History of the LBTS Citizens Initiative Committee
The Citizens Initiative Committee (CIC) is a political committee in the proud tradition of the 'Concerned Citizens Committee' that in 1973 sponsored a voters' initiative resulting in the 3 story 'electoral ordinance' which saved the Town from hi-rise development.
The CIC began in 1996 originally as the Citizens Action Committee. The idea was modeled after a group called 'Commission Watch' started by Ed Stanton, Pompano Beach activist and former Pompano Commission candidate. The CAC attempted to keep Commissioners honest by creating the LBTS Town Commission 'Position Record'...How your Mayor and Commissioners Voted on Important Issues. Our 'report card' evolved into a local newspaper called 'Small Town Quality of Life' and, little by little, our grassroots organization grew in membership and local influence.
One of our many causes was seeking a "fair deal for Old Town" LBTS during the annexation process. We sought and were given Commission guarantees that both parts of the enlarged Town would receive a fair, proportionate share of the “Surplus" (estimated at $2 million yearly) we were all told would result from annexation. The "Annexation Agreement" even stipulated that funding of capital improvements in the annexed area would come from taxes generated by that area, in excess of their "fair share" of common municipal expenses).
We were also assured we could keep our cost-effective Volunteer Fire and Police Departments (although the self-appointed political body claiming to represent residents of the annexed area insisted on continued BSO Police and Fire Rescue for that part of Town). Unfortunately, none of the Commission commitments to Old Town were ever honored. On a brighter note, our own members have initiated and worked successfully to pass the following:
● 1998 Height Limit Charter Referendum (3 stories over 1st floor parking).
● 2000 El Prado Referendum to protect our main beach vista from an extremely unpopular, developer- initiated land-swap (Hapimag).
● A Citizens Rights Charter Amendment to reaffirm citizens' rights to initiate, amend, or repeal ordinances by petition and referendum: in order to overcome Mayor Parker's questionable claim that right had been nullified and extinguished by State Statutes. (An opinion from the Florida Attorney General later held that was not the case).
● An Electoral Districting Ordinance to insure balance in regional representation by requiring that two Commissioners be elected from Old Town LBTS and two from the annexed area, while the Mayor could be chosen from either area.
Although individual CAC members contributed greatly to the initiatives mentioned above, the Citizens Action Committee itself was non-political and therefore could not officially endorse candidates or ballot questions at election time. Our members became convinced that the CIC needed to evolve to the next level and become an official political action committee (PC).
We therefore incorporated in March 2005 as the Citizens "Initiative" Committee and registered with the State of Florida and the LBTS Town Clerk as a political committee. That extended our committee's range of action beyond simply informing ourselves and fellow citizens on critical developments and making appeals to the Commission. As a PC we can actually initiate referendums, campaign for and against important election issues, and lend our organizational 'seal of approval' to candidates for municipal office.
The March 2006 election was the first where the new CIC’s referendums and endorsed candidates came before the voters.
● CIC endorsed candidates, Jim Silverstone and Jerry McIntee won landslide victories over two old-guard incumbents, Dave Wessels and Ed Kennedy. CIC members have been well-pleased with our choice of candidates and the level of integrity, honesty, and quality-of-life leadership the two brought to the dais. Unfortunately, continued hard-line opposition by the Old-Guard majority on the commission continued to bloc many CIC-supported pro-voter initiatives until the 2008 election.
● The CIC Term limits referendum, on the ballot as the result of a CIC petition signed by 712 voters, was passed by 86% of voters and limited Commissioners to two 4-year terms of office. Mayoral terms were reduced from 4 years to 2 years and limited to 3 terms (a total of 6 years). Despite the absolute clarity of that amendment that it would take effect at the 2008 municipal elections, the old-guard commission members Parker, Yanni, and Clark railroaded through an ordinance that preposterously re-interpreted the amendment to mean it would NOT apply to Parker or Yanni at the 2008 elections, thus over-turning the clear will of LBTS voters.
● The CIC Height Limit Charter Referendum, which lowered the maximum allowable height limit in the Northbeach coastal area from 15 stories to 3 over 1 story, won despite fierce campaigns by developers and pro-development commissioners. This charter amendment will prevent our barrier island from over development, limit further congestion along A1A, and preserve the Town's low-rise image. A critical clause of this charter amendment was that no zoning changes involving an increase in height can now be made in any residential neighborhood without a vote of the people.
The 2008 municipal election was set in January instead of March, to match with the revised Florida Presidential Primary election date.
● The CIC supported 3 candidates for election to the Town Commission, Lawrence Wick, Birute Clottey, and Stuart Dodd. Clottey and Dodd won, beating out Clark and Yanni. Wick lost the mayor’s seat by a slim margin of 21 votes to newcomer Roseann Minnet (Parker had decided not to run).
● Promises Made...Promises Kept
Within a few short months of winning the majority in January 2008, the four CIC-endorsed Commissioners made sweeping changes in town policy and Lauderdale-by-the-Sea was headed in a positive new direction!
● Reinstatement of the Volunteer Fire Department
● Return of our municipal elections back to March instead of November
● Reinstatement of the CIC-sponsored term limits amendment
● Repeal of the Marina, Hospitality, and Beach Village overlay districts (no more Orianas)
● Opening Commission meeting public comments to all who wish to speak
● Saved citizens millions of tax dollars per year with new AMR contract for EMS
● Instituted life-saving VFD beach patrols
● Allowed citizens to speak on 1st and 2nd readings of town ordinances
● Sponsored very successful Community events including: Easter-by-the-Sea, the July 4th Blast, and a Halloween Haunted House.
● Reduced taxes with a 10% LBTS tax cut
● Purchased contiguous property to Town Hall for an upgraded public safety complex
● Debt Reduction by $3 million
Several months after the 2008 election, however, one of the CIC-endorsed Commissioners, Stuart Dodd, a former CIC Chairman, resigned from the organization and changed allegiance to the pro-development side. The CIC therefore has retracted its endorsement of Stuart Dodd.
During the two years prior to the March 2010 municipal election the pro-development group, under the banner “Unite Our Town”, launched a campaign to discredit Commissioners McIntee, Silverstone, and Clotty and Town Manager Esther Colon with personal attacks. They arranged for a number of their supporters to show up for Public Comments at Town Commission meetings to lodge these unjustified personal attacks. The Commissioners, at an organizational meeting after the 2008 election, had agreed to not allow personal attacks at Commission meetings, but Mayor Roseann Minnet refused to enforce it. She claimed it was all the fault of the individuals being attacked; e.g., her political adversaries. These attacks became progressively more vicious as the 2010 election date approached.
The 2010 CIC endorsed candidates for LBTS Commissioners were Jim Silverstone and Marjorie Evans. For Mayor the CIC endorsed Joe Couriel. All well qualified and experienced individuals. Unfortunately, the opposition managed to convince a majority of the voters that the dissention at Town Commission meetings was being caused by the victims rather than the attackers. All three CIC endorsed candidates lost the election by substantial margins.
Since the March 2010 election the new Commission has, without cause, fired Town Manager Esther Colon, Assistant Town Manager John Olinzock, and a little later Finance/Budget Director Kaola King