March 2024

Vol. 6, Issue 3

SPRING FORWARD INTO MARCH

Greetings fellow Edgewood neighbors!

I can't believe how quickly the days of 2024 are flying by. So many things in our City are moving at the same speedy pace and your volunteer board of directors work tirelessly on many fronts to protect you and our community. These issues include everything from environmental issues, development impacts, traffic speed and safety, neighborhood promotion as well as communicating with our political representatives.

We need the power of unified voices working together to ensure that our unique needs are not only being considered but respected and addressed by our elected officials.  We have all heard the expression, "see something....say something." Because of the many fronts to address in our community, that sentiment is even more critical today than ever before.

There are many opportunities to get involved with ECA. Let’s work together and showcase the power of Edgewood….EDGEWOOD STRONG! We hope you'll be able to join us at our March meeting.

With warmest regards,

Kitty McGowan, President

Edgewood Civic Association

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What's Inside

• Upcoming Meeting Highlights
• Floyd Hull Update
• AlertFTL
• LauderTrac - City Commission Priorities and News
• Support the ECA
• Green Your Routine - Bulk Trash Collection and Fines

2024 ECA Meeting Schedule

March 6 - April 3 - May 1

(Doors open at 6:30pm and meeting starts at 6:45pm)

The next ECA meeting is Wednesday, March 6 at 6:45 pm. Doors open at 6:30pm!

The meeting will be held at the Edgewood Clubhouse, 1790 SW 32nd Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Representatives from FLPD and Community Enhancement will be attending.

PRIOR TO THE GENERAL MEETING, THE ECA BOARD WILL BE MEETING AT 6:15 TO ADDRESS ASSOCIATION BUSINESS. THIS MEETING IS OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY.

Floyd Hull Update

Members of the ECA board and community residents (Paul Guerrero, Jay Verkey, and Cliff Iacino) met on Friday, March 1st, with Enrique Sanchez, City of Fort Lauderdale Deputy Director Parks and Rec Dept. to discuss the Floyd Hull Stadium Project. Here is a summary of the meeting.

Items and issues discussed included:

1.   Recognition of the park's important history and prominent role in the neighborhood “back in the day.”

2.  The Floyd Hull Stadium Master plan, from 2002, was reviewed (apparently had been worked on over several years, but was never acted upon!)

3.   Confirmation that bond money has been earmarked ($6 million . . . has any interest accrued?)

4.   Acknowledgement that the Floyd Hull property is “sacrosanct,” is dedicated as a recreational facility for Edgewood and neighboring communities, and cannot be utilized by private developers.

5.   Community input has already occurred and will continue to be at the core of this project.

6.   A meeting will be held in the near future (e.g., latter half of March) in the Morton Center – Carl Williams, Enrique Sanchez, representative(s) from ACOM, members from the ECA Board and select members from Edgewood will attend.

7.   There was commentary on the desire to re-vitalize the area for baseball/softball and to encourage its use by organized leagues

a.    It was noted that this is currently the best, or one of the best, baseball fields for recreational and league play in Ft. Lauderdale. This was told to ECA board representative, Steve Goldstein, by the managers of the league game on Thursday evening.

b.   Goal should be to try to keep 2 baseball diamonds

c.    Goal should also be to harbor 1 soccer field (does not necessarily need to be “professional” size)

d.   It was emphasized that the current lighting was provided by volunteers

8.   Maintenance of the area should be provided by Parks and Recreation

9.   It was desirous that Morton Hall be renovated so that it could be used for a variety of functions, including “rentals” . . . as in the past

AlertFTL

Stay informed in an emergency! Sign Up for Alert FTL 

The City uses Alert FTL to send mass notifications and keep citizens informed in the event of an emergency.

Alert FTL is free to neighbors, simply click here to sign up or call our 24-Hour Customer Service Center at 954-828-8000. 

This is especially important during all the rain we've been receiving, along with flooding!

Read all about the service HERE!

LauderTrac

Tracking Progress on Commission Priorities

City Commission's top priorities

Progress on these priorities is shared quarterly in a memo from the City Manager to the City Commission.

To sign up for City e-news click HERE.

Purchase with Purpose

Each of us can make a difference by being environmentally conscious with products that minimize impact on the environment. Green products are one option, so look for labels that say: energy-efficient, made of recycled material, water-conserving, reusable, non-toxic, low in Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), biodegradable, and more. Choose products that are reusable, refillable, more durable, or repairable because they create less waste and are more cost-effective.

Remember the Four Rs: reduce, reuse, recycle, and re-purchase. Reduce to save resources. Reuse by repurposing something headed for the trash into something usable. Recycle to prevent making new products, and, reduce waste by re-buying from charity or consignment shops.

Each choice makes a big difference. Learn more from the City of Fort Lauderdale's Green Your Routine here https://gyr.fortlauderdale.gov/greener-government/conservation-efficiency/environmentally-conscious-purchasing.

Residential Bulk Waste - This Thursday, March 7th!

ITEMS SHOUD NOT BE PLACED ON THE STREET MORE THAN 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE.

The Bulk Trash Pickup Program features collection of large household items and tree trimmings, up to 10 cubic yards in size, for residential customers. Items accepted for bulk trash pickup include: appliances, furniture, carpet, mattresses, and toys. Please do not place tires in bulk piles.

Fines

Bulk trash should not be put out for collection more than 24 hours before your collection day. In Edgewood, collection day is the first Thursday of each month. If Code Enforcement officers see any bulk trash out too early, they will spray paint a warning somewhere visible on the pile of bulk trash. If that bulk trash is not removed before pickup, you will be cited with a $300 fine, that will appear on your City of Fort Lauderdale utility bill.

Schedules and Routes

Bulk trash is collected once per month. Edgewood's pick-up is the 1st Thursday of the month. If you cannot wait for your collection day, you may schedule an appointment for pick-up. There is a fee for this service.

Set Out Instructions

Please place all items at least four feet away from any waste carts, mailboxes, trees, and/or power lines. Avoid blocking storm drains; lay items in such a way as to minimize the likelihood of them blowing over.

Alternatives to Bulk Trash Pick-Up 

Often, the items you place in bulk trash can actually be useful to others. Before you throw something away, please investigate whether donating, scrapping, or otherwise disposing of your old items is a possibility.

Yard Waste 

Yard waste, such as tree branches and large quantities of leaves in boxes/bags, may also be set out on bulk collection days.

More Information

For all questions regarding Bulk Trash or other sanitation and Clean City services, please call the 24-Hour Customer Service Center at 954-828-8000 or online.

Download the Bulk Trash Program Information Guide Download the Bulk Trash Pickup Schedule Map. 

Happy Easter to ALL who celebrate!