HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-11-10 - City Commission Workshop Meeting Minutes1
CITY OF TAMARAC
CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2003
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Schreiber called the Workshop Meeting of the City
Commission to order on Monday, November 10, 2003, at 9:35 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.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY MAYOR SCHREIBER:
1. PRESENTATION OF CONCEPTUAL DESIGN FOR GATEWAY PLAZA: Parks
and Recreation Director Kathleen Margoles introduced artist George Gadson. Mr.
Gadson said he is proud to be a Tamarac resident and at Commissioner Portner's
request, gave a brief bio of his past accomplishments. Commissioner Sultanof said the
park has been previously referenced as Art Park and now is being called Gateway Park,
and asked if the name has been established. Parks and Recreation Director Margoles
said the working name is Gateway Park and another item on the agenda addresses the
naming issue. Mr. Gadson gave a presentation and spoke about input from the
community, wherein residents indicated their preference for a fountain, and were
emphatic that they wanted no benches in the park. Mr. Gadson presented a rendition of
a fountain he designed for the park termed "Tamarac Ecology". Another rendition of an
overall park design was presented and Mr. Gadson spoke about an arch being used to
draw passers-by to the park. Commissioner Portner questioned the height of the
fountain and Mr. Gadson responded it will be six feet with a 4-foot cement base for a
total of 10 feet in height. Commissioner Sultanof said if the residents of The Greens
were not in favor of benches they would not be in favor of an arch; Commissioner
Sultanof said he would prefer no arch. Mayor Schreiber said a public park belongs to
everyone and there should be benches; he prefers not having an arch and suggested
an alternate design consisting of a tree with a fountain around it. Commissioner Portner
questioned the depth of the retaining base and Mr. Gadson said it would be no more
than 16 inches. Vice Mayor Roberts said the park needs benches and suggested the
benches be made of stone similar to the structures on the rendition. Additionally, Vice
Mayor Roberts said she does not favor an arch as it detracts from the fountain. Mayor
Schreiber questioned the timetable and Parks and Recreation Director Margoles
responded the park could be complete in six months. Commissioner Flansbaum-
Talabisco said she loves the sculpture and it appears an arch is not favored.
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2. NOVEMBER 12, 2003 AGENDA ITEMS:
a. Item No, 6(i). AGREEMENT —REIMBURSEMENT OF UTILITY REMOVAL
COSTS: (TR10214) Executing an agreement between Broward County and the City of
Tamarac for the reimbursement of utility removal costs along Pine Island Road from
Oakland Park Boulevard to Commercial Boulevard; authorizing an estimated
expenditure of $5,000.00 subject to actual quantities and bid prices. Utilities Director
Ray Gagnon gave a presentation. Mayor Schreiber asked if the County intended to
replace the surface as it was before the construction, and asked how far north of the
intersection the widening would go. Utilities Director Gagnon said the County will repair
construction damage and the construction would go north of the intersection, but he did
not have specifics. Vice Mayor Roberts asked why we are paying for this and Utilities
Director Gagnon responded our utility lines are in the county's right-of-way.
Commissioner Portner questioned the county's responsibility as owner of the property
and the consequences of not paying the County. City Attorney Kraft said our easement
is in the county's property, and it is in our interest to cooperate with the granting
authority of the easement. Utilities Director Gagnon said the county has already
redesigned the project so as not to interfere with our 16" main, and if we do not pay then
the county may not be as congenial as it has been in the past the next time we ask to
work in their right-of-way.
b. Item No. 6(b). ADOPTION OF POLICY FOR NAMING PARKS AND
RECREATION FACILITIES: (TR10278) Adopting the Parks and Recreation Facilities
Naming Policy. Parks and Recreation Director Kathleen Margoles introduced Assistant
Director of Parks and Recreation Warner who gave a presentation. Assistant Director
of Parks and Recreation Warner noted the policy will provide a process to name parks
and recreation facilities through citizen input and allows for the naming of facilities by
the Commission through the recommendation of the City Manager with input from the
Parks and Recreation Board and city staff. Commissioner Portner questioned item #7
of the naming process, and Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation Warner
responded the donation would have to be property or a significant contribution as
determined by the Commission; Parks and Recreation Director Margoles said this may
be part of the negotiation process. Commissioner Sultanof asked how Caporella Park
was handled, and Mayor Schreiber responded that the Caporellas gave the land to the
City and then wanted the park named Caporella Park. Mayor Schreiber said all this can
be established for approval by the Commission. Vice Mayor Roberts asked why only
the top three names would come to the Commission and Assistant Director of Parks
and Recreation Warner said this was determined from input from other communities
across the country.
C. Item No. 6(h). ADOPTION OF LEGISLATIVE AGENDA FOR FY2004:
(TR10281) Approving the City of Tamarac Legislative Agenda for the 2004 legislative
session; directing the City Clerk to send a copy of the City of Tamarac Legislative
Agenda for the 2004 legislative session to the Broward County Legislative Delegation
and the Broward County Board of County Commissioners for consideration. Assistant
to the City Manager Diane Phillips gave a presentation. Vice Mayor Roberts asked if
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the items are in a priority order and Assistant to the City Manager Phillips said no.
Mayor Schreiber said most of the items are worthwhile legislation and it is up to the
Commission to push them with the delegation. Commissioner Portner said he does not
support cameras for traffic control and would like the item removed, as cameras are an
infringement on rights and privacy. Mayor Schreiber said this item came about from
information from cities across the country; cameras reduce accidents and generate
revenue. We do not have enforcement capability at to have a cop at every intersection
and traffic here is a horror. Vice Mayor Roberts asked if the camera is capable of
seeing the driver and BSO Lt. Raphael Perez said it is his understanding the camera
takes a clear picture of the driver and the car tag. There was discussion regarding the
ticketing process arising from camera enforcement. Mayor Schreiber asked for an
expression of interest and Commissioner Flansbaum-Talabisco, Commissioner Sultanof
and Mayor Schreiber favored keeping the item as part of the legislative agenda.
d. Item No. 6(f). FEMA GRANT FUNDING — PURCHASE OF MOBILE FIRE
SAFETY HOUSE AND ENHANCEMENT OF EDUCATING GENERATIONS FIRE
SAFETY EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAM: (TR10283) Seeking grant
funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Assistance to Firefighters -
Fire Prevention and Safety Grant Program in the amount of $75,327, with an in -kind
match of $32,283 for a total project cost of $107,610, to purchase a mobile fire safety
house and enhancement of the Educating Generations Fire Safety Education and
Outreach Program. Assistant to the City Manager Diane Phillips and Deputy Chief
Kingman Schuldt gave a presentation. Mayor Schreiber questioned the safety house
and Deputy Chief Schuldt explained it is a 36-foot trailer used for fire and hazard safety
training. The safety house is taken on -site to students and includes bleachers, smoke
detectors, kitchen, and bedroom to simulate various situations. Commissioner Sultanof
asked about matching funds and Assistant to the City Manager Phillips said the
requirement was met with in -kind services.
e. Item No. 6(m). PURCHASE OF TWO FIRE APPARATUS VEHICLES AND
EQUIPMENT: (TR10245) Purchasing two fire apparatus vehicles and equipment from
Hall -Mark Fire Apparatus, Inc. based on the Hillsborough County Purchase Order
BPCW02000033, for emergency vehicles and ancillary equipment at a total cost not to
exceed $700,000. Finance Director Dona Newman and Deputy Fire Chief Kingman
Schuldt gave a presentation. Mayor Schreiber asked if this was a lease with option to
purchase and Finance Director Newman said the purchase would be made with cash on
hand. Vice Mayor Roberts asked about the order of the trucks within the overall vehicle
replacement plan, and Deputy Fire Chief Kingman said these would be the 5th and 6th
vehicles. Finance Director Newman said the two fire engines were brought before the
Commission during mid -year.
f. Item No. 8. ADDITIONAL SENIOR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION: (T02028)
Motion to adopt Ordinance on first reading authorizing the granting of an additional
homestead tax exemption of $15,000 (for the maximum $25,000 exemption amount) to
resident homeowners who have legal or equitable title to real estate, who are at least 65
years of age, and whose annual household income does not exceed the allowable
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amount pursuant to Section 196.075, Florida Statutes (1999), as amended; that any
taxpayer claiming the exemption must annually submit a sworn statement of household
income, on a form prescribed by the Department of Revenue to the property appraiser,
not later than March 1 of each year. Finance Director Dona Newman said the 2004 tax
bill will reflect the full $25,000 senior homestead exemption.
g. Item No. 7. APPOINTING COMMISSION LIAISON TO ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE: (TR10274) Motion to approve Resolution
appointing as Commission liaison to the Economic Development
Advisory Committee for a period of time not to extend past the next general municipal
election which will be held in March 2005. City Clerk Marion Swenson said in
accordance with the Ordinance establishing this committee, the Commission needs to
choose a liaison. Commissioner Partner said he would like to be the liaison as he
proposed this committee, served on the State Road 7 Economic Development
committee, and spoke of his business experience. Mayor Schreiber spoke about his
election in 1992 and his emphasis on and involvement with economic development over
the years, as well as his business experience, and said as such he has earned the right
to be liaison to the committee. Commissioner Flansbaum-Talabisco suggested the
Commission have two liaisons out of respect for both Mayor Schreiber and
Commissioner Portner, Mayor Schreiber said he does not really favor the idea. Vice
Mayor Roberts agreed with Commissioner Flansbaum-Talabisco and said this would
bring two viewpoints; additionally, if one liaison is unable to attend a meeting, the other
liaison most likely would be present. Commissioner Sultanof said this suggestion has
merit and once the committee is established and going, he prefers it become an alliance
separate from the City and City funding. There was discussion regarding City Code.
City Attorney Kraft said Section 2-33 can be interpreted as allowing more than one
liaison, and with this being a committee covered under the sunshine laws, as long as
the meetings are properly noticed, particularly with two Commissioners present, it is
then the Commission's decision how to proceed. Commissioner Sultanof asked why a
liaison must be appointed before the committee holds its first meeting, and City
Manager Miller responded the object now is to move forward and appoint the two
liaisons at Wednesday's meeting.
Commissioner Portner proposed issuing City board and committee members name tags
or badges, stating their name, board/committee name and a proviso the badges be
used only within the location of the board/committee's meeting location. Vice Mayor
Roberts said some boards do not meet at City Hall and Commissioner Portner said
wherever they meet, that is where the badge would be valid. Vice Mayor Roberts said
she has concerns with Parks and Recreation badges insofar as there is potential for
board members telling employees what to do. Commissioner Portner said badge use
would be only for board meetings. Vice Mayor Roberts questioned the method of
distribution of the badges. Mayor Schreiber said he feels there is no reason for badges;
board members are not elected officials. Commissioner Portner said we should
differentiate between visitors and board members. Commissioner Sultanof added that
badges are a means of recognition but they should be worn only within the confines of
where the board meets; it is up to the members to police themselves. Vice Mayor
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Roberts noted that Parks and Recreation Board members meet at the Community
Center and do not sign in; as school volunteers do, they should sign in and receive a
tag. Any violations should result in the privilege being taken away. Mayor Schreiber
added the Planning Board, for instance, could pick up their badges at the front desk
when they arrive and return them to the front desk when they leave. Commissioner
Flansbaum-Talabisco said she opposes the idea; if a badge falls in the wrong hands we
would be opening a Pandora's Box. Mayor Schreiber asked for an expression of
interest. Commissioner Flansbaum-Talabisco said no, Commissioner Portner,
Commissioner Sultanof, Vice Mayor Roberts and Mayor Schreiber said yes. Vice
Mayor Roberts suggested badges be tried for six months to see if they will work.
Commissioner Portner questioned whether the contract with the vendor for the new bus
benches calls for cement pads. Building and Code Compliance Director Gary Jones
said the concern is that the benches be bolted down so they would not be able to be
moved, and there are several locations throughout the city where concrete pads should
be installed. Some sidewalks are wide enough to comply with ADA. Commissioner
Portner said he received complaints that the benches are hot. Building and Code
Compliance Director Jones said benches installed to date are to be repainted.
Commissioner Portner said the vendor is in violation of the contract and asked what
happens at this point? Building and Code Compliance Director Jones responded the
matter has been under discussion and the benches will be repainted; at this point, the
contractor is making a good faith effort. Commissioner Portner said the contractor knew
what the Commission wanted and he believes the contractor is violating the contract.
Commissioner Portner asked City Manager Miller and City Attorney Kraft to investigate.
Commissioner Sultanof asked if the paint has heat resistance and Building and Code
Compliance Director Jones said the powder coating in the RFP required heat
resistance.
Commissioner Sultanof complimented Lt. Perez for BSO's providing training to COPS
Volunteers at no cost to the City. Commissioner Sultanof noted there are now an
additional 10 COPS members in his district.
There being no further business to come before the City Commission, Mayor Schreiber
adjourned the workshop meeting at 11:00 a.m.
Marion Swenson, CMC
City Clerk
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