[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6565040,"mediaKeyId","3231260-df35e2dcfbc64b3c9e50662974ec865e","parentId",3231260,"title","Votes at a glance: Margate commission approves consent items, Board of Adjustment appointment and National Night Out funding","audioSeconds",295,"startMs",8605000,"endMs",8900000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3231260-df35e2dcfbc64b3c9e50662974ec865e&start=8605&end=8900","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3231260-df35e2dcfbc64b3c9e50662974ec865e/thumbnail_8605000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6565040/Margate/Broward-County/Florida/Votes-at-a-glance-Margate-commission-approves-consent-items-Board-of-Adjustment-appointment-and-National-Night-Out-funding","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6565040-9a7004ee05d1eab29e090499aa240268/orig.mp4?Expires=1770436402&Signature=bLOcamlkF0czrmQCWolhqAH1jNgeXkKLt2wdBBJ~8zI9Xj2tpkoBiXk~9hfvv3NyujBRyVbxaUjzhtConmT0WuOuDN1xtzX2J5pNCoZPdJH9xSdpem3OeH94oh0erbvpHh8JExVFO0VeNR2eBZpOuxFPEGC3~QqA4VqCtlwfuMNnHe6IgS6RE2isLj3we7yOG8xwkAWFmujXzOihVPelTPq5Q3o-m09EQ21vrwwlgOiEpPkfhO2JGu~uV-Omcb30NfopRxX4cWMs6Sp-tQXx6oJn75P8sC0TTTceSphtZ-riyWkFD61D0-ydYjulDOhB-UEHHAo0zld9ob5obHrMuw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Margate","date","2025-05-08T00:00:00Z","article","The Margate City Commission on May 7 approved several routine and fiscal items on its consent agenda and took three recorded votes during the meeting.

Consent agenda: The commission approved minutes from April 2 and April 16, 2025, and adopted multiple resolutions summarized by staff: rejecting proposals for RFP 2025-005 (trenchless rehabilitation and pipe bursting services), authorizing staff to negotiate continuing design‑build services with five ranked firms (Global Tech Inc.; Lawrence Lee Construction Services, Inc.; AECOM Technical Services, Inc.; David Mancini & Sons, Inc.; Giannetti Contracting Corp.), and authorizing negotiation with the top‑ranked firm Lawrence Lee Construction Services, Inc., for Wastewater Treatment Plant Aeration Basin Upgrades. These items were approved by roll call (all commissioners voting yes on the consent vote).

Board appointment: The commission appointed Russell Anderson to the Margate Board of Adjustment for a term commencing May 7, 2025, through March 18, 2026. Commissioner Rosano moved to insert Anderson's name; the motion carried on roll call vote (Rosano, Casiano, Simone, Vice Mayor Serio and Mayor Schwartz all voted yes).

National Night Out funding: The commission approved a resolution to provide partial funding for the city's National Night Out event on Aug. 5, 2025, authorizing the use of up to $70,000 from the State Law Enforcement Trust Fund and supplemental donations from the general fund as needed. The resolution was approved by roll call (all commissioners voting yes).

The meeting also forwarded for first reading an ordinance on nonnative invasive iguanas (see separate article).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Margate - 5/7/25 Regular City Commission Meeting - May 08, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","On May 7 the Margate City Commission approved consent agenda items including design‑build continuing services and a wastewater upgrade contract negotiation, appointed Russell Anderson to the Board of Adjustment, and authorized up to $70,000 for National Night Out promotions funded from the state law enforcement trust fund.","taxTitle","Margate, Broward County, Florida","taxId",5088,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6565044,"Residents urge Margate to tackle worsening road safety; debate continues over school‑zone speed cameras",673,4842000,5515000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3231260-df35e2dcfbc64b3c9e50662974ec865e&start=4842&end=5515","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3231260-df35e2dcfbc64b3c9e50662974ec865e/thumbnail_4842000.jpg","/articles/6565044/Margate/Broward-County/Florida/Residents-urge-Margate-to-tackle-worsening-road-safety-debate-continues-over-schoolzone-speed-cameras","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6565044-d9f599b2f6af29f4216e53b6bb92b7f6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770436402&Signature=hF3K6PVUuXhstkbQGRZIjx3C0hGUNlWJrC4CiccPPWMlmIZRh1OnuFx1TVIESy2KxHAYUU40A5WX0e8ulZfkA2ayraZMtQh6saZ-vtFkBNatTUaX0IdJLJdqmKW529YM2YXfeokXTzCjj3f5GIsyHVcap5OZjQzYFam79-kX9c~qEItq~bx~Av8cSxfRiZg3e3PXBuI-aZb1Iua5rbFdCDgE8PmC2IU7we1BtQjxctVRUhUBLTRwISpj8E5tRDksNbrvhi8pViabJjEbEYkYyLBmNL9m6nw93ZCj~gJ4~gP3VKMs9-NUj4AgiRmLhGlmJ5lLIUu5VzcuLwotGa~3BA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Residents told the Margate City Commission on May 7 they are alarmed by repeated collisions and fatalities at the Royal Palm Road and Rock Island Road corridor and other arterial streets and urged stronger action on traffic safety.

Tracy Van Winkle, a Margate resident, said the commission's earlier vote to enable school‑zone speed cameras worries neighbors and does not address higher‑speed crashes elsewhere: \"The school zones are not where it's at, guys. Let's don't do these speeding cameras. We just need to have people slow down.\" Several other speakers described multiple recent serious crashes at Royal Palm and Rock Island and called for engineering changes and county coordination.

Resident Kenneth Kraljek argued automatic enforcement could reduce officer‑initiated stops that lead to detection of more serious crimes and expressed legal and fairness concerns about camera fines and appeal procedures. Kraljek said automated citations would be cheaper and less effective at deterring serious speeding because they do not involve officer contact.

Commissioners responded that the May 7 vote only enabled the city to use cameras if the city later chose a vendor and that officers would not be removed from school‑zone enforcement when lights are flashing. Commissioner Robert Simone said the goal is changing driver behavior rather than revenue: \"All we did was enable legislation if we were ever to choose someone to monitor school zone cameras. We didn't hire anyone. We didn't say we were going to hire anyone. We didn't rig the system because if you've heard me speak, it's about changing behavior, not collecting money.\" He said staff will schedule a workshop to review the existing rules and enforcement priorities.

Commissioners and residents referenced an upcoming Broward MPO presentation on safety improvements; one speaker urged the commission to make that a priority. Several residents also tied traffic concerns to larger quality‑of‑life issues, including homelessness and mental‑health supports discussed earlier in the meeting.

There was no formal vote on new traffic measures during the meeting; commissioners directed staff to continue outreach and recommended a future workshop on school‑zone rules and enforcement.","Multiple residents told the Margate commission on May 7 that recent collisions at Royal Palm and Rock Island require immediate action; speakers opposed automated school‑zone speed cameras and urged more enforcement and county-level safety planning.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6565049,"Margate approves first reading to allow removal of nonnative invasive iguanas after residents cite property damage and safety concerns",4151,6601000,10752000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3231260-df35e2dcfbc64b3c9e50662974ec865e&start=6601&end=10752","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3231260-df35e2dcfbc64b3c9e50662974ec865e/thumbnail_6601000.jpg","/articles/6565049/Margate/Broward-County/Florida/Margate-approves-first-reading-to-allow-removal-of-nonnative-invasive-iguanas-after-residents-cite-property-damage-and-safety-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6565049-d9982ea7af49e6cd5afc00c4c086c5cd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770436402&Signature=WvPq8J~gwYhkp6TBndXdPFLu18KuonQP4GddmiO705N~9FwSAkll0SKGT2HoF3vVCXuwwHhayKdWlvucBBZrYXtSv~-dFLhvD0~HrC4xPPYIhc6m1I8fTU5BkJkpKfGhBPBZ30KLG~0WnEdG972p0aYuDGRYms30DVJVzI-B-B~46yPuC0XlRDW59DPwnhUluy6bC91Se6lkYOdn4gxXQwMdTJ7DwoaCFO4gv18Yc0-HlrYYUerUX7lRNOmA6eeFbsCrB87hH7PX8YQJS~2iOKRKPIRWKcV-eXX~6jOQq0hd8K0NnOjc-5yvOPimXLta33~jFqKp1iyni6fz8A9Nww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Margate City Commission on May 7 voted to approve first reading of an ordinance amending the city code to allow capture and humane euthanasia of nonnative invasive iguanas and related species on private property, with an amendment referencing the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission list of nonnative invasive species.

The change alters the city's animal-cruelty prohibition to add an exception for nonnative invasive iguanas and other species identified by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, and for 'certain nuisance animals' noted in the ordinance as amended. The vote on first reading was 4-1 (Commissioners Rosano, Casiano, Simone and Vice Mayor Serio voting yes; Mayor Arlene Schwartz voting no). The ordinance will return for a second reading.

Residents from Paradise Gardens and other neighborhoods urged the commission to act, saying iguanas have burrowed under seawalls, shredded landscaping and sickened pets. John Donahue, president of Paradise Gardens Section 4, said his community has seen expensive structural damage: \"We had a person screaming that they're over my doors. . . . We had a woman here last time that had a bill of $14,000 for the destruction of her seawall,\" Donahue said. Other residents described repeated yard damage, deep holes that create trip hazards and lost crops and gardens.

Supporters told commissioners they had tried deterrence measures and private trappers but needed a local option. MJ Duff, addressing the commission for neighbors who had requested help, said: \"They were all trapped. . . . These people are scared. They've all needed help by us.\" Michael Peek, a Paradise Gardens resident, urged a structured, police‑coordinated program to keep removal humane and safe: \"Do something about it. . . . Organize it with the police department and . . . qualify certain people as good shooters, which we have. So it's done humanely. It can be done safely.\"

Commissioners debated two central questions: which species to include and who may perform removals. Commissioner Robert Simone moved to expand the draft to include other nuisance species raised at the meeting (Simone named Bufo frogs during discussion) and to tie the list of allowed nonnative species to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) and accepted humane-euthanasia guidance. Commissioner Simone said, \"If it is on his property and he gives somebody permission to be on his property, what difference does it make to you who he chooses to kill the [animal]?\" The amendment was seconded and incorporated into the ordinance language on first reading.

Mayor Arlene Schwartz voted against first reading, citing concerns about public safety and the possibility that untrained people could discharge weapons. Several speakers, and some commissioners, described incidents of people firing from boats on the C-14 canal and worried about stray projectiles. Commissioner David Casiano urged limits and accountability for anyone removing animals other than the property owner. The city attorney noted the city cannot regulate firearms contrary to state law and recommended tying species lists to FWC designations to avoid substantive changes that would require re-advertising the ordinance.

Public commenters and some commissioners raised practical points that the commission asked staff to address before final adoption: whether licensed trappers exist locally and typical disposal practices (residents described double-bagging carcasses and placing them in regular garbage), the potential liability if removals are done on others' property, and prohibitions on minors operating BB guns (speakers referenced Florida rules that limit minors' use of certain projectile devices).

The ordinance text on first reading will permit humanely euthanizing nonnative invasive iguanas and other FWC-listed nonnative invasive species on private property; the commission also directed staff and the city attorney to prepare clearer language on permitted methods and any other safeguards to present at second reading.

The commission scheduled a second reading; staff said changes that are 'substantive' could require republication and an additional hearing. The city attorney and staff will provide draft language tying the allowed species to FWC and clarifying enforcement and method limits ahead of the next reading.

Votes and next steps: The ordinance passed on first reading 4-1 and will return for a second reading with revised language to clarify permitted species and operational safeguards.","The Margate City Commission voted 4-1 on May 7 to approve first reading of an ordinance creating an exception to the city's anti‑cruelty rule so landowners may capture and humanely euthanize nonnative invasive iguanas and similar species; commissioners and residents debated who may perform removals and what methods are allowed.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Margate commission approves consent items, Board of Adjustment appointment and National Night Out funding

Residents urge Margate to tackle worsening road safety; debate continues over school‑zone speed cameras

Margate approves first reading to allow removal of nonnative invasive iguanas after residents cite property damage and safety concerns