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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-09-26 - City Commission Workshop Meeting MinutesCITY OF TAMARAC CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2005 CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Schreiber called the Workshop Meeting of the City Commission to order on Monday, September 26, 2005, at 9:40 a.m. in Room 105 of Tamarac City Hall, 7525 NW 88"' Avenue, Tamarac, Florida. PRESENT: Mayor Joe Schreiber, Vice Mayor Beth Flansbaum-Talabisco, Commissioner Edward C. Portner, Commissioner Marc L. Sultanof, and Commissioner Karen L. Roberts. Mayor Schreiber led the pledge of allegiance. 1. SEPTEMBER 28 2005 AGENDA ITEMS: a. Item No. 6(k). PROGRESS REPORT — AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT FOR LOBBYIST SERVICES (TR10805L Mitchell Ceasar, Lobbyist commended Assistant City Manager Phillips on her grant writing expertise and said Tamarac had a good year. Tamarac received in excess of $3 million based on the following: $1.6 million for open space, $5,000 for Greenshade and $10,000 for Broward Beautiful, $15,000 for Main Street, $10,000 for EMS, $200,000 in state funds for land and water, and $300,000 in federal money for the Courtyard Project. Hopefully Tamarac will receive an additional $300,000 for the second phase of the Courtyard Project grant, and there is $70,000 pending in FEMA money for oxygen filling stations. Mayor Schreiber questioned Mr. Ceasar's letter to the Commission and Mr. Ceasar explained he is asking for an increase of about $8,000 over last year. Commissioner Portner asked Mr. Ceasar what grants he was personally involved in, and what the $300,000 was for. Mr. Ceasar responded he was involved in all of the grants mentioned and Assistant City Manager Phillips explained the $300,000 is a federal appropriation to cover costs of the Courtyard Project which is the area between the library and the Community Center. We have been notified that the money is being appropriated and placed in the FDOT budget. Commissioner Sultanof said he sits on the MPO and through resolution introduced by Mayor Ortis and approved by Commissioner Sultanof, from 2006-2009 Tamarac will receive $8 million in federal grants; additionally he recently voted for $123,000 for sidewalks and median beautification on Nob Hill Road. Commissioner Roberts said she does not wish to approve Mr. Ceasar's request for an increase. Commissioner Portner, Vice Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco, Commissioner Sultanof and Mayor Schreiber agreed to $40,000 for Mr. Ceasar. b. Item No. 6(I). GRANT APPLICATION AND AGREEMENT — ADDITIONAL FACILITIES AT TAMARAC SPORTS COMPLEX: (TR10809) Submitting an application to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for Florida Development Assistance Program (FRDAP) Grant Funds for the expansion of the Tamarac Sports Complex in the amount of $200,000 providing for a cash match of $200,000 in the event September 26, 2005 City Commission Workshop Page 1 of 6 of approval of the application; providing for acceptance of the award and execution of documents upon approval. C. Item No. 6(m). GRANT APPLICATION AND AGREEMENT — FACILITIES AT SOUTHGATE LINEAR PARK: (TR10810) Submitting an application to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for Florida Development Assistance Program (FRDAP) Grant Funds for the Southgate Linear Park Phase 1 B project in the amount of $200,000 providing for a match of $200,000 in city funds and prior grant funding in the event of approval of the application; providing for acceptance of the award and execution of documents upon approval. Interim Parks and Recreation Director Warner and Special Projects Coordinator Gresek appeared. Special Projects Coordinator Gresek gave a presentation on Items 1(b) and 1(c) on the workshop agenda. Mayor Schreiber confirmed each item requires a match from the city, which will bring each item to $400,000. Commissioner Roberts said she thought the commission just passed the budget to pay for some of these amenities and Assistant City Manager Phillips explained often staff budgets for items while staff continues to seek grant funding. If we are successful after the next legislative session, any additional revenue coming into the system will be put toward other things. Commissioner Portner asked if the Tallahassee lobbyist gets involved in this type of grant and Assistant City Manager Phillips said both lobbyists are aware of our grant applications. d. Item No. 8. AMENDING LOCAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE PLAN FOR THE YEARS 2001-2004: (TR10798) Motion to approve Resolution approving the amendment of the Local Housing Assistance Plan (LHAP) for the program years 2001- 2002, 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 to be submitted as a required component of the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Act Grant Program; providing for certification of consistency with the City's Comprehensive Plan (Case No. 12-MI-05); providing for expenditures for administration of the program. e. Item No. 9. AMENDING LOCAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE PLAN FOR THE YEARS 2004-2007: (TR10799) Motion to approve Resolution approving the amendment of the Local Housing Assistance Plan (LHAP) and Delivery Goals Chart for the program years 2004-2005, 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 to be submitted as a required component of the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Act Grant Program; providing for certification of consistency with the City's Comprehensive Plan; Case No. 13-MI-05; providing for expenditures for administration of the program. Community Development Director King gave a presentation on Items 1(d) and 1(e) on the workshop agenda. Community Development Director King explained Sunflower/Heathgate was targeted as the rehabilitation area. Community Development Director King also explained the proposed increase in assistance money, and the fact that if someone in the target area were to be approved for rehabilitation assistance, they would get an additional $10,000. Commissioner Sultanof spoke of residents in Isles of Tamarac having work done on their roofs, and asked if they are entitled to rehabilitation money. Community Development Director King explained if the roof has been repaired then they are not entitled to reimbursement; additionally these funds are awarded based on income. Commissioner Sultanof questioned whether Sunflower/Heathgate is a blighted September 26, 2005 City Commission Workshop Page 2 of 6 area, as he did not think there were any blighted areas in Tamarac. Community Development Director King said the city is being proactive within the purview of code compliance; there are no blighted areas in Tamarac. Commissioner Sultanof said he represents an area that does its own work and pays taxes, and there is no hue and cry in the private enclaves. Commissioner Sultanof asked why the city is focusing on one area, and added he wants to make sure his constituents are also helped. Mayor Schreiber asked if the condominiums are included in the program, and if not, can a program be set up for them. Community Development Director King said the program is not set up for multi family residences, but he can look into setting up such a program. Community Development Director King explained the target area is staffs recommendation; the Mayor and City Commission can decide on another area if they so choose. Mayor Schreiber asked about the affect on those already on the list, and Community Development Director King said effective October 1 the housing function will be taken over by staff, who will call each person on the list to confirm their eligibility and whether they want to stay on the list. Vice Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco asked approximately how many people will be helped and Community Development Director King said 15-18 per year. Mayor Schreiber asked if there is a penalty for not using the money and Community Development Director King said it must be used within three funding years. Vice Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco asked what will happen once the first target area is completed and Community Development Director King replied staff will try to identify residents on the waiting list that fall within the target area. Commissioner Roberts said she did not recommend Sunflower/Heathgate be named the target area and does not agree with it; there should be several target areas at the same time. Commissioner Roberts questioned the deletion of the emergency repair program and Community Development Director King explained the city only assisted one person in three years under this program. Commissioner Portner spoke of the term 'fixed income' and there was discussion regarding the meaning of the term. Commissioner Portner said the connotation of 'fixed income' is 'poor and that is not necessarily true. Vice Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco asked where in the city other target areas might be found and Community Development Director King spoke of staff and code compliance officers looking for other areas. Every area will be looked at equally. Commissioner Sultanof asked that Captiva and Sanibel also be kept in mind. f. Item No. 6(i). SALE OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES — SAINT MALACHY CATHOLIC CHURCH: (TR10814) Approving the sale of alcoholic beverages for Saint Malachy Catholic Church during the operation of the Saint Malachy Catholic Church Annual Carnival beginning Thursday, October 20, 2005 and ending Sunday, October 23, 2005 (Case No. 14-MI-05); providing for conditions of approval. Community Development Director King gave a presentation. Commissioner Sultanof asked BSO Chief Dugger if there will be a special detail assigned to the event and BSO Chief Dugger said not unless the church requests it, as they have in the past. g. Item No. 60). APPOINTING VOTING DELEGATE AND ALTERNATE VOTING DELEGATE TO THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES' ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING AT THE CONGRESS OF CITIES IN CHARLOTTE NORTH CAROLINA: (TR10813) Appointing a Voting Delegate and Alternate Voting Delegate to the National September 26, 2005 City Commission Workshop Page 3 of 6 League of Cities' Annual Business Meeting at the Congress of Cities in Charlotte, North Carolina; directing the City Clerk to send a copy of this Resolution to the National League of Cities. Assistant City Manager Phillips gave a presentation. There was an expression of interest from the Mayor and City Commission for Commissioner Portner to be the voting delegate with Commissioner Roberts the alternate voting delegate. Commissioner Roberts said she is not in favor of Item 6(n) on the Consent Agenda. SUSPENDING GAS TAX: (TR10806) Requesting a suspension of the State Gasoline Tax; directing city administration to transmit a certified copy of this Resolution to the Governor, Florida Senate President, Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, the City's State Legislative Representatives, the Broward League of Cities, the Florida League of Cities and any other interested parties. Commissioner Roberts said she spoke with people from the County and was told if the gas tax relief goes through the County may have to lay some people off due to the reduction in funds. Mayor Schreiber said it would be more palatable if there were a time limit in the Resolution and Commissioner Portner said it is for 60 days. Mayor Schreiber asked for an expression of interest to revise Temporary Resolution 10806 to include the stipulation of 60 days. All were in favor except for Commissioner Roberts. 2. DISCUSSION REGARDING STREETSCAPE DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR 57T" STREET CORRIDOR: Russell Moore, The RMPK Group and Community Development Director King appeared. Mr. Moore gave a presentation on land use, parking and transportation. Mayor Schreiber asked if the final project will be that which is represented in the booklet and Community Development Director King said it is a recommendation; ultimately we will use the guidelines in conjunction with the zoning ordinance and will develop the streetscape along 57t" Street. Commissioner Portner said he would prefer the auto lanes to be 12' on each side to ward off speeding, and said he would prefer off street parking or a parking garage to diagonal parking. Mr. Moore responded that narrow lanes could pose a problem for emergency vehicles. Community Development Director King explained we are trying to provide ample parking along the corridor with close proximity to the stores. Commissioner Sultanof said Mizner Park was poorly conceived, and valet parking was created to solve parking problems. Commissioner Sultanof added he understands Commissioner Portner's concerns but we will have no mobility with 12' lanes. Commissioner Sultanof said he did not see plans for the Pine Island Road overpass or the Performing Arts Building in the plans, to which Community Development Director King responded these are not part of the scope of this work. Commissioner Sultanof spoke of the possible closing of the Chevron Station due to the overpass being built, and Commissioner Sultanof spoke of a lagoon and benches as part of the project. Vice Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco asked if visual traffic calming devices are included and Community Development Director King said they are under intersection improvements. Vice Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco expressed concern regarding the facades facing Commercial Boulevard and Community Development Director King said that is also not part of the scope of this work. There are program modifications to provide architectural design guidelines for buildings along 57t" Street to incorporate the look along Commercial Boulevard. The orientation of the buildings must be complementary to the visual eye and this will be considered secondary frontage to buildings. Mayor Schreiber suggested since we will September 26, 2005 City Commission Workshop Page 4 of 6 be crossing Pine Island Road to University Drive perhaps we will be able to access county and state funds. Community Development Director King responded Tamarac has a great grant writing department and we will go after all available funding. Mr. Moore said the public wanted sculpture and water features for the gateway areas. Commissioner Roberts questioned the width of the roadway at Intersection 91 and Mr. Moore said this includes the median. Commissioner Portner asked how long the project would take and Mayor Schreiber asked about the anticipated start date. Community Development Director King said probably about 24 months from onset. 3. UPDATE ON TRAFFIC CALMING POLICY: Public Works Director Strain gave a presentation and said there have been six requests for traffic calming of which one for private roads was ineligible for the city program; another applicant did not complete the process. The Mainlands Section 8 community did not meet the traffic standards and were denied. Westwood Drive from Nob Hill to 74t' Street has gone through the study and they were approved. Workshops with the neighborhood will be scheduled for the end of October. The time period for Mainlands 6 and 6A has expired and they have asked for an extension; Public Works Director Strain said he gave them 90 days. Commissioner Roberts said she asked for this update; she is sure people from Mainlands 8 talked to the Vice Mayor many times. When the policy was first drafted the County policy stipulated 1,000 trips per day, but Tamarac's policy was created for 750 trips. Some neighborhoods only have 200 homes in the community and 750 trips would be hard to accomplish. Commissioner Roberts said we may need to review the policy and amend the number of trips. Vice Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco asked if an exception could be made should a neighborhood ask for it and Public Works Director Strain said if we were to make an exception we could not then discriminate for future applicants. In addition to not meeting the number of trips necessary, the neighborhood also failed the 85% rule (number of vehicles going 10 mph over the speed limit). Commissioner Roberts asked how this was determined and Public Works Director Strain said the county goes to the area with radar for a time period (usually during high flow traffic times) and makes an analysis. Mayor Schreiber asked about the status of the 70t' Avenue traffic calming and Public Works Director Strain said the city is going out to bid. Commissioner Roberts asked how long before the work is started and Public Works Director Strain said before the end of the year. Commissioner Roberts asked staff to look at a lesser amount of trips, as 750 trips for the smaller communities are too much. Public Works Director Strain asked for direction from the Mayor and City Commission to extend the time line from 90 — 180 days. Public Works Director Strain explained the communities could not immediately come back to revisit their request if it failed, as the county would not revisit it for 24 months. Public Works Director Strain added the Mainlands 6 and 6A complaints regarding cut through traffic have been addressed as the county was asked for 'no through street' signs on Commercial and Rhode Island. Citations are a deterrent to cut through traffic. Vice Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco asked about other visual traffic calming signage available to the neighborhoods and Public Works Director Strain said there are certain signs the county will not install. If someone makes a request, Public Works will do whatever we can within the guidelines to initiate requests to help the. situation. Stop signs are not traffic calming devices. There was a September 26, 2005 City Commission Workshop Page 5 of 6 unanimous expression of interest from the Mayor and City Commission to extend the time line up to 180 days. 4. PRESENTATION OF BUSINESS PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS — HUMAN RESOURCES: Human Resources Director Swanson and Risk/Safety Manager Tomaszewski appeared. Human Resources Director Swanson listed the various process improvements made: recruitment process; policy review; employee recognition program; automated Human Resources system; classification and pay play; benefits; training and development; claim management and review; and the safety program. Risk/Safety Manager Tomaszewski introduced members of the Safety Committee: Deputy Fire Chief Schuldt, Chairperson; Duane Pierce, Eddie Benitez, Lance Moll, Keith Glatz, Bill Pendegar, Scott London, Rick Ruhl, Anand Bhagwandeen, Doug Ritchie, Rodney Sims, Vince Bernd (not present), and Barbara Lagomarsino (not present). Parks Superintendent Moll gave a presentation and said this is the third safety committee he has been on but the only one that has actually made accomplishments, e.g., accident investigation form; accident reporting procedures; policy and procedures for confined space and trench excavation; training for different job classifications; standardizing maintenance checks for AED's; and defensive driving class. Commissioner Sultanof asked if the defensive driving class dovetails into the AARP defensive driving course and Parks Superintendent Moll said this is strictly for employees. Vice Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco asked about frequency of refresher courses for AED's and Lt. Pierce said every 2 years the CPR card should be renewed. Departmental checking of the AED's makes staff familiar with the equipment. Any time during the year if one feels the need for a refresher course or additional training, that person should feel free to contact the fire department. Commissioner Sultanof questioned the process for using an AED, because a resident died as a result of suffering a heart attack, and he was not sure whether those trained in the use of the AED should have used the equipment or not at that time. Lt. Pierce said those in charge are all trained in the use of the equipment, and certain communities may purchase their own equipment and staff in those communities should have been trained. Commissioner Portner asked if a permit is needed to use the Sunrise Theater parking area for safety training and if so is there a cost to the city. Risk/Safety Manager Tomaszewski said it is the vendor's responsibility to pull any necessary permits at no cost to the city. Lt. Pierce said as a spin-off of the safety committee, the Fire Department has started its own safety committee; strains and sprains have been reduced. Human Resources Director Swanson recognized the effectiveness of Risk/Safety Manager Tomaszewski and the safety committee. There being no further business to come before the Mayor and City Commission, Mayor Schreiber adjourned the workshop meeting at 11:50 a.m. Marion Swenson, CMC City Clerk September 26, 2005 City Commission Workshop Page 6 of 6