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Home My WebLink About1992-12-30 - City Commission Workshop Meeting MinutesCity Council Workshop Meeting 12/30/92/KJ Page 1 CITY OF TAMARAC CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING WEDNESDAY, DECEIVER 30, 1992 CA-TAL TO ORDER: Mayor Bender called this meeting to order on Wednesday, December 30, 1992, at 9:30 a.m. in Conference Room #1 of Tamarac City Hall, 7525 Northwest 88 Avenue, Tamarac, Florida. PREMT-; Mayor H. Larry Bender Vice Mayor Henry Schumann Councilman Joseph Schreiber Councilman Norman Abramowitz Councilman Irving Katz ALSO PR$$,ENT; Mitchell S. Kraft, City Attorney Mary Blasi, Finance Director Karen Jackson, Secretary **************************************************************** 1. DIHQp,$aION regarding Section 4.04 of the City Charter, Compensation of City Council, exploring the possibility of revisions. ` Mayor Bender said this meeting is to discuss the possibility of proposed changes to Section 4.04 of the City Charter regarding compensation only. C/M Katz said there were advertisements in the newspapers for various cities prior to the November election regarding their Referendum items for the ballots and their candidates for elections. He said he was interested in the Cooper City Referendum item where they have a similar situation where their expense and salaries for Mayor and Council are dictated by the Charter. He said their item went to Referendum and passed by an 80% to 20% margin. He requested clarification by the City Attorney of what was forwarded to him. Mr. Kraft said he sent him a copy of the Cooper City Ordinance with the ballot changes. He said Cooper City raised the salaries of Council members from $85 to $300 per month and they made it to be able to change the salaries in the future by Ordinance and in the past they were able to do it by way of Resolution. He said they increased the base salary and maintained the method by which Council may adjust salaries in the future by Ordinance and added a provision where it will not come into effect until the day of commencement of the following election. C/M Katz asked how often their elections are and C/M Abramowitz said they have staggered terms. C/M Schreiber requested an explanation as to what it means to change this from the Charter by an Ordinance. He said if this is approved in a Referendum, and is changed by Ordinance, then Council would be permitted to raise their salary subject to a public hearing. Mr. Kraft said in Cooper City, prior to the change, they were able to do it by Resolution as well. He said currently in Tamarac, the salary is set by the Charter and there is no provision in the Charter for it to be changed. He said if Tamarac adopts a procedure similar to Cooper City, there would be an two readings of an Ordinance and then Council would be able to adjust salaries accordingly. City Council Workshop Meeting 12/30/92/KJ Page 2 Mayor Bender said he had requested that the City Attorney look into the method in which the County and State handles their salary increases. Mr. Kraft read the Broward County Charter Section 2.01 (c). C/M Abramowitz asked what Council is looking to do in this meeting. He asked if they want to put this up for Referendum. He said the salaries and compensation for the Mayor and Council are it much too low but he does not believe this will pass on referendum. He asked how much they would like it to be _ncreased. Mr. Kraft said Ms. Blasi has a formula. Ms. Blasi referred to Chapter 145 of the State Statutes regarding the calculation based on the population of the Counties. Discussion was held regarding the calculations of annual compensation. C/M Katz said this was not the intent a couple years ago when this went to referendum. He said if the referendum was approved, the Ordinance that would have developed would have indicated a compensation of $4,800 for Council members and $6,000 for Mayor. Mayor Bender asked when the salary in the Charter was established and C/M Katz said the last revision was made in 1980. C/M Schreiber said this item was voted on to put it on for referendum in September, 1992, but due to public pressure, Council pulled it off. He said he is opposed to this gong on for referendum. He said if this were to go on for referendun in March, there are only two districts that have elections in March, and a referendum would require the entire City to vote, incurring an expense to open all of the polling locations throughout the City. He said he is opposed to any increase in salary for Council or Mayor. C/M Abramowitz said he considers his position as Counci- menber as a job. He said he would object to placing this on for referendum as is without it being itemized. Mayor Bender said he is not looking for a raise. He said his interest in this is to entice younger people to run for office in Tamarac in the future. C/M Abramowitz suggested that this be placed on referendum _n a manner that would not take effect until two elections go by which would not allow anyone on the current Council to benefit from it. He said he does not feel that compensation for Mayor and Council belongs in the Charter. Discussion was held regarding the wording for a referendum. C/M Abramowitz asked what the timeframe for placing this on referendum would be for the March election and Mr. Kraft saLd it must be to Jane Carroll's office by January 25, 1993 followLng two readings, with a 10-day period between readings.- C/M Abramowitz said that would be too quick to handle appropriately. Mayor Bender suggested that this be brought back to Council for further discussion. C/M Abramowitz said he sent a memo to Council and the City Manager regarding the Household Hazardous Waste Program and the Trash Transfer Stations. He said Council will need a Special meeting to act on this item. He said most of the cities in Broward County voted not to finance the trash transfer stat-ons. He said the City of Fort Lauderdale voted along with the majority City Council Workshop Meeting 12/30/92/KJ Page 3 �I of cities against the financing of the trash transfer stations. He said this entails a lot of money and requested a workshop be held for detailed discussion on this matter. C/M Schreiber requested an Expression of Interest regarding moving Election Day for the City of Tamarac from March to November. Mr. Kraft said Council has no jurisdiction over the time in which the elections are held. He said this falls under legislation jurisdiction and would require a Special Act by legislation for Broward County for 28 cities. C/M Schreiber suggested that Council request a special act by legislation to change it for Broward County. He requested a workshop for this discussion. C/M Schreiber said there was previous discussion held regarding a proposal to construct a new post office in Tamarac. He suggested that Council contact the Federal Representatives regarding this request. Discussion was held regarding this. C/M Schreiber asked that consideration be given for beautification of the medians on NW 94 Avenue from Commercial Boulevard to McNab Road. Mayor Bender suggested that C/M Schreiber make a delegation request for this. C/M Schreiber referred to a letter received from Melanie Reynolds regarding the trafficways and impact fees. He requested this be investigated regarding the six year limit and how the funds can be used. Mayor Bender said Ms. Blasi has the responsibility to make sure that the money is spent under the appropriate requirements. Ms. Blasi said the traffic impact fees can only be used for construction of new roads, expansions and new development. She said these funds cannot be used on repairs or drainage in old areas. Mayor Bender said any Council member can go to the Finance Department and receive a detailed listing of what the requirements are under any account number or fund. With no further business, Mayor Bender ADJOURNED this meeting at 10:15 a.m. CAROL A. EVANS CITY CLERK