and had a tour of the site; he actually went up and was able to operate the
crane; the Port was one of Broward County’s biggest employers, so it was
great to see what the men and women who worked there did; there were
numerous initiatives being explored and coming online that Lauderhill needed to
stay abreast of
• He represented Lauderhill at the Florida League of Cities as a 2024 voting
member at an event in Hollywood, Florida; it was important for the City to stay
abreast of what was happening at the state level that could affect Lauderhill
• The quarterly food giveaway served over 300 people; volunteers and everyone
were thanked for coming out to help at the event
• The Florida Turnpike Authority was looking to place an exit off of Oakland Park
Boulevard; representatives came down from Orlando, and he met with the head
of the organization; he informed City Manager Giles-Smith that they recently
purchased a large piece of property behind City Hall, the former location of an
executive golf course; Mr. Celetti, city staff and he drove them through the area
they purchased, giving them a firsthand view of the need to maintain the
landscape, such as cutting the grass, etc.; on the tour they encountered a
number of individuals who set up tents, and were living in the wooded areas;
they indicated their commitment to partnering with the City to ensure the
property was maintained; the nearby residents expressed concerns about
some of the activities they witnessed in the area on a daily basis; City
administration wished to ensure Lauderhill residents were safe, and the
property owner(s) was held accountable
• He received a call from the City of Plantation; they were dedicating a park to
Kingsley Smith; it was the first park in that city dedicated to a black man; as
Lauderhill bordered Plantation, and he met with Plantation officials every three
months to discuss various issues common to the shared general areas,
Plantation’s mayor, city staff, etc. invited him to be a part of the park’s renaming
ceremony; working partnerships were important, as they kept neighboring cities
informed of what they were doing
• His family and he recently celebrated his Aunt Judy turning 80 years old.
Commissioner Dunn mentioned the celebration of a special birthday, as it was
Police Chief Stanley’s birthday. She blessed the City of Lauderhill everyday with
her presence, and work, and she was so grateful for her leadership, and the
example she set for other females wishing to serve in law enforcement.
The
City loved and appreciated Chief Stanley very much. She went on to state the
application for Lauderhill Shines officially closed; they received 44 applications,
and the applicants would be notified shortly of the series of interviews taking
place in the current week.
Commissioner S. Martin invited veterans, city staff, and the Lauderhill public to a
veteran social at Lauderhill’s Veterans Park on September 6, 2024, at 6:30 p.m.
Food and drinks would be served, along with information on resources for
veterans.
City Manager Giles-Smith echoed birthday wishes to Chief Stanley.
Mayor Thurston wished everyone a safe, and happy Labor Day.
XVIII ADJOURNMENT - 8:18 PM
