Vice Mayor Romney Rogers January 2015 Newsletter

Vice Mayor and District IV Commissioner Romney Rogers
HAPPY NEW YEAR! May you have a healthy, safe, and prosperous 2015!

Come One, Come All District IV Neighborhood Reps to my Pre-Agenda Meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015, at 5:30 PM in the 8th Floor Conference Room at City Hall. (City Hall will be closed on Jan. 19 for the Martin Luther King, Jr., Holiday; the City Commission will meet on Jan. 21.) Please be ready to review 2014 accomplishments and to let me know what issues you would like to focus on in 2015.

2014 was a banner year that saw Fort Lauderdale make impressive gains in key industry sectors, including capital investment, employment, housing, marine, tourism, and transportation. The national media is taking note. For example, The Wall Street Journal article about our City’s economic renaissance is at http://fortlauderdale.gov/Home/Components/News/News/195/16.

New on the Riverwalk! – During the Citywide Visioning process, our neighbors consistently identified activating the Riverwalk as a top priority essential to making Fort Lauderdale “The City You Never Want to Leave.” On Jan. 5, we took another step toward fulfilling this vision by partnering with Riverwalk Trust to launch two new initiatives. Located near Huizenga Plaza, Riverwalk Gourmet Delights features three food kiosks – Wholly Crepe, Expresso, and Nacho Bizness. Riverwalk Recreation offers a variety of activities to encourage active, healthy lifestyles. Located in the Las Olas Riverfront Plaza at 300 SW 1st Avenue, Suite 111, Riverwalk Recreation is a “one stop shop” for activities along the river, including guided bicycle, quadracycle, and Segway tours; paddleboard and kayak rentals; yoga classes; photography classes; dog training; and more. Please help spread the word and stop by soon!

Bryant Peney Park – My sincere thanks are extended to everyone, who participated in the Community Playground Build at this park, located at 2100 SW 4th Avenue. Following the build on Jan. 10, a dedication was held to honor the life and memory of Officer Bryant Peney, who was killed in the line of duty in 1996 at age 27.

New Process for Advisory Board Applications – If you or someone you know is interested in serving on a board or committee, please apply here: http://www.fortlauderdale.gov/advisoryboards and click on “Vacancies” to view current openings. If you need additional information, have questions, or would prefer a printed application form, please contact Arleen Gross in the City Clerk’s Office at 954-828-5288 or ArleenG@fortlauderdale.gov.

LauderServe – For customer-service requests, go to http://www.fortlauderdale.gov/government/lauderserv. The link provides drop-down menus with reporting forms and other helpful information on the following topics: Animals, Building Permits, Code Compliance, Flooding, Graffiti, Parking, Public Safety, Roads & Streets, Sanitation, and Utilities. Neighbors can also call 954-828-8000 for 24-hour Customer Service.

Staff Transition – Jenni Morejon is the new Director of the Department of Sustainable Development. Since coming on board in 2000, she has moved up the ranks of our organization. As Director, Jenni will oversee the day-to-day operations of the entire department, including Building Services, Code Compliance, Economic and Community Reinvestment / Community Redevelopment Agency, Housing and Community Development, and Urban Design and Planning. Jenni can be reached at JMorejon@fortlauderdale.gov or 954-828-5849. Your Input Matters! If you have a comment, concern, or suggestion about a City service, program, or event, I encourage you to share your ideas with me and help build an even better community. For example, during my Pre-Agenda Meetings, you can tell me what’s on your mind. I would also welcome your feedback at a neighborhood meeting (call my office to schedule*). Or, you can send an e-mail to me at RRogers@fortlauderdale.gov. Thank you. Ways to Get Involved – The City is creating a vibrant network of public / private partnerships made up of neighbors, civic associations, and business leaders by engaging citizens in solving City problems to achieve measurable impact on pressing local challenges, such as education, health, sustainability, and disaster preparedness. For these and other volunteer opportunities, please contact Jorg Hruschka in our Neighbor Volunteer Office at 954-828-5568 or jhruschka@fortlauderdale.gov. To stay up-to-date on City happenings, you can find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/cityofFortLauderdale?ref=bookmarks. To follow us on Twitter, go to https://twitter.com/FTLCityNews. To receive Fort Lauderdale Currents, the City’s monthly e-newsletter, please contact Shannon Vezina at 954-828-4743 or SVezina@fortlauderdale.gov. 2015 City Elections – I am pleased to report that no other candidate filed and qualified to run in District IV, apart from yours truly, so I have the privilege of serving you and the rest of our City neighbors for the next three years without an election! However, please remember to go to the polls or vote at home (absentee) in the Primary on Tuesday, Feb. 10, as there are three mayoral candidates.

 My City Hall Office Hours are Mondays from 2 – 5:30 PM and Tuesdays from 9 AM – Noon (in non-Commission weeks).
* To schedule a meeting, please contact MJ Matthews at 954-828-5028 or mmatthews@fortlauderdale.gov.