HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-01-15 - City Commission Notice of Town Hall Meeting MinutesCITY OF TAMARAC
7525 Northwest 88 Avenue
Tamarac, Florida 33321-2401
Phone (305) 722-5900
Fax (305) 722-4509
January 2, 1992
NOTICE OF TOWN HALL MEETING
CITY OF TAMARAC, FLORIDA
There will be a City of Tamarac Town Hall Meeting on
Wednesday, January 15, 1992, at 7:00 p.m, in the Council
Chambers of City Hall, 7525 NW 88 Avenue, Tamarac, Florida.
The purpose of this meeting is to inform the public on
the facts and situation regarding the School Board's
proposal to put a maintenance/bus depot in the City of
Tamarac.
All meetings are open to the public.
Carol A. Evans
City Clerk
CAE/nr
THE CITY OF TAMARAC IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER AND DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASIS OF HANDICAPPED STATUS
City Council Town Meeting
1/15/92/KJ
Page 1
CITY OF TAMARAC
CITY COUNCIL TOWN MEETING
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 1992
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Abramowitz called this meeting to order on
Wednesday, January 15, 1992 at 7:00 p.m. in Council Chambers of
Tamarac City Hall, 7525 Northwest 88 Avenue, Tamarac, Florida.
MEDITATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Abramowitz called
for the Pledge of Allegiance followed by a Moment of Silent
Meditation for the passing of former Councilman Arthur Gottesman,
who served on Council from March, 1985 to March, 1987.
Mayor Norman Abramowitz
Vice Mayor Dr. H. Larry Bender
Councilwoman Diane Glasser
Councilman Henry Schumann
Councilman Irving Katz
John P. Kelly, City Manager
Alan Ruf, City Attorney
Carol Evans, City Clerk
Karen Jackson, Secretary
1. WELCOME $ODRESS by Mayor Abramowitz
Mayor Abramowitz said the purpose of this meeting is to inform the
public of the facts and situation regarding the School. Board's
proposal to put a maintenance/bus depot in the City of Tamarac.
2. =Y MANAGER'S REPORT by John P . Kelly
City Manager Kelly said in July, 1986, the City began an economic
assessment of Tamarac's future which determined that in order to
have the economic future Tamarac wanted, it necessitated that the
City have Land Section 7 changed from residential zoning to
commercial and industrial. He said after a period of time, the
community was convinced and accepted that the City should have it
changed to a commercial and industrial. usage.
City Manager Kelly said from 1987 through 1989, the developer on
the south half of that parcel prepared this report which cost
several hundred thousand dollars. He said this report assesses
everything from the type of vegetation on that parcel to the water
drainage and the traffic and this report was submitted to the
South Florida Regional Planning Agency in February, 1989.
City Manager Kelly said the report was adopted and the parcel is
proposed for commercial and industrial use. He said the north half
of that parcel is owned by approximately 13 land owners. He said
the City attempted to work with these owners to develop a
Community Development Corporation in order to attempt to develop
this land.
City Manager Kelly said due to the economy changing, they have not
moved to developing the proposed plans, but the plans are not
void. He said the Broward County School Board prepared a Request
for Proposal. (RFP) to be submitted to the County on September 10,
1991.
City Manager Kelly said the objective of the RFP is that the
Broward County School Board is seeking to purchase a vacant parcel
of land in West Central Broward County of approximately 38 to 42
acres. He said this property must be suitable for use as a
City Council Town Meeting
1/15/92/KJ
Page 2
district maintenance and transportation facility. He said
structures existing on the site will not be considered as part of
this request.
City Manager Kelly said the site must be located in the area
bounded on the north by the south right-of-way of McNab Road, on
the south by the north right-of-way of I-595, on the east by the
west right-of-way of University Drive and on the west by the east
right-of-way of the Sawgrass Expressway. He said the proposed
District Maintenance and Transportation Complex will consist of a
38 to 42 acre parcel of vacant land and will have direct or close
access to the major transportation networks in the County by
either the Sawgrass Expressway and/or I-595.
City Manager Kelly said this site must be zoned for industrial
uses to allow for the outside storage of materials, storage tanks,
and parking of industrial vehicles. He said the facility is
intended to serve the entire County for district maintenance in
the northwest area of the County for bus transportation. He said
the entire facility will consist of a warehouse for district
maintenance of approximately 100,000 square feet, parking for
1,000 maintenance vehicles, a 7,000 square foot bus depot and
parking for 150 school buses.
City Manager Kelly said the 38 to 42 acres is a net requirement
for this project. He said net acreage shall exclude any public or
private easements where they are presently existing or required
for intended use of the site including, but not limited to, road
rights -of -way, canals, utilities and other areas on which
improvements cannot be constructed. He said the City would be
adding an estimated additional 10 acres to the parcel to provide
for this; therefore, the net increase is 38 to 42 acres, but the
total parcel will exceed this amount.
City Manager Kelly said the deadline for submittal by any
prospective applicant was schedule for October 22, 1991. He said
the City Council directed that he send a letter on December 15,
1991 to Ray de la Feuilliez, Associate Superintendent of the
Broward County School Board. He read the letter into the record.
City Manager Kelly said there are two sites on Broward County's
priority listing one of which is this site in Tamarac and the
other is in Sunrise. He said the City of Sunrise has not taken a
position relative to the bus depot. He said the property owner and
their attorneys in Sunrise, but not representing Sunrise, have
objected to the criteria used by the Broward County School Board
staff people in forming their recommendation.
City Manager Kelly said Tamarac sent the potential costs that any
development would have, to the Broward County School Board and
their personnel are reviewing it at the present time. He said
Tamarac is awaiting their decision. He said the cost factors are
significant. He said the City was asked if these costs were
fabricated in order to deter this project which they were not. He
said there have been other parties interested in that land and the
same information was forwarded to them.
City Manager Kelly said the key staff people of the School Board
will make the final evaluation.
3. LAND__ _OWNER'S/REPRESENTATIVE'S REPORT
Michael Moskowitz, attorney representing the land owners, said the
property owners have been in the City for many years and are not
present to take issue with the City, but want to utilize their
land in a fashion that would make sense to themselves and the
City.
Mr. Moskowitz said he has reviewed some of the information that
was passed out prior to this meeting discussing the potential use
of this land by the School Board and the potential impact on the
City. He said there have been many points made about the
City Council Town Meeting
1/15/92/KJ
Page 3
possibility of run off into the City's storm water drainage system
and canals from fuel and motor vehicle waste. He said no private
land owner has a right to utilize the City's storm water drainage
system for the run off of motor vehicle fuel and waste and there
are numerous laws that protect the City's storm water drainage
system.
Mr. Moskowitz said on the issue of increased traffic on the road,
it is realized that regardless of what is built on any parcel of
land, there is going to be an increase of traffic. He said it is
not believed that this facility is going to increase traffic any
more than any other uses that could be in the area.
Mr. Moskowitz said there was a point made regarding the reduction
of the tax base and the effect it would have on the City. He said
the land that is involved in this RFP presently pays approximately
$8,000 in taxes to the City on an annual basis. He said he does
not feel that $8,000 on a yearly basis is a major impact on the
City's budget. He said this land represents approximately 10%.
Mr. Moskowitz said the land owners want to work with the City and
the residents. He said it is believed that the sale to the Broward
County School Board should be approved.
Frank James, Realtor, said he would distribute information after
this meeting.
5. - Speakers will be limited to three
minutes during this item. Speakers are encouraged to sign up
in advance with the City Clerk prior to their participation.
Joe Schreiber, resident of Kings Point, commended the Council for
the town meeting. He expressed his opposition to this proposal
based on it having a drastic effect on the health, safety and
welfare of the residents as well as increased traffic. He also
objected to this proposal due to the lack of tax revenue to the
City.
Gil Narons, resident of Kings Point and President of the Kings
Point Civic Association, expressed his opposition due to the
pollution caused by the traffic and road damage. He handed to the
Mayor a petition of approximately 1,500 signatures in opposition
to this proposal.
Bernard James, resident of Kings Point, expressed his objections
to the proposal based on the pollution caused by the school buses
and lack of tax revenue to the City.
Abe Garr, resident and President of the Northwest Broward
Coalition, expressed his concerns regarding the possible gridlock
in traffic caused by the buses and personnel of the School Board
and the lack of tax revenue to the City.
Edward Klein, resident, expressed his concerns regarding the
health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Tamarac. He said a
town hall meeting is good for the residents to project their
feelings and objections; however, it must be carried forward to
the School Board and possibly to court to avoid this situation in
Land Section 7.
Richard Eagle, resident and business owner, said his is the only
business on Nob Hill Road and McNab Road and there are hopes that
this shopping center will be filled some day. He expressed his
objections to the proposed bus depot which would prevent this
center from progressing.
Irving Polk, resident of Kings Point, said some of the residents
should attend the meetings of the County and School Board to
express their objections personally.
City Council Town Meeting
1/15/92/KJ
Page 4
Mary Seidel, resident of Kings Point, expressed his support for
the ban of the bus depot.
Burt Schneider, resident and President of the Woodmont Property
Owner's Association, expressed their objections to eliminating the
10% of Land Section 7 from the tax base of the City. He expressed
his concern regarding concurrency in the area.
TAPE 2
Ilene Frolish, resident of the Isles of Tamarac, expressed her
opposition to having this non -rateable in the City.
Anthony Silvestri, resident, recited his findings from a School
Board meeting discussing the bus depot proposal. He expressed the
objections of Lime Say regarding this.
Anthony Grimaldi, resident of Sunflower Heathgate, expressed his
objections to the proposed loss of Land Section 7 to the bus
depot.
Murray Storch, resident of Lime Bay, suggested that the City have
Channel 12 or other news media show how the residents feel about
this proposed bus depot.
Milton Seigel, resident and President of the Isles of Tamarac,
expressed the objections of the residents in the Isles.
Mayor Abramowitz requested that everyone sign the petitions being
circulated objecting to the bus depot.
t P* �r��il C •
C/M Schumann expressed his appreciation for the turnout of this
town meeting and asked that they attend the regular Council
meetings. He said Tamarac will be reaching build out in the near
future and the Council should use the utmost vigilance to see that
the citizens of the City do not get shortchanged on any of the
remaining parcels that are left for development.
C/M Katz said one of the reasons that Council was able to come
through with an ad valorem tax decrease this year was because
Council worked together and looked for what was best for the City.
He said the proposed bus depot is not in the best interest of the
City. He said there are hopes that for every 50 acres of land that
is developed in the City that there would be approximately 5,000
jobs and 5,000 homes in the City and the tax base that is created
by the people is much more important than the $8,000 on vacant
land previously stated by Mr. Moskowitz.
C/W Glasser said her prime concerns are with the health, safety
and welfare of the residents. She said there will be noise
pollution as well as air pollution. She said this depot will
impact on the residents currently living in that area.
C/W Glasser said there will be a welfare impact on all who reside
in Tamarac. She said the revenue will affect everyone, which would
mean more taxes if the revenue for that area is lost.
C/W Glasser said the safety factor comes in where there are many
seniors and elderly in the City who have poor eyesight and
reflexes; 200 school buses are not needed to impact on this
situation.
C/W Glasser expressed her opposition to this and said the City
should teach the School Board what the Tamarac circumstances are.
She expressed her appreciation to the residents for attending this
meeting and asked that they take some petitions home for
signatures.
V/M Bender expressed his appreciation to the residents for
attending this meeting. He said he has concerns regarding the
school bus depot which currently exists near Powerline Road in Ft.
Lauderdale and the adverse effect it has in that area. He said he
City Council Town Meeting
1/15/92/KJ
Page 5
feels that the property values in Tamarac will become depressed if
it comes to Tamarac.
Mayor Abramowitz said most of the speakers who objected to this
depot were from the northwest portion of the City, but everyone in
the City will be affected if this bus depot comes into Tamarac.
Mayor Abramowitz said he spoke to every School Board member except
one and has written a letter to the School Board expressing his
objections to this. He said the City has sound reasonings for the
objections which are ecological and financial. He said he has
hopes that the School Board will understand the concerns of the
residents in Tamarac.
With no further business, Mayor Abramowitz ADJOURNED this meeting
at 8:00 p.m.
CAROL A. EVANS
CITY CLERK