The City Commission held a conference meeting on January 20, 2026, addressing multiple topics including CRA business, the future of the Infrastructure Task Force, an academic update from Broward County School Board members, and a detailed discussion on the Las Olas Mobility Western Corridor design. The meeting began late due to a freight train delay and extended past the scheduled 6:00 PM evening meeting, prompting a deferral of later agenda items.
Infrastructure Task Force (ITF): The commission discussed whether to extend the ITF (expiring Feb 18, 2026) or convert it into a permanent board. City Manager Williams noted staff is drafting an ordinance for consideration on Feb 3 (first reading) and Feb 17 (second reading). Peter Partington, ITF Chair, confirmed the timeline and recommended the scope focus on underground infrastructure (water, sewer, stormwater) unless otherwise directed by commission. The commission agreed to proceed with the ordinance; the Mayor specified the primary focus should be underground infrastructure. Commissioner Sorensen asked about reappointing existing members; staff noted potential conflicts if members serve on two boards.
School Board Presentation: Broward County School Board Chair Sarah Leonardi and Vice Chair Dr. Jeff Holness presented academic updates:
Las Olas Mobility Western Corridor (Business One): Detailed presentation by Transportation Director Milos Mystorovich and consultant Catherine Prince (WSP). The project covers three segments: downtown (Andrews Ave to tunnel – $5M), shops (tunnel to 17th Ave – $7.5M), and Coley Hammock (12th to 17th Ave – $6.8M). Two design alternatives for the shops segment: Alternative 1 (remove median, add 10-foot sidewalks, on-street parking) and Alternative 2 (retain median, 7-foot sidewalks with alternating parking). Extensive discussion on tree species, longevity of existing black olive trees, and risk assessment by the city arborist and consultant arborist. The commission directed staff to advance the design with no median, wider sidewalks, on-street parking, and bulbouts for pedestrian safety. City Manager noted an additional $1.2M federal earmark for the shops section.
Good afternoon, everybody. Is my mic on? Okay. Good afternoon, everybody. Welcome to City Commission conference meeting this uh January 20th, 2026. Sorry, it's a little late. I got caught by the uh freight train. Um anyway, thank you all for being here this afternoon. We have a number of uh important topics to discuss and uh I want to thank you all for being here. Um so let us begin. Uh we have a communication to the city commission from the infrastructure technical. Mayor pardon me. Uh just want to highlight that at the last meeting the commission made a determination on the order of the meetings and that the CRA would begin first. I don't recall that, but we could certainly do that. Um we talked about it, we didn't agree to that, but I'm I'm okay with that. Is there something on the CRA board meeting that uh we need to discuss right now? That's controversial. Is anyone here from the CRA board meeting? No. Mayor, I thought we did agree to that though. Yes, we did we're gonna do that. Yeah, yeah, we were in agreement just to um to eliminate the long wait. It's usually a very short meeting. Right. We agreed to go forward and have that meeting first. That's fine to keep a courtesy for our neighborhood. So we'll suspend the conference meeting right now and we'll go into the CRA board meeting. Um Mr. Clerk, would you please uh call the roll? Vice Chair Herbst, Commissioner Glossman? Here, Commissioner Beasley Pittman. Here, Commissioner Sorensen. Here, Chair Trentals. Uh here. Uh M1, this is a motion to approve the minutes for the January 6, 2026 Community Redevelopment Agency Board Meeting. Uh someone move. So move. Second. They move and second it. All right, please call the roll. Vice Chair Herbs. Yes. Commissioner Glossman? Yes. Commissioner Beasley Pittman. Yes. Commissioner Sorensen? Yes. Chair Trentals. Yes.