Tuesday, December 2nd - Other Post-Employment Benefits Board Meeting at 12:30 pm

Tuesday, December 2nd - City Commission Special Meeting at 12:35 pm

Tuesday, December 2nd - Community Redevelopment Agency Board at 4:30 pm

Tuesday, December 2nd - Regular Commission Meeting at 6:00 pm

City Commission meetings are held at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts - Mary N. Porter Riverview Ballroom - 201 SW 5th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33312

Watch live on YouTube. Meeting agendas can be found here.

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NEXT WEEK

Monday, December 1st - Neighborhood Agenda Review at 3:00pm on Zoom

Register using this link here.

Click to add to calendar.

SAVE THE DATE

Monday, December 15th - Neighborhood Agenda Review at 6:00pm on Zoom

Neighbors,

As we enter this season of gratitude, it’s important to pause and reflect on the many blessings in our lives. I want to extend my sincere appreciation to our neighbors, our business and nonprofit partners, all who help shape our city into such a wonderful place to live, and to our dedicated City employees who work tirelessly to provide quality services and support our community every day. Lastly, I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to represent you as your City Commissioner and I will never take that trust for granted. As you celebrate with loved ones or reflect in quiet moments I wish you a safe, joyful, and rejuvenating Thanksgiving.

Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with building and construction professionals at the South Florida Build Expo. Over the next five years, the City of Fort Lauderdale will be investing $2.5 billion in major projects that will continue to strengthen our community. As you know, Fort Lauderdale is a thriving, attractive, and business-friendly city and maintaining strong relationships with our business community is essential to our continued success.

That is why it’s so important for us as a City to engage directly with these professionals, bridge any gaps in communication, and support our local business community, which in turn strengthens our economy. Our Director of Procurement Services, Glenn Marcos, and his team were also on hand to share valuable guidance on how companies can best partner with the City. Thank you to our outstanding Procurement and Community Services team members who participated in this important and productive dialogue.

Last week, the City Commission also received updates on Fortify Lauderdale and the Urban Forestry Master Plan, along with other items during our regular meeting. I encourage you to click on the LauderBriefs image to review the highlights.

Lastly, I’m proud to share that I recently co-authored an op-ed with Dr. Robin Cooper, Dean of the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences and the Guy Harvey Oceanographic Research Center at Nova Southeastern University. As this piece reinforces, all great things are done through collaboration. I invite you to read it here: Fort Lauderdale can lead the burgeoning ocean economy!

Wishing you and your families a wonderful Thanksgiving from me, Anna and our girls.

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Ben

Mark your calendar for the Snyder Park Public Meeting on Wednesday, December 10^th at 6pm. The meeting will be held in-person at the Morton Center. Join us to hear about plans and share your input on the future of Snyder Park.

New park alert! Welcome the beautiful Abiaka Park to the City of Fort Lauderdale next Friday, December 5th, at 11am. Learn more about Abiaka Park's amenities here. Celebrate this new community space and enjoy light refreshments following the ceremony.

Be a part of these engaging learning opportunities and up your nature game. Participate in a nature tour at Snyder Park before the year's end! Learn about the park's organic edible garden, food forest, butterfly garden, and the newly added wetland boardwalk tour. Register for both activities here. Click on the flyers to learn more about these activities.

Click on the image to read the full memo.

Session 2 begins on January 5th, 2025. Click here to learn more.

Our Youth Sports Development Leagues allow children to try a variety of sports for one low annual membership! Click here to learn more.

Click here to learn more or call (954)-828-8336.

Click on the flyer for more information.

Click on each flyer for more information or contact (954)-828-7275.

"Tropical Chill" will open with a free artist meet-and-greet reception and preview on December 10, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the New River Inn (231 Southwest Second Avenue). Click here to register.

Fit Fort Lauderdale offers a variety of FREE fitness, health, and nutrition classes and events that are sure to help you achieve your health and fitness goals. Ages 18+, click on the flyer to learn more. For additional fitness classes, click here to learn more.

Participants will learn the value of courtesy, integrity, and self-discipline. This is a chance to become physically fit while learning basic defense techniques. For more information, please call (954) 581-0999.

Click here to learn more.

📍Click on the image above to sign-up for traffic/road closure updates.

📍Utilize LauderStreet here to view current traffic alerts.

The 14th Annual Turkey Trot will take place on Thursday, November 27, 2025, at Las Olas Oceanside Park, 3000 E. Las Olas Boulevard.

The following traffic advisory will be in effect:

• From 4:30 to 10 a.m., E. Las Olas Boulevard will be closed from A1A to Seabreeze Boulevard
• From 6 to 10 a.m., A1A will be closed from Bahia Mar Hotel to NE 9th Street and Seabreeze Boulevard will be closed from Alhambra Street to Las Olas Boulevard

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

Heavy traffic is expected due to peak cruise activity at Port Everglades. Congestion may be heavy near Port Everglades, the Broward County Convention Center, and SE 17th Street on the following dates:

Friday, November 28 – Monday, December 1

Travelers driving to Port Terminals 2 or 4 should take the new Convention Center Connector (which provides a direct route from Federal Highway (U.S. 1), SR 84, and SE 17th Street to the Convention Center) whenever possible.

Please plan extra travel time and anticipate delays throughout the area.

Work is expected to begin the week of November 17, 2025, and continue through March 2026. Work will take place Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. This schedule is subject to change due to weather or other unforeseen conditions.

Traffic impacts:

• Minimal traffic impacts are anticipated on surrounding roads.
• Sidewalk sections may close temporarily for safety while crews work; closures will be phased to maintain pedestrian and vehicle access.
• During active work, please follow posted signs and drive with caution in the area.

Website ftlcity.info/lasolaslighting

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