Action Item 2.
Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization
- Meeting Date:
- 05/14/2026
REQUESTED ACTION:
MOTION TO:
A. APPROVE the MPO's Fiscal Year 2027 - Fiscal Year 2028 Unified Planning Work Program and Updated Travel Policy for Submittal to Funding Agencies for Approval
B. AUTHORIZE the MPO Chair, Executive Director, and/or General Counsel to Execute All Documents, Agreements and Amendments to Agreements as Necessary to Receive Funding for the Broward MPO's Approved Fiscal Year 2027 - Fiscal Year 2028 Unified Planning Work Program
C. APPROVE the Merit Increase Policy for MPO Staff for the Two Fiscal Years of the Unified Planning Work Program (July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2028) in Which a 4% Cost-of-Living Adjustment and 3% Merit Increase May Be Applied to a Staff Member’s Base Salary, and Allowing for Contributions to Be Made to a Staff Member's Deferred Compensation Plan
A. APPROVE the MPO's Fiscal Year 2027 - Fiscal Year 2028 Unified Planning Work Program and Updated Travel Policy for Submittal to Funding Agencies for Approval
B. AUTHORIZE the MPO Chair, Executive Director, and/or General Counsel to Execute All Documents, Agreements and Amendments to Agreements as Necessary to Receive Funding for the Broward MPO's Approved Fiscal Year 2027 - Fiscal Year 2028 Unified Planning Work Program
C. APPROVE the Merit Increase Policy for MPO Staff for the Two Fiscal Years of the Unified Planning Work Program (July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2028) in Which a 4% Cost-of-Living Adjustment and 3% Merit Increase May Be Applied to a Staff Member’s Base Salary, and Allowing for Contributions to Be Made to a Staff Member's Deferred Compensation Plan
WHAT THIS ACTION ACCOMPLISHES:
A. This action will approve the MPO's final Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) for the next two years (July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2028) as well as the MPO's recently updated travel policy. Approval of this item will allow the MPO to continue its planning and operations functions and to receive Federal and State funding to reimburse the planning activities and expenditures detailed in the UPWP.
The UPWP must be submitted to funding agencies by May 15, 2026 in order to be effective by July 1, 2026.
B. This authorization will allow the MPO Chair, Executive Director, and/or General Counsel to execute amendments to the UPWP or other documents to ensure continuous funding for the MPO's approved UPWP. This authorization does not extend to other agreements or documents unrelated to the UPWP.
C. This action will authorize a 4% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) and a maximum merit increase of 3% based on staff annual performance evaluations for each of the next two fiscal years, as well as contributions to staff member deferred compensation plans (as budgeted for in the UPWP).
C. This action will authorize a 4% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) and a maximum merit increase of 3% based on staff annual performance evaluations for each of the next two fiscal years, as well as contributions to staff member deferred compensation plans (as budgeted for in the UPWP).
SUMMARY EXPLANATION/BACKGROUND:
The MPO's UPWP is a statement of work identifying the planning priorities and activities to be carried out within a metropolitan planning area. The fiscal year (FY) 2027 - FY 2028 UPWP covers two years starting on July 1, 2026 and ending on June 30, 2028. In addition to the Transportation Improvement Program and the Metropolitan Transportation Plan, the UPWP is required to maintain MPO Federal and State certification.
As an outline of staff activities and efforts, the UPWP serves as a two-year annual budget of time and funding requirements. All MPO functions are summarized into eight major UPWP Tasks. Each Task identifies the required activities, the associated work products and previous major accomplishments. In addition, financial participation by funding agencies and the responsible agencies for completing each Task are identified. Further, the UPWP documents Federal, State, and local participation in the continuing, comprehensive and cooperative transportation planning process. This process includes the wider region, reflecting the MPO's broader responsibilities as one of three MPOs designated for a single urbanized area known as the Miami Urbanized Area.
The final FY 2027 - FY 2028 UPWP, which includes the MPO's recently updated travel policy, is available for review at
https://browardmpo.org/core-products/unified-planning-work-program-upwp-budget
. Once approved by the MPO, the final UPWP will be submitted again to funding agencies for final approval.
The deadline to submit the final UPWP to funding agencies is May 15, 2026.
Federal and State approval of the final UPWP is expected by June 30, 2026.
B. The UPWP and its budget are approved by the MPO Board every two years in May. Throughout the UPWP cycle, agreements, amendments to agreements, and changes to the UPWP or other documents are necessary to ensure the continuity of funding for the approved UPWP. These changes are sometimes unpredictable and can occur frequently, with little lead time. Consequently, MPO staff is requesting authorization for the Chair, Executive Director, and General Counsel to execute documents, including, but not limited to, joint participation agreements and amendments to agreements, UPWP documentation and/or other documents, so that staff may quickly respond and ensure continuous UPWP funding. As customary, the MPO Board will be notified of such actions on the next available MPO Board meeting agenda.
At the upcoming meeting, staff will provide a brief update on the UPWP and related items above and will address any questions or comments.
As an outline of staff activities and efforts, the UPWP serves as a two-year annual budget of time and funding requirements. All MPO functions are summarized into eight major UPWP Tasks. Each Task identifies the required activities, the associated work products and previous major accomplishments. In addition, financial participation by funding agencies and the responsible agencies for completing each Task are identified. Further, the UPWP documents Federal, State, and local participation in the continuing, comprehensive and cooperative transportation planning process. This process includes the wider region, reflecting the MPO's broader responsibilities as one of three MPOs designated for a single urbanized area known as the Miami Urbanized Area.
A. In January 2026, MPO staff requested input regarding activities, subjects, and/or planning studies for consideration in the upcoming UPWP. With this input, the draft FY 2027 - FY 2028 UPWP was developed in accordance with Federal and State guidance. The draft UPWP was then presented to the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and Citizens' Advisory Committee (CAC) on March 4, 2026, and the MPO Board on March 12, 2026. The draft UPWP was then submitted to the Florida Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for review and comment. Comments were received from FHWA and FTA on May 7, 2026 (the date of publication of this agenda) and staff is currently in the process of reviewing and addressing those comments. An updated draft of the UPWP, with comments addressed, will be uploaded to the MPO website prior to the Board meeting on May 14, 2026.
B. The UPWP and its budget are approved by the MPO Board every two years in May. Throughout the UPWP cycle, agreements, amendments to agreements, and changes to the UPWP or other documents are necessary to ensure the continuity of funding for the approved UPWP. These changes are sometimes unpredictable and can occur frequently, with little lead time. Consequently, MPO staff is requesting authorization for the Chair, Executive Director, and General Counsel to execute documents, including, but not limited to, joint participation agreements and amendments to agreements, UPWP documentation and/or other documents, so that staff may quickly respond and ensure continuous UPWP funding. As customary, the MPO Board will be notified of such actions on the next available MPO Board meeting agenda.
C. The two-year UPWP takes into account an increase in salaries and fringe for staff in FY 2027 and beyond. A 4% COLA is being proposed in response to rising inflation as indicated by the average Consumer Price Index increases over the last several years for housing and other items (for further information, please see the Attachment), with a 3% merit increase that can be applied to a staff member's base salary depending on performance. Further, contributions to staff member deferred compensation plans will continue as an additional benefit.
At the upcoming meeting, staff will provide a brief update on the UPWP and related items above and will address any questions or comments.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION(S):
The TAC and CAC recommend approval of the MPO's final UPWP.
MPO STAFF RECOMMENDATION(S):
MPO staff recommends
approval
of the MPO's final UPWP with updated travel policy, the associated authorization, and the staff merit increase policy and deferred compensation plan contributions budgeted for in the UPWP.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/PREPARER:
If you have any questions about this item, please contact Bryan Caletka at (954) 876-0070 or caletkab@browardmpo.org.