Although individual CAC members contributed greatly to the initiatives mentioned above, the Citizens Action

Committee itself was non-political and could not therefore officially endorse candidates or ballot questions at

election time.  Our members became convinced that the CIC needed to evolve to the next level and become an official political action committee (PC).

 

     We therefore incorporated in 2003 as the Citizens "Initiative" Committee and registered with the Town Clerk as a political committee. That extended our committee's range of action beyond simply informing ourselves and fellow citizens on critical developments and making appeals to the Commission.  As a  PC we can actually initiate referendums, campaign for and against important election issues, and lend our organizational 'seal of approval' to candidates for municipal office. 

 

      

 

 

     The Citizens Initiative Committee (CIC) is a political committee in the proud tradition of the 'Concerned

Citizens Committee' that in 1973 sponsored a voters' initiative resulting in the 3 story 'electoral ordinance'

which saved the Town from hi-rise development.

 

     The CIC began in 1996 originally as the Citizens Action Committee. The idea was modeled after a group called 'Commission Watch' started by Ed Stanton,  Pompano Beach activist and former Pompano Commission candidate.  The CAC attempted to keep Commissioners honest by creating the LBTS Town Commission 'Position Record'...How your Mayor and Commissioners Voted on Important Issues.  Our 'report card' evolved into a local newspaper called 'Small Town Quality of Life' and, little by little, our grassroots organization grew in membership and local influence.

 

     One of our many causes was seeking a "fair deal for Old Town" LBTS during the annexation process.  We sought and were given Commission guarantees that both parts of the enlarged Town would receive a fair, proportionate share of the "surplus" (estimated at 2 million yearly) we were all told would result from annex-

ation.  (The "Annexation Agreement" even stipulated that funding of capital improvements in the annexed area would come from taxes generated by that area, in excess of their "fair share" of common municipal expenses).

 

     We were also assured we could keep our cost-effective Volunteer Fire and Police Departments (although

the self-appointed political body claiming to represent residents of the annexed area insisted on continued BSO Police and Fire Rescue for that part of Town). Unfortunately, none of the Commission commitments to Old Town were ever honored.  On a brigher note, our own members have initiated and worked successfully to pass the following:

 

*  The 1998 Height Limit Charter Referendum (3 stories over 1st floor parking).

 

* The 2000 El Prado Referendum to protect our main beach vista from an extremely unpoplular, developer-

    initiated land-swap (Hapimag).