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Commission approves $100,000 management-fee increase for Pembroke Lakes Golf Course, extends contract despite split views
Summary
After lengthy debate, the commission approved a contract amendment that increases the private manager’s annual management fee and extends the management agreement; vote was split and followed weeks of discussion about contract terms and competitive procurement.
The Pembroke Lakes Golf Course management contract was amended and approved by the Pembroke Pines City Commission on April 15 after a prolonged public and commission debate over a retroactive fee increase and a multi-year extension.
The commission considered a package of items: assignments and assumption agreements transferring management from one corporate entity to another, fee increases for the course management agreement and the pro-shop contract, and a five-year extension beginning Nov. 15, 2026. Assistant City Manager Christina Sorensen and owner/operator representatives described a multi-decade relationship and said rising labor, insurance and operating costs left the manager absorbing substantial costs. The owner told commissioners he had not increased his management fee in 28 years and asked for an increase from $100,000 to $200,000 a year, along with other adjustments to reimbursement caps and allowances.
Commissioners split over two key issues: the size and retroactive timing of the fee increase, and whether a five-year extension without rebidding would be consistent with good procurement practice. Commissioner Hernandez objected to a retroactive and substantial increase (she characterized it as a near-100% increase), while Commissioners Rodriguez and Schwartz supported staff’s recommendation, citing continuity and the manager’s long record of service. Commissioner Goode pressed for shorter-term renewal options or re-bidding to preserve competition and the city’s leverage at future renewals.
After a substitute motion to approve only the fee increase but not the five-year extension was discussed and clarified, the commission conducted a roll-call vote on the full staff-recommended package (the motion as presented in the agenda) and approved the amendments. The recorded roll call shows three commissioners voting in favor and two opposed (final roll-call text recorded in the minutes). The amendment takes effect immediately (April 15) and staff said they will manage contractual details, including the owner’s right to statutory cancellation provisions and the city’s procurement options in future years.
Commissioners asked staff to return to the commission with a broader review of contract-term policies for recurring city concessions and vendors, and to check whether any other lessees were using city facilities as registered business addresses.
