HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-11-06 - City Commission Workshop Meeting MinutesCITY OF TAMARAC
CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2017
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Harry Dressler called the Workshop of the City Commission to
order at 9:40 a.m. on Monday, November 6, 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 Cernech, Assistant City Manager Kathleen
Gunn, City Attorney Samuel S. Goren and City Clerk Patricia Teufel.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Commissioner Bolton led the Pledge of Allegiance
Mayor Dressler asked for a moment of silence in memory of the people that were killed in
Sutherland Springs, Texas yesterday morning.
1. Multi -Cultural Event Update: Parks & Recreation Director Greg Warner and Assistant
Parks & Recreation Director Linda Probert appeared. Parks & Recreation Director Warner
said they are in the very beginning stages of planning this event and they are open to input
from the Commission as well as the community. Parks & Recreation Director Warner gave a
presentation, a copy of which is on file in the City Clerk's Office. Parks & Recreation
Director Warner went over the list of individuals that are on the Planning Committee for the
Multi -Cultural Festival and noted that the festival is scheduled for Saturday, March 10, 2018.
The theme of the festival is "Many Faces, Many Voices, ONE Tamarac". Parks &
Recreation Director Warner talked about the goals of the festival and went over the layout of
the festival at the Sports Complex. Parks & Recreation Director Warner went over some of
the events that have been planned so far. Commissioner Gomez suggested that the
Committee reach out to the Buddhist Temple, and Mayor Dressler suggested contacting the
Baha'i community. Parks & Recreation Director Warner talked about reaching out to
different groups and asked that the Commission to let him know of any other groups that
they should contact. Mayor Dressler expressed his concern about groups coming back and
saying that the City did not reach out to them. There was a discussion about combining the
Arts & Crafts Festival with the Multi -Cultural Festival and it was decided to let the
Committee work it through. Parks & Recreation Director Warner said they will continue the
recruitment of performers and vendors and begin a promotional campaign. Commissioner
Bolton suggested setting the event up as a "Culture Walk" where people would be able to
go from tent to tent to learn about different cultures. Commissioner Bolton suggested also
setting up a "Cultural Week" with different events going on in the City throughout the week.
Commissioner Gomez said the Commission had previously talked about having other cities
that hold cultural events such as North Lauderdale, Lauderdale Lakes, Sunrise and Coral
Spring participate. Commissioner Fishman suggested that the Committee reach out to
Sunrise who just had their first cultural event. At the request of Mayor Dressler Parks &
Recreation Director Warner said he will provide the Commission with another update in
January 2018.
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2. TR13024 - Complete Streets & Localized Initiative Program (CSLIP): Item No. 6 (d) on
the Consent Agenda. (TR13024) A Resolution of the City Commission of the City of
Tamarac, Florida authorizing the appropriate City Officials to apply for a Complete Streets
and Other Localized Initiative Program (CSLIP) Grant via an application through the
Broward County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and the Florida Department of
Transportation (FDOT) in an amount not to exceed $2,000,000 for the West Prospect Road
Bikeway Project; providing for acceptance of the award and execution of documents upon
legal review and approval; 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 responded to a few questions and comments from the Commission.
3. T02368 - Zoning Code Amendment to Permit Self -Storage: Item No. 8 (b) on
Ordinance(s) - First Reading. (T02368) An Ordinance of the City Commission of the City of
Tamarac, Florida amending Chapter 24 of the City's Code of Ordinances, entitled "Zoning"
by amending Article III, Division 16 entitled "B-3, General Business District" by specifically
amending Section 24-369 entitled "Special Regulations", amending Division 18 entitled "B-
6, Business District" by creating Section 24-414 entitled "Special Regulations" to provide for
site development standards for self -storage facilities, and amending Division 19 entitled
"Business and Commercial Uses Master List" by specifically amending Section 24-434
entitled "Permitted Uses Master List", to establish self -storage facility as a permitted use
subject to Special Exception approval by the City Commission in the B-6, Business Zoning
District, in conformity with the City of Tamarac Comprehensive Plan; providing for
codification; 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 talked about the evolution of self -storage architectural design and
proximity to residential communities.
Commissioner Fishman left the meeting at 10:20 a.m. and returned at 10:22 a.m.
Community Development Director Calloway went over data on average users of self -
storage facilities and provided pictures of self -storage facilities in other cities in South
Florida as well as other cities in the country. Community Development Director Calloway
went over the current use standards and the proposed changes to the Code. There was a
discussion on the 2,500-ft. distance separation in the proposed amended Code. Community
Development Director Calloway and City Attorney Goren responded to questions from the
Commission. Commissioner Gomez expressed her concern about someone living in the
facility, running a business out of the facility, security at the facility and long-term parking.
Mayor Dressler recessed the meeting at 10:41 a.m. and reconvened the meeting at 10:57
a.m. with all present as before.
4. T02369 - Amendment to Zoning Code to Permit Fast Casual Dining Restaurant Use /
MXD Zoning District Item No. 8 (a) on Ordinance(s) - First Reading. (T02369) An
Ordinance of the City Commission of the City of Tamarac, Florida amending Chapter 24 of
the City's Code of Ordinances, entitled "Zoning" by amending Article III, Division 19 entitled
"Business and Commercial Uses Master List" by specifically amending Section 24-434
entitled "Permitted Uses Master List", to establish fast casual dining restaurant with or
without drive -through as a permitted use subject to Special Exception approval by the City
Page 2 of 4 COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING November 6, 2017
Commission in the MXD, Mixed Use Zoning District, in conformity with the City of Tamarac
Comprehensive Plan; providing for codification; 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 described the differences between fast
food and fast casual and went over the proposed amendment to the code, and added that
fast food restaurants are not allowed in Mixed Use Zoning Districts. Commissioner Gomez
asked if there was a way to put something in the Code to allow the Commission to have a
right to limit the number of fast casual restaurants and Community Development Director
Calloway and City Attorney Goren said yes. Community Development Director Calloway
said that can be considered as part of what Clarion is doing with the Code Re -write. Mayor
Dressler said Tamarac is not conducive to high end restaurants like Morton's and we need
to be realistic and encourage fast casual food restaurants.
5. TR13029 - Execution of Grant Agreement for Community Planning Technical Assistance
Program: Item No. 6 (e) on the Consent Agenda. (TR13029) A Resolution of the City
Commission of the City of Tamarac, Florida, accepting a Community Planning Technical
Assistance Grant award in the amount of twenty five thousand ($25,000) dollars from the
Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Economic Opportunity for a term commencing
July 1, 2017 and ending June 30, 2018; authorizing the appropriate City Officials to execute
a grant agreement between the City of Tamarac and the Florida Department of Economic
Opportunity in the amount of twenty five thousand ($25,000) dollars, attached hereto as
Exhibit "A" to incorporate an innovative Economic Development element into the City of
Tamarac Comprehensive Plan; authorizing an appropriation and expenditure of twenty five
thousand ($25,000) dollars; 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. Mayor Dressler
noted that he has been talking economic re -development for years. Tamarac Village
became viable because it has apartments. Mayor Dressler said he has been trying to steer
staff to set up strip malls that are reflections of the Tamarac Village concept and we need to
go with something innovative and modern. Mayor Dressler said we need to find strip mall
owners that are willing to sell property and create MXD use areas like Tamarac Village, and
we need to identify properties that are willing to do this. Mayor Dressler talked about Real
Estate Investment Trust (REIT). Community Development Director Calloway said we need
to have a strategic plan and the Consultant will need to understand where our focus is and
the direction the City is going. The Consultant needs to understand what our future
objective is for Tamarac which does not include more retail.
Commissioner Gomez said unfortunately progress is slow, but we are on the right path.
This is a grant to get information on these plazas to see what we can do. Community
Development Director Calloway talked about the plans to demolish the Shoppes of Tamarac
and what is being proposed is to bring in a MXD use project, which is what we put forth in
2014. Vice Mayor Placko asked if we are reaching out to developers and City Manager
Cernech said we receive inquires almost daily on properties and when they propose to build
a gas station, we say no. We then advise the developer what our vision is and what we
want to see. If we get inquiries, we talk to them about what are plans are, such as the
Medical Mile, and ask them to reconsider some properties that we have. City Manager
Cernech said we talk with them about fast tracking their projects to get them moving sooner
rather than later. Developers have proposed self -storage projects in the past and we have
said no and advised them to bring something else back. City Manager Cernech commented
Page 3 of 4 COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING November 6, 2017
that Maxine and Frank are adamant about getting better development in some of our
plazas.
Mayor Dressler said small businesses cannot compete with internet sales anymore. We
need to become more aggressive and go out and look for developers. Commissioner
Gomez commented that some property owners may not want to sell, and we cannot force
someone to sell. Mayor Dressler talked about having a conversation with the Mayor of
Boston about how they turned South Boston into a gentrified area. The Mayor of Boston
said it started with one project because the developer was invited to City Hall. Mayor
Dressler said it is important that we be aggressive and not passive in reaching out to
developers. Commissioner Fishman said we have been working on a plan to update and
upgrade our Land Use which must be done before we actively recruit developers.
Commissioner Fishman said she and City Manager Cernech met with people at Greater Ft.
Lauderdale Alliance and gave them an idea of what Tamarac has to offer and hopefully we
may get some smaller projects coming into Tamarac. Mayor Dressler ended by saying that
he would like to see aggressive pursuit of developers.
6. Discussion Regarding the Selection of Voting Delegate and Alternate Voting Delegates
for the National League of Cities Annual Business Meeting Discussion Regarding the
Selection of Voting Delegate and Alternate Voting Delegates for the National League of
Cities Annual Business Meeting on Saturday, November 18, 2017. City Clerk Teufel
appeared. There was a consensus to appoint Commissioner Gomez as Voting Delegate,
Commissioner Fishman as First Alternate Voting Delegate and Commission Bolton as
Second Alternate Voting Delegate.
7. TR13025 - Election of a Vice Mayor: Item No. 6 (c) on the Consent Agenda. (TR13025) A
Resolution of the City Commission of the City of Tamarac, Florida, electing a Vice Mayor to
serve a term of one year beginning November 21, 2017 and ending November 2018, with
no succession; providing for conflicts; providing for severability., and providing for an
effective date. City Clerk Patricia Teufel appeared. Commissioner Fishman nominated
Commissioner Gomez as Vice Mayor to serve a term of one year beginning November 21,
2017 and ending in November 2018. All were in agreement.
8. Other
There being no further business to come before the City Commission for consideration,
Mayor Dressler adjourned the meeting at 11.53 a.m.
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