HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-05-10 - City Commission Workshop Meeting MinutesCITY OF TAMARAC
CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING
MONDAY, MAY 10, 1999
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Schreiber called the workshop to order on Monday, May 10,
1999, at 9:00 a.m. in Conference Room #1 of Tamarac City Hall, 7525 NW 88th Avenue,
Tamarac, Florida.
PRESENT: Mayor Joe Schreiber, Vice Mayor Larry Mishkin, Commissioner Edward C.
Portner, 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, 6/11/99 Agenda Items
b) Item #9(I), Temporary Resolution #8621, authorizing an additional
expenditure of $23,639 for the installation of underground power lines and
authorizing installation of street lights along Hiatus Road between Commercial
Boulevard and McNab Road; authorizing the appropriate City Officials to pursue
all necessary actions to successfully complete the underground power lines and
installation of street lights; authorizing amendment to the annual trafficways
improvement fund budget of estimated revenues and expenditures in the amount
of $23,639. Public Works Director Verma and City Engineer Behmardi gave a
presentation and responded to questions from Mayor Schreiber, Vice Mayor
Mishkin and Commissioner Portner.
Mayor Schreiber asked about the backup for Item 9(e), Temporary Resolution
#8565, authorizing the appropriate City Officials to approve the purchase of a
playground sunshade including installation from Sports Systems International,
Inc., at a cost not to exceed $19,997,40, utilizing the County of Volusia, Florida
Price Agreement Contract for park and playground equipment, Bid #97-B-139,
approving funding from the appropriate Parks and Recreation account. Parks
and Recreation Director Margoles responded. Commissioner Roberts said there
is a great playshade at the sports center, and so many young families take
advantage of it.
Commissioner Roberts questioned Item 9(h), Temporary Resolution #8609,
authorizing the appropriate City Officials to execute the Sixteenth Amendment to
the Interlocal Agreement between Broward County and City of Tamarac
providing for division and distribution of the proceeds of the Local Option Gas
Tax imposed by the Broward County Local Option Gas Tax Ordinance, and Item
9(I), Temporary Resolution #8610, authorizing the appropriate City Officials to
execute the 1999 Amendment to Interlocal Agreement between Broward County
and City of Tamarac providing for division and distribution of the proceeds from
the Broward County Additional Local Option Gas Tax on Motor Fuel Ordinance.
Commissioner Roberts asked if the money goes to anything special in the
budget, and Finance Director McGarrity responded. Vice Mayor Mishkin said
there is a movement afoot now to add another 20 for Cities. Finance Director
McGarrity said she is not familiar with that, and City Manager Noe said it is
formula driven.
Commissioner Roberts questioned Item 9(k), Temporary Resolution #8618,
authorizing the appropriate City Officials to refund traffic signalization impact fees
paid to the City by Market Place at Tamarac Association (formerly Village Mall) in
the total amount of $11,000.00. Commissioner Roberts questioned the location,
and the response was Commercial and 68t" Street. Mayor Schreiber spoke
about Kings point having $50,000. in trust from Lennar, and if the County puts in
the traffic light, then the money should be given to the County. Commissioner
Sultanof said the money was given to the County.
S. Replacement of Construction Equipment/Vehicles: Public Works
Director Verma gave a presentation and responded to questions from Mayor
Schreiber about what the equipment is used for and the feasibility of leasing.
Public Works Operations Manager Greenspan gave a presentation and
responded to questions from Mayor Schreiber and Commissioner Portner about
repairs and the pros and cons of purchasing pre -owned vehicles.
1(a) Item #10, Temporary Resolution #8593, receiving the Comprehensive
annual Financial Report, Auditors' Reports and Unqualified Opinion, prepared by
Madsen, Sapp, Mena, Rodriguez & Co., for the fiscal year ended September 30,
1998. Mayor Schreiber questioned the fact that the $6 million balance is not
correct, and there is in reality a $3 million balance. Timothy Isler and Bob
Benson, of Madsen, Sapp, Mena, Rodriguez & Co. gave a presentation.
Assistant City Manager Hemstreet explained that the $3.6 million is for salaries
and operating expenses, and there was discussion about designated and
undesignated amounts. Finance Director McGarrity said that the report was
prepared as of September 1998, and by now some of the monies have been
spent. There was discussion about expenditures and revenues. Mayor
Schreiber asked why the report was late this year, and Mr. Isler responded that
the Y2K issue caused the delay. Vice Mayor Mishkin asked whether the auditors
felt the City needed to continue to search for new sources of revenue, and Mr.
Benson said it always makes sense to evaluate opportunities for revenue
enhancement and expense control in order for the City to continue in its strong
fiscal position. Vice Mayor Mishkin asked whose responsibility it is to track the
bar coding, and Finance Director McGarrity responded it is the MIS department's
responsibility. Commissioner Portner questioned why the City does not follow
normal business practices when it comes to fixed assets and depreciation, and
Assistant City Manager Hemstreet responded.
Commissioner Sultanof left the meeting at 10:15 a.m., and returned at 10:45 a.m.
Mayor Schreiber questioned why the City does not institute a process whereby
money collected in Parks and Recreation is recorded immediately.
Commissioner Portner said he thought the electronic billing system is already in
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use and Commissioner Roberts said the system is not in use yet. Finance
Director McGarrity said the City has the software but is working on the utility audit
first. Ms. McGarrity said the system will be in place prior to the end of the fiscal
year. Vice Mayor Mishkin asked whether an internal auditor would address any
possible problems resulting from errors that may be outside the scope of the
auditors, and Mr. Benson replied that would be dependent upon specific skills
and scope of the internal auditor's review. Vice Mayor Mishkin mentioned that
the City has not been able to attract an internal auditor, and said he believes the
City is not offering enough of an incentive to attract someone. Mr. Benson
replied that there is a shortage of people in the profession.
City Manager Noe introduced John Archer of FPL, and said Mr. Archer will
demonstrate the electric vehicle at the close of the workshop.
4. Utility Special Assessment, Land Section 7: Utilities Director Woika
introduced Attorney George Nickerson of Nabors, Giblin, et al, Tallahassee, FL,
and Camille Giantassio, of Government Services Group, Tallahassee, FL. Mr.
Nickerson and Ms. Giantassio gave a presentation. Mayor Schreiber asked if
there were any foreseeable legal problems with the method being used and he
asked for clarification as to why some parcels are classified as excluded on the
property. Mr. Nickerson responded. Vice Mayor Mishkin asked why they are not
using the method that has been in place for the past 35 years, and Utilities
Director Woika said the City is acting as the developer in this case, and
constructed the lines for the benefit of the development. Usually developers put
in their own lines, and in the case of the Butters property, the City put up money
to aid development. City Manager Noe said it is customary for developers to
install their own utilities, and this is an exception. Five years ago the
Commission wanted economic development and this is a way to get this
accomplished.
Utilities Director Woika said earlier in the meeting there was a question about
whether the cost for underground lighting for Hiatus Road could be included in a
special assessment, and Mr. Nickerson responded. City Manager Noe
suggested that this matter be placed on the next workshop agenda for
discussion.
3. Community Center — Presentation — DMS: Parks and Recreation
Director Margoles introduced Robert Walters, Architect. Mr. Walters gave a
presentation. Mayor Schreiber asked when construction is to begin, and
expressed disappointment that the project is not moving forward. There was
discussion about land for the library next to the Senior and Community Center,
as well as whether it would prove beneficial to prepare the building for a second
story in the future. Mr. Lynch, Dooley Mack Construction Manager said the
project calls for a July start date, with projected completion in April. No bids have
been received yet.
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2. Impact of New Pension Law — Presentation: Personnel Director
Swanson gave a presentation and explained the changes in the pension plan.
Ms. Swanson said Robert Sugarman, Pension Board Attorney will give a
presentation at the June 7, 1999 workshop. The new legislation requires that the
police and fire pension plans be separated from the general employees. There is
an option in the law that allows the police and fire to have either combined or
separate boards, and members are voting on it this week at City Hall. Ms.
Swanson will be meeting with FPE to talk about what they would like to see
happen with the general employees' board. There was discussion about the
composition of the pension boards, and Ms. Swanson said the police and fire
pension boards' makeup is specifically determined by State law. City Manager
Noe said it is critical who the Commission appoints to the board(s) because it is a
financial issue and whoever is appointed needs to understand pension issues
and must have the utmost concern for the City. Ms. Swanson said the new
pension ordinances and appointments must be made before October 1, 1999.
At 11:25 a.m. Vice Mayor Mishkin left the meeting.
Mayor Schreiber said he has a letter from the State of Florida Division of
Retirement that addresses several of the issues. Commissioner Roberts asked if
a person could serve on 2 pension boards at the same time, and Ms. Swanson
responded in the affirmative, if they meet the qualifications. Walter Coghlin, 4805
NW 49 Court, Tamarac questioned police pension members, since the City uses
BSO, and Ms. Swanson answered.
6. Change of election date from March to November for Charter Board:
City Attorney Kraft explained that to change the voting date from March to
November would require a special act of the legislature or an ordinance, but this
will not allow for any elected governing officials other than the Commission. The
Charter Board has asked that their election date coincide with the Commission's.
Ordinances have been prepared to this end and are being reviewed by the
Charter Board, and the Charter Board wanted the Commission to be aware of
this.
City Manager Noe discussed the St. Petersburg conference with the
Commission.
The cutoff date for Board/Committee Applications will be placed on the next
workshop agenda.
Mayor Schreiber said Tamarac Football League is asking for a refund of
$1,295.00 in fees. Commissioner Roberts asked whether the City has given
rebates on water fees in the past, and City Manager Noe said he would look into
it for the next workshop meeting.
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7. Electric Vehicle Demonstration: City Manager Noe said there would be
a demonstration of the electrical vehicle for those who are interested, after the
meeting is concluded.
There being no further business, Mayor Schreiber adjourned the workshop
meeting at 11:35 a.m.
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Carol G6td, CMC/AAE
City Clerk .