LauderBriefs: Updates from the March 23 City Commission Meeting

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, the following are highlights from the Fort Lauderdale City Commission meetings on March 23, 2023. 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 CONFERENCE MEETING

Commission Updated on City-Sponsored Events for April, May, and June
City staff provided a list of scheduled City-sponsored events to be held April 1 through June 30, along with the total budget allocated for each event. Events include Sips, Sounds, and Splats; Carter Park Jamz; Jazz Brunch; Starlight Musicals; Relay for Life; Viernes Musicales; and Great American Beach Party. For details, visit ftlcity.info/3JH5wmY.

Commission Hears City's Strategies for Communicating with the Public
City staff outlined the areas of service and support provided by the Division of Strategic Communications, including public outreach and marketing, internal and external communications, social media, video production, special events, and branding and graphic design. Staff also discussed outreach efforts new in 2023, including a digital and print magazine, FTL Connect, and a website dedicated to major projects, fortlauderdale.gov/majorprojects. For details, visit ftlcity.info/3JDQU86.

COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BOARD MEETING

Board Approves Motion to Accept CRA's Annual and Audit Reports
The Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board of Commissioners approved the annual report and audit report of the Fort Lauderdale Community Redevelopment Agency (FLCRA) for fiscal year 2022. The motion authorizes CRA's Executive Director to send the reports to local taxing authorities. For details, visit ftlcity.info/3Z1ocDD.

CITY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING

Commission Approves Application and Agreement with Hotel for Sales on the Beach
The City Commission approved a license application and agreement with the owner and operator of the Ritz Carlton Hotel for the sale, service, and consumption of food and alcoholic beverages on the public beach directly in front of the hotel, located at 1 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard. For details, visit ftlcity.info/3JH15bL.

Commission Authorizes Agreement with the State to Access Driver and Vehicle Information
The City Commission approved a resolution that allows the City Manager to execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the State of Florida's Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. The MOU allows the City to access the registered vehicle owner database for parking operational needs. The current agreement expires June 28. For details, visit ftlcity.info/40tdF5b.

Commission Agrees to Create a Search Committee for the Open City Attorney Position
The City Commission approved a resolution to create a five-member City Attorney Search Committee. The committee will assist with the selection of candidates and prepare a short list of candidates to be reviewed by the Commission. For details, visit ftlcity.info/3LGcKue.

Commission Approves the Purchase of Night Vision Goggles for Public Safety
The City Commission approved a motion for a one-time purchase of night vision goggles and related accessories in the amount of $612,484. The goggles will allow SWAT officers to conduct life-saving missions at night where darkness would otherwise hinder their abilities. For details, visit ftlcity.info/3Z9EFWr.

Commission Gives Final Approval to Address Compliance Standards for Seawalls
The City Commission approved the second and final reading of an ordinance to amend sections of the City's Unified Land Development Regulations (ULDR). The ordinance addresses resiliency standards for tidal flood protection by raising the minimum height of seawalls and tidal barriers to comply with standards established by Broward County. The new standard of compliance is 5 feet NAVD, up from 3.9 feet NAVD. There are three conditions in which a property owner would be required to raise the height of a seawall: when building a new seawall, when a seawall is in significant disrepair (damage to more than 50% of the structure), or when the property owner has been cited for tidal flow breaching the seawall and impact a neighboring property or right of way. Between the first and second readings of the ordinance, city staff conducted community outreach that included a virtual town hall meeting and mailing more than 8,000 postcards to waterfront property owners. A video with more details about this ordinance is available online: ftlcity.info/3JG53BD. For details, visit ftlcity.info/3ZfAKay.

Commission Approves Amendment to Comply with Updated Affordable Housing Policies
The City Commission approved the second and final reading of an ordinance amending the City of Fort Lauderdale Unified Land Development Regulations (ULDR) to comply with updated affordable housing policies in the Broward County Land Use Plan. The ordinance creates incentive-based zoning regulations that support affordable and workforce housing development. For details, visit ftlcity.info/40qxvhq.

Commission Gives City Manager Authority to Submit Grant Application
The City Commission adopted a resolution that delegates authority to the City Manager to submit a grant application in the amount of $1.5 million to the Florida Inland Navigation District under their Waterway Assistance Program. The grant funds would be used to renovate Cooley's Landing Marina, which is near the end of its useful life and in need of replacement.

Commission Urges the Florida DOE to Rescind its Disapproval of AP African American Studies
The City Commission approved a resolution that urges the Florida Department of Education to rescind its disapproval of the College Board's revised Advanced Placement (AP) African American Studies course and to include the revised Advanced Placement African American Studies course in the Florida Department of Education's Course Code Directory and Instructional Personnel Assignments. The resolution states the City's opposition to all legislative and executive measures that would erode or diminish the integrity and standards of Florida education programs and institutions. Commissioner Glassman and Commissioner Beasley-Pittman raised the issue during the afternoon Conference Meeting and worked with the City Attorney to draft the resolution.

More Information
For more information on the March 23, 2023, Commission meetings, visit fortlauderdale.legistar.com/calendar.
Upcoming City Commission Meetings
The next regularly scheduled City Commission meetings will take place on Tuesday, April 4, 2023.

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