Miramar City Commission Regular Meeting - February 23, 2026
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Miramar City Commission Regular Meeting - February 23, 2026
The City of Miramar City Commission held its regular meeting on Monday, February 23, 2026, beginning at 7:00 PM in the Commission Chambers at 2300 Civic Center Place. The agenda included a property tax update, multiple proclamations, a consent agenda, public participation, and commission reports. The meeting was adjourned after routine business.
Presentations
- Broward County Property Appraiser Marty Kiar presented an update on proposed state property tax legislation. He highlighted several Florida House proposals and their potential impacts on Miramar and Broward County.
- Under House Joint Resolution 203, which would eliminate homestead property taxes except for school taxes, Miramar (with 27,740 homesteaded properties) would see a median owner savings of $2,958 but a revenue loss of about $48.14 million, a 42% decrease. Countywide, the median savings would be $2,421 among 424,899 homesteaded properties, and the county would lose about $624 million (34.6%).
- House Joint Resolution 205, affecting only seniors over 65, would result in a median Miramar savings of $1,595 and a city revenue loss of about $8.4 million (7.3%).
- Additional proposals included an extra $200,000 exemption for multi-peril property insurance, portability changes, and triennial property assessments. Kiar noted the impacts vary widely by city; Parkland would lose 75.2% of property tax revenue while Pembroke Park would lose only 1.3%.
- Kiar encouraged residents to use existing exemptions and said he was willing to return for community meetings.
Proclamations
- Muslim American Heritage Month: The City recognized March as Muslim American Heritage Month and March 20 as Muslim Day, noting Ramadan. A community representative expressed gratitude.
- National Entrepreneurship Week (February 14–21, 2026): Recognized with graduates of the Miramar Business Academy. The program had 535 registrants for 2026, including 115 from Miramar.
- Chinese New Year – Year of the Horse: Recognized on February 23, 2026. Representatives of the Chinese Association of Science, Education and Culture of South Florida (KSEC) spoke about cultural exchange.
- Ann Marie Carre Day: February 27, 2026 was proclaimed in honor of Ann Marie Carre's 100th birthday. Commissioner Cherasard and others celebrated her legacy.
- CPR Survivor Recognition: Fire Chief McFarland recognized two heart attack survivors, Juan Daniel and Imani Shannon. Daniel collapsed on January 6, and Shannon was found pulseless on August 19, 2025; both recovered. The City offers CPR classes.
Consent Calendar
- The City Commission unanimously approved the consent agenda (items 1–9) with no discussion:
- Minutes of the February 11, 2026 special meeting.
- Resolution R8616 accepting water system improvements and bonds from Safeguard Properties.
- Resolution R8618 supplemental agreement with FDOT for Complete Streets Phase III.
- Resolution R8617 Local Agency Program Agreement with FDOT for Complete Streets Phase IV.
- Resolution R8623 renewal of telecommunications services (Granite and Verizon).
- Resolution R8636 renewal of security software licenses from Mission Critical Systems.
- Resolution R8622 purchase of parts and services from Parkson Corporation for the Wastewater Reclamation Facility.
- Resolution R8635 award of armed security guard services IFB to Securtec of Florida LLC.
- Resolution R8619 amendment with Walters Zackria Associates for design services.
- Resolution item 10 (property and casualty insurance renewal) was continued to the March 4, 2026 meeting.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Joshua Veltry, representing Securtec of Florida, spoke in support of consent item 8 (armed security guard services). He stated that the company operates in 39 states, is headquartered in West Palm Beach, has a valid B license, and intends to retain current employees and hire Miramar residents.
- No other public comments were made.
Commission Reports and Other Business
- Vice Mayor Colbourne clarified that her hospitality receptions are personally funded, not paid by the city.
- Commissioner Chambers praised the city's diversity and requested a possible partnership with the Jamaica United Relief Fund for a future gala.
- Commissioner Cherasard proposed a program to recognize seniors turning 100 in their homes and reported on community events and the Miramar Garden.
- Mayor Messam announced that flags will be flown at half-staff March 1–7, 2026 in memory of Jesse Jackson, and provided an update on the Miami-Dade incinerator situation, urging residents to remain vigilant.
- The City Commission announced an executive closed-door session for March 4, 2026, at 6:45 PM regarding pending litigation (Troy Wilson v. City of Miramar).
Key Outcomes
- Consent agenda approved unanimously.
- Item 10 continued to March 4, 2026.
- Multiple proclamations were issued.
- The meeting adjourned with a motion after reports and announcements.
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 and for not more than three minutes on any proposition before the city commission unless modified by the chair.gov slash commission meeting slash commission meeting and televised on Comcast Channel Seventy Eight and ATNT Uverse Channels ninety nine for all Mirmars subscribers. Please be sure to mention your name and address for the record and before 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 before any action taken. At this time, Madam Clerk, please call the roll. Here. Commissioner Chambers. Here. Commissioner Sharazard. Present. Yeah. Commissioner Edwards. City Manager Dr. Virgin. Here. City Attorney Powell. Let us all rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States. At this time, we do have recognition and a commemoration list of bereaved Myanmar City employees. Who lost a mother? And we'll also keep in our thoughts and our prayers any other condolences that we are experiencing in the city of Myanmar, um, in our county, state, and around the country. Let's have a moment of silence. Thank you. We do have one modification to tonight's agenda. Item number 10 has been continued to the next March 4th Commission meeting. Item 10 has been continued to the March 4th agenda. On to presentations. Our first presentation will be a property taxes update by our very own Broward County property appraiser, Marty Keir. Hello, sir. Welcome. Good evening. Good evening, Mr. Mayor. Thank you so much for having me today. I really appreciate it. And uh before I just quickly talk about uh just kind of my thoughts as to where the property tax uh proposals are going. I want to, of course, thank you all. Uh I believe that this is such a fantastic city. You all do a great job. Uh, you'll be very proud, I think that my oldest daughter is about to become a null. So it's uh is absolutely so I'm very proud of that. Uh and I do want to let you know that I think that out of all of our 31 cities, Myanmar's staff is just one of the easiest and best to work with. Uh every single week, you all are kind enough to provide us uh all of the permits and things so we can put things on the tax roll, and you have been so helpful in allowing our office to be here in Miramar and to get the word out for owner alert and how we can help uh people save money in their property taxes. And so I appreciate y'all just so so very much. And with that said, Mr. Mayor, I appreciate you all inviting me today just to kind of talk about what's going on with property taxes up in the state legislature. And I think this is very important because as you know, whatever vote our legislators make and put on the ballot will be by far the most consequential vote I think they'll ever take. And the reason being is because it can drastically change the way that local government collects its revenue and it can drastically change the way that you all provide services uh to our residents.
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