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 keep Pure Energy in the city.

City Manager Jacob Horowitz told the commission there are three questions staff needs direction on: whether to ratify the retrospective hourly rate to finish the season, whether future agreements should be hourly or a revenue-sharing model (the city's standard is a 75/25 split), and whether to require preferential resident pricing or other resident-benefit terms in a contract. Horowitz said staff would return with a drafted agreement after receiving the commission's guidance.

Commissioners reached consensus to let the current season finish at the existing rate through May 30, and later voted to direct the manager to proceed with two parallel approaches: (a) update the published hourly rental rates for courts citywide to better match comparable cities and (b) negotiate with local providers for an optional revenue-sharing contract that would include resident-benefit terms if exclusivity or long-term scheduling were part of the agreement. Commissioner Katzmann noted the program's community value but emphasized equal access for residents; Commissioner Mallozzi urged that any discount or resident preference be transparent and available across users.

On playgrounds, the commission approved purchases and awarded contracts to vendors recommended by Parks & Recreation for both Sue Ellen/Farland Sports Complex and Ellie Kozak Park. The commission approved the accompanying budget amendment (Resolution 25-27) to fund both projects. Commissioners said they want playgrounds to be accessible and asked staff to confirm ADA- and inclusive-play features (swings and autism-friendly surfacing) during final design.

On transportation, the commission approved Resolution 25-26 finding a municipal public purpose for acquiring a parcel of land owned by Embassy Lakes Master Association for construction of a roundabout at Hiatus Road and Northeast Lake Boulevard. The resolution authorizes staff to pursue right-of-way acquisition and, if necessary, eminent-domain proceedings as part of an FDOT-funded traffic-calming project. Several Embassy Lakes residents and a board representative, Robin Morgenstein, asked for more time and membership-level consultation before acquisition steps proceed. Morgenstein said the association was not given a recent heads-up on the current design and asked for tabling so members could review the plans. City staff and the city attorney explained this resolution is a procedural step DOT requires to keep the grant active; staff said negotiations remain the preferred path and eminent domain is a last resort. The motion carried with a 4-1 vote.

The commission heard a briefing from Broward County special victims detectives and the Cooper City police captain about an animal-cruelty case involving geese. The county's Special Victims Unit described ongoing investigative work and new leads, and Cooper City's public-safety leadership announced plans to designate and train an animal advocate on each patrol shift to improve response and evidence collection for animal-cruelty reports. The captain said training is planned in coordination with county SVU and possibly Broward County animal services.

Public commenters raised several civic concerns during open comment. Some residents urged the commission to preserve recreational programs such as Pure Energy and to keep user fees affordable; others asked the commission to demand transparent financial records from the Optimist Club after allegations of misappropriated funds. Resident Howard Meltzer asked the commission to require that funds generated by club activities be remitted to the city and audited; he urged transparency and said residents expect accountability. Commissioners and staff said they would continue work on the use agreements and financial oversight related to city facilities and nonprofit partners.

Other business: the commission approved a personnel reclassification in finance that reduces budgeted salary expense while allowing on-the-job progression; it approved an amendment to the employee leave policy converting multiple sick days into a larger PTO bank for new hires; and it rejected a used bucket-truck purchase after members expressed concern about condition, certification and long-term risk.

The city manager told the commission staff will return with revised hourly-rental schedules, a proposed resident-discount policy if the commission wants one, and draft contract language for negotiation with service providers. Staff also plans to provide more detail on playground accessibility items and the schedule and scope for the Hiatus/Lake project as DOT advances design. The commission set no immediate construction dates and emphasized negotiation and resident outreach as the next steps.

Members of the public, registration forms and video records that prompted several agenda changes were noted during the meeting; staff said more documentation and follow-up will be published on the city's website after final contract language is drafted.

Less urgent details and next steps include the manager's plan to reissue a full schedule of revised rental rates for commission review and a staff commitment to publish the county SVU guidance and Cooper City's animal-advocate training plan. The commission also asked staff to pursue potential grant opportunities related to parks improvements where feasible.

Votes at a glance - Letter of support to Israel (item 16): passed unanimously 5-0. - Junior accountant reclassification/hiring (item 11): passed 4-1 (Commissioner Mallozzi voted no). - Pure Energy / volleyball: commission allowed current hourly rate through May 30 and voted 5-0 to direct the manager to (a) re-evaluate and adjust citywide hourly court rates and (b) negotiate optional revenue-sharing agreements or hourly contracts with providers (manager to return with drafts). - Playground equipment purchases for Sue Ellen/Farland Sports Complex (item 19) and Ellie Kozak Park (item 13): each approved; budget amendment (Resolution 25-27, item 20) also approved 5-0. - Surplus-property resolution (item 21): passed 5-0. - Hiatus Road/Northeast Lake Boulevard right-of-way resolution (Resolution 25-26, item 22): passed 4-1 (Commissioner Schroeder voted no). - Used bucket truck purchase (item 17): motion failed (vote recorded as no majority). - Employee leave policy amendment (Resolution 25-28, item 23): approved (vote recorded as unanimous).

What this means now: the city will finalize playground procurement and schedule installation; staff will publish proposed rental-rate changes and draft Pure Energy contract options; and the city will proceed with right-of-way acquisition planning for the Hiatus/Lake safety project while continuing to pursue negotiated conveyances with property owners before any condemnation action.

Speakers quoted in this report are identified in the transcript and are recorded in the meeting minutes.

Ending: The commission closed the meeting after additional non-policy items and announcements, and staff said they will return with drafts and schedules for the items discussed. Residents may look for documents and staff reports to be posted on the city website and forthcoming meeting packets.