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State of the City Address & Advisory Board Reception
Join us at the annual State of the City Address and Advisory Board Reception on Wednesday, September 9, 2015 at the new U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE), 5401 East Perimeter Road. The event will include a networking reception at 6 p.m., a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new customs facility at 7 p.m., followed by the State of the City Address from Mayor Seiler. Call 954-828-4757 or send an email to gburrini@fortlauderdale.gov to R.S.V.P.
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Join the Next Telephone Town Hall Meeting
District IV Commissioner Romney Rogers will host the next citywide Telephone Town Hall Meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, September 10. It's your chance to share your thoughts with the Commissioner regarding City services, initiatives and events. This is the last call of 2015, so make sure it's on your calendar.
Neighbors with listed phone numbers will receive a phone call at the beginning of the meeting. Those that wish to participate may stay on the line to share their ideas or listen to the discussion. Alternatively, residents can also call the toll free number 888-409-5380 from their home or cell phone to join the conversation. Visit the City website to learn more about the Telephone Town Hall Meetings and how to participate.
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Congratulations to our 2015 Community Appearance Winners
New River Child Care Learning Center
WOW Home of the Year
George Catzavelos Residence
Renovation Projects
Petreccia Residence - Single Family Residence up to 1500 sq ft
Douvris/Hathaway Residence - Single Family Residence 1500-3000 sq ft
Stiles Residence - Single Family Residence over 3000 sq ft
New River Child Care Learning Center - Commercial Low Rise
Rhythm and Vine - Restaurant/Retail Projects
New Construction Projects
Kimmelman and Paterson - Single Family Residence more than 3000 sq ft
Huizenga Pavilion at Broward Center - Restaurant
Lewis Landings Park - Municipal Parks
New River Yacht Club - Multi-Family High Rise
The Manor at Flager Village - Multi-Family Mid Rise
Fort Lauderdale FXE Air Traffic Control Tower - Municipal Facilities
Fort Lauderdale High School - Institutional Facilities
Flagler Drive Greenway and Bicycle Facility - Sustainable Excellence
Farrell Residence - Landscape and Garden Projects
About the Community Appearance Board
The Community Appearance Board was established in 1978 to develop, implement and promote initiatives that improve and enhance the overall community appearance of the City of Fort Lauderdale.
The Community Appearance Awards are presented each year to encourage aesthetic awareness and to acknowledge individuals and organizations who are working to enhance, improve and beautify the Fort Lauderdale community.
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Help Us Soar with Reading
We need your vote! Fort Lauderdale has a chance to receive 100,000 free books for local kids thanks to an innovative program from JetBlue. All you have to do is vote at www.soarwithreading.com
Since its inception in 2011, JetBlue'sSoar with Reading program has helped provide more than $1,250,000 worth of books to kids in need. This year, JetBlue is once again partnering with Random House Children's Books and Magic Tree House author, Mary Pope Osborne, to encourage children's imaginations to soar through the magic of reading.
Best of all, JetBlue wants share the love of reading with everyone by letting you help decide which lucky city should receive the 100,000 books! Help us spread the word on social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram) about this incredible opportunity to give our kids a gift they will never forget! Vote daily for Fort Lauderdale through August 31!
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Be Prepared for King Tides
Flooding in low-lying areas is more likely in the fall months, as the close proximity of the moon, high tides, rising sea levels and inclement weather conditions combine to exacerbate flooding risks.
As a coastal community with numerous low-lying areas and 300 miles of canal coastline, Fort Lauderdale neighbors are advised to be especially vigilant from August through November, when tides are expected to be at their highest levels for the year.
While the City maintains an extensive stormwater master plan and is instituting both aggressive maintenance and innovative adaptation solutions to address drainage, including the installation of tidal valves, the location and natural geography of the City makes neighborhoods susceptible to flooding. Remember that flooded streets may be covered in either fresh or saltwater. Please take caution whenever driving on flooded streets. When in doubt, turn around.
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Fire Rescue Earns Top Rating
The City's Fire Rescue Department has earned a "Class 1" rating from the Insurance Services Organization (ISO) for "superior property fire protection." The rating reflects outstanding fire protection efforts in the areas of equipment, staffing, communications, water distribution, community risk reductions and fire alarm facilities, and will save our neighbors millions of dollars off fire insurance premiums. With this rating, Fort Lauderdale joins an elite list of 132 departments in the U.S. and 19 in Florida with a Class 1 designation. ISO gave the City high marks for thorough fire investigations and annual inspections, new fire stations, and increased public outreach.
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Participate in the Budget Process
As a reminder, the City will hold two public hearings to discuss the proposed FY 2016 budget. We invite our neighbors to participate in the budget process by attending the hearings, which will take place on Thursday, September 3 and Tuesday, September 8 at 6 p.m. in the Commission Chambers of City Hall, which is located at 100 North Andrews Avenue.
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Input Needed for the Master Plan
We need your ideas! The City of Fort Lauderdale is developing a Parks and Recreation System Master Plan.
Tell us how you'd like to use your parks, open spaces, trails, and athletic facilities. Residents and visitors are encouraged to provide input, ideas, solutions and support by visiting www.playfortlauderdale.gov. Join the conversation today!
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Fort Lauderdale Ready Day August 29
Are you ready? Are your neighbors ready? Join the City for Fort Lauderdale Ready Day and make sure you, your
neighbors, family and friends are ready for hurricane season!
There are many ways to participate:
1. Identify neighbors in your community who are not able to prepare their own Hurricane Readiness kits.
2. Do a collection drive in your neighborhood for additional readiness supplies.
3. Walk your community as part of Fort Lauderdale Ready Day, engage your neighbors in a disaster preparedness conversation, and deliver Hurricane Readiness kits.
4. Share the event with your neighbors!
For more information, please contact Chief Service Officer, Jorg Hruschka, at jhruschka@fortlauderdale.gov or via phone at 954-709-3197 (cell)
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JM Lexus Sunday JazzBrunch September 6
Join us the first Sunday of every month on the scenic Riverwalk for the JM Lexus Sunday Jazz Brunch. This free outdoor concert series takes place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and features the best local jazz artists on three stages from Esplanade Park to Riverfront. The performers for September 6 include: Trilogy, Boca Jazz Ensemble, and Alex Dean & Private Affair. The event is sponsored by JM Lexus, the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, News Radio 610 WIOD, Beck's Sapphire, and Bud Light Platinum. For details, call 954-828-5363 or visit the City website.
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Bicycles + Vehicles = Sharrows
If you see a green pavement marking with a white bicycle and double arrows, it's a "sharrow" or a "shared use arrow" and they're popping up on streets within the City. These bright green symbols mean that both bicyclists and motorists are navigating and sharing the road.
Sharrows are not the same as bike lanes. The difference is that bike lanes are sections of streets that are reserved just for bicyclists, and sharrows indicate that bicyclists may ride on the street using the full lane, just as motorists do.
Sharrows and a new alternative bike route have been installed in the Lake Ridge and Victoria Park neighborhoods as part of the US1 Improvements Project to safely direct bicyclists around the construction area. These new bike amenities address one of the top priorities identified by our neighbors in the City's 2014 Neighbor Survey, which is "safety of biking." Knowing that bikeability and bike safety are a top priority, City staff worked closely with our neighbors and FDOT to successfully negotiate the installation of these new bike amenities into the project.
Stay tuned next month for more information on the City's new sharrows.
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$100 Rebates are Still Available
Our City is part of the Broward Water Partnership, which has set a 20-year goal of saving 30 million gallons of water a day. The program includes many different initiatives, including one that offers $100 rebates for replacing old high flow toilets with new, high-efficiency WaterSenseŽ models.
If your toilets were installed before 1994, you likely have older high flow toilets that would be eligible for a rebate. Replace those toilets with new, water-saving models and you could receive a rebate of up to $100 for each new toilet. Numerous homeowners, businesses, and associations throughout Broward County are benefiting from this program. A condo association in Sunrise replaced all 138 of their older toilets with newer, water-efficient models, and the association has reported saving approximately $2,000 PER MONTH on their water bill.
This program is open to single-family homes, multifamily homes and businesses.
Visit the Conservation Pays website for more information.
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Enhanced Aesthetics and Accessibility
The City of Fort Lauderdale is working with Hardrives, Inc. to mill and resurface numerous roadways throughout our community. The project will improve pavement conditions and neighborhood aesthetics. The intersections will also be inspected for ADA compliance and new ramps will be installed as needed to enhance access throughout the City. A map of streets to be resurfaced can be found on the City website. The project is expected to begin later this month and be completed in June 2016. For more information, please call 954-828-8000.
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August City Hall Artists
Fort Lauderdale proudly displays original artwork from local artists each month on the first floor of City Hall. For the month of August 2015, Fort Lauderdale selected the National League of American Pen Women Inc., a non-profit organization of professional women in the arts. The object of the League is to create progression and advancement in literary work, visual arts and musical composition.
Since its founding in 1897, the League continues to seek higher mental and intellectual development, with excellent networking and friendships among members, while maintaining a high, broad standard of work, effort and strength that comes from the union.
Members share their creativity in a number of ways, including workshops, discussion groups, performances, demonstrations and lectures. Writing and poetry contests, art exhibitions (both juried and non-juried) and music composition competitions, conducted at all levels, branch state, and national.
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Quidditch Craze Lands in Fort Lauderdale
Every July, in honor of Parks and Recreation month, we celebrate with a exciting recreation opportunities, information and contests. Summer campers drew their best renditions of "Parks and Recreation through the Years," which was displayed at City Hall in July. Information was passed out to the community as part of our "Did you Know" campaign to highlight all of the wonderful programs and benefits that our Parks have to offer. And finally, we featured a competitive sport made popular by the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Quidditch has become an increasingly popular sport, with matches played between two teams of seven players riding on flying broomsticks. On July 24th at Holiday Park, during Parks and Recreation Night, 33 teens from our parks gathered to demonstrate this new craze. A number of community members quickly learned the rules and joined in the evening fun.
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If you See Something, Say Something
What to look for?
- Person(s) taking notes, drawings, photos, or videos of any governmental building(i.e., City Hall, Police Department)
- Person(s) attempting to gain information in person, by phone, or by email about
City business operations - Person(s) conducting surveillance of any governmental building
(i.e., City Hall, Police Department) - Person(s) attempting to gain access to restricted or unauthorized areas
- Thefts of employee uniforms, badges, or other sensitive material
- Unattended vehicles illegally parked near any governmental building
Unattended items (e.g., backpacks, boxes) inside or near any governmental building
What can you do?
- Call 911 and notify authorities if you observe anything suspicious
- Control access of all employees, delivery personnel, and patrons
- Keep doors locked as appropriate and prevent access to unauthorized areas
- Monitor self-service areas (i.e., lobby)
- Monitor the security of the premises as appropriate
- Train employees to be aware of suspicious activity and reporting procedures
If you see suspicious activity, contact the Fort Lauderdale Police Department at 954-764-4357. If it's an emergency call 9-1-1.
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Dispose of Household Hazardous Waste
Disposing of household hazardous waste and electronics at an upcoming drop-off event is a free and easy way to safely dispose of unwanted chemicals. The City of Coconut Creek will host the next drop-off event on Saturday, September 12, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Government Center at 4800 West Copans Road. The next event in Fort Lauderdale is scheduled to take place January 30, 2016. Proof of residency is required (driver's license or utility bill) for hazardous waste, electronics and tire drop-off. Visit the City website for more information. |
Join Club 55 for Active Adults
Club 55 encourages active adults to enjoy endless opportunities at 11 City parks for
a discounted annual membership rate of only $55. Residents may also qualify for a fee
reduction. Activities include art, line dance, mahjongg, party bridge, trips, walking club, wellness lectures, yoga, and much more! For details, visit www.fortlauderdale.gov/club55 or call 954-828-7275 (PARK).
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PLAY Fort Lauderdale - Licensed After-School Program
PLAY After-School is your child's passport to fun! Our licensed after-school program provides children the opportunity to exercise, play, and build their self-esteem in a safe and nurturing environment. Activities include free play, games, arts and crafts, fitness, sports, cultural arts, homework help, and so much more! For details, call 954-828-7275 (PARK) or visit www.fortlauderdale.gov/afterschool.
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Ongoing Water Chlorination
The City of Fort Lauderdale is temporarily using free chlorine in its drinking water system from Tuesday, August 11, until Tuesday, September 15, 2015. This is a common preventive maintenance procedure for water systems using combined chlorine disinfection. For more information, contact the 24-hour Customer Service Center at 954-828-8000. |
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Sister Cities
Greater Fort Lauderdale Sister Cities and Tower Club, Fort Lauderdale joined together for the Kick Off the International Social Mixer at the Tower Club in Fort Lauderdale.
More than 150 people from the community attended including: Consul General for Germany in Miami, Juergen Borsch; Honorary Consul General for Guatemala, John Bauer; and Lisa MacClaskey of the Consulate General of Israel Office in Miami.
Broward County Commissioner Dale Holness highlighted the Florida International Trade and Cultural Event, October 12-16.
Fort Lauderdale, Broward County and South Florida are well positioned to be a major trade logistics hub, with over 120 spoken languages and an infrastructure of three international airports and seaports. FITCE will provide international business matchmaking, panel discussions and great keynote speakers and will also showcase the cultural diversity of our region.
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Move Broward Forum
The Urban Health Partnership is hosting an Active Transportation Forum called "Move Broward" on Saturday, October 3 from 10 a.m. to noon at Delevoe Park to kick-off the Community Action Plan in the Sistrunk Community. This event will be a transportation fair to engage residents on how to get involved in local transportation planning, how to inform officials about gaps/issues/challenges in our network, and what partners are doing to promote active transportation.
Partners include: Broward MPO, Smart Growth Partnership, Broward TOUCH, FDOT Alert Today Alive Tomorrow, YMCA, Broward County.
The City will host a booth to educate on Connecting the Blocks Plan, Vision Zero, Lauderserv application to report issues, Next Door for information about transportation happenings/information, Open Streets and Bike Ride events.
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African Fashion Event at AARLCC August 29
African Wardrobe Festival, Inc. in collaboration with the Friends of the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center (AARLCC) are sponsoring the first annual African Wardrobe Festival on Saturday, August 29, 2105 from 12 noon to 8 p.m. The festival's purpose is to promote African attire, and its mission is to unite African-Americans with their African Diaspora roots. This event will feature a red carpet welcome, African art expo, documentary screenings, panel discussions and networking mixers. "South Florida has never had an event like this before and I feel a lot of people will gravitate towards it," said AARLCC's Desmond Hannibal, Program and Exhibit Coordinator, "We are really glad the Friends of AARLCC are sponsoring the festival." Festival director Jaury Jean-Enard says, "African fashion is growing worldwide and South Florida's vibrant culture is the best place to stage this growth." The festival will close with a fashion show and a networking mixer. Tickets are $30. For more information on the festival, visit www.africanwardrobefestival.org or contact Jaury Jean-Enard at info@africanwardrobefestival.org.
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