Port de Mer

It’s Always Best To Know The Facts

As many of you know, the Town is considering purchasing the vacant land next door to Town Hall as well as the oceanfront parcel that is platted with it (1205/1206 Hillsboro Mile). There have been five public meetings at which the purchase of this property has been discussed, the first one being December 3, 2019. There are multiple reasons for considering this purchase. However, the single most important reason relates to our beach. 

To renourish the beach, the Town must have an access point for actually getting sand to the beach.  A beach nourishment is a monumental project that takes several weeks and up to 200 trucks a day delivering sand.  Not only does the Town need a construction access point to the beach, but nourishment projects also require a substantial amount of space for “staging” the sand.  The 1205/1206 parcel offers both.
 
In addition, this property is located smack dab in the middle of the northern mile of Town where the beach is chronically eroded due to the Deerfield groins. Other parcels have been considered, however, there is not a more perfect parcel in the whole Town for purposes of beach nourishment. 
 
Another all-important piece to this decision is that from a legal standpoint, Deerfield has challenged the Town’s right to file suit because the Town doesn’t actually own property along the beach. The purchase of this property would definitively establish the Town’s standing for legal issues involving the beach.

Beware of Personal Agendas

 Unfortunately, a small group of residents has mounted a campaign to create dissension over the purchase of this property. The information being supplied by this group is intentionally misleading, and in some cases, blatant untruths. They have been made aware of inaccuracies in the information they are claiming is factual, yet they persist in spreading false rumors. There is a simple explanation for this – they live next to the property being considered, and the NIMB syndrome (not-in-my-backyard) is in full swing. The fact is, members of the group did not initially object to the Town purchasing property, as long as it was somewhere else.

While it is understandable that during a beach nourishment there will be disruption, the vast majority of time, the area would exist as green space. Neighboring properties would have a more wide-open expanse of sky than if the land is sold to a developer. If the Town owns the property, scraggly, overgrown brush and a dilapidated building that needs to be torn down would be replaced by tended landscaping, with buffer zones installed for the privacy of neighboring properties.

Only Three Options

As long as the Deerfield groin situation remains unchanged, the residents of the Town of Hillsboro Beach have only three options when it comes to beach management:
 
Option #1 – We do nothing. This means residents pay zero dollars to maintain the beach. While we all wish we didn’t have to pay to have a beach, the simple fact is that if we want to have a beach, Option #1 is not a viable option. In just a few short years, Hillsboro Beach would become Hillsboro Cove, including the south end of Town, although it would take longer for the devastation to move south.
 
Option #2 – We do what we have to do to take care of our beach ourselves. This option costs money. FEMA funding from hurricanes will not necessarily be there when we need it. The 1205/1206 property is critical for the Town to be able to make Option #2 a viable option.
 
Option #3 – We ask the State for financial assistance IF that’s a decision residents make. The 1205/1206 property would be the insurance policy allowing us to request State funding at some point in the future, should the need arise.

It’s Always Best to Know the Facts

If you are concerned about whether the Town should purchase the 1205/1206 property, please plan to attend the public meeting being held at Town Hall on February 25, 2020, at 9:00 a.m. Your elected officials and Town staff know the facts. Disruptive residents with personal agendas and axes to grind are not a good source for factual information.

Sincerely,

Deb Tarrant
Mayor

Click here to read Mayor Deb Tarrant’s February 2020 quarterly letter.

Dear Homeowners,

This has been a very aggressive and productive year at Port de Mer. The major facelift and extensive renovations began in August and will continue into the new year. In addition to this project, there has been a good deal accomplished in the areas of maintenance repairs and upgrades. The financial side saw the development of the 2020 Budget as well as closely monitoring spending and overdue accounts which are at an all-time low for our property. Attached is a summary of 2019 accomplishments along with an update on our renovation and remodeling projects.

The elevator modernization is in progress and we are looking for completion of the first A1 cab by Feb 2020. This, the most expensive element of our renovation, required careful review of four different companies and bids. The multiple negotiations and revisions along with legal reviews took much longer than expected. However, this labor-intensive effort insured that we made the right choice with the right company to produce a quality product at the best price.

With the level of new projects and increased activity this year we especially recognize and appreciate the skill and expertise of our property manager, Colleen Cooney. Undertaking a project of this magnitude would not be possible with a less qualified manager. We thank Colleen for her coordination, attention to detail and for juggling all the special projects and everyday issues it takes to manage our property. We also thank our maintenance supervisor Elucier, who meets and helps the myriad of sub-contractors during renovations, as well as serving the day to day needs of homeowners. We thank maintenance man Brudus and our cleaning staff for maintaining our property. We welcome Admin. George Ovens to our office team and are happy to have him on board. We will all continue to work hard to protect and improve Port de Mer, our “Jewel on the Mile”.

The Board of Directors appreciates the continued cooperation and understanding of our residents who might be inconvenienced from time to time during the renovation process. We assure you that the end result will be worth the temporary impact we all feel.

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa and a safe enjoyable Holiday Season.

Respectfully,
Board of Directors Port de Mer, Inc.

2019 Accomplishments

Financial

• Completed successful Audit.
• Monitored and follow-up on all Overdue Maintenance and Assessment accounts. maintaining the lowest “overdue” amounts to date.
• Developed Final 2020Budget with Partial Funding.
• Weekly communications regarding Loan Documents and accounts, negotiated Bank Loan agreements and set up new bank accounts with Valley National Bank.
• Closely monitored spending keeping renovation budget on track.

Legal

• Legal review of Bank closing Documents.
• Legal review of final Contracts with Hartzell Painting/Construction.
• Provided support and interrogatories in defense of three pending lawsuits.
• Worked with our Legal team in preparing termination letter for prior Elevator vendor.
• Obtained legal action as necessary and appropriate for overdue maintenance accounts.

Painting and Renovation

• Negotiated and signed Contracts with Hartzell Painting and Construction Co. for Renovation Project including interior and exterior painting, total interior remodel, impact windows & lobby doors, LED lighting-Building permit applications in; inspector has visited PDM to better understand our project; permits in process.
• Worked with Designer on renovation suggestions and purchased lobby furniture rom City Furniture—furniture is ready for delivery when lobbies are finished.
• Negotiated and signed contract with Medallion for Hallway Carpeting-carpeting will be ready for delivery in January.
• Negotiated and signed contract with Floors Direct for Tile, (lobby, social room and elevator aprons).
• Met with Fuji, Oracle and United and reviewed proposals for new elevators.
• Signed contract with United Elevator.
• Negotiated and ordered with RoomsToGo for purchase of Social Room Furniture-furniture is available for delivery.
• Negotiated for and ordered reupholstery of social room rattan furniture.
• New tile installation has begun in B1.
• Painting of laundry rooms this winter by our maintenance staff.

Maintenance

• Elevator modification commenced in December on A side.
• Replaced B1 storm sewer and domestic supply pipe.
• Relocated sump pump in B1 Garage. Replaced sump pump in A1.
• Concrete restoration in A1-603 and B1 10.
• Replaced Condenser and fan in A2.
• Replaced Heat pump in A/C in B2.
• Repaired leak in evaporator coil A1.
• Replaced index valve in the irrigation system on the A side.
• Replaced all hardware of garage gates including motors in A2 and B2.
• Replaced 100 AMP circuit Breaker in A1.
• Replaced disconnect box on service elevator in A1.
• Repaired domestic water pump in A1, B1 and B2.
• Replaced pipe hangers holding pipe lines on A and B sides.
• Upgraded lift stations & equipment thee A side to prevent garage flooding.
• A-Tech contracts completed for updated Fire Panels, replacement is in process.
• Negotiated new Camera System with Pro Tech, installation is underway.
• AIS replaced all duct work in all four buildings.
• Installed new underground Gas Tank.
• New Generator ordered for A1.
• B side Pool Resurfaced.
• Replaced several fan motors throughout property.
• Replaced three fire hoses in Garage level A2, B1 and B2.
• Payless Plumbing repaired 2 leaks in B2 and 1 in A1.
• Obtaining proposals for landscaping and rock island design on the A side courtyard.
• Arranged for engineering inspection of the A side seawall.

Special Commission Meeting – Thu, Jan. 2, 2020 Agenda

To: Hillsboro Beach Taxpayers
Subject: Proposed Settlement for Beach Litigation

Original Proposal Tabled

On October 4th, the Commission voted to table for 30 days a settlement proposal for the litigation between Deerfield and Hillsboro regarding our beach. Tabling the proposal was necessary because several key elements needed further clarification, the two most significant being the placement of a proposed easement that would facilitate third-party funding (County, State, and Federal) and the availability of third-party funding. The primary basis of the proposed settlement was the assumption that third-party funding could be obtained to lessen the burden on Hillsboro Beach taxpayers for repairing the damage caused by Deerfield’s groins.

Critical Information Gathered

Since the proposal was tabled, the Commission has gathered critical information regarding third-party funding. According to Broward County representatives, neither the Federal government (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – USACE) nor the County is a viable source of third-party funding. The USACE considers a beach nourishment project of the size covered by the settlement proposal to be too small to warrant even the cost of the evaluation study necessary for a Federal project.

Regarding potential funding from the County, according to County personnel, a nourishment project as described in the settlement proposal does not qualify for County funding because the County’s beach dollars come from the Tourist Development Tax (TDT) and can only be spent to further tourism. Obviously, Hillsboro Beach has no restaurants or hotels that contribute TDT tax dollars.

Location of Proposed Easement

An easement granted by Deerfield Beach to Hillsboro Beach as part of the settlement proposal was necessary to support “adequate public access” to be eligible for third-party funds. Deerfield’s proposed placement of the easement, south of their rock revetment/boardwalk, was first presented to the Commission on Friday, November 1st, and is unquestionably inappropriate for a number of reasons:

1. This is the most chronically eroded area of the entire beach. Access is routinely blocked when the area ends up underwater. State funding mandates that an access point remain viable for 10 years following a nourishment.
2. This area is unsafe for pedestrian traffic given the instability of the rock revetment and the instability of the beach itself in that area due to erosion. This creates a liability for the Town.
3. The proposed easement would put the Town at risk for a potential lawsuit from private property owners because the easement would steer pedestrians directly onto private property in order to get to the public portion of the beach. In addition to infringing on residents’ rights, this could put the Town in violation of HB 631 signed into law on July 1, 2018 which says municipalities cannot lay claim to private property without going through a court procedure.

Commissioners Voted on Nov. 5, 2019

At a special meeting Tuesday, November 5th, Commissioners voted unanimously (5-0) to reject the proposed settlement agreement. The bottom line is that without a viable easement and with only State money as potential third-party funding, the burden for correcting the issues caused by Deerfield’s structures remains far too great for Hillsboro Beach taxpayers to shoulder. Commissioners were initially optimistic that a viable partnership could be achieved. Sadly, what started out to be a real potential settlement, ended up as basically the status quo with the exception that the agreement would have taken away Hillsboro’s right to pursue mitigation in the future, and it would have created a new onus for Hillsboro to maintain a public access point in an area that is impossible to maintain if Deerfield chooses to ignore their responsibility to keep sand on the beach.

What Happens Now?

On December 11th, Judge David Haimes has scheduled a case management conference so he can be brought up to speed on what has transpired while mediation was being pursued. At that time, we will be asking the Judge for a “date certain” for the trial to be set as quickly as possible because the litigation is creating a burden for two municipalities. There is no guarantee the Judge will grant a “date certain.” We may have to go back on his trial calendar for the next available “calendar call.” The trial is estimated to take five days. At this point we cannot venture a guess as to when that might be.

The Commission is very disappointed a viable settlement for a true partnership with our neighbors could not be achieved.

Sincerely,
Deb Tarrant
Mayor

After many hours spent in the shade session with our attorneys, discussing the recent agreement between DFB and Hillsboro Beach, we came back and had an open meeting for the public to respond with their concerns. I made a motion not to accept the agreement that included an easement to PDM property and all 4 other commission members agreed. By doing so we have instructed the attorneys to take this matter to court. I want to thank all the residents of PDM who attended the meeting and E-Mailed their concerns to me and my fellow commission members. It all helped in making our final decision.

Andrew Brown
Commissioner Hillsboro Beach and proud resident of Port de Mer

Please click here to see the agenda for the town of Hillsboro Beach’s Tue Nov 5, 2019 Special Commission Meeting Agenda. Please read items X and XI regarding the pending lawsuit between Hillsboro Beach and Deerfield Beach. At 4:00 pm the commission will reconvene to vote on the proposed agreement. This agreement affects Port de Mer and our beach. Commissioner Andrew Brown has advised that 4:00 is when the public needs to come and address their concerns before the commission votes.

Hello Mayor Tarrant, Commissioners and Town Manager Serda!

We had a lot of honks, thumbs up and hand waves from passersby today on E. Hillsboro Beach Blvd at our “Rally Against Single-use Plastic” today!

NOTE: Should the Town want to consider canned water or the 5-gallon delivered water dispensers for water distribution at meetings and events, there are a few options instead of water in plastic bottles.

La Croix is one canned product option and there are many other store-brand flavored and sparkling water options in cans. The more we refuse plastic, the better!

Hillsboro Beach Green Team
Stephanie Steinberg
1167 Hillsboro Mile, #515
Hillsboro Beach, FL 33062
Cell 303-819-3131

The Town of Hillsboro Beach is honored to celebrate its 80th Anniversary of service, engaging citizens and showcasing the work of municipal government!

Part of Florida City Government Week, all residents are invited to attend the upcoming FREE Community Recycling and Shredding Event on Saturday, October 26, 2019 9am-12pm at Town Hall. Clean out your closets and enjoy delicious hotdogs & snacks.

MY TOWN – I’m Part of It, I’m Proud of It
We look forward to seeing you!

https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-ne-baby-sea-turtle-dead-plastic-inside-stomach-20191004-puncgag25rf4tehj7xd4javt7q-story.html

NOTE: We found a stressed baby turtle on Hillsboro Beach a few weeks ago in the seaweed and took it to Gumbo Limbo. As it turned out, ALL the washed-up baby turtles brought to Gumbo Limbo had plastic inside their intestinal tracks.

Please help encourage each other to stop using plastic, especially single-use plastic which we find on the beach EVERY DAY. Also, the more often everyone does beach cleanups, we keep turtles (seabirds, fish, etc.) from eating that plastic before the plastic pieces go back out with the tide.

Keep making a difference!

Thank you!

Hillsboro Beach Green Team
Stephanie Steinberg
1167 Hillsboro Mile, #515
Hillsboro Beach, FL 33062
Cell 303-819-3131

Check out our Facebook page! New posts all the time!
https://www.facebook.com/pg/TownOfHillsboroBeachGreenTeam

MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
DATE: TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2019 7:00 P.M.
PLACE: MEETING ROOM, 1236 HILLSBORO MILE

AGENDA

1. Call to order
2. Quorum of the Board of Directors
3. Approval of Minutes
4. Treasurer’s Report
5. Correspondence
6. Old Business
   1. Update on Elevators, Interior Design, hallway Paint Project and Social Rooms.
   2. Trash Doors
   3. Security Camera replacement
7. New Business
   1. Budget discussion/mailing
   2. Door Knockers/Numbers
8. Adjournment

Clear the Clutter Hillsboro Beach

On Saturday, October 26th the Town will host a FREE Shred Day for all residents for onsite document destruction of their personal information.
Also, great opportunity to drop off any unused or expired prescription drug medication and Household Hazardous Waste for safe disposal.
Electronics Recycling will be collected as well…FREE!

Come and join us at Town Hall on Saturday, Oct. 26th from 9:00 a.m. – 12 p.m.