City of Miramar Commission Regular Meeting – September 3, 2025
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City of Miramar Commission Regular Meeting – September 3, 2025
Vice Mayor Yvette Colbourne chaired the meeting in the absence of Mayor Wayne M. Messam. Commissioners Maxwell B. Chambers, Avril Cherasard (participating remotely), and Carson Edwards were present. The meeting included five proclamations, a legislative update from State Representative LaVon Bracy-Davis, the adoption of a consent agenda with three items pulled for discussion, and a second reading of an ordinance modifying vacation rental insurance requirements. No public comments were registered.
Presentations & Proclamations
- State Representative Legislative Update: Rep. Bracy-Davis highlighted her ride-along with the Miramar Police Department (Bravo Squad), praised community policing, and discussed legislative accomplishments including bills on autism training for pre‑K teachers, firefighter/paramedic drug administration alignment, expanded catastrophic injury coverage for officers, and increased penalties for speeding over 100 mph or 50 mph over the limit. She also noted that disaster preparedness items (batteries, generators) are now permanently sales‑tax free, and warned about ongoing property tax reform debates that could eliminate services funded by property taxes.
- National Senior Center Month (September 2025): Vice Mayor Colbourne proclaimed September as Senior Center Month with the theme “Power and Possibilities, Flip the Script.”
- Suicide Prevention Awareness Month (September 2025): Recognized by the Miramar Police Department Victims Advocate Unit; emphasized the 988 crisis hotline.
- Florida Missing Children’s Day (Second Monday in September): Proclamation honoring missing children and urging prompt handling of family abduction cases.
- National Diaper Need Awareness Week (September 15–21, 2025): Presented to the Greater Fort Lauderdale Diaper Bank; its president noted one in two families cannot afford clean diapers.
- Social Security’s 90th Anniversary (August 14, 2025): Recognized with AARP; volunteer Dion Polite highlighted that Social Security has never missed a payment.
- International Overdose Awareness Day (August 31, 2025): Requested by Commissioner Chambers. Romney Virtus (Substance Abuse Reduction Alliance Coalition) and Mari Carmen Rodriguez (Iman’s Light Foundation) spoke about fentanyl dangers and prevention efforts. Commissioner Chambers pledged $1,000 to the coalition.
Consent Calendar
Items 1–3, 5–9 were approved unanimously in a single motion. (Items 4, 10, 11, and 12 were pulled for separate consideration.)
Discussion Items
- Item #4 – Transportation System Surtax Interlocal Agreement (Third Amendment): Assistant City Engineer Leah deRiel presented the 2025 amended and restated agreement. Key changes: allows the county to terminate Cycle 1 projects not under funding agreements (does not affect Miramar); reprioritizes surtax funding to give more weight to rehabilitation/maintenance projects over capital projects; creates a formula‑based funding model for rehab/maintenance and on‑demand transportation; permits cities to use surtax funds as local match for state/federal grants; allows municipal collaboration on community shuttles. Public Works Director Shana Coombs confirmed that a micro‑transit survey is underway. The commission voted unanimously to approve.
- Item #10 – Amendment No. 2 for Youth Center Design Services: Daryll Johnson (Support Services Project Management Administrator) presented a request for $214,430 in additional design services for the New Community Youth Center (CIP 53027) from Walters Zackria Associates. The facility has grown from 6,000 sq ft to 12,000 sq ft; total design cost now $975,915. The scope includes a covered basketball court and fitness area. Commissioner Edwards asked about location (37th Avenue and Pembroke Road, adjacent to Forzano Park) and confirmed the court will be covered. Commissioner Cherasard requested inclusion of an accessible swing for children in wheelchairs; staff noted it will be part of the playground replacement within this design. Unanimously approved.
- Item #11 – First Amendment to Leasing Agreement with JLL: Debon Campbell (Development & Intergovernmental Affairs Officer) explained that the amendment extends the agreement with Jones Lang LaSalle to May 2026 solely to allow payment of $62,593 for services already rendered (leasing for three retail tenants: Juicy Patties, Brandon’s Bistro, and Francisca’s Charcoal Chicken & Meats). The total FY2025 compensation is $125,186. Commissioner Cherasard sought clarity on the extension; staff confirmed no further services are expected but the extension provides a cushion for the residual payment. Unanimously approved.
- Item #12 – Lease Amendment for Francisca’s Charcoal Chicken: The first amendment grants an additional six‑month rent grace period (total 547 days) for the tenant at 11735 City Hall Promenade. Rent will commence upon the earliest of: six months, issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy, or grant opening. Tenant representatives stated construction is on track for a November 2025 opening. Commissioner Chambers noted the city will work cooperatively. Unanimously approved.
- Item #13 – Ordinance O1850 (Second Reading): Ordinance amending the Land Development Code to remove minimum general liability insurance requirements for vacation rentals (short‑term rentals). Sponsored by Commissioner Chambers. No changes since first reading. The commission voted unanimously to adopt.
Commissioner Reports
- Commissioner Cherasard encouraged residents to track property tax reform discussions and to keep naloxone (NARCAN) on hand. She noted her virtual participation.
- Commissioner Edwards disclosed his ownership stake in the Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival (November 9, 2025). City Attorney Gary provided an ethics opinion: the city cannot sponsor the event as before, but the festival can rent city facilities and services like any other vendor. Commissioner Edwards bought tickets for himself and raffle items from his office account; the attorney confirmed this is permissible.
- Commissioner Chambers thanked the vice mayor for chairing, reported on successful Trinidad & Tobago Independence celebration and Labor Day event, and promoted upcoming activities: Citizenship Drive (Sept. 13), Mayor’s Family Night drone show (Sept. 26), rescheduled Autism Show (Oct. 19), Black British event (Oct. 24), and Miramar Food & Wine Festival (Oct. 25). He also extended well‑wishes to the people of Jamaica on election day.
- Vice Mayor Colbourne announced Hispanic Heritage Month kickoff (Sept. 16), Latin Music Festival (Sept. 20), a shredder/light‑bulb exchange event, and a Senior Resource Fair (both Sept. 20).
City Manager Reports
- City Manager Dr. Virgin noted that a consultant will conduct one‑on‑one interviews with commissioners and a five‑minute survey in advance of a visioning workshop scheduled for October 2, 2025 (5–8 pm). The legislative workshop is set for October 1, 2025 at 5 pm; the Care ATC Health & Wellness Center workshop date is pending.
Key Outcomes
- Unanimous approval (5–0) of all consent and discussion items, including the Transportation Surtax Third Amendment, Youth Center design amendment, JLL leasing amendment, Francisca’s Chicken lease extension, and Ordinance O1850.
- No public comments were received.
- Commissioner Edwards’ ethics disclosure regarding the Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival will be handled per the city attorney’s guidance (fair market value for city services).
- The next regular commission meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at 7 pm.
Meeting Transcript
We're ready. The meeting of the City of Miramar 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 question, 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 commission meeting and televised on Comcast Channel 78 and ATT Uverse Channel 99 for City of Myanmar subscribers. As of September 3rd, 2025 at 3 30 p.m. No members from the public was registered to participate virtually in this meeting. If someone has registered later this time and would like to speak, they can raise their hands, 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. Please note the mayor will not attend the meeting this evening. So I will be cheering as Vice Mayor. Additionally, Commissioner Sherizad will participate remotely. Madame Clerk, please call the roll. Commissioner Chambers. Here. Commissioner Sherizard. Present. Vice Mayor Colburn. Here. Commissioner Edwards. Here. City Manager Dr. Virgin. Here. City Attorney Gary. Here. City Attorney Powell. Here. Let us rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. We have a commemoration list of employees who have lost loved ones. Ghisandre Alert Gabriel from our marketing and public relations. Lost her mother, Marlene Ferris Alert. DuVard Franzois from the police department lost his nephew, Franz Junior, Jean Baptiste. Scott Coplin from the police department lost his father, a former officer, Sol Coplan, number 136. Kurt Hubson Garcia from Public Works lost his mother, Vilma Filipino, Roach Hubson Garcia, and his brother, Ryan Stanley Hubson Garcia. Beverly Claire Cray from the police department lost her cousin Eltha Brown. Carl Jackson from the police department lost an uncle Glenford Wilson. Ashley Ferguson from the police department lost her grandmother. Ioni Reed Maclean. Let's absorb a moment of silence. Thank you. We are now moving on a on, we are now moving on to presentations. I invite State Representative Bottomman to give a legislative update. Hi everybody, I'm very happy to be here. It's nice to see the Vice Mayor and the Commissioners. I am so happy to be in the great city of Myanmar. As you know, Senator Sharif represents Myanmar, as do I, Representative Robinson and Representative Woodson. So you really have it covered. You have a lot of us up there fighting for you.
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