Commission Agenda Information

Commission Agendas

Commission agendas are the "programs" of items scheduled to be presented before the City Commission at its bi-weekly meetings. Commission meetings are held on the first and third Tuesday of each month, with the exception of August, when the Commission generally recesses. When a holiday is observed on Monday or Tuesday during a meeting week, the Commission meeting is usually held on Wednesday. The Commission meeting day actually involves two separate meetings: the Conference Meeting and the Regular Meeting. Each meeting is separate, and each has its own agenda. The agendas, associated backup materials, and minutes are available online.

Agenda Item Requests

Please send any agenda item requests, comments or questions to agendainfo@fortlauderdale.gov.

The Conference Agenda

The Conference Agenda applies to the 1:30 p.m. Conference Meeting, normally held in the 8th floor Conference Room of City Hall. The Conference Agenda includes items that need to come before the Commission for informational purposes or for discussion. This meeting takes place in a less formal environment, and normally no official voting takes place. The key sections or parts to the Conference Agenda are briefly described below.

• Old/New Business
  These are policy discussion items, where the Commission gives guidance to City staff. Matters under this category may be scheduled at a future regular meeting for a vote.
• Conference Reports
  These are status and informational reports for informational purposes that do not require Commission action.
• Advisory Boards/Committees
  Nominations and/or appointments of advisory board or committee members.
• Commission Reports
  Items of interest are presented by the Mayor and each Commissioner.
• City Manager Reports
  These are the items of interest introduced and presented by the City Manager.
• Closed-Door Sessions
  These sessions are held to discuss certain topics, such as litigation, contract negotiations, etc., and are not open to the public. These items are discussed solely among the City Commission, City Attorney, City Manager and any other required staff. Closed-Door Sessions are only listed on the Conference Agenda when necessary.

The Regular Agenda

The Regular Agenda applies to the Regular Meeting, held at 6:00 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday of the month. This meeting is normally held in the 1st floor City Commission Chambers. The Regular Agenda includes items where formal action/voting is necessary. This meeting is more formal and structured than the Conference Meeting. The items presented will have official action taken by means of the Commission voting to either approve or deny an item. The key sections that are contained in the Regular Agenda include:

• Presentations
  Special recognition, awards, commendations, etc.
• Consent Agenda
  These items are all enacted by one motion (vote) unless discussion is desired by any Commissioner or member of the public. If a Commissioner or member of the public does wish to speak on a consent item, then that item is removed or pulled from the Consent Agenda for discussion and voted on separately. Items that are not pulled from the Consent Agenda for separate handling are approved (voted on) as one item. This is unlike the rest of the agenda, which may contain Public Hearings, Ordinances, and Resolutions, all of which must be discussed and voted on individually. Items that make up the Consent Agenda include the following:
  • Motions
    agreements, amendments to agreements and bid awards for engineering projects (design and construction contracts, etc.).
  • Consent Resolutions
    Items considered as a formal expression of opinion, will or intent.
  • Purchases
    Items and services being purchased; bid awards, etc.
• Public Hearings
  Public discussion, which could also result in a resolution or ordinance.
• Citizen Presentations
  Citizens sign up in advance to address the City Commission on items of concern. These presentations are scheduled for the first meeting of each month.
• Ordinances
  A regulation enacted by the City Commission, which normally requires two separate readings and votes. Ordinances can either amend the City's Code of Ordinances or can include such items as plat approvals, annexations, rezonings, street vacations, etc.
• Resolutions
  Agreements with other governmental agencies.
• Walk-on Items
  Items that were not originally listed on the agenda but will be considered for vote by the City Commission. Walk-on items are presented on an emergency basis and do not occur on every agenda.