Seabreezes Fort Lauderdale

Message from the Board - February 2012

Primaries, Politicians and Super Bowl Sunday.  Secret Gardens, Roses and Romance, Chocolates and Champagne.  The agony and ecstasy that is February!

January 11, 2012. The Harbor Beach Property Homeowners Association, Inc. held its Annual Meeting and was very fortunate in having a wealth of Fort Lauderdale City Officials including Mayor Jack Seiler, District IV Commissioner Romney Rogers and our new City Manager Lee Feldman in attendance.  All spoke to many interesting and informative topics including the Budget and Pensions, Crime, Neighborhood Capital Improvements and Outreach, the Eisenhower Road and Airport expansions.  They also shared their own personal visions and aspirations for the future of the City of Fort Lauderdale.  We thank them for taking the time out of their hectic schedules to attend our Neighborhood's meeting and for their continued dedication in keeping our District and our City the best place in all of Florida to live!

Also in attendance that evening was Albert Carbon, Director of Public Works, who updated the HB Association about our new street signs and The Harbor Beach Surf Club Marina scheduled dredging.  The final rendering of our custom sign poles and finials was displayed and he explained the needed design change from the original all-metal pole to one of a combination of composite concrete and metal for safety and durability.  All of us who live on the Beach know first hand the long term effects of wind driven salt.  While the move to concrete is initially more costly, long term it is a superior choice as it also employs a "break away" factor when hit reducing damage to vehicles and passengers alike.  We anticipate their installation in the Spring of 2012.  Mr. Carbon' s discussion included that City's Public Works will begin their efforts to dredge our Surf Club Marina free of build up possibly resulting from the City's WaterWorks 2011 project.  The required Seagrass Study will commence in June and the project will move forward from that point.  The announcement was timely as our Marina is slowly losing depth and use of a portion its slips and facing a very costly dredging project.  With the City's financing of the project committed, the Surf Club will be free to finance and focus on replacing their bridge and walkway to the Beach among various other Club improvement projects slated for 2012 and beyond.  We are deeply grateful to Director Carbon for recognizing the problem and then stepping up to
address it.

Next on the agenda was Florida Power and Light's External Affairs Manager, Lynn Shatas who shed light on the need for FPL's utility pole replacement project currently happening throughout our Neighborhood.  An electrifying discussion followed with residents inquiring as to the wisdom of replacing poles in a neighborhood actively seeking to underground their utilities.  Ms. Shatas explained that it was a safety factor and FPL was replacing only those poles that were overloaded or weakened by hurricane Wilma.  It was also noted that it will still be years before an undergrounding project can commence.  She requested that residents who might experience any issues during the replacement period contact her and she will resolve it.  Contact Annette Ross or Randy Rupp's office and they will put you directly in contact.

Harbor Beach Security aka HBI held it's Annual meeting immediately following the HOA.  Captain Dave Wheeler and Officer Sandi Downs were in attendance and announced that while Crime statistics are very, very low for HB, the Crime Rate is rising not only throughout our City, but right here in South Beach.  It should come as no surprise to any resident of HB that we enjoy the LOWEST crime rate ANYWHERE in the City of Fort Lauderdale. It is a direct result of HBI and the dedicated Officers who work on our Detail.  What is shocking to those residents who contribute and understand the exceptional value of HBI is the surprising lack of support or understanding of the advantages of HBI.  This needs to change for the safety of all of us in HB.  HBI President, Bob Ross announced plans to do just that starting with new HBI MEMBER yard signs and a Isle by Isle, street by street Campaign.  If you are among those who "get it" and do not want to "lose it" and want to join in the campaign to boost Membership, please contact Bob through his email address This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . It's your family, your home and your safety that is at stake.

In other news, Harbor Beach anxiously awaits the return of The Fort Lauderdale Garden Club's annual ‘Secret Garden Tour’ on Saturday, February 25, 2012 from 9:00AM-3:00PM.  Tour a secluded Harbor Beach Tropical Paradise and visit the Club's Garden Shoppe featuring wide array of vendors offering flowers, plants and books right here in your neighborhood!  Light refreshments will be served.  Join them for a self-driving tour or arrive by bike!  Tickets are very limited and can be purchased from the Garden Club's website at www.flgc.org or call 954-561-8475 for further information.

No, your eyes are not deceiving you if you have witnessed a flash of bright green dart in front of your car, a new hole in your yard, or absent hibiscus blooms.  The Iguanas are back!  So much for the bad news, the good news is so is Brian Woods of All American Gator and Iguana Catchers.  While the problem is nowhere near severe as it was, the abnormally warm winter we are experiencing is not helping control their population quite like an extended cold snap would.  Enter Brian by boat armed with tickler and by land with trap to round them up once again.  If you find your yard experiencing a re infestation or a building lot or empty house near you and need his help, email your name and the address experiencing the problem to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or to Annette Ross to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . If you prefer, you may leave your information with Cindy at Randy Rupp's office.

See you on the Secret Garden Tour!

- Your Board

HARBOR BEACH SURF CLUB

Thanks to all the members who attended the Annual meeting on Jan.14. The board members that were up for reelection were all reelected. The meeting was an honest exchange of ideas and questions from the membership regarding a wide range of topics. Treasurer Charlie Cassel presented a budget projection for 2012. The two most important announcements were the abatement of the Property TAXES and the City's announcement that the permitting process for dredging of the Marina has started. Improvements were highlighted and future projects were discussed. We have a number of improvements at the Marina and Surf Club that will be completed in the near future. The next scheduled Board meeting is February 4th at 9am at the Surf Club Pavilion.

- Charles Resta, President, HBSC