I am delighted to share the new and exciting initiatives in Oakland Park! Our community has a lot to be proud of with our upcoming Oktoberfest and BSO’s National Night Out to the Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast and the popular Trunk or Treat. Our community events are always a hit, but there are other changes in our city operations that create an impact.

Taking Care of Our Environment

For the first time ever, our city has included a new position – Environmental and Sustainability Manager who will listen across all the city departments to coordinate green efforts and focus on planning for climate change in a comprehensive manner. This is a huge step by our city to put action behind our Climate Action Plan and to implement across the city departments. It is my personal desire to see our city events and our day to day operations be the example and eliminate single-use plastics and waste. Recycling is important, but with the change in how recycling works as an industry, the bottom line is we need to change our habits. We need to reduce and reuse and then the last option is to recycle. It’s about impacting what you can in your own life. It’s choosing #youronething that will change the impact on our Mother Earth.

We Want Your Voice to Be Heard!

A city is a combination of many voices – the residents, our businesses, the environment, and our guests! I am delighted to announce two new services that will make doing business in Oakland Park even easier. The city will have a new business concierge permitting service that will provide improved communication with the business community and establish dedicated staff liaisons as a “concierge” to assist businesses in navigating the planning, permitting, and licensing process.

Next up, a small business support liaison. This person will work along with the city’s CRA staff to educate the local business community about licensing and permitting. In addition, the external community business consultant will coordinate quarterly educational forums to educate and support our businesses. To top it all off the CRA will be announcing a new website that will elevate our city’s brand.

There is a lot happening in Oakland Park! Residents are the eyes and the ears on the streets. Please communicate with me and my fellow Commissioners. We appreciate all the communications! (And if we have different points of view that is okay. It is the differences that create the great fabric of Democracy.)

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About the Author

Jane Bolin is a City Commissioner in Oakland Park. Originally from the Washington, D.C. area, Jane focuses on the practice of association law and real property litigation at PeytonBolin. She received a B.A. in political science from Radford University, Master’s Degree in sports management from the United States Sports Academy, and her Juris Doctorate from St. Thomas University School of Law. Jane was adjunct faculty for St. Thomas University School of Law and taught law practice management. 

She is heavily involved with community charities and currently serves as Secretary of the Board of Directors for the Children’s Diagnostic and Treatment Center and is the Area Director of the South region for Entrepreneur’s Organization. Previously, Jane served on the boards of Girl Choir South Florida, Entrepreneurs’ Organization of South Florida, EO of Tampa Bay, Asian Pacific American Bar Association of South Florida, Khushi Hona and the Florida Rugby Union.

Jane is the author of Mastering the Business of Your Association and speaks to a variety of professional associations throughout the state about association law, real estate and entrepreneurship. In her free time, she is a productivity coach for Townsend Consulting Group, paid speaker and team facilitator.