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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 March 12, 2007 City Commission Workshop Page 1 of 5 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. March 12, 2007 City Commission Workshop Page 2 of 5 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 March 12, 2007 City Commission Workshop Page 3 of 5 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 March 12, 2007 City Commission Workshop Page 4 of 5 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 March 12, 2007 City Commission Workshop Page 5 of 5