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Record of Proceedings

Fort Lauderdale City Commission and CRA Board Meeting - February 3, 2026

City Commission — Tuesday, February 3, 2026
BodyFort Lauderdale, Florida
SessionCity Commission
DateTuesday, February 3, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:55:13

Original source
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0:00

Okay, good afternoon, everybody, and welcome to the City Commission meeting this afternoon.

0:09

So I think the Commission had requested that uh going forward we should do the CRA board meeting.

0:18

Uh in particular today is as a just a couple of simple items.

0:22

So why don't we go ahead and do that?

0:24

And that way those who are here for the CRA board meeting don't have to uh sit through the entire conference meeting.

0:32

Um so I'm gonna call the CRA boarding to order, and if you could please call the roll, Mr.

0:37

Clerk.

0:38

Vice Chair Herbst.

0:40

Commissioner Glossman?

0:41

Here.

0:41

Commissioner Beasley Pittman.

0:42

Here.

0:43

Commissioner Sorensen.

0:44

Here.

0:44

Chair Trentals.

0:45

Here.

0:46

So we begin with M1, which is a motion approving the minutes for the January 20th, 2026 Community Redevelopment Agency Board Meeting.

0:56

Um please uh move the item.

0:59

Some move.

1:00

Do I hear a second?

1:01

They're moving seconded.

1:02

Please call the roll.

1:03

Commissioner Glossman?

1:04

Yes.

1:04

Commissioner Beasley Pittman.

1:06

Yes.

1:06

Mr.

1:06

Sorensen.

1:07

Yes.

1:07

Vice Chair Herbst?

1:08

Yes.

1:08

Chair Trental.

1:10

Yes.

1:10

And M1 is now approved.

1:12

Moving on to R1.

1:13

This is a resolution approving the budget amendment.

1:16

This is to appropriate unspent central city community redevelopment area fiscal year ending 2025 fund balance.

1:24

Anyone have any questions with regard to this item?

1:28

There being none, would someone like to introduce the item?

1:31

I'm sorry.

1:32

Before it's introduced, I just want to highlight that we provided an updated cam.

1:36

Yes, some of the funding boxes were updated, so I just wanted to draw the attention of the Commission to that.

1:42

So why don't you all take a moment and look to see the revisions on page three of the revised memo?

1:49

It goes on to page four, page five.

1:55

So Raquelis addresses the issue that we discussed yesterday.

1:58

Yes, Vice Mayor.

1:59

Perfect.

1:59

Thank you.

2:00

What was that issue?

2:02

It has to do with uh an appropriate allocation.

2:05

So you can't carry over funds for operating purposes.

2:08

You're only allowed to carry over funds for project purposes.

2:11

So the methodology is to transfer the funds back to the general fund and then from the general fund back to the CRA.

2:18

Right.

2:18

So it's a circular pattern, and we just wanted to make sure that all the appropriate accounts were reflected for the audit trail.

2:25

Okay, great.

2:26

Anyone else have any comments or questions?

2:28

I I do, thank you, Mayor.

2:29

So I and I had have had this discussion yesterday with staff, but I just wanted to reiterate for the record.

2:34

So it is totally acceptable for us to be giving money from the Central City CRA to the Northwest CRA for the uh offices at the Adderly.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Engagement███████████████████████23%
Transportation Safety██████████████14%
Public Safety█████████████13%
Federal Government Relations██████6%
Urban Planning██████6%
Procurement█████5%
Budget Equity Analysis█████5%
Noise Abatement███3%
Community Engagement███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Fort Lauderdale City Commission and CRA Board Meeting - February 3, 2026

The City Commission convened a conference meeting on February 3, 2026, preceded by a Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) board meeting. The CRA meeting approved minutes and a budget amendment. The conference meeting included public testimony, a comprehensive spring break operations presentation, an update on city commission priorities, a grant program update, and a discussion on the New River Crossing initiative. The commission also met in private for a litigation session.

Consent Calendar

  • CRA Meeting (M1): Approved the minutes of the January 20, 2026 CRA Board Meeting unanimously (5-0).
  • CRA Meeting (R1): Approved a resolution amending the budget to appropriate unspent Central City CRA FY2025 fund balance. The resolution was introduced and passed unanimously (5-0) after discussion about the allocation of $150,000 from Central City CRA to Northwest CRA for office space at the Adderly.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Chuck Hansen (resident of 56 years on A1A) expressed opposition to replacing beach basketball courts with pickleball courts near the Hirma Hotel. He cited noise concerns, referencing a situation in Carmel, California, where pickleball courts were removed for disturbing residents. He requested a noise impact study and volunteered to participate. He noted that his brother, a Boeing engineer, can hear pickleball courts from 600-700 yards away.
  • Juliet Gray Williams (native resident of Rock Island, ages 68, representing Rock Island Homeowners Association) raised multiple issues in the Northwest community: illegal dumping, late-night noise, auto wrecking businesses, safety concerns from trucks (noting a past fatality), and a tire shop open until midnight or later. She requested support and assistance. Commissioner Beasley Pittman affirmed the issues and noted ongoing efforts with code enforcement and police, including addressing the tire shop and illegal dumping on NW 19th Street corridor.

Discussion Items

  • Spring Break 2026 Operations Presentation (CF1):
    • City staff (police, fire, transportation, code enforcement, parks, sanitation, strategic communications) presented a coordinated plan for the spring break period from February 23 to April 17, 2026, with peak from March 8 to March 22.
    • Police: Upstaffing from 11 a.m. to 5 a.m. daily, with phased increases during peak. Specialty units (mounted, canine, DUI) will be deployed. Bar watch program, educational signage, and coordination with ABT and FHP (pending confirmation).
    • Fire Rescue: Increased ocean rescue staffing, JESKIs deployed, Narcan training at W Hotel on Feb 20, 2026, EOC at Level 3 monitoring.
    • Transportation: Additional microtransit vehicles, parking enforcement adjustments, no lane closures on A1A during peak, geofenced rideshare zones, optimized traffic signal timing.
    • Code Enforcement: 24/7 nighttime enforcement (expanded to 7 nights a week from March 1), priorities on noise, vacation rentals, entertainment venues. Fines of $1,000 per day for unlicensed vacation rentals. Commissioner Herbst requested coverage beyond 3:30 a.m. on weekends.
    • Parks & Public Works: Enhanced restroom cleaning, increased trash pickup. Commissioner requested nighttime trash pickup after 9 p.m. and improved lighting on bridges.
    • Strategic Communications: Press conference in late February, dedicated website, direct outreach to stakeholders.
  • City Commission Priorities Update (Business One):
    • City Hall Discussion: Extensive debate on whether to analyze purchase offers for Tower 101 and One East Broward buildings for a new city hall. Mayor Trentalish, Vice Mayor Herbst, and Commissioners Beasley Pittman and Sorensen expressed differing views. Ultimately, the commission decided to move forward with the existing public-private partnership (City Hall Partners) and stop all analyses of other buildings. The city manager will present a term sheet for the P3 project on February 17, 2026.
    • Federal Courthouse: Commissioner Glassman proposed repurposing the building as a museum and art space, including studios and an African American museum. The commission agreed to explore this idea further.
    • One-Stop Shop: Commissioner Sorensen suggested a charrette process to engage stakeholders (neighborhood associations, DDA) before staff drafts a solicitation for public-private partnerships. The commission directed staff to coordinate.
    • Other priorities: Broadband access, police district four, I&I update, and other items will be addressed in upcoming meetings.
  • Grant Program Update (Business Two):
    • Presentation by OMB Director Laura Reese and Principal Analyst Tamika McGibbon. In FY2025, the city submitted 70 grant applications totaling $112 million, receiving 35 grants worth $20.5 million. Highlights include $8.8M for airport runway, $3M for Breakers Avenue (with $12M total budget, construction beginning October 2026). The active grant portfolio is $128.5 million.
  • New River Crossing Initiative Update (Business Three):
    • Presentation on the tunnel alternative for the New River rail crossing. The city has conducted outreach, received $974,000 from USDOT for technical assistance, held an Industry Day (July 2025) with 56 participants, and received 13 RFI responses. Updated cost estimate is $887 million (short tunnel) from 2023. The county requested a developer-backed proposal by February 13, 2026, but the city does not have such a commitment. Challenges include federal funding uncertainty, Brightline/FEC litigation, and lack of state support.
    • Commissioner Glossman argued the project is a "zombie project" with no viable funding. Mayor Trentalish directed staff to prepare a response letter to the county updating the cost figure, listing caveats, and noting next steps.

Key Outcomes

  • CRA Minutes (M1) and Budget Amendment (R1) approved unanimously.
  • Spring Break Plan: Endorsed with direction to adjust code enforcement hours and nighttime trash pickup.
  • City Hall: P3 process to continue; staff to present term sheet on Feb 17, 2026. No further analysis of other buildings.
  • Federal Courthouse: Staff to explore museum concept and send draft letter to commission.
  • One-Stop Shop: Staff to organize a charrette with stakeholders.
  • New River Crossing: Staff to send a response letter to Broward County by Feb 13, 2026, updating cost estimates and noting the absence of a developer proposal.
  • Litigation: The commission entered a closed-door session (approx. 30 minutes) to discuss pending litigation (Jane Gracioso vs. City of Fort Lauderdale).

Meeting Transcript

Okay, good afternoon, everybody, and welcome to the City Commission meeting this afternoon. So I think the Commission had requested that uh going forward we should do the CRA board meeting. Uh in particular today is as a just a couple of simple items. So why don't we go ahead and do that? And that way those who are here for the CRA board meeting don't have to uh sit through the entire conference meeting. Um so I'm gonna call the CRA boarding to order, and if you could please call the roll, Mr. Clerk. Vice Chair Herbst. Commissioner Glossman? Here. Commissioner Beasley Pittman. Here. Commissioner Sorensen. Here. Chair Trentals. Here. So we begin with M1, which is a motion approving the minutes for the January 20th, 2026 Community Redevelopment Agency Board Meeting. Um please uh move the item. Some move. Do I hear a second? They're moving seconded. Please call the roll. Commissioner Glossman? Yes. Commissioner Beasley Pittman. Yes. Mr. Sorensen. Yes. Vice Chair Herbst? Yes. Chair Trental. Yes. And M1 is now approved. Moving on to R1. This is a resolution approving the budget amendment. This is to appropriate unspent central city community redevelopment area fiscal year ending 2025 fund balance. Anyone have any questions with regard to this item? There being none, would someone like to introduce the item? I'm sorry. Before it's introduced, I just want to highlight that we provided an updated cam. Yes, some of the funding boxes were updated, so I just wanted to draw the attention of the Commission to that. So why don't you all take a moment and look to see the revisions on page three of the revised memo? It goes on to page four, page five. So Raquelis addresses the issue that we discussed yesterday. Yes, Vice Mayor. Perfect. Thank you. What was that issue? It has to do with uh an appropriate allocation.

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