A year ago, a new County Commission was sworn into office. We began knowing the national, state and local economic recoveries were fragile at best. One could describe the state of the County as stable, but guarded.

In January, the Commission conducted a workshop on the Port Everglades Master Plan. The seaport is one of the County’s three economic engines, along with the Airport and the beach, the crown jewel of our tourism and hospitality industries.

February turned our focus to Tallahassee. We implored our (State Legislative) Delegation to resist further cost-shifting, user fees and unfunded mandates. We hosted a Tri-County Commission Meeting with Miami-Dade and Palm Beach County. We reached consensus on a number of regional issues.

March began our legislative offensives in Washington, D.C. and Tallahassee. We pursued funding for transportation, beach renourishment and seaport and airport capital projects. We were successful in retaining funding for the elderly, mental health and substance abuse programming, and child protection teams.

The County celebrated the grand re-opening of the $20.3 million Edgar P. Mills Multi-Purpose Center. The new Dania Beach Paul DeMaio Library opened.

The Commission adopted the “pill mills” ordinance (and) further implemented provisions of the County’s historic ethics code adopted in 2010.

Zero discrepancies were found by the FAA on the annual Part 139 Airport Certification at FLL, (for) the 13th consecutive year.

(With) financing in place for the new main courthouse, it was welcome news to learn the construction documents for this $270 million, 700,000-square-foot facility were completed. August saw the approval of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Florida East Coast Railway, LLC for the development of an intermodal container transfer facility at Port Everglades.

Development of the Fiscal Year 2012 budget (was) based upon an estimated property roll of $126.3 billion, a 2.8 percent decrease from Fiscal Year 2011. A flat Fiscal Year 2012 total millage rate of 5.553 would result in the County collecting approximately $20 million less in property taxes, for a cumulative reduction of $257 million since Fiscal Year 2007.

The amount of reductions in agencies (was) mitigated as a result of state mandated employee contributions to the Florida Retirement System. There would be no reductions in either mass transit/transportation or human services. The Libraries Division would be able to reopen six regional libraries on Sundays. Parks and Recreation will be able to reopen regional parks on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

The Commission adopt(ed) another first-of-its-kind ordinance, which would prohibit certain sales of smoking devices to minors (and) place other restrictions, obligations and penalties for business entities engaged in vending those products.

October 1 saw the dawn of a new fiscal year. The Commission voted to sponsor an “Annual Day of Caring” in conjunction with the United Way to benefit the Susan B. Anthony Center.

The Commission adopted a Code of Ethics for elected municipal officials and other specified individuals. By the end of October, the approval of an interlocal agreement for settlement with the City of Dania Beach over airport expansion and noise mitigation was reached.

I was honored to be part of the governor’s trade mission to Brazil and represent our County in this effort to solidify trade with our largest South American trading partner.

An ordinance was enacted requiring contractors seeking County contracts to provide health insurance benefits to domestic partners on the same basis as benefits for employees’ spouses.

As a result of this Commission’s collective strong leadership, the administration’s commitment to our visions and goals, our continued sound financial and budgeting practices, and a workforce dedicated to quality public services, we have weathered the depths of the great recession. We have shown by deeds, not rhetoric, that Broward County personifies “Our Best. Nothing Less.”

Thank you for the honor and opportunity to have served as your Broward County Mayor for 2010-2011.