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
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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.
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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.
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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
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