City Commission Regular Meeting on 2026-02-17 6:00 PM - Feb 17, 2026

meeting

Fort Lauderdale City Commission 2h 31m 3 speakers 6 agenda items transcribed 2 months ago official recording ↗

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Who led the Pledge of Allegiance and which retirees were recognized?

Dean Trantalis 0:00

SO WELCOME, EVERYBODY, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE FOR THE CITY COMMISSION OF FORT LAUDERDALE REGULAR MEETING THIS FEBRUARY 17, 2026. WE HAVE SOME EXCITING THINGS HAPPENING TONIGHT, SO I JUST WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN TONIGHT BY letting you know that we start our evening with a Pledge of Allegiance. And tonight we are going to be joined by Skylar Fullerton from the fourth grade, Gateway Christian Academy, and Oswald Park, who's going to lead us in the presentation. Please rise.

Dean Trantalis 0:44

Good afternoon.

Skylar Fullerton (student) 0:51

My name is Skylar Fullerton. I attend Gateway Christian Academy and Oslo Park. Today I'll be saying the Pledge of Allegiance. Please stand. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Dean Trantalis 1:15

Thank you. Take a little picture. Anyone from your family here tonight? I want you to have them come up.

Rickelle Williams 1:30

We'll get a picture of you guys right over here.

1:36

Yep.

Dean Trantalis 1:36

She's an actress, I'll tell you. Oh, is that you? Yeah, I know. How are you? Nice to meet you.

Dean Trantalis 1:58

So before we begin our meeting, I'd just like you all to join us in a moment of silence.

Dean Trantalis 2:35

THANK YOU. AT THE BEGINNING OF OUR MEETINGS WE TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE RETIREES, PEOPLE WHO HAVE WORKED WITH OUR CITY AND HAVE MADE GREAT made great inroads for the city to continue to grow and prosper as it has over the many years that they've been here. So I have just a few announcements. First, I'd like to recognize Michelle Heise, who's been the police records clerk for 30 years. Thank you so much, Michelle. Daniel Medina, paramedic firefighter, who's been with us 26 years. Thank you so much, Daniel. Kevin Sumner, fire inspector, been with us 28 years. Congratulations. Now it is also my distinct honor to recognize and present to a lady that has been with us not as many as 26 or 28 years, but her impact has been as meaningful as every day that she's worked with us.

Dean Trantalis 3:44

So I'd like to invite Susan Grant to please join me at the podium.

Dean Trantalis 4:02

It's not a check for a million dollars. That's coming later. But first of all, it's my honor. Oh, look at that. You didn't have to give. Oh, for her. Look at that. And you didn't even have to sing an aria. Wow, isn't that pretty?

Susan Grant (retiree / former interim city manager) 4:21

Gorgeous.

Dean Trantalis 4:22

Gorgeous.

Susan Grant (retiree / former interim city manager) 4:24

Yeah.

Dean Trantalis 4:25

So Susan, how many years have you worked with the city?

Susan Grant (retiree / former interim city manager) 4:30

Six years.

Dean Trantalis 4:31

Six years. And she has been so great.

What federal legislative updates did Congresswoman give about the shutdown, TPS, and housing?

Dean Trantalis 4:34

She's stepped in when we needed her for when we were looking for a city manager. She was our interim city manager. YOU HAVE CERTAINLY LED US THROUGH A LOT OF GREAT TIMES AND GOTTEN US THROUGH DIFFICULT SITUATIONS, ESPECIALLY FINANCIALLY WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO WORK OUT THE FINANCES OF THE CITY. AND IT'S JUST BEEN PERSONALLY A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE TO HAVE WORKED WITH YOU. AND SO TONIGHT, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF FORT LAUDERDALE, I'D LIKE TO PRESENT TO YOU, OH, LOOK AT THIS.

Dean Trantalis 5:14

Susan Grant, celebrating your retirement with appreciation for your leadership and years of devoted service, February 18, 2026. And it's a picture of the city of Fort Lauderdale, so you don't forget us. Susan, would you like to say a few words?

Susan Grant (retiree / former interim city manager) 5:31

Just thank you so much to everyone. Some of you might know that I worked for the city of Coral Springs for 27 years before I came here. And I never thought that I would find another group of people that felt like family. And how lucky am I to have been able to work in two places that did just that. So thank you so much. It's been an honor, a privilege, and I won't be far. I'm a resident here in Fort Lauderdale as well. So thank you very much to all of you.

Dean Trantalis 6:15

Susan, a resident where? You'll note that she worked with Coral Springs for 26 years, and that's how long it took them to make her feel like family. It was only six years for us to make you feel this way. By the way, resident District 1.

Dean Trantalis 6:57

See you next, see you when, Thursday?

7:07

Yes.

Dean Trantalis 7:07

Yes. So I actually have another connection. So Susan and I actually sat on the audit committee for the school board for many, many years when Pat was the school board auditor. See, so we have like six degrees of Kevin Bacon, three degrees of Patrick.