September is a month with much history, remembrance, and reflection. We will celebrate Labor Day, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, our Constitution, and welcome fall. Let us do all of this with love and light
News, Updates, and Reminders:
Please join us for our new monthly meeting time of 7 PM. This will align to other town meeting schedules and allow us to finish sooner.
The Davie Police Department is requesting assistance from the Rolling Oaks Com
munity regarding the recently stolen horses. The suspected vehicle may have driven southbound along SW 178 Avenue. As part of the investigation, Davie PD is asking residents to look through their video camera footage to see if a horse trailer was spotted between 6pm on August 10th through 6am on August 11th. Any images could be helpful in solving the case, and any help is greatly appreciated. Please contact Detective Velazquez at (954) 693-8290 or evelasquez@davie-fl.gov with any information. There is a reward on this case.
The SRHOA will be supporting the Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program (FRDAP) grant for improvements to the Southwest Meadows Sanctuary Park, as we understand local parks have a profound power to affect our lives. They vitalize us by encouraging activity, relaxation, renewal, connection with the environment, ourselves and with each other. We are wholly in favor of the Town’s efforts in applying for funding that will assist in developing recreation elements planned at this park.
Should you see any shoddy cable work in which lines are laying on property fences, grounds or draping within livestock areas, please report it to the Town immediately.
Storm season is upon us…emergencies happen…for our elderly, at-risk, or vulnerable population, we are here for you. Here are a few items I would like to bring to your attention (if you need anything, do not hesitate to reach-out to your SRHOA board):
You may register with the Vulnerable Population Registry online at Broward.org/atrisk. If you do not have access to a computer, you may call Town Hall at 954.434.0008, the Broward County Call Center at 311, or 954.831.4000.
The following link will take you to the Directory of Resources for Broward County Senior Citizens (an extensive guide of senior services and help agencies) https://www.adrcbroward.org/sites/default/files/documents/20192020adrcresourcedirectory.pdf
The Davie Police Department provides services as well through their At-Risk Resident application. Please visit https://www.frontlinepss.com/daviepd to apply.
If you believe you are witnessing illegal fishing or hunting of our local wildlife, please call the Davie Police Department immediately at 954.693.8200. Try to gather visual information (vehicle color, plate, descriptions of persons involved, etc.) but do not get physically involved or put yourself in harm’s way.
Mail theft is still an issue. Do not become a victim. The USPS provides a service called “informed Delivery” that might minimize people becoming victims. Anyone in a household can sign up on this link: https://informeddelivery.usps.com/box/pa... and follow the instructions on the page. This service is a daily email of any scan-able pieces of mail and notifies the person of any packages coming as well as that day with the package tracking number. Though nothing is 100% guaranteed, it’s something people can use in case of package interception or stolen re-routed credit card pickups.
The property appraiser’s office has vital information on protecting yourself from fraud, keeping your deed safe from thieves, and new exemptions on the horizon. Please visit Marty Kiar’s property appraiser site at http://bcpa.net/
Should you be in need of mosquito spraying, go to https://browardcountyfl.qscend.com/311/request/add to complete the application. You will be sent an email and/or text verification for your request.
Work is continuing with the town and volunteers who are working to oppose the incinerator plans near Sheridan and 27. Please read the SWR Rancher. Please attend or watch the bi-monthly council meetings. Check our SRHOA Facebook and emails. Stay informed and/or get involved. This will be our biggest issue to date.
Community Events:
The SWR Farmers’ Market continues to run each Saturday at Green Meadows Sanctuary. Summer hours are from 10:00 AM until 1:00 PM. Come and support our local vendors and artisans.
Stay Connected:
Mayor Breitkreuz’s “Q & A with Mayor Breitkreuz” will resume on an “as-need” basis. We will keep you informed.
Remember, the Council meets face-to-face at Town Hall on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month. Occasionally, dates may change. Please check the Southwest Rancher and/or www.southwestranches.org for meeting dates, times, and agendas. Internet viewing is also an option, just go to your YouTube connection and type “Town of Southwest Ranches Official Channel.”
Please stay connected…join our SRHOA Gmail (sunshinerancheshoa@gmail.com), visit our website (www.sunshineranches.org), or view our posts at facebook.com/SunshineRanches.
Support Southwest Ranches’ Certified Community Habitat status by certifying your own backyard through the National Wildlife Federation’s backyard habitat program…it is easy, plus you may purchase and proudly display a certification sign. Go to nwf.org/certifiedwildlifehabitat today to certify.
INJURED WILDLIFE
South Florida Wildlife Center (954) 524-4302.
Sawgrass Nature Center and Wildlife Hospital (954) 752-9453
Pelican Harbor Seabird Station (305) 751-9840
As always be safe, be happy, and be loved.
Chris
President Christina Brownlow called the meeting to order via a Zoom call and laid out the agenda for the evening. Jim led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Davie Police: Detective Velazquez asked Officer Perez to provide the stats regarding felonies. There were 4 in the month of June: 2 were from a house on Hancock that is under construction and 2 A/C units were stolen, probably an inside job; an additional 2 were at a business on Flamingo Road, which had food stolen overnight. 180 extra watches were completed by police officers at night. Officer Elliot reminded everyone about the vacation watches, the special needs registry for adults and juveniles in our area, and the “9 PM routine” (to remove key fobs, lock your cars, lock your doors). Det. Velazquez said that there were 2 auto thefts, both of which had the key fobs in the car, so please lock your cars. There were no mail thefts, but there were some thefts of landscaping equipment from trucks (while they were cutting residents’ yards). Let your companies know about this. Finally, there were 77 citations, most of which were speeding tickets.
Jim shared a situation where a stranger asked if he could store his car, for a fee, at Jim’s house and did not allow him. Jim said this could have been a stolen car. Resident Marianne Allen then shared a situation where a car drove up slowly toward her and her friend and turned off its lights as if to do something malicious. She then had an encounter with a SWAT team who advised her that 2 children in her street were sold to sex traffickers. She asked Det. Velazquez about Davie Police’s capabilities to handle sex trafficking, who said that they have a unit that works with the FBI at the federal level. Please, if you see something suspicious, call Davie Police. Finally, a resident asked about the Vacation Watch if the fence is locked. Davie Police will check around the property from the street, but will not enter the fence.
Chris then asked the Council members who were on the call for their updates, and to esp. cover the main item of the incinerator.
Councilman Bob Hartmann went over the Budget hearings, which will be in August. By law, we are to have 2 budget meetings; the first on August 15 will be the preliminary budget to review taxes, etc. with impact from the public, if you are interested. The goal is not to raise taxes. Regarding the incinerator issue: there is involvement by the Broward School District on this important issue because there are a total of 40 schools in the area which would be impacted by the county incinerator, if it were to go through. He also said that he is looking for a Public Relations specialist to assist in communicating the impact of this. Chris also encouraged all to read The Waggler and The Rancher to ensure you are up to date. These updates are also posted on the Town’s website. Bob addressed some residents’ questions.
Councilperson David Kuczenski gave updates on the public safety contract (39 pages) and an issue regarding the fire and rescue services. Also, he showed the new Rancher publication design and said that the Rural Public Arts and Design advisory board is having its photo contest (deadline is September 5). He also brought up the incinerator and his interest in aggressively lobbying the members of the interlocal agreement (ILA) and wants residents to contact him if interested in taking part in this. This will affect everyone, and his biggest concern is the contamination of the ground water.
Vice Mayor Allbritton reminded everyone about the Clean Air resident group and how important it is for people to be involved. Additionally, we rotate the speed trailer around town to monitor speeding. His email is jallbritton@southwestranches.org if you are interested in having the trailer on your street.
Councilman Jablonski added a point to the incinerator issue: the League of Women Voters and the Sierra Club endorsed the ILA and we need to ask them what is their hardline position on incinerators. Also, the next solid waste drop-off will be on Sept. 23.
Mayor Steve was on vacation.
President Chris then addressed other agenda items. First, to move the HOA meetings to 7 pm, and asked for a motion. David Kuczenski made a motion to move the SRHOA meetings to 7 pm. Ed Gonzalez seconded, and it was approved. Meetings will go into effect for the August meeting, which will be via Zoom.
Vice President DaNell advised that our Communications intern is no longer helping us because he moved, so she will have a new intern starting soon.
She then opened it up for resident input. Richard Ramcharitar submitted an opinion article to the Waggler regarding the incinerator (will be in The Rancher as well). He thanked the Council for taking a stand against incineration and passing the resolution. He said that a grass roots effort has been launched under the Energy Justice network called Broward Clean Air. (BrowardCleanAir@gmail.com). He agrees with David regarding lobbying and said he has gotten a lot of support from the Miccosukee tribe. Richard will reach out to Miami Mayor Daniella Levine Cava because there is word that other counties like Miami would also bring their trash to Broward if this incinerator goes forward.
Finally, a resident asked about the 4-acre plot of land that is on SW 135 Ave and Griffin, which is not platted and is being developed. Chris advised the resident to attend the Council meeting to bring this up.
The next meeting will be on August 30 at 7:00 pm via Zoom.
President Christina Brownlow welcomed everyone and called the meeting to order at 7:32 PM. She thanked the residents and police officers for their presence at the meeting. She asked our veteran, and neighbor, Bob Parker to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. She also thanked DaNell D’Alfonso and Carlos Martinez for the evening’s refreshments.
Davie Police Department updates: Detective Velazquez was pleased to see mail theft under control. They found mail belonging to residents in South Miami in one of the Sunshine Ranches resident’s mailboxes. The detective informed it was a group of people that has been identified. The police traffic report includes over 258 speed citations. Camera readers have been installed around the town. They read plates but do not prevent fraud. He also stressed the importance of being in contact with the police and staying informed by downloading the app “SaferWatch.” “If You See Something, Say Something,” and the app is the best way to get the police right away. Detective Velazquez continues to remind residents to check their mail every day and to lock their cars, even those in the garage, and to not leave keys, fobs, or any object of value inside.
Mayor Steve Breitkreuz, Vice-mayor Jim Allbritton, Councilmen Bob Hartmann, Gary Jablonski, and David Kuczenski were all present and discussed different issues:
Mayor Breitkreuz asked everyone to support NOT having an incinerator in our town. He welcomes our thoughts and feedback focusing on true recycling efforts. This plant would be part of the present, and future, plans for Broward County to have 3 in total in the county by 2030. Also, on the 4th of July celebration, residents can use fireworks as it is one of the 3 days the governor has approved for fireworks.
Vice-mayor Allbritton reminded everyone to stay hydrated, including the animals. He mentioned the ILA, first Broward County Interlocal Agreement, to reduce the amount of waste going to our landfills.
Councilman Hartmann spoke about the noise and the issues related to noise; the Town is working on this issue.
Councilman Kuczenski mentioned the upcoming Public Safety Contract, which is a big expense for every municipality. “Extending this agreement to 10 years will allow the administration to effectively plan and budget the expenses.”
SRHOA VP, DaNell D’Alfonso, raffled items she designed.
The next meeting will be on July 26th at 7:30 pm via Zoom. The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 PM.