Fort Lauderdale: Keep gyms closed
City switches gears; county warns of fines
FORT LAUDERDALE – Gym owners in Fort Lauderdale could be risking fines of $15,000 a day if they decide to open, county officials warn.
Fort Lauderdale officials told gyms they could open on Monday but are now switching gears and advising them to stay closed until Broward County says they can get back to business.
Broward officials issued an order last week making it clear that they want gyms to remain closed until they say otherwise. Despite that, Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis signed an executive order Saturday night telling gyms in his city they were free to open.
Trantalis, a frequent gym-goer, cited an order by Gov. Ron DeSantis saying fitness centers across the state can open as long as they follow mandatory safety rules and operate at 50 percent capacity.
Broward Vice Mayor Steve Geller had a warning for any gyms that dared to open in violation of the county order: They can face fines of $15,000 a day.
With hefty fines in play, Trantalis is now reluctantly advising gyms to stay closed.
“It’s almost like they want to show who’s boss here,” he said of county officials.
On Monday, several gyms remained closed in Fort Lauderdale, though a few did open. An LA Fitness gym at the Harbor Shops on Southeast 17 Street stayed closed. So did the Powerhouse Gym at the Galleria Mall. But the Upload Fitness Club at Federal Highway and Sunrise Boulevard was open for business Monday through Wednesday.
Gyms that did open won’t have to worry about being fined just yet.
“We felt it would be unfair to fine them,” Geller said, citing the confusion stemming from the two competing orders.
County officials plan to send letters to gyms that opened advising them they are in violation of the county order and could be fined if they don’t close.
“We expect gyms to open sometime next week as long as they follow safety protocols,” Geller said. “We brought in a doctor [at Tuesday’s county meeting] who said gyms should require a 10-foot separation between machines or put up plastic separation or have people wear masks. All we are trying to do is follow safety protocols.”
Jonathan Larkin, owner of Upload Fitness, said he intends to stay open on Thursday.
“We’re advocates of fitness,” he said. “People build up their immunity system by working out. And we’re adhering to the mayor’s comments that gyms can stay open. If we hear differently, we may have to seek legal counsel.”
Trantalis said he plans to send out a newsletter telling gyms they need to close to avoid being fined.