Miramar City Commission Regular Meeting – February 5, 2025
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Miramar City Commission Regular Meeting – February 5, 2025
The Miramar City Commission held its regular meeting on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, at 7:00 PM in the Commission Chambers. The meeting included proclamations, presentations, approval of a consent agenda, several resolutions, a first-reading budget ordinance, and commissioner reports. No members of the public registered to speak virtually, and none present in chambers offered comment on agenda items.
Proclamations & Presentations
- National Entrepreneurship Week: Mayor Messam proclaimed February 15–22, 2025 as National Entrepreneurship Week, noting that 70% of high school students want to become entrepreneurs. Richard Thompson from Miramar High School accepted.
- Black History Month: The commission proclaimed February 2025 as Black History Month, themed “African American and Labor.” Parks & Rec Director Billy Neal and staff accepted.
- American Heart Month: February 2025 was proclaimed American Heart Month. The proclamation cited that heart disease causes 1 in 5 deaths in the U.S. (about 700,000–880,000 in 2022) and that 83% of Americans believe heart attacks are preventable yet 58% put no effort into improving heart health. HR Director Randy Cross accepted.
- Apple Award: Jewish Family Services of Broward County presented the Apple Award to the City of Miramar for ongoing support and partnership.
- AT&T Initiative “Revive Tu Cache”: The city recognized the renovation of a basketball court at the Miramar Youth Enrichment Center, completed in one day (eight hours) by artist Jonathan Desiree, AT&T, and community volunteers. Mayor Messam praised the project as a model of community collaboration.
Consent Calendar
- Items Approved Unanimously:
- Minutes from November 20, 2024 placed on future agenda (February 19, 2025).
- Temp. Reso. #R8311: Piggyback agreement with Advanced Roofing Inc. for roof replacement at Wastewater Reclamation Facility Building “I” – not-to-exceed $140,441.08.
- Temp. Reso. #R8322: Purchase of lab reagents/reference materials from Fisher Scientific LLC for $57,500 (total FY2025 expenditure $132,500).
- Temp. Reso. #R8321: Correction to Resolution No. 23-109 to reflect correct project total cost of $7,695,228 (instead of $7,845,228).
- Temp. Reso. #R8306: Procurement of internal auditing services from S. Davis and Associates P.A. for $350,000 in FY2025 (with appropriations for FY2026–2027).
- Motion to approve consent agenda passed 4–0.
Discussion Items
- Reso. #R8314 – LED Lighting at Vizcaya Park: Approved agreement with Musco Sports Lighting for installation of an LED lighting system at Vizcaya Park for $356,600 (using Sourcewell contract). The project leverages a $200,000 Florida DEP grant (with 50% match). Lighting poles will be angled to prevent light pollution into neighboring homes. Parks staff confirmed the lighting will not impede a future track and field option. Also, pickleball court lining and portable nets will be added as part of grant improvements. Passed 4–0.
- Reso. #R8193 – HR Department Office Renovations: Awarded IFB #25-003 (RE-BID) to ARKEST, L.L.C. for $503,753.56 plus $20,000 contingency (total $523,753.56). Scope includes renovation of existing space without wall demolition. Passed 4–0.
- Reso. #R8325 – Change Order No. 8 for West Water Treatment Plant Lab & Office Space: Approved change order with Primus Construction Services for $49,996 plus $10,000 contingency (total $59,996). Work includes relocating chiller, roof ladder, window treatments, signage, and electrical rework. The lab (Dr. Roy L. Virgin West Water Treatment Plant) has received certification and is being equipped; all instrumentation will be moved and recalibrated by April 2025 for proficiency testing. Utilities Director confirmed no further change orders are anticipated. Passed 4–0.
- Reso. #R8341 – Donation of Surplus Vehicles to Bahamas Royal Police Force: Approved donation of 11 public safety vehicles (one fire-rescue ambulance and ten police pursuit vehicles, each valued at or under $5,000) to the Commonwealth of Bahamas. Vehicles are fully functional and operational. Transfer expected within 2–3 weeks. Commissioner Colbourne raised the possibility of a future sister city relationship; the sister city board has been notified. Passed 4–0.
- Ordinance O1840 – First Reading of FY2025 Budget Amendment: Approved first amendment to the FY2025 Operating and Capital Improvement Program Budget. Adjustments include:
- General Fund: Transfer $115,000 (from fire rescue purchase and capital outlay) to Miramar Regional Park Aquatic Renovations.
- Risk Management Fund 502: $235,000 from fund balance for HR renovations.
- Various CIP loan funds: transfers of leftover amounts (e.g., $7,000 from Sunset Lakes Academy playground, $7,600 from Miramar Boulevard left turn) to the Aquatic Complex renovation without net financial impact.
- Capital Projects Fund 395: Appropriates $115,000 transfer-in and moves leftover funds from Parks restrooms ($15,000), Fire Station 107 ($20,000), and Art in the Parks ($190,000) to the Aquatic Complex. Second reading scheduled for March 4, 2025. Passed 4–0.
Commissioner Reports & Other Business
- Commissioner Colbourne: Promoted upcoming events: Faith Evans concert (Feb 8), Black History Month celebration (Feb 18) with Ashe group, Feminine Night (Feb 22), and Gospel on the Green (Feb 23).
- Commissioner Chambers: Reminded of Bob Marley birthday (Feb 6), food drive at Lakeshore Park (Feb 8, 8 AM–1 PM), and various Black History Month events.
- Mayor Messam: Updated on Miami-Dade County incinerator issue. Reported that a workshop on Feb 5 did not allow public comment; a resolution by Commissioner Bermudez proposes building an incinerator at Airport West (near Miramar). Public comment opportunity on Feb 10 at the Infrastructure and Innovation Committee. Mayor urged residents to remain vigilant, as the site is not off the table. Also thanked Southwest Ranches for financial support in fighting the incinerator. Predicted Miami-Dade will ultimately move waste by train rather than build an incinerator.
- City Attorney Powell: Reported on the Pedraza case – a court order upheld the city clerk’s actions in qualifying Mr. Pedraza as a write-in candidate, finding she properly performed her ministerial duties.
- Announcement: Executive session scheduled for Feb 19, 2025 at 6:30 PM (closed to public) to discuss pending litigation (Maxine Eccles vs. City of Miramar, Case CACE 24-00205).
Key Outcomes
- All consent agenda items and resolutions (6–9) were approved unanimously (4–0).
- Ordinance O1840 (first budget amendment) passed first reading unanimously, with second reading set for March 4, 2025.
- The commission directed staff to proceed with transferring surplus vehicles to the Bahamas and to explore a potential sister city relationship.
- The commission reaffirmed its opposition to an incinerator at Airport West and encouraged public participation at the Feb 10 Miami-Dade committee meeting.
- The next regular commission meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at 7:00 PM.
Meeting adjourned.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. The meeting of the Miramar 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 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.gov slash commission meeting and televised on Comcast Channel Seventy-eight and ATT Uverse Channel Ninety Nine for all Miramar subscribers. As of February 5th, 2025 at 4 30 p.m. No members from the public have 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 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 role. Mayor Mason. Here. Commissioner Barnes. Here. Commissioner Chambers. Here. City Manager Dr. Virgin. Here. City Attorney Powell. Here. City Attorney Gary. Here. Let us all rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. One nation under God. Indivisible liberty. At this time, we do have a commemoration list of bereaved City of Myanmar employees. First, starting with Deputy City Manager Kelvin Baker, Office of the City Manager, lost two aunts. Catherine Huck from Human Resources, Father. Noja Link, police department, grandfather, Don Pintado, Financial Services, husband, Nixon LeBron, Building, Planning, and Zoning, Uncle, Linda Hurtado, Building, Planning, and Zoning, Father. Jose Perez, Building, Planning, and Zoning, Mother. Robert Fradenberg, Office of Management and Budget, Father-in-law. Tyler Pintado, Public Works, Father. Brother and Uncle. Trevor McLeary, Public Works, Cousin. Roderick Clark, Public Works, Mother and Father. Let's keep our fellow colleagues and city staff and their families in our thoughts and our prayers, as well as those in our community and around the world who may be bereaved at this moment. Let's have a moment of silence. Before we proceed with presentations in our first proclamation, I would like to give a special Myanmar hello and welcome to delegation from the Commonwealth of Bahamas and I'm led by a member of Parliament, Mr. Leon Lundy, representing Andros, as well as members from the Commonwealth of Bahamas Royal Police Force that will participate tomorrow morning as the City of Myanmar will transfer public safety vehicles to our friends in the Commonwealth of Bahamas tomorrow. So welcome to our Commission meeting. At this time, I would like to invite Mr. Richard Thompson from Myanmar High School's entrepreneurial and small business program director to the dais to receive the proclamation and observance of national entrepreneurship week. Let's give them a round of applause. Whereas National Entrepreneurship Week is a nonpartisan congressionally chartered initiative founded in 2006 that takes place the third week of February annually. Whereas, according to the Department of Labor, most of the new jobs created throughout the United States in the past decade have come from the creative efforts of entrepreneurs and small businesses, which have been expanding and advancing technology and fueling the recent growth in the economy. And whereas entrepreneurs have been the source of economic innovation throughout the history of the nation and the entire society has improved because of the new ways of doing things that have been brought about by people who market their ideas. Whereas economically independent entrepreneurs are engaged citizens who work to improve the economic environment in their local communities, providing better opportunities for businesses to operate and a better environment for the human resources they need to advance their business dreams. And whereas 70% of high school students want to become entrepreneurs, and entrepreneurial skills will assist students in the future, regardless of whether they work in a business owned by others or run their own businesses. And whereas entrepreneurship education has shown to be especially effective in closing the achievement gap between minority students and others in public schools.
openpublica.com