Page 12 - HB0223

Commissioner’s Message

s your new District 4 Commissioner and Vice Mayor for 2023, I’m looking
forward to representing your interests in City affairs. Along with the two
Aother new Fort Lauderdale City Commissioners seated in December, 2022,
Dr. Pamela Beasley-Pittman in District 3 and John Herbst in District 1, and current
members Steven Glassman and Mayor Dean Trantalis, we are already working
together on behalf of our community.
In conference in December, we instructed staff to no longer consider the proposal
to raise the height of the PDD up to 500 feet. Regarding the Las Olas Tunnel to
the Beach, staff was instructed to abandon the study and return to the city any
consulting fees not already spent. We also are reevaluating the idea of whether or
not to use a P3 (Public Private Partnership) to build our new water treatment plant.
This coming year promises to be an exciting one for Fort Lauderdale. We have seen
the proposal to revitalize Huizenga Park, located downtown by the Riverwalk and
have entered into an agreement with the DDA (Downtown Development Authority)
that guarantees that space will remain a park in perpetuity, providing for a much-
needed green space in the heart of our downtown for all to enjoy. Commuter rail
service on the east side of town is no longer a dream but a reality: in addition to
Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach, two more stations have recently
opened in Aventura and Boca Raton, with more planned for Hollywood, the airport,
Broward General, Oakland Park and Pompano Beach. Brightline service to Orlando
should be running by mid-2023. And we will be considering building a tunnel under
the New River to expedite this rail service.

We are working with our Broward County partners on regional projects. Discussions
have begun on innovative ideas regarding homelessness, affordable housing, and
traffic. And city staff continues to report on the progress we are making on the
monumental task of fortifying our infrastructure.

I want to thank all my friends and neighbors for your trust in electing me to represent
you on our Fort Lauderdale City Commission. I have enjoyed serving this community
as Chief of our City’s CERT Team, leader of our Medical Reserve Corps, and as
President of Rio Vista Civic Association for 14 years. And I am honored to represent
you in District 4 and serve the entire City of Fort Lauderdale.

Wishing everyone a prosperous and happy New Year.
Warren Sturman
Vice Mayor

10 HARBOR BEACH Magazine | www.harborbeach.org

2/1/23 9:25 PM
HB 0223.indd 10 2/1/23 9:25 PM
HB 0223.indd 10