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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-12-11 - City Commission Workshop Meeting MinutesCITY OF TAMARAC CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP MONDAY, DECEMBER11, 2017 CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Harry Dressler called the Workshop of the City Commission to order at 9:45 a.m. on Monday, December 11, 2017 in Conference Room 105, City Hall, 7525 NW 88th Avenue, Tamarac, FL 33321. ROLL CALL: Mayor Harry Dressler, Vice Mayor Michelle J. Gomez, Commissioner Marlon Bolton and Commissioner Debra Placko were in attendance. ABSENT: Commissioner Julie Fishman Also in attendance were City Manager Michael Cernech, Assistant City Attorney Diane Phillips, Assistant City Manager Kathleen Gunn, City Attorney Samuel S. Goren and City Clerk Patricia Teufel. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Vice Mayor Gomez led the Pledge of Allegiance 1. Ron Book - Legislative Update: Mr. Book commented that Tallahassee is in disarray as the process is paralyzed by the Harvey Weinstein factor. Mr. Book said Hurricane Irma has impacted the process as well as the ongoing investigation of the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, which when combined will limit what does and does not get considered this session. Mr. Book said the one thing that is on time is the budget. Mr. Book talked about possible Medical Marijuana legislation and changes in the criminal justice system. Mr. Book said another issue is the assignment of benefits in water damage claims. Mr. Book said there is a worker's compensation bill that he expects to pass this year and there is a gaming bill that has a 20% chance of passing. There is also a bill regarding the coupling of greyhound racing with gaming opportunities. Mr. Book said there is a bill pending that will have detrimental effects on schools in Broward County as well as a few bills on higher education. Mr. Book commented that relative to the budget we are not growing fast enough to meet recurring demands. Mr. Book talked about a lawsuit regarding the improper treatment of inmates with Hep C. Mr. Book reported that the delegation continues to work its way into positions of leadership and noted that Representative Jared Moskowitz has worked his way into a leadership role. Mr. Book said that Senator Thurston is taking on a new role in the Senate and talked about Senator Lauren Book's accomplishments as Chair of the Budget Subcommittee. City Attorney Goren asked Mr. Book if HB 7003, which would require local elected officials to file a Form 6, would pass and Mr. Book said he felt it had a chance of passing as it is hard to argue against that additional layer of disclosure. Mayor Dressler said he cannot see a logical basis for doing this and does not understand the point or reason for doing this as well. Mayor Dressler talked about Sunshine laws not applying to state legislators. Mr. Book said he agrees with Mayor Dressler 100% as the leadership in both houses want to take away all of local government powers. There was a discussion on full ethics disclosures not stopping people from being unethical. There was a discussion on the how business is handled in Tallahassee. Mayor Dressler said when he voted on medical marijuana he thought it was for low THC but the final version is now for high THC. Mr. Book said we have done medical marijuana in Page 1 of 3 COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING December 11, 2017 three stages. There is the Charlotte's Web version which has low THC and high CBD. They came back and passed terminally ill medical marijuana which has high THC and low CBD. The legislature did not approve smoking marijuana. Mr. Book said everything has moved slowly and is tied up in rules challenges. Mr. Book talked about Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers and creating limitations by changing zoning. City Attorney Goren asked Mr. Book to look into a number of bills and Mr. Book asked City Attorney Goren to send him information on the bills that he wants him to look at. Vice Mayor Gomez commented that the state legislators have forgotten what it is to be on the municipal level. Vice Mayor Gomez thanked Mr. Book for his time and said if he needs the Commission to come up to Tallahassee they will do whatever needs to be done. Mr. Book urged everyone to reach out to their legislators about issues, but they need to be respectful when talking about their issues. Vice Mayor Gomez talked about meeting with legislators last year who had the opinion that local government does not count. Commissioner Bolton asked Mr. Book if there is anything they can do to follow-up with state legislators, to let them know. Commissioner Bolton asked if the Florida League of Cities is doing a good job in Tallahassee and Mr. Book responded that the Florida League of Cities is essential to fight global issues and the Broward League of Cities is very effective as well. Mayor Dressler said we have to make sure Tallahassee knows the value of local government. Mr. Book introduced Rona Brown to the Commission. 2. A Presentation to the Commission by Fathers M.I.A. - Founder of Father's M.I.A. Gernald Hawkins and Co -Founder of Fathers M.I.A. Robert Jackson appeared. Commissioner Placko said she met Mr. Hawkins and Mr. Jackson at a function and was interested in having them come before the Commission to let them know what their organization does. Messrs. Hawkins and Jackson gave a presentation, a copy of which is on file in the City Clerk's Office. Mr. Jackson talked about their vision, mission and objectives. Mr. Jackson said they want to shift the dynamics from Fathers Missing in Action to Fathers Motivated Involved and Active. They provide an 8-week course on being a successful parent, but both the father and the child must want to do this. They also like to bring in the mothers at 6 weeks for co -parenting instruction. Mr. Jackson talked about last years gala honoring 25 women who had no fathers in their lives. Mr. Hawkins said they have selected 25 ladies who have never attended a Father — Daughter dance and teamed them up with local police departments who escort them to the dance and take the place of their fathers. Their organization also gives away scholarships. Mr. Jackson said they would like to partner with Tamarac and bring Fathers M.I.A. to Tamarac. Both Vice Mayor Gomez and Commissioner Placko agreed that fathers play a vital role in a child's life. Commissioner Placko asked Assistant Parks & Recreation Director Linda Probert to meet with Messrs. Hawkins and Jackson. Mr. Hawkins said they want to hold summer programs dealing with the arts, acting and music, something that they can put their passion into, and at the end of the summer put on a production to showcase their hard work. Commissioner Bolton commented that he was happy their organization is doing this type of work. Commissioner Bolton asked to add Fathers M.I.A. to the list of charities and the Commission concurred. Mr. Hawkins said they are looking for assistance with facilities in Tamarac as well as financial help. Mayor Dressler commented that we need more people doing what this organization does. 3. Presentation of School Board of Broward County of the Proposed Third Amendment and Restated Interlocal Agreement for Public School Facility Planning by Broward County School Board Growth Management Planner Lisa Wight. Community Development Director Maxine Calloway and School Board of Broward County Growth Management planner Lisa Page 2 of 3 COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING December 11, 2017 Wight appeared. Ms. Wight gave a presentation, a copy of which is on file in the City Clerk's Office. Ms. Wight responded to questions from the Commission throughout the presentation. Commissioner Bolton noted that he is in the process of meeting with School Board Members to work on several issues. City Manager Cernech said we have had some conversation with our primary Board of Education Representative and the Superintendent's Office and we are working on coordinating a meeting sometime in January or early February. The purpose of the meeting is to find out what Tamarac's role is going forward to address what our needs are. Mayor Dressler recessed the meeting at 11:54 a.m. and reconvened the meeting at 12:05 p.m. with all present as before. 4. TR13038 - CAPER FY16/17: Item No. 9 (a) on Public Hearing(s) - (TR13038) A Resolution of the City Commission of the City of Tamarac, Florida approving the Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER FY2016-2017) which is attached hereto as Exhibit "A" for the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD)'s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Programs for HUD's Fiscal Year 2016-2017; providing for conflicts; providing for severability; and providing for an effective date. Community Development Director Maxine Calloway and Housing & Neighborhood Program Manager Coleen Christie appeared. Housing & Neighborhood Programs Manager Christie gave a presentation, a copy of which is on file in the City Clerk's Office. Ms. Christie responded to a few questions from the Commission. 5. Tamarac Village Update: Community Development Director Maxine Calloway and Financial Services Director Mark Mason appeared. Community Development Director Calloway gave a presentation, a copy of which is on file in the City Clerk's Office. Community Development Director Calloway said the developer re -submitted the Site Plan in November and it is targeted to go before the Planning in early February and then the Commission later that month. Finance Director Mason talked about TR13042 and TR13043 on the December 13, 2017 Consent Agenda. Vice Mayor Gomez said she is pleased to see the commercial portion of the project moving along and expressed her concern that she has not seen the residential aspect of the project yet. Vice Mayor Gomez said she would like to see the residential site plan before it goes to the Planning Board and Community Development Director Calloway said City Manager Cernech prefers that this go through the regular process. 6. Other There being no further business to come before the City Commission for consideration, Mayor Dressler adjourned the meeting at 12:21 p.m. Page 3 of 3 COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING December 11, 2017