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Pembroke Pines approves Somerset Academy turf field after commission debates insurance and environmental risks
Summary
The commission unanimously approved a 10-year facility-use agreement allowing Somerset Academy to install artificial turf at Pembroke Shores Park’s Field 7 after questions from a commissioner about insurance, maintenance and state rulemaking on synthetic turf were answered by staff and the city attorney.
The Pembroke Pines City Commission on March 18 approved a 10-year facility-use and improvements agreement that will allow Somerset Academy to install an artificial turf surface on Field 7 at Pembroke Shores Park.
Mayor Angelo Castillo said the project is “a great investment for you” and praised the partnership with Somerset Academy, noting the field will be city-owned and designed for long-term use. The measure passed unanimously after brief public comment from Somerset Principal Bernardo Montero and follow-up questions from commissioners.
Why it matters: Commissioners debated whether the agreement adequately protects Somerset and third-party users from liability and whether state-level rulemaking could affect installation near waterways. Commissioner Schwartz pushed staff to clarify insurance boxes in the contract and tournament-hosting language, saying he wanted to “make sure Somerset’s $1,500,000 investment is going to be protected by the city through certified professionals overseeing this asset.”
Staff response and safeguards: Christina Golding and other city staff told the commission that risk management and HR had reviewed the agreement and that tournament coverage would require $1,000,000 per occurrence. City staff explained the turf field will become the city’s asset once installed and Somerset will be a long-term user under the facilities agreement; general liability and indemnification provisions cover injuries on the field. The parks maintenance contractor currently maintains artificial turf in city and school facilities, and staff said a forthcoming parks maintenance RFP will explicitly include the new field.
Regulatory context: Commissioner Schwartz also noted an ongoing Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) rulemaking process that he said includes draft language affecting synthetic turf near waterways. City Attorney Sam Gorin said the rule is still under state rulemaking and, based on the revised language reviewed by his office, does not currently create an incompatibility that would invalidate the contract. Gorin advised the commission the city will continue to monitor any final rule changes.
Public comment and vote: Dr. Bernardo Montero, principal of Somerset Academy, described the project as a long-awaited "field of dreams" for students and athletes. After the discussion, the commission voted to adopt the agreement unanimously; Mayor Castillo and other commissioners congratulated Somerset and said they anticipated the field would take about 18 to 24 months to build.
What happens next: Administration will finalize the agreement and manage procurement and construction oversight; the parks maintenance contract language and the new RFP will be adjusted to ensure certified maintenance for artificial turf surfaces. The commission indicated it will continue to track any state-level rule changes that could affect installation near waterways.
