City Commission - Special Meeting

Good afternoon, everybody. Welcome to the City Commission budget hearing, our first budget hearing of several. Today is September 9th, 2026. What I didn't get to mention today at our ribbon cutting is I wanted to invite everybody on Friday to the Fire Museum where we will be commemorating the 25th anniversary anniversary of 9-11. Those of you who are watching remotely, everyone's invited. We welcome everybody since Sailboat Ben. And we have this every year. And there will also be another recognition of this event at the Nova Southeastern Science Museum down on Las Olas Boulevard at 11 o'clock, I believe. Art Museum. Art Museum, sorry. Art Museum, pardon me. Art Museum at 11 o'clock, correct? Yes. Thank you. So this is the first of two public hearings as required by law. First of all, we should take a roll.

Commissioner Herbst?

Present.

Commissioner Glassman? Here. Commissioner Beasley-Pittman? Here. Vice Mayor Sorensen? Here. Mayor Trentals?

Here. So this is the first of two public hearings as required by law on the City of Fort Lauderdale's Sunrise Key Neighborhood Improvement District millage and budget for the fiscal year 2027. The purpose of the hearing is to receive requests and comments regarding the Sunrise Key Neighborhood Improvement District's budget and to explain the budget and any amendments thereto. The public hearing is now open. The acting city manager will now present the tentative millage rate and tentative budget.

The Sunrise Key Neighborhood Improvement District taxes the residents of this special district to provide security to their neighborhood. At its May 26, 2026 meeting, The district voted its millage rate at 1.0000 mill, which will generate an estimated tax collection of $230,072 to support an operating budget of $230,072. This millage rate is 1.62% more than the rollback rate of 0.9841 mills and is necessary to maintain services for the Sunrise Key Neighborhood Improvement District. This concludes my report on the Sunrise Key Neighborhood Improvement District. Thank you.

This is the time for anyone in the public to speak or ask any questions about the budget. No one has signed up to speak. Anyone wish to speak on this item? There being none. So if there's any further comment, do I hear a motion to close public hearing? Second. It's been seconded. Please call the roll.

Commissioner Herbst? Yes. Commissioner Glossman? Yes. Commissioner Beasley-Pittman? Yes. Vice Mayor Sorensen? Yes. Mayor Trenton?

Yes. The public hearing is now closed. So the tentative millage rate for the Sunrise Key Neighborhood Improvement District purposes will be 1.00 mil, which represents an increase of 1.62% over the rollback rate of 0.9841 mils. So someone likes to introduce the resolution adopting the tentative millage rate for the Sunrise Key Neighborhood Improvement District for fiscal year 2027. Introduce.

Resolution to introduce please call the roll a resolution of City Commission of the city of Fort Lauderdale Broward County Florida adopting a tentative millage rate of one Mill to be levied by the city of Fort Lauderdale for the Sunrise Key neighborhood and we left out a few zeros. Mr. One point zero zero zero zero To be levied by the city of Fort Lauderdale for the Sunrise Key neighborhood Improvement District for the fiscal year beginning October 1 2026 and ending September 30th 2027 mr. Herbst Yes. Commissioner Glassman? Yes. Commissioner Beasley-Bittman? Yes. Vice Mayor Sorensen? Yes. Mayor Trentals?

Yes. So that's the millage rate. Now, will someone introduce a resolution adopting the tentative budget for Sunrise Key Neighborhood Improvement District for fiscal year 2027?

Introduce.

It's been introduced. Please call the roll.

A resolution of the City Commission of the City of Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, Florida, adopting and approving a tentative budget of the Sunrise Key Neighborhood Improvement District for fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026 and ending... September 30th, 2027. Commissioner Herbst? Yes. Commissioner Glassman? Yes. Commissioner Beasley-Pittman? Yes. Vice Mayor Sorensen? Yes. Mayor Trent Tullis?

Yes. So the public hearing to adopt the final military aid and budget will be held at 5.01 p.m. on September 14th, 2026 here at the Fort Lauderdale Police Department Headquarters Community Room, room number 1004, 1300 West Brower Boulevard here in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Now we move on to budget item number two. This is the first of two public hearings as required by law on the millage rate for the fiscal year 2027. The purpose of the hearing is to receive requests and comments regarding the city's millage rate and to explain any amendments thereto. The public hearing is now open and the acting city manager will now present the tentative millage rate on which the fiscal year 2027 budget is based. Mr. City Manager.

The fiscal year 2027 City of Fort Lauderdale tentative budget includes maintaining the current millage rate of 4.1193 and decreasing the combined debt service millage rate from 0.2306 to 0.2216 mills. The recommended millage rate of 4.1193 exceeds the rollback rate of 3.9408 by 4.53%. The aggregate tentative millage rate, including the Sunrise Key Dependent District, is 4.1228, which results in an increase of 4.52% above the aggregate rollback rate of 3.9444 and is premised upon the following. funding increases in wages and insurances, funding key commission priorities and capital improvement plan projects, and maintaining a healthy fund balance. Increases to the fiscal year 2027 general fund budget that require maintaining the millage rate at the same rate as the prior 19 years include $14.4 million for the increase in salaries and wages, $27.5 million for the transfer to the general capital projects fund, as well as $6.1 million for the increase in fringe benefits, including health insurance and pension contributions. This concludes my report. Thank you.

This is the time for anyone in the public to speak or ask any questions about the tentative millage rates. I have no one who's signed up to speak. Does anyone wish to speak? There being none, someone please move to close public hearing. Moved. Second. Moved and seconded. Please call the roll.

Commissioner Herbst? No. Commissioner Glossman? Yes.

Is this just to close the public hearing?

My apologies, I'm getting ahead of myself. Yes.

Commissioner Glossman? Yes. Commissioner Beasley-Pittman? Yes. Vice Mayor Sorensen? Yes. Mayor Trentals?

Yes, and public hearing is now closed. So the recommended millage rate to be levied for all general city purposes exclusive of debt service will be 4.1193, which represents a 4.53% increase in the millage rate over the rollback rate of 3.9408 mills. The aggregate tentative millage rate, including dependent districts, is 4.1228, which results in an increase of 4.52% above the aggregate rollback rate of 3.9444 mills. The recommended millage rate for debt service for the 2011A general obligations bonds is 0.0168. The recommended millage rate for debt service for the city's voter-approved public safety bond is 0.0745, and the recommended millage rate for debt service for the city's voter-approved parks bond is 0.1138. Will someone please introduce the resolution adopting the tentative millage rates for the City of Fort Lauderdale for fiscal year 2027. Did I miss one? This resolution will also include the millage rate for debt service for the 2015 general obligation refunding bonds, which is at 0.0165. Thank you. Will someone please introduce the resolution? Introduced. The resolution's been introduced. Will someone please call the roll? Mr. Clerk. Well, you know, he's busy sometimes, so...

A resolution of the City Commission of the City of Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, Florida, adopting a tentative operating millage rate of 4.1193 and debt service millage rate of 0.2216 to be levied by the City of Fort Lauderdale for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026 and ending September 30, 2027. Commissioner Herbst? Still no. Commissioner Glassman? Yes. Commissioner Beasley-Pittman? Yes. Vice Mayor Sorensen? Yes. Mayor Chantel?

Yes. And that item is now approved. Moving on to Budget 3. The next item is the tentative five-year capital improvement plan. This is the time for anyone in the public to speak or ask any questions about the tentative five-year capital improvement plan. No one is assigned to speak on this item. Do I hear a motion to close public hearing? Moved. Second. Moved and seconded. Please call the roll.

Commissioner Herbst? Yes. Commissioner Glassman? Yes. Commissioner Beasley-Pittman? Yes. Vice Mayor Sorensen? Yes. Mayor Trentals?

Yes. Public hearing is now closed. Someone please introduce the resolution adopting the tentative five-year capital improvement plan for the period beginning October 1st, 2026 and ending September 30th, 2031. Introduce. The resolution has been introduced. Please call the roll.

resolution of City Commission of the City of Fort Lauderdale Florida tentatively approving and adopting a five-year capital improvement plan for the beginning of period beginning October 1 2026 and ending September 30th 2031 tentatively appropriating the portion of the capital improvement plan for the fiscal year beginning October 1 2026 and ending September 30th 2027 tentatively reappropriating the unspent capital improvement plan project balances at the end of the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2025 and ending September 30, 2026 for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026 and ending September 30, 2027 and providing for severability and an effective date. Commissioner Herbst? No. Commissioner Glossman? Yes. Commissioner Beasley-Pittman? Yes. Vice Mayor Sorensen? Yes. Mayor Trent Ellis?

Yes. So the public hearing to adopt the final five-year capital improvement plan budget will now be held at 5 p.m. 5.01 p.m. on September 14, 2026 at the Fort Lauderdale Police Department headquarters here in the community room, 1004-1300 West Broward Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Moving on to our last item, this is the first of two public hearings required by law on the City of Fort Lauderdale's budget for the fiscal year 2027. The purpose of this hearing is to receive requests and comments regarding the City's budget and to explain the budget and any amendments thereto. So, the public hearing is now open, and the Acne City Manager will now present the tentative budget.

The fiscal year 2027 City of Port Lauderdale tentative budget includes maintaining the same millage rate of 4.1193 and increasing the annual fire assessment rate by $403 to $444 per residential unit. The tentative budget is premised on the following, funding increases in wages and insurances, funding key commission priorities and capital improvement plan projects, and maintaining a healthy fund balance. I would now like to present to you the adjustments to the fiscal year 2027 budget that have been made since the submission of the July 2nd, 2026 proposed budget. The following adjustments have been made to the general fund revenues. Increase in revenues totaling $1,287,635 to account for updated ad valorem estimates. Interfund service charge revenue for in-house litigation staffing and revenue from Wilton Manors for fire prevention services. Decrease in revenues totaling $786,725 to reflect updated state revenue estimates and finalized indirect administrative service charge revenue based on the completed cost allocation study. Adjustments have been made to the general fund expenditures, including a $2,165,105 decrease in the transfer to the general capital projects fund, A $1,577,843 increase in funding for the microtransit program. A $532,517 net increase due to various adjustments in salaries, wages, and operational expenses. A $337,294 increase for the addition of in-house legal litigation staff in the city attorney's office. a $193,899 increase in fire rescue staff to support Wilton Manor's operations, and a $24,462 increase in the transfer to the Community Redevelopment Agency. These revenue and expenditure adjustments result in a fiscal year 2027 tentative general fund budget of $560,602,242. The full changes to other funds since the submission of the fiscal year 2027 proposed budget are outlined in Commission Agenda Memo 26-0669, Exhibit 2. Key changes include the Water and Sewer Fund budget was decreased by $7,333,324. The Transportation Surtax Fund budget was decreased by $2,727,257. The Stormwater Fund budget was decreased by $2,070,042. The Beach Business Improvement District Fund budget was decreased by $55,576. The Central Services Fund budget was increased by $77,680. The General Obligation Debt Service Fund budget was increased by $40,693. The Building Certification Maintenance Fund budget was increased by $38,900. The Northwest Progressive Flagler Heights Redevelopment Agents Area Fund and Incentives Fund budgets were each increased by $22,463. The Airport Fund budget was increased by $11,239. The Sunrise Key Fund budget was increased by $5,008. The Central City Redevelopment Area Fund and Incentives Fund budgets were each increased by $1,999. This concludes my report on the fiscal year 2027 tentative budget. Thank you so much. Can I just ask you a question, Laura?

The Water and Sewer Fund budget being decreased by $7 million, is that... Is that going to impact the schedule of improvements that we have already in place for Fortify Lauderdale?

No, it's not. What we did is we utilized interest available in the capital projects fund to not do a transfer and not use fund balance. So this improves the financial position by no longer utilizing capital. any fund balance, we're utilizing interest that was earned in the capital projects fund to fund the capital projects.

Okay, great. Thank you so much. Just for questions, right, Bonnie? Yeah, okay. All right. Okay, so this is the time, this concludes, excuse me, this is the time for anyone in the public to speak or ask any questions about the tentative budget. No one has signed up to speak, and so do I hear a motion to close public hearing?

So moved.

Second. We've moved and seconded. Please call the roll.

Commissioner Herbst? Yes. Commissioner Glossman?

Yes.

Commissioner Beasley-Pittman? Yes. Vice Mayor Sorensen? Yes. Mayor Trentals?

Yes. And public hearing is now closed on budget four. So the tentative all funds budget for the city of Fort Lauderdale is $1,283,327,106. And no cents. which will fund the various operations of the City of Fort Lauderdale for the fiscal period beginning October 1st, 2026 and ending September 30th, 2027. Someone please introduce a resolution adopting the tentative budget for the City of Fort Lauderdale for the fiscal year 2027.

Introduce.

The resolution has been introduced. Mr. Clerk, please call the roll.

A RESOLUTION THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF FORT LAUDERDALE BROWARD COUNTY FLORIDA ADOPTING AND APPROVING THE TENTATIVE BUDGET OF THE CITY OF FORT LAUDERDALE FLORIDA FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER ONE TWENTY TWENTY SIX AND ENDING SEPTEMBER THIRTY OF TWENTY TWENTY SEVEN WHICH INCLUDES THE BUDGET FOR THE GENERAL FUND WATER. and sewer central regional wastewater system funds, stormwater funds, self-insured health benefits fund, sanitation fund, debt service funds, central services, unified customer service funds, fleet fund, building funds, parking funds, city property and casualty insurance funds, airport fund, community redevelopment agency funds, grant bond and reserve funds, cemetery system fund, project management fund, cemetery perpetual care fund, marine facilities fund, school crossing guard fund, Beach Business Improvement District Fund, Transportation Surtax Fund, Sunrise Key Neighborhood Improvement District Fund, and Police Confiscation Funds, tentatively adopting and approving the City of Fort Lauderdale Personnel Compliment for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026 and ending September 30, 2027, and providing for an effective date. Commissioner Herbst? No. Commissioner Glassman? Yes. Commissioner Beasley-Pittman? Yes. Vice Mayor Sorensen? Yes. Mayor Trentals?

Yes. And that item is now approved. Mr. City Manager, is there any further business of the commission? Nothing further. Ms. City Attorney, any business?

No, Mayor.

Okay. This meeting is now concluded. Thank you, everybody.