¢ FEBRUARY | MARCH | APRIL 2005 ISSUE NUMBER 19 WESTONANNOUNCER A Model for Continuing Prosperity By Mayor Eric M. Hersh The City of Weston continues to prosper, and this year will be filled with additional milestones in our young history. By the end of 2005, the vast majority of develop- ment, both commercial and residential, will be completed and the city will be virtu- ally built-out. I have talked many times about the challenges that will be faced when Remember development slows in Weston, and therefore the city’s revenue increases will be much slower. Fortunately, our contract form of government allows us the opportunity to prosper even in times of slow growth. We are currently working on a 2015 Strategic to Vote Business Plan, to assure our residents of continued prosperity for many years to come. WESTON CITY The City Commission will consider adopting this plan very soon. ELECTION For those who are newer to Weston, you might not know that we have only three MARCH 8 City employees (with the exception of the City Commission). Our City Manager, our Assistant City Manager, and our City Clerk all work for the City. All other serv- ices and employees are provided by our contract providers based on their negotiated agreements. To our residents a contract form of government means lower costs, less infrastructure to support, and little overhead. For example, if you never apply for a A Model for Continuing Prosperity (continued from cover) building permit, you as a taxpayer aren’t saddled on March 8th to elect two Commissioners. As there with the cost of running that department. Those was no opposition for Mayor, it will be my honor to who utilize the services pay directly for the cost of serve an additional four years, and look forward to a those services, and if we don’t have as much need fantastic future in Weston. for those services in any given period, we don’t pay for them. This contract government that many A very heartfelt thank you is in order to our local called “an experiment” years ago is now called a business community. Last year, we passed a land- “model.” I would like to take this opportunity to mark ordinance requiring many businesses to have thank all of our contract providers for their out- Automated Electronic Defibrillators in place to standing service to Weston. assist our residents and visitors in the event of sud- den cardiac arrest. While this was a first in the The elections on March 8, 2005 will represent the nation ordinance, our businesses have stepped up to last municipal elections held in Weston during the the plate and are making it happen. Thousands each month of March. Beginning with the next election year die as a result of cardiac arrest and, while we in 2006 for two Commission seats, all Weston hope no one in Weston will ever need to use these municipal elections will be held in November,at devices, we can only hope that our ordinance and the same time as congressional and state elections. the co-operation of our business community will This should increase turnout and reduce the cost to save lives. Along with the Red Cross, our Fire our City for holding the elections. Future elections Department (BSO Fire Rescue) is providing train- for Mayor (and two commission seats) will be at the ing to employees of the businesses, and providing same time as the Presidential elec- the inspections needed to make certain that we are tions, almost guaranteeing wide getting compliance. Other cities have now followed participation by our residents. our lead and perhaps one day,AEDs will be as com- This change was made possible monplace as fire extinguishers. by your vote to change our Charter, after we were success- I know I am joined by Commissioner Chermak and ful in getting Florida law Commissioner Stermer in asking that you continue changed to allow to be in touch with your thoughts, comments, and November municipal suggestions. Your input is invaluable to us, and it elections. It is a very gives us the opportunity to do a better job in repre- positive step forward senting you. for our City. In the meantime, I would Warmest regards, encourage you to Eric M. Hersh participate in Mayor the elections 2 What’s Inside Note from City Manager 4 Did You Know That... 5 Divers to the Rescue! 6 Our Youngest Leaders Yet 6 Weston Rocks Recycling 7 You and the Environment 8 Calling All Artists 9 Official City Meetings 9 ARE YOU A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT Royal Egg Hunt 10 IN NEED OF SERVICE HOURS? Kids Voting Broward 2004 11 ARE YOU A COMPANY OR ORGANIZATION IN NEED OF STUDENT HELP WITH A PROJECT? Performing Arts Series 12-13 Weston’s Communications Department maintains a list of high school students New Look for Weston Website 14 desiring service hours required for graduation. The City uses students during city sponsored events and activities throughout the year. While the city doesn’t have Are You O.K.? 15 enough service hours for all students, Parks Report 16 we can put community organiza- tions, businesses or groups in touch March 8th City Election 17 with interested students. Upcoming Special Events 18 Students who would like to be Weston Tennis Center News 19 added to the volunteer list, or organ- Weston University 20 izations in need of volunteers, should call the Weston Communications Calendar of Events 21-22 office at 954-385-2000. There’s No Place Like Home 23 Top: Susan Garzon,Asst. to the Director of Saturday Movies in the Park 24 Communications, helps host a table at Bikes For Kids 24 Cypress Bay High School on December 13, sponsored by students of M.A.D. - $200,000 for Weston Y 25 Make A Difference. Weston, along with other organizations, provided students I-75 Off-Ramp Modifications 26 information on how they can help within the community and earn service hours. City Contacts 27 3 A Note From The City Manager John R. Flint In our brief history as a city, we have trial is currently scheduled for the www.westonfl.org, and on the home- been successful in addressing the two week period beginning October page, click on “Cable Television many issues that have come before us. 3, 2005. Lawsuit.” There you will also find a There is one issue, however, that chronology of the events leading up existed before we became a city and The lawsuit centers around the Town to the filing of the lawsuit along with up until now had yet to be success- Foundation’s Service Agreement with a complete history of the pleadings fully addressed. That issue is the Advanced that requires each residen- and Orders, and legal and other requirement of residents of the tial unit to receive and pay for “basic related documents. The web site is Arvida developed portion of Weston programming” and the Foundation’s updated regularly as the new docu- to pay for cable television from effort to terminate the Agreement ments are received. Advanced Cable Communications, effective December 31, 2007; and the Inc. through The Town Town Foundation’s contention that As much as we would like to predict Foundation, Inc. the “basic rate” Advanced is charging the outcome of this lawsuit, doing so is too high because it is for would be purely speculative at this This issue is currently the subject of a “expanded basic” (76 channels) rather point. However, we can keep you lawsuit where Advanced Cable than “basic programming” (as informed with all of the information Communications, Inc. is suing The required by the Agreement), and we have as it is received. With a vig- Town Foundation, Inc. and the City because the rate is not comparable to orous defense we will make our best of Weston in Federal other similar “bulk contracts” in effort to succeed with a result that Court. The jury the area. will benefit our residents. Since this issue is of great interest to On a separate note, Election Day in so many, we want you to be able to Weston is Tuesday, March 8, 2005 to follow the progress of this law- elect our Commissioners for Seat suit easily, conveniently, and first One and Seat Two. Former President hand. We are posting all of the Lyndon Baines Johnson said “Voting pleadings of Advanced, as the is the first duty of democracy.” This is Plaintiff; and the Foundation true whether it be for President of and City, as the Defendants; the United States or City and all of the Orders of the Commission in Weston. Please make Court, on the City’s the time to vote - our democracy website. Go to depends on it. 4 E O Did You Know That... lected fficials CITY OF WESTON Eric M. Hersh Mayor (954) 385-2000 / (954) 385-7600 [email protected] ... the 271,000+ students in Broward County Schools represent a Commissioner Commissioner Vacant Vacant larger population than any city in Broward County? Fort Seat No. 2 Seat No. 1 Lauderdale’s population of 150,000+ doesn’t come close. You Commissioner Commissioner Daniel J. Stermer Murray Chermak would have to look to Tampa for a comparison with 303,000 954-385-2000 / 954-349-4892 954-385-2000 / 954-389-1661 [email protected] [email protected] people...The Broward County School system serves our students Seat No. 3 Seat No. 4 over 35 million meals a year - now that’s cookin’! SCHOOL BOARD OF BROWARD COUNTY (754) 321-0000 www.browardschools.com ...the Weston Communications Office, City Hall and the Stephanie Arma Kraft, Esq., Chair Carole L.