Washington Park Neighborhood Preservation and Enhancement Dist.

Washington Park Enhancement and Preservation Council Meeting

Jan 19, 2004

WASHINGTON PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ENHANCEMENT AND PRESERVATION COUNCIL MEETING


January 8, 2004

Our meeting started at 6:30pm.

Eugene read the minutes from December 11, 2003. Yvonne made a motion to approve the minutes as read and Idella seconded the motion. The minutes were accepted as read.

Eugene announced that OES would make a presentation regarding the tree planters and there would be no questions from the floor. This meeting is for information. The following people were introduced, Pat McGregor (Expansion Programs Administrator), Peter Moore (Project Manager), Patricia Henry, Ted Vitale (Planning Services Division), Don Stone, and Susan Smith (Commissioner Rodstrom?’s Aid).

Pat McGregor said that Broward County made the decision to redo the infrastructure of Washington Park a few years ago. This would include sidewalks, swale, curbs, tree planters and drainage. Tree planters were installed because the right-of-way is paved. Our right-of-way is 40 foot unlike most neighborhoods with 50 foot right-a-ways. Pat gave a power point presentation with more detail of why the trees were installed and why they were placed in the right-a-way.

Sandy questioned who maintains the trees. Pat McGregor and Peter said they are working on getting a contract to maintain the trees. Streets and highways are currently doing it. The Construction Contractor maintained for one year and that year is up. Yvonne said the trees were not maintained, on NW 8th Road the tree died after being planted and was not replaced. Peter said that sixty planters were installed with trees. They observed someone pouring oil on a tree. Yvonne said we need to know where that happened and Peter said he would get back to us with the location. Eugene questioned the custom design slide in the presentation. The slide had the tree location but was not clear about the location to the back of the right-a-way.

Susan said 400 surveys were sent out about the tree planters. 152 were returned, 99 didn?’t like them, 36 liked them and 17 were returned due to bad addresses. Of the 99 returned half didn?’t like them because the trees were not maintained and because of safety issues. Since the survey reflectors and stripping have been installed. They did a drive thru and only saw three planters that were not maintained. They were concerned because of the low return of surveys. The Commissioner is prepared to remove or assist in maintenance of the planters. The trees were installed due to the tree requirements per Broward County Ordinance. The placement was affected by the drainage system. Yvonne questioned if the trees were removed would the homeowners have to pay for it. Pat McGregor said no. The County would pay for it, but it would come out of another fund from the budget. He passed out a breakdown of charges to remove the planters. The projected cost is $76,785.07. Eugene said he would like for the Council to agree that we have something in writing that we would not be accessed a fee in the future. Pat McGregor said the trees would have to be moved to the curbside of the street because of the tree canopy tree requirement. It would be on resident property and the resident would have to maintain the tree. It was questioned if the planters are removed could the trees be placed in a location not on resident property. We know that residents didn?’t want the additional trees on their property. If the trees are moved we don?’t want the roots to damage the drainage system. Eugene wanted to know if when Commissioner Rodstrom came out and agreed to do the survey if he was aware of the drainage system problem. The Council is faced with making a decision now and the drainage system should have been considered before a survey was sent out. We have over 500 residents now and before it was around 400 residents. We need to sit down and discuss this issue and maybe the Commissioner can help us to resolve it. With agreement from the board we want the Agencies and the Commissioner to comeback and meet with the residents to understand the results if the planters are removed. Yvonne said we need a meeting for all the residents to be able to see and hear what would happen. We need all the facts. Eugene said when the first planter went in Commissioner Eggelletion and Peter was called out because the planters were too far out in the road. Eugene said that reflectors were asked for and he was told not available. He found reflectors for the planters. We also got stripping. We want another survey with more information and another meeting.

Susan said when the trees were installed they were not maintained. Another survey is a good idea. It can be through a letter or a town meeting. Eugene said we couldn?’t say that if the trees are put on the curbside they will be maintained. The resident will have to water and trim the trees. Susan wants Eugene to get with her and go over the things that should be on the survey.

Commissioner Rodstrom said he wants us to be happy with the planters. The trees are now being maintained. He doesn?’t know what will happen if they are removed. He is here to be our advocate for what we want. He said he didn?’t know about the planters until after they were installed. He said that they are in the process of cleaning the manholes and next we need the drains cleaned. Eugene said that we need a system in our maintenance until a company is hired. Pat McGregor said that he couldn?’t get the tree canopy requirement waived. Commissioner Rodstrom said there is a County Ordinance for the trees and he doesn?’t think we really want to have it waived. He doesn?’t know if it can be waived. We have a lot of trees in Washington Park. The Commissioner said if we want them removed they would have to count the number of trees and then go to the County Commissioners and see if the tree canopy Ordinance could be waived for Washington Park.

Meeting adjourned at 7:30pm.