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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-10-25 - City Commission Workshop Meeting MinutesCITY OF TAMARAC CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1999 CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Schreiber called the workshop meeting to order on Monday, October 11, 1999, at 9:40 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 Edward C. Portner, Commissioner Karen L. Roberts and Commissioner Marc L. Sultanof. ALSO PRESENT: Jeffrey L. Miller, City Manager, Mitchell S. Kraft, City Attorney, Assistant City Manager/Interim Finance Director Hemstreet and Marion Swenson, Assistant City Clerk. 1. 10/27/99 Agenda Items a) Item #7, TRANSFER OF FRANCHISE FROM MEDIAONE TO AT&T: (TO1869) Consideration of transfer of franchise from MediaOne to AT&T. Assistant City Manager/Interim Finance Director Hemstreet gave a presentation and said MediaOne is acting pursuant to the 1983 franchise Agreement. Commissioner Portner asked how it affects the City if MediaOne works under the 1983 Ordinance and when AT&T takes over it does not want to comply with the 1999 Ordinance. City Attorney Kraft responded that the City then does not have the protection of the most recent Ordinance and statutes, and the City is trying to get certain assurances that the franchisee will comply with the most recent Ordinances. Assistant City Manager/Interim Finance Director Hemstreet said changes in the law require a level playing field, and the 1999 ordinance is the basis of this. For the benefit of the Student Government Participants, City Manager Miller explained the difference between the consent agenda and the regular agenda. b. Item #6(e), TAMARAC LAKES SECTION 1, WASTEWATER LINE EXTENSION PROJECT: (TR8789) Tamarac Lakes Section 1, Wastewater Line Extension Project. Utilities Director Woika gave a presentation. Mayor Schreiber asked if the affected residents are in favor of the change and are aware that they will have to pay for wastewater service, and Utilities Director Woika responded that he met with the homeowners and they agreed to the change. Commissioner Portner said there was some concern about the $1,800.00 in CIAC fees, and in his meeting with the residents they indicated they would be willing to pay $900.00. There was discussion and Vice Mayor Mishkin said the pollution could affect other areas of the water supply. Commissioner Sultanof agreed with Vice Mayor Mishkin and explained that the proposed resolution provides that if an individual stays in their house for five years, they will pay nothing to change from septic tanks to sewers. Utilities Director Woika said a wastewater fee would be added to the water bill, and he felt the City should not negotiate CIAC fees for this project, because that would set a precedent. Commissioner Roberts said this was discussed before and it was the intent of the City not to charge the residents. Mayor Schreiber questioned the affect on future development, and City Attorney Kraft replied that this is a unique situation, and there is no capital impact on other projects. Commissioner Portner asked about the wildlife refuge, and Public Works Director Verma responded. Vice Mayor Mishkin asked about filling the tanks, and Utilities Director Woika responded. Commissioner Roberts questioned item 6(I), Temporary Resolution #8759, authorizing the appropriate City Officials to accept and execute a Blanket Public Safety Ingress/Egress Easement with Wynne Building Corporation for the Hampton Inn Hotel Project, located on the northeast corner of Commercial Boulevard and NW 47 Terrace to provide proper access to the property for municipal services such as utility, canal, fire and police protection, emergency and other public safety services. City Manager Miller responded and said the site plan is going through the process. 2. 25-MPH siqns for The Boulevards: Commissioner Portner said the residents of The Boulevards asked to have the speed limit on Prospect Road reduced from 35-MPH to 25-MPH. Public Works Director Verma gave a presentation and said with the exception of State Roads, the speed limits in Tamarac are set by Broward County, and the City needs to make a formal request to the County to change the speed limit. There was discussion about a letter Commissioner Portner received from the County, and City Attorney Kraft clarified the intent of the letter. Public Works Director Verma said there were three issues raised about signs in the letter; additional stop signs, installation of additional 25-MPH signs and reduction of speed limit on Prospect Road. Vice Mayor Mishkin suggested forwarding the letter to Public Works Director Verma for clarification and action, and Mayor Schreiber asked for an expression of interest. All were in favor. 3. Ordinances for Proposed Charter Amendments: Mayor Schreiber said the Charter Board recommended eight Charter changes that have to be approved by the Commission prior to end of December, in order to be placed on the March, 2000 ballot. Mayor Schreiber suggested the Ordinances be placed on the November 10th agenda and Commissioner Roberts agreed. Vice Mayor Mishkin said redistricting would also be on the March 2000 ballot, and asked how many other referendum questions are expected to appear on the ballot. City Manager Miller said there might also be one for Fire. Commissioner Sultanof said he wants the populace to be educated about the referendum questions that will appear on the ballot, and Mayor Schreiber said information would be provided to the public. Assistant City Manager/Interim Finance Director Hemstreet said the Supervisor of Elections recommends local initiatives get placed on the March election. 4. Quarterly Report: Management and Budget Officer Ralston gave a presentation. Commissioner Roberts questioned the construction of the Fire Station, and Fire Chief Budzinski responded. There was discussion about language for completion dates being put into future contracts, and Vice Mayor Mishkin suggested all future contracts include this provision. Fire Chief Budzinski said he is disappointed with the contractor's performance and recommended we not use them again. Mayor Schreiber asked to have this put in writing. Commissioner Roberts asked what it is costing to house the fire fighters in the hotel until the station is completed, and Fire Chief Budzinski responded. Mayor Schreiber asked the length of the delay to date, and Fire Chief Budzinski said about three months. Mayor Schreiber asked if the City was entitled to damages when the job is completed and City Attorney Kraft said he would look into it. Vice Mayor Mishkin commended City Manager Miller, Management and Budget Officer Ralston, and the Finance Department staff for the timely distribution of the quarterly report, and Mayor Schreiber said everyone was doing a good job. Commissioner Portner asked about the status of the "wish list" and City Manager Miller said the document is complete but has not been transmitted yet because it is being put together with an executive summary and work program. City Manager Miller said he anticipates the documents will be distributed sometime during early December, and after the Commission has had a chance to review the documents, they will get together in a workshop format and discuss priorities and how the Commission wishes to proceed. Mayor Schreiber spoke about the new pension law. Under the new law, there will be three separate pension boards, and the Commission has authority to appoint citizen representatives to the boards. Personnel Director Swanson gave a presentation and there was discussion about advertising for applicants to the boards and setting a cutoff date. Mayor Schreiber added that those who apply should have experience in accounting and finance, and Vice Mayor Mishkin asked that City Manager Miller, City Attorney Kraft, and City Clerk Gold get together and lay out the ground rules for the Commission to review at the next workshop. Commissioner Roberts asked about the police pension and Mayor Schreiber said in a short time there would be no active participants in this plan since the City's police department was turned over to Broward Sheriffs Office. Personnel Director Swanson said Robert Sugarman, Pension Board Attorney would attend the Commission meeting to answer questions when this item is presented. Vice Mayor Mishkin asked about the deadline, and Personnel Director Swanson responded that Pension Board Counsel indicated as long as the City shows it is in due diligence and our Ordinance is passed by December 31st, there would be no penalty. Commissioner Sultanof asked if the Commission needed to appoint anyone to the board by December 31 st, and Personnel Director Swanson responded that the entire process should be completed by that date. There was discussion about using applications that had been submitted for other Boards and Committees, and Personnel Director Swanson said that the Pension Board would identify certain issues they feel are pertinent in order for an applicant to be considered for the Board. Mayor Schreiber asked that the application stress appointees must be available to attend the meetings, and Vice Mayor Mishkin said the requirements for this board are broader and more sophisticated than for other boards, and a new application specifically geared to these appointments may be needed. Commissioner Portner said when the city advertises perhaps the qualifications can be placed in the ad. Mayor Schreiber opened the meeting to questions from the Student Government participants. Kim Jaeger, Student Government Mayor, hosted by Mayor Schreiber, and Katie Fortune, Student Government Commissioner, hosted by Commissioner Portner, asked about public speakers at workshop meetings, and the MediaOne transfer. Mayor Schreiber and Assistant City Manager/Interim Finance Director Hemstreet responded. Vice Mayor Mishkin said he is proud to see all the young people here, and said they are the future of government. Vice Mayor Mishkin urged the students to become involved in government, and Mayor Schreiber said he shared Vice Mayor Mishkin's sentiments. There being no further business, Mayor Schreiber adjourned the workshop meeting at 11:10 A.M. Marion Swenson Assistant City Clerk