in the town as well, but I'm just saying I'm trying to understand is

2109
03:00:00,000 --> 03:00:27,420
So the study going to be looking at specifically whether or not common used area in a condominium should be, I guess, considered as part of the square footage, and therefore reapportioning the fire assessment because you're looking at common area, single family houses don't have common area, condominiums have common areas, some of them have gyms, some of them have libraries, some of them have party rooms, obviously lobbies. Is this study specifically looking at whether or not we're going

2110
03:00:27,420 --> 03:00:33,440
to raise the fire assessments on those condominium dwellers because they have common area.

2111
03:00:33,660 --> 03:00:34,360
That's my question.

2112
03:00:34,500 --> 03:00:39,300
My understanding of the request was to look at square footage of individual condos.

2113
03:00:39,640 --> 03:00:41,700
Not necessarily just the common area.

2114
03:00:42,500 --> 03:00:48,220
So looking at where, how the pie is getting divided up, and again, you know, this, and if

2115
03:00:48,220 --> 03:00:51,840
we have time to flush this out, if this is something we want to do, it's, we can't do

2116
03:00:51,840 --> 03:00:53,520
it before May 1st, which is when it's due.

2117
03:00:54,100 --> 03:00:57,000
So we can discuss this further if this is something we want to look into.

2118
03:00:57,220 --> 03:00:59,200
It's just a matter of how the pie gets sliced up.

2119
03:00:59,240 --> 03:01:03,840
Yeah, I just wanted some clarity because I mean, it's a costly study of talking $35 to $40,000.

2120
03:01:03,980 --> 03:01:07,300
Just want to make sure I know what we are getting for $30 to $45,000.

2121
03:01:07,320 --> 03:01:09,560
Yeah, so this was just kind of the high level.

2122
03:01:10,040 --> 03:01:13,840
Is this something you want to explore, then I would bring it back and then we could flush out those details a little more.

2123
03:01:13,980 --> 03:01:18,600
I just wanted the commission to be aware of the time, you know, time frame and the cost associated with it.

2124
03:01:18,620 --> 03:01:20,140
Because obviously we can't complete this before.

2125
03:01:20,580 --> 03:01:21,880
We have to have the numbers in for the virus.

2126
03:01:21,880 --> 03:01:26,140
I'm not this year's fire assessment, I understand it's going to come in for, it would come in for the following years.

2127
03:01:27,240 --> 03:01:31,480
I'm okay with the study, I just, I guess, I just want to see where this is leading.

2128
03:01:34,120 --> 03:01:34,520
He's off.

2129
03:01:39,680 --> 03:01:44,120
Well, he had the floor so I was, I'll yield, I'll yield, I'll yield, I'll yield, it's fine.

2130
03:01:44,760 --> 03:01:48,440
Commissioner, do you want to have the vice mayor wants to say something else?

2131
03:01:48,860 --> 03:01:50,340
Okay, go ahead.

2132
03:01:50,680 --> 03:01:56,820
We were, we were having discussion mayor so back and forth so I think that's everything that was said I agree with.

2133
03:01:56,820 --> 03:02:02,180
I would just like to see common areas included, so we have the metrics for that too, so we know for square footage.

2134
03:02:02,760 --> 03:02:13,400
It helps you know that somebody buying a unit, selling a unit, knows what your assessment is going to be, both for fire and as well as taxes.

2135
03:02:14,020 --> 03:02:15,940
So I guess that's important to know all these things.

2136
03:02:17,120 --> 03:02:20,860
Spending $30,000 to do that might be a different issue.

2137
03:02:20,860 --> 03:02:36,600
Right. There might be an easier way to do that, a cheaper way to do that, I'd like to explore that, but I would like to see everything included, not just the unit but the common areas as well in the discussion of fire assessment.

2138
03:02:36,900 --> 03:02:40,580
Right. I guess, again, I'm not trying to be a dead horse here, but that's my point.

2139
03:02:40,580 --> 03:02:52,560
I mean, what we're looking to do really, I guess, is tax condominium residents because they have common area versus, I guess, non-residents or non-cutter.

2140
03:02:52,680 --> 03:02:52,780
No.

2141
03:02:53,100 --> 03:02:54,060
We don't want to do that.

2142
03:02:54,740 --> 03:02:55,620
We don't want to do that.

2143
03:02:56,360 --> 03:02:56,600
No.

2144
03:02:57,000 --> 03:02:57,960
I mean, it is right now.

2145
03:02:57,960 --> 03:02:59,240
It should be the same, right?

2146
03:02:59,300 --> 03:03:05,120
Everybody should be saying the same, but I just don't know if the common area is included in the assessments or not.

2147
03:03:05,120 --> 03:03:06,040
Yeah, but we're even not.

2148
03:03:06,480 --> 03:03:09,240
No, so the common area doesn't pay a fire.

2149
03:03:09,580 --> 03:03:11,780
No, the residential per unit, correct, let's heal them.

2150
03:03:12,620 --> 03:03:16,400
So, again, kind of going to that point, let's just assume for,

2151
03:03:16,720 --> 03:03:22,480
let's assume that the vast majority of condominiums are probably on average

2152
03:03:22,480 --> 03:03:26,120
smaller than a single family house, on average, I'm guessing.

2153
03:03:26,280 --> 03:03:29,560
So you have one bedroom, one bass, you have two bedroom, two bass,

2154
03:03:30,020 --> 03:03:33,840
most residential units that are single families are probably a 3-2,

2155
03:03:33,840 --> 03:03:40,400
at least a 2-2, but probably a 3-2 if not larger, and that 1-1 condo is paying the same,

2156
03:03:40,600 --> 03:03:47,240
tell me if I'm wrong, is paying the same fire assessment rate right now as a 4,500 square foot

2157
03:03:47,240 --> 03:03:55,020
single family house. Correct. That is correct. So if you add on more square footage to the condo unit,

2158
03:03:55,400 --> 03:04:00,220
you're basically requiring the 808 to pay more, right? Because the 808 is just going to raise its rates

2159
03:04:00,220 --> 03:04:02,240
It's for its residents.

2160
03:04:03,020 --> 03:04:15,520
I'm telling you this as a former president of a building in the town, because I was there for four years, and this is something that they all feared is our fire rates going to go up because now they're going to say, well, we have a gym, we have a party room, we have this, we have a lobby.

2161
03:04:16,100 --> 03:04:25,260
I mean, they're on average, most units in a condo are smaller than a single family house, but they're paying the same rate as it is right now.

2162
03:04:25,260 --> 03:04:32,680
Now, this study basically can, in my opinion, I guess, really only increase the rate for a condo resident versus a single family resident.

2163
03:04:33,200 --> 03:04:37,700
So I think just from a high level view, we could slice this however you all want to do it.

2164
03:04:38,080 --> 03:04:40,980
I think this was just a suggestion to look at the square footage first.

2165
03:04:41,480 --> 03:04:50,640
So however the commission wants to look at how we do fire assessment fees, this is the 50,000 foot view of what a study would cost, whatever that.

2166
03:04:51,060 --> 03:04:53,520
Right, I understand, I understand for our purposes today.

2167
03:04:53,520 --> 03:04:57,720
I understand for our purposes today, but if we go forward to study, I mean, I know what we're going to get back.

2168
03:04:57,920 --> 03:05:01,820
The condos have common area, single-family residents don't.

2169
03:05:02,040 --> 03:05:06,560
They're all paying a constant rate right now that is equal.

2170
03:05:07,160 --> 03:05:12,900
And if you were portioned more square footage to a condominium, it's only going to go up for a condominium resident.

2171
03:05:13,220 --> 03:05:17,220
But you really wouldn't because condos aren't paying per square foot.

2172
03:05:17,340 --> 03:05:18,020
They're paying for-

2173
03:05:18,020 --> 03:05:20,880
You guys, there's like, there's someone with a floor, there's other people waiting.

2174
03:05:23,000 --> 03:05:25,600
Okay, commission to NABLY, go ahead.

2175
03:05:25,780 --> 03:05:30,100
Yeah, so how do other cities assess this?

2176
03:05:31,180 --> 03:05:39,840
How we're currently doing it except with the caveat that some cities do commercial based on a square footage range.

2177
03:05:39,840 --> 03:05:43,860
We do a flat, it is X amount of sense times how much square footage you have.

2178
03:05:43,860 --> 03:05:50,140
So if we do we do currently residential is a same price per every residential unit correct

2179
03:05:50,140 --> 03:05:55,900
So whether it's a condo of any type of residency. Yes, it is the same fee across the board

2180
03:05:55,900 --> 03:05:59,380
Yes, but commercial properties in large will buy the C pay by a

2181
03:05:59,380 --> 03:06:04,200
Metric of a numerical value times the square footage correct. Yes, so

2182
03:06:04,880 --> 03:06:09,980
Is is does a town have the ability to change the way that assessment happens?

2183
03:06:10,400 --> 03:06:13,740
Yes, so we could do square footage for everyone

2184
03:06:13,860 --> 03:06:19,140
If we wanted to in theory, yes, okay, so that would be the point of the study then

2185
03:06:20,280 --> 03:06:25,800
My understanding was to look at yes, we could because there's no point of a study if you can't change it

2186
03:06:25,800 --> 03:06:32,920
It's just showing us information. We're paying 35 grand to have something we can't change so my understanding of what the vice mayor was asking for was to

2187
03:06:33,680 --> 03:06:34,140
move

2188
03:06:34,660 --> 03:06:39,660
Keep single-family homes in one bucket and then look at the condos and their square footage there

2189
03:06:40,400 --> 03:06:40,860
so

2190
03:06:41,800 --> 03:06:42,260
Yeah

2191
03:06:42,260 --> 03:06:42,360
Yeah.

2192
03:06:42,880 --> 03:06:49,260
So if the goal implies that there's like a free rider situation economically going on

2193
03:06:49,260 --> 03:06:56,560
if some sort, so if you reduce the commercial rates because you assess square footage to

2194
03:06:56,560 --> 03:07:00,300
others, I don't know what the impact of that would be until you see the study.

2195
03:07:00,440 --> 03:07:02,200
Well, you're essentially increasing residential.

2196
03:07:02,480 --> 03:07:03,200
I mean, you still have to get to that.

2197
03:07:03,200 --> 03:07:03,920
That's what I was wondering.

2198
03:07:04,240 --> 03:07:08,200
Like, who's the free rider in the kind of car you used to have to get that same number

2199
03:07:08,200 --> 03:07:09,880
who's paying for it and how that's about.

2200
03:07:09,880 --> 03:07:12,540
So then it would logically increase residential?

2201
03:07:12,800 --> 03:07:15,120
Yes, if you're going to decrease commercial costs

2202
03:07:15,120 --> 03:07:16,200
that would raise residents.

2203
03:07:16,240 --> 03:07:18,920
So then Commissioner Pilafolis' theory is possibly correct

2204
03:07:18,920 --> 03:07:21,220
that it would increase condos.

2205
03:07:21,540 --> 03:07:24,560
It could, it will impact all single family homes

2206
03:07:24,560 --> 03:07:26,940
if we lower one portion of who's paying what,

2207
03:07:27,160 --> 03:07:28,900
then that needs to be made up somewhere.

2208
03:07:29,180 --> 03:07:31,440
Whether that's true or we able to just do it on condos

2209
03:07:31,440 --> 03:07:32,340
and nothing else.

2210
03:07:33,200 --> 03:07:35,160
I think we can do it however you all want.

2211
03:07:35,340 --> 03:07:37,540
I think we want, if you want to look at square footage

2212
03:07:37,540 --> 03:07:39,060
as a whole, I believe that's possible.

2213
03:07:39,060 --> 03:07:46,720
I'll let the, so I guess, I guess that's where the, that's where the rubber meets the road, like who benefits at the end of the day?

2214
03:07:47,300 --> 03:07:47,540
I'll yield.

2215
03:07:48,300 --> 03:07:53,580
I guess what is the most equitable, but somebody has to pay the whole thing, has to be, you know, you had to reach a goal, right?

2216
03:07:54,680 --> 03:07:56,840
Like one goes up, one goes down, yeah.

2217
03:07:58,980 --> 03:08:03,540
And just as a brief point of information, yes, there are different ways to do the methodology.

2218
03:08:03,540 --> 03:08:08,600
That's why you hire a consultant, and they certify that it's in compliance with the required methodology.

2219
03:08:08,800 --> 03:08:13,040
But the case law and the statutes, they're different ways to slice and dice it.

2220
03:08:13,760 --> 03:08:18,560
And yes, it is ultimately a zero sum came, we have to pay for everything somehow.

2221
03:08:19,000 --> 03:08:22,020
But if we go to something that is per square footage for everyone,

2222
03:08:22,220 --> 03:08:28,420
you can't say that like residents win and commercial loses because big residents will pay more,

2223
03:08:28,620 --> 03:08:32,040
small residents will pay less, like there might be a mixed outcome.

2224
03:08:32,040 --> 03:08:35,200
That's why you need the study to know exactly where you're going.

2225
03:08:36,900 --> 03:08:38,400
And we did this before, right?

2226
03:08:39,640 --> 03:08:43,780
So we've looked at the rates, but we haven't changed the methodology for

2227
03:08:43,780 --> 03:08:47,980
the formula, meaning we've kept residential, flat, fixed fee, and

2228
03:08:47,980 --> 03:08:50,400
commercial has been on a square footage basis.

2229
03:08:52,180 --> 03:08:53,220
Commissioner Lapis.

2230
03:08:55,080 --> 03:09:01,000
My question for you, how practical is it to, is it easy?

2231
03:09:01,000 --> 03:09:06,940
to basically rate the fire assessment on a square footage basis across the board,

2232
03:09:07,140 --> 03:09:10,640
commercial and residential, because you obviously then have to look at the square footage

2233
03:09:10,640 --> 03:09:15,920
of each and every single individual unit that's owned in Lauderdale, but I see I know that's attainable.

2234
03:09:16,160 --> 03:09:18,800
I know that's on BCPA, is that basically how it would be done?

2235
03:09:19,100 --> 03:09:20,280
And that's how it would be done.

2236
03:09:20,540 --> 03:09:27,540
So the May 1 timeframe, that's the time that BCPA needs to implement any new way

2237
03:09:27,540 --> 03:09:32,760
that we are going to allocate those charges, so that's why it can be done.

2238
03:09:33,220 --> 03:09:33,880
It can be done.

2239
03:09:34,060 --> 03:09:38,600
They will do it however we want them to do, but like the town attorney said, as long as

2240
03:09:38,600 --> 03:09:41,380
it falls within the statute and guidelines.

2241
03:09:42,260 --> 03:09:45,600
As long as we follow those guidelines, we can do however we want.

2242
03:09:45,880 --> 03:09:50,100
And then we have to present a two BCPA prior to by May 1st.

2243
03:09:50,480 --> 03:09:56,540
So we could do the study, give it to them before May 1st of next year, and that would take

2244
03:09:56,540 --> 03:10:02,640
the fire assessment that the commission establishes in 2027.

2245
03:10:03,040 --> 03:10:03,140
Right.

2246
03:10:03,300 --> 03:10:04,940
We all understand it's not going to happen this year.

2247
03:10:05,020 --> 03:10:06,960
We can get the study done this year by the end of the calendar year.

2248
03:10:07,260 --> 03:10:09,420
Whatever it may be, it's going to take a few months to do.

2249
03:10:09,580 --> 03:10:11,300
It's not going to impact us until 2027.

2250
03:10:11,880 --> 03:10:14,420
I just wanted to make sure from a practical standpoint,

2251
03:10:14,420 --> 03:10:17,480
if we were going to go strictly upon or strictly on, I should say,

2252
03:10:17,740 --> 03:10:22,060
a square footage basis that it's something that can be done very easily.

2253
03:10:22,200 --> 03:10:26,100
It's not something that would cause you a lot more work or a lot more administrative work.

2254
03:10:26,100 --> 03:10:29,480
No, it'll cost BCPA some more work.

2255
03:10:29,900 --> 03:10:30,580
Sorry, BCPA.

2256
03:10:31,520 --> 03:10:33,100
Hey, Commissioner Napa, you got it.

2257
03:10:33,220 --> 03:10:34,000
Yeah, I said a question.

2258
03:10:34,220 --> 03:10:38,800
So, 35 grand for a study to basically tell us what?

2259
03:10:40,730 --> 03:10:42,870
Whatever you want them to tell you.

2260
03:10:42,890 --> 03:10:46,830
No, if I'm just wondering, I always question these prices

2261
03:10:46,830 --> 03:10:47,950
for these studies and things.

2262
03:10:49,170 --> 03:10:52,830
If I go to the BCPA right now and look on the website,

2263
03:10:53,030 --> 03:10:55,950
I see square footage of residences, whether they're condos

2264
03:10:55,950 --> 03:10:58,270
Those are commercial properties or houses.

2265
03:10:58,750 --> 03:11:05,530
Could I just submit a request to BCPA today and see every single property in Lauderal

2266
03:11:05,530 --> 03:11:06,950
by the sea and get that for free?

2267
03:11:07,290 --> 03:11:08,070
Yes, we can.

2268
03:11:08,310 --> 03:11:11,810
So why would I pay somebody $35,000 to tell me what I could get for free?

2269
03:11:12,210 --> 03:11:15,650
Because like the ton of attorneys said, we have to make sure that we are following the

2270
03:11:15,650 --> 03:11:19,810
right guidelines in the Florida Statues to make sure that however way we're going to do

2271
03:11:19,810 --> 03:11:20,970
with it, it is acceptable.

2272
03:11:20,970 --> 03:11:27,790
Yeah, but I'm just saying is that we could get a handle on it where which ones are condos which ones are commercial properties

2273
03:11:27,790 --> 03:11:32,610
They're all designated by VCPA correct and so it's not like it's some hidden thing

2274
03:11:32,610 --> 03:11:34,810
So if we wanted to see the impact of

2275
03:11:36,090 --> 03:11:38,250
What would a square footage

2276
03:11:39,330 --> 03:11:45,130
Costs if we just applied the same commercial property square footage costs right now all it is is a spreadsheet

2277
03:11:45,790 --> 03:11:50,130
And I could just take a divider. I mean I've seen AI do things like this

2278
03:11:50,130 --> 03:11:52,910
You run it through AI and then it'll make the whole thing.

2279
03:11:53,150 --> 03:12:00,150
I mean, I've done it myself and I'm just wondering why we pay so much money for studies that are public information, really.

2280
03:12:00,790 --> 03:12:15,390
And I could probably, I'm not saying I want to do it, but I have seen AI doing this where I have given it literally like a stack of papers and said create a spreadsheet of names and phone numbers of everybody in this information.

2281
03:12:15,390 --> 03:12:21,450
And I'm sure like if we went to the BCPA we could say can you give us a CD-ROM disc jump drive?

2282
03:12:21,930 --> 03:12:27,790
I want all the square footage of every property in larval about a C designated by commercial or residential

2283
03:12:28,590 --> 03:12:31,570
slash condo and then couldn't we just look at that?

2284
03:12:32,290 --> 03:12:32,750
We can.

2285
03:12:33,190 --> 03:12:36,730
So that's what I'm wondering like why do we pay people for stuff like that?

2286
03:12:36,770 --> 03:12:38,490
If I may that's the input.

2287
03:12:39,210 --> 03:12:42,310
But then the question is how much are you charging per square foot?

2288
03:12:42,790 --> 03:13:12,130
Well, yeah, but I'm just, I just said that at least we, if we already know what we charge now and we're already going to find out what we charge like, but that amount that's charged for square foot for commercial is derived from the actual records of fire experience with commercial as a use, which residential as a use has a different experience of calling for fire. So that's where the work comes in. I'm not saying it's the right price or not. I'm saying that the square footage is just data you start from. But if I wanted to apply

2289
03:13:12,130 --> 03:13:16,650
everything the same as right now I could just take that information and divide it

2290
03:13:16,650 --> 03:13:20,590
and say hey I have all the square footages of everything why don't I just take

2291
03:13:20,590 --> 03:13:24,070
whatever our current fee is and divide it and then see what happens because I

2292
03:13:24,070 --> 03:13:27,110
think as the tunnel attorney's pointing out we need to have the data of fire

2293
03:13:27,110 --> 03:13:31,330
history to justify the rates of what's being charged so I think we have to have

2294
03:13:31,330 --> 03:13:35,730
look at that I think you know yes you can plug in numbers but there's more that

2295
03:13:35,730 --> 03:13:41,830
goes into that than I feel comfortable having staff do frankly so just

2296
03:13:41,830 --> 03:13:47,590
throwing it out there. It seems like we, you know, I don't know how they measure which

2297
03:13:47,590 --> 03:13:51,590
one is more. That's part of the study. I don't know. Yeah, I mean, I guess it all depends

2298
03:13:51,590 --> 03:13:55,410
on what you want to look at. Be helpful with, you know, as far as just figuring out

2299
03:13:55,410 --> 03:13:59,910
what the square footage is, I didn't know that it was not a divider of, you know, other factors

2300
03:13:59,910 --> 03:14:02,670
based. And normally in new study, you would look

2301
03:14:02,670 --> 03:14:08,330
at the data, you would look at the fire experience and you would also validate the numbers. We've

2302
03:14:08,330 --> 03:14:13,650
been charging and update them as well as look at different methodologies.

2303
03:14:13,930 --> 03:14:18,950
So yes, they'll do what you tell them to but within the framework of a fire assessment

2304
03:14:18,950 --> 03:14:22,990
and you can also ask them if there's a certain amount of this work if you do it upfront

2305
03:14:22,990 --> 03:14:25,710
does that affect the price, like you could ask that question.

2306
03:14:27,070 --> 03:14:31,050
So I think we'll bring this back as a further discussion item at some point to kind of narrow

2307
03:14:31,050 --> 03:14:36,210
this down as to what we all would like to see with this and then I can get some harder

2308
03:14:36,210 --> 03:14:40,750
numbers from the consultants, what if we provide them with all this data, things like that.

2309
03:14:40,890 --> 03:14:45,050
So I would like to flush this out at a later point, if that's okay.

2310
03:14:46,110 --> 03:14:46,570
That's fine.

2311
03:14:48,110 --> 03:14:53,810
And then the second part of that is to do a study for a fire rescue department.

2312
03:14:53,810 --> 03:14:59,970
I have two proposals, one's 30,000, one's 60,000, 12 to 14 weeks to complete.

2313
03:15:01,220 --> 03:15:29,980
This is something we want to look into. I can just say by some of our neighbors' experiences just looking at rates, I find it very difficult to think that we'd be able to do it for cheaper. That's not me as an expert saying that. That's just me looking at the realities of what it costs to staff of fire department, what it would cost in terms of equipment, what it would cost in terms of insurance, pensions, hiring ancillary city staff then to have to manage. You're basically doubling the size of our city.

2314
03:15:29,980 --> 03:15:35,360
staff, so we would need more HR, we probably need more finance people, so it can be done,

2315
03:15:35,560 --> 03:15:38,960
but I'm just skeptical that it would be significant savings.

2316
03:15:39,860 --> 03:15:40,780
Commissioner Jean-Napoli?

2317
03:15:41,380 --> 03:15:44,700
Yeah, I know as an interesting topic, I brought up what would it cost?

2318
03:15:44,880 --> 03:15:50,120
We always love to compare apples to apples, but I don't know about spending all that money

2319
03:15:50,120 --> 03:15:51,040
just to figure it out.

2320
03:15:53,940 --> 03:15:55,860
Seems like an expensive study, too.

2321
03:15:56,500 --> 03:16:01,900
I mean, I just did some back-of-the-table math based on what BSO is paying its firefighters

2322
03:16:02,480 --> 03:16:06,740
put in all the equipment, so you're talking about having to buy another engine,

2323
03:16:07,240 --> 03:16:11,380
two rescues because you need to have a reserve, plus battalion chiefs vehicles,

2324
03:16:11,680 --> 03:16:13,340
fire chiefs vehicles, and the specter vehicles.

2325
03:16:13,480 --> 03:16:17,780
So you're talking a multi-million dollar investment upfront for just equipment by itself,

2326
03:16:17,780 --> 03:16:21,880
and then you're talking about having to have a larger fire station than to house all that equipment.

2327
03:16:22,080 --> 03:16:25,560
So just the antler costs at the beginning are very high as well.

2328
03:16:25,960 --> 03:16:30,140
Could you save some money over time, perhaps, but I think the caveat with that is,

2329
03:16:30,980 --> 03:16:59,420
Firefighters now are a very smaller pool growing on a daily basis with the amount of vacancies there are with people going to Miami-Dade, Palm Beach County, the vacancies BSO is experiencing, the vacancies Fort Lauderdale has, it's become a very hard commodity to get people to want to fight fires, just very much it is to be in law enforcement, so we would need to pay a premium to get that as well, so could there be some savings? Yes, can I tell you how much? No, do I think it would be significant?

2330
03:16:59,420 --> 03:17:00,400
And most likely not.

2331
03:17:05,780 --> 03:17:06,580
Commissioner Poppins.

2332
03:17:06,800 --> 03:17:14,240
Well, that's what I was going to get to because I'm not one to spend $30,000 or especially $60,000.

2333
03:17:14,280 --> 03:17:17,600
I think that's ridiculous, but I'm not one to spend $30,000 on a study.

2334
03:17:17,760 --> 03:17:23,760
But this is maybe one of those instances where I might be the lone guy up here who thinks we should do it this one time.

2335
03:17:24,280 --> 03:17:26,000
And again, I understand your point.

2336
03:17:26,060 --> 03:17:28,120
I know the back of the envelope math, I get it.

2337
03:17:28,120 --> 03:17:47,840
But we know what other departments pay their employees, but other departments pay their employees and charge us a premium, right, because they're not doing it for out of the goodness of their hearts, I don't know what pompano, but we know that whether it's BSO, whether it's for Lauderdale, they're going to charge us a premium, they're making money.

2338
03:17:48,060 --> 03:17:52,780
I don't know what the percentage is, I don't know what percentage of that is premium versus just hard costs.

2339
03:17:53,480 --> 03:18:00,280
And that's really what the difference is, but this is a huge, huge item.

2340
03:18:00,780 --> 03:18:09,800
This is, in my opinion, the biggest, most important ticket item of this commission for this year, we have to solve this problem.

2341
03:18:10,440 --> 03:18:14,400
And what this basically does, and I want to make sure this is what it actually does.

2342
03:18:15,060 --> 03:18:21,560
This either keeps it on the board or completely takes it off the board, right?

2343
03:18:21,960 --> 03:18:22,360
Correct.

2344
03:18:22,580 --> 03:18:28,120
I would do this as a holistic study of what we would need to stand up a fire department, including all costs.

2345
03:18:28,580 --> 03:18:29,600
That's what I want to make sure.

2346
03:18:29,940 --> 03:18:30,020
Yes.

2347
03:18:30,020 --> 03:18:30,680
It's not just what.

2348
03:18:30,840 --> 03:18:31,700
It's how much.

2349
03:18:32,020 --> 03:18:32,320
Correct.

2350
03:18:32,520 --> 03:18:34,000
Because it's all about the numbers.

2351
03:18:34,260 --> 03:18:37,240
So what doesn't help us if we don't have numbers attached to it?

2352
03:18:37,340 --> 03:18:40,960
I mean, this is something that, tell me if I'm wrong, is a deer field that's doing this?

2353
03:18:42,240 --> 03:18:42,640
Yes.

2354
03:18:42,940 --> 03:18:43,100
Yes.

2355
03:18:44,000 --> 03:18:44,840
With the police.

2356
03:18:45,140 --> 03:18:46,380
Which is police, not with fire?

2357
03:18:47,160 --> 03:18:48,340
I don't think so.

2358
03:18:48,340 --> 03:18:48,680
Do you know?

2359
03:18:49,360 --> 03:18:50,480
I believe it's both, yes.

2360
03:18:50,480 --> 03:18:50,920
It's both.

2361
03:18:51,260 --> 03:18:53,420
Both are BSO fire rescues.

2362
03:18:53,420 --> 03:18:55,040
I'd love to see how that experiment goes.

2363
03:18:55,520 --> 03:18:56,900
I wish we had time to watch it.

2364
03:18:57,720 --> 03:19:01,100
Yeah, I'd love to see how that experiment goes because we could learn a lot from it,

2365
03:19:01,160 --> 03:19:01,780
quite frankly.

2366
03:19:01,980 --> 03:19:02,200
Right.

2367
03:19:02,420 --> 03:19:03,720
And then I would also say with that.

2368
03:19:04,240 --> 03:19:08,760
With those numbers, obviously, the two proposals we have, there's a significant difference

2369
03:19:08,760 --> 03:19:11,100
between BSO's proposal and Fort Lauderdale's proposal.

2370
03:19:11,940 --> 03:19:13,700
So again, that's another thing to look at.

2371
03:19:13,800 --> 03:19:15,340
But I just wanted to get it out there upfront.

2372
03:19:15,800 --> 03:19:19,700
You know, your equipment costs upfront are going to be multiples of millions of dollars

2373
03:19:19,700 --> 03:19:23,640
to stand up a fire department, initially, without any other cost.

2374
03:19:24,020 --> 03:19:31,640
But as we saw in the workshop that we had a month ago, both of those departments are

2375
03:19:31,640 --> 03:19:34,860
actually looking for us to fund additional equipment anyways, right?

2376
03:19:35,240 --> 03:19:36,480
We'd have to buy one rescue.

2377
03:19:37,260 --> 03:19:39,900
So we've won for a lot of real estate.

2378
03:19:40,180 --> 03:19:40,860
Correct, yes.

2379
03:19:41,680 --> 03:19:46,760
So we'd only have one, so we'd have to buy two and then another engine, so you're talking

2380
03:19:46,760 --> 03:19:49,200
because you have to have obviously reserve units then, right?

2381
03:19:49,200 --> 03:19:53,860
So plus equipment plus but we actually equipment in any ways

2382
03:19:53,860 --> 03:20:00,740
They're using our equipment some of it. Yes. Some of it they they updated their equipment. Yes. Yes. Yeah, so like all the

2383
03:20:01,500 --> 03:20:02,880
Packs that they wear they own

2384
03:20:03,600 --> 03:20:08,560
They put some we put some stuff on the truck, but they outfitted the rest of it

2385
03:20:08,560 --> 03:20:10,520
So they're there are ancillary

2386
03:20:10,520 --> 03:20:17,260
Again, the only reason why I would ever support a study like this which again $30,000 is unbelievable to me

2387
03:20:17,260 --> 03:20:27,120
I don't really know how they come up with that number, but regardless, the only reason I would consider this study is because it basically flushes out the entire option.

2388
03:20:27,440 --> 03:20:34,620
It's either once you have the study, it's a yes, or it's a no and you have your backup, your hard objective support.

2389
03:20:35,240 --> 03:20:45,700
That's why I would be okay with the $30,000 proposal because this is the most important thing that we have to do for this town this year.

2390
03:20:45,700 --> 03:20:50,880
It's not a sign. It's making sure that the fire department is there to service,

2391
03:20:51,120 --> 03:20:56,920
whoever it may be, to service our people. So, if it takes the option off the table,

2392
03:20:57,380 --> 03:21:03,720
but then so be it. It's a $30,000 cost, but we're talking about a multi-multi-multi-million dollar

2393
03:21:04,260 --> 03:21:10,600
issue that is going to be hopefully, not two years, but hopefully impacting us for the next

2394
03:21:11,260 --> 03:21:17,080
It's going to be your second largest line item with obviously police being first.

2395
03:21:17,120 --> 03:21:20,980
So while I will never be the first person to say that $30,000 is a drop in the bucket

2396
03:21:20,980 --> 03:21:25,180
because I don't believe that, I do think in this instance it's warranted and that's just

2397
03:21:25,180 --> 03:21:26,100
my position on this.

2398
03:21:26,780 --> 03:21:29,440
I agree, and we need to put it to bed soon.

2399
03:21:30,180 --> 03:21:35,400
I mean, we need to take care of our public safety, it needs to be figured out soon, but

2400
03:21:35,400 --> 03:21:40,080
I think it's responsible to be able to see all the options, to give everyone an option

2401
03:21:40,080 --> 03:21:44,340
whether it's feasible or not, so who's next?

2402
03:21:45,360 --> 03:21:46,140
Commissioner Gatziana.

2403
03:21:48,320 --> 03:21:56,380
I agree with Commissioner Thielopoulos, but let me ask you,

2404
03:21:56,460 --> 03:21:58,820
what's the comparison between the two studies?

2405
03:21:59,240 --> 03:22:00,560
The 60 versus the 30?

2406
03:22:02,200 --> 03:22:04,480
That's just the numbers I got from two different consultants.

2407
03:22:04,560 --> 03:22:05,780
I know the same thing.

2408
03:22:05,780 --> 03:22:06,920
The same difference in what they're going to do.

2409
03:22:07,760 --> 03:22:09,280
Again, these were just high level numbers.

2410
03:22:09,280 --> 03:22:12,420
I just ask for what it would take to stand up a full fire department,

2411
03:22:12,480 --> 03:22:17,060
including equipment and personnel costs and all their ancillary costs to the town.

2412
03:22:18,180 --> 03:22:20,420
So there's such a huge difference?

2413
03:22:21,580 --> 03:22:22,020
Yes.

2414
03:22:22,400 --> 03:22:23,300
Yeah, it's such a-

2415
03:22:23,300 --> 03:22:23,740
Two weeks difference.

2416
03:22:25,970 --> 03:22:26,610
Two weeks.

2417
03:22:26,850 --> 03:22:27,670
Two weeks, two weeks.

2418
03:22:28,390 --> 03:22:28,550
Two weeks, two weeks.

2419
03:22:28,550 --> 03:22:28,690
Yeah.

2420
03:22:28,830 --> 03:22:31,190
Two weeks, you know.

2421
03:22:31,930 --> 03:22:40,650
So if they're comparable studies and one is 30, I think that we should move on with my fellow commissioners.

2422
03:22:40,650 --> 03:22:44,650
here said, so I'd be supportive of the 30,000.

2423
03:22:45,550 --> 03:22:51,930
This is a huge, huge issue, and then we'll have explored all options.

2424
03:22:54,660 --> 03:23:01,120
So then also the important point to consider with that is now that's going to delay any

2425
03:23:01,120 --> 03:23:06,140
decisions on the cost of the P3 because we're not going to know how big of a station we need.

2426
03:23:06,600 --> 03:23:08,260
So it's just putting that out there so you're all aware.

2427
03:23:09,000 --> 03:23:09,460
That's fine.

2428
03:23:12,280 --> 03:23:17,000
Okay, I will have them put together a package for your consideration.

2429
03:23:17,300 --> 03:23:18,400
We have more speakers too.

2430
03:23:18,940 --> 03:23:20,100
All right, Mr. Jambly.

2431
03:23:20,760 --> 03:23:22,660
Yeah, I was going to go along with Commissioner Polopolis.

2432
03:23:22,740 --> 03:23:30,780
He has me convinced we've spent like $25,000 on some studies in a neighborhood of speeding and so forth.

2433
03:23:31,000 --> 03:23:33,400
So this is a huge undertaking.

2434
03:23:33,400 --> 03:23:40,200
So I like Proposal 2, 30K, 14 weeks sounds reasonable to me when you consider the impact of it all.

2435
03:23:40,680 --> 03:23:43,620
And again, I'll bring the commissioner, Paulopolis, for bringing that up.

2436
03:23:43,700 --> 03:23:45,000
I'll bring final cost back to you.

2437
03:23:45,040 --> 03:23:46,580
These were literally high level numbers.

2438
03:23:46,720 --> 03:23:49,560
I asked them to put together based on what they were doing.

2439
03:23:49,920 --> 03:23:52,220
Well, exactly, so I will.

2440
03:23:52,800 --> 03:23:55,740
120, you know, so I will make sure we bring that back.

2441
03:23:55,840 --> 03:23:58,180
And vice mayor does want to add, but I know you.

2442
03:24:00,220 --> 03:24:10,600
I agree with him on that, I would agree to option two, which would be the two-week extra, but half the price.

2443
03:24:11,500 --> 03:24:24,560
I would ask that since the PPP program, the public safety thing that we're looking at is so important and intertwined in what we're trying to do, by the way.

2444
03:24:24,560 --> 03:24:31,500
I think what we're doing with this will either allow us to get our own fire department or we'll put that thing to sleep forever.

2445
03:24:31,900 --> 03:24:34,480
So that's important, you stated very well.

2446
03:24:34,840 --> 03:24:41,760
But since we have the public safety issue intertwined with that, is it possible to discuss this with, I think it's a core.

2447
03:24:43,600 --> 03:24:53,180
Maybe have them flip the bill or pay part of it, since it's something that affects what they're ultimately going to be providing us.

2448
03:24:53,180 --> 03:24:59,000
I can ask, see what they say, but I don't see an incentive on their part to do it, but I'm happy to ask them.

2449
03:25:00,220 --> 03:25:00,560
Doesn't hurt?

2450
03:25:01,000 --> 03:25:03,900
Well, okay, that's all thrown, thanks.

2451
03:25:04,200 --> 03:25:10,760
I understand they're in the business of building buildings, they're not in the business of running fire departments, so we can talk.

2452
03:25:12,660 --> 03:25:15,060
Negotiations, negotiation, that's the fun part about it.

2453
03:25:18,080 --> 03:25:18,660
Okay, go ahead.

2454
03:25:19,540 --> 03:25:20,560
Commissioner, do you have an employee again?

2455
03:25:20,560 --> 03:25:31,840
But yeah, my guess is it would only impact the PVP in the sense of how much administrative space we would need if we had our own department and as far as the extra equipment that would be necessary to maintain.

2456
03:25:32,560 --> 03:25:37,900
So that's how it probably could impact it, it would probably require more space.

2457
03:25:38,480 --> 03:25:42,500
Yeah, so which would even increase the overall cost of the project by square footage, yeah.

2458
03:25:45,790 --> 03:25:46,430
Okay, next.

2459
03:25:46,430 --> 03:25:47,110
Okay, thank you.

2460
03:25:47,110 --> 03:25:47,590
Go ahead.

2461
03:25:48,130 --> 03:25:48,770
Moving on.

2462
03:25:49,790 --> 03:25:53,350
At the last meeting, we discussed the proposed charter amendment.

2463
03:25:53,590 --> 03:25:57,850
There was some talk about taking a look at the latest iteration of that and whether we

2464
03:25:57,850 --> 03:26:00,150
wanted a second opinion from another law firm.

2465
03:26:00,730 --> 03:26:04,570
So I'm coming back to you all now that you've had time to take a look at the proposed amendment

2466
03:26:04,570 --> 03:26:05,690
and Susan's work.

2467
03:26:06,130 --> 03:26:09,690
And if you all want to seek a second opinion or if you want to move forward.

2468
03:26:11,330 --> 03:26:11,850
All right.

2469
03:26:12,010 --> 03:26:12,790
Mr. DiNabli.

2470
03:26:12,790 --> 03:26:22,570
Well, so I expressed some procedural concerns last time relating to that proposed harder amendment being advanced through the the citizen petition process.

2471
03:26:22,950 --> 03:26:26,930
I know the commission was initially briefed in January regarding it.

2472
03:26:27,390 --> 03:26:33,970
And then I later discovered that subsequent revisions to that petition language occurred without additional updates to the commission.

2473
03:26:33,970 --> 03:26:40,050
So, that raised a concern for me, but my primary concern, however, related to the communications

2474
03:26:40,730 --> 03:26:43,890
that took place between town staff and the petitioners.

2475
03:26:44,590 --> 03:26:51,710
And you see, charter amendment that the petitioners are seeking to operate under is governed

2476
03:26:51,710 --> 03:26:57,610
by Florida statutes 166-031 and 101-161.

2477
03:26:57,830 --> 03:27:01,230
I brought those with me, if everybody wants to take a peek, I'm going to pass them out.

2478
03:27:01,990 --> 03:27:02,590
So,

2479
03:27:04,660 --> 03:27:12,660
you know, it's important to understand that our local charter does not govern the process for which they are seeking to operate under.

2480
03:27:15,100 --> 03:27:16,900
So, there are two different ones.

2481
03:27:17,200 --> 03:27:18,920
I read the statute numbers.

2482
03:27:22,380 --> 03:27:23,040
Here you go.

2483
03:27:27,420 --> 03:27:28,680
Anybody need any more?

2484
03:27:29,020 --> 03:27:30,060
One more set?

2485
03:27:30,740 --> 03:27:31,040
Okay.

2486
03:27:31,240 --> 03:27:32,200
What are we looking at first?

2487
03:27:32,200 --> 03:27:33,360
Yeah, I'll show you

2488
03:27:34,900 --> 03:27:37,800
So I'm just trying to point out that our local charter

2489
03:27:37,800 --> 03:27:44,180
Our local charter does not govern the process that the petitioners are seeking to operate under

2490
03:27:44,180 --> 03:27:48,320
They're seeking to operate under Florida statute, which I passed out and

2491
03:27:49,360 --> 03:27:55,020
It's going to be a combination of both of these. So if you look at 16603-1

2492
03:27:55,960 --> 03:28:00,420
You'll see a governing body of a municipality made by ordinance

2493
03:28:00,420 --> 03:28:00,660
It's

2494
03:28:02,770 --> 03:28:08,610
petition by 10% of the registered electors, and that's how you get something on the ballot.

2495
03:28:09,170 --> 03:28:21,910
So the reason for me passing these out is these statutes are really limited in what they require from the town to engage in any conversations and back and forth with the petitioners.

2496
03:28:21,910 --> 03:28:29,490
In fact, I don't see any statutory obligation for the town to guide or assist petitioners in drafting ballot language.

2497
03:28:29,490 --> 03:28:36,470
It's very light in these statutes about what a town or a city should do, yet from what

2498
03:28:36,470 --> 03:28:40,650
I've reviewed, the communications between the town staff and the petitioners appear to

2499
03:28:40,650 --> 03:28:46,530
have gone beyond simply acknowledging the petition process and have moved towards guiding

2500
03:28:47,190 --> 03:28:51,290
the petitioners on how to craft ballot language that would pass legal review.

2501
03:28:51,890 --> 03:28:55,110
So to be clear, I did speak with the town attorney initially.

2502
03:28:55,110 --> 03:29:03,730
I did provide some legal theories, questions I had about the petitioners first draft, which is totally appropriate, everybody, all any one of us could do that.

2503
03:29:04,530 --> 03:29:13,950
What surprised me though was later learning that our town attorney's detailed legal memorandum addressed to the town manager was being shared with that petition group.

2504
03:29:13,950 --> 03:29:20,090
To me, that just goes too far, a much shorter response, I believe, would have been appropriate.

2505
03:29:20,610 --> 03:29:25,130
You know, our town attorney's client is the town, not the petitioner group.

2506
03:29:25,890 --> 03:29:30,830
And I don't believe there's any duty that I can see in statute to advise the petitioners

2507
03:29:30,830 --> 03:29:35,110
to the extent that you can see the advice and those legal memos.

2508
03:29:35,730 --> 03:29:39,630
And it appears as though the petitioners are relying on our town attorney

2509
03:29:39,630 --> 03:29:45,590
to be almost like quasi their attorney to go back and forth and craft a valid item that

2510
03:29:45,590 --> 03:29:50,290
would meet legal muster. So in my opinion they should simply hire their own attorney.

2511
03:29:50,670 --> 03:29:55,510
Now I understand that the town manager has been deferring to the town attorney's judgment

2512
03:29:55,510 --> 03:29:59,970
on these matters. I respect that. I also understand that the town attorney's

2513
03:30:00,000 --> 03:30:29,920
The perspective is that she wouldn't want to have ballot items to be so bad as to botch up our charter. So I get that, I respect that. But I think spending time writing those detailed legal memos that we got copies of after the fact to be shared with that petitioner group. I just think it goes too far. And it's not the only way to address the concern. You could just write a much shorter response and not get into all that detail.

2514
03:30:29,920 --> 03:30:39,420
I was also concerned that we, as a commission, were kind of left in the dark about the further communications from the town attorney that were sent between their first and their subsequent drafts.

2515
03:30:39,840 --> 03:30:43,760
And we only found out shortly before our last meeting, so that's why I brought this up.

2516
03:30:44,560 --> 03:30:53,640
And given that charter amendments affect the town's governing document, I think it's essential that we do remain informed as the language evolves.

2517
03:30:53,640 --> 03:31:00,260
And we've heard from the town manager that this would be resolve going forward, that we would continue, that we would be informed.

2518
03:31:00,760 --> 03:31:06,200
I heard some say last time the commission has no role in this and that we can only defer to the town attorney, that's not true.

2519
03:31:07,040 --> 03:31:12,620
I mean our action at the last meeting proved that, the town attorney will operate at the direction of the commission.

2520
03:31:13,440 --> 03:31:21,460
We specifically requested to defer any decision on seeking a second opinion and to prevent further communication with the petitioners by the town attorney.

2521
03:31:21,460 --> 03:31:36,800
and to instead bring that up here tonight, but I just think that I continue to believe it's going to be prudent to obtain a limited independent legal review before the town moves further into what could become a contentious public process.

2522
03:31:38,460 --> 03:31:43,520
I believe it's both reasonable and responsible to get a second legal review, that's just my opinion.

2523
03:31:43,520 --> 03:31:47,720
I don't believe it's going to cost very much, simply a safeguard for the town.

2524
03:31:49,200 --> 03:31:54,820
Corporations, boards, my company, we routinely seek second opinions.

2525
03:31:55,420 --> 03:31:59,400
We have two lawyers working on the same thing right now, for a matter.

2526
03:32:00,160 --> 03:32:04,940
So I just think it's a matter of due diligence and I heard conversation before and

2527
03:32:04,940 --> 03:32:10,040
this is not to slight anybody's competence as a lawyer, anything like that.

2528
03:32:10,240 --> 03:32:11,740
I just want to say no one's infallible.

2529
03:32:11,740 --> 03:32:16,340
You know, the Supreme Court of the United States with the best judges in the country does

2530
03:32:16,340 --> 03:32:18,020
not unanimously agree on everything.

2531
03:32:18,600 --> 03:32:20,240
Everybody knows it could be a tight vote.

2532
03:32:21,160 --> 03:32:26,080
I reviewed language of an ordinances and resolutions and our charter review board amendments with

2533
03:32:26,080 --> 03:32:28,220
each of you up here in detail.

2534
03:32:29,080 --> 03:32:33,640
You know, given my experience in election law, I pointed out a bad error that our town staff

2535
03:32:33,640 --> 03:32:38,780
had not discovered last year that our new qualifying date for the November elections was incorrect

2536
03:32:39,460 --> 03:32:40,840
as it was originally presented.

2537
03:32:41,880 --> 03:32:51,620
So our last charter review board package, there was stray language that I pointed out, which is why we brought back, you know, the one item regarding timeframes for the certification of petitions.

2538
03:32:52,240 --> 03:33:05,280
So I just think a second set of eyes is always helpful, but, you know, what I would propose at the end of the day is I think we're really almost becoming their quasi attorneys and the guidance that we're giving them.

2539
03:33:05,280 --> 03:33:11,520
And these statutes that I passed out show you what, you know, you don't really have to say much of anything.

2540
03:33:12,080 --> 03:33:18,820
But if we guide them, they can actually get something and, you know, they can move forward with something.

2541
03:33:18,940 --> 03:33:23,600
And it's almost like we became their attorney in how to pass legal muster.

2542
03:33:24,220 --> 03:33:25,940
And none of this is required here.

2543
03:33:26,480 --> 03:33:29,760
And I, you know, so I'd respectfully ask the following.

2544
03:33:29,760 --> 03:33:34,540
Town Manager investigate outside counsel with experienced municipal and election law.

2545
03:33:35,300 --> 03:33:43,840
Return to the commission at our next meeting with three cost estimates for limited legal review before the town attorney or town manager replies to the petitioner's further.

2546
03:33:44,540 --> 03:33:51,260
Simply choose a reputable firm, get some estimates, some that have substantial legal experience in the field,

2547
03:33:51,260 --> 03:33:53,200
I'm sure we all know who they are.

2548
03:33:53,840 --> 03:33:58,000
Simply ask them what a legal review of a single ballot item would cost and let us know at

2549
03:33:58,000 --> 03:33:58,560
the next meeting.

2550
03:33:59,000 --> 03:34:04,080
We're talking narrow limited review, focused specifically on the legal issues surrounding

2551
03:34:04,080 --> 03:34:09,420
the petition process and the proposed ballot language before the town provides any further

2552
03:34:10,160 --> 03:34:12,300
substantive response to the petitioners.

2553
03:34:13,520 --> 03:34:18,300
I just think once again, we don't owe any duty.

2554
03:34:18,300 --> 03:34:22,440
they can put forward, they have every right to go petition for whatever they want.

2555
03:34:22,560 --> 03:34:27,880
Can I ask that we've gone like so far down the path that it's like we're guiding them and we don't have it.

2556
03:34:27,940 --> 03:34:33,640
Can I ask you one thing because you said something really fast and I just want to get an idea, a specific idea.

2557
03:34:34,140 --> 03:34:43,520
So you're saying because our, correct me if I'm wrong, the charter identifies ordinance items that come before the commission.

2558
03:34:43,520 --> 03:34:48,660
The proposed agenda, the proposed, the amendment is not in ordinance.

2559
03:34:49,240 --> 03:34:57,340
Correct, so in our town charter it talks about a legal review process by the town attorney for amending ordinances.

2560
03:34:57,740 --> 03:35:03,260
They are not operating under that because they are trying to change different sections.

2561
03:35:03,260 --> 03:35:06,880
They are trying to amend the charter pursuant to the Florida statutes, I've handed out.

2562
03:35:06,880 --> 03:35:12,980
which if you read them, and I'm just pointing out that there is no legal review

2563
03:35:12,980 --> 03:35:16,800
process, there's no requirement to go back and forth. And like I said, yeah, I

2564
03:35:16,800 --> 03:35:21,380
get it. You know, you don't want them pushing something that's totally gonna

2565
03:35:21,380 --> 03:35:25,480
botch up the charter, but at the same time, you don't have to guide them as much as

2566
03:35:25,480 --> 03:35:30,960
you've seen in these legal memos where it's a lot of information, and it's

2567
03:35:30,960 --> 03:35:34,420
basically you're showing them how to make a petition item. It's almost like you're

2568
03:35:34,420 --> 03:35:37,660
becoming their lawyer, and I just see a problem with that.

2569
03:35:37,800 --> 03:35:39,460
And we're getting build funds.

2570
03:35:39,780 --> 03:35:40,820
Yeah, we're getting build for it.

2571
03:35:40,960 --> 03:35:42,000
No, thank you.

2572
03:35:42,080 --> 03:35:43,180
We have Commissioner Cross-Henry.

2573
03:35:44,720 --> 03:35:53,940
With respect to these two pieces that you just handed out, 166.031 is the preferred document

2574
03:35:53,940 --> 03:35:56,120
or what's the story here?

2575
03:35:56,280 --> 03:35:57,860
Both of them say the same thing.

2576
03:35:58,460 --> 03:36:02,240
With respect to two different sections.

2577
03:36:02,240 --> 03:36:08,940
So on 166-031, you're talking about charter amendment and the section is under Chapter 166 Minus

2578
03:36:08,940 --> 03:36:09,460
Appalities.

2579
03:36:09,860 --> 03:36:15,780
I include the other one because that's primarily related to constitutional amendments for the

2580
03:36:15,780 --> 03:36:16,020
state.

2581
03:36:16,400 --> 03:36:25,620
But there is language in there regarding the 75 word and the how to title and structure

2582
03:36:25,620 --> 03:36:26,400
an amendment.

2583
03:36:26,400 --> 03:36:33,200
So that's these are the ones that you look at when you're structuring a charter amendment at a municipal level.

2584
03:36:33,400 --> 03:36:35,060
You have these two interplay each other.

2585
03:36:35,840 --> 03:36:45,840
So an attorney who's going to follow up on this would need to look at 166-031 and follow the rules there.

2586
03:36:45,840 --> 03:36:59,220
and that ballot summary of the amendment or that language that you just said, not exceeding 75 words in length, they both would have to be adhered to, is that it?

2587
03:37:00,320 --> 03:37:11,900
Yes, this has to be adhered to, but the point I'm trying to make is that there's no obligation of the town to keep going back and forth with petitioners on how to amend your own town charter.

2588
03:37:11,900 --> 03:37:31,640
No, I understand the, you know, the overall point, I'd like to hear from Council what she has to say about how she's been dealing with the referendum people because I don't, I don't know that you've been guiding them.

2589
03:37:32,060 --> 03:37:36,060
I think you've been representing us, is that true?

2590
03:37:36,060 --> 03:37:37,980
Through the mayor?

2591
03:37:38,320 --> 03:37:38,740
Yes, please.

2592
03:37:39,040 --> 03:37:39,740
Thank you.

2593
03:37:39,980 --> 03:37:40,380
Yes.

2594
03:37:40,800 --> 03:37:46,560
My role is to represent the town and specifically the will of the town commission in this process.

2595
03:37:47,580 --> 03:37:55,860
As I opined in my first memo and as Commissioner DiNapoli has explained this evening, Article 4 of

2596
03:37:55,860 --> 03:37:59,860
our charter does not apply and that was one of the preliminary questions.

2597
03:38:00,260 --> 03:38:05,480
A number of questions were framed by the petitioners for the clerk and the manager who asked for

2598
03:38:05,480 --> 03:38:10,580
guidance. And so the guidance I've given is to the administration in response to those inquiries.

2599
03:38:11,320 --> 03:38:17,600
These two statutes are the rules that govern subsection one of each of these statutes

2600
03:38:18,400 --> 03:38:27,300
as given more meaning by the case law that has interpreted them over time. And so we were asked to look

2601
03:38:27,300 --> 03:38:34,240
at the legal form of the petition which is what we did. And the I'm hearing in some of the

2602
03:38:34,240 --> 03:38:39,820
conversation kind of a sense of a question has been framed yet. So let me just try to frame it.

2603
03:38:40,720 --> 03:38:47,960
So why would there be something to raise with the legal framing of it? There is case law that says

2604
03:38:47,960 --> 03:38:56,080
if the petition is substantively illegal, like it violates state law for cities to have this in their

2605
03:38:56,080 --> 03:39:01,660
charter, or if it fails to meet the standards that have been given meaning by the case law,

2606
03:39:01,660 --> 03:39:07,920
then it's proper for that not to go on the ballot at all, that you shouldn't even let the

2607
03:39:07,920 --> 03:39:13,300
voters say because it's not a proper thing. And these standards are interpreted towards

2608
03:39:13,300 --> 03:39:18,560
are you misleading the voters or are you fairly putting a proposition in front of them?

2609
03:39:18,660 --> 03:39:24,140
That's a simplification. So that's what we've done. That's the information

2610
03:39:24,140 --> 03:39:29,520
that's been provided. It is definitely concerning as we said at the last meeting that you had

2611
03:39:29,520 --> 03:39:38,720
not receive the second round submission of the petition, which was not something I knew until, you know, it was just an oversight as the manager explained

2612
03:39:39,720 --> 03:39:59,500
got lost in the work of he was out of town and I assumed it had been done and I should have assumed. So that's something that that was not proper. But that's what we did. And we did it with the best interests of the town in mind. And we've simply said, you know, this is

2613
03:39:59,500 --> 03:40:00,860
is our assessment of the concerns.

2614
03:40:01,320 --> 03:40:03,720
All along, the petitioners could start

2615
03:40:03,720 --> 03:40:05,900
circulating their petition at any time.

2616
03:40:06,040 --> 03:40:07,920
They are the ones driving the train of this,

2617
03:40:08,680 --> 03:40:10,360
but they've asked for the guidance so far.

2618
03:40:10,540 --> 03:40:11,440
We've given them guidance.

2619
03:40:11,940 --> 03:40:13,320
If we're not going to give them any more guidance,

2620
03:40:13,520 --> 03:40:14,760
that's perfectly fine with me.

2621
03:40:15,480 --> 03:40:18,040
My only question is, what would be the role?

2622
03:40:18,620 --> 03:40:20,200
I'm open to another attorney.

2623
03:40:20,480 --> 03:40:22,300
I've said it's up to you all if you want

2624
03:40:22,300 --> 03:40:24,120
to get another attorney to look at this.

2625
03:40:24,640 --> 03:40:26,900
My question would be, what would you do with that product?

2626
03:40:26,900 --> 03:40:33,080
But that would be the question that I would have, but I hope that helps you.

2627
03:40:35,320 --> 03:40:43,020
I yield to Commissioner, well, it's going to be the vice mayor, go ahead.

2628
03:40:43,380 --> 03:40:44,400
Just a quick question.

2629
03:40:44,560 --> 03:40:51,120
Is there anything within those statutes in our charter that prohibits our town attorney from speaking to a petition?

2630
03:40:52,860 --> 03:40:54,860
No, but I have not spoken to them.

2631
03:40:54,860 --> 03:40:59,340
I've only responded to the emails that the administration has asked me for guidance on.

2632
03:40:59,420 --> 03:41:12,000
Okay, do we have anything in these statutes, 1, 6, 6, 0, 3, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 6, 1, that prohibits our town attorney from participating the way she did.

2633
03:41:12,820 --> 03:41:15,920
No, but like I said, it's the level of participation.

2634
03:41:16,300 --> 03:41:23,600
And sharing our internal town memos, legal memos that were from her to the town manager, with the petitioners.

2635
03:41:23,600 --> 03:41:25,080
I just think is too far.

2636
03:41:25,700 --> 03:41:32,760
I don't think that we should do that because that, to me, crosses the line into really guiding

2637
03:41:32,760 --> 03:41:36,260
somebody almost to the point where they can hire their own attorney.

2638
03:41:37,040 --> 03:41:41,660
Why are they leaning on us costing us money for a petition that they haven't even got

2639
03:41:41,660 --> 03:41:47,960
signatures for for a group that is not operating under the local town charter provisions?

2640
03:41:48,580 --> 03:41:50,340
We're under no duty to do that.

2641
03:41:50,340 --> 03:42:19,020
But once again, like I said, I get it that, you know, you don't want something that's so bad that it doesn't make any sense, but at the same time, you know, the guidance level is getting to be, I think, too far from what I see in these legal memos which are not even addressed to the petitioner, they're literally from the town attorney to the town manager, and then they're being emailed, so that's what I just thought was strange.

2642
03:42:19,020 --> 03:42:24,280
I think the question I have is how much oversight do we want to have on our

2643
03:42:24,280 --> 03:42:29,440
town attorney and given guidance not only on this issue but on any issue that comes up.

2644
03:42:29,560 --> 03:42:35,320
There are situations where other items come up not petitioners or charter amendment

2645
03:42:35,320 --> 03:42:42,620
things where the town attorney might opine on or give guidance on in the similar degree.

2646
03:42:43,280 --> 03:42:48,360
Do we have to oversee everything that the town attorney does on a piece by piece basis or do

2647
03:42:48,360 --> 03:42:59,620
We have a blanket mandate now to our town attorney saying no more communications with anybody except town manager and commissioners, I'm trying to see where we're going with this.

2648
03:42:59,840 --> 03:43:04,240
I think the point is that this is extra help that is required.

2649
03:43:04,500 --> 03:43:07,680
We're giving help that is not required by our charter.

2650
03:43:08,180 --> 03:43:11,360
We're basically doing, that this is the argument I think you're making.

2651
03:43:11,360 --> 03:43:19,360
We're doing the work of an of a of a party that has to have their own attorney because in our charter it states that we do not have to do anything.

2652
03:43:19,780 --> 03:43:23,860
So my question last time this came up mayor was if I may.

2653
03:43:24,760 --> 03:43:28,260
Then why why are we going to a second opinion at all?

2654
03:43:28,580 --> 03:43:36,260
Why not just let this petitioner hire his own attorney or her own attorney or however it stated and let them proceed?

2655
03:43:36,260 --> 03:43:42,180
Why are we even bothering with the idea of having to get Council to do a second opinion?

2656
03:43:43,060 --> 03:43:46,140
Oh, I gave my, oh, I'll wait for you.

2657
03:43:48,900 --> 03:43:54,020
You didn't press your button to shut off, because I know Commissioner Poplis also would like to talk.

2658
03:43:54,520 --> 03:43:55,880
You should shut yours as well.

2659
03:43:56,260 --> 03:43:56,940
Yes, thank you.

2660
03:43:57,080 --> 03:43:58,040
Shut it off for you.

2661
03:43:58,440 --> 03:43:58,600
Okay.

2662
03:43:58,820 --> 03:43:59,600
Commissioner Poplis.

2663
03:43:59,760 --> 03:44:01,400
Yeah, I see both sides of the coin to this.

2664
03:44:01,540 --> 03:44:07,780
I mean, I'll start with saying I would turn to have been up here with you for four years and you do an excellent job and you're very knowledgeable and, you know, way more about this.

2665
03:44:07,780 --> 03:44:08,720
and I do, that's for sure.

2666
03:44:09,760 --> 03:44:11,920
And as an attorney, I do agree also

2667
03:44:11,920 --> 03:44:13,140
with Commissioner DiNapoli.

2668
03:44:13,340 --> 03:44:14,260
I mean, I'm infallible.

2669
03:44:14,440 --> 03:44:16,560
I mean, there's no way, I'm not infallible.

2670
03:44:16,620 --> 03:44:18,160
Excuse me, excuse me, I'm very fallible.

2671
03:44:20,160 --> 03:44:21,840
I like to think I'm infallible, but I'm not.

2672
03:44:22,700 --> 03:44:24,560
No, I make mistakes all the time.

2673
03:44:25,000 --> 03:44:27,480
I work with many attorneys over the years

2674
03:44:27,480 --> 03:44:28,640
and we always correct each other

2675
03:44:28,640 --> 03:44:30,220
and we always try to the best

2676
03:44:30,220 --> 03:44:31,640
and the best work product is usually

2677
03:44:31,640 --> 03:44:34,180
when you put multiple attorneys together in a room

2678
03:44:34,180 --> 03:44:35,260
and you get a finished product.

2679
03:44:36,580 --> 03:44:44,120
I understand from a standpoint of cost, I do agree, this is taxpayer money, one hundred percent.

2680
03:44:44,340 --> 03:44:47,260
Whatever you do, basically, is being paid for by the taxpayers.

2681
03:44:47,860 --> 03:44:49,060
We prove that every year.

2682
03:44:49,660 --> 03:44:59,840
And so this is a third party who's not operating under the charter, who is basically getting, I don't say free legal services, but legal services, essentially.

2683
03:45:00,000 --> 03:45:28,180
That's free legal services. That's already done. That's, I guess, the thing that I don't really know where we go from here, because if we get a second opinion and push an app, we'll frame this to you. If we get a second opinion, we're going to get basically a work product. We're going to get a memorandum. But is that a memorandum that we then share with the petitioners? Because if we share it, it becomes a public record, I believe at that point.

2684
03:45:28,180 --> 03:45:34,640
Right, it's a public record anyway so aren't we then just paying more than for something we don't need it's I would say this

2685
03:45:34,640 --> 03:45:37,760
This is this is how I see it as a compromise. I would say yes

2686
03:45:37,760 --> 03:45:39,860
I do think that we should never do this again

2687
03:45:40,480 --> 03:45:45,840
Because I don't think it's correct. I don't think that you could have ten petitioners come to you

2688
03:45:45,840 --> 03:45:49,540
Does that mean that we're gonna issue a legal memorandum for each and every petitioner?

2689
03:45:49,860 --> 03:45:56,100
I mean we've sat up here, you know the vice mayor the mayor and I have sat up here for a long time and we've we've worked some crazy stuff

2690
03:45:56,100 --> 03:46:02,420
that a petitioner could bring up real crazy stuff. This is not crazy. But I'm talking about really

2691
03:46:02,420 --> 03:46:08,680
weird things that they may want an opinion. There might be 150 words, not the 75, and they're constantly

2692
03:46:08,680 --> 03:46:12,360
going to be bogging you down with legal memorandums that quite frankly, I don't want to pay for. I don't

2693
03:46:12,360 --> 03:46:20,260
want the tax payers to pay for. So I agree. In this instance, I understand what you're doing. I understand

2694
03:46:20,260 --> 03:46:27,720
that is a serious proposal by the petitioners and you want to make sure that if it's going to go

2695
03:46:27,720 --> 03:46:33,040
through it's not going to mess up our charter. But that's the job of them and I believe they have

2696
03:46:33,040 --> 03:46:38,280
attorneys who are actually within the petitioning group. I mean that's their job. If I want to petition

2697
03:46:38,280 --> 03:46:41,320
this town I wouldn't expect you to give me a memorandum though I'm sure I love it.

2698
03:46:47,260 --> 03:46:48,080
I would

2699
03:46:48,080 --> 03:46:54,620
I guess at this juncture, what are we going to achieve, and I'll bring it back to you, Commissioner Napoli.

2700
03:46:55,360 --> 03:47:00,460
I think that this is something that quite frankly I wish didn't happen, but it happened.

2701
03:47:01,440 --> 03:47:03,980
So that's where I'm at, practically speaking.

2702
03:47:04,480 --> 03:47:09,760
I would say going forward, please don't issue memorandums that get circulated because I mean,

2703
03:47:10,160 --> 03:47:14,780
this is your attorney for the majority as you always say, up here, right?

2704
03:47:15,820 --> 03:47:22,880
We're not providing free legal services for the public, that's not our job.

2705
03:47:23,120 --> 03:47:26,020
Our job is to govern, so I'll yield.

2706
03:47:27,460 --> 03:47:30,660
So we'll go to Commissioner Dabli followed by Commissioner Grazioni.

2707
03:47:31,660 --> 03:47:34,060
I suppose the problem is where does it lie now?

2708
03:47:34,640 --> 03:47:38,740
So like you said, Commissioner Poloffelis, my concern is who's your client?

2709
03:47:38,740 --> 03:47:46,340
Why are you writing legal memorandum at all that becomes a public record in that instance

2710
03:47:46,780 --> 03:47:50,140
when you know that somebody is just going to go and take it.

2711
03:47:50,220 --> 03:47:57,260
As an attorney, I could just say, well, I'm having a conversation or I could issue an

2712
03:47:57,260 --> 03:48:03,320
opinion that just says this does not, the town cannot approve or certify the ballot title

2713
03:48:03,320 --> 03:48:04,440
in summary in their current form.

2714
03:48:04,440 --> 03:48:09,980
So, ballot language must clearly and accurately state the measures to your purpose.

2715
03:48:10,200 --> 03:48:16,440
You know, two sentences I could get it done, you know, but where do we stand now?

2716
03:48:17,560 --> 03:48:23,760
I don't know, probably shouldn't say, but do you think that the current version is something

2717
03:48:23,760 --> 03:48:29,280
that could fly, probably shouldn't say, you know, that's the whole purpose for getting an

2718
03:48:29,280 --> 03:48:33,240
outside opinion because right now it is stopped.

2719
03:48:33,240 --> 03:48:38,980
There has been no further communication since the last one, but as anybody who has an

2720
03:48:38,980 --> 03:48:45,720
attorney knows, when you're talking constitutional law, legislation, statute, there can be a variety

2721
03:48:45,720 --> 03:48:50,800
of opinions over what applies and what doesn't, you know, a variety of opinions over whether

2722
03:48:50,800 --> 03:48:57,220
the current version is something that should be approved or should not be approved, you know.

2723
03:48:57,500 --> 03:48:59,300
So that's what I would be interested in.

2724
03:48:59,300 --> 03:49:04,320
And that's the whole purpose of it, is not because of what has happened so much, which

2725
03:49:04,320 --> 03:49:09,240
I agree should not happen again, especially when somebody is operating under statute that,

2726
03:49:09,760 --> 03:49:13,300
you know, we don't have to feed them as much as they've been fed, you know.

2727
03:49:15,020 --> 03:49:21,040
But shouldn't we know what somebody else's opinion might be on something that rarely comes

2728
03:49:21,040 --> 03:49:29,480
up once every 14 years or however long it is and you know any reasonable attorney could

2729
03:49:29,480 --> 03:49:34,620
disagree on something shouldn't we have some idea because I know I brought up stuff

2730
03:49:34,620 --> 03:49:40,440
here and then suddenly people's eyes lights up and say oh yeah that's good if I wasn't

2731
03:49:40,440 --> 03:49:46,020
bringing it up then you know it wouldn't happen you know but it's it's just because I'm looking

2732
03:49:46,020 --> 03:49:52,180
at it, I'm a second set of eyes. So on something as rare as this, that's where I think the second

2733
03:49:52,180 --> 03:49:57,780
set of eyes mentality comes in and why I would propose that. Because it's not something

2734
03:49:57,780 --> 03:50:05,560
that's normal regular. You know, this is like clearly a unique issue. So that's the reason

2735
03:50:05,560 --> 03:50:10,940
why I'd still seek it or at least seek estimates for it if you're concerned about the cost. Because

2736
03:50:10,940 --> 03:50:14,460
right now, we don't owe any duty to respond.

2737
03:50:15,780 --> 03:50:20,880
I think someone, a commenter came here and they said that we're holding it up.

2738
03:50:21,400 --> 03:50:26,060
That's the funny part. They're asking us to do stuff clearly,

2739
03:50:26,320 --> 03:50:29,520
relying on the statute doesn't require us to do anything.

2740
03:50:29,540 --> 03:50:30,620
They're waiting for us to do that.

2741
03:50:31,400 --> 03:50:34,280
Not that I'm supposed to be worried about them.

2742
03:50:34,380 --> 03:50:39,020
They should be having their own legal counsel, but they're claiming these things,

2743
03:50:39,020 --> 03:50:43,240
which are at least whoever was claiming it. I don't know if they were actually from that group.

2744
03:50:43,700 --> 03:50:49,580
It was just comments that were made. Maybe they weren't. But claiming that we're holding it up

2745
03:50:49,580 --> 03:50:54,780
because they want us to basically say, hey, is this one okay? And then guess what? They're going

2746
03:50:54,780 --> 03:51:01,240
to rely on that later in the event somebody sues whether it wins or loses. So it's like the town

2747
03:51:01,240 --> 03:51:07,440
working against the town working for somebody not of the town to help them make a charter amendment.

2748
03:51:07,440 --> 03:51:12,140
It just seems really strange when we're not required to do these things.

2749
03:51:12,360 --> 03:51:14,100
So yes, I'd still would like a second opinion.

2750
03:51:14,160 --> 03:51:19,060
At least estimates for it, we could at least ask without getting too far into the weeds.

2751
03:51:19,200 --> 03:51:25,060
You've heard us ask about $30,000 study and you heard the town manager say, well, I'm going

2752
03:51:25,060 --> 03:51:28,600
to go out and ask again and see what it really costs for a detailed one.

2753
03:51:29,060 --> 03:51:31,440
We could at least get estimates and come back at the next meeting.

2754
03:51:31,720 --> 03:51:35,100
Right now, we're under no obligation to do anything further.

2755
03:51:35,100 --> 03:51:45,300
Well, because I still want to know what somebody else would say about the current version without it suddenly becoming now that we've all said it public record and all this other stuff.

2756
03:51:45,320 --> 03:51:52,080
Well, but it will be, but it won't be if they just give verbal opinions, and it's not public record.

2757
03:51:52,480 --> 03:51:59,020
I see my point. It's like you're right and a half that becomes public record. So you have a conversation instead.

2758
03:51:59,020 --> 03:52:04,080
You know, all right, we have a make you wait, Commissioner Graziana go ahead, sir.

2759
03:52:06,100 --> 03:52:11,800
To the council again, is there any liability exposure for what we've done already?

2760
03:52:13,460 --> 03:52:14,960
No, no, there's an liability.

2761
03:52:15,120 --> 03:52:28,360
Okay, so why don't we just write to them and say, hey, whatever you do, whatever you do is up to you and you have to follow through on whatever your client wants to do.

2762
03:52:28,360 --> 03:52:30,040
I could certainly do that.

2763
03:52:30,300 --> 03:52:34,680
You know, for like a two-paragraph, you know, like short and sweet, we love you by.

2764
03:52:35,220 --> 03:52:35,320
Yeah.

2765
03:52:36,360 --> 03:52:41,180
And as a point of information, a side note based on what Commissioner Polopoulos was saying,

2766
03:52:41,200 --> 03:52:45,740
and you may be getting as well, some cities do have ordinances for the charter amendment process.

2767
03:52:46,020 --> 03:52:49,340
After this experience, I think it would be a nice thing for us to have an ordinance

2768
03:52:49,340 --> 03:52:51,520
that would reflect what all of you would like to see in this.

2769
03:52:51,520 --> 03:52:52,300
But we don't have it.

2770
03:52:52,540 --> 03:52:54,940
We don't now, so that's why we were stuck doing that.

2771
03:52:54,940 --> 03:52:57,160
So why can't we solve the problem by doing just that?

2772
03:52:59,060 --> 03:53:04,120
But to be clear, the memos I have written have not rewritten the question for them.

2773
03:53:04,260 --> 03:53:07,020
They have simply said that the reasons that they are wrong.

2774
03:53:07,860 --> 03:53:11,700
And then they have responded in the way that they best see fit.

2775
03:53:12,040 --> 03:53:14,680
Maybe there are neophytes in this whole arena.

2776
03:53:14,900 --> 03:53:23,460
And they are just thinking that they have to ask counsel or counsel for approval to move forward.

2777
03:53:23,460 --> 03:53:35,320
I don't know that, but if there's a solution and we're not liable, I would say right to him say you're on your own.

2778
03:53:36,120 --> 03:53:38,400
It's in a one short paragraph.

2779
03:53:39,160 --> 03:53:40,160
We love you, bye.

2780
03:53:40,560 --> 03:53:41,780
Yeah, I love you, bye.

2781
03:53:43,040 --> 03:53:43,920
That's my line.

2782
03:53:44,120 --> 03:53:44,900
Those are famous words.

2783
03:53:45,240 --> 03:53:45,780
Thank you, next.

2784
03:53:46,060 --> 03:53:46,920
Yeah, that was the news.

2785
03:53:55,340 --> 03:54:12,880
I'm going to go back to what I just said, I mean, I feel like yes, in this instance, we went too far, how we want to rectify that in the future, we can discuss if we go and get a second opinion, we're basically doing their work for them again.

2786
03:54:12,880 --> 03:54:15,180
again. That's the problem.

2787
03:54:20,450 --> 03:54:24,050
It's already done. The cat's out of the bag or whatever you

2788
03:54:24,050 --> 03:54:29,310
want to call it. The problem is, again, I don't think that we should do this again because

2789
03:54:29,310 --> 03:54:33,730
it's a very slippery slope. You do it for one group. You got to do it for another group

2790
03:54:33,730 --> 03:54:39,010
and you do it for another group. And quite frankly, I don't think it's appropriate, but this

2791
03:54:39,010 --> 03:54:44,090
time it happened and I quite frankly think that we're just going to end up doing work for

2792
03:54:44,090 --> 03:54:49,190
them. God bless them. They want to go forward with their petition, whatever it is they want to do.

2793
03:54:49,910 --> 03:54:54,730
Let them go pay a lawyer. I pay lawyers to do work for me and I am a lawyer.

2794
03:54:57,570 --> 03:55:02,470
And they have to submit it. So what's the process if they do it on their own? They have to go to the

2795
03:55:02,470 --> 03:55:08,870
who approves the actual final. Ultimately the petition goes to the supervisor of elections and

2796
03:55:08,870 --> 03:55:13,670
they have a limited scope where they look at validating the signatures in the form of the petition.

2797
03:55:13,670 --> 03:55:17,290
And they have a gin-tenth deadline just to remind everyone.

2798
03:55:17,630 --> 03:55:21,450
And so, again, I guess I come back to this, and I can't remember who brought this up.

2799
03:55:21,670 --> 03:55:27,030
But it was mentioned that basically if it fails on its face because it doesn't comply

2800
03:55:27,030 --> 03:55:32,470
with the statutory requirements, then it's not added to the ballot, right?

2801
03:55:33,430 --> 03:55:33,690
No?

2802
03:55:33,910 --> 03:55:34,130
No.

2803
03:55:34,410 --> 03:55:37,270
That becomes a basis for not putting it on the ballot.

2804
03:55:37,450 --> 03:55:43,130
So there's precedent in other cities over time to say we're not going to put this forward

2805
03:55:43,130 --> 03:55:47,470
And usually that results in the Petition Committee filing a lawsuit, and then the court decides

2806
03:55:47,470 --> 03:55:49,870
whether it was appropriate to hold it off the ballot.

2807
03:55:49,890 --> 03:55:52,650
As about to say, who decides is the circuit court?

2808
03:55:52,970 --> 03:55:58,730
Yeah, but in those types of proceedings, which are pre-election, the presumption is in favor of

2809
03:55:58,730 --> 03:56:04,330
the petitioners and the voters' rights, and there's kind of a thumb on the scale against the local

2810
03:56:04,330 --> 03:56:10,910
government standing between them and the ballot, unless you can really show that no, this is truly wrong.

2811
03:56:11,930 --> 03:56:18,350
So if we thought, if we believe that it was not compliant, or the adverse party, to the petitioners.

2812
03:56:19,290 --> 03:56:25,370
Sometimes cities have filed lawsuits, sometimes they have been the recipients of lawsuits from

2813
03:56:25,370 --> 03:56:29,470
petitioners when they have said we are not going to forward this onto the ballot.

2814
03:56:29,630 --> 03:56:35,230
And we had one of those cases, it was litigated up to the third district, and the court said we were right to prevent

2815
03:56:35,230 --> 03:56:38,310
it from going on the ballot because it violated a state law.

2816
03:56:38,310 --> 03:56:43,670
is down? No, in a different city, just as an example. Okay, but okay, so this kind of

2817
03:56:43,670 --> 03:56:48,350
changes my calculus in my mind now. I was under the impression if it fails on its face,

2818
03:56:48,690 --> 03:56:52,970
it's, it fails on its face, it's not being out to the ballot and realize when we go through

2819
03:56:52,970 --> 03:56:56,630
it. If it fails on its face, then you can decide

2820
03:56:56,630 --> 03:57:02,730
as a city, if it's clear enough, not to forward it, and then the question becomes, do they

2821
03:57:02,730 --> 03:57:14,370
issue you are not. Okay. That changes my mind. And again, it's with full respect. Now I understand,

2822
03:57:14,850 --> 03:57:20,110
I think what Commissioner Napoli is getting at. This is, and of course, it's still public record,

2823
03:57:20,270 --> 03:57:25,730
but the point is, we are basically making sure that we are completely covered in the event that we,

2824
03:57:25,730 --> 03:57:34,390
in the future? Am I wrong? Challenge, I guess, the petition for failing to satisfy, obviously, the statutory requirements.

2825
03:57:34,910 --> 03:57:35,950
Is that false? Is that wrong?

2826
03:57:36,410 --> 03:57:43,590
Well, the question is whether you allow it on the ballot. If you do allow it on the ballot, there's also a group of challenges that are post-election.

2827
03:57:44,030 --> 03:57:50,210
And the standards are different than because you're not worrying so much about do the voters have access to the ballot or not.

2828
03:57:50,210 --> 03:57:56,090
So those will just look at, is this something can be enforced or not, that post-election challenge?

2829
03:57:56,330 --> 03:58:00,810
For whoever may still be listening at, you know, 1040 in the evening, and we had daylight savings.

2830
03:58:01,150 --> 03:58:04,890
My goal is not to, in any way, shape or form, disenfranchise anyone.

2831
03:58:05,070 --> 03:58:09,290
It's not to prevent anything from going to the ballot.

2832
03:58:09,630 --> 03:58:15,490
My point is, I want to make sure that whatever does go into our charter is proper,

2833
03:58:15,490 --> 03:58:21,570
because if it's not proper, then we have a real mess after the election, right?

2834
03:58:23,610 --> 03:58:26,570
Potentially, depending on if we sue or if someone else

2835
03:58:26,570 --> 03:58:31,950
sues, which was the spirit in which I reviewed and provided the guidance that you've all received.

2836
03:58:31,950 --> 03:58:33,010
Because you're trying to prevent that.

2837
03:58:33,470 --> 03:58:36,390
And you've seen the nature of the questions that I've raised.

2838
03:58:36,390 --> 03:58:39,050
I'm not going to comment further, but you've seen that.

2839
03:58:40,370 --> 03:58:43,950
I mean, is any time that you provide us a legal memorandum, is that public record?

2840
03:58:43,950 --> 03:58:49,710
most of the time we have very limited attorney client privilege as public

2841
03:58:49,710 --> 03:58:55,010
attorneys now when you're in active litigation that can be different but the

2842
03:58:55,010 --> 03:58:58,130
scope of work product and attorney client privilege for public

2843
03:58:58,130 --> 03:59:04,350
attorneys is much more constrained. Okay I understand so this is this is a CYA I'm

2844
03:59:04,350 --> 03:59:10,710
not gonna tell everyone what that means but essentially what I now understand

2845
03:59:10,710 --> 03:59:12,570
and I think Commissioner Napoli a little bit clearer,

2846
03:59:13,070 --> 03:59:15,190
what, and Commissioner Napoli correct me if I'm wrong,

2847
03:59:15,330 --> 03:59:18,010
what you're basically requesting is a second opinion

2848
03:59:18,010 --> 03:59:21,310
in the event that whether there's a pre-election

2849
03:59:21,310 --> 03:59:25,350
or post-election challenge that we have our ducks in a row,

2850
03:59:27,650 --> 03:59:30,790
and we have two opinions from two attorneys.

2851
03:59:31,050 --> 03:59:31,850
Essentially it.

2852
03:59:33,930 --> 03:59:38,150
Well, essentially my, once again, the thing that bothers me

2853
03:59:38,150 --> 03:59:46,650
is that we, meaning the town, brought them this far because no, it really does bother me.

2854
03:59:46,730 --> 03:59:51,210
We helped them, we've helped it to not fail on its face.

2855
03:59:52,230 --> 03:59:55,830
So in the original version, if we really thought it was so objectionable,

2856
03:59:56,110 --> 03:59:59,370
we could have rejected it for the ballot and then let them sue.

2857
04:00:00,000 --> 04:00:29,900
And oh, well, you know, it probably would have fallen on its face. But instead, what happened? There was guidance. So then more, more iterations of it come forward. You've just seen the marijuana. And then I don't know if anybody paid attention to these things at the state level. The state SOE rejected it for the ballot. They sued Supreme Court of Florida just said, sorry, we don't care. You know, I mean, this stuff happens all the time. What bothers me is that, you know, we've

2858
04:00:29,900 --> 04:00:32,000
have guided them along the way,

2859
04:00:32,180 --> 04:00:34,420
expended our money, our town money

2860
04:00:34,420 --> 04:00:36,780
to help people that want to change the charter.

2861
04:00:37,200 --> 04:00:39,160
I mean, this is like a big deal in my opinion.

2862
04:00:39,720 --> 04:00:40,820
And that's why I brought ours.

2863
04:00:40,960 --> 04:00:42,020
I just want to know, like,

2864
04:00:42,300 --> 04:00:42,940
it's why we have a credit.

2865
04:00:43,280 --> 04:00:46,980
There can be pre-suits, there can be post-suits,

2866
04:00:47,340 --> 04:00:50,480
but there can also be straight up ballot rejections.

2867
04:00:51,400 --> 04:00:54,160
And if we are guiding somebody to not have

2868
04:00:54,160 --> 04:00:55,440
a straight up ballot rejection,

2869
04:00:56,660 --> 04:00:59,560
then you know, that's what we've done.

2870
04:00:59,900 --> 04:01:01,720
And I just think it's bad.

2871
04:01:02,080 --> 04:01:06,360
So I just want to know that I would like a second set of eyes

2872
04:01:06,980 --> 04:01:09,040
because anybody can disagree on these items.

2873
04:01:09,340 --> 04:01:11,520
There's so much case law on different things.

2874
04:01:11,920 --> 04:01:13,980
I mean, some things that I thought should go up don't.

2875
04:01:14,620 --> 04:01:16,900
Some things that I think are crazy, they allow.

2876
04:01:17,540 --> 04:01:21,920
It's all, it's really specific to who's in the chair

2877
04:01:21,920 --> 04:01:22,780
at the time.

2878
04:01:24,000 --> 04:01:26,960
And if you don't have difference of opinions,

2879
04:01:27,240 --> 04:01:29,080
I mean, like I pointed out, there have been mistakes.

2880
04:01:29,080 --> 04:01:35,820
I'm not trying to, you know, go after anybody, but, you know, there's been mistakes and everybody makes mistakes. Nobody's infallible.

2881
04:01:36,100 --> 04:01:42,340
So I just wanted to have in some seconds that I said, I said for you, poke holopolis infallibility clause.

2882
04:01:44,140 --> 04:01:52,940
So this is what bothers me that we are, we have fed them and we've spent our money doing it and we could have just rejected it straight up.

2883
04:01:52,940 --> 04:01:57,680
but we're feeding, you know, if we continue that policy,

2884
04:01:57,980 --> 04:01:59,840
the slippery slope argument that you made,

2885
04:01:59,940 --> 04:02:02,100
Commissioner Pralopolis, like anybody could just come

2886
04:02:02,100 --> 04:02:04,960
and say, oh yeah, well, I'm saying we don't town attorney.

2887
04:02:05,200 --> 04:02:08,880
Yeah, I know, but that's basically what's been going on

2888
04:02:08,880 --> 04:02:10,060
and we didn't even know about it.

2889
04:02:10,900 --> 04:02:13,360
So you see, like that's what bothered me about the whole thing.

2890
04:02:14,000 --> 04:02:15,260
It's that we didn't even know about it.

2891
04:02:15,500 --> 04:02:18,140
We're doing stuff way beyond what we're required to do

2892
04:02:18,140 --> 04:02:18,800
in my opinion.

2893
04:02:19,120 --> 04:02:22,160
And, you know, they can run whatever they're getting

2894
04:02:22,160 --> 04:02:27,480
through anything and then they basically can run it through AI and then plop out

2895
04:02:27,480 --> 04:02:30,720
something you know that's probably what they did they would never do that yeah

2896
04:02:30,720 --> 04:02:39,120
actually probably is but that's that's the whole theory for me is that I kind of

2897
04:02:39,120 --> 04:02:43,900
want to know I kind of want to know where we stand on it but I don't want to

2898
04:02:43,900 --> 04:02:48,940
produce further records well I don't think you get around that I'm not yeah I'm

2899
04:02:48,940 --> 04:02:52,540
Although transparency, I mean, again, that's what I'm trying to get.

2900
04:02:52,760 --> 04:02:58,980
There's no legal memo requirement when you talk to an attorney, by the way, you know.

2901
04:03:03,760 --> 04:03:09,180
So then at that point, we have, so we have a third version right now currently, so then

2902
04:03:09,180 --> 04:03:15,680
we would need Susan to finish her work product and then have that other attorney review that

2903
04:03:15,680 --> 04:03:16,600
at that point.

2904
04:03:17,120 --> 04:03:17,520
No.

2905
04:03:18,260 --> 04:03:18,560
No.

2906
04:03:18,760 --> 04:03:19,660
Well, but that's what I'm saying.

2907
04:03:19,660 --> 04:03:38,460
or if you're being directed, I'm now getting commission guidance, which I have not received previously, so I would simply wrap it up and say we have no further opinions at this time, yeah, you're on, you're on, you're on, you're on, get your own lawyer and, and if you want to proceed,

2908
04:03:38,460 --> 04:03:47,320
We need to govern myself accordingly, don't offer opinion, don't say like, hey, this is right, this is wrong.

2909
04:03:48,380 --> 04:03:50,840
Well, I mean, that's what's been going on though.

2910
04:03:51,340 --> 04:03:53,840
And I'm receiving directions, so I hear you.

2911
04:03:54,020 --> 04:03:59,360
Yeah, I just wish that we were asked the direction ahead of time, that's just me, but let's go ahead, commissioner Grousey.

2912
04:03:59,520 --> 04:04:08,260
To be clear, Mr. Mayor, I did have some meetings and conversations and was responding to prior requests about analyzing

2913
04:04:08,260 --> 04:04:10,120
It didn't come out of the blue.

2914
04:04:10,440 --> 04:04:12,580
Was it through the whole commission or just one person?

2915
04:04:12,660 --> 04:04:13,100
Individually.

2916
04:04:13,800 --> 04:04:15,880
Well, I think that should come from the whole commission.

2917
04:04:16,040 --> 04:04:16,800
Not just one person.

2918
04:04:16,900 --> 04:04:19,020
He doesn't direct the decisions of the entire commission.

2919
04:04:19,340 --> 04:04:20,140
That's a fair comment.

2920
04:04:20,520 --> 04:04:20,620
Yes.

2921
04:04:20,980 --> 04:04:21,520
Okay, commission.

2922
04:04:21,740 --> 04:04:24,180
So just for sorry, for my clarification as of now,

2923
04:04:24,420 --> 04:04:25,700
we are full stop on everything.

2924
04:04:25,940 --> 04:04:26,100
No.

2925
04:04:26,380 --> 04:04:28,740
Well, let's let Commissioner Graziano speak.

2926
04:04:28,900 --> 04:04:29,320
He's been waiting.

2927
04:04:31,860 --> 04:04:32,300
Yes.

2928
04:04:32,300 --> 04:04:41,180
if we hire a new attorney or a firm, what is that protection?

2929
04:04:41,340 --> 04:04:43,160
That's nothing as far as I'm concerned.

2930
04:04:43,900 --> 04:04:44,960
It would have been nice initially.

2931
04:04:45,820 --> 04:04:49,060
Yeah, if we had hired them initially, that's different.

2932
04:04:49,800 --> 04:04:53,280
That's why I'm saying, if we just turn them off, you know,

2933
04:04:53,680 --> 04:04:59,560
the spiket is dry and let's see where it goes.

2934
04:04:59,560 --> 04:05:03,180
And if they go ahead with a petition, then we can review it.

2935
04:05:06,000 --> 04:05:09,180
Well, no, we're saying we don't want to review it.

2936
04:05:09,280 --> 04:05:10,300
We don't want to review it.

2937
04:05:10,300 --> 04:05:12,160
No, we don't want to review it.

2938
04:05:12,760 --> 04:05:14,300
Prior to them.

2939
04:05:14,800 --> 04:05:16,580
What they would have to do is get all the signatures.

2940
04:05:16,640 --> 04:05:16,840
Right.

2941
04:05:17,280 --> 04:05:20,260
And then there would have to be enough as a judge by the supervisor.

2942
04:05:20,260 --> 04:05:22,760
And if it were so, then it would go on the ballot.

2943
04:05:22,760 --> 04:05:25,140
And it would be up to the voters whether it became law.

2944
04:05:25,620 --> 04:05:29,200
Here's where you would possibly get a second set of eyes

2945
04:05:29,200 --> 04:05:35,260
is to whether it met ballot muster prior to it going on a ballot. That's the point.

2946
04:05:36,000 --> 04:05:42,760
So what are we going to do? Open us up for a lawsuit. If we say we hire this firm

2947
04:05:42,760 --> 04:05:51,480
and they say, hey, they're not adhering to the law and we say, hey, you know, this is

2948
04:05:51,480 --> 04:05:57,120
not appropriate, then we're still going to be sued. They're representing us.

2949
04:05:58,020 --> 04:06:04,640
Here's I think we're mixing up two different things here. So when petitioners have a ballot

2950
04:06:04,640 --> 04:06:11,360
item and they keep asking us to is it okay? The the law does not require us to say anything.

2951
04:06:11,680 --> 04:06:16,180
Right. So that's where we are right now. That's where we are right now, but we already

2952
04:06:16,680 --> 04:06:21,700
gave them a bunch of stuff. So they've submitted three things back and they say, hey, is this

2953
04:06:21,700 --> 04:06:22,600
This one okay, right?

2954
04:06:22,960 --> 04:06:29,020
So assuming they were to get enough petitions to actually get something on the ballot,

2955
04:06:29,800 --> 04:06:36,720
at that point, a second opinion as to whether whatever they come up with is valid for

2956
04:06:36,720 --> 04:06:42,380
the ballot would be okay to talk about at that point.

2957
04:06:43,220 --> 04:06:44,780
You see, it's an if thing.

2958
04:06:45,180 --> 04:06:47,640
Yeah, but I don't want to make us vulnerable to a lawsuit.

2959
04:06:48,060 --> 04:06:51,640
No, you're, you're, I, I, people get sued all the time.

2960
04:06:51,640 --> 04:06:59,080
you're not vulnerable to a lawsuit by, you know, doing one thing or another. You know, I just

2961
04:06:59,080 --> 04:07:04,460
gave you the example, the marijuana amendment that was being proposed, they sued. And guess what,

2962
04:07:04,540 --> 04:07:09,520
the court said, sorry, no dice. And then it was over really quick. I mean, these things happen.

2963
04:07:09,880 --> 04:07:13,180
You know, it's probably cheaper to get sued sometimes than to keep going back and forth.

2964
04:07:13,420 --> 04:07:21,420
But if we do nothing, then it's up to them. So it is up to us to certify it for the ballot.

2965
04:07:21,640 --> 04:07:23,960
Am I correct? Or up to the SOE?

2966
04:07:24,440 --> 04:07:25,180
The SOE.

2967
04:07:25,400 --> 04:07:26,400
So the SOE?

2968
04:07:26,420 --> 04:07:30,180
People have to take action, but it's quite clear that you don't have to agree,

2969
04:07:30,500 --> 04:07:32,580
you don't have to bless it, you just have to take action.

2970
04:07:32,600 --> 04:07:34,280
And be specific about the action.

2971
04:07:35,240 --> 04:07:37,720
That's where you're not being clear.

2972
04:07:38,060 --> 04:07:41,940
A vote, generally, it's the vote of the governing body to send it on to the

2973
04:07:41,940 --> 04:07:45,040
governing, to the supervisor to place it on the ballot.

2974
04:07:45,840 --> 04:07:49,900
But you just said earlier that you could reject it at that time if it's so awful.

2975
04:07:49,900 --> 04:07:55,380
If it's so awful, there is precedent in the case law for where, in that particular case,

2976
04:07:55,480 --> 04:07:59,360
and there's a few other cases out there, it directly contradicted state law.

2977
04:07:59,800 --> 04:08:03,280
And so that governing body chose not to move it forward.

2978
04:08:03,580 --> 04:08:05,420
That is an option for the commission.

2979
04:08:05,600 --> 04:08:06,240
That's what I'm saying.

2980
04:08:06,320 --> 04:08:09,300
That often draws a lawsuit from the petition committee, but it may not.

2981
04:08:09,680 --> 04:08:09,960
There's no guarantee.

2982
04:08:10,260 --> 04:08:16,860
That's what I'm saying is that at that point, you would possibly consider getting another

2983
04:08:16,860 --> 04:08:20,600
opinion as to whether the final version of whatever the heck they come up with

2984
04:08:21,180 --> 04:08:26,320
passes ballot muster. I personally see a lot of issues in the current, well the

2985
04:08:26,320 --> 04:08:31,080
most recent one that I've seen anyway, I saw issues, you know, I'm not gonna

2986
04:08:31,080 --> 04:08:36,760
say what the issues are because I'm not gonna feed anybody, you know, but I saw

2987
04:08:36,760 --> 04:08:41,520
issues that could be litigated after before, things like that,

2988
04:08:46,820 --> 04:08:46,840
but

2989
04:08:46,840 --> 04:09:01,920
So I still think this is a matter at hand that if we were to provide direction we would say don't respond at all that's that's option easy option and then reserve the matter for possibly a second legal opinion in the event that they actually get signatures.

2990
04:09:02,340 --> 04:09:03,800
We don't know if they will or not.

2991
04:09:03,800 --> 04:09:07,160
Right, go ahead, I'm sorry.

2992
04:09:07,240 --> 04:09:07,900
Could go that route,

2993
04:09:09,920 --> 04:09:11,020
go ahead, put the mission up.

2994
04:09:11,260 --> 04:09:16,840
Yeah, that's what I was just thinking of, we don't know one if they're going to get the signatures,

2995
04:09:17,200 --> 04:09:22,100
but aside from that, what's the deadline time attorney for the rough future?

2996
04:09:22,100 --> 04:09:24,100
To the supervisor is June 10th.

2997
04:09:24,220 --> 04:09:30,660
Okay, so let's say they get it to the supervisor, that's the final format.

2998
04:09:30,840 --> 04:09:32,420
They can't make amendments after June 10th, right?

2999
04:09:33,540 --> 04:09:34,820
That's my understanding, yes.

3000
04:09:34,820 --> 04:09:40,760
So wouldn't we then go get a legal opinion after June 10th because we'll know we have to get it like

3001
04:09:41,900 --> 04:09:46,120
In a very short time frame. I believe that what the commissioner is saying is that

3002
04:09:48,000 --> 04:09:51,040
Commissioner de Napoli is saying is that

3003
04:09:51,900 --> 04:09:53,200
If you had

3004
04:09:53,820 --> 04:10:01,980
Another opinion on the third version of the petition that said to you that you should prevent it from going on the ballot

3005
04:10:01,980 --> 04:10:06,200
it that then you would want to know that before June 10th.

3006
04:10:06,200 --> 04:10:08,620
Far deadline is June 10th to prevent it from going on to the ballot.

3007
04:10:09,120 --> 04:10:11,440
Well, I thought that was the deadline for them to submit it.

3008
04:10:11,660 --> 04:10:13,220
What is our deadline to prevent it?

3009
04:10:13,300 --> 04:10:13,900
Is it the same date?

3010
04:10:14,380 --> 04:10:14,740
It's probably.

3011
04:10:14,740 --> 04:10:15,460
Essentially, yes.

3012
04:10:15,680 --> 04:10:21,120
Because right now, as we have said, they could go ahead at any time if they choose.

3013
04:10:22,040 --> 04:10:23,380
They're driving this train.

3014
04:10:23,920 --> 04:10:24,100
Sure.

3015
04:10:24,260 --> 04:10:25,060
It's their petition, of course.

3016
04:10:25,320 --> 04:10:30,560
And so it's just a question of the clock when they get enough signatures and usually they

3017
04:10:30,560 --> 04:10:33,720
We have to get more than the requirement and some of them get thrown out and there's

3018
04:10:33,720 --> 04:10:34,800
a whole process around that.

3019
04:10:35,000 --> 04:10:41,860
But I believe what Commissioner DiNapoli is saying is, do we see for one of a better

3020
04:10:41,860 --> 04:10:45,440
word like a kill shot, something that's really, really wrong, that we would want to hold

3021
04:10:45,440 --> 04:10:47,840
it off the ballot with a second opinion?

3022
04:10:48,120 --> 04:10:53,580
Well, that's where I think we should have some second opinion at that moment in time in

3023
04:10:53,580 --> 04:10:56,900
the future in the event that they actually get signatures.

3024
04:10:57,360 --> 04:10:59,340
I don't even know what their final version is, by the way.

3025
04:10:59,340 --> 04:11:00,100
I don't either.

3026
04:11:00,100 --> 04:11:02,240
It was what you received last two weeks ago.

3027
04:11:02,740 --> 04:11:02,780
Yes.

3028
04:11:02,980 --> 04:11:04,240
That's the last version.

3029
04:11:04,740 --> 04:11:06,520
The one that we did receive right before the meeting.

3030
04:11:06,580 --> 04:11:08,080
Yeah, the Monday before last.

3031
04:11:08,080 --> 04:11:09,300
I didn't know they amended it since then, or.

3032
04:11:09,440 --> 04:11:09,900
I have no idea.

3033
04:11:11,380 --> 04:11:12,380
Not that I've received.

3034
04:11:12,640 --> 04:11:13,440
I don't believe they have.

3035
04:11:13,600 --> 04:11:15,220
No, because we've provided no response.

3036
04:11:15,220 --> 04:11:17,460
So that was the last submission that they gave to us

3037
04:11:17,460 --> 04:11:20,680
for you all to review before deciding if the town attorney

3038
04:11:20,680 --> 04:11:22,060
was going to review any further or not.

3039
04:11:22,160 --> 04:11:23,620
So everything stopped at that point.

3040
04:11:24,000 --> 04:11:24,120
OK.

3041
04:11:27,580 --> 04:11:28,760
And they may not continue.

3042
04:11:28,900 --> 04:11:29,240
Who knows?

3043
04:11:30,060 --> 04:11:30,680
We don't know.

3044
04:11:32,040 --> 04:11:38,940
All right, so where do we leave this are we going to again in my opinion? Okay, we're March 10th. We have three months

3045
04:11:41,240 --> 04:11:46,820
Yeah, I would say let's see what happens in two weeks when they if they get more. Yeah, let's see if they get more

3046
04:11:47,380 --> 04:11:51,820
I don't know I don't even know. I think the direction would need to be this

3047
04:11:51,820 --> 04:11:58,220
Commissioner Pelluff list that the town attorney nor the town manager provides any further communication just like we did last time

3048
04:11:58,220 --> 04:12:04,500
I think I think we I think I don't know I don't want to speak for anyone else but I think it's a consensus on that yeah, I think she's got loud and clear

3049
04:12:04,500 --> 04:12:09,060
I agree okay, there's a noopsy no more upsies got it

3050
04:12:11,100 --> 04:12:11,580
You know

3051
04:12:12,840 --> 04:12:15,080
Send it with love in the kiss or whatever. I'm sure

3052
04:12:18,360 --> 04:12:26,220
Was no send nothing to say we love you goodbye. No, just literally send we love you goodbye. I love you. All right, so we all are we in agreement

3053
04:12:27,120 --> 04:12:29,440
place, Mayor, do you agree with that or no?

3054
04:12:33,420 --> 04:12:42,740
I mean, it's just, it's trying to not waste resources, unless this is something that we actually have to address is we're not going to know I get it.

3055
04:12:43,360 --> 04:12:46,640
I mean, it was a big, I just want to point something out as well.

3056
04:12:46,640 --> 04:12:50,460
We have five minutes left at before 11 and we need a motion to extend the meeting.

3057
04:12:51,000 --> 04:12:51,880
I'll make a motion.

3058
04:12:52,500 --> 04:12:55,700
Okay, what are we extending it to, we need a time right, a specific time?

3059
04:12:55,700 --> 04:12:56,340
Yes, we do.

3060
04:12:56,480 --> 04:12:56,980
11-05.

3061
04:12:58,020 --> 04:12:58,120
No.

3062
04:12:58,340 --> 04:12:59,600
11-15, maybe.

3063
04:12:59,760 --> 04:13:00,880
I see 11-15.

3064
04:13:01,100 --> 04:13:01,280
Sure.

3065
04:13:01,400 --> 04:13:01,520
Okay.

3066
04:13:01,880 --> 04:13:03,060
And we need four to vote, yes.

3067
04:13:03,460 --> 04:13:03,760
Okay.

3068
04:13:03,940 --> 04:13:04,820
So we'll take the vote.

3069
04:13:05,940 --> 04:13:06,640
Yes, for me.

3070
04:13:07,100 --> 04:13:07,460
Oh, here.

3071
04:13:07,700 --> 04:13:07,800
Just.

3072
04:13:08,260 --> 04:13:10,120
We have a few items left over.

3073
04:13:10,740 --> 04:13:12,920
Although we say that and it winds up being an hour.

3074
04:13:14,180 --> 04:13:18,400
We've got one consent item and one resolution based on commission direction from the last meeting.

3075
04:13:18,620 --> 04:13:19,540
So I voted.

3076
04:13:20,760 --> 04:13:21,160
I voted.

3077
04:13:21,440 --> 04:13:21,660
Go ahead.

3078
04:13:22,660 --> 04:13:22,880
Oh.

3079
04:13:23,140 --> 04:13:24,700
Oh, sorry.

3080
04:13:24,700 --> 04:13:27,620
I mean, I rush you, I just won't really do.

3081
04:13:28,680 --> 04:13:32,140
The motion passes 5-0 to extend to 11-15.

3082
04:13:32,420 --> 04:13:32,700
Thank you.

3083
04:13:33,400 --> 04:13:37,300
Great, and then one last item on the agenda is the United Way Mayor's Gala.

3084
04:13:37,440 --> 04:13:40,380
I think given the input based on the Broward League of Cities,

3085
04:13:40,740 --> 04:13:43,420
this is something that the Commission desires to skip as well.

3086
04:13:46,270 --> 04:13:48,550
Lovely event, but that's why I'm

3087
04:13:50,980 --> 04:13:51,700
guessing, yes.

3088
04:13:53,040 --> 04:13:54,900
Yes, can I get a third, yes, please?

3089
04:13:55,320 --> 04:13:55,500
Yes.

3090
04:13:56,340 --> 04:13:56,780
Thank you.

3091
04:13:58,840 --> 04:14:01,720
I know we've enjoyed it, Vice Mayor, several times.

3092
04:14:03,060 --> 04:14:06,380
You can still buy individual tickets for 400 if you so choose.

3093
04:14:09,180 --> 04:14:11,160
Next commission meeting is.

3094
04:14:12,760 --> 04:14:15,040
Whoever has open seats like last time with us.

3095
04:14:15,440 --> 04:14:16,700
We'll put the hat out and see who.

3096
04:14:17,680 --> 04:14:21,300
And the next commission meeting is Tuesday, March 24th at 630.

3097
04:14:21,380 --> 04:14:22,040
That's the end of my report.

3098
04:14:22,440 --> 04:14:23,680
Any questions?

3099
04:14:27,320 --> 04:14:35,460
All right, we have approval of minutes for a regular time commission meeting held on January 27th, 2026, and Public Safety Workshop held on February 10th, 2026.

3100
04:14:36,420 --> 04:14:36,720
There are questions.

3101
04:14:39,540 --> 04:14:40,300
Just make a motion.

3102
04:14:42,810 --> 04:14:43,170
Nobody can.

3103
04:14:43,770 --> 04:14:52,870
Is this approval of minutes and two minutes on the commission meeting held on January 27th and the Public Safety Workshop on February 10th.

3104
04:14:52,870 --> 04:14:53,430
Oh,

3105
04:14:59,530 --> 04:14:59,970
I see him.

3106
04:15:02,350 --> 04:15:03,970
All right.

3107
04:15:11,290 --> 04:15:24,390
This is 10a, by the way, if you are looking on your sheet. So let's move to approve. Oh, sorry. Okay, we have two on 127, 26, one. Okay.

3108
04:15:44,290 --> 04:15:44,750
I'll wait and approve.

3109
04:15:45,110 --> 04:15:45,470
I'll second.

3110
04:15:46,170 --> 04:15:46,290
All right.

3111
04:15:49,110 --> 04:15:49,890
Please cast your vote.

3112
04:15:57,000 --> 04:15:58,460
Motion passes 5-0.

3113
04:15:58,720 --> 04:15:59,200
Aye.

3114
04:15:59,380 --> 04:16:00,100
Commissioner commas.

3115
04:16:03,370 --> 04:16:04,450
Commissioner DiNapoli.

3116
04:16:05,410 --> 04:16:05,930
Nothing further.

3117
04:16:07,170 --> 04:16:09,070
Except I'll see at taste of the beat.

3118
04:16:11,050 --> 04:16:12,150
Commissioner Pilapolis.

3119
04:16:14,440 --> 04:16:15,280
No comments.

3120
04:16:15,520 --> 04:16:15,760
Thank you.

3121
04:16:16,600 --> 04:16:17,540
Commissioner Graziano.

3122
04:16:19,770 --> 04:16:20,750
It's just an update.

3123
04:16:21,230 --> 04:16:25,550
FPNL still, we're still waiting for data that they promise to furnish us.

3124
04:16:26,050 --> 04:16:34,110
So that we can try to move up their dates as, you know, Senator Piso and Representative

3125
04:16:34,110 --> 04:16:36,050
Lamarca has been helping us.

3126
04:16:36,230 --> 04:16:43,470
We have a date of 2032 for the north part of the town, which we're trying to get to 2028.

3127
04:16:44,190 --> 04:16:49,930
And we have a date of 2040, and this is the underground utilities for the rest of LLEBTS.

3128
04:16:49,930 --> 04:16:59,710
So that's not too good, so we want to try to work on that, but they've been strengthening the grid system throughout with all new lateral lines.

3129
04:17:00,510 --> 04:17:03,750
Farmers market has been great, it seems to be really, really strong.

3130
04:17:06,530 --> 04:17:20,090
Slow progress on pursuing paying for lighting of the beautiful moral, but a mural on commercial Boulevard, but I think that I've got a price range now

3131
04:17:20,090 --> 04:17:27,690
that I can start working on, it's about $15,000, so I'm going to be hitting up as many

3132
04:17:27,690 --> 04:17:33,230
people as I can to try to contribute because it's a private property and we're unable

3133
04:17:33,230 --> 04:17:34,850
to provide funds.

3134
04:17:38,240 --> 04:17:44,240
Happy sad St. Patrick's Day is coming up and probably before the next meeting so everybody

3135
04:17:44,240 --> 04:17:55,620
somebody have a good, safe time, and I've been assisting with the help of our BSO

3136
04:17:55,620 --> 04:18:04,920
captain, Chris Utter, some residents who are trying to slow down the traffic on the

3137
04:18:04,920 --> 04:18:13,120
intra-coastle, and that will be up to the data that's currently being compiled in

3138
04:18:13,120 --> 04:18:16,160
in Tallahassee, so I have nothing else.

3139
04:18:16,600 --> 04:18:16,980
Thank you.

3140
04:18:17,900 --> 04:18:19,200
Vice Mayor Straffs.

3141
04:18:21,850 --> 04:18:24,150
They will see everybody tomorrow night at the Taste of

3142
04:18:24,150 --> 04:18:25,450
Lordeau by the Sea, great event.

3143
04:18:25,590 --> 04:18:26,910
Be out there and be safe.

3144
04:18:28,690 --> 04:18:29,470
Mayor Malkoon.

3145
04:18:30,230 --> 04:18:31,430
Yeah, and just to add to the events,

3146
04:18:31,590 --> 04:18:33,430
don't forget about the sea short plays that

3147
04:18:33,430 --> 04:18:34,550
are starting this weekend as well.

3148
04:18:34,650 --> 04:18:37,230
That's always a great event and space fills up

3149
04:18:37,230 --> 04:18:39,990
so you can go on their website and sign up.

3150
04:18:40,810 --> 04:18:43,970
And we only have one other item, and that is Resolution 18B.

3151
04:18:43,970 --> 04:19:04,930
A resolution of the town commission of the town of Lauderdale by the sea floor to approving the assignment of the continuing professional services agreement from Hitchcock design group to RVI planning and landscape architecture and approving a work authorization for construction document design services with RVI for the high business and they tore a portal portals.

3152
04:19:05,770 --> 04:19:06,870
Any public comments?

3153
04:19:07,730 --> 04:19:10,410
New, new, new, town manager, you're going to handle this, right?

3154
04:19:10,550 --> 04:19:11,970
Yeah, I'll be very brief with this.

3155
04:19:12,150 --> 04:19:27,590
So at the February 10th Commission meeting, the Commission gave direction to staff to go ahead and bring back what it would cost to finish design of it but not move forward with the project that before you tonight is what you requested the total cost to have 100% construction documents is $71,550.

3156
04:19:27,590 --> 04:19:29,850
Happy to answer any questions you may have.

3157
04:19:30,170 --> 04:19:37,970
This means once the commission wants to budget for the project, at a certain point in the future we'll have the documents ready, and then we can just go into permitting and hire someone.

3158
04:19:42,480 --> 04:19:46,980
Seeing no comments, do you guys want to make a motion to approve it or

3159
04:19:51,820 --> 04:19:53,380
okay?

3160
04:19:53,660 --> 04:19:58,040
So I don't see any motions or commission or grassy on it.

3161
04:20:00,060 --> 04:20:02,800
Was there a grant involved with this?

3162
04:20:03,400 --> 04:20:04,220
Yes for design.

3163
04:20:04,220 --> 04:20:09,700
Yeah, isn't that what we're doing here finishing the design it's portion of design. Yes, correct. Yeah

3164
04:20:11,700 --> 04:20:19,380
Well, I think that you know, it looks like we're spending money, but it really to me is a long-term saving money because we don't have to move forward

3165
04:20:20,260 --> 04:20:25,020
Even though we have an obligation with these design people. We don't have an obligation to

3166
04:20:25,960 --> 04:20:28,280
Implement the design isn't that correct?

3167
04:20:28,280 --> 04:20:32,360
Correct, yes, and then we could just once the commission wants to budget this project moving forward.

3168
04:20:32,520 --> 04:20:34,940
We can go ahead and take this off the shelf and get it ready to go right away.

3169
04:20:35,360 --> 04:20:41,780
Right, so I think it's an appropriate expenditure.

3170
04:20:42,820 --> 04:20:43,820
Do you want to make a motion?

3171
04:20:44,060 --> 04:20:44,260
Yes.

3172
04:20:44,700 --> 04:20:46,900
Okay, a motion by Commissioner Graziano is there a second?

3173
04:20:50,200 --> 04:20:52,240
All right, a second by Commissioner Poppins, thank you.

3174
04:20:53,780 --> 04:20:54,760
Please cast your vote.

3175
04:20:56,760 --> 04:20:57,560
So, the

3176
04:21:02,000 --> 04:21:07,860
cost for this itself is $71,550, but we did have a $35,000 grant for this

3177
04:21:07,860 --> 04:21:08,780
Courtney, is that correct?

3178
04:21:08,980 --> 04:21:09,820
$15,000?

3179
04:21:09,960 --> 04:21:11,580
$15,000?

3180
04:21:13,280 --> 04:21:15,360
Just talking to Mike, so people can hear you.

3181
04:21:17,780 --> 04:21:20,920
Yes, there's been some work already done, but this is to complete the documents.

3182
04:21:21,160 --> 04:21:23,820
I don't have what we've spent to date on this, but-

3183
04:21:23,820 --> 04:21:24,860
Today, I'm sorry.

3184
04:21:25,400 --> 04:21:27,880
Today we will eventually,

3185
04:21:28,400 --> 04:21:30,720
once everything's submitted, about $16,000.

3186
04:21:33,050 --> 04:21:34,750
Press your button and all.

3187
04:21:36,310 --> 04:21:36,790
Oops.

3188
04:21:37,070 --> 04:21:38,330
I think I just messed up everybody.

3189
04:21:38,810 --> 04:21:39,630
Okay, go, Vice-Mirror.

3190
04:21:40,910 --> 04:21:44,410
Yeah, so just so I'm clear before I hit yes or no.

3191
04:21:44,950 --> 04:21:47,750
Yes, the total, how much are we putting out?

3192
04:21:48,210 --> 04:21:49,470
16, about 16,000.

3193
04:21:49,470 --> 04:21:51,130
Okay, and then we'll have the plans

3194
04:21:51,130 --> 04:21:52,010
and we're set to go.

3195
04:21:52,130 --> 04:21:52,590
Correct, yes.

3196
04:21:52,950 --> 04:21:53,890
I will agree to that.

3197
04:21:54,430 --> 04:21:54,950
Thank you.

3198
04:21:54,950 --> 04:21:56,070
Give me a chance.

3199
04:21:56,610 --> 04:22:00,410
Commissioner DiNapoli, I was just wondering, do we lose anything by waiting?

3200
04:22:01,150 --> 04:22:02,310
Do we lose the grant?

3201
04:22:02,550 --> 04:22:03,070
The grant would go.

3202
04:22:03,130 --> 04:22:05,250
So if we don't do this now, then we lose the grant.

3203
04:22:05,450 --> 04:22:06,710
Correct, and it's going to cost us more money.

3204
04:22:06,790 --> 04:22:08,590
Okay, so then I will agree to go forward.

3205
04:22:09,010 --> 04:22:09,930
All right, any other discussion?

3206
04:22:10,850 --> 04:22:11,710
All right, let's do a vote.

3207
04:22:12,310 --> 04:22:12,570
Again.

3208
04:22:14,010 --> 04:22:15,050
Please cast your vote.

3209
04:22:16,610 --> 04:22:17,930
We can pass this 5-0.

3210
04:22:18,170 --> 04:22:18,930
So our motion to adjourn.

3211
04:22:19,890 --> 04:22:20,490
Thank you.

3212
04:22:20,490 --> 04:22:20,590
Thank you.

3213
04:22:28,360 --> 04:22:28,860
That's nice.

3214
04:22:28,860 --> 04:22:29,360
That's my phone.

3215
04:22:29,520 --> 04:22:29,760
Thanks.