February 2025 Newsletter

Dear Neighbor,


At the Prioritization Workshop held on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, the City Commission discussed key concerns, goals and priorities for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026. Staff compiled the feedback and organized the ideas into priority categories for consideration by the Commission. At the February 18th meeting, a brief presentation was provided to outline the draft FY 2026 City Commission priorities. These items will be voted on at the City Commission’s Regular Meeting on March 4, 2025.

 

As an additional component to the workshop, staff presented information on key topics that required City Commission guidance. The topics presented and the feedback from the City Commission are below.


  • Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Extension – The City Commission directed staff to continue allocating 50% of the City’s Tax Increment Funding (TIF) contribution to the Northwest Progresso Flagler Heights CRA for the next 10 years with a review of the TIF contribution every two (2) years. Emphasis was placed on using the funds for affordable and workforce housing. (I was in favor of allowing the CRA to sunset in two years as planned. Thirty years is long enough, and we need those millions of dollars to remain in our budget to provide services and avoid a millage-rate increase.)

 

  • City Hall – The City Commission directed staff to prioritize the existing City Hall site as the location for the new City Hall, with an alternative option to utilize the site adjacent to the new Police Headquarters.

 

  • Infrastructure Funding – The City Commission directed staff to move forward with plans for $60 million in revenue bonds to jumpstart needed infrastructure improvements (i.e., roads, sidewalks, seawalls, and tidal valves). Funds currently allocated for cash-funded General Fund investments through the Community Investment Plan (CIP) would be used to fund the ongoing debt service payments associated with the bond.

 

  • Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Taxing District – The City Commission directed staff to create the framework for establishing the taxing district, at which point the Commission would make a final determination on whether to move forward with this funding approach to support emergency medical services. After the prioritization workshop, staff informed the commission that a referendum would be required to establish the EMS taxing district, and the item is not moving forward at this time.

 

Once again, I want to thank all of the District 2 neighborhoods for their input prior to our goal-setting workshop; all our items are detailed in the document below. Our District 2 neighborhood presidents have related how the city goals apply to their specific residents. As we work together not only as a district, but as a City, I have such high hopes for an amazing year ahead.

Don't Miss This!

Motor Vehicle Noise Presentation 

Click on the CAM and Presentation below to view.

Police Department Headquarters Project Update 

Affordable Housing Advisory Committee Update

Virtual Fortify Lauderdale Meeting

February 24th at 5:00 pm

Click here to join the meeting.

Click on the image below to take the Flood Survey. This will provide invaluable input for our City's Fortify Lauderdale Project.

The City of Fort Lauderdale will continue to host a series of community meetings to discuss the Fortify Lauderdale Stormwater Improvement Projects. These essential upgrades will reduce flooding and improve climate resiliency across the city. Please take a moment to fill out a Flood Survey (click on the image above) to describe recent and/or historical flooding events. The survey will close on Friday, February 28, 2025.

Fortify Lauderdale is a citywide initiative focused on improving resilience to the impacts of climate change within the City’s most vulnerable neighborhoods and communities. The program includes an expansion of the first phase of Stormwater Master Plan projects, as well as the acceleration of the second phase of the Master Plan’s implementation.


As part of the second phase of the Master Plan's implementation, a Flood Survey has been developed to gather valuable input from residents and collect documentation of neighborhood flooding.


Please take a moment to fill out a Flood Survey using this link, or the below QR code, to describe recent and/or historical flooding events. 

Sistrunk Parade & Festival February 22

 

The Sistrunk Parade & Festival will take place on February 22 in Fort Lauderdale.

 

The following traffic advisories will be in effect on Saturday, February 22:

·   From 6 to 8 a.m., Sistrunk Boulevard (NW 6th Street) will be closed from NW 24th Avenue to NW 9th Avenue

·   From 8 to 11 a.m., Sistrunk Boulevard (NW 6th Street) will be closed from NW 21st Avenue to NW 9th Avenue

·   From 11 a.m. to midnight, Sistrunk Boulevard (NW 6th Street) will be closed from NW 15th Avenue to NW 9th Avenue

 

Expect traffic congestion and plan travel times accordingly. For more information, please visit parks.fortlauderdale.gov/bhm

Dolphins Cancer Challenge February 22

 

The Dolphins Cancer Challenge will take place on February 22 in

Fort Lauderdale.



The following traffic advisory will be in effect on Saturday, February 22, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Expect intermittent closures that will take place along the race route:

o  East onto Eller Drive

o  Right onto Southeast 6th Avenue

o  Continue on South Andrews Avenue

o  Right onto Southeast 17th Street

o  Continue on Seabreeze Boulevard

o  Continue on South Atlantic Boulevard

o  Continue on North Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard

o  Left onto East Sunrise Boulevard

o  Continue on North Birch Road

o  Left onto East Sunrise Boulevard

o  Right onto North Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard

o  Left onto Terramar Street

o  Right onto North Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard

o  Right onto Riomar Street

o  Left onto North Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard

o  Continue on North Seabreeze Boulevard

o  Continue on South Seabreeze Boulevard

o  Right onto Las Olas Way

o  Left onto East Las Olas Boulevard

o  Right onto Southwest 6th Street

o  Left onto Southwest 4th Avenue

o  Right onto Southwest 4th Avenue

o  Right onto Southwest 20th Street

o  Left onto Southwest 15th Avenue

o  Right onto Marina Boulevard

o  Continue on Marina Mile Boulevard

o  Continue on Marina Boulevard

o  Continue on Marina Mile Boulevard

o  Right onto Marina Mile Boulevard

o  Continue on FL 84

 

 

Expect traffic congestion and plan travel times accordingly. For more information, please visit www.dolphinscancerchallenge.com.  

Public Meetings to Discuss One Way Pairs

Monday, February 24th

Click here for more information

Are you subscribed to #AlertFTL yet?  Stay connected with us during an emergency- we send out notifications to keep you in the know.

Visit  fortlauderdale.gov/alertftl to sign up today.

We have the following Board Vacancies below.

Please email Erica Franceschi EFranceschi@fortlauderdale.gov if you are interested in serving on a Fort Lauderdale City Board.  



Board of Adjustment

Cemetery System Board of Trustees

Code Enforcement Board

Community Appearance Board

Community Services Board 

Nuisance Abatement Board

Boards and Committees Information

I am always invigorated by the District 2 Neighborhood Association Presidents’ Roundtable. This is an incredible group of volunteers who take on so much and give of themselves so selflessly. Thank you to Assistant City Manager Chris Cooper who joined us to take a deep dive into the homeless issue.

The hospitality and restaurant scene in Fort Lauderdale has really upped its game these past few years! I attended the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting and grand opening for the newest restaurant on the downtown Riverwalk, TIMBR located at 15 West Las Olas. The vision for this stunning space was six years in the making for Creative Director Michael Tronn and partners Paul Brown and Max Van Fleet. The line was around the block and for good reason! This is an instant hit for our City. Congratulations to the TIMBR team and I wish you much success!

History Fort Lauderdale celebrated Black History Month by opening its new permanent exhibit “Roots of Resilience: The Journey of Black Broward” exploring the history and enduring impact of Fort Lauderdale and Broward County’s Black community from 1793 to the present. It was an honor to be a part of the ceremony; congratulations on this important work!

I presented a Proclamation declaring February 23, 2025, as Surrounded Islands Day in the City of Fort Lauderdale. As one of our major cultural institutions, the NSU Art Museum contributes so much to our community and receives world-wide acclaim for its work.


Accepted by: NSU Art Museum Director Bonnie Clearwater, NSU VP for Advancement and Community Relations Terry Mularkey, NSU Art Museum Board of Directors, and Community Supporters

Articles

Fort Lauderdale: Truce on way in tunnel vs. bridge debate
City gets answers: Design flaw in new Fort Lauderdale police station blamed on human error
Condo regulations put seniors in crisis and threaten economy
South Florida is a hot spot for homebuyers paying cash, study shows
Florida legislators tell condo owners not to expect 'bailouts' to cover post-Surfside costs
New tower, reaching 54 stories, would be Fort Lauderdale’s tallest
Residents moving to Florida drop to levels of those who are leaving. Should we be worried?
Falling Citizens Insurance rates can’t stop premiums from rising

The greatness of our community starts with passionate citizens like you. 


Please do not hesitate to contact our Outreach Coordinator, Ashley Cacicedo, with any questions, comments or thoughtful suggestions acacicedo@fortlauderdale.gov or 954-828-5923.

Fort Lauderdale City Calendar
City News Center
Visit the District 2 Website
Follow us on Facebook

Steve Glassman

Fort Lauderdale Vice Mayor, District 2