Broward County Solid Waste Authority Meetings - August 25, 2026
Broward County Solid Waste Authority Executive Committee and Governing Board Meeting - August 25, 2026
The Broward County Solid Waste Authority held a joint meeting of its Executive Committee and Governing Board on August 25, 2026 to celebrate the passage of the Solid Waste and Recyclable Materials Master Plan and to begin the implementation phase. The meeting included discussions on the RFP process, the draft FY26-27 budget, public comments, committee updates, and the election to fill a vacancy on the Executive Committee. The Executive Director's employment agreement was amended and extended.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the meeting minutes from July 17, 2026, by voice vote with no opposition.
Public Comments & Testimony
- John Casagrande (Coastal Waste Recycling) congratulated the Authority and urged the inclusion of industry in the RFP workshops, emphasizing that the success of the project depends on a partnership and logistics.
- Richard Ramcharatar (Broward Cleaner / Abbey and Associates) presented a zero-waste master plan from Miami-Dade County and asked the Authority to create a zero-waste circular economy subcommittee and adopt a resource management pledge. He stressed the need for education and outreach to achieve Florida's 75% diversion goal by 2030.
- Stephanie Joe (public) thanked the board and asked for continued public involvement, expansion of food waste composting drop-off at eight hazardoous waste sites, and immediate study of education methods for composting. She also suggested community refrigerators at fire/police stations.
Discussion Items
- Chair's Opening Remarks: Chair Ryan and Vice Chair Furr lauded the collaborative effort over the past decade, calling the approved Master Plan transformational for Broward County. They emphasized that implementation is now the priority.
- Executive Director's Report: Sam (Executive Director) acknowledged the milestone achieved on August 14 but stated the team is already focused on developing RFPs, securing contracts, and advancing education and C&D ordinances.
- First Amendment to Employment Agreement: The Executive Committee approved an amendment extending the Executive Director's contract indefinitely, increasing salary by 3% to $309,000 (from $300,000) plus a $15,000 performance bonus (total $324,000). The compensation subsumes all benefits. Motion passed unanimously with 8 yes votes (Member Shoeham, Dunn, etc.).
- Extension of SCS Consulting Agreement: Approved change order no. 2 extending two tasks (C&D/commercial recycling and Master Plan implementation support) with no financial impact, pushing completion to September 30, 2026. Motion passed by voice vote.
- RFP Process Overview: Daniel (SCS) outlined that three parallel RFPs will be developed for yard trash, recyclable materials, and ultimate disposal. A detailed schedule with policy decisions will be presented in September. Chair Ryan requested an outline circulated 10 days before the September meeting to seek early input from members and industry.
- Draft FY26-27 Budget Presentation: Alex (accountant) presented revenues of $1.969 million and planned expenses of $3.284 million (SCS $1.335M 40%, compensation $483K 15%, education/outreach $1M 30%). The deficit of approximately $1.315 million will be covered by beginning reserves of $2.149 million, leaving an estimated $834,000 at year-end. Member Horland noted the Executive Director salary should be $309K + $15K = $324K. The budget will be finalized in September.
- C&D and Commercial Recycling Subcommittee: Member Mead reported that industry and construction sector involvement is needed; a county ordinance for C&D was passed. The subcommittee awaits legal updates.
- Education & Outreach Subcommittee: Member Dunn thanked the committee and consultant Conceptual PR for their work on the "yes" campaign. A robust budget and strategy will be presented in September, including school curriculum integration.
- Executive Committee Vacancy: Member Sarah (Coral Springs) requested postponing the election to fill the large-city vacancy (due to Nancy Matea's passing) from September to October due to conflicts. The chair and Vice Chair supported the delay; the Governing Board will consider a motion to move the vote to October. The seat will also be an alternate vacancy.
- Governing Board Discussion on RFP Impacts: Members raised concerns about aligning city contracts with RFP requirements (e.g., source separation of yard waste, collection contracts). Patterson asked about impacts on existing hauler agreements and contract compliance. Chair Ryan stressed immediate engagement with city managers and staff, not just TAC. Vice Chair Furr highlighted the urgency of the December 2026 deadline for organic waste disposal changes and the need for cities to plan fleet purchases.
- Financial Report: Cone Resdick reported cash and equivalents of $2.732 million, receivables of $140,000, and net equity of $2.719 million as of July 2026. Sufficient liquidity exists through September 2026.
Key Outcomes
- Executive Director Amendment Approved: extended contract, salary $324,000 (including $15K performance bonus), no benefits provided. Motion passed unanimously.
- SCS Extension Approved: two tasks extended to Sept 30, 2026, no cost change. Voice vote passed.
- RFP Timeline Set: SCS will deliver detailed implementation schedule and policy options by September meeting; industry days and workshops planned.
- Budget Deliberation Continues: Final budget vote scheduled for September Governing Board meeting; education/outreach budget to be detailed.
- Vacancy Election Postponed: The election to fill the Executive Committee large-city vacancy will be moved from September to October 16, subject to formal motion at the September Governing Board meeting. Coral Springs will be represented by an alternate in the interim.
- City Engagement Directed: Executive Director and SCS will individually contact all member cities through City Managers to gather correct data and discuss collection contract implications. Chair urged immediate staff involvement.
- Technology and Infrastructure: Discussions highlighted need to study source separation for yard waste and potential mandates; the county is considering an unsolicited proposal from Filthy Organics for yard waste processing with 20-year term, which requires guidance from the Solid Waste Authority. A formal discussion will be placed on the September agenda.
Meeting Transcript
All right, we're gonna get started here. I can just have everybody uh Sierra Club. It's all the excitement. All right, let's just wait for Vice Chair. Yeah. All right, we call toward the executive committee meeting of August twenty first, twenty twenty six. If you would at least please call the role. Chair Ryan President. Vice Chair Fur. He's here. Member Shoeham. Member Horland. Member Dan. Here. Member Idell. Here. Member Mead. Here. Member Cajano. Member AJ Ryan. Member Scott Newton. Here. Member Cindy Murphy Salomone. Member, right, Chris? For the governing board. Yeah, thank you. Senator Gallery. Ah, look at that. Member Bauman. All right. If you would please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. And Carol Shoeham's here. Carol. Pledge of allegiance. Which is all right. Make sure we uh acknowledge that uh member Shoeham is also online. All right. Uh as we begin today, we come out of the shadow of a lot of work that was done to get us to the point that we continue to exist. This effort has been a this has been a team effort, and it has been the product of the work of so many in the community as well as the members around this board. Both the executive committee and the governing board have been called upon to put in a lot of work over the last few years. And I know this might be hard to uh acknowledge, but the work is really just beginning now. The hard work begins now as we be build a system that we can be proud of, one that will list uh uh the paramount goals, both economic, social, environmental, and political that will last for the next 50 years. I want to thank the members of both the executive committee and the governing board who are here and who have been participating so much. This executive committee was told at the outset that there would be not just a couple of meetings, but there would be monthly and bi-weekly meetings, and the executive committee rose to the occasion. The governing board also uh rose to the occasion as we continue to increase the number of governing board meetings to make sure that there was full participation for those cities that have not fully participated yet. I'm proud to see that, for instance, Mira Mars here, and that we know the other cities are watching. Our philosophy from the outset has always been to build a system that everyone will want to join. So there is no us and them. We are now just focused on building a system that we can throughout Brower County be proud of and that we can pull together to achieve the goals reduce, reuse, and recycle if we are to control our own economic and environmental destiny. I'll turn it over to the vice chair.
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