The July 25th City of Plantation City Council Meeting had one of the largest agendas seen in a while. Summary of the high points:

Administrative Items

• Board and Committee Appointments/Reappointments – Members listed their appointments/reappointments with Councilmember Mark Hyatt deferring to the next City Council scheduled meeting. Councilmember Ron Jacobs just going along with everyone else on the council and recommending the same appointments from last year. These Board and Committee Appointments/Reappointments have gotten to the point that you are only considered on your resume and nothing else. Agree that it is important to have qualified individuals sitting on these Board and Committees but with no resident input the development within this city will continue unabated.
• Update on the rewrite of the City’s Zoning Code. – Danny Holmes, Director of the Department of Planning Zoning and Economic Development, the new comer to the City of Plantation is really earning his salary! Reviewing for the City Council the status of the rewrite of the City of Plantation Code Ordinances.

Legislative Items

• First Reading of an Ordinance to the City’s Reasonable Accommodation Ordinance. – As reviewed in my post about the Planning and Zoning Board Meeting July 17, 2018. Although some changes were referred to as changed, those details were not detailed. It amazes me of the treatment of the residents attending these City Council Meetings. Lynn Stoner made a point to point out Michelle Fein whom was present but apparently had no intention of speaking but Lynn Stoner made the point of asking her personally in the meeting if she had any comments. Passed.
  
• Second and Final Public Hearing of an Ordinance pertaining to the subject of Comprehensive Planning for property located at 311 & 339 N State Road 7 and zoned SPI-2 (Healthcare Services). – It has been made totally apparent that the residents have no say in this project!  Passed 3-1 with Councilmember Peter S. Tingom as the lone opposition.
• A resolution adopting the proposed operating maximum millage rate of 6.0000 mills and  voted debt service millage rate of 0.4622 to be levied by the city of plantation during the next ensuing tax year; establishing a time and a place for a public hearing to consider such  proposed millage and the tentative budget; and otherwise directing the transmittal of certain information to the Broward County Property Appraiser by August 4, 2018. – Councilmember Mark Hyatt  was very vocal on the issue recommending staying at the same millage rate from last year believe 5.75. Councilmember Peter S. Tingom brought up a compromise of 5.8 but Mayor Diane Veltri Bendekovic wanted to debate the items to remove from the budget to get to 5.75. Councilmember Mark Hyatt would have nothing to it. Did not hear what they finally agreed to. Dennis Conklin had to practically beg to speak for Public Comments that the City Council seemed to just want to skip. Another example of the horrendous disrespect of a resident concerned about the issues of the City of Plantation!
• A resolution adopting the proposed maximum millage of 1.9758 mills, which the Plantation Gateway Development District can assess during the next ensuing tax year; establishing a time and a place for a public hearing to consider such proposed millage and the tentative budget; and otherwise directing the transmittal of certain information to the Broward County Property Appraiser by August 4, 2018; providing a savings clause; and providing an effective date therefor. – Passed
• A resolution adopting the proposed maximum millage of 1.0000 mills, which the Plantation Midtown Development District can assess during the next ensuing tax year; establishing a time and a place for a public hearing to consider such proposed millage and the tentative budget; and otherwise directing the transmittal of certain information to the Broward County Property Appraiser by August 4, 2018 providing a savings clause; and providing an effective date therefor. – Councilmember Mark Hyatt proposed the rate to lowered to the same rate as last year and it was passed. (He didn’t object to the Plantation Gateway Development District rate.)

Just before the close of the meeting City Attorney Lundy stopped Council President Lynn Stoner from closing the meeting and brought an issue NOT on the agenda because there apparently was an issue with Christopher Longsworth’s INVESCA Development Group Strata at Plantation not meeting a condition of their Occupancy Permit.

With the Strata at Plantation representative C. William “Bill” Laystrom NOT EVEN in the room, the City Council stopped from closing the meeting to wait for someone to go get C. William “Bill” Laystrom from outside. He said a couple of words and the council brought it up to a vote and PASSED his request!!!

Wow if this is not evidence that this City Council works for developers and not the residents, I really don’t know what does.