Plantation Isles, El Dorado, Royal Palm among drainage approvals

  Funding for five much-needed drainage projects was approved at the city council’s meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 14.

  The neighborhoods are Plantation Isles ($1.3 million), El Dorado Estates ($481K), Royal Palm Estates ($1.8 million), Plantation Golf Estates ($308K), and Historic Area ($248K).

 The staff reasoning pretty much explains it:

  “The existing stormwater system … consisting of pipes and structures, has exceeded its useful life span and in need of rehabilitation or replacement.  The subject project involves the replacement of existing drainage pipes and structures located within City roadways, together with rehabilitation of existing outfall pipes located between residential properties.”

  So if you live in one of those five areas, understand that help is on the way.

  The vote was part of the council’s consent agenda. I’d like to say the city council had a major part in this, but we actually didn’t. The money had been mapped out long ago, as part of the 2017 bond that residents approved. Staff, as is usual in these instances, sought bids for each item and evaluated who was the lowest price among those qualified to do the work. I am happy to see bond money starting to make its way to help our neighborhoods, but I bet the people affected by these projects are even happier.

Charter review

  The city council and the mayor spent an hour discussing possible changes to the city’s charter. The charter review board recommended a complete rewrite of the city charter, which has not been altered since the Plantation was formed in 1953.

  Mayor Lynn Stoner has been critical of the idea of a complete rewrite, saying the committee reached beyond its assignment. During the discussion, she also spoke against the review committee’s suggestion that the charter be changed so that the mayor is not the tiebreaking vote in the event of a 2-2 city council standoff. The Sunshine Law currently prohibits the mayor from discussing legislation with the council, because he or she could potentially be voting. By eliminating the mayor’s voting powers in a 2-2 vote, the Sunshine Law would not be in effect, and the mayor and the council could legally discuss legislation in a setting other than during a public meeting.  

  Council president Ron Jacobs stated that he did not like a proposal that would give council members the power to remove a fellow council member in certain instances.

 No vote was taken on either issue nor on the charter as a whole.

 The council meets again at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 28, again with the first hour focused on the charter.

Also…

  The city council approved an agreement to allow up to five large banners (4 feet by 8 feet) and 10 small banners (3 feet by 5 feet) on school fences. Many cities already allow this, so in a way we are catching up. The schools can use the money raised from selling the advertising to supplement their budgets.

  Plantation Baptist Church, 11700 NW 28^th Court, received approval to expand its school from 40 students to 200. They expect to be at about 110 this year. City leaders noted that residents near the school, in north Plantation Acres, are concerned about traffic. School and church leaders say they will be vigilant in reminding their visitors to obey the speed limit.

  I heard from about a dozen speakers while attending the annual Florida League of Cities conference in Orlando Thursday through Saturday. I’m still writing up the details, and I’ll share them with you by this time next week.

This newsletter originates on NickSortal.com and is shared via various platforms. The best way to get it is to subscribe to my Facebook page: www.Facebook.com/NickSortalPlantationCityCouncil. Sharing is encouraged. My email is NSortal@Plantation.org and my phone is 954-498-5337.