HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-10-23 - City Commission Workshop Meeting MinutesCITY OF TAMARAC
CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Schreiber called the Workshop Meeting of the City
Commission to order on Monday, October 23, 2000, at 9:30 a.m. in Room 105 of
Tamarac City Hall, 7525 NW 88th Avenue, Tamarac, Florida.
PRESENT: Mayor Joe Schreiber, Commissioner Edward C. Portner, and Commissioner
Marc L. Sultanof.
ABSENT AND EXCUSED FOR CAUSE: Vice Mayor Karen L. Roberts and
Commissioner Larry Mishkin.
ALSO PRESENT: City Manager Jeffrey L. Miller, Assistant City Manager Tim
Hemstreet, City Attorney Mitchell S. Kraft, and City Clerk Marion Swenson.
Also present, students from Taravella High School participating in City Government
Day: Julie Kleiner shadowing Mayor Schreiber, Jacob Sparks shadowing Commissioner
Sultanof, Adam Sutton shadowing Commissioner Portner, Alan Rubin shadowing City
Manager Miller, and Genevieve Knolle shadowing City Clerk Swenson.
1. OCTOBER 25, 2000 AGENDA ITEMS:
a) Item #8(d) NEXTEL LEASE AGREEMENT: (TR9176) Executing an Agreement
with Nextel Communications for the installation of a telecommunications tower, antenna
and associated equipment; authorizing the appropriate City Officials to sign all
necessary permit applications on behalf of the City as owner. Mayor Schreiber moved
out of the regular order of business on the agenda to take up item 1(b).
There was discussion about the virus that had entered the computer system through the
e-mail.
b) Item #80) USER FEES — PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT AND
SOCIAL SERVICE FACILITIES AND SERVICES: (TR9096) Establishing user fees for
the Parks and Recreation Department Facilities and Services at the Tamarac
Community Center and Tamarac Park locations, as well as City transportation services,
effective Fiscal Year 2001. Parks and Recreation Director Margoles gave a
presentation and addressed the Mayor and Commissioners' concerns expressed at the
October 10, 2000 Workshop meeting. Mayor Schreiber asked about evening rentals
and Commissioner Sultanof asked about weekend rentals. Parks and Recreation
Director Margoles said with the opening of the new Community Center there is more
flexibility in the calendar. Parks and Recreation Director Margoles said the current fee
structure was established in 1987. Mayor Schreiber questioned the ability of
organizations to hold evening meetings at the Community Center since the Center
closes at 9:00 p.m., and the fee structure speaks to four-hour blocks. Parks and
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October 23, 2000
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Recreation Director Margoles said if special accommodations are needed they will be
made, and said rentals are on an hourly basis.
Parks and Recreation Director Margoles addressed the Commission's concerns about
the para-transit program, and said the system serves a variety of riders. There was
discussion about instituting an annual fee and a per use fee. Parks and Recreation
Director Margoles suggested offering a trip pass for incremental amounts, and a pay per
trip of $1.00 each way. Commissioner Partner said he would like to see a semi-annual
pass issued at $25.00 for six months and an annual pass at $50.00 per year, each pre-
paid, and with unlimited ridership, in addition to $1.00 per trip for those who do not wish
to purchase a pass. Mayor Schreiber asked if the use of the service is based on
income, and Parks and Recreation Director Margoles said the only criteria is that the
people have no other means of transportation. Commissioner Sultanof said the passes
give flexibility.
Commissioner Sultanof suggested charging $35.00 for a single membership and $70.00
for a family of two for the fitness room. Mayor Schreiber suggested leaving the fees as
they are, and if the center does not get the participation, the fees can then be changed.
Commissioner Sultanof said the fees can always be raised, and he would like to see the
fitness room attracting people. Commissioner Portner asked student commissioner
Adam Sutton for his opinion, and Mr. Sutton asked about membership during the past
year and if $35.00 would be enough to recover fees. Parks and Recreation Director
Margoles responded.
Commissioner Sultanof said residents pay taxes for the facilities, and anyone who pays
taxes has the right to feel government is responsive to their needs. Commissioner
Sultanof said he would like input from the other Commissioners, Commissioner Portner
said since only three Commissioners are present, it may be wise to put this discussion
off until a later date. Mayor Schreiber said the decision should not be delayed, and he
would go along with whatever Commissioner Portner and Commissioner Sultanof
decide. Parks and Recreation Director Margoles said that John Ralston, Management
and Budget Manager Officer explained to her that out of the general fund the average
taxpayer contributes about $8.00 a year to Parks and Recreation, and in return they get
five parks, two buildings, special events, etc. For those persons using the fitness room,
only a small portion of the $8.00 goes to pay for the fitness room. Mayor Schreiber
asked for an expression of interest. Commissioner Portner agreed with Commissioner
Sultanof. Mayor Schreiber said he agreed to change the fee to $35.00 for individual
membership and $70.00 for family of two. Mayor Schreiber suggested taking this item
off the consent agenda for Wednesday's meeting and placing it on the regular agenda.
c) Item #8(m) LEGISLATIVE AGENDA FOR THE 2001 LEGISLATIVE SESSION:
(TR9175) Approving the City of Tamarac Legislative Agenda for the 2001 Legislative
Session; directing the City Clerk to send a copy of the City of Tamarac Legislative
Agenda for the 2001 Legislative Session to the Broward County Legislative Delegation
and the Broward County Board of County Commissioners for consideration. Assistant
to the City Manager Kristin McKew gave a presentation and reviewed each of the items.
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Commissioner Sultanof said he would like the , legislative delegation to address
loopholes in the additional senior homestead exemption, because there are people who
have money in trust funds and they can still apply for the second exemption.
Commissioner Sultanof said there is a need for the second exemption, as 2,100 people
in Tamarac already applied to Broward County. Assistant to the City Manager McKew
said this is being addressed by asking the legislature to further define household
income. Mayor Schreiber spoke about interest earned and reported to the IRS, and
asked how income on non-taxable bonds would be established. Assistant to the City
Manager McKew said it would have to be done using a method other than the 1040
definition of adjusted gross income. City Attorney Kraft said there are other alternatives,
perhaps an affidavit under penalty of perjury could be considered. Mayor Schreiber
said the exemption could be lower than $25,000.
There was discussion about availability of home addresses and phone numbers for
public employees. City Attorney Kraft said the current exemption is only for some public
employees, but there are categories of employees who have no protection under the
law, and it is a right to privacy issue. Personnel Director Maria Swanson said there is
no public purpose for everyone's home telephone number and address to be available
to the public, as people can be reached through work. Commissioner Portner asked if
the Mayor and Commissioners are excluded from this proposal, and City Attorney Kraft
said the exemption could be waived.
Assistant to the City Manager McKew said the Commission expressed an interest in
changing the election date from March to November to coincide with the general
election. Mayor Schreiber said it is more expeditious to vote once a year than twice a
year. Commissioner Sultanof said the upcoming election ballot consists of three pages,
and expressed concern that people will stop after the first page or two and not get to the
municipal issues. Commissioner Sultanof said November is a bad time of the year for
municipal elections as there are a lot of individual items on the ballot. Commissioner
Portner asked what the cost would be for a separate election in November, and City
Clerk Swenson and Assistant City Manager Hemstreet responded. Commissioner
Portner said turnout for the last election was about 13% of the registered voters.
Commissioner Portner addressed the students in the audience and said voting is very
important, it is a right and privilege that many have worked hard for and died to protect.
a) Item #8(d) NEXTEL LEASE AGREEMENT: (TR9176) Executing an Agreement
with Nextel Communications for the installation of a telecommunications tower, antenna
and associated equipment; authorizing the appropriate City Officials to sign all
necessary permit applications on behalf of the City as owner. IT Director Sucuoglu
gave a presentation on the Nextel Lease Agreement. IT Director Sucuoglu discussed
the procedures to restore the e-mail. Mayor Schreiber asked what the cost would be
and whether the City is insured, and IT Director Sucuoglu said between $250.00-
$1,500.00 to recover the data, and the City is self -insured.
d) Item #8(k) PURCHASE OF SUPPLIES FROM BROWARD COUNTY
LOGISTICS: (TR9168) Authorizing the Fire Rescue Department to purchase medical
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October 23, 2000
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supplies and firefighting supplies from Broward County Fire Rescue Division Logistics
Warehouse during FY01, in an amount not to exceed Ninety -Seven Thousand Two
Hundred Dollars ($97,200.00); authorizing the appropriate City officials to execute a
liability waiver for the purchase. Fire Chief Budzinski gave a presentation.
e) Item #8(b) WAIVER OF ENGINEERING FEES FOR REPAIR OF SEAWALL:
(TR9173) Approving waiver of engineering fee for the reconstruction of seawall at 9414
NW 72nd Street, Tamarac, Florida 33321. Public Works Director Verma gave a
presentation. Mayor Schreiber asked for an expression of interest to waive the fee and
all agreed.
Commissioner Portner questioned whether the permits would be taken care of in time
for the carnival in Item 8(c) on the Regular Commission Meeting agenda. Item 8(c),
CARNIVAL- ST. MALACHY CATHOLIC CHURCH: (TR9108) Granting a waiver of fees
to the St. Malachy Catholic Church to conduct a carnival beginning Thursday,
November 16, 2000 through Sunday, November 19, 2000, located at the northeast
corner of NW 61 Street and University Drive, providing that such approval is contingent
upon obtaining the required permits and that all State inspections are obtained;
providing for conditions of approval; Case No. 21-MI-00. Community Development
Director Chris King responded.
2. VETERANS' DAY PARADE: Parks and Recreation Director Margoles gave a
presentation and overview of the parade and said the program would be changed from
past formats. Parks and Recreation Director Margoles said thanks to Commissioner
Sultanof the Grand Marshall of the parade would be a person of high-ranking military
stature.
Mayor Schreiber called for a recess at 10:45 A.M. The workshop meeting reconvened
at 11:00 A.M. with everyone present as before.
3 ANNEXATION: Community Development Director Chris King gave a
presentation and discussed the various methods of annexation. Mayor Schreiber
suggested adding another item to the legislative agenda that before any unincorporated
area is annexed into a municipality the County repair the infrastructure and bring it up to
standards. Commissioner Portner agreed. Commissioner Sultanof said several years
ago the County proposed to begin infrastructure repairs and did not follow through.
Commissioner Sultanof asked if the County is still obligated under the program, and
Community Development Director King said yes but the money was never allocated
among the 54 unincorporated areas at that time. Many areas since then have been
annexed, and the money is still out there. Community Development Director King said
the reduction in cost to the City to annex the selected properties from 1998-1999 is due
to the water and sewer lines. Mayor Schreiber asked how Tamarac could be assured
the County would pay for the improvements, and Community Development Director
King said Tamarac requested assurance from the County in writing. City Manager
Miller said an Interlocal agreement would have to be worked out between the County
and the City before annexation takes place. There was discussion about Mira Lago,
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October 23, 2000
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and Community Development Director King said ,from a taxable standpoint this is the
most beneficial area to the City. Another area that may benefit the City is Kozy
Kampers, because the infrastructure is privately owned and the water lines fall under Ft.
Lauderdale's jurisdiction. Commissioner Partner suggested looking at US441/SR7.
Commissioner Sultanof asked about a corridor study along SR441, and Community
Development Director King said Tamarac is looking at redeveloping the corridor, and
other areas can be included in the study.
Commissioner Portner said he worked with the Annexation Committee, and suggested
further investigation into Mira Lago, US441, and Kozy Kampers. Tamarac is growing
and these properties will add to the tax base and future development. Commissioner
Portner asked the Commission to look beyond five years, and asked if there are grants
or federal monies available. Assistant City Manager Hemstreet said part of the
annexation process is identifying areas owned by Broward County, and then entering
into negotiations; and the agreement would be part of the Annexation Bill. However, the
first step is to see whether the Commission is interested.
City Manager Miller said if there is an expression of interest for further work on this
project, the City Manager would need direction from the Commission to talk to the
County Manager. Mayor Schreiber asked for the Annexation Committee's
recommendation. Bruce Hoffman, Chairperson of the Annexation Committee gave a
presentation and said the Annexation Committee studied all the areas presented to the
Commission, and before consideration of any area, Tamarac needs assurances that the
County or State would assume responsibility for infrastructure. Mr. Hoffman said the
only place that would be profitable in the long run would be Kozy Kampers.
Commissioner Partner said Tamarac gave away prime land many years ago but times
have changed, and Tamarac is an active community. These areas will be profitable for
Tamarac in years to come, and the City should study the three areas for annexation.
Commissioner Portner thanked the Annexation Committee for working so diligently on
the project. Mayor Schreiber said more study is needed and Commissioner Sultanof
said Tamarac should find out whether the County would allot money or take
responsibility for these areas after annexation. Mayor Schreiber asked how annexation
would help the future growth of Tamarac, and Commissioner Portner said through
redevelopment. All agreed not to move forward until the County gives assurances
about the infrastructure.
City Manager Miller said the annexation notebook distributed for this meeting is some of
the finest planning work he has seen, and commended Claire Lyte-Graham, Planner II
on her work.
4. PROPOSED ROUTE REVISIONS FOR THE TAMARAC COMMUNITY BUS
SYSTEM: Parks and Recreation Director Margoles gave a presentation and said since
the new Community Center has been added to the routes, ridership has doubled.
Commissioner Sultanof said some riders on the Yellow Route want to go to Las Olas
Boulevard, but there is a time delay for the County bus to hook up with the City bus at
Midway Plaza. Parks and Recreation Director Margoles said she would discuss this
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with Broward County. Parks and Recreation Director Margoles proposed that the two
new buses be used for shuttle service, and said she would like to do a needs
assessment to determine where people want to go. Mayor Schreiber suggested putting
the survey in the next Tam -A -Gram. Commissioner Partner asked if the shuttle bus
would be available to pick up 15-20 people on the east side of Tamarac to bring them to
an evening Commission meeting, and Parks and Recreation Director Margoles said it
could be arranged. Mayor Schreiber suggested holding the Commission meeting on the
east side of Tamarac. There was an expression of interest to move forward with
changing the bus routes.
5. DISCUSSION REGARDING APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO CONSUMER
AFFAIRS COMMITTEE: Mayor Schreiber said he wanted to appoint two people to fill
vacancies in the Consumer Affairs Committee, Jerome Finnk and Alan Smith. There
was an expression of interest to move forward with the appointments, and City Clerk
Swenson was asked to prepare a resolution for Wednesday's meeting. Mayor
Schreiber said there was an expression of interest on the Investment Advisory
Committee to increase the number of members and asked for an amendment to the
Code to allow for seven members.
6. CHANGING THE SEQUENCE OF VOTING: Commissioner Portner asked to
have this item pulled from the Workshop Agenda and Wednesday's Commission
Meeting agenda for further research.
Commissioner Portner asked about holding a Commission meeting at Satellite City Hall,
and Mayor Schreiber asked City Manager Miller to see how many people can be
comfortably seated there. Mayor Schreiber asked about staff attendance at meetings,
and City Manager Miller said it is part of staffs job to support the Commission. City
Manager Miller said he would investigate meeting at Satellite City Hall and place it on
the next workshop agenda.
There being no further business to come before the City Commission, Mayor Schreiber
adjourned the Workshop Meeting at 12:05 p.m.
Marion Swenson, CIVIC
City Clerk
City Commission Workshop
October 23, 2000
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