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As we celebrate our 16-year Anniversary, I am elated to present the City of West Park State of the City Address!
I’d like to thank our City Commissioners for your leadership and unwavering commitment to our city: Vice Mayor Anthony Dorsett, and Commissioners Brandon Smith, Marvin Price, and Joy Smith. I also pay tribute to the past leaders of this city who served with me, for without them there would be no “us” now. To the members of our City staff family…there is no better team in any City! From the bottom of my heart, it is an honor to work alongside you every day to serve our residents. Your tireless works and deeds don’t go unnoticed.
And…to our residents: THANK YOU for your passion, your ambition, and your love for our City. Everything our City is and will be…is because of you. You ALL play an important role in creating our West Park story. To my family, friends and other colleagues: to all of you, thank you for your time today.
I would be remiss if I didn’t thank every healthcare worker and first responder (police and fire) on the front lines of COVID-19. We also recognize in this moment all those in our city battling with COVID-19, and extend our sincerest, heartfelt condolences in memory of West Park residents who have succumbed to COVID-19.
Oftentimes, a State of the City Address is an opportunity for celebration. As we gather today in this, the 16th anniversary year of our founding, I would like to begin by looking back, not for the sake of nostalgia, but for fostering a better understanding of where we are today. Cities do not exist independently of their histories. More often than not, our current hopes and dreams stand in no small part on the shoulders of decisions made in prior decades.
Over the past year, simultaneously we have had a health crisis, social crisis, and economic crisis, yet the state of our city remains strong. We planned and we managed. Although a massive challenge, we are proud to report that during this pandemic we were able to provide Temporary Rent, Mortgage and Utilities Assistance to 53 families, equaling $98,708.56; and Mom & Pop Small Business Grant Assistance which included distribution of personal protective equipment to non-profit and religious institutions in the amount of $26K.
This was a tremendous feat, and we are thankful to be able to bless our residents, small businesses, non-profit organizations and religious institutions in the grand total amount of $124,708.56. Along with this, from April 2020 up until this past weekend, we have been able to feed close to 6,000 families with our free food distributions.
We have progressed immensely in the past 15 years, and the City of West Park is positioned to aggressively advance and continue boldly building our legacy. So now tonight, we get to work! Because our city’s future will be set by those coming together to build community and create opportunity.
We are going to be strategically intentional as we continue to build. Today I will share a plan to deliberately focus on three areas: Service, Equality and Empowerment. Focusing on S.E.E. will allow us to keep your needs in mind, ensure we support and serve all residents in the City of West Park, and empower our residents with the knowledge and skills needed to compete in and out of West Park for generations to come… for the eyes of the future are looking back at us and they are praying for us to see beyond our own time. They are kneeling with hands clasped that we might act with restraint, that we might leave room for the life that is destined to come.
BOLD NEW ERA: SERVICE
There is a hunger for a fresh approach to our most persistent problems. With new ideas, an emphasis on strategic planning, and a commitment to a more transparent, inclusive city government, we can overcome some challenges. As a city, we are here to serve the community in a professional manner. That means our business culture is all about creating peace of mind for our residents. We do this by building a service-minded city by always keeping our residents’ and business community’s needs in mind.
The pandemic has turned the world outside our doorsteps into a newly formed wilderness.
Public spaces are now areas to be ventured into sparingly, so for most of us our worlds have shrunk to the size of our homes. Since this is our new normal, how might we design our city’s tomorrow so that the outdoors doesn’t become a consistent no-go zone, but remains a safe and habitable space? Further, how do we provide the same level of service while protecting residents? I am proud to say that we have already made great strides in this area, but we will continue to push the boundaries that have been set for West Park.
West Park is, and will continue to be, a city that delivers high quality public services to all people in all areas. We will work hard to create opportunities for residents and businesses that prioritize community participation and inclusion for all, and make policies and decisions that create a stimulating and enjoyable life for residents. We are looking at how to retrofit our buildings and public spaces for social distancing, as well as creative ways to virtually deliver services. In this bold new era here are a few ways we will provide service:
Safe Reopening of Parks
While we are cognizant that parks are widely recognized as critical for health and wellness, reducing anxiety, stress, and depression, and improving physical health during this public health emergency, it continues to be our collective responsibility to ensure the safety and welfare of our residents and city staff. With that being said, we are diligently working to find solutions within our means to fully open our parks in a COVID safe manner. In the meantime, McTyre Park and Mary Saunders Park remain open for you to exercise and walk, Monday through Saturday, 8-10 am and 4 pm to sunset.
Youth Programs
For our youth, we recognize that staying physically active is one of the best ways to keep their minds and bodies healthy. Park access is now more important than ever as our children have transitioned to total virtual learning. Right now we have our virtual after school program that runs Monday-Friday from 2-4pm. We are currently working on developing experiences for the youth that emulate the present and future of our parks and recreation that will develop character and team building. With this in mind, in the near future we will be reaching out and surveying our youth to ensure we meet their needs and further, to include them in the decision making process.
Senior Programs
Senior citizens are of most importance to West Park for without them there would be no us.
We have always taken care of them. We also know that they are our most vulnerable population during this pandemic. Our senior program provides an opportunity for fellowship, it soothes and consoles them, relaxes and restores them, and reduces their anxiety, depression and stress. It is our utmost goal to help everyone, particularly our seniors, get through this as safely as possible.
At the same time, it is critical to take precautions. It is our commitment to ensure our senior citizens are safe, protected, and nourished within our parks and recreation program.
As we navigate through the pandemic, our senior citizen programming will continue to provide virtual experiences for our seniors until we can transition back to an in-person, safe setting. In the meantime, we will continue to provide weekly food distributions, social services assistance, and weekly check-ins.
New Amphitheater
There is something powerful about seeing a dream come to fruition. A year ago, while doing legislative work in Tallahassee, the then commission celebrated an end to a grueling yet fulfilling work week over dinner. After dinner we noticed this massive yet beautiful structure. In awe, we walked around it, sat down in it, we dreamed and planned what we could do in it. We saw the seniors, we saw the youth of all ages, we saw entertainment filled community events and the inter-city/inter-county interaction. To say the least, that night was magical. We saw the vision, now we are making it plain. With childlike anticipation in the coming months, we aim to bring a new dimension to our city with the addition of an amphitheater at McTyre Park.
Economic Development
An unprecedented collapse of small businesses will require new services to help businesses sustain themselves in the near future. West Park will continue to develop programs that support our local businesses. This will be accomplished by providing small business grants, featuring new businesses that come to our city in the Community Newspaper, as well as providing highlights of existing local businesses. Our Community and Economic Development Department will continue to develop creative programs that will attract new businesses, and when they do, we expect our residents to fully show our buying power.
Lastly, to provide growth and development support to our businesses, we will work to restore our West Park/Pembroke Park Chamber relationship.
BOLD NEW ERA : EQUALITY
We all recognize that 2020 was an unexpected year. Through all of the challenges and trials we faced, West Park forged ahead. Through all of it, you have proven that the collective character of our city comprises love, care for our neighbors, incredible resilience in the face of unexpected hardship, and a desire to be a part of making this community stronger and better for generations of West Park to come.
As a city, we will ensure that every individual has an equal opportunity to make the most of their lives and talents. We will ensure that we create inclusive and equitable opportunities for all the residents of West Park. We will harness our growth for the good of all residents and we will make certain that everyone has the same opportunities and receive the same treatment and support.
We Love Our City – Let’s Beautify Our City!
Your city, your community, your street, your neighbors, all of the places and faces that you connect with, are what make West Park so great. Be a kind neighbor. Be a friendly face. Volunteer your time. Support the city. Encourage others to do the same. And because we love our city and take full responsibility for it, we must keep it clean, safe, and resilient, Block by Block. We expect West Park to be aesthetically pleasing, clean, and safe. The end goal is to make West Park the most attractive city to invest in, work in and live in. We accomplish that by assessing, educating and empowering each other to keep our city beautified.
As residents we need to know what we can and cannot do. For example, are we getting the necessary permitting for work done on our homes, are we putting our bulk trash out when we are supposed to, are we being good neighbors by keeping our property clean, and if we see trash, are we picking it up? Also, if we need assistance, are we asking for help through the Community Benefits Program that assists with minor home repair and tree trimming grants, etc.?
In the coming months, you will be introduced to the Love Your Block initiative which will include incentivizing residents with a Holiday Home Decorating and Community Cleanups amongst other things. It is my heart’s desire that every resident from the young to the seasoned will have a grand calling of caring for and loving our city.
Community Partnerships
To improve West Park, to make it a place where residents are healthy, safe, and cared for, takes a lot of work. I do know we can’t do it alone. There is an old African proverb that says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” The issues facing communities today are many and complex and exist on a wide range of scales. But a community partnership is the collaborative answer to address shared objectives. Being a strong community partner is an important role. A partnership is a give and take relationship that leads to long term cooperation and collaboration.
By working together effectively, we can expand our community impact. West Park is committed to partnerships with nonprofit organizations, community groups, churches and businesses whose goals align with our mission, vision, values and that provide additional benefit to our residents. Some of our partners include our area churches; Hispanic Vote; Broward College Broward Up Program; Children’s Services Council for youth afterschool programming; Aging And Disability Resource Center for senior programming; Florida Department of Law Enforcement for safety programs; Broward Community & Family Health Center to keep our community safe; and Florida Municipal Insurance Trust for safety programs.
Traffic Calming
The road to recovery from this pandemic runs along our streets. We will reclaim and reset our streets and do it safely, affordably, and easily, no matter where you live in the city. Without any doubt it is our desire to reduce traffic speed, reduce motor vehicle collisions, and improve safety for residents. To date, we have completed 31 traffic calming projects throughout the city – 9 projects in Carver Ranches, 17 projects in Lake Forest and 5 in Miami Gardens.
So many think that the city can just put up a Stop sign or construct speed bumps. But it’s just not that simple. So that we are transparent, let me share with you the 7 steps involved in this process:
1) Public participation
2) Identification of a problem
3) Quantification of a problem
4) Development of a traffic calming plan
5) Approval of a plan by Broward County
6) Implementation of the plan and
7) Evaluation.
We have done all these, and are at Step 6, which includes securing funding, preparing engineering designs, environmental reviews, and constructing. To date, we currently have 70 proposed projects, 21 projects in Carver Ranches, 24 projects in Lake Forest, and 25 in Miami Gardens. We are continuing to prioritize and locate funding models to fully complete the implementation phase. The abovementioned summary was extracted and analyzed from the Neighborhood Traffic Calming studies performed for each area approximately 8 years ago.
BOLD NEW ERA : EMPOWERMENT
Knowledge is power. The transferring of knowledge from one to another is the essence of empowerment. Knowledge is produced through the exchange of information. Providing knowledge for all residents, and empowering them economically and socially is what we call ‘information exchange.’ Residents play an important role in this information exchange. We welcome your support at city events and activities, etc. Supporting the entire community will be paramount. Our plan for 2021 and moving forward is an ambitious one. It’s also one that I believe will help us shape the future of our city that is full of opportunity, equity and strength. I know it’s possible, more than ever, because of what I have seen us achieve over the past 15 years.
Information Exchange
Communication has three parts—the sender, the message, and the receiver. Messages can easily be distorted or changed when noise interferes with them. Through information exchange, we are here to cut through the noise and get clear, effective messages across to the residents. We recognize that you want communication that’s available, honest, responsive, and genuine. We also recognize that strong communication creates trust in residents. Lastly, your concerns matter. Our hope is that from this day forward all residents will be inspired to become more involved in your city. How can this happen?
We are enhancing the city website to further make it more user friendly, and in an effort to further enhance communication, from today forward, a digital archive of meetings will be available for viewing through the city website which also provides an option to Subscribe / Sign Up For Notifications to get firsthand information alerts via texts and/or emails. Most importantly, the City’s official governmental Facebook page is found under the name “The City of West Park”. In the near future, every household will receive a “Helpful Numbers” postcard containing not only the entire Commission’s contact info but all departmental numbers also.
As a way to better engage and communicate out to residents, we recommend that residents read the City’s Community Newspaper which is published every other month. Take pride in your newspaper as it includes pictorial features of local schools, daycare centers, the Carver Ranches Boys & Girls Club, church activities, contests, celebrations, local business spotlights, safety tips, the City calendar, and so much more.
Economic Sustainability
When you exit I-95 onto Hollywood Blvd and head west to 441, what do you see? There are banks, gas stations, restaurants, pharmacies, florists, etc. But when you exit onto Pembroke Road, Hallandale Beach Blvd, and you ride west to 441, you don’t see that level of development. It is important to know this – West Park is open for business! Cities will come back stronger than ever after the pandemic, and West Park will be at the front of the line. And when we do, it will be driven by a new model of growth that emphasizes inclusivity, sustainability, and economic opportunity.
In our efforts to improve quality of life conditions for residents, the Commission has supported several economic assistance programs that benefit residents. Also, our goal is to provide future internship opportunities for college students to learn employability skills right here at home. And the best news is, when this happens, these community benefits will reinvest right back into our community enabling us to help families with other programs such as the Childcare Assistance Grant.
Multigenerational Engagement
Five generations of residents now live in West Park. While there are generational differences, the core need to feel valued and recognized is similar across generations. We recognize the old concept for a new generation may not work with Millennials (Generation Y) nor with Digitals (Generation Z). We recognize you are great entrepreneurs and are extremely resourceful. Not to mention, you are our city’s future community builders, business owners, public servants, and families.
My commitment is to engage with you to provide a sense of identity and belonging, create stronger ties for a sense of importance in West Park, and provide an avenue to listen to your point of view to ensure that you know your voice matters. I am open to hear your motivations and share our city’s capacity to create better opportunities inclusive of you, with possible activities such as a small business fair/expo.
CALL TO ACTION!
We are in our 16th year of incorporation as a city, and while we are all hoping to put COVID-19 in our rearview mirror as quickly and permanently as possible, may we never forget what we learned about ourselves and each other; may we be cognizant of the COVID-19 aftermath of fiscal storms that will plague West Park; may we become more frugal and vigilant about the future impacts to our budget and address those budget challenges; and most importantly, may we be concerned about the fragility of life and the need to re-dedicate our own to making our City whole, vibrant, and vital.
West Park: Alone, we can do so little but together, we can do so much…so, as we close, and officially celebrate our 16th Anniversary, I’d like to share the importance of the number 16.
“16” represents the following traits: wisdom, independence, introspection, intuitiveness, analytical, sound arguments, tendency to look for and find answers within from wisdom, demand of itself, self-determination, confidence with inner wisdom, perceptiveness, ability to analyze problems to find viable solutions, intrinsic talent, decisive goals and a desire to pursue them, and solution focused for others.
Biblically, 16 is symbolic of love.
These are the very attributes of a progressive city – our city, West Park! As we write chapter 16 together, and when the final page is turned, I want everyone to feel we persevered by uniting as one against any adversity for a city’s greatness isn’t measured by what’s has been accomplished but, rather, by what has yet to be achieved.
For we are stronger together progressing; the winds of change are in our favor. Together is how we build a stronger future. Our city will continue to progress, and because of you we can proudly declare that the state of our city is strong, unified and ready to take on the future!
Let us work together as a team for a city whose legacy we can clearly S.E.E. (Service, Equality and Empowerment).
We are carving a stone, erecting a column, or cutting a piece of stained glass in the construction of something much bigger than ourselves. We are #OneWestPark!
Thank you. May God bless each of you.
And may God bless the City of West Park!
