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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-06-26 - City Commission Workshop Meeting MinutesCITY OF TAMARAC CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP MONDAY, JUNE 26, 2017 CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Harry Dressler called the Workshop of the City Commission to order at 9:34 a.m. on Monday, June 26, 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, Assistant City Manager Diane Phillips, Assistant City Attorney David Tolces and City Clerk Patricia Teufel. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Vice Mayor Placko led the Pledge of Allegiance 1. Public Art Update - Community Development Director Maxine Calloway and Public Art Administrator Beth Ravitz appeared. Ms. Ravitz gave a presentation, a copy of which is on file in the City Clerk's Office. Ms. Ravitz and Community Development Director Calloway responded to a few questions and comments from the Commission. 2. TR12790 - Capital Improvement Refunding Revenue Note, Series 2017 (Taxable). Item No. 6 (d) on the Consent Agenda. (TR12790) A Resolution of the City Commission of the City of Tamarac, Florida authorizing the issuance of its Capital Improvement Refunding Revenue Note, Series 2017 (Taxable), in the principal amount of not to exceed $17,000,000 at any one time, to refinance all of the outstanding City of Tamarac, Florida Replacement Capital Improvement Revenue Note, Series 2013 (Taxable); making certain findings of paramount public purpose; providing that the Series 2017 Note shall be a limited obligation of the City payable from legally available non -ad valorem revenues budgeted, appropriated and deposited as provided herein; providing for the rights, securities and remedies for the owner of the Series 2017 Note; making certain covenants and agreements in connection therewith; and providing for severability and an effective date. Financial Services Director Mark Mason and Jeff Larson, President of Larson Consulting Services, LLC appeared. Financial Services Director Mason gave a presentation, a copy of which is on file in the City Clerk's Office. Financial Services Director Mason went over the history of the Taxable Redevelopment Revenue Note, Series 2008, Series 2011 and Series 2013 and went over the Capital Improvement Refunding Revenue Note Series 2017 (Taxable). Financial Services Director Mason and Mr. Larson responded to questions from the Commission. Mr. Larson talked about RFP responses received from other banks. There was a brief discussion relative to LIBOR. 3. TR12971 - Superion OneSolution Agreement: Item 6 (b) on the Consent Agenda. (TR12791) A Resolution of the City Commission of the City of Tamarac, Florida, approving a Software License and Services Agreement with Superion, LLC as a sole source provider for the replacement of the City's existing legacy municipal applications to next generation OneSolution system for a contract amount of $1,854,298 including Page 1 of 5 COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING June 26, 2017 the first year annual maintenance cost of $130,506 and contingency in the amount of $45,967 for a total project cost of $1,900,265; authorizing appropriate City Officials to execute a Software License and Services Agreement with Superion, LLC; authorizing an expenditure from the appropriate accounts; authorizing an appropriation of $1,123,723; authorizing the appropriate City Officials to approve renewal options; providing for conflicts; providing for severability; and providing for an effective date. IT Director Levent Sucuoglu and Purchasing/Contracts Manager Keith Glatz appeared. IT Director Sucuoglu gave a presentation, a copy of which is on file in the City Clerk's Office. IT Director Sucuoglu gave background information on this item; talked about the project timeline; proposed systems and the project cost. IT Director Sucuoglu, Purchasing/Contracts Manager Glatz and Financial Services Director Mason responded to a few questions and comments from the Commission. Mayor Dressler recessed the meeting at 10:33 a.m. and reconvened the meeting at 10:47 a.m. with all present as before. 4. T02361- Ordinance Repealing Pit Bull Registration Requirements: Item No. 8 (a) on Ordinance(s) - First Reading. (T02361) An Ordinance of the City Commission of the City of Tamarac, Florida, repealing Ordinance No. 0-85-40, adopted on September 11, 1985, in its entirety: repealing Article II, Chapter 4 of the City of Tamarac Code of Ordinances, entitled "Pit Bull Dogs", specifically repealing Sections 4-26 Through 4-33 in its entirety; providing for conflicts, providing for severability; providing for an effective date. Community Development Director Maxine Calloway and Code Enforcement Manager Scott Krajewski appeared. Community Development Director Calloway went over the reasoning behind repealing the Pit Bull Ordinance. Code Enforcement Manager Krajewski through some dog bite statistics; talked about the Dangerous Dog Ordinance; current active case status; pit bull case history and pit bull cases closed or dismissed from 2014 to date. Code Enforcement Manager Krajewski said staff is asking the Commission to repeal the Pit Bull Ordinance in its entirety. Community Development Director Calloway and Code Enforcement Manager Krajewski responded to questions from the Commission. Community Development Director Calloway explained the Dangerous Dog state statute. Mayor Dressler asked if "Stand Your Ground" would apply and Assistant City Attorney Tolces said he would look into that and get back to the Commission. Commissioner Gomez asked that something be put in the Tam -A -Gram so that people can be reassured that we still have the Dangerous Dog Ordinance. 5. Discussion Regarding a Resolution Opposing President Trump's Decision to Pull the United States Out of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. Commissioner Julie Fishman. This matter was deferred to the July 10, 2017 Workshop. 6. Discussion on Travel Policy and City Budget for Travel and Expenses. Financial Services Director Mark Mason appeared. City Manager Cernech said there has been an ongoing discussion on travel and training. City Manager Cernech said we have already amended the budget to reflect some additional travel and training and we have been monitoring those budgets and have identified the need to increase the budget again. City Manager Cernech said Financial Services Director Mason will present the Commission with some facts and will look for some feedback from the Commission. Financial Services Director Mason gave a presentation, a copy of which is on file in the Page 2 of 5 COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING June 26, 2017 City Clerk's Office. Financial Services Director Mason said training costs are small but the travel and lodging is where the real costs are. Financial Services Director Mason talked about the Commission Budgets and what uses are allowable by Charter. Financial Services Director Mason said currently the Commission members each have a $1,500.00 budget and that those funds must be used for a public purpose. Financial Services Director Mason went over the allowable uses. Financial Services Director Mason noted that a revised memo relative to the expense budget and how the funds could be spent was provided to the Commission. Financial Services Director Mason suggested that those funds be increased to $5,000 for each Commission member and convert the memo to policy and adopt that policy by resolution. City Manager Cernech noted that the travel policy on local travel was changed recently to accommodate the Mayor and Commission and that policy was passed by the Commission. City Manager Cernech said research of what other cities do led staff to believe there is no one way for this to be handled and it is a matter of how motivated the Commission members are. City Manager Cernech said how the Commission members use their money is discretionary but it must be used for a public purpose. Financial Services Director Mason said we have a process in place where a Commission member puts forth a document that explains what they are doing which is then audited to make sure that it meets the terms and conditions of the travel policy. Mayor Dressler recessed the meeting at 11:37 a.m. and reconvened the meeting at 11:42 a.m. with all present as before. Mayor Dressler asked how a public purpose is determined. Assistant City Attorney Tolces said a public purpose is related to your duties as a member of a governing body; however, he indicated that he would look into the issue in order to provide the Commission with a better idea of what the parameters are. At the request of Vice Mayor Placko, Mayor Dressler said he wanted to discuss expenses now and then move on to travel and training. Mayor Dressler asked how many of the Commission Members have exceeded the budget $1,500 and Financial Services Director Mason responded that in the seven years he has been here no one has. Mayor Dressler asked why are we contemplating increasing the amount. Financial Services Director Mason said there may be some things you want to add to the list that are not currently on the list if you are looking to expand the use of funds. Commissioner Fishman said they are a very different Commission and we are more active and that is why staff is looking to increase the funds; however, this does not mean that we will spend it all. This will help her determine where she wants to represent Tamarac. Mayor Dressler asked the Commission if they had expended all the expense funds and Vice Mayor Placko and Commissioners Fishman and Gomez said they had not and Commissioner Bolton said he had spent most of his already. Commissioner Bolton _. noted that he wanted to join the Kiwanis, as well as other things he wants to do, but as he was short of funds he could not. Commissioner Bolton said there are a couple of events coming up and he would like to show his support but cannot as he does not have Page 3 of 5 COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING June 26, 2017 enough money and as such he would like to raise the amount of expense money as this will enable him to be part of positive change. Commissioner Gomez said we have talked about this on two other occasions and hopes to get this resolved. Commissioner Gomez said she does not understand some of the theoretical conversation which provides no specifics. Commissioner Gomez said communities want to see the Commission attend events but that does not mean that we sponsor those events. Commissioner Gomez said she thinks that $5,000 is too high and does not support the increase. Mayor Dressler noted for the record that $1,500 x 5 = $7,500 and staff is looking to increase it to $25,000. There was a consensus not to increase the expense budget. Mayor Dressler said with regards to the travel budget he wants to talk about the proposed $100,000 increase and asked what the current budget was. Financial Services Director Mason responded for FY 2017 it is $80,000 and based on this we are proposing $100,000 for FY 2018. Mayor Dressler said this is an enormous increase which needs to be justified. Vice Mayor Placko asked if it was $20,000 per Commission member and Financial Services Director Mason said not it was a lump sum. Vice Mayor Placko said she is responsible for her travel and therefore is accountable for her travel and as such she feels each Commission member should have individual accounts. Commissioner Gomez said she is opposed to $20,000. Commissioner Gomez said they are mandated to do training and some of that can be done locally; however, sometimes they have to travel outside the area to get the training done. Commissioner Gomez said we have to make sure that what we are training for is for the good of Tamarac and not how to become a better campaigner. Commissioner Gomez noted that she does not think our residents want the Commission spending that much money on travel. Commissioner Gomez said she agrees with Vice Mayor Placko that they should have individual accounts. Commissioner Bolton said some of the committees we serve on we have obligations that we have already committed to i.e. attending three meetings. One committee he is on is already talking about things to bring forward next year. Commissioner Bolton noted that he has already attended the mandatory Ethics Law for Newly Elected Officials training and talked about what he had learned. Mayor Dressler said if he attends something outside of Tamarac it is likely to be training relative to his role as Mayor of Tamarac. If the training would be beneficial to Tamarac by providing ideas he could use he would likely want to attend. Mayor Dressler said after attending some meetings if he decides it is not valuable to Tamarac he just does not go. Mayor Dressler opined that if elected officials go to every single thing that comes up they are not serving their constituents because you are always travelling. Commissioner Gomez said some of the committees that she is on can be done via webinar or email. Commissioner Gomez said the Florida League of Cities meets three times a year and you can go through their budget and you are able to do the same with the Broward League of Cities. Commissioner Gomez said there are things that can be done locally in order to be fiscally responsible. Commissioner Fishman asked if any Page 4 of 5 COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING June 26, 2017 Commission members over the last two years actually traveled and Financial Services Director Mason said he would have to look into that as he cannot remember amending the travel budget in the past. Commissioner Fishman said this is a different Commission and there are two new Commissioners that are trying to learn what is being offered. Mayor Dressler noted that over the last few years he has traveled less frequently. City Manager Cernech said as far as who is traveling and why and the quantity when the Commission adopted a Strategic Plan the intention was to get more involved. Former Commissioner Bushnell and Vice Mayor Placko have traveled very little. If you have two new Commissioners you have obligatory travelling and they have to decide what they want to get involved in and they have to decide that based on what the budget is. Commissioner Gomez said moving forward she cannot support the proposed FY 2018 budget. Commissioner Bolton said they have made plans for FY 2017 and proposed for FY2018 that they keep the budget at $25,000 and split that between individual accounts. Commissioner Bolton said that some of the training he did was helpful the first year and may not be for FY 2018. There was a lengthy discussion on the proposed FY2018 travel budget. Commissioner Gomez said she did not think that $5,000 for each Commission Member was enough. Mayor Dressler said the Mayor is not a fifth Commissioner and has different responsibilities and needs a high level of training and networking in order to be beneficial to his job as Mayor of Tamarac and what matters is the benchmark of the cost of the benefit. There was a lengthy discussion about a more appropriate amount to be budgeted for travel and training for the Commission. All agreed that $100,000 was too much. City Manager Cernech, Financial Services Director Mason and Human Resources Director Swanson responded to questions from the Commission. After much discussion there was a consensus to budget $10,000 for each Commissioner and $15,000 for the Mayor. 7. Discussion Regarding the Selection of the Voting Delegate for the Florida League of Cities. City Clerk Patricia Teufel appeared and gave a brief presentation. A consensus was reached that Commissioner Gomez would be the designated voting delegate for the Florida League of Cities Conference to be held between August 17 — 19, 2017 at the World Center Marriott in Orlando, FL. There being no further business to come before the City Commission for consideration, Mayor Dressler adjourned the meeting at 1:56 p.m. `xx��IIIII1/1,1/// 0� T A Mq �,� �A ��, V ' • a� Patricia Teufel, CM City Clerk - D . SEAL Page 5 of 5 COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING/"'1"%June 26, 2017