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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