From David Volz
The Fort Lauderdale Commission approved several major agreements during a recent meeting.
The Commission approved a resolution accepting $350,000 in grant funding from the Florida Department of Education to support and expand the City’s Education Enrichment Program. The funding will allow the City to build on its summer academic enrichment program and expand services to include after-school enrichment, workforce exploration, job readiness, internships, and citizenship development for children and youth across Fort Lauderdale.
Programs supported by the funding include community summer camps, the PLAY After-School Program, the Teen Recreational Intramural Passport (TRIP) Program, and workforce development initiatives delivered in partnership with organizations such as the YMCA and Experience Aviation.
The Commission approved a resolution accepting $2,180,314 in grant funding from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection through the Land and Water Conservation Fund Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program to support improvements at Joseph C. Carter Park. The grant, which requires a dollar-for-dollar City match already included in the project budget, will help fund outdoor recreational upgrades such as a playground with shade, walking trails, fitness stations, a swimming pool and splash pad, parking improvements, and other park amenities as part of the City’s larger Carter Park redevelopment project.
The Commission discussed an appeal of the Historic Preservation Board’s denial of an after-the-fact Certificate of Appropriateness for major alterations related to the installation of artificial turf within the front outdoor seating area of a designated historic landmark located at 101 S Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard, Case No. UDP-HP25021. Following the discussion, the City Commission approved a resolution setting a de novo hearing for March 3, 2026, at 6 p.m. to review the appeal.
The Commission considered a project agreement with the Florida Inland Navigation District to support the replacement and construction of the Riverwalk North Seawall along the New River between Andrews Avenue and the Florida East Coast Railway corridor. The project addresses structural deficiencies in the existing seawall and includes construction of new dock infrastructure, pedestrian improvements, and a living seawall to enhance public access and environmental resilience. Following the discussion, the City Commission approved a resolution delegating authority to the City Manager to execute a project agreement with FIND for grant funding of up to $1,032,636.
The Commission considered conceptual design options for the Las Olas Mobility Western Corridor from Andrews Avenue to SE 17 Avenue. Following public input and discussion, the City Commission adopted a resolution approving the conceptual designs for the Downtown and Colee Hammock segments and the Retail Shops segment without the median, and directed the City Manager to advance the Las Olas Mobility Western Corridor to 60 % design plans.
