Fort Lauderdale City Commission Meeting - April 7, 2026: Proclamations, Dock Denial, Charter Revision Decisions
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This April 7th, 2026.
Shh.
Thank you for all for being here.
Um sorry we got uh started a little bit late, and I appreciate your patience.
Uh the afternoon meeting went uh a little longer than we expected.
Um so for those of you who are here for the first time, we want to thank you for being here.
And uh we start out our meetings with the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence, and then we go into various announcements.
So if I could please ask you all to please rise and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.
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, justice for all.
Thank you.
Please be seated.
So this has been a rather um difficult week for many members of our community.
Um three people have passed away.
Uh we have uh Tom Chancy, who was the landscape architect and founder of the nonprofit Tree Bank.
We have Richard Rodriguez, who is the former chair of the Riverwalk Board of Directors, and tragically, of course, um former uh Vice Mayor Nancy Mateur of the City of Coral Springs.
So if you could please join me in a moment of silence in remembrance of them.
Thank you.
At this time, I also want to take uh point of special privilege to be able to announce some retirements here in our city.
We have five people who have served uh 20 years or more in uh in our in our city, and I want to thank them for their service first with Kenrich John, police officer with our department for 20 years.
Thank you so much for your service.
We have Jeffrey Fogg, uh firefighter paramedic firefighter paramedic with our fire rescue department, 28 years.
Thank you for your service.
Joshua Wells, captain with fire rescue, 28 years.
Congratulations.
Gregory Snyder, driver engineer, fire rescue, 32 years.
Wow.
Congratulations.
And Antonio Yan, captain with Fire Rescue, been with us 32 years.
Wow, thank you so much for your service.
They were here at the height of spring break.
Anyway, uh, if you were here this afternoon, you would understand that joke.
Anyway, so um it's really great.
Uh unfortunately, we lost uh four people in fire rescue, so get to work recruit, recruit, recruit.
Okay.
Um Mr.
Clerk, could you please call the roll?
Vice Mayor Herbst.
Commissioner Glossman.
Here.
Commissioner Beasley Pittman.
Here.
Commissioner Sorensen.
Here.
Mayor Trentals.
Yes, here.
Uh a couple of agenda announcements.
First of all, M2, we are removing from the agenda.
Uh that's concerning um uh the the Jacob Engineering contract.
And then uh aside from that, do I hear a motion to approve the minutes and the agenda as amended?
Moved to second.
Be moved and seconded.
Please call the roll.
Commissioner Sorensen.
Yes.
Vice Mayor Herbst.
Yes.
Commissioner Glossman.
Yes.
Commissioner Beasley Pittman.
Yes.
Mayor Trentals.
Yes.
And those minutes and the agenda as amended are now approved.
So we take a pause now before we begin uh voting on matters and discussing on matters on the agenda to recognize uh people, uh, events uh or certain uh months that uh are important for the city of Fort Lauderdale and the community that we represent and recognizing uh special the special month that April is.
And I'd like to begin by asking Commissioner Sorensen, who has the first presentation, to approach the podium.
And I'm asking Carrie Ann Brown from the Guardian Ed Lightham office to please join him regarding National Child Abuse Prevention Month.
Thank you, Mayor.
Thank you, Carrie Ann for being here.
It's wonderful being with you celebrating this together and for your 13 years of work at uh Guardian Enlightenment, just the great work you've done.
It's been a privilege being a small part of that and part of your team uh and um honored to celebrate this with our proclamation and then love to hear from you and also we were talking about some of the volunteer opportunities that could be available to the public and city staff members, so love to hear a little bit about that.
And also, we were talking about some of the volunteer opportunities that could be available to the public and city staff members, so love to hear a little bit about that.
So this is in recognition of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, whereas Florida's future is shaped by children.
We nurture today, and every child deserves to grow up in a safe, healthy, and loving environment, free from abuse, neglect, and trauma.
And whereas when even one child suffers, the impact extends beyond the individual and their family to the entire community, reinforcing the shared responsibility to protect, uplift, and support all children so they may thrive.
Whereas a National Abuse Prevention Month encourages all Floridians to strengthen families and communities so children can grow up and flourish.
Additionally, during the week of April 19th through April 25th, National Volunteer Week recognizes volunteers whose time, compassion, and service are essential to advancing efforts to support vulnerable children.
And whereas the mission of protecting children and strengthening families is advanced by the Florida Guardian Adlightum Office, Circuit 17 serving Broward County, which provides advocacy for abused, abandoned, and neglected children.
And whereas the effectiveness of the Florida Guardian Adlightham Office is demonstrated by significant outcomes, including full legal representation for 100% of children for the first time in Florida's history, a 97% appellate success rate in the dedication of more than 8,000 volunteers statewide who contributed over 194,000 hours of service and traveled over a million miles to support children.
And whereas when child abuse prevention efforts are supported through strong partnerships among families, schools, service providers, law enforcement, faith groups, businesses, and local leaders, we create a culture of care and accountability that protects children and empowers family.
Now, therefore, we as city commissioners of the city of Fort Lauderio proclaim April 2026 as National Child Abuse Prevention Month, dated this day, the seventh day of April 2026, signed your mayor Dean J.
Trantellus.
Thank you for holding back on your time.
Good evening, everyone.
Mayor Trantellus, Commissioners, I want to thank you for giving us this opportunity and for recognizing in the city of Fort Lauderdale as Child Abuse Prevention Month.
And also I want to extend it's also Volunteer Appreciation Week that's coming up.
And for those of you whether you volunteer with our organization or any organization, I want to say thank you.
So I don't know if there are any volunteers here in the room.
That's a guardian.
No.
All right.
For those of you who may be looking on at home.
There is no future volunteer.
You are a couple.
Come on.
Get on up.
Come on up.
Thank you.
Anyone else?
Anyone else?
Okay.
So as she takes her time to be here, I just want to extend also for those of you that are watching that are at home.
Um, thank you for what you do and what you do for our children.
And so I want to take this opportunity to personally thank you for all the hard work.
I know it's not easy.
You run through every emotion that you can possibly imagine, but at the end of the day, you can say tell them what it is at the end of the day.
It's for the children.
Yes.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
All right.
So before I go, shameless PSC, um, you can go to our website, WW GuardianAdlightum.org to learn more.
And I just want to share with you if an if you're an attorney, there are pro bona opportunities at our office.
You can give your time, you can volunteer in a case, you can become a mentor.
And for those of you that are in the community wondering how you can give back, you can also volunteer with us.
And we also have mentor opportunities and a state.
It's now law that our kids that are aging out of care from 16 onwards, um, should be assigned a mentor.
So the mentors are really critical because our kids are getting ready to leave foster care and to enter into the world of the unknown, is what I would call it sometimes in lab.
But if you remember yourself when you were growing up, you um had some of us had our parents or grandparents, a family friend, a neighbor who was our mentor, maybe even a coach.
So if you have the time, please give it back to our youth so that they can become their best possible selves when they do leave the system of care.
So for those of you, again, if you're interested, please go to our website, garden at lightum.org, and uh come and listen to one of our information sessions.
We just so happen to have one tomorrow at 12 noon and the next one at 6 p.m.
And they're all via Zoom.
Look how convenient we make it for you.
So please give back our children and our youth, they do need us.
And so I would leave you with this.
If not you, then who thank you.
I'm gonna take a picture of Carrianne.
Oh, we lost our step and repeat uh background.
Collateral there.
I guess I have to be in this picture now.
Thank you.
Absolutely.
Thank you so much, Carrie Ann.
Uh now I'd like to invite Commissioner Pam Beasley Pittman, who will be presenting a proclamation regarding uh World Landscape Architecture Month here in the City of Fort Lauderdale, and I'd like to invite uh Jordan Chang, who's the Brower Chair of the American Society of Landscape Architects Florida chapter to come to the podium.
How are you doing?
Good evening, everyone.
I am honored to present this proclamation from the Office of the Mayor of the City of Fort Lauderdale.
Proclamation in recognition of World Landscape Architecture Month, whereas landscape architecture includes the planning, designing, and stewardship of both natural and built environments, transforming visions into action to create places that are healthy, safe, and thriving.
And whereas Wednesday, April 1st, 2026 is recognized as professional landscape architecture day, excuse me, celebrating licensed professionals who use their expertise and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to enhance the quality of life in the city of Fort Lauderdale, while helping address challenges such as sea level rise, climate change, biodiversity loss, and urban resilience through thoughtful innovation and leadership.
And whereas, as the 250th anniversary of the United States, we recognize that landscape architect has long shaped and continue to steward the American landscape, creating an enduring places that reflect our shared values and preserve our cultural heritage.
And whereas the City of Fort Lauderdale recognize the essential role of landscape architects in advancing equitable and climate resistant infrastructure, designing parks, greenways, and waterfront spaces that strengthen the community's identity and also environmental health while reducing the financial burning of disaster recovery.
And whereas landscape architects plan and design communities, master plans, walkable neighborhoods, multimobile transportation networks, green stormwater infrastructure, an accessible public space, including plazas, parks, schools, residential common areas, playgrounds, and trails that include active lifestyles and healthy living for Fort Lauderdale neighbors and visitors.
Whereas the City of Fort Lauderdale celebrates landscape architects who designs and attract residents, businesses, and visitors by creating safe, sustainable, and welcoming public places and also those private spaces.
And whereas the City of Fort Lauderdale commends Fort Florida International University and the University of Florida for their credible landscape architecture programs, which inspire and prepares the next generation of leaders and innovators to advance the profession and contribute to the future of the city's landscape.
Now, therefore, we as the city commissioners of the City of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, do hereby proclaim April 2026 as World Landscape Architecture Month here in the City of Fort Lauderdale.
Dated this the seventh day of April 2026, signed by our mayor, Dean Trantellis.
Would you like to share anything with us?
Thank you so much for the proclamation, and thank you also for the acknowledgement of landscape architect, Mr.
Tom Chancy.
So thank you so much for that.
Oh, sorry.
For those of you who may not know, landscape architecture is a design profession focused on outdoor spaces and places that we all enjoy and inhabit on a day-to-day basis.
The projects that we work on can range from a residential yard to a residential community, from a neighborhood park to a theme park, resorts, campuses, stormwater management plans.
The work of landscape architects is diverse and varied, but it all shares a commitment to the public health, safety, and well-being, the shaping of communities, and bringing people and nature together.
Thank you so much for the proclamation.
We're going to go ahead and who's the guy with the President.
Thank you so much.
I invite Commissioner Stephen Glassman to present a proclamation regarding Water Conservation Month.
And I'd like to invite uh uh Talal Abi Karam to our assistant director of utility services department and Julio Yeheda, External Affairs Specialist from the South Florida Water Management District, to please join us at the podium.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mayor.
I'm very proud to present this proclamation from the Office of the Mayor, City of Fort Lauderdale, in recognition of Water Conservation Month, April 2026.
Whereas, water is a basic and essential need of every living creature, and whereas the state of Florida Water Management Districts, Broward County, and the City of Fort Lauderdale work collaboratively to increase awareness about the importance of water conservation and recognize April as Water Conservation Month, a typically dry period when water demands are highest.
And whereas the City of Fort Lauderdale encourages and supports water conservation by engaging residents, businesses, and community partners through educational initiatives, including Water Matters Day, the Conservation Pays Program, Naturscape, and the Wyland National Mayor's Challenge for Water Conservation.
And whereas approximately 40 million gallons of water are used daily in Fort Lauderdale, underscoring the importance of responsible water use.
And whereas choosing Energy Star labeled appliances and water sense fixtures in homes, yards, and businesses can help save water and protect the environment.
And whereas the average family can save 13,000 gallons of water and 140 dollars in annual water costs by replacing inefficient toilets with water sense labeled models, which may be eligible for a 125 dollar rebate through the conservation pays program.
And whereas every business, industry, school, and resident plays a vital role in adopting water saving practices to support the environment and a strong local economy for generations to come.
Now, therefore, we, as City Commissioners of the City of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to hereby proclaim April 2026 as Water Conservation Month in the City of Fort Lauderdale, and encourage every resident, business, and institution to join us in a year-round commitment to safeguarding our water resources, ensuring a sustainable future for Fort Lauderdale.
Dated this the seventh day of April, 2026, and signed by our mayor, the Honorable Dean Jay Trentalis.
Thank you.
I do want to take two words.
Thank you, Commissioner.
Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Commissioner, on behalf of our staff at Utility Service, we thank you for this proclamation.
A few words about water and water conservation.
When I moved to South Florida in 1994, it was click quickly clear to me the following four facts.
Number one, water is an important economic engine for our economy, urban development, job, and tourism.
Number two, water resources in South Florida is a regional issue and is not a local one.
Water resource problems are complex and costly.
And solution requires the collaboration of all stakeholders, including cities, county, the South Florida Water Management District, Army Corps Engineer, DEP, EPA, Engineers, Scientists, Academia, and Conservation Group, and you, the public.
Water in this area is also finite resource and subject to stressor, including extreme weather events, climate change, and emerging contaminants.
For those all the above reason, water is precious.
We must conserve it.
We must protect it, and we must protect its quality, whether it is in the aquifer, in canals, in rivers, the Everglade, or at your faucet.
As the proclamation indicates, the city participate and encourage all residents to benefit from a range of conservation program.
However, perhaps the city's biggest commitment to water conservation lies in the following three initiatives.
A $60 million AMI program that aim at replacing 65,000 meters with smart meters.
Those smart meters will allow residents to monitor their water consumption and will allow residents to discover leaks early, thus conserving water.
The city also have an ordinance on the book, ordering section 28 1B titled Water Conservation, which also limit the irrigation to two days per week, depending on your address.
And of course, the recent initiative with the city creating the chief waterway officer aim at improving water quality in the canals.
Let's like to take a minute to thank our staff, the folks who cannot make your water, the chef in the kitchen, so to speak, those silent dedicated staff work 24-7 behind secure fences at secured plant, making sure that our plants are running, our motors are humming, our pumps are pumping, and your faucet is flowing.
It includes the following folks, job category.
Treatment manager, plant manager, plant operator, mechanics, electrician, electromech, electrotechnician, scada technician, process control engineer, laboratory chemist, laboratory water control folks, and of course our well field staff who maintain our well fields, those folks you don't get to see.
You see our crews day in and day out, but those folks are hidden behind wall.
And of course, those are supported by buyers, inventory specialists, administrative and financial support.
Finally, we can't do what we do without the support of you, the public who embrace water conservation program and without the support of the city commission.
So, mayor, vice mayor, commissioner, we thank you for your support.
Thank you.
Abby, it's a good thing this wasn't the Academy Awards.
Okay.
Wow.
Abby, you can talk all you want.
Thank you.
Our last presentation is one that I'll be able to present.
And uh I'd like to invite our urban forester, Laura Tooley, to please join me at the podium as we declare April 24th, 2026 as Arbor Day in the City of Fort Lauderdale.
Other members of the Fort Lauderdale Garden Club here as well.
Please join me at the podium.
So tonight, from the office of the mayor of the City of Fort Lauderdale, a proclamation recognition of Arbor Day.
Whereas Arbor Day has been observed throughout the United States for more than a hundred and fifty years, emphasizing the importance of conservation efforts.
Trees contribute to a more sustainable environment by producing oxygen, cooling urban areas, improving water quality, and reducing stormwater impacts.
Trees play a crucial role in building healthier, safer, and more connected communities by providing shade and cooling cities by up to 10 degrees, helping reduce heat-related illnesses and deaths in urban areas and Las Olas Boulevard.
Oh, I'm sorry.
Trees provide essential habitats for it doesn't say that, by the way.
Trees provide essential habitats for native migratory birds, butterflies, and other wildlife, contributing to Fort Lauderdale's recognition as a certified community wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Association Federation.
The City of Fort Lauderdale has also set a goal to increase tree canopy coverage up to 33% by 2040, as outlined in the advanced Fort Lauderdale Comprehensive Plan and has prioritized tree canopy coverage as a key sustainability metric in its 2029 press play strategic plan.
In support of this goal, the City Commission accepted the Urban Forestry Master Plan in January of this year, providing strategic actions to expand and sustain the city's tree canopy.
These ongoing efforts have earned Fort Lauderdale recognition as a Tree City USA partner by the Arbor Day Foundation for 47 consecutive years, reflecting the city's long-standing commitment to urban forestry.
Finally, in recognition of Arbor Day, the City of Fort Lauderdale will host and support a series of community events and activities from April 19th through April 25th of this year, encouraging residents, businesses, and schools to participate in tree plantings and environmental stewardship efforts throughout the city.
Now therefore, we as the city commissioners of the City of Fort Lauderdale do proclaim the upcoming April 24, 2026 as Arbor Day here in the city of Fort Lauderdale, and encourage all residents to observe Arbor Day by planting a tree to preserve and enhance our community's national natural beauty and environmental health.
Dated today, April 7, 2026, signed by myself, Mayor Dean Trantalis.
Congratulations.
Thank you.
Thanks so much.
You want to share a few words with us?
Mayor, Commissioners, thank you so much for the proclamation.
On behalf of the sustainability team, we work very hard to promote urban forestry in the city, and uh we've been promoting a lot of uh civic association tree giveaways and doing a lot of things in the past year.
We'll be approaching our applying next year for our 48th year as a Tree City USA.
Um and we have a lot of dedicated partners and volunteers that in the parks department that maintains our urban forests as well as within the community uh planting trees in their backyards.
Uh I'm really excited to uh about an upcoming program we're doing with the housing authority to plant trees on their property uh and provide uh a source of sustenance for them.
Uh and I really appreciate uh the recognition.
Thank you.
Great, thank you.
Ben, Carl, Dr.
Gassman, okay, on with the show.
Okay, on with the show.
Here we go.
We start with our agenda.
We start with the uh um what's called the consent agenda items.
Um the consent agenda items are ones that the commission votes on uh together, and uh but this is an opportunity for any member of the commission to pull uh a specific item if they'd like to discuss it and vote on it separately.
So I will ask the commissioner if they have any items they wish to pull.
Uh Vice Mayor, do you have any items you wish to pull?
None.
Commissioner Beasley Pittman.
None.
I have none.
None.
Commissioner Glassman, none.
Commissioner Swanson?
None, none.
Okay.
A lot of nuns here.
Okay.
So uh do I hear a motion to approve all the consent agenda items?
So moved.
Do I hear second second?
Move and seconded.
Now no one is signed up to speak on any consent agenda items, so uh please call the roll.
Commission Commissioner Sorensen.
Yes.
Vice Mayor Herbst?
Yes.
Commissioner Glossman?
Yes.
Commissioner Beasley Pittman.
Yes.
Mayor Trentals.
Yes.
And so all those items have been approved.
If uh any of you are here on those items, uh your your uh item has been approved by the commission.
You're welcome to stay for the rest of the meeting.
Uh moving on to motions.
M1.
This is a motion approving the first amendment to the revocable license agreement with Midtown PAL Flagler Village LLC for temporary right-of-way closure on uh Sisterung Boulevard and Northeast Fourth Avenue in the associ in association with Advantage Station Development to extend the term of the agreement.
Um Mr.
Schein's here just for questions.
Where's Mr.
Schein?
Oh, there you are.
Um anyone have any questions with regard to this item?
There being none.
Someone would like to please move the item.
So move.
Second.
Move and seconded.
Please call the roll.
Commissioner Sorensen.
Yes.
Vice Mayor Herbst?
Yes.
Commissioner Glossman.
Yes.
Commissioner Beasley Pittman.
Did you want to read the didn't you have don't you have to read it?
Which one are you referring to?
For motion one, M1?
No.
You don't have to read it?
No, just first and second.
Okay.
Commissioner Beasley Pittman?
Yes.
Mayor Trent Halls.
Yes.
M1's now approved.
M2 has been removed from the agenda.
Moving on to R1, appointment of board and committee members.
Mr.
Clerk, please uh read the names into the record.
Thank you, Mayor.
For tonight's resolution.
Board of Adjustment.
Robert Wolf nominated by Vice Mayor Herbst.
Douglas Mead nominated by Vice Mayor Herbst.
Cemetery System Board of Trustees.
Barbara Larson, nominated by Vice Mayor Herbst.
Economic Development Advice Board, David Lang, nominated by Commissioner Glassman.
Education Advisory Board, Kaya Vance, nominated by Commissioner Beasley Pittman.
Brian Bender, nominated by Commissioner Sorensen.
Fire rescue facilities bond issue blue ribbon committee.
Bruce Anger, nominated by Commissioner Sorensen.
Northwest Progressive Flagler Heights Redevelopment Board, John Quayley, nominated by Vice Mayor Herbst.
Loxby Lawani, nominated by Commissioner Glossman.
Noelle Edwards, nominated by Commissioner Beasley Pittman.
Parks and Recreation Beaches Board.
Sustainability Advisory Board.
And the Wastewater Large Users Advisory Board, Vice Mayor Herbst.
And that rounds it up.
Okay.
Are there any additions or modifications?
Okay, there being none.
Would someone like to introduce a resolution?
Introduced.
Resolution's been introduced.
Please call the roll.
A resolution of the 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 to made a part here of Commissioner Sorensen.
Yes.
Vice Mayor Herbst?
Yes.
Commissioner Glossman?
Yes.
Commissioner Beasley Pittman?
Yes.
Mayor Trentals.
Yes.
And those uh those individuals are now um appointed to those boarding committees, and we appreciate your commitment and uh volunteerism to the city.
R2, this is a resolution providing notice of intent to enter into a comprehensive agreement for a qualifying project for the design and installation financing operation and maintenance of a citywide interactive digital kiosk program, accepting unsolicited proposal from I uh IKE Smart City and notice of intent to accept other proposals for the same project.
Um person sign up to speak only for questions.
Does anyone have any questions?
I have a comment.
Um who's gonna make the decision as to where these go?
Because I'd hate to see 20 of these on A1A.
We don't want to litter this the beach with you know kiosk.
I think kiosks are really great.
I see them in other cities.
Um they used indoors as well as outdoors.
So how are we going um uh city manager?
How are we going to allocate the number of kiosk signs that are going to be part of this program?
Thank you, Mayor.
So we will be working with the proposer or the company to identify viable locations, and that is yet to be negotiated.
Uh it would also uh include development services, uh public works, anyone that touches our right-of-way from uh city permitting perspective.
Uh we also want to make sure that the uh neighborhoods have an opportunity.
I think the stakeholders, the neighborhood associations should be consulted because I think that's gonna they're gonna have an impact on their quality of life.
So okay, great.
I think this is a great program, so I'm looking forward to it.
Anyone else have any questions or comments?
Are there being none?
Um someone please introduce the resolution.
Introduced.
The resolution has been introduced.
Please call the role.
Mayor?
Yes.
But before you do so, we're recommending a 21-day competition period.
And if that's acceptable, we will work with the clerk.
Okay.
Okay.
A resolution city commission of the city of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, pursuant to section 255.065, Florida statutes providing notice of intent to enter into a comprehensive agreement for a qualifying project for the design, installation, financing, operation, and maintenance of the citywide network of interactive digital kiosks and notice of intent to accept other proposals for the same project providing for an effective date.
Commissioner Sorensen?
Yes.
Vice Mayor Herbst?
Yes.
Commissioner Glassman?
Yes.
Commissioner Beasley Pittman?
Yes.
Mayor Trentals.
Yes, and R2 is now approved.
R three, uh quasi judicial resolution to vacate a 2.5 feet wide by 130 feet long utility easement, Sunrise and Bayview Partners, LLC.
Anyone wishing to speak must be sworn in, and the Commissioner will announce any uh site visits, communications, or expert opinions received, and make them a part of the record.
Um Vice Mayor, do you have any disclosures?
R three.
No disclosures.
Commissioner Beasley Pittman?
No disclosures.
I don't have any.
Is there an attorney representing anybody on this?
We didn't have a meeting on this, did we?
No, we did not.
Okay.
Uh Commissioner Glassman?
No disclosures.
And Commissioner Sorensen.
None.
Okay.
Good evening.
Hi.
Hi.
Robert Healy with the firm lock here in Chakis on behalf of the applicant here and available to answer any questions on this.
Um there any questions?
There are no questions.
Um I hear a motion to close public hearing?
Moved.
Second.
Seconded.
Please call the roll on the motion to close public hearing.
Commissioner Sorensen?
Yes.
Vice Mayor Herbst?
Yes.
Commissioner Glossman?
Yes.
Commissioner Beasley Pittman?
Yes.
Mayor Trentals.
Yes.
And public hearing is now closed on R th on R.
Someone like to introduce a resolution.
Introduced.
The resolution has been introduced.
Please call the roll.
A resolution of City Commission to City of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, vacating all that certain 2.50 feet by 130-foot-long plotted utility easement and portions of lots to block one coral ridge south edition, according to the plot thereof as recorded plot book 24, page 41 of the public records of Brower County, Florida, located east of Bayview Drive, north of East Sunrise Boulevard, west of Northeast 25th Avenue, and south of Northeast 11th Street, all said lands being the city of Fort Lauderdale Brower County, Florida.
Commissioner Sorzon?
Yes.
Vice Mayor Herbst?
Yes.
Commissioner Glossman?
Yes.
Commissioner Beasley Pittman?
Yes.
Mayor Trentals.
Yes, and R 3 is now approved.
Thanks.
R 4.
This is a quasi judicial resolution approving the vacation of a 10 feet wide by 125 feet long drainage easement.
Charles West, 80 Isle Bahia Drive.
Anyone wishing to speak must be sworn in, and the Commission will announce any site visits, site visits, communications, or expert opinions received and make them a part of the record.
Vice Mayor, do you have any disclosures?
None.
Commissioner Beasley Pittman?
None.
I have none.
Is there a representative here tonight on this?
Mr.
Lockery.
Commissioner Glassman?
None.
And Commissioner Sorensen.
Site visit and uh council.
Thanks.
Okay.
Do we have a meeting on this?
We did not, Mayor.
Good evening, Robert Locker, on behalf of the applicant.
This is a request to uh to vacate a 10-foot utility easement.
Another utilities has previously been granted to the city, and the drainage infrastructure that was in that location has been moved.
Uh-huh.
Okay.
Anyone else any questions?
Someone like to move to close public hearing.
Moved.
Do I hear a second?
Second.
Move and seconded to close public hearing.
Please call the roll.
Commissioner Sorensen.
Yes.
Vice Mayor Herbst.
Commissioner Glossman?
Yes.
Commissioner Beasley Pittman.
Yes.
Mayor Trentollis.
Yes, in public hearing on our four is now closed.
Would someone like to introduce the quasi judicial resolution?
Introduced.
It's been introduced.
Please call the roll.
A resolution of the city commission of the city of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, vacating in approximately 10-foot drainage easement centered on the common law line of lots 10 and 11 of uh Isla Bahia, according to the plot there of us recorded on platform 47, page 27 of the public records of Broward County, Florida, located east of Cordova Road, north of Isla Bahia Drives, west of Seabreeze Boulevard, and south of East Las Olas Boulevard, all sudlands being in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Barrow County, Florida.
Commissioner Sorensen?
Yes.
Vice Mayor Herbst?
Yes.
Commissioner Glossman?
Yes.
Commissioner Beasley Pittman.
Yes.
Mayor Trentelles.
Yes.
And uh R 4 is now approved.
PH 1.
This is a public hearing, a quasi judicial application for a waiver of limitation under ULDR Section 47-19.3, parentheses E for 1409 Southwest 17th Street.
Anyone wishing to speak must be sworn in.
The commission will announce any site visits, communications, or expert opinions received and make them a part of the record.
Vice Mayor, do you have any disclosures?
Commissioner Beasley Pittman.
None.
I don't recall any is there anyone here representing this item?
You are.
We haven't met.
Commissioner Glassman.
PH1.
PH1.
Yes, I had a conversation with uh Marine Advisory Board Chair, Steve Whitten.
Okay.
Uh and Commissioner Sorensen.
Uh neighbors and Marine Advisory Board members.
Okay.
Um several people have signed up to speak.
Um Mr.
Whiton, you sign up just to s just for questions, right?
Or are you?
I saw you.
Oh, there you are.
Just to just for questions, right?
Okay.
I believe we spoke on this too.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Um there are several people who sign up to speak, and I'll call your names in threes.
Uh Amber Calderon.
Is Amber here?
Would you like to come up and speak?
Amber followed by Ted and Sarah, followed by uh Roy Rodriguez.
Couple minutes.
Push the button at the bottom of the speaker.
Yeah, Ted's in it.
He's a pro at this.
Hi there.
Nice haircut, Ted.
Look at you.
Hi there, Amber Calleron.
My husband and I are the next generation of Fort Lauderdale home buyers.
Coincidentally, we close on a home this week on this canal that would be affected by this proposal.
This affects the property value of the home we just purchased.
Now, although the waterways in Pompano compared to this neighborhood are drastically wider.
We chose to invest in Fort Lauderdale.
Not only because my husband is a born and bred Fort Lauderdale local, but also because of the characters areas and its waterways.
If we wanted oversized docks, overcrowded canals, we would have bought elsewhere.
Please help us protect what makes this city so special.
I also like to think that I have the greater good of this city in mind, which is shown through my many years of service and leadership through the junior league of Fort Lauderdale, which is a nonprofit organization that contributes to so many of the projects that occur in this city.
These rules exist for a reason.
If one property is allowed to exceed them, it opens the door for others, and soon the character and property value of Fort Lauderdale, the Venice of America, as we like to say, is permanently changed.
Please uphold the standard for everyone.
Brand new home buyers.
I already come out to speak at a commission meeting.
That's River Oaks for you.
Thank you.
Hello, my name is Ted and Sarah.
I'm the president of the River Oaks Republic.
Um we went to one thing.
We went to, I go to the Marine Advisory Board meeting every single month.
As a lot of you know, because you were the guests there and you have seen me in there.
Um we were in front of this board on November 6th.
It was a 15 to nothing vote against this.
All of us that were there that spoke for River Oaks.
We all shook hands afterwards, patted each other on the back.
We thought it was over.
Much to our surprise when I get my uh pre-agenda in January.
There it is again on the agenda.
As I get my February 5th, there it is again on the agenda.
Um when it was we thought it was a done deal.
There's other people from River Oaks who are here who did not sign up to speak.
Can I get you all to raise your hands just to show you the support that we have?
We're all the neighborhood is united against this.
Um it's there's a state code.
A person or property cannot unreasonably restrict the channel.
We're fair and equal access to all residents on the waterways.
This would take a huge almost be a gate in front of this uh this very narrow canal in the River Oaks.
Um even board member of the Marine Advisory Board, very respect to Mr.
Flanagan said the extraordinary circumstances that were created by these applicants were created by the applicants.
They were not really extraordinary circumstances.
Um this is just it's it should be a no-brainer.
The River Oaks, we are in United against it, and uh we hope that you see it our way.
And uh also one other thing in closing, Mr.
Mayor, since you brought this up, and I kind of feel like it was directed towards me that uh I hired another arborist, Richard Barackis, concerning the trees in the median strip of Las Olas, and he he said his conclusion was the canopy, the color, and the foliage.
I assess that all the remaining trees in the median strip of Los Solas are healthy.
Okay, thank you.
Um City Manager, how how many pages was our Arboreth report on the trees?
It was pretty substantial.
I don't have the page count, but roughly several pages.
Several.
Okay.
Thank you.
Mr.
Rodriguez.
Good evening.
Good evening, Commissioners, Mayor.
Um thank you, Ted, for that uh presentation.
But I'd like to give you guys a visual of what is going on because we've been talking about all the stuff, but I have some visual images to show you what is it being proposed for that property.
We kind of have in the backup too.
Okay.
We have the application.
You don't mind.
Um, can you cue that first one?
The current this is the current view.
Uh is where's it gonna be?
Is it supposed to be on the screen?
Oh, there it is.
There it is.
Okay, so this is okay.
That's that would be a an AI image of the proposed dock that they're proposing to build there for that waterway.
Okay.
Now, if the commissioners and the city approve this, what's gonna happen is that everyone else is gonna have the right to do the same thing that is on that side of the property.
Uh, I mean, you laugh, mayor, but this is exactly what's gonna happen.
That's exactly what will happen if this gets approved, because all the all the neighbors will have the exact same right to do the same thing.
So I have I have one question though.
So I work at AI and I'm always very skeptical of AI generated images.
So I just when we put up things like this that purport to be evidence, and it's AI generated.
I gotta tell you, I I'm very skeptical.
Well, let me let me explain something to you.
You see that uh that little the the uh torch focus on the image?
I I I I believe in I believe that AI hallucinates, and without somebody getting out there and measuring that.
I'm just saying uh it it's it's it's suspect.
So I believe that has the picture.
People here that have measured it.
Is that correct, uh Steve, that we've had Bob out there.
Well, we have a back on the backup, it has the aerial and it shows the uh it shows the dimensions and it shows its impact on the canal.
So um yeah.
Okay.
Well, anyways, I we're totally opposed to it as a community, so I hope that you vote uh in that same way.
Okay, great.
Thank you, sir.
Uh Nick Frazier, Nicholas Frazier, uh Julie Jeffries, and Hudson Gill.
Gill?
Yes.
Well, Hudson's from the Marine Advisory Board.
I don't know if you can speak because there are two members of the Marine Advisory Board here.
Mayor, he's representing the board.
He is representing the board.
Okay.
All right.
Yeah.
But we got two members of the Marine Advisory Board here tonight.
We guess the evening also.
Thank you.
Um, you already heard from my wife a moment ago.
Um, we are new homeowners uh on the waterfront property on this neighborhood and specifically at the end of this canal.
Um, this property in the proposal here will cut off the mouth extending into the waterway and directly cut off access to this canal, reducing the usability, desirability, and ultimately the property value of homes further down the canal.
I'm in direct opposition of this as it benefits a single applicant and attracts from dozens of homes who share access to this downstream canal.
All right.
Well, thank you.
Julie?
Good evening.
My name is Julie Jeffries.
I am not a new owner in the neighborhood, but I have yet to move into my property, and my property is the one that is directly affected by this um proposal.
I live directly across the canal from the proposed um uh uh pier.
So um I would like you to know that I drove over two hours to be here tonight in person so that you understand how important this is.
I'll give you three minutes.
Um thank you.
And um I do I do believe that we need to understand that this is a dangerous precedent that we are potentially setting if this if this proposal goes through.
Um ironically, at the beginning of this meeting, we celebrated water conservation and discussed the impact on our canals.
If you think about the impact of what this potentially has on this particular canal and all of the connecting waterways, I think that you need to recognize the fact that this is even more exp there's an exponential um detriment to the potential here.
And that we need to consider these things.
If we're going to celebrate water conservation, we're going to push that in the city of Fort Lauderdale, we need to be consistent throughout all of our um all of all of the things that we agree to and all of the things that we're allowed to do and how we are both implementing and respecting the rules and regulations that are set forth.
Um I really encourage everyone who is voting on this and and as this moves through to please consider property values.
Uh my property value will also be impacted as as the other neighbors have said, but more so this issue of water conservation, uh you know, uh access for utilities down the canals, access to emergency vehicles down the canals, and uh and the precedent that it is setting across uh the city of Fort Lauderdale.
Thank you for your attention.
Thank you for your time.
Thank you.
Can I ask a question about that?
So to uh city attorney, does this set a precedent for everybody else that wants to do it?
Yes, so as we look at that picture, you know, where everybody is now lined up.
Does this establish a precedent that then everybody else that wants to do a dock can rely on?
Just so we understand it, because we're I'm hearing an assertion and I want to validate the assertion.
No, Vice Mayor, it doesn't set up a precedent per se.
I think the citizens are saying that they would it would start a precedent of people seeking this.
There are still criteria that would have to be met for each site.
Is the applicant here?
So uh I'm sorry, when you say criteria that has to be met for for each site.
So it's up to the commission to either grant or deny each one on its own merits.
Correct.
It would go through the Marine Advisory Board and they would apply the criteria.
And in this instance, it could be brought to you on by the applicant if they were not happy with the result of the of the board's decision.
And here they're they're talking about and Mr.
Gill will explain, but they're using two different measurements to come up with the uh the the uh appropriate length or the allowed length, and then also a standard of whether it's uh um an exceptional circumstance.
Okay.
No, that's helpful because I know sometimes we do have instances where we approve something and then uh we are bound then to apply that same rule to everybody else, and there's instances where we don't.
So I just want to see if that well, but but Vice Mayor, you've been here long enough to know the me to process here.
No, I I me too, and me too, too, and me too, three.
Yeah, no, I trust me.
I I know what it looks like.
Right.
Once once we once we cross that Rubicon, it's hard to go back.
Yes, yes, it is.
Okay.
Yes, sir.
Please introduce yourself.
Hi, uh uh good evening, members of the commission.
Uh mayor.
I believe he uh he asked me to swear in because I didn't have to be able to do that.
Yes, sure.
Ryan Abrams representing the applicant.
Okay, sure.
Yes.
Okay.
So you're not the applicant, you represent the applicant.
I'm the attorney for the applicant.
Yes.
Thank you.
So it's been a road getting here tonight.
I I just want to acknowledge that there are I we know that there are concerns from the community.
I don't think I heard any competent substantial evidence tonight uh put into the record on why this application should be denied.
I I heard fears that um haven't been substantiated with actual competent and substantial evidence, an AI image that hasn't really been uh verified.
I I I appreciate the the comment on uh how how it can't be relied upon.
I I agree.
Also, it really was uh uh very deceiving because the application shows that it doesn't go far enough to even uh encroach on the channel.
That AI image made it seem like it would even come to the to the canal, the Crevel Canal, it wouldn't.
The 50-foot dock and it's 56 feet when measured from the wet face would be approximately 15 feet inward of the line of Cravel Canal.
And really, what this I hear talk about precedent, you know.
The the real precedent, I think the city uh sets is what happened before this project before these dots.
This is like not a a crazy dock, and the boats are along the strip, the vessels there are all longer than these docks.
Uh so what I mean by previous precedent, uh previous other projects, right across from New River, this is I have an area I'll show.
I do have a PowerPoint presentation I gave to the uh gentleman, it's pretty short.
Um I guess when you look at just across the way, and I'll bounce around here.
This is so the property highlighted in red is the property we're here to discuss.
It's a four fourteen oh nine property.
As you can see, everything that we're proposing to do is within the legally owned boundaries of the owner of this property.
And that's really key to emphasize.
We're talking about private property.
It's recognizing it's stipulated by the city in there in the memo.
Uh wait, suggesting that your your app your applicant owns the canal?
Yes, and that's not in dispute, uh, mayor.
The the this is submerged later.
Let's stop.
Yes.
Does the applicant own the canal?
I think that goes to the heart of the issue here that Mr.
Gill will explain about where the the measurement is taken from.
I think the applicant is suggesting it's taken from a water line uh underneath the water.
So he's suggesting that that is real property and that's the measurement site beginning, whereas I think Mr.
Gill will tell you that it's the upland property.
So there's land submerged underneath the canal.
Right.
As there is land under every canal.
Right.
And um while it may, and Mr.
Gill will explain this, well, it may or may not be part of his platted land that doesn't address the question, which is from where do you measure well where's what's the where on the according to property appraiser's website?
Where does the boundary of the property end?
Does it end at the wet face of the dock, or does it go into the canal?
It goes in it goes into the canal.
That's that's not in dispute.
The city doesn't dispute that we own the property that that is being used here.
FDEP approved the plans.
Um Brower County approved the plans.
Uh the issue comes, and and by the way, the docks that are there now are longer than the docks that the city is willing to approve in this case.
Um I don't know.
I I this this is the city these these um I'll clarify.
Well, hold on a second.
Uh these pictures that you have here um are not the same pictures that we have in the backup.
Somebody's got the pictures.
Yeah.
So I mean, the picture on the bottom that you have there, an ocean liner can go through.
The picture that we have here, you could barely get a canoe here.
Okay.
So we have we we can't play games with the imagery here.
No, no, so that's not the intent here.
Let me just um first of all, um, when I said that the dock uh the dock that is approved is bigger than the dock uh that exists here today.
What I meant is at the uh Marine Advisory Board meeting, the Marine Advisory Board authorized a 36-foot dock approximately, and and there's a 39-foot dock there now.
So uh why did that dock get there?
How did it get there?
I I just think the city hasn't consistently applied its code.
And the reason I I included this image on the bottom right is not to say that it's the same situation, it's not.
But do you see the the the vessels and the the finger piers on the top and the bottom?
Those are longer than 25 feet, and it's longer than 30 percent of the width of the waterway.
Okay, much longer.
Those those finger piers are those finger peers that's right across, right across, right across from where this property is located.
The city's not residential.
It's that it's so I understand that this is I understand that this is not the same, it's not the same thing, but it's the s the code applies the same.
Excuse.
Stop.
Stop, stop, please, please.
Please.
This is the same.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I I I respect public.
I respect the public's uh right to this paper.
I didn't introduce I didn't interrupt anybody else's presentation, okay.
So it's just help me out here.
Um please stop.
Stop.
Okay, so the same the same code applies, all right.
The same code applies.
Twenty five percent it's twenty-five feet or thirty percent of the waterway that applies.
The city approved this.
Whichever is less.
Which which whichever is less, less correct.
But twenty but thirty percent, uh thirty percent is definitely more than twenty-five feet.
These finger piers are.
I understand that, but the law is thirty percent or twenty-five feet, whichever is less.
Right.
So it can't be more than twenty-five feet.
It can't be more, but these each of these finger piers are more than a hundred feet.
So the what I'm saying is they're located within private submerged land.
The the key thing here is this is property that is located within private submerged land that is not a natural waterway.
So you're saying that you're saying that the boundary, so this would be important.
The the point from which the measurement is taken.
And you're saying that the point from which the measurement is taken should not be the wet face of the dock, it should actually be further into the canal.
Because you're saying your boundary go starts out in the water, and then the 25 feet should be uh should be uh uh traced from that edge into the waterway.
Is that what you're saying?
Right.
So it would be 30 percent or f or 25 feet, whichever is less.
So if it if Crevel Canals uh mark uh the line is is the end of the property lines, and all the property you see these vessels.
I mean, there are vessels longer than 50 feet uh on each of on a lot of those properties on one of the property that's furthest to the left.
I mean, uh it's clearly more than 25, 30 feet.
Um but the waterway itself ends at the property line.
So you're saying that red line that goes into the waterway is the edge of your property?
Yes.
And you're saying we could go 25 feet from that edge in the wouldn't nothing would be able to pass.
Well, no, it's 25 feet or 30 percent.
And I I have to wait, wait, stop.
I know that.
Yeah.
So 30%.
25 feet or 30 percent, whichever is less.
Right.
So 30 percent would be less than 25 feet if you measure from the edge of the property line to the other side.
Okay, so what many feet?
How many feet does that take us into?
I think it's 67 feet roughly like approximately.
What's 30 percent of the waterway that you're suggesting?
You're saying it's less than 25 feet.
I think it's less.
I think it's like just less than 25 feet, like 22 feet or something.
So you're saying you could go 22 feet from the from that red line that's on the north side of your property that's in the waterway, you can go 22 more feet into the waterway.
You realize that there would be no passage, there could be no possible passage through that canal.
So so F F the Please, please, please.
So so FDEP would also have to approve it in the Army Corps, and they won't approve something that infringes on others' riparian rights and the it doesn't matter what other municipalities or other government agencies have approved, the city of Fort Lauderdale has to approve it.
So we have to be practical.
We have to allow people navigable waters, and you can't and you're saying that 22 more feet from that red line on the north side here should be is justifiable in your client's eyes to allow to allow a boat to protrude into the waterway that far.
Not only is it justifiable, but I I I just think it's not it's just it's fair from a property rights standpoint and it's legally required.
It's the same thing the city does with setbacks, Mr.
Mayor.
Uh if if you look at any property any that's developed in the city, setbacks are measured from the property line.
If if somebody was to say you have to measure your setback from a different location than the property line, that's inward.
You know what?
This you remind me of a developer who comes to us and says, I'm I can have 70 stories here.
But the but the but the law says you your height can has to be one half the setback.
Your setback has to be one half the height.
Well, we always give yard modifications because not always, but we often give yard modifications.
If it's practical, right?
In this case, how can you possibly justify the practicality of this knowing how narrow this waterway is?
In in the example you just gave, it's still based on the legal boundaries of the property.
But it's but it doesn't ha it's not a matter of right.
But the measurement is what I'm saying is it's not just that the measurement is a matter of right, because you're measuring things based on the legal property boundaries.
I know, but the uh but the out but the uh but the uh extension of the dock into the waterway is not a matter of right.
And you you gave us a standard that that we have to determine whether or not the essential requirements of law were uh applied at the advisory board level.
I don't believe that that's the standard.
I'd ask our city attorney, but I don't know if that's the standard.
I didn't say essential requirements law.
Those are the substantial I'm sorry, competent substantial evidence.
That's uh that's what I said.
Competent substantial evidence.
Okay, competent substantial evidence.
Yes.
That's our standard as a commission that we have to determine whether or not competent substantial evidence was to was uh was uh uh was the basis for the advisory board's opinion.
Is that what you're saying?
Yes, I mean this isn't out I this isn't like an an appeal situation.
Uh this is a quasi judicial uh exactly so it's not yeah, you're not limited to whatever the Marine Advisory Board did.
This this city commissioner.
So what so where's the competence substantial evidence come from?
Who's who's whose competent substantial evidence are we uh uh uh uh assessing here?
or not competent substantial evidence was to was uh was um uh was the basis for the advisory board's opinion is that what you're saying yes I mean this isn't out I this isn't like an a an appeal situation uh this is a quasi judicial uh exactly so it's not yeah you're not limited to whatever the Marine Advisory Board did this this city commission so what so where is the competence substantial evidence come from whose who's whose competent substantial evidence are we uh uh assessing here well things that are in the record so well when you when you heard uh stuff from others who were speaking about uh reducing their property values first of all they didn't give their addresses on the record so it's not even clear how far away they are from the property but to say that to say that to say that quiet quiet quiet I didn't hear verbally stated um and I'm I didn't review all the property the the uh cards that they filled out but it nevertheless i it's there's I didn't hear anybody who's qualified to assess uh property values speak to that so that's an example of something that's not substantial evidence that we okay we may or may not use that in our decision making but I'm just trying to find out I maybe I'll ask our city attorney um this competence substantial evidence standard where does that come in at all uh with regard to but so the the determination is made on um uh a finding of extraordinary circumstance and then as we've been discussing ad nauseum that it can be no more than 25 feet or 30 feet within the waterway we're also not really defining property line and waterway and well a property line may extend into here it is still underneath the waterway and so to your point about practicality um that would just not apply so you are here in the quasi judicial capacity to ascertain whether what the Marine Advisory Board did was correct.
And we still have Mr.
Gill to make the case so it's not competent substantial evidence that is the standard here it's whether there are extraordinary circumstances that require us to make that decision it's uh in order to make the decision of extraordinary circumstances whatever facts are in the record to support that decision.
It says right here extraordinary under extraordinary circumstances that's our standard that is so we it's up to us to determine what our extraordinary circumstances the factual basis for it has to be competent substantial that I don't think your city attorney would disagree with that.
But nevertheless I I agree with your city attorney that the main issue here is where do you measure it from and I I think that's something that this commission could could decide.
What are the extraordinary circumstances the extraordinary extraordinary circumstances are that um you have properties just across the waterway that were measured differently and it's clear that it's because they own the submerged land and here my client owns the submerged land and they're being treated differently because a measurement is being imposed that does not have precedent in the city not that I was provided and also the city's zoning manager Bert Harris expressed an opinion when this permit was issued that the permit was issued by the way for this for this dock by the city and then it got put on hold.
And then Bert uh forward I'm sorry Bert Ford the uh city zoning manager was asked for his opinion and he said it's measured from the property line and nothing in the code says from the wet face he said that and then more discussions happened and that that was not accepted.
That was not accepted for whatever reason.
And so what happened after that was the official position was that it should be measured from the wet face even though the property line the code says property line but we're not we're going to pretend like it doesn't say that I guess but it does say it.
And I think the city should apply the code as written and that's the extraordinary circumstance we have here.
Okay.
May may I ask a question of the city attorney is that an extraordinary circumstance in your view?
Well I think it it creates a frustration of law we would be I am frustrated I don't know if that's a frustration of law it's a frustration of an accountant.
Well not quite the same thing.
And that would be for you to ascertain whether that I think there are extraordinary circumstances that suggest we don't grant it because you're you're completely blocking the waterway.
Well I I guess mayor what I want to get to is is uh the gentleman asserted that the fact that there's an existing one creates an extraordinary circumstance.
That's what I'm trying to get to the heart.
That's what that's the argument so it doesn't seem to me that if there's another one that that creates an extraordinary circumstance.
There may be other arguments in there that would better lead to an extraordinary circumstance but that to me does not seem to lead to an extraordinary circumstance in and of itself yes.
Okay thank you.
Folks please please there's not an interactive conversation.
There's there's been no competition I mean just sit back and take your lawyer hat off.
Does this make sense for us to grant a piling that it could be placed in the middle of the waterway a boat that can extend beyond the middle of the waterway and allow for navigable uh activity on that waterway.
Does that make sense to you?
It it does not extend into the waterway.
The dock is 50 feet from the seawall.
The waterway is 135 feet wide.
Okay.
Let us let us can you put the uh overhead uh frame uh frame back on this.
We at least have one that reflects ours.
Okay, there we go.
All right.
So if we if we there's your boundary line, which is in the middle of the waterway.
Right?
We're not going to the boundary line.
We're not going to that.
You're not going to the property line.
We're not.
We're 15 feet inside of it.
No, no, no.
But no, no.
Just listen for a second.
So based on your argument, we should go, we could go from the from the property line, and we can go 25 feet into the waterway.
Or 30 percent, which you say is 22 feet.
Now, does that provide safe navigable water passageway through that canal?
But that's not the situation we have here.
If that were to be the situation, you could evaluate each case differently, just like your city attorney advised.
Right.
That's not what we have here.
So you're saying you're saying that the way you're measuring it, you want your dock to come that would end up coming below that boundary line.
It would not only it would come below the the edge of those vessels in that picture.
I mean, it's it's not going, it's not if it's 15 feet under that line, how is it going to obstruct the waterway?
I'll tell you how, because while your dock may be that length, your boat doesn't have to be.
But but that is a separate that's a separate issue.
And by the way, the boats are included in the plan, the boat does not exceed the well that's your boat, but what about the next boat you decide you want to get big a bigger boat?
And there can be there could be code enforcement.
The city has a code of force.
The code doesn't deny you.
You have a right to have as big a boat you want.
Then I guess then anybody anybody on this canal can do that then.
Anyone on this canal why are we going to be going to enable that practice if but with having longer docks?
You see, it's a safety issue for the owner.
So what do we have here?
Mayor, can we hear from Mr.
Gill at some point soon?
All right, why don't we hear why don't we hear from the uh okay?
Thank you.
Thank you for listening.
Just plain devil's advocate here.
Have a seat.
We'll be with you in just a moment.
Mr.
Gill.
Good evening, Mayor.
Good evening, Commissioners.
Hudson Gill, I'm here representing the Marine Advisory Board.
I I think it's first important to sort of stay take a step back and look at what this application is.
It's before you.
It's an application for a waiver of the limitations on docks.
That's what it's called.
That's what they're seeking.
And what they say in their own application on page five, which is part of the materials you provided, is there's two piers.
The West Finger pier, they want to build 56 feet six inches out.
The permitted distance without the waiver, according to them, is 25 feet.
So the the distance, the waiver they were seeking then is 31 feet six inches.
The East Finger pier is 36 point 36 feet six inches.
What they say the permitted distance distance is without a waiver is 25 feet.
And what they want is an 11 foot six inch waiver.
So they're measuring there in their own application from the seawall.
Because that's how far out of the water is.
Let me ask you this.
If in fact the law says you're supposed to measure it from the boundary, okay, and their boundary is as indicated in the backup photo, which is on the which seems to land in the middle of the canal.
Is it in is it is it at all a waiver of uh limitations if the entire dock falls within that space?
Why does it even need a waiver of limitations if in fact it falls within that boundary line?
Because the city measures from the upland platted property line and determining what's permitted as a matter of right.
The waiver that you're here to consider, uh, mayor, is you you looked at the language before, but I'll I'll go over it again because there's an important provision that was not discussed.
So you're you're here sitting as a commission in a quasi-disc capacity with your powers under 47-19.3, which says you may waive the limitations in the code regarding dock lengths under extraordinary circumstances.
It continues then and says in no event shall the extension exceed 30 percent of the width of the waterway.
Your code defines waterway as any navigable waterway which provide access for watercraft to the intercoastal waterway and including the intercoastal waterway.
It is not defined by the submerged land who owns that, it's simply defined by the waterway that provides the waterway.
Yes.
Okay.
So 30 percent of the width of the waterway would allow him to do what?
It it the the in the materials that you've been provided to it provide the total width of the waterway there, which is the canal and the boat basin.
Right.
And I believe I just let me so I don't misstate the numbers here.
Excuse me.
The total waterway length there is distance is 135 feet, six inches.
So what's 30 percent of that?
Like 40 feet?
Yes.
But what what the Marine Advisory Board recommended, and that's how that works.
It's a recommendation that came from them.
It goes before them first.
They consider it, they hear testimony, then they make a recommendation.
They recommended ultimately approving the waiver, but up to 36 uh point 36 feet six inches, which is what the smaller peer they're requesting is for both peers.
That's what they recommended.
And what is the applicant asking for?
Up to for one of them, that's the distance they're asking for.
So the recommendation is to approve one of the finger piers as they requested.
The second one is much larger, it goes to 56 feet.
So they're recommending only approve that up to 36 feet.
But 30 percent of the waterways 40 feet.
Is about 40 feet, yes.
So if they ask so we could do up to 40 feet.
If you find extraordinary circumstances, yes.
Extraordinary circumstances.
Okay.
But definitely not 56.
No, not on the not under the way the code is written in the city.
Because it can be no more than 30 percent of the waterway.
Correct.
And the waterway is defined as the entire navable waterway.
So it's from seawall to seawall.
So would you think that the uh advisory board would be amenable to at least allowing him up to 40 percent?
But the 56 feet is out of the question.
Well, I I believe in the initial hearing before the the Marine Advisory Board, they asked the applicant if they would be happy with 40 feet, and the applicant said no.
And so they were presented with two requests, one for 56 feet and a few more inches, and one for 36.
And their recommendation was approve both up to 36 feet and six inches.
I see.
Okay.
So that's the recommendation of the advisory board.
Yes.
Okay.
Okay.
Um, I have no further questions at this time.
Does anyone else have any questions?
Who's is this in your district uh Ben?
Yeah, yeah.
Do you have any questions?
Yeah, I know I asked a lot of questions, I'm sorry, but can I cover cover good questions?
Cross-examining these on this and we'll we'll take it.
So the is the 36 and a half feet still that would still require a waiver, is that right?
It requires a waiver because it's beyond the 25 feet.
So you have to show up extraordinary circumstances to obtain that additional waiver.
But it's within the 30 percent you're able to grant.
Yeah.
Yeah, Mayor, I mean, I just I am not seeing the look.
The the standard is uh seeking a uh allow for the installation of the finger peers following ULDR section 47 19.3 uh in a finding of extraordinary circumstances to allow the waiver.
I am not seeing evidence that meets the criteria of extraordinary circumstances, so my suggestion is deny.
Okay.
Does anyone else have any comments or questions?
Um that dotted line that's uh do you it's not there, but it's in our backup.
There's like a dotted line.
Do you have the I can?
Do you see that?
Can you pull up the uh is it page four, uh Mayor?
Um page fourteen of sixty-one in the application.
Oh, in the application.
Yeah.
I'm sorry, Mayor, what what page is that?
14.
Is it picture?
Can you guys pull it up?
Okay, we're gonna get it.
Mayor, just while they're pulling up, and I mean, in my view, we really do need to take to heart when we when the ULDR calls out extraordinary circumstances, it really needs to be extraordinary circumstances in my view, um, for many reasons.
And so I I just think we've got to really adhere to that standard.
Um disagreeing with you.
I want to know what all these demarcations are on the um the photo.
Yep.
We're getting there.
It's exhibit one.
Exhibit one.
Are you getting it?
That's page twelve of the while while we're waiting for the next one.
Can I just ask you a quick question?
So the year before in the minutes is clear what the extraordinary circumstances were, they were delineated for that.
But not I don't see that in the minutes of the most recent meeting where they agreed to the 36.5 for both both the eastern and western peers.
But did they get into any discussion at all about the extraordinary circumstances like they did a year ago?
Uh-huh.
No, I don't believe there was any additional discussion regarding what the no other discussion, because I was just wondering, as I said, I read it a year ago.
I'm not reading it now.
No, I don't believe there's anything additional added to the more recent meeting.
Okay, thank you.
So what were the extraordinary circumstances you that were defined a year ago?
From November Ah, there we are.
That's so that picture is different than the one we have in the backup.
There we go.
What is that dotted line?
Uh that's in the application.
I mean, I can only represent what the application says.
I I didn't prepare that document.
Counselor, can you tell us what the dotted line represents?
I believe that is the 50-foot mark or 50-foot mark of the dock.
It's 56 measured from the white face of the seawall.
That's 50 feet from the seawall.
I believe so, yeah.
Yes.
It's identified on the right side of the screen as the approximate limit of the case.
It says approximate limit of proposed boat slip area improvement.
Right.
So that would be the longer of the of the finger peers.
Which actually is less than the boat that's to the right.
But the boat to the right has a very short pier.
See, that's what I'm saying.
The longer the pier, the long the boat gets even longer.
But we can even stipulate to a smaller boat.
If you want, if you want, you could do that as a condition.
You can say the boats can't be any longer than any of the boats here.
Uh we can even agree to that.
It's just they just want to be able to use the property that's theirs in the way that they've been permitted to do so by uh every other entity that's looked at this application.
Um and the extraordinary circumstance.
If if I may, I want to just how could we impose that on a future property owner?
I I think it's getting confused, Vice Mayor.
Your threshold issue here is extraordinary circumstance.
Right.
Not a comparative circumstance.
Okay.
So I'm just saying, but the what what the attorney has suggested is that we could impose a a length limit on a boat.
I can see how we could do that with a current property owner, but how does that ride with the property?
Right.
You you can't put that as a as a restriction on the deed.
It doesn't ride with the property, right?
Okay.
Well, if we do a restrictive covenant, it would it would run with the land.
So we could do a recorded restrictive covenant.
If you so choose after finding that there was extraordinary circumstances and you wanted to saddle the property with yes, and that that you would have to first make that finding that that was something that was.
And then we could do that going forward and put a restrictive covenant on a and then somebody has to know that that house in perpetuity is only allowed a 30-foot boat.
That's very unwieldy.
I can just tell you, as a matter of practice.
Nobody's going to remember that five years from now.
So it it it's it's unwieldy going forward.
I I hear what you're saying.
I understand what you're trying to offer.
I can just tell you it's not going to work.
So I I understand that the term extraordinary circumstances is really an emphasis here, and I I agree that that is the standard, but I don't want to just it's important, I think, not to it look overlook other languages in the code.
And I think property line is there for a reason.
So uh the extraordinary circumstance again is that the city staff is interpreting the code contrary to the plain language uh property line cannot be overlooked here.
If you're if you're denying this wave, you're denying the definition of property line, which in the code expressly includes submerged land.
It's expressed in the code's definitions of property line, it includes submerged land.
And so uh you you you want you want uh you want to you know if you have issues here.
I suggest you know maybe we could look at revising the code, but my client had every right to rely on the code as written to propose uh what they have proposed here.
And the fact is I think it's self-evident from this photo right here that it's not gonna do anything, anything to impact navigation, nothing to impact other property values.
That is not competent substantial evidence.
If none of those other vessels have disturbed uh property values in this neighborhood, a dock shorter than uh the longer vessel to the right would not do so either.
Okay.
Uh so let's uh hear the recommendation of the district commissioner.
Yep, thank you, Mayor.
So um, thank you all for the discussion.
Thank you for sharing.
Um so Mayor, I'd like to is it introduce uh city clerk?
Yes, introduce uh resolution of denial all right.
So there's a resolution being introduced to deny the uh application.
Um how does that is that how it's done?
Is it to accept the recommendation?
Well, we're not even accepting the recommendation of the um of the advisory board, which is not if that is your motion.
Right, you're just denying the whole thing, right?
Correct.
Okay.
Okay.
So there's a resolution on the floor.
Um Mayor, do you want to close public hearing?
City clerk's.
Yes, I just want to I just want to make sure I understand uh is the resolution on the floor to deny it.
Okay.
So is anyone else wish to speak on this item?
You want any final words?
Mayor, did you have any further questions for Mr.
Gill?
I'm sorry.
Did you have any further questions for Mr.
Gill?
I are you done.
Yes, yes, Mayor.
I'm I don't have any else.
Okay.
Okay, all right.
Okay.
Uh thank you, Mr.
Gill.
Okay.
So do I hear a motion to close public hearing?
Moved.
Do I hear second?
Move is seconded, please call the roll.
Commissioner Sorensen.
Yes.
Vice Mayor Herbst.
Commissioner Glossman?
Yes.
Mr.
Beasley Pittman.
Yes.
Mayor Trentals.
Yes, in public hearing on PH1 is now closed.
And a resolution has been introduced to deny the application.
Any other further questions?
Please call the roll.
A resolution city commission of the city of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, denying the application by Rihanna Holcomb, a single woman and Vincent Conjine, a single man for a waiver of limitations for the installation of two finger piers extending a maximum distance of 56 feet six inches plus or minus into the waterway adjacent to 1409 Southwest 17th Street Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 33315.
Pursuant to sections 47-19E of the City of Fort Lauderdale Unified Land Development Regulations.
Commissioner Sorensen.
Yes.
Yes.
Commissioner Glossman.
Yes.
Commissioner Beasley Pittman?
Yes.
Mayor Trentals.
Yes.
And that resolution is denied.
So thank you, gentlemen laden.
Okay, PH2, uh public hearing resolution approving the reallocation of funds from the parks general obligation bond.
Good night, folks.
Sorry to keep you up this late, but the amount of 774,146 and 88 cents from North Fork Elementary School Improvement Project and allocating and transferring 474,146 and 88 cents to Bass Park improvement and allocating 300,000 to Lauderdale Isles land improvement project.
As I recall, the reason why we're doing this is because school board is going to eliminate that school as a school.
So no one has signed up to speak.
Someone please move to close public hearing.
Move second.
Move and seconded.
Please call the roll.
Commissioner Sorensen.
Yes.
Vice Mayor Herbst.
Yes.
Commissioner Glossman?
Yes.
Commissioner Beasley Pittman.
Yes.
Mayor Trentals.
Yes.
And public hearings now closed on PH two.
Someone would like to introduce the resolution, approving the reallocation.
It's been introduced.
Please call the roll.
A resolution of the city commissioner of the city of Fort Lauderdale, Florida approving the reallocation of funds from the parks and recreation general obligation bonds in a total amount of 770.
774,146.88 from North Fork Elementary School Improvement Project by allocating and transferring 474,146 and 88 cents to the Bass Park Improvement Project and allocating and transferring 300,000 to the Lauderdale Isles landing improvement project pursuant to City of Fort Lauderdale Resolution No.
18 261 and Resolution Number 20-08, providing for conflicts, providing for several ability and providing for an effective date.
Commissioner Sorensen?
Yes.
Vice Mayor Herbst?
Yes.
Commissioner Glassman?
Yes.
Commissioner Beasley Pittman?
Yes.
Mayor Trentals.
Yes.
And PH two is now approved.
OFR 1 is the first reading of an ordinance amending the City of Fort Lauderdale's unified land development regulations.
And uh does anyone have any questions?
No one's signed up to speak.
Someone like to introduce the ordinance.
Introduced.
The ordinance has been introduced.
Please call the roll.
In ordinance of the city of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, amending the unified land development regulations, Article 7, Notice Procedures, more specifically, Section 47-27.4.
Notice for site plan level 123 and level 4 conditional use plates and amendments to site plan level 3 and 4, section 47-25.5, rezoning and change in uses and section 47-27.6, vacation of public rights of ways to modify the requirements for public participation meetings and providing for correction of scriveners there is severability, repeal of conflicting ordinance provisions, and an effective date.
Commissioner Sorensen?
Yes.
Vice Mayor Herbst?
Yes.
Commissioner Glassman?
Yes.
Commissioner Beasley Pittman?
Yes.
Mayor Trentals.
Yes.
An ORF 01 is now approved on first reading.
OFR two, first reading a quasi judicial ordinance approving vacation of right of way of a 50-foot wide by 102-foot long portion of Coconut Drive.
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.
Courtney, we didn't have any discussions regarding this, did we?
We did.
Okay.
Vice Mayor, do you have any disclosures?
I met with Jason Crush.
But regarding this?
We met over a beer.
Okay.
Glass of red wine.
I get it.
Commissioner Beasley Pittman.
Um yes, I spoke with Jason Crush pertaining to this one.
Okay.
No beer to me.
I had a conversation with Courtney Crush.
Commissioner Glassman.
I don't think I did.
I was left out.
Right.
Not necessary.
I have no disclosure.
I was not invited to the party.
She already counted three.
Thank you very much.
Next time, Courtney, you'll make it up to me.
It's okay.
Thanks.
Again.
Commissioner Swords.
Yes.
Yes, Mayor.
Council, applicant, neighbors, site visits.
Thank you, Ms.
Politics.
Okay.
Um Courtney has signed up to speak, but only for questions.
Um anyone else wishes to speak on this item?
Uh there is nobody else, so someone please move to close public hearing.
Moved.
Do I hear a second?
Second?
It's been seconded.
Please call the roll.
Commissioner Sorensen.
Yes.
Vice Mayor Herbst.
Commissioner Glossman.
Yes.
Commissioner Beasley Pittman.
Yes.
Mayor Trent Halls.
Yes.
An OFR2 public hearing is now closed.
Would someone like to introduce the ordinance?
Introduced.
The ordinance has been introduced.
Please call the roll.
In ordinance of the city of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, vacating approximately 50 foot wide by 102-foot long right-of-way adjacent to blocks 4 and 5, according to the plot thereof as recorded in Black Book 22, page 22 of the public records of Broward County, Florida, located west of Southwest 11th Avenue, northwest, north of West Davy Boulevard, east of South Fork, New River, and south of Southwest 9th Street, also as being in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, Florida.
Commissioner Sorensen?
Yes.
Vice Mayor Herbst?
Commissioner Glassman?
Yes.
Commissioner Beasley Pittman?
Yes.
Mayor Trentals.
Yes.
And uh OFR2 is approved on first reading.
Moving to OSR 1, second reading ordinance amending section 13-151, ambulance support user fees.
Anyone have any questions?
No one signed up to speak.
There being none.
Someone would like to introduce the ordinance.
Introduced.
Your has been introduced.
Please call the roll.
And ordinance of the city of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, banning Article 5, emergency medical transport services of Chapter 13, Fire Prevention and Protection, Section 13-151 ambulance transport user fees of the code of ordinances of the city of Fort Lauderdale, Florida by increasing ambulance transport user fees and providing for several ability repeal of conflicting ordinance provisions and effective date.
Commissioner Sorensen?
Yes.
Vice Mayor Herbst?
Yes.
Commissioner Glossman?
Yes.
Commissioner Beaver Pittman.
Yes.
Mayor Trentals.
Yes, an OSR 1 is now approved on second reading.
I guess that's it, right?
Oh, I'm sorry, we have one more.
We have uh R5 resolution designating Vice Mayor.
So it's traditional that we go in reverse order.
So Commissioner District, Commission District 1.
Um John Herbst has had it for this past year.
So uh district four would now be the uh eligible district.
So would someone like to introduce a resolution?
Introduce.
Saying what?
Saying yes to District 4, Commissioner Ben Sarensen will serve as vice mayor.
Okay.
God, it's like pulling teeth.
Yeah.
Well, some things are just self-explanatory.
Is this something you willing to accept, Commissioner?
Thank you.
Yes, I'll happily accept.
That in solid ways and solid ways.
Solid ways first, please.
It gets better.
Keep keep sending it my way.
Amazing.
Okay.
Okay.
Uh anyone have any questions?
No one has signed up to speak.
Um please call the roll.
A resolution of the city commission of the city of Fort Lauderdale, Florida designating Commissioner Ben Sorensen as Vice Mayor for a term beginning on April 7, 2026 and ending upon designation of a vice mayor at the City Commission's first meeting in April 2027 and providing for an effective date.
Commissioner Sorensen.
Yes.
Vice Mayor Herbst.
Yes.
Commissioner Glossman.
Yes.
Commissioner Beasley Pittman.
Yes.
Mayor Trentals.
Yes.
And I want to thank uh Commissioner Herbst for his serving as Vice Mayor this past year.
And now Commissioner Sorensen's gonna have to buy all new shirts.
That's right.
I'll get working on it.
Additional shirts.
Additional shirts, right.
Were you ever vice mayor?
Yeah, you were vice mayor before.
Once.
Twice.
So third time is a charm.
You have quite a quite a wardrobe.
Yes, I'll dig in the closet.
Can you fit them?
Can you fit into them then?
We'll see.
My biceps are getting huge, so I'll say thank you.
Uh city manager is any further business of the meeting of the commission?
No, Mayor.
Okay.
Um do you have any announcements to make city attorney?
No, Mayor.
Okay.
This meeting is now concluded.
Oh sorry.
Go ahead.
We'll now resume the conference meeting.
Um we now resume the conference meeting.
We're going to talk about the uh our your favorite subject, the charter revision board recommendations and updates.
So we where we last left off, um, is the real cliffhanger.
Uh we were trying to decide whether or not we wanted to move forward today because there was no significant neighborhood outreach that had been undertaken, which was one of the one of the uh requirements that the commission had articulated in the previous meeting.
So what what's the what's the uh commission want to do going forward?
Mayor, I just have one point of information because we were all focusing on June 8th, the deadline to submit the ballot questions.
Yep.
However, if you look at the CAM, May 19th, we have to approve an ordinance on first reading containing the ballot questions.
That's not far away.
And then June 2nd, adopt an ordinance on second reading containing the ballot questions, then June 8th, so to the supervisor of election.
So we're really talking about we have to have our act together by May 19th.
So that's that's a heavy load.
Okay, do we want to move forward on any of these recommendations without having to go out to the type of uh community outreach that we've previously articulated?
We have that authority to do that tonight.
Again, I'm just gonna reiterate my recommendation that we do just the cleanup items, items that need to conform with state statutes and requirements.
Well, do you want to you want to identify those?
Oh, I I don't have I don't have that, I don't think I have that list.
I happen to have the book in front of me.
I have the book, but I don't think it's broken up into like that that kind of a category.
Mayor, they're not particularly defined as cleanup.
Um would be more obviously cleanup than others.
However, if you would like, I would like to introduce uh from my office Paul Van Gall and Gabrielle Bush, who have spent countless hours working on this, and they will be able to identify for you those things that might fall within the definition of cleanup for your.
I can take it page by page.
Sure.
Um we can start with organizational meeting.
Sure.
And and and while we're doing that, I think there's a number of items here that we can probably consolidate down.
There's some ministerial things that we can lump together.
It would be my recommendation that we don't consider any more than between three and five at most.
Well, we're allowed three pages on the ballot.
I know, but we get voter fatigue, and so it I've always noticed that if you overload, first of all, they don't go to the bottom of the ballot.
And there's a tendency for people just to vote no when you overwhelm them.
So if you want things to pass, less is more.
All right, let's start with the organizational meeting.
I believe this is a cleanup item.
Uh and this is where the city commission takes uh office uh on the first meeting following Broward County Canvassing Board uh uh certifying the election results.
Any controversy with regard to that?
I don't think there is.
I think that's a requirement to come into consistency with state statute, so I don't think we have a choice about that.
And and that could be a that could be a moving uh uh moving date also.
If there's any uh if there's like a like a a close race where there's where there's uh a runoff that's necessary, the canvassing board may not certify the election results for you know a couple weeks or three weeks or four weeks, whatever.
So just keep that in mind.
But I think you're right, it is consistent with state statute.
So if there's no so now the next uh item is initiative and referendum petition for proposed ordinance.
I'm not sure that's a cleanup item.
How do you want to respond to that?
This is a more this is a more comprehensive one.
I don't know.
Which sorry, which number are you on the this is three point one five.
Three point it's an exhibit A.
This is this is where they want to reduce the number of signatures necessary to ten and so forth and so on.
Mayor, are you trying to focus on things that you would deem clean up to comport with statute, etc.?
This one would be changing things.
Yeah, no.
So this is not a cleanup item.
So let's keep moving.
Um can we get the list right?
I think they have the list for us of the cleanup, right?
Do you have that list?
I don't think so.
Good good evening, uh Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Commissioners Paul Bengal, City Attorney's Office.
We div we divided this in four uh four four sections.
So you may recall that at your October seventh meeting last year, there were sections on which you you reached consensus.
Um there were also there were sections on which you provided direction for the charter board to go back and deliberate.
There are new human resources related revisions.
There's one re one uh one recommendation to repeal section 1003 regarding publications for public hearings.
And then hold on.
Sorry, Paul.
Can we in your presentation?
Can you speak to what's you're referring to just so we can so everyone can kind of visually see this?
Mayor, may I jump in?
May I jump in and and and make a clarification, perhaps a recommendation?
Things that would be cleanup would m would be encompassed largely in the threes.
So perhaps as you're saying, oh nine, oh five, oh four would be clean up items.
But they're not but in your in your summary though, how they're not really designated that way.
Mayor, if I may, um real cleanup could is 3.05, and as Commissioner Glassman has mentioned Vice Mayor designation.
That's one that could that um that's kind of like a vestige from before the previous uh Yeah, we understand that.
So we we're I was going through the pages and we're we're going to what's what's uh what's clean up and what's not cleanup.
So I just want to I want to I I was gonna uh Paul, I was gonna use the booklet that you folks gave us and just go exhibit by exhibit and we'll determine what's clean up, what's not cleanup.
Like the initiative or referendum like initiative and referendum is not cleanup.
That's changing.
That's a big change.
If we keep going again, my question is.
We don't have what you're asking.
Oh, we don't have we don't have what you're 26 items here.
But we don't have what you're asking.
So we'll get we'll just let me just go through it.
I thought we'd go through it.
Okay.
Seven point on page 13, uh section seven sixteen, election tie vote.
Um that's an obvious cleanup.
I would say cleanup.
That's because the word primary residually is in there from from before the last revision.
Now what now when you say it's to be decided by lot?
Why wouldn't we just do a runoff?
That's original language.
I know, but by lot.
That means flipping a coin.
Tie.
That's original language, and they they didn't that wasn't changed.
Okay.
I think that if there's a tie vote, we should have a we should have a runoff.
That requires us to schedule another election though, which is very expensive.
It makes it complicated.
Because once we move to the November elections, we don't have that follow-up election.
But I'm just saying a couple hundred thousand dollars for one election.
Alright, it's so rare, you don't have to worry.
Flip a coin.
Okay.
I trust the city attorney to flip a coin.
Okay.
Sale of personal property.
Personal property belonging to the city shall not be sold except by provided by ordinance.
Not quite sure what that means, but that's a cleanup item, right?
I wouldn't consider that I would suggest that that's a change.
That's not a cleanup.
Okay.
Because Mayor, if I may, again, the threes that you identified, 04, 05, and 09.
The items that would be miscellaneous.
Um and then potentially some of the human resources items, I would think would be only those who would that would be defined as cleanup.
Yeah, but you don't have those in that order.
Well, I'm if you have them throughout the category, but you have three you have section three sprinkled throughout the book.
Mayor.
Mayor, look at the first three pages of the camp.
I mean in the book.
Look at the first three pages in the book.
Page.
Everything is broken everything is broken down into categories, and it's really easy just to go through that list.
It says government, human resources, property, and miscellaneous.
That's the easiest way to do this.
All right, we'll do it that way.
Okay.
So go back on the slide if you would go back to table of contents, please.
And then go to government.
So let's just do government first.
Okay.
So qualification of members.
3.03.
I I'm not in favor of reducing the age to 18.
So it's up to you guys.
I mean, you can put it on the on the ballot, but I think that's ridiculous.
An 18-year-old sitting up here passing a billion dollar budget.
I don't think that makes any sense.
If the focus is on cleanup mayor, that would not be a cleanup item.
I'm trying to pinpoint for the four so that you can limit your discussion.
You're old enough to sit up on the day.
Okay.
Okay, so let's go back one slide.
So let's pull that for that's all that.
We'll call that not cleanup.
That'll be community input.04 adds clerk for ministerial review for candidate documentation, eliminate city commission as canvaser and the ability of lectures to challenge candidates during canvassing.
Yeah, I I think this is good and important.
Oh four, oh five and oh nine, I would deem cleanup, sir.
Four, five, and nine.
Okay.
So now yeah, thanks.
Go back to government.
Okay.
That's three items.
Four, five, and nine.
Okay.
How about you in resources?
That's another section to review to determine whether it would be clean up.
Are we done with government?
Just go back to the government, if you would.
So we're tracking.
So we're saying three is for more discussion.
Four, five.
Five five is cleanup.
Four and four and four.
And nine.
And nine.
Four.
Hold on.
Yep.
Four.
What is four?
Mayor four is pretty substantial because it eliminates the city commission as canvaser.
Well, that's obvious because the supervisor uh the the Broward County Canvassing Board canvasses the election.
But it also eliminates the ability of electors to challenge candidates during canvassing.
This is 3.04.
3.04.
All candidates for the office of mayor or commissioner shall submit to the city clerk for a ministerial review documentation necessary to demonstrate compliance with this chartered applicable law.
That's when you're first signing up.
The city commission shall be the judge of the qualifications of its members, referendums, and municipal elections subject to review by the courts.
That may that's cleanup.
Except to the extent that it's changing what's there already.
Yeah, I know, but what's what if you look at the markup, you'll see that the language about at the time the city commission meets to canvas the results of any election, which you don't do because the Broward canvassing board does.
So that's kind of that's kind of cleanup.
But then it goes on to say any registered elector of the city of Fort Lauderdale may be entitled to file with the city commission and affidavit setting out the facts showing that a candidate has violated the provision of this charter as a manner of his or her election or is otherwise unqualified to hold office, and the city commission shall take proof at such meeting and declare the results.
So that's something if deleted is pretty substantial.
All right, that's not cleanup then.
I mean I mean I have no problem with the revised 3.04.
I I think yeah, and I think mayor, it should be.
I think as we talk through this, it should be is anything are there components of this that are more substantial, and that we think those topics should go in front of the community for more discussion.
Okay.
So I I don't think this needs to, but but I don't think it needs to then I agree.
I don't think that's the same.
So then I agree.
Yeah.
So we can point oh five designation of vice mayor.
So now go back.
Yes.
Uh that's clean up.
Yep.
Right.
3.05, yes, that would be cleanup because this didn't follow the change from three the election.
Three years.
That's that's clean up.
Okay.
Oh nine.
Uh what's oh nine?
Uh well, 3.08 reduces the number of consecutive absences from four to three.
Is that a is that cleanup?
Is that controversial?
There will be substantive more.
Yeah, it kind of depends what you mean.
I think there's more substantive than cleanup.
Yeah.
Okay.
We'll move on.
But again, if it's substantive and we feel like we're good with it.
I'm good with it.
Yeah.
I think I'm fine with that as well.
Unless someone on the commission feels like, hey, we really need more time in the community with this item.
So I think it sounds like I was just wondering if we're going to discuss it.
So basically this would say you can have a felony conviction and still serve it.
Right now you can't.
Not exactly because of the governor's powers.
So that there was this discussion about that, and by statute the governor has powers to suspend or remove.
So it seems so the the consensus of the co charter revision board was to leave it to the governor under law.
So it's taking it away from the city.
Yeah.
Uh let's put let's move on past that.
Yeah.
I don't think that's a more more discuss like community.
Organizational meeting, okay, both for the next regular meeting after okay.
No nine is is ministerial.
Mayor, can we go back just one minute one moment to 3.08?
There was also I think there was consensus last time to reduce the number of act absences from four to three.
Right.
I don't think that's a controversial part.
It's deleting the forfeiture of office for uh for felony conviction.
So what you could do, of course, is revise what's proposed or tell us to do something else or do part of it.
I think you should leave that in there.
I think you should leave the city that that any member of the city commission who shall, while in office, be convicted of a felony shall forfeit their office.
I think that should be our right, not just leaving it to the governor.
Yes.
Unfortunately, the um the missing meetings is in that same is in that same section.
So do you want to address that only, or do you want to move on and not address the section at all?
No, leave the whole leave everything the way it is.
It just changed from three from four to three and leave everything else.
Uh okay, but that would also that would go on the ballot to change from four to three absences and the good cause shown.
Four to three plus felony.
Uh right.
Yeah.
But the only change would be changing the four to three except for good cause shown.
Correct.
Okay.
So that would go on the ballot in part then.
All right.
What else what else you recommend?
Oh nine.
Is is that one three is three point oh eight requiring community input?
Or no?
No.
Okay.
Can we back up on that?
Yeah.
On the absences, though.
The only part that I had a little heartburn of it says unless good cause is shown.
How do we define good cause?
What's good cause and who determines that?
That's that's arbitrary.
Uh so how do we how do we determine what's good cause?
Yeah.
It's like the dog ate my homework?
I mean, what's a good cause?
We need to define these terms.
If we're going to put them in there, well, you're right.
You're right.
You know, good cause needs to be defined.
In some way, shape, or form.
It's it's it's uh it's too arbitrary.
Yeah, it's arbitrary and it it lends itself to manipulation.
All right, let's move on.
Let's move past that right now.
Uh 309.
That's that's serious.
That's fine, yeah.
Uh 312, uh 72 hours notice instead of six hours.
I mean, that's fine too.
That's ministerial.
No, well, I have an issue with that.
It used to just be six hours.
I'm saying it used to be six hours.
Well, I I think we need to talk about that.
That's not a cleanup because I think seventy-two hours is unreasonable.
Well, it says unless unless uh otherwise except emergency meeting.
And emergency you can still assess is practical under the circumstances.
Well, I why are we changing it to 72 hours though?
The original language is what, six hours?
Six hours.
The Charter Revision Board wanted longer notice.
Yeah, I think six hours is a little ridiculous.
As much as possible.
But many two hours is a lot of days, isn't it?
So if I if I decide we're gonna have a meeting at 10 o'clock in the morning, I have you you have to be here by four o'clock.
I mean, that's not fair.
What?
If I decide 10 o'clock in the morning that we want an emergency meeting by 4 o'clock the same day, is that fair?
Is that fair?
No.
No.
24 hours maybe.
72 might be excessive.
48 compromise.
I agree with John.
I think there's something I think there's something better than 72 and better than six.
I agree.
So let's do 24.
I can live with 24.
I mean, if you're out of town, you can get back in 24 hours.
Right.
And it still retains.
Or you can attend by Zoom.
Or you can or and that at least gives them enough time to set things up to attend remotely.
This is all pre-Zoom.
Pre-Zoom.
It presumes it's presumed.
Procedurally, are you in pulling these out?
Are you saying these are the ones you want to go forth on the ballot?
Yeah, these could go on the ballot.
Could or you would like to?
Let's just see what actually I think we might need to bring this all back once we go through this and have a second discussion about this.
So you'll pick out one.
We'll still have too many, I think, for where we're going to be able to do that.
Yeah, and that's kind of my point.
Yeah, but let's just pull out the ones that we know are ministerial, and then we can go back and decide which ones should go on the ballot.
Um human resources.
Um, so let's just let's just recap government just to make sure we're all on the same page.
Sure.
If you don't mind.
So just okay.
So let's go.
So true of them.
So 3.03.
Yep.
Qualification of members.
On the 3.03, the the only one that I was a little questioning of is 12 months in the city is fine.
I think 12 months in the district.
I I had a little bit of heartburn over that.
It it prohibits people from moving around the city.
I think if you're living in the city, you have a good understanding of what's going on in districts.
You could live on one side of the street and know what's going on on the other side of the street.
Um you know I look at it this way.
I would say roughly 80% to 90% of what we vote on are citywide issues.
They're not district-specific issues.
And I think if you're living in the district for at least six months, you have an opportunity to get out there, walk the streets, meet with the HOA members, and at the end of the day, it's up to the voters to decide if they feel that you represent them or not.
The voters are the ultimate determination of whether or not they think you're a suitable candidate for office to represent their district.
It shouldn't be us.
So I think six months is reasonable.
As long as you're a resident of the city, you're familiar with city issues.
I think the goal is to prevent people from moving into the city and immediately running for office.
We don't want people with no connection to the city.
But I think if you live in the city for a year, um I think six months in the district ought to be adequate.
Just my thought.
Right, I think six months in the district.
Because again, I would say if we go back and look at our at what's on our agenda tonight, 90% of that is things that are not in my district at the very least.
So I don't think I don't think district district residency for a year is necessary.
We vote on so many things that are not district related.
All right, so you're recommending you're recommending 12 months uh uh in the city, six months in the district, except for the mayor.
Because the mayor can live anywhere in the city, right?
Yeah, I mean I I like it a year both ways.
Yeah, me too.
I think it's important to be in the district.
Yeah, I think it should be consistent a year in the district, a year in the city.
Well, when I when I was reading over this, I I thought the timeline was a little assessive.
I thought it could be reduced.
So if we are talking about 12 for the city and six for the district, that will be a direction I will go in.
It's up to you.
It's up to you, King David.
Yeah.
Split it down the middle.
Nine months.
Uh well, I do like the 12 months in the city, first of all.
So we're in agreement in agreement with that, right?
Okay, all right.
So the question is within the district.
Uh so if you move in in July, you're already down at three months.
What's that?
You're already gonna miss all those commission meetings.
If you move in July to a district, you don't know what's going on for July, August, and um let's just all right.
Uh let's just leave it all at 12 months.
Let's just leave it all at 12 months.
Okay.
Anything else on government, uh, Commissioner Sorensen?
Uh thanks, Mary.
Just go back.
Let's just okay.
So but that's also the 18-year-old thing, right?
Yeah, right.
Qualification is 18-year-old thing.
Are you all quite a bit?
Which I'm good with 18, because I think well, you're in the Navy, though.
Exactly.
I'm I'm good with 18.
So we're good.
All right.
So I got out voted.
All right, fine.
See if I vote with you again.
First time for everything.
There you go.
Okay.
So 03.
So 03 is good to put on the ballot.
Okay.
04?
No.
No.
More community input.
Right.
05, good to go on the ballot.
08?
No.
More community input.
Right.
All right.
09.
Yeah.
Good to go on the ballot.
Yep.
That's it.
312 special meetings.
We're saying adjusting to 24 hours.
And with that adjustment.
Right.
Good to go on the ballot.
Yep.
So far, so good.
3.15.
More community input.
I think for this one, right?
Yeah.
Commissioner.
I'm sorry to do that.
I'm trying to understand what your end goal is, because I'm seeing you're selecting some for the ballot.
I get it.
We'd move forward with those as they are, or or not if they're too many.
We want to first identify which ones should that are not controversial that are cleanup items or that are items that even if they're changes, there we don't consider them controversial, and we're prepared to put them on the ballot.
Understood.
But when you say community, are you saying you you want items that you've not decided whether to put on the ballot to go back out in this process?
Correct, yeah.
Okay, that's what I want to understand.
Exactly.
So when I say community, that's more time.
And they may not make it on this ballot.
Right.
Yeah.
Okay.
So 3.15 is going to go out to the community.
Right.
I mean, okay, so that's government.
Yeah.
Great.
Okay.
Human resources.
Human resources.
Okay.
So we haven't talked about these yet.
But I think most of these are kind of ministerial.
Yeah, they're all ministerial.
Right?
Yeah.
May you excuse me, can I can I interject?
Can we go back to 3.1212 for a moment?
3.12?
Yes.
Yep.
So the reason for the 72 hour notice requirement is that it comes from the government in the Sunshine Manual.
And as soon as the as soon as practical for emergencies comes from the Broward County Charter.
So I would not recommend anything less than 72 hours public notice.
So we said 24 hours.
So we said 24 hours.
So for special He's staying for special meetings.
We should have 72 to conform with what this day sunshine manual says is sufficient for notice.
At least 72 hours.
Yeah, but we're saying that's too long.
So you want to go below what the state sunshine may have?
Yeah.
The state is just it's just a recommendation.
It's not a requirement.
Well, but it isn't, but we you would rely on that, of course, in defending yourself.
If anyone challenged, you would you would point to that to say that it was just saying no more than 72 hours or at least 72 hours?
The government the government in the sunshine law says reasonable notice.
It provide it doesn't set it doesn't set a um a number of hours.
However, the Attorney General's office, um I don't have the case law or the I don't have it in front of me, but the they have gleaned from the case law from the law that it should be at least 72.
At least 72.
Yeah.
Okay.
So it's saying at least 72, but otherwise, unless there's an emergency.
Right.
So I think as it is here is is good.
And we've also defined emergency and the as soon as practical.
I mean it's always going to be an emergency.
Right.
Exactly.
I mean, which the county charter also has requirements that apply to the comments.
I mean we're not held by the county, but okay.
All right.
Uh and human resources, I think we've agreed are um ministerial.
And sorry, mayor, just for 312, we're supporting moving forward on the ballot with that.
Is that right?
Okay, as is.
Great.
Okay, great.
Okay.
Property, those are all controversial.
Um I think those all need to go back out to the community.
Because I'm not I personally I'm not keen on unim and unanimous votes because that gives any one commissioner a veto power on all this.
So going to miscellaneous deletes the remnant mention of primary election.
Okay, because we don't have primary, so that can come off.
Sorry, Mayor, just for summary.
So all of property items, those discussion in the community, I think.
All human resources we're saying those are good to go on the ballot.
Okay, great.
And may I get one clarification?
When you say more community input, does that mean that it would be possible to get it on the ballot this year or it it's not going?
Um because of the short time frame as we have identified that we'd have to know by May 16th.
The uh I don't think there's going to be time to put it out there and get the type of feedback that we had originally anticipated.
I mean Mayor Almomano told me to told us today that they had five meetings when they did the infrastructure task force uh outreach for the City Hall project.
So you know you're not gonna have two meetings.
You're not gonna I mean I don't know how I mean is it's just too short of it's listen, it's a month.
Which is why I'm asking what do you mean when you say for community review?
Do you mean now in this process or do you mean at a later date?
Well, I think that I look, I mean, Anthony, I don't know how much time you need to to do this, but Mayor, uh it really isn't enough time.
I mean based on the based on the previous outreach efforts that we tried to do, I wouldn't be able to get it all done.
Right.
So it would be for some future election date.
So then when you're saying ballot, those are the ones we're going to put together, turn and bring back to you in final form.
And the others at some point will be sent out to the community.
Not in between here and then, but some other time.
At some time, at some point.
So I want to be clear.
Yeah.
Okay.
Okay, can we mayor you're at miscellaneous?
Now on a miscellaneous 716 is uh no problem, none of that.
Miscellaneous, that's uh deletes um primary election.
Uh repeals requirement two publications for public hearings.
Wanna explain that?
Sure.
10.03.
So currently for any time you have a public hearing, there need to be two uh notices published in the newspaper.
Right.
Uh now this statute statutes regarding rezoning, land use speak for themselves, and they require they require of the two publications.
But there are but anything else that you call a public hearing, there's really no law that requires uh the two publications, and it seems superfluous.
Um there is let's see.
So you're saying on on matters of zoning, what else were those categories?
Well this the um this the statute speaks for itself in 166.041.
I'm it's it's not speaking to me.
So you're not listening, Mayor?
I'm not listening.
So currently current currently it says that there need to be published one once a week for two consecutive weeks in the official newspaper early.
Wait, speaking to the mic, speaking to the mic a little bit.
So a note uh the way it's written is a notice for an invitation for bids, a notice to material men, and other types of notice requires to be published, and uh a notice of public hearing before the city commission have to be published once a week for two consecutive weeks in the official newspaper of the city, with the first publication at least twelve days before date the date of such public hearing or time for filing bids and second publication uh seven days after the first publication.
Right, but I mean is the city manager's office finding that two uh publications to be onerous.
I mean, where does this where is this coming from?
We're not finding it to be onerous.
The clerk may have some.
Mayor, I think it just it costs money and we publicize online.
I just I think it's an outdated way to to publicize as we do now rather than requirement in it.
The county has the system where we can advertise through their system, and I believe the legislation was talking about where we can put the publications on our own website.
So either way it would be a lot cheaper than having them two times in the newspaper.
An interesting uh an interesting thing, Mayor Commissioners, about our agenda is that we have two separate sections of the agenda, one for public hearings, one for ordinances.
In actuality, ordinances are public hearings, because the statute uses the word the the public can be heard.
So ordinances are generally in in many places ordinances are under the public hearing category of an agenda, which you could do if you eliminate this.
But any time something is called a public hearing here, it requires these two publications.
And that's why we have a separate section of the agenda called ordinances.
Right.
So they're not public hearings.
Right.
Even though they are.
Right.
I I know it's confusing.
Um if we go with that, that's really the end of everything then.
Yeah, and just go back to miscellaneous, just to double checks.
Yeah.
So Mayor, so we're saying Okay, both of these would go on the ballot.
Yep.
Okay.
So can you just uh uh between now and the next meeting, if you could just um put together a summary of what we just discussed, so and then we'll decide uh what should go on the ballot.
What we have till May 19th, is it?
Yeah.
Um I have a question, Mayor.
Yeah, yeah.
I know there are some items uh where you've identified uh community input is required at some later time.
Is there any appetite from the commission to do any community notification, outreach, publicity on the ones that the commission has identified as going on the ballot or potentially going on the ballot?
I think it's important to just educate that we're this first stab at this is really just clean up and explain what we're doing, and then subsequent elections will have it would be put on an agenda.
That that would be one notice.
Yeah.
Um I think the council is willing to help us with this as well.
The Council of Fort Royal Civic Associations will have a few weeks and but I think we're the city manager wants to know how are we going to publicize what we just decided tonight.
Just want to know the expectations.
So if it's just something to be posted on an agenda and that qualifies as enough notice and publication and publicity.
I don't think so.
I think we should, you know, if we could get a summary list for us, and then you know you all can disseminate it in your neighborhood meetings.
But we have magazines, we have other ways.
We we send out emails from the city all the time.
There are other ways I think we can help educate about what we're doing at you know, taking the first step at this.
I think between the council and strategic communications we can share, hey, these are the items that the commission is looking at and why this is the first group.
Okay.
All right.
Mayor, before we move on, could we just do that um what we have agreed to go down the list?
I don't either.
Okay, that's why I asked our list.
303.
Yeah, we'll have to do that.
And that's why hopefully we can do that before we go so we all know what which items are what we're gonna do.
Go through it again.
So government click on there you go.
303.
So qualific.
So these are the items well, so 303 is going.
Just just so tell me the ones that are that you intend or you would like to put on the ballot.
Just those.
What are we doing?
Okay, so the sum.
So be on the ballot.
Okay, great.
So 303, right?
Right.
30.
Okay.
308.
309.
Yeah.
I think we said 308.
308.
No, wait, because of the one more time.
309.
Yeah.
312.
Notice.
That's it for that group.
Right.
And then all of the human resources.
Okay, so hold on, let's just make sure city attorney is good.
After 312.
So 312, the last one.
Okay, and then we're moving on next to the case.
And then all the human resources.
All of them.
All of okay.
Yeah, yeah.
None of the property.
None of the properties.
And both of the miscellaneous.
And then there we go.
And both of the miscellaneous.
There you go, that wasn't so bad.
Yep.
So that gives us one, two, three, four, nine.
Nine, ten.
If I count correctly.
Then I'm hopeful that some could be kind of called together and into one or two.
And then you you could we could bring them back and you could decide whether you'd want the eight or nine or whether you want to whittle it down.
Is that a reasonable number?
Ten.
For the ballot?
No.
We're allowed up to 18.
No, you would have to whittle it down, I would recommend.
Yeah.
Okay.
All right.
So we have time to think this through.
Mayor, also, if I may.
Will you want input on the actual ballot question?
I've started working on them, and some of the sections can go together.
So the single the single subject rule that you hear about with constitutional amendments doesn't apply to municipalities.
So you could you could combine some things that that'll condense them you could recommend similar subject matter.
And I can share, I can share an example that I've all that I've drafted if you want to hear an example.
And so keep in mind that the ballot question is limited to 75 words.
The title is limited to 15 words.
So here's one for example, just uh as a draft.
Um the title being organizational meeting and and designation of vice mayor.
Should the charter of the city of Fort Lauderdale be amended so that elected officials whose election has been certified by the Broward County Canvassing Board assume office at the first regular city commission meeting following certification, and so that a vice mayor is designated at the city commission's first meeting after all elected officials assume office following a regular municipal election and annually thereafter instead of at the first city commission meeting in April.
All right, so that combines that combines a couple.
Right.
That's a good example.
Yes or no.
And then now, of course, uh it is what I call a package deal because if it's it's it's voted up or down.
I agree.
I think we can agree with that.
Yeah.
Um so if you could take some time and try to combine them, because you're not really reciting the whole change, the whole amendment.
You're just reciting, you're just summarizing.
Right.
It's a summary.
Yeah.
When I have more, I can I'll be glad to share them with you if you're not going to be able to do it here.
Well, why don't you put them in in written form?
Because it's hard for I personally can't really absorb it all.
You gave us a good example, but if you could just put that in written form to us and send it to our offices, that way by the next meeting we can we can decide what what uh works best for us going to be.
The mayor's a visual learner.
Sure.
Yes.
Can you go back to just government three?
If you'd click on government, thank you.
Government 304.
So we're saying 30.
I just want to look at this again.
We we didn't circle that.
Right.
So we're saying 304 will come will more community engagement.
And click on that language, are you does it?
Oh no, it doesn't.
Oh yeah, thanks.
I just wanted to see this one more time.
And so what what was our our hesitation was around the felony piece?
Is that yep.
Uh-huh.
Okay.
So mayor, if I dare remind you that it was from the discussion on October 7th, that you all wanted more of a process for the um for the documentation, and that's why we we inserted language or the charter board inserted language that all candidates would submit to the city clerk for ministerial review, because that's what he does.
Documentation necessary to demonstrate compliance with the charter and applicable law.
And that was one of the things that actually you had wanted back in October.
Yes.
Just for clarification, I thought the felony conviction was part of 3.08, not this is not the paragraph then.
Okay.
So oh, so the felony goes 3.0 as part of 3.08?
Yeah.
So I I like this 3.04 line, but you know, the underlying changes.
Are we good with that?
I didn't have an objection to it.
Okay.
So I I we can go forward with 3.04.
3.04.
Let's City Attorney 3.04, then on the back.
Yeah.
Okay.
Thanks.
So that was one question.
Okay.
Thank you.
Thank you all.
Thanks, Mayor.
Okay, is there any further business of the conference meeting?
Thank you so much for your work, Paul.
Thank you so much.
I really appreciate everything you've done.
Thank you.
Mayor, if I could just thank uh Jania Robinson, who is the liaison to the Charter Revision Board.
Just want to thank her for all her work.
Uh she has been along for this ride for many years.
Okay.
Thank you.
Meetings adjourned.
Thank you.
Fort Lauderdale City Commission Meeting - April 7, 2026
The Fort Lauderdale City Commission met on April 7, 2026, starting at approximately 11:45 AM (though the evening session began after 6 PM). The meeting included proclamations, consent agenda approvals, a public hearing on a dock waiver that was ultimately denied, and a conference meeting to finalize charter revision ballot items. Commissioners unanimously approved most routine items and voted to deny a controversial dock extension after extensive testimony.
Proclamations and Recognitions
- Moment of Silence: The Mayor observed a moment of silence for three community members who passed away: Tom Chancy (landscape architect, Tree Bank founder), Richard Rodriguez (former Riverwalk Board chair), and former Coral Springs Vice Mayor Nancy Mateur.
- Retirements: Five employees with 20+ years of service were recognized: Police Officer Kenrich John (20 years), Firefighter Paramedic Jeffrey Fogg (28 years), Captain Joshua Wells (28 years), Driver Engineer Gregory Snyder (32 years), and Captain Antonio Yan (32 years).
- National Child Abuse Prevention Month (April 2026): Presented by Commissioner Sorensen and Carrie Ann Brown from Guardian ad Litem. Statistics cited: 100% legal representation for children in Florida, 97% appellate success rate, 8,000+ volunteers statewide contributing over 194,000 hours and traveling over 1 million miles.
- World Landscape Architecture Month (April 2026): Presented by Commissioner Beasley Pittman and Jordan Chang (Florida ASLA chapter). Recognized landscape architects’ role in addressing sea level rise, climate change, and urban resilience.
- Water Conservation Month (April 2026): Presented by Commissioner Glassman, Talal Abi Karam (Utilities), and Julio Yeheda (SFWMD). Noted 40 million gallons of water used daily in Fort Lauderdale; average family can save 13,000 gallons and $140 annually by replacing toilets, with a $125 rebate. The city is investing $60 million in an AMI smart meter program replacing 65,000 meters. Irrigation limited to two days per week per city ordinance.
- Arbor Day (April 24, 2026): Presented by Mayor Trantalis and Urban Forester Laura Tooley. The city aims for 33% tree canopy coverage by 2040 and has been a Tree City USA for 47 consecutive years.
Consent Calendar
The consent agenda items were approved unanimously without discussion.
Public Comments & Testimony
- PH1 – Dock Waiver at 1409 SW 17th Street (River Oaks neighborhood): Several residents spoke in opposition. Amber Calderon, a new homeowner on the affected canal, said the oversized dock would reduce property values and change the character of the neighborhood. Ted (President of River Oaks Republic) noted the Marine Advisory Board voted 15–0 against the waiver in November 2025, but the item reappeared on the agenda. He also reported that an arborist concluded all remaining trees on Las Olas median are healthy. Roy Rodriguez showed an AI-generated image to illustrate the dock's potential impact, though the Mayor expressed skepticism about AI evidence. Julie Jeffries, whose property is directly across the canal, drove over two hours to oppose the project, citing water conservation and emergency access concerns. No one spoke in favor beyond the applicant’s attorney.
Discussion Items
- M1 – Revocable License Agreement Extension: Approved unanimously for Midtown PAL Flagler Village LLC for temporary right-of-way closure on Sistrunk Boulevard and NE 4th Avenue.
- R2 – Interactive Digital Kiosk Program (IKE Smart City): Commissioner Beasley Pittman asked about placement criteria to avoid cluttering A1A. The City Manager stated locations will be negotiated with neighborhoods and stakeholders. The resolution passed with a 21-day competition period.
- R3 and R4 – Easement Vacations: Both quasi-judicial resolutions were approved unanimously after short public hearings.
- PH1 – Dock Waiver (Detailed Discussion): The applicant’s attorney, Ryan Abrams, argued that the dock should be measured from the property line (submerged land) rather than the seawall, citing city code definitions. He claimed the dock would not obstruct navigation and that extraordinary circumstances existed because the city had inconsistently applied the code. The Marine Advisory Board had recommended approval of a 36.5-foot finger pier (the shorter of two requests) but the applicant originally sought a 56.5-foot pier. Commissioner Sorensen, the district commissioner, moved to deny the application, stating he did not see evidence of extraordinary circumstances. After a lengthy debate, the commission voted 5–0 to deny the waiver. The resolution of denial cited that the proposed 56.5-foot extension exceeded the 30% waterway width limit and lacked competent substantial evidence of extraordinary circumstances.
- PH2 – Parks GO Bond Reallocation: Approved unanimously. $774,146.88 was reallocated: $474,146.88 to Bass Park Improvement and $300,000 to Lauderdale Isles Landing Improvement (from North Fork Elementary project due to school closure).
- OFR1 & OFR2 – First Reading of Ordinances: Both passed unanimously. OFR1 amends public notice procedures for land development; OFR2 vacates a 50 ft x 102 ft portion of Coconut Drive right-of-way.
- OSR1 – Second Reading (Ambulance User Fee Increase): Passed unanimously.
- R5 – Vice Mayor Designation: Commissioner Ben Sorensen was designated Vice Mayor for a term through April 2027. He was nominated by District 4 and accepted.
Conference Meeting – Charter Revision Recommendations
The commission discussed which recommendations from the Charter Revision Board to place on the June 8 ballot (deadline for submission: May 19 first reading, June 2 second reading). They decided to move forward with a subset of items deemed “cleanup” or non-controversial, subject to combining into fewer ballot questions. The following items were approved for the ballot (subject to final wording):
- Government items: 3.03 (qualifications: 12 months city residency, 12 months district, age 18); 3.04 (ministerial review by city clerk for candidate documentation); 3.05 (vice mayor designation timing); 3.08 (change consecutive absences from 4 to 3, with good cause; leave felony forfeiture unchanged); 3.09 (organizational meeting after election certification); 3.12 (special meeting notice set at 72 hours, consistent with Sunshine Manual).
- Human Resources items: All four human resources recommendations (ministerial) were approved for the ballot.
- Miscellaneous items: Both recommendations (delete remnant of primary election; repeal requirement for two newspaper publications for public hearings) were approved.
- Items deferred for community input: Property-related recommendations (e.g., unanimous votes for land sales) and others deemed more substantial (3.04? Actually 3.04 was later added to ballot; the only deferred were property items and 3.15? The transcript indicates all property items need more community input and will not make the current ballot. Also items like 3.08 originally had a felony forfeiture removal that was not adopted. The commission will hold a subsequent meeting to refine ballot language and possibly combine questions.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda Approved (unanimous).
- M1, R1, R2, R3, R4, PH2, OFR1, OFR2, OSR1, R5 all approved unanimously.
- PH1 (Dock Waiver) Denied (5–0). Resolution of denial adopted.
- Charter Revision: The commission identified approximately 9–10 items to advance to the May 19 first reading, with plans to consolidate into fewer ballot questions. Staff will produce draft ballot language. Remaining items will undergo community outreach for a future election cycle.
Meeting Transcript
This April 7th, 2026. Shh. Thank you for all for being here. Um sorry we got uh started a little bit late, and I appreciate your patience. Uh the afternoon meeting went uh a little longer than we expected. Um so for those of you who are here for the first time, we want to thank you for being here. And uh we start out our meetings with the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence, and then we go into various announcements. So if I could please ask you all to please rise and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. 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, justice for all. Thank you. Please be seated. So this has been a rather um difficult week for many members of our community. Um three people have passed away. Uh we have uh Tom Chancy, who was the landscape architect and founder of the nonprofit Tree Bank. We have Richard Rodriguez, who is the former chair of the Riverwalk Board of Directors, and tragically, of course, um former uh Vice Mayor Nancy Mateur of the City of Coral Springs. So if you could please join me in a moment of silence in remembrance of them. Thank you. At this time, I also want to take uh point of special privilege to be able to announce some retirements here in our city. We have five people who have served uh 20 years or more in uh in our in our city, and I want to thank them for their service first with Kenrich John, police officer with our department for 20 years. Thank you so much for your service. We have Jeffrey Fogg, uh firefighter paramedic firefighter paramedic with our fire rescue department, 28 years. Thank you for your service. Joshua Wells, captain with fire rescue, 28 years. Congratulations. Gregory Snyder, driver engineer, fire rescue, 32 years. Wow. Congratulations. And Antonio Yan, captain with Fire Rescue, been with us 32 years. Wow, thank you so much for your service. They were here at the height of spring break. Anyway, uh, if you were here this afternoon, you would understand that joke. Anyway, so um it's really great. Uh unfortunately, we lost uh four people in fire rescue, so get to work recruit, recruit, recruit. Okay. Um Mr. Clerk, could you please call the roll? Vice Mayor Herbst. Commissioner Glossman. Here. Commissioner Beasley Pittman. Here. Commissioner Sorensen. Here. Mayor Trentals. Yes, here. Uh a couple of agenda announcements. First of all, M2, we are removing from the agenda. Uh that's concerning um uh the the Jacob Engineering contract. And then uh aside from that, do I hear a motion to approve the minutes and the agenda as amended? Moved to second.
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