HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-09-22 - City Commission Workshop Meeting MinutesCITY OF TAMARAC
CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2008
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco called the Workshop Meeting of the
City Commission to order on Monday, September 22, 2008, at 9:30 a.m. in Room 105 of
Tamarac City Hall, 7525 NW 88th Avenue, Tamarac, Florida.
PRESENT: Mayor Beth Flansbaum-Talabisco, Commissioner Edward C. Portner,
Commissioner Patricia Atkins -Grad, and Commissioner Harry Dressler
ABSENT: Vice Mayor Marc L. Sultanof
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. SEPTEMBER 24, AGENDA ITEMS:
a. Item No. 6(D) on the consent agenda. AGREEMENT — POSTAL CENTER
INTERNATIONAL — MAILING SERVICES: (TR11459) Entering into an agreement with
Postal Center International, Inc. for city-wide mailing services, utilizing Southeast
Florida Governmental Purchasing Cooperative Group Contract #785-9915, effective
October 5, 2008, through October 4, 2011. City Clerk Swenson and
Purchasing/Contracts Manager Glatz appeared. Purchasing/Contracts Manager Glatz
gave a presentation. Commissioner Dressler confirmed the company charges bulk rate
and Commissioner Atkins -Grad said she is happy with the agreement.
b. Item No. 6(C) on the consent agenda. SECOND RENEWAL OPTION TO THE
EXISTING AGREEMENT WITH DRD ENTERPRISES INC. OF DAVIE FOR LIME
SLUDGE REMOVAL, HAULING AND DISPOSAL: (TR11456) Exercising the second
renewal option to the existing agreement between the City of Tamarac and DRD
Enterprises, Inc. of Davie for lime sludge removal, hauling and disposal for a period of
two years commencing on October 1, 2008 and ending on September 30, 2010 at a unit
cost of $8.75 per cubic yard and an annual cost not to exceed $150,000.00. Utilities
Director Gagnon, Water Plant Superintendent Harvey, and Purchasing/Contracts
Manager Glatz appeared. Director of Utilities Gagnon gave a presentation.
Commissioner Portner asked what lime sludge is and what it is used for. Water Plant
Superintendent Harvey replied it is calcium and magnesium and in the past it was used
for roadways, cleaning FPL stacks and agriculture. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco
confirmed we have been using this company since September 2004, and the change
orders were due to unit cost increases.
C. Item No. 6(F) on the consent agenda. ACCEPTANCE OF FY 08/09 SHIP
ALLOCATION: (TR 11472) Accepting the State of Florida's State Housing Initiatives
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Partnership (SHIP) Program Budget in the amount of $529,737.00 by accepting the
Fiscal Year 2008-2009 allocation of the program funds to be utilized according to the
City's Local Housing Assistance Plan and Housing Delivery Goals Chart; that the
appropriate City Officials are hereby authorized to appropriate said funds including any
and all subsequent budgetary transfers to be in accordance with proper accounting
standards. Community Development Director Bramley and Housing Administrator
Bauldree appeared. Housing Administrator Bauldree gave a presentation.
Commissioner Partner asked how many applications have been received at this point
and Housing Administrator Bauldree said we allow for five grants for purchase money
and we accepted 40 applications. Rehabilitation is an ongoing process based upon
eligibility. We normally allot about 30 per year. Commissioner Atkins -Grad asked if this
money is included in the budget and Housing Administrator Bauldree said it is budgeted
but has to be formally accepted by the Mayor and City Commission.
d. Item No. 6(G) on the consent agenda. AGREEMENT WITH C3TS TO PROVIDE
DESIGN AND ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE CITYWIDE CULVERT
IMPROVEMENT PROJECT: (TR11478) Executing Task Authorization No. #08-03E
with Corzo Castella Carballo Thompson Salman, P.A. (C3TS) to provide professional
engineering services for the design of Phase II of the Citywide Canal Culvert
Improvement Project, in accordance with the City's continuing service agreement as
authorized by Resolution #R-2006-131; authorizing an expenditure for said purpose in
an amount not to exceed $41,800.00; authorizing budget amendments as needed for
proper accounting purposes. Public Works Director Strain and Purchasing/Contracts
Manager Glatz appeared. Public Works Director Strain gave a presentation.
Commissioner Portner questioned how we decided on the locations, and said there is
nothing set for the east side of Tamarac. Public Works Director Strain explained the
culvert crossings looked at were primarily created out of cement bags and there is no
quality structural integrity to those banks. Commissioner Portner confirmed the $41,800
is only for the design. Commissioner Atkins -Grad confirmed the $78,000 is the annual
allotment for construction.
e. Item No. 6(H) on the consent agenda. 2009 FLORIDA RECREATION
DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FRDAP GRANT: (TR11481) Submitting
an application to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for Florida
Recreation Development Assistance Program (FRDAP) Grant funds for the Aquatic
Center Annex Skate Park Project in the amount of $200,000 providing for an equal
match of $200,000 in prior grant funding in the event of approval of the application;
providing for acceptance of the award and execution of documents upon approval.
Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation Probert and Special Projects Coordinator
Gresek appeared. Special Projects Coordinator Gresek gave a presentation.
Commissioner Dressler asked that consideration be given to an article in the Tam -A -
Gram to educate our residents on how grants work and what matching grants are, in
addition to other funding sources. All were in agreement. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco
said she would also like to see included some recent projects that we were able to fund
through grants, and to add this information to our website. Commissioner Atkins -Grad
agreed this would be a way to prevent dissemination of misinformation.
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f. Item No. 6(J) on the consent agenda. FIRST AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT
FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SERVICES: (TR11485) Executing the first
amendment to the agreement between the City of Tamarac and Broward County for
Public Transportation Services. Assistant Parks and Recreation Director Probert and
Community Services Manager Maldonado appeared. Assistant Parks and Recreation
Director Probert gave a presentation and addressed changes with regard to ridership.
Commissioner Dressler spoke of State funding for roads rather than funding for mass
transit, and the fact that those who are hurt by cuts in transportation are the young, the
poor and seniors. Commissioner Dressler suggested the City lobby the County
Commission so that they will not make drastic cutbacks to transportation. City Manager
Miller said the City will be okay for the next year; but we will have to get with the County
to make sure we keep the bus service operating. The young, poor and seniors do not
have a strong voice downtown where major decisions are being made. Commissioner
Dressler added it is not the County's fault they are in this situation; rather the fault of the
State and FDOT. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco addressed information in the backup
regarding exploration of stops at popular locations, such as Target, Winn Dixie and
schools. Community Services Manager Maldonado said this is being looked into to
provide more popular locations for our riders. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco said it is
mandatory we do everything possible to explore those options; public transportation is
not a luxury. Commissioner Portner spoke of the failed referendum a few years ago
with regard to the '/2 cent tax for transportation, and the problems of educating the
public on the necessity of taxes in order to provide the services they need to live quality
lives. City Manager Miller said in order for a referendum to be successful there needs
to be a champion led by a prominent business person or elected official with region wide
representation, and it needs to be organized from the bottom up. In urban areas, mass
transit is the most effective way to move people. Commissioner Portner added in most
cities he has visited there is some form of light rail. Commissioner Dressler agreed with
Commissioner Portner.
g. Item No. 6(E) on the consent agenda. AWARDING RFP 08-21 R, WORKERS'_
COMPENSATION INSURANCE, EMPLOYERS LIABILITY INSURANCE AND
CLAIMS ADMINISTRATION: (TR11462) Authorizing the appropriate City officials to
award RFP 08-21 R, Workers' Compensation Insurance, Employers Liability Insurance
and Claims Administration with Florida Municipal Insurance Trust (FMIT) for a one (1)
year period beginning October 1, 2008 at a cost of $314,698 and payment of any
increase resulting from the annual premium audit; with additional one year renewals
possible based on negotiation of favorable rates and coverages and City Commission
approval. Human Resources Director Swanson, Risk/Safety Manager Tomaszewski and
Purchasing/Contracts Manager Glatz appeared. Risk/Safety Manager Tomaszewski
gave a presentation and introduced representatives from FMIT: John Lund, Director of
Financial Services, David Murray, Marketing and Public Risk services, and Jim McGinn,
Account Executive. Mr. Lund spoke of AIG and various competitors of FMIT.
Commissioner Portner addressed several items in the staff memo which Human
Resources Director Swanson and Risk/Safety Manager Tomaszewski clarified.
Commissioner Dressler made a disclosure stating he is a Trustee and Board Member of
the FLC General Employee Trust, and said in an opinion received from the City
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Attorney, there would be no conflict with him voting on this matter. City Attorney Goren
confirmed under Chapter 112, there is no conflict or special gain/loss by Commissioner
Dressler's vote on this matter. Commissioner Dressler confirmed discrepancies in
financial ratios between FMIT and PGIT and Financial Services Director Chapman
spoke about for profit and non-profit organizations. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco
questioned legal fees and Risk/Safety Manager Tomaszewski said they are paid for by
FMIT. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco confirmed the process to work through a claim.
Risk/Safety Manager Tomaszewski spoke about PGIT references and differences in
premiums. Commissioner Dressler confirmed the reduction in premium from FY08 is
attributable to over 18% reduction in workers compensation rates, employee multiplier,
incentive credits and negotiations. Commissioner Dressler said we can do a better job
educating Tamarac residents on how we save them money, and congratulated staff on
the substantial savings. City Manager Miller added when people look at the TRIM
notice each year they do not realize how hard the executive team works to negotiate all
contracts to keep our budgets down; our executive team treats the public's money as if
it were their own. This year we lowered the budget by 5%, in a time when inflation is
6.5% in Florida.
h. Item No. 6(I) on the consent agenda. ACCEPT AND AWARD BID NUMBER 08-
18R ENTITLED "EMPLOYEE VOLUNTARY BENEFITS": (TR11482) Accepting and
awarding Bid Number 08-18R entitled "Employee Voluntary Benefits" to the most
responsive and responsible proposer, American Family Life Assurance Company of
Columbus (AFLAC), for employee voluntary benefits; authorizing the appropriate City
officials to execute agreements with American Family Life Assurance Company of
Columbus (AFLAC) for employee voluntary benefits. Human Resources Director
Swanson, Benefits Specialist Carles, and Purchasing/Contracts Manager Glatz
appeared. Benefits Specialist Carles gave a presentation, and said this is the result of a
review of the business plan.
City Attorney Goren left the room at 10:55 a.m. and returned at 10:59 a.m.
Commissioner Dressler confirmed out of the four proposals, two were from different
AFLAC agents.
2. STATUS REPORT FOR FLOOD PLAIN MANAGEMENT: Building Director
Grande and Building Operations Manager McIntyre appeared. Building Operations
Manager McIntyre gave a presentation and spoke of the local mitigation agreement with
Broward County, as well as savings to Tamarac citizens. Outreach notices go out
quarterly and in support of the program, the Chief Electrical Inspector has completed an
Emergency Flood Plain Course through FEMA. The City's rating is 7, and maintaining
that rating gives the citizens $675,000 worth of reduced premiums. Commissioner
Dressler asked if there are different rates offered through different insurance companies
and Public Works Director Strain said the rates are federally subsidized so they are the
same. Commissioner Partner asked for a definition of a flood and Public Works Director
Strain explained anyone who files a flood insurance claim and gets paid; however it
does not mean the property was flooded; it could be how the property is configured.
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Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco asked if the information is on the website and Building
Operations Manager McIntyre said it is.
3. DISCUSSION RE: MOVING OCTOBER 8 2008 REGULAR COMMISSION
MEETING TO OCTOBER 7, 2008 DUE TO YOM KIPPUR: City Clerk Swenson gave a
short presentation and there was an expression of interest by Mayor Flansbaum-
Talabisco, Commissioner Portner, Commissioner Dressler, and Commissioner Atkins -
Grad to move the regular commission meeting from October 8 to October 7 at 7:00 p.m.
City Attorney Goren spoke about the meeting scheduled for September 23 for funding
the Special Magistrate. It is his understanding the incoming president of the Broward
Police Chiefs' Association will make a presentation and many police and BSO officers
will be in attendance. City Attorney Goren said he will represent the BLC and City of
Tamarac at the meeting.
There being no further business to come before the Mayor and City Commission, Mayor
Flansbaum-Talabisco adjourned the workshop meeting at 11:10 a.m.
Marion Swenson, CIVIC
City Clerk
September 22, 2008
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