Oakland Park swears in 2026 leadership and opens new City Hall chambers
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Summary
Oakland Park officials held a swearing-in ceremony and ribbon cutting at the city’s new Sky Building, where Mayor Arndt outlined priorities including stormwater upgrades, the Horizon Project housing development and park improvements; staff credited a bond program and contractors for completing the project.
Oakland Park on Wednesday marked the installation of its 2026 city leadership and opened new City Hall chambers in the Sky Building with a swearing-in ceremony and ribbon cutting.
City Manager David Hebert introduced the event and turned the ceremony over to City Clerk Renee Shroud, who administered oaths to incoming officials, including Mary Lonergan, Vice Mayor Gordon and Mayor Arndt. "This is your leadership team for 2026," Hebert said as the commission took their places.
In his remarks, Mayor Arndt emphasized continuing investments in drainage and resilience, saying, "The average elevation in Oakland Park is only about 3 feet above sea level and without the right infrastructure, many neighborhoods flooded regularly." He cited past investments in stormwater infrastructure and said those preparations allowed the city to move on to projects above ground, including the Horizon Project — a planned mixed-use development the mayor described as adding "attainable housing, retail, and a new green leaf park" — along with upgrades at Veterans Park and Royal Palm Park, a new library at Centennial Park and planning for Fire Station 20 at Powerline and Prospect.
Sierra Marrero, the city's director of engineering and community development, credited the project team and the bond program for delivering the Sky Building. Marrero named Ziskovich Architects as the design firm and the Styles construction team and CES (the MEP consultant) for construction and systems work, thanking project staff including Sebastian Arango, Louis Pacheco and Charlene Montgomery. Marrero said the bond program and staff efforts made the chambers possible and invited the commission to cut the ribbon.
David Hebert said the two lots that now host the Sky Building had been vacant and required environmental remediation before redevelopment; he said the properties are expected to start paying ad valorem taxes for the first time in more than 15 years and described the resulting new construction as worth "tens of millions of dollars" (amount not specified). A reception and small-group tours of the building followed the ribbon cutting.
The ceremony also included recognition of former mayors — Sherry McCartney, John Adonado, Mitch Rosenwald and Jane Boland — and attendance by county partners, including Commissioner Robert McKenzie and, later, Commissioner Lamar Fisher, who Hebert thanked for intergovernmental support. Former Mayor John Adonado offered brief remarks praising the city’s community and continuity of leadership.
The new chambers open as Oakland Park continues planning and early construction on multiple civic projects the mayor highlighted; no council votes or formal policy actions were recorded during the event. The reception and guided tours of the Sky Building proceeded immediately after the ribbon cutting.
