HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-02-22 - City Commission Workshop Meeting MinutesCITY OF TAMARAC
CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING
MONDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2010
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Talabisco called the workshop meeting to order at 9:30 a.m.
on Monday, February 22, 2010, in Room 105, Tamarac City Hall, 7525 NW 88 Avenue,
Tamarac, FL 33321.
PRESENT: Mayor Beth Talabisco, Vice -Mayor Harry Dressler, Commissioner Pamela
Bushnell, Commissioner Patricia Atkins -Grad, and Commissioner Diane Glasser.
ALSO PRESENT: City Manager Jeffrey L. Miller, City Attorney Samuel S. Goren,
Deputy City Manager Michael C. Cernech, and City Clerk Marion Swenson.
Mayor Beth Flansbaum-Talabisco led the pledge of allegiance.
1. Item No. 6 (b) on the Consent Agenda. APPLEBEE'S NEIGHBORHOOD GRILL
& BAR - EXTENDED HOURS: (TR11768) Granting approval of the Special Extended
Hours Permit, requested by George W. Werden, representative of Applebee's
Neighborhood Grill & Bar, to extend the hours of the on -premise sale and consumption
of alcoholic beverages and to open for business at 11:00 a.m. on Sundays, pursuant to
the City of Tamarac Ordinance No. 0-85-38, for the Applebee's Neighborhood Grill &
Bar, located in the Washington Mutual Plaza at 6005 North University Drive (Case No.
3-MI-10); providing for conditions of approval. Community Development Director
Bramley gave a presentation. There was no discussion.
2. Discussion re: AMENDING THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF TAMARAC AT
ARTICLE VII, ENTITLED "FINANCIAL PROCEDURES." AND IN PARTICULAR
AMENDING SECTION 7.03 ENTITLED "FORM AND CONTENT OF BUDGET AND
LIMITATION ON UNAPPROPRIATED SURPLUS": (TO2189) An Ordinance of the City
of Tamarac, Florida, submitting to Referendum an amendment to the Charter of the City
of Tamarac at Article VII, entitled "Financial Procedures," and in particular amending
Section 7.03 entitled "Form and Content of Budget and Limitation on Unappropriated
Surplus"; requiring the City to maintain an Unappropriated Surplus of no less than ten
percent (10%) of its total proposed expenditures of the General Fund Budget; providing
for a notice of an advertisement of the referendum election to be published in
accordance with the Code of Ordinances and the Charter of the City of Tamarac,
Florida, as well as the State of Florida Election Code; providing that this Ordinance,
when adopted, shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the City of Tamarac, on the
November 2010 General Election Ballot and it shall become effective as provided by
law; providing for the place and places where said election is to be held; providing for
conflicts; providing for severability; providing for inclusion in the code; and providing for
an effective date. Assistant City Attorney Horowitz and Financial Services Director
Mason appeared. Assistant City Attorney Horowitz gave a presentation. Financial
Services Director Mason said it is not necessary for a reserve to be referenced in the
Charter. Vice -Mayor Dressler said it is standard for cities to maintain a minimum
Page 1 of 4 City Commission Workshop February 22, 2010
reserve in the event cash is needed for a rainy day; however, while on the one hand the
City would have the ability to make changes in this fiscal environment, on the other
hand fluctuations may have adverse impacts on our bond ratings. Vice -Mayor Dressler
said he prefers option two, taking reference to the reserve out of the charter.
Commissioner Bushnell said she prefers a minimum reserve and expressed concern in
how this would be explained to the residents. Mayor Talabisco confirmed the City is
able to educate the public, and City Manager Miller added staff would draft talking
points for the Mayor and City Commission for all three proposed amendments to the
Charter. Commissioner Glasser said the Mayor and City Commission should talk to
their constituents in settings other than the District meetings, and it should be made
clear that this will be reviewed yearly, if not more often. There was discussion regarding
the ballot question wording, and Assistant City Attorney Horowitz said he would reword
the ballot title and question, and then get the revised draft ordinance to the Mayor and
City Commission by tomorrow. Upon unanimous expression of interest the Mayor and
City Commission agreed to place Option Two on Wednesday's agenda for first reading,
with the ballot question language amended to reflect a more positive bent.
3. Discussion re: AMENDING THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF TAMARAC AT
ARTICLE VII, ENTITLED "FINANCIAL PROCEDURES," AND IN PARTICULAR
AMENDING SECTION 7.11 ENTITLED "REQUIREMENTS FOR PUBLIC
BIDDING": (TO2187) An Ordinance of the City of Tamarac, Florida, submitting to
Referendum an amendment to the Charter of the City of Tamarac at Article VII, entitled
"Financial Procedures," and in particular amending Section 7.11 entitled "Requirements for
Public Bidding"; providing that the City Commission shall establish by Ordinance a
competitive solicitation financial threshold for procurement; providing the City with the
option of advertising solicitations for competitive bids for the purchase of capital equipment
and for improvement and construction contracts online on the City's website; providing for
a notice of an advertisement of the referendum election to be published in accordance with
the Code of Ordinances and the Charter of the City of Tamarac, Florida, as well as the
State of Florida Election Code; providing that this Ordinance, when adopted, shall be
submitted to the qualified electors of the City of Tamarac, on the November 2010 General
Election Ballot and it shall become effective as provided by law; providing for the place and
places where said election is to be held; providing for conflicts; providing for severability;
providing for inclusion in the code; and providing for an effective date. Assistant City
Attorney Horowitz, Financial Services Director Mason, and Purchasing/Contracts
Manager Glatz appeared. Assistant City Attorney Horowitz gave a presentation.
Purchasing/Contracts Manager Glatz discussed our current method of advertising for
bids and explained the premise of the draft ordinance. With regard to the requirements
for public bidding, Commissioner Bushnell said she does not believe figures should
appear in the Charter. Vice -Mayor Dressler agreed, and also discussed the cost of
advertising in newspapers vs. on the Internet. Financial Services Director Mason
explained Option Two provides for taking advertising out of the Charter and leaves it
solely in the Code. Commissioner Glasser reiterated education is key for the public.
There was discussion regarding the ballot question language, and upon a unanimous
expression of interest by the Mayor and City Commission it was suggested Option Two
Page 2 of 4 City Commission Workshop February 22, 2010
appear on Wednesday's agenda for first reading, with the language in the ballot title and
question amended to reflect a more positive bent.
4. Discussion re: AMENDING THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF TAMARAC AT
ARTICLE IV, ENTITLED "LEGISLATIVE," AND IN PARTICULAR ELIMINATING
SECTION 4.09 THROUGH SECTION 4.13, PERTAINING TO CERTAIN CITY
ADVISORY BOARDS: (TO2188) An Ordinance of the City of Tamarac, Florida,
submitting to Referendum an amendment to the Charter of the City of Tamarac at
Article IV, entitled "Legislative," and in particular eliminating Section 4.09 through
Section 4.13, pertaining to certain City Advisory Boards; providing for the elimination of
redundancy in the City Charter; providing for a notice of an advertisement of the
referendum election to be published in accordance with the Code of Ordinances and the
Charter of the City of Tamarac, Florida, as well as the State of Florida Election Code;
providing that this Ordinance, when adopted, shall be submitted to the qualified electors
of the City of Tamarac, on the November 2010 General Election Ballot and it shall
become effective as provided by law; providing for the place and places where said
election is to be held; providing for conflicts; providing for severability; providing for
inclusion in the code; and providing for an effective date. Assistant City Attorney
Horowitz gave a presentation. There was discussion regarding the ballot question
language and upon a unanimous expression of interest by the Mayor and City
Commission it was suggested the proposed Ordinance appear on Wednesday's agenda
for first reading, with the language in the ballot title and question amended to reflect a
more positive bent by changing the word elimination to transition.
Mayor Talabisco called for a recess at 10:55 a.m. and reconvened the workshop
meeting at 11:10 a.m. with all present as before (Vice -Mayor Dressler rejoined the
meeting at 11:12 a.m.)
5. U pd ate -Ad opt -A- Road Program. Community Development Director Bramley and
Planning and Zoning Manager Zickar appeared. Planning and Zoning Manager Zickar
gave an update on the program and the organizations that have adopted sections of
roadways in Tamarac. The County will host a Volunteer Appreciation Day on April 28,
2010. Commissioners Bushnell and Atkins -Grad questioned the High School from
Coconut Creek participating in Tamarac's cleanup. Mayor Talabisco asked how
Tamarac is doing compared to other cities, and whether the groups involved let the City
know when they are going. out for a cleanup. Planning and Zoning Manager Zickar said
he has the 2009 annual -r' eport-for:Bfoward County cities which he would provide for the
Mayor and City Comnmission. Thegro�ps let the County know when they will be out and
the County is supposed to =notify the CitN - If an organization contacts the County, they
tell them which streefs-�ite available. N4ayor Talabisco asked for an article to be placed
in the Tam -A -Gram di�;ussing= Fitterir-g, and highlighting the success of the program.
Public and Economic Affairs Officer BOms said the article would appear in the July Tam -
A -Gram.
6. Update re: Water's Edge Park. Parks & Recreation Director Warner, Public
Works Director Strain, Financial Services Director Mason, Purchasing/Contracts
Page 3 of 4 City Commission Workshop February 22, 2010
Manager Glatz, and Assistant City Manager Phillips appeared. City Manager Miller
discussed the park from its inception, and spoke of grant funding available to assist the
City in creating the park. Two weeks ago we received negative news from the Property
Appraiser, which said property values would go down 25.5% for the next year, resulting
in a reduction in our general fund of $4.7 million. The following year will also be difficult
according to the Property Appraiser's predictions. With that in mind, staff recommends
that we not move forward with the park at this time. In addition to the cost for the
creation of the park we need to take into consideration the yearly cost to maintain the
park; those costs would come out of our general operating revenues. Commissioner
Atkins -Grad asked if the $300,000 in grant funding could be put to another use, and
Assistant City Manager Phillips explained there were several grants involved for the
development of the project and it is unlikely the funders would allow us to use the grant
monies for other projects. Vice -Mayor Dressler agreed with staffs recommendation.
Commissioner Bushnell said the public needs to be educated as to the reason we are
not moving forward with the park, and asked if the property is secured. City Manager
Miller said it is fenced on the north and west sides. At this time the property is being
used as a staging area for the sidewalk renovations, which will be cleaned up by the
contractor when the sidewalks are completed. Public Works Director Strain added the
property will be rough mowed each month. There was discussion regarding the trees
still standing on the property and posting a sign to prohibit people entering the area.
There was a unanimous expression of interest to not accept the grant funds at this time,
and to work with the funders for future activities and revisit this issue in the future.
City Attorney Goren reported the County Ethics Commission has completed work on the
Ethics Ordinance for the County, and he will track it for the City of Tamarac, as there
are ramifications for all the Cities in Broward County.
Mayor Talabisco said the Mayor and City Commission, City Manager Miller, City
Attorney Goren, staff, and many city residents are going to the City of Sunrise tomorrow
evening when the Transfer Station is discussed.
There being no further business to come before the Mayor and City Commission, Mayor
Talabisco adjourned the Workshop Meeting at 11:55 a.m.
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Marion Swonsor1;-CMC',
Cit Cierk
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