BSO ANNOUNCES SOCIAL JUSTICE TASK FORCE The Broward Sheriff’s Office is proud to announce the creation of a social justice task force, designed to build long-lasting partnerships and beneficial relationships between BSO and the community.  The goal of the task force is to encourage mutual listening, learning and educating in order to address community challenges, achieve goals and improve the quality of life for the residents of Broward County. The task force will be comprised of BSO leaders serving alongside community stakeholders, religious leaders and grassroots leaders who have demonstrated a commitment to improving the community and helping identify and solve problems.  BSO also hopes to educate task force members about challenging topics by showcasing the realities of police work, like explaining de-escalation techniques and providing details about BSO’s commitment to the #8CANTWAIT policy recommendations.

"If You See Something, Say Something®" Awareness Report Suspicious Activity Broward County proudly supports Florida’s “If You See Something, Say Something®” (Florida See Say) Awareness Day on September 25th to help inspire, empower, and educate the public on suspicious activity reporting. The Florida See Say campaign raises public awareness of the indicators of terrorism and terrorism-related crime, as well as the importance of reporting suspicious activity to state and local law enforcement. Oakland Park residents and business owners can call 911 for emergencies or 954-764-4357 (HELP) to report non-emergency situations.

Only Twelve Days Left to Increase Census Count The Census response rate for Oakland Park has been steadily rising over the last few weeks, but there are still many households that have not yet completed the census. There are now only 12 days left to increase our response before the census closes September 30, 2020. Please complete the 2020 Census now, without delay, so millions of dollars in state and federal aid isn't left behind. Residents can visit my2020Census.gov or call 844-330-2020 to complete the Census now.

King Tides Anticipated Next Few Months Unusually high tides, called “King Tides” will occur now through December. Anticipated dates for King Tides are as follows: September 16 - 22; October 14 - 21; November 13 - 18; and December 13 - 15. King tides can cause flooding in low lying areas. Please review flood safety tips, evaluate your property’s readiness, and review your flood insurance policy. Avoid driving on flooded streets. Be aware of the timing of the high tides and how they may affect your travel plans. Note that tides may intensify mid-month during a new moon. If you experience flooding on your street, make sure storm drains are not blocked and remove trash and recycle carts as soon as possible once emptied, or wait until your next scheduled collection day to put them out.

In furtherance of these CDC Guidelines, Oakland Park’s dog park -- Oakland Bark Park -- remains closed until further notice. The CDC recommends that: Pet owners limit their pet’s interaction with people outside their household. Keep cats indoors when possible and do not let them roam freely outside. Walk dogs on a leash at least 6 feet (2 meters) away from others. Avoid public places where a large number of people gather. Do not put face coverings on pets. Covering a pet’s face could harm them. There is no evidence that the virus can spread to people from the skin, fur, or hair of pets. Do not wipe or bathe your pet with chemical disinfectants, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or any other products not approved for animal use. Talk to your veterinarian if your pet gets sick or if you have any concerns about your pet’s health.

Broward County Phase II Reopening Underway -- Broward County retains the ability to close certain activities, however, there is no change to how businesses currently operate during Phase 2 as existing Emergency Orders remain in effect. Reminder: Bars remained closed. Read the complete Broward County News Release here. COVID-19 Testing Site Open at Mills Pond Park -- The Florida Department of Health is operating a drive-thru COVID-19 testing site at Fort Lauderdale’s Mills Pond Park, located at 2201 NW 9 Avenue. The site offers free drive-thru testing Monday – Wednesday and Friday – Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The testing site will be closed on Thursdays and Sundays. Testing is available to anyone with or without COVID-19 symptoms. There are no age requirements and no doctor referral is needed. Appointments are not required. Patients will receive test results via text messaging. For more information, contact the Florida Department of Health in Broward County at 954-412-7300. To learn more about coronavirus testing in Broward County, click here. Facial Coverings: Not Optional in Broward -- ​While the number of positive COVID-19 cases continue to head in a favorable direction, it's important not to let down our guard as schools reopen and people feel more comfortable leaving their homes and patronizing more businesses. County code enforcement officers are actively issuing $100 fines for people seen violating the facial covering requirement. Residents are also reminded to avoid the "3 C's" – Closed Spaces, Crowded Places and Close-Contact Settings. Business violations can be reported anonymously online anytime to MyBroward.Broward.org or by calling 311 from 8 AM to 10 PM, seven days a week. Residents can see which businesses have been issued citations for non-compliance by visiting the Business Complaints Dashboard.  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Use of Cloth Face Coverings to Help Slow the Spread of COVID-19   Track the Virus: View the Florida Department of Health tracking map for current Coronavirus statistics for Florida and Broward County.

RECYCLE REMINDER: NO SHREDDED PAPER An eco-friendly option for disposing of shredded paper is to compost it. You can add shredded paper to your home compost pile or use it for mulch in the garden. Paper provides a carbon-rich source for your compost pile to help balance your carbon-to-nitrogen ratio. While most paper is fine to compost, you’ll want to avoid adding shredded paper if it’s glossy or heavily inked.

Learn About the Prospect Road 'Complete Streets' Project HERE.

The U.S. Census Bureau is ending all counting efforts for the 2020 census on September 30, a month earlier than previously announced. Please help the City of Oakland Park be accurately counted in the 2020 Census. Counting every neighbor in our City gives us an opportunity to receive our fair share of more than $1.5 trillion in federal funding for infrastructure, schools, housing, roads, healthcare, and public service programs. An accurate census count also provides critical funding for hospitals, disaster recovery, and emergency readiness for pandemics like COVID-19. Please respond to the 2020 Census today! Fill out and mail back the questionnaire sent to your home; complete the census form online www.my2020census.gov; or take the census over the phone by calling 1-844-330-2020.

2019-2020 City Commission Mayor Matthew Sparks Vice Mayor Jane F. Bolin Commissioner Michael E. Carn Commissioner Tim Lonergan Commissioner Sara Guevrekian

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