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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-10-09 - City Commission Workshop Meeting MinutesCITY OF TAMARAC CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP MONDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2017 CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Harry Dressler called the Workshop of the City Commission to order at 9:40 a.m. on Monday, October 9, 2017 in Conference Room 105, City Hall, 7525 NW 88'h 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 Kathleen Dunn, City Attorney Samuel S. Goren and City Clerk Patricia Teufel. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Vice Mayor Placko led the Pledge of Allegiance Mayor Harry Dressler asked the audience for a moment of silence on behalf of the Las Vegas victims and their families. 1. 2017 Community Rating System Annual Progress Report: Chief Building Official/Director Claudio Grande appeared and gave a presentation, a copy of which is on file in the City Clerk's Office. Chief Building Official/Director Claudio Grande said Tamarac has been a participant in the NFIP since 1992 and the City's priority has been reducing the risk of flood in the Community. He provided historical data and proactive approaches taken by the Building department and the Public Services department to maintain the current rating of Class 6 in the CRS certification now pending recertification results. Chief Building Official/Director Claudio Grande responded to questions from the Commissioners related to navigating the City's Website and how residents would search for elevation certificates on the City's Website, where to find Flood Protection brochures and how to obtain elevation certificates. 2. TR13013 - 2018 State Legislative Agenda: Item No. 6 (d) on the Consent Agenda. (TR13013) A Resolution of the City Commission of the City of Tamarac, Florida, approving the City of Tamarac Legislative Agenda for the 2018 State of Florida Legislative Session; directing the City Clerk to transmit a copy of the City of Tamarac Legislative Agenda for the 2018 State Legislative Session to the Florida League of Cities, the Broward League of Cities, the Broward County Legislative Delegation and the Broward County Board of County Commissioners; providing for conflicts; providing for severability; and providing for an effective date: Assistant City Manager Kathleen Gunn and Management Analyst 1 Laura Karpaviciute appeared. Management Analyst Karpaviciute gave a presentation, a copy of which is on file in the City Clerk's Office. Ms. Karpaviciute highlighted the advantages of the Legislative Agenda and solicited additional input from the City Commission to include before finalizing the next Legislative Agenda for the City. City Commissioners discussed their concerns on important issues such as Home Rule, the need of "A" rated schools, funding of water and transportation, infrastructure and local government control. Commissioner Julie Fishman suggested attending the next Broward Legislative Delegation meeting taking Page 1 of 5 COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING October 9, 2017 place on October 18, 2017 at the Sunrise Civic Center where City Officials will have an opportunity to voice City issues to State Legislators. 3. TR12989 - SBA Towers Lease Agreement - Aquatic Center: Item No. 6 (c) on the Consent Agenda. (TR12989) A Resolution of the City Commission of the City of Tamarac, Florida, approving the option & land lease agreement, memorandum of land lease and the memorandum of option and land lease with SBA Towers IX, LLC and authorizing the appropriate City Officials to execute the said documents for the construction of a stealth cellular facility in the City's Aquatic Center property located at 9300 NW 58th street, Tamarac, Florida 33321 at a monthly rent of $2,200 per month for a maximum term of fifty-five (55) years: Information Technology Director Levent Sucuoglu appeared and gave a presentation, a copy of which is on file in the City Clerk's Office. Following the presentation, Mayor Harry Dressler opened the floor to questions by the City Commission. Having no questions, Mayor Dressler thanked IT Director Sucuoglu closing item discussion. 4. Presentation and Discussion Regarding Vacation Rentals: 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 Maxine Calloway provided a brief Legislative History on Vacation Rentals. Mayor Dressler left the meeting at 10:36 a.m. and passed the gavel to Vice Mayor Placko. Ms. Calloway made a recommendation against a Registration Program and produced statistical data validating her recommendation. Mayor Dressler returned to the meeting at 10:43 a.m. and Vice Mayor Placko passed the gavel back to Mayor Dressler. Ms. Calloway entertained questions from the City Commission. Commissioner Michelle Gomez expressed her disagreement with Ms. Calloway's recommendation and stated areas of concern related to Vacation Rentals that are affecting the community. Mayor Dressler asked City Attorney Sam Goren about the ability for HOA's to regulate vacation rentals. Attorney Goren will research and report back to the Commission. Mayor Dressler said from the City's standpoint the Commission is deciding what is the City's expense, is it worth the expense, what is the cost for this type of process, and who investigates compliance. Mayor Dressler indicated that there is a consensus to Taylor and protect the Statute. Attorney Goren said he will draft an Ordinance that carefully follows the Statutes. With no further discussion to add on Vacation Rentals, Mayor Dressler thanked Ms. Calloway for the presentation. 5. Other Item 5a. City Manager Update RE: Debris Removal - City Manager Michael Cernech reported to the City Commission that as of last Friday, FEMA has accepted the City's application to include private streets and roads in the debris cleanup implementation. City Manager Cernech explained that if FEMA decides to allow it, the City may be reimbursed. In response to FEMA's decision, City Manager Cernech said private cutting crews will be working cutting trees and pilling them up for collection in private communities beginning Friday, Saturday and Sunday of this week. Commissioner Fishman asked a question related to Parks & Recreation building's "empty box". Public Page 2 of 5 COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING October 9, 2017 Services Director Jack Strain responded it is a C&D site and vegetation cannot be comingled with construction and demolition debris. Director Strain explained that the site on University Drive is for vegetation only because there are wells on the site. Director Strain stated there is a propensity of hazardous waste in C&D debris and as a rule it should be a site dedicated for vegetation only, therefore having to open the second site for C&D debris. Director Strain said the C&D site should accommodate approximately 1,000 to 2,000 cubic yards and he will contact the contractor, foreseeing removal by the end of the month. Director Strain explained the current C&D site used to be primarily with vegetation and is a current problem as options of vacant properties are diminishing greatly. Commissioner Gomez left the meeting at 11:28 a.m., returning at 11:30 a.m. Commissioner Fishman left the meeting at 11:31 a.m. returning at 11:33 a.m. Mayor Dressler agreed with Director Strain that creating a debris schedule is difficult because it is hard to predict. Director Strain said the City had a successful process implementation and added there is no need to spray debris for mosquitoes or bugs. Director Strain reported collection of over 50,000 cubic yards of debris. Mayor Dressler commented he received good feedback. City Manager Cernech reported Director Jack Strain and his staff has done a great job and received compliments from neighbors on how issues were resolved quickly, and issues regarding contractors hours were taken care of. Director Strain reported his staff visited neighborhoods approaching residents that had questions and concerns. Director Strain provided the Commission with copies of a map depicting a Debris Operations Report showing debris pickup locations within city limits, which is on file in the City Clerk's Office. Item 5b. Request for Policy Guidance — City Manager Cernech asked the Commission for guidance as Commissioner Bolton has planned a District 1 Awards Dinner to take place at the Community Center, which is a district event, and falls outside the scope of the City Policy. City Manager Cernech said the Mayor and City Commission have discussed the cost of the district events and district initiatives in the past, responding "no", as City events are coordinated by City staff. City Manager Cernech said that in order for Commissioner Bolton to proceed with this event he needs to first find out if the Commission would like to have a discussion on those policies and if so whether or not the Commission would like to make any changes to the policies. Mayor Dressler said everything in the City has been done by the book under City Policies and it is the third time this issue is being presented to the City Commission which have voted "no" each time. City Attorney Goren referenced related regulation of rules and procedures codified in 2007 which provides that an item brought three times for consideration, if not successful on consent or vote process cannot be presented again for consideration for six months unless a majority of Commission members vote to bring the item back for consideration. Mayor Dressler called for a consensus on changes to the rules and procedures currently in place, having the majority of the Commission voting "no" to make changes. Mayor Dressler confirmed to City Manager Cernech that no changes to policy will take place. Mayor Dressler asked Commissioner Bolton to discuss any further questions he may have. Commissioner Bolton said he never asked to change the Policies and requested clarification from the City Manager. City Manager Cernech explained the event Commissioner Bolton refers to does not benefit the City as a whole and is a District event that was not budgeted for and not planned for by City Events Page 3 of 5 COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING October 9, 2017 staff. City Manager Cernech added that if the Commission wishes to proceed approving the request, then the City Commission needs to revisit the policies already discussed. Commissioner Bolton referred to an event hosted by Vice Mayor Placko of a luncheon honoring COP's that gave him the idea to host a lunch for HOA Presidents. Commissioner Bolton said Financial Services Director explained the expense could not be paid by the City, pay the expense out of pocket to honor the HOA Presidents and produce a receipt to the Financial Services Department for reimbursement which is part of the policy in place. Vice Mayor Placko affirmed she took the COPS to eat at Colony West. Mayor Dressler said he did not know City Letterhead was used and there are ways things can be done at their districts. Mayor Dressler said the City does not have discretionary funding and the Commission voted against the item 3 times at previous meetings. The Mayor stated the City will not fund this event as the rules are for everyone and recommended Commissioner Bolton to postpone the event until he is ready to hold the event. Commissioner Bolton directed questions to Attorney Goren regarding how to proceed. Attorney Goren clarified he does not write policies and City Manager Cernech writes Administrative Policies only. Attorney Goren added he does not know daily operations in order to make a decision and cannot answer Commissioner Bolton's question, adding it was done by the Vice Mayor as a reimbursement. City Manager Cernech said he did not intend to be disrespectful or distasteful to Commissioner Bolton. City Manager Cernech said he was very clear on what the objections were and why. City Manager said that after receiving the invitation on -- September 29 for the First Annual Civic and Community Leaders Awards Dinner on Saturday, November 4 at 7 or 8 p.m. at the Community Center he advised Commissioner Bolton to meet privately as this would require a discussion in terms of the Commission policies because what Commissioner Bolton was proposing was in direct contradiction to the direction given by the City Commission to Mr. Cernech and staff. City Manager Cernech said there is a difference between paying for City volunteers and paying for a District event. Commissioner Gomez commented on correspondence received where: (1) City letterhead for the event was used and (2) event will earn money for personal use that if it was intended as a fund-raising program it must follow legislative requirements to do so. Commissioner Gomez stated that inviting people from other agencies gives the perception it is a City event. City Manager Cernech said he concurs it is for events that are directly related to City events adding that his response to Commissioner Bolton was clear, professional and not disrespectful or distasteful. City Manager Cernech stated he advised Commissioner Bolton to inform his colleagues of his plans for the event otherwise he would as this is his job as City Manager. Mayor Dressler said to recall separate instances where discretionary spending was brought to the City Commission by Commissioner Bolton. Mayor Dressler said when Commissioner Bolton first discussed discretionary spending, the City responded it does not have discretionary spending, but there is a budgeted amount of $1,500 for reimbursement for district expenses adding this is not the way the City conducts Page 4 of 5 COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING October 9, 2017 business. Mayor Dressler spoke of other requests made at public meetings by Commissioner Bolton regarding discretionary spending, where it was explained it is not discretionary to Commissioner Bolton, to City Manager Cernech or to City Attorney Goren, but it is discretionary to the City Commission. Mayor Dressler said it is offensive for Commissioner Bolton to make a 4th request on discretionary spending that has been previously denied three times by the City Commission and agrees with City procedures in place. Mayor Dressler directed City staff for this item not to come before the City Commission again during the next six months. Mayor Dressler confirmed City Manager Cernech's request was answered. There being no further business to come before the City Commission for consideration, Mayor Dressler adjourned the meeting at 12:37 a.m. Lillian Pabon, CIVIC Assistant City Clerk \�11111111//// .,lOFTA4//, �i •. .,yam ra:'ESTABLISHED' Q' 1963 _�_ SEAL Page 5 of 5 COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING October 9, 2017