Oakland Park is fighting accusations of being indifferent to citizen concerns, eschewing transparency, and having a rubber stamp for a city commission. The May 6 meeting seems to display all those traits.

The issue appeared to be a formality: relinquishing city rights to an unused, 12-foot utility easement to Powerline Apartments at north 38th and Powerline Rd. Some are concerned about the new units being used as short-term rentals as well as traffic issues that won’t be addressed until the project is finished. 

It’s not the issue itself, but the way the discourse and the treatment of residents’ issues went down that’s raising eyebrows. 

The discussion started out fine, with Vice Mayor Aisha Gordon and Commissioner Fitz Budhoo saying they had fielded citizen concerns, and the developer said he had talked with some of them. 

It was then that the scope of thought and debate was narrowly defined. Commissioner Letitia Newbold asked Asst. City Manager Sierra Marrero, “If and when we address those site plans, is this the meeting to do it…,” she was abruptly cut off by city attorney D.J. Doody. “No ma’am. You have very narrow scope of review this evening.” 

However, there will be no other time to address the concerns as this is the last step before the project can begin.

Doody also said public comments should be disregarded. “With all due respect to the public comments, those issues are not before you tonight.” 

Mayor Steven Arnst tried to address citizen concerns, but after about a minute, Doody cut him off, saying, “Mayor, respectfully, that is outside the scope of your consideration.” 

The mayor said he was just venting, but he wasn’t even allowed to do that. 

Arnst: “I live in the area...” 

Doody: “It has nothing to do with an easement.” 

Arnst: “I know that.” 

Budhoo, after acknowledging resident concerns: “The city attorney is correct, we can’t go this route. Call the question.” 

Happened Before 

This is just the most recent instance of staff controlling the meeting and shutting off debate. 

In February, commissioners were voting to approve a contract for amusement park rides. Arnst asked about which rides would be used and said he wanted attractions with more zoom. 

Doody and City Manager David Hebert quickly shut down the discussion.  

“This is way off subject matter,” Doody said, saying this was just about approving the bid.  

That was the only time the contract could be questioned, and now the city is essentially stuck with the menu of attractions offered.

Photo via Oakland Park, Facebook.