Good Evening,

Broward County just issued Emergency Order 20-15 addressing summer camps and youth activities, bowling alleys, arcades, in-door movie theaters, vacation rentals, and pari-mutuels.  Included in this EO are “attachments” that address each of the specific openings.

Hello:

I have attached  Broward County’s News Release for Emergency Order 20-21. Broward County has taken these measures in hopes that we can stop the surge of our COVID cases.  I am hopeful residents, visitors and businesses will remain attentive to practice the safety guidelines we have implemented.  I want us to continue to move forward but I definitely do not want this surge to continue.

Section 4. Responsibility to Ensure Compliance with Applicable Orders.
A. Residential Property Residents. All persons who reside on any residential property, whether single family or multi-family, and irrespective of whether they own or rent the property, must ensure that all persons on the residential property, including guests, comply with all applicable guidelines of any Broward County Emergency Order, including the facial covering requirements. Residents who fail to ensure compliance with all applicable Broward County Emergency Orders by such persons shall be subject to the penalties set forth in Section 8-56 of the Broward County Code of Ordinances, with each person present and in violation of an applicable Emergency Order constituting a separate violation.

• CENSUS 2020—please be sure to be counted, deadline is September 30th.
  
• Hurricane Season—make sure you have a plan!
  

F. Attachment 11 (Pool Decks, Pools, and Other Recreational Amenities in Housing Developments) to Broward County Emergency Order 20-21 is replaced in its entirety with Attachment 11 hereto to allow residents to have guests with them in Housing Development amenities and to eliminate the requirement that the housing development either remove pool and pool deck furniture or have designated staff monitoring compliance with the County's Emergency Orders.

The City of Fort Lauderdale Ordinance C-95-36 requires apartments and condominiums to contract for on-site recycling containers and services, implement a recycling program, provide access to recycling containers and encourage tenants to recycle.

Dear Broward County Residents,

I am honored to serve as your County Commissioner, representing our coastal communities from Deerfield Beach to Fort Lauderdale and all of the amazing cities, towns and villages in between. Here are some recent highlights from around Broward County:

Dear Broward County Residents,

I am honored to serve as your County Commissioner, representing our coastal communities from Deerfield Beach to Fort Lauderdale and all of the amazing communities in between. Here are some recent highlights from around Broward County:

LEED Certification for County Facilities

The new state-of-the-art Ravenswood Bus Operations and Maintenance Facility and the new Animal Care and Adoption Center have achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification and Silver certification respectively from the U.S. Green Building Council.

As an internationally recognized mark of excellence, LEED provides building owners and operators with a framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions. LEED certification provides independent, third-party verification that a building, home or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at achieving high performance in key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. As a lifelong construction professional, this is very important to me.

The Ravenswood Bus operations and Maintenance Facility project included the construction of a new 3-story parking garage, operations and maintenance buildings, fuel station and bus wash.

The Animal Care and Adoption Center set new standards by becoming the first LEED climate controlled shelter in the state of Florida.

Port Everglades Cruise Guide

Broward County’s Port Everglades is Florida’s leading seaport for containerized cargo and the third largest cruise port in the world. Ten cruise lines sail 40 ships and a ferry from Port Everglades and now you can access the 2018 Port Everglades Cruise Guide that provides great vacation tools. More than 701,000 passengers, approximately 20 percent of the Port’s cruise business, will set sail during the holiday season. The Cruise Guide provides information on cruising, hotels, dining, entertainment, and transportation to many destinations from Port Everglades.

To access the 2018 Port Everglades Cruise Guide and for more information, please visit PortEverglades.net.

It's Manatee Season

Broward's Environmental Planning and Community Resilience Division cautions boaters to be on the lookout for manatees moving throughout our waterways. November 15th marked the beginning of manatee season and seasonal manatee protection zones are in effect thru March 31st. As air and water temperatures drop, manatees begin moving south for warmer water such as springs and energy center discharge canals for refuge, and slower seasonal speed limits go into effect. For information about manatee protection zones by County, including seasonal changes, visit the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission website and click on "Data and Maps." At the bottom of the page there is information on Manatee COLD-weather changes to speed zones.

Broward County now also offers a new innovative manatee reporting mobile app that can be used to report the location of manatees and their activities, view manatee protection zones and boating safety zones in County waterways. The ‘I Spy a Manatee’ mobile app can be used by Broward residents and visitors to report manatee sightings. Download the app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.

Broward Water Partnership and Conservation Pays Program

Residents, business and nonprofits in Broward County had record breaking water savings through the Broward Water Partnership and the Conservation Pays Program. The Community has saved 1.5 billion gallons of water combined as of October 2017. Much of the savings were achieved through the regional toilet rebate program that provides property owners with rebates when they upgrade older model toilets to high-efficiency water-saving models. The Broward Water Partnership provides rebates through ConservationPays.com, with just five steps including filling out an application and attaching required documentation. Applicants can receive up to $100 rebate per toilet.

For more information and to check your availability, please visit ConservationPays.com.

The Resident's Guide to Government provides a convenient resource to help people stay connected to their local government. It includes contact information for County officials and Federal, State, and local agencies. Visitors can subscribe to eNews and social media sites. Please sign up at Broward.org/District4 to receive email updates from our office. If there is anything that we can do to assist you with your vision for a better Broward, please do not hesitate to contact our office at 954-357-7004 or by email at clamarca@broward.org.

One final note, as we celebrate the holiday season and prepare for an exciting new year, I offer you a very Happy Hanukkah, a very Merry Christmas and the most prosperous 2018 for you and yours.

As always, it is my honor and privilege to serve you.

Best regards,

Dear Broward County Residents,

I am honored to serve as your County Commissioner, representing our coastal communities from Deerfield Beach to Fort Lauderdale and all of the amazing cities, towns and villages in between. Here are some recent highlights from around Broward County:

Commitment to Service Award

It was a tremendous honor for me to receive the 2018 President’s “Commitment to Service” Award from the Florida Association of Counties (FAC), which was presented at the FAC Annual Conference and Educational Expo Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, June 27th. Representing Broward County as a FAC member over the past eight years has been an extremely rewarding experience. The Florida Association of Counties works on behalf of Florida’s 67 counties to advocate for home rule and legislation that is vital to the quality of life for all of our residents.

I have had the great pleasure of being appointed to Chair the FAC Finance and Tax Policy Committee for a number of years. I have also served on the FAC Board of Directors, Legislative Executive Committee, Finance & Audit Committee, Urban Caucus, as well as various committees with the National Association of Counties. I am most proud of completing the Certified County Commissioner training program as well as the Advanced County Commissioner program. I was also thrilled to join six of my colleagues as we were recognized as Presidential Advocates by FAC for our work during the 2018 Legislative Session.

FLL Update

Broward County’s Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) recently received an extraordinary achievement for “zero discrepancies” by the Federal Aviation Administration. FLL is in the midst of a major expansion program with several ongoing construction projects, therefore achieving this accomplishment is a tremendous tribute and speaks to FLL’s dedicated team. The Federal Aviation RegulationsPart 139 certification is an annual inspection that reviews the Airport’s compliance with the FAA’s airfield safety requirements. It includes the inspection of 102,000 linear feet of airfield markings, 500+ airfield signs, 3,000+ runway/taxiway lights, safety areas, staff training and knowledge, wildlife control, Foreign Object Debris, emergency response, and Airport Rescue and Fire Fighter response and training. I am extremely happy to report that the FAA inspectors were highly complimentary of the hard work that they witnessed from the Broward County Aviation Department team.

In other airport news, a public artwork display at FLL has been honored by the Americans for the Arts as a 2017 outstanding public art project through the Public Art Network Year in Review Program. Newly built in Concourse A at Terminal 1, the display entitled “Wavelength” is a massive metal structure that appears to float weightlessly with gradient colors and shapes that change as you move. Broward’s FLL is such an important gateway and I am excited that Broward County continues to provide opportunities for great pieces of public art that help improve our residents' and visitors' experience. For more information please visit Broward.org/Arts/PublicArt.

Port Everglades Update

I was proud to join Broward County’s Port Everglades and the Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND) to announce a new system that offers public access to real-time tides, currents, water levels and other meteorological information thanks to an advanced sensor device developed and installed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The newly installed Port Everglades Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System (PORTS®) is a decision support tool that measures and disseminates observations and predictions of water levels, currents and meteorological parameters that mariners need to navigate safely. Boaters and commercial mariners will be able to make safer choices based on the data from this equipment. Additionally, this equipment is collecting data about our natural resources that we can apply to preparations for storms, climate changes and sea level rise.

PORTS® is available on the Port’s website at porteverglades.net (top of the homepage under "Tides & Currents") or via phone at 866-213-5269.

Broward County Programs Recognized Nationally

Broward County has been recognized by the National Association of Counties with 14 Achievement Awards for innovative and effective County government programs that enhance services for residents in many different areas. The County was recognized for four environmental preservation and conservation programs which include:the Future Conditions Map Series: Groundwater Elevation Map, the Manatee Mobile App, Upland Mangrove Enhancement, and the Marine Environmental Education Center. The County received recognition for two Employment Assistance programs: the Transitional Employment Pilot Program, and the Community Recovery Aides Program. Also recognized within the “Helping Residents Connect with County Government” category was the Veterans Connect Program, the Active Learning Center at Broward County Libraries, and the Free Music Partnership Program. Additionally, the County was recognized for the Wide-Area Spray Truck Larvicide Technology, and the Special Needs Registry App. Internal training programs where also recognized: the Recording 6-week training program, the Recording Negotiable Instruments/Know Your Money initiative and the Climate Change Toolbox training program which was created by County employees for County employees. Broward County continues to be innovative with a multitude of programs and services being offered.

The Resident's Guide to Government provides a convenient resource to help people stay connected to their local government. It includes contact information for County officials and Federal, State, and local agencies. Visitors can subscribe to eNews and social media sites. Please sign up at Broward.org/District4 to receive email updates from our office. If there is anything that we can do to assist you with your vision for a better Broward, please do not hesitate to contact our office at 954-357-7004 or by email at clamarca@broward.org.

As always, it is my honor and privilege to serve you.

Best regards,

Dear Broward County Residents,
I am honored to serve as your County Commissioner, representing our coastal communities from Deerfield Beach to Fort Lauderdale and all the beautiful cities, towns and villages in between. Here are some recent highlights from around Broward County:

Hurricane Season is Here!

June 1st was the official start of hurricane season and if you have not already done so, now is the time to begin preparing for any major weather event that may come our way. Broward County encourages everyone to take responsibility for your safety and that of your family, pets, and property by developing a hurricane plan now. Provided below are helpful links and information that can assist you in planning for this year’s hurricane season.

• Get important public safety information before, during and after a tropical event, including readiness tips, boil water alerts, curfews, transportation updates, trash pick-ups, recovery assistance services and more by visiting Broward.org/Hurricane.
• Sign up for AlertBroward, Broward County’s Emergency Alert Notification System.
• At risk residents should visit Broward.org/AtRisk for shelter options, pre-registration services, arrangements for animals and more information.
• Find out if you live in an evacuation zone.
• Find out if you live in a flood zone.
• Visit our comprehensive emergency preparedness website at Emergency.Broward.org.
• Call the Broward County Call Center at 311, or 954-831-4000, for updates and general preparedness information.

It is crucial to begin this process now before we have a major weather event in Broward County. Please be sure to use these helpful resources to keep your families and pets safe this hurricane season.

Port Everglades Update

Broward County’s Port Everglades recently entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Port of Limon, Costa Rica, as part of its International Sister Seaport Program. Port Everglades has International Sister Seaport agreements with four seaports in Europe, Asia, and South America, and an MOU with the Panama Canal Authority and now the Port of Limn, Costa Rica. The International Sister Seaport Program encourages new business and trade between seaport organizations.

Along with my colleague, I had the honor of signing the MOU on behalf of Port Everglades. The MOU outlines joint initiatives the two parties will undertake and states that it is within “their mutual interest to establish an alliance of cooperation aimed at facilitating international trade and generating new business by promoting the all-water routes between” the two ports. These key joint initiatives include marketing activities, market studies, modernization and improvements, and training.

For more updates on Broward County’s Port Everglades please visit PortEverglades.net.

Broward County’s Tourism

Last month, I highlighted two of Broward County’s major economic engines, Port Everglades (PEV) and the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL). Both PEV and FLL have the common asset of providing a valuable service to Broward County’s third economic engine, tourism. The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau has released tourism statistics for 2017.

In 2017, Broward County had an increase of 4.61 percent in visitors over 2016, with 12.8 million visitors. More than 1 million visitors overnighted in 2017, excluding Canada. This is an increase of 5 percent over 2016. Visitors stayed an average of 7.4 nights and spent more than $2 billion in 2017. Notably, 32.5 million passengers traveled through FLL in 2017, an increase of 11.3 million over 2016, and 4.1 million cruisers visited Port Everglades in 2017, the second highest number in history.

Broward Academy VII

Broward Academy is a free, 10-week Thursday evening program (September 13th - November 15th) for college students that will help them develop a greater understanding of how local government works and makes a difference in the quality of life for residents. A civic component will be incorporated so students can better appreciate their rights and responsibilities as citizens. This year’s theme is Passport to Broward - and students will get to go behind the scenes to many Broward County destinations where the public typically does not have access like the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Port Everglades, Emergency Operations Center, Medical Examiner’s Office and more! Dinner is included in the program. Students can go online to learn more and complete the application. The deadline for consideration is July 27th.

Sun Trolley

After 25 years of providing Sun Trolley service to our neighbors and guests, the City of Fort Lauderdale and the Downtown Fort Lauderdale Transportation Management Association (TMA) are working together to re-imagine the City's community bus service and update it to better meet the needs of all users. The City and the TMA are conducting outreach to our neighbors within the Sun Trolley's Galt Link route to better understand the needs. This information, along with several public meetings and additional analysis, will be used to draft route recommendations that will be presented to the community for feedback in the future.

Please take a few minutes to complete a brief SURVEY to help us plan the future Sun Trolley Galt Link. For more information, call 954-TROLLEY (954-876-5539) or visit the website. Thank you for participating, your feedback is important to us.

The Resident's Guide to Government provides a convenient resource to help people stay connected to their local government. It includes contact information for County officials and Federal, State, and local agencies. Visitors can subscribe to eNews and social media sites. Please sign up at Broward.org/District4 to receive email updates from our office. If there is anything that we can do to assist you with your vision for a better Broward, please do not hesitate to contact our office at 954-357-7004 or by email at clamarca@broward.org.

As always, it is my honor and privilege to serve you.

Best regards,

I am honored to serve as your County Commissioner representing our coastal communities from Deerfield Beach to Fort Lauderdale and all of the amazing cities, towns and villages in between.

Here are some recent highlights from around Broward County:

Statement Regarding the Recent Tragic Events in Parkland:

On February 14th, our community was faced with an unthinkable act that devastated our entire nation. My heart goes out to the families of the victims, the students and teachers of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, as well as the entire Parkland community. Broward County has provided a Resource Page with helpful information for those in need.

As a Broward County Commissioner and product of our public schools myself, I am deeply troubled by the latest news of critical breakdowns in the public safety process at one of our Broward County Schools. These children should have been protected. Their parents should never have to worry about their safety. On February 27th, I joined my County Commission in calling for an outside investigation of the entire public safety process that secures all of our Broward County Schools.

We Must Have the Best Policies and People in Place to Keep Our Children Safe. Anything Less is Completely Unacceptable.

Change Came Quick in Tallahassee

In the days following the tragic shooting, the Florida Legislature debated many proposed changes to state laws for school safety, mental health and the purchase of firearms. Many of the members in both houses of government had significant things to add to the discussion and the resulting law was Senate Bill 7026, the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act. The Florida House voted 67 to 50 in favor of the Senate Bill and the Florida Senate voted 20 to 18 in favor of their bill. Almost immediately, on Friday, March 9, 2018, SB7026 was signed by Governor Rick Scott. I am very supportive of this law because it supports common sense safety measures for our community.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act (SB7026)

SB 7026 makes significant changes in several different areas regarding school safety and other measures. In the area of mental health, the bill makes significant changes to keep firearms out of the hands of those suffering from mental illness. In addition, the bill provides new provisions to ensure full and complete background checks when a firearm is purchased. The bill also raises the purchasing age of a firearm from 18 to 21 at the request of families of the victims, and prohibits a bump-fire stock from being imported, transferred, distributed, sold, or keeping for sale, offering for sale, possessing, or giving away within the state.

In the area of school safety, the bill addresses several provisions including; establishing the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission to investigate system failures in the Parkland school shooting and prior mass violence incidents and developing recommendations for system improvements; permitting a sheriff to establish a voluntary school marshal program; requiring each district school board and school district superintendent to cooperate with law enforcement agencies to assign one or more safe-school officers at each school facility; creating the mental health assistance allocation to assist school districts in establishing or expanding school-based mental health care, among other things.

Additionally, the bill also prohibits a person from making, posting, or transmitting a threat to conduct a mass shooting or an act of terrorism. It requires the Department of Children and Families to contract for community action treatment teams for providers of behavioral health and support services; and requires Florida Department of Law Enforcement to procure a mobile app that would allow students and the community to relay information anonymously concerning unsafe, dangerous threats. In order to implement these and several other provisions, $400 million dollars has been appropriated within this School Safety Bill.

For more detailed information please visit FLgov.com.

Fort Lauderdale International Airport Update

On December 12, 2017, the Board directed the Broward County Aviation Department (BCAD) to devise a plan of action for a comprehensive emergency response training program for all employees at Broward County's Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL). BCAD staff determined that the best method for the training is a computer-based learning module to be offered to the nearly 15,000 employees comprising the FLL airport community. Most recently, the Board of County Commissioners approved an interactive learning system that will provide a “standardized” training platform for all employees working at FLL. The content will address a variety of topics from emergency response to customer service, but also speaks to the recommendations identified in the FLL Active Shooter Incident and Post Event Response, January 6, 2017 After Action Report (AAR). The proposed content outline for the program includes critical sections like Airport Familiarization/Orientation, Active Threat- Asses, Run Hide, Fight, First Responder Actions, Basic First Aid, and others. Most importantly, the interactive learning system will be specifically tailored for FLL and provide a uniformed baseline for all FLL employees. The program will launch August 1st, 2018 and it is expected that all employees at FLL must have taken/successfully passed the training program by December 31, 2018.

In other airport related news, the baggage claim portion of FLL’s Terminal 4 Federal Inspection Services Facility expansion opened on February 26th. The opening includes new baggage claim devices that are approximately double the size of the previous equipment. These units will significantly increase capacity and address the demand for streamlined processing, especially during peak periods. Airlines now have four lines rather than two to introduce passenger luggage. These improvements will serve to enhance the passenger experience by speeding up airline delivery of bags and providing additional space for passengers claiming their bags.

Additionally, FLL’s new cloud-inspired “cloudscape,” a public art project commissioned by Broward’s Cultural Division, made headlines in Architect’s Newspaper, a publication catering to architects, designers, engineers, developers, contractors and other businesses interested in urban built environments. This fun and creative play space imitates the type of scenic landscape children can see from the window of an airplane cabin. It is located in Terminal 1, Concourse A, post-security.

For more information on all the exciting things happening at Broward County’s Fort Lauderdale International Airport, please visit FLL.net.

New Animal Care Director

The Environmental Protection and Growth Management Division recently announced the appointment of Lauralei Combs as its new Director of Animal Care and Adoption. Ms. Combs was part of the senior leadership team in the Volunteer Programs department for the Austin Animal Center, which is the largest no kill municipal facility in the country. The facility shelters more than 18,000 animal each year and reports a 96 percent live release rate, one of the highest in the nation.

Ms. Combs past accomplishments, proven leadership and advocacy will be instrumental in developing lifesaving programs for pets. As a proud dog owner and strong supporter of making Broward County a no-kill community, I sponsored the “No Kill County” resolution in 2012 and it was unanimously supported by the Board. I am tremendously excited to continue this journey to become a successful no-kill community.

If you have a pet related question or want more information about Broward County’s Animal Care and Adoption Division, please visit Broward.org/Animal.

Flag Disposal Program

As you may remember, last year, I championed the Flag Disposal Program in Broward County. Through a partnership between the National Association of Counties and the National Flag Foundation, the Broward County Board of County Commissioners placed flag retirement boxes in several facilities in the County. Residents can dispose of old, tattered and torn flags at Broward County Government Center locations and various other locations in the County. I am happy to announce that hundreds of retired American flags have been collected and are being disposed of properly by the Boy Scouts of America, Broward County Chapters. It is my commitment to continue to provide this service in Broward County, while promoting the importance of proper flag etiquette and the proper way to dispose of an American Flag.

For more information, please visit Flag Disposal Program.

The Resident's Guide to Governmentprovides a convenient resource to help people stay connected to their local government. It includes contact information for County officials and Federal, State, and local agencies. Visitors can subscribe to eNews and social media sites. Please sign up atBroward.org/District4to receive email updates from our office. If there is anything that we can do to assist you with your vision for a better Broward, please do not hesitate to contact our office at 954-357-7004or by email atclamarca@broward.org.

As always, it is my honor and privilege to serve you.

Best regards,

Broward County’s Economic Engines

Broward County is home to more than 1.9 million residents and two powerful economic engines that fuel Broward’s economy: Port Everglades and the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. These two major entities have a tremendous economic impact on our community. Combined, these powerful operations provide for hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue and create thousands of good jobs for people in our community. The seaport and airport have also enhanced Broward County’s global image as a great tourist destination.

Port Everglades

Broward County’s Port Everglades (PEV) is one of the world’s best kept secrets. PEV is Florida’s largest container port and the third largest cruise port in the world. The Port handles a uniquely diverse business mix – cruise, containerized cargo, dry and bulk cargo, as well as petroleum for twelve counties and three international airports. It is rare to have such diversity in one seaport. PEV is the #1 seaport in Florida by revenue, #1 container port in Florida (#10 in U.S.) by volume – with more than 1,037,226 TEUs, and the #1 seaport for exports in Florida – with $11.7 billion exports, $10.4 billion imports (Calendar Year 2016). Additionally, Broward’s seaport is the #3 cruise port in the world for passengers for multi-day cruises – with 3.8 million total passengers.

Port Everglades’ main economic impact to our community is from its self-supporting revenues combined with state and local grants to pay for capital improvements, meaning no local property tax dollars are used for Port construction or operations. The Port generates $29.4 billion in total economic activity, pays $1.1 billion in state and local taxes, supports 12,963 direct local jobs receiving $507.7 million in direct wage and salary income, and produces 222,914 Florida jobs generating $8.8 billion in wages.

Cruise News

Silversea Cruises welcomes its newest ship in the fleet, the 596-passenger Silver Muse. She is scheduled for five 2018 sailings in addition to her sister ships Silver Whisper and Silver Wind also sailing from Port Everglades. Crystal Cruises has two ships sailing from Port Everglades — Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity – which began October 2017. Princess Cruises began year-round sailings in April with the Caribbean Princess, equipped with the new Ocean Medallion wearable technology service. Celebrity Cruises’ new 2,918-passenger Celebrity Edge, the ship designed to leave the future behind, will sail from Port Everglades beginning December 16th. The Edge is the first ship in Celebrity Cruises' new class of ships in nearly a decade. Royal Caribbean maintains service out of Terminal 18, which is the home of the two largest cruise ships in the world, Oasis Class Ships: Alure of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas.

Fort Lauderdale’s International Airport

Broward County’s Fort Lauderdale- Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is currently the fastest growing large hub airport in the United States. Total passenger traffic for 2017 was about 33 million up by 11.3 percent, international traffic was up 18.06 percent and domestic traffic was up 9.4 percent. FLL is the 12th busiest large hub airport for international traffic. This year has started off to a great start, with total passenger traffic for the 1st quarter of 2018 at 9,383,778, up 9.6 percent over the 1st quarter of last year.

Additionally, commercial aircraft operations for March 2018 were 27,862, up 6.7 percent over last year. This is an increase of 57 take offs and landings a day. FLL ranks 2nd among large hub airports for growth in scheduled available seats for the 2nd quarter of 2018, up 9.1 percent over the 2nd quarter last year. Based on scheduled seats and historic load factors, we estimate total passenger traffic for the 2nd quarter 2018 to reach 9M passengers. Total passenger traffic could reach 18M by the end of June!

With the tremendous economic impacts from PEV and FLL in our diverse community, it is important to continue to advocate for the future of Broward’s economic engines. Both the seaport and the airport have implemented massive master plans that will assist them in preparing for the future growth of cargo and the tourism industry in Broward County.

The Resident's Guide to Government provides a convenient resource to help people stay connected to their local government. It includes contact information for County officials and Federal, State, and local agencies. Visitors can subscribe to eNews and social media sites. Please sign up at Broward.org/District4 to receive email updates from our office. If there is anything that we can do to assist you with your vision for a better Broward, please do not hesitate to contact our office at 954-357-7004 or by email at clamarca@broward.org.

As always, it is my honor and privilege to serve you.

Best regards,

Dear Broward County Residents,
I am honored to serve as your County Commissioner, representing our coastal communities from Deerfield Beach to Fort Lauderdale and all of the amazing communities in between. Here are some recent highlights from around Broward County:

Fort Lauderdale International Airport Update

Recently, as part of Broward County’s Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) current bond issuance (Broward County, Florida Airport System Revenue Bonds Series 2017), several Broward County officials, along with members of the bond team, gave presentations and provided additional pertinent County and Airport information to the three rating agencies (Moody’s, S&P, Fitch). Moody’s Investors Service has assigned an A1 rating to Broward County’s FLL Airport enterprise’s $325 million Airport System Revenue Bonds. Concurrently, Moody’s affirmed the A1 rating on the enterprise’s outstanding parity debt, and stated the outlook is stable. S&P Global Ratings assigned its 'A+' long-term rating to Broward County for $325.4 million Series 2017 Airport System Revenue Bonds issued for FLL. At the same time, S&P Global Ratings affirmed its 'A+' underlying rating on the County's Airport System Revenue Bonds outstanding, while also confirming the outlook is stable. Additionally, Fitch Ratings has upgraded approximately $1.3 billion of outstanding Broward County Airport System Revenue Bonds issued on behalf of FLL to 'A+' from 'A', and is revising the Rating Outlook to Stable from Positive. This is great news for the long term financial stability of our airport and continued value for our FLL customers.

In other airport news, FLL is among the first airports in the nation to implement pioneering technology that is expected to direct aircraft more efficiently and safely to and from airport gates. The new $2.5 million system will assist in reducing delays that the airport can control. Virtual Ramp Control is the first solution of its kind, was introduced in June 2017, and has been fully operational for the past few months. Specially trained operators work inside a dedicated room where they coordinate and monitor the movement of aircraft arriving and departing FLL with a virtual camera-based system. The camera system is integrated with specially developed software to manage more than 700 flights each day at FLL. Officials from other airports are interested in the system and have come to Broward County to see how it works. For more information please visit Broward.org/airport.

Broward County’s Port Everglades Update

Broward County’s Port Everglades Cruise Terminal 4 can now tend larger cruise ships, as long as 1,100 feet without extending into the Intracoastal Waterway. The $18-million Slip 2 construction project, adjacent to the recently renovated Cruise Terminal 4, lengthened the slip by 225 feet from the original 900 feet. The total 1,125-foot slip length meets the needs of most of today's modern cruise ships.

Port Everglades is a self-supporting Enterprise Fund of Broward County government that does not rely on local tax dollars for operation. Therefore, no local taxes were used for the Slip 2 extension project. The total value of economic activity related to Port Everglades is nearly $30 billion. Each cruise ship call at Port Everglades generates an estimated $2.2 million in business revenue for the local community. We are very proud to be an industry and statewide leader.

Broward Hosts Climate Leadership Summit

The 9th Annual Southeast Florida Regional Climate Leadership Summit will be held on December 14th and 15th at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale. The annual summit is coordinated by the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact, a partnership between Miami-Dade, Broward, Monroe and Palm Beach counties, their municipalities and other partners. The Climate Leadership Summit is a major regional event focused on facilitating climate-related collaboration and knowledge sharing. The summit attracts innovative thinkers and leaders from business, government, academia and the non-profit community to exchange ideas and dialogue at panel discussions and networking breaks. This year’s summit focuses on “The Business of Resilience” and will engage the community through critical discussions on adaptation, climate and energy solutions, and resilience. I will be a panelist for one of the opening sessions on “Flood and Risk Management.” For more information please visit Broward.org/NaturalResources.

Property Tax Bills in Mail and Online

The 2017 Broward County property tax bills have been mailed to residents and payments must be made no later than March 31, 2018 to avoid delinquency interest, fees, and penalties. Early-payment discounts for payments made in full are as follows: a 4-percent discount if paid in November; a 3-percent discount applies in December; a 2-percent discount in January; and a 1-percent discount in February. The discounted amounts that apply to each month between November and February are already reflected on property tax bill coupons. These discounts apply only to full tax payments. Making a partial payment of property taxes forfeits any applicable discount otherwise available for full tax payments. For more information, call 954-831-4000or visit broward.org/RecordsTaxesTreasury. Payments can be made online at Broward.county-taxes.com.

Taking Care of Our Veterans

Broward County is home to approximately 127,000 veterans and dependents and last year, our Veterans Services Officers helped advocate for 1,400 of them, resulting in $11 million in approved claims. Veterans themselves, Broward’s Veterans Services Officers help those who have served our country, and their dependents, navigate the Veterans Administration System. They assist with acquiring disability compensation, pension benefits, home care services, and other aid, also including for dependent survivors. If you are a veteran or know a veteran who could benefit from these services, visit Broward.org/HumanServices and select ELDERLY & VETERANS, or call 954-357-6622.

The Resident's Guide to Government provides a convenient resource to help people stay connected to their local government. It includes contact information for County officials and Federal, State, and local agencies. Visitors can subscribe to eNews and social media sites. Please sign up at Broward.org/District4 to receive email updates from our office. If there is anything that we can do to assist you with your vision for a better Broward, please do not hesitate to contact our office at 954-357-7004or by email at clamarca@broward.org.

As always, it is my honor and privilege to serve you.

Best regards,

I am honored to serve as your County Commissioner, representing our coastal communities from Deerfield Beach to Fort Lauderdale and all of the amazing communities in between. Here are some recent highlights from around Broward County:

Beach Preservation

The 2017 Legislative Session resulted in a win for Florida’s beaches. The Legislature is providing unprecedented annual funding of $50 million, as well as recognizing and funding the top three ranked inlet management projects as part of the traditional beach management program. This includes Broward's Port Everglades Sand Bypass Project. While this is a great accomplishment for the beaches of Florida there is still much more that can be done. On August 18, 2017, Senator Jack Latvala filed Senate Bill 174 (SB 174) for consideration during the Florida Legislature's 2018 regular session. SB 174 updates the criteria for ranking and funding beach management, erosion control, and inlet management projects to consider (i) the environmental and economic importance of proposed projects, (ii) the use of regional sand management strategies to conserve sand and reduce project costs, (iii) the use of dune enhancement or restoration to reduce future upland storm damage costs, (iv) the use of environmental habitat enhancements, and (v) the overall readiness of the project. SB 174 also creates a three year work plan to help maximize federal and local funding matches and establishes a dedicated funding source from Amendment I revenue in the Land Acquisition Trust Fund.

I proposed a resolution in support of the passage of SB 174 and this resolution was passed unanimously by the Board of Broward County Commissioners. Passage of SB 174 supports the long-term planning and continued State funding necessary for the success of projects including the Broward County Shore Protection Projects. It is critical that we continue to advocate and support Florida's beaches as they provide both environmental and economic benefits, including a return on investment of $5.40 for each $1 spent on beach renourishment and erosion control. Furthermore, Broward's award winning beaches enhance the quality of life for residents and are vital for ourcommunity’s tourism industry, while also providing protection to our infrastructure.

FLL Receives $27 Million

The Florida Department of transportation (FDOT) has awarded Fort Lauderdale-HollywoodInternational Airport (FLL) $27 million to build a five-gate remote terminal. This funding, in addition to a $27 million investment from airport funds, will support the design and construction of the terminal, estimated to cost $54 million. Tentative plans are to build the remote terminal east of Terminal 4. It will be accessible to passengers via buses from a new bus station at Terminal 4. Travelers will benefit from the additional gates by relieving congestion, allowing airlines to offer additional service, and improving their travel experience. The addition of these five gates is a cost effective way to meet FLL’s significant growth, with increased flights from several airlines. For more information on FLL’s expansion please visit Broward.org/Airport.

Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau Unveils Digital Brand Initiatives

Broward County increased its domestic tourism market in 2016 by 4 percent with 12.27 million visitors and increased international visitation by 13 percent over 2015 with 1.01 million visitors. The rest of the country saw a 2.1 percent decrease in overseas visitors. Recently, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau’s (GFLCVB) unveiled marketing initiatives which included an increased media spend of $5 million, 25 percent more than last year, with at least 60 percent of the total media budget in the digital space including multi-lingual digital visitor collateral. Additionally, in order to overcome negative perceptions of the recent hurricane impact on South Florida, despite minimal damage, the GFLCVB pledged $1 million to defend the winter high season and increase the destination’s presence in key feeder markets in the Northeast, Midwest, Texas and California on social media, radio, and television.

King Tides

Low lying areas in Broward County are extremely vulnerable this time of year due to high tides. Flooding in low-lying areas is more likely with the close proximity of the moon, higher than average tides called King Tides, rising sea levels, and inclement weather conditions that combine to intensify flooding risks. These often occur during the fall (August-November) with the peak usually occurring with King Tides (Highest tide of year) in October.

Broward County is calling all citizen scientists interested in helping document tidal flooding in the community. If you or agroup want to "adopt" a site to monitor and report, download and read the King Tides Initiative Citizen Science Guidebook and then submit a Group Signup Form. (Individuals do not need to sign up). You can participate by uploading photos of flooding you observe in your neighborhood or community.

To sign up and for additional information please visit Broward.org/NaturalResources.

Animal Care and Adoption Makes an Offer

Through November 17th, adopt a Big Dog (40 lbs. or more) and receive free pet supplies! Adopters can name their own adoption fee for all dogs, additional fees for cats continue to be waived. A$20 non-refundable deposit applies to hold a stray/lost dog or cat. All adoptions include spaying/neutering, all necessary vaccinations, a Broward County Rabies Registration License tag and a microchip!

For additional information please visit Broward.org/Animal.

The Resident's Guide to Government provides a convenient resource to help people stay connected to their local government. It includes contact information for County officials and Federal, State and local agencies. Visitors can subscribe to E-news and social media sites. Please sign up at Broward.org/District4 to receive email updates from our office. If there is anything that we can do to assist you with your vision for a better Broward, please do not hesitate to contact our office at 954-357-7004 or by email at clamarca@broward.org.

As always, it is my honor and privilege to serve you.

Best regards,

Response and Recovery Associated with
Hurricane Irma

• Homeowners are enouraged to register early for FEMA Disaster Assistance, if you have damage or sustained impact you believe may result in future damage. Register either online at disasterassistance.gov or call 800-621-3362.
• Businesses can contact the Florida Virtual Business Emergency Operations Center for a Damage Assessment Survey form.
• Find out if you qualify for the Small Business Administration Disaster Loan Program, the Internal Revenue Service tax relief for survivors of disasters, or Disaster Unemployment Assistance for individuals whose employment or self-employment has been lost or interrupted by visiting http://www.broward.org/EconDev

• Broward County Call Center: 3-1-1 or 954-831-4000
• Florida Power & Light: 1-800-4-OUTAGE (800-468-8243)
• AT&T U Verse: 1-800-531-5000 or visit https://www. att. com/esupport/
• Comcast: 1-800-COMCAST or visit customer.xfinity.com/help-and-support
• State of Florida Emergency Information: 1-800-342-3557
• Price Gouging Hotline: 1-866-966-7226 or visit myfloridalegal.com.Keep your receipt or take a photograph of the displayed charge to support your complaint.
• Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Program: 1-800-659-2955 (TTY/TDD:1-800-877-8339) or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov
• State of Florida Online Damage Assessment for Businesses: http://flvbeoc.org/
• FEMA Individual Assistance: 1-800-621-3362 or 800-621-FEMA or visit https://disasterassistance.gov/
• Insurance Consumer Helpline: 1-877-693-5236

• Watch the news for information regarding the reinstatement of garbage and recycling services.
• Understand that all services will resume as soon as possible after an emergency, although it may be several weeks before bulk waste collections are reinstated and hurricane debris is removed. The first priority will be to remove hurricane debris prior to reinstating bulk waste collection.
• Keep waste separated at the curb for easier collection (household garbage, tree trimmings, and miscellaneous debris and trash).
• Cut tree limbs into sections 4 feet in length and 50 pounds or less. Stack neatly at the curb.
• Place all debris curbside. Collection contractors can only pick up debris from the curb.It may take several weeks to clear debris, even in the event of a weaker hurricane.
• If FPL or AT&T cuts down branches or trees in your yard, it is your responsibility to properly prepare the debris for collection as indicated above.

• Use garbage bags, plastic bags, paper bags or cardboard boxes for putting out household garbage.
• Rely on County personnel and collection contractors to remove debris from locations other than curbsides or public roadways.
• Risk property damage or personal injury by placing debris near a fence, mailbox, poles or on top of power line equipment.
• Place garbage and recycling at the curb until an announcement has been made that these services have resumed.
• Place items in front of vacant lots - they wont be collected.