HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-03-12 - City Commission Workshop Meeting MinutesCITY OF TAMARAC
CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING
MONDAY, MARCH 12, 2007
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco called the Workshop Meeting of the
City Commission to order on Monday, March 12, 2007, at 9:30 a.m. in Room 105 of
Tamarac City Hall, 7525 NW 881" Avenue, Tamarac, Florida.
PRESENT: Mayor Beth Flansbaum-Talabisco, Vice Mayor Edward C. Portner,
Commissioner Patte Atkins -Grad, Commissioner Marc L. Sultanof, and Commissioner
Harry Dressler.
ALSO PRESENT: City Manager Jeffrey L. Miller, Assistant City Attorney Julie Klahr,
Deputy City Manager Michael C. Cernech, and City Clerk Marion Swenson.
Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco led the pledge of allegiance and announced an addition to
the workshop meeting as Item #4, requested by Vice Mayor Portner: Slide Show from
the State Road 7/ 441 Collaborative.
1. UPDATE ON SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT SFWMD
PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES: Governing Board Member Miya Burt -Stewart and
Carole Morris appeared. Ms. Burt -Stewart gave a presentation and commended
Tamarac residents on their conservation of water, and commended Commissioner
Atkins -Grad, who spearheaded the idea of restaurants only serving water when
requested. Ms. Burt -Stewart spoke of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration
Project (CERP) and said the SFWMD is looking for ways to conserve water that are not
counterproductive, i.e., taking water from the Everglades and then restoring the water.
Ms. Burt -Stewart said Tamarac has been a champion in the area of consumptive use.
With regard to the Broward Initiative, all cities and counties benefit. If we are able to
identify water projects in Tamarac that will meet the future needs of the City, the
SFWMD will support Tamarac's efforts and go to the legislators for funding.
Commissioner Sultanof said Director of Utilities Gagnon does a marvelous job on behalf
of Tamarac, and Ms. Burt -Stewart added water restrictions are in place, but there are no
mandates at the present time; we are still in a period of water shortage. Commissioner
Sultanof asked residents to be frugal in their water use. Ms. Burt -Stewart advised of
Water Resources Director for Broward County David Lee's passing this weekend. Vice
Mayor Partner questioned the depth of Lake Okeechobee and Ms. Burt -Stewart
responded it is at about 11' 3". Vice Mayor Portner spoke of the pitchers of water
placed at the Mayor and City Commission's places during workshop meetings and
asked that since he did not drink water, a pitcher not be put out for him. Vice Mayor
Portner asked what the county is doing to conserve water and Ms. Burt -Stewart said
there are a lot of different initiatives to educate the public. Vice Mayor Portner
questioned the $100 million taken out of the Everglades Restoration fund and Ms. Burt -
Stewart said she would research the matter and bring back an answer. Ms. Burt -
Stewart spoke of the Acceler8 program wherein projects are being discussed for the
Everglades Restoration Project and said we need federal partners to assist with this
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program. Commissioner Sultanof asked if we are still getting money from the sugar
industry and Ms. Burt -Stewart said all applicable participants are participating.
Commissioner Dressler questioned reclamation of water, spoke of Collier County's
program, and questioned collaborative funding with the SFWMD and County. Ms. Burt -
Stewart explained local projects are funded through the district, we go to the legislature
for certain funding and the federal government for the CERP funding. Ms. Burt -Stewart
offered to sit with individual commissioners to answer any questions they may have
regarding the SFWMD and initiatives. Commissioner Dressler said while the legislators
are able to find $700 million for incentives for large corporations, they have trouble
finding money for recycling projects that could impact the environment and millions of
people in this state. Commissioner Dressler added this Commission recently sponsored
a resolution for increased funding to repair the dike around Lake Okeechobee, and we
need to think more regionally. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco said the packet of
information distributed by the SFWMD is extremely informative, especially the 50 ways
to be water smart, and asked for more pamphlets so the Mayor and City Commission
can distribute them when they speak at the Homeowner Associations, and to place
throughout City Hall.
2. MARCH 14.2007 AGENDA ITEMS:
a. Item No. 6(c) on the Consent Agenda. QUIT -CLAIM DEEDS AND
CONVEYANCE OF FEE SIMPLE INTEREST: (TR11099) Finding properties received
by the City as a result of County Quit -Claim Deeds pursuant to Section 197.592(3),
Florida Statutes, to be of nominal value; finding that the risk of liability as a result of
owning certain properties far outweighs the nominal value of same; authorizing the City
Attorney's office to prepare quit claim deeds and convey fee simple interest of subject
properties to the previous owners; authorizing the appropriate city officials to take all
steps necessary to effectuate the intent of this resolution. Assistant City Attorney Klahr,
Public Works Director Strain and Assistant Public Works Director/City Engineer Doherty
appeared. Public Works Director Strain said he met with all Homeowner Associations
to discuss this matter with them. Public Works Director Strain discussed the various
associations this affects. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco confirmed the process after the
resolution is voted on and Public Works Director Strain said quit claim deeds will be
generated to the Homeowner Associations immediately, with the exception of Mainlands
1 & 2, where the City is not deeding the entire properties to the Homeowner Association
— in this instance surveys will have to be conducted first.
b. Item No. 6(d) on the Consent Agenda. PURCHASE OF NEW AND
REPLACEMENT VEHICLES: (TR11139) Purchasing replacement and new vehicles
utilizing the Florida Sheriffs Association Bid #06-14-0821 and Florida Department of
Transportation Contract #FVPP-03-SC-3; authorizing an expenditure in an amount not
to exceed $673,649; declaring certain equipment as surplus and directing that
equipment be disposed via sale through established Internet markets to be selected;
placing all proceeds into the appropriate fund from which the assets were originally
purchased; authorizing budget transfers as needed for proper accounting purposes.
Public Works Director Strain and Purchasing/Contracts Manager Glatz appeared.
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Public Works Director Strain gave a presentation and spoke of the formula used to
calculate whether a vehicle should or should not be replaced. The exceptions to the
rule of thumb are the 2000 Dodge, which was deemed totaled, and the social services
vans with high mileage and the probability of down time and loss of service to the
community. Vice Mayor Portner questioned whether the social services vans should not
last through 250,000 miles and Public Works Director Strain said they could be held
onto if the City is willing to put out the money for anticipated repairs. Vice Mayor
Portner questioned resale value through the internet and Public Works Director Strain
said we get better prices through the internet than when we held live auctions.
Purchasing/Contracts Manager Glatz added it is anticipated the Aerotech Vans will
garner a lot of interest around the nation. Vice Mayor Portner asked if there are specific
items that break down on the vehicles and Public Works Director Strain said it could be
a myriad of things. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco asked for a report after the items are
sold.
C. Item No. 6(f) on the Consent Agenda. BROWARD LEAGUE VOTING
DELEGATES: (TR11147) Appointing a Director, Alternate, and Second Alternate to the
Broward League of Cities; authorizing and directing the City Clerk to notify the Broward
League of Cities of the City of Tamarac's appointments. Assistant City Manager Phillips
gave a presentation and after discussion there was an expression of interest, agreed
upon by the Mayor and City Commission to appoint Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco as
Director, with Commissioner Dressler serving as Alternate and Commissioner Atkins -
Grad Second Alternate. Commissioner Dressler mentioned that with his work schedule,
it is possible Commissioner Atkins -Grad could be attending more meetings than he.
3. PROPERTY TAX UPDATE: City Manager Miller and Financial Services Director
Chapman appeared. City Manager Miller explained this is an update on Speaker
Rubio's Bill, which has already passed the Budget Committee in the House, and there is
not a lot of play in the Senate for this Bill. Tamarac is taking steps in our budget; if, for
example, Speaker Rubio's Bill is passed it will represent a decrease of $8.2 million in
our general budget, rolling the millage back to the 2000-2001 rate, with caps regarding
inflation and a small percentage for growth in the community. City Manager Miller said
he has instructed department directors that there will be no new programs, staff, or
capital improvement projects (unless an emergency arises) with the exception of the
Utilities Department which is funded through a different source. By the time we hold our
June workshop on the budget we should have a better idea of what is happening in the
legislature. Financial Services Director Chapman explained the rollback and the
resulting anticipated shortage of $8,211,210. Financial Services Director Chapman said
this is being pushed by the Florida House of Representatives, which consists of a
majority of Republicans. The details have yet to be worked out and our figures are
more conservative than those of the Florida League of Cities. Financial Services
Director Chapman explained the legislature will allow for a unanimous vote by each
city's commission to increase taxes. Commissioner Dressler said if we were to vote
against the roll back for Tamarac we would then lose sales tax revenues.
Commissioner Sultanof asked City Manager Miller how much of a dent in our budget
this would actually make and what programs could replace those that would have to be
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eliminated. City Manager Miller explained we will be required to meet the roll back rate,
which will be effective prior to our FY08 budget; it is not discretionary. He is not quite
sure what the rollback rate will be and he does not want to drastically reduce the budget
if he does not have to. This is the most devastating of the proposals and if this passes
we will see a significant reduction in services in all departments across the board.
Commissioner Dressler spoke of recession and increasing costs and the fact that we
would not be able to keep up with our infrastructure, there may be a hiring freeze, and
programs will have to be cancelled. Commissioner Sultanof said he does not want the
residents to go into a panic and we must analyze what is happening and devise a
method to handle the situation little by little and step by step. We will come up with a
solution. Commissioner Dressler said the people should understand that the $8 million
deficit is not the worst case scenario, but we are not merely looking at a one-year
deficit. If there are ways to replace the ad valorem tax and reduce our millage then we
should do so and take the credit for coming up with the solution. Vice Mayor Portner
said what it all comes down to is us controlling the legislature, not them controlling us.
They are out of touch with what is going on in the cities. Vice Mayor Portner said he
does not believe the majority of the people understand what a tax is for or where their
money goes. Vice Mayor Partner suggested the City Managers and the County
Manager do something to correct the situation and go to Tallahassee and meet with the
legislators. Commissioner Dressler referenced a political cartoon in Sunday's paper by
Chan Lowe, wherein Mr. Lowe depicted the connection between property taxes and first
responder levels of service. Commissioner Dressler spoke of ideology creating the
difference in Bills put forth by the Republicans and Democrats; the Republicans are pro
business. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco said this issue changes as we speak, and while
she agrees with Vice Mayor Portner, City Manager Miller is the best leader for the
BCCMA and is an advocate for cities. The City Managers must go to Tallahassee with
facts and figures. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco commended League Lobbyist Russ
Klenet who is on the job every day, and also commended Broward County
Commissioner Lieberman who went to Tallahassee last week. Mayor Flansbaum-
Talabisco added there is no better advocate for the County and cities than Broward
County Commissioner Lieberman. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco said she and Vice
Mayor Portner presented their case to the legislature; she feels Representative
Waldman understands our plight. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco said she is going to
Tallahassee next week for Broward Days as it is important that Tamarac makes a
presence there. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco suggested City Manager Miller try to get
several of the City Managers who are not members of BCCMA to join the organization.
City Manager Miller said he is encouraged by the response he has gotten from several
managers who will go with City Manager Miller for hearings. Mayor Flansbaum-
Talabisco said if some of the City Managers are not involved to let the Mayor and City
Commission know and they can be helpful in speaking to their colleagues. Vice Mayor
Portner said we must visit the Republicans as well as the Democrats in Tallahassee and
make them understand the situation. City Manager Miller spoke of a meeting with
Senator Mike Haridopolos, who is also Chair of the Finance and Tax Committee of the
Senate, and he is a quick study and open to suggestions. The City Managers sent
Senator Haridopolos some ideas and he is looking into some of them. City Manager
Miller said he hopes to keep this line of dialogue open. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco
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said she takes the budget book to all her meetings but feels her challenge to go through
the budget line by line falls on deaf ears. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco reported on the
interpretation of Japanese Art that was presented at the Tamarac Community Center on
Friday evening, and while she was in attendance she was stopped by two women who
praised the Chair Yoga program at the Tamarac Community Center that they participate
in twice each week, and they mentioned they use the Tamarac Transit. Mayor
Flansbaum-Talabisco said the public does not realize what is going on and these are
some of the programs that might have to be cut as a result of the tax situation. Mayor
Flansbaum-Talabisco said she hoped City Manager Miller and Financial Services
Director Chapman would bring the Mayor and City Commission periodic updates,
preferably at each workshop meeting.
4. UPDATE ON PROPOSED STATE ROAD 7/"1 BEAUTIFICATION: Vice Mayor
Portner presented a slide show on proposed beautification of State Road 7/441
incorporating ideas from the following cities/locales: Lauderdale Lakes, West Park,
Major Node, North Lauderdale, Tamarac, Plantation Gateway, Miramar, Davie Town
Center, Lauderhill, Margate City Center, Coral Springs, and Parkland. Vice Mayor
Portner explained this is a 20-year project at a cost of approximately $100 billion and
transportation funding is anticipated from Federal, Local and State governments.
Additionally, the collaborative is looking at light rail and reducing State Road 7 by two
lanes. The State Road 7 corridor runs for 29 miles from Miami Dade to Palm Beach
Counties and we would like Miami Dade and Palm Beach Counties to incorporate their
ideas with ours. The conceptual plans include Mediterranean style buildings, pavers,
and lush landscaping. At this point it is merely conceptual, but we need to make sure
the public understands what it is the collaboration is trying to do. Mayor Flansbaum-
Talabisco added Vice Mayor Portner is Chairman of the State Road 7 Collaborative and
he is passionate about this project; he is a credit to this committee.
There being no further business to come before the Mayor and City Commission, Mayor
Flansbaum-Talabisco adjourned the workshop meeting at 11:25 a.m.
Marion Swenson, CMC
City Clerk
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