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Commissioner’s Message ...continued

OTHER SIGNIFICANT ITEMS ADDRESSED: office space. Downtown Fort Lauderdale was named
“South Florida’s Latest Hotspot,” thanks to our unique
• Public safety and crime prevention initiatives were
urban lifestyle with dining, entertainment, and cultural
launched, including community outreach programs, a gun
amenities all within walking distance of work, home, and
buyback program, and a medication take back program.
places of worship.
The City opened a new Fort Lauderdale Police Substation
at the Harbor Shops last year. • South Andrews Avenue was re-zoned to provide a
standard, which focuses on building design; codes were
• In 2013, the Commission agreed to a new police union
contract, resulting in approximately $161 million in lower revised to help facilitate the repurposing of old buildings
pension costs over the next 30 years; reduced pension by easing parking requirements.
benefits for new hires will save approximately $67 million. • The renovation of South Side School was completed and
will certainly be a jewel for community activities, including
• The City established a Foreign-Trade Zone for the marine
the Mayor’s upcoming State of the City Address on
industry, the first of its kind in the United States, allowing
January 30, 2018.
facilities to defer, reduce, or eliminate Customs duties on
foreign products; the renovation of the 15th Street Boat • Support for our Fire Rescue Department has been high
Ramp was completed and renamed to honor our late priority, with seven new stations built and a location
mayor, Robert O. “Bob” Cox; canal dredging projects identified for Fire Station #8. The Department became one
have been launched to improve the navigability of our 65- of only 32 departments out of 47,000 nationwide to
mile canal network. achieve both an Insurance Services Organization (ISO)
Class 1 rating and national accreditation from the
Commission on Fire Accreditation International; insurance
companies use ISO information to help establish premiums
for fire insurance, generally offering lower premiums in
communities with better protection.

• Representing the City on the boards of the Transportation
Management Association (TMA) and the Broward
Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) provided
insight and access to resources to address important
transportation and mobility initiatives; the SE 17th Street
Mobility Plan was launched; and the Riverwalk North Side
Connection was completed, connecting our signature
promenade to the Las Olas shopping, dining, and arts and
entertainment district.
• Through the Housing First program, Fort Lauderdale is
providing the most vulnerable homeless individuals with
housing, medical, and social services; the program is
• The City’s continued support for the Fort Lauderdale
funded by a $441,000 grant that the City of Fort
International Boat Show has helped propel the event to the
Lauderdale secured; the Rapid Rehousing Program has
largest boat show in the world, creating an economic
helped families with rental deposits, rent payments, and
impact of $857.3 million.
emergency assistance. There are signs of hope that our
• Tourism is growing at a robust pace with 16 million homeless assistance initiatives are making a difference in
visitors in the past year; our hospitality industry has stepped the lives of individuals and helping to make our public
up to the plate, opening world-class restaurants and hotels. spaces more comfortable for everyone to enjoy.
• Master Plans for our downtown urban core have come to • The Commission recently established an Affordable
life with new condominiums, rental properties, hotels, and Housing Trust Fund that we are depositing proceeds into

16 HARBOR BEACH Magazine | www.harborbeach.org