City Commission - Regular Meeting

UNIDENTIFIED This 04/07/2026. Thank you for all for being here. Sorry, we got started a little bit late, and I appreciate your patience. The afternoon meeting went a little longer than we expected. So for those of you who are here for the first time, we want to thank you for being here.

And we started our meetings with the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence and then we go into various announcements. So if I could please ask you all to please rise and join me in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of The United States Of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Please be seated.

So this has been a rather, difficult week for many members of our community. Three people have passed away. We have Tom Chancey, who was the landscape architect and founder of the nonprofit Treebank. We have Richard Rodriguez, who is the former chair of the Riverwalk Board of Directors. And tragically, of course, former Vice Mayor Nancy Matea of the City Of Coral Springs.

So if you could please join me in a moment of silence in remembrance of them. Thank you. At this time, I also want to take a point of special privilege to be able to announce some retirements here in our city. We have five people who have served, twenty years or more in our city, and I want to thank them for their service. First, with Ken Rich John, police officer with our department for twenty years.

Thank you so much for your service. We have Jeffrey Fogg, firefighter paramedic firefighter paramedic with our fire rescue department, twenty eight years. Thank you for your service. Joshua Wells, captain with fire rescue, twenty eight years. Congratulations.

Gregory Snyder, driver engineer, Fire Rescue, thirty two years. Wow, congratulations. And Antonio Jan, Captain with Fire We're in we're in midst a going if you were here this afternoon, you would understand that joke. Anyway, so it's really great. Unfortunately, we lost four people in fire rescue, so get to work.

Recruit. Recruit. Recruit. Okay. Mister Clerk, could you please call the roll?

Vice Mayor Herps? Present. Commissioner Glassman? Here. Commissioner Beasley Pittman? Here. Commissioner Sorensen? Here. Mayor Trent House?

Yes. Here. Couple of agenda announcements. First of all, m two, we are removing from the agenda. That's concerning, the Jacob engineering contract. And then, aside from that, do I hear a motion to approve the minutes and the agenda as amended?

Move. Second.

It's been moved and seconded. Please call the roll.

Commissioner Sorensen? Yes. Vice Mayor Herps?

Yes.

Commissioner Glassman? Yes. Commissioner Beasley Pittman? Yes. Mayor Trent Alice?

Yes. And those minutes and the agenda as amended are now approved. So we take a pause now, before we begin, voting on matters and discussing on matters on the agenda to recognize, people, events, or certain, months that, are important for the city of Fort Lauderdale and the community that we represent and recognizing, special the special month that April is. And I'd like to begin by asking Commissioner Sorenson, who has the first presentation, to approach the podium. And I'm asking Carrie Ann Brown from the Guardian ad litem office to please join him regarding National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Thank you, mayor. Thank you, Carrie Anne, for being here. It's wonderful being with you celebrating this together and for your thirteen years of work at Guardian ad litem and just the great work you've done. It's been privilege being a small part of that and part of your team and honored to celebrate this with our proclamation and then love to hear from you. And also we were talking about some of the volunteer opportunities that could be available to the public and city staff members, so love to hear a little bit about that.

So this is in recognition of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, whereas Florida's future is shaped by children we nurture today and every child deserves to grow up in a safe, healthy and loving environment free from abuse, neglect and trauma. And whereas when even one child suffers, the impact extends beyond the individual and their family to the entire community, reinforcing the shared responsibility to protect, uplift and support all children so they may thrive. And whereas the National Abuse Prevention Month encourages all Floridians to strengthen families and communities so children can grow up and flourish. Additionally, during the week of April 19 through April 25, National Volunteer Week recognizes volunteers whose time, compassion and service are essential to advancing efforts that support vulnerable children. And whereas the mission of protecting children and strengthening families is advanced by the Florida Guardian ad litem office, Circuit 17 serving Broward County, which provides advocacy for abused, abandoned and neglected children and whereas the effectiveness of the Florida Guardian ad litem office is demonstrated by significant outcomes, including full legal representation for 100% of children for the first time in Florida's history, a 97% appellate success rate and dedication of more than 8,000 volunteers statewide who contributed over one hundred and ninety four thousand hours of service and traveled over a million miles to support children.

And whereas when child abuse prevention efforts are supported through strong partnerships among family schools, service providers, law enforcement, faith groups, businesses and local leaders, we create a culture of care and accountability that protects children and empowers family. Now therefore, we as city commissioners of the city Of Fort Lauderdale proclaim April 2026 as National Child Abuse Prevention Month dated this day, the April 2026, signed your mayor, Dean Jay Trantellis.

Good evening, everyone. Mayor Trantellis, commissioners, I want to thank you for giving us this opportunity and for recognizing in the city of Fort Lauderdale as Child Abuse Prevention Month. And also I want to extend it's also Volunteer Appreciation Week that's coming up. And for those of you whether you volunteer with our organization or any organization, I want to say thank you. So I don't know if there are any volunteers here in the room. That's a guardian, no? Alright, for those of you who may be looking on at there is.

No? Future volunteer. You are.

You are a cop. Come on. On. Up. Come on up. Thank you. Anyone else? Anyone else? Okay. So as she takes her time to be here, I just I want to extend also for those of you that are watching that are at home, thank you for what you do and what you do for our children. And so I want to take this opportunity to personally thank you for all the hard work. I know it's not easy. You run through every emotion that you can possibly imagine. But at the end of the day, you can say tell them what it is at the end of the day.

It's for the children.

Yes.

Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you so much.

All right. So, before I go, shameless PSA, you can go to our website www.guardianadlytem.org to learn more. And I just wanna share with you if you're an attorney, there are pro bono opportunities at our office. You can give your time, you can volunteer in a case, you can become a mentor. And for those of you that are in the community wondering how you can give back, you can also volunteer with us.

And we also have mentor opportunities and the state it's now law that our kids that are aging out of care from 16 onwards, should be assigned a mentor. So the mentors are really critical because our kids are getting ready to leave foster care and to enter into the world of the unknown is what I would call it sometimes and laugh. But if you remember yourself when you were growing up, you, had some of us had our parents or grandparents, a family friend, a neighbor who was our mentor, maybe even a coach. So if you have the time, please give it back to our youth so that they can become their best possible selves when they do leave, the system of care. So for those of you again if you're interested, please go to our website, guardianadlytem.org and come and listen to one of our information sessions.

We just so happen to have one tomorrow at twelve noon and the next one at 6PM and they're all via Zoom. Look how convenient we make it for you. So please give back our children and our youth. They do need us. And so I would leave you with this. If not you, then who?

Thank you. I'll take a picture

of Carrie Anne. Thanks.

We lost our step and repeat background. Collateral there. I guess I have to be in this picture now. Thank you so much, Carrie Anne. Now I'd like to invite commissioner Pam Beasley Pittman, who will be presenting a proclamation regarding, World Landscape Architecture Month here in the city of Fort Lauderdale. And I'd like to invite, Jordan Chang, who's the Broward Chair of the American Society of Landscape Architects Florida Chapter to come to the podium.

Good evening, everyone. I am honored to present this proclamation from the office of the mayor of city of Fort Lauderdale. Proclamation in recognition of World Landscape Architectural Month, whereas landscape architecture includes the planning, designing, and stewardship of both natural and built environments, transforming visions into action to create places that are healthy, safe, and thriving. And whereas Wednesday, 04/01/2026 is recognized as Professional Landscape Architecture Day, excuse me, celebrating licensed professionals who use their expertise in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to enhance the quality of life in the city of Fort Lauderdale, while helping address challenges such as sea level rise, climate change, biodiversity loss, and urban resilience through thoughtful innovation and leadership. And whereas, as the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the United States, we recognize that landscape architect has long shaped and continued to steward the American landscape, creating and enduring places that reflect our shared values and preserve our cultural heritage.

And whereas the city of Fort Lauderdale recognized the essential role of landscape architects in advancing equitable and climate resistant infrastructure, designing parks, greenways, and waterfront spaces that strengthens the community's identity and also environmental health while reducing the financial burden of disaster recovery. And whereas landscape architects plan and design community master plans, walkable neighborhoods, multimobile transportation networks, green storm water infrastructure, and accessible public space including plazas, parks, schools, residential common areas, playgrounds, and trails that include active lifestyles and healthy living for Fort Lauderdale neighbors and visitors. Whereas the city of Fort Lauderdale celebrates landscape architects who designs and attract residents, businesses, and visitors by creating safe, sustainable, and welcoming public places and also those private spaces. And whereas, the city of Fort Lauderdale commends Ford Florida International University and the University of Florida for their incredible landscape architecture programs, which inspire and prepares the next generation of leaders and innovators to advance the profession and contribute to the future of the city's landscape. Now, therefore, we, as the city commissioners of the city of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, do hereby proclaim April 2026 as World Landscape Architecture Month here in the city of Fort Lauderdale, dated this the April 2026, signed by our mayor, Dean Trantellis.

Would you like to share anything with us?

Thank you so much for the proclamation, and thank you also for the acknowledgment of landscape architect, the progress made we're a design profession focused on outdoor spaces and places that we all enjoy and inhabit on a day to day basis. The projects that we work on can range from a residential yard to a residential community, from a neighborhood park to a theme park, resorts, campuses, storm water management plans. The work of landscape architects is diverse and varied, but it all shares a commitment to the public health, safety and well-being, the shaping of communities and bringing people in nature together. Thank you so much for the proclamation.

Thank you so much. Now our third presentation, I invite Commissioner Stephen Glassman to present a proclamation regarding Water Conservation Month. And I'd like to invite Talal Abi Karam to our Assistant Director of Utility Services Department and Julio Yeheda, External Affairs Specialist from the South Florida Water Management District to please join us at the podium.

Thank you, mayor. I'm very proud to present this proclamation from the office of the mayor, city of Fort Lauderdale in recognition of Water Conservation Month, April 2026. Whereas water is a basic and essential need of every living creature, and whereas the state of Florida Water Management Districts, Broward County, and the city of Fort Lauderdale work collaboratively to increase awareness about the importance of water conservation and recognize April as water conservation month, a typically dry period when water demands are highest. And whereas the city of Fort Lauderdale encourages and supports water conservation by engaging residents, businesses, and community partners through educational initiatives, including Water Matters Day, the Conservation Pays Program, NatureScape, and the Wyman National Mayor's Challenge for Water Conservation. And whereas approximately 40,000,000 gallons of water are used daily in Fort Lauderdale, underscoring the importance of responsible water use.

And whereas choosing ENERGY STAR labeled appliances and water sense fixtures in homes, yards and businesses can help save water and protect the environment. And whereas the average family can save 13,000 gallons of water and $140 in annual water costs by replacing inefficient toilets with water sense labeled models, which may be eligible for a $125 rebate through the conservation pays program. And whereas every business, industry, school and resident plays a vital role in adopting border saving practices to support the environment and a strong local economy for generations to come. Now, therefore, we, as city commissioners of the city of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, do hereby proclaim April 2026 as water conservation month in the city of Fort Lauderdale and encourage every resident, business, and institution to join us in a year round commitment to safeguarding our water resources, ensuring a sustainable future for Fort Lauderdale. Dated this, the April 2026, and signed by our mayor, the honorable dean, Jay Trentalis.

Thank you. Everyone say a few words? Thank you.

Thank you, commissioner. Mayor, vice mayor, commissioner, on behalf of our staff at utility service, we thank you for this proclamation. Few word about water and water conservation. When I moved to South Florida in 1994, it was click quickly clear to me the following four facts. Number one, water is an important economic engine for our economy, urban development, job, and tourism.

Number two, water resources in South Florida is a regional issue and is not a local one. Water resource problems are complex and costly, and solution required a collaboration of all stakeholder including cities, county, the South Florida Water Management District, Army Corps of Engineer, DEP, EPA, engineers, scientists, academia, and conservation group, and you, the public. Water in this area is finite resource and subject to stressor, including extreme weather event, climate change, and emerging contaminants. For those all the above reason, water is precious. We must conserve it.

We must protect it, and we must protect its quality, whether it is in the aquifer, in canals, in rivers, the Everglades, or at your faucet. As the proclamation indicate, the city participate and encourage all resident to benefit from a range of conservation program. However, perhaps the city biggest commitment to water conservation lies in the following three initiative. A $60,000,000 AMI program that aim at replacing 65,000 meter with smart meters. Those smart meters will allow resident to monitor their water consumption and will allow resident to discover leaks early, thus conserving water.

The city also have an ordinance on the book, or in the section 28 dash one b titled water conservation, which also limit the irrigation to two days per week depending on your address. And, of course, the recent initiative with the city creating the chief waterway officer aimed at improving water quality in the canals. Let's like to take a minute to thank our staff, the folks who can make your water, the chef in the kitchen, so to speak. Those silent dedicated staff work twenty four seven behind secure fences at secured plant, making sure that our plants are running, our motors are humming, our pumps are pumping, and your faucet is flowing. It includes the following folks' job category, treatment manager, plant manager, plant operator, mechanics, electrician, electro mech electro technician, SCADA technician, process control engineer, laboratory chemist, laboratory water control folks, and, of course, our well field staff who maintain our well fields.

Those folks you don't get to see. You see our crews day in, day out, but those folks are hidden behind wall. And, of course, those are supported by buyers, inventory specialists, administrative, and financial support. Finally, we can't do what we do without the support of you, the public, who embrace water conservation program and without the support of the city commission. So mayor, vice mayor, commissioner, we thank you for your support. Thank you.

Abi, it's a good thing this wasn't the Academy Awards.

Okay.

Wow.

Abi, you could talk all you want. Our last presentation is one that I'll be able to present. And, I'd like to invite our urban forester, Laura Tooley, to please join me at the podium as we declare 04/24/2026 as Arbor Day in the city of Fort Lauderdale. Are there members of the Fort Lauderdale Garden Club here as well? Please join me at the podium.

So tonight, from the office of the mayor of the city of Fort Lauderdale, a proclamation recognition of Arbor Day. Whereas Arbor Day has been observed throughout The United States for more than one hundred and fifty years, emphasizing the importance of conservation efforts. Trees contribute to a more sustainable environment by producing oxygen, cooling urban areas, improving water quality and reducing storm water impacts. Trees play a crucial role in building healthier, safer and more connected communities by providing shade and cooling cities by up to 10 degrees, helping reduce heat related illnesses and deaths in urban areas and Las Olas Boulevard. I'm sorry.

Trees provide essential habitats for it doesn't say that by the way. Trees provide essential habitats for native migratory birds, butterflies and other wildlife contributing to Fort Lauderdale's recognition as a certified community wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. The City of Fort Lauderdale has also set a goal to increase tree canopy coverage up to 33% by 2040 as outlined in the Advance Fort Lauderdale comprehensive plan and has prioritized tree canopy coverage as a key sustainability metric in its 2029 press play strategic plan. In support of this goal, the City Commission accepted the Urban Forestry Master Plan in January, providing strategic actions to expand and sustain the city's tree canopy. These ongoing efforts have earned Fort Lauderdale recognition as a Tree City USA partner by the Arbor Day Foundation for forty seven consecutive years, reflecting the city's long standing commitment to urban forestry.

Finally, in recognition of Arbor Day, the City of Fort Lauderdale will host and support a series of community events and activities from April 19 through April 25 of this year, encouraging residents, businesses and schools to participate in tree plantings and environmental stewardship efforts throughout the city. Now therefore, we as the city commissioners of the city Of Fort Lauderdale do proclaim the upcoming 04/24/2026 as Arbor Day here in the city of Fort Lauderdale and encourage all residents to observe Arbor Day by planting a tree to preserve and enhance our community's natural beauty and environmental health. Dated today, 04/07/2026, signed by myself, Mayor Dean Trentellis. Congratulations. Thank you.

Thank you

so much.

You want to share

a few words with us?

Share a few words. She's got a whole let's see here.

Mayor, commissioners, thank you so much for the proclamation. I really appreciate it. On behalf of the sustainability team, we work very hard to promote urban forestry in the city, and we've been promoting a lot of civic association tree giveaways and doing a lot of things in the past year. We'll be approaching applying next year for our forty eighth year as a Tree City USA. And we have a lot of dedicated partners and volunteers that in the parks department that maintains our urban forest, as well as within the community, planting trees in their backyards.

I'm really excited to about an upcoming program we're doing with the housing authority to plant trees on their property, and provide a source of sustenance for them. And I really appreciate, the recognition. Thank you.

Great. Thank you.

Ben, Karl, Doctor. Gassman.

Okay. On with the show. Here we go. We start with our agenda. We start with the what's called the consent agenda items. The consent agenda items are ones that the Commission votes on, together. And, but this is an opportunity for any member of the Commission to pull, a specific item if they'd like to discuss it and vote on it separately. So I will ask the commissioner if they have any items they wish to pull. Vice mayor, do have any items you wish to pull? Commissioner Beasley Pittman?

None.

I have none. None. Commissioner Glassman, none. None. None. Okay. A lot of nones here. Okay. Do I hear a motion to approve all the consent agenda items? So moved. Do I hear a second? Second. Moved and seconded. Now no one has signed up to speak on any consent agenda items, so, please call the roll.

Commissioner Commissioner Sorensen? Yes. Vice Mayor Herpst? Yes. Commissioner Glassman? Yes. Commissioner Beasley Pittman? Yes. Mayor Trentels?

Yes. And so all those items have been approved. If, any of you are here on those items, your your, item has been approved by the commission. You're welcome to stay for the rest of the meeting. Moving on to motions M1, this is a motion approving the first amendment to the revocable license agreement with Midtown Pal Flagler Village LLC for temporary right of way closure on Sistrunk Boulevard at Northeast 4th Avenue in association with Adventist Station Development to extend the term of the agreement. Mr. Schein is here just for questions. Where is Mr. Schein? Oh, there you are.

Anyone have any questions with regard to this item? There being none, someone like to please move the item. So moved. Second. Moved and seconded. Please call the roll.

Commissioner Sorensen? Yes. Vice mayor Herbst? Yes. Commissioner Glossman? Yes. Commissioner Biese Pitman?

Did you wanna read it? Did you have don't you have to read it?

Which one are you referring to?

Promotion one, m one? No. You don't

have to read it?

No. Just first and second. Okay. Commissioner Beasley Pittman? Yes. Mayor Trentals?

Yes. M one's now approved. M two has been removed from the agenda. Moving on to r one, appointment of board and committee members. Mister clerk, please, read the names into the record.

Thank you, mayor. For tonight's resolution, board of adjustment, Robert Wolf nominated by vice mayor Herps, Douglas Mead nominated by vice mayor Herps, Cemetery System Board of Trustees Barbara Larson nominated by vice mayor Herbst Economic Development Advice Board David Lange nominated by commissioner Glassman Education Advisory Board Kaia Vance nominated by commissioner Beasley Pittman Brian Bender nominated by commissioner Sorensen Sorenson Fire Rescue Facilities Bond Issue Blue Ribbon Committee Bruce Ainger nominated by commissioner Sorenson Historic Preservation Board Patricia Rathburn nominated by vice mayor Herbst Marine Advisory Board, Bob Swindell, nominated by Commissioner Sorenson Robert Franks, nominated by Commissioner Sorenson Northwest Progresso Flagler Heights Redevelopment Board, John Qualey, nominated by Vice Mayor Herbst Lakshmi Lauwani, nominated by Commissioner Glassman Noelle Edwards, nominated by Commissioner Beasley Pittman Parks and Recreation Beaches Board Christine Fancy, nominated by Vice Mayor Herbst Planning and Zoning Board Patrick Motygge, nominated by vice mayor Herbst. Sustainability advisory board, Sarah Ramanca, nominated by commissioner Sorensen. Parker Jacobson Bert Bertinazedi, that's the consensus honorary youth chair. And the wastewater large users advisory board, vice mayor Herbst.

And that rounds it out.

Okay. Are there any additions or modifications? Okay. There being none, would someone like to introduce a resolution?

Introduced.

Resolution has been introduced. Please call the roll.

A resolution of city commission of the city of Fort Lauderdale, Florida appointing or nominating, if applicable, boarding committee members as set forth in the exhibit attached hereto and made a part here of. Commissioner Sorensen? Yes. Vice mayor Herbst?

Yes.

Commissioner Glassman? Yes. Commissioner Beasley Pittman? Yes. Mayor Trent House?

Yes. And those, those individuals are now, appointed to those board and committees, and we appreciate your commitment and, volunteerism to the city. R2, this is a resolution providing notice of intent to enter into a comprehensive agreement for a qualifying project for the design, installation, financing, operation and maintenance of a citywide interactive digital kiosk program accepting unsolicited proposal from IKE Smart City and notice of intent to accept other proposals for the same project. One person signed up to speak only for questions. Does anyone have any questions?

I have a comment. Who's going to make the decision as to where these go? Because I'd hate to see 20 of these on A1A. We don't want to litter the beach with kiosks. I think kiosks are really great. I see them in other cities. They're used indoors as well as outdoors. So how are we city manager, how are we going to allocate the number of kiosk signs that are going to be part of this program?

Thank you, Mayor. So we will be working with the proposer or the company to identify viable locations, and that is yet to be negotiated. It would also include development services, public works, anyone that touches our right of way from a city permitting perspective. We also want to make sure that the neighborhoods have an opportunity Yes,

I think the stakeholders, the neighborhood associations should be consulted because I think that's going to have an impact on their quality of life. So okay, great. I think this is a great program. So I'm looking forward to it. Anyone else have any questions or comments? All right, there being none. Someone please introduce the resolution. Introduced. Resolution has been introduced. Please call the roll.

Mayor? Yes. Before you do so, we're recommending a twenty one day competition period. And if that's acceptable, we will work with the court.

Is that acceptable to you? Uh-huh. Okay.

A resolution to the commission of the city of Fort Lauderdale, Florida pursuant to section 255.065, Florida statute providing notice of intent to enter into a comprehensive agreement for a qualifying project for the design, installation, financing, operation, maintenance of the citywide network of interactive digital kiosks and notice of intent to accept other proposals for the same project providing for an effective date. Commissioner Sorensen? Yes. Vice mayor Herbst? Yes. Commissioner Glassman? Yes. Commissioner Beasley Pittman? Yes. Mayor Trentales?

Yes. And r two is now approved. R three, quasi judicial resolution to vacate a 2.5 feet wide by 130 feet long utility easement, Sunrise and Bayview Partners LLC. Anyone wishing to speak must be sworn in and the commission will announce any, site visits, communications, or expert opinions received and make them a part of the record. Vice mayor, do you have any disclosures? Commissioner Beasley Pittman?

No disclosures.

I don't have any is there an attorney representing anybody on this? We didn't have a meeting on this, did we? No. We did not. Okay. Commissioner Glassman? No disclosures. And commissioner Sorensen?

None. Okay. Good evening. Hi. Hi. Robert Healy with

the firm Lockyer in Chakus on behalf of the applicant here and available to answer any questions on this.

Are there any questions? There are no questions. Okay. Do I hear a motion to close public hearing?

Moved. Second.

Moved and seconded. Please call the roll on the motion to close public hearing.

Commissioner Sorensen? Yes. Vice mayor Herth? Yes. Commissioner Glassman? Yes. Commissioner Beasley Pittman? Yes. Mayor Trent House?

Yes. The public hearing is now closed on, r on, excuse me, on r three. Someone like to introduce a resolution. Introduced. Resolution has been introduced. Please call the roll.

A resolution of city commission of city of Fort Lauderdale, Florida vacating all that certain 2.5 feet by a 130 foot long plotted utility easement in portions of Lots 2 Block 1 Coral Ridge South addition according to the plot thereof as recorded. Plot book 24, page 41 of the public records of Broward County, Florida located East Of Bayview Drive, North Of East Sunrise Boulevard, West of Northeast 25th Avenue and South of Northeast 11th Street, all said lands being the city of Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, Florida. Commissioner Sorenson? Yes. Vice mayor Herbst? Yes. Commissioner Glassman? Yes. Commissioner Beusey Pitman? Yes. Mayor Trent House?

Yes. And R three is now approved. Thanks. R four. This is a quasi judicial resolution approving the vacation of a 10 feet wide by a 125 feet long drainage easement, Charles West 80 Isle Bahia Drive. Anyone wishing to speak must be sworn in, and the commission will announce any site visits, site visits, communications, or expert opinions received and make them a part of the record. Vice mayor, do you have any disclosures? None. Commissioner Beasley Pittman?

None.

I have none. Is there a representative here tonight on this? Mr. Lockrey. Commissioner Glassman. None. And Commissioner Sorensen. Site visit and, counsel. Thanks. Okay. Do we have a meeting on this?

We did not, mayor. Good evening. Robert Lockrey on behalf of the applicant. This is a request to vacate a 10 foot utility easement. Another utility easement has previously been granted to the city and the drainage infrastructure that was in that location has been moved.

Okay. Anyone else have any questions? Someone like to move to close public hearing? Moved. Do I hear a second?

Second.

Moved and seconded to close public hearing. Please call the roll.

Commissioner Sorensen? Yes. Vice mayor Herbst? Yes. Commissioner Glassman? Yes. Commissioner Beasley Goodman? Yes. Mayor Trentovals?

Yes. And public hearing on R four is now closed. Would someone like to introduce the quasi judicial resolution? Introduced. It's been introduced. Please call the roll.

A resolution to city commission of the city of Fort Lauderdale, Florida vacating an approximately 10 foot drainage easement centered on the common lot line of lots 10 And 11 of, Isla Bahia according to the plot thereof as recorded in Plot 47, page 27 of the public records of Broward County, Florida located East Cordova Road, North Of Isla Bahia Drive, West of Sea Breeze Boulevard and South of East Los Oles Boulevard, all said lands being in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, Florida. Commissioner Sorensen? Yes. Vice mayor Herbst? Yes. Commissioner Glassman?

Yes.

Commissioner Beasley Pittman? Yes. Mayor Trentos?

Yes. And, r four is now approved. PH one, this is a public hearing, a quasi judicial application for a waiver of limitation under ULDR section 40 seven-19.3 (fourteen oh nine Southwest seventeenth Street). Anyone wishing to speak must be sworn in. The commission will announce any site visits, communications or expert opinions received and make them a part of the record. Vice mayor, do you have any disclosures? None. I don't recall. Is there anyone here representing this item? You are.

We haven't met. Commissioner Glassman?

PH one.

PH one.

Yes. I had a conversation with marine advisory board chair, Steve Whitten.

Okay. And Commissioner Sorensen.

Neighbors and Marine Advisory Board members.

Okay. So several people have signed up to speak. Mister Whitten, you signed up just just for questions, right? Or are you? I saw you. Oh, there you are. Just for questions, right? Okay. I believe we spoke on this too. Yeah.

There are several people who signed up to speak, and I'll call your names in threes. Amber Calderon, is Amber here? Would you like to come up and speak? Amber followed by Ted and Sarah followed by, Roy Rodriguez. A couple of minutes.

Push the button at the bottom of the speaker. Ted's in it. He's a pro at this. Nice haircut, Ted. Look at you.

There, Amber Calderon. My husband and I are the next generation of Fort Lauderdale homebuyers. Coincidentally, we close on a home this week on this canal that would be affected by this proposal. This affects the property value of the home we just purchased. Now although team.

Of and very proud of of team and If we wanted oversized docks, overcrowded canals, we would have bought elsewhere. Please help us protect what makes this city so special. I also like to think that I have the greater good of this city in mind, which has shown through my many years of service and leadership through the junior league of Fort Lauderdale, which is a nonprofit organization that contributes to so many of the projects that occur in this city. These rules exist for a reason. If one property is allowed to exceed them, it opens the door for others and soon the character and property value of Fort Lauderdale, the Venice of America as we like to say, is permanently changed.

Please uphold the standard for everyone.

I tell you,

no other neighborhood like River Oaks. Brand new home buyers, they already come out to speak at a commission meeting. That's River Oaks for you. Thank you. Hello. My name is Ted Nasser. I'm the president of the River Oaks Republic. We we went to one thing, we went to I go to the marine advisory board meeting every single month as a lot of you know because you were the guest there and you have seen me in there. We were in front of this board on November 6. It was a 15 to nothing vote against this.

All of us that were there that spoke for River Oaks, we all shook hands afterwards, patted each other on the back. We thought it was over. Much to my surprise, when I get my, pre agenda in January, there it is again on the agenda. As I get my February 5, there it is again on the agenda. When it was we thought it was a done deal. There's other people from River Oaks who are here who did not sign up to speak. Can I get you all to raise your hands just to show you the support that we have? We're all the neighborhood is united against this. It's there's a state code. A person or property cannot unreasonably restrict the channel where fair and equal access to all residents on the waterways.

This would take a huge almost be a gate in in front of this, this very narrow canal in the River Oaks. Even board member of the Marine Advisory Board, very respect to mister Flanagan, said the extraordinary circumstances that were created by these applicants were created by the applicants. They were not really extraordinary circumstances. There's, this is just it's it should be a no brainer. The River Oaks, we are united against it, and, we hope that you see it our way.

And, also, one other thing in closing, mister mayor, since you brought this up and I kinda feel like it was directed towards me that, I hired another arborist, Richard Baracas, concerning the trees in the median strip of Los Oles, And he he said his conclusion was the canopy, the color, and the foliage. I access that all the remaining trees in the median strip of Los Oles are healthy.

Okay. Thank you.

City manager, how many pages was our arborist report on the trees?

It was pretty substantial. I don't have the page count, but several pages.

Several. Okay. Thank you. Mister Rodriguez. Good evening.

Good evening commissioners, mayor. Thank you Ted for that presentation. But I'd like to give you guys a visual of what is going on because we've been talking about all the stuff that I have some visual images to show you what is being proposed for that property.

We kind of have it in the backup too. Okay. We have the application. You don't

mind, can you queue that first one? The current this is the current view. I don't know. Where is it going to be?

Is it supposed to be on the screen?

There it is. There it is. Okay. So this is okay. That's that would be an AI image of the proposed dock that they're proposing to build there for that waterway, okay. Now if the commissioners and the city approve this, what's going to happen is that everyone else is going to have the right to do the same thing that is on that side of the property. I mean, you'd laugh, Mayor, but this is exactly what's going to happen. That's exactly what will happen if this gets approved because all the neighbors will have the exact same right to do the same thing.

So I have one question though. So I work at AI and I'm always very skeptical of AI generated images. So I just when we put up things like this that purport to be evidence and it's AI generated, I got to tell you, I'm very skeptical.

Well, explain something to you. You see that little towards I the left focus of the

that AI hallucinates and without somebody getting out there and measuring that, I'm just saying it's suspect. Well, I believe that

people here that have measured it. Is that correct, Steve, that

we've had Bob out there? Well, we have a back

on the backup, it has the aerial and it shows the dimensions and it shows its impact on the canal. Yeah. Well,

anyways, I we're totally opposed to it as a community, so I hope that you vote in that same way. Okay.

Great. Thank you, sir. Nick Fraser, Nicholas Fraser, Julie Jeffries, and Hudson Gill. Gill? Yes. Well, Hudson's from the Marine Advisory Board. I don't know if you can speak because there are two members of the Marine Advisory Board here.

Mayor, he's representing the board. He is representing the

board? Okay. All right.

Yeah. But we got two members of the Marine Advisory Board here tonight.

Got to see you also. Also.

Thank you. You already heard from my wife a moment ago. We are new homeowners on the Waterfront property on this neighborhood and specifically at the end of this canal. This property and the proposal here will cut off the mouth extending into the waterway and directly cut off access to this canal, reducing the usability, desirability and ultimately the property value of homes further down the canal. I'm in direct opposition of this as it benefits a single applicant and detracts from dozens of homes who share access to this downstream canal.

All right. Thank you.

Julie? Good evening. My name is Julie Jeffries. I am not a new owner in the neighborhood, but I have yet to move into my property and my property is the one that is directly affected by this, proposal. I live directly across the canal from the proposed, pier. So, I would like you to know that I drove over two hours to be here tonight in person so that you understand how important this is.

I'll give

you three minutes, And

thank you. And, I do I do believe that we need to understand that this is a dangerous precedent that we are potentially setting if this if this proposal goes through. Ironically, at the beginning of this meeting, we celebrated water conservation and discussed the impact on our canals. If you think about the impact of what this potentially has on this particular canal and all of the connecting waterways, I think that you need to recognize the fact that this is even more there's an exponential, detriment to the potential here and that we need to consider these things. If we're going to celebrate water conservation, we're gonna push that in the city of Fort Lauderdale.

We need to be consistent throughout all of our, all of all of the things that we agree to and all of the things that we're allowed to do and how we are, both implementing and respecting the rules and regulations that are set forth. I really encourage everyone who's voting on this and and as this moves through to please consider property values. My property value will also be impacted as as the other neighbors have said, but more so this issue of water conservation, you know, access for utilities down the canals, access to emergency vehicles down the canals, and and the precedent that it is setting across, the city of Fort Lauderdale. Thank you for your attention.

Thank you. Thank you

for your time.

Thank you.

Could I ask a question about that? So to or a city attorney, does this set a precedent for everybody else that wants to do it?

Yes. So

as we look at that picture, you know, where everybody is now lined up, does this establish a precedent that then everybody else that wants to do a doc can rely on? Just so we understand it because we're I'm hearing an assertion and I want to validate the assertion.

No, Vice Mayor. It doesn't set a precedent per se. I think the citizens are saying that they would, it wouldn't start a precedent of people seeking this. There are still criteria that would have to be met for each site.

Is the applicant here?

So, I'm sorry, when you say criteria that has to be met for each site, so it's up to the commission to either grant or deny each one on its own merits?

Correct. It will go through the Marine Advisory Board and they would apply the criteria And in this instance, it could be brought to you by the applicant if they were not happy with the result of the Board's decision. And here they're talking about and Mr. Gill will explain, but they're using two different measurements to come up with the appropriate length or the allowed length and then also a standard of whether it's an exceptional circumstance.

Okay. No, that's helpful because I know sometimes we do have instances where we approve something and then we are bound then to apply that same rule to everybody else and there's instances where we don't. I just want to see if that

Well, but Vice Mayor, you've been here long enough to know the Me Too process.

No, Me Too and Me too two and Me too three. Yeah. No. I trust me. I I And this is I know what it looks like.

Right. Once once we once we cross that Rubicon, it's hard to go back.

Yes. Yes. It is.

Okay. Yes, sir. Please introduce yourself.

Hi. Good evening. Member to the commission, mayor. I believe he, he asked me to swear in because I didn't Yes. Could you raise

your right hand?

Yes. Sure. Ryan Abrams representing

the applicant.

Okay. Thank you.

Sure. Swear

according to the evidence you have got to give a big change the future?

Yes. Okay. So you're not

the applicant, you represent the applicant?

I'm the attorney for the applicant.

Correct.

Yes.

So it's been a road getting here tonight. I just want to acknowledge that there are we know that there are concerns for the community. I don't think I heard any competent substantial evidence tonight, put into the record on why this application should be denied. I heard fears that, haven't been substantiated with actual competent substantial evidence, an AI image that hasn't really been, verified. I appreciate the comment on how it can't be relied upon.

I agree. Also, it really was, very deceiving because the application shows that it doesn't go far enough to even, encroach on the channel. That AI image made it seem like it would even come to the canal, the Crevelle Canal. It wouldn't. The 50 foot dock and it's 56 feet when measured from the wet face would be approximately 15 feet inward of the line of Provel Canal.

And really what this I hear talk about precedent. The real precedent I think the city, sets is what happened before this project before these dock. This is like not a crazy dock and the boats along the strip, the vessels there are all longer than docks. So what I mean by previous precedent, previous other projects, right across from New River, this is I have an aerial show. I do have a PowerPoint presentation I gave to the gentleman.

It's pretty short. I guess when you look at just across the way, and I'll bounce around here. This is so the property highlighted in red is the property we're here to discuss. It's a $14.00 9 property. As you could see, everything that we're proposing to do is within the legally owned boundaries of the owner of this property. And it's really key to emphasize. We're talking about private property. It's and it's stipulated by the city in their in the memo,

Wait. You're staff suggesting that your applicant owns the canal?

Yes. And that's not in dispute, Mayor. The this is submerged land.

Wait a minute.

Let's stop.

Yes. Does the applicant own the canal? I think that goes to the heart of the issue here that Mr. Gill will explain about where the measurement is taken from. I think the applicant is suggesting it's taken from a waterline underneath the water. So he's suggesting that that is real property and that's the measurement site beginning, whereas I think Mr. Gil will tell you that it's the upland property. So there's land submerged underneath the canal as there is land under every canal. And, while it may and Mr. Gil will explain this, while it may or may not be part of his platted land, that doesn't address the question, which is from where do you measure?

Well, what's the according to property appraisers website, where does the boundary of the property end? Does it end at the wet face of the dock or does it go into the canal?

What's It your goes into the canal. That's not in dispute. The city doesn't dispute that we own the property that that is being used here. FDEP approved the plans. Broward County approved the plans. The issue comes and and by the way, the docks that are there now are longer than the docks that the city is willing to approve in this case.

This I don't know. I this this The city These these I'll clarify. Hold on a these pictures that you have here, are not the same pictures that we have in the backup. Yeah. So I mean the picture on the bottom that you have there, an ocean liner can The go picture that we have here, you could barely get a canoe here. Okay. So we have we can't play games with the imagery here.

No, no. So that's not the intent here. Let me just, first of all, when I said that the dock that is approved is bigger than the dock, that exists here today, what I meant is at the Marine Advisory Board meeting, the Marine Advisory Board authorized a 36 foot dock approximately and there's a 39 foot dock there now. So, why did that dock get there? How did it get there?

I just think the city hasn't consistently applied its code. And the reason I included this image on the bottom right is not to say that it's the same situation, it's not. But do you see the vessels, finger piers on the top and the bottom? Those are longer than 25 feet and it's longer than 30% of the width of the waterway, okay, much longer. Those finger piers are those finger piers that's right across from where this property is located. The city it's like it's so I understand that this is I understand that this is not the same. It's not the same thing, but it's the the code applies the same. Stop. Stop. Stop.

Please. Please. Please. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I I I respect public I respect the public's right I didn't I didn't interrupt anybody else's presentation. Okay? So it's just help me out here. Please. Stop. Stop. Okay. So the same the same code applies. Alright? The same code applies. 25% it's 25 feet or 30% of the waterway that applies. The city approved this.

Whichever is less. Which which whichever is less.

The less. Correct.

But 20 but 30, 30% is definitely more than 25 feet. These finger piers

are I understand all under that, but the law is 30% or 25 feet, whichever is less. Right. So it can't be more than 25 feet.

It can't be more, but these each of these finger piers are more than 100 feet. So what I'm saying is they're located within private submerged land. The key thing here is this is property that is located within private submerged land that is not a natural waterway.

So you're saying that the boundary so this would be important, the point from which the measurement is taken. And you're saying that the point from which the measurement is taken should not be the wet face of the dock, it should actually be further into the canal because you're saying your boundary starts out in the water and then the 25 feet should be traced from that edge into the waterway. Is that what you're saying?

Right. So it would be 30% or 25 feet, whichever is less. So if Crevelle Canals line is the end of the property lines And all the property you see these vessels, I mean, there are vessels longer than 50 feet on each on a lot of those property on one of the property that's furthest to the left. I mean, it's clearly more than 25, 30 feet, but the waterway itself ends at the property line.

So you're saying that red line that goes into the waterway is the edge of your property? Yes. And you're saying we could go 25 feet from that edge, nothing would be able to pass?

Well, no, it's 25 feet or 30%.

And I have Wait, stop. I know that. Yeah. So 30% or percent whichever is less. Right.

So 30% would be less than 25 feet if you measure from the edge of the property line to the other side.

Okay, which So you how can does many that take us into?

I think it's 67 feet, roughly approximately.

What's 30%? What's 30% of the waterway that you're suggesting? You're saying it's less than 25 feet?

I think it's less. I think it's like just less than 25 feet, like 22 feet or something.

So you're saying you could go 22 feet from that red line that's on the north side of your property, that's in the waterway, you can go 22 more feet into the waterway, you realize that there would be no passage there could be no possible passage through that canal.

So so f f d Please, please, please. So so f d e p would also have to approve it in the army corps, and they won't approve something that infringes on others' riparian rights and

the It doesn't matter what other municipalities or other government agencies have approved. The city of Fort Lauderdale has to it. So we have to be practical. We have to allow people navigable waters. And you can't and you're saying that 22 more feet from that red line on the north side here should be is justifiable in your clients' eyes to allow to allow a boat to protrude into the waterway that far?

Not only is it justifiable, but I I I just think it's not it's just it's fair from a property right standpoint, and it's legally required. It's the same thing the city does with setbacks, mister mayor. If if you look at any property, any that's developed in the city, setbacks are measured from the property line. If if somebody was to say you have to measure your setback from a different location than the property line that's inward

You know what? This you remind me of a developer who comes to us and says, I can have 70 stories here, but the law says your height can has to be one half the setback. Your setback has to one half the height. Because not always, but we often give yard modifications if it's practical, right? In this case, how can you possibly justify the practicality of this knowing how narrow this waterway is?

In the example you just gave, it's still based on the legal boundaries of the property.

But it's not a matter of right.

The measurement is what I'm saying. It's not just that the measurement is a matter of right because you're measuring things based on the legal property boundaries.

I know, extension but of the dock into the waterway is not a matter of right. And you gave us a standard that we have to determine whether or not the essential requirements of law were applied at the advisory board level. I don't believe that that's the standard. I'd ask our city attorney, but I don't know if that's the standard.

Didn't say essential requirements.

You said those were the

words Competent substantial. I'm sorry? Competent substantial evidence. That's

what Competent I substantial Yes. Okay. Competent substantial

evidence. Yes.

That's our standard as a commission that we have to determine whether or not competent substantial evidence was the basis for the advisory board's opinion. Is that what you're saying?

Yes. I mean, this isn't like an appeal situation.

This is a quasi judicial.

Exactly. So it's not yet, you're not limited to whatever the Marine Advisory Board did

this this So where's the competent

problem.

Problem.

Property values, first of all, they It's didn't give their addresses on the record, so it's not even a clear how far away they are from the property. But to say that

Quiet, quiet, quiet.

I didn't hear verbally say it. And I didn't review all the property cards that they filled out. But nevertheless, it's there's I didn't hear anybody who's qualified to assess property values speak to that. So that's an example of something that's not We're not we're not

Okay. We may or may not use that in our decision making, but I'm just trying to find out maybe I'll ask our city attorney. This competent substantial evidence standard, where does that come in at all, with regard to

So the determination is made on a finding of extraordinary circumstance. And then as we've been discussing ad nauseam that it can be no more than 25 feet or 30 feet within the waterway, we're also not really defining property line and waterway. And while a property line may extend into here, it is still underneath the waterway. And so to your point about practicality, that would just not apply. So you are here in a quasi judicial capacity to ascertain whether what the Marine Advisory Board did was correct. And we still have Mr. Gill to make the case.

So it's not competence of substantial evidence that is the standard here. It's whether there are extraordinary circumstances that require us to make that decision.

So it's, in order to make the decision of extraordinary circumstances, whatever facts are in the record to support that decision.

It says right here, under extraordinary So that's our standard. We it's up to us to determine what our extraordinary circumstances.

All I'm saying is the factual basis for it has to be competent substantial. Don't think your city attorney would disagree with that. But nevertheless, I agree with your city attorney that the main issue here is where do you measure it from? And I think that's something that this commission could decide.

What are the circumstances? The

extraordinary circumstances are that, you have properties just across the waterway that were measured differently. And it's clear that it's because they own the submerged land. And here, my client owns the submerged land and they're being treated differently because a measurement is being imposed that does not have precedent in the city, not that I was provided. And also the city zoning manager, Bert Harris, expressed an opinion when this permit was issued. The permit was issued by the way for this dock by the city and then it got put on hold.

And then Bert Ford, the city zoning manager was asked for his opinion and he said it's measured from the property line and nothing in the code says from the wet face. He said that. And then more discussions happened and that was not accepted. That was not accepted for whatever reason. And so what happened after that was the official position was that it should be measured from the wet face. Even though the property line, the code says property line, but we're not we're gonna pretend like it doesn't say that, I guess. But it does say it. And I think the city should apply the code as written. And that's the extraordinary circumstance we have here.

Okay.

May may

I ask a

question to the city attorney? Is that an extraordinary circumstance in your view?

Well, I think it it creates a frustration of law. We would be

I'm frustrated.

I don't know if

that's a frustration of law. It's a frustration of an accountant. Well,

and that would be for you to ascertain whether that Okay.

I think there are extraordinary circumstances that suggest we don't grant it because you're completely blocking the waterway.

Well, guess Mayor what I want to get to is the gentleman asserted that the fact that there's an existing one creates an extraordinary circumstance. That's what

I'm trying to get to Yes, the that's what that's

the argument. So it doesn't seem to me that if there's another one that that creates an extraordinary circumstance. There may be other arguments in there that would better lead to an extraordinary circumstance, but that to me does not seem to lead to an extraordinary circumstance.

In and of itself, yes.

Okay.

Thank you. Folks, please, please, please. This is not an interactive conversation. There's there's been no

A conference.

A Greek chorus out there. I mean, just sit back and take your lawyer hat off. Does this make sense for us to grant a piling that could be placed in the middle of the waterway, a boat that can extend beyond the middle of the waterway and allow for navigable activity on that waterway. Does that make sense to you?

It does not extend into the waterway. The dock is 50 feet from the seawall. The waterway is a 135 feet wide.

Can you put the overhead frame back on this?

Yes. Can we at least have one that reflects on this?

Okay. There we go. All right. So if we there's your boundary line, which is the middle of the waterway, right? We're not going to the

boundary line. We're not going to

that. You're not going to the property

No, we're not. We're 15 feet inside of it. No,

Just listen for

a So

based on your argument, we should go we could go from the property line and we can go 25 feet into the waterline or 30%, which you say is 22 feet. Now does that provide safe navigable water passageway through that canal?

That's not the situation we have here. If that were to be the situation, you could evaluate each case differently, just like your city attorney advised. That's not what we have here.

So you're saying that the way you're measuring it, you want your dock to come that would end up coming below that boundary line.

It would not only it would come below the edge of those vessels in that picture. I mean, it's not going it's not if it's 15 feet under that line, how is it going to obstruct the waterway?

I'll tell you how. Because while your dock may be that length, your boat doesn't have to be.

But but but that is a separate that's a separate issue. And by the way, the boats are included in the plan. The boat does not exceed the

Well, that's your boat. But what about the next boat? You decide you wanna get big a bigger boat. And there could be could

be code enforcement. The city has a code

enforcement The code doesn't deny you. You have a right to have as big a boat you want.

Then I guess then anybody anybody on this canal can do that then. Anybody else cannot Why are

we going to enable that practice if but with having longer docs? You see, it's a safety issue for the owner. So what do we have here?

Mayor, can we hear from mister Gill at some point soon? Alright.

Why don't we hear why don't we hear from the

okay. Thank you. Thank you listening.

Appreciate it. Just playing devil's advocate here. Have a seat. We'll be with you

in No just a

problem. Mr. Gill.

Good evening, mayor. Good evening, commissioners. Hudson Gill, I'm here representing the marine advisory board. I think it's first important to to sort of stay take a step back and look at what this application is that's before you. It's an application for a waiver of the limitations on docks. That's what it's called. That's what they're seeking. And what they say in their own application on Page five, which is part of the materials you provided is, there's two piers. The Westfinger Pier, they want to build 56 feet six inches out. The permitted distance without the waiver according to them is 25 feet.

So the distance, the waiver they were seeking then is 31 feet six inches. The East Finger Pier is 36.36 feet six inches. What they say the distance is without a waiver is 25 feet. And what they want is an 11 foot six inches waiver. So they're measuring there in their own application from the seawall because that's how far out the Well,

me ask you this. Let me ask you this. If in fact the law says you're supposed to measure it from the boundary. Okay? And their boundary is as indicated in the backup photo, which is on the which seems to land in the middle of the canal. Is at all a waiver of limitations if the entire dock falls within that space? Why does it even need a waiver of limitations if in fact it falls within that boundary line?

Because the city measures from the upland platted property line in determining what's permitted as a matter of right. The waiver that you're here to consider, mayor, is you looked at the language before, but I'll I'll go over it again because there's an important provision that was not discussed. So you're you're here sitting as a commission in a quasi district capacity with your powers under 47 dash 19.3, which says you may waive the limitations in the code regarding dock lengths

Right.

Under extraordinary circumstances. It continues then and says, in no event shall the extension exceed 30% of the width of the waterway. Your code defines waterway as any navigable waterway which provide access for watercraft to the intercoastal waterway and including the intercoastal waterway. It is not defined by the submerged lands and who owns that. It's simply defined by the waterway that provides

the waterway? Yes. Okay. So 30% of the width of the waterway would allow him to do what?

It it the the in the materials that you've been provided to, it provides the total width of the waterway there, which is the canal and the boat basin. Right. And I believe I just let me so I don't misstate the numbers here. The total waterway like there is distances 135 feet six inches. So what's 30% of that? Like 40 feet? Yes. But what the Marine Advisory Board recommended and that's how that works, the recommendation that came from them, it goes before them first. They consider it. They hear testimony.

Right. Then they make a recommendation. They recommended ultimately approving the waiver, but up to thirty six three six feet six inches, which is what the smaller peer they're requesting is for both peers. That's what they recommended.

And what is the applicant asking for?

Up to for one of them, that's the distance they're asking for. So the recommendation is to approve one of the finger piers as The they second one is much larger. It goes to 56 feet. So they're recommending only approve that up to 36 feet. But 30% of the waterways 40 feet? Is about 40 feet,

yes.

So if they ask

So we could do up to 40 feet?

If you find extraordinary circumstances, yes.

Extraordinary circumstance. Okay. But definitely not 56?

No, not the way the code is written

Because in one it can be no more than 30% of the waterway.

Correct. And the waterway is defined as the entire navigable waterway. It's from seawall to seawall.

So would you think that the, advisory board would be amenable to at least allowing him up to 40%? But the 56 feet is out of the question.

Well, believe in the initial hearing before the Marine Advisory Board, they asked the applicant if they would be happy with 40 feet and the applicant said no. And so they were presented with two requests, one for 56 feet and a few more inches and one for 36. And their recommendation was approve both up to 36 feet and six inches.

I see. Okay. So that's the recommendation of the advisory board.

Yes.

Okay. Okay.

Okay. I have

no further questions at this time. Does anyone else have any questions? Who's is this in your district, Ben?

Yes. Do you

have any questions? I know I asked a lot of questions.

I'm sorry.

Can I cover good questions? Cross examining these things. We'll take it. So the is the 36.5 feet still that would still require a waiver, is that right?

It requires a waiver because it's beyond the 25 feet. So you have to show extraordinary circumstances to obtain that additional waiver. But it's within the 30% you're able to grant.

Yeah. Yeah. Mayor, I mean, I just I am not seeing the look, the the the standard is seeking to allow for the installation of the finger piers following ULDR Section 40 seven-19.3, in a finding of extraordinary circumstances to allow the waiver. I am not seeing evidence that meets the criteria of extraordinary circumstances. So my suggestion is deny.

Okay. Does anyone else have any comments or questions? That dotted line that's do it's not there, but it's in our backup. There's like a dotted line. Do you have the I can.

Do you see that? Can you pull up the

is it page four, mayor?

Page 14 of 61 in the application.

Oh, in the application.

Yeah.

I'm sorry, mayor. What page was that? 14?

There's a picture. Can you guys pull it up? Okay. We're going to get it.

Mayor, just while they're pulling up, I mean, in my view, we really do need to take the heart when we when the ULDR calls out extraordinary circumstances, it really needs to be extraordinary circumstances in my view, for many reasons. And so I just think we've got to really adhere to that standard. I disagree with you.

Just curious, I want to know what all these demarcations are on the photo.

We're getting there.

It's exhibit one. Exhibit one.

Are you getting it?

And it's Page 12 of the

while we're waiting Next one.

Can I just ask you a quick question?

Keep going. Keep going.

The year before, in the minutes, it's clear what the extraordinary circumstances were. They were delineated for that, but not I don't see that in the minutes of the most recent meeting where they agreed to the 36.5% for both both the eastern and western peers. But did they get into any discussion at all about the extraordinary circumstances like they did a year ago?

The with the most recent meeting of the revised

board? Uh-huh.

No. I don't believe there was any additional discussion regarding what

So no other discussion because I was just wondering as I said, I read it a year ago. I'm not reading it now. No. I don't

believe there's anything additional added to the more recent meeting. Okay. Thank you.

So what were the extraordinary circumstances that were defined a year ago? From November There we are. That's so that picture is different than the one we have in the backup. There we go. What is that dotted line?

That's in the application. I mean, I can only represent what the application says. I didn't prepare that document.

Counselor, can you tell us what the dotted line represents?

I believe that is the 50 foot mark or 50 foot mark of the dock. It's 56 measured from the white face of

the seawall. That's 50 feet from the

seawall? I believe so, yes. Yes. It's identified on the right side of the screen as the approximate limit

of

proposed area Right. Boat

So that will be the longer of the finger pierce.

Which actually is less than the boat that's to the right, but the boat to the right has a very short pier. See, that's what I'm saying. The longer the pier, the boat gets even longer. But we can even stipulate to a

smaller boat. If you want, you could do that as a condition. You can say the boats can't be any longer than any of the boats here. We can even agree to that. It's just they just want to be able to use the property that's theirs in the way that they've been permitted to do so by every other entity that's looked at this application. The extraordinary circumstance

If I may, I want to just how could we impose that on the future property owner?

I think it's getting confused, Vice Mayor. Your threshold issue here is extraordinary circumstance.

Right.

Not a comparative circumstance.

Okay. So I'm just saying, but what the attorney has suggested is that we could impose a length limit on a boat. I can see how we could do that with a current property owner, but how does that ride with the property? Right. Can't put that as a restriction on the deed. It doesn't ride with the property, Okay.

Well, we do a restrictive covenant, it would run with the land. So we could do a recorded restrictive covenant.

If you so choose after finding that there was extraordinary circumstances that

you wanted to sell property

with yes, and that you would have to first make that finding that that was something that was

then we could do that going forward and put a restrictive covenant on it. And then somebody has to know that that house in perpetuity is only allowed a 30 foot boat. That's you're

That's very

unwieldy. Can just tell you as a matter of practice, nobody's going to remember that five years from now. So it's unwieldy going forward. I hear what you're saying. I understand what you're trying to offer. I can just tell you it's not going to work.

So, I understand that the term extraordinary circumstances is really an emphasis here. And I agree that that is the standard. But I don't want to just it's important, I think, not to overlook other language in the code. I think property line is there for a reason. So, the extraordinary circumstance, again, is that the city staff is interpreting the code contrary to the plain language, property line cannot be overlooked here.

If denying this waiver, you're denying the definition of property line, which in the code expressly includes submerged land. It's expressed in the code's definitions of property line. It includes submerged land. And so you want to if you have issues here, I suggest maybe we could look at revising the code, but my client had every right to rely on the code as written to propose, what they have proposed here. And the fact is, I think it's self evident from this photo right here that it's not going to do anything, anything to impact navigation, nothing to impact other property values.

That is not competent substantial evidence. If none of those other vessels have disturbed, property values in this neighborhood, a dock shorter than, the longer vessel to the right would not do so either.

Okay. So let's, hear the recommendation of the district commissioner.

Thank you, mayor. So, you know, thank you

all for the discussion.

Thank you for sharing. So, mayor, I'd like to is it introduce, city clerk? Yes. Introduce, resolution of denial.

Alright. So there's a resolution been introduced to deny the, application. How does that is that how it's done? Is it to accept the well, we're not even accepting the recommendation of the, of the advisory board.

You're not if that is your motion.

Right. You're just denying the whole thing. Right?

Correct.

Okay. Okay. So there's a resolution on the floor.

Mayor, do you wanna close public hearing? City clerk

Yeah. I just wanna I just wanna make sure I understand. Is the resolution on the floor to deny it? Okay. So does anyone else wish to speak on this item? You have

any final words? Mayor, did you have any further questions for mister Gill?

I'm sorry?

Did you have any further questions for mister Gill?

Are Are you done?

Yes. Yes, ma'am. I don't have anybody else

here. Okay. Alright. Okay. Thank you, mister Gill.

Okay.

So do I hear a motion to close public hearing?

Moved. Do I

hear a second? Moves and seconded. Please call the roll.

Commissioner Sorensen? Yes. Vice mayor Herpst? Yes. Commissioner Glassman? Yes. Mister Beasley Pittman? Yes. Mayor Trentels?

Yes. A public hearing on PH one is now closed, and a resolution has been introduced to deny the application. Any other further questions? Please call the roll.

A resolution. City commissioner the City Of Fort Lauderdale, Florida denying the application by Rhiannon Holcomb, a single woman, and Vincent Conjine, a single man, for a waiver of limitations for the installation of two finger piers extending a maximum distance of 56 feet six inches plus or minus into the waterway adjacent to 1409 Southwest 17th Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33315 pursuant to sections 47 dash 19 e of the city of Fort Lauderdale Unified Land Development Regulations. Commissioner Sorenson? Yes. Vice mayor Herbst?

Yes.

Commissioner Commissioner Glossman? Yes. Commissioner Beasley Pittman?

Yes.

Mayor Trent Alice?

Yes. And that resolution is denied. So Okay. PH2, public hearing resolution approving the reallocation of funds, from the Parks General Obligation Bond. Good night, folks.

Sorry to keep you up this late, but, the amount of $774,146.88 from North Fork Elementary School Improvement Project and allocating and transferring $474,146.88 to Bass Park Improvement and allocating $300,000 to Lauderdale Isles Land Improvement Project. As I recall, the reason why we're doing this is because school board is is going to eliminate that school as a school. Mhmm. So, no one has signed up to speak. Someone please move to close public hearing. Move.

So moved. Second.

Move and seconded. Please call the roll.

Commissioner Sorensen? Yes. Vice mayor Herbst? Yes. Commissioner Glassman? Yes. Commissioner Biesen Pittman? Yes. Mayor Trentels?

Yes. And public hearing is now closed on p h two. Someone like to introduce the resolution approving the reallocation has been introduced. Please call the roll.

A resolution of the city commissioner of the City Of Fort Lauderdale, Florida approving the reallocation of funds from the parks and recreation general obligation bonds in a total amount of $777,774,146.88 from North Fork Elementary School Improvement Project by allocating and transferring 474,146 and 88¢ to the Bass Park Improvement Project and allocating and transferring 300,000 to the Lauderdale Isles Landing Improvement Project pursuant to City of Fort Lauderdale resolution number 18Dash261 and resolution number 20 dash zero eight, providing for conflicts, providing for severability, and providing for an effective date. Commissioner Sorensen? Yes. Vice mayor Herbst? Yes. Commissioner Glossman? Yes. Commissioner Beasley Pittman? Yes. Mayor Trentals?

Yes. And p h two is now approved. OFR one is the first reading of an ordinance amending the City Of Fort Lauderdale's unified land development regulations. And okay. Does anyone have any questions? No one's signed up to speak. Someone like to introduce the ordinance. Introduced. The ordinance has been introduced. Please call the roll.

In ordinance of the city of Fort Lauderdale, Florida Bend and the Unified Land Development Regulations, article seven notice procedures, more specifically section 47 dash 27.4, notice for site plan level one, two, three, and level four conditional use plots and amendments to site plan level three and four, section 47 dash 25.5, rezoning and change in uses, and section 47 dash 27.6, vacation of public rights of ways to modify the requirements for public participation meetings and providing for correction of scriveners. There is severability repeal of conflicting orange provisions and an effective date. Commissioner Sorensen? Yes. Vice mayor Herbst? Yes. Commissioner Glassman? Yes. Commissioner Biese Pitman? Yes. Mayor Trentales?

Yes. An order form one is now approved on first reading. O f r two first reading equated judicial ordinance approving a vacation of right of way of a 50 foot wide by a 102 foot long portion of Coconut Drive. Anyone wishing to speak must be sworn in, and the commission will announce any site visits, communications, or expert opinions received and make them a part of the record. Courtney, we didn't have any discussions regarding this, did we? We did. Okay. Vice mayor, do you have any disclosures?

I met with Jason Crush.

But regarding this?

And other things.

We met over a

beer. Okay. Glass of red wine. I get it. Commissioner Beasley Pittman?

Yes. I spoke with Jason Crush pertaining to

this one.

Okay. Don't

me. Be it

I had a conversation with Courtney Crush, commissioner Glassman.

I don't think I did. I was left out. Right. Not necessary. No. I have no I have no disclosure. I I was She already counted three. I was

not invited to the party. That's okay.

She already counted as three.

Here we go. Yeah.

Thank you very much. Next time, Courtney, you'll make it up to me. It's okay. I got you. It's okay.

Yes,

mayor. Council, applicant, neighbors, site visits. Thank you, mayor. Politics.

Okay. So Courtney has signed up to speak but only for questions. Anyone else wish to speak on this item? There's nobody else. So someone please move to close public hearing. Moved. Do I hear a second? Second. It's been seconded. Please call the roll.

Commissioner Sorensen? Yes. Vice mayor Herbst? Yes. Commissioner Glossman? Yes. Commissioner Beasley Pittman? Yes. Mayor Trent House?

Yes. And OFR two public hearing is now closed. Would someone like to introduce the ordinance? Introduced. The ordinance has been introduced. Please call the roll.

In ordinance of the city of Fort Lauderdale, Florida vacating approximately 50 foot wide by a 102 foot long right away adjacent to Blocks 4 And 5 according to the plot thereof as recorded in plot book 22, page 22 of the public records of Broward County, Florida located West Of Southwest 11th Avenue Northwest North of West Davie Boulevard, East of South Fork, New River, and South of Southwest 9th Street also ends being in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, Florida. Commissioner Sorenson? Yes. Vice mayor Herbst? Yes. Commissioner Glassman? Yes. Commissioner Beasley Pittman? Yes. Mayor Schontells?

Yes. And, OFR two is approved on first reading. Moving to OSR one, second reading ordinance amending section 13 dash one five one, ambulance support user fees. Anyone have any questions? No one signed up to speak. There being none, someone like to introduce the ordinance. Introduce. Yours has been introduced. Please call the roll.

And ordinance of the city of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, amending article five emergency medical transport services of chapter 13 fire prevention and protection section 13 dash one fifty one ambulance transport user fees of the code of ordinances of the city of Fort Lauderdale, Florida by increasing ambulance transport user fees and providing for severability repeal of conflicting ordinance provisions in an effective date. Commissioner Sorensen? Yes. Vice mayor Herbst? Yes. Commissioner Glassman? Yes. Commissioner Beasley Pittman? Yes. Mayor Chantal?

Yes. And OSR one is now approved on second reading. I guess that's it. Right? Oh, I'm sorry. We have one more. We have, r five, resolution designating vice Mayor. So it's traditional that we go in reverse order. So Commissioner District Commission District one, John Herbst has had it for this past year. So District 4 would now be the eligible district. So would someone like to introduce a resolution? Introduce. Saying what?

Saying yes to District 4 commissioner Ben Sorensen will serve as vice mayor.

Okay. God. It's like pulling teeth.

Well, some

things are just self explanatory. So excited.

Is this something you will you accept,

commissioner Sorensen? Yeah. So happily accept.

That and solid waste. And solid waste.

Solid waste first, please.

Certain priorities. Certain priorities.

It gets better.

Keep keep sending them my way. Amazing.

Okay. Anyone have any questions? No one has signed up to speak. Please call the roll.

A resolution of city commissioner the city of Fort Lauderdale, Florida designating commissioner Ben Sorensen as vice mayor for a term beginning on 04/07/2026 and ending upon designation of a vice mayor at the city commission's first meeting in April 2027 and providing for an effective date. Commissioner Sorensen? Yes. Vice mayor Herbst? Yes. Commissioner Glossman? Yes. Commissioner Beasley Pittman? Yes. Mayor Trentellis?

Yes. And I wanna thank, commissioner Herbst for his serving as vice mayor this past year. And now commissioner Sorensen is gonna have to buy all new shirts.

That's right. I'll I'll get working on it.

Additional shirts. Right. Did were you ever vice mayor? Yeah. You were vice mayor

before. Once.

Twice. Been vice mayor. Yes. Yes. So third time's a charm.

You have quite quite

a wardrobe. Yes. I'll dig in the closet.

Can you fit them? Can you fit into them now? We'll see. That's it.

My biceps are getting huge, so we'll see we fit. Thank you.

City manager, is there any further business of the meeting of the commission?

No, mayor.

Okay. Do you have any announcements to make, city attorney? No, mayor. Okay. This meeting is now concluded. We'll now sorry.

Go ahead.

We'll now resume the conference meeting. We now resume the conference meeting. We're going to talk about the your favorite subject, the Charter Revision Board recommendations and updates. So where we last left off, it's a real cliffhanger. We were trying to decide whether or not we wanted to move forward today because there was no significant neighborhood outreach that had been undertaken, which was one the requirements that the commission had articulated in the previous meeting. So what's the commission want to do going forward?

May I I just have one point of information because we were all focusing on June 8, the deadline to submit the ballot questions.

Yep.

However, if you look at the CAM, May 19, we have to approve an ordinance on first reading containing the ballot questions. That's not far away. And then June 2, adopt an ordinance on second reading containing the ballot questions, then June so to the supervisor of elections. So we're really talking about we have to have our act together by May 19. So that's that's a heavy load.

Okay. Do we want to move forward on any of these recommendations without having to go out to the type of, community outreach that we've previously articulated? We have that authority to do that tonight.

Again, I'm just gonna reiterate my recommendation that we do just the cleanup items, items that need to conform with state statutes and requirements.

Well, do you wanna you wanna identify those?

Oh, I I don't I don't have that. I don't think I

have that list. I happen to have the book in front

of me. I have the book, but I

I don't think it's broken up into, like, that that kind of a category.

Mayor, they are not particularly defined as cleanup. Some would be more obviously cleanup than others. However, if you would like, I would like to introduce, from my office Paul Vangal and Gabrielle Bush who have spent countless hours working on this and they will be able to identify for you those things that might fall within the definition of cleanup for Well, your

can take it page by page. Sure. We can start with organizational meeting.

Sure. And while we're doing that, I think there's a number of items here that we can probably consolidate down. There's some ministerial things that we can lump together. It would be my recommendation that we don't consider any more than between three, five at most.

Well, we're allowed three pages on the ballot.

I know, but we get voter fatigue and so I've always noticed that if you overload, first of all, they don't go to the bottom of the ballot and there's a tendency for people just to vote no when you overwhelm them. So if you want things to pass, less is more.

All right. Let's start with the organizational meeting. I believe this is a cleanup item. And this is where the city commission takes office on the first meeting following Broward County Canvassing Board certifying the election results. Any controversy with regard to that? I don't think there is.

I think that's a requirement to come into consistency with state statutes.

So I

don't think we have a choice with And

and that could be a that could be a moving moving date also. If there's any if there's like a close race where there's a runoff that's necessary, the canvassing board may not certify the election results for a couple of weeks or three weeks or four weeks or whatever. So just keep that in mind. But I think you're right. It is consistent with state statute. So if there's no so now the next item is initiative and referendum petition for proposed ordinance. I'm not sure that's a cleanup item. How do you wanna respond to that? This is a more this is a more comprehensive one.

I don't know. Which sorry. Which number are you

on this? This is 3.15. Three point It's an exhibit a.

Got it. This is this is

where they wanna reduce the number of signatures necessary to 10 and so forth and so on.

Mayor, are you trying to focus on things that you would deem clean up to comport with stat statute, etcetera? This one would be changing things.

Yeah. No.

So this is

not a cleanup item. So let's keep moving.

Can we get the list right? I think they have the list for us of the cleanup. Right? Yep. Do you have that list?

I don't

think so.

Good good evening, mayor, vice mayor, and commissioners. Paul Bengel, city attorney's office. We we divided this in four, four four sections. So you may recall that at your October 7 meeting last year, there were sections on which you reached consensus. There were also there were sections on which you provided direction for the charter board to go back and deliberate. There are new human resources related revisions. There's one recommendation to repeal section 10 o three regarding publications for public hearings. And then Okay.

Hold on. Sorry. Paul, can we in your presentation, can you speak to what's you're referring to just so we can so everyone can kind of visually see this?

May I jump in make a clarification, perhaps a recommendation? Things that would be cleanup would be encompassed largely in the 3s. So perhaps as you're saying, thousand nine, two and five, four would be cleanup items?

But they're not but in your summary though, they're not really designated that way.

Mayor, if I may, real cleanup could is point o five, as commissioner Glassman has mentioned, vice mayor designation. That's one that could that that's kind of like a vestige from before the previous Yeah.

We understand that. So we're we're I was going through the pages and we're going to what's cleanup and what's not cleanup. So I just wanted I wanted was going to Paul, I was going to use the booklet that you folks gave us, and just go exhibit by and we'll determine what's cleanup, what's not cleanup. Like the initiative Like and referendum initiative and referendum is not cleanup. That's changing. So if we keep going Well

Samir? Again, my question is We don't have what you're asking. Oh, they don't have We

don't have what you're

Is this

26 items here?

But we don't have what you're asking. So we'll we'll just let me let's just take let's just go through it.

I thought they did

that. Okay.

Seven point on page 13, section seven sixteen, election tie vote.

What's the

Mayor, that's an obvious cleanup,

I would say.

That's a cleanup.

That's because the word primary Right. It Right. So residually is in there from from before the last revision.

Now now when you say it's to be decided by lot, why wouldn't we just

do a runoff? That's original language.

I know. But by lot, that means flipping a coin?

A tie. That's original language, and they they didn't Yeah. Well, wasn't changed.

Do we want that? Okay. I think that if there's a tie boat, we should we should have a runoff.

Requires us to schedule another election It That though, which is very makes it complicated. Because once we move to the November elections, we don't have that follow-up election. I understand that, but I'm just saying There's

a couple of $100,000 of money.

Alright. It's so rare. You don't have to worry.

Yeah. Flip a coin. Okay. I I trust the city attorney to flip a coin.

Okay. Sale of personal property. Personal property belonging to city shall not be sold except by provided by ordinance. Not quite sure what that means, but that's a cleanup item. Right?

I wouldn't consider

it I a cleanup would suggest that that's a change. That's not

a Okay. Cleanup If may, again, the threes that you identified, four, five and nine, the items that would be miscellaneous, and then potentially some of the human resources items I think would be only those who would that would be defined as cleanup.

Yes. But you don't have those in