HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980-09-04 - City Commission Public Hearing Meeting MinutesL -1
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5811 NORTHWEST 88TH AVENUE 0 TAMARAC, FLORIDA 33321
TELEPHONE (305) 722-5900
September 3, 1980
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
CITY COUNCIL
TAMARAC, FLORIDA
Pleased be advised of a Public Hearing before the
City Council of Tamarac on Thursday, September 4, 1980
at 10:00 A.M. at the Boulevards Clubhouse, 2613
West Prospect Road. Tamarac.
The purpose of the Public Hearing is to consider and
take action on the Eastside Utility Fund Budget 1980/81
by Temporary Ordinance 806 - First Reading.
Council may consider such other business as may come
before it.
The Public is invited to attend.
Ma7rilygVBertholf, Ci Clerk
9/3/80
MB/1c
I
CITY OF TAMARAC, FLORIDA
PUBLIC HEARING -
"UTILITY FUND EAST BUDGET- FY 1980/81
SEPTEMBER 4,1980
Mayor Falck called the Public Hearing to order, on Thursday,
September 4,1980 at 10:00 A.M., in the Boulevards of Tamarac.
ROLL CALL:
PRESENT:Mayor Walter W. Falck
Vice -Mayor Helen Massaro
Councilman Irving M. Disraelly
Councilman Irving Zemel
Councilwoman Marjorie Kelch
ALSO PRESENT
City Manager,Edward Gross
City Attorney,Arthur Birken
Finance Director, Steve Wood
Clerk/Steno, M. Carporotta
Mayor Falck read the Notice of Public Hearing. The purpose of
this Special Meeting is to consider and take action on the East
Side Utility Fund Budget 1980/91 by temporary ordinance # 806,
First Reading,
Councilman Disraelly said the City's Personnel/Insurance
Technician requested Council approve bids for Law Enforcement
Officers, Comprehensive Liability Insurance which is coming
due and moved this item be agendized by consent. Councilman
7eme1 Seconded the motion. C/W Kelch clarified the purpose
of this agendizing this item. Tt is to authorize going for bids
and not to approve the bid.
VOTE: ALL VOTED AYE.
Councilman Disraelly MOVED that the Insurance Department go
to bid for Law Enforcement Officers Liability Insurance for
the .omsuing year.
Vice Mayor Massaro Seconded the Motion.
VOTE: ALL VOTED AYE.
Mayor Falck thanked the residents of the Boulevards for
having their clubhouse available for the City Council to explain
and review the proposed budget for the fiscal year 1980/81.
This will include comments which h av e come before Council
relating to rates, as they apply to individual homes. He explained
that no action will be taken on that particular matter, but
will be held for further discussion by Council at the appropriate
time.
The Mayor said he would be presenting the Key to the City 4
to Mr. McPherson later on in the meeting. He was instrumental
in helping the City obtain the necessary funds for Caporella
Park.
The City Manager explained the Utility Budget for the
coming year. He said he is asking for an increase over the
previous year of approximately 56,000.00, which represents
a 41'; increase. He further explained the City is required,
under Federal Laws, to phase out the City"s Utility in a
few years from now. Because of that the City has limited
capital improvement in the Utility. After being looked at
by the City Engineer and by the City's Consulting Engineer
the plant should last the time frame due until the 201 program
comes into effect.
Councilman Disraelly commented, after careful review
of the expenses of the last year, it was determined that certain
items, such as postage and electricity needed to be increased.
9/ 4 /80
Councilwoman Ketch clarified the turn on and turn off
charges. She explained this refers only to turn on charges when
there has been a delinquency in the bill. She questioned the
item concerning uniforms and the cost being $750.00. Steve Wood,
Finance Director, explained that the utility employees have not
had uniforms in the past. This will bring them to the same
status as the employees at Utility West.
Mice Mayor questioned the item " in lieu of taxes,
fi2,125.00,1'The Finance Director explained these are reimbursements
to the General Fund, had the General Fund taxed the utility as it
would if it were a private company, to provide other services
to the General Fund. ( Payroll, Engineering Services, City Attorney,
City Manager) These monies go to the General Fund.'Mayor Falck
asked if anyone wished to discuss and/or ask any questions
relating to the Utility.
Mrs. Ball, resident of Tamarac Lakes I, discussed the
minimum gallons of water being 4000 in some areas and 5000 in
other areas. She asked Council for consideration to reduce the
minimum to 4000 in all areas and charge accordingly. The City
Attorney clarified that the minimum charge is for the first
4000 gallons.
Councilman Disraelly brought to the attention of those
present that the budget that is proposed will not require any
additional monies for water & sewer rates. The present rates
will cover the anticipated budget without any change in revenues.
Mr. Paul Ferrara, resident of Tamarac Lakes North, asked
Council when the phase out of the Utility is going to come about,
where and who is taking over? Mr. Gross explained that under the
Environmental Protection Rules and Regulations of the Federal
Government, the Utility Companies in Broward County all have
to connect into three regional systems which are now being built,
or which will be built by 1984. It is expected that sometime
in 1983 the sewer plant will connect to that system and at that
point in time the sewer plant itself will no longer be used.
The City does not meet the standards required by the Federal
Government. At the present time there is no exact date, but
next year at this time we should have one.
The sewage, instead of going to the City's plant
will be transferred to the County Plant which will have the
Environmental Protection Devices that are required by law and
the City of Tamarac will be paying the County for this use.
Mayor Falck said there will be approximately 90% funding
by the Federal Government. One of the reasons the City was
interested in having the conversion from the flat rate water
program to the meter system was to enable the City to pay
only for the water used and more important to pay for the
waste water discharged.
Mr. Campbell, resident of Tamarac Lakes, asked who is
using the sewer plantieast of 441? What has been added in the
last 8 or 9 years? The City Manager responded,in the past
5 years there has been only one increase in the commercial area
and no changes in the residential area in the sewer system. Two
years ago another surge tank was added which was donated to the
City by Holiday Inn on 441, to increase the capacity of the system.
Properties in the Lakes I area which presently have septic tanks,
will eventually be brought into the°system.
Mayor Falck stated that "'The City is very well aware
of what the capacity of the plant is. About five months ago the
Lakes Section wanted to change their clubhouse. They put in a
sewer connection.Those were reserved because when we were at
capacity we also had the two homes which were removed. This gave
us back ERC'S that we did not have, so we reserved those when we
heard the Lakes Section was going to do some modifications to their
clubhouse. Those were reserved to be used by them. Since that time
nothing else has been added to it."
-2- 9/4/80
Mr. Campbell questioned the capacity of the plant.
Vice Mayor responded, it is approximately 200,000 gallons.
There being no other discussion or questions by the Public,
Mayor Falck closed the Public Hearipg.
The City Attorney read Temp. Ord. # 806 by title.
Councilwoman Kelch MOVED Temp. Ord. #806 adopting an
annual Utility Fund Budget for the City of Tamarac be approved
on First Reading.
Vice Mayor Massaro SECONDED the motion.
VOTE: ALL VOTED AYE
Mayor Falck indicated there will be a Second Reading
on this proposed Ordinance as part of the regular Council
Meeting scheduled for September 24th at City Hall, 2:00 P.M.
The City Manager said the Finance Department has
reviewed the operation of the East Utility as to the revenue
picture and in reviewing the rates that are currently charged,
it is recommended that if Council wishes to change the rates
in order to lower the availability charge, the Finance
Department felt it could be done without any lowering of
revenues to the City in the following manner:
a) A service availability charge has been set up for
water for $3.70 a month, rather than the present
charge of fi5.00.
b) A consumption of $.55 per thousand gallons is also
charged for water.
The cost could then be brought into line so the rates
are not lowered and at the time those people who use lesser
amounts of water can lower their own rates by using less. The
availability charge and the consumption charge in actual figures
are different from the figures used at the West Plant. However,
the same method is being used. The reason we pay $.55 per thousand
gallons is Tamarac pays the City of Fort Lauderdale for water at
the present time. We must charge at least that much money to
break even. Mr. Cross further indicated all water usage will
be paid for by the thousand gallons.
In the area of sewage, the difference is the cost per
thou -sand gallons for sewage. By charging a higher cost for
sewage, a lower ava-ilability charge can be charged. The Finance
Director is recommending $5.75 as compared to 57.00, with a
$.50 per thousand gallon charge, of> 6.10 for Service Availability
with a �.40 per thousand charge. Those people who may go away
for some period of time will be paying a lesser amount for
Service Availability but they will still be paying the full
amount that is needed to cover the cost of the effluent and
of the water.
Councilman Disraelly clarified that under the proposed
rate, residents would be paying $9.80 per month for no water
consumption and at the present time the minimum bill is $12.00.
That gives 4000 gallons of water. If 2000 gallons are used,
there would be a reduction in cost from $12.00 to $11.70.
It is computed on an average that if 5000 gallons is used,
the new rate would be $14.55. It would be a sliding scale
based upon the amount of water actually used.
Mr. Cetchee, resident of Boulevards, asked if that means
they will be paying $14.55 for 500Q'gallons of water,plus
�$2.55 for the extra 1000 gallons?
Councilman Disraelly explained the extra 1000 gallons at
the present time costs $.85 for water and $.40 for sewer.(13.25)
5611
9/4/80
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Mr. Getchee explained that the median strip in the
Boulevards section is dry because they only have it sprinkled
once a week. He requests the lawns be sprinkled twice a week
for a half an hour.
The City Manager,commented, on the average, 3000 gallons
of water are used a month for a single family home. The vast
majority of the citizens in the area are using less than
3000 gallons. Therefore, most residents will be receiving
reduced bills.
Cmncilwoman Kelch felt the new proposed budget is
more fair and equitable to most people. Tt is also more
ecologically sound.
The Vice Mayor felt Council has not had ample time
to research and determine the fairness of the proposal completely.
The Vice Mayor respectfully suggested tabling this item for
consideration by Council and to be brought up for further
consideration at a time designated by the Mayor.
Councilwoman Kelch Seconded the motion.
VOTE: ALL VOTED AYE.
Mayor Falck introduced Mr. Mitch Ceasar to the
residents as well as all present on the dais.
Mr. Kuhn, resident of the Boulevards, and retired
employee from Broward County Engineering stated he was very
happy with the proposals suggested by Council with respect to
the rate structure.
Playor Falck thanked the public for attending. Meeting
was adjourned at 10:45 A.M.
MAYOR
ATTEST:
r VA
This public doc,unent was promulgated at a cost of $
or /-00 per copy, to inform the general public and public
officers and employees about recent opinions and considerations
by the City Council of the City of Tamarac.
--4- 9/4/80
APPROVED BY
CITY OUNCIION e-d