Fort Lauderdale City Commission Meeting - October 20, 2026

The Fort Lauderdale City Commission held its regular meeting on October 20, 2026, at 6:00 PM. The meeting featured presentations, a consent agenda, public hearings, and multiple resolutions and ordinances. The most significant action was the unanimous vote to decertify the 111 Properties Special Entertainment Overlay District (SED) on Himmarshee Street, following extensive public testimony and commission debate. The meeting also included the receipt of $4,198,199 in grant checks from the Florida Inland Navigation District, adoption of a $82.6 million stormwater improvement contract, and first readings of several ordinances.

Presentations

• FIND Grant Check Presentation: Broward County Commissioner Richard Waltzer presented $4,198,199 in grants from the Florida Inland Navigation District for the Fort Lauderdale Police Marine Unit boat engines ($48,500), a new police boat ($125,000), George English Park floating dock ($75,000), International Swimming Hall of Fame Public Dock and Promenade Phase 1 Part 2 ($282,500), International Swimming Hall of Fame West Promenade Phase 2 ($407,500), Seville seawall replacement ($206,985), North Fork Park Promenade Kayak Launch Phase 1 ($85,000), and Riverwalk North Replacement Part 2 ($2,967,214). Waltzer noted he has written over $15 million in grants to the city over the last three years.
• Broward County Guardianship Awareness Month Proclamation: Vice Mayor Sorensen presented a proclamation declaring October 2026 as Guardianship Awareness Month. Peter Leighton of the Broward County Guardianship Association noted there are 552,000 seniors and potentially vulnerable adults in Broward County.
• National Code Enforcement Appreciation Month Proclamation: Commissioner Beasley-Pittman presented a proclamation noting that in 2025, the Fort Lauderdale Code Enforcement Team conducted 41,572 inspections citywide.
• Energy Awareness Month Proclamation: Commissioner Glassman presented a proclamation declaring October 2026 as Energy Awareness Month. Barbara Martinez Guerrero of Dream in Green highlighted that residential and commercial buildings account for almost 30% of total U.S. end-use energy consumption.

Consent Calendar

All consent agenda items (CM-1 through CM-8, CR-1 through CR-3, CP-1 through CP-3) were approved unanimously by roll call vote. Items included event agreements (International SuperYacht Society Gala, Posh Halloween Soca Bash, Friday Dining in the Street, Day of the Dead Celebration, Light the Night 2026), a 2027 events agreement with Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale, revocable licenses for construction-related road closures, a lot clearing special assessment lien resolution, FY2027 service agreements with Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale ($317,200 plus $50,400 for Go Riverwalk Magazine), a lockbox services agreement ($169,360), a Motorola radio system maintenance agreement ($662,624.52), and pumping services agreements ($400,000 initial contract amount).

Public Comments & Testimony

On PH-5 (Decertification of 111 Properties SED):

• Supporting decertification: Jenny Moorehone (Downtown Development Authority), Aina Lee, Kate Lockery (Fort Lauderdale Historical Society volunteer, board member), Charlie Ladd (DDA board member, developer), Ty Sutton (President & CEO, Broward Center for the Performing Arts), Bonnie Barnett (Performing Arts Center board member), John Millich (General Counsel, DDA, and board member of Performing Arts Center), Deb Motwani (board member of DDA and PACA, chair of Broward Center Foundation), Richard Mercedes (owner of Emily's Garden), Alan Hooper (chairman of PACA), Joe Cox (President & CEO, Museum of Discovery and Science – noted 526,000 visitors in 2025, $37 million economic impact), Connie Brown (History Fort Lauderdale board member), George Hanbury (member of Broward Workshop), Adam Peterson on behalf of Tim Petrillo, Robert Lockery (resident, business owner, board member of Performing Arts Center Authority and Museum of Discovery and Science), Carol Henderson (History Fort Lauderdale board member – 15 board members support), Stephanie Toothacre (chair of DDA, speaking as a mother of a 17-year-old), Bill Brown (president of The Isles Home Council of Civic Association). Many cited crime, underage drinking, violence, and negative impacts on cultural institutions.
• Opposing decertification: Ian Lowe (owner of Fat Cats – argued crime stats are down, decertification would hurt good actors, asked for a path forward), Connie Brown (attorney for Dicey Riley's – asked for transition time and grandfathering), Ellen Bogdanoff (attorney for several bar owners including Sway – argued crime has decreased since open container removal, enforcement is finally working, called decertification premature), Sandy Faye (Riverwalk Center – urged simultaneous implementation of extended hours permit ordinance), Samantha Coslow (former bar employee – said bars comply, problem is outside loitering), Bill Brown (owner of Poor House – noted pop-up bars in parking lots, asked for shared responsibility), Jeff John (owner of Revolution Live – noted good actors, asked to target bad actors), Ristey Sikolowski (owner of Bandaleros Tacos and other businesses – argued 21-and-up enforcement is the solution, not hour cuts).

On M-2 and M-3 (Stormwater projects):

• Stephanie Toothacre (representing DMSI) confirmed a change requested by the city auditor had been agreed to.

Discussion Items

• PH-5 – Decertification of 111 Properties SED: Staff presented findings that the district was out of compliance: the corporation was administratively dissolved in September 2019, the last executed agreement expired in 2013, properties were sold in 2024, and there were ongoing police, fire, and code enforcement issues. After extensive public comment, Commissioner Glassman (District 2) moved to approve the decertification ordinance (with 180 days for distance separation compliance) and remove the 180-day waiting period for hours and sound levels. Vice Mayor Sorensen asked for clarification on legal liability; city attorney recommended keeping 180 days for distance separation. Motion passed as introduced with 180 days.
• OFR-1 – Extended Hour Permit District Ordinance: Commissioner Glassman moved to table this item indefinitely, stating the decertification made it moot. Motion passed 5-0.
• R-6 – Cypress PDD Amendment: Commissioner Herbst abstained due to a potential conflict of interest (discussing future employment with the developer). Resolution approved 4-0.
• R-8 – 317 North Federal Site Plan: Commissioners disclosed communications with the applicant. Approved unanimously.
• PH-2 – Bokamper’s Property Alley Vacation: Commissioners disclosed site visits and communications. Approved unanimously.
• PH-3 – Fire Station at 507 SE 11th Court: Vice Mayor Sorensen commended staff for moving the EMS substation forward. Approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• PH-5 (Decertification of 111 Properties SED): Approved 5-0. Upon final passage (scheduled for November 17, 2026), extended hours (4 AM) and amplified sound privileges will revert to citywide standards (2 AM weekdays, 3 AM weekends). The distance separation requirement (300 feet between alcohol establishments) will have a 180-day compliance period. Staff will work on a transition process for businesses.
• OFR-1 (Extended Hour Permit District): Tabled indefinitely 5-0.
• M-1 (Interlocal Agreement with Broward County for Uptown Urban Village): Approved 5-0.
• M-2 (Riverland Neighborhood Stormwater Improvements – DMSI, $82,643,846): Approved 5-0.
• M-3 (Melrose Manors Neighborhood Stormwater Improvements – Man-Con, $91,840,159): Approved 5-0.
• R-1 (Board and Committee Appointments): Approved as amended.
• R-2 (DDA FY2027 Millage Rate – operating 0.6271, debt service 0.3568): Approved 5-0.
• R-3 (23rd Amendment to A1A Landscape Maintenance Agreement): Approved 5-0.
• R-4 (Appointment of Greenberg Traurig as Special Counsel): Approved 5-0.
• R-5 (City Auditor Patrick Reilly Annual Performance Review): Approved with 3% merit salary increase effective October 15, 2026. Approved 5-0.
• R-6 (Cypress PDD Amendment): Approved 4-0 (Commissioner Herbst abstained).
• R-7 (Sistrunk View Utility Easement Vacation): Approved 5-0.
• R-8 (317 North Federal Site Plan – 773 residential units, 7,821 sq ft commercial): Approved 5-0.
• PH-1 (Waiver of Limitations for Finger Pier at 1817 SE 21 Ave): Approved 5-0.
• PH-2 (Bokamper’s Property Alley Vacation): Approved 5-0.
• PH-3 (Fire Station at 507 SE 11th Court): Approved 5-0.
• PH-4 (Increase in Civil Penalties for Alcoholic Beverage Violations – first reading): Approved 5-0.
• OFR-2 (Sidewalk Construction Requirements Amendment – first reading): Approved 5-0.
• OFR-3 (Establish Homeless Advisory Board – first reading): Approved 5-0.
• OFR-4 (Allow Retirees on General Employees’ Retirement Plan Board – first reading): Approved 5-0.
• OFR-5 (Police and Firefighters Retirement System Amendments – first reading): Approved 5-0.