Commission accepts $15,000 NLC economic initiative grant and directs city manager to manage grants; memo places hold on LHPP‑linked spending pending forensic‑f​

The Lauderhill City Commission on May 12 unanimously approved a $15,000 grant award from the National League of Cities (NLC) to participate in a Southern Cities economic initiative that will fund a small‑business needs assessment and technical assistance. Commissioner Melissa Dunn, sponsor of the item, described the grant as seed funding for research and a data dashboard to identify gaps in local business support and to position the city for future investments.

At the meeting Dunn described how the $15,000 would be spent: staff participation in NLC boot camps ($5,800 estimated), data collection (surveys, focus groups, $3,800), technology and dashboard work ($1,300), outreach materials ($1,500), postage, training and limited food for meetings. Dunn said the grant money would not come from the city general fund and that the award came with technical assistance from NLC.

During discussion Commissioner Richard Campbell raised questions about grant administration and line‑item details, asking for clarity on salaries and fringe costs shown in the proposed budget. The commission then considered how grants are administered in Lauderhill. At the previous meeting the commission had adopted a policy directing city finance and the city manager to manage city grants. At this meeting the commission reaffirmed that process: by vote the commission approved accepting the NLC grant while directing that the city manager and finance staff manage the grant in accordance with the policy and any applicable grant terms.

During the meeting City Manager Kenny Hobbs read a memorandum informing the commission that, following the commission’s earlier directive, staff had issued a request for proposals for a financial expert to perform a forensic audit of grants connected to the Lauderhill Health & Prosperity Partnership (LHPP) and related funding streams. The memorandum said staff had initiated a process to retain a consultant to conduct a forensic audit of grants connected to LHPP and other identified grant sources and that, effective immediately, staff would place a hold on the use of city resources (contractual services, salaries, partnerships, supplies, advertising, community grants and training) associated with HHS and LHPP‑related grants. The memorandum added that the hold would not apply to activities conducted solely by outside entities or LHPP cohorts that do not require city funding or other city resources.

Commissioners and staff agreed the intent of the hold was to preserve evidence and to ensure transparency during the audit; the city attorney said the commission could add conditions or direct the city manager to seek clarifying amendments from grantors if needed. The commission voted 5‑0 to accept the NLC grant award and to reaffirm city grant administration under the city manager/finance department. The commission also discussed and accepted the city manager’s memo describing the forensic audit steps and the temporary administrative hold on use of certain city resources related to LHPP‑connected grants.

The vote on the NLC grant and the direction to have the city manager manage grant implementation passed 5‑0. The city manager said staff will provide further updates as the audit and grant administration actions proceed.