Monterra CDD Provides Update on Pine Island Road Median Improvements
Monterra Community Development District (CDD) Chairman Jason Weinrub updated the City Commission on plans to improve the Pine Island Road median between Stirling Road and Sheridan Street.According to Mr. Weinrub, the CDD received Broward County’s approval in June and subsequently solicited proposals for the landscaping work. The CDD Board selected Juniper Landscaping in August but later learned that an additional County permit and a $25,000 surety bond were required. Mr. Weinrub said the bond was being delivered to the County and that a preconstruction meeting was expected to follow. Barring further delays, the CDD anticipates work beginning before its October 7 meeting.The Commission discussed the length of time the project has taken, along with the challenges created by multiple layers of approval and coordination among the City, Broward County and the CDD. City staff confirmed that they have maintained regular contact with the CDD and County and remain prepared to assist if the CDD’s contractor cannot move forward. However, the City cannot obtain competing prices for the work while the CDD has an active contract with its selected vendor.The discussion also expanded to the long-term care of medians and other areas along Pine Island Road and Sheridan Street. Commissioners expressed interest in exploring whether the City could provide certain maintenance services on the CDD’s behalf, creating greater consistency and simplifying future coordination.The Commission reached a consensus allowing the City Manager to begin discussions with the CDD about a potential service arrangement. Any work performed by the City would be provided at the CDD’s expense, and a broader agreement would return to both the City Commission and CDD Board for consideration and approval. In the meantime, the CDD will continue pursuing the required permit and preconstruction process for the planned landscaping improvements.
Commission Approves Replacement of HVAC Systems at City Hall and Community Center
The City Commission approved an agreement with Trane U.S. Inc. to replace two aging rooftop heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems serving City Hall and the Cooper City Community Center. The existing units have reached the end of their useful lives and require frequent repairs.The approved work includes:
Replacing a five-ton rooftop unit at City Hall that serves the IT room, two restrooms, the Building Department lobby and the permit clerks’ work area.
Replacing a 10-ton rooftop unit at the Community Center that serves the game room, lobby, two classrooms and offices located behind the lobby.
Removing the existing equipment with crane services and installing the new Trane units.
Completing necessary mechanical and electrical modifications.
Installing curb adapters and a replacement thermostat for the Community Center system.
Providing tie-down engineering, permitting coordination, inspections, project management and system startup.
The cost of the work is $69,045. The Commission also authorized a $10,000 City-controlled contingency for unforeseen conditions, bringing the total project authorization to $79,045. Permit fees are not included in Trane’s proposal and will be billed separately. The purchase will be made through OMNIA Partners Contract No. 3341, a competitively procured cooperative contract previously approved for use by the City. Funding is available within the project’s budgeted capital account. Following this expenditure, the remaining account balance is expected to be used for additional HVAC improvements, including three mini-split system installations at Bill Lips Sports Complex, Suellen H. Fardelmann Sports Complex and Flamingo West Park.
Commission Approves Full Citywide Holiday Lighting and Decoration Package
The City Commission unanimously approved the full holiday lighting and decoration package proposed for the 2026 holiday season, including decorations at Memorial Park, five City entrance signs and five municipal facilities. The Commission awarded Contract No. RFP2026-4 to South Florida Lighting Team, LLC, doing business as Miami Christmas Lights. The agreement has an initial term of 36 months and includes three optional one-year renewals. The approved expenditure for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 is $49,422.21, with future expenditures subject to the amounts approved through the City’s annual budget process.The base display at Memorial Park will include:
An artificial holiday tree
Lighting on 37 natural trees
A decorative illuminated arch
Six holiday displays
Various additional illuminated features
An entrance feature
Three areas designed for holiday photographs
Installation and removal of the decorations
Rather than selecting only one of the available enhancements, the Commission approved both options presented by staff. The additional decorations will include holiday uplighting at five City entrance signs located along Flamingo Road, Sheridan Road, Griffin Road, Stirling Road and Palm Avenue. Lighting will also be installed at five City facilities: City Hall, the Community Center, the Pool and Tennis Center, Suellen H. Fardelmann Sports Complex and Flamingo West Park. During the discussion, commissioners emphasized the importance of having the decorations installed early enough for residents to enjoy them throughout the holiday season. Staff confirmed that the contract includes enforcement provisions related to the required installation schedule. The Memorial Park installation is scheduled to be completed by November 23, while the selected vendor indicated that portions of the display—other than certain tree lighting and wraps—could be completed as early as October 15. Commissioners also stressed that the City’s holiday displays should recognize both Christmas and Hanukkah. Staff confirmed that the City has menorahs and other decorations available and committed to working these elements into displays at multiple locations throughout Cooper City. The City also hosts a separate Hanukkah celebration. In addition to the contracted lighting, City staff will install reusable holiday banners along major roadways and at Memorial Park. Staff also plans to notify homeowners’ associations that they may be able to use the City’s competitively awarded contract for their own holiday decorations, helping encourage a more consistent appearance throughout the community. The City received two proposals through a competitive solicitation process and selected South Florida Lighting Team as the highest-ranked proposer based on its experience, proposed designs, resources, methodology and ability to meet the City’s schedule. Funding is available within the $95,000 Fiscal Year 2027 budget for Light Up Cooper City, which includes $70,000 specifically allocated for lighting.
Commission Provides Direction on Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Meeting Schedule
The City Commission unanimously approved direction for staff to revise the proposed Fiscal Year 2026-2027 meeting schedule, addressing conflicts involving Thanksgiving, Christmas, Passover and potential summer scheduling changes.Under the City Code, regular Commission meetings are generally held on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. However, the Commission may adjust its schedule by resolution when holidays, travel or other circumstances create conflicts
The Commission provided the following direction:
November 2026: The Commission agreed to hold one meeting during November, but did not select a final date. November 10, November 17 and November 24 were discussed, but each presented scheduling conflicts involving Commission travel, Thanksgiving week or the certification of election results. Staff will poll the Commission and coordinate a date that may also accommodate the swearing-in ceremony following the November election.
December 2026: The Commission retained the December 8 meeting and tentatively scheduled December 15 as a backup date. The December 15 meeting may be canceled if it is not needed based on the volume of City business completed at the December 8 meeting. The originally proposed December 22 meeting, which falls during Christmas week, will not remain on the schedule.
April 2027: The Commission agreed to move the April 27 meeting to April 20 to avoid a conflict with Passover. The regularly scheduled April 13 meeting will remain unchanged.
Summer 2027: Commissioners discussed reducing the June, July and August schedules to one meeting per month, potentially on June 15, July 20 and August 17. Ultimately, the Commission decided to retain the regularly scheduled meetings for the time being and revisit possible cancellations closer to the summer. Accordingly, the calendar will continue to show meetings on June 8 and 22, July 13 and 27, and August 10 and 24.
The Commission must also designate one of its July meetings for discussion of the proposed Fiscal Year 2027-2028 budget. The available dates are July 13 and July 27; however, a final budget meeting date was not selected during the discussion.
All other meeting dates will generally follow the established second- and fourth-Tuesday schedule:
October 13 and 27, 2026
January 12 and 26, 2027
February 9 and 23, 2027
March 9 and 23, 2027
April 13 and 20, 2027
May 11 and 25, 2027
June 8 and 22, 2027
July 13 and 27, 2027
August 10 and 24, 2027
September 14 and 28, 2027
Based on the Commission’s direction, staff will coordinate the remaining November date and prepare a resolution formally establishing the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 meeting schedule for the Commission’s consideration.
Commission Approves Utility Rate Increase to Support Water and Wastewater System Investments
The City Commission approved Resolution 26-47, authorizing a 3.5% adjustment to Cooper City’s monthly water and wastewater rates for Fiscal Year 2027. The adjustment will take effect with utility bills issued on or after October 1, 2026. For an average customer using approximately 7,000 gallons of water per month, the estimated increase is $3.81 per month. The 3.5% adjustment is based on the annual change in the U.S. Department of Labor’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) for All Urban Consumers. City Code provides for this annual inflation-based adjustment to help utility revenues keep pace with the costs of operating, maintaining and improving the water and wastewater systems. Each annual adjustment remains subject to confirmation by the City Commission as part of the budget process. During its discussion, the Commission emphasized the importance of explaining why the additional revenue is needed and how it relates to ongoing investments in the City’s utility infrastructure. The City has begun a significant program to modernize portions of the utility system that require major rehabilitation or replacement. Current and planned investments include:
A headworks project that will improve the removal of heavier debris entering the wastewater treatment system.
Modernization of the electrical distribution system at the utility plant.
Long-term planning to consolidate three treatment systems into one larger treatment facility in approximately 2030 or 2031.
The City is aggressively pursuing grants, low-interest financing and other outside funding to reduce the amount that must be supported by utility customers. To date, the City has secured an approximately $8 million low-interest loan for the headworks project and a $10.3 million State grant for electrical system improvements. The City has also requested approximately $10 million in federal assistance for additional electrical work. However, grants and loans do not cover every project expense. Certain costs must be paid directly from utility revenues, including an estimated $1.5 million to $2 million for the design of the electrical modernization project. The City Manager explained that making gradual adjustments helps the utility address these costs over time and reduces the risk of a much larger rate increase later. The Commission also explained why water and wastewater services are funded through utility charges as opposed to property taxes. Utility rates are paid by the customers who use the system, including some customers located outside Cooper City. Funding these services through property taxes could require Cooper City property owners to subsidize service for customers living in neighboring communities. Utility billing also allows charges to reflect the amount of water a customer uses. The resolution is expected to generate approximately $264,273 in additional utility revenue during Fiscal Year 2027, with approximately $80,541 for water services and $183,732 for wastewater services. Resolution 26-47 also updates certain backflow-preventer and water-meter testing charges. These amounts were adjusted only to match the updated costs charged by the outside service provider and are passed through by the City.
More Information
For more information related to the September 22, 2026 agenda, please visit: https://meetings.municode.com/adaHtmlDocument/index?cc=COOPERCITY&me=46e2855e5c2449899007af25891c9e9e&ip=true.
The next City Commission Regular Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 13, 2026 at 6:30 PM at City Hall located at 9090 SW 50 Place, Cooper City, FL 33328.