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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-03-21 - City Commission Workshop Meeting MinutesCITY OF TAMARAC CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING MONDAY, MARCH 21, 2005 CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Schreiber called the Workshop Meeting of the City Commission to order on Monday, March 21, 2005, at 9:30 a.m. in Room 105 of Tamarac City Hall, 7525 NW 88t" Avenue, Tamarac, Florida. PRESENT: Mayor Joe Schreiber, Vice Mayor Marc L. Sultanof, Commissioner Edward C. Partner, Commissioner Beth Flansbaum-Talabisco, and Commissioner Karen L. Roberts. ALSO PRESENT: City Manager Jeffrey L. Miller, City Attorney Mitchell S. Kraft, Assistant City Manager Diane Phillips, and City Clerk Marion Swenson. Mayor Schreiber led the pledge of allegiance. 1. MARCH 23. 2005 AGENDA ITEMS: a. Item No. 6(g). AMENDING EXPENDITURE BUDGET AND BUDGET OF ESTIMATED REVENUES FOR FY2005: (TR10645) Amending the expenditure budget for the Fiscal Year 2005; amending the budget of estimated revenues for the Fiscal Year 2005. Finance Director Chapman and Management and Budget Officer Sammartino appeared. Finance Director Chapman gave a presentation and said these are housekeeping matters. Finance Director Chapman reviewed the amendments and Mayor Schreiber said the Mayor's Jewels and Jeans Gala should be changed to Broward County not Mayor's. Commissioner Portner questioned the funds for the public art fund and questioned whether the sculpture was donated. Management and Budget Officer Sammartino said the sculpture was donated. City Attorney Kraft clarified that the sculpture was donated by Mr. Yellin and the money was given to the city. The city then purchased the sculpture from the artist. Commissioner Portner questioned the Three Million Dollars taken out for legal costs and the remaining fund balance. Finance Director Chapman replied as of September 30 we should end the year with an undesignated fund balance of about $3.7 million which gives us a fund balance of 9.45%. With this amount taken out the percentage will fall to 8.4% and that is within the allowable fund balance. Commissioner Roberts spoke of the Broward County Jewels and Jeans Gala and said it was her understanding that instead of sponsorship the Mayor and City Commission decided to donate $2,500 to the Transplant House. Commissioner Roberts and Commissioner Flansbaum-Talabisco agreed they wanted this noted as they did not want it to appear that the Mayor and City Commission sponsored a table. b. Item No. 6(h). NEW DEVELOPMENT SITE PLAN APPLICATION FEE REFUND — TAMARAC AQUATIC COMPLEX PROJECT: (TR10669) Refunding $3,000.00 to Catalfumo Construction, L.L.C. for New Development Site Plan fees collected in error March 21, 2005 City Commission Workshop Page 1 of 7 for the Tamarac Aquatic Complex Project (Case No. 4-MI-05). Community Development Director King gave a presentation. Commissioner Roberts said this is the right thing to do since it is the city's project. C. Item No. 6(n). FY04-05 ALLOCATION — STATE OF FLORIDA'S STATE HOUSING INITIATIVES PARTNERSHIP (SHIP_ PROGRAM FUNDS: (TR10657) Amending the State of Florida's State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Program budget of estimated revenues and expenditures in the amount of $422,627.00 by accepting the Fiscal Year 2004-2005 allocation of the program funds to be utilized according to the City's Local Housing Assistance Plan and Housing Delivery Goals Chart; appropriating said funds, including any and all necessary budget transfers (Case No. 2-MI-05). Community Development Director King gave a presentation and said this allocation is less than last years, based on the amount of doc stamps recorded. Mayor Schreiber said management of the SHIP program was turned over to the county and they are not doing a good job; the city should look into getting another company to manage the program. Community Development Director King said the city is aware of this and is on top of it; in the last two -three weeks the county has been more productive. The contract is good until the end of September and we are being proactive. Commissioner Roberts said it is a great program but she felt more homeowners and first time home buyers should be helped each year. Community Development Director King explained that in addition to the SHIP program there are CDBG funds available and we should be able to help 100-150 people in the next 6-8 months. Commissioner Roberts spoke of the number of foreclosures she has seen and asked if this affects the city, since some of them are SHIP houses. Community Development Director King said the city does get its funding back. Vice Mayor Sultanof questioned the progress of the first time homebuyers and Community Development Director King said the city will look into an increase in the amount of money available. Vice Mayor Sultanof spoke of foreclosures, in particular with regard to condominium units and asked how this can dovetail into the program. Community Development Director King explained when applicants are notified they have qualified it is up to the potential homeowner to find a home; the city can put them in touch with local real estate agents but then it is up to the applicant to find a property. Mayor Schreiber asked if there is a requirement that prospective homeowners purchase a property in Tamarac and Community Development Director King said if they are going to use Tamarac funds, then they must purchase in Tamarac. Commissioner Portner asked how much funding is allocated per city and Community Development Director King said SHIP allocates a minimum of $350,000 per city plus the doc stamps that are taken in through individual cities. There has been a cutback on monies received from doc stamps. d. Item No. 6(p). RIGHT-OF-WAY BEAUTIFICATION AGREEMENT — MCNAB ROAD MEDIANS FROM UNIVERSITY DRIVE TO THE EAST CITY LIMITS: (TR10666) Executing a Right -of -Way Beautification Agreement between Broward County and the City of Tamarac for landscaping improvements within McNab Road medians from University Drive to SW 83rd Avenue and for the maintenance thereafter of said landscape improvements. Public Works Director Strain gave a presentation. Mayor Schreiber asked what work is going to be done and Public Works Director Strain March 21, 2005 City Commission Workshop Page 2 of 7 said the medians would be dressed up, emulating what has been done elsewhere in the city. Commissioner Roberts asked if there is already a sprinkler system in the instant median and Public Works Director Strain said there is not. We will be installing a sprinkler system and taking the water from the canal. Commissioner Roberts asked what would be going in on the strip at the corner of McNab and University and Public Works Director Strain said pavers. Vice Mayor Sultanof questioned the SFWMD restrictions regarding water conservation and Public Works Director Strain said this work would be done under our master permit for irrigation. Vice Mayor Sultanof spoke of the median from 715t Place to McNab Road on Nab Hill and said he has seen our trucks watering the medians. Public Works Director Strain said he would look into it. Public Works Director Strain spoke of two grants, the instant one and one that the city would be applying for in the future. Vice Mayor Sultanof spoke of damaged palm trees due to lack of water, and spoke of a turn lane being constructed south of McNab. Public Works Director Strain said the new grant would cover medians from Commercial Boulevard north and the turn lane would be designed using the same pavers we have used throughout the city. Vice Mayor Sultanof spoke of the cut -in for buses and asked if the city is involved in planning the bus stops. Public Works Director Strain said we are involved in inspection of the construction, not the design. Commissioner Roberts asked when work would begin on the McNab medians and how long it would take. Public Works Director Strain said construction should take about 2-1/2 months once it is begun; work should start in a month or so. Mayor Schreiber asked where we would tap into water for irrigation on 70th Avenue, and Public Works Director Strain said the canal. Commissioner Portner questioned the construction on Southgate between University and Nob Hill and Public Works Director Strain said FPL is installing parallel lines and the city started work on the Veterans Park boat ramp and parking. Additionally there is construction on the central pump and west pump stations. Vice Mayor Sultanof asked Public Works Director Strain to check if FPL is reducing the line sections and Public Works Director Strain said they are running parallel feed to supplement the existing grid and have a more reliable system for our growth needs. e. Item No. 6(q). GRANT AWARD AND INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT — SHATHER PARCEL: (TR10654) Entering into an Interlocal Agreement with Broward County accepting a grant award up to the amount of $1,600,000 for the acquisition, improvement, enhancement, operation and management of open space site OS-117 Water's Edge Park (a.k.a. Shather Parcel) and accepting the conceptual open space park management plan included in the agreement for the development of OS-117; authorizing the appropriate city officials, upon approval and receipt of the Interlocal Agreement by Broward County, to execute and record the declaration of restrictive covenants and return to the county for funding. Assistant City Manager Phillips gave a presentation. Mayor Schreiber asked if the old trees on the property would be saved and Assistant City Manager Phillips said we will try to preserve them as they provide a good habitat for wild life. Mayor Schreiber questioned the location of the property and whether it fronts University Drive; Assistant City Manager Phillips said it is set back about 250' from University Drive; there is a parking lot in front of the property. Commissioner Portner questioned the requirement of putting a sign up for Broward County and Assistant City Manager Phillips said it was requested that the public be March 21, 2005 City Commission Workshop Page 3 of 7 notified that the property was acquired with funds from Broward County. Commissioner Roberts said she is on the Land Preservation and Acquisition Board (LPAB) and the County wants everyone to know the monies come from the bond issue. f. Item No. 6(r). GRANT AWARD AND INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT — CUMMINGS PARCEL: (TR10655) Entering into an Interlocal Agreement with Broward County accepting a grant award up to the amount of $782,000 for the acquisition, improvement, enhancement, operation and management of open space site OS-118 Swim Central Park Addition (a.k.a. Cummings Parcel) and accepting the conceptual open space park management plan included in the agreement for the development of OS-118; authorizing the appropriate city officials, upon approval and receipt of the Interlocal Agreement by Broward County, to execute and record the declaration of restrictive covenants and return to the county for funding. Assistant City Manager Phillips gave a presentation and said this is a companion agreement to the previous item. Vice Mayor Sultanof confirmed that a sign is also needed for this property to notify the public where the funding came from. Commissioner Flansbaum-Talabisco asked how difficult it would be if we decided to tweak our amenities and Assistant City Manager Phillips said that would be under the control of the County; the original request was submitted through the LPAB. Mayor Schreiber added that Coconut Creek recently opened a community center park with a skate park which is very nice. g. Item No. 7. ELECTING A VICE MAYOR TO SERVE FOR A ONE YEAR TERM: (TR10660) Motion to approve Resolution electing Commissioner to serve as Vice Mayor for a one (1) year term beginning March 23, 2005 with no succession. City Clerk Swenson asked for an expression of interest from the commissioners for a vice mayor to serve a one-year term with no succession, said item to be voted on at Wednesday's meeting. Commissioner Flansbaum-Talabisco expressed interest in serving as the next vice mayor and asked for the Mayor and City Commission's support. No one was in disagreement. Commissioner Portner questioned the $25,000 in Item 6(s) on the consent agenda. FLORIDA INLAND NAVIGATION GRANT: (TR10674) Submitting an application to the Florida Inland Navigation District Waterways Assistance Program for funding to construct a fishing pier at Southgate Linear Park in the amount of $25,000 providing for a city match of $25,000; providing for acceptance of the terms and conditions in F.I.N.D. Rule 6613-2 F.A.C. as part of the project agreement; ensuring that the program will match proposal requirements; assuming operation and maintenance responsibility for the project; providing for non-discrimination according to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and statutes relating to handicapped accessibility; ensuring availability of all records of expense to F.I.N.D. if requested; providing for acceptance of the award and execution of documents upon approval. Assistant City Manager Phillips explained the money is already budgeted and set aside for the Linear Park; the $25,000 we are looking at is for the fishing pier; the city is seeking ways to raise monies for the project. Commissioner Portner questioned Item No. 9 on the agenda, in particular whether a new company has come into Tamarac and is soliciting business. COMMERCIAL March 21, 2005 City Commission Workshop Page 4 of 7 GARBAGE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT — ACE WASTE SERVICES LLC.: J02081) Motion to adopt Ordinance on first reading authorizing the appropriate city officials to execute a Commercial Garbage Franchise Agreement between the City of Tamarac and Ace Waste Services, LLC. Public Works Director Strain said this company, Ace Waste Services, LLC, has taken over several routes that were part of Waste Management, as a result of a court order. Commissioner Portner asked if they did not need to come to the city for a contract and Public Works Director Strain said the company has operated in the City of Tamarac since August; they were discovered and now we are coming before the Mayor and City Commission with the contract for a franchise agreement. They will be billed retroactively to August for franchise fees. Commissioner Portner asked if the city could fine the company for operating without a contract and City Attorney Kraft said Tamarac would not lose any franchise fees, but there are no punitive provisions. Public Works Director Strain explained the city is being more proactive and spoke of the occupational licensing provision wherein a new business must show contracts with vendors for waste collection, among other things. The city does not now monitor renewals of the businesses' contracts upon renewal of licenses. Vice Mayor Sultanof spoke of sub -contractors working under the umbrella of existing vendors, and City Attorney Kraft explained that section 6 of the agreement states that the contracte shall not engage any contractor without approval of the city. Commissioner Flansbaum- Talabisco questioned an annual mechanism by which a city business informs the city of any changes prior to renewing the occupational license and suggested tightening up the process. Commissioner Flansbaum-Talabisco said now that we know this has occurred, this might be going on with other businesses; Commissioner Flansbaum-Talabisco asked if Public Works Director Strain would investigate. Community Development Director King explained the information is only taken during the initial licensing cycle and the business is not obligated to inform the city of any changes for which the city does not charge a fee. Public Works Director Strain said there have been discussions regarding changing the system and this is being looked at on multiple fronts. One suggestion is to have the waste haulers place city stickers on their dumpsters. Commissioner Flansbaum-Talabisco asked if there is a network available between cities to let each city know if this is going on and City Manager Miller said the TAC. 2. DISCUSSION RE: GRANT APPLICATION FOR A MOBILE SELF CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS: Chief Budzinski and Special Projects Coordinator Gresek appeared. Chief Budzinski gave a presentation and explained this equipment is to enable refilling of bottles and to allow continuation of operations on the scene. Commissioner Partner asked whether the thermal imager has been received and Chief Budzinski said the grant has just been approved; the equipment will be ordered as soon as all the paperwork is completed. Commissioner Portner asked whether this is a federal grant and Chief Budzinski said this program was instituted following 9-11 to put more money into first responders. Commissioner Portner asked about funding for homeland security and Chief Budzinski said a lot of the training provided has been through federal grants at no cost to the City of Tamarac, and the monies discussed today are under the homeland security umbrella. Mayor Schreiber said the biggest problem with homeland security funding is that the money does not get funneled to the cities. Mayor Schreiber asked if the purchase of this equipment would be piggybacked March 21, 2005 City Commission Workshop Page 5 of 7 on an existing bid and Chief Budzinski said he would enlist purchasing to research whether there is an existing bid we could piggyback onto or if we need to go out to bid ourselves. 3. DISCUSSION RE: VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE REQUEST FOR PLAQUES FOR EACH OF THE BRANCHES OF THE ARMED FORCES ON THE VETERANS MEMORIAL: Parks and Recreation Director Margoles gave a presentation and explained the members of the Veterans Affairs Committee voted to place plaques on the veterans memorial to commemorate the five branches of the armed forces. This issue came up before but the commission has not voted on it. The plaques will be the same size as the public art plaque and they will be bronze. The seven organizations that make up the Veterans Affairs Committee have pledged to raise funds for the plaques. Vice Mayor Sultanof said he is the commission liaison to the Veterans Affairs Committee and the members said they would raise the money and this would be an enhancement to the Veterans Park. Parks and Recreation Director Margoles said the cost of the plaques would be $250.00 each and at five plaques we are looking at a total of $1,250.00. Mayor Schreiber said if the members of the Veterans Affairs Committee are willing to raise the funds he has no objection to the plaques. Commissioner Flansbaum-Talabisco asked whether it could be completed by the end of May, and Parks and Recreation Director Margoles said the Veterans Affairs Committee will meet next month and at that time they can discuss a time frame for the project but she did not think the end of May would be realistic since it takes eight weeks for the plaques to be made. Additionally, during the Memorial Day ceremony we will have the dedication of the Eternal Flame. Commissioner Portner said this is a city park and the city should support this and pay for the plaques; public funds should be used for a public park. Vice Mayor Sultanof said he felt the Merchant Marines should also be included in the plaques and the city should allocate the $1,250.00 for the plaques. Commissioner Flansbaum-Talabisco asked for clarification with regard to the discussion of the Merchant Marines. Parks and Recreation Director Margoles clarified the Veterans Affairs Committee recommended five plaques and the Merchant Marines were not brought up during the committee's discussions. Vice Mayor Sultanof asked that this be held over until after the Veterans Affairs Committee meets next month and Commissioner Portner said he felt a decision should be made now. Commissioner Roberts said it is a great idea but the Veterans Affairs Committee should help raise funds and she felt Veterans Day, in November would be the best time to unveil the plaques. Mayor Schreiber asked for an expression of interest to approve $1,250.00 for five plaques. Commissioner Portner, Vice Mayor Sultanof, Commissioner Flansbaum- Talabisco, and Mayor Schreiber were in agreement to expend $1,250.00 of city funds for five plaques. Commissioner Roberts was not in agreement. Vice Mayor Sultanof said he would like to find out whether the Merchant Marines is a private organization or under the umbrella of the Coast Guard. Mayor Schreiber and Commissioner Portner said the Merchant Marines are not considered veterans. Commissioner Flansbaum- Talabisco said the Veterans Park is a beautiful park; we have an eternal flame and will now move forward with plaques; however, she would like to think the park is done except for future landscaping upkeep. Nothing else is needed for this park. March 21, 2005 City Commission Workshop Page 6of7 1 There being no further business to come before the Mayor and City Commission, Mayor Schreiber adjourned the workshop meeting at 10:55 a.m. MARION SWENSON, CIVIC CITY CLERK March 21, 2005 City Commission Workshop Page 7 of 7