Mayor Veronica Edwards Phillips called the June 23, 2026 City Commission Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

PRESENT

Mayor Veronica Edwards Phillips

Vice Mayor Sharon Thomas

Commissioner Tycie Causwell

Commissioner Easton Harrison 

ABSENT

Commissioner Karlene Maxwell-Williams

ALSO PRESENT

Acting City Manager Venice Howard

City Attorney Sidney Calloway

Deputy City Clerk Pav Benasrie-Watson 

City Staff 

The Invocation was provided by Apostle Dr. Sharon Bennett of Overcomers Life Community Center.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Commissioner Causwell made a motion to approve the minutes from the June 8, 2026 City Commission Workshop and the June 9, 2026 City Commission Meeting

Mayor Edwards Phillips requested a roll call:

FOR:  Mayor Edwards Phillips, Vice Mayor Thomas, Commissioner Causwell, Commissioner Harrison

Motion passed: 4-0

Crina Barbosa, Regional Manager of Sunny Lake Apartments One and Two, stated that she would like to request consideration for temporary or long-term use of a city owned parking lot during night time. The property has limited parking available from the time it was built, which creates challenges for tenants and visitors as well. She would like to explore the possibility of leasing, renting or otherwise obtaining permission to use a nearby city parking lot during overnight hours.

Obukowu Akamane spoke of the impressive Caribbean American Unity Fest. He also spoke of the importance of having a permanent City Manager.

Broward County Commissioner Hazelle Rogers spoke about her request to the City to use the Commission Chambers for the Mayor and Commissioners for a Day event. She responded to questions from the City Commission regarding the details of the event and stated that the only additional help that is being asked is for IT assistance. 

Patrick Green stated that the City has economic and financial challenges and the next city manager must make economic development and finances for the city number one priority. He spoke about the amazing Caribbean American Unity Fest that took place a few weeks ago.

This is an ordinance amending Chapter 82 - Taxation and Finance, Article VI, Section 82-195 of the Code of Ordinances providing for contributions to private organizations.

City Attorney Calloway read Ordinance 2026-003 by title:

ORDINANCE 2026-003

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES, BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA; AMENDING CHAPTER 82-TAXATION AND FINANCE, ARTICLE VI, SECTION 82-195 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES, PROVIDING FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS; LIMITATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS; PROVIDING FOR ADOPTION OF RECITALS; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE CODE OF ORDINANCES; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

 Vice Mayor Thomas made a motion to move Ordinance 2026-003 to the floor for discussion.

FOR:  Mayor Edwards Phillips, Vice Mayor Thomas, Commissioner Causwell, Commissioner Harrison

Motion passed: 4-0

City Attorney Calloway stated that the current city code referencing aids to organizations only spells out three requirements for organizations to meet in requesting a donation. The code does not provide any criteria for evaluation, scoring and award of donation. The City Commission desires to amend Section 82-195 to provide a more user-friendly and streamlined process for organizations seeking contributions from the City, while continuing to require compliance with applicable provisions of Chapter 496, Florida Statutes and finds that requiring a sworn declaration of compliance with applicable state registration or exemption requirements will promote administrative efficiency while ensuring accountability and transparency in the use of public funds. 

Vice Mayor Thomas made a motion to approve Ordinance 2026-003.

FOR:  Mayor Edwards Phillips, Vice Mayor Thomas, Commissioner Causwell, Commissioner Harrison

Motion passed: 4-0

This is a resolution regarding the FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) which is a competitive federal program that provides funding to fire departments and EMS agencies to improve emergency response capabilities, safety, and effectiveness. It can be used to purchase fire apparatus, EMS equipment, PPE, training, and related resources.

This is a resolution regarding the FY 2025 FEMA Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grant which is a competitive federal grant program that supports fire prevention efforts, public education, code enforcement, and firefighter health and safety initiatives.

This is a resolution regarding the SAFER Grant Program, administered by FEMA which provides funding to help fire departments increase or maintain frontline firefighting staffing levels and improve community emergency response capabilities. The City seeks to apply for SAFER funding to support the recruitment, hiring, retention, or staffing needs identified within the fire department.

This is a resolution regarding executing a contract with VPR Construction Corporation in an amount not to exceed $257,600.00 for ITB 26-6210-26B, Vincent Torres Wall Repair Project.

This is a resolution awarding a contract to Remanton Designs LLC in an amount not to exceed $260,052.79 for ITB26-6310-25B - Fuel Bay Overhead Canopy Replacement.

This is a resolution authorizing the Mayor and the City Clerk to execute an Interlocal Agreement with Broward County for sharing resource burdens of the system-wide NPDES MS4 permit and authorizes Broward County to conduct technical activities required by the NPDES MS4 permit.

This is a resolution amending Resolution 2025-132 to modify the funding source for professional surveying and geotechnical services (RFQ 25-3110-02Q) awarded to Craven Thompson and Associates, Inc. This amendment reallocates the project cost, in an amount not to exceed $172,525.00, from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Resilient Florida Grant Program to the City’s Stormwater Fund Balance/Retained Earnings.

City Attorney Calloway read Resolutions 2026-066, 2026-067, 2026-068, 2026-069, 2026-070, 2026-071 and 2026-072 by title:

RESOLUTION 2026-066

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF LAUDERDALE LAKES, FLORIDA; AUTHORIZING THE ACTING CITY MANAGER TO APPLY TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTER GRANT (AFG) PROGRAM THROUGH THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (FEMA); A FEMA FACT SHEET AND NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY REGARDING THE AFG PROGRAM IS ATTACHED HERETO AS COMPOSITE EXHIBIT A; A COPY OF WHICH IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK; PROVIDING FOR THE ADOPTION OF RECITALS; PROVIDING FOR INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CITY CLERK; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

RESOLUTION 2026-067

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF LAUDERDALE LAKES, FLORIDA; AUTHORIZING THE ACTING CITY MANAGER TO APPLY TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 FIRE PREVENTION AND SAFETY (FP&S) GRANT PROGRAM THROUGH THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (FEMA); PROVIDING FOR THE ADOPTION OF RECITALS; PROVIDING FOR INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CITY CLERK; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

RESOLUTION 2026-068

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF LAUDERDALE LAKES, FLORIDA; AUTHORIZING THE ACTING CITY MANAGER TO APPLY TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 STAFFING FOR ADEQUATE FIRE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE (SAFER) GRANT PROGRAM THROUGH THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (FEMA); A FEMA FACT SHEET AND FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS REGARDING THE SAFER PROGRAM IS ATTACHED HERETO AS COMPOSITE EXHIBIT A; A COPY OF WHICH IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK; PROVIDING FOR THE ADOPTION OF RECITALS; PROVIDING FOR INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CITY CLERK; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

RESOLUTION 2026-069

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF LAUDERDALE LAKES, FLORIDA; AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND CITY CLERK TO EXECUTE AND ATTEST, RESPECTIVELY, THAT CERTAIN AGREEMENT AND AWARDING OF ITB NO. 26-6210-26B, VINCENT TORRES PARK WALL REPAIR PROJECT, TO VPR CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED TWO HUNDRED FIFTY SEVEN THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS AND NO/100 ($257,600.00); A DRAFT COPY OF THE AGREEMENT IS ATTACHED HERETO AS EXHIBIT A; COPY OF VPR CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION’S RESPONSE DOCUMENT REPORT AND THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TABULATION IS ATTACHED HERETO AS COMPOSITE EXHIBIT B; COPIES OF WHICH ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK; PROVIDING FOR THE ADOPTION OF RECITALS; PROVIDING FOR INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CITY CLERK; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

RESOLUTION 2026-070

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF LAUDERDALE LAKES, FLORIDA; AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND CITY CLERK TO EXECUTE AND ATTEST, RESPECTIVELY, THAT CERTAIN AGREEMENT AND AWARD OF ITB NO. 26-6310-25B, FUEL BAY OVERHEAD CANOPY REPLACEMENT AND CONTRACT TO REMANTON DESIGNS LLC, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED TWO HUNDRED SIXTY THOUSAND FIFTY TWO DOLLARS AND 79/100 ($260,052.79); INCLUDING PERMITTING CONTINGENCIES IN THE AMOUNT OF FOUR THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS AND NO/100 ($4,500.00), UTILITY COSTS IN THE AMOUNT OF THREE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS AND NO/100 ($3,500.00), AND GENERAL CONSTRUCTION CONDITIONS IN THE AMOUNT OF TWENTY  TWO THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED THIRTEEN DOLLARS AND 89/100 ($22,913.89); A DRAFT COPY OF THE AGREEMENT IS ATTACHED HERETO AS EXHIBIT A; A COPY OF THE REMANTON DESIGNS LLC RESPONSE, DOCUMENT REPORT AND PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TABULATION IS ATTACHED HERETO AS COMPOSITE EXHIBIT B; COPIES OF WHICH MAY BE INSPECTED IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK; PROVIDING FOR THE ADOPTION OF RECITALS; PROVIDING FOR INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CITY CLERK; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

RESOLUTION 2026-071

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF LAUDERDALE LAKES, FLORIDA; AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND CITY CLERK TO EXECUTE AND ATTEST, RESPECTIVELY, THAT CERTAIN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT (“ILA”) BETWEEN THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE (“CITY”) AND BROWARD COUNTY FOR SHARING RESOURCE BURDENS OF THE SYSTEM-WIDE NPDES MS4 PERMIT; FURTHER AUTHORIZING BROWARD COUNTY TO CONDUCT TECHNICAL ACTIVITIES REQUIRED BY THE NPDES MS4 PERMIT; A COPY OF THE ILA IS ATTACHED HERETO AS EXHIBIT A; A COPY OF WHICH IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK; PROVIDING FOR THE ADOPTION OF RECITALS; PROVIDING FOR INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CITY CLERK; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

RESOLUTION 2026-072

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF LAUDERDALE LAKES, FLORIDA; AMENDING RESOLUTION NO. 2025-132 TO MODIFY THE FUNDING SOURCE FOR RFQ NO. 25-3110-02Q, FOR PROFESSIONAL SURVEYING AND GEOTECHNICAL SERVICES AWARDED TO CRAVEN THOMPSON AND ASSOCIATES, INC. (“CTA”); AUTHORIZING THE REALLOCATION OF FUNDING FROM THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION'S RESILIENT FLORIDA GRANT PROGRAM TO THE CITY'S STORMWATER FUND BALANCE/RETAINED EARNINGS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY-TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS AND NO/100 ($172,525.00); A DRAFT COPY OF THE CONTRACT WITH CTA IS ATTACHED HERETO AS EXHIBIT A; A DRAFT COPY OF RESOLUTION 2025-132 IS ATTACHED HERETO AS EXHIBIT B; COPIES OF WHICH ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK; PROVIDING FOR THE ADOPTION OF RECITALS; PROVIDING FOR INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CITY CLERK; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

Vice Mayor Thomas made a motion to approve Resolutions 2026-066, 2026-067, 2026-068, 2026-069, 2026-070, 2026-071 and 2026-072.

FOR:  Mayor Edwards Phillips, Vice Mayor Thomas, Commissioner Causwell, Commissioner Harrison

Motion passed: 4-0

City Attorney Calloway read Resolution 2026-073 by title:

RESOLUTION 2026-073

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF LAUDERDALE LAKES, FLORIDA; ACCEPTING THE FISCAL YEAR 2024/2025 ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT PREPARED BY THE CITY’S AUDITORS, HCT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS AND CONSULTANTS, LLC; PROVIDING FOR THE ADOPTION OF RECITALS; PROVIDING FOR INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CITY CLERK; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

Commissioner Harrison made a motion to move Resolution 2026-073 to the floor for discussion.

FOR:  Mayor Edwards Phillips, Vice Mayor Thomas, Commissioner Causwell, Commissioner Harrison

Motion passed: 4-0

Sharon Haynes, Financial Services Director, shared some highlights from the fiscal year 2024/2025 annual comprehensive financial report.

Vice Mayor Thomas made a motion to approve Resolution 2026-073.

FOR:  Mayor Edwards Phillips, Vice Mayor Thomas, Commissioner Causwell, Commissioner Harrison

Motion passed: 4-0

This is a resolution ratifying the City's financial report for the month ending April 30, 2026  (Period 7) of the fiscal year.

City Attorney Calloway read Resolution 2026-074 by title:

RESOLUTION 2026-074

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF LAUDERDALE LAKES, FLORIDA, RATIFYING THE FINANCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT’S FILING OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITY REPORTS FOR THE MONTHS OF APRIL (PERIOD 7) OF FISCAL YEAR 2026, AS PREPARED FOR THE PURPOSE OF FULFILLING THE REQUIREMENTS OF SEC.82-327 OF THE CITY OF LAUDERDALE LAKES CODE OF ORDINANCES, COPIES OF SUCH FINANCIAL REPORTS ARE ATTACHED HERETO AS EXHIBIT A; A COPY OF WHICH CAN BE INSPECTED IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK; PROVIDING FOR ADOPTION OF RECITALS; PROVIDING FOR INSTRUCTIONS TO THE DEPUTY CITY CLERK; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

Vice Mayor Thomas made a motion to move Resolution 2026-074 to the floor for discussion.

FOR:  Mayor Edwards Phillips, Vice Mayor Thomas, Commissioner Causwell, Commissioner Harrison

Motion passed: 4-0

Ms. Haynes presented the financial activity reports relative to the month of April, 2026.

Commissioner Harrison made a motion to approve Resolution 2026-074.

FOR:  Mayor Edwards Phillips, Vice Mayor Thomas, Commissioner Causwell, Commissioner Harrison

Motion passed: 4-0

Mayor Edwards Phillips thanked everyone for attending and watching the meeting. She offered condolences to Commissioner Rogers on the passing of her beloved mother, Mrs. Bax. She spoke of the upcoming State of the City address on June 25th and wished the City a Happy 65th Birthday.

Vice Mayor Thomas thanked everyone for attending the meeting. She stated that she was grateful that for all the former commissioners and everyone that laid the foundation for the city for all those that are here now. She invited everyone to attend the upcoming Conversations with your Commissioners event on July 9th and the importance of being hydrated during the summer months.

Commissioner Causwell thanked everyone for attending and watching the meeting. She extended condolences to Commissioner Rogers and two other families who lost loved ones. She reminded everyone to so bring their water bottles  and remain hydrated and wished the City a Happy 65th Birthday. 

Commissioner Harrison thanked everyone for attending and watching the meeting. He stated that Grill and Chill Father's Day event was very successful and thanked staff for helping bring the event together. He offered condolences to all those who have lost loved ones recently and wished the City a Happy 65th Birthday.  

Acting City Manager Howard spoke of the upcoming events and provided a status on the various projects and programs taking place in the City.

City Attorney Calloway spoke on the status of a challenge to the House Joint resolution  that was passed. It is being challenged by a group called, Save Our Voters From Misleading Ballot Language. If the challenge is successful, it will not take the matter off the ballot, but it will require that more neutral language be drafted within 10 days of the court's order. If the challenge fails, then the language that is on the ballot as it is currently reads, will appear on the ballot for the general election in November of 2026.

Being that there was no other business to come before the City Commission, the meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.