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Holiday Parade, Sidewalk repairs, Central Park Drive and more.
An icon of the South Florida sports landscape will be front and center at our annual holiday parade Saturday.
Yes, it’s Burnie!
The furry Miami Heat mascot will lead the “It’s a Wonderful Life” parade 9 a.m. Saturday, which starts at Northwest 46th Avenue and traverses west on Broward Boulevard until turning on 69th Avenue to City Hall.
Burnie has been with the Miami Heat since its inception, entertaining children and charging up crowds. So be ready to take your photos.
Many of the parade entries will toss candy to children along the route. The Plantation police cautions parents to make sure their young ones don’t stray too far from the curb and near oncoming vehicles.
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The South Florida chapter of Boys Town celebrated the opening of its new office in Plantation last week, with several board members and staff on hand for the ribbon-cutting.
The office is in the Flagstar Bank building, at 8211 W. Broward Blvd., Suite 440, and makes for a more centralized location than the prior site in Pompano Beach.
Boys Town was created in 1917 in Omaha, Neb., as a home for homeless boys and was memorialized in a 1938 movie with Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney.
South Florida is one of nine operations in the United States. In 2023, the organization served and impacted more than 900 children with our skills-building home visiting, parenting classes, and school-based programs.
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The Plantation Women's Club presented checks at a recent city council meeting for a total of more than $10,000. The money will supplement Parks and Recreation activities. The club sponsors Rock the Park, Light Up City Hall and the "It's a Wonderful Life in Plantation" Holiday Parade as well as participating in the Family Fall Festival and Trunk-or-Treat.
We are getting some help with sidewalk repair. The city approved a contract with Concrete Works & Paving that allows our Public Works department to issue task orders to the company.
We’re well aware there is a backlog of sidewalk repair work and breakages will continue as trees continue to wreak havoc on our infrastructure.
The city can spend up to $500,000 with Concrete Works & Paving, according to the contract.
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The city council approved a proposal to remake Central Park Drive from Broward Boulevard to Cleary Boulevard.
A multi-use path on the west and more parking on the east will make the road one lane each way instead of the current two. Preliminary traffic count studies show that this road will continue to offer more capacity than needed even with just one lane.
 A roundabout will ease traffic at Central Park Drive and Cleary Boulevard and a second one will be placed near the rec building entryway.
Designated crosswalks are planned to make pedestrian use more organized. Landscaping will also be enhanced.
Design work must still be completed and it will be about a year before it’s ready to go out for construction.
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Tropical Jewelry and Gems has been years in the making and is now propelled forward with the Saturday opening of its shop at 8968 Cleary Blvd.
President Maisy Alpert, who has worked 35 years in the business, said the store blends fine gemstone and diamond jewelry with fun, trendy fashion jewelry. Crystals, minerals, and ancient fossils complement the mix of curated finds.
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Council members and I often get questions addressed to code enforcement. We have multiple departments involved in the process that handle different pieces, so we know that it might be a challenge to know who to contact. Improving how we deal with code complaints has been a months-long project for me, so I gathered all staff involved to share who does what, how they work together, and what issues they are facing that we can help address.
State Statute prohibits us from investigating complaints if the complainant does not provide their name and address. Limited exceptions are for situations that present an imminent threat to the public health, safety, or welfare or the destruction of habitat or sensitive resources.
The group also identified potential city code revisions to streamline the process. We recognize that it takes a long time, but keep in mind, we want our residential and commercial neighborhoods to be in best shape, so our primary goal is compliance and positive relationships with our neighbors. So unless there’s a life safety issue, our first attempts to resolve code complaints will not be heavy-handed fines.
Watch the recent Code Compliance Workshop to learn more about all the pieces of the code enforcement process.
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As we approach the end of the year, I want to thank all city directors, administrators, and staff for their dedication and hard work throughout 2024.
Behind every service we provide, project we complete, and challenge we overcome are individuals who make our city a place we’re all proud of. This year has been a testament to teamwork, innovation, and commitment that drives our community forward. Here’s a snapshot from our final staff meeting of the year, featuring the directors, administrators, and other key team members who help lead the way.
To every city employee—thank you for the energy and passion you bring to your roles.
Plantation Pioneer 2024
Congratulations to Jennifer McGonigle-Collins, the 2024 Plantation Pioneer! A lifelong resident of Plantation, Jennifer attended Plantation Park Elementary, Seminole Middle, and South Plantation High. For 22 years, she has served as Student Government (SGA) advisor at South Plantation High, inspiring students to give back through initiatives like the Honor Flight South Florida and annual first responder recognition events.
Jennifer's dedication extends beyond the classroom, where she has been named Teacher of the Year multiple times and nominated for Broward County Teacher of the Year. She coaches the boys’ and girls’ bowling teams and has advised the yearbook, Key Club, and graduating classes. Her commitment to education and service makes her a true leader and role model in our community.
 Broward Green Schools Campaign Day
The Broward Green Schools Campaign, part of the Climate Reality Project’s national Green Schools program, is a student-led initiative focused on transitioning Broward County Public Schools to 100% clean energy. With support from parents, teachers, and the Broward Sierra Group’s Junior Team, this movement is paving the way for a sustainable future.
Broward County has already made significant strides in environmental efforts, but transitioning schools to renewable energy is a critical next step.
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Thursday, Nov. 28 and Friday Nov. 29, City offices will be closed in observance of Thanksgiving. Normal operating hours will resume Monday, Dec. 2.
Our parks will be functioning on holiday hours. To see specific times of operation, visit Plantation.org/ParkHours.
Events
Nov. 23: It's A Wonderful Life in Plantation Holiday Parade. Kicks off at 9 a.m. at the intersection of Broward Boulevard and NW 46 Avenue, turns north on NW 69 Avenue and then west on 4th Street to City Hall.
Nov. 23: Household Hazardous Waste Collection event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Public Works compound, 750 NW 91 Avenue. Convenient drive-thru services where staff will unload your hazardous waste. This event is open to city of Plantation and Sunrise residents. Proof of residency is required.
Dec. 6: Rock the Park concert featuring The Rock Show Band (60's, 70's, 80's Rock) at Pine Island Park. Food Trucks open at 6 p.m. and music kicks off at 7 p.m.
Dec. 7: Light Up City Hall from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at City Hall. Bring the entire family and enjoy selfies with Santa, ice skating, vocal groups, food trucks, crafts, the "There's Snow Place Like Plantation" snowman contest, and many photo opportunities.
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Meetings
Dec. 4: Last City Council meeting of 2024 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.
View the remaining 2024 and upcoming 2025 meetings and events by visiting Plantation.org/Calendar.
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