Remarks by Ben Sorensen
82 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 1 of 4
- Play at 26:31
“Thank you, Mayor. Appreciate it. La comunidad. I'll translate this for you. I'll translate. It's all good. It's going to be short.”
City Commission · Oct 6, 2026
- Play at 26:50
“Try it again. Greek tomorrow. Perfecto. Perfecto. The Hispanic community makes great contributions every day. We celebrate their culture, their traditions, their work, and their service. Our city is stronger thanks to our Hispanic community. Feliz mes de la herencia hispana.”
City Commission · Oct 6, 2026
- Play at 27:23
“So in English, thank you for tolerating my rough Spanish. So in English, this is a recognition of... Is that Spanish? Hispanic, that was. It was Catalan with a little... Yeah, Catalan, yeah.”
City Commission · Oct 6, 2026
- Play at 27:41
“No left hand, exactly. Whereas Hispanic Americans have played an integral role in shaping the history, culture, and prosperity of our nation, contributing across generations to our communities, economy, arts, public service, and civic life. And whereas each year Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15th through October 15th to celebrate the histories, cultures, and contributions of Americans whose heritage traces to Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. And whereas Fort Lauderdale is strengthened by a vibrant Hispanic community representing…”
City Commission · Oct 6, 2026
- Play at 41:38
“motion authorizing execution of a dock lease agreement with rubber duck holdings vice mayor yep thank you mayor so wanted to just talk through this city manager and i've talked about it but um basically i just want to touch base back city manager with our discussion around making sure this is a fair market rate that we are you know on the on the positive side of a you know basically leasing 300 linear feet so if you can walk me through and walk everyone through kind of the market rate analysis and how we're at the price we're at and and carl maybe even a little bit of the negotiations i'm not…”
City Commission · Oct 6, 2026
- Play at 43:00
“If we were the private sector, are we at the rate a private sector marina would be contracting for as well?”
City Commission · Oct 6, 2026
- Play at 43:32
“And so if I'm understanding the history, we consider market rate reset every three years. Is that right? With a 3% CPI adjusted rent?”
City Commission · Oct 6, 2026
- Play at 44:11
“Okay, but I think we're leasing 300 linear feet at once.”
City Commission · Oct 6, 2026
- Play at 44:16
“Right. So what is the rate of the 300 linear feet this year versus last year?”
City Commission · Oct 6, 2026
- Play at 44:25
“Okay. And we think that small percentage increase is sufficient to adhere to?”
City Commission · Oct 6, 2026
- Play at 44:41
“Thanks, City Manager. All right. Great, Mayor. I'll move this to approve. Okay, do I hear a second?”
City Commission · Oct 6, 2026
- Play at 1:03:21
“Yeah, supportive of the direction. I want to thank Ray Detman. I know he's not here, but President of Point Santa Park has really been the driving force along with city staff. This has been a massive city staff effort, which I think there's a lot of excitement in the neighborhoods. In my neighborhood agenda review conversation, one of the emphasis we talked about was stormwater and making sure that we're you know, planning and for stormwater and Fortified Fort Lauderdale is doing just that. And so we need to continue that investment, Mayor. But I think we're heading in a good direction with…”
City Commission · Oct 6, 2026
- Play at 1:25:34
“Okay. Glenn, let's just go through. So I'm looking at the EC evaluation. So you have rater number one is the president of the fire union, right? Yes, sir. So that's representing how many employees? Sorry, FOP. So how many? 500 about? Okay. Raider number two is the president of the fire rescue union representing how many? Okay. Raider number three, I'm not familiar with the role. Raider number three in the city?”
City Commission · Oct 6, 2026
- Play at 1:26:34
“Federation representing, Yvette, I'll get the numbers. I just want to understand these numbers of who's on the EC. Okay. Well, that's actually reassuring because at least these guys are on the pension plan.”
City Commission · Oct 6, 2026
- Play at 1:27:09
“And is Rater 4 or 5 representing Teamsters?”
City Commission · Oct 6, 2026
- Play at 1:27:29
“Okay, so that gives me greater just confidence, just better understanding who's on the EC, who are they representing, who are they communicating with day in and day out as they make these decisions. So, okay, thank you, Glenn.”
City Commission · Oct 6, 2026
- Play at 1:39:54
“Yeah, I think... Whatever we do, we've got to have robust public participation, engagement. I think we all agree with that. So that's the foundational piece. And so I think, again, I wasn't part of the conversation earlier. It sounds like the direction is you can kind of have two options. You could defer the item to a date certain. We could table it and start the public conversation and then decide what the community public wants and then go in that direction. That's kind of what I was thinking. A couple options, yeah.”
City Commission · Oct 6, 2026
- Play at 1:40:51
“I'm fine with that direction, if that's a pleasure.”
City Commission · Oct 6, 2026
- Play at 1:53:01
“Yes. Site visits, discussion with neighbors, applicant. Thank you.”
City Commission · Oct 6, 2026
- Play at 2:07:25
“Yeah, Mayor, I'm happy to make a motion. So let me sit. I'm sorry, go ahead.”
City Commission · Oct 6, 2026
- Play at 2:08:03
“Correct, Mayor, I do. And one question, though, for our city attorney is, So, is there anything further that this body needs to articulate in terms of criteria? Are we sufficient moving forward with my motion? This is your finding. Okay, great. It is my finding. It's my finding. I move that it's the commission's finding. So, Mayor, I move to approve the variance, ratify your statement. Okay.”
City Commission · Oct 6, 2026
- Play at 2:09:34
“Yeah, I'll include. So motion is subject to the easement and the parking condition.”
City Commission · Oct 6, 2026
- Play at 2:09:49
“And, Mohamed, while he's doing that, if you can just clarify the overhang easement. Is that to the back of the property and the easement behind?”
City Commission · Oct 6, 2026
- Play at 2:10:28
“So that onus is on the applicant to... seek and receive that letter.”
City Commission · Oct 6, 2026
- Play at 2:10:34
“And relay that communication to the city, right?”
City Commission · Oct 6, 2026