HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-01-22 - City Commission Workshop Meeting MinutesCITY OF TAMARAC
' CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING
TUESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2008
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco called the Workshop Meeting of the
City Commission to order on Tuesday, January 22, 2008, at 9:30 a.m. in Room 105 of
Tamarac City Hall, 7525 NW 88th Avenue, Tamarac, Florida.
PRESENT: Mayor Beth Flansbaum-Talabisco, Vice Mayor Marc L. Sultanof,
Commissioner Edward C. Portner, Commissioner Patte Atkins -Grad, and Commissioner
Harry Dressler.
ALSO PRESENT: City Manager Jeffrey L. Miller, City Attorney Samuel S. Goren,
Assistant City Manager Diane Phillips, and City Clerk Marion Swenson.
Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco led the pledge of allegiance.
1. JANUARY 23, 2008 AGENDA ITEMS:
a. Item No. 6(b) on the consent agenda. MAINTENANCE MEMORANDUM OF
AGREEMENT FOR RIGHT-OF-WAY LANDSCAPING: (TR11333) Executing a District
Four Maintenance Memorandum of Agreement between the State of Florida
' Department of Transportation (FDOT) and the City of Tamarac for right-of-way
landscaping on University Drive between Commercial Boulevard and Southgate
Boulevard. Public Works Director Strain appeared and gave a presentation.
Commissioner Fortner questioned the cost regarding the landscaping improvements
and Public Works Director Strain said the scope of work will not substantially change.
Commissioner Dressler asked that in conversations with the state, we have them skew
their selections to more drought resistant yet colorful foliage. Commissioner Atkins -
Grad agreed. Public Works Director Strain explained that at one time the City tried
xeriscaping the medians but it was not well received by the public; perhaps a test area
would be the way to go. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco agreed it is not a good idea to
level all the medians and start over again, but taking one median and controlling the
foliage and educating the public would make the median attractive and environmentally
promising, and over time we could gradually increase these elements throughout the
City. Public Works Director Strain said we will look into this on our next project and City
Manager Miller said we would choose a spot for a pilot program; public perception may
be changing. Commissioner Atkins -Grad asked that information be placed in the next
Tam -A -Gram.
b. Item No. 6(d) on the consent agenda. AWARDING BID NO. 08-01 B AND
EXECUTING AGREEMENT WITH PRIDE ENTERPRISES INC. — UTILITY SERVICE
BILL PROCESSING: (TR11337) Awarding Bid No. 08-01B entitled "Utility Service Bill
' Processing" authorizing the appropriate City officials to execute an agreement between
the City of Tamarac and Pride Enterprises, Inc. for a two-year term commencing on
date of award, at a unit cost of $0.1109 per bill, with two (2) optional two-year renewal
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City Commission Workshop
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options. Financial Services Director Chapman, Purchasing/Contracts Manager Glatz,
PRIDE Enterprises Sales Manager, Graphics, Greg Hielsberg, and PRIDE Enterprises
'
Account Manager David A. Hoodenpyle, Graphics Division appeared.
Purchasing/Contracts Manager Glatz gave a presentation and Mr. Hoodenpyle
explained the process. Vice Mayor Sultanof questioned the possibility of inmates
gaining access to names and addresses and Mr. Hoodenpyle said other cities use the
services with no problems. Commissioner Atkins -Grad said her concerns were
addressed after she read the backup and congratulated Purchasing/Contracts Manager
Glatz for using recycled envelopes in keeping with our green initiative. Commissioner
Dressler questioned how the workers are compensated and Mr. Hoodenpyle explained
they are paid $.55 per hour and the enterprise participates in victim restitution program,
as well as profits going back to the Department of Corrections. The Department also
provides placement services when the inmates leave prison. Commissioner Dressler
asked if placement services are co -related to low recidivism rates, and Mr. Hoodenpyle
said the Board reports to the governor annually regarding figures and success.
Commissioner Portner asked where PRIDE is located and the difference between
recycled envelopes and other envelopes. Mr. Hoodenpyle said in St. Petersburg, FL
with over 36 industries in 50 correction facilities, and Purchasing/Contracts Manager
Glatz spoke of post consumer content and a difference of 3.5 cents per envelope.
Commissioner Portner asked about screening the inmates and security risks and Mr.
Hoodenpyle responded this is done through a classification process by the Department
of Corrections. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco confirmed staff checked references and
said she is delighted PRIDE will be working for Tamarac; this is the socially right thing to
do.
'
2. UPDATE ON GREEN BUILDING INITIATIVE: Community Development Director
Bramley appeared and gave a presentation on silver certification, and added this will be
added to new employee orientation presentations. Community Development Director
Bramley spoke of ongoing programs and future initiatives, and added the City of
Tamarac has 34% of the maximum possible points earned for Silver Certification. Vice
Mayor Sultanof said he likes the idea and if we do not conserve there will be nothing
left. Commissioner Portner asked if we have considered solar panels for City Hall and
tax credits for solar power for private homes as part of the greening process and
Community Development Director Bramley said solar power for City Hall has not been
considered as part of this application and solar power for private homes will be included
in our website. City Manager Miller said tax credits do not fall within our jurisdiction.
Commissioner Portner questioned the type of light bulbs used in City Hall and an
outdoor project that was once being considered. Public Works Director Strain said we
use high efficiency lighting in City Hall and the outdoor project may be applied to
retrofitting a parking lot. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco suggested calling FPL to see if
they would participate in a test case scenario with us. Commissioner Dressler spoke of
Hybrid cars and the use of veggie bio fuel. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco suggested the
veggie bio fuel be included as part of the discussion at the greening workshop. City
Manager Miller explained San Francisco is using the veggie bio fuel and they are
collecting trans -fats for use in the engines. Commissioner Atkins -Grad said she is '
delighted to hear about San Francisco and she is also interested in car pooling.
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Commissioner Atkins -Grad asked when the application will be submitted and
' Community Development Director Bramley said we are still in the compiling mode.
Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco asked that our initiatives be included in the National
League of Cities and U.S. Conference of Mayors best practices.
3. DISCUSSION RE: PRIVATIZATION OF WATER/WASTEWATER UTILITIES:
Commissioner Portner and Director of Utilities Gagnon appeared. Commissioner
Portner withdrew the item from the agenda.
4. DISCUSSION RE: FEE ADJUSTMENT AS REQUESTED BY PRESTIGE
HOMES: Commissioner Portner said the developer, Prestige Homes, has agreed to all
the stipulations set forth by the City and the County, including, but not limited to
donating 22 acres to the City for a passive park, 9.5 acres for a new Fire Station and
Satellite City Hall, and $1 million toward the park. Engineering and CIAC fees will put
this development in jeopardy. Commissioner Portner asked City Attorney Goren how
this can be resolved. City Attorney Goren explained he had prepared a memorandum
as part of the backup addressing the applicant's request for modification of the fees.
City Attorney Goren said he supports staffs memo. City Manager Miller responded to
the Chaits correctly in his letter that he has no legal authority to amend the code.
Section 5-1(a) of the Code speaks to building permit fees and staff provided backup
supporting this Mayor and City Commission's legal decision to increase fees. An
ordinance is required to change the City Code; or a resolution re -setting the rates.
1 Modification of the fees is an across the board event. Currently, the development plan
in place for this developer was approved by many governmental agencies and today's
narrow focus is to amend certain kinds of fees. Vice Mayor Sultanof spoke of other
projects that were built in Tamarac and said all brought in much needed tax money to
the City, just as this project will, and said this Mayor and City Commission governs and
must make some decisions that may not be popular with the residents. Commissioner
Dressler confirmed staffs intention was to bring Tamarac fees in line with other cities.
City Manager Miller said this is correct; additionally there are new requirements that
must be met that were not in place many years ago; there are more permitting
requirements from Broward County and inspections that must be made by staff, which
bring us up to industry standards. The CIAC and engineering fees increased because
we need to construct a new water plant (reverse osmosis) and the fees will provide the
monies necessary to build and accommodate additional water supplies for this
development and others in the future. Commissioner Dressler confirmed the items were
discussed during previous workshops from the viewpoint for long term funding of the
utility plant down the road. Commissioner Dressler questioned whether due diligence is
the responsibility of a developer, and City Attorney Goren said all customers of the City
are charged with knowledge of the City Code and how it applies to them.
Commissioner Dressler spoke of the inequity of the developer's request. The ordinance
is rational and supports the fiscal policies and objectives of the City. Mayor Flansbaum-
Talabisco asked how this would monetarily affect the City, as other developers could
then request refunds of fees they already paid. Rather than addressing the issue of just
t one company, the commission has to look at the bigger picture. Commissioner Atkins -
Grad spoke of budget cuts made last year and said this request is not appropriate; she
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is in agreement with Commissioner Dressler and Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco.
Commissioner Portner said this is a project the people in his district want and it is good I
for the entire city.
Commissioner Portner yielded the floor to Commissioner Dressler and left the room at
12:04 p.m., returning at 12:05 p.m.
Commissioner Dressler asked his fellow commissioners not to personalize matters.
Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco referenced the procedures ordinance with regard to rude
and derogatory remarks. Commissioner Portner confirmed a new ordinance would
apply to everyone in the City, and said he feels by granting the applicant's request this
would only be an advantage to the City.
Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco asked for an expression of interest to move forward and
change the code/resolution. Commissioner Dressler said no; Commissioner Portner,
yes; Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco, no; Vice Mayor Sultanof, yes; and Commissioner
Atkins -Grad, no.
Commissioner Portner asked that the last two items on the agenda be moved to the
next workshop agenda.
5. DISCUSSION RE: REDEVELOPMENT ALONG STATE ROAD 7:
Commissioner Portner asked for this item to be withdrawn from this agenda and placed I
on the February 11, 2008 workshop agenda.
6. DISCUSSION RE: ORDINANCE NO. 0-2007-18 — COMPREHENSIVE
PROCEDURES FOR CITY COMMISSION MEETINGS — VOTING ORDER:
Commissioner Portner asked for this item to be withdrawn from this agenda and placed
on the February 11, 2008 workshop agenda.
There being no further business to come before the Mayor and City Commission, Mayor
Flansbaum-Talabisco adjourned the workshop meeting at 12:25 p.m.
Marion Swenson, CMC
City Clerk
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