Pembroke Pines commission advances charter amendment to move municipal elections to November
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Summary
On April 15 the City Commission approved on first reading Ordinance 2026-02 to move municipal elections to November and to change the vice mayor election timing; commissioners also directed a program of citywide town halls and discussed ballot costs and deadlines ahead of a second reading.
The Pembroke Pines City Commission on April 15 approved on first reading a proposed charter amendment that would move the city's municipal elections from March to November of even-numbered years and adjust the schedule for selecting the vice mayor.
City Attorney Sam Goren told the commission the ordinance (proposed 2026-02) would amend multiple charter sections to change the "city election held in November of even numbered years" and to set the annual vice mayor selection for the first meeting in December, subject to voter approval. Goren said the ordinance would be submitted to the November ballot and, if approved by voters, would become effective as provided by law.
Supervisor of Elections Scott, joining the meeting by phone, told the commission that August 18 (the end of the primary) is the practical deadline for delivering referendum language to the county for the November ballot and that the county charges an estimated fee per registered voter for ballot questions. "For a referendum question, it's $2.90 per registered voter," Scott said, noting an effective rate increase that takes effect January 1, 2027. The commission discussed the per-voter estimate and an additional per-page surcharge for longer ballots.
Mayor Angelo Castillo and other commissioners emphasized the importance of public outreach before placing charter changes before voters. The commission directed staff to organize a program of citywide town halls (one in each commission district, with additional meetings for specific constituencies as needed) to explain the proposed changes and to solicit public feedback before a second reading. "We will have multiple citywide town hall meetings," Castillo said, urging uniform presentations to avoid confusion.
After more than an hour of procedural and legal questions, the commission approved the ordinance on first reading unanimously and deferred the effective date to accommodate follow-up outreach and the statutory ballot schedule.
Votes at a glance: the commission approved Ordinance 2026-02 on first reading (vote: unanimous); commissioners also voted to direct town-hall public outreach on ballot questions.
What happens next: Staff will return with final ordinance language and a schedule for public forums before the second reading. The county deadline for delivering ballot language is effectively August 18 (after the primary), and the commission heard that special attention should be given to ballot length because of per-page surcharges and per-registered-voter charges for referendum questions.
Provenance: Topic introduced by City Attorney Sam Goren ("Item 12 is a motion to pass proposed ordinance number 2026 dash 02 on first reading...") and the discussion concluded with the first-reading vote and procedural directions to staff.
