COMMUNITIES UNITE TO KEEP RIVERLAND WOODS ALIVE
By Gary Starkweather & Joan Sheridan

We reported in our February issue the disturbing turn of events that our Greenway project was doomed because the old Pantry Pride property was purchased by a developer that was perfectly willing to displace our Greenway with his storage facility. Although the new property owner, Mr. Barry Amsdell made public promises that he would abandon his interest in the site if our community could not fund the Greenway, that turned out to be only a hollow promise. Amsdell proceeded to buy the property anyway about 90 days after he made those public promises. Exactly five months to the day after our community civic groups accepted Amsdell's promises at face value, our primary funding source, Trust For Public Land (TPL) approached Mr. Amsdell to draft an option agreement on the property. However, Amsdell suddenly changed his mind and refused to sell the property. Many felt this was an underhanded trick on Amsdell's part because he didn't provide reasonable time for us to acquire funding before he proceeding with his closing on the property. Mr. Amsdell said he didn't consider TPL's option offer to be the same thing as real cash, So what the civic groups heard was that Amsdell said he'd agree to sell but what Amsdell really meant was that it takes cash to get him to stop his project, not options backed by Greenway funding.

In spite of this difficult conflict, community leaders did not give up. Barry Amsdell justified his actions saying that he could not accept options for his newly acquired property, and that he had spent too much time, money and effort on the project to accept options. In sharp contrast however, civic leaders felt like Amsdell was the "Late Arrival" and that they could not justify abandonment of Riverland Woods just because Amsdell showed up late in the game and wanted to build a public storage warehouse right in the middle of the Greenway. Civic leaders have been working on the Greenway project since 1994. In comparison, Mr. Amsdell was just a late show arrival having little or no concern for what the community had planned.

For the last year community leaders have been pleading with Mr. Amsdell to not buy this property because it would clearly wreck the Greenway. Nobody knows for sure why Mr. Amsdell has been so determined to purchase the property and continue towards construction, However, in spite of all our efforts to slow down his progress and discourage him, he has continued to chip away at the approval process.

Our united communities organized two demonstrations that reminded many of the 1960's era. Picket lines, protesters, and news cameras could be seen at the proposed construction site on Saturday morning April 25, 1998. The second demonstration was held at 5:30 PM on May 5, 1998 at City Hall just before the start of the City Commission meeting. On the agenda was a plat approval for Mr. Amsdell's project. Residents from both the City and County marched upon the steps of City Hall in the rain.

With only minutes remaining before the beginning of the 6:00 P.M. Commission meeting, Mr. Amsdell and community representative Mr. Randy Dunlap reached an agreement. Mr. Amsdell agreed to sell the property for a price now estimated to be about 2.5 million dollars _if_ the money could be found in two weeks and a closing could be scheduled within 60 days.

Amsdell said that our time window for performance would begin upon his delivery of a report detailing his costs (hard costs and soft costs) on the project. The report would also serve as the basis for his asking price. In exchange for this offer, community representatives agreed to stop objecting to his approval process at the City of Fort Lauderdale.

Basically, Mr. Amsdell said that he was still willing to stop his project, but he was not willing to wait around for very long for the money. This was the big green light civic leaders have been waiting for to resume the Greenway project. There is a lot of work to get done in a very small amount of time.

(No Problem ! Our civic leaders are getting to be real wizards at pulling rabbits out of hats.)

The events of the next two weeks will be critical to keep the Greenway alive. The Greenway wizards are very busy right now structuring the financial elements of the funding package. After establishing a purchase offer we will have time to set a closing date sometime in the next 60 days.

COMMUNITY CHEST--PROPER MAINTENANCE
From The Editor

The typical person in Lauderdale Isles wouldn't consider neglecting their car for years by not changing the oil. Would you let your car go without an oil change for years? Probably Not. Definitely not!

You wouldn't neglect your house would you? If the roof leaked you wouldn't just ignore it for years and watch while the wood rots, and the rain pours in, would you? Of course not!

So does it make sense to neglect your neighborhood when it is in need of repairs? Does it make sense to ignore everything beyond your property line as if it will have no impact whatsoever in your future?

I don't need to say that ignoring problems won't make them go away. I'm writing to intelligent people. Everybody knows that so why state the obvious? Why say that waiting for others to take command means nobody will ever get involved? Why say that when everybody knows that already too. Well, whenever I look around and see a serious lack of participation I can't help but think that most folks in the Isles really do know this stuff already. So I figure that it's either that they just don't care or they just need to be reminded of the obvious sometimes. Some really don't care. Oh well. But most, I believe, really do care.

My first hunch is that homeowners in the Isles really are great folks and they really do care about their neighborhood. They are just very busy! After all, it is reasonable that people with very busy lives and jammed social calendars just naturally forget about the basics. Sometimes I look around and notice the absence of volunteers. This does not mean deadbeat city? More likely, it means working parents, kids, bills, and responsibilities. All sandwiched in between social activities.

I give a lot of credit to residents who take the time to read the LICIA newsletter and keep up with current events.

It is a good start. This newsletter is a primary source for keeping track of community concerns. When our community faces circumstances which represent direct or indirect problems for our neighborhood it is printed in this newsletter.

We also print all the minutes of all our Trustee and General meetings on our Web site at LICIA.ORG. The General meetings, Newsletters, and Web site are provided to keep our residents informed. When community issues arise it is essential that we respond appropriately. Some circumstances represent minor issues. Others represent serious impacts. Although many would consider Lauderdale Isles Civic Improvement Association to be highly active and politically connected, the truth is that when we are tasked with the whole job, we only earn an average grade. This is because, even though we accomplish a lot, we leave so much undone.

This association has many residents who are involved and they give a lot of their time. And when we ask our residents to take an active role and attend LICIA General meetings, City and County Commission meetings, protests, and sign petitions, we get solid support. So what is the problem?

We're skating along on thin ice, that's the problem. We have too few dollars and too few active civic representatives to adequately protect our community. Unless you consider your real estate investment in Lauderdale Isles to be a temporary pass through investment that can be relocated to some other better area in the future, then it makes no sense to stand by idly and watch as negative influential forces chip away at the place we call home. All too often I hear, "I'm just too busy", or "I'm doing too many things right now but maybe later I could help."

Too busy:

When the Broward County Aviation Department wants to fly jets directly over your head?

When the Florida Department of Transportation wants to run 1-595 almost through your living room?

When developers plan obnoxious unwanted projects almost in your back yard?

When county planners plop an incinerator and a hideous ash pile right next to your house?

When neighboring cities propose land use changes that permit ship building on your river?

Many who stand to profit do hope that we're all too busy to get involved. And when all 750 homes in the Isles are too busy, they win.

I'm saying wake up! Look at what is happening. It makes no sense to work hard every day and then completely ignore the fact that while you were at work someone else is wrecking your neighborhood. The development in and around your home is a direct reflection of how willing you are to get involved and shape the future of your community. There is almost a symbolic statement being made by the dead sabal palm trees at Riverland Road and SR 7. Did you do anything about them? Hello!

In the past twenty years this community has suffered a collective of highly negative influences that prevailed partly because our willingness to respond fell short of what was needed to protect the neighborhood.

The more serious circumstances facing our neighborhood require legal assistance, professional consultants, money, support staff, and political assistance. These are the working tools of quality representation. Without these resources little can be accomplished to protect our homes, our community.

This association is currently doing only about half of the work that needs to be done. The other half is being ignored. The half that we are doing is stretching our civic support staff and resources to the absolute limit. As civic associations go we are probably among the more accomplished in Broward County but for those involved, it only becomes more clear that so much is left undone. I hope that our residents who have been on the side lines hear this wake up call. Lauderdale Isles is too nice a place to subject to neglect and apathy.

Our four general meetings each year are the best opportunity to get involved. Just show up and spend a couple of hours. Discussions about situations and problems are the basis of our meetings and all you have to do is get involved. Select from any number of projects and volunteer to run a committee. Like, FDOT still owes us a sound barrier wall between us and 1-595. Or, the Riverland Road landscaping from 31st to 441 needs a committee to keep the County and FDOT on track. Or, make some government agency take responsibility for the midnight motorcycle madness and shut it down. And hasn't everybody noticed the dead trees at 441 and Riverland Road? The list goes on.

If you volunteer for a project you won't be stranded and left to figure out everything on you own.

We use the teamwork, approach. You will be given assistance by the trustees and board members. You can even team up with a group of your friends who can help you accomplish the goals of a project. Trustees and Board Members will tell you the history about your project, if any, and what you can reasonably expect to accomplish. We can tell you who your primary contacts will be and what needs to be done. We can connect you with our political allies and governmental resources. With most projects, you just need to communicate with the right people and work with them to solve the problems. In almost all cases you will be strengthening partnerships with willing governmental agencies, not butting heads with responsibility dodgers. So don't worry, just get involved.

It's a great feeling to be able to point out positive things about our community and say, "I was involved in that." You can make a difference! Hope to see you at the next general meeting.

LICIA BY-LAWS AMENDMENTS PROPOSED
By Terry Simonds

At the General Meeting of November 1997 we voted to have alternate trustees for each lane. Seven volunteers stepped forward, were approved by those at the meeting, and have been active ever since.

However, the by-laws of our association only provide for one trustee per lane. Therefore, we need to amend the by-laws to accommodate our alternates. In order to do this in a legal fashion, all residents are hereby being notified of the fact at least 15 days in advance of the General Meeting at which a vote will be taken on the amendments. This vote will be taken on August 20, 1998 at the General Meeting -7:30 PM - 2637 Whale Harbor Lane.

Here are the articles proposed for amendment:

ARTICLE IV PARA. 2

Change to read, with amended material underscored*:- There shall be a board of _Primary_ Trustees elected as nearly as possible one from each lane, and that the total number be limited to (17) seventeen. _In addition, alternate trustees, not to number more than (2) two per lane can be selected by the board of trustees. An alternate trustee will be authorized to vote in place of, but not in addition to, the Primary trustee at all meetings requiring such vote._

ARTICLE V PARA. 5-h

Change to read, with amended material underscored:- At least two-thirds (2/3) of the _primary_ members of the Board of Trustees must be present to conduct official business and a majority vote of those _primary trustees_ present is sufficient to transact business. The President shall only vote in the case of a tie. _In the absence of, or at the request of, a primary trustee, one alternate trustee from the absent primary trustee's lane can vote in his/her place, and in such capacity, would be classed as a Primary Trustee._

End.
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*NOTE: The text version of the Newsletter cannot display underscored characters. Therefore, characters underscored in the original are here preceded and followed by the underscore character (_).

AIRPORT NOISE
By George Counts

We are still having to endure too many unnecessary flights over our neighborhood. Many are west departures drifting or veering too close to or over the Isles. Call 359-6181 days and 359-1200 nights and holidays to file a noise complaint.

Our noise monitor is RMT 8 and your airport noise rep is Bud Johnson, a retired Pan-Am pilot. Call him at 797-8915 if you need assistance or would like to become active in our fight to minimize aircraft noise impacts in the Isles. He had a perfect attendance at the airport's quarterly Noise Abatement Committee meetings last year. When skeptical, he checks out controller explanations about reasons for overflights. He is now focusing on north westerly departure violations.

Civic Association President Starkweather wrote a letter to County Commissioners protesting the massive numbers of General Aviation flights over the Isles. He also offered his expertise to airport officials to assist them in minimizing lightning strikes. Alternate Noise Abatement Committe member yours truly, requested that helicopters be included in the new noise model. I also recommended the proposal rerouting them down I-595 be evaluated carefully to minimize noise impacts on southerly Isles residents.

The airport has a new weapon to assist in minimizing noise impacts on residents near the airport. It is a "direct connect" computer tracking device with the ability to print out the course and altitude, by type of aircraft, daily or weekly. It makes it more difficult for renegades to deny they were flying where they weren't supposed to be without good reason.

Aircraft Noise Abatement Committee meetings are held quarterly at the airport and presided over by former Nova University President Fischler. If you would like to attend, call the airport Operations and Noise Officer Lori Labell at 359-6181 for the location, time, directions and parking instructions.

POETIC JUSTICE
By John A. Gazonas

Thursday I was home early because I was getting the carpets cleaned. As I got out of my truck, both of my neighbors approached me and asked how fast I was driving down the street. Truth be told, I'm not sure, but I think I was going around 35 mph. They thought that was too fast and I was quick to agree, not wanting any trouble. After a brief discussion, my next door neighbor said that he was going to get a 20 mph sign and post it right next to my mailbox. I laughed and went inside. I wish he had done it. Friday at 6:30, as my wife pulled into the carport, I opened the door and the dogs ran out to greet her. They also ran right past her to the end of the driveway. I followed, yelling, but it was too late. Dixie was struck in the street at the end of the driveway. So began my wake up call to life as a parent. At 8:03 I made one of the toughest decisions of my life.

I told the veterinarian to proceed with the lethal injection that would end my baby girl Dixie's life forever. She was paralyzed, her spine was crushed, her pelvis was shattered, and her leg was broken. She was in great pain, but she looked at me one last time and I knew it was for the best. We were there for her birth, and ultimately, there at the end. She was a bright spot in our lives every day of her three years. I have a horrible empty feeling inside that just won't pass. My wife is not taking this very well. I write to ease my pain and hopefully to prevent this from ever happening again. It could have been a child just as easily.

To the young man who struck her, I am truly, truly, sorry. It was not your fault. You were not speeding. It was my fault and I blame myself, no one else. This is one of life's many cruel lessons. Please people, let's learn from this terrible accident.

The following calculations are based on the average length of the streets in the Isles:

1,584.16 ft. = .333 miles (Average length of street from Riverland Rd. to cul de sac at the end.)

@ 20 mph = .33 miles per minute = 60 seconds from Riverland to end of street.

@ 25 mph. =.42 miles per minute = 54.60 seconds

@ 35 mph. = .5 8 miles per minute = 45.00 seconds

Is 15 seconds worth it? I, for one, don't think so.

Dixie, I will miss you.

John A. Gazonas
2536 Sugarloaf Lane

NEW WATER MAINS FOR THE ISLES PUT ON HOLD
By Terry Simonds

The City of Ft. Lauderdale will replace water mains on most of the lanes in the Isles. The city will be digging up the lanes and in general making a fine mess for a while. The net result should be cleaner looking and better tasting water for us.

Originally scheduled to start in early June, a city engineer stated that the contractor hired to do the job has nor yet finalized the plans and now the project start has been moved back until sometime this fall.

Workers must dig a trench about three to four feet deep to reach the old pipe. The trench, and the piles of dirt take out, will probably be close to six feet wide. Yes, are going to make a royal mess out of a good part of your front yard! However, one very important line item in the contract says that they must restore all property to as good as or better condition than when they started.

Water and sewer lines run underground down each lane, water on one side and sewer on the other. To see about where the center of the trench will be, look along the centerline of your street and you should see some numbers painted there. For example, if you see something like "14.2" and an arrow, this means the trench will be about 14.2 ft. from the centerline of the street in the direction of the arrow. Take a tape measure and measure 14.2 ft. back into your yard and you'll see where the center of the trench will be. Now add about three feet to that, and you'll see about where the dirt they dig out of the trench will extend.

We will publish the exact schedule here in the next Newsletter, at the LICIA web site (LICIA.ORG), and by e-mail extra as soon as we get all the details.

RIVERLAND WOODS GREENWAY -- HISTORICAL SUMMARY

What's Going On At The Pantry Pride Site? That is question I am asked most frequently so the following is a summarized history from beginning to now.

The following is a very short summarized History of Riverland Woods Greenway.

1993

STREET ENTRANCE SIGN LANDSCAPING APPROVED
by Joan Sheridan

Broward County Neighborhood Improvement Program has finalized the purchase order for the landscaping to be planted in front of each lane. The design was done by the county landscaping architect, Pamela Stanton and now it's up to YOU! We have to supply the sweat equity by planting and maintaining each street entrance way. Volunteers have already offered their help and now we need someone from each lane to coordinate their volunteers and do the work. We have coordinators for the following lanes: Gulfstream, Key Largo, Nassau, Tortugas, Whale Harbor. We need to finalize these plans at the general meeting so we can have all the lanes covered. This is your neighborhood so get involved. See you all at the general meeting on Thursday, May 21,1998.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL CORNER. . . . SOMETHING BUGGING YOU?
By Gary Starkweather