City Commission Regular Meeting on 2026-05-05 6:00 PM - May 06, 2026

Good evening, everybody, and welcome to the City Commission meeting this May 5th, 2026. Thank you all for being here today. We have quite a long agenda, so we'll try to get through it tonight. Just to let some folks know that after the consent agenda, we're going to break and go back to the afternoon agenda in which we were talking about a park design plan that was proposed for the beach. So for those of you who are here for the first time, welcome. We begin our meetings with the Pledge of Allegiance, a moment of silence, and then we have some special presentations tonight. We have two tonight. So if I could please invite Shawna Roberts, Zuri Williams, and Zoe Williams to please join me by the podium so we can all do the Pledge of Allegiance together. And may I ask you all to please rise. How are you? You all good? You all set? Yes. Put your right hand on your arm. That's it. Very good. And you may begin. The Lord is my right to the flag of the United States of America and to our plow and to understand one nation, honor God, and beautiful unity and justice for all. Thank you. A token of our appreciation. Thank you so much. You want to take a picture? Yeah. Come on. We're going to go in front? Okay. Come on, Mom. You come soon. Oh, my God. I haven't had a cheese, though. How pretty. Very good. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. At this moment, I'd like to invite everybody to share in this moment of silence. And tonight, keep especially in your thoughts the following people who recently passed away, Mary Cotton, Hattie Coorley, Dorothy Bailey-Young, and Joseph Amatero. Thank you. Okay, thank you so much. At this time, I also like to take a point of privilege to announce some recent retirees from our community. These are individuals who have worked with the city for more than 20 years. We have Yvette Martinez, police officer, who's been with us 23 years. Thank you, Yvette, for your service to our city. We have Derek Armstrong, who is a paramedic firefighter, who's been with us 23 years. Thomas Filia, who is a firefighter, been with us 25 years. And Ricardo Pardo, captain in fire rescue, who's been with us 27 years. So thank you so much for your service. Okay, hard shoes to fill, but thank you for your service. So before we vote on the agenda, we have a few announcements. We have a walk-on resolution calling for a special election to be held on November 3, 2026, to elect a city commission candidate with regard to Commission District 1, and to establish a qualifying period for the special municipal election. Second walk-on is a resolution providing notice of intent to enter into a comprehensive agreement for a qualifying project for the Melrose Manor Stormwater Improvement Project. And the third walk-on is a resolution providing notice of intent to enter into a comprehensive agreement for a qualifying project for the Rivalent Stormwater Improvement Project. Also, R5, the cam was updated to add Exhibit 2 resolution to the cam, and Exhibit 2 resolution was added. So may I hear a motion to approve the agenda and the minutes as amended? Moved. Second. To move the seconded, please call the roll. Oh, first of all, let's call the roll of the commission. Commissioner Herbst. Commissioner Glossman. Here. Commissioner Beasley-Pittman. Here. Mayor Sorensen. Here. Mayor Trentals. Here. Now, please call the roll on the vote regarding the agenda and the minutes. Commissioner Herbst. Commissioner Glossman. Yes. Commissioner Beasley-Pittman. Yes. Vice Mayor Sorensen. Yes. Mayor Trentals. Yes. And the minutes and the agenda as amended have now been approved. So let us begin with the presentations. I'd like to ask and invite our Vice Mayor, Vice Mayor Ben Sorensen, to present a proclamation regarding Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month in the city of Fort Lauderdale. And if I can please ask Gabriel Walker and Tina Duane and Sadia Bolagun of the ALS Association to please join the Vice Mayor. Are any of you folks here? Thank you. Come on up. Thank you for being here. Yeah. I have. Oh, okay. Good to see you, Gabriel. Thanks for being here. Thank you. Well, this is in recognition of ALS Month here in the city of Fort Lauderdale. I'd like to share this with you and then ask you to share some words. It would be fantastic. And just share with me, Gabriel's mom has ALS, so this is especially meaningful for you. So thank you for being here, Gabriel. Yeah. Whereas ALS, also commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a progressive, fatal, neurodegenerative disease in which a person's brain loses connection with their muscles, slowly reducing a person's ability to walk, talk, eat, and eventually breathe. Whereas thousands of new ALS cases are diagnosed each year, and on average, every 90 minutes, one person is diagnosed while another loses their life to the disease. Whereas the causes of ALS remain largely unknown, there is no known cure, and certain populations, including military veterans, face a higher risk of developing the disease. And whereas the ALS Association is the largest philanthropic funder of ALS research globally, having committed more than $154 million to support over 550 projects across the United States and 18 other countries, while also providing critical support services to individuals and families affected by ALS. And whereas ALS Awareness Month provides an opportunity to increase public awareness of the challenges faced by people living with ALS, recognize the profound impact of the disease on individuals and their families, and encourage support for ongoing care. Now, therefore, we as City Commissioners of the City of Fort Lauderdale proclaim May 2026 as ALS month here in the city, dated this fifth day of May, May 2026, signed, your Mayor, Dean J. Trantellis. Hello, everyone. I would like to thank the City of Fort Lauderdale for their decisive action in making this proclamation. I sent an auto-generated email that was created by the ALS Association, and I was not expecting to be here tonight. So thank you again to the City of Fort Lauderdale. Thank you to the ALS Association for all the work that they do. And thank you for the support that you have provided to my mom. It's not easy living with a person who has ALS. I wrote some stuff down, but, you know. I would like to speak about my mother, Iris Cordova-Martin. ALS has taken many things from her. It's taken her ability to walk. It has taken her ability to even raise a cup of coffee to her own lips. It will take her voice away soon, and eventually it will take her life. Those are not easy things to say, and I've come to terms with that in my own way. Maybe my mom hasn't. Maybe the rest of my family hasn't. And I'm here today to talk about that because it sucks. But importantly, it's taken away her agency. My mom has always been the matriarch of my family. She did everything for everyone, and we are picking up a lot of slack now. It's hard. It really is. It has given me some things, her diagnosis. It has given me some time to grieve with my mother. I don't think many people get that opportunity to grieve alongside the person who's dying. It's given me the opportunity to speak to her and tell her all the things that I have to say and things that maybe I didn't want to say earlier before, you know, she goes. It has given me time to reflect on the foundation that my mom has provided for me, but also for my family, for my brother. It's given me a new perspective on what I want to see for my own life. But, yeah, this is dedicated to my mom, Iris Martin. Thank you. Hi, everyone. I'm the development manager for South Florida. I just want to thank the city commission, and first and importantly, Gabriel, for what you did. Your mother is a hero, and I want you to know that. And I also want you to know anything that you all are able to do to support all we do at the association means so much, and you are heroes, too. Thank you, guys. Thank you so much, Vice Mayor. I appreciate it. Our next presentation, I'd like to invite Commissioner Glassman to present a proclamation regarding National Small Business Week here in the city of Fort Lauderdale. And in doing so, I'd like to invite the following persons to accompany him at the podium. Russ Klenit from the Economic Development Advisory Board. Allison Myers, also from the board. Dr. Kim Ray Mizell-Hill and David Lang, both from the Economic Development Advisory Board. From the Hispanic Heritage Chamber, Marisol Gonzalez. From the Burrard County Library. Frank Panetti. From the NFTE Aero. That's Daniel Williams. Todd Holt and David Coddington from the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance. That's Portia Garcia, Director of Community Services here in our city. Katrina Johnson, Assistant Director of CSD. And then the following four people from the Economic Development Division. Melissa Mata, Sharda Sobers, Vaughn Howard, and Amber Cabrera. And why don't the rest of all of you come on up here now. Let's just, let's get everybody up here. Okay. Thank you, Mayor. Good evening, everybody. It's a pleasure to present this proclamation from the Office of the Mayor, City of Fort Lauderdale, in recognition of National Small Business Week. Whereas for more than 60 years, the United States Small Business Administration has celebrated National Small Business Week, recognizing the vital contributions of America's entrepreneurs and small business owners to the strength of our economy and communities. And whereas small businesses play a critical role in economic growth, representing approximately 97% of all businesses in Broward County, and serving as a driving force behind local job creation and innovation. And whereas the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance serves as a key partner in advancing economic growth in the region, providing leadership and strategic support for business attraction and expansion. And whereas the AERO Small Business Expo provides Fort Lauderdale entrepreneurs with access to vital resources that strengthen the foundation of the local business community. And whereas the City of Fort Lauderdale's Economic Development Division, in collaboration with community partners and members of the Economic Development Advisory Board, supports small businesses through targeted initiatives and programs, including SysDrunk Community Talks, Startup FTL, and the Building Business with Impact Pitch Competition, connecting entrepreneurs to capital, mentorship, and growth, and long-term success. And whereas the innovative tools, such as SizeUp FTL, empower small business owners with data-driven insights to benchmark performance, identity opportunities, and make informed decisions, supporting a more competitive and sustainable business environment. And whereas, during National Small Business Week 2026, the City of Fort Lauderdale launches the Small Business Big Impact Shop Local campaign, celebrating the entrepreneurs and industries that define each commission district, and encouraging neighbors and visitors to support local businesses. Now, therefore, we, as City Commissioners of the City of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to hereby proclaim May 3rd through 9th, 2026, as National Small Business Week in the City of Fort Lauderdale, and urge the residents of our community and communities across the country to support small businesses. Dated this, the 5th day of May, 2026, and signed by the Mayor, Honorable Dean J. Trantalis. Okay, as we proceed into the agenda, at this point, we'd like to ask each member of the commission if they have any item from the consent agenda that they would like to pull and vote on separately. Let's see. We're going to do that after the consent agenda. Okay, some people have signed up to speak on the consent agenda items, but we'll see if any of them are going to be pulled. Commissioner Herbst, do you have any items of the consent agenda? Okay. Commissioner Beasley-Pittman? None. I have none. Commissioner Glassman? None. And Vice Mayor? CR2, please. CR2? Yes, CR2. Okay, so several people have signed up to speak on other items, but just for questions only, except Kiara Stevens, you wanted to speak on CM3. Is Kiara here? Is Kiara here? No. Oh, questions only? Okay, all right. So, except for CR2, do I have a motion to approve all the consent agenda items? Moved. Do I have a motion to move and seconded? Please call the roll. Commissioner Herbst? Yes. Commissioner Glassman? Yes. Commissioner Beasley-Pittman? Yes. Vice Mayor Sorensen? Yes. Mayor Trentos? Yes. And all those consent agenda items are now approved, except CR2. You're welcome to stay for the rest of the meeting, if you'd like. CR2 resolution establishing a living seawall permit fee assistance program. Vice Mayor? Thank you, Mayor. Just wanted to highlight this. It's, I think, a shining example of our commitment to our waterways, and it's something we've been working on for a while. And for those of you who might not be familiar, a living seawall is a seawall that is often 3D printed with material that's pH neutral, so more advantageous for our waterways, it is oftentimes designed similar to mangrove roots, so that it allows for greater adherence of oysters, seagrass, other marine life to it, which allows for better marine environment for all of our marine animals. It is, what this ordinance does is allows for a 100% rebate when a property owner, business, or resident decides to build a living seawall and chooses a living seawall rather than a traditional seawall. So it provides economic incentive to that resident to build something that's really going to have a more profound positive impact on our environment and our waterways. And we have many examples of living seawall being constructed and considered in the city, in large part as a result of this ordinance. This ordinance will be the first in the country, first in the country, that allows a 100% rebate of fees for living seawall construction, which is going to benefit the entirety of the city. We have, it looks like, Harrier here from Church by the Sea, which is exploring a living seawall, which Walser, we've been exploring living seawall possibilities as well. So there's just, Mayor, I just want to thank everyone, and Mayor, I also want to thank our former Chief Waterway Officer, Marco Aguilera, who was very helpful in this. Todd Hinshue, thank you for your great work in this. Again, leading the way in waterway quality, waterway improvement, not just in the city, but in the country. It says a lot about what we're doing. And, City Manager, I also wanted to highlight City Attorney. City Attorney, if you could just share with us, just because City Attorney's office doesn't always get recognized, but if you could just share with us a little bit what you and your team have been working on to bring this to us today, so we can better understand City Attorney's role in something like this. Well, thank you, Vice Mayor. It is actually a collaborative effort with the City Manager's office. We've got a great team working on projects like this, and we work together to develop and craft something that is beneficial and meets the intent of your request to have an ordinance do this. We work as a collaborative team. Thank you. Thanks for that. Thanks for that work. Thanks for that recognition. Yeah, and I appreciate it, City Manager. Thank you for your work on this. It's really a great moment in our history, and I think we're going to see more and more living seawalls coming across the city, which is going to be fantastic. Yep, thank you, Nancy. Susie Bailey also might not be here, but she's also been very helpful in this instrumental, as have many of you in the audience. So I just want to thank you for that work. Mayor, I will move the item, if that's all right. Okay, so CR2 is being introduced. Just to piggyback on your comments, we have a lot of seawalls in this city, right? We do. Over 160 miles of waterways, and it behooves us to start somewhere. Just in one place is not going to make a big difference, but over time and collectively, we'll continue to find ways to nourish our sea life, the marine life that exists in all of our canals and our rivers. And considering what we've, you know, how we have polluted our waterways over the years, it seems that it's about time we turn the clock and try to do the right thing. So I applaud the efforts of the city and our city staff in moving this forward. So as the resolution has been introduced, please call the roll. A resolution and city commission to the city of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, establishing a permit-free assistance program to encourage the installation of living sea walls, providing a 100% discount on city-based building permit fees for qualifying projects and providing for an effective date. Commissioner Herbst? Yes. Commissioner Glassman? Ditto everyone's comments. This is really a great step forward. Yes. Thank you. Yes. Commissioner Beasley-Pittman? Yes. Vice Mayor Sorensen? Yeah, and I see Steve Whitten out there, Marine Advisory Board Chair. Thank you, Steve, for your continued work on this and other efforts. Yes. And Mayor Trentals? Yes. And that item's now approved. Thank you. Okay, so now we have to pause the evening agenda and move back to the afternoon agenda in which the issue regarding the parks improvement on the beach is called Business 4, and a number of people have signed up to speak, and so I just want to begin that process. I'll call your names three at a time, and I'd ask that you take the two minutes that you're allotted and convey your remarks within that time period. So we'll start out with Lorraine Saunders, followed by Fabian, Camille, and a lot of other names, and Aspen Vincent. Are you folks here? Is Lorraine Saunders here? How about Fabian? How about Aspen Vincent? How about Nancy Thomas? Followed by Tricia Halliday, followed by Michaela Konka. Good evening. I was going to say good afternoon, but now it's evening. Nancy Thomas, 41-year resident of Fort Lauderdale. I think our beach is wonderful. All my guests and relatives love it because you can see it from A1A. You don't have to have buildings blocking you like you do in Miami. The rendition that EDSA has put together, it just doesn't give the public enough information because this is a public beach, the whole thing, and this is only part of it. And there have been a lot of questions raised, which I don't know how much you'll hear because not everybody could stay, about it's just not enough information for the public because we need a full rendition of the beach. We've passed the bonds for it. I guess EDSA, I'm not blaming them. I guess they were asked to do this section. But the city needs to provide a full rendition of what's proposed here because it's our beach. Can you hear me? I'll stop the clock. You saw the renderings on the backup. You saw the renderings on the backup, right? You saw all the pictures. There was some elevations and there's that schematic. Let me help you out here. What is it that you don't understand so we can kind of bring it through? What has arisen among the public are some of which some issues were addressed earlier. The picnic tables, the grills, the shade, the restrooms, the playground. If you just looked at this, you really wouldn't know what the rest of the beach was going to look like. And that's the main thing is that before this goes any farther, the public wants to know, well, how does it affect the other parts of the beach? Because that's a public beach and we've passed the bond issue and half the money spent on this is going to be for that. Well, the thing is, this proposal that's before us is only regarding this section. There are going to be many projects throughout the beach over the years. And I don't think the city is prepared to give you, you know, one big master plan, which has never really been contemplated in this particular proposal. So I don't want you thinking like that something else is going to be built or added to the beach other than what's here. The only thing that we're considering as a commission is what you see. In fact, I think it's on page 13. You're just showing one page, but it's page 13, which is a 13, yeah, which has the. Mayor, I'm asking them to pull it up. Pull it up. If you want. Yeah. Could you please? Yeah. Page 13. 13 or the one right before this one. It's hard to see. Okay. We'll get some options up. Page 10. Excuse me. Page 10. Could you pull up page 10? I printed off page 10. It's one of these two. No, no, no, no. It's not? No, no, no. I paid printed pages 10 and 11. Well, you printed up 11. Page 10. Is that what you're bringing up? I'm bringing up page 10. I don't want you to be misunderstanding anything. I want you to keep going. Keep going. Page 10. There we go. I have both of those right here. Well, it's okay. Now everyone can see it. So this is all we're contemplating. What you see here. Nothing else on the beach. Nothing to the north. Nothing to the south. The only proposal that's before the commission right now is what you see there. But mayor, the public didn't know that when they looked at this. It was attached to the agenda. That nothing else was going to be moved. That we weren't going to have any limited space for what's there already. Well, look at this picture above there. What you see above there is what exists. And right now, all we have there are the basketball courts, which are staying where they are. Okay. Yeah, that's great. And that's a wonderful concession. I appreciate that. Okay. Well, I'm just telling you that the public may see something that you don't. And not everybody is able to go to the agenda and read all the backup and know what's going on. It's only 12 pages. It's not all of the agenda. It's only two. So this is a perfect opportunity. You said you didn't have enough information. So I don't want you leaving here tonight thinking you're leaving without all the information. This picture tells it all. This is what we want to create. Looks nice, doesn't it? It does. But we don't need four pickleball courts. That takes up too much space. Two basketball courts, two pickleball courts. That was the original plan. And that's all we need. Okay. It looks like it goes pretty far south. And something's going to be lost with an extra two pickleball courts. And that was a request by the city commission. I read all that. I heard it. We don't need four. And I will stand by my word. I've talked to a lot of people about, well, what's the rest of the beach going to look like? We have this money is bond money. We've been waiting since 2019. Okay. Well, we'll see. We don't know. That's not what this is before, though, Nancy. This is just the only thing. Okay. I'm telling you what people want is they want a full rendition. And what the beach is going to look like in case there are changes that we don't like. Okay. Thank you. Trish Holiday. Good evening. It's been a long day. I know you guys have put in a... Day's not over yet. I know it's not. It's getting started. However, I have the same question that Nancy had. And it's a beautiful picture. It looks great. However, one of my first questions was, I thought originally we were supposed to have two pickleball courts. When did we go to four? And how was that determined? And then, I know this afternoon, it was decided that we don't have to have plastic grass. We can do other things. But, in fact, I think the terminology was used that ecological something or other. Renourishment. Thank you. And building dunes, which would be wonderful. I think that's a wonderful idea. However, the plastic grass, because you know, with the heat index issues and the vapors and everything, would not be the greatest thing there. So, we were hoping that that will be next. And let's see. What else did I have written down here? And, well, on here, I can't see. I was wondering about the restrooms. And, again, you've answered the question about the picnic tables. So, I just wanted to verify again that this was a, you've done a wonderful job, but this is a public beach. And I want the public to be able to make a choice. Okay? Thank you. And if you can answer me about the number of pickleball courts, that would be wonderful as well. Okay. Thank you. Could I ask a question? I'm just curious, because I know a number of people have objected to the turf. And I'm just curious why. Why? Because it breaks down. Number one, it's hot. It's so hot. If it's 90 degrees, you know, regular turf will stay around that time. If it's going to be in the sun, which it's going to be in there, I mean, it'll be an extra 10 to 15 to 20 degrees hotter. And not only that, you'll get vapors coming off of it, which are not, since it's plastic, it's not going to be very good for the, you know, there's a lot of people at very high end houses that are putting these into their backyards. And it's incredibly popular right now. I understand that. But we can't do anything about people in private residences. We can't. But, no, what I'm getting to the point of, though, is that it seems to be very popular. Your suggesting is that people won't like it out there, and I want to understand why. Because people are paying tens of thousands of dollars to put this in their backyard so that they can enjoy it. Apparently, they don't find it to be 150 degrees and not tolerable. They're literally spending $20,000, $30,000, $40,000 to install this. I understand that. And I just have a feeling it has to do more with education and communication out there to what exactly they are putting in their backyards. Your point, Commissioner, I would also agree with you. But to tell you that the quality of the artificial turf has really progressed over the years, the makeup of the material is very different from what it first was. And I will also tell you, in my district is the La Sola's Oceanside Park. There's a large area of artificial turf that people are doing yoga classes on every weekend. People are gathering. My office has never received one complaint about the artificial turf at the La Sola's Oceanside Park. First of all, it's cleaner. You will not have to use pesticides on the grass. And people would, of course, complain about the pesticides if we had to use pesticides. We will not have to have an irrigation system. We will not have mosquitoes. We will not have everything that the natural grass would do there. And it has proved to be really very successful at the La Sola's Oceanside Park. Again, no complaints. People are gathering there in all weather. Hot, cold, you name it. Again, for those classes, for the gatherings. We have festivals there all the time. How long has that been down so far, just out of curiosity? About five years. At least five years. Okay, good. Now, I will guarantee, I will say that there are variations of the different types of grass. By the way, I think the sand would be as hot as any grass. Sand gets very hot. But you don't think the sand is going to get up on top of that artificial turf? I mean, come on. Let's go natural, which you said that you could do earlier. And also, by the way, the maintenance of regular turf would be at least $100,000 a year to keep that, as opposed to something far less. You know what? This is a city. Yes, it's a city. That was so excited. I mean, and I was excited, too, when you decided not to use plastic straws on the beach, and you're going to put plastic grass on the beach. Come on. Come on. Come on. No. Come on. Come on. Come on. I want to answer one more question. There is another question. All right. Yeah. Michaela. Wait. By the way, I have a question about the restrooms. It's important to know. The reason we're not seeing that is the restrooms, the picnic tables, the grills are not affected by this. That's all to the south, and it's still staying there. That's why it's not on the renderings. Thank you. All right. Michaela Konka. She's not here. And, Mayor, while we're waiting for that, so, Commissioner Glassman, I wanted to ask you that, because that actually came up in my agenda briefing last night, where we talked about the Oceanside Park, and I said I wasn't aware of any complaints. I've been there a lot, and I've never noticed that it's particularly hot when I've sat there, or I haven't burned myself when I've been there. No, no one has. In fact, we gather there even for the city events. We'll be gathering there for the American Beach Party at the end of this month, and we always have the ceremonies there. It has not been an issue. That's all. No, thank you. I appreciate that. I wasn't sure if your office had heard anything or not. Not at all. Okay. Continuing. John Roth, followed by Leo Lorenz, followed by Vicky Mowry. John, I know you were here. Oh, there you are. We're there. Ready? Okay. Ready? Okay. Commissioners, is it on? You're on. Okay. Commissioners and everyone, mayor and vice mayor, and everyone who's on the dais, and all of the public that's here. My name is John Roth. I live in Four Seasons Condominium, which is just over the intercoastal waterway. I've lived here 35 years in the same place on the water. I'm a boater and very involved with the marine community because that was my business. Anyway, I'm not a basketballer. I'm not a pickleballer. But my wife was... Maybe you should start. It's fun. It's fun. So anyway, the deal is that I walked this area for many years. And I'm a mechanical engineer. I look at how things are built, how much they cost to work, to make work, how much it costs to clean. And I'm just going to start with a couple of things that I've noticed about this, especially directed to the landscape architects and the people who have conceived this project. My overall opinion is that there's not been much market, serious market analysis of the future customers and clientele of who would use this facility. You say it's the same people that we have now. You're saying no one's going to use the basketball courts? No. Oh. I'm not saying that. Who are the people that will come? And so I would say that, for example, people who are the kind of customers who use the St. Regis will not usually brush shoulders with the people, our basketballers. I don't know about that. Probably not. I don't know about that. Because I've worked in 40 large marinas around the world. Right. And they're all similar to the St. Regis. And the clientele of the people who have 120 foot and larger yachts do not usually hang around with low level mechanics like myself and or managers. So they have to look at who is going to be there. And what does that have to do with the viability of this project? Well, the thing is, is if people don't like it, they won't come. But the argument has been for us to retain the basketball courts because we have the public that uses them. That's right. It has nothing to do with the St. Regis. I'm talking about cutting down all of the pine trees so we don't have any shade. There are no pine trees. Of course, there's not on this picture. This is what they've done. What are you talking about? Well, I'm looking at the picture right in front of me and I see all palm trees where there used to be pine trees. Look at the picture in the corner. That's the existing condition. Tell me where all these trees you're seeing. Well, that's an aerial view of what's there now. Well, that's an aerial artist's conception and it's been managed. So on the right hand side. Is that a modified? I can't hear you. The Google Earth aerial? It's a Google Earth aerial. My trees are located just south of the image, the artist rendition south of that. Has that image been modified in any way? No, that's not true. But anyway. I'm going to I will take him at his word. Thank you. OK. So the thing is, is that you come over the bridge. They've got major work done on the bridge itself at the bottom. They've got an area which is to be make a nice raised patio. You could put a band down there for music or something if you wanted. And there's an exit and an exit. And you've taken out a lot of the space underneath and replaced it with very small little cubicles for the maintenance on the guys on the beach. And I just look at this from the point of view of maintenance of the artificial turf. You'll probably need more machinery to maintain the artificial turf than what they have now. So they're going to need space for that. And none of that stuff is small. And everything that they're showing on the drawing is small spaces. So a lot of work needs to be done to make this thing compatible with Parks and Recreation Department and the financial side of this. So there was a mention just when I heard this morning or this afternoon that said that the people can move their picnic tables around. The picnic tables are heavy and they use a high lift to move them around. They don't use people picking up your own family picnic tables. I don't think they said people pick them around. I think the city staff moves them around. Not once you get there in the morning. The insinuation was that I heard was that when you get there and you're going to have a fantastic place to move in. And if they're not spaced to your liking, you will be able to pick one or your family would be able to pick up a picnic table and move it. We don't want people picking up. OK, that's fine. No. So can you please complete your remarks? Because your time is my time is up. Thank you. And I hope that you do more work on this because I've had projects before in my life and you think everything is just perfect and hunky dory. OK. And nobody comes. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Nobody comes. Nobody. John, those pickleball courts will be full. People will come. Trust me. They'll come. The people will come. They'll play basketball and all four pickleball courts will be full all the time. The pine trees are all the way to the south. I don't think they shade that area because it's not part of this. It's not part of the plan project. Not part of this plan. OK. OK. You. OK. Have you been on any of the city's pickleball courts? All right. All right. All right. All right. You haven't been. All right. All right. All right. I'm telling you they're playing all day, all night. OK. OK. Thank you. They're playing. Yes, sir. Wait a minute. Mayor, there were mentions about palms. I just want to, you know, advise you all that, again, this is a high level conceptual that is being shown here. There is some data that we do have that suggests that approximately 21 palms will be removed from the site to accommodate the pickleball courts. And we're estimating that 80 palms will be installed as part of this project. OK. Great. Thank you. So that's a net of 60 palms. OK. Quentin, just wonder, will any pine trees be impacted? Based on what we have at the moment, no pine trees will be impacted. There is one tree that will be removed and 21 palms that will be removed. OK. Thank you. Leo Lorenz. Is Leo here? Followed by Vicky Mowry, followed by Ted and Sarah. Good evening, Mayor and Commissioners. The proposed plan that we have come up with and that we've reviewed negatively impacts the residents and the visitors to the park. There's a growing uproar about the proposed layout and the fact that it is not being generated by the city internally to accommodate the wishes of the community. It's been confirmed that this plan has been put forth only for the benefit of the developer, the Bahia Mar, and the CDD. They sugarcoat it, saying that it's a win-win for all the residents. But we don't see it that way. OK. Number one, it removes the exercise equipment and the stations from its current location, and it puts it at the south end of the park, near the bathrooms, away from where the basketball courts are. People use the facilities together and do not want to hike back and forth between the locations when they're playing basketball and then working out at the workout areas. People wait their turn to get into a basketball game, typically. They go over and they work out at the exercise stations while they monitor the progress of the game to the finish. According to the drawings right now that you're showing, you can't see the basketball courts because you've got the pickleball courts in a way. Everybody wants to keep the workout stations in its current location. They don't want it changed. Number two, the proposed plan removes the picnic tables and the grills to the south side. Nowhere on those pictures up there do they show picnic tables and grills in their current location now. They're being shifted further to the south. Parents can no longer have a watchful eye on their children while they're playing basketball on the courts. And we've got children out there that are like from 6 to 12 years old. They're always on the courts. Parents supervise them while they're there on the picnic tables and the grills. They can't see them if they're way down on the other end. Okay, please conclude your remarks. And the placement of the four pickleball courts on the beach doesn't make any sense out there either because most of the pickleball players that we know, they say that it is not a good idea to be playing out there. Two pickleball courts might be good, but not four. And I'll just let it go at that. Okay, great. Thank you so much. Vicki Mowry. Before you start running that clock, may I ask for a correction on earlier today, way earlier, I believe the gentleman from EDSA said that I mentioned shade structures, which was not listed on any of the material that I looked at. Also, there was a... Wait, wait, wait. What did you just say? Shade structures. What about shade structure? That was mentioned as one of the options. Options where? Coming into this area. Okay. It wasn't on any of the written material. It was just mentioned. Okay. Secondly, staff, I believe, is who mentioned that indeed where the pickleball courts are, there are grills and picnic tables that will be moved. If I'm wrong, feel free to correct me. I don't see him, but okay. I am Vicki Mowry. I live at One La Sola Circle at the beach. This beach is really the people's beach, and the people who use it do so in a variety of simple, enjoyable ways. They picnic. They sunbathe. They relax. They shoot hoops. They exercise. They have quiet time, or they party with family and friends. They know what to expect when they go to that beach. Expansive views of the ocean, and seemingly endless sand and sun. This is the people's beach. Why are you, our elected officials and guardians of our city, even entertaining the idea of mucking up this area with 1,700 square feet of concrete for a welcome pad or central plaza, as though the natural beauty isn't welcome enough? Artificial surfaces and blocked views with fencing and dense landscaping around pickleball courts is not needed or wanted. And about these pickleball courts, the developer who has a long and enriching lease on our property should build those courts on his property, not on this. The beach isn't some bargaining chip to be batted back and forth for the benefit of a developer's project. We the people are not a project. What we need from you is continuing maintenance, I'm about done, upgrades as necessary, such as the exercise equipment, and keep picnic tables and grills in plentiful supply. We need you to listen, and we expect you to respond accordingly. Thank you. Thank you. Mayor, I need to address a couple of things, Vicki, but I thank you for your input. But I want folks to understand something. And I know there are people in the room that don't seem to like pickleball. And I am, you know, whatever. I hear from people all the time that they're excited about this. They want more courts at Holiday Park. There are, trust me, there are people out there that like pickleball. They are there. So here's the deal. Why are they not here? Because typically the people that come to the meetings are people that are opposed to things. That's been our history, I think. So that's the reason. So let me just explain. We signed an agreement as a commission. This commission in January of 2024 entered into an agreement with the Bahia Mar and the taxing district that they created for themselves to raise money. We entered into an agreement with them in January of 2024. It's a legal binding agreement more than two years ago. That agreement says that the basketball courts will be removed and replaced by pickleball. When that word got out, people were upset. And I understand that. They came to the commission. They said, please don't do this. Do not remove the basketball and replace it with the pickleball. So we went back to the developer and we said, OK, look, there's a public outcry. People do not want to see the basketball courts go. What can we do? So the first thing I asked for them was to extend that agreement past January of 2027. We are legally obligated right now, legally obligated right now to have all of this finished by January of 2027. We can't do that. That's impossible. So what we said to the developer was, please tell your CDD, your community district, please tell them that we did an extension. So our legal team is working on that extension now to give us more time so that we don't get sued and lose. So the development team said, fine, we will reconsider. So we will keep the basketball courts. By the way, those basketball courts don't look great today. They're all being totally, totally refurbished. OK, I'm not arguing that, of course. As they should. They're being totally refurbished. Remember, the legal contract says they're to be removed. And the only way that we could get around that was by both parties, the city and the community development district agreeing to that. So here's here's here's here's the crunch. Here's the crunch. At any point in time, this developer could actually say to us, you know what, we're just going back to the original legal agreement that we have with you. So what do you think about that? And then we'd be we would be behind between a rock and a hard place. It's not true. It's true. It's true. All right. We're not going to get into a disagreement with that, but it's true. So what everyone tried to do was come up with something that made sense for everybody so that we could move forward so that we would have the pickleball that was guaranteed in the legal agreement. We could have the basketball that we brought back and in the meantime, make the area really a very much a community area. This is not going to be a private area. I've heard that misinformation. It's not. This is open to the public. Of course, this is for the public. This is for all the public to enjoy all of the new fitness equipment. By the way, there is a designated fitness equipment area right to a gym about 2,500 square feet, I believe, right to the south, which on your view would be to the right of the pickleball. So I think that everyone came up with a great middle-of-the-road compromise where everyone should be happy with something. Will everybody be happy with everything? Probably not, but we never see that anyway. But there's, I think, a lot of reason to be happy about how we got from where we were with the elimination of the pickleball – I'm sorry, of the basketball – to something for everyone. And in the meantime, doing some really nice landscaping. I think when this is done, people are going to be very happy. People are going to enjoy it. I think people are going to say, wow, this is a really pretty little area of the beach on both sides of that pedestrian bridge that crosses A1A. So it's really important just to know the facts. I wanted everyone to understand the legal ramifications of what's going on here and how we had to finesse and make sure that we just don't get sued and lose, and then everybody loses. The money is not all of the parks bond money. The money is just some of the parks bond money. And correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the development team is also kicking in a million dollars on this, I think. The community development district will reimburse the city up to a million dollars for eligible improvements. That's what I thought. So that's where we are. That's the history of how we began this discussion, and this is where we are now. That's all. I just wanted to make sure everyone understood everything. Thank you. Thank you so much. Ted and Sarah, followed by Kendall Antoine, I think it says, and Mary Fertig. Hello, everybody. My name is Ted and Sarah. I'm the president of the River Oaks Civic Association. Thank you, everybody, on the dais for letting me be here. Boy, that was, I don't even know after that, Mr. Gassman, if I even need to speak or not. I guess it's already made up. But what I'm saying, what Vicki said was absolutely correct. This is the residence beach. This is the people's beach. This is the one area. It's the wide area of the beach that we can come and picnic, that we can come and park, we can play some ball, we can go into the water. And this is the part we have. Anything to the north, it's all the hotels. Everybody is all into the, you know, having their little private beaches or their own beaches in front of the hotels. This is for the residents. It always has been. Because I was born here in 1956 in Broward General Hospital. I've lived in River Oaks for 60 years. And I'm still there today, and I wouldn't live anywhere else. But this part of the beach, you know, there's two iconic views when you're riding around Las Olas Boulevard. I mean, Fort Lauderdale. When you make that turn onto Las Olas, and you see those beautiful, magical, lighted trees going down the median strip on Las Olas Boulevard. That's magic. That is, boy, that says Fort Lauderdale. And you guys are going to take that view away from us. The other one is, when you're coming east on 17th Street, you make that curve down by the Yankee Clipper. And then you're going around there part of it, and you've got that straight view. You see the ocean. You see the beach. That's another iconic view of Fort Lauderdale. And now you want to take that away from us. Everything seems to be geared towards the visitors. You know, people actually live here. But it's like we couldn't just have a swimming, a Hall of Fame swimming pool. We need an aquarium. Oh, I'm surprised with all you guys like to cruise that we don't have a roller coaster on top of the aquarium. Because we just need to cram as much stuff as we can everywhere we can. So let me see if I understand this correctly. We'll see. I might not. You're going down the street here. Oh, yeah. East on 17th Street. I'm talking. Stop. Okay? Stop. Come on. So we're going down A1A, right? And what do you see? Parking lot with cars, right? Parking lot with cars, okay? No obstructing of the ocean there, right? Then you've got a wave wall, okay? No obstruction there, okay? Well, it's two feet tall. And now all of a sudden, a pickleball court, which is on the ground, is suddenly obstructing the view. Tell me the thought here. Because, like you said with this picture, it tells it all right there. That's all you need to know about this picture. So what view is now being obscured by pickleball courts? The ocean. When you're coming in your car, making that great curve around 17th Street by the Yankee Clipper, right there. You are not going to have the view that you have coming over. Just like we don't have the view, that great view coming over the Los Angeles Bridge anymore. Ted, come on, come on. And the other thing is this. Ted, this is nowhere near the Yankee Clipper. Ted, Ted, this is nowhere near the Yankee Clipper. You know that, correct? I was born here. So you're talking about something that's 1,000 yards down the beach. Okay. 800. Yeah. Okay. So, Mom, I know you want to talk, and I know you have a point of view. Yes. And I think your point of view is to be respected. But I just want to keep it in context. Okay. You can't create your own facts. Okay? Oh, I'm not creating facts. Okay. All right. When you say you're obstructing the view, when you've got two rows of cars and a wave wall, I can't see how pickleball courts that are flat on the ground are obstructing your ocean. Those palm trees are not there now. Those are part of the 80 palm trees. You don't want the palm trees? I'm speaking now. Yes. And that you don't have the palm trees there right now that you normally would have obstructing the view. They're not there. They're going to be planted there. And you know what I think, too, when it comes to these pine trees that they say they're not going to touch? I know this city, and I know these developers. Suddenly, they're going to be diseased, just like the trees on La Sola's medium. What? And all those pine trees have to go because an arborist that they paid for is going to come, not next year, I mean, very, very soon, and claim that they are, sorry, all these pine trees are diseased. They've got to go. Even though he sat here and told us that, oh, we're not touching the pine trees. I've heard that before so many times. And you know what I see when I see this picture right here? Yes. I see about 20 cement trucks pulled up, pouring concrete on our beach, the beach sand, which should never happen. This is a turtle nesting area. Do you want to play basketball on sand? This is a beautiful, natural spot. Do you want to play basketball on sand, then? That's there. That's there. But you're saying you don't like concrete on the beach, so why don't you? I said pouring more concrete. If you were listening, you would hear what I'm saying. Isn't that good enough? What now? No. This is going to be, I can see 20 of those round cement trucks just in line, pouring that thing right down on our public beach, the people's beach, on the beach sand, which they should have no be able to get any permits to pour this cement on our beach. But, Ted, don't you realize that people like to play sports? Oh, my gosh. We have pickleball. You almost run into a pickleball wherever you go. Right. Why is that? Why is it? We need it everywhere. Then let's take out this gazebo over here on Espanon Park. We need pickleballs over here, too. I'm surprised you don't work on floating docks along the Riverwalk with pickleball cords on them. Good idea. Good idea. All right. Next. Thank you, Ted. While he's going to his seat. Thank you. No. And, Mayor, you know, I love the concrete phobia. We took away a lot of beach when we did that whole sidewalk along A1A. We took away a lot of beach. When we built the iconic wave wall, the length of the beach, we took away the sand. We took away the beach. Where was all the concrete phobia then when we built those things from concrete? I'm just wondering. It's okay. Thank you. Kendall, followed by Mary Fertig, followed by Chris Tchaikowski. Is Kendall here? Nope. Okay. Mary Fertig. Oh, there's Mary. Hi. How are you? I'm good. How much time do I have? You have two minutes. Two minutes. All right. Well, then I better get this out quickly. Come on, Mary. All right. So, listening to your presentation earlier, I had a question. When the bond passed in 2019, what was contemplated for this space? You don't have to answer these questions, but you can. And then I just couldn't, when you got a contribution from the CDD, and I know that was a lot of conversation about that, but I have to say that having attended the meeting on Lockhart 10 days ago, I have to wonder what are they getting for their $1 million contribution? Maybe nothing, but that would be a question I have. What rights to this are they given for the contribution? All right. The next thing I wanted to say was this really blew up about a year ago, a little more than a year ago. So, I was glad to see they picked EDSA, and they're local, and that's great. So, that makes me wonder, did you have a meeting with the community about what the community would like to see at this site before coming up with this draft? And if not, who did they meet with? If these are all questions you can answer, write it to me, Mr. Mr. Brown, did you say before the Central Beach Alliance? Don't take my time, though. I love Bill, but just add me a few more minutes in. I'd love to come, Bill. But Mr. Brown is the president of the Central Beach Alliance, and his neighborhood association would be the one that would be the public. And he says that because we're not voting on anything tonight, it's going to be presented to them at the next meeting. And my question is, because I believe, and you can add some more time in for the time you took, but you spoke so well that I'm glad you should. Yes, thank you. But my point on this, Dean, is, and that's great, but I believe this beach belongs to everybody in Fort Lauderdale. I believe it really belongs to the people in the county, the tourists we entice to come here. This is, as Vicki said, this is the people's beach. So I think it's wonderful they're going to the Central Beach Alliance, but I think there's some other constituencies they should have met with as well, and maybe there's time for that, and then you could bring people in instead of closing people out. So I just want to, I don't have much time, so I want to say I like to think in 1953 that my grandmother went to the polls to vote on the ordinance on this beach, which keeps it public for all time. Now, I did bring it, and I could read it to you, but you're cutting me off on time, so I won't. So can you let me just read the end of it? Because we have a lot of conversation about a public speech, and this speech, unlike almost every other one that we talk about, this was subject to a referendum of the people. And so it said, as aforesaid, it shall not be amended or repealed except upon a vote of a majority of the electors at any regular biennial municipal election. It gives it just that much more strength. And so this is a public beach. It was a conscious decision by the voters to make it a public beach. And so whatever you do with this piece of property, with this beach, I hope that you do it by including everybody in this room and everybody who couldn't come tonight that wants to speak on it. Mary, can I ask you a question? Yes. Looking at this picture, can you show me where in this picture the public is being excluded from the use of the beach? Uh, well, I think that came up earlier when the advertisements, which are still online, discussed a private beach club. But that's not what we're proving. Private beach. And I'm not saying you are, Dean. I'm simply saying, because I know you wouldn't, because you know this referendum was passed in 1953. And I understand that would make it very difficult unless all of us got together and said we want to make it a private beach club. Right. But it's not. It's not. Yeah. Every single square inch of this, what you're seeing today, is open to the public. I can go there. You can go there. Everybody can go there. And so we're not taking away anything from the public. And I don't know why people keep saying that. So I would just say I'm glad you're making that statement. And if and the one thing that I think could really help the public to really accept and adopt that is if you start meeting with all the people who have tried to have a voice in this and haven't been able to before you come back to the next conference meeting and then see what their vision is for this beach. Not what the vision of a few people is, but what the vision of the of the people who own the beach would be. Got it. OK, thank you. You're welcome. Chris, followed by Barbara Stern, followed by Jairus Goss. First, I'd like to start off by thanking Commissioner Herbst for all of his service. You will duly be missed in your fiscal common sense, man, which is something that seems to escape us here quite a bit. First off, there's a lot of different things that were covered here. And we'll start off with the big one. The outrage came when we found out that it was going to be a deal done with changing out pickleball for basketball courts. Nobody knew about that. So we really got ticked off about that. The whole pickleball thing to me. We're so sick and tired of hearing about pickleball enough already. It's Patel now. We you guys are missing it. Fake grass at the beach. It's called the beach for a reason. You're going to put fake grass there. And since everybody's typing away on their computers, go ahead and just Google for a second. Is fake grass harmful? Go for it. Because the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Institute of Health. Don't take my word for it. The National Environmental Institute of Health. Three different colleges and the sustainable advisory board that Mr. and Cyr and I went to proved that all of these things are bad, not just the heat, not just the bugs. You're still going to need pesticides to kill the weeds and everything else. Bad idea. This whole thing is a bad idea. Private developers have no business on public land. Oh, well, it's public. It's public. Where are these concession stands coming from? Where are these shaded areas coming from? What should be done with the beach should be maintained by the city. And if the city was doing its job, we wouldn't need any of this. You guys should be maintaining the basketball courts. You guys should be maintaining the exercise equipment. That's what the park bond was for. But here we are. We're going to take a million dollars from the guy across the street that nobody knew was happening. So we can build his little dream because we're legally obligated, right, to pickleball courts. We've had enough of this stuff. You guys need to get your act together. Thank you. Good evening, Mr. Mayor. Before I go into my speech, may I just have a point of privilege to answer one of your questions about where did all this concern about the privatization of the beach come from? And I believe that was the messaging from the developer. I don't dispute that. You're not wrong on that. But but that's been that's been changed or will be changed. Yeah, but will be changed. OK, so the problem is it's not being changed now. And quite frankly, I'm glad to see that these materials refer to this as the Fort Lauderdale Beach Park, because in Jimmy's rights, dedication of fiction that he sent to the commission and the historic preservation board in his attempt to block historic preservation designation for this beach, he refers to it as the Bahia Mar Park, which it is not. It is the Fort Lauderdale Beach Park. So I'm glad at least that's part of the presentation. We've settled that tonight. OK, well, thank goodness for that, because he continues to refer to it as Bahia Mar. And I believe that's part of what the problem is, because all these additions that we're seeing, there are things that have been in advertising for the Bahia Mar St. Regis project. For instance, I'll pass around the advertisement for yoga on the beach, which they are doing in the sand. Why do we need a concrete platform for yoga? It's being done in the sand. We should be able to continue doing it on the sand. But it's something to promote what they have in their advertising materials. We heard about a shade structure. If you go through the Bahia Mar St. Regis' marketing materials, they're advertising a little gazebo on the beach to enjoy your sunset. So when people talk about, is this for us? Maybe it's because of the advertising and marketing materials coming out from the Bahia Mar. They are the ones who have created this problem. That is why we were here today. The agreement was for two pickleball courts, not four. Commissioner Glassman asked for four. I don't dispute that pickleball is all the rage and they will probably get used. I think it's a horrible location when you think about the wind velocity and trying to play out there. In terms of the grass or artificial turf, have you ever tried to get sand out of that? Have you traveled around? I've seen it in California. It's a joke. How are we going to maintain it? This isn't what the people wanted. This is what the Bahia Mar St. Regis wants to match their marketing. We don't need to move the exercise equipment. It should stay right where it is. What kind of welcome center do we have? We had to hear that it needs to be more welcoming for the people, make it usable. People are on that beach all the time. We don't need this to make it usable. Go down there on any given Saturday or Sunday. It's packed. We did hear today, it doesn't show up in the materials, that the grills and the picnic tables will have to be moved somewhat. Go down there on a Saturday or Sunday. I'm going to date myself and bring up the United Colors of Benetton because that is what it is like down there. It's like the United Nations of people enjoying that section of the beach. And when you're pushing it further south, all I can seem to ask myself is, are we trying to move that from being in front of the St. Regis? So as you come up with these plans, I encourage you to reject this current design. The exercise equipment should stay where it is. The picnic tables and barbecue grills need to stay where they are. Figure out your design. Go back to the two pickleball courts. We were not in threat of being sued. That agreement said it could be modified. The CDD doesn't even have the money yet. Last time, according to their financials that were filed for the end of September, they only have about $6,000 or maybe they're negative $3,000. They don't even have the money because they haven't even broken ground. Have they even sold enough units yet to break ground to start collecting dollars? So maybe Mr. Tate can give us a timeline for when that'll happen to find out because I thought we should already be at that process by now. So thank you. All right. You're welcome. Thank you. Jairus, followed by Nicole Holmes, followed by Michael Gerhardt, and then wrapping up with Maggie Hunt. Good evening, Mayor and Commissioners. I'd like to start by assisting regarding the turf question. The space has become more engineered, structured. We're losing natural flexibility and social feel that made them valuable in the first place. Regarding Ted's point, the obstruction views, the obstructive views is valid because public spaces aren't just about movement through them. They're also about the openness and experience being there, the skyline. Although there are broader environmental impacts considered, like stormwater drainage concerns, maintenance, lifespan maintenance, and construction waste, my focus here today is preserving the existing community, staying with the connection and unintended consequences. EDSA designs spaces for the people. I'm here asking you to also account for the existing human culture already happening. I appreciate the courts being preserved. Thank you. My concern is the connection displacement of the existing workout and community space. The plan shows and talks about everything connected. But the space already functions as one socially, not just physically. As far as the slide up there, I'm guessing the concrete line is where the workout space would be because we don't want to divide that area. I'm not 100% sure on that. I haven't really looked into all that. But if you divide it, you still have the same pieces, but you lose what makes it special. It's energy and quality of life. Elevation shouldn't come at the cost of what's already there. Regardless of curb appeal, these plans are breaking up something that already functions organically. I understand there are legal infrastructure obligations driving parts of this project. Just please consider revision. Thank you. Thank you so much. Is Nicole Holmes here? No. And Michael Gerhardt, you've already spoken. And Maggie Hunt. Maggie, are you here? Is there anyone else? Maggie, there you are. Anyone else wish to speak on this item? Okay. Well, I know everybody is not necessarily environmentally caring as others are, but when the rain happens, it's going to wash chemicals and all the nanoplastics that are in that grass out into the ocean, and we're already starting to see fish with little plastic particles in there. While I know most of it comes from plastic bottles and waste out in the ocean, I just don't feel like we need to contribute. I don't think it's a necessary area. And, you know, when you talk about Central Park, that's a more necessary area because you've got really heavy foot traffic there with the festivals and the music events. And, yes, it looks better, but it still looks like plastic. When I'm thinking about enjoying an idyllic place on the beach, it doesn't involve sitting on a big, giant piece of green plastic grass, you know. I would avoid it, actually. And I don't know if it gets hot or not, and I appreciate the fact that there's a lot of shade trees there. I hope, whether there's sand or whatever, I hope that there's enough trees there to provide a little bit of shade there. As far as yoga goes, people that make a point of going to the beach for yoga go there for the uneven surface and the sand. If you're a beginner, you might not be able to do it. But then you could maybe, Bahia Mar would have a place over by the intercosal. It has a beautiful view where you could just be on the grass there for beginners. It's just not a necessary place, as I see it, to have artificial turf there. You go to the beach. People go to the beach because they want the sand. And the presenter said, Who wants to sit in the sand? Well, me and everybody else I see there on the weekends and the holidays that pack those beaches that are there and so happy to be on sand. And I see them picnicking, and I picnic there, you know, with a towel on the ground. In fact, if you want to picnic with grass, we have so many public parks to picnic in. I think one of the, I think as the more artificial turf that we have, I think in our parks, more people get upset about it. And maybe you haven't gotten emails about it, but if you go look on social media, there's a lot of people that aren't. And yes, I have seen in people's backyards on the water and stuff. I don't know what makes, what percentage makes popular, but I appreciate the point that some people think like it. So the other, the last question I have too is about, you know, when we did those parks bond and we planned all the other parks, there was stuff online, you know, to say, oh, what do you want here? What do you want there? What do you think about this? What do you think about this? And way back then I didn't, I mean, I didn't see, I filled out that survey and I didn't see anything on there for the beach and that's a park, right? And I, so would assume the same process would happen and maybe it happened. And I just skipped over that part and didn't see it somehow online. But I, was there something way back when we passed this bond and we're talking about what we wanted at parks where people got input as to, Hey, if the beach is going to change and have this park area, what would people like to see? Cause I got some ideas that aren't on there. I'm sure there's people that would want to pick a ball. I also, but I'm sure there would. Anyway, I'm just wondering where that, where that was in the beginning. Thanks. All right. Thank you. Is there anyone else who wished to speak on this item? Did you sign up? I did earlier, but I didn't hear my name. Oh, I'm sorry. Well, come on up. Tell, tell us your name. Tell us your name. Good evening to everyone. My name is Fabian Diaz. Oh yeah. I called you earlier. Yeah. Oh, you did? Yeah. I couldn't pronounce the rest of your name though. You had a lot of names on there. Go ahead. Well, hello everyone. Thank you guys for your time today. So I've been a Broward County resident for the past six years, but I have been using these bars and the outdoor equipment at Flutterdale for over 10 years. That's actually where I started my calisthenics journey. I don't know if you guys are aware what that is. It's body weight training, basically. But with that being said, I really don't think that the pickle balls are needed. I don't see South beach or Miami beach having pickle balls everywhere. They rather have upgraded equipment and also volleyball courts as well. So that's something that could be considered for this. But overall, I think we just need an upgrade to upgrade the already existing equipment and not add many of these things that are just, I don't know. It's just, I love the beach the way it is right now. And I feel like many people are very familiar with the way it is already. And basically it's just, it just needs to be upgraded with new newer equipment, better equipment. And I also think that instead of the pickleball courts, we should be adding more workout areas so we can help our youth also have more accessibility to workout equipment, even if they cannot afford it. We know that South Florida has been becoming more of a health and wellness place lately and, you know, pushing more basketball courts and workout areas instead of pickle balls. For me, I think that's what would push people to become stronger. And yeah. Okay. All right. That it. All right. Thank you. Yes. Thank you. All right. No one to sign up to speak. So this was just for discussion purposes. I think now the, the, the, the, the folks at Bahia Mar are going to take this to the CBA now and we'll get some feedback from the community there and then the city manager will bring it back at some future meeting. May I find out when is that future meeting? And I asked that question because we've been discussing this part. We went through several iterations. I think for two years, we've been discussing exactly where all these elements are going to be. I know that we, you know, we keep having discussion, keep having discussion. It's not bad. Some folks in the public don't pay attention to a little bit later than others. That's not bad. It's just the way it is. But I'm just not interested in continuing to kick the can down the road. At some point in time, we are going to have to make a decision as a commission. And so what we're going to do here. And I certainly hope that will happen before we take our summer break. So city manager, when do you envision this coming back to us in the evening for a vote on the site plan? We actually did vote. Well, we had a, we had a consensus on a site plan and then that went away, right? Cause there was a change of heart. And so this is not a new topic. I'm just curious as to when you see us actually seeing a vote at night on the site plan. As shared in the backup material, we intend to come back to the commission on or before July 2nd, 2026, with an amendment to the interlocal agreement to extend the timeline. So between now and then it is anticipated that we should be able to have an audience with the central beach Alliance to share information and gather any additional feedback and incorporate that in the materials for July 2nd or before. So you see this coming back to us for a vote prior to our summer break. I think that is feasible. Okay. Thank you. Okay. So that would complete our afternoon agenda for now, right? Are we going to not, we're not going to have business. We're not going to have the other two business items. We're going to defer that to another meeting. What have we decided to do there? What have we decided to do there? Does it impact district three? I want to defer to the commission. What do you want to do? I really think we could wind this up in a, discuss it in a short manner. I think we should go ahead and take care of it tonight. Okay. Now, or at the end of the evening meeting. Now, is there anybody here who's on the let's find out who's still here. Anyone here on business five and business six? Oh, well, just the, I don't. I believe we could do it in a timely manner. I believe we can do it in a timely manner. If we could move forward, please. Okay. All right. Move on to business five. Then a presentation of the evaluation of the unsiless proposal submitted by David Mancini for Rivalin portion of the Melrose Manor's Rivalin stormwater improvement fortified Lauderdale project. Brad. Thank you, mayor. We have Brad Cain, public works director before he begins. You'll recall that I shared a letter to the commission on January 5th of this year. Since then, we've been made apprised of some changes to what we know as the site conditions. And as a result, we're bringing forward this item for discussion. There is a companion item. So business five and six are very much related and I'll allow director Cain to proceed. You can speak to both of them. Yeah. Thank you, manager Williams. Good evening. Brad Cain, public works director, mayor, Trenchetelis, vice mayor Sorensen, fellow commission. The presentation tonight, if I, if we could flip them, the Melrose first, Riverland, we could do that. Good. Yep. Thank you. So I'm just going to try to highlight some of these things real quick and get to the real items at hand as it relates to the unsolicited proposals. Just to recap the scope of the work for these two projects combined, where, as you see in the slides here, it's basically a neighborhood design, drainage and construction of stormwater infrastructure in both of the areas, which consists of the following items. There are 21 miles of drainage pipe, 1200 drainage structures, two water quality structures and two stormwater pump stations, water and sanitary sewer line relocations, and some swale improvements. This is what I really wanted to get to, which is really, you know, one of the key updates here, the current project status as we have it. The project currently is about in 60% design. But as I get to this one issue, as you'll see the city's design phase timeline has been extended by one year. And that's because we've just learned very recently of some conflicts as it relates to some FP and L undergrounding projects that are happening in the area that create conflicts with the design of this project. And therefore that's going to delay our timeline in terms of completing design by about another year. The other thing, just to understand, we're also working currently with the chipmunk property to get the necessary drainage easement. That probably will come to commission at some time this summer. That's not going to affect this. But the other item, as I just mentioned, is really important to understand that that has an effect on our ability to complete design as we anticipated it. Currently, the next slide just talks about the different regulatory permits that, you know, are required for the County U S core of army engineers, FDOT and FDEP typically for a drainage project of the size, just kind of just pointing those out to everybody just for informational purposes. Mr. Kane, could you speak up a little force, please? Thank you. Sorry. Thank you. Absolutely. The unsolicited proposals were received on December 23rd, 2025 were from Mancon and David Mancini and sons for the design, construction, and delivery of stormwater improvements within the Melrose and Riverland neighborhoods. They were two separate proposals, which is why we had them in two separate presentations tonight, but very little difference in terms of the overall information being provided, which is just a couple of slides, which I can explain as we go through this. The Melrose manors one, which we're talking about right now was submitted by Mancon and Riverland was by David Mancini and sons. Just a little background on Mancon. They have over 30 years experience in the underground utility infrastructure business in South Florida, specializing in stormwater sanitary sewer, water mains, forced mains and drainage system construction. They have experience in delivering large scale projects of this size, including neighborhood improvements and pipeline. The unsolicited proposals specifically related to Melrose included, as I pointed out here, 62,000 linear feet of gravity stormwater pipe over a thousand lineal feet of force main over 740 drainage structures and one stormwater pump station for this particular project. This is the other slide. That's pretty critical to understand. So as it stands today, our anticipated completion for design won't occur until summer of 2027 with a construction period in the range of two to four years. And as we get through this process of the additional design, we'll have a better idea on actually where that will fall in terms of the years of construction. The estimated completion time, as far as we have it right now is somewhere between 2029 and 20, 2031 in the unsolicited proposals we received. It's the same for both. It's two years of guaranteed from notice to proceed. So basically if we gave them an NTP in July, they would have substantial completion by July of 2028. Now this slide here is just showing the city's estimated cost of this individual project related to Melrose is about 80 million, 969,721 man cons price was around 91, eight 41 59. And I need to just point out in the original package that we submitted, there was an error on these numbers in both projects as related to information we had received from our consultant. We basically, there was an inversions of the basins that were involved. So those numbers, particularly in this one were way higher than the difference now, which is only about $11 million gap. And it still falls within the high estimate for the overall project. But I needed to point that out because it was pretty significant in this one, but now that number has been updated and corrected. So, so Brad, just so I'm clear. So this, this is post that design change based on the utilities in the, in the right of way. Just, just so I'm clear on that, right? Your, your $80 million estimate, 81 million. That, that is where we see it today. Right, right. That right now, correct. As of now, once we go and do the additional design work and get to 60% on that, again, that number will probably change. And as we get to 90% and a hundred percent, that number will change as well. Sure. It'll firm up and it'll, it'll, it'll change and it'll, it'll, it'll narrow down to what your final number is. And that's in the next 12 to 16 months. Yes. Okay. Correct. Thank you. So we're at the point we're at today is for consideration from the city commission is some of the things that would go into the P3, if it was accepted, we are looking at putting in significant damages as it relates to liquidation, you know, to encourage this project to be completed in a timely fashion. The contractor is guaranteeing the maximum price with no change orders. And that would be negotiated in the agreement and all permitting for regulatory agencies have to be obtained before any construction on these projects. And that's the same for both projects. But we would negotiate separate agreements for each one based upon the scope of work. So the next steps at this point would be either to reject the unsolicited proposal, continue advancing with the current design bid build approach, utilizing the city's upcoming pre-qualified contractors list for this project and for others, or we can accept the unsolicited proceed in accordance with the statute requirements by advertising the proposal to invite a competitive submission through a public notice competition period, which could be at minimum 21 days, or by conducting two public notice meetings to present the proposal, receive public input and make a determination of public interest. And that's what we're looking for guidance on today from the city commission. Quick question. So on page nine, it says the city estimate was 84 million for Riverland, but the contractor's proposal came in at 79. So there, I haven't, I haven't got to that proposal. This is specifically talking about Melrose. Um, but I, but I, I'm just, it says city estimate, 84 million, $50,000. And then it said, and that's the same number for Riverland. Am I not reading this correctly? There, there is updated numbers for Riverland too, which I'm not on yet. And those numbers have, have, have varied. There's the variables. So is the contractor's proposal greater than or lesser than the city's estimate? It's greater than in both. It's greater in both. Correct. It still falls within the overall higher end of the engineer estimates, but it is higher than both the current estimates at this time. Okay. But Brad, wouldn't we also be then subject to an increase because of the time delay that we would be going through, waiting for all the other stuff to fall into place. And in other words, how you can't really use that number today. I think it would definitely increase. Correct. Going through this process and with a design change in the next 12 to 16 months, um, and then having it back at 60% and then 90 and a hundred app, these is those estimates absolutely are subject to change and not necessarily lower. No, that's, that's my point. Thank you. So, uh, Commissioner Beasley-Pipp, what is your, what are your thoughts on your district? Yes, it's in my district. And when, um, I had this conversation, um, my, um, drive with this is with the opportunity of the method in which this project will be done. Um, given an opportunity of, um, addressing and a, a quicker matter of the flooding, putting down these bank, these, uh, drain basins that would also address some of the issues that, we're having with the flooding. Um, with that being said, could we call up the, um, proposal to let them explain also, um, what was shared, but we can understand how this would, um, move this process, um, in a manner that would be really, um, proactive while we're going through this process. David Mancini. We have David, Anthony, and Anthony Mancini. And if you could share with us, um, the concept of methodology regarding, um, the storm basins that you're proposing to put in place. Absolutely. Uh, good evening, mayor. Good evening, commission. Um, this project, Melrose Manors and Riverland, um, is a neighborhood with zero infrastructure. It is a, a quite literally a, a bull just collecting water. There is, there's nothing, there's nowhere for the water to go. So our first task and our first sequence, if we're awarded this project and we advance into, uh, construction would be immediately implementing, um, protective measures for this rain season, um, that would stay into effect in the next rain season until the project is complete and the lift station is fully operational. Um, it may not prevent, but it will definitely, uh, help in a major rain event. Where, where do you see the, the water flowing into? What we would do is in the low lying areas in these neighborhoods, we would drop catch basins in these neighborhoods. And then we would set up temporary pumps where we would, we would divert water from the low lying areas directly out into FDOT right of way instead of using, as you remember, the large pump trucks that are maybe one 15th, the capacity of these pumps. When you say FDOT right away, once you put that into simple terms to me, yeah, existing infrastructure to the north and south of the neighborhood. Is there a river or canal anywhere near this neighborhood? There is. And that's where the water would be pumped into. It would actually be pumped into existing drainage systems that the state manages, um, in a major rain event. It would push the water out of the neighborhood. Okay. That's all I wanted to say. Yes, sir. Thank you. Thank you. Um, with this, I am, I want to move in, um, an acceptance of this unsolicited proposal and asking that my colleagues, um, have a consensus and we move in this direction. I do not want to, um, witness our neighbors in Merrill's manors and Merrill's park experience, um, what we have in the last several years. If, if there's an opportunity to, um, reduce that flooding where it's not high standing, understanding that this is not a complete fix, but it is a way to address the problem, to bring down this issue. So that's my recommendation that we accept this. Okay. What does the rest of the commission think about this? I, I agree with the district commissioner, um, from my perspective also, and I think from the rest of the districts, actually, this project, correct me if I'm wrong, creates a little bit of a bottleneck for the phase two projects because of the size and the constraints of it. Um, if we don't expedite this and move in this direction with the unsolicited proposal, I'm afraid that our delays of at least another year to a year and a half just to get through all of our design phases, we'll just create an awful bottleneck for all of the rest of the phase two projects in all of our districts, um, including more in district three. So I really think this doesn't just, uh, behoove district three immediately, but it also helps the entire city and making sure that our tranche two projects are moving smoothly ahead. Any other comments? Yeah, mayor, I completely support, uh, commissioner Beasley Pittman and we need to move as quickly and efficiently as possible towards infrastructure. And this is vital. So I'm happy to support and excited about moving forward with, uh, with infrastructure. Okay. So thank you, mayor. So we had an opportunity to chat this morning. So let's talk about some of the things we discussed this morning. Um, as I shared with you, I'm not a big fan of P threes for what's otherwise a very basic project. You know, P three should be limited to those things that are somewhat unique in nature. Um, now, as I said to you, and I'll say it publicly, these are great companies. We've used them for a lot of projects before. I'm very comfortable with, uh, with the companies involved. That's not the issue. Um, I am a little concerned about the, about the process. So, so talk to me and let's share with, uh, with everybody, what you said about being able to move forward faster than we can right now, because where we were before in terms of being previously at Brad, correct me if I'm wrong, 90% design previously, before we found out about the utilities. 60, I thought we were at 90 with the previous design. We were at 90% design before we found out about the, about the utility. Right. Prior to the, right. Right. Right. So, and I, and I know these proposals had come in earlier and I will tell you, candidly, I would not have been at all willing to consider doing a P three when we were at 90% design, we were ready to go out on the street. And so it would have made absolutely no sense. I'm willing to consider it now because of the argument that's made about advancing this and the time it's going to take for us to get to 90% design before we can go out to bid. So tell us a little bit about what we talked about earlier, about your willingness to move forward with this at your risk. Cause I think that's a very important aspect for me. Sure. Go ahead, Dave. Yeah. So, um, if, uh, this is approved, we will be taking it on in a design build format. And by that alone, we will take over the design. The city will hand us where they're at today and we will plan to break it up in phases to be able to accelerate getting that infrastructure in the ground within three months, having actual pipe and structures installed in a neighborhood, which in the event of a rainstorm, what happens now, there's no, there's nowhere to drop a pump. So there's no strut and there's no infrastructure in the neighborhood as it sits right now. So if anybody lives in Melrose, when it's a heavy rainstorm, you see they're using the vac truck pump trucks, because that only needs a couple inches of headwater to be able to suck the water and dispose of it outside the neighborhood. But in changing that to a design build, we can install, you know, do the design and phases smaller phases rather than designing the entire project and putting that out for bid. We can design one critical block, get those pipe and structures installed quickly, much faster than the whole projects permitting. And as a result in a rainstorm, be able to drop our pumps into that infrastructure that we install quickly and be able to pump the water out of the neighborhood much faster. Okay. And we were also talking that we're looking at this as a, as basically a GMP with a cement risk. So basically you guys are going to own your price. We own it. Yeah. So oil goes up to $140 a barrel. We're in trouble. You still own the price, right? Yes, sir. Okay. Which is why, which is why your estimate is coming in higher than our engineering estimates. Cause you've got to build some contingency into your numbers because that, that's your, that's, that's your wiggle room in case everything goes even, even, even further South than we are today. There is also in addition to those contingencies, which absolutely aren't included in our price. The estimate definitely doesn't have that stormwater response. So we're taking on for the duration of the project managing if there is any flooding. And that's the one thing we didn't get a chance to discuss today. And I wanted to ask you about so storm related events. I mean, obviously anything other than a hurricane force majeure, but just regular, you know, regular weather. Well, even in a hurricane event, we will have a plan of action to be able to address that. And will, we're going to take over the neighborhood as it relates to flooding until the project is delivered fully complete. Okay. Well, again, as I said to you earlier today for this kind of a project, I would not have been in favor of it previously, but given the fact that we're, we're looking at a 16 month setback, I think it makes sense for the neighborhood to do this. So I'm comfortable with moving it forward. Um, I also will share though, with the commission, one thing I did share with, uh, with, with the two companies and, and they understand where I'm coming from, and I don't think they object to it is given the enormity of the amount of money that we're spending. I would not be in favor of the minimum number of days of putting this out for other companies to bid. I'm very much in favor of the fact that whenever we're putting public taxpayer dollars to work, that we afford people an opportunity to compete for those dollars. So I, I think for anybody to put a bid together in three weeks and something of this magnitude, I do public bids for other companies that I consult with, and I can tell you it's an enormous undertaking. So I hope we have a reasonable amount of time that encourages, which is competition. That's all. Thank you. Just to clarify the minimum number of days for a competition period is 21 days, but it can go up to 120 days. So we would want that level of feedback from the commission. If there was a decision to proceed to accept the project and set a competition period. So I'm just saying not the minimum. This is not a project of $80 million for each, for each component that we're talking $160 million, give or take is, is not a 21 day timeframe that I think is reasonable for, for the vendor community. So what are you recommending? I was going to ask this. Thank you, mayor. What recommendation? Sorry. I think 30 is probably realistic. 45 would be ideal, but 30 is probably realistic. I like 30. All right. So leave it. I just don't want to delay too much. And actually, I think the, I think what we're going to find, I'm going to make a prediction that no one else is going to come in on this because the pricing that we have guaranteed now actually falls within the range of what we thought it was going to be a little bit on the high end of the range, but it does fall within the range. And yet those are numbers that don't even take, and as I said, that do not take into consideration what we're still facing where those numbers will really escalate. So I'm good with 30. I'll defer to the district commissioner, but I want to get this started. Yes. I want to get this started as well. I am comfortable with the 21. Me too. I want to, I want to see this move forward. I have with what we've discussed and what's on the opportunity. I believe that this is the time for the community. It may be considered what nine days, but 21 days to me is comfortable. I want to move forward for our community can feel comfortable. You know, every time it rains, we're getting these phone calls about the water being fearful of the storm. So if there's anything that I can do to represent, to alleviate that, I believe this is the way to go. So I'm representing 21. Me too. All right. So 30, 21. I agree with 21. 21. Okay. All right. Before we, before we move on city manager, can I ask a couple of questions? How, how are we paying for this? Is this a 30 year bond? So for all of our Fortify Lauderdale projects, we utilize bond revenue. Is that a 30 year bond? We have several issuances. There's actually one on your agenda tonight for phase two. Is that what's related to this project? We already have some funding in place for this project as it's related to phase one. Okay. So it, and, and how long does that bond period usually last? I have Yvette Matthews coming forward with that detail. Sorry, I don't have it right in front of me, but usually we're doing 30 year bonds. 30 year bonds. Right. So I'm just, so just so that we have some perspective here and I'm going to support this tonight, but just so that we have some perspective, because city manager, you in the past have, like when we talked about the city hall, when the projection of what the actual cost would be for a project at, you know, this 148 million or the high estimates, 173 million, it's not really 173 million. It's probably more than half a billion. Isn't that correct? Where are you going? Where'd you go with that? As I, as I try to compare, you know, the analyses that we, that, that we were, that was posed to us when we're discussing the new construction of the city hall. The city hall was estimated at, I think it was the $200 million mark. You estimate it was going to cost over 700 million. So the reality is that this Melrose Manor's Riverland storm mitigation project is not really 148 and it's not really 173. It's really half a billion dollars. Isn't that correct? Yeah. And mayor, the important thing to note was the city hall, $720 million was inclusive, both of the debt service, the developers equity, as well as the O and M costs, which were $6 million a year. I like to do a, it's kind of like with your mortgage, right? So you take a mortgage out on your house. It's for a certain price. You should, in your mind, at least double it because by the time you're done paying for it, it usually with the interest costs will end up costing almost double the costs. And so it's a similar situation when we issue bonds, we do pay a debt service. We're very fortunate that because of our strong credit rating, it usually is at a favorable rate, but you're right. There is interest costs that come along with issuing debt. Does this, does this cost include operation and maintenance of the stormwater system? So we budget, as you look at our Stantec models each year in June, you'll notice that we budget for the expansion of the operations and maintenance of our stormwater system as we bring new projects online. So we've beefed up our staffing as well as the overall operating costs associated with the stormwater system. But these prices that are on our page nine, they would not, they would be specifically for the project. And I just want to add that every time we do a bond issuance, we do indicate how much it will cost the city over the life. So whether it's 30 years, we share that information at that time. But this isn't a, this isn't a 30 year number. That's correct. But we do share that in other agenda items that speaks to the revenue that is supporting this project. But we don't highlight it ever like we did with City Hall, do we? So I'm just, the point I'm trying to make is that in full disclosure, being transparent here, the public should know that this project is not the price that we see here. It's much more than that. And that's why when we talked about the City Hall, I thought that that $720 million number was not only inaccurate, but it's distracting from a credible conversation regarding the cost of a new City Hall, because it wasn't really $720 million. It was much less. And for some reason, you added the developer's fee, you added, you know, 30 years operation and maintenance. I mean, you know, so I want, I want to make sure that going forward, that we present numbers that are real. And, and, and when we get back to the City Hall conversation, that we don't keep piling on numbers for whatever reason that we did that, when in fact, you know, the price is what we're presented now. And, and what it, what it costs us over 30 years is another, is another cost that will, we will have to absorb in, in future budgets. But I bring that up as a point because you didn't do it here, but you did it with the City Hall. And that's why I'm concerned that, you know, you didn't also bring it up here because the reality is this is going to cost us half a billion dollars. 511,514,331 dollars and eight cents. Thank you, Dr. Spock. Just ask the CPA. Yvette, when you talked about like, you should look at it like when people have a mortgage on their home. That was what I was trying to get out in the conversation about City Hall. A real estate agent advertises a five. Excuse me, please don't yell from the audience. A real estate agent doesn't advertise a house at what it will cost after a 30-year mortgage. They advertise the purchase price of the house. Same thing when you purchase a car and you get a car loan. But for some reason, we didn't do that before. But now we need to make it apples to apples. That's all. If we're going to highlight something like on that last project with big, bold letters and tell the residents that we're spending three quarters of a billion dollars on a city hall, it's a little disingenuous is what I'm saying. That's all. Thank you. All right. So let's move forward. I think the 21 days is the consensus. I think that these neighborhoods have suffered long enough. Not just so many of our neighborhoods were never built with proper infrastructure. A lot of them were built on the cheap by the original developers. And now we're having to pay for it. And I'm sorry, Mayor. And just to clarify, Merrill's Manor was built without infrastructure at all. They have zero. That's what I'm saying. All these neighborhoods were built on the cheap without sidewalks, without stormwater, without pump stations, without a lot of things. And so now, just like a lot of the rest of the infrastructure in our city, we're making up for lost time, for failure to invest, like we should have in the past. And, you know, it's about time we do this, because I remember when I was campaigning in 2020, and we're standing in huge pools of water over in Melrose Manors, because there was no infrastructure. And we had tremendous rain three days before the election. Lucky us. But let's move forward as aggressively and as quickly as possible on this. All right. Thank you. That's with regard to Business 5 and Business 6. Yes. Later on this evening, we do have two walk-on items related to these conference discussion items that will address the competition period. All right. Great. All right. That's it for the afternoon discussion. We're done. Conference. That meeting is concluded. All right. Now let's move on to the regular afternoon. All those folks that are here from Melrose Manors and Riverland Road, the item is moving forward. Okay. Moving on to our one appointment of board and committee members. Mr. Clerk, would you please like to read the names into the record? Are they taking the lights off? Mayor, we have motions also before resolutions. I can't hear you. Motions. M1. Did I skip motions? Oh, I'm sorry. M1. Motion approving a service agreement with Pepe Gatka related to the installation of a mural in Peter Feldman Park. But before we get there, I saw the rendering. Who can speak to me on the rendering? We have Josh Harden, our cultural affairs officer. Josh, you may have answered this question before, but I just want to make sure I understand. Josh, this rendering is not just one side. It's all sides because this is a significant amount of money we're paying for a mural. And I just want to make sure that we're not just paying this amount of money for one side. So the same kind of artwork will appear on all four sides of this? Yes, sir. Exactly. All right. All right. Someone like to move the item? So moved. Do I hear a second? Second. Moved and seconded. Any questions regarding this? Josh, this is going to be finished in June? We're hoping so. Yes, sir. It's been a long time. It has. Yes, sir. Long time. So let's get Pepe moving. Absolutely. Thank you. Thank you so much. He's back in the country. He's back in the country. Yes. Thank you. Appreciate it. Thank you so much. Please call the roll. Commissioner Herbst? Yes. Commissioner Glossman? Yes. Commissioner Beasley-Pittman? Yes. Vice Mayor Sorensen? Yes. Mayor Trentos? Yes. And M1's approved. M2, a motion approving an agreement pursuant to a multi-step procurement process, request for qualifications, pre-qualification for design bill services, and so forth and so on. This is regarding Core Construction Services of Florida. This is regarding Fire Station No. 13. No one has signed up to speak. Does anyone have any questions? No. I'm very excited about this, Mayor. Thank you. Yes. About time, right? Yeah. Yeah. It's going to be excellent. Mayor, may I clarify that this also has to do with Medical Substation No. 88? Yes. So there are two facilities in one, and Fire Station 13 is the last of the 2004 fire bond projects. So we're very excited to see this come forward. You know, those projects, when I was commissioner, we voted to build all those fire stations for $20 million. It just shows you how long you've been around. Yeah. Yeah. And how long it costs us when we wait and delay like this. Right? Yeah. Okay. It's been moved. Has it been seconded? Second. Okay. Please call the roll. Commissioner Herbst? Yes. Commissioner Glassman? Yes. Commissioner Beasley-Pittman? Yes. Vice Mayor Sorensen? Yes. Mayor Trentos? Yes. And M2 is approved. R1. Now the appointment of board and committee members. Please read the names into the record. Thank you, Mayor. For tonight's resolution, Aviation Advisor Board, Lewis Gavin, nominated by Vice Mayor Sorensen. Board of Adjustment, Jay Sheckman, nominated by Vice Mayor Sorensen. Cemetery System Board of Trustees, Kelly Scurry, nominated by Vice Mayor Sorensen. Charter Revision Board, Michael Albetta, nominated by Commissioner Glassman. Economic Development Advisor Board, Elena Jean-Francois, nominated by Commissioner Beasley-Pittman. And Marine Advisory Board, Theodore Morley, nominated by Vice Mayor Sorensen, and that rounds it out. Okay. Any other modifications or additions? There being none, would someone like to introduce the resolution? Introduce. Resolution has been introduced. Please call the roll. A resolution of the City Commission of the City of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, appointing or nominating, if applicable, boarding committee members as set forth in the exhibit attached here to and made a part hereof. Commissioner Herbst? Yes. Commissioner Glassman? Yes. Commissioner Beasley-Pittman? Yes. Vice Mayor Sorensen? Yes. Mayor Sorensen, tell us. Yes. And R1 is now approved. And I want to thank those individuals who have volunteered to sit on the board and committees. Thank you for your commitment to our city. R2, resolution approving an interlocal agreement between the City of Fort Lauderdale and Broward County for a $3 million surtax grant match program for Breakers Avenue. When are we going to get Breakers done already? Excuse me. Mayor, Mayor, remember your first charrette in 2003? 2003. In Breakers Avenue? Well, it's only 23 years later. Almost the same amount of time we waited for Mary Brickle Avenue to get named, right? Almost the same amount of time. Yeah, I would be very happy to... Would you like to introduce the resolution? I'm so pleased to move this resolution, yes. Any questions with regard to this? There being none. Please call the roll. A resolution of the City Commission of the City of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, approving an interlocal surtax funding agreement for a City of Fort Lauderdale between the City of Fort Lauderdale and Broward County for the Breakers Avenue Resiliency and Traffic Improvement Surtax Grant Match Program, authorizing the City Manager to execute the interlocal agreement and any required documents associated with the interlocal agreement and providing for an effective date. Commissioner Herbst? Yes. Commissioner Glassman? Yes. Commissioner Beasley-Pittman? Yes. Vice Mayor Sorensen? Yes. Mayor Trentos? Yes. And R2 is approved. R3, resolution approving a grant agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation for $1 million, state appropriation for the Las Olas Boulevard Safety Improvements and Americans with Disabilities Upgrades, the Western Corridor from Andrews Avenue to 17th Avenue. No one has signed up to speak. Someone please introduce the resolution. I'll introduce it, Mayor, and just thank city staff, Transportation and Mobility, Milos, the whole team. This is going to be a fantastic improvement for those with disabilities and challenges and also for all folks on 17th. So thank you. Okay. Resolution has been introduced. Please call the roll. A resolution, City Commissioner of the City of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, approving a state-funded grant agreement with the State of Florida Department of Transportation authorizing the acceptance of the grant funds from the Florida Department of Transportation in the amount of $1 million for the construction of the Las Olas Boulevard Safety Improvements with American with Disabilities Act, upgrades, and authorizing the city manager to execute the grant agreement, any and all documents necessary or incidental to accept such grant funding on behalf of the City of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and providing for an effective date. Commissioner Herbst? Yes. Commissioner Glassman? Commissioner Beasley-Pittman? Yes. Vice Mayor Sorensen? Yes. Mayor Schrentals? Yes. And that item is now approved. R-4, resolution approving a grant agreement with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the construction of the Breakers Avenue Resiliency and Traffic Improvements Project in the amount of $850,000. One person has signed up to speak. Is Mr. Joe Askerberg still here? He is not. Okay. Anyone else wish to speak on this item? There being no one, would someone like to introduce the resolution? Yes, sir. This is a companion to that. Thank you to the federal government and Congressman Moskowitz for all of his help in getting us these funds for the Breakers Avenue Project. Please call the roll. A resolution, City Commissioner of the City of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, approving a grant agreement authorizing the acceptance of the grant funds from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for the Breakers Avenue Resiliency and Traffic Improvements Project in the amount of $850,000 delegating authority to the city manager to execute the grant agreement and any and all documents necessary are incidental to acceptance of such grant funding on behalf of the City of Fort Lauderdale, Florida and providing for an effective date. Commissioner Herbst? Commissioner Herbst? Yes. Commissioner Glossman? Yes. Commissioner Beasley-Pittman? Yes. Vice Mayor Sorensen? Yes. Mayor Trent Ellis? Yes. And that item is now approved. R5, City Manager Annual Performance Review. I understand the City Manager has a presentation. I just have a few introductory comments. I was told there might be a video. No, there's no video. There's an attachment, Exhibit 1. Right. Okay. So has everyone had a chance to review the attachment? Yes. Yes. All right. Okay. Anyone wish, do you have any comments you'd like to make? Thank you, Mayor. I just want to start by saying that it has truly been an honor and privilege to serve as your City Manager over the last year. It has been 14 years since the City of Fort Lauderdale welcomed someone external to the organization to come in and serve in this capacity. So it has truly been a year of growth and learning and progress. Exhibit 1 reflects a sampling of the work that has been done under my leadership, but with your guidance and support through the strength of our very, very capable team of individuals. I've had the opportunity to go out into the community to learn more about the neighborhoods and the districts and the concerns. I've met with stakeholders. I've had a chance to do ride-alongs with various operational departments and learn more about the needs of the operation. I'm very proud that our city remains financially solvent. This year, we have re-implemented a financial integrity principles policy, and we haven't done that in 10 years, and so I'm really proud of that. This year, we also established an emergency reserve fund. We haven't what? We haven't maintained, what was that? Financial integrity principles. We had not refreshed those in about 10 years. And so I'm really proud of the work that we've done to advance various capital projects, to receive funding for projects, some of which are on tonight's agenda. I'm proud of the reorganization that we've done, which has allowed for new departments to thrive and to allow existing departments to be even more productive. Our team is full of momentum, and I think the past year has taught me a lot about the strengths of our team members. And they've been very flexible and agile. No matter what I've asked for, they found a way to deliver, and I really appreciate all of them for that. And if every member of the staff could stand up at this time just to be acknowledged for all the work that you do. So this is not just my performance evaluation. It's truly a reflection of the team and the way that each and every team member contributes to our success. And so I appreciate any feedback that you may have. We're all a work in progress, and I'm truly proud of our efforts to date, and I know this is only the beginning of more positivity to come. So thank you. So a number of people have signed up to speak. So before the commission has their conversation, why don't we just listen to the public? I'll call your names by threes. Jerry Nesbitt, Gerald Nesbitt, Sr., Dudley Harvard, and Ted and Sarah. Is Gerald Nesbitt here? Is Dudley here? Oh, come on up. And then Ted and Sarah. Gerald left. This is Dudley, right? Yeah, this is Dudley. Good evening, everyone. Good evening. Mayor, commissioner, staff, and everyone. My name is Dudley Etienne Harvard, and I proudly serve as the president of Sunset Civic Association within District 3 under the leadership of Commissioner Beasley Pittman. I'm here today to speak in support of our city manager. Ms. Williams, during her annual performance review, from what I've seen and what is reflected in her leadership, she demonstrates a strong commitment to responsiveness, accountability, and community engagement. Those are not just words. They're experienced firsthand within Sunset. Ms. Williams took the time to personally meet with our civic association and the residents. She didn't just listen. She act. She ensured we were connected to the right department, the right staff, and the right solutions. That level of follow-up speaks volumes about her leadership, style, and dedication for serving the neighbors and not just some. Effective leadership at the city level requires collaboration, transparency, and ability to move priorities forward. And we've seen that in action. Her approach aligns with what residents want, a city that listens, responds, and delivers. On behalf of Sunset Community, I want to say thank you. And I look forward to continuing to work together and seeing even more progress under your leadership. Thank you. Great. Thank you. Ted and Sarah, followed by Steve Whitten, followed by Dr. John Bell. Ted and Sarah, President of River Oaks. I didn't plan on speaking twice tonight. I thought it was one in the afternoon and one in the evening. But I just want to say, you know, River Oaks, we have a strange relationship with some city officials, you know, especially in the past. And a few department heads refused to come to River Oaks to our civic association, meaning because they claimed there was a hostile environment. But I just want to say that we had Raquel very early when she was hired. And we weren't the first. I know downtown was. But we were right there, number two or three. And let me tell you, from that day on, she really wowed our civic association. And the key, not only that, it was the people that she has brought with her. Let me tell you, I was speaking with Brad Cain over this past weekend about the rain because, you know, from River Oaks, we have a flooding problem. I reached right out to him and he reached right back to me. I met with Quentin at the Gore Betts Park, you know, on ground level. He came out and we walked the ground. Anytime I've reached out to them, they have always come through. And she was smart enough to keep Chris and Ben back here that are vital parts, you know, and, you know, knew who to keep and who to replace. And I agreed with every one of her every one of her commands. And she's a hit in River Oaks. She's I think she's a benefit to the city of Fort Lauderdale. And we're just I am. I know. And let me speak for myself. I'm just very happy that she's our city manager. Thank you. Is Steve Witten here? Steve. Followed by John. Dr. John Hill. Followed by Bobby Henry. Good evening, Mayor, Vice Mayor and Commissioners. First of all, congratulations for passing a Living Seawall Permit of Fee Assistance, a tremendous program. And as Ben said, one of the leaders in the country. So congratulations for that. A quick moment of your time, please. I didn't come here tonight to celebrate Raquel's success, but I came instead to celebrate yours. This is about the five of you as much as it is about Raquel and her team. As my old Italian partner from Harrison, New York, used to say, there is no I in team. I want to tell you how proud I am of all of you for taking the shot with what I thought was a still somewhat untested young woman from Miami. And look at the results. Look at the group. Look at the respect. Look at the collective respect for all of you. You picked the right person. You did it. And our residents are reaping the collective benefits of your hard and insightful work. The hard work of Raquel and her team, but it's all a result of your efforts. Through your efforts, we are truly one of the most respected waterfront communities in the United States. And it's now not just lip service when we refer to ourselves as the boating capital of the world. What's happened over the last couple of years, et cetera, particularly the last year, we are indeed the boating capital of the world. We're not the yachting capital of the world. It's boating for everybody. And again, you did this. You collectively created one of the hottest, most vibrant melting pots of the community. Raquel simply keeps the lights on and the city functioning. But it's all a result of your efforts. We absolutely look the part. Look at you guys, everybody on the team. We speak the part of a true big waterfront city. Allow me to share. Back way too many years ago, I was in a master's program in behavioral psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. And we participated in a groundbreaking study on Bell Telephone employees. Do you remember operators? What motivates employees more? Is it more money or is it acknowledgement? It turned out the extra dollar or so wasn't nearly as important as acknowledging somebody for their outstanding efforts, a.k.a. a job well done. We definitely all use some additional pats on the back. No quitude is bullshit, but some simple acknowledgements of people for jobs well done. I'd like to suggest we take a moment to applaud what Raquel and her team have accomplished, but even more importantly, what this group has accomplished. I can't wait to see what the next 12 months holds for the city under your collective leadership, everybody's leadership. Come on, everyone. Let's get up and applaud Raquel and the five bosses on the day. Terrific job. Thank you. You could keep talking, Steve. No. Doctor. Is Dr. Hill here? Oh, there you are. Followed by Bobby Henry, followed by Titiana Johnson. Honorable mayor. Commissioners. And special kudos to Commissioner Beasley of District 3, of which I'm in. I apologize because I have some laryngeal problems with my throat here and trying to vocalize. So I hope that I can make some lucidity in you guys understanding what I'm saying. I'm Dr. John H. Myzell Hill, the third, an offspring of one of the most influential black families here in Broward County, the Hill Myzell family. I am a retired medical professor in anatomical sciences, military science professor, FIU adjunct professor in the College of Public Health and Environmental Toxicology. This is my very beautiful daughter, which I'm so proud of. She's, yeah, well, the mayor will let me talk. He'll let me talk. I'll be patient here. So I'd like to say something very complimentary about our city manager. That's why I'm here. Here, our love Raquel Williams, for her exceptional leadership and dedication to our city. Heads off to you. Her constant guidance, fortitude, thoughtful making decisions, and the complete transparency to forwarding our city into significant and very, very advantageous and progressive matters. Through dedication, through, okay, all right. Well, anyway, we commend her, and we have really appreciated her services to the city, and we hope she continues to do the work that she's done. Thank you very much. Thank you. Bobby Henry, followed by Titiana Johnson. Anyone else wish to speak? That's it. Good evening to everybody, mayor, vice mayor, and the entire commission staff, and to everybody in the room. I want to take my hat off and tip it to the lady. I was trying to find three things that you did, but instead I got seven. I'm not going to read them. You talked about them tonight. What I want to say, on behalf of my family, my sisters over there, we're another one of those families in the community that is exceedingly proud to be a part of this. And city manager, your staff, and all of its diversity speaks to where this community, this city can go. And you can take some credit for that. The gentleman before me, he said it best. Because of you all who's sitting up here, you made it possible. She couldn't do it alone. So you all need to be commended. And we all need to understand what it means to have diversity as a team. And I'm spelling team with two M's. Together, each can accomplish much more. And you got a team here. So I think you need to use it. And I learned something tonight coming here. Other than laughing at y'all sometime when y'all put on y'all performances. I learned about a natural seawall and what that meant. I learned about grass, fake grass, and how it can cause damage. I learned how people who can disagree and in the end agree to get something done. And that's what it's all about. So I want to say to the community, don't let this be your last time coming here. And don't be afraid to have a difference. Because it's okay for us to have a difference, to be different. That's okay. So you're mashing the button on me, are you? Thank you. The band's going to play in a couple seconds. And again, thank you so very much. And Ms. Williams, keep it up. We got your back. Ms. Johnson, good evening. Go ahead. Good evening, everyone. Today, I rise to speak in support of someone who is not only making a difference. Can you pull that microphone down a little bit? Yes. Pull it down a little bit more. Get it right. There you go. Yeah. Okay. Good evening, everyone. Today, I rise to speak in support of someone who is not only making a difference, but redefining what true service to a city and community looks like. In every neighborhood, there are people who talk about change. And then there are those who do the work. The individual work we're recognizing today falls firmly in that second category. Working as a city worker in this space, she carries not just the weight of responsibility, but the hopes, voices, and lived experiences that many too often go unheard. And yet, they don't just show up, they show out. They show up when resources are limited. They show up when challenges feel overwhelming. They show up when others step back. But more importantly, she shows results. Because of her dedication, families are being supported, voices are being amplified, and doors that once felt closed are now opening. They are building trust where there was doubt, creating opportunity where there was scarcity, and inspiring others to believe that real change is possible. So, representation matters, but impact matters even more. And this individual brings both. She reminds us that leadership is not about titles. It's about service. It's about consistency. It's about having the courage to stand in spaces when you may be the only one and still choosing to give all for the greater good. So, today, we don't just acknowledge her. We stand in full support. We support her vision, support her work. And we commit to standing alongside her, because when one person is doing great things for the community and city, it's up to all of us to uplift, protect, and continue that momentum. Let's not just applaud her efforts, but let's match her energy. Thank you. Thank you. Is there anyone else who should speak? Okay. Raquel, do you have any other comments? I just want to say thank you to every member of the community who spoke tonight on my behalf, and to those who have shared with me over the past year words of encouragement and support. Also, to those of you who have held me accountable and who've said, hey, what's going on over here? We need the city to do better in this area. So, thank you for the continuous feedback and the support. Thank you. So, before I open it up to the commission, and I'm sure everyone on the commission would like to say something, I think that listening to the public here tonight has been very helpful in understanding the image and the impression that you have given the community since you've been here a little over one year now. And I think that's important because I think that people look up to you as a role model, and having come from Miami-Dade and now here in our city, people continue to want to see people from their community rise to levels of leadership and importance and want to see them succeed. And I think we all want to see everyone succeed. The thing is that, and I'll tell you, I have to agree with the person who made the comment that, you know, you brought a lot of very quality people to our city. Many of the assistant city managers and directors that have now been hired, you know, have brought a significant amount of value to our city. But, you know, what I want to bring up also, however, is that there are situations which, you know, I have great concern over. And so let me, let's all sit back and, you know, I want, I want you to understand me and I want everyone to understand where I'm coming from. You know, I love Fort Lauderdale. And we've spent, and I personally have spent many, many years on this dais as a commissioner, as a mayor, trying to accomplish the things that I believe this community has wanted to see. And we have made great strides, starting from, you know, sports arenas, sports centers, underground infrastructure, getting us through COVID. It's been, there have been challenges every time we turn around. And it's been an interesting ride. And I have to say that, you know, this commission in its different forms have, have really risen to the task of, of trying to accomplish the things that needed to get done. And so we set that standard and we set that, those, those goals. And, and it's really the purpose of a city manager to fulfill those goals. And, and that's, and so to that extent, I think it's important for us to understand that personally, I feel that a number of the things that this commission has asked this, the city manager to fulfill, realistic efforts have been, have been made. But I also want you to understand my frustration in seeing a number of things that were not fulfilled. And, and it's very difficult for me to continue to stay on this path and not be able to verbalize my frustration in some of the things that, you know, I feel that when the commission says something, the city manager responsibility is to fulfill those responsibilities. And, and one of those things is understanding how this commission does business. And I know, for example, Commissioner Herbst has never been a fan of P3 development, but P3 development has always been a very important aspect of how we've gotten things done in the last eight years of this city. In fact, when it was first introduced by the state legislature as, as, as these unsolicited proposals, it's been a handy tool for the city in order to get things done. You've often fought against it and you've verbalized it on many occasions to people, um, both within the city and without how frustrated you are with the P3 approach. And in many cases we have seen you fight back against trying to handle some of these projects, uh, from that perspective. And that's very frustrating for, for commission that has made it a priority that the P3 process is very important to our city and, uh, and to see, um, the, see frustrations materialize because we thought we had a person who was going to work with us, not against us. Um, and it's really important that the commission feel, feel comfortable in knowing that a city manager is not working behind his back and, and having an alternative agenda that does, that doesn't, that isn't consistent with her own vision. And I think that, um, and I, and I can go into detail, but right now I just want to talk in generalities because we have a lot ahead of us. We have a lot of projects we're trying to fulfill. I'm very happy. We are going ahead on a P3 project with, uh, Mancini tonight. We've, uh, we've, we've given direction to the commission, to the manager now to, to move forward on those projects, but it's been very frustrating in the past to try to work through those processes. Moreover, we have a concern about your relationship with our, um, our public safety departments. Um, um, for the last several months, I've heard nothing but, um, uh, frustration and difficulty in your relationship with our public safety departments, our fire chief, our police chief, our mid-level command staff. Um, they're, they're, uh, tremendous amount of frustration. And, um, and that's not a good thing. The city manager should always work in sync with our, with our public safety departments. And, uh, and we're finding that, uh, that that's not happening. Uh, in fact, um, there's a significant amount of pressure on them to even leave the city because they can't continue to work with you. And, uh, and I think that to me that, you know, we're happy with our, our police department. We're happy with our fire department. We're not looking for change. So when we, when we asked you to join our city, you know, it wasn't so much to, it was there to be a facilitator, to fulfill the goals of the commission, not to be a disruptor, to upset the, the, uh, the foundations of some of the, it's taken us years to try to create. And, um, and here we're finding ourselves constantly, uh, trying to, to, um, uh, to, I don't know, trying to make sure that our city stays intact and we don't continue to lose personnel who, um, who have told us time and again, they're, they're ready to leave our city because it's fine. They're finding it difficult to work under your directives. Um, and, and I find that, um, particularly frustrating because, uh, just the other day, I got a call from a union chief who said, he's been trying to reach you for the last couple of weeks and you're not returning his phone calls. And, and that's not good. And that's not, that's not how we want to run our, our city. And it's, it's disrespectful. And a lot of the, a lot of the, um, community partners that we deal with, whether they be union people, whether they be, uh, people in other industries and, or other levels of government, uh, continue to, um, inform me that you've often been very dismissive of them and you've often been, uh, uh, unwilling to work with them. And, uh, and that's not good because we spend years trying to build relationships in this city. And, uh, you come in here with a somewhat imperious attitude that has been very frustrating. I know, I know you should know what's going on folks. I know. Well, I think you should hear it because this is what's going on. Okay. And so, and so, and so for that reason, it's, it, it's alarming that we have to, we are now at a, at a crossroads as to, you know, our relationship with you and to determine whether or not, you know, you know, what's our, what are our next steps? It's very frustrating because, um, you know, you've been very friendly towards me. Uh, you've, uh, shown, uh, compassion in many situations. You've, uh, you know, you've, uh, you, you show up at a lot of events and, um, it's been, uh, it's been welcoming because not all city managers have been that way. Um, you have, uh, you know, you've directed your attention in places where before, uh, they, places have been ignored, but at the same time, um, you know, we find that it's, it's becoming, it's, it, we're at a point in our, in our governance that we have to make a decision where we're going, uh, from this point forward, simply because, um, I refuse to accept the fact that our public safety people, um, are, are at their wits end and, uh, and why that's happening and why, why that behavior and that, and that relationship has, has occurred. It's never happened before in any of our city managers. And trust me, we've lived through a number of them the last eight years, but the reality is that we, that it's not something that we can continue to, to, uh, to, uh, sustain. So those are my initial remarks. Um, uh, and, but I want to just point out one other thing, you know, there was a situation in which the NAACP had a press conference a couple of weeks ago regarding an allegation of racism within our, our department. And, um, I had asked you, uh, uh, the day of that, of that, uh, um, press conference, whether you knew anything about it. And you said that you didn't know anything about it, but I have an email here that was, that you received over a week prior to that news conference in which you were informed about it. And it's very clearly states that all this, all the issues that were, that arose, that were stated in that news conference. And, you know, it, it created a very bad impression of our city because there were unsubstantiated allegations. Yet there was a press conference making those allegations. It made our police department look bad. It made our police chief look bad. And I don't know whether that was deliberate or whether it was indifference, but the reality is that I don't believe you were honest with us with regard to that moment. And why is that so important? It's so important because I love my city. I've spent years representing the city and I don't want to know that I have a city manager that's prepared to throw someone under the bus, um, and, and not try to work with, within the department and within, with our community to be able to resolve issues that I find extremely revolting. I think racism is a terrible thing. And I think that, that anything we could have done to avoid that situation should have been undertaken by your office, especially since according to this email, you knew everything about it the week before. So, um, before I ask you to respond, I'd like to hear from the other members of this commission. I'll start to my left commissioner Herbst. Do you have any comments to make? Thank you, mayor. Um, wow. Uh, I was not aware of, uh, of that. So this is news to me and that that's very disturbingly kill. I, Mr. Herbst, could I interrupt you for a second? Yeah. Um, I, the mayor just, uh, shared some very, uh, biting feedback of the city manager. So I'd like the city manager to be afforded the opportunity to, to, uh, respond to that if that's all right, um, prior to us, us talking through, if that's all right, commissioner Herbst. That's absolutely fine. I'd like to, I'd like to get a response to that. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, commissioner Herbst and vice mayor Sorensen. As it relates to the allegations of hostile work environment at the Fort Lauderdale police department, I was not aware that the NAACP was going to be holding a press conference to talk about those allegations. What I was aware of is that there were some concerns with an exam related to a sergeant's test. When I was made aware by our police chief of the concerns, I met with him, actually tried to give him some advice as to how to approach the situation and try to manage it and make it better. He actually was intending on putting out a statement to the entire police department and he shared that statement with me and I gave him some feedback on it. I in no way anticipated that it would become a press event. We handle allegations or concerns administratively all the time. Honestly, I'll let you finish. So your relationship with the African-American community and with Marsha Ellison, who happens to be in the audience, is that distant that she would not have alerted you that she was going to have a press conference regarding something so significant? I don't think you want to go there, Mayor. I really don't think you want to go there, Mayor. I do not, I do not have, it is my, it is my assessment that the NAACP likely wanted to have a press conference without city staff having knowledge of it in advance. That press conference was scheduled for the morning of a city commission meeting. When the chief made me aware of the press conference, I shared that immediately with every member of the city commission. So any allegation as to my involvement with the press conference or me throwing any public safety professional under the bus is baseless. Since I've joined the city, our police department has done nothing but get better and better. We have shaved off $1.2 million in overtime, not by accident, but because I involved myself as well as the office of management and budget to help get that under control. Since I joined the city, our police department is now sending crime stats to FDLE, something that was not happening on a regular basis prior to my inquiring about it. So all I've done over the past year is provided support. You can check from last year's decision packages, as well as my most recent meeting with the police department, whereas I've been very supportive from a financial perspective and from a guidance perspective where necessary. Our police department continues to make strides. Is it perfect? Absolutely not. No police department is. We're seeing our overall crime rate go down, but there's also areas that I think we all would like to see improve. That's what a city manager does. A city manager doesn't shy away, but I engage. Our police chief and fire chief know that they have my ear. I've actually scheduled weekly meetings with both of them to ensure that they have an opportunity to share with me whatever it is that may be a concern or a need. As to the fire department, also, I've been very supportive of the fire department. We've also shaved time, about half a million dollars worth of overtime over the past year. They have been supported in every facet and capacity by me and the rest of the administrative team. In terms of public-private partnerships, I have no challenge with public-private partnerships. I will always work in the best interest of the city under the guidance and leadership of the commission. Over this past year, major public-private partnerships have been advanced under my leadership, not by accident. Our city hall project, albeit that we are exploring additional options at the direction of the city commission, has advanced more so this year than it has in years. Again, that is because we put our head down and we've done the work, and we continue to do the work with pride. In terms of any union reaching out to me, I'm not sure which union president that might be. I periodically have coffee with the FOP president, maybe every other month. I speak to our fire union president maybe once a month. So I'm not really sure of which union president you are referring to. I never want to come across as dismissive or imperious. Sometimes a person in my role has to be assertive and has to be a leader. I'm not sure of what the dynamic has been prior to my arrival, but I'm working every day to learn more and more about what this commission demands and seeks from me. I've done nothing but push the city forward. What you've seen in Exhibit 1, not just a collection of things that we've accomplished, but things that I've put on my plate, not because anyone asked me to, not because the commission directed me to, not because staff said this is something that has to be done. There's so many elements that have been completed and done based on me assessing and observing and making a decision that we can do even better than we've already done. So as your city manager, I am proud of the team that we have in place. I'm proud of being able to help build the team to be even stronger. And if there are areas or relationships that are weakened because of my style or my approach and what I've shared with every team member is that I ask questions, I'm naturally inquisitive and some questions probably should have been asked many years ago. And I'm now asking them, not because I'm doing a gotcha, but it's because I want to help. I want to help. And so if it is that the commission has challenges with my style or my approach, just know that I'm amenable, I am flexible. It's great to hear the feedback. My goal is to continue to progress. Many of the items that you see here before you have lingered for years, years. We have pushed so many capital projects forward this year. We've cleaned up so many things. I spent the first six months just finding where the bodies are buried and addressing issues that have gone unaddressed. Did that cause me to have to keep my head down a lot? Yes. But while I was keeping my head down, I was pounding the pavement. I was at every neighborhood association meeting, at every possible city-related event or function. I have dedicated so much of my time because it's required of me in this role, but also because I love service and I love what I do and I'm committed to what I do. I don't ask anything of my team that I wouldn't do myself if I didn't have the time or if I know they have the expertise, so maybe they're probably better at doing it. But my team knows how hard I work. They know how late I stay. They know that I'm up early and they know that I'm committed. And I'm hoping that this commission knows that I'm committed as well. I would be disappointed to think that the commission may think otherwise. I have dedicated myself in terms of purchasing a home in this city, something required of me. And thankfully, the commission offered a grace period in which for me to do so. I have ensured that we have left no stone unturned. I do not just keep the lights on. I push Fort Lauderdale forward. And I have taken that approach since day one. And hopefully that is acknowledged here today. If the fire chief or police chief is supportive of the statements made today, that would be the first that I'm hearing of it. I have never heard that either one of them wants to leave the city. I have always supported them. I even brought them to Tallahassee, a place they had not been to before, to help advocate and lobby on behalf of the city. I've done quite a bit to ensure that those departments are supported and funded. So I continue to be committed to leading with integrity and delivering excellence, something that I have said since day one. And these accusations and the aspersions that have been cast, I receive them in the manner in which they were offered as feedback. And I will work to address any of these concerns, but know that I continue to be dedicated to this city and to giving my all. Thank you. All right. Thank you. Commissioner Herbst, do you have any comments? So, again, as I was starting to say, thank you. Thank you for that explanation. I'd like to understand a little more about that, though. So what exactly did you know? When did you know? Because if you recall, as soon as I found out that the NAACP was going to be having a press conference, I immediately asked you, you know, what's going on? And candidly, you weren't quite that forthcoming with me initially. You just said, you know, there were different versions of it. I didn't realize at that time, and you weren't exactly, again, forthcoming with me, that you had been aware of this for at least a week prior. So that's, this is, and I'm surprised to hear that, because I would have expected you to have shared that with me, that you knew about this for a while. You said there was going to be an IA investigation, and as I told you, I wasn't interested in the IA investigation. I wanted to know what you knew at the time. So the sergeant's exam controversy, which is what I'll characterize it as, it was an evolving matter. The members of FLPD on all sides of the argument were providing their concerns at various moments in time. So it was an evolving situation. We even had a staff call, city attorney included, human resources, outside counsel, to determine how can we address this matter? Do we need to talk to Miami-Dade College, the folks who do the exam on our behalf? Do we need to talk to anyone in human resources that has some insight into this? And so when you asked me that day at the commission meeting after it was brought up from the dais, I had heard rumblings. None of it was substantiated, and I shared with you the advice that we had discussed at a team with counsel that because the NAACP had been asking for FDLE to step in and to investigate the matter, we thought the approach would be best handled by internal affairs in combination with our Office of Professional Standards to give somewhat of an outside element. Even at that time that I shared that with you, that was still evolving and not the final determination. Until I sent that to the city commission via email, I think it was the following day. So within police departments, from my experience, there's always something. There's usually some issue. And I've heard that with FLPD in the past, there have been issues surrounding exams, whether it's a lieutenant exam, sergeant's exam, and the police chief can probably attest to that. I view this as standard police operations, that there's always going to be someone wondering why they either made it on the list or didn't make it on the list. And someone, I believe, within the department has invested time in trying to find out if maybe someone cheated or someone had a greater opportunity than they did. I really don't know all the facts. To this date, I don't know all the facts, which is why internal affairs is looking into it. Did I want to have that conversation on the dais? Absolutely not. I do think it's embarrassing for Fort Lauderdale Police Department. I do think the press conference was embarrassing for the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. But I do expect that our police chief, when these matters come up, that he takes a proactive approach. And I think he did in this situation. And he actually came to me and shared it with me. However, I think the situation was far bigger than what he or I anticipated. And here we are today. So I in no way intended to keep any information back from the commission. This is very much an administrative situation, or at that time, it felt like an administrative situation. And it escalated into the media, unfortunately. So I'm less focused on the specifics of what we're talking about. What I'm what I'm more concerned about is if you were having meetings with the city attorney and talking to Miami Dade College, this is the first time actually you've shared that with me. So what I'm concerned about is that I don't feel like you're being forthcoming with us, telling us what it is that you know. So I know that there's a lot of things you don't know. I certainly accept that, that there are things that are known, there are things that are unknown. What I expect is full and complete disclosure of the things that are known. And I don't think that I've gotten that from you. And I'm disappointed. When I ask you a question, when I ask you, what do you know, I don't want half answers. I want full and complete answers. Here's everything I know as of right now. And when I know more, I will share it with you immediately. If you were meeting with the city attorney and you're talking to Miami Dade College, that's a lot of activity. And I would have expected to have known that when this came up. So I'm disappointed with that. I will tell you, I haven't had these conversations with the chiefs, but I have talked to the rank and file and I've shared this with you before. I can tell you that that they're unhappy. You know, I know there's been conversations about a vote of no confidence and that concerns me greatly. You know, we've had this once or twice before in our history, going back over 30 years. You know, once when I was here, once, I believe, when the mayor was here prior to that. So I do know that the folks that wear the uniform in PD, I'm not talking about the executives. I'm not talking about the command staff. I'm talking about the guys that are out there, guys and ladies that are patrolling, are not happy. And that is a management issue that I do think you need to deal with. The other thing that concerned me today, and we didn't get a chance to talk about it, was the city auditor's report. There's an individual named in there who I have been talking with you about for the past year. And I've explained to you my feelings about the management, what's been going on, and you haven't addressed it. And I think that's also a failure to address problems. And this audit report reflected that failure of management that took place up there. And this was things that I brought to your attention, and you haven't addressed it. So I think these things reflect, I think, again, perhaps lack of experience. So I am concerned about that. I was worried about that when we brought you on. You know, I was very strong in advocating for somebody with decades of experience, because I think a city of our size and complexity requires. Sir, please, Bobby, please sit down. Please sit down, or you will be asked to leave. You are not, please. The commissioner is speaking. Please sit down, or please sit down. So actually, I'll respond to that. You ask a very good question. I'll respond to that. So I don't believe that you go from having no experience as a city manager to being a city manager of a billion-dollar city. I think you cut your teeth on a smaller city. You learn how to do it. There's a, you're asking me a question, and I'm trying to respond. Please give me the, give me. All right, all right. All right, this is not a dialogue back and forth. I'm giving you my answer. I'm trying to be respectful to the question that was asked, and I'm sharing my thoughts with you. But we got here, and I've been trying to work with you since you got here. I've done my best to mentor you and share with you as much. All right, please. No, I wouldn't hug her. Okay, please, respectfully, I know what I did and didn't do. I shook her hand. I wouldn't hug her. I'm sorry? I'll give you a hug. Come on up. John, don't, don't, don't respond. That was, that was a rhetorical question. Thank you. So my thought is your, your first year has not been knocking at a park, and I don't think you're overly surprised to hear that. I think you have room to grow, and I'll leave it at that. Mr. Beasley Pittman? Yes. First, I want to say, Mayor, I'm disappointed that you used the word we with your summary, because I don't, the direction that you went, I do not include myself with the statements where you said we as a commission, because I am in the position of where I stand. And what Ms. Williams, our city manager, has been able to accomplish in this year, I am quite pleased with. Yes, there's room to grow. So, um, the frustration you're talking about, um, I'm not familiar with, um, this conversation about, um, officers who are, um, um, not, they're frustrated saying that they're going to leave the agency. I've been building a rapport with our officers, with the fire department, and I'm the, I am one who will say to individuals when I see them, how are you doing? How's things going on? Is there anything that you're not pleased with that's going on within the department, within the city? You can share with me because I want to know. Those individuals who I have spoken with, people that, I'm going to say it this way, people who look like me, people who do not look like me, they have not, um, expounded on any situations that they feel that Ms. Williams is, um, dismissive or incompetent. So, um, the part about the we, please, I'm going to ask that you rephrase that and say, and identify whoever agrees with that, because I do not. And I want that on the record. All right. Um, because Ms. Williams, I'm looking at someone who's come in as an outsider, never worked within our city and has been able to build relationships, been able to achieve things, as she said, and that's, we have witnessed things that have been unaddressed, un, not even considered. And she's been able to execute them and make changes. Um, I, since I've been in this seat, when we talked about the flooding and Merrill's Park specifically, and I shared with the commission, I shared with others that in a conversation, it was determined or revealed that when Merrill's Park and, um, now Lauder Hill, when they were all on the Broward County before the annexing at 31st Avenue and Broward Boulevard, there was a storm water gate. And for the past years, no one has been able to come to an agreement with Lauder Hill to get that gate open when it's raining. So when we're seeing those floods, it's because the water was cut off and the water was trapped in Merrill's Park. It took five years to get to a place that a conversation that city manager Williams initiated. And now we have an agreement with Lauder Hill to make sure that that storm water gate is open. So all these things that have been cited, I'm not familiar with. What I am familiar with is an individual who's working for this city, for this city overall. And I'm, I'm going to use the terms that I hear all the time. Where are these people that's complaining? I hear it every time when I bring something forward, or if I want to support something, where are the neighbors? Where are these individuals? I want to hear them. I want to hear these people who are saying that they are not happy with this city manager, because there's no, right now, there's no proof with it. She's doing a great job. Yes, there's room for improvement. Yes, she's on the job. Yes, she's been answering our questions. And for me, yes, there's been some things that may have been some delay, but minimal. She's doing the job. And I'm, I'm going to tell, I'm going to say this, let it fall where it fall. I'm offended. I am truly offended. A woman that's in this position, working for this city, and for us to discard, I'm offended. It's not acceptable. And even if you are frustrated, why are we waiting until tonight? 12 months, 12 months has been in this position. And now the other position, you give three months evaluation, six months, nine months. Where haven't you said anything before tonight? To me, this is a shame. This is a shame. And it's an opportunity for us or for some of us to make a claim of what they don't like on a grandstand. We hired her. We have faith in her. So why would we put this out in an open atmosphere like this? Well, Commissioner, Commissioner, as you know, as, excuse me, as you know, we are only allowed to discuss these things at these meetings. I agree. But you can also address with her. And we, and I have. Okay. So, but you don't know that because you're not allowed to know that. You're only allowed to know what we discuss in public. But also at conference. Yes. At conference, we have an opportunity to bring up any item that we are not pleased with, anything that we want to discuss before. Correct. So, again, that was an opportunity. Yes and no. If someone wanted to. The best opportunity to discuss this was during a review process. And that's what we're here for. I understand that. However, why would we wait 12 months? Because this was her review date. Let me, let me say what I said before. Yes. There has been 12 months. There have been opportunities along the way to bring up concerns that we have with our city manager. And to do this tonight. And her annual review to me was a strategic tactic to discredit the work she's done in the 12 months. I think it should have been done in a different manner. Okay. Well, I respectfully disagree that I have not brought up my disagreement with her on certain matters that have come across us over the past year. And we don't have to go into detail right now. But there have been multiple times where I've disagreed with the city manager. I may not have been flailing my arms or yelling or screaming. But I have expressed myself. But that's not about me. Okay. It's about what's best for the community. So, Commissioner Glassman, do you have any comments? Yes. I wasn't finished. Oh, actually. I'm sorry. Go ahead. Commissioner. Okay. I also wanted to say, with this, I'm hoping that the direction of this conversation is one that we are going to support our city manager moving forward, give an opportunity for growth and change. This is not the time to be a commission that says we're going to now look for a new city manager. We look like individuals who are dysfunctional. How many city managers have we had in the last 10 years? Okay. I am finished now, Mayor. Thank you. Okay. Commissioner Glassman. Yes. Thank you, Mayor. City manager, you and I have had a lot of conversations, right? I have not been shy. And you have not been shy. I wouldn't want your job for anything. Okay? Not at all. Excuse me, please. Can we just talk and respect each other? That would be so nice. I have always told you when I had a district. I have a very busy district, and you know that. There is so much happening in District 2, and you know that. And I'm not going to go into everything that we've had a conversation about with because you know exactly what's on my mind every step of the way. The first bump in the road that we had together over a project, we went out to lunch. We discussed. We sat there for three hours. We went through everything. I am hearing little bits and pieces from my colleagues, and I'm agreeing with little bits and pieces of everyone that's speaking because I've heard the same things. I mean, I'm sure the mayor is not the only one who's hearing from people. We've all heard these things. So do I think there's room for improvement? Yes, I do. But I think what I've always been telling you is what I think can be improved upon. We have to make this work. We have to make this work. Look, I know you're working really hard, and I want this city to just keep moving forward. But I also want you to know that I'm always going to be honest with you. I always have been honest with you. Whenever I've been disappointed, whenever I've been upset about something in my district, I let you know immediately. And then we get to work together on it. But that doesn't mean that everything's perfect. This, I'm sure, has not been easy to listen to all of this, but it's been an honest conversation. But we have to get to a point where everyone has that trust. We have to get to a point where everyone feels that they're not being pressed on. Everyone in this city, the entire staff, has got to feel not just listened to and appreciated, but they have to feel room to breathe. They have to feel not necessarily beaten on. So if they feel that, that's what they feel. I can't change that. You can change that. I don't have that one-to-one relationship on a daily basis with everybody. But I am going to say to you that we will continue to work together, and we will continue to make sure that whenever there is a bump in the road or a problem, we're going to get over it. And we're just going to keep moving forward. Just like I have always come to you, whenever there's an issue, I'm not hiding anything. I would hope that you would, too. We've heard a lot tonight. So I think there's a good list of things that we can work on together. But I respect every single comment that each one of my colleagues is making, and I understand where each one of them is coming from. And I want to make sure that we take that advice and we take those feelings and we take everything that we've heard and we work on it. That's all. That's all I can ask from this moment on. Thank you. Okay. Commissioner, Vice Mayor. Thank you, Mayor. I'm going to take some time here. So just get comfortable. Raquel, you and I have daily conversations. I provide you, I think, regular feedback around what I think you're doing right and what I think you're doing wrong. Is that accurate? That's accurate. Do I call you sometimes at 930 at night, sometimes 7 in the morning to work on behalf of the citizens of Fort Lauderdale? That's accurate. As I've told you many times, I think you are doing an excellent job. And when I think you can improve, as you and I have talked many times, I give you that immediate feedback. Is that right? That's accurate. And have we had some tough conversations about some of the things I think you can do to improve? Yes, Vice Mayor. And I know a little bit about this because for 20 years I've been doing corporate leadership training and executive coaching. So I know a little something about evaluating talent at the highest levels and cultivating and developing talent because that's my other job. So feedback is fantastic to get, both corrective feedback and both feedback of what you're doing well. So let's take some time to go through all this because there's a lot here that's all worthwhile to dig in. Okay. Let's talk about P3s. So tonight, this afternoon, we talked about a P3 for Melrose Park in Riverland, which is to provide stormwater infrastructure for a neighborhood that's never had it. To my awareness, city manager, you did nothing to block that or stop that, but encouraged a dialogue. And from my perspective, you've continued to have an open mindset towards that P3 possibility. Am I missing something on that? I provided feedback to the commission earlier this year based on the conditions of the project at the time. And when those conditions changed, there was more, even more room for a conversation. And I have always been open to conversations about public-private partnerships, including the two on today's conference agenda. When you and I have talked about various P3 projects, you've consistently shared with me concerns about P3 projects, about the pros and cons going to a unsolicitor P3 route, and the pros and cons going a city route, a traditional city RFP process route. So that's a healthy, important dialogue to have, and it's important to consider the pros and cons of all options, especially as we evaluate P3 possibilities. Let's go on to public safety. So, like, Fire Chief, if you could have the Fire Chief come up, City Manager. Chief Colin? Fire Chief, thanks for being here. So, heard some serious concerns about public safety and about public safety leadership, following what the mayor said, are ready to leave the city. Are you ready to leave the city, Chief? No, sir. I'm born and raised in this city, and the last thing I ever want to do is leave the city of Fort Lauderdale. Go ahead. And I know it's going to be hard talking about your boss in front of your boss during her evaluation. How do you think she's doing? You know, in full transparency, I think that Manager Williams and I were off to a rough start last year, and I think since that time, we've had a lot of meetings, we've worked together, and I feel like it's completely changed. I feel like we have a very open communication. We're willing to work together. There's a lot of things that are moving forward that I've never imagined to be possible and moving forward. I think the union contract is a lot further along than I had imagined that it would be, and I do feel supported. Okay. How do you feel the rest of the fire department feels about the city manager? I would assume that's a rough – that's more of a union question for the union president than it is for me. I have not been alerted to any challenges that are taking place. My understanding through the union is that they're very happy and that everything is moving forward. I believe we're looking at our next negotiation meeting in a month, I believe, June something, if I'm not mistaken. And I haven't heard any challenges or nothing has been brought to my attention. But the body would not bring it to my attention. They would bring it to the union president's attention, and then it would go from there, of which I would expect them to meet with the manager and work out whatever those differences may be. Okay. I've been on ride-alongs with Port Lara Fire Rescue. Is that right? Yes, sir. Yeah. I've spent time with our firefighters. I've talked with them regularly. I have heard very strong support for you from the rank and file, and I've heard very strong support for a city manager from the rank and file. That's been my experience when I'm riding along and spending time with our firefighters. Is that surprising or shocking to you? No, sir. Not at all. Okay. Thank you. Appreciate it, Chief. Absolutely. Chief of Police? Can I just say something? Please, man. You can't expect an employee to be able to respond honestly and objectively when their boss is being asked, excuse me, if I'm speaking, you can't expect them to be as forthright as you're expecting them to be. Folks, I'm going to clear the room if I can't speak. Okay? So please be respectful. Whether you disagree with me or not, I have an opportunity to speak with my colleague here. Please do not point your finger at me. And if you can't be quiet, I'm going to have to ask you to leave the room. Okay? I think it's professionally unfair for you to ask each member of our senior staff to come up here and to say something honestly and objectively in front of their boss as to her quality of leadership. You're not going to get an objective answer, and they're just going to give you what you want to hear. So I don't know what this exercise is all about. If you have an interest in asking them, you can ask them privately. But to do this in public and to do it in front of the city manager, I think is unfair, and I think it's unproductive. Mayor. That's my opinion. Thank you. Thank you for your feedback, Mayor. I think it's unfair that you would label our city manager as having an imperious attitude, which means domineering and arrogance. That's unfair. Well, I've heard it multiple times from multiple people throughout the city staff for a number of weeks and months. So that's why I'm saying it. Okay. Okay. That's so. It's unfair that that behavior should be felt. Okay. No employee should ever have to feel that way, but that's what people have said to me. Okay. To the point where two people in her office have left her office and have taken jobs within the city at a pay cut just to get away from her. So keep those things in mind. Okay. Thank you, Mayor. I will. I will. I appreciate that. Uh, chief, uh, chief police, you come on up here, mayor. Then why don't you share with us? Who are the leaders who are will are about to leave the city? Please do tell us. You have a right to continue to talk. Okay. I'm not here to be cross-examined by you. Okay. I'm just, if you have something to say, you say something. If you have people you want to call up and ask, you can ask them, but I'm not going to be cross-examined by you. And I'm certainly not going to reveal confidences because you're trying to build a case. Okay. Okay. Uh, chief police. Thanks for being here. Um, uh, how's your relationship with the city manager? Uh, so when she started, even before she started, we met, I think it was the cis drunk parade and we went to lunch and we began the relationship then. And we too, at the beginning, uh, she had concerns as she raised tonight about crime statistics, uh, about overtime. And we met quite consistently at that point. Um, we definitely had long talks, uh, including, uh, at the bowling alley. We've had a number of long discussions, uh, and through that time, uh, she is correct. Overtime has improved, uh, and our crime statistics, uh, we uncovered what was happening with that. Uh, there was certainly no malice there. Uh, there was, uh, a reporting, a computer reporting issue that, uh, she was correct about and we did correct it. Uh, today, uh, we do meet regularly, uh, weekly, if not bi-weekly. Uh, and that's just with public safety. But then we also have meetings regularly, quarterly for the overtime, uh, and for the crime statistics. So through and through, uh, we have had a lot of long, uh, sometimes difficult discussions. Uh, but in the end, uh, it is correct that things have improved in those two areas for sure. Thank you. Uh, chief, have you and I talked about the city manager? We have. And have you given me some, uh, critical feedback about the city manager around how she could improve? Yes, I did. City manager, did you and I talk about how you could improve your relationship with the police chief? Yes, we've had a conversation to that effect. Yeah. Um, I believe the police chief is being honest and forthcoming. I believe the fire chief is being honest and forthcoming. I do not think they are sugarcoating or withholding back. That is my view, chief. Appreciate your candor. What's your sense of the department and their feeling of how things are going right now? So it was mentioned earlier about the number of city managers. I was in a unique position because I was the eighth chief in three years. So when I came into that department, it was, uh, absolutely a time of turmoil, uh, a time of, uh, lack of leadership, uh, a vacuum, if you will. And it had to be, uh, steadied. Uh, the, the department was, uh, at that very moment, uh, was very volatile. Um, I've done my best to do that, steady it, uh, done my best to fill vacancies and I've done my best. I hope to make my employees feel welcome, respected, supported. And the one thing that I, I really am proud of is my employees see me. Uh, it was mentioned how many events city manager goes to. I think I go to a number of them as well and my employees see that and they come with me. And I think in the last three years under my, uh, leadership as chief, we have seen a community grow around a police department that I think the community at that point felt had left them or had abandoned them. So I think my employees are on the same page with me in that regard. Uh, but again, I would echo the fire chief. Um, the union leaders are a great source for that information. And as a couple of you have mentioned talking to them one-on-one, uh, I know, uh, commissioner Beasley Pittman does that often cause I've seen her do it very often. That's your best feedback is when you get them one-on-one. Um, if I'm there standing next to their side, they might say something that they're not going to say, uh, if I'm away or that they would say if I was away. So in my estimation, I think we're in a very good place. Thank you, chief. Appreciate it. Thank you. You're welcome. Mayor. So, so may I'm going to be really honest now. I don't know how many of you ever had a chance to watch the commission meeting. I don't even know how many years ago that was. Uh, George Gretzis was the city manager. And I'm just going to say this now. I'm going to be really honest because I, I've listened to everyone up here. So we have to figure something out here because if you remember, I don't know how many years ago, was that 2006 or five, seven, seven, 2007. It must've gone on for about three or four hours that, that pay for performance review. You were on the commission at that time. I was not. Oh, you were not on that time. Was that commissioner Smith? It was, uh, no, it was, uh, Charlotte Rodstrom. Okay. I was Charlotte Rodstrom. I remember that we heard from all of the commissioners and the, and it was down the line. And then the mayor, Mayor Seiler at the time said, because it all hinged on what he had to say, the mayor actually said that because he had heard such a split, split on the commission in terms of feedback, in terms of experience, in terms of rating that he actually voted to, and I don't know if he made the motion, but he actually voted to remove George Gretzis. Um, and it created a lot of shockwaves, but I, I want to know how we get past this when obviously there is such a range of feelings, such a range of opinions, such a range of experiences. I will agree with the mayor. I don't think it was fair to ask the two chiefs to speak and I, you know, what are they going to say? Please. They, they, we don't control. Commissioner, uh, Matt, I finished. I was speaking actually when you interrupted me just now. Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you were done. No. Oh, I thought you said mayor. I thought you said, okay, mayor. Oh, I'm sorry. I apologize. Go ahead. Take it away. Okay. Take it away. Okay. Appreciate it. Thank you. Um, so thank you for that feedback. Um, both chiefs. Um, I'd like to go through city manager, some of the exhibit here to ask you some questions. Can you, can we, city clerk, can we pull up the, uh, the exhibit there, please? Thank you. Uh, first thing I want to talk about city manager, uh, on this exhibit is, and we're going for page four. Um, one of the first points you say there is reduce the city's personnel budget growth from 8.1% in FY25 to 7.5% in FY26. And now projected further decrease to 5.08% in FY27. Talk to me about what that means, please. So every year, personnel costs typically go up. There is some level of growth that is anticipated based on cost of living allowances, merit, uh, health insurance costs. So there is that level of expectation. And so what we've done and what we continue to do, you'll see a downward trend in the level of growth in our personnel budget. So that is one of the avenues we're taking to try to be fiscally responsible. Two of the approaches that support that is that we have streamlined our performance evaluation process. Uh, at this time, management category one employees are capped at a 3% merit increase. Uh, in the year prior to my arrival, members of management category one, uh, there were various levels of merit ascribed to different employees, some earning as much as 9% or 6% or anywhere in between. And so we've streamlined that to be more in line with some of our bargaining units. And that is one of the avenues that we've taken to try to limit personnel costs, as well as tie the performance evaluation more closely to actual goals and accomplishments, as opposed to a summary of work done in the prior year. Uh, we have also reduced by 10% the travel and training budget for management category one employees to help to limit some of our costs. Our human resources department has been very active in trying to negotiate our agreements with our health providers. And so we're constantly looking for ways to improve in that area. Okay. Thank you. That, that matters in my view, especially given further budget, budget deficit projections and, and property tax possibly reforms. Just a minute. Can I just go a little deeper here? Yeah, go ahead. So explain to me what is 5% of what, 7% of what? So salaries and fringe benefits. So you've reduced salaries, but from 8.1% and you project 5% in 2027. That's, that's impossible. It's, it's not impossible because, well, first of all, it's projected against a growing budget. So clearly that's going to figure into it. It's going to be a smaller, if you keep, if you keep the amounts, if you keep the amounts constant, it's going to be, it's going to be a smaller percentage as the, as the budget total increases. But you would, but with, with, with your adding more and more personnel to the budget, I don't see how things come down when they should at least be even. I don't understand. I don't know how, I don't know how those numbers work. If we're largely filling existing vacancies and assistant city manager, Yvette Matthews can explain in greater detail how we're reducing those costs. How many assistant city managers do we have now? We currently have four. And how many did we have when you took office? When I took office, there were two acting and two permanent. So four. Four. So still, so those remain the same. We memorialize the four that I was introduced to when I came. Right. Okay. Good afternoon or evening mayor. Each year we look at our salary and wage budgets year over year. So we look at the growth and personnel costs. What we expect to see on an annual basis is really growth that's tied towards our merit and our cost of living adjustments. So over the past, in the past year, the merit and cost of living adjustments for most management category employees have been a 3% merit, a 3% cost of living adjustment. Those numbers go slightly higher as you look at our public safety personnel, which have anywhere from a 4% step, which is their commencement with the merit for a management category employee. And then their cost of living adjustment has been tied for our public, our police has been tied to Social Security COLA with a floor of 3%. And then for our IAFF members, it has been tied to the 75th percentile calculation. What we're seeing year over year is a compounding of a couple of different things. So last year, what we saw was a high volume of retirements. And with those retirements, it tended to reset a lot of the personnel-related costs. So we did see a slowdown of the increase in salaries. And even though we did add a few positions within the general fund, because our overall salary costs were remaining consistent, as the manager was talking about the way that she has been filling those roles, you saw that with the personnel growth. So we had a number of changes, but we did not see our personnel costs exceed what we anticipated regular growth to look like. So these numbers are not – they're not a percentage of the total cost of personnel. They're actually reflecting – you're just giving smaller increases in wages from year to year. As a percentage of total personnel. So it's your salaries and benefits together, and it provides the year for year. So the raises are smaller. That's what you – that's all that reflects. That's a component. There are a number of components. Right. And that feed into the growth of a budget this big. But it sounds as if it's a percentage of the total cost of personnel has been decreased from 8% to 5%. That's not – The growth has been decreased. The growth has been decreased. Correct. Okay. So the budget's still growing. It's just not growing as astronomically fast as it was growing. Absolutely. Okay. Got it. One question I just want to ask because I just want to make sure I understand. So all the years I've been here, we've only ever had two ACMs. So – and you know I've objected to the four ACMs. We are top-heavy. I've made that very clear when we went through the budget. I think I've made that very clear to you. So we've got way too many Indians and not enough chiefs – way too many chiefs and not enough Indians around here. Do we have four ACMs plus a deputy? No, no, no. Okay. The deputy's included in that account. Yes. Well, I will tell you flat out, and I'm not trying to get rid of anybody, please don't take this the wrong way. We don't need four assistant city managers in the city. Okay? I also objected to when we increased the departments. I told you that, too. I know everybody voted for this when we went through our budget, but I objected to that, too. So, again, just so we're clear on this budget stuff, I've been a strong opponent of the growth in the number of departments, the administrative overhead, and the expenses. So I will say that we need to slow that down going forward. We need to be leaning into the fact that things are going to get tight. Please, please, please start embracing frugality. I can share with you that thus far, through our budget meetings with the various departments, the only two departments that are looking for positions are fire and police, and those would be from the general fund. Most other departments have not asked for any positions this year because I've shared with them at the budget kickoff that this year we are going to be even more conservative. So I just want to share that with you in advance. The fire department has asked for 23 positions, I believe, and I think the police department has asked for 21 positions, all from general fund. I have not brought that forward to the commission at this time. We're still discussing those requests, but I am being very mindful of those concerns, and I just want to make sure that we're on the right track. Well, we also have a number of new positions that you've created, too. Again, we've got some new, very, very expensive positions that you've created that never existed before, and they're in that city manager's office. So I don't want you to keep adding positions to the city manager's office. You're building your executive staff. You're stocking them with people who make $250,000 a year, and we can't afford that. So let's stop doing that, please. I think the one thing I told you when we hired you is I don't want you to bring up everybody you ever worked with in Miami Beach. And I certainly have not. It feels like it. I just want to pause the meeting because we need to extend the meeting. It's almost 10 o'clock. Motion to extend. To what time? 11. Second. Second. Do I call the roll? Commissioner Herbst. Yes. Commissioner Glassman. Yes. Commissioner Beasley-Pittman. Yes. Vice Mayor Sorensen. Yes. Mayor Chantalus. Yes. Meetings extended to 11, up to 11. Vice Mayor. Yeah. Thank you, Mayor. If you could scroll down. Achieved a AAA bond rating from S&P Global Ratings. Tell us a little bit about how that happens, city manager, and what does that mean? So when we get ready to issue bonds, there's a process that we go through where we're evaluated. And so our team between the finance department, the office of management and budget, the city manager's office, we meet with these rating agencies, as well as with our financial advisors and bond counsel to try to be as attractive as possible so that we can have a rating that will yield greater returns for the city in terms of savings. And so while the city has achieved a AAA bond rating in the past, not every bond issuance is guaranteed to have a AAA bond rating. When we brought forward the special obligation bonds, we shared with the rating agencies the various measures that we have in place that makes the city of Fort Lauderdale financially sound and worthy of that bond rating. So that when we are trying to invest in infrastructure or capital projects, like a city hall, those things are important. Thank you. Do all cities get AAA bond ratings? Is that just kind of a standard? No, that is not a standard. But we've had it for some years. I was going to say how long have we had it. We've had it since Chris Lagerbloom, which is 2019. I'm not sure. Absolutely. But how bond ratings work, and please correct me if I'm wrong, is it's not based on past bond ratings. It's a fresh new analysis every year. So historic performance doesn't matter. I understand. Okay. Okay. Just to be clear. But we're very happy that she maintained the consistency of our spending and borrowing structure. So, okay. Absolutely. Yeah. It's a huge positive. Huge positive. Great. If we go to the next, if you roll down, please, to the top of page five. Develop and secure the city commission approval of the new emergency reserve fund, as well as the city's financial integrity principles. So, Yvette, please correct me if I'm wrong. But part of what that includes is the 25% of our annual operating budget to be in reserves. Is that saying that right? Yeah, there were two components to this. The commission memorialized the target fund balance of 25%, and in addition to that, established an emergency reserve, which at that time was 1% of our general fund operating budget. Great. Great. Which, another success, I think, both of the city commission and the city manager, to be fiscally responsible and fiscally conservative in a very difficult time. So, another great win. A little bit further down, overall crime rate decreased by 8.3% from 2024 to 2025. City manager, tell us a little bit about that. What does that mean? Sure. So, when we look at our violent crimes and property crimes, this is a combination showing a decrease. As I mentioned before, you know, I'm really proud of FLPD and all the work that they've done to decrease our overall crime rate. We do have some strides to make in terms of looking at our violent crimes, and we are implementing the group violence interruption program, as well as some other strategies to try to focus more on violent crime. So, I'm hoping that next year, this decrease will be even more significant. Thank you. That matters and is very important, in my view. Public safety and continuing decrease in overall crime is critical to our city, and that's, in my view, credit to you. This is 24-25. She didn't start until 25. This is before she was here. Yeah. I think the crime statistics continue to decrease. So, happy to get Chief to come on up. Come on up, Chief Schultz, if you want mine. Let's get some – we'll get some real-time feedback. Mayor and Commissioner Glassman. Chief Schultz, if you would share with us latest crime stats, how are we doing on reductions or increase in overall crime? So, it is correct. Overall crime has gone down and continues to go down. What the manager was referring to is the assaults. So, we have been taking a deep dive into that, and we've been keeping manager advised of that. It appears to be more domestic-related. So, that is something that we're working through. And I do agree that the group violence program that we are initiating will have an impact in various parts of crime, but especially when it comes to violent crime. So, even as of today, violent crime continues to decrease year over year? Overall, yes. But there have been increases in assaults. Okay. Thank you very much, Chief. Welcome. Great. Great news. Let's go to the bottom of page five. Recruited and graduated the largest fire rescue class since 1999, including 35 firefighters. That was the federal program we applied for, which was before she even came on. This was a grant we got from the federal government. Right. The SAFA grant. Yeah, the SAFA grant. Yes, but on how many people? 35. Thank you. Great. So, is that a success or not a success? It happened before she got here. Okay. Okay. So, it is a success. I mean, we have to call it like it really is. Let me just say. Instead of just grandstanding, we have to call it like it is. We just are. There are a lot of things that Recallis has participated in and defeated, and no one is denying that. You can go down the whole list. Some things she was part of and some things she wasn't. I think she overstayed a few things here. But, look, we're not talking about these things. These are all very clear, and I'm happy that some of these things were done in concert with our staff. We've got over 3,000 people that work for the city, and I have to commend every single one of them for participating, achieving these initiatives and goals. But, you know, the things that I brought up have nothing to do with specific achievements and goals. We're talking about relationships, environment. We're talking about attitude problems. You know, if these are things that can be worked on and achieved, then these are things that need to be worked on and achieved because we have, you know, we have dissension within our ranks, and no one's going to come out here in public and confess to it, but when you speak to people one-on-one and they feel that they can trust you with anonymity, then you'll find out that more and more people are realizing that things need to change. You know, maybe this conversation has been very constructive and we'll be able to, you know, going forward in the future, we'll be able to be more responsive and responsible, and maybe that's what needs to come out of this conversation. But it needed to happen at this point, at the review, because today we're going to decide whether or not to give her an increase in salary, whether or not not to give her an increase in salary, and whether or not to maintain her position. So I think that all these things that are being said are very constructive, and I think the city manager is hearing it, and I think going forward, hopefully we'll be a better city. Great. Great. Yeah, I agree. And I have plenty of conversations one-on-one, Mayor, with all types of city employees, and I think they're very candid with me. And the feedback you're receiving from individuals is clearly a little different than what I'm receiving, but that's part of the perspective. You may have a different, you know, ability in that, and that's great, and that's why we get to talk through all this. So this is great. This is great. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, ma'am. And please, ma'am, you had the chance to speak. Please don't yell from the audience. You have, sorry. City manager, what role, if any, did you play in supporting having the largest fire rescue class? Did you play no role? So while the city did apply for the SAFER grant prior to my arrival, the fact that we were able to recruit and graduate this many firefighters in one period is astonishing. So I give full credit to the fire department. And what you'll see in this exhibit is that everything that I do requires a team. So there's no accomplishment in here that doesn't come with the effort of our team. There are some things in here that I've initiated on my own, and there are some things in here that I have advanced. If there was a project that was initiated in 2020 but hasn't moved since 2020 but has now moved in 2025, yes, I'm going to participate in taking some credit for that project moving. So yes, the city is fluid. There are projects that have started before my time, but everything that I've done in the past year has been to advance progress. Thank you. Thank you. City manager, as we think about the many successes you've had, you also, just as all of us, many opportunities for growth and development. And why don't you share with us a few of those opportunities for improvement that you see as you self-reflect as a leader here at the city? What can you be doing better? And what do you commit to doing differently going forward? Maybe based on the feedback you're hearing today, or maybe just your ongoing self-evaluation of how you're doing. Thank you for that. You know, I'm definitely processing the feedback. And I think it is constructive and informative. I think that I, in this moment, realized that I could do a better job of asking for transparent feedback along the way. I do have opportunities to meet with various members of the commission on a regular basis. And, you know, some of the things that I'm hearing today, perhaps I could have heard sooner had I asked, you know, maybe a more difficult or uncomfortable type of question. Perhaps some of these things aren't as easy to share in the regular course of business. So I'm going to take that with me going forward. I'm going to be more deliberate about asking those types of questions. Also, I do want to make sure that I'm prioritizing time management while being busy at work and doing the actual day-to-day management. There is something to be said for building relationships and having more conversations and opportunities to get that feedback. And so I probably need to find a little bit more of a balance between the management side of the work and the relational side of the work. All right. Well, why don't we bring this conversation to a close? I think everyone's kind of, if you don't mind, Vice Mayor, I know we have a lot of other business to do tonight. So is there a motion to introduce a resolution? Yeah, I'd like to introduce a resolution. So the resolution R5, Exhibit 2, is that what this is titled at? I don't know. Where's our city attorney? It is R5. Yeah. This is Section 1, City Manager, Raquel Williams-based salaries increased by blank percent. Yep. So that would be the resolution. So someone would like to introduce a resolution and put a number in there? Yeah, Mayor. Thank you. I'd like to. You know, oftentimes, not all the time, but oftentimes we provide a 3% raise. And so I'd like to suggest that introduce a resolution that city manager's base salary is increased by 3%, effective April 2nd, 2026. Okay. So anyone have any further questions or comments? Well, again, I didn't get a finish, a chance to finish last time. I did defer to the Vice Mayor. I'd like to just finish that comment. Thank you, if you don't mind. Again, we're not having the discussion that we should be having with a split commission right now. So that's the discussion, just like when Mayor Salah had to opine the reason why he made a change, because he said a split commission could not function that way. And that's why he went in the direction that he did. There's a big split here. And we have to figure out, I mean, we're just going to say, okay, well, forget that whole conversation and let's do a raise. I don't know. It just seems really strange to me. So I don't know where we are as a commission. I've only seen that in the past. When a split like this occurred, that was a big problem. So do we just, is that the elephant in the room and we just don't go there? Or we just hope that it gets better? Or what do you think, Mayor? You're the mayor. Well, I'm the mayor, but I'm also listening. Can I ask a question before? When the mayor started his introduction to his statement, what was your opening statement? You said you were not going to do what tonight? I don't remember my words. Well. Want to play it back? I hope someone can play it back. Because I thought you were saying that you were not going to vote against the city manager. I don't remember saying that. Am I the only one that heard that from the dais? Yeah. I'm the only one that heard it? I didn't say anything about voting. Okay. Well, maybe it wasn't voting, but it did not appear that you were going in the direction that you would be going against the city manager. Maybe it wasn't voting, but I heard that you would not be going against the city manager. Okay. But no one else heard that. Okay. All right. And yeah. Okay. I'm sorry. Go ahead. Again, I thought I heard when you began your statement. So, Mayor, I'm happy to respond to Commissioner Glassman, but I want to defer to you. I'm good. Thank you. Okay. Yeah. So, well, I did ask the mayor what he wanted to do here. Well, there's a resolution on the floor, and it could either be voted up or down. And so that's what we need to do right now. So, and I just need to ask the clerk to call the roll. A resolution city commission of the city of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, providing for a 3% merit salary increase for city manager Raquel Williams, effective April 2nd, 2026. Commissioner Herbst? No. Commissioner Glassman? I just have a question. 3%, what is the salary right now? The dollar value of a 3% merit increase is $10,000. It makes about $350,000 now. Oh, $10,815. That was the question. The current salary is $350,000 plus benefits. My base salary. I have since received a cost of living allowance. My base salary is $360,499.78. Thank you. I'm going to just basically vote on past practice of this commission. We grant a 3% raise to all of the charter officers, and it's always unanimous. This is not unanimous, so I'm going to have to vote no. Commissioner Beasley-Pittman? Yes. Vice Mayor Sorensen? Yes. And Mayor Trenton? I'm going to vote no. So, is there anything? I'm sorry. I'm sorry. This is completely disrespectful. Okay. So, I'll introduce a resolution. Can I make a suggestion? Sure. Why don't we take a five-minute break? This has gotten very intense. All right? Let's just take a five-minute break, and then we can come back to this. The day is, we're going to resume our meeting now. Please. Where is Commissioner Herbst? Okay. So, the resolution that was introduced by the Vice Mayor failed. May I make a suggestion? I mean, clearly, there's a dissension on this commission, and I feel that there may be opportunities here for both the commission and the city manager to learn from this experience tonight. I think that we should allow the manager to continue in her position, but I think that we should understand that we need to perhaps invoke some sort of probationary period of, say, six months and see how relationships continue and to see how the operation of the city continues and to use that six-month period in which to examine how we might better perform and how the relationships might improve and that we should always be cognizant of the fact, as everyone has admitted, that things could always be better. I did hear something that was said as we were going into our short recess, and I heard someone scream out, a black woman. And the suggestion was somehow we're being racially prejudiced or gender prejudiced against an individual. Let me just tell you something. Dean Trantalis voted for Raquel to be our city manager. I didn't care about her gender. I didn't care about her race. And tonight, I don't care about her gender, and I don't care about her race. This commission has never, ever taken those factors into consideration. Everything is based on merit. And tonight, when we speak, we're speaking about merit. We're speaking about performance, and we're speaking about expectations. We're speaking about honesty. We're speaking on goals, and we're speaking on the opportunities that we have as a city to go forward. It's been pointed out that there have been several city managers in the past several years, and everyone has come and gone for different reasons. But the reality is that this commission and this mayor needs to have a good working relationship with the city manager. When I first became a mayor in 2018, we did not have that good working relationship. And at the end of that first year, we had to let the city manager go because that relationship had deteriorated from bad to worse. And we were able to engage new city managers, and each city manager that we had helped move the city forward. And that's based on a working relationship that the mayor and the rest of the commission have with the working staff. So my recommendation is that we take no action on a resolution tonight and that we keep things status quo and that we revisit this situation in six months and to see where things are and how people feel towards their jobs and towards our city. But I can tell you that I have the utmost faith in all the senior staff that we have right now. And I would hope that absolutely nothing should impact that relationship or impact their status here in our city. And as soon as I hear that anything has compromised or jeopardized their status here in our city, I will immediately call this to the attention of the commission. And if we have to take any further action, we'll do it at that time. But the reason why we have low crime rates is because we have a great police department, probably the best in the state. The reason why we have the best response times from our fire department is because we have the best fire department in the state. And we continue to complement with additional staff people every year to help make it better and better. I remember when I first became a member of this commission in 2003, all we heard was complaints about response times, about inadequate service, about failure to communicate. We never hear that anymore. Our first responders and our public safety people have engaged throughout the neighborhoods, continue to participate in neighborhood events, and make themselves their friends, not their enemies. And this commission has only one purpose, to ensure the safety of its community and to make sure that the well-being of each and every member of this community is taken care of. And that's all I care about. And I know that's all every single member of this commission cares about. So I think I can speak on behalf of the commission when I say that, Commissioner Beasley Pittman. And I feel that we have an opportunity tonight to try to make things better. Things have not been better. If they were, we wouldn't be having this conversation. So trust us. There are shortfalls in what's been happening. So let's understand that. We're not making this stuff up. So I'm hoping that we can move forward. And we'll continue with the rest of the agenda tonight. But I don't know if we need to take any further action on this item. The resolution didn't pass. So let us just keep the status quo and let us continue to operate as a city. Because I know we all love our city. I know we all want to see the best for our community. And I think that we're going to be able to achieve that in the months and years ahead. Thank you. With the status quo, is there any, do we have to do anything, vote, put it to a resolution, do anything to cement this and what you're saying? We don't have to take any action on it. Okay. So just the verbal record that we are doing a six-month probation. Correct. Yep. Eric, thanks. So let's see. Let's, Jerome, head of HR, if you'd come on up here. So if you don't mind, please. Is he here still? Okay. Yeah. Thanks. So the city manager's role, I believe, is one that's at will. Right. Is that right? Can be terminated at any point. Well, we have a contract. So it's not entirely at will. There are consequences for any termination. Tom? Yes, sir. Jerome Post, Director of Human Resources. Thanks, Jerome. How would you describe the contract in general? Is it at will? Is it there's, can termination be for any reason? I think the mayor described it pretty well. It is at will, but there are consequences if it is terminated before the expiration date. Right. Thank you. So it is at will. So city manager can be terminated at any point. So the idea of that the city manager needs to be on a probationary period, I think, is not a healthy one for her leadership, for the city's leadership. She is always being evaluated, I think, by all of us. And we all shared some great feedback around how she's doing. So, mayor, I'm completely fine with status quo and continuing to move forward. And but I don't think we need to fix a probationary title on some period of time. Well, we're not voting on it. So it's just I'm just putting it out there. That's all. OK, great. So I think that's that's your perspective, which is perfectly fair. And but I think holistically, we're not going to categorize it as such. So thank you. Thank you, Jerome. Appreciate it. OK, moving on to our six quasi judicial resolution approving a site plan level to Central Beach development permit for 13 story, 54 unit multifamily development at 623 Bay Short Drive. Anyone wishing to speak must be sworn in and the commissioner will announce any site visits, communications or expert opinions received and make them a part of the record. Commissioner Herbst, do you have any disclosures? Commissioner Beasley Pittman? Yes. Stephanie Toothaker, a group, someone in that group. OK. I have met with Stephanie Toothaker and I believe her client. Commissioner Glassman? Hold on one second. I apologize. I apologize. Yes. Stephanie Toothaker, several meetings. I also attended the Central Beach Alliance meeting when this was presented to the neighborhood. Thank you. And and actually many site visits over the years. Thank you. And vice mayor. Thank you, mayor. Yes. Applicant. Thank you. OK. Several people have signed up to speak. I'll call your names one by one. Armando Luna. Are they part of the team? OK. And and Arthur Arthur Marcus also part of the team. No. Arthur Marcus. Arthur. There you are. Followed by Bill Brown. Followed by Abby Laughlin. Abby, you still here? There you are. Hello, Abby. And OK, great. Please go ahead. Mayor and commissioners, Arthur Marcus. Before I speak, I would like to ask if the applicant can give their presentation, because it doesn't make any sense for us to speak about a project that's not yet been presented. And I know we've seen it in the agenda, but presentations and reading are two different things. Are you prepared to give it? OK, sure. Mayor, vice mayor, commissioners. Thank you. I do have a presentation. I wasn't planning on giving the whole thing. We we started with a project. There are two buildings that are there today. The project is referred to as Opus at 701. We spent a tremendous amount of time in the neighborhoods presenting to the Central Beach Alliance. I believe Mr. Brown is here. Ultimately was approved by Central Beach Alliance. A I have a feeling I didn't know they were going to be. I'm feeling I know why people are here. One of the buildings that is that is being demolished is called Manhattan Tower. There is an old metal. I don't know what to call it. It's an old metal structure structure that sits in front of it. We have done structural analysis on that. It is not structurally sound. We did work with the Historical Society. I had actually expected Miss Eiler to be here. We've been working with her. My client recreated the structure to to do to honor what was there previously. And it's going to be a sculpture in front of the building. We also did a historical record that's proposed to be a part of the building. And we ultimately ended up changing and making revisions to the site plan itself. We were originally asking for a number of waivers on the sides of the buildings for balcony projections in working with our direct neighbors, La Rive, and the building next to it and La Cascade. We removed all those. We are not asking for those waivers. This project is only before you on a request for the height in the Central Beach. You can go from 120 to 144. Only the commission can grant that. But we did do a full historical record of that structure. The structure is not in good shape. The buildings are in even worse shape. And and my client worked very closely with the Historical Society to make sure that we honor that history while it can't be saved. We will do everything appropriate to make sure that it's honored. And I'm happy to answer any questions. So let me ask you a few questions. I'm looking at your renderings. Page six. You know, the Manhattan Tower has been part of Fort Lauderdale for a very long time. It's rusting. It's it's not structurally sound. It's not. OK, we're all we're all aware of all of that. OK, but it doesn't mean we want to erase it from the streetscape of Fort Lauderdale. Now, I see what you've done on the inside and it's like a little small scale version of it. We did. Oh, thank you. This is what is that me. I apologize. Let me take you to it because we did a sculpture here on page six. You're on page. I was going to bring it up for where else is it. Where else do you see it? So there it is. So we did hire a sculptor to recreate that that metal structure that is not structurally sound and created in the front. And we worked with Patricia Zeiler in the Historical Society to do a proper plaque that honors who created that in the first place. And it'll it's not done yet. But that's something that we've been working on actively. OK, now, having said that, yes, is there any way your client can create a scale version of it? The size it is today? Yes. With the words Manhattan Tower and somehow install it inside the lobby because you have a very tall lobby there. Or at least this is the port courier. This is the the drive. Yeah, this is the entrance to the to the building. I mean, if you want to pay a true homage to the to that look, I mean, can your client do a little bit better job at trying to. Obviously, it can't be restored, but can it be recreated? I don't think the size can be recreated. And we by the way, we I will offer again today. We have offered that to the when we first met with at CBAs. We got some comments back from folks like, well, I'd love to have it. We said it's yours. Come take it. You're you're welcome to donate it. It's going to fall. But I think we can make it we can make it certainly bigger. But I don't think it can be. Yes. So, for example, like when they when we redid the Parker. Right. We didn't destroy the facade. We kept the facade. And it's actually it really blends so well, you know, with the architecture. Yeah, I agree. And I think that I think that a better effort can be made to perhaps try to maintain the integrity of that look. And so that when people come to that address, they don't say, hey, what happened to Manhattan Tower? I understand. You know, I'm saying that's a good comment. And I I certainly think we can work with it's not built yet. So we can work with the sculpture to make it larger in scale. I don't think it can be the same size because it actually is bigger than the building. But I think you could one of these columns can certainly accommodate. Yeah, that's a really great. That's a great comment. Oh, thank you. I think it's great. I see what your people can do. We're happy to do that. Because I really, you know, I've lived here 44 years now and I've looked at it for 44 years. And it's just it's just part of the kitschy look of Fort Lauderdale. We don't have a lot left. Right. Understood. And it'd be nice to at least preserve some of that. I know when I'm anyway, I won't go into all that. But I just think that'd be good to have have a little bit more respect for the existence of that of that look. I mean, if you go by there today, it's all rusted and kind of, you know, and I know the I know I knew the previous owners. I don't know if they're still the current owners, but they've been wanting to sell this property and they always had the opportunity to to designate that historic. But they chose not to because they wanted to be able to redevelop it. That's correct. I know. So, OK, that's my only comment. I'm sorry. Yeah. And we had a conversation when we talked about this project. Can you tell us what you're going to be doing? Because we talked about perhaps a gallery, a photo exhibit working with the Historical Society. Doing more than just the homage with the sculpture, but actually creating a gallery where we tell the story of the Manhattan Tower. So we hired Peacock Architects to create a pictorial history of this. The other building that's being demolished, I don't think anybody noticed. But this one, because of that metal structure that's in front. So we hired Peacock and Associates to create a pictorial history. And that's meant to be inside the lobby of the building. This is a 54 unit multifamily product. So that was a commitment that we had already made and agreed to make. I think the mayor's comments are very well taken. We can certainly make it larger in scale and try to incorporate it more. I'm happy to commit to that this evening. I appreciate it. I think it would be very nice. I think we could. And we did engage with Ms. Zyler. I know she wasn't feeling well tonight. But we did engage with her to say we'd like to work with you to do a proper plaque to honor the history. So that that's all I'm happy to commit to that this evening. Excellent. OK, I think Mr. Marcus will be happy. Good evening, Mayor and Commissioners, Arthur Marcus. As you know, Manhattan Towers, as the mayor just said, is one of our most beloved and recognizable historic landmarks in Fort Lauderdale. It really is unfortunate that a city is rich in cultural history as we cannot or will not protect our legacy. There needs to be in the future a more focused approach to ensure that our legacy is protected and funded for future generations. I have specific comments about certain things in the report. The DRC report for this project states that the city must follow a public policy to protect its historic resources. If the city is following this policy to protect its historic resources, then how does approving the demolition of Manhattan Towers further the case for protection and preservation? Number two, the DRC report further identifies Manhattan Towers as one of 26 new potential historic landmarks in North Beach. Sorry for my voice here. However, these are empty achievements. Since the city is not designated any of these properties as historic, none of them are legally protected and all are likely to be demolished. This is 26 buildings in North Beach that are mid-century modern examples. A lot of the, this includes Birch Tower, this includes Birch House, this includes every famous building on the beach you've seen. And the third one, as an architect, I also respectfully and professionally disagree that the findings of the structural assessment justify demolition of this building. All structural materials in South Florida deteriorate over time. Everything deteriorates, including us. I'm almost done. But you look fabulous, don't worry. If spalled concrete and corroded steel concealed beneath layers of paint had ever been taken this seriously, there would have never been any renovation of the Art Deco District in South Beach. I know because I was there, and that's exactly what was happening with every single building. Of course, these can be serious structural conditions if left unattended to, yet they hardly justify demolition. To me, it's ridiculous to say that paint and spalled concrete are cause for demolition of a historic building. What is missing from this entire discussion is the fact that it does cost money to pay for restoration. The DRC report also states that the building has been substantially altered, but does not state how it has been altered. Alterations can be undone, and alterations do not justify demolition. And adding hurricane windows is not an alteration. This is my last comment. It has been said that an act of ethical remembrance is the refusal to allow absence to become invisibility. Memory is a moral act because it is the act of choosing which story to keep alive. I hope you as a commission can choose to keep our joint cultural history alive in Fort Lauderdale. Thank you. Arthur, I'd like to just have a quick conversation. Of course. Because I think this is really important for the city as well. So, first of all, thank you for your years of service on the Historic Preservation Board. You're welcome. So, here we have a structure that's going to be demolished. Charles McIrahan, correct? Right. Okay. So, let me ask you this question, and I'm serious about this, and I think I alluded to it when I texted you about this, because I saw your letter to the editor. Why are we not as a city seeing the Historic Preservation Board bring these to our attention, these kinds of buildings? Why the Historic Preservation Board in our ordinance has the ability to move a designation application forward on any building, any structure? Now, let me just finish, please. That did not happen with Manhattan Tower. We could do thematic districts. We could designate Charles McIrahan buildings if we wanted to before they all disappear. You mentioned Birch Tower. Again, Charles McIrahan. All over the place, Charles McIrahan. Why don't we do thematic districts? Why? There's such, and I've brought this up over the years since I've been sitting here, that I just don't think that we do enough, starting with the Historic Preservation Board, to bring these forward. We also have supposedly a Broward Trust for Historic Preservation, not a peep on this building. But for five months, we heard about sand on the beach and how it had to be designated. Was that a missed opportunity? These are questions that I think about, and I wonder why we're just not using the organizations and the agencies that are out there supposedly doing this work, but they're not. Commissioner, I agree with you 100%. And let me tell you a little bit about my experience with the Historic Preservation Board. I was on the Historic Board for eight years. I was chairman probably for six. I lost count. And one of the things I tried to do a number of years ago was bring thematic historic districts to the board and to the commission. It was defeated at the Planning and Zoning Board, and it never made it to the commission. What I find in government, in people who are, let's say, amateurs, that we volunteer for the boards, there is no sense that people on the Historic Preservation Board, either through lack of experience or lack of knowledge, they don't feel comfortable bringing any of these buildings towards demolition. They don't feel comfortable going against the owner of a building. They just don't feel comfortable doing their job. And I say that because most of them have no idea that we can bring a building like Manhattan Towers to the board and further to the rest of the commission. So, yes, in theory, the system should work. In practice, it does not. I know people are grounded in what the Historic Preservation Board can do, but it's still amazing that so many members don't understand the process, don't understand what goes on. So, in answer to your question, I don't have an answer. I mean, I've tried when I was on the board to do what you're saying, and I never felt supported by the board. There was not enough support to bring it to you on the commission, and there was just not enough, how do I say, knowledge that people would want to do this. Yes, I know it's the Historic Preservation Board, and that's the line I've used practically in every meeting we sat in when things got out of hand. And I said, guys, remember who we are, but there's no courage, there's no bravery in bringing it forward. So, I think we as a city, and I will let Michaela speak for Broward Trust, but, you know, I think we as a city need to reassess how we are working with Historic Preservation. Because it not only has to be supported, it has to be funded somehow. I mean, obviously somebody needs to pay for the reservation. Well, we do have transfer of development, right? I know. So, we have those. I fought for years to get that done, and we got it done. But this particular owner didn't care about that. I understand. And to the commissioner's point, you know, spending time and effort on trying to designate sand on the beach as historic versus something like this, I mean, you have to choose your priorities here and what's realistic and what makes sense, okay? And it's not your fault. I'm just saying you, meaning the Historic Preservation community. You know, I would have loved to have designated this historic if the property owner wanted to participate with us, giving them a transfer of development rights, giving them a financial benefit by participating in that program. But there was no incentive that anyone or any initiative that was ever taken by anyone, not so much from the Historic Preservation Board, but anyone in the community, to suggest to him, hey, let's work on this as a project together, and we want to save this building. And that was never done. So, anyway, I've got to wrap this up. So, I appreciate you coming here tonight, Arthur. But I think I'll just end with one thought for you. The process does not work. Like I said, it works in theory, as you've outlined, but it does not work in practice. Okay. And I think a longer talk with Tricia and maybe the board, but more needs to be done because, obviously, this is the first of probably 26 demolitions in North Beach. Okay. Thank you. Thank you again for your service. And, Ms. Toothega, could we make sure we also incorporate a lot, as much as possible, about Charles McCurahan and that, not just the building itself, but... Okay, great. Thank you. Please proceed. Good evening, Mayor, Vice Mayor, Members, Commission, Bill Brown, President of the Central Beach Alliance. In the interest of time, I just will say that everything that Ms. Toothegaard spoke about in meeting with the CBA, meeting with the board, meeting with the neighborhood residents was accurate. At the final presentation, well, the first presentation of the general membership, it was raised, and Abby was even, I think you were even there at that meeting about the signage. And then we later learned the structural integrity of the property and the signage and the sculpture itself just would not work. One of the things that, the other things is the balconies. They've reduced the size of the balconies, as Ms. Toothacre said, and that would help the immediate neighbors, some of their concerns. But the one concern, which has no bearing on this, was they don't, I don't want this in my backyard. It's blocking my view, and we know views aren't unarguable. Not protected. They're not protected. Right. So at the final conclusion, after the presentation, it was quite a large turnout, and we had it at the Los Angeles Beach Club. And the final vote was 61% of the membership that evening was there, supported it, and 39% did not. I think we had close to 140 people. It was a packed room. Okay. And, Mayor, we want to commend you on working with the developer and possibly changing, maybe making that sculpture bigger. But they did take our input on that sculpture, and they're to be commended for that. Thank you. Thank you, Bill. Abby, I'll give you two and a half minutes since you haven't been here in such a long time. Thank you. This is the longest I've ever left my dog at home. So you see, this is important to me. It's an emotional support. Tonight, yes. Yes. I'm going to change a little bit about what I was going to say after what your questions were to, you know, to Arthur. But something absolutely is not working. You know, you say that the Historic Preservation Board can bring these projects up for a vote. But the chairman does not set the agenda. The agenda is set by Tricia. And I know that Arthur, you know, several times tried to, as he talked about, bring up the thematic district. But you can't even get it on the agenda. You have to bring it up under for the good of the city. So, you know, it is a very difficult process to try to bring anything up, you know, to even get it on the agenda. But they're not the only ones who can make a decision about whether or not to bring something up for designation. You. There's only, you know, besides someone like the Broward Trust, who probably has no money and is concerned about a slap suit. But the only other folks who can make a designation are you guys. And you can't two people on a board get something put on an agenda. I thought, is that not a rule? I thought I thought of two or two. What is Anthony? Wait, can we stop the clock? Yeah, we'll stop the clock. Anthony, I thought that if two people on a board want to put something on an agenda, they have the – am I mistaken? No, Mayor. Anthony Fajardo, Director of Development Services. So typically what we've seen with boards is if something is brought up under good of the city and the board has a consensus to have it on an agenda, we would put it on the next agenda. So it would be part of that discussion under good of the city, but it can appear on the next agenda if they so wish. Okay, I thought so. I thought there was a way to do it. Okay. I – Trisha's not here, so I can't confirm with her what those interactions have been. Yeah, I looked around the room. I didn't see her. Yeah. She's out of the country right now, so. Oh, I didn't look far enough. Yeah. All right. It would be – it would be a lot easier for the Historic Preservation Board to know about these if they could have these development projects flagged. They never are told that any of these historic properties are coming up for redevelopment. And that's one of the things that Trisha could do is put that on the agenda. I don't know why they're not, you know, automatically flagged. But my final request with my last few seconds to try and give a little more time to this building is please do not issue a demo permit until there is a building permit. If you issue the demo – you know, this got – I won't go into hearsay. At least we get to enjoy this building for a few more years because if you don't do that, what's going to happen is they're going to knock it down, they're going to find they can't sell, they're going to knock it down, and then they're going to just try to flip it, which is what happens with, you know. Almost every property that's been knocked down has been flipped. So it gives an incentive if the, you know, if the developer knows that you can't not – and I don't know why we can't change that in the ULDR. Also, we're never given access to these structural reports. It's not – the structural reports need to be part of the agenda, I mean, part of the backup. You know, we're just told, oh, you know, everything is, you know, everything is no good and it's got too much rust, I mean, and it's got too much spalling. We never get to see these – The engineering report? Yes. No, we never get to see the developer's structural report. We're just, you know, depending on what the attorney says that everything is – Okay. Okay. Okay, thank you. Thank you. Anyone else wish to speak on this item? Okay. Did you want to sign up? You have to sign up. I did. Okay. Go ahead. So, yes. So, good evening, Mayor, Commissioners, and Vice Mayor. It's Historic Preservation Month. And I would hope that this should matter to the city of Fault Lauderdale. The question is, are we treating it like it does? Right now, we are about to lose four contributing historic resources in the North Beach area of the Barrier Island. Broward Trust is here tonight to discuss one of them, Manhattan Tower. Manhattan Tower, designed by architect Charles McCarrihan, is one of the most prolific – he was one of the most prolific designers associated with the mid-century modern and the classic 1950s to 60s styles. His work includes the Birch Square, Castro Convertibles, the iconic Lagomar. I'm here this evening in solidarity with Arthur Marcus and Abby Laughlin, two passionate citizens many of you know. Broward Trust believes we can do better when it comes to protecting, preserving, and saving our historic resources. Abby and Arthur do, too. Discussing the importance of our historic resources, part of that responsibility comes with being a certified local government. City staff, especially Tricia Logan, who has done an outstanding job of inventorying those historic resources through the architectural resource surveys. After all that, why are we still about to lose four more contributing structures? Only 26 contributing structures remain in this iconic neighborhood, which has also been documented as a potential historic district. We know preservation works. All one needs to do is look at success stories in other states that have preservation programs. Preserving historic buildings and districts strengthens community identity and pride. It supports heritage tourism and local small businesses. It encourages reinvestment in established areas instead of unnecessary demolition. It also advances sustainability by reusing existing structures and conserving embodied energy of older buildings. Just as importantly, it creates opportunities for... Please complete your thought. Opportunity. Yes. It provides opportunities for continuing education and involving our community in these historic resources. And I just would like to add that I was not trying to designate sand. I was trying to designate the third fort of Fort Lauderdale, which is our namesake. Thank you. I do have a question, Mayor. So thank you for the remarks. However, where was your organization and why did you not file an application on Manhattan Tower if you feel so strongly about the building? Commissioner Glassman, I think you're well aware of the fact that I did have a meeting with the previous owners at your request. Yes. I spent an hour and a half with them trying to have a productive, positive conversation of the importance of the historic preservation of that property. They made it very clear that they did not have any desire to preserve it through the historic designation process. And does the ordinance say that... Broward Trust, and I've said this before and I will say it again, Broward Trust is not about imposing our will with an owner that has made it very clear that they do not have any interest in the historic designation process. What I will say is what Abby said, and that is, you all know that the Historic Preservation Board, as well as the commission, has the opportunity, based on the ULDR, to make these historic designations, whether it's through the Historic Preservation Board or the commission itself. One of the things that I wanted to mention was that I think it's very important that monthly Tricia Logan start placing on that agenda at the HPB meetings, whereby one property is chosen, that is, a contributing structure to the historic preservation, based on the architectural resource surveys, so that we can start having a discussion about the importance of that property. One of the things that Tricia has shared with me over and over is that Broward Trust, let me finish, Dean, Mayor. Could you just let me finish? I'm trying to finish. Ma'am, I'm not trying to interrupt you, but we're going to run out of time, and I need a motion to extend the meeting. I have one last statement that I would like to make. Okay. And that is, if, once a month, for the good of the meeting, based on the architectural resource surveys, a contributing property is presented to the board, so that they can start to decide whether or not the HPB should make an application for historic designation. Okay. We don't have the financial resources. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. And just for the record, the Broward Trust for Historic Preservation has filed designation applications without the consent of the owner, so that was not 100% correct. Okay. No, that's not true. We had a very contentious issue up here once when the owners were split. One opposed, where was that? That was in your... That was on Andrews Avenue. On Andrews Avenue. You filed an application for designation, and you did not have the consent of the owners on that building. So let's just be honest. It's much better when we're honest. Thank you. Do I hear a motion to extend the meeting? Fortill 12? 11.45. 11.45. Second. Second. We moved to second. Please call the roll. Commissioner Herbst. Yeah. Commissioner Glossman. Yes. Commissioner Beasley-Pittman. No. Vice Mayor Sorensen. Yes. Mayor Trentos. Yes. Okay. So does anyone else wish to speak on this item? Do I hear a motion to close public hearing? Second. We moved and seconded. Please call the roll. Commissioner Herbst. Yes. Commissioner Glossman. Yes. Commissioner Beasley-Pittman. Yes. Vice Mayor Sorensen. Yes. Mayor Trentos. Yes. In public hearing, RH6 is now closed. Someone would like to introduce a resolution? Introduced. To what? Approve? Yes. Is that... Yes. Thank you. It says approving a site plan. Okay. Introduced. RH6. Please call the roll. A resolution. City Commissioner of the City of Fort Lauderdale, Florida approving the issuance of a site plan, and Level 2 Beach Development Permit for the development of a 13-story, 54-unit multifamily development known as OPUS at 701 at a height that exceeds the maximum structure height as provided in Section 47-12.4.1 located at 623 Bay Shore Drive and 701 Bay Shore Drive, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, having a land-use designation of Central Beach Regional Activity Center in the Intra-Hostal Overlook Area Zoning District, and an additional height request for the development. Commissioner Herbst. Yes. Commissioner Glossman. Yes. Commissioner Beasley-Pittman. Yes. Vice Mayor Sorensen. Yes. Mayor Trentos. Yes. And R6 is now approved. Moving on to R7, quasi-judicial resolution. Approving Amendment to Site Plan Level 4 Development Permit for Sorrento, formerly Ocean Park Residences. This is at 2851 to 2901 Northeast 9th Court. Sunrise FTL Ventures. Anyone wishing to speak must be sworn in, and the Commission will announce any site visits, communications, or expert opinions received, and make them a part of the record. Commissioner Herbst, do you have any disclosures? And Commissioner Beasley-Pittman. Yes, with Nectaria. Okay. I believe I did, too. We keep changing this. Name. Name. The project. Keep saying it. Keep saying it. Well, her client keeps spending a lot of money, unfortunately. Yes, Commissioner Glossman. Yes, thank you. I met with Nectaria Chakas on January 14th, 2024, and March 31st, 2026. Numerous site visits, and I've had conversations with members of the boards of almost every single neighboring condominium association. Thank you. Okay. And Vice Mayor? Yes. Applicant. Thank you. Okay. And I didn't disclose either. I also met with the applicant if that wasn't made clear. So the applicant signed up to speak, but does anyone expect you to do a presentation, or does anyone just have any questions of the applicant? We have several people sign up to speak. Bill Brown, you're still here? Yeah. Can someone – this has been bothering me all night. Can someone do something with that light? I feel like I'm like a French fry under a heat lamp. Well, you dim the wrong light. That light. Are you afraid it'll show your wrinkles? Yes. Many wrinkles. French fry. It's late so we can have fun. Bill Brown, President of Central Beach Alliance, thank you again for allowing me to speak. I'll be really brief on this one. It's been a roller coaster for the residents. Once they saw the demolish of Franco and Vinny's, they were excited to hopefully see this area start improving. We've had a problem with the homeless around there, especially with the 7-Eleven. And so the CBA was very involved with the original design of the two towers, one being a hotel and one being a condo residential building. And then they came back and they revised that to do away with the residential component, just make it a hotel, correct, and then keep a smaller building for a parking. And now they're coming back with the plan that's before you. We still are supportive of this project. And I know the surrounding neighbor condo presidents have all expressed their support of the project. I think some of them will speak to that tonight. And I think this is just going to really help that area, especially with the action that's been taken now with Sunrise Lane, having the funding for that improvement of that district. And this is just going to add to help enhance that whole area on that North Beach area along. Thank you, Commissioner Glassman, for all that support. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Brown. I can't read the writing here. Mr. Zahner, is he here? Oh, yes. Am I pronouncing that correctly? Yeah, that's correct. Please proceed. Mayor and commissioners. I keep it short because we thought also we're going to talk in another sequence. And I believe that the speakers after me, which is Shari Johnston and Peter Heckenbleichner, they will outline in more detail what I'm going to say and explain the support from Sunrise Lane. And there is a little I can add right here. My hope is that we will see the Sonesta development completed around the time when we know that Commissioner Glassman intends to have the Sunrise Lane district upgraded. I think that together these improvements would be a great addition to our neighborhood and help to attract new owners as well as visitors and new business as we discussed at our meeting. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Sherry Johnston, followed by Peter Heckenleichner. Hi, my name is Sherry Johnston. Good evening to all of you. Just want to add my genuine support as a member of the board of directors at Sunrise East of this project. We are so excited to look forward to having beautiful sidewalks, lovely landscaping, a wonderful, safe area to walk ourselves and our pets. And we appreciate all that Integra has done to improve as far as they have the property. But we're in complete support, excited. And that's it. Great. Is Peter here? Peter. I'm Pete Heckenleichner, president of Sunrise East, 2800 Sunrise Boulevard. I was on the board and president of the board when this first came forward. That's five years ago, two iterations ago. So hopefully the third time is the charm. What I did want to say is to remind the board or the commission that Sunrise East is really depending on designation of the dozen parking spaces on Northeast Ninth Court for Sunrise East use and operation. We're losing over 12 parking spaces from what we have now, and that's just essential to us. We can't, excuse me, get delivery trucks, construction vehicles or anything else into our garage because it's a six foot four height on the garage. We need some place in our general operations for those vehicles to be, and so we will be approaching the city commission at the appropriate time to have some kind of arrangement to designate those spaces for Sunrise East. Thank you. Great. Thank you. Robert Dean, are you here? He left. I haven't seen him in years. Finally, what? And this is the item that Michaela signed up for. Of course, she didn't sign up for the other one. So is she still here? No. Okay. No one else has signed up to speak. Someone please move to close public hearing. Move. Second. If we were seconded, please call the roll. Commissioner Herbst. Yes. Commissioner Glossman. Yes. Commissioner Beasley-Pittman. Yes. Vice Mayor Sorensen. Yes. Mayor Trontas. Yes. And public hearing on R7 is now closed. Would someone like to introduce the resolution? Very happily. And I wish you all the best. Let's get going. Let's get going. Thank you. And Commissioner, I'm assuming that's for approval. Yes, it is. Okay. All right. A resolution to the City Commission of the City of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, approving amendments to the Site Plan Level 4 Beach Development Permit for the development known as Serrano, located at 2851-2901 Northeast 9th Court, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, having a land-use designation of Central Beach Regional Activity Center and the Sunrise Lane Area Zoning District, to add 12 multifamily residential units, 113 hotel rooms, 1,800 square feet of commercial use, and approving a park reduction request for the development. Commissioner, Commissioner, Commissioner, Commissioner, Commissioner, Commissioner, Commissioner Glossman, Commissioner Glossman, Commissioner Beasley-Pittman, Vice Mayor Sorensen, Mayor Trontas. Yes. And that resolution is now approved. Congratulations. PH1, public hearing and ordinance amending the City of Fort Lauderdale Comprehensive Plan future land use map from low-medium residential and medium residential to commercial land use designation. This is in 1680 Northwest 31st Avenue. Quite a few people have signed up to speak on this. Quite a few people have signed up to speak on this. So we'll start out with April Young. April, are you here? April Long. Young is not here. Is it Walter Haney? Did he leave? Linwood Haney? Is this Linwood? That's April. Oh, that's April. Oh, April. Okay. Yes, Mayor. How are you? Oh. Good evening. And say good evening, everyone. Thank you for allowing the opportunity in the space to be before you this evening. I know it's rather lengthy. I just wanted to bring to your presence the concerns of our issue that has been brought before you many occasions. However, we actually have hundreds, if not thousands, of signatures of dignitaries versus residential that have opposition to the processing of this matter. However, I just want to make sure that we address the clerk to be aware of, as well as the attorney, that there is actually an active TRO inside of Broward County being case number 2516240. The city is aware of, as well as the city is aware of, versus the city is aware of it, versus the county, versus the opposition of owners of the property, versus investors. We, the people of Fort Lauderdale, have countless, numerous of times addressed, provided expeditious letters. We have spoken with our governor. We have presented him a letter that we have moved over to federal. We've spoken with Scott's office, versus Molly Ashley, versus EPA, versus other counterparts. We do believe, without a doubt, since we're here as a family in the city of Fort Lauderdale, that it is very vital that there is actually accountability for the lives of all members of Fort Lauderdale. April, what exactly is your objection? My objection is that you have not presented a certificate of health clearance of risk, and there's definitely not any, and when it comes down to environmental clearance. If you can produce that, the issue, as I stated to DRC, it's not about the investors. It's about accountability for the residents. And as I'm speaking to you previously, Mayor, on last, 2023, that we've spoken, prior to that, I had lost several members, but as of 25, I've actually lost my daughter as well. I actually have just lost, left the hospital two days ago, and it says it's environmental infection. There is not any reason as to why, if we're so concerned about our community, that we would not do due diligently and service the people that's in that area. So let me ask you this. So it seems to me that the condition of the lake, right, is what is causing the negative impact on the health of the community. And my understanding is that this developer wants to improve the condition of the lake, which would then help the impact that it has on the community. So why would you object to an effort that's being made to improve the condition as opposed to the status quo, which is making everyone sick? Well, Mayor, that's easy for you to actually utilize those words. But in fact, right now, it is causing more havoc than it is actually rendering any service. If you all on the panel can provide a clearance for my health, for everybody else's health, this is not just a District 3 problem. As I have stated within the report, we're on a runoff. But clearly, I can actually show you that there's barricades that is out here inside of the perimeters of the city. And you'd never, ever put barricades unless there's an erosion, unless there is havoc, unless there is some type of issue. We're not consuming and we're not trying to contemplate and we're not using speculation. This is a fact finder. So our only thing that I am standing here to you, and we're not asking, we are demanding, provide us a certificate of certainty that there is no risk health-wise. Do the same thing for environmental issues. It's not about the fact that whether the investors can do anything, because right now we have 75 years worth of havoc. And it is not justifiable for anyone to have to sit and listen to all the scrutinizing and all of the other things that are actually perspiring within the room to tell me that you can really look in my face and tell me that you're rendering me service or anyone else. I refuse, I refuse, and everyone else refuses to have one more loss of life without a cause. So what is the problem producing the facts? So let me ask Mr. Lockery to respond to that, okay? Yes. You can please, thank you for your comments, and let me have Mr. Lockery respond to that. I want to make sure that we're on record and that whatever transpires tonight, we will move forward for an emergency. So I just want to put the clerk on notice as well as the attorney. Okay, thank you. Good evening, Mayor, Vice Mayor, members of the Commission. Robert Lockery on behalf of the applicant. Mayor, I think potentially where your question is going is what is happening in the lake, which is adjoining the Wingate site. And although Ms. April, and I'm glad she's feeling better today, did not reference Wingate, I think a lot of the issues around this general area we all know stem from the history of that site. That's not the site that's before you today. This is an area that's north of that that has suffered in some ways just like the overall community has from the impacts from that. And as you alluded to, as part of this, an application that's already been approved both by Broward County and the state of Florida that's underway, and that was an application approved back in 2023, and the work began in 2024, to cap that lake, the borough pit that's to the north of Wingate, which is the property our client owns, to cover that, cap it up, and to fill in the entire lake. This application is for a land use plan amendment. I have a presentation I could make if you want us to, but I know the hour's late. This is for a land use plan amendment to change that area from a residential designation to a commercial designation, which we believe is more appropriate for the site and for the area. As it relates to environmental issues, though, again, separate from what's before you tonight, there is review that's done both by the state of Florida and by Broward County quarterly reports. So four times a year, those reports are sent. There's environmental testing being done to ensure that the condition of the site is in no way enhanced, that we don't have worse situation, and in fact, that it does get better with the capping of the site. I know Ms. April also referred to a court case that had been filed, and she gave the Cates number. As your city attorney may know, that case was actually dismissed by Judge Levinson on April 28th, so it's no longer pending. All right. So you're currently – okay, April – wait a minute, April, you had your opportunity to talk. Okay. April, wait, I just said – wait, I just said – April, I – excuse me. If he – then I need to be able to respond. He wasn't making reference to you. He was making reference to a court case. He said. Okay. All right. So you've had an opportunity to speak. I asked Mr. Lockery to respond. Mr. Lockery has responded. Thank you so much, Mr. Lockery. The next person who signed up to speak is Sebastian Bromfield. Is Sebastian here? No. Robert Bostic. Is Robert here? Good evening, sir. Good evening. How are you doing? I'm Robert. How y'all doing out there? Well, really what I'm here for is about the development that y'all got going on right now, right? And I heard that it would bring a lot of opportunities and jobs and stuff like that. I didn't hear nobody talk about that. And I like to be a part of the program that y'all got going so I can be, you know, up for a job, a great job, or anything like that. I think another thing what the lady was trying to say, they don't want words. They want proof. You know, that's pretty much what the people need is the proof. I hear that there are going to be a lot of opportunities and stuff, so I want to be a part of that. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Robbie Hicks. I gave her much more than I normally give. So Ashley Davis, is Ashley here? Followed by, is Linda Patrick here? Okay. So after Ashley speaks, then you're up next. Good evening. My name is Ashley Zachary Davis. My family has been in the Rock Island Lake Air community since 1969. My grandparents built their house over there. My mother and I lived on, well, actually at 3080 Northwest 17th Street. At 16 years old, I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. We lived directly in front of the dumpster area, and I was affected. I got treatment, and then I went to college. And during that time, my mother passed, so we lost our home. I completely understand and sympathize with the people who have lost family members and have been impacted by the things that contaminated the environment. However, we cannot continue to live in the past and dwell on the things that cannot be changed. Over the years, we have watched that rock pit sit there, and no one has done anything to either improve the contamination or offer to build anything on that land. I feel like the opportunity that Prologis is offering is something that will not only bring betterment to that rock pit, but also jobs and opportunities to the area. I am studying for my general contractor's license. Most of the projects and jobs that are available are in Palm Beach or in Miami. What about that community? If you, it's infested with drug addicts, homeless people, and people who are suffering with mental illness. There's not really any job opportunities in that area. They have a training program that they're offering. They have testing that they've done on the soil. While they've offered this community the opportunity to review this information, certain people, I would not name, have rejected that information. The Bible says that my people perish for a lack of knowledge. If they don't know about what they're offering, it's because they don't want to know. Okay. Thank you, Ashley. Ashley Davis. No, I'm sorry. That's right. I just called you. Sorry. Linda Patrick, followed by Malcolm Steele. Is Malcolm here? I think she's Elav. Oh, she's Elav. And Leanne Barber. Good evening, Linda. Good evening. I wish everybody's printed like you did. Good evening. Before I start, I would like to say, mayor, commissioners, on last year about this time, we presented a video to you guys where we interviewed different people in the neighborhood with their concerns with the health issues and everything. That's been a year ago. We haven't heard not one thing. But anyway, good evening, mayor, vice mayor, commissioners, and members of the board. My name is Mrs. Linda Patrick, and I stand before you today on behalf of concerned residents in our community regarding the proposed zoning change of the Rock Pit Lake. We are here united in one clear message. We are not in favor of this zoning change. This is not simply about land use. It's about the people. It's about our families. It's about our children, the seniors, and the long-term health care and the safety of everyone who calls this community home. We have serious concerns that this proposed change places our environment, our water, our air quality, and ultimately our well-beings at risk. At this time, there are too many unanswered questions. We do not have sufficient information to fully understand the potential environmental and health impacts of this project. That alone should give us pause. We are formally requesting that comprehensive, independent testing be done, overseen by the health department, to access any risk to the community's health and safety. Before any decisions are made, we deserve clear, transparent data about how this project could affect our lives. Additionally, we have not had a proper community meeting with the EPA regarding this project. That is deeply concerning. The residents who will be directly impacted have not been given a meaningful opportunity to be informed, to ask questions, or to voice concerns in an open or official forum. We are asking for due process. We are asking for transparency. And most importantly, we are asking for protection. Mayor and commissioners, your role is to safeguard the interests of the people you serve. Today, we are asking you to stand with your community, to listen to our concerns, and to act in the best interest of our collective health and safety. Until proper testing is completed, until full environmental and health impacts are clearly understood, and until this community is fully informed and engaged through official channels, we respectfully urge you to deny this zoning change. Our message is simple. We do not want this change, not at the expense of our health, our environment, and our future. So thank you for your time. And also, Mayor, I would like to remind you as I close that you said that it's your job and the commission's job to ensure the safety of the community. All right. Let me ask you a question before you leave. Let me ask you a question. Is the status quo satisfactory for you? Do you want to keep things the way they are? With testing? Forget testing. No development. Leave everything the way it is. Do you want anything? Do you want to leave it the way it is? Okay. Is it going to change? Is it going to change things? No, I'm saying no change. No change. Won't touch the lake. No building. No development. Do you want... Is that an option? Let me tell you something. I've been living in the area for over 40 years now. Nothing has ever been developed since they've been working over there. We got wild animals that's roaming the neighborhood, coyotes, foxes, a whole lot of things, because their environment, their habitat had been compromised. Right. So, I'm fine with it, saying the way it is. No, you're not. No, you're not. Because you're telling me in your speech, and your words are very, I mean, I have to tell you, very articulate and thought-provoking. But the point is that we want to change things to take away the hazardous environment that the neighborhood has lived next to for many decades. And here we have... Please don't yell. If you want something to... If you want to speak, you have an opportunity to come up here and speak. I don't want just yelling like that. Please. So, my understanding, Mr. Lockery will be here to attest to it, but Mr. Lockery has explained to me, and I assume the other members of the commission, that there is an opportunity here to clean things up. And in order to do that, they want to build a project that is part of the project. They're going to clean it up. They're going to remediate the hazardous component, you know, clean up the lake, clean up the waterway, and help the neighborhood. Is that something that you want to see? I would think you would. Bear, to tell you, to tell you the truth, Mayor. Yeah. How is the area going to be cleaned up when the adjacent area is already contaminated? So, if the adjacent area is already contaminated, that means that area is contaminated as well, the area that they're cleaning up. And then who's overseeing them? There's no oversight at the construction site as to if they're doing violations. We don't know what they're dumping in the lake, what they're filling the lake in with. Yes, we do. Yes, we do. We do know what they're doing. Do you know, Mayor? Yes. It was explained to us and shown to us exactly what's going to happen. And it's all being done. But you're not there in person. I'm not there. I'm not going to stand there and wash some poor concrete in the lake. I'm not going to see that. But I do know that they're acting under a permit by the health department to move forward on a process that's going to ultimately take away the exposure of the hazardous materials that you have been living next to for so many decades. That's the goal. No one is trying. Ma'am, do not do not yell. Do not yell. We'll ask you to leave the room. You're going to be removed from the room now. Ma'am, you're going to be removed because you're misbehaving. You need to leave. You're disrupting the proceedings here. You need to go. So answer that. Can you, I mean, aren't we trying to do the same thing? Aren't we trying to help the neighborhood in some way? No. No, we have pictures, Mayor. You have pictures of what? We have pictures of the debris and all the different stuff. It's a mess. It's a mess. No, no, no, no. I'm talking about what's over there now. But we're trying to change that, aren't we? It's not going to change. So if it's contaminated, they brought, they brought a gas can to the site, the city of sighted them before. So it's just, it's a, it's a series of things that has been going on. Mr. Lockery, we'll show this to Mr. Lockery. Ask him to respond to that. And what is he going to do? All right. Mr. Lockery, you want to respond to that? It's a, it's a legitimate question. I mean, all right. It's okay. You asked the mayor. I'm not sure exactly where these pictures are, what they are, but if I, you know, this is a gas tank that looks like for somebody's lawnmower. That's looks like somebody threw it there. Yeah. This is not the site that you can tell. It's not a site that's being filled in. So it's not exact. I could show pictures of our site. I'm not saying it's not from the area, but it's different. And then there's a series of pictures of different materials. What I can tell you is, and then I can point to it, actually give it to you. What we do know is that the Broward County Environmental Protection of Growth Management Department and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection have regulated this fill. It is part of their program and they do inspect and do analysis of all the samples that are done. So it is a borough pit that's being reclaimed. That's part of a mediation plan. And we're following all the regulations that are in place. Okay. Thank you. Leanne, Leanne, I'm sorry, Leanne Barber. And by the way, these, these photographs are old, right? Okay. Okay. Hello, I'm Leanne Barber. I'm representing the Roosevelt Garden Civic Association. Yes. Which is adjacent, which is just outside of the city limits, but adjacent to the Wingate site. And there are a few people that were, were here, but they left because it's so late. And we, we've not, we've been totally out of the loop because we're not in the city limits. And we found out from our neighbors that the PNZ meeting was going to be held. So we went to that in January 21st. And if you've read the minutes of the meeting, there were about 60 people that attended this meeting from the neighborhoods that are surrounding the Wingate and Rock Pit Lake site. And we raised a lot of concerns and, you know, the concerns were that we're not, we're not included in the process. We wanted to have the county or the city come and explain the, the engineering issues and have, let us have a dialogue. And it was all recorded, beautifully recorded in the minutes. It's all very accurate, but we've not had anything since then. And we found out about this meeting this morning because we're not in the loop because we're, you know, in the, in the BMSD. And so we have asked ProLogic, the only contact we've had is with ProLogic and they're, they want to talk to us about how great their warehouse distribution site's going to be. And our view is we don't really want to talk about a warehouse distribution site until we have the concerns that we have raised, dressed. And when you talk about the, the lake being, you know, that you're mitigating the risk of the lake, the way we see it is the lake is a, there's been a storage facility for contamination running off the Wingate, the Wingate site. And when that's gone, then we're, we're concerned about where the runoff's going to go. And, and there's, so there's runoff from Wingate and then there's runoff from stormwater runoff from the residents. And we don't think that it's been properly addressed. And we'd like to have independent engineers talk to the community about what the plans are so that we can feel comfortable that it's going to be addressed. May I just have some questions for Ms. Barber. So I've done some research prior to this meeting because I wanted to sort of know what I was talking about and get a better understanding. So correct me if any of this is wrong. But what I have found is with regards to your neighborhood, Roosevelt Gardens, 18 emails were sent to Eddie Pierce and you from, from January 23rd, 2026 through April 29, 2026. There's been consistent interaction about drainage testing and environmental impacts. Both Eddie and you attended a community meeting on March 25th, 2026 and insisted that you would not schedule a meeting with the HOA unless there was a presence from the city or county officials. And testing reports were shared with Eddie Pierce, who is the vice president on April 28th, 2026. And he supposedly is presenting to your board to foster a potential Zoom meeting between Prologis and your board. Is any of that incorrect? He was given a report, but we have not seen it because he was not able to access it. And we have not seen an EP. So, yes, we have told them that we want to see an independent analysis of what the environmental impacts are going to be. That what Prologic has talked to us about is let us take you to another location, let us talk to you about business development, let's talk to you about what and how it's going to create jobs. And as I said to you earlier in the meeting, we don't want to have that discussion if the underlying issues have not been addressed. I understand all of that. It's just that when you made your testimony, it certainly sounded to me, maybe I misunderstood, that you've just been totally out of the loop on this. And yet here I have documentation that points to all of these emails for the last four months, meetings on all of these different topics, training, testing, environmental impacts, and a lot of back and forth. So that's why I'm just a little confused with that. And supposedly right now you are in the process of, at least your vice president is in the process of setting up a meeting between the board. It just seems like there really was a lot more communication and interaction than you led us to believe when you testified. That's it. Thank you. I'm good. Okay. All right. Thank you. Does anyone else wish to speak on this item? Did you sign up? You need to sign up. Did you sign up? Oh, I'm sorry. Yeah, we didn't hear you before. Please go up. Please go up. Good night, everyone. Mayor and the panel and everyone else who is still here. I'm from Golden Heights community. And I wanted to just touch base on a couple of things. And the things that we're looking at in our community is the environmental effect of what's going on currently, what has gone on, and what we would like to see going forward. That's one. Two, the second thing is drainage. In our community, everything drains into the lake. That's where all the stormwater goes for our community. We got, our roads were redone back in 1999, and all of our drainage went to the lake. That's a concern for us for flooding from my community. That's a concern for Leanne's community because anything that overflows or writes down into that community. So for us, we're looking at the environmental impact for us, where it concerns us for flooding. So, and there is still, I hear a lot of talk about drainage is going to be put in place, so on and so on. But the city, when they came out to our community and they spoke with us, someone from the city, they say, yes, there will be flooding in our community. Yes, there is another major flooding occur. We would be flooded out, just like everybody else, and it will take days. Well, you'll be flooded because of the current situation or if the situation is altered? We'll be flooded regardless because all of our stormwater goes into that lake. And if it fills up? And if it fills up, then it still has to go someplace. So that's a concern for us. Okay, I understand. So, Mr. Lockery, do you want to address the drainage issue there? Would you let Mr. Lockery address it? Yeah, we can address the drainage issue, and then we'll come back again. We'll do back and forth. Oh, did you have something more to say? Oh, okay. So that's one. Okay. The next thing that we have that's going on in terms of what's happening now because of the dredging and the digging and everything else that is going on, the ash that has been over at that site, it's being disturbed. It's now coming over the community. They have gone out and sprayed water on folks' home, but that does not fix the issue. I'm sorry? Oh, seriously? Thank you. Appreciate that. That does not fix an issue because it's not dust. It's the actual ash that is now coming into homes. So people are now coming up with new diseases, respiratory issues, different things of that nature. Our concern is, and we have no issue if going forward a construction has to happen, but what we would probably like to see is proper testing so that this way, once and for all, we know the cleanup is truly done and everything in our community is safe for us. Okay. And that's where we need you guys to come in. That's fair enough. Okay. Thank you. Calvin. Mr. Sapp. And that'll be the last person. But before you speak, I need a motion to... No, keep going. I need a motion to extend the meeting. Motion to extend the meeting. 12-15. Do I hear a second? Come on. I've got a lot of walk-ons tonight. Second. Please call the roll. Commissioner Herbst. Commissioner Glossman. Yes. Commissioner Beasley-Pittman. Vice Mayor Sorensen. Yes. Mayor Trenton. Yes. Please proceed, Mr. Sapp. Okay. The problem with... I'm familiar with the process of what you're doing, but the problem occurs is that we shouldn't be attacking the zoning now because it shouldn't be because of the simple fact that that's a residential area. Now, I'm familiar with the rock pits that you have covered up in Dania. Davey, where all the new shopping centers is down in Dania, because I lived down there for six months in 1964. I played softball all over Davey. I'm familiar with all the rock pits that have been covered up in Davey. The ones off of 84, that's fine. But that's a residential area. So why should we change it from residential to commercial? We're putting the cart ahead of the horse. Well, the problem... I'm going to stop the clock. The problem is that the site that has been used for the incineration and everything around it is zoned residential. Okay. It should never have been zoned residential. Okay. But you're right. Because the dump was there. The dump was there. The dump was there. It was zoned residential. It was zoned residential. The dump was zoned residential. The part that we're talking about. The section that we're talking about. Okay. Well, we were speaking about the lake. Okay. Closing the lake. Mr. Lockery, isn't the lake... Mr. Lockery, is it the lake zone? What's the zoning for the lake area? Right. But that's my question. Why should we change it to commercial? Well, do you want to build houses on the lake? Well, if you close the lake in, you're closing it in anyway, right? You can't have people... The 35... Listen, the 35 acres of lake that you're closing in, you want to build warehouses on. Okay. Why can't you build houses on it? Because it's best not to have people living above a contaminated site. That's the whole point of this. Well, that's what they say when they put the city hall over on 19th Street. 19th Avenue, when they towed the school down. Yeah. You mean the building department. You don't mean city hall. You mean the building department. Building department. Right. Okay. But they used the same excuse. First of all, the school was there, the property was contaminated. Okay. Now, then you towed the school down and put the building department there on contaminated ground. So what's contaminated and what's not? Okay. All right. Contamination suits whosoever want. All right. Thank you, sir. Thank you. Five seconds. No, you got to say it up there. Got to say it up there. Five seconds. Five seconds. You just made a statement. Why would we want to have it residential to build on something contaminated? You just said it. I know I said that. So if it's going to be cleaned up, it will not be contaminated. But there's still standards so that people are not exposed to contamination. Right. And if it remains in the zoning that it's in now, that means that it has to be properly cleaned. If it moves to that other zoning, then the levels go up. So they don't have to do the restrictions that they would have on the level two. If it moves to the level three, it's out of the water. I don't know if that's true. I don't know. Trust me. I don't know if that's true. You can ask the... I think the remediation is the same no matter what. You can ask the attorney when he comes, when you move to that other level, when it's commercial, if the contamination level would have to be managed the same, or is it a higher standard? All right. Okay. Thank you. All right. Thank you. Do I hear a motion to close public hearing? Second. Move and seconded. Please call the roll. Commissioner Herbst. Commissioner Glassman. Yes. Commissioner Beasley-Pittman. Yes. Vice Mayor Sorensen. Yes. Mayor Trantales. Yes. Public hearing on PH1 is now closed. Someone please introduce the ordinance. Before we introduce... I'll let you comment. I just want to... Oh, okay. All right. Someone please introduce the ordinance. It's been introduced. Okay. Commissioner Beasley-Pittman. Yes. In regards to the comprehension plan, there are some things that, some items I have questions about. Moving forward with this, I'm understanding that we would be changing the zone from B2 to B3. Is that correct? Yes. Commissioner, let me back up. The item before you tonight is just the first reading and the beginning of a process that will involve additional review by the Broward County Planning Council in Broward County. So this is a land use plan amendment, the first step of that, to go from residential to commercial. At the time we went to the Planning and Zoning Board, we were also asking for a rezoning. And the Planning and Zoning Board approved both the land... Or recommended approval, both the land use plan amendment and a rezoning to B3. Since then, we've had an opportunity to talk to you and also hear from the community. And what we are proposing is that when we come forward with a rezoning, which is after the land use plan amendment or contemporaneously, but further down the road, we would change to the B2 zoning district rather than the B3 if the B2 is changed at that point to include our warehouse distribution use. So that's the discussion we've been having with staff to go to a more restrictive zoning district if it allows this use. Also, in those conversations, we talked about the use of that land. This is being... The use intent is for warehousing only. That's correct. Distribution, warehouse distribution, what's called a logistics center. That's correct. Okay. There's been conversations about a data center being on that property. Could you elaborate on that? Absolutely, yes. We are not proposing and have not proposed a data center on the property that's the subject of the application tonight or that we're representing. That's correct. All right. One other item, as an opportunity for the community, would you be willing to include in this comprehension plan a neighborhood deed restriction where the zoning that is decided on and the fact that it would only be logistics warehouse type of a use and no data center, would you be willing to include this in the comprehension plan as a security to the neighbors? Yes, certainly. We would voluntarily promote and suggest that we could do what's called a declaration of restrictive covenants that would be part of the application when it comes back to you on adoption if you recommend to transmit and move it forward tonight on first reading. So on second reading, we could have that in place because we recognize there are a number of uses that are allowed in the Commerce District generally and even more specifically in B3 and B2 that the neighborhood wouldn't want and we have no intention of doing. Things like liquor stores and auto repair and all of those things. So yes, we could restrict the property from those uses and as well as data center use so it could not be utilized on this property. Also, if you could elaborate a little bit more for the neighbors, what that document, how they would benefit and they would be, in a sense, the owners of that deed. Certainly. So a declaration of restrictive covenants is a restriction between multiple parties or two parties, however many parties join it, that gets recorded against the property, runs with the land no matter who owns the property and can be amended. It depends on what the declaration actually says, but can be amended only pursuant to the conditions of that declaration. And so what we had talked about is a declaration by the owner of the property, placing that restriction on the property by recording it, that would run in favor of the city where the city commission would have to amend it. But as you've discussed, we could also add other parties such as neighborhood associations as well to that declaration. So they would have to consent to any changes to that in the future, if that was the case. That's easy. It's not easy. It's simple for us to agree to that because we have no intention to use the property for any of those other uses. Could we have someone also from maybe, Chris, if you could help us with this a little bit, because this is something that I believe would at least give some security to the neighborhoods. Are we able to work with the neighbors to ensure that this deed is included in the comprehension plan and the items that we have already talked about? Because it's my understanding that it has not been an opportunity to communicate with those neighborhoods. And I'm thanking Lake Eyre, Golden Heights, also, what are the ones that are in that 500 yard association of that demographics? So are we able to do that to ensure that this is a part of this plan moving forward? Yes, ma'am. Anthony Fajardo, Development Services Director. So the declaration would be a separate item from the comprehensive plan, but we can help facilitate that conversation. And once they enter into that agreement, it would be binding. So it wouldn't really be part of this, as I understand it, but it would be a separate binding document that's in addition to it. Are we able to give a reference to it in the comprehension plan? We can. Because it's not a challenge. Right. Okay. Because I, growing up in this community, my passion is with the neighbors and what's going on there and wanting to make sure what we're doing tonight, 30 years, 40 years, 50 years from now, it's not going to be a repeat of what we have lived and are living in the community. So wherever we can offer a safeguard, that's what I want to accomplish tonight. Yeah, we can definitely help do that. Okay. Pam, can I ask one question? Just curious. What's the objection to data centers? The data centers, we have the electricity, the vibration, the use of water. And then also what's being offered to the neighbors has been given a buffer zone that would allow the neighbors that are on the waterfront to be able to still experience the waterfront. But with adding a data center, now would you sit in your backyard and enjoy the humming of a data center? Or they also, the extra use of electricity and water that will be immediately affecting those homeowners in the area? Would they notice the electricity consumption? I mean, would that be apparent to them? Yes, my understanding, what I'm learning about data centers, yes, it would affect the neighbors and really the city as well. Okay. Thank you. One comment I do want to make just real quickly to clarify. What we would do is draft a declaration of restrictive covenants that city planning staff, city attorney would review. To the extent that the neighborhood had input in that, that's great. But what I do want to point out is we can have it run in favor of someone like the neighborhood, even if we don't actually have them signed to it in the event that we're not able to have those meetings moving forward. I do want to say, as part of this process, we've had five community meetings over the last year. We're going to continue to do that through the process. But obviously, you know, attendance and the folks who are going to attend that is up to them, not up to us. But we'll certainly invite them. Okay. Thank you, Robert. Commission, have any other questions or comments? There being none, please call the roll. In ordinance of the City of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, adopting an amendment to the City of Fort Lauderdale Comprehensive Plan, future land use map, changing the designations from low medium residential and medium residential to commercial for the land area generally legally described as being southeast one quarter of the northwest one quarter of the northwest one quarter in the south one half of the northwest one quarter of the northeast one quarter of the northwest one quarter and the southwest one quarter of the northeast one quarter of the northwest one quarter and the northwest one quarter of the southeast one quarter of the northwest one quarter and the south one half of the southwest one quarter of the northwest one quarter of the northwest one quarter of section 32 township 49 south range 42 east located east of northwest 31st avenue west of northwest 28th avenue south of northwest 19th street and north of northwest 15th court all said lands being the city of fort lauderdale brower county florida and authorizing the proper city officials to transmit the proposed amendments supporting data and analyses to reviewing agencies providing for severability repeating providing for conflicts and providing for an effective date commissioner herbst yeah commissioner glassman could you repeat that of the northwest okay thank you yeah i'm a yes thank you thank commissioner beasley pitman yes vice mayor sorensen yes mayor trentals yes and ph1 is now approved moving on to of r1 first reading of an ordinance amending chapter 28 article 2 of the code of ordinances to clarify ownership maintenance repair installation and cost responsibility for sewer laterals and related sewer infrastructure this sir uh zukovitsky you're the only one that's are you still here is the only one that signed up to speak um yes sir okay good evening everybody uh speaking of the sewer lateral i just want to make two points i think it's a great idea for city to actually take over sewer laterals and the reason why there's two big benefits for the city number one for the people the next for the city i mean when individual hires hires the contractor to do the sewer lateral i mean don't get me wrong there's lots of great contractors out there but there's also shabby ones and that will reflect on on the longevity of a sewer system throughout the city if anything goes wrong from a bad job five or ten years from now it's going to cost the city uh i've been in the union for 12 years as a tradesman and i promise you nobody does it as good as the city force number one number two benefit to the people it's a hefty cost on the developer to do the sewer lateral okay and that cost conveys every time to the buyer to the renter to everybody if the cost of the if the cost of developer is decreased the cost of the sales decreased the rental is decreased i'm done it's been a long it's been a long evening i think okay i think i got my point across okay thank you sir anyone else wish to speak on this item there being none someone like to introduce the item introduce the ordinance so the order has been introduced please call the roll well mayor i have some questions and comments on this yeah yeah sorry um thanks uh al if you you can hear thanks um so thank you al and brad for your work on this um this is great where we're heading al i've shared with you several emails that i've gotten from neighbors about this and just want to go through them if you don't mind um so let's maybe start with rich cats um you know i can summarize it but he's he's asking in the judgment of the city the existing building sewer is not in good condition or free from infiltration shall be replaced what stands out to me as a whole is if the city's assuming responsibility it's unclear why the property owner is required to perform and submit an inspection to city-owned lateral um that's all that you yeah that's in uh uh good albert carbon utility service director that's in section 2858 of the proposed ordinance it's the same really language where we just replace public works for utility services and we do redefine in other definitions with the difference between the sewer the city-owned lateral and the building lateral this one taught this specific section talks about the existing building lateral sewer that's defined as the the ladder that's on the private property they're responsible to tv that make sure that's a good condition and then if that in the view of the city it's not good condition they need to replace it another comment that i saw was that we do say replace one of them says it could be repaired or lined i think we can add that in second reading to make that clarification in the opinion of the city and it's good good condition they can line it so yes it redefined the the building sewer as being on their side they're responsible to verify their side of the line is because once it passes into private or to a public sewer then it's our responsibility okay yep that's great thank you so that's that one one then um let's see so now i'm going to earl prisley's email which i think was that suggested modification um which i think you're alluding to which is in the judgment of the city the this is the adjustment the existing building sewer is not in good condition or free from infiltration shall be replaced or relined if applicable such a replacement um and all associated costs shall be the responsibility of the city if the repair is within the city's right of way such replacement uh and and cost shall be the responsibility of the owner if the repair is within the owner's property limits it shall be performed under approved permit so i think you're amenable to that yeah that's where where we say replace and he wants to put in the repair or line yep and we you think we can add that view appreciate that and then eric silva's email um in order to avoid any confusion with furniture future interpretation staff may want to amend other code sections to add utility easement where right of way is used and then he lists several suggestions below i i looked at those and i don't think those are necessary that's judgment of my judgment yeah is that we define the service lateral as as a sewer ladder extending from the again on their side we saw the the sewer ladder that's on our side we say it's on private it's on public property or right away we're defining that we define the building sewer which is their responsibility on their private property yeah i think putting that private sewer or building sewer and saying it's outside the seas right away is redundant yep and and it seems like he's making a distinction between sewer line and utility easement is that is that your understanding right that's where we said the sewer lateral which is defined as on uh as the definition eight i think it is i'm trying to read it right here or or 82 excuse me definition 82 that's where it says the city's it's a city's responsibility and it says and where the term when used for the house outside the season line is at the house connection that's out that's outside the easement or right away so i don't think that's it's redundant it's redundant yeah yeah in other words you public right of way is inclusive of utility easement or utility easement it says what that is yeah but then when you get on the private side it we don't make that it's on private property yep great that makes sense and i think those were the totality of uh pieces of feedback we got from those emails does that sound right so yes so right right recommendation will be approved with the modifications we talked about we'll make those modifications they'll be printed in the the second reading that sounds fantastic al thank you this is great piece of of of updated ordinance i'm really excited about that thank you al mayor we're good thank you very good please call the roll in ordinance of the city of fort lauderdale florida amending chapter 28 water wastewater and storm water article two of the code of ordinances of the city of fort lauderdale florida by amending definitions providing clarifying language to distinguish private sewers from public sewers and service laterals in the right of way along with adding personal requirements reveal of conflicting ordinance provisions and providing for an effective date we have commissioner herbs commissioner glassman yes mr visa pitman vice mayor sorensen yes mayor yes and of r1 is approved on first reading of r2 first reading first reading a quasi-judicial ordinance approving the vacation of 127 foot long by a 40 foot wide portion of northeast 8th street and northeast 15th avenue anyone wishing to speak must be sworn in and the commissioner will announce any site visits communications or expert opinions received and make them a part of the record mr shine we didn't talk about this did we where is he right here oh good evening mayor vice mayor andrew shine with bills and sunberg representing the property owner we did not meet about this i don't think so okay uh any disclosures commissioner herbst okay commissioner beasley pitman i had none uh commissioner glassman i believe i did he knew who to speak to thank you the district commissioner for the uh none for me mayor um okay um uh mr shine was the only one who signed up to speak but i'm sure he has nothing to say so uh uh uh please move someone please move to close public hearing moved second moved and seconded please call the roll commissioner herbs commissioner glassman yes commissioner beasley pitman vice mayor sorensen yes mary trentals yes the public hearing is now closed on of r2 would someone like to introduce the ordinance introduced the ordinance has been introduced please call the roll in orange to the city of fort lauderdale florida vacating approximately 40 foot wide by 120 foot long portion of northeast 15th avenue northeast 8th street right away adjacent to parcel a ray boar plat according to the plot thereof as recording plot book 93 page 44 of the public records of brow county florida located west of northeast 16th avenue north of northeast 7th street east of northeast 15th avenue and south of northeast 8th street all said lands being the city of fort lauderdale brower county florida commissioner herbs commissioner glassman yes mr beasley pitman vice mayor sorensen yes mayor trentals yes and of r2 is now approved on first reading uh of r3 first reading also quasi-judicial ordinance approving the vacation of 719 square foot right of way and roadies within a 10 foot wide by 65 foot long portion of northeast 15th avenue anyone wishing to speak must be sworn in and the commissioner will announce any site visits communications or expert opinions received and make them a part of the record uh commissioner herbs do you have any disclosures commissioner beasley pitman we didn't talk about this either did you talk to him yes he did mr shine we suppose he knows what to speak for mr commissioner thank you very much none okay um uh only mr shine is uh signed up to speak and uh someone please move to close public hearing move to second move to seconded please call the roll commissioner herbs commissioner glassman yes commissioner beasley pitman vice mayor sorensen yes mayor trentals yes and public hearing is now closed on of r3 would someone like to introduce the ordinance introduced the ordinance has been introduced in orange to the city of fort lauderdale florida vacay and approximately 10 foot wide by 65 foot long portion of northeast 15th avenue right away and road east dedicated by rayboard plat according to the plot thereof as recorded plot book 93 page 44 of the public records of brow county florida located west of northeast 16th avenue north of northeast 7th street east of northeast 15th avenue and south of northeast 8th street all said lands being the city of fort lauderdale brow county florida commissioner herbs commissioner glassman yes commissioner beasley pitman vice mayor sorensen yes mayor trentals yes and of r3 is now approved on first reading thank you happy wednesday man thank you um let's uh now we're just at three walk-ons we have the walk-on resolution regarding the election door someone like to introduce the resolution introduced resolution has been introduced no anyone wish to speak no one wish to speak please call the roll hey resolution city commissioners in city fort lauderdale florida calling a special municipal election be held on november 3rd 2026 to elect a city commissioner from commission district one establishing a qualifying period for the special municipal election and providing for severability rescission of conflicting resolution provisions at an effective date commissioner herbs commissioner glassman yes commissioner beasley pitman vice mayor sorensen yes mayor trentals yes and that resolution is now approved next two resolutions concern the uh the drainage uh issues that we talked about earlier with melrose manors and riverland the first one is with regard to melrose manors uh would someone like to introduce the resolution and you want to put 21 days there yes 21 days so what's the specific date what's 21 days we will need to work with the city clerk so that this can go to the florida administrative record once we have that date we will share it with the commission and the clock will start okay very good um uh the the resolution has been introduced um please call the roll a resolution city commission of the city of fort lauderdale florida providing notice of intent pursuant to section 255.065 florida statutes to enter into a comprehensive agreement for the melrose banner stormwater improvement project accepting unsolicited proposals proposal from mancong inc notice of intent to accept other proposals for the same project and providing for an effective date commissioner herbs yes commissioner glassman yes commissioner beasley pitman yes vice mayor sorenson yes mayor trentals yes and that resolution is now approved uh resolution regarding the uh riverland road uh drainage project accepting the uh solicited proposal um who'd like to introduce that resolution and it is for 21 days 21 days no one wishes to speak just call the roll a resolution city commission of the city of fort lauderdale florida providing notice of intent pursuant to section 255.065 florida statutes to enter into a comprehensive agreement for the riverland stormwater improvement project accepting unsolicited proposal from david mancini and sons notice of intent to accept other proposals for the same project and providing for an effective date commissioner herbs mr glassman yes mr beasley pitman yes vice mayor sorenson yes mayor trentals yes and that resolution is now approved is there any further business of the city not on my end thank you any other questions or comments from any members of the commission meetings adjourned thank you