Note: Due to time limitations, this item was not addressed at the December 5, 2018, City Commission meeting.
Issue Statement
: With the rotation of the City Commission for the 2018/2019 term, the City Commission is asked to provide Commission representation to the MPO, Broward League of Cities, voting delegate at the Florida League of Cites annual conference, and representatives for the Greater Ft. Lauderdale Alliance (new this year). The City is a dues paying member of some of the organizations which affords the City Commission certain representation on the organizations.
Recommended Action: Request for the City Commission to consider appointments to fill the various organization's positions for the 2018/2019 term.
Below is a summary of activities related to these organizations:
The Metropolitan Planning Organization
The Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is a Broward County agency whose primary purpose is to influence the expenditures of Federal and State funds to provide a regional transportation system. As part of its membership, the City, as a signatory of the Inter-local agreement, selects a representative to serve on the MPO to represent the City as well as a citizen representative to sit on the Citizen Advisory Board. When an elected official's term expires, that official's term of office on the MPO shall also expire. The MPO meets at their office the 2nd Thursday of the month at 9:30 am. In 2018, Commissioner John Adornato III served in the capacity of commission representative and as of September 6, 2017, Ralph Caraglia has served in the capacity of citizen representative.
Florida League of Cities - Voting Delegate
The Florida League of Cities' goals are to promote local self-government and serve the needs of Florida’s municipal governments. The League is founded on the belief that local self-government is the keystone of American democracy. At its annual conference in August, member cities are requested to send a voting delegate to represent them. The voting delegate must register for the conference. In 2018, Mayor Lonergan was appointed to fill this voting delegate position and attended the annual conference held in Hollywood, FL this past August. Registration materials for the annual conference are provided to each municipality in June.
Broward League of Cities
Broward League of Cities is a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness and resolving issues facing Broward County’s 31 cities and municipalities at the local, county and state level. The appointment request are for a one year term beginning in May. The 2017/2018 appointments were Mayor Lonergan as Director; Commissioner Sparks as Alternate and Commissioner Carn as Second Alternate. The Broward League of Cities meet the 1st Thursday of the month at noon at various locations throughout the county.
The Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance - Broward County’s official public/private partnership for economic development. Its mission is to lead Broward County in building a stronger and more diverse economy by stimulating the creation of new jobs and capital investment while facilitating the growth and retention of businesses in Broward County. Some of the services offered by the Alliance staff include assistance with business relocation or expansion and site selection; incentive programs and information; market research; and serving as a liaison for workforce development between CareerSource Broward, educational institutions and the business community.
The City participates at the Corporate Council level which allows for three (3) representatives: Corporate Council representative; Entrepreneurship Council Member and Action Team member.
The Corporate Council's role is to be the primary resource of intelligence related to the current and ongoing health, prosperity and maturation of established and emerging industry clusters in Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County. This includes alternative energy, aviation and marine, business/financial services and headquarters, creative industries, healthcare technologies/life sciences, information technology and international commerce.
Focus: Established and Emerging Clusters
Leadership Engagement: Industry Leaders
Outcome: Customized Strategies
Meetings are generally held 8:30 am - 10:00 am the 3rd Wednesday of meeting month, but are subject to change with notice.
2019 meeting dates:
- January 16, 2019 - location/topic TBA
- March 20, 2019 - location/topic TBA
- June 19, 2019 - location/topic TBA
- September 18, 2019 - location/topic TBA
- November 20, 2019 - location/topic TBA
The Entrepreneurship Council's role is to market, promote, grow, expand and accelerate the success of entrepreneurs in Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County with a focus on those in our established and emerging clusters. This group works to provide informative and useful information that will help companies in Broward grow to second stage and beyond.
Focus: Growing Our Own Entrepreneurship
Leadership Engagement: Entrepreneurs; Service Providers
Outcome: Build Entrepreneurial Reputation
Meetings are generally held 8:30 am - 10: am the 2nd Tuesday of meeting month, but are subject to change with notice.
2019 meeting dates
- January 8, 2019 - location/topic TBA
- March 12, 2019 - location/topic TBA
- June 11, 2019 - location/topic TBA
- September 10, 2019 location/topic TBA
- November 12, 2019 - location/topic TBA
Action Teams
BRAVO – Business Retention and Visitation Outreach – Meet monthly and make 175 visits to companies in Broward every year so there is a lot of opportunity for visiting companies
GREAT - Greater Ft. Lauderdale Education Action Team - chaired by Sen. George LeMieux and there are 4 subcommittees - Meet quarterly.
Entrepreneurship Action Team – New, just getting started.
International Action Team – Meet monthly, usually cocktail events
Permitting Action Team - Meet bi-monthly
All three members can participate in any of the action teams, just not on the same team. An alternate is permitted as long as the Alliance is notified and the practice does not become the norm.
Additionally, the City has memberships for both the Florida League of Mayors, Inc. and the United States Conference of Mayors.