TO: Mayor and City Commission
FROM: Cale Curtis, City Manager
DATE: September 16, 2026
Title
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF MARGATE, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING THE CONVERSION OF TWO (2) EXISTING TEMPORARY INTERNSHIP POSITIONS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENGINEERING SERVICES (DEES) FROM SEASONAL INTERNSHIPS TO YEAR-ROUND BUDGETED INTERNSHIP POSITIONS, WHICH MAY BE FILLED AS SUMMER OR YEAR-ROUND INTERNSHIPS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE APPLICABLE JOB DESCRIPTION; PROVIDING FOR BUDGET FUNDING; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
BACKGROUND: On February 4, 2026, the City Commission approved Resolution No. 26-010 authorizing two (2) temporary internship positions for the Department of Environmental and Engineering Services (DEES) for a maximum duration of fourteen (14) weeks.
The internships turned out to be extremely beneficial to both the student employees and the Department. Given the utilities industry’s challenges in bringing new employees into the industry to perpetuate the workforce, such an internship program appears to be a unique opportunity to combat this challenge. As such, the Department seeks to expand this program to a year-round program, with some restrictions to keep these positions part-time, without benefits.
Accordingly, DEES is hereby requesting to convert the two existing seasonal internship positions to two year-round budgeted internship positions. The proposed conversion does not create additional positions; rather, it allows DEES to utilize the two existing positions throughout the fiscal year based on departmental needs and student availability. At no time will more than two (2) internship positions be filled concurrently. Year-Round Interns will work a minimum of twenty (20) hours and a maximum of twenty-nine (29) hours per week.
The revised structure recognizes that college, university, technical, and trade-school programs increasingly offer traditional, online, hybrid, evening, and other flexible academic schedules that allow students to continue working while pursuing their education. Providing a year-round option will allow DEES to retain qualified interns beyond a limited seasonal period, when appropriate, while providing greater continuity for ongoing departmental operations and projects.
Converting the existing positions to year-round budgeted internships will support DEES's workforce development and succession planning efforts and strengthen the City's ability to attract and develop qualified candidates for specialized utility careers.
RECOMMENDATION: Approval
FISCAL IMPACT: The estimated annual salary cost for two (2) year-round internship positions is $60,320, based on an hourly rate of $20.00, up to 29 hours per week, for 52 weeks per year. Applicable fringe costs are estimated at $12,820, consisting of 13.59% FRS, 6.2% Social Security, and 1.45% Medicare, resulting in an estimated annual cost of $73,140.
Salary:
456.9080.512001 - $30,160
456.9081.512001 - $30,160
Fringe:
456.9080.521001 - $1,870
456.9080.521002 - $440
456.9080.522001 - $4,100
456.9081.521001 - $1,870
456.9081.521002 - $440
456.9081.522001 - $4,100
Total Estimated Annual Fiscal Impact for two part-time year-round positions at 29 hours/week.: $73,140
If the same year-round interns work an increased schedule of up to 40 hours per week during the 14-week summer internship period, the estimated annual salary cost would increase to approximately $66,480, with estimated fringe costs of approximately $14,120, for a maximum estimated annual cost of $80,600 for two (2) internship positions.
Estimated Annual Cost: $73,140
Maximum Estimated Annual Cost with Summer Hours: $80,600
Actual expenditures will depend on the internship schedules and hours worked. At no time will more than two (2) internship positions be filled concurrently.
CONTACT PERSON: Curt Keyser, P.E., DEES Director