A Message from Broward County Commissioner Barbara Sharief

As I take into account all that Broward County has to offer, I am reminded just how great we are! I am excited to share that Broward County is home to 26 miles of award winning Blue Wave certified beaches. We also have one of the most modern and fastest growing airports in the country and one of the top-rated cruise ports in the world. There are so many good things happening here. An ever-increasing number of guests are discovering Broward County’s rich landscape of eclectic food, fashion, arts and culture, events, nightlife and entertainment. We are truly fortunate to call Broward home!

As we enjoy the summer months, remember to take time to relax, revitalize, and perhaps travel a bit. It’s also a perfect time to get organized, like cleaning out the garage and donating items that you are no longer using to your favorite charity.

As District 8 Commissioner, it's an honor to serve my constituents and I look forward to continuing to serve you over the next 4 years.

Sincerely,

Barbara

I welcome your comments and want to hear which issues are important to you. Send an email to me at Bsharief@Broward.org or call my office at 954-357-7008. Also, check out the Barbara Sharief Facebook page at Facebook.com/Barbara.sharief or follow Barbara Sharief at Twitter.com/Bestmom39.

Make This Summer A Splash

Looking for something fun and exciting to do with your family this summer? Cool off and soak up the fun at one of Broward County’s four water parks. The water parks at Paradise Cove at C.B. Smith Park in Pembroke Pines, Tropical Splash at Central Broward Regional Park & Stadium in Lauderhill, Splash Adventure at Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach, and Castaway Island at T.Y. (Topeekeegee Yugnee) Park in Hollywood are now open daily to help you and your family beat the summer heat.

For more information about park hours, seasonal water passes, and weather-related updates, visit the water parks website.

Get Your Passport To Broward

The Broward Academy Passport to Broward is a special 10-week program exclusively for college students to get a FREE behind the scenes look at how Broward County Government works. The program is held on Thursdays starting September 13th through November 15th from 6:00pm to 9:00pm.

Learn more by visiting Broward.org/Academy.
 

Tree Ordinance

Hurricane season officially began on June 1st and Broward Commissioners have passed an ordinance aimed at preventing widespread power outages caused by downed trees hitting power lines.

“In the aftermath of Irma, more than 800,000 people lost power and 75 to 80 percent of that was due to vegetation that was not properly maintained by either homeowners or cities who planted trees in the wrong places,” noted Commissioner Dr. Barbara Sharief, who brought the new law forward for Commission approval.

The ordinance requires homeowners in the Broward Municipal Services District (unincorporated area) to properly maintain trees that are already in place and prohibits the planting of new trees near existing power lines in accordance with Florida Power & Light’s “Right Tree, Right Place” guidelines. Dead, damaged, or diseased trees near electrical lines will be removed. Fines start at $150 and incrementally increase to $250 and $500. Homeowners will have twenty days to come into compliance if a notice is issued.

“FPL was trying to cut the trees prior to Irma and people were not letting them on private property. This is going to allow them to have some type of a fallback to get people to let them cut the trees,” notes Sharief.

For more information on tree maintenance visit Broward.org/Hurricane/AtoZ/Pages/TreesBeforeEvent.aspx.

Board Appointment to World AIDS Museum

The World AIDS Museum and Educational Center officially welcomed Commissioner Dr. Barbara Sharief to their Board of Directors. The World AIDS Museum is the first museum dedicated to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The Educational Center provides information on treatment and prevention of HIV. Whether infected or affected, everyone has been touched by this in their own personal way.

Hurricane Preparedness

The 2018 Hurricane Season has arrived, and all Broward County residents should be prepared in case of an emergency. If you have not already done so, I encourage you to take the time to prepare for possible tropical storms and hurricanes. Check out all of Broward’s Emergency Checklists, and be sure to complete the 10-Step Family Plan.

For tips on how to develop an emergency plan, create an emergency kit and be informed during a disaster, visit ReadySouthFlorida.org or Broward.org/Hurricane/Pages/10Step.aspx.

Business Opportunity Act

Broward’s Office of Economic and Small Business Development will host free information sessions for businesses to learn of new opportunities to do business with Broward County government. Attendees will learn how to tap into Broward County Government contracts, receive updates on the new total gross receipts cap for the construction industry, and benefits of the increased personal net worth cap. All trades are welcome. Join us at one of the following locations:

• Thursday, July 19th from 4:00pm to 5:30pm at the Miramar Branch Library
• Saturday, August 11th from 11:00am to 12:30pm at the Margate Branch Library
• Thursday, September 30th from 3:00pm to 4:30pm at the Urban League of Broward County

Sales Tax Holidays

Back-To-School
Be sure to enjoy the three-day “Back-To-School” sales tax holiday from August 3rd to August 5th for clothing, footwear and backpacks costing $60 or less, and school supplies costing less than $15.

The August holiday is designed to help ease the cost of getting children back into the classroom with clothes that fit and backpacks full of necessary school supplies.

Nursing Homes & Assisted Living Facilities
In addition to the sales tax holiday, the state is exempting any equipment to generate emergency electric energy at a nursing home facility that is purchased between July 1, 2017, and December 31, 2018. This exemption is limited to a maximum of $15,000 in tax for the purchase of equipment for any single facility. Qualifying purchases made prior to the enactment of House Bill 7087 are eligible for a sales tax refund. Businesses should contact the Department of Revenue for more details.

For more information and a list of qualifying items, please review the Department of Revenue's website.

6th Annual Autism in Flight Program

The 6th Annual Autism in Flight program was a great success! For autistic children and their families, a trip to the airport can be downright frightening. When I was contacted by a family in my District with an autistic child and learned of the challenges they faced when using airports, I embarked on an effort to change that for all kids. This exercise is a learning experience to help reduce everyone’s level of stress and make traveling a more pleasurable experience. During the event, we had 70 4th and 5th grade children from 8 Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) board a JetBlue aircraft and participate in a mock flight. I’m so thankful for the partnership between the BCPS, Broward County Aviation, JetBlue, TSA, BSO Fire and Police and many others!

We learned that every child who has been through this program has since boarded an airplane and flown with their families! I am already looking forward to our 7th Annual with more surprises. So stay tuned...

2018 Summer Specials

Enjoy 2-for-1 summer deals at more than 45 attractions during 2-for-1 Summer Savings through September 30. Exclusive Greater Fort Lauderdale Vacation Like a VIP​ packages are available at participating Resort Collection properties through September 30th.

This September, Spa Month allows guests to indulge in luxury for less with $99 spa treatments (50% savings), while Crave GFL celebrates the area's top dining, offering specially-created menus at $35 or $45 fixed prices. Look on Sunny.org to join Crave GFL restaurant month or contact Rita Wells (Rwells@Broward.org) for more info.​​​​​​​