HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-10-11 - City Commission Workshop Meeting MinutesCITY OF TAMARAC
CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING
OCTOBER 11, 1999
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Schreiber called the workshop to order on Monday, October
11, 1999, at 9:35 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: Jeffrey L. Miller, City Manager, Mitchell S. Kraft, City Attorney,
Tim Hemstreet, Assistant City Manager/Interim Finance Director and Carol Gold,
City Clerk,
Mayor Schreiber referenced a resolution passed and adopted on December 10,
1997, wherein the City Commission expressed its desire to follow certain rules of
conduct during Commission meetings. He read from Section 7.1(f) of Resolution
R-97-303,
1. 10/13/99 Agenda Items
a) Item #91 INSTALLATION OF LANDSCAPING AND IRRIGATION:
(TR8757) installation of landscaping and irrigation on the medians of University
Drive between Southgate Boulevard and Commercial Boulevard, Commercial
Boulevard between NW 64th Avenue and Rock Island Road, and Pine Island
Road between Southgate Boulevard and McNab Road. Public works Director
Verma gave a presentation and addressed questions relative to completing
certain areas.
b) Item #11, ROAD RESURFACING CONTRACT: (TR8755) Award
of Phase II -A resurfacing contract. Public Works Director Verma gave a
presentation. There was discussion about ways to alleviate flooding problems in
the City. Also, Mr. Verma addressed questions about the time frames for
completing certain roads.
c) Item #7m, PERSONAL COMPUTERS AND SERVERS: (TR8770)
approving the purchase of new personal computers (PCs) and servers. MIS
Director Sucuoglu gave a presentation explaining obsolescence and the reason
for not upgrading current computers. Commissioner Roberts asked for a new
printer in the Commission office.
d) Item #71, MEDICAL SUPPLIES: (TR8765) authorizing the Fire
Department to purchase medical supplies from Broward County Fire Rescue
Division Logistics Warehouse during FY00. Fire Chief Budzinski gave a
presentation and explained the cost and warehousing savings to the City.
Commissioner Portner questioned the administrative fees.
e) Item #7q, SERVICE FEES: (TR8771) approving the service fees
for medical transport, fire inspections, hazardous materials, special hazards,
public education, fire alarms, parking in fire lanes, and special details,
commencing with October 18, 1999. Fire Chief Budzinski gave a presentation.
Mayor Schreiber questioned the effect of these fee changes on residential
properties. Commissioner Roberts questioned educational fees. Commissioner
Partner asked for an explanation of minimum and maximum fees.
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City Manager Miller gave a presentation on Item 12, PURCHASE OF
PROPERTY: (TR8792), Motion to adopt resolution authorizing the appropriate
City Officials to purchase approximately 17.55 acres of property identified as a
portion of the "Florida Fruit Lands Company Subdivision No. 2"; approving the
sale of "Parcel B" to City Furniture for $190,000; approving a loan from the
Drainage Retention Fund and Risk Management Fund to the General Capital
Construction Fund. There was discussion about using "Parcel A" for a park, and
Commissioner Roberts asked to have a handicapped playground installed in the
park. Craig Eakin, Special Counsel, said it was a good experience working with
City Furniture, and City Furniture agreed to reimburse the City for the appraisal
fees and Mr. Eakin's fees. Mr. Eakin said the property the City will be keeping
abuts McNab and the Sawgrass, and is the better part of the parcel. The other
part of the parcel satisfies City Furniture's requirements for wetland mitigation.
Vice Mayor Mishkin asked if this 8-acre parcel would satisfy some of the park
requirements of the Comprehensive Plan. Commissioner Sultanof said he is in
favor of the purchase.
Mayor Schreiber questioned Items 7(r) and 7(s). Item 7(r), LAW
ENFORCEMENT BLOCK GRANT: (TR8784), authorizing the appropriate City
Officials to seek grant funding from the Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice
Assistance under the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant (LLEBG) program in
the amount of $30,548.00, to enhance crime prevention and law enforcement
programs; authorizing a City match in the amount of $3,394.00 to be allocated
from the grant matching fund for a total project cost of $33,942.00. Item 7(s),
UNIVERSAL HIRING GRANT: (TR8787), accepting the United States
Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS)
Grant in the amount of $375,000.00 in order to provide funding for salaries and
benefits of five new police officers over a three year time period, and authorizing
a match in the amount of $125,000.00 from the grants matching fund and a
match of $520,000.00 from the annual general fund appropriation for police
services for an estimated total project cost of $1,020,000; and authorizing the
appropriate City Officials to sign the grant award documents. BSO Chief
Goldstein and Special Projects Coordinator Phillips gave presentations. Mayor
Schreiber asked if the City supported the truancy program. Commissioner
Roberts asked how many truants are picked up each month, and Chief Goldstein
said about 30-40 a month. There was discussion about the amount of money the
City would put out for the five additional officers, and Special Projects
Coordinator Phillips explained. Commissioner Roberts asked if another zone
was anticipated in the east side of Tamarac. Chief Goldstein said another zone is
needed for the Commercial Boulevard, Turnpike area.
Mayor Schreiber recessed the meeting at 10:45 A.M. At 10:55 A.M., Mayor
Schreiber reconvened the meeting, with everyone present.
2. Mitch Ceaser, City's Lobbyist (TR8781). Mitch Ceaser gave a
presentation on last year's accomplishments and anticipated accomplishments
for the coming year. Mr. Ceaser spoke about Commissioner Roberts' suggestion
for a handicapped playground, and said he would look into getting money for this
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project. Parks and Recreation Director Margoles said there might be money in
the Year 2000 Preservation Fund and FRDAP. The land can be purchased one
year before the money is requested. Vice Mayor Mishkin suggested two
additional sources to research for grant money.
3. Oath of Office for Boards and Committees: City Attorney Kraft gave a
presentation, and said the Attorney General rendered an opinion that the City
may require members of Boards and Committees to take an oath. Mayor
Schreiber said it was not necessary for a Board or Committee member to take an
oath. Vice Mayor Mishkin said some decisions made by Boards and Committees
have an impact on the City, and taking an oath adds decorum and dignity to
these appointments. Commissioner Sultanof said the volunteers are given a
luncheon and taking an oath adds to the individual's feeling of accomplishment.
Mayor Schreiber asked for an expression of interest and Commissioner Roberts
said she would like to talk to Board and Committee members. Commissioner
Sultanof said a volunteer should be someone who will give their best and is
responsible to attend all the meetings. An oath adds to the dignity of the
process. Commissioner Portner did not have an opinion at this time. Mayor
Schreiber suggested reserving this issue for another meeting.
4. Naming Commissioner Portner as Annexation Committee Liaison. Mayor
Schreiber asked for an expression of interest. All were in favor of naming
Commissioner Portner as Annexation Committee Liaison.
5. Proposal to Change the name of the Senior and Community Center:
Commissioner Partner said a number of people who are not seniors objected to
the name Senior and Community Center. Commissioner Portner asked for an
expression of interest to change the name to the Tamarac Community Center.
Commissioner Roberts said the Parks and Recreation Board made the same
recommendation, and Parks and Recreation Director Margoles said the Friends
of the Senior and Community Center also made the recommendation to change
the name. Mayor Schreiber said the seniors started the drive for a Community
Center and their votes carried the center through, therefore, that was the reason
for calling it the Senior and Community Center. Commissioner Sultanof
suggested calling it the Tamarac Community and Senior Center since this is a
predominately senior community and the buses are going to stop there.
Commissioner Roberts said the seniors are part of the community and singling
them out in the name of the center makes it seem like they are separate from the
community. Commissioner Partner said a lot of people are affronted by the fact
that seniors are singled out made a special class of people. Tamarac is not a
senior community, and Commissioner Portner wants to see the name changed.
Mayor Schreiber called for an expression of interest, and Commissioner Sultanof
said he would like to see the name stay as it is. Commissioner Roberts and
Commissioner Portner said they would like to see the name changed. Vice
Mayor Mishkin and Mayor Schreiber said to leave it as it is.
6. Proposal to revise the schedule of workshops and regular meetings.
Commissioner Portner asked to have this item removed from the agenda.
7. Census 2000: Commissioner Portner said the Census 2000 starts in April,
and there is a drive on to make everyone aware of the census. Commissioner
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Partner said he serves on the Census Board for the Broward League and every
person not counted costs the City $1,500.00. He is concerned that nothing is
being done for the Census in Tamarac. Mayor Schreiber said he received a
communication regarding the census and forwarded it to the Community
Development Department. Commissioner Sultanof said the Census people
requested space in City Hall for training. Commissioner Sultanof said he
attended a seminar on the Census. Commissioner Portner said Hollywood spent
$30,000.00 to promote the census in their City. Commissioner Sultanof and
Commissioner Roberts spoke about Tamarac demographics and people who do
not speak English, for the purpose of the census. Commissioner Roberts said
there are 16 different languages in Tamarac Elementary School. Interim
Community Development Director King gave a presentation. Commissioner
Sultanof said Florida is very transient and discussed the possibility of snowbirds
that claim the $25,000.00 homestead exemption, and then claim residency in
other states. Interim Community Development Director King said he would check
into this.
8. City Government Week and other upcoming events (Veterans Day Parade
and Services): Public Information Officer Moore discussed the upcoming
Veterans Day Parade, and said Rick Shaw would be the Grand Marshall, and
MediaOne will video tape the parade. Vice Mayor Mishkin said last year there
was inadequate parking for the parade, and Parks and Recreation Director
Margoles responded. Public Information Officer Moore said City Government
Week is scheduled for October 25, 1999, and this year we are adding a City Tour
on October 19, 1999, to begin at 10:30 AM in the Chambers.
9. North Carolina Flooding Relief: Public Information Officer Moore said the
Florida League of Cities is inviting Cities to collect non-perishable items for the
people of North Carolina.
Vice Mayor Mishkin said he would like to reactivate the bicycle collection for the
homeless.
Commissioner Portner asked about the status of the Satellite City Hall. Assistant
City Manager/Interim Finance Director Hemstreet responded that it is moving
along and should be open sometime in mid -November.
There being no further business, Mayor Schreiber adjourned the workshop
meeting at 11:55 AM.
Carol Gold, C/AAE
City Clerk
C]
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