City Commission - Regular Meeting

Thank you, everyone, and welcome. Welcome to the City of Pembroke Pines City Commission meeting of 02/04/2026. Isn't it nice that it's a little more it's a little warmer this evening, Yeah. We've we've not had the usual weather here, but I wouldn't trade living in South Florida for anywhere. So mister Clark, if we could have the roll.

Commissioner Good? I am. Vice mayor Hernandez? Here. Commissioner Rodriguez?

Here.

Commissioner Schwartz? Here. Mayor Castillo? Here. City manager Dodge? Here. City attorney Gordon? I'm here. We have a quorum.

Thank you very much. And today, leading us in the pledge and the national anthem, we have Dea Butler. And she's a teacher at Rising Stars in the area that teaches people so much about the performing arts. And Ms. Butler will be leading us in the pledge, followed by the national anthem. Would you all please rise?

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.

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming. Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight. For the ramparts we watch were so gallantily streaming. Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. Oh, save us that star spangled banner yet wave

Well done.

Miss Dayer Butler, thank you for honoring us here in Pembroke Pines and for honoring America. That was pretty special. Right? Another round of applause, please. Mr. Clerk, announcements of items to be pulled from the agenda? Any?

No items, mayor.

Okay. I have several

Okay.

Where's my friend, pastor Malcolm? He said he said, I better go first because I got bible class at seven. So come on down.

Because when he speaks, we listen.

And there's some members here who are waiting to go.

Oh, okay. Alright. Right here.

My friends, this is a proclamation of the city of Pembroke Pines, Florida declaring Black History Month. Whereas Black History Month is a time to recognize, celebrate the rich history, achievement, and contributions of African Americans to our city, our state, and our nation. And whereas the observance of Black History Month traces back to 1926 when historian doctor Carter G. Woodson established Negro History Week, later expanded into a month long celebration in 1976 to ensure the significant impact of black Americans is acknowledged and honored. And whereas African Americans have played a crucial role in the shaping of cultural, economic, political, and social fabric of our city and have made lasting contributions in the fields of education, medicine, science, business, the arts, civil rights.

And whereas the city of Pembroke Pines stands committed to promoting diversity, inclusion, and justice, and ensuring that the legacies and stories of African Americans are acknowledged and celebrated throughout the year. Now, therefore, I, Angelo Castillo, mayor of the city of Pembroke Pines, Florida, a city that cares, can, and does, along with the city commission, do hereby proclaim February 2026 as Black History Month in the city of Pembroke Pines, and we encourage all residents to celebrate our diverse heritage and culture and continue to make our community inclusive for all.

First and foremost, let me say thank you, Mayor Castillo, and all the commissioners, and all your leaders, employees. But let me give praise and honor to my savior and lord Jesus Christ. And with so many applause for that, I promise I won't take up a collection tonight. I'll wait until Sunday. It's a great honor and we are greatly humbled for this that represents not just me but everyone, especially our black community through not just Pembroke Pines, but throughout the world.

And we give god the praise for diversity and inclusiveness and that we're all one. Let me say one love to everyone. One love.

Mister mayor, if I may, for just a moment Great. I'd like to just say to everybody, Pastor Malcolm is a true gift to us in Pembroke Pines. We have witnessed firsthand your leadership, your support, your love, and your spiritual guidance to our community. And we couldn't be any happier because we all witnessed it firsthand. You're the real deal. And thank you for caring to serve God in this community, sir. Thank you.

Okay. Deesem. Is he here? Come on up. This is a proclamation of the city of Pembroke Pines recognition of Disum for his artistic contributions to the city of Pembroke Pines.

Whereas the city of Pembroke Pines probably participated in the Panthers on the Prowl initiative, a fundraising effort benefiting the American Cancer Society supported by the Florida Panthers general manager, Bill Zito, his wife, Julie Zito, which unites our community and philanthropy to advance cancer research and patient services and is observed during yes, I know. I know. I'll get right on it. I promise. And raises awareness about cancer prevention, early detection, education, and community support.

And whereas the initiative features life-sized panther sculptures there's one right outside. Oh, there it is celebrated in Florida's wildlife, community engagement, and hockey pride, while encouraging public participation and meaningful dialogue around cancer awareness. And where a South Florida artist and cancer survivor, Disson, created a city of Pembroke Pines panther sculpture, thoughtfully incorporating sunrise and sunset inspired colors in native Florida plants. And whereas it is our pleasure to demonstrate that here at our city center. Now, therefore, I, Angelo Castillo, mayor of the city of Pembroke Pines on behalf of the

city

commission, Do hereby proclaim and recognize Disson for his outstanding autistic contributions and commend his creativity, dedication, and support of the Panthers on the Power initiative, which has enriched the community and advanced a meaningful cause. Thank you so very, very much.

I'm not great with words, but it's a huge honor to be here. Thank you to Holly, to Joe Swan, to you mayor, to everybody else here for this huge honor. Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Mayor, 22, one

more. One more? All right. Now we've got the Pembroke Pines Bengals 7U football team. Wow.

I'm telling you, these kids can do anything. Where is the city? Alright, settle down. I got to read this thing. I know you're a little nervous, but so am I.

Alright.

Alright. You know what? Just for that commissioner, you get to read this.

Oh, yes, sir. Thank you. Alright. So this is a proclamation from the city of Pembroke Pines for the Pembroke Pines Optimist Bengals f seven u football team.

Look it up.

Y'all seven u? They're going up to eight u. So whereas the Pembroke Pines Optimus Bangles seven u football team achieved an extraordinary accomplishment by winning the seven u Super Bowl championship in the American Youth Football League, earning a commanding 28 nothing victory over the Pompano Eagles through outstanding teamwork, preparations, and sportsmanship. Congratulations.

Wow. One week. The

team on top of that finished 13 and o. That's only one other team we know, right, called Dolphins? And they brought in a PPO's forty fifth AYFL Super Bowl championship. PPO joined the American Football League in 1997 and leads the league with 25 more championships than anyone else. PPO is also extremely proud of our NFL alumni first rounders.

You might recognize some of these names. Nick Bosa, 2022, defensive player of the year. Pat Srik Sertane, 02/2024 Defensive Player of the Year, Joey Bosa, and John Beeson. Also worthy players like Mike White, Xavier Restrepo, Zach Moss, Anthony Walker, and many others. The Bengals finished 75 total park wins, all eight teams reaching the playoffs and two Super Bowl appearance.

Do we not have a serious, serious football program, folks? Whereas under the leadership of head coach Reggie Payuk, the Bengals demonstrated exceptional discipline and determination, highlighted by standout performances from number zero, Ray Shipman, who scored three touchdowns and earned offensive m p MVP honors, and number two, Achilles Lewis, who recorded 14 tackles and earned defensive MVP honors. And whereas this championship victory reflects the dedication, talent, and commitment of the youth athletes and their families and coaches and serves as a source of pride for the city of Pembroke Pines. And whereas the Pembroke Pines Optimist Club established in 1968 is the oldest organization in Pembroke Pines and has long served as a friend of youth providing athletic opportunities to approximately 2,000 participants annually while promoting good sportsmanship, healthy competition, parental involvement, and a strong family oriented environment. And whereas the PPO seven u football team members are as follows, and raise your hand if we if I call your name.

Reginald Alludor. Carter Pollard. Parker Mason. Malachi Forstall. Lennox Williams.

Tristan Clementzima. Ziyam Obas. Brody Abruzzat Zacate. DJ Burden. Dash Smith.

Adrian Dizier. Daviard Daley. Elijah Garnett, Dante Gordon, Josh Walker, Tristan George, D'Amari Brutas, Willie Jones, Amari McFarlane, Carter Penn, Ron Dyer, Joseph Robinson junior, Achilles Lewis, and number zero, Rayford Shepman.

Thank you very much. I know he could do this so much better. Now therefore, I am Angelo Castillo, mayor of the city of Pembroke Pines, Florida at the request of commissioner Good on behalf of the city commission. Do hereby recognize and congratulate the Pembroke Pines Optimist Bengals seven u football team on their Super Bowl championship victory and commend the Pembroke Pines Optimist Club for its enduring legacy of youth development and positive impact within the city of Pembroke Pines. Congratulations.

I'll tell you I'll tell you what, '28 nothing. That was a long ride home to a long ride home to Pompano. I'm we're so very, very proud of you all. Would you come forward here and hold this for us? And we're gonna take it forward.

Is that fair? Fantastic. Thank you so very, very much. Congratulations all. Okay.

All right, guys. Thank you so much. Hi. Alright. This is a proclamation of the city of Pembroke Pines.

This is a proclamation of the city of Pembroke Pines, Pembroke Pines Chauna Middle School girls basketball team. Now we are honoring two schools today, and I'm gonna read these. Whereas the Parapointe's Middle School charter basketball team known as the Lady Jaguars achieved their historic milestone by defeating Pompano Middle School 35 to 30 to win their first ever county championship. Now I want you all to stop picking on Pompano. It's just not right.

It ain't right. And whereas this championship victory represents the culmination of dedication, perseverance, and teamwork as the Lady Jaguars returned to the finals with renewed focus and determination after last year's appearance. Whereas tournament MVP, Tiana Singh, delivered an outstanding performance with a game high 15 points while team captain Taylor Chancey added 10 points and provided exceptional leadership during a tightly contested championship game. Whereas, the collective effort of the entire team, including Ivana Gallego, Caitlin Murphy, Bella Goldsmith, whose defensive integrity intensity and energy were instrumental in securing this victory, exemplifies sportsmanship unity and excellence on and off the court. Lady Jaguars championship team is as follows.

Now you're gonna hold your screaming. But I'll let you scream at the end. Is that fair? Alright. Taylor Chancey, Ava Nasser, Zariah Arsenio, Isabella Goldsmith, Penelope Telford, Aloni Keyes, Tiana Singh, Caitlin Murphy, Chelsea Rafael, Lial Marud, Morud, Ayala De Leon, Ivana Gallego, and Olivia Smith.

Now you can scream. Now therefore, I am Angelo Castillo, mayor of the city of Pembroke Pines, along with the city commission, to hereby recognize and congratulate the Pembroke Pines Charter Middle School Lady Jaguars basketball team for capturing their first county championship and commend them for setting a new standard for excellence in their school, inspiring their community, and proudly bringing the championship trophy home to Pembroke Pines Charter Middle School where it belongs. So why don't you come on up and let's take a photo. Congratulations. Alright.

Who wants to hold this? Hold on a second because I have to have to read the West one. I I I thought you were gonna come I thought you were gonna come up individually. What?

No.

It is the same names, but I just got I just got one for you and one for him. Okay. Good. I don't have to read anything. Okay.

Now, Alright, guys. Thank you. Okay. And now it is my great pleasure to introduce vice mayor Greg Langoski from the city of Westlake, Florida and also Mary Lou Tighe. You gonna come up?

Our friend Denise Harlan from the from our friend from Plantation. That's a woman from Plantation who's here to offer us a special proclamation.

Good mayor.

Got to hit that.

It is. Try it again. Okay. Good evening, mayor, commissioners, and members of the community. My name is Greg Langowski, and I serve as vice mayor for the city of Westlake and a board member for the National League of Cities.

I'm honored to join you this evening on behalf of the National League of Cities to recognize the city of Pembroke Pines for an outstanding achievement. This year, Pembroke Pines is being honored with NLC's milestone award, which recognizes cities that have maintained fifty continuous years of membership in the National League of Cities. Reaching this milestone reflects a deep and sustained commitment to local leadership, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Your membership since 1975 represents five decades of shared working, strengthening local governments in advancing best practices and advocating for cities nationwide. Pembroke Pine leaders have also taken meaningful roles.

Commissioner Thomas Good, serving on the Energy, Environment, and National Resources Committee, and Commissioner Maria Rodriguez, an active member in the women in municipal government. The city is also a participant in NLC's grant access program, demonstrating a strong commitment to federal resources and opportunities that bring back to this community. This award is not simply about longevity. It reflects the strength of your city's leadership and your commitment to national advocacy, knowledge sharing, professional growth, and collaboration. On behalf of the National League of Cities, it is my privilege to present the milestone award to the city of Pembroke Pines.

I thank you for your leadership, your partnership, and the fifty years commitment to the National League of Cities. And I want to say congratulations on this achievement. Also in attendance is Broward League of Cities President Denise Horland, who is council president for the city of Plantation, and Broward League of Cities executive director Mary Lou Tide.

All right. Two more. We have the winner of the scholarship. Are you going to do that? So this is a presentation,

Yes, sir.

Which is the winner of the I'm trying to find it.

Number six.

Number six. The winner of the twenty twenty six winter Florida prepaid scholarship raffle sponsored by the Pembroke Pines Charter School Foundation Inc. Pay attention now because somebody's about to go to college. Now I want everyone to know the principal chance is going to be picking. I'm simply going to be announcing.

Okay. And the winner is Yasle Perez. Yasle Perez, the beneficiary is Logan Valentin, and the beneficiary school is peak pre k, not enrolled in the school yet. Pre k, number 88. What a kid. So this is a very lucky young boy. Hey, Logan Valentine, you're going to college.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you. Congratulations. Good stuff. Good stuff. All right. Now we got the Natalie Belmonte Award for District one. And we have our friends from the school board.

Is Beth family here?

Is she here?

I saw them here earlier.

Do you

want to

do it next time? We can do it next month, mayor.

Let's do it next month, commissioner, if that's okay. The winners are here. One or two

next month.

Let's do it next Absolutely. We like to see it with them present. And that concludes that part of the presentation. You guys are on. You ready?

We're excited. Okay. Commissioners, ladies and gentlemen, it is my esteemed pleasure to introduce to you several of our Broward County school board members who are here present. And they want to speak to us a little bit about redefining public schools, the impact of Perma Pines. Mississippi attorney, we sent them a resolution recently on a slightly different matter. Can you set the tone for that, please?

Thank you, mayor, if you will. Forgive my laryngitis. Not a good thing for lawyers to have, except it could be a blessing for some who have to listen. But I thank you for the opportunity. The commission adopted a resolution, as you all know, on December 11 this past year, 12/11/2025.

The resolution essentially took issue with the currently in existence agreement between the school board, the county, and the city in connection with student station funding. The resolution was sent to the school board for their review and consideration. As you may remember, mayor and commission, the conversation that was discussed in December related to the fact that there was a bill passed this past session which provided some guidance with regard to prohibiting and otherwise regulating the ability to collect school mitigation impact fees. But there was also within the confines of that discussion a letter that was issued by the attorney general's office as an advisory to then representatives of Chip LaMarca. And the essence of that letter indicates, in short, my answer to the question regarding the ability to collect those fees is under the section of the statute that is cited to you by the attorney general's office, by Mr.

Utmeyer's office, section 163.318 subsection six j prohibits a school district from assessing and enforcing student station fees in addition to the impact fees when the student station fees at the time failed to meet the dual rational nexus test, regardless of whether there is an agreement in place assessing such fees. AG's office rendered their opinion. The statute in Florida that was given to you as a condition of review was chapter twenty twenty five-one 177, which changed the section of chapter one and sixty three and essentially provided guidance that says, essentially, that school districts can't request it and governmental agencies are precluded, as it were. Senate Bill ten eighty specifically says concurrency by providing that a school district may not collect or charge or impose any alternative fee in lieu of an impact fee to mitigate the impact of development on education. You may remember the city adopted an interlocal agreement back probably going back to 2004, 2006.

It was last amended in 2018. I pulled that document at your request, mayor and commission, after the last meeting in December. The agreement really relates to potential development in the City Center, where this particular City Hall building and other projects exist. There is one last parcel that remains in City Center, which is zoned both for residential dwellings and land use for that purpose as well. And to the extent that an application, if the property is sold at some time in the future, a prospective buyer will be asked for a potential impact fee payment under the terms of the agreement.

However, in the intervening time since that agreement was amended in 2018, the legislature did adopt the statute that makes pretty clear some guidance with regard to the collection of those fees, where there's not a nexus between the need to have them and the payment for them, as well as the issue with regard to the AG's consideration of the same topic. So comments are not made in a pejorative way against anybody. The agreement that was signed back in February and amended in 2018 was entered into in good faith at the time. But times have changed. The statute changed in Tallahassee, so did the AG's position on how to approach the issue of fees and expenses.

This commission, in good faith, adopted its resolution and specifically asked in the final whereas clause, in light of the foregoing, the city commission of the city of Pembroke Pines deems it in the best interest of the residents of the city to request that the school board take immediate steps to release or amend the agreement to to eliminate the student station fee as well as any other terms that may no longer be applicable under state law. I know Mr. Sam has additional information about some of the calculations as to what that expense might come to. But at the end of the day, the city, in good faith, adopted the resolution to consider the statute that was adopted in 2025 by the session, by the legislative session, and following the edict and directions of our attorney general as well for consideration. I'm happy to answer questions. That's the framework for how you got to the December resolution.

Thank you very much, city attorney. We invited the school board members. Commissioner Schwartz had the idea that in light of the resolution, we should invite you all to come. And so you have been invited. And that also morphed into the additional presentation of redefining Broward School's impact on Pembroke Pines. And next, let me, before I call the school board up, read to you a quick email that I received from Debbie Hickson. I just want to let you know that I'm not feeling well. I quote whatever it is that's going around. I am not going to be able to make it tonight. For the record, I am in agreement with the city about suspending these fees and was an advocate for making this change at the workshop when it was discussed.

I apologize for the late notice and for not being able to attend tonight. And we hope that school board member Hixson recovers from this horrible cold, which I too have, very, very quickly. All right. The show is yours. You get a cold? Yeah, I do. Just a little bit. Just

a little bit.

Where's those plastic ones? A little bit. There's a button there, School Board Member Thompson. You're on.

Thank you. So I guess we are in receiving of your letter, and we appreciate the feedback. We can't negotiate for all nine of them. But obviously, we are open to something or I personally am open to negotiation or to learning about making an agreement that works for both parties. Board Member Bowman. Hi.

Laura Bowman, representing East Of Douglas Road and South Of Pines Boulevard.

Board Member, welcome.

Thank you. So I think we're here to hear your position today. I'm not in a position to share. Like we said, we can't speak for the entire board. I know that the law was passed, and we are in receipt of the attorney general's opinion. And we actually have our legal looking into this. I was actually waiting for an opinion, but she got caught up with her having some other emergencies that she was working on. So I hope that we can hear your positions. And then we can take that back to the rest of the board. And obviously, we're going to want to comply with the law as it's being interpreted.

So we will want to comply with the law, yeah?

Yes. So what say you?

GREGORY We want to comply with the law. I

think I have a couple of comments. Because I was looking through the report that was sent by the attorney general. And while that is their opinion per se, their counsel, from my understanding, in the meetings that I listened to from the school board previously, have other opinions. One of the confusions that I personally had, and then it was kind of I understood it a little bit better, but it may be something that the other cities have a misunderstanding about is regarding whether the fees that we're paying are regarding debt service to the schools that were already built or the improvements that were already done. I am in agreement, obviously, that if we're not really building any new schools, what are these fees being used for?

However, if these fees were previously used for maintenance and changes that were done to the schools previously, and we didn't put in enough money in that way, then is that money being currently used to pay back any kind of debt service? Or is it simply for new schools? And I believe that that's some of the confusion that I won't speak to everybody else, but that's what I had. And it may be a confusion from other cities.

MR. Attorney, was there any provision in the agreement for using the funds for any purpose other than building new student stations?

Mr. Mayor, if I may respond quickly. Yes. I actually reviewed the document, and I cannot find any reference in the last amendment that was signed in 2018 that makes reference to bond funding or anything except student stations. That was the issue.

And clearly, in the document that you all approved back then, it makes reference specifically to this property at Pembroke Pines City Hall Platte. And it describes emphatically in the document, if you will, that under the Chapter five Article nine, Broward County Code of Ordinances requires that no application for a billing permit shall be accepted by the county or by any municipality without documentation that a finding of adequacy of school sites and facilities has been made by the county. And the end result, it wishes, is that although the city agreed to mitigate the impact of students anticipated from the development of this property, there's nothing in the document that I could find, at least from my review, that would require that. So no.

So I guess the confusion is, from what I understood, their counsel did believe that a debt service could be paid back with these fees. So I want to understand maybe it can be a conversation between lawyers. Obviously, I read this document and I'm not a lawyer. Mara, you're a lawyer. Ms. Baldwin, you're a lawyer. And not necessarily in part about these kinds of contracts. But I want to understand where that miscommunication is depending on whether it's simply lawyers understanding different things as they tend to do. And that's why we end up going to court for other reasons. But understanding that change and why that may be.

I think there is I understand that this is just residential and that one of the concerns that we have as well is that it is escalating fees. If there is something that can be done regarding the fee amount, whether it's I'm only speaking to myself. But if a negotiation can be found where we are it's a flat fee or something more affordable for cities or for developers to take on. Because ideally, if the developers come in and work on these projects, then we all benefit afterwards because we all have access to the property taxes of that new development. So I think there's a lot of questions, at least that I personally had.

And maybe it might just be my confusion. But I would hope that the school board members and I know you can't speak for everybody else we can find a balance in between of what we're kind of asking for, especially because your counsel is bringing up something different. The only way that we can kind of find a balance between both things is some kind of mitigation or some kind of conversation between our board or a delegate of our board to you all and your lawyers or some other way, which I would prefer to not pay any lawyer fees and be able to find a conclusion between ourselves. But those are just the comments that I had.

Okay. Do you want to present the redefining project?

I was just going to respond quickly I to appreciate that perspective. I think that's correct. I, too, am confused. And like I said, we're waiting to get a more concrete opinion from our lawyers because the position that the school board attorney is taking is that some of these fees were our debt service, that they were allotted. Maybe schools were built in the past with the idea that then we would be paid as developments go forward in the future.

So that was reserved. And so that would essentially be debt service for something that we've already done. In terms of things going forward, I think first of all, we need to know where we're at at that. And I don't have that information for you today. But in terms of negotiating and making sure that everybody is benefiting in the best way possible and looking at the potential taxes and everything else, we'll take that back. And I will for sure talk to our lawyer tomorrow. She was trying to get hold of our outside counsel. I think she was having a difficulty doing that and just took the position over like two weeks ago. So I apologize that we are not as prepared as we would be. But we'll get back to you as soon as we can.

Mayor, I have a question for the city attorney. 2018, what date was that in 2018?

The last amendment, commissioner, if I may respond, Mr. Mayor, was approved by the mayor and commission 03/05/2018. And it was an amendment to the document going back

So that

would be Mayor Castillo and myself.

I can tell you. Actually, I don't have the resolution attached, so forgive me. I'm fairly certain on that. Yes. Okay.

So at that point, we already had this built Eight years ago was a much different time. There was not even a thought of redefining schools or anything. We were collaboratively working together to improve public education within the city of Pembroke Pines, whole stop. Something shifted in recent time, which once I hear the presentation, I'll expand on where I think things went. But certainly, I am open to a resolution that doesn't involve 164s and all that kind of stuff.

That's not something I have a strong appetite for. This is a county wide issue where multiple cities are looking at things multiple different ways. So my concern is the viewpoint of the city of Perma Pines may not be the viewpoint of 30 other cities in the county. And that is incredibly unfair to any school board member to bring anything back until everyone's in the room to figure out where everybody is, if I may offer that to you. Let us be the starting point to that conversation.

It's always bad when two government agencies go at each other because the taxpayers are the ones who lose. In this case, the monies collected are from developers. So that's a little bit different. These are land acquisitions. These are private or public dollars, depending on how they're mushed together. I'm very hopeful that as a county we can solve this issue without getting the judicial division of our county involved. That would be fantastic.

Anyone else? Mr. City Attorney, based on your knowledge of the statute, is there a scenario that you can envision where the city could enter into another agreement with the Broward County School Board to tax development that they would then use not to create new school seats but to offset debt service on previously issued bond debt?

Mayor, if I can try to answer the question as short as about. The answer is no. And I'm not trying to be offensive or to be pejorative in the context of this conversation. But I would cite to you and again, I'm not trying to argue before a court the AG's opinion is a very strongly worded document dated October 24 when the session already over. And the AG acknowledged, in fact, some very interesting words.

He used the words that the Broward County School District enter into separate interlocal agreements with several Broward County municipalities. These agreements require the payment of student station fees in addition to impact fees. The stated purpose of the student station fees is to exact payment for the construction of additional residential development units within certain local activity centers throughout Broward County. By the way, this area we're in now, the city center, is a regional activity center. These agreements, however, entered into at a time when Broward County public schools were overcrowded with a lack of infrastructure to support the student burden on the schools.

The agreements calculate student station fees by using multiple factors. And in certain cases, station fees exceed the general impact fees. The attorney general suggests that the statute again, I'm just repeating what's in a public document rendered by the highest ranking lawyer in the state of Florida. It took effect on 10/01/2025. Prevents a school district from collecting, charging, or imposing any alternative fee in lieu of an impact fee to mitigate the impact of development on educational facilities, etcetera.

There's some very strong language in it. And it concludes that, accordingly, and under the statute, the statute that was adopted in last session invalidates the assessment of student station fees in addition to impact fees for a school district under an existing agreement between the school district, the county, and the municipality when the student station fees failed to meet the test of

the

statute. I'm just repeating what I needed to tell you on the record. That's Thank

you very much. And we're about to subjects to the redefining presentation. But maybe the good idea would be to ask your general counsel to contact ours. And let's begin that dialogue and see where it is the law requires us to act. But I appreciate the discussion. I appreciate the information and the input. So let's head forward now into redefining Broward schools.

All right. Good evening, everybody. Thank you first for making time in the meeting for me to provide this update. I think it's really important that we continue the partnership between the city and our public schools. And before I go into my oh, I also want introduce Doctor. Valerie Wanza, who is really

Always a pleasure to see you.

Yes, our chief innovation and strategy. We love long titles at Broward Schools. And she's really spearheaded this project and undertaking. And I know many of you probably saw her when you came to our meetings. And I want to take a minute to also appreciate that you guys took time to come to our community meetings.

I know you have a lot going on. And we had several of them in this district because District 2 was the most impacted district of all of redefining. And so I just wanted to point out that the reason behind redefining wasn't because our schools aren't adequate or the schools aren't amazing educational facilities. So I wanted to, because I have a captured audience, share some of the praises of our traditional public schools. So we have two A rated high schools in the city of Pembroke Kines.

Not only are they A rated, they're also excelling in sports with West Broward cheerleaders being state champions and their varsity football team being second in the state for the first time in 10 in school history, with Flanagan health science students being recognized as Regional Florida Skills USA Champions and two Flanagan students being state championship for Florida Future Educators of America. We also have two amazing A rated middle schools in the city of Pembroke Pines Silver Trail whose volleyball team is county championships. They didn't lose a single game. And their color guard is a AA and AAA championships. And I know you guys have probably gotten some color guard emails, so I will address that at the end.

And then also Pines Collegiate Academy, which if you guys remember from our first round of redefining, was transformed into six through 12, giving those students an amazing opportunity to not only have a great middle school experience but transition to a collegiate academy. And then we have several elementary schools, obviously, in the city of Pembroke Pines. But I wanted to point out some as Lakeside Elementary, which is one of the schools that will be receiving kids, has the highest school grade of any Title I school in the district. Pines Lakes has continually built their community and is having a Black History Reading Week with Silver Palms placing, as well as Pines Collegiate Academy in West Broward in the Minecraft Battle of the Beaches finals. So they will be going up against Palm Beach next month, in which Chapel Trail consistently meddling in speech and debate, as well as Commissioner Hernandez's daughter.

So she rocks. So with that, I wanted to go into the presentation. And I won't read all this because a lot of you were at the meetings. But why are we redefining Broward schools? Well, our footprint has consistently for the last ten years unfortunately been too large.

Some of that is because of students migrating to other options like our public charter schools, private schools. A large population is because of the school choice vouchers, which allows families to now use that for private schools or even homeschooling. So over the last ten years, we've lost about 50,000 students, which obviously equates to money. You guys know this. And so we went out probably for about the last six months to the community, talking to them about what the options are, how we can make this a better educational experience for all kids.

And we came down with several schools. So right now, Chapel Trail and Panther Run were originally discussed with Panther Run consolidating and moving all of the kids into Chapel Trail. And I want you guys to know that we do take boundary considerations into consideration. So how that would impact our communities, our families, what would happen to the feeder pattern, neighborhood integrity to make sure communities aren't split, like Grand Palms isn't going to two different schools, school diversity, and also the impact of our ESC students, which are obviously always top of mind. I won't read this to you guys.

But so our final decision is the closure of Panther Run Elementary School. The boundary I included in the presentation. And so they will be split between Chapel Trail Elementary and Silver Palms. And then the other consolidations we are looking at is Lakeside Palm Cove and Pines Lakes Elementary. And that's some of the boundary considerations we had for that cluster of schools.

And then the final decision was to close Palm Cove and have the students rebounder to Lakeside Elementary and then Pines Lakes Elementary. We also did some boundary changes, which are really exciting for the people West Of 'seventy 5. We made it so that Silver Palms Elementary School families were moving into Silver Trail and Walter C. Young. They were the only elementary school that was bounded East Of 75 prior to this change, which will hopefully alleviate some traffic crossing 75.

Boundary considerations. And then that also impacted Flanagan and West Broward because now the students that were going to Flanagan are now bounded to West Broward. And how high school transitions usually work is that it is not an immediate transition. So if you have a kid or a resident that is going to Flanagan, they are not immediately out their junior year to go to West Broward. They are allowed to continue at their school. Boundary considerations. So next steps. So we and I'm going to invite Doctor. Wanza up here. So obviously we are supporting our community and our teachers and staff through this transition.

We've already had there's actually one at one of my Miramar Elementary schools closing tonight. But we are meeting with families, making sure they have a warm handoff and they end up happy at where they are. I know you guys will probably have facility questions, which is why I brought my back up for Palm Cove and Panther Run. Do you want to speak on it?

Evening, mayor, vice mayor, commissioner, city staff. Thank you for having us. I'm Valerie Wanza, as Ms. Thompson said. So right now, as it relates specifically to the city of Pembroke Pines, we do have Panther Run Elementary School as well as Palm Cove that will be transitioned for another district use.

One of them may become an administrative site for the school district. We know that we do have other entities, for example, the United Way and a couple other nonprofits who want to partner with the district and really set up some community resource hubs or do other types of services that are necessary in the community. So we will work with some of them. We will also continue to work with Mr. Dodge and his staff because we know that there may still be some great interest in some space at Pines Lakes, and that may still obviously be an opportunity that we can capitalize on.

So we'll continue those conversations. We just have to see what the student enrollment's going to look like from the students who are transitioning from Palm Cove over to Pines Lakes. But the one thing we will not do is have two buildings sitting empty in neighborhoods. We will not do that.

And she's here for questions later on. But that is something I continue to advocate for because I know, Mr. Dodgy, you were interested in a partnership between Pines Lakes and the senior center. And I think that opens up a lot of opportunities, not only as government agencies, but just for the kids to have the opportunities like grandparents, adoption. There's a lot of very cute things that can happen with that. So throughout this process, I made sure that that was something that was still going to be an opportunity as long as the numbers go how we think they're going to go. Future proposals I know there was a lot of conversation around Walter C. Young. And I appreciate that you guys got a lot of emails about Walter C. Young.

And I can understand it's hard to hear the heartache from those families when you guys weren't the governing board that makes those decisions. So I just appreciate your kindness and compassion when you were talking to scared parents. Currently, there is no proposal to nothing passed to close Walter C. Young. However, when meeting with the community, discussions were had about creating Flanagan to be a six through 12, which would open up Walter C.

Young to either return it back to the city. Or another idea that has come forward that I would love some feedback and some input on from you guys is creating Walter C. Young to be a technical campus. And then at the end of that lease, we would be able to enter into an agreement with the city where there could be a rent or a lease fee or some kind of

I appreciate the offer. We were placed in a very, very difficult position last time in that the superintendent asked us what we thought about the prospect of Walter C. Young. And in good faith, we entered into that discussion, only to later learn that you guys wanted to keep it open. And then it made it look like we wanted to close Walter C. Young down. Our position to a person here has been very clear. We didn't want to see any of the schools closed. It's the exact same position you have. You didn't want to see any of the schools closed.

But I'm loathe to discuss the future of any of these facilities until you all make the decision that there's surplus because it inevitably sends the wrong signal to the community. So I think the sequence of events for my one vote is that you all make your decision of what you want to do and then come to us once that decision is made about where that goes from there. In the case of Walter C. Young, that facility belongs to the city. So what we ultimately end up doing with it in the event that you leave we hope that never happens is up to us.

So I want us to mix messages yet again and create an issue in the community that frankly was a little uncomfortable for each and every one of us here. So I wanted to make it clear. If you guys want to close the school, make the decision and then come to us and then we can partner.

So I understand that feedback. So when communities have questions about how schools are chosen, it is incredibly difficult in a city like Pembroke Pines where the majority of the schools are A rated. What I think caused some pushback is the fact that we do lease that property from the city. And so that needed to be explained to the community that the lease ends. And there is nothing you can ask your lawyer there is nothing in that agreement that would extend the lease. It is my job as a representative of this community to explain the decisions we're having. At no point did I blame the city.

No, I'm not aiming this against you.

And I'm just understanding.

I'm just saying.

I'm just sharing some history. At no point was the city blamed. At no point was it said that the city wanted to kick us out. That was never part of any conversation that I ever had. However, it needed to be known that there was a lease on that land, that we don't own that property.

So I respect that you wouldn't want to engage in that conversation. That's fine. However, I did want to take this opportunity to clear that as well as talk about opportunities for partnership. So I think, obviously, you guys are very extremely proud of your charter schools. We know that.

I think there is community interest in also promoting the public schools within your city bounds. I would welcome any opportunity to help partner with you guys, to also promote the great things we're doing, and then also continue working to see if there's a partnership with the senior center as well and any other partnerships that you guys might be open to continue on. With that, I'm open for questions.

So I'm glad you mentioned that. I sit up here as a city commissioner and a member of the governing body of Pines Charter Schools. But like you mentioned, I have two children in traditional public schools. I have a son in Silver Trail and a daughter at Chapel Trail, which is a really, really big fan of Maria and Rebecca. I'm using first names, but she always asks me about you.

So give her a call. She loves them. There you go. But the truth is, I think there's opportunities for partnership Being that I drive to those schools almost every morning before I head down to Miami for work, I see children being dropped at our academic village off of Sheridan. And I look at them and I view them as the same as I view my children because they're all coming from the same neighborhoods.

So I do welcome that. If I can be of assistance, I thank you for the opportunity. I also just want to put on record that what you, in particular, have had to do as a school board member is very challenging. I had a few of the redefinings, but the one that I remember actually, I was with Mr. Dodge and Mr.

Bonilla at Flanagan. I mean, I couldn't count, but there are probably between four hundred and five hundred parents and students there. I know the position you're in. I'm not a school board member, but I'm saying it's very difficult to be there in that room talking about impacting lives 80% of a child's life, at least until they're 18, 19 when they graduate, is inside of a school. So I do want to commend you because you've been through a lot. It's very challenging. And like me, you're a relatively new elected official. So thank you for I welcome the partnership. I don't really want to talk about Walter C. Young right now because frankly, everyone's got to figure that out.

But I thank you in particular because you represent my kids and I on the school district in what has been an incredibly challenging period. One more point. This is not I want to make it very clear. This is not unique to Broward County Public Schools. I work in Miami. I have interactions with the Miami Dade County School Board every week. They've lost 13,000 plus students. This is actually more than just Florida. It's a national issue. And so I do want to make that very, very clear.

It's happening throughout the Tri County area, Miami Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, very difficult decisions. I welcome the opportunity. Text or call me. I'll be there. But thank you for what you've done, at least for my children.

Thank you very, very much for your Sorry, have

a couple of comments as well.

Commissioner Rodriguez?

I serve on the Trades Commission with Broward County Commissioner Steve Geller. And one of the things that I've always talked about is the importance of having trade schools and having those easily accessible for all of our students as an alternative to going to college, as a primary alternative, really, because those are trades like electricians, AC repair people, plumbers, all those kinds of things that are really important. I've even advocated for that to be a larger part of our academic curriculum in our charter schools because I see that the trend is that you don't necessarily need a college degree to be successful in life, as a lot of us have been told, like, have to go to college, get into debt, and do that. I think the trade schools that you guys have are top notch. And while we may or may not be here obviously, we don't have term limits.

So we could or couldn't be here in eight years I think it is important for us, obviously for you all, to have that conversation first internally. But I do know the popularity of trade schools as a possibility. And if we are able to welcome that, obviously with I wouldn't lease it for $1 again if it was up to me because you would be making some kind of profit in an ideal scenario with a trade school because it is a profitable function. For us to consider thinking about that, whether it's at least putting pen to paper and having a partnership conversation. We cannot commit to what can or will happen in eight years, But at least chew on the thought and kind of think about what it looks like for our community because those steps, while the lease is not over until eight or everyone says different dates, to be completely honest.

I've heard even up to twelve years or something like that. I think

it's nine years, right? There's nine years left, Mr. Dodge?

It's my original.

Nine years.

So thirty seven would be eleven years. We have different dates. We won't get into that here. But I think it's important for us, if they need to make a decision within eight years as to what happens, do we even give them the concept that we would be able to have either something with a lease or a partnership or something of that sort? Because I understand from the community and there was even a poll on the Sun Sentinel about it that people would be interested in a trade school within the city of Pembroke Pines because they isolated Pembroke Pines on that.

I was able to see the results there. So I understand our hesitancy to talk about it because they need to make the decision first. But once you evaluate and see if that is a possibility and something you would like to consider, I think we do have the responsibility to say at least our train of thought, because we may not be here, we may be here, but they can't really make those decisions come that year unless they choose to, which you could as well. But I don't necessarily agree that we can't have at least a part of that conversation because the same people that they're representing are the people that we represent. And I've heard from a lot of people, especially of my generation, that say, hey, had I had that opportunity maybe a little bit closer to home, I would have taken that.

I suppose if it wasn't handled in so cavalier a way, I suppose if this was a much more constructive concrete conversation, that would be something that we could discuss. But under the current lease, they can use it for any educational purpose. I don't know that they're precluded from opening a technical school there.

Yeah, but we wouldn't personally, if I may I I wouldn't want them them to open

GREGORY They're capable of making the investment that's necessary for a technical school. Let them go away and come up with their ideas and come back to us with a concrete proposal that we can discuss. I don't want get involved in theoretical, hypothetical conversations because all it does is annoy the community.

I agree what you're saying. I wanted to put it out there that I've heard personally from some kind of interest in a trade school, whether it's in that location or not or whether it's simply encouragement for the school board to look at trade schools in other locations. I think it's of interest to a lot of

It would be great for you to do it in Panther Run. You're closing that school? Convert it. Attract people. Make money.

May I yeah. Thank you for coming, both of you, for coming. Doctor. Wanza, thank you. We're good. I'm just acknowledging. Thank you so much. I've been a resident of this great city for thirty seven years and twenty four years as a dad. Public education has always been important to me. I'm from a city that has deep support in public education, city of Philadelphia.

And prior to being elected, my family was impacted by boundary discussions. Prior to having kids, I had neighbors who were in trailers at Flanagan and never saw the inside of the building for the four years they were there. I saw the city of Pembroke Pines explode in population. I saw that there wasn't enough seats for the kids coming to our community. Once elected, I sat on selection committees for Pasadena Lakes Elementary, Pembroke Lakes Elementary, Pines Lakes Elementary.

May he rest in peace. Carlton Campbell, one of the finest educators that we've ever had. He and I had a special bond at Pines Middle. Pines Middle has always been, in the years I've been here, a struggle academically and just from a population standpoint. Boundaries went all over the place. There was a lot of uncertainty. I think maybe five years ago there was discussion about closing Pines Middle. And

that

was something I was not happy about. June 2014, Mr. Runcie called me up to advocate for an $800,000,000 bond. I told him that the committee had concerns. And he told me he needed $2,400,000,000 not $800,000,000 I said, well, how are you going to ask voters in November for $800,000,000 and be twothree short?

Then we had what happens when you're twothree short. I'm frustrated for our community. The lion's share of this impact is impacting direct residents that I represent. It's either a boundary change, a school closing, a shift in what their education building has always been. And approximately onethree of the students that I represent don't attend Pembroke Pines schools.

They're in Hollywood. And that's a battle that I've been struggling with when it came for SRO protection, when Murray told me she'd rather have counselors than cops in schools. How many superintendents have we had in the last twenty years? In the last twenty. I know we've had six in the last five, I think.

But we've had so much evolution of administrative changes that there's been an erosion in confidence in public education that's been self inflicted. Now, eleven years ago, I led a charge. I had 3,500 parents at a stadium advocating for our fifteen year charter extension by the Broward County School Board. We were uncertain whether or not we were going to keep the doors open. And that was just eleven years ago, mayor.

I remember it well.

Our student population in the city of Pembroke Pines, Pembroke Pines Charter School system to date is between 2030% non residents of Pembroke Pines attend Pembroke Pines charter schools. Expanding to that, when you have Franklin, Somerset, and Renaissance because again, Renaissance came to my district when Pines Lakes was an F. It was set for closure. We had Mr. Dodge I think it was in 2015, ten years ago, we were going to manage that school.

We had the super majority of the school board members in concept allowing us to do that. And then something changed. We never had that opportunity again. Susan Sassy became the principal, and we evolved. I was with school board member Patty Good when we opened up a STEM lab at Pines Lakes.

I have been entrenched in public education in this city, so much so that I agreed to be an adjunct professor at one of our high schools. And it gave me even more of an appreciation of the struggles the school board members are facing. They're facing an administration that is incredibly difficult to manage because mixed messages from you're going to have graduation at one location, it's taken away. We're going to have redefining schools. We're going to have teachers losing their eighth period.

We have the Flanagan band, which is like the accelerator for those who love music that are now questioning whether or not they can participate in the WGI because there's complications with administration. This community has so much fatigue. It's like a paper clip. You keep bending. Eventually, it's going to snap.

So I want to partner with the Broward County School Board. I want to advocate for Broward County Schools. There's something happening downtown that's fundamentally not working. It's just not working. And when the advocacy for the $800,000,000 bond that bond passed because of Pembroke Pines.

The largest percentage of votes came West Of I-seventy 5. And now we're closing schools West Of I-seventy 5 in Pembroke Pines. That to me is the frustration that I have tonight are the voices of the parents that just talk to me about public education. I know we can do better. I want to help you do better.

I want to stand by you and do better. But what we need to have is an adult conversation at the school board and stop all the workshops. Make a decision. The Broward County School Board members are elected to make decisions. Remember, you're their boss. Tell them how it's going to be. But what happens is the administration says, we'll just get through another two years and we'll have somebody else up there. And by the time they figure it out, we'll move on to the next one. So here's what the homeschool parents are telling me. Economics in this country are becoming very, very difficult.

So they figured that if they don't want to put their kids through drills, putting them in a corner, getting under the desk, and all that stuff, they can hire a high performing retired Broward County School Board teacher for 60,000 or $80,000 a year. And they'll teach 10 kids. So it's only $8,000 a family. And you have all these incubators happening right here in the city, right here in Pembroke Pines. So they're not coming back. They're not coming to Pines Charter. They're not going to Somerset. They're not going to Broward County Schools. They are going to a very large room. And they have virtual school.

And they can attend all the extracurricular activities. There is a large portion of Broward County that's happening. It's more in Parkland, Weston, but Pembroke Pines is impacted. The threat that may come up in November, potential more homestead exemptions and ripping dollars away from public education is a national thing. I agree, colleagues.

It is national. But Florida seems to be the face of everything that you can attack public education. It's happening here. I just saw an article, Mr. Dodge, yesterday that if the proposed homestead exemption goes up, the city of Pembroke Pines is going to lose something like 30,000,000 to $50,000,000 in millage. I have no idea how that's going impact Broward County Schools, but I can tell you.

It won't. It exempts the schools

in its current form. Who knows what's going to happen? Board member Thompson and Bullman, Doctor. Wanza, I am with you. Invited the entire school board back in November, early December.

Our parents need direct communication, surveys. Please share it with us. Ask Mr. Dodge. I can't speak for him, but you can have any facility on this campus. If you need a large room, you have 3,500 seats. We can make it work. We have to make it work. Public schools define what communities are. And we are a public school community.

And we have to continue. We have to lead. While we don't make the decisions on your side of the table and vice versa, none of us want to provide any misinformation or optics that could lead to. So I've been, the mayor's been, we've been in the 164s, the Supreme Court, the whole nine yards. I'm done with all that. I don't want that. What I want is a partner that's looking out for the community. Thank you, mayor.

Thank you very much.

Commissioner Sorry, I need to make a clarification because and maybe you didn't mean it this way. The communication has been there. I believe they each because I've seen Doctor. Wanza and I've seen the school board members at every single meeting, I believe School Board Member Topsin, how many school based meetings regarding redefining did you have?

So I had 12 community meetings, and I had two virtual meetings. Altogether, I've spoken to over 2,000 residents about district two

in particular. I want to make it exceptionally clear that the school board, to the best of their abilities and we can always work on being better. We can always do that. We have to work on our communication as well in getting out the word to our community. But the school board from and I don't even have kids there. But I got notifications as to what these events were. I saw it on social media. I attended, I believe, most of the meetings. I did miss one or two when I was off to my wedding. But I did attend these meetings. And the partnership goes both ways. When they have meetings and we're not there, there was one that none of us showed up. And I had the excuse. I was in Columbia. But none of us showed up to that Walter C.

Meeting. And then that well, we had staff. So thanks to Jonathan Bonilla for attending. But the partnership needs to go both ways. We can ask for that partnership to be there, but they're extending the hand to attend these meetings for us to be there. And I know that I've been. I've seen others on this dais be there as well. But that partnership needs to go both ways. And while we can say that communication can get better, it's been more than any of the other districts have had, maybe because it was impacted the most. But I don't believe and sorry, Maura, if you had done these meetings, I'm not aware.

But no one else held personal school meetings, to my knowledge. And so it's really important for us to, yes, work on the communication. But to say that there wasn't or that there wasn't a good baseline, I don't believe that's correct. So that's all the complete opposite.

Thank you, commissioner. If All right, hold on. Hold on. Folks, we have a long, long agenda. Commissioner Good has not spoken yet.

Just for clarification for the commission.

Go ahead.

I don't want to focus on two schools or three schools within a confined geographic area. I have friends of mine. I have teachers that I work with who want to become Broward County School Board teachers. And now there's a hiring freeze. They're looking elsewhere. The talent that wants to come and be a career with Broward County Schools, they're moving on. This is a much larger issue than a boundary of Walter C. Young. Indeed it is. Thank you for And your I need to look at this globally. And I am a global partner. I'm not just interested in

I would love to have a phone call since I know you guys have a long agenda. We can set it up this week or next.

You very, Commissioner very Good.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

And that'll end our discussion after that.

So I just want to say to Board Member Thompson and Board Member Bowman, I honestly believe that you two probably have one of the hardest constitutional offices in Oliveira County. And it's amazing the complexities of the issues that you have to deal with on a regular basis. And I know that you probably get very little breathing room. And so prayers for you both in that regard. And I just want to respond to something that Doctor.

Wanza had made reference to. So a lot of communication has been about these schools and the transition of how you're going to move students around in order to balance out the many different things that you need to balance. And then there's the afterthought of what are we going to do with the facility once we make this decision to transition folks. And so the conversation that was heard was, so a lot of conversations happening with the city manager in regards to the school out west. I'm sorry, just missed out.

Pines Place.

Panther Run.

Panther Run.

The potential out there, which is great. And then Lakeside, I think, too, you were talking about, right? Pine Pine Lake. Because that's close to our senior center, etcetera. But I didn't hear anything about Palm Cove other than we are looking at opportunities for other type of partnerships that are not necessarily school based, but providing other kinds of services, which sounds really good.

I agree that if we can get additional services to our community, we should be doing that. The element that I'm thinking of when hearing all this is, Okay, so what is the process for that type of development? Because I'm sitting here going, I'm going to have a facility that's going to be empty. And thank you for saying that we're not going to have empty school or empty buildings. But I am going to be fielding those questions that are not necessarily school related, but they're going to be like, well, what's going to come here next?

And so how does that develop, which is my big concern? And then the other piece of that is, as it develops, does the community still have an opportunity to weigh in on what type of activity actually takes place there.

Thank you, commissioner. So the first thing we're going to do is the district has three or four administrative sites that one has already been sold. So we have to relocate staff. And then we have two that are going to go on the market soon thereafter. So once we determine what sites or what space maybe need for an administrative space, and then we solidify that, so then you take, let's say Palm Cove is still available or parts of it are, then obviously we would have conversation with the city.

Some of our local even some of our county offices have come and said to us, we're interested in occupying some kind of space, if you all have empty space. But we will come to the community that it is immediately located because there may be community needs, you know, and it could be for I know that the city has a very well respected and thriving senior center, but it could be, but you know what? But we need to do an annex of that. And can we look at what would that look like if we wanted to talk about using some space or other needs that the cities would have? We would certainly want to partner first with the municipalities where these buildings are located because you may have not you may, you will have information that is specific to those residents and their unique needs that perhaps we can partner.

We provide space, you provide resource.

Okay. And thank you. And so I asked the city manager in regards to as these things develop. I understand staff is in the background. They're on the draw and y'all figuring out this, that, the other. And all right, we think we got something. And then you make a presentation about, well, this is what we think should be done. And I don't know at what point the city becomes involved with that kind of conversation.

The manager would bring it to us.

That's correct. And I've had communication with the school district where they advised they had space. The one we spoke about was expansion of a senior center. It has to be a program that's adjacent to other city programs. And there may be some other opportunities. But until a final decision is made as to what is available, then we'll look at that.

And again, I just want to reiterate again. I'm sorry, but this has a direct impact to my district. So it's certainly a priority for me to pay attention to that. And I don't want something to be developed in such a way that, a, first and foremost, that the community first time hearing this is what we're going to do type of thing.

That

I can't handle. And the second thing is at least I would like to at least participate, as the mayor does, because the mayor has just as much of an interest in this as I do because it directly impacts both these schools directly impact him. And so I'd like to at least be somewhere tuned in to the development stage so that I can have an opportunity to represent the constituents that I have that says, hey, I think you all might be kind of going in a way that's going to not be accepted, or maybe it's going in a way that's going to be embraced. But I'd like to at least be tuned into that development process, if I can ask for that, Mr. Management.

Thank you.

Okay? Thank you very much.

Thank you guys for your time. She admitted she was going say something

about the color beg

your pardon? Yes, sorry. The WGI contract or the color guard that I think Commissioner Suarez referenced and you guys probably got emails so that was in discussion with our lawyers. They sent out an email to everyone, I think, that they know that we weren't signing the contract. That contract never came before the board.

Currently, we have three scheduled meetings with WGI to solve the differences in the contract. The main concern was over educational records and making sure that they were abiding by FERPA. But as West Broward and Flanagan, our amazing color guard teams, and Silver Trail, and Walter C. Young, we are going to advocate for that to be solved. So if you just get any emails, just let them know the school board is aware and we are Thank you processing very, very much.

Real quick. I don't think you mentioned Somerset because I received emails from Somerset.

So I think they have a separate contract because it's a charter. But I'll let

Somerset is one of the charter schools. That would have to go with their governing board. But in fact, Ms. Thompson and miss Bowman were being nice. What the the conversation that happened at yesterday's board workshop was the agreement would be settled so it can come to the board on February 10, which is next week, which is what pretty much the direction the board gave its general counsel as it relates to that contract. But Somerset is something that's outside of our purview because they have their governing board, which is separate and apart, as you know.

Right. Okay.

I'll have

to get with you because I'm receiving emails about that. Thank you very much.

And we'll leave it there. And I want to thank you all for your information and for your participation. Thank you so very, very much. No, not at all. Thank you so very, very much.

Okay. The next item. Commissioner order to report. None, Appeals of the board of decisions? None, mayor. Announcement of board and committee appointments. I am appointing Laurie Enriquez, who had been a alternate member of the Diversity and Heritage Board to the regular board member slot. And I will be appointing another alternate at our next meeting. And I don't know if Laurie is here. Ah, there she is.

If you want to come forward, I just want to thank you for the time that you've been at the podium. I just want to thank you for the time that you've been serving as a board member. I've heard only great things about you and the ideas that you have. And it's my honor and pleasure to appoint you as a regular board member. If you'd like to speak, there's a button there that you press.

There, your honor. Your name and address for the record.

My name is Lori Henriquez. My address is 600 Northwest 86th Avenue, Pembroke Pines, Florida 33024.

Okay. Thank you so much for everything that you do.

Thank you.

It's an important board. I know that you're an outspoken person there and that your participation is highly respected. And I know that you'll do well as a regular board member. So Great.

Thank you.

I'm a proud resident of Pembroke Pines. I've been here for twenty six years, I think, during the Martin Luther King. Told you when I met House of Representatives. Love parties and dancing and all the events. Bianca is Miss Junior, Miss Pembroke Pines. So we don't miss an event. And I'm very glad and happy to be part of the board. Thank you so much for

your Thank you so very, very much for your service. Thank you and congratulations. Commissioners, the consent item consists of number one through three. Are there any polls? Any polls from the audience? Seeing none, is there a motion on the consent agenda? Moved by the vice mayor. Is there a second? Second. Second by Commissioner Rodriguez. Any discussion? Hearing none, any from the public? None. All those in favor, aye.

Aye.

Any opposed? Show passes unanimously. Thank you very much. Item number four, city attorney Secondary

secondary commission. Number four, if you will, is a motion to adopt proposed ordinance number twenty twenty six-one on second and final reading with a public hearing this evening. It is an ordinance of the city commission of the city of Pembroke Pines, Florida, amending the code of ordinances amending section 155.0203 definitions to add definitions for recovery residents and reasonable accommodation, creating a section 155.535 entitled reasonable accommodation application for recovery residents, renumbering sections relating to the nonconforming uses to allow for future uses, providing for codification, providing for severability, providing for accomplishing, providing for an effective date. Two zero two six zero one on the floor for consideration. Second and final public reading as required by chapter two zero two five one eight two adopted in the session in 2025.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

Commissioners, this ordinance is on for second reading. What's your pleasure? So moved. Moved by commissioner Good. Is there a second?

Second.

Seconded by the vice mayor. Any discussion? Seeing none, any from the public? Seeing none, the clerk will call the roll.

Commissioner Good?

Yes.

Vice mayor Hernandez? Commissioner Rodriguez? Yes. Commissioner Schwartz?

Yes.

Mayor Castillo?

Yes. And by your vote, this is a law in the city of Pembroke Pines, and I will be signing it shortly. And, mayor, for the

for the record, by the adoption of this ordinance, on the date this evening would be in in my legal opinion for the mayor and commission would be in compliance with chapter two zero two five one eighty two, which is founded in section three ninety seven point four eighty seven of Florida statutes. Thank you, mayor.

Thank you very much. Resolution sign item five. Thank you, mayor. Number five for

the record is motion to adopt proposed resolution number twenty twenty six r zero two is a resolution of the city commission of the City of Pembroke Pines, Florida, approving the city of Pembroke Pines City to accept two special warranty deeds from the Chapel Trail Corporate Park Association Incorporated for property which will be used for a drainage and water management area, authorizing the city manager to execute the two special warranty deeds for the purposes of acknowledging and agreeing to the restrictive covenants and conditions attached as exhibit b to the special warranty deeds provided for conflict severability and provided for an effective date, number twenty twenty six r zero two on the floor for consideration for the residents

of Vice Mayor, I want to thank you for your work on this. It's going to improve drainage in the area and very much appreciate it. Did you want to move this item? Yeah. Sure. Moved by the vice mayor. Is there a second?

Second.

Second by commissioner Rodriguez. Any discussion?

Any from the public? I just wanted to thank city administration on this.

Great job by all. Let's say let's stay dry. All those in favor, aye. Aye. Any opposed? Show passes unanimously without discussion. The record, mayor. Permanent number

on that item is number 39423942. Thank you, mayor.

Thank you so very much. Reports of the league and, MPO representatives. Commissioner Rodriguez.

The director's meeting is tomorrow at Lighthouse Point, so I'll be there and come back and report afterwards.

Thank you very much. Commissioner Good, anything new from the MPO? We'll catch you at the next meeting. I just got back from Washington DC last week. I was at the US Conference of Mayors. And boy, was it cold there. It was like seven degrees. Let me tell you Weren't you a New Yorker?

You're a New Yorker.

Yeah, it was nothing. And I was able to meet with a number of mayors. The highlight meeting was with the mayor of Mayor Frey from Minneapolis. You know, I had some one on one time and I really, really enjoyed talking to him. However, while I was up there, I had the opportunity to attend the water meeting, the water board meeting that I'm a member of.

And I asked Commissioner Good's question. So what do we do with these screens? How do we get rid of this PFAS after we've collected it out of the water some years from now once our project is complete? And I wanted to provide you with the answer that I received and the further answer that we're getting. A, there will be a disposal method.

B, we're not exactly sure which one is best. C, the EPA is going to be developing new guidelines for that. D, it's easier with a carbon process than with our ion exchange process. E, we understand why you're using ion exchange because of your water table. When you incinerate, it's not only the item that gets destroyed, but it too is filtered.

And yet there is concern that there might be residual PFAS that goes out. When

you

landfill PFAS, it has to go into a double lined landfill, which is not really practical or workable in our case because of our water table. And yet there are companies that specialize in the disposal of this material. And we have begun the search for best practices even as we get ready to build this new facility. So as discomforting as it sometimes is that we don't have a direct answer to the question, the answer is we will have an answer to that question because it's going to have to be disposed of. And it's going to have to be disposed of in an environmentally safe manner.

This is a concern that every water utility that is making the effort to screen their water of PFAS is going to have to deal with. I was talking to one mayor from Tennessee. They hardly have any PFAS there. So they're not screening for it in his particular area. I spoke to others in New Jersey. They're loaded with it. Of course. It's Jersey. And that's where much of the technology is coming out of. Speak to

any in Delaware? I did not. Oh, were bound zero for all that stuff.

I did not. Did not. But I want to commend Commissioner Good for bringing the question up early because it's going to be an important one for us to figure out. We have some answers. The answers aren't complete. But they're going to need to be complete by the time we get there because the last thing we're going to do is take it out of the water and then release it back into the ground again or the air. So there's going to have to be a better answer than that. And staff are aware of that. Mr. Manager, did you want to

add anything to that conversation? No, Mayor. Based on our conversation with our engineering consultant He's in

SORT. When we

bring back an RFP, this provision will be included with it.

Mary, did you get a sense of ion or carbon? Hearing the discussion, did you get a general feeling of if we had to make that decision today? I mean, I guess the one blessing is we don't have insult stuff. Imagine if they had been done already and we were already in process. You know what I'm saying? So do you have a general sense of iron

Well, nobody's Ion or

carbon, do you have a is it a coin flip at this point?

I'm not capable of making that decision. That's an engineering decision that falls to the people who have studied for a long time. Our folks have told us that the way for us to go is iron exchange. And that's the path that they have recommended for us. And that's the way we're going.

And no matter what path you take, you're going to have to have the ability to get rid of this material once you screen it out of the water. And so EPA has to do their job. And everyone else has to do theirs. We have time to develop this. People were very, very complimentary of the city of Pembroke Pines, how proactively we're going at this. There are a lot of cities in America I won't name any but there are lot of cities in America that are still sort of paralyzed in the face of this because they just don't have the money or the means or a clue of how to get their arms around it.

Did you find the discussion to be nonpartisan? Completely.

That's good to hear. The great

thing about the US Conference of Mayors, commissioner? GREGORY Not the conference. The discussion about

Even EPA more so. The great thing about the US Conference of Mayors and our discussions is that one of their models is there's no partisan way to fill a bottle. We meet as mayors knowing that each has their own point of view. And we develop an agenda. And we defend that agenda.

And it is a bipartisan agenda. And the words Republican and Democrat are hardly even spoken at those conferences. It's a truly wonderful experience to go up there and spend time with our nation's leaders. The other things that I would mention is AI, AI, AI. If I heard it once, I heard it 1,000 times.

Their feeling is there will be two types of cities even as short as five years from now, the cities who got involved in AI early and took advantage of the opportunity, and those that wish they had. It's just that simple. It's that powerful. And the feeling is that government will lead the way with AI and technology because it needs to. And you're going to be seeing lots and lots of discussion in the media and elsewhere about AI and its impact not just on government but on life generally.

It's just about all they talked about. And there was one application of use of AI after another after another with all kinds of amazing governmental impacts improving vastly improving customer service, vastly improving the ability to answer hard questions, vastly improving processing, vastly improving cost benefit. It a marvel to see. AI was a big theme there. Affordability of housing, huge issue everywhere in The United States to the point where this whole NIMBY business that we sometimes run into was actually laughed at as irrelevant by a large number of mayors in The States.

We don't even have time for that foolishness anymore. That's how serious the need and the energy is for affordability and housing. It everywhere. And the last issue that was discussed up there with a great deal of interest was immigration. And what some cities feel and this was the point of view that was shared by the mayor in Minnesota that he felt that he was invaded by the federal government without his approval and without the consent of his people or the consent of his state.

And that the barriers that are being crossed in the name of sovereign immunity clashing with the Fourth Amendment, clashing with the Tenth Amendment, clashing with all different kinds of other standards and so forth is a huge, huge problem. And how mayors and city commissions are pretty much in the only position nationally to help make sense of it. It was a phenomenal experience. And just when you thought you couldn't take anything more, you opened the door to the hotel and it was seven degrees. And you were almost thankful that the sensation of the cold drove them back home.

It was a very busy meeting. It was exhausting. But I went to just about every meeting and every conference there. And it was really, really worthwhile going. So I want to thank you for letting me go. Yes?

My apologies. I forgot to mention Broward Days. And that is in relation to the League of Cities. I didn't attend the League of Cities event, but the Broward Days event.

It was at the same time as you?

It was roughly So

I had to choose one or the other, and I went to DC. For

Broward Days, obviously, just like AI was a large conversation over at yours. Property taxes was obviously top of mind for a lot of people. There was a lot of conversations about how it may impact a lot of our businesses, obviously our residents, obviously the city leadership. And I think one takeaway that's most important is that we really need to get communication out there. And I know our communications team is working on it currently.

Communication as to what your taxpayer dollars actually do here in the city before any of these amendments and bills go into play. The best they could give us is that they are not sure as to what is going to come up. Because while there's been three bills pushed by the House, there has been no companion bill on the Senate side as of when I was there last week. And so it's important for us to kind of keep an eye out, work with our lobbyists to see any more information. I attended a meeting regarding intergovernmental positions for the counties.

And they were able to give a more in-depth conversation about these topics. But even they who attend all the committee meetings and everything and they're entrenched in that twenty fourseven, they also don't know. So I think we need to kind of keep an eye out as to what's going to happen since there hasn't been any companion bills. It seems as though the Senate is being a lot more reasonable about this. And while we all want the city of Pembroke Pines and the state of Florida to be more affordable, the consensus, at least of the leadership that was there at Broward's was that property taxes is not the way to go and that local control of those property taxes is best.

So we just keep an eye out for that. But what we can currently do is do our best in our private spaces and as well through the city to be able to educate our residents as to what these taxes do for them so that when they are prompted the question later down in November, they're very knowledgeable about what the consequences might be.

Yeah. I want to thank you for that. And I've been having conversations with city manager Dodge. And I hope this meets with the approval. Before there is a ballot question voted on and the state rules that don't apply to the state but apply to us kick in in terms of advocacy and so forth.

By the way, I have absolutely no interest in advocacy. I simply want to put out information about potential impacts. I've asked the city manager to work with finance to put together several scenarios of what we look like now and how we're using property tax now and what the impact will be, assuming there's no additional revenue, which I haven't seen discussed in any other bill, in the other proposal that's coming forward on property tax. What will the difference be? I on Twitter that the CFO, Ingolia, who's from Queens so how bad could he be?

How could you not like a guy from Queens, right? But he said, if there's a mayor in Florida who says that he doesn't know how they're going to pay for police or fire or anything else, you tell them to call me. So I may call because I'm not sure how we're going to do it if there isn't a new revenue source. Interestingly, they didn't choose to come to us with the Doge report, which was just distributed today. I want to thank the city manager for distributing the Doge report.

They didn't come to Pembroke Pines. I was asked on social media, oh, Angelo, so what are you going to do if Doge comes to Pembroke Pines? And my answer was, we'll leave the light on. Happy to see him come. My respect and confidence in this team right here is Marrowdeep.

We don't misspend money on anything. But my feeling all along was that the group currently in power in DC didn't want to defund the police. I'm not sure exactly how this is going to work because about Mr. Dodge, about 63% of our property tax goes to public safety, something along those lines.

The total budget is that amount. I believe that almost the majority of the ad valorem from what we collect goes for public safety.

GREGORY Okay. So if they eliminate it, I don't know where the money is going to come from for police and fire. I just don't know.

A lot of the bills have the exceptions for police and fire, which means that we would not be able to reduce those funding. And yet we would have to reduce all other services, which I don't think our residents would agree us having to impose fees on our parks or higher fees on our water or all of these other things.

In

a biblical sense, that suspiciously sounds like making bricks without straw. I don't know how it works. I could tell you that there is no more dedicated police force than ours. They need to get paid. They need to get paid. They owe it to their families. They're not volunteers. So the monies that cities have been using for that purpose come out of property tax. Now don't get me wrong. I like a tax cut.

I like a tax cut real good. I mean, this is I've been a driving force behind making sure that this city didn't raise the military for the last eleven years or whatever it's been. And I'm proud of that. But eliminating the property tax a pretty big step when that revenue isn't replaced. And I understand and I sympathize with the feeling that some people feel like they're renting their house from the government.

I pay more in homeowner insurance than I do in property tax. So I kind of feel that I'm renting my house from an insurance company. And yet that hasn't been dealt with. And so we're just going to have to see how this plays out. But I think that if a proposal goes before the voters of the state of Florida to phase out property tax, I think chances are pretty darn good they're going to get 60%.

And then they'll leave it up to us to figure out how to make that work, even as the proponents chuckle it up in private life. We'll be stuck here trying to deal with that issue. So I think it's important, Mr. Dodge, that we show the people. And I would like to make sure that that chart or whatever it is that you produce, run it past the commission auditor, will you, just to make sure?

Because I want to make sure that they don't see this as propaganda. I'm not interested in propaganda. I'm only interested in facts. And then let's publish this, hopefully before the next meeting, so that folks understand what it is that we're looking at here. And if they want to vote for it, terrific.

That's fine. That's fine. But then understand what taking that money away will mean in terms of being able to fund our city. Now it'd be a different story, commissioners, if the proposal also came with some other font of money that would pay for these expenses. And I'm all for don't spend money on things you don't need to spend money on.

We to a person are like that. However, that's not the way it's coming. So we're going to have to confront this in some way. And I'll be damned if I'm going to be bullied by anyone, whether it's a state official or my good friends from Queens or any other damn place. When it comes to what's on my mind and whether I need to speak up or not speak up, I am not sure how police gets paid for if there's no property tax in Pembroke Pines. I'm waiting for a discussion on that that starts with our professional staff showing us what's possible. So I

want to thank

you for that conversation. Anyone else on that? Okay. Reports of the city manager and city attorney.

I have no idea, mayor.

The city attorney? No report. Thank you, mayor.

Thank you very much. Commissioner Schwartz, you have item six on the agenda.

Thank you, colleagues. I just want to bring you up to date on the assignment you gave me a couple months ago to sit down with administration to review current policies, implementation, that sort of thing. So I'm going do it in two phases. I met so far for a total of about three hours. The first meeting was two hours, and we had a hard stop at two because heck, a lot of times we won't be out of here in two hours.

So two hours was a good pace. And I want to thank staff. Chief Vargas, I want to thank your openness, your support to allow code enforcement to be a unit that is self sufficient. And at the first meeting, Mr. Dodge was not in attendance.

However, it was a robust discussion that includes some history where we've been, where we're going. City Attorney Sherman was in attendance to support the role of, are we following the law? Are we doing everything we're supposed to do? I provided administration, some of my independent work product of funding the ICMA and the building code. And one points of in the ICMA is cities aren't precluded from developing a policy.

It wasn't like cities must do this or cities must do that. So first and foremost, we're following the law. End stop. We're following the law. For the first time since I've been here, since we've converted our code officers into the police department, I was told yesterday that we're staffed 100% for the first time.

That's great. Now, that's huge. I even mentioned to Mr. Dodge in a banter type of way that I'm not going ask him for any additional code staff now that we have 100%. Because for years, Commissioner Good and I have been advocating to build a bigger bench because they've had when I say they, code administration has had issues with folks being promoted.

As the program was designed to become police officers creates vacancies. People on LOAs creates vacancies. The time it takes six months to get someone certified, there's vacancies. But I was told yesterday that we are now at 100%, which is fantastic. So that means that the budget that we passed two years ago that has code officers split with a certain percentage in certain parts of the city may actually happen now.

Because we've been funding it, but they haven't been on the boots on the ground. I discussed, Commissioner Good, the importance of code enforcement on the East Side of the city, having HOA organizations that can look out for everyone in the neighborhood. So while you weren't physically in the room, I was advocating for the things that you and I have been advocating for the last eight years we've been working together. So we, I believe, still have an opportunity to allow this 100% team to get moving forward a little bit, to allow them to be able to provide enhanced customer service, maybe be even a little bit more proactive and not as reactionary. So at this point, I think we're in a wait and see mode.

They are open. Administration is open to get direction. I apologize, Commissioner. Won't have my back to you. Open for us to provide policy if necessary.

We discussed See Click Fix, our favorite app. It's changed, but it's still not I don't know how it plugs and plays. So we spoke about educating the public again on the best way to do outreach. We discussed some of the weaknesses of code enforcement at no fault of theirs. And that's the you can't be anonymous anymore with the state law.

And I reiterated that if someone wants to be anonymous, you can put my name on it and I'll take the hit. 80% of all of our initial statistically now, we're going back a period of at least five years eighty percent of all complaints get resolved without further action. But did you know that the city is spending money on postage and stamps and labor to mail out courtesy notices that were stuck on the door? I'm not finding that too efficient. And quite frankly, I think that we have an opportunity.

I discussed with administration to, along with the city attorney, he said it's not necessary. It's just something that they've been doing for years. So let's say there's tall grass. Post it note gets on the door. Hey, cut your grass.

You have a week. Then they mail a letter. With the new post office, by the time they cut the grass, they haven't gotten the letter yet in the mail. So should we be spending that time, effort, and money on that? This is a discussion with the five of us if this is something that we want to provide them guidance to continue that process or to do it in a limited way if it's going to be a thirty day notice versus a shorter period of time.

Because up until the point that they've been 100% we now have 100% according to what I was told yesterday. Because we have code officers who are just getting buried in paperwork. There's no incentive from a human nature standpoint to go out and create more work for yourself if you've got enough to do. So for years, I've discussed here publicly and encouraged Mr. Dodge to consider case managers to lessen the workload of that code officer going out.

There's some pride. If they give out the courtesy notice, they want to follow-up on it. I get that. But if not working at 100%, at some point you're going to get consumed by your own weight. The thing that I am hearing is well, let me take a step back.

Administration was requested that the administration go out and speak to every code director county wide. Let's compare notes. Let's compare the paperwork. How are we different than anybody else? So of the 30 cities, five were looked at, South County only.

I'm not thrilled with that. I think there could have been a little bit more effort in that area. However, I was told without any paperwork other than this is what we did, so I'm just taking their word for it, that we are dead even with everybody on everything except our fines are a little bit higher at $250 instead of $100 So my constituents, they're not happy about that response. We are Pembroke Pines, not another city. So the question, and it's not to be answered tonight, is are we Okay as a board the way that things are right now?

Or are we going to seek better? I know and I'm going to wrap this up because I would like to have some feedback. But I want to give administration, now that they're 100% filled, the opportunity to excel. Maybe it was just that he's been running short. Maybe that's been the issue this whole time.

There was one other oh, there's been one significant change. And when I was told about it really brought me back to a time where I was concerned about officer safety and 09:11 and red flagging. When I heard what the change is going to be and I'm going to be very Chief Vargas, I'm not going say much more about it. But they are implementing a process that will keep our code officers as safe as police officers. And I think that's a good thing because an individual in uniform is an individual in uniform.

And the public may not see the difference. So the police department and I want you to get with Chief Vargas about that, what they're going to do. That will keep our code officers safer. And that was the biggest takeaway from yesterday's meeting is that is the one enhancement that I fully embrace. And that came under Sean Woolworth's leadership. That's his implementation. And to thank I him for doing that. It's a shame that we're in society that we have to do that. They're fully staffed now for the first time. We have some enhancement.

And the last thing, Mr. Dodge is reviewing a reso that was on our agenda in 2024 that was pulled that will allow the magistrate not us, the magistrate that had more tools in their toolbox to find repeat offenders at a much higher rate than the $250 a day. There are businesses who actually make business decisions. It's cheaper to take the fine. They make more money.

It's like a business decision. So if we raise procurement after thirty years, we certainly can raise a code fine that we don't do from this dais, but a magistrate can assess. Mr. Dodge is reviewing those notes. There may have been the transition from Chief Shipano to Chief Vargas as to why it may have been pulled since it came in so late in 2024.

But that's something that he gave a commitment to review and potentially bring back to us. So I think that discussions thus far and I want to thank my colleagues for giving me the opportunity to kind of dive in. I still believe that the five of us collectively can we not only see things differently, but I think together, I think we'll build a better program. But I want to give administration the opportunity to kind of get their feet running, monitor, and then come back third quarter just to kind of see where things are. So I don't feel there's a need at this point for me to dive back in and set another meeting.

We did have some takeaways and action items. And the only thing left now is Mr. Dodge bringing to us the enhancement of the fines. And so that's kind of where we are at this point.

I want to thank you for following up on this with staff. Without a doubt, once code enforcement became part of the police department, it went to a whole different level. And that was a smart move, Not just in terms of the internal rigor of how code operated, but the way it's viewed from the public, that it is in fact an enforcement arm and all that. And the miracle to me is that in a state with a code statute that's so woefully toothless, the fact that they get anything done is pretty special in my mind. And I thank them not just for their persuasion of talking to people and getting them to voluntarily cooperate with the code, but I think the residents also need to get some recognition of that because things happen.

Things happen. And you're ending up in a code situation, which is part of why I thought the We Love Pembroke Pines thing was so important. I wish we had had that commissioner when we had the Blue House over there by the golf course. That eyesore was there for such a long period of time. If we could have only figured out a way to

That was

a mental

It was horrible. Was horrible.

If we could have only amassed there were enough people who wanted to go in there and pitch in, me included, and give that place a day of caring. But you've got folks who fall on bad times. They lose a job or they lose a spouse or they lose their health or they lose an income or they just lose it in some other way and their property sees a decline. And we've to work with these people. They're still residents of the city of Pembroke Pines.

And they've got a long history with us. And we have to deal with it. Know, for years I well, still do. But for years I represented Century Village of Pembroke Pines. And this is a little off point, but it sort of illustrates a viewpoint without taking too much time. You know, they asked for police to go in there and do patrols. And they do patrols under an agreement, you know, traffic enforcement agreement with because that is private property. They have to be there by invitation. And the agreement allows them to do that. We have many of these agreements with private communities.

And I have to tell you that over my twenty some odd years representing directly, commissioner, I got to and I'm sure you've heard this already in your time in office. You get two basic responses from residents. One is, thank you so much for the police officers who are here to keep us safe. And they're doing such a great job. And we're so very thankful to have stopped people and enforce the traffic laws.

It really makes us safe. Thank you very, very much. And the other answer is you ought to be ashamed of yourself picking on these senior citizens when in fact you have all these drug dealers and rapists and whatnot out there. And why are you picking on the senior citizens and all this other kind of stuff? And I came to conclude there is no winning. When it comes to enforcement, the law isn't there to be fair. It's there to be just. And just and fair are two different things. You hope that they combine. Very often they combine.

But they don't always combine. I'm not a magistrate, the city manager. The commissioner said you took a look at the statute with respect to mailings and so forth. But if I was a magistrate and one of your officers, mister Dodge, brought me a case and it involved scotch taping it or attaching it somehow to a wall instead of mailing it in some official way, I dismissed the case. So Because I'm not sure whether that person actually got noticed.

Yeah, mayor, the courtesy notice is not the enforcement side. So once they go through the courtesy phase, if they don't comply, then the certified staff comes out.

See, missed that nuance because there wasn't any information the agenda. But I was just going by what you were saying. But okay. So I think the commissioner has said a number of things. Miss Dodge, if you can meet with your with your staff, if there's additional best practices that we can look at. I just want to tell you, a lot of folks call call code and say, you know, that they can do a better job. I think we can all do a better job. I think they're doing a hell of a job. We will, mayor.

We'll provide an update report by the third quarter.

I can't thank you enough, mister Dodge. And thank you, commissioner, for bringing it up. And does anyone else want to speak on this side? Commissioner Guthrie.

This is truly a very challenging job, particularly in the communities that I certainly represent, because there is no formal homeowners group that would be able to be a secondary service, I guess, to these kind of issues. And some of the issues aren't quite so easy. I mean, what looks like might be a clear cut violation might not be. And it needs to be handled with care. And some are really bad.

They really do need to be handled. And we have laws that prevent us from actually getting some of the situations resolved because all we can do is lean a property. And I mean, I have one in particular that I could think of where the lien on the house is worth twice what the house is. I mean, it's really so how do you fix that? Because the law prevents it from happening.

But I do take note of some of the things that Commissioner Schwartz brought up because I do know that administratively, there is a burden. And the mayor talked about AI, AI, AI. I don't know if there's an ability to apply AI to at least relieve some of the administrative responsibilities to keep the code officer in the office behind a computer instead of out interacting with the community. The other thing, too, is just the public doesn't know sometimes whether code's doing their job because there might be a citation or something's going on. And they don't know.

There's no tag that goes to the house saying, hey, we've been here. We're working on the problem. They've got to be able to access information. And I believe that we have the ability, if somebody wanted to take the time to get online and navigate, they may be able to find an address and know what it is. But my feedback from residents is that that's still kind of not quite an easy task to do.

But it is probably one of the biggest things that can probably help me as the commissioner who receives the vetting, the venting of what they believe is inactivity. And I don't know if there's a way to, Mr. Manager, your report, if there's a way to incorporate some sort of easy format for properties that are under some sort of action by code. Because I will tell you that would really reduce the because when I have to deal with a resident, have to get over first that something's being done before I even get to the second layer of, you know, why maybe it's not getting done. So certainly, I appreciate the effort.

Commissioner Schwartz, you're right. You know, code is a frequent conversation for me. I do advocate for the code officers because I do recognize that, there are circumstances and things going on that are just not so apparent. And I understand the difficulties for sure. But I think there needs to be a way to let people know what they are doing and where they're doing it. And maybe that will take off a little of the edge as well. Thank you.

Thank you. Vice mayor?

I motion to close. That's my only comment.

Thank you. Commissioner Rodriguez?

No, was just happy to listen to him.

Anything more on this, Commissioner? No.

On the twenty fifth of this month, I'm hosting a town hall here in Chambers. It's a Wednesday night, 06:30. I'll be working with the administration on getting the social media stuff out. Other than that, again What topic? I'm formulating the messaging so it's clear and concise.

But we have again, I want to thank my colleagues for allowing me to work on this. And I know I'm confident that because of these discussions, the needle is going to be moved. And I look forward to, as Commissioner Good said, somewhere we can make it a little bit easier for the residents to know that there's a property that they're seeing, that action is being taken. The system is still a little wonky. Maybe EAI is the best way to fix that. But that's all I have for tonight.

All right. Anything else? Mr. Dodge, anything else? City attorney? All right. Thank you all for your participation. And we'll see you next time.