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Record of Proceedings

Broward County Budget Workshop for Port Everglades and Airport – August 22, 2024

Upcoming and Archived Meetings — Thursday, August 22, 2024
BodyBroward County, Florida
SessionUpcoming and Archived Meetings
DateThursday, August 22, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:14:45

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:02

All right.

0:03

Okay.

0:04

We're gonna call our budget meeting to order.

0:08

I don't have a uh where's the nothing.

0:12

But you have a budget workshop.

0:14

No, with that, I didn't, they didn't get me.

0:18

Oh god.

0:19

All right.

0:20

Okay, that's it.

0:21

That's all they gave you.

0:23

That's it.

0:23

I thought there was something else.

0:26

Okay.

0:27

We're gonna call this budget workshop to order.

0:32

We're ready.

0:33

Okay.

0:35

Um so welcome everybody.

0:37

And um uh we have two agenda items today.

0:40

We have the Port Everglades and we have our airport.

0:44

So uh we'll turn it over to you right now, Madam Administrator.

0:48

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

0:49

And and so I really I wanted to change the agenda a little bit.

0:52

I thought maybe we could have it instead of the budget workshop for Port Everglades, we could just have an eighth welcoming reception for Joe for lunch.

1:01

That's my joke.

1:02

That was gonna be my opener.

1:03

All right.

1:04

Well and I gotta correct the record because his bonds weren't upgraded.

1:07

It was a hospital.

1:08

Yes, it was the convention center, but I was like, maybe there's something I missed.

1:12

I'm sorry, my bad.

1:13

No, all good.

1:14

But you know what?

1:15

We all reap the benefits because we're looking right at the site uh of that activity.

1:20

So thank you for this opportunity.

1:24

Um, you know, uh much of the successes that we have as an organization and that we get to enjoy um from our enterprise um activity is is really you know, the lion's share of the folks that are really behind this are behind us here as well and and at this table.

1:43

And I I really want to just commend and thank the team for an outstanding job.

1:47

And and Joe, uh Joe Morris, our CEO and Port Everglades director.

1:53

Not an eighth event.

1:55

We're good.

1:56

Welcome to Browning.

1:59

Thank you.

1:59

And uh thank you, Monica.

2:01

Uh mayor, vice mayor, members of the commission.

2:04

Uh it is great to be here.

2:06

And I do have some of my uh my key uh team here uh to support me, as I am uh, of course, getting familiar with all this, but I am fully behind the the recommended budget that we're putting forward.

2:19

Um we've got some great news out of the port, as I'm sure you all know.

2:23

Um so we'll walk you through that here today.

2:29

And across our big three, we have strong performances.

2:32

Um these big three make up roughly 75 percent of our operating revenues.

2:38

And in FY23, that accounted for 182 million dollars.

2:43

You know, this this diversity of business activity at our port gives us a great balance to remain fiscally healthy relative to other ports that typically have a single line of business.

2:55

This is something that differentiates us and gives us a a great uh a great portfolio to leverage uh in in cycles of downturn as as most ports saw uh during the uh 2020, 2020, 2021 years.

3:11

Uh we've got this great balance.

3:13

Uh in terms of cruise, you know, we are uh still the number three home port worldwide.

3:19

You know, our guests come to Broward County to begin and end their cruise experience with us, and we recognize that as a home port origin, our guests not only use our local hotels, restaurants, shops, our airport, and our other attractions, but we have an awesome responsibility to partner with our cruise lines to make their experience a positive one so that when they look for their next cruise, they're returning here to Port Everglades.

3:44

As the cruise industry continues to rebound, the multi-day passengers increased approximately 80 percent versus the fiscal year 22.

3:53

And our cruise lines continue to bring bigger ships, they're adjusting their itineraries uh to the current market trends, and what what that means is more of these three, four, five-day sailings uh to to tap into a new market of cruisers uh rather than the traditional seven, ten or even longer periods.

4:14

They remain high on growth forecasts, which we're gonna get into a little bit later in the presentation.

4:20

Uh also of importance is the daily passenger service, uh vital link for the Bahamas, nearly 115,000 passengers.

4:29

Um last year.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Port Management██████████████████████████████30%
Airport Management███████████████████19%
Public Transportation██████████████████18%
Public Safety█████████9%
Procedural████4%
Economic Development████4%
Engineering And Infrastructure████4%
Transportation Safety████4%
Workforce Development███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Broward County Budget Workshop for Port Everglades and Airport – August 22, 2024

The Broward County Commission held a budget workshop on August 22, 2024, to review the recommended Fiscal Year 2025 budgets for Port Everglades and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL). The workshop featured presentations from new Port Director Joe Morris and Airport Director Mark Gale, covering operational performance, revenue forecasts, capital improvement plans, and industry challenges. No votes were taken, but commissioners provided direction on several key issues.

Port Everglades Discussion Items

  • Port Director Joe Morris presented the FY25 budget, highlighting strong performance across the port's three main revenue sectors: cruise, cargo, and energy. These sectors comprise 75% of operating revenues ($182 million in FY23).
  • Cruise: Port Everglades remains the third-largest homeport worldwide. Multi-day passengers increased approximately 80% versus FY22. FY25 forecast is a record 4.4 million guests (18% growth over FY24). New cruise lines include Princess (Sun Princess, Oct 2024), Crystal Cruises, Silver Seas, and Ritz-Carlton (Ilma, Dec 2024). Disney will homeport a second ship beginning November 2025.
  • Cargo: The port is Florida's leading perishables port, with container throughput exceeding 1 million TEUs in FY23. Global container port efficiency ranking climbed from 89th to 65th (top 16% worldwide). CMA CGM added two new services connecting to Latin America.
  • Energy: The port supports one-third of Florida's fuel needs. Record 130 million barrels in FY23 (over 600 ship calls). Shore power implementation is progressing with a request for information closing next week, $850,000 state grant, $2.5 million from Diesel Emission Reduction Act, and a pending $127 million EPA Clean Ports grant.
  • Financials: FY25 operating revenue forecast $226 million (12% growth over FY24). The five-year capital improvement plan (CIP) totals $820 million, with $83.7 million in secured grants. Key projects include bulkhead replacements, terminal renovations (29 and 21), shore power, and a permanent facility for Balearia's Bahamas ferry service.
  • Master Plan: The port is directed to update its master vision plan every two to three years. Vice Mayor Lamont and Commissioner Geller questioned the frequency, noting industry standard is five years with updates. County Administrator Cepero indicated this may be revisited.
  • Challenges: The Queen Conch issue is affecting the sand bypass project and the long-term deepening project, causing delays. The Corps of Engineers submitted a biological assessment in May 2024; additional information requests are pending.

Airport (FLL) Discussion Items

  • Airport Director Mark Gale presented the FY25 budget, noting significant headwinds for low-cost carriers (Spirit, JetBlue, Southwest) which make up over 60% of FLL's market share. Issues include failed merger, Pratt & Whitney engine problems, Boeing delays, and liquidity challenges.
  • Passenger Traffic: FY24 forecast 17.85 million enplanements (1.5% below budget). FY25 budget projects 17.59 million (2.9% decrease from FY24 budget). FLL ranks 17th busiest in the U.S. and 12th for international traffic.
  • Financial Performance: Total operating revenue budgeted to decrease 3.9% vs FY24 budget; operating expenses increase 4.6%. Net revenue budgeted to decrease 25.3% due to use of $40 million in remaining ARPA funds to stabilize airline rates. Cost per enplanement drops to $8.84 (from $9.99). Landing fees decrease 8% to $1.83 per 1,000 lbs.
  • Parking: Proposed 20% increase in parking rates (currently $15/day, compared to Miami's $25). Rates have not been adjusted in 17 years.
  • Capital Plan: FY25 CIP is $134.6 million. Five-year total exceeds $3.2 billion, with $2.7 billion in bonds. Major projects: Intermodal Center (IMC) and Automated People Mover (APM). Environmental assessment comment period closed August 22, 2024; public workshop August 27, 2024. IMC estimated cost $835 million (escalating), APM $855 million. Completion targeted 2029-2030.
  • Signatory Agreement: The current residual-based agreement with airlines expires in 2026. Vice Mayor Lamont expressed concern that the agreement gives airlines too much control over capital decisions, slowing progress. He asked that the commission be involved in the decision to renew or move to a different model (e.g., compensatory). Airport Director Gale noted that options include a rates-by-regulation model (used by Tampa and Orlando) which removes airline approval for capital projects but places financial risk on the county. County Administrator Cepero agreed to bring an analysis to the commission.

Key Outcomes

  • Directives:
    • Commissioner Bogan requested regular updates on ACDBE (Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise) goals for Terminal 5 concessions.
    • Commissioner Fisher asked for continued progress updates on the I-595 bypass road (a public works project) and emphasized the importance of timely communication on issues.
    • Commissioner Geller and County Administrator Cepero discussed exploring a separate law enforcement agency for the airport and seaport, potentially as a combined port authority police force. A consultant may be hired to analyze options; commissioners will be kept informed.
    • Vice Mayor Lamont asked for updates on the IMC and APM timelines, and for the commission to be engaged on the airline agreement renewal decision.
  • No formal votes were taken. The workshop was informational, with final budget adoption scheduled for a later commission meeting (September 5, 2024, mentioned for port tariff increases).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comments were made during the workshop.

Meeting Transcript

All right. Okay. We're gonna call our budget meeting to order. I don't have a uh where's the nothing. But you have a budget workshop. No, with that, I didn't, they didn't get me. Oh god. All right. Okay, that's it. That's all they gave you. That's it. I thought there was something else. Okay. We're gonna call this budget workshop to order. We're ready. Okay. Um so welcome everybody. And um uh we have two agenda items today. We have the Port Everglades and we have our airport. So uh we'll turn it over to you right now, Madam Administrator. Thank you, Madam Mayor. And and so I really I wanted to change the agenda a little bit. I thought maybe we could have it instead of the budget workshop for Port Everglades, we could just have an eighth welcoming reception for Joe for lunch. That's my joke. That was gonna be my opener. All right. Well and I gotta correct the record because his bonds weren't upgraded. It was a hospital. Yes, it was the convention center, but I was like, maybe there's something I missed. I'm sorry, my bad. No, all good. But you know what? We all reap the benefits because we're looking right at the site uh of that activity. So thank you for this opportunity. Um, you know, uh much of the successes that we have as an organization and that we get to enjoy um from our enterprise um activity is is really you know, the lion's share of the folks that are really behind this are behind us here as well and and at this table. And I I really want to just commend and thank the team for an outstanding job. And and Joe, uh Joe Morris, our CEO and Port Everglades director. Not an eighth event. We're good. Welcome to Browning. Thank you. And uh thank you, Monica. Uh mayor, vice mayor, members of the commission. Uh it is great to be here. And I do have some of my uh my key uh team here uh to support me, as I am uh, of course, getting familiar with all this, but I am fully behind the the recommended budget that we're putting forward. Um we've got some great news out of the port, as I'm sure you all know. Um so we'll walk you through that here today. And across our big three, we have strong performances. Um these big three make up roughly 75 percent of our operating revenues. And in FY23, that accounted for 182 million dollars.

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