[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6682992,"mediaKeyId","2239725-b1732ed9f41f4331c94e026013e56ced","parentId",2239725,"title","Commission adopts capital improvements update, approves consent agenda and board appointment","audioSeconds",42,"startMs",6766000,"endMs",6808000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2239725-b1732ed9f41f4331c94e026013e56ced&start=6766&end=6808","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2239725-b1732ed9f41f4331c94e026013e56ced/thumbnail_6766000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6682992/Oakland-Park/Broward-County/Florida/Commission-adopts-capital-improvements-update-approves-consent-agenda-and-board-appointment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6682992-f61742578123fb468876efea40a5af69/orig.mp4?Expires=1775671039&Signature=HdC02MmDY9ZJMLqRm0lP-g3NNzhJBWTVdjnwSW5eynS-zbsMj6FFafvRDiCKcgvL65OVyOQi8RtVv4NNY54F6iqQRMiNuqUZpAHJftyizynUJywm5yXLmoO-fB7N7Hmlaptrnio5TDdJQyUi3sdd68EPTN~ZyAim5yknreQ8LwTFyP4Lb3UqwhX8hu5U9uqdxctofrIdzK7BW5NSTBbmcNEdyV5FYOCiVGvVD0IF6MIlW9e2WjCTokfgGJtwHWhaOKpvsDbZb7WEW3v1WnmQhyIj8pXOl22k0eZMkvxfExodqxqqEhkna-sle9Xo7xcd85aQkdt2bUdibZomO51tmw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Oakland Park","date","2025-02-05T18:30:00Z","article","The Oakland Park City Commission on Feb. 5 took three formal, recorded actions during its business session.

Capital improvements element update (ordinance on second reading): The commission conducted a public hearing and adopted an ordinance to update the Capital Improvements Element of the city’s 2045 Comprehensive Plan (the city’s 2025 annual update). Engineering and community development director Miss Marrero said the update is required by Florida law and incorporates the city’s adopted capital improvement plan and Broward MPO projects. Motion to adopt the ordinance passed on a roll-call vote: Commissioner Budhoe — yes; Vice Mayor Arndt — yes; Commissioner Gordon — yes; Commissioner Newbold — yes; Mayor Tim Lonergan — yes. Outcome: approved.

Consent agenda: The commission approved the consent agenda covering minutes, a fiscal year 2025 legislative agenda resolution, procurement and purchase authorizations (including site furnishings, vehicles and equipment), contract renewals and locally funded FDOT agreements. Motion to adopt the consent agenda passed on a roll-call vote with the same five members recorded as voting yes. Outcome: approved.

Civil Service Board appointment: The commission appointed Roger Banks to the Civil Service Board. A commissioner made a motion to appoint Roger Banks; the motion was seconded and passed on a roll-call vote: Commissioner Budhoe — yes; Vice Mayor Arndt — yes; Commissioner Gordon — yes; Commissioner Newbold — yes; Mayor Lonergan — yes. Outcome: approved.

Votes at a glance: all recorded roll-call votes were unanimous in favor as listed above. Where motions and seconds were not read into the record with a named mover or seconder, the minutes record a motion and a second before the roll call.

Staff noted no public testimony was received on the capital improvements ordinance and said the ordinance had passed first reading on Jan. 15.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Oakland Park - City Commission Meeting - Feb 05, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its Feb. 5 meeting the Oakland Park City Commission adopted the 2025 annual update to the Capital Improvements Element of the comprehensive plan on second reading, approved the consent agenda of purchases and agreements, and appointed Roger Banks to the Civil Service Board. All actions passed on recorded roll calls.","taxTitle","Oakland Park, Broward County, Florida","taxId",56674,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6682997,"City outlines West Side visioning, expands VIP grants after QCT designation",701,2837000,3538000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2239725-b1732ed9f41f4331c94e026013e56ced&start=2837&end=3538","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2239725-b1732ed9f41f4331c94e026013e56ced/thumbnail_2837000.jpg","/articles/6682997/Oakland-Park/Broward-County/Florida/City-outlines-West-Side-visioning-expands-VIP-grants-after-QCT-designation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6682997-0897e696f81d817478ef1e53f1a45c67/orig.mp4?Expires=1775671039&Signature=VMxCZ8oTMSqySxHGGZK66u4hlDR~qQqM0wguo50LI-7IzwpDBVpkXX5IHQe7DHlhRouCCb7tkKtorHwNtUiX5jJ1DovlijbX35yjkt5kxy~YX545SB2GhtbGrDJGsC3m7vRP5q6nlj2PZuMrfZp9MqtOAUceKajmIkG-K3DDC-kppxnqKdwPH-0sFXQuXkjDB3zms~~Mdqey-JF5pWgFCYvbRgbbbnlHxkMLMk~SgemgpzNu7ZcI1IDMK9iQJIgGpLd1t5UWFzq8j0iwkf-NCikwieJSmBEmLFWsXYsWES3A6PA5JFeE6vT0KuEgXv2puAUG8-surv0unh-qe3cl6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Neesa Herrera, Oakland Park’s CRA and Economic Development Director, and consultant Renee Miller briefed the City Commission on Feb. 5 about ongoing work to spur reinvestment on the West Side, an area staff said faces distinct market challenges.

The staff presentation said a portion of West Oakland Park Boulevard (census tract 508) was designated a Qualified Census Tract (QCT) and that the city expanded its VIP small-business grant program to cover the area in January 2024. Staff said the commission approved the first QCT VIP grant in October 2024 for $20,000 at 2300 West Oakland Park Boulevard.

Herrera and Miller described observed market dynamics: high average daily traffic (FDOT data cited ~55,000 vehicles per day on the corridor), prevalence of absentee parcel owners and owner-operated small businesses, and linear commercial development patterns oriented to vehicles rather than walkability. Miller said those factors make the corridor attractive to national quick-service chains and gas stations and create barriers to the sit-down restaurants and grocery stores many residents want.

Staff described actions under way: weekly one-on-one business visitations, active promotion of the QCT VIP program, coordination with CareerSource Broward for workforce training, partnership outreach with Broward County and the Urban League to expand small-business capacity and access to capital, and outreach to brokers and owners to match willing sellers to investors. “We are meeting them where they are,” Miller told commissioners, explaining the weekly visitations and on-the-ground outreach.

Commissioners and staff discussed specific properties including the Walgreens site and the flea-market parcel on Northwest 30th Street. Staff said they are in contact with the Walgreens ownership and realtor but could not disclose transaction details. Commissioners pressed for stronger code enforcement and property appearance efforts; city staff and the city manager said those efforts are ongoing and offered to provide a more detailed briefing on enforcement activity.

Herrera said the city’s West Side strategy aims to build a pipeline for targeted uses (dine-in restaurants, fresh grocery, experiential retail) by combining data collection, policy changes, capital incentives, and private-market outreach.

City officials emphasized that redevelopment is possible but costly because property values in Oakland Park have risen sharply in recent years; staff and commissioners said the work will take time and repeated outreach.","Oakland Park staff described outreach and early grant activity on the West Side after HUD-designated qualified census tract status; staff said they expanded their VIP small-business grant program and are pursuing capacity-building partnerships to attract sit-down restaurants and grocery options.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6683001,"Broward details BCR North plan, confirms downtown Oakland Park station in early planning",429,1993000,2422000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2239725-b1732ed9f41f4331c94e026013e56ced&start=1993&end=2422","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2239725-b1732ed9f41f4331c94e026013e56ced/thumbnail_1993000.jpg","/articles/6683001/Oakland-Park/Broward-County/Florida/Broward-details-BCR-North-plan-confirms-downtown-Oakland-Park-station-in-early-planning","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6683001-b62c3d42d8c07f11ec5cd3740f84162c/orig.mp4?Expires=1775671039&Signature=LLDx7E3EEWXcf5GVMoZDwj-4--WaQ91Uxoy-EljQ0SsK87JZFDZ0kScOVzBlCnAOIWbAdUrQNY7WpuHS4CCkD7ceBylm6apYeUJv4MbOLnpAxu8th~EjKbC4cCIB5gKVVTQRw61TfiP6uEufpg9u1WVrOlzqCsTCa56mv5eooo2eBojKLybA~tYV6zoBTtYAc0J1yW0~o7-~r~GfBdhabzrTZgZTXReL6Uj-x7Ha~4NUfV3eTZp5pf19hJPbzHaq2T7c8tiAtG3Q6v0JeEaV-Lr~AUANFtH~Z77oKAag2Xr1SGFefQaHnQEbQh9wKx2P5JF-F-VcDwtFqagcr5QmJg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Corey Lonergan, director of transportation for Broward County, presented the Broward Commuter Rail (BCR) North project to the Oakland Park City Commission on Feb. 5 and said the county intends to include a station in Downtown Oakland Park as part of a multi-county premium transit program.

Lonergan said the BCR program is part of a larger “Primo” investment—about $4.3 billion in countywide premium transit that aims to add roughly 200 miles of higher-level transit. BCR North would connect Fort Lauderdale, Oakland Park, Pompano Beach and Deerfield Beach and would eventually tie into Miami-Dade service and potentially Palm Beach County if they join financially.

“The station will be in Downtown Oakland Park,” Lonergan said, dismissing earlier rumors that it would be located elsewhere. She said BCR North would proceed from planning to a Project Development & Environmental (PD&E) study after the county adopts a locally preferred alternative (LPA), currently expected in March. The PD&E will include 30% engineering, environmental reviews, and federally required noise and vibration studies because federal funding is anticipated through the Federal Transit Administration New Starts program.

Lonergan described next steps: continuing public outreach in February, a joint meeting with Broward County and Fort Lauderdale commissioners, LPA adoption in March, and then moving into PD&E. She said BCR South already has environmental approvals and is pursuing federal New Starts funding for a large share of that project.

Commissioners asked about connections to the airport, the seaport and the convention center. Lonergan said the Primo program’s light-rail element would provide elevated connections to the airport intermodal center, the seaport and the convention center, and that planners are evaluating whether vehicles will use overhead catenary or other power systems; for much of the system the design assumes overhead power.

Lonergan closed by inviting community engagement and noting the planning timeline; she and county staff said they will return to city staff and the commission as the LPA and PD&E work advance.","Broward County transportation director Corey Lonergan told the commission that the county’s Broward Commuter Rail North line would include a Downtown Oakland Park station and enter PD&E pending adoption of a locally preferred alternative in March.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6683005,"Oakland Park legislative liaison outlines March start of session, flags condo and insurance priorities",1641,331000,1972000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2239725-b1732ed9f41f4331c94e026013e56ced&start=331&end=1972","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2239725-b1732ed9f41f4331c94e026013e56ced/thumbnail_331000.jpg","/articles/6683005/Oakland-Park/Broward-County/Florida/Oakland-Park-legislative-liaison-outlines-March-start-of-session-flags-condo-and-insurance-priorities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6683005-615b2e3c3bf4138389a1316e4373d674/orig.mp4?Expires=1775671039&Signature=b1fXHPWiQIT2Co-fGNiPkD28tKmU9UHkgn3-q4k4SKucognLj3AgaY9J73Fxuobp8hAnJCtYFlck9BwQL8d66HGu2R9gjVCorRTHHUnigTWiz2JkYvwWqE53hKkikvhp1QQtSAxzB0~7CFxlLk1~H3LKMTV-V0cB86BdTo~R6fDeD1tEAiM9O4LMrh3DzUWH3a9FwY8tN9tCDZJruQp6g5rP10SO4Z6DZISSfbV3IqXfuiqqXoYpsD-YPhBE4IpQwv2kRiO1OQgfyZT-dm2I05rgwHOtuSm7rK2Y2bGc7UQb9Xz9v5vHrVAV1~8n2MqN5DL4-A0WRcSrHbsSeFrg5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Russ Clinet, the City of Oakland Park’s legislative liaison, told the City Commission on Feb. 5 that the Florida Legislature will begin its biennial session in March and that major statewide issues likely to affect local residents include property insurance and condominium governance.

Clinet said the governor’s recent call-back to Tallahassee over immigration drew attention but produced little policy change, and that the session’s top priorities will include property-insurance relief and bills prompted by condominium failures such as Surfside. “The legislature is going to pass a bill this session that reduces the number of residents in a condominium necessary to sell the whole building,” Clinet said, adding that the threshold likely will move from 80% to 60% of owners.

The nut of the update: why it matters to Oakland Park. Clinet advised commissioners that legislative timing and politics make direct wins difficult for Broward County projects and local asks. He said the Legislature will shift into budget work in April, with a final budget vote typically in early May and implementation details not visible until summer.

Clinet reviewed other priorities. He said recent bills are “relief bills” (claims bills) that seek legislative approval for awards exceeding state sovereign-immunity caps, and he noted that federal COVID-era recovery funds that previously supported many projects are largely gone. He urged commissioners and staff to expect modest success on local budget requests and to narrow asks to one or two priority projects.

On local issues, Clinet said the city’s efforts on the school mitigation fee and a long-running push about a nearby postal facility remain active. “We’re taking another effort to get to Postmaster General DeJoy,” he said, describing “some movement” at the U.S. Postal Service on consolidating assets but warning the process is slow.

Commissioners raised questions about whether the session will be a preemption year for local home-rule matters and about Medicaid expansion. Clinet said he did not see broad preemption on this short session and expressed skepticism about state-level Medicaid expansion, calling loss of coverage for vulnerable residents “a travesty.”

Clinet closed by reminding commissioners his office reads all filed bills and will send updates and “love letters” during the session when items may affect Oakland Park. He invited commissioners to contact him for briefings or to discuss how city priorities align with bills under consideration.","Russ Clinet, the city’s legislative liaison, told the City Commission that the Florida Legislature begins its biennial March session and that lawmakers are expected to address condominium sale thresholds and property-insurance pressure; he urged realistic expectations about local budget wins.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission adopts capital improvements update, approves consent agenda and board appointment

City outlines West Side visioning, expands VIP grants after QCT designation

Broward details BCR North plan, confirms downtown Oakland Park station in early planning

Oakland Park legislative liaison outlines March start of session, flags condo and insurance priorities