Virtual Town Hall Forum Regarding The New Parking Ordinance

This Monday, July 19th 2021, we will be conducting a Virtual Town Hall Forum to discuss the new parking ordinance. Please, if you are interested in participating, please visit: www.cohb.org. Go to the home page, scroll down and click on the link under the calendar.

The City Commission had discussed on street parking in the past, we even attempted to implement a system. We created a Parking Committee, that evaluated parking throughout our City. Our Police Department, was tasked with issuing stickers and the costs were, a dollar, a day. The manual system was inefficient. Without a better way to track spots and implement stickers, the program was abandoned and all that were left, were the metered spots at Joe Scavo.

At the time, we knew it was important to regulate on street parking for many reasons. Our on street parking spots have been abused with storage of vehicles and abandoned vehicles. Monitoring parking, takes valuable Staff time. Many condos were built with one spot, years ago and some without any parking, our Commission had inherited this situation and residents that also bought their units, already know that they only have one spot.

Over the past year, we have been discussing a new modern parking program. The technology is now available where there will be no meters. Even if you do not have a smart phone, you can call in. Our City Commission has conceptually voted to bring an ordnance forward. During the meeting on Monday, our City Manager will be making a presentation on the ordinance and will be answering your questions and concerns.

Over the past year, our City, City Manager and staff have been developing a 5 year budget plan. Without bold changes to reduce costs and generate new revenue centers, our City’s reserve funds will be gone by 2024. One such measure, is the new parking program. Before the break, the City Commission received the City Manager's budget for 2021-2022, it is on-line now for our residents to review. One of my goals, before I came back on the Commission to harness technology to ensure that we truly haven't had access to all of our City business and most importantly, our budget. I am happy to report, that day has finally come.

During our workshop, Dr. Earle, reported that over the year, many of our department's budgets, were reviewed with a fine tooth comb. Many departments, over the years, have had staffing cuts that have adversely impacted the ability to collect our revenues. He has recommended, adding staff and actually, over the past year, we have been adopting budget amendments for adding extra staffing. One area, is with our business licensing. We had one staff person, working on implementing and collecting these fees, the staff seems counter intuitive, but the cost is covered and the increase has been revived and has resulted, in better performance.

The City Clerks Office, is also another example. Public record requests and lien searches are not free. Many of these items also need to be in compliance with the state's laws. Less staff delays resonance and in turn, decreases incoming revenue. Most importantly, these legal challenges, can cost more money.

Next budget year, we will be discussing even more challenging issues. As many of our readers know, I have and I remain opposed to the BSO merger. Our staff has been working to address an accurate costs of the contract. To date, we know there is an additional cost of $800,000. Please note, that we still have to pay for building maintenance, equipment and trucks. Another component of the Fire Department, is the fact that our City had applied and received, a Safer Grant to add more employees. Starting in the next budget cycle, these employee's costs, will be one million dollars.

The other large item that will be on sale, is our trash franchise.

As always, I am available anytime for your questions, concerns and ideas to make our City, a better place, on my phone/text at: (954) 632-5700. Or you can e-mail me at: jcooper@cohb.org. Please visit my Facebook Page: MayorJoyCooper. Like It! Friend It! Share It!