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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1985-08-13 - City Commission Workshop Meeting Minutes�l MAIL REPLY TO: P.O. BOX 25010 TAMARAC, FLORIDA 33320 5811 NORTHWEST 88TH AVENUE 0 TAMARAC, FLORIDA 33321 TELEPHONE (305) 722-5900 NOTICE OF WORKSHOP MEETING CITY COUNCIL TAMARAC, FLORIDA July 26, 1985 There has been a Workshop Meeting of the City Council scheduled for Tuesday, August 13, 1985, at 1:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 5811 NW 88 Avenue, Tamarac. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the Broward County Transit. The public is encouraged to attend. 9 Carol E. Barbuto Assistant City Clerk Pursuant to Section 286.0105, Florida Statutes If a person decides to appeal any decision made by the city Council with respect to any matter considered at such meeting or hearing, he will need a record of the proceedings and for such purpose, he may need to ensure that a verbatim record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER POLICY OF NONDISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF HANDICAPPED STATUS CITY OF TAMARAC, FLORIDA CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING August 13, 1985 Tape 1 CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Kravitz called the meeting to order on Tuesday, August 13, 1985 at 1:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers of City Hall. ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Mayor Philip B. Kravitz Councilman Raymond J. Munitz ABSENT_AND EXCUSED: Vice Mayor Helen Massaro Councilman Arthur H. Gottesman Councilman Sydney M. Stein ALSO PRESENT: Patricia Marcurio, Secretary Vivian Gallagher, Secretary Mayor Kravitz read the call to the meeting into the record noting that the purpose of this meeting is discussion of the Broward County Transit. He also stated that since this is a workshop meeting, a quorum is not necessary. He explained that at a previous meeting held on July 24th, he could not give the public more than one hour because of the lengthy agenda and, therefore, this workshop meeting has been scheduled. Amy Lew, of Bermuda Club and a member of A.A.R.P. Tamarac Chapter 1430, requested Mr. Glen Margolis, who has been working with one year, apprise the Nick public Camerano and her for almost of the situation. She explained that together they distributed surveys and he will do everything he can to give the people of Tamarac what they need. Glen Margolis, Operations Planner for Mass Transit Division, said they are trying to put the buses where people are using them. He referred to a map and said the existing service being provided to the Tamarac area consists of routes #82, #30, #2, and #14. He said the proposal for service changes is in route #30. He said the establishment of a new route, which is #25, would head across Cypress Creek Road, 441, Kimberly, and actually get into the Tamarac area when it gets back onto McNab Road. He said it would cross University Drive to 100th Avenue, over to 81st Street, and to Southgate and the Coral Square Mall. He said the reason for the proposed change is that less than one passenger is boarding per trip and people are not using the service. Nick Camerano, President of the American Association of Retired Persons, Chapter 1430, and member of the Mayor's committee on transportation, said about 75 percent of the service is going to be eliminated. He pointed out areas on the map where people will be without service. 8/13/85 % /vg .J 1 Matthew Richard, Section 12, read a commentary in response to the County Board's contemplated bus service revisions affecting this City. He said it is important to note that public transportation is a non-profit service promoted by a governmental entity, financed through federal funds supplemented by some possible state funds when available through taxation, and with a minimum per capita fare primarily for the benefit of safety and convenience of the public participating in its use. He said it is a function dissimilar to a private enterprise which operates primarily for profit. He said because of its contemplated revisions of routes and buses intended for reduction and elimination of services, a meeting was held on July 24, 1985 at which members of the Planning Board of Broward County Transportation were to explain the contemplated revisions of bus routes and services affecting the bus riders in the City. He added that the explanations created disappointment and some of the recommendations would create burdens for the elderly. He said the surveyors concentrated entirely on body count at differ- ent locations. He questioned how such a survey could be considered complete and accurate when riders with paid in advance monthly passes and habitual riders sometimes are compelled to become non -participants. He said it was further explained that in some areas distances between bus stops was greater and could reduce incentives to visit places of interest and necessity. He said in using monthly passes almost daily, he has found many times more than the number of passengers mentioned by the representative and added that it is possible that the surveys were ill-timed. He said mutilating or eliminating route #30 would become a severe harship since it would eliminate a direct line to Holy Cross hospital, the Galleria, Lauderdale by the Sea, and Coral Ridge. He said to change #30 or #82 going west would be inconsiderate. He said that it seems that since the meeting was held in the chambers on the calendar date, Council has committed itself to some responsibility to cooperate in its analysis of the issues involved. He added that the rights of the elderly in this City concerning these issues must not be abandoned and the Board should beneficially appraise and seriously accept those efforts. Sol Robinson, Bermuda Club, said that the Public Service Bus Commission is determining dollar signs without any consideration about humanness. He said that this is an order by someone to cut down the operating expenses. He said that there is not a City in the United States that makes a profit over public transportation. He said the City of Miami in Dade County, in building the Metro Rail, did so knowing they would lose money and would have to subsidize it every year but perhaps in ten years they might be able to see a little improvement. He said that in the area that was previously served, no study was made of the demographics of the people who live there. He stated that the average age in that area is in the low seventies and as people get older they cannot drive their automobiles and will have to rely more and more on public transportation. He said 95 percent of the revenue that the County gets comes from the people that live there and 95 percent of the monies that the County gets from Tamarac comes from people over the age of fifty. He said this operation should be funded with the idea of service and not of the dollars. Molly Stern, Section 12, said the bus service may not be used daily but the people depend on it for daily needs such as buying food, clothing, and traveling to neces- sary places. She said the service would be completely eliminated in her area which is west from University Drive to 94th. She added that there is no service on Sundays or late hours. 8/13/85 /vg 2 Lillian Preston, Bermuda Club, suggested that route #30 not stop at University Drive but continue on to McNab Road because there is no access to City Hall at all. She said that having to walk three or four blocks to a connection is a handicap. Glen Margolis said the changes that are being recom- mended are not made to make money and said none of the routes make money but when there are routes that have trips with no passengers from complete sections, consistently, it becomes too expensive for limited resources. He added that buses can not be provided everywhere and service must be put where people are using it. He said the system average is two passengers per mile. He also said the surveys were done over a three year period. He added that some of the recom- mendations made today will be considered. He said this is an attempt to make more efficient routing and would like to get more information on improvements in order to increase service to make it more useful to the people. Bea Singer, Section 12, said unless #30 is available to go to Sunshine Plaza, she cannot live in this City. Louis Schiff, President of Tamarac Chamber of Commerce, said that as a representative of almost three hundred businesses in Tamarac and adjoining Cities, he supports the residents. He also said the proposal is poor for businesses and residents will no longer be able to come to shops and this may also have an effect on property values. He said the buses eliminated along Lagos de Campo is a major section of the City. He suggested that perhaps the problem lies in not enough promotion from the Mass Transit Office. He added that there are not enough buses available to choose from and that more consistent service and weekend service is needed. He said if businesses are affected, there will be less revenue to the City and to the County. Bernie Hart, President of Tamarac Presidents Council, said this is an obligation of the County to supply the citizens with transportation when, if, and where needed. Tape 2 He suggested that mini buses in the areas where bus service is not used extensively would cut operating costs considerably. He said this service is being paid for in taxes and the County must continue this obli- gation. Amy Lew suggested Bernie Hart go to the County Commis- sion meeting on Thursday and speak. She said Mr. Margolis said it would cost more in the long run for mini buses than a regular bus. Eve Shukner, Lime Bay, said things should be measured in terms of humanity not dollars. She requested Council members fight for the people of Tamarac at Thursday's meeting. Lillian Merle, Section 17, said lack of transportation is not an excuse to miss jury duty when summoned and asked how people are to get downtown when necessary. Jack Friedman, Section 17, said there was an article in the newspaper which stated that the County Commissioners and the bus commission had gotten together and felt that the City of Tamarac was not getting sufficient transportation. Julius Gersten, President of Phase 8, Bermuda Club, said all the people of Tamarac must go to the County Commis- sion meeting on Thursday. 8/13/85 /vg t 3 �¢'`a Glen Margolis said the service in this area has been reviewed for four years and every attempt has been made to increase passengers. He said over six thousand surveys were distributed in the area six or seven months ago and less than five hundred came back, which indica- ted that there was not a lot of concern for bus service in the area. He said there was a series of five public hearings that were held across the County to talk about the rough draft proposals for route changes and no one from Tamarac had anything to say. He said it is now up to the County Commission. He added that there are a lot of good changes such as more direct service for the people that can use this service. He repeated that the Commission will meet at 10:00 A.M. on Thursday to hear staff recommendations and all comments from the public and they will decide the final determination. Mr. Robinson asked why this new plan has to be put into effect immediately. He suggested the matter be tabled for thirty days in order to have time to get together with others to come up with a concrete plan. C/M Munitz summerized by stating that: 1. The new route increased the walking distances of a potential rider to get to the bus stops. 2. Certain areas are being completely eliminated from service and must not be allowed to happen. 3. Too much attention has been given to the profit element. 4. The possibility of a ridership is being taken away strictly because it is claimed that there are no riders now. 5. The car drivers today are the bus passengers tomorrow because as time goes on, the ability to operate a car safely decreases and this must be considered. 6. The future of an aging population must be considered since there will be more and more potential bus riders. 7. These actions will be injurious to the con- tinued health, safety, and welfare of the people that are being turned away. 8. Later bus service, and weekend and holiday service must be considered. 9. Additional consideration to mini buses must be given. 10. If businesses do not make money, there will be no commercial tax base and personal taxes could skyrocket. He finalized by stressing that a tremendous turn out at the County Commission meeting is absolutely essential and suggested the City have a bus at City Hall to take the people to the County Commission hearing. Morris Haber said it seems that the bus company is not satisfying their customers; therefore, the ridership is lessened. He said the government said people must be weaned from using their cars because of use of gas, excessive traffic, etc. E 8/13/85 /vg 4 Mayor Kravitz explained how the City of Tamarac got involved with this project. He said approximately one year ago Commissioner Craft was here for a public meeting and in the course of conversation, Commissioner Craft said that if the people want bus service, changes in bus service, better bus service, the City would have to create a committee to work with them. He added that a committee was formed between Amy Lew and Nick Camerano to work with Commissioner Craft. He said a question- naire was sent out in February, 1985 through A.A.R.P. and the results were not as effective as they had hoped. He said approximately two months ago he received a notice that there were going to be five or six public hearings in reference to bus service but none in Tamarac He said he objected strenuously and, with the aid of the committee, was able to have some discussion at the last Council meeting. He assured the public that every effort will be made to secure a bus for those who want to leave from City Hall to go to the County Commission meeting which will be held Thursday, at 10:00 A.M. He said if the bus is secured, it is suggested that it leave at 9:00 A.M. He also suggested the people call the telephone operator at City Hall after 4:00 P.M. today for information as to whether the bus is available. He said he will make an effort to call and write all seven commissioners before tomorrow and impress upon them the need for the full bus route. He said the City Council will not give up. Mr. Margolis said Thursday's meeting will be held in the new Governmental Center on Andrews Avenue. Mayor Kravitz ADJOURNED the meeting at 2:25 P.M, ASSISTANT CITY CLERK This document was promulgated at a cost of $161.65 or $4.49 per copy to inform the general public and public officers and employees about recent opinions and consid erations by the City Council of the City of Tamarac. 8/13/85 /vg 5