Miramar City Commission Regular Meeting - June 21, 2023
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Miramar City Commission Regular Meeting - June 21, 2023
The City of Miramar, FL City Commission held a regular meeting on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, at 7:00 PM in Commission Chambers. The meeting included proclamations, presentations, approval of consent agenda items, a public hearing on the CDBG Annual Action Plan, a quasi-judicial public hearing on a proposed Sam's Club fuel station, and a resolution creating a countywide solid waste authority. Key actions included approving the solid waste interlocal agreement, the FY2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, board appointments, and the first reading of a budget amendment. The Sam's Club fuel station application was continued to July 5, 2023.
Proclamations & Presentations
- Mayor Messam proclaimed July 2023 as Parks & Recreation Month, themed "Where Community Grows," recognizing the city's parks and recreation professionals.
- Vice Mayor Davis proclaimed June 5-9, 2023 as Code Enforcement Officers' Appreciation Week. She noted that she and Commissioner Colbourne are former code enforcement officers. It was stated that code enforcement officers handle more than 3,000 cases a year.
- Teen Council Advisory Board and Youth Advisory Council honored graduating members. Graduates included: Nicoya (to Miramar High), Ryan (University of Florida, mechanical engineering), Chelsea (University of Florida, pre-med), Ezra Hardware (Florida Memorial University, mechanical engineering), Nathaniel Davis (Valencia College, culinary management), and Claudine Cora (Florida Atlantic University, political science). The youth councils also presented tokens of appreciation to the Mayor and Police Chief.
- Commissioner Chambers recognized Elizabeth Burns, President of Unique Creations By Liz, for her contributions to Caribbean American Heritage Month for over 10 years.
Consent Calendar
- Approved unanimously (4-0) the Consent Agenda, including: minutes of May 17, 2023; renewal of Utility Bill Printing and Mailing Services Agreement with Enco Utility Services L.L.C. ($300,000); purchase of Kronos Timekeeping Clocks with Kronos, Inc. (not-to-exceed $123,329); and acceptance of grant funding from Areawide Council on Aging of Broward County for adult day care services.
- Item 4 (General Concession Services Agreement with Holsen, Inc.) was pulled by Mayor Messam for discussion and voted on separately. The amendment extended the agreement for three years and paid Holsen $185,920.80 in buyout compensation. After debate and public comment, the item was approved 3-1 (Commissioner Chambers dissenting). Public comments included opposition from Class X's attorney (LaShawn Thomas) and Class X representative Stephen Muniz, who cited conflicts with the Class X contract and legal/ethical concerns, and support from Holsen's Darrell Hosendolf. The vote was: Chambers no; Colbourne yes; Davis yes; Messam yes.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Public Participation (items not on agenda):
- Bevon Gordon, 2281 Flamingo Drive, expressed concern about a commercial garage operating in a residential neighborhood, with large trucks obstructing his driveway and creating safety hazards.
- Dahlia West, 2401 Flamingo Drive, thanked the city for replacing sidewalks but requested cleanup of leftover cement; she also reported weekend mechanic work and 18-wheelers in the neighborhood.
- Melody Dixon, 2210 Flamingo Drive, CEO of ProEvent Planners, requested support for community composting and a city garden to address food waste and provide fresh food.
- Quasi-Judicial Public Hearing (Item 11): Albert Franklin, 8454 Southwest 22nd Street, opposed the Sam's Club fuel station unless a separate entrance/exit was provided, citing traffic concerns. He stated most residents he spoke to opposed the project.
Discussion Items
- Solid Waste Disposal and Recyclable Materials Processing Authority (Item 8): Ralph Trapani, Solid Waste & Recycling Manager, presented the interlocal agreement (ILA) creating the Broward County authority. Key points: 40-year term (with no opt-out until June 2026), flow control requirements, and an estimated annual cost to Miramar of about $93,600 for up to three years, with Broward County contributing $1 million of the $2 million annual cap. Broward County Commissioner Beam Furr and Cooper City Mayor Greg Ross spoke in support. Commissioner Colbourne asked detailed questions about governance and costs. The resolution was approved unanimously (4-0).
- Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (Item 7): External auditor Andrew Fierman of CFLG presented the FY2022 audit, giving an unmodified (clean) opinion. For the 34th consecutive year, the city received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. The report highlighted positive budget variances in the general fund: revenues exceeded budget by ~$4.2 million and expenditures were under budget by ~$3.6 million. No significant deficiencies or instances of noncompliance were found. Approved unanimously.
- FY2023 Third Budget Amendment (Item 9, First Reading): Management & Budget Director Rafael Sanmiguel presented Ordinance O1812, reprogramming $100,000 from the buffer wall along University Drive project to the landscape and beautification along Miramar Parkway project due to cost increases. No budget impact. Approved unanimously; second reading scheduled for July 5, 2023.
- CDBG Annual Action Plan (Item 10): Chief Housing Administrator Katherine Randall presented the PY2023-2024 plan, with expected funding of $948,511 from HUD. Breakdown: $458,809 for residential rehabilitation, $250,000 for commercial rehabilitation, $50,000 for Sawyer Park phase two, and $189,702 for program administration. Public comment period ran May 18-June 19, 2023. Commissioners asked about application processes and commercial rehabilitation. Approved unanimously.
Quasi-Judicial Public Hearing
- Item 11: Conditional Use, Variance, Site Plan, and Community Appearance Board applications for a members-only Sam's Club fuel station at 1900 South University Drive, with eight pumps and 16 fueling stations. The applicant withdrew the variance related to hours of operation. Two variances remained: allowing a second fuel station within a quarter-mile of Pembroke Road and University Drive, and allowing the station 154 feet from residential property where 200 feet is required. Staff recommended approval, as did the Planning and Zoning Board and Community Appearance Board. Commissioners Colbourne and Davis expressed concerns about traffic circulation and parking lot congestion. Mayor Messam initially noted support based on staff analysis and community outreach. A motion to approve was made and seconded, but due to the late hour, Vice Mayor Davis moved to continue the item to July 5, 2023; that motion carried unanimously. The item is scheduled for the next regular meeting.
Other Business
- Appointments to various city boards were approved unanimously, including the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, Bid/Construction/Professional Services Advisory Board, Civil Service Board, Economic Development Advisory Board, Elderly Affairs Advisory Board, Historic Miramar Advisory Board, RBG Commission on the Status of Women, and Teen Council Advisory Board.
Key Outcomes
- Approved (4-0): Solid Waste Disposal and Recyclable Materials Processing Authority ILA (Item 8).
- Approved (4-0): FY2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (Item 7).
- Approved (3-1): Holsen, Inc. General Concession Services Agreement extension (Item 4).
- Approved (4-0): Board appointments (Item 6).
- Approved (4-0): First reading of FY2023 Third Budget Amendment (Item 9).
- Approved (4-0): CDBG PY2023-2024 Annual Action Plan (Item 10).
- Continued to July 5, 2023 (4-0): Sam's Club fuel station applications (Item 11).
Meeting Transcript
All right, you all ready? You all ready? All right, you all ready? You already all right. Good evening. The meeting of the Myanmar City Commission is now called to order. An opportunity was given to the public to register to participate or email the city clerk twenty-four hours prior to the commission meeting with any questions, comments, concerns on items we will hear on this evening's agenda. Any person may be heard on this evening's agenda by the city commission through the chair and upon registering pursuant to the published notice, not for more than three minutes on any proposition before the city commission unless modified by the chair. This meeting is being streamed live at Miramarfl.gov slash commission meeting and televised on Comcast Channel 78 and ATT Uverse Channel 99 for City of Myanmar subscribers. As of June twenty first, twenty twenty three at four thirty PM. If someone has registered later than this time and would like to speak, they can raise their hand and at the appropriate time, our IT staff will unmute their mic to allow them to speak. Please be sure to mention your name and address for the record before addressing the commission. All comments submitted will be included as part of the record for this meeting and will be considered by the city commission prior to any action taken. At this time, Madam Clerk, please call the roll. Commissioner Chambers. Here. We do have a couple of proclamations and a presentation. Our first proclamation, I invite Parks and Rec Director Billy Neal and team forward to the dais. Let's give them a round of applause. Good. I'm not sure. Do we have anyone manning the parks? So we got the whole gang here. Yes. This proclamation is an observance of uh parks and recreation month, July 2023. Whereas the U.S. House of Representatives has designated July 2023 as Parks and Recreation Month. And whereas the 2023 National Recreation and Parks Association theme is where community grows, which celebrates the vital role parks and recreation professionals play in bringing people together, providing essential services, and fostering the growth of our communities. And whereas parks and recreation is an integral part of communities throughout this country, including the city of Myanmar. And whereas parks and recreation is fundamental to the environmental well-being of our community, and whereas parks and recreation programming and education activities, such as out-of-school programming, youth sports and environmental education, and critical to childhood development. And whereas parks and recreation encourages physical activities by providing courts and fields, walking trails, swimming pools, and many other activities to promote active lifestyles. And whereas parks and recreation increases a community's economic prosperity through increased property values, expansion of the local tax base, increased tourism, the attraction and retention of businesses, and crime reduction. And whereas the city of Myanmar recognizes the benefits derived from parks and recreation resources. Now, therefore, I Wayne Mesa, mayor of the City of Myanmar, and on behalf of the City Commission, do hereby proclaim July 20, 23rd as parks and recreation month. And we thank our very hard-working team of parks and recreation professionals who do an exceptional job, not only manning our parks, maintaining our parks, leading recreational programming, but definitely putting together so many of the many city community events that Myanmar is known for. So thank you all so much for all of your hard work. Code Enforcement Officers Appreciation Week, June 59th, 2023. Whereas Code Enforcement Officers provide the safety, health, and welfare of the citizens in this community through the enforcement of building, zoning, housing, animal control, fire safety, environmental, and other codes and ordinances. And whereas code enforcement officers are responsible for improving neighborhood and the quality of lives of the residents in the city of Miramar. And whereas every day, assisted by the support and program staff, they attempt to provide quality customer service to the public for the betterment of the city of Myanmar. And whereas code enforcement officers are dedicated, well-trained, and highly responsible individuals who take their jobs seriously and are proud of their departmental and local government within which they serve. And whereas the Florida Association of Code Enforcement, known as Space, has declared the first week of June to be set aside by local government to honor and recognize their code enforcement officers. And whereas the hard work, dedication, and expertise of the code enforcement officers in the city of Myanmar have delivered success for nearly more than two decades. And whereas the COVID 19 pandemic presented unprecedented challenges to our community, and our code enforcement officers were diligently to work diligently to uphold the new COVID-19 protocols that were enforced to protect the public health and safety. And whereas in the code enforcement officers handled more than 3,000 cases a year to promote and maintain a case and desirable living and working environment for all Myanmar residents and businesses. And whereas City of Myanmar is deeply grateful for the dedication, commitment, and professionalism of our code enforcement officers who continue to serve the City of Myanmar with distinction and resolve, even before, even during the most difficult of times. And now, therefore, I wane Mesa, Mayor of the City of Miramar, on behalf of my Vice Mayor Alexandra P. Davis and the City Commission do hereby proclaim June fifth through the ninth as Code Enforcement Officers Appreciation Week. Let's give them a big round of applause. Vice Mayor Davis.
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