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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-04-08 - City Commission Workshop Meeting MinutesCITY OF TAMARAC CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING MONDAY, MARCH 8, 1999 CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Schreiber called the workshop to order on Monday, March 8, 1999, at 9:30 a.m. in Conference Room #1 of Tamarac City Hall, 7525 NW 88t" Avenue, Tamarac, Florida. PRESENT: Mayor Joe Schreiber, Vice Mayor Larry Mishkin, Commissioner John E. McKaye, Commissioner Karen L. Roberts and Commissioner Marc L. Sultanof. ALSO PRESENT: Robert S. Noe, Jr., City Manager, Mitchell S. Kraft, City Attorney, Tim Hemstreet, Assistant City Manager and Carol Gold, City Clerk. 1. Local Housing Assistance Plan (CHAP) Incentive:, Code Enforcement Manager Diemer gave a presentation on Item #9, Temporary Resolution #8553, amending the 1998-2001 Local Housing Assistance Plan (LHAP) to adopt incentives recommended by the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee. Ms. Diemer said the committee that was appointed by the Commission was outstanding, and Mr. Gass, Chairman of the Committee will present the document to the Commission at the Regular Commission Meeting of March 10, 1999, which is required by statute. Mr. Miller, who was unable to attend this morning's meeting, approves and endorses the document, and the purpose of the document is to set the framework for the SHIP program, and adopt incentives that the Commission would like to carry out for the coming year. The Commission is not required to accept all the recommendations, but must accept those required by the Florida Statutes, expediting permitting and adopting formalities so as not to create any barriers in the process. A recent article in the Herald stated that the cities involved in the SHIP process have not put to use the incentives they adopted, and Ms. Diemer encouraged the Commission to adopt only those incentives that they will move forward with and use. Vice Mayor Mishkin asked Ms. Diemer for recommendations and Ms. Diemer responded that the Commission must accept the incentives that are required by Florida Statutes, and she recommended looking at the impact fees. Vice Mayor Mishkin questioned whether Broward County has any provision for abatement of impact fees in relation to this program, and he asked the City Attorney to check on this. Commissioner Sultanof asked under which portion of the mandate did the first SHIP homeowner in Tamarac take possession of her property, and Ms. Diemer responded that it was under the SHIP program, first time home buyers portion. Commissioner Sultanof asked whether the County was involved in any manner in the SHIP Program, and Ms. Diemer responded that the City's money for the SHIP program came from the State. The incentives have to do with housing production, and the prospective homeowners come to the City with their plans and then go through a pre-set process. The incentives look at ways to shorten the time and save money. The City of Tamarac will meet the State requirements by taking on two (2) incentives. The price range for affordable housing is set by the State, and anything under $120,000 is applicable. Mayor Schreiber asked about the status of the SHIP program at this time, and Ms. Diemer said the City's program has closed on two (2) houses, three (3) applicants are approved and looking for houses, two (2) permits have been issued for repairs, and four (4) are houses under bid. July, 1999 begins a new program year, and the City may be funded for $350,000.00. Mayor Schreiber asked what happened to those applicants who applied for the program but were not accepted. Ms. Diemer responded that they are on a waiting list, and will need to be recertified when the new program year begins, and the City is not accepting any more applications until the new program year. Commissioner Roberts asked if the people on the list this year move to the top of the list next year, and Ms. Diemer responded yes. Vice Mayor Mishkin asked how many applicants there were for the current program year and Ms. Diemer said about 100, and he questioned how the City was going to fit over 100 applicants into $350.000., and Ms. Diemer said the most the City can serve is 30-40 people. Vice Mayor Mishkin asked if there were any other funding programs or grants available, and Ms. Diemer said the qualification was done in ranges, and there are banks that take a close look at candidates for first time homebuyers. Ms. Diemer said that the resolution accepting the report puts forth 11 incentives for adoption. At this time, City Manager Noe said it was his understanding that the Commission was simply receiving the report at the March 10, 1999 City Commission meeting, but if they were also endorsing the incentives, a staff analysis would be needed, and in light of this, it might be better to table the item and bring it back for another meeting. Ms. Diemer said the Commission has 30 days from the time the report is delivered to the Commission to accept whatever incentives they want to move forward with, in addition to the two (2) incentives required by the State, and City Manager Noe said it would be better to table the item and bring it back to the Commission at the next Commission meeting, after staff analysis. 3/10/98 Agenda Items: Mayor Schreiber questioned Item #8b, Temporary Resolution #8536, authorizing the award of Bid #99-05B for Fire Station Number 78 renovation to Zurqui Construction Service, inc., at a cost not to exceed Three Hundred Seventy Thousand Eight Hundred Fifty -Five Dollars ($370,855.00); approving budget transfers totaling Thirty Thousand Dollars). Mayor Schreiber questioned the bidder's qualification statement, regarding bankruptcy, where the bidder responded yes, but did not fill in the explanation. Fire Chief Budzinski said the company has been reviewed and they are willing to put up a bond. Purchasing/Contracts Manager Flurry said the company is financially secure according to the bonding company, and the architect had also checked out the 03/08/99 Page 2 company. Ms. Flurry said she would have an answer to the Mayor's concern before the Commission meeting on Wednesday. Mayor Schreiber said on page 2 of the balance sheet, under liabilities and stockholders equity, the billings are in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts, in the amount of $91,214.00., and asked for an explanation. Ms. Flurry said she would also check on this and have the answer before Wednesday. Commissioner McKaye said the date on the balance sheet is 1997. Commissioner Roberts questioned item #8c, Temporary Resolution #8538, authorizing the appropriate City Officials to accept and execute a Remetering Agreement with Ralph and Patricia Getelman (Owner), for The Fountains Apartments to continue to allow remetering of 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". Commissioner Roberts asked whether the remetering has already started and whether the Fountains Apartments are charging more for the water bills, and Utilities Director Woika responded that this matter has been ongoing since 1991 and they need to be brought into compliance with the City's Code. The owners are not charging more for the water bills, and at this point the Fountains Apartments needs the Commission's permission to remeter. Vice Mayor Mishkin said he wanted to add an item to the Commission Agenda on Wednesday, and asked that the City Attorney draft a Resolution congratulating Mayor Veltri on his retirement. 2. Minutes of Meetings: Commissioner Sultanof asked that the minutes be more specific, as a lot of discussion is left out. Mayor Schreiber said the minutes were sterile. City Manager Noe explained that any type of minutes the Commission desires can be prepared, but part of his responsibility is to tell the Commission more efficient ways government can be run, and one way of being more efficient is to cut down on the minutes, as minutes can get to be very expensive. City Manager Noe said since he felt that few people read the minutes it was a good way to cut expenses. Commissioner Sultanof said he reads the minutes in order to remember what he said without having to listen to a tape, and while he does not need a verbatim, he would like more than action minutes. Commissioner Sultanof said the minutes are too sterile. Mayor Schreiber said he noticed that the City Clerk has created minutes incorporating the meat and heart of the discussions without making the minutes overblown, and she has done an excellent job in Commission Meeting minutes and can do the same thing in workshop minutes. 03/08/99 Page 3 Commissioner Sultanof asked for concensus. Vice Mayor Mishkin said we ought to experiment a little bit, perhaps use verbatim style on portions of the minutes where there is discussion by and between the Commission, not on staff reports. Commissioner Sultanof agreed that there are discussions that take place that should be verbatim style in the minutes, and Commissioner Roberts said she would like to see it in the minutes when she says something and there is discussion. Commissioner McKaye said in. his -experience with the Airport Board, the minutes are about 10 pages long and cover everything that is said by every board member. Mayor Schreiber said there is a lot of discussion in the course of a meeting that is extraneous, and Commissioner McKaye said the Airport Board minutes are not word for word, but idea by idea. Mayor Schreiber suggested trying Vice Mayor Mishkin's recommendation. City Manager Noe said the paving project at the entryway to City Hall has proven to be larger and more difficult than originally anticipated. The contractor did not get a permit for the job, and did not have a license to work in Broward County. The City has worked with the contractor to assist him in rectifying these issues, but was unable to get results, however, contractor #2 is now working on the job. Mayor Schreiber asked whether the license was confirmed before accepting the bidder, and City Manager Noe said the new contractor was checked out and the job should be completed by Friday. Mayor Schreiber asked if there was any exposure on the City's part to contractor #1, and City Attorney Kraft responded that we are in negotiations. Vice Mayor Mishkin asked about the status of Hiatus Road, and City Manager Noe responded that it was moving along nicely. The final layer of asphalt is being laid this week, and then it will cure for a month. This is one case in which government has exceeded the private sector. Vice Mayor Mishkin questioned whether the loose ends have been taken care of, and City Manager Noe responded that the issue between the contractor and the engineer has not been resolved yet. Vice Mayor Mishkin said he received a call about six (6) weeks ago, which he passed on to City Manager Noe, from a disgruntled citizen regarding the quality of the City's paving project. Vice Mayor Mishkin said the complaint may be unfounded by it must be resolved. Commissioner McKaye said the paving was completed in front of his mother's home, and it was done very well. Commissioner Roberts said she has received no complaints. I,] 03/08/99 Page 4 1 There being no further business, Mayor Schreiber adjourned the workshop meeting at 10:07 a.m. (i/l' (22=6/ Carol Gold, C/AAE City GWrk 03/08/99 Page 5