Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Joseph Morris
Department: Port Everglades Division: Operations
Information
Requested Action
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MOTION TO ADOPT Resolution directing the County Administrator to publish Notice of Public Hearing to be held on September 22, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., in Room 422 of Governmental Center East, to consider adoption of a proposed Resolution Amending the Broward County Administrative Code, the title of which is as follows:
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA, PERTAINING TO PORT EVERGLADES TARIFF NO. 12 (“TARIFF”); AMENDING SECTION 42.25 OF THE BROWARD COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE CODE (“ADMINISTRATIVE CODE”); AMENDING TARIFF RATES AND REQUIREMENTS FOR VARIOUS ACTIVITIES AT PORT EVERGLADES; PROVIDING FOR GENERAL UPDATES TO TARIFF TEXT; AND PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, INCLUSION IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
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Why Action is Necessary
The Broward County Charter requires the posting of notice and a public hearing for adoption of amendments to the Broward County Administrative Code.
What Action Accomplishes
Enables the setting of a public hearing during which the Broward County Board of County Commissioners may consider adopting the proposed Resolution amending Port Everglades Tariff No. 12 in Chapter 42 of the Broward County Administrative Code.
Goal Related Icon(s)
YES County Commission
N/A Go Green
N/A MAP Broward
Previous Action Taken
None
Summary Explanation/Background
THE PORT EVERGLADES DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL.
This action supports the Broward County Board of County Commissioners’ (“Board”) Value of “Building partnership and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives,” and the Goal of “Ensuring economic opportunities and a sustainable economy, with an emphasis on Broward’s lower and middle class.”
Port Everglades Tariff No. 12 (“Tariff”) provides the rules, regulations, and fees that govern the use of the facilities and services at Port Everglades (“Port”) that are not otherwise provided for in separate contractual agreements with Port Users. Port staff is proposing revisions to the Tariff that include increases in Tariff rates and revisions to certain Tariff provisions governing operations at the Port.
The proposed Tariff rate increases include an average of approximately 3.0% for cargo, container, and petroleum dockage and wharfage; 3.0% for container crane rental and other marine services; 3.0% for Grid Yard Areas rent for temporary assignment of land within the Port not covered by a lease (Item No. 1140); 3.5% for cruise dockage and wharfage; and 25% for parking fees. No rate increases are proposed for vessel or cargo security fees.
In addition to the proposed rate increases, the Resolution includes minor changes to several Tariff items to reflect current information or practice, or to delete outdated language.
Substantive changes are proposed for the following Tariff items:
• Changes are made throughout the Tariff to reference the Port Everglades Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) title for consistency with a similar change in Chapter 16 of the Administrative Code approved by the Board on November 13, 2025.
• Assignment of Berth (Item No. 210): Language is added granting berthing priority to vessels engaged in cargo operations over vessels assigned to Lay-in status.
• Cleanliness of Premises (Item No, 430): Due to continuing issues with dockside cleanliness, the daily charge for not removing full dumpsters within 24 hours is increased from $1,000 to $1,500 per day.
• Container, Cargo, Equipment Staging, and Obstruction of Facilities (Item No. 440): Language is added prohibiting the pre-staging of placarded hazardous materials cargo as defined in 49 CFR Parts 171-180 on the docks or dock apron and requiring such cargo remain in the owner/operator’s yard until loading begins.
• Container Gantry and Mobile Harbor Cranes-Specifications (Item No. 700): Revisions are made to the lifting capacities for the Port’s SP4 and SP5 Samsung container gantry cranes to account for increases in capacity that will result from an ongoing phased project to upgrade each of the seven Samsung cranes over the next two years.
• Container Gantry and Mobile Harbor Cranes-Rules & Regulations (Item No. 705): Language is added to provide a process for the issuance of Port Everglades Crane Operator ID Badges to qualified crane operators. The language requires crane operators to carry their Operator ID Badge when accessing and/or operating a crane and to present it upon request by the Port staff.
• Waiver/Reduction of Parking Charges (Item No. 945): The authority of the Port Everglades CEO to reduce parking charges for certain events associated with a new cruise ship inaugural or other Port-related promotional events without Board approval is increased from a total of $10,000 to $15,000 per event to account for the proposed increase in parking charges in Item No. 1135.
• Discharge of Pollutants and Nuisances (Item No. 1015): Language is added to establish required procedures in the event of a discharge of any sanitary sewage or any other matter capable of producing a sheen, floating matter, or scum on the surface of the land or the waterways at Port Everglades.
• Pollutant Spill Cleanup (Item No. 1018): Language is added to require the party responsible to report the status and completion of all cleanup activities to the Port immediately. The language provides that Port Everglades will make a final determination of the adequacy of such cleanup efforts and may, at its discretion, mandate additional remediation measures as necessary.
• Petroleum & Liquified Petroleum Gas Terminal Facilities (Item No. 1072): The existing fire protection requirements for truck loading racks at such facilities is expanded to include railcar loading racks. Language is also added to make it clear that the required fire suppression system must be fully functional and compliant during any transfers but also provides for the acceptance by the Broward Sheriff’s Office Fire Marshal’s Office of temporary alternatives during system maintenance.
• Parking Fees (Item No. 1135): Port staff is proposing an increase in parking rates, with the full day rate increasing from $20 to $25, and the hourly incremental rates also increasing. The parking rates have not increased since 2023. Language is also added limiting parking for vehicles of cruise guests from the date of embarkation through one week after the final debarkation date identified on the cruise guest’s ticket.
All proposed revisions to the Tariff would be effective as of October 1, 2026.
Source of Additional Information
Ricardo Charlton, Director of Operations, Port Everglades Department, 954-468-0218
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
The proposed Tariff increases have been budgeted and are projected to generate an additional estimated $2,541,690 in revenues in Fiscal Year 2027. As shown in Exhibit 5, approximately 34% of the Port’s projected revenue in Fiscal Year 2027 will result from charges subject to the Tariff, with the remaining revenue governed by contracts.