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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-05-09 - City Commission Workshop Meeting MinutesCITY OF TAMARAC CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING MONDAY, MAY 9, 2005 CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Schreiber called the Workshop Meeting of the City Commission to order on Monday, May 9, 2005, at 9:30 a.m. in Room 105 of Tamarac City Hall, 7525 NW $$th Avenue, Tamarac, Florida. PRESENT: Mayor Joe Schreiber, Vice Mayor Beth Flansbaum-Talabisco, Commissioner Edward C. Partner, Commissioner Marc L. Sultanof, and Commissioner Karen L. Roberts. ALSO PRESENT: City Manager Jeffrey L. Miller, Interim City Attorney Samuel S. Goren, Deputy City Manager Michael C. Cernech, and City Clerk Marion Swenson. Mayor Schreiber led the pledge of allegiance. City Manager Miller said he received a phone call from Lobbyist Ron Book late Friday, at which time he was informed that Tamarac was approved for its top two priorities; a $200,000 FRDAP Grant for the aquatic center and improvements, and a $550,000 Grant to help defray the cost of stormwater pumps. 1 _ PRESENTATION ON THE BAILEY ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROJECT: Presentation by Edwards and Kelcey, Inc., consultant for the Broward County Public Works Department, Highway Construction and Engineering Division, on the proposed roadway widening and median beautifications for Bailey Road between NW 64th Avenue and State Road 7. Public Works Director Strain, Luis Tellechea, Luis Cubas of Edwards & Kelcey, Alicia Gonzalez of Media Relations Group, LLC, and Nancy Harrington, Broward County Project Manager appeared. Public Works Director Strain said the improvements, currently in the design stages, are part of a Broward County project. Mr. Tellechea explained the reconfiguring of Bailey Road from a two- lane road to a four -lane road with median, sidewalks and bikeway from NW 64th Avenue to State Road 7, including Rock Island Road. Mayor Schreiber asked about a taking and Mr. Tellechea explained there is existing right-of-way on both sides with only a few takings - the cemetery and Woodland Lakes. Drainage will be addressed by a closed French system that will satisfy the drainage requirements for the area and prevent contaminants from getting into the canals. Vice Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco asked about the duration of the project and Mr. Tellechea said the plans should be completed by October 2005. Ms. Harrington spoke of a neighborhood improvement project for Broadview Country Club Estates that may impact the time frame for this project. Commissioner Sultanof questioned the traffic impact to Bailey Road, right-of- way and sidewalk, and impact with regard to the cemetery. Mr. Tellechea responded since this will become a four -lane road with a median, two lanes will be constructed at a time leaving two lanes open for traffic. The right-of-way varies from 90' — 102', and the cemetery will have its own right turn lane. Commissioner Roberts asked if the residents of the Bermuda Club community had been consulted and whether an easement was May 9, 2005 City Commission Workshop Page 1 of 6 being taken from them, as well as the affect on Banyan Lakes. Mr. Tellechea said Bermuda Club has a grass swale area, not a right-of-way, which belongs to the County, and an entrance is being provided for Banyan Lakes. Ms. Harrington said the time frame of the project is hard to determine at this time, but the latest commencement date would be 2007. Mr. Tellechea added after commencement the project should take from 1 '/2 - 2 years, and the County will pay for everything except lighting and landscaping. Public Works Director Strain added at the completion of the project Tamarac will be responsible for maintenance and it will be decided between Tamarac and North Lauderdale how reimbursement for maintenance will be handled. Commissioner Roberts asked if public hearings are scheduled for the residents and Ms. Gonzalez said this is being coordinated and notices will be sent via mail, plus there will be newspaper advertisements. Additionally, a contact number will be left with the commissioners in the event there are questions from Tamarac residents. Commissioner Portner asked who will pay for Broadview Estates' improvements, as he had previously discussed annexation of this parcel and at that time questioned funding for the upgrades. Ms. Harrington said she believed the money would come from the County, but the project manager for OES would have more information about funding. 2. MAY 11., 2005 AGENDA ITEMS: a. Item No. 6(c). FY04 WATER AND WASTEWATER SYSTEMS,_ ANNUAL REPORT: (TR10698) Receiving the Fiscal Year 2004 City of Tamarac Water and Wastewater Systems Annual Report prepared by the City's Consulting Engineers, Mathews Consulting, Inc., on behalf of the City of Tamarac Utilities Department as required by Bond Covenants for Continuing Disclosure for the Taxable Water and Sewer Utility Revenue Refunding Bonds Series 1996 and 2004 Series Capital Improvement Bonds. Utilities Director Gagnon gave a presentation. Mayor Schreiber said Mr. Gagnon is doing a great job, and questioned several sections of the report, in particular single family/multi family charges; wastewater rates; installation charges; service turn on/off; backflow testing; wastewater user charges and the projected cost from the county for these services; and debt service listing. Utilities Director Gagnon responded to Mayor Schreiber's questions and indicated there is a difference in usage for multi and single family residences; discussed the increased charge to turn on a meter after hours; backflow costs and recertification fees are to cover the actual costs involved; the budgeted treatment and disposal fee is for both Ft. Lauderdale and the county, at $3.4 million. The reason for no debt service listing for the 1996 bonds is due to the difference in accounting reporting. Mayor Schreiber asked about pre -paying the bonds and Utilities Director Gagnon said the 1992 bonds will be paid off in 2009 and the 1996 bonds in 2011. At this point in time there is no benefit to prepaying the bonds. b. Item No. 6(b), MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING — HOME FUNDING PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION: (TR10682) Approving the Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") between Broward County and the City of Tamarac for the administration of the Home Funding Program for FY2003/2004 through FY2005/2006 in the approximate amount of one hundred forty six thousand nine hundred and sixty dollars ($146,960.00) to assist a minimum of seven (7) recipients with housing May 9, 2005 City Commission Workshop Page 2 of 6 rehabilitation (Case No. 5-MI-05). Community Development Director King gave a presentation. Commissioner Roberts questioned the difference in the resolution regarding the monies we received and Community Development Director King said the estimate was at $115,000 per year but the amount was increased to $146,000. Commissioner Portner asked if there is a current waiting list and Community Development Director King said there is. The county goes through the list to eliminate those who have moved or found other assistance, then they will try to assist those in the order they appear on the list. Commissioner Portner questioned the feasibility of opting out of the contract in order to assist our own residents, and Community Deve'opment Director King said the current contract with the county ends in September, and staff is looking at alternatives, which include extending the contract with the county, going out for bid, or bringing it in-house. Commissioner Portner asked if we do this internally would we get money from the county and Community Development Director King said the money comes from HUD. Mayor Schreiber questioned the application process and added we will not have enough money to help everyone on the list. Community Development Director King said this is handled administratively, we can decide whether the applicants stay in the pool or go through a clearing house. Commissioner Portner asked if the city is in a position to subsidize the program and Community Development Director King said we receive over $1 million per year to assist 50-75 residents. The issue at hand is providing funds to residents; we will assess the program to see if it is curing the problem or only serving as a band aid. 3. PRESENTATION OF CITY OF TAMARAC BUSINESS PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS: IT Director Sucuoglu and Interim Director of Parks and Recreation Warner appeared. City Manager Miller explained this item is a result of our retreat one year ago. Improvement processes and policies are part of the strategic plan, and department directors have been asked to go back five years and put forth improvements instituted to make their operations efficient and save the city money. It is too much information to present at one setting, and the Mayor and City Commission can expect to see presentations over several workshops throughout the summer months. Interim Director of Parks and Recreation Warner spoke of the significant increase in programming and numbers of residents served at the Tamarac Community Center, and the need for improved business processes in order to run an efficient department. Interim Director of Parks and Recreation Warner discussed the benefits of the improved website and Mayor Schreiber asked if we are able to gauge the percentage of people who use the website. IT Director Sucuoglu said each page on the website registers hits from outside city hall. Commissioner Sultanof said those using the computer training room can use the computers there and that cuts staff time. Commissioner Portner questioned whether use of the web actually does save staff time, and IT Director Sucuoglu and Interim Director of Parks and Recreation Warner responded there would be no way to personally serve all those who access the web. Commissioner Sultanof compared the City of Sunrise's community center to Tamarac's and said ours functions very well as we have more participation and programs. Interim Director of Parks and Recreation Warner spoke of credit card payments and accountability. There was discussion of the increased hours for the fitness room and Commissioner Roberts asked if consideration had been given to keeping another fitness room open in addition May 9, 2005 City Commission Workshop Page 3 of 6 to the one planned for the aquatic center. Interim Director of Parks and Recreation Warner said there had been some discussion regarding that issue and it will be looked into further. Mayor Schreiber asked what the old fitness room would be used for and if the new facility would be adequate. Interim Director of Parks and Recreation Warner said the present fitness room would be used for aerobics and the new area will have space to accommodate up to 3,000 members. Interim Director of Parks and Recreation Warner spoke about use of city buses for senior getaway trips, facility and shelter rentals, and criminal background checks in cooperation with TAF and BSO. Commissioner Sultanof questioned the percentage we pay to the credit card companies, and IT Director Sucuoglu said it is a variable fee depending upon the type of transaction; the cost for face to face transactions is less than 2%. Mayor Schreiber moved out of the regular order of business on the agenda to discuss Item No. 5. 5. DISCUSSION OF THE CURRENT TRAFFIC CALMING POLICY: Mayor Schreiber distributed a copy of a letter signed by residents of Mainlands 6, (said letter is attached and incorporated as part of these minutes). Commissioner Roberts said in addition to Section 6 there are a number of residents in her district, who have complained about the traffic calming policy, and she does not believe the policy is working to the best of the city's ability; the policy is basically from Broward County, not from surrounding cities. Commissioner Roberts questioned the percentage of residents necessary to enact the policy and the number of trips per day. Mayor Schreiber said the purpose of the policy is to make the roads safer and reduce speeding. Some neighborhoods may not have more than 200 cars per day, but speeding is an issue, and our policy may be too restrictive. Commissioner Roberts added our policy requires five residents to take claim and then get the necessary approvals in the neighborhood. Public Works Director Strain explained if residents come in with at least five signatures the process is initiated; the city would then work through the process with them. The County's requirement is 1,000 vehicles, ours is 750. Surrounding cities' policies were used as a starting block; Tamarac chose to go with 67% of the petitioners for approval, after which certain criteria must be met. Commissioner Roberts spoke of speed limit criteria which would make a road eligible for traffic calming devices, and questioned traffic calming on 70th Avenue, which is now a 4-lane road. Public Works Director Strain said while 4-lane roads are not eligible for traffic calming we are turning 70th Avenue into a 2-lane road. Commissioner Roberts asked if traffic calming could then be considered for 801h Street, to which Public Works Director Strain replied if it is a collector street it is not eligible for traffic calming. Commissioner Roberts spoke about the difficulty certain neighborhoods may face returning the completed forms within the allotted 90 days, and Mayor Schreiber said if 90 days is not sufficient time, we should consider allowing 120 days. Commissioner Sultanof questioned the demographics of cities whose policies were considered and expressed his concern for residents who do not live on the streets for which traffic calming is being considered. Commissioner Sultanof spoke of Bayview Drive and said everyone in the community was part and parcel of the decision. Public Works Director Strain explained when traffic calming is requested, any streets that branch off that particular street, with no alternate way to get May 9, 2005 City Commission Workshop Page 4 of 6 out of the neighborhood, would need approval from the residents. Commissioner Roberts spoke of 701h Avenue, and said the majority of speeders are residents of that area and they would also need to be in agreement with the policy. Commissioner Portner spoke of the increase in traffic over the years and asked if we are preparing for an influx in population in upcoming years. Messrs. George McCarthy, 4811 NW 49th Road and Harry Kimball, 4930 NW 53 Street, and Ms. Kathie Turner, 5301 NW 50 Avenue spoke on behalf of traffic calming devices for Mainlands Section 6, and spoke of increased traffic and speeding in the neighborhood. Mr. Kimball read his comments into the record (said comments are attached and incorporated as part of the minutes). Mayor Schreiber agreed the policy may be too restrictive and said the prime concern is the safety of the residents, and the commission will look into the policy, work on it, and give the residents time to get the needed signatures. Commissioner Sultanof agreed the policy must be examined, and added he understands there may be something on tap for an Oakland Park Boulevard entrance to the turnpike, which will alleviate some traffic. Additionally, BSO needs to look into coverage for this area. Deputy City Manager Cernech clarified that the biggest concern of the neighborhood is cut -through traffic. Deputy City Manager Cernech added because of the configuration of the street it is not possible to assure that people will stop going through the neighborhood, but they can be slowed down. The neighborhood seems like an ideal candidate for the policy and the number of daily trips does meet the requirements in the policy. Additionally, it is his understanding from this morning's discussion that the 90 days is of concern to the residents and he is willing to extend the number of days. Commissioner Portner left the meeting at 11:35 a.m. Deputy City Manager Cernech continued Tamarac requires 2/3 of the neighborhood to agree to traffic calming, but it appears that everyone in this particular neighborhood is in agreement. Deputy City Manager Cernech asked how the association plans on dealing with the matter of notifying residents, and Ms. Turner said a presentation was planned for this evening's meeting of the membership; however, since many have gone back up north, they are not sure there will be a quorum, and it would be a burden to contact the snow birds. Mayor Schreiber said it could start in September but we need temporary measures now, which Deputy City Manager Cernech said he hoped to address. Mayor Schreiber suggested Deputy City Manager Cernech meet with the residents to discuss what the city is willing to do, and Commissioner Roberts said she would like to know the outcome for other city areas. 4. DISCUSSION CONCERNING SIDEWALK REPAIRS IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS.: Commissioner Roberts said Code Enforcement is doing a wonderful job, but it appears that recently the Code Enforcement Department has begun enforcing repair of cracks in sidewalks. Commissioner Roberts said she is concerned with the cost to the residents to have a contractor do the repairs, and questioned why the homeowners could not do their own repairs. Mayor Schreiber said if the work is not approved it must be done over, and using a contractor places the liability on the contractor. Commissioner Roberts said she would like the city to take over the sidewalk repairs and added new projects coming into the city are allowed to place trees on the swales, which May 9, 2005 City Commission Workshop Page 5 of 6 trees will cause cracks in the sidewalks over the next 30 years. Mayor Schreiber said if the city takes over the repairs then the city will have a great exposure to liability. Public Works Director Strain digressed to the previous item and said he met with the residents from Mainlands 6 last Friday and the city made a formal request to the county for a 'no thru traffic' sign at the entrance to the community on Commercial Boulevard and Rock Island Road. With regard to Item No. 4, Public Works Director Strain said homeowners can not repair their own sidewalks due to the way the permit and homestead process works; the sidewalks are not the homeowner's private property. Most other municipalities do not allow private homeowners to do work on public property. As far as the drawings, we only require the location of the sidewalk. Commissioner Sultanof questioned the relationship of sidewalks and swales between the city and homeowners. Interim City Attorney Goren replied swales and sidewalks are owned by the public but the abutting homeowners have the benefit of drainage and walkways, and are obligated to maintain the sidewalks and swales, as provided in the code and ordinance. Mr. Goren spoke of liability on the city's part were we to take over maintenance of the sidewalks and said it is a policy and business decision on the part of the city. Commissioner Roberts spoke of new residents who are cited for sidewalk cracks due to trees in the swale, said trees having been there for many years, and questioned why the previous owner(s) were not cited, and if they were why no lien showed up at the time of sale. There was discussion whether the restrictions on planting trees in swales is the same now as it was 30 years ago. Commissioner Roberts added that the residents on NW 701h Avenue need to be informed with respect to any trees they may want to place on the swales after the traffic calming project is completed as well as the cost to repair a sidewalk. Commissioner Sultanof asked if people are given a list of licensed contractors when they call the city and Public Works Director Strain said a list is given but there is no recommendation for one contractor over another on the part of the city. There being no further business to come before the Mayor and City Commission, Mayor Schreiber adjourned the workshop meeting at 12:00 noon. i Marion Swenson, CIVIC ✓ City Clerk 1 May 9, 2005 City Commission Workshop Page 6 of 6 Monday, May 09, 2005 Tamarac Commission Workshop Meeting 9:30 am The Resolution 10351 restrictions leave your constituents with the feeling this Temporary Policy was adopted to prevent implementation of solutions to traffic in residential areas. As a citizen of Tamarac living in the 21 " century in America with the highest office in the land recently contested and the victor received slightly over 50% of the vote you ask your neighbors to receive 67% of those effected to be in favor of traffic calming devices. Can anyone here tell me who was the last President to receive 67% of the voting public? I personal can remember back to the largest presidential victory in my lifetime and that mans name was Lyndon Banes Johnson and the year was 1964. Oh by the way if am correct he received only 63% of the vote and that was a major land slide victory. The Policy is written with such restrictions in place most people are reluctant to apply for the petition stage because if you do not meet the criteria you have another back door restriction of two years before you can apply again, IV Policy In reference to the following paragraphs: A. This is a very restrictive but to some degree reasonable approach. I believe that signage maybe the correct first step in trying to slow down and reduce the traffic flow. B. Acceptable as written. C. Acceptable as written. D. Acceptable as written. E. Acceptable as written. F. Acceptable as written as long as it is not used arbitrally to disqualify specific locations for any political reason. G. Acceptable as written. H. This is a reasonable approach maybe for some locations and maybe we are relatively unique location being built in such a way as to have only two means of access or egress. We are a location with 538 homes and the piece and tranquility of our community is disrupted by cut -through and speeding traffic every week day. I. Acceptable as written. V. traffic Calmin Re uest and Processina Procedure A. Acceptable as written. B. Not Acceptable as written. The first paragraph seems to be reasonable if implemented so as not to encompass every home in the community when the layout of the roadways means only a small number of homes boarder the access roads but a large percentage of residents walk themselves along with their pets and ride their bikes along this roadway. We are a senior community without sidewalks and it is just a matter of time before a serious injury or death occurs in our neighborhood. The second paragraph I have already spoke of the next to impossible need for 67% affirmative signatures. But the need to increase the time frame has to be aware of the nature of our community. We have a lot of people that are not fulltime residents but pay taxes as property owners and are not here all the time. feel that an increase from the 90 day return policy should allow for the possibility of a more rational time frame of 180 days due to the nature of South Florida and second homes. The third paragraph is way to restrictive when it comes to safety of our residents and as mentioned above the nature of South Florida. C. Acceptable as written. D. In both (a. and b.) I feel that the 85% figure is excessive E. Acceptable as written. F. Acceptable as written. G. Acceptable as written. H. Acceptable as written. VI. Removal of Traffic Calming Devices Acceptable as written. I would like to take the opportunity to thank you for listening to my imput. I would like to thank the Members of this workshop for this opportunity to address the issue of Traffic Calming Devices. Let me begin with the issue of Speed, and how there is a minor alteration to the definition; with major impact of that term within this document. 1. Under Item III. Definitions found on bottom of page two of Temporary Resolution 10351 Exhibit 1 is the definition of Speeding that reads as follows: "For the purpose of this program, speeding is defined as the condition that exists when 85t" percentile speed of traffic on a street exceeds the posted speed limit." 2. But under Item V. Traffic Calming Request and Processing Procedure. Paragraph D Step 4 small (a. and b.) we see a glaring alteration in the definition of "Speeding". The change is not exceeds posted speed limit but now must be a "speed of 10 miles ner hour greater in excess of posted speed". Now let me ask why was the more restrictive "10 miles per hour greater in excess of posted speed" used when it does not appear in the definition? This Processing and Procedure is too RESTRICTIVE and should be brought down to comply with the Item III Definitions. Let me ask you; if your family member was struck by a vehicle exceeding the speed limit in a community like ours but there was only 33 percent of the cars exceeding the speed limit would your family member hurt any less, bleed any less, or even possible die less because there was only 33% of the traffic exceeding the speed limit? Now further take into consideration that we have no sidewalks so that our residents who have to be senior citizens to reside in our community, have to walk on the roadway with diminished reaction times, limited sight, reduced hearing and other frailties that come with age. Our neighbors have to compete for right of way with 3,000 pound and greater weight vehicles on a one -lane roadway in each direction. 1 I have not been a member of this community for a very long period of time. Some of my neighbors have been residents for decades, and even a quarter of a century or longer. Good members of society in the later years of a life, that has been changed by road improvements to both Commercial Boulevard and Rock Island. Road. These Arterial and Collector roadways have increased the traffic dramatically into our community in the short time that .1 have made my abode in Tamarac. There is no access to the Florida Turnpike from. Oakland Park Boulevard and anyone who wants to use the Turnpike in either a Northbound or Southbound trip from that area of Oakland Park needs to use Commercial Boulevard to access the Turnpike. Now we all know that some of that traffic has to be coming on Rock Island to get to the Turnpike and traffic backs up at Commercial Boulevard on Rock Island Road. Other Residents of Broward County have found that by becoming Cut -Through Traffic in our Community a short cut to Commercial Boulevard can be had by entering at NW 50 Street and turn left onto NW 50 Avenue in the morning. This allows them to avoid the back up at the major intersection of Rock Island Road road and Commercial Boulevard. We all know how hot it can be midday in South Florida so our residences prefer to walk in the early part of the day before the heat could cause a possible heat stroke. The temperatures are much more conducive to exercise at that time. These good people are not out on the roadways adding to congestion for those that need to earn a living, but are still a vibrant part of our society. Are they not eligible for a safe place to perform their desires to walk with their pets and get the needed exercise that will hopefully keep them healthy vibrant residents of Tamarac? If like most of the residence that live North of the canal that bisects our community they want to get to the clubhouse, pools, library, office complex, or shuffle boards it is absolutely essential to use 50 Avenue to arrive at our recreation facility. This issue is becoming a game of Russian roulette. Before some citizen is injured on what used to be a quiet peaceful roadway. Please don't make us jump through unattainable restrictive procedures. You can play Russian 2 roulette for a hundred years and never lose or you can lose your life the very first time you play. Please help your constituents and fellow citizens of the city of Tamarac. Please review the letter of concerned citizens presented to the mayor on this past Friday. This letter was written in haste to allow us this opportunity to speak today. In less then fifteen minutes we had a number of signatures and it was on its way to a meeting with John. Dougherty civil engineer at an eleven o'clock meeting. We members of Mainland's Section Six have been asking for help at our Civic Meeting for years now, from the Commissioners, The Borward County Sheriff department to address our concerns. On the limited number of responses from the Sheriffs office many speeding tickets have been written and a positive impact has been made for a limited time frame after their presents in our community. Understandably the police are a limited asset of our County and they are needed in many more places. Under the Terms of Article V paragraph D sub paragraph small (a) Remedial Action: This has been requested for years now. Therefore, there is a need for a more permanent solution for the safety of our citizens. We are not asking to spend all our wealth but a miniscule amount of dollars for the safety of our citizens. In conclusion a few minor changes in Temporary Resolution 10351 could have a major impact on our safety. In the afore mentioned letter of last Friday with today's date on the top our main concerns are in Item V. paragraphs B and D. Most of the aspects of the Policy are Acceptable as written. In B. the reality of today's world needs to be considered please review that portion of the letter. D. Has been spoken of here today and conforming to the definition of Speed and lowering the percentage from pie in the sky preventative number to a more rational and down to earth number. This would add great emphasis on the possibility of helping our fellow citizens feel like our leaders are concerned with safety and dollars not Dollars over safety. To often someone has to be killed before a change is instituted. Lets not wait for a tragedy to happen. Thank you for your time.