A SUPPLEMENTAL PUBLICATION OF THE CITY OF TAMARAC, FLORIDA

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COMING SOON!

T O T A M A R A C

2011

The City of Tamarac’s 2011 Citizen Survey is just around the corner. This is your opportunity to let us know what you feel we’re doing right, and where we may be able to improve. The City began conducting citizen and business surveys in 2005. The feedback we’ve received has been invaluable and has helped us set priorities for the community; your priorities. You tell us what programs you like and what you would like to see added. You tell us where to allocate funds and on what projects. In essence, you provide the di-rection the Mayor and Commission, along with City staff, use to develop and revise our Strategic Plan and Capital Improvement Plan. Overall, Tamarac’s residents routinely score Tamarac above the national average — in fact, in 2009 the nation-al citizen satisfaction rate across the country dropped; but Tamarac’s score actually increased! Although not all residents will receive a survey, there are always ways to have your voice and your ideas heard. One of the easiest is through the “Big RED Button” on the City’s home page (www.tamarac.org); simply click this but-ton, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to send us a comment, pose a question, or report a problem. Another way is to at-tend a Commission Meeting or one of the Neighborhood Meetings we hold throughout the year in each Commis-sion District throughout the City.

LOOK INSIDE!

MORE INFO: For more information about the City of Tamarac, our programs and services, and so much more, scan this QR Code using your cell phone. QR Codes provide quick and easy access to information on the go! Using your phone’s built-in camera and a QR Code Reader application, smart phones and other “feature phones” can quickly scan the Code and take you to more information! To download a QR Code Reader, visit your phone’s app store. The QR Code to the left links to: www.tamarac.org.

STARRING YOU!

Dear Resident, We’re sending you this Tam-A-Gram Extra to recap some of the accomplishments and priorities you’ve helped to identify over the past several years; a retrospective on one level, but also a way to look forward. This publication may have a somewhat retro look, but we’re only going as far back as 2005, the year the City con-ducted its first Citizen Survey. Subsequent surveys were conducted every two years. If you are saying to yourself, “I don’t remember receiv-ing or taking a survey,” that’s because not everyone is sur-veyed. ETC Institute, one of the most respected survey companies in the country, conducts our surveys which are distributed to communities throughout Tamarac to ensure a cross-section of responses. So, even if you have not pre-viously received a survey, you can rest assured that many of your neighbors have. Why would a City go through the expense of conduct-ing a survey during the current economic climate? Actu-ally, there is no better time to survey our residents; the responses we receive will help us to determine the com-munity’s priorities and where resources should be allocat-ed. This is even more important in economic downturns when funds are limited. Past surveys have shown that residents are focused on: Community Appearance, Crime Prevention and Police Vis-ibility, and Transportation. As you will see inside this Tam-A-Gram Extra, we’ve made great strides in each of these areas, and with your help we will continue the momentum. The 2011 Citizen Survey will be mailed in June. This is your opportunity to tell us how we’re doing. What would you like to see the City focus on in the coming years? What other projects and programs you would like to see developed? So, if you receive a 2011 survey, be sure to take a few minutes to complete and return it to ETC Institute. Help us keep Tamarac The City for Your Life!

Sincerely,

Michael C. Cernech City Manager

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U.S. AverageFlorida AverageTamarac Average

WHAT THE ABOVE CHART MEANS: According to our most re-cent citizen survey, Tamarac scores above the national average in the following categories #1: Overall image of the City; #2: Over-all quality of services provided by the City; #3: How well the City is planning for growth; and #4: Overall appearance of the City.

SURVEY SAYS!

DID YOU KNOW? When City of Tamarac residents were asked, “How satisfied are you with the overall value you receive for your City tax dollars and fees?”, 55% of re-spondents said that they were “Satisfied” or “Very Sat-isfied”. That’s 40% above the national average!

Do you have a question? Want to request a service? If so, then the “BIG RED BUTTON” is for you! Simply log on to www.tamarac.org and click on the “BIG RED BUTTON” (above the photo of the City Commission); from there you can report a pot hole, ask a question about your utility bill, and so much more! It’s convenient, easy, se-cure, and available 24-hours a day!

NEED HELP? Questions? Comments?

APPEARANCE In previous surveys, residents have placed a high priority on COMMUNITY APPEARANCE, specifically that of parks, streets, and canals. We have used that information to improve and expand the City’s parks; enhance the City’s streetscapes through roadway and median improvements; and develop a full-scale canal maintenance program. Here are a few examples:

Park Development & Expansion:• Southgate Boulevard was re-configured from a four-lane road to

a two-lane road as a traffic calming measure, and the adjacent property became Tephford Park, one of the City’s largest parks with a play area for kids, a fishing pier, and a multi-purpose path.

• Tamarac Sports Complex was expanded to include three base ball fields, a new playground, walking paths, and the City’s first skate park.

• The City’s first dog park, the Gary B Jones Park for People and Pups, was opened with separate areas for large and small dogs as well as a dog washing area.

Comprehensive Road Improvement Program:• Improvements were made to medians and landscaping on key

corridors such as Nob Hill Road and Commercial Boulevard, as well as along many of our neighborhood streets.

Canal Maintenance Program:• A comprehensive maintenance program ensures that all 650

acres of the City’s canals are cleaned on a monthly basis. In addition, 37 new aerators were installed in the canals to pro-vide for proper oxygenation and water movement, helping to re-duce algae growth.

What you told us...

Here’s just a sampling of what Tamarac’s residents have ranked as their top priorities over the past few surveys...

COMMUNITY APPEARANCE:Parks

StreetsCanals

CRIME PREVENTION& PUBLIC SAFETY

Police VisibilityStreet Lighting

TRANSPORTATION:Traffic Flow

Walking & Biking PathsPublic Transportation

Citizen surveys are a key component of how your City government prioritizes and funds projects and programs. Keep reading for just a few of the ways you’ve helped us make Tamarac The City for Your Life!

MORE DETAILS!

HOW IS TAMARAC’S RESIDENT SURVEY CONDUCTED? To ensure we have a good cross-section of residents, ETC Institute, our survey firm, calculates the percentage of responses necessary to obtain a statistically valid response which is representative of the City’s demographics — that is the number of surveys sent out.

DID YOU KNOW? Based on City of Tam-arac resident feedback, BSO’s attendance at neighborhood and association meetings has increased by more than 50% from 2007.

You’ve told us that TRANSPORTATION means more than driving your car; it also means having the ability to walk, bike, or take pub-lic transportation to get where you want to go. Some of the improve-ments we’ve made to Tamarac’s transportation facilities include: Multi-Purpose Paths:

• Multi-purpose paths were installed at both Tephford Park and Tamarac Sports Complex for residents to enjoy walking, biking or roller blading. (As an added bonus… the Sports Complex has energy efficient solar powered lighting!)

Sidewalk Improvement Program:• A comprehensive sidewalk improvement program resulted in

sidewalk repairs and installations throughout the City. Some of the most recent installations include:

• 3100 linear feet of sidewalk installed along NW 50th Street and NW 50th Avenue in Mainlands Section 6.

• 2650 linear feet of sidewalk installed along NW 57th Street, between Pine Island Road and University Drive.

• COMING SOON: 3600 linear feet of sidewalk along Lagos De Campo Boulevard.

Public Transportation:• Tamarac’s Red Route was expanded from 3 days per week to 5

days per week, and the hours were extended to 7:00 am to 7:00 pm, to provide extended service along Commercial Boulevard.

Traffic Calming Program:• The City installed traffic calming devices around the City, includ-

ing round-abouts and speed humps. Additionally, pavers in City medians provide a safe haven for walkers crossing our streets.

LOW CRIME RATE Another area that has been a priority for our residents is maintaining our City’s low crime rate through CRIME PREVENTION MEASURES AND POLICE VISIBILITY. Tamarac’s crime rate is one of the lowest in Broward County; our partnership with the Broward Sheriff’s Office has been a key component in keeping our community safe, and survey results have consistently shown a high level of satisfaction with our police services. You expressed an interest for an increased law enforcement pres-ence in the community to help keep Tamarac’s crime rate low. Some specifics on how we have accomplished this include:

HOA Meeting Attendance:• BSO Tamarac District command staff routinely attend homeown-

er association (HOA) meetings throughout the City.

Increased Police Presence:• Police presence in commercial areas and city parks has been

increased.

COPs Program Expansion:• BSO’s Citizens on Patrol (COPs) program has been expand-

ed to involve more residents than ever before throughout the community.

High Visibility Traffic Operations:• More frequent high visibility traffic operations, such as speed

enforcement and commercial vehicle operations, have been instituted.

Upgraded Street Lights:• The City upgraded streetlights with brighter and more energy

efficient bulbs to help improve visibility on streets, sidewalks, and at City facilities.

DID YOU KNOW? City of Tamarac resident satisfaction with the quality of customer ser-vice they receive from the City was 51% above the national average.

DID YOU KNOW? In 2009, City of Tama-rac resident’s satisfaction with maintenance of City streets was 48% above the nation-al average.

City of Tamarac7525 N.W. 88th AvenueTamarac, Florida 33321-2401

Pamela BushnellMayor

Michelle J. GomezVice Mayor, District 2

Marion SwensonCommissioner, District 1

Diane GlasserCommissioner, District 3

Harry DresslerCommissioner, District 4

Michael C. CernechCity Manager

2011

COMING SOON!

Tamarac’s 2011 Citizen Survey is just around the corner! Tell us what you like about our programs and services; what changes you may want to see; and help set the City’s priorities for the City’s future! Resident input in the past has led to...

• Park Development & Expansion• Comprehensive Road Improvement Program• Canal Maintenance Program• Neighborhood Meetings• Increased Police Presence• COPs Program Expansion• High Visibility Traffic Operations• Upgraded Street Lights• Multi-Purpose Paths• Sidewalk Improvement Program• Public Transportation• Traffic Calming Program