HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981-05-18 - City Commission Emergency Meeting Minutes5811 NORTHWEST- 881-H AVENUE TAMARAC, FLORIDA 33321
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TELEPHONE (305) 722-5900
May 18, 1981
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EMERGENCY MEETING
CITY COUNCIL OF TAMARAC, FLORIDA
An Emergency Meeting of the City Council has been called
by Mayor Falck on Monday, May 18, 1981, at 11:00 A.M. to
be held in the West Conference Room at City Hall, 5811
N. W. 88th Avenue.
The purpose of the Emergency Meeting is to discuss and
take possible action concerning water regulations in the
City of Tamarac.
The. City Council may consider such other items as may come
before it.
The Public is invited to attend.
Carol A. Evans, Asst. City Clerk
Pursuant to Chapter 80-105 of Florida Law, Senate Bill No. 368:
If a person decides to appeal any decision made 6y the City
1 c Council with respect to any matter considered at such meeting or
hearing, he will need a record the p•oceedings and for such
purpose, he may need to ensure that a ver6atim record includes
5 / 18 / 81 the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.
CITY OF TAMARAC, FLORIDA
EMERGENCY CITY(COUNCIL MEETING
MAY 18, 1981
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Walter Falck called the meeting to order on
Monday, May 18, 1981, at 11:00 A.M., in the West Conference Room.
ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Mayor Walter W. Falck
Vine Mayor Irving M. Disraelly
Councilwoman Helen Massaro
Councilman Irving Zemel
Councilman Philip B. Kravitz
ALSO PRESENT: City Manager, Laura Stuurmans
City Attorney, Arthur M. Birken
Asst. City Clerk, Carol A. Evans
City Engineer, Larry Keating
Mayor Falck stated that he had released to the City Council a memorandum
in connection with the problem of water conservation. He noted the
problem of water shortages was considered at the previous Council Meeting.
The situation has worsened and shows further signs of deterioration.
At the present time, the South Florida Water Management District is con-
sidering further cut -backs either to one-third or perhaps one-half, rather
than the 25% now in effect. Mayor Falck said he believes it is essential
that some action be taken since he does not believe Council can depend
on people to do these things for themselves.
Mayor Falck indicated he had received a memorandum from Larry Keating,
City Engineer, dated May 15, 1981 and in addition to that�he received
a communication from the Department of Environmental Regulation, and
also a communication from the,South Florida Water Management District,
Mayor Falck said he believes there is an emergency and whatever needs
to be done should be done at the present time in order to make sure
the City is not only meeting, but exceeding the requirements that have
been put forth previously. The Mayor read the Call of the Meeting.
1. Emergency Ordinance -- Water Conservation - Temp. Ord. #887.
Discussion and possible action to curtail certain non -essential
uses of water during the water shortage.
SYNOPSIS OF ACTION
Adopted on lst and 2nd Reading ORDINANCE #0-81-23
Arthur M. Birken, City Attorney explained he had used the
Ordinance that had been prepared by the Water Management
District as the basis for Temporary Ordinance #887. He
explained the whereas provisions were used in Section 1,
Findings of Emergency. He removed the section concerning
Appeals to Council, since if citations are issued by a law -
enforcement agency he would not want a situation where people
would claim a right to appeal to the City Council prior to a
court trial, which would delay the process of justice in the
courts. There are a few minor word changes and clarifications;
and a provision that the Ordinance would expire four months
from the date of passage or upon lifting of the emergency
that exists, whichever comes first.
Mayor Falck indicated he was concerned about the section
relating to sprinkling and he also indicated in his memo-
randum that he is proposing that.the Section sprinkler
systems be adjusted to reduce lawn sprinkling from three days
to two days per week; the time of each sprinkling shall not
exceed twenty minutes and in those Sections where sprinkling
is done on two days per week he proposed it be reduced to one
day, and the time of sprinkling shall not exceed thirty minutes.
Further, Mayor Falck said he believed.residents should be encour-
aged immediately to do their laundry and other large water
usage activites according to their house numbers. He also
pointed out the sprinkling is handled by community systems
so an odd -even method is not workable.
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Mayor Falck proposed that effective immediately all Section
sprinkler systems be adjusted to reduce lawn sprinkling from
three days per week to two days per week and that the time of
each sprinkling shall not exceed 20 minutes. Further, in those
Sections where sprinkling is done two days per week he proposed
this be reduced to one day per week and the time of each
sprinkling not to exceed 30 minutes.
The City Attorney suggested that all residents should be treated
the same as far as the lawn sprinkling is concerned. Council-
woman Massaro said that was difficult because certain sections
are split, with different numbers of meters for the sprinkler
system and the sprinkling has to be done on a rotation basis.
Vice Mayor Disraelly explained that everyone could not have
their lawns sprinkled at one time because there would not be
proper pressure. Therefore, everything is metered with clocks
on every home so that it goes from one home to the next, etc.
He said most of the sections that are large only do half of a
given section on any one day, and the other half on the next
day. The Vice Mayor said the sprinkling would have to be done
on a one-time a week, or twice a week basis since it is done
by areas, rather than streets. Mr. Birken said he would not
want to see some people sprinkled two days a week and others
only one day. Vice Mayor Disraelly said the sprinkling would
have to be done by areas, not by street. Mr. Birken suggested
the Ordinance allow sprinkling two days a week, in twenty -minute
cycles. Mayor Falck pointed out some of the Sections are already
sprinkling two days a week, and that would not reduce anything.
Mr. Birken said they are conserving water, and they would be
penalized for that. The Mayor explained some places have twenty
minute cycles, and others have thirty minute cycles. Vice Mayor
Disraelly indicated the cycles could not be changed.
Councilwoman Massaro asked Mr. Keating, City Engineer, if there
is some way the amount of water used can be decreased in the
City, and what can the Council do that will comply with the
Water Management District regulations, and conserve and yet
meet the problems that the City has.
Mr. Keating replied that the best thing they can do is to cut
the pressure at the Plant, which they have done to a reduction
of 23 or 24%. Mr. Keating explained they can control the use
of City water, but they have no control over the canal users,
or those who are drawing it from wells and lake areas. He
indicated the primary effect of the proposed Ordinance would
be to establish controls on those users.
Councilwoman Massaro said that the next step is to find out
who is on canal systems and notify them how many times a week
it can be used. Vice Mayor Disraelly said he was referring
basically to canal -water users.
Councilman Zemel stated there is no doubt in his mind that
an emergency water situation exists and Council must take
immediate action to alleviate the problems. He commented
that proposed Ordinance 887 does much to save the water supply
from becoming short. Councilman Zemel referred to Section 4
addressing "Implementation" which delineates the restrictions
in general areas covered by the water -saving Ordinance. He
noted that home -owners who do not have an automatic sprinkler
system would be penalized by having to get out of bed at 4 AM
to start their irrigation. Further, he said that baby pools
are included in Section 4 of the Ordinance, in paragraph 6.
So they have to consider the little plastic pools which are
forbidden by the Ordinance. Therefore, Councilman Zemel proposed
that they think about home -owners who do not have automatic
sprinkler systems and consider permitting them to irrigate
between the hours of six AM and 8 AM. Also, he suggested that
kiddie pools with diameters not exceeding 48" be excepted from
the provisions.
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Councilman Zemel said if they do decide to adopt Temp. Ordinance 4�887,
paragraph 2(c) should also be amended as follows: after the words
"water supply" on line 6 add "including, but notlimited to, canals
and catch basins". He commented some people may decide the Ordinance
does not mean canals, and in many instances people in the City are
pulling water out of the catch basins with pumps and irrigating their
lawns.
City Attorney Birken indicated he had a suggested change that may handle
part of the problem with the irrigation, and to put in Section 4 a new
sub -paragraph saying that provisions of 1. a) and b) may be modified
by the City Engineer in cases of hardship. He said that will handle
the community situations.
Vice Mayor Disraelly commented that no section of the City, other than
individuals, can water between 4 and 6 o'clock. Those other sections,
such as the one with the twelve meters and his own area, it is
done by the clock, he said. Also, the Vice Mayor noted that in his
section where it is necessary to cover 150 homes, the sprinklers are
turned on 7:00 AM and it takes until 8:00 PM, allowing twenty minutes
for each home. Therefore, it is impossible for anyone to water a section
of the City between 4:00 and 6:00 o'clock.
City Engineer Larry Keating said it was recommended to him by his opera-
tions superintendent that perhaps some thought should be given to restrict-
ing irrigation to one day a week, without limiting it to any certain set
of hours. He noted there are so many different systems that operate in
so many different ways that it is almost impossible to come up with a
workable formula that would apply equally to everyone, and also there is
an enforcement problem. The City Attorney stated that would be workable.
Councilwoman Massaro said she felt it to be very important that the word-
ing suggested by Councilman Zemel be used, concerning the water in the
catch basins. Councilman Zemel suggested they think about the baby pools.
Councilwoman Massaro said she did not think during an emergency they can
put in the Ordinance that baby pools can be used.
Mr. Keating said he could not find a definition of the amount of restric-
tion or curtailment for other uses as described in Section 4,two through
eight on page 2 of the proposed Ordinance. The City Attorney said the
intent is to prohibit everything except sprinklers, which would be
curtailed. The City Engineer questioned the manner of enforcement; Mr.
Birken said it would be very difficult to enforce. However, the purpose
of the Ordinance is to have the people know if they abuse what is set
forth in the Ordinance they will be severely punished, and to tell them
that the situation is so serious that government felt it was neces-
sary to take some mandatory action.
The City Attorney explained that Items 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are pro-
hibited (under Section 4--IMPLEMENTATION). Item 1 is curtailed. He said
the words "are prohibited" should be added after the wording of items
2 through 8. Councilwoman Massaro said she thought the Ordinance should
give the City Engineer authority to modify the Ordinance in the event of
an emergency or hardship. Vice Mayor Disraelly agreed, and cited an
instance which could be considered an emergency, such as a roof repair
where water is necessary. Councilwoman Massaro said there are certain
things that may have to be addressed.
City Engineer Keating said some consideration should be given as to how
golf course users can be restricted, since there are eight courses in
the City and most are on wells. C/W Massaro suggested a reduction of
1/3 which would amount to four days a week, and if necessary it would
be possible to reduce it further.
Mr. Keating suggested the Districts be divided to include Pine Island
Road West; and Pine Island Road to 64th Avenue; 64th Avenue to State
Road 7; and east of 441.
Mayor Falck indicated they could not set certain days for the watering;
Councilwoman Massaro said it should be based on the one-time watering,
rather than relating the watering to days. Councilman Zemel said there
would be no way to enforce it; Councilwoman Massaro replied the only way
enforcement is possible is by observation and she thought people would
be concerned about salt -water intrusion, and it is a matter of telling
them how to conserve.
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Vice Mayor Disraelly commented that the sections represent 80% of the
City. Also, people will watch the situation.
VOTE
City Manager Laura Stuurmans suggested where it takes two days to
accomplish a watering cycle, the Sections could notify the City as to
the days this would take place. It was agreed that non -golf courses
would be allowed once a week watering, not to exceed one-half hour
per zone.
The City Attorney stated he would read the entire Ordinance in full.
Then the Council could take action of first reading and if it is
passed on First Reading, he will read the Title for Second Reading.
If the Council wishes, they may allow the Public to speak. After that,
Final Action can be taken.
The City Attorney read the Ordinance in full. First Reading.
Vice Mayor Disraelly MOVED ADOPTION of Temporary Ordinance #887 on
first reading.
Councilwoman Massaro SECONDED the MOTION.
ALL VOTED AYE.
The City Attorney read the Title of Temporary Ordinance #887. Second
Reading.
Mayor Falck asked if anyone from the Public wished to speak on the
subject.
Emil Beutner, Chairman of the Planning Commission said in his section
there is sprinkling twice a week, and he asked if each house is sprinkled
twice a week does the Ordinance mean they will now have once a week.
Mayor Falck replied that the Ordinance so states.
No one else wished to speak on the subject and the Public Hearing
was closed.
Vice Mayor Disraelly MOVED the ADOPTION of Temporary Emergency Ordinance
#887 on second reading. Councilman Zemel SECONDED the Motion.
VOTE
Mayor Falck suggested the third paragraph of his memorandum be used in
distributing the Ordinance so people will feel they are affected by it.
He said he felt people should be encouraged to do their laundries on
alternate odd and even days.
The City Attorney noted on page 2, lines 27 and 28, he did not read on
the first reading: "Provisions of this part above shall not apply to
those water uses granted water use permits by the District." Mr. Birken
stated that sentence should be included in the Ordinance.
The Maker and Seconder of the Motion agreed to inclusion of the above
sentence.
The City Engineer asked if that included golf course restrictions, the
City Attorney said he did not know who was granted water use permits by
the District. Mr. Birken said
the language "except for golf courses" would cover that if it is
acceptable to the maker and seconder of the Motion. It was agreeable
to both.
ALL VOTED AYE.
Councilman Zemel suggested a Resolution which would include washing
machines, etc. The City Attorney suggested it be done by a letter from
the Mayor or City Manager to the appropriate people.
Vice Mayor Disraelly suggested that the Mayor and City Manager put
together a letter to the condominiums, the sections and any other area
that one should go to. The letter should explain, also, what is meant
by the request. -
The Meeting was adjourned at 12:00 Noon.
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ASST. CITY CLERK
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