The next Mayor of Ft Lauderdale needs to be provided a “Top Ten” list of tasks that need to be accomplished to improve the operation of our City. Here is my Top Ten (actually eleven) tasks that I feel should be accomplished.

1. Take the responsibility for polishing up the image of Ft Lauderdale. Build an image and vision of the city that is upbeat, sophisticated, and inclusive of all diverse elements of the City. Insure that residents are aware of this image and work together to help build that image.

2. Act as a “Team and Consensus Builder” with the four City Commissioners. The Mayor and four Commissioners need to work on city-wide projects together and reduce the focus on just their own district.

3. Fill all vacant positions in the City Police Department (Currently staffed about 15% below the staffing levels of five years ago). Develop more community outreach programs, especially in District 3.

4. Establish annual budget reductions. Our population has remained essentially constant over the last 10 years (175,000 residents); yet the annual budget has almost doubled! We need stronger fiduciary responsibility on the part of our elected officials. Reduce/eliminate the number of overpaid positions (those earning over 150k). The average Ft Lauderdale resident earns about $40k; yet a very high percentage of salaried city positions are in the $75k to $250+k range. This disparity is disturbing. Mandate no overtime or budget over-runs, and replace Department Managers that cannot keep their budgets in line. Sell any city-owned property or use as leverage for initiating commercial development in needed areas. Consider outright elimination of departments that are not core to the running of the city. “Annual budget increases should be a thing of the past.”

5. Act as an advocate for reducing property taxes. Continue to reduce the millage rate. Work with Broward County and the Board of Education (who receive the majority of our property taxes) to help lower property taxes for Ft Lauderdale and all of Broward County.

6. City-wide, focus on commercial development to bring in new business rather than just more hotel & condo development. Focus on those geographic areas of the city that need new development and provide incentives for developers to build there.

7. Plan and develop more specific “Ft Lauderdale Destinations” (combination of shopping, dining, drinking, entertainment, hotel and parking in one defined walk-able area like Las Olas or the Riverwalk). New “Destination” projects could include the Sistrunk Corridor, the Port/Convention Center, Galt residential area, NE 13th Street, and improvements to the beach strip. De-emphasize the ugly “Strip Mall” mentality that exists on most commercial streets today.

8. For future hotel & condo high-rises being planned along the beach, allocate the entire first 2-3 floors of any building to the city, to be used in such a way that enhances the “destination” aspect of the immediate area. (uses could include full restaurants, museums, theatres, retail) etc. Utilize the ground floor as “open breezeway/green spaces”, inviting areas that would be accessible to beach-goers, walkers and bicyclists. Build ramps down for parking and up above these floors for vehicular traffic.

9. Enhance the light rail project. Proposing that it be a “first cog” in a future larger light rail project that could connect to Tri Rail, bringing commuters directly into the city and into specified City “destinations”.

10. Help promote more community awareness and involvement in CVC (Citizen’s Volunteer Corp), and CERT (Citizen’s Emergency Response Team). Vital ways to help support the City and its residents during times of need. When the next major disaster hits (ie: a destructive hurricane), these volunteers will be essential to help bring life back into our City.

11. Be an active advocate of bringing Ft Lauderdale businesses, tourism, & home buyers into Ft Lauderdale. Work closely with the City’s Convention and Visitor’s Bureau to continue to help grow this economic engine for our City.