Transportation Surtax Oversight Board Regular Meeting - May 2, 2025

The Transportation Surtax Oversight Board held its regular meeting on Friday, May 2, 2025, at 9:36 AM (agenda time 9:30 AM) at One North University Drive, Plantation, FL. The meeting included approval of minutes, a financial audit presentation, a funding conversion request, election of new officers, and several presentations on CBE goals, traffic management, the third amendment to the interlocal agreement, and federal and state legislative updates. The board also discussed non-agenda items including a performance audit status and a light rail project scope.

Consent Calendar

• Motion to approve the minutes of the February 28, 2025, Oversight Board meeting – approved unanimously.
• Motion to note for the record the FY 2024 Financial Audit of the Surtax Fund – approved unanimously after presentation by Scott Bassett and Ashli McIntyre of RSM. The audit showed revenues of $536 million against a budget of $500 million, with a fund balance of $781 million as of September 30, 2024.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were made during the general public comment period.
• Carl Kennedy from the City of Pembroke Pines was present to answer questions on the funding conversion request but did not provide a presentation.

Discussion Items

• Motion to Approve City of Pembroke Pines Funding Conversion: The board approved converting $132,938 from planning to design phase for municipal capital project PPIN-039. The city had covered planning costs themselves, and the design phase will now be funded with surtax dollars. Construction funding of $3.7 million is programmed for the next fiscal year.
• Selection of Chair and Vice Chair: Thea Pennett was nominated and unanimously elected as Chair. Debbie Madden was nominated and unanimously elected as Vice Chair. Outgoing Chair Doug Coolman and Alan Hoover were thanked for their service.
• Office of Economic & Small Business MAP Broward CBE Goal Attainment Update: Sandy-Michael McDonald presented that the program’s recommended 30% goal for CBE participation is often exceeded by commitments (e.g., one prime committed 61% and reached 100%). He highlighted $415 million of additional activity from reviewed projects as of September 2024, and upcoming training and the Broward & Beyond Business Conference on May 9, 2025. Board members praised the program’s success in engaging small businesses.
• Transportation Systems Management & Operations (TSM&O) Briefing: Alexandra Lopez, Kent Walia, and Lissy La Paix Puello from FDOT District 4 presented on incident management (80,000 assists in the past year), traffic management (1,400 signal timing changes), and the TSM&O master plan update. The plan identifies 85 projects over 300 miles, with a focus on safety, mobility, and reliability. Board members raised concerns about pedestrian safety and the need for multimodal considerations, particularly on arterials like Broward Boulevard.
• 3rd Amendment to the Transportation System Surtax Interlocal Agreement Overview: Nathaniel Klitsberg presented the restated ILA, which creates an annual formula-based allocation for cities based on centerline miles (first distribution of $30 million in FY 2026), a grant match program (up to 75% of local match), and allows use of surtax for rehab/maintenance, microtransit, and decorative elements up to standard cost. The amendment also eliminates the prohibition on using surtax to maintain surtax-funded projects and gives the oversight board authority to grant 90-day extensions for terminated cycle one projects. The Broward League of Cities and City Managers Association have expressed conceptual agreement. The ordinance change will be presented later.
• Federal Legislative & Discretionary Grant Update: Greg Burns (Thorn-Run Partners) reported on the Trump administration’s first 100 days, emphasis on tax reform (including potential elimination of tax-exempt municipal bonds), and the future of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (surface transportation programs expire September 2026). He noted a likely reduction in discretionary grant programs and transit funding, but expected most infrastructure law funds to be spent.
• State Legislative Update: Marty Cassini provided an update on the Florida legislative session, noting that HB 1221/SB 1664 (requiring eight-year referenda for local option surtaxes) did not pass. The state budget is still in negotiations, with a potential special session. Tri-Rail funding remains uncertain.

Key Outcomes

• All motions on the consent calendar and action items were approved unanimously.
• The board elected Thea Pennett as Chair and Debbie Madden as Vice Chair.
• The board received and noted all presentations; no formal votes were taken on presentation items.
• The board discussed sending a letter to the county commission regarding the light rail project scope (specifically the phrase “at grade where feasible”), but after clarification from county staff that the scope is not prescriptive and that all options will be studied, the board did not pursue the letter.
• The County Auditor’s Office reported that the performance audit of the surtax program will begin within 90 days and is expected to take several months.
• The board thanked outgoing Chair Doug Coolman for his service.

Non-Agenda Items

• Member Doug Coolman raised the status of the performance audit; the County Auditor’s Office confirmed it will start within 90 days.
• New staff introductions: Carol Munamera (project manager) and Douglas Gonzalez (attorney) were welcomed.
• Discussion on the light rail project (Airport-Seaport-Convention Center Connector) scope of work, with board member Randell expressing concern about “at grade where feasible” language. After explanation from Barney McCoy (Broward County Transit) and legal counsel, the board agreed not to intervene, noting the NEPA process will include public input and comprehensive analysis.

Next Steps

• The next meeting is the Surtax Oversight Board Budget Workshop on Friday, August 1, 2025, at 9:30 AM.
• An Oversight Board Training Workshop followed the regular meeting.