Broward County Property Appraiser Marty Kiar has issued a newsletter that provides details to all residents regarding the Homestead exemption, time frame for use of portability of the exemption, and the annual senior exemption renewal. Information about the Homestead exemption registration and all property appraisal matters can be found on their website: bcpa.net. Click here to read the newsletter.
You can also follow Marty Kiar on Facebook.
The holiday season is upon us and I want to encourage everyone to please stay safe. Broward County continues to work closely with the Florida Department of Health during this pandemic. The County receives and reviews daily state and regional criteria/indicators that provides administration with the ability to assess how our community is doing. Broward County is trending slightly higher in the number of positive cases in our area the past couple of weeks.
As previously reported, The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to start construction of a post-Hurricane Irma repair project in Pompano Beach, Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, and Fort Lauderdale. The project is estimated to place approximately 387,800 cubic yards of upland sand along the shoreline, with 100% cost share by the federal government. Temporary beach construction access point closures will be necessary and public access will be restricted on the beach area directly under construction; however, all efforts will be made to accommodate beach access to residents and guests, while assuring safe construction operations.
Broward County is hosting a public outreach meeting is scheduled for October 30, 2020, from 11AM to 12PM via online webinar. Questions can be emailed to [email protected] and you can register to attend this virtual workshop by clicking below or visiting www.Broward.org/BeachRenourishment.
I am thrilled to advise the Galt Ocean Mile Reading Center will reopen on Monday, November 9th! During the closure due to COVID 19, our libraries and facilities teams worked diligently on the previously planned renovation of the Reading Center. I have seen photos of the finished project and I am hopeful the patrons will be happy with their new Reading Center. At this time computer usage is not available but please be assured Library staff is working to have the computers available in the near future.
Many thanks to our Library and Facilities staff for their hard work on this renovation project. And, to our patrons, thank you for your patience! Happy Reading! A list of all library events can be found by clicking here.
Lamar Fisher, Broward County Commissioner, District 4
For more information on location, hours calendar of events and classes, and Friends of the Galt Mile Reading Center, please click here.
A special thanks goes to Theresa Claire, a member of the Galt Mile Community Association Advisory Board, for her volunteer hours and dedicated work toward getting our Galt Mile Reading Center renovation completed. She used her voice to push our elected representatives to get the project started and completed. We thank her for shepherding this project from inception until completion, and keeping the GMCA updated and informed every step of the way.
The Segment II Shore Protection Project is located within central Broward County and contains the municipalities of Pompano Beach, Sea Ranch Lakes, Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, and Fort Lauderdale. The project area has undergone three sand placement events in 1970, 1983, and 2016.
Currently, planning is underway for a Flood Control and Coastal Emergency (FCCE) project in Segment II. The project is expected to go to construction in Winter 2020, under 100% federal cost participation. These projects will replace losses from Hurricane Irma and rebuild the beaches to their full design template, above and below the water line, where feasible. Construction may begin in February 2021-March 2021. Alternatively, the contractor may decide to begin and complete the project in one phase from November 2021-March 2022. The schedule will be confirmed in January after the contract is awarded by the US Army Corps of Engineers. They are keeping the turtle nesting season in mind.
In a conference call with Broward county, this is the latest on the project:
The last 2016 Segment II Shore Protection Project was constructed between January and December 2016. Due to sea turtle nesting season, no construction activities or sand placement occurred from May 1 to October 31. The project included sand placement along two reaches of shoreline. The northern reach, located along southern Pompano Beach and northern Lauderdale-By-The-Sea was approximately 5,150 feet in length, and the southern reach located along southern Lauderdale-By-The-Sea and northern/central Fort Lauderdale (including the Galt Mile) was approximately 21, 050 feet in length. Overall, 710,300 cubic yards of sand was placed within the project area from an upland sand mine. The most recent project accounted for sea level rise within its design, and this volume was included within the total amount of fill placed. Depending upon location along the shoreline, the restored beach added between 75 to 125 additional feet of beach. Additionally, over 1.5 miles of new dune habitat was created by the project. Overall, total project costs related to sand placement only were approximately $36 million.
In his May 2020 Newsletter, District 4 Broward County Commissioner Lamar Fisher thanks constituents for “staying at home” and adhering to the terms in other COVID-19 Broward emergency orders, recognizes essential workers and volunteers for keeping the community afloat prior to the County’s May 18 kickoff of Phase 1, and suggests that hurricane season preparations include subscribing to notifications from ALERT!BROWARD.
Along with allocations to offset general COVID-19 containment costs, the County coughed up funding assistance for the homeless, for non-profit cultural organizations and $2.3 million for Broward Supervisor of Elections Peter Antonacci to shield voters from the pandemic in the 2020 primary and general elections. He relocated 12 at-risk polling sites, budgeted postage sufficient for sending vote-by-mail ballots to roughly 65% of the electorate for the next two years and acquired new equipment to print and process the ballots.
Fisher laments how the failure of many Broward residents to complete the 2020 Census input will hammer the County’s eligibility for State and Federal funding, threatening a decade of regular shortfalls typically billed to Broward taxpayers. The census data also determines Broward’s share of Federal representation (Congress) during the next decade.
The Stay Local Campaign
Destination DC (DDC) is the official marketing organization for the nation’s capital. Last November, DDC launched a consumer advertising campaign named “Stay Local DC”, which used deep discounts to draw DC residents into local shops and restaurants, and book staycations in Washington, DC hotels. It worked like a charm.
When officials began relieving mass containment restrictions first triggered by the pandemic after January, residents concerned by reopening plans that blew off CDC recovery prerequisites in order to salvage the economy suddenly realized that restaurant profits rated a higher priority than the lives of their families. The Stay Local enticements were used to cajole residents still leery about exposure into the marketplace. Proven effective, the marketing concept spread to jurisdictions across the country – including Broward County.
Fisher closes by endorsing the Stay Local Campaign as a vehicle for reviving the local economy. Marketing muscle ordinarily used by the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau to attract visitors world-wide to South Florida destination sites was refocused on local residents who spent months bouncing off the walls of their homes while fending off a claustrophobic stupor. It combines the fear of traveling during a pandemic with a cash flow transfusion to struggling local businesse
Click here to read Commissioner Lamar Fisher’s May 2020 Newsletter.
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
with a Declaration of Emergency. Henry later tailored the Declaration to subsequent gubernatorial mandates with two extensions and 7 Emergency 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.
Read on for Commissioner Lamar Fisher’s March 2020 Newsletter
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.
Click here to read Emergency Order 20-09 and subsequent materials.
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.”
Commentary
*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.
For more information or to keep up to date please visit www.Broward.org/Commission.
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.
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/District4 to 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].
I wish you a safe and happy holiday season!
Best regards,
Lamar P. Fisher
County Commissioner
District 4