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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-05-24 - City Commission Workshop Meeting MinutesI CITY OF TAMARAC CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING MONDAY, MAY 24, 1999 CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Schreiber called the workshop to order on Monday, May 24, 1999, at 9:30 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 Marion Swenson, Assistant City Clerk. Mayor Schreiber read a letter from Helen Sobel, thanking everyone for the Volunteer Luncheon held at Woodmont Country Club. Mayor Schreiber reported that he attended the Challenger Baseball function, held for mentally and physically challenged children, and he received a baseball signed by the children who participated. Commissioners Roberts, Sultanof and Portner also attended this event. Mayor Schreiber asked City Manager Noe to look into purchasing a showcase to be placed in the hallway, to display trophies and plaques given to the City. Mayor Schreiber asked for an expression of interest to donate money to Tamarac Challenger Baseball. Commissioner Portner said University Hospital donated $1,500, and Commissioner Roberts agreed that it is a worthy cause. There was an expression of interest for the City to donate $1,500. 1. 5/26/99 Agenda Items: Commissioner Roberts questioned Item 8(q), TEMPORARY RESOLUTION #8634 approving a request from the Tamarac Youth Football League to refund building permit fees and occupational license fees in the amount of $1,030.00 for a carnival sponsored by them. Commissioner Roberts wanted confirmation that the water fee is not being waived, and Mayor Schreiber confirmed. Vice Mayor Mishkin asked if an organization is told about fee waivers when they apply for a permit to hold an event, and City Manager Noe responded that if they do not ask for relief, then they are not told about waiver options. Commissioner Portner questioned the processes discussed in Item 8(c), TEMPORARY RESOLUTION #8602s authorizing the appropriate City Officials to accept and execute (1) the "Cured -In -Place Pipe Lining Repairs Contract US99A- 1" with Insituform Technologies, Inc., for wastewater system rehabilitation, utilizing the Broward County Cured -In -Place Lining Repairs Contract No. P890- 96; and (2) the "Fold -And -Formed Pipe Lining Repairs Contract US99A-2" with Madsen/Barr Philips Utilities Management Corporation, Inc., for sanitary sewer system rehabilitation, utilizing the City of Hollywood Wastewater Collection System Sewer Rehabilitation Bid Package "B", for which the Director of Utilities is authorized to approve work tasks under each contract up to a combined total cost not to exceed $702,000.00 for the FY99 Inflow and Infiltration Project, Utilities Director Woika and Utilities Operations Manager London responded. Mayor Schreiber said he would like to see items with an expenditure of $500,000 or more placed on the regular agenda in order to keep the public more advised. Commissioner Portner questioned Item 8(d), TEMPORARY RESOLUTION #8611, authorizing the appropriate City Officials to award Bid No. 98-26B to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, R.J. Sullivan, Inc., for an amount of $502,001.00 for the Greenleaf Filter Rehabilitation and Improvements at the Water Treatment Facility, and approve funding for this project from the appropriate Utilities Operational Account. Utilities Director Woika explained the filter. Commissioner Portner noted that this item constituted an expenditure of $502,000. Mayor Schreiber questioned Item 8(b), and the advisability of using Zambelli for fireworks again this year. TEMPORARY RESOLUTION #8541, authorizing the appropriate City Officials to exercise the option to renew the Agreement between the City of Tamarac and Zambelli Internationale Fireworks Manufacturing Company, Inc., for the 1999 fireworks at a cost of $25,000.00. Purchasing and Contracts Manager Flurry explained that this is the last year of the City's contract with Zambelli, and the City will go out to bid again. Commissioner Roberts asked if there was a problem with the City obtaining a refund last year, and Purchasing and Contracts Manager Flurry responded that there was not. Mayor Schreiber questioned Item 8(g), and asked why the City allows developers to build on utility easements. TEMPORARY RESOLUTION #8598, authorizing the appropriate Officials to accept and execute a Utility Easement Encroachment and Hold Harmless Agreement with Lennar Homes, Inc., for the sidewalks erected in a utility easement in the Exeter -West Portion Project located on the south side of NW 80th Street between NW 108th Terrace and NW 106th Avenue. Utilities Director Woika responded that the City does not encourage building on easements, but sometimes it cannot be helped due to site constraints. Commissioner Portner asked for an explanation of Item 8(e), TEMPORARY RESOLUTION #8491, authorizing the appropriate City Officials to release a Public Improvement Performance Bond in the form of an Irrevocable Standby Letter of Credit #S970860 from Suntrust Bank, NA., in the amount of $79,127.25, subject to the receipt of a one-year Warranty Bond in the amount of $32,755.00 for the water distribution and sewage collection system improvements installed by Lennar Homes, Inc., for the Exeter -West Portion Project located on the south side of NW 80th Street between NW 108th Terrace and NW 106th Avenue. Utilities Director Woika explained the difference between a Performance Bond and a Warranty Bond. 2 5/24/99 1 Commissioner Portner asked for an explanation of Item 8(h), TEMPORARY RESOLUTION #8587, authorizing the appropriate City Officials to accept and execute a First Amendment to the Water and Sewer Developer's Agreement with Mobil Oil Corporation, for the Mobil 02-NPG Project, located on the northeast corner of Nob Hill Road and Commercial Boulevard, eliminating a 1" irrigation meter and increasing the domestic service meter from a 1" meter to a 1-1/2" meter. Utilities Director Woika explained CIAC fees. Commissioner Portner questioned the staff recommendation on Item 8(k), TEMPORARY RESOLUTION #8561, authorizing the appropriate City Officials to accept and execute a Blanket Public Safety Ingress/Egress Easement with Butters Construction for the Culligan Water Company Project, located on the east side of Hiatus Road south of NW 67th Street, to provide proper access to the property for municipal services such as utility, canal, fire and police protection, emergency and other public safety services. Utilities Director Woika explained public safety easements. Commissioner Portner questioned the purpose of the pumps in Item 8(I), TEMPORARY RESOLUTION #8612, authorizing the appropriate City Officials to purchase four submersible pumps from ABS Pumps, Inc., a single source manufacturer, at a cost not to exceed $22,600.00, and approve funding from the appropriate utility operating account. Utilities Operations Manager London responded. Utilities Director Woika said there was a typographical error on the Temporary Resolution number with regard to Item 8(m), TEMPORARY RESOLUTION #8633, authorizing the appropriate City Officials to prepare, sign, and submit three applications to the South Florida Water Management District for Education Grant Funds in the aggregate amount of $39,000. The salmon sheet reflects the correct Temporary Resolution number, Temporary Resolution #8633, however, the Temporary Resolution number reflected on the backup is incorrect, and will be corrected on the original legislation. Commissioner Portner questioned repair vs. replacement costs with regard to Item 8(o), TEMPORARY RESOLUTION #8619 authorizing the purchase of replacement construction equipment; authorizing budget transfers; authorizing an expenditure in an amount not to exceed $210,678.00 utilizing a State of Florida cooperative purchasing agreement. Public Works Operations Manager Greenspan responded. 3 5/24/99 Commissioner Portner questioned Item 8(p), TEMPORARY RESOLUTION #8630, authorizing the appropriate City Officials to convey to Joseph Allan Caplan surplus real property acquired for the construction of Hiatus Road. Community Development Director Miller responded, and Alan Ruf, Esq., 2455 E. Sunrise Blvd., Penthouse E, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33304, gave a presentation. Commissioner Portner asked about Item 10, TEMPORARY RESOLUTION #8631, authorizing the appropriate City Officials to execute an Agreement for Purchase and Sale of Real Property between Joseph F. Friedes, General Partner of F&R Tamarac, Ltd., a Florida Limited Partnership, and the City of Tamarac for the purchase of approximately 1.79 acres of property identified as a portion of the "Florida Fruit Lands Company Subdivision No. 2" of Section 5, Township 49 South, Range 41 East, as recorded in Plat Book 1, Page 102 of the Public Records of Palm Beach County, Florida, said lands situated, lying and being in the City of Tamarac, Broward County, Florida, for an amount not to exceed the negotiated purchase price of Two Hundred Eighty -Thousand ($280,000.00) Dollars, plus an estimated Seven Thousand ($7,000.00) Dollars in closing costs including documentary stamps if necessary. Community Development Director Miller and W. Craig Eakin, Esq., 2900 E. Oakland Park Blvd, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33306, gave presentations. Commissioner Sultanof asked if an appraisal had been done prior to the purchase of the property in order to establish the price, and Mr. Eakin responded that an appraisal had been done and the property was bought at a price lower than the appraisal. Commissioner Roberts said she spoke to Community Development Director Miller about procuring space, and Commissioner Portner said he would like to see the property developed rather than sit vacant. 2. Satellite City Hall Update: Assistant to the City Manager Allen gave a presentation on staffs recommendation for the Satellite City Hall location. Commissioner Roberts asked the amount of work needed for both the Tamarac Square site and the Sunshine Plaza site, and Mr. Allen responded that Sunshine Plaza would take more in setup costs than Tamarac Square, and access to Tamarac Square would be easier for the residents. Mayor Schreiber said Tamarac Square is more convenient and parking is easier; accessibility is better off State Road 7 because of the turn lane. Commissioners Roberts and Portner discussed bus access to Sunshine Plaza, parking and access, and Commissioner Sultanof said when Eckerds moves out and Publix expands there will be a lot of traffic. Mr. Allen responded that Tamarac Square has parking directly in front of the building, and there can be parking spaces designated for employees and short term parking for the Satellite City Hall, while at Sunshine Plaza parking is located outside and there is not immediate access. Vice Mayor Mishkin expressed concern about the Commission's action on this matter, and said he appreciates Mr. Allen's cooperation. Vice Mayor Mishkin said several things need to be considered other than just moving an office, as this is a new venture; there is the concern about public relations attempts to 4 5/24/99 reach out to citizens in Tamarac east of Rock Island Road. It is a 13-mile trip from the east side of Tamarac to City Hall, with 28 traffic control signals in between, and the people at the southeast end of Tamarac have been neglected and cut off from using the facilities. When the need for a Satellite City Hall was determined, Sunshine Plaza was chosen because traffic along Commercial Boulevard travelling east and west is composed mainly of residents of Tamarac. Additionally, Sunshine Plaza has major tenants who draw Tamarac residents to the area, and new tenants coming in will generate more traffic. Sunshine Plaza is across the street from some of the largest residential communities in Tamarac, and many of the residents of the Mainlands walk to Sunshine Plaza. Sunshine Plaza probably will be on the bus route for the new community bus system that Tamarac is contemplating, and the developers of Sunshine Plaza have indicated that they are going to spend about $3 million in renovations, and anticipate the outparcels to be completed in 2003. The Supercuts space is well in line with what the City needs and has good exposure. This is a 1-year experiment, and exposure and accessibility are necessary for the project to succeed. BSO may establish headquarters at the Satellite City Hall some time in the future, and that is also important for exposure. Vice Mayor Mishkin urged the Commission to disregard the Tamarac Square site and look at the Sunshine Plaza Supercuts space. Commissioner Roberts said there are residents in Tamarac who do not know that for the past two years there has been a Satellite Post Office on State Road 441, only two shopping plazas away from Tamarac Square. If they are not aware of the Satellite Post Office, then they probably won't know there is a Satellite City Hall in Tamarac Square. Mayor Schreiber said bus service is needed from the east side of Tamarac. Commissioner Roberts said residents should be able to stop in at Satellite City Hall and run errands at one place, and she heard some tenants have had problems with the landlord at Tamarac Square. City Manager Noe said staffs recommendation is the Tamarac Square site because of the parking, and staff feels the site is superior to Sunshine Plaza. Additionally Sunshine Plaza is more crowded and staff is concerned with the aroma coming out of the take-out Chicken store. City Manager Noe suggested taking the Tamarac Square site now and signing a 1-year lease, and as improvements in Sunshine Plaza unfold the City can take a better look at that site. Commissioner Roberts suggested putting in a good ventilation system at the Sunshine Plaza site, and Mayor Schreiber said if the City stays one year in one location and then moves there will be additional remodeling costs. Mayor Schreiber said the purpose of the Satellite City Hall is to serve the people east of Rock Island Road, and if staff feels it is more feasible to go to Tamarac Square then the Commission should agree. Mayor Schreiber asked how soon the City needs to act on this, and Assistant City Manager Hemstreet responded the decision should be made as soon as possible. Commissioner Sultanof asked whether the City can do the refurbishing in-house, if there is furniture in-house that can be used, and whether BellSouth charges for 5 5/24/99 putting in the lines, and Assistant City Manager Hemstreet responded. Commissioner Roberts asked Walter Coghlin, President of Mainlands, which site the residents would prefer, and Mr. Coghlin responded Sunshine Plaza. There was an expression of interest from the Commissioners to go with Sunshine Plaza. There was discussion about the cost per square foot and Commissioner Roberts suggested using the Supercuts site because of the visibility. I Cleanup Tamarac: Vice Mayor Mishkin said that during the Strategic Planning II sessions, he suggested the Clean Up Tamarac idea, because in comparison to what the Commission saw in Clearwater two weeks ago, Tamarac does not look as good as it could. Vice Mayor Mishkin noted several medians in Tamarac that are sorely in need of repair and cleaning up, as well as store fronts in violation of the Tamarac Code. Vice Mayor Mishkin said we have an obligation to clean up Tamarac every day, not just on special occasions, and questioned why Tamarac does not have a sidewalk sweeper to clean the sidewalks, medians and curbs. Also, trash needs to be picked up from vacant lots, and City employees who drive through Tamarac every day do not report violations. Vice Mayor Mishkin suggested it might be worthwhile to institute a program for neighborhoods and condominium associations to improve and spruce up their properties. Vice Mayor Mishkin said the City spends money for yellow curbing and within a day or two it gets bumped by tires and the paint is scraped off. Vice Mayor Mishkin said about a year ago he advised the City Manager of a program that uses prisoners to clean up the City, and the City Manager passed the information on to Public Works Director Verma. At that time, Mr. Verma said there was great liability in using prisoners, as well as a need for supervision, plus there was a problem with providing equipment. Since then, this matter was discussed with BSO, and BSO agreed to furnish prisoners to clean up the City at no cost, and with no liability to the City or need for City supervision or supplies. The prisoners will clean areas of the City every day. About two months ago Vice Mayor Mishkin again submitted this information to the City Manager, and to date has heard of no action being taken. Vice Mayor Mishkin would like all of Tamarac to look like the Woodmont area. Vice Mayor Mishkin thanked Jay Moore and Nancy Wilson for their help in setting up the Clean Up Tamarac Every Day (C.U.T.E.) display using power point. City Manager Noe responded to Vice Mayor Mishkin's concerns and said the previous Commission was not interested in using prisoners to work in Tamarac, but after speaking to this Commission, he approved the use of prisoners in Tamarac. Public Works Director Verma gave a presentation. Commissioner Roberts said at the Clearwater conference, one of the exhibitors had signs that said "prisoners at work", so the residents would know that their tax dollars were going to work for them. 1 6 5/24/99 Vice Mayor Mishkin said there is also a Community Service program in which people have to give hours back to the community, and these people are available for painting, cleaning, moving furniture, and clerical work. Vice Mayor Mishkin said he believes Tamarac needs to take advantage of these programs. Public Works Director Verma said there is a need to take a look at the cross section of people in Tamarac, and exposure to certain neighborhoods. These programs are disturbing to some people, and it would be better to use them in less vulnerable areas, such as Southgate Boulevard. Mayor Schreiber said using these programs might not help Tamarac, as it could turn into a public relations problem, and the public may be concerned. Mayor Schreiber -felt the most important thing at this time is to get a street sweeper and clean the _streets every day. Commissioner Sultanof suggested getting a schedule from Broward County that shows when they clean the County roads. Public ,Works Director Verma said if it is the direction of the Commission, he will explore using these programs, but he has seen people in these programs take advantage of the system. Commissioner Portner said the City needs to be cleaned up, and questioned why we don't have in-house employees to do this work. Public Works Director Verma responded we do, but most of the problems are on the State and County roads, as they do the minimum required. Public Works Director Verma said that Tamarac is providing a decent level of service. Commissioner Roberts asked if there are any Code requirements for lawn services blowing grass cuttings into the road, and Community Development Director Miller responded there is none for lawn clippings. Mayor Schreiber expressed concern about people dumping garbage on vacant property and the property owner being cited, but nothing being done about the offenders, and Community Development Director Miller responded offenders are cited by BSO if they are caught in the act. Vice Mayor Mishkin discussed putting up a Welcome to Tamarac sign on the road at the Sawgrass exit, and City Manager Noe said he would check with Public Works Director Verma and Community Development Director Miller about a sign. Commissioner Sultanof asked for an expression of interest for the City to send Commissioner Roberts to Washington with Tamarac Elementary School Principal Kathy Goldstein, to accept the Blue Ribbon National Award. There was an expression of interest to send Commissioner Roberts and pay for the trip out of the general fund, not out of Commissioner Roberts' expense account. Commissioner Portner asked about the fountain, and City Manager Noe said it has been upgraded and will have lights. Commissioner Portner asked about each of the Commissioners having chairs similar to the Vice Mayor's or Commissioner Sultanof s. City Manager Noe said a street sweeper had been put into the budget for this year, but did not get Commission approval. Representative Stacy Ritter will 7 5/24/99 present a legislative report to the Commission at Wednesday's meeting. City Manager Noe said there was street paving money left over in this year's budget, and he wanted to use it to pave additional streets. Public Works Director Verma gave a presentation and said the money would be used to pave the portion of 70th Avenue without the median and Woodlands Boulevard. There being no further business, Mayor Schreiber adjourned the workshop meeting at 11:25 a.m. Marion wenson Assistant City Clerk 8 5/24/99 I-