From David Volz
Senior managers for the City of Fort Lauderdale won’t be required to live within the city to retain their jobs.
The Fort Lauderdale Commission held the first reading of an ordinance to repeal the requirement that department directors reside within Fort Lauderdale city limits. The change is intended to improve recruitment and retention by allowing the City to attract highly qualified candidates from across South Florida, noting that most current department directors live outside city limits and that neighboring municipalities do not impose similar restrictions. A second reading will be scheduled for final adoption.
The Commission approved reallocating $414,750 in Parks Bond funds from Hortt Park to Floyd Hull Stadium. Hortt Park had received more than its originally anticipated funding allocation, creating an overfunding that could be redirected without affecting its planned improvements. The transfer will fund the initial planning and design phase for Floyd Hull Stadium, advancing a project recommended by the Parks, Recreation, and Beaches Advisory Board and supported by the surrounding neighborhood.
The Commission approved an agreement with GTOPSS LP to provide school crossing guard services at 18 public schools across Fort Lauderdale. The two-year contract is valued at $3,165,372, with three optional one-year renewals for an approximate total of $7.9 million. The agreement will cover nearly 80,000 hours annually for crossing guards and 3,780 hours for supervisors, ensuring approximately 95 trained guards are available each school day to help students and families safely cross major intersections.
The Commission approved acceptance of a $14,850 grant from the Florida Department of Health’s EMS Matching Program to purchase first aid kits for Fort Lauderdale Police Department patrol officers. The kits include tourniquets, gauze, and chest seals, so officers can provide life-saving treatment before paramedics arrive. The City will provide the required 25 percent cash match of $4,950, bringing the total project cost to $19,800
Fort Lauderdale Commission reviews city budget
From Daviid Volz
The Fort Lauderdale Commission and Budget Advisory Board (BAB) held their final joint workshop to review the Fiscal Year 2026 Tentative Budget, which totals $1.2 billion and reflects an 8.5% increase in taxable property value. The budget remains structurally balanced, maintains strong reserves, and prioritizes public safety, homelessness response, infrastructure improvements, and cultural initiatives. The budget introduces new departments utilizing existing resources to improve accountability, visibility, and service delivery. The BAB presented its support of the budget as part of this review, and the Commission will hold its first budget hearing on September 3 and its second hearing on September 12. During the meeting, the City Auditor presented the audit of the Proposed Budget concluding that the Proposed Budget is balanced and that funding is allocated to support all of the FY 2026 City Commission Priorities.
