HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-04-24 - City Commission Workshop Meeting Minutes (2)CITY OF TAMARAC
CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING
April 24, 2001
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Schreiber called the Workshop Meeting of the City
Commission to order on Tuesday, April 24, 2001, at 9:30 a.m. in Room 105 of Tamarac
City Hall, 7525 NW 88 1h Avenue, Tamarac, Florida.
PRESENT: Mayor Joe Schreiber, Vice Mayor Marc L. Sultanof, Commissioner Edward
C. Portner, Commissioner Gertrude Mishkin, and Commissioner Karen L. Roberts.
ALSO PRESENT: City Manager Jeffrey L. Miller, City Attorney Mitchell S. Kraft, and
City Clerk Marion Swenson.
1 . April 25, 2001 AGENDA ITEMS:
a. Item #7(h). BID AWARD - TAMARAC EAST UTILITIES UPGRADE -
PHASE 1 PROJECT. (TR9297) Awarding Bid No. 01-03B to, and executing a contract
with the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, Ocean Bay Construction, Inc., for an
amount of $867,786.00 for the Tamarac East Utilities Upgrade - Phase 1 Project;
approving funding for this project from the appropriate Utilities Operational account
including the appropriation of $606,042.00 from Retained Earnings; authorizing the
appropriate City officials to administer the contract. Director of Utilities Raymond
Gagnon introduced Project Engineer John Doherty, who gave a presentation on the
Tamarac East Utilities Upgrade Phase I Project. Mayor Schreiber asked about
servicing the homes when the project is completed and Project Engineer Doherty said
Tamarac would service the homes. Vice Mayor Sultanof asked about the replacement
pipe, and Project Engineer Doherty said ductile iron pipe would be used with an
approximate life expectancy of 50 years. Vice Mayor Sultanof questioned the grant
funding and Utilities Director Gagnon discussed the grant and city's portion of the
project cost. Commissioner Portner asked about the property owners who are not
participating, and Utilities Director Gagnon said they have 90 days to connect after the
project is completed or they would not be in compliance with city code. Commissioner
Roberts questioned whether the people not participating should be put on written notice
and Director of Utilities Gagnon said another letter could be sent.
b. Item #7(k). AMENDING THE BENEFITS PLAN: (TR9358) Amending the
Benefits Plan for members of the Commission, Appointed Officials, Executive,
Managerial/Professional and Administrative non -bargaining employees effective May 5,
2001; authorizing appropriate budget transfers. Interim Assistant City Ma nager/D i rector
of Personnel Maria Swanson made a presentation. Mayor Schreiber said he does not
object to the proposed changes and understands the need to attract and retain
employees, but the city must look down the road. Commissioner Roberts questioned
appointed officials in the title of the resolution, and City Attorney Kraft said appointed
officials are the City Attorney and City Manager. Commissioner Portner questioned
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accrued leave payouts, sick leave, and life insurance for commissioners. Interim
Assistant City Manager/Director of Personnel Swanson responded. There was
discussion about life insurance for commissioners and mandatory use of one week's
vacation for executive, manageria [/professional and administrative non -bargaining
employees. City Manager Miller said he is not recommending increased insurance at
this time, but it will be looked at and brought forth in October.
C. Item #7(o). AGREEMENTS FOR THE FY01 INFLOW AND
INFILTRATION PROJECT: (TR9331) Accepting and executing agreements for the
FY01 Inflow and Infiltration Project with the following two Sewer Rehabilitation
Companies: (1) Insituform Technologies, Inc., and (2) Azurix North America
Underground Infrastructure, Inc., authorizing the Director of Utilities to approve work
tasks under each contract up to a combined total cost not to exceed $750,000.00;
authorizing the appropriate City Officials to administer the contract. Director of Utilities
Raymond Gagnon introduced Operations Manager Scott London, who gave a
presentation on the inflow and infiltration project. Mayor Schreiber asked about power
failure incidents and Director of Utilities Gagnon responded.
With regard to Item 7(b) on the consent agenda, Commissioner Portner commented
about a grand opening not being held at the hotel. BILL OF SALE ABSOLUTE -
INTOWN SUITES: (TR9323) Accepting a Bill of Sale Absolute from Intown Suites
Commercial Boulevard, Inc., for the Water Distribution System Improvements for the
Intown Suites Project, located on the northeast corner of NW 82nd Street and
Commercial Boulevard, for City ownership; authorizing and directing the City Clerk to
record said document in the public records of Broward County. Mayor Schreiber spoke
about the suites and the rates and said some companies are not interested in hosting
grand opening ceremonies.
Commissioner Portner questioned Item 7(m) on the consent agenda. AGREEMENT -
BUS SHELTERS - ELLER MEDIA COMPANY: (TR9322) Executing a bus shelter
agreement by and between the City of Tamarac and Eller Media Company. Special
Project Coordinator Diane Phillips gave a presentation. Commissioner Portner asked
about the shelters where no fees are paid to the city, and Special Project Coordinator
Phillips explained about the five shelters that are set aside for public service
announcements that the city can use at no cost.
Commissioner Portner questioned Item 7(n) on the consent agenda. STATE HOUSING
INITIATIVES PARTNERSHIP (SHIP) PROGRAM: (TR9340) Amending the State of
Florida's State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) program budget of estimated
revenues and expenditures by accepting a modified allocation of SHIP program funds in
the amount of an additional $1,635.00 for a total allocation of $436,145.00 for Fiscal
Year 2001-2002 to be utilized according to the City of Tamarac's Local Housing
Assistance Plan and Housing Delivery Goals Chart; appropriating said funds, including
any and all necessary budget transfers; authorizing appropriate City Officials to
administratively execute future amendments to the City's SHIP program budget for an
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amount not to exceed $10,000.00 per event, as may be necessary to reflect
adjustments made by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation; Case No. 17-MI-01.
Community Development Director J. Christopher King gave a presentation and said
passage of this Resolution would save administrative costs for future amendments to
the program budget.
Commissioner Portner questioned item 7(p) on the consent agenda. ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT MARKETING VIDEO: (TR9262) Executing an Agreement between
the City of Tamarac and Adkins & Associates, Inc. for the production of an Economic
Development marketing video for an amount not to exceed $18,300.00; authorizing the
appropriate budget transfers to the general fund account entitled, "Promotional Activities
- Other"; Case No. 6-MI-01. Community Development Director J. Christopher King gave
a presentation and said this is a marketing video that will be sent to businesses to
encourage them to locate in the City of Tamarac.
2. DISCUSSION OF FUNDING A NURSE AT TAMARAC ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL: Commissioner Edward C. Portner said he would like to see the City of
Tamarac take the lead and fund a nurse at Tamarac Elementary School. Mayor
Schreiber said while this is a noble cause he feels the obligation and responsibility for
school nurses rests with the School Board. Commissioner Portner said he spoke with
Senator Debbie Wasserman Schultz and was told the Senate Bill for appropriation for
nurses was defeated. Commissioner Portner said he spoke with Mr. Crookshank of
University Hospital. Mr. Crookshank said he would like to partner with Tamarac to get
nurses into the schools. Commissioner Roberts suggested Mr. Crookshank speak with
Tamarac Elementary School and partner directly with the school, as there is no need for
Tamarac to get involved. Vice Mayor Sultanof said he feels Commissioner Portner's
recommendation is admirable but since University Hospital is a private non-profit
organization, they need to find out whether they encroach on the School Board's
authority, and find out about liability. Vice Mayor Sultanof suggested getting in touch
with our lobbyist to have him look into this, and also contacting the North Broward
Hospital District to see if they can help. Commissioner Portner said he feels very
strongly about this and will continue looking into it. Commissioner Mishkin asked if
there have been any complaints from parents about not having a nurse in the schools,
and Commissioner Roberts said the PTA has fought with the state to get a nurse in the
schools.
Mayor Schreiber called a recess at 10:45 a.m. The Commission stepped outside to
view a Bluebird Bus that is in use in the City of Sunrise, to see what the City of
Tamarac's bus will look like. The Workshop Meeting of the City Commission
reconvened at 11:05 a.m. with all present as before.
3. MID -YEAR BUDGET PRESENTATION: Director of Finance Robert Lange gave
a presentation. Commissioner Roberts said she is happy to know where the $22,000
for the Fire vehicle comes from, and asked about the upgrade of the part time position
with funding from general fund contingency. Finance Director Lange said the money in
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the general contingency fund is available if needed so as not to deplete the
department's funds. Commissioner Portner asked about the cost of the bus, and
Finance Director Lange said it is $109,000. Commissioner Portner asked about the
location of the signage on the Community Center, and City Manager Miller said it would
be on the building facing Commercial Boulevard. There was discussion about
participation in Community Center activities and cost of membership. There was
discussion about 10,000 additional feet in back of the Community Center for expansion.
Finance Director Lange introduced the Budget Analysts Chris Sammartino and Mike
Gresek.
4. DISCUSSION OF STATE LEGISLATIVE ITEMS: Special Project Coordinator
Diane Phillips gave a presentation on upcoming bills and the City's position on each.
Commissioner Portner asked about municipal sales tax, and City Manager Miller said
that is part of the Growth Management Bill on which no final action has been taken,
5. UPDATE ON AUTOMATIC AID AGREEMENT: Fire Chief Budzinski gave a
presentation on Automatic Aid and responded to questions from the Mayor and
Commissioners regarding benefits to Tamarac in participating in the Automatic Aid
Agreement, Fire Chief Budzinski explained how the dispatch responds to calls and cuts
response time, so there is less injury or damage to person and property. Commissioner
Roberts questioned the amount of money each city pays for the service and asked if the
number of calls serviced is equitable. Fire Chief Budzinski said the calls balance out,
and the highest level of service is provided.
6. REVIEW OF FDOT SIDEWALK PROGRAM: Director of Public Works Raj
Verma gave a presentation and introduced Daniel J. Ekback, P.E., Project Manager,
State of Florida Department of Transportation and Hassan Abedi, P.E., Area Engineer,
State of Florida Department of Transportation. There was discussion about 103 rd
Avenue, and Mayor Schreiber said he received many complaints about the anticipated
sidewalk. Commissioner Roberts expressed concern about the side of the street
chosen for the sidewalk, but said several people complaining should not hold back a
project. Commissioner Portner said he felt the sidewalk should be put on the side of the
street with no landscaping, and Mr. Ekback said new plans would have to be drawn and
a survey done; this would take a few months and the contract runs for six months.
Commissioner Roberts said this section should be put at the end of the contract, and
Mr. Abedi said the entire project could be put on hold for one month. Commissioner
Roberts asked if other areas had been notified of the project. Vice Mayor Sultanof
spoke about the job just done on McNab Road and expressed concern that the
Commission has not been included in this sidewalk project since it's inception in 1994.
City Manager Miller asked about advertising the sites, and Mr. Ekback said only the first
six sites were advertised. City Manager Miller said he feels it necessary for staff to sit
down with FDOT and come up with an overall plan to see which areas will face the
same problems before moving forward on this project. There was discussion about
holding off on the project and the use of the grant money. Commissioner Roberts said
she did not want to waste the grant money, but did want to take advantage of the 30
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days the FDOT said they would allow to review the situation, and since Tamarac is
planning a linear park on Southgate Boulevard, she did not want the people to come
back at a later date and say they wanted sidewalks. Tony Grau, Project Engineer, Delta
Consulting Engineers, Inc., said he received over 300 calls about the sidewalk project,
some in favor of it, some not. Mayor Schreiber shared an e-mail he received from
Francine Owengran, Westwood 26, 8011 NW 107 th Terrace, saying that the sidewalks
on 103 rd Avenue would cut into the driveways and code enforcement, in conjunction
with the Code of Ordinances, would then issue violations to anyone parked on the
sidewalks. Commissioner Roberts said that would need to be addressed. Mayor
Schreiber suggested community meetings to see how the people feel about the
sidewalks. Commissioner Roberts said sidewalks leading to the schools are on the
plan, and the people want these, so they can walk to the schools, however, they are on
the wrong side of the road. City Manager Miller said he and the Public Works Director
would meet with FDOT to review the plan and come back with a projected schedule.
Also, meetings can be set up with residents. Commissioner Roberts questioned the
$800,000 for beautification and landscaping, and Public Works Director Verma said that
was not funded.
There being no further business to come before the City Commission, Mayor Schreiber
adjourned the workshop meeting at 12:45 p.m.
Marion Swense(h, CIVIC
City Clerk
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