HomeMy WebLinkAbout1989-05-18 - City Commission Special Meeting Minutes•
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7525 NORTHWEST 88TH AVENUE TAMARAC, FLORIDA 33321.2401
TELEPHONE (305) 722.5900
RECORD OF COUNCIL ACTIONS/DISCUSSIONS
SPECIAL MEETING
CITY COUNCIL OF TAMARAC, FLORIDA
There will be a Special Meeting of the City Council on
Thursday, May 18, 1989 at 9:00 a.m. in the City Council
Conference Room, Tamarac City Hall, 7525 N.W. 88th Avenue,
Tamarac, Florida.
The purpose of this meeting is to schedule public hearings
for the Broward Sheriff's Office issue, formulate a time
frame and authorize a letter to registered voters in Tamarac.
FINAL ACTION:
The City Council reviewed a draft of
to registered voters in Tamarac and
to make corrections and return t
amended letter. The following dates
Hearings on the BSO matter:
1. Monday, June 5, 1989, 10:00
Chambers, City Hall.
2. Monday, June 12, 1989, 7:30
Chambers, City Hall.
a letter to be sent
the City Manager is
o Council with an
were set for Public
A.M. in Council
P.M. in Council
The City Council also scheduled a Special City Council
Meeting for Tuesday, June 20, 1989, at 10:00 A.M. in the
Council Chambers of City Hall for the purpose of
appointing members to the various Boards and Committees.
4a"ro, A. Evans
City Clerk
Pursuant to Section 286.0105, PIorida Statutes
If a person decides to appeal any decision made by the city
Counc.1 with respect to any matter considered at such meeting or
hearing, he w0l n? d a record of the proceedings and for sj.,c. j
he naY need to ensure that a verbatim record
and evi Zi'Zc upon which tide; 8opeal is to be b .
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
POLICY OF NONDISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF HANDICAPPED STATUS
CITY OF TAMARAC
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CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
THURSDAY, MAY 18, 1989
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Abramowitz called this meeting to Order on
Thursday, May 18, 1989 at 9:13 A.M. in the City Council Conference
Room.
PRESENT:
ALSO PRESENT:
Mayor Norman Abramowitz
Vice Mayor Dr. H. Larry Bender
Councilman Bruce Hoffman
Councilman Henry Rohr
Councilman Jack Stelzer
John P. Kelly, City Manager
Pauline Walaszek, Special Services
Secretary
The purpose of this meeting was to schedule public hearings for
the Broward Sheriff's Office issue, formulate a time frame and
authorize a letter to registered voters in Tamarac.
City Manager Kelly requested that the proposed letter to
the registered voters be distributed to the four members
of the Public present. He said the print type of letter
could be changed and the letter would be placed on the
City's letterhead paper.
The City Council AGREED to the type lettering in the
proposed letter.
Mayor Abramowitz said that the letterhead for the letter
could be placed on the top as opposed to using regular
letterhead paper.
City Manager Kelly said the beginning of the letter
indicated the purpose of the letter. He said the
information related the problem and informed the
residents that they were being asked to share their
opinions. (SEE ATTACHMENT)
City Manager Kelly said the letter indicated there were
financial problems and three options were available to
remedy the problems. He said he indicated in the letter
that the third option had the most merit; however, he
felt that option three was the only option feasible.
C/M Stelzer suggested that the option regarding a Utility
Tax be eliminated because of the problems that occurred
previously.
C/M Hoffman suggested that Page 1, Paragraph 2, "help" be
inserted in "to remedy this problem.".
Mayor Abramowitz said he did not feel the Utility Tax
option should be eliminated because it was an option.
Page 1
5/18/89
C/M Stelzer said the Ad Valorem could be increased and
Mayor Abramowitz asked C/M Stelzer ifs he was positive
increasing the Ad Valorem would remedy the problems.
Mayor Abramowitz said a Utility Tax could assist in
resolving the problems and C/M Stelzer said the City
Council experienced the outcome last year when the
Utility Tax increase was proposed.
C/M Hoffman suggested that Page 1, Option 2, "which may
include" be changed to, "which may have to include".
City Manager Kelly said when he proposed the Utility Tax
increase last year he felt it was a feasible option;
however, this year there was room in the existing low tax
structure for an increase.
Mayor Abramowitz said he was not aware of the future;
however, there may be things in the future that require
additional money which was not budgeted for. He said he
did not want anything going into the letter which was not
factual and placing a dollar amount in the letter would
not be factual information.
C/M Hoffman said he did not object to the City informing
the residents that there may have to be a Utility Tax.
He said the City was not imposing a Utility Tax; however,
it was an option to resolve the existing problems.
C/M Rohr said the City Council should consider a Utility
Tax as the last option. He said Page 1, Option 2 should
state, "Drastically increase taxes".
Mayor Abramowitz said stating that increasing taxes would
resolve the problems, when in fact it may not, was not an
appropriate statement. He said he was not afraid to
indicate the facts.
C/M Rohr asked if the Ad Valorem taxes would cover the
contingencies if the City did go to the Broward Sheriff's
Office and City Manager Kelly replied, yes.
C/M Stelzer said the letter seemed to threaten the
residents by stating "may have to include a Utility
Tax.". He said last year there was a lot of objection to
a Utility Tax.
Mayor Abramowitz said he did not change his mind about
the Utility Tax because of the residents cries. He said
he changed his mind because there were other feasible
options available which were recommended by staff.
City Manager Kelly asked if the City Council agreed to
the amendments of, "help remedy" and "may have to
include". The City Council AGREED with these changes.
City Manager Kelly said the next paragraph indicated the
Budget increase to be 51.8%; however, the Budget was 61%
and the actual was 51.8%.
C/M Stelzer said his figures indicated the Budget to be
69.41%. He said the Budget increases should not be
indicated because the expenditures were more important.
He said the letter indicated the Budget increase for 4
years and this year was not included. He said the figure
for this year should be included which would bring the
Budget increase up to 69.41%.
Page 2
5/18/89
C/M Hoffman asked if the letter could indicate, " that to
date, over the past 5-1/2 years". He said this statement
would allow C/M Stelzer's figures to be indicated.
Mayor Abramowitz said he did not feel that indicating
5-1/2 years was factual., He said he did not disagree
with C/M Stelzer; however, he wanted the facts placed in
the letter.
C/M Stelzer said there was an increase of 18% for Fiscal
Year 1989 and this should be indicated in the letter. He
said the City seldom spent less than what was Budgeted.
Mayor Abramowitz asked C/M Stelzer if he indicated the
recent cut in the Police Department's Budget and C/M
Stelzer asked what was cut.
City Manager Kelly said he cut the Budget back and,
because of shortfall recently being experienced by the
City, he cut back on all of the Departments.
C/M Stelzer asked if City Manager Kelly considered the
decrease when figuring the Broward Sheriff's Office
Contract and City Manager Kelly replied, no.
C/M Stelzer said the cost of Police protection increased
over the past 5 years and it should be indicated in the
letter. The City Council agreed that "Over the past 5
years, the cost of Tamarac's Police protection has
increased..." be placed in the letter.
C/M Stelzer said he could not understand why the letter
should not indicate that there would be an 18% increase
in the Police Department. He said the Broward Sheriff's
Office would be receiving a flat figure for three months
and the letter should indicate that figure plus what was
spent until this time.
City Manager Kelly suggested that the letter indicate,
"to date, over the past 5 years..." and the City Council
agreed with this amendment.
Mayor Abramowitz asked if this information would be the
absolute fact and City Manager Kelly said he would get
the facts from the Finance Department. City Manager
Kelly said C/M Stelzer was correct in his concerns and he
would discuss this matter with the Finance Department and
get the correct amount.
C/M Rohr said the patrol units should be specified
because a unit was considered a man. He said the
definition of a patrol unit should be given as one Police
Officer.
C/M Hoffman said the shifts should indicate 116 daily
patrol units" and City Manager Kelly said this would be
incorrect. City Manager Kelly said 6 patrol units were
used per shift per day.
Mayor Abramowitz asked City Manager Kelly to address C/M
Rohr and C/M Hoffman's concerns in a small sentence. He
said he did not want the residents to become uninterested
in the letter because it was too lengthy. He said there
would be two Public Hearings held and the concerns could
be discussed.
Page 3
5/18/89
At 9:30 A.M., Joseph McIntosh, Police Chief, ENTERED the
meeting.
C/M Stelzer had concerns with the figures in the letter
being correct. He said he calculated the figure to be
4.786 million which amount to 4.922%.
City Manager Kelly said a Debt Service should be added in
the amount of $264,000.00 and C/M Stelzer asked if there
was a Debt Service. City Manager Kelly said there were
27 years left on the 30 year Debt Service.
C/M Stelzer said his figures indicated that next year,
with the increases, the percentage would be 6.8475%
TAPE 2
After discussing this matter further, the City Council
DIRECTED the City Manager and C/M Stelzer to review this
matter and implement the correct figures. The City
Council asked that the City Manager submit a memorandum
to the City Council regarding the correct figures and
.proceed with sending out the letters to the registered
voters.
Referring to Page 2, Paragraph 1, C/M Hoffman said
"including the appointment of a District Commander"
should be added to, "all personnel transfers in and out
of the Department.".
Joseph McIntosh, Police Chief, said "Department" should
be changed to "District".
The City Council AGREED with C/M Hoffman and Chief
McIntosh's amendments.
C/M Stelzer said Page 2, Paragraph 2, should indicate,
"the entire personnel" and City Manager Kelly said the
letter indicated that the Personnel was appropriately
indicated.
C/M Rohr had concerns that this statement may create a
lawsuit involving the City if a person was not accepted
by the Broward Sheriff's Office.
C/M Stelzer asked how much more was over the Bond Debt
Service and City Manager Kelly said that there were
negotiations expected with the Broward Sheriff's Office
regarding the City keeping the new Police Building. City
Manager Kelly said if the City kept the building, the
annual cost for the Bond Debt for operations such as,
Data Processing, personnel and maintenance would be over
$500,000.00 dollars.
The City Council agreed Page 2, Paragraph 3, "Regarding"
be deleted and "if we do not go BSO" be added at the end
of the first sentence.
Referring to Page 2, Paragraph 4, Mayor Abramowitz asked
if the credit for the Police vehicles and equipment would
be kept in Escrow. He said he did not want to make the
funds available to the City for use on something else.
He said he wanted the funds available in case the City
decided not to use the services of the Broward Sheriff's
Office in the future.
City Manager Kelly said the City would be hiring an
appraiser for the existing vehicles and equipment and the
Page 4
5/18/89
appraised amount would be credited to the City in case
the City wanted to go back to their own Police
Department.
C/M Hoffman said that he would like the funds submitted
to the City after a specific time in a separate account.
He asked if this matter was discussed during the
negotiations.
City Manager Kelly said this matter was discussed;
however, the Broward Sheriff's Office wanted to discuss
this matter during the Public Hearings. He said the
Broward Sheriff's Office was not comfortable with this
request; however, they were willing to negotiate it
further.
C/M Rohr asked if interest would be obtained with the
credit and City Manager Kelly said the valuation of the
vehicles and equipment would continue to increase.
C/M Rohr had concerns with the credit not allowing
interest accumulation for the City and Mayor Abramowitz
said he did not want the funds placed in an account in
which the City could use the funds for something
different.
C/M Stelzer asked if the Broward Sheriff's Office would
have to purchase vehicles and charge the City if the City
did turn over the vehicles to them.
City Manager Kelly said the Broward Sheriff's Office was
not pleased with the existing vehicles and equipment;
however, they agreed to take the equipment and vehicles.
He said the Broward Sheriff's Office would be purchasing
equipment and vehicles in the future to insure the
services for the City and the proposed cap would not be
exceeded.
C/M Hoffman said it was not important that the Broward
Sheriff's Office was providing vehicles to the Police
Officers to take home. He said the important issue was
that the funds should be turned over to the City after a
specific time. He said if the City did not decide to
eliminate the Broward Sheriff's Office services within 5
years, the City may never eliminate the services.
City Manager Kelly said at the time of Contract renewal
this matter could be discussed.
Mayor Abramowitz said after reviewing the Contracts with
the Cities of Lauderdale Lakes and Lauderhill, he found
that the City of Tamarac was the only City that had more
than a two year Contract and less than a 5% increase. He
commended the City Manager for negotiating such a good
contract.
City Manager Kelly said there were three Cities who
contacted him regarding reviewing the proposed Contract.
C/M Hoffman said he did not want anyone to think that he
did not feel that the City Manager did not do a great job
in negotiating the Contract. He said City Manager Kelly
did an outstanding job in negotiating the Contract with
the Broward Sheriff's Office.
Referring to Page 2, Paragraph 5, C/M Stelzer said
"Charter" was not appropriate because there was nothing
in the Charter indicating the exercise of the City
Page 5
5/18/89
TAPE 3
Council's responsibility of whether or not to approve
anything regarding the Police or Fire Deaartments.
C/M Hoffman suggested that "Statutory" be used as opposed
to "Charter".
Mayor Abramowitz suggested that the City Manager research
this matter and place the appropriate language in the
letter. He suggested that the City Attorney be consulted
regarding the legal language.
Referring to Page 2, bottom asterisk (*), Mayor
Abramowitz asked that this sentence indicate that
unaddressed responses as well as unsigned responses would
not be considered.
The City Council agreed that the sentence should read,
"To be considered, responses MUST BE signed and
addressed.".
C/M Rohr suggested that a Paragraph be included in the
letter indicating that the City Council and City Manager
were attempting to give the residents the best possible
Police protection with the least cost to the taxpayers.
C/M Hoffman suggested that City Manager Kelly indicate
"I" as opposed to "The City Council and City Manager".
The City Council AGREED with C/M Rohr's suggestion.
The City Council AGREED that Public Hearings would be
held on the following dates:
Monday, June 5, 1989 - 10:00 A.M. (Council Chambers)
Monday, June 12, 1989 - 7:30 P.M. (Council Chambers)
Mayor Abramowitz asked if the City Council was opposed to
holding a Special Meeting to appoint the members of the
Hoards and Committees instead of during a City Council
meeting.
The City Council AGREED that the Special Meeting to make
the appointments would be held on:
Tuesday, June 20, 1989 - 10:00 A.M. (Council Chambers)
C/M Rohr said there was a recent Article written in the
newspaper that the City of Fort Lauderdale recently
subscribed to an energy saving service that could save
the City approximately $30,000.00 per year. He said the
service was provided by Teletimer International of Boca
Raton and the service reduced energy consumption through
signals transmitted by telephone, cable television and
radio systems. He said Teletimer International would
supply all the equipment to be installed at the City
Hall. Y
C/M Rohr suggested that the City Manager look into this
matter because the City Hall Complex was using a lot of
energy. The City Council AGREED with this suggestion.
Page 6
5/18/89
1
F
1
With no further business, Mayor Abramowitz ADJOURNED this
meeting at 10:45 A.M. t
NO .AN ABRAMOWITZ, MAYOR
1,2
CAROL A. EVAN , CITY CLERK
"This public document was promulgated at a cost of $50.60 or $6.33 per
copy to inform the general public, public officers and employees of
recent opinions and considerations of the City Council of the City of
Tamarac.
APPROVED AT MEETING OF � !n /
City Clerk
Page 7
V,
,,-�77;q aflMINT
The purpose of this letter is twofold:
(1) To help you to understand the facts concerning our
financial condition and our police service, and
(2) To provide an opportunity for you to express your
opinion about the options that will be offered.
TAMARAC HAS A FINANCIAL DILEMMA:
There are 3 options Wremedy this problem:
(1) Drastically decrease and/or eliminate various City
services. �c TV,
(2) Drastically increase taxes which mayainclude a
utility tax.
(3) Consider a contract with the Broward Sheriffs Office.
�v D o M-C T-7v1J
Over the past 5 yearsth olice'has increased 51.8 o n
spite of that increase, the department has been unable
provide an acceptable level of service for more than 2 years.
The police Chief has advised me 1 t often that we are unable
to staff EVEN six patrol units nns; e�d of the scheduled 10 or
12.
The proposed contract with the Broward Sheriffs office
GAIJARANICEES 2 shifts of 10 patrol units, and 1 shift of 12 patrol
units. This year, our minimal cost for our police is $5.3 million.
,Next year, withgut cigunting anj salaryincreasesthat cost will
be G. pillion A,rJ12 STILL WILL
SERVICE THE BKOWARD SHERIFF'S OFFICE WOULD EROVIDE,
The proposed cost of the Broward Sheriff's Office contract for the
first year is under $5 million, which would result in a SAVING
014
In fact, the cost of the Broward Sheriffs Office contract in the
FIFT$XEAR will be less than our Police Department's budget for
NEXT XEAR.
I
the City will have the unconditional right to terminate the
contract, without cause, at anytime and have final authority over
all personnel, transfers in and out of the EQs gp G
A 0 ►S-W 1CTCOMcl 2 ,
Basically, our existing personnel will simply change uniforms
and be supported by the considerable resources of a larger and
Professionally accredited police organization.
Regarding the new Police Building, our annual costs for the bond
debt, operations, personnel, and m�inten nce will be over
�klE�� pT�o
half -million dollars a yeai�r Since we wou c lease, the
facilities and equipment to the Broward Sheriffs Office, they will
pay Public Works to maintain it and pay all utility and other
costs THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE OUR RESPONSIBILITY. The
result is NO COST TO THE CITY!
To secure our options, city vehicles and equipment will be
transferred, NOT SOLD, to BSO and, in the event we terminate the
contract, the same number and valuation of vehicles and
equipment will be returned to us.
The City Council earnestly seeks your hod hts and comments.
The Council soon will exercise its sponsibility to decide
whether or not to approve the proposed BSO contract.
for reading this important information!
Public Hearing dates:
Your comments:
Signature:
PRINT NAME:
City Manager
ADDRESS
***Return by unsigned_ responses will IIal be considered!
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