May 14, 2026 MPO Board Meeting

INDIVIDUALS WORKING TOWARDS

[00:00:02]

[1. Call to Order and Pledge]

[2. Electronic Roll Call]

[4. Approval of Excused Absences]

[5. Approval of Agenda]

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. VERY GOOD COOPER AND MALLOZZI, YOU'RE IN THERE. CAN WE GO AHEAD AND GET A VOTE, ELECTRONIC VOTING? WAITING ON BOARD MEMBERS JAFFE, SIMMONS, AND REISER. LOTS GOING ON. THANK YOU. MOTION PASSES.

PUBLIC COMMENTS? NO? APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA? WE JUST DID THAT.

LIKE I SAID, PUBLIC COMMENTS? MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD OF THE DAY.

OKAY. NO PUBLIC COMMENTS? OKAY, SO WE'RE ON TO MATT

[7. MAP Broward - Mobility Advancement Program Update]

IT'S MY PLEASURE. AS YOU HAD REQUESTED, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF THE ACTUAL PROGRAM, ITS PROGRESS TO DATE SINCE INCEPTION IN 2019.

AND MR. KOLECKA IS GIVING EACH OF YOU INDIVIDUALIZED FOLDERS.

AS I PROMISED WHEN I WAS HERE PREVIOUSLY, I KNOW THAT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN WHAT'S HAPPENING IN YOUR MUNICIPALITY OR YOUR COMMISSION DISTRICT, SO WE WANTED

[00:05:01]

OBVIOUSLY, THERE WAS A GREAT EMPHASIS ON IMPROVING TRANSPORTATION AND THE TRANSIT SYSTEM BOTH OPERATIONALLY AND CAPITAL. I KNOW THAT MY COLLEAGUE COREE CUFF LONERGAN HAS COME BEFORE YOU SEVERAL TIMES TO TALK THROUGH THE COMPREHENSIVE OPERATIONAL ANALYSIS. SHE'S OUT IN THE COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW.

MAKING PRESENTATIONS ABOUT THE RESULTS OF THAT COMPREHENSIVE OPERATIONAL ANALYSIS NOW KNOWN AS TRANSIT FORWARD 2040. WE ALSO HAVE A SERIES OF PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT CATEGORIES INCLUDING ROAD IMPROVEMENTS, BRIDGES, TRAFFIC SIGNAL SYSTEM ENHANCEMENTS, ALSO ADAPTIVE TRAFFIC SIGNAL CONTROL AND OTHER CONGESTION MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES. WE HAVE SCHOOL ZONES, SCHOOL SAFETY ZONES.

MULTIMODAL IMPROVEMENTS, SO THAT'S PRIMARILY IN OUR BIKE AND PED CATEGORY, AS WELL AS MANY ROAD RESILIENCY PROJECTS THAT ARE UNDERWAY, INCLUDING A NEW CATEGORY THAT'S COME INTO THE SURTAX PROGRAM FOR DRAINAGE AND CLIMATE RESILIENCY FOCUSED PROJECTS.

AND THEN WHAT MANY OF YOU HAVE ASKED ME ABOUT AND WHAT I'VE COME BEFORE YOU PREVIOUSLY, THE MUNICIPAL SURTAX PROGRAM.

AND AS OF JULY OF 2025, WITH THE THIRD AMENDMENT. WE HAVE SOME NEW COMPONENTS OF THE ACTUAL SURTAX PROGRAM FOR MUNICIPALITIES THAT INCLUDES THE GRANT MATCH PROGRAM WHICH IS A COMPETITIVE PROGRAM ALLOWING MUNICIPALITIES TO ACCESS SURTAX FUNDS TO EITHER GO AFTER A STATE OR FEDERAL COMPETITIVE APPROPRIATION OR GRANT OR TO HELP YOU MATCH AN EXISTING STATE OR FEDERAL GRANT OR APPROPRIATION THAT YOU MAY HAVE RECEIVED. THAT'S GENERALLY FOR NEW CAPITAL ONLY. THEN WE HAVE MICROTRANSIT, WHICH IS ALSO A NEW ELEMENT TO THE PROGRAM. AND I THINK WE HAVE SIX MUNICIPALITIES THUS FAR THAT HAVE CHOSEN TO PURSUE A MICROTRANSIT, SURTAX-FUNDED MICROTRANSIT SERVICE PILOT OR EXISTING PROGRAM. AND THEN WE HAVE REHABILITATION AND MAINTENANCE PROJECTS. THE REST OF THE PROGRAM UTILIZES PLANNING AND SUPPORT SERVICES ACROSS MANY AGENCIES FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO THE COUNTY AUDITOR, OUR OFFICE OF ECONOMIC AND SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, OF COURSE WHERE I AM IN MAP ADMINISTRATION WHICH ALSO SUPPORTS THE INDEPENDENT TRANSPORTATION SURTAX OVERSIGHT BOARD AND THE APPOINTING AUTHORITY, WE HAVE FINANCIAL AND PROGRAM OVERSIGHT SUPPORT.

SO, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN HERE BACK IN 2018, I JUST WANTED TO REORIENT YOU TO THE MAIN GOALS OF THE SURTAX PROGRAM, ALSO KNOWN AS THE MOBILITY ADVANCEMENT PROGRAM AND ITS FOUNDATIONAL ELEMENTS. AND NOW I'M HOPEFULLY, I MIGHT NEED ASSISTANCE, OKAY, I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU OUR VERY FIRST ANNUAL REPORT VIDEO FOR 2025.

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAPPENED THIS YEAR PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT WAS THE THIRD AMENDMENT. IT'S BEEN A GOOD YEAR AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO PAY DIVIDENDS FOR MANY, MANY YEARS TO COME.

SINCE 2019 I'VE HAD THE HONOR OF BEING THE CHAIR OF THE OVERSIGHT BOARD SELECTION COMMITTEE. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE ON THE OVERSIGHT BOARD NUMBER ONE IS QUALIFIED, NUMBER TWO IS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMUNITY THAT WE'RE ALL LIVING IN. BEING A MEMBER OF THE PENNY TAX OVERSIGHT BOARD COMES WITH A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITIES. IT IS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE DOLLARS THAT HAVE BEEN ENTRUSTED TO US. IN FISCAL YEAR 25, WE COMPLETED 12 PROJECTS, CONVENTION CENTER CONNECTOR PROJECT, INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS TO US 1 AND STATE ROAD 84. WE HAVE ALSO COMPLETED SEVERAL FIBER OPTIC PROJECTS, SIDEWALKS AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS IN OUR BMSD AREA. WE COMPLETED A COUPLE SCHOOL ZONES. WE ARE SO PROUD AND

[00:10:01]

WHEN WE STARTED THE MOBILITY ADVANCEMENT PROGRAM, BROWARD COUNTY MADE A COMMITMENT.

AT LEAST 30% OF ALL OUR PROJECTS NEED TO GO TO OUR LOCAL CERTIFIED SMALL BUSINESSES.

I AM GLAD TO REPORT WE'RE EXCEEDING THAT GOAL. 39% IS GOING TO OUR LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES. 70% OF ALL MY PRIMES ARE EXCEEDING THE GOAL. AND WE HAVE A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE SERVING AS PRIME.

AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE WANT. WE WANT THIS INVESTMENT TO GO TO OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.

FROM THE MUNICIPALITY'S PERSPECTIVE, THE THIRD AMENDMENT CUT OUT A LOT OF RED TAPE MAKING THE DOLLARS EASILY ACCESSIBLE FOR THE CITIES. THE APPLICATION PROCESS HAS BEEN SIMPLIFIED. THE DOCUMENTATION IS REQUIRED, STREAMLINED TO CREATE THE MONEY FASTER.

OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS WE HAVE RECOMMENDED OVER 325 MILLION DOLLARS' WORTH OF PROJECT TO ALLOW US TO START ON MOST OF THE FIBER OPTIC PROJECTS A NUMBER OF THOSE ADAPTIVE SIGNAL CONTROL SYSTEMS THE SCHOOL ZONES ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS INSTALLING NEW SIDEWALKS ADDING BICYCLE LANES, CREATING CONNECTIVITY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. WE HAVE OUR COPANS BUS GARAGE THAT IS MODERN, CLEAN, AND CONVENIENT. BROWARD COMMUTER RAIL IS INTENDED TO BE A LINCHPIN BETWEEN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY AND PALM BEACH COUNTY. SINCE 2019, THE SURTAX HAS GENERATED OVER $3 BILLION, WHICH HAS BEEN BUDGETED FOR COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL PROJECTS. AT THE CLOSE OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2025, ABOUT $1.1 BILLION HAD BEEN EXPENDED OR ENCUMBERED. $922.2 MILLION OF LOCAL SURTAX FUNDS HAS HELPED SECURE $784.3 MILLION OF NON-SURTAX INVESTMENT, REFERRED TO AS LEVERAGE, EXPANDING THE MOBILITY ADVANCEMENT PROGRAM'S IMPACT. I JUST WANT TO CHAT ABOUT THE TRANSFORMATION THAT THE BROWARD COUNTY SURTAX IS AND ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT I EXPECT THAT THIS TRANSFORMATIVE PROGRAM WILL BRING TO THIS COMMUNITY AND TO THE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO BROWARD COUNTY IN SOUTH FLORIDA. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS REALLY NOT TRANSFORMATIVE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM IS THE ABILITY THAT THE COUNTY HAS TO LEVERAGE THE DOLLARS THAT ARE COMING IN FOR THE SURTAX TO BRING DOWN FEDERAL AND STATE DOLLARS. I WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL NOTE OF GRATITUDE TO OUR BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. WITHOUT THE VISION AND THE POLICY DIRECTION, NONE OF THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT WE DO COULD ACTUALLY GET DONE. AND I NEED TO GIVE A SPECIAL NOTE OF THANKS TO THE MEMBERS OF MY TEAM WHO PUT TOGETHER THIS VIDEO AND ALSO PROVIDED YOU WITH THE SURTAX SUMMARIES THAT ARE IN YOUR FOLDERS. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO FOR THE PROGRAM AND FOR THE COMMUNITY AND FOR OUR PARTNERS. SO AS OF APRIL OF 2026, WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 400 ROAD AND TRANSIT INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS COMPLETED. WE'VE LEVERAGED THE SURTAX AS WAS SHOWN IN THE VIDEO TO WIN SOME MAJOR STATE AND FEDERAL DISCRETIONARY GRANTS AND WE'VE ALSO RECEIVED SIGNIFICANT MATCH FROM OUR MUNICIPALITIES TO MANY OF THE CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT THEY'VE RECEIVED THROUGH THE MPO SURTAX SERVICES RECOMMENDATION PROCESS. WE'VE INVESTED IN INNOVATIVE TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGIES AS WELL AS IMPLEMENTING SOME IMPACTFUL CONGESTION MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES. AND WE ARE VERY, VERY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT, AS THE COUNTY COMMISSION INTENDED, WE ARE KEEPING THE LOCAL DEDICATED SOURCE OF REVENUE OPERATING IN OUR LOCAL ECONOMY, BENEFITING OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES, CREATING JOBS, AND HAVING SIGNIFICANT DIRECT, INDIRECT, AND INDUCED IMPACTS.

AS I MENTIONED WHEN I WAS HERE BEFORE, WE DO HAVE A VERY ROBUST PUBLIC PROJECT DASHBOARD. THE SURTAX SUMMARIES THAT ARE IN THE FOLDERS THAT YOU RECEIVED ARE JUST SUMMARIES OF THE INFORMATION THAT IS PUBLICLY AVAILABLE ON THAT DASHBOARD. AND WE HOPE THAT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR YOU ARE OUT IN YOUR COMMUNITY TALKING TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND THEY'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THEIR COMMUNITY OR NEARBY, THAT YOU WILL DIRECT THEM TO OUR PUBLIC PROJECT DASHBOARD TO GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT. AND AT THIS POINT, I'D BE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE. I ALSO WOULD, IF I MIGHT, TAKE A POINT

[00:15:02]

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF INDIVIDUALS IN THE QUEUE. WE WILL START WITH MEMBER GOOD. HI, THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR, AND THANK YOU GRESHAM FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY FOR YOUR NUMBER OF YEARS OF SERVICE TO BROWARD COUNTY.

YOU'VE BEEN A GUIDING LIGHT FOR A LOT OF US, AND YOU'VE BEEN IN THE TRENCHES AS WELL, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU STILL HERE TODAY. I DO WANT TO ASK A QUESTION THOUGH. I'M NOT ASKING YOU FOR ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR, YOU KNOW, TO GIVE US. BUT I JUST WANT TO TAKE A QUICK TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE. IT WAS INTERESTING. WE WERE HAVING AN EARLIER CONVERSATION ABOUT MEMORIES OF THE SURTAX AND DEVELOPMENT, AND COMMISSIONER FURR WAS, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY A PARTICIPANT IN THAT, AND MAYOR COOPER AND OUR CHAIR. SO, WHAT WAS INTERESTING AS THEY WERE TALKING, I WAS THINKING, WAS THAT PRIOR TO 2019, THERE WAS AN ATTEMPT BY THE CITY AND THE COUNTIES TO GET A HALF CENT TAX. AND DURING THAT TIME, THERE WAS A NUMBER OF PROJECTS THAT WERE CREATED BY THE CITIES AS BEING FUNDED THROUGH THE SURTAX PROJECT. WE ALL KNOW THAT THAT DIDN'T PASS.

AND THEN THE COUNTY WENT OUT ON ITS OWN AND WAS ABLE TO GET A PENNY TAX. AND THAT WAS IN 2019. AND THEN THE COUNTY WAS GRACIOUS ENOUGH TO SHARE SOME OF THOSE PROCEEDS WITH THE CITIES AND LIMIT IT TO 10%. AND, YOU KNOW, ASIDE FROM TRANSPORTATION, THEY WERE TO FUND PROJECTS. AND SO, WE TALKED ABOUT HOW TO RANK THESE PROJECTS. AND WHAT WAS INTERESTING, THE PROJECTS THAT WERE USED WERE THE ONES THAT WERE USED IN THE HALF-CENT TAX EFFORT.

SO THOSE PROJECTS THAT WERE USED IN THE HALF-CENT TAX WERE ACTUALLY PRESENTED FOR RANKING IN THE ONE-CENT TAX. EVERYBODY REMEMBER THAT? ANYBODY HERE NOT REMEMBER THAT? OKAY. SO IT WAS, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THAT PROCESS TOOK PLACE, AND PROJECTS WERE THEN RANKED. ONE THROUGH WHATEVER, AND THEY WERE FUNDED, AND THEN THERE WAS ALL THIS STUFF ABOUT HOW TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT, AND THERE WERE A NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS TO THE AGREEMENT AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. AND SO TODAY WE ACTUALLY HAVE A PROCESS NOW WHERE THOSE PROCEEDS ARE SHARED AMONGST CITIES AT 10% IN A FORMULA WAY, WHICH IS GOOD. BUT WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THAT A LOT OF THOSE PROJECTS THAT WERE AWARDED, THAT WERE RANKED, YOU KNOW, ARE STILL EXISTING TODAY. SOME HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AND THERE'S A NUMBER OF THEM THAT STILL HAVE NOT BEEN COMPLETED. AND INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, ONE OF THE REASONS WHY A NUMBER OF THEM ARE NOT COMPLETED IS BECAUSE THEY'RE REALLY NOT TRULY FULLY FUNDED FOR, YOU KNOW, WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TODAY. BECAUSE TODAY IS 2026. SO, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PROJECTS THAT WERE ACTUALLY IDENTIFIED IN TERMS OF COST, YOU KNOW, SCOPE COST PRIOR TO 2019 AND WE'RE HERE IN 2026 MANY YEARS LATER AND THROUGH SOME VERY STRONG YEARS OF INFLATIONARY IMPACTS AND THESE PROJECTS ARE STILL UNDERFUNDED AND MANY OF OUR CITIES NEED TO YOU KNOW TRY TO FIND A WAY TO CLOSE THAT FUNDING GAP.

SO, THE QUESTION I HAVE TO YOU RECOGNIZING YOU KNOW HOW LONG AGO THE PROJECTS WERE ESTIMATED VERSUS WHAT THE TRUE COST IS TODAY. WHAT'S THE PATH GOING FORWARD FOR US TO ASK FOR AN INCREASE IN COST OR REVENUES IN ORDER TO PAY FOR THOSE COSTS? I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO GIVE IT TO US, JUST WHAT IS THE PATH FORWARD? WHAT PROCESS DO WE NEED TO FOLLOW IN ORDER TO MAKE THAT ASK? WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO JUST GO BACK AND CORRECT SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE WITH RESPECT TO THE WAY THAT THE PROJECTS ENTERED INTO THE PLAN FOR CITY. SO, EVERY CITY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY AFTER THE 2016 AND BEFORE THE 2018 REFERENDUM TO SUBMIT ANY NEW PROJECTS THAT THEY WANTED WITH NO LIMIT. THEY COULD

[00:20:03]

THEN WE ENTERED INTO AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE MPO FOR SURTAX SERVICES, AND PART OF THE SCOPE OF SERVICES WAS TO LOOK AT THE COST ESTIMATES EVERY SINGLE CYCLE AND EVALUATE THE PROJECTS AND DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THE COST ESTIMATES FROM 2018 WERE STILL ACCURATE. THEN WE ALLOWED YOU TO REQUEST COST ESCALATION AFTER THE PANDEMIC AT 11.9% FOR ANY PROJECT THAT WAS IN A CONSTRUCTION PHASE. AND ALMOST EVERY PERSON THAT REQUESTED COST ESCALATION RECEIVED IT. THE THIRD AMENDMENT ALLOWS CITIES TO REQUEST INFLATION OR COST ESCALATION AT UP TO 25% OF THEIR COST ESTIMATE. SO, THERE ARE A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT AVENUES THAT HAVE EXISTED TO REEVALUATE AND REASSESS THE COST ESTIMATES, TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THE OPINIONS OF PROBABLE COST ARE ACCURATE, AND TO SEEK ADDITIONAL FUNDING.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S IN THE AGREEMENTS FOR FUNDING BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND THE CITIES IS A COMMITMENT BY THE MUNICIPALITIES THAT THEY WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR COST OVERRUNS. SO, WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF OUR MUNICIPAL PARTNERS TO TRY TO FIND A WAY FORWARD FOR THESE PROJECTS. WE'VE ACTUALLY ASSISTED SEVERAL OF OUR MUNICIPALITIES TO EVEN SEEK GRANTS WHEN THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO SO ON THEIR OWN. SO, WE WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR EVERY POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PROJECTS THAT ARE PRIORITIES TO YOU CAN BECOME REALITY. SO AS A FOLLOW-UP TO THAT, JUST, AND THANK YOU. A LOT OF WHAT YOU SAID, YOU'RE RIGHT. I JUST KIND OF SUMMARIZED REAL QUICK.

BUT WE ARE, THERE ARE SEVERAL PROJECTS THAT I'M AWARE OF, NOT JUST IN THE CITY OF PEMBROKE PINES, BUT IN OTHER CITIES AS WELL, THAT ARE STILL, YOU KNOW, WAITING TO GET THOSE PROJECTS DONE AND STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, LIKE YOU SAY, HOW THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO, YOU KNOW, DO A COST COVER, RIGHT? BUT WHEN THE 10% WAS CREATED, WAS THAT A 10% THROUGH A COUNTY ORDINANCE OR WAS IT THROUGH SOME OTHER MECHANISM IN WHICH THE 10% WAS IDENTIFIED TO BE GIVEN TO THE CITIES? IT WAS THROUGH AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT AND IT WAS A MINIMUM ANNUAL GUARANTEE. OKAY, SO THROUGH AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT. SO, IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THAT INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT CAN BE AMENDED AS WELL? WE'VE AMENDED IT THREE TIMES. OKAY, SO WE CAN DO IT AGAIN. OKAY, VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MEMBER GOOD, MEMBER FURR? THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANKS.

FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW, WE WOULDN'T HAVE THE SURTAX WITHOUT HER, REALLY. BECAUSE IF TO CALL HER THE MOTHER OF THE SURTAX. YEAH, YEAH. THE MOTHER OF DRAGON. WHATEVER.

BUT I KNOW, DO YOU WANT THAT NAME? WHEN BROWARD COUNTY I DON'T KNOW IF SHE WANTS THAT NAME OR NOT.

BUT WHEN BROWARD COUNTY IS ABLE TO, WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE, GET ABOUT $25 BILLION WORTH OF WORK, THAT'S WHO WENT TO EVERY CITY. SO, I JUST PUT TOGETHER ALL THE PLANS, THE WHOLE BIT. THERE'S A BIG TEAM THERE WAS A BIG TEAM AND A LOT OF PEOPLE BUT THANK YOU, THANK YOU. A BIG TEAM BUT THERE IS THAT ONE NAME THAT WE, THAT WE ALL KNOW RIGHT BEHIND SURTAX, SO DO THANK YOU. MEMBER JAFFE? THANK YOU, CHAIR. YES, YOU KNOW, AT OUR EXECUTIVE MEETING HERE THIS MORNING BEFORE WE HAD A GENERAL BOARD MEETING HERE, COMMISSIONER FURR EXPLAINED A LITTLE HISTORY OF THE SURTAX AND HOW THE RANKINGS WERE AND HOW SO COORDINATING THE MUNICIPALITIES WERE IN RANKING AND FIGHTING FOR WHATEVER PROJECT THAT EACH MUNICIPALITY WANTED TO GET TO AND IT WAS RUNNING SO SMOOTH AND THEN WHEN THE THIRD AMENDMENT CAME ALONG FOR THE COUNTY TOOK OVER AND STARTED RANKING IT AND IT WORKED OUT VERY WELL EXCEPT I JUST OPENED UP MY FOLDER AND I DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING FOR WESTON IN HERE BUT I'M JUST KIDDING AND ALL KIDDING ASIDE AND IT'S, NO. THERE AREN'T ANY PROJECTS IN WESTON AT ALL OF COURSE. IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU. THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT PROJECTS GOING ON IN THE COUNTY, AND IN WESTON IN GENERAL SPECIFICALLY. WE HAVE, ESPECIALLY IN THE FRONT ENTRANCE, AND PEOPLE ARE ASKING ME WHAT'S GOING ON. THEY'RE NOTICING IT, IMPROVEMENTS, AND I'M VERY PROUD TO DRIVE AROUND AND SEE THE MAP SIGNS

[00:25:01]

MEMBER SORENSEN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WANTED TO REITERATE THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF FORT LAUDERDALE. SO, IF YOU REMEMBER BACK WHEN WE HAD SOME INITIAL JUST KIND OF FIGURING THINGS OUT AND WORKING TOGETHER AND YOU CAME TO US AND WORKED WITH US AS A CITY COMMISSION MORE IMPORTANTLY WITH THE CITY STAFF AT THE CITY OF FORT LAUDERDALE AND REALLY HELPED US UNDERSTAND COLLABORATE AND EXECUTE TOGETHER WITH YOU LEADING THE CHARGE, WHAT YOU'VE DONE AND I'M JUST VERY, VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR ANSWERING OF QUESTIONS HELPING EXPLAIN THINGS THAT WE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND FROM TIME TO TIME AND THEN JUST WORKING SO CLOSELY WITH OUR STAFF IS WHAT FOR THE FORT LAUDERDALE AT LEAST WORKS SO WELL WHEN THE COUNTY AND, AND THE CITY WORK TOGETHER AS, AS YOU LED REALLY, WE'RE ABLE TO ACHIEVE AND CONTINUE TO ACHIEVE A LOT. SO, I JUST THANK YOU FOR THAT AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO ALL OF US. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

TRULY APPRECIATE IT. I APPRECIATE ALL THE QUESTIONS FROM THIS BOARD. COMMISSIONER GOOD ADDRESSED A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAD AS WE SHARE A PROJECT THAT THAT WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IT COMES TO COMPLETION FOR THE ENTIRE REGION.

BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU FOR THE REPORT. ALL THE BEST TO YOU AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE HERE IN BROWARD COUNTY. IT'S BEEN AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE AND I LOVE WORKING WITH YOUR STAFF. YOU HAVE DEDICATED COMMITTED WONDERFUL STAFF PEOPLE IN YOUR CITY. THANK YOU FOR THAT. OKAY, ON

[ CONSENT ITEMS (All Items Open for Public Comment) ]

[1. MOTION TO APPROVE Amendments to the Fiscal Year 2026–2030 Transportation Improvement Program: A. FM# 4515741 FLL/Hollywood Int'l Airport Taxilane ADG III Serving Westside Parcels B.FM# 454279-1 BROWARD BLVD TRUCK PARKING EXPANSION BROWARD BLVD AT I-95]

ELECTRONIC VOTES, PLEASE. VERY GOOD. MOTION PASSES. MADAM

[2. MOTION TO: A. APPROVE the MPO's Fiscal Year 2027 - Fiscal Year 2028 Unified Planning Work Program and Updated Travel Policy for Submittal to Funding Agencies for Approval B.  AUTHORIZE the MPO Chair, Executive Director, and/or General Counsel to Execute All Documents, Agreements and Amendments to Agreements as Necessary to Receive Funding for the Broward MPO's Approved Fiscal Year 2027 - Fiscal Year 2028 Unified Planning Work Program C. APPROVE the Merit Increase Policy for MPO Staff for the Two Fiscal Years of the Unified Planning Work Program (July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2028) in Which a 4% Cost-of-Living Adjustment and 3% Merit Increase May Be Applied to a Staff Member’s Base Salary, and Allowing for Contributions to Be Made to a Staff Member's Deferred Compensation Plan]

[00:30:01]

ITEM A, APPROVE THE MPO'S FISCAL YEAR 2027 TO FISCAL YEAR 2028 UNIFIED PLANNING WORK PROGRAM AND UNDATED TRAVEL POLICY FOR SUBMITTAL TO FUNDING AGENCIES FOR APPROVAL. ITEM B, AUTHORIZE THE MPO CHAIR AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND OR GENERAL COUNSEL TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS, AGREEMENTS, AND AMENDMENTS TO AGREEMENTS AS NECESSARY TO RECEIVE FUNDING FOR THE BROWARD MPO'S APPROVAL.

APPROVE FISCAL YEAR 2027 TO FISCAL YEAR 2028 UNIFIED PLANNING WORK PROGRAM. AND ITEM C, APPROVE THE MERIT INCREASE POLICY FOR MPO STAFF FOR THE TWO FISCAL YEARS OF THE UNIFIED PLANNING WORK PROGRAM, THAT'S JULY 1, 2026, TO JUNE 30, 2028, IN WHICH A 4% COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT AND A 3% MERIT INCREASE MAY BE APPLIED TO A STAFF. MEMBER BASE SALARY AND ALLOWING FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO BE MADE TO A STAFF MEMBERS DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN.

IT'S A STORY. DO YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION? YEAH, ACTUALLY WE DO. SO, GOOD MORNING, CHAIR COLBOURNE, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL AGAIN, CARL EMA, BROWARD MPO STAFF I'M JUST HERE TO IF I CAN GET THIS WORKING, I'M JUST HERE TO PRESENT OUR UNIFIED PLANNING WORK PROGRAM OR UPWP. AS YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THE UPWP IS OUR TWO-YEAR BUDGET FOR THE MPO AND WE PRESENTED THIS BACK TO YOU IN MARCH.

SO, THIS IS REALLY JUST AN UPDATE ON WHAT'S CHANGED SINCE YOU LAST SAW THE DRAFT AND JUDGING BY MY ONE SLIDE THAT I HAVE FOR YOU NOT MUCH IS THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION. SO, YOU KNOW SINCE IT'S BEEN OUT AS YOU AS YOU KNOW AFTER WE GOT YOUR APPROVAL ON THE DRAFT, WE SUBMITTED IT TO OUR FUNDING AGENCIES FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL. SO, THEY'VE BEEN TAKING A LOOK AT THE DRAFT. FDOT RESPONDED FIRST WITH A COUPLE COMMENTS. THEY WERE VERY MINOR. THERE'S THE USUAL COMMENTS, YOU KNOW, STANDARD REMINDERS THAT THEY HAVE FOR US. YOU KNOW, THE DOCUMENT, THE DRAFT DOCUMENT FEATURES A BUNCH OF PLACEHOLDERS FOR CERTAIN THINGS, DOCUMENTS THAT COME FROM DOT THAT COME LATER. SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE COMMENTS.

THE OTHER COMMENT WAS JUST MINOR ADJUSTMENTS TO THE SUMMARY FINANCIAL TABLES. YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE WAS, YOU KNOW, ONE AMOUNT THAT WAS SHOWN IN TWO COLUMNS NEEDED TO BE ONLY IN ONE. IT WAS, YOU KNOW, VERY MINOR ADJUSTMENTS LIKE THAT. WE ALSO HAD A, BASED ON THE LATEST FDOT CHECKLIST FOR THE UPWP, WE NEEDED TO ADD BY NAME THE CHAIR AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO THE DOCUMENT. SO THAT'S A NEW REQUIREMENT. SO, CONGRATULATIONS, CHAIR COLBOURNE, YOU'RE NOW FEATURED IN THE UPWP ALONG WITH MR. STEWART. AND THAT WAS BASICALLY THE COMMENTS FROM DOT THAT WE RECEIVED. SO, THEY WERE VERY MINOR, TYPICAL OF WHAT WE'VE RECEIVED IN THE PAST, AND THAT WAS THAT. SO THEN THE NEXT CHANGE, WHICH WAS PROBABLY THE LARGEST CHANGE WAS MADE WAS FROM US AND THAT WAS SIMPLY A CORRIDOR STUDY THAT IT'S IN THE EXISTING UPWP BUT NEEDED TO CONTINUE ON INTO THE NEXT UPWP. SO IN JUST THE FIRST YEAR OF THE NEXT UPWP FISCAL YEAR 27 THAT'S BEEN ADDED IN TASK FORCE. SO YOU'LL SEE THAT THERE AND THAT WAS REALLY THE LARGEST CHANGE THAT WE MADE AGAIN FROM US, JUST EXTENDING THAT PROJECT OUT OF IT. AND THEN LAST WEEK ON MAIL UPDATE WE RECEIVED THE FEDERAL COMMENTS AS WELL. SO THOSE WERE ALSO, THANKFULLY, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH TIME TO TURN THEM AROUND FOR YOU ALL, THEY WERE ALSO VERY MINOR. WE HAD THE STANDARD REMINDERS. MY FAVORITE COMMENT THAT THEY GIVE US IS ADD THE COMMENTS. SO, WE MANAGED THAT, AND THEY'VE BEEN ADDED TO THE DOCUMENT SINCE. WE ALSO HAD, JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME EXAMPLES OF OTHER THINGS WE RECEIVED, WERE JUST REQUESTS FOR MORE DETAILS ON SOME OF THE CAPITAL EQUIPMENT PURCHASES.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE A BOARDROOM BATTERY BACKUP IN THIS IT CLOSET OVER HERE.

IT'S NEARING THE END OF ITS USEFUL LIFE. SO, EVERY NOW AND THEN THE HIGH-LEVEL DESCRIPTIONS AREN'T ENOUGH FOR THEM. THEY WANT TO SEE MORE BEFORE WE MAKE THE PURCHASE, SO THAT'S NO PROBLEM. WE PROVIDE THAT TO THEM. OTHER CHANGES WERE LIKE THE STATEMENTS AND ASSURANCES. TO ANYONE WHO'S A REAL UPWP NERD, YOU MIGHT HAVE CAUGHT THAT THEY'RE NOT IN THE UPWP THIS TIME. THOSE DOCUMENTS, AND THIS IS LIKE DEBARMENT AND SUSPENSION, LOBBYING, DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES, TITLE VI, THESE DOCUMENTS ARE NOW GOING TO BE PER DOT'S DIRECTION PART OF THE MPO AGREEMENT BACKED UP.

SO, THE MPO AGREEMENT IS, IF YOU REMEMBER, IS HOW WE GET OUR MONEY BASICALLY EVERY TWO YEARS. AND SO, THE UPWP IS EXHIBIT A, AND THEN SO NOW THE STATEMENTS AND ASSURANCES WILL BE ANOTHER EXHIBIT TO THAT AGREEMENT RATHER THAN PART OF THE UPWP ITSELF.

DURING THE FINAL REVIEW, IF WE HAVE TO REVERSE THIS, IT'LL BE NO PROBLEM TO JUST WORK THOSE BACK INTO THE UPWP. WE ALSO HAD SOME, JUST SOME QUESTIONS ON PERFORMANCE MEASURES AND WHERE THOSE ARE IN THE DOCUMENT. WE EXPLAINED, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY'RE PART OF OUR MTP, AND WE SHOWED THE LOCATION AND RELATED ACTIVITIES IN THE UPWP IN TASKS 2 AND 3. AND THEN WE JUST HAD SOME BASIC CLARIFICATION ON INTERNAL OPERATIONS, SUCH AS RENT, TRAVEL, NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES, AND SO ON. THAT WAS REALLY THE FEDERAL COMMENTS. I'VE GIVEN YOU SOME EXAMPLES HERE, BUT IF YOU WANT TO READ THEM

[00:35:01]

AND, YOU KNOW, YOU TAKE, WHEN YOU, I DON'T, I GUESS, I'M NOT SURE WHY YOU'RE GOING ON 10 YEARS. BECAUSE YOU, I MEAN, DO YOU ALWAYS GO ON 10 YEARS? MADAM CHAIR, MAY I BE RECOGNIZED? YES. THANK YOU, BRYAN CALETKA, BROWARD MPO. WE PUT THAT IN THERE BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK, INFLATION IS HIGHER SOME YEARS, LOWER SOME OTHER ONES.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT A BROADER SPECTRUM, IT TENDS TO BE THE 4%, WHICH IS WHAT OUR COLA IS. IT WAS JUST ANNOUNCED IN THE NEWS THIS WEEK THAT THE APRIL CPI WAS ACTUALLY 3.8% AND THAT WAS FOR ONE MONTH. SO, WHENEVER WE HAVE A LARGE INFLATION LIKE WE'RE HAVING NOW WHEN WE HAD THREE YEARS AGO, WE ACTUALLY FALL BEHIND IN OUR PURCHASING POWER BECAUSE OUR MERIT IS ACTUALLY ONLY 3%.

THAT'S THE ONLY WAY TO GET AHEAD. SO, IF YOUR COLA IS ABOVE 4%, REALLY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS YOU'RE GIVING STAFF A ONE OR NO INCREASE BECAUSE THEY'RE JUST KEEPING UP WITH THE CPI. I GET IT. I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT THE HEADLINE ON THAT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD, I'M JUST GOING TO TELL YOU.

CAN I ADD TO THAT? YEAH, LET ME FINISH FOR A SECOND.

FOR THE MOST PART, MOST OF THE PEOPLE WE REPRESENT AREN'T GETTING THAT. THEY'RE NOT GETTING ANYWHERE CLOSE TO THAT. AND THEN THEY SEE THIS KIND OF A PERCENT INCREASE IN GOVERNMENT, IT LEAVES A BAD TASTE IN THE MOUTH, UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE THAT'S A HIGH RATE.

THERE'S NO WAY TO REFRAME IT. I UNDERSTAND WHERE IT'S COMING FROM, AND IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. YOU GUYS DO GREAT WORK, SO PLEASE DON'T TAKE IT PERSONAL. BUT I HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING THERE WITH THAT.

BECAUSE I HAVE TO JUSTIFY IT TO PEOPLE THAT ASK. AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE ASKING, WHY AREN'T I GETTING THAT? AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO ANSWER THAT. SO, I DON'T HAVE A GOOD ANSWER FOR IT. IF I CAN HELP YOU WITH THAT, BECAUSE EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS WE HAVE THIS DISCUSSION. I KNOW. AND I'M ALWAYS HAVING TO BRING IT UP. YEAH, AND I'VE BEEN THERE. HELLO. WELL, YOU AND I WILL BE MOVING ON. THE DISCUSSION WON'T. JUST TO SHARE WITH THE ENTIRE BOARD.

BASICALLY, BECAUSE IT'S A TWO-YEAR BUDGET WE ALSO HAVE TO FACTOR OUT. SO BASICALLY, NEXT YEAR IF YOU SEE INFLATION RUNNING EVEN HIGHER, WHICH THERE'S NO REASON WHY NOT TO ASSUME THAT IT WON'T GIVEN THE CURRENT WARS THAT WE'RE FIGHTING AND THE COST OF OIL AND EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON, YOU KNOW THERE IS THAT REALITY.

YOU CAN DO CHANGES IN THE YEAR, THE FOLLOWING YEAR. WE DON'T HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY. WE DON'T CHANGE THE BUDGET IN THAT AREA AT ALL. SO, KEEPING WITH CPI IS USUALLY OUR SAFE PLACE. YOU KNOW, I HAD THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH ADMINISTRATOR HENRY YEARS AGO WHEN THE COUNTY WAS FURLOUGHING EMPLOYEES FOR EVERY FRIDAY AND I HAD MONEY TO PAY MY THE EMPLOYEES AT THE MPO BUT SHE WAS FURLOUGHING PEOPLE AND I'M LIKE I DON'T GET TO SAVE THE MONEY IT DOESN'T ACCRUE SOMEWHERE SO THERE'S, THERE'S SOME NUANCES IN OUR BUDGETS DIFFERENT FROM THE COUNTY BUDGET DIFFERENT FROM A CITY BUDGET EVEN FROM THE REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL WHICH YOU SIT ON IT'S YOU KNOW WE HAVE DIFFERENT WAY OF BUDGETING IT'S HARD FOR THE LAY PERSON TO UNDERSTAND BUT YOU'VE EXPERIENCED THIS OVER YOUR TERM

[00:40:01]

BUT IF YOU JUST TAKE IT BY ITSELF, I CAN SEE WHERE YOU WOULD HAVE ANGST. AND IF IT ALSO HELPS, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I USED TO BELONG TO A CITY MYSELF, BUT MOST OF THE EMPLOYEES, THE RANK AND FILE, THEY ACTUALLY GET A MERIT, THEY GET A STEP, AND THEY GET A COLA, AND WE DON'T GET STEPS HERE.

SO, IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOTAL COMPENSATION PACKAGE, I THINK THAT YOU WOULD STILL SEE THAT WE'RE UNDER ALMOST EVERYBODY HERE. MEMBER LONERGAN? THANK YOU, MADAM. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I APPRECIATE IT. SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, IS THIS 7% EACH YEAR FOR A TOTAL OF 14% AFTER TWO YEARS? IT'S 7% FOR YEAR ONE AND 7% FOR YEAR TWO. FOUR PLUS IF THEY GET MERIT. SO, I JUST NEED TO CORRECT THAT. BECAUSE JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE MERIT DOESN'T MEAN YOU GET MERIT. YOU HAVE TO EARN MERIT. SO, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S CLEAR.

IT'S FOUR AND FOUR. IF YOU GET, IF YOU DO AN OUTSTANDING JOB, THEN YOU GO UP THAT EXTRA MERIT. OKAY. I'D LIKE TO FIRST START OFF TO AGREE WITH WHAT MAYOR FURR HAD SAID.

I MEAN, WHAT STAFF DOES IS AMAZING, AND I'M THANKFUL. I APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF OAKLAND PARK AND EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING TO HELP IMPROVE BROWARD COUNTY TRANSIT THROUGHOUT BROWARD COUNTY. BUT I REALLY, REALLY STRUGGLE ON THIS ISSUE FROM TWO DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW. FIRST OF ALL, WE'RE TALKING STAFF COMPENSATION.

WHEN WE'RE CONSIDERING STAFF COMPENSATION, WE HAVE TO CONSIDER TOTAL BENEFIT PACKAGE.

THAT TOTAL BENEFIT PACKAGE IS SALARY. IT'S ALL THE BENEFITS, WHETHER IT'S EDUCATION, IT'S HEALTH CARE, WHICH IS SKYROCKETING, AND IT'S COSTING OUR CITIES AND THE MPO MORE TO PROVIDE HEALTH CARE, AND RETIREMENT COSTS. SO, YOU KNOW, I REALLY STRUGGLE WITH THIS BECAUSE WHAT GOES UP DOESN'T COME BACK DOWN. AND WHEN WE START REWARDING CERTAIN GROUPS OF PEOPLE OR CLASSES OF PEOPLE OR HOWEVER YOU WANT TO CATEGORIZE IT WITH A HIGHER COMPENSATION IT'S LEAVING BEHIND A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT GETTING THAT. I WORK FOR A MAJOR CORPORATION FOR 40 YEARS I RECENTLY RETIRED LAST YEAR I'VE NEVER HEARD OF SEPARATING WITH THIS MAJOR NATIONAL CORPORATION NEVER SEPARATING THE TWO IT'S ONE ANNUAL COLA COST OF LIVING INCREASE SO WHEN I SAW THE AGENDA AND I SAW THE TWO I'M LIKE WE DON'T DO THAT WITH OUR CITY, AND I DID NOT DO THIS IN 40 YEARS WITH A MAJOR CORPORATION I WORK FOR, SO I HAVE A HARD TIME SWALLOWING THAT. I THINK EXPENSES GO UP FOR EVERYONE. I COULD NOT APPROVE THIS FOR MY CITY, SO I COULD NOT APPROVE THIS FOR THE MPO. I'M THANKFUL FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THAT THEY DO, BUT I THINK WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO CONTROL COSTS AND IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT.

WE'VE GOT TO REMEMBER HEALTH CARE COSTS ARE SKYROCKETING, OTHER COSTS ARE SKYROCKETING, AND THIS IS PART OF THE TOTAL BENEFIT PACKAGE.

SO, WE ALL HAVE TO SACRIFICE A LITTLE BIT. AND I KNOW IN 40 YEARS I'VE NEVER RECEIVED A COMPENSATION RAISE LIKE THIS, AND I KNOW TIMES ARE CHANGING.

WE NEED TO VOTE OUT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE WHITE HOUSE WHO ARE RUINING OUR ECONOMY. SO, THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO. I WOULD HAVE A HARD TIME SUPPORTING IT AS IT SITS. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

MADAM CHAIR, MAY I JUST ONE OTHER THING, TOO, BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS ALSO A FACTOR.

YES. MOST PEOPLE ARE REPRESENTED BY UNIONS, WHETHER YOU'RE AT THE CITY LEVEL OR THE COUNTY LEVEL OR EVEN THE STATE LEVEL. WE DON'T HAVE UNION EMPLOYMENT. AND THE OTHER THING THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR EMPLOYEES FACE, WHICH IS A UNIQUENESS IN THE AGENCY IS THE GOVERNMENT MAY NOT FUND ANOTHER REAUTHORIZATION BILL, OR THEY MAY NOT INCLUDE THE MPO LANGUAGE IN THE NEXT REAUTHORIZATION BILL. THEY COULD DO WHATEVER THEY WANT TO DO. AT THAT POINT, EVERY ONE OF THESE PEOPLE ARE GONE AND THEY OPERATE IN A WORLD OF UNCERTAINTY. AND THAT TO ME IS ONE OF THOSE CHALLENGES. WE ASK THEM SO MUCH AND FOR THEM TO PERFORM AT LEVELS, AND I COULD LOOK AT THEM TOMORROW BECAUSE I HAD THAT DISCUSSION WITH THE CHAIR LAST FEBRUARY.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY MORE MONEY TO PAY THEM. THEN WHAT HAPPENS? AND THAT'S A RISK THEY ARE WILLING TO TAKE, AND THAT IS WHY THE COMPENSATION IS WHERE IT IS BECAUSE THEY ARE MAKING A RISK IN THEIR JOBS, THEIR CAREER CHOICES TO WORK HERE. YOU WORK PRIVATE SECTOR, YOUR COMPANY COULD HAVE GONE BANKRUPT. THERE WAS

[00:45:01]

PLEASE FORGIVE ME, COUNCIL MEMBER WHITMAN. WE LOST OUR CFO AND WE NEEDED ONE AND DAVEY HAS AN AMAZING DIRECTOR FOR FINANCE. AND WHEN I CALLED THE CITY MANAGER TO SAY, HEY, IS IT OKAY IF I ENTERTAIN AN OFFER FOR THE POSITION, I FOUND OUT THAT HE MADE MORE MONEY THAN ME AND I'M SECOND IN COMMAND OF THIS ORGANIZATION. I COULDN'T EVEN AFFORD TO GIVE AN OFFER BECAUSE HE WOULD JUST LAUGH AT ME. YOU KNOW, SO IF, YOU KNOW, THE SALARIES ARE LOWER THAN THE GOING RATE AT THE CITIES, THE PERCENTAGE IS ACTUALLY NOT UNFAIR. WE HAVE LOST, IN THE LAST YEAR, WHAT, THREE EMPLOYEES TO OUTSIDE AGENCIES BECAUSE THEY GOT PAID MORE. AND EVEN WITH WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS A RICH COMPENSATION, DO WE STILL LOSE THEM BECAUSE IT'S NOT RICH ENOUGH? IT'S HARD TO EXPLAIN THIS BECAUSE OF THE HEADLINE, AND IT'S HARD TO EXPLAIN THIS BECAUSE YOU'RE WORKING, YOU KNOW, THE SALARIES IN OAKLAND PARK ARE ACTUALLY HIGHER THAN HERE AS WELL. SO IT'S JUST A VERY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE BUT I APPRECIATE THE CONCERNS AND UNDERSTAND YOUR WHAT YOU HAVE TO VOTE YOU VOTE BUT YOU KNOW THE BIGGER PICTURE I JUST WANT YOU TO MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND WE PUT A LOT OF THOUGHT BEHIND ALL OF THIS. MEMBER GOOD? YES, THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

AND WOW, SO I UNDERSTAND THE 4% AND 3%, YOU KNOW, 4% COLA 3% MERIT, IT'S NOT GUARANTEED.

SO, IT'S ANYWHERE BETWEEN 4 AND 07, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. SO, I HEAR THAT. I GOT TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, I'VE GOT A LOT OF YEARS IN ADMINISTRATION WITH GOVERNMENT AS WELL, TOO.

AND I'M PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST FRUGAL THAT YOU'LL EVER MEET. YOU KNOW, AND I COULD TELL YOU THAT PROBABLY THE LAST ROUND OF COMPENSATION THAT I DID A STUDY FOR ITS VERY EYE-OPENING, FOLKS. I MEAN, THE REALITY IS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, YOU KNOW, EVER SINCE COVID, WE HAVE GONE THROUGH SOME SKYROCKETING COSTS. WHETHER IT WAS THE COVID, THE SUPPLY CHAIN, AND TODAY IT'S A WHOLE NEW DIFFERENT ELEMENT. COSTS ARE ASTRONOMICALLY HIGH. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE NICKEL AND DIMING THE PEOPLE THAT WE WANT TO KEEP HERE. I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE RIGHT PLACE TO BE, TO BE PERFECTLY HONEST WITH YOU. ONE OF THE THINGS, IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, LET'S JUST TALK ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR A MOMENT, AND EVERYTHING THAT I KNOW THAT I'M IN THE TRENCHES RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I'M DEALING WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

WE'RE EVEN TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO DO A CITY-RUN HOUSING COMPLEX WHERE WE HOUSE OUR EMPLOYEES, GOVERNMENT WORKERS, BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE SOME OF THE TALENT WE HAVE. TODAY, I READ A REPORT JUST THIS PAST WEEK. DOES ANYBODY HERE KNOW WHAT THE AMI IS AND WHAT THE AMI VALUE IS TODAY? OKAY, SO THE AMI IS YOUR AVERAGE MEDIAN INCOME, RIGHT? TODAY, IT'S $102,000. AND WHEN YOU LOOK FOR HELP FROM THE GOVERNMENT, THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK AT YOUR AMI IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH MONEY YOU MAKE.

THAT'S YOUR ELIGIBILITY.

THAT'S YOUR SHIP FUNDS, YOUR CDBG FUNDS. AND IF YOU'RE AT THE 60% TO 80%, THAT MEANS EVEN IF YOU'RE MAKING $80,000, YOU'RE ELIGIBLE FOR GOVERNMENT FUNDS. AND THEN WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT WORKFORCE HOUSING, WORKFORCE HOUSING IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THAT'S 140%. SO, IF YOU'RE MAKING $140,000, YOU'RE STILL IN AFFORDABILITY. HOUSING RANGE. NOW, MR. CALETKA MADE A STATEMENT HERE, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO. IF EVERYBODY'S ON THE HIGH END OF THE SALARY AND YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE THEM THESE, YOU KNOW, A FOUR TO SEVEN PERCENT INCREASE, YEAH, YOU DO NEED TO TAKE A PAUSE BECAUSE THE HIGH END OF THE SALARY, YOU'RE CLEARLY OUTSIDE OF THIS RANGE THAT I JUST SPOKE TO.

BUT IF YOU'RE BELOW THAT, IF YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE THAT ARE MAKING ONLY A HUNDRED THOUSAND, THEY'RE IN THE AFFORDABILITY BAN. THEY'RE ELIGIBLE FOR GOVERNMENT SUPPORT, SO WHY WOULD WE NOT EVEN CONSIDER GIVING THEM THE INCREASES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT? AND I'M GOING TO TELL YOU, UP TO 7% IS NOT, WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE ACTUAL NUMBERS RELATIVE TO WHAT THIS ORGANIZATION HAS

[00:50:01]

LOOK AT ALL YOUR INDUSTRIES.

THERE'S AN EXODUS GOING ON, AND PROBABLY MORE IMPORTANTLY IS OUR TEACHERS BECAUSE THEY'RE ON THE LOWEST END OF THAT AFFORDABILITY BAND, AND WE NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT THINGS LIKE THAT. SO, LET'S DON'T BE AFRAID TO GIVE PEOPLE WHAT THEY EARN AND WHAT THEY DESERVE AND KEEP THEM COMPETITIVE IN TODAY'S MARKET. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU.

MEMBER SORENSEN? THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL.

GREG, A FEW QUESTIONS HERE TO HELP ME. REMIND ME OF THE SIZE OF THE STAFF. HOW MANY STAFF MEMBERS DO YOU HAVE? OR BRYAN? IT'S 37. 37. OKAY, GREAT. I'M GOING TO DEFER TO BRYAN A LOT BECAUSE HE'S GOING TO, IF HE BECOMES A SUCCESSOR.

SURE. SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN.

THANKS. SO, 37 STAFF MEMBERS.

AND THEN JUST WALK ME BACK THESE LAST FEW YEARS, BRYAN.

SO LAST YEAR WAS THERE A COLA OF WHAT? SO, WE DIDN'T BREAK IT OUT, BUT IT WAS 7% FOR EACH OF THE LAST TWO YEARS, INCLUDING THIS YEAR. OKAY.

SO, 7% COLA. AND THEN WHAT WAS MERIT? SO WE ACTUALLY DIDN'T BREAK THEM APART IT WAS JUST THE TOTAL WAS SEVEN. TOTAL SEVEN OKAY, AND THEN HOW IS MERIT ASSIGNED DOES EVERYONE GET MERIT WHAT PERCENT OF THE STAFF GET MERIT? HOW IS THAT DETERMINED? I'M ASSUMING THROUGH EVALUATIONS. IT'S THROUGH AN ANNUAL EVALUATION THAT HAPPENS AT THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER AND THEN THE MERIT AND COLA ARE APPLIED TO JANUARY BUT NOT EVERYBODY GETS THE FULL MERIT. THEY DO GET THE FULL COLA. GOT IT.

BUT NOT EVERYBODY, BUT THE MAJORITY OF THE FOLKS DO. OKAY.

BECAUSE OF PERFORMANCE. I DO WANT TO ADD THE OTHER THING TO ADD TO THIS IS YOU'RE THINKING TWO YEARS, BUT WHEN YOU'RE THINKING TWO YEARS, OUR BUDGET, THIS ACTUALLY WILL GO INTO EFFECT. OUR BUDGET GOES JULY 1. HOWEVER, THE RAISE WON'T GO EFFECTIVE UNTIL JANUARY. SO, WE'RE ALREADY HOLDING BACK A HALF A YEAR FOR THIS TO OCCUR. SO, THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER NUANCE TO THE BUDGET SIDE OF THIS THAT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND. YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO WALK OUT OF THE ROOM TOMORROW AND GET A RAISE.

YEP. GREAT. AND THEN DO YOU HAVE A SENSE OF THE DISPERSAL OF THE PERCENT MERIT TO PERCENT STAFF? LIKE 20% OF THE STAFF GOT 3%. I WOULD SAY 95% OF THE STAFF GOT THE 3% AND 5% GOT ZERO. OKAY. OKAY.

OKAY. SO, THE LAST TWO YEARS, IT'S BEEN A MAX OF 7%, IF I'M UNDERSTANDING YOU RIGHT.

AND THE PROPOSAL IS TO DO THE SAME THE NEXT UPCOMING TWO YEARS. CORRECT. OKAY.

FANTASTIC. OKAY. THANK YOU.

THAT HELPS. THANKS. THANKS, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU.

MEMBER MALLOZZI? SO, SEVERAL OF MY QUESTIONS WERE JUST ANSWERED. SO, I APPRECIATE GREAT QUESTIONS. WHAT WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH, OR AT LEAST I'M SPEAKING FOR MYSELF, BUT I THINK I CAN SAY THAT THE MAJORITY OF US, Y'ALL DESERVE EVERYTHING. WE KNOW THAT LIKE MOST GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, IF YOU WERE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, YOU WOULD BE MAKING MORE MONEY AND WE APPRECIATE THAT.

BUT WHEN WE'RE DEALING WITH TAX DOLLARS, SURPLUS DOLLARS, YOUR FUNDING MECHANISMS, BECAUSE WE'RE SO USED TO BEING IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR, IT KILLS US TO GIVE ANY MONEY AWAY BECAUSE WE KNOW WHERE THAT MONEY COMES FROM AND NO ONE LIKES TO GIVE MONEY AWAY. AND I DON'T MEAN GIVING IT AWAY, THAT'S JUST THE WAY I'M PHRASING IT.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. YOU ALL EARN IT. IS THERE A WAY THAT I'M PHRASING IT DIFFERENTLY, STILL DOES THE SAME EXACT THING. I THINK WHAT EVERYBODY IS CONCERNED ABOUT IS, AND AGAIN, NOT THAT YOU DON'T DESERVE IT BECAUSE YOU ALL ROCK IT OUT OF THE PARK AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, IS THERE ANY WAY THAT WE COULD STRESS THAT IT'S NOT GUARANTEED THE 7% MORE? I MEAN, I KNOW THAT YOU SAID UP TO, BUT THAT'S REALLY, I THINK, WHAT'S KILLING THE MAJORITY OF US. SO, GUARANTEE THE COLA FOR THE TWO YEARS? AND THEN IS THERE ANY WIGGLE ROOM THAT YOU HAVE THAT WE COULD MAYBE DO MERIT IN STAGES AND THAT WAY IT'S EASIER FOR US TO BRING IT AND WE CAN, IN OUR MIND, RATIONALIZE IT? AGAIN, STILL KNOWING THAT Y'ALL ARE FANTASTIC AND YOU DON'T VOTE FOR ME SO YOU KNOW I MEAN

[00:55:02]

YEAH, BUT I ALSO, JUST THE FUNDING SIDE OF THINGS, AGAIN, THIS ISN'T PROPERTY TAX. THIS ISN'T COMING OUT OF STATE.

THIS IS GAS TAX, AND IF WE GO ON A HOLIDAY, LIKE THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT DOING UP IN WASHINGTON BECAUSE IT'S A FEDERAL GAS TAX, IT'S NOT EVEN A LOCAL GAS TAX OR STATE, THEN WE WILL HAVE TO COME BACK TO YOU AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT BUDGET. BECAUSE AT THAT POINT, THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THAT THE MONEY WILL FLOW. SO, WE DO HAVE OTHER THINGS THAT WE LOOK AT AND TAKE INTO EFFECT.

IN A WORST-CASE SCENARIO, BRYAN WILL BE BACK IN FRONT OF YOU, HOPEFULLY, BASICALLY SAYING, HEY, WE'VE HAD A CUT IN GAS TAX REVENUES, AND THIS IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THAT'S WHY I SAID THERE'S A RISK WHEN YOU COME TO WORK FOR THE MPO THAT YOU DO NOT NECESSARILY HAVE AT ANY OTHER AGENCY. IT'S MORE LIKE A PRIVATE FIRM. YOU KNOW, BUILDING BACK ON PETER'S COMMENTS EARLIER FOR EXECUTIVE, THE AGENCY ITSELF COULD LOSE ALL OF ITS CONTRACT AUTHORITY AND THAT WOULD GO AWAY. AND THAT'S A RISK THAT'S REALLY UNIQUE. HAVING WORKED FOR THE COUNTY AND THE CITY AND THE STATE OF FLORIDA, I'VE NEVER HAD A BUDGET THAT WORKS THE WAY THIS DOES AND THE RISK THAT THE EMPLOYEES TAKE EVERY DAY TO COME INTO WORK. AND THIS ACTUALLY IS JUST APPROVAL OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, YOU ALL, TO AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO DETERMINE WHAT IS NECESSARY.

SO, IF THERE WAS A BILL AND IT CUT BACK ON OUR FUNDING, I THINK EVERYBODY WOULD KNOW THAT THAT WOULD BE THE FIRST THING THAT WOULD BE OUT THE WINDOW, THE ENTIRE SEVEN. YEAH, ALL OF IT, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S INSURANCE MONEY. YOU KNOW, AND THEN IF THERE IS, THERE'S ALL OF THESE OTHER FACTORS. WE HAVE TO PAY RENT. THE LIGHTS HAVE TO STAY ON. THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, HAVE TO HAPPEN. BUT, YOU KNOW, I SHARE WITH YOU ON THE CONSERVATIVE SIDE, AND, YOU KNOW, MR. GOOD AND I SHARE THAT I CAN BE EXTREMELY FRUGAL AS NEEDED.

BUT THAT FRUGALNESS HAS LED TO THE SUCCESS OF THIS PLACE.

AND, YOU KNOW, BUT IT'S HARD TO SAY YOU'RE FRUGAL WHEN YOU SEE OUT 7%. SO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LEVEL OF, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. MEMBER COOPER? YEAH. I JUST WANT TO, HISTORICALLY, AND I KNOW THAT IT'S AN EXTREMELY COMPETITIVE MARKET, IF I RECALL, DID WE DO A COMPENSATION STUDY OR DID WE JUST DO IT FOR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR POSITION? AT THAT POINT, DID WE ADJUST SALARIES COMPETITIVELY? I REMEMBER A LOT OF THINGS, BUT I CAN'T, I REMEMBER HAVING THE DIALOGUE AND I CAN'T REMEMBER THE SPECIFICS OF IT.

BECAUSE I THINK WE WENT FORWARD AND SAID, YES, WE NEED TO DO A COMPREHENSIVE SALARY ANALYSIS TO GET OUR STAFF AT THAT POINT. THAT'S NUMBER ONE QUESTION. YES, MA'AM, WE DID DO ONE. AND THE GENERAL GIST OF IT IS THAT OUR SALARIES ARE BELOW OUR COMPETITORS.

BUT WE ONLY GAVE AFTER THAT SALARY STUDY THE 7%, WE DID NOT ADJUST THE SALARIES TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE FOR THE SHORTFALL OF OUR COMPETITORS. AND THE 7% AT THAT TIME WAS IT WAS A 3% COLA AND A MERIT OR WHAT WAS THIS THE 7% IS WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING NOW TO CONTINUE? CORRECT BUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LAST BUDGET AND THIS BUDGET IS WE ACTUALLY BROKE IT OUT INTO A COLA OF 4% AND A MERIT OF 3%. THE LAST UPWP, WE JUST HAD IT TOGETHER AS 7.

7. SO, PEOPLE PRETTY MUCH, SO YOU'RE TIGHTENING THE PARAMETERS OF THE MERIT. I MEAN, WE JUST WENT THROUGH THIS FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, AND I'LL BE TRANSPARENT, IT'S A PUBLIC RECORD. WE DID 3 AND 2.5, BUT WE ALSO WENT THROUGH THAT EXERCISE

[01:00:02]

MAYBE THAT'S AN INTERNAL POLICY THAT WE SET TO MEET COLA ANNUALLY AT THAT CAP OF FOUR AND THEN GIVE THE MERIT BASED ON A MORE ROBUST POINT SYSTEM.

AND THAT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION OR MY OBSERVATION. I DIDN'T THINK I WAS GOING TO DEBATE THIS THAT MUCH, BUT, AGAIN, I RESPECT PROFESSIONAL STAFF AND THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS. SO, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. MEMBER JAFFE? THANK YOU, CHAIR. I DO APPRECIATE ALL THE DISCUSSION THAT MY COLLEAGUES ARE HAVING ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. I DO WANT TO JUST MAKE, TO ME, THIS IS AN ADMINISTRATIVE DECISION RATHER THAN A, I KNOW, AND MOST OF US HERE ARE VERY, ALL OF US HERE ARE FAMILIAR WITH WHEN WE VOTE ON OUR MILLAGE RATE ASSESSMENT FOR OUR PROPERTY TAX HOLDERS AND OUR MUNICIPALITIES, AND THAT'S A DIFFERENT SUBJECT THAN THE ADMINISTRATIVE SIDE OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE. AND I KNOW WE'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THAT, SO THAT'S TWO SEPARATE THINGS. I DO WANT TO JUST SAY ALSO I LOOKED UP, IN TERMS OF COLA, NOW THAT I'M PROBABLY ONE OF THE ELDER PEOPLE SITTING HERE, I JUST APPLIED TO, I JUST APPLIED FOR SOCIAL SECURITY STARTING ON JANUARY 1ST OF THIS YEAR AND THE LAST FEW YEARS I WAS LOOKING TO SEE WHAT THE COLA ADJUSTMENTS ARE JUST OUT OF YOU KNOW INTEREST RIGHT AND THE SOCIAL SECURITY COST OF LIVING FOR 2026 IS 2.8 PERCENT THAT BEGAN IN JANUARY 26 AND THESE ARE JUST FACTUAL FOR IN A PRIOR HISTORY IN 2025 THE COLA WAS 2.5 PERCENT IN 2024 THE COLA WAS 3.2%, AND IN 2023, THE COLA WAS 8.7%.

AND I KNOW SOMEONE'S GOING TO CHECK MY MATH HERE, AND I WANT THEM TO, BUT IF YOU TAKE THOSE TOTALS, IT'S A ROUGHLY 17% INCREASE OVER THE LAST FIVE, INCLUDING 26, FOUR YEARS. AND 17 DIVIDED BY 4 IS ROUGHLY 4.25% COLA INCREASE. SO JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE FOR INFORMATION.

THANK YOU, CHAIR. CAN I, ONE QUICK COMMENT TO COMMISSIONER JAFFE. GO AHEAD.

I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS BECAUSE NEXT, I WILL BE APPLYING NEXT YEAR AS WELL, AND SO I'VE DONE THAT MATH AND THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE COMPENSATION ANALYSIS WE WERE DOING HERE AT THE OFFICE, UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE THE FUTURE, EVEN MY OWN. AND BY THE WAY, I WILL BE APPLYING, I WILL QUALIFY WHEN I RETIRE FOR GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE FOR HOUSING. SO. MEMBER LEWELLEN. THANK YOU, CHAIR.

SO, I KNOW SOMETHING THAT WE'VE DONE, AND I KNOW THE BUDGET'S DIFFERENT HERE AND THE WAY THAT YOU'RE DOING THINGS IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN CITIES WELL NOT COMPLETELY DIFFERENT BUT SIMILAR IN SOME WAYS BUT DIFFERENT IN MOST. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TRADITIONALLY DO WHEN WE DO THIS EVERY YEAR FOR OUR BUDGET, AND WE, NOT EVERY YEAR BUT A LOT OF YEARS, IS WE TRY TO DO THINGS THINKING OVER TIME AND WE STAGGER NUMBERS. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, I KNOW THERE WAS ONE YEAR THAT WE WERE GIVING INCREASES AND WITH OUR, DEALING WITH THE UNIONS AND WHATNOT, AND WE DID INCREASES THAT WERE THE FIRST YEAR, I THINK IT WAS A HIGHER NUMBER, AND THEN THE NEXT YEAR IT WAS A LITTLE BIT LOWER, A LITTLE LOWER PERCENTAGE, AND THE FOLLOWING YEAR A LITTLE LOWER THAN THAT. IS THAT SOMETHING, I MEAN, PERSONALLY, I DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE COLA, IT'S THE MERIT, AND I'M JUST WONDERING, AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S GOING TO BE AN ELECTION BETWEEN NOW AND NEXT YEAR ALSO. WHICH COULD IMPACT THINGS AS WELL. SO, I'M JUST WONDERING IF THAT'S SOMETHING, LIKE IF WE WERE

[01:05:02]

SO, HE COULD TURN AROUND AFTER YOU, IF YOU VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE 7%, HE COULD TURN AROUND TOMORROW AND SAY, I'M ONLY GIVING ONE AND TWO.

IT'S AT THE DISCRETION AS THE ADMINISTRATOR. BUT IF I'M UNDERSTANDING WHAT I HEARD EARLIER, GENERALLY IT'S SATISFACTORY OR UNSATISFACTORY, AND SO IT'S EITHER NOTHING OR THE FULL.

THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING. NOT FOR RANK AND FILE. NOT FOR RANK AND FILE. NOT FOR RANK AND FILE. AND I REALLY ACTUALLY LOVE THE CONCEPT OF MAYBE WE LEAVE COLA AS IS AND REVISIT IT IN THE FALL. THE NEXT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CAN BRING BACK TO YOU AND SAY, THIS IS WHERE WE ARE ON COLA, AND THIS IS WHERE WE ARE ON THE ABILITY TO, I'M SORRY, I'M HAMSTRINGING YOU, BUT, YOU KNOW, COME BACK TO THE BOARD NEXT YEAR AND SAY, OKAY, WELL, THIS IS GOING TO BE THE DIFFERENCE FOR THAT YEAR. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS IS BECAUSE WE DO A TWO-YEAR BUDGET. RIGHT. AND THAT'S UNUSUAL. YOU DON'T DO TWO-YEAR BUDGETS. YOU DO FORECASTS, BUT YOU DON'T DO TWO-YEAR BUDGETS. AND SO, BUT I CAN'T FORECAST OUT BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NEXT REAUTHORIZATION BILL IS GOING TO BE. RIGHT, BUT THAT'S SIMILAR TO DEALING WITH UNIONS AS WELL. I MEAN, WE'RE DOING THINGS THAT GO OVER THREE YEARS OR FOUR YEARS, DEPENDING UPON WHAT THE SITUATION IS. AND SO, KNOWING THAT, THAT'S HOW I'M TRYING TO LOOK AT THIS IN THE SAME SENSE, AND JUST KNOWING THAT EACH TIME WE TRY TO STAGGER IT OVER TIME. AND LIKE I SAID, LOOK, THE ECONOMY IS A MESS, AND OBVIOUSLY PEOPLE NEED TO BE ABLE TO LIVE AND BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO COME TO WORK. SO THAT'S IMPORTANT AND YOU KNOW I LIKE I SAID I DON'T REALLY HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE COLA IT'S THE IT'S I'M JUST TRYING TO SEE IF THERE'S A CREATIVE WAY THAT WE CAN ADJUST THE MERIT ESPECIALLY BECAUSE IF IT'S GOING IF I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE SAYING THAT IT MIGHT BE A LESSER AMOUNT IN SOME CASES BUT I JUST IT'S JUST ANOTHER THOUGHT AS FAR AS ANOTHER WAY OF MEASURING IT OVER TIME SO THAT'S ALL. MADAM CHAIR, DO YOU WANT, AND THIS IS UP TO YOU HAVE ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ACCEPT THIS NEXT YEAR'S AND THEN HAVE THE NEXT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COME BACK? YOU DO? EXCUSE ME. THANK YOU. I HAVE TWO MORE SPEAKERS. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE SPEAKERS BEFORE WE ACCEPT ANY MOTIONS.

MEMBER WALKER? SORRY, I DON'T HAVE A MUCH TO ADD, BUT I DO WANT TO AGREE WITH MEMBER GOOD. I THINK AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, WE HAVE TWO ROLES THAT WE PLAY, WHERE WE HAVE OUR FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR RESIDENTS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MAINTAINING THE LEVEL OF SERVICE. AND BY DOING THAT, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MAINTAINING THE EMPLOYEES THAT MAKE THE MPO WHAT IT IS. SO, YOU KNOW, 4% TO COLA, TO ME, THAT IS ACTUALLY UNDER WHAT THE LAST FIVE YEARS WAS, ACCORDING TO MEMBER JAFFE. SO, I WILL, WELL, I DIDN'T CHECK IT, BUT I WILL AGREE WITH IT. AND THEN AS FAR AS THE MERIT GOES, THREE PERCENT MAX, YOU KNOW, TO TRY TO NICKEL AND DIME OVER ONE OR TWO PERCENT, TO ME, DOESN'T REALLY MAKE, YOU KNOW, MUCH SENSE TO, YOU KNOW, STAFF. YOU KNOW, WE ALL AGREE THAT STAFF DOES A FANTASTIC JOB HERE AND YOU KNOW IT'S A NICKEL AND DIME FOR ONE PERCENT TO ME JUST DOESN'T REALLY SEND THE RIGHT MESSAGE FROM US AS A BOARD YOU KNOW TO STAFF. THANK YOU. MEMBER WELCH? THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND I TOO ECHO THE VALUE OF THE STAFF A LOT MY QUESTION IS MORE AROUND THIS BOARD AND WHEN WE VOTE IT'S JUST LET ME UNDERSTAND, THIS IS A RECOMMENDATION, NOT A MANDATE, AS IN OTHER THINGS THAT WE CONSIDER HERE. IS THAT CORRECT? YES. SO, WHATEVER WE MOTION OR APPROVE OR NOT IS SIMPLY A RECOMMENDATION. AND IT CAN BE AT WHOEVER THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S DISCRETION IS TO ADMINISTER OUR RECOMMENDATIONS OR NOT. WOULD THAT BE FAIR? IT NEVER GOES PAST THE RECOMMENDATION LEVEL. IT WILL

[01:10:01]

OKAY. LET'S TRY IT THIS WAY.

IT'S A MAX. IT SERVES TO ME AND SO IN MY CHAIR. IT SERVES AS THE MAXIMUM THAT I WOULD EVER DO. THAT SAID, YOU KNOW, THAT'S AT THE DISCRETION OF THE NEXT INCOMING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TOO, BUT THAT'S THE WAY I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THE RECOMMENDATION. NOW, THE FEDS COULD TURN AROUND AND TELL ME I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD HAVE TO DO CHANGES TO THAT. THERE'S NO GUARANTEE TO ANYTHING, YOU KNOW, EXCEPT DEATH AND TAXES.

EXACTLY. FOR CLARIFICATION, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BROUGHT THIS UP. IN THE CASE OF THE MERIT, CURRENTLY IS IT WRITTEN AS JUST 3%? WHAT'S BEFORE US TODAY? IS IT 3% OR IS IT UP TO 3%? IT IS UP TO 3%.

OKAY, SO THAT FLEXIBILITY IS THERE. SO, WE WOULD JUST BE APPROVING THE CEILING ON THE MERIT. MEMBER FISHER? IT WOULD BE VERY QUICK, MADAM CHAIR. THE DISCUSSION HAS BEEN HEALTHY. WHAT I DON'T WANT THE STAFF TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT TO LOSE CONFIDENCE IN THEM. I THINK THE PRESENTATION OF THE 4 AND 3 IS ADEQUATE. I THINK YOU WANT TO PAY YOUR PEOPLE TO KEEP THEM HERE. DO NOT LOSE THEM. AND ALSO WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE CONFIDENCE IN YOU. SO, I'M GOING TO BE VOTING AS IT SITS TODAY.

THE FOUR AND THE THREE, I DON'T WANT ANY CHANGE PERSONALLY. IT SAYS UP TO 3%. LET'S LET OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HANDLE THAT.

THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE PAID TO DO, AND THEY'RE PAID TO RETAIN THEIR STAFF. I WOULD HATE TO LOSE SOMEBODY OVER A MINOR AMOUNT OF DOLLARS, AND I WANT THEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE RESPECT YOU.

WE WANT YOU TO STAY HERE AS LONG AS YOU CAN, WITH NO GUARANTEE, AS WHAT GREG HAS SAID. TOMORROW, THINGS COULD CHANGE. SO, I APPRECIATE YOUR CONFIDENCE IN STAYING WITH THE MPO. I WANT YOU TO CONTINUE TO FEEL THAT CONFIDENCE, AND I'M SUPPORTING YOU 100%.

THANK YOU. AND, MR. COMMISSIONER, IF I MAY, I, DURING OUR STAFF, YOU CAN ASK ANY OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS, I ALWAYS STRESS THAT YOU ALL ARE THE POLICY BOARD. EVEN IF IT DOES NOT GO IN A DIRECTION THAT THEY HAD HOPED FOR, YOU'RE STILL THE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND RESPECTED BY OUR STAFF. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MEMBER MALLOZZI. AND I WOULD SAY. I HAD TWO BEFORE.

WE'VE HAD SEVERAL AND I HAVE THREE, SO THERE MAY STILL BE MORE. SO, IF WE CAN JUST MAKE IT BRIEF. THANK YOU. WELL, WHAT I WANTED TO SAY WAS, AND I'M TRYING TO READ THE ROOM, AND I DON'T WANT TO SEE ANYTHING FAIL, SO I WAS GOING TO POTENTIALLY MAKE A MOTION TO BIFURCATE BECAUSE FROM WHAT I'M HEARING, NO ONE HAS AN ISSUE WITH THE COLA, AND I DON'T WANT TO SEE THIS GET LOST, BUT I DON'T WANT TO MAKE AN ISSUE, I DON'T WANT TO MAKE THE MOTION WITHOUT EVERYONE BEING HEARD.

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO, WHEN THE TIME COMES, IF POTENTIALLY MAKE AN ISSUE, MAKE A MOTION TO BIFURCATE THE ITEMS AND THAT WAY WE VOTE ON THE COLA FOR BOTH YEARS FIRST. AND THEN WE KNOW THAT NO MATTER WHAT, I THINK THAT JUST BY HEARING COMMENTS THAT THAT WOULD PASS WITHOUT A DOUBT. AND THEN WE COULD HAVE, IF WE NEEDED DISCUSSION OR SOMETHING ON THE MERIT. AND THEN I KNOW THAT AT LEAST THE EMPLOYEES ARE COVERED PARTIALLY IF FOR SOME REASON IT DOESN'T.

THANK YOU. MEMBER LONERGAN.

THANK YOU, CHAIR. I JUST WANT TO SAY THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION. MINE IS ONLY ONE OPINION. I APPRECIATE THE EXTENSIVE DISCUSSION TODAY.

AGAIN, I JUST AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE CYCLE OF COST ACCELERATION OVER THE YEARS. YOU KNOW, IT COMES DOWN TO THEN ONE GROUP OF PEOPLE, THEY GOT IT, NOW IT'S OUR TURN. OUR DIVIDE IS WIDENING. THERE ARE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE THAT CAN'T AFFORD BECAUSE SOME ARE GETTING FURTHER AHEAD AND SOME ARE BEING LEFT BEHIND. THAT'S WHERE I REALLY HAVE REAL CONCERNS AND THE LONG-TERM IMPACT FOR EVERYONE. AS SALARIES GO UP, THE COST OF EVERYTHING GOES UP, THE COST OF HEALTH INSURANCE GOES UP, SO I JUST TRY AND PULL IT IN A LITTLE BIT, AND EVERYONE FEELS A LITTLE BIT OF THE PAIN, BUT I APOLOGIZE.

THAT'S KIND OF MY THOUGHT PROCESS ON THIS, AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MEMBER SORENSEN? THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. BRYAN, WHAT'S THE AVERAGE SALARY? OH, 37. PETER HAS THAT INFORMATION. IT'S BEING LOOKED UP RIGHT NOW.

OKAY, GREAT. BUT I WILL TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, OUT OF THE FIVE HIGHEST SALARIES, FOUR OF THEM ARE WALKING OUT THE DOOR. YEAH. SO, IT'LL

[01:15:02]

RETIREMENT, SORRY.

FOR EVERYONE'S CLARITY. THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBER SORENSEN, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THIS INCLUDES EXECUTIVE STAFF AS WELL. THE AVERAGE SALARY IS $136,000. $136,000. OKAY.

THANK YOU. OKAY. COMMENTS I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE MYSELF.

WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF CONCERNS ON THIS, AND I DO RECALL TWO YEARS AGO THERE WAS ALSO A NUMBER OF CONCERNS. I DO FEEL THAT WE NEED TO PAY OUR EMPLOYEES. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE COMPETITIVE. I CERTAINLY AGREE WITH THAT. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, THOUGH, IN FUTURE YEARS, THAT YOU WOULD TAKE THESE COMMENTS BACK AND WORK THEM INTO WHATEVER COMES BACK BEFORE US.

AND SERIOUSLY TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION WHAT THE MEMBERS ARE SAYING BECAUSE ALL THE COMMENTS HAVE BEEN GOOD ALL HAVE BEEN VALID I DO THINK WE HAVE AN ECONOMY THAT YOU KNOW IT'S CRAZY AT BEST AND WE HAVE A LOT OF FACTORS THAT AFFECTING THAT AND, AND IT'S YOU KNOW SALARIES DO GO UP BUT APPARENTLY NOT AS FAST AS HOUSING, NOT AS FAST AS GAS AND SOME OTHER THINGS.

SO, I DON'T, FOR ME, I DON'T THINK THIS WOULD BE THE YEAR TO SAY NO TO WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED.

BUT I WOULD SAY THAT YOU DO NEED TO GO BACK BASED ON ALL THE COMMENTS HERE AND TAKE A LOOK AND SEE HOW CAN IT BE ADJUSTED NEXT TIME. I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. I CAN DO THIS SEPARATE. YOU SAID YOU COULD DO A, B, AND C. I WOULD LIKE TO START WITH A, IF WE COULD HAVE A MOTION FOR A. IT'S BEEN MOTION AND SECOND.

COULD WE HAVE A VOTE ON IT, ELECTRONIC VOTE? AND IF YOU'RE ON VIRTUALLY, IF YOU WISH TO VOTE AGAINST, YOU MUST SPEAK UP. OTHERWISE, WE'LL BE ASSUMING THAT YOU'RE VOTING WITH THE MAJORITY.

THANK YOU. MOTION PASSES. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR PART B. I'M GOING TOO FAST FOR YOU? OKAY. IT'S BEEN MOTION AND SECOND. MAY WE HAVE ELECTRONIC VOTING? WE'RE GOOD? MOTION PASSES. MAY I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR PART C.

REBECCA SCHULTZ BROWARD MPO GIVE ME A MOMENT SO THAT I CAN PICK WHICH ONE I MADE LIKE FIVE OF THESE TO FIGURE OUT WHICH ONE YOU GUYS WERE GOING FOR. YES.

OKAY, LET'S BE PATIENT. IT'S VERY LONG AND THE WHOLE THING DOESN'T FIT ON THE SCREEN, BUT THE ORIGINAL ONE IS ON THERE. OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION FOR PART C? THERE'S BEEN MOTION AND SECOND. ELECTRONIC VOTES, PLEASE. MOVE 16-6.

MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU, BOARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

RECOGNIZING MEMBER COOPER? THANK YOU. AND JUST FOR SOME CLARITY MOVING FORWARD, I KNOW STAFF HEARD. BUT I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT NEXT

[01:20:01]

REBECCA SCHULTZ, BROWARD MPO PLEASE GIVE ME A MOMENT.

YES, IT'S A MOTION THAT WE JUST MADE BECAUSE I THINK IT WILL SAVE A LOT OF TIME NEXT TIME WE TALK ABOUT THIS. THE MOTION WAS PRETTY MUCH TO DO WHAT WAS SAID EARLIER, MAKE SURE WE INCORPORATE IT, ALL OF THESE COMMENTS NEXT TIME.

THANK YOU. THIS MEMORIALIZES IT. HOLD ON A SECOND. MAYBE I'LL PREFACE IT. I'M SURE OUR EXECUTIVE STAFF, THE MOTION NEEDS TO BE MADE AGAIN. WOULD UNDERSTAND IN THE LEGAL PARAMETERS. WE'RE NOT SAYING LIST EVERYBODY'S, I MEAN, IT'S A PUBLIC RECORD ANYWAY. OKAY, HOLD A SECOND WHILE SHE'S FIXING THAT. MEMBER MALLOZZI. SO, MY QUESTION IS THIS, WHAT WE'RE POTENTIALLY VOTING ON RIGHT NOW, HAS NOT BEEN PUT IN THE PUBLIC, IT WAS NOT ON THE AGENDA, ET CETERA. SO IS THAT EVEN ALLOWED? YES IT'S A LOT OF UNDER THE SUBJECT MATTER HOWEVER I WILL JUST SAY THAT THERE'S NO IT'S NOT NECESSARY TO GO TO A MOTION IT CAN BE DIRECTION OF THE BOARD WHICH I THINK HAS BEEN VERY CLEAR THAT THIS IS WHAT THE BOARD IS INDICATING HOW THEY WOULD LIKE IT TO PROCEED IN IN A FUTURE YEAR, SO FRANKLY. YOU'VE HAD, YOU'VE GOT GOOD DIRECTIONS. OKAY SO WE'RE GOOD WE DON'T NEED TO VOTE ON IT. OKAY, THANK YOU, KUPO. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

OKAY, I HAVE FOLKS MOVING. WE

[8. Comments from the Chair]

ON TWO OCCASIONS, ONCE FOR A REALLY GOOD PRESENTATION TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE CITY OF KÖLN, THE PROVINCE OF KÖLN, IN THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA, WHERE WE HAD THE GOVERNOR OF PANAMA IN OUR CITY. AND ALSO, AS WE WORKED THROUGH SOME DIFFICULTIES WITH OUR SURTAX PROJECT, AND HE WAS ABLE TO PULL A TEAM TOGETHER WITH BROWARD COUNTY AND CITY OF PEMBROKE PINES AND MIRAMAR SO THAT WE CAN WORK THROUGH THOSE AND HOPEFULLY GET THE ASSISTANCE SO THAT WE CAN COMPLETE THAT PROJECT. SO,

[9. Member Comments Click here to submit a comment to go before the Board.]

APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU.

MEMBER SHUHAM? THANK YOU. JUST ONE MORE COMMENT ON THE SALARIES AND THIS GOES TO MAYOR COOPER'S EARLIER COMMENT.

IN HOLLYWOOD, AND I KNOW MANY CITIES, WE DO SALARY SURVEYS TO ENSURE THAT OUR EMPLOYEES ARE GETTING AT LEAST 75% OF WHATEVER AVERAGE WE'RE CHOOSING. WE LOOK AT SIMILAR CITIES WITH SIMILAR RESPONSIBILITIES.

AND IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU DID THAT, BUT THEN YOU DIDN'T BUMP THE SALARIES. AND SO, I GUESS IT'S A QUESTION AS TO WHY. AND I'M NOT SURE NOW'S THE TIME IF YOU CAN ANSWER THAT, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO THAT, THEN YOU SHOULD BUMP THE SALARY SO THAT WE'RE NOT IN A STATE OF WORRYING ABOUT EMPLOYEES LEAVING BECAUSE THE SALARIES AREN'T COMPETITIVE. I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR US TO GET A REPORT BACK ON THAT TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT AT THIS POINT THEY ARE COMPETITIVE ONCE THEY RECEIVE THOSE SALARIES. I THINK THAT WAS MY CONCERN AS WELL. ALL RIGHT. I WOULD LOOK AT IT AS THEY ARE BECOMING MORE COMPETITIVE WITH THE 7% INCREASES, BUT WE DID NOT BUMP IT UP BECAUSE WE

[01:25:02]

[10. Executive Director’s Report]

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND I APPRECIATE THE ROBUST CONVERSATION. YOUR BUDGET IS DIFFICULT. SALARIES ARE EVEN MORE DIFFICULT. THAT SAID, YOU KNOW, BRYAN AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER NOW AS KIND OF DOING SOME FORM OF TRANSITION PLANNING THAT HASN'T BEEN MADE OFFICIAL. BUT, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU ALL KNOW ON THE GRANT SIDE, THE BROWARD SAFETY ACTION PLAN THAT YOU ALL PASSED, WE HAVE EIGHT CITIES AND THE COUNTY IN THE QUEUE TO APPLY FOR DISCRETIONARY MONEY OUT OF WASHINGTON BECAUSE WE DID THAT PLAN, BECAUSE WE PASSED THAT PLAN. I WANT TO ALSO LET THE MEMBERS KNOW THE REASON THE LETTERS HAVEN'T GONE OUT SAYING, YEAH, YOU'RE COMPLYING OR NOT, IS WE WERE ACTUALLY THEN TASKED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO REVIEW THE APPLICATION TO TELL THEM IF IT'S CONSISTENT OR IF IT'S REPEATABLE WITH WHAT WE'VE ALREADY DONE FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

SO, THERE'S SOME REVIEW THAT STAFF IS CURRENTLY DOING, AND WE'LL GET THAT. ACTUALLY, IT WAS ORGANIZED WELL, TO BE HONEST. THE TRACK STUDY, COMMISSIONER SORENSEN, THIS KIND OF DEALS WITH PART OF YOUR DISTRICT AS WELL. YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT POTENTIALLY GOING UNDER OR OVER THE RAILROADS. THERE HAVE BEEN MEETINGS GOING ON WITH THAT. THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT CAPACITY, TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THE ROADWAYS. YOU KNOW, WE ARE TRYING TO DEAL WITH CAPACITY ISSUES AT THOSE LOCATIONS, AND THE CONVERSATIONS HAVE BEEN PRETTY GOOD. WE'RE NOT READY TO. ROLL OUT A NUMBER OR THAT, BUT WE CAN TELL YOU THAT THE CONVERSATIONS HAVE BEEN VERY POSITIVE, EVEN WITH FECR, WHO CAN BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH. SMART METRO, ON THAT SIDE, I WANT TO ALSO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE WERE ASKED TO PROVIDE A POSTER SESSION AT U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IN JULY ON THE PROCESS, THAT ACTUALLY HAS GROWN LEGS AND LEFT US.

NOW IT'S WITH THE ASSOCIATION OF METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATIONS AND LA28, WHICH IS THE OLYMPIC COMMITTEE, IS CHOOSING TO ACTUALLY CONTRACT IN WITH THE SMART METRO PROGRAM THAT WE DEVELOPED. THREE CITIES ARE ALREADY MOVING FORWARD, AS WELL AS THE HOUSTON AREA MPO. AS WELL AS THE CHICAGO AREA MPO, AS WELL AS THE NEW YORK MPO. WE DEVELOPED SOMETHING HERE IN LITTLE OLD BROWARD COUNTY, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY SEEN AS A GOOD THING GOING FORWARD. THEN LYONS ROAD, I WANT TO ALSO TALK ABOUT THAT. WE ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION. THE METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION CONSTRUCTION, MTAC, IS ACTUALLY, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN CALLED MOE, BUT IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A DEAL NOW. BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S MOVING FORWARD. THAT'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO ACTUALLY RIBBON-CUTTING FOR THE LIGHTS THAT WENT ONTO THE COMPLETE STREETS PROJECT THERE.

SO, CONGRATULATIONS TO COCONUT CREEK. PEMBROKE PINES, MOVING FORWARD WITH THE MOBILITY HUB IN PEMBROKE PINES. THAT FTA GRANT IS GOING FORWARD. AND THE CITY HAS BEEN VERY COOPERATIVE IN MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT.

AND THEN, COMMISSIONER SORENSEN, FOR YOU, THE 17TH STREET MOBILITY HUB, WHICH IS BASICALLY REDOING 17TH STREET. WE ACTUALLY HAD NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE FECR FOLKS BECAUSE OF DESIGN WORK AND ALL THE REST OF IT. SO, THINGS ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT AS WELL, AND NO TREES ARE COMING DOWN.

SO THAT'S GREAT, BUT WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO HOPEFULLY ADDRESS WHAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS AT THAT LOCATION BECAUSE THERE'S BACKUP IN THAT PART OF THE CITY OF FORT LAUDERDALE. I DON'T LIVE NEAR THERE, BUT I TRY TO DRIVE THROUGH THERE EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE. RUSH HOUR TOOK ME 45 MINUTES TO GO APPROXIMATELY A MILE AND A HALF. SO, YOU KNOW, WE DO DEFINITELY NEED TO ADDRESS PROBLEMS IN THAT AREA FOR SURE.

ESPECIALLY, YEAH, ESPECIALLY IF YOU WANT TO GET TO THE HOSPITAL, WHICH IS WHERE I WAS GOING.

THAT SAID, WE ALSO HAVE THE LAST THING TO TALK ABOUT IS, THIS IS YOUR HANDWRITING. AH, MY FAVORITE TIME OF THE YEAR, JUNE ELECTIONS FOR THE OFFICERS. THE CANDIDATES, BASICALLY ALL CURRENT OFFICERS HAVE ASKED TO BE REELECTED. SO THAT'S THE SLATE YOU'RE GOING TO SEE. IF ANYBODY CHOOSES TO RUN FOR THE OFFICE THAT ISN'T CURRENTLY ON THE SLATE, PLEASE CONTACT BRYAN CALETKA TO GET YOUR NOMINATION IN FRONT OF THE BOARD. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I ALWAYS PRAISE IS CONSISTENCY AND STABILITY. AND THAT TO ME HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THIS ORGANIZATION BECAUSE WE'VE HAD CONSISTENCY AND STABILITY. COMMISSIONER ROGERS, I WAS NEGLECTED IN SAYING THAT GRANT APPLICATION PROCESS, THAT INCLUDES 31ST,

[01:30:02]

ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT, I'M DONE. BRYAN, DO YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING? ONE THING I WANT TO ADD IS YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTACT ME TO BECOME A CANDIDATE FOR ONE OF THE SEVEN ELECTED OFFICER POSITIONS, BUT WE WILL ALSO TAKE FLOOR NOMINATIONS ON THE DAY OF THE VOTE. SO WE'LL BE PREPARED IF THERE IS ONE IF A VOTE IS NECESSARY. WE WILL BE PREPARED. ALLEN WILL HAVE LITTLE PIECES OF PAPER THAT HE'LL WRITE YOUR NAMES ON AND THEN DISAPPEAR OVER THERE AND THEN COME BACK AND IF THERE'S WHITE SMOKE WE GOT IT. WITH THAT, I THINK MADAM CHAIR WE CAN GO ON TO THE NEXT ITEM. OKAY, THANK

[1. 2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan Amendment Cycle Update]

BOTH OF YOU APPRECIATE IT.

OKAY, NON-ACTION ITEM. WE HAVE PAUL FLAVIAN, 2050 METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION PLAN AMENDMENT CYCLE UPDATE.

WE ARE NEVER RUSHING YOU. GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR. I WILL RUSH MYSELF. GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I'LL MAKE MY PRESENTATION REALLY QUICKLY BECAUSE ACTUALLY I HAVE ONE SLIDE THAT ENCAPSULATES EVERYTHING THAT I NEED TO TELL YOU SO I'M GOING TO MOVE THAT TO THAT BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF THESE SO AGAIN WE HAVE AN AMENDMENT CYCLE FOR THE METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION PLAN SO ESSENTIALLY IT'S AN EVERY YEAR PROCESS AND THIS PROCESS ACTUALLY WAS BLESSED BY YOU ON IN JUNE OF 2020 SO THIS IS THE, THE PROCESS THAT WE FOLLOW SO I WILL GO RIGHT TO THAT SLIDE AND WE'LL GET THIS THING DONE FOUR STEPS MEET WITH MPO STAFF AND THAT'S BETWEEN MAY AND JULY SO WE'RE IN THAT PROCESS RIGHT NOW. STEP TWO IS PRESENT WHATEVER THAT AMENDMENT TO THE METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION IS TO OUR BOARDS, TO OUR COMMITTEES, THE TAC, THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND OF COURSE THE BOARD. STEP THREE IS THE FORMAL REQUEST LETTER, WHICH IS DUE TO US ON NOVEMBER 10TH, WITH ALL THE DOCUMENTATION FOR THAT AMENDMENT. AND THEN THE FINAL STEP IS US. WE MAKE SURE THAT THAT PROJECT WILL BE COST FEASIBLE, AND WE DO ALL THE DUE DILIGENCE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN GET IT BACK TO YOU IN FEBRUARY FOR YOU TO TAKE AN ACTION ON IT. THAT'S THE FOUR STEPS, AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO TAKE THEM. YOU SAY MPO HAS BEEN MEETING WITH STAFF. IS THERE ANY CITY THAT NEEDS TO BE REACHED OUT TO? WE MADE THE SAME PRESENTATION TO THE TAC AND THE CAC ALREADY IN THE LAST MEETING CYCLE SO THEY'RE ALL AWARE AND ACTUALLY WE'RE MEETING WITH CITY OF LAUDER HILL TODAY AT 4:30 POTENTIALLY TO TALK ABOUT THIS SO YEAH. VERY GOOD, THANK YOU AND MIRAMAR ALREADY SCHEDULED, RIGHT? NOT YET, MADAM CHAIR BUT.

COMMISSIONER ROGERS, I'LL CHECK ON THAT. GREAT QUESTION, YOU'RE ON. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY, GREAT QUESTION HOW DO YOU I KNOW YOU SAID THE TAC AND ALL OF THAT THAT IS STAFF. WHEN DO YOU GET TO THE ELECTED OFFICIALS LEVEL OF HAVING A CONVERSATION? THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

YOU HAVE PROJECTS, RIGHT? AND LET'S SAY YOU HAVE A PROJECT CURRENTLY THAT'S IN OUR METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION PLAN, AND YOU WANT TO MAKE A CHANGE TO IT, A MAJOR SCOPE CHANGE, FOR EXAMPLE. YOUR STAFF WOULD CONTACT US, AND OF COURSE, WITH YOUR BLESSING, THEY WOULD ACTUALLY CONTACT US.

THEY WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU FIRST SAYING, HEY THIS PROJECT NEEDS SOME MAJOR CHANGES, RIGHT? AND THEN YOU WOULD TELL THEM TO MOVE FORWARD, AND THEY WOULD CONTACT US AGAIN. WE WOULD MEET, AND WE WOULD WORK OUT, YOU KNOW, HOW WE COULD ACTUALLY, WHATEVER YOU'RE SEEING, YOU WANT TO CHANGE TO THAT PROJECT, HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN PROCESS THAT FORWARD. THAT'S HOW THAT WOULD HAPPEN. UNDERSTAND, JUST WANTED TO BE CLARIFIED A LITTLE BIT. ABSOLUTELY, AND AGAIN IT'S LIKE IT'S A CONVERSATION RIGHT IT'S ALWAYS BACK AND FORTH CONVERSATION WITH YOUR STAFF OF COURSE THEM WITH YOU AND THEN WITH US YOU KNOW, SO. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NO

[2. DRAFT Fiscal Year 2027 List of Priority Projects]

YOU'RE VERY WELCOME MADAM CHAIR.

NEXT ITEM DRAFT FISCAL YEAR 2027 LIST OF PRIORITY PROJECTS JIHONG CHEN, WELCOME. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR, BOARD MEMBERS, GOOD MORNING. THIS IS JIHONG CHEN WITH BROWARD MPO. DO YOU HAVE A SHORT PRESENTATION FOR US? YES. THERE'S NOWHERE TO SHORTEN A PRIORITY PROJECT.

NO, GO AHEAD. THIS IS A NEW ROUTINE PROCESS. TODAY I'M PRESENTING FISCAL YEAR 27 LIST OF PRIORITY PROJECTS. THESE ARE ALL PPE WE REUSE TO DEVELOP DRIVE THE TENTATIVE WORK PROGRAM AND THE TRANSPORTATION EVEN WHEN THE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR FISCAL YEAR 2028 TO 2032. THIS SLIDE IS CORE

[01:35:02]

THIS PERCENTAGE IS USED FOR ALLOCATE BROWARD MPOS ATTRIBUTABLE FUNDS. SO, THE PERCENTAGE WAS APPROVED WITH 2050 MTP. THE LPP INCLUDES 126 PROJECTS. THIS SLIDE PRESENTS NUMBER OF PROJECTS BY FUNDING PROGRAM. THIS SLIDE PRESENTS UNFUNDED AMOUNT BY FUNDING PROGRAM AND OWNERSHIP.

AND THIS LPP ALSO INCLUDES TURNPIKE PRIORITY LIST. YOU CAN FIND THE TURNPIKE PRIORITY LIST AT THE LAST SECTION OF THE LPP. SO, WE SAID MPO STAFF AND TEMPAC STAFF ARE READY TO TAKE QUESTIONS. AND ALSO, THIS IOPP WILL INCLUDE IN THE NEXT MEETING CYCLE FOR APPROVAL. ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. I DON'T HAVE ANYONE IN THE QUEUE. AND

[3. Report From Partner Agency - Florida Department of Transportation - Broward Boulevard Truck Parking]

SO NEXT WE HAVE A REPORT FROM PARTNER AGENCY, FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, BROAD BOULEVARD TRUCK PARKING BY JUSTIN STROH. THANK YOU AND THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR AND THE BOARD MEMBERS FOR HAVING OUR PRESENTATION TODAY. MY NAME IS JUSTIN STROH. I AM THE FDOT DISTRICT 4 FREIGHT COORDINATOR. I WILL QUICKLY PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF TRUCK PARKING NEEDS AND HIGHLIGHT CURRENT INITIATIVES TO MAXIMIZE FDOT RIGHT-OF-WAY AS WELL AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE COLLABORATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO ADVANCE EFFECTIVE TRUCK PARKING STRATEGIES. SO, FROM A NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE, WE HAVE ONE SPACE FOR EVERY 11 TRUCK DRIVERS. I WANT TO QUICKLY GO TO THE RIGHT WHERE WE SEE THE HOURS OF SERVICE RULE WHICH IS 11 HOURS OF DRIVING LIMIT AND 14 HOURS OF ON-DUTY SERVICE WITH 30-MINUTE BREAKS BACK TO THE NATIONAL CHALLENGE TRUCK DRIVERS SPEND ON AVERAGE ABOUT ONE HOUR LOOKING FOR THE PARKING EACH DAY THAT EQUATES TO ABOUT 5,500 ANNUALLY AND IT CONTRIBUTES TO TRAFFIC CONGESTION ON OUR ROADWAYS. FROM A FLORIDA PERSPECTIVE, MOSTLY OVERNIGHT ACTIVITY BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 9 P.M. AND 5 A.M. AND THE HIGHEST DAYS ARE ON TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, AND THURSDAY. WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT TO BROWARD COUNTY TODAY? BROWARD COUNTY FACES A GROWING TRUCK PARKING DEFICIT THAT DIRECTLY AFFECTS THE SAFETY OF TRUCK DRIVERS AND THE ROADWAY USERS WHILE ALSO IMPACTING NEIGHBORHOODS AND FREIGHT RELIABILITY. SO, THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE STATEWIDE TRUCK PARKING STUDY FROM 2020.

YOU'LL SEE AREAS OF CONCERNS.

THOSE AREAS OF CONCERNS ARE THE HIGHEST LOCATIONS OF AUTHORIZED AND UNAUTHORIZED TRUCK PARKING. IF YOU LOOK AT THE MAP TO THE LEFT, IT'S A CLOSER LOOK AT WHERE IN BROWARD COUNTY WE'RE SEEING THE HIGHEST PARKING ACTIVITY.

SO, WE HAD JUST COMPLETED A 2025 TRUCK PARKING SUPPLY AND DEMAND ANALYSIS. I WANT TO QUICKLY GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AND THEN THOSE CONDITIONS. SO, WE UTILIZE DATA. SO, WE IDENTIFIED THE INVENTORY, WHICH WOULD BE THE SUPPLY OF TRUCK PARKING SPACES, UTILIZING GEOTAB DATA AND TRUCK PARKING AVAILABILITY SYSTEM TO

[01:40:03]

DISTRICT 4 IDENTIFIED THE BROWARD BOULEVARD PARK AND RUN AS AN UNDERUTILIZED FACILITY.

SPECIFICALLY, THAT NORTHERN LOT, WHICH YOU SEE ON THAT MAP ON THE BOTTOM LEFT, SINCE 2020 IS NEARING 0% UTILIZATION. I THOUGHT IS PLANNING TO CONSTRUCT A TRUCK IN FREIGHT FACILITY ADJACENT TO THE I-95 AND BROWARD BOULEVARD INTERCHANGE. WE JUST COMPLETED THE CONCEPTUAL DEVELOPMENT OF THIS. WE'VE IDENTIFIED THAT 36, ABOUT 36 TRUCK PARKING SPACES COULD FIT WITHIN THE NORTHERN LOT. THIS IS A PRELIMINARY CONCEPT SO WE WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO APPLY FOR THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY FREIGHT PROGRAM WHICH IS FEDERAL DOLLARS TO SUPPORT SUPPLY CHAIN FREIGHT AND LOGISTICS. THE DISTRICT WAS AWARDED FOR DESIGN IN FISCAL YEAR 27 A LITTLE OVER SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND AND FOR CONSTRUCTION IN 29, AROUND 14 MILLION. THIS LOCATION IDENTIFIED AS APPROXIMATELY 36 TRUCK PARKING SPACES, ONLY ADDRESSES ABOUT 4% OF THE 2025 UNMET NUMBERS.

SO, THIS WOULD ONLY BE A 4% TO GET TO OUR TOTAL DEMAND FOR 2025. SO WHEN THE DESIGN PHASE STARTS IN FISCAL YEAR 27, WE'RE GOING TO BE EVALUATING POTENTIAL SITE AMENITIES, WHICH INCLUDES SAFETY ELEMENTS SUCH AS LIGHTING, FENCING, SECURITY, DRIVER WELL-BEING, SO RESTROOM FACILITIES, AND SHADED AREAS AS WELL AS COMMUNITY PROTECTION SO TO BE A CONTROLLED AREA WHERE TRUCKERS WOULD PARK AND DESIGNATED PARKING THEN I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT HERE WE'RE IMPLEMENTING A T-PASS 2.0 THAT USES A CAMERA-BASED SYSTEM TO IDENTIFY AVAILABLE TRUCK PARKING. THAT SYSTEM YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH IF YOU'RE ON ONE OF OUR INTERSTATES. WE HAVE THOSE BIG BLUE SIGNS THAT SAY X AMOUNT OF SPACES AVAILABLE FOR TRUCKERS. THAT'S SO THAT THEY'RE NOT GETTING OFF AND LOOKING FOR PARKING.

SO, WE WOULD HAVE THEM BE DRIVING TO IDENTIFY IF THERE IS SPACE AVAILABLE SO THAT THEY'RE NOT JUST GOING INTO THE LOT CIRCLING. SO, SOME KEY TAKEAWAYS FOR US. TRUCK PARKING SHORTAGES POSE SAFETY AND COMMUNITY CHALLENGES IN BROWARD COUNTY. FDOT IS USING UNDERUTILIZED RIGHT OF WAY TO DELIVER NEAR TERM FUNDABLE SOLUTIONS TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY FREIGHT PROGRAM. THIS PROJECT IS A SCALABLE MODEL, BUT IT IS NOT A ONE FIX ALL.

[01:45:02]

MEMBER MALLOZZI? QUICK QUESTION, CAN WE CHARGE THEM TO PARK THERE? EVEN IF IT'S A TINY AMOUNT, JUST BECAUSE IT'S COSTING SO MUCH MONEY? SO CURRENTLY THE STRUCTURE WITH STATE AND FEDERAL DOLLARS, YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO CHARGE FOR A STATE-OWNED FACILITY.

OKAY. MUCH LIKE OUR REST AREAS. SO, THE FACILITIES, IS IT OVERNIGHT PARKING OR HOW DOES THAT WORK? THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION.

SO, IT WOULD NOT ONLY BE FOR OVERNIGHT PARKING TO MEET THAT PEAK DEMAND HOURS, WHICH WE'RE SEEING THE HIGHEST NEED FOR PARKING OVERNIGHT. IT WOULD ALSO BE USED FOR STAGING PIVOTAL POINTS NEAR OUR AIRPORT AND SEAPORT FOR TRUCK DRIVERS THAT ARE NOT IN THIS COMMUNITY TO COME IN AND STAGE THERE AS WELL.

I CERTAINLY GET COMPLAINTS FROM TIME TO TIME CONCERNING PARKING FOR TRUCKS. SO, IT IS A PROBLEM. I DIDN'T REALIZE JUST HOW MUCH OF A PROBLEM IT IS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE BROWARD COUNTY. AND I'M REALLY HAPPY TO SEE THAT WE'RE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT. I DO HAVE MEMBER ROGERS. THANK YOU, MADAM.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. QUESTION, I LIKE THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE, BUT TELL ME, WHAT ABOUT GAS STATIONS? I'M TALKING ABOUT THE OVERNIGHT DRIVERS.

HAVE WE MADE ANY CONTACT TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO PARTICIPATE. WE TRY ALL OF OUR OTHER ON THE RESIDENTIAL SIDE WE DO EVERYTHING TO MAKE IT EASIER, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WOULD GAS STATION BE A POINT THAT YOU COULD CONSIDER AND I'VE NEVER HEARD THIS CONVERSATION AT THE AIRPORT WHENEVER THE HEADS OF THE AIRPORT AND THE SEAPORT ARE HAVING CONVERSATION. NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT TRUCKERS GOING UP AND DOWN THE ROADWAYS. THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT ON-SITE, EVERYTHING THAT THEY'RE DOING ON THEIR PROPERTIES.

BUT WHEN THEY LEAVE THE PORT, NO ONE IS THINKING THOSE VEHICLES HAVE CHALLENGES AS THEY CONTINUE UP THE ROADWAYS.

SO, I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT THE PEA WOULD BE CONSIDERED ONE OF THOSE MEETINGS WE COULD GO AS AN MPO TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT OF TRUCKS ON OUR ROADWAYS. AT LEAST CREATE THAT AWARENESS SO WHEN THEY DO THEIR BUDGET AND PLANS THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO CONSIDER. I DON'T KNOW, BUT I THINK THEIR AWARENESS IS NECESSARY WITH THE PORT AND AIRPORT SEAPORTS HERE IN OUR COUNTY. AND YOU CAN TALK ABOUT TRANSPORTATION, HOW DO WE TEACH OUR DRIVERS THAT WHENEVER THERE'S AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE BEHIND THEM THEY TRULY SHOULD BE MOVING TO THE RIGHT. AND BECAUSE ALL OF US ARE GOING TO FEEL IT ONE DAY WHEN THEY'RE NOT MOVING, TRAFFIC IS NOT MOVING. I DON'T KNOW IF IT TAKES A STUDY TO DETERMINE HOW WE SOLVE THAT PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS REALLY BAD OUT THERE. WE ALL SEE IT, ALL RIGHT AND I'M CONCERNED THAT WE MIGHT NOT BE ADDRESSING THAT ALSO AS A PROBLEM ON THE ROADWAY EMERGENCY VEHICLES ACCESS PRIORITY TO THE ROADWAYS AS WE TRAVEL, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT MAKES SENSE.

THANK YOU, MEMBER ROGERS.

CORRECT. DISTRICT 4 AND FDOT, SAFETY IS OUR PRIORITY. WE'RE ACTIVELY WORKING AS THE DISTRICT FREIGHT COORDINATOR ON SAFETY AND HOW TO IMPLEMENT AND DO CONTINUED OUTREACH REGARDING COMMERCIAL VEHICLE CRASHES AND COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SAFETY AS WELL. AND TO YOUR POINT ABOUT PRIVATE AND PUBLIC FACILITIES, THERE ARE SOME PRIVATE ENTITIES OUT THERE THAT DO HAVE TRUCK PARKING FACILITIES. WE SEE THE UNMET DEMAND TODAY IN 2025, IT'S GOING TO TAKE A COMBINATION OF STATE LOCAL AND PRIVATE TO MEET THAT UNMET DEMAND.

OKAY, THANK YOU. WE HAVE TWO MORE. LONERGAN? THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, APPRECIATE THAT I'M JUST WONDERING AND YOU KIND OF BROUGHT IT UP A LITTLE BIT AGO WHEN THIS CONCEPT WAS ACTUALLY DEVELOPED DID THEY LOOK AT PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.

OBVIOUSLY, FOR THE FUTURE, HAVING THIS SELF-FUNDED WOULD BE THE IDEAL, I WOULD THINK, TO NOT COST TAXPAYERS AND EVEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. DID THEY POTENTIALLY LOOK AT ANYTHING

[01:50:01]

WHEN YOU HAVE FEDERAL DOLLARS, SUCH AS THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY FREIGHT PROGRAM, YOU'RE VERY LIMITED ON WHAT YOU CAN DO ON ANY TYPE OF PROJECT WOULD BE THE STATE.

SO, TRUCK PARKING FACILITIES WITH THAT TYPE OF FUNDING MECHANISM ARE NOT ABLE AT THIS TIME TO GET INTO SUCH A STRUCTURE.

TO YOUR POINT ABOUT MOBILITY, SO YOU'LL SEE THAT THE SOUTHERN LOT IS WHERE ONE OF OUR MODAL TRANSIT HUBS ARE, BUT WE ALSO HAVE THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES NEAR THERE. SO, WE HAVE IN THE PRELIMINARY CONCEPT A NETWORK, BUT WHEN WE START DESIGN IN FISCAL YEAR 27. WE WILL ALSO BE COORDINATING AND CONTINUING COORDINATION TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO ACCESS AND LEAVE THE PROPERTY.

OKAY, AND IS THERE A TIME LIMIT? YES, GREAT. SO CURRENTLY WE HAVE THE REST AREA MODEL AND AT THAT FACILITY YOU'RE ALLOWED A MAXIMUM OF 10 HOURS AND THAT WOULD FOLLOW SUIT WITH THE HOURS-OF-SERVICE REGULATION.

SO AGAIN, A TRUCK DRIVER HAS AN 11-HOUR DRIVING LIMIT WITH A 14-HOUR ON-DUTY SERVICE.

THEY'RE REQUIRED TO STOP THE VEHICLE FOR 10 HOURS, AND THAT'S WHAT CAUSES ONE OF THE CONCERNS HERE IS THAT THERE'S NOT ENOUGH SPACES IN BROWARD TO ACCOMMODATE THAT REQUIREMENT. SO, WE ARE LOOKING AT OPTIONS FOR LIMITATIONS SUCH AS THE REST AREA MODEL. OKAY. AND WHO WOULD HAVE OVERSIGHT OF THE FACILITY? SO, IT WOULD BE A STATE TRANSPORTATION FACILITY AS IT CURRENTLY STANDS FOR SECURITY AND POTENTIAL SECURITY OPTIONS. IT WOULD BE OPERATED AND MAINTAINED BY FDOT AS WELL AS FHP COMMERCIAL VEHICLE IS TYPICALLY THE ENFORCEMENT AGENCY FOR OUR REST AREAS. SO, IT WOULD FOLLOW SUIT MOST LIKELY.

PERFECT, THANKS FOR THE INSIGHT.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU. MEMBER WHITMAN. IT SHOULD BE ON NOW. GO AHEAD. HOW ABOUT NOW? YES, YOU'RE GOOD.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. MY QUESTION IS, IS THERE AN ATTENDANT ON SITE AT ALL TIMES? THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION. CURRENTLY, AT OUR REST AREAS, IT'S TYPICALLY THAT OVERNIGHT SECURITY OPTION. WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO EVALUATE DIFFERENT TYPES OF SECURITY ON PREMISE FOR THIS FACILITY. SO, IT WILL BE EVALUATED AS SOON AS THE DESIGN PHASE STARTS IN FISCAL YEAR 27. THANK YOU.

HOW ABOUT CAN THEY LEAVE PART OF THEIR TRUCK THERE AND TAKE THE CAB AND GO ELSEWHERE AND THEN COME BACK, OR IS THAT STILL UNDER THE TIME LIMIT? SO, LEAVING THE CAB OR THE TRAILER? THE TRAILER. I BELIEVE CURRENTLY FOLLOWING AGAIN THE REST AREA MODEL YOU CANNOT LEAVE YOUR TRAILER THERE. SO, IF THERE'S A BACKUP AT THE PORT OR THE AIRPORT THEN THAT IS FIGURED IN WITH THAT OR NOT? SO, IT IS A PIVOTAL LOCATION THAT CAN BE HELPED TO ALLEVIATE STAGING FOR THEIR SCHEDULED PORT ACCESS.

HOWEVER, IT WOULD BE UTILIZED AS A STATE FACILITY OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. SO, THERE'S X AMOUNT OF SPACES, AND IF THEY'RE UTILIZED, THERE WOULD BE NO PARKING.

[4. Report From Partner Agency - Florida's Turnpike Enterprise - Coconut Creek Parkway Interchange Modifications (Milepost 67)]

HELLO, GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM THE IMPERIAL LIAISON OF FLORIDA'S TURNPIKE ENTERPRISE. WE HAVE OUR PROJECT TEAM HERE TODAY TO PRESENT AN UPDATE TO OUR PROJECT AT THE COCONUT CREEK INTERCHANGE OR MODIFICATION PROJECT THAT'S ON OUR TURNPIKE MAINLINE MILEPOST

[01:55:02]

NOTIFICATIONS WERE SENT OUT FOR THAT. AND I HAVE THE DATES AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION AS WELL.

AND THEN WE DO HAVE THE CONSTRUCTION LIGHTING PLAN IN THIRD QUARTER OF 2028. AND THIS IS FULLY FUNDED IN THE WORK PROGRAM. CLICK BUTTON. THERE WE GO. SO AS FAR AS PROJECT LOCATION, THIS PROJECT IS LOCATED AT THE EXISTING INTERCHANGE OF COCONUT CREEK PARKWAY AND THE TURNPIKE. THE PROJECT LIMITS, AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE MIDDLE, IS ON COCONUT CREEK PARKWAY FROM NORTHWEST 39TH AVENUE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO 27TH AVENUE. AND THEN ALSO ALONG BLOUNT ROAD. FOR SECTION THERE AND THEN A PORTION OF NORTHWEST 31ST AVENUE. WAIT FOR MY CLICKER. FOR ME, TRY A DIFFERENT CLICKER. CLICKER NUMBER TWO. THANK YOU, REBECCA. SO AS FAR AS FOR A PROJECT OVERVIEW, THIS IS GIVING A PROJECT OVERVIEW OF THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS WITH THE PROJECT. NORTH IS ORIENTED TO THE RIGHT. AND SO, WE HAVE MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS.

ALONG COCONUT CREEK PARKWAY ON BOTH SIDES OF THE TURNPIKE. WE DO HAVE SOME RAMPS THAT ARE BEING RECONFIGURED TO IMPROVE OPERATIONS AND A DIRECT CONNECTION TO BLOUNT ROAD. I'LL DESCRIBE MORE OF THAT HERE.

THERE WE GO. SO, ZOOMING INTO MORE OF THE PROJECTS IMPROVEMENTS THAT YOU CAN SEE.

NORTH IS STILL ORIENTED TO THE RIGHT, SO WE DO HAVE SOME NEW PROPOSED TRAFFIC SIGNALS THAT WILL BE BUILT.

THESE ARE FOR SOME NEW RAMPS.

SO, WHAT YOU SEE ARE NEW RAMPS THAT WILL BE BUILT TO AND FROM THE SOUTH. SO, THERE WILL BE A NEW SOUTHBOUND ONRAMP AND A NEW NORTHBOUND ONRAMP TO BE BUILT. SECOND, THERE IS A SHARED USE PATH THAT WILL BE BUILT. CURRENTLY THERE ARE BIKE LANES AND THEN THERE'S A SEPARATE SIDEWALK AND WE'RE WORKING TO COMBINE THOSE AS SHARED USE PATH AS GREATER MOBILITY FOR PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS IN THE AREA AS A SAFER OPTION.

THIRD, THERE ARE SOME PROPOSED RETAINING WALLS FOR THE RAMPS AND THEN ALSO THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS TO DRAINAGE, SIGN AND PAVEMENT MARKINGS, LIGHTING SIGNALS FOR SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS IN THE AREA. NEXT, THIS IS KIND OF ZOOMING IN TO THE PORTION NEAR BLOUNT ROAD. FIRST, WHAT YOU'LL SEE IS THERE IS A RECONFIGURED SOUTHBOUND OFF-RAMP. SO, THERE'S AN EXISTING SOUTHBOUND OFF-RAMP THAT'LL BE REMOVED. THIS IS RECONFIGURED SOUTHBOUND OFF-RAMP IN THAT AREA.

SECOND, THERE IS A NEW DIRECT CONNECTION BETWEEN BLOUNT ROAD AND FLORIDA'S TURNPIKE. AND THEN THIRD, THERE'S A NEW ROUNDABOUT AT BLOUNT ROAD TO PROVIDE BETTER ACCESS FOR THOSE THAT ARE COMING SOUTH ON BLOUNT ROAD THAT WANT TO GO NORTHBOUND THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO TO HAMMONDVILLE OR COCONUT CREEK PARKWAY ANYMORE THEY CAN MAKE THAT CONNECTION THERE'S A LOT OF COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC IN THAT AREA. THE LAST THING I WANT TO MENTION IS THAT ALL THIS WORK IS ON INTERCHANGE MODIFICATIONS THIS PROJECT DOES NOT INCLUDE WINDING OF THE TURNPIKE FOR THIS PROJECT SO JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR. SO AS FAR AS TYPICAL SECTIONS SHOWING HERE WHAT YOU SEE ON COCONUT CREEK PARKWAY THIS IS SHOWING A TYPICAL SECTION LOOKING WEST BETWEEN THE EXISTING BRIDGE AND NORTHWEST 39TH AVENUE. THAT'S THE ENTRANCE TO BROWARD COLLEGE. WHAT YOU SEE ON THE TOP IS THE EXISTING CONDITION.

SO, IN THE WESTBOUND DIRECTION, YOU HAVE TWO LANES. YOU HAVE A BIKE LANE AND A SIDEWALK AND TWO LEFT-TURN LANES.

IN THE EASTBOUND DIRECTION, YOU HAVE TWO LANES, LEFT-TURN LANE AND A BIKE LANE AND SIDEWALK. ON THE BOTTOM, YOU SEE A RECONFIGURED TYPICAL SECTION AS SHOWN. AND WHAT YOU SEE IS YOU SEE TWO LEFT-TURN LANES. THAT WILL STILL STAY THE SAME. YOU HAVE THOSE TWO TRAVEL LANES STILL STAYING THE SAME.

AND THEN YOU HAVE THAT SHARED USE PATH THAT'S INTRODUCED, WHICH IS A GREAT IMPROVEMENT FOR BIKES AND PEDESTRIANS.

IN THE OTHER DIRECTION, GOING EASTBOUND, YOU HAVE THREE LEVEL LANES, AND THEN YOU HAVE A RIGHT TURN LANE. THIS RIGHT TURN LANE IS TO GO TO THAT NEW SOUTHBOUND ON-RAMP.

THAT'S WHAT THAT'S FOR. AND THEN YOU HAVE THAT SAME SHARED

[02:00:01]

THESE TWO LEFT TURN LANES ARE TO GO TO THE NEW SOUTHBOUND ON- RAMP. YOU HAVE TWO TRAVEL LANES, AND THEN YOU HAVE IN THE EASTBOUND DIRECTION, YOU HAVE THREE TRAVEL LANES, AND THEN YOU HAVE THE SHARED USE PATH CONTINUING ACROSS THAT EXISTING BRIDGE AS YOU'RE GOING ACROSS. AND MENTIONING THAT SHARED USE PATH ACTUALLY GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN TO 27TH AVENUE, SO ON THE COCONUT CREEK SIDE, THE POMPANO BEACH SIDE, GOING ACROSS THAT BRIDGE, THAT SHARED USE PATH WILL BE ALL THE WAY ACROSS. SO, ON THIS SLIDE, THIS IS A 3D RENDERING OF THE IMPROVEMENTS LOOKING NORTH.

AND SO, YOU CAN SEE COCONUT CREEK PARKWAY. YOU CAN SEE THE TURNPIKE AND BLUNT ROAD FOR REFERENCE. SO FIRST, THERE WILL BE SOME NOISE WALLS THAT WILL BE BUILT AS PART OF THIS PROJECT ALONG THE COMMUNITIES NEXT TO COCONUT CREEK, ALONG THE RIGHT-OF-WAY, AND ALSO ALONG THE RAMP.

THAT'S THAT NEW REALIGNED SOUTHBOUND OFF-RAMP THAT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER. SECOND IS THAT REALIGNED SOUTHBOUND OFF-RAMP, WHICH HAS SHIFTED.

FROM THE EXISTING ONE TODAY.

THEN THERE'S A DIRECT CONNECT TO SOUTHBOUND OFF-RAMP FOR BETTER MOVEMENT FOR TRAVELERS. AND THEN THERE'S THIS ROUNDABOUT, WHICH IS CLOSE TO THE DETENTION CENTER OVER THERE. SO THOSE ARE COMING ALONG SOUTHBOUND BLOUNT, THEY CAN TAKE THAT ROUNDABOUT, GO DIRECTLY NORTHBOUND WITHOUT GOING TO HAMMONDVILLE. IT REALLY HELPS WITH THE TRAFFIC OPERATIONS IN THAT AREA. ONE THING I WANT TO MENTION AS WELL BEFORE I GO ON IS THAT THERE ARE ALSO PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS AT THE INTERSECTION OF COCONUT CREEK PARKWAY AND NORTHWEST 31ST. SOME OF THOSE HAVE GAPS IN TERMS OF THE PEDESTRIAN ACCESS, AND THAT IS BEING IMPROVED A LOT WITH THIS PROJECT.

SECOND, THIS IS A 3D RENDERING OF LOOKING FROM BROWARD COLLEGE. SO, THIS IS THE TOP OF THE JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT BUILDING FROM WHAT YOU'RE SEEING HERE NORTH TO THE LEFT. SO FIRST WHAT YOU'RE SEEING ON THE SCREEN IS A 3D RENDERING OF THE NEW NORTHBOUND OFF RAMP. THEY'LL TAKE YOU FROM TURNPIKE TO COCONUT CREEK PARKWAY. AND THEN SECOND THIS IS THE NEW SOUTHBOUND ON RAMP.

FROM THOSE THAT ARE GOING EAST ON COCONUT CREEK THAT WANT TO COME SOUTHBOUND, THEY'LL JUST BE ABLE TO TAKE THAT RAMP AND NOT HAVE TO GO ACROSS THE BRIDGE TO ACCESS SOUTHBOUND TURNPIKE. THEN THIRD WHAT YOU'RE SEEING HERE IS WALLS.

THESE ARE RETAINING WALLS SECTION TO SUPPORT THE RAMPS.

SO AS PART OF THESE IMPROVEMENTS WE DO HAVE SOME CHANGES TO ACCESS MANAGEMENT.

SO, I JUST WANT TO EXPLAIN THAT HERE. DUE TO THAT NEW NORTHBOUND OFF RAMP WE'RE EXTENDING THAT LIMITED ACCESS RIGHT AWAY ALL THE WAY TO NORTHWEST 31ST AVENUE. SO JUST TO DIRECT YOU ON A SCREEN THERE'S AN AMERICA GAS STATION ON THE BOTTOM OF THE IMAGE. DUE TO THIS CHANGE IN THE RAMP CONFIGURATION, WE'RE PROPOSING TO CLOSE ONE DRIVEWAY ALONG COCONUT CREEK PARKWAY.

BUT THEN THEY'LL STILL BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THAT DRIVEWAY ALONG NORTHWEST 31ST AVENUE AS A RIDE IN, RIDE OUT. SO THAT'S ONE CHANGE. SECOND CHANGE IS THERE IS, THERE'S A TURNPIKE BROWARD MAINTENANCE YARD THAT'S OWNED BY TURNPIKE. THERE'S CURRENTLY AN ACCESS OFF OF THE RAMP THAT'LL BE CLOSED.

THE NEW ONE WILL BE OPENED AS A RIDE IN, RIDE OUT ON THE TOP OF THE SCREEN AS YOU CAN SEE.

AND THEN LASTLY, THERE IS THE DETENTION FACILITY ALONG BLUNT ROAD DUE TO THE CHANGES THAT ARE BEING MADE THERE WILL NO LONGER BE A LEFT TURN IN TO THE DETENTION FACILITY IF YOU'RE GOING SOUTH ON BLUNT ROAD BUT BECAUSE OF THAT ROUNDABOUT YOU'LL ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO GO AROUND THE ROUNDABOUT AND TAKE A RIGHT IN SO JUST A LITTLE BIT OF CHANGE THERE AND THEY'LL STILL BE ABLE TO TAKE A RIGHT IN AND RIGHT OUT AT THE DETENTION FACILITY TRYING TO GO THROUGH THIS QUICK FOR YOU TODAY SO JUST WANT TO MENTION THERE IS A PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING HOPE ANYBODY'S WELCOME TO COME.

THERE WE GO. AND THE VIRTUAL IS ON MAY 18TH AT 6 P.M. AND THEN IN-PERSON IS ON MAY 19TH AT 05:30 TO 7:30. THE FORT LAUDERDALE MAYOR AT NORTH HOTEL, IT'S ACTUALLY REALLY CLOSE TO HERE, JUST ABOUT FIVE MINUTES AWAY. AND THEN ANYBODY CAN REGISTER AT THE WEBSITE THAT YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN. OTHERWISE, I AM OPEN FOR ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. WE HAVE ONE QUESTION FROM MEMBER WELCH. AM I ON? IT'S NOT A QUESTION, JUSTIN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.

I APPLAUD THE LOGIC AND THE THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION THAT WENT INTO ESPECIALLY THE PEDESTRIAN AND FREIGHT TRUCK TRAFFIC ON BLOUNT ROAD AND HOW IT GETS ON OR OFF OR ACCESS TO DONNELLY THE TURNPIKE,

[02:05:02]

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

INFORMATIVE PRESENTATION, APPRECIATE IT, AND LOOKS LIKE A REAL WORTHY INVESTMENT. I APPRECIATE SEEING THE NOISE WALL INSTALLATION FOR QUALITY OF LIFE, THE PROTECTED BIKE LANE. I LIKE SEEING THAT WALL BETWEEN THE CAR VEHICLE TRAFFIC AND THE BIKES AND THE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS, TRAFFIC FLOW IMPROVEMENTS. ONE QUESTION I WOULD HAVE, ON ANY LEFT TURNS. ON THIS, IS THIS GOING TO BE, I SAW RIGHT, THIS IS LIKE TWO LEFT TURNS, NO MATTER WHICH DIRECTION? MOSTLY, DEPENDING ON WHICH AREA YOU'RE IN.

FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU'RE GOING ACROSS THE BRIDGE TO TAKE THAT NEW SOUTHBOUND ON-RAMP, YOU HAVE TWO LEFT-TURN LANES THAT ARE GOING IN, SO YOU'LL HAVE A SIGNAL THERE.

THAT'LL BE PROVIDED THOSE LEFT-TURN LANES TO GO TO THAT NEW SOUTHBOUND ON-RAMP.

IN THAT AREA THERE'S TWO LEFT TURN LANES. OTHER AREAS IN THE INTERSECTION THERE'S LEFT TURN LANES BUT IT KIND OF VARIES HOW MANY LANES DEPENDING ON THE CONFIGURATION. IT'S PERFECT BECAUSE ONE OF MY BIGGEST FRUSTRATIONS IN BROWARD COUNTY IS MANY TIMES I'M DRIVING THROUGH BROWARD COUNTY AND I'LL COME UP AND I'M GOING TO BE TURNING LEFT SOMEPLACE AND I HAVE A RED LIGHT TO TURN LEFT AND THERE ARE NO VEHICLES COMING AT ALL AND I THINK THAT HELPS CREATE A LOT OF FRUSTRATION FOR DRIVERS THAT THEY'RE SITTING AT A RED LIGHT, THERE'S NOTHING COMING IN.

THEY CAN'T TAKE THE LEFT. I JUST ENCOURAGE WHEREVER WE CAN HAVE A FLASHING RED ON A SINGLE LEFT TURN LANE THAT WE USE THAT FLASHING RED AND LEAVE IT TO THE DISCRETION OF THE DRIVERS TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY BELIEVE THEY CAN SAFELY TURN LEFT OR NOT. I UNDERSTAND WHERE TWO LANES YOU PROBABLY CAN'T DO THAT, BUT I DEFINITELY ENCOURAGE LOOKING AT WHERE THERE'S ONE, PLEASE LOOK AT THE FLASHING RED LIGHT AND NOT REQUIRE TRAFFIC TO SIT WHEN NO ONE'S COMING.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT COMMENT. THANK YOU.

MADAM CHAIR, MAY I JUST SAY SOMETHING QUICK? PLEASE.

THAT'S A GREAT SUGGESTION AND WE'LL WORK WITH FDOT ON THOSE PARTICULAR LIGHTS.

SOME OF THEM ARE COUNTY LIGHTS, SOME OF THEM ARE DOT LIGHTS.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE'LL AT LEAST SUGGEST IT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE AS YOU CAN SEE, FDOT WAS, OR THE TURNPIKE WAS EXTREMELY RECEPTIVE TO A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT NEEDED TO BE CHANGED AND THEY DID, YOU KNOW, THEY ACTUALLY DID A PRETTY DARN GOOD JOB. THEY REALLY HAVE. WELL, WE CAN TALK ABOUT 8-6 AND ALL THE REST OF IT, BUT WHAT THIS INTERSECTION AND THIS INTERCHANGE, IT'S OLD. IT'S BEEN THERE SINCE. BEFORE I WAS A KID AND SO I'M GLAD TO PERSONALLY SEE ALL THE THINGS THAT FDOT OR THE TURNPIKE THROUGH FDOT HAS ACTUALLY BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH. I'M ACTUALLY EXCITED TO TAKE IT ONE DAY, ESPECIALLY THE OFF RAMP BECAUSE IT PULLS FURTHER AWAY FROM WOODMORE. THANK YOU, MRS. STEWART. MEMBER WELCH? YES, JUST QUICKLY. MEMBER LONERGAN, I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENT, BUT IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA, IF FREIGHT TRUCKS WERE IN, IN THOSE TURN LANES I DON'T KNOW THAT FLASHING RED WOULD BE A GOOD SITUATION ESPECIALLY AT THE ONE END OF THE BRIDGE BUT JUST A COMMENT. OKAY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT WAS THE LAST PRESENTATION. ANYTHING ELSE FOR THE WILL OF THE PUBLIC? THE FEW, THE BRAVE. MAKE A MOTION. WE DON'T NEED A MOTION.

MEETING ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.