I am often asked 'why are you so involved, what do you get out of it'. This is a question I simply answer with "government only works when those affected show up and get heard". All too often and not too many citizens do their civic duty and vote at each election. If their candidate wins they are satisfied that they made the right choice, and if their candidate loses they grumble and complain. In either case, this ends most citizens' involvement in the governmental process.
I am going to focus this blog on the City of Fort Lauderdale governmental process. I am a "citizen activist" I am on the Board of Directors for the Sailboat Bend Civic Association (my little corner of Fort Lauderdale). I care deeply not only for the City, but for my local neighborhood. I live in a Historic District and work tirelessly for the preservation of our city's history. Most neighborhoods, wether Fort Lauderdale or other cities have either a civic associations or homeowners association. Get involved, find out what is going on in your neck of the woods. What are the crime statistics, is there a proposal for new construction, how is the traffic flow being addressed. These are all important questions that affect you as a citizen directly. You may be the key to a solution for the problems and concerns in your own neighborhood.
Twice each month, on the evening prior to the bi monthly Commission meeting, my city commissioner (District 4 -Hon. Romney Rogers) meets with concerned citizens to review and take commentary on the next days agenda. The agenda is publish on the Friday before on the Fort Lauderdale city website ( http://www.fortlauderdale.gov ) There are many agenda items that may affect you directly, street closings, zoning changes, purchasing expenditures, and ordinances just to name a few. Find out who your city commissioner is and when.where they hold their community input.
On the first and third Monday of the month, the city commission meets as a whole. The commission chamber is at city hall 100 North Andrews Avenue. The public (you) are encouraged to attend both the Conference Agenda meeting at 1:30 and the Regular Commission Meeting at 6:00pm. The conference agenda meeting is an informal public meeting of all the commissioners. The purpose is for the commissioners and the public to receive input from city staff on some of the various issues I mentioned. At this meeting no votes are taken, but a consensus of the commissioners is felt out. Often, the agenda item is returned to staff for more information and input.
The official meeting of the city commission begins at 6:00 pm. After the usual prayer and Pledge of Allegiance, various proclamations are read. These proclamations honor specific citizens, groups or issues of the day. Then the real business of government begins. The consent agenda are items that either need no real discussion, or a consensus was reached previously at a conference agenda meeting. The public as well as any commissioner may "pull" any item from the consent agenda for open discussion. The public is encouraged to speak on any issue in front of the commission. This is your greatest opportunity to affect the actions of the city commission. I am often found at the podium to put my two cents in on the record. If you cannot make it to the commission meetings, they are broadcast on Comcast Cable channel 78.
At the first commission meeting of the month, any citizen may speak on any topic of their choosing. One infamous speaker is a Mr. Robert Walsh. Mr. Walsh has spoken on such items as demolition of a historic home, stem cell research and the actions of a certain former judge of Broward County. These "Citizens Presentations" to me, are the highlight of what can be long commission sessions.
The most effective way to stop complaining and getting involved is to run for public office. Yes, I know this is not a cheap process anymore, but alas it is an important one. This is the best way to make government more effective in your eyes. Get off your couch and start knocking on doors. You may find that many of your neighbors feel the same as you on various issues. This is your grass root support. Who knows from there you can actually end up sitting on the commission dais voting for the people.
So, please do not just sit there, stop complaining and get involved.
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