HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-10-07 - City Commission Workshop Meeting MinutesCITY OF TAMARAC
WORKSHOP MEETING
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2003
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Schreiber called the Workshop Meeting of the City
Commission to order on Tuesday, October 7, 2003, at 9:30 a.m. in Room 105 of
Tamarac City Hall, 7525 NW 88th Avenue, Tamarac, Florida.
PRESENT: Mayor Joe Schreiber, Vice Mayor Karen L. Roberts, Commissioner Edward
C. Portner, Commissioner Beth Flansbaum-Talabisco and Commissioner Marc L
Sultanof.
ALSO PRESENT: City Manager Jeffrey L. Miller, City Attorney Mitchell S. Kraft,
Assistant City Manager Michael C. Cernech, and City Clerk Marion Swenson.
Mayor Schreiber led the pledge of allegiance.
1. OCTOBER 8 2003 AGENDA ITEMS:
a. Item No. 6(d). REMETERING AGREEMENT — LEXINGTON ON THE GREEN
APARTMENTS: (TR10217) Executing a remetering agreement with Tamarac
Apartments, L.L.C., for the Lexington on the Green Apartments to allow remetering of
the water service for the purpose of allocation of the direct cost of water and sewer
service among multiple users subject to the terms of the applicable developer's
agreement and in accordance with City Code Section 22-30, "Limitations of Use".
Utilities Director Ray Gagnon introduced Support Services Manager Wilder and Tammy
Landay, Altman Company, representative of the owner, and gave a presentation.
Utilities Director Gagnon noted the EPA has issued a white paper recommending
remetering to further water conservation. Vice Mayor Roberts asked if residents were
notified and Ms. Landay responded in the affirmative. Commissioner Portner
questioned the difference in cost to each individual and whether the residents are in
favor. Utilities Director Gagnon said cost could be higher or lower, depending upon
individual consumption. Ms. Landay said a majority of residents favor remetering as
they will not pay for common usage and they had been quoted a range of what costs
could be. Vice Mayor Roberts asked about the minimum residents would pay and if
they would also pay for sewer service; Support Services Manager Wilder responded
that consumption varies which effects costs and residents would be charged for sewer.
b. Item No. 6(e). TASK AUTHORIZATION — WATER STORAGE TANK AND
WATER TREATMENT PLANT IMPROVEMENTS: (TR10255) Executing Task
Authorization No. 03-11 E with Eckler Engineering, Inc., to provide professional services
for the design, permitting and bidding for the 2.0 million gallon water storage tank and
Water Treatment Plant improvements, in accordance with the City's consulting
engineering agreement as authorized by Resolution #R-2001-185, for an amount not to
exceed $85,000.00; approving funding from the appropriate budgeted utilities account;
authorizing the appropriate City officials to administer the contract. Utilities Director Ray
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Gagnon gave a presentation and said the bid in 2000 came in at a half million dollars
over budget. Costs have risen since then and although this bidding will not come in
lower than three years ago funds to cover the cost have been budgeted this year.
Mayor Schreiber questioned the number of storage tanks and Utilities Director Gagnon
responded there are 3 existing tanks and this will be a new one. EPA recommends a
storage capacity of one average day's consumption. Commissioner Portner asked if
this would come under the bond issue and Utilities Director Gagnon said yes. Mayor
Schreiber asked why the design is so expensive and Utilities Director Gagnon explained
the peripheral items associated with and in addition to the new storage tank, all of which
are incorporated in the design. Utilities Director Gagnon introduced the new Assistant
Director of Utilities, Jim Moore.
C. Item No. 6(i). BID AWARD — SELF CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS:
(TR10242) Awarding Bid No. 03-29B for the purchase of self contained breathing
apparatus and associated equipment to Fisher Scientific Co., LLC at a total cost of
$194,091. Chief Jim Budzinski gave a presentation and noted the personal protection
equipment grant awarded last year would be split between this item and item 1(d). Vice
Mayor Roberts questioned the grant amount and Chief Budzinski responded the award
was $195,000 with a required City match of $80,000.
d. Item No. 6(j). BID AWARD — LIGHTWEIGHT FIRE RESCUE GEAR: (TR10243)
Awarding Bid No. 03-30B for the purchase of urban search and rescue gear to Fisher
Scientific Co., LLC at a total cost of $71,949, Chief Jim Budzinski gave a presentation
and said this gear is for activity other than structural firefighting. Commissioner Portner
asked about thermal protection, and Chief Budzinski explained the difference in thermal
protection versus lightweight gear and applicable uses. Mayor Schreiber questioned
the fact that the unsuccessful bidder in item 1(c) was lower on some components than
the successful bidder. Purchasing/Contracts Manager Glatz said the bid was a
composite and designed for all or none. Chief Budzinski said the concern is with
maintaining compatibility and we want the same type of equipment across the board.
e. Item No. 7. APPOINTING MEMBERS TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ADVISORY COMMITTEE: (TR10256) Motion to approve Resolution appointing five (5)
members to the Economic Development Advisory Committee, one (1) member each
appointed by the Commissioner from each district and one (1) at -large member
appointed by the Mayor and serving a term concurrent with the appointing
commissioner; and two alternate members, one (1) being a permanent seat for the
Chair or designee of the Greater Tamarac Chamber of Commerce and the other
appointed by majority vote and serving a one-year term (Case No. 18-MI-03). City
Manager Miller gave a brief overview of the committee and turned the discussion over
to City Clerk Swenson. City Clerk Swenson said although the appointments could not
be made at today's workshop meeting, the Mayor and Commissioners could discuss
their preference and then make their formal appointments at tomorrow night's
Commission meeting. The following recommendations for appointment were made:
Commissioner Portner — Harry Dressler; Commissioner Flansbaum-Talabisco —
Anthony Mijares; Commissioner Sultanof — Malcolm Butters; Vice Mayor Roberts — Nate
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Caplan; and Mayor Schreiber — Keith Koenig. City Clerk Swenson said appointment of
two alternate members would also need to be made and City Manager Miller
recommended Ron Hawthorne, President of the Chamber of Commerce for the
permanent seat, and Andy Berns, Treasurer of the Chamber, for the one-year term.
Commissioner Sultanof said after the committee gets together and works for a period of
time, he would like to see it become the "Tamarac Economic Alliance", which would be
separate from the City and have the ability to gather money from corporations to
participate in trade shows and recruitment. Mayor Schreiber said the Committee will
need funding if they are going to attend functions. Commissioner Sultanof said a
framework should be formulated in the future; Mayor Schreiber said it will be reviewed
and determined where the authority lies. Commissioner Partner questioned what
follows after appointment of members and City Manager Miller said it will take time for
the committee to get up and running insofar as getting the members' knowledge level
up; orientation and presentations are planned. Commissioner Portner recommended
the five nominees be notified and that they attend tomorrow's Commission meeting.
City Manager Miller said he would call all the prospective members of the committee.
Commissioner Partner and Mayor Schreiber both said they would like to be the
Commission liaison to the committee, and Mayor Schreiber said thought can be given to
the Commission liaison now with a decision to be made at a later date.
f. Item No. 9. GRANT APPLICATION — LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT BLOCK
GRANT: (TR10254) Applying for grant funding in the amount of $21,747 from the U.S.
Department of Justice through the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant to enhance
crime prevention and law enforcement programs providing for a $2,416 cash match and
a total project cost of $24,163. Chief Kenneth Dugger gave a presentation and said last
year's programs would be continued. Vice Mayor Roberts asked why there is no
allocation for DARE or National Night Out and Chief Dugger explained DARE is
copyrighted and the cost is continually increasing; this is the last year for DARE in
Tamarac schools. Donations support National Night Out and the grant money is being
used for equipment. Vice Mayor Roberts questioned the noise meter and Chief Dugger
said the cost exceeds one radar unit and there is only one technician trained to use it.
Noise can be handled through enforcement of the current City Ordinance; more initiative
can be gotten from the radar unit than the noise meter. Vice Mayor Roberts mentioned
that the BSO legal department stated the radar did not qualify for inclusion in the grant
and Chief Dugger explained the difference between LETF and LLEB grant funds.
Mayor Schreiber asked, regarding item 6(b) on the consent agenda, why special
services for Parks and Recreation is not included in the BSO contract every year. Chief
Dugger responded this cost is above and beyond operating expenses. Mayor Schreiber
said installation of cameras to cut down on cars running red lights are not permitted in
Florida and asked if the Sheriff would write a letter to the legislature asking them to
sponsor a bill legalizing this in Florida. Chief Dugger said he would present it to the
Sheriff.
Commissioner Partner questioned item 6(h) on the consent agenda. AMENDMENT TO
PAY PLAN: (TR10259) Authorizing a two and one-half percent (2.5%) adjustment to
the minimum and a two and one-half percent (2.5%) adjustment to the maximum of the
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pay ranges in the bargaining unit pay plan. Human Resources Director Swanson
explained this is an adjustment to the pay plan which is covered under the contract and
does not change an individual's pay.
2. DISCUSSION RE: STUDENT GOVERNMENT DAY: Assistant to the City
Manager Diane Phillips gave a presentation and said October 22"d is the targeted
Government Day in Tamarac with participation from Piper High School students. The
same format as last year will be used. Vice Mayor Roberts said she would not be here
for the meeting of the 22na
3. DISCUSSION RE: DONATION OF SURPLUS COMPUTERS TO THE
SAKARYA PRIMARY SCHOOL IN FATSA TURKEY: Commissioner Partner
requested rather than auctioning computers which are scheduled for replacement, the
Commission donate them to a school in Fatsa, Turkey. Commissioner Flansbaum-
Talabisco said it appeared from the letter received from the Sakarya Primary School in
Fatsa, Turkey that the computers had already been promised and Commissioner
Portner said he would not have made this commitment without first bringing it before the
Commission. Commissioner Flansbaum-Talabisco questioned whether the City was
considering old/used computers and whether 25 was the quantity. Mayor Schreiber
said there are local schools that could use computers; Commissioner Portner said the
computers in question are outdated. IT Director Sucuoglu said it is hard to say the
value of the computers but most countries follow the same technology. Commissioner
Sultanof questioned whether these computers are considered obsolete for our schools
and beneficial for the Fatsa school, and added charity begins at home. IT Director
Sucuoglu said these computers would be better used in an elementary school.
Commissioner Sultanof indicated that since Fatsa is our sister city, if we can we should
honor a simple request from them. Mayor Schreiber said we need to consider that
these computers were paid for with tax dollars and Commissioner Flansbaum-Talabisco
asked what provisions are in our code. City Attorney Kraft replied Section 6-153 of the
Tamarac Code provides a procedure for surplus equipment sold at auction with
proceeds going to the City. There was discussion about the auction value of each
computer and there was discussion about making a charitable donation to Fatsa, to
which City Attorney Kraft responded there is a budget process the City must follow for
charitable donations. City Attorney Kraft added it may be time to look at Section 6-153
of the code and perhaps the new purchasing/contracts manager can spearhead the
revision, with assistance from City Attorneys office, and bring the revisions back to the
Commission. All were in agreement to revise the code.
4. DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED TRIP TO CHINA: Mayor Schreiber explained
that he was invited to visit China by the U.S./China Exchange Association; the trip
would be November 1-8. Mayor Schreiber spoke about obtaining a visa. Commissioner
Sultanof asked how the travel is being handled and Mayor Schreiber said it would be
paid for by the U.S./China exchange. Commissioner Sultanof spoke about
vaccinations, and Commissioner Flansbaum-Talabisco asked if the trip comes to pass,
what obligations Tamarac would have in the way of reciprocation. Mayor Schreiber said
none, as he has made no commitments to them. There is no obligation on his part or
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the City's for the City to reciprocate. Commissioner Partner asked if this would be a
trade type trip and Mayor Schreiber said if the opportunity arises, he will bring
information forward to the Commission.
Commissioner Partner said it is his understanding that Kozy Kampers may be annexed
into North Lauderdale. Mayor Schreiber said previously the Commission spoke in favor
of annexing the three available properties, but it all has to go through the County
Commission now. Commissioner Portner said he has an appointment with County
Manager Desjarlais to talk about the county putting forth money for infrastructure.
Commissioner Sultanof suggested we request annexing all three properties and Vice
Mayor Roberts said she is concerned with what it would cost the city if no county
funding is available. Mayor Schreiber said there is a meeting this month regarding
annexation with Ken Gottlieb.
Commissioner Portner spoke about a meeting of the Presidents' Council held on
September 2nd and expressed concern about the minutes taken wherein it was said
there was no change in the majority thinking on homestead exemption. Commissioner
Sultanof said he is concerned with people taking advantage of the second homestead
exemption by not claiming nontaxable income. Additionally, Commissioner Sultanof
said he is very concerned about the City experiencing a shortfall and we must be fiscally
responsible. Mayor Schreiber said the second homestead exemption is a year-to-year
thing and people must apply annually; if the City finds it cannot afford it, the City is not
obligated to continue it. Commissioner Sultanof said you cannot give and take back.
Commissioner Sultanof asked the Commission to back Plantation's request for a sound
wall at the turnpike. Mayor Schreiber asked for an expression of interest. All were in
agreement. Mayor Schreiber asked that this item be put on the next agenda.
There being no further business to come before the City Commission, Mayor Schreiber
adjourned the workshop meeting at 10:55 a.m.
Marion Swenson, CMC
City Clerk
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