HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-01-09 - City Commission Workshop Meeting MinutesCITY OF TAMARAC
CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP
Monday, January 9, 2017
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Harry Dressler called the Workshop of the City Commission
to order at 9:40 a.m. on Monday, January 9, 2017 in Conference Room 105, City Hall,
7525 NW 88th Avenue, Tamarac, FL 33321.
ROLL CALL: Mayor Harry Dressler, Vice Mayor Debra Placko, Commissioner Marlon
Bolton, Commissioner Michelle J. Gomez and Commissioner Julie Fishman were in
attendance.
Also in attendance were City Manager Michael C. Cernech, City Attorney Samuel S.
Goren and City Clerk Patricia A. Teufel.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Commissioner Fishman led the Pledge of Allegiance
1. Legislative Update - Ronald L. Book and Director of Government Affairs Kelly
Mallette appeared via Skype. Mr. Book said he appreciates the opportunity to represent
Tamarac. Mr. Book said that City Manager Cernech and Assistant City Manager Phillips
are very responsive to him and his staff. Mr. Book introduced Senator Perry Thurston
who stopped by Mr. Book's office in order to say hello to the Mayor and Commission
and said he is looking forward to sitting down with the Commission members. Mr. Book
indicated that we are still looking at a budgetary shortfall due to growth in Medicaid,
growth in transportation and growth in corrections which has been significant. There is
a desire to keep local governments from being represented in the State capital. There
are new rules in the Florida House with respect to appropriations which will mean more
work. Mr. Book went over the rules. Mr. Book said the Senate President cares about
the environment, Amendment 1, buying land south of Lake Okeechobee in order to
build a large reservoir, higher education and health care. Mr. Book said we will be lucky
holding our own in the K-12 arena. Mr. Book said whether or not we go to a Block Grant
program to replace the current Medicaid program and what is or what is not covered will
be a significant issue.
Mr. Book said two years ago the House drove the effort to eliminate Enterprise Zones
and he feels that CRA's will be right behind that. Mr. Book said he feels the days of
development opportunities from the State down are going to be diminished radically. Mr.
Book said the House now wants to eliminate or significantly downsize Visit Florida.
There will be a breakdown between the House and the Senate and the May and June
plans have been cancelled. Mr. Book said he believes there is a chance that there will
be a special session over budget issues. Mr. Book said with regards to the Gaming
Compact he feels there is a 50/50 chance they will reach an agreement on a new
Gaming Compact. Mr. Book said we have a new delegation representing Broward
County as a result of the Senate Redistricting. Northwest Broward County belongs to
Senator Kevin Rader and Senator Thurston picked up a cut up district. Mr. Book spoke
about the recent House and Senate Redistricting and the respective representation.
There will be a lot of debate about Hospital Districts and he feels that merging districts
without a full study of the impacts that it will have is a bad idea and should not be
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adopted. Mr. Book said he is concerned about red light camera bills and urged the
Commission to write letters to their representatives because of safety issues. Mr. Book
responded to a few questions from the Commission.
City Attorney Goren said this Commission has been tracking fracking and vacation
rentals and asked if they have any traction this session. Mr. Book said Senator Lauren
Book is the Chair of the Committee that will hear all the fracking bills. He expects the
fracking bills will be heard and get to the floor of both Houses. Mr. Book said with
respect to vacation rentals he is concerned about the growing tenor and he will continue
to pursue this on Tamarac's behalf.
City Attorney Goren said this Commission has been watching the work of the local
Broward County Charter Review Commission that is looking at various issues of
government and there are four different SJR's (SJR 130, SJR 132, SJR 134, SJR 136)
with regard to Constitutional Officers and the method of elections of Constitutional
Officers statewide. This could have application locally in the context of how people get
to decide who their representatives are in those positions. City Attorney Goren asked
for an update and Mr. Book said Senator Artiles's bill has more momentum than last
year. Mr. Book advised the Commission that Kelly does a significant amount of work for
Tamarac.
2. TR12897: Zoning in Progress — Cultivation, Processing, Dispensing or Retail Sale of
Cannabis Item No. 6 (e) on the Consent Agenda. (TR12897) A Resolution of the City
Commission of the City of Tamarac, Florida, confirming and ratifying the City Manager's
Administrative Order dated December 13, 2016, attached hereto as Exhibit "1" and
incorporated herein, declaring Zoning in Progress and prohibiting the submission,
processing, approval or issuance of any new licenses, business tax receipts,
development orders or permits for any use that involves the cultivation, processing,
dispensing or retail sale of cannabis within the City of Tamarac, in accordance with
Chapter 24, Article ll, Division 6, Section 24-91 of the City of Tamarac Code of
Ordinances; authorizing and directing the City Manager to undertake study and review
of the City's regulations relating to the number and locations of uses that involve the
cultivation, processing, dispensing or retail sale of cannabis in the City of Tamarac;
providing that upon the adoption of this resolution confirming the Administrative Order,
no permits shall be issued for any use that involves the cultivation, processing,
dispensing or retail sale of cannabis during the time period covered by this Resolution;
providing for conflicts; providing for severability; and providing for an effective date.
Community Development Director Maxine Calloway appeared and gave a presentation,
a copy of which is on file in the City Clerk's Office. Community Development Director
Calloway went over the background of the Cannabis Act, Regulations and Regulatory
Framework. Community Development Director Calloway said 90% of the cities in
Broward have established zoning in progress or moratoriums for medical cannabis
related uses and went over a list of the cities. Community Development Director
Calloway gave examples of Regulations in some local ordinances. Community
Development Director Calloway, City Attorney Goren and City Manager Cernech
responded to questions from the Commission throughout the presentation. There was a
discussion regarding the difference between medical and recreational marijuana.
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Community Development Director Calloway said this item will be on the agenda on
Wednesday to ratify the City Manager's Zoning in Progress.
Mayor Dressler recessed the meeting at 10:38 a.m. and reconvened the meeting at
10:46 a.m. with all present as before.
3. TR12885 - Amending Charitable Entities: Item No. 6 (c) on the Consent Agenda.
(TR12885) A Resolution of the City Commission of the City of Tamarac, Florida,
amending Resolution R-2016-10, by specifically adding to and deleting from the list of
charitable entities with whom the City of Tamarac recognizes a formally approved
relationship; providing for an Amended Exhibit "A", attached hereto and incorporated
herein, as may be amended from time to time, for the express purpose of compliance
with Section 1-19(c)(5)(a)(4) of the Broward County Code of Ordinances, providing for
conflicts; providing for severability and providing for an effective date. Financial Services
Director Mark Mason appeared and gave a presentation, a copy of which is on file in the
City Clerk's Office. Vice Mayor Placko asked how an organization gets on the fixed
budget list. Financial Services Director Mason said they have to apply, usually by
making a request to the City by February. Financial Services Director Mason noted that
Family Central asked for $3,600 last year. Vice Mayor Placko said Family Central is
looking for $6,000 this year for a reading program. Financial Services Director Mason
and City Manager Cernech addressed concerns expressed about due diligence being
done on the organizations requesting funds. Financial Services Director Mason said
Tamarac Theater of Performing Arts was being removed from the list and Junior
Achievement of South Florida was being added to the list. Requests from Commission
members were made to add the following organizations: Florida Initiative for Suicide
Prevention, Inc., House of Hope, Kiwanis Tamarac Foundation, Inc., No More Tears,
Inc. and Social Services was being corrected to reflect Social Services — City of
Tamarac. Financial Services Director Mason said $3,000 is allotted to each Commission
Member on a yearly basis and you can distribute the funds as you see fit. Financial
Services Director Mason said what has been budgeted for FY17 has already been
expended and City Manager Cernech said we can bring a budget amendment so that
Commissioners Bolton and Fishman are able to make donations for FY17.
Commissioner Fishman asked for a list of charities that Vice Mayor Glasser had
donated to and City Manager Cernech said staff will distribute a list of all contributions
to the whole Commission.
4. Boards and Committees Update. City Clerk, Patricia Teufel said we are here because
the Commission has to appoint new members to three Boards & Committees. Two
appointments need to be made to the Parks & Recreation Board one each from District
1 and 3; three appointments to the Planning Board one each from District 1 and 3 and
one by Mayor at Large; two appointments to the Public Art Committee one each from
District 1 and District 3. City Clerk Teufel went over the time line for the appointment
process. A discussion ensued about the selection process for appointees to the Boards
and Committee. City Attorney Goren responded to concerns from the Commission
relative to selecting someone from another district.
Other Business:
Page 3 of 4 COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING January 9, 2017
Commissioner Bolton asked City Manager Cernech for an update on the hiring of an
assistant for the Commission Office and noted that he would like a say on who is hired
as their assistant. Commissioner Bolton said he feels that one assistant can be
problematic in regards to the Sunshine law. Commissioner Bolton said he feels that
each Commission member should have their own assistant due to the strenuous
workload. At the request of Mayor Dressler City Attorney Goren discussed the reason
that the Commission does not get involved in the hiring of employees. Mayor Dressler
confirmed that it is a matter of practice that the Mayor and Commission do not get
involved in the selection of employees or vendors and is delegated to staff.
City Manager Cernech said they have had a conversation about staffing the Mayor and
Commission office. City Manager Cernech said the timing of the vacancy creates a bit
of a challenge. The applicants we have received are not the best and we are trying to
get some better applications. We need someone who understands the issues of the
Sunshine Law, is intelligent and someone with experience. There was a discussion
about the possibility of using a volunteer legislative aide. City Attorney Goren said
Section 2-32 of the Tamarac Code addresses legislative aides and staff will provide the
Commission with a copy of Section 2-32. Vice Mayor Placko asked to see a job
description for the position. Commissioner Gomez said she has spoken with City
Manager Cernech about what she is looking for in an assistant. Commissioner Bolton
said Commissioner Fishman brought up the idea of a legislative aide and we should
develop a program to have them train with the City Attorney's Office on ethics and staff
direction so that if it is necessary we can call them back at a future time.
There being no further business to come before the City Commission for consideration,
Mayor Dressler adjourned the meeting at 12:11 p.m.
Patricia Teufel, C
City Clerk
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