CITY OF HALLANDALE BEACH, FLORIDA

MEMORANDUM

 

 

 

DATE:             November 16, 2007   

 

TO:                  D. Mike Good, City Manager  

 

FROM:            Kenrick Pierre, CRA Director

 

SUBJECT:     Community for a Lifetime Designation for the City of Hallandale Beach CAD #022/07

 

 


PURPOSE

 

To adopt a Resolution designating the City of Hallandale Beach as a Community for a Lifetime.

 

BACKGROUND

 

The City Commission previously directed staff to evaluate the feasibility of seeking the designation of a Community for a Lifetime for the City of Hallandale Beach.  A team comprising a number of City Departments met in August, 2007 and concluded that the City should seek a Community for a Lifetime designation. 

 

DISCUSSION

 

Communities for a Lifetime is a statewide initiative, initiated in 1999 by then Governor Bush, that is coordinated by the Department of Elder Affairs. The program assists Florida cities, towns and counties in planning and implementing improvements that benefit residents of all ages.  Communities use existing resources and State technical assistance to make improvements in housing, health care, transportation, accessibility, business partnerships, community education, employment, volunteer opportunities and recreation. The goal of the Communities for a Lifetime Initiative is to help Florida communities become better places to live and to improve the quality of life for all residents, including seniors.

 

The City already implements some of the programs that are listed above, including: affordable housing, emergency assistance, free bus transportation, senior programs, after school programs, Police Athletic League and day camp for children.  The Communities for a Lifetime Initiative will create a structure for monitoring them and would recognize the City for its efforts in improving the quality of life.  Many of the cities that are participating in the program point out that they were already implementing some of the programs that the program recommends.

 

A city first makes an inventory and assessment of its existing programs to determine their efficacy.  It then creates a committee comprised of city employees and key stakeholders including: school board, health organizations, elderly organizations, business community, faith based organization and other non-profits.  The committee will reassess the existing programs and activities to ensure the programs are achieving their intended goals.  The program does not anticipate any major increases in cost. In fact, the committee is expected to suggest resources for any new initiatives that it may recommend.

 

The benefits of the program are many. The City will receive technical assistance from the state on any Initiatives related to the Communities for a Lifetime. Participating cities will be in an enhanced position to receive state grants. It improves community coordination within the city and among participating cities. The program provides a forum to constantly re-evaluate the programs and activities of the City. Finally, the city will be recognized among its peer cities for its efforts in improving the quality of life for its residents.   

 

The goals of the Communities for a Lifetime Initiative comports well with the goals of the City’s Strategic Plan Goals 3.5b and 3.5c listed below:

 

3.5 b) Ensure the most critical community needs, as defined by surveys or communication with residents, are addressed in priority order.

 

3.5 c) Ensure that the City participates in the Communities for a Lifetime Program.

 

Broward County Government and many cities in Broward County are participating in the program including:  Coconut Creek, Cooper City, Coral Springs, Deerfield Beach, Hollywood, Lauderdale Lakes, Miramar, Parkland Sunrise, Tamarac and Wilton Manors.

 

The Initiative process involves the following steps:

 

  1. Adopt  a resolution supporting the program and notify the Department of Elder Affairs
  2. Form a committee comprised of staff and community stakeholders to inventory and assess services important to a cross section of the community, including seniors
  3. Complete a self-assessment by identifying activities and opportunities currently available in the community and those that should be made available.
  4. Develop a community action plan with a timeline for completion and associated costs and funding sources, as applicable.
  5. Present the recommended community action plan to the City Commission for review and comment
  6. Transmit the community action plan to the Department of Elder Affairs for review and recommendations
  7. Finalize and adopt the community action plan
  8. Develop strategies to begin partnerships to address identified needs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RECOMMENDATION

 

The City Commission adopt the resolution designating Hallandale Beach as a Community for a Lifetime.

 

 

Reviewed:

 

  

_______________________________                                                          __________

D. Mike Good, City Manager                                                                             Date

 

 

_____Approved                _____Disapproved                _____Hold for Discussion