[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6471251,"mediaKeyId","5778256-7b8a12cedfc00b5483675138ba251a3e","parentId",5778256,"title","Margate approves revised code‑enforcement ordinance; special magistrate fee schedule debate stalls procedural resolution","audioSeconds",1535,"startMs",6605000,"endMs",8140000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5778256-7b8a12cedfc00b5483675138ba251a3e&start=6605&end=8140","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5778256-7b8a12cedfc00b5483675138ba251a3e/thumbnail_6605000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6471251/Margate/Broward-County/Florida/Margate-approves-revised-codeenforcement-ordinance-special-magistrate-fee-schedule-debate-stalls-procedural-resolution","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6471251-723980b105b6921ec8e99260b4934cf0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770640005&Signature=jTsLTWMpf~t7zbx02RRE3CbZdQV1RqeGlw8uvMryq9X3sCy5KsqlO7930~NaJ1d0w8XsQpk-QqiE0iWluiLznlC4dCfVaoFYDoM62Aq63zD14xgKZCZnS84sTW2vmrxyClP3rc6egIaUiNJ7zk-sBXwPpdv-pdBwiFF3sshGWfXavaNluPg9~bbWMeGBDMg6oyXg2K-g2RyJd66~y~Ohz7IlC7h1In-lOEgmH0REKwQtGaP7L7UxtdfmPvkwnWRVXdQG09EqY5m~cqwm2pXkiM7g1NVaQBPDbmQJVJv2nmJJ7T7JLEqJ1NHXp9kgRBQGMCOMPPW7HIVFO34jKyuo0g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Margate","date","2025-09-18T00:00:00Z","article","The City of Margate Commission on Sept. 17 approved an ordinance designed to shorten the city’s code‑enforcement timeline by combining the violation hearing and penalty hearing into a single magistrate appearance, staff said. The ordinance passed on second reading.

City staff explained that, under the amended code, a property owner who receives a notice of violation and fails to correct it would be scheduled for a single special‑magistrate hearing at which the magistrate could issue corrective deadlines and, if necessary, begin assessing civil penalties. The change is intended to speed compliance and avoid multiple return hearings that currently can stretch an enforcement case over many weeks.

During public comment, residents and commissioners urged balance and compassion. Several members of the public described cases where they said code officers returned repeatedly with new violations, a practice some residents called “death by a thousand cuts.” Nina Culver, a long‑time resident, told the commission she sometimes helps neighbors comply when they face enforcement notices and urged code officers to use consistent standards. Commissioner Rosano questioned whether the ordinance could cause hardship for homeowners with genuine financial limits and emphasized staff should continue to work with residents seeking help.

The commission then considered a related resolution that would set special‑magistrate hearing procedures and raise the administrative hearing fee from $50 to $100 to cover hearing costs. Commissioners and residents debated the fee increase and how the city should enforce violations; several said fees had not been updated in a decade and costs for hearings have risen.

Because one commissioner (Commissioner Simone) left the dais before the resolution vote, the measure “died for lack of” a full vote and was not adopted. Mayor Arlene Schwartz instructed staff to ensure the magistrate procedures are fully consistent with the newly adopted ordinance and to return with a corrected proposal. City staff said they will clean up language and bring the procedural resolution back for further consideration.

What passed and what did not:
- Ordinance amending Chapter 1 (general provisions) to streamline enforcement hearings: Adopted on second reading (roll call: majority yes).
- Resolution establishing special‑magistrate procedures and increasing administrative hearing fees: Not adopted at Sept. 17 meeting (died for lack of full commission present); staff to return with revisions.

Residents asked the commission to continue pursuing fair enforcement and to consider neighborhood traffic and other quality‑of‑life concerns in its enforcement priorities. Several commissioners said staff already works to give property owners extra time when warranted and that the goal of the ordinance is faster compliance, not automatic fines.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Margate - 9/17/25 Regular City Commission Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The City of Margate on Sept. 17 adopted an amendment to its code enforcement ordinance to combine violation and penalty hearings before the special magistrate, a change staff said will shorten the enforcement timeline and speed compliance.","taxTitle","Margate, Broward County, Florida","taxId",5088,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6471256,"Developers present 287-unit CocoGate plan at Margate public hearing; lift‑station and ‘hometown heroes’ units part of proposal",1492,4646000,6138000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5778256-7b8a12cedfc00b5483675138ba251a3e&start=4646&end=6138","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5778256-7b8a12cedfc00b5483675138ba251a3e/thumbnail_4646000.jpg","/articles/6471256/Margate/Broward-County/Florida/Developers-present-287-unit-CocoGate-plan-at-Margate-public-hearing-liftstation-and-hometown-heroes-units-part-of-proposal","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6471256-f5c4e71cf10caa3402d13af5f1f49770/orig.mp4?Expires=1770640005&Signature=eetX8hf9Xcc5iBBMgyzzHmfHvDiViUdZKGMnM0x-7pWKYFkohuv-3i7CKqa-5CVNwbSJR1rvxrjrPDhRAYcsnggq9plI81fshvU9ofHZ3R7XsYOLIjrZYJs1Dd9JYrblXgr2wYVFznEgXUz2I9nX-U-emfx64PdWDxCAxAiroBpoyKD7ijlaFADceR2eWMEdSpbTyiJ9M9xcVk0nCBZKSNbjV66TE8xswFGmDJ8WLGrQZhHpAZ7-aYI9~m75VDkns8pAc4XNBTgwLLd43rK5FFnSV-~44KlaFk7MHduMFWA1C9jsF4yi6rndpdnBf1g2-rTF4HGv2mFgg8AlbFumfQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","White Oak Development Group on Wednesday presented a proposal to demolish the CocoGate shopping center and build a mixed‑use project with 287 apartments and street‑front retail, telling the City of Margate Commission the plan would activate the State Road 7 corridor and include 21 restricted “hometown heroes” units for public‑service workers.

The developer’s attorney, Matthew Scott of Greenberg Traurig (speaking for the applicant), described the plan as “the Cocogate Development Agreement” and said the project would feature retail along 441, enhanced sidewalks and landscaping, and public‑benefit upgrades the city could help underwrite. Scott said the site sits inside the city’s Community Redevelopment Area and that the agreement is intended to “encourage mixed use” and speed redevelopment for a property he called a long‑standing eyesore.

The proposal calls for one multifamily building with 287 residential units plus two buildings containing retail, and, Scott said, the team “would restrict 21 of the overall units in the project” for participants in Florida’s Hometown Heroes program — a local preference for certain public‑service workers to access discounted rental terms.

Developers told commissioners the estimated project cost is about $90 million to $100 million. Andy Burnham of White Oak Development said the project will generate a public sewer improvement need: an existing lift station that serves surrounding properties must be upgraded. Scott and city staff said the developer would pay standard water and sewer connection charges at building permit, while the city would handle lift‑station improvements because the upgrade benefits the wider area. The applicant also requested expedited permitting and noted the project would coordinate with the CRA on burying overhead power lines along the corridor.

Neighbors urged caution. Laurie Brookins, who lives one block west of the site, said the corner needs redevelopment but warned the commission about traffic impacts on nearby cut‑through streets, asking whether the city or developer would mitigate increased traffic. Brookins said: “I am among the neighbors who have concerns about what this development will mean for Margate overall and our neighborhood in particular.”

Nina Culver, another resident, praised the developers’ proposal to reserve units for teachers, firefighters and other public workers, calling the hometown‑heroes element “an absolutely amazing thing” because many school staff and first responders cannot afford to live in the city.

City staff said the hearing Wednesday was the statutorily required first public hearing on a development agreement and that the proposed agreement will return for a second public hearing on Oct. 8, when the commission could consider final action. No final approval was taken on Sept. 17.

The commission and staff flagged several outstanding items that will be addressed between hearings, including final language on connection charges, coordination with Broward County for driveway access on Coconut Creek Parkway and exact timelines tied to existing leases on outparcels.

If approved, developers estimated about 18 months of construction from groundbreaking. The applicant described the retail portion as pedestrian‑oriented uses — restaurants and coffee shops — intended to make the corner a more welcoming “gateway” to downtown Margate.

Commissioners and staff said they would continue negotiations and refine the draft agreement ahead of the Oct. 8 second hearing.","White Oak Development Group presented a mixed‑use redevelopment plan for the CocoGate shopping center at State Road 7 and Coconut Creek Parkway. The city held a required first public hearing on a development agreement; no approval was taken and a second hearing is scheduled for Oct. 8.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6471242,"Public criticism over commissioner donation and outreach process dominates public comment at Margate meeting",306,858000,1164000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5778256-7b8a12cedfc00b5483675138ba251a3e&start=858&end=1164","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5778256-7b8a12cedfc00b5483675138ba251a3e/thumbnail_858000.jpg","/articles/6471242/Margate/Broward-County/Florida/Public-criticism-over-commissioner-donation-and-outreach-process-dominates-public-comment-at-Margate-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6471242-37a72ce401f1e54538de24934ec8dbd6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770640005&Signature=KfPQcnrNRN-DS9NMbGYOYdoOKnMumh~RcKKsQmaOO9SUTn-~38mhjhBjPefhIb0k9veihmWtXOpaQaP7bNysgNrqYRX69Xyx3xaju8Hjqd-kWf3doiEhCKTRRoPX8os5P8~zaBIN1VQZQsm5LnEcQXeij31DzqmzDAZRwn-LoVxqDbGbsJ~siKwV-oUKXEO77KjPvgTPak7QAl1bKJ-lVtGdN6E~4nqiwfgUqRsrXnB~q4HDx~zdw8pvsNHsg8hOjniKmtQOn~p-0R9T1TUexdN70iy9cEner5P5eRkXjhiGKTs4ZCAsLV7uF-5ybE5yrfroyy4281a~2oAfMuj~pQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Public comment at the City of Margate’s Sept. 17 meeting focused heavily on a dispute over how a donation to a bereaved family was handled and on recurring problems connected with a proposed fair and neighborhood issues.

Resident Tracy Van Winkle told commissioners public anger was not “bitching” but a reaction to the way a donation was presented at an earlier meeting and said three of five officials on the dais were not aware of key facts about the recipient. Several residents demanded clarity about whether donations were administered properly and whether commissioners had followed the city’s application process for small‑dollar donations that commissioners can authorize from discretionary funds.

Cree Anne Pepe, who identified herself as the mother of a man who recently died, said she had not asked the city for help and described the donation made by Commissioner Rosano as a “selfless and a very considerate gesture.” She also said she had been mischaracterized during an earlier budget meeting and asked for an apology from Commissioner Simone for comments Pepe called “inaccurate, hateful things.” Pepe said she would donate half of the money she received back to a family she was trying to help.

Multiple residents raised separate, but related, concerns about a recurring fair in the city’s CRA district. Ilsa Sanchez and another commenter said the fair operator had repeatedly submitted late applications, made late payments and caused traffic headaches at past events. Several residents, including Donna (joined by Zoom), asked why an applicant with large past balances had been allowed to reapply.

Residents also used the public comment period to report neighborhood maintenance issues — damaged signs, missing neighborhood identification markers and requests for mosquito control — and to press for improved communication on meeting scheduling. Several speakers asked the commission to reconsider moving an October meeting start time to 6 p.m., saying a 6 p.m. start would prevent parents and students from attending awards presentations.

Commissioners responded on the record. Commissioner Rosano defended her charitable actions and said she helps people privately and does not publicize donations. Vice Mayor Serio explained the city’s existing administrative process for commissioner donations — each commissioner receives $2,000 to allocate annually, and applicants must submit forms for review — and said staff had explained the rationale for the administrative route. He apologized to Cree Anne Pepe for the inaccurate comments she had received and confirmed staff would revisit how the donation was handled administratively to avoid public misunderstandings.

No formal policy change or disciplinary action was taken at the Sept. 17 meeting; commissioners said they would review procedures and communications about discretionary donations and meeting scheduling.","Several residents used the Sept. 17 public comment period to criticize how a commissioner handled a donation to a bereaved family, to demand apologies and to raise concerns about perceived favoritism. Other public commenters urged enforcement of rules for a recurring fair and raised neighborhood quality‑of‑life issues.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6471247,"Margate commissioners ask staff to study metal detectors, other security for commission meetings",822,8774000,9596000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5778256-7b8a12cedfc00b5483675138ba251a3e&start=8774&end=9596","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5778256-7b8a12cedfc00b5483675138ba251a3e/thumbnail_8774000.jpg","/articles/6471247/Margate/Broward-County/Florida/Margate-commissioners-ask-staff-to-study-metal-detectors-other-security-for-commission-meetings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6471247-db472a992c9de1145484ef02f9e119f5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770640005&Signature=KDADsQaTOauZIo9S4seduYoeaoNBjYPusQ~iYwgv0aa9sfGMbE7lg5XCVQ~2P6w3ZSd1fyPC5mwXLZbsQ7pCe0QKbVe63OZZpMk8pIGtNc-Ufy7Bk3VCMXMxQzQpfH71H4HrYRBdN7bQ-9GYCsPLxZfUDnRco0yfyvRmRDPSUD3FRuNHcLlvdDymY51jMyP7sn5L-9QkvPBw9PS3~Xu4BCqmJimPQ~C7RgGt7gW9nkaFt7NDEROIfBWB2KFZmZND7t3pNjpxZWEiMg1n1LG0-kQxiuUcrWXpbgER5fHuuGEgzGcM8F1MibYujWlaC9IaN8PrNPJnUl8pa3SswsIpLg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Commissioners discussed possible enhanced security for City Commission meetings on Wednesday after members of the public and commissioners cited incidents in which individuals filmed restricted areas and left disturbing communications.

Commissioner Kaji (identified in remarks as the item sponsor) said he brought the matter forward amid rising national incidents and changes in gun‑law enforcement, and asked the city manager to coordinate with the police chief and city attorney to return options and cost estimates for security measures. He said the intent is to make residents and officials safer during in‑person meetings, not to impede public participation.

Several commissioners supported the concept of limited screening for public meetings. Commissioner Rosano recounted an episode when an individual repeatedly left threatening letters and entered restricted parts of City Hall; she said the building’s stairwell and public access were closed in response. Mayor Arlene Schwartz and others said some public facilities — including hospitals and county commission chambers — already use walkthrough detectors and that a nonintrusive metal‑detecting process can reassure attendees without turning hearings into a heavy‑security event.

Vice Mayor Serio asked staff to return multiple security levels and costs, from staffing an officer at the entry to temporary wanding or a walkthrough detector during public sessions. City Manager directed staff to coordinate with police and the city attorney and bring back a policy and budget estimate for the commission’s review.

No ordinance or funding decision was taken; the commission asked staff to develop options and costs for future consideration.","Following concerns about protests and individuals videotaping restricted areas, the commission requested the city manager and police return options and cost estimates for limited security screening (metal detectors/wanding) at commission chambers during public meetings.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Margate approves revised code‑enforcement ordinance; special magistrate fee schedule debate stalls procedural resolution

Developers present 287-unit CocoGate plan at Margate public hearing; lift‑station and ‘hometown heroes’ units part of proposal

Public criticism over commissioner donation and outreach process dominates public comment at Margate meeting

Margate commissioners ask staff to study metal detectors, other security for commission meetings