HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-08-20 - City Commission Workshop Meeting MinutesCITY OF TAMARAC
CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP
MONDAY, AUGUST 20, 2018
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Harry Dressler called the Workshop of the City Commission to order
at 9:41 a.m. on Monday, August 20, 2018 in Conference Room 105, City Hall, 7525 NW 88tn
Avenue, Tamarac, FL 33321.
ROLL CALL: Mayor Harry Dressler, Vice Mayor Michelle J. Gomez, Commissioner Marlon
Bolton, Commissioner Julie Fishman and Commissioner Debra Placko were in attendance.
Also in attendance were City Manager Michael Cernech, City Attorney Samuel S. Goren and
City Clerk Patricia Teufel.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Commissioner Bolton led the Pledge of Allegiance.
1. SRO Discussion - Broward Sheriffs Office Captain Neal Glassman and Lt. Steve Feeley
appeared. Captain Glassman gave a presentation, a copy of which is on file in the City
Clerk's Office. Captain Glassman said we have to staff all 3 Public Schools and 4 Charter
Schools that are in Tamarac and went over the BSO School Safety Plan's Key Steps.
Captain Glassman noted that Elementary Schools can have Guardians; however, the
Commission agreed to go with SRO's instead. The issue they are having is with the Charter
Schools that have decided to go with Guardians, who will be employees of those schools.
Renaissance has decided to hire an off -duty BSO Deputy. Captain Glassman said coverage
is not complete and BSO will have to staff with Deputies; which will cause overtime and they
will have to rotate people in from other areas in BSO. Captain Glassman noted that
Tamarac will be paying for the staffing of the Charter Schools. We cannot leave any of
these schools unstaffed and this creates an issue about police visibility in the Community as
this will take away from police presence from the streets in order to staff the schools.
Captain Glassman explained what a Guardian is and the training that is required and added
that the next training sessions are scheduled for September and October. Lt. Feeley gave
an overview of the status of the 4 Charter Schools in Tamarac and the status of Guardians.
Captain Glassman said Sheriff Israel decided to take deputies out of other units to help staff
the schools. Tamarac received an additional 3 Deputies that will be at those schools until
they get Guardians. Initially the School Board did not want Guardians but later changed
their mind. Captain Glassman went over the City Attorney's Synopsis of the MSD High
School Safety Act.
Vice Mayor Gomez said this is an unfunded mandate and we only get $52,000 for the
additional officers. Captain Glassman said each SRO costs between $150,000 and
$155,000. Vice Mayor Gomez asked what the penalty would be for not having an SRO and
Captain Glassman said we don't have an option and Tamarac will have some services
diverted to SRO's which will have an impact on Tamarac. Captain Glassman said Tamarac
has gone from having 2 SRO's to 7, but we are still short 2. City Manager Cernech said our
budget reflects 1 SRO. The Sheriff has made some decisions on how BSO will handle
Charter Schools and this is something we will have to talk about in the future. Some of this
will be addressed in the budget amendments later this year as BSO is doing what is
necessary. City Manager Cernech said no two cities are doing this the same way and no
one is coordinating this on a County -wide basis. All Schools should be treated equally and
there needs to be an equitable funding source in the future. City Manager Cernech talked
about what he learned at the Broward League of Cities meeting that he attended on
Saturday. Vice Mayor Gomez asked if we need to meet to discuss how to pay for this prior
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to our September budget hearings. Vice Mayor Gomez asked if there was a way to add
additional "Stop the Bleed Kits" to the backpacks that the SRO's carry. Captain Glassman
said all deputies are required to carry tourniquets and quick clot items and this is something
the School Board needs to consider.
Commissioner Bolton said safety in schools is a high priority and remembers when
Excelsior School was approved that one of the issues he had was security and was glad to
hear that they have hired someone for security at the school. Commissioner Bolton asked
what would happen if a Charter School could not afford to hire security for their school and
Captain Glassman responded that they are required by law to have security. Commissioner
Bolton said some charter schools close down because of financial difficulties and Captain
Glassman said then we will have to provide someone.
City Manager Cernech said this is new for everyone and we will have to make some
decisions on how Tamarac will deal with this. The City Manager's group discussed this and
there is no consensus on how to proceed. There needs to be an equitable funding formula
to pay for this. The School Board has left it to cities on how to deal with law enforcement in
schools and he has spoken with other cities to find out what they are doing about staffing
schools with security. The number 1 issue is police visibility and we will now have to take
resources away from that and put them in schools. Children need to be given the same
level of safety in all our schools. City Manager Cernech said there is a shortage of certified
law enforcement applicants and everyone is competing against each other in this
competitive market.
Commissioner Placko asked what duties SRO's provide and Captain Glassman said they
patrol the interior and exterior areas of the school, teach classes and now heightened
security, but the SRO's in charter schools will be providing security only. Captain Glassman
said we are looking at changes made by legislation and cities are competing against each
other. Lt. Feeley said LAPD is down 25% and this trend is happening around the country.
Commissioner Fishman said Broward County is the 5th largest school district in the country
and the competitiveness for officers is causing friction between cities which will only get
worse. Commissioner Fishman said she hopes City Manager Cernech comes back with
equitable funding soon. Commissioner Fishman said Tamarac can take care of their
schools but is concerned that other cities will not be able to financially afford the extra
security. Commissioner Fishman said this legislation needs to be tweaked in the upcoming
legislative session.
Mayor Dressler said we now find ourselves in an intolerable position where more contracted
officers are in schools than on the street. This is a public safety crisis. Mayor Dressler said
he would like to know where the County Commission and the Governor stands on the fact
that cities now have to pay to protect children in schools. Mayor Dressler talked about
teachers not having enough funds to get items for their classrooms and paying for it out of
their own pockets. Now cities are being asked to fund something that will affect cities
dramatically. Mayor Dressler asked for an opinion from City Attorney Goren as to whether
this amounted to malfeasance. This is a failure of government and it concerns him to have
more cops in schools than on the street. Captain Glassman said Tamarac has more cops
on the streets than in the schools. Mayor Dressler asked what the next step would be and
what the cost would be for best case and worse case scenarios for the next two years.
2. TR13149 - Golf Cart Lease: Item No. 6 (p) on the Consent Agenda: (TR13149) A
Resolution of the City Commission of the City of Tamarac, Florida, Authorizing the
Appropriate City Officials to Execute a Forty -Two (42) Month Lease Agreement with
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Yamaha Motor Finance Corporation, U.S.A. for the Lease of One -Hundred (100) Yamaha
Golf Carts and One (1) Beverage Cart at a Monthly Rate of $3,215.05; Providing for
Conflicts; Providing for Severability; and Providing for an Effective Date. Financial Services
Director and Purchasing/Senior Procurement Specialist Andrew Rozwadowski appeared.
Finance Director Mason gave a presentation, a copy of which is on file in the City Clerk's
Office.
3. TR13138 - Purchase of Fitness Equipment: Item No. 6 0) on the Consent Agenda.
(TR13138) A Resolution of the City Commission of the City of Tamarac, Florida, authorizing
the appropriate City Officials to approve the purchase of fitness equipment from Gym
Source USA, LLC, at a cost not to exceed $175,974.13, utilizing Broward County School
Board Contract #16-097N; authorizing an appropriation of $113,887; providing for conflicts;
providing for severability; and providing for an effective date. Parks & Recreation Director
Greg Warner, Parks & Recreation Superintendent Rance Gaede and Purchasing/Senior
Procurement Specialist Andrew Rozwadowski appeared. Parks & Recreation Director
Warner gave a presentation, a copy of which is on file in the City Clerk's Office. Parks &
Recreation Superintendent Gaede talked about trends of functional fitness, high intensity
strength training, the type of equipment being leased and their functions and the layout of
the new equipment in the gym. Parks & Recreation Director Warner talked about other cities
that partner with Gym Source, warranty information, financial information and how the new
equipment will be marketed to the public. Parks & Recreation Director Warner responded to
a few questions from the Commission.
4. TR13157 - Award Bid for Commercial Boulevard Median Landscaping Project: Item No. 6
(f) on the Consent Agenda. (TR13157) A Resolution of the City Commission of the City of
Tamarac, Florida, awarding Bid No. 18-22B to and approving an Agreement with Green
Construction Technologies, Inc. For the Commercial Boulevard Landscaping Beautification
Project, located on Commercial Boulevard (SR-870) between University Drive (SR-817) and
Prospect Road, in accordance with Bid No. 18-22B for a contract amount of $391,602.25; a
contingency in the amount of $19,580.11 (5%) will be added to the project account for a
total project construction/installation budget of $411,182.36; authorizing an expenditure
from the appropriate accounts; authorizing an appropriation in an amount not to exceed
$183,310.36; authorizing the appropriate City Officials to administer the contract; providing
for conflicts; providing for severability; and providing for an effective date. Public Services
Director Jack Strain and Purchasing/Senior Procurement Specialist Andrew Rozwadowski
appeared. Public Services Director Strain gave a presentation, a copy of which is on file in
the City Clerk's Office. Public Services Director Strain talked about the history of the project,
Project Scope and General Description and Project Budget and Timeline. Public Services
Director Strain responded to a few questions from the Commission.
5. TR13140 - First Amendment to the Solid Waste Disposal ILA (Renewal): Item No. 6 (m)
on the Consent Agenda. (TR13140) A Resolution of the City Commission of the City of
Tamarac, Florida, approving the First Amendment to the Interlocal Agreement with Broward
County and Participating Communities Providing for Solid Waste Disposal Support Services
nunc pro tunc to July 3, 2018; authorizing the appropriate City Officials to execute said First
Amendment to the Interlocal Agreement and take all steps necessary to effectuate the
intent of the Resolution; providing for conflicts; providing for severability; and providing for
an effective date. Public Services Director Jack Strain, Budget/Contracts Manager Troy
Gies and Purchasing/Senior Procurement Specialist Andrew Rozwadowski appeared.
Budget/Contracts Manager Gies gave a presentation, a copy of which is on file in the City
Clerk's Office. Public Services Director Strain and Budget/Contracts Manager Gies
responded to a few questions from the Commission.
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6. TR13141 - Lift Station 16A, 34, 37 and 2E Generator Additions: (Item No. 6 (e) on the
Consent Agenda. (TR13141) A Resolution of the City Commission of the City of Tamarac,
Florida, approving Task Authorization No. 18-19D and authorizing the appropriate City
Officials to execute Task Authorization No. 18-19D with Eckler Engineering, Inc., to provide
professional services for the design of the Lift Stations 16A, 34, 37 and 2E Generator
Addition Project in the amount not to exceed $102,823.00; including preparation of detailed
plans and specifications followed by bidding assistance and engineering services during
construction, in accordance with the City's Consulting Engineering Agreement as authorized
by Resolution No. R-2016-80, for an amount not to exceed $102,823.00; authorizing an
appropriation up to the total amount of $102,823; authorizing the appropriate City Officials
to administer the Contract; providing for conflicts; providing for severability; and providing
for an effective date. Public Services Director Jack Strain and Purchasing/Senior
Procurement Specialist Andrew Rozwadowski appeared. Public Services Director Strain
gave a presentation, a copy of which is on file in the City Clerk's Office. Vice Mayor Gomez
asked for a larger map of the lift station locations. Public Services Director Strain responded
to questions and concerns from the Commission throughout his presentation.
7. TR13161 - Broward County Public Safety Radio Tower: Item No. 7 (a) on the Regular
Agenda. (TR13161) A resolution of the City Commission of the City of Tamarac, Florida,
approving a ground lease and joint use agreement with Broward County and authorizing the
appropriate City Officials to execute the said documents for the construction of a 300 feet
public safety radio tower and ground equipment facility in the City Hall property located at
7525 NW 88th Avenue, Tamarac, Florida 33321 at an annual rent of $10 for a maximum
term of fifty (50) years, providing for conflicts; providing for severability; and providing for an
effective date. City Manager Michael C. Cernech said we have talked about this many times
over the last year and what we have before the Commission today is a lease for a 325ft.
radio tower which will replace the 180ft. pole that Broward County has behind City Hall. The
new tower will be built to the South of the existing tower and the monopole will be to the
north. Once the new tower is up and the new equipment is installed, the old tower will come
down. This is a 50-year lease with 10-year renewals after the initial 50-year term and can
be terminated by either party. City Manager Cernech said this is being built for the future for
Public Safety communication. This is one of 17 towers being utilized throughout Broward
County and currently 29 of the 31 cities in Broward County are part of the Regional System.
City Manager Cernech said the lease that is in the Commission's books is the latest
iteration and there will be some changes on Wednesday which will be operational in nature.
City Manager Cernech said several people have asked about the Exhibits that are
referenced in the lease but are absent and explained that they are typically generated
through the DRC process before going to the Planning Board and Commission for approval
and you will see the Exhibits thru the Site Planning process. Broward County will also need
a variance because of the height of the tower and will be going through that process as well.
City Manager Cernech said Broward County does not have a piece of property and they are
asking to lease the property to be developed for the new tower. City Manager Cernech said
that he and Information Technology Director Sucuoglu are here to answer questions from
the Commission.
Commissioner Fishman questioned the need of a generator and City Manager Cernech said
all the towers require power when FPL has a power outage and this tower will have an
emergency generator and fuel tank; and this will also go through the site planning process.
Commissioner Fishman asked if changes/alterations to the tower would need to go through
the approval process and City Manager Cernech said we don't know what will be
contemplated in the future. Broward County is trying to create a secure self-contained site
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for this tower. We had asked Broward County to co -locate our Commercial Carriers to the
new tower and they will not allow that; they are also removing them from other towers as
well. Commissioner Fishman asked if any other governmental authority would be involved
with this and City Manager Cernech said other than the FAA weighing in, he did not think
there would be any others. Information Technology Director Sucuoglu said that Broward
County would be doing an ecological survey of the site to look for any environmental issues.
Commissioner Fishman asked what defined gross negligence and willful misconduct and
City Attorney Goren responded it would be the top end of stupidity like a sub -contractor
smoking near the fuel tank.
Vice Mayor Gomez said this has been a hot bed of discussion and appreciates everyone
working on this to answer a lot of questions. Vice Mayor Gomez said residents are not
happy with this 325ft. tower and are concerned that if this goes up what will happen if it
comes down and will the County work with the residents. City Manager Cernech said the
County has procedures in place for any damage done by their equipment; however, he
does not know if anyone can guarantee how things will get handled. City Attorney Goren
said he will address this question with the County's attorneys before the meeting on
Wednesday and make sure it gets articulated in the document. Vice Mayor Gomez said
she wants a guarantee that if we sign this paper, we will receive the benefits contemplated
and assurances that there will not be disruption of communications. Information Technology
Director Sucuoglu said what we are dealing with is the lease portion of the property and not
the operational aspects of the tower which will be handled by the County. Vice Mayor
Gomez asked who will be maintaining the tower and upgrading equipment and Information
Technology Director Sucuoglu said Tamarac will be responsible for making sure our
equipment is up to date and compatible with Broward County's system and Broward County
will be responsible for the infrastructure. Vice Mayor Gomez expressed her concerns about
the affect this would have on property values and wants more answers on Wednesday and
still has issues relative to the property incurring liens and City Attorney Goren said Broward
County will not let the property get riddled with liens. Vice Mayor Gomez said this lease
needs more protection for Tamarac and spoke about the contamination clause in
paragraphs 18.1 and 18.2. Vice Mayor Gomez said after speaking with Tamarac Fire
Rescue she agrees to this lease even though it is not in the best interest of Tamarac
residents.
Commissioner Placko asked where will the commercial carriers be re -locating and City
Manager Cernech said they will stay on the monopole and Tamarac's equipment will go on
the new tower. Commissioner Placko asked if there was any talk from the carriers regarding
new towers and sites in Tamarac and Information Technology Director Sucuoglu said we
are always talking to carriers about new locations in Tamarac and we have one site next to
the Community Center at the east end of the building and one inside the Public Services
complex by the IT building and Fire Station 15. Commissioner Placko asked what those
towers would look like and Information Technology Director Sucuoglu said they would be
stealth sites — 95ft. to 100ft. palm trees. Commissioner Placko asked if all cities using the
regional system will be using the same equipment and Information Technology Director
Sucuoglu said the equipment will be compatible with the County's system.
Mayor Dressler asked Captain Glassman and Fire Chief Sayles to come forward to answer
some questions. Mayor Dressler asked if for security purposes the equipment would be less
intrusive and Information Technology Director Sucuoglu said the ground equipment would
be less intrusive and less of a target. Mayor Dressler asked if anyone involved in the
planning of the system would require a federal government security clearance and Captain
Glassman, Fire Chief Sayles and Information Technology Director Sucuoglu all said no.
Page 5 of 6 COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING August 20, 2018
Captain Glassman said he was not involved in discussions about the tower and Fire Chief
Sayles said he was involved in the operational discussions. Mayor Dressler asked if there
was anything in the lease that involves surveillance and City Manager Cernech said
surveillance will be for the security and control of the tower itself. They will not be streamed,
and Broward County will view the site itself and nothing beyond that. Mayor Dressler asked
if the information will be shared with Fusion Centers and City Manager Cernech said there
is no intent to stream to Federal Government Fusion Centers. There was a brief discussion
about the different levels of security clearance. Mayor Dressler discussed coverage criteria
for a 200ft. tower vs. a 300ft. tower. Mayor Dressler said on Wednesday he will ask Broward
County staff about standard deviation. Mayor Dressler said the Governor established a
Safety Commission and they sent him a letter last week which indicated that were unhappy
with the fact that it was taking Tamarac so long to approve this tower. Mayor Dressler said
the letter indicated Tamarac was an obstruction and wants the Governor's Commission to
understand that this was a done deal three years ago and Broward County Administrator
Bertha Henry decided to do these towers and put a 300ft. tower in Tamarac. There were no
negotiations about this tower and we have been trying to negotiate with Broward County,
but they have been inflexible, and we were told it was going in no matter what. Mayor
Dressler said Tamarac has no choice as Broward County can do eminent domain and just
take the land. Mayor Dressler ended by saying that Home Rule does not apply here, and
we will have further conversation about this issue.
8. Other
There being no further business to come before the City Commission, Mayor Dressler
adjourned the meeting at 1:22 p.m.
Patricia Teufel, CM
City Clerk
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