Page 16 - HB1225

Mayor's Message continued

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has
implemented a new year-round slow-speed, minimum-wake
zone for a portion of the Intracoastal Waterway between the
Oakland Park Blvd. Bridge and the Sunrise Blvd. Bridge. The
change is meant to reduce public safety risk caused by vessel
traffic congestion on that stretch of waterway. The new zone
sits between two existing year-round idle-speed, no-wake zones
that already cover the areas immediately around both bridges.

The city has completed mangrove plantings at Coontie Hatch
Park and George English Park. Fifty additional mangroves are
being donated to the New River Middle School’s Eco Sharks
Club through a partnership with the University of Florida. The
club will nurture them until they are ready for future planting.
A 30-day overnight anchoring restriction has yielded positive
results. Lake Sylvia had been home to some 25 anchored
vessels, but now has only four remaining. Similar success has
occurred in the Intracoastal north of Las Olas Boulevard and
in Sunrise Bay.
We are expanding sewage pump-out opportunities. The city
currently operates public pump-out stations to prevent sewage
discharge and promote healthier waterways. We are adding
a pump-out vessel that can come to boats needing service.
The city continues to collaborate with state partners to
enhance water quality in the North Fork of the New River.
And, we are planning to seek federal grant money to fund
real-time water quality monitoring stations. These stations
would continuously collect data on parameters including
temperature, depth, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity,
chlorophyll, and blue-green algae.
Discussions are underway to develop a living seawall
program to rebate permit fees. This would help offset costs to
property owners who install living seawalls instead of
traditional seawalls.

Together, these initiatives reinforce a core value in Fort
Lauderdale. Our waterways are the lifeblood of our
community, and the city is committed to ensuring they continue
to shine for generations to come.

In closing, as we move into the holiday season, please
keep in mind the wonderful slate of annual events the city
produces this time of year. Events like Light up the Beach and
the Downtown Countdown are great events for families and
friends to come together and mark the season. I hope to see
you there.

Sincerely,
Dean Trantalis
Mayor, City of Fort Lauderdale

14 HARBOR BEACH Magazine | www.harborbeach.org

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