Miramar City Commission Regular Meeting - October 18, 2023
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Miramar City Commission Regular Meeting - October 18, 2023
The Miramar City Commission held a regular meeting on Wednesday, October 18, 2023, at 7:00 PM in the Commission Chambers. The meeting included a proclamation, resolutions, consent agenda items, an ordinance, and reports. Key actions included the approval of a track replacement, water treatment plant upgrades, health insurance renewal, and a first reading of an ordinance to increase elected officials' salaries.
Presentations & Proclamations
- Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Vice Mayor Davis presented a proclamation declaring October 2023 as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The proclamation highlighted that acts of domestic violence occur every 18 seconds in the United States and emphasized the need for community support and awareness.
- Honoring Mayor Shirley Gibson: Temp. Reso. #R8027 was adopted unanimously to honor the life and mourn the death of Mayor Shirley Gibson, the first mayor of Miami Gardens, Florida. Commissioners expressed condolences and praised her leadership in incorporating the city.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes: Approved minutes from multiple meetings (September 13, 18, 27, and October 4, 2023).
- Item 2 (Pulled): Temp. Reso. #R7943 – Award of RFP for Economic Development Plan to Whitehouse Group, Inc. for $92,200. Approved unanimously after presentation by Richard Hughes (Economic Development & Housing). The plan will include community assessment, SWOT analysis, and stakeholder outreach.
- Item 5 (Pulled): Temp. Reso. #R8004 – Purchase and installation of playground equipment at Henry D. Perry Education Center for $198,985.42 (including $10,000 contingency). Approved unanimously. The project is expected to be completed by December 2023 or January 2024.
- Remaining Consent Items (1,3,4,6,7): Approved en bloc without discussion. Items included senior center grant funding ($516,601.25 for lift station repairs), transit safety plan, and elevator refurbishment ($97,524).
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public registered to speak during the Public Participation period (7:30–8:00 PM) or on any agenda items.
Discussion Items
- Item 8 – Ansin Sports Complex Track Resurfacing: Temp. Reso. #R8001 approved the purchase of construction services from Geosurfaces, Inc. for $1,670,000 (including $205,090 contingency). The existing Mondo track, installed in 2008, has exceeded its 10-year certification lifespan and is no longer certified by World Athletics. The new track will use the latest technology and is expected to be certified for 10 years, with potential extension to 12 years. Construction is planned to begin immediately to be ready for the upcoming track season. Commissioner Barnes questioned the certification importance; Michael Tovar of Mondo USA explained that without certification, records set at the facility are invalid. The track will be replaced with a prefabricated system from Mondo.
- Item 9 – Reverse Osmosis Skid System: Temp. Reso. #R8000 approved the award of an invitation for bid to Conti L.L.C. for $7,264,500 (including $300,000 contingency) for a new 2.5 million gallon per day reverse osmosis skid at the West Water Treatment Plant. The plant, originally built in 1995, is being expanded to meet increased demand due to population growth and business development. The project includes a 15% participation plan for small and local businesses.
- Item 10 – Engineering Services for Water Treatment Plant: Temp. Reso. #R8002 approved an agreement with AECOM Technical Services, Inc. for $570,760 to provide construction and startup observation services for the West Water Treatment Plant capacity expansion. This is Package 4 of 5, with a 15% participation plan.
- Item 11 – Health Insurance Renewal: Temp. Reso. #R8009 approved the first renewal option with Aetna Life Insurance Company for self-funded health insurance for employees, dependents, and retirees. The not-to-exceed amount is $17,595,000, including $15,500,000 for expected claims, $775,000 contingency (5% of claims), and $1,320,000 for administration and stop-loss fees. The city has been self-insured since 2021, achieving a 3% renewal increase for 2024, compared to double-digit trends under fully insured models. The plan designs (HMO, POS, HDHP with HSA) and employee contributions remain unchanged. Pharmacy rebates under Senate Bill 1550 will reduce costs by $975,000.
- Item 12 – Elected Officials Salary Increase (First Reading): Temp. Ord. #O1820 proposed a 5% cost of living adjustment for the Mayor and Commissioners. The Mayor’s salary would increase from $43,411 to $45,581; Commissioners’ salaries from $34,175 to $35,884. Commissioner Chambers, who sponsored the item, suggested a 10% increase instead, but no second was received. The ordinance passed on first reading with a 3-2 vote: Commissioners Chambers, Colbourne, and Vice Mayor Davis in favor; Commissioner Barnes and Mayor Messam opposed. The second reading is scheduled for November 13, 2023.
- Item 13 – PFAS Lawsuit Authorization: Temp. Reso. #R8016 authorized the city to file a lawsuit and/or claims in the pending federal class action against manufacturers and distributors of Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) products. The city will retain law firms on a contingency basis, with no upfront cost. The lawsuit seeks to recover costs for water treatment contamination. Fort Lauderdale, North Miami Beach, and other municipalities have joined similar litigation.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda: Approved except for items 2 and 5, which were pulled and individually approved unanimously.
- Resolutions: All resolutions (Items 8,9,10,11,13) were approved unanimously.
- Ordinance (Item 12): First reading passed 3-2; second reading scheduled for November 13, 2023.
- Staff Departure: Eric Silver, Director of Economic Development and Housing, was recognized for his service as he departs for a position in Miami-Dade County.
- Announcements: The State of the City Address will be held on Thursday, October 26, 2023, at 6:30 PM at the Universal Technical Institute. The meeting adjourned at an unspecified time, with the next regular meeting scheduled for November 1, 2023.
Meeting Transcript
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 24 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 by the city commission through the chair and upon registering pursuant to the published notice for not 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 ATNT U versus Channel 99 for City of Myanmar subscribers. As of October 18th, 2023 at 4 p.m., no member from the public has registered to participate virtually in this meeting. 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 prior to addressing the commission. All comments submitted will be included as a 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. Mayor Massham. Here. Commissioner Barnes. Here. Commissioner Chambers. Here. Commissioner Colburn. Yeah. Vice Mayor Davis. Deputy City Manager Baker. Here. City Attorney Norris Weeks. Here. City Attorney Powell. Here. Let us all rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance. We do have one recognition on the city's commemoration list. Jean Jacques from the Parks and Recreation Department lost. Jean Jacques from the Parks and Rex and Recreation Department lost its mother. Let's keep Mr. Jocks in his prayer in our prayers, as well as let's keep in our thoughts and prayers, the victims in the Middle East crisis between Israel and the people of Palestine as they navigate through the through that conflict. The proclamation. Let's welcome them to the dais. Domestic Violence Awareness Month, October 2023. Whereas domestic violence affects numerous individuals, regardless of age, ability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious beliefs, social economic status, andor race. And whereas domestic violence can have lifelong consequences emotionally, mentally, socially, spiritually, and physically. Violence harms the core of the human spirit and jeopardizes the future well-being of our communities. And whereas arts, I mean acts of domestic violence occur every 18 seconds in the United States. So we must do our part as leaders and a community to support them. And whereas education, awareness are also critical components of the effort to end domestic violence. And let's give our victims advocate department of the Miramar Police Department a round of applause, as well as women in distress of Broward County. Thank you so much. And as you've heard from the proclamation, it is a scourge in our society. In fact, I was just reading that the leading cause in terms of murder of women is by a close or intimate partner. And so it's something that we really have to consider and take steps to really help, especially our girls and our women to understand the need to get out of these types of situations and the resources that are available to them. And that's totally unacceptable. So I'm glad that we're bringing awareness this month to domestic violence, and we need to continue to bring awareness throughout not just the month of October, but every day. So we've been busy. And it's uh domestic violence is the only crime where shame and guilt is woven through all of these victims that we're talking about, these survivors.
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