City Commission Regular Meeting Brief for January 28, 2025

Discussion and Consensus Regarding Violations and Real Property
The City Commission provided City staff with direction to draft an all-encompassing ordinance that would aim to enforce any violation of land use, plats, site plans, or recorded covenants on real property. This drafted ordinance will require two readings and will be brought forward during an upcoming City Commission Regular Meeting.

Discussion on Amending Ordinance Pertaining to Hedge Heights
The City Commission discussed the possibility of amending City Code that prohibits hedges from exceeding six feet in height. The Commission provided City staff with direction to review the Codes of neighboring municipalities, seek the advice of the City’s Green Advisory Board regarding plant types that would prevent negative impacts, and bring forward suggestions at a future City Commission Meeting.

Update on Traffic Calming Pilot Program
The City Commission received an update from the City Manager regarding the upcoming installation of traffic calming devices, specifically speed cushions, at nine locations throughout Cooper City. The City Manager provided information that speed cushions are expected to be delivered the week of February 3, 2025, and installation to begin in the month of February. The City expects installation to take approximately one week for each location, barring inclement weather or other unforeseen circumstances.  In December 2024, the City Commission approved a piggyback agreement from the City of Plantation agreement No. 033-23 with Transportation Solutions and Lighting, Inc. for the purchase of speed cushions for the City’s traffic calming pilot program. This approval came after a traffic calming study helped identify the following nine locations:

  • Hiatus Road – from Stirling Road to SW 55 Street
  • SW 52 Street – from SW 94 Avenue to SW 95 Avenue
  • SW 113 Avenue – from Stirling Road to SW 55 Street
  • SW 118 Avenue – from SW 49 Street to SW 52 Street
  • Stonebridge Parkway – from W Lake Boulevard to NE Lake Boulevard
  • SW 49 Street – from Flamingo Road to SW 118 Avenue
  • Stonebridge Parkway – NE Lake Boulevard to SE Lake Boulevard
  • SW 52 Street – from SW 90 Avenue to SW 88 Terrace

These nine locations require twenty-six (26) total speed cushions, each 6 feet wide by 24 feet long by 3 inches in height. This pilot program will allow City staff to observe the reduction of speed and improved safety on these corridors and determine whether to keep the speed cushions in place, relocate them, or convert them to permanent speed humps (constructed of asphalt) within the budget process.

Update on Access to Easement Behind Countryside Shops
The City Commission requested an update from the City Manager and our BSO District Police Chief on how to best keep vehicles, such as ATVs and golf carts, from accessing the easement behind Countryside Shops, which is located to the south of Flamingo Townhomes, around SW 49 Street and SW 120 Avenue. This update was requested following the killing and injuring of more than 30 Egyptian geese on December 28, 2024. The investigation into who was occupying the off-road-style vehicle that ran over the geese is ongoing, as the City and BSO Cooper City District encourage residents to call Broward County Crimestoppers at 954-493-8477 with any information that can help investigators. To help protect wildlife and pedestrians who walk along this easement, the City Commission has provided staff with direction to find a method for restricting access to the easement to pedestrians only, while also calling on staff to discuss beautification efforts and the possibility of developing educational signage that can be placed along the easement, with assistance from the City’s advisory boards. The City Commission shared a vision for helping create an area that can become a nature path that may include decorative fencing to prevent off-road vehicles from accessing the area.

City Commission Approves Purchase Order for Upgrades at Three Wastewater Lift Stations
The City Commission approved a purchase order with Champion Controls, Inc. in the amount of $101,971.20 to furnish three above-ground duplex pump lift station control panels for up 20 horsepower upgrades at Lift Stations No. 5, 9, and 20. This purchase of control panels through a piggybacked contract maintained by Broward County since January 2023 has served the City of Cooper City well. Staff is familiar with parts and services, can stock one set of parts or similar parts for multiple station control panels, and takes advantage of a competitive selection through this piggyback contract, which has resulted in favorable pricing and terms with a locally based supplier.

City Commission Approves Piggyback Agreement to Rehabilitate Three Wastewater Lift Stations
The City Commission approved a piggyback contract with Hinterland Group, Inc. in the amount of $511,130.46 to rehabilitate Lift Stations 5, 9, and 20. Lift Station No. 5 was installed and placed in service in 1977 and is located southwest of the intersection of SW 56 Street and SW 100th Avenue, Lift Station No. 9 was placed in service in 1974 and is located along SW 94th Avenue between SW 49 Place and SW 49 Street, and Lift Station 20 was placed into service in 1977 and is located along SW 116 Avenue between SW 58 and SW 59 Streets. All associated mechanical work to upgrade and replace pump bases, lifting rails, piping, valves, fittings, and other related coatings, slabs, control panels, and restoration will be completed by Hinterland Group, Inc. The City’s sewer collection and transmission system includes 83 wastewater lift stations to convey raw sewage to the wastewater treatment plant and several stations are planned for rehabilitation upgrades each year to ensure the City maintains and sustains a high level of service to its customers. Hinterland Group, Inc. has performed similar upgrades at other Cooper City wastewater lift stations previously and has performed this work satisfactorily, meeting the City’s expectations on cost, delivery schedules, and service. There is sufficient funding available in the Water and Sewer Capital Improvement Project (CIP) Fund within the current fiscal year budget to cover this expense, and this is a planned expense within the CIP.

City Commission Approves Amended Contract for Hauling and Disposal of Wastewater Bio-Solids
The City Commission approved an amendment to the City’s current contract with Synagro South, LLC for wastewater bio-solids hauling and disposal services, to address regulatory and industry service changes that are impacting the current biosolids hauler and resulting in the selection of a different location for disposal by composting instead of land application as has been past practice. The City contracted with Synagro South, LLC in April 2024 for this hauling and disposal of bio-solids at a cost of $37.50 per cubic yard. This contract was expected to run for three (3) years and be renewable for one additional two (2) year period. However, changes in the Florida Administrative Code (regulations) and the bio-solids management industry occurring since 2013 have effectively tightened the conditions for landfill disposal and land application sites significantly. Due to the requirements, many land application sites including the one utilized by Synagro South, LLC at the Deseret Ranch resulted in the decision to cease acceptance of bio-solids from waste haulers at this time. Synagro South, LLC has searched for another site for disposal. Their new contracted site is in St. Cloud and is called Osceola Organics, which is a composting site requiring additional spreading and working and management of the materials, resulting in a higher cost of $69.26 per cubic yard, or an 84% increase. Staff reached out to H&H Liquid Sludge Disposal, Inc. (H&H) and Merrell Brothers, Inc. – two additional companies offering service to several Broward based utilities. H&H advised our staff that although other facilities are being serviced for costs in the neighborhood of $40 to $50 per cubic yard, they cannot extend these prices to Cooper City because their land sites are full with their commitments to the other utilities they serve, and indicated Cooper City would likely be better off staying with its current hauler due to industry changes, even if it means the City must go to a composting site as is proposed by our hauler due to the strain on land application sites statewide. Merrell Brothers, Inc. is currently serving Sunrise and its costs for disposal of their sludge is $75.53 per cubic yard, and although City staff tried to reach Merrell Brothers, Inc. they had not returned Cooper City’s calls at the time of the Commission’s approval of the amended contract with Synagro South, LLC. However, Merrell Brothers, Inc. would likely extend the same price as H&H, which is about 9% higher than the increased price Synagro South, LLC had already offered Cooper City. The Utilities Department has current year funding in the Fiscal Year 2025 budget of $225,000 for this expense. The costs incurred for sludge disposal in 2024 were approximately $144,000. Due to the increased costs and assuming sludge production remains the same as Fiscal Year 2024, the cost for Fiscal Year 2025 would be approximately $266,000.

City Commission Approves Contract for Fireworks Display Services
The City Commission approved the award of Contract No. ITB-2024-4-REC for Fireworks Display Services for $36,000 or $12,000.00 per year, for a three (3) year term with one additional two (2) year renewal term. The anticipated full term of the contract is five (5) years. Awarding this contract allows a qualified contractor to provide firework display services for Cooper City’s Founder’s Day annual event. This annual expenditure is budgeted under Annual Events in the Parks & Recreation Department. The overall Fiscal Year 2025 budget for Founder’s Day is $70,000 and this includes fireworks. In Fiscal Year 2024, the City paid $14,500 for fireworks, so this contract provides an annual savings of $2,500.

City Commission Approves Multiple Sole or Single Source Procurements for Supplies and Services to Be Utilized by the Utilities Department
The City Commission approved sole or single source procurements as permitted under Section 2-258(b) of the City’s Code of Ordinances for the following items: anti-scalant chemical Megaflux Fe from American Water Chemicals, corrosion inhibitor Carus 3380 from Carus LLC, membrane cleaner PermaClean PC-77 from NALCO Water, SCADA systems maintenance at our treatment plants from Jacobs, lift station telemetry control unit maintenance from Data Flow Systems, Inc., and with PSI Technologies, Inc. for Wilo wastewater lift station pumps, parts, and related services. The City’s water treatment plants and lift stations rely on a range of products and services standardized over many years of use and operation. Some of these are proprietary (with a sole source providing the service), while others have been standardized (to a single source) to ensure efficient operation after testing competing products through pilot or product testing, among other factors.

City Commission Approves Purchase of Two New Diesel Generators
The City Commission approved the purchase of two AKSA model 100kW portable (trailer-mounted mobile) generators from Zabatt Power Systems, in the amount of $168,942.82, for service to the City’s 83 wastewater lift stations. These mobile generators are utilized to back up the power supply to stations when storms are impacting the primary power supply to the stations. These generators also supply auxiliary power in the event of power loss during treatment processes or to support City events as needed from time to time. The Broward County Sheriff’s Cooperative Contract includes seven vendors who offer portable generators on the market for purchase. City staff contacted all seven vendors and only two provided responses and quotations to the City’s request for two 100kW portable generators. Tradewinds Power Corp of Miami, FL provided a quote for $124,663.00 for each generator, or a total cost of $249,326.00. Zabatt Power Systems of Jacksonville, FL provided a second quote for $84,471.41 per generator, or $168,942.82, and thus provided the best cost for purchasing the two generators needed. The new generators will replace two existing generators originally purchased in 1994, which are now worn out and badly corroded. The Utilities Department planned and included adequate funding in the Fiscal Year 2025 budget for this expense, and has other AKSA model generators that have worked reliably and served the City well over the last several years.

City Commission Approves First Amendment to Contract for Wastewater Collection System Rehabilitation
The City Commission approved the first amendment to Contract No. CIP220762, Water Resources Improvement Project, exercising the first renewal term and increasing pricing. Cooper City piggybacked on the City of Ocala’s Contract No. CIP220762 on February 13, 2024, for the provision of construction services related to the City’s Water Resources Improvement Program projects under full and open competition. Two firms responded to the advertisement. After consideration of price and other factors set forth in the solicitation, Miller Pipeline, Inc. was awarded this solicitation. Since Cooper City’s piggyback agreement was established, our Utilities staff has relied on Miller Pipeline for continuous sewer rehabilitation projects throughout the City. The need for continuous rehabilitation services is driven by the age and deterioration of the City's sanitary sewer infrastructure, which requires regular maintenance and upgrades to ensure the system’s reliability and effectiveness. The City has successfully used the services provided by Miller Pipeline to address these issues, contributing to the overall health and functionality of the sewer system. The extension of the agreement with Miller Pipeline for an additional year was recommended to maintain the City’s ongoing sewer rehabilitation efforts. The need for continued rehabilitation of the City’s wastewater collection system remains critical due to the age of the infrastructure, and maintaining the current service provider ensures continuity of service and avoids the delays and complexities that would arise from seeking a new contractor. Exercising the first renewal term renews this contract for a term of January 9, 2025 to January 8, 2026, as well as increase pricing by three percent (3%). Following a rollover of funding from Fiscal Year 2024, the amended Fiscal Year 2025 budget for this line item is $2,692,780.80.

City Commission Approves Appointment of Utilities Director
The City Commission approved the City Manager’s recommendation of Dincer Akin Ozaydin for the Utilities Director position. Mr. Akin Ozaydin brings more than two decades of engineering experience to our Utilities Department. Over the course of his career, he has worked for Broward County and multiple South Florida municipalities, most recently serving as the Deputy Public Services Director/City Engineer at the City of Dania Beach.

City Commission Approves Resolution Regarding Community Development Block Grant Agreement
The City Commission approved Resolution No. 25-06, authorizing the agreement between Broward County and the City of Cooper City for the funding of the 50th Year Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for the Senior Transportation Program. Broward County is the recipient of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Broward County administers these funds and allocates $15,000 to be used by the City of Cooper City for the Senior Transportation Program. This program is facilitated through the Parks and Recreation Department. Due to recent developments in Washington, D.C., where federal funding was temporarily halted for a wide array of purposes, including CDBG, the City Commission authorized the City Manager to utilize up to $15,000 to cover the cost of the Senior Transportation Program should federal funding be halted for the program.

City Commission Approves Resolution Regarding Water and Sewer Developer’s Agreement
The City Commission approved Resolution No. 25-07, authorizing a Water and Sewer Developer’s Agreement with Florida Power & Light Company, for their Sheridan Transmission Substation Project, located at 830 Pine Island Road in Cooper City, for one water and one sewer Equivalent Resident Connection (ERC) at a total cost of $3,836.97, paid to the City of Cooper City.

City Commission Approves Resolution Regarding a Grant Agreement to Support Funding for a Stormwater Master Plan
The City Commission approved Resolution No. 25-08, which authorizes an application for a Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) Watershed Planning for the City of Cooper City Stormwater Master Plan, in an amount not to exceed $281,000, and if funded, to authorize the City Manager to accept the award of grant funds, execute the grant agreement, expend budgeted funds, and take all necessary steps to implement the terms and conditions of the grant agreement. Resiliency is a priority for the State of Florida. The Watershed Planning Program, funded through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), as approved by the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), has the purpose of funding Watershed Master Plans (WMP) or Stormwater Master Plans (SWMP) throughout the State of Florida. There is a local match requirement which consists of 25% of the total project cost. Currently, the City of Cooper City lacks a roadmap for managing stormwater in a sustainable and cost-effective manner, reducing flood risks, and protecting water quality while supporting community and economic development. Thus, there is a need for the City to pursue the development, adoption, and implementation of a Stormwater Master Plan (SWMP). The City of Cooper City’s SWMP will include an inventory of existing stormwater systems and the City’s existing policies and regulations, identify known problematic areas and areas with high flood risk, include various tasks and deliverables as part of the flood modeling process, propose a series of recommendations for managing stormwater effectively, and ensure stormwater management systems remain effective in reducing flooding and protecting water quality. The objective of a SWMP is to create a tool in which the City can assess and prioritize both existing and potential future stormwater harms, and consider alternative stormwater management solutions. For Fiscal Year 2025, the City budgeted $325,000 in the Stormwater Fund for the following:

  • $250,000 for stormwater modeling and stormwater master planning efforts
  • $75,000 for an updated stormwater utility system cost of service and rate study to be completed subsequent to the stormwater master planning efforts

If awarded, the Grant will cover 75% of the total project cost of $281,000 in the amount of $210,750 ($281,000 x .75), and the local match requirement will be $70,250 ($281,000 x .25). The total cost to the City would be $145,250 ($70,250 + $75,000).

City Commission Tables Resolution to Designate and Appoint Members to the City’s Charter Review Board
The City Commission tabled Resolution No. 25-09 to allow for more time to appoint a ten-member Charter Review Board.

City Commission Approves First Reading of Ordinance to Amend Process for Installing Traffic Calming Devices on Private Roads Within Residential Communities
The City Commission approved the first reading of Ordinance 25-04, which  proposes the repeal of the existing regulations pertaining to the installation of traffic calming devices on private roads within residential communities in their entirety and the adoption of revised regulations that streamline the process and requirements to install such traffic calming devices. The proposed regulations aim to make it easier for Homeowner Associations (HOAs) and Community Development Districts (CDDs) to obtain City approval and install certain types of traffic calming devices on private roads. The proposed regulations would do the following:

  1. Clearer Process for Private Communities: Streamlines the application process to install traffic calming devices for homeowner associations (HOAs) and community development districts (CDDs);
  2. Structured Pre-Application Meeting: The required pre-application meeting with the City Engineer helps ensure applicants understand the process and requirements upfront;
  3. Comprehensive Documentation: The application process includes detailed documentation, such as letters of support, a governing board resolution, and an indemnification agreement, which ensures better community involvement and legal clarity;
  4. Defined Criteria for Approval: The version clearly outlines approval criteria based on traffic engineering analysis, including factors like road classification, traffic volume, and safety, reducing ambiguity in decision-making;
  5. Safety Focus: The analysis of traffic calming impacts and the rejection of unsafe devices ensures that the chosen solutions won’t compromise road safety;
  6. Set Application Fee: The fixed $750 application fee simplifies budgeting for the application process and ensures funds are available for the City’s review and analysis;
  7. Post-Approval Guidelines: It establishes clear guidelines for installation, including requirements for approved manufacturers, contractors, and compliance with traffic control standards, helping maintain quality and consistency in traffic calming solutions.

This ordinance will be brought forward for a second reading, and public hearing, during the City Commission Regular Meeting scheduled for February 11, 2025. To read the full proposed ordinance, please visit: https://mccmeetingspublic.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/coopercity-meet-35c5d55a356d43f996420daa5ceef83f/ITEM-Attachment-001-9044b9a9dd894450877cd104b72e166b.pdf.

City Commission Approves First Reading of Ordinance to Establish Public Safety Advisory Board
The City Commission approved the first reading of Ordinance No. 25-05, which would establish the Public Safety Advisory Board as a permanent advisory board to the City Commission. This ordinance will be brought forward for a second reading, and public hearing, during the City Commission Regular Meeting scheduled for February 11, 2025.

City Commission Approves Second Reading of Ordinance Amending Prohibited Campaign Contributions
The City Commission approved the second reading of Ordinance No. 25-0 and amended Section 2-26 of the City’s Code of Ordinances, entitled “Prohibited Campaign Contributions.” The amendment specifically strikes “real estate developer” from the types of campaign contributions that are currently prohibited in Cooper City elections.

City Commission Approves Second Reading of Ordinance to Repeal Previous Ordinance and Reconfirm Historical Practices for Retiree Health Insurance Benefits
The City Commission approved the second reading of Ordinance No. 25-02 to repeal Ordinance No. 24-22 adopted on October 22, 2024, which ratified and confirmed a retirement health insurance benefit for certain former members of the City Commission who have been elected to three consecutive terms and reached the age of 50. Ordinance No. 24-22 stipulated that an elected official’s spouse will be covered within this retirement benefit only if married to the elected official at the time of investiture. Additionally, the benefit was not exceed the greater of $1,000 or the amount equal to the City’s cost for “Employee + Family” health insurance coverage. At the time of the Ordinance’s approval, the City paid $26,184 toward an individual “Employee + Family” plan on an annual basis. In approving Ordinance No. 25-02, the Ordinance passed in October 2024 has been repealed and the City Commission reconfirmed the historical practices for retiree health insurance benefits. Within Ordinance No. 25-02, the City will provide eligible elected officials, and any spouses of eligible elected officials, upon completion of their terms of office, city health insurance coverage until the age of 65. When a participant becomes eligible for Medicare the City shall provide basic individual supplementary insurance coverage. Further, eligible elected officials may elect dependent health insurance coverage at his/her own expense. To qualify as an eligible participant, an individual must have been elected to three (3) consecutive terms as a Cooper City elected official and completed the third term of office prior to the effective date of the Ordinance. Furthermore, the Ordinance states that eligible participants must begin taking the benefit when they become eligible to receive the benefit.

City Commission Approves Ordinance on Second Reading Providing for Certain Benefits for the City’s Elected Officials
The City Commission approved the second reading of Ordinance No. 25-03, which amends  Ordinance No. 24-21 adopted on September 27, 2024, providing for certain benefits for the City’s elected officials in accordance with Section 3.06 of the City Charter. On September 17, 2024, Ordinance No. 24-21 was adopted, authorizing the enrollment of elected officials in the general employee class of the Florida Retirement System (FRS). Subsequently, FRS advised that this was not permissible, as elected officials must be enrolled in the elected officer class. This resulted in the need to consider alternative retirement plans. To address this issue and to align with the original intent of offering retirement benefits to elected officials, Ordinance No. 25-03 instills a 401(k)-pension plan retroactive to September 17, 2024. The Ordinance ensures compliance with FRS regulations and offers a viable treatment plan for elected officials. The 401(k) option allows for a City contribution capped at 12%, which provides a cost-effective alternative to the FRS elected officer class. This approach balances fiscal responsibility with the City’s commitment to providing fair and competitive benefits to its elected officials.

More Information
For more information related to the January 28, 2025 agenda, please visit: https://meetings.municode.com/adaHtmlDocument/index?cc=COOPERCITY&me=35c5d55a356d43f996420daa5ceef83f&ip=true.

The next City Commission Regular Meeting will be held at City Hall, located at 9090 SW 50 Place, Cooper City, FL 33328, on February 11, 2025 at 6:30 PM.