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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1342 - MINUTES - City Commission MINUTES DANIA BEACH CITY COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING MAY 30, 2002 1. Call to order Mayor Chunn called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. 2. Roll Call: Present: Mayor: Robert H. Chunn, Jr. Vice-Mayor: Pat Flury Commissioners: John Bertino Bob Mikes City Attorney: Tom Ansbro City Manager: Ivan Pato City Clerk: Charlene Johnson Absent: Commissioner: C.K. McElyea (Excused) A motion was made by Commissioner Bertino, seconded by Vice-Mayor Flury, to excuse Commissioner McElyea from this meeting. The motion passed on the following 4/0 roll call vote: Commissioner Bertino-yes Vice-Mayor Flury-yes Commissioner Mikes-yes Mayor Chunn-yes 3. Public Input on the Street Closure Program. Mayor Chunn requested that the public conduct and present their comments regarding the street closure project in a respectful manner and felt that BSO had handled the project in a professional manner. City Manager Pato explained that almost two years ago the City had been approached by residents of the Dania Heights Community to look into the possibility of using street closures as one element of a crime prevention and neighborhood improvement program. City Manager Pato advised that it has taken this long to obtain the data necessary to move forward with the program and that tonight Chief Cowart, BSO, will present the findings of the program. Chief Bryan Cowart, BSO, presented the final report on the Street Closure Projects in the Southwest section of the City. The target area was defined as West of SW 2nd Avenue, East of SW 4t" Avenue, North of Sheridan Street and MINUTES 1 MAY 30, 2002 SPECIAL MEETING South of Dixie Highway. The purpose of the project was to determine the impact • that restricted vehicular access would have on crime in the targeted area. Chief Cowart explained that in order to accurately assess the impact of the street closures, statistics were obtained from a period of April 12 2001 through October 12, 2001. The statistics were compared with crime statistics during the street closures, which ran from October 13, 2001 through April 12, 2002. In addition, the City of Dania Beach contracted with an engineering firm to assess the impact of the street closures on vehicular traffic within the southwest section. The City installed temporary street barricades, which remain at this time as indicated in the attached drawings. Chief Cowart presented the statistical information provided on different types of crime (see backup materials) and clarified that permanent structures with landscaping would replace the temporary barricades should the City Commission approve the Street Closure Program tonight. Commissioner Bertino requested an explanation of traffic calming devices. Chief Cowart explained that they are identified as "Traffic Humps or Bumps", which are raised areas of the roadways (15 feet in width) that cause drivers to slow-down. Commissioner Mikes asked if any other changes occurred such as street lights. Chief Cowart advised that during the assessment period Code Enforcement focused more attention on the "absentee landlords" properties that were not properly maintained. Mayor Chunn encouraged the public once again to remain calm and present comments in a professional manner and requested that comments be limited to 3 minutes due to the large number in attendance. Mayor Chunn opened the public hearing. Persons in favor of the Street Closures: Dennis Rader, John Cruise, Thomas Anglio, Lisa Young, Joe Van Eron and Jack Zimmerman presented a letter in support for the record, Clinton Hill, Patrick Phipps, Teddy Bohannan, Jessie Tushay, Freddie Santana, Robert Covington, Jacqueline Panetto, Amy McGrody. Persons against the Street Closure Program: Vito Mancino, Annette Hibbits spoke against and presented a letter from the owner of the Asker Inn stating opposition, Sara Blanchard, , Albert Jones, John Bruckner, Pamaela Richards, George Green. Ken Land, Fire Chief, explained that the response times in the areas have not changed and that the EMS vehicles are able to turn around and leave the area on rescue calls. Rick Rovant and Magene Johnson, children, expressed concern with the danger to children from speeding cars in the areas. • MINUTES 2 MAY 30, 2002 SPECIAL MEETING Al Jones inquired as to whether $100,000 is the only money that has been set • aside for street closures. City Manager Pato advised that $100,000 had been budgeted and that is all, at this time, that is anticipated to be used for the street closure program. City Manager Pato advised that BSO's contract is estimated at $6 million. Mayor Chunn closed the public hearing. Commissioner Bertino advised that the City Commission must take action to protect the health and safety of residents. He advised that BSO has done a very good job with the project and that they recommend approval based on the reduction in crime, which can only be good for the residents in the area. Vice-Mayor Flury mentioned that many community meetings had been conducted on the street closure project and that most of the residents seemed to be in support of closing the streets on a permanent basis. Vice-Mayor Flury stressed the importance of the City Commission respecting the recommendation from BSO based on the statistics that were presented. In addition, Vice-Mayor Flury advised of her own experience with Hollywood street closures in the area near Memorial Hospital, which turned out to improve property values, reduce noise, protect children from speeding traffic, and provide positive improvements to the area. . Commissioner Mikes mentioned that he has listened to people on both sides of the issue and was of the opinion that the southwest section of the City had deteriorated due to excessive amounts of rental properties and subsidized housing units and lack of action taken against drug dealers. In addition, he felt that street calming devices should also be installed and that the City Commission has raised the percentage of single family home ownership instead of duplexes, which will improve neighborhoods. Mayor Chunn advised that some of the residents in the target area are requesting that one of the streets be left open as a compromise. A motion was made by Commissioner Bertino, seconded by Commissioner Mikes, approving the permanent Street Closure Program, directing City Manager Pato to survey the use of speed calming devices for Second Avenue and Phippen/Waiters Road to slow the traffic, and to monitor the permanent structures after six months to find tune the program. The motion passed on the following 3/1 roll call vote: Commissioner Bertino-yes Vice-Mayor Flury-yes Commissioner Mikes-yes Mayor Chunn-no • MINUTES 3 MAY 30, 2002 SPECIAL MEETING Mayor Chunn clarified that he voted no because he thought that a compromise • could have been reached to leave one of the streets open as requested by some of the residents living in the neighborhood. 4. Adjournment. This meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m. f d_ �d R be H. Chunn, Jr., Mayor A�tt t: arlene Soh s n City Clerk Approved: June 11, 2002 • • MINUTES 4 MAY 30, 2002 SPECIAL MEETING