HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-11-23 - City Commission Workshop Meeting MinutesCITY OF TAMARAC
CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING
MONDAY NOVEMBER 23, 2009
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco called the workshop meeting to order at 9:30
a.m. in Room 105, Tamarac, City Hall, 7525 NW 88t" Avenue, Tamarac, FL.
PRESENT: Mayor Beth Flansbaum-Talabisco, Commissioner Pamela Bushnell,
Commissioner Patricia Atkins -Grad, Commissioner Diane Glasser, and Commissioner Harry
Dressler.
ALSO PRESENT: City Manager Jeffrey L. Miller, City Attorney Samuel S. Goren, Deputy City
Manager/Interim Financial Services Director Michael C. Cemech, and City Clerk Marion
Swenson.
Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco led the pledge of allegiance.
Due to the fact that Broward County Commissioner Lieberman was not yet present, Mayor
Flansbaum-Talabisco moved out of the regular order of business on the workshop agenda and
took up Item No. 2.
2. FINANCIAL UPDATE: Jeff Larson, President, Larson Consulting Services, LLC gave a
presentation on the accomplishments over the summer and said Tamarac received an AA
rating in a period of chaos in the market. Mr. Larson commended the Commission and staff on
their fiscal stewardship and policies. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco said she just returned from
Washington DC and she has every confidence the efforts put forth in our credit rating, in
concert with the efforts put forth in Washington will bode well for the City.
3. Item No.7 on the Regular Agenda. LIEN FEE INCREASE: (TO2184) Amending
Chapter 6 of the City of Tamarac Code of Ordinances, entitled "Finance and Taxation"; by
specifically amending Section 6-37 entitled "Requests for Information Concerning Outstanding
City Liens"; providing for an increased service charge from $50.00 to $75.00 for processing
Requests for Information pertaining to outstanding city liens; providing for the elimination of the
$25.00 service charge for follow-up lien searches; providing for codification. Deputy City
Manager/Interim Financial Services Director Cernech gave a presentation.
4. Item No. 6 (e) on the Consent Agenda. GRANT AWARD: WATER'S EDGE PARK:
(TR11722) Accepting a grant award in the amount of $69,400 from the Broward County Land
Stewardship Program; authorizing the appropriate City officials to execute an Agreement
between Broward County and the City of Tamarac for the development of Waters Edge Park;
providing for a one to one match of $69,400 available through the CIP Budget of the project.
Director of Parks and Recreation Warner and Special Projects Coordinator Gresek appeared.
Special Projects Coordinator Gresek gave a presentation on items 6(e) and 6(f) on the consent
agenda. Director of Parks and Recreation Warner commended Special Projects Coordinator
Gresek on the work he has done procuring these grant funds. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco
asked if these parks will help us achieve the Gold Florida Green Certification and Community
Development Director Bramley explained the Green Certification is more for programs, not
projects, but if there is an opportunity she will submit the projects. Commissioner Atkins -Grad
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asked when construction will begin and Director of Parks and Recreation Warner said we are
in the process of selecting a contractor. Commissioner Glasser questioned the extra 6 months
in the backup and Special Projects Coordinator Gresek explained 12 months is the regular
period for the grant, but if we need an additional six months we will send a letter to the County.
Commissioner Glasser confirmed the solar lighting would automatically go on at dark and off
when it gets light. Commissioner Bushnell commended Special Projects Coordinator Gresek
on his presentation at Tamarac University Alumni night.
5. Item No. 6 (f) on the Consent Agenda. GRANT AWARD: TAMARAC SPORTS
COMPLEX: (TR11723) Accepting a grant award in the amount of $75,000 from the Broward
County Land Stewardship Program; authorizing the appropriate City officials to execute an
agreement between Broward County and the City of Tamarac for the provision of canal safety
lighting at the Tamarac Sports Complex; providing for a one to one match of $75,000
previously expended on development of the park
6. Item No., 6 (d) on the Consent Agenda. LETF FUNDS - CLINICS FOR YOUTH
SPORTS LEAGUE PARENTS AND COACHES: (TR11716) Approving an application by the
Broward Sheriffs Office for the release of Law Enforcement Trust Funds (LETF) in the amount
of $11,575 to provide funding for the provision of on -site clinics for Tamarac's youth sports
coaches and parents. Parks & Recreation Director Warner and Recreation Superintendent
Zimmer appeared. Director of Parks and Recreation Warner gave a presentation and
explained the NAYS program.
Commissioner Atkins -Grad left the room at 10:00 a.m. and returned at 10:02 a.m.
Recreation Superintendent Zimmer explained the next steps after the resolution is approved
and BSO Chief Duguay said the monies come from forfeitures. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco
asked if the $11,575 is a one-time cost and added if the parents and coaches have to pay they
will then take ownership in the program. Director of Parks and Recreation Warner said it
would take the program through this year based upon the number of coaches and parents
trained and we will seek alternate funding for next year, or, in the alternative, work with the
leagues to pick up the cost of the program. Commissioner Bushnell questioned the fee
structure for parents and coaches and also the exam. Recreation Superintendent Zimmer and
Director of Parks and Recreation Warner responded the coach program is more intensive and
the exam is open book. Commissioner Glasser asked if the $5.00 parent fee is for one or two
parents, Director of Parks and Recreation Warner said it is per family. Mayor Flansbaum-
Talabisco said she would like the program to be publicized and advertised as much as
possible and included in blast emails. Commissioner Atkins -Grad asked about other cities
using this program and Recreation Superintendent Zimmer replied there are several. Director
of Parks and Recreation Warner added this is a national organization based in Palm Beach.
7. Item No. 6 (h) on the Consent Agenda. PUMP STATIONS 14, 2 & 36
REHAB: (TR11725) Authorizing the appropriate city officials to award Bid No. 09-11 B to TLC
Diversified, Inc., and execute an agreement between the City of Tamarac and TLC Diversified,
Inc., for an amount of $264,111.00 for the Pump Stations 14, 21, and 36 rehabilitation project;
approving funding for this project from the appropriate utilities operational accounts;
authorizing the appropriate city officials to administer the contract. Assistant Director of Utilities
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Moore, Utilities Operations Manager London and Purchasing/Contracts Manager Glatz
appeared to speak about Items 6(h), 60), and 6(k) on the consent agenda.
Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco left the room at 10:21 a.m. and returned at 10:25 a.m.
Assistant Director of Utilities Moore gave a presentation. Commissioner Bushnell questioned
any inconvenience to residents while the rehabilitation is in progress, and Assistant Director of
Utilities Moore said there may be some noise from the diesel system, but there will be no
interruption of any service. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco questioned how the Mayor and City
Commission could use their blast emails to put this forth to the residents in a positive manner
and what benefit there will be from the changes. Assistant Director of Utilities Moore said we
are replacing an aging infrastructure which has a greater likelihood to fail and cause backups
in peoples' homes, plus, this will save the City money in the long run. City Manager Miller
complemented Assistant Director of Utilities Moore on the great job he has done over the last
six years and also thanked Utilities Operations Manager London for all the training he has
provided staff, thereby saving the taxpayers a great deal of money.
8. Item No. 6 0) on the Consent Agenda. PURCHASE OF PUMPS AND
APPURTENANCES FROM ABS PUMPS INC.: (TR11728) Authorizing the appropriate City
officials to designate ABS Pumps, Inc., as a sole source provider for pumps and
appurtenances utilized at fifty-one (51) city wastewater pump stations, and to authorize
expenditures for the purchase of pumps and appurtenances from ABS Pumps, Inc., for an
amount not to exceed $90,000 for the period of November 4, 2009 through September 30,
2010.
9. Item No. 6 (k) on the Consent Agenda. PURCHASE OF PUMPS AND
APPURTENANCES FROM SANDERS COMPANY INC: (TR11729) Authorizing the
appropriate City officials to purchase pumps and appurtenances from Sanders Company, Inc.,
a sole source distributor of Smith & Loveless, Inc., supplies, for the maintenance and
replacement of wastewater pump stations; authorizing expenditures for said purposes from
Sanders Company, Inc., for an amount not to exceed $65,000 for fiscal year 2010.
Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco returned to Item 1 on the agenda.
1. Item No. 6 (i) on the Consent Agenda. MOU FOR WASTE -TO -ENERGY PLANTS:
(TR11726) Approving the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) among Broward
County, the Broward Solid Waste Disposal District, Wheelabrator South Broward, Inc., and
Wheelabrator North Broward, Inc. providing that this Resolution shall be binding only upon
approval of an additional Resolution approving a new Interlocal Agreement for the Broward
Solid Waste Disposal District. Broward County Commissioner Ilene Lieberman, Chair
Resource Recovery Board, and Budget/Contracts Manager Gies appeared. Broward County
Commissioner Lieberman gave a presentation. Commissioner Glasser questioned the
procedure for going to single stream recycling? Budget/Contracts Manager Gies said it will be
similar to what occurred in the past. Broward County Commissioner Lieberman explained she
has had conversations with Wheelabrator to see if they will cut the signing bonus checks in
June. Budget/Contracts Manager Gies added we are putting together an RFP for waste
collection and he is confident our residents will see a reduction in costs. Mayor Flansbaum-
Talabisco enumerated the many awards the City of Tamarac has been presented with over the
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past year. Commissioner Bushnell said our capacity will eventually be reached with the cities
currently on board; what will happen if the rest of the cities join? Broward County
Commissioner Lieberman said we are looking at a diversion in the district. Commissioner
Atkins -Grad asked if the bins we have now will be replaced and Budget/Contracts Manager
Gies said that depends on the RFP; it makes sense to start looking at the bins as a group,
collectively. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco asked for an expression of interest for the
Resolution, as Broward County Commissioner Lieberman would not be present on
Wednesday. All were in favor.
Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco moved out of the regular order of business on the agenda to take
up Item 12.
12. Item No. 6 (m) on the Consent Agenda, SCHOOL BOARD INTERLOCAL
AGREEMENT: (TR11732) Adopting the Broward County League of Cities amendment to the
Interlocal Agreement for Public School Facilities Planning in order to avoid the currently
proposed school boundary changes in Broward County; (Case No. 32-MI-09) providing for
conditions of approval. Community Development Director Bramley, Mayor Debby Eisinger,
Chair of Broward League of Cities Education Committee and Dawn Teetzel, of Michelle
Melgren appeared. Community Development Director Bramley gave an overview. Ms. Teetzel
discussed boundary changes and concurrency. Commissioner Bushnell questioned the deed
restrictions put into place for anticipated development in East Tamarac and Community
Development Director Bramley and City Attorney Goren spoke of the legal obligation to pay at
the time of permitting. Commissioner Glasser asked where the students would go if the
Tamarac schools were filled up and Community Development Director Bramley said our
schools in Tamarac are currently under enrolled; but as the demographics change the schools
will eventually start to fill up. Mayor Eisinger said education impacts our quality of life and the
economy in Broward County. Boundary changes are not the solution. The amendment to the
ILA that is before you is a way for us as a County to come into compliance with State law.
There is an impact of bussing on the roadways and it is not the solution. There has been
discussion from the eastern schools to use rooms in their facilities for administrative offices.
Commissioner Dressler discussed the fiscal impact as a result of bussing. Commissioner
Glasser said she is against bussing as it puts more traffic on the roads, there is a cost
associated with it, and it will create many other problems. Commissioner Dressler spoke of
diversity in schools and the fact that many communities wish to remain homogenous. There
was discussion regarding 'no child left behind' and reassignments to schools outside of
communities. Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco asked for an expression of interest with regard to
the resolution, since Mayor Eisinger would not be present at Wednesday's meeting. All were
in agreement.
Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco returned to Item 10 on the agenda.
Commissioner Atkins -Grad left the room at 11:20 a.m. and returned at 11:22 a.m.
10. Item No. 6 (1) on the Consent Agenda. TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES
CONTRACT RENEWAL: (TR11731) Approving the purchase of standard Primary Rate
Interface (PRI) services, Centrex services, and Local & Long Distance services for use by all
City of Tamarac Departments, and authorizing the appropriate City Officials to execute a three
(3) year agreement with one (1) additional three (3) year renewal and execution of an
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agreement with AT&T Corporation for a total not to exceed $50,000 annually, approving
funding from the appropriate accounts. Information Technology Director Sucuoglu and
Purchasing/Contracts Manager Glatz appeared. I.T. Director Sucuoglu gave a presentation.
11. Item No. 6 (g) on the Consent Agenda. ELECTION OF A VICE MAYOR:
(TR11724) Electing a Vice Mayor to serve a term of one year beginning November 25, 2009
and ending November 2010, with no succession. City Clerk Swenson gave a presentation,
and City Attorney Goren said this is charter driven. Commissioner Atkins -Grad seconded by
Commissioner Bushnell nominated Commissioner Dressler to serve as the next Vice Mayor.
All were in agreement.
13. DISCUSSION REGARDING THE CANCELLATION OF THE DECEMBER 21, 2009
WORKSHOP AND DECEMBER 23, 2009 COMMISSION MEETING: City Clerk Swenson
gave a presentation. All were in agreement.
Mayor Flansbaum-Talabisco reminded everyone that the Swearing -In Ceremony will be held
on December 22"d at 10:00 a.m. in Chambers.
City Attorney Goren said in response to Commissioner Dressler's question at the last
Commission meeting regarding the constitutional amendment for term limits, they will be
limited to 12 years and there is an impact on the County and Cities because they are also
included in the resolution.
There being no further business to come before the Mayor and City Commission, Mayor
Flansbaum-Talabisco adjourned the workshop meeting at 11:55 a.m. .
Marion Swenson, CMC- --
City Clerk
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City Commission Workshop November 23, 2009