Pembroke Park approves modular office purchase for parks, contingent on Florida Forever approval

The Pembroke Park Town Commission voted May 14 to approve purchasing and installing a 36-foot-by-56-foot triple-wide modular office building to house public works and parks staff, with the approval conditioned on permission from the Florida Forever funding trust to place the unit on the park site.

Commissioners said the new modular building would replace an existing facility staff described as “no longer suitable” and provide three private offices, multiple workstations, a conference room, restrooms and showers to bring workspace conditions into compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards.

Kevin Lankes (introduced in the meeting as Kevin Linkus), Parks Department staff, described his current workspace as “not the nicest building in the world” and said a modern modular unit would improve staff safety and morale, offering showers, two restrooms, an IT room and a public break area. "I just think it's going to give a much much better work environment," Lankes said.

Staff identified a proposed location adjacent to 50 Second Avenue with an available electrical drop and water access. The town manager asked that final installation be contingent on confirmation from the Florida Forever funding authority that the town may use the park parcel, because some park improvements were funded with restrictions tied to that program.

A motion to approve the purchase passed on a roll-call vote after the commission added the condition that installation proceed only after Florida Forever (the trust/ funding source) confirms the site is eligible for the modular unit. The roll call recorded Mayor Shera Mohammed, Vice Mayor Eric Morissette, Commissioner Jeffrey Jacobs, Clerk Commissioner William Hodgkins and Acting Clerk Commissioner Mosfika Kashem as voting yes; the motion carried.

The commission did not adopt a specific purchase contract during the meeting; staff was directed to move forward with the procurement process and return any required documentation for ministerial approvals and contract execution once Florida Forever’s position is confirmed.

The modular unit was described as roughly 2,000 square feet, with office layout drawings placed on the meeting screen and confirmed to be to scale by Mr. Lankes, who said they included space for a large conference table, four workstations and three private offices.

The commission also discussed compliance and utility access; staff will confirm permitting, utility hookups and site preparation costs and return to the commission with final contract documents or a report on Florida Forever’s approval.