Miramar City Commission Regular Meeting - May 6, 2026
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Miramar City Commission Regular Meeting – May 6, 2026
The City of Miramar Commission held its regular meeting on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at 7:00 PM in the Commission Chambers. The meeting opened after a lengthy executive session and included numerous proclamations, the approval of a consent agenda, appointments to advisory boards, and a contract award for water treatment pipeline upgrades. Commissioners also paid tribute to a recently deceased employee, Leighton Henriquez, and provided updates on community events and strategic planning.
Presentations & Proclamations
- Police Week & Police Officers Memorial Day (May 15, 2026) – proclamation presented to the Miramar Police Department.
- Teacher Appreciation Week (May 4–8, 2026) – recognized Sunshine Elementary School (established 1963, currently serving approximately 614 students).
- National Public Works Week (May 17–23, 2026) – theme “Rooted in Service, Powered by Community”; video presentation highlighted public works services.
- Municipal Clerks Week (May 3–9, 2026) and National Minutes and Records Day (May 6, 2026) – accepted by Annette and Robert Kidd on behalf of City Clerk Denise Gibbs.
- Lupus Awareness Month (May 2026) – accepted by Annette and Robert Kidd; statement from Nadine (watching online) noted lupus affects over 100,000 in Florida, 5 million worldwide, and that Memorial Hospital in Miramar helped diagnose her within a month.
- Mental Health Awareness Month (May 2026) – accepted by Dr. Jennifer Bowers of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., Upsilón Alpha Zeta Chapter; cited that 1 in 5 adults experience mental health challenges each year, half of all conditions begin by age 14, and 75% by age 24.
- Haitian Heritage Month (May 2026) – recognized contributions of the Haitian community, including the first Haitian-American commissioner in Broward County.
- Stroke Awareness Month (May 2026) – noted 795,000+ Americans experience stroke annually, 80% preventable.
- Hurricane Preparedness Week (May 3–9, 2026) – hurricane season runs June 1 – November 30.
- Nurses Week (May 6–12, 2026) – recognized Fire Rescue Chief Jermaine McFarland, the first nurse to hold that position.
- Turquoise Takeover Week – proclamation by Commissioner Colbourne.
- Mother’s Day Recognition – brief presentation by Commissioner Cherasard.
Consent Calendar
- All eight consent items were approved unanimously (5-0) without discussion or public comment:
- Minutes from the Special Commission Meeting of April 22, 2026.
- Temp. Reso. #R8676 – Award of IFB 26-014 to GA Technical Services, Inc. for CCTV replacements at eight sites, not-to-exceed $114,021.
- Temp. Reso. #R8683 – Purchase of Microsoft Enterprise software licenses/maintenance with Insight Public Sector, not-to-exceed $147,338 (FY 2026), using NASPO Contract.
- Temp. Reso. #R8686 – Award of IFB 26-022 to R2 Unified Technologies for Meraki Wi-Fi access point replacements, not-to-exceed $323,188 (including 15% contingency).
- Temp. Reso. #R8677 – Professional Services Amendment No. 4 with Craven Thompson and Associates, Inc. for Capital Improvement Project 53025 (Historic Miramar Technology Village Roadway Improvements), amount $74,820.
- Temp. Reso. #R8694 – Award of RFLOI 26-11-04 to Hazen and Sawyer, P.C. for WWRF Reclaimed Distribution Inline Strainer Project, total not-to-exceed $359,639 (design/construction management $334,639 + project allowance $25,000).
- Temp. Reso. #R8684 – Expenditure of $150,000 from Law Enforcement Trust Funds for crime prevention initiatives (Miramar Police Department).
- Temp. Reso. #R8685 – Expenditure of $310,000 from Law Enforcement Trust Funds for police training and professional development.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public registered to speak on the consent agenda or on Resolution items 9 and 10. No public comments were made from the floor during those agenda items.
Discussion Items
Item 9 – Temp. Reso. #R8649: Appointments to Various Advisory Boards Commissioners nominated and voted on candidates for several boards. During discussion, Commissioner Chambers changed his appointment from the Sister Cities Board to the Historic Miramar Advisory Board for Sheree Hazel; Commissioner Colburn deferred her Sister Cities Board vacancy. The board appointments approved unanimously (5-0) were:
- Affordable Housing Advisory Committee: Tashika Shaw (essential service personnel, at-large).
- Business Industry Development Advisory Board: Ken Frazier (at-large, local bank/community liaison).
- Civil Service Board: Sharika Rogers and Pierre LeBlanc (two at-large Miramar resident seats).
- Elderly Affairs Advisory Board: Sherianne Colhoun (Commissioner Chambers appointment), Zinab Salim (Commissioner Colbourne appointment), Maxine Gordon (Historic Miramar business owner seat).
- RBG Commission on the Status of Women: Anne-Marie Clark (Vice Mayor Edwards appointment).
- Sister Cities Board: Sheree Hazel (Commissioner Chambers appointment, later moved to Historic Miramar board); Tracy Welsh (business representative at-large); educational institution seat remained vacant. Commissioner Colbourne deferred her vacancy.
- Teen Council Advisory Board: Naima Jean and Samuel Figueroa (Commissioner Colbourne appointments).
Item 10 – Temp. Reso. #R8678: West Water Treatment Plant Capacity and Upgrades – Offsite Pipelines Presented by Senior Project Manager Eric François. Scope: installation of 2,750 linear feet of 20-inch ADPE water main and 2,750 linear feet of 8-inch ADPE force main via horizontal directional drilling along Southwest 136th Avenue from Old Miramar Parkway to Blue Gill Road. Contract awarded to ITG Communications, L.L.C. in the amount of $1,530,452.16, plus a 10% contingency of $153,045.22, for a total project amount not to exceed $1,683,497.38. The project is funded through the FY 2026 capital improvement program. Approved unanimously (5-0).
Key Outcomes
- All consent agenda items (8) and both resolutions (9 and 10) were approved by votes of 5-0.
- Board appointments were finalized with the changes noted; several seats remain unfilled (Sister Cities educational representative, Commissioner Colbourne’s Sister Cities seat).
- Commissioners expressed condolences for the passing of city employee Leighton Henriquez (Utilities Department) and offered prayers for his family; City Manager Dr. Virgin noted Henriquez was a “colossal figure” and that the department is grieving. Mayor Messam announced a proclamation at Henriquez’s viewing on Sunday, May 10.
- Commissioner Chambers requested that the city manager and staff work on naming a building after former Mayor Lori Mosley, who “guided the city through difficult times.”
- Upcoming events highlighted:
- Mother’s Day Pop-Up (May 10, 12–2 PM) by Commissioner Cherasard.
- Haitian Flag Day Family Fest (May 16, 4–8 PM) with patty contest and celebrity judge.
- Job Fair at Miramar Cultural Arts Center (May 20, 10 AM–2 PM).
- Community Conversations with Broward Tax Collector (May 19).
- Strategic Planning community meetings: next at Sunset Lakes Community Center (May 14, 6 PM), final at City Hall Chambers (May 28, 6 PM).
- Memorial Day ceremony – residents asked to submit fallen heroes via QR code.
- Veterans Day spotlight – nominations for 20 veterans to be featured on street light poles.
- The meeting adjourned with a motion.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. We'll be starting momentarily. Our executive session ran long. I'm just waiting for at least one more commissioner to come so we can have quorum to gavel in. So thank you all for your patience. Our executive session ran a little long, and we'll be starting commission meeting momentarily. Thank you. 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 ATNT U verse channel ninety nine for all City of Myanmar subscribers. Commissioner Colburn? City Manager Dr. Virgin. Here. And um, we'd like to keep his family under in our prayers, and I believe we have a presentation that will be shown. We have a list of proclamations and a couple of presentations. Um I'll ask my colleagues to join me in the front of the dais, and we're going to move up the recognition of police week and police officers memorial day because we want to ensure that our officers can safely get back out on the road to keep our streets safe. So if you can join me in the front. If we can have our Miramar Police Department, um Chief Moss and Command staff, you can come join us to the reception of this proclamation. Mr. Mayor, if I may, at some point the teacher of the appreciation sunshine school is there. Thank you. That's already already got that. Okay. Good to see you again. Some stay on this side. You know what? Hi, are you? How are you? Okay. This may have broken a record in terms of number of individuals to receive a proclamation. So this proclamation was requested by Vice Mayor Carson Eddie Edwards in rec recognizing police week and police officers memorial day. Which is which will be on May fifteenth, two thousand twenty six. Whereas law enforcement officers across our nation and within the city of Myanmar serve with courage, integrity, and unwavering commitment to protect our community and upholding the rule of law. And whereas these dedicated men and women willingly place themselves in harm's way, facing danger and uncertainty to ensure the safety and well-being of others. And whereas during police week, we pause to honor the service and sacrifice of law enforcement officers and recognize the vital role they play in safeguarding our community. And whereas police officers memorial day, observed annually on May fifteenth, is a solemn occasion to remember and pay tribute to those officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. And whereas we are also recognized the families, friends, and fellow officers who carry the enduring loss of those who gave their lives and service, and we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring their sacrifices are never forgotten. And whereas it is fitting and proper that we express our deepest gratitude and respect to the men and women of the Miramar Police Department and all law enforcement personnel who continue to serve with dedication, professionalism, and bravery. Um I said on the proclamation, you know, our officers put themselves in harm's way. Thank you all. At this time, we'd like to invent, I mean, invite uh principal Denise Dorset, Principal of Sunshine Elementary to come forward to receive a recognition of Teacher Appreciation Week. Let's give her a round of applause and team. Proclamation was requested by Commissioner Chambers. Proclamation, recognition of Teacher Appreciation Week, May 4th through 8th, 2026. Whereas we celebrate Teacher Teacher Appreciation Week, we proudly recognize Sunshine Elementary School established in 1963 as a historic Title One public school that has played a vital role in the city of Miramar. From its humble beginnings with portable structures, Sunshine Elementary has become a cornerstone of education and fostering a love for learning in its diverse student body with a student-teacher ratio that champions personal personalized attention and care. And whereas as of twenty twenty six, Sunshine Elementary currently serves approximately six hundred and fourteen students, ensuring that families in Miramar find a nurturing environment where their children can arrive can thrive academically and socially. Many families have comp completed completed their entire elementary education at Sunshine Elementary, creating a deep rooted connection within the community. And whereas the teachers at Sunshine Elementary are vital to shaping the future of our children. They are not just educators, they are mentors, advocates, and role models who instill confidence and resilience.
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