The Landings & Bay Colony

10

Commissioner’s Message

Bruce G. Roberts

Vice-Mayor

2015 Fort Lauderdale Elections:I want to take this occasion to thank everyone for the
vote of confidence by giving me another opportunity to continue to serve our great
community. At the closing of the qualification period at noon on January 9th, no
opponent filed to run for election in District 1. Commissioner Romney Rogers also ran
unopposed. As a result, the upcoming elections will not feature a District 1 or District
4 race. However, the Mayoral and District 3 races will have a primary on February
10th among the three candidates in each contest. Anyone who gathers more than
50% of the votes in the primary is elected; otherwise, the top two move on to a final
election on March 10th. With just two candidates, the District 2 race will have to be
decided on March 10th. Please mark your calendars and get out to VOTE ON
FEBRUARY 10TH. 

At your direction, the current Commission has guided the City through the Great
Recession without diminishing vital services such as public safety; we have been
fiscally conservative and maintained the same millage rate; we have nurtured a
measured economic development which protects the quality of life in our
neighborhoods; and we continue to budget for implementing your 2035 Vision
through an interactive Five Year Strategic Plan, an Annual Action Plan, Neighborhood
Surveys and Advisory Board recommendations. Let’s continue that momentum.

2015 STATE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES AND FUNDING REQUESTS:The following list
reflects the official position of the City of Fort Lauderdale regarding State of Florida
issues and pending legislation that would impact the operation of local government. It
also provides priorities for the pursuit of funding for various City initiatives. 

The City of Fort Lauderdale will ENDORSE and SUPPORT legislation that will:

1. Permit municipal government to make necessary changes to local law pension plans 
2. Support expansion of passenger rail options 
3. Promote improved water quality and quantity 
4. Provide for local regulation of short term rental properties and remove the state's preemption of local

regulations on vacation rentals 

5. Preserve and/or enhance municipal home rule 
6. Support municipal government initiatives to curb homelessness 
7. Enhance municipal participation in state environmental permitting processes 
8. Encourage energy development and conservation and the development and implementation of

alternative energy sources 

9. Remove the state's preemption of local regulations on vacation rentals 
10. Clarify existing laws regarding community redevelopment agencies (CRA’s) in order to further

redevelopment within established community redevelopment areas 

11. Support the transfer of spending authority for the Tourism Development Tax to cities based on 

tourism activity 

12. Change the allocation of Florida Department of Emergency Management and Urban Area Security

Initiative (UASI) funding to cities to be based on each city’s risk profile assessment 

13. Enact Complete Street Design Initiatives and legislation that will provide cities with the ability to regulate

traffic flow within their city limits (i.e. setting speed limits and use of stop signs for traffic calming) 

14. Strengthen and expand environmental education, physical activity, and healthy lifestyles for Fort

Lauderdale youth while ensuring that they are as protected as possible while participating in parks and
recreation programs 

15. Regulate anchoring of vessels in waterways adjacent to residential properties 
16. Address repeat juvenile offenders and other juvenile justice issues 
17. Create smoke-free zones on Fort Lauderdale beaches 

The City of Fort Lauderdale will OPPOSE any legislation that will: 

1. Restrict Home rule 
2. Create unfunded mandates 
3. Restrict or decrease any revenue allocations to local governments 
4. Decrease the City’s tax base through manipulation of tax exemptions on properties
5. Modify, restrict or eliminate the City’s ability to levy, collect or spend franchise fees, communications

service taxes or local business taxes 

6. Restrict or decrease allocation of red light camera revenues to local governments