Broward County Budget 2011 Information Available Online

Residents can access information for the County’s fiscal year 2011 budget online at www.broward.org/budget. The Web site includes most frequently asked questions and answers, a review of the budget process and more. Public hearings offering opportunity for the public to comment on the budget will be held on September 14 and September 28, 2010, at 5:01 p.m. in Room 422 of the Broward County Governmental Center, 115 S. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale. Hearings will also be televised on participating cable channels and Webcast live on www.broward.org.

Broward County Commission on Recess until August

Newly Remodeled Splash Adventure Water Park at Quiet Waters Reopens

Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach has announced the reopening of Splash Adventure. Admission remains at $4.50 per person per session. Summer hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5:20 p.m. Splash Adventure is located in Quiet Waters Park, 401 S. Powerline Road, Deerfield Beach. For further information, call the park at 954-357-5100. The park is accessible via Broward County Transit Routes No. 14 and No. 48.

“Know the Flow” Presentation Available for Associations

The Natural Resources Planning and Management Division offers a free, fun and informative, 20-minute “Know the Flow” presentation to homeowner associations that teaches residents how to save money, save water and “go green.” All attendees receive prizes. To schedule a presentation for your group, contact Asif Ali at 954-519-1222 or email aali@broward.org.

Broward’s Beaches are Still Beautiful

For 10 years, five of Broward’s beaches − Hollywood, Dania Beach, Deerfield Beach, Pompano Beach and Fort Lauderdale − have been continuously recognized as Blue Wave Beaches, some of the cleanest, safest and most user-friendly beaches in the country certified by the Clean Beaches Council of Washington, D.C. The Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau encourages County residents and guests to observe the Seven Blue Wave Ethics:

1. Leave no trace (what you carry in, carry out)
2. Move your body (walk, run or swim)
3. Don’t tread the dunes (use a walkover or walk-thru)
4. Know your limits (swim, surf and boat safely)
5. You are what you eat (eat healthy seafood)
6. Feed your mind (read a book)
7. Respect the ocean (riptides, storms)

TSA Launches Advanced Imaging Technology at FLL

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently began using the first Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) unit at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL). AIT safely screens passengers for metallic and nonmetallic threats, including explosives, without physical contact to keep the traveling public safe. FLL becomes the 27th airport in the country and the fourth in Florida to deploy AITs. For more information, visit www.broward.org/airport.

Hurricane Safety Tips For Owners of Small and Large Animals

Hurricane season is here and Broward County Animal Care and Regulation reminds all residents to prepare to safeguard their pets and large animals before, during and after a hurricane. For more information regarding pet and large animal preparedness, contact Broward County Animal Care at 954-359-1010 or visit www.broward.org/animal.

It’s Everything Red, White and Blue for July 365 Food Drive

Broward County’s yearlong 365 Food Drive continues through the month of July with a focus on packaged and boxed food in red, white and blue in honor of Independence Day. Visit any of the 12 collection sites across the County to donate your favorite non-perishable food items. Small toiletry items are also appreciated. For a complete list of donation sites, visit www.broward.org/fooddrive.

Extension Education’s Master Gardeners Receive Award

Florida Master Gardeners of Broward County, a program of the Parks and Recreation Division’s Extension Education Section, recently received a special Appreciation Award from the Professional Development and Training Division of Broward College Human Resources. The award was given to acknowledge that the Master Gardeners had delivered Florida-Friendly Living (FFL) programs to 250 professional technical staff members at the college. FFL programs use science-based information to teach how to reduce solid waste, water, pesticide, and fertilizer use while enjoying energy cost savings, recycling products, and Enviro-Shopping. The Master Gardeners also discussed the need to encourage native and migratory wildlife, such as birds and butterflies, when landscaping common areas and homes; to broaden and improve the sustainability of our urban forest canopy to more efficiently sequester and store carbon; and to reduce our individual and communities’ respective carbon footprints.

During Fiscal Year 2009, trained Master Gardener volunteers donated nearly 25,000 hours, the equivalent of 14 full-time employees, and served more than 72,000 Broward residents by e-mail, telephone, and in person at the Extension office and through 609 educational programs presented in 28 Broward County cities. To schedule a presentation about the Master Gardeners, to become a volunteer or learn about other Urban Horticulture programs in Broward County, contact Dr. John Pipoly at: jpipoly@broward.org.

Broward County Library to Present Free Teen Computer Camp

County teenagers, ages 12-18, are invited to register for a free five-day computer program learning to create, edit and manipulate digital images using Photoshop software application.

Dates for the program, to be held in the computer technology center at the African American Research Library and Cultural Center, 2650 N.W. Sistrunk Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, are: Tuesday, July 27; Thursday, July 29; Tuesday, August 3; Thursday, August 5; and Tuesday, August 10. All classes begin at 4 p.m. Space is limited; call Eric Gomez at 954-625-2800 to register.

County Government Operates Toward a Greener Future

A recently released environmental progress report finds that Broward County government exceeded its annual reduction goal of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2009 with an estimated reduction of 8,130 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (eCO2) from 2008 levels. This exceeds the reduction target of 6,826 tonnes per year established by the Broward County Climate Change Government Operations Workgroup.

The County’s goal is to reduce government operations GHG emissions by 7 percent below the 1997 baseline. The target date to achieve that goal is 2015. In order to accomplish that target, the County must reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 6,826 tonnes per year. For more information about Broward County’s climate change initiatives, visit www.broward.org/climatechange.

Mortgage Credit Certificate Program Provides Tax Relief

The Housing Finance Authority of Broward County has launched a 2010 Mortgage Credit Certificate Program to help reduce home loan financing costs for qualified homeowners in Broward County.

The Mortgage Credit Certificate program entitles qualified applicants to a federal income tax credit in an amount of up to $2,000 annually. This enables qualified owners or buyers, who owe federal income taxes, to benefit from a dollar-for-dollar reduction of their tax bills. Additionally the homeowner will continue to receive the tax credit each year they continue to live in the home financed under the program. For more information on the program, visit www.broward.org/housing and select MORTGAGE CREDIT under Homebuyer Services, or contact the Housing Finance Authority of Broward County, at 954-357-4900.

Community Update, a monthly newsletter from the Board of County Commissioners, is produced by the Office of Public Communications. Address questions concerning articles to 954-357-6990. To receive Community Update electronically, send an email to publicinfo@broward.org. Please include your first and last name and email address. Hearing impaired residents can call the TTY line at 954-831-3940 for additional information.