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Broward  History
In addition to the State of Florida and the City of Fort Lauderdale, Galt Mile residents are subject to the jurisdictional regulations and standards of Broward County. Nine district County Commissioners take turns exercising Mayoral prerogative for rotating one-year terms. Jim Scott ably represents the Galt Mile community on the County Commission. County government actions and intentions are monitored, evaluated and revealed here. Of course, a priority concern to Galt Mile residents is the value of their homes. Another county institution, the Broward County Property Appraiser’s office, determines the property values that serve as the basis for our tax obligation as well as our equity access. Appraiser Lori Parrish is hungry for input. She wants to know what’s on your mind. In the B.C.P.A. page, she answers queries by county residents about appraisals, “Save our Homes” amendment concerns and an assortment of important tax exemptions. If the answer to your question isn’t there, just Ask Lori!
Comparable to the ecosystems blanketing South Florida, Broward County’s prehistory is remarkably rich. Skeletal remains of big-game hunters who lived 10,000 years ago have been found as near as Vero Beach on the east coast and Charlotte Harbor on the west. Indians designated by archaeologists as “Archaic”, Broward’s first permanent residents, turned to a diversified pattern of hunting and gathering from 4,000 to 2,000 years ago. The major village of Tequesta, near the mouth of Miami River, probably was not more than a couple of centuries old when the Spanish visited it in 1567. While the Tequesta and Calusa Indians successfully resisted European imperialistic agendas, they succumbed to the diseases with which they were “gifted” by the Spanish. When the Spanish ceded Florida to Great Britain at the end of the French and Indian War, the roughly 80 remaining Indians in southeast Florida left for Havana in 1763. Following the American Revolution, the British ceded the area back to Spain in the Treaty of Paris after holding sway for only 20 years.
Enter - from the Bahamas - the Robbinses: Joseph, and his wife and daughter moved to the south side of the New River, possible just above the mouth of Tarpon River. Farming farther upstream were the Lewises: Surlie, Frankee and at least two children who, like Robbins, were British. Although the Spanish feared that they were a fifth column for a possible British reoccupation of the peninsula, in 1793 Spain was too preoccupied with preparing for war with France to evacuate the settlers. The United States obtained Florida from Spain in 1821. Colonel James Gadsden, who conducted the first survey in 1825 of today’s Broward County, was not impressed. A road would be impractical, he wrote, because “the population of the route will probably never be sufficient to contribute to [its maintenance], while the inducements to individuals to keep up the necessary ferries will scarcely ever be adequate.” ...not exactly a visionary.
 | | HENRY M. FLAGLER |
Resentful of being pushed southward by settlers who coveted their rich north Florida pastures, Seminole Indians attacked and killed Major Francis L. Dade and 104 of his 107 officers and men in an ambush north of Tampa that set off the Second Seminole War on December 28, 1835. After three years of skirmishes, a force of Tennessee Volunteers and army regulars, commanded by Major William Lauderdale, established a stockade on New river. Not surprisingly, he named it after himself, thus establishing Fort Lauderdale. After the war, Seminoles who had escaped “relocation” (internment) to Oklahoma had the area pretty much to themselves for the next 50 years, where they cultivated gardens in Pine Island, west of present-day Davie, and roamed the Everglades in search of game. By 1891, enough settlers arrived to justify a post office and the Bay Stage Line, operating over a shell-rock road between Hypoluxo at the south end of Lake Worth and Lemon City, now part of Miami. Passengers on the two-day trip stopped overnight at New River, where they stayed at an overnight camp run by an Ohioan named Frank Stranahan.
 | Governor Napoleon
Bonaparte Broward |
When Henry M. Flagler learned that Miami was unaffected by the great freeze of February 1895, he decided to extend his railroad south from Palm Beach, reaching the New River by February 22, 1896. Realizing that he needed to lure paying passengers to South Florida, Flagler’s land companies sought immigrants from both North and South. Swedes from the Northeast formed the nucleus of Hallandale, and Danes from the Midwest founded Dania. Southern farmers, lured by better land and milder winters, joined the Danes and Swedes and founded Pompano and Deerfield. Southern and Bahamian blacks did much of the fieldwork. Dania became the area’s first incorporated community in 1904, followed by Pompano in 1908 and Fort Lauderdale in 1911. Formed from portions of Dade and Palm Beach counties in 1915, Broward was named for a former Florida governor who drained the Everglades to open land for development, Napoleon Bonaparte Broward. After World War I, the county’s population went from 5,135 to 14,242 between 1920 and 1925 for a gain of 9,107. This first land boom actualized the area’s value as a tourism destination.
 | | JOSEPH W. YOUNG |
In the 1920s, Joseph W. Young turned a low-lying tract between Hallandale and Dania into his dream city of Hollywood-by-the-Sea. The lakes, the broad boulevard, the eastern golf course and the traffic circle were all part of Young’s master plan. By 1925, charters were granted to Hollywood, Deerfield, Davie, and Floranada, north of Fort Lauderdale. Early in 1926 Hollywood absorbed both Dania and the unincorporated Hallandale community. To handle the transportation-dependent influx, the Seaboard Coast Line was extended southward toward Miami. Northern newspapers crashed the speculative market by painting a hurricane’s flattening of Hollywood as a world class disaster, predating the Depression by three years. In 1927 Dania regained its independence, Hallandale became a city and Floranada, shorn of much of its territory, was reincorporated as Oakland Park. On December 19, 1939, the British cruiser “Orion” chased the German freighter “Arauca” into Port Everglades, where she remained until 1941 when seized by the United States. As far as Broward’s future was concerned, however, the most significant thing about the war was the plethora of training bases that were established. Every airfield in the county, plus the future site of Broward Community College’s central campus became a World War II training facility.
 | | 1926 HURRICANE FLATTENS HOLLYWOOD |
In the 30 years from 1940 to 1970, Fort Lauderdale’s population shot from 17,996 to 139,590. Hollywood went from 6,239 to 106,873; Pompano Beach from 4,427 to 38,587; and Hallandale from 1,827 to 23,849. Plantation, which was just getting started in 1950, had grown to 23,523 by 1970. Thousands of servicemen stationed in Broward were permanently infatuated by the fantasy lifestyle they tasted. Hillsboro Beach, Hacienda Village and Wilton Manors were added by 1947. Lauderdale-by-the-Sea was next in 1951, followed by Plantation and Lazy Lake in 1953; Margate and Miramar, 1955; Lighthouse Point, 1956; Pembroke Park, 1957; Lauderhill, Cooper City, Sea Ranch Lakes, and Pembroke Pines, 1959; Sunrise, Davie, and Lauderdale Lakes, 1961; North Lauderdale, Coral Springs, Parkland, and Tamarac, 1963; and Coconut Creek, 1967. In 1974, after the county’s population soared toward a million, the speculator-driven hot South Florida market again became the victim of a recession which swept the nation. In 1976, the market revived and the 50,000 unsold condominium units were finally absorbed. A new county charter gave Broward’s government broad powers to monitor and improve the quality of life and the environment. Passage of the 1977 Land Use Plan limited urban sprawl and helped insure that the area’s natural, economic and social resources would be balanced against growth. Following a twenty-year lull, growth exploded again after the Millenium. Fueled by dollars relocated from the deflated equities market and foreign investment due to the weak dollar, Broward’s current real estate boom has also been superheated by unrestrained speculation. Some industry consultants envision a “best case scenario” as one in which the current overdevelopment is reasonably absorbed in 2006. Some, however, don’t anticipate this “soft landing”. Broward’s 1.7 million residents anxiously await the conclusion of this chapter! So do I.
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Broward Mayor Ken Keechl’s Corner
March 2010 Newsletter
 | | BROWARD MAYOR KEECHL CHAIRS COURTHOUSE VOTE |
February 20, 2010 - * Since elected Mayor of Broward County, District 4 Commissioner Ken Keechl has made scores of appearances as the County's representative. While fulfilling his responsibility as the County's spokesperson, the duties attendant to his dual scope of work as Mayor and Commissioner haven't suffered. As promised when he took office, Keechl has successfully juggled both tasks. However, the Mayor failed to disclose an unfortunate burden cloaked in his status as Broward's head honcho; that of media dart board. On slow days, news outlets are often filled with sterile conjecture about public officials.
 The day after his November 17, 2009 assumption of Broward's Mayoral seat, Keechl began laying the groundwork for what he characterized as Broward's most important challenge, next year's budget. Since his election in 2006, Keechl had evolved into the Commission's most outspoken advocate for tax reform and fiscal accountability. In his December newsletter, he exclaimed, "In order to recover from this recession, we must see to fruition our previously approved capital projects." He assumed responsibility for balancing spending cuts with infrastructure maintenance. As such, his March Newsletter addresses construction of the scaled-down County Courthouse as envisioned in the plan finalized by the Courthouse Task Force.
 After reviewing the fiscal rationale for this project, Mayor Keechl laments how the media decided to spin its approval by the County Commission. Hoping to resonate with a financially strained, recession-punchy public, the media often applies the simplistic standard that "all spending is evil," ignoring the medium and long-term economic dangers of failing to maintain viable county infrastructure.
 | | CONCEPTUAL BROWARD COUNTY JUDICIAL COMPLEX |
Since any expense is a tough sell during a recession, the Mayor offers a prospective drop in the millage rate as evidence of the project's minimal taxpayer impact. Actually, the reduction is unrelated to the Capital expense. The County will soon retire $36.4 million in debt service payments originally assumed to finance the construction of parks and libraries. Broward property owners should realize a savings of about 25 cents for every $1000 of their taxable property value. By salting in the $60 million budgeted for courthouse capital projects plus another $60 million budgeted for a new jail rendered unnecessary by a drop in the inmate population, the project's $328 million price tag becomes $208 million.
 If the county takes advantage of soon expiring federal subsidies by expeditiously issuing $40 million in Recovery Zone Economic Development Bonds (RZEDBs) with a 45% Federal Interest Subsidy and the balance issued as Build America Bonds (BAB) with a 35% Federal Interest Subsidy, the County saves $3.4 million (the subsidy decreases over time as the interest portion of the debt service is reduced). When coupled with the $5 million in annual Courthouse facility fees and rental revenues, the annual nut drops to $7.537 million or a net 4.11% interest rate. This should cost taxpayers about 5 cents for every $1000 of their taxable property value. When this 5¢ cost/$1000 is combined with the 25¢ retired debt service savings/$1000, the net result is a 20¢ reduction for every $1000 of taxable property value or a .2 lowering of the millage rate. While taxes aren't projected to increase, they won't drop as much as they would have without the annual courthouse carrying costs. ... READ ON! - [editor]*
Broward’s Courthouse Problem Solved
Without Raising Taxes
by Broward County Mayor Ken Keechl, District 4 Commissioner
 | | VICE MAYOR KEN KEECHL |
Last year, in my newsletter Broward’s Courthouse Problem: More Taxes Aren’t the Solution, I wrote about the deplorable state of our downtown courthouse. I argued that, if possible, we should renovate the courthouse. More importantly, I also strenuously argued that we should not ask the voters of Broward County to tax themselves to build it.
 | | BROWARD COUNTY JUDICIAL COMPLEX |
In two additional newsletters last year, Broward County Courthouse Task Force Recommendations, Part 1 and Part 2, I wrote about the formation of a Broward County Courthouse Task Force and its subsequent recommendations. First, the Task Force found that it would be more expensive to renovate the downtown courthouse than to rebuild it. Second, the Task Force recommended financing the rebuilding of a cheaper ‘scaled-down’ courthouse with existing revenue. The Task Force specifically and unanimously argued against asking the voters to tax themselves. Once before in November 2006, the Broward County Commission had asked the voters to tax themselves for a new courthouse; they rightly refused to do so.
 On February 2, the Broward County Commission voted 6 to 3 to follow the recommendations of the Courthouse Task Force. I was in the majority. It was absolutely the fiscally conservative approach.
  To my surprise, the media’s spin on the vote was to characterize it as a vote to increase taxes. I think the ‘spin’ was unfortunate. I understand that the press has to sell newspapers, but the truth shouldn’t be brushed aside in the process. So, here is the full story.
 The original November 2006 courthouse proposal was to build a courthouse at a cost of approximately $510 million. The Task Force recommended a ‘scaled-down’ courthouse proposal that would cost approximately $328 million (and add a much needed parking garage.) We had previously set aside $120 million in our budget for other less important projects. By using that money, we would need to borrow $208 million dollars.
 By a 6-3 vote, we agreed to use non-voted debt, which would cost the average taxpayer $8.00 per year. However, what wasn’t reported by the media was the fact that by the time we need the money, this $8.00 increase will be offset by the expiration of other debt totaling about $37.00 per taxpayer. So, in actuality, your tax bill would decrease by approximately $29.00 per year. And we will have fulfilled our Constitutional duty as County Commissioners to provide a safe and usable courthouse for our judges, jurors, court personnel and our residents.
 In closing, for more than 3 years I have told you that I would not raise the tax burden on your families or mine. The current millage rate is 5.3889. When all is said and done, and the additional dollars borrowed for the scaled-down courthouse, the new millage rate would be lower: somewhere between 5.1889 and 5.0789.
 You elected me to take care of problems that needed solving. And you told me to do it without raising your taxes. My vote accomplished both of your demands.
Broward County Commissioner and
Mayor Ken Keechl
 Click Here to access Broward County Commissioner Ken Keechl’s official web site, call his office at (954) 357-7004 and/or Click Here to send him an email.
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Commissioner Ken Keechl’s Corner
January 2010 Newsletter
 | | KEECHL ADDRESSES BUDGET ISSUES |
January 22, 2010 - * When Ken Keechl was battling to unseat incumbent Jim Scott in 2006, his platform read like a wish list. He would marry accountability to governance, environmental preservation to development and proclaimed “I will never vote for a tax increase.” During his past three years as our District 4 Commissioner, he pursued these objectives with a vengeance.
 | | GALT OCEAN MILE READING CENTER |
Keechl developed into the Commission’s primary sparkplug for tax reduction. He is the main reason why Broward taxpayers no longer have to cough up $380 million each year. Keechl enacted the developmental deterrent that currently protects Broward’s few remaining large green spaces and before signing off on any county project, Keechl requires the incorporation of cures to associated adverse environmental impacts. Closer to home, were it not for Keechl, the Galt Mile Reading Center would be an empty storefront adorned by a “for rent” sign. He has also been intimately involved with overcoming the seemingly endless obstacles to beach renourishment.
 | | V.M. GUNZBURGER & MAYOR KEECHL |
On November 17, 2009, he was elected Mayor of Broward County by his peers on the Broward Board of County Commissioners. Since Broward’s Mayor controls the Commission’s agenda, Keechl’s priorities will see considerably increased daylight. Shortly after being sworn in, Keechl said, “This upcoming year’s budget will be our most difficult and challenging yet. In the past three fiscal years we have cut spending by $385 million. We must continue to separate our wants from our needs and starting tomorrow, I will begin overseeing the 2011 budget process.” Needless to say, he did.
 | | BROWARD COUNTY JUDICIAL COMPLEX |
Keechl inherited a litany of ongoing projects. Since economic development will enhance the tax base and alleviate the tax burden on homeowners, he is committed to maintaining the infrastructure necessary to insure that Broward’s port and airport remain competitive. As such, he must balance making progress on the southern runway extension at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport with impact mitigation for surrounding neighborhoods. He is charged with finding a funding solution for the scaled down Courthouse and supports continued expansion at Port Everglades.
 The Mayor is Broward’s official representative, interfacing with State and Federal officials and agencies as well as the public. Keechl’s wholesome political history should help rehabilitate some of the damage suffered by the County’s image from recent ethics-related feeding frenzies. At the January 21st GMCA Advisory Board meeting, the Mayor outlined the ingredients required for an effective, enforceable ethics code.
 The challenge entails balancing actionable guidelines and realistic deterrents with the rights of constituents and issue groups, who could conceivably be precluded from constructive interaction with their own public officials. While staunchly supporting an ethics code, he warned that carelessly crafted provisions could disallow elected officials from participating in educational forums and traditional Town Hall meetings. He concluded with a reminder that if Broward County fails to approve ethics guidelines, the issue will automatically bounce back to the electorate as a ballot issue. Read on – [editor]*
“Understanding the role of your
Broward County Mayor”
by Broward County Commissioner & Mayor
Ken Keechl, District 4
| | COMMISSIONER KEN KEECHL |
It’s been two months since my colleagues elected me to be the Mayor of Broward County for 2010 and if the last 60 days are any indication of what’s to come, I’m going to enjoy it. Residents are already asking me: “Ken, what’s the difference between being a Broward County Mayor and a Broward County Commissioner?” Well, that’s a great question; here’s the short answer.
 | | BROWARD BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS |
To understand the role of your Broward County Mayor, you have to understand how your County Commission operates under Broward County’s Charter. Basically, we have what is known as a “weaker mayor” system of governance in Broward County. What does that mean? It’s simple. Your County Mayor is elected by his or her colleagues for a one-year term and isn’t elected by the people for a multiple year term (unlike Fort Lauderdale or Lighthouse Point, for example.) Your Broward County Mayor (while also serving as your County Commissioner) has the same one vote as each of his or her eight colleagues. Your County Mayor doesn’t have veto power. As compared to other governmental structures, Broward’s Mayor has less influence over the Commission.
 Well, then, why have a Broward County Mayor in the first place? Here’s the short answer.
 Your Broward County Mayor has an important role. The Mayor appoints County Commissioners to numerous, important committees such as the Value Adjustment Board or the Broward Planning Council. He or she represents Broward County locally, statewide, nationally and internationally. He or she runs the Commission meetings. (By the way, if you get the chance to watch one of our meetings on television or the internet, you’ll see that it’s not so easy!) And in the case of natural disasters (think hurricanes), Broward County’s Mayor declares a state of emergency and interfaces with the public, the Sheriff, the Governor and the President, if necessary.
 But probably, on a fundamental basis, the most important responsibility of your Broward County Mayor is to decide what issues will be addressed by the Commission each week. In other words, the mayor sets the agenda during his or her tenure.
And if you’ve been listening to me over the last three years, then you already know my personal agenda. I strongly, strongly believe that lowering the property tax burden on our families — by operating Broward County more efficiently and eliminating waste — is the most important job of the Commission. It’s my top priority. I have strenuously (and successfully) advocated this position during each of my first three years of my first term as your County Commissioner. Broward’s annual budget is now $385 million dollars smaller than it was when you elected me. And, as I predicted, the world didn’t end! Now, as your Mayor (as well as your Broward County Commissioner), I’ll advocate for additional measures and efficiencies to decrease Broward’s annual budget even more.
After all, that’s why you elected me in the first place.
My best to you and your families.
Broward County Commissioner and
Mayor Ken Keechl
Click Here to access Broward County Commissioner Ken Keechl’s official web site, call his office at (954) 357-7004 and/or Click Here to send him an email.
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Broward Mayor Ken Keechl’s Corner
December 2009 Newsletter
 | | BROWARD MAYOR KEECHL MAKES ACCEPTANCE SPEECH |
December 14, 2009 - * Despite the relative brevity of his tenure on the Broward Board of County Commissioners, District 4 Commissioner Ken Keechl was elected Mayor of Broward County by his Commission peers on November 17, 2009. Actually, he was preordained as the County’s top dog last November when Stacy Ritter was elected Mayor and Keechl was named Vice Mayor. In Broward County, the Commission practices a variation of Mayoral musical chairs, allowing every member one year in the largely ceremonial catbird seat after first spending a year as Vice Mayor.
 | KEECHL SERVED AS VICE MAYOR IN
STACY RITTER'S ADMINISTRATION |
When Keechl snagged the unanimous nod as Vice Mayor last November, he bypassed members substantially senior to the then second-year District 4 Commissioner. Two factors probably impacted his meteoric advancement. The formula under which the Commissioners rotate also enables each District to share in the one year advantage enjoyed by their representative. While Keechl seemed to leap-frog certain colleagues with lengthier legacies, it was District 4’s turn in the sunshine.
 Secondly, Mayor Keechl has forged a squeaky clean reputation. The only mildly critical media spin suffered by Keechl during his 3-year Commission service stemmed from the legal demise of a former law partner who was indicted for fraud and money laundering years before Keechl was elected - pretty thin stuff. Given the intense scrutiny recently afforded Broward politicians by Federal and local investigative authorities, placing Keechl on point will serve to dampen the credibility of questionable accusations leveled at the Broward Board.
 | | BROWARD COUNTY JUDICIAL COMPLEX |
Since winning his Commission seat, Keechl has effectively steered County government in a direction more consistent with his campaign agenda. He never barters his vote on the cheap, requiring environmental concessions and fiscal accountability in exchange for his support. In his first Newsletter as Broward Mayor, he describes the inherent upcoming challenges, including the completion of substantial capital projects at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport and Port Everglades, as well as construction of a new Courthouse - all during a recession. While the public has only recently fueled a thirst for disemboweling crooked service providers, lobbyists and contractors along with their political and legal facilitators, Keechl has been actively stumping for an enforceable ethics code for years. Despite the imposing scope of his new county-wide responsibilities, the Mayor maintains that District issues will continue to rate a higher priority. ... READ ON! - [editor]*
“Looking Out for District 4
as Broward County’s Mayor”
by Broward County Mayor Ken Keechl, District 4 Commissioner
| | VICE MAYOR KEN KEECHL |
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: my job is an awesome responsibility! Last year, my colleagues honored me by electing me to be the Vice Mayor of Broward County. I have enjoyed the position over the last twelve months. On November 17th, they honored me again by electing me to be the Mayor of Broward County for the next twelve months. I look forward to the challenge. And make no mistake: in these economic times, it will be a challenge.
First and foremost, I intend to use my position to continue our shared vision for Broward County. As we have done over the last 3 years, we must continue to lower property taxes and to streamline Broward’s vast governmental structure. We have decreased Broward’s annual budget by more than $300,000,000.00 since you elected me, and we have eliminated 1300 positions as we operate Broward County as a more efficient business. But our work is not yet done.
 In order to recover from this recession, we must see to fruition our previously approved capital projects: the expansion of our southern runway at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport; the expansion of our seaport; the construction of a new downtown courthouse; and the upgrading and “greening” of our infrastructure. These projects will benefit Broward County over the next 50 years. They will create jobs. But they must be funded without property taxes. Each of these projects can be done. I will make it my top priority to keep them on track.
 Lastly, I was raised to believe that people are basically honest and want to do the right thing. And I don’t exclude elected officials from that view. But you cannot escape the fact that local government currently has an image problem. And as they say, “perception is reality.” So, I support the work of the Broward Ethics Commission. As I wrote in a recent article, this Committee was created by the voters in November 2008 and is tasked with bringing forth a Code of Ethics to be presented to the Broward County Commission. If the Commission fails to adopt the proposed code, it will be placed on the November 2010 ballot for acceptance or rejection by Broward’s voters. I intend to work very closely with this group to enact substantive ethics reform. It’s the right thing to do.
It’s going to be an exciting year. I look forward to being Broward’s Mayor, but my top priority is being your County Commissioner. That’s why you elected me.
My best to you and your families.
Broward County Commissioner and
Mayor Ken Keechl
Click Here to access Broward County Commissioner Ken Keechl’s official web site, call his office at (954) 357-7004 and/or Click Here to send him an email.
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40 Year Old Condos Require
Recertification Inspections
By Marcy L. Kravit, CMCA, AMS, PCAM
  | GALLEON MANAGER
MARCY KRAVIT |
December 1, 2009 - Going back to the 1960’s, condominium developers were making their mark on the Fort Lauderdale oceanfront. Developers constructed more housing in Fort Lauderdale than any other city in Florida during the 1960’s. For the many retirees and snowbirds flocking to South Florida, the City of Fort Lauderdale seemed to be one of the most desirable locations during that time. The Galt Ocean Mile was rapidly growing to be a popular location for high rises that were constructed along the Intracoastal and oceanfront.
 | | GALT MILE - FACING SOUTH FROM THE OCEAN MANOR HOTEL |
Over time, the buildings have suffered from the salt air exposure resulting in deterioration of their structures and experienced water intrusion. As a result, the concrete spalls and weakens; these conditions have produced exposed steel, wood and electrical wiring issues.
 While many had purchased condominiums to avoid the maintenance required with a single-family home, unit owners along The Galt Ocean Mile are discovering that condominium buildings that are reaching their 40 year anniversaries are required to perform inspections and address the much needed repairs and restoration.
 | | 4564 EL MAR DRIVE, LBTS - 2006 BALCONY COLLAPSE |
Over the years, several buildings have experienced an abundant quantity of modifications and repairs which may have been performed without permits, were not according to building codes and may at this time pose potential safety hazards and liability. Some condominiums may have just aged and contain hidden risks that may have gone overlooked and ignored.
The 40 Year and Older Building Safety Program require that all buildings, except single-family residences, duplexes and minor structures shall be recertified. The inspection is for the purpose of determining the general structural condition of the building which affects the safety and general condition of the structural integrity and its electrical systems pursuant to the Building Code. The written report is required to include an impressed seal and signature of the Engineer or Architect who has performed the inspection. An engineer is certifying and taking responsibility for the safety and structural integrity of the property.
 The 40-year or Older Building Safety Program was created in 2005 and is now in effect throughout Broward County. Modeled after Miami-Dade County’s program which has been in effect since the 1970’s, Broward’s program calls for structural and electrical safety inspections for buildings 40 years old or older, and every ten years thereafter.
 | | FORT LAUDERDALE BUILDING DEPARTMENT |
The system works as follows: when a building becomes 40 years old the Code Compliance Section of the County or City in which the building is located sends out a "Notice of Required Inspection" to the association. From the date of the notice the association has 90 days during which to complete the required inspection. Based on the result of the inspection, the building will be structurally and electrically recertified for 10 years or there will be improvements required for the recertification.
 If improvements are required, the association is given a total of 180 days to complete the required improvements. A follow up report is then submitted by the Engineer stating that these improvements have been made and the building recertified.
 For deficiencies that cannot be corrected within the 180 days, the timeframe may be extended by a Professional Engineer of Registered Architect and it must be specified and approved by the Building Official. Repairs or modifications of deficient conditions that are incidental and non life threatening may be completed within a specific time frame as well.
The forms and minimum construction guidelines for a structural inspection include the following:
 Masonry walls
General Description Cracks Spalling Rebar corrosion
Floor and Roof Systems Steel Framing Systems Concrete Framing Systems Windows Wood Framing Exterior Finishes and noting any Structural Deficiencies regarding stucco, veneer, soffits, ceiling or other.
The forms and minimum construction guidelines for an electrical inspection include the following:
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Electrical Service Meter and Electrical Rooms Switchboards/Meter/Motor Control Centers Grounding Conductors Auxiliary Gutters/Wireways/Busways Electrical Panels Disconnects Branch Circuits Conduit Raceways
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Low Voltage Wiring Methods Building Illumination Fire Alarm Systems Smoke Detectors Generator Site Wiring Swimming Pool/Spa Wiring Wiring to Mechanical Equipment General Additional Comments
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 It important to note that, in many cases, buildings older than 40 years that have not received a Notice of this required rectification… it is incumbent on the association to acquire this initial 40 year recertification whether a notice has been sent or not. Additionally, it is the responsibility of the association to recertify their building every 10 years thereafter. A building that has not been properly recertified can pose a liability to owners in the event of a failure or accident.
 | | THE GALLEON CONDOMINIUM |
The Galleon Condominium Apartments located on The Galt Ocean Mile in Fort Lauderdale, was built in 1967. The 18-story, 214 unit condominium suffered from hurricane Wilma and numerous repairs on the structure were performed to restore the building after the hurricane. The Galleon was in the midst of a structural inspection by their engineer to evaluate additional balcony and building repairs when the condominium received their notice for their 40 year inspection from the City of Fort Lauderdale. The notice was mailed to the law firm Kaye & Bender as they were listed as The Galleon’s registered agent. The Board was aware that this was coming and they were proactive in addressing the inspection. According to their engineers from SRI Consultants and Henz Engineering, The Galleon had not suffered to the extent of other associations. The board has always been committed to ensuring the structural integrity of the building and the resident’s safety. The engineers have completed their inspections within the required 90 days and the association has 180 days to complete the necessary repairs. Board Members Donna Oppert, President and Charles Steinmetz, Building Committee Chair recently met with their structural and electrical engineers to review the reports. The association has determined that they will require more time to complete the repairs and has requested an extension.
 The City of Fort Lauderdale requires a permit and charges a $200.00 fee for the reports to be reviewed. The inspection must be dropped off in person. Extensions are granted on a case by case basis.
 In 2010, The Florida State Statutes 718.113(6) indicates has indicated that buildings 4,650 square feet or more and dating from 1924 to 1968 are to be reviewed. In 2009, 910 property folio numbers were listed for inspection, but since the number of units and individuals property owners may be in a single building, the number of structures to be inspected County-wide is significantly less than 910. Broward County anticipates less than 900 structures annually that will fall under their program guidelines in future years.
 It should be noted that Florida State Statutes 718.113(6) indicates, “As to any condominium building greater than three stories in height, at least every 5 years, and within 5 years if not available for inspection on October 1, 2008, the board shall have the condominium building inspected to provide a report under seal of an architect or engineer authorized to practice in this state attesting to required maintenance, useful life, and replacement costs of the common elements. However, if approved by a majority of the voting interests present at a properly called meeting of the association, an association may waive this requirement. Such meeting and approval must occur prior to the end of the 5-year period and is effective only for that 5-year period.”
Whether or not your building is 40 years old and is located in Broward or Miami Dade County, it is required by statute that an inspection be performed. It is important to be proactive in budgeting for such an inspection and to implement a preventative maintenance plan in order to prepare for the necessary repairs as your building matures.
For Your Edification
  Marcy Kravit is General Manager of The Galleon Condominium at 4100 Galt Ocean Drive in Fort Lauderdale. Her professional designations include Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA), earned from the National Board of Certification for Community Association Managers (NBC-CAM), Association Management Specialist (AMS) and Professional Community Association Manager (PCAM) - additional accreditations awarded by the Community Association Institute (CAI).
 A columnist for the Florida Community Association Journal, contributing writer to other periodicals and local newspapers and former Board member of the Community Association Management Professionals (CAMP), Marcy also serves as Secretary of the Southeast Florida Chapter of the Community Associations Institute, working closely with Board members Lisa Magill, Michael Bender and former L’Hermitage Manager Don Westbrook. Marcy has volunteered to share her singular expertise with Galt Mile neighbors via authoritative contributions to the Galt Mile News and GMCA website.
 In the above article, Marcy quotes Florida Statute 718.113(6), which ominously states, “As to any condominium building greater than three stories in height, at least every 5 years, and within 5 years if not available for inspection on October 1, 2008, the board shall have the condominium building inspected to provide a report under seal of an architect or engineer authorized to practice in this state attesting to required maintenance, useful life, and replacement costs of the common elements. However, if approved by a majority of the voting interests present at a properly called meeting of the association, an association may waive this requirement. Such meeting and approval must occur prior to the end of the 5-year period and is effective only for that 5-year period.”
 | | GOV CRIST SIGNS 2008 CONDO BILL |
Although this bizarre legislative lemon is unrelated to the Broward ordinance, it might tweak your memory. It is one of the many provisions included in House Bill 995 (HB 995), the 2008 Omnibus Condominium bill sponsored by Representative Julio Robaina that ultimately became Chapter 2008-28, Laws of Florida. This bill originally mandated that, despite an association’s documents, Board members could serve maximum terms of one year, disallowing staggered terms. It also mandated that every association in the state produce fully audited financial statements annually, notwithstanding the association’s size or fiscal needs. The 87-page bill contained dozens of other expensive one-size-fits-all regulations that sparked uproar from condo owners across the State.
 | REP ELLYN BOGDANOFF WORKED
TO CORRECT PROBLEMS WITH BILL |
While being vetted in committee, the sponsors couldn’t explain why a small 4-unit association with storm damage, runaway windstorm insurance rates and a $12,000 budget should pay $thousands for an audited financial statement every year. They remained similarly mute with respect to many other enigmatic regulations as queried in several House Staff Analyses. Fortunately, Majority Whip Ellyn Bogdanoff refused to allow the bill to progress without modifying the incomprehensible and/or damaging provisions. Bogdanoff addressed scores of poorly drafted regulations, insisting that the sponsors either justify each one or amend it accordingly. For example, they amended the one-year term requirement to allow an association’s unit owners to vote on whether or not two-year staggered terms were preferable, especially for associations with 9 or 11-member governing boards.
 As initially filed on February 19, 2008, the provision referenced by Marcy originally required every association in the State to undergo an inspection on October 1, 2008 and every five years thereafter. On March 12 and April 9, 2008, reviewing legislative committees responded to corrective testimony by adopting strike-all amendments to the bill, wholly abandoning the text and replacing it with a Committee substitute. A consulting Engineer’s subsequent committee testimony brought into focus that the bill failed to identify exactly what should be inspected.
 As the session wound down, the final version also neglected to indicate what associations should do with the inspection reports. There was no subsequent requirement to address threats to safety or reconsider the reserve assessments expected to ultimately fund an item’s replacement cost. Associations that simply pay tens of thousands of dollars for the investigation and file the report away would have fully complied with this poorly drafted exercise in misdirecting resources. Engineers also questioned the benefit to new buildings that are compliant with State and local building codes, since they are fully inspected prior to receiving a Certificate of Occupancy (CO). As applied to associations that occupy older buildings in Robaina’s Miami home district, they were already subject to Miami-Dade’s 40 year-old Building Safety Inspection ordinance – which effectively satisfies safety objectives and served as the blueprint for Broward’s 2005 ordinance. Again – the nondescript inspection requirement described in the Statute has nothing to do with the Miami-Dade and Broward County 40-year Safety Recertification ordinances addressed in Marcy’s article.
 Seeking to relieve condo owners of an unjustifiable expense, Bogdanoff successfully pressed for an amendment that implemented the existing opt-out provision, allowing associations to side-step paying for a costly undefined report lacking any mandated purpose. Not surprisingly, Florida associations have overwhelmingly opted out of this obtuse provision since its October 1, 2008 effective date. Since this understandable association response requires a burdensome and expensive full membership vote, the provision is a sterling candidate for inclusion into next year’s “Glitch Bill”. Glitch bills are legislative vehicles designed to reverse unproductive, unworkable or damaging laws passed in earlier sessions, whether an intentional part of some personal, political or financial agenda, a short-sighted response to emotionally charged issues supported solely by anecdotes or well-meaning work product victimized by poor drafting and/or skewed research. They flourish whenever lawmakers fall asleep at the wheel and the electorate fails to poke them awake! - [editor]
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Vice Mayor Ken Keechl’s 10/2009
Budget and Library Letter to Constituents
| | GALT OCEAN MILE READING CENTER |
October 24, 2009 - * Broward County District 4 Commissioner and Vice Mayor Ken Keechl has been delivering on his promises with religious regularity since elected 3 years ago. Since then, he has informally assumed a role as the Commission’s unofficial fiscal ombudsman, fighting relentlessly for tax cuts, spending control and financial accountability. Keechl’s inclusion marked a reversal of the County Commission’s previously unrestrained spending policies. His constituent letter summarizes the Commission’s effort to relieve the tax burden on County residents.
 | | GMCA LIBRARY SUPPORTERS FILL CHAMBER |
A budget measure to close the seven leased county libraries - including the heavily patronized Galt Mile Branch - was recommended by several of his peers (whose districts “coincidentally” lack any leased libraries). Last Spring, at the request of the Galt Mile Community Association and the Friends of the Galt Ocean Mile Reading Center, the Vice Mayor devised a strategy to keep the local library’s doors open. Thousands of local residents signed petitions to save their Library, dozens of associations and civic organizations passed resolutions supportive of the neighborhood reading center and hundreds of letters, faxes and emails flooded the Commission chamber, insisting on the Library's continued survival.
| | KEECHL ORCHESTRATES LIBRARY CAMPAIGN |
At the final County Budget meeting on September 22, 2009, a sizable Galt Mile contingent filled the meeting room. Following a statement by GMCA President Pio Ieraci summarizing community opposition to the planned closure, Broward Mayor Stacy Ritter confirmed that the Galt Ocean Mile Reading Center would survive the budget meeting, reprieving the popular local asset at least until next year's budget exigencies.
 Although the successful campaign was choreographed by our Commissioner and implemented by “Friends” and GMCA, it succeeded because the entire neighborhood addressed this challenge with one - very loud - voice. We owe a debt of gratitude to Commissioner Keechl for his part in saving the Galt Mile Reading Center (which is also our official polling site). Galt Mile residents and others who’ve sent the hundreds of emails since the budget meeting were also gratified that the 125,000 resident visits anticipated through next year will brighten and enrich the lives of thousands of their friends and neighbors. ... READ ON! - [editor]*
Broward Commission Approves 2010 Budget
Galt Ocean Mile  Library Stays Open
No Property  Tax Increases
| | COMMISSIONER KEN KEECHL |
Broward County Commissioners successfully approved the 2010 fiscal year budget without raising property taxes and the Galt Ocean Mile Branch Library will remain open.
 | | RESIDENTS ENJOY READING CENTER |
The five-year lease agreement on the Galt library remains in place and residents can continue to utilize the library that they fought so hard to keep open.
“I promised that I would not vote to raise taxes and I said that I would do whatever was necessary to keep the Galt Ocean library open. Fortunately, the majority of Commissioners agreed and we were able to keep the millage rate the same—and keep the Galt library up and running. The voice of the people was heard loud and clear.” said Vice-Mayor Ken Keechl.
 Cutting $108-million dollars from the property tax supported general fund meant that some services had to be cut. Broward County libraries will be closed on Sundays and parks will be closed on Wednesdays.
The $3.3 billion budget decreased by $314 million compared to the 2009 budget. This means that the average homeowner will see a minimum reduction of $214 on the county portion of their property tax bill. The countywide millage rate in Broward County remains at 4.8889.
Broward County Commissioner and Vice Mayor
Ken Keechl
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Galt Mile Residents
Rescue Reading Room
  
 | | GALT OCEAN MILE READING CENTER |
October 8, 2009 - On September 22, 2009, the Galt Ocean Mile Reading Center dodged a bullet. Arguably the community’s most popular local asset, the mini-library has been under the County budget gun for months. Although regarded as a convenient and useful amenity by many residents along the Galt Mile, a large group of indomitable seniors view the library as indispensible to their independence, quality of life and peace of mind. They inspired their friends, neighbors and public officials to see through the engineered budgetary spin and prevent the library from falling prey to county politics.
 Since the City of Fort Lauderdale provides our Police and Fire Protection, the 26% of our tax dollars paid annually to Broward County actually subsidizes neighboring jurisdictions that use BSO services. We enjoy no local county parks or recreational resources and even fund our own maintenance and security for a beach that is admittedly one of Broward’s main economic engines. The only County resource dedicated to enriching life in our community is the Galt Ocean Mile Reading Center.
 | BROWARD LIBRARY
DIRECTOR BOB CANNON |
In April 2009, Galleon resident Herman Gardner considered his options. While elected president of the Friends of the Galt Ocean Mile Reading Center in 2004, his 2006 priorities focused primarily on salvaging the snake-bit expansion plans for the storefront Reading Room. Broward County leasing specialists neglected to check the space they rented to accommodate an expansion prompted by the increasing demand on the existing facilities. The discovery of asbestos in the floor and one of the two ceilings forced Gardner and Broward Libraries Director Bob Cannon to revise their expectations for the tainted adjacent space. Gardner grew flustered as Broward authorities spent the next two years fumbling through a series of planning miscues and construction delays.
 | FORMER COMMISSION
AIDE KATHY SINGER |
Fed up, Gardner called on District 4 Broward Commissioner Ken Keechl to investigate the County’s disarming incompetence. Enraged and embarrassed by Broward’s numerous gaffes, Keechl met with County Administration staffers and Director Cannon, who responded with an apology and an exclamation of gratitude for Gardner’s patience. Keechl charged former Commission Aide Kathy Singer with soliciting regular updates from Cannon about future progress.
| BROWARD VICE MAYOR
KEN KEECHL |
As the Broward budget battle heated up, seven satellite libraries sited in locations leased by the County became political budget fodder. To demonstrate their commitment to “making the hard fiscal decisions”, County Commissioners Lois Wexler and John Rodstrom served up the small neighborhood libraries as offsets to the $108 million budget deficit, insinuating a savings of several million dollars. Newly seated as Vice Mayor, Keechl gave Gardner the bad news.
| | RESIDENTS ENJOY READING CENTER |
Shedding his ordinarily soft-spoken and accommodating persona, Gardner got mad. He contacted Galt Mile Community Association (GMCA) officials Pio Ieraci and Eric Berkowitz, requesting assistance with saving the besieged Reading Center. Along with Commissioner Keechl, the neighborhood association looked into the prospective budgetary benefit of closing the small libraries. Scrutiny of the Galt Mile facility’s financial records revealed the claimed savings to be a fabrication. They also noted that the Commissioners behind the budget recommendation had none of the threatened libraries within their districts.
 | | GALT READING CENTER COMPUTERS |
Since the terms of their union contract (Local 1591 of the Amalgamated Transit Union) would simply rotate the unit’s 5 staffers to other County positions and/or agencies at full pay if the Galt location was defunded and the inventory maintenance costs would continue unabated irrespective of a potential relocation of the books, tapes, computers, etc., the budget savings was a negligible few thousand dollars. Even the meager rental savings would be burdened by moving and storage costs and moving damage losses to the inventory. Additionally, the County would remain on the hook for $53,000 of the $70,854 annual rental expense if they pulled the plug.
 Following a unanimous May 21st vote by the Galt Mile Community Association Advisory Board empowering Gardner to represent the community’s interest in the Galt Ocean Mile Reading Center, a committee was empanelled to help protect the storefront neighborhood asset. After accepting Commissioner Keechl’s offer to help save the facility, the committee convened 4 open meetings at the library and formulated a strategy based on the Vice Mayor’s input. The committee organized a community-wide petition, created and distributed a “resolution of support” template to the 26 member associations and local civic organizations, and initiated a letter writing and email campaign targeting all nine County Commissioners.
 Nearly 5000 petition signatures and 33 pro-Reading Room resolutions (associations, Houses of Worship, Civic groups, etc.) were forwarded to Commissioner Keechl’s office, where they were copied and distributed to his Commission peers. Hundreds of supportive emails and letters simultaneously flooded the Commission chambers. Within a few weeks, the Commissioners that favored closing the local libraries were suddenly more receptive to alternative budget fixes. At the final Budget Workshop in Mid-August, several commissioners told the Vice Mayor that they would support holding safe the 7 threatened leased libraries, especially the Galt Mile facility.
 | | COUNTY COMMISSIONER LOIS WEXLER |
Notwithstanding, the Vice Mayor advised that the Reading Room would remain “at risk” until the final budget is approved on September 22nd, at the second of the two scheduled Broward Budget Meetings. The reason for his admonition soon became clear. During the first Budget Meeting on September 10th, when County Commissioner Lois Wexler unexpectedly revived her recommendation to close the Reading Room, Commissioner Keechl rallied sufficient support to temporarily fend off her “sneak attack”. The event underscored Keechl’s warning to the committee that “This is politics and the Commission members are under pressure. Despite any claims or statements made prior to the final budget meeting, there are no guarantees.”
 | | LIBRARY SUPPORTERS PACK BUDGET MEET |
While the Library Committee meetings were underway, hundreds of residents expressed their intention to attend the final budget meeting and verbally pummel the Broward Commission. Planned statements ranged from carefully measured fiscal, cultural and civic justifications for the library's survival to markedly less cogent expressions of fear, disgust, frustration and anger.
 | | SAVE OUR LIBRARY T-SHIRT |
When asked for his input, Keechl said, “The final budget meeting is likely to be a marathon event, with scores of residents speaking about dozens of issues. After a time, anyone within earshot of largely repetitive complaints, supplications and comments will tend to become numb to the proceedings.” Since the Commission members had already been made aware of the community-wide scope of this issue by the tidal wave of petition signatures, resolutions and correspondences, the Vice Mayor recommended that the group be limited to a highly identifiable contingent of about 30 residents rather than swamping the chamber with hundreds of angry supporters. He also suggested that it would be more effective if one person summarized resident concerns on behalf of the group.
 | | FRED NESBITT |
Taking a page from the strategy implemented to oppose the Calypso gasworks, L’Hermitage I Manager Patricia Quintero ordered tee shirts scripted with “Save our Library” and Playa del Mar’s Fred Nesbitt secured matching buttons to identify group members at the County budget meeting. GMCA President Pio Ieraci was selected to deliver the committee’s message. The only remaining obstacle was transportation.
 | | VICE MAYOR BRUCE ROBERTS |
Fortunately, our District 1 City Commissioner and Vice Mayor Bruce Roberts (that’s right, we are represented by Vice Mayors in both the City and the County) learned about the Committee’s efforts while attending a GMCA Advisory Board meeting. When apprised of the problem, he offered to sponsor a bus to carry concerned residents to and from the meeting at the Broward Governmental Center.
 On Friday, September 18th - four days before the event - each of the 26 GMCA member associations were informed about the plan and posted notices inviting concerned residents to reserve a seat on the bus. By Tuesday morning, more than 40 seats were snapped up, somewhat exceeding Commissioner Keechl’s recommended quota of 30 attendees. The over 90 additional applicants that called through 3 PM were informed that although the bus was full, they could still attend via alternative means of transportation.
 | | TERRY CLAIRE |
Although Vice Mayor Roberts was called away to address a Tuesday afternoon emergency, his Commission Assistant Robbi Uptegrove met the bus at 2:30 PM with GMCA officials Pio Ieraci, Eric Berkowitz and Fern McBride. At 3 PM, the bus left Southpoint with a sizable group of L’Hermitage, Commodore, Coral Ridge Towers complex and Southpoint residents (including the irrepressible octogenarian Sally Sobel). The bus headed north up Galt Ocean Drive, stopping to board one or two individuals from some associations and larger groups from Edgewater Arms, the two “Regencys”, Ocean Club, The Galleon and Plaza South (led by the indefatigable Terry Claire). The passenger list was unexpectedly swelled by a half dozen extra friends and/or family members of registered riders. En route to the meeting site, passengers wiggled into their tee shirts and buttons.
 | GMCA SECRETARY
FERN MCBRIDE |
Upon arriving at the Governmental Center, GMCA Secretary Fern McBride expedited the County registration protocol for the 50 Galt Mile residents disembarking the bus. They were soon joined by several carloads of additional Galt Reading Room supporters. By the 5:01 PM start time, the entire center section of the Commission Chamber was filled with white and red tee shirted library proponents. Within an hour, the Commission called on Pio Ieraci, who launched into the reasons why the Reading Room should never have been threatened with closure. After clarifying the Vice Mayor’s strategy to spare the Commission hours of redundant concerns, he summoned the group, whereupon the entire center section simultaneously rose to their feet.
| | GMCA LIBRARY SUPPORTERS FILL CHAMBER |
The Commissioners were visibly relieved when Ieraci disclosed that he was speaking for the attending Galt Mile residents. In closing, he reminded the Commissioners that the neighborhood demonstration was “dialed down” by design, intimating that they should think twice before repeating their threat again next year. Two library supporters who insisted on personally addressing the Commission briefly punctuated Ieraci’s remarks.
| BROWARD MAYOR
STACY RITTER |
Seemingly appreciative of his abbreviated presentation, Mayor Stacy Ritter responded by guaranteeing that the Galt Mile Reading Center would remain open. When she followed with an observation that 118 people had signed up to address the Commission, the Galt Mile group cut short their standing ovation and headed for the exits.
 | | GMCA PRESIDENT PIO IERACI |
Within minutes, the center section was empty. As the locals exited the building, swarming reporters interviewed Ieraci, Herman Gardner and randomly solicited comments from anyone in a tee shirt. Savoring the successful outcome of a summer-long campaign, the participants’ return trip spontaneously evolved into a celebratory party. Prior to being dropped off at their respective buildings, the residents thanked Robbi Uptegrove for her invaluable help and asked that she convey their appreciation to Vice Mayor Roberts for providing the bus and standing by his constituents.
 | | COMM. EGGELLETION LEAVES COURT |
Commissioner Josephus Eggelletion joined Kristin Jacobs on the losing side of the after midnight 7 vs. 2 vote approving the final budget. Insisting that the budget was tainted by the 52 County jobs sacrificed to avoid a tax hike, Eggelletion issued an ominous warning to his peers “The direction that you take determines your destination.” Eight hours later, headlines were plastered across every South Florida media outlet alleging that Eggelletion’s part in a Bahamian money laundering scheme led the FBI to slap on the cuffs. Hmmm…?
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Commissioner Ken Keechl’s Corner
September 2009 Newsletter
 | | KEECHL ADDRESSES BUDGET ISSUES |
September 24, 2009 - * Constituents who engage Broward Vice Mayor Ken Keechl in conversation come away from the experience with two new data points. In addition to any information gleaned from the discussion, they are unambiguously convinced that Keechl is passionately consumed with his Commission responsibilities. Whether initiating some long-needed improvement or reacting to an unanticipated County dilemma, Keechl’s actions are often predictable. They are guided by a credo that he publicly proclaimed three years ago, while running for the Commission seat that he’s laudably filled.
 As a Commission candidate, Keechl described what he would do if elected and explained exactly how he would accomplish each task. The only omission was the timeline. Since then, following his progress has become reminiscent of ticking off items in a shopping list. Every month or two, constituents can simply cross off another of Keechl’s promised achievements.
 His September 2009 Newsletter enumerates some of his major accomplishments. In fact, each of the items described in this three-year summary correspond to a prior newsletter topic he published to keep constituents abreast of his progress. Following his election victory in November 2006, Keechl said “The overwhelming local issue of the 2006 campaign season was property taxes. They are too high – period.” Three years later, he accurately exclaims, “Broward’s annual budget is $300 million smaller today than it was when you elected me. That’s $300 million dollars in property taxes every year that’s staying in your families’ checkbooks.”
 | | PORT EVERGLADES STRAND OF MANGROVES |
In that same November 2006 Newsletter, Keechl said “Preservation is a cornerstone of smart growth – we cannot stop development, but we can grow in a way that meets the needs of our increasing population and at the same time fosters a distinct and inviting environment in the County.” The current Newsletter describes how an adjacent strand of Mangroves were held safe during the rehabilitation of Port Everglades and how the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport expansion was delimited primarily by the projected environmental impact.
 | | AMERICAN GOLFERS CLUB - KEECHL CAMPAIGN PLANK |
One of the Vice Mayor’s original campaign platform planks – that precluded construction of mediocre “McMansions” on the American Golf Club in Coral Ridge – evolved into a post-election crusade to protect Broward’s few remaining large green spaces from uncontrolled development. He subsequently sought to amend the Comprehensive Land Use Plan by infusing the developmental prerequisites with a “poison pill”. Since golf courses are traditionally treated with pesticides and arsenic-laden herbicides, the amendment (which passed unanimously) acts as a deterrent by requiring pre-development Phase I and Phase II environmental reports showing the absence of environmental contamination. Also, Keechl’s approval of 4,392 additional County boat slips was contingent on the simultaneous passage of a Manatee Protection Plan and the reservation of 513 boat slips for future public use.
 When investigators revealed how Broward County’s animal shelter buried bagged animals that may not have always been dead in a landfill, left other animal carcasses rotting in maggot-infested bags for days, ignored food shortages, permitted shelter employees to set aside dogs with high resale value for friends and/or profit, left pharmaceutical stockpiles unlocked (in violation of state standards) and failed to check for microchip implants, tattoos and other identifying elements ordinarily used to reunite pets with their owners, Keechl led the charge to reverse the abuses and permanently prevent their reoccurrence.
Since 57% of the Broward electorate demanded the creation of a “Broward County Ethics Commission” to formulate a Code of Ethics against which actions of Broward Commissioners can be measured, each of the 9 Democrat commissioners was charged with appointing a panel member. Keechl reached across the aisle and selected Republican Bob Wolfe to provide the panel with a modicum of ideological balance.
 During a County Commission meeting hiatus, Keechl traveled to Tallahassee and lobbied lawmakers to reject counterproductive legislation designed to circumvent County Land Use requirements. In his spare time, he promotes economic growth in the Broward Alliance, addresses local transportation obstacles with the Downtown Ft. Lauderdale Transportation Management Authority (DFLTMA), works with the Public Safety Coordinating Council to facilitate local law enforcement issues and resolves property assessment dilemmas through service on the Value Adjustment Board. It’s been rumored that sometimes, he sleeps. Read on...
“Third Year Report”
by Broward County Commissioner & Vice Mayor
Ken Keechl, District 4
| | COMMISSIONER KEN KEECHL |
I can’t believe that it’s been almost three years since you elected me to be your Broward County Commissioner. And I can’t believe that it’s been almost a year since my colleagues elected me to be Broward’s County’s Vice Mayor. I still pinch myself every single day. Yes, being a County Commissioner is a time consuming endeavor, but there isn’t a better job in the world. Seriously.
 | | COMM. KEECHL BEING SWORN IN |
From my first day on the dais, I have championed our “shared vision” for a different Broward County. And over the past three years, the direction of the County Commission has changed — for the better. I like to think that my advocacy has been partially responsible.
First and foremost, I have been an ardent advocate for lower property taxes and decreased spending. At my constant urging, in the last two years we have decreased spending by $200 million; this year we are on course to reduce our budget by another $100 million. As a result, Broward’s annual budget is $300 million smaller today than it was when you elected me. That’s $300 million dollars in property taxes every year that’s staying in your families’ checkbooks.
 I have also advocated for an environmentally sensitive, yet business friendly approach to running Broward County. Many successful results can be seen in a number of initiatives over the past three years. For example, we have expanded our seaport to remain competitive — without destroying in the process a precious mangrove strand located in the port. We have finally agreed to a much needed expansion of our southern runway at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. I sponsored a Comprehensive Land Use Plan amendment which strongly discouraged golf course conversions into residential developments, and my amendment requires environmental contamination inspections. I supported a “boat siting” plan which added 4,392 boat slips throughout Broward, but only after the plan contained a strong manatee protection element. And I made sure that it was funded by the users of the boat slips, and not your property taxes. I have consistently advocated for “green” buildings for all new capital projects as well.
 You asked me to be your eyes and ears on the Commission. As a result, I demanded an outside investigation of Broward’s animal control department when I learned of employee animal abuse and negligence. These practices have been stopped. I have supported sensible ethics reform for the Broward County Commission. I have successfully argued that all budget meetings should be televised so that you see how your tax dollars are being spent.
 Over the final year of my first term, I will continue to be your advocate for our shared vision for Broward County. I will continue to be your environmentally sensitive, business friendly, fiscally conservative Commissioner. And I will continue to be your eyes and ears on the Broward County Commission. After all, you and your families deserve nothing less.
My best to you and your families.
Broward County Commissioner and Vice Mayor Ken Keechl
Click Here to access Broward County Commissioner Ken Keechl’s official web site, call his office at (954) 357-7004 and/or Click Here to send him an email.
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The “Two Flu” Blues
Seasonal and H1N1 Strains Slam South Florida
  September 12, 2009 - U.S. health officials are readying an unusual flu vaccination campaign for this fall, but the initiative is already dogged by public confusion, experts’ doubts and a raft of unknowns. 2009 is the year of the “two-flu” blues, requiring what Health Department honchos believe will be 3 inoculations to properly protect against this year’s deadly influenza onslaught. Along with the seasonal flu vaccination, we have the unique distinction of facing possibly 2 more to insulate ourselves from the effects of the H1N1 Swine Flu.
The Swine Flu
 | | MASKS PROTECT MEXICO CITY SUBWAY RIDERS |
First identified in April 2009, the influenza A virus subtype H1N1, referred to as the “novel H1N1”, is thought to be a reassortment of four known strains of influenza A virus. While one of the four varieties normally infects humans, one is endemic in birds, and two endemic in pigs (swine). Transmission of the new strain is human-to-human, so eating cooked animal products presents no danger since the virus cannot be transmitted by eating foods.
 | | SAND SCULPTURE FLU ALERT ON INDIAN BEACH |
After the Mexican government closed down most of Mexico City’s public and private offices and facilities to help contain the initial attacks earlier this year, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak to be a pandemic in June. As the virus spread globally, WHO noted that most illnesses were of moderate severity. When the Southern Hemisphere entered its flu season, the disease burned through a largely unprepared South America, especially in less developed countries with limited healthcare systems.
 | | 1918 SPANISH FLU WARD - WALTER REED HOSPITAL |
In July 2009, the CDC confirmed that most infections were mild (similar to seasonal flu), recovery tended to be fairly quick, and deaths to date had been only a tiny fraction of those annually ascribed to the seasonal flu. However, the real danger derives from the reported instability of the new virus strain, rendering it capable of mutating into a more virulent strain. The CDC pointed out that the 1918 flu epidemic – which killed hundreds of thousands in the United States – was preceded by a wave of mild cases in the spring, followed by more deadly outbreak in the autumn.
 In their August 7th report to the White House, the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) distinguished between the effects of the seasonal and H1N1 strains of influenza. Chaired by John Holdren, the director of the White House Office of Science and Technology, Eric Lander, the head of the Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Harold Varmus, the chief executive officer of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, the 21-member group of scientists and engineers reported that while the seasonal flu averages 200,000 annual hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths, the 2009 Swine flu variety is expected to place 300,000 victims in intensive care and produce up to 90,000 fatalities.
 | | NOVEL H1N1 INFLUENZA VIRUS |
On the bright side, University of Maryland researchers discovered that since the H1N1 influenza virus grows much faster than seasonal flu viruses, it is unlikely to recombine or exchange genetic material. The studies also confirmed findings by other researchers that the swine flu virus is able to grow deeper into the victim’s lungs, crediting it with a predisposition to viral pneumonia. That may be why some victims with underlying medical conditions are more likely to develop severe illness from infections that are ordinarily symptomatically mild. The severity of these cases appears to be proportional to the strain placed on the victim’s immune system.
 | | STEVEN L. SALZBERG |
After studying the mapped genetic sequences of H1N1 samples received from the CDC, University of Maryland Bioinformaticist Steven L. Salzberg confirmed that the 2009 H1N1 pandemic strain is a swine-origin influenza virus that resulted from a reassortment of two previously circulating strains – a “triple-reassortant” swine influenza that has been circulating in North America since 1998 and an H1N1 strain that has been circulating for decades in swine populations of Europe and Asia. Neither of the two strains has ever proven contagious in humans. Of the genes inherited from the Eurasian strain, one codes for a neuraminidase enzyme – the N1 in H1N1 – which controls the expansion of the virus from infected cells (the speed with which it proliferates). More importantly, it has reportedly never been seen in humans, thereby precluding any developmental immunity. Shazam! Salzberg resolved why the H1N1 virus has been able to slice through human populations like a hot knife through butter.
Unprecedented Immunization Campaign
 | | H1N1 SWINE FLU VACCINE |
In response, government health officials are mobilizing to launch a massive swine flu vaccination campaign this fall that is unprecedented in its scope – and its potential for complications. To defend against the second wave of the Northern Hemisphere’s first influenza pandemic in 41 years, the campaign aims to vaccinate at least half the country’s population within months. Although more people have been inoculated against diseases such as smallpox and polio over a period of years, the United States has never tried to immunize so many so quickly. Unfortunately, when the new wave of infections begins peaking in mid-October, only about a third of the expected vaccine will be available.
 What health officials don’t yet know is exasperating. They don’t know how many shots need to be administered for an effective series. They don’t know the proper dosage to recommend. Although the single dose vaccinations under development by Switzerland’s Novartis and China’s Sinovac Biotech would relieve the strain on supplies caused by manufacturing delays, neither is likely to elicit U.S. approval by the seasonal deadline. Health pundits are also desperately trying to formulate a strategy to help the average person distinguish between the annual campaign against influenza and overlapping efforts to combat the swine flu pandemic.
 The dilatory deliveries of swine flu vaccine stem from several obstacles. A production bottleneck is plaguing factories that infuse syringes with the H1N1 vaccine. Instead of the 120 million doses promised by mid-October, only 45 million will be available for inoculations, although the pipeline will grind out an additional 20 million doses each week until the CDC’s entire 195 million dose order is fully distributed by December.
 Another obstacle inures to the actual vaccine recipe required to combat the H1N1 strain. The ingredients that reactively enable vaccines are grown within eggs. The procedural chemistry underlying development of these ingredients has become another bottleneck. Manufacturer’s laboratories are extracting far fewer doses per egg for the swine flu vaccine than for vaccines addressing the regular annual outbreak. When French manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of the Sanofi-aventis Group, took longer than expected to finish brewing their regular complement of winter flu vaccine, the low-dose dilemma came to light.
 | | HHS DR. ROBIN ROBINSON |
Health Department officials are interceding to help offset production impediments as they surface. Department of Health and Human Services chief of vaccine procurement Dr. Robin Robinson surmised “Hopefully there are ways to bring that number up.” To enhance the “per egg” dose production rate, the CDC has delivered new “seed strains” of the virus to the impacted manufacturers. As to the logjam caused by the problematic packaging of the vaccine into syringes, Robinson asserted “We’re trying to bring on more manufacturing.” His plan is to pressure manufacturers who’ve fulfilled their orders to share their facilities with those encountering delays.
 An expected jurisdictional gadfly added to the prospective delays when Australia’s CSL Biotherapies notified the U.S. that its shipments would arrive later than promised because the company is mandated to first complete filling a 21 million dose vaccine quota for corporate home Australia, where the flu season is winding down. Although the U.S. signed a $180 million contract with CSL first, Robinson admitted, “There was always the possibility they could do that. Our laws can do the same thing. We don’t, but we could.”
Lastly, health authorities ran into a snag while attempting to ascertain the dosage values and the number of doses comprising an effective course of treatment. It took far longer than anticipated to create the reagents necessary to accurately measure the strength of the vaccine, without which an effective dose cannot be established.
New Seasonal Flu Strategy
Although seasonal Influenza uniformly slices through communities without regard to sex, race, national origin or other traceable census sort categories, it poses a grisly threat to two specific groups. While babies and infants are certainly highly vulnerable to influenza, a vast majority of the 36,000 victims succumbing to flu-related deaths each winter are people over age 65. Despite the CDC’s annual implementation of comprehensive elderly vaccination programs, instead of realizing a commensurate lowering of death rates, the effectiveness of protection strategies against the flu for the elderly has enigmatically plateaued.
 While flu vaccine protects 75 to 90 percent of healthy young people, studies suggest that protection appears to plummet to 30 percent among persons 65 and older. Through 2008, CDC policy for addressing this inexplicable obstacle centered on research probing whether increased doses or adding immune-boosting compounds would intensify protection for the elderly. Last year, the flu gurus at CDC noticed a Harvard study that altered their prevention strategy.
 | BOSTON EPIDEMIOLOGIST
JOHN BROWNSTEIN |
The study linked exposure to children to influenza contagion rates and symptomatic severity. Over four winters, Harvard researchers matched 157,542 adults demonstrating flu-like symptoms in Boston area emergency rooms with Census data in 55 zip codes. Flu symptoms hit first and hardest in those zip codes inhabited by the most kids. Every 1 percent increase in the child population brought a 4 percent increase in adult ER visits for the flu.
 | HARVARD PROFESSOR
KENNETH D. MANDL, M.D. |
Published last summer in the Annals of Emergency Medicine, the study by epidemiologist John Brownstein and Dr. Kenneth Mandl intimated landmark changes in how modern medicine should tackle Influenza. Until then, children under 5 were prime candidates for flu vaccination, given the high death rate for youngsters and infants contracting the disease. Starting last year, government programs extended the primary target focus for vaccinations to all children from age 6 months to 18 years.
 | | HARVARD FLU STUDY IN BOSTON |
The study statistically confirmed what most parents have intuitively known for generations, that their offspring spread germs with uncanny efficiency. Although older children are less impacted by the effects of flu than infants, the 30 million school-age kids included in the ramped up vaccination policy are a huge target pool with a massive potential for incubation. The schoolchildren weren’t targeted for vaccination primarily to protect their health, but to prevent their becoming “Vectors”, or people for whom infection is of less consequence than their potential for spreading the flu to more vulnerable groups such as the elderly and those with compromised immune systems.
“The impact of kids and the flu is clear,” says study co-author John Brownstein of Children’s Hospital Boston. “It doesn’t mean the areas without kids are protected from flu. It just means they experience flu later and at lower rates.” He considers crowded schools, preschools and day-care centers to be disease distribution centers, locations that foment and/or perpetuate local epidemics. By defusing these distribution hotbeds, many prospective local infestations will never achieve the critical mass necessary to spread the disease epidemically.
 | | CDC DEPUTY DIRECTOR DR. JEANNE SANTOLI |
Deputy Director Dr. Jeanne Santoli of the Immunization Services Division in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ascribed several benefits to this new data. In addition to crippling influenza’s incubation capability – a critical component to epidemic attacks on a community – she extols a more direct dividend to expanding inoculation eligibility. School children will no longer miss the thousands of classroom hours lost each year to the flu and their parents will commensurately realize improved work attendance. Santoli said, “We’re all very enthusiastic and anticipate seeing an indirect benefit, but that’s something we need to study and carefully watch.”
 | | DR. STEPHEN C. ARONOFF |
Dr. Stephen C. Aronoff, chairman of the department of pediatrics at Temple University in Philadelphia, explained the CDC policy. “This is the concept of herd immunity; the more people you vaccinate, the less likely you are to see infection in people who are not vaccinated.” There’s no shortage of statistical corroboration for Brownstein and Mandl’s findings. When 85% of the schoolchildren in Tecumseh, Michigan were vaccinated before the 1968 flu pandemic, they reported two-thirds fewer flu cases in the overall population than nearby towns wherein children were not vaccinated. Similar results were recorded in Japan. After immunizing Japanese schoolchildren, infection rates and deaths dropped significantly throughout the entire Japanese population.
 | | FORMER CDC DIRECTOR GERBERDING |
Simply put, the chain of transmission in the overwhelming majority of flu cases includes a school-age child. Immunizing that child, by definition, would theoretically eliminate these cases. Former Director Julie L. Gerberding of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed that although school-age children have the highest rate of flu infection, only 21 percent were vaccinated against the disease before last year, allowing the flu an unchallenged opportunity to incubate and proliferate.
Policy Targets Schools
 In preparation for an expected outbreak of H1N1 influenza this fall, South Florida health departments are setting the first line of defense in area schools. In these scholastic bullrings, health care matadors armed with cases of loaded syringes will match up forms signed by parents with battalions of screaming adolescents. To combat the threatened swine flu epidemic in Broward County, the schools are implementing unprecedented policy preparations in deference to last year’s CDC prevention revelation. Since the strain has exhibited a statistical predisposition for people whose age ranges from 5 to 24, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended a host of new precautions for Broward and Miami-Dade public schools. They include:
 The new policy of creating a hygienic firewall in the schools to insulate the larger community from a potential epidemic manifested a variety of other preventive measures. Strong teacher admonition for students to wash their hands will anchor the assault on spreading the virulent disease. Students will be made to stay home when sick and use their sleeves to catch coughs and sneezes, not their hands. (Good luck on achieving that!)
 Should a local outbreak intensify, the CDC said schools should urge healthy siblings of flu victims to stay home while screening students and staff daily for symptoms. To reduce close contact contagion rates, schools can hold classes outdoors or in larger rooms, sequester students in one room all day, and cut back on busing.
 When the first scheduled delivery of swine flu vaccine arrives in Broward by mid-October, school clinics will be among the first official dispensaries. The schools have prioritized efficiently immunizing the student body, save those individuals burdened by compromised immune systems or groups for whom the vaccine portends other medical complications. As a matter of policy, schools will remain open despite an outbreak unless mounting teacher and/or student absences cripple the institution’s ability to function.
 In South Florida, at least 24 of the 36 children who died from Swine Flu through August 8, 2009 were additionally afflicted with serious ailments such as cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, lung disease, heart disease, developmental delays or cancer - and usually more than one, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Among the 12 who suffered no apparent chronic illness, eight developed severe bacterial infections along with flu, giving health officials a possible reason that otherwise healthy children succumbed to H1N1 flu.
 | | CDC DIRECTOR THOMAS FRIEDEN |
CDC Director Thomas Frieden said “When you get the flu, your immune system can be weakened and you become susceptible to other infections. We have seen this in the past with the seasonal flu.” In a message to parents, Frieden exclaimed, “Most children who get swine flu recover just fine with little treatment, but families and doctors should be cautious if high-risk children get sick, or if a sick child seems to get better and then gets another fever that may indicate a second infection.”
So far the virus has proven symptomatically mild with an abbreviated term of illness - lasting only a few days on average. More importantly, it hasn’t laid claim to the high number of lives that ordinarily define the severity of a pandemic. Of the one million people in the U.S. that were infected by early September, only 556 fatalities were reported nationally, 66 in Florida, seven in Broward County and five in Palm Beach County.
Vaccine Priority Swap for the Elderly
 The high priority groups differ statistically for the two flu threats. For the seasonal flu vaccine, target groups include children aged 6 months to 19 years, pregnant women, adults 50 and over, residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities, anyone with a chronic medical condition, health-care workers and people in close proximity to high-risk individuals.
 For the swine flu vaccine, federal officials have added young adults aged 19 to 24, who have been disproportionately affected by the swine flu. Surprisingly, health authorities have also lowered the vaccination priority of older adults (unless they have an underlying medical condition) because they’ve demonstrated a greater resistance to the infection. In all, swine flu vaccine priority groups comprise about 160 million people nationwide.
 | | DR. LEN HOROVITZ |
Dr. Len Horovitz, a pulmonary specialist with Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, first defined the confusion surrounding the CDC’s seemingly counter-intuitive priority adjustment for the elderly, admonishing “In the seasonal flu, the priority is the elderly but they’re at the bottom of the ladder for H1N1, so that’s a change the public will have a problem with.” He then shed some light on why the elderly were able to more effectively resist the disease, stating “People seem to have some partial immunity to the swine flu if they are born before 1957,” referring to the natural immunity that a prior exposure would have cultivated.
Dr. Christine Mhorag Hay, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York, described how this lowered priority would impact the elderly, explaining “This doesn’t mean that older people shouldn’t get the swine flu shot, just that they won’t be first in line.”
National Influenza Map
Flu Links
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Vice Mayor Ken Keechl’s Corner
August 2009 Newsletter
| | BROWARD COUNTY JUDICIAL COMPLEX |
August 18, 2009 - * At a meeting on December 18, 2009, Broward County Vice Mayor and District 4 Commissioner Ken Keechl reviewed several county concerns with the Galt Mile Community Association Advisory Board. Immediately following a discussion about frustrating beach renourishment delays, our Vice Mayor segued to a worrisome description of the County Courthouse. “The 50-year old structure is falling apart. Pipes are bursting on a regular basis, the elevators continuously break down and the building is rife with mold.”
 | | CLERK OF COURTS DAMAGED FILES |
Keechl’s heightened angst was prompted by a November 30th water main break that sent gallons of pressurized water shooting into Clerk of Courts Howard Forman’s office, flooding the first and second floors of the Broward County Judicial Complex in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Following his November 2006 election upset, Keechl enumerated a comprehensive list of objectives and commitments that directly impact every District 4 constituent – and most county residents. Among his promises was a commitment to tag and follow tax dollars. Since courthouses don’t come cheap, the Vice Mayor informed the Advisory Board that the County Commission was faced with a costly replacement or rehabilitation of the deteriorating structure.
 In his January 2009 Newsletter, Keechl summarized the issue for his entire District 4 constituency, explaining that the sizable expense warranted an authoritative study of the Commission’s alternatives. He supported Broward Mayor Stacy Ritter’s resolution to create and charge a committee with fully vetting the issue. Once formed and populated, Ritter’s “Courthouse Task Force Advisory Committee” officially became the “Broward County Courthouse Task Force” and convened meetings on January 23, February 27, April 3, and June 30, 2009.
After the Task Force completed their comprehensive review in June, Vice Mayor Keechl issued the first of a two-part summary of the Task Force’s findings in his June Newsletter. Running down the alternatives considered by the Task Force, Keechl explained that they considered renovation of the existing structures, adapting some reasonably proximal commercial space and decentralizing functionality to satellite courthouses. Ultimately, they recommended building a new scaled-down courthouse on the site of the current judicial garage for approximately $328 million. Revealing a previously veiled flair for the dramatic, The Vice Mayor piqued public curiosity by promising to reveal a financing resolution with no tax impact for Broward residents in his next Newsletter.
In his August Newsletter, the Vice Mayor describes two financing alternatives currently being debated by the Broward Commission. The first option, raising funds through the sale of voter-approved General Obligation Bonds that are serviced with property taxes, would increase the tax burden on property owners. Having emerged from the County Budget Wars sporting an intimidating reputation as a bare-knuckled juggernaut of tax restraint, Keechl admonished “It should come as no surprise that I strenuously object to this proposal.”
 He prefers paying for the project with a Chinese menu of existing resources and revenues raised by selling Certificates of Participation Bonds (COP). After the existing resources are applied to the $328 million project outlay, the balance of $133 million must be addressed by one of the two debt instruments. The COPs are serviced by general revenues, not property taxes. Here’s the magic - revenues no longer needed to service expiring, previously issued bonds residual to older library and parks projects would be redirected to service the new COP bonds. POOF! No tax bite! Not sure? ... READ ON! - [editor]*
“Broward County Courthouse Task Force Recommendations, Part 2”
by Broward County Commissioner Ken Keechl, District 4
| | VICE MAYOR KEN KEECHL |
In my last newsletter, “Broward County Courthouse Task Force Recommendations, Part I”, I discussed the continuing problems plaguing our Broward County courthouse in downtown Fort Lauderdale. (www.Broward.org/Keechl.) As a result of bursting pipes, increasing mold, broken elevators, security issues, and a chronic shortage of courtrooms and parking, our local judicial system is in turmoil. In fact, the County has recently been sued by several court employees alleging that the courthouse is dangerous and unfit for occupancy. Each of your nine County Commissioners has previously expressed a view that this problem needs to be addressed now. Unfortunately, we don’t agree on how to pay for the new courthouse. In this month’s newsletter, I would like to address this issue and tell you my view.
Last December the Broward County Commission established a Broward County Courthouse Task Force (“Task Force”). After studying many possible alternatives, in the end the Task Force recommended that a new scaled-down courthouse should be constructed on the site of the current judicial garage. By building on County-owned land, the overall cost of the project would decrease. In the past (and before I was elected), the County Commission had suggested building a new courthouse at a cost of approximately $510 million; the Task Force’s new scaled down courthouse would cost approximately $328 million. Similarly, previous County Commissions envisioned a new courthouse comprising nearly 900,000 square feet; the Task Force’s new scaled down courthouse would comprise approximately 675,000 square feet. The Task Force also recommended additional parking to meet existing and future courthouse needs.
 There are two options being debated on how to pay for the new Courthouse.
 The first option, which I don’t support, is to allow the residents of Broward County to vote in 2010 on whether we should issue General Obligation Bonds (GOB) to pay for the courthouse. Although the intricate financial details of this proposal are beyond the scope of this article, suffice it to say that, if adopted, the tax burden on property owners would increase. As I wrote earlier this year in my newsletter, “Broward County’s Courthouse Problem: More Taxes Aren’t The Solution”, I will never support a proposal that has the effect of raising the property tax burden on you and your families. So it should come as no surprise that I strenuously object to this proposal.
 The second option, which I do support, is to pay for the new Courthouse from existing revenue and Certificates of Participation Bonds (COP). Broward County has set aside $120,000,000.00 for a new jail and future courthouse capital projects. We should use that money now. Moreover, during the last session, the Florida Legislature increased the Courthouse Facilities Fee from the existing $15 fee to a $30 fee. This potential revenue (as much as $4,000,000.00 annually) can be utilized as well. Lastly, the County can issue COP bonds. The debt service on these bonds would be satisfied from payments no longer needed on expiring, previously issued bonds! The end result: a new Courthouse and no increased tax burden on the residents of Broward County.
 In closing I would like to add one final thought. When I campaigned for the honor of being your County Commissioner, I promised that I would address the needs of Broward County that had been ignored for so long by past Broward County Commissions. And I promised you that I would do so without increasing your property tax burden. This solution to our Courthouse problem fulfills both those promises.
My best to you and your families.
Broward County Vice Mayor Ken Keechl
Click Here to access Broward County Commissioner Ken Keechl’s official web site, call his office at (954) 357-7004 and/or Click Here to send him an email.
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Broward Budget Battle
County Commission Cuts Costs
  | | BROWARD COUNTY COMMISSIONER KEN KEECHL |
July 7, 2009 - In his April 2009 Newsletter, Commissioner Ken Keechl said, “For Fiscal Year 2008, I voted to lower property taxes and shrink the County’s budget by approximately $90 million dollars per year. My colleagues agreed by a 9-0 vote. For Fiscal Year 2009, I voted to lower property taxes and shrink the budget by approximately $87 million dollars per year. My colleagues agreed by a 7-2 vote. Since these are recurring, yearly savings, the result of these two votes was to shrink the Broward County budget by almost $177 million dollars per year.”
 Over the past two years, the cuts targeted questionable projects and irresponsible spending strategies, expunging programs that were underutilized, ineffective or otherwise unjustifiable. Programs that somehow survived obsolescence were terminated and projects imbued with an automatic annual refunding process were reviewed and squelched.
 Simultaneously, the County Administration consolidated overlapping services, froze hiring, reduced capital projects, paid down debt and selectively raised fees to levels currently comparable with similar jurisdictions. While the cuts raised concerns among certain constituencies, they went predictably unnoticed by the greater public.
 Fast forwarding to the current budget, Keechl said, “On February 17, 2009, the County Commission had its first Fiscal Year 2010 budget workshop. The good news: the majority of my colleagues agreed to lower property taxes for a third consecutive year. The bad news: we couldn’t agree on how much to cut from the FY 2010 budget.” Characterizing this as a major hurdle for the Commission, Keechl proceeded to diagnose the disagreement.
 | | BROWARD BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS |
Some of Keechl’s colleagues were considering an adjustment to the millage rate that would produce the same revenue as last year - characterized as the “rolled-back” rate. Since the Property Appraiser’s 11% valuation decline reflects a significantly lower tax base, only raising the millage would yield the same intake. While Keechl acknowledged that the strategy would cut another $45 million from the Budget and increase the cumulative 3-year recurring tax savings to $222 million, he expressed a preference for matching last year’s millage rate, thereby creating a deficit of $135 million. The cumulative 3-year recurring tax savings would jump to $312 million.
Having already trimmed away the high-visibility pork, the Commission’s remaining budget reduction targets are fitted with political price tags. Pumping out politically correct sound bites in February and March, every commissioner openly advocated “making the tough decisions” and “living within our means.” As described by County Administrator Bertha Henry, “The low-hanging fruit has been plucked, and this will be a very tough year.” However, when confronted with raising the millage rate or cutting services, Commissioners began waffling - testing the merits of compromise and exhorting against “throwing out the baby with the bathwater.”
 | BROWARD COMMISSIONER
JOHN RODSTROM |
At the early Budget Workshops, Budget and Management staff made cost-cutting recommendations ranging from the obvious to the ridiculous. Certain items were placed on the table for reasons other than saving money. Commissioner John Rodstrom has long wanted to repeal a law requiring county contractors to pay more than the minimum wage to workers. Including it in a cost cutting recommendation buys him a shot at wiping it from the books. He’s also against building a new addiction recovery center in a location anathematic to constituents. Commissioner Josephus Eggelletion has questioned if the county is duplicating children services with other agencies. Many of these items are admittedly on the block for primarily political purposes. By cynically identifying them as money saving opportunities, commissioners can potentially revise the outcome of appropriations battles that were previously lost.
 | BROWARD COMMISSIONER
KRISTIN JACOBS |
While Keechl has consistently advocated spending cuts to balance the budget, Wexler, Eggelletion, Rodstrom and Jacobs hinted empathy with a compromise. In late April, Jacobs insisted that a tax hike “isn’t off the table,” stating “We are bare bones now. We’re talking about the quality of life.” Citing improved cost projections for fuel, utilities, insurance and payroll, County Budget Director Kayla Olsen revised the shortfall from $129 million to $108.3 million before the June 4th Budget Workshop. Following that event, Kristin Jacobs asked “Where does the public set its values? Is it willing to lose all these services or is it willing to pay a little more this year?” In mid-May, Josephus Eggelletion insisted that he wouldn’t vote for any budget that lays off a county employee. Commissioners had to measure the anticipated backlash from deep service cuts versus raising taxes during a recession.
To protect certain governmental agencies from direct exposure to unhealthy political influence, Constitutional officers are afforded virtual independence from Commission fiscal control. The Supervisor of Elections, the Public Defender, the Broward State Attorney, our Legislative Delegation, the Property Appraiser, the Sheriff’s Office, the Clerk of the Courts, etc. are constitutionally immunized to the County Commission’s budgetary machinations. While the Property Appraiser and the Supervisor of Elections split about $30 million, or about 4% of the overall budget, the Broward County Sheriff gets about 50 cents of every dollar collected by the County.
 | | BROWARD SHERIFF AL LAMBERTI REFUSES ADDITIONAL CUTS |
Asked to proportionately shoulder half the $108 million deficit, Broward Sheriff Al Lamberti offered to lay off 177 employees, close the old stockade jail and end an inmate drug rehabilitation program. While the gesture initially appeared to confirm Lamberti’s intention to cooperate, the sheriff’s concessions were seeded with poison pills that actually increased costs. The $722.1 million budget plan submitted by Lamberti exceeds last year’s budget. Of the 177 positions Lamberti offered to cut, nearly 77 of them are currently vacant, or filled by secretarial staff, administrative personnel or inexperienced trainees. Since redistributing roughly 430 inmates to Broward’s four other facilities will create a state of severe overcrowding, Lamberti expects the Commission to decline his offer to close the 1950s-era, low-security stockade. The resulting unsafe conditions could provoke Federal fines and/or a mandate to build additional facilities - functionally cancelling the $9.4 million savings. Circuit Court Judge Marcia Beach, who heads the Drug Court Program, called Lamberti’s offer to discontinue jailhouse drug treatment “penny wise and pound foolish.” Since drug treatment reduces recidivism, it reduces the Sheriff’s greatest expense – the size of the inmate population.
 | DRUG COURT JUDGE
MARCIA BEACH |
Following the June 4th Budget Workshop, Lamberti made clear that he would rather have the money than the Commission’s respect. To mollify a vociferous “pro-spending cuts” constituency, Lamberti played his “public safety” card, equating unsafe streets and fires burning out of control with any adulteration of his budget. Dispelling misconceptions about his willingness to play hardball, Lamberti openly engaged in a war of nerves with the all-Democrat Broward Commission, complete with a planned partisan endgame in Republican Tallahassee.
 | BROWARD COMMISSIONER
ILENE LIEBERMAN |
The first stage of Lamberti’s strategy was to completely circumvent every commissioner by appealing directly to their constituents and democratic political organizations. Playing verbal ping pong in the media, when Commissioner Ilene Leiberman said, “I would hope he’d understand we’re all in this together and that in this time of financial crisis, we all have the same obligation to limit the burden on the taxpayer,” the sheriff retorted “Just when people want to feel more safe, the commission’s asking me to make them feel less safe.” After spreading his message at a June 7th event sponsored by the gay political club Dolphin Democrats, on June 8th, Lamberti attended a community forum sponsored by the Democratic Party’s Black Caucus of Broward County, where he admonished the County Commission to tap some of the county’s $232 million in reserves. “They say it’s the rainy day fund. Well guess what? It’s raining outside,” said Lamberti.
 Simultaneously, The Sun-Sentinel investigated Commission allegations that the Sheriff doled out 12% raises in a union contract and huge overtime allocations to BSO employees. The newspaper reported that Lamberti spent $28.7 million last year on overtime and 800 BSO employees - about 15 percent of the 5,664 total - received at least $10,000 in overtime in 2008. Only 332 of the 7,305 county employees answerable to the County Commission broke $10,000.
 | | BROWARD SHERIFF AL LAMBERTI FUMBLES WAR OF RECORDS |
Launching a retaliatory strike, Lamberti requested records demonstrating overtime statistics in Commission administered county agencies. Compared with Lamberti’s $28.7 million 2008 overtime expenditure, county government paid $11.9 million for overtime even though the county has almost 1,700 more employees. The average employee working for County Commission-controlled agencies earned $1,632 in overtime while the average Sheriff's Office employee earned $5,072. Realizing that his overtime stats reflected poorly on his administrative skills, the Sheriff blamed the disproportionate overtime on the Fire-Rescue unit he inherited from the Commission, who previously froze hiring and promotions for 10 years.
 | BROWARD COMMISSIONER
SUZANNE GUNZBURGER |
As the June 16th Budget Workshop approached, the Commissioners leaned toward supporting the $108 million spending reduction. On June 13th, Commissioner Suzanne Gunzburger said, “People are hurting because times are tough and we need to live within our means just like families must do.” 7 of 9 commissioners declared that they were not prepared to raise taxes. Four of the nine commissioners that are up for re-election next year are actively dodging a potential backlash over raising tax rates.
 | COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
BERTHA HENRY |
To force a decision from Commissioners whose stated public and private preferences were contradictory, County Administrator Bertha Henry formulated an experiment. At the June 16th Budget Workshop, she offered a compromise that entailed raising the millage rate from last year’s $4.89 per $1,000 in property value to $5.43 per $1,000 in value (just shy of the $5.53 rolled-back rate), cutting $28.1 million and laying off 81 county employees. Henry’s proposal would avoid shutting down libraries and parks as well as substantial reductions to bus routes and social services. The plan went over like a lead balloon.
 | BROWARD COMMISSIONER
JOSEPHUS EGGELLETION |
After warning that the Sheriff may successfully dodge the $55 million in departmental cuts by soliciting support in Republican Tallahassee, John Rodstrom demanded that Mayor Stacy Ritter adjourn the agenda and summon Lamberti to the Budget Workshop to discuss cuts. Rodstrom summed up, “We have a sheriff refusing to be here, refusing to negotiate with us and we are put in a really bad position.” Commissioner Josephus Eggelletion added “This is not a place for the faint-hearted. If you believe we’re doomed, then we are.” When Mayor Stacy Ritter sent for Lamberti, he declined, exclaiming, “What they (county commissioners) want me to do is to negotiate in front of the cameras and I’m not about to do that.”
 | BROWARD MAYOR
STACY RITTER |
The 4-hour Workshop ended as it started, with a $55 million donut hole in the county budget. Visibly angry at having been shunned by Lamberti, Mayor Stacy Ritter said “The sheriff has drawn a line in the sand and he has dared us to cut his budget. He will appeal to the governor and I say go ahead and let him go. He will not like the amount of money we give him and he will appeal to the governor and the Cabinet.” Refuting the Sheriff's contention that cutting his budget would cripple public safety, Ritter argued “We have some ideas on how to cut that budget without cutting public safety.” She asked why his budget funds an office of recruitment since the sheriff is laying off people and not hiring. To fill the Sheriff's budget entry for a “general purpose message board” costing $24,000 for law enforcement management, Ritter offered to go to Office Depot to buy a cork board for $10. She reminds the Sheriff that spending $28.7 million on overtime is not a prerequisite for public safety.
 | | BROWARD SHERIFF AL LAMBERTI DENIES HEATED CONFLICT |
Following Ritter’s post-June 16th Budget Workshop observation that “The discourse with the sheriff has gotten pretty heated, and probably will get more heated as we go through the budget process,” Lamberti responded “I disagree that it’s gotten heated. I have never disrespected them. I have always been respectful toward them and yet they have called me names.”
 Broward residents are becoming disgusted with the political burlesque staged daily by their public officials. The Budget process has been supplanted with Schoolyard Theater, with both sides postulating feverishly to undermine the other’s credibility. While admittedly fearful of alienating voters, the players seem to share the opinion that budget decisions are too important to be left to the public.
 | | GOVERNOR AND THE FLORIDA CABINET |
Since the Sheriff can appeal any Commission decision to the Governor and the Florida Cabinet if it affects his budget, the issue will be decided in Tallahassee if the Sheriff so chooses. Given that three of the four Cabinet members are Republicans and three of the four are also candidates for statewide office, it will be a longshot for the nine-Democrat Broward Commission to salvage an apolitical non-partisan decision when pitted against a Republican Sheriff spinning public safety. We recently witnessed how Crist’s handlers advise the Governor regarding Public Safety issues when he vetoed the Sprinkler Retrofit Extension Bill (SB 714) - despite its near unanimous passage by the legislature.
 The constitutional protections available to the Sheriff were designed to insulate elected county officials from partisan politics. They weren’t conceived to disenfranchise the county’s residents. Whether provoked by perceived slurs or part of a cleverly devised and executed political plan, the Sheriff’s Tallahassee option will deprive Broward taxpayers of input into their own fiscal future. By exporting the decision to the State Capitol, Lamberti can ignore the County Commission, override the preference for spending cuts expressed by the people of Broward County and force a tax increase.
 Whatever the outcome, Sheriff Lamberti has convincingly shed that component of his public persona reminiscent of Andy of Mayberry. Broward’s top law enforcement official has proven politically equal to high-powered BSO predecessors and the Broward Board of County Commissioners. With the cat out of the bag, Lamberti can no longer rely on the element of surprise as the process heads into the summer months. Commissioners will never again display that “Deer caught in the headlights” expression adorning countless early June news videos.
 The next official venue for undertaking budget issues will be the 1st of two budget meetings, scheduled for 5:01 PM on September 10th in Room 422 at the Broward Governmental Center (115 S. Andrews Avenue in Fort Lauderdale, Florida). The 2nd budget meeting will take place on September 22nd at the same time and location. The new budget’s effective date is October 1, 2009.
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Commissioner Ken Keechl’s Corner
June 2009 Newsletter
| | BROWARD COUNTY JUDICIAL COMPLEX |
June 23, 2009 - * Commissioner Ken Keechl’s January Newsletter addressed the quandary posed by Broward's deteriorating Courthouse. Characterizing the mold-ridden structure as “antiquated and in a serious state of disrepair,” Keechl advocated a cost efficient renovation instead of funding new construction. His words echoed recommendations made to the Galt Mile Community Association Advisory Board at their December 18, 2008 meeting.
Intimately familiar with courthouse functionality, our fiscally conservative District 4 Commissioner acknowledged the need to thoroughly investigate the issues surrounding this important and expensive undertaking. As such, he supported Mayor Stacy Ritter’s December 8, 2008, resolution creating the “Courthouse Task Force Advisory Committee.” True to his policy of documenting our tax dollars’ planned itinerary, Commissioner Keechl’s June Newsletter sheds light on the Task Force’s findings to date.
Chaired by Broward Commissioner Ilene Lieberman, the committee officially became the “Broward County Courthouse Task Force” and included Broward County Public Defender Howard Finkelstein, Clerk of Courts Howard Forman, Lauderhill Commissioner (and former Broward League of Cities President) Margaret Bates, Chief Assistant State Attorney Chuck Morton, Broward County Court Administrator Carol Lee Ortman, 17th Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Vic Tobin, Circuit Court Judge Peter Weinstein and other representatives from the legal and business communities. During their January 1, 2009 through June 30, 2009 operational term, the task force met on January 23rd, February 27th, April 3rd and concluded business on June 19th.
 | | JUDICIAL COMPLEX GARAGE IS NEW COUTHOUSE SITE |
In “Part 1” of his Courthouse Recommendations update, Commissioner Keechl enumerates the alternatives considered by the Task Force, including a renovation of the existing structures, adapting some reasonably proximal commercial space and decentralizing functionality to satellite courthouses. Ultimately, they recommended building a new scaled-down courthouse for approximately $328 million. After narrowing potential locations to a site on the New River and the site currently occupied by the judicial garage, they opted for the garage site, citing its superior accessibility and connectivity. The new structure will accommodate expansion and the West and Central Wings of the existing complex will be demolished. New technology and innovative courtroom design will diminish space and parking requirements.
 The Task Force developed some extremely creative financing options that doubtless appeal to our “Blue Dog” Commissioner. Inasmuch, Commissioner Keechl wraps up his Newsletter with a tickler, advising us to tune in next month (for Part II) to learn how the Courthouse can be built without increasing property taxes (... you’re going to love this!) Squelch that “glass eye” expression... Keechl has a habit of delivering on his promises. - [editor]*
“Broward County Courthouse Task Force Recommendations, Part 1”
by Broward County Commissioner & Vice Mayor
Ken Keechl, District 4
| | COMMISSIONER KEN KEECHL |
In previous articles, I have discussed the continuing problems plaguing our Broward County courthouse in downtown Fort Lauderdale. As a result of bursting pipes, increasing mold, broken elevators, security issues, and a chronic shortage of courtrooms and parking, judges, jurors, litigants, and employees are suffering. In fact, the County has recently been sued by several court employees alleging that the courthouse is dangerous and unfit for occupancy.
 Recognizing that the current situation is unacceptable, last December the Broward County Commission established a Broward County Courthouse Task Force (“Task Force”) to make recommendations to the County Commission “regarding alternatives for financing, development, construction, improvement and other matters” relating to the downtown courthouse. The Task Force recently submitted its Report to the County Commission. I would like to devote this month’s article to summarizing its findings regarding the need to build a new Courthouse. And I would like to devote next month’s article to discussing financing issues.
 | | WILMA BLOWS OUT COURTHOUSE WINDOWS |
Not surprisingly, the Task Force concluded that the current courthouse is in critical condition. All building systems have exceeded their useful lives and in the event of a Hurricane Category 2 or above, the structure will sustain significant damages, if not total destruction. Moreover, the current layout of the building is not conducive to a modern courthouse; there is not enough space for all judicial and court-related activities; and there is no room for expansion.
In contrast to building an entirely new structure, the Task Force considered a renovation of the current courthouse. The Task Force concluded that renovation would not be cost effective. If the County Commission decided to renovate the downtown courthouse instead of building a new structure, the Task Force and its experts believe that the courthouse would need to be totally gutted and the structure would have to be hurricane hardened. Moreover, renovation would inevitably require that the entire building be brought up to the current building code. Lastly, the County would incur additional costs to lease space for employees displaced during the renovations. Obviously, these costs would not be incurred with new construction.
 | | 110 TOWER |
The Task Force also evaluated the possibility of acquiring and remodeling an existing office building, such as the 110 Tower. The Task Force and its experts concluded that it would be difficult to achieve courtroom height requirements in a standard office building and it would also be very difficult to achieve adequate separation of the public, inmates, and judges.
 | | BROWARD COUNTY MAIN JAIL |
The Task Force also looked at the feasibility of moving functions off-site and how to maximize the use of our satellite courthouses. The possibility of moving the downtown courthouse to another location in Broward County was also considered. In the end, the Task Force recommended keeping the main courthouse downtown due to the proximity to the Main Jail; the County’s investment in the salvageable East and North Wings of the current downtown courthouse; and the need to continue to provide all judicial services in one location. Moreover, due to land and parking limitations, the West and South satellite courthouses could not be expanded.
In the end, the Task Force recommended that a new scaled-down courthouse should be constructed on the site of the current judicial garage. By building on County-owned land, the overall cost of the project would be lessened. In the past, the County Commission had suggested building a new courthouse at a cost of approximately $510 million; the Task Force’s new scaled down courthouse would cost approximately $328 million. Similarly, previous County Commissions envisioned a new courthouse comprising nearly 900,000 square feet; the Task Force’s new scaled down courthouse would comprise approximately 675,000 square feet. The Task Force also recommended additional parking to meet existing and future courthouse needs.
Lastly, and importantly, the Task Force also recognized that the funding for any new courthouse should avoid an increase in the property tax burden on Broward’s residents.
 I have previously acknowledged the need for a new or renovated courthouse. However, I have made it clear that I will not vote to increase the property tax burden on you in the process. Next month’s article will look at the feasibility of building a new courthouse without increasing your property taxes. As always, the devil is in the details.
Until then, my best to you and your families.
Broward County Commissioner and Vice Mayor Ken Keechl
Click Here to access Broward County Commissioner Ken Keechl’s official web site, call his office at (954) 357-7004 and/or Click Here to send him an email.
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Neighborhood Fight Ramps Up for
Galt Ocean Mile  Reading Center
| | GALT OCEAN MILE READING CENTER |
June 2, 2009 - The Galt Ocean Mile Reading Center serves as a portal to the world for literally thousands of local residents. Broward County’s Herculean budget deficit has placed the tiny storefront branch of the huge Broward County Library System on the chopping block. In a frenetic marathon to offset the Property Appraiser’s projected 15% drop in the County’s tax base, County Commissioners are gouging away at libraries, parks, animal shelters and other “non-critical” services loosely characterized as “quality of life” expenses. County budget director Kayla Olsen projected the shortfall between $135 million and $160 million.
 | NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY
ALVIN SHERMAN LIBRARY |
Along with the Galt Ocean Mile Reading Center in Fort Lauderdale, libraries scheduled for execution are the Beach Branch in Pompano Beach, the Hollywood Beach Library, the Riverland Library in Fort Lauderdale, the Pembroke Pines Library, the Century Plaza Library in Deerfield Beach and the Lauderhill Mall Library. The branch library on Sunrise Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale (not the ArtServe Section) is also on deck for last rites. Operations at the County’s 11 largest libraries that were cut from 70 to 58 hours a week last year will be further reduced to 48 hours a week this year. Special programs organized for all libraries are mere months away from the big sleep. The county plans to incrementally save $5.7 million by breaking its decade-old 40-year contract with Nova Southeastern University to build and operate its Alvin Sherman Library.
Fueled by highly competitive commission districts perpetually pressing for parity, Broward’s Library Division mirrors the county’s big government spending environment. Its 37 libraries occupy 1.5 million square feet of space and cost the county $64 million last year. It’s the nation’s largest library system and number 84 in terms of volumes held.
Budget Bites Broward
| BROWARD COMMISSIONER
KEN KEECHL |
In April, District 4 Commissioner Ken Keechl extolled the Broward Commission for trimming $90 million from the 2008 budget and $87 million from the 2009 budget, shrinking the County’s annual intake by $177 million. He also complained that his colleagues were considering an adjustment to the Millage rate that would produce the same revenue as last year - characterized as the “rolled-back” rate. Given the smaller tax base, the millage would have to be increased to yield the same intake. While he acknowledged that the strategy would cut another $45 million from the Budget and increase the cumulative 3-year recurring tax savings to $222 million, he expressed a preference for matching last year’s millage rate, thereby dropping the County into a $135 million black hole. The cumulative 3-year recurring tax savings would jump to $312 million.
The problem is this. Cuts made over the past two years targeted many questionable projects and irresponsible spending strategies, the absence of which often went predictably unnoticed. Programs that were underutilized, ineffective or otherwise unjustifiable were expunged. Programs created to address issues that were no longer relevant were gratefully terminated. Projects that owed their survival to an inherent automatic annual refunding process withered when finally scrutinized. Simultaneously, the County Administration consolidated overlapping services and streamlined delivery to enhance fiscal efficiency. As such, many of the cuts were absorbed in stride.
 In his Budget newsletter, Keechl summarized how the County underwrote the Budget cuts, stating, “We instituted a hiring freeze, which reduced operating expenses drastically. We reduced capital projects by prioritizing and funding ‘needs’ while postponing or eliminating ‘wants’. We paid off certain debt (to lower yearly interest costs) and we minimally raised certain fees (which hadn’t been reviewed or raised in more than 13 years!)”
 With the pork mostly eviscerated during the previous reductions, cuts are starting to hit bone. When that happens, Commissioners must meticulously negotiate and then carefully explain lost services to their constituents, remitting assurances that the pain is being equitably shared. Since there is no reasonable standard for comparing resources received by a district’s inhabitants versus their contributions, determining whether their losses compare favorably with those of residents in other districts is tantamount to catching smoke.
Galt Mile Reading Room Becomes Target
 Loss of the Galt Ocean Mile Reading Center would represent a gross injustice. In exchange for making huge annual contributions to the County tax coffers, Galt Mile residents receive almost nothing in return. Half the County budget funds the Broward Sheriff’s Office. While we are very grateful for Sheriff Al Lamberti’s vocal opposition to the threat posed by Calypso, virtually no BSO resources protect the Galt Mile neighborhood. Since we pay the City of Fort Lauderdale for providing our Police and Fire Protection, our county tax contributions actually subsidize neighboring jurisdictions that use BSO services. We enjoy no local county parks or recreational resources and even fund our own beach maintenance and security. Other than four or five annual Property Appraiser outreach opportunities at the Beach Community Center, the County spends almost nothing for our slice of the Barrier Island.
 Of course, we are awaiting the long-delayed Broward Beach Renourishment. This significant neighborhood improvement will directly benefit every Galt Mile resident. Notwithstanding, since the beach is one of the County’s primary financial engines, it will also benefit every Broward resident. There is one County enterprise, however, that was organized uniquely to enrich life in our community - the tiny Galt Ocean Mile Reading Center.
| | RESIDENTS ENJOY READING CENTER |
While the beach is the heart of our neighborhood, this mini-library is certainly its soul. Arguably the most popular local resource on Galt Ocean Drive, it has provided battalions of mostly elderly residents with a convenient location to research almost anything, meet with friends or simply log in some quiet time. Most of the locals are on a first name basis with every staffer, including temporaries and substitutes. Five regular staffers help the 2,390 residents that visit the Center each week locate “New York Times” best-sellers, DVDs of foreign films, health-related audio books or search Google for exotic recipes. Often unable to finish enjoying their selected resource by closing time, library clientele check out 1,695 items each week.
| | GALT READING CENTER COMPUTERS |
Whether enrolled in a Senior Self Defense class or Introduction to Computers, Galt Milers that perceive the mini-library as their community center keep the sidewalk planter in front of the Reading Room filled with fresh flora. Visiting authors review their works, local poets recite their creations and culture groups celebrate their unique ethnicities. Despite its modest designation as a “Reading Room”, since the library is networked into the massive Broward library system, it is a doorway to the planet.
 The thousands of previously technophobic local residents who were first introduced to the internet in Reading Room classes keep the six free online computers busy through lockup. Facilitated by the “Galt Ocean Mile Friends of the Library,” a local 12-member chapter of the umbrella “Friends of Broward County Libraries,” integration of the Reading Center into community life was swift and spontaneous. Many of the individual condos and co-ops along the Galt Mile post library events and information on their bulletin boards and newsletters, functionally treating the resource as an association amenity. Almost every Galt Mile family holds one of the 5,338 library cards registered by the Galt Ocean Mile branch. Given the influx of younger families into the neighborhood over the past decade as well as visiting grandchildren, the 126 cards registered to kids unlock a well-rounded children’s section.
 The Reading Center provides a unique example of government serendipitously “getting it right”. The facility’s sterling utilization statistics clearly confirm its status as an unqualified success. Ironically, its overwhelming popularity blossomed despite a series of County bloopers that might have ordinarily undermined any other institution. By 2005, the explosive demand on the Reading Center prompted the County to authorize an expansion. In the years that followed, the popular improvement project was repeatedly victimized by ineptitude and administrative blunders. When Broward County leasing specialists rented space adjacent to the Reading Room to accommodate the expansion, they forgot to check the premises. The floor and one of the two ceilings were loaded with asbestos! If disturbed, the toxic cocktail would precipitate a virtual mesothelioma epidemic among Reading Center fans.
| BROWARD LIBRARY
DIRECTOR BOB CANNON |
From 2006 through last year, Broward Library Director Bob Cannon intermittently promised a patchwork of remedies to the quandary when pressed by the Galt Mile Friends group. Other than occasionally closing the doors for assorted toxicity tests and engineering options, little was accomplished. An angry Commissioner Ken Keechl agreed to help expedite a reasonable resolution to the dilemma. When he announced last year that the Reading Room might fall prey to ambitious County budget cuts, he promised to help insure its survival. Although enraged and discouraged by three years of county double-talk, local Friends President Herman Gardner frantically sought to keep the parties communicating. On October 30, 2008, Cannon wrote to Gardner, outlining the division’s most recent progress, apologizing for the indefensible delays and thanking him for his patience and support.
 | GMCA PRESIDENT
PIO IERACI |
After reading recent media releases confirming that the tiny Reading Room was part of a multi-branch burnt offering to county bean counters, Gardner received hundreds of phone calls from angry residents offering to wage war on virtually anyone threatening to close their library. He contacted District 4 County Commissioner Ken Keechl and Galt Mile Community Association President Pio Ieraci, seeking to verify the reports. The Commissioner admitted that county staff recommended closing library branches, targeting primarily those housed in locations leased by the county. To help assuage Gardner and a rapidly growing constituency that expected Keechl to keep the doors open, the Commissioner explained that the reports were describing preliminary events considered at Budget Workshops. He said that the final verdict wouldn’t be cast until the September Budget Meetings.
Galt Mile Prepares Defense
 | | GALT OCEAN MILE READING CENTER |
Gardner, a Galleon resident, decided that it was time to act. After enlisting the assistance of GMCA President Pio Ieraci to help organize neighborhood support for the Reading Room, he convened a May 2nd Saturday meeting at the Library. Having learned about the meeting by word of mouth, some fifty mostly elderly attendees squeezed into the little meeting room intermittently used for Election Day polling purposes. Expressing sentiments ranging from indignant anger to glum futility, each described how the library anchored their lives.
| BROWARD MAYOR
STACY RITTER |
Southpoint octogenarian Sally Sober (AKA Sara) announced that she communicated with Broward Mayor Stacy Ritter’s office to inform her about the meeting. Convinced that Ritter would soon arrive, Sober rehearsed her defense of the Library. “The truth is it keeps me alive. It is a part of my life that can’t be replaced. It is as important as food and water. ” When it became evident that Ritter wouldn’t show, the feisty Sober admonished, “We have to let Ms. Ritter and Mr. Keechl know that if we lose our Library, they will lose their jobs.” Following a round of applause, several residents that participated in defeating the Calypso Gasworks months earlier offered to help organize opposition using similar strategies. Tasks assigned to various volunteers included distributing petitions to every association, creating fact sheets summarizing the issues and more effectively alerting local residents to the impending threat.
 Scores of residents attended a second organizational meeting two weeks later – too many for the modest meeting room. Dozens of worried elderly patrons testified about the Center’s stabilizing impact on their lives. In addition to detailing their participation in various events, the renderings shared a common theme – the library patrons were able to come and go “under their own steam.” A Royal Ambassador resident clarified, “Each year, my world gets smaller – but I can still get across the street on my own. I don’t need to ask anyone for a lift and I don’t have to cut into my food budget. The Library helps me feel self-sufficient and independent. I can still enjoy life’s gifts without asking for permission or help.” Looking around the room, he added, “We all feel that way.” Instead of the usual nods and expressions of passive assent, the room burst into applause. His statement touched a nerve. As his increasing infirmities narrowed access to long-held interests and activities, his appreciation for the Library’s offerings grew exponentially. The Center’s convenient access empowers elderly and disabled patrons with a degree of control lost to them in other areas of their lives.
Friends President Herman Gardner was invited to attend the May 21st GMCA Advisory Board meeting. After apprising association representatives about the Reading Center’s prospective demise, the board voted unanimously to vest Gardner with the authority to represent the neighborhood with respect to saving the Library. Several Advisory Board members volunteered to take a direct part in any rescue strategy. Although Commissioner Keechl is the community’s voice on the County Commission, Ieraci agreed to help elicit active participation by other local public officials.
| | TERRY CLAIRE |
Engineered by Plaza South resident Terry Claire, within a month, thousands of petition signatures were collected at 26 participating associations. A “resolution of support” template was created and distributed to the member associations for approval by their respective Boards and a letter writing campaign was initiated. The third organizational meeting was held on May 30th.
At that meeting, Bob Evans from Galt Towers lamented that the county didn’t understand the neighborhood’s relationship with the Library. He explained, “There is more here than just books. Thousands of us come here to share cultural experiences and attend classes. This little storefront connects us to the world. Walking across the street opens the door to theater, poetry and literature. Losing this center would be a disaster for hundreds of my friends and neighbors.” Almost one third of the average 2,390 patrons hosted by the center each week attend classes, poetry recitals, book and theatre reviews, and various cultural events co-tailored over years by residents and staff. “Sending us off to the Imperial Point branch to take out a book resolves nothing.”
In the Same Boat
 | | CENTURY PLAZA BRANCH LIBRARY |
Since 7 small branch libraries are threatened with closure, members weighed the pros and cons of coordinating survival campaigns with some or all of them. Some closely mirror our reasons for requesting special dispensation from the County Commission. The Beach Branch in Pompano and the Century Plaza Branch in Deerfield Beach are frequented by large numbers of elderly residents who also view their facilities as lifelines to the world. Like the Galt Mile Reading Center, they provide social opportunity, emotional sustenance and intellectual stimulation – “Quality of Life” necessities often lost to relocated retirees. While the Galt Mile Center and Beach branch in Pompano pull double duty as local polling places, the Century Plaza branch does not.
 | DEERFIELD COMMISSIONER
MARTY POPELSKY - OOPs |
Neighborhoods surrounding some of the 6 other leased libraries are equally adamant about saving their branches as the Galt Mile. A recent newspaper article reported that Deerfield Beach Commissioner Marty Popelsky, seeking to align support for the endangered Century Plaza Branch, said at a City Commission meeting, “Please contact the County Commission; fax your county commissioners. There are 12,000 people per week using it versus 3,000 people at Percy White (Library).” In fact, they are both only frequented by roughly the same number of weekly patrons as the Galt Mile branch – about 2500. However, Popelsky’s misstated exuberance was matched by County Commissioner Kristin Jacobs, who vowed to “fight to the death” to keep the Century Plaza library afloat.
| COUNTY COMMISSIONER
KRISTIN JACOBS |
One group, Friends of the Broward County Library, has taken up the gauntlet for every threatened branch. On May 11th, they sponsored a writing campaign to County Commissioners using pre-printed post cards distributed to all 37 Broward branch libraries. When questioned about the campaign’s efficacy, Broward Friends President Evelyn Grooms reinforced the importance of pressuring the County Commissioners.
 | | BEACH BRANCH IN POMPANO BEACH |
After considering potential alignments, the Galt Mile residents focused on rationales unique to their neighborhood. While these neighboring facilities share similarly impressive utilization statistics, their clientele represents about a third to a half of the surrounding neighborhood. The Galt Mile Branch is regularly used by about 80 percent of the surrounding community. The residents finally agreed to adopt a hybrid approach. Although community activists would limit their struggle to rescuing the Galt Ocean Mile Reading Center, they would encourage Commissioner Keechl to work with Commissioners representing other districts with branches leased by the County. In addition to Kristin Jacobs, Keechl might approach Sue Gunzburger, whose Hollywood Beach Library is at risk, and Josephus Eggelletion, the Commissioner representing the endangered Lauderhill Mall branch.
 | | IMPERIAL POINT BRANCH LIBRARY |
Another understanding arose from the May 30th strategy meeting. The residents agreed that they needed to demonstrate a balance between the County’s prospective savings versus damage done to the community. If the Galt Mile branch is closed, county staffers expect its nearly 6000 cardholding registrants and thousands of cardless patrons (family members and visitors) to find their way to the Imperial Point Library on Federal Highway. Instead of pushing a walker across the street, disabled residents without access to a vehicle will have to plan their daily visits around public transportation and pay their way to and from a facility that is miles away on the mainland. To the library’s disproportionately large complement of fixed income patrons plagued with mobility issues, the Imperial Point branch may as well be on the moon.
A County Dog and Pony Show?
 How will the County benefit from the closing the library? The facility’s stated operating budget is $378,381 ($233,213 in salaries and $145,168 in operational costs). Of the $145,168 in operational costs, $114,000 was earmarked for rent and $31,168 paid utilities, custodial expenses, equipment, books, supplies, etc. However, since the rent included $44,000 for the unused adjacent toxic space wherein the lease recently expired, the net rent is actually $70,000. That reduces the annual operational expenses to $334,381.
 Galt Mile Librarian Marlene Barnes explained that the terms of their union contract (Local 1591 of the Amalgamated Transit Union) will dictate the fate of the unit’s 5 staffers (and their $233,213 in salaries). Barnes said, “Director Cannon told us that some of the 750 library employees may or may not be at risk. Since the contract requires the county to rotate employees to other county positions based on seniority, we should all be transferred to other county jobs if the Center closes.” Since the Reading Center staff will continue to draw their salaries, albeit from other Broward branches or agencies, the net savings drops to $101,168. Since the county’s net cost to service the Center’s 124,280 annual resident visits and 88,140 items checked out each year costs less than 82¢ (82 cents) per visitor, no other county service remotely approaches the inherent cost benefit. If scrutiny supports that the other 6 ill-fated branches yield the negligible prospective savings realized by closing the Galt Mile branch, it would recast the staff recommendation to close the facility as a dog and pony show. Not surprisingly, several residents noted that “By canning one big shot, we can pay for the library for the next two or three years.” The question is... which big shot?
What Can I Do?
 The final decision about whether the libraries become extinct will be made by the Broward County Commission at the September Budget Meetings. Prior to making decisions about budget issues, the County convenes a series of Budget Workshops. They are held at the Broward County Government Center (Room 422) at 115 South Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, 33301. The remaining meetings are scheduled from 1 PM to 5 PM on Thursday, June 4th, Tuesday, June 16th and Tuesday, August 18th. We understand that the Library cutbacks will be considered at the June 16th Budget Workshop. The two Budget Meetings are scheduled for September 10th and September 22nd at 5:01 PM. We understand that the final verdict regarding the Libraries will be considered at the September 22nd Budget Meeting.
 Therefore, residents that oppose closing the Galt Mile Reading Center can do so at the June 16th Budget Workshop and the September 22nd Budget Meeting. For additional Information, please call County Administration at (954) 357-7350. You can also contact District 4 County Commissioner Ken Keechl at (954) 357-7004. To address the Commission at any of these events, call County Administration to learn about any required preliminary procedures. In the interim, Please contact the County Commissioners to ask that they rescue the Galt Ocean Mile Reading Center.
Address correspondences to the individual Commissioner at the Broward County Government Center, 115 S. Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale 33301. Insert their respective room numbers as indicated below. Click on the Commissioner's name to view his/her Broward County web page. Click on their email links to send emails. DO IT TODAY!
District 1 Commissioner Ilene Lieberman: Room # 417, (954) 357-7001, email: ilieberman@broward.org
District 2 Commissioner Kristin Jacobs: Room # 421, (954) 357-7002, email: kjacobs@broward.org
District 3 Commissioner and Mayor Stacy Ritter: Room # 413, (954) 357-7003, email: sritter@broward.org
District 4 Commissioner and Vice Mayor Ken Keechl: Room # 412, (954) 357-7004, email: kkeechl@broward.org
District 5 Commissioner Lois Wexler: Room # 414, (954) 357-7005, email: lwexler@broward.org
District 6 Commissioner Sue Gunzburger: Room # 421, (954) 357-7006, email: sgunzburger@broward.org
District 7 Commissioner John E. Rodstrom Jr.: Room # 416, (954) 357-7007, email: jrodstrom@broward.org
District 8 Commissioner Diana Wasserman-Rubin: Room # 410, (954) 357-7008, email: dwassermanrubin@broward.org
District 9 Commissioner Josephus Eggelletion, Jr.: Room # 413, (954) 357-7009, email: jeggelletion@broward.org
To send one email to all nine County Commissioners, Click Here
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Vice Mayor Ken Keechl’s Corner
May 2009 Newsletter
April 18, 2009 - * In his latest newsletter, Broward Commissioner Ken Keechl confronts an issue often neglected by many of his peers... Ethics. Given the relative ease with which many elected officials break faith with commitments, “Government Ethics” is widely considered little more than a cynical oxymoron hovering between “Commercial Art” and “Military Intelligence”. To Commissioner Keechl, however, Ethics is serious business. It is also meaningful to the 57% of Broward voters who last November supported the creation of a “Broward County Ethics Commission” to formulate a Code of Ethics against which actions of Broward Commissioners can be measured.
 Keechl also reminds us that he characterizes himself as a Moderate Democrat. He further explains something that anyone who has worked with the commissioner already knows - that his conscience, not his political affiliations, anchors his moral compass. Since he uncompromisingly makes decisions based on what is best for the County and its residents, he has been remarkably successful at achieving consensus among a politically diverse constituency comprised of Democrats, Republicans, Independents and others.
 | | 2009 BROWARD BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS |
Currently, Broward County Commissioners are governed primarily by state law which requires that commissioners abstain from voting on issues from which they, their families or their businesses could profit. They also must file annual financial disclosure statements and reject gifts offered in exchange for their votes or to promulgate nepotism. Skeptics point to the conflict inherent in the Broward Commission selecting 9 of the 11 appointees.
 | UM LAW PROFESSOR
ANTHONY V. ALFIERI |
University of Miami Law Professor Anthony V. Alfieri disparaged the Commission’s lack of a continuing enforcement mechanism. Director of the Law School’s Center for Ethics & Public Service, Alfieri noted that no resources were allocated to investigate violations. The Broward Commission has repeatedly suffered humiliating ethics breaches. In 2005, Josephus Eggelletion was fined $2500 for voting to award a trash-hauling contract to a company he had lobbied for in Miramar in 2001. Commissioner Diana Wasserman-Rubin was fined $15,000 last year for voting to approve grant applications for Southwest Ranches that were written by her husband. And the hits just keep on coming!
 | | BOB WOLFE |
Since the Broward Commission’s 9 Democrats are charged with choosing the majority of the Ethics Commission, Commissioner Keechl sought ideological balance by reaching across party lines and appointing Bob Wolfe, the Republican Media & Government Relations Director for the Broward County Property Appraiser’s office. Bob has personally helped thousands of Galt Mile residents contend with exemption dilemmas, valuation disagreements and petitions of every stripe. The well-known and widely respected Wolfe wheels from one venue to another, attending neighborhood advisory board meetings and conducting outreach clinics that help homeowners wade through mounds of exemption and portability paperwork. Keechl closes with a request. He would appreciate our input relevant to the new body, hopefully before he addresses the Ethics Commission on June 10, 2009. - [editor]*
“Ethics Reform Should Be a Non-Partisan Issue”
by Broward County Commissioner Ken Keechl, District 4
| | VICE MAYOR KEN KEECHL |
Everywhere you go, you hear it: another elected official has been accused of unethical behavior. It’s really a shame. As Henry Kissinger once said, “90% of the politicians give the other 10 % a bad reputation.” He may have been exaggerating, but not by much.
Fortunately, the people have had enough. In November 2008, the residents of Broward County voted overwhelmingly to establish a “Broward County Ethics Commission” whose “sole purpose shall be to establish a Code of Ethics for the Broward County Commission.” I supported the establishment of an Ethics Commission then, and I support it now.
 The Broward County Ethics Commission will be made up of 11 members: each of the nine County Commissioners will appoint one member from his or her district, and the remaining two members will be appointed by the Broward League of Cities. The Ethics Commission will propose a Code of Ethics to the entire Broward County Commission by March 2010. If the Commission fails to adopt it within 6 months, the proposed Code of Ethics will be presented to the voters for acceptance or rejection on the November 2010 ballot.
 I am often asked to characterize my political philosophy. I respond by labeling myself as a moderate Democrat—one who is simultaneously environmentally sensitive, business friendly, and fiscally conservative. But, more importantly, I have always said that, as your County Commissioner, I represent everyone in District Four—Democrat, Republican, Independent or otherwise.
 My voting record and my numerous appointments to various County Boards over the last two ½ years demonstrate my philosophy, including my recent appointment to the Broward County Ethics Commission. After much reflection, I selected Robert Wolfe, a well known, active, and widely respected Republican, as my appointee. I did so because I believe that Bob will bring a different (and important) perspective to the Ethics Commission. Bob and I have discussed (and will continue to discuss) how together we can strengthen Broward’s ethical standards.
 In the meantime, I welcome your input. I will speak before the Broward County Ethics Commission in June. If you have any ideas about ethics reform in Broward, I would like to hear them. Feel free to email me at KKeechl@Broward.org.
My best to you and your families.
Broward County Vice Mayor Ken Keechl
Click Here to access Broward County Commissioner Ken Keechl’s official web site, call his office at (954) 357-7004 and/or Click Here to send him an email.
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Commissioner Ken Keechl’s Corner
April 2009 Newsletter
April 2, 2009 - * "Who is this guy?" As a rule, Broward residents occasionally notice whether their elected representatives are faithful to campaign promises. If they percieve a fifty to sixty percent batting average, they are more than satisfied. District 4 Commissioner Ken Keechl has built his Commission career on disappointing political cynics. He is the exception that proves the rule. Keechl refuses to compromise on his promises to constituents.
| | KEECHL ADDRESSES BUDGET ISSUES |
When he spouted the typical campaign drivel about lowering taxes without eviscerating services, safeguarding the County's natural resources and shrinking County government, constituents gave him high marks for playing the right music. With the possible exception of friends and colleagues, few realized that Keechl is fanatically committed to every representation he makes - before, during and after the campaign. He also promised to keep his constituents abreast of County affairs, fiscal issues and impending problems. Like clockwork, Keechl grinds out a monthly Newsletter targeting that commitment.
 With the new County budget on the table, Commissioner Keechl's April Newsletter opens with a review of his contributions to the County Commission's successful budget-cutting efforts in 2007 and 2008. Tracking the dollars saved as if they were frequent flyer miles, Keechl reminds us that $90 million was cut from the 2007 budget and another $87 million was clipped from last year's product. With the two-year running total up to $177 million, he then fast-forwards to the current budget.
Given the economic downturn, Keechl explains that the accompanying drop in property values has prompted some commissioners to limit budget surgery to a millage rate increase that will yield the same amount of taxes collected last year. The millage rate required to match the previous year's collections is known as the "rolled-back" rate. While this would cut the equivalent of a respectable $45 million from the FY 2010 budget, our budget hawk isn't happy. Characterizing the millage rate hike as a tax increase, Keechl is lobbying his Commission peers to retain last year's millage rate.
 | | JIM SCOTT |
He admonishes that if "we keep the County millage rate at last year’s rate of 4.888, the County’s FY 2010 budget would shrink by an additional $135 million dollars." He is quick to point out that this would result in "a combined three year cumulative and recurring budget decrease of $312 million dollars." Straight up, when Keechl promised to squeeze the bloated County budget, did anyone realize that we elected the most effective tax-cutter in District 4 history? Keep in mind that Keechl predecessor Jim Scott had a state-wide reputation for fiscal conservatism. Sorry Jim, its time for you to move over! - [editor]*
“Lowering Broward County Property Taxes
Again in FY 2010”
by Broward County Commissioner & Vice Mayor
Ken Keechl, District 4
| | COMMISSIONER KEN KEECHL |
When I campaigned to be your Broward County Commissioner, I promised that I would never vote to increase your property taxes. I have kept that promise for the last two years. I intend to keep it for the next two years as well.
 For Fiscal Year 2008, I voted to lower property taxes and shrink the County’s budget by approximately $90 million dollars per year. My colleagues agreed by a 9-0 vote.
For Fiscal Year 2009, I voted to lower property taxes and shrink the budget by approximately $87 million dollars per year. My colleagues agreed by a 7-2 vote.
Since these are recurring, yearly savings, the result of these two votes was to shrink the Broward County budget by almost $177 million dollars per year.
 How did we do this? We instituted a hiring freeze, which reduced operating expenses drastically. We reduced capital projects by prioritizing and funding “needs” while postponing or eliminating “wants”. We paid off certain debt (to lower yearly interest costs) and we minimally raised certain fees (which hadn’t been reviewed or raised in more than 13 years!)
 On February 17, 2009, the County Commission had its first Fiscal Year 2010 budget workshop. The good news: the majority of my colleagues agreed to lower property taxes for a third consecutive year. The bad news: we couldn’t agree on how much to cut from the FY 2010 budget.
 Due to the decrease in property values county-wide, some of my colleagues want to raise the property tax (millage) rate applied to all taxable real property in Broward to a certain rate known as the “rolled-back” rate. Technically, this is not considered a “tax increase” because it will bring in the same amount of property taxes as last year. If 5 or more of my colleagues agree, the FY 2010 budget would decrease by approximately $45 million dollars (for a combined three year cumulative and recurring budget decrease of $222 million dollars.) Not bad.
Nevertheless, while I believe the County Commission has made real progress over the last two years, and while I believe that $45 million dollars is a real reduction, I don’t believe it is good enough.
 In order to keep my promise to you and your families, I believe I cannot, in good faith, vote to raise the County’s millage rate on the assessed value of any real property you own in Broward County. To me, an increase in the millage rate equates to a tax increase. If 4 or more of my colleagues agree with me and we keep the County millage rate at last year’s rate of 4.888, the County’s FY 2010 budget would shrink by an additional $135 million dollars (for a combined three year cumulative and recurring budget decrease of $312 million dollars.)
| | 2009 BROWARD BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS |
My colleagues and I will continue to discuss the FY 2010 budget for the next several months. I will, of course, continue to fight to lower your property taxes as much as possible. And based on the first budget workshop, I am confident that the majority of the Broward County Commission will eventually vote to once again lower your property tax burden by decreasing the size of Broward’s budget by at least $45 million, and possibly by as much as $135 million. I will keep you apprized of our discussions.
My best to you and your families.
Broward County Commissioner and Vice Mayor Ken Keechl
Click Here to access Broward County Commissioner Ken Keechl’s official web site, call his office at (954) 357-7004 and/or Click Here to send him an email.
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Vice Mayor Ken Keechl’s Corner
March 2009 Newsletter
March 2, 2009 - * The Broward County Beach Renourishment Project has been underway for almost a decade. Countless studies were performed from 1998 through 2002 to save Broward's 21 miles of critically eroded beaches. When the project encountered political opposition in 2002, hundreds of Galt Mile residents boarded buses to the Hollywood Beach Community Center in support of the Army Corps of Engineers renourishment plan. In April of 2005, the one year renourishment of south county beaches (Segment III) commenced, initiating rehabilitation of the devastated coast from the Broward/Dade County line north to John U. Lloyd State Park. As agreed in the permit approved by the Florida Cabinet on May 13, 2003, the Segment III renourishment would be followed by an 18-month "monitoring period" to review any impacts to the hardbottom environment and use the data to refine permit requirements for the Segment II renourishment. Compiling their observations from March of 2006 to September, 2007, the monitors from Nova Southeast University Oceanographic Center and a coalition of marine engineering firms submitted their evaluation to the County and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP).
 | | STEVE HIGGINS |
Broward Beach Administrator Stephen Higgins determined that the issues uncovered by the monitors were eminently addressable. He estimated that the Fort Lauderdale beaches (Segment II) would begin to see new sand by fall of 2008. Lamenting a dearth of available sand for the project, last year Higgins revised the projected start date to the fall of 2009. When asked to investigate the suspicious delays, Commissioner Ken Keechl met with Higgins and a representative from the County Administrator's office. Commissioner Keechl's March newsletter confirms that the new start date is estimated for 2010. Following the February 19, 2009 Advisory Board meeting wherein the membership expressed dissatisfaction with the reasons given for the delays, a decision was made to extend the investigation to Tallahassee. More to come... - [editor]*
“Broward’s Shrinking Coastline: Monitoring Broward’s Beach Nourishment Project”
by Broward County Commissioner Ken Keechl, District 4
| | VICE MAYOR KEN KEECHL |
As many of you know, my Broward County Commission district includes most of Broward County’s coastline. In fact, it stretches from North Deerfield Beach and goes south to Dania Beach. As your County Commissioner, I remain extremely concerned about our precious coastline’s constant erosion.
 | FORT LAUDERDALE'S RAPIDLY
SHRINKING RIBBON OF BEACH |
Broward County has been working on a continuous “Beach Nourishment Project” for years. Broward County has already completed the first segment of the Project south of Dania Beach.
Segment II, which stretches from the Hillsboro Inlet south to Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades, is next. When Segment II is completed, the rest of our district (from the north County line south to the Hillsboro Inlet) will follow shortly thereafter.
 Unfortunately, Segment II was put on hold by federal and state regulatory agencies until they could conclude a period of monitoring Segments II’s effects on our marine environment. Fortunately, the required monitoring is now completed. As a result, and at my constant urging, Broward County is once again aggressively pursuing the nourishment of our county district’s coastline.
 | BROWARD COUNTY SHORE PROTECTION PROJECT
SEGMENTS II & III BEACH FILL LIMITS |
I will continue to follow this project closely and I have been assured by staff that permit applications for Segment II will be submitted this year, likely summer or early fall. However, even with a smooth and uneventful state and federal permit review process--and with no challenges to the permit--Broward County does not anticipate permit issuance before the fall of 2010. Once permits are received, commencement of actual construction can begin one to three months thereafter.
One additional fact of interest; The original Segment II Project proposed to widen Fort Lauderdale’s beaches approximately from the pier at Commercial Boulevard to a point just south of the Bonnet House. Given the length of time that has passed since design of the original Segment II project in 2001, staff will reevaluate the coastline in this area, and, if warranted, expand the area slated to receive sand.
 Lastly, staff is currently conducting an analysis of potential sand sources that could be used in the nourishment of our district’s coastline. Upon completion of this sand search in spring of this year, engineering work and permitting activities for the project will resume.
Again, it is important for you to know that the Beach Nourishment Project is a high priority of mine. I am actively working with your elected officials in Tallahassee and Washington D.C. to keep the grant funding coming to Broward for this Project.
And, of course, as this Project continues, I will keep you up to date.
My best to you and your families.
Broward County Vice Mayor Ken Keechl
Click Here to access Broward County Commissioner Ken Keechl’s official web site, call his office at (954) 357-7004 and/or Click Here to send him an email.
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SOE Dr. Snipes Warns:
Act before the Book Closes
 | | SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS DR. BRENDA SNIPES |
February 2, 2009 - On January 23rd, Broward Supervisor of Elections Dr. Brenda C. Snipes issued a press release alerting Broward voters to a rapidly approaching critical deadline. The statement opens with “On Tuesday, February 10, 2009, there will be two cities holding Municipal Primary Elections and one city will hold a Special Election. All voters living in Dania Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Wilton Manors, who were registered (within the state of Florida) on or before Tuesday, January 12, 2009, may vote in the scheduled Election on February 10.”
 | | FORT LAUDERDALE MAYORAL CANDIDATES |
She clarifies that while Wilton Manors is preparing for a Special Election to fill the Commission seat vacated by Gary Resnick when elected Wilton Manors Mayor last November, Fort Lauderdale and Dania Beach will hold Primary Elections. The elections most impactive to Galt Mile residents are the contest to determine who will represent District 1 on the City Commission and the Mayoral race. Currently held by incumbent Christine Teel, the District 1 Commission seat is also being sought by former Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Bruce Roberts and Attorney Inger Garcia. A covey of candidates hope to replace departing Mayor Jim Naugle. The heated four-way race includes former Statehouse icon Jack Seiler, former City Commissioner Dean Trantalis, local businessman Earl Rynerson and Attorney Steve Rossi, whose citywide bus bench advertisements were painfully folded into a campaign slogan – “Sit on my Face.”
 | | DISTRICT 1 COMMISSION CANDIDATES |
The special significance that Municipal Primaries hold for nervous aspiring candidates is reminiscent of a reaction often associated with “Groundhog Day”. On February 2nd, if the Groundhog perceives a shadow upon exiting the home burrow, it portends six more weeks of winter. Similarly, if a candidate wins less than 50% (+ 1 vote) of the February 10th Primary vote, it portends four more weeks of campaign anxiety. However, if any of these seven local political aspirants knocks one out of the park by cornering half the votes (plus 1) in the February 10th Primary, they win the seat and send the competition packing. There would be no need to endure an increasingly malicious endgame en route to the March 10th Municipal Elections. Probability Theory presumes that the three-candidate Commission race is statistically more apt to generate a Primary knockout than the four-way split facing the Mayoral hopefuls.
 | | MARCH MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS IN BROWARD COUNTY |
After affirming that 11 Broward cities will hold Municipal Elections on Tuesday, March 10, 2009, Dr. Snipes explained that “The voter registration books will close at midnight Monday, February 9 for these upcoming elections. Anyone turning in an application to register to vote the first time in Florida after Monday, February 9 will not be eligible to vote on March 10 and will not receive a voter information card until after the election.” Of course, Fort Lauderdale is listed among the 11 Broward cities facing Municipal elections on Tuesday, March 10, 2009. SOE (Supervisor of Elections) Snipes also dropped a caveat, stating “Please note that Florida law does not permit the SOE to process party changes after the books are closed.”
 | | GEORGE BERNARD SHAW |
Although application requests will still be accepted after the books are closed on February 9th, they will not be processed until after the March 10th Election, leaving tardy applicants without a voter identification card and ineligible to participate. While first time Florida voting registrants and residents seeking to change their party affiliation must do so before February 9th to participate in the March 10th contests, requests for address changes (within the county), name changes, replacement cards, etc. will continue to be processed even after the books close. Given the gravity of current bone-crushing fiscal pressures, filling the Commission and mayoral seats with the best available prospects assumes heightened importance. The results of this election could determine whether the City survives this uncharted economic environment or slowly unravels, carrying us down with it.
Elections presuppose that people are conversant with their best interests and will use their vote to insure that those interests are served. When enfeebled by voter apathy, they bear out George Bernard Shaw’s contention that “Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve.” If you enjoy a functional survival instinct, please vote - for all our sakes.
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Commissioner Ken Keechl’s Corner
January 2009 Newsletter
| | BROWARD COUNTY JUDICIAL COMPLEX |
January 26, 2009 - * At the December Galt Mile Community Association Advisory Board meeting, Broward County Vice Mayor and District 4 Commissioner Ken Keechl reviewed several county issues that impact local residents. Immediately following a discussion about frustrating beach renourishment delays, our newly named Vice Mayor segued to a description of the County Courthouse. “The 50 year-old structure is falling apart. Pipes are bursting on a regular basis, the elevators continuously break down and the building is rife with mold.” Fresh in his mind was the most recent implosion.
| | CLERK OF COURTS DAMAGED FILES |
On Sunday night, November 30th, a 2-inch break in a water main sent gallons of pressurized water shooting into the Clerk of Courts Howard Forman's office, flooding the first and second floors of the Broward County Judicial Complex in downtown Fort Lauderdale and forcing the cancellation of all proceedings except for emergency bond hearings and filing restraining order petitions. In addition to damaging computers and the phone system, reports and files in the traffic misdemeanor division, administration division and human resources division as well as confidential pleadings were soaked by the flood. Forman said that since none of the files were scanned into the system, unrestorable documents would have to be pieced together from information in other copies or requested from various attorneys. Vice Mayor Keechl told Advisory Board members that the County Commission faces a dilemma. They must decide whether to replace or rehabilitate the deteriorating structure.
 | JUDICIAL COMPLEX
CLOSED AFTER FLOODING |
Last February, the courthouse closed when a sewer pipe backed up on the third floor, costing the county about $1.2 million. The courthouse also was shuttered for about two weeks when Hurricane Wilma tore through in 2005, shattering about 175 windows and bursting water pipes as rain inundated judges’ chambers, court offices and the jury pool room. The newer north wing was covered by an inch of water. Recently, former state Senator Skip Campbell, has written county commissioners threatening to sue for negligence and violations of state building standards on behalf of judicial aides Patti Buchholtz and Sue Rentel, who claim mold-related symptomatic suffering from breathing impairment and frequent colds.
| | WILMA BLOWS OUT COURTHOUSE WINDOWS |
In 2006, voters overwhelmingly rejected a $450 million courthouse bond issue allocating $339 million for a new courthouse and the balance to build 10 more courtrooms and make other improvements - both downtown and in the county’s satellite courthouses. Assistant County Administrator Pete Corwin estimated that a 700,000-square-foot courthouse would cost about $280 million today, with another $25 million needed to add a 1,000-car parking garage. He said, “$60 million has already been already set aside for courthouse construction projects and the garage cost would be offset by increased parking revenues.”
 Commissioner Keechl detailed the problems he has with replacing the courthouse. “Broward voters have already told us that they don't want it - and neither do I.” Keechl explained “In 2006, residents ridiculed the notion of spending money to make criminals and lawyers more comfortable. Make no mistake, that is not the issue. We need a courthouse and this one is falling apart. Although replacing it may make sense financially, doing so while so many people can't make their mortgage payments or feed their families is inappropriate.” Resorting to an analogy, Keechl said that if any of us couldn’t afford to replace a badly leaking roof, we would fix it until our fiscal situation improved. “That is what I think we should do,” said Keechl, “make the necessary repairs and when the economy recovers, build a new one.”
The Vice Mayor’s January Newsletter summarizes the controversy and reviews the County Commission’s current intentions. Amid arguments to place another $350 million Courthouse bond issue on the March ballot (despite the economic environment’s considerable erosion since the failed 2006 attempt), on December 8th, the Commission passed Mayor Stacy Ritter’s Resolution No. 2008, creating the “Courthouse Task Force Advisory Committee” to review the alternatives. Chaired by Commissioner Ilene Lieberman, the committee serves from January 1st through June 30th and will include one or more 17th Judicial Circuit Court judges, representatives of the State Attorney, the Public Defender, the County Clerk, the Office of Court Administration, one or more local attorneys, a resident from the business community and a municipal official.
 While the resolution functionally dispensed with proposals by Commissioners Josephus Eggletion and John Rodstrom to place the bond issue on the March ballot, the controversy will be revisited this summer, when the Committee’s report illuminates the comparative costs of repairing or replacing the Court facilities. Given the current fiscal dynamic, the recommendations will likely envision scaled back versions of the ambitious construction projects previously considered. Since new tax dollars will likely be required to fund virtually any of the alternatives, Commissioner Keechl is polishing up his magnifying glass, stocking extra batteries for his calculator and ordering reserves of fingerprint powder to deter excessive access to the County coffers. - [editor]*
“Broward’s Courthouse Problem:
More Taxes Aren’t the Solution”
by Broward County Commissioner & Vice Mayor
Ken Keechl, District 4
| | COMMISSIONER KEN KEECHL |
Two years ago I decided I wanted to be your County Commissioner. Why? First and foremost, I felt that the residents of Broward County were being overtaxed. Additionally, I felt that the Broward County Commission needed a new focus. More accurately, I felt that the Commission needed to actually have a focus. In my opinion, too many important issues weren’t being adequately addressed.
 I have previously written about a few of these issues: the need to expand the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport; the need to reorganize and downsize Broward County’s governmental bureaucracy; and the need for an amendment to Broward’s land use regulations to promote the protection of our dwindling green spaces.
| | 2009 BROWARD BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS |
In the past two years since Mayor Ritter and I were elected, the Broward County Commission has finally addressed each of these issues. Many additional issues have yet to be addressed, but will be over the next two years. For example, we are finally addressing another pressing issue that has been ignored for far too long: our outdated courthouse in downtown Ft. Lauderdale.
 Each of the nine Broward County Commissioners agrees that our downtown courthouse is antiquated and in a serious state of disrepair. We have a mold problem. We have bursting water pipes. We have elevators that constantly break down. We have a parking problem. We all agree that action is necessary. However, we don’t all agree on the same course of action.
| | BROWARD COUNTY JUDICIAL COMPLEX |
A few of my colleagues believe we should build a new downtown courthouse and ask the voters to pay for it by allowing the County to increase their tax bill. I strongly disagree. I believe we should renovate the existing downtown courthouse, and pay for it with existing funds. In fact, I successfully argued against placing a courthouse bond issue on your March 2009 ballot. I was absolutely convinced that asking Broward’s residents to increase their tax bills was a mistake. And to add insult to injury, it would have cost us $3,500,000.00 in property tax dollars to put it on the ballot.
 Fortunately, sane minds prevailed and the bond issue will not appear on your ballot anytime soon.
| COMMITTEE CHAIR
ILENE LIEBERMAN |
Instead, we all agreed to support Mayor Ritter’s proposal to form a Courthouse Task Force. This Task Force will be given wide latitude to investigate and consider every possibility to remedy our downtown courthouse problem. This Task Force will be headed by Broward County Commissioner Ilene Lieberman and will be comprised of those stakeholders who are involved in the judicial system, along with representatives from within Broward’s business community. The Task Force must present its finding and recommendations to the Broward County Commission within 6 months.
I have said it before and I will say it again: I will never vote to increase your taxes. In these trying economic times, we must learn to do more with less. My philosophy has prevailed on the Broward County Commission for the last two years. And I will keep advocating my philosophy for the remaining two years of my first term.
My best to you and your families,
Broward County Commissioner and Vice Mayor Ken Keechl
Click Here to access Broward County Commissioner Ken Keechl’s official web site, call his office at (954) 357-7004 and/or Click Here to send him an email.
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