Broward County Commission Meeting - October 6, 2026

The Broward County Commission met on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, from 10:08 a.m. to 12:32 p.m. in Room 422 of the Broward County Governmental Center, with Mayor Mark Bogen participating telephonically for part of the Regular Agenda. The board approved most consent items, approved two advisory-board hearing resolutions over two no votes, failed a resolution to begin the Alpha 250 land sale process, directed development of a plan to transition E-911 operator services from the Broward Sheriff's Office (BSO) to the county, enacted a towing ordinance, and deferred a towing rate resolution and a $5.85 million sheriff funding transfer.

Proclamations and Opening

• Presented proclamations: Chen Moore and Associates 40th Anniversary, National Women's Small Business Month, and Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The breast cancer proclamation referenced an estimated 321,000 U.S. women expected to be newly diagnosed in 2026.
• Held moments of silence for victims/survivors of the October 7 attacks in Israel, civic leader Roy Rogers, Imogene Jefferson, civil engineer Anthony Alexander Collins, and armed forces members.
• Several commissioners said proclamations should be presented when on the record; Commissioner Rich said she would place a related item on the agenda.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the consent agenda for the surviving items from Items 1-26 (Items 11, 12, 14, and 21 were pulled for separate discussion; Item 13 was withdrawn), plus Supplemental Item 35, by a 9-0 vote. Item 38 was withdrawn; Items 31 and 37 were deferred.
• Approved board appointments and conflict waivers, including John C. Abbott, Kelvin G. Haynes, Glen Tupler, Jon J. Burkert, Pamela B. Africk, Sandra Lozano Barry, Alondra Machado, and Suzette B. Fleischmann.
• Approved the BMSD Economic Development Program directive; FY2027 health insurance funding; 457 Deferred Compensation match with a $2,000 annual cap; and Unrepresented Compensation Policy/Pay Plan amendments.
• Approved contracts and agreements, including: Arc Electric fiber optic intersection improvements ($3,110,399); Lead Engineering Consultants Pine Island Road capacity expansion ($34,953,406); aftermarket auto parts Sourcewell addendums up to $7,000,000; and Riskonnect Risk Management/Claims system amendment to $3,375,896.
• Approved the Sunrise Mills signage easement/FDOT conveyance, the 951 South Andrews Avenue plat, County Auditor reports, Marc Fornes convention center artwork not to exceed $980,000, State Aid to Libraries grant of $999,381, and the October meeting schedule change.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Chris Nelson: expressed strong support for transitioning E-911 from BSO to county; criticized Sheriff Tony for not attending negotiations and for spending on self-promotional videos.
• Stephen Corsa: a 911 operator since 2001 and FOP member, cautioned that transition involves human and union considerations and would be permanent beyond Sheriff Tony's tenure.
• Keith Polykoff (Sunshine State Towing Association): requested towing rate modifications, stating diesel averaged $2.92/gallon from 2007-2026 but is now $6.29; asked for CPI timing shift and fuel surcharge ($15 Class A/B, $25 Class C/D); supported Level 1 background checks.
• James Jennings (towing industry): supported the request, citing diesel fuel rising from $2.50 in 2020 to $6.43 two weeks earlier, storage land rent increasing from about $8,000-$10,000 to $16,000-$18,000 per acre, and EV storage safety costs.

Discussion Items

Advisory Board Resolutions (Items 11 and 12)

• Items 11 and 12 set public hearings for October 20, 2026, on ordinances/resolutions changing county advisory boards, including repeal of certain articles and changes to Tourist Development Council, Climate Change Task Force, and Homeless Continuum of Care Board. Commissioners Furr and Rich voted no, saying state law forced the county to dismantle local advisory structures such as the Commission on the Status of Women and to backpedal on human and civil rights. Commissioners Geller and Rogers said they were complying with state law despite concerns. Item 11 approved 6-2 (Resolution 2026-398); Item 12 approved 6-2 (Resolution 2026-399). Commissioner Davis was not present.

Alpha 250 Property (Item 14)

• Commissioner Furr and Mayor Bogen pulled this item. The resolution would have declared approximately 22 acres in Pompano Beach no longer needed and directed staff to begin the sale process. City of Coconut Creek asked for a delay, including to explore affordable housing; Pompano Beach expressed interest in buying. County Attorney advised the county is obligated under the settlement agreement to start the process by mid-October and that delay could put the county in breach. Motion to move forward failed; only Commissioner Davis and Vice-Mayor McKinzie voted yes (2-0).

Sheriff Audit, Funding, and E-911 (Items 21, 37, 36)

• Item 21: Commissioner Geller pulled this follow-up review of the airport law enforcement services audit. County Auditor reported 34 total recommendations: 16 implemented, 1 no longer applicable, 3 partially implemented, and 14 not implemented, many due to lack of BSO cooperation. He noted BSO did not provide actual expenses, billed for deputies outside the airport (over $500,000 in the original audit), and refused to report response times at the 95th percentile. Approved 9-0. Before the vote, Mayor Bogen criticized the sheriff's news release claiming suspension of budget negotiations, noting the county had already passed the budget and inviting the sheriff to appear and answer questions.
• Item 37: Proposed $5,850,000 General Fund transfer for Consolidated Dispatch with BSO. Mayor Bogen initially offered an amendment to require a signed agreement on use of funds. Staff noted the county and BSO have been operating under a term sheet rather than a contract. After discussion, the board voted to defer indefinitely 9-0.
• Item 36: Commissioner Fisher motion (approved 9-0) directed County Administration to prepare a plan to transition E-911 operator services from BSO to county, with target date October 1, 2027, including municipal/union/agency coordination and continuity planning. Fisher and staff noted the county owns the PSAPs and equipment, the 2013 transition made BSO a vendor, the prior agreement expired in 2022 leaving a term-sheet arrangement, 449 employees would move over, leases would remain, and no one would be fired.

Towing and Immobilization (Items 30 and 31)

• Items 30 and 31 were heard concurrently and voted on separately. Item 30 ordinance enacted 9-0 as Ordinance No. 2026-42, adding Level 1 background screening for tow operators and a severely damaged electric vehicle category.
• Item 31 towing rate resolution was deferred indefinitely by 9-0 vote after debate. Commissioner Davis questioned the cost basis for increasing the CPI adjustment from 3% to 5%, a $15/$25 fuel surcharge, and an EV surcharge she said was a 300% increase; staff said the per-tow fuel increase was about $6 based on the 10-mile limit and that Miami-Dade and Palm Beach do not have EV surcharges. Commissioner Geller offered amendments for a flat $15 diesel surcharge tied to a $1.50 year-over-year increase, a June-to-October rate review shift, and a higher CPI ceiling (from 3% to 5%); Commissioner Fisher withdrew his competing amendment; Commissioner Rich proposed setting EV surcharges to zero. The board instead deferred the item indefinitely; Mayor Bogen voted telephonically on the deferral.

Visit Lauderdale Contract (Item 32)

• Approved 9-0 as amended: First Amendment to website design/hosting agreement with Simpleview/Granicus, extending term to November 18, 2029, with five optional one-year renewals, and increasing not-to-exceed amount from $5,126,690 to $17,819,067.

Public Hearings

• Item 27: Renewed Port Everglades vessel oily waste removal franchise to Crystal Clean, LLC for five years (Resolution 2026-401) 9-0.
• Item 28: Enacted BrowardNext Land Use Plan text amendments PCT 26-4 through PCT 26-8 (Ordinance 2026-40) 9-0, with amendments.
• Item 29: Enacted claims/settlement authority ordinance (Ordinance 2026-41) 9-0.

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda approved by 9-0, with pulled items resolved as noted above.
• Items 11 and 12 approved 6-2 (Commissioners Furr and Rich no; Commissioner Davis absent).
• Item 14 failed 2-0.
• Item 21 approved 9-0.
• Item 37 deferred indefinitely 9-0.
• Item 36 approved 9-0, directing E-911 transition plan with target date October 1, 2027.
• Item 30 enacted 9-0 (Ordinance 2026-42); Item 31 deferred indefinitely 9-0.
• Items 27, 28, and 29 approved 9-0.
• Item 32 approved 9-0; Item 38 withdrawn; Item 35 approved.
• Meeting adjourned at 12:32 p.m.