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The Great American Beach Party

The Great American Beach party returns on Saturday, May 28 on A1A and Las Olas Boulevard.

The free, family-friendly party takes place from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The Great American Beach Party features a complete day full of exciting activities and entertainment featuring live bands, a kids zone, DJ, sand castle contest, art show, classic car show, life-size beach games, tribute to the U.S. Armed Forces, and so much more!
Enjoy a variety of live music performances including fan favorites Big HarvestSix Foot Swell Surfband, Pocket ChangeBlues Brothers Soul BandTom Jackson, The Long Run, and our headliner Sister Hazel!

Get to the Great American Beach Party Stress Free!

Heading to the Great American Beach Party?  Eventgoers are encouraged to park in downtown Fort Lauderdale and hop aboard designated event shuttles.
 
Downtown parking is available for a $5 flat rate at:
City Park Garage, 150 S.E. 2nd Street; County Garage, 151 S.W. 2nd Street; One River Plaza, 305 S. Andrews Avenue; and AutoNation Building, 200 S.W. 1st Avenue. 
 
Water transportation stations will be located downtown at Las Olas Riverfront, 300 S.W. 1st Avenue, and on the beach at Las Olas Marina, 240 E. Las Olas Circle. Round trip fares are only $5. Active military, seniors 65 and over, and kids under 3 are free.  Water transportation will be available from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on the day of the event, with the Water Shuttle departing on the hour and the Water Taxi departing every 30 minutes. 
 
The Sun Trolley will pick up eventgoers at the City Park Garage, located at 150 S.E. 2nd Street. Drop-off will be at the Las Olas Marina, 240 E. Las Olas Circle. Fares are $1 each way or $3 for an all-day pass. The Sun Trolley will operate from 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Track Sun Trolley in real time by downloading the app at www.SunTrolley.com.  

Ride your bike to the Great American Beach Party and park it in a safe location using our FREE Bike Valet. The service is available at Las Olas Boulevard and Las Olas Circle from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Traffic Advisory:  A1A to be closed on Saturday, May 28

A1A will be closed from Las Olas Boulevard north to Castillo Street from 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 28 to 1:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 29.
 
Motorists traveling north on A1A will be detoured west onto Las Olas Boulevard, north on Birch Road, east on Bayshore Drive, and back north onto A1A.
 
Alhambra Street, Seville Street and Granada Street will be open to local traffic only.
 
Heavy traffic and delays are expected from S.E. 17th Street north to Bayshore Drive.
 
Motorists should avoid the area and seek alternate travel routes where possible.
Give Input on Proposed Seawall Ordinance Changes

The City of Fort Lauderdale is considering amending the Unified Land Development Regulations of the City of Fort Lauderdale Section 47-19.3 Boat Slips, Docks, Boat Davits, Hoists, and Similar Mooring Structures.  This amendment is intended to improve coastal resilience and mitigate the effects of tidal flooding and sea level rise. 

The existing ordinance sets a maximum elevation for all new seawalls at five and one-half (5�) feet above NGVD29, except when the adjacent property is higher than five and one-half (5�) feet above the NGVD29 (3.90 feet NAVD88).

The Commission is considering the following changes in the proposed ordinance:
  • Adds definitions for seawall, North American Vertical Datum (NAVD88) and rip rap;
  • Sets a minimum seawall elevation at 3.9 feet NAVD88 (current allowable maximum);
  • Recommends design of new seawalls for future height adjustment up to 5.0 feet NAVD88;
  • Sets an allowable maximum height of the seawall based on a property's base flood elevation and provides a waiver option for properties with a finished floor less than 3.9 feet NAVD88;
  • Requires seawall reconstruction to the minimum elevation if the substantial repair threshold is triggered;
  • Requires maintaining seawalls in good repair and sets a timeline of 365 days for completion of repairs if cited;
  • Requires owners to prevent tidal waters entering their property from impacting others and sets a timeline of 365 days for remedy if cited;
  • Allows fixed docks to extend 10 inches above the adjacent seawall; and
  • Allows for floating docks and requires them to be permitted and permanently attached.
We are asking neighbors for input on the proposed changes to the seawall ordinance. Please review the revised ordinancereview the FAQ, and give your input today. The proposed ordinance will be presented to the Commission for the first public reading on June 7. The second public reading is scheduled to take place on June 21, 2016.   

We're Only One Call Away


In celebration of Public Service Recognition Week, Fort Lauderdale made a short video that showcases the array of quality services that City employees proudly provide to our neighbors. Please click on the image above to see how we Build Community in "the City You Never Want to Leave." And if there is anything we can do to help you, please remember that we are always just one call away (954-828-8000)!  

Eye of the Storm: Hurricane Preparedness Event on June 4th

The City of Fort Lauderdale will join several sponsors and partners to
present the City's third annual hurricane preparedness event on Saturday, June 4, 2016 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Museum of Discovery and Science, 401 SW Second Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312.
 
This FREE event offers interesting and fun programs for the entire family. The museum's new Storm Center will debut, hurricane experts will make presentations, local TV meteorologists will be on hand, live theater shows will be presented and much more.
 
The goal of the event is to assist in educating and preparing our neighbors for the 2016 Hurricane Season.
 
For more information about hurricane preparedness, visit www.fortlauderdale.gov/hurricane

Help prevent mosquito breeding and the spread of the Zika virus
 
As we enter the rainy season, the City is asking neighbors to step-up efforts to control mosquito-borne illnesses, including the Zika virus. Please help eliminate standing water that can be a potential breeding ground for mosquito larvae.
Residents and business should conduct inspections at least once a week to eliminate standing water and other potential mosquito habitats. Remove, cover or empty all sources of standing water, including:
 
  • Rain gutters on buildings
  • Old tires (read about the City's tire collection program)
  • Plastic covers/tarps
  • Buckets
  • Planters
  • Trash receptacles/cans/barrels
  • Leaky pipes
  • Other debris and machinery that can collect and hold standing water

Click here for more information.

Relax at JM Lexus Sunday JazzBrunch June 5

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.
  
One of Fort Lauderdale's most popular community events, the JM Lexus Sunday Jazz Brunch invites everyone to bring their blankets, chairs and picnic baskets along with well-behaved, leashed pets to the Riverwalk Arts and Entertainment District for the best in local jazz.
 
Parking for the JM Lexus Sunday Jazz Brunch is available at the county garage located on S.W. 2nd Street between S.W. 2nd Avenue and Brickell Avenue or at the Riverwalk Arts and Entertainment District parking garage at S.W. Fifth Avenue in Fort Lauderdale. This event is produced by the Fort Lauderdale Parks and Recreation Department.
 
Schedule for June 5, 2016
 
Esplanade Pavilion - Salvaje
Connie Hoffman Gazebo - Randy Corinthian
Peck Courtyard - Closed
  
Safety 'SWAT Teams' visited 50 Fort Lauderdale homes to help prevent electrical and fire-related injuries
 
On May 12, the Florida Power & Light Company (FPL), American Red Cross and City of Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue visited 50 homes as part of a free "Safer Homes, Fewer Burns" public service outreach program. With summer around the corner and kids home from school, safety is crucial. During the event, teams of experts moved from house to house, sharing tips and advice to help homeowners make their homes safer, more energy efficient and help prevent burn-related injuries, making Fort Lauderdale an even better and safer place to raise a family and do business.

Stay informed in an emergency
Sign up for CodeRED™ and get City notifications delivered to your phone

The City of Fort Lauderdale uses CodeRED™ to send notifications to your phone about water main breaks, gas leaks, evacuations and other life safety emergencies. The City may also use CodeRED to communicate road closures, water main repairs and other types of non-life safety matters.

Residents or business owners with a Fort Lauderdale address may register for CodeRED on the City's website at www.fortlauderdale.gov/codered or by contacting the 24-Hour Neighbor Call Center at (954) 828-8000 or www.fortlauderdale.gov/lauderserv.

Registration is FREE!

City of Fort Lauderdale chlorinates water system through June 14
  
The City of Fort Lauderdale temporarily returned to using free chlorine in its drinking water system. This regularly scheduled preventive maintenance procedure will began at 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 10, 2016 and will end at 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 14, 2016.
  
Free chlorination is a common practice for water systems using combined chlorine disinfection. The chlorination period is anticipated to be transparent to water customers; however, some may notice a slight change in the taste or smell of their tap water.
  
Some customers may also see water running from fire hydrants in their neighborhoods, which is part of the normal maintenance process.
  
This procedure will affect the City of Fort Lauderdale, as well as Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Port Everglades, Village of Sea Ranch Lakes, Wilton Manors, and sections of the Town of Davie, Oakland Park, and Tamarac (east of State Road 7/441).
  
The City of Fort Lauderdale maintains the highest standards to ensure clean, high quality drinking water is delivered to its customers. The City's drinking water meets all federal, state, and local drinking water quality standards.
  
For more information, Fort Lauderdale utility customers may contact the 24-hour Customer Service Center at (954) 828-8000 or online at www.fortlauderdale.gov/lauderserv. Customers who receive a utility bill from other municipalities or entities should call their respective water provider's customer service phone number for more information.

Fort Lauderdale, a Certified Wildlife-Friendly City

The National Wildlife Federation has certified the City of Fort Lauderdale as the 86th NWF Community Wildlife Habitat in the nation.
 
Two years ago, with the support of the Mayor and City Commission, a team from the City's Sustainability Office and Parks and Recreation Department set out to certify Fort Lauderdale. Thanks to the group's hard work, there are now more than 400 Certified Wildlife Habitats within the city, and the team leading this project earned more "education and outreach" points than any other city of its size in the history of the program.
 
Some of the highlights from the city's efforts include engaging homeowners' associations through Fort Lauderdale's Green Your Routine program, creating container habitats with young people in summer youth programs, certifying a habitat at City Hall, and so much more.

Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics Recycling Collection Event set for June 4
 
Fort Lauderdale residents are invited to
participate in the City of Pompano Beach's next household hazardous waste and electronics recycling collection event on June 4th. The event will be from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and is free to all Fort Lauderdale residents. The event will be held next to the Airpark, on the north side Baseball Complex parking lot, 1660 NE 10th Street, Pompano Beach, FL 33060.
  
For more information visit www.fortlauderdale.gov/hhw
 


  Memorial Day Tribute at Lauderdale Memorial Park Cemetery

 
Memorial Day Ceremony at Riverwalk

Florida Juneteenth Festival set for Saturday, June 18th


Open your heart, open your home

Did you know that 150-250 kids are welcomed into foster care each month in Broward County? As we celebrate Foster Care Appreciation Month, let's take a moment to recognize the strong, loving foster families who welcome our community's most vulnerable children into their homes. We're grateful for their service, but we are still in need of more...

I invite you to open your home, as well as your heart, to our community's children in need. Foster families not only meet children's immediate needs for safety and stability, but provide love, encouragement and support. If you'd ever wanted to make a difference where it really matters, consider becoming a foster family to a child in our community in need. You'll be glad you did. - By Heather Bottoms, a foster care recruiter for Children's Home Society of Florida, serving children and family members in Broward County. Email her at [email protected] and follow the organization on Twitter @HelpFLKids or on Facebook
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