annual report
COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT DEPARTMENT
2017
TRUST: Transparency - Respect - Unconditional support - Shared vision - Teamwork
Michael A. Coleman
How to reach us...
"We must and we will be the servant leaders that our community needs."
Director of Community
a message FROM THE DIRECTOR
Community Improvement ended the year on a high note by collaborating with others to uplift the spirits of families through acts of kindness. Investing in human capital is something that I consider vitally important and will always be a prime objective. As we embark on another chapter, I am extremely proud of our accomplishments. As always, we will continue our quest to meet our expectations. We will continue to strive for excellence in all that we do, and in doing so, improve the lives of the families in our community by having quality schools, housing, neighborhoods and businesses. Community Improvement shall NOT become complacent, as this diminishes motivation, and consequently, effort. All achievements should be celebrated, as you have earned it. However, rather than rest on our laurels, use those accolades to motivate yourself to accomplish even more. Focus on becoming better, and creating new strategies to accomplish your goals; by working at an elite level with effective collaboration and communication. Moreover, continue to strive towards our primary goal, which is to make Delray Beach the best small city in South Florida. Performance excellence and the utilization of the ‘team concept’ are the primary reasons why Community Improvement has achieved such great success. Hence, the continuation and enhancement of those same strategies are what will allow that success to continue. Ultimately, the fact is making Delray Beach the best small city in South Florida begins with you. You must be that servant leader. You must put forth the effort to cultivate an atmosphere of trust, encouragement and humility that will allow our community to thrive. The City of Delray Beach is known throughout the United States for its many notable accomplishments. The City's reputation was achieved through the employment of creative thinkers with an attitude of never being satisfied because of previous successes. As your leader, I assure you that I will never become complacent, and furthermore, I will not allow you to become so either. We will instead, embrace all of our challenges and criticisms with a proactive and confident approach. We will also continue to honor all of our citizens and their expectations of us with best practices and diligent leadership; and, we will NEVER intentionally violate their trust .
Improvement
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EMPLOYEE
DIVISION/POSITION
PHONE: (561)243-7203
EMAIL
Al Angulo Amanda Skeberis Andrea Franzone Angela Rose Annie McClary Cory Duncan Danise Cleckley Darcy Tyson Donna Quinlan Ellen DeLima Enrique Fernandez Eugene Bethea Ferline Mesidort Henry Thompson Jamael Stewart Janet Meeks Jennifer Costello Joe Lucarelli Jose Morales Code Officer/Vacant Karen Proto Marc Woods Marisa Rodriguez Michael Coleman Patricia Flowers Patrick Adolphe Paul Fulton Peter Martinek Randy Krick Ruben Dejadin Steve Lee Tard McCoy Terra Couzens Theresa G.Williams Thomas Story
Code Enforcement/Code Officer Clean & Safe/Downtown Administrator Code Enforcement/Staff Assistant Support Services/Support Svc. Administrator Support Services/Business Tax Specialist Code Enforcement/Code Officer Code Enforcement/CE Administrator Administration/Business Tax Inspector Administration/CI Coordinator Neighborhood Services/Housing Property Coordinator Code Enforcement/CE Supervisor Code Enforcement/Sanitation Officer Neighborhood Services/NS Administrator Code Enforcement/Code Officer Administration/Asst Director of CI Administration/Education Coordinator Administration/CI Project Administrator Code Enforcement/Code Officer Code Enforcement/Code Officer Code Enforcement/Code Officer Code Enforcement/Code Officer Code Enforcement/Rental Inspector (PT) Code Enforcement/Administrative Assistant Administration/Community Improvement Director Support Services/Staff Asst Neighborhood Services/Housing Rehab. Specialist Code Enforcement/Code Officer Code Enforcement/Code Board Specialist Code Enforcement/Sanitation Officer Code Enforcement/Code Officer Neighborhood Services/Housing Rehab. Inspector Code Enforcement/Sanitation Officer Support Services/Alarm Specialist Neighborhood Services/Staff Asst Clean & Safe/Code Officer
ext. 7115 7142 7107 7105 6206 7117 7101 7118 6200 7132 7130 7113 7136 7125 7131 7100 7135 7114 7112 7141 7116 7127 7139 6201 7109 7126 7112 7138 7119 7128 7137 7111 6203 7134 7143
angulo@mydelraybeach.com skeberis@mydelraybeach.com franzone@mydelraybeach.com rosea@mydelraybeach.com mcclarya@mydelraybeach.com duncanc@mydelraybeach.com cleckley@mydelraybeach.com tyson@mydelraybeach.com quinlan@mydelraybeach.com delimae@mydelraybeach.com fernandeze@mydelraybeach.com bethea@mydelraybeach.com mesidort@mydelraybeach.com thompsonh@mydelraybeach.com stewartj@mydelraybeach.com meeksj@mydelraybeach.com costello@mydelraybeach.com lucarelli@mydelraybeach.com moralesj@mydelraybeach.com protok@mydelraybeach.com woods@mydelraybeach.com rodriguezmk@mydelraybeach.com coleman@mydelraybeach.adm flowers@mydelraybeach.sum adolphep@mydelraybeach.com fulton@mydelraybeach.com martinekp@mydelraybeach.com krick@mydelraybeach.com dejadinr@mydelraybeach.com lee@mydelraybeach.com mccoy@mydelraybeach.com couzenst@mydelraybeach.sum gardner-williams@mydelraybeach.com storyt@mydelraybeach.com
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF Michael A. Coleman Director of Community Improvement Jamael Stewart Assistant Director of Community Improvement Jennifer E. Costello Project Administrator Ferline F. Mesidort Neighborhood Services Administrator Angela Rose Support Services Administrator Danise Cleckley Code Enforcement Administrator Amanda Skeberis Clean & Safe Administrator Janet Meeks Education Coordinator Donna Quinlan Community Improvement Coordinator
The National Campaign for Grade Level Reading awarded Delray Beach with several Pacesetter Honors, which are among the highest awards presented by the National Grade Level Reading Campaign. These honors recognized our efforts to mobilize civic, business and community leaders to work with schools, libraries and other organizations towards the goal of improving early reading, summer learning and improving attendance. Our community worked tirelessly over the past five years to uplift children and families that led to better academic outcomes.
Spelleration - Spelling Bee
Community Improvement continues to work with the youth in our community. This has been accomplished by establishing strong relationships with non-profit agencies in the community. We launched the Teen Leadership Roundtable to optimize the individual agencies for greater impact, hosted the first Teen Spelleration, started the Real Men Reading program through KOPMN, and sent 8 deserving children to the ELKS summer camp in Umatilla, Florida
administration
Pacesetter Presentation
Journey's Summer Camp Literacy Program
EDUCATION
Delray Beach was recognized and distinguished with its third All-America City award at the National Civic League conference held in Denver, CO on June 16, 2017. Delray Beach is the only city in the state of Florida to win this prestigious award three times. Delray Beach was recognized for its unprecedented work for increasing school attendance, overcoming the summer reading slide and overall grade level reading success for those students attending a Delray Beach school from kindergarten to third grade. Student progress and success was measured over the last 5 years with data provided by The School District of Palm Beach County. Delray Beach is the only municipality in the District that has a data sharing agreement to share such pertinent information. In partnership with Old School Square, the City invited the public to enjoy a community–wide gathering in celebration of the award. The festivities included an All-America City ball drop and a giant cake cutting ceremony at the pavilion where the evening ended with the N2 Nation Motown Tribute band.
Youth empowerment
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Principals hard at work supporting Delray Beach schools and children
education + partners = success
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Delray Reads Day
Before
Summary of Accomplishments
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neighborhood services
Steve Lee, Theresa Gardner-WIlliams, Patrick Adolphe, & Ellen DeLima
***CDBG - Community Development Block Grant
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The Neighborhood Services Division is responsible for the administration, management and implementation of various federal, state and local grant-funded programs that benefit the low, very-low and moderate-income households living within designated target areas. Emphasis has been directed at the preservation of existing housing units, increasing home ownership opportunities, the creation of jobs through economic development activities and providing decent, standard infrastructures throughout the designated target areas. The division provides services and housing opportunities through various sources: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program (SHIP), Residential Construction Mitigation Program (RCMP), Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), Solid Waste Authority (SWA) and City funds.
PUBLIC SERVICE AGENCY
# of Persons Served/ Households (H/H)
5 Year Goal (Individuals Impacted)
% of 5-Year Target Met
CDBG FUNDS Expended
CDBG FUNDS Expended To Date
Achievement Centers for Children & Families
260
1250
11%
$13,383
$68,383
Legal Aid Society of PB County, Inc.
9 H/H 2 Workshops
12 H/H 8 Workshops
58%
$4,000
$12,000
Urban League of Palm Beach County
18 H/H 3 Workshops
63
28%
$5,000
$15,000
Knights of Pythagoras Mentoring Network
51 Children
153
2%
$13,000
Milagro Center
71 Children
315
22%
$30,000
After
Priority Need Category CDBG PROGRAM
Actual # of Activities Proposed
Actual # of Activities Completed
HOUSING REHABILITATION
10
7
CLEARANCE & DEMOLITION
2
1
During the course of the last fiscal year, the division accomplished the following: Rehabilitate fifteen (15) homes under the housing rehabilitation program with 7 underway, using CDBG and SHIP program funds. Continually working in partnership with the Delray Beach Community Land Trust (DBCLT) to provide financial assistance to four (4) first-time homebuyers under the SHIP program and three (3) additional properties have closed receiving direct down payment assistance. Construction of Eagle’s Nest 3 by Atlantic High School Construction Academy is near completion. FY17-18 Consolidated Annual Action Plan approved and in progress through US Department of HUD. Obtained Solid Waste Authority grant to beautify the exterior of the City Attorney’s lot for $27,896.51. Awaiting approval and acceptance of additional allocation, which will target beautification efforts to seven new sites. Demolished one property under the Demolition and Clearance Program (214 SW 10th Avenue). In addition, five (5) properties have been identified as unsafe are to be demolished to eliminate slum and blight.
Clean & Safe
A Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Funded Program
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The Support Services Division serves as the central nervous system of the Community Improvement Department through the integration of information and provision of services with customer satisfaction. Support Services has four main components: Alarms Unit, Business Tax Receipts, Landlord Permits, and Sidewalk Café Permits.
support services
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"Two main goals of the Clean & Safe Division are keep our downtown clean & safe"
The Clean & Safe District makes up a small but extremely unique portion of the City’s 16 square miles. Four of the City’s five historic districts, neighborhoods rich with culture, a bustling downtown and a portion of world-renown beach all lie within Clean & Safe. Two main goals of the Clean & Safe Division are just that – keeping it clean and safe. This is accomplished by a team of general maintenance workers, electricians, code enforcement officers and an administrator. Fostering partnerships with the CRA, who continues to fund the program, the Police Department, the Downtown Development Authority (DDA), the West Atlantic Redevelopment Coalition (WARC), the Chamber of Commerce and many others are also imperative. The Clean & Safe team is dedicated to improving on code compliance by fostering positive community relationships.growing alongside the district by observing day and evening activity, establishing levels of service, continuing education for employees, keeping abreast of new technology and much more! Some of the more notable projects completed this year include: Libby Wesley Park clean-up, Worthing Park enhancements, improving visibility and safety at Fire Station 1, promptly repairing all lights damaged by Hurricane Irma and
All 4 areas function as a conduit for the dissemination of information to residents, businesses and customers of the City of Delray Beach. We continue to evolve and adapt to the ever-changing needs of our community, residents, businesses and individuals who visit our City on short-term basis. Alarms Unit: Emergency personnel respond to many false alarm calls yearly. Chapter 112 of the City’s Code of Ordinances requires all residential and commercial alarms to be registered with the City in order for there to be a more efficient response to emergency situations. Business Tax Receipts: A Business Tax Receipt is a tax levied upon all businesses within the municipal boundaries. Payment of the tax receipt does not certify or imply the competence of the licensee. Within Florida, most cities and counties have a business tax receipt. Contractors operating and performing services within the City limits without a home office within the City, must register the scope of their business activities with the Business Tax Receipt Division. The City of Delray Beach also processes applications for Food Truck and Sidewalk Café Permits through its Business Tax Receipt Division. Landlord Permits A Landlord Permit is required prior to renting residential units. It is not required for units under federal housing and urban development supervision or for hotels. A separate permit is required for each applicable rental unit. If there are multiple units within a single building under common ownership, a single permit may be obtained covering all units. At the current time, the landlord permit fee is $75.00 per unit. Permits are valid for one year, from November 1 of the current year to October 31 of the subsequent year. A landlord permit must be obtained no later than 30 days after acquiring a rental property - and the permit is not prorated.
Front Row (L-R) Terra Couzens, Annie McClary Back Row (L-R) Patricia Flowers, Elizabeth Lalama, Angela Rose
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Code Enforcement Support Staff & Administrator: (L-R) Peter Martinek, Andrea Franzone, Marisa Rodriguez, Danise Cleckley
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"Compliance through community oriented problem-solving."
Code Enforcement Officers are responsible for businesses and neighborhoods located throughout the entire City. We continually strive to improve the level of service provided to our community.
code enforcement board
CODE ENFORCEMENT
Danise Cleckley, Code Enforcement Administrator & Peter Martinek, Code Board Specialist
The City of Delray Beach Code Enforcement division opened a total of 6,984 code enforcement cases in 2017. Cases that were found to be non-compliant were issued a Formal Hearing Notice to appear before the Code Enforcement Board. In 2017, there were 2,058 Code Enforcement Board cases. Of those cases, 810 came into compliance prior to their scheduled hearing date while 234 cases were postponed and not presented to the Board. A total of 565 cases were presented to the Code Enforcement Board; 449 were found to be in violation and assessed a fine. In 2017, the City collected a total of $77,807 from code fines and liens. Code Enforcement is an ever-changing community oriented Division and 2018 will be an exciting year of development. The Code Board has seated a new member to the Board and elected a new Vice Chairman. The process in which cases will be presented has also changed. The Operating Procedure Manual is being revised and the City Attorney’s Office, in conjunction with Code Enforcement, will present the cases utilizing a multimedia component. As a dynamic division, we look forward to enhancing and streamlining the process to better serve our community.
The Code Enforcement Division enhances community service through community oriented Code Enforcement procedures. Code Enforcement is designed to create a quality living environment through ensuring compliance with the City’s housing, zoning and property maintenance codes. The division encourages voluntary compliance through the use of community oriented problem-solving techniques, violation notices, warnings, civil citations, informational brochures and other creative methods.
VIOLATIONS
2015-16
2016-17
General Violations
2000
1917
Nuisance Abatement
902
839
Rental Housing Inspections
803
907
Unsafe Structure
8
9
sanitation
The Sanitation branch of Code Enforcement is responsible for the performance of the contracted Waste Hauler, pursuant to the terms identified under the approved agreement. The Code Enforcement Administrator functions as the Contract Administrator for the Waste Hauler and is responsible for the overall coordination of activities; supervises the day-to-day actions of the Sanitation Officers. Sanitation (Neighborhood Stabilization) – Due to Hurricane Irma, special collection charges were placed in abeyance. Sanitation Officers took the initiative to inform citizens of the importance of separating the mixed piles of hurricane vegetation from bulk item curbside. Sanitation Officers collected addresses with non-hurricane related bulk items such as furniture, mattresses, dressers and other bulky items that would not normally be removed for a long period of time due to a hurricane. There has been an average of 60 to 80 bulk stops per day. The Sanitation Division assisted with hurricane debris removal to safeguard the City of Delray Beach, “All-America City”. The Sanitation Officer's experience from prior hurricanes was a valuable asset in the recovery and cleanup of the City.
The Code Enforcement Administrator, Education Coordinator and Sanitation Officers work collectively with the abatement of litter, education and marketing throughout the City in partnership with homeowner associations and schools. The program offers special event activities designed to encourage recycling and litter prevention, neighborhood clean-up campaigns, Adopt-A-Street program and other initiatives designed to mitigate litter.
We partner with residents, Non-profit organizations, businesses and schools to support our Clean City Initiative through scheduled clean-ups, providing supplies to participants of our Adopt-A-Street program and pop-up street clean-ups.
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SE 2nd St. Street Clean-Up
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Grove clean up with Community Greening, Inc.
clean city initiative
The Community Improvement Department was able to partner with many great programs and events this year. Below are a few exceptionally memorable ones: Annual Community Improvement Public Meeting Elks Youth Camp National Night Out Back to School Event at Atlantic HS. Relief for Puerto Rico Relief for Key West Thanksgiving Turkey Drive Adopt-A-Family/ Thanksgiving Adopt-A-Family/Christmas Story Time With Santa @ Pompey Park Santa Claus Came to Town (delivered Christmas gifts to kids in our community) Weekend food boxes to local families during Christmas break 1st Phase of "Rock The Block" - Military Veteran's home improvement.
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COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Ferline has been with the City of Delray Beach for 17 years. She started as a part time Office Assistant under the City Manager; then eventually transitioned to the role of Staff Assistant in the Community Improvement Department. Over the years, her job duties ranged from administrative work, to working with first time home buyers and home rehabilitation. There is rarely a dull moment in the world of Neighborhood Services. What do you enjoy most about your job: “The End Result. There are challenges that arise with every situation but the end result is what I love. “ When Ferline first started working for the City of Delray, she had no idea she would be making a career out of it. She’s always had a passion for journalism, writing and drawing, and thought she would pursue those interests. Around 2014, she became the Neighborhood Services Administrator and is still currently serving in that role. What is the most challenging aspect of your job:“The fact that I am unable to meet everyone’s needs. Often times I am restricted because of program requirements. If I am unable to meet the need, I try to provide them with resources and information that can help them. What is a memorable encounter as Neighborhood Service Admin: “I recall working with a Veteran going through the Housing Rehabilitation Program. An inspector went out and assessed the home and realized the unbelievable circumstances in which this resident had been living. The before and after pictures reminded me of how much I love what I do and my ability to assist those in need. “ Ferline’s responsibilities exceed far beyond just the walls of Community Improvement. She is happily married and a very active “sports mom” of all her boys that are involved in various athletics year ‘round. She moved to Delray at the age of 6 and will always call it home. “I feel like I still haven’t reached my ultimate platform or fulfilled my purpose yet. Until then, I am yet in full pursuit of it”. Written by: Terra Couzens, Alarm Specialist
EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR FERLINE F. MESIDORT
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City of Delray Beach Community Improvement Department
www.mydelraybeach.com
Delray Beach, FL
100 NW 1st Ave
city of delray beach
Text
costello@mydelraybeach.com
