[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6228157,"mediaKeyId","3477445-bca3729b86ae8760b6dac8fa6f5b480e","parentId",3477445,"title","Commission approves re-award of park shade structures and police equipment purchases; members press staff on procurement and contingency rules","audioSeconds",1081,"startMs",5642000,"endMs",4561000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3477445-bca3729b86ae8760b6dac8fa6f5b480e&start=5642&end=4561","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3477445-bca3729b86ae8760b6dac8fa6f5b480e/thumbnail_5642000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6228157/Pembroke-Pines/Broward-County/Florida/Commission-approves-re-award-of-park-shade-structures-and-police-equipment-purchases-members-press-staff-on-procurement-and-contingency-rules","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6228157-8f3021bd93dee8778e96663cf4678b22/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196345&Signature=FjGHeuAJ~d-MV~xhTdxAZDFn4I5md6pTiWPYQ5vJp73fRw8re0ySFmS-1d7hMsa-x~NJ1DN3c5KZ9As-nSj~uIagqVr013bQHjgPBwj3Avdsqm~jMX5s6bK2tJaiweTY02iCTzG6fRcSqUubWWVNuOyNWE7Ej8dltscwk2dhwco3By1sqEac48J~nyhHWP49PD7mcxATnaJZ~WoqYaXv4aXt4z8SmwlT44x2tnFT5ZffruwYeh72YktZaXNhvFvyWDIUFAkMJNRRWp8qppMJ46DRzgQPqz6FaXaqDJesaKEQLk8xh4O338mEVfQPvO8XCKQ5MeOBrKPWjk4kvMqqPQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Pembroke Pines, FL","date","2025-05-24T00:28:59.447Z","article","The Pembroke Pines City Commission on May 21, 2025 rescinded an earlier bid award for park shade structures, awarded the contract to the next responsive bidder, and approved change orders to buy additional ballistic shields and helmets for the Police Department — and used those items to launch a broader discussion about procurement rules, contingency spending and vendor accountability.

The matter matters because the commission tied three procurement approvals to questions about bid reliability, insurance and owner’s contingency policies that the commissioners said create administrative rework and delay projects.

Vice Mayor Hernandez moved to rescind the December award of IFB RE 2409 for shade structures at Maxwell Park and Josiah's Dog Park and to award the work to Industrial Shade Port, Inc., \"in an amount not to exceed $58,863.2 which includes an owner's contingency in the amount of $5,351.2.\" The motion was seconded by Commissioner Rodriguez and passed unanimously. Hernandez said she intended to vote for the re-award but raised concerns about how a low bidder had certified compliance and later disclosed it could not meet required insurance and licensing obligations.

Commissioners used the consent-item votes on public-safety equipment to probe procurement practice. The commission approved a change order to buy 50 additional ballistic shields and transport bags for the Police Department from Federal Eastern International, LLC, for up to $346,150 (state contract) and approved a change order for 73 upgraded ballistic helmets from Galls LLC for up to $27,010. Those motions passed unanimously.

City Manager Dodge told commissioners, \"We did provide a response, in the Monday night memo. We certainly will look at it and we'll provide some additional information in the memo to the mayor and commission.\" Commissioners suggested multiple remedies. Commissioner Goode recommended evaluating whether vendors who cannot honor awards should face a prohibition from future bidding or greater scoring penalties; she said, \"Your bid is not correct, and you come in and you can't honor it. You are going to be, banned for some period of time from making a bid because you could not honor it,\" and urged staff to explore options. Other commissioners urged requiring vendors to more fully document insurance before award, or to use scoring questions that list prior failures to perform.

Several commissioners also criticized the routine use and disclosure of a 10% owner's contingency in contracts. They asked the city manager to prepare proposed reporting so the commission can track contingency spending and asked purchasing to explore contract mechanisms (blanket orders, multi-year estimates or performance bonds) that might reduce change-order transactions while preserving supply-chain flexibility for items whose component prices fluctuate.

The commission directed the city manager to meet with purchasing staff and report back on potential policy changes and a memo about contingency reporting. No vendor debarment policy was adopted at the meeting; commissioners asked staff to research legal and practical options and return with recommendations.

Ending: The votes closed the consent items so the projects and purchases can proceed; the commission asked administration to return with a memo on procurement assurance, contingency reporting covering the recent period and options to reduce future re-awards and change orders.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Commission Meeting - May 21, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Pembroke Pines City Commission on May 21, 2025 rescinded an earlier bid award for park shade structures and approved change orders for police protective equipment while pressing administration to tighten procurement and contingency reporting.","taxTitle","Pembroke Pines, Broward County, Florida","taxId",4871,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6228160,"FDOT project for University Drive in Pembroke Pines grows in cost and adds protected bike/pedestrian paths",643,3998000,4641000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3477445-bca3729b86ae8760b6dac8fa6f5b480e&start=3998&end=4641","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3477445-bca3729b86ae8760b6dac8fa6f5b480e/thumbnail_3998000.jpg","/articles/6228160/Pembroke-Pines/Broward-County/Florida/FDOT-project-for-University-Drive-in-Pembroke-Pines-grows-in-cost-and-adds-protected-bikepedestrian-paths","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6228160-977523e7035ddbf9f98ed171355b55cb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196345&Signature=LCkZI-DwhmwFvgxE0OdSYUHM-1vfvYwXpp9x6Hp~uza6Dn9xlQM9PGIWPQXaTtvQlpNez~0-U2wz68H46luj57LAFaN38Nr1-XW~ZVCVcmdcwOkqh2mX35~9MRFAiDxlFR-tIeOxlYgeejSj~9k3AqNBAWvNUpXH2hMO5vLj6mnnqI48Vn58bMoczb~qJS-g40wCXvIIcN-EOvbmvFf1a2Gzf26yS-R7bn3yb8OxLCKPjDqf0n~EsDv-M~-S4LdNcHjPdZT9OATxtkQBydqa5QHpd0GbO0c4TY6gAZ6m~kACC91Ddyxy5Rz9PfwIciM3QxXG2IYm1j8~BRPG1Qm2WA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Florida Department of Transportation presented a redesign of University Drive to the Pembroke Pines City Commission on May 21, 2025, saying the project will widen pedestrian and bicycle facilities, replace signals and pursue drainage work along the corridor between North of Pembroke Road and North of Johnson Street.

The project matters because University Drive is a major multi-modal corridor in Pembroke Pines; the FDOT presentation described structural work in the canal right-of-way, new shared-use paths and a substantially higher project cost that will be paid through state and MPO funding.

Godfrey Lamptey, a consultant for Golar Associates, told the commission, \"So basically, this project is the University Drive project spanning from approximately the from North Of Pembroke Road all the way to North Of Johnson Street within the city of Pembroke Pines.\" Lance Jones, the FDOT project manager, identified himself: \"I'm the FDOT, Florida Department of Transportation project manager for this project.\" Lamptey described the preferred cross section as replacing 6-foot sidewalks with 10-foot shared-use paths to give bicyclists and pedestrians separated space where possible.

FDOT said the corridor is currently three 11-foot travel lanes in each direction with raised median, existing 4-foot bicycle lanes on the southern segment and no bike lanes north of Pines Boulevard. The selected alternative adds a 10-foot shared-use path on both sides for the segment north of Pines Boulevard and a single-sided shared path north of Pembroke Road where pedestrian demand is lower, while keeping three vehicle lanes in each direction. The presentation said the project will also include new bus shelters, upgraded pedestrian signal equipment, LED lighting coordinated with the Federal Aviation Administration near North Perry Airport, and new high-emphasis crosswalk markings at signalized intersections.

Lamptey and FDOT staff flagged drainage and permitting as drivers of the cost increase: the design required additional retaining walls and deeper dredging in the canal adjacent to the corridor to restore conveyance capacity. Lamptey said the project estimate rose from earlier figures, and showed an original estimate of roughly $25,404,083 and later figures discussed in the presentation near $41 million–$42.5 million. He explained those increases with rising material prices, the need for riprap and deeper retaining-wall foundations once the canal excavation increased, and permit-driven work with the drainage district.

On schedule, FDOT said design is complete, the project will be packaged for bidding at the central FDOT office and letting is scheduled for August 2025; FDOT staff estimated contractor mobilization 4–6 months after award and overall construction of roughly two to three years. Commissioners asked for clearer communications to residents about timing and traffic impacts; FDOT staff said contractors typically propose traffic-control phasing subject to FDOT review and that the agency will coordinate public notices. Commissioner Rodriguez and others emphasized early outreach around school bus schedules, lighting design and signal timing to reduce jaywalking and congestion at major cross streets.

No vote or local action was required by the commission at the May 21 meeting; the item was a presentation from FDOT and consultants. FDOT staff invited further questions and provided contact information for Lance Jones, the FDOT project manager, for follow-up.

Ending: FDOT’s design will move to advertising and competitive bid in August 2025; construction is expected to start after contractor mobilization later in 2025 and take approximately two to three years once underway. The commission asked staff to ensure FDOT coordinates public notices, signal retiming and local lighting and transit-shelter connections before construction begins.","The Florida Department of Transportation presented a redesign of University Drive to the Pembroke Pines City Commission on May 21, 2025, saying the project will widen pedestrian and bicycle facilities, replace signals and pursue drainage work along the corridor between North of Pembroke Road and North of Johnson Street.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6228151,"Commission debates minutes format, directs review of action-vs-verbatim options",645,4615000,5260000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3477445-bca3729b86ae8760b6dac8fa6f5b480e&start=4615&end=5260","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3477445-bca3729b86ae8760b6dac8fa6f5b480e/thumbnail_4615000.jpg","/articles/6228151/Pembroke-Pines/Broward-County/Florida/Commission-debates-minutes-format-directs-review-of-action-vs-verbatim-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6228151-7c6379ba0882eddd006db70e373fe02d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196345&Signature=DhFwJLj7Pm5yXY2HjDkTnBvZ74rP-uA7l63InrBtEQLOqGFXvD-tSUSV7s5CbJy7YxqMJSxBQCsPg2438yzS11piURmkR-fWlEtIriq3qlmCQ3eETVmdqwJ83Au9ErIHd~vp7Tccc8IHCRzSLTzP8fvHcWxDlks5-iwUnAKaIg9-Cj4BIKd67a~~GuyKRKYfFlybtJgiLCfZCI-XPxT5yU457Q3GVwKZe7MmGBVKFOPJ44YYHLXYejiw6ceJgty8cGbaKc8Ftw7UABDQ5rkb7wq4BRWH1SaWDyB7fcZ1ioydc4KrvXwLz3GJfZ5dCJTxC7zUOQeFd0M0EnxDxywx4Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Pembroke Pines City Commission debated the official format for meeting minutes at its May 21, 2025 regular meeting and asked staff to return with a recommendation after staff and at least one commissioner meet to align expectations.

The issue matters because minutes are a public record under Florida’s public-meetings (Sunshine) laws; commissioners said the current approach should balance efficiency, accuracy and direction to staff.

City Manager Dodge reviewed three commonly used formats: motion-and-vote only; action minutes that summarize the gist of discussion and identify who spoke; and verbatim transcription. Dodge noted that verbatim minutes are time-consuming and that the video record remains available online. Commissioner Schwartz and others urged efficiency and suggested the manager’s condensed action-minute approach: record motions, identifying speakers on motions, and capture directions to staff. Commissioner Rodriguez argued the commission should retain the current discussion minutes, saying, \"I think the discussion minutes that we have right now are the best balance between doing something verbatim and doing nothing at all because reading the motions doesn't provide any kind of context.\" Commissioners asked that any direction given to staff be explicitly included in minutes and that the clerk provide an option to expand the record for specific items when needed.

Commissioners agreed to a staff-level follow-up rather than a final policy vote that night. Mayor Castillo asked Commissioner Rodriguez to meet with the city manager and the city clerk to try to reach a unanimous recommendation; Rodriguez agreed to meet with staff and return to the commission with a proposal.

Ending: The commission did not change its minutes policy at the May 21 meeting but directed staff and Commissioner Rodriguez to collaborate on a recommended format that preserves necessary staff directions and public clarity; the clerk continues to post video and recordings online.","Pembroke Pines commissioners debated whether to keep discussion-style minutes, return to motion-only minutes, or prepare verbatim transcripts; they asked the city manager and clerk to meet with Commissioner Rodriguez and return with recommendations about an action-minute format that includes staff directions","actionData","errors"]

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Commission approves re-award of park shade structures and police equipment purchases; members press staff on procurement and contingency rules

FDOT project for University Drive in Pembroke Pines grows in cost and adds protected bike/pedestrian paths

Commission debates minutes format, directs review of action-vs-verbatim options