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Hallandale Beach staff recommend options to wind down Martin Gold Coast shelters; commission presses for uniform design and better routing
Summary
Staff proposed terminating the Martin Gold Coast shelter/bench contract and offered two paths—city replacement or negotiated purchase of assets—while commissioners asked staff to ensure the county‑funded surtax shelter program and city mini‑bus routing are aligned before full asset replacement.
City staff presented options on May 6 for terminating the Martin Gold Coast contract that governs many of the city’s bus shelters and benches and for replacing or acquiring affected assets.
Director Laban told the commission Martin Gold Coast operates 27 shelters and owns 54 benches across Hallandale Beach; Broward County operates 10 shelters and the city owns 15 shelters and 21 benches. Advertising on those third‑party shelters generates about $40,000 a year under the contract. Staff said Martin Gold Coast has not consistently met maintenance obligations, forcing the city’s sanitation division to perform upkeep in some locations.
Staff presented two primary options for the commission’s direction: (A) the city purchases and replaces the 54 benches and remaining shelters at an estimated immediate replacement cost of roughly $282,000, giving Hallandale Beach full control (and the ability to limit advertising), or (B) the city negotiates purchase of the existing Martin Gold Coast assets to avoid service disruption while requiring the removal of advertising; option B would require negotiation on price and condition of the assets and might defer immediate replacement costs but transfer long‑term maintenance responsibility to the city.
Laban noted the city is a recipient of a Broward County surtax project that funds 41 new shelters (revised to 35 locations and 36 shelters after some sites were removed) and that 24 of the Martin Gold Coast shelters are slated for replacement under that project. Staff cautioned that terminating the contract and replacing assets would shift maintenance and replacement costs into the city’s CIP and require dedicated funding for ongoing upkeep.
Commissioners pressed for a uniform look across shelters and for a methodical approach that aligns shelter placement with mini‑bus routing and rider demand before spending surtax or city funds. Commissioner Butler advocated reviewing stop utility and mini‑bus routing to ensure shelters are sited where they will be used, and several commissioners emphasized shade, accessibility and real‑time digital signage as priorities. Staff said a pilot for digital signage and integrated route mapping is planned for 2025 installations and that several new county‑funded shelters will include no advertising and will provide maps tying city and county routes together.
The presentation was advisory: staff asked for direction on which option to pursue during contract wind‑down and on how to sequence surtax installations and any city purchases.
