Fort Lauderdale staff outline five-year strategic plan and recent accomplishments; commission to set 2026 priorities

A staff member for the City of Fort Lauderdale presented the city’s five-year strategic plan and recent accomplishments to the City Commission, outlining investments in public safety, homeless services, affordable housing, transportation and parks as the commission prepares to set its priorities for fiscal year 2026.

The presentation traced the city’s longer-term vision — adopted in 2013 and aimed at guiding Fort Lauderdale through 2035 — and tied that vision to a five-year strategic plan that frames day-to-day operations and five focus areas: public safety, housing, infrastructure, public places and business growth and support. "The city's vision plan was originally adopted in 2013. It was developed by the community for the community," the staff member said.

City staff said the five-year plan defines six goals to reach by 2029: build a safe and responsive community; enable housing options for all income levels; be a sustainable and resilient community; facilitate an efficient multimodal transportation network; build a beautiful and welcoming community; and build a diverse and attractive economy. The staff member described a schedule for turning commission priorities into funded work plans: a priority-setting workshop in January, budget development from March through June, presentation of a proposed budget in July, public hearings and adoption in September, and implementation beginning in October.

On public safety, staff highlighted a new school-zone speed enforcement program and a police recruitment office. They said two grants are being used to hire six new police officers and a civilian clinician to launch a mental-health co-responder program. A SAFER grant was described as funding 28 new firefighter positions; the presentation did not specify the grant amount.

Staff outlined homelessness and housing actions, including a police outreach team, a community court and emergency shelter beds. Officials reported community court served more than 1,500 people in fiscal year 2024. The city is funding acquisition of duplexes for conversion to affordable housing and completed 10 rehabilitation projects to help low-income homeowners remain in safe housing.

Economic development highlights cited by staff included more than $17,000,000 in business incentives and forgivable loans provided last year by the Community Redevelopment Agency, with $19,000,000 allocated for targeted investments this year. Staff also noted Fort Lauderdale attracted on-location film and television production and commercial shoots.

On transportation and infrastructure, the presentation said the city completed a sidewalk analysis to guide future work and allocated more than $2,000,000 in fiscal year 2025 to expand a micro-transit program offering free rides in targeted areas. Major capital investments were listed as part of a multi-year program: stormwater upgrades in eight neighborhoods under the Fortify Lauderdale initiative, ongoing work on the Prospect Lake Clean Water Center (scheduled for completion by fall 2026), and more than $1,000,000,000 planned for new and ongoing capital projects over the next five years.

Staff also described public-space and park investments: DC Alexander Park was opened after converting a parking lot into public space at Fort Lauderdale Beach; the Parks Bond program is slated to enhance more than 90 parks; and work is progressing on improvements at the International Swimming Hall of Fame. "With your input, together, we are the city you never want to leave. Together, we are FTL," a second staff member concluded.

The presentation noted the commission will set strategic priorities for fiscal year 2026 through the January priority-setting workshop and the July–September budget process. No formal vote or ordinance was reported during the presentation.

Questions and next steps recorded in the presentation focused on funding allocations and implementation timelines; staff did not announce specific contract awards or ordinance readings during the session.