ARCHIVES-ALERTS
Posted December 26, 2007
Posted December 10, 2007
The wall is presently being pressure cleaned. Remember to remove any vegetation that is touching the wall so it can be painted.
Posted November 16, 2007
Dear neighbors and friends:
Our County Commissioner is Lois Wexler. We need her assistance and we need Western Davie residents to call, e-mail or fax her about an important subject.
The subject is about High School MMM and the fact that we need a site selected to relieve Cypress Bay High.
The site selection committee is THIS MONDAY morning. Ms. Wexler needs to know our preferences as a Davie community.
There are 4 sites of which many of us feel one is the best for all involved, and a second if needed, as a back-up site:
As most of you know, if MMM is not built, our whole area may be fully boundered to either LLL and/or we may have a portion of us attend, believe it or not, Flanagan/Cooper City/Western. We are attempting to retain all our residents in Cypress Bay, however there is heavy activity to keep us out.
We need to send her a message that we support either site, however, we prefer the:
The second site is at SW 36th Street, west of Cypress Bay, however this site is more expensive and has issues that will delay it’s opening. If delay’s happen or MMM is not built, we will all be moved somewhere as 1550 students need to be moved out of Cypress Bay.
Please send your thought’s to:
Lois Wexler, Vice Mayor
Broward County
Phone 954-357-7005
Fax 954-357-7044
Please help us all by phoning, e-mail or fax as soon as possible
Thanks,
John Pickett
Posted November 13, 2007
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Additional 2008-09 Boundary Process information will be posted when available.
Schools to Participate in the 2008-09 Boundary Process
|
Boundary Process Timeline
(pdf) |
|
|
Boundary Scenario Materials |
| Meeting: | Date: | Time: | Location: |
|
Elementary School "A" Flyer Announcement |
October 24, 2007 | 10:00 a.m. |
Piper High School Small Auditorium 8000 NW 44th Street Sunrise |
|
Elementary School "A" Flyer Announcement |
October 17, 2007 | 7:00 p.m. |
Piper High School Small Auditorium 8000 NW 44th Street Sunrise |
|
Elementary School "C" Flyer Announcement |
November 15, 2007 November 20, 2007 |
7:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m. |
South Broward High School Auditorium 1901 North Federal Highway Hollywood |
|
Elementary School "Z" Flyer Announcement |
November 7, 2007 |
9:00 - 9:30 a.m. - Update Meeting 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. - Joint Focus Forum 7:00 - 7:30 p.m. - Update Meeting 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. - Joint Focus Forum |
Stoneman Douglas High School 5901 Pine Island Road Parkland |
|
High School "LLL" Flyer Announcement |
November 13, 2007 | 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. |
Silver Trail Middle School Cafeteria 18300 Sheridan Street Pembroke Pines |
|
High School "LLL" Flyer Announcement |
November 14, 2007 | 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. |
Glades Middle School Media Center 16700 SW 48 Court Miramar |
Community Forum I Flyers
English ||
Español ||
Kreyòl ||
Português
| Meeting: | Date: | Time: | Location: |
|
North Area & North Central Area |
November 17, 2007 |
8:30 - 9:00 a.m. Sign up to speak 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. Presentation 10:00 - 12:00 p.m. Questions & Community Input |
Monarch High School Auditorium 5050 Wiles Road Coconut Creek |
|
South Area & South Central Area |
November 17, 2007 |
8:30 - 9:00 a.m. Sign up to speak 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. Presentation 10:00 - 12:00 p.m. Questions & Community Input |
McArthur High School 6501 Hollywood Boulevard Hollywood |
Community Forum II Flyers
English ||
Español ||
Kreyòl ||
Português
| Meeting: | Date: | Time: | Location: |
|
North Area & North Central Area |
December 15, 2007 | 8:30 - 9:00 a.m. Sign up to speak 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. Presentation 10:00 - 12:00 p.m. Questions & Community Input |
Monarch High School Auditorium 5050 Wiles Road Coconut Creek |
|
South Area & South Central Area |
December 15, 2007 | 8:30 - 9:00 a.m. Sign up to speak 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. Presentation 10:00 - 12:00 p.m. Questions & Community Input |
McArthur High School 6501 Hollywood Boulevard Hollywood |
First Public Hearing Flyers
English ||
Español ||
Kreyòl || Português
| Meeting: | Date: | Time: | Location: |
|
First Public Hearing Elementary, Middle, and High |
February 26 & 27, 2008 | TBA | Plantation High School
Auditorium 6901 Northwest 16th Street Plantation |
Second Public Hearing Flyers
English ||
Español ||
Kreyòl || Português
| Meeting: | Date: | Time: | Location: |
|
Second Public Hearing Elementary, Middle, and High |
March 25 & 26, 2008 | TBA | Plantation High School Auditorium 6901 Northwest 16th Street Plantation |
|
School Boundaries Home || Boundary FAQs || School Boundary Maps || browardschools.com Some documents on this site require Adobe Reader
software. |
Posted November 10, 2007
Posted November 12, 2007
Posted October 28, 2007
Dear Ivanhoe residents and those attending the first Ivanhoe Civic Association meeting:
As you might know, Cypress Bay High School is now included as a part of the upcoming boundary discussions and will have a boundary change for the NEXT school year, 2008-09. There is a core group of Ivanhoe, Cooper City, Pembroke Pines and SW Ranches residents/parents who will discussing and drawing up boundary scenario’s. This is specifically to discuss the boundaries for LLL high school in Pembroke Pines at US 27 and Johnson Street (just north of Pines Blvd) and Cypress Bay’s Capacity issues. These scenarios will be submitted to the school board for discussion and consideration. We need to confirm and know what your wishes are regarding this subject and this is an ASAP request.
PLEASE REMEMBER… usually (not always) Boundary changes are PERMENANT and this next decision by the School Board could be “forever”. This decision will affect SW Ranches, Davie, Ivanhoe, parts of Pembroke Pines and Weston parents and children, not only for NOW, but in the future. We all have personal wishes, but we need to remember, this change will affect future parents and children as well.
If your neighbors would like to also participate, please forward this e-mail to them, please do so… we are looking to gain more information regarding what our parents and residents preferences are:
IF MMM high school was to be built closer to our area, would you prefer to attend this newly built high school within a couple of years?
Do you wish to attend Cypress Bay High in the future?
Do you wish to attend only LLL?
Would you like to be officially boundered to Cypress Bay, but have the “choice” to attend LLL?
Do you have other ideas?
Let us know also:
Þ Do you have children and are they attending what school and what grade are they in?
Þ Let us know where you live, give us your neighborhood (I.E. [HOA] -Waterford, Falcon Lea, Stirling Lakes Estates, East SW Ranches, West SW Ranches, Hawkes Bluff, etc…)
Give us your opinion.
Give us your opinion NOW.
Do NOT wait as your opinion is important
We don’t need a stinking petition, as this is NOT a political show
Just simply respond to this e-mail, without copying the entire list and write a short statement of your wishes as a parent or resident. We have found many people’s opinions being taken out of context and false rumors being generated from e-mail discussions, so we will not use your name, information or distribute your e-mail.
If you are interested in being involved in developing boundary scenario’s for high school LLL and wish to be informed of recent developments, please respond to this e-mail or leave me a message on the cellular phone # below. Give us your name, contact info and best times for a meeting.
Let us know if you wish to no longer receive these e-mails regarding school issues as well.
Thanks.
John Pickett
954-296-7800
Posted October 16, 2007
From:
Ken Cimetta [mailto:info@keepusrural.com]
Sent: Tuesday, October 16,
2007 5:58 PM
To:
undisclosed-recipients:
Subject: conflicting
stories
There seems to be some conflicting stories
out there about where we wish to go for High School.
We need to e-mail the entire School board and let them know how we
feel. Keep it short and simple. If you wish to remain at Cypress Bay
say so. If you wish to go to Cooper City let them know. If you wish to
move to "LLL" tell them.
.
Please don't allow others to do the
speaking for you. The board members DO READ their e-mail!
Simply send a letter to the website
www.browardschools.com and go to
School board, then where it says e.mail
the board.
We need them to receive this before
the October 23rd meeting.
Call Melissa Gleissner if you have questions. (954)434-0172
Melissa Gleissner
Posted October 16, 2007
Below is scheduled meetings of the Broward County Public Schools. Right below the meetings are the email addresses of the different school board members. If you want them to hear what you have to say, please email them as soon as possible, before the Oct. 23 meeting especially. Their direct address is also listed below as well as their phone number.
Posted October 12, 2007
Attention:
All IVANHOE Residents
Did you know that
beginning in 2008 there is a POSSIBILITY your child currently
attending or slated to eventually attend Cypress Bay High School could be
sent to “LLL High” in Pembroke Pines or to Western High in Davie for next
year 2008? Did you know there could be Split sessions or Enrollment
capping? Find
out more… THIS TUESDAY
Ivanhoe Civic Association meeting:
October 16, Tuesday, 7pm at Rick Case Honda Community Center (second floor of showroom)
If you do not attend, you could be uninformed!!!!
Posted October 11, 2007
The first inaugural meeting of the Ivanhoe Civic Association will meet on October 16, 2007at 7:00 pm at Rick Case Honda on the second floor of the community room. The agenda will be the Cypress Bay High School Capacity issue and an update on the Sound Wall. see flyer
Posted October 6, 2007
Posted Sept. 25, 2007
Dear Ivanhoe Residents & Friends,
Posted Sept. 22, 2007
Dear residents and Ivanhoe parents,
There are factions within Weston and those who support them who have the ultimate goal of taking the Hawkes Bluff Elementary feeder and reboundering these kids away from Cypress Bay and Falcon Cove. These actions have been an underlying goal for years coming from these factions. We as unified residents between SW Ranches and Ivanhoe have fought these negative actions because of logical and proximity reasons. Last Thursday these factions conducted a meeting to discuss capacity and very few of our residents was able to attend for the following reasons. At the same time of the meeting…there was:
Þ Silver Trail open house
Þ SW Ranches residents meeting
Þ Football game at Cypress Bay
Þ Short notice given on Tuesday for a Thursday meeting
Many feel this last meeting was arranged at this time on purpose to insure low participation from our residents. There is a history of these meetings being set at inconvenient times for our residents. Because the residents at the meeting complained a new second meeting has been set for this next Tuesday, Sept 25th at 7pm in the Cypress Bay auditorium. Many of us did receive a voice message today on your home phone.
WE need to attend and make our voices heard or we could be left in the cold attending schools farther away…
Please distribute this to neighbors and all Hawkes Bluff & Silver Trail parents See below the notice to SW Ranches.
Best regards,
John Pickett
From:
Ken Cimetta [mailto:info@keepusrural.com]
Sent: Friday, September
21, 2007 5:49 PM
To: Renato Lopez
Subject:
***********************IMPORTANT SCHOOL BOUNDRY
MEETING****************************
!!!!!!!!URGENT!!!!!!!!
SCHOOL CAPACITY MEETING
A recent student capacity meeting was held at Cypress Bay Bay High
School. Attendance by Southwest Ranches Residents was extremely low due
to a Town Council Meeting, Silver Trail Elementary's open house and the
lack of publicity.
We had no representation and were basically blown away by the Weston
residents attending.
Weston Residents seem to be of the opinion that Cypress Bay High School
is solely a Weston asset.
If we don't attend
the next meeting chances will be very, very good that our students will
be attending a different High School next year. If you
have any high school age children or would like to support those that
do, please attend and vote to keep our children at Cypress Bay.
The second Cypress Bay Capacity
meeting will be held on Tuesday Sept 25th @ 7PM in the Main Campus
Auditorium.
Check for the Latest Stories & Comments
& Contact Us With Your Concerns
If you know anyone who would like to be added to our mailing list e-mail
us at
info@KeepUsRural.com
http://www.KeepUsRural.com
If you want us to remove your name from this list please reply to this
email with the word remove in the subject line.
You can also call us at 954-680-4584
Posted Sept. 23, 2007
From: Amore Scheepers [mailto:Amore.Scheepers@comcast.net]
Sent: Sunday, September 23, 2007 6:46 PM
To: rgiordan@bellsouth.net
Cc: 'Nancy Juin'; loumissy954@yahoo.com
Subject: Cypress Bay High School
Hi Robert
I spoke to you briefly about the school boundaries when we had the sound wall meeting at the community center
I know you and John Pickett has express your which that we will remain part of the cypress bay school zone. It seem that the school zone issues are reaching a critical point. (Please read e-mail below)
Could you please send out an email to your email list and ask the parents to show up to the meeting
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER
25
CYPRESS BAY HIGH SCHOOL
7 PM in the Auditorium at the Main Campus
We need the votes.
If you like to get the latest info on what is happening with the school zone meetings you can contact Melissa G . She is the SAF/SAC chair for Hawkes Bluff
(954)434 0172
Melissa told me that John is also aware of what is happening with the boundary issues.
(loumissy954@yahoo.com) or hbesafinfo@yahoo.com
You can also email Nancy Juin – Hawkes Bluff PTA President
Thank you
Amore
From:
Nancy Juin [mailto:nancyjuin@bellsouth.net]
Sent: Sunday, September 23, 2007 12:28 PM
To:
Subject: Need your support!!!!
IMPORTANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It is urgent for Hawkes Bluff parents to show up at this meeting and show your support! If we don’t, there is a strong possibility that our children will end up at LLL High School to be built south of us on SR27 and Pines Blvd. If that is where you want your children to attend High School then, this message doesn’t pertain to you. However if you DO NOT want your children to go there and would prefer that they attend Cypress Bay in Weston, which is slated to be relieved by MMM High School to be built in the future, then your support is GREATLY needed ASAP!
These discussions have been going on for quite awhile and people have been fighting on our behalf but, votes are being taken and they are now in desperate need of our help! Hawkes Bluff parents MUST attend this meeting in order to show our support otherwise the people who have put in endless hours at previous meetings will feel like all their time was wasted! If we don’t show our support now, we could be thrown into a boundary process that will be even a bigger battle!
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!! Pass along this message to anyone that you know who can come out and support this issue!!!!!!
DECISIONS ARE BEING
MADE THAT WILL IMPACT OUR CHILDREN.
Please bring friends, aunts & uncles, and grandparents to have a vote.
Yes, there will be a vote.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
CYPRESS BAY HIGH SCHOOL
7 PM in the Auditorium at the Main Campus
Posted September 24, 2007
Dear Ivanhoe, Ivanhoe Estates, and other interested residents,
If you have school aged children either at Silver Trail Middle, Hawkes Bluff Elementary or Cypress Bay we need your participation in a
CYPRESS BAY HIGH SCHOOL (2nd) CAPACITY meeting:
When: Tuesday Sept 25th- TOMORROW NIGHT at 7pm
Where: Cypress Bay High Auditorium
Reason: Every year it seems, there are school capacity issues that involve considering Double Sessions, Enrollment Capping and of course, Re- Boundering existing Boundary lines. Last Thursday, there was a meeting held with very few residents from our area and this group:
VOTED to REBOUNDER the High School LINES. We cannot allow less than 20 residents dictate what is good for thousands!
We need your input at this meeting, otherwise Hawkes Bluff Elementary children, in the future, as well as Silver Trail students may be forced to attend High School at “LLL”, Flanagan, or Western High vs. the closest proximity High School, CYPRESS BAY.
There are parents who wish to lower the number of students at Cypress Bay by re-boundering the lines to include only Weston residents to Cypress Bay High NOW, even though a second High School, “MMM” is slated to be built within Weston by 2009-10. This would mean two more re-bounderings for the children vs. ONE move as a final solution. We have approximately 1,000 students who may be displaced if we do not speak up with better solutions.
In addition, there are parents who believe reboundering the 1300 Tequesta Trace middle school students to Western High until the new school, “MMM” is built would be better, since they are very close in proximity to Western High and could be moved as an existing group. Most of us do NOT want to move ANY students within the next year or two; just to be re-boundered AGAIN once “MMM” is finished. This is not good for the students, parents or the cost to taxpayers.
Cypress Bay does NOT have to be re-boundered this year, or even next year, as we are told by school officials that there are enough portables and room to house the students until MMM and Middle School “NN” are built. It will not be the greatest situation, but it is what it is.
We
cooperated and ALLOWED our students to be moved to Silver Trail Middle
ONLY with the understanding that the new HIGH SCHOOL, “MMM” would be in
SW Ranches. This did not come to be true, so we need to go back to
Falcon Cove Middle and then Cypress Bay once “NN” middle and “MMM” High
is built. Do not allow us to be moved once again.
Show up at the meeting, listen and speak up for what is logical and
right.
John Pickett
Hawkes Bluff, Ivanhoe.
T.R. Jones & Company
A Beecher Carlson Company
John J. Pickett
1950-2 N. Commerce Parkway
Suite 2
Weston, Florida
954-385-9980 x 225
954-385-9989 Fax
954-296-7800 Cellular
Special PD&E Meeting Tuesday, Sept 18th 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Go to: IvanhoeCivicAssociation to read the letters of correspondence and see the photographs regarding this issue in News and Alerts. See Flyer
|
Posted September 18, 2007
|
Posted September 18, 2007
Dear Ivanhoe Residents & Friends,
Posted September 14, 2007
Dear Ivanhoe Residents & Friends,
9/14/07 1:56 pm
Regarding this issue, police made an arrest of 2 subjects who
tried to burglarize a residence at the 5800 block of Hawks Bluff this
afternoon.
Chief George
Posted September 13, 2007
Robert,
Please remind our residents that the speed limit in Hawkes Bluff is now 25 mph for the area!!!!!!!!!
Yesterday, I had a car pass me and today, a truck tailgated me with inches to spare!
I believe we need to start warnings to these speeders, now that we have achieved this limit. In addition, please let someone know, there is still a 30 MPH sign on Hawkes bluff on the east side about midway.
Please see the information below and distribute.
Subject: Risky Teen Driving! Keep Kids Alive!
KEEP KIDS ALIVE DRIVE 25®
RISKY TEEN DRIVING BEHAVIORS
AAA and Seventeen magazine released a survey about teen drivers showing that:
Any one of the behaviors listed can lead to tragic results, as evidenced in this recent story in the Denver Post when a teen driver ran a Stop Sign.
http://www.denverpost.com/ci_6840408
In addition, Safe Kids International has reported that almost 90% of drivers do not correctly observe Stop Signs, resulting in 200 pedestrian deaths and 17,000 injuries each year.
It is important to recognize that teen driving behaviors do not exist in a vacuum. Teens did not invent speeding, drinking and driving, talking on cell phones while driving, etc. These are behaviors that not only need to be addressed with teens, but within a community context that targets safe driving habits for all drivers. The benefit in doing so is not only for drivers and passengers, but for pedestrians, bicyclists, children at play, and children walking to and from school as well.
Keep Kids Alive Drive 25® is committed to supporting your community, neighborhood, school, business, and civic organizations in creating a safe-driving culture in your town. Our complementary initiatives SEAT BELTS-FASTENATING!®, STOP! TAKE 3 TO SEE®, BE AWARE! DRIVE WITH CARE™, and CHECK YOUR SPEED®/NO NEED TO SPEED® work with KEEP KIDS ALIVE DRIVE 25® to educate and engage all residents in responsible behavior behind the wheel, as a passenger, a pedestrian, and cyclist. Contact us at 402-334-1391 or Tom@kkad25.org for more information about how to get your neighborhood, high school, or whole community involved in creating a safe-driving culture. We are here to help.
We look forward to supporting you in your efforts.
In safety,
Tom Everson
Executive Director
Keep
Kids Alive Drive 25®
- A
Non-Profit Organization-501(c)(3)
(402) 334-1391
Keep Kids Alive Drive 25® and related logos and slogans: BE AWARE! DRIVE WITH CARE™, Check Your Speed®/No Need To Speed®, Stop! Take 3 To See®, Stop Means Stop®, and Seat Belts-FASTENATING!®) are registered trademarks of Keep Kids Alive Drive 25, P.O. Box 45563 Omaha, Nebraska, 68145. No other entities may use these marks without prior permission. Call 402-334-1391 for information.
Posted September 3, 2007
From: Diane [mailto:dmeccles@bellsouth.net]
Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2007 11:12 PM
To: 'William.Leidy@dot.state.fl.us'
Subject: I75, in the Ivanhoe community
Dear neighbors and friends of the Battle of Ivanhoe Sound Walls:
The following article was published on Sept. 27, 2002
Dear Ivanhoe Residents & Friends,
Robert,
I am so very glad to hear the request for the government distribution list of emails I have sent and to whom I have sent them, if you will open the attachment, I was hoping we would get an email/mail campaign in early September.
Better late then never, I say, enclosed is all the information I have with the emails, mailing address will have to be looked up on my florida.com
I have been trying to get to our representative from every level of government, state, fed, county and local.
Let’s get those keyboards a rocking! As you have notice I have not stop and will continue the crusade along with you and the rest of the residence, however I do not want to be the only voice heard out of 2000 families. Thanks great minds think alike!
Diane
1. Governor Charlie Crist, Charlie.Crist@MyFlorida.com;
2. National EPA (USA EPA)
Budier Maher EP assigned representative to Ivanhoe, Budeir.Maher@epamail.epa.gov;
Mueller Heinz Director NEPA, Mueller.Heinz@epamail.epa.gov
Heinz Mueller USEPA,
REGION 4 61 Forsyth Street
Atlanta, GA 30303
3. Florida’s EPA
Stephen S. Webster, Stephen.S.Webster@dep.state.fl.us;
Public Relations Manager
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
400 North Congress Ave., Suite 200
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
4. State Government
Senator Nan Rich, rich.nan.web@flsenate.gov;
Senator Steven A. Geller, geller.steven.web@flsenate.gov
Florida State Senate, District 31
6. Fed Highway Adm.
Mary Peterson, execsecretariat.fhwa@fhwa.dot.gov;
FHWA Executive Secretariat
Federal Highway
Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
Nahir M. DeTizio, Nahir.DeTizio@fhwa.dot.gov
District Transportation Engineer
Federal Highway Administration
Florida Division
(850)942-9650, Ext. 3027
Fax (850)942-8308
7. FDOT
William Leidy, E.I., william.leidy@dot.state.fl.us
Project Manager
Office of Planning & Environmental Management
Florida Department Of Transportation, D-4
Phone: (954) 777-2284
Fax: (954) 777-4310
James A. Wolfe
District Secretary District 4 FDOT
954-777-4100
District 4 Development Engineer
954-777-4345
8. Local
Bryan Caletka,
Bryan_Caletka@davie-fl.gov;
Vice Mayor
Office: 954-797-1030
Mayor Tom Truex, Tom_Truex@davie-fl.gov;
Mike Crowley, mike_crowley@davie-fl.gov;
Susan Starkey, susan_starkey@davie-fl.gov;
Marion Luis, marlon_luis@davie-fl.gov;
9. County
Kristin Jacobs, KJACOBS@broward.org;
Broward County Commission - District 2
954-357-7002
Lois Wexler, LWEXLER@broward.org
Vice Mayor,
Broward County Commission, District 5
954-357-7005
District Commissioner
District Commissioner
District Commissioner
From:
Robert Giordano [mailto:rgiordan@bellsouth.net]
Sent: Thursday, September
13, 2007 9:59 AM
To: 'Diane'
Subject: RE: Articles on
Trees, noise-historical facts on I75
Dear Diane,
Thank you so much for really keeping the pressure on the politicians and FDOT regarding the I-75 Sound Wall. I have an idea to put all of your hard work into action. If you can compile a list of FDOT & political contacts you have been communicating with (name, title, e-mail addresses, mail address, ect..) and e-mail it to me, I could e-mail this list to my Ivanhoe e-mail distribution list instructing everyone to start an e-mail & mail campaign to these officials. That would really keep the pressure on them. Thanks again for everything you have done to help.
Best Regards,
Robert Giordano - Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate
Posted September 14, 2007
Nahir M. DeTizio
District Transportation Engineer
Federal Highway Administration
Florida Division
David Gibbs
Division Administrator
US Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
Gentlemen:
First, let me take the opportunity to thank you both for responding to my correspondences of my serious concerns for our neighborhood Ivanhoe, Davie Florida. A residential community of 2000 single family homes in which we are plague with several issues prevailing from I75.
What has possibly been misinterpret or perhaps misunderstood, is the fact that we have been working with the F-DOT, and our sad reality as we attempt to work the issues since 1995 we have had no success or at least been acknowledged.
One of our homeowners John Pickett has personally became a subject matter expert on the topic. Mr. Pickett has attended many F-DOT sessions, discussions, debates on the topic requesting a solution for Ivanhoe and he has met with rhetoric, resistance of cooperation, flipped remarks, bureaucratic processes, policies, procedures and overall a total lack of empathy from our F-DOT related to our I-75 problematic reality.
More importantly, it has been documented by a senior environmental specialist, James Picardy for the F-DOT, in January 2002 the noise attenuation was well above average the abatement criteria of both the FHA and the F-DOT, normal 67 decibels, studying I75 Traffic in two (2)-10-minutes sessions between 8:30 am and 9 am the readings were 74.8 decibels.
My challenge to you both and the F-DOT is that if that same study was conducted today, 5 years later, especially with migration of many South Miami residents relocating to Western Broward. As well as Miramar becoming a corporate Mecca for media and various corporations, with commuters from all over the southern tiers Palm Beach Counties, North-Central Broward Counties, traveling to South Western Broward/Dade. We are sure the readings today would be astonishing higher compared to those of January 2002. Especially with the connectors that provide ease of transit via I595, I-75 West, Saw Grass and secondary state, county roads; for access, egress to the commuters destinations.
However, currently the noise issue is one part of the several major issues we have, please let me reiterate. Our concerns beyond noise are; these are in order of priority:
1. Health issues prevailing -it is our reality that we have people who have documented illness with chronic pulmonary issues, creating a health issues for our seniors, children and adults who are being affected by the significant increase of the traffic over the past 5 to 10 years.
Nitrogen oxides are produced in the emissions of vehicle exhausts fumes from the gasoline vehicles that frequent I75. Nitrogen oxides can contribute to formation of photochemical ozone (smog), can impair visibility, and have health consequences; they are thus considered pollutants.
2. Comments of I75 was here before the community was build, deal with it. How can the F-DOT or any government officials really expect private citizens to anticipate change and growth, and could we have anticipated the connectors from the Saw Grass and I595 were plans for the future, or the mass growth spurt from Dade, after Andrew to Western Broward? Or western Miramar was to be corporate Mecca for media and other commercial corporations?
3. Safety- We have had cars (2) and a truck veer off I 75 and entering our back yards, do we have to wait for a major catastrophe to occur to a family or a member of a family. Let's not forget the safety of the attendees in the vehicle. The speed limit is 70, however, the sounds of the engines regardless of type of vehicles is more like race way than a highway.
4. Thefts - We have no protection from "people of crime" especially with the economy in So Florida to help themselves into our homes. We already experienced two thefts in homes that harbors’ I75.
5. Debris- We have soot (Nitrogen oxides?) all over our homes and perhaps this is adding to the health aspect whatever shielding we did have was removed by F-DOT “Melaleuacs Trees” (see articles Miami Herald 1995), and most recently hurricanes (Whilma to name a more recent event).
These areas of concerns are not going to subside by anyone of our 2000 residents of Ivanhoe and in solidarity neither is our cause for barriers to be installed, now and not 4 to 8 years from now. We are soliciting support from every level of government and we will not be asked to sit on the side lines and work with or wait for the expansion of I75 to a mass transit through-fare with implementation of mass transit vehicles www.I-75Vision.com (projection of the F-DOT I75 PD&E Study).
Please believe that we will be in great attendance of the F-DOT September 18th session, and we are challenging your organization and every government entity to assist in our need for a solution that will sustain us as a community, sound barrier walls, it is the right solution and the only solution we will accept.
Again, thank you for your time in replying to my correspondences, I am sure your agendas’ are full with many weighted programs/projects and your time is valuable. Your attention to these matters for our community is greatly needed, appreciated; any and all support in our efforts would be very valuable to our cause.
Sincerely,
Mr. and Mrs. Ray Eccles
5520 Hawkes Bluff Ave
Posted September 13, 2007
-----Original Message-----
From: Diane [mailto:dmeccles@bellsouth.net]
Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2007 11:27 PM
To: Charlie.Crist@MyFlorida.com; Budeir.Maher@epamail.epa.gov; Stephen.S.Webster@dep.state.fl.us; Bryan_Caletka@davie-fl.gov; Tom_Truex@davie-fl.gov; mike_crowley@davie-fl.gov; KJACOBS@broward.org; kkeechl@broward.org; sritter@broward.org; ilieberman@broward.org; RICH.NAN.WEB; 'Wexler, Lois'; William.Leidy@dot.state.fl.us; ExecSecretariat.FHWA@dot.gov; paul.lampley@dot.state.fl.us; gary_shimun@davie-fl.gov
Cc: cmendola@aol.com; Plewbjr@aol.com; 'Robert Giordano (E-mail)'; neu55@aol.com; 'John Pickett (E-mail)'; 'MO CHRISTIE \\(E-mail\\)'; 'Ira Goldberg'; 'Gretchen H. Farmer'; 'Gisela Nanson Torres'
Subject: FW: Articles on Trees, noise-historical facts on I75
Importance: High
Respected Government officials of our state, county, and local jurisdictions:
All,
Members of Ivanhoe Board of Directors:
Correspondence from Nan Rich's office it appears that Senator Rich is taking the task of our cause. Please share accordingly.
-----Original Message-----
From: COIN.DANIELLE.S34 [mailto:COIN.DANIELLE.S34@flsenate.gov]
Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2007 10:32 AM
To: Diane
Subject: RE: Articles on Trees, noise-historical facts on I75
Diane,
I just want to let you know that Senator Rich met with Stephanie Kopelousos, the Secretary of DOT, on Monday in Tallahassee regarding the I-75 issue. Stephanie is looking into it and as soon as we hear anything Senator Rich will contact you.
Danielle
Danielle Coin
Legislative Aide to Senator Nan Rich
From: Judy Paul [mailto:jpaulconsulting@msn.com]
Sent: Sunday, September 09, 2007 6:43 PM
To: rgiordan@bellsouth.net
Subject: RE: FW: September 18th F-DOT PD&E meeting
From my experience at these meetings it probably
will not be an auditorium forum for getting up to speak. I am sure
there will be opening remarks, but this is usually set up so that
people can come and go during the times noted. It will be a series of
stations with maps and plans and there will be someone at each station
to answer the questions. My suggestion is that when you arrive, if
this is the format they are using, you ask to speak to the senior
person of highest ranking at FDOT who is present. That is who you
want to initially express your concerns to verbally. What they also
usually have is not only a sign in sheet but forms to fill out with
comments, suggestions and/or recommendations. You can probably make a
call to find out if, in fact, this is the format. If it is, I would
recommend that every person thoughtfully write out their comments
(saving a copy of course!) that they can present at the meeting.
These comments that have been saved will constitute a great basis for
you e-mail blitz to the MPO and County Commission when the time is
right. That makes all the communication consistent between agencies.
This saves the time and concern of writing something on the spot and
gives each person the time to get EVERYTHING in writing so that more
time can be spent talking to all the FDOT personnel about your
concerns on that evening. I don't know if this is the format for
presenting the petitions, unless you have made ample copies since you
want to present petitions at the MPO meeting and any County Commission
meeting that addresses this topic. It depends who the highest ranking
rep from FDOT is in attendance. I would send them to the Governor.
He was very responsive by handing off the response from your
resident's letter to the District Director. That would be impressive
for the Gov to forward hundreds of petitions to his staff. I hope you
find this helpful.
From: Diane [mailto:dmeccles@bellsouth.net]
Sent: Sunday, September 09, 2007 9:20 AM
To: 'HOWARD NEU \\(E-mail\\)'; 'Robert Giordano (E-mail)'; 'John
Pickett'; Plewbjr@aol.com
Subject: September 18th F-DOT PD&E meeting
Gentlemen:
The meeting is more than a week away, have we implemented any strategy for our attendance? This is my first meeting in this type of venue so I have no idea how the meeting will run.
Here are my questions:
The fact is that this is the event were we need to at least make an impact on the "plans" of the FDOT, be heard and reiterate reality of our health, environment and safety issues. And the plan to wait for sound barriers with the expansion is radically insufficient based on our needs. It is just in our best interest I believe to not walk away from this meeting with the F-DOT being more frustrated then when we started learning more on this dilemma.
Respectfully,
Diane Eccles
From: Diane [mailto:dmeccles@bellsouth.net]
Sent: Monday, September 03, 2007 8:56 PM
To: rgiordan@bellsouth.net
Subject: Please pass this one to ALL
Robert,
It is important as we communicate to these officials that in addition to identifying who you are that your address and contact information should also be included.
Many officials will not respond unless you have provided all your information. Please be so kind to inform those who have taken the initiative in sending emails.
Many thanks
Diane
Re: example.
Dear Constituent:
Thank you for contacting my office. Please be advised that I receive
tens of thousands of e-mails from all over the world. It is impossible
for me to reply to every e-mail I receive, but I do try to respond to
everyone. I first respond to emails from constituents in my district,
then citizens from the State of Florida and, lastly, to those
out-of-state. However, I will not
respond to or review any e-mail that does not include a home address and
telephone number.
Please understand that when the e-mail volume is particularly heavy, or I am in the middle of the Legislative Session, it is difficult to respond. I promise that I will try my best to respond in a timely fashion.
Again, thank you for taking the time
to contact me. Your input is very much appreciated.
Sincerely,
Senator Steven A. Geller
Florida State Senate, District 31
Also here is an email listing of all officials that have bearing on a positive outcome with relationship to our needs:
Stephen.S.Webster@dep.state.fl.us;
geller.steven.web@flsenate.gov;
Posted September 9, 2007
Posted September 6, 2007
| From: "Diane" <dmeccles@bellsouth.net> |
| To: Heinz Mueller/R4/USEPA/US@EPA |
| Sent: 08/31/2007 08:35 PM |
| Cc: Maher Budeir/R4/USEPA/US@EPA, "'Robert Giordano \(E-mail\)'"<rgiordan@bellsouth.net>, "'John Pickett \(E-mail\)'" |
| <jjpickett@bellsouth.net>, <Plewbjr@aol.com> |
| From: "Diane" <dmeccles@bellsouth.net> |
| To: Heinz Mueller/R4/USEPA/US@EPA |
| Sent: 08/30/2007 11:14 PM |
Lois Wexler:
study member/s
From:
Robert Giordano [mailto:rgiordan@bellsouth.net]
Sent: Monday, September
03, 2007 8:34 PM
To: Robert Giordano
(E-mail)
Subject: FW: FW: I75, in
the Ivanhoe community
Gentlemen:
A response from Bryan Caletka.
Diane
From:
Bryan_Caletka@davie-fl.gov
Sent: Wednesday, August 29,
2007 5:19 PM
To: Diane
Subject: Re: FW: I75, in the
Ivanhoe community
Dear Mrs. Eccles,
I appreciate you standing for your community. As you probably know I have been very outspoken about the need for sound walls in your community. I am the Metropolitan Planning Organization member for Davie, and I chastise FDOT every time I see them. Upon any expansion of the turnpike, we are due soundwalls. I believe an expansion of the off / on ramps includes an expansion. I promise you I will do everything in my power to bring sound walls to your community.
many thanks,
-Bryan Caletka
PS. - If you ever need to speak with me, my home phone number is 954-587-5854.
Bryan Caletka
Vice Mayor
Office: 954-797-1030
email: bryan_caletka@davie-fl.gov
From:
John Pickett [mailto:jjpickett@bellsouth.net]
Sent: Wednesday, August 29, 2007
8:53 AM
To: neu55@AOL.COM; 'MO CHRISTIE
(E-mail)'; 'Carl Mendola'; 'Gisela Nanson Torres'; 'GRETCHEN FARMER
(E-mail)'; 'Ira Goldberg'; rgiordan@bellsouth.net
Cc: plewbjr@aol.com
Subject: Meeting 8/28 Sound walls
Dear Hawkes Bluff HOA,
Thank you for giving up the meeting time and providing the refreshments last evening.
The one thing any of us does NOT want to happen is a lack of momentum in pursuing this need for our community here in Hawkes Bluff. We all know that at some point we all get tired and less motivated. I heard some impassioned speeches and some heartfelt concerns in the testimonies last evening. I want to be sure that those who are currently impassioned or interested in helping will continue to follow through with their intent for the duration.
I promise two things. One is that I keep my promises. Whether it be to stay involved in the community and help or to stand for certain principals and not waiver. It is NOT personal with me it is just reality and I know we understand each other. The second thing is that I will call anyone out who does not follow through on their commitments. I will keep asking “What are you going to do” and did you do what you said you were going to do. If each of this core group, including yourselves, takes one SMALL project, it would help us all achieve this goal.
I am taking on the process and procedure through the channels to try and get the rules changed. Hopefully before 2015.
What one item will you take on? Some of you already have the desire and expertise in different areas that can help. Mo, website and newsletter (coordinate with Pete LaMoia Val O’Connor; Bob, communications- please keep us all informed what we all have been doing as that communications hub; Howard, get the Ivanhoe Civic Association started, do your “political and directed noise” thing with the politicos; Gisela, petition. It does not take much effort, give it out as an e-mail through Robert to others and have a gathering place down the road to collect the final petition. Ira, community involvement (keep speaking to neighbors to get others involved. Gretchen, you know people in other areas like Highland Ranches and help get them more involved. Carl, when you do code enforcement letters, remind the neighbors of the events they can attend as a part of the code enforcement letter. Anything will help.
Thanks again for the meeting, I thought it was good…real good as a start.
John.
Dear Mr. Leidy:
I am on a personal crusade to tell you that we are in dire straits here in Western Davie, we who live adjacent to I75, in the Ivanhoe community.
We have many issues that are plaguing us and the need for a sound-safety wall for our community. These are:
1. We have environmental issues with residents with recent upper respiratory health conditions developed what we believe to be from the fumes of the trucks and cars that frequent travel routes on I75 from both the north and south bound routes.
2. We have now thefts going on with houses that butt up against I75 Southbound (2 most recent over the summer).
3. We had cars and a truck veer off I75 and end up in the back yards of residents in Ivanhoe. Our children who play in many of these backyards or swim in their pools can be at risk should a multiple auto catastrophe occur.
4. Our patios areas, pools, roof tops and surround decks on properties that butt up against I75 are constant ridden with black soothe daily. It is a constant drain to keep up with cleaning our homes.
5. The foliage that once shielded our homes has been removed from the previous hurricanes and we have a clear visual of the traffic repetitively. It is to say unnerving.
6. We believe the over arching conscientious of the FDOT is that the highway was here prior to our homestead and many of the original homeowners were aware.
The condition of the landscape has changed the original homestead families did not, could not anticipate the future with hurricane Andrew as well as the spurt growth of the surround communities making I75 an unsafe thorough fare.
Many of our residents will be at the September 18th session and we need a course of action, and not a resolution for 5 or 10 years down the road we need our problem solved now. We have over 1000 homes in Ivanhoe and we need your attention to take this matter serious and assist us with an immediate solution. That being said a sound barrier wall is necessary and imminent. Your attention to this matter is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Mr. and Mrs. Ray Eccles
-----Original Message-----
From: Diane [mailto:dmeccles@bellsouth.net]
Sent: Sunday, July 29, 2007 10:59 AM
To: 'William.Leidy@dot.state.fl.us'
Subject: RE: study member/s- our response
Importance: High
Dear Mr. Leidy:
We appreciate your invitation to the F-DOT meeting of September 18th in Pembroke Pines of a public kick off workshops.
We plan on attending, however, in the mean time I am told of some very disturbing news, from the Study's meeting of this past week from one of our residents who attended the session.
The funding for I-75 sound barriers is forecasted to be in 10+million (south/north bound sides) for construction, as well as funding has not been attained, sourced or approved. And that I-595 will be the first corridor to be completed. I-75 sound barriers are not to be constructed till the year 2015-2018. What do you expect residents residing off of I-75 to do for the next 7-8 years? We are not as fortunate as the residents residing along I-595 who have a cushion in which assists them with a direct noise problem, and that cushion is east bound and west bound State Road 84. Which somewhat deflects the direct noise of an interstate (i.e.: distance).
Our home and others in Ivanhoe (50-90 homes) sit right on I-75, with back yards are within approx 50-100 feet of the interstate. The residents across the street or those that have a pond or lake behind them have this cushion of space (distance) and the noise is not as profound as if there homes sat on I-75, they are fortune enough to have the "cushion of distance".
Our only salvation is that our builder was knowledgeable/technically savvy to construct our homes that the noise did not penetrate into our living space.
With Wilma we lost quite a lot of foliage which use to shield us (somewhat) from the sights and sounds of the traffic on I-75. Once Wilma came through much of the foliage barrier was removed from the storms wrath or the state workers thinning out the broken branches and trees.
Now as you walk through out homes (which are level with the payment of I-75) you can see the traffic as if you were a toll collector or standing on the emergency lane.
When there is a cause for the traffic to be stopped, the commuters are able to look right into our home and while sitting for the traffic to dissipate, enjoy the programs we are view on our TV. So to say we lost our privacy of the screening of the foliage from Wilma is an understatement.
This past winter and spring we were going to downsize, due to a medical hardship, we place our home on the market. This was a total fruitless effort for any prospective buyers who walk through our front door could not find a faster way to exit our home, once they step foot on our back patio, saw and heard the volume of I-75.
In conclusion, as you can imagine we are stuck here for the duration as well as many others facing the same multiple dilemmas: significant noise pollution, lack of privacy from loss of foliage from Wilma as well as the lack of funding for sound barriers of I-75, due to other thorough-fairs are deemed more important to their communities than those that resided along I-75.
Our community contributes to the county, state and local agencies with our property taxes, (51 % increase in property taxes, of two years plus we've resided here) why are we at the end of the food chain?
We are very dishearten and disturbed that the Study committee does not seek who is in more need of a resolution, and slot what "they" deem necessary for their time line.
We would like to challenge the study committee to champion a noise sampling, privacy screening, and discern which communities have the more immediate problem/need those that reside off of I-595 or us off of I-75.
Should more information or there is a question or concern and you would like to reach us our contact number is 954-689-4437.
Respectfully,
Mr. and Mrs. Eccles
-----Original Message-----
From: William.Leidy@dot.state.fl.us [mailto:William.Leidy@dot.state.fl.us]
Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2007 11:34 AM
To: Diane
Subject: Re: study member/s
Thank you for your interest in the I-75 Project Development and Environment
(PD&E) Study. The Florida Department of Transportation invites you to
attend one of the upcoming Public Kick-Off Workshops scheduled for
September 18 at the SW Regional Library in Pembroke Pines and September 19
at the Howard Johnson Plaza in Hialeah Gardens. Members of the project
team will be available to share information about the project and answer
any questions you may have.
The project team is aware of the residents concerns with noise. The PD&E
Study will include an extensive noise study, the results of which will be
shared with the public later in the project. If noise walls are deemed
feasible for any areas, additional public involvement outreach will occur
during design to address specifics of the noise walls, such as the
construction time frame and sequencing.
Once again, thank you for your interest in the I-75 PD&E Study. Should you
have any questions or need any additional information, feel free to contact
me.
Thanks.
William Leidy, E.I.
Project Manager
Office of Planning & Environmental Management
Florida Department Of Transportation, D-4
william.leidy@dot.state.fl.us
Phone: (954) 777-2284
Fax: (954) 777-4310
Diane <dmeccles@bellsouth.net>
To <info@i-75vision.com> 07/23/2007 10:58 PM
cc Subject study member/s
I would invite study
member/s of the I-75committee to come and sit on our
patio in the rear of our home which sits on I75 and attempt to hold a
conversation. It is reasonably impossible to even play a radio or read a
book the noise from the traffic on I-75 is deafening. It is increasingly
worsening over the short time (2years) we have lived here. Can anything be
done above the noise pollution? Please something needs to be done now.
Dear HOA members and Town Council,
I have not been able to read through the attachments, however, this seems like the most updated versions issued by the Federal Highway Administration regarding sound walls. It appears to be very comprehensive (voluminous) and will take a while to review. However, we spoke about process and procedure. If you read what Mt Ferron states in the last paragraph “However, it is up to each State DOT to approve noise barriers that meet their standards. “ . Nowhere in the State Statutes can I find anything, so the final authority, being the FDOT does not set well with me. They can use old standards, new standards or make up their own standards. You can open, print or review this information.
We also have the EPA involved through Walter Bell and we are speaking to the environmental coordinator very shortly as indicated in the memos below.
I apologize, however we are just starting this campaign and you may get duplicated information. Our goal, as you all know is to expedite the construction of these walls.
Let me know if you have questions,
Best regards,
John Pickett
15600 S. Roundtable Rd
Davie, Fl 33331
954-296-7800
From:
Mark.Ferroni@dot.gov [mailto:Mark.Ferroni@dot.gov]
Sent: Thursday, August 30, 2007
7:41 AM
To: jjpickett@bellsouth.net
Cc: George.Hadley@fhwa.dot.gov;
mariano.berrios@dot.state.fl.us
Subject: RE: Sound walls
John –
Thanks for your interest in the FHWA traffic noise program. I have copied George Hadley the environmental coordinator for the FHWA Florida Division, and Mariano Berrios the noise program manager for the Florida DOT. They will be able to assist you on some of the project specific items you have.
The FHWA Traffic Noise Model Version 2.5 is the most current version allowed for conduction noise studies on Federal-aid highway projects. There was a phase in process for this version, and depending on the specifics of your project you may fall under an earlier version of the FHWA TNM. You can visit the FHWA TNM webpage (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/noise/tnm/index.htm) to get all the past and present information on this model.
The FHWA put out a noise barrier brochure (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/keepdown.pdf) and handbook (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/noise/design/index.htm) . However, it is up to each State DOT to approve noise barriers that meet their standards. The Florida DOT would be better suited to inform you of your options.
Please let me know if I could be of further assistance,
Mark Ferroni, Leader
Noise Team
FHWA, Washington DC
From:
John Pickett [mailto:jjpickett@bellsouth.net]
Sent: Wednesday, August 29,
2007 9:22 PM
To: Ferroni, Mark <FHWA>
Subject: Sound walls
I am a resident living in the Hawkes Bluff Section of Ivanhoe in Davie Floroida.
We are at the beginning of a I-75 PD&E study by the FDOT District 4 that will recommend sound walls for an area of I-75 in Broward County. I would like to have information either e-mail or mailed to me at jjpickett@bellsouth.net concerning the Traffic Noise models used today I believe it is FHWA TNM. In any case we need the most up to date data or circulars on the subject in addition to suggested types or styles of abatement systems
I need to understand how better sound abatement systems are available through these studies and any information that can be sent to me regarding this study.
In addition is there an air quality section that applies? Our residents enjoy a layer of road grime and dust that blows several hundred yards from the traffic on I-75 each day into our yards.
Best regards.
John Pickett
15600 S. Roundtable Road
Davie, Florida 33331
954-296-7800
To Heinz Mueller/R4/USEPA/US@EPA
From:
Diane [mailto:dmeccles@bellsouth.net]
Sent: Wednesday, August 29, 2007
11:27 PM
To: 'stephen.s.webster@dep.state.fl.us'
Subject: I75, in the Ivanhoe
community Davie Fl - Broward County
Dear Ms. Eccles,
I have forwarded your concerns to our District Director Jack Long.
Thank you for contacting the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
Have a good day,
Stephen S. Webster
Public Relations Manager
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
400 North Congress Ave., Suite 200
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Office: 561 681 6714
Cell: 561 248 0830
Fax: 561 681 6755
Also sent to:
To:
Jack Long
Director of District Management
Southeast District
Gentlemen,
This is to make you aware that there is a very serious overiding element
of the subject sound barrier request.
That element is the number of senior citizens, like myself, who are
residents of the Ivanhoe development of Hawkes Bluff. We senior citizens
are extremely impacted by the fumes, road dust, and other air pollutants
that are a result of the heavy traffic on I 75.
In my particular case, I am doubly affected in that my pool and patio
directly abuts the southbound entrance ramp to I 75 from Griffin Road. I
get the fumes from the large amount of entrance ramp traffic and the heavy
volume of I 75 through traffic. The constant exposure to the pollutants
cited have a devastating effect on my health as I am asthmatic and a
recovering cancer patient.
It is my desire to muster all the affected senior citizens in the area,
along with affiliated external organizations for support, (representing
large voting blocks), so that the installation of the sound barrier walls
may be expedited.
Sincerely,
Walter Bell Jr.
From: John Pickett [mailto:jjpickett@bellsouth.net]
Sent: Wednesday, August 29, 2007 7:05 PM
To: rgiordan@bellsouth.net; 'Gisela Nanson Torres'; 'GRETCHEN FARMER
(E-mail)'; 'Ira Goldberg'; 'MO CHRISTIE (E-mail)'; 'Carl Mendola';
neu55@AOL.COM
Subject: FW:
From:
Tom_Truex@davie-fl.gov
Sent: Wednesday, August 29,
2007 11:19 AM
To: John Pickett
Subject: Re:
Thanks for
writing. I enjoyed the meeting last evening, and felt it was very
productive.
I appreciate your confidence in my ability to get the sound walls
built. As you know, there is no magic or simple fix. Mayors,
Councilmembers, State Representatives, and US Congresspeople have all
tried to force action by the FDOT. In the past we did not meet their
criteria. It appears we will now meet their criteria, given their
proposed projects.
This issue is a top priority with me. I will continue to press for
the walls at every meeting with FDOT. It's my understanding that they
will have some flexibility in timing, once they determine the sound
walls will be built.
Regards,
Mayor Tom Truex
-----"John Pickett" <jjpickett@bellsouth.net> wrote: -----
To: <tom_truex@davie-fl.gov>
From: "John Pickett" <jjpickett@bellsouth.net>
Date: 08/29/2007 08:10AM
Subject:
Thank you for
attending last evenings meeting at the Ivanhoe Community Center . We
estimate 60 residents were in attendance. Cypress Bay High did hold
their open house for parents last evening and we feel attendance may
have been somewhat affected by that event. We do feel it was a
successful gathering and a clear direction was presented. That
direction is basically to keep up the pressure and do not quit. Your
comments were well received.
As you heard,
there are literally hundreds of residents bordering this portion of
I-75 in Davie who all are affected by more than one condition. You
heard testimony of car accidents occurring literally in back yards,
ongoing air quality issues, crime, dirt & dust and of course the
traffic noise. When neighbors cannot use their backyards in the
fashion they were designed, due to the traffic, noise and dirt being
scattered over their yards, something has to change. The facts are the
facts and unfortunately we seem to be trapped in the FDOT and
government processes, procedures and regulations regarding the
development and funding of sound abatement systems for our area. There
is no alternative process or procedures for extraordinary situations
and conditions that we experience. We are basically left to our own
devices and ignored, because we don’t fit into the exact guidelines
that will allow relief. We cannot wait until 2015 or beyond for
relief.
I will continue
to pursue alternative solutions, however, as our Town of Davie Mayor;
you must have some access to resources that can help us research
alternatives.
The FDOT is a
bureaucratic organization that needs to change some of their focus and
processes to consider situations that are extraordinary.
Please respond
and let us know what you can do to help us gain sound walls
prior
to when the “process” allows, IF all the FDOT benchmarks are
reached.
Best regards,
John J. Pickett
15600 S. Roundtable Road
Davie , Florida 33331
954-296-7800
Gentlemen:
A response from Bryan Caletka.
Diane
From:
Bryan_Caletka@davie-fl.gov [mailto:Bryan_Caletka@davie-fl.gov]
Sent: Wednesday, August 29,
2007 5:19 PM
To: Diane
Subject: Re: FW: I75, in
the Ivanhoe community
Dear Mrs. Eccles,
I appreciate you standing for your community. As you probably know I have been very outspoken about the need for sound walls in your community. I am the Metropolitan Planning Organization member for Davie, and I chastise FDOT every time I see them. Upon any expansion of the turnpike, we are due soundwalls. I believe an expansion of the off / on ramps includes an expansion. I promise you I will do everything in my power to bring sound walls to your community.
many thanks,
-Bryan Caletka
PS. - If you ever need to speak with me, my home phone number is 954-587-5854.
Bryan Caletka
Vice Mayor
Office: 954-797-1030
email: bryan_caletka@davie-fl.gov
Posted August 27, 2007
An e-mail regarding this meeting was sent to Governor Crist by Gisela Nanson Torres, Esq.
Dear Governor Crist:
Thank you very much for all your efforts in connection with the reduction in the amount of real estate taxes and control over the immediate insurance rates for Florida. I am a real estate attorney and have seen the financial impact which those two issues have had in the economy of Miami-Dade and Broward County. It’s a shame the state had to step in because the counties were not proactive in reducing the millage rates sufficiently to help prevent the financial slump which was been caused by our stagnant real estate market. As a fellow Republican, I am very proud of your quick response to immediate issues and your ability to work with all political view points, toward the best interest of Florida. All real estate professionals and homeowners with whom I have spoken support your efforts.
I would like some suggestions with respect to an issue I am having in my residential community. I live in Hawkes Bluff, which is an Ivanhoe development which abuts the west portion of Interstate 75 between Griffin Rd. and Stirling Rd., in Broward County, Florida and the noise level and pollution levels which we are experiencing in our community has reached an unsupportable level. My fellow homeowners are involved in our community and strive to improve our families’ environment. Hawkes Bluff resident, John Picket, was instrumental in getting Broward County to reduce our speed limit from 30 miles per hour to 25 miles per hour and, as a result, our children have a safer in our community. The Florida Department of Transportation (“FDOT”) is saying that it will take three years to complete a PD&E study for our area and after that, when the road is widened, plans will be processed, approved and construction would commence for a sound wall. This process will take approximately ten years. The position of the FDOT is that we have to take responsibility for moving next to Interstate 75. More than ten years ago, when most of the homeowners moved into our area, Interstate 75 was a highway on the west part of town, with minimal traffic and the sound and pollution factor was minimal. In addition, there were melaleuca bushes all along the highway, which created a cushion for the noise and pollution. The Department of Transportation had those bushes removed in 2000 because the plants were too intrusive and replaced them with less dense foliage, which foliage was removed by Hurricane Katrina. They are in the process of replenishing that shrubbery, but it has not had much of an impact on the noise and pollution. Now, it is like living next to Interstate 95. Most of these homeowners pay real estate taxes between $5,000.00 to $12,000.00 per year and the families cannot enjoy their yards or sell their property because of the noise and pollution factors.
I would like some guidance as to how we may be able to obtain funding for an earlier solution to this issue. Is there any federal funding that your office can purse to match the state and possible county contributions? The price to build the sound wall increases materially every year. Today it would cost $50 per square foot, when a couple of years ago, it would have cost $17 per square foot. Any assistance you may provide would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your time and service and I look forward to hearing from you.
Respectfully submitted,
Gisela Nanson Torres, Esq.
Gisela Nanson Torres, P.A.
15327 N.W. 60th Avenue, Suite 215
Miami Lakes, Florida 33014
Phone (305) 698-0926
Fax (305) 698-0928
Posted August 26, 2007
Dear residents & HBHA Board:
I just had a phone conversation by a Will Suero who is part of the contract engineer company performing the PD&E study and has the oversight for the project.
He is a member of the FDOT I-75 team, who happens to live in River Stone. He is very sensitive to the needs of sound walls and has also spoken to Mr. Luis and before that Judy Paul. He also understands the FDOT procedures.
He is dropping off to me Monday, 150 project fact sheets to help explain the I-75 FDOT project & processes for our meeting on Tuesday evening.
I hope we can facilitate the meeting to try and have all the residents on one page regarding where the I-75 project is and where it is going as far as sound walls are concerned. We also need help with a couple of task items that others can take on, so none of us are individually burdened too much.
As we know, the FDOT sound wall and the funding and all the political items are all driven by processes and procedures. These are all dictated by Federal Transportation laws with individual input from the local MPO. The local MPO can kill, alter or change projects very quickly. I hope that we can understand as residents there are a LOAD of issues with this I-75 project, not just sound walls.
1. One resident in Waterford brought home the issues of imminent domain and are they going to suggest taking property for Park and ride lots or lanes or intersections?
2. I am keenly interested in this “transit/bus” lane that is being proposed, in addition to the possible widening and reconfiguring both bridges and interchanges.
3. This I-75 project is part of a master transportation plan to connect with the East/West I-595 transit project and in Dade County, the Palmetto expressway, so reversible lanes and other mass transit ideas will be interjected.
4. Time frames and fast-tracking is also a concept that will be discussed, which may involve privatizing some of the project funding, which could bring tolling certain occupancy or “speed lanes” on I-75 into the picture. This could help our cause.
We need to have knowledge of how this all ties in and how we as individual residents will be effected, both positively and negatively. Thanks again the Hawkes Bluff Homeowners Association Board for relinquishing their meeting time and providing refreshments. I do know we also have some residents bring goodies.
Please distribute this to our list Robert and I look forward to the meeting, again Next Tuesday 8/28 at 7:30 pm at the Ivanhoe community center.
Any suggestions for the meeting are welcomed. We have an agenda and I will be bringing writing pad easels to jot down ideas.
John Pickett jjpickett@bellsouth.net
Posted September 10, 2007
Posted August 16, 2007
Dear Ivanhoe Residents & Friends,
Robert Giordano - Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate (Hawkes Bluff of Ivanhoe Crime Watch Co-ordinator)
BREAK-IN ON SOUTH SEDGEWYCK CIRCLE June 13, 2007 during a bad thunderstorm so when the alarm sounded no one thought anything of it.
-----Original
Message-----
From: John_George@davie-fl.gov [mailto:John_George@davie-fl.gov]
Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2006 3:15 PM
To: rgiordan
Cc: John_Sansabrino@davie-fl.gov
Subject: Community watch information
Good Afternoon, I have attached
information that should be useful to residents, specifically in your
area. Recently a resident of Chelsea fell victim to an armed robbery
in her driveway. Since there has only been one reported incident such
as this, I feel that making people aware that this threat exists may
serve to prevent future incidents such as this from reoccurring. Please
contact me if there are any questions, but I feel that the more people
received this, it will help to prevent another situation similar from
occurring.
ATTACHED:
The victim, a resident of Chelsea,
off 148th Ave and 51st Street had just returned home and parked her
vehicle in the driveway. She then observed a dark colored 4 door vehicle
stop in front of her residence. The driver of the vehicle, a black
female 16-20 years of age, asked the victim for directions to Weston.
Two black males 16-20 years of age then
exited the vehicle from the rear seats. One suspect attempted to take
the victim’s purse and tote bag that she had over her shoulder. When the
victim attempted to prevent the first suspect from taking her purse and
bag, the second suspect pointed a black semi-automatic handgun at her
and told her to let go of the bag. The victim was then struck in the
back of the head with the handgun, causing her to let go of her purse
and bag.
The suspects entered the vehicle
which then exited the development and fled in an unknown direction. The
victim was unable to get a tag number from the vehicle.
The video surveillance from the
front gate of the development was reviewed but detectives were unable to
get a tag from the suspect vehicle or determine its make or model.
The black female suspect is
described as 16-18 years of age and slim.
Both black males were described
as 16-20 years of age, slim build, clean shaven with short hair.
RESIDENTS SHOULD BE VERY CAREFUL
TO WATCH AND SEE IF IT APPEARS THAT SOMEONE MAY BE FOLLOWING THEM. IF
SO, DRIVE AWAY FROM THEIR HOME TO A WELL LIT POPULATED AREA AND SUMMON
THE POLICE OR TAKE OTHER PREVENTATIVE STEPS TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR SAFETY.
IF THE PERSON HAS A CELLPHONE, THEY SHOULD CONTACT THE POLICE WHILE
DRIVING AWAY SO THAT RESPONDING UNITS CAN INTERCEDE.
This information is being provide
for informational purposes only.
Posted October 24, 2006
FLORIDA COMPREHENSIVE HURRICANE DAMAGE MITIGATION PROGRAM
To help Floridians identify how they can strengthen their homes against hurricanes and to reduce hurricane damage exposure in our state, the Florida Comprehensive Hurricane Damage Mitigation Program is offering free home inspections by qualified hurricane mitigation inspectors to eligible homeowners.
This is not an
entitlement program. You must apply and obtain approval in order to
receive the free inspection. Requesting or obtaining an inspection does
not guarantee or automatically qualify you for a grant. Floridians
whose homes have undergone a wind certification and hurricane mitigation
inspection approved by the Department of Financial Services will then be
eligible to apply for matching grants up to $5,000.
A Floridian whose primary residence is a single-family, site-built home
with an insured value of less than $500,000 and who has a homestead
exemption will be eligible to
apply for a free home inspection.
A Floridian possessing a homestead exemption whose primary residence has an insured value of less than $500,000 and is a unit in a residential building of up to four units will also be eligible to apply for a free home inspection. All unit owners in a residential building must agree to participate in the program to be eligible for free inspections.
Properties not eligible for free home inspections include mobile homes or manufactured homes, second homes, rental properties, apartments or businesses.
Posted August 27, 2006
http://www.mysafefloridahome.com/
Dear Ivanhoe Residents,
Dear Ivanhoe Residents,
These include:
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
