City Commissioner Heather Moraitis provided the following update from the City of Fort Lauderdale on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). We appreciate the leadership, time and effort Commissioner Moraitis has put into helping guide our city during this unique health crisis. She has been fabulous in her communications to residents and Facebook posts, keeping us as up to date as possible, given how quickly events are changing in the city, county, state and federal government. The City of Fort Lauderdale has numerous emergency regulations in place regarding operations and services, buildings and facilities, openings and closures, public meetings, events, public gatherings, and promoting social distancing in an effort to help slow the spread of COVID-19 and ensure the healthcare system is not overwhelmed. To see the latest updates on current regulations, please visit www.fortlauderdale.gov/coronavirus.
We also appreciate the leadership and commitment being made by County Commissioner Lamar Fisher and State Representative Chip LaMarca, both of whom have done an excellent job of communicating updated information to all of us.
Additional links to Centers for Disease Control, Department of Business and Professional Regulations, and Broward County Sheriff about actions on Coronavirus can be found on the Regency Tower website.
UPDATE: Effective June 1, use of the Galt Mile beaches will be expanded to allow picnicking, sunbathing, sitting, or lying on the beach, as well as the use of umbrellas, canopies, chairs, loungers and coolers. The original restrictions were in place to keep people moving on the beach and prevent overcrowding. The restrictions still include no group gatherings or events of more than 10 people and no group or organized sports, like volleyball. County Administrator Bertha Henry issued Emergency Order 20-14 on Friday, May 29, which further addresses Phase 1 reopening guidelines to slightly expand beach activities as described above.
County Administrator Bertha Henry issued Emergency Order 20-13 on Friday, May 22, which extends Phase 1 reopening guidelines to beaches, commercial gyms and commercial fitness centers, hotels and other commercial lodging, with restrictions, effective Tuesday, May 26.
Pio Ieraci
The Galt Mile Community Association, under the leadership of President Pio Ieraci, has been working directly with County Commissioner Lamar Fisher on getting our Galt Mile beaches reopened, but doing so in a safe manner. “We appreciate all the efforts and support from Commissioner Fisher in achieving this goal – and we are excited to be able to return to our beautiful Galt beaches – even with the restrictions placed on their use at this time” stated Pio Ieraci. All residents and associations are strongly urged to abide
County Comm. Lamar Fisher
by these guidelines to protect our fellow residents and not place our beaches in jeopardy of being closed due to flagrant violations.
Highlights of the new order include:
Beaches Open: All beaches can open with limited hours (sunrise to sunset). Ocean activities such as surfing, swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding and body surfing are allowed; also walking, running and biking.
Beach Restrictions for Now: Like other communities across the country, Broward beaches are not yet open for picnicking, sunbathing, sitting or lying on the beach. Group or organized sports (such as volleyball), umbrellas, canopies, chairs, loungers and coolers are also not yet allowed, and no group gatherings of more than 10 people. Beachgoers must maintain social distancing (six feet of separation), except between members of the same household or groups.
Vacation Rentals: Vacation rentals are open, but only for essential lodgers, as authorized by the Governor’s Executive Order 20-87.
Enforcement is critical to the success of the reopening strategy, to ensure that a spike in new cases does not occur, which could result in another complete or partial shutdown. County and Health Department officials are monitoring benchmarks that will help identify the emergence of “hotspots” that can be quickly mitigated.
Law enforcement and code enforcement agencies are authorized to enforce the requirements of the Emergency Order. Failure to comply can result in civil or criminal penalties, including fines, imprisonment or both. Residents can also report violations anonymously online at MyBroward.Broward.org, or by calling the Broward County Call Center at 311 or 954-831-4000.
These re-openings are in addition to those outlined in Emergency Order 20-12 issued May 21. Because COVID-19, however, remains a serious threat to public safety, the social distancing, facial covering and sanitation requirements remain in place for businesses that reopen, and the individuals who patronize them.
Broward County has been under a Local State of Emergency since March 10. For the latest updates, visit FloridaHealth.gov, email [email protected] or call the COVID Call Center at 954-357-9500. To learn what Broward County is doing to keep our community safe, visit Broward.org/Coronavirus.
Commentary: In his March 2020 Newsletter, District 4 Broward Commissioner Lamar Fisher opens by citing how County Administrator Bertha Henry echoed Governor Ron DeSantis’ COVID-19 Executive Orders
Fisher applauds Port Everglades’ eligibility for $29.1 million in “New Start” funding allocated to the construction of a new Coast Guard Station. As State grants and port revenues fund the balance of almost $10 million, the Army Corps of Engineers will oversee widening the Intracoastal Waterway by 250 feet, enabling Port Everglades to access the economic windfall reaped by those few ports with clearance sufficient for huge Neo-Panamax cargo vessels.
Six years after Broward County implemented a voter-mandated Consolidated Emergency Dispatch System on October 1, 2014, municipal firefighters still hit the brakes when they reach their City’s borders, even if the flames are in spitting distance. Broward Emergency 911 officials finally launched the long-delayed county-wide “Closest Unit Response.” Beginning in March, Fisher reports that Sunrise, Lauderhill, North Lauderdale, Oakland Park, Tamarac and Fort Lauderdale will integrate GPS with Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) to automatically locate and dispatch the closest properly equipped first responder, a protocol planned for every Broward municipality by the end of 2021.
After exhorting how failure to flesh out the upcoming 2020 Census count will cripple future State and/or Federal grants and subsidies while leaving Broward residents underrepresented in Congress, Fisher invites constituent input to help set priorities for the first Broward Parks and Recreation Division Master Plan.
Commentary: In her February – March 2020 Newsletter, District 1 City Commissioner Heather Moraitis opens by inviting constituents to attend the March 14 home opener of Major League Soccer (MLS), as David Beckham’s Inter Miami CF team was poised to confront the L.A. Galaxy (his former team) in the sports complex recently erected on the site that used to house Lockhart Stadium.
Taking a page from the NBA, the NHL the Miami Open and Major League Baseball, two days before the game, Major League Soccer postponed its season, placing the contest on hold. As the Coronavirus was still a cloudy enigma, a delighted Moraitis notes how events conspired to provide the City (and District 1 residents) with 2 new stadiums and an impressive laundry list of recreational amenities – courtesy of David Beckham’s Major League Soccer franchise.
Moraitis also looks at the first 7 of 150 planned Infrastructure projects, sewer repairs and tips that may help the city dodge future blockages, how the Reiss Report redefined the City’s Comprehensive Utility Master Plan, the Corollo Report recommendations for the Fiveash Water Plant, LauderBriefs that update City Commission meetings, a pictorial summary of recent events and how to flag FPL about street light outages. Ironically, about one week after the Commissioner issued this Newsletter, COVID-19 took the planet hostage.
Broward County Administrator Bertha Henry issued Emergency Order 20-09, effective Friday, May 8, stating that all beaches in Broward County will remain closed. This Emergency Order shall expire upon the expiration of the existing State of Local Emergency. The county gave no potential date as to when the beaches may reopen. This order applies to all public and private beaches in Broward County.
Gov. DeSantis announced that he would like to see Broward and Miami-Dade “move into Phase 1 on May 18” Both Palm Beach and Miami-Dade officials have targeted May 18 for beach re-openings. Earlier, all three counties had agreed to align their re-opening plans to deter people from overrunning the county with fewer restrictions. DeSantis said he was hopeful those counties could move into Phase 1 reopening by May 18, provided the trends for new coronavirus cases are downward. Beachgoers will be limited to “activities consistent with social distancing and exercise,” meaning walking, swimming, biking, running, fishing and surfing, according to the emergency order.
Gov DeSantis indicated that May 18 could be an option for reopening Broward County beaches and possibly Phase 1 of the reopening plan.
Phase 1 reopening, according to state guidelines, means elective surgeries can recommence at hospitals, and restaurants will be allowed to open at 25% capacity. Bars and gyms will remain closed, but barber shops, hair salons and nail salons will be allowed to open.
Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis stated, “I recently asked the governor for permission to begin a phased reopening with continued safeguards for our health. He had specifically prohibited Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties from any substantial reopening despite allowing the rest of the state to move forward. However, he now has indicated that could change soon. We have taken the limited steps to reopen some amenities that the governor and Broward County have allowed to this point. We have permitted passive recreation in our parks, opened golf courses, allowed multifamily associations to open their pools and expanded the operation of boat ramps and marinas.”
Trantalis concluded by saying, “I hope we can quickly continue to open more aspects of our society. Our economy has suffered with businesses shut down and unemployment rising. The status quo is simply not sustainable.”
*In his
November – December 2019 Newsletter, District 4 Broward Commissioner Lamar Fisher opens by
summarizing the County’s 2019 achievements and noting that Broward Vice Mayor Dale V.C. Holness replaced Mark Bogen as Broward Mayor
(Commissioner Steve Geller was named Vice
Mayor). Fisher also explains how a Federal grant and Broward
Capital Improvement revenues were earmarked for storm-hardening
Homeless Assistance Centers in Fort Lauderdale and Pompano
Beach, while funding renovations in the entrance and intake areas at the Pompano
facility. After listing the new shops and services in Fort Lauderdale /
Hollywood International Airport (FLL), the Commissioner warns
boaters about the seasonal increase
of manatees in County waterways, and how to report discovering a
manatee that is either sick, injured, or dead. Also in this edition, read
Commissioner Lamar Fisher’s November – December 2019 Newsletter in its
entirety. – [editor]*
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019
Dear
Residents,
I’m thrilled
to have completed my first year as your County Commissioner. I look forward to
continuing to improve our resident’s quality of life by focusing on several key
issues in our community. Here are some recent headlines from around the County.
Broward
County’s State of the County and New County Mayor & Vice Mayor
Recently,
Broward County’s outgoing Mayor Mark Bogen delivered the 2019 State of the
County Address. Several accomplishments were made during the past year,
including; passing a $5.8 billion budget without raising taxes, raising the
living wage for County employees, setting aside an additional $22 million to
build affordable housing, launching Text to 911, expanding the Paratransit
Rider’s Choice Pilot Program, implementing the ePermitsOneStop in the City of
Pompano Beach, funding from the Transportation Surtax has resulted in a $146
million approved by the Oversight Board for transportation projects and
expenditures, and so much more.
After the
State of the County, the Board selected the new Broward County Mayor and new
Vice Mayor. Commissioners selected former Vice Mayor Dale V.C. Holness to serve
as Mayor and Commissioner Steve Geller to serve as Vice Mayor. Mayor Holness’
theme for 2020 is Broward 2050: One community moving forward together with
prosperity for all. I look forward to assisting my colleagues in building
on this theme as we work collaboratively with the community in order to ensure
our residents needs are met.
Broward
County Receives over $5 Million Grant for Homeless Shelters
Recently,
Broward County was awarded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
over $6.8 million under a Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) to assist in
hardening the North Homeless Assistance Center (North HAC), located in Pompano
Beach, and the Central Homeless Assistance Center (Central HAC), located in
Fort Lauderdale. The HMGP funding will provide improved wind resistance to the
existing building. The work includes new or improved roofs, exterior walls,
doors and windows that will meet hurricane requirements per Florida Building
Code building. Funding also provides for the installation of new generators for
both facilities that will allow both facilities to operate during certain
emergencies.
In addition
to obtaining FEMA funding, the Construction Management Division, working with
our Community Partnerships Division, was able to secure an additional $1.8
million, to the already available $1.2 million County funding, as approved by
the Board of County Commissioners under the County’s Capital Improvement
Program. The additional $3 million County funding will allow for the
construction of a new covered, secured entrance and lobby for the North HAC
facility and will allow for upgrades to the intake areas, including new
processing and examination rooms and improved ADA restrooms. These improvements
are just another exciting step in the effort to continue to assist individuals
experiencing homelessness. I’m proud of the work our Human Services Department
does out in our community and proud of our Commission as we see the importance
of helping our most vulnerable residents.
For more
information on all the services provide by the Broward County Human Services
Department please visit www.Broward.org/HumanServices.
Fort
Lauderdale International Airport (FLL) Update
Next time
you fly through our wonderful FLL make sure to check out all the exciting
updates and changes happening which are helping to improve your flying
experience.
FLL’s
Rental Car Center (RCC) offerings will expand from 11 to 14 companies by the
end of 2019. The new providers coming are Sixt, Fox, and Ace. They will join
FLL’s existing RCC lineup of Advantage, Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar,
Enterprise, E-Z, Hertz, National, Payless, and Thrifty, all under one roof.
The restrooms in Terminal
3, Concourses E and F, will be getting a makeover in the coming weeks as part
of the Aviation Department’s ongoing efforts to enhance the airport’s guest
experience. The
restroom remodeling project is expected to be completed by December 2020.
New
shops and dinning:
Terminal
1, Concourse C opened a NewsLink store on November 8.
Shake
Shack and Flash Fire Pizza are slated to open in Terminal 2, Concourse D before
the end of the year.
Rocco’s
Tacos and Tequila Bar is also set to open before the end of the year in
Terminal 1, Concourse C.
For more
information about all the exciting news happening at FLL please visit www.Broward.org/airport.
Manatee
Season Has Begun!
Manatee
season runs from November 15th through March 31st. Due to
the cold weather up north, manatees begin moving south toward warm-water
refuges while seasonal and manatee protection speed limit zones go into effect
throughout the state. Boaters are cautioned to be on the lookout for greater
numbers of manatee presence throughout the County’s waterways.
If a
manatee is spotted, the sighting can be reported by using the County’s “I Spy a
Manatee” mobile app (available for free download on the Apple App Store and
Google Play). The app also provides maps of the County’s state-regulated
manatee protection and boating safety zones allowing boaters to immediately see
what zone(s) they are traveling through if using the location services of the
mobile device.
If you see a
sick, injured, or dead manatee, please call the Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Wildlife Alert Number at (888) 404-FWCC (3922),
*FWC or # FWC on a cell phone or with a text to [email protected].
Once again, I’d like to thank you for giving me the
opportunity to serve you as your County Commissioner. Please sign up at Broward.org/Commission/District4to receive email updates from our
office. You can also follow me on Twitter and like
my Facebook
page.
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 [email protected].
