Fort Lauderdale City Commission Regular Meeting - March 18, 2025

The Fort Lauderdale City Commission convened on March 18, 2025, at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Mayor Dean J. Trantalis presided, with Vice Mayor Steven Glassman, Commissioner Pam Beasley-Pittman, and Commissioner Ben Sorensen present. Commissioner John C. Herbst was absent. The meeting included presentations, approval of a consent agenda, individual motions, resolutions, public hearings, ordinance readings, and a discussed walk-on item regarding a development at 300 East Oakland Park Boulevard.

Presentations

• Council of Fort Lauderdale Civic Associations: Introduction of new board members. Outgoing Chair Mary Pelliquin was recognized; Bill Brown was introduced as the new president.
• Stranahan High School Innovation Zone: Recognition of eight students for character traits and academic achievement, including Marcos Lobo Santos, Jeffrey Donis, Rose Finea, Pilar Riverte, Janaya James, Samantha St. Hilaire, and Nandita Arjune.
• Neighbor Support Night Sponsors: Recognition of sponsors for the February 13 event. The Development Services Department won the best display award for the fifth consecutive year.
• Proclamation – Fort Lauderdale High School Flying L's Drumline Day: March 18, 2025 declared in honor of the drumline's performances and community engagement.
• Proclamation – Government Finance Professionals Week: March 17–21, 2025 proclaimed. Finance Director Linda Short highlighted key statistics: FY2024 general fund budget over $480 million, managed investment portfolio of $1.4 billion, debt portfolio of $1.5 billion, processed 39,000 invoices for $658 million, and biweekly payroll of nearly $21 million for 3,000 employees.

Consent Calendar

The consent agenda was approved unanimously. Items included:

• Outdoor event agreements (Heal the Planet Day, Duck Fest Derby, Igloo Cooler Festival, Fiesta Fabuloso Cinco de Mayo)
• Sponsorship agreement for the 2025 Fort Lauderdale Air Show ($200,000)
• Amendment to Beach Business Improvement District grant for Air Show
• License for Four Seasons Hotel on the public beach
• Grant application to Florida Inland Navigation District ($66,724)
• Retroactive extension and change order for Las Olas Isles utility undergrounding ($86,096.48)
• Triparty lien settlement with Quaniecee Pierre Paul
• Appointment of Mayor Trantalis to Florida League of Cities Board
• Appointment of Commissioner Beasley-Pittman as voting delegate to National League of Cities
• Resolution approving special bond counsel
• Resolution abolishing City Manager Search Committee
• Resolution for $640,000 loan to Pinnacle at Cypress Phase 2
• Resolution terminating lease with IAFF Local 765
• Resolution for runway extension grant at Executive Airport ($1,886,440)
• Resolution expanding Beach Business Improvement District Advisory Committee
• Resolution to apply for $4,000,000 grant for Riverwalk North Seawall Replacement
• Resolution appointing Commissioner Beasley-Pittman to Broward League of Cities Board
• Resolution rescheduling Commission meetings (July 1 to June 30; October 21 to October 23)
• Resolution approving design services for Tarpon River and Shady Banks improvements ($372,164.37)

Motion Items

• M-1: Agreements for plan review and inspection services with C.A.P. Government and Calvin, Giordano & Associates (aggregate $6,223,275). Approved unanimously.
• M-2: Construction agreement for Mills Pond Park restroom and concession improvements ($2,521,976.90). Commissioner Glassman questioned the cost per square foot; Parks Director Carl Williams explained the project includes site elevation requirements and that additional park elements may not fit within the remaining budget. Approved unanimously.
• M-3: Change order No. 23 for New Police Headquarters construction ($2,070,330.18). Staff confirmed partial inclusion in prior budget amendment. Approved unanimously.
• M-4: Agreement for NW 15th Avenue roadway improvements ($2,804,524). Approved unanimously.

Resolutions

• R-1: Appointment of board and committee members (Howard Elfman, Samir Yajnik, Amy Mergler, Olga Zamora, Arthur Marcus, Brian Stafford, Rhoda Glasgow Fodderingham, Jonathan Keith). Approved unanimously.
• R-2: Amendment to interlocal agreement with Broward County to extend the Beach CRA term for two additional years (non-TIF basis). Approved unanimously.
• R-3: Adoption of the 2025-2028 State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Local Housing Assistance Plan. Approved unanimously.

Public Hearings

• PH-1: Comprehensive Plan amendment to change Beach Community Center parcel from Commercial to Parks, Recreation, and Open Space. Approved unanimously after hearing closed.
• PH-2: Quasi-judicial rezoning of 6000 N. Andrews from General Business (B-2) to Uptown Urban Village Southeast (UUV-SE). Disclosures noted by commissioners (meetings with Robert Lockley). Public hearing closed and ordinance adopted unanimously.
• PH-3: Second reading ordinance to amend Comprehensive Plan to allow community facilities and utility uses in Parks, Recreation, and Open Space designation with acreage restriction. Public hearing closed and ordinance adopted unanimously.

Ordinance Readings

• OFR-1 (First Reading): Ordinance amending valet parking regulations to create an administrative temporary permit for non-residential use and an appellate process for permit suspensions. Approved unanimously.
• OSR-1 (Second Reading): Ordinance amending building permit fees to establish scanning fees and reduce private provider discounts on master permit fees. Approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony (Walk-On Item)

• Walk-On Item – Flowing Waters (300 E. Oakland Park Blvd.): Mayor Trantalis called up the item due to neighborhood concerns about a design change from three towers to a single monolithic building, citing loss of air, light, and visual access. Developer representative Andrew Schein presented the revisions. Neighborhood representatives testified:
  • Mary Pelliquin (former Civic Associations chair): Stated the original 2020 design was negotiated with the community but the new design was not brought back to associations.
  • Chris Williams (Coral Ridge Association president): Asserted that detailed meetings were customary but did not occur; a May 2024 meeting lacked specifics; a public participation meeting was not sufficient substitute.
  • Tim Hernandez (Coral Ridge Country Club Estates Association president): Criticized the Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) usage, lack of traffic study, and cumulative traffic impacts. He questioned the claimed condo status and argued traffic generation would be similar to rental.
  • Doug Kuhlman (land planner and association member): Requested a delay to allow community review; stated the board first saw details at this meeting.
  • Bruce Quayley (association member): Raised concerns about Oakland Park Boulevard traffic congestion.
  • Andrew Schein responded that all notice requirements were met, a public participation meeting was held four months prior, and he offered a deferral at the Planning and Zoning Board meeting (which the board voted against). Staff confirmed compliance with code procedures; an affidavit was provided.

Discussion Items

• Walk-On Item (continued): Commissioners debated the legal standards for a de novo hearing. City Attorney Dwayne Spence explained that to set a hearing, the commission must find that the project’s characteristics and area require additional review to ensure development standards are met and the surrounding area is protected. Commissioner Sorensen clarified the two-step process and noted a 2-2 vote would fail. Commissioner Beasley-Pittman emphasized that the process was followed. Mayor Trantalis acknowledged the community’s desire for more engagement but no commissioner made a motion to set a de novo hearing.

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda, all motions, resolutions, public hearings, and ordinances were approved unanimously.
• The walk-on item (Flowing Waters) failed to advance to a de novo hearing due to lack of a motion; the Planning and Zoning Board approval stands.
• Mayor Trantalis suggested exploring future amendments to the ULDR to allow the commission to waive deadlines in certain instances.
• Commissioner Herbst was absent; the district commissioner did not call up the item despite community requests.