Spring has arrived and I hope everyone has enjoyed their time over Spring Break and the Passover and Easter holidays. As our community continues to heal after the Stoneman Douglas tragedy, please know that you can reach out to me at any time if there is any way I can be of assistance or to lend an ear. We are all in this together and I look forward to continuing to serve you as your County Commissioner for District 3.
MSD 1 Month Observance
As our community continues to heal, the one-month anniversary of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School brought a day filled with many mixed emotions. The community gathered at Pine Trails Park on March 14th for an Interfaith Memorial Service dedicated to the victims and their families. Earlier in the day, volunteers from the Parkland Historical Society began collecting items from the memorials to be properly preserved with reverence and dignity. These are important steps in the healing process and will ensure that the memories of those we lost will never be forgotten. In these last few weeks, our community has shown strength and resilience that is unparalleled. I am proud to not only be the County Commissioner representing the Northwest Broward Community, I am proud to be a Parklander.
March for Our Lives
On March 24th, The March for Our Lives Movement held marches all over the country and around the world to stand in solidarity in the fight to put an end to gun violence. More than 800,000 people marched on the National Mall in Washington D.C. to show their support for the March for Our Lives and Never Again movement, which was ignited by the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and has spread like wildfire across the nation. Thousands of others marched in Parkland, and cities across the country in solidarity. I was proud to stand by the Parkland community and every student, parent, teacher, and citizen of this country who demands to see an end to gun violence.
Hurricane Preparedness for People
and Pets - May 17th
The 2018 hurricane season is quickly approaching, and it is never too early to start preparing. On Thursday, May 17th I will be hosting a Hurricane Preparedness Town Hall focused on developing a hurricane plan for residents and their pets, as well as residents who may have special needs or health issues that could put them at risk during an emergency. Staff from the Broward County Emergency Management Division, American Red Cross, and first responders will be available to answer any questions. Attendees will also learn how to sign up for AlertBroward, the County’s emergency alert notification system. Light refreshments will be served. I hope to see everyone there!
Broward County Water Matters Day
This year we celebrated the 16th Annual Broward County Water Matters Day at Tree Tops Park in Davie. This fantastic event celebrates the importance of conserving and protecting our local and regional water resources. The event gives residents the opportunity to learn about all aspects of our natural South Florida ecosystem as well as eco-friendly landscaping and water conservation techniques. Attendees of the event participate in gardening workshops, tree and plant giveaways, and demonstrations that show how water moves through our environment. It was great to see so many families and students at this event learning about our most important resource.
FLL Airport Improvements - Emergency Operations Center and Terminal 4
The
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is in a state of constant growth. With such a rapidly growing number of travelers going in and out of the airport, improvements must be made to ensure that the traveler experience is safe, efficient, and enjoyable. Safety is always the top priority of our airport. Recently, FLL has made several improvements and upgrades for security measures, including their
Emergency Operations Center. I met with Airport Director Mark Gale and his staff to see the upgrades in person and gain a better understanding of our airport’s operations. The new Emergency Operations Center has been completely modernized and equipped to handle emergencies of any nature.
Terminal 4 at FLL has also received some much-needed upgrades. Passengers travelling through Terminal 4 will benefit from an expanded baggage claim area and equipment that will speed up the baggage claim process. Airlines now have four lines rather than two to introduce passenger luggage. These improvements will serve to enhance the passenger experience by speeding up airline delivery of bags and providing additional space for passengers claiming their bags. The space has also been updated to include public art and more natural lighting to further enhance the airport experience for residents and visitors.
April is National County Government Month
National County Government Month is a time to recognize how county government works to serve and improve the lives of its residents. Many people may not be aware of just how large the scope of county government is and the role it plays in their everyday life. Broward County has more than 60 agencies countywide that oversee everything from Traffic Engineering, Waste Management, Libraries, Human Services, and Parks and Recreation. To learn more about the ways Broward County serves its residents, visit
Broward.org/CountiesMatter.
New Animal Care and Adoption Director
The
Broward County Environmental Protection and Growth Management Division has appointed Lauralei Combs as the new
Director of Animal Care and Adoption. She arrives from the Austin Animal Center in Texas, the largest no-kill municipal facility in the United States, from their senior leadership team where she developed and managed volunteer driven lifesaving programs and oversaw a staff of 50 volunteers. As a leader and advocate for a no-kill philosophy, she is focused on developing live-saving programs for pets. Welcome to Broward, Lauralei!
Renew Auto Registration by eCheck
Broward County’s
Records, Taxes, and Treasury Division is now offering residents the ability to renew their online auto tag registrations by eCheck with no additional service fees. The eCheck must contain US funds from a US financial institution. Improvements have also been made to the auto tag renewal website to create a more user-friendly experience and an easier record retrieval process. To renew an auto tag registration online, visit Broward County's Records, Taxes and Treasury website at
broward.org/RecordsTaxesTreasury.
Monthly Office Hours
Our office is excited to announce that we will be holding monthly office hours in Coral Springs and Tamarac for constituents who would like to discuss any issues, questions, or concerns.
Office hours will be held every 3rd Wednesday of the month, from 10-11:30 AM at Coral Springs City Hall (9500 W. Sample Rd. Coral Springs 33065) and from 2:30-4 PM at Tamarac City Hall (7525 NW 88th Ave. Tamarac, 33321). If you would like to schedule an appointment, please contact our office at 954-357-7003.
Contact Us
Our office is always available to assist you. Please contact us at 954-357-7003 or mudine@Broward.org with any questions or concerns. Follow us on Facebook @CommissionerMichaelUdine, Instagram @MichaelUdine and Twitter @MichaelUdine to stay up to date with happenings in District 3 and around the County.