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1. Where should I call to report a broken streetlight, sidewalk or other problem with public property?

Call Municipal Services at 954-640-4232.

2. How often is the beach cleaned?

The Town contracts with Beach Raker, a private firm, to clean our 2.4 miles of beautiful Blue Wave beaches. Debris and garbage is picked up three or four times per week very early in the morning.

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1. What is a rip current?

Rip currents are powerful, channeled currents of water flowing away from the beach. Rip currents typically extend from the shoreline through the surf zone and out past the line of breaking waves. Rip currents can occur anywhere and are common in South Florida.

2. Are rip currents dangerous?

Extremely, rip currents can kill. The United States Lifesaving Association estimates that the annual number of deaths related to rip currents on our nation's beaches exceeds 100 people. Rip currents account for more than 80 percent of the rescues performed by lifeguards stationed on the beach.

3. What can I do?

The greatest safety precaution you can take is to recognize the danger rip currents pose to swimmers. Lifeguard experts urge people to only swim at beaches staffed with lifeguards. The USLA has calculated the odds of a person drowning while swimming at a beach protected by USLA-affiliated lifeguards at 1 in 18 million.

The Town's Volunteer Fire Department established a Beach Safety Patrol in October 2008. However, Beach Safety Patrol members are not lifeguards, and they have not received training to make ocean rescues!

4. Can I check on rip current conditions beforehand?

Yes. A daily rip current outlook is posted online by the National Weather Service. When you reach the NOAA Surf Zone Forecast page, look under Atlantic and click Miami. Note: Lauderdale-By-The-Sea is included in the Coastal Broward forecast.

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1. How do I request public records?

Town records can be requested by calling the Town Clerk’s office at 954-640-4200.

You can also make a Public Records Request by filling out this online form.

2. What is the cost for copies?

The cost is $0.15 per page. The cost for a two-sided page is $0.20. 

For large document-request projects, you will be required to leave a deposit. You will also be charged for the staff-time necessary to process your request.

3. Where can I find RFPs or RFQs?

Please check our Procurement Solicitations page for information on Requests For Proposals, Invitations to Bid and Requests For Qualifications. 

4. Where are the meeting agendas?

The Town Commission’s agenda is available in Town Hall and on our Agenda Center the Friday before the meeting. Regular meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. Copies of the agenda, including the back-up material and documents, are also available during the meeting in Jarvis Hall. The Planning and Zoning Board and Board of Adjustment agenda are also posted to the Agenda Center before the meeting.

5. Can I speak at Town meetings?

Yes. Members of the public are also allowed to speak during the Public Comments section of the meeting. The Town Commission also holds public hearings on all proposed ordinances. Residents must sign up to speak beforehand. During Public Comments, any residents or member of the public can address the Town Commission for up to three minutes.

6. Can I serve on a Town Board?

Yes. The Town has two community boards and one committee that serve the Town. Board and Committee members serve two year terms. All appointments are made by the Town Commission. You can download the board application and send it to Town Hall. All applications must be submitted to the Town Clerk in Town Hall. Notices about vacancies are posted on the Town’s website, Comcast Cable Channel 78 and AT&T’s U-Verse Channel 99.

7. Where can I vote in Town?

The Town has two polling places:

Jarvis Hall (Precinct Q030)
4505 Ocean Drive (adjacent to Town Hall)
Lauderdale By The Sea, FL 33308

Assumption Catholic Church (Precinct Q031)
2001 S. Ocean Boulevard (across from Sea Watch Restaurant)
Lauderdale By The Sea, FL 33308

The polls are open on Election Day from 7 A.M.  to 7 P.M. Town elections are held in March every two years.

8. How can I register to vote?

Call the Broward County Supervisor of Elections at 954-357-7050 or visit their website. 

For new applications, you must register at least 29 days before the next election.

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1. When does the Town Commission meet?

The Town Commission generally meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at 6:30 P.M. in Jarvis Hall, 4505 N. Ocean Drive. Special meetings and workshops are scheduled on an as-needed basis. All Town Commission meeting agendas are posted in Town Hall and on the Town's Agenda Center.

2. Can the public attend Commission meetings?

Yes they can. The Town encourages residents to voice their concerns about how to make Lauderdale-By-The-Sea a better place to live and work.

3. Can I speak at Town Commission meetings?

Yes. The Town Commission holds public hearings on all proposed ordinances. Members of the public are also allowed to speak during the Public Comments portion of the meeting. Residents are asked to sign-up beforehand. During Public Comments, you can address the Commission for up to three minutes. The Commission does not answer questions during Public Comments, but will often ask the Town Manager to address them later in the meeting.

4. Does the Commission ever meet in private?

Yes. On rare occasions, the Town Commission will meet with the Town Attorney and Town Manager in private to discuss pending litigation or legal strategy. These Shade Sessions, which are allowed under Florida law, are announced beforehand publicly and are held after the Commission first opens the meeting in public.

5. Where can I find the meeting agenda?

All agendas are available in Town Hall on the Friday before the upcoming meeting. The agenda and back-up material is also posted on our Agenda Center. Copies of the agenda and related back-up material are also available in Jarvis Hall at the meeting.

6. How often are Town Commissioners elected?

Town Commissioners serve four-year terms. The Mayor's term is two years. Since Commission terms are staggered, the Town holds an election every two years, when the Mayor must also run. The Mayor and Commissioners are all elected at-large. Commissioners, however, run for specific seats and must reside in District 1 or District 2, which divide the Town’s voters into almost even north and south areas. Click here to view a map of District 1 and District 2. To qualify to run, you must reside in Town for at least six months before the election.