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Commissioners spar over scheduling and communication for charter-school foundation's golf fundraiser
Summary
Commissioner Schwartz raised concerns that the Pembroke Pines Charter School Foundation's annual Frank C. Ordis golf tournament was rescheduled or canceled without full notice to commissioners and volunteers; city officials and a foundation representative said the tournament was being rescheduled and that an independent foundation's new event, "Masters in the Pines," will occur March 13.
A heated discussion at the Jan. 7 Pembroke Pines City Commission meeting centered on scheduling changes to the charter-school foundation's longtime golf fundraiser and whether commissioners and volunteers were adequately notified.
Commissioner Schwartz opened the item, saying he placed it on the agenda after receiving a memo and emails indicating that the Charity's traditional tournament date had been changed without commission authorization. He read correspondence and told the commission the change "appears... the FCO tournament was canceled before we were even notified," raising concerns about competing fundraisers and a loss of tradition for the event that has long supported the Pembroke Pines Charter School Foundation.
Officials in the room disputed that the tournament had been canceled. A foundation official identified as the foundation president said the tournament "never was canceled. It's being rescheduled for a different date." City Manager Dodge and other speakers reiterated that the charter-school foundation is a separate 501(c)(3) and that many fundraising events historically do not require commission approval because the foundation runs them independently.
During the exchange Commissioner Schwartz cited financial context, saying the Frank C. Ordis tournament historically raised net proceeds in the "$60,000 to $80,000" range and that the foundation currently holds about "$750,000"; commissioners discussed a long-standing $1,000,000 endowment goal. City officials said staff is working on logistics and that the foundation's tournament could be moved later in the year (the manager referenced October as one option) while the Wheel of Pembroke Pines Foundation moves forward with a March 13 "Masters in the Pines" fundraiser.
Commissioners debated whether communications between staff and commissioners were sufficient; Schwartz said he found no written meeting notes and received verbal-only communications. The mayor and others urged collegiality, noting staff has been working on the events and that the foundation's leadership said it planned the dates in its capacity as a nonprofit. Commissioner Schwartz asked the city manager to coordinate potential dates and to reach out to the foundation's leadership and the outgoing mayor to ensure schedules align.
No formal motion or vote was taken on policy; the discussion ended with a direction for staff to coordinate dates and follow up with commissioners and foundation leadership.
