What Pembroke Pines voters need to know about upcoming ballot measures
Pembroke Pines commissioners on Wednesday night discussed town hall meetings to communicate with residents about possible referendum questions ahead of an Aug. 18 deadline for placing items on the November ballot.
The conversation began with Commissioner Maria Rodriguez asking about the city’s ability to communicate with residents about the prospective ballot questions.
City attorney Sam Goren said that, at the moment, there were no referendum questions for voters come Nov. 3. However, commissioners are considering three potential measures: two charter amendments and a proposed public safety bond for a Police and Fire Public Safety Complex.
The charter amendments, one moving the city’s municipal elections from March to November and another lowering the commission vote threshold for city manager hiring and firing decisions from four-fifths to three-fifths, have passed first reading and need a final reading for approval.
The proposal to move municipal elections to November was initially introduced by Commissioner Michael Hernandez and is meant to mitigate concerns about low voter turnout and elections costs. If approved by voters, future city elections would align with federal, state and county races.
According to Broward County Supervisor of Elections Joe Scott, the cost for a November referendum is estimated at $2.79 per voter, increasing to $2.90 beginning Jan. 1. An additional $0.15 per page per voter may apply depending on the length of the ballot.
Goren said the proposed public safety bond follows a different process because bond questions require a resolution rather than a two-reading ordinance.
Unlike the charter amendments, the bond proposal also must include a maximum dollar amount in the ballot question so voters understand the potential borrowing amount before casting a vote, he said.
“That number has not yet been provided,” Goren said at the May 20 meeting.
Goren suggested commissioners review a draft version of the bond resolution before final adoption, which would allow the city greater flexibility to discuss the proposal publicly before it formally reaches voters on the ballot.
“If the commission were to consider for review the bond resolution on (June 3 or June 17 but not adopt it until the August meeting, you would then have the opportunity to say on the record that the item is not yet placed on the ballot,” Goren said.
Mayor Angelo Castillo and Goren discussed how the city could approve the format of a draft resolution while continuing to refine project details and cost estimates before final adoption.
City manager Charles F. Dodge committed to providing a cost estimate before the town halls, and commissioners approved going ahead with the proposed timeline.
During Dodge’s report, he announced a series of district town halls intended to discuss the potential referendum questions and get community feedback on the public safety bond.
The meeting schedule:
- District 1: June 2 at 6:30 p.m. in the Commission Chambers
- District 2: June 1 at 6:30 p.m. at Southwest Focal Point Community Center
- District 3: June 8 at 6:30 p.m. at William B. Armstrong Dream Park
- District 4: June 10 at 6:30 p.m at The River of Grass ArtsPark, housed at the Susan B. Katz Theater of Performing Arts
- Century Village condominiums: June 11 at 10 a.m.
- Colony Point condominiums: May 28 at 10 a.m.
- Hollybrook Golf & Tennis Club: June 8 at 10 a.m.
- Park Place condominiums: June 9 at 10 a.m.
Still, some commissioners questioned whether residents were being given enough notice.
“For future reference, this is not enough time,” Rodriguez said. “I understand we want to get them done and we can have more but even when we announce those additional meetings, we need, I would say, at least 15 to 20 days.”
Commissioner Jay D. Schwartz also questioned why the meetings were being concentrated in early June rather than July.
Castillo said the city is working under time constraints tied to election deadlines and noted that scheduling outreach later in the summer could create attendance challenges.
“We’re on a timeline,” Castillo said, referring to the Aug. 18 deadline. “We have to get all of our information in.”
City staff said all meetings will feature the same presentation, with some being livestreamed and posted online.
The next city commission meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 3, at 6:30 p.m. in the commission chambers. Residents can tune into the meeting by watching the livestream on the city’s YouTube channel or attend in person.
