Commission Plans Two Public Hearings on 2010 Budget

Broward County Commissioners will conduct two public hearings in September on the 2010 Fiscal Year budget recommended by County Administrator Bertha Henry. Public testimony will be taken at both hearings, held in Room 422 in the Governmental Center, 115 S. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale, on Thursday, September 10 at 5:01 p.m., and Tuesday, September 22, 5:01 p.m. Hearings will be cablecast live and Webcast live on www.broward.org, click on VIDEO CENTRAL. Budget documents, including the County Administrator�s recommended budget reductions, are posted online at www.broward.org/2010budget.

Residents Encouraged to Participate in Ethics Commission Meeting on September 9

The public is invited to attend the next meeting of the Broward County Ethics Commission, and provide public input on a proposed new Code of Ethics Ordinance for the Broward County Board of County Commissioners. The meeting will be held September 9, 2009, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Room 430 of the Governmental Center, 115 S. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale. The Ethics Commission, approved by voters in the November 2008 General Election, was charged with establishing a Code of Ethics for the Broward County Commission.

The proposed Code must be presented to the Broward County Commission for consideration no later than March 2010. If the County Commission fails to adopt the proposed Code of Ethics, the proposal will be presented to the voters of Broward County for consideration in the November 2010 General Election. For more information, visit www.broward.org/ethicscommission.

Census 2010 Speakers Bureau Now Available

The Broward County Complete Count Committee, chaired by Broward County District 1 Commissioner Ilene Lieberman, includes broad representation from businesses, the media, human service agencies, not-for-profit agencies, community groups and city and county government. Members of this committee are available to speak in the community on the 2010 Census. Presentations can be tailored to homeowner associations, resident groups, school and community groups, and businesses. A complete count is important because local communities receive funding for education, public safety, housing and community development, transportation, health care and human services programs based on Census results. In addition, Census data is used to determine local representation in the legislatures. Census day is April 1, 2010. For more information, visit www.broward.org/census and click SPEAKERS BUREAU. To schedule a speaker, email Census2010@broward.org or call Scott Medvin at 954-357-8550.

Director Named for Broward County’s Community Partnership Division

Mandy Wells, a 20-year Broward County employee, has been named director of the Community Partnership Division in the County’s Human Services Department. This division collaborates with community partners, including non-profit and for-profit social service providers, faith-based organizations, governmental entities, and advocates and consumers to ensure that community-based human services are cost effective, coordinated and performance based in meeting the needs of Broward County residents. As director, Wells will have oversight for Child Care Licensing and Enforcement, Children’s Services Section, Health Care Services, Homeless Services and the Sexual Assault Treatment Center.

Nominations for 2009 Disability Awareness Awards Now Being Accepted

The Broward County Advisory Board for Individuals with Disabilities (ABID) is requesting nominations for the 2009 Disability Awareness Awards. The Disability Awareness Awards are presented by ABID in honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (October). For nomination forms, contact the Broward County Office of Equal Opportunity, Disability Affairs Section at 954-357-6500 (Voice), 954-357-6181 (TTY) or visit www.broward.org/disability. Nomination forms are due by Friday, September 25.

Celebrate Miramar Branch Library’s First Birthday with Music, Poetry, and Fashion

Miramar Branch Library will celebrate its first anniversary with a full day of music, poetry, fashion and more beginning at 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 26. The event, which is free and open to the public, will commemorate the official opening of the library, which took place on September 25, 2008, with a dedication ceremony that attracted hundreds of members of the community and library supporters. More…

Port Everglades and Panama Canal Unveil New Economic Alliance

The Panama Canal Authority and Broward County’s Port Everglades Department recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding agreeing to encourage new business and trade between both organizations. As part of the agreement, both parties will exchange information about their latest modernization efforts and work together to promote maritime trade. More…

Map Identifies Best Roads for Bicycle Enthusiasts

The Broward County Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee has produced a Bicycle Suitability Map that is intended to serve as a reference for bicycling in Broward County. The map is available online. Visit www.broward.org/mpo/welcome.htm and click PLANS AND PROGRAMS, then BICYCLE PLAN under “Non-Motorized Transportation Plans.” The map will be available in print form in the near future.

Still Time to Prepare for Hurricane Season

September is the peak of hurricane season. Although 2009 has been a relatively quiet storm season, every Broward County family should be prepared to be self-sufficient for the first three to five days after a major storm, so recovery efforts can focus on those who can’t help themselves. Visit www.broward.org/hurricane for preparedness information. To keep informed before, during and after a storm with email news about hurricane watches and warnings, evacuation orders, and public safety issues, subscribe to Broward County’s free Hurricane Update E-mail System. Visit www.broward.org/hurricane and click HURRICANE UPDATE EMAIL SYSTEM.

You can also perform a vital public service by participating in the County’s new Home Damage Assessment Program, where residents are encouraged to report damage level to their home as a rapid assessment of damages across the County. To participate, visit www.broward.org/hurricane before a storm and click HOME DAMAGE ASSESSMENT PROGRAM. Print the four home damage assessment photos and keep them handy for reference. After the storm, compare your home to the four homes pictured and select the one that best represents the condition of your home for flood and/or damage level. Report it online, if you still have power and access to the Internet, or call the Broward County Call Center at 954-831-4000 or 3-1-1.

Resident reports will provide a critical early indication of where major damage has occurred. They do not constitute a request for individual assistance and do not replace the normal grid-by-grid assessments performed by County assessment teams.

Broward County Call Center is Always Ready to Assist Residents

Before, during and after a storm, the Broward County Call Center operates 24 hours a day as a Hurricane Hotline. During the year, the Call Center is a multi-lingual one-stop shop for information on Broward County Commission and government services. Call Center Specialists enhance resident access to County government by answering resident questions. Certain services can also be obtained through the Call Center, including scheduling a building inspection, ordering a duplicate property tax bill and registering for the Vulnerable Population Registry. The Call Center is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 954-831-4000 or 3-1-1. Service for hearing impaired individuals is available at 954-831-3940.

Prescription Discount Cards Still Proving Helpful to Broward Residents

Residents who have used Prescription Drug Discount Cards offered by Broward County’s Human Services Department through the National Association of Counties (NACo) have saved more than $1.5 million over the retail cost of prescriptions since the launch of the program in Broward County. The card averages 2,028 users each month.

The Broward County Commission launched the free discount card program in May 2007 to help consumers cope with the high price of prescription drugs. Since the program launch, the Broward County Prescription Drug Discount Card has been presented 149,233 times (one person may present the card multiple times). The discount can also be applied to certain pet prescriptions. Cards can be picked up at many Broward County government facilities. For more information call 954-831-4000 (3-1-1) or 1-877-321-2652. More…

NatureScape Broward Certifies 24 Teachers as Habitat Stewards

Broward County’s NatureScape Broward team, part of the Broward County Natural Resources Planning and Management Division, recently certified 24 teachers from Broward schools as Habitat Stewards for the National Wildlife Federation, which is supported by the NatureScape Broward program. The County now boasts 150 Habitat Stewards, more than any other County in the nation. More…

Broward County Receives Grants

Broward County Human Services Department has received a $96,000 award from the annual State Challenge Grant that will be used to provide bus passes and temporary shelter to more than 32,000 homeless persons. This is the second highest level of award and Broward County was one of just 23 recipients in the state.

Broward County Transit (BCT) was awarded $35.1 million in stimulus funds as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). Broward County Transit will allocate the $35.1 million on the redesign and reconstruction of an operations and maintenance facility in Dania Beach, bus stop/shelter enhancements and infrastructure improvements, a centralized login system for fixed-route bus operations, and real-time monitoring technology for Paratransit vehicles. More…

New Bus Fares Effective October 1, 2009

Broward County Transit (BCT) will increase the cost of bus fares and passes October 1, 2009. Despite the increase, BCT still has the lowest fares of any transit system in South Florida.

A regular one-way fare will increase from $1.25 to $1.50, an all-day pass goes from $3.00 to $3.50, a 7-day pass from $12.00 to $13.00 and a 31-day adult pass from $46.00 to $52.00. Reduced rates are available for youth, seniors, disabled and Medicare. The 31-day College Student pass increases from $23.00 to $26.00.

New passes will be available for sale on October 1, 2009, at the Broward Central Terminal (downtown Fort Lauderdale), and most Broward County libraries. Current passes will continue to work through their expiration dates. For more information, please call BCT customer service center at 954-357-8400 (TTY 954-357-8302) or visit www.broward.org/bct and click FARES AND PASSES.

Homebuyer Fair Scheduled September 12

The Broward Housing & Community Development Task Force will host a homebuyer fair on Saturday, September 12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center. The goal of the program is to educate potential homebuyers on wise purchase and lending decisions, and help them become informed consumers. Several non-profit groups, lenders and governmental agencies will be available to answer questions and provide details on first-time homebuyer loan programs. For more information, call 954-625-2800.

To Receive Community Update Please Send Email to Us

Community Update, a monthly newsletter from the Board of County Commissioners, is produced by the Office of Public Communications. Address questions concerning articles to 954-357-6990. To receive Community Update electronically, send an email to publicinfo@broward.org. Please include your first and last name and email address. Hearing impaired residents can call the TTY line at 954-831-3940 for additional information.