HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-06-07 - City Commission NWCEO Meeting Minutes-Y.
CITY OF
S RISE
Minutes of the Northwest Council of Elected Officials
Hosted by the City of Sunrise
June 7, 2021 @12:00p.m. via Zoom
CALL TO ORDER:
The meeting was called to order by Sunrise Mayor Michael J. Ryan at 12:05p.m. Mayor
Ryan welcomed all in attendance.
PRESENT:
Mayor Scott Brook @ 12:47pm
Coral Springs
Mayor Arlene R. Schwartz
Margate
Commissioner Anthony Caggiano
Margate
Commissioner Ken Cutler
Parkland
Commissioner Jordan Isrow
Parkland
Mayor Michael J. Ryan
Sunrise
Lourdes Lawrence, Administrative Aide
Sunrise
Salvatore Ciolino, Citizens Specialist
Sunrise
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Upon motion by Parkland Commissioner Jordan Isrow and seconded by Margate
Commissioner Anthony Caggiano minutes of the May 10th, 2021 meeting hosted by the
City of Coconut Creek were approved unanimously.
Mayor Michael Ryan welcomes and thanks the group for joining the Zoom call as this is
a great opportunity to "see" each other. Mayor Ryan opens up the floor to the group.
Commissioner Caggiano speaks on the Solid Waste issue which has been discussed in his
municipality — he thanks Greg Lawson and members of the Broward League of Cities for
coming out to their commission meeting and speaking on the subject. Commissioner
Caggiano understands that this is a very significant issue so he is seeking guidance on
how to get the other municipalities understand that this is a very crucial decision to
make — this is a decision that cannot be delayed any further. Back and forth discussion
ensued. --. Commissioner Caggiano thanks Mayor Ryan on the way he addressed it and
explained it. Commissioner Cutler mentions this is a foreshadowing a number of issues
as we eventually come up against as municipalities not just in this county but in other
counties as we encounter sea level rise and other issues that the State will be facing.
The erosion of home rule and other factors are going to play dramatically to what we
are dealing with, this is only a foreshadowing of that. Mayor Ryan mentions that the
home rule assault was stunning this past session and agrees that it will not change. Back
and forth discussion ensued on sea level rise, salt water intrusion in the aquifer —
financially and environmentally. Mayor Schwartz it does come back to a matter of trust
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Minutes of the Northwest Council of Elected Officials
June 7, 2021
and agrees with Commissioner Caggiano as she has seen and been around for a while to
feel the mistrust. Back and forth discussion ensued.
Mayor Schwartz mentions that she attended Hispanic Vote a couple of weeks ago and
Joe Scott, Supervisor of Elections showed up. Mayor Schwartz explained that she
believes Mr. Scott now gets that municipalities are not happy with the numbers. When
Greg Ross asked him point blank "show us where the numbers came from?" Mr. Scott
couldn't provide a response. She continues with providing an example: City of Margate
was charged $18,000 for the last election and now Mr. Scott's office sent Margate the
new number for $88,000, then changed it again to $38,000. Mayor Schwartz asked Mr.
Scott "are you running a deficit in your department?" Mr. Scott responded with "no".
Mayor Schwartz does not know where the numbers came from or even the idea to
charge the municipalities. Mayor Schwartz continues how most municipalities moved
their elections to November instead of March so lower the election costs. Mayor
Schwartz continues that she has an issue with defraying the cost for those who have
March elections. Mayor Schwartz thinks Mr. Scott finally heard it for more than one city,
but that's a real issue when he can't explain where his numbers come from.
Commissioner Isrow agreed with Mayor Schwartz and expressed the same concerns
when Mr. Scott came to Parkland to give his explanation. Mr. Scott expressed to them
that his numbers were tied to SOE's data. Commissioner Isrow mentioned that Mr.
Scott's predecessors were making decisions arbitrarily without any real justification or
tied to the data. Commissioner Isrow questioned Mr. Scott and requested the data that
pointed to the new numbers, but Mr. Scott could not provide that data. To
Commissioner Isrow that response is very concerning — Mr. Scott may be trying to make
improvements in his department and Covid-19 most likely played a big role in the
funding issues, however, Commissioner Isrow believes municipalities should be given
valid meaningful numbers. Commissioner Isrow did ask Mr. Scott what the process will
be by which the municipalities are going be able to challenge or object to this change,
the implementation? — Mr. Scott said "just call me and we will work together".
Commissioner Isrow does not sound like a formal process that municipalities can
proceed. Mayor Schwartz did mention after back and forth discussion that Mr. Scott's
final word was "I am right" meaning he is right with his numbers. Back and forth
discussion ensued. Commissioner Caggiano mentioned that he posed the question to
Mr. Scott, how can you be out there looking to defend people's right to vote, and to
make it easier to vote. Having no problem having a 10% turnout versus a 75%, and he
truly had no problem, with the cities that had only 10% turnout. Back and forth
discussion ensued. Commissioner Isrow mentioned that perhaps sending a group
unified. A letter can be sent to Mr. Scott and have it on record and these types of
conversations are not just one-on-one or behind closed doors discussions. Mayor Ryan
clarifies that Ms. Traci Callari has pulled together a group to meet with the Clerk's
Association because they're really the keepers of the analysis and are very detail
oriented. Ms. Callari pulled together some folks to be representative, what I've heard is,
we need to be probably doing this over the summer because it could come up in the
county commission budget process in September. Mary Lou Tighe with the Broward
League is working to get everybody together. Cities will have to get together in August
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Minutes of the Northwest Council of Elected Officials
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to pass resolutions in opposition, sending it out the County Commission and making it
clear that this is an effort to two impair our budgets. Back and forth discussion ensued.
Mayor Ryan welcomes Mayor Brook as he joined the meeting. He continues with
speaking about his passion — Mental Wellness. Coral Spring is going to be doing some
unique things in the near future on the mental wellness movement. Aside from being
Mayor he has started the Mental Wellness Networking Alliance. Mayor Brook continues
with his personal experience with losing his mother to suicide and a teenager in the
Coral Springs community who recently lost his life to suicide. Mayor Brook's thought is
that mental wellness is also an economic driver, let alone something we all strive for,
but there's still that stigma that's often associated with mental illness. The organization
is there to help change the dialog, share about education and advocacy, and make sure
people feel listened to and know that it's OK not to be OK. So we help connect the dots
with NAMI 211 in other organizations. If anyone is interested in becoming a part of that
or learning more about it, you can e-mail me or text me and I'm happy to get you
involved — Mayor Scott's number is 954-494-9872. Mayor Scott Brook reiterated that he
is part of this organization not in his official capacity as Mayor. He believes that we are
not turning a corner on Covid, but we're about to have the trial in the Marjory
Stoneman Douglas Shooting and it is imperative to have a need for people to feel
comfortable speaking about their challenges and or seeking resources, and there's a
need for us as listeners, to make sure those people are heard and not feeling ashamed.
Back and forth discussion occurred regarding the Marjory Stoneman Douglas case and
how and when it will take place. Mayor Schwartz points out that the case will most likely
take place sometimes in September. Commissioner Ken Cutler confirms what Mayor
Brook pointed out, that he knows firsthand from speaking to a lot of the teachers, and
some of the students, this year is the freshmen class that was at the school, during the
tragedy. This case will sort of reawaken the sleeping dragon, in terms of their own
personal trauma and tragedy.
It will be very tough for our community for a while. All present agreed.
ADJOURNMENT:
Mayor Ryan announced that he hopes to "see" everyone at the next Northwest Council
of Elected Officials and wishes everyone a great day. There being no further business,
the meeting was adjourned at 12:55 p.m with a motion from Commissioner Caggiano
and seconded by Commissioner Isrow with all present in favor of adjournment.
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Minutes of the Northwest Council of Elected Officials
June 7, 2021