[{"_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",6241174,"mediaKeyId","3308213-2f979148680ed011ac4898bce62aeeaa","parentId",3308213,"title","Transportation director seeks master plan, staffing and pocket of FDOT/city project funding on Breakers Avenue","audioSeconds",621,"startMs",7366489,"endMs",7988380,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3308213-2f979148680ed011ac4898bce62aeeaa&start=7366&end=7988","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3308213-2f979148680ed011ac4898bce62aeeaa/thumbnail_7366489.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6241174/Fort-Lauderdale/Broward-County/Florida/Transportation-director-seeks-master-plan-staffing-and-pocket-of-FDOTcity-project-funding-on-Breakers-Avenue","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6241174-580398bc247f4c0a50191b4f1ba03ce4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437850&Signature=OuG0w5r46uIJYoRVX88izWy4Y999kdrh2jYQsIb1vQ2M8Pkw1i4y9Nto~k11L467s4PEkioowCcxH4qMCHELz6v3WN4Ffmp4F8pkmQtipMiHqjUdcG~2cUULZ8OBRf0SOnHpqctJa048A31ozF8~thmasXYV-z~DHNW3FO622kjAJZaMpMZaJxtkzpvrB58FiQ7lKoT2W78M62BJN~uaC8Hq5rEjorEzX~Vkn88knK3Z9IK8oMfiaboFnMfSK3~7UdnMrQD33yWGQdqHYhsUABU5D49BzrKEIxrLv~GYFPE4XSCRFOysSsrXrZdvum1cgz4aCSBsK0TQKknv4-paOA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Fort Lauderdale, FL","date","2025-05-15T00:56:28Z","article","Milos Raisto, Director of Transportation & Mobility, outlined a set of FY2026 requests May 14 intended to strengthen traffic engineering capacity and advance several local projects, including a recently awarded FDOT grant for Breakers Avenue.

Raisto said the department seeks to transfer one maintenance‑of‑traffic inspector into Transportation & Mobility to improve coverage and efficiency. He also proposed funding for a transportation master plan to set long‑term corridor and mode priorities and help the city secure outside funding. \"It is nothing but a business plan for our transportation network,\" he said.

The director asked for a program manager/project manager position to expand traffic engineering and safety analysis capacity; the role would assist with plan reviews, safety studies and interagency coordination with FDOT and Broward County.

Raisto described several capital projects: the Breakers Avenue project progressed to an FDOT grant approval of $3 million May 6; the city has about $4.5 million committed and an $850,000 contribution under consideration from another source, leaving a funding gap Raisto estimated at roughly $2.8 million to complete construction and closeout. He also described a Northeast 15th Avenue mobility project that began as a tactical urbanism effort and a Sunrise Lane streetscape enhancement with an estimated $2.2 million construction cost.

On parking, Raisto said the city is expanding smart parking technologies (sensors and signage) to provide real‑time availability and reduce circling traffic; he noted pilot installations are under way in some lots and the city will expand technology and communications as reliability is proven.

Board members pressed for clarity on travel time and congestion metrics; Raisto said the city has deployed Bluetooth devices on select corridors to measure travel times and that the proposed program manager would help provide more proactive monitoring and coordination with county and state agencies. He emphasized that a master plan would provide the jurisdictional clarity and corridor vision the city needs to leverage FDOT and county funding.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Budget Advisory Board Meeting on May 14, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Transportation & Mobility Director presented requests including transferring a traffic inspector to the department, funding for a city transportation master plan, a program‑manager position for traffic engineering, and local project funding gaps such as Breakers Avenue (FDOT $3M grant, city funds $4.5M, additional gap roughly $2.8M).","taxTitle","Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, Florida","taxId",4849,"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},6241176,"Parks director seeks smart irrigation, restroom staff, beach dozer rental and youth transportation in FY2026 request",1683,5366825,7050765,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3308213-2f979148680ed011ac4898bce62aeeaa&start=5366&end=7050","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3308213-2f979148680ed011ac4898bce62aeeaa/thumbnail_5366825.jpg","/articles/6241176/Fort-Lauderdale/Broward-County/Florida/Parks-director-seeks-smart-irrigation-restroom-staff-beach-dozer-rental-and-youth-transportation-in-FY2026-request","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6241176-19f4f9841bae5e21d80f7909557808f5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437850&Signature=jdlXSzOtxKflmG~BVrtTGY6Gvf65S02d61C2SzljKTZgVwqg1zhVnwT2P60HEOajK~aoA5V6aUBL-Fu8ikw6PHhTeREyAIQbCKJ~icKIWK2btQK2en9OyIYtq2aRxXDprlAUS-TgZcCTwaludtVw3w5XmdMZTTltjZQ81ZTQkJ4nNlDmBECcyTKTbKPnMoVmabTttDh6FZm1-u-IW6hGlbzArncCYlWtSgxuhB4SvMcaetHB~IsKGpaYUUb4jmb4AVQl8-f1MmvpxAA8jBqMMisTRwxBQXoNzSaC0-R8gZfWH6SDMNoRVu5puxOJUq7YL07pTZd96hA9j2gNO7q-FQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Carl Williams, Director of Parks & Recreation, presented a package of FY2026 decision items May 14 focused on operational efficiency and service quality across the city’s parks, marinas and beaches.

Williams said the department’s top requests are: a modern facility assessment/work‑order platform to replace an outdated system; switching from owning to renting a beach dozer (about $6,300 per month, $75,000 annually, versus a $235,000 purchase that corrodes in saltwater in three to five years); and hiring 15 part‑time restroom attendants concentrated at high‑use parks (Fort Lauderdale Beach Park, Esplanade, Mills Pond and Holiday Park) to improve cleanliness and service.

Other proposals include purchasing 40 additional smart irrigation controllers (estimated cost about $100,000) — Williams said those controllers become cost neutral in roughly 2.5 years and could yield roughly $50,000 in annual savings by reducing unnecessary watering — and adding a large bus plus one full‑time driver to support youth after‑school programs and summer camps. The department also asked for funds for dog‑station installation and signage tied to the city’s dog‑friendly park policy.

Williams said the department manages roughly 45 buildings, more than a dozen parks and multiple medians and open spaces; he framed the software request as a way to reduce duplicated work orders and improve coordination with other city systems. \"This system would also allow us to communicate other projects that are going throughout the city so that there could be some synergy there so that we won't start a project if there's another project taking place in the city,\" Williams said.

Board members asked for more detailed revenue and cost context (marina revenue streams, swim program subsidies, median capital and maintenance costs). The parks director said the city receives about $1 million annually from the Las Olas marina P3 arrangement and collects dockage and facility fees; he noted many recreation programs are intentionally subsidized to preserve affordability.

The board also discussed less‑measured issues such as volunteer reliance for youth athletics, the potential for sponsorships to offset costs and whether the city should study bringing some athletic programs fully in‑house. Williams said the city is preparing an RFP to engage a third party for sponsorship sales and will provide additional information on medians and maintenance costs.

No formal vote was requested; staff will include these requests in budget materials and follow up with additional data on revenues and medians at the board’s request.","Parks & Recreation requested new facility‑management software, a rental beach dozer instead of purchase, 15 part‑time restroom attendants, 40 smart irrigation controllers, an additional bus and driver for youth transportation, and dog‑station signage upgrades.",{"_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},6241181,"Fire chief asks board for training, whole‑blood program and civilian positions in FY2026 budget",2067,3335585,5403300,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3308213-2f979148680ed011ac4898bce62aeeaa&start=3335&end=5403","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3308213-2f979148680ed011ac4898bce62aeeaa/thumbnail_3335585.jpg","/articles/6241181/Fort-Lauderdale/Broward-County/Florida/Fire-chief-asks-board-for-training-wholeblood-program-and-civilian-positions-in-FY2026-budget","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6241181-b607632071db607243b835103bc87ef4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437850&Signature=Fkg1vExZPzNnUS3r343~r9zn2pJ8MBrcMB~pcnXU-cYvrZcWIC6QOhoeSAl7Z5b38CjX6GZbCdmxGK-l3KgblIMUfF6lKCleDhWAttZaNjKcut5ErKJcEW4ksLWJWEGiT1-u-1PM97xdxm3jX-XfvgLT4XnrFjdmcVp5UD-Z1lzjUuICzsv41WoYMH3sWdWwuSxMPhDI581hTkYJHlJzc7~mZGjd-Mbw6NViXaFuQTU56CotmyvafV6P~N2obw5UJPPtpyt6ge-YzCy9-XKdud7dWkMWNMCMWCYXUMvMtW-x9j0WV71OzNOcg0Vam70QEsq~gw27ZxFoqRzkc1lRzg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Fire Chief Golden presented Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue’s FY2026 decision packages May 14, asking the Budget Advisory Board to consider funding training, operational continuity and new medical and administrative capabilities that the department says will improve response and readiness.

The chief said the most urgent asks are an officer development program (training for about 100 firefighters over two years), a whole‑blood prehospital program for major trauma incidents and several civilian administration positions to provide continuity in timekeeping, emergency‑management paperwork and fleet coordination. \"My very first task is for an officer development training,\" Chief Golden said, adding that this training is meant to prepare staff to fill upcoming retirements.

Staff also described the department’s recent staffing change: Fort Lauderdale was awarded a SAFER grant that added 28 firefighters; those federally funded positions become a city cost when the grant expires in three years. Chief Golden told the board the city will need to account for roughly $4.6 million in additional annual costs in the year the grant ends.

On prehospital care, Golden said a whole‑blood program could increase survivability for patients with major hemorrhage if blood is administered before arrival at surgery. \"When you look at those, if whole blood is administered prior to getting to the hospital ... it increases survivability for the first 24 hours, somewhere between 60 and 90 percent,\" he said. The department noted whole blood must be rotated because blood expires on a roughly 21‑day cycle.

Other decision‑package items included underwater sonar and technical‑rescue gear, powered air‑purifying respirators and cameras for fire investigations, a fleet coordinator (civilian) to manage more than 50 apparatus, uniform enhancements and a public educator to deliver prevention programs and community CPR training. The department provided equipment unit‑cost examples in discussion: rescues at about $500,000 each, engines at about $1.1 million and ladder trucks at about $2.4 million.

Chief Golden and staff answered board questions about fiscal impacts and operations: the department expects a FY2026 baseline increase of about $4.2 million for current service level needs (primarily salary and benefits); the additional decision‑package asks sum to about $1.3 million. The chief said last year’s SAFER hiring was a grant win but that the city must plan to absorb those salary costs when the federal support ends.

Board members asked operational questions about implementation (how a whole‑blood response would be dispatched and which units would carry blood), local hiring and training timelines, and performance measures such as response times and ocean‑rescue interventions. Chief Golden said supervisors would be trained to deliver whole blood to rescue crews when a candidate patient is identified and noted Broward Sheriff’s Office currently provides county‑level whole blood by air and limited ground units.

No formal board vote was requested; the presentation provided committee members with background and numbers that staff said would be used in the City Manager’s preliminary budget.","Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue Chief presented decision packages that include officer development training, a whole‑blood program for trauma response, additional civilian administrative staff and equipment/fleet investments; total decision‑package ask ~ $1.3 million, while baseline budget pressures were described at roughly $4.2 million.",{"_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},6241186,"Budget Advisory Board urges 10-year extension of Northwest CRA at 50% TIF with benchmarks",3231,56850,3288780,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3308213-2f979148680ed011ac4898bce62aeeaa&start=56&end=3288","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3308213-2f979148680ed011ac4898bce62aeeaa/thumbnail_56850.jpg","/articles/6241186/Fort-Lauderdale/Broward-County/Florida/Budget-Advisory-Board-urges-10-year-extension-of-Northwest-CRA-at-50-TIF-with-benchmarks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6241186-db8152e05fc6311b8f5bcea1721e0ba0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437850&Signature=hc1UWFPsR06ftO-IGGxtPXwgLkk8B~YFErG8wCfn6DEZnePylvikr6PY9F7zmk5o4bLETjQF4HdoldcOLAXFCxe2QCQzvpH0W6oQXzsATP96~w6GYUHPCihp-9xCbyMKBDv7RR0zEr9LqVjLj0j6jkW~5P4sAd9ce-GppiTFDvk8dAXmqAs5ZEoAZb7VbPBtPcsmrVFC4NyibD8sOzNUZU3T5eqUNcMsleNX-MOYXp1zmkFHWJM2CgCGW2DtyphURj1n30JHSqME5gqkK2Bhuq6phcGPhSLMQUndUtNX761mLsSU-YmFn4o6C2I5ijB5026wSYO6M~B~sjmDKyxeNA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Fort Lauderdale Budget Advisory Board recommended May 14 that the City Commission extend the Northwest Community Redevelopment Area for 10 years and allocate 50% of the TIF (tax increment financing) to the CRA, with a review every two years and a request that the Budget Advisory Board recommend benchmarks within the first year.

The recommendation matters because the CRA TIF allocation affects city revenues available for general services and is tied to redevelopment projects across Flagler Village, the Northwest and Sistrunk corridors. Board members debated whether a decade-long extension is appropriate while some said a shorter renewal would give the commission more flexibility amid tight city budgets.

Board members opened the special meeting after confirming the session had been properly noticed for CRA discussion. Staff explained the City Commission will take up a pair of resolutions next week — one for the CRA board and one for the city commission — and that the ILA/interlocal and CRA plan determine how TIF flows. \"The meeting that was posted is the agenda that's on the screen. It was noticed that this meeting, the new business would be the CRA extension,\" said a Staff member.

The discussion focused on three topics: whether 10 years is too long given current budget pressures, how much CRA money is truly unencumbered, and whether the city should accelerate the establishment of Invest Fort Lauderdale as a successor vehicle. Some members pushed to limit the commitment to two years; others noted the commission proposed a 10-year extension with two-year reviews to reduce process burden with the county. Staff said the reported $38,000,000 in the CRA is already allocated to projects and paid as projects meet milestones, but board members asked for clearer milestone reporting.

After debate, a motion by Ross Camarada to recommend Commission approval of a 10-year extension at 50% TIF with a two-year review — and to recommend that the Budget Advisory Board develop benchmarks within the first year and receive additional information on Invest Fort Lauderdale — was seconded by Mildred Lowe and passed on a roll call vote: 8 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain, 2 absent. Yes votes recorded: William Brown, Melissa Milroy, Melinda Balker, Olivia Kale, Ross Camarada, Richard Degirolamo, Desiree Giles Smith and Mildred Lowe. Norbert/Robert Bells and Prabhu Patel were absent.

The board instructed staff to forward the recommendation to the city commission in advance of the commission agenda; staff said the communication would likely be provided to the commission as a walk‑on because of timeline constraints. Chair William Brown encouraged board members to attend the commission meeting to show support, noting only one board member will be allowed to speak at the commission hearing.

The board’s action is advisory; the City Commission can accept, modify or reject the recommendation when it considers the interlocal agreements and CRA plan.

The board also recorded earlier, separate procedural approvals at the start of the special meeting: the board ratified holding the specially noticed meeting and approved amended minutes from April 16.

Next steps: staff will transmit the Budget Advisory Board recommendation to the City Commission and will provide the board with the amended minutes and the CRA/ILA materials requested by members.","On May 14, 2025 the Fort Lauderdale Budget Advisory Board voted to recommend the City Commission extend the Northwest Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) for 10 years with a 50% tax increment financing (TIF) allocation, asking the Board to develop benchmarks within one year and receive more information on Invest Fort Lauderdale.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Transportation director seeks master plan, staffing and pocket of FDOT/city project funding on Breakers Avenue

Parks director seeks smart irrigation, restroom staff, beach dozer rental and youth transportation in FY2026 request

Fire chief asks board for training, whole‑blood program and civilian positions in FY2026 budget

Budget Advisory Board urges 10-year extension of Northwest CRA at 50% TIF with benchmarks