Working with You to Build a Successful Future for Fort Lauderdale and All Who Live Here.
Creating Successful Transportation and Mobility
- Terminated the outdated and excessively expensive WAVE and shifted the focus to emerging technologies
- Created the Las Olas Mobility Working Group to enhance the safety and mobility for residents, businesses and visitors
- Worked with neighborhood leaders to transform Dixie Highway
- Prioritized the reimagining of Breakers Avenue
- Advocated for the end of Road Diets
- Piloted closing a lane of traffic on A1A for pedestrian and bicyclist use
- Capital Projects
- Flagler Greenway Made to Move Grant
- Gateway Intersection
- NE 15th Ave & NE 14st Intersection Safety Improvements
- Seabreeze & Poinsettia Intersection Safety Study
- Sunrise & US1 Intersection Left Turn Lane Addition
- Broward Blvd. Crosswalk at Brightline Station
- Median Improvements on A1A and Sunrise Blvd.
- NE 15th Ave & Sunrise Blvd. Dual Left Turn
- Andrews Ave & 3rd Ave One Way Pair
- Breakers Ave Complete Streets Project
- Broward Blvd. Crosswalk at Brightline Station
- NE 4th Ave Complete Streets
- US 1 Resurfacing from NE 33Ct to NE 17th Way
- Mobility Hub
- NE 6th St Complete Streets MPO Project
- Oakland Park Blvd. Mobility Project
- Chicane Removal and Traffic Improvements in Sailboat Bend
- Proposed Turning Signals at A1A and NE 30th St to accommodate new projects
Ensuring Public Places Meet the Needs of our Community
- Approved $27M for the Renovation of the Fort Lauderdale Aquatics Center, allowing it to move forward after 15 years of gridlock and discussion
- Renovated and preserved the historic Annie Beck House for future generations by allowing it to serve as a residence for a Fort Lauderdale Police Officer
- Facilitated the conversion of the old One Stop Shop into a neighborhood open space for the Downtown and Flagler Village – as promised in the original Downtown Masterplan
- Partnered with David Beckham’s Inter Miami to rebuild Lockhart Stadium for use as a professional soccer venue. Included in the deal is a new high school stadium for local schools and sports fields for community use
- Modernizing War Memorial Auditorium at Holiday Park through an innovative partnership with the Florida Panthers providing $50M for ice rinks and recreational improvements
- Introduced and passed a Public Arts Ordinance which establishes guidelines for the incorporation of public art into City projects, the creation of a public art fund, and the establishment of a seven-member Public Art and Placemaking Advisory Board
- Preserved the historic 1925 Tower Apts. Hotel by Francis Abreu and passed the site plan for the adaptive reuse into 39 apartments
Addressing Long-Standing Infrastructure Issues
- Over 150 Public Works Projects have been initiated in our district since taking office, from storm drain installations to the $65M, 7.5 miles redundant sewer main line
- Ended the practice of raiding water, sewer and stormwater funds and directed the monies towards the infrastructure needs they were intended for
- Initiated the practice of requiring developers to contribute to infrastructure improvements on their sites rather than simply contributing to a fund that gets banked and spent elsewhere in the future
- Water
- Secured a 3 million-gallon-a-day share of the C-51 Reservoir for future generations
- Victoria Park Water Main Replacement Project
- Wastewater
- Began building a 7.5 mile Redundant Sewer Main Replacement Project
- NE 38th Street 42-Inch Force Main Replacement: The first phase of this project will consist of replacing approximately 8,000 linear feet of 42-inch sewer force main. Status: Project initiation and planning; Address: along NE 38th Street between N. Dixie Highway and Coral Ridge Country Club and along NE 19th Avenue between NE 38th Street and NE 32nd Street
- Flagler Heights Sewer Basin Laterals: This project will rehabilitate sewer laterals in the Flagler Heights Sewer Basin. Status:Construction; Address: 630 NE 2nd Avenue
- Victoria Park Sewer Basin Rehabilitation: This project will rehabilitate mainline sewers, manholes, and service laterals in Victoria Park. Status: Construction; Address: 625 NE 19th Avenue
- Sea Level Rise
- Isle of Palms Drive Seawall Replacement Project
- Adopted a stormwater rate structure that will equitably recover the costs of the stormwater system from properties throughout the City in proportion to the benefit that each property receives from the stormwater system
- Passed a $200 million bond to address the stormwater issues in seven high priority neighborhoods
- Sidewalks
- City Commission Approves Sidewalk Repair Ordinance
- Updated the sidewalk ordinance to remove the burden of maintenance, permitting, contractor selection, and inspections from abutting property owners to the City and will ensure that sidewalks in public rights-of-way are treated similarly to potholes on a roadway
- Bridges
- Coconut Isle Drive Bridge Replacement Project
Enhancing and Preserving Fort Lauderdale’s Environment and Open Space
- Placed Parks Bond on the ballot to finance $200 million in park and open space needs. Thank you, Fort Lauderdale for your response!
- Advocating for stronger protections for our tree canopy
- Evaluating new development in terms of water and sewer capacity, emergency services and road capacity
- Ensuring that adequate open space is part of every development plan
- Protecting and renourishing our beaches
- Cleaning and restoring the quality of our waterways
Promoting Safety and Security
- Passed a $100 million bond for a new police station in District 2
- Strengthen the role of Citizens’ Police Review Board
- Reviewing all police department policies and procedures to ensure equal treatment for all residents
Fostering Educational Opportunities
- The only city in Broward County to hire a Chief Education Officer to work with local schools and educational standards for our City
- Researching partnership opportunities for early education centers
- Created a new Partnership with Broward College
- Promoted local high school sports and youth athletic opportunities by negotiating with Inter Miami for a new high school stadium and playing fields at Lockhart stadium
Encouraging Business Opportunities and Economic Growth
- Supporting the opening of new local businesses
- Renewed our partnership with the International Swimming Hall of Fame and it will continue to call Fort Lauderdale its home
- Created the CRA Emergency Business Investment Program to assist during COVID-19 pandemic
- Supported the expansion of the Las Olas Marina to promote greater opportunities for the marine industries, tourism and local recreation
Encouraging Community Dialogue and Input
- Pre-agenda meetings held prior to every City Commission meeting offer a forum for District 2 residents to offer input on upcoming Commission agenda items
- Increased community dialogue by establishing the District 2 Neighborhood Presidents’ Roundtable, promoting collaboration on common concerns and encouraging neighborhoods to share best practices.
Enacting Legislation to Promote a Better Community
- Approved our landmark Human Rights/Anti-Discrimination Ordinance to advance LGBTQ+ protections.
- Homeless Legislation
- Community Court for the homeless
- Reducing the cost of housing through the approval of Affordable Housing Projects including Six13, Village View, FAT LIVE and the Broward Partnership for the Homeless.
- Prohibit the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products such as e-cigarettes and vapor products to anyone under the age of 21. Fort Lauderdale is now only the second city in Florida to raise the age for tobacco sales to 21, and the ordinance will go into effect beginning March 2020
- Plastic Straw Ban to reduce the impact of plastics on the environment, beaches and waterways
- Supported small businesses by creating a $1.34M Emergency Relief Program recovering from the impacts of COVID-19
- Initiated a rental assistance program in the City for those experiencing a loss of income due to COVID-19
Infrastructure and Flooding Improvements
- Spearheaded $1.6 billion in infrastructure upgrades, including a new hi-tech water plant to ensure crystal clear water.
- Wrote & introduced a landmark infrastructure blueprint to fast-track upgrades, focusing on flood mitigation and resilience.
- Demanded comprehensive flood planning with updated ordinances and emergency management systems to prioritize faster, more efficient responses.
- Voted for the installation of over 10 miles of new underground pipes in Victoria Park and planned for expanded storm water improvements citywide.
Smart, Efficient City Planning
- Made smart, efficient planning a priority to allow for responsible redevelopment that improves our quality of life and enhances our local economy
- Focused on reducing financial pressure on existing taxpayers by investing in cost-saving technology and operational improvements.
- Advocated for economic diversification in industries like fintech, medtech, and IT to reduce dependence on tourism.
Process Innovation
- Introduced process innovations to streamline city operations and improve public safety, infrastructure, and transportation systems.
- Focused on upgrading services without adding financial burdens to the community.
Fiscal Responsibility
- Postponed the construction of a costly new city hall, choosing instead to rent downtown office space to save taxpayer dollars.
- Advocated for responsible spending practices that reduce unnecessary costs while ensuring high-quality services for residents.
Technological Investments
- Pushed for new technologies, such as AI-based flood forecasting, to provide faster, more effective responses during emergency situations.
- Invested in new technology systems to enhance city services without raising taxes for residents or local businesses.
Fighting Inflation and Unfunded Mandates
- Actively worked to mitigate the impact of unfunded mandates and inflation stemming from state and federal policies, ensuring Fort Lauderdale residents are not overburdened.
Public Safety and Transportation
- Focused on addressing public safety concerns by enhancing emergency response systems and creating a more resilient transportation infrastructure.
- Led efforts to improve transportation systems, ensuring they meet the evolving needs of the city.
- Advocated for more police officers and better equipment to address gang and gun violence.
- Pushed for neighborhood policing initiatives and new first responder contracts that ensure competitive pay and retention.
Housing Affordability
- Implemented policies designed to make housing more attainable, balancing growth with the needs of existing residents.
- Supports innovative sustainability options to reduce the cost of living
Community and Leadership
- Maintained strong connections with local communities, earning the support of 23 out of 24 neighborhood presidents.
- Drafted Fort Lauderdale’s anti-discrimination and human rights ordinance, advocating for equality and inclusivity.
- Fought for the preservation of green spaces, securing additional parks and protecting valuable land in District 2.
- Helped bring major community and cultural projects like Arts Park, Huizenga Park, the reimagined International Swimming Hall of Fame, Inter Miami and the Panther Ice Plex to Fort Lauderdale, driving economic growth with unprecedented community benefits.
Addressing Homelessness
- Steve is getting tough on the negative impacts of homelessness, so what happened in California never happens here.
- Enforce laws that ensure our parks, sidewalks & streets are safe and accessible for all residents.
- Collaborate with local organizations, law enforcement, and social services to create sustainable solutions that address both the immediate impacts and root causes of homelessness.