west park news 4.2011

BY MAYOR ERIC H. JONES JR.

Let me begin by sayingwhat a privilege it hasbeen to work with thisCommission to servethe citizens of WestPark. Our willingnessto help guide and sup-port the administration

is unparalleled as we worked together tomove the city forward. Together we con-tinue to help prepare our city for an excit-ing future, even during a very challengingtime in this nation’s economy. I want torecap briefly just a few accomplishmentsthat our city has achieved before I turn tothe opportunities that lie ahead.

Working together, we have dealt withvery difficult budget issues head on. Wemade almost $953,000.00 dollars in budg-et adjustments during the past year. About$880,000.00 of those adjustments wereeffectively budget cuts. Beyond that,because of the outstanding stewardship oftaxpayer dollars by our City Administrator,we added over $406,000.00 back into ourreserves during 2010. Keep in mind, allthis occurred during a year that manybelieve to be one of the worst economical-ly in our nation’s recent history. Newbusiness license numbers also seem to beholding up very well in West Park.Although we are not ready to jump up anddown and have a party, it is nice to seethose numbers heading in the right direc-tion.

I have also been very encouraged bythe increasing number of positive com-ments our city is receiving, not only fromour own residents, but from outside ourcity. Not a week goes by that someonedoes not mention to me how the attitudes inthe city are continuing to improve. Pleasedo not misunderstand. I am not trying totake any personal credit for this positivechange. I am just glad it is happening. Byway of example, this would probably be agood time to stop and thank everyone whoparticipated in the Mary KendrickThanksgiving Feed the Needy Feast andthe Holiday Toy Giveaway events lastNovember and December. Many individ-uals and businesses worked together togive back to the community and bothevents were outstanding successes. I hopeother businesses, churches, and groups willcome together and make these annualevents important highlights of our city.

As we face the future, it is always easyfor government officials to promise newprograms to make the city better, but itwould be neither honest nor responsibleuntil our economy improves. In 2011 wewill honor our commitment to excellencewithin the confines of the budget, and con-tinue to provide outstanding service to ourcitizens. I believe excellence is never anaccident. It is always the result of a gen-uine commitment to public service, intelli-gent planning, and focused effort. It is alsoa result of the engaged residents of ourvibrant community, where everyone has avision of a better life, and everyone has

something to contribute.Let me encourage all our residents to

consider participating on some of the advi-sory committees that serve our city. If youare interested, contact the city hall office soyou can be considered when an openingoccurs. The city’s website will also con-tain the necessary information.

In working toward the future, I willmeet with area legislators in Tallahasseeon matters of concern for our city andregion. I will be giving them updates onvarious infrastructure projects as well assharing some concerns relating to variouscutbacks that will adversely affect our cityand others.

I am committed to working with ourCommission and City Administrator tocreate an inclusive and collaborativeprocess that will give us a sustainable com-munity with an economic developmentplan that will move West Park forward. Ibelieve our quality of life must includeeconomic, environmental, and social sus-tainability. We experienced some growingpains. From the beginning, we discussedbuilding a foundation to ensure WestPark’s future as one of Broward’s progres-sive cities, with a thriving 441 corridor,diverse jobs, entertainment and culturalopportunities; an area where people canafford to own a home and live in safe, con-nected neighborhoods with parks and gath-ering places. I assure you that our efforts tobuild this foundation are succeeding, andour opportunities to improve what we havebegun are endless.

West Park has much to celebrate!Hard work, relentless focus, and commit-ment of dedicated residents have paid off.Approximately six years ago I was inaugu-rated as the first mayor of our fine city. Atthat time, I remember looking at the areaand thinking about the many challengesand opportunities ahead. It has been mygoal as your elected official to ensure thatall West Park residents have an opportuni-ty to live in a better community thanbefore. Some people were asked: “Willthis area ever again be the same?” Theanswer then and now, of course, is No.West Park has gotten, and is getting better!We are getting better because we are tack-ling problems and using challenges asopportunities to come up with fresh ideasand solutions.

In short, the outlook for the city isexcellent! We have come a long way in sixyears. I have attended and contributed tomore meetings than I can mention, alongwith the help of city staff, including ourCity Administrator, City Attorney and con-tract workers; we are doing things that willfurther improve and advance our city. Wehave been able to keep taxes in line bymaintaining a line on spending. We arelooking at the good work done in othercities to learn what may best work for WestPark. Together we have made big andsmall decisions, but all have been signifi-

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COMMUNITYNEWSPAPERS.COM April 2011

The City of West Park’sParks and Recreation staff extends a heartfelt

THANK YOU!To All Our Residents

for participating in our recent holiday events and celebrations here in the City.We invite you to join us for upcoming activities this year!

BETTER, from page 1 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

cant to our city’s progress. In the coming months we will be:

• Completing construction of our newCity Hall• Establishing a Chamber of Commerce • Establishing a Mayor’s AdvisoryCommittee • Preparing for another Relay For LifeEvent

Over the last few months, all resi-dents of West Park have been able toparticipate in curbside recycling. Ourtrash collection service is at a rate wellbelow the previous rate for the sameservices. At this point, I want to com-mend our residents for helping us makea smooth transition to our new trash col-lection service.

The signs of progress are around us.Our new City Administrator joined to uslast year and hit the ground running andhas given the City some very good direc-tion. He has a “cool head” and has donean outstanding job in continuing the pacethat we are on. He has hired good peo-ple to share the vision of the City’sfuture, and has brought a fresh face toold issues. While we celebrate six yearsof achievement, we cannot rest on whatwe have already done. We must remainvigilant to ensure we are not overtakenby the national recession.

I am aware that our residents arefighting every day to make ends meet.They are struggling to find good jobs tosupport their families and fuel theirdreams. But they are unwilling to giveup… no matter how rough it gets. Wemust continue to match their determina-tion to ensure everyone benefits from thebrighter future that we are pursuing. It iswith those residents in mind, inspired bytheir strength and resolve, that Isay…the State of our city is strong evenin a time of struggle! We are building onan incredible six years of accomplish-ment, rising to the challenges born out ofrecession and working to ensure a bettertomorrow for generations to come.

We are proud of what we have doneto stem the tide of recession. But weknow government alone cannot solve theproblem. Unemployment remains highin the nation and in the city. It is going totake a coordinated effort from our publicand private partners to spark the kind ofrecession-busting job creation our resi-dents need. With the help of our CityAdministrator we have worked to diver-sify our economy and create newapproaches to streamlining our budget

for the sake of our residents, without cut-ting services. This need was mandatedby our national recession and we willcontinue to seek means by which we canmake the lives of our residents manage-able in these tough economic times.

When we saw the storm coming wedid not wait to see what would happen.We began trimming the fat. I am proudto say that we are surviving these diffi-cult times through the wise choices wehave made. As we continue our journeyto make our city better, this is my pledgeto our residents: We will not be run overby the challenges of a recession. We willcontinue to act and be ready to adapt sothat we remain a place where residentscan realize their dreams for their familiesand their futures. We will strive everyday to fulfill our shared vision for WestPark to take its place as one ofAmerica’s Progressive Cities!

I want to again thank ourCommission. Whether we have alwaysagreed on every issue or not, I believeeach of us has worked hard to make deci-sions that we believe are best for ourcity. We can legitimately question eachother’s stance on issues without callinginto question our motives. I think wehave succeeded in working together verywell this past year and I fully expect thisto continue. I believe such respect andcooperation encourages our residentsand is one of the main reasons we hearabout improved attitudes throughout ourcity.

I have got to thank our city staff thatso wonderfully represents West Park.

Finally, I want to thank God forblessing my life and blessing this city.Anything good in my life is completelyundeserved. When and why God blessesus has nothing to do with us. It haseverything to do with His purpose. All Iknow to do is be thankful and recognizethat God wants to use you and me tobless others. I want to encourage you tocount the many blessings of God in yourlife. It does not matter what you aregoing through, you have reason to bethankful and so does our city. I will closewith the words of Solomon found inProverbs 11:11, “A city is lifted up bythe blessing of the upright. It is torndown by the tongue of the wicked.” Letus encourage one another as we makethe most of God’s blessings for the sakeof West Park’s future.

Thank You. God Bless America andGod Bless the City of West Park.

April 2011 COMMUNITYNEWSPAPERS.COM

We all talk a lotabout the AmericanDream, a concept thatmeans differentthings to differentpeople. For some ofus, the AmericanDream means own-ing your own busi-

ness, owning your own home, having yourdream job or having a family to share allthese things with.

To me, the American dream meansleaving the City of West Park a better placefor our children and our children’s childrenso they can have an even better life thanwe’ve had.

Here in West Park, the path to theAmerican dream begins with a vision. Aswe move to the next frontier in the life ofour city, we need to develop a vision plan-ning process that focuses on five areas:improve, assist, strengthen, grow and sup-port.1. Improve what we have. As aCommission, we have put forth a vision forsolving problems of the past and are work-ing toward building a foundation for eco-nomic growth.2. Assist in making this the best city inBroward County. Working together withcity staff, we have made accountability ourpriority. We will continue to work to estab-lish and communicate a positive and con-temporary image for our beloved city.3. Strengthen our long term financial stabil-ity. I am proud to report that in these timesof economic uncertainty in our nation, WestPark is economically strong and focused onour future with an unwavering goal of

building Broward’s next great city.4. Grow an innovative economy by creatinga support system that will cultivate greatand new ideas. I believe these timesdemand invention, innovation, imaginationand decision. Pooling these four thingstogether your Commission and staff willcontinue to be progressive in responding tothe increased demands of these harsh eco-nomic times by working to bring more eco-nomic development to the city.5. Support everyday residents of West Park.Simply stated – you talked, we listened! Inthe past couple of years we’ve focused onshort term and long term solutions to giveyou, our constituents, confidence that yourpriorities are being addressed in a timelymanner.

I urge each of you to get involved inthe planning of our future. Continue to letyour voice be heard! Attend commissionmeetings! Attend homeowners’ associationmeetings! Attend and support city-wideevents!

As we move to a new frontier in thelife of our city, I am asking each of you tojoin me. Let’s come together to support thevision of our city by being pioneers on thisnew frontier. The new frontier of which Ispeak is not a set of five promises but ratherit is a set of five challenges. Together wecan turn these challenges into triumphs.Together as pioneers in this new frontier,our American dream will become our reali-ty. That American dream means we are theheart of a vibrant and emerging area per-fectly positioned to become BrowardCounty’s next great city.

Will you join me? Have a blessed day!

MMEESSSSAAGGEE FFRROOMM VVIICCEE MMAAYYOORR BBRRUUNNSSOONN

PUBLISHER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Grant MillerEXECUTIVE EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Michael MillerWRITERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ron Beasley, Robert Hamilton, Gary Alan Ruse, Lee Stephen, Al Sunshine, Richard YagerADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Albie Barnes, Roberta Bergman, Beatriz Brandfon, Celia Canabate, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Diane Chasin, Enrique Chau, Sharon Christian, Lori Cohen, Amy Donner, Cecile Fanfani, Dianne Maddox, Denzil Miles,

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FROM THE DESK OFCOMMISSIONER DORSETT

The City of West Parkis making great stridesto enhance the quality oflife for all its residents. Ihave been workingsteadily on your behalfto suggest and supportchanges that increase

the level of all City services. From theenforcement of our City codes to redevel-opment efforts, to exciting communityevents, I have worked alongside the Mayor,Commission members, and staff to bringabout positive change within our greatcommunity.

Always putting residents first, I haveattended numerous workshops and semi-nars in order to bring back the very bestideas for implementation in our city. It is noaccident that residents are now enjoying anew West Park operated McTyre Park.Also, residents will soon be served from abrand new City Hall facility within ourcity’s boundaries.

Since my tenure as CityCommissioner, trash collection, codeenforcement, community development andpublic safety services have all improved.I am proud to represent the City of WestPark as Chairperson of the State Road 7/US441 Collaborative Steering Committee. Inthis role, I have worked diligently with theState of Florida alongside representativesfrom other municipalities to improve trans-portation initiatives along the 441 corridor.The Steering Committee’s purpose is togive advice on what’s best for our city. We

are currently addressing parking issuesalong 441, from 25th Street going north toPembroke Road with the goal of improvingtraffic and aesthetics.

Additionally, I am pleased to representthe City of West Park on the GrowthManagement/Transportation Committeefor the Broward County League of Citiesand the Florida League of Cities. In thatvein, I wish to thank my colleagues on theCity Commission for appointing me as theCity’s representative to the BrowardLeague of Cities Board of Directors.

For 2011, my main goal is to see theestablishment and progress of our new CityHall in the business section of West Park. Ibelieve this excellent location will encour-age and invite more prospective businessowners to our City. Several have alreadyexpressed interest in bringing business toWest Park. The location and visibility ofour new City Hall will be very beneficial allaround.

Another goal is to encourage moreyouth activism in our parks and recreationprograms. I would like to see our two parksbecome the central focal point of youthleagues (baseball, softball and football). Ibelieve that by focusing on youth develop-ment first, parks and recreation programswill be significantly improved.

To the residents of West Park, inexchange for your confidence in me, I con-tinue to commit that each and every day Iwill work to give you my very best.

Thank you once again for the opportu-nity to serve you.

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BY DAN MILLIEN,Public Works Superintendent

The City of West Park recently com-pleted some major improvements toMcTyre Park to improve our level of serv-ice for our residents. These improvementswere funded from the 35th YearCommunity Development Block Grant.

First on the agenda was to enhance ouryouth sports programs by adding a multi-purpose scoreboard that will serve as a vitalinstrument in giving our youth confidenceand pride in their accomplishments as theyplay sports at the park.

We also added some security featuresduring the project, including the installationof hurricane shutters and a shade cover forthe playground area. The shade cover is to

serve as protection from the sun and rain forour youth, as we know it can get pretty hothere in South Florida.

Another goal of the grant project was toimprove the aesthetic features of McTyrePark to foster residents’ pride in the recre-ational programs offered by the City.Beautiful landscaping was also installedaround the monument sign at the corner ofS.W. 56th Avenue and 34th Street.

Finally, the restrooms at the concessionarea were also renovated.

Many thanks to the residents, staffmembers, City Commission, and friends ofWest Park, whose hard work and effortsmade these improvements possible. Asalways, for the Public Works and Parks andRecreation staff, maintaining a safe andclean environment at our parks remainsPriority Number One.

New improvements to McTyre Park


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Commissioner Mack JoinsBroward County Planning Council

Since West Park’s inception,Commissioner Mack has supported vari-ous initiatives aimed at making our Citymore attractive for long-term businessdevelopment and growth. CommissionerMack’s dedication and commitment to“smart growth” plans for West Park wasrecently recognized when the BrowardCounty Commission appointed her toserve on the prestigious Broward CountyPlanning Council.

The purpose of the Planning Councilis to promote long range planningthroughout Broward County. The work ofthe Council consists of working in con-

junction with other local governments,public officials and private citizens to for-mulate land use recommendations for theBroward County Commission. Commis-sioner Mack stated: “I look forward tolearning about plan amendments that willbenefit all of Broward County and being avoice for techniques that will help moveWest Park even further ahead.”

Commissioner Mack will serve afour-year term and is the first commis-sioner to ever be appointed from the Cityof West Park. She said she was proud that“West Park will finally have a seat at thetable.”

Members of the Broward County Planning Council:Front Row (L to R): Mary Graham, Sara Case, School Board Member Patricia Good, Sharon Ragoonan, andCommissioner Rita Mack (West Park).

Middle Row (seated L to R): Mayor Michael Udine (City of Parkland), Louis Reinstein, Vice MayorClaudette Bruck (City of Coral Springs), Mayor Lamar Fisher (City of Pompano Beach), and Dan Hobby.

Back Row (standing L to R): Kenneth Fink, Commissioner Barbara Sharief, Tim Bascombe,Commissioner Keith London, Commissioner Chip LaMarca, Commissioner Michael Long, CommissionerBobby DuBose, Vice Mayor Anne Castro (City of Dania Beach), and Scott Cooper.

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BY RODNEY BARRETOChairman, Florida Fish and Wildlife

Conservation Commission

Thus far in 2011, the starsare aligned for bass anglersand fishing in general.Tournaments showcaserecord and near-recordcatches, and we’re hearingfrom around the state aboutbig bass and impressive

catch numbers.On Lake Kissimmee, Tom Rewis and

Doug Chance produced a five-bass stringertotaling more than 40 pounds to win the TonyStrickland Memorial Tournament. On LakeTohopekaliga, Gerald Swindle’s 80-pound,13-ounce accumulation of 15 bass over threedays came close to setting a B.A.S.S. record.Okeechobee produced a four-day total of106-pounds, 10-ounces for FLW Tournamentwinner Brandon McMillan – a new tourrecord. Zack Mack, from Tennessee, caught a14-pound-2-ounce Florida largemouth basson Lake Kissimmee in early February.

Meanwhile, Sean Rush of Trophy BassExpeditions said, “Rodman Lake may be thehottest trophy bass lake anywhere right now.”He recently documented bass over 12pounds, with two clients catching and releas-

ing 50 fish in a single day. Even though evidence points to a stellar year,

the Florida Fish and Wildlife ConservationCommission (FWC) encourages bass-fishingaficionados to consider catch-and-release for thelong-term good of the stock.

The FWC’s “Big Catch” angler recognitionprogram enables anglers of all ages to submitan application for a full-color certificate and awindow decal to memorialize their fishingtrips. The program allows people to submitinformation about memorable catches of anyof 33 species of freshwater fish for recogni-tion, based on qualifying lengths or weights(see <MyFWC.com/Fishing>).

As part of the public input the FWCreceived in developing a new Long-TermBlack Bass Management Plan, one agreed-upon goal was making Florida the undisputedbass fishing capital of the world. That title isheavily influenced by communicating newsabout outstanding fishing opportunities.

One component of the plan is a “TrophyCatch” program that recognizes anglers whocatch really large bass and provides incentivesfor them to report and release their catch.

The plan isn’t just about trophy fish. Allaspects of fisheries management are beingreconsidered and fine tuned to create the bestpossible outcome for anglers visiting or livingin Florida. Key considerations include habitat

improvement, real estate values, improvedaccess to increase local business opportunities,and streamlining rules. Not lost in the plan isthe essence of creating safe and sustainableopportunities and the desire to ensure thatfuture generations value our natural resourcesand perpetuating the fishing tradition.

The FWC is teaming with Visit Florida topromote our state as the “Fishing Capital ofthe World.” We are also looking at new andexciting ways to integrate social marketingand modern technology to help families findproductive places to fish and overcomingbarriers that prevent them from reconnectingwith nature.

Another great opportunity for Floridafishing communities is to tout themselves inthe World Fishing Network’s “UltimateFishing Town USA” competition(<ww.WFNFishingTown.com>. Folks cannominate their town and people acrossAmerica will vote for the winner. The win-ning town receives a $25,000 grant for afisheries improvement project and a half-hour television show dedicated entirely tofishing in its community.

The World Fishing Network made Floridaits own region because we have such numerousand diverse resources. Since each of the sevenregions will have their top two vote-getters inthe runoff, Florida will have two finalists.Nominate your town now and publicize thevalue of your unique fishery resources.

As Chairman of the Florida Fish andWildlife Conservation Commission and anavid outdoors person who grew up around theEverglades, I understand that the quality offishing reflects the quality of living. Florida’ssaltwater and freshwater fisheries are world-class, thanks to great resources and responsi-ble management. We should be proud of allthe jobs the fishing industry creates and weshould marvel at how fishing can move youfrom sighs of relaxation as you unwind, toshouts of elation as you catch another Floridatrophy, to smiles of satisfaction as yourelease it to perpetuate the experience.To find out more about Florida’s Wildlife LegacyInitiative and Florida’s State Wildlife Grant pro-gram, go to <ww.MyFWC.com/WILDLIFE-HABITATS/Legacy_index.htm>.

FFWWCC RREEPPOORRTT

2011 destined to be Florida fishing extravaganzaApril 2011 COMMUNITYNEWSPAPERS.COM


I like the 2011 Subaru Forester. It’s acompact SUV competing in the same classwith the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 andothers. It’s stable and rugged in off-roadtraveling and it has an excellent all-wheel-drive system that eases the going in tougherdriving situations.

The Forester’s all-wheel-drive system isstandard and it really does give the vehicleexcellent traction and handling in badweather, and it’s well equipped with safetyfeatures. Forester was named a Top SafetyPick by the Insurance Institute for HighwaySafety after getting a five-star rating in allgovernment crash tests and a four-star rat-ing for rollover resistance.

Forester was introduced as an all-newmodel in 2009 after being redesigned togive it a wider track, a longer wheelbase, adouble wishbone rear suspension, morecargo space and more rear-seat legroom.

It’s classified as a “crossover” vehicle, onewith a car-based chassis that has beendesigned to deliver good handling and goodfuel economy. The Forester is slightlylonger than Honda’s CR-V and a littleshorter than Toyota’s RAV4.

The Forester XT has a distinctive func-tional hood scoop, five-spoke 17-inch alloywheels, a chrome-tipped dual exhaust and aspoiler that juts over the rear window.

On the inside, the cabin is nicelydesigned and the seats are comfortable,while driver visibility is excellent from allangles. The center stack has faux aluminumtrim and holds the climate and audio con-trols. The center console is deep and slidesforward four inches to provide an armrest.

The rear seats are split 60/40 and foldflat to yield a huge 68.3-cubic-foot cargoarea (33.5 cubic feet with the rear seatup). The rear seat also reclines and there’sa retractable center tray with fixed cupholders.

For 2011, there’s a long list of improve-ments, including an all-new engine for thebase 2.5X models (the 2.5XT keeps thesame turbocharged 224 hp twin camengine). The new engine has a slightlylonger stroke and a slightly larger displace-ment, and a chain-driven double overhead

cam (it was a belt-driven single overheadcam before). The horsepower is the same at170, but torque is higher at 174 pounds-feetat 4,100 rpm and fuel economy is improvedto 21/27 mpg for either manual or automat-ic transmission.

Forester 2.5XT models now include2.5XT Premium and 2.5XT Touring, withthe the Touring model replacing the 2.5XT

Limited as the top Forester model. Pricingranges from $21,220 for the base model to$29,020 for the 2.5X Touring.

Ron Beasley is the automotive editor forMiami’s Community Newspapers. He maybe contacted by calling 305-662-2277, ext.261, or by addressing email correspon-dence to <[email protected]>.

Subaru Forester is a rugged, stable compact SUV

LET’S TALK CARS

Ron Beasley

Subaru Forester XT has functional hood scoop, five-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels, a rear spoiler and a chrome-tippeddual exhaust.

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On October 1, 2010, a portion of theCity of West Park was designated by thestate as part of the Broward CountyEnterprise Zone. The designation allowedus to join the City of Hollywood, City ofLauderdale Lakes, City of Dania Beach,City of Lauderhill, City of PompanoBeach, City of Fort Lauderdale andBroward County as part of the County’sEnterprise Zone. An Enterprise Zone is aspecific geographic area targeted for eco-nomic revitalization.

The City offers Enterprise Zoneincentives to encourage private invest-ments that lead to employment for arearesidents, rehabilitation of real property orpurchase of business equipment to be usedwithin the zone’s boundaries. Theseincentives include:EZ Job Tax Credit: This incentiveallows businesses to receive a tax creditfor 20% of wages paid to new employees.If the employee resides within an enter-prise zone, the business would be allowedto take 30% credit. To be eligible, a busi-ness must have created at least one newjob within the past 12 months.EZ Property Tax Credit: This incentivewill allow a credit on Florida CorporateIncome Tax equal to 96% of ad valoremtaxes paid on the new or improved proper-ty for new or expanding businesses locat-ed within the EZ. The property noticemust be filed with the PropertyAppraiser’s Office on or before April 1stof the year in which a new propertyacquired to establish a new business orfacilitate a business expansion or restora-tion is subject to assessment.Building Material Sales Tax Refund:This incentive will reduce the cost ofrehabilitating a property. The buildingmaterials sales tax refund claim must besubmitted within 6 months after the reha-bilitation of the property is deemed to besubstantially completed by the local build-ing code inspector or by November 1 afterthe rehabilitated property is first subject toassessment.Building Equipment Sales Tax Refund:

This incentive reduces the cost of pur-chasing new and used equipment (busi-ness property). To be eligible for a salestax refund, the equipment (business prop-erty) must have a sales price of at least$5,000 per unit.

The City of West Park is offeringworkshops for businesses within the

Enterprise Zone. Detailed informationconcerning the Enterprise Zone, as well asthe applicable tax credits are presented tothe business community. Also, technicalassistance is provided to potential appli-cants seeking tax credits through partici-pation in the program. The workshops areheld at MMary Saunders Park, 4720 SW

21st Street, West Park, Florida. Theupcoming workshop dates are:March 24th 2011 (11:00am - 3:00pm)April 7th 2011 (11:00am - 3:00pm)

For additional information about theprogram, please contact the ProgramCoordinator, Carol Aubrun at954.989.2688.

City of West Park’s Enterprise Zone

CITY OF WEST PARK ENTERPRISE ZONE AREA


4TH MONDAY BULK SCHEDULE DATESJanuary

1/24/2011

April4/25/2011

July7/25/2011

October10/24/2011

February2/28/2011

May5/23/2011

August8/22/2011

November11/28/2011

March3/28/2011

June6/27/2011

September9/26/2011

December12/26/2011

3RD MONDAY BULK SCHEDULE DATESJanuary

1/17/2011

April4/18/2011

July7/18/2011

October10/17/2011

February2/21/2011

May5/23/2011

August8/15/2011

November11/21/2011

March3/21/2011

June6/20/2011

September9/19/2011

December12/19/2011

2ND MONDAY BULK SCHEDULE DATESJanuary

1/10/2011

April4/11/2011

July7/11/2011

October10/10/2011

February2/14/2011

May5/09/2011

August8/08/2011

November11/14/2011

March3/14/2011

June6/13/2011

September9/12/2011

December12/12/2011

West Park has a new contract with aprivate waste hauling company. Waste Proof Florida, Inc. will haul all householdgarbage, recyclables and bulk items for cityresidences. Waste Pro’s services are avail-able for all residential and commercialproperties.

Waste Pro Customer Service can bereached at:PPhhoonnee:: (954) 967-4200; FFaaxx:: (954) 241-4489Or LLoogg oonn ttoo TTrraaccEEZZ at www.tracezon-line.com

TracEZ is a web based communicationsystem that allows residents to contactWaste Pro via an online real time program.Your questions and issue are directed toWaste Pro employees responsible for han-dling customer resolution promptly withimmediate feedback on action taken.

HHoouusseehhoolldd ggaarrbbaaggee ccoolllleeccttiioonnPlace containers at the curbside by 7

a.m. on regular collection days.Garbage must be placed in the grey 96-

gallon residential cart.NNOO auto parts, boat parts, or empty

gasoline cans should be included.

RReeccyycclliinnggPlace containers at the curbside by 7

a.m. on regular collection days

Recyclable material must be placed in theblue 96-gallon recycling cart.BBuullkk PPiicckk UUpp

Bulk items are to be set curbside by 7a.m. on regular collection days

There is a limit of 6 cubic yards of bulkwaste. NNOO auto parts, boat parts, or empty gasolinecans should be included.

NEW Residential TrashPick-Up and Recycling

Public Works Department

See us online at:www.cityofwestpark.org

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Walkers will go around the clock in thebattle against cancer when the AmericanCancer Society’s West Park Relay For Lifegets underway this year. Teams of residentswill gather at McTyre Park, 3501 SW 56thAve on Friday, April 29 for the event. Openingceremonies will begin at 6:00 pm, and thewalk will continue throughout the night until11:00 am on Saturday, April 30, 2011.

Relay For Life activities are heldovernight as individuals and teams campout at McTyre Park, with the goal of keep-ing at least one team member on the track orpathway at all times throughout theevening. Teams do most of their fundrais-ing prior to the event, but some teams alsohold creative fundraisers at their camp sitesduring the walk. Relay For Life bringstogether friends, families, businesses, hos-pitals, schools, faith-based groups – peoplefrom all walks of life – who share the goalof furthering the American CancerSociety’s efforts to help people stay well,find a cure, and save lives.

“Relay is a unique opportunity for ourcommunity to come together to celebratepeople who have battled cancer, remember

those we’ve lost, and fight back against thedisease,” said Vice Mayor Brunson, RelayFor Life Chairperson. “Many of the partic-ipants are cancer survivors, which serves asa reminder that no one is immune to this

disease. By participating in Relay, we aresupporting the American Cancer Society’sefforts to create a world with less cancerand more birthdays.”

Funds raised at the West Park RelayFor Life help the American Cancer Societyimpact the lives of those touched by cancerwithin our very own community. TheAmerican Cancer Society invests more than$120 million in cancer research each year,and more than $15 million goes toresearchers in Florida. Florida leads thenation in reaching newly diagnosedpatients, and the State’s advocacy programhas ensured smoke-free workplaces,restored funding for youth tobacco preven-tion programs and increased the State’stobacco tax by $1 per pack.

Relay For Life’s Luminaria Ceremonytakes place after sundown, honoring thecommunity’s cancer survivors and remem-bering those lost to the disease. Participantswill circle a track that is surrounded with

glowing luminaria that bear the names ofindividuals who have battled cancer.Luminaria may be purchased for a donationby calling (954) 200-7534 or by visitingwww.relayforlife.org/westparkfl. Also apart of the West Park Relay For Life eventis the “Fight Back” Ceremony, in which acommunity leader will inspire Relay partic-ipants with his or her own commitment andchallenge them to take a personal pledge ofaction (e.g., stop smoking, eat healthier,exercise regularly, etc.) to fight back.

The American Cancer Society com-bines an unyielding passion with nearly acentury of experience to save lives and endsuffering from cancer. As a global grass-roots force of more than three million vol-unteers, the American Cancer Societyfights for every birthday threatened byevery cancer in every community. Lives aresaved by teaching people how to stay welland prevent cancer through early detection;by helping people get well through supportsystems and networks during and after acancer diagnosis; by finding cures throughinvestment in groundbreaking discovery;by fighting back through asking lawmakersto pass laws to defeat cancer; and by rally-ing communities worldwide to join thefight. As the nation’s largest non-govern-mental investor in cancer research, con-tributing about $3.4 billion, the AmericanCancer Society puts knowledge into action.As a result, more than 11 million people inAmerica who have had cancer and count-less more who have avoided it will be cele-brating birthdays this year!

To learn more about the Relay ForLife, and how you can get involved, pleasecontact your American Cancer SocietyStaff Partner, Ronenia Jenkins at theAmerican Cancer Society at (954) 200-7534, email [email protected] visit the Relay For Life website atwww.relayforlife.org/westparkfl.

West Park Families and Friends Fight Cancer withFaith and Hope through Relay For Life

West Park cancer survivors start off Relay for Life.

McNicol Middle School is proud toannounce that it is a growing STEM(Science, Technology, Engineering andMathematics) school.

Students enrolled in the magnet pro-gram at McNicol Middle School are steadi-ly progressing towards becoming highschool ready, college bound scholars. As aSTEM Grant recipient, McNicol MiddleSchool is infusing simulation labs and anew science and technology curriculum,which will enhance the focus of regularclasses and expand the Science & Pre-Engineering program at the school.

Currently students are building andpreparing to race their very own “mouse-trap cars”. Cars have been designed, built,and put in to motion by students. It will beexciting to see what these cars can do!

McNicol Middle Schools invites you to

become active participants in our children’slearning through volunteering or businesspartnerships at our school.

For more information on how you canbecome involved please contact McNicolMiddle School at 754-323-3400.

McNicol Middle School LaunchesSTEM Program

SPOTLIGHT ON SCHOOLS




Street Co-Named in West Park - Public Works Department

MLK Jr. Blvd. Street Sign–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Barack Obama Blvd. Street Sign–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

The City adopted Resolution 2009-15, co-naming SW 56 Ave. as Dr. Martin Luther KingJr. Blvd.

The City adopted Resolution 2009-16, co-naming SW 40 Ave. as Barack Obama Blvd.

W E S T P A R K • THE CITY OF POSITIVE PROGRESSIONMAILING ADDRESS: PO Box 5710, West Park, FL 33083

ADMIN OFFICE ADDRESS: 3150 SW 52nd Ave Ste 100, Pembroke Park, FL 33023 • P: 954-989-2688 • F: 954-989-2684


BBYY SSHHEERRIIFFFF AALL LLAAMMBBEERRTTII,, Broward Sheriff’s Office

There is no doubt that the improvementof technology in today’s society has greatlybenefited law enforcement and our societyas a whole. However, improvements intechnology have led to a new threat on ourroadways – distracted driving.

Dialing numbers on cell phones or typ-ing text messages requires attention thatshould be paid to the task of driving.

There are three main types of distrac-tion: visual (taking your eyes off the road),manual (taking your hands off the wheel)and cognitive (taking your mind off whatyou are doing). While all distractions canendanger drivers’ and fellow motorists’safety, texting while driving is the mostalarming because it involves all three typesof distraction. Shockingly, statistics showthat texting while driving is just as danger-ous as operating a motor vehicle after fouralcoholic beverages. According to theNational Highway Traffic SafetyAdministration (NHTSA), it is estimatedthat nearly 6,000 people were killed on ournation’s roadways last year and more than440,000 were injured as a result of distract-ed driving.

These statistics are staggering and inresponse the Broward Sheriff’s Office,State Representatives, the Florida SheriffsAssociation and local business leaders areworking together to support an initiativebefore the Florida Legislature to institute alaw that prohibits the operation of a motorvehicle while using a wireless communica-

tions device. The law, also known as the“Florida Ban on Texting while DrivingLaw”, will improve roadway safety formotor vehicle operators, passengers, bicy-clists, pedestrians and all other roadwayusers. It will also provide law enforcementwith the tools necessary to enforce and curbthis disturbing roadway hazard. To date, 36states have enacted legislation banning theuse of wireless communication deviceswhile driving – I am hopeful that the greatState of Florida will be the 37th!

The Broward Sheriff’s Office has alsolaunched a large-scale public safety cam-paign to remind motorists of the dangers oftexting while driving. Through our 30-sec-ond public safety message featured on localcable channels, our STOP texting magnetsdistributed throughout the community, andour prevention messages posted on bussesrolling across Broward County, we are get-ting the word out that this dangerous trendmust come to an end.

It is clear that the dangers of textingwhile driving are serious. A life is moreprecious than taking a call or responding toa text message. It is imperative that we putthe safety of others above our own need toaccess technology.

The men and women of the BrowardSheriff’s Office are committed to keepingyou and your family safe. If you find your-self reaching for your cell phone while driv-ing, take a second to think about the dan-gers you are putting yourself and others inbefore you pick up the phone. Ask yourself,is it really worth it?

Stay safe!

Distracted Driving is Dangerous

Barbara Buxton, J.D., LL.M.Florida Attorney

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As we are now well into 2011, thePlanning and Zoning Department bringsyou a recap of zoning code changes from2010 that may affect you.

Outdoor Events.. The first change was tothe Outdoor Events ordinance. It wasbrought to the City’s attention that theexisting zoning code addressed outdoorevents, such as carnivals, but did not pro-vide separate regulations for less intenseevents such as a bake sale or yard sale.When city staff discovered this issue, anordinance was adopted by the CityCommission. This ordinance stated thatapplicants only needed to register with theCity and pay a $10.00 administration fee.The ordinance also permits events, such asbake sales or yard sales to be held fourtimes per year rather than the previousrestriction of only two times per year.

Landscape. The next zoning code changewas to the Landscape ordinance. A resi-dent addressed the City Commission aboutthe number of shrubs and trees required bythe City. Planning and Zoning staff pre-pared an analysis of neighboring cities,which resulted in code changes that wereadopted by the City Commission. Thesechanges included a reduction in the num-ber of trees and shrubs required for a sin-gle family home.

R-5 Zoning District. The next changewas to the R-5 (Motel) Zoning District.The Planning and Zoning departmentidentified that 25 out of the 44 parcels inthe Motel District (R-5) Zoning

Designation have a width of just 25 feet;however, the City Code required a mini-mum width of 100 feet. As a result, manyof the parcels were not developable with-out variances. Therefore, the CityCommission adopted an ordinance to cor-rect this inconsistency.

Fencing. Lastly, it was determined thatimprovements were needed in Utopia tohelp revitalize the area and help attractnew businesses. Utopia is defined as thearea bordered on the west by SW 59thTerrace, on the south by SW 25th Street,on the east by SW 56th Avenue and thenorth by SW 21st Avenue. Many of thebusinesses are industrial in nature; there-fore concealing these activities from theroadway should hopefully attract newinvestment. One solution was to requireopaque screening for specific uses, such asoutdoor storage of materials, equipment,vehicles or similar; automobile repair;automobile paint and body or similar;vehicle sales and installation or similar;boat building, sales, repair or storage orsimilar; or any use that permits work out-side of an enclosed building. The CityCommission adopted an ordinance requir-ing opaque screening in the fall of 2010.

All the above referenced ordinancesresulted from either the public identifyinga need for changes in the City’s codes orthe City seeing a need for an improve-ment. The City’s codes are flexible docu-ments and should be visited from time totime. West Park encourages input fromresidents to make the City the best place tolive and work.

New changes in ourZoning Code


Mayor Jones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .954.889.4153

Vice Mayor Brunson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .954.889.4164

Commissioner Dorsett . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .954.889.4163

Commissioner Fyffe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .954.963.7745

Commissioner Mack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .954.889.4156

City Administrator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .954.989.2688

City Attorney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .954.768.9770

City Clerk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .954.989.2688

Building & Permits Dept. . . . . . . . . . . . . .954.989.2688

Business Tax Licenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .954.989.2688

Public Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .954.964.0284

Trash/Recycling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .954.964.0284

McTyre Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .954.964.0284

Mary Saunders Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .954.985.1990

Code Enforcement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .954.766.2715

Zoning Dept. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .954.266.6495

Finance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .954.689.4804

Police Dept./BSO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .954.765.4321

Fire Dept./BSO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .954.831.8210

CITY DEPARTMENTSDIRECTORY


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west park news 4.2011

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