
HLSCA NEWS PAGE - UPDATED 8/31/10
UPCOMING IMPORTANT MEETINGS AND EVENTS
VACATION RENTALS IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS
MESSAGE FROM CODE COMPLIANCE OFFICE
HARD JUNK PICKUP SCHEDULE FOR 2010
HOLLYWOOD "HOME OF THE MONTH" AWARD
UPCOMING IMPORTANT MEETINGS AND EVENTS
1) The next HLSCA General Membership be held on Tuesday, September 14th, 2010 at the Hollywood Beach Community Center, 1301 Ocean Drive. Time: 7:30pm. Our guest speaker will be Lori Parrish, Property Property Appraiser. Refreshments will be served. For info, call 954-923-1940. Free parking.
2) The Hollywood Art and Culture
Center has ongoing shows and events. For details, call 954-921-3274 or visit www.artandculturecenter.org
for a list of summer art and yoga classes, click here: Art and
Culture Center Class Info
3) The Downtown and Beach CRA have many regular events for all residents. Visit their website for details: http://www.hollywoodfl.org/cra/index.htm
4) The ArtsPark in Downtown Hollywood has regurlarly scheduled events. For info, contact ArtsPark Manager, Karl Chuck at kchuck@hollywoodfl.org
5) The Greater Hollywood Chamber of Commerce has numerous events throughout the year including the popular Expo Alfresco in April each year. Visit their website at www.hollywoodchamber.net
Vacation Rentals in Residential Neighborhoods
Hollywood has a long history of illegal conversions where single family homes are
sub-divided into multiple rooms with the intention of renting these rooms by the week,
month or year. In addition, many of the older homes, especially in the Hollywood Lakes
neighborhood, were constructed with out buildings or separate garages that
contained single room apartments or In-law suites. However, the vacation
rental phenomenon is a relatively new problem and, although somewhat related to the
illegal conversion, creates a much more serious issue for the neighborhoods.
Why? Clearly, renting your home on a daily or weekly basis introduces an undesirable
transient element to a residential neighborhood. Unlike a hotel or apartment/condo
building with on-site management, security and adequate parking, the vacation
rental facility is an unsupervised situation where there is no guarantee that the
rental agent or home owner has screened the renter nor are there any controls in place to
limit the number of occupants and vehicles associated with a given rental event.
In the past, the HLSCA has been told by City Staff
that uncovering illegal home conversions was difficult to do and even more difficult to
prove as a homeowner could claim that his tenants are just family members.
With the vacation rentals, this is no longer a valid excuse for inaction.
Here, the intent and evidence is clear as these vacation rentals are
advertised world wide on the internet. The citizens of Hollywood expect the City to
enforce zoning and business rules and regulations when it comes to any commercial
intrusion into the residential neighborhoods. The vacation rental problem is
clearly a violation of a number of City codes and ordinances. Recently, the City created a
condo/hotel zoning classification. In the Zoning and Land Use Regulations
Article 2: Definitions, it states the following: A condo/hotel is
considered to be a transient hotel/motel use and not a residential use. Under
Article 4, Special Exceptions, there is no mention of hotel/motel use. While we recognize
that there are small apartments and motels scattered throughout some of the older
neighborhoods in Hollywood, few are found in RS zoned areas.
In addition to various zoning code violations, vacation rentals also violate the City's
home-based business ordinance, Ord. 110.21 "Home-Based Businesses", that states
in paragraph (B): "No current or prospective client or customer of the business
shall be allowed on the home premises;". This further confirms that vacation
rentals are illegal as a home based business cannot accept customers in a home. What is a
renter that pays a daily or weekly rental fee with his credit card and is taxed at the 11%
State hotel bed tax rate? He/she is clearly a customer. For a home owner to set up a
corporation, accept credit card payments, advertise for daily renters on the internet and
file for a tax certificate to collect the 11% hotel bed tax is further confirmation that
the home is being used as a business that illegally accepts customers on the premises.
This ordinance, therefore, must apply.
The City of Hollywood must consider the legal ramifications of allowing an illegal
hotel use in a residential zoned area when it comes to life safety issues
and the Citys possible exposure to liability. Have all of these
illegal vacation rentals met the necessary fire and safety requirements of a
standard hotel or apartment building such as lighted exit signs, emergency evacuation
paths, fire detection and suppression equipment, ADA compliance, etc.? Have they
been inspected by the City for code and fire safety compliance? Do they have the required
occupation license and business tax receipt? Are the owners still claiming Homestead
exemption on these rental facilities? Are these vacation renters knowledgeable about the
Citys codes concerning noise, residential parking, etc.?
The HLSCA is asking the City to investigate this vacation rental
problem and expects the City to take action to protect the residential neighbors from
illegal activity and commercial intrusion. If you agree with the HLSCA, let us know. Write
to us at info@hollywoodlakes.com
History of the Problem:
Since October, 2009, the City's Office of Code Compliance began a stepped up enforcement of City Ord. 50.04 "Collection of Commingled Waste and Recovered Material." This stepped up enforcement saw many Hollywood residents cited for placing their brush and palm fronds in the back of their property next to the alleys for pick up by the new contractor, Waste Pro. Residents were confused as this practice has been very common for as long as anyone can remember. The HLSCA complained to the City and at the HLSCAs October General Membership meeting on Tuesday, October 13th, 2009, attendees heard Director of Code Enforcement,
Brush bay off of alley on private
property Brush bay on
But, help may be on the horizon as we have learned that the Code Compliance office heard us loud and clear at January 19th meeting attended by the HLSCA and the Hollywood Hills Civic Assn. and is proposing changes to the City commingled ordinances. While the City is reviewing the flawed ordinance, the Code Compliance office will not be writing citations for brush piles that are placed out during the month as long as these piles are on private property and NOT touching the alley pavement. Stay tuned for more .
Of course, we welcome other suggestions,
too!
A group of Hollywood residents have successfully created a dog beach on Hollywood Beach that would allow dogs on certain days at certain times. For more info, visit the group's website at www.dboh.org
The Gulfstream Sailing Club operates a sailing program at Sailor's Point on North Lake (9th Ave. and N. Northlake Drive). Classes for beginners and small sailboat rentals are available. For more information on the Sailors Point Sailing Program, call Donna French at 954-829-0484.
Sailors Point offers a variety of
sailing programs for children and adults. Our Learn to Sail class is perfect for children
ages 8 to 14, as we start with a Level 1 class that teaches the basics, and advance to the
Level 2 class that offers a racing series.
Adults can take advantage of our Winter,
Spring and Summer Learn to Sail classes. All classes cost $110 for residents and $165 for
non-residents. All classes are held at Sailors Point, 921 North Northlake Drive.
2010 LEARN-TO-SAIL SCHEDULE (ages 8-14):
| Fall level 1 class: Registration- October 9th 9:00 to 10:00 at
Sailor's Point class starts October 10th Fees: 165.00 for all classes. $110.00 for club member's or Hollywood residents. Class hours: 9:00 AM to noon Requirements: Able to swim (swim test 1st day); closed toed shoes (rubber soles), sun screen and water. Sailor's Point Address : 921 N. Northlake Dr. Hollywood, FL 33019 Direction's to Sailor's Point: From 95 exit at Sheridan St. and go East to Federal Hwy., go south (right) to Johnson St., East (left) to 10th Ave., South (right) to Northlake Dr.., East (left) to end of Northlake Dr.., South to gate into Sailor's Point. For more info, write to anyonecan @learn2sail.org |
For
more information on Sailors Point, visit www.sailorspoint.org or contact Luis Oliveira luisrato@bellsouth.net (954-675-1440)
HLSCA Website Archives - Click here to review important issues and topics from the recent past on our HLSCA Archives Page
MESSAGE FROM CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICE
Did You Know?
Proper Placement of Commingled Waste
By Eddy Hill, Jr., Neighborhood Code Enforcement Officer
Beware of Bees!
Code Compliance has responded to a number of calls involving bee
infestations. Some of the bees have turned out to be the Africanized variety.
Unfortunately, you cannot tell the difference between an Africanized honey bee and a
European honey bee simply by looking at it because the two types appear identical.
The City of Hollywood Code 50.04 (d) 3 States "It Shall Be Unlawful For Any Person To Cause Yard Waste To Be Deposited Onto The Streets or Into Storm Drains".
Homeowners are good about following this rule, but many times lawn service companies do not comply. These leaves are washed into the storm drains which cause flooding around the drain. The law also requires lawn service companies to take with them the limbs and branches that they cut from the homeowners property. They are in Violation if they leave the branches on the homeowners property or on their swale.
Swimming Pool MaintenanceCity codes require swimming pools be properly maintained by the property owner. Pools should be kept free of insects, algae and debris. The proper balance of chemicals should be added to keep the water clean and clear. Additionally, the filtration system should be run regularly to maintain the pool in a sanitary condition.
When a pool is not being properly maintained by the property owner, it becomes a breeding ground for mosquitoes and can turn into a public health hazard. The City has traditionally hired contractors to add chemicals to the water at the expense of the property owner. Unfortunately, this is only a temporary measure, and it frequently does not resolve the problem if the filtration system is not working properly. This is especially a problem when the property is vacant.
Due to an increase in the number of improperly maintained pools, the Office of Code Enforcement is exploring innovative ways to address this problem. One option under consideration is to have a contractor drain the water from the pool and remove the drain to prevent rain water from stagnating. I will keep you posted as we finalize options to deal with problem pools.
Please feel free to contact me at 954.921.3061 extension 8224 should you need assistance with any code matter. My regular office hours are 7:00-7:30 a.m. and 3:00-4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.
You can also e-mail me at ehill@hollywoodfl.org . I generally arrive at the HLSCA monthly meeting early to take questions.
Click here to download a City Code Enforcement Complaint Form: Code Form.pdf
COMMINGLED PICKUP SCHEDULE FOR 2010
Changes have been made to the Hard Junk and Brush pickup process. The City of Hollywood's sanitation contractor, Waste Pro, will conduct hard junk pickups throughout the neighborhood along with brush pickups at the same time once each month. They will pick up a maximum of four (4) cubic yards (for example: a washer and dryer is about two cubic yards in volume) of commingled material per pick up. Pick ups will be made once each month from the alley behind your home. If you do not have an alley, then you may place your commingled brush in front of your house the weekend before the regular pick up schedule. For more details, contact the Environmental Services Division at 954-967-4200. Here is the monthly pick up schedule for the Lakes neighborhood:
Lakes Neighborhood (Area 4): Last week of each month.
For the latest information on sexual predators living in the Lakes neighborhood, go to Hollywood Police Page
HOLLYWOOD "HOME OF THE MONTH" AWARD
The City of Hollywood has created a "Home of the Month" award with the selected homeowner receiving a certificate at the first Commission meeting of the month. Entries are submitted to the City by the local civic associations. The HLSCA would like to receive potential entries from neighborhood residents. The criteria shall be homes that are particularly appealing visually having had recent renovations and improvements structurally and to landscaping. Submit entries to our Feedback page. For a list of past honorees, click Home of Month. Congratulations to this month's home!
The Lakes "Home of the Month" for September - 1627 Funston Street
Click here for an HLSCA membership application MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION 2010
The City of Hollywood ordinance # 92.24 clearly states that dog owners are required to remove all fecal matter by placing such matter in a bag, wrapper, closed or sealed container and disposing of it in a trash receptacle or other sanitary container. In addition, all dogs must be on a leash, cord or chain. It is against the law for a dog to run loose in Hollywood. Be a good neighbor and obey these local laws. If you don't, you may be fined! Fines are $25.00 first violation, $50.00 second violation and $100.00 for each additional violation within one year. For further information, contact the City Animal Control Officer, L. DeNapoli at 954.921.3061. For a copy of the City's Animal Ordinance, contact the HLSCA at feedback. Lawn signs are now available to HLSCA members and non-members to remind dog owners to obey the law. Call 954-923-1940 for information.