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Mayor’s Message continued

boats in case any of the high level of nutrients was due to with residents to maintain access to individual properties.
illegal waste-dumping by boaters.
We expect an assessment of the entire sewer force main
Following recent events, the commission has committed system to be completed by March so we will be aware of
itself to additional steps.The city will be undertaking an where our problems are and the degree of their severity. A
environmental analysis of the conditions of George English new pump station is being brought online downtown that
Lake and the rivers impacted by the sewage spills. Based adds one million gallons of additional daily sewage
on these results, we will determine a course of action to capacity to the area.
restore them. In addition to cleaning the Upgrades to our deep-injection wells
waterways, we also must determine any
used by our sewer system should also be
long-standing sources of pollution and completed in March. The replacement of
address them.
the 16-inch sewer main that broke in
Immediate, emergency action is already Victoria Park is nearing completion.
underway. The city has deployed dozens Improvements to that neighborhood’s
of aerators to improve water quality by water mains will be completed this
boosting oxygen levels in the water, spring, as will the mapping of water
increasing circulation, breaking down distribution valves citywide.
organic matter in the discharge and Work continues to replace the broken
helping to control odor. Crews have
sewer main in Rio Vista so we can
skimmed waterways and installed eliminate the emergency bypass we are
turbidity curtains to collect and
now using. The replacement of 3,100
remove debris.
feet of sewer force main along East Las
While typically the state and county take Olas Boulevard is beginning and be
the lead on water quality testing and completed by the end of August.
reporting, the commission has stated that I also have signed financial documents for the city
we would like our staff to assume a larger role here and ensure
establishing a line of credit so we can start our work to
that our residents have easy access to all the information upgrade the stormwater infrastructure and better prepare
available about existing conditions of our waterways. This is
the community for sea-level rise and climate change. We
about transparency in government, and such information is will begin this initiative in the Edgewood and River Oaks
important to boaters, fishing enthusiasts, kayakers, paddle-
neighborhoods and expand to other areas once new
boarders and those who live along the water.
stormwater rates are set and bond issued. The city will add
We are determined to take such steps to promote a stormwater pump stations, exfiltration trenches, catch
healthier environment. It’s important to our residents and basins, stormwater pipes, permeable pavement, swales,
our visitors and to us as stewards of both our natural force mains. We also will improve additional seawalls and
surroundings and native wildlife. Several months after I dredge canals to address sedimentation and improve flow.
became mayor, I signed a compact with other coastal cities Finally, the city manager has come up with a way to bring
around the world to recognize the urgency to re-balance
about the complete and immediate end to the annual
the relationship between human development and our practice of raiding the utility reserves to balance the
natural environment. We must place a premium on our
general operating budget. This commission had devised the
natural resources.
first-ever plan to stop the raids. That was to be
Let me turn to an update on our progress upgrading our accomplished over a four-year timespan, but now due to the
infrastructure. We have commenced work on replacing the number-crunching of our city manager, we should have the
fragile, 50-year-old sewer main that has proven so ability to complete it within this current fiscal year.
problematic in recent months. This 7½-mile project will be
Combined, this all marks significant progress.
completed on an aggressive, 18-month timetable. As
sections are laid, we will switch the surrounding areas over Sincerely,
to the new line as quickly as possible. Also, as the project Dean Trantalis
progresses through neighborhoods, contractors will work Mayor

16 CORAL RIDGE COUNTRY CLUB ESTATES HOA