City Commission Directs City Staff to Transmit Resolution to the Florida Public Service Commission, Expressing Concern Over Precipitous Power Outages
During the July 22, 2025 Regular Meeting, the City Commission directed the City Attorney to draft Resolution 25-26, stating support for Cooper City residents who have recently reported repeated power outages to Florida Power and Light (FPL) and related damage to property, such as air conditioners and other household appliances which in one case totaled nearly $1,000. At the September 9, 2025 Regular Meeting, an FPL representative provided an update on measures that have been taken to ensure residents' concerns are addressed. However, the City Commission did not feel that enough has been done to appropriately address residents' damage claims and concerns. Therefore, the City Commission directed City staff to transmit Resolution 25-26 to the Florida Public Services Commission, which oversees FPL, to ensure Cooper City’s concerns are being heard and that the recent power surges are treated as one major event as opposed to isolated incidents.
City Commission Approves Piggyback Agreement for Sulfuric Acid Supply for Water Treatment Operations
The City Commission approved the piggyback of the City of Deerfield Beach Contract No. ITB 25-016 to procure sulfuric acid (93% concentration) for water treatment operations. The contract was awarded to Shrieve Chemical Company, LLC as the primary vendor and Interacid North America, Inc. as the secondary vendor. This agreement ensures continued delivery of a critical chemical used to control pH and alkalinity during the water treatment process. Sulfuric acid is essential for adjusting raw water chemistry, helping the Utilities Department maintain optimal conditions for coagulation, disinfection, and corrosion control. The City’s current contract with its previous vendor expired without renewal, prompting the need for emergency approval of this new supply arrangement. This agenda item was brought forward as an emergency item due to the City’s existing inventory being low and on the verge of being depleted. By piggybacking the Deerfield Beach contract, the City avoids issuing its own bid and secures more favorable pricing:
· Shrieve Chemical Company (Primary): $259.90 per ton
· Interacid North America (Secondary): $285.00 per ton
The City previous paid $331.47 per ton under the prior agreement. This procurement will help Cooper City maintain cost-effective and uninterrupted operations at its water treatment plant. From October 2024 through August 2025, sulfuric acid expenditures totaled $430,782.62, which is within the proposed FY 2026 budget of $530,000 allocated under the Supplies – Chemicals line item.
City Commission Supports Launch of Cooper City Civics Scholar Program
The Cooper City Commission supported the implementation and funding of the Cooper City Civics Scholar Program, a pilot initiative developed by the Education Advisory Board to foster civic engagement, community awareness, and appreciation for local government among middle school students. The program will debut at Pioneer Middle School in the 2025-2026 school year, with the goal of expanding to other Cooper City schools in future years. Students will opt into the program by October 8, 2025, and receive a “Civics Scholar Passport” at an orientation on October 22. The passport includes a menu of civic-focused activities, from attending a Commission meeting to volunteering at a nonprofit, meeting with City officials, or researching a local ordinance. Students must complete at least five activities and submit a 500-word essay reflecting on their experiences by February 11, 2026. Those who meet the requirements will be honored at a special recognition event hosted by the Education Advisory Board on February 25, 2026, and will also receive public acknowledgment at Cooper City's Founders Day celebration in March 2026. Students will be awarded a Cooper City Civics Scholar Medallion and a certificate of completion. The estimated cost for the pilot program is $2,450, which includes passport printing, medallions, certificates, and a recognition breakfast. This innovative program builds on existing City events and activities, requiring no new programming from staff or educators, and reinforces the City’s commitment to cultivating an informed and engaged future generation.
City Commission Approves Executed Banking Services Contract with Synovus Bank
The City Commission approved the executed banking services contract with Synovus Bank, finalizing a transition from Bank of America, after more than 40 years. This decision follows the Commission’s prior action on August 26, 2025, to award Synovus Bank the top ranking in the City’s competitive banking services Request for Proposals (RFP) process. The move is expected to significantly improve the City’s financial position, as Bank of America had been offering 0% interest on excess operating account balances, resulting in an estimated $800,000 to $1,000,000 annually in lost interest earnings. By partnering with Synovus, the City anticipates recovering that lost revenue through more favorable interest returns on idle funds. City staff successfully negotiated terms and conditions to align with Cooper City’s financial and operational requirements.
City Commission Approves Renewal of ADP Payroll Software Through Piggyback Agreement
The City Commission approved the piggyback of OMNIA Partners Contract RFP 20-07, awarded to ADP, Inc., for the renewal of the City’s payroll and time-tracking software. The new contract (No. R2509001) will take effect on October 1, 2025, and will remain in place through the term of the OMNIA agreement. This action ensures uninterrupted payroll services for all City employees and brings the City into full compliance with procurement protocols. ADP has been Cooper City's payroll provider since January 2020, managing all time and attendance tracking and payroll processing. However, the City’s prior piggyback contract expired in April 2021, and due to internal control issues, purchase orders for ADP services were issued without an active underlying agreement in place during Fiscal Years 2023 and 2024.
To address this issue, the City has implemented two key safeguards:
· A new validation setting in the accounting software to prevent requisitions tied to expired contracts
· Full integration of contract management into OpenGov, which now provides automated expiration alerts to staff 60–90 days in advance
The renewed agreement utilizes Contract No. R2509001, a competitively awarded national cooperative purchasing agreement managed by Region 4 Education Service Center and OMNIA Partners. The contract allows eligible government entities to access vetted pricing and services without issuing independent solicitations. The FY 2026 budget includes $65,084 to fund this renewal, covering all anticipated costs related to ADP payroll services.
City Commission Approves Draft and Adopt Resolution Related to Supervisors Temporarily Acting in the Role of a Subordinate Position
The City Commission provided the City Attorney with direction to draft a resolution that provides for a supervisor to fill in, or act, in the role of a subordinate position that is vacant until a permanent replacement is found, without requiring further Commission approval in the future. This discussion was spurred by the City’s Deputy City Manager being designated the Interim Parks and Recreation Director until a permanent replacement is hired.
City Commission Reviews Retiree Health Benefit; Offers Supplemental Alternative for Former Department Directors
The City Commission reviewed the City’s historical practice of providing fully paid health insurance coverage to a small group of former department directors and their spouses, a benefit originating from a personnel manual developed nearly 30 years ago. While this benefit has continued without formal legislative authorization, it differs from similar benefits granted to elected officials meeting certain requirements, which were later codified through ordinance. Under current Florida law (Section 112.0801, Florida Statutes), retirees may remain on a municipality’s group health insurance plan but must pay the full premium themselves. In contrast, the four retired administrative employees currently receiving City-paid benefits at an approximate annual cost of $75,000, which exceeds retiree support models found in other programs. For comparison, the Florida Retirement System (FRS) offers a Health Insurance Subsidy (HIS) of $7.50 per month for each year of creditable service, with a minimum of $45 per month and a maximum of $225 per month. Following a discussion, the City Commission decided not to continue with the legacy benefit structure, and directed staff to offer a supplemental benefit to the affected individuals equal to that provided under the City’s General Employee Pension Plan, which stands at $20 per month multiplied by the total number of years of City service, along with any terms that place a limit on a supplemental benefit. The individuals will have 30 days to agree to the newly offered benefit. After that period, the City-paid retiree health insurance coverage, for the affected individuals, is set to be discontinued. The Commission is scheduled to receive an update and continue discussion on this item during the Regular Meeting scheduled for October 14, 2025.
City Commission Approves Facility Use Agreement with Pure Energy, Inc. for Sand Volleyball Programming
The Cooper City Commission approved Resolution 25-54, authorizing the City Manager to enter into a three-year Facility Use Agreement with Pure Energy, Inc. for the operation of recreational sand volleyball programs at City-owned courts. The agreement includes two optional one-year renewals and establishes formal terms for facility use, rental rates, responsibilities, and resident benefits. Pure Energy, Inc. has provided sand volleyball programming in Cooper City for more than four years. In 2025, a rental rate discrepancy was identified, prompting the Commission to direct staff to establish competitive rates while prioritizing access and discounts for Cooper City residents.
The finalized rental rates are as follows:
· Resident/Non-Profit Rate: $20 per court
· Non-Resident Rate: $25 per court
· Pure Energy Rate: $20 per court
Under the agreement, Pure Energy will offer seasonal programming with approximately 100 participants per session. Cooper City residents will receive a 10% discount on registration fees and access to early registration opportunities. Additionally, under the terms of the agreement, Pure Energy Inc. will not be allowed to collect full payment in advance of a season. The agreement ensures that only Pure Energy, Inc. is authorized to use the facilities under these terms and any affiliated organizations must enter into separate agreements.
More Information
For more information related to the September 9, 2025 agenda, please visit:https://meetings.municode.com/adaHtmlDocument/index?cc=COOPERCITY&me=bfdeb568fabb42ac92148ef2ac0e49a8&ip=true.
The next City Commission Regular Meeting will be held at City Hall, located at 9090 SW 50 Place, Cooper City, FL 33328, on September 25, 2025 at 6:30 PM.