HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-10-21 - City Commission Workshop Meeting MinutesCITY OF TAMARAC
CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP
MONDAY, OCTOBER- 21, 2013
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Beth Talabisco called the Workshop of the City Commission to
order at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, October 21, 2013 in Conference Room 105, Tamarac City
Hall, 7525 NW 88 Avenue, Tamarac, FL 33321.
ROLL CALL: Mayor Beth Talabisco, Vice Mayor Harry Dressler, Commissioner Pamela
Bushnell, Commissioner Michelle J. Gomez and Commissioner Diane Glasser were in
attendance.
Also in attendance were City Manager Michael Cernech, Assistant City Manager Diane
Phillips, Assistant City Attorney Julie Klahr and City Clerk Patricia Teufel.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Commissioner Glasser led the Pledge of Allegiance.
1. TO2291 - 2nd Budget Amendment: Item No. 8 (a) on Ordinances First Reading. (TO2291)
Motion to adopt an Ordinance of the City Commission of the City of Tamarac, Florida, on first
reading amending Ordinance 2013-04, which amended the City of Tamarac Operating
Budget, Revenues and Expenditures, the Capital Budget, and the Financial Policies for the
Fiscal Year 2013, by increasing the Total Revenues and Expenditures by a Total of
$1,209,405 as detailed in Exhibit A attached hereto; providing for conflicts; providing for
severability; providing for an effective date. Financial Services Director Mark Mason
appeared and discussed the purpose of the ordinance and gave a brief summary and
r, overview of the ordinance. A copy of Mr. Mason's presentation is on file in the City Clerk's
Office. Financial Services Director Mason responded to a few questions from the
Commission.
2. TR12414 - Amending Red Light Special Magistrate Appointment: Item No. 6 (f) on the
Consent Agenda. (TR12414) A Resolution of the City Commission of the City of Tamarac,
Florida, amending Resolution No. 2013-81 to remove James D. Stokes as special magistrate
for local red light camera hearings and appointing Alexia Gertz to serve as special magistrate
for local red light camera hearings; providing for conflicts; providing for severability; and
providing for an effective date. Financial Services Director Mark Mason appeared and said
when the legislature amended the statute to transfer the authority to hear notice of violation
cases to local government agencies staff brought forward two magistrates for the
Commission to approve. Subsequently the Attorney General issued an opinion that Red Light
Camera Magistrates could not serve more than one City due to the rules of dual office
holding and since James Stokes has taken the position of Red Light Camera Special
Magistrate for the City of Boynton Beach this eliminates him from serving as Tamarac's
second Special Magistrate. This necessitates repealing R-2013-81 and adopting a new
resolution to appoint Alexia Gertz to serve as the special magistrate for red light notice of
violation cases for the City of Tamarac. Financial Services Director Mason said we will have
to wait until we start hearing proceedings to determine if we will need additional backup
magistrates. Mayor Talabisco asked if this opinion applies to the Code Magistrates as well.
Assistant City Attorney Klahr said the AGO has rendered its opinion regarding Code
Enforcement Magistrates and there are a number of attorneys that disagree with that opinion,
including her office, and her office has been in communication with the AGO regarding this
Page 1 of 2 COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING October 21, 2013
issue for some time now. Assistant City Attorney Klahr ended by saying that an Attorney
General Opinion is just an opinion of a lawyer and it is not binding to anyone other than the
person that asked for it.
3. Discussion Regarding Cancellation of Meetings: Discussion regarding the cancellation of
the November 25, 2013 Workshop, November 27, 2013 Commission Meeting, December 23,
2013 Workshop and the December 25, 2013 Commission Meeting. City Clerk Patricia Teufel
said the reason for the cancellation of the meetings in November was in observance of
Thanksgiving Day and the meetings in December was in observance of the Christmas
Holiday and asked for a consensus from the Commission to cancel the meetings. All were in
agreement to cancel said meetings.
4. Update on Green Initiatives: Public Services Director Jack Strain appeared and gave a
presentation, a copy of which is on file in the City Clerk's Office. Public Services Director
Strain said back in 2008 staff set a target of a 7% decrease in greenhouse gas emissions by
2015 and as of 2012 Tamarac has exceeded that target and it will be interesting to see what
happens in 2014 and 2015. Mayor Talabisco said this is a comprehensive overview of
Tamarac's green initiatives and thanked Public Services Director Strain for being so
supportive of these initiatives. Vice Mayor Dressler asked what percentage of Waste
Management's fleet is powered by natural gas and Public Services Director Strain responded
100%. Vice Mayor Dressler said this should be included in the presentation and Public
Services Director Strain said it would be included as a footnote. Public Services Director
Strain responded to a few questions from the Commission regarding the pre-tax employee
commuter program and van carpooling.
5. Other Business:
There being no further business to come before the City Commission, Mayor Talabisco
adjourned the meeting at 10:08 a.m.
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Patricia Teufel, PMC
City Clerk
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