With the new year, the Galt Mile Community Association (GMCA), the neighborhood association of condos, coops, businesses and residents in the Galt Mile community, is continuing to work on many issues carried over from 2020 and will be undertaking new issues in 2021.
The new officers of the GMCA are: President Fred Nesbitt (Playa Del Mar); Vice President Eric Berkowitz (Regency Tower), Treasurer Andy Surdovel (Plaza South), Secretary Fern McBride (Regency Tower), and Directors Ralph Hamaker (Coral Ridge Towers South), Ed Hashek (The Galleon), and Paul Sarelakos (Southpoint). The GMCA’s Presidents’ Council and Advisory Board continue to meet via Zoom during this pandemic.
Our associations continue to deal with the COVID pandemic. Our County Commissioner Larmar Fisher reports that 55% of the 65 and over residents of Broward County have been vaccinated. Health care workers and essential employees have been vaccinated; the vaccinations will now be extended to teachers and public safety officers aged 50 and above and those under 65 who have a medical necessity. The Galt Mile website continues to provide updated information on where and how to get vaccinated.
Our police liaison, Sgt Tom Gestal, continues reporting no serious crime issues on the Galt Mile. We appreciate all the great work done by our Fort Lauderdale Police Department and the special security patrol on Galt Ocean Drive of off-duty police officers who are paid by associations on the beach. These two factors, plus each association having its own security and residents being security-minded make the Galt Mile the safest area in Fort Lauderdale.
Beach renourishment of eroded sand will take place between November 1, 2021 – April 30, 2022. Our sand will be brought onto the beach through two entries: Palm Avenue (sand trucked south) and NE 30th Street (sand trucked north). See Commissioner Lamar Fisher’s February newsletter for more information or go broward.org/beachrenourishment or Facebook under Broward Environment. If you have specific questions you can email Broward Environmental Planning at [email protected] or call 954-519-1270.
The right of associations to opt-out of installing fire sprinklers as part of an Engineered Life Safety System continues to be a priority for many associations who voted to opt-out of a full sprinkler installation in 2016. FACTSS (Florida Association of Condominiums to Support Self-Determination) continues to work on a legislative solution to this issue.
We are very appreciative of the support the Galt Mile community receives from its elected representatives: Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner Heather Moraitis, Broward County Commissioner Larmar Fisher; State Representative Chip LaMarca and State Senator Gary Farmer. We appreciate the support from other Fort Lauderdale city officials, Broward County officials, county officers, and state officials.
Our goal is to make the Galt Mile community a safe, desirable place to live, walk, shop, eat, entertain and socialize. It’s our neighborhood – and everyone plays a role in making us better.
