CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP on 2024-02-20 12:15 PM - 2024-2026 Federal Legislative Program Workshop

meeting

Fort Lauderdale City Commission 49 min 3 speakers 8 agenda items transcribed 3 days ago official recording ↗

▲ 0

Transcript

jump: agenda · speakers · find in transcript

Transcript

Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.

What is the purpose and scope of the 2024‑2026 Federal Legislative Program workshop?

Dean Trantalis 0:00

at this moment is to begin our legislative workshop at the federal level, our federal legislative, hey, federal legislative workshop. And we have Susan Lind here and also we have Daphne Sandville. So who will begin this program, Daphne?

Daphne Sandville 0:18

Daphne. Good afternoon, Mayor and Commissioners. I wanted to begin by thanking you for having this federal workshop. I have with me Ms. Susan Lent from Aiken Gump, our federal contract lobbying firm. In your packets, you will have the exhibit, which is the 2024-2026 DRAFT FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM. THERE WERE SOME STYLISTIC EDITS AS WELL AS SOME PROJECT EDITS IN THE TRANSPORTATION PAGE. SO LET US BEGIN. VERY QUICKLY, THERE IS THE INTRODUCTION WITH THE STRATEGIC PLAN. WITH THE NEW STRATEGIC PLAN FOR 2025, THAT PAGE WILL BE REPLACED WITH THE UPDATED GOALS AND OBJECTIVES. I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO REPLACE IT WITH FISCAL YEAR 2025. The fundamental principles are similar, if not identical, to the ones that are found in the state legislative program, except instead of Florida League of Cities, it's the National League of Cities general fundamental principles statement, as well as unfunded mandates.

Daphne Sandville 1:26

And for funding opportunities, there is an additional section for funding opportunities that indicates the commission's support for legislation that increases funding for agencies supporting local government initiatives and the reenactment and also continued funding for community funding projects, which are fondly known as earmarks, the congressional members' opportunity for funding projects and programs in their respective districts. Homelessness and housing opportunities, as we know, affordable housing is a nationwide crisis. So whatever programs and funding opportunities are there to assist local governments for those opportunities, we are going to apply for them as well as infrastructure resilience and transportation.

Daphne Sandville 2:19

On page five, there are the commission's legislative priorities. Those are the general statements for water quality and wastewater management, infrastructure enhancements, public safety initiatives, neighborhoods, climate change and disaster resiliency, as well as economic stability and business development. And beginning on page six are specific requests that we have received from our departments. The first from community affairs is the critical homeless support service hotspots project. In some, it would be addressing hotspots in the city where homeless individuals are congregating.

Dean Trantalis 3:01

All right, let's stop right there. What does that mean? What does it mean where we're going to address hotspots? What is, how are we defining addressing hotspots?

Daphne Sandville 3:11

So if Louisa is here from Neighbor Support.

Dean Trantalis 3:15

Sure. Let's have that conversation. Because on my way here, I saw a huge encampment at the bus station. It looked like a nice day. Everyone's sunning themselves right at the foot of that beautiful architectonica staircase. It's becoming a hotspot. And it's becoming... an unfortunate episode in our community and we need to address it immediately? Have we tried to make contact with the county? What's going on there?

Senator or Commissioner Sturman 3:45

Do you want me to answer

Dean Trantalis 3:48

that?

Senator or Commissioner Sturman 3:48

I've spoken to the county a few times. Who

Dean Trantalis 3:50

did you speak

Senator or Commissioner Sturman 3:51

with? Over the last several months, I've touched base with Nan and Lamar. The big thing is I'm trying to reach... the sheriff's office, and they have a

Unknown 4:03

plan,

Senator or Commissioner Sturman 4:04

and I spoke to Greg, I spoke to our police chief, my staff, and we're just having difficulty scheduling a meeting with the chief regarding some of the initiatives, including what used to be called the stockade and other programs going forward. we're working diligently i know pam

Dean Trantalis 4:22

is well let me let me help you out here um the the county is on record that they have no intention of using the stockade as as an alternative site for housing for homeless people they've told us that again and again so i don't i just you know i don't want you to waste your time because you're going to find it to be very frustrating nan riches particularly against AGAINST USING THE STOCKADE. AS FAR AS AN IMMEDIATE MEASURE IS CONCERNED, I APPLAUD YOUR EFFORTS, TRUST ME, I APPLAUD YOUR EFFORTS TO RAISE AWARENESS WITH BOTH THE MAYOR OF THE COUNTY AS WELL AS OUR PARTICULAR COUNTY COMMISSIONER, BUT IT JUST SEEMS THEY JUST SEEM TO PASS IT OVER TO THEIR STAFF PEOPLE AND WE'RE GETTING NO RESPONSE.