Cooper City approves revised BSO fire-services contract after changes, 4-1

The Cooper City Commission voted 4-1 to approve Resolution 25-65, authorizing an agreement with the Broward Sheriff's Office for emergency medical, fire protection and fire prevention services, subject to finalizing contract language. City Manager said, "I'm recommending approval for both the police contract and the fire contract based on the, the later versions of the agreement."

The manager summarized key negotiated changes: a negotiated reduction of roughly $470,000 to FY26 by eliminating two relief positions that the manager said would not affect daily staffing; a defined target of about 6% for year-two personnel cost increases (explicitly called a target, not a hard cap); clearer contractual language requiring more documentation for health-insurance allocations; the transfer of all facilities-maintenance responsibilities to Cooper City; and an increase in the termination transition period from 18 to 24 months accompanied by an inventory of city-owned equipment that would be returned in the event of contract termination. "There was a negotiated reduction of about $470,000 into the fiscal year 26 numbers," the City Manager said during his presentation.

Supporters on the commission praised the more cooperative negotiating posture of BSO command staff and the Public Safety Advisory Board's involvement. One commissioner asked whether certain special-event coverage (for example, an autism-focused event at a fire station) was included; a BSO representative said regional assets could be scheduled to attend but might be called away in higher-priority emergencies. The motion to approve the fire-services contract passed with four yes votes and one no vote.

The approved resolution is subject to final clean-up of language in the contract backup before execution; the City Attorney and manager said that finalization would reflect the negotiated revisions disclosed during the meeting.