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Mayor Michelle J. Gomez delivered a forward-looking State of the City address on March 26, celebrating the City of Tamarac’s economic growth, enhanced public safety, and bold capital investments that reflect a “thriving, vibrant, and viable” community on the rise.

Speaking before city commissioners, residents, business leaders, and local dignitaries, Gomez opened with a message of seasonal renewal and transformation, aligning Tamarac’s progress with the blooming promise of spring.

“Just as spring brings new beginnings, the results of seeds carefully planted in seasons past are blooming,” said Gomez. “Likewise, as we look around our city today, we are seeing past initiatives already in bloom.”

Real Estate

Tamarac’s real estate market was a central highlight of Gomez’s speech, with property values rising by nearly 178% over the past decade — an average 11% annual increase. The city’s homeownership rate stands at 66%, above the national average, and the population has grown by 11.8% since 2018.

Public Safety

A key theme was Tamarac’s commitment to public safety. The city saw a 13.8% drop in crime in 2024, which Gomez attributed to the efforts of the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO), code enforcement, and Tamarac Fire Rescue. The city’s 2025 budget allocates $1.7 million toward public safety, including the addition of nine new BSO officers and 11 firefighters.

Among the year’s accolades: Tamarac Fire Rescue’s ALS Competition Team won back-to-back Florida Cup titles, and the BSO Alpha Gold Shift earned a unit achievement award for crime reduction. The city also launched its first automated license plate reader program with 36 cameras, funded through law enforcement trust funds.

Parks

Mayor Gomez unveiled major improvements to the city’s parks system, including the future Sable Palm Park, an 8-acre development featuring a 6,000-square-foot covered playground, splash pad, multi-purpose trails, and a dog park. Construction is also planned or underway at Tamarac Park, Caporella Park, and the Westside Dog Park.

Colony West Golf Club will undergo a multimillion-dollar renovation to its 18-hole executive Blades Course, which will include upgraded irrigation, redesigned greens, and improved paths and bunkers. Construction is scheduled for spring 2026.

Commercial Development

Tamarac is also undergoing a commercial and residential renaissance. The Woodlands redevelopment will add 335 homes and 160 acres of open space. Mixed-use developments at Tamarac Village and 7200 N. University Drive are in the pipeline.

Several shopping plazas are undergoing multi-million-dollar makeovers, including McNab Plaza ($3.9 million), University Shops ($450,000), and Three Lakes Plaza ($2 million). The old Trapeze Plaza at 3650 W. Commercial Blvd. is also being transformed into a new mixed-use development with a $2.7 million investment.

A standout redevelopment project is the Patina Collective, a world-class Mercedes-Benz museum on State Road 7 housing more than $100 million in rare vehicles. Also on the corridor: Specialty Automotive Treatments is completing a $2 million renovation, and CitiBank is set to move into the former Boston Market location.

Schools

Gomez celebrated the city’s continued support of local schools, noting that Millennium 6–12 Collegiate Academy achieved a 100% graduation rate and Boyd Anderson High School earned its highest school grade in 30 years. The Tamarac Scholar Program, funded in part by Waste Management, awarded up to $2,500 each to 45 residents pursuing college or trade school.

Healthcare

In healthcare, HCA Florida Woodmont Hospital has invested nearly $60 million in improvements, including a new progressive care unit, upgraded MRI suite, and a cardiac catheterization lab opening later this year.

Other Notable Mentions

Tamarac earned Tree City USA recognition for the 32nd consecutive year and is expanding sustainability initiatives with Waste Management to create a citywide green strategy.

The city is also investing in smart infrastructure, including a $9 million advanced metering system to monitor water usage in real-time and a $25 million state-of-the-art water treatment plant. A $14 million water distribution project will bring the entire city onto Tamarac’s own water system by fall 2027.

Tamarac received $4.9 million in state and federal grants in 2024 for projects related to parks, safety, infrastructure, and affordable housing. The city also earned a number of prestigious recognitions, including:

The CentralSquare 2024 Citizens Experience Award for Information Technology
GFOA Award for Excellence in Financial Reporting
Florida League of Mayors Innovation Award for the SHINE Tamarac Campaign
IAS accreditation for the Building Department — the only one in Broward County

With Tamarac’s population projected to reach 100,000 by 2040, Mayor Gomez said the city’s comprehensive plan will guide future growth while preserving its charm.

“Change is inevitable, but growth is intentional,” Gomez said, quoting leadership author John C. Maxwell. “By continuing to build new partnerships and delivering exceptional service, we strengthen our promise to be the city for your life.”

The mayor closed her speech with a call to dream big together. “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams,” she said, quoting Eleanor Roosevelt. “Let’s dream big — together.”

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Sharon Aron Baron

Sharon Aron Baron is the Editor of Tamarac Talk, Coral Springs Talk, Margate Talk, Coconut Creek Talk and Parkland Talk. Tamarac Talk was created in 2011 to provide News for the residents of Tamarac and is the #1 News Source for Residents.