Agenda set for 2018-19
The new City Commission recently laid out a bold agenda of goals for the next year — eradicating homelessness, improving traffic flow, increasing affordable housing, upgrading infrastructure and combatting climate change.
Homelessness was at the top of the list. The encampment next to the main library downtown is more than an eyesore. It’s an ever-present sign of this community’s failure to properly address homelessness.
We can expect some significant steps in the coming months.
Our police department and the judiciary plan to create a special court division where individuals are not jailed for offenses like panhandling but are diverted to the services that they need. We also are working on triage for homeless people arrested elsewhere in the county but released from jail downtown.
Most significantly, a new task force of business leaders has formed to determine how to expand rapid re-housing and social services to get people off the streets. At last, we have found a new source to fulfill our funding gaps.
Regarding traffic, city staff has been tasked to work with the county and state to synchronize traffic lights on our main streets. We expect Sunrise Boulevard to be re-timed between Interstate 95 and the Gateway intersection by the end of the year. Broward Boulevard is also being worked on.
Staff will report back on how to synchronize other key streets like Federal Highway, Oakland Park Boulevard and Commercial Boulevard within the next couple years.
At the same time, our transportation planners will look into new technology to make getting around Fort Lauderdale easier. For instance, one suggestion is live sensors so you aren’t stuck at a red light when there is no traffic. Staff will update the commission by December.
Affordable housing is equally as important.
The prices to rent or own a home in Fort Lauderdale continue to escalate, and as a community, we need to ensure we don’t price middle- and lower-income families out of living in our city. Already, some hospitality workers spend several hours commuting to beach hotels and restaurants from western suburbs.
Based on our goal-setting sessions, city staff will brings us ideas on incentives and other tools to promote affordable housing. Fort Lauderdale must be a place where teachers, secretaries, bank tellers and waiters can afford to live.
Fort Lauderdale has been ground zero in climate change. This will be a top priority, too.
We have a $200 million plan ready to address the seven neighborhoods experiencing the worst flooding -- Progresso Village, Victoria Park, Dorsey Riverbend, Southeast Isles, River Oaks, Edgewood and Durrs. We will make a decision on how to fund this in the next six month with the intention of completing construction in five years.
There is a lot on our plate, but we are determined to make Fort Lauderdale a better place to live.
Sincerely,
Dean
