CITY COMMISSION CONFERENCE MEETING
Quarterly Investment Report
The City Commission received an update on the Quarterly Investment Report for the period ending June 30, 2020 from Investment Advisor PFM Asset Management. The investment portfolio is of high credit quality and invested in U.S. Treasury, federal agency/GSE, federal agency/CMO, mortgage-backed, municipal, supranational, and corporate notes securities. The investment portfolio’s quarterly total return performance of 1.76% outperformed the benchmark performance of 0.29% by 1.47%. In the last 12 months, the portfolio returned 5.45%, outperforming the benchmark’s performance of 5.25% by 0.20%. For details, visit bit.ly/3hsfFny.
Discussion of Water Plant Rebuilding Options
Representatives from the City’s Financial Advisor, PFM Asset Management, made a presentation to the City Commission on the range of options available for rebuilding the Fiveash Regional Water Treatment Plant. The presentation reviewed various types of Public/Private Partnerships including Public Ownership, Public Ownership/Private Management, Concession Lease, and Private Ownership (Sale), along with the advantages and challenges presented by each option. For details, visit bit.ly/35FpAni.
Update on Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Project
The Information and Technology Services Department provided the City Commission with an update on the status of the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) project. An assessment was conducted by Panorama Consulting Group in order to identify the challenges and opportunities to help move the project forward. In August, the City’s Executive Strategy Team accepted a recommendation to move forward with Infor as the ERP vendor and to retain Panorama for interim project management support. A new project structure is being developed that includes acquiring additional subject matter experts to assist with the implementation and proceeding with a two-phased approach to deliver the project in a timely and efficient manner. For details, visit bit.ly/3iAfAj4.
OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS (OPEB) BOARD MEETING
Other Post-Employment Benefits Trust Quarterly Investment Report
The City Commission, acting as the Board of Trustees of the Other Post-Employment Benefits Trust (“OPEB Trust”), received an investment report for the period ending June 30, 2020. The City’s OPEB Trust returned 12.35% (net of mutual fund fees) in the 2nd quarter of 2020, underperforming its policy benchmark return of 12.89% by 0.54%. In the trailing 12 months, the portfolio returned 4.80%, underperforming its 5.42% benchmark return by 0.62%. In dollar terms, the portfolio gained $3,880,315 in return on investment over the quarter, and gained $1,635,123 in the trailing 12 months. For details, visitbit.ly/2RtCxIH.
CITY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING
Event Agreements Passed Contingent on Broward County Approval
The City Commission passed a motion approving event agreements and related road closures for a variety of upcoming special events. All event promoters are aware of Broward County Emergency Order 20-23, that relates to special events. Promoters have submitted their respective COVID-19 operational plans to Broward County and are awaiting approval. Event approval is contingent upon COVID-19 restrictions being lifted and/or receipt of written approval to host the event from Broward County. For details, visit bit.ly/35GwEQU and bit.ly/3c2IOEF.
Agreement Approved for Streetscape Improvements for Downtown Mobility Hub - Public Works project continue throughout District 2
The City Commission approved an amendment to the Revocable License Agreement with Broward County for the installation of streetscape improvements as part of the Downtown Mobility Hub. The Downtown Mobility Hub Streetscape Improvement Project provides infrastructure improvements within a multi-block area that will improve mobility and connect people to various transportation choices such as Brightline, Broward County Transit bus service, shuttle service to the Tri-Rail station, and the Sun Trolley Community Bus Service. The agreement will allow sidewalks and curb improvements to be installed on property owned by Broward County. For details, visit bit.ly/3iMZgvz.
Public Transportation Grant Agreements Approved for FXE Projects
The City Commission approved Public Transportation Grant Agreements with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). The agreements will provide Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE) with grant funding of up to $885,000 for the design and construction of the Runway 31 By-Pass Taxiway Project and grant funding of up to $15,000 for design costs for the Runway 27 By-Pass Taxiway and Run-Up Area Improvement Project. For details, visit bit.ly/3moSP3H and bit.ly/33yaCwY.
Commission Approves Agreement for Landscape Improvements on A1A - We Continue to Beautify our Beach
The City Commission approved an agreement with the with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to construct landscape improvements on State Road A1A from Seabreeze Boulevard to Alhambra Street as part of the City of Fort Lauderdale Beach Streetscape Improvement Project. For details, visit bit.ly/2RskrqD.
Commission Approves Mitigation Plan for Tunnel Top Pedestrian Plaza Project
The City Commission adopted a resolution approving the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) report outlining the impacts and mitigation plan for the City’s Tunnel Top Pedestrian Plaza and Henry E. Kinney Tunnel rehabilitation project. As part of the plan, FDOT and the City will continue to consult with the City’s Historic Preservation Board and the Stranahan House as the project design progresses. For details, visitbit.ly/33vTeZM.
Commission Approves Agreement with Wilton Manors for Fire Rescue Services
The City Commission approved a five-year Interlocal Agreement with the City of Wilton Manors for the provision of fire rescue services. For details, visit bit.ly/3c07sWF.
Commission Approves Delegates for NLC Summit
The City Commission appointed Commissioner Heather Moraitis as the voting delegate for the National League of Cities (NLC) 2020 Virtual City Summit and Annual Business Meeting, which will take place November 18-21, 2020. Commissioner Robert McKinzie was appointed as the alternate voting delegate. For details, visit bit.ly/3kmIEes.
Commission Approves New Planning and Zoning Fee Schedule - At my request, we will revisit the fee structure for owners of historic properties that are mandated to appear before the Historic Preservation Board.
The City Commission adopted a new Planning and Zoning Fee Schedule with the exception of several fees associated with historic preservation. The fee schedule was developed after an in-depth study was completed by the City’s Department of Sustainable Development with assistance from consulting firm PMG Associates, Inc. to analyze and update the current fees with the goal of recovering the City's full cost for providing services. For details, visit bit.ly/33urQew.
Commission Approves Hilton Marina Hotel Plat
The Commission approved the plat known as the “Hilton Marina Hotel Plat,” that encompasses 428,387 square feet of land located at 1881 S.E. 17 Street. The applicant seeks to demolish 11,700 square feet of existing commercial use and construct 33,191 square feet of new commercial use. An associated site plan for the Hilton Marina Hotel, Case No. R19031, was approved (7-0) by the Planning and Zoning Board on November 20, 2019. The applicant is platting the site because no building permit nor certificate of occupancy may be issued for the construction of a principal building on a parcel of land unless a plat including the parcel has been recorded per the Broward County Land Use Plan. For details, visit bit.ly/3mrxQxe.
Commission Approves Rezoning Request for 3000 Alhambra Development - This project was the result of more than two years of dialogue between the developer and the Central Beach Alliance.
The City Commission approved a request to rezone 2.27 acres of land in Fort Lauderdale’s central beach area (located east of the Intracoastal Waterway between Alhambra Street and Sebastian Street) from A-1-A Beachfront Area District (ABA) to Planned Development District (PDD). The City Commission also approved the associated site plan submitted by KT Seabreeze Atlantic, LP. The applicant is proposing to construct two 26-story towers with 215 residential units, 5,150 square-feet of ground floor retail and restaurant space, and 120 public parking spaces at 3000 Alhambra Street. For details, visit bit.ly/2FKskos.
Commission Approves Creation of Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC)
The City Commission passed an ordinance on second reading establishing an Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC) in compliance with State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program (SHIP) changes. The AHAC is a committee appointed by the City Commission for the purpose of recommending specific initiatives and incentives to encourage or facilitate affordable housing. House Bill 1339, which was passed and signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis on June 9, 2020, requires that the AHAC committee include one locally elected official as of October 1, 2020. Mayor Dean Trantalis will represent the City Commission on the City’s Affordable Housing Advisory Committee. For details, visit bit.ly/2GUvhU7. To learn more about the City’s AHAC, visitwww.fortlauderdale.gov/government/ahac.
Commission Approves Rezoning for 1016 SE 2 Court
The City Commission passed an ordinance on second reading approving an application to rezone 1016 SE 2 Court from Residential Multifamily Mid Rise/Medium High Density (RMM-25) District to Parking Lot (XP) and also approved an associated site plan. The applicant, 800 Las Olas, LLC, and Mustang Properties, Inc., proposes to construct a surface parking lot at the location. For details, visit bit.ly/3mnCCvL.
Next Virtual City Commission Meetings on October 6
The next virtual meetings of the City Commission are scheduled for Tuesday, October 6. The public can listen to and view the virtual meetings on FLTV, YouTube, Zoom, Comcast Channel 78, and AT&T U-verse Channel 99. To learn more about virtual City Commission meetings, including how to view agendas and sign up to speak, visitfortlauderdale.gov/vcmeetings.
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