Broward County Commission Organizational Meeting - November 18, 2025
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Broward County Commission Organizational Meeting - November 18, 2025
The Broward County Board of County Commissioners held its annual reorganizational meeting on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, beginning at 10:17 AM and adjourning at 11:39 AM. The meeting included the State of the County address, election of a new Mayor and Vice-Mayor, approval of the consent agenda, and several reports and announcements. All nine commissioners were present: Vice-Mayor Mark D. Bogen, Commissioner Lamar P. Fisher, Mayor Beam Furr, Commissioner Steve Geller, Commissioner Robert McKinzie, Commissioner Nan H. Rich, Commissioner Hazelle P. Rogers, Commissioner Alexandra P. Davis, and Commissioner Michael Udine.
Consent Calendar
- Item 2: Motion to approve the Broward County Board of County Commissioners’ meeting schedule for calendar year 2026. Approved unanimously (9-0).
- Item 3: Motion to amend the meeting calendar to reflect changes to the December schedule. Approved unanimously (9-0).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Steve Sachs (former MLB player): Testified that the Broward Heart Project’s free heart scan saved his life. He was asymptomatic but found to have 95–99% blockage in four major arteries, requiring a quadruple bypass. He thanked the commission for funding the program.
- Barry and Amy Smith (via video): Barry Smith stated that while their hearts were fine, the scan found a spot on his wife’s lung that turned out to be stage 1 lung cancer. She is now cancer-free. They urged others to get the scan.
Discussion Items
- State of the County Address (Outgoing Mayor Furr): Delivered a speech highlighting challenges (federal and state pressures, DOGE audit request, impacts on tourism) and successes (new convention center, record cruise passenger numbers, sand bypass project, tri-county transit interoperability, solid waste master plan). He emphasized Broward’s resilience and strong metrics (low unemployment, high bond rating, wage growth).
- Election of Mayor: Commissioner Fisher nominated Vice-Mayor Mark Bogen. Seconded. Voted 9-0. Mayor Bogen was sworn in by his brother, Dr. Steve Bogen.
- Election of Vice-Mayor: Mayor Bogen nominated Commissioner Robert McKinzie. Seconded. Voted 9-0. Vice-Mayor McKinzie was sworn in.
- Mayor Bogen's Announcements:
- Broward Heart Project: Announced a $1 million donation over five years from the Florida Panthers Foundation (Viola family) to continue free heart scans. Also noted a new contract with Cleveland Clinic to lead the program. Reported that 7,000 asymptomatic people were scanned; 4,000 needed medical intervention (medication, stents, open-heart surgery) and 350 had other issues found (e.g., lung cancer).
- Bread Promise: A new initiative where for $5, a loaf of fresh bread is delivered to homeless shelters and food pantries in Broward County. Mayor Bogen committed 100 loaves/month; the bakery will match that. Website: breadpromise.com. All funds go directly to the nonprofit (Broward Partnership for the Homeless) and then to the bakery; no administrative fees.
- Broward Business Council: Announced creation of a quarterly council to gather input from the business community, partnering with Tim Petrillo (Workshop), Bob Swindell (Alliance), and Dan Lindblade (Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber).
- County Administrator’s Report (Monica Cepero): Congratulated new Mayor and Vice-Mayor. Announced that CEO/Aviation Director Mark Gale received the Ultimate CEO award from the South Florida Business Journal.
- Mayor and Commissioner Reports:
- Board appointments: Mayor Bogen submitted a list of potential board appointments for commissioners to review and indicate interest.
- Birthday recognition: Mayor Bogen led the commission in singing “Happy Birthday” to Commissioner Fisher (birthday November 19).
- Triathlon: Mayor Bogen noted he would discuss the “No Sweat Triathlon” at the next meeting.
Key Outcomes
- Mayor Elected: Mark Bogen elected Mayor for a one-year term (9-0 vote).
- Vice-Mayor Elected: Robert McKinzie elected Vice-Mayor for a one-year term (9-0 vote).
- Consent Agenda Approved: Items 1–3 (board appointments – none, meeting schedule, calendar amendment) passed unanimously.
- Broward Heart Project: Received $1 million pledge from Florida Panthers Foundation; new partnership with Cleveland Clinic.
- Bread Promise: Launched; website active; administrative structure set with Broward Partnership for the Homeless.
- Broward Business Council: To be established with quarterly meetings; first meeting to be scheduled.
- Next Meeting: Mayor Bogen indicated he will announce additional items at the next regular meeting.
Meeting Transcript
Meeting of the Broward County Commission is about to begin. Will all audience members please silence your cell phones? For those viewing from home or on mobile devices. County commission meetings are open to the public. Everybody could uh have their seat. We're gonna go ahead and get started. Can't hear it all. Okay, good morning, everybody. So can hear? If everybody could have a seat, then we can get started. All right. Good morning. This is the Brown County Board of County Commissioners meeting of Tuesday, November eighteenth, twenty-five, twenty twenty-five. If you all please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance and remove your hats as a pledge. And I'm gonna ask this to be led by my brother and sister. Luke and T. I pledge allegiance to the flags of America. If you would remain standing, please. Colleagues, does anyone have someone that you'd wish to remember? Commissioner Rogers. She doesn't live here in Brown County, but she's family, and she passed away in New Jersey. So I'd like to ensure that my cousins are doing well under the circumstances. And may she rest in peace. And let us honor all the brave men and women who have served and continue to serve in our armed forces, both here and abroad, and thank them for their service. We'll take a moment of silence. Thank you. Please take your seat. I want to welcome everybody to the meeting today. Today's a big day, our annual reorganizational meeting. This will be a little shorter as a re-org meeting than usual because no commissioners are being sworn in. So this is gonna be a pretty short meeting. And do I do we have a list of the guests? That would be good. That would be good to have. I know, exactly. Okay. Um I want to uh recognize Brenda Foreman, Clerk of the County. Marty Keir, property players. Carol Shoeham from City Hollywood, Commissioner Song. And Josh Rydell from the city of Coconut Creek. Oh, and Sandy Welch, I'm sorry. I just talked with Sandy. And Sandy Wells from the City of Coconut Creek. Commissioner Smith, thank you. Cooper City. Um with that, the music was there anybody else from Cooper City. Who from Cooper? Or Jason Smith from Cooper City. Oh, and Jason Smith, okay. Thank you.
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