So welcome everybody and thank you for uh being here for the City Commission of Fort Lauderdale regular meeting this February 17, 2026.

Um we have uh some exciting things happening tonight, so I just would like to uh uh begin tonight by uh letting you know that uh we start our evening with a pledge of allegiance, and tonight we are going to um be joined by Skylar Fullerton from the fourth grade, Gateway Christian Academy in Oswald Park, who's gonna lead us in the presentation.

Please rise.

Nice to meet you.

Nice to meet you.

And you may begin.

Good afternoon.

My name is Skyla Fullerton.

I attend Gateway Christian Academy and Osle Park.

Today I'll be saying the Pledge of Allegiance.

Please stand.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you.

Very good.

Thank you so much, Sky.

Anyone anyone from your family here tonight?

What you can have up from up.

We'll get a picture of you guys right over here.

Yep.

She's an actress, I'll tell you.

Oh, you're gonna get a lot of stuff.

Yeah, I know.

How are you?

Please.

Great.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

So before we begin our meeting, I'd just like you all to join us in a moment of silence.

Thank you.

Uh at the beginning of our meetings, we uh take this opportunity to acknowledge our retirees, people who have uh worked with our city and have uh have uh made great uh made great inroads for the city to continue to grow and prosper as it has over the over the many years that they've been here.

So I have uh just a few announcements.

First, I'd like to uh recognize Michelle Heise, who's been uh the police records clerk for 30 years.

Thank you so much, Michelle.

Uh Danielle uh excuse me, Daniel Medina, paramedic firefighter who's been with us 26 years.

Thank you so much, Daniel.

Kevin Sumner, fire inspector, been with us 28 years.

Congratulations.

Now it is also my distinct honor to uh recognize and present to uh a lady that has been with us, not as many as 26 or 28 years, but her impact has been as as meaningful as every day that she's worked with us.

So I'd like to invite Susan Grant to please join me at the podium.

It's not a check for a million dollars.

That's coming later.

But uh but first of all, it's my honor.

Oh, look at the you didn't have to give the oh for her, okay.

Look at that.

And you didn't even have to sing an aria.

Wow, isn't that pretty?

Gorgeous.

Gorgeous.

Yeah.

Oh, there's so Susan, you've uh how many years have you worked with the city?

Six years.

Um she has been so great.

She's uh stepped in when we needed her for uh when we were looking for a city manager.

She was our interim city manager.

You have certainly led us through a lot of uh great times and uh gotten us through difficult situations, especially financially when we're trying to you know work out the finances of the city and and uh and it's just been uh personally a wonderful experience to have worked with you and uh and so tonight on behalf of the city of Fort Lauderdale, I'd like to present to you.

Oh, look at this.

This is a Susan Grant celebrating your retirement with appreciation for your leadership in years of devoted service, February 18, 2026.

And it's a picture of the city of Fort Lauderdale, so you don't forget us.

Susan, would you like to say a few words?

Just thank you so much to everyone.

Um some of you might know that I worked for the city of Coral Springs for 27 years before I came here.

Um, and I never thought that I would find another group of people that felt like family.

Um, and how lucky am I to have been able to work in two places that did just that?

Um so thank you so much.

It's been an honor, a privilege, and I won't be far.

Um I'm a resident here in Fort Lauderdale as well.

So thank you very much to all of you.

Thank you.

Susan, a resident where you'll note that it said she worked with uh Coral Springs for 26 years, and that's how long it took them to make her feel like family, and it's only six years for us to make her feel the same.

By the way, President District One.

Great, thank you.

Oh, we have next year when Thursday?

Yes.

Yes.

So I actually have another connection.

So Susan and I actually sat on the audit committee for the school board for many, many years when Pat was a school board auditor.

See, so we we we we have like six degrees of Kevin Bacon, or it's all three degrees of Patrick.

And for those of you who have the time and are available on this Thursday after work, we're having a retirement party for Susan.

So um where is it at?

I forgot where it's at.

Uh, the tower club.

Ooh, fancy.

All right.

So um so I'm gonna ask for the approval of the minutes uh and the agenda.

There are no revisions to the agenda, but we do have one walk-on presentation.

Uh we are honored to have uh in our midst tonight, Congresswoman Sheila Sheriff Less McCormick, who will be uh giving us a federal legislative update.

And uh, but let us first do I hear a motion to uh approve the agenda as amended and the minutes moved, second been moved and seconded, please call the roll.

Commissioner Glossman, yes, Commissioner Beavley Pittman.

Yes, Commissioner Swordson, yes, Vice Mayor Herb.

Yes, Mayor Trentals.

Yes.

So uh so let me welcome the Congresswoman.

Come up, please come to the podium.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, thank you.

Good afternoon, everyone.

It's always wonderful to be here in Fort Lauderdale.

I wanted to start off our presentation with giving you the state of play in Washington, D.C.

Right now in Washington, D.C., I describe it as a storm of political mayhem that is really jeopardizing how we are and who we are as a nation.

And so when I talk to my colleagues, I always talk to them about the need for us to be looking on how we're gonna land this plane.

Landing this plane means that we're gonna have to make some tough decisions.

It means that we have to get close enough with each other and talk to each other enough that we know each other's wounds are and we know how to rehabilitate us as a nation.

In hopes of doing this, um, we've been meeting with different groups by Partisan, trying to figure out how we get through.

And the reason why we call it political mayhem is because right now we are dealing with a whole bunch of people who are actually having mass retirements because there's a lot of political intimidation.

We're also finding that there's a lot of theatrics over us seeking the truth, and there's also a lot of scandals going on and false accusations.

And so I wanted to tell everybody what we're doing in DC to try and get past that.

We are meeting and we're talking to everybody in our communities, but more importantly, what we're doing is having the conversation of what policies that we can put forth that will help us economically and that will also help us to come together and heal.

And so with that, I wanted to do the presentation to kind of give you the update of where we are in Congress.

And there's been a lot of conversations really about the political state of play.

The political state of play right now, as I mentioned, there's been a lot of retirements.

These retirements have been stronger on the Republican side, with Democrats following, you know, very near behind.

But more importantly, what's going on is right now the Republicans have a one-seat majority.

That one seat majority has been a blessing and a curse in disguise, a blessing in the sense that now we're having more conversations.

A curse now because we're having more of a blockade that occurs.

For those of you who do not know, we are presently in a partial shutdown, which means that our TSA agents are not getting paid.

Which means our Homeland Security is not getting paid.

There's several departments who are not getting paid and people who are hungry right now.

But we're working to make sure that we can have reasonable efforts and reasonable restrictions so we can get past this roadblock.

And so I felt the need to come and tell the district where we are and how we're doing it.

On the other side, we're thinking that we're going to be able to pull out of this shutdown by having some negotiations.

One of the negotiations that we've been having have been with funding and restrictions on ICE.

One of the things that we've asked for is for them to actually not be able to go into churches into private areas.

We've also asked them to also make sure they have IDs because we've been hearing and getting more and more reports that people are wearing masks and attacking people in our communities pretending to be ICE.

But most importantly, we've been asking for simple regulations when it comes to use of force.

And it seems like we're getting closer to that end.

I hope that we'll be able to come to that resolution before I believe it's March 3rd when we'll have people who aren't getting paid.

So we're working adamantly to get there.

Now we've been fighting this TPS fight for a very long time.

As you may know, we had over 400,000 Haitians who were supposed to be deported within South Florida.

That was going to be approximately 150,000 within all of South Florida who would be to deported.

When we looked at the statistics, these people are people who worked in health care, they worked in housing, they worked to build our communities.

And so we knew that we needed to create a mechanism to keep them working as we're educating and actually training the American workforce.

So we put up a bill called to respect our um respect our workers act, which we're looking forward towards getting them to actually be able to create a pipeline where we would move them out as we're educating.

So that brings us to our real issue that we're having right now when we're looking at this mass move mass migration, is that we have not been putting enough money into job skills training in order to make sure that we're replacing these jobs.

And we're seeing a lot of people becoming concerned.

So as we're pushing that legislation through, and we have one another legislation called American Jobs and Economic Mobility Act, which would allow us to put more money into job skills training.

We have wrote an Amicus brief, and that amica's brief was referred several times to the lawsuit that was in the courts in the decision made by the judge when they put a stay.

So right as of right now, TPS holders do not need to leave the country, which gives us enough time to actually have legislation to educate Americans to replace and also hold them until we have a pathway.

But I also saw the firefighters who had these here, this um NARCAN, which I want to tell you guys thank you so much for this, because I actually have a bill for Narcan which places Narcan in every emergency kit that you buy in the stores or anywhere.

So when I looked at it, I said, Oh, yes, we're on the same side when it comes to Narcan.

And for those of you who don't know how important this is, we've been finding fentanyl in medication.

When it comes to medication bought online, more than 75% has had fentanyl.

And people do not know that.

They think they're buying cheaper prescriptions, not realizing that there's fentanyl in it.

So you may think that you don't need to have Narcan, but if somebody who's close to you buys their prescription online and doesn't know that it has fentanyl, you're gonna find yourself in need of this very quickly.

And so we highly recommend that.

If we can get Narcan wherever we can, let's do it and get the job done.

Um, the last thing I wanted to talk to you about, because I don't want to take up too much of your time, even though I do have like 13 pages in front of me.

But I'm not gonna do that to you.

Um, housing.

We have a homeowners insurance affordability review act, which would this would be in addition to what you're seeing on the state side to protect homeowners' insurance.

We are trying to create a federal account that would help.

Um, this federal account is much necessary because we're seeing other areas and other states suffering the same things as South Florida.

And we are also I want to keep you engaged on what's going on.

Engaged in the sense that you know, we started this fight back tour.

I want to say probably a year ago, and we stopped over 150 locations.

We're gonna continue with our fight back tour, but many people said they wanted more intimate conversations so they could be honest about what they're going through.

And so we have conversations with the Congresswoman.

We have one coming up in Fort Lauderdale.

These are home conversations, different um residents have been hosting them in their homes, where we could talk about really what is our priorities, how are you being affected, and how we can come together as a community.

As I mentioned, the goal is to land this plan in this political mayhem.

And it's gonna take a lot of us, it's not just one-sided, and that's gonna take us being close enough to each other, actually empathizing with each other, despite what your background is, what party you is, because at the end of the day, none of this matters if we're suffering.

And so I thank you for having me here today, and I'm open to any questions you may have.

Great.

Thank you so much.

That's great.

Anyone have any questions of uh uh of the Congresswoman?

None?

All right.

Well, thank you so much for being here.

It's really an honor and a privilege to know that you come here and you care about our community.

So thank you so much for being here.

I also want to say happy birthday to Commissioner Glassman.

I would Commissioner Herbs uh Vice Mayor Herbs I'll say.

Oh, happy birthday to everyone.

And I did want to mention today was the passing of Reverend Jesse Jackson.

And um, as it is Black History Month, we celebrate him and we think of his life and we think of his legacy.

And we also think of our responsibility during Black History to make sure that we're living up to the standard of unity, truth telling, and also making sure that this country's inclusive for everyone.

Thank you again.

Thank you so much.

Are any members of your staff here tonight?

You want to introduce them?

Oh, so these are fearless warriors, I tell you.

So first one we have is Edward Mahia.

Edward, you can stand up.

He does all of our outreach.

You probably see him everywhere because he is everywhere.

We also have Nadej LeBan, she's my district chief who's here.

She's also everywhere.

And then we have where is she?

She's taking pictures right there.

She is our comps person, our digital person who's there.

And she all Ajelon, and we have the baby who's here telling us we're doing right or wrong.

Dynasty, do you want to raise your hand?

It's important that we have environments where you could bring your children to work anytime.

And we also have my security who's always there protecting me.

He's right over here.

I don't know if you want to tell anybody your name.

Well, very nice.

Welcome, welcome.

Thank you for coming to our meeting tonight.

We appreciate it.

Okay.

Well, there's a lot.

Um so I I next would like to invite um uh Rich Waltzer, who's the our Broward County um fine commissioner.

And uh Rich has some things he'd like to present to us.

Commissioners, thank you.

Uh Susan Grant.

It's an amazing to be able to work with you over the last year, and congratulations on your retirement.

I am Rich Waltzer, Broward County Commissioner of the Intercoastal Waterways appointed by the governor.

Uh I've been fighting for the city of Fort Lauderdale and the Broward County municipalities in Tallahassee to be able to get funds for infrastructure, uh water cleanup, derelict boat removal, and today I'm gonna be presenting a check for over a million dollars to the city for infrastructure.

And if the mayor could come down.

So our check is gonna be for the Riverwalk North replacement infrastructure, one million thirty-two thousand six hundred and thirty-six dollars.

Wow.

Rich, I want you to know you can come to our meeting anytime.

Always welcome.

Always welcome.

With or without a chair.

So, mayor, this is uh I think uh six point five million dollars this year, and uh by next October, we'll have over fifteen million dollars that I'll be bringing in from Tallahassee for the city.

Awesome.

Thank you.

Rich, if you can hear me, Norfolk River, District Three.

Commissioner Pam, you know I love you.

We got witnesses.

That's it.

And and District One, you do know you live there, right?

You know we do it.

Keep it coming in District 2, Commissioner.

Keep it coming.

Okay, our next presentation is Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue Department Nalaxone presentation.

I'd like to invite our fire chief, Steve Golem, our assistant chief Kevin Matt Green, Lieutenant Danielle Turpin, and Lieutenant Stephanie Silk.

Please come to the podium.

So good evening, Mayor, Vice Mayor, Commissioner, City Manager.

I don't think that it's fair that I follow up Rich and its million dollar checks all the time.

That's uh but um this evening uh what have you bring?

What have you brought with you?

Not a million dollars.

I brought a bill.

You can have a seat.

No, we do have some grant funding this evening that uh that Chief Green's gonna speak to you about, but I want to take a moment and just introduce this amazing group and all that they do on a daily basis to keep our streets safe.

Um we've seen uh a unbelievable change and uh in our overdoses in the last couple years in the city, and it's a direct reflect of the program that they've put together and been able to implement, as well as the grant dollars that they've been able to go after to make it successful.

So, Chief Green is over EMS and Mobile Integrated Health.

I'm gonna let him talk a little bit more about that program.

Good evening, Mayor and Commissioners.

Thank you for the opportunity to briefly share a new public health initiative from Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue.

Uh opiate overdoses continue to affect communities across Florida, including here in Fort Lauderdale.

Our fire rescue crews respond to these emergencies all too often, and through department data, we can see clear patterns where these overdose calls occur.

In 2025, Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue responded to over 500 overdose calls for service, 400 of which required the administration of naloxone.

These incidents are often survivable when help and the right tools are available quickly.

In response to the opioid epidemic, Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue will launch the CORE program.

The core program is a grant-funded statewide effort focused on reducing overdose deaths through an integrated system of community partnerships that provide medical stabilization, medication assisted treatment, behavioral health care, and peer support services.

Locally, this program allows us to take targeted data-driven approach to overdose response, and tonight's agenda includes a budget amendment to accept $350,000 in grant funding to support this work.

Through the core program, Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue is set to become the first fire rescue agency in Broward County to offer medication-assisted treatment to those suffering from substance use disorder.

As you see on the display beside me, Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue, in collaboration with Strategic Communications, is branding our new initiative, Core FTL, which stands for Coordinated Opioid Recovery and Education.

One of our first initiatives under the Core FTL umbrella will be our nalaxone and naloxone distribution box program.

Tonight many of you were given naloxone on a lanyard as you walked into the meeting.

Nalaxone, also known as Narcan, is a safe, easy-to-use medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose until first responders arrive.

It is completely harmless if opioids are not present, is completely safe and can be administered by anybody.

Using core grant funding, Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue will distribute and maintain free naloxone and naloxone district uh dispensers in areas where we see higher rates of overdose calls.

This initiative is especially timely as we head into spring break.

During this season, Fort Lauderdale sees a significant increase in visitors and activity, which often leads to increased medical calls.

The core FTL naloxone initiative adds another layer of preparedness and public safety infrastructure during one of our busiest times of the year.

Along with hosp hotspots we identify, we are also urging local business owners and property managers who are interested in hosting a naloxone dispenser to contact Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue.

We can be reached by email at Core FTL at Fort Lauderdale.gov or the phone number on the screen above.

Our department will evaluate locations, provide training and guidance at no cost.

Core FTL is a proactive step towards saving lives lives, and we appreciate the commission's continued support as we work to keep our city safe.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Oh, we stand up.

Oh, we have the dog too.

Yes.

Whatever happened to the Dalmatian.

It's a little tough to carry in your purse.

Oh shouldn't you?

Okay, great.

So thank you everyone for your patience.

And tonight we'll continue with the rest of our our agenda.

At this point, we now come upon our consent agenda.

This is where I ask members of the commission if they have an item which they'd like to pull, and we would discuss and vote on separately.

Otherwise, we will vote on all the consent agenda items at once.

So Vice Mayor, do you have any consent agenda items you'd like to pull?

I do not.

Commissioner Beasley Pittman?

None.

I have none.

Commissioner Glassman?

None.

Commissioner Sorensen.

None.

Okay.

So do I hear a motion to approve all the consent agenda items?

So moved.

Second.

Moved and seconded.

Please call the roll.

Commissioner Glossman?

Yes.

Commissioner Beasley Pittman?

Yes.

Commissioner Sorensen?

Yes.

Vice Mayor Herbst?

Yes.

Mayor Trent Halls.

Yes.

And all those consent agenda items are now approved.

So if you came for one of those items, your items now been approved.

So you're welcome to stay for the rest of the meeting.

Moving on to M1.

This is a motion approving the fiscal year 2027.

I don't know if you were still planning to go back to the conference items.

Oh, right.

So well, I um it's gonna be a short meeting.

We can go at the end, Mayor.

Yeah, yes.

I'm sorry, I I did remember seeing that.

That's okay.

Um, M1 motion approving the fiscal year.

But in the future, I agree.

We should and so in the future, um waiting today.

We don't know how long the conference meetings gonna last, but we're gonna put the commission reports at the beginning, like a lot with the communications.

Okay.

All right.

So if conference goes long, then I'm saying I'm saying put the put the commission reports right after communications on the conference meeting agenda.

Oh, okay.

Right?

We can do that, yes.

Yes, okay.

Uh motion approving the fiscal year 2027 City Commission priorities.

Anyone have any questions with regard to that?

Thanks for the updates to this.

Looks good.

Thank you.

Are there updates?

Just the minor adjustment um of um incentivizing businesses and uh stores and dry cleaners and um groceries across the city, Mayor.

That was it.

Well, that's something we did discuss about trying to um try to promote infill businesses in in mixed-use redevent redevelopment areas like flagra village and so forth.

But the first thing I just said flagler village because now it's more encompassing of the entire city.

The whole city.

Okay, I get it.

And the other update was to include a museum as part of the federal courthouse option.

Yeah, I think that's uh Vice Mayor suggested that.

I don't know where that comes.

I don't they did they have a selected list or preferential list?

So we're waiting on some feedback from them at this point.

Say it again.

We're waiting on some additional feedback from them.

We shared with them the uh feedback from the commission as to the potential use categories.

Okay, so if they if they approve a potential use, it also allows us to request a hundred percent um uh what's the word I'm thinking of?

Um funding.

Uh yeah, a free a free a free um so we're all we're also waiting on them to let us know uh what type of uh funding opportunity there would be or discount it.

That's not the discount, right?

A hundred percent discount on the actual uh cost of the of the structure.

Okay, so um do I hear a motion to approve M1?

Moved second.

Please call the roll.

Commissioner Glossman?

Yes, Commissioner Beasley Pittman?

Yes, Commissioner Sorensen.

Yes.

Vice Mayor Herbst?

Yes.

Mayor Trentolls.

Yes, and M1 is now approved.

M2, a motion approving an amendment to the microtransit pilot services agreement with the Circuit Transit Inc.

to transition services from the piggyback Pompano Beach Agreement number P 29-20 to the city's agreement pursuant to the RFP number 161 for downtown and galt mile service areas.

Got all that.

Um questions with regard to M2.

No one signed up to speak.

Um please call the role.

Will someone make the motion to approve?

Yeah, Mayor, I'd like to make the motion just uh, you know.

This partnership between the city and circuit continues to go just very well, and and more of it the better.

So uh thanks for that partnership, Milo is leading that and Jason.

Um move to approve, Mayor.

Second.

Move the second.

So uh to your point.

You know, the county, you know, I was at the MPO meeting this past week, and the county is looking to spend almost a quarter of a billion, I said billion dollars on new buses.

And I said, I said to them, you know, since most of those buses go empty, I said, have you ever ever considered contracting with uh circuit to perhaps uh engage people uh uh with the app that they have and and bring people to where they need to go, and it's a much more efficient and cost effective way of accommodating uh those that need to get around who don't have the who don't have uh cars uh to uh at their disposal and it went in one ear and out the other.

So anyway.

They rather spend and that's all surtax money, by the way.

Forty-five percent of it comes from the city of Fort Lauderdale.

All right.

Anyway.

Um, please call the roll.

Commissioner Glossman?

Yes.

Commissioner Beasley Pittman?

Yes.

Commissioner Sorensen?

Yes.

Vice Mayor Herbst?

Yes.

Mayor Trentals.

Yes, and uh M2 is now approved.

Uh-oh.

R1.

City Clerk annual performance review.

Move to defer.

Okay.

Um the city clerk is looking for uh approval of a merit raise and uh uh section one of the resolution.

Um do you want this done by dollar amount city manager?

Or is that is that done by percentage?

I I looked at the header.

We it can be done by percentage.

I can't.

Yeah, it's done by percentage.

Yeah.

Um who would like to introduce a resolution and uh request an increase based on a percentage?

I introduce the um one and also make a motion to uh of approval with three percent increase.

So that would be inside the resolution.

Okay, yeah.

Yes.

So th an increase of three percent for city city clerk David Solomon.

Anyone have any questions or comments with regard to that?

There being none.

Thank you.

I just say, Mayor, thank you for your good work.

City clerk doing great.

Keep it up.

Thank you.

Yes, second.

I was going to ask, do he get to read the resolution too?

Very self-serving.

So your raise depends on how well you do reading the resolution.

Yes, that's a good idea.

Well, uh before I read this, thank you very much for your support.

I really want to we thank you.

And I want to thank my group, my uh city clerk team is amazing, and they're uh so good.

And they make me as good as I am, and I'd like to thank the charter offices as well.

Everybody, you're welcome.

Thank you, sir.

Well desired.

All right.

They make you look good, that's all I got to say.

A resolution of the city commission of the city of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, providing for a merit salary increase of three percent for city clerk, me, David R.

Solomon, and providing for an effective date of January 23rd, 2026.

Commissioner Glossman.

Yes.

Commissioner Beasley Pittman?

Yes.

Commissioner Sorensen?

Yes.

Vice Mayor Herbst?

Yes.

Mayor Trentos.

Yes, and that resolution is now approved.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

And thank you for your congratulations, David.

Thank you.

You want your picture or something?

No.

Okay, moving on to uh public hearing one.

This is a quasi judicial de novo hearing.

Consideration of a motion to reject, approve, or amend the decision of the Board of Adjustment denying variance requests.

This is regarding this is case number PLN BOA 2404-0001 2436 Cat K Lane.

Anyone wishing to speak must be sworn in.

And the Commission will announce any site visits, communications, or expert opinions received, and make them a part of the record.

If there are two or more members of the Board of Adjustment that may be present and participating in the discussion at this at this meeting, uh you're certain you are welcome because it has been noticed.

Is anybody here from the Board of Adjustment?

No.

Okay.

Um, Vice Mayor, do you have any disclosures?

Uh Commissioner Beasley Pittman.

No disclosures.

I believe I had a conversation with Alan Bogdanov on this.

Commissioner Glassman.

None.

And Commissioner Sorensen.

Yes, Alan Bogdanov.

Okay.

Is there any anything, any script I need to read with regard to the de novo hearing or just uh just begin the you do you want to do you want to?

No, Mayor.

Um you go ahead.

I just wanted to um advise that yes, uh Alan Bognoff is here for the applicant.

Yeah, I have to.

The Board of Adjustments will be represented by Hudson Gill.

Right.

I have uh because I was going to call them up.

But I didn't know if there was a presentation by your office that would uh as a predicate to the beginning of this de novo hearing.

No, the applicant will present their case.

Okay, and you'll decide based on the evidence uh whether it met the ULDR and whether there might be a unique hardship attributable to the land that might or might not overturn or support the decision of the board.

So the Commission has to determine basically a two-pronged test whether or not it meets their qualifications on the ULDR and whether or not and if not, then has the hardship been presented to this property owner that would permit the Commission to approve the request.

That is correct, Mayor.

Um Mayor, before we move on, I I think I need to amend my um answer.

Ellen, did we speak on this or was it a different button?

Okay, all right.

So I need to change my um answer my disclosure.

I did speak with Ellen Boganoff.

Okay.

Thank you.

Okay.

Ellen.

Mr.

Gill, are you here?

Yes.

Oh, okay.

Are you here?

I'm here for the board.

You're here for the board, but you're not on the board.

You're not on the board, but you're here for the board.

Okay.

I just want to make I want to know who all the players are.

Okay.

I'll call you up shortly.

You want to push that button?

Mayor and Commissioners, I appreciate it.

Um, I do have a PowerPoint, and I'm handing it out because some of the print might be too small to see.

Um I don't know if they're putting it up.

Okay.

Yep, we've got it.

Got it.

Yep, thanks.

Perfect.

Okay, thank you so much.

Um, why we are here?

So um the Tashers brought four variances before the Board of Adjustment.

Um it was discovered after they enclosed their carport, and they just put up uh walls.

They didn't do any electric, they didn't do any plumbing.

Um it was reported where it's unclear as to who reported it.

Um, but when code enforcement came on the site, they noticed there was a shed in the back.

They cited the shed in the back for not meeting code as well as the carport.

Uh when they went for um an after-the-fact permit to comply, um, it was not moved forward simply because the shed in the back, uh which was put there in 2013 was not in compliance with the code.

Um the um four variances were three for the shed and one for the carport.

Uh the tachers uh purchased the home with the existing footprint, and there were no open permits when they went to do their due diligence.

All of the permits were closed.

They purchased the home, and part of the cost of that home was the shed.

It's a sizable shed, it's 10 by 20, um, although the permit says 10 by 10, but it's 10 by 20, and it was uh significant because those lots in Lauderdale, Iowa's are rather small and they needed the extra storage, which is also why they enclosed the carport for the storage.

Um it was the it went before the board in July of 24, um, and the four variances were denied.

They went back again in November of 24 and they were denied again.

Uh it is important to note that the variance is failed with a simple majority voting to support, and a supermajority was required at that time.

Based on the code changes today, it would have passed back in um July and November.

Um, because you passed it, the code changes.

Um we appealed on the basis of the fact that now we can come before the commission for a de novo hearing.

And on January 20th, 2026, the Commission voted unanimously to approve a de novo hearing before um, which we are here today to go over.

The house was originally built in 1955.

They paid over a million dollars for the home again in large part on the water.

In 1955?

No, no, it was it was built in 1955.

The Tashes purchased it in 2022.

Okay.

Um again, um, part of the value of that home, which was a valuable asset was the shed in the back.

Uh in uh preparation for the hearing, they we did do a public notice.

This is in the rear of the home facing the water, and this is the front of the home.

Uh we checked um up until the last day, and it was still there.

This is the footprint of the home, and I just wanted everybody to see this, so you see how tight everything is.

But it it hasn't changed.

The footprint of the home hasn't changed since 1955 when it was built.

And again, the footprint of the shed has not changed since 2013 when it was put in by the prior owners.

This is the shed, and this picture was taken in 2013 when the shed was installed.

I don't know about you, but it doesn't look like a square to me.

I mean, I didn't, I did okay in geometry, but um this looks a little bit more like a rectangle.

Um but this was the shed, and this was a picture is in the city records.

This is what the shed looks like today.

Um and this is from the rear view.

Um in one of the hearings, just as uh as a note, the gentleman who lives directly across the canal came in support of the variances because he is not bothered by the shed, and he's the only one who can actually see it.

I just all wanted you to all see the carport and that the walls that were put up, and again, not realizing that he needed a permit just to kind of enclose the walls because he wasn't doing anything with electric.

Um it was an error on their part, but they did try to fix it with an after-the-fact permit.

Hey, Alan?

Yes.

Not that it matters, but um as you look to the aerial view, I assume that the shed is in the upper left-hand corner.

Is that the shed?

Or is it the correct is in the upper left-hand corner on the water side?

Okay.

Which is a rectangle?

It is a rectangle.

And you flip the page.

Did the shed grow?

It it it um it was the same shed from 2013 when it was installed, but I can it probably explain to you how that happened when I get to the next slide.

Okay.

But there are four variances, and the amount of variance is minimal just to be in compliance.

So of the four, and for that shed, it is too close to the actual structure of the home.

That was one variance.

The other is the setback on the water side and the setback on the rear of the shed of with the neighbor.

Um this this would this is the telling piece.

Um this was the original application.

Uh-huh.

And strangely enough, and we don't know why, and it's it we have not been able to kind of go back to 2013 to figure out what transpired, but you will notice that the application was filled out, and at some point somebody crossed out shed a number and put in 10 by 10.

Okay.

This was the permit that was issued.

It shows 10 by 10, and it was approved.

For the 10 by 10.

For the 10 by 10.

But today it's 10 by 20.

It was always 10 by 20.

And when the original application was submitted, um, it was submitted.

We believe it was submitted with 10 by 20, but for whatever reason, because it was approved and it was said and done, somebody just kind of signed off on the permit because the permit was closed by the city.

Okay.

So we're here today.

This is the section which is the criteria for the variance.

Uh, the Board of Adjustment clearly focused on D, which is the unique cardship that is not self-created by the applicant or his predecessors, nor is the result of mere disregard for or ignorance of the provisions of the ULDR.

Bottom line is is that um the Tashers purchased the home and the permit was closed.

It would be reasonable to assume that it was legitimate or was legal because there was no open permit.

If it was not built to code, that permit should have never been closed, and the prior owner in 2013 should have corrected it.

And we can assume that the predecessor, whoever installed it, somebody signed off.

So whether or not they realize that it should have been 10 by 10 or 10 by 20 or whatever it was, the city signed off on the permit.

So and we can't go back and recreate history to know what what happened in 2013 when it was first installed.

Um this was an order imposing a fine because.

So as I'm looking at this permit, it says it's a a prefabricated shed, right?

Correct.

So I put in a prefabricated shed from Frank Sheds.

So they deliver it and they drop it, right?

Correct.

So that's a prefab.

So typically there's no misunderstanding a 10 by 10 from a 10 by 20 when you're buying a prefab as opposed to stick construction.

So it uh it's a little confusing to me that they would say it's a 10 by 10 prefab when it's clearly a 10 by 20 prefab.

The other thing is when I'm looking at the part where it was scratched out.

Just as I'm reading this is filled out, so we have owner's name.

Did the owner pull this?

Is this is this an owner pulled this?

This the that the prior owner?

Right, prior the prior owner, yeah.

Correct.

Because I'm I'm just looking at at the handwriting on this entire thing, and that 10 by 10 is the same exact handwriting as you see with like total job costs, the zeros are exactly the same.

So it was clearly written by the person who filled out the application.

It's the same handwriting, same pen, pretty much looks like it was all done at the same time.

Arguably, I and I I'm not a handwriting expert, so I mean, I'm not sure.

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, it's the zeros are similar in in nature.

So if you just if you look at the numbers down below, where it's got two thousand three hundred and fifty-five dollars and zero cents, the the zeros are pretty much written with the same loop structure.

Just I I don't know actually, we don't know actually who ended up filling out this application.

I mean, we can assume that it was Bradford Schaefer, but it could have been somebody else who who completed it for him.

Bottom line is is that we all know the shed is not 10 by 10, but the city inspected, the city had pictures of it, and the city signed off and closed the permit.

Um and for our for the TASHers, they were kind of, I guess you would say, you know, victims of something that was done without their knowledge.

And certainly if they had done they did their due diligence, if there was an open permit for a violation, they either wouldn't have bought the home or they would have told the owner that they had to cure it before they would purchase the home.

So in uh we believe that um we that meet all of the criteria, uh which I am happy to walk through.

Um there have been fines that have been accumulating because of their effort to try to correct what they were unable to do so when they pulled the permits because they needed a variance.

I mean the cost to remove this plus the decreased value in the home, I mean they paid for it, and not only would they lose the value that they paid for it, they would end up having to sell the home for a lot less because the storage uh would be gone.

The fines to date, uh and I checked them today, uh it they're at 87,900.

So um we respectfully have eighty-seven thousand nine hundred.

This has been going on since eighty-seven thousand.

The the fines, the fines.

We we we actually have two requests um respectfully asked that all four variances be approved so that they can become in compliance.

Nobody has complained, nobody came before the the Board of Adjustment and said we have a problem with this.

Uh the gentleman that's directly adjacent to the shed, um, his neighbor um was supposed to come in support, but um he was uh out of town the day of of the of the hearing.

Um so we respectfully ask that all the commission um approve all four variances and um waive the fines if the variances are approved, since they would be in compliance.

All right, thank you so much.

And I'd like to reserve rebuttal time if I can't.

No problem.

Hudson.

And matter of fact, uh City Manager, what uh is Hudson here uh as a uh uh city like being paid by the city?

I'm just trying to understand that.

That is correct, Commissioner.

Um Mr.

Gulliz here representing the board and the board's position.

Okay, so we pay outside council to represent boards.

Mr.

And these appeal matters, yeah.

These appeal matters.

Okay.

Okay.

Thanks.

Thanks.

Thank you, Commissioner.

Good evening, Hudson Gill representing our here for the board of adjustment.

I I just wanted to go over, I guess, what the criteria is that you're supposed to look at and what the burden is for you to make the decision you have tonight.

It's it's the burden under the code is on the applicant to show by a preponderance of evidence evidence that they've demonstrated a unique hardship attributable to the land.

Uh and the code provides you the criteria you're supposed to go over.

Ms.

Bogdanoff laid them out for you.

So I can go through them again if you want, but they're in front of you.

So your role today is simply to look at the evidence that's been presented by the applicant and to see if you believe by a preponderance of the evidence that the applicant has met its burden to demonstrating that it's very insurance.

So why don't you what are those criteria for determining what is a hardship?

Well, they are laid out in the code and they're in the memo, but the first one is that special conditions and circumstances affect the property at issue, which prevent the reasonable use of such property.

That's number one.

It's it's it's either or, right?

It's not and it's or, correct?

No, it's special conditions and circumstances.

Right.

I understand that.

But the the four you're going to lay.

I understand that, but the four you're going to lay and their and yes.

So they have to comply with all four.

Yes.

In order to in order to substantiate a hardship.

Correct.

Okay.

Under the code.

The the second criteria is that the circumstances which cause the special conditions are peculiar to the property at issue or to such a small number of properties that they clearly constitute marked expectations to other properties in the same zoning district.

The third criteria is that the little literal application of the provisions of the ULDR will deprive the applicant of a substantial property right that is enjoyed by other members.

Other property owners in the same zoning district.

The uh fourth criteria is that, and this was the one she touched on that the unique hardship is not self-created by the applicant or his predecessors, nor is a result of mere disregard or ignorance of the provisions of the ULDR.

Uh and that the variance is the minimum variance that will make possible reasonable use of the property, and that the variance will be in harmony with the general purpose and intent of the ULDR.

So those are the criteria you need to look at.

They presented the evidence.

Obviously, there's no one here contradicting that evidence, um, but it really involves an existing shed that the prior owner put in.

The permit was for a 10 by 10 shed.

A 10 by 20 shed was installed and the permit was closed.

So those are really the facts that the way out.

Yes.

Funny how those things happen.

Anyone have any questions about Hudson?

So there's really no one from the Board of Adjustment or anybody else to who I mean this is a this is a de novo hearing.

Correct.

And so we're technically supposed to be the triers of fact, right?

So so far the only facts we've heard are from the applicant.

Yeah, technically, correct?

There's been nobody to controvert any of those facts.

No, that's the testimony.

Okay.

All right.

Thank you, sir.

I mean, I know I'm the mayor, but I'm supposed to be like a judge, but uh Mayor, may I also add though, at this moment um there is a request regarding the fines, and in this capacity, right now you don't have the authority to address that.

It could go back to the special magistrate to address the fines, but not the other thing.

We don't have the authority to address that.

Okay.

All right.

Can we make a recommendation?

Yes, you may.

Okay.

Okay, so is there anyone else who wishes to speak on this item?

Uh Ellen, do you have any any conclusion or concluding remarks?

Not unless you have any questions.

All right, is anyone have any questions of either person that has spoken?

There being none, okay.

So right now uh the the city commission serving in um in its quasi judicial capacity has uh a determination to make as to whether or not uh the four criteria have been uh satisfied based on the uh evidence that was presented by the applicant and uh looking at the evidence that we were presented, I believe this uh booklet contains pictures and um and um documents which uh which are uh purported to um support the position of the applicant.

So is there anybody here on the commission who wishes to make a motion with regard to this item?

Mayor, uh, first of all, wait a minute, before you say anything.

Um do I hear a motion to close public hearing?

Moved.

Do I hear a second?

Second.

Moved and seconded, please call the roll.

Commissioner Glossman, yes.

Commissioner Beasley Pittman, Commissioner Sornson?

Yes.

Vice Mayor Herbst, yes.

Mayor Trentals.

Yes, so public hearing on PH one is now closed.

Yes, Commissioner.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um one of the I think important notes in this is let's see, I'm trying to count, it's about six pages from the back where uh in this booklet we were given where you'll see City of Fort Lauterelle permit uh date issue 1024, 2013, and what you'll see in the red box there it says special conditions slash notes, ATF shed prefabricated 10 by 10.

So this is I think one of the reasons that leads uh to best understanding what happened here is the city in its permitting approval um errored in my view, and what that leads to, mayor, in my view, is a unique hardship uh on the uh owner of this this parcel and this uh shed.

So um that contributes to it, that's not the only factor, but that's one of the contributing factors, and so um as a result, Mayor, it's I'd like to uh make a motion that the um uh variance requests, all four variants requests meet the uh indicated standards of the ULDR, and that uh we should approve uh these four variances rejecting the order of the Board of Adjustment.

And so as a result, Mayor, it's I'd like to uh make a motion that the um uh variance requests, all four variants requests meet the uh indicated standards of the ULDR and that uh we should approve uh these four variances rejecting the order of the Board of Adjustment.

Is that second?

Is that is that properly stated?

Yes, Mayor.

Okay.

Okay.

It's been moved and seconded.

Anyone else have any comments or questions?

Just a question, uh Mayor, are we did you want us to incorporate into the motion that recommendation that you asked about in terms of the fines?

Or is that something separate?

Uh well Commissioner Sorensen.

I think that would be separate.

I'd I'd feel better.

Okay.

Separate.

Okay.

Yeah.

Okay.

Uh can I just ask one question before we vote?

Please go ahead.

Ellen, you said that the that the neighbor adjacent to the property is in support of this.

Did they submit anything along those lines?

You said they were going to come to the meeting, but they didn't come, they were unable to attend the board of adjustment meeting.

Is there anything that that supports that?

That they are okay with this?

Because they're looking at the non-conforming shed.

Correct.

And this was uh the the one gentleman who lives behind them across the water did show up and did support it at one of the hearings.

The one adjacent was a very good thing.

I'm looking at the guy with the pool.

Because I know if I was in that pool, I would not want to be looking at that shed every day.

So I'm just curious.

He told uh the Tashes that he he supported it, but he has since sold the his home and moved.

Okay.

But nobody has complained in all the years that it's been there.

So I guess the people that just bought the house bought it seeing the shed there and have not objected.

Correct.

All right.

Buyer beware.

And Vice Mayor, just uh add to that, um, you know, like like your district, I'm sure we have very vocal residents of district four.

And I've I've only heard support for this uh this where we're heading with this.

Okay.

I I always just I'm always curious to see if there's something that's in the record.

That's all.

Yep.

Mayor.

Uh may I address Commissioner Sorensen?

In your motion, if you intended to address the fines, it would be appropriate that you do it in your motion, otherwise you're done with the matter.

So it would be a recommendation, if anything at all.

Otherwise, the the take it back without with or without your recommendation.

Sure.

So then I'll amend my motion pending acceptance of our amendment that uh it's recommended the fines be waived in totality.

May May I offer a friendly amendment to that, Commissioner Sorensen.

Well hold on.

Go on, go on.

I think you're recommending that.

The person who who uh the person who seconded it, uh Commissioner Glassman has to agree to the amendment.

Could I offer a friendly amendment to the friendly amendment first, though?

There was a word in there that I'm troubled with when you say waived in the totality.

We typically only waive that portion of the fines which exceed our hard costs because we incur hard costs to go out and conduct inspections and things like that.

So we generally don't waive those.

So if I I'm okay with waiving the fines, but we typically make an exception as to the actual costs that we incur uh on staff time and things like that.

So if you would consider that as you make your amendment, may I would be more amenable to that.

I recommend that that you uh your recommendation is that it goes back to the magistrate or it goes to the magistrate for review for consideration of waiving the fines, not that you're recommending a specific waiver because they can act only to that degree.

Okay, great.

So do we know the hard cost?

Mayor if I may.

So in a case like this, a violation existed, the the magistrate found it that there was a violation.

So what the applicant is doing now is taking the corrective action they need to do to correct that violation and be in compliance.

So typically what we do is um either go through an amnesty process or allow the applicant to go back to the magistrate and request a reduction or a waiver.

And part of their request can be based on the actions they've taken to come into compliance.

And so there is a process in place for that.

I think there's a compelling case for it.

And you know, I I think staff can be supportive with the magistrate hearing the commission's feedback when that goes to them for consideration.

Yeah, but uh we're not we're not making a um we're not determining.

Right.

So to avoid and avoid the applicants from having to come back here again.

Um I think the commissioner just wants to roll it all into one so that when you do go before the magistrate that there is a recommendation there from the commission with regard to the to the fine.

But I do agree with the vice mayor that the hard costs should be subtracted from the fine as if we're gonna waive that.

So we should at least try to recover our hard costs.

I don't know what the hard costs are at right now.

Mayor, may I again suggest that what your recommendation might be is that it goes back to the magistrate for their assessment of it in determining to what degree the fines can be reduced as opposed to.

And that's fine.

That's that's fine, but we still the recommendations should still come from the commission that there should be a reduction in the fine.

Yep.

Okay.

So the motion is approve all four variances.

Um that the it is the fines are uh the fine total is sent back to the magistrate for further evaluation with a city commission uh recommendation of reduction.

Minus the hard costs a full reduction less the less the hard cost that is that is your recommendation.

I recommend that you actually just simply send it back to them for their review.

Okay, fine.

I'm fine with that.

I don't want I don't want the applicant to have to come back here again.

Because if you may you may move as you wish, mayor it's up to you, Commissioner.

I have to made the motion uh wait the uh fines be referred back to the special magistrate with a recommendation to reduce the fines uh with the exception of the hard costs.

Okay, there you go.

Does the uh Commissioner Glassman do you accept the friendly amendment?

Yes, thank you.

All right, and we'll find out what those hard costs are and share with the commissioner.

Well the special magistrate will know.

We'll share it just as an FYI with you.

Thank you.

All right, are there any further comments or questions with regard to this item?

There being none, please call the role.

Commissioner Glassman, yes, Commissioner Beasley Pittman, yes, Commissioner Sorensen, yes, Vice Mayor Herbst, yes, Mayor Trentals.

Yes, and uh that item is now approved.

Um to OSR one, we have a second reading of an ordinance amending the city of Fort Lauderdale comprehensive plan, future land use element, conservation elements, sanitary sewer, water, and storm water element, and capital improvement element to incorporate by reference to ten-year water supply facility work plan 2026.

Would someone like to introduce the ordinance?

Introduced the ordinance is introduced on second reading, and no one signed up to speak.

Anyone wish to uh um comment or question?

There being none, please call the role.

In order to the city of Fort Lauderdale, Florida meaning the future land use element conservation element, sanitary sewer, water, and stormwater element and capital improvement element to incorporate by reference therein the tenure water supply facility work plan 2026 of the Fort Lauderdale Comprehensive Plan, and to update the goals, objectives, and policies related to the City of Fort Lauderdale water supply facility work plan for providing for severability repeal of conflicting ordinance provisions, transmittable to the applicable reviewing agencies and providing for an effective date.

Commissioner Glossman?

Yes, Commissioner Beasley Pittman?

Yes.

Commissioner Sorensen, yes, Vice Mayor Herbst?

Yes.

Mayor Trentals.

Yes, and OSR one is now approved on second reading.

OSR two, second reading, an ordinance amending division eight of Article 7, Chapter 2 to establish an infrastructure advisory board.

Um someone like to introduce the ordinance.

Introduced the orders have been introduced.

Anyone have any comments or questions?

There being none, please call the role.

In ordinance of the city of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, mandning division eight of Article 7 of Chapter 2 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to establish an infrastructure advisory board providing for membership qualifications, length of term, and the purpose and duties of the board providing for correction of scriveners' errors and providing for several repeal of conflicting ordinance provisions and an effective date.

Commissioner Glossman?

Yes.

Commissioner Beasley Pittman?

Yes.

Commissioner Sorensen?

Yes.

Vice Mayor Herbst?

Yes.

Mayor Trentals.

Yes, and now the infrastructure task force is a permanent advisory board to the Commission.

That's great.

Moving on to our two appointment of appointment excuse appointment of board and committee members.

Mr.

Clerk, please read the names into the record.

Thank you, Mayor.

For the March 3rd 2026 resolution, Beach Business Improvement District Advisory Board, Michael Barry, uh representing the B Ocean Resort for Lauderdale, and Carlos Young, uh consensus with representing Marriott Courtyard, and then for Central City Redevelopment Advisory Board, Fiona Johnson, nominated by Commissioner Glassman, Christopher Casey nominated by Commissioner Glossman, Bobby Tanoko nominated by Commissioner Glassman, Community Service Board, Gary Hensley, nominated by Commissioner Glossman.

Infrastructure Advisory Board, uh Jerry Angeli, that's consensus nominated by Mayor Tren Sales.

Insurance advisory board, Hendrick Cienema, nominated by Commissioner Sorensen.

David Cooley nominated by Vice Mayor Herbst.

Sunrise Key Neighborhood Improvement District, Thomas Walter, nominated by Commissioner Glassman.

And for tonight's resolution.

Willie McKay nominated by Commissioner Beasley Pittman.

Central City Redevelopment Advisory Board.

Chantel Jerome nominated by Vice Mayor Herbst.

Charter Revision Board, Nadine Hankerson, nominated by Commissioner Beasley Pittman.

Citizens Committee of Recognition, Eugenia Ellis, nominated by Commissioner Sorensen.

Bobby DeBose, nominated by Commissioner Sorensen.

Community Appearance Board, Evet Giles Stewart, nominated by Commissioner Beasley Pittman.

Sharon Bogart, nominated by Commissioner Sorensen, Education Advisor Board.

Aaron Gall, nominated by Commissioner Sorensen, Infrastructure Advisory Board, Lisa Sharkey, nominated by Mayor Trentals, Peter Partington, nominated by Mayor Trental, Shane Groudsky, nominated by Vice Mayor Herbs, Ralph Seltman, nominated by Vice Mayor Herbs.

Gregory Barnett, nominated by Commissioner Glossman, Roosevelt Walters, nominated by Commissioner Beasley Pittman.

Martschow nominated by Commissioner Sorensen.

Lindsay Way, nominated by Commissioner Sorensen.

New Cent Board, Cornell Nichols, nominated by Mayor Trentals, Parks Rex, and Beaches Board.

Don Meisell nominated by Commissioner Sorensen.

Sean Fee nominated by Commissioner Sorensen.

Stephen Whiteco, nominated by Commissioner Sorensen.

And for the Sustainability Advisory Board, Kelly Charles, nominated by Commissioner Sorensen, and that rounds it up.

Okay, are there any modifications or additions to those names?

I'm sorry.

Um did you show us the um for Don Mazel?

For Parks Rec and Beaches Board?

But who has did you show it as Miata?

Yeah, Commissioner Beast.

I'm sorry.

Yep, I I heard Mayor's name.

I'm sorry.

Okay.

Okay.

Uh someone would like to introduce the resolution.

Introduce.

Resolution's been introduced.

Please call the roll.

A resolution city commissioner of the city of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, appointing or nominating, if applicable, boarding committee members as set forth in the exhibit attached here too and made a part here of Commissioner Glossman.

Yes.

Commissioner Beasley Pittman?

Yes.

Commissioner Sorensen?

Yes.

Vice Mayor Herbst?

Yes.

Mayor Trentals.

Yes.

And uh those folks are now uh members of those boards or committees, and I want to thank them for their their uh sacrifice and commitment to uh to serving your community.

Um is there any further business of the of this meeting?

There's nothing further.

This meeting is now concluded.

We'll now go back to the conference meeting and we'll begin with conference uh excuse me with commission reports.

Uh Vice Mayor, do you have any commission reports?

Uh yes, I do, surprisingly.

So um two things.

This is building on the conversation we were having earlier about our water bills.

So I still have a lot of residents who are not feeling quite fulfilled about the conversation that we had today.

They think there's a lot more to be done.

So, City Manager, what I would like you to consider, please, is putting together a workshop where more residents can come out because they didn't quite understand that today was necessarily an opportunity for them to come and hear a lot more about what's going on, and I think that they would benefit significantly from having a chance to talk with staff, talk with folks, you know, from from finance about the write-off process, talk with folks from utilities.

Um there are people again that are looking at the at the actual meters and are wondering how they're being read, and frankly, don't trust us.

Um they think we're committing fraud upon them when we tell them, oh, yeah, we're reading the meters, and they see three inches of dirt sitting on top of a meter, and they say there's no way you read that meter ever.

So we need to have more of a dialogue to build trust with the residents, at least I know in my district, and I think uh from some of the other districts, like I said, that are being forwarded to me.

Um so I'd like to have a dialogue about maybe having a workshop that we can invite people that is focused just on that one day.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

Are you envisioning a commission workshop or not?

No, no, no, just uh like a charrette type of thing.

Right, a community workshop.

Yeah, I don't I don't think uh don't want to you know make it make it a commission chamber kind of a thing.

I think just a community workshop where we bring people in.

You can figure out what location works for you.

Um but uh I'd like to get people around the city an opportunity to come forward, you know, talk to our staff, hear what they have to say, have uh uh an interactive conversation, and you know, hopefully put some of these questions and concerns to rest.

Uh but we need to also communicate this a little bit more broadly.

I I hate next door with a passion, but that's where a lot of this dialogue seems to be taking place, and maybe this is where we reach out to people.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

That's something that we can do.

And I think that there's consensus to do that, perhaps.

Yes, I mean we need we need as much community input as and and outreach as possible because this is uh for some reason district one seems to have a lot of leaky pipes.

And and it and it predates if you remember, mayor.

This goes back to my predecessor Heather has had problems with us for years.

And it apparently also, like I said, I I've discovered now also seems to be a District 4 issue because I'm getting lots of District 4 things being forwarded on to me.

So uh it wasn't until my neighborhood became part of District One that I had problems.

There's just I don't know what it is, yeah.

Um but no, I I think again, I think it would go a long way to rebuilding trust in the community if we could have a dialogue and they have an opportunity to interact and and bring their problems, their pictures and and everything.

Uh again, they're posting videos online, and none of this looks good for us.

It uh and again when people are starting to talk about initiating class action lawsuits against us.

Um again, we've lost the confidence of our residents, and that's that's doesn't look good for us.

And uh uh so I think we need to get we we certainly are not in front of this issue.

We're way behind on on building that credibility, so anything we can do to maybe recapture the trust of our residents, I think would be worthwhile.

Understood and agreed.

Thank you.

Um the the other thing, so uh I've had uh folks from the district asking where are we with Lockhart?

What's going on?

So that we've had no no updates, I don't know what the status is.

So where do we stand with all that?

On what on what?

Lockhart.

Oh, Lockhart.

Yep.

So folks are trying to know where we are with respect to the design, reconstruction, what what's going on with with uh with our park?

So folks in District 1 are sort of wondering what's happening.

They they see lots of activity with all the other parks in the city, and they're not getting updates on anything, so I don't, you know, we're we we get regular updates about the park spawn for everything else in the city, but we're not seeing any movement on what's happening with Lockhart.

Uh do you want to say something or you want me to say something?

I defer to you, Mayor.

I I will follow up though.

Yeah.

So when you um when we were at a certain percent design uh and we were ready to present we were ready to present that to the commission, you had decided that uh not you had decided, but people had come to you and you said your community w did not want pickleball courts anymore, they'd rather have open fields.

So we had so the design people have to go back to the drawing board and read and redo the design.

And so we will now have an update.

When is it so we plan to come to a March conference meeting with an updated site plan for the commission to discuss and consider uh based on some of the feedback that we received?

Uh we did recently have a meeting that included representatives of of the development team, and uh they're doing some homework right now on how to potentially reconfigure slightly the site to accommodate um athletic fields in addition to some open play spaces, uh just looking at how uh the site could be reconfigured to accommodate all of the preferences that were expressed.

And that and that was the first meeting in March or the second meeting of March.

Well, it really depends on how quickly they come back to us.

We're hoping for the first meeting in March, if not the second meeting in March.

Okay, so either the next meeting or the meeting after we'll have because uh we've in that meeting that uh city manager speaks of we we realized that we could probably create sports fields with uh with uh I think we did soccer as well as uh was it lacrosse?

Well the thought was to have it be um multiple.

Multi-purpose, yes.

Right.

And we tried to do baseball, but they said there are issues with trying to trying to include baseball in a multi-purpose field, so we excluded that, we took that out.

So I guess so I guess I'm a little confused, right?

So if there were meetings that are going on with them as a district commissioner representing District One, I ought to be part of those meetings.

Except that the Commission appointed me to do the negotiation.

I think we're past the negotiation, Mayor.

So you were appointed by the Commission to negotiate a settlement, which I believe we have achieved and we've passed that.

I don't I don't think you're with all due respect.

I don't think you are in charge of designing a park in District One in perpetuity unless I've missed something.

Well, I'm not designing a park, but I'm trying to complete the the settlement negotiations with uh inner Miami, and this is part of it.

They were they were haven't we indecluded?

Wait, I'm sorry, haven't we concluded the settlement?

We didn't we didn't we vote on a settlement agreement?

So there was a settlement agreement and uh staff has been communicating with the developer.

Uh we were invited to a meeting through the mayor's office to discuss with the developer some opportunities to help move the project forward, and so we did attend and participate in that meeting.

So so let me let me sort of state my position, then mayor.

I I the the rest of the commission over my objections appointed you to negotiate a settlement, which I'm not happy with.

I think I was very clear about that, but that's what are under the bridge at this point.

From this point forward, it's my I want to be on the record that anything that has to do with with the design of this park that impacts the residents of District One ought to be done with the guidance and direction of the District One Commissioner.

And it will be when we bring it to the Commission.

No, no, no.

I should be I should be the one at the table representing the interests of the community.

The community needs to have an opportunity to weigh in on what this looks like, not not after the fact.

Well, there's not after the fact, it's a preliminary recommendation.

And the point is that I anything I don't make any decisions for the commission.

I bring it always to the commission, and that's what the purpose of this next uh uh this next uh uh part of the process.

I'm gonna bring it to the commission, show the commission uh the a proposal that's being made, and then let the commission decide how it wants to move forward.

But mayor, you if they decide that you want you to take over, then let's go.

Mayor, you are usurping my role.

You would not go in and redesign Carter Park, you would not go in and redesign Snyder Park, you would not go in and design holiday park.

I don't know why you're coming in and designing Lockhart Park.

Because the Commission realized that they you negotiated the settlement.

You did that.

Are you gonna let me talk or you want to just I'm I'm I'm incredibly frustrated to find out that that negotiation, not even negotiations, design is taking place on a on the the signature park in District One without the engagement of the District One Commissioner.

I'm I'm very surprised.

I I I can't imagine that the input of the district commissioner is not being sought.

Does that conclude your comments?

Yeah, at least for the moment, but please go ahead.

So uh when the commission uh appointed me to go back and to negotiate the settlement and to try to come up with terms that um that the city could look.

I'm just not micro.

Oh, okay.

Well, I'll wait till you come back.

I can hear them over here.

I'm right here.

When the commission uh appointed me to resume the negotiations with Inter Miami, uh I participated in those uh negotiations.

Uh of course, uh representatives from the city were there, myself, uh Jack Siler, of course, the mediator, and representatives of Inter Miami were there.

And um we came to a uh conclusion as to terms that uh uh we felt the com that the commission could agree to.

Um the commission did agree to those terms, and then at that point they were prepared to help us uh uh build and participate in paying for uh a part of the uh Lockhart Park.

At that point, um, and I recall uh uh very clearly that the design that was presented at that meeting, you said you didn't want any more.

You said that you wanted the pickleball courts taken out and that uh you wanted open playing fields re uh substituted because you didn't think you thought you were influenced by those who said that uh those in the fort felt that it was going to take away from the success of their uh investment and therefore you didn't want a distraction uh on the north side of town to uh to in any way interfere with the success of their of their investment.

So uh we we went back to inner Miami and we asked them to redesign the the uh the the site plan so that it took away the um uh the pickleball courts and had more playing fields.

This was exactly under your instruction.

No other no other decisions were made, but those are your instructions from the Dais, which I took then to Inter Miami.

I participated, Inter Miami participated, and as a city manager indicated, she participated, and that's all that took place so far.

At that point, we asked them to come back to us, the commission, to show us what design that they uh could come up with that would fit in with our budgets and that was in compliance with the direction that you gave on the Dais to the to the group that was um going back to try to resolve this issue.

So no one no one's doing things behind your back, and no one's doing anything in contravention with your intentions, and certainly we all speak to the community.

I speak to people in District 12, and uh and people are very uh uh eager to see something come of this, and we are taking all the necessary steps to make it happen.

So we'll see what happens in March.

So I I it it my preference is rather than have you communicate to Inter Miami what I am asking them to do, I would rather communicate that myself so that they have a clear understanding of what it is I'm trying to accomplish.

I don't like playing games of telephone.

I don't need you to communicate to them what it is I'm asking for.

And no, I do not believe that you are empowered by this commission to continue to again negotiate something that has already been settled.

We are past the negotiation stage.

Well that we're that that ship has sailed.

We are past negotiation.

On the other hand, look, if the commission is going to to again empower you to continue handle all design for Lockhart and perpetuity, then again, colleagues, go ahead and have at it.

But if that's it, all bets are off, then you know what?

District commissioners no longer matter in in Fort Lauderdale.

I guess you just didn't hear anything I just said.

No, I heard it very clearly.

You went and spoke to Inter Miami on my behalf to design the park.

Right.

No, not in my direction.

I did not ask you.

I did not ask you.

I didn't ask you to go talk to Inter Miami.

Come on.

When did I ask you?

You said you would rather I said Mayor, go talk to them.

No, I didn't say that, Mayor.

Those words would never come out of my mouth.

Trust me.

I don't want to have this conversation because all you do is talk over me.

So I don't this to me, this is not a debate.

This is all listening to you.

So here's a suggestion.

Well, it is my commission report.

So yeah, if if we want to get to that, yes, I do get to talk.

This is my commission report.

So what I really questions and I'm trying to respond.

Okay.

Okay.

Let us move on.

Mayor here's just the suggestion.

I think that it could be helpful for Vice Mayor Herbst to engage in our Miami and and talk with them and share well, whatever.

We're gonna bring it back the next meeting or the meeting after, and at that point the Commission can decide what it wants to do.

And it's anticipated that that would be a conceptual plan, not a full design.

Right.

It's a conceptual plan with I believe some numbers too.

Some cost numbers.

I believe we left that with them.

Okay.

And just to be clear, I don't think there's anything preventing Vice Mayor Herbst from talking to Inner Miami about the park designs, Vice Mayor.

Well, apparently they're not interested in talking to me.

Um I I would guess they would be happy to talk with you, just my guess.

So nothing holding you back from doing that.

Okay.

Anything further?

Mayor, I I just like to add in general, because the conversation about um parks bond projects across all the districts have come up a lot lately.

And I've asked the Capitol Projects team to draft a potential prioritization and phasing plan for the remainder of all the parks bond projects.

Uh it's something that uh we probably could have done at an earlier stage.

Uh but I believe that because there's so many competing projects, uh we also have some grant funding that uh is currently available and you know, in recent in in the past couple of weeks, we've had to uh return some of the grant funding that has been awarded because the projects haven't advanced at the level uh that we anticipated.

And so just like we did for Fortify Lauderdale, I would like to come to the commission uh with a potential phasing plan that's citywide that showcases all the projects and where we think they should land in terms of uh should they be in the design phase, should they be advancing you know sooner or later uh depending on the funding that we have available.

We also have some concerns about the tranches uh for the parks bond program.

We've drawn down a lot of funding for certain projects, and those projects aren't moving uh as quickly as we intended, and so we need to reallocate those funds to make them available for some of the other projects that may be able to move more quickly.

So I I'd like to have a more robust conversation with the commission about setting expectations for the delivery of projects uh when everything is a priority, nothing is a priority, and that has sort of become the position that we're in.

Uh we have a lot of projects that are in motion but aren't necessarily advancing uh at the level that we need them to.

So that's why you hired people to move and move these things forward.

Yes, Mayor, yes.

And and it would seem to me that the ones that should be prioritized are the ones that are uh eligible for grant funding, and I'd hate to lose all that grant money just because we have not set our priorities in and trying to uh move forward and and fulfill the purpose for which the bond was passed.

So you can bring it to the commission, and I'm not gonna say you shouldn't, but I'm just saying to you know, off the top, the the projects that were eligible for grant funding should always be given priority, and I cannot believe you're telling me this tonight.

Not that you knew about this but I'm just saying you're you know unfortunately you're the messenger tonight so um but this is shameful.

That that is exactly what we intend to share with the Commission you know which projects have grant funding associated and we've been sharing through the monthly Parks Bond letter to the Commission when we see concerns with a particular project and grant funding and so we have been communicating that but I don't think we have done it in a way that allows both the commission and the public to understand where the projects are in terms of the timeline.

Okay.

Let's do it so we're working on that.

Okay.

All right.

Commissioner Beasley Pittman Thank you mayor um thank you um I'm I'm excited tonight I did it's been very productive we've been doing some things that I really enjoy and opportunity to watch the district as well as the city stand in alignment coming together.

I'm sharing first that Saturday February the 7th through parks and recs and the participants of the play after school program we were able to um witness and take part in a cultural activity that's called Remembering our roots that celebrates black history this was held at Riverland Park and the youth from the communities the parks that were participants were from Cross and Park, Wharfville, Oswald and Bass.

And I want to thank City Manager for coming out and and sharing that that good afternoon with us and also the young lady who our young student who did the pledge tonight she was one of the participants.

Yes Kyler she was one of the um participants um doing the event and she when she got here tonight she was like Commissioner I remember you so it was it's it was a great experience and it's it's always a pleasure to see our young people expressing themselves and having a good time and I want to thank Park and Rex for what you continue to do and um the staff that works with the play after school program they put quality time in with our young people to help them express themselves.

So thank you to Parks and Rex regarding um the event on Wednesday the 11th again another um night for us as a city to be very um proud of what accomplishments we are making in regards to our group violence intervention um program with our police I want to give a special thanks to our chief of police along with Captain Will August, Dana Bagan and Sherry Finn.

These are all individuals who were very hands-on um helping us to push this um initiative forward and this focus to remind us all what the focus is of this opportunity is to reduce the violence of crime throughout targeted areas and forcing um prevention and engaging opportunity through collaboration all that aims for building trust and addressing the violence and high impact areas and neighborhoods this this again this initiative right now in district three it is a pilot program but it is intended to go throughout the whole city because we do realize that we are experiencing um pockets of violence throughout our city so this is not um solely um initiative for district three but we're starting with district three and this is the same initiative that we talked about at our um priority meeting where we talked about uh this particular initiative and being able to support it where it's not a one and done type opportunity.

We want to be able to let it build do whatever we need to do to continue to um secure grants and then also fund it through whatever um opportunity through our budget moving forward it would be a game changer for our city well to you know to that point it's becoming a concerning and very very disappointing trend in a lot of cities including our own where gun violence is become not only common but um it's we're seeing it happen amongst younger and younger k people.

The incident that happened on Fort Lauderdale Beach a couple of weeks ago a few weeks ago was between two 17 year olds right where are the parents how are they restricting access to guns?

Um the incident that occurred just a couple of weeks ago where a couple of people were killed in Victoria Park, and then the rampage continued over to Naples, I believe.

Um Sarasota, Sarasota.

Um, you know, I understand that was a family situation.

Uh and uh, but violence and through you know, through guns, uh sh seems to be not a not taken as a last resort, but it seems like it's just so common that people don't even think twice about using guns to kill one another.

I don't know how we get the message out, you know, that this is not acceptable.

I believe this this opportunity um will give us a opportunity to have a conversation, begin to have conversations.

This program deals also with mentorship aligning with um individuals um who may have a pattern for um violent tendencies in a sense, but a different approach.

You know what we've been doing so far has not resonated, it has not been um as impactful, and going in this direction, I believe will give us a a different okay a different um air in what we're looking at.

And you were saying, you know, you don't understand um what's going on right now in a sense, just summarizing what you what I heard you to say.

But we're the culture is so different now.

Um you asked where the parents are.

We have parents who are parenting, but unfortunately, children are influenced by the people who they are hanging out with.

And sometimes it's from two parent homes, sometimes it's from homes who have um what we have said a faith-based home.

Unfortunately, we're dealing with a lot of different um scenarios now in this culture that we live in.

Okay.

But again, I want to thank um our police department um for hearing um my initial concern about this when I was when I first came into office.

This is one of the conversations I had with PD saying that you know, we see this, what are we gonna do to make a difference?

And together with that collaboration, we were able to pinpoint a program that we believe will make a a great impact in in the city of Fort Lauderdale.

Okay.

All right.

Also, oh I had a tour.

I went on a tour of Prospect Lake Clean Water Center.

Oh, how is it?

Uh, we we listen.

I'm truly impressed.

I'm truly impressed.

And um, you if you if you recall from my my um my voting record with this, I had some concerns because of the dollar amount.

Understanding it was something we also needed in our city.

I you know, I I can't reprove that is the fact I understand, but going out and seeing where we are now with the project and what it will provide for us as citizens, that clean water that we're looking forward to just being the norm instead of that tinge in our water, a tinge color.

Um, but I I really it was very impactful, and I'm looking forward to on the ribbon cutting.

I don't want to spig it.

Um ribbon cutters, yeah.

Turn on the water for everybody can see the waters quick.

Um thank you, um Al, he was with us on that tour.

Thank you for um organizing that and being a part to help um get some of the questions that I had answered, and and again, I I we are looking forward to a great opportunity regarding our our new water treatment plan.

Also like to share um we all uh all of those us who were available and participated in the neighborhood support night.

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful job.

You know, each year it it just goes to another level, so to neighborhood support and the team there, great job.

I really enjoyed myself.

Um also want to um acknowledge Stranah's high school marching band, their drumline, um amazing.

Um those who again organized and put this event together, it was a fun night, and I believe the neighbors who came out they would say the same thing.

So um whatever we do, city manager, um I'm in support that we continue this, and um I'm hoping that um I believe my my colleagues they had a good time as well.

So we'll see that continue as well.

Okay.

Oh yes, yesterday.

Yesterday, um, February the 16th, I had the pleasure of attending a vent at the event at the Boys and Girls Club, the Nan Knox Club.

They offered and shared their fourth annual HBC College Day.

They had over 200 students in the room from over the majority of them were from the 33311, and you know that includes Lauder Hill, Lauder Lakes, our city, and then some other um clubs from Broward County.

And um, along with us there was their CEO, Chris Um Gentles, and also the director, Marquise Thomas.

The host, the young people, the students that host the event, they were amazing.

Want to give a shout out to Chiara, Mariah and Timothy.

They didn't share the last name, so I won't um share the last names.

But at the event, there were six colleges on on site, Spelman College from Atlanta, Georgia, Bethune Cookman University from Daytona Beach, also Florida Memorial University from Miami Gardens, as well as Savannah State, which is in Savannah, Georgia, Atlanta State University in Montgomery, and then also FAMU in Tallahassee.

And also in the room was um Dr.

Tory Austin from Broward College.

And um, we kind of laughed about it because he's an alumni from FAMU, so he had on his FAMU gear, and at the same time he was wearing his his um his hat, his cap for Broward College, knowing that he's the president of the college, so he was working in two capacities.

But it was a great event, and hats off to the boys and girls club for offering the event and giving that exposure to our young people.

I also would like to take this time to acknowledge um this year principal of the year, which is Karmick Priester.

She is over or she's the principal at Rock Island Elementary, which is in our city, which is in District 3.

And um, it's a great honor to recognize that the principal from our city has been recognized as Brower County's principal of the year.

Yes, let's give her a hand.

Yes, great, great.

And just to give a couple of her um accomplishments that she's been able to achieve while she's been there.

They this is what the school board listed.

I'm gonna read this.

She was recognized as 2026 Broward County Public Schools Principal of the Year for her visionary leadership and compliments to students and their achievement.

Far as academics, the school was historically um recognized as being a C school.

Um, under her tenure, the school is now a graded school since 2009.

Also, enrollment and attendance has driven up significantly, both for the students' enrollment and daily attendance, and they're exciting that this is done through her student-centered approach.

Also, the data-driven performance, it gives um information about her leadership, the strategy that she used that um directly impacts the academic performance and the proficiency.

Her leadership for school culture, she's actively um having in place mentor and coaching through her staff members that fosters also a professional growth with the staff.

The school environment is creating an exclusive, joyful camp campus with a culture focused on high expectations, um, also meaningful connections between the students and the educators.

She has a family engagement program that she also fosters is the strengthening the bond between the school and the local community by connecting families with essential resources, increasing parental involvement.

Also, for community impact, she has put in place a scholarship fund that is named after Christopher Priester, the educational scholarship, which provides support for students and underserved communities.

So congratulations to Principal Priester.

One other item that I want to bring to be a part of my report, I would say.

Yes, I'm excited that in regards to Carter Park that we're moving forward in regards to the bonds and um the redesign of the park.

Want to thank Quentin for coming out.

And I'm sorry, the other two that was there with us part of that team.

Thank you for everything that you did.

It was a great presentation.

And what I wanted to bring up tonight, because I got an email is based on a permit, excuse me, a um uh what is it?

Not a permit, a petition.

That's petition that's being circulated on change.org.

And they these are people I went through to see the names on the petition.

It's no names that I really recognize, but they're saying that we're not doing anything for Carter Park.

And the petition starts off by saying we need to revitalize Carter Park for our community.

So what I'm asking through Stratcom if we could do something to get the word out additionally, where it's not just um a pocket notification that the whole city knows that we are actively working towards the redesign of Carter Park to upgrade Carter Park.

And I I was really disappointed to see this petition because we've really been working hard for years to get to a place to move forward, and we're ready to move forward.

And again, we had the outreach um conversation with the community.

We have another one that's being scheduled, so we're looking forward to do this.

But um when I saw this, I felt it being counterproductive for what we're trying to do.

So I'm asking if we can get Stratcom to align with me so we can get the word out so we can disclaim this um petition.

Yes, Commissioner, we can do that.

Thank you for making me aware of that.

And you know, we are seeing that in some other facilities, and so we want to have not only that prioritization, but also the public education and the campaign to go along with it.

Yes, yes.

Okay, thank you for that.

And mayor, that concludes my report for tonight.

Okay, thank you.

Um Commissioner Glassman.

Yes, thank you.

So, Commissioner BZ Pim, I want you to know maybe we can investigate this because this is very interesting what you just mentioned about the change.org petition about Carter Park.

Uh we have the same thing happening in Holiday Park.

Same petition.

Okay.

I'm just wondering who if we can maybe check out the names and see what where this is coming from, because just so you know, it's mostly with regards to the children's playground area in Holiday Park.

And yet we have had multiple, multiple meetings with the Victoria Park Civic Association, letting them know why there have been delays, what they can expect though when this is happening, what else we've done in Holiday Park, like the Jimmy Everett Tennis Center, and also um, you know, just what's coming.

The Iceplex.

Yes, a lot has happened.

But but there are, I know this is hard to believe, people that will be critical no matter what happens.

And uh again, I know it's hard to believe.

But they I I I think that this might be a coordinated effort.

That's why it's so interesting to hear what you're just saying about that.

I wonder if it is the same uh group of people.

And we've tried to explain to them every step of the way what's happening, and we have educated, but it's not either it's just not being paid attention to um or whatever.

So thank you for bringing that up.

That was very interesting.

And I think we should investigate the the comparison of the two petitions and just seeing where that's coming from.

Okay, great, thank you.

Um February 4th.

Uh it was a pleasure to meet with the South Gordon Road um Homeowners Association.

They have that was their annual meeting, also known as Navarro Isle.

Uh, great group of people, uh, very engaged and uh really enjoying everything uh that's happening in the city.

It was a very productive and very positive meeting.

I want to thank staff that showed up and uh obviously also police always doing a great job uh presenting at these uh homeowners association meetings.

Um that evening was the what's next for 15th Avenue presentation at ArtServe.

Thank you so much to Transportation and Mobility and Lakeridge for holding that meeting as well.

Oh, there's a lot next.

I don't have time to do it in time.

Uh February 5th, we're moving along.

February 5th, um Seven Isles annual HOA meeting.

Um I want to thank uh Robin Lefcourt, who for the last four years has served as president of that neighborhood association.

She's worked really hard and accomplished a lot for those uh those streets in Seven Isles off of Los Holas.

Um and it was a pleasure to be with them also uh at their annual meeting, and thank you, staff for presenting the information.

They're on uh they're right now in the midst of an undergrounding um project in Seven Isles, yes.

Uh February 10th.

Uh February 10th, um what a fun day that was on the beach uh by Terramar and A1A as we dedicated the next four uh lifeguard towers.

Um really beautifully done um by uh the artist uh Timothy Roberts Smith.

Um these go with the other four that we've done already by DJ Cherry.

So now we have eight of the 20 lifeguard towers, and I know that there's a call to artists coming out next month for two more.

So we will be up to half, which is very exciting.

Um when uh we first did that deal back in 2022.

I know that I brought it to staff's attention just as an idea, and it's really great seeing it.

Getting a lot of positive feedback, people really love it.

Um people that use the beach all the time, tourists were there that day also commenting.

And it also got a lot of nice coverage.

Uh it was, I think a couple of days ago on the front page um of the Sun Sentinel.

So thank you to all involved and Josh and our cultural affairs officer and to also our public art uh and placement advisory board for uh all of the work and selecting that artist and going through that process.

Uh I think they look really cool.

Um they're not it's not just art, it's not just a gallery, but it's also great for wayfinding and for public safety.

Uh and thank you to Fire Rescue for being there and ocean rescue uh as well.

Um February 12th, again, as Commissioner Beasley Pittman said, such a a fun time, such great energy um at neighbors support night.

I've heard a lot of very positive things uh about that.

It's really such an opportunity for folks that live in our city to come and meet the people that do the work every day.

Uh so again, yes, kudos to everyone involved in putting that together.

Um February nineteenth, coming up Thursday is the 116th annual meeting of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce at the Seminole Hard Rock.

Uh also that evening I'll be speaking at the Central Beach Alliance uh monthly meeting.

Um February 20th, I know that we'll be having a press conference letting everyone know the great plans that we have on the beach uh for spring break.

Uh that evening, I guess is also a birthday party celebration for Mary Brickle's birthday uh over at Catch and Cut.

How old is she now?

Mary Brickle.

Oh, she looks great for her age, but like about 180, I think.

I don't know.

How old is she?

I think 165.

165?

Wow.

Well, congratulations to her.

People said she could never get that at all, but it's okay.

Uh and also February 21 is the annual Stonewall Museum gala.

Uh, just a couple of things I wanted to mention.

Um, because we took this out of order, I didn't get a chance to request that that moment of silence tonight was actually thinking of the two residents that you mentioned um, Mayor in Victoria Park.

Uh Larissa uh Blayudaya and her son Ben Azizov uh were murdered in their home in Victoria Park uh along with their other family members in Sarasota.

Such a tragic story, such a crazy story.

Um but yes, that was uh uh just so sad.

Um so I was gonna mention that perhaps we could have done that moment of silence for them, but I just wanted to mention their names uh and that we did lose two uh residents in Victoria Park.

Um also a question for transportation and mobility.

Um I'm hearing that the Las Solas Bridge Project uh is scheduled by FDOT to begin the week of March 23rd.

I'm just a little concerned with spring break and is this gonna be an issue?

Are they gonna actually start work that's gonna you know put a crimp into the traffic over Las Oulas Bridge?

Um and also I know that there's been a lot of dates circulating for a public meeting to sort of let people know what's coming, but I'm hearing that that's March twelfth.

That's not a lot of time in between March 12th and March 23rd to start the work.

I'm just wondering about the timing of that and also uh Milo, if you could just let us know about is that a hard start date, March 23rd for FDOT to come um and do that on the Los Solos Bridge.

Yes, good evening, Milo Smistorovich, director for cities transportation and mobility department.

So um in terms of the background, uh FDUT did come to present before City Commission in December of 2024 on this project.

Uh most recently they met with us last week.

They advised us that they are planning to start construction on uh March twenty-third.

And our feedback is that due to busy spring uh break season, we should not start any work that affects the right-of-way or the travel lanes before end of the spring break, which is April 17th.

So uh they're providing us with the additional details related to uh the start date and what might be impacted uh that time, and we'll be issuing additional information to City Commission via a letter to commission.

So we don't really think that we're gonna see much actual work done on uh March 23rd.

That is correct.

So if uh if their feedback ends up being that they are planning on affecting travel lanes, uh we will be asking them to postpone the project.

We actually already asked them put to postpone the project or anything that would affect uh our roadway capacity up until uh spring break is over.

Okay, so if if you could just you know keep my office in the loop on this, I'm I really want to make sure that everyone is aware of what the project is, what's gonna start, exactly what's going to happen when they start, uh, all of those impacts, because I know that we're gonna have a lot of very concerned residents uh along the Los Solas Isles and also along the beach.

So um that would be greatly appreciated.

What do what rehabilitation are they doing on the bridge?

So that would be uh Los Alas Bridge, and uh they are replacing the bridge decks uh with uh aluminum bridge decks.

They're replacing electrical and mechanical components as well.

Uh the last time that the bridge rehab took place there was back in 1998 or so.

Okay.

Thank you.

And uh Millish, when are we anticipating the sunrise bridge work?

So we have asked them uh about that project as well.

Uh that should also start sometime in 2026, and our feedback uh related to a rehab of that bridge is that we we wouldn't we need one of the bridges to be fully functional um and uh to make sure that uh traffic is um properly accounted or accommodated during construction of either one of the bridges.

Okay, great.

Uh and then again I would just request you know being kept as up to date as possible uh for that bridge as well.

Great.

Thank you.

Uh that's it for me, Mayor.

Thank you.

Nothing upcoming?

Okay.

Uh but I think I did say upcoming.

Oh, okay.

Um Commissioner Sorensen.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um I might have missed this, but Raquel, when um Merlin Momano was giving us this update on I don't know if it's Senate Bill 948 or the kind of live local for individual single family homes.

Do I didn't get a status of that?

Do we know I I'm not sure what I'm saying?

I don't think Daphne's here.

Yeah, I don't think she's Daphne may have gone over it s just slightly.

If we could just if we could just get a quick update from whenever it's appropriate, that'd be great.

Thanks.

Just so I can't.

Was it part of her presentation?

I didn't hear Daphne talk about this, but I might have missed it.

I I think it was part of the presentation.

Let me double.

Okay.

Well, you know, you don't have to for now.

Um next is 17th Street Bridge Lighting, talking about Las Olas Bridge.

Uh so 17th Street Bridge Lighting.

This is the project in partnership with the county, city, and others.

So I think that project continues to move forward.

Funding's continue to be kind of allocated.

I think city manager in April, that's gonna come to us or an update.

Is that right?

Yes, that's that's what we intend.

And I I just checked on that uh presentation.

Uh in the backup, there is a slide called home rule enforcement and land use.

It's under HB 1143, SB 948, local government land development regulations and orders.

Yep.

So it was covered.

And and what's the status of that bill?

Well, we're we're following it, so we don't know how it's gonna continue to traverse, but uh Daphne is gonna give us an update by the end of this week.

So if there's any movement, we'll notify the commission.

Okay.

Okay, thanks.

Great.

Um 17th Street Bridge, I have that right.

So my understanding is that the uh county has been in conversations with the city uh through our cultural affairs officer, and the intention is to come to a conference meeting to get an update from the county.

I know that they are looking for some uh financial participation by the city, and so we want to have that conversation, especially now as we are developing the budget for the next fiscal year.

And if the commission is inclined to want to support that project, that would be something we would uh try to incorporate through the budget process.

Okay, great.

Thank you.

Uh e-bikes.

E-bikes continue to be a just hugely detrimental impact in neighborhoods.

I'm at Holiday Park many nights, uh, and they are tearing up our turf fields in Holiday Park.

I'm on the turf fields and they are flying by as I'm coaching nine-year-old girls, and they are flying by 30 miles an hour.

And then they will spin out, and and I'm sure Carl is has seen this.

They will spin out and rip up our turf fields, like the synthetic turf that is not easily replaced.

I don't know what the answer is, but it is a safety hazard.

It is a significant cost to the city.

We need to come up with a stronger action plan than what's been working so far.

And I don't know what that is, City Manager, but it's it's a I'll be sitting there coaching girls, and they will fly by within feet on the field.

And I yell at them.

Because it's uh Is this in Hardy Park?

This is at Holiday Park.

Holiday Park.

Holiday Park.

But uh I'm uh I haven't been on the fields at at Hardy Park in a little bit, but I'm sure Mayor, it's happening there too.

So I don't know what we need to do.

So I'm gonna ask our police chief.

I I know he's been tasked with looking at this.

If he could come and share a status update.

Good evening, Mayor, Vice Mayor, Commissioners Bill Schultz, police chief.

Uh yes, we have been, as you said, we've had an action plan.

I do agree, we're gonna have to do more.

Uh we is suspected, and it happened after the holidays, a number of e-bikes were gifts.

So there are a number more get uh bikes out there than even we anticipated originally.

Uh I know that we've been emailing with the director of parks.

Uh we need to expedite for sure getting signage up because that always helps with enforcement.

But it also helps with education.

Uh and I do uh what I'm gonna do too is work with our strategic communications division.

I think we need to do another round of public education regarding them.

Uh but I will state that when we were in Tallahassee this past visit, uh, I'm sure we both myself and the manager mentioned it to our lawmakers as well.

We need their assistance.

Uh the manufacturers, as we've discussed, have found some ways around regulations, and we need to work on that.

Thanks, Chief.

And I didn't hear that either that just if we could get an e-bike ordinance, because when I was out there, I was talking with the state legislatures about that, but I don't know where it stands now, maybe city attorney if you have something.

Yes, Commissioner, um I don't know what the status of the pending ordinance is.

Uh we will check on that.

But the the thought was that um because it prep it proposed to do many of the things that you sought to do that we also have to do in our own ordinance, that we would wait and see what the state would do as it would preempt us anyway.

But uh that's separate and aside from enforcement, which is a different issue.

Right.

But uh my hope is that the ordinance will allow for more rigid enforcement in areas that we might not do right now.

Well you say enforcement, are we saying we we don't want any e-bikes in Holiday Park?

They shouldn't correct.

There should not be e-bikes on the premises.

Yeah, there's certain areas where they are currently not uh allowed, they're prohibited.

So certainly that enforcement can take place.

But uh what we were talking about earlier is the manufacturers have been bypassing some of the current laws by placing pedals on bikes that should not have pedals on them.

They're too powerful, the pedals should not be an out for them.

Um but that's what we discussed when we were in Tallahassee, and certainly uh I've discussed it with both uh manager Williams and City Attorney.

Mayor May just to clarify, I I don't think we can preclude them from entering the park.

Yeah, we can't do that in totality.

We can preclude them from going on to certain areas of the park, so they should not be on the turf field.

Right ripping it up.

What's the status of where the state legislation is on on e-bikes?

That's what I asked.

She's city attorney's working on it.

Oh, commissioner is pending and we'll find out whether it's moving or not.

Okay, thank you.

I thought you were talking about hours, I'm sorry.

Let's back up for a second.

You what do you mean you we can't deny people access on e-bikes?

What happens if we decided not to allow any cars in Holiday Park?

We can do that.

We have the right to do that if we decide we don't want cars in certain areas.

It's our streets.

If we don't want e-bikes, there's nothing illegal or there's nothing that can prevent us from saying we don't want e-bikes in certain areas.

We don't allow scooters in certain areas.

When we had this when we allowed when we once had scooters, we had certain areas that they were prohibited from going on, like Las Solas Boulevard, they were not allowed to go there.

So I don't I don't I don't accept that.

I uh Sherry, I don't do you believe that we can't deny.

We can certainly restrict we could certainly restrict uh to bike paths in appropriate places um and limit access in certain areas.

Uh we would have to look whether we could expressly do that in in open parks.

And I think what we were hoping to do is to see what the state was doing as it preempts us anyway, and then go from there.

And if we could add on to that, restrict it um in in in location as well as uh enforcement.

Because even if we restrict it, mayor, they're going there anyway.

No, but the thing is if you if you say oh you're not allowed to go on the fields, you're already allowed you already opened the gate to let them come in.

And now and now you can't just go chasing them around.

I know the police department is not gonna go running the running them down.

So the enforcement is impossible.

Just like on the streets, you know, uh the the chief has said, oh, we're not gonna go chasing after these bike gangs on the streets because it's gonna be it's creates a danger for everybody.

Well, we're certainly not gonna do it in the park.

So enforcement is impossible.

But if you restrict access completely in the park, then at least you're ahead of the game and trying to enforce the uh the uh the rule of they're not allowing they're not going in and uh tearing up our fields.

At least you cut them off right at the beginning and enforcement's a lot easier.

But just to say, oh well you're just not allowed to go on the on the fields, that's gonna be impossible unless you had someone standing there.

And even if you did, if you had a police officer standing there 24-7, they're not gonna go chasing them.

Those bikes are fast.

So anyway, I I just think we're just it's a lot of talk unless we're gonna do something serious about it.

I think it might be helpful for the chief to clarify what the rules are now for electric bikes.

So and and you raise a very valid point, Mary.

It's it's very difficult to say where it's prohibited, where it's not prohibited.

Do we want to ban them from parks completely?

I would say absolutely not because there are legitimate uh users of e-bikes.

It's become a affordable transportation method.

I understand that.

But they but maybe they should park them at a certain part before they go in, and then you can walk the rest of the way.

I'm with you, Mayor.

I don't I don't think they should be allowed in parks.

Yeah.

I'm with you.

And that that I certainly can see, and I I know that we've discussed it previously myself and the parks director, because as with all new technologies, uh we catch up and we're at that point where we need to catch up.

You are right.

But yes, we could do that.

All right.

That's that's the action plan we should be working on.

You know, let's let's let's put a uh put a boundary where they where they're not allowed.

See, at least with scooters, we have these geo-fencing mechanisms, right?

Right.

We don't have that here.

Um right.

So um so I I mean I'd be in favor of just not just Holiday Park, but so many of these other parks.

You know, Mills Pond, we spent uh hundreds of thousands of dollars on those on those fields.

Uh same with Carter Park.

We've spent millions in Carter Park over the years.

You know, we don't want to see those torn up either.

They're next.

So mayor.

This the state statute limits um already what uh municipalities can do with regard to enforcement and location of use of e-bikes.

And so we can't prohibit them from pathways and sidewalks.

Uh it expressly talks about the areas where we cannot um prohibit them.

But then begs the question if you're blocking out a park, it has a pathway in it, and we've just now stopped them from utilizing a pathway in contravention of the state statute.

So this is something we're gonna have to look at to see and see if see if any of that legislation denies us the right to um uh denies us the right to restrict their access to the park, period, not just certain pathways, but to the park, period.

That's that's the question we need to answer.

We I think we have to be careful in how we craft that because uh the interpretation would be that you have restricted their access to a bike path by restricting their access to a park.

We will work on this to see what we can do to both restrict access and for enforcement.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you.

Thanks, Mary.

Thanks, Chief.

Appreciate it.

Carl, I know you've probably seen it.

I mean, we have these significant divots in our you know, um multimillion dollar turf fields.

Uh what are we how what's the cost of fixing that?

What what what's what are your thoughts on that?

Thanks.

So uh good evening, Commission Carl Williams Parks and Recreation Director.

You're you're absolutely right.

There are divids in them.

Um we've discussed uh a couple of divids in in the fields as well.

Um the the cost of them ranges anywhere from small but accessible depending on how significant these are throughout the the makeup of the actual field, um, which can go into the thousands of dollars if not more.

So um we certainly recognize that and um you know we've addressed a couple of them by putting up some signage, which I believe was helpful um to mitigate some of the issues at uh one of our other facilities.

But um we certainly can add some additional signage.

I mean, I am always cautious of sign pollution, but I know that sometimes that is necessary for enforcement, and so that's certainly how we can assist.

Twelve-year-olds cannot read a sign that says don't.

You're right.

And just you know, it's full for awareness and full transparency too.

I mean, it's also listed in our park rules now.

And I know on speaking with um Milos, I know that they were working on an ordinance internally as well.

So Sherry, if you can get back to us on that, I would appreciate it.

Yes, Mayor.

Thank you.

Yeah, thanks.

Thanks, Carl.

Appreciate it.

Um talking about parks and Vice Mayor, I'm just trying I I want to be just check in on this.

Is there anything is there anything prohibiting you from shaping park design of Lockhart Park right now?

I'm just well originally the uh I thought my my direction was to um settle the dispute and come back with a design that uh that that uh um that we would try to get inner Miami to build because we thought that they could build it cheaper than uh AECO, and that I thought was my direction.

But but not wanting to overstep my responsibility, I thought let me first propose a design based on direction that the Vice Mayor had uh directed us at the at that one meeting, saying he wanted to take away the pickleball courts.

I presented that to Inter Miami, and they were going to come back to us, which I would then present to the Commission, and then the Commission can make a decision where it wants to go with that.

That's all it was.

Wasn't trying to usurp anybody.

So if I can address your your question, Commissioner Sorensen.

So at that meeting, I proposed to the attorney that represents Inter Miami a suggestion, which seemed to have been endorsed by the Commission that we consider taking out the pickleball courts and using the space that would be freed up from that to create multi-purpose playing fields.

And so I had asked her to go back to her clients, and I had expected that I would then be engaged in a dialogue to do so.

Um I never received any follow-up related to that from her.

So that's where it seemed to have been sitting.

Nobody from the team or from Stephanie's office ever reached out to me following that initial direction to her.

Um I did hear from from uh Mr.

Smith, who represents the team down at the fort, that he didn't think that proposal was moving forward.

And so it seemed that it was dead, and that was the last that I heard of it.

So apparently nobody from Inter Miami seemed interested in having a conversation with me, and uh apparently um the mayor uh is still thinking that he is continuing the negotiation process under the previous authorization to handle negotiations with Inter Miami.

So when I when when when I I apologize if I could just finish that thought.

So when I brought up that that suggestion, it was a way to tie in the fact that we had abandoned multi-purpose playing fields for children in favor of surface parking, and this was a hail mary to try and get that back, giving up the adult pickleball course in exchange for something for kids, which is what I think parks at the end of the day really should be about is recreation for children, first and foremost.

Um, and hoping that would be well received by the owners from uh Miami, and was hoping and expecting that I would be engaged in a dialogue about what the community would like to see up there.

Okay.

I just have a question.

Does any of the design actually play into the negotiation part in terms of the settlement?

Or is that just separate or is there a is there a piece here that I'm missing?

I mean, when when all this is still happening right now in real time, is it connected to settlement discussion or I'll defer to the city attorney, but the settlement was done approved and agreed to, and uh I'll let her speak to that.

But well, I was not party to the settlement, but my understanding was at this juncture there was some implementation, so it related to the settlement.

In pursuit of in pursuit of fulfilling the settlement.

So let's let's let me see if I understand that.

So from the point where we agreed to certain financial stipulations, we are now going to have a long series of design conversations.

Um we're gonna be presented with 15, 30, 60, 90 percent design.

There is going to be a a long series of conversations.

Is all that still falling into what you would think is still negotiation and settlement conversations?

No, Vice Mayor, and I don't think that's what I what I'm saying.

My understanding is that at this juncture uh the mayor and and the uh entity are working uh to actually um move the settlement uh terms forward.

We we voted on the settlement.

Do the implementation of them and that the in the design of it so that it can come to you and you could finally close that matter.

I think that was part of what we approved was the design.

And then we're going to keep bringing back further iterations of the design because that's the normal process.

Well, no, that's not my understanding.

Okay.

There's always a conceptual design, right?

We had a conceptual design that was part of what was brought back to us.

There will be further refinements of the conceptual design.

Again, conceptual design, 15, 30, 60, 90 percent, full engineering journey.

So at what point do we stop?

At what where is where's the line?

Well, when you finally determine your plan, uh Vice Mayor.

And it will come back to you for your review, is my understanding.

So let me back up then.

When we were doing our original design on this, we voted at each one of those iterations on our original design of the park.

We voted the 30 percent, we voted the 60 percent, we voted at 90 percent design.

Are you asking whether that is coming back to you for review?

Are you asking whether this is continuing for some reason?

And uh Vice Mayor, um, my understanding of what is happening now, and I understand your frustrations that you were involved in it, is that uh the team was pursuing the implementation of the settlement.

And so I think that there's some uh there's some concern over the interpretation of where where that where the the pursuit of uh uh implementing the settlement uh ends and some other action begins.

And I think that's where the convention is.

But my point is we will vote at every one of those stages up until shovel hits the ground.

We're gonna vote on 30 percent, 60 percent, 90 percent, as we did last time.

Right.

So through every one of those stages for the next 18 months as we design and move through this process, because that's what it took last time.

Am I to understand it's your opinion that that's all still part of this the negotiation settlement process.

Just so I'm clear.

Not not the negotiation uh vice mayor.

The implementation of the settlement.

Yes, the implementation.

Okay, so for the next year and a half, it's not the next year and a half.

18 months as we go through design.

No.

In fact, uh what we had discussed was that we hope to have a shovel in the ground before the end of the year.

So we're gonna try to accelerate the process, and we're gonna begin that process next month when we begin the when we show the 30 percent design, and uh and then the commission will will begin the process.

I don't understand why this is uh causing so much uh agita.

This is because when we went through the design process last time, it took in excess of between 12 and 18 months, and we as a commission voted at each stage of the design process.

Well, that's why I'm pushing it so that it doesn't take that long.

I just want to ask you.

I think that I think that it is more final than you're fearing that it is.

Um I I think you you're believing that it is going to come back to you again over the course of 18 months or so, and I do.

Which it did last time.

But I don't understand that that's where we are with this, where I what I understand is that in implementing the settlement, which was resolved, that they uh got together to determine how to implement it with the refinement of the final settlement and the site plan.

So there were some changes made to it.

It changes at every stage of the design.

Good 30 percent doesn't look like 60 percent, doesn't look like 90 percent.

Every one of those is different.

As we refine this as we go through the process, every one of those is different, inherently so.

May I jump in for a moment?

Sure, Vice Mayor.

So what we have been attempting to do for the past several months since the settlement agreement was agreed upon is work with the developer on a second amendment to the comprehensive agreement that would dictate the site plan to include various improvements at the park.

Uh I'm gonna ask Ben Rogers to come forward just to share a little bit more.

So I guess I want to know what else is changing now with it.

Is the community center changing?

Is the dog park changing?

Is the open playing field, the the passive field changing?

Like what else is changing?

So there's a a list of community site improvements uh that were included as part of the settlement agreement that are to be included in the second amendment to the comprehensive agreement.

What was requested uh by the commission is to look at the parking, look at the pickleball, look at how we can have those multi-purpose athletic fields.

And so that's the discussion that that's the discussion point we're at now to have a conceptual design that would come back before the commission for consideration to then be included as part of that second amendment to the comprehensive agreement as stipulated by the settlement agreement.

And Ben Rogers, if I miss anything, please let me know.

No, that's correct.

I give up.

So I think two things can happen at once.

You know what?

I don't care anymore.

Really?

I don't care.

Don't worry about it.

Okay.

Well, I think two things can happen at once.

I think the mayor can continue working in implementing the settlement agreement, and the district commissioner can work with Inter Miami on design aspects and preferences and feedback and guidance.

Both those things can happen.

Absolutely.

Good.

Okay.

Fantastic.

Okay.

So at the uh one of the March meetings, we will bring back the latest result of the uh of the effort to move this forward, and uh the commission can make a decision how to proceed from that point forward.

Yeah, that sounds excellent.

Okay.

All right.

Thank you.

That sounds good.

Um, just wrapping up my uh report.

Um met with Hispanic Unity uh CEO Felipe Pinzon, which was great.

Just exploring ways to continue to partner between Hispanic Unity and the City.

Um went to the Las Alas Association at their annual meeting, which uh was great, a lot of excitement about uh the direction of our downtown, which was excellent.

And uh again, thank you all staff for a great neighborhood support night.

That was fantastic.

Raquel, thank you for your continued leadership.

Can I sh steering the ship of the city?

You're doing fantastic.

Staff's doing an excellent job.

Um really appreciate it.

I thought it was a great turnout.

And it's also today's the lunar new year and the first night of Ramadan for those celebrating, so I want to lift that up.

Mayor, all yours.

Well, we didn't do a good job in fasting, I'll tell you that.

Yes, we did not.

All right, thank you so much.

Um just a couple of things.

Uh I thought uh Raquel, you and your staff did a great job with this neighbor's support, and I I think uh you really up the ante there.

And uh was especially nice with the Vin uh the the I guess you call them vignettes that uh each department had a nice setting, and you know, you really felt like you were entering a a different world every time you went into a different uh area, whether it be public works, whether it be uh DSD, everything looked really, really great and a lot of excitement and uh I thought it was uh really well done.

So thank you for for your efforts in putting that together.

Um also on the 14th, I attended the Fort Lauderdale Firefighters Remembrance Ceremony.

We do the same with the police department, but uh um too often I I think I don't I think this is the first time I've ever done it with the firefighters, and uh um I really uh appreciate being asked to participate in that and it was really a very uh moving ceremony recognizing those firemen who uh who uh lost their lives in the line of service here in the city of Fort Lauderdale.

So uh so on the 19th we have a groundbreaking at Bass Park, and uh that's at 10 a.m.

So everyone is welcome to participate in that.

Also that day, uh it's gonna be a busy day for me.

Uh Chamber of Commerce is having its annual meeting, it's luncheon at 11 a 11 30 a.m.

at Hard Rock.

Um do we have I think we have a table for that?

Is that correct?

I I believe that's correct.

Okay.

Um so uh wanted to pay tribute to the chamber and also hear their update on uh efforts that they've made throughout the year and bringing business to the community.

Uh on February 26th, the MPO is having a safe streets summit.

It starts at 8 30 a.m.

at the Broward County Convention Center.

Everyone's invited to attend.

And then on February 28th is the Cis Trunk Parade and Festival.

Uh I think the uh the step off is uh at 8 30 that morning.

Um and so everyone is welcome to attend and participate.

Looking forward to that.

Hopefully uh the weather holds up and uh really it's always an exciting time.

What's that?

It's usually cold.

It's usually cold, I know.

Um couple things.

So somehow Fort Lauderdale is now number one spring break destination in in all the internet uh chatter that I've been uh that's been forwarded to me.

So as we look forward to uh hosting um the college kids that come to Fort Lauderdale.

Um I just want to I know this the police department and the fire department have collectively been working together to ensure that we provide a safe environment for the uh the folks that come to visit here.

Um when they leave here, I want them to have a positive experience with our city.

So I ask all of our neighbors and friends to welcome our spring break visitors and to uh make them feel at home and to know that they have a home here should once they graduate and want looking for a place to start a career or start a family, uh Fort Lauderdale is a place to come.

Um another issue I'd like to bring up, which is gonna be uh something we can discuss at a later time, but um the walk of fame.

Now, the walk of fame, we're going to hear a report in some future meeting uh recommending four individuals to be recognized in our walk of fame.

But folks are running out of sidewalk, and um we should consider reducing the honorees from four to two, not this time around, but in the future.

Something to think about.

I just put it out there because like I said, you know, you keep extending it.

You know, we already have a lengthy uh um uh number of of feats that uh that where we've recognized people and we have a lot of stars, maybe fifty or sixty.

Um just thinking ahead, you know.

Um can we still can we still accommodate four people every year, or should we reduce it to three or to two?

Something to think about as we go down the road.

All right.

Uh but don't worry, Commissioner, there'll be a room for you.

Where the sidewalk ends.

She'll stay great.

We got the way we're the way places for you.

Anyway, we'll commemorate it.

Uh city manager, your report.

Just on the walk of fame only because I I don't know the process.

Uh is that currently.

Okay.

And as a committee that's gonna recommend to uh they're gonna be asked to be on the on the agenda, and we vote for the four people that they recommend.

I'm not sure where that is right now.

Who's and so at that point will the commission recommend reducing the number for the next round?

I'm I'm asking the commission to think about it.

I would like it at that time to do it, but you know, maybe the commission doesn't want to.

I agree.

I think one or two.

One or two.

Two max.

Two max.

That's the city's citizens' recognition committee, isn't it?

Yeah.

Yeah.

What do you have to say about this?

When are you bringing it up?

Good evening once again.

Uh I just wanted to just mention that yes, you're right.

There are four uh candidates, and it's gonna be coming, I believe, on the uh second meeting in March.

Second meeting in March, okay.

Yeah.

And they're all worthy recipients.

I think everyone, I saw the preliminary nominations, that they're all great people.

Uh but you know, that's why I don't want I I don't recommend that we do it this year this time, but in the future we should, you know, reduce it to a couple every year.

And uh and and I I think we're we're uh we I think that makes the most sense going forward.

Right.

All right.

Um anything further.

Not on the walk of fame.

No, no, but I'm saying in your report.

Oh, sure.

So I want to take a moment to also acknowledge neighbor support.

They did a fantastic job, and they were a little short staffed during that time period, so I think uh they did a phenomenal job with pulling it all together.

So thank you for your support.

Uh the theme was City of Champions, and I thought everyone did a great job being creative.

And I think that extends that champion concept extends to a wonderful team that on Friday last week dealt with a major water main break in our city that impacted so many.

And I want to highlight the members of the team who worked to resolve that issue, both in utility services, in our fire rescue department, and strategic communications.

So if you'll indulge me, I just want to call their names.

Jason Walker, Jamar Wilkerson, Emilio George Jr., Andrew Wells, Leonard Robinson, Andre Brown, Paul Brown, Lonnie Johnson, Roy Jones, Charlie Williams, Patrick Anderson, Kevin Hutchinson, Kevin Richburg, Willie Little, Judge Lucas, Jack Bermudez, Artie Johnson, Darius Eubank, Lucian St.

Fleur, Mahabir, Ram Nash, Ramnaras, Arshad Gaffer, Herbert Stanley, Thomas Williams, Jayla Williams, Christina Nunez, Mariah Callier, Albert Carbon, Chief Steve Golan, Assistant Chief St.

Floor, Deputy Chief Fraser, Ben Rogers, Brad Cain, Kevin Polito, Ashley Desard, and I'm sure I may be missing a few.

So I just want to thank all the members of the team who that day had to drop everything to address that issue.

We had a uh a gas line break.

It was just a series of unfortunate events on Friday the 13th.

And so we're we're hoping that we don't have any more Friday the 13th that look like that.

I also want to share that I'll be at the cis drunk parade.

I'm reprising my role as a judge.

I've been asked by the committee to serve in that capacity, so I'm very excited about that.

Uh today we submitted a response to Broward County regarding the New River Crossing Tunnel Initiative.

Uh as you may recall, our deadline was February 13th.

But due to everything that was happening in the city that day, the county uh allowed us to submit today instead.

I want to highlight Susan Leon.

She is retiring from the city of Fort Lauderdale.

She has served as our chief education officer since 2024.

And we're very grateful for her contributions and her leadership.

And so we just want to acknowledge her and all the things that she's done to make our city better in terms of education.

Is she going to another position?

She's retiring.

She's retiring.

Yes.

She I believe this will be her second retirement.

She's going out on top mayor.

No better.

No better city be part of.

Right.

As far as spring break is concerned, our public safety professionals are fine-tuning the operational plan.

There is a press conference planned for this Friday, and you all have been invited to attend.

And I got an opportunity to learn from them to listen to their concerns.

So there's certain things that I'm going to be bringing forward to the commission as a result.

And of course, the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, they shared their concerns today.

It was great to hear from them, and I think they appreciated my contribution to the conversation.

So thanks again.

Should there be any additional work required as a result of the phase two report?

That can happen while public safety personnel are in the building.

We can isolate the areas that might need additional work.

Has the TCO been as well.

We have a partial certificate of occupancy.

So a PCO.

TCO.

We have a P partial.

I'll let Anthony explain why there's a P.

You make this up as you go along.

Good evening.

Acronyms, it's all good.

Anthony Farhardor again.

The reason we can't occupy the whole thing is because we still have work going on by the community center and some of the emergency exits.

So that portion of the building we cannot occupy, hence partial.

So is so are people working there now?

There are people in the building now.

Oh, okay.

All right.

Okay, good.

Demolition seems to be coming along very well.

Demolition seems to be going very well.

It's a little over 35% done.

And uh there was some concerns the proximity of the demo next to the new parts of the building.

There was no damage.

No problem.

Great.

Good news.

Thank you.

Thanks for your work, Anthony.

You're welcome.

Mayor, I'm sorry.

Um that just triggered a conversation I just thought about.

Um, in regards to um our headquarters, and um we celebrating 250 years as um a country.

I'm suggesting that we do a time capsule at our new um headquarters that would highlight um and celebrate um the 250 years.

Who we are in 26 2026 here in the city of Fort Lauderdale.

So in 250 years from now.

No, no, no, no.

50 years.

We can open it in 50 years.

50 years.

I'll be still here.

I don't know about the rest of you all, but I've still got a lot of people.

I think a time capsule would be great.

Sure.

Do it.

Okay.

Didn't we do a time capsule in one of the development processes?

Yes, um, we did one at Adderley.

No, not Da Adelaide.

Yeah, our Canadian.

Arcadian.

Yeah, we did one at the Academy.

Yeah, time capsule there, yeah.

But I think it would be a good idea if we do that.

Um we're opening um, this is a great year to be opening our new headquarters and we can um celebrate in that manner.

So we'll we'll follow up with information about a ribbon cutting ceremony.

Um we know that we won't be able to utilize the community room for uh commission meetings until a little bit later.

May I think you said I I had always said spring.

It's probably gonna be closer to June, Mayor.

Well, well, spring spring goes till June 21st.

So God, what's taking you guys so long to build a parking lot?

Yeah, all right.

Do your best.

I just you know, it would help save us some money.

All right.

That concludes my report.

Okay, great.

Thank you, Anthony.

Um Sherry, do you have any report tonight?

Yes, Mayor, I'd like to request a close to our session pursuant to Florida statute, section 286-0118A.

Uh I'm seeking advice on the three Fort Lauderdale versus FDOT matters, uh case number uh in the Fourth District Court of Appeal 4D 2025-2783.

The matter at DOA case number 2504856 R U.

And the other matter in the Fourth District Court of Appeal, case number 4D 2026-2 uh-0271.

Um I would like this at the March 3rd uh commission meeting.

Present will be all of you, manager Williams, myself, Assistant City Attorney Sean Amarnani, and outside counsel Howard Dubassar and Jeremy Rosner, and of course the court reporter.

Uh I I would estimate 15 minutes per matter, maybe less than an hour.

Okay, great.

All right.

Anything further?

Okay.

Anything further from the commission?

Meeting is concluded.

Thank you, everybody.