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Home My WebLink About2011-03-07 - City Commission Workshop Meeting MinutesCITY OF TAMARAC CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING MONDAY, MARCH 7, 2011 CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Talabisco called the workshop meeting to order at 9:32 a.m. on Monday, March 7, 2011 in Room 105, Tamarac City Hall, 7525 NW 88 Avenue, Tamarac, FL. PRESENT: Mayor Beth Talabisco, Vice Mayor Pamela Bushnell, Commissioner Harry Dressler, Commissioner Michelle J. Gomez, and Commissioner Diane Glasser. ALSO PRESENT: City Manager Michael Cernech, Assistant City Manager Diane Phillips, Assistant City Attorney Julie Klahr and City Clerk Peter M. J. Richardson. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Talabisco led the pledge of allegiance. 1. Item No. 8 (a) on Ordinances — First Reading. EXPEDITED PERMITTING FOR QUALIFIED BUSINESSES (TO2221). Motion to adopt an Ordinance of the City of Tamarac, Florida on first reading amending Chapter 5 of the City's Code of Ordinances, entitled "Buildings and Building Regulations" by creating Section 5-35, to be entitled "Expedited Permitting for Qualified Businesses"; providing an expedited permitting process for certain qualified new, expanding or relocating businesses; providing for codification; providing for conflicts; providing for severability; and providing for an effective date. — Public & Economic Affairs Officer Andy Berns, Mason Jackson, CEO WorkForce One, Ana Zeinieh, Director of Workforce Development, WorkForce One/Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance and Ron Drew, Vice President, Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance. Mr. Berns presented an overview of the proposed ordinance, noting that the proposal was intended to expedite processing of permits for certain new, expanding or relocating businesses in the City of Tamarac. He expressed appreciation to Assistant City Attorney Jacob Horowitz, Community Development Director Jennifer Bramley and Chief Building Official Claudio Grande for their assistance in drafting the proposed ordinance and related details. WorkForce One Director Mason Jackson noted that there were presently about 100,000 persons unemployed in Broward County, while there were only about 10,000 positions available for prospective applicants. Mr. Berns, Mr. Jackson, Mr. Drew and Ms. Zeinieh responded to questions and suggestions by the Mayor and City Commissioners relative to the proposed expedited permitting process. Mr. Jackson noted that it had taken Palm Beach County officials approximately two (2) years for sixteen municipalities in that County to adopt a similar ordinance regarding expedited permit processing. Mr. Berns stated that City staff looked forward to coordinating with WorkForce One and Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance staff in moving forward with the proposed expedited permit processing initiative and related programs. Page 1 of 4 City Commission Workshop March i, 2011 2. Item No.6 c on the Consent Agenda. GRANT APPLICATION TO THE NATIONAL URBAN COMMUNITY FORESTRY PROGRAM (TR 11995. A Resolution of the City Commission of the City of Tamarac, Florida authorizing the appropriate City officials to submit an application to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services — Division of Forestry for National Urban and Community Forestry Program grant funds for the development of a tree inventory and management plan in an amount not to exceed $20,000, providing for a one-to-one match in local funds in the event of approval of the application; providing for acceptance of the award and execution of documents upon approval; providing for conflicts; providing for severability; and providing for an effective date. — Public Works Director Jack Strain and Special Projects Coordinator Michael Gresek. Mr. Gresek provided an overview of the proposed grant application relative to a tree inventory and related management plan. Mr. Gresek noted that the City of Tamarac had enjoyed previous success in receiving grant funds for similar programs from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Public Works Director Jack Strain stated that having a tree inventory would be very helpful to City staff in the future, especially in the event of hurricanes or other adverse weather -related events. Mayor Talabisco suggested the possibility of establishing a tree farm public -private partnership in the City of Tamarac. Mr. Strain stated that although the potential establishment of a tree farm had its merits, there were also a number of possible challenges such as staffing and funding related issues. Commissioner Dressler was outside of the room between 10:22 and 10:26 a.m. Mr. Strain reiterated that having a tree inventory in place would be a strategic tool which would pay for itself and would make City staff's work flow somewhat more efficient. Mayor Talabisco and Vice Mayor Bushnell suggested the possibility of reaching out to persons interested in gardening and landscaping to potentially volunteer in the upkeep of community gardens and similar plantings. 3. Item No. 6(b) on the Consent Agenda. Agreement with North Lauderdale for Fire Fleet Maintenance Service (TR11971). A Resolution of the City of Tamarac, Florida, approving an Interlocal Agreement between the City of Tamarac and the City of North Lauderdale providing for Fleet Maintenance and Repair Services for the North Lauderdale Fire Department; authorizing the appropriate City officials to execute said agreement and take all steps necessary to effectuate the intent of the Resolution; providing for conflicts; providing for severability; and providing for an effective date. — Fire Chief Mike Burton and Public Works Director Jack Strain. Fire Chief Mike Burton briefly reviewed the proposal for entering into an interlocal agreement with the City of North Lauderdale for City of Tamarac staff to provide fleet maintenance and repair services for certain pieces of City of North Lauderdale Fire Department equipment. Mr. Strain said that City of North Lauderdale Fire personnel were not pleased with their current private arrangements for services of the maintenance of fire equipment and had requested the establishment of the proposed interlocal agreement for future maintenance and service of certain Fire Department Page 2 of 4 City Commission Workshop March 7, 2011 related equipment. He noted that there would be no need for the hiring of additional staff by the City of Tamarac in order to provide this additional service to the City of North Lauderdale. Commissioner Glasser inquired whether maintenance work would be performed at City of Tamarac facilities. Mr. Strain said that all maintenance and repair would be handled at City of Tamarac maintenance and garage facilities. Commissioner Dressler was outside of the room between 10:42 and 10:45 a.m. Mayor Talabisco said that the proposed interlocal agreement marked another step forward for the City of Tamarac relative to the provision of regionalized services. 4. Item no. 6 (e) on the Consent Agenda. Supporting Police Officer and Firefighter Pension Reform (TR12000). A Resolution of the City Commission of the City of Tamarac, Florida, supporting amendments to Chapters 175 and 185 to provide pension benefits determined through collective bargaining; to permit cities to utilize insurance premium tax revenues to pay for police and firefighter pensions without restrictions or mandates; to prohibit the State Division of Retirement from imposing policies and mandates resulting in cost increases; to recognize Home Rule Powers of cities; providing for conflicts; providing for severability; and providing for an effective date. — Assistant City Manager Diane Phillips and Human Resources Director Maria Swanson Assistant City Manager Diane Phillips briefly reviewed the proposed resolution before the Mayor and City Commission relative to potential amendments to Chapters 175 and 185 and related premium tax revenues. Mayor Talabisco noted that all municipalities in the State of Florida were vitally interested in maintaining home rule authority and doing the right thing relative to pension -related matters. Ms. Swanson stated that City staff was recommending that the Mayor and City Commission adopt the proposed resolution. Commissioner Dressler stated that the State of Florida was responsible for creating many of the pension -related challenges facing municipalities state-wide due to a funded mandate. Commissioner Dressier said he was supportive of adopting the draft resolution being proposed by City staff. Vice Mayor Bushnell inquired about the next steps in the process. Assistant City Attorney Julie Klahr said if the Mayor and City Commission approved the proposed resolution on Wednesday evening, copies of the adopted resolution would be mailed to the Governor and other State elected officials for their consideration and follow-up. Commissioners Glasser and Gomez noted the importance of supporting both home rule authority while protecting the City's best interests relative to pension -related matters. 5. Item No. 6(d) on the Consent Agenda. Amendments __. to the Neighborhood Partnership Program Policy (TR11992). A Resolution of the City Commission of the City of Tamarac, Florida, approving the Program Policy for the Neighborhood Partnership Program; authorizing and directing the Mayor or in her absence, the Vice -Mayor to approve the policy, providing for conflict; providing for severability; and providing for an effective date. — Community Development Director Jennifer Bramley Page 3 of 4 City Commission Workshop March 7, 2011 Community Development Director Jennifer Bramley reviewed the proposed resolution relative to potential amendments to the City's neighborhood partnership program policy. Ms. Bramley noted that the proposed amendments were largely a formality. She also stated that the City of Tamarac presently had established a total of seventeen (17) neighborhood partnerships to date. Mayor Talabisco inquired whether a list of the partnerships was available. Ms. Bramley provided the Mayor and City Commissioners with a listing of the partnerships in place along with applicable details and responded to questions and suggestions from the Mayor and City Commissioners. Commissioner Dressier was outside of the room between 11:09 and 11:18 a.m. Mayor Talabisco suggested increasing awareness about the existence and availability of the City's neighborhood partnership program. Commissioner Gomez also suggested publicizing the availability of free paint available through Broward County's paint recycling program. There being no further business to come before City Commission, Mayor Talabisco adjourned the workshop meeting at 11:24 a.m. r ESTABLISHED`: Q 1963 Q„'• SEAL .'Q i �,• rANI p... Peter M. J. Richardson, CRM City Clerk Page 4 of 4 City Commission Workshop March 7, 2011 1 1