HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-09-24 - City Commission Workshop Meeting MinutesCITY OF TAMARAC
CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2007
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco called the Workshop Meeting of the
City Commission to order on Monday, September 24, 2007, at 9:30 a.m. in Room 105 of
Tamarac City Hall, 7525 NW 88th 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, Deputy City Manager Michael C.
Cernech, City Attorney Samuel S. Goren, and City Clerk Marion Swenson.
Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco led the pledge of allegiance.
1. OVERVIEW OF 2007 LEGISLATIVE SESSION: Ronald L. Book, Lobbyist gave
a presentation and spoke of upcoming legislative sessions, PIP, anticipated $3 billion
cuts from the state budget, whether it is appropriate for the state to sell or lease roads,
and also spoke of the possibility of the lottery being sold or leased. Mr. Book said
leadership in the legislature is expected to run a full-blown campaign, raising $10 - $12
million for the January 29th exemption. Vice Mayor Sultanof asked if the sales tax item
is detrimental to cities and said the save our homes option is fair and there is no benefit
to the proposed super exemption. Mr. Book spoke of the sales tax pros and cons.
Commissioner Atkins -Grad said the realtors are pushing for the super exemption and
asked Mr. Book how long he has been working for the City and how much money he
has brought to the City, to which Mr. Book replied about five years and he has brought
in about $2 million. Commissioner Dressler wondered who is framing the argument to
sell or lease roads, and said the legislature has transferred the risk of windstorm and
PIP away from the insurance companies, the property tax relief is inefficient at best, and
financial risk has been transferred to local governments. Commissioner Dressler added
sales tax is a cyclical funding source. The issue is actually how to fix the broken ad
valorem tax situation. Mr. Book concurred and said for the future there may be some
one time appropriations in the areas of water, parks, police, and at risk kids.
Commissioner Portner suggested the lobbyists raise funds to fight the January 29th
ballot issue on the super exemption, and said he chairs the committee to discuss private
enterprise regarding roads and lottery. Mr. Book said he will assist where directed, and
it is incumbent upon the league of cities, county and school board associations to take
the lead role in driving the agenda.
2. PRESENTATION REGARDING TOPS TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS: Director
of Parks and Recreation Warner, Community Transit Officer Althea Ellis, and
Community Transit Manager Andrea Busada appeared. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco
said during the budget hearings transportation was a big issue and over the past year
the TOPS program came up, but not always in a positive way. Mayor Flansbaum-
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Talabisco thanked staff for arranging for Ms. Ellis and Ms. Busada to be here this
morning. Ms. Busada explained if there is a fixed route system there must also be a
transportation service for those with disabilities. There is an application and evaluation
process, and there is also an appeals process if a person is deemed ineligible. Free
travel training services are offered for the elderly and disabled. This is an unfunded
mandate and services are provided as needed. The service makes three thousand trips
each day, and they are timely 90% of the time. Ms. Ellis informed the Mayor and City
Commission that trips to the nutrition center are free and other trips are $2.00 each way.
A grant is prepared annually to fund the program and there are reporting requirements.
There are nine providers servicing clients, and they are spread out among the various
zip codes. Each manages its own reservations and dispatch. TOPS documents and
tracks each complaint.
Commissioner Portner left the room at 10:35 a.m. and returned at 10:38 a.m.
Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco questioned the number of Tamarac residents registered for
the service and Ms. Ellis said 1,514 as of September 21 st. Vice Mayor Sultanof
questioned how pickups are handled when someone has to wait a long time for
transportation to arrive and Ms. Busada said there are various methods used, such as
additional vehicles, a contract with yellow cab, and there is a riders' guide given to each
client with an emergency number to call. Commissioner Atkins -Grad said she had
occasion to use the service seven years ago, and she was happy with the service the
majority of time. There have been complaints regarding the wait to be picked up after
an appointment. Commissioner Dressler said he appreciates what TOPS does and he
ranks this with first responders in terms of importance and value to the community.
Commissioner Dressler questioned organization by zip code and incentives. Ms.
Busada explained the initial assignment is made according to zip code, but the client
may switch to another provider if they so choose.
Vice Mayor Sultanof left the room at 10:50 a.m. and returned at 10:53 a.m.
After three valid complaints are received per 1,000 trips each month a vendor is fined.
Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco said she would like to see several special presentations by
TOPS for residents in the near future, at the Tamarac Community Center because
people need to be reeducated to understand TOPS is user friendly. Commissioner
Atkins -Grad suggested notices be sent to those who contacted the City regarding the
transportation service. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco asked Director of Parks and
Recreation Warner and City Manager Miller to report back to the Mayor and City
Commission once this is put into effect, and asked Interim Public Information
Officer/Economic Development Officer Berns to get the word out to residents.
3. PRESENTATION_ AND DISCUSSION OF SR 817 (UNIVERSITY DRIVE) FDOT
MILLING AND RESURFACING PROJECT: Bill Biggs, P.E., Senior Project Manager,
Boyle Engineering Corp. was unable to attend the meeting. Mayor Flansbaum-
Talabisco asked that this item be deferred to the next workshop meeting.
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4. SEPTEMBER 26 2007 AGENDA ITEMS:
a. Item No. 6(e) on the consent agenda. AUTHORIZING THE RENEWAL OF
GENERAL LIABILITY AUTOMOBILE LIABILITY AUTOMOBILE PHYSICAL DAMAGE
WORKERS' COMPENSATION, AND PROPERTY LINES OF COVERAGE: (TR11286)
Authorizing the renewal of General Liability, Automobile Liability, Automobile Physical
Damage, Workers' Compensation, and Property lines of coverage with the Florida
Municipal Insurance Trust (FMIT) for a one (1) year period beginning October 1, 2007 at
a cost of $1,484,552 and payment of any increase resulting from the annual premium
audit. Human Resources Director Swanson and Risk/Safety Manager Tomaszewski
gave a presentation.
City Attorney Goren left the room at 11:00 a.m. and returned at 11:03 a.m.
There was discussion regarding medical coverage as it pertains to PIP coverage.
Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco called a recess at 11:05 a.m. and reconvened the
workshop meeting at 11:15 a.m. with all present as before.
b. Item No. 6(d) on the consent agenda. OPPOSING FLORIDA HOMETOWN
DEMOCRACY'S PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE FLORIDA CONSTITUTION:
(TR11291) Opposing Florida Hometown Democracy's proposed amendment to the
Florida Constitution that would force voters to decide all changes to a City or County's
comprehensive plan; urging municipalities throughout Broward County and the State of
Florida, as well as Florida electors, to oppose Florida Hometown Democracy's proposed
amendment to the Florida Constitution. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco and City Attorney
Goren appeared. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco said the misinformation in the public
arena makes this sound like a good thing, but in reality, it is not. City Attorney Goren
added this has nothing to do with hometown democracy, but more to do with removal of
home rule. If this passes, any time a city or county wants to change the comprehensive
plan or land use it would require a referendum on that decision. It removes the public
officials' right to make these decisions. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco said it also takes
away and negates the fact of public hearings. It does not take into effect the cost and
time involved. Commissioner Dressler spoke of unintended consequences of delaying
economic development and the negative effect it will have on the fiscal impact to the
city. Commissioner Atkins -Grad added this affects growth and it will affect fire and
police, and our comprehensive plan. Deputy City Manager Cernech asked if any other
state operates in this manner and what adverse impact this legislation will cause on
property rights. City Attorney Goren said no other state does this, and it is unknown at
this time what the adverse impact may be.
5. UPDATE ON PUBLIC ART: Community Development Director Bramley gave a
presentation and said there will be a community meeting on October 1 at the Tamarac
Community Center. On October 2 there will be a presentation to the 6th grade art class
at Millennium Middle School. Barney and Worth will then draft the master plan, which
she hoped to present to the Mayor and City Commission in January 2008. Vice Mayor
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Sultanof spoke of finding philanthropic donations to perpetuate the fund, and
Commissioner Dressler agreed and suggested an endowment for the arts. Mayor
Flansbaum-Talabisco spoke of an ArtServe event she attended in Ft. Lauderdale,
where two local photographers were honored, who happened to be the daughter and
son-in-law of a Woodmont couple. A group of people from Tamarac were at the event
as well as a number of people serving on the Public Art Committee. Mayor Flansbaum-
Talabisco added that Maureen Kohler said there is more participation from Tamarac
residents than any other city in the ArtServe shows, and she is hoping to get a
corporate sponsor in order to hold more shows here.
6. DISCUSSION RE: DRAFT ORDINANCE — COMMISSION RULES OF
PROCEDURE: City Attorney Goren gave a presentation on the draft ordinance and
said much of the language comes from the resolution already in place, and the
ordinance will take the existing resolution(s) and articulate their implications and more
modern changes into one document. Vice Mayor Sultanof spoke of past practices and
procedures and said at this time he approves of the random voting style with the
Mayor's vote included in the mix. Commissioner Dressler said he understands that
things occurring in the past may have a detrimental impact on peoples' perceptions, but
this commission has demonstrated the utmost respect for each other over the past 1-1/2
years. Commissioner Dressler spoke of the necessity of bringing this commission in
line with Roberts Rules of Order. Commissioner Atkins -Grad said she would like to
have copies of the resolution(s) to compare to the ordinance and spoke of items added
to the agenda without prior commission knowledge. City Attorney Goren explained the
essence of the ordinance relates to state statutes and the state constitution, as it
correlates to public meetings, and the right of access by the public. City Attorney Goren
walked the Mayor and City Commission through changes in the ordinance that differed
from the existing resolution(s). There was discussion regarding filibustering and
abstaining from voting. City Manager Miller explained this will allow us to provide rules
for the legislative process that are good and appropriate and we will provide good
government to the residents and citizens. Additionally the ordinance refers to some
staff activities, how we conduct ourselves and put the agenda together. Ultimately,
these will be your rules. This is a state of the art ordinance and most governments in
South Florida have rules and procedures to guide their activities as well as using
Roberts Rules of Order. City Manager Miller said on behalf of staff, he would support
this ordinance. Vice Mayor Sultanof said his concern is the flexibility in Roberts Rules
of Order. Commissioner Portner asked who placed this on the agenda and who made
the recommendations for change. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco said it was brought up at
a meeting and she asked the City Attorney to look into it. City Attorney Goren
responded he took the base resolution(s) and worked with the City Manager, City Clerk,
and staff, and benchmarked other information. He did not speak with the Mayor and
City Commission to get any information from them. Commissioner Portner said he
objected to being structured into a small box; Vice Mayor Sultanof and Commissioner
Portner said they did not want to be limited as to the length of time they could speak.
Commissioner Dressler said an exception could always be made as to the length of
time a commissioner had to speak and added there is an obligation on the part of the
commission to the residents to play by the rules. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco said the
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past is the past and she feels she has always treated each of the commissioners with
respect and patience; she has no intention of changing her behavior unless something
extraordinary occurs. As for voting last, every mayor with the exception of the former
mayor voted last, and Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco said she would like to see that
reinstituted as it is part of the role of the office of the Mayor. Mayor Flansbaum-
Talabisco asked for an expression of interest to add this item to Wednesday's agenda.
Commissioner Dressler, Commissioner Atkins -Grad, and Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco
were in favor of adding the item.
7. DISCUSSION RE: GRANT IN AID OF TAMARAC THEATRE OF
PERFORMING ARTS: Deputy City Manager Cernech asked the Mayor and City
Commission to add a resolution to Wednesday's meeting, recommending a $5,600
grant from the FY07 budget for the Tamarac Theatre of Performing Arts. Mayor
Flansbaum-Talabisco called for an expression of interest to add the item to
Wednesday's meeting and all were in agreement.
Commissioner Portner asked for a 20% reduction to the proposed agreement for Item
6(g) on the consent agenda, AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT FOR LOBBYING
SERVICES: (TR11290) Executing Amendment #5 to the agreement between the City of
Tamarac and Ronald L. Book, P.A., for lobbying services extending the agreement
through September 10, 2008 at a cost not to exceed $60,000. The Mayor and City
Commission were not in agreement with this suggestion.
Vice Mayor Sultanof asked to have added to the next workshop agenda a
recommendation to hold quarterly workshop meetings in the evening, beginning at 6:30
or 7:00 p.m.
There being no further business to come before the Mayor and City Commission, Mayor
Flansbaum-Talabisco adjourned the workshop meeting at 1:15 p.m.
Marion Swenson, CMC
City Clerk
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