Page 16 - HB0625

Commissioner’s Message

Dear Neighbors,

s soon as I was elected, I started working to reduce the frequency of openings
of the 17th Street Bridge. W e officially received verification that the temporary
Adeviation will be effective from 6 a.m. on June 2, 2025, through 11:59 p.m.
on November 28, 2025. During this period, the bridge will not open on weekdays
(except federal holidays) at the following times: 7:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m.,4:30 p.m., and
5:30 p.m. The new schedule is intended to reduce roadway congestion during morning
and afternoon peak hours. The U.S. Coast Guard will use this period to evaluate
whether a permanent change is appropriate. The schedule was designed to ease
vehicle traffic without significantly impacting marine access. We had a great team
Ben Sorensen working together to make this happen! This is a HUGE win and one that has never ever
District 4 Commissioner happened before!
bsorensen@fortlauderdale.gov
In other great news, the City of Fort Lauderdale has hired its first-ever Chief Waterways
Officer, Marco Aguilera. Since starting his role on April 27th, Marco’s knowledge and
determination to improve water quality and support marine life through sustainable
City of Fort Lauderdale improvements have already provided rewarding dividends to our city. On May 31st,
1 E. Broward Blvd., Ste. 444 the city successfully completed a mangrove restoration project at George English
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Park. Mangroves and other natural filter pollutants are an essential piece of our city’s
waterway improvement initiatives. Not only does their presence simply improve
Office Contact water quality, but they also buffer shorelines from erosion and storm damage while
Sabrina Javellana simultaneously supporting our ecosystem’s biodiversity. Another essential campaign the
Chief of Staff City is spearheading is increasing awareness of the seasonal fertilizer ban. Fertilizer
sjavellana@fortlauderdale.gov use is prohibited in Fort Lauderdale beginning June 1st and ending September 30thof
each year. The purpose of this ban is to prevent excess toxins in our waterways during
Vicki Gargano the rainy season, limit stormwater runoff, and reduce the potential for algal blooms.
Community Outreach Director
vickig@fortlauderdale.gov As you may be keenly aware, hurricane season is upon us. I want to assure you that
954.828.5028 the City has had a lot of internal and external collaboration to prepare residents during
these months. Our Public Works team inspects and cleans every storm drain in the
city an average of twice a year, performing nearly 20,000 inspections annually, with
increased attention during the rainy season and in flood-prone areas. Use FIXITFTL or
call (954)-828-8000 to report debris in storm drains. To help prepare for storms, the
City will be providing free sandbags to residents on the first Saturday and Sunday
of each month (10:00 AM–1:00 PM) from May through November. You can pick up
sandbags at George English Park, Holiday Park, Mills Pond Park, or the Floyd Hull/
Morton Center. For full storm preparation
tips and resources, please visit https://
www.fortlauderdale.gov/stormready. To
stay informed during an emergency event,
please sign up for AlertFTL to receive
prompt notifications. Thank you for staying
engaged and working with me to make
Fort Lauderdale the best it can be. I look
forward to continuing to serve you!

Ben Sorensen
Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner,
District 4

14 HARBOR BEACH Magazine | www.harborbeach.org

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