City staff presented the City of Tamaracproposed 2025 State Legislative Agenda at a Jan. 6 workshop, and commissioners asked staff to add new items asking state lawmakers to modify the Live Local Act and to pursue relief on property and casualty insurance and condominium reserve rules.

Tanya Williams, the cityGrants and Governmental Affairs Manager, summarized the agenda and the citybudget context: Tamaracadopted fiscal 2025 revenue of more than $237 million from a mix of ad valorem, fees, sales taxes and intergovernmental sources. She listed continuing priorities including diversification of local revenue, tort liability limits, resiliency and water funding, transportation funding, funding for parks and recreation programs, economic development, public education and school safety, and support for mental-health, homelessness and reentry programs.

Williams described recent appropriation successes and losses: the city received $451,081 for a canal/culvert/headwall improvement and $271,577 for Tamarac Park safety enhancements; a request for the 90 Fourth Avenue traffic and pedestrian project — a request in excess of $700,000 — was recommended by state sponsors but vetoed by the governor.

Discussion shifted to two recurring and high-profile topics for the commission: the Live Local Act (state Senate Bill 102, amended by later bills) and rising residential property-insurance and condominium reserve rules. Mayor Gloria Gomez and several commissioners urged adding language to the citylegislative agenda to press for amendments that protect local government control over entitlement and permitting processes and to seek technical fixes to the Live Local implementation.

Commissioner Crystal Patterson, who will be part of the city's upcoming Tallahassee delegation, urged the commission to make its position clear to the Broward League of Cities and the Florida League of Cities so the cityview is included in broader lobbying efforts.

Insurance and condo reserve rules drew sustained comment from multiple commissioners. Commissioners described continuing cost pressures on homeowners and small businesses and asked staff and the citylobbyists to pursue conversations both with state lawmakers and, as one idea put forward, with insurance industry representatives to seek practical solutions. Several commissioners said they expected limited immediate relief from the legislature but that the city should not remain silent. The mayor asked for consensus to add both: legislative support for Live Local amendments that preserve local regulatory authority and advocacy on property-and-casualty insurance and reserve rules. The commission gave staff direction to add those items to the final legislative agenda for adoption at the Jan. 8 meeting.

Whathappens next: Staff will finalize the legislative agenda language and transmit the cityagenda to the Florida League of Cities, the Broward League of Cities and the Broward County legislative delegation as directed; the City Commission will consider adopting the legislative agenda at the scheduled meeting on Jan. 8.