HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-03-10 - City Commission Workshop Meeting MinutesCITY OF TAMARAC
CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING
MONDAY, MARCH 10, 2003
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Schreiber called the workshop meeting to order on Monday,
March 10, 2003, at 9:30 a.m. in Room 105 of Tamarac City Hall, 7525 NW 881h Avenue,
Tamarac, Florida.
PRESENT: Mayor Joe Schreiber, Commissioner Gertrude Mishkin, Commissioner Marc
L. Sultanof, and Commissioner Karen L. Roberts.
ABSENT AND EXCUSED FOR CAUSE: Vice Mayor Edward C. Portner.
ALSO PRESENT: City Manager Jeffrey L. Miller, City Attorney Mitchell S. Kraft,
Assistant City Manager Michael C. Cernech, and City Clerk Marion Swenson.
1. MARCH 12, 2003 AGENDA ITEMS:
a. Item No. 6(b). TASK AUTHORIZATION — GRANTS PLAZA WATER RE -PUMP
STATION IMPROVEMENT PROJECT: (TR10044) Executing Task Authorization No.
03-01 E with Eckler Engineering, to provide design, bidding, permitting and construction
document preparation services for the Grants Plaza Water Re -pump Station
Improvement Project, in accordance with the City's Consulting Engineering Agreement
as authorized by Resolution #R-2001-185, in an amount not to exceed $44,300.00;
approving funding from the appropriate budgeted Utilities Operational account;
authorizing the appropriate City Officials to administer the contract. Utilities Director
Raymond Gagnon introduced Water Plant Superintendent Harvey and Assistant
Director of Utilities Doherty, and said this is one of three pump stations that maintain
water pressure and supply to Tamarac. Assistant Director of Utilities Doherty gave a
presentation and noted at 30 years old, this station is becoming obsolete and
replacement parts are unobtainable. Mayor Schreiber asked if this is the only station
that provides pressure and Assistant Utilities Director Doherty explained it is one of
three in the city and covers east of State Road 441. Mayor Schreiber questioned the
connection with wells in the area and project costs. Water Plant Superintendent Harvey
said the station is only tied to the distribution system and Assistant Director of Utilities
Doherty said costs include $44,000 for design and $300,000 for construction; $450,000
is currently budgeted for both. Commissioner Roberts asked about the duration of the
project and possible disruption of service. Assistant Utilities Director Doherty
responded work should begin before this budget year is over and continue into next
year. There will be some loss of pressure but it would be adjusted at the plant during
construction.
b. Item No. 7. AMENDING SECTION 16-233 OF THE TAMARAC CODE —
PENSIONS AND RETIREMENT: (TO2000) Motion to adopt Ordinance on first reading
amending the City of Tamarac Code, Chapter 16, entitled "Pensions and Retirement",
Article III, Pension Plan, Division 4, Benefits, Section 16-233. Benefit Level, providing
for an increase in the benefit multiplier from 2.05% to 2.25% for employees who earn
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City Commission Workshop
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twenty-five vesting credits; providing for codification. Human Resources Director Maria
Swanson introduced Employee Relations Manager Cummings, who gave a
presentation. Employee Relations Manager Cummings said this change is a result of
the recently negotiated contract between the city and general employees. Human
Resources Director Swanson noted the effective date of February 1, 2003.
2. UPDATE — BAN ON SMOKING IN CITY PARKS: Commissioner Karen L.
Roberts said she went to the TAF and told them about the Attorney General Opinion
and advised them to have every league put smoking regulations in their parent
contracts. Commissioner Sultanof asked City Attorney Kraft about potential problems
and City Attorney Kraft said the leagues could enter into regulations through their own
auspices and there are no city regulations involved. Commissioner Sultanof questioned
whether parameters would be defined and Assistant Parks and Recreation Director
Warner explained that most cities' leagues count on buy -in from parents up front to
keep smoke away from children. Commissioner Roberts said soccer and football
leagues already include this regulation and there have been no problems.
3. DISCUSSION RE: RECITATION OF PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE BEFORE
WORKSHOP MEETINGS: Mayor Schreiber said it has not been past practice to recite
the pledge and asked for an expression of interest from the Commission.
Commissioner Sultanof said several boards and committees recite the pledge before
their meetings and suggested it be led by the Mayor at workshop meetings. The
Commissioners all agreed and Mayor Schreiber said the pledge would be recited at
workshop meetings beginning with the next workshop meeting.
4. DISCUSSION RE: RESOLUTION RELATIVE TO WAR ON IRAQ: Mayor
Schreiber said Vice Mayor Portner brought up this resolution but he is not present at
today's meeting. Mayor Schreiber said he would like to see a resolution prepared and
passed wherein if a matter is brought up and rejected or not approved, it could not be
brought back before the commission again for 6 months. Commissioner Roberts
suggested 60 days instead of 6 months. Commissioner Mishkin said she agrees with 6
months, but only after a matter has been brought up three times and rejected.
Commissioner Sultanof said the resolution relative to war on Iraq is different and was
not rejected out of hand; our own country is divided; discussion should be postponed
until Vice Mayor Portner returns. Commissioner Sultanof added that 125 cities in the
U.S. are passing similar resolutions and the Commission should look at it and
understand it. Commissioner Roberts said the resolution was tabled indefinitely at the
Broward League of Cities meeting as they felt it was not relevant for cities to do this at
this time. Mayor Schreiber said it should be done on a higher level and requested a
resolution setting a time frame for bringing back items for discussion be brought forward
at a future meeting. City Manager Miller clarified the proposed resolution would provide
that the sponsor of an item having come before the commission three times for
discussion and resulting in three expressions of interest to reject, could not bring the
item back to the Commission for 6 months. Mayor Schreiber and Commissioner
Mishkin favored 6 months, Commissioner Sultanof favored 60 days and Commissioner
Roberts said she had no preference.
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Commissioner Sultanof said a meeting of the MPO will be held on March 13t" where he
recommends casting a yes vote for a $2.00 increase of motor vehicle registration fees
to fund enhancement and enlargement of the 1-75/Turnpike/1-595 connection.
Commissioner Sultanof and Mayor Schreiber also spoke about tri-rail leaving from the
southern part of Palm Beach into Broward County, and the addition of another line.
Mayor Schreiber asked what the general feeling of the other MPO representatives was,
and Commissioner Sultanof said the majority were in favor of the increase.
Commissioner Sultanof said Tamarac is fortunate to have Bob Wolfe serving as a
delegate to the subcommittee and the information he brings forth is invaluable. The
Commissioners were in agreement for an affirmative vote on the $2.00 increase.
There being no further business to come before the City Commission, Mayor Schreiber
adjourned the workshop meeting at 10:00 a.m.
Marion Swenson, CIVIC
City Clerk
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