Broward Solid Waste Authority Executive Committee and Governing Board Meeting - July 20, 2026

The executive committee and governing board of the Broward Solid Waste Authority (SWA) convened on July 20, 2026, to discuss progress toward the second amendment of the interlocal agreement (ILA), education and outreach campaigns, C&D recycling ordinance updates, and financial status. The meeting included public comments, committee reports, and planning for the next phase of the master plan implementation.

Consent Calendar

• Meeting Minutes: Motion to approve the previous executive committee meeting minutes was made by Member Horland, seconded by Member Rydell, and passed unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Richard Ramchartar (speaking during both executive committee and governing board public comment): Encouraged all member cities to vote yes on the second amendment, emphasizing the benefits of regional collaboration—economies of scale, stronger purchasing power, coordinated planning, shared expertise, and greater financial stability. He urged Miramar and remaining cities to keep a seat at the table. In his second appearance, he called for transparent, data-driven decisions on costs, service levels, and implementation timelines, while noting that a zero-waste strategy should not shift costs unfairly onto residents.
• Stephanie Pearson (League of Women Voters): Thanked the committee for its dedication over the past eight years, from the Solid Waste Working Group to the present. She urged the few remaining cities to vote yes and encouraged all to participate, noting that a uniform countywide plan would reduce confusion and improve success.
• Unidentified Speaker: Thanked the committee for its hard work, highlighted the efforts of Commissioners Horland, Ryan, Fur, Dunn, and Mayor Bright Cruz, and praised the inclusion of citizen input.
• Linda Thompson Gonzalez (League of Women Voters, referenced): Wrote an op-ed in support of the authority, and her efforts were acknowledged.

Discussion Items

• Executive Director Update (Sam May): Reported that 79.2% of cities have approved the second amendment, with only four cities remaining—all scheduled to vote before the August 14 deadline. Expressed confidence in reaching the 80% threshold. Noted that planning for the RFP process has already begun, with an initial report expected at the August 21 meeting. Directed to begin preparing a draft budget for the 2026‑27 fiscal year, to be presented on August 21.
• C&D and Commercial Recycling Subcommittee Update: The subcommittee has paused work due to House Bill 803, which may preempt permit-based programs (like Lee County's). The county attorney's office is reviewing legal options. The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) will have a robust discussion at the next TAC meeting to decide whether to pivot to a direct haul ban.
• Education & Outreach Subcommittee Update (Haley Nicoletta, Conceptual Communications): Presented results of the "Put Waste in Its Place" campaign: over 10 million impressions across traditional and social media, a total reach of 38.3 million, and earned media value (AVE) exceeding $1 million. Over 1,000 pledges have been taken, with Plantation, Hollywood, and Fort Lauderdale leading. High school student representatives from American Heritage, Plantation, and Western High School wrote op-eds. The subcommittee is planning the next phase of messaging in anticipation of the master plan's approval.
• Financial Report (Colin Resnick, CPA): As of June 2026, SWA had cash and cash equivalents of $2,832,000, accounts receivable of $186,000, and net equity of $2,883,000. The audit for the second fiscal year is expected to receive a clean (unqualified) opinion. Sufficient liquidity exists to meet spending needs through September 2026.
• Future Governing Board Meeting: Chair Ryan proposed scheduling a governing board meeting on August 21, 2026, to coincide with the planned executive committee meeting, given the rapid pace of developments. Some members noted vacation conflicts, but the consensus was to proceed with the meeting and encourage alternates to attend.
• Member Horland requested adding an item to the September agenda to negotiate a contract extension for Executive Director Sam May, recognizing his role was not originally designed for the post-opt-out phase. The chair agreed.

Key Outcomes

• Directives: The executive director was directed to prepare a draft 2026‑27 budget for the August 21 meeting. The education subcommittee will continue developing the next phase of the campaign. The C&D subcommittee and TAC will assess HB 803's impact and provide a report.
• Agenda Items: A contract negotiation for the executive director was added to the September agenda.
• Meeting Schedule: A governing board meeting was scheduled for August 21, 2026, with proper notice to be sent.
• Votes: No formal votes were taken during the governing board portion due to lack of quorum. The executive committee motion on meeting minutes and consensus on the budget direction were approved.