Pavitri Benasrie-Watson

The master plan focuses on revitalizing the City of Lauderdale Lakes by creating a town center, improving transportation, enhancing streetscapes, and redeveloping key areas. It aims to transform State Road 7 and Oakland Park Boulevard into pedestrian-friendly public spaces, improve connectivity, and create a distinct identity for the city through entrance features and civic art. The plan addresses various citizen requests, including building mixed-use buildings, improving the industrial park, and building new housing to accommodate all incomes.

The Community Redevelopment Plan for the City of Lauderdale Lakes focuses on future land use and redevelopment within the Redevelopment Area. Key areas of focus include improving physical conditions and aesthetic character, attracting future investment, encouraging residential area enhancement, increasing walkability and mobility, redeveloping underutilized commercial properties, enhancing code enforcement, supporting economic development, and providing enhanced recreational, educational, and cultural opportunities. The plan aims to stimulate private investment, build a transit-oriented Town Center, and serve as a guiding document for local government actions.

The commission meeting involved the approval of minutes from previous meetings, consideration of ordinances (amending land development regulations, fiscal year 2014 budget, and establishing a rental housing inspection program), and resolutions (setting legislative priorities, approving variances, conditional use applications, use of law enforcement trust funds, and ratifying financial activity reports). Discussions included budget amendments for building services and Alzheimer's care, a bio-diesel processing facility conditional use application, and negotiations with the Broward Sheriff's Office regarding law enforcement services. Reports from the mayor, vice mayor, commissioners, city manager, and city attorney were also presented.

The meeting included several key items: amending the fiscal year 2014 budget for the solid waste/recycling fund; authorizing a contract with Limousines of South Florida for senior citizen van service; authorizing the city manager to secure a vendor for video streaming services; declaring certain conditions at 2400 Northwest 34th Terrace as legal-nonconforming; supporting a proposal to raise the minimum wage; modifying a contract with the Government Services Group for fire assessment services; awarding a contract to Imperial Cleaning Corp. for citywide janitorial services; authorizing a waiver of fees for Merrell United Methodist Church.

The Community Redevelopment Agency meeting included an executive director's report, a finance director's report covering November and December 2013 financial activity, and various resolutions. Key resolutions addressed authorizing payments for corridor maintenance and utility costs, and the purchase of a shade structure for the Children's Community Garden.