Broward County Commission Regular Meeting

A. MOTION TO APPROVE international travel on behalf of the Board of County Commissioners (“Board”) from June 8-17, 2019, for Vice-Mayor Dale V.C. Holness to attend the City of Fort Lauderdale’s business development mission to Israel.

ACTION:  (T-11:06 AM)  Approved.  The Board asked Vice-Mayor Holness to bring a report back to the Board related to benchmarks reached from the City of  Fort Lauderdale's Business Development Mission to Israel. (Refer to minutes for full discussion.)

VOTE:  9-0.  Commissioner Geller voted in the affirmative telephonically.
 
B. MOTION TO ACCEPT as a gift to the County expenses in connection with organized receptions and dinners, in-country transit, and organized tours paid for or otherwise provided by the City of Fort Lauderdale (“City”) as part of the City’s business development mission to Israel. (Vice-Mayor Holness)

ACTION:  (T-11:06 AM)  Approved.  (See Yellow-Sheeted Additional Material, dated April 9, 2019, submitted at the request of the Office of the County Attorney, as well as Vice-Mayor Holness.)  (Refer to minutes for full discussion.)

VOTE:  9-0.  Commissioner Geller voted in the affirmative telephonically.

Motion A: Board approval is required for County-funded travel outside of the continental United States.

Motion B: Board acceptance of the gift from the City of Fort Lauderdale is necessary due to gift restrictions contained in the County’s ethics code.

Motion A: Provides approval of travel arrangements for participation in the City of Fort Lauderdale’s business development mission to Israel.

Motion B: Approves acceptance of a gift to the County.

This item supports the Board's goal of increasing our on-going ability to increase the economy, rebuild our communities and sustain our low unemployment performance while serving to strengthen our ties with overseas interests and boosting Broward County and the South Florida economy. Broward County is the gateway to Latin America, the Caribbean and other world regions. With a competitive and strategically located air and sea port, with direct rail connectivity, Broward County enjoys unique advantages key to becoming a global hub for domestic and international trade opportunities.

Vice-Mayor Dale V.C. Holness will travel internationally on behalf of the Board of County Commissioners from June 8 - 17, 2019, for a mission and business development trip to Israel. While there, Vice-Mayor Holness will attend trade, agriculture, and manufacturing workshops, meet with elected officials and business owners, and attend cultural exhibitions and business conferences. Israel, a major international hub of innovation and technology, is a natural market for US goods. U.S. goods and services trade with Israel total an estimated $46.2 billion with the U.S. being Israel’s largest single trading partner.
 
During this business development trip, Vice-Mayor Holness will be able to promote the 2019 Broward County Florida International Trade and Cultural Expo (FITCE) scheduled for October 9 - 10, 2019 at the Greater Fort Lauderdale Broward County Convention Center, an annual County-sponsored event under the supervision of the Office of Economic and Small Business Development (OESBD). This trade mission and business development trip is to further encourage attendance at FITCE, boost Florida–Israel trade, and promote tourism and business development. 
 
The City has offered to pay for all of Vice-Mayor Holness’ organized meals, tours, and in-country transit expenses. The County Attorney’s Office does not consider the payment of such expenses by the City a gift to the Vice-Mayor but rather a gift to the County given the public purpose served by having Broward County represented at Fort Lauderdale’s business development mission to Israel. The County may accept gifts of up to $10,000 without formal board action; however, Motion B provides for formal County acceptance of the gift to address restrictions on gift acceptance contained in the County’s ethics code.

Heidi Richards, Chief of Staff, District 9, (954) 357-7009