Weston approves revised maintenance agreement with Broward County School Board for Cypress Bay fields after debate

The Weston City Commission on June 2 approved a revised maintenance and use agreement with the School Board of Broward County covering Cypress Bay High School athletic fields, tennis and basketball courts, and parking lots. The resolution (agenda item 6b) passed 4–1; Commissioner Melina McPhee voted no.

City Manager Don Decker told commissioners the revised agreement removes language that would have limited the school board’s use of its fields strictly to athletic purposes. In return, the city negotiated protections that would make the school board responsible for repair costs if the board’s nonathletic use of the fields caused damage beyond ordinary wear. The city also secured priority use for Weston when the school board is not using the fields, and the updated agreement expands the covered facilities to include tennis and basketball courts.

Decker described the long history of the arrangement: the City of Weston has maintained some school facilities to a higher standard than the school board historically did, and the city adopted the practice after requests from parents and coaches. He said the current agreement would continue the city’s maintenance at its customary standards while clarifying responsibilities and the city’s right of first refusal for scheduling.

Commissioner Melina McPhee said she was concerned about the city “paying twice” — using city tax dollars to maintain schoolboard property while the school board benefits from joint use of city parks. Vice Mayor Henry Mead and Commissioner Jaffe urged continued collaboration and said they meet routinely with the school superintendent to address maintenance and capacity constraints.

Decker said the maintenance cost to the city for Cypress Bay is “approximately” $50,000 a year. He also noted the school board has a separate program to replace high-school football fields with artificial turf over the next five years, which could reduce the city’s turf-maintenance expense if implemented at Cypress Bay.

The motion to approve (moved by Commissioner Jaffe and seconded by Commissioner Fabio Andrade) carried on roll call: Commissioners Andrade, Jaffe, Vice Mayor Mead and Mayor Margaret Brown voted yes; Commissioner Melina McPhee voted no.

The agreement had been returned to the commission after the school board asked for the restrictive use language to be removed so the board could use its property for nonathletic events if it chose. The revised document clarifies repair responsibilities and preserves city priority use when the school board is not using the facilities.