Fall 2006 - City of Plantation

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Midtown Transit IN HIGH GEAR Wayne Burns, Economic Development Coordinator Local transit glides into Plantation Midtown, providing a solution that is destined to ease traffic and provide convenience for office workers, shoppers and visitors alike. Within the next several months, Phase I of a multi-phase Midtown Transit Circulator plan will be launched in the center of Midtown, providing transit access to and from the Broward County Government Center, Westside Regional Hospital, the Broward County Library, the Fashion Mall, the Broward Mall and surrounding office complexes. Riders will enjoy a comfortable experience as the airconditioned trolley moves past the traffic to their destination, with the benefit of nine-minute headways. The plan is to make the trolley free to all riders by receiving added support from private sector sponsors. On April 5, 2006, City Council authorized staff to proceed with Phase I of the Midtown Transit Circulator. Then on June 14, 2006, Council selected the trolley from among several choices. Members of the Plantation Midtown Advisory Board recommended the trolley because they believed its appearance and comfort blended nicely with the old world charm being incorporated into all new architectural designs and streetscapes in Midtown. City Council agreed after getting the opportunity to stroll aboard the actual trolley that was parked in front of City Hall during the Council meeting. Citing the enjoyment that transit users will experience when riding in such a comfortable yet novel vehicle, Council members agreed unanimously to authorize the City to purchase the six trolleys needed to implement Phase I of the Midtown Transit Circulator. The vehicles will travel along two loops with three moving clockwise and three moving counterclockwise so that wait times are minimal, allowing for workers to reach shopping and eating destinations with enough time to enjoy their lunch breaks and return to their offices in a timely manner. County employees parked on the east side of Midtown at University Drive will be able to travel to the Government Center on the west side at Pine Island without having to find parking, allowing more parking for residents who are seeking services at the Center. Library and hospital access are also key components of the Phase I route. Two Florida Department of Transportation Grants; one for $220,000 and a second for $600,000 paid over three years in combination with the Special District Ad Valorem Tax Increment of .5 mills will fund acquisition and ongoing operations. Timing of Phase II implementation of the Midtown Transit Circulator will, in part, be dependent upon the rapid success of Phase I. Come enjoy Plantation Midtown and take a ride on the trolley! American Express CHARGES FORWARD Wayne Burns, Economic Development Coordinator The American Express Fort Lauderdale Service Center, located on the north end of the Plantation Midtown District, celebrated 30 years of providing world-class service to customers and to the local community. As one of the largest employers in Plantation and in Broward County, American Express is a valuable economic asset to the City’s residents. For the opening of the Operations Center on April 2, 1976, over 1,000 employees were hired, and the size and scope of the facility has increased ever since. American Express was recognized for their 30-year commitment to Plantation in a congratulatory letter from Mayor Rae Carole Armstrong, recognizing the significance of the tremendous commitment American Express has made to our community. Several senior executives from the American Express New York headquarters visited Plantation to participate in the 30th anniversary celebration. In addition to celebrating their 30th anniversary in Plantation during the month of April, April is also “Make a Difference Month” company-wide at American Express. In South Florida, 18 Plantation Quarterly Fall 2006
Targeting TECHNOLOGY Wayne Burns, Economic Development Coordinator Plantation’s focus during the past several years has been to encourage in-fill and new development along State Road 7 (Plantation Gateway / CRA District), and in Plantation Midtown. Commercial development in both of these Special Districts remains of vital importance in maintaining the City’s solid fiscal stability while continuing our path of sound economic growth. The added residential component in both Districts is a critical element in creating an environment in which people can both live and work – a design set forth in our Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive Plan is in essence a road map for development within the City. The Plan was well thought out at its inception and remains the cornerstone document of zoning and land use policies for the entire City of Plantation. There is another business area in the City that is prime for commercial redevelopment and this area carries considerable significance in maintaining the only commercial area in Plantation zoned for industrial use. Yes, we do have an industrial park in Plantation: the Plantation Technology Park, located on the north side of Sunrise Boulevard, west of the Florida Turnpike, approximately half-way between the Turnpike and University Drive. The Technology Park is home to a number of tech firms including Imaging Diagnostics Incorporated, Goodwin Biotechnologies, Universal Electric and Kenig Aerospace. When it was named, the idea behind the Technology Park was to populate the park with technology-based companies. However, over the years, in an effort to keep park occupancy high and to provide a home for business sectors that could not locate elsewhere in the City for zoning reasons, the Technology Park has become a bit of a mixed bag of many different industries. With a renewed focus on the Technology Park, the City Economic Development Division is working in partnership with the Technology Park Board, made up of a core group of property owners from within the park, and dedicated to its revitalization. With support from Planning & Zoning, Engineering, the Police Department and Code Enforcement, Economic Development and the Technology Board endeavor to accomplish several goals, both short term and long term. The park has an expansive layout with a lot of open spaces, and businesses enjoy a secure environment in which to conduct their day-today activities, however, there are ways to modernize and upgrade the Park. In the short term, the focus will be on Park beautification, upgraded security and consideration of highest and best use. In the long term, additional emphasis will be placed on landscape, roadway improvements and other infrastructure enhancements. Ultimately, the City and the property owners want to take advantage of the industrial land boom sweeping the country. South Florida is still a hot spot for industrial development, with a demand for one million square feet more industrial space than is currently available. Together we plan on capitalizing on this tremendous opportunity nearly 1,200 employees, many of them from the American Express Fort Lauderdale Service Center, donated 2,200 hours of volunteer time to benefit numerous projects around the local community. American Express employees also give thousands of volunteer hours to local South Florida communities by participating on the company’s Community Involvement Council, by taking part in our annual Employee Giving Campaign, or by joining colleagues and peers in “done in a day” volunteerism projects. Other employees give of their talent by serving on non-profit Boards of Directors. In Plantation, American Express Director of Communications, Stacey Orange, is a member of the Midtown Advisory Board and the Greater Plantation Chamber of Commerce Executive Board. There are a number of corporate programs that revolve around enhancing employee life, one of which is Summer Camp Expo. This is a very popular and valuable resource for employees with children who welcome the opportunity each March to preview a variety of summer camp programs so that they can make an informed decision on the right program for their children. Each year the participants vary and include City programs, programs offered by non-profit organizations and others. Representatives from different camps bring program and educational material with them, and employees can ask questions to gain a firm understanding of the types of programs being offered. Parents can select the type of program that best fits their child’s needs and meshes well with their work schedules. American Express is open 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, with employees working primarily across three main shifts. Employees serve in a wide range of positions such as customer service associates, supervisors, credit analysts and project managers. American Express is actively hiring for a number of positions, which can be viewed at www.americanexpress.com. The City of Plantation is proud to have such a well recognized corporation as a deeply invested member of our business community dedicated to enhancing Plantation’s quality of life! Plantation Quarterly Fall 2006 19
Page 1 and 2: Fall 2006 2007 City Calendars Comin
Page 3 and 4: MAYOR Rae Carole Armstrong CITY COU
Page 5 and 6: Art in thePark LOOK WHO’S 40! ART
Page 7 and 8: It Starts IN THE PARK The City of P
Page 9 and 10: Golf ACADEMY PLANTATION PRESERVE GO
Page 11 and 12: Grants andSponsorships GRANTS RECEI
Page 13 and 14: Flood Insurance REQUIREMENTS FOR PL
Page 15 and 16: ChiefOsceola BUST CREATED FOR THE P
Page 17: Plantation Gateway CONTINUES TO GRO

Fall 2006 - City of Plantation

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?