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Water rates, Body-worn cameras, Handling the rain and more.
Powerhouse Gym plans
Powerhouse Gym representatives visited City Hall recently to discuss their plans for a new gym at 1801 N. Pine Island Road, pending council approval.
They plan to keep the outside shell of the former BB&T Bank building, but inside will be 21,000 square feet of not only equipment, but all kinds of amenities.
“We see it being more spa-like,” owner Jeff Riman said. A recovery center and hyperbaric chamber are among the extras. Owners hope to get council approval soon, then a rough estimate is it would take a year for permitting and construction.
Explaining water rates
The scheduled water rate increase of 6% went into effect on Oct. 1.
In September 2022, the City Council approved gradual increases over several years rather than a single hike to ensure the service remains affordable for residents. A consultant reviewed the cost of utility system operations, needed upgrades, along with data from several cities and made the recommendations. (View the 2022 Utility Rate Study Here.)
The major cost for our Utilities Department, as with other cities, is keeping the infrastructure up to date. We are constantly switching out old piping to prevent a burst that could disrupt (or stink up) a neighborhood and making sure that our plants continue to produce water and treat wastewater in a way that meets or exceeds regulatory requirements.
I also want to note that, by state law, money gleaned from water and wastewater fees can only be used to support Utilities endeavors. In other words, we can’t move the money over to buy police cars and such.
If you have a question or concern about your utility bill, call 954-797-2290 or email UtilityBilling@plantation.org.
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Body-worn cameras are installed
The Police Department has deployed a total of 151 body worn cameras to all members who interact with the public. These individuals include all road patrol sergeants, detectives, police officers and police service aides.
These numbers will continue to grow as new employees, both sworn officers and civilians, will receive this training during the orientation phase of the hiring process.
The implementation of body-worn cameras is an important step in protecting both our officers and the public, while further enhancing transparency and accountability for all members of the community.
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Panthers christen refurbished rink
The opening of the Florida Panthers’ roller rink brought a big turnout at our Sept. 27 Puck Drop event. Former Panther Bill Lindsay led three separate age groups in ball hockey clinics.
The Panthers spent $80,000 to help revitalize the lone roller rink at Plantation Central Park. This included the installation of new fencing, nets, rink resurfacing and painting, complete with their logo in the center.
Youth roller hockey experienced a boom soon after the Panthers made the Stanley Cup finals in 1996, but over time interest fizzled out. Many cities now have converted the rinks into pickleball courts.
Handling the rain
The City of Plantation received approximately 6.3 inches of rain in less than 12 hours last Thursday night, but I’m pleased to say we had any flooding problems under control by sunrise.
Stormwater Manager Bill Mulder actively monitored conditions throughout the night, conducting inspections and responding to resident calls.
City Engineer Samira Shalan visited formerly problematic areas, including Park East, Country Club Estates and Cleary Boulevard, and found all locations dry with residents resuming their daily activities without interruption in the morning.
More rain is forecast this week and the Stormwater Division will continue to monitor and respond.
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Roundtable discussion
Chief Administrative Officer Jason Nunemaker and I attended a roundtable discussion hosted by County Commissioner Steve Geller, whose district includes approximately the bottom half of Plantation.
We were joined by leaders from Davie, Cooper City and Southwest Ranches.
The conversation centered around trash and a pathway to meet the recycling goals. Geller and his staff noted that forming a countywide solid waste program requires a balance because recycling programs are more costly than simply throwing everything into the garbage.
"Cost is a concern with everything," he said.
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Council meeting Wednesday
School Board member Adam Cervera will provide an update at the beginning of the City Council meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 8. Additionally, Mr. Cervera will hold office hours at Plantation City Hall on Thursday, Oct. 9 at 6 p.m. where residents can drop in and engage with the School Board member on District 6 schools.
A site plan for Plantation Pointe Midtown Residential is also on the City Council agenda on Oct. 8. The proposed project is located at 7510 W. Sunrise Blvd. Out of the proposed 300 units, 20% would be designated for affordable housing.
The Council will also mull the latest development from the Plantation Acres Improvement District (PAID), which voted last week to allow its residents to vote on whether to dissolve.
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First Time Homebuyer and Minor Home repair workshops
Attend the free in-person First Time Homebuyer and Minor Home repair workshops. Take the opportunity to learn about homebuyer grants, the application process, down payments, roof replacements, impact windows and more.
- Saturday, October 18 at 9:30 a.m.
- Thursday, October 23 at 6 p.m.
Workshops will take place at the Plantation Fire Department Administration Building at 550 NW 65th Ave. Reserve your spot by visiting: www.Plantation.org/FTHB
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Events
Meetings
October 8: City Council at 6 p.m. at City Hall.
October 9: Affordable Housing Advisory Committee at 4:30 p.m. at City Hall.
October 13: Sustainability & Resiliency Advisory Board at 6 p.m. at City Hall.
October 14: Planning & Zoning Board at 6 p.m. City Hall.
October 15: Gateway Advisory Board at 10 a.m. at The Palms at Plantation.
View all 2025 meetings and events by visiting Plantation.org/Calendar.
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