Sunrise Launches Public Safety Alert System On Tuesday, May 12, the City of Sunrise unveiled the new
Gianfranco Rivoli Public Safety Alert System. The alerts, available by subscription, will be delivered via e-mail and/or text message - depending on the method(s) a resident chooses.
A Gianfranco Rivoli Public Safety Alert will be broadcast only when an emergency arises that requires the attention and cooperation of Sunrise residents. Examples may include an Amber Alert (missing child), Silver Alert (missing senior), BOLO ("be on the lookout" notice), or HAZMAT (hazardous materials) incident.
The alert system is named in memory of Gianfranco Rivoli, a 6-year-old Sunrise resident who passed away in January 2009.
Interested residents are invited to
register online by providing their name, e-mail address and/or cell phone number.
The Gianfranco Rivoli Public Safety Alert System is the City's latest innovative effort to increase communication. The City also offers the Sunrise Source - a bi-monthly e-mail newsletter about programs, services and facilities - as well as an automated telephone notification system for its Utilities customers.
Protect Your Landscaping from Ficus Whitefly Ficus whiteflies - small, winged insects - are causing considerable damage to ficus trees and hedges throughout southeastern Florida. They feed on the underside of leaves, leading to wilting, yellowing and, ultimately, leaf drop.
If you have ficus on your property, you should be aware of available options for whitefly control. The University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences offers a
ficus whitefly overview 
designed to help homeowners identify this insect pest as well as treat and/or prevent whitefly damage.
Police to Host "National Night Out Against Crime" on August 4 On Tuesday, August 4, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., the City of Sunrise Police Department will host its annual
National Night Out Against Crime observance. This fun, family-friendly event will be held at the Sunrise Civic Center, located at 10610 West Oakland Park Boulevard.
National Night Out provides residents with access to free crime prevention information, products and services - including car clubs, gun locks and child fingerprinting.
The evening also offers plenty of entertainment value. Children's activities will include a Kids' Clinic sponsored by Home Depot, a bounce house and face painting. The Police Department will present a K-9 demonstration, and McGruff the Crime Dog will make an appearance. Residents can also enjoy free refreshments and live music.
National Night Out is observed each year in communities across the U.S. The event helps raise crime prevention awareness, as well as strengthen relationships between police officers and the neighborhoods they serve. It's also designed to generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime programs - and let would-be criminals know that communities are organized and mobilized against crime.
For more information about National Night Out in Sunrise, call (954) 746-3384.
Learn How You Can Benefit from the City's Landscape Recovery Program The City of Sunrise has experienced a significant loss of tree canopy in recent years, largely as a result of hurricane damage and ongoing drought conditions. In an effort to help property owners restore landscaping while minimizing their costs, the City has implemented a two-tier
Landscape Recovery Program:
Category I provides for a 50% reduction in fees for landscaping and irrigation permits through September 30, 2009. This category applies only to single-family and multi-family residences.
Category II - for owners of non-residential property and homeowner association common areas - also provides for a 50% reduction in fees for landscaping and irrigation permits. In addition, the City will make staff available to help develop a detailed landscape and irrigation installation schedule designed to bring a property into compliance within 18 months.
To learn how you can benefit from the Landscape Recovery Program, attend a free workshop on Thursday, May 28. The City is hosting two informational sessions - one at 2:00 p.m., and one at 6:30 p.m. - in the Grand Ballroom at the Sunrise Civic Center (10610 West Oakland Park Boulevard, Sunrise 33351).
The 2:00 p.m. session will focus on the Program as it applies to non-residential properties and multi-family properties (Category II). The 6:30 p.m. session will focus on single-family residences (Category I). However, both assistance categories will be discussed in each session. Other relevant topics - such as ficus whitefly management and best practices for landscape installation and maintenance - will also be covered. For more information, call (954) 746-3270.
Lawrence Sofield Appointed to City Commission Lawrence "Larry" Sofield was appointed to the City Commission on February 17, 2009.
Since becoming a Sunrise resident in 1992, Commissioner Sofield has been an active and involved member of the community. As the founder and past president of the East Sunrise Residents Association, he has worked to boost safety and expand recreation opportunities in his neighborhood. In 2008, in an effort to further increase civic involvement, he founded the Central Sunrise Residents Association.
Commissioner Sofield is an advocate for quality education. He currently serves on the Village Elementary School Advisory Council, and is a past member of the Broward County School Board's Diversity Committee. He is also a past member of the Sunrise Leisure Services Advisory Board, and has been a volunteer coach in the City's t-ball and youth basketball leagues since 2003.
Commissioner Sofield is the president and founder of RealPost, Inc. - a successful Sunrise-based business. He is married to Katherine, and they have four children and four grandchildren.
City Hosts Groundbreaking for Public Safety Complex On Friday, January 30, the City of Sunrise hosted a Groundbreaking Ceremony to mark the construction of its new Public Safety complex. The ceremony was held at the future site of the facility - 10440 West Oakland Park Boulevard, just east of the Dan Pearl Branch Library.
The new Public Safety complex is being designed by architects ADG and will be developed by Stiles Corporation. It will feature a five-story Public Safety building, as well as a two-story Fire-Rescue station to replace Station #72 (currently located in front of City Hall). The complex will house the administrative staff of the Police and Fire-Rescue departments, as well as training facilities.
Sunrise Named Among Florida's "Best Places to Raise Your Kids" BusinessWeek magazine recently unveiled its second annual list of
"Best Places to Raise Your Kids." For 2009, Sunrise was named among Florida's top three cities for families.
BusinessWeek went state by state, focusing on towns with at least 50,000 residents and a median family income of $40,000 to $100,000. The magazine then narrowed the field, using the following weighted criteria: school performance; number of schools; household expenditures; crime rates; air quality; job growth; family income; museums, parks, theatres and other amenities; and diversity. Affordability was one of the most important considerations in framing the list. After all the numbers were run, most states had one top pick, followed by two runners up.
Fire-Rescue Department Earns Life Safety Achievement Award The Sunrise Fire-Rescue Department earned a
2007 Life Safety Achievement Award from the Residential Fire Safety Institute - a public interest group whose mission is to reduce residential fires deaths and injuries.
The Life Safety Achievement Award recognizes local fire prevention activities that contributed to reducing the number of lives lost in residential fires. The Sunrise Fire-Rescue Department qualified for the award because it recorded zero fire deaths in structures during 2007. Although residential fires in the United States account for only 20 percent of all fires, they result in 80 percent of fire deaths.
Water Conservation: How Much Water Does Your Household Use? The average U.S. household uses approximately 69.3 gallons of water per person per day indoors, according to a survey by the American Water Works Association. Do you know how much water your family consumes? By conducting a simple household water audit, you can estimate your indoor use. This can help you target your water conservation efforts and, in turn, save money.
Use our typeable
Water Audit Form, and we'll do the math!
Public Meeting to Introduce Plans for Passive Park On Wednesday, May 27, at 6:30 p.m., the City will host a public meeting to introduce the design concepts proposed for the new Nob Hill Road Passive Park. The meeting will be held at the Sunrise Civic Center Theatre, located at 10610 West Oakland Park Boulevard.
The passive park will be situated on 4.5 acres at the southeast corner of Nob Hill Road and NW 55th Street. Current plans for the park's amenities include the City's first boundless playground; a large open play area; a walking/jogging path; two pavilions; and bathroom facilities. Construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2010 and conclude by the end of that year.
City staff and a representative from design consulting firm Craven Thompson & Associates will facilitate the meeting. For more information, please call (954) 747-4631.
Sunrise Fire-Rescue Earns Award for Heart-Health Initiatives Sunrise Fire-Rescue earned the
2008 STEMI Awareness Community Program Award from the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC). This award recognizes a fire-service EMS system that has implemented a community program to help improve therapies for patients with acute coronary syndrome and its life-threatening complication - sudden cardiac arrest.
Sunrise Fire-Rescue was praised for its community CPR programs, overall heart-health and wellness initiatives, and professional best practices including the recognition and management of STEMI (ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction) - an indicator of acute heart attack.
Award criteria were established by the IAFC, in partnership with sponsor Medtronic/Physio-Control, the leading manufacturer of cardiac monitors/defibrillators. The IAFC, founded in 1873, represents the leadership of more than 1.2 million firefighters.
General Dynamics Opens Engineering Office in Sunrise General Dynamics C4 Systems - a leading developer and integrator of secure communication and information systems and technology - opened its new Engineering Design Center in the City of Sunrise on June 2nd. Their 22,000-square-foot workspace is located in Sawgrass Pointe I, a six-story, Class A office building in the Sawgrass Park of Commerce.
The Engineering Design Center will initially house 50 software and systems engineers at work on U.S. Department of Defense tactical-networking and next-generation communications programs. In the near future, General Dynamics' employment in Sunrise could grow to 100 positions - a large, highly-trained staff with an average annual salary of over $100,000.
"The highly-skilled workforce in South Florida, combined with the excellent quality of life and proximity to outstanding colleges and universities, makes this an ideal location for us to open shop," said Chris Marzilli, president of General Dynamics C4 Systems.
The City's Building Department played a significant role in facilitating the opening of General Dynamics' Sunrise office: Staff worked hard to meet the firm's aggressive development timetable - and its move-in target.
"We have been extremely pleased with the City's commitment to General Dynamics," said Christopher Gallagher of Duke Realty Corporation, the firm that developed and manages Sawgrass Pointe I. "Their Building professionals made an exceptional effort to accommodate C4's needs."
As General Dynamics' new office illustrates, Sunrise continues to be one of the premier corporate locations in South Florida. The Sawgrass area is centrally located for employees and clients, and readily accessible via two major airports, the Sawgrass Expressway, and I-595. Sunrise also offers a variety of business-friendly amenities, including excellent full-service restaurants, quality lodging, and world-class entertainment options.
Bruce Moeller Named Sunrise City Manager On June 10, the Sunrise City Commission appointed Bruce J. Moeller to the position of City Manager. He had been serving as Interim City Manager since January 28, 2008.
Moeller served as Sunrise's Fire Chief from 1997 to January 2008. In this role, he is credited with developing a modern emergency management program - including creating an Office of Emergency Management to oversee the City's preparation for and response to natural and manmade disasters. Prior to joining the City of Sunrise, he served as Director/Fire Chief for Broward County Fire Rescue. Moeller has a total of 31 years of local government experience in both Florida and Illinois.
To complement his public service, Moeller earned a Ph.D. in Public Administration from Florida Atlantic University in 2001, and has taught undergraduate and graduate classes in management and public administration. Dr. Moeller serves on several professional advisory boards and is a sought-after speaker on such topics as performance measurement and improving management effectiveness.
Skating and Competitive Play at Roller Hockey Complex The
Sunrise Roller Hockey Complex hosts programs for new and experienced players alike - as well as for recreational skaters:
The Complex hosts
Roller Hockey Open Play on Tuesdays from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Two rinks are reserved for competitive play: one for adults 18 and up, and one for children age 17 and younger. (Children 17 and under must be accompanied by an adult.) Bring your own inline skates and safety equipment: sticks will be available. Trained staff is on site to organize teams and officiate. Admission is free.
Skaters of all ages and skill levels are welcome during
Open Skating sessions - Tuesdays from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Bring your own inline or traditional four-wheel skates. Admission is free.
Call (954) 747-4600 to register, or for more information about the facility and its programs. The Sunrise Roller Hockey Complex is located at 5201 NW 103rd Avenue in Sunrise Commerce Park.
New Camp Registration Procedures for Summer 2008 Summertime marks the return of Sunrise's popular and affordable Summer Camp program. The City's Leisure Services Department operates 12 camp sites throughout Sunrise, offering participants the best in summer recreation - from sports and swimming to arts and crafts. In addition, each camp session features a weekly field trip.
Sunrise offers two specialty camps: A Theatre Camp for kids with a flair for drama, and a Sports Camp that focuses on developing athletic ability. There's also an Adventurous Beginners Camp designed for children who will be entering kindergarten this fall.
Full-day camp programs are conducted every weekday from June 16 through August 8 - except Friday, July 4 - from 7:45 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. An afternoon-only option is available to children who are attending summer school.
Full-day Summer Camp is just $450 for Sunrise residents and $670 for non-residents. The afternoon-only program is $425 for residents and $620 for non-residents. Discounts are provided for multiple children in the same household.
Each camper receives an official summer camp t-shirt, which must be worn on field trips. (Extra shirts can be purchased for $6 each.) Campers must bring their own lunch and snacks each day.
This is the first year the City has conducted a site-assignment lottery to determine camp placement. Completed registration packets for Sunrise residents and children who attend a school located in the City of Sunrise were accepted from April 1 through April 28, by mail only. Each applicant was asked to select three camp sites, in order of preference. All registrations received by April 28 have been entered into a random drawing and will be assigned a camp location. Forms received after April 28 will be processed in the order they are received, space permitting. If an applicant's first three choices have reached maximum enrollment before their registration is processed, they will be placed on waiting lists for those sites only and their payment will be returned unless a spot is secured.
The City's Summer Camp program can accommodate a total of 970 children. Walk-in registrations and registration for non-residents will begin on May 12 and conclude when all spaces have been filled.
See the April/May/June issue of
Horizons for complete Summer Camp information, or contact the City's Leisure Services Department at (954) 747-4600.
Sunrise Participates in Staples Dream Park Challenge Sunrise's
Flamingo Park was one of only 18 parks in Broward and Miami-Dade counties to compete in the "Staples Dream Park Challenge with D-Wade." The winning park will receive a makeover valued at $25,000, and will host a celebration featuring Miami Heat Guard and NBA All-Star Dwyane Wade.
Residents who voted for Flamingo Park online were also automatically entered to win one of five autographed basketball jerseys, or a chance to meet D-Wade. The contest began on February 14 and concluded on April 10. Winners have not yet been announced.
Flamingo Park is located at 12855 NW 8th Street, adjacent to Sawgrass Elementary School. It features two baseball fields, a soccer field, a tennis court, two basketball courts, a playground, a jogging path and a meeting room.
For more information about Flamingo Park, contact the Leisure Services Department at (954) 747-4600.
Sunrise Hosts 2008 BMW Tennis Championship The City of Sunrise hosted the BMW Tennis Championship in March 2008. This exciting annual event marked the return of some of the top men's professional tennis players.
Robin Haase of the Netherlands captured the singles title, defeating sixth-seeded Sebastien Grosjean of France.
The BMW Tennis Championship is the only Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) event held in Broward County, and one of only three major tournaments in the state of Florida.
Sunrise Tennis Club, the tournament's home, has earned numerous accolades, including the United States Tennis Association's 2001"Outstanding Facility" award.
FY 2007/2008 Budget Reduces Tax Rate for 13th Consecutive Year The Sunrise City Commission unanimously approved a budget for fiscal year 2007/2008 that reduces the property tax millage rate for the 13th consecutive year while maintaining the City's commitment to providing the highest level of services. Although property tax legislation approved by the Florida Legislature in 2007 required local governments to roll-back property tax rates, the City Commission lowered property taxes by approximately $800,000 more than required by the legislation! We are unaware of any city in South Florida that reduced taxes below the required millage rate by more than Sunrise. This dedication to lowering the millage rate will result in a tax savings of $6.3 million for Sunrise property owners next year.
The City's 2008 fiscal year budget began on October 1, 2007, and ends on September 30, 2008. The budget was developed through a complex process involving detailed requests from City departments, input from the City Commission and opinions from residents. Throughout the budget preparation process, City staff sought to identify which services and programs should be undertaken with the resources available. The resulting budget totals just over $380 million for all funds with approximately 1,300 positions.
County Launches Vulnerable Population Registry Broward County has announced the launch of a Vulnerable Population Registry, created as a joint effort between County government, local municipalities and emergency responders countywide. Residents are encouraged to register if they feel they may be vulnerable - due to a disability, frailty or health issue - in the aftermath of a hurricane or other emergency, when extended power outages or temporary loss of services can occur.
The Registry is designed to help government entities and emergency responders pinpoint the locations of those people most in need. However, participation in the program is not a guarantee that a resident will be provided services or be placed on a priority list. Those who enroll with the Registry are still encouraged to be prepared for hurricane season, collecting essential supplies of food, water and medication to sustain themselves for three to five days in the aftermath of a storm.
Residents may enroll themselves, or authorize a family member or caregiver to register for them. The easiest way to register is online at
www.broward.org/atrisk. Residents can also register via the Broward County Call Center at 954-831-4000 (TTY 954-831-3940). All information provided to the Registry will be held in the strictest confidence, as required by State law.
10770 WEST OAKLAND PARK BOULEVARD