HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-09-09 - City Commission Workshop Meeting MinutesCITY OF TAMARAC
CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2002
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Schreiber called the Workshop Meeting of the City Commission
to order on Monday, September 9, 2002, at 9:30 a.m. in Room 105 of Tamarac City Hall,
7525 NW 88th Avenue, Tamarac, Florida.
PRESENT: Mayor Joe Schreiber, Vice Mayor Edward C. Portner, Commissioner Gertrude
Mishkin, Commissioner Marc L. Sultanof and Commissioner Karen L. Roberts.
ALSO PRESENT: City Manager Jeffrey L. Miller, City Attorney Mitchell S. Kraft, Assistant
City Manager Michael C. Cernech, and City Clerk Marion Swenson.
City Clerk Swenson introduced new employee Debra Zablosky, Office Specialist in the City
Clerk's Office.
1. SEPTEMBER 11, 2002 AGENDA ITEMS:
a. Item No. 6(b). AWARDING RFP NO. 02-11 R "DESIGN/BUILD OF FIRE STATION
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES BUILDING AND PUBLIC WORKS STORAGE BUILDING" —
MILLER CONSTRUCTION COMPANY: (TR9860): Amending the annual budget of
estimated revenues and expenditures; authorizing the award of RFP No. 02-11 R, entitled
"Design/Build of fire station, development services building and public works storage
building" to Miller Construction Company; authorizing the appropriate city officials to
execute an agreement for a guaranteed maximum price of $6,371,441. Mayor Schreiber
asked about other bidders and Purchasing/Contracts Manager Flurry explained that
selection among the proposals received is based on qualifications and not on price. Vice
Mayor Portner questioned whether other proposals listed were incomplete, and
Purchasing/Contracts Manager Flurry responded that only the prices of the top two rated
firms were opened. Utilities Director Gagnon gave a presentation and introduced Harley
Miller, president of Miller Construction, who gave a presentation and introduced Scott Weik,
vice president of Miller Construction. Mr. Weik discussed dividing the project into two site
plan approval phases to expedite construction and minimize disruption of city business, and
indicated that the Fire Station, which is in Phase II, has wetland mitigation and plat
restriction issues that need to be resolved. Project Architect Steve Knight gave a
presentation on the design. Commissioner Sultanof questioned Public Works' access and
movement during construction and Mr. Knight explained the work would be done in stages
to minimize disruption. Commissioner Roberts asked when Phases I and II would be
completed and Mr. Weik said Phase I site plan approval is expected the first week of
October with a completion target of September 2003, and Phase II site plan approval is
expected in December 2002 with a completion date set for December 2003. Mayor
Schreiber asked if the buildings would be hurricane proof and Commissioner Mishkin
questioned parking and landscaping. Mr. Knight responded the design would meet current
code requirements and parking and landscaping would be enhanced. Utilities Director
Gagnon said the jogging trail, incorporated around the perimeter of the wetlands would
count as park land. Vice Mayor Portner questioned the towers in the design and Mr. Knight
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responded they delineate vertical circulation and mimic the main entrance to the buildings.
Commissioner Sultanof spoke about change orders and confirmed if the city initiates
change orders it will be our responsibility to pay for them, if the contractor initiates change
orders, it will be their responsibility. Utilities Director Gagnon explained the guaranteed
maximum price offered by Miller Construction Company; if the cost of the project exceeds
the negotiated price, they will absorb the costs, and if the project is completed below the
negotiated price, the city will realize the savings. Commissioner Roberts asked about
Miller's experience in constructing fire stations and Mr. Miller responded that the architect
has prior experience. Vice Mayor Partner asked why the cost of the steel storage building
and elevator were not included in the bond issue and Assistant City Manager Cernech said
the monies were previously budgeted.
b. Item No. 6(d). VOIDING THE WATER AND SEWER DEVELOPER'S AGREEMENT
— BANYAN LAKES CORPORATION: (TR9669) Executing an agreement with Elfrieda R.
Compton, voiding the Water and Sewer Developer's Agreement with Banyan Lakes
Corporation for the Banyan Lakes Development located on the south side of Bailey Road
between Rock Island Road and 81 st Avenue; releasing the property lien on said project for
delinquent Guaranteed Revenues in the approximate amount of $18,103.51; authorizing
and directing the City Clerk to record said Agreement and release of lien in the public
records of Broward County. Utilities Director Ray Gagnon gave a presentation. Vice
Mayor Portner asked about future development of the property and Utilities Director
Gagnon said the new owner, Ms. Compton, wishes to sell to a developer. Commissioner
Roberts questioned why the lien should be released in light of the fact the owner could pay
the lien from the proceeds of the sale and Ms. Compton knew a lien existed at time of
purchase. Vice Mayor Portner said he is not in favor of releasing the lien. Commissioner
Sultanof said releasing the lien would make the property more marketable. Mayor
Schreiber asked why the lien was placed and Utilities Director Gagnon explained utilities
were tied in but never used. Mayor Schreiber asked for an expression of interest:
Commissioner Roberts and Vice Mayor Portner were not in favor of releasing the lien;
Commissioners Sultanof and Mishkin and Mayor Schreiber were in favor.
C. Item No. 6(m). DONATION OF EQUIPMENT TO SISTER CITY FATSA TURKEY:
(TR9849) Supporting our Sister City, Fatsa, Turkey; providing for a donation of fire rescue
equipment to the City of Fatsa, Turkey. Chief Budzinski gave a presentation and noted the
equipment is approximately 7 years old and has already been replaced. Mayor Schreiber
questioned monetary value of the equipment and whether United States organizations
could use the equipment, as he would prefer the equipment be given to an organization in
this country. Chief Budzinski responded there is minimal value to the equipment and it
would be of no use to hospitals or any EMS group in the United States. Vice Mayor Portner
said the object of the sister cities program is to assist and formulate good relations.
Commissioner Mishkin asked if people in Fatsa would know how to use the equipment and
Vice Mayor Portner responded they are trained. Mayor Schreiber asked for an expression
of interest and all agreed to the donation.
d. Item No. 6(n). BROWARD BOATING IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM GRANT:
(TR9869) Seeking up to $0,000 in grant funding from the Broward Boating Improvement
Grant Program to provide additional parking and improved lighting at Veteran's Park.
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Assistant to the City Manager Diane Phillips gave a presentation. Commissioner Roberts
questioned the location of the improvements and Assistant to the City Manager Phillips
explained they would be on the other side of the bathrooms. Commissioner Sultanof asked
if there would be a safety risk involving the concrete bike/walk path, and Parks and
Recreation Director Margoles said the path is closer to the canal and would not be
disturbed. Vice Mayor Portner questioned ramp usage and Parks and Recreation Director
Margoles responded it is used more on weekends; the improvements will enhance parking
for the park and for trailers. Mayor Schreiber asked about the cost. Assistant to the City
Manager Phillips said improvements would total approximately $48,000; the grant
requested is for $50,000 and does not require matching funds. In essence, there would be
no cost to the city. Commissioner Mishkin asked about bocci courts and Parks and
Recreation Director Margoles said the suggestion has come up a number of times.
Vice Mayor Portner questioned item 6(c) on the consent agenda. LOBBYING SERVICES:
(TR9858) Executing an agreement between the City of Tamarac and Ronald L. Book, P.A.,
for lobbying services. Assistant to the City Manager Phillips explained that at a budget
workshop, the Commission asked the City Manager to negotiate the same terms set forth
last January. Discussion was held about stormwater funding from the state. The Mayor
and Commission were in agreement to move forward with this item.
Vice Mayor Portner questioned the timeline and location for the aquatic center regarding
item 6(g) on the consent agenda. TAMARAC 2003: (TR9861) Adopting the goals of the
"Tamarac 2003: A Strategic Focus for the City of Tamarac" document. Assistant to the
City Manager Phillips explained the grant agreement with Broward County has a 5-year
term for development of the project. There was discussion about where the aquatic center
would be located and the fact that there is a question as to the availability of the Caporella
property. Commissioner Roberts said her concern is displacement of the ball fields if the
aquatic center is located at Tamarac Park and Parks and Recreation Director Margoles
explained that the configuration of Parcel R would not accommodate a ball field wheel,
which is the preference of user groups; additionally, there is a commitment to Broward
County of using only 30% of the land for active recreation at this location. Other concerns
about placing the aquatic center at Tamarac Park are that the Recreation Center may have
to be demolished and traffic may be a problem. City Manager Miller said staff will come
back with several options at the next workshop meeting.
Vice Mayor Portner asked about costs associated with item 6(i) on the consent agenda
AGREEMENT - EXETER NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, INC. THROUGH
BROWARD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE: (TR9766) Executing an agreement with Exeter
Neighborhood Association, Inc. for the City of Tamarac through the Broward County
Sheriff's office to exercise jurisdictional authority for traffic control and enforcement within
the property of the Exeter Neighborhood Association, Inc. Assistant to the City Manager
Phillips said there is no cost to the city or the association.
2. DISCUSSION OF SISTER CITIES PROGRAM WITH TURKEY: Commissioner
Roberts said at the last workshop it appeared the Commission was in favor of moving
forward with the Sister Cities relationship, however, in light of a recent newspaper article, it
did not appear so. Commissioner Roberts said she would like to confirm that the
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Commission wants to proceed with this program. Mayor Schreiber said the initial
relationship, which is cultural and social, has already been established and he favors going
forward. Commissioner Sultanof spoke about economic facets resulting from the
relationship and said we should move forward with the sister cities program.
3. DISCUSSION OF ADDITION OF THE NON AD VALOREM FIRE ASSESSMENT
FEE ON THE TRIM NOTICE: Commissioner Roberts questioned why the fire assessment
fee does not appear on the TRIM notice. Management and Budget Analyst Sammartino
gave an explanation of the pros and cons of placing this information on the TRIM notice
and discussed the cost to the city as well as the notice guidelines. After discussion, it was
decided that the city would continue notifying residents of the fire assessment fee as it has
in the past.
Commissioner Sultanof asked for a consensus to request that City Manager Miller and City
Attorney Kraft present current rules and policies of the Commission for future discussion
because some amendments should be made to the rules and policies. City Manager Miller
said he would make sure the commissioners all have the rules and regulations, and there
may be one or two policies that need to be changed; for example, the rules say the
commission reports should be brought forth at the end of the agenda, but they have been
introduced at the beginning of the agenda. City Attorney Kraft confirmed that no changes
have been requested prior to upcoming discussion. The commission agreed to a
discussion of the rules.
Commissioner Roberts spoke about the traffic problem at the new elementary school,
which has been exacerbated by the opening of the middle school. Students are crossing
Commercial Blvd., with no crossing guards stationed at the corners. Commissioner
Roberts said Tamarac needs another guard at 94t" and Commercial. There was also
discussion about the left turn lane to 94t", and Commissioner Roberts said she had
contacted the county commission about this. Mayor Schreiber brought up the fact that
there had been complaints about the FPL pole long before the school opened, and to date
it has not been removed. Commissioner Sultanof said FPL disconnected their lines but the
pole cannot be removed until Bell South disconnects theirs. Commissioner Sultanof spoke
about eastbound traffic making left turns into the schools without a left turn arrow at 94th
Vice Mayor Portner asked City Manager Miller about the script for the budget hearing on
September 11tn
There being no further business to come before the City Commission, Mayor Schreiber
adjourned the workshop meeting at 11:20 a.m.
Marion Swenson, CMC
City Clerk
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