Andre Eugent, Project Manager

Brynt Johnson, Director of Engineering and Building Services

Approval of the project specific Interlocal Agreement (ILA) between the City and

Broward County for the surtax-funded Mast Arm Design (OAKL-023) Project.

Issue Statement: In November 2018, Broward County voters approved a 30-year, one percent sales surtax to fund transportation initiatives. 

Broward County and the cities of Broward County entered into a Transportation System Surtax Interlocal Agreement (ILA) providing for a cooperative and organized process for the municipalities to submit projects for funding with Transportation Surtax proceeds. In September 2019, the ILA was amended to provide for evaluation and ranking of municipal capital projects, and the County's evaluation and ranking of municipal maintenance projects. In January 2021, the ILA was amended for the second time to outline ranking and criteria requirements; document the agreed upon process for funding municipal capital projects; and document allocation of FY2019, FY2020, and FY2021 proceeds for municipal capital projects, amongst other things.

For individual projects approved for funding, municipalities are required to enter into project specific Interlocal Agreements in order to seek reimbursement for project related costs. With funding approved for the Mast Arm Design Project (OAKL-023), a project specific ILA is required before the project can proceed to design.

Recommended Action: City Commission adopt a resolution approving and  authorizing  the execution of the project specific ILA between the City and Broward County for the Mast Arm Design Project (OAKL-023).

To improve the City of Oakland Park infrastructure and protect the traffic signal system from damage during hurricanes and tropical storms, the City applied for and was awarded funding through the Transportation Surtax dollars to convert traffic signals from span wire to mast arms.  The Project will convert 20 span wire signals to mast arm signals throughout the City. Span wire designs, although still used, are not the preferred designs for many municipalities and government agencies.   

Mast arm installation offers improved safety because, in high wind events, such as hurricanes, mast arms do not detach in the same manner that span wire signals tend to do. Detachment of the signals could lead to vehicular accidents due to downed signals and often increases repair time because signals must be reinstalled. Also, mast arms are more aesthetically appealing as there are no wires spanning across the intersection to support the traffic signals. Lastly, although not maintained by the City, there are reduced maintenance costs associated with mast arms.

Upon execution of the ILA, City staff will proceed with the Consultant procurement process for design.

There is no immediate financial impact to the approval of the Interlocal Agreement  between the City and Broward County for the Mast Arm Design Project (OAKL-023).  Under the agreement, the City stands to receive Surtax funding in the amount of $942,611 for the project.   

A separate agenda item will be brought before the Commission when the project will be awarded to the most responsible and responsive bidder for the project described in the foregoing.

City Commission adopt a resolution approving and authorizing the execution of the project specific Interlocal Agreement (ILA) between the City and Broward County for the Mast Arm Design Project (OAKL-023).