HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-04-10 - City Commission Workshop Meeting MinutesCITY OF TAMARAC
NOTICE OF WORKSHOP MEETING
CITY COMMISSION OF TAMARAC, FLORIDA
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Schreiber called the Workshop Meeting of the City
Commission to order on Monday, April 10, 2000, at 9:30 a.m. in Room 105 of Tamarac
City Hall, 7525 NW 88t" Avenue, Tamarac, Florida.
PRESENT: Mayor Schreiber, Vice Mayor Roberts, Commissioner Portner,
Commissioner Mishkin, and Commissioner Sultanof.
ALSO PRESENT: City Manager Miller, Assistant City Manager Hemstreet, City
Attorney Kraft and Interim City Clerk Swenson.
1. April 12, 2000 AGENDA ITEMS:
a) Item #8(d), RECEIPT OF FY99 WATER AND WASTEWATER SYSTEM
ANNUAL REPORT: (TR8967) Receiving Fiscal Year 1999 Annual Report prepared by
Hartman & Associates. Public Works Director/Interim Utilities Director Verma gave a
presentation. Mayor Schreiber asked about unaccounted for water loss, and Support
Services Manager Wilder and Fire Chief Budzinski responded. Commissioner Sultanof
questioned the wastewater capacity, and Public Works Director/Interim Utilities Director
Verma spoke about an Agreement between Tamarac and Broward County for one
million -gallon additional capacity. Mayor Schreiber suggested that Finance Director
Bates discuss future revenue with the Commission.
b) Item # 8(e), SUMMER CAMP USER FEES: (TR8944) Establishing fiscal year
2000 user fees for the City of Tamarac Parks and Recreation Department Summer
Camp Program. Parks and Recreation Director Margoles gave a presentation.
Commissioner Portner questioned Tamarac vs. Sunrise non-resident fees, and Parks
and Recreation Director Margoles responded. Vice Mayor Roberts asked how many
camps Tamarac has, and Parks and Recreation Director Margoles responded.
c) Item #8(f), GRANT -NATIONAL RECREATION AND PARKS ASSOCIATION:
(TR8966) Accepting grant funding from the National Recreation & Parks
Association/National Football League in the amount of $1,000; awarding $1,000 in a
grant to the Tamarac Youth Football League; amending the general fund estimated
revenues & expenditures in the amount of $1,000. Parks and Recreation Director
Margoles gave a presentation and said Tamarac is the only agency in Florida to have
been awarded these funds.
d) Item # 8(g), GRANT -URBAN FORESTRY: (TR8956) Accepting an Urban
Forestry Grant Award for $5,000 from Florida Department of Agriculture. Special
Projects Coordinator Phillips gave a presentation. Mayor Schreiber asked if this
pertains to condominiums as well as private homes, and Special Projects Coordinator
Phillips responded in the affirmative. Mayor Schreiber asked why Tamarac does not
take control of its own tree program, and City Manager Miller responded. Mayor
Schreiber asked that Tamarac reconsider adopting a stricter ordinance than the
County's. Commissioner Portner asked how this would be better than relying on the
County and if we would have to hire staff. Mayor Schreiber replied we would have
better control and Commissioner Sultanof said we would have to hire staff. There was
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Commission Workshop Meeting
discussion about the current outbreak of citrus canker, and Commissioner Sultanof
asked about the voucher program for replacement trees. Commissioner Portner said he
met with the Secretary of Agriculture and Representative Greenstein, and found out that
the State has no responsibility to give vouchers, but the vouchers that are given can be
used for things for the garden other than trees. Commissioner Portner said
Representative Greenstein is looking into the State and the Citrus Industry funding
replacement trees. There was discussion about delivering the trees. Commissioner
Portner asked how the booklet was going to be distributed, and Diane Phillips
responded it would be done during the Arbor Day celebration.
e) Item #8(h), GRANT - MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT PREVENTION AUTHORITY:
(TR8953) Authorizing an application for grant funds from the Motor Vehicle Theft
Prevention Authority. Chief Goldstein gave a presentation. Vice Mayor Roberts asked
about the number of rallies and Chief Goldstein said there would be 10 rallies. Vice
Mayor Roberts asked why they were being held only at Senior Community Centers, and
Chief Goldstein responded. Vice Mayor Roberts asked how much it was going to cost
the City and Chief Goldstein said there would be no cost to the City.
f) Item # 8(i), FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS GRANT
FUNDING (TR8961) Seeking grant funding from the Florida Department of Community
Affairs, Division of Emergency Management, in the amount of $13,000 to increase
existing levels of service and enhance mitigation in post -hurricane situations by
installing oxygen filling stations at each fire station; authorizing a City match in the
amount of $1,800 from the Grants Matching Fund and $2,534 in in -kind contributions for
a total project cost of $17,334. Fire Chief Budzinski gave a presentation.
g) TRANSPORTATION BUS
(1). Item #8(o)(1) TRANSPORTATION BUS PURCHASE: (TR8954) Authorizing the
purchase of passenger bus; authorizing an expenditure in an amount not to exceed
$55,836 utilizing a Florida Vehicle Procurement Program Contract, Social Services
Coordinator Stadlen gave a presentation. Commissioner Sultanof asked about keeping
the older bus as a backup and Social Services Coordinator Stadlen responded. There
was discussion about the use of the reserve bus.
(2). Item #8(o)(2), FINANCING PASSENGER BUS: (TR8963) Executing and
delivering certain lease documents in connection with the proposed financing of a
passenger bus under a master lease -purchase agreement between the City and Kislak
National Bank; amending the annual budget of estimated revenues and expenditures for
the purchase. Mayor Schreiber asked about the financing and Finance Director Bates
responded.
Since Item #2 on the Workshop agenda is also part of the Regular Meeting Consent
Agenda, Mayor Schreiber suggested discussing it at this time.
2. Item 8(t), (TR 8974) COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT
CL AFR) (TR8974) Receiving the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, Auditor's
Reports and Unqualified Opinion, prepared by Rachlin Cohen & Holtz LLP for the fiscal
year ended September 30, 1999. Finance Director Bates introduced Jerry Chiocca of
Rachlin, Cohen and Holtz. Mr. Chiocca introduced Lisa Crane, Audit Supervisor, and
gave a presentation. Mayor Schreiber recommended setting aside a half day in order
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Commission Workshop Meeting
for Finance Director Bates to make a presentation of the CAFR to the Commissioners.
Vice Mayor Roberts agreed that a meeting would be needed to go over the CAFR, and
Finance Director Bates said he would give a presentation as part of the budgeting
process. There was discussion about traffic signalization money, arbitrage, inventory
and assets. There was discussion about grants and the need for a formal process so
that grant -related issues would filter through the Finance Department. There was
discussion as to whether this would necessitate hiring another employee, and Vice
Mayor Roberts asked who that person would report to, and Mr. Chiocca replied that had
not been worked out yet. Mr. Chiocca thanked Mark Bates and Bill Nealon and staff, for
making this first year for Rachlin Cohen and Holtz an easy transition.
Vice Mayor Roberts asked if Item 8q was in the budget last year. FEASIBILITY STUDY
FIRE STATION #3: (TR8965) Awarding LOI #00-L-03 and executing an Agreement with
Emergency Services Consulting Group to provide a Fire Station Feasibility and Site
Study for an amount not to exceed $36,700, and approve funding in the amount of
$36,700 from the appropriate Fire Rescue accounts. City Manager Miller responded in
the affirmative.
Mayor Schreiber questioned the length of time it has taken Item 8m to be finalized, BILL
OF SALE ABSOLUTE: (TR8873) Accepting a Bill of Sale Absolute from Pep Boys -
Manny, Moe & Jack, for water distribution system improvements for the Pep Boys
Project located on the northwest corner of NW 73rd Avenue and Commercial Boulevard,
for City ownership. City Manager Miller responded.
Mayor Schreiber asked about the anticipated cost of the Education Assistance Program,
Item 8r, EDUCATION ASSISTANCE POLICY: (TR8969) Approving and implementing
the Education Assistance Policy. Personnel Director Swanson responded and gave a
presentation. Commissioner Portner asked if this was part of the Strategic Plan, and
City Manager Miller responded that it was. Commissioner Sultanof asked why many
people do not take advantage of this program, and Personnel Director Swanson
explained. Management Intern Russell spoke about the cost of a weekend based
education program. Vice Mayor Roberts said it was her understanding that a grade of
"C" or better is required in order to qualify for reimbursement, and Commissioner
Portner asked if Tamarac is competitive with other cities of the same size. Personnel
Director Swanson and Management Intern Russell responded.
Mayor Schreiber said there was an inconsistency in the memorandum accompanying
Item 9, AMENDING CHAPTER 10 - LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS:
(TO1891) Motion to adopt Ordinance on first reading amending Chapter 10 of the
Tamarac Code, entitled "Land Development Regulations", Section 10-249 "Same
Design and Construction", by deleting section (C) to remove the conflict with section 10-
128(2)(b) "Fire Protection". Fire Chief Budzinski said the memorandum would be
revised.
Commissioner Portner asked if the feasibility study is in this year's budget, and whether
the study has been completed. Item 8q, FEASIBILITY STUDY FIRE STATION #3:
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Commission Workshop Meeting
(TR8965) Awarding LOI #00-L-03 and executing an Agreement with Emergency
Services Consulting Group to provide a Fire Station Feasibility and Site Study for an
amount not to exceed $36,700, and approve funding in the amount of $36,700 from the
appropriate Fire Rescue accounts. Fire Chief Budzinski responded.
Mayor Schreiber called for a recess at 10:40 A.M. The workshop meeting reconvened
at 10:50 A.M. with everyone present.
3. TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM UPDATE: Social Services Coordinator Stadlen
gave a presentation. There was discussion about the number of riders and wheelchair
accessibility. There was discussion about the length of time it takes for the Red Route
to complete one round. Social Services Coordinator Stadlen spoke about requests from
the community regarding hours of operation, weekend service, and additional stops
residents would like to see included in the routes. Mayor Schreiber said one of the
reasons many cities do not have bus service is because of the cost involved. Social
Services Coordinator Stadlen said the number of riders might be lower on one route
than another because the bus does not stop at Walgreens and the Library but it is easy
to add those stops to the route. Assistant City Manager Hemstreet said the City would
make incremental changes and review the routes again in 6 months. The library and
Walgreens can be added to the stops, and the addition of a stop at the Senior and
Community Center, when it opens, will affect the numbers of riders and length of the
trips. Assistant City Manager Hemstreet said the City is going to start a significant
advertising campaign beginning May 15t. Vice Mayor Roberts asked if the Red Route
takes 1 hour and 22 minutes one-way, and Assistant City Manager Hemstreet
responded. Commissioner Mishkin commended Assistant City Manager Hemstreet and
Social Services Coordinator Stadlen, and said this has not been an easy task.
Commissioner Mishkin said Tamarac should not consider goin�q outside the city limits.
Commissioner Mishkin said the City does need to consider a 2" bus for the east end of
the City, and asked if the new buses are out of service often. Assistant City Manager
Hemstreet explained the reasons for the buses being out of service, and said the buses
need to be serviced every 3,000 miles, about every 6 weeks. Mayor Schreiber said the
Commission has to determine what is best for City, and consider the cost.
Commissioner Portner said he asked the County Commission about getting another bus
at the same fee, and Mayor Schreiber said the proposal could be put in the mid -year
budget.
4. WRITTEN COLUMNS BY MEMBERS OF THE CITY COMMISSION INCLUDED
IN THE TAM -A -GRAM: A proposal to include written columns by individual members of
the City Commission in the Tam -A -Gram. Commissioner Portner said he would like to
write a column in the Tam -A -Gram newsletter, as it is a good way to address the
residents of Tamarac. There was discussion about past policy, and Mayor Schreiber
asked if there was a Resolution or Ordinance addressing this issue. City Attorney Kraft
responded there was not. Commissioner Mishkin suggested that Commissioner Portner
send mailings to those in his District, and Commissioner Portner replied that he wants to
reach everyone in Tamarac, and does not want to use his expense account for the
mailing. Commissioner Sultanof said if there is no Resolution or Ordinance prohibiting
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Commission Workshop Meeting
the Commissioners from writing columns in the Tam -A -Gram, then he is not opposed,
but suggested that the City Attorney review the columns before they are printed. Stan
Bernard, Chairman of the Public Information Committee spoke about Commissioners
writing columns for the Tam -A -Gram, and the Public Information Committee editing the
articles. Commissioner Sultanof said editing should not fall within purview of the Public
Information Committee, but the City Attorney should review the articles. Mayor
Schreiber said if a Commissioner writes a column he also recommends review by the
City Attorney, Vice Mayor Roberts said she wrote columns for different organizations,
and Commissioner Portner might consider speaking to various homeowner associations
and writing columns for them. Vice Mayor Roberts asked what happens if a
Commissioner does not want to write a column and other Commissioners do? Is that
going to look unfavorable on that Commissioner? Commissioner Mishkin asked why
there was objection to each Commissioner sending out their own newsletter, and
Commissioner Portner said he did not want to sent his own newsletter. Commissioner
Sultanof said the Tam -A -Gram is the proper avenue, and he has no objection to
Commissioners writing columns. No one is obligated to write anything. Commissioner
Portner said he intends to write column for next Tam -A -Gram. Mayor Schreiber asked
for an expression of interest from the Commission. Commissioner Mishkin did not
express a view, Vice Mayor Roberts had no objection and said the articles need to be
reviewed by the City Attorney for controversial items, Mayor Schreiber had no objection,
and Commissioner Portner was in favor of writing columns for the Tam -A -Gram.
5. SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICTS: A proposal to create single member districts in
the City of Tamarac. Commissioner Portner said he would like to see Tamarac divided
into 5 districts, with the Mayor chosen from among the Commissioners to serve a one-
year term, with no succession for two years. Commissioner Portner said he would like
to see Mayor Schreiber finish his three-year term and at end of three years, go to a five
District election. Mayor Schreiber said the Mayor is answerable to the public, and if the
position keeps changing no one will be responsible. The people of Tamarac want it this
way. Vice Mayor Roberts did not approve of the idea, as there could be future problems
where some people do not get the honor of serving as Mayor, or someone may be
appointed Mayor who has only been in term for one year, and has little experience.
Commissioner Mishkin enumerated several reasons that this type of election can create
problems, and said he is comfortable with way the Mayor and Commissioners are
presently elected. Vice Mayor Roberts said other cities are trying to get to where
Tamarac is, and Commissioner Mishkin reminded everyone that redistricting is in the
offing. The 2000 Census as well as the build out of Kings Point will create affect the
population of Tamarac. Commissioner Portner suggested dividing that area into
another district, and Mayor Schreiber said there appears to be no interest in proposal.
6. LEAGUE OF CITIES APPOINTMENTS: League of Cities appointments. Mayor
Schreiber said it is the obligation of this Commission to appoint a voting member and a
non -voting member as delegates to the Broward League of Cities. There was
discussion about appointing members in 1997, and Mayor Schreiber asked that this be
placed on the April 26, 2000 agenda.
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Commission Workshop Meeting
Vice Mayor Roberts said it is time to renew the Brace. Last year, Tamarac sponsored a
$2,500 Silver Opportunity, affording a Tamarac resident a scholarship to Broward
Community College for a 2-year period, and the Brace Foundation matched it, thereby
offering two scholarships for price of one. Commissioner Mishkin suggested adjusting
funding so the scholarship is in the FY01 Budget. Vice Mayor Roberts explained that
the sponsorship needs to be approved now in order to award the scholarship for the
upcoming fall term, and it can also be put in the FY01 budget to be awarded again next
year. Vice Mayor Roberts asked to have this item placed on the April 26, 2000 agenda
added to the FY01 Budget.
There being no further business to come before the Commission, Mayor Schreiber
adjourned the workshop meeting at 11:40 A.M.
Marion Swenson
Interim City Clerk
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