2005 Archives: "The Iceman"

Archive photo (looking back at 2005): As soon as the wind subsided from Hurricane Wilma, we shifted to emergency recovery mode. Every Town employee served in the effort--sometimes in ways totally unrelated to their normal jobs. One important task in the first days was distribution of water, food and ice. I helped with the distribution effort here at Pine Island Park.

Photo: Mayor Truex loading ice. [*click* photo to enlarge]

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2005 Archives: Celebrity Photo

Just in case there is any doubt, the "celebrity" I'm referring to is the fellow in the cowboy hat--my friend, Norman Edwards! I've known Norman for close to twenty years. He was in my Sunday School class many years ago. He and his wife, Phyllis, owned and operated Triple Cross Ranch on Flamingo Road, in Davie. Now they live in Micanopy, Florida where they operate another ranch. Norman is also the pastor for a cowboy church, and the very talented rodeo announcer for the Five Star Rodeo, in Davie.

Best wishes for the new Year, Norman and Phyllis!

Photo: Norman Edwards (wearing hat), pictured with Mayor Tom Truex [*click* photo to enlarge]

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Florida Transportation Trends and Conditions

Every day, I receive a stack of documents, correspondence, periodicals, reports, and the like to review. Much of it is important, informative and interesting.

Here are a couple of items which caught my eye recently in the Pocket Guide to Florida Transportation Trends and Conditions, from the Florida Department of Transportation.

1. Florida's Age Distribution, 2004 & 2025. According to this chart, currently age distribution is fairly level, with more people concentrated at the 40-50 year age level. Population, by age then gradually declines after age 45. In 2025 the age concentration is projected to rise at the 60-70 year age level, and then decreasing at a more rapid rate. The bottom line--an older Florida population in 2025 than in 2004.
   
2. Florida Monthly Bikes on Bus Boardings. Of the bus systems listed, Broward County has the most bus boardings by people with bicycles.
   

[*click* graph to enlarge]

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Mayor Tom Truex, chatting with Shane Strum

This month provided plenty of opportunities to meet up with old friends. I had a chance to chat with a politically active friend and local businessman, Shane Strum, at a recent event.

Photo: Shane Strum and Tom Truex [*click* photo to enlarge]

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Podcast Number 6.1 is online: Why the "Pd.Pol.Ad." Disclaimer on these Podcasts??

Podcast Number 6.1: Mayor Tom Truex discusses his reason for putting "Pd. Pol. Ad." on his podcasts (actually, the same answer applies as to why this blOg has the disclaimer too); and the importance of following the spirit of the law as well as the letter of the law.

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Podcast Number 6 is online: Diversity, “Policy 4” and the holiday season

Podcast Number 6: Diversity, “Policy 4” and the holiday season. Mayor Truex' wishes for a happy "holiday(s)," and a few words about not being too easily annoyed.

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Merry Christmas - Seasons Greetings!

Season's Greetings and Merry Christmas from the Truex Family in Davie. We were joined by family and a few friends in our annual Christmas Caroling. "I have one of those voices which sounds better in a crowd," says Mayor Tom Truex. "In fact, the larger the crowd the better!"

Photo: Friends and Neighbors join the Truex family for Christmas Caroling. [*click* photo to enlarge]

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Christ the Rock Community Church throws a big Christmas Party for Palma Nova

Christ the Rock Community Church threw a huge Christmas party for the residents of Palma Nova Mobile Home Park this past weekend. They provided a basketball tournament, and cookout for everyone. The US Marines "Toys for Tots" program provided toys for the children. THANK YOU to Christ the Rock Community Church and the US Marines!

Photo: Basketball Tournament at Christmas party at Palma Nova, organized by Christ the Rock Community Church. [*click* photo to enlarge]


Photo: Mayor Tom Truex, chatting with Pastor Andy Fernandez of Firewall Ministries at the recent Christmas party at Palma Nova. Firewall Ministries helped coordinate the Christmas party at Palma Nova with Christ the Rock Community Church. [*click* photo to enlarge]

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Mayor Truex announces Podcasts

Today I'm announcing the rollout of a series of weekly "90 Second Podcasts." I've joined only a handful of elected officials nationwide who have entered the podcasting technology. One big difference–-I personally write and code my own web site. I aim for a hometown, folk flavor.

Podcasting is a term used to describe a cutting edge technology for automatically distributing audio programs over the Internet. It is different from earlier online delivery of audio files because it automatically transfers media files to the user's computer for later use, rather than requiring the user to periodically check for new audio files. Podcasting gets it name from the popular iPod (tm) device, although podcasts can be listened to, without an iPod(tm), on the user's computer, using readily available free software. Links for the free downloads are available on the FAQ page.

Several of the of my podcasts are already online, relating generally to my views on Davie's policy implementation of such things as land use and business development. I also preview some highlights of tonight's Town Council Meeting.

Some of the scheduled upcoming podcast topics, as listed on the Mayor's "90 Second Podcasts" website are:

Diversity, "Policy 4" and the holiday season

Looking forward to 2006 in the Town of Davie

Davie's role in protecting our environment

Equal opportunity

Residential density

Religion and government (sometimes referred to as "church and state")
Instructions and links for accessing Mayor Tom Truex' "Weekly (More or Less) 90 Second Podcasts" are available by clicking on the links on this page.

Posted by: davietv@davie.tv on Dec 21, 05 | 5:41 am | Profile

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Town Council Meeting this Wednesday

The Davie Town Council Meets at Davie Town Hall for our regular meeting on Wednesday, December 21, 2005. The Agenda is online.

Note the following items, in which there may be general public interest*:

1. A resolution recognizing real life heroes, Scott Prouty, Lee Swasey and Adriel Forbes for their lifesaving efforts. (Agenda Item 4.1)
   
2. A resolution settling the Carmax litigation. (Agenda Item 4.2)
   
3. Several resolutions approving bids.
   
4. Several resolutions accepting quit claim deeds.
   
5. Site Plan: Pine Island Estates, 5150 South Pine Island Road. Proposed 28 homes on 9.34 acres; zoned R-3. (Agenda Item 4.24)
   
6. Fee Schedule Amendment: to permit the engineering division to recover the costs of some of its operation from the users of their services. (Agenda Item 6.5)

*Items on the agenda may be tabled. Links to agenda items are PDF files and require a PDF Reader

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Town Employees thanked at annual holiday party.

We attended the annual holiday party for Town employees this past weekend. I thanked them for their service to the Town in a year which was especially difficult at times. With Hurricane Wilma behind us--though certainly its effects will linger for much longer--we are ready to start 2006.

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Workshop on economic development report

Last night, at a Town Council Workshop, Town Staff presented a report on economic development facts and trends.

The extensive report provides information on issues such as the amount of taxable value for different land uses in different parts of Town; and the amount of some services provided to various parts of Town (e.g. police, fire-rescue, parks, etc.). The report is a good first step.

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Calvary Chapel Sawgrass presents a Christmas Party at Palma Nova

Yesterday, Calvary Chapel Sawgrass , located on Flamingo Road in Davie, put on a Christmas party for some families in need at the Palma Nova Mobile Home Park on Davie Road. Volunteers and staff from the church, joined the Senior Pastor, Gary Maruo, and his family, in providing the program. We sang and listened to a short message from Pastor Gary--followed by the church giving Christmas gifts to the family members. Pastor, Andy Fernandez, and Firewall Ministries assisted.

Calvary Chapel Sawgrass is a local church whose leaders and members are never afraid to roll up their sleeves and get personally involved in helping people locally and worldwide. THANK YOU, Calvary Chapel Sawgrass!

[*click* on graphic to link to Calvary Chapel Sawgrass website.]

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NAACP weighs in again on the search for a Davie Town Administrator

I had a pleasant conversation today with Marsha Ellison. She is the President of the Ft. Lauderdale Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Last year, I had been in contact with the NAACP in an effort to solicit their assistance in attracting a diverse pool of qualified applicants for the position of Town Administrator. Ultimately, the rest of the Town Council rejected the suggestions of the NAACP and did not do a search to fill the position of Town Administrator. Some of the correspondence relating to those discussions were previously posted on this blOg.

Mrs. Ellison, on behalf of the NAACP, sent me a letter dated December 9, 2005 (my response follows on the PDF file). Essentially, they again urge the Town to make every effort to attract a diverse pool of applicants--including women and minorities--as we decide how to move forward with decisions about the Town Administrator's position.

I agree with the premise that any search for a public employee needs to be an open and fair process. And that we need to call on all available resources to attract a diverse group of qualified applicants. The NAACP should be one of the resources we use.


[*click* logo to link to NAACP National Website ]

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Davie and Seminole Police Departments working to abate noise

I met with a couple of neighborhood residents, representatives of the Davie Police Department, and representatives of the Seminole Police Department tonight. We discussed noise issues relating to the Seminole Hard Rock Cafe.

The Seminole Tribe seems genuinely interested in efforts to reduce noise from the casino (and related activities) to a reasonable level.

The respective police departments have developed a procedure to identify noise problems (*click* to view PDF file), so that we can try to eliminate problems.

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Broward Symphonic Band performs in Davie

We attended the 2005 Winter Concert of the Broward Symphonic Band on Sunday. They played at Bailey Hall, in Davie.

Photo: Broward Symphonic Band, 2005 Winter Concert [*click* photo for a short video clip (WMV format)]

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Davie Area Land Trust holds Annual Meeting

I attended the annual meeting of the Davie Area Land Trust this week. Congratulations to Linda Greck and the rest of the officers for their re-election to serve in the same positions again next year.

Board of Directors- Executive Committee, 2006
Chair- Linda Greck
First Vice-Chair- Julie Aitken
Second Vice-Chair- Nick Maniatis
Secretary- Joyce Steward
Treasurer- Fred Segal

"The Davie Area Land Trust is a community based, not-for-profit membership organization working to preserve open space, agricultural land, wildlife habitat, scenic preserves, and properties that reflect Davie and the surrounding areas' agricultural and rural past."

[*click* logo to link to the web site for the Davie Area Land Trust ]

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18th Annual Toys in the Sun Run

We attended the 18th Annual Toys in the Sun Run at Markham Park, this past Sunday after Church.

In the past 17 years, the Toy Run has given millions of dollars in toys to needy children and money to the Hospital, but has also donated over $100,000 to COPS Kids (Concerns of Police Survivors). Last year, Shott Memorial received $12,000, North Broward Hospital District received $1500, Old Age Broward County received $7500, Broward County Parks and Recreation received $10,000. In addition, Children’s Health Foundation received $2500, Boys & Girls Clubs received $135,000 and so on. That’s over $160,000 in additional Toy Run donations. Not only does this yearly Toy Run help thousands of children, but adults as well. Part of their donation also benefit Cystic Fibrosis, Juvenile Diabetes, Cancer, Pre-Natal and much more.

Photo: Mayor Truex, and daughter looking a motorcycle at the 2005 Motorcycle Toy Run at Markham Park. [*click* photo to enlarge--Or see the short video (WMV format)]

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The bid process in Davie has been a problem for years

At the risk of sounding redundant, Davie's recent problems with financial accountability are unfortunate, but were not altogether unforeseeable. A recent trip to the the archives turned up Issue 22 of the Davie Review, written in the summer of 2001. Before being elected to the Davie Town Council, I wrote a series of newsletters dealing with Town issues--the Davie Review.

This issue, written a few months after I was elected to the Davie Town Council, described at length the lack of rules or controls in the bid process. For example, I wrote then:

"The So-Called 'Piggyback' Bid Process: Any common outlaw will tell you that rules are made to be broken. Welcome to the Wild West, a.k.a. the Town of Davie. Where rules are sometimes avoided altogether, so as to not break them too conspicuously. And where common sense definitions sometimes take a holiday when interpreting the Town Code of Ordinances. The Town’s bidding process is a case in point. If you thought big contracts and purchases had to determined by competitive bid--you’d be wrong. Just because Davie has an ordinance which requires competitive bidding doesn’t mean its so..."

Sound familiar???

In all fairness, we did tighten up the "piggyback" bid process somewhat, and--due in part, at least, to my constant criticism of the practice--the piggyback bid has been used less recklessly recently. Nonetheless, a general breakdown (or lack) of procedures and safeguards now seem obvious.

Graphic: first panel from Underground Comix in the Davie Review, August, 2001 [*click* graphic to enlarge]

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Holiday decoration contest

Dozens of schools and civic groups participated in this year's holiday decoration contest. The theme this year is "A Wild West Winter Wonderland". The winners received awards at our Annual Lighting of the Greens ceremony. As with many of the special events presented by the Town of Davie, sponsorships by individuals and businesses in Town helped pay for the program.

Photo: Tom and Janet Truex, standing in front of the Christmas tree they sponsored at Davie Town Hall. [*click* photo to enlarge]

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Annual "Lighting of the Greens"

Once again, the Town of Davie's Lighting of the Greens program came together wonderfully. This year we actually put up a record number of lights, in the Town's display-- although the trees on which to fasten them were in somewhat short supply.

The Town also provided twenty tons of snow (OK, really it was shaved ice!), free refreshments, bounce houses, a holiday magic show and a petting farm.

And that right jolly old elf, Santa himself, stopped by.

Photo: Mayor Truex speaking before the winners are announced at the holiday decorations contest [*click* photo to enlarge]

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Town Council Meeting on December 7, 2005

The Davie Town Council Meets at Davie Town Hall for our regular meeting on Wednesday, December 7, 2005. The Agenda is online.

Note the following items, in which there may be general public interest*:

1. Presentation - Special Counsel Susan Delegal, relating to Chris Kovanes' employment with the Town of Davie.
   
2. Three items relating to the Pirtle Office Building, at 5700 Griffin Road (Agenda Items 5.18, 5.19, 5.20 and 5.27
   
3. New Mitigation Guidelines for reducing fines for code violations (Agenda Item 5.21.)
   
4. Site plan for the proposed Medical Center, 3100 North University Drive (Agenda Item 5.25.)
   
5. Site plan for the proposed Quality Homes Estates, at 5151 SW 76 Avenue (Agenda Item 5.26.)
   
6. Site plan for the proposed Steak N’ Shake, Lakeside - Town Shoppes, at 5480 SW 70 Avenue (Agenda Item 5.28.)
   
7. Site plan for the proposed Steak N’ Shake, Lakeside - Town Shoppes, at 5480 SW 70 Avenue (Agenda Item 5.28.)
   
8. Site plan for the proposed DiBenedetto Multi-Tenant Building, 5490 Griffin Road (Agenda Item 7.5.)
   
9. Best Practices Analysis of the Town's Purchasing Policies and Procedures (Agenda Item 10.2.) I have requested that we take action to insure that our procedures be reviewed--top to bottom--in light of recent allegations of theft by a Town official.
   
10. I-595 East West Transit (Agenda Item10.3.) (See also, the blOg entry on 11-30-2005)
    
    
    

*Items on the agenda may be tabled. Links to agenda items are PDF files and require a PDF Reader

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Some mobile homes did better than others in Hurricane Wilma

Hurricane Wilma did terrible damage to some of Davie's mobile home parks. In some respects, the damage seemed random. Some mobile homes were unharmed, while the mobile home next door was devastated. And the damage was noted in almost every mobile home park, no matter how well maintained, or who lived there.

The information I'm reading now is pointing out some important factors which actually predicted which mobile homes would fair well in a hurricane. According to the Florida Manufactured Housing Association (FMHA), "All homes installed to the new 1999 tie-down regulations stood firm on their foundations. A vast majority of the pre-1994 homes that sustained damage were as a results of more vulnerable post-factory attachments... [In 2004 Hurricanes, a]ll homes installed to the new 1999 tie-down regulations stood firm on their foundations. A vast majority of the pre-1994 homes that sustained damage were as a results of more vulnerable post-factory attachments." (see source)

And, their preliminary information released on 2005 hurricanes (from government sources) shows that mobile homes built to the new 1994 codes suffered NO structural damage. Obviously, I don't just take a trade association's word for something without getting all the data--but what they are saying about new mobile homes is very significant:

• 115 parks surveyed
  
• 1,946 homes were destroyed (walls/roofs gone)
  
• There were 3,189 post-1994 homes in the 22,958 homes reviewed — the post-1994 homes received no structural damage. One (1) home set to current 15C was moved 1 to1 1/2 inches by storm surge; but did not move off of supports — easily fixable. Only “foundation damage” they found regarding homes set under old building codes.

If what the FMHA is saying checks out, it confirms my informal observations all over Davie. That is, the mobile homes built to the new code seem to be perfectly safe. Probably just as safe or safer than any other housing type.

Frankly, I was suspicious when I heard post Hurricane rumblings about the need to eliminate mobile home parks in favor of high rise "affordable housing." Actually, mobile homes are about the only afordable housing available in many parts of this county. A good many people would rather live in mobile homes than in high density condominiums. At this point, I think we need to get all the facts before we jump on the bandwagon to eliminate mobile homes.

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