Miramar City Commission Regular Meeting - October 1, 2025
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Miramar City Commission Regular Meeting - October 1, 2025
The Miramar City Commission held its regular meeting on October 1, 2025, at 7:00 PM in the Commission Chambers. The meeting included presentations from state legislators, proclamations recognizing October observances, approval of routine consent items, and resolutions for board appointments, chemical purchases, and an extension of the City Manager's employment agreement. The Commission also discussed water quality concerns, permitting processes, and the federal government shutdown.
Presentations & Proclamations
- Check Presentation: State Senator Dr. Barbara Sharief and State Representative Marie Woodson presented a total of $800,000 in state appropriations: $300,000 for the South Central Southeast Focal Point Senior Center (now named Alexandra P. Davis Senior Center) and $500,000 for the historic Miramar flood mitigation project, Phase 5. Both legislators highlighted the collaborative process involving the city's lobbyist and emphasized ongoing work on affordable housing, insurance reform, and property tax issues.
- Feeding South Florida: Commissioner Avril Cherasard presented a check to Feeding South Florida, represented by Miramar resident Tavika Ramkissoon. The organization reported assisting 9,961 households in Miramar from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025, distributing 21 million pounds of food across four counties.
- Proclamations: The Commission issued proclamations declaring October as National Arts and Humanities Month (Artober), Community Planning Month, Fire Prevention Week (October 5–11), Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and October 8 as Emergency Nurses Day. Each proclamation included relevant statistics and calls to action.
Consent Calendar
- The Commission unanimously approved the Consent Agenda, which included:
- Approval of minutes from September 3 and September 17, 2025 (to be placed on a future agenda).
- Resolution R8495: Award of holiday decorations contract to Rileighs Outdoor, L.L.C. for $299,246 (one-year term with renewal option).
- Resolution R8497: Renewal of support maintenance services from R2 Unified Technologies for $166,313 (FY2026).
- Resolution R8499: Renewal of DocuSign digital software maintenance with Carahsoft Technology Corp. for $185,537 (FY2026).
- Resolution R8502: Renewal of police motorcycle lease agreements with Alligator Alley Harley-Davidson for $239,000 (three-year renewal).
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were made on any agenda items. One member of the public registered to participate virtually but did not speak.
Discussion Items
- Resolution R8496 – Board Appointments: The Commission approved appointments to several city boards: Antoine Foster (Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, for-profit developer seat); Geraldine Echeto (Cultural Center Arts Park Advisory Board, appointed by Commissioner Cherasard); Tandra Collins (Education Advisory Board, Everglades High School Innovation Zone at-large). The Blasting Citizen Advisory Committee and Cultural Affairs Advisory Board vacancies were deferred.
- Resolution R8501 – Annual Chemical Purchase: The Commission approved the purchase of chemicals for the East and West Water Treatment Plants and the Wastewater Reclamation Facility in a total amount not-to-exceed $2,942,600 for FY2026. During discussion, Commissioner Maxwell B. Chambers raised concerns about sediment and discoloration in water from the East Water Treatment Plant, citing recent resident complaints. Utilities Assistant Director Jinsheng Huo explained that the water meets regulatory standards, and discoloration is often due to fire hydrant flushing or pipe disturbances. The Commission requested a consumer education flyer and encouraged residents to register for the city's Everbridge notification system. The resolution passed unanimously.
- Resolution R8527 – City Manager Contract Extension: Commissioner Chambers introduced a resolution to extend the employment agreement of City Manager Roy L. Virgin for five years (beginning upon approval, effectively adding three years to the current contract expiring May 2027). The Commission voted to approve the extension in principle, directing the City Attorney to present a formal amended agreement at the October 15, 2025 meeting. City Manager Virgin expressed gratitude for the vote of confidence. The vote was unanimous.
- Commission Reports:
- Commissioner Edwards highlighted October health events, including a health fair on October 4 and a community conversation for Hispanic Heritage Month on October 8. He requested a meeting with staff to better understand the permitting process.
- Commissioner Cherasard thanked staff, acknowledged Yom Kippur, expressed concern about the federal government shutdown, and urged support for school lunch programs and senior housing subsidies. She invited residents to a visioning session on October 2 and a city spotlight event on October 9.
- Commissioner Chambers announced community events, including a music and light for life event on October 18 and an autism theater performance on October 19. He also expressed condolences for the loss of a staff member's brother.
- Vice Mayor Yvette Colbourne thanked staff for the successful Super Saturday event (light bulb exchange, chemical collection, senior fair, Latin Music Festival) and recommended better public education on the permitting process.
- Mayor Wayne M. Messam proposed reinstating the elimination of late fees on utility bills for federal employees furloughed due to the government shutdown, a policy previously used in 2018. He noted city staff's work on digitizing the permitting process and encouraged residents to track permits online.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously.
- Board Appointments: Approved as listed; deferred vacancies noted.
- Chemical Purchase (R8501): Approved unanimously with a directive to create a water quality education flyer and promote the Everbridge notification system.
- City Manager Contract Extension (R8527): Approved unanimously, with final amended agreement to be presented on October 15, 2025.
- Federal Shutdown Relief: The Mayor's proposal to eliminate late fees for furloughed federal employees received verbal support from the Commission; implementation details to follow.
- Future Meetings: The next regular meeting is scheduled for October 15, 2025, at 7:00 PM, with a closed attorney-client session at 6:00 PM to discuss pending litigation (Arbor Ridge Housing Partners vs. City of Miramar).
Meeting Transcript
And all of it is concerning. But a greater concern for for many of the residents is in you know our local streets where the kids are playing, where where folks are walking, and you know, you don't have heavy traffic, but you you have people speeding. You know, what are we doing within the neighborhoods to assist residents with that? Well, one of the things we're doing is we're taking those calls and those concerns. People send me emails, they talk to me about speeding all the time. Now it's kind of a two-fold situation. So in neighborhoods where people are speeding, of course, that's a big concern because kids are crossing, seniors are crossing, people are trying to cross, and in your neighborhood, you think that you're you are safe, and that's the place where you should be safe. But one of the things that we've learned over the course of years in addressing the speeding issue, the lion's share of the people who speed in neighborhoods live in that neighborhood. And so when we do enforcement, the first thing I start getting is a lot of calls. Well, chief, you called about speeding, but I didn't mean me. Um so one of the things that we have to remind people that in the last half mile of home, pay more attention. Um, because we're going to be there enforcing the speeding uh limits. Well, one of the things that I'm hearing from you is that we all need to pay attention to our speed. You know, we really do, and in particular, when we're we're driving close to homes and kids and and that sort of thing. Um, and not think it's always the other person. You know, we all need to pay attention to that. Um the other thing I picked up from that that you know, you are receiving those calls. You are hearing it and you are reacting to it, and I get calls and emails as well. Um, and it's important for our residents to know that those are being received, and and that is taken into consideration as you develop a plan to address these issues. Um message do you have to drivers who speed in those neighborhoods and ignore the speed limit? I think my biggest message to drivers is that you need to take other people into consideration. I know that when we start driving, uh, we're thinking about the place we need to get to. We're thinking about hurrying up to get home and all of those things. But there are other people out there, and one of the things that we always have to do is be considerate. The lion's share of tickets are written because a person was not considered and didn't use due care. Most accidents happen because people are not considerate and didn't use due care. Just be considerate. Be considerate. Just that simple. Some of the things we learned from when we were real the meeting of the Myanmar City Commission is now called to order. An opportunity was given to the public to register to the 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. The meeting is being streamed live at Miramarfl.gov slash commission meeting and on and being televised on Comcast Channel 78 and ATT Uverse Channels 99 for all City of Myanmar subscribers. As of October 1st, 2025 at 4:30 p.m. One member from the public has registered 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 commission prior to any action taken. At this time, Madam Clerk, please call the roll. Mayor Masson. Here. Commissioner Chambers. Commissioner Sherizard, President Vice Mayor Colburn. Here. Commissioner Edwards. City Manager Dr. Virgin. Here. City Attorney Gary. Here.
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