HomeMy WebLinkAbout1985-09-03 - City Commission Workshop Meeting MinutesI
1
MAIL REPLY TO:
P.O. BOX 25010
TAMARAC, FLORIDA 33320
5811 NORTHWEST 88TH AVENUE TAMARAC, FLORIDA 33321
TELEPHONE (305) 722-5900
August 19, 1985
NOTICE OF WORKSHOP MEETING
CITY COUNCIL
TAMARAC, FLORIDA
There will be a City Council Workshop Meeting on Tuesday,
September 3, 1985, at 10:00 A.M., in the Council Chambers
of City Hall, 5811 NW 88 Avenue, Tamarac, to discuss
Broward County Transit bus routes.
The public is invited to attend.
Carol E. Barbuto
Assistant City Clerk
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
POLICY OF NONDISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF HANDICAPPED STATUS
CITY OF TAMARAC, FLORIDA
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING
September 3, 1985
Tape 1 CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Kravitz called the meeting to
order on Tuesday, September 3, 1985 at 10:07 A.M. in the
Council Chambers of City Hall.
ROLL CALL: PRESENT:
Mayor Philip B. Kravitz
Councilman Raymond J. Munitz
Councilman Arthur H. Gottesman
ABSENT•
Vice Mayor Helen Massaro
Councilman Sydney M. Stein
ALSO PRESENT:
Vivian Gallagher, Secretary
Mayor Kravitz read the call to the meeting into the
record noting that the purpose of this meeting is to
discuss Broward County Transit bus routes.
Mayor Kravitz called for a moment of silent meditation
followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Nick Camerano stated that in a meeting with Broward
County Transit staff held this morning, compromises were
made and he felt the people would be happy with what
will be presented.
Mr. Jay Gross, Chief
Broward County, stated
mendations the staff ma
the circumstances, the
hearing, adopted their
the County, namely Haw
the Tamarac area. He r
terms of route numbers,
He said that how it wil
route or another, will
get to their destinati
of Urban Transit Planning of
that although the initial recom-
le were felt to be the best under
.ounty Commission, at its public
)lan except for certain areas in
iiian Gardens and the routing in
?quested the public not think in
but in areas being serviced.
L be tied into the system on one
)e determined by how people could
)ns as fast and most efficiently
as possible. He pointed out the areas on the map that
originally were recommended to be cut from bus service
which were now being recommended to be retained and the
few areas that would remain cut from bus service as
orignally proposed. He explained that some of the areas
will retain bus service by changing the bus routes;
therefore, bus numbers will also change.
Mr. Gross directed individuals with questions regarding
bus service in their specific areas.
Mr. Max Belitsky, resident of Lime Bay, said he would
like consideration given to the safety and convenience
of the riding public having to cross large intersections
in order to get connecting buses.
Mr. Lou Silverman, Section 16, said that one of the
prime problems is timing; when a point of transfer is
reached, the connecting bus is pulling away. He also
said bus drivers are graded on their ability to be on
schedule and consequently have a tendency to arrive at
bus stops early.
Mr. Glen Margoles, Manager of Planning and Scheduling,
said bus drivers are not encouraged or allowed to arrive
early. He said they are expected to run on schedule.
He suggested that if a problem of this nature occurs, a
call should be placed to him with specific information
such as the time, the day, and the bus number.
9/3/85
1 /vg
Tape 2 Bessie Spalten, Lime Bay, asked why there is a twenty
minute layover at Sunshine Plaza.
Mr. Gross explained that the longer the distance covered
the more difficult it is to stay on schedule. He
explained that staff is working on the recovery time
(layover) schedule.
Mayor Kravitz suggested that since there are still many
problems, the City provide a bus on Tuesday, September
loth, leaving approximately one hour before the sche-
duled County Commission meeting begins. He suggested
those who wish may call in their reservation for the
bus.
Eve Shukner, Lime Bay, said that she is confused because
nothing is clear --cut. She said that everything Mr.
Gross said was a possibility and not a certainty. She
said mini buses were not mentioned today.
Mr. Gross explained that the staff is working trying to
provide service to the County in the best way possible.
He said it is a very difficult job especially when
conflicting requests are received from people living in
the same area. He added that the staff does not make
the final decision as to what is retained and what is
not, the County Commission does.
Saul Robinson, Bermuda Club, said that he, Amy Lew, and
Nick Camerano, as part of a committee on bus service for
the City, sent out questionnaires to every resident of
the City and only a very few were returned. He said he
feels public transportation never runs at a profit, it
is a service that should be given to all the people
regardless where they live. He added that 95 percent of
what was going to be omitted is now retained.
Jack Robinson, Section 17, asked why buses lay over one
and one-half to two hours a day and why the buses have
to keep their engines running when they are laying over.
Mr. Gross explained that the buses have a number of
hydraulic and oil systems and it takes a number of
minutes for those to build up pressure. He said it is
done for economic and mechanical reasons and sitting
time is attempted to be cut by eliminating unproductive
links of the system. He added that it has been calcu-
lated that it is more expensive to run a mini bus than a
regular size bus because the driver is paid the same
amount, the large bus uses three gallons of fuel more,
and the mini buses' brake systems, engines, and
transmissions break down between three and five times as
often.
Matthew Richard, Section 12, asked about service on
Holidays and Sundays on the #30 bus.
Mr. Gross said staff recommends no Sunday service on #30
bus, but if the County Commission votes to put in Sunday
service, it will be that much more money.
Mr. Richard said people are deprived from going to
religious
services
and recreational activities on
Sundays and
Holidays.
Molly Stern,
Section
12, inquired about later service.
Mr. Gross
said it
is possible the early runs can be
eliminated and
extend
the runs at the end of the day.
Jack Friedman, Section 17, said on the #82 bus route two
hours have been eliminated in the middle of the day.
Mr. Gross said staff is recommending service every hour
with no break in the middle of the day.
9/3/85
2 /vg
Rosemary Brandwin requested information regarding the
elimination of bus 482 into the Mainlands and requested
that bus remain in service.
Mayor Kravitz said he understood that a request was made
from residents of that area to remove the bus.
Mr. Gross explained that, on an average, three or four
people per day use the bus. He said the Planning Office
and the Transit Division have been receiving requests
to remove the buses from the Mainlands.
Charles Macanone, resident, asked about the express line
to Cooper City.
Mr. Gross stated that there are three Park and Rides in
the County and the bus leaves the garage thirty to
forty-five minutes earlier and picks up these people at
a fare of $.75 each. He said it does not take service
away from another location.
Mim Bolitsky, Lime Bay resident, asked if there is a
ruling about the size of a shopping cart on a bus and
asked if the number of the bus could be placed on the
back of the bus.
Mr. Gross said if the cart can be safely secured in the
seat next to the passenger, it is allowed. He said
staff is investigating the ability to put the bus number
on the back of the bus.
Tape 3 Bernie Simms, Bermuda Club, suggested a system where
buses would run continually within Tamarac and have a
separate trunk line for the people traveling the long
routes.
Mr. Camerano thanked the Mayor for his support.
Mayor Kravitz thanked Mr. Gross and his staff for
cooperating in attempting to obtain the needs of the
people of Tamarac.
C/M Munitz summarized the problems raised by the resi-
dents as follows:
1. Synchronizing the timing of the transfers.
2. The availability of transfer points and the
distance between them.
3. Timing and frequency of the routes.
4. Sunday and Holiday and late service.
5. Distance of the bus stops.
He said the riders who need the buses in order to
participate in religious services, entertainment
opportunities, and shopping, should be considered even
if it means a increase in the ad valorem. He said the
Commission should know that the people are willing to
pay if an increase in the budget is necessary.
In the absence of the Mayor, C/M Gottesman ADJOURNED the
meeting at 11:45 A.M.
ASSISTANT CITY CLERK
This document was promulgated at a cost of $146.00 or
$4.06 per copy to inform the general public and public
officers and employees about recent opinions and consi-
derations by the City Council of the City of Tamarac.
9/3/85
3 /vg