City of Tamarac Stands Behind the Woodlands Neighborhood Improvement District

By Sharon Aron Baron

Neighborhood improvement districts are used successfully throughout Florida to address issues faced by aging neighborhoods. Because of this, the Woodlands Homeowners Association requested that the City of Tamarac establish the Woodlands Neighborhood Improvement District after a majority vote.

In July 2010, the WNID was established by the Tamarac City Commission under the Safe Neighborhoods Act; the District intended to provide the community with additional tools to combat decline through crime prevention and beautification.

On Monday, the City of Tamarac discussed the WNID during their workshop meeting to amend the ordinance to provide consistency with state statutes. The tabled petition to dissolve the District given to the city administration in January 2011 was also revisited.

When ballots were mailed out in the spring for the referendum election, it was clear to the City that residents objected to the two-mill ad valorem tax with no definitive plan in place. With an ad valorem tax, homeowners would pay for improvements based on the value of their property. Instead, Board members are considering a special assessment or non-ad Valorem tax; each person would pay the same or fixed rate for improvements. For instance, homeowners in Tamarac currently pay the same amount per property for a non-ad Valorem tax for Tamarac Fire.

Given the amount of tension the vote was causing within the community, the WNID Board lawfully canceled the referendum in May. They discussed the referendum and determined actions they needed to take to address residents’ concerns. These actions include soliciting more significant community input and consensus and committing to specific projects for which the funds will be used. Also, establishing the amount residents would need to pay before that referendum.

The WNID has identified surveillance cameras as a priority project Board plans to discuss the project with the community while continuing to examine e cost and placement of the cameras.

WNID President Taylor White spoke at the commission workshop and gave an update on the progress.

“We are considering all options, including continuing to investigate fencing, gating, walling, street closure, and camera installation,” said White. “Crime prevention specialists from BSO have highly recommended the installation and use of cameras, and we are pursuing that as a viable option. We are receiving estimated cost data from an architect’s other proposals.”

Jennifer Bramley told the Mayor and Commissioners, “The WNID Board continually seeks to implement positive changes to the built environment in the neighborhood. Currently, the District has a better opportunity than any other entity to impact property values in The Woodlands.”

Regarding the petition, Bramley did not recommend dissolving the District. According to the City Attorney’s Office, the City Commission must consider the governing body’s petition. The City Commission is not obligated to dissolve the District because it has received a petition.

“In establishing the Woodlands Neighborhood Improvement District, the City Commission found that it was in the best interests of the residents to provide an additional tool to prove the net decline of one of the City’s landmark neighborhoods. The Woodlands Neighborhood Improvement DistricBoard t continues to make positive progress toward that goal with the help of area residents,” said Bramely.

Winsome residents object to the District, as evidenced by the petition, while some support it.

Bramley recommended the commission: “The District has the potential to realize improvements in security and aesthetics within The Woodlands, and as s, much should remain in place.”

Residents will have a chance to speak to the City regarding the WNID at the commission meeting on Wednesday, August 22. They will have three minutes to do so. While few residents may try to sway the city commission’s mind about the validity of the District, it is certain from Monday’s workshop that the City has no intention of dissolving it.