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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-04-21 - City Commission Workshop Meeting MinutesCITY OF TAMARAC CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING MONDAY, APRIL 21, 2008 CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco called the Workshop Meeting of the City Commission to order on Monday, April 21, 2008, at 9:35 a.m. in Room 105 of Tamarac City Hall, 7525 NW 88t" Avenue, Tamarac, Florida. PRESENT: Mayor Beth Flansbaum-Talabisco, Vice Mayor Marc L. Sultanof, Commissioner Edward C. Portner, Commissioner Patte Atkins -Grad, and Commissioner Harry Dressler. ALSO PRESENT: City Manager Jeffrey L. Miller, City Attorney Samuel S. Goren, Deputy City Manager Michael C. Cernech, and City Clerk Marion Swenson. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco led the pledge of allegiance. 1. APRIL 23 2008 AGENDA ITEMS: a. FLORIDA TAXABLE REDEVELOPMENT REVENUE NOTE SERIES 2008: (TR11375) Authorizing the issuance of a Taxable Redevelopment Revenue Note, Series 2008 of the City in the principal amount not to exceed $20,000,000, initially as a line of credit, to finance the cost of acquisition of real property within the city to be used for Community Redevelopment purposes; providing for an automatic conversion to a Term Loan on April 1, 2011; making certain findings of public purpose; providing that the note shall be a limited obligation of the City payable from legally available non -ad valorem revenues budgeted, appropriated and deposited as provided herein; providing for the rights, securities and remedies for the owner of the note; making certain covenants and agreements in connection therewith. Financial Services Director Chapman and Jeff Larsen, D.A. Davidson appeared. Financial Services Director Chapman gave a presentation. Vice Mayor Sultanof clarified the credit is for $20 million and interest is predicated on money used. Mr. Larson spoke of SunTrust Bank and the City's excellent credit rating. Commissioner Dressler asked if the note would impact the City's credit rating and Financial Services Director Chapman said it would not. Commissioner Dressler asked if this money could be used for redevelopment and Mr. Larson said it could. Deputy City Manager Cernech explained that programmatically it would be better to establish another line of credit for monies to be used other than for that for which this loan is geared. Commissioner Dressler agreed and said when he first spoke of floating credit he had more in mind than just purchasing property. Mr. Larson said Bond Counsel would return Wednesday for the initial drawing for cost of issuance and reimbursement to the City for funds expended, such as appraisals and legal work. There was discussion regarding pre -payment penalties. Commissioner Portner spoke of the City purchasing properties in foreclosure and Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco said she had suggested a panel discussion in order for the Mayor and City Commission to become more informed about foreclosures, and this aspect can be included in the conversation. Commissioner Atkins -Grad questioned whether the $2 million from April 21, 2008 City Commission Workshop Page 1 of 6 Revised April 18, 2008 Broward County for the purchase of the Chevron Station would be used to reimburse these funds, and Financial Services Director Chapman said it would be the fiscally responsible thing to do. Commissioner Atkins -Grad asked how Tamarac's credit rating compared to other local cities and Mr. Lawson said Tamarac rates extremely high in its credit rating compared to other cities. Commissioner Atkins -Grad added she is happy the City chose to go with SunTrust. Vice Mayor Sultanof clarified the difference between credit line and loan b. EXCHANGE OF REAL PROPERTIES BETWEEN TAMARAC JEWISH CENTER INC. AND THE CITY OF TAMARAC: (TR11382) Authorizing the appropriate City Officials to proceed to closing on the agreement for exchange of real properties between Tamarac Jewish Center Inc. and the City of Tamarac for the City to acquire for the expansion of future economic development interests 4.5+/- acres of improved land currently owned by Tamarac Jewish Center, Inc. in exchange for the City's conveyance to Tamarac Jewish Center, inc. of 2.59+/- acres of vacant land currently owned by the city with an additional payment from the City to Tamarac Jewish Center, Inc in the amount of Four Million Nine Hundred Ninety -Five Thousand Dollars ($4,995,000.00). Public & Economic Affairs Officer Berns and Attorney Craig Eakin appeared. City Manager Miller said it is his understanding from conversations with the Mayor and City Commission that they would like to continue the item until the May 12, 2008 Workshop meeting and the May 14, 2008 Regular City Commission meeting. The reason for this continuance is due to the addition to the packet of the Fishkind Study, which was received by the Mayor and City Commission Friday. It is a complex document and staff is available to answer questions. Vice Mayor Sultanof said he is in favor of the delay; however, he has reservations of his own. The purpose of this purchase is not for the land to become sole property of the City. City Attorney Goren explained the Fishkind report is an economic study, not an appraisal. City Manager Miller said there have been two issuances of the report: the first time was during the assessment process along Main Street and the second time is for this particular parcel. Commissioner Portner said he is in agreement to delay the vote on the item; however, he will be out of the country from May 11-23, 2008. He hoped his questions would be answered by Public and Economic Affairs Officer Berns, Deputy City Manager Cernech and City Manager Miller before he leaves the country. Commissioner Dressler said this issue requires a certain amount of due diligence, and he has issues with numbers in the document as well as numbers not included in the document. That is the basis of him asking for more time to meet with staff. He also needs to discuss some assumptions in the document. Commissioner Atkins -Grad confirmed this document is not an appraisal. Public and Economic Affairs Officer Berns explained there are two separate appraisals on both properties, which are on file in the office of the City Manager. Commissioner Dressler said he needed the appraisals to be provided. Mr. Eakin spoke of the necessity for a super -majority vote on this item. With four of the Commission present, if anybody else were to be absent for that meeting, we may not be able to have a vote on May 14th The contract runs out on May 16th, and Mr. Eakin said he did not believe the Temple would extend the contract until a subsequent meeting after the May 14th meeting, as there has already been a six month extension. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco said she appreciated representation from the Temple at this morning's meeting, but the Mayor April 21, 2008 City Commission Workshop Page 2 of 6 Revised April 18, 2008 and City Commission are only asking for a few weeks and this has nothing to do with the integrity of the deal or the information. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco said she is on record so far as being in support of this item. She has not had enough time to digest the current document to formulate questions and she is not prepared for this presentation. She wants to be sure everybody on the commission has the answers to their questions so we can move forward with the deal. Commissioner Dressler said he would not vote on the item until he understood every detail. Commissioner Atkins -Grad said the information was received by the Mayor and City Commission over the weekend, and it was a holiday weekend; it is a significant item. C. BIKEWAY/WALKWAY SYSTEM PHASE 2 PROJECT: (TR11381) Seeking Federal Surface Transportation Program funds via an application through the Broward County Metropolitan Planning Organization to the Florida Department of Transportation in the amount of $750,000 for an integrated bikeway/walkway system within the City of Tamarac; providing for a local match of $750,000 toward a total project cost of $1,500,000 in the event of approval of the application; providing for acceptance of the award and executing of documents upon approval. Public Works Director Strain, Parks & Recreation Director Warner and Special Projects Coordinator Gresek appeared. Special Projects Coordinator Gresek gave a presentation. Vice Mayor Sultanof questioned matching funds and Public Works Director Strain explained we are not required to expend $750,000 in matching funds; just the difference between the cost and $750,000. Vice Mayor Sultanof asked if the land is in the City's right of way and Public Works Director Strain said this is one of the routes we are recommending. Commissioner Dressler questioned, as the City's delegate to the MPO, whether he could vote on this item when it came before the MPO. City Attorney Goren said he would make inquiry of the MPO's attorney and if there is any doubt, he would check with the Ethics Commission. He would also find out when the vote is coming before the MPO. Director of Parks and Recreation Warner said Tamarac now rates No. 2 in the grant cycle; we are high on the list and there should be no conflict with the application. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco added based on the resident survey, one of the most important issues is being more mobile via bikeways and walkways. Special Projects Coordinator Gresek added after the MPO's decision the item goes to FDOT and we will know in October whether we are successful. Funds will not be available until 2011. Commissioner Portner questioned statistics regarding accidents on bikeways and Director of Parks and Recreation Warner said he believed it was minimal. Public Works Director Strain added all routes being proposed as part of the study are on Tamarac rights of way on secondary roads. d. AMENDMENT TO THE LOCAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE PLAN (LHAP): (TR11380) Approving an Amendment to the Local Housing Assistance Plan (LHAP) and Delivery Goals Chart for the Program Years 2007-2008, 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 to be submitted as a required component of the State Housing Initiatives Partnership Act (SHIP) Grant Program; providing for Certification of Consistency with the City's Comprehensive Plan; providing for expenditures for administration of the program. Community Development Director Jennifer Bramley and Housing Administrator Angela Bauldree appeared. Housing Administrator Bauldree gave a presentation. April 21, 2008 City Commission Workshop Page 3 of 6 Revised April 18, 2008 Commissioner Atkins -Grad spoke of a recent event where someone sold the property and was pursued for monies owed. Commissioner Dressler confirmed this is straight line amortization over 10 years. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco asked if any aspect of this discussion could be fielded into the upcoming discussion regarding foreclosure and Community Development Director Bramley said it could. Commissioner Dressler credited the original concept to Commissioner Portner. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco said what she would like to see come out of the discussion regarding foreclosure is education and the ability to take some action. One question would be how to determine the mechanism to process properties in foreclosure and which properties are to be looked at. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco said many properties in Tamarac in foreclosure are in disarray. Answers need to be given regarding what the City and homeowner and condominium associations can do. Community Development Director Bramley responded staff is working on a model ordinance which is a proactive approach to foreclosures. It is being reviewed at this time and will be discussed when we discuss foreclosure issues. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco asked that the ordinance be addressed prior to the meeting regarding foreclosures. Commissioner Atkins -Grad asked if there is any way that Tamarac can go after the banks. Commissioner Partner and Vice Mayor Sultanof left the room at 11:07 a.m. Commissioner Portner returned at 11:10 a.m. and Vice Mayor Sultanof returned at 11:12 a.m. Community Development Director Bramley said the City is restricted as to what it is permitted to do and the process takes time from beginning to end. Commissioner Atkins -Grad asked which section in Tamarac has more foreclosures than other sections and Community Development Director Bramley responded Shaker Village and Sunflower/Heathgate. Commissioner Dressler asked about a community outreach program to educate people and Community Development Director Bramley said that is being put together now. e. Item No. 10 on the regular agenda. AMENDMENT TO CITY OF TAMARAC COMPREHENSIVE PLAN: (TO2155) Motion to adopt Ordinance on second reading adopting an amendment to the Capital Improvement and Intergovernmental Coordination Elements of the City of Tamarac Comprehensive Plan concerning a text amendment to incorporate new goals, objectives and related policies and the addition of the Public School Facilities Element to the Comprehensive Plan all pertaining to public school facility planning to address the implementation of school facilities concurrency through the establishment of a financially feasible Public School Capital Facilities Program; adoption of level of service standards to establish maximum permissible school utilization rates relative to capacity and coordinated procedures for implementing school concurrency (Case No. 2-LUA-07). ADOPTED ON FIRST READING DECEMBER 12, 2007. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco turned the gavel over to Vice Mayor Sultanof and left the room at 11:14 a.m. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco returned at 11:16 a.m. and took back the gavel. April 21, 2008 City Commission Workshop Page 4of6 Revised April 18, 2008 Community Development Director Jennifer Bramley gave a presentation on Items 1(e) and 1(f) on the workshop agenda. Vice Mayor Sultanof asked if Tamarac schools are affected by changes in boundaries and Community Development Director Bramley said she had not heard of shifting boundaries for Tamarac. f. AMENDED INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF TAMARAC AND BROWARD COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD ESTABLISHING COORDINATION OF PLANS AND PROCESSES BETWEEN DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS: (TR11377) Amended Interlocal Agreement between the City of Tamarac and the Broward County School Board providing for an agreement to establish jointly the specific ways in which the plans and processes of the District School Board and the local governments are to be coordinated. g. APPOINTING DIRECTOR, ALTERNATE AND SECOND ALTERNATE TO THE BROWARD LEAGUE OF CITIES: (TR11383) Appointing the City's 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. Vice Mayor Sultanof suggested keeping the Director, Alternate and Second Alternate the same as the past year. Commissioner Dressler said given his appointment to the MPO, and the fact that he is also considering a Board position with the North Broward Hospital District, he would prefer to serve as second alternate. Commissioner Atkins -Grad said she would accept the position as alternate. On expression of interest to appoint Mayor Flansbaum- Talabisco Director, Commissioner Atkins -Grad Alternate, and Commissioner Dressler Second Alternate to the Broward League of Cities, all were in agreement. 2. DRAFT RESOLUTION SUPPORTING HOUSE BILL 1291: Supporting House Bill 1291 re: education and insurance issues concerning autism. Mayor Beth Flansbaum-Talabisco and City Attorney Samuel S. Goren appeared. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco asked that Items 2 and 3 on the workshop agenda be considered together. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco said on April 3, 2008, Tallahassee decided to back insurance for autism. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco said she is in support of this and asked the Mayor and City Commission to also support the two resolutions. Vice Mayor Sultanof questioned whether he would have to recuse himself from a vote due to the fact that his granddaughter is a doctor working with autistic children. City Attorney Goren said he would not. City Attorney Goren said he would verify the existence of both Bills. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco said Representative Ari Porth is championing the Bill in the House and Senators Geller and Ring are sponsoring it in the Senate. On expression of interest, all agreed to add the two resolutions to Wednesday's consent agenda for a vote of support. 3. DRAFT RESOLUTION SUPPORTING „SENATE BILL 2654: Supporting Senate Bill 2654 re: education and insurance issues"comerning autism. City Attorney Goren left the room at 11:24 a.m. and returned at 11:26 a.m. April 21, 2008 City Commission Workshop Page 5 of 6 Revised April 18, 2008 4. DISCUSSION RE: SOUTHGATE LINEAR PARK NAMING: (TR11386) Naming the Southgate Linear Park Project located on Southgate Boulevard, with the completed park running from Tamarac Veterans' Park, west to the Sawgrass Expressway in Tamarac. Parks & Recreation Director Warner appeared and gave a presentation. Vice Mayor Sultanof said he is in favor of naming the park Deputy Brian Tephford Park. All were in agreement. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco asked that Deputy Tephford's wife and children be included in the grand opening, as well as others appropriate from BSO. Vice Mayor Sultanof and Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco asked that Deputy Corey Carbocci, Deputy Tephford's partner, be invited to the ceremony and given due recognition. 5. DISCUSSION RE: CAMPAIGN FUNDING: Commissioner Portner spoke of the city setting aside money to finance campaigns and the great amounts of money candidates raise for campaigns. Commissioner Partner suggested the City set a cap for the amount of money that can be raised as well as spent for a campaign, and asked the Mayor and City Commission to support this suggestion. Additionally, Commissioner Portner proposed that there be a cap for the Mayoral Seat of $30,000, as that person must run citywide; that no more than $200 be taken from any developer, and that those campaigning in districts collect and spend no more than $10,000 per campaign. Commissioner Portner asked if this could be put to referendum. City Attorney Goren said it could be put on the ballot as a straw ballot. With regard to the City providing money for campaign financing, this goes beyond local government's purview. The state has not moved on this, and it is a federal issue at the moment. Commissioner Atkins -Grad left the room at 11:38 a.m. and returned at 11:41 a.m. Vice Mayor Sultanof said what Commissioner Portner is suggesting is utopian; while he agrees with Commissioner Portner, we must remember people will run for office who are not well known at all. If the State legislature will not permit us to have the luxury of the Sunshine Law, they most likely will not permit financing of campaigns. Raising money for an election is not simple. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco said while she appreciates Commissioner Portner's comments, and the provocative and thought provoking items he brings to the table, she would prefer he not editorialize. There were no further comments from the Commission. Commissioner Dressler called for a point of order in that the discussion was completed and made a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Atkins -Grad seconded. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco adjourned the workshop meeting at 11:45 a.m. Marion Swenson, CMC City Clerk 1 April 2T, 2Z008 City Commission Workshop Page 6 of 6 Revised April 18, 2008