The City of Parkland City Commission voted unanimously Oct. 22 to adopt an updated procurement code on its second reading and to approve a set of resolutions to advance two neighborhood roadway projects and short‑term financing to start construction.

At a glance: The commission approved ordinance 2025‑008 (procurement code update) and resolution 2025‑075 (city standard purchases for FY2026). Separately, the commission adopted initial assessment resolutions for the Ranches roadway improvement project (resolution 2025‑088) and the Pine Tree Estates roadway improvement project (resolution 2025‑081). The commission also approved resolution 2025‑082 authorizing short‑term interfund loans from the general fund to the two project funds so work can begin before bank financing or prepayments are complete.

Why it matters: The assessment resolutions set the process for special, non‑ad valorem assessments that will pay a portion of the projects’ cost. The city will offer an initial one‑time prepayment option to property owners that avoids financing and annual collection costs; properties that do not prepay will have the assessments placed on property tax bills over a 20‑year period beginning with the November 2026 tax bill.

Key financial and timeline details presented by Finance Director Kelly Schwartz:
- Ranches projects: combined drainage and roadway work total about $13,869,781 (drainage ~ $8.9 million; roads ~ $4.9 million). Funding shown in staff slides: ARPA $5,274,872 toward drainage; general fund contributions of roughly $4,274,160; and a resident assessment share of about $4,318,749 (roughly 31% resident, 69% city funding across both projects). The city owns 44.5 assigned acres in the Ranches and will be assessed on that acreage (about $450,000 shown in the breakdown).
- Pine Tree Estates project: total about $6,560,000; general fund contribution $2,000,000; resident portion $4,560,000 (about 30/70 split city/resident).
- Initial prepayment amounts (one‑time payment to avoid financing costs): Ranches — $10,115 per assigned acre; Pine Tree Estates — $5,743 per buildable lot. Prepayment collection is planned from mid‑December through mid‑February after final resolutions are adopted and notices mailed.
- Properties that do not prepay will be included in an annual assessment with a 20‑year term; the exact annual amount depends on loan terms and interest rates and was not finalized at the meeting. Staff said the first tax bill to include assessments would be November 2026.
- To avoid delaying construction while financing and prepayments are finalized, the commission approved short‑term, interest‑free interfund loans from the general fund to the Ranches Roads Fund and Pine Tree Estates Roads Fund; those loans will be repaid from bank financing and/or initial prepayments and are documented as short‑term, to be repaid no later than the end of fiscal year 2025‑26 (Sept. 30, 2026).

Public comment and legal issues: A Ranches resident (Jeff Schwartz) praised progress and asked whether the prepayment window (Dec–Feb) could be extended; commissioners and staff said notices would be mailed well in advance (notice deadline Nov. 12 was cited) and encouraged residents to prepare. Marjorie Golan, the Pine Tree neighborhood representative, asked the commission to revisit wording in the resolution that describes the improvements as conferring a "special benefit" to properties; she said that issue had been central to prior litigation and some property owners had not litigated the point. City counsel and outside counsel on the phone said local legislative findings that a project confers a special benefit and that assessments are fairly apportioned afford judicial deference and are standard for assessment resolutions; the commission and counsel said the language applies to the 2025 project and is intended to make the legislative record robust in case of challenge.

Votes at a glance (all votes shown were unanimous):
- Ordinance 2025‑008 (Procurement code update, second reading): Motion by Vice Mayor Israel; second by Commissioner Murphy Salamone — Outcome: adopted unanimously.
- Resolution 2025‑075 (Purchase of goods and services designated as city standard items for FY2026): Motion by Vice Mayor Israel; second by Commissioner Murphy Salamone — Outcome: adopted unanimously.
- Resolution 2025‑088 (Ranches roadway improvement project, initial assessment resolution): Motion by Vice Mayor Israel; second by Commissioner Breyer — Outcome: adopted unanimously. Initial prepayment option: $10,115 per assigned acre; collection window mid‑December through mid‑February; non‑prepaying parcels to be assessed over 20 years beginning Nov. 2026.
- Resolution 2025‑081 (Pine Tree Estates roadway improvement project, initial assessment resolution): Motion by Commissioner Kanterman; second by Commissioner Breyer — Outcome: adopted unanimously. Initial prepayment option: $5,743 per buildable lot; non‑prepaying parcels to be assessed over 20 years beginning Nov. 2026.
- Resolution 2025‑082 (Short‑term interfund loans to finance roadway improvement projects): Motion by Vice Mayor Israel; second by Commissioner Canerman — Outcome: adopted unanimously. Loans to be interest‑free and repaid from bank financing and/or prepayments by Sept. 30, 2026.

Next steps and follow up: Staff will mail formal notices to property owners (deadline for mailing of public‑hearing notices stated as Nov. 12) and hold final public hearings and final assessment resolutions at the Dec. 3 commission meeting. Staff said bank loan terms will be finalized after the prepayment period closes and that direct‑placement bank financing is expected to be sought to obtain better rates. The city manager and finance director told residents to begin preparing funds for prepayment and to contact the city finance office for questions.