Miramar City Commission Regular Meeting - September 17, 2025
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Miramar City Commission Regular Meeting - September 17, 2025
The City of Miramar, FL, City Commission held a regular meeting on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at 7:00 PM in the Commission Chambers. The meeting included proclamations, presentations, consent agenda approvals, discussion and votes on several resolutions, and commissioner reports. All votes were unanimous (5-0) unless noted.
Consent Calendar
- Approved en bloc: Minutes from the September 17, 2025 meeting (to be placed on the October 1 agenda); emergency purchase of fire alarm panel repairs ($98,505 total from Century Fire Protection); cybersecurity professional services from United Data Technologies ($32,775); renewal of Workiva software maintenance ($180,000); claim release for Angelica Cuevas bodily injury settlement; claim release for Yuris Sanchez bodily injury settlement.
- Items 3 and 4 were removed for separate discussion and are detailed below.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Bruce Shepard (pediatric ER trauma nurse, Miramar resident) spoke during public participation. He expressed gratitude for city programs, noted he attended the June 17 meeting, completed the Go Local Academy, and is currently in the Citizens Police Academy. He thanked Vice Mayor Colbourne and the city for providing community engagement opportunities.
Presentation: Proclamations & Recognitions
- Proclamation – Calvary Fellowship Miramar: Mayor Messam proclaimed Sunday, September 21, 2025, as Calvary Fellowship Church Day, recognizing its 25th anniversary. The church started with 7 members and now serves approximately 2,000 members across four Sunday services. The city also presented a key to the city. Pastor Bob expressed gratitude.
- Proclamation – Hispanic Heritage Month: Vice Mayor Colbourne proclaimed September 15 – October 15, 2025, as Hispanic Heritage Month. Miramar’s Hispanic population is 38% (third largest in Florida). The city’s Latin Music Festival is scheduled for September 20, 2025, at Miramar Regional Park.
- Recognition of Miramar High School Volunteers: Commissioner Edwards recognized six Miramar High School students (Anaya Augustin, Chelsea Pierre, Deja Maduro, Jonathan Quadra, Simondre Burroughs, Telia West, Tyreek Reed) for volunteering in the “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” program that painted and repaired a resident’s home.
- Police Chief Update on Open Carry: Chief Delris Moss presented an update following the First District Court of Appeals decision making Florida the 47th state to allow open carry. He noted training is underway, businesses may opt out by posting signs, and police will handle incidents. Crime is down year-to-date except for domestic-related aggravated assaults. He announced a public information video and community meetings. Commissioner Edwards and Vice Mayor Colbourne asked about public notification and business opt-out; Chief confirmed outreach to HOAs and businesses will occur.
- Recognition of Miramar Youth Advisory Council: The mayor introduced the new cohort, including four new members, and thanked Chief Moss for assisting with interviews.
Discussion Items
- Item 3 – Community Shuttle Service (R8475): Commissioner Cherasard asked about service gaps (no driver/bus). Public Works Director Shana Coombs replied that Broward County typically provides a loaner, so gaps are rare. Approved unanimously.
- Item 4 – Public Emergency Medical Transportation (PEMT) Letter of Agreement (R8515): Fire-Rescue Division Chief Jaime Torres presented. The agreement allows participation in the Medicaid Managed Care Supplemental Payment Program, allotting $434,109.72, with an intergovernmental transfer of $185,712.14, yielding net new revenue of approximately $248,397.58. Commissioner Cherasard clarified that this covers 911 transports for Medicaid patients. Approved unanimously.
- Item 9 – FY2026 Fee Changes (R8484): Finance Chief Samantha Edouard presented proposed fee changes across five departments. Notable increases: building permit application commercial fee from $125 to $150; certificate of occupancy from $75 to $300; comprehensive plan amendment from $7,500 to $12,000; alcohol beverage license review permanent from $200 to $500. Parks & Rec aquatic fees increase by $0.50 for residents. Social services propose an automatic 3% annual increase via CPI. Commissioner Edwards asked about above-3% increases; staff explained many building/planning fees had not been reviewed in over 10 years and are now aligned with surrounding cities. Commissioner Cherasard supported equitable distribution of costs to businesses rather than residents. Approved unanimously.
- Item 10 – Floridan Aquifer Wells F8 and F9 Construction (R8480): Utilities Assistant Director Jinsheng Huo presented. Award to All Webbs Enterprises, Inc. for $7,033,000, plus a 10% contingency of $703,300 (total $7,736,300). Each well will have a capacity of 3.15 MGD. Vice Mayor Colbourne asked about the 10% contingency; staff confirmed it covers unforeseen conditions during drilling. Approved unanimously.
- Item 11 – AECOM Amendment for Engineering Services (R8489): Jinsheng Huo presented Amendment No. 1 to Package 5, increasing the contract by $1,033,883 to a total of $1,985,807 for construction engineering services for the new Floridan wells and lift station force main. Approved unanimously.
- Item 12 – Decorum at Commission Meetings (R8516): Commissioner Cherasard proposed amending Section B to explicitly prohibit personal, impertinent, slanderous, boisterous, rowdy, or disruptive remarks, and allow the mayor to direct the sergeant at arms to remove offending persons. City Attorney clarified the change adds descriptive language to existing procedures. Commissioner Edwards asked for clarification; City Attorney explained the new language applies to individuals addressing the commission, while a separate paragraph covers audience conduct. Approved unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- All resolutions (R8475, R8515, R8484, R8480, R8489, R8516) were approved unanimously (5-0).
- The consent agenda items (1,2,5,6,7,8) were approved en bloc.
- The police department will produce a public information video and hold community meetings on open carry.
- Upcoming events: Latin Music Festival (Sept 20), Budget Hearing second reading (Sept 29, 6 PM), Doing Business in South Broward (Sept 30), First Friday Network & Chill (Oct 3), and two closed-door attorney-client sessions scheduled for Oct 1 and Nov 5, 2025.
- Commissioner reports announced multiple community events throughout October.
- The meeting adjourned following a motion.
Meeting Transcript
No, no, no. Good evening. The meeting of the City of Myanmar 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. This meeting is being streamed live at Miramar FL.gov slash commission meeting and televised on Comcast Channel 78 and ATT Uverse Channel 99 for City of Myanmar subscribers as of September 17, 2025, at 330 PM. No members 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. Here. Commissioner Charizard, present. Vice Mayor Colburn? Here. Commissioner Edwards? Here. City Manager Dr. Virgin. Here. City Attorney Powell. Here. City Attorney Gary. Here. At his time, let us all rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. And Jonathan Powell from the Utilities Department lost his father. Let's keep our colleagues and our thoughts and our prayers for their lost loved ones. Let's have a moment of silence. Yes, so that's right, you can celebrate. Some can come over to the left side as well. Proclamation, 25th anniversary of Calvary Fellowship, which will be observed Sunday, September 21st, 2025. Whereas Calvary Fellowship Church has been in existence since the year of 2000. And whereas Calvary Fellowship Church began services with just seven people and has grown the congregation to include approximately 2,000 members. And whereas the leadership of the church has made it a modern, all-inviting church, and whereas Calvary Fellowship Church is a Christ-centered community church in Mirmar. And whereas Calvary Fellowship Church is commemorating the 25th anniversary of its dedicated service and ministry to the local community. Now therefore, I, Wayne Messon, mayor of the city of Miramar, on behalf of the city commission, do hereby proclaim Sunday, September 21st, Calvary Fellowship Church Day in our beautiful city of Mirmar. So let's give them a real big round of applause. Yes. And you know, 25 years is not, you know a small number. I mean, it speaks to longevity. It speaks to the faith of the family as well as the church and uh many lives that they have uh blessed over the years and especially in the city of Myrmar. Um I remember during the ribbon cutting when you opened up your new location. Oh, yeah, there it is right there. And um, and I think now you've grown to I think what at least two or three services on Sundays, right? Four services now. Wow, so you have no excuse and missing church. There has to be a convenient time for you. So and also would like to celebrate um that uh Pastor Bob, he has recently um achieved his doctoral degree, I saw. So we want to want to congratulate you on that as well. Um so on behalf of my colleagues on the Mirmar City Commission, we are presenting the proclamation, and we also would like to present Calvary, the key to the city of Mirmar, for all of the work that you're doing in our community. We appreciate you and thanks for being at the heart and the fabric of the city of Mirmar. Uh, we love you and we appreciate you.
openpublica.com