HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-06-02 - City Commission Special Meeting MinutesCITY OF TAMARAC
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 1993
CUL ZQOEMEg; Mayor Bender called this meeting to order on
Wednesday, June 2, 1993 at 1:00 p.m. in the Conference Room #1 of
City Hall.
PRESENT:
Mayor H. Larry Bender
Vice Mayor Irving Katz
Councilman Norman Abramowitz
Councilman Henry Schumann
Councilman Joseph Schreiber
John P. Kelly, City Manager
Dina McDermott, Assistant City Manager
Mike Couzzo, Assistant City Manager/Director of
Public Services
Mitchell S. Kraft, City Attorney
Karen Jackson, Secretary
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1. -W Any member of the public may speak to
any issue which is on this meeting notice. Speakers will be
limited to three minutes during this item. There will be a
thirty (30) minute aggregate time limit for this item and
speakers are encouraged to sign up in advance with the City
Clerk prior to their participation.
Carl Alper, resident of Mainlands, Section 23, expressed his
concerns regarding the various portions of the Code which are not
being enforced. He suggested that these portions of the Code be
listed on a form for the Code Enforcement officers to follow for
enforcement purposes rather than them having to read blueprints.
Mr. Asper said he is unsure as to whether the Broward Sheriff's
office is obligated to enforce the City's Code.
Marvin Seidel, resident of Kings Point, suggested that the City
hire from within, with the proper qualifications, if the Code
Enforcement Supervisor position is approved by Council.
2. the transfer of $11,555 from General Fund
Contingency Account 001-872-579-975 to various Code
Enforcement accounts to fund a Code Enforcement Supervisor
position through the end of Fiscal Year 1992/93 (tabled on
5/26/93).
V/M Katz MOVED to APPROVE Item 2, SECONDED by C/M Abramowitz.
Mr. Kelly requested that this item be held until Kelly Carpenter,
Director of Community Development, arrived and Mayor Bender
directed that the item be heard.
C/M Schreiber questioned the need fo
hiring a Code Enforcement Supervisor.
Inspectors and found that they spend
office handling paperwork and school
the City needs more productivity and
Department because the Inspectors are
paperwork.
r reorganization prior to
He reviewed the logs of the
3 to 5 hours per day in the
crossing guard work. He said
more efficiency in the
spending too much time on
C/M Schreiber referred to Page 49 of the Code Enforcement budget.
He suggested that the City consider a reorganization of the
Department to save additional money. He recommended that the time
spent in the office be reduced from 2.5 hours to 1 hour in the
afternoon and possibly implement a procedure whereas the
Inspectors are dropped off on -location to work a particular area
for the day, which would be a cost savings due to the elimination
City Council Special Meeting
6/2/93/KJ
Page 2
of four automobiles.
C/M Schreiber said the system of reinspection should be improved.
He said in the past there were three Inspectors but currently
there are five. He asked if all five Inspectors are necessary and
who their supervisor would be. He recommended that the Department
be reorganized for the 93/94 budget and then implement whatever
may be done later.
Mayor Bender said the City is aware that the Code Enforcement
Department is in need of a reorganization. He said it is important
that the City establish close supervision in the Department. He
said it is not possible to drop Code Enforcement officers off at a
location and have a taxi service to take them from one location to
another. He said he is not against having a Code Enforcement
Supervisor but he wants this Supervisor to work in the field. He
said the City is getting older, there are more violations and more
inspections are needed.
C/M Abramowitz said last year Ms. Carpenter made a suggestion to
the City Manager that there were problems with the School Crossing
Guards and recommended that the City become privatized in this
field.
C/M Abramowitz expressed his concerns with the Code Enforcement
officers handling crossing guard duties. He said the way to
eliminate this situation is through privatization.
C/M Abramowitz said citizen complaints are a large portion of the
Code Enforcement Officer's job and there are times when they are
required to address the complaints prior to routine inspections.
C/M Abramowitz asked how it is possible to supervise the Code
officers in the field with someone who works in the office. He
said a working supervisor would be worthwhile.
C/M Abramowitz said the Code Enforcement sweep which was done in
the City was overwhelming and the Building Inspectors had to pitch
in and help. He said that sweep brought in a revenue of
approximately $30,000.00.
C/M Abramowitz expressed his concerns regarding the citations and
the hearings which are held by the Code Enforcement Board.
Discussion was held regarding these procedures.
V/M Katz said he was on the Code Enforcement Board for some time.
He said the one thing that he approved of which Steve Oxenhandler
did was supervise the people in the field and they did their
inspections effectively.
V/M Katz said there are faults, such as in the alternative process
of citations, where the citizen does not have to go back to the
Code Enforcement Board. He said Code Enforcement Inspectors are
required to be at every hearing, which means they are not in the
field doing their inspections and they do not receive overtime for
this.
V/M Katz said the City currently has five Inspectors, each of whom
has a different responsibility, two doing commercial and three
doing residential. He said the City is in need of another
Inspector to handle the workload. Discussion was held regarding
the condition of the vehicles previously used by the inspectors.
C/M Schumann expressed his dissatisfaction in past supervision of
the Code Officers. He said there are currently 5 Officers under
the direct supervision of the Community Development Director and
now there is a request to increase to a sixth Officer, which would
still be under the direct supervision of the Community Development
Director. He asked how 6 would be handled when 5 are not able to
be handled. He questioned the minimum requirements listed on the
job description.
E
L,
C/M Schumann said the job will first have to be posted in-house
City Council Special Meeting
6/2/93/KJ
Page 3
and asked when the last in-house hire was conducted in the City in
any job.
Ms. McDermott said positions in the Recreation Department were the
last in-house hires.
C/M Schumann said the qualifications presented do not constitute a
trainee to supervise
five people who have been on the
job as long
as seven years.
C/M Abramowitz asked
for the definition of "trainee".
He asked if
the City is looking
to hire someone who has never done
this job or
to hire someone with
experience, who has to be trained
according
to the City's rules
and regulations.
Discussion was held regarding the job requirements.
Mr. Kelly said when someone is hired or goes into a new position
there is a probationary learning period. He said everything is
different between cities or jobs.
Mr. Kelly said there is always some type of resentment among
employees when a new hire is present.
C/M Schreiber said this all falls under the ability and experience
to supervise and get the job done, not by the number of years. He
said the City needs to address the problem of the number of hours
being spent by the Code Officers doing paperwork.
Mayor Bender said accountability is very important.
V/M Katz said the Department does need reorganization but to
reorganize anything information is needed from the immediate
supervisor who deciphers the particular needs of the department.
Ms. Carpenter explained the supervisory chain. She said she is
expected to supervise her department in the office, be in the
production mode approximately half of the time that she is
working, i.e., writing ordinances, dealing in negotiations, etc.,
as well as supervise five individual Code Enforcement Officers on
a one-on-one basis day after day.
Ms. Carpenter said she is willing to continue to do that but the
City is wasting its money and her resources having to do this. She
said the most efficient way is to find one person to supervise the
Code Officers. She said she does not feel that five Officers are
needed, four would be sufficient with a supervisor, for a total of
five Officers. She said the City is overmanned in the residential
end of Code Enforcement.
Ms. Carpenter said the City has Officers who belong to the Broward
County Code Enforcement Association and Officers who belong to the
Florida Association of Code Enforcement Officers. She said the
City has one Officer who attends almost all of the meetings.
Ms. Carpenter said prior to November, 1992, there were no Officers
specifically assigned to commercial duty ever. She said since that
time, the City has incorporated occupational licensing into the
Code Enforcement Department and the City currently has two
Officers who sweep the City daily looking for health and safety
violations on commercial businesses.
Ms. Carpenter said the Data Entry position was previously
Administrative Secretary. She said until February, 1993, the
officers input their own courtesy notices, which is why they spent
so much time in the office. She said the Department now has a
skilled Data Entry Operator who does all input for the Officers.
Ms. Carpenter said the Code Officers do the following during their
time in the office: 1) return phone calls between 7:30 a.m. and
8:30 a.m., between 1:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. and between 3:30 p.m.
and 4:30 p.m.; 2) researching property ownership; 3) review site
plans; 4) review the boundaries of the common area; 5) write out
City Council Special Meeting
6/2/93/KJ
Page 4
courtesy notices.
Ms. Carpenter said it has been a major battle with the Code
Officers to get them to understand that 2-1/2 hours is the maximum
length of time that they can spend in the office.
Ms. Carpenter said the Building inspectors spend approximately two
hours per day in the office also.
Ms. Carpenter said the Code Officers feel that she is taking away
their ability to do their job by limiting them to no more than 2-
1/2 hours per day in the office. She said they feel that they are
being punished by having that little time in the office. She said
they want more time in the office to complete their office work.
Ms. Carpenter said the Officers are expected to produce 100 cases
on the average for the month of actual violations, which does not
count the sweeps of the office buildings or the courtesy notices.
She said in the past there was no way to track what the cases were
until March, 1993.
Ms. Carpenter said other duties that the Code Officers are
expected to handle are deliveries, picture taking, and
documentation of on -going problems throughout the City. She said
the Code Officers are called upon to do the errands in the field
because they are in the field. She said the Code Officers have
been used to supplement the School Crossing Guards since well
before she came to the City. She said the crossing guard situation
continues to be a problem in the City and in other municipalities.
She said there have been a number of absences due to illness and
the taking of full-time jobs among the crossing guards.
Ms. Carpenter said the most reliable people for the crossing guard
jobs have been the mothers of children in school in Tamarac and
the senior citizens. She said there is an ongoing problem keeping
school crossing guards available to work. Further discussion was
held regarding this problem.
Ms. Carpenter said a Procedures Manual is being written for the
Staff. She said in the past a Procedures Manual was written for
the Code Officers but one was never provided for Staff. She said
she and Mike Vonder Meulen spend at least 20 hours each on the
Procedure Manual to date.
Ms. Carpenter said the Policies and Procedures for the Officers in
the field are as follows: 1) respond to complaints first; 2)
sweeps; 3) Officers choose which area they are to handle for the
day; 4) commercial Officers sweep their entire area each day
looking for immediate health and safety violations; 5) citation
process is used sparingly for non-residential uses and for renter -
occupied residential.
Ms. Carpenter said the Department tries very hard never to use the
citation process for owner -occupant and C/M Schumann asked why.
Ms. Carpenter said the Judge will look at it and state that it is
a homestead.
Mr. Kraft explained the court and lien process.
TAPE 2
Discussion was held regarding the courtesy notice procedures.
Ms. Carpenter said Tamarac is the only City using the West
Satellite Courthouse for the citation process. She said the City's
experience with the citation process in the courts has been
absolutely dismal.
V/M Katz said he spoke with Bob Lockwood, the Clerk of the Courts,
and if the Department needs assistance he should be contacted.
1
Mr. Kraft said the City has had excellent cooperation from the
City Council Special. Meeting
6/2/93/KJ
Page 5 a
County Clerk's office. He said every Judge runs their courtroom in
their own way, which may need to be addressed separately.
Ms. Carpenter said the Department does a lot of community
outreach. She said the Code Officers attend meetings to speak to
the neighborhoods and to educate them on common Code Enforcement
problems.
C/M Schreiber asked if there is a record maintained by the Code
Officers as to how often their areas are covered and what system
they use.
Ms. Carpenter said each Officer is instructed to go from
neighborhood to neighborhood and/or to respond to complaints;
however, their steps are monitored.
C/M Schreiber said some type of guideline should be set for them
to follow. Discussion was held regarding the Code Officers'
duties.
C/M Abramowitz suggested that Council approve this on a six-month
trial basis. He recommended the Department maintain five Code
Officers with a Supervisor.
C/M Schumann asked what the intent is for utilizing the
Supervisor.
Ms. Carpenter said the Supervisor would have various duties. She
said as Supervisor to the Code Officers, she has taught the
Officers to read the Code and site plans. She said the Supervisor
would take over this and other training procedures.
C/M Abramowitz said Code Enforcement is a major issue and needs to
be handled properly. He said in order to keep the City in good
shape there is a tremendous amount of knowledge that the Code
Officers have to understand. He said having the Code Officers as
School Crossing Guards is a waste. Discussion was held regarding
this.
C/M Schreiber asked if the City needs a Supervisor at this time
for the Code Officers.
Ms. Carpenter said Code Enforcement is a function which requires a
lot of judgment on the part of the Officer. She said the issues
are not always cut and dry. She reviewed the cases from the last
Code Enforcement Board meeting. She said when the Officers have a
problem currently they contact her for answers.
Mayor Bender said Council is voting on the transfer of funds to
provide for a Supervisor for the Code Officers for a six-month
period and it behooves the City to provide the City Manager with
the six -months to determine whether or not this reorganization is
working.
C/M Schreiber asked if the Motion should run until the end of the
fiscal year and Mayor Bender agreed.
VOTE:
C/M Abramowitz - AYE
C/M Schumann - NAY
V/M Katz - AYE
C/M Schreiber - AYE
Mayor Bender - AYE
City Council Special Meeting
6/2/93/KJ
Page 6
3. MOTION TO ADOPT Temp. Reso. 16472 approving a waiver to
the provisions of the sign code requested by Hotz Plaza
(CLUB SHOPPING PLAZA), 6301 W. Commercial Blvd., to allow a
directory sign:
- 15-feet high with a sign area of 70 square feet
- With complex letters 8-inches high and tenant
letters 10 and 6-inches high
- With building name and tenant names of 11 and 8
square feet of individual name areas
- 10-feet from the property line (tabled on 5/26/93)
SYNOPSIS OF ACTj=
TABLED to the Regular Council meeting on Wednesday, June 9, 1993
at or after 7:00 p.m.
Mr. Kraft read Temp. Reso. #6472 by title.
V/M Katz MOVED to APPROVE Temp. Reso. #6472, SECONDED by
C/M Schreiber.
Michael Pines, representative of Hotz Plaza, said his original
sign was 15 feet in the area of 70 square feet and he has reduced
the sign to 8 feet with a 1-foot apron and the area is to be 8
feet by 6 feet with an area of 48 square feet. He said if a sign
cannot be placed on this location to give some type of identity it
will be discouraging and they may lose tenants.
Mr. Pines requested that the sign be accepted to avoid further
business vacancies in the City.
C/M Abramowitz asked if the area in front was measured and
reviewed.
Mr. Pines said it was measured and reviewed and the biggest
discouraging point was the visibility due to the fact that it is
so close to Steak and Ale. He said there is a large tree which is
not on their property but is on Steak and Ale's property.
C/M Abramowitz said Hotz Plaza has the right to cut any limbs that
are overhanging onto their property and Mr. Pines said it is not
the limbs but the actual base of the tree.
C/M Abramowitz asked if he had considered changing the direction
of the sign and Mr. Pines said, yes.
C/M Abramowitz said every sign he has seen, other than the sign at
Sunshine Plaza, is in the landscaping format. He suggested that an
illuminated sign be installed. Discussion was held regarding the
directory sign as it currently exists and what the Sign Code
allows.
C/M Abramowitz said by placing the sign in this direction would
make it esthetically pleasing and not put the City in the position
where others will be requesting the same consideration.
Mr. Pines agreed to 9--inch lettering.
C/M Schreiber asked what the maximum width is and Mayor Bender
said the maximum is 6 feet high and 8 inches wide. Further
discussion was held regarding the dimensions of the sign.
Mr. Pines said he is willing to have the sign in an 8 foot by 5
foot area with a 1 foot base for an apron with 9 inch lettering.
C/M Abramowitz recommended that this be drawn up and brought back
to Council at the next meeting for final approval.
City Council Special Meeting
6/2/93/KJ
Page 7
C/M Abramowitz MOVED to TABLE Temp. Reso. #6472, SECONDED by
C/M Schreiber.
VOTE: C/M Abramowitz - AYE
V/M Katz - NAY
C/M Schumann - AYE
C/M Schreiber - AYE
Mayor Bender - AYE
C/M Abramowitz said at a previous meeting, the Council was
disenchanted with the one City entrance sign on Southgate
Boulevard. He said it has come to his attention that the creator
of the sign is willing to rework the signs which will cost the
City a certain amount of money. He said he observed the signs in
the neighboring cities and there is a solution that may cost very
little to the City.
C/M Abramowitz said the logo on Tamarac's sign is no different
than the size of the other logos that the other cities have but
they put theirs on larger backdrops. He suggested that Staff
review this option.
Mayor Bender said there are certain areas in the City where larger
signs cannot be used due to the median strip being very narrow.
Discussion was held regarding the existing signs.
Mr. Couzzo said he can request a waiver from the County for
certain areas where a larger sign can be utilized.
C/M Schreiber asked if luminous signs can be used and Mr. Couzzo
said these signs can be operated by solar cell batteries and
explained how this would work. He said he would create a prototype
for viewing.
C/M Schreiber said the City is getting more and more lawsuits for
personal injury accidents which have occurred. He recommended that
the City make a move forward in hiring a Risk Manager.
Mr. Kelly said he would have a recommendation for Council by
Friday.
C/M Schreiber said this is a concern because no one has handled
this since Ms. Tillman left.
4. MOTION TO APPROVE giving direction to the City Attorney
to finalize the agreement between the City of Tamarac and
Lennar Homes for 17 acres of land near Tract 27 to be
utilized as practice soccer and baseball field.
SYNOPSIS OF ANION:
Agendized by Consent.
APPROVED and will be brought back to Council at the Regular
Council meeting on Wednesday, June 9, 1993 at or after 7:00 p.m.
for final approval.
C/M Schumann said he and Mr. Couzzo have held several meetings
with Lennar Homes and they have agreed to let the City use the 17
acres which abut Tract 27. He said this would be used for practice
soccer and baseball fields and it would be simple for the City to
clear the brush and put sod down. He said the City has a Hold
Harmless Agreement for Lennar Homes to sign at no cost to the
City. He said the only stipulation is that the City has to give
back the land within 120 days after Lennar has made the demand on
the City to give it back. He said there is no time limit for the
use of this property at this time.
C/M Schumann MOVED to AGENDIZE Item 4, SECONDED by C/M Schreiber.
VOTE:
ALL VOTED AYE
Mr. Kraft said he has been working closely with Mr. Couzzo over
this agreement. He said it needs some fine tuning and requested
City Council Special Meeting
6/2/93/KJ
Page 8
that approval not be given by Council until the draft has been
finalized.
TAPE 3
Mayor Bender said this will be on the agenda for June 9, 1993 for
final approval.
VOTE: ALL VOTED AYE
Mayor Bender said he has received a number of letters complaining
about the flooding in various areas in the City. He requested that
the flooding problem be addressed.
5. MOTION To AREBW the funding and positions for two (2)
temporary full-time drivers and one (1) full-time social
worker for the Social Services Program with funding from
Fiscal Year 92/93 and AUTHORIZE $25,000.00 for the
Social Worker salary and $7.50 per hour for the drivers.
Agendized by Consent.
APPROVED authorizing the City Manager to allocate funding not to
exceed $15,000 for these positions through the end of the fiscal
year 1992/93.
Mayor Bender said Council and Staff has been talking for quite
some time about getting professional drivers for Social Services.
He asked how much time is needed to hire these drivers.
Mr. Kelly said the City is not in the position to go for the
permanent full-time positions for the drivers, which would require
them to receive all of the benefits. He recommended this be placed
in the budget for October.
C/M Schumann MOVED to AGENDIZE Item 5, SECONDED by C/M Schreiber.
Mr. Kelly said the City has sufficient monies in the budget in the
account to provide for these monies now without having to go to
Contingency.
V/M Katz asked if the City has developed a job description for the
Social Worker and the drivers and Mr. Kelly said, yes.
VOTE: ALL VOTED AYE
C/M Abramowitz said there was a Social Services meeting held and
there are certain things that are considered when talking about a
driver. He said Meals on Wheels is the most successful program in
the City for which four residents deliver over 800 meals every
week. He said he agrees that a Social Worker is needed in the
Social Services Department.
C/M Abramowitz said he would like to see every volunteer remain on
the job under the direction of a professional Social Worker. He
said the Meals on Wheels program has four drivers, who are very
good.
Mayor Bender said the funding is already available.
Ms. McDermott said in the original proposal to Council, the amount
of $25,000 was allocated for the Social Worker and $7.50 per hour
for the temporary bus driver. Discussion was held regarding the
funding.
C/M Schreiber asked when these drivers will be brought onboard and
Mr. Couzzo said possibly July 1, 1993.
C/M Schreiber asked if this position would be based on a 40 hour
week and Mr. Couzzo said, yes.
u
LJ
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Discussion was held regarding the salaries of these positions.
City Council Special Meeting
6/2/93/KJ
Page 9
C/M Abramowitz said the drivers will not be driving continuously
from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. He suggested that these drivers be
available as chauffeurs when needed.
V/M Katz said that would increase the risk to the City.
Mr. Kelly requested that Council approve the salary of 125,111 for
the Social Worker.
C/M Schreiber said it is necessary to allocate a set amount of
money to cover the balance of this fiscal year and he recommended
$15, 000.
Mayor Bender said Council should act on a Motion to authorize the
City Manager not to exceed $15,000 for the remainder of the Fiscal
Year 92/93 for the Social Worker and 2 drivers.
C/M Schreiber MOVED to APPROVE Item 5, SECONDED by C/M Schumann.
VOTE: - ALL VOTED AYE
Mayof_Bflndar said he receives numerous calls daily regarding the
perpetual -':problem with the canals and there is a program being
considered at present. He recommended that the City consider
hiringa-contractor to treat and clean the canals twice per year,
with the City's Public Works Department to maintain it afterwards.
He said there has been a lot of rain whicii'changes.the contour of
the canals. He said the City needs to make a concerted ,effort to
clean up the mess.
C/M Schreiber suggested that the City require developers of any
future developments which border on a canal or perimeter to build
a sea wall.
Mayor Bender said there is no simple solution to this. He said he
has requested that a Letter go out to all of the residents with
their utility bills addressing the canal problems and the proposed
solutions.
Mayor Bender suggested that consideration be made to charging
$24.00 per homeowner for maintenance of the waterways.
C/M Schumann asked if the four employees that the City has for
this will be able to maintain the canals between clean ups.
Mr. Kelly said anything that would be done would be an improvement
from the present.
Further discussion was held regarding the canals and the possible
solutions to the problem, including the use of sterilized carp.
V/M Katz said within the next couple weeks, he would be making a
presentation to Wayne Huizenga regarding the possibility of
placing an ice hockey arena in Tamarac utilizing Land Section 7.
He said he would follow up with Council regarding this.
6. MOTION TO APPROVE the City Administration selling 49
shares of Equitable Company, Inc., stock dated July 22,
1992 with proceeds to go back into the General Revenue.
5=2JIS OF ACTION
Agendized by Consent.
APPROVED
Mr. Kelly said it has been requested by the Finance Director that
the Council agendize a Motion to Approve the sale of 49 shares of
Equitable stock to become money to come back to the City of
Tamarac. He said Ms. Blasi's explanation is that Equitable
Company, Inc., currently supplies the City's subsidized life
insurance for our employees. He said in 1992, Equitable sent to
the City 49 shares of corporate stock due to the City being a
City Council Special Meeting
6/2/93/KJ
Page 10
policy owner. He said the City, by Charter, cannot own or buy
corporate stock. He said the stock currently sells for $20 per
share. He recommended that the stock be sold and the money go back
into the City's funds.
C/M Abramowitz MOVED to AGENDIZE Item 6, SECONDED by C/M Schumann.
VOTE:
ALL VOTED AYE
C/M Abramowitz MOVED to APPROVE Item 6, SECONDED by C/M Schumann.
VOTE:
ALL VOTED AYE
With no further business, Mayor Bender ADJOURNED this meeting at
3:00 p.m.
CAROL A. EVANS
CITY CLERK
CITY OF TAMARAC
APPROVED AT MEETING OF 8- b
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L BENDER
MAYOR ,1 `
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