Pembroke Pines leaders debate elections and ethics, scrap ceremonial badges
The Pembroke Pines City Commission returned to the dais Tuesday for its third meeting of March, with lengthy discussion on shifting municipal elections, ethics training and discontinuing ceremonial badges issued to commissioners.
The March 31 meeting also included eight consent agenda items that passed unanimously and Mayor Angelo Castillo’s State of the City address.
Notably among the approved items from the agenda was a $2.9 million allocation to fund 61 new vehicles across city departments, including 54 for police.
Commission discussion
Commissioners unanimously voted to direct the city attorney’s office to draft an ordinance to change municipal elections from March to November, with the first reading scheduled for April 15.
The process would include verifying ballot deadlines and coordinating voter education efforts alongside the ordinance’s progression.
A second discussion item, introduced by District 2 Commissioner Jay D. Schwartz, proposed implementing online ethics training for city employees beginning in 2026.
The item was deferred after discussion, with Schwartz saying he would bring it back with more specific details on what he’s asking from the commission.
City Manager Charles F. Dodge noted that employees already review and sign a detailed ethics policy upon hiring. Vice Mayor Michael Hernandez called the proposal “redundant and unnecessary” and doesn’t want to add another burden on staff.
During the item, tensions surfaced between commissioners.
Schwartz raised concerns about social media and said he was misrepresented with a misleading narrative about past commission decisions, including the recent vote for Somerset’s artificial turf on field 7.
Hernandez defended his social media comments and pushed back on Schwartz’s criticisms.
A tense exchange followed until Castillo insisted that their disputes be handled in a properly noticed meeting. Castillo moved for the two commissioners to post a meeting to “figure this thing out” as it was not official business.
The final discussion item, also brought by Hernandez, focused on discontinuing the ceremonial badges given to commissioners upon being sworn in.
The item was in reference to a May 21, 2025, incident at Charles W. Flanagan High School involving Schwartz.
While working as an adjunct instructor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and teaching aviation classes at Flanagan High, Schwartz confronted a group of students and, during the interaction, pulled out a badge from his wallet, Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigators found.
Hernandez said the incident reflected on the commission as a whole and called for ending the tradition all-together.
Castillo, who described the badges as a “time honored tradition,” said he had already turned in his badge prior to the meeting and supported discounting the practice. Schwartz did not make any comments during this item.
Hernandez made the motion and the commissioners unanimously approved ending the badge practice and directed that existing badges be collected if deemed appropriate.
In new business, Castillo raised the possibility of revisiting previously failed charter amendment questions for a future ballot. Commissioners agreed to have the city attorney return with more information, including potential costs, at the next city commission meeting.
What’s next?
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 15. Residents can tune into the meeting by watching the livestream on the city’s YouTube channel or attend in person at the Charles F. Dodge City Center.
