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Home My WebLink About2009-02-23 - City Commission Workshop Meeting MinutesCITY OF TAMARAC CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2009 CONFERENCE ROOM 105 CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco called the workshop meeting of the City Commission to order at 9:30 a.m. In Conference Room 105 at Tamarac City Hall, 7525 NW 88 Avenue, Tamarac, FL. PRESENT: Mayor Beth Flansbaum-Talabisco, Vice Mayor Patricia Atkins -Grad, Commissioner Pamela Bushnell, Commissioner Diane Glasser, and Commissioner Harry Dressler. ALSO PRESENT: City Manager Jeffrey L. Miller, Deputy City Manager/Interim Financial Services Director Michael C. Cernech, City Attorney Samuel S. Goren, and City Clerk Marion Swenson. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco led the pledge of allegiance. 1. Item No. 6(o) on the Consent Agenda. LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND PROGRAM GRANT APPLICATION — WATERS EDGE: (TR11576) Authorizing submission of a grant application, acceptance and execution of the grant agreement if awarded pending legal review, to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for a 2009 Land and Water Conservation Fund Program (LWCF) grant for the provision of recreational elements at Water's Edge Park in an amount not to exceed $200,000, providing for a 1:1 match of $200,000 from prior grant funding, for a total project cost not to exceed $400,000. Director of Parks and Recreation Warner and Special Projects Coordinator Gresek appeared. Special Projects Coordinator Gresek gave a presentation. Commissioner Bushnell questioned the value of the land and Special Projects Coordinator Gresek responded $1.5 million. Vice Mayor Atkins -Grad said this park will be well used. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco agreed the park will be well used and it is in a very good location. At the U.S. Conference of Mayors there was discussion of playground equipment or funding available through a group called Kaboom. Director of Parks and Recreation Warner said he is familiar with the program; Kaboom provides some funding and gets volunteer groups from the community to help construct the equipment. 2. Item No. 6(p) on the Consent Agenda. INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT RENEWAL: (TR11575) A resolution of the City Commission of the City of Tamarac, Florida authorizing the appropriate city officials to extend the existing agreement between the City of Tamarac and Davidson Fixed Income Management, (Formerly Kirkpatrick Pettis Capital Management), for investment advisory services for a one-year period effective April 15, 2009 through April 14, 2010; providing for conflicts; providing for severability; and providing for an effective date. Deputy City Manager/Interim Financial Services Director Cernech, Controller Cajuste, and Purchasing/Contracts Manager Glatz appeared. Deputy City Manager Cernech/Interim City Commission Workshop Meeting Monday, February 23, 2009 Page 1 of 4 Financial Services Director Cernech gave a presentation. Vice Mayor Atkins -Grad said the company goes above and beyond to help the City and she is happy to renew the agreement. Commissioner Dressler said the services they have provided are appropriate and it is reasonable to go with the company for a one-year extension, plus it is desirable to do this during a transition period. Commissioner Bushnell agreed it is a good idea to wait until the new Financial Services Director comes in to go to bid. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco asked how we are coming along with the search for a new Financial Services Director; Deputy City Manager Cernech/Interim Financial Services Director Cernech replied we have conducted several interviews and have a few more to go through and then we will narrow the list. 3. Item 6(m) on the Consent Agenda. CHANGE ORDER TO AGREEMENT WITH DEPOMPEO AND AN AGREEMENT WITH BROWARD SCHOOL BOARD: (TR11571) A resolution of the City Commission of the City of Tamarac, Florida, authorizing the appropriate City Officials to execute Change Order Number 8 to the Agreement between the City of Tamarac and Di Pompeo Construction Corporation for the design/build of the Tamarac Park Recreation Center project for the design and construction of an additional parking facility to be located between the Tamarac Park Recreation Center and Tamarac Elementary School; authorizing the appropriate city officials to execute a lease and funding agreement with the School Board of Broward County for said parking facility; authorizing an additional expenditure in an amount not to exceed $361,994.46 for said purpose; authorizing budget amendments as needed for proper accounting purposes; providing for conflicts; providing for severability; and providing for an effective date. Public Works Director Strain, Director of Parks and Recreation Warner and Purchasing/Contracts Manager Glatz appeared. Public Works Director Strain gave a presentation. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco questioned the location of the additional parking and Public Works Director Strain explained it is between the Recreation Center and the Multi -Purpose Center. Commissioner Glasser said she is happy to see the partnership between the City and the School Board. Commissioner Dressler said this is a plus from the viewpoint of Tamarac Elementary School. 4. Item 6(b) on the Consent Agenda. FY2007/2008 HOME INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT: (TR11551) A resolution of the City of Tamarac, Florida, accepting the 2007-2008 Fiscal Year and Fiscal Year Home Investment Partnership ("HOME") funds; authorizing the appropriate City Officials to execute an Interlocal Agreement for the designation of subrecipient and disbursement of HOME Program, Fiscal Year 2007- 2008, with Broward County and Subsequent agreements, if necessary, pending legal review; providing for conflicts; providing for severability; and providing for an effective date. 5. Item No. 6(c) on the Consent Agenda. FY200812009 HOME INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT: (TR11552) A resolution of the City of Tamarac, Florida, accepting the 2008-2009 Fiscal Year and Fiscal Year Home Investment Partnership ("HOME") funds; authorizing the appropriate City Officials to execute an Interlocal Agreement for the designation of subrecipient and disbursement of HOME Program, Fiscal Year 2008- City Commission Workshop Meeting Monday, February 23, 2009 Page 2 of 4 2009, with Froward County and subsequent agreements, if necessary, pending legal review; providing for conflicts; providing for severability; and providing for an effective date. 6. Item No. 6(n) on the Consent Agenda. APPROVAL OF FIRST AMENDMENT — CDBG ACTION PLAN FY08/09: (TR11574) A resolution of the City of Tamarac, Florida, approving an amendment to the projects recommended for inclusion in the Fiscal Year 2008 Annual Action Plan for expenditure of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Block Grant funds estimated to be $418,800.00 for the ninth program year (Case No. 5-MI-09); providing for conflicts; providing for severability; and providing for an effective date. 7. UPDATE ON NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION: Community Development Director Bramley and Housing Administrator Bauldree appeared. Community Development Director Bramley suggested discussing Items 4, 5, 6, and 7 together. Housing Administrator Bauldree gave a presentation. City Attorney Goren explained by taking language regarding essential personnel out of the agreement until a determination is made by Washington, that the City did not waive, but rather reserved our rights. Vice Mayor Atkins -Grad said she is proud the City was included in the South Florida Real Estate Board's symposium. Commissioner Bushnell confirmed the workshop for applicants will be for all applicants, not only those who have already been screened. There was discussion regarding the $10,000 for essential personnel and it was explained essential personnel would be granted an additional $10,000 toward purchase, should that part of the agreement be approved by Washington. 1 Commissioner Glasser questioned who makes the decision whether a home is reparable or not and Housing Administrator Bauldree said the first lender makes this determination. Commissioner Dressler questioned what is being done for those who are not in foreclosure but are headed in that direction and Community Development Director Bramley spoke of the SHIP, CDBG, and NSP programs. Housing Administrator Bauldree said the City has relationships with various agencies and we are able to refer people to the agencies to discuss loan refinancing and/or modifications. Commissioner Glasser asked how long a homebuyer is obligated to stay in the home and Housing Administrator Bauldree said the homebuyer's note is for 30 years and is pro -rated down. Rehabilitation monies are in increments of 5, 10 and 15 years. Mayor Flansbaum- Talabisco confirmed the same information regarding properties is given to the homebuyers and the realtors. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco asked what the Mayor and City Commission can do to help lobby for the program for essential personnel. There was discussion regarding the fact that the government stipulated no one class can have an unfair advantage over another group of applicants; however there is proof of this type of application in Florida. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco confirmed on a future trip to Washington the CPD is a good group to talk to; and City Attorney Goren said the main office of HUD in Florida is in Jacksonville and they may have a better understanding of the Florida model; perhaps we can talk to them about it. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco questioned how the information is getting to the public. Housing Administrator Bauldree said since October the City has advertised in the Tam -A -Gram, Sun -Sentinel, held public hearings, placed information on the website, held realtor and housing City Commission Workshop Meeting Monday, February 23, 2009 Page 3 of 4 symposiums and hired a housing consulting agency which has aired on Hot 105 FM. City Attorney Goren added the department directors spoke with employees about the program at staff meetings. Commissioner Bushnell said information was also given out at town hall meetings. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco said the Mayor and City Commission could also use their blast emails to get the information out to the residents. Commissioner Glasser said it is the obligation of the Mayor and City Commission to get the word out to the residents. Commissioner Bushnell said many people have pride and do not let on if they are in financial difficulties. We need to provide the information to the homeowner associations so they can have the information available for their residents. Commissioner Dressler spoke about the incongruity of the stimulus money and the unwillingness of banks to lend money to homebuyers for distressed foreclosed properties. Vice Mayor Atkins -Grad said the conditions of properties are listed on the multiple listings; however in their anger over losing their property, many homeowners do drastic damage to homes. Commissioner Glasser asked who handles payment of the debts when repairs are made through the program and Community Development Director Bramley said the repairs go through the City and are monitored by the City. There being no further business to come before the Mayor and City Commission, Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco adjourned the workshop meeting at 10:33 a.m. IVlarion�son, C C City Clerk City Commission Workshop Meeting Monday, February 23, 2009 Page 4 of 4