LauderBriefs: August 16 City Commission Meeting Updates

The City of Fort Lauderdale is hosting City Commission meetings in-person at City Hall located at 100 N Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301. If any person wishes to address the City Commission, the person shall sign up in the City Hall lobby using the City Clerk's iPad. The public can listen to and view City Commission meetings on FLTV, YouTube, Comcast Channel 78, and AT&T U-verse Channel 99. To learn more about City Commission meetings, visit fortlauderdale.gov/citycommissionmeetings.

In case you missed them, following are highlights from the Fort Lauderdale City Commission meetings on Tuesday, August 16, 2022. The video is available at youtube.com/cityoffortlauderdale and the vote summary will be available later this week at fortlauderdale.legistar.com/calendar.

CITY COMMISSION JOINT WORKSHOP WITH BUDGET ADVISORY BOARD

City Commission Discusses FY 2023 Proposed Budget
The City's Budget Advisory Board (BAB) expressed unanimous support for the proposed fiscal year (FY) 2023 budget, which totals $981 million. BAB Chair Brian Donaldson spoke on behalf of the Board and highlighted the fact that less than 25% of the overall budget comes from ad valorem tax revenue, reflecting the diverse funding sources that contribute to the City's budget. To appropriately address levels of service in our growing city, the budget includes additional full-time positions for Police, Fire Rescue, Parks and Recreation, and other departments, bringing the total number of full-time City employees to 2,792 in FY 2023 from 2,698 in FY 2020. Interim City Auditor Patrick Reilly also presented a review of the FY 2023 budget and Community Investment Plan (CIP), concluding that the proposed budget is balanced and allocates funding to the City Commission's priorities. The City Commission will hold budget hearings on Tuesday, September 6 and Monday, September 12. To review the FY 2023 proposed budget, visit fortlauderdale.gov/budget. For details, visit ftlcity.info/3ArQUET.

CITY COMMISSION CONFERENCE MEETING

City Commission Discusses New River Crossing and Broward Commuter Rail
Broward County is working with Miami-Dade County to advance the South segment of the Broward Commuter Rail, which would connect the rail system from Aventura into Broward County, with stops at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and near SW 17 Street. The County Commission will define this project as the Local Preferred Alternative (LPA) in anticipation of submitting funding requests for Federal Transit Authority grant funds. Future projects are anticipated to extend the commuter rail north across the New River and from the New River to Deerfield Beach. As part of this discussion, the City Commission reaffirmed its unanimous support and preference for a tunnel, rather than a bridge, for the New River crossing and discussed the City's intentions to continue analyzing the project's feasibility. City and County staff are working to refine the capital cost estimates, ongoing maintenance and operational funding needs, and ridership modeling for developing a tunnel. The City Commission expressed support for the Broward County Commuter Rail initiative and would like the County to consider its preference for developing a tunnel to cross the New River. For details, visit ftlcity.info/3pE9Km1.

COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (CRA) BOARD MEETING

CRA Board Approves $1.125 Million Forgivable Loan for the Food Friends Southern Comfort Kitchen and Bar
The Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board of Commissioners awarded a Development Incentive Program (DIP) forgivable loan in the amount of $1.125 million to Food Friends Catering, LLC for the Food Friends Southern Comfort Kitchen and Bar. The funds will be used to renovate an existing derelict building at 1310-1312 Sistrunk Boulevard for the restaurant, which will also serve as a hub for Food Friends Catering, LLC's existing catering business. The approximately 3,012-square-foot, two-story restaurant/bar will include an outdoor dining area on the main floor and a patio on the second floor. For details, visit ftlcity.info/3C5N1Xk.

CRA Board Votes Against DIP Award for Sistrunk View, LLC
The Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board of Commissioners did not approve a resolution for a Development Incentive Program (DIP) award of $5 million to Sistrunk View, LLC for the Sistrunk View Project. The project came before the Commission following a Request for Proposal (RFP) solicitation process. It included Sistrunk View LLC / Housing Trust Group's proposal for development of .973 acres of CRA property located on the south side of Sistrunk Boulevard between NW 7 Terrace and NW 8 Avenue. The proposal included a six-story, mixed-use affordable housing development consisting of 106 apartment homes; over 10,000 square feet of amenity space; and 5,700 square feet of commercial space. Prior to voting, the CRA Board of Commissioners shared their ideas for optimal use of this CRA property, and for this reason, the majority did not approve the proposal. For details, visit ftlcity.info/3dFH3lW.

CITY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING

City Commission Approves Agreements for Student Ride Alongs with the Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue Department
The City Commission approved a three-year agreement with the School Board of Broward County allowing Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) students to ride along with City Fire Rescue Department paramedics. The practical learning component includes hand-on training and allows students to apply what they learn in the classroom to real-life situations. The City Commission also approved a similar agreement with the City of Coral Springs. For details, visit ftlcity.info/3bUjrcN and ftlcity.info/3CfmhUf.

City Commission Accepts Donation of Teqball Tables
A new recreation option is coming to Fort Lauderdale Beach! Teqball USA, LLC has donated three teqball tables to the City with an estimated value of $7,197 to assist with developing teqball as a community sport. The tables, which look like curved ping pong tables, are used together with a soccer ball. Two tables will be permanently located on the southern end of Fort Lauderdale Beach in the activity area near the volleyball courts. The third table is a portable table that will be set up at future City events. For details, visit ftlcity.info/3dBHEoA.

City Commission Approves Agreement for Southeast Isles Seawall Replacements and Stormwater Improvements
The City Commission approved a $2,954,062 agreement with Poseidon Dredge & Marine, Inc. for the Southeast Isles Seawall Replacements and Stormwater Improvements Project. This project includes the replacement of approximately 790 linear feet of existing seawalls along East Las Olas Boulevard and along SE 10 Street. Nearby stormwater infrastructure will be improved to ensure proper drainage of surface water runoff. Construction is expected to begin in early 2023. For details, visit ftlcity.info/3pmxTNB.

City Commission Approves Acceptance of 2022-2023 SHIP Funds to Support Affordable Housing
The City Commission passed a motion accepting $1,782,257 in State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) funds. Together with $50,000 in estimated program income for FY 2022-2023, this results in a total of $1,832,257 available for affordable housing. The funds will be utilized to implement strategies identified in the City's approved 2022-2025 Local Housing Assistance Plan (LHAP), which focuses on making affordable residential units available to persons of very low income, low income, or moderate income and to persons with special needs including homeless individuals, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. For details, visit ftlcity.info/3prZvB3.

City Commission Approves Affordable Housing Development Agreement for The Arcadian
The City Commission adopted a resolution to enter into an Affordable Housing Development Agreement with Sunshine Shipyard, LLC related to The Arcadian development at 640 NW 7 Avenue. Of the 480 residential units, 48 units will be set aside as affordable in perpetuity to be rented to households with a gross household income that is up to 100% of the median gross household income within Broward County. The development will also include 15,000 square feet of commercial use space. For details, visit ftlcity.info/3QuMUch.

City Commission Approves Development Permit for Fort Lauderdale Police Headquarters
We're one step closer to beginning construction on our new police headquarters! The City Commission adopted a resolution issuing a Site Plan Level IV Development Permit for the new Fort Lauderdale Police Headquarters Building. This project includes the construction of a new 191,000-square-foot police facility featuring a three-story headquarters building with a parking garage, indoor training range, and community center at 1300 W. Broward Boulevard in the Sailboat Bend Historic District. An updated cost estimate is expected in early September and construction could begin as soon as late this calendar year. For details, visit ftlcity.info/3Pwkc9v.

City Commission Passes Ordinance That Aims to Improve Pedestrian and Vehicular Safety
The City Commission passed an ordinance on first reading repealing Ordinance No. C-12-10 and deleting and replacing Section 16-82 of the City's Code of Ordinances with a proposed ordinance entitled "Obstructing Public Streets and Rights-of-Way." The proposed ordinance is intended to improve public safety, pedestrian and vehicular safety within the City's rights-of-way including streets, sidewalks, driveways, and swale areas. Examples of unlawful activities described in the ordinance include sitting or standing in or on any unpaved median, occupying a travel lane while traffic is flowing, impeding traffic flow, remaining in a paved road designated for vehicular use when traffic flow commences, and jaywalking. For details, visit ftlcity.info/3Cfp8wq.

More Information
For more information on the August 16, 2022, Commission meetings, visit fortlauderdale.legistar.com/calendar.

Upcoming City Commission Meetings
The next regularly scheduled City Commission meetings will take place on Tuesday, September 6. The City Commission will hold budget hearings on Tuesday, September 6 and Monday, September 12.

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