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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1984-12-04 - City Commission Workshop Meeting MinutesMAIL REPLY TO: P.O, BOX 25010 TAMARAC, FLORIDA 33320 5811 NORTHWEST 88TH AVENUE 4 TAMARAC, FLORIDA 33321 TELEPHONE (305) 722-5900 November 21, 1984 NOTICE OF WORKSHOP MEETING CITY COUNCIL TAMARAC, FLORIDA There will be a Workshop Meeting of the City Council on Tuesday, December 4, 1984, at 10:00 a.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 5811 NW 88 Avenue, Tamarac. The purpose of the meeting is discussion of the Sister - City project. The public is encouraged to attend. -(;) ce��� Carol A. Evans Assistant•City Clerk "An Equal Opportunity Employer" CITY OF TAMARAC, FLORIDA CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING December 4, 1984 Tape 1 : Mayor Kravitz called the Workshop Meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 4, 1984'in the Council Chambers at City Hall. ROL,�CALL: PRESENT: Mayor Philip B. Kravitz Councilman Raymond J. Munitz Vice Mayor Sydney M. Stein Councilman Jack Stelzer Councilman Allan C. Bernstein Elly F. Johnson, City Manager Jon M. Henning, City Attorney Patricia Marcurio, Secretary Mayor Kravitz said at the last Council meeting he suggested that the City not get involved with a trip to Israel. He said the Mayor of Kiryat Tivon has invited him for the signing of a formal Sister City Agreement. He said he will give the date he is available to go and anyone wishing to join him on that trip can make their own arrangements. He said this meeting is only for discussion and direction with input from the public. C/M Munitz asked the date of the letter the Mayor received from the Mayor of Kiryat Tivon and Mayor Kravitz said it dates back to April of this year. C/M Munitz said the program just outlined by the Mayor could create a hardship on the residents since there is always a savings in group rates for travel. C/M Munitz asked if the Sister City Program is something the residents want since there was such poor attendance at this Workshop Meeting. C/M Munitz said Resolution #84-2 was passed in January, 1984 on this; however, there seems to be an apathy on the part of the people. Mr. Henning said there are two purposes for this Workshop; to discuss travel plans and the substance of the Agreement itself. He said the Council, in the past, has started the motions to have this Sister City Agreement and relationship. He said there is no contract until there is an agreement by both parties and, in Resolution #84-2, there is a memorandum of understanding which was drafted by him and Walter Falck as Mayor. He said Council could change the direction and repeal this Resolution. He said it is his understanding that the City is not going to underwrite the trip but at the most, might lend the City's name to it and make certain demands on the travel agent involved that there be proper insurance and specifications in writing as to the nature of the trip and some understanding as to price. He said anyone who wanted to make pri vate arrangements certainly could. Shirley Blumfield, Co -Commissioner of Human Relations, asked how the City would implement the exchange of ideas and cultures. Mayor Kravitz said the question involved in this Workshop is the formalizing of an Agreement, the dates involved and whether or not a delegation will accompany him on this trip. C/M Munitz said the purpose of accomplishing a Sister City Agreement is of importance to everyone involved. He said it could be embarrassing since it would not be known in advance how many people would be there and what arrangements the Mayor of Kiryat Tivon can make, etc. Mrs. Blumfield said an Agreement is only as good as the people who make it and this should not be done to glorify anyone. She said at this moment in time, she does not see any reason for an Agreement between Tamarac and Kiryat Tivon if it has no meaningful purpose. She said the inflation there is unbelievable and the Mayor of Kiryat Tivon plans on having a dance festival, Ambassador Lewis will be present, and he plans on taking all the visiting people to lunch. 1 12/4/84 /pm Jack Weiner, Co -Commissioner of Human Relations, said he disagrees with Mrs. Blumfield and thinks it is important for Tamarac to have this agreement. He said they are not being asked for anything but friendship and cultural exchange. Milton Guberman, President of the U.S./Israel Trade Corp., said his corporation is a non-profit organization in Florida. He said he was asked recently by the only reliable organization in the Holy Land, to help obtain Sister Cities in the U.S. and he has letters from the Council General's Office in Boston and Florida giving him this authorization. He said the object of the Sister City Program is to promote brotherhood to all Christian and Jewish citizens. He said they need help by knowing they have friends in the U.S. since they are the only democracy in the Middle East. He said he just returned from a trip to Israel with Mayor Lomelo of Sunrise and approximately 200 people. Mrs. Blumfield said her previous statement that Tamarac should not enter into this agreement was prompted by a desire for a "meaning- ful" agreement only. Henrietta Guberman, wife of Milton Guberman, asked what a "meaningful agreement" is and Mrs. Blumfield said first, that it does not glorify one person, second, that the residents participate in this agreement and, third, that Tamarac help them with deeds, not just words. Mrs. Guberman said she went to Israel and the people there only want Tamarac's friendship. Mayor Kravitz said he was elected by the people of Tamarac and would represent them in signing this agree- ment. C/M Munitz said the people should go as a group with the leadership of the Mayor to sign this agreement. He said the City is already involved since there is an agreement that must be signed. Jack Weiner said he was in Israel in May, 1982 to make an agreement and the people there extended a warm welcome. He suggested Council set a date and move forward on this. C/M Munitz asked the City Attorney if the City has an agreement presently and Mr. Henning said yes. Mayor Kravitz said he does not feel they should continue discussion at this time without more Tape 2 travel agencies represented. Mayor Kravitz suggested the City Attorney send Council copies of the agreement for their review. C/M Munitz requested that any communications received from any travel agencies be copied to all Council members and the Co - Commissioners. C/M Bernstein entered the meeting at 10:55 a.m. Mr. Henning said this is the agreement that the Council proposed but was probably not sent to Kiryat Tivon as yet. He suggested Council review it and suggest any amendments to him. Mayor Kravitz adjourned the meeting at 11:00 a.m. ASSISTANT CITY CLERK This public document was promulgated at a cost of $54.80 or $1.52 per copy to inform the general public and public officers and employees about recent opinions and considerations by the City Council of the City of Tamarac. 2 12/4/84 /Pm�