Ever walk down Las Olas Boulevard and wonder why the trash cans are exactly where they are, or why the police response time in Victoria Park is what it is? Most people just look at the Mayor. They see the ribbon cuttings. They see the press conferences. But if you actually live here, you need to know that the Fort Lauderdale city manager is the person actually holding the keys to the $1 billion engine that keeps this "Venice of America" from sinking. Literally.
It's a weird job. Honestly, it's one of the most stressful gigs in Florida. You've got the political pressure of the City Commission on one side and the actual, boots-on-the-ground reality of public works, fire rescue, and crazy spring break crowds on the other. It’s basically being the CEO of a massive corporation where every single shareholder feels entitled to call you at 11:00 PM because a streetlamp is out.
Why the Fort Lauderdale City Manager Is Not Just an Administrator
The City of Fort Lauderdale operates under a commission-manager form of government. Think of it like a corporate board. The Mayor and the City Commission are the board of directors—they set the "vibes" and the big-picture policy. But they don't hire the janitors or negotiate the multi-million dollar construction contracts for the New River crossing. That falls on the city manager.
Greg Chavarria currently holds this mantle, having stepped into the role after a period of some serious transition for the city. He isn't just pushing paper. He’s overseeing over 2,500 employees. When the pipes burst—which, let’s be real, happens in Fort Lauderdale more than we'd like to admit—the buck stops with him.
The complexity is staggering. You aren't just managing a city; you're managing a global tourist destination that doubles in population during peak season. You're dealing with rising sea levels in a city that is basically a giant sponge. If the city manager messes up the budget, your property taxes don't just go up—the very infrastructure you drive on starts to fail. It’s high stakes, high pressure, and usually, it's a thankless job until something goes wrong.
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The Infrastructure Nightmare and the $1 Billion Question
Let's talk about the "sewage situation." It’s the elephant in the room whenever anyone discusses the Fort Lauderdale city manager and their performance. A few years back, the city dealt with a catastrophic series of pipe breaks that spilled millions of gallons of effluent into the waterways. It was a PR disaster and an environmental tragedy.
The current administration has been forced to play a massive game of catch-up. We are talking about a 10-year, nearly $1 billion Community Investment Plan.
- Replacing aging cast-iron pipes with HDPE (high-density polyethylene).
- Building the new Fiveash Water Treatment Plant—a project that costs hundreds of millions.
- Updating the stormwater systems in neighborhoods like Riverland and Edgewood that flood if someone even thinks about rain.
Chavarria and his team have to balance these "invisible" projects with the "visible" ones that residents actually want, like new parks or a revamped Lockhart Stadium site. It’s a constant tug-of-war for funding. If you spend too much on the pipes, the parks look like junk. If you spend too much on the parks, the pipes break. It's a brutal math problem that never ends.
The Politics of Getting Fired
One thing most people get wrong is thinking the city manager is a permanent fixture. They serve at the pleasure of the Commission. One bad election cycle where three new commissioners get voted in, and the city manager might be looking for a new job by Tuesday.
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We saw this with Lee Feldman back in 2018. He was a seasoned pro, but the political winds shifted. The commission decided they wanted a "new direction," and just like that, he was out. This creates a weird dynamic where the manager has to be a master diplomat. They have to tell a Commissioner "no" when a project is too expensive, but do it in a way that doesn't get them fired.
It’s a tightrope. Honestly, it's impressive anyone wants the job. You have to be part engineer, part accountant, and part psychologist.
What's Actually on the Desk Right Now?
If you were to walk into the manager's office at City Hall today, you’d see a few massive headaches on the whiteboard.
First: Affordable Housing. Fort Lauderdale is becoming a playground for the ultra-wealthy. The people who actually run the city—the teachers, the cops, the nurses—can’t afford to live here anymore. The city manager is tasked with finding ways to incentivize developers to build "workforce housing" without pissing off the neighbors who hate high-rises. It's a "Not In My Backyard" (NIMBY) minefield.
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Second: The Tunnel vs. The Bridge.
The Florida Department of Transportation and the city have been arguing for years about how to get the Brightline and FEC trains over (or under) the New River. A bridge is cheaper but ruins the view and blocks boats. A tunnel is insanely expensive but keeps the "yachting capital" vibe alive. The city manager is the lead negotiator in these rooms, trying to protect the city's interests against state and federal giants.
Third: Public Safety and Homelessness.
The city has faced legal challenges regarding how it handles the unhoused population, specifically in parks like Stranahan. The city manager has to navigate federal court rulings while also answering to business owners who say the situation is hurting their bottom line. There is no easy win here. Every move is scrutinized by the ACLU on one side and the Chamber of Commerce on the other.
How to Actually Get Involved (Instead of Just Complaining)
Most people wait until their street is flooded to care about who the Fort Lauderdale city manager is. Don't be that person.
The city budget is public. You can literally go online and see where every cent is going. The "Neighbor Support" meetings are where the real work happens. If you want to influence how the city is run, you don't talk to the Mayor at a gala; you go to the budget hearings and talk to the assistant city managers who actually oversee the departments.
Actionable Steps for Fort Lauderdale Residents:
- Track the "FixIt FTL" App: This is the direct line to the manager’s staff. If you report a pothole and it isn't fixed in 48 hours, that’s a data point you can take to the Commission.
- Attend the Pre-Commission Meetings: This is where the city manager briefs the commissioners. The real "why" behind decisions is revealed here, away from the grandstanding of the evening televised meetings.
- Read the CAFR: The Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. It’s a snoozefest, sure, but if you want to know if the city is actually going broke or if they're sitting on a rainy-day fund, it’s all in there.
- Volunteer for a Board: The city has dozens of advisory boards (Planning & Zoning, Marine Advisory, etc.). These boards make recommendations directly to the city manager's office. It’s the most direct way to have a seat at the table without running for office.
Fort Lauderdale is at a crossroads. We’re moving from being a sleepy spring break town to a legitimate global city. The person sitting in the city manager's chair is the one who decides if that transition is a success or a chaotic mess. It’s about more than just picking up the trash; it’s about engineering the future of a city that lives and breathes on the water. Stay informed, because the decisions made in that office on the 8th floor of City Hall affect your property value more than anything happening in Washington D.C. right now.