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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1985-07-19 - City Commission Special Meeting MinutesC� MAIL REPLY TO: P.O. BOX 25010 TAMARAC, FLORIDA 33320 5811 NORTHWEST 88TH AVENUE 9 TAMARAC, FLORIDA 33321 TELEPHONE (305) 722.5900 July 15, 1985 NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING CITY COUNCIL OF TAMARAC, FLORIDA There will be a Special Meeting of the City Council on Friday, --Jul 19 at 9:00 A.M. in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 5811 NW 88 Avenue, Tamarac, The purpose of this meeting is discussion and possible action for Council to consider transfer from the Contingency Fund to various City Departments: 1. Engineering Department 2. City Clerk Department 3. Building Department 4. Parks and Recreation Department 5. Any other departments Council wishes toladdress The City Council may consider and act upon such other business as may come before it. The public is invited to attend. Marilyn Bertholf, CMC City Clerk Pursuant to Section 286.0105, Florida Statutes If a person decides to appeal any decision made by the city Council with respect to any matter considered at such meeting or hearing, he will need a record of the proceedings and for such purpose, he may need to ensure that a verbatim record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER POLICY OF NONDISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF HANDICAPPED STATUS 1 1 CITY OF TAMARAC CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING FRIDAY, JULY 19, 1985 Tape CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Philip B. Kravitz called the meeting to order on 1 Friday, July 19, 1985 at 9 A.M. in Council Chambers. PRESENT: Mayor Philip B. Kravitz Vice Mayor Helen Massaro Councilman Arthur H. Gottesman Councilman Raymond J. Munitz Councilman Sydney M. Stein - ALSO PRESENT: Jon M. Henning, City Attorney Larry Perretti, Acting City Manager Diane Williams, Secretary MEDITATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Kravitz called for a Moment of --Silent Meditation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL 6-.-Employment of Finance Director - Discussion and possible action SYNOPSIS OF ACTION: Agendized by Consent See pages 5 & 6 V/M Massaro MOVED to agendize by consent the approval of the Finance Director who has been selected by the Acting City Manager. SECONDED by C/M Gottesman. VOTE: ALL VOTED AYE 7. Consideration For Adoption of New Sister City - Discussion and possible action SYNOPSIS OF ACTION: Agendized by Consent See page V/M Massaro MOVED to agendize by consent for discussion and possible action a request for a resolution to name a new Sister City. SECONDED by C/M Gottesman. VOTE: ALL VOTED AYE LEGAL AFFAIRS 8. cquisition of Land in Land Section-7 - Financing - Discussion and possible action SYNOPSIS OF ACTION: Agendized by Consent See page 5 V/M Massaro said they are in the process of acquiring 45 acres of land as a result of the condemnation suit and have discussed the fact that this purchase would be covered with a bond. She said. she has pertinent information and MOVED to agendize by consent to authorize the Finance Director ro investigate an alternate means of financing at a rate of 5-1/2%. SECONDED by C/M Gottesman. Mr. Henning clarified that the proposed alternate means of financing is offered through the Florida League of Cities. UM ALL VOTED AYE 7/19/85 vdw GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE & FINANCIAL 7. Consideration for Adoption of New Sister _City - Discussion and possible action SYNOPSIS OF ACTION: Agendized by consent on Page 1 APPROVED request for City Attorney to prepare appropriate resolution adopting Givatayim, Israel as the new sister city Jack Weiner, Commissioner of Human Relations, reported on the proposed trip to the Sister City, Kiryat Tivon, Israel and the importance of why Council needs to take immediate action. Mr. Weiner referenced a letter dated May 11, 1985 from the Mayor in Kiryat Tivon which stated that after serious deliberation regarding their trip to Israel in November, he felt it advisable to postpone the signing of the Sister City Agreement for a few months. Mr. Weiner said the Mayor cited the designated time in November as inconvenient since they will be signing a similar agreement with a city in West Germany in October. Mr. Weiner said Mayor Kravitz had received two phone calls from the Mayor indicating that he would not be available for the signing ceremony in November. He reported that during the telephone discussions, Mayor Ben-Dror suggested the adoption of another sister city. Mr. Weiner requested that Council consider adopting Givatayim as the new Sister City whose Mayor is Isaac Yarron. Mayor Yarron has submitted the background of his city and expressed that it would be an honor for them to have the City of Tamarac as a Sister City. Mr. Weiner said. he was in agreement for the November date for the signing ceremony. Mr. Weiner understood that Mayor Yarron spoke to Mayor Ben-Dror and Mayor Ben-Dror had no objections. Mr. Weiner referenced a mail -a -gram dated July 12, 1985 that stated that with the consent of Mayor Ben-Dror, the Mayor of Givatayim has confirmed the details as given to Council. He said with these facts in mind, and the urgency to be allowed to continue their proposed trip, which they can not afford to cancel, he recommended to Council that the City Attorney be authorized to draw up the proper resolution approving the City of Givatayim. He asked that the City Attorney also include authorization of the execution of this resolution due on this trip in November, and authorization for the Mayor to carry out the provisions of the resolutions providing for an effective date. He said he is prepared to answer any questions that Council may have. C/M Stein said they have spent over two years negotiating and selecting this city, the Mayor came here to visit and Council determined that Kiryat Tivon was the city most compatible to Tamarac. He said now he is hearing that because they have a trip scheduled that does not meet the Mayor's scheduling in Israel that they should select another city to accommodate the trip's schedule. C/M Stein said that he does not know anything about Givatayim and whether it is compatible to Tamarac. He said if the Mayor of Kiryat Tivon does not want to have Tamarac as a Sister City, he can accept that but felt that definite investigation should be done before they select another Sister City. He said he would like to see it TABLED because he does not understand the urgency other than the trip has been planned. He said that if it turns out, upon investigation, that Givatayim is compatible then they can go with it. C/M Gottesman said that it was the Mayor of the original Sister City that proposed that 'Tamarac select another Sister City. -2- 7/19/85 /vdw Mr. Jack Weiner replied that Mayor Ben-Dror did not have the time because he is busy with another sister city. He asked why should they try to push themselves off on a city that does not want them. He reported that he does have the information from the proposed Sister City of Givatayim which has a population of approximately 50,000 residents. He said their industry and commerce is the same as Kiryat Tivon and Givatayim has ten (10) primary schools, four (4) high schools, a high-level art school and it has a very large successful program for its senior citizens. Mayor Kravitz said the Mayor of Kiryat Tivon was eager to have Tamarac as a Sister City and has never said that he does not want Tamarac as a Sister City. Mayor Kravitz said, however, that Mayor Ben-Dror did say, on two separate occasions, that he could not go along with this trip. The Mayor said he personally felt that they could not keep postponing trips and that it was urgent for them to adhere to the proposed trip schedule. Mayor Kravitz said he understood that the proposed Sister City is even more accessible and equally as good as Kiryat Tivon and that Council needs to make a decision today because their decision will decide the fate of the proposed trip. C/M Munitz asked the location of Givatayim. Mr. Weiner said it is located ten (10) minutes from Tel Aviv as opposed to an hour or an hour and a half from Kiryat Tivon. C/M Munitz asked if it was on the same road going east. Mr. Weiner replied that it was on the same road going east. C/M Stein clarified that Kiryat Tivon has not rejected Tamarac but it is just a matter of scheduling. He said the original trip was scheduled prior to November which Mayor Ben-Dror was very happy with but that Mayor Kravitz could not meet that schedule and changed it to November. He said he assumed that it had been cleared by both mayors but said, evidently, it had not. C/M Stein said he wants the record to reflect that it is not important to have a trip to schedule a Sister City but that it is more important to have a Sister City_that was mutually decided upon. C/M Stein said it was degrading to the City of Givatayim because they have not conducted investigations as to compatibility but rather have selected a city to fill, in their schedule. C/M Gottesman asked if Givatayim is willing to send a delegation to America to sign a reciprocal agreement or will this be a unilateral agreement. Mayor Kravitz said his understanding is that when they go there in November there will be a signing agreement. He said, however, that no discussion was held as to them coming to Tamarac at some future date and reasoned that it was not germaine to the issue. Mr. Weiner referenced letter from Mayor Ben-Dror which stated that if the city's trip to Kiryat Tivon is already underway that he would be pleased to meet them without any official ceremony. Mayor Kravitz said Mayor Ben-Dror stated that he could not meet with them any time this year for an official signing and explained that is why it is urgent that Council take action this morning. -3- 7/19/85 /vdw v 1 1 1 V/M Massaro directed her response to C/M Stein's remark that they did not know who lives in Givatayim and stated that she does not know who lives in Kiryat Tivon. She felt that something has occurred which has created an unhealthy situation and that it is her belief that if Givatayim is eager that there is not much time to deliberate on this as a great many people's money is in jeopardy. She reasoned that it has been looked into very carefully from the information presented to them by Mr. Weiner and MOVED that Council APPROVE the request from Mr. Jack Weiner asking the City Attorney to draw up an appropriate resolution that would be presented at Wednesday's meeting; (7/24/85). C/M Gottesman asked if Mayor Ben-Dror has indicated when he would want to have the agreement. Mr. Weiner said he indicated some time next year. C/M Gottesman said that would leave things up in the air for all the people who have planned on going there and SECONDED the MOTION on that basis. C/M Munitz asked how many people have signed up for the trip. Mr. Weiner said he had received 60 deposits. Mayor Kravitz said he has checks in his office from 20 people that he has not given to Mr. Weiner which would increase the total to 80. C/M Munitz said he does not see that this Sister City arrangement contains any meaningfulness at all because of the "rushed" nature that this has taken. V/M Massaro said that her statement had been distorted and asked that Council move forward with goodwill in their hearts. She said if they decide when they are in Israel that it is not the right thing to do, they will have had a nice trip and will come back very well pleased at having gone there. C/M Gottesman reasoned that the trip itself is the deal because 80 people have signed up to go to the Holy Land, and it is not a question of just a Sister City. He said he does not think Council should deprive the people of their trip and to go to another city of equal caliber is the important thing. Mr. Henning"said the MOTION is for -him to prepare a resolution for Wednesday's meeting to accept the new city as the Sister City. V/M Massaro said that would also include authorization for the Mayor to enter and sign the documents. Mr. Henning said that would be part of the resolution but first the resolution has to be prepared and placed on the agenda. VOTE: C/M Stein Nay C/M Munitz Nay C/M Gottesman Aye V/M Massaro Aye Mayor Kravitz Aye -4- 7 /1.9 /85 /vdw j LEGAL AFFAIRS Acquisition of Land in Land Section 7 - Financing - Discussion and possible action SYNOPSIS OF ACTION_ Agendized by consent on Page 1 V/M Massaro explained that they had intended to float the bond to pay for the land that they intend to acquire in Land Section 7 for the deep well injection and other purposes but was made aware of an alternate method of financing with the possibility of saving a lot of money. She said there would be no bond fees attached to this type of loan and understood, at the present time, that it is at 5-1/4%. V/M Massaro asked that this be researched carefully by the City Manager, City Attorney and the Finance Department to determine if this is a simple interest loan and that they would only be charged interest on the unpaid balance for a period of ten (10) years. She said the information would be brought back to Council for further determination as no loan will be made now. She said if the City Attorney determines that this may take place during the month of August she felt certain that he would instigate proper action along with the Mayor and so MOVED. SECONDED by C/M Gottesman. Vickie Beech, resident, asked if in the event that this is not possible through the Florida League of Cities, there will be no action taken to pursue it further and that staff will not be given carte blanche to do something without coming back to Council. V/M Massaro said the NUTION only refers to this particular research. Mr. Henning explained that the City is contemplating purchasing 45 acres of land on Land Section 7 and the funding for this land is proposed to be from impact fees from developers. He said V/M Massaro reported that she has learned of possible bond money available through the Florida League of Cities at a low interest rate. He said the MOTION is to authorize the City staff to look into this information and report back to Council to see if that would be an alternate method of financing the land purchases. VOTE: ALL VOTED AYE V/M Massaro questioned whether it would be impact fees from developers. Mr. Henning explained that CIAC is the impact fees from developers. She asked if the money would be borrowed from CIAC to be returned. Mr. Henning said no, the proposal is that the approximate $1 million dollars would come from the connection charge fund,.'Whfch are impact fees from developers. GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL 6. mp oyment o inane Director - Discussion and possible action SYNOPSIS OF ACTION: Agendized by consent on Page 1 APPROVED employment of Frank Etheredge as Finance Director Acting City Manager Larry Perretti reported that he had interviewed a number of candidates for the Finance Director's position and selected Frank Etheredge. He informed 'hat Mr. Etheredge has had experience -5- 7/19/85 /vdw V' in the City of Larado, Texas as the Finance Director and in Dothan, Alabama with a population of approximately 55,000. Mr. Perretti said that he has spoken with Mr. Etheredge and was informed that Mr. E:ther.edgecould be available for work Monday, July 22, 1985, and recommended that Council approve his employment effective 7/22/85 at a starting salary of $36,008. V/M Massaro asked Mr. Perretti to confirm Mr. Etheredge's probationary period. He answered that he will be on a six (6) months' probationary period, and his medical benefits would be available to him and his family after ninety (90) days of employment as all other employees within the city except for Police and Fire who have a year's probationary period. V/M Massaro asked if it was customary to pay for the family's insurance as well as the employee's or does the employee contribute towards that. Mr, Perretti said the employee contributes and the city pays a portion of the dependent(s) coverage which amounts to approximately $41 bi-monthly. Mr. Henning said that is less than half. V/M Massaro inquired if car expenses have been included in this agreement and Mr. Perretti said there will not be. V/M Massaro asked about further increases. Mr. Henning said the standard in the city has been that when an employee is taken off probation they receive a one-step 4 % increase. Mr. Perretti said that will be according to what happens October 1, 1985, pertaining to the October 1 - April 1 concept versus the anniversary date increase. He said if the October 1 - April 1 concept, which is presently in effect stands, and Mr. Etheredge will not get another increase until April 1 of next year. C/M Gottesman inquired if there were any other perks involved. Mr. Perretti replied nothing else was discussed other than what the other general employees receive. V/M Massaro reviewed all the applications for the Finance Director's position and concluded that she would have selected Mr. Etheredge and stated that she is not the least bit reluctant to MOVE to ACCEPT the selection made by the Acting City Manager. SECONDED by C/M Stein. C/M Munitz asked how many applications were received. Mr. Perretti answered 28. C/M Munitz asked how many did he interview. Mr. Perretti indicated that he interviewed five. Vickie Beech, resident, said that she has sat through quite a few votes of approval for various employees that the city has hired. She said the employees are aware of the probationary period but about two months before the probationary period is over, the city feels an urgency that they may lose them and decides to give them increases and voiced her opposition to this. V/M Massaro said she agreed with Ms. Beech wholeheartedly. VOTE: ALL VOTED AYE -6--- 7/10/85 /vdw 1. Engineering Department - Request for Transfer From Contingency Fund - Discussion and possible action SYNOPSIS OF ACTION: TABLED to next regular meeting for additional research Tape Bill Greenwood, Utililties Director, said he had a revised request for $5,350 for the remainder of the year. He said the largest increase is in Professional Services for $3,000. Mr. Greenwood said the other items are approximately split accordingly. He said the income presently in the City Engineer's Office as of June 3 was $172,886.13 which has covered expenditures to date. Mr. Greenwood said the projection for the total income for the department is $235,515. C/M Stein asked where they -would obtain the $5,350 to make the transfer. Mr. Perretti recalled that, in the past, the city has not gone into interdepartmental transfers and perceived this as a way of obtaining money. He explained that, if, in fact, a department had any fat in their budget and felt they would have a surplus through September 30, they could give it back in order that it be used for interdepartmental transfers. Mr. Perretti said at the present time there is $174,061.53 of total available funds that could be used for these transfers. He asked for Council's approval to transfer departmental surpluses under salary line items. C/M Stein asked if the funds were available if Council approves all - budget transfers. Mr. Perretti answered that right now there is $174,000 that can be transferred, and if transfers from the salary line items are approved, they, too, will be available for transfer. Mr. Greenwood said none of the funds has come or should ever come from any contingency fund from the city. V/M Massaro said it sounded as if they were asking for a budget amendment and any change in the budget requires a couple of months. She said it has been her understanding that iptradepartmental changes could be made but that inter- departmental changes required an amendment to the budget itself. V/M Massaro said that she would like explanations as to why the budget requests are needed and that the City Attorney research the legality of everything. She asked Council to take into consideration that they have only the months,of August and September before the new budget is enforced and asked that they take a close look at everything that has been requested for this two -month period but that they take no action other than to listen, absorb it and think about it until the 7/24/85 Council meeting. V/M Massaro said that she is asking that every one of the items on the agenda be explained by the department head and that Council will render a decision at Wednesday's meeting. Mayor Kravitz inquired if she would like an explanation and no action until Wednesday's meeting which, in effect, can be interpreted as a request for tabling. -7- 7/19/85 /vdw 1 V/M Massaro said this was a request for Tabling as the City Attorney has to research the legality of the requests. City Attorney Henning reported that in preparation for the meeting he talked with Mark Wilson, representative with Touche Ross. He said they discussed the amended budget versus line item transfers. Mr. Henning explained that an amended budget is an approximately 30-day procedure with two (2) advertisements in advance. He said Mr. Wilson discussed the likelihood of preparing revised revenues along with expenditures to give an accurate accounting. Mr. Henning said according to Mark Wilson's experiences with municipalities he felt it would be appropriate to do the line item transfers as proposed and, secondly, if Council decides to reconcile the budget before the books are closed out for the year, Council should reconcile the revenues to give a full picture of the situation. C/M Stein concurred with V/M Massaro but also wanted clarification that if they did approve where the money would come from. He said he also agreed with Larry Perretti and Bill Greenwood because TUW is not part of the city's operating budget because they have their own budget, income and expenses. C/M Stein evidenced that Council would still have to approve the transfers but they should be allotted to the income and expense of TUW without affecting the city's con- tingency fund. V/M Massaro agreed and stated that it can not be intermingled with the city's funds but has to stay with TUW. C/M Stein said they should go over them to see how many they approve and then determine where the money will come from. C/M Munitz asked if they were talking about General Fund Budget adjustments. Mayor Kravitz answered that TUW is not ' part of the General Fund. C/M Munitz questioned if they should be separated and asked which funds they are trying to adjust. Larry Perretti said he was showing $174,000,which could be interdepartmentally transferred rather than coming out of the General Fund. V/M Massaro stated that she understood Mr. Perretti to say that he is bringing forth, for general information, that there is a certain amount of money available for the other transfers that have nothing to do with TUW. Mr. Greenwood continued that line account 362 has $13,100. He said his main request is for authorization for the TUW budget to hire an engineer and draftsperson to handle the projected 20 million dollars worth of capital improvements: approximately 15 million dollars from the bond issue and $5 million dollars from other funds, mainly, C1AC tunds. He said the positions are desperately needed because the city presently has one employee and his staff overseeing the grants and administration consists of one secretary, one grants administrator and himself. He explained that his time is spent in three (3) major categories: City Engineer's Department, Grants for 20 million dollars and Utility operations for the budget that is over 5 million dollars. Mr. Greenwood reasoned that the workload would interfere with the efficiency of his department. Mayor Kravitz asked if he was asking for this money between now and October because October 1 would be the date the city's new budget is effective. 7/19/85 /vdw �r C/M Gottesman asked when he expected to put the people on board. Mr. Greenwood explained that TUW is set up so that all it would take is Council's authorization because it does not require advertising. Mr. Greenwood presented a revised budget for Water Treatment Account #363 for $55,000 and stated that the main increase of the $55,000 request is $50,000 for Florida Power & Light. to offset additional electrical consumption by the plant. He provided a graphic illustration and explained the increase in costs. V/M Massaro inquired if $50,000 is needed for the next two months. Mr. Greenwood reported that they were budgeted $135,000 for energy in 1984-85 and that they are essentially at that mark now and requested funds required to pay for services for July, August and September. He said it fluctuates between $13,000 to $17,000 per month. V/M Massaro asked the Finance Department to conduct an examination of the city's water rates to determine if it is carrying its own weight citing the tremendous cost of electricity as the reason for her proposal. Mr. Greenwood discussed the revised Wastewater Treatment Account #368 which is comprised of two topics: Professional Services and Electricity. He said the increase in Pro- fessional Services was mainly associated with the diffi- culties of obtaining and maintaining the treatment plant under permit status acquiring temporary operating permits for the sludge farms, the new wells that the Department of Environmental Regulations required and other monitoring requirements. He said they also have to obtain variances to keep the sewerage treatment plant permitted with EQCB and the Florida Department of Environmental Regulations. Mr. Greenwood said there has been extensive additional testing for quality. He explained that routine testing is continuing to be performed in-house but they have been required to modify laboratory for extensive testing for minor elements and that these analyses are very expensive and require specialized equipment. Mr. Greenwood said since the sewerage treatment plant sits in Zone 1 wellfield they have monitoring wells completely surrounding the sewerage and water treatment plants and wells on the premises plus other wells which have to be continuously monitored for insecticide, pesticide and heavy metal contents. He reiterated that the costs for these analyses this year have been astronomical. Mr. Greenwood said the second major item is energy consumption for the wastewater treatment plant. He said the current adjusted budget was $236,000 and he has requested $295,000 which is an increase of $59,000. He said sewerage requirements are based not only on flow characteristics, the number of gallons in, but how strong it is. Mr. Greenwood further explained that even though the flows are down, the strength is up which requires additional air and additional equipment. He said the wastewater treatment plant actually pays more for a kilowatt hour and cited demand charges as the reasons for the higher rate. He said sewage comes in at peak hours and has to be treated at peak hours; therefore, the city has to pay peak rates. 7/19/85 /vdw V/M Massaro said the combined sums of the budget adjustments for the three-month period amounted to $144,000, and that, consequently, if that is multiplied by the four quarters in next year, it amounts to $576,000 for the increase in costs on those two items alone for this coming year. She asked Council to take a good look at TUW rates to determine Me costs. Mayor Kravitz asked Mr. Greenwood how they got into this situation. Mr. Greenwood replied that the financial management of TUW, as explained to them by the Finance Department, is an enter- prise system and that as long as revenues are exceeding expenses, his department can go into deficit spending. He said the other line items within the budget have been fairly well met and explained that the ones before Council are with extraordinary increases. C/M Munitz said they need to look at the revenues as well as the expenditures. Mr. Greenwood said the present revenues can cover the additional expenses. He stated that from a long-range standpoint, Council authorized James M. Montgomery, Consulting Engineers, to pre- pare a rate study. He said this very detailed study had been performed and was assigned to the Finance Department for implementation and administration. Mr. Greenwood said copies were distributed to Council and highly recommended that at the first meeting in September, . a critique be made of the study pertaining to implementation. C/M Stein wanted to know, because of the increase in electricity, if there has been additional income which precipitated this increase or was this strictly utility -rate increases and if they had support from revenues to offset the increases. Mr. Greenwood replied that they had the revenue support. C/M Stein reasoned that it was possible that they under- estimated the income as well as the expenditures. V/M Massaro MOVED to TABLE action on all the Engineering Department's requests and that they be addressed at Wednesday's meeting (7/24/85). C/M Stein SECONDED. VOTE: ALL VOTED AYE 4. Parks and Recreation Department - Discussion and possible action SYNOPSIS OF ACTION: TABLED to next regular meeting (7/24/85) for additional research by the Acting City Manager. Sharon Ellis, Parks and Recreation Director, requested $51,450. She said the main items in question are overtime and electricity for their facilities at Tamarac Park. She explained that the overtime was resultant of their department taking over the medians and swales of specific streets within the city and 17 events which required overtime. Ms. Ellis explained that originally they had.notbeen budgeted for rentals and leases and requested funds for that account. Mayor Kravitz asked if she had authority to overdraw the budget. Ms. Ellis said she was given authority by former City Manager Elly Johnson. She added that in the past they had been budgeted $20,000 for overtime but that in last fiscal year's budget they only received $5,000 for overtime. / -10- 7/19/85 �/ Mayor Kravitz referenced a communication from Lou Solomon, Parks Commissioner, dated 7/16/85 in which he recommended that the Parks and Recreation Department maintain the city's four parks and relinquish the mowing of the medians to the Public Works Department. Ms. Ellis said she fully agreed with Mr. Solomon's recom- mendation as they do not have the manpower to maintain over three million sq. ft. of mowing projects in addition to maintaining the parks as they should be. V/M Massaro asked Robert Hurley's title and duties. Ms. Ellis answered that his title is Parks and Recreation Superintendent and that he oversees the daily operations of the Parks Department program. She said due to lack of manpower they have asked Mr. Hurley to do some physical work outside of his job description. She stated that they were fortunate to have a person with Mr. Hurley's expertise and reasoned that if he were basically in the supervisory position and the department had additional staff, they would be moving forward and spending their money more wisely. V/M Massaro asked if he was cognizant of the fact that he sends four or five men on a project, if he knows what they are doing, how long they are on a project and how long it should take. Ms. Ellis responded that if the general community that worked with Mr. Hurley were polled they would inform that he is a very competent person. She explained that she was instrumental in bringing Mr. Hurley to the city and that he is a qualified person with over 31 years' experience in turf maintenance and ball field preparation. Ms. Ellis also stated that they can document where their men are by the forms they are required to complete. She said that V/M Massaro was referencing a lone incident at Capparella Park whereby one of the men was neglectful and left a weedeater at the park. V/M Massaro said that was not what took place. Ms.Ellis said she investigated the incident and was informed that was the situation. Tape V/M Massaro said she happened to be at this particular place 3 and was not there to check on the Parks and Recreation employees. She said while there she observed that an employee had brought an inoperative weedeater, took it to Public Works where he was informed that it would be ready in half an hour, and he went for a joy ride. She said he also stopped another man from work- ing by standing with his foot on the equipment whereby neither moved for 20 minutes. She reported that she asked Mr. Solomon to find out the man's name and that she asked them why they were planning to use a weedeater on the multitude of sidewalks at Capparella Park and were informed that the City did not have an edger. Ms. Ellis said they do have one edger. V/M Massaro said that another man said they had an edger but that they forgot to bring it. She said he also came in with a truck that did not have identification which is against the law. -11- 7/19/85 /vdw Ms. Ellis said that the Vice -Mayor would have to talk with Public Works about that. V/M Massaro said she wanted to continue because people have to know what happened as she felt it would fall on the Superintendent of Parks. She said he arrived in a truck that was in perfectly good working order but was informed by the former City Manager that the truck was going to be put up for auction. She said she asked him why and he answered that when a truck gets to a point that it costs more to keep it running then it would to buy a new one and when it is in the repair shop more than it is on the road, it is time to do something about it. V/M Massaro said she checked with the department to determine how often that truck was brought in for repairs and they informed her that the last time they had seen the truck was about a year ago. She said when she confronted the former City Manager with this information he told her that they would paint the truck but learned that an emblem was placed on the truck without it having been painted. V/M Massaro inquired what kind of repairs were necessary for that truck and was informed that a collar was cracked on the steering wheel and was replaced and they put on two tires and it is back in operation. She added that the truck will not be sold at auction as was indicated. V/M Massaro said she also heard that a woman fell on a sidewalk at her median and added that this contradicted all the comments on how great a job they were doing with the median mowing and that they should not be taken off the medians. She remarked that the medians were never in a more deplorable condition than they are today. V/M Massaro reiterated that the lady fell as a result of the grass being overgrown on the sidewalk. Mr. Henning advised her against commenting about the fall lest a claim be filed. V/M Massaro said no claim had been filed and asserted that Mr. Hurley should not be a superintendent. Ms. Ellis said that Mr. Hurley should be present to defend himself. V/M Massaro said she was telling her as director of Parks and Recreation. She said she inquired how many hours were scheduled to do certain parks and nobody could come up with the hours. Ms. Ellis responded that she gave that to Mr. Solomon to do. V/M Massaro said she was told that it took 32 hours to do Capparella Park and felt that it was ridiculous. Ms. Ellis assured that it does take one whole day to do Capparella Park with the machinery and the staff that they have right now. She also added that it has been raining and unless the men are put on overtime that is the only way they can do it. V/M Massaro said that she felt the overtime should be adjusted because she does not think the men should be working overtime but should be allotted a certain time to complete the job so that overtime would not be necessary. -12- 7/19/85 /vdw Evelyn Lang identified herself as the person who fell in the Boulevards section and said that her median has not been cut in a month. Ms. Lang said she did not care which department did it as long as the work got done. V/M Massaro injected that this is the busiest time of the year for grass cutting and that the Superintendent of Parks and some of the grass cutters are on vacation. She asked if this is called supervision when Mr. Hurley went on vacation in the height of the grass cutting season. Mae Lang, Tamarac Lakes South, concurred with Eveleyn Lang. She said she has had a problem since May with an area on 31st Avenue and Commercial which needs to be cleaned up because of overgrown weeds and bug infestation. Ms. Lang said she called each department from Public Works to Parks and Recreation and got a runaround. Mayor Kravitz asked her if she called the Acting City Manager. Ms. Lang replied that she did not. Mayor Kravitz informed her that this was his department. Ms. Lang continued stating that she even called Broward County and was informed that they would clean the streets but would not cut the grass. She said as a last resort she called Helen Massaro who made several suggestions,none of which worked out,and that she still does not know who is responsible. She said she received a call yesterday from the City Manager's Office asking her to be patient and they will see that it is corrected. Ms. Lang concluded that they are the "black sheep" of the east side and that they have had to fight for everything. Mayor Kravitz acknowledged that the Acting City Manager had made a note of her complaint and would take care of it. V/M Massaro informed her that they are in the process of catching up. Bob Curcio, Chairman of the Parks and Recreation Committee, clarified that he does not object to the transfer of main- tenance of the medians and swales to Public Works but asked that Parks and Recreation be allowed to continue to maintain the four parks. He said, for the record, those men are working. Mr. Curcio said that much of the equipment is antiquated and in need of repair. He said Council should take into consideration that there is but one edger for the entire city. V/M Massaro said the important thing was where was it. Mr. Curcio said the important thing is that there is only one and maybe it should have been with those men. He said they do have a large mower which was sent to Public Works over a month ago for repairs and they just recently sent it to the manufacturer. He also reported that the men put in a lot of time and that a lot of the time they put in they are not paid for. Mr. Curcio said if the men were then taken there off median and swales and placed in special events, would not be enough manpower. -1.3- 7/19/85 /vdw %Editor's Note: Mayor Kravitz asked that the record reflect that Evelyn Lang is a former Vice ---Mayor of the City of Tamarac. J Abe Herbert, resident, expressed surprise at the complaints made about the medians because they have been present for years when Publfc Works had it. He said he would like to appear before Council at a future date and ask for an allotment of money to hire a contractor to take care of their median strips. Council informed him that it could not be done that way. Mayor Kravitz suggested that he talk with V/M Massaro after the meeting,as they live in the same area,and she can bring it before Council. Mr. Herbert praised Bob Hurley's efficiency and, more importantly, the respect he receives from people who come in contact with him. Vickie Beech, resident, said this discussion opened the door for not only things about this department but most every department in the city on the management level. She said every year the budget gets bigger, salaries get higher and they hire "hot shots" who are supposed to come in and solve all the problems and it appeared that they have more problems. Ms. Beech said the city has ordinances that are unenforceable and department heads who refuse to enforce them and stated that something has to be done. She said if these departments are ineffective, then they should be abolished from the hierarchy of the city. Ralph Stokes, resident, said everything is done on the west side and nothing is done on the east side. V/M Massaro informed him that he was not alone because he could ride up and down Commercial Boulevard and see the need for maintenance. She said that it was a disgrace and that she was ashamed to admit that this is the City of Tamarac. Mr. Stokes said it goes back to supervision. V/M Massaro agreed. Nat Scolnick, member of the Parks and Recreation Committee, said the equipment that they have is so old that he does not see how they get any work done. He informed that they needed standby equipment because it is true that the men will stand around and do nothing if they do not have anything to work with. V/M Massaro said there is complete negligence on the part of the workers that she has seen and that there was equipment but they forgot to bring it. She said the entire problem is lack of proper supervision and added that it is a shame when the Superintendent does not know how to request equipment through the City Manager's Office. V/M Massaro said the situation deserves scrutiny. Herb Perlmutter, member of Senior Men's Softball Team, said the city's fields are the best because the men knew what they were doing and did a good job. Bob Curcio asked V/M Massao how many times she has observed Parks and Recreation employees not doing their work other than the one incident. -14- 7/19/85 /vdw xJ V/M Massaro replied that she did not walk around in back of the Parks and Recreation men but what she did see made her aware that something has to be done about it. Bob Curcio said that he does not monitor the men either but the times that he has observed them, they have been working. Mr. Curcio said the field referenced by Ms. Lang on 31st Avenue is not part of Parks and Recreation but comes under Public Works. He said in a lot of casestomplaints have come in only to learn that they are for Public Works but Parks and Recreation gets the blame. Mr. Curcio said when it comes out in a Council meeting, the public leaves blaming Parks and Recreation and it does not matter that after the meeting is over that they find out that it belongs to Public Works. He suggested that those points be clarified in the public mind as well as Council's so that when they go home, it will not be with negativism against one or the other. V/M Massaro said that she could not agree with him. Sam Pizzarello, President of Tamarac Lakes South, stated that the situation is beyond Sharon Ellis' control. He said they have a strip that extends from 30th Street to 29th Street that has not been touched in two years. He said this is not a condemnation of Sharon Ellis because this item has been taken . from Public Works to Parks and Recreation and nobody wanted to touch it. Mr. Pizzarello said he even spoke with Chairperson Florence Bochenek of the Beautification Committee, and was told that they would get to it some time this year because they were involved with so many projects. Mr. Pizzarello said because of moving it has left the avenue open for people to shun responsibility. Sharon Ellis, Director/Parks and Recreation, clarified that when the medians were given to the city on August 6, 1984 they were presented with a list of medians that were under Public Works. She said that the list has increased since then and that she presented a total upkeep proposal to the City Manager to rebeautify Commercial Boulevard. Ms. Ellis said she agreed with the residents that the area is in a deplorable condition and asked how can they mow weeds and dirt. She said she has tried to work with the Beautification Committee to beautify the area. She said when there is a question as to property jurisdiction she contacts the Engineering Department for clarification and noted that she has found parts that they have mowed that did not belong to the city. Ms. Ellis said each month she has found more property that has become their responsibility and,because of the current equipment and personnel,they cannot do an adequate job; therefore, she recommended to the City Manager that it be returned to Public Works or a private vendor. V/M Massaro MOVED to TABLE the item to Wednesday's meeting (7/24/85) with the City Manager taking note of everything that has been said and bring recommendations back to Council as to what should be done. SECONDED by C/M Stein. VOTE: ALL VOTED AYE -15- 7/19/85 /vdw 2. City Clerk's Department - Discussion and possible action SYNOPSIS OF ACTION: TABLED to next regular meeting (7/24/85) Marilyn Bertholf, City Clerk, requested a $7,000 increase to the Advertising Account for legal ads. She said this account is approximately $1,000 overdrawn and that she anticipated a number of advertisements between now and the new fiscal year. Ms. Bertholf reported that the Elections Account is overdrawn by approximately $5100 because of two unanticipated elections. She requested $5100 to balance that account. The City Clerk requested $2,000 for the Contractual Services Account to cover the codification services of the charter and ordinances. She noted that the Contractual Services Account is not only being used for codification but for storage of vital records. Ms. Bertholf said the balance of the money needed for this account can be transferred from other accounts, subject to the City Manager's approval of the line item transfers. Mayor Kravitz asked for a legal opinion as to whether line item transfers needed Council's approval. Mr. Henning said they did not need Council's approval and that if Council is accepting Mr. Perretti's discussion in which he indicated the transfer of line item salaries that would also be open to intradepartmental transfers. He said transfers within the department do -not require Council's approval and indicated that the budget stated that. V/M Massaro questioned what happens if somebody made a transfer arbitrarily in mid -year and then at the end of the year said they were shy of an amount. Mr. Henning said that is open to scrutiny and that the line item transfers requires the City Manager's, Finance Director's and department head's approval. He said there is an attempt to make the right decision and it is subject to review. Mr. Henning said the question posed to him was if it was legal and his answer was "Yes, it is legal". V/M Massaro said she never knew that they could make any transfers in their budget without it coming to Council in order that they know what is going on. Mr. Henning answered that is not the case. He exampled if a line item is $500 short and they can transfer from within their department, it does not go to Council and it never has. V/M Massaro said never to her knowledge. C/M Stein MOVED to TABLE the item to Wednesday's meeting (7/24/85). V/M Massaro SECONDED. VOTE: ALL VOTED AYE Mayor Kravitz suggested that before the next meeting that the City Attorney submit, in writing, why it is legal to do it that way. -16- Mr. Henning announced that when the budget passed by ordinance it includes authorization to make intra- departmental transfers and that authorization is then, obviously, given by Council to the department heads. V/M Massaro questioned where that was written. Mr. Henning said he thought it was in the ordinance that approves the budget. 3. Building Department - Discussion and possible action SYNOPSIS OF ACTION: TABLED to the next regular meeting (7/24/85) Mr. Jahn reported that he was returning $14,261.53 for unencumbered balances to the Contingency Fund. He also noted that there is a 137 to 147 increase in anticipated revenues. Mr. Jahn requested $1,000 for printing and binding and $500 for office supplies and stated that he would not mind if Council tabled these items to the next regular meeting; however, he asked that the three radios requested for the Code Enforcement Officers not be tabled. He said the radios they now have are inoperative and he does not want the men out there without communication. Mr_ JAhn Raid there is money within his budget but the purchase would ex- ceed $2,000 and requested permission to purchase three (3) Motorola mobile radios under State contract. He said after the recommended purchase is made, there will be a balance of $1,009. V/M Massaro complimented Mr. Jahn on the way he has main- tained his budget. She asked him if the Code Enforcement Officers made reports. Mr. Jahn said they are making daily reports. V/M Massaro asked if he felt three Code Enforcement Officers were necessary. Mr. Jahn answered that it might be overstaffed and V/M Massaro agreed. Mr. Jahn admitted that within the past two months there have been more notices of violations and that 50% of his time has been devoted to code enforcement -related duties. He said as a result of a study he hoped to complete by the end of the fiscal year, he could say that they can use all three Code Enforcement Officers. Sam Pizzarella, said the transition of the Code Enforcement Officers from the Police Dept. to the Building Dept. has taken its toll. He explained that in June he called Code Enforcement Officer Jennings and informed him that the Tamarac Golf Club had placed a 30-foot fence on the City of Tamarac's property. Mr. Pizzarella said Tamarac Golf Club is in Oakland Park and they had a permit from Oakland Park allowing them to build a 30-foot fence on their edging and they decided to move it 12 feet to the rear of the premises of 2502 N.W. 48th Street which is in Tamarac. He said Mr. Jennings came down and placed a Work Stop Order on it and spoke to Mr. Broad,manager, and that afternoon the notice was torn down. Mr. Pizzarella said Mr. Broad deemed it necessary to add another 18 feet of fence which made it a 48-foot of 6-foot fence on Tamarac property. -17- 7/19/85 /vdw J Mr. Pizzarella said he then called Code Enforcement and was advised that it was no longer in their domain because of the transition and advised him to contact Mr. Jahn. He said Mr. Jahn's office responded and requested police backup because the people refused to stop building the fence. He said the police placed a work stoppage sign there and the sign came down the next day. Mr. Pizzarella said he is anticipating Tamarac Country Club putting up another section of fence. He said nothing has been done since Mr. V/M Jahn's letter. Massaro asked if the fence was on private property. Mr. Pizzarella said that it is on private property. V/M Massaro inquired about the owner of the property and was informed that the owner was away but that he did not want the fence. Mr. Pizzarella said on-theadjoining property, 2500 N.W. 48th St., the owner has erected a 30-foot fence that was never authorized and does not have a building permit and that is also on Tamarac property. V/M Massaro advised that they could tear it down if it is on their property. Mr. Pizzarella agreed but noted that they broke the sprinkler system because they put the post holes right through the sprinkler pipes. Mr. Henning said he did not recall the damage to the sprinkler system but that he is aware of the fence being located there. Mr. Jahn reported that he had a meeting with the Oakland Park Building Official at the fence site and determined that he did issue the permit erroneously. He said he also contacted the fence company and had a meeting with Mr. Broad, whom he found to be a very hard gentleman to deal with. Mr. Jahn said he did obtain a copy of a legal page and book number easement granted to Tamarac Country Club, Inc. for 12' of that lot to place a fence and the problem concerns proper permitting and getting the sprinkler repaired. He said he has elicited a new permit application from the fence company and a verbal promise in front of four witnesses by Mr. Broad that he will repair the sprinkler system. Mayor Kravitz said he felt confident that Mr. Jahn and the City Attorney could handle everything properly. V/M Massaro asked if the easement covered the entire length of the property discussed. Mr. Jahn said it appeared to cover it from the legal des- cription although he has not been able to definitely ascertain if it fits all the lot but that it was a 10' writ of ingress/egress for roadway purposes and 2' for a fence. Vickie Beech, resident, informed that Mr. Broad appeared before Council last year and was denied the roadway. Ms. Beech thanked the Mayor, Mr.Perretti and Mr.Jahn and stated thatshe has had more communication than she has had in a number of years. She said she has made cursory inspections and noted boats in driveways, lean-tos being built for boats. She said one must stress courtesy for everyone concerned because there has been a lack of it for some time. 7/19/85 /vdw C/M Gottesman MOVED, in view of the fact that Mr. Jahn has been able to show such a huge return of funds to the city, that he be granted the money to buy the three radios. V/M Massaro suggested that they do the same as with the other departments and TABLE any action until Wednesday's meeting (7/24/85) and C/M Gottesman so MOVED. C/M Stein pointed out that Mr. Jahn has asked that they be treated as two separate items. He said Mr. Jahn has the money in his budget and is only asking for -approval. V/M Massaro said the thing that concerned her is that she is not sure that two men could not do the job that three men are now doing. She said she would like to see those reports to determine what they are really doing. V/M Massaro SECONDED the MOTION. VOTE: ALL VOTED AYE 5. Any other departments Council wishes to address -- Discussion and possible action SYNOPSIS OF ACTION: TABLED to the next regu ar meeting (7/24/85) Mr. Henning requested $11,600 for General Salaries and FICA Taxes for the City Attorney's budget. He said the expenditures for this account are at 81% when they should be around 75%. Mayor Kravitz asked what was the total budget for the City Attorney's Office and Mr. Henning said the total is $161.855, and the budget for "Regular Salaries" is $82,500. V/M Massaro asked him to define "regular". Mr. Henning explained',that the line item is called "Regular Salaries" which includes his and two secretaries' salaries. Mayor Kravitz said the increase that he is asking for would bring it up to $1.7.3,000 and asked him why it was necessary to spend that kind of money because that was in addition to the extra attorneys that Council hires. Mr. Henning said ESM is a separate item and that in the past years, Council has authorized as much as $70,000 for consulting attorneys' services and that is included in the $161,000. He said he had approximately $12,000 left in the Consulting Services Account. Mayor Kravitz asked, if Council did not grant the increase, could the City Attorney's Office function for the balance of the fiscal year without hurting the city. -19- 7/19/85 /vdw Mr. Henning said the salaries are set in October by the computer and that as budget preparers they are told to concentrate on the expenses. He said the three areas within the budget are operating expenses, capital outlay, and personal services. with the city he has never made any adjustments to the Personal Services area. He said he believed the problem is that the City Attorney's Office received increases after October 1 and they were not funded in the budget. Mayor Kravitz suggested that Mr. Henning give Council a full report at Wednesday's meeting (7/24/85). V/M Massaro suggested that the City'Attorney include in his report how they can fund the expenses of the Pension Board. Mayor Kravitz said that will be discussed on a future agenda. Mr. Henning said he understood that Council is considering assessing some of the expenses for law fees or actuaries' fees, etc., against the Pension Board. He said his main question is whether or not, if Council initiates this, will it be effective October 1 or would it be retroactive. C/M Stein MOVED to TABLE to Wednesday's meeting (7/24/85). SECONDED by V/M Massaro. VOTE: ALL VOTED AYE Vickie Beech expressed concern over the way the city is going by using so many consultants. She said she was under the impression that there was expertise on the Council and that, at one time or another, there must be guidance as with the Pension Plan. Ms. Beech said it should be taken under serious advisement because for the amount of salaries being expended the benefits derived are not balancing. Mayor Kravitz adjourned the meeting at 11:45 a.m. �Qf • MAYOR ATTEST: CITeF Y OF TAMAR C A SISTANT CITY CLERK APPROVED AT MEETING OF / City Cterk This document was promulgated at a cost of $ 148_Cl5 or $ 4.1-1 per copy to inform the general public and publicofficers and employees about recent opinions and considerations by the City Council of the City of Tamarac. -20- 7/19/85 /vdw V 1 I �1 CITY OF TAMARAC [��IM•�K�111►(�i11 SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING FRIDAY, JULY 19, 1985 Tape CALL, TO ORDER: Mayor Philip B. Kravitz called the meeting to order on 1 Friday, July 19, 1985 at 9 A.M. in Council Chambers. PRESENT: Mayor Philip B. Kravitz Vice Mayor Helen Massaro Councilman Arthur H. Gottesman Councilman Raymond J. Munitz Councilman Sydney M. Stein ALSO PRESENT: Jon M. Henning, City Attorney Larry Perretti, Acting City Manager Diane Williams, Secretary MEDITATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Kravitz called for a Moment of Silent Meditation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL 6. Employment of Finance Director - Discussion and possible action SYNOPSIS OF ACTION: Agendized by Consent See pages 5 & 6 V/M Massaro MOVED to agendize by consent the approval of the Finance Director who has been selected by the Acting City Manager. SECONDED by C/M Gottesman. 1 Xj ALL VOTED AYE 7. Consideration For Ado Lion of New Sister City - Discussion and possible action SYNOPSIS OF ACTION: Agendized by Consent See page V/M Massaro MOVED to agendize by consent for discussion and possible action a request for a resolution to name a new Sister City. SECONDED by C/M Gottesman. VOTE: ALL VOTED AYE LEGAL AFFAIRS 8. c uisition of Land in Land Section 7 -- Finagcing- Discussion and possible action SYNOPSIS OF ACTION: Agendized by Consent See page 5 V/M Massaro said they are in the process of acquiring 45 acres of land as a result of the condemnation suit and have discussed the fact that this purchase would be covered with a bond. She said she has pertinent information "-.and MOVED to agendize by consent to authorize the Finance Director co investigate an alternate means of financing at a rate of 5-1/2%. SECONDED by C/M Gottesman. Mr. Henning clarified that the proposed alternate means of financing is offered through the Florida League of Cities. VOTE: ALL VOTED AYE 7/19/85 vdw j GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE & FINANCIAL i forption of New Sister City - Discussion and ac SYNOPSIS OF ACTION: Agendized by consent on. Page 1 APPROVED request for City Attorney to prepare appropriate resolution adopting Givatayim, Israel as the new sister city Jack Weiner, Commissioner of Human Relations, reported on the proposed trip to the Sister City, Kiryat Tivon, Israel and the importance of why Council needs to take immediate action. Mr. Weiner referenced a letter dated May 11, 1985 from the Mayor in Kiryat Tivon which stated that after serious deliberation regarding their trip to Israel in November, he felt it advisable to postpone the signing of the Sister City Agreement for a few months. Mr. Weiner said the Mayor cited the designated time in November as inconvenient since they will be signing a similar agreement with a city in West Germany in October. Mr. Weiner said Mayor Kravitz had received two phone calls from the Mayor indicating that he would not be available for the signing ceremony in November. He reported that during the telephone discussions, Mayor Ben-Dror suggested the adoption of another sister city. Mr. Weiner requested that Council consider adopting Givatayim as the new Sister City whose Mayor is Isaac Yarron. Mayor Yarron has submitted the background of his city and expressed that it would be an honor for them to have the City of Tamarac as a Sister City. Mr. Weiner said he was in agreement for the November date for the signing ceremony. Mr. Weiner understood that Mayor Yarron spoke to Mayor Ben-Dror and Mayor Ben-Dror had no objections. Mr. Weiner referenced a mail -a -gram dated July 12, 1985 that stated that with the consent of Mayor Ben--Dror, the Mayor of Givatayim has confirmed the details as given to Council. He said with these facts in mind, and the urgency to be allowed to continue their proposed trip, which they can not afford to cancel, he recommended to 1-" Council that the City Attorney be authorized to draw up the proper resolution approving the City of Givatayim. He asked that the City Attorney also include authorization of the execution of this resolution due on this trip in November, and authorization for the Mayor to carry out the provisions of the resolutions providing for an effective date. He said he is prepared to answer any questions that Council may have. - _. .. C M Stein said they have spent over two years negotiating and selecting this city, the Mayor came here to visit and Council determined that Kiryat Tivon was the city most compatible to Tamarac. He said :' now he is hearing that because they have a trip scheduled that does not meet the Mayor's scheduling in Israel that they should select another city to accommodate the trip's schedule. C/M Stein said that he does not know anything about Givatayim and whether it is compatible to Tamarac. He said if the Mayor of Kiryat Tivon does not want to have Tamarac as a Sister City, he can accept that but felt that definite investigation should be done before they select another Sister City. He said he would like to see it TABLED because he does not understand the urgency other than the trip has been planned. He said that if it turns out, upon investigation, that Givatayim is compatible then they can go with it. C/M Gottesman said that it was the Mayor of the original Sister City that proposed that Tamarac select another Sister City. -2- 7/19/85 /vdw Mr. Jack Weiner replied that Mayor Ben-Dror did not have the time because he is busy with another sister city. He asked why should they try to push themselves off on a city that does not want them. He reported that he does have the information from the proposed Sister City of Givatayim which has a population of approximately 50,000 residents. He said their industry and commerce is the same as Kiryat Tivon and Givatayim has ten (10) primary schools, four (4) high schools, a high-level art school and it has a very large successful program for its senior citizens. Mayor Kravitz said the Mayor of Kiryat Tivon was eager to have Tamarac as a Sister City and has never said that he does not want Tamarac as a Sister City. Mayor Kravitz said, however, that Mayor Ben-Dror did say, on two separate occasions, that he could not go along with this trip. The Mayor said he personally felt that they could not keep postponing trips and that it was urgent for them to adhere to the proposed trip schedule. Mayor Kravitz said he understood that the proposed Sister City is even more accessible and equally as good as Kiryat Tivon and that Council needs to make a decision today because their decision will decide the fate of the proposed trip. C/M Munitz asked the location of Givatayim. Mr. Weiner said it is located ten (10) minutes from Tel Aviv as opposed to an hour or an hour and a half from Kiryat Tivon. C/M Munitz asked if it was on the same road going east. Mr. Weiner replied that it was on the same road going east. C/M Stein clarified that Kiryat Tivon has not rejected Tamarac but it is just a matter of scheduling. He said the original trip was scheduled prior to November which Mayor Ben-Dror was very happy with but that Mayor Kravitz could not meet that schedule and changed it to November. He said he assumed that it had been cleared by both mayors but said, evidently, it had not. C/M Stein said he wants the record to reflect that it is not important to have a trip to schedule a Sister City but that it is more important to have a Sister City that was mutually - decided a n. C/M Stein said it was degrading to the City of Givatayim because they have not conducted investigations as to compatibility but rather have selected a city to fill_ in their schedule. C/M Gottesman asked if Givatayim is willing to send a delegation to America to sign a reciprocal agreement or will this be a unilateral agreement. Mayor Kravitz said his understanding is that when they go there in November there will be a signing agreement. I - He said, however, that no discussion was held as to them coming to Tamarac at some future date and reasoned that it was not germaine to the issue. Mr. Weiner referenced letter from Mayor Ben-Dror which stated that if the city's trip to Kiryat Tivon is already underway that he would be pleased to meet them without any official ceremony. Mayor Kravitz said Mayor Ben-Dror stated that he could not meet with them any time this year for an official signing and explained that is why it is urgent that Council take action this morning. -3- 7/19/85 /vdw J V/M Massaro directed her response to C/M Stein's remark that they did not know who lives in Givatayim and stated that she does not know who lives in Kiryat Tivon. She felt that something has occurred which has created an unhealthy situation and that it is her belief that if Givatayim is eager that there is not much time to deliberate on this as a great many people's money is in jeopardy. She reasoned that it has been looked into very carefully from the information presented to them by Mr. Weiner and MOVED that Council APPROVE the request from Mr. Jack Weiner asking the City Attorney to draw up an appropriate resolution that would be presented at Wednesday's meeting (7/24/85).. C/M Gottesman asked if Mayor Ben-Dror has indicated when he would want to have the agreement. Mr. Weiner said he indicated some time next year. C/M Gottesman said that would leave things up in the air for all the people who have planned on going there and SECONDED the MOTION on that basis. C/M Munitz asked how many people have signed up for the trip. Mr. Weiner said he had received 60 deposits. Mayor Kravitz said he has checks in his office from 20 people that he has not given to Mr. Weiner which would increase the total to 80. C/M Munitz said he does not see that this Sister City arrangement contains any meaningfulness at all because of the "rushed" nature that this has taken. V/M Massaro said that her statement had been distorted and asked that Council move forward with goodwill in their hearts. She said if they decide when theY are in Israel that its not the right thing to do, they will have had a nice trip and will come back very well pleased at having gone there. C/M Gottesman reasoned that the trip itself is the deal because 80 people have signed up to go to the Holy Land, and it is not a question of just a Sister City. He said he does not think Council should deprive the people of their trip and to go to another city of equal caliber is the important thing. Mr. Henning'said the MOTION is for -him to prepare a resolution for Wednesday's meeting to accept the new city as the Sister City. V/M Massaro said that would also include authorization for the Mayor to enter and sign the documents. Mr. Henning said that would be part of the resolution but first the resolution has to be prepared and placed on the agenda. VOTE: C/M Stein Nay C/M Munitz Nay C/M _Gottesman. ..Aye _ .. V/M Massaro Aye Mayor Kravitz Aye 7/19/85 /vdw J LEGAL AFFAIRS 8. Acquisition of Land in Land Section .7 - Financi - Discussion and possible action SYNOPSIS OF ACTION: Agendized by consent on Page 1 V/M Massaro explained that they had intended to float the bond to pay for the land that they intend to acquire in Land Section 7 for the deep well injection and other purposes but was made aware of an alternate method of financing with the possibility of saving a lot of money. She said there would be no bond fees attached to this type of loan and understood, at the present time, that it is at 5-1/4%. V/M Massaro asked that this be researched carefully by the City Manager, City Attorney and the Finance Department to determine if this is a simple interest loan and that they would only be charged interest on the unpaid balance for a period of ten (10) years. She said the information would be brought back to Council for further determination as no loan will be made now. She said if the City Attorney determines that this may take place, during the month of August she felt certain that he would instigate proper action along with the Mayor and so MOVED. SECONDED by C/M Gottesman. Vickie Beech, resident, asked if in the event that this is not possible through the Florida League of Cities,. there will be no action taken to pursue it further and that staff will not be given carte blanche to do something without coming back to Council. V/M Massaro said the MOTION only refers to this particular research. Mr. Henning explained that the City is contemplating purchasing 45 acres of land on Land Section 7 and the funding for this land is proposed to be from impact fees from developers. He said V/M Massaro reported that she has learned of possible bond money available through the Florida League of Cities at a low interest rate. He said the MOTION is to authorize the City staff to look into this information and report back to Council to see if that would be an alternate method of financing the land purchases. VOTE: ALL VOTED AYE V/M Massaro questioned whether it would be impact fees from developers. Mr. Henning explained that CIAC is the impact fees from developers. She asked if the money would be borrowed from CIAC to be returned. Mr. Henning said no, the proposal is that the approximate $1 million dollars would come from the connection charge fund ,\,"Which -are impact fees from developers. GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL b. Employment ot Finance Director - Discussion and possible action SYNOPSIS OF ACTION: Agendized by consent on Page 1 APPROVED emp oyment of Frank Etheredge as Finance Director Acting City Manager Larry Perretti reported that he had interviewed a number of candidates for the Finance Director's position and selected Frank Etheredge. He informed that Mr. Etheredge has had experience -5- 7/19/85 /vdw V( in the City of Larado, Texas as the Finance Director and in Dothan, Alabama with a population of approximately 55,000. Mr. Perretti said that he has spoken with Mr. Etheredge and was informed that Mr. Kt he r edge could be available for work Monday, July 22, 1985, and recommended that Council approve his employment effective 7/22/85 at a starting salary of $36,008. V/M Massaro asked Mr. Perretti to confirm Mr. Etheredge's probationary period. He answered that he will be on a six (6) months' probationary period, and his medical benefits would be available to him and his family after ninety (90) days of employment as all other employees within the city except for Police and Fire who have a year's probationary period. V/M Massaro asked if it was customary to pay for the family's insurance as well as the employee's or does the employee contribute towards that. Mr. Perretti said the employee contributes and the city pays a portion of the dependent(s) coverage which amounts to approximakely $41 bi-monthly. Mr. Henning said that is less than half. V/M Massaro inquired if car expenses have been included in this agreement and Mr. Perretti said there will not be. V/M Massaro asked about further increases. Mr. Henning said the standard in the city has been that when an employee is taken off probation they receive a one-step 4 % increase. Mr. Perretti said that will be according to what happens October 1, 1985, pertaining to the October 1 - April 1 concept versus the anniversary date increase. He said if the October 1 - April 1 concept, which is presently in effect stands, and Mr. Etheredge wi11_not get another ease incr _ - ea e until April 1 of next year, C/M Gottesman inquired if there were any other perks involved. Mr. Perretti replied nothing else was discussed other than what the other general employees receive. V/M Massaro reviewed all the applications for the Finance Director's position and concluded that she would have selected Mr. Etheredge and stated that she is not the least bit reluctant to MOVE to ACCEPT the selection made by the Acting City Manager. SECONDED by C/M Stein. C/M Munitz asked how many applications were received. Mr. Perretti answered 28. C/M Munitz asked how many did he interview. Mr. Perretti indicated that he interviewed five. Vickie Beech, resident, said that she has sat through quite a few votes of approval for various employees that the city has hired. She said the employees are aware of the probationary period but about two months before the probationary period is over, the city feels an urgency that they may lose them and decides to give them increases and voiced her opposition to this. V/M Massaro said she agreed with Ms. Beech wholeheartedly. VOTE: ALL VOTED AYE 7/10/85 /vdw EngineerisuDeiartment Request for Transfer From Contingency Fund ��son and possible action SYNOPSIS OF ACTION: TABLED to next regular meeting for additional research Tape Bill Greenwood, Utililties Director, said he had a revised request for $5,350 for the remainder of the year. He said the largest increase is in Professional Services for $3,000. Mr. Greenwood said the other items are approximately split accordingly. He said the income presently in the City Engineer's Office as of June 3 was $172,886.13 which has covered expenditures to date. Mr. Greenwood said the projection for the total income for the department is $235,515. C/M Stein asked where they:'would obtain the $5,350 to make the transfer. Mr. Perretti recalled that, in the past, the city has not gone into interdepartmental transfers and perceived this as a way of obtaining money. He explained that, if,.in fact, a department had any fat in their budget and felt they would have a surplus through September 30, they could give it back in order that it be used for 'interdepartmental transfers. Mr. Perretti said at the present time there is $174,061.53 of total available funds that could be used for these transfers. He asked for Council's approval to transfer departmental surpluses under salary line items. C M Stein asked if the funds were available if Council approves a71 -- - hidget transfers. Mr. Perretti answered that right now there is $174,000 that can be transferred, and if transfers from the salary line items are approved, they, too, will be available for transfer. Mr. Greenwood said none of the funds has come or should ever come from any contingency fund from the city. V/M Massaro said it sounded as if they were asking for a budget amendment and any change in the budget requires a couple of months. She said it has been her understanding that i4itradepartmental changes could be made but that inter- departmental changes required an amendment to the budget itself. V/M Massaro said that she would like explanations as to why the budget requests are needed and that the City Attorney research the legality of everything. She asked Council to take into consideration that they have only the months.of August and September before the new budget is enforced and asked that they take a close look at everything that has been requested for this two -month period but that they take no action other than to listen, absorb it and think about it until the 7124/85 Council meeting. V/M Massaro said that she is asking that every one of the items on the agenda be explained by the department head and that Council will render a decision at Wednesday's meeting. Mayor Kravitz inquired if she would like an explanation and no action until Wednesday's meeting which, in effect, can be interpreted as a request for tabling. -7-- 7/19/85 /vdw Ll 1 1 L/ V/M Massaro said this was a request for Tabling as the City Attorney -- .. has tc, research7 tl4e.-legal_-ity.-of the--Yequestsr City Attorney Henning reported that in preparation for the meeting he talked with Mark Wilson, representative with Touche Ross. He said they discussed the amended budget versus line item transfers. Mr. Henning explained that an amended budget is an approximately 30-day procedure with two (2) advertisements in advance. He said Mr. Wilson discussed the likelihood of preparing revised revenues along with expenditures to give an accurate accounting. Mr. Henning said according to Mark Wilson's experiences with municipalities he felt it would be appropriate to do the line item transfers as proposed and, secondly, if Council decides to reconcile the budget before the books are closed out for the year, Council should reconcile the revenues to give a full picture of the situation. C/M Stein concurred with V/M Massaro but also wanted clarification that if they did approve where the money would come from. He said he also agreed with Larry Perretti and Bill Greenwood because TUW is not part of the city's operating budget because they have their own budget, income and expenses. C/M Stein evidenced that Council would still have to approve the transfers but they should be allotted to the income and expense of TUW without affecting the city's con- tingency fund. V/M Massaro agreed and stated that it can not be intermingled with the city's funds but has to stay with TUW. C/M Stein said they should go over them to see how many they approve and then determine where the money will come from. C/M Munitz asked if they were talking about General Fund Budget adjustments. Mayor Kravitz answered that TUW is not part of the General Fund. C/M Munitz questioned if they should be separated and asked which funds they are trying to adjust. Larry Perretti said he was showing $174,000,which could be interdepartmentally transferred rather than coming out of the General Fund. V/M Massaro stated that she understood Mr. Perretti to say that he is bringing forth, for general information, that there is a certain amount of money available for the other transfers that have nothing to do with TUW.'. Mr. Greenwood continued that line account 362 has $13,100. He said his main request is for authorization for the TUW. budget to hire an engineer and draftsperson to handle the projected 20 million dollars worth of capital improvements: approximately 15 million dollars from the bond issue and $5 million dollars from other funds, mainly, CTAC tunds. He said the positions are desperately needed because the city presently has one employee and his staff overseeing the grants and administration consists of one secretary, one grants administrator and himself. He explained that his time is spent in three (3) major categories: City Engineer's Department, Grants for 20 million dollars and Utility operations for the budget that is over 5 million dollars. Mr. Greenwood reasoned that the workload would interfere with the efficiency of his department. Mayor Kravitz asked if he was asking for this money between now and October because October 1 would be the date the city's new budget is effective. 7/19/85 /vdw C/M Gottesman asked when he expected to put the people on board. Mr. Greenwood explained that TUW is set up so that all it would take is Council's authorization because it does not require advertising. Mr. Greenwood presented a revised budget for Water Treatment Account #363 for $55,000 and stated that the main increase of the $55,000 request is $50,000 for Florida Power & Light to offset additional electrical consumption by the plant. He provided a graphic illustration and explained the increase in costs. V/M Massaro inquired if $50,000 is needed for the next two months. Mr. Greenwood reported that they were budgeted $135,°000 for energy in 198.4-85 and that they are essentially at that mark now and requested funds required to pay for services for July, August and September. He said it fluctuates between $13,000 to $17,000 per month. V/M Massaro asked the Finance Department to conduct an examination of the city's water rates to determine if it is carrying its own weight citing the tremendous cost of electricity as the reason for her proposal. Mr. Greenwood discussed the revised Wastewater Treatment Account #368 which is comprised of two topics: Professional Services and Electricity. He said the increase in Pro- fessional Services was mainly associated with the diffi- culties of obtaining and maintaining the treatment plant under permit status acquiring temporary operating permits for the sludge farms, the new wells that the Department of Environmental Regulations required and other monitoring requirements. He said they also have to obtain variances to keep the sewerage treatment plant permitted with EQCB and the Florida Department of Environmental Regulations. Mr. Greenwood said there has been extensive additional testing for quality. He explained that routine testing is continuing to be performed in-house but they have been required to modify laboratory for extensive testing for minor elements and that these analyses are very expensive and require specialized equipment. Mr. Greenwood said since the sewerage treatment plant sits in Zone 1 wellfield they have monitoring wells completely surrounding the sewerage and water treatment plants and wells on the premises plus other wells which have to be continuously monitored for insecticide, pesticide and heavy metal contents. He reiterated that the costs for these analyses this year have been astronomical. Mr. Greenwood said the second major item is energy consumption for the wastewater treatment plant. He said the current adjusted budget was $236,000 and he has requested $295,000 which is an increase of $59,000. He said sewerage requirements are based not only on flow characteristics, the number of gallons in, but how strong it is. Mr. Greenwood further explained that even though the flows are down, the strength is up which requires additional air and additional equipment. He said the wastewater treatment plant actually pays more for a kilowatt hour and cited demand charges as the reasons for the higher rate. He said sewage comes in at peak hours and has to be treated at peak hours; therefore, the city has to pay peak rates. -9- 7/19/85 /vdw V/M Massaro said the combined sums of the budget adjustments for the three-month period amounted to $144,000, and that, consequently, if that is multiplied by the four quarters in next year, it amounts to $576,000 for the increase in costs on those two items alone for this coming year. She asked Council to take a good look at TUW rates to determine thecosts. Mayor Kravitz asked Mr. Greenwood how they got into this situation. Mr. Greenwood replied that the financial management of TUW, as explained to them by the Finance Department, is an enter- prise system and that as long as revenues are exceeding expenses, his department can go into deficit spending. He said the other line items within the budget have been fairly well met and explained that the ones before Council are with extraordinary increases. C/M Munitz said they need to look at the revenues as well as the expenditures. Mr. Greenwood said the present revenues can cover the additional expenses. He stated that from a long-range standpoint, Council authorized James M. Montgomery, Consulting Engineers, to pre- pare a rate study. He said this very detailed study had been performed and was assigned to the Finance Department for implementation and administration. Mr. Greenwood said copies were distributed to Council and highly recommended that at the first meeting in September, a critique be made of the study pertaining to implementation. C/M Stein wanted to know, because of the increase in electricity, if there has been additional income which precipitated this increase or was this strictly utility -rate increases and if they had support from revenues to offset the increases. Mr. Greenwood replied that they had the revenue support. C/M Stein reasoned that it was possible that they under- estimated the income as well as the expenditures. V/M Massaro MOVED to TABLE action on all the Engineering Department's requests and that they be addressed at Wednesday's meeting (7/24/85). C/M Stein SECONDED. VOTE: ALL VOTED AYE 4. Parks and Recreation Department - Discussion and possible action SYNOPSIS OF ACTION: TABLED to next regular meeting (7/24/85) for additional research by the Acting City Manager. Sharon Ellis, Parks and Recreation Director, requested $51,450. She said the main items in question are overtime and electricity for their facilities at Tamarac Park. She explained that the overtime was resultant of their department taking over the medians and swales of specific streets within the city and 17 events which required overtime. Ms. Ellis explained that originally they had:notbeen budgeted for rentals and leases and requested funds for that account. Mayor Kravitz asked if she had authority to overdraw the budget. Ms. Ellis said she was given authority by former City Manager Elly Johnson. She added that in the past they had been budgeted $20,000 for overtime but that in last fiscal year's budget they only received $5,000 for overtime. 4 -10- 7/19/85 Mayor Kravitz referenced a communication from Lou Solomon, Parks Commissioner, dated 7/16/85 in which he recommended that the Parks and Recreation Department maintain the city's four parks and relinquish the mowing of the medians to the Public Works Department. Ms. Ellis said she fully agreed with Mr. Solomon's recom- mendation as they do not have the manpower to maintain over three million sq. ft. of mowing projects in addition to maintaining the parks as they should be. V/M Massaro asked Robert Hurley's title and duties. Ms. Ellis answered that his title is Parks and Recreation Superintendent and that he oversees the daily operations of the Parks Department program. She said due to lack of manpower they have asked Mr. Hurley to do some physical work outside of his job description. She stated that they were fortunate to have a person with Mr. Hurley's expertise and reasoned that if he were basically in the supervisory position and the department had additional staff, they would be moving forward and spending their money more wisely. V/M Massaro asked if he was cognizant of the fact that he sends four or five men on a project, if he knows what they are doing, how long they are on a project and how long it should take. 1 Ms. Ellis responded that if the general community that worked with Mr. Hurley were polled they would inform that he is a very competent person. She explained that she was instrumental in bringing Mr. Hurley to the city and that he is a qualified person with over 31 years' experience in turf maintenance and ball field preparation. Ms. Ellis also stated that they can document where their men are by the forms they are required to complete. She said that V/M Massaro was referencing a lone incident at Capparella Park whereby one of the men was neglectful and left a weedeater at the park. V/M Massaro said that was not what took place. Ms.Ellis said she investigated the incident and was informed that was the situation. Tape V/M Massaro said she happened to be at this particular place 3 and was not there to check on the Parks and Recreation employees. She said while there she observed that an employee had brought an inoperative weedeater, took it to Public Works where he was informed that it would be ready in half an hour, and he went for a joy ride. She said he also stopped another man from work- ing by standing with his foot on the equipment whereby neither moved for 20 minutes. She reported that she asked Mr. Solomon to find out the man's name and that she asked them why they were planning to use a weedeater on the multitude of sidewalks at Capparella Park and were informed that the City did not have an edger. Ms. Ellis said they do have one edger. V/M Massaro said that another man said they had an edger but that they forgot to bring it. She said he also came in with a truck that did not have identification which is against the law. -11- 7/19/85 /vdw Ms. Ellis said that the Vice -Mayor would have to talk with Public Works about that. V/M Massaro said she wanted to continue because people have to know what happened as she felt it would fall on the Superintendent of Parks. She said he arrived in a truck that was in perfectly good working order but was informed by the former City Manager that the truck was going to be put up for auction. She said she asked him why and he answered that when a truck gets to a point that it costs more to keep it running then it would to buy a new one and when it is in the repair shop more than it is on the road, it is time to do something about it. V/M Massaro said she checked with the department to determine how often that truck was brought in for repairs and they informed her that the last time they had seen the truck was about a year ago. She said when she confronted the former City Manager with this information he told her that they would paint the truck but learned that an emblem was placed on the truck without it having been painted. V/M Massaro inquired what kind of repairs were necessary for that truck and was informed that a collar was cracked on the steering wheel and was replaced and they put on two tires and it is back in operation. She added that the truck will not be sold at auction as was indicated. ,V/M Massaro said she also heard that a woman fell on a sidewalk at her median and added that this contradicted all the comments on how great a job they were doing with the median mowing and that they should not be taken off the medians. She remarked that the medians were never in a more deplorable condition than they are today. V/M Massaro reiterated that the lady fell as a result of the grass being overgrown on the sidewalk. Mr. Henning advised her against commenting about the fall lest a claim be filed. V/M Massaro said no claim had been filed and asserted that Mr. Hurley should not be a superintendent. Ms. Ellis said that Mr. Hurley should be present to defend himself. V/M Massaro said she was telling her as director of Parks and Recreation. She said she inquired how many hours were scheduled to do certain parks and nobody could come up with the hours. Ms. Ellis responded that she gave that to Mr. Solomon to do. V/M Massaro said she was told that it took 32 hours to do Capparella Park and felt that it was ridiculous. Ms. Ellis assured that it does take one whole day to do Capparella Park with the machinery and the staff that they have right now. She also added that it has been raining and unless the men are put on overtime that is the only way they can do it. V/M Massaro said that she felt the overtime should be adjusted because she does not think the men should be working overtime but should bea.11otted a certain time to complete the job so that overtime would not be necessary. _12- 7/19/85 /vdw J Evelyn Lang identified herself as the person who fell in the Boulevards section and said that her median has not been cut in a month. Ms. Lang said she did not care which department did it as long as the work got done. V/M Massaro injected that this is the busiest time of the year for grass cutting and that the Superintendent of Parks and some of the grass cutters are on vacation. She asked if this is called supervision when Mr. Hurley went on vacation in the height of the grass cutting season. Mae Lang, Tamarac Lakes South, concurred with Eveleyn Lang. She said she has had a problem since May with an area on 31st Avenue and Commercial which needs to be cleaned up because of overgrown weeds and bug infestation. Ms. Lang said she called each department from Public Works to Parks and Recreation and got a runaround. Mayor Kravitz asked her if she called the Acting City Manager. Ms. Lang replied that she did not. Mayor Kravitz informed her that this was his department. Ms. Lang continued stating that she even called Broward County and was informed that they would clean the streets but would not cut the grass. She said as a last resort she called Helen Massaro who made several suggestions,none of which worked out,and that she still does not know who is responsible. She said she received a call yesterday from the City Manager's Office asking her to be patient and they will see that it is corrected. Ms. Lang concluded that they are the "black sheep" of the east side and that they have had to fight for everything. Mayor Kravitz acknowledged that the Acting City Manager had made a note of her complaint and would take care of it. V/M Massaro informed her that they are in the process of catching up. Bob Curcio, Chairman of the Parks and Recreation Committee, clarified that he does not object to the transfer of main- tenance of the medians and swales to Public Works but asked that Parks and Recreation be allowed to continue to maintain the four parks. He said, for the record, those men are working. Mr. Curcio said that much of the equipment is antiquated and in need of repair. He said Council should take into consideration that there is but one edger for the entire city. V/M Massaro said the important thing was where was it. Mr. Curcio said the important thing is that there is only one and maybe it should have been with those men. He said they do have a large mower which was sent to Public Works over a month ago for repairs and they just recently sent it to the manufacturer. He also reported that the men put in a lot of time and that a lot of the time they put in they are not paid for. Mr. Curcio said if the men were taken off median and swales and placed in special events, then there would not be enough manpower. -13-- 7/19/85 /vdw *Editor's Note: Mayor Kravitz asked that the record reflect that Evelyn Lang is a former Vice -Mayor of the City of Tamarac. J Abe Herbert, resident,'expressed surprise at the complaints made about the medians because they have been present for years when Public Works had it._ 'TFesaid he would- Like to appear before Council at a future date and ask for an allotment of money to hire a contractor to take care of their median strips. Council informed him that it could not be done that way. Mayor Kravitz suggested that he talk with V/M Massaro after the meeting,as they live in the same area,and she can bring it before Council,. Mr. Herbert praised Bob Hurley's efficiency and, more importantly, the respect he receives from people who come in contact with him. Vickie Beech, resident, said this discussion opened the door for not only things about this department but most every department in the city on the management level. She said every year the budget gets bigger, salaries get higher and they hire "hot shots" who are supposed to come in and solve all the problems and it appeared that they have more problems. Ms. Beech said the city has ordinances that are unenforceable and department heads who refuse to enforce them and stated that something has to be done. She said if these departments are ineffective, then they should be abolished from the hierarchy of the city. Ralph Stokes, resident, said everything is done on the west side and nothing is done on the east side. V/M Massaro informed him that he was not alone because he could ride up and down Commercial Boulevard and see the need for maintenance. She said that it was a disgrace and that she was ashamed to admit that this is the City of Tamarac. Mr. Stokes said it goes back to supervision. V/M Massaro agreed., Nat Scolnick, member of the Parks and Recreation Committee, said the equipment that they have is so old that he does not see how they get any work done. He informed that they needed standby equipment because it is true that the men will stand around and do nothing if they do not have anything to work with. V/M Massaro said there is complete negligence on the part of the workers that she has seen and that there was equipment but they forgot to bring it. She said the entire problem is lack of proper supervision and added that it is a shame when the Superintendent does not know how to request equipment through the City Manager's Office. V/M Massaro said the situation deserves scrutiny. Herb Perlmutter, member of Senior Men's Softball Team, said the city's fields are the best because the men knew what they were doing and did a good job. Bob Curcio asked V/M Massao how many times she has observed Parks and Recreation employees not doing their work other than the one incident. -14- 7/19/85 /vdw V/M Massaro replied that she did not walk around in back of the Parks and Recreation men but what she did see made her aware that something has to be done about it. Bob Curcio said that he does not monitor the men either but the times that he has observed them, they have been working. Mr. Curcio said the field referenced by Ms. Lang on 31st Avenue is not part of Parks and Recreation but comes under Public Works. He said in a lot of caseseomplaints have come in only to learn that they are for Public Works but Parks and Recreation gets the blame. Mr. Curcio said when it comes out in a Council meeting, the public leaves blaming Parks and Recreation and it does not matter that after the meeting is over that they find out that it belongs to Public Works. He suggested that those points be clarified in the public mind as well as Council's so that when they go home, it will not be with negativism against one or the other. V/M Massaro said that she could not agree with him. Sam Pizzarello, President of Tamarac Lakes South, stated that the situation is beyond Sharon Ellis' control. He said they have a strip that extends from 30th Street to 29th Street that has not been touched in two years. He said this is not a condemnation of Sharon Ellis because this item has been taken . from Public Works to Parks and Recreation and nobody wanted to touch it. Mr. Pizzarello said he even spoke with Chairperson Florence Bochenek of the Beautification Committee, and was told that they would get to it some time this year because they were involved with so many projects. Mr. Pizzarello-said because of moving it has left the avenue open for people to shun responsibility. Sharon Ellis, Director/Parks and Recreation, clarified that when the medians were given to the city on August b, 1984 they were presented with a list of medians that were under Public Works. She said that the list has increased since then and that she presented a total upkeep proposal to the City Manager to rebeautify Commercial Boulevard. Ms. Ellis said she agreed with the residents that the area is in a deplorable condition and asked how can they mow weeds and dirt. She said she has tried to work with the Beautification Committee to beautify the area. She said when there is a question as to property jurisdiction she contacts the Engineering Department for clarification and noted that she has found parts that they have mowed that did not belong to the city. Ms. Ellis said each month she has found more property that has become their responsibility and,because of the current equipment and personnel,they cannot do an adequate job; therefore, she recommended to the City Manager that it be returned to Public Works or a private vendor. V/M Massaro MOVED to TABLE the item to Wednesday's meeting (7/24/85) with the City Manager taking note of everything that has been said and bring recommendations back to Council as to what should be done. SECONDED by C/M Stein. VOTE: ALL VOTED AYE -15- 7/19/85 /vdw J 2. City Clerk's Department - Discussion and possible action SYNOPSIS OF ACTION: TABLED to next regular meeting (7/24/85) Marilyn Bertholf, City Clerk, requested a $7,000 increase to the Advertising Account for legal ads. She said this account is approximately $1,000 overdrawn and that she anticipated a number of advertisements between now and the new fiscal year. Ms. Bertholf reported that the Elections Account is overdrawn by approximately $5100 because of two unanticipated elections. She requested $5100 to balance that account. The City Clerk requested $2,000 for the Contractual Services Account to cover the codification services of the charter and ordinances. She noted that the Contractual Services Account is not only being used for codification but for storage of vital records. Ms. Bertholf said the balance of the money needed for this account can be transferred from other accounts, subject to the City Manager's approval of the line item transfers. Mayor Kravitz asked for a legal opinion as to whether line item transfers needed Council's approval. Mr. Henning said they did not need Council's approval and that if Council is accepting Mr. Perretti's discussion in which he indicated the transfer of line item salaries that would also be open to intradepartmental transfers. He said transfers within the department do not require Council's approval and indicated that the budget stated that. V/M Massaro questioned what happens if som-ebbdy made a transfer arbitrarily in mid -year and then at the end of the year said they were shy of an amount. Mr. Henning said that is open to scrutiny and that the line item transfers requires the City Manager's, Finance Director's and department head's approval. He said there is an attempt to make the right decision and it is subject to review. Mr. Henning said the question posed to him was if it was legal and his answer was "Yes, it is legal". V/M Massaro said she never knew that they could make any transfers in their budget without it coming to Council in order that they know what is going on. Mr. Henning answered that is not the case. He exampled if a line item is $500 short and they can transfer from within their department, it does not go to Council and it never has. V/M Massaro said never to her knowledge. C/M Stein MOVED to TABLE the item to Wednesday's meeting (7/24/85). V/M Massaro SECONDED. VOTE: ALL VOTED AYE Mayor Kravitz suggested that before the next meeting that the City Attorney submit, in writing, why it is legal to do it that way. -16- Mr. Henning announced that when the budget passed by ordinance it includes authorization to make intra- departmental transfers and that authorization is then, obviously, given by Council to the department heads. V/M Massaro questioned where that was written. Mr. Henning said he thought it was in the ordinance that approves the budget. 3. Building Department - Discussion and possible action SYNOPSIS OF ACTION: TABLED to the next regular meeting (7/24/85) Mr. Jahn reported that he was returning $14,26.1.53 for unencumbered balances to the Contingency Fund. He also noted that there is a 13% to 14% increase in anticipated revenues. Mr. Jahn requested $1,000 for printing and binding and $500 for office supplies and stated that he would not mind if Council tabled these items to the next regular meeting; however, he asked that the three radios requested for the Code Enforcement Officers not be tabled. He said the radios they now have are inoperative and he does not want the men out there without communication. Mr. Jahn said there is money within his budget but the purchase would ex- ceed $2,000 and requested permission to purchase three (3) Motorola mobile radios under State contract. He said after the recommended purchase is made, there will be a balance of $1,009. V/M Massaro complimented Mr. Jahn on the way he has main- tained his budget. She asked him if the Code Enforcement Officers made reports. Mr. Jahn said they are making daily reports. V/M Massaro asked if he felt three Code Enforcement Officers were necessary. Mr. Jahn answered that it might be overstaffed and V/M Massaro agreed. Mr. Jahn admitted that within the past two months there have been more notices of violations and that 50Z of his time has been devoted to code enforcement -related duties. He said as a result of a study he hoped to complete by the end of the fiscal year, he could say that they can use all three Code Enforcement Officers. Sam Pizzarella, said the transition of the Code Enforcement Officers from the Police Dept. to the Building Dept. has taken its toll. He explained that in June he called Code Enforcement Officer Jennings and informed him that the Tamarac Golf Club had placed a 30-foot fence on the City of Tamarac's property. Mr. Pizzarella said - Tamarac Golf Club is in Oakland Park and they had a permit from Oakland Park allowing them to build a 30-foot fence on their edging and they decided to move it 12 feet to the rear of the premises of 2502 N.W. 48th Street which is in Tamarac. He said Mr. Jennings came down and placed a Work Stop Order on it and spoke to Mr.. Broad,manager, and that afternoon the notice was torn down. Mr. Pizzarella said Mr. Broad deemed it necessary to add another 18 feet of fence which made it a 48-foot of 6-foot fence on Tamarac property. -17- 7/19/85 /vdw 1 I 1 Mr. Pizzarella said he then called Code Enforcement and was advised that it was no longer in their domain because of the transition and advised him to contact Mr. Jahn. He said Mr. Jahn's office responded and requested police backup because the people refused to stop building the fence. He said the police placed a work stoppage sign there and the sign came down the next day. Mr. Pizzarella said he is anticipating Tamarac Country Club putting up another section of fence. He said nothing has been done since Mr. V/M Jahn's letter. Massaro fence asked if the was on private property. Mr. Pizzarel'ta said that it is on private property. V/M Massaro inquired about the owner of the property and was informed that the owner was away but that he did not want the fence. Mr. Pizzarella said on the adjoining property, 2500 N.W. 48th St., the owner has erected a 30-foot fence that was never authorized and does not have a building permit and that is also on Tamarac property. V/M Massaro advised that they could tear it down if it is on their property. Mr. Pizzarella agreed but noted that they broke the sprinkler system because they put the post holes right through the sprinkler pipes. Mr. Henning said he did not recall the damage to the sprinkler system but that he is aware of the fence being located there. Mr. Jahn reported that he had a meeting with the Oakland Park Building Official at the fence site and determined that he did issue the permit erroneously. He said he also contacted the fence company and had a meeting with Mr. Broad, whom he found to be a very hard gentleman to deal with. Mr. Jahn said he did obtain a copy of a legal page and book number easement granted to Tamarac Country Club, Inc. for 12' of that lot to place a fence and the problem concerns proper permitting and getting the sprinkler repaired. He said he has elicited a new permit application from the fence company and a verbal promise in front of four witnesses by Mr. Broad that he will repair the sprinkler system. Mayor Kravitz said he felt confident that Mr. Jahn and the City Attorney could handle everything properly. V/M Massaro asked if the easement covered the entire length of the property discussed. Mr. Jahn said it appeared to cover it from the legal des- cription although he has not been able to definitely ascertain if it fits all the lot but that it was a 10' writ of ingress/egress for roadway purposes and 2' for a fence. Vickie Beech, resident, informed that Mr. Broad appeared before Council last year and was denied the roadway. Ms. Beech thanked the Mayor, Mr.Perretti and Mr.Jahn and stated thatshe has had more communication than she has had in a number of years. She said she has made cursory inspections and noted boats in driveways, lean-tos being built for boats. She said one must stress courtesy for everyone concerned because there has been a lack of it for some time. 7/19/85 /vdw IN C/M Gottesman MOVED, in view of the fact that Mr. Jahn has been able to show such a huge return of funds to the city, that he be granted the money to buy the three radios. V/M Massaro suggested that they do the same as with the other departments and TABLE any action until Wednesday's meeting (7/24/85) and C/M Gottesman so MOVED. C/M Stein pointed out that Mr. Jahn has asked that _theY_be treated as two separate items. He said Mr. Jahn - -- - - has the money in his budget and is only asking for approval. V/M Massaro said the thing that concerned her is that she is not sure that two men could not do the job that three men are now doing. She said she would like to see those reports to determine what they are really doing. V/M Massaro SECONDED the MOTION. VOTE: ALL VOTED AYE 5. Any other departments Council wishes to address - Discussion an possi e action SYNOPSIS OF ACTION: TABLED to the next regular meeting (7/24/85) Mr. Henning requested $11,600 for General Salaries and FICA Taxes for the City Attorney's budget. He said the expenditures for this account are at 81% when they _.. _._...--- s.hQuld be around 75%. Mayor Kravitz asked what was the total budget for the City Attorney's Office and Mr. Henning said the total is $161.855, and the budget for "Regular Salaries" is $82,500. V/M Massaro asked him to define "regular". Mr. Henning explained -.Chat the line item is called "Regular Salaries" which includes his and two secretaries' salaries. Mayor Kravitz said the increase that he is asking for would bring it up to $1.73,000 and asked him why it was necessary to spend that kind of money because that was in addition to the extra attorneys that Council hires. Mr. Henning said ESM is a separate item and that in the past years, Council has authorized as much as $70,000 for consulting attorneys' services and that is included in the $161,000. He said he had approximately $12,000 left in the Consulting Services Account. Mayor Kravitz asked, if Council did not grant the increase, could the City Attorney's Office function for the balance of the fiscal year without hurting the city. -19- 7/19/85 /vdw LJ J Mr. Henning said the salaries are set in October by the computer and that as budget preparers they are told to concentrate on the expenses. He said the three areas within the budget are operating expenses, capital outlay, and personal services. with the city he has never made any adjustments Co the Personal Services area. He said he believed the problem is that the City Attorney's Office received increases after October 1 and they were not funded in the budget. Mayor Kravitz suggested that Mr. Hennin give Council a full report at Wednesday's meeting (7%24/85). V/M Massaro suggested that the City�Attorney include in his report how they can fund the expenses of the Pension Board. Mayor Kravitz said that will be discussed on a future agenda. Mr. Henning said he understood that Council is considering assessing some of the expenses for law fees or actuaries' fees, etc., against the Pension Board. He said his main question is whether or not, if Council initiates this, will it be effective October 1 or would it be retroactive. C/M Stein MOVED to TABLE to Wednesday's meeting (7/24/85). SECONDED by V/M Massaro. VOTE: ALL VOTED AYE Vickie Beech expressed concern over the way the city is going by using so many consultants. She said she was under the impression that there was expertise on the Council and thaC, at one time or another, there must be guidance as with the Pension Plan. Ms. Beech said it should be taken under serious advisement because for the amount of salaries being expended the benefits derived are not balancing. Mayor Kravitz adjourned the meeting at 11:45 a.m. 00 MAYOR ATTEST: - 0'-t� e CITY OF TAMA RAC, A S STANT CITY CLERK APPROVED AT MEETING OF City CWk This document was promulgated at a cost of $ 5 or $ 4.11 per copy to inform the general puuic��and public officers and employees about recent opinions and considerations by the City Council of the City of Tamarac. -20- 7/19/85 /vdw