Cooper City approves playground renovations, directs manager on volleyball rates and advances Hiatus/Lake roundabout plan

The Cooper City Commission on May 20 approved funding and contracts to renovate two playgrounds, directed the city manager to re-evaluate rental rates and negotiation options for the city's beach-volleyball courts, and adopted a resolution finding a public necessity for acquiring property needed for a traffic safety project at Hiatus Road and Northeast Lake Boulevard.

The actions followed a lengthy public discussion and several hours of back-and-forth on parks, recreation, purchases and safety projects. Commissioners voted to purchase playground equipment for Sue Ellen/Farland Sports Complex and Ellie Kozak Park, approved a budget amendment to fund the work, and gave staff direction on how to handle Pure Energy's existing use of volleyball courts and how to set future rental terms.

The playground approvals respond to repeated resident requests for updated, accessible play areas. The commission voted to buy equipment from the vendors presented by staff and to amend the fiscal-year budget so the projects can proceed. Commissioners also directed the manager to review and update citywide rental rates for athletic courts, and authorized two negotiation paths for the ongoing Pure Energy program: keep an hourly public rental option at a market-aligned rate or pursue a partnership revenue-share contract that would include terms to protect resident access.

The commission recorded several other formal votes: it reclassified an accountant position to a junior-accountant classification, adopted an updated employee leave policy, rejected a request to buy a used bucket truck (the motion failed), and approved a resolution to begin the process of acquiring property for the Hiatus/Lake roundabout project. The city also heard a law-enforcement briefing on an ongoing animal-cruelty investigation and a plan to train animal-advocate staff in Cooper City.

Robbie Johnson, who operates the Pure Energy volleyball program, told the commission he needs a rate that keeps his program viable and that he values keeping his practices in Cooper City. Johnson said he had been operating under a previously honored hourly rate and sought ratification through the end of the season so his players could finish May events without an abrupt price change. Johnson said, "If you'll bring your business here, I'll honor the rate," recounting his negotiations with staff and asking for a fair rate to…