July 2023 Newsletter

Dear Neighbor,

In my February newsletter, I discussed how the City Commission is working diligently to expand the green space in each Commission district and has coordinated with the Development Services and Parks and Recreation Departments to rezone numerous properties to Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (P) zoning district.  

The rezoning of City-owned properties that are used and maintained as public park space protects those properties in three significant ways. First, by rezoning the property to Parks, Recreation, and Open Space, it creates a record of the City’s intended use for the property. Second, the zoning limits the use of the property to those uses typically associated with public parks and open spaces. Lastly, the City’s Charter provides protection to lands zoned Park, Recreation, and Open Space by limiting the sale, transfer, or lease for more than (1) year without a unanimous vote of the entire City Commission.

In February, I shared two properties in District 2 that had been rezoned to park space (Cortez Triangle Park - North Seabreeze Boulevard, 2 North Victoria Park Road) with the promise of more to come.

I am happy to report that in addition to those two properties, on June 6th, the following passed on second reading and have been approved for rezoning to park space in District 2:

·      1016 Waverly Road (1.86 acres)

·      500 Seabreeze Boulevard (1.65 acres)

·      3000 E. Las Olas Boulevard (2.77 acres)

In addition to the above, we can now also look forward to the Bahia Mar Park that I had added as dedicated park space during the final site plan approval. This 1.8-acre park will overlook the Intracoastal Waterway and add yet more greenspace for our residents and visitors to enjoy.

I am very proud of the progress made and this Commission’s continued dedication to improving access to and enjoyment of our beaches, waterways, parks and open spaces for our neighbors and visitors. As our city grows, it is more important than ever to commit to and ensure that park and open space can be enjoyed throughout Fort Lauderdale. Stay tuned for more park space to come!

NE 15th Avenue Tactical Urbanism project receives a Merit Award from the Florida American Planning Association.

DSD Closing Early to Accommodate

Upcoming Board Meetings

The Development Services Department (DSD) building (located at 700 NW 19th Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311), which is typically open Monday - Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., will be closing early to accommodate board meetings on the second and third Wednesday of every month at 3 p.m.

We apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause.

DSD Online Services are available at ftlcity.info/dsd. Due to the closure of City Hall, the Utility Billing and Collections office is temporarily located in the DSD building. Utility bills can be paid online at utilitybilling.fortlauderdale.gov or by calling 954-828-5150 and choosing option 1.

For more information, please contact 954-828-8000 or [email protected].

Click on the image below to read the latest Property Appraiser Update

Upcoming Road Closures

District 2 Infrastructure Improvements Continue

A1A Streetscape Improvement Project Update

Updated July 14, 2023

Recently Completed Activities

• Work Complete: 26.4%
• Schedule Complete: 32.5%
• The project remains on time and on budget.
• Daily lane closures along southbound A1A from the southwest corner of Sunrise Boulevard towards Seville Street and along northbound A1A from north of the Fort Lauderdale Beach Parking Lot to north of Castillo Street. 
• There are some areas where open-trench installation (238 linear feet) is required for pedestrian lighting due to conflicts with existing utilities. The areas where open-trench installation is required are minimal compared to the overall project (3%). 
• Sub-contractor UEG will continue working on concrete spread footers and installing pull boxes for light poles along southbound A1A. Crews have completed 78 out of 117 (66.7%).



Upcoming Activities (Through 7/28/23)

• Continue operations along southbound and will resume at northbound A1A. 
• Continue concrete spread footers and pull boxes installation at each light pole location.
• Complete mock-up of decorative concrete samples for the hardscape work at Las Olas Boulevard and A1A for finish approval. New mock-up tests done by Tuesday, July 11.
• Sub-Contractor UEG installed all poles received in the first shipment (22) and the 40 poles received in the second shipment, for a total as of today of 62 out of 117 (53%).  
• The contractor is planning to resume landscaping operations south of Las Olas Boulevard and at Las Olas Oceanside Park on Tuesday, July 11. Irrigation operations will begin by Monday, July 17.
• The contractor is planning to resume hardscaping operations on the west sidewalk of northbound A1A by Thursday, July 6.
• The contractor started to install pavers on the southbound west sidewalk area on Wednesday, July 5 and will continue as needed.

Traffic Impacts

• Daytime operations (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) will continue for the installation of spread footers, pull boxes, pole bases, and new light poles starting at Sunrise Boulevard along the sidewalk on the west side of southbound A1A and along the west side sidewalk of northbound A1A from north of the Fort Lauderdale Beach Parking Lot to north of Castillo Street. 

• Along northbound A1A, the Contractor will coordinate the required lane and sidewalk closures for hardscaping operations along both sidewalks of northbound A1A with the ongoing light poles bases installation, as well as the landscaping and irrigation operations scheduled to begin on Monday, July 10, to minimize impacts to traffic and maintain pedestrian safety.   



• Partial closures along A1A in both directions:
• Southbound: 1 lane (outside) from the southwest corner of Sunrise Boulevard to the northwest corner of Seville Street.
• Northbound 1 lane (inside or outside) from north of the Fort Lauderdale Beach Parking Lot to north of Castillo Street.

Please follow posted signs and exercise caution when traveling in the area. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience and thank our neighbors for their patience as we work to complete this project.

Additional Information regarding this project can be found at the following link:

ftlcity.info/a1astreetscape

Las Olas Isles Undergrounding of Overhead Utilities Project Update

Updated July 14, 2023

Recently Completed Activities

The following is a look at the work that has taken place over the past few days:

• Completed installing vaults and junction boxes for AT&T and Comcast on San Marco Drive and Coral Way and commenced work on Royal Plaza Drive.  
• The missile borers for residential service have been completed on Isle of Palms Drive and are working on Royal Plaza Drive. 
• Ferreira completed the installation of handhole and pedestals for AT&T and Comcast on Bontona Avenue, Mola Avenue, Isle of Capri Drive, and Lido Drive and are working on Coconut Isle Drive and San Marco Drive. 
• Ferreira/IDD completed installing the 4-inch Comcast conduits on Las Olas Boulevard, which go under the vaults. 
• FPL completed locates for proposed streetlights. L&S (FPL’s lighting contractor) confirmed that the proposed locations are feasible, with the exception of one light. They will commence installation the week of July 24th. 
• Installed FPL Vista switch vaults within the Isle of Capri Drive median and all along Las Olas Boulevard. 
• Ferreira is commencing debris removal on all streets.  
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Upcoming Activities (Through 7/28/23)

The following is a look at the work that is scheduled to take place over the next few days:

• Complete the installation of vaults and junction boxes for AT&T and Comcast on San Marco Drive and begin installing on Coconut Isle, Coral Way and Royal Plaza Drive. 
• Install the chambers at Isle of Capri Drive median, followed by the installation of the two pad-mounted Vista Switch Cabinets. This work has been delayed while the City replaces a section of sewer force main on the north end of Isle of Capri Drive.  
• Ferreira will continue installing handholes for AT&T and Comcast on Coconut Isle Drive, San Marco Drive, Coral Way and Royal Plaza Drive. 
• Ferreira completed conduit installation for Comcast on Las Olas Boulevard and will commence Comcast vaults on Las Olas Boulevard. 
• Ferreira anticipates that the installation of FPL switches within the median on Isle of Capri Drive  will be completed within two weeks. 
• Ferreira will commence work on FPL feeders and primary cables for the switches on the Las Olas Isles. 
• Ferreira will commence electric meter upgrades on Isle of Capri Drive in preparation for the power conversion. 
• Mola Avenue, Isle of Capri Drive and Bontona Avenue will be released to AT&T and Comcast for cable prewiring. 

Additional information regarding this project can be found at the following link: ftlcity.info/lasolasislesutilities

Fiscal Year 2023 Mid Year Budget Projection Report

Nominations for the 2023

Community Appearance Awards are now open!

The 2023 Community Appearance Awards, an annual event celebrating curb appeal & breathtaking properties citywide, is coming soon.

Do you have a winning project in mind? Good news, award nominations are now open! Properties should have a certificate of occupancy between March 1, 2022, and August 31, 2023.

Visit ftlcity.info/2023CAA to submit a property today!

Interested in serving on this board? Visit ftlcity.info/beonanftlboard to apply today.

Articles

We have the following Board Vacancies below. Please email Erica Franceschi [email protected] if you are interested in serving on a Fort Lauderdale City Board.  



Affordable Housing Advisory Committee

Board of Adjustment

Cemetery System Board of Trustees

Central City Redevelopment Advisory Board

Code Enforcement Board

Community Appearance Board

Community Services Board 

Nuisance Abatement Board

Sustainability Advisory Board

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 [email protected] or 954-828-5923.