Miramar commission approves $2.8M water‑main contract, ratifies Juicy Patties lease amendment and updates public‑art and capital plans

The Miramar City Commission on May 21 approved a series of measures including a $2.61 million construction contract for the Country Club Ranches Water Main Improvements Phase 3, a lease amendment for a Juicy Patties restaurant at Miramar Town Center, an engineering services amendment for construction oversight, an update to the city’s mural‑art rules and a revision to the five‑year capital improvements schedule.

The commission voted unanimously on all items. The largest single contract awarded was for the Country Club Ranches water main project: the commission approved selecting DBE Management LLC as the lowest responsive, responsible bidder for Phase 3 construction and authorized a project total not to exceed $2,813,348, which includes a base contract of $2,613,348 and a $200,000 project allowance, city staff said.

Why it matters: the Phase 3 work will extend new water mains to portions of the Country Club Ranches neighborhood that city staff said lack modern distribution infrastructure. The item is funded in the utilities capital improvement program for fiscal 2025 and carries participation goals for local CBE/SBE firms, officials said.

The commission also ratified a first amendment to a 10‑year lease with Rankin Inc., doing business as Juicy Patties, for a 2,400‑square‑foot retail space at 11735 City Hall Promenade inside the Miramar Town Center. Debond Campbell, development and intergovernmental affairs officer, told the commission the city agreed to defer rent beginning June 1 and to increase the tenant improvement allowance by $25,000 to help cover unanticipated build‑out costs such as gas and water‑submetering. The agreement includes discounts — 10% for regular Miramar employees and 15% for public‑safety employees — and the owners said they remain profitable.

Annette Kidd and Robert Kidd, identified as the Juicy Patties Miramar franchise owners and Miramar residents, said the extra allowance will reimburse work already paid for to bring utilities into the raw retail space. “The business is profitable,” Annette Kidd told the commission.

Commissioners pressed administration on steps to avoid similar tenant issues in future leases. Campbell said staff have begun coordinated plan‑review meetings with contractors and utilities staff to identify meter and gas‑line locations earlier in the process.

On public works contracting, Eric Francois, senior project manager in utilities, said the Phase 3 scope covers roughly 37 lots and includes approximately 12,000 linear feet of six‑inch main, 26 gate valves, 24 fire hydrants and 37 single‑meter boxes. Francois told the commission the city received eight bids and DBE Management was the lowest responsive bidder.

The commission approved an amendment to the city’s agreement with Chen Moore & Associates to provide construction engineering and management services for Phase 3. The formal agenda listed the amendment amount as $811,040; during the staff presentation a different figure, $81,040, was read aloud and the staff statement also referenced a revised cumulative contract total. The record on the floor contains both figures; the commission approved the amendment as presented. (See clarifying details below for the transcript discrepancy.)

On planning and arts policy, the commission adopted an amendment to the city’s land development code to update its public‑art standards for mural work. Senior landscape planner Sunil Rosario said the change broadens the definition of "mural art" to permit mechanically produced images — including digital printing, projection, stencils and screen printing — and loosens artist‑selection criteria to create opportunities for up‑and‑coming artists. The ordinance requires murals be within view of the public right of way, establishes maintenance expectations and sets a permit and inspection process administered by the building, planning and zoning department in coordination with cultural arts staff.

Finally, the commission adopted the annual update to the capital improvements element of the comprehensive plan to align the five‑year schedule of capital improvements with the city’s adopted capital improvement program for fiscal years 2025–2029. Planning staff said the update implements the statutory requirement to reconcile the comprehensive plan’s five‑year schedule with the city budget (citing Florida Statutes, chapter 163).[1]

Public comment and next steps: resident Robert Nicholson spoke during public participation about an ongoing code and building enforcement dispute at his residence; Mayor Wayne Messam directed department heads present to meet with him after the meeting to discuss next steps. Implementation for the water‑main project now advances to contract execution and construction scheduling; staff will return as needed on project timelines, permitting and community impact.

Votes at a glance: the commission recorded unanimous votes (5–0) on each of the items below. For each item, recorded votes on the transcript show Commissioners Maxwell B. Chambers, Avril Sherazard, Yvette Colburn (vice mayor), Commissioner Edwards and Mayor Wayne Messam voting yes.

- Item 5 (Resolution): Ratification of first amendment to 10‑year lease with Rankin Inc. d/b/a Juicy Patties for 2,400 sq. ft. at Miramar Town Center. Motion: approve; outcome: approved, vote: 5–0. Key terms noted on the record: an additional tenant improvement allowance ($25,000 increase cited in staff remarks) and rent deferral beginning June 1; employer/public employee discounts; owners stated business is profitable.

- Item 6 (Resolution / IFB 25‑007 rebid): Award contract for Country Club Ranches Water Main Improvements Phase 3 to DBE Management LLC. Motion: approve; outcome: approved, vote: 5–0. Contract amount reported in the record as $2,613,348 with a $200,000 project allowance for a total not to exceed $2,813,348; phase will serve 37 lots and includes mains, valves, hydrants and meter boxes.

- Item 7 (Resolution / Amendment No. 4): Amendment to agreement with Chen Moore & Associates for construction engineering services for Country Club Ranches Water Main Improvements Phase 3. Motion: approve; outcome: approved, vote: 5–0. Amount uncertainty: agenda header referenced $811,040; a staff speaker read $81,040 during the presentation and a revised cumulative total was discussed; the commission approved the amendment as presented. (See clarifying details.)

- Item 9 (Ordinance, second reading): Amendment to Land Development Code Section 3.24 to update the city’s public art program and mural standards. Motion: approve; outcome: approved (second reading), vote: 5–0. The ordinance revises mural definition, permit and review criteria, and maintenance obligations.

- Item 10 (Ordinance, second reading): Annual update to the Capital Improvements Element (five‑year schedule of capital improvements) to reflect the adopted CIP for FY2025–2029. Motion: approve; outcome: approved (second reading), vote: 5–0.

Clarifying details and limits of the record: - The transcript contains multiple transcription errors and inconsistent spellings (e.g., "Miramar" appears correctly but is also transcribed in places as "Melmar" or "Myanmar," and the word "Bridal" appears where the record intends "Miramar"). This article uses the correct municipal name, Miramar, and corrects obvious transcription substitutions. - The Chen Moore amendment amount is inconsistent in the meeting record: the published item header and motion referenced $811,040, while a staff presentation line referenced $81,040 and a different cumulative total was recited. The record shows the commission approved the amendment as presented; the precise dollar figure should be confirmed in the approved contract documents in the city clerk's office. - Where the transcript did not identify a mover or seconder for motions, the article reports the motion language shown on the record and the recorded roll‑call votes. The commission did not record separate aye/nay tallies beyond individual roll calls showing unanimous approval.

Reporting note: direct quotations in this article are taken verbatim from the meeting transcript and attributed to the speakers recorded at the meeting. This article does not infer approvals, funding sources, or implementation dates beyond what staff and the commission stated on the record.