HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-06-12 - City Commission Workshop Meeting MinutesCITY OF TAMARAC
CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING
JUNE 12, 2000
CALL TO ORDER: Vice Mayor Roberts called the Workshop Meeting of the City
Commission to order on Monday, June 12, 2000, at 9:30 a.m. in Room 105 of Tamarac
City Hall, 7525 NW 88t" Avenue, Tamarac, Florida.
PRESENT: Vice Mayor Karen L. Roberts, Commissioner Edward C. Portner, and
Commissioner Marc L. Sultanof.
ABSENT AND EXCUSED FOR CAUSE: Mayor Joe Schreiber and Commissioner Larry
Mishkin.
ALSO PRESENT: City Manager Jeffrey L. Miller, City Attorney Mitchell S. Kraft,
Assistant City Manager Tim Hemstreet, and Interim City Clerk Marion Swenson.
Vice Mayor Roberts called for the Pledge of Allegiance.
City Manager Miller introduced Mitchell Ceasar, the City's Lobbyist and Special Projects
Coordinator Diane Phillips, and congratulated them on their excellent work in getting '/2
million dollars in grant money awarded to the City of Tamarac.
1. JUNE 14, 2000 AGENDA ITEMS:
a) AGREEMENT WITH FPL FIBERNET, INC.: (TR9054) Executing an interim
agreement with FPL Fibernet, Inc., for access to public rights -of -way. Assistant City
Manager Tim Hemstreet gave a presentation. Commissioner Sultanof asked for an
explanation of the difference between an easement and right-of-way, and Assistant City
Manager Hemstreet responded. There was discussion about changes in the
telecommunications law and collection of taxes. Assistant City Manager Hemstreet
discussed the fact that the State legislature will no longer require franchise agreements as
of 2001. Vice Mayor Roberts asked if there is any way for Tamarac to conduct an audit to
make sure we are collecting the correct amount of revenue, and Assistant City Manager
Hemstreet responded. City Attorney Kraft explained that this is an interim way to do
business before the law is settled, and sales tax is not addressed in this item.
Commissioner Portner questioned whether Item 7(f) on the regular agenda includes
setup and placement of the furniture. PURCHASE OF CONFERENCE ROOM AND
OFFICE FURNITURE: (TR9043) Authorizing the purchase of conference room and
office furniture from Thomas W. Ruff & Co. in an amount not to exceed $28,023.00
under State of Florida Contract Numbers 425-001-97-1 and 425-050-97-1 for the Senior
& Community Center; providing for funding. Parks and Recreation Director Margoles
responded that it is included.
City Commission Workshop
Minutes
June 12, 2000
Commissioner Portner questioned Item 7(h) on the regular agenda. PARENT
TRAINING AGREEMENT: (TR9045) Executing a partnership agreement between the
City of Tamarac and the Mental Health Association of Broward County relating to parent
training; providing for insurance requirements; providing for waiver of liability.
Commissioner Portner asked where the workshops were going to be held and
Commissioner Sultanof asked why the program went through the Mental Health
Association and what age children are involved. Parks and Recreation Director
Margoles responded. Assistant City Manager Hemstreet explained that the program is
voluntary, and there are parents who say they do not know how to deal with their
children or cannot get through to their children. This program provides avenues to
assist parents to better deal with their children and relate to them. Commissioner
Portner asked who would be teaching the program, and Parks and Recreation Director
Margoles said professionals from the Mental Health Association would manage the
sessions.
j. Vice Mayor Roberts questioned Item 70) on the regular agenda. FIRST UNION
NATIONAL BANK - BANKING SERVICES: (TR9048) Executing an addendum to the
existing agreement between the City of Tamarac and First Union National Bank
exercising the option to extend First Union National Bank's banking services contract for
one additional year. Vice Mayor Roberts asked Finance Director Bates why it behooves
Tamarac to extend the bank's services for an additional year, and Finance Director
Bates responded.
2. QUARTERLY REPORT: Quarterly report presentation. Finance Director Mark
Bates introduced Management and Budget Officer John Ralston and Controller Bill
Nealon. Finance Director Bates gave a presentation on the quarterly report as a whole,
and Management and Budget Officer Ralston gave a presentation on strategic focus
and major accomplishments. Controller Bill Nealon gave a presentation on the Utilities
and Fire Rescue Funds. Vice Mayor Roberts asked for an explanation of unqualified
opinion of external auditor, and Finance Director Bates explained. Commissioner
Sultanof suggested taking a close look at the Fire Rescue Fund.
Vice Mayor Roberts called for a recess at 10:35 AM. The Workshop meeting
reconvened at 10:45 AM with everyone. present.
3. PRESENTATION BY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (DOT)
TURNPIKE AUTHORITY: Presentation by Department of Transportation (DOT) and
Turnpike Authority on the Sawgrass Expressway widening project and the project to
modify the Turnpike entrance at Commercial Boulevard, Public Works Director Raj
Verma gave a presentation and introduced Raymond A. Ashe, Jr., Manager of the
Environmental Management Office, Turnpike District, and Carl Gibilaro, P.E., Senior
Transportation Engineer, Post Buckley Schuh and Jernigan. Mr. Ashe reported on a
study that indicated there is a need for a southbound ramp on Commercial Boulevard.
Additionally, the study identified other needs, such as an Eastbound Commercial
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Boulevard to Southbound turnpike ramp with toll plaza; extension of the existing
northbound turnpike exit ramp and moving the toll plaza; and an additional access on
Cypress Creek Road to take some of the traffic off Commercial Boulevard.
Commissioner Portner asked how long the project would take, and Mr. Ashe said the
entire project with all identifiers addressed would most likely be completed by 2025.
Commissioner Sultanof discussed his concerns about the 441 Corridor, and Vice Mayor
Roberts asked when construction of the new ramp would begin. Mr. Ashe replied it will
begin in 2003 and be completed in late 2004. Vice Mayor Roberts asked if any houses
are going to be affected, and Mr. Ashe said no houses or businesses would be affected.
Vice Mayor Roberts asked about a sign for Tamarac on the Turnpike and Mr. Ashe said
he would look into it. Commissioner Portner asked about coordinating the lights, and
Mr. Ashe said they could be synchronized.
4. PUBLIC WORKS IMPROVEMENT PROJECT UPDATE: Update on Public
Works Improvement Project in the Woodlands area. Public Works Director Raj Verma
gave a report on the status of the project. There was discussion about the water level
of the canals. City Manager Miller said the purpose of this report is to inform the Mayor
and Commissioners that the City has done everything possible over the past six months
to avoid a situation similar to last year's flooding. Commissioner Portner said the City
crews are doing a great job.
5. 954 AREA CODE: 954 area code. Assistant to the City Manager Kristin McKew
gave a presentation and explained three options available with regard to new area code
numbers. Assistant to the City Manager McKew suggested Tamarac move toward
option #2, Pompano Beach, Coral Springs and Deerfield Beach exchanges having one
area code, and Ft. Lauderdale and Hollywood exchanges having another area code.
This option would be least disruptive to Tamarac. Vice Mayor Roberts suggested
bringing this item back when Mayor Schreiber and Commissioner Mishkin have
returned.
6. NAMING THE SENIOR & COMMUNITY CENTER: (TR9053) Naming the Senior
and Community Center as "Tamarac Community Center". Parks and Recreation
Director Kathleen Margoles distributed Temporary Resolution 9053 and gave a
presentation. Commissioner Sultanof said the Center was presented to the residents of
Tamarac as the Senior and Community Center, a center for all ages and he would like
to see the intergenerational gap removed. Commissioner Portner agreed with renaming
the Senior and Community Center. Vice Mayor Roberts asked why the item is not listed
on the June 14th agenda, as it was agreed by consensus at the March 22 Workshop to
rename the Center. Vice Mayor Roberts asked if there is anything pending at the
Center regarding the name, and Parks and Recreation Director Margoles said there are
two signs that need to be ordered. Public Information Officer Moore said the Tam -A -
Gram is ready to go to print and there are articles in the Tam -A -Gram regarding the
Senior and Community Center. Commissioner Sultanof suggested waiting until after the
June 14t" meeting to see what the name for the Senior and Community Center would be
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and then send the Tam -A -Gram to the printer. There was consensus to place the item
on the June 14th Agenda.
7. SMALL BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR IN TAMARAC: Small Business
Person of the Year in Tamarac. Vice Mayor Roberts said she had requested a
proclamation for the June 14th meeting for the Small Business Person of the Year in
Tamarac, and Theresa Constanzo will be present to accept.
There being no further business to come before the Commission, Vice Mayor Roberts
adjourned the Workshop meeting at 11:50 am.
Marion Swenson, CMC
Interim City Clerk
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