HomeMy WebLinkAbout1989-06-12 - City Commission Special Meeting Minutes7525 NORTHWEST 88TH AVENUE 0 TAMARAC, FLORIDA 33321-2401
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RECORD OF COUNCIL ACTIONS/DISCUSSIONS
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING
CITY COUNCIL OF TAMARAC, FLORIDA
PUBLIC HEARING
There will be a Special Meeting of the City Council held on
Monday, June 12, 1989 at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers,
Tamarac City Hall, 7525 N.W. 88th Avenue, Tamarac, Florida.
The purpose of this meeting is to conduct a Public Hearing on
the BSO matter.
FINAL ACTION:
Public Hearing was held with discussion by the City
Council. The City Attorney was directed to add language
to the Police Facility Lease Agreement that the lease on
the Police building will be in effect as long as Tamarac
has the contract with BSO.
Additional public hearings may be called if necessary.
All meetings are open to the public.
CAE/nr
Carol A. Evans
City Clerk
Pursuant to Section 286.0105, P8orida Statutes
I' r p.. s:3n decide., to apes 9 lry dac= tiio;,l iaadn by tbS Cii
ct
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
POLICY OF NONDISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF HANDICAPPED STATUS
CITY OF TAMARAC
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL b ►,ETING
MONDAY, JUNE 12, 1989
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Abramowitz called this meeting to Order on
Monday, June 12, 1989 at 7:30 P.M. in the Council Chambers.
MEDITATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Abramowitz called for the
Pledge of Allegia ce followed by a Moment of Silent Meditation dedicated
to Rabbi Kurt Stone, who was operated on and in the hospital.
PRESENT:
ALSO PRESENT:
Mayor Norman Abramowitz
Vice Mayor Jack Stelzer
Councilman Dr. H. Larry Bender
Councilman Bruce Hoffman
Councilman Henry Rohr
John P. Kelly, City Manager
Richard Doody, City Attorney
Patricia Marcurio, Office Manager/
City Clerk's Office
Pauline Walaszek, Special Services
Secretary
This meeting was a second Public Hearing regarding the proposed
Broward Sheriff's Office Contract.
Mayor Abramowitz announced that City Attorney Doody would
be getting married this weekend and he congratulated him.
Mayor Abramowitz said the City Manager read the Contract
at the last meeting and there were statements made that
should be answered. He said the City Council would take
this time to comment on the matter.
C/M Stelzer said he would like the Lease and Contract
Agreements to indicate the "Broward Sheriff's Office" as
opposed to "The Sheriff of Broward County".
C/M Stelzer said there has been information and rumors
being circulated and he would like the residents to
listen carefully to what he said because _the newspapers
did not print the information correctly. He said he
wanted to discuss the financial status of the City.
C/M Stelzer said last week he stated that there were
unknown figures; however, he wanted the record to reflect
that the figures were not unknown but undisclosed and
were evident in the Books. He.said there were statements
made that the City had a shortage in Development Fees;
however, this was not correct.
C/M Stelzer said the Budget indicated 1.5 million dollars
of Development Fees to be collected by the Community
Development, Engineering and Building Departments. He
said there was approximately $700,000.00 collected for 7
months, which was approximately 15% of the total receipts
and the City received approximately 46%, which should be
approximately $178,000.00. He said there was a mistake
made in discussing a shortage of income and Development
Fees; therefore, there was no shortage of 1 million
dollars in Development Fees.
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/M Stelzer said when the tax was first proposed last
year, the Finance Director reported wi"at a 10% Utility
Tax would bring into the City. He said everyone
disagreed that the Utility Tax should be 10%; however,
four of the City Councilmembers agreed that the Utility
Tax should be 5%. He said he informed the City Council
that collecting 5% as a Utility Tax would cause a
shortfall because the figures submitted by the Finance
Director was for a 10 month period. He informed the City
Council that the Utility Tax would have to be 6% in order
to prevent a shortfall and this caused a rumor that Jack
Stelzer proposed a 6% Utility Tax.
C/M Stelzer said during the second meeting for the
Utility Tax, the discussion was based on whether 6% would
be implemented. He said an Ad Valorem Tax was given to
the County and the City was locked into those figures.
He said the City Manager confronted him regarding the
possibility of eliminating the proposed Utility Tax and
he informed the City Manager that this could be done;
however, there would be a shortfall of approximately 1
million dollars. He said he informed the City Manager
that 1 million dollars could be borrowed from the
Utilities Budget; however, it was decided by four City
Councilmembers that $500,000.00 would be borrowed from
the Utilities Budget and approximately $260,000.00 would
be deducted from the Escrow Account for Interim Service
Fees. He said it was expected that $260,000.00 was
expected to be collected for Interim Service Fees during
the year. He said he informed the City Council that he
felt this was illegal because Impact Fees for Interim
Services were declared illegal in the City of Oakland
Park. He said City Attorney Doody was aware of this
matter because his brother handled the Case.
C/M Stelzer said the City Council carried through with
this matter and the City Manager decided, after a few
months of the Fiscal Year, that the Interim Service Fees
would be placed into an Escrow Account. He said there
was approximately $520,000.00 taken out of the Budget
income and the other amount from the Utilities Budget was
being credited on a monthly basis.
C/M Stelzer said the residents were constantly asking if
the taxes would be increased. He said the City had to
make up 1 million dollars of shortfall in income this
year which was $500,000.00 in Impact Fees and $500,000.00
borrowed from the Utilities Budget. He said he asked
that the Utility Funds be placed in the General Fund;
however, there were complaints that it was illegal. He
said he felt that the $500,000.00 should be returned to
the Utility Budget next year because there were too many
people benefiting from the monies that should not be such
as the people east of 441. He said these areas did not
pay Utility Funds; therefore, the Ad Valorem should not
have been reduced to their benefit.
C/M Stelzer said at the beginning of the Fiscal Year
there was $613,000.00 of a prior year's surplus which was
deposited into the General Fund to take care of the
City's needs. He said this would not occur this year
and there was little hope in having any type of surplus.
He said every year the City Manager, Finance Director and
he, as Liaison to the Budget, would review every fund in
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the City as well as the funds of the previous two years.
He said anything that did not have activity for a few
years would be transferred into the General Fund to
reduce the Ad Valorem.
C/M Stelzer said Tallahassee had a Storm Water Management
District which was very successful. He said he collected
all of the information on this program and submitted it
to the previous City Planner. He said every time a
building was erected, concrete was laid and drainage had
to be provided. He said there was a plan to charge $.75
for 1,700 square feet, which was submitted to the
previous City Planner; however, there was nothing ever
created for this program. He said he reviewed the
Drainage Fund which was created in 1976 or 1977. He said
the Fund was created when Leadership withdrew and the
funds were accommodated for improvements on the homes.
He said thereafter, Drainage Funds were being collected
from the Developers as they came in; however, the Funds
coming from the Developers were not as expedient as
expected; therefore, the City contributed to the Fund.
He said at the end of last year, the City contributed an
excess of $600,000.00 and there was a remaining balance.
He said the City Council decided to transfer the Drainage
Fund amount of $600,000.00 into the General Fund.
C/M Stelzer said this left a shortfall of 1 million
dollars in Utility Tax, $600,000.00 short from the prior
year's surplus and $650,000.00 short in the Drainage
Fund. He said this totalled 2.25 million dollars. He
said every 1 million dollars needed was equivalent to
$1.00 in Ad Valorem Tax. He said it would cost $2.25 for
$1,000.00 of assessed value more for next year. He said
the Budget would have to be increased at least $2.25
which did not include the matter with the Tamarac Police
Department.
Referring to the Financial Statement submitted by the
City Manager, C/M Stelzer said this
Statement was a comparison of last year's Budget, the
Tamarac Police Department proposed Budget for this year
and the proposed Budget for the Broward Sheriff's Office.
C/M Stelzer said the first column indicated the Budget
for the Tamarac Police Department last year. He said the
original Budget was $4,786,839.00 and the second column
reflected adjustments. He said $167,579.00, $220,539.00
and $52,960.00 balanced out to -0-; therefore, they would
be considered as reclassifications as opposed to
adjustments. He said the City would provide crossing
guards because the Broward Sheriff's Office did not want
to include this in the Contract. He said this cost would
be deducted from last year's Budget. He said the
Insurance and Utilities Funds net adjustments for next
year's Budget would be an increase of $71,680.00 which
left a total of $4,858,519.00.
C/M Stelzer said the Tamarac Police Department proposed a
Budget of $4,924,546.00 for Personnel Services which
included all of the fringe benefits. He said there were
five Receptionists eliminated from the proposed Broward
Sheriff's Office Contract at a savings of $150,000.00
plus $50,000.00 for salary adjustments. He said the
Police Department's original proposal had adjustment of
salaries; therefore, the original proposal became
$5,740,155.00.
Page 3
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C/M Stelzer said last year and this year there was a Debt
Service of $264,000.00 which had to be paid by someone.
He said there would be cleaning services in the amount of
$50,000.00 for the Police Facility this year. He said
last year's Budget for the Police Department was
$5,122,519.00; however, the proposed Budget for this year
is $6,054,155.00.
C/M Stelzer said the Broward Sheriff's Office original
proposal included the five Receptionist positions;
therefore, $200,000.00 was deducted. He said the direct
operating expenses were $184,912.00 and the Insurance and
Utilities would be $88,000.00 and $48,000.00. He said
the capital outlay would be $253,300.00 and the
reclassification would be in the amount of $47,400.00.
C/M Stelzer said the original Budget for the Broward
Sheriff's Office was $5,425,444.00 with an adjustment of
$200,000.00 and $142,800.00; therefore, the proposed
Broward Sheriff's Office Budget was $5,082,644.00, which
was the actual cost of services that the City would be
paying the Broward Sheriff's Office for protection. He
said the Broward Sheriff's Office would be paying the
City $20,000.00 per month for renting the Police Facility
and $70,000.00 for cleaning. He said the net figure of
the Contract would be $4,772,644.00.
C/M Stelzer said there were additional costs such as the
shortfall of $24,000.00 on the Debt Service. He said the
first year the City would be receiving $50,000.00 for
furniture and equipment in the Police Facility. He said
the City would be paying $4,722,644.00 for the Broward
Sheriff's Office services.
C/M Stelzer said the residents were concerned about
paying 27 million dollars to the Broward Sheriff's Office
for 5 years; however, the City would have to pay
approximately 35 million dollars in 5 years if the Police
Department was retained. He said the City had a
guarantee cap with the Broward Sheriff's Office; however,
the Police Department may not have a cap; therefore, he
did not want to compare the two. He said at the end of
the fifth year with the Broward Sheriff's Office there
would be an increase of 19%, which could not amount to
more than $950,000.00. He said payment after 5 years to
the Broward Sheriff's Office would be approximately
$5,600,000.00, which was less than what the Police
Department was asking for this year.
C/M Stelzer said the City's insurance policies referred
to Police Activity and he asked the City Manager and
Personnel Director to indicate how much would be saved in
insurance by eliminating the Police from the policies.
He said if the City contracted with the Broward Sheriff's
Office, all of the City's insurance policies would have
to be revised; therefore, the savings would be evident.
C/M Stelzer said the City was presently negotiating with
the Police Department and, if the City did not Contract
with the Broward Sheriff's Office, Union negotiations had
to take place. He said the City Manager submitted
information about the Pension Plan and it was possible
that there would be an additional savings of $500,000.00.
C/M Stelzer said
Sheriff's Office
million dollars.
tactics; however,
by contracting with
the City could save
He said he was not
if the City had to
the Broward
approximately 1.7
trying to use scare
make up the increase
I�
1
Page 4
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1
1
[l
of last year, which was $2.25 in Ad Valorem Tax and the
City did not Contract with the Broward Sheriff's Office,
the Ad Valorem Tax could be $3.75 more than last year,
which was $3.66.
C/M Stelzer said when the Broward Sheriff's Office
proposal was introduced, the people in the audience
wanted a Referendum which he favored; however, the City
did not have the time to hold a Referendum because the
City must supply the County Appraiser with an Ad Valorem
Tax rate by July 31, 1989. He said a Referendum could
not be held until the end of October, 1989, or early
November, 1989, because the paperwork and procedures had
to be complied with. He said he suggested a "yes/no"
vote be placed on the letter sent to the residents;
however, the letter only contained public input. He said
approximately 1,500 letters were returned and
approximately 12 indicated that they did not want the
City to Contract with the Broward Sheriff's Office.
C/M Stelzer said the residents submitted a petition to
the City Manager and the City Attorney was directed by
the City Council to draft an Ordinance that would be
ready next week. He said if the Ordinance was ready next
week, it would take time to process; therefore, a
Referendum would not be held until November, 1989.
C/M Stelzer said he recently suggested that the City
Manager create two Budgets, one that included the Broward
Sheriff's Office Contract and the other that included the
Police Department. He said the Budget which included the
Police Department figures should be submitted to the
County Appraiser because it would be higher than the
Budget including the Broward Sheriff's Office. He said
the residents had the right to do anything they wanted to
stop the merger with the Broward Sheriff's Office;
however, two injunctions have recently been thrown out of
the Courts.
Ci':,. Stelzer said it would be a bad situation if the lower
Ad Valorem Tax was submitted to the County Appraiser's
Office and an injunction was approved at the last minute
to stop the Broward Sheriff's Office Contract.
C/M Stelzer said there were several statements from the
public that caused arguments and the City Council was not
answering the statements. He said there was a comment
that the City had a 7 million dollar surplus; however, he
had no idea where there was a 7 million dollar surplus.
He said the residents indicated that there would be 27.5
million dollars spent for the Broward Sheriff's Office
Contract; however, there were no statements regarding
what the City would spend for retaining the Police
Department. He said there was a statement that there
would be a $.13 increase in the Ad Valorem Tax if the
City merged with the Broward Sheriff's Office; however,
he did not know how this was established. He said a
resident indicated that 840 people voted against the
Broward Sheriff's Office when it was proposed years ago;
however, this was incorrect because there were over
15,000 votes cast and approximately 8,300 people voted
no.
C/M Stelzer said the City Council had no alternative
because next week the Contract had to be decided upon and
the City Manager would indicate the money points of the
Contract. He said the Police receive more benefits from
Page 5
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the Broward Sheriff's Office than the City could provide.
He said the Union negotiations had to be decided, the
County Appraiser needed an Ad Valorem figure and every
Department had to establish a Budget; therefore, this
matter could not be detained. He said when the Broward
Sheriff's Office Contract was brought before the City
Council for approval., he would vote for it because it was
in the best interest of the City.
Mayor Abramowitz said this matter was a very important
issue and the City Council expressed their concerns as to
why he would not allow them to respond to the incorrect
statements. He said the City Council had a right to
discuss these issues and he asked the residents to allow
their elected officials to comment on the matter.
C/M Rohr commended C/M Stelzer for his Report and, if the
residents had any doubts as to why the Broward Sheriff's
Office was being proposed, C/M Stelzer listed all of the
reasons why the merger should take place. He said on top
of the financial problems, the City would have more
essential protection and safety. He said he listed
answers to some of the statements made by the residents
which were not correct; however, he would not submit the
answers at this time. He said the City Council spent a
lot of time to review the Contract and their concerns
were submitted to the City Manager. He said it would be
unfair to the citizens to allow the residents who did not
understand the ramifications or total purpose of the
Contract to vote on the matter. He said the residents
should rely on the people that were spending their time
to do the work for the City and he was pleased that he
was able to do this. He asked the residents to show
confidence in the men that were elected to run the City
of Tamarac with the professional help they had.
C/M Hoffman commended C/M Stelzer for the amount of work
that he put into his presentation. He said C/M Stelzer
covered so many items, it would be impossible for anyone
U0 Lullow along; however, he did not know where C/M
Stelzer figured an increase of $2.25 per $1,000.00 in Ad
Valorem Taxes exclusive of the Police Contract. He said
there was no basis for this figure and he did not know if
it was necessary to return 1 million dollars to the
Utility Fund; however, he was sure that there would be a
needed increase for the general operation of the City.
C/M Hoffman said the City Council was asked several times
what taxes would be involved if the City retained their
own Police Department. He said 1 million dollars
equalled $1.00 in Ad Valorem Taxes. He said if a house
was assessed at $75,000.00 with a $25,000.00 Homestead
Exemption, the taxes would have to be raised by
approximately $50.00 per year for only the operation of
the Police Department. He said at the end of 5 years, if
the City retained their own Police Department, the
estimates would be payment of approximately 9.4 million
dollars more than for the Broward Sheriff's Office
Contract. He said the Contract costs with the Broward
Sheriff's Office were capped and it was unreasonable to
think that the City could retain their own Police
Department for at least 10% per year. He said the City
would be paying an additional 9 million dollars, which
represented an increase of $450.00 per each $75,000.00
for the operational costs of retaining the Police
Department and this was more than what the City would be
paying the Broward Sheriff's Office.
Page 6
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C/M Hoffman said the City Council would be fiscally
irresponsible if they did not considt.;, the Contract with
the Broward Sheriff's Office. He said he indicated
several times that he did not come to a conclusion
regarding the Broward Sheriff's Office Contract; however,
he was open to anyone that could give him a valid reason
for not merging with the Broward Sheriff's Office. He
said he received several reasons; however, no one
indicated why the Contract with the Broward Sheriff's
Office would not be good for the City.
C/M Hoffman said there were several residents who did not
like Sheriff Navarro personally; however, this was not
important. He said it was important what service the
Broward Sheriff's Office could provide to the City at a
specific price. He said the Broward Sheriff's Office
could give the City a greatly improved Police presence at
TAPE 2 a greatly reduced price.
C/M Hoffman said there would be public input on this
matter and, if the residents could submit feasible
reasons why the Contract with the Broward Sheriff's
Office should not be approved, he would vote against it.
He said he has not received one valid, legitimate reason
to this point why the Contract with the Broward Sheriff's
Office should be denied. He said he was very interested
in what the public had to say; however, he felt at this
time that the Contract with the Broward Sheriff's Office
should be approved.
VIM Bender commended C/M Stelzer for his presentation and
said he noted that there would be a savings of $37,721.00
in the Pension contributions by the City.
C/M Stelzer said he did not agree with everything the
City Manager stated in his letter regarding the Pension
Fund. He said if the City contracted with the Broward
Sheriff's Office, the employees who were not vested in
the Pension Plan would only receive the monies they
contributed and the monies contributed by the City would
remain. He said these funds would be deducted from next
year's contributions to balance out the Pension Plan. He
said this was how he established the figure of savings.
VIM Bender said a resident indicated that the City
Council inherited a Budget in March, 1988, with a surplus
of $6,338,376.00. He said the resident indicated that it
seemed the Administration was not doing it's job or did
not know how to handle money.
C/M Stelzer said this was a misstatement because the City
never had a surplus of 6 million dollars. He said there
was a surplus of funds; however, surplus funds were
different than surplus that could be retained or applied.
He said the City was not permitted to retain 6 million
dollars of surplus.
VIM Bender said he reviewed the publication of the Budget
and found the amounts of $6,338 and $376.00; however, in
the Budget, several pages later, the actual fund balance
was $820,000.00, which was either committed or obligated
money. He said committed money was money set aside for
programs that the City intended to start. He said when
the programs were started the monies became obligated for
use to pay the contractors; therefore, it was not money
available in the General Fund for the City to use. He
asked the residents to do a complete job when checking
Page 7
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the documents before commenting on the monies of the
City. He said he reviewed the documents before
commenting on them because he wanted to be fair to the
City.
Mayor Abramowitz said there were several misstatements
given by Harold Newman, Resident, at the June 5, 1989
Public Hearing. He said the statements that regarded him
personally would not be answered; however, he would
assure the residents that they would be answered.
Mayor Abramowitz congratulated C/M Stelzer for his
presentation and said he would like to place the
information into language that would be understood by
every one. He said it was stated that if the City merged
with the Broward Sheriff's Office, the City would spend
$27,452,001.87 over a 5 year period. He said he was
disturbed about what Mr. Newman did not state as opposed
to what he did state. He said Mr. Newman did not
indicate that it would cost the City $36,935,855.00,
which was a differential of approximately 10 million
dollars.
Mayor Abramowitz said the City's contractual obligation
called for a 5 year Contract with a 2 year option. He
said he figured the cost for 7 years as opposed to 5
years and what was great about the Contract was that the
City would have a cap in cost. He said C/M Stelzer
indicated that at the end of the 5th year of the Contract
with the Broward Sheriff's Office the cost would be less
than the cost of this year's Contract with the Police
Department.
Mayor Abramowitz said he reviewed the Budget from 1986
and computed what the City could have saved if they went
with the Broward Sheriff's Office Contract in 1986. He
said he was not involved with the Broward Sheriff's
Office regardless of what the residents hear. He said if
the City would have gone with the Broward Sheriff's
Office in 1986, the City would have saved approximately 2
million dollars plus more each year because of the cap.
He said the Police Department Budget increased each year
62.1%; however, the greatest advantage of merging with
the Broward Sheriff's Office was that the City would have
greater Police service. He said it was not because the
Broward Sheriff's Office was smarter than the City but
because the Broward Sheriff's Office had the manpower.
He said every resident in Broward County paid for the
Broward Sheriff's Office now without benefit. He said
the City Council became very upset when the residents
made statements that were not correct because they were
misinformed; therefore, the City Council had to respond.
C/M Hoffman said he wanted to make certain that as long
as the City renewed the Contract with the Broward
Sheriff's Office, the Broward Sheriff's Office would be
obligated to rent the City's Police Facility. He said he
wanted to prevent a new Sheriff being appointed that did
not want the City's Police Facility. He said he wanted
the Lease to run concurrent with any Contract renewal
made with the Broward Sheriff's Office.
Mayor Abramowitz said he used the inaccurate term
"Development Fees" as opposed to "Revenue". He said the
amount of 1 million dollars was incorrect. He said he
objected to a "yes" or "no" vote on the letter sent to
the residents because he felt that the residents should
have the right to express their opinion.
Page 8
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Mayor Abramowitz asked City Manager Kelly for the latest
amount of responses to the letter sent to the residents
and City Manager Kelly said 976 responses were received
and 922 approved the merger, 31 were against and the
balance had more questions.
C/M Stelzer said C/M Hoffman indicated that the residents
may not understand his comments regarding the
$2,250,000.00 shortage. He said there was a $650,000.00
Drainage fee that the City would never have again,
$613,000.00 surplus for the prior year, which would never
be added again, $500,000.00 in Impact Fees for Interim
Services was lost and the City must return $500,000.00 to
the Utility Fund because it was an inequitable reduction
of taxes that some people were not entitled to. He said
this amounted to $2.25 per year that the residents would
have to pay without Budget changes and merging with the
Broward Sheriff's Office.
C/M Hoffman suggested that C/M Stelzer not write the
Budget for the City Council because C/M Stelzer only cast
one vote as opposed to five. He said when the figures
were available, the City Council should discuss and vote
on it.
A Resident had concerns regarding all of the residents
not receiving the letters. She said the count of letters
received was very deceiving because the letters were not
submitted to all of the residents.
Mayor Abramowitz asked the City Manager to indicate what
the changes were in the Contract and Lease Agreements.
City Manager Kelly said the Contract for Police Services,
Page 4, Item H. "Five Receptionists" clause was deleted.
He said Page 7, Article III, third line, "Vehicles" was
underlined because it was not specifically stated that
vehicles would be included. He said Page 9, there were
underlinings that indicated "Personnel within the Police
Department" because there would be other personnel
besides "Police Officers". He said the intent on the
last line was to comfort the Unions regarding light duty
personnel or excused personnel and personnel that may
fail the required drug test. He said the Broward
Sheriff's Office agreed to include all other Tamarac
Police Department personnel within the Broward Sheriff's
Office.
City Manager Kelly said Page 11, Article 8.1, first and
second line referred to $1,033,000.00, which was the sum
paid by the City'to the Broward Sheriff's Office for the
the last three months of this fiscal year. He said this
would remain constant as monthly payments of $344,527.00.
He said it was previously $5p042,644.00 and, after the
elimination of $150,000.00 for the five Receptionists and
an additional reduction of $50,000.00 for salaries, the
final payments made by the City to the Broward Sheriff's
Office would be $5,082,644.00 with monthly payments of
$4,023,544.00. He said the next change was significant
because if factored in the Police Facility Lease
Agreement. He said this meant that $240,000.00 would be
reduced because this was the amount that the City would
receive from the Broward Sheriff's Office for the rental
of the Police Facility. He said the Broward Sheriff's
Office would also be paying the City $70,000.00 for
maintenance of the Police Facility and $50,000.00 for
equipment. He said the City bought $46,000.00 worth of
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equipment and the furniture for the Police Facility and
refurbished the balance of furniture. He said the
refurbished equipment was included with the vehicles but
the Broward Sheriff's Office would be submitting a check
in the amount of $50,000.00 for the new equipment. He
said the total cost to the City would be $4,722,644.00.
City Manager Kelly said Page 12, "Broward Sheriff's
Office" was inserted to replace "Sheriff". He said Page
18, bottom of Page "of" was inserted after "expiration".
He said Page 19, end of first Paragraph, "At the end of
the 5 year Agreement, the value of the appraised vehicles
and equipment may be negotiated as a credit towards the
option renewal costs."
C/M Stelzer suggested that "Sheriff" be changed to "The
Broward Sheriff's Office" throughout the Police Contract
and Lease Agreement and City Manager Kelly said the
documents would be changed throughout.
C/M Rohr asked if Page 17, Article 18, Termination,
referred to the Leasing of the Police Facility and City
Manager Kelly said this pertained to the first 5 years.
C/M Rohr asked if the Broward Sheriff's Office paid the
City for the use of the Police Facility as long as the
City Contracted with them and City Manager Kelly replied,
yes.
Mayor Abramowitz asked that the residents limit their
remarks to three minutes and give courtesy to the people
speaking.
Corporal Phil Forsberg, President of the Tamarac
Fraternal Order of Police, said he sat with the City
Manager and the Broward Sheriff's Office during the
Contract negotiations. He said there was a savings of
money; however, the issue was that of the people doing
the Police work. He said the Police and staff were often
forgotten; however, because of economics, this could be
understood. He said the Police Officers worked the roads
and the merger with the Broward Sheriff's Office was
totally supported by the members of the Fraternal Order
of Police. He said the Fraternal Order of Police was
planning on negotiating with the City this year to get a
28% raise over a two year period.
Corporal Forsberg said the Police felt that they would
have a safer working environment, appropriate equipment,
needed support and services and a good benefit package
with the Broward Sheriff's Office. He said on behalf of
the Tamarac Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 97, the City
Council and staff had their support in merging with the
Broward Sheriff's Office.
Morris Glicksman, Resident, said the Police Department
had to be paid regardless of whether it was by the City
or the Broward Sheriff's Office. He suggested that the
City continue negotiations with the Police Department and
submit a Contract that would be suitable to allow them so
that the City could remain a whole City and not an
amputated one. He said he lived in Tamarac since 1970
and the relationship between the Police Department and
residents has always been friendly and harmonious and the
residents liked their own Police Department. He said
Page 10
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that divorcing the residents from the Police Department
was foolish, unthinkable and ridiculous because the
Police Department was servicing the City of Tamarac to
the residents satisfaction.
Mr. Glicksman said the reason given by the Administration
for Contracting with the Broward Sheriff's Office was
financial which did not seem right. He said on June 10,
1989, V/M Bender stated that he did not mind paying more
than the City of Lauderhill as long as the service was
better. He asked if there would be a different quality
in service. He said he would like to be able to take his
grandchildren to the new Police Facility and show them
the City of Tamarac's Police Department. He asked the
City Council to reconsider this merger and, if needed,
hold a Referendum to see how the residents feel.
C/M Hoffman said he was concerned with the differential
in payment of the City of Tamarac and the City of
Lauderhill. He said he did not feel that the City of
Tamarac should pay more than the City of Lauderhill;
however, he found out that the City of Lauderhill had a
total area of 7 square miles compacted when the City of
Tamarac's area was approximately 14 square miles strung
out in a long stretch of road. He said this made a big
difference in the Police activity plus there would be an
addition of 13 people to the City of Tamarac as opposed
to the City of Lauderhill. He said even though the
population of the City of Lauderhill was comparable to
the City of Tamarac, the area covered and the
responsibility of the control work was different;
therefore, there was a difference in cost.
Charles Wiesenthal, Resident of Timber Point, said during
the 1986 Referendum the residents of Tamarac voted to
retain their own Police Department. He said the Mayor
and City Council was now ignoring the will of the people.
He said the City Attorney stated at the June 5, 1989
Public Hearing that the Mayor and City Council could sign
the Contract with the Broward Sheriff's Office since
there was no transfer of power. He said the City
Attorney cited the Palm Beach Case; however, the Case did
not apply since there was no Referendum involved;
therefore, the Mayor and City Council were misled.
Mr. Wiesenthal said the Mayor and City Council were
elected to carry out the will of the people and not tell
the people that they did not know enough to make a
decision. He said this was a Democracy and the people
should be given the information to make a decision;
however, the residents were not given all the facts. He
asked why the City held Public Hearings if no one
listened to what the Public had to say. He asked why
there was such a rush to begin the Contract when there
were holes in the Contract that favored the Sheriff. He
said the rental of the Police Facility only covered the
blind interest; therefore, the City could not be gaining
because there was no provision for a Performance Bond or
the funds needed if the City had to retain their own
Police Department if the Broward Sheriff's Office merger
did not work out. He asked if the Fire Department would
be next because the City was becoming a second class City
as opposed to a full service City.
Irving Polk, President of Belfort Neighborhood
Association in Kings Point, said in a Democracy there
were people with different ideas and there were times
when people had strong opinions on a given subject. He
Page 11
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said he respected the people's views; however, he may not
agree with them. He said the Mayor and City Council had
to sometimes make hard decisions and they had to have an
open mind on the issue concerning the Broward Sheriff's
Office. He said he believed the issue to be a matter of
economics because of the financial problems expected in
the upcoming Police negotiations and City Budget.
Mr. Polk said in order to resolve the financial problems
the City Council had to make decisions such as raised
taxes, salaries cut and staff elimination which all were
necessary to upgrade the City. He said the residents
could only make suggestions as to how to resolve the
problems and the City Council must make the hard
decisions. He said if the City could save money and
assure more protection it was the step in the right
direction for the Administration to consider. He said he
had faith in the City Council to do what was right for
the City and he felt it would be a waste of time and
money to hold a Referendum on this issue. He said it was
unwise to leave the decision to the people who elected
the City Council to make these decisions.
Mayor Abramowitz said the previous speaker sounded like
the City was transferring their Police personnel to the
City of Sunrise. He said the City was keeping the Police
personnel in the City and the City was pleased to have
the current personnel. He said the only thing being done
was that the Tamarac Police Department were changing
uniforms.
City Manager Kelly said Mr. Wiesenthal referred to the
rental of the Police Facility. He said the City would
not be required to pay the utilities, telephone
communication or maintenance costs for the Facility.
Herman Schuman, Resident, said he believed that the
Contract was good and the only thing the City would lose
was prestige which was a cheap price to pay for the added
sate ty that the residents would receive. He said the
existing Police Department should have more manners when
handling the residents. He asked if a high Ad Valorem
Tex g0)mitted to the County Appraisers Office would
increase the taxes.
TAPE 3
C/M Stelzer replied, no, because the Ad Valorem Tax would
be lowered before the Budget was adopted. He said if the
City did not submit a high Ad Valorem Tax to the County
Appraisers Office, the City would be committed to the
lower Ad Valorem Tax.
Sam Nadan, Resident of Kings Point, said he was speaking
as representative of the Independent Political Action
Committee of Tamarac (IMPACT). He said they were not
concerned with the economics of the matter and their Case
in the Courts would be heard in the future. He said the
Board of Director instructed their Attorney to pursue the
action and, if necessary, to the Supreme Courts. He said
a previous City Council gave the residents the right of
Referendum; therefore, this City Council should not take
away the right to vote on the same question: He said the
way to fight City Hall was through the Ballot or groups
such as IMPACT; therefore, IMPACT would use the right
during the March, 1989/90 Election to vote the City
Council out of Office.
Page 12
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1
Mayor Abramowitz said he quoted an Article from the Fort
Lauderdale News/Sun Sentinel dated Maur 5, 1989, last week
and he wanted to requote the Article.' He said the
Article related to the County Commission; however, he
would like to change "County Commission" to "City
Council". He read as follows:
"City Council's were elected to make tough decisions about
taxes and spending and to be held accountable for their
decisions not pass the buck to Voters in a Referendum."
Mayor Abramowitz said this decision was not easy but it
was the elected officials decision to make. He said if
the residents wanted trained monkeys as opposed to a
thinking City Council, then the residents knew what they
had to do at the next election.
Abe Garr, President of Kings Point Civic Association,
said everyone that attended the June 5, 1989 Public
Hearing certainly understood the Broward Sheriff's Office
proposal clearly. He said the air should be cleared and
it was obvious that the people opposing the merger were
political and wanted to kill a deal that would benefit
the City. He said he opposed the 6% Utility Tax from a
constructive point of view because there were other
alternatives. He said he felt that Mayor Abramowitz
would do his best for the City and he did not operate
under the premise that to be Mayor, all he had to do was
kiss babies and shake hands.
Mr. Garr said Mayor Abramowitz worked diligently with the
City Manager on the Broward Sheriff's Office proposal and
a Contract was created that increased safety and saved
money. He said the political residents wanted a
Referendum. He said he worked on Contracts for several
years and he felt that the Contract with the Broward
Sheriff's Office was one of the best Contracts that he
ever saw. He congratulated the City Manager for
negotiating the Contract.
Mayor Abramowitz asked that Abe Garr include the City
Council, who have been working hard and conscientious on
the Broward Sheriff's Office proposal.
Sol Regen, Resident of Lakes of Carriage Hills, said he
approved of the Contract with the Broward Sheriff's
Office because it would give the residents better Police
protection. He asked how much of the County taxes paid
by the residents was allocated to the Broward Sheriff's
Office.
Mayor Abramowitz said 58% of the County taxes were
allocated to the Broward Sheriff's Office.
Mr. Regen asked what the extra cost would be to the"
taxpayers if the City merged with the Broward Sheriff's
Office. He said he would waive the answer until the
other speakers completed their comments.
C/M Hoffman said the taxable assessed valuation of the
City was approximately 1 billion dollars and the current
County Ad Valorem Tax was $6.07 per thousand. He said
the residents were paying approximately $6,585,000.00 to
the County and 58% went to the Broward Sheriff's Office
regardless of whether the City received the services of
the Broward Sheriff's Office. He said the City was
paying for the upkeep of the Broward Sheriff's Office in
Page 13
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the amount of $3,800,000.00. He said this was unfair;
however, there was very little that could be done. He
said the way taxes were in Florida, t""12 City must pay the
full tax rate that was paid by every resident of the
County.
C/M Rohr said Mr. Regen asked how much more the residents
would have to pay for the Broward Sheriff's Office if the
City merged with them. He said the City would not pay
any more because the Budget would be less with the
Broward Sheriff's Office than it would be if the City
retained their own Police Department.
Sonny Winnerman, Resident and Officer of Ashmont/Kings
Point, said that there were over 500 residents of the
Ashmont Section that did not receive the letter to the
residents.
Mayor Abramowitz said the City received the list of
Registered Voters from Jane Carroll's, Supervisor of
Elections Office. He said the City was informed that
Lakes of Carriage Hills and certain Sections of Kings
Point did not receive the letters. He said the residents
were asked at the June 5, 1989 Public Hearing to inform
the City if they did not receive their letter. He said
there were approximately 700 letters hand delivered over
the weekend; however, if there were residents who did not
receive their letter, they should inform him or the City
Manager and every effort would be made to have the
letters delivered.
David Krantz, Resident of Section 23, said the City
Manager listed three options in his letter to the
residents. He said the first option to decrease City
services was not acceptable and the second option to
increase taxes with the possibility of a Utility Tax
would be disastrous as well. He said the third option to
merge with the Broward Sheriff's Office was the most
feasible option when all of the facts were considered.
He said the merger would mean more Police Officers on
duty, more Police patrol, better crime prevention,
protection and investigation. He said the Contract
provided the City with a well organized County agency and
it removed the City's Police Department from the possible
stigma of local politics. He said the Contract would
also save the City an excess of 1.million dollars per
year.
Mr. Krantz said at the last City Council Workshop
meeting, Police Chief Joseph McIntosh indicated that he
favored the merger and practically every Police Officer
in the Police Department favored the Contract. He said
there were 41 Presidents of the United States and they
were never asked for a Binding Referendum. He said the 9
Justices of the Supreme Court were never asked for a
Binding Referendum. He said Congress of the United
States passed legislation every day that affected the
Citizens; however, no one ever asked Congress for a
Binding Referendum. He asked that the residents allow
the City Council to do their jobs without the
restrictions of Binding Referendums. He said there were
922 letters approving the Contract with the Broward
Sheriff's Office and 31 against; therefore, this was a
Binding Referendum.
Don Perlman, Resident, said he was ashamed of what he saw
at this meeting because the matter of concern was not a
political issue. He said he approved a County wide
u
Page 14
6/12/89
Sheriff's Department by an appointed official as well as
for a Fire Department. He said this was where the City
was to be looking and there was an easy way of getting
the Broward Sheriff's Office services free of charge by
eliminating the Charter. He said the entire County
should be one Police Department and the Police Officers
and Firefighters should be paid living wages. He said
the residents would not refuse to give the Police and
Fire Departments what they wanted; therefore, the City
Council had a lot more work to do on this matter.
Anthony Grimaldi, Resident of Sunflower/Heathgate, said
there were several people in the Sunflower/Heathgate area
that did not receive the letter.
Mayor Abramowitz asked if Mr. Grimaldi could see that the
distribution was done and Mr. Grimaldi said there would
be no purpose in doing this because the Contract with the
Broward Sheriff's Office would be approved.
Mr. Grimaldi said there were comments made that this
matter was political and it was unfair for the residents
to make this statement. He said he supported Bernard
Hart for Mayor; however, he came to know Mayor Abramowitz
during the election and he felt that Mayor Abramowitz
would be a good Mayor because of the platform that was
presented. He said, unfortunately, during Mayor
Abramowitz's first presentation of the Budget to the
residents, everything said on his platform was not true.
He said there were reasons for people to think that there
were things wrong along the line.
Mr. Grimaldi said within the last few weeks there were
things occurring with the School Board that pertained to
busing. He said the people expressed their concerns;
however, the School Board did not hear them. He said
this was the same thing with the residents regarding this
issue and, as long as there were people who asked him to
assist in matters, he would even though he did not intend
to run for office.
Mr. Grimaldi said for 3 weeks in the City of Beijing
thousands of young people and students fought to present
their program to the leaders of their Country and the
leaders allowed this to occur until they decided to stop
them by shooting them. He said he was thankful that the
City Council was not shooting at the residents of
Tamarac.
Mayor Abramowitz said the City has been tranquil and
quiet which has not occurred within the last few years.
He said his political advisors informed him that it was
crazy to be involved in this issue because it was
detrimental and the political enemies were being given an
issue. He said he was not elected to cut ribbons, kiss
babies and kick footballs onto a field. He said the City
Council had to do what they felt was the proper thing
because this was what they were elected for and that was
what the City Council was supposed to do. He said if
residents wanted less than that, they wanted trained
monkeys.
C/M Rohr said there were approximately 42,000 residents
and the issue was presented for several weeks. He said
there were 230 seats in the Council Chambers and, at the
June 5, 1989 Public Hearing, there were approximately 175
people who attended. He said there were approximately
200 in attendance at this meeting; therefore, if there
i
Page 15
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was such opposition to the Mayor and City Council
deciding this issue, there would be more people
attending. He said most of the residents in the City had
confidence in the City Council and Mayor and they knew
that the City Council and Mayor would not do things to
hurt anyone because if the residents were hurt the City
Council and Mayor would hurt. He said the City Council
and Mayor were residents of the City and all of the
opposing residents did not review the matter thoroughly
because they would find that it would cost the City much
more by not Contracting with the Broward Sheriff's
Office. He said he was honored that people had respect
and confidence in their City Council and he would
continue to do what he could.
Ben Goldberg, Resident of Royal Palm Court, asked that
the City Council allow the voters of Tamarac to express
their opinions by a Binding Vote. He said the Police
Expenditures for 7 months was $2,549,652.00 against a
total Budget $4,840,816.00. He asked why there was a
hurry and the matter could be completed at the Fiscal
closing and the residents could be given a binding vote.
Mr. Goldberg said the proposed Budget given to Harold
Newman indicated a proposed Budget of $6,204,155.00 and a
proposed Budget for the Broward Sheriff's Office for
approximately $425,444.00. He said the proposed Police
Budget suggested that they were looking towards the
Broward Sheriff's Office. He said the City did not
attempt to review or revise the City Budget before
beginning negotiations with the Broward Sheriff's Office.
He said he was never given a free ride on maintenance or
utilities as a leaser and the costs were usually doubled.
Alfred Winder, Resident of Bermuda Club, said he objected
to the merger with the Broward Sheriff's Office because
having a Police Department in Tamarac was very important.
Abraham Feldman, Resident of Westwood 22, asked if Cities
which merged with the Broward Sheriff's Office were
investigated to see if they were receiving the services
promised in their Contracts. He asked what recourse the
City had if the Broward Sheriff's Office did not adhere
to the Contract.
Mayor Abramowitz said he received two letters, one from
the Mayor of the City of Lauderdale Lakes and the other
from the Mayor of the City of Lauderhill. He said both
letters gave opinions of the Broward Sheriff's Office and
he submitted these letters to Mr. Feldman.
C/M Stelzer said the Contract specified penalties if the
City did not receive the amount of Police enforcement as
contracted.
C/M Rohr said at the June 5, 1989 Public Hearing, a
former Council person stated she knew that the Cities
Contracting with the Broward Sheriff's Office were very
unhappy. He said he was upset that he could not respond
to this statement; however, at the Northwest Council of
Mayor's Meeting held today, he sat next to the Mayors of
Lauderhill and Lauderdale Lakes and they both indicated
that they were happy with the arrangement with the
Broward Sheriff's Office. He said the Mayors were upset
with anyone making this kind of remark about their Cities
and their connection with the Broward Sheriff's Office.
1
1
1
Page 16
6/12/89
TAPE 4
Joseph O'Loughlin, Resident and Police Officer, said he
was a Police Officer in the City for approximately 9
years and a Sergeant for 3 years. He said he approved of
the merger with the Broward Sheriff's Office because of
the higher wage scale, better benefits, greater
opportunities for the Police Officers to receive career
advancement and greater job satisfaction. He said the
advantage to the residents was easily seen and, as a
resident who was concerned about taxes and the health and
welfare of his family and City, he favored the merger
with the Broward Sheriff's Office. He said the citizens
would have a guaranteed level of higher services at a
lower and fixed cost for 7 years. He said the City would
maintain control of the Police Department by controlling
who transferred in and out of the District and who was
appointed District Commander.
Mr. O'Loughlin said the City would be patrolled by the
same Police Officers and the Broward County Chiefs of
Police Association recently began a study for a large
integrated Police Agency, County -wide. He said this type
of organization already existed, which was the Broward
Sheriff's Office. He said a large organization would be
able to focus and concentrate it's resources in areas of
high crime when needed with Officers available for these
purposes as opposed to Officers that would be taken from
other duties within the City. He said since the
population in Broward increased the Broward Sheriff's
Office reflected the obvious answer to the problems.
Mayor Abramowitz introduced Joe Varcelone, Vice Mayor of
Margate.
Vice Mayor Varcelone said he was not present to take a
stand on the issue; however, he did want to compliment
the City Council, staff and audience for listening to
each other regardless of what side they were on.
Mayor Abramowitz said the Mayor of North Lauderdale was
.resent at the beginning of the meeting.
Bernard Hart, Resident of Section 16, said he intended to
read what he wrote even though newcomers to the City
accused him of being political. He said the main
question was if the citizens had the moral right to vote
on a proposal that would change the structure of the
City.
Mr. Hart said he has said after all facts were made known
and it was in the best interest of the City, he would
endorse the merger with the Broward Sheriff's Office. He
said the right of those who pay the bill to vote "yes" or
"no" should not be questioned. He said he and several
others asked how much the taxes would be raised if the
Police Department Budget was given a reasonable increase
and the questions were almost answered tonight by C/M
Stelzer; however, Mayor Abramowitz refused to answer this
question.
Mr. Hart said the Contract amount was reduced last week
by $300,000.00 with the concurrence of Chief McIntosh.
He suggested that the City Council review the Contract
further to see if additional costs could be cut. He said
there was still enough time to review, prepare next
year's Budget and allow the residents time to vote. He
said during the June 5, 1989 Public Hearing, a misguided
person gave the impression that at the last Election on
this issue, 840 voted. He said 7,770 voters rejected the
Page 17
6/12/89
previous proposal by the Broward Sheriff's Office. He
said the Action Committee of Tamarac, IMPACT, Concerned
Citizens, Tamarac Democratic Club, Tamarac Presidents
Council and Sunflower/Heathgate Homeowners Association
were requesting that the residents be allowed to vote on
this issue.
Mr. Hart challenged anyone on the City Council to make a
Motion to go to Referendum to determine who opposed and
who approved of the Contract with the Broward Sheriff's
Office. He said if the City Council was so sure that the
Public supported them on this issue why not allow the
residents to vote. He said C/M Rohr's statement
regarding there being 220 people in the audience did not
mean that these people represented 29,800 Registered
Voters in the City. He asked the City Council to allow
the residents to vote and he would voice his opinion as
well. He said that employees of the City and Police
Officers were still employees of the City until the
Contract was signed. He said he resented the Police
Officers who booed the speakers they did not agree with.
C/M Rohr said he remembered the previous straw vote on
the Broward Sheriff's Office matter and the only
difference was approximately 700 votes. He said when the
vote came in, the City Council was very disappointed and
Mr. Hart indicated his disappointment to the people
because it was a straw vote. He said the City Council
had the right and the duty to decide whether or not
negotiations should take place with the Broward Sheriff's
Office. He said there was a lot of talk regarding
whether the City Council should pursue the issue;
however, there were several people.
C/M Hoffman said Mr. Hart mentioned Civic Organizations
that opposed the merger with the Broward Sheriff's
Office. He said 6% of Sunflower/Heathgate came out to
vote during an Election that concerned a School Board
matter. He said Concerned Citizens consisted of two
peox)le and he would like to know how many more people Mr.
Hart spoke for in the other Organizations. He said he
attended the Democratic Organization and the vote was
taken illegally and improperly which he protested to the
D��<<uc�di:ic Executive Committee about the action. He said
the difference was not more than 5 people and one of Mr.
Hart's cronies did the counting. He said Mr. Hart
mentioned statistics as falsely as things Mr. Hart did as
Mayor.
Shirley Blumfield, Resident of Isles of Tamarac, said
when the Contract was signed, she would feel more secure
and comfortable knowing that the residents would be
supported by the Police Department and with the knowledge
of the Broward Sheriff's Office. She said it disturbed
her to hear the residents degrade the City Council. She
said the residents were not sticking to the issue which
was the Broward Sheriff's Office Contract. She said the
res=d'nts were consistently referring to their rights;
however, no one was referring to the rights of the City
Council.
Mrs. Blumfield thanked the City Council for answering all
of her questions and she said the rights of the people
would not be infringed upon if the residents allowed the
City Council to sign the Contract with the Broward
Sheriff's Office; however, the rights of the City Council
would be infringed upon if the matter went to Referendum.
She said the City Council was elected to legislate as
Page 18
6/12/89
opposed to being allowed to legislate. She said for the
good of the people, the Contract with. ,°-,he Broward
Sheriff's Office must not be delayed "ay further.
Harold Newman, Resident, said the last twelve years he
was asked to run for the Mayor and City Council seats;
however, he would never seek Public Office. He said he
wanted the residents to have the right to vote either
"yes" or "no" on the Broward Sheriff's Office Contract;
however, the residents were being denied this right
because the City Manager failed to provide to the Members
of the Petitioners Committee the necessary blank form, as
required by law and stated in Ordinance 76-34, Article
VI, Section 6.09 and Section II, Paragraph 2 of the City
Charter which stated:
"The City Manager shall promptly prepare at issue the
appropriate petition blanks to the Petitioners' Committee."
Mr. Newman said Webster Dictionary indicated "promptly"
to be "at once, or without delay, ready, quick." He said
his concern on the Broward Sheriff's Office matter was
devoted to make certain that the Contract between the
City and the Broward Sheriff's Office was to the best
interest of the residents. He said he did not feel that
the Lease Agreement was in the benefit of the City and he
questioned how some of the terms were arrived at such as,
how the $10.00 per square footage was determined. He
said considering the Police Facility was constructed in
the amount of 2.5 million dollars and was never occupied,
it was a great deal for the Broward Sheriff's Office to
pay $10.00 per square footage. He said rentals for
stores in new shopping centers where they could not get
tenants, cost $14.00 to $20.00 per square footage.
Mr. Newman asked to meet with City Manager Kelly
regarding the other questions that he had. He said he
felt that a good business sense would have been to have a
triple net Lease. He said the Mayors of Lauderdale Lakes
and Lauderhill praised the Broward Sheriff's Office as
having performed their Police duties in an exemplary
fashion. He said the subject of the Broward Sheriff's
Office was a defeated question; however, he asked that
the Broward Sheriff's Office perform their Police duties
in the same professional manner to the people in Tamarac
as they do elsewhere.
City Manager Kelly said Mr. Newman indicated that there
were shopping centers who could not get tenants but they
charged $14.00 to $20.00 per square footage.
Mr. Newman said some of the shopping centers were having
a hard time; however, when they rented, they received
$14.00 to $20.00 per square footage.
Mayor Abramowitz said Mr. Newman stated that the City
Manager did not submit the necessary documents for a
petition to him. He asked Mr. Newman if he informed the
residents that the document was delivered to the City
Manager late Thursday which was turned over to the City
Attorney. He said the City Attorney was in Court Friday,
June 9, 1989, getting the proposed injunction denied and
dismissed by the Judge. He said the City Attorney has
been researching the matter and he has informed that the
information would be ready tomorrow. He said he did not
understand Mr. Newman's comments since the information
was submitted just recently.
Page 19
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Mr. Newman asked City Attorney Doody i.f he was supposed
to submit the information to him todaf.
City Attorney Doody said he received a copy of a Petition
that was delivered at 4:00 P.M. on Thursday, June 8,
1989. He said Friday morning he was in Court. He said
an Ordinance was submitted to him that had a title of
approximately 90 words which did not meet 101.161 of the
Florida Statutes that required 75 words. He said these
were the types of issues that he was responsible to
research. He said it took Mr. Newman one week to draft
the Ordinance; however, he only had 1-1/2 days to submit
a 3,000 signature petition. He said he resented the fact
that he dropped several items that were needed to get the
petition. He said he dealt with the matter promptly and
the documents would be ready tomorrow.
Irving Lopatey, President of the Tamarac Presidents
Council, said the Tamarac Presidents Council began their
meeting last Tuesday, June 6, 1989, with 40 voting
members. He said when there were 13 voting members, a
Motion was made and remade until finally the Motion was
clarified. He said the Motion which was passed was to
refer to the Advisory Committee for advice to the Board
of Directors for a recommendation as to whether there
should be a Referendum or not.
Sam Schwartz, Resident of Concord Village, said he
supported the Broward Sheriff's Office merger. He said
he worked in many different developments and it pleased
him to see a Sheriff's vehicle being brought home and
visible. He said the Tamarac Police Department did not
have the appropriate equipment or backup when there was a
vehicle or Police Officer out of service. He said when
these things were needed so drastically, he was ashamed
that anyone opposed it.
Mr. Schwartz said there were several comments made
regarding this matter not being political which he
disagreed with because in 1986 he and Shirley Blumfield
were passing out booklets on the issue. He said the
matter did not pass and the Mayor at that time promised
that the City Council would abide by the residents'
wishes which they did. He said there were papers being
passed around that indicated in 1990 the Mayor and
Council would be eliminated because they were not giving
the people the right to vote. He said the Mayor and City
Council were elected by the people to do a job and he
felt they were doing a great job; therefore, the
residents should allow the City Council and Mayor to
continue.
C/M Stelzer said he sat through the Tamarac Presidents
Council meeting last week and he informed them that he
was disappointed that the Tamarac Presidents Council
never came to a determination as to whether a Referendum
should be held. He said Mr. Newman made several Motions
that a Referendum should be held and the final Motion was
that the Tamarac Presidents Council should come out with
a stand that they were in favor of a Referendum. He said
this was what happened as opposed to what Mr. Lopatey
just stated.
Mayor Abramowitz thanked the residents for their
consideration and patience. He requested those who
professed an interest in the City support the Broward
Sheriff's Office Contract and, if it was not an
appropriate decision, the residents could resolve the
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6/12/89
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matter during the March, 1990 Elections. He said he
would like the residents to give the Contract an
opportunity because it would be in the best interest of
the City if it worked as it was created to work.
With no further business, Mayor Abramowitz ADJOURNED this
meeting at 10:35 P.M.
42 Z6�� �-
ROL A. EVANS, CITY CLERK
"This public document was promulgated at a cost of $180.80 or $22.60 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.
CIT Y OF TAMARAC
APPROVED AT MEETING OF
City Clerk
Page 21