HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-10-09 - City Commission Workshop Meeting Minutes (2)CITY OF TAMARAC
CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP
MONDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2017
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Harry Dressler called the Workshop of the City Commission
to order at 9:40 a.m. on Monday, October 9, 2017 in Conference Room 105, City Hall,
7525 NW 88th Avenue, Tamarac, FL 33321.
ROLL CALL: Mayor Harry Dressler, Vice Mayor Debra Placko, Commissioner Marlon
Bolton, Commissioner Michelle J. Gomez and Commissioner Julie Fishman were in
attendance.
Also in attendance were City Manager Michael C. Cernech, Assistant City Manager
Kathleen Dunn, City Attorney Samuel S. Goren and City Clerk Patricia Teufel.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Vice Mayor Placko led the Pledge of Allegiance
Mayor Harry Dressler asked the audience for a moment of silence on behalf of the Las
Vegas victims and their families.
1. 2017 Community Rating System Annual Progress Report: Chief Building
Official/Director Claudio Grande appeared and gave a presentation, a copy of which is
on file in the City Clerk's Office. Chief Building Official/Director Claudio Grande said
Tamarac has been a participant in the NFIP since 1992 and the City's priority has been
reducing the risk of flood in the Community. He provided historical data and proactive
approaches taken by the Building department and the Public Services department to
maintain the current rating of Class 6 in the CRS certification now pending recertification
results. Chief Building Official/Director Claudio Grande responded to questions from the
Commissioners related to navigating the City's Website and how residents would
search for elevation certificates on the City's Website, where to find Flood Protection
brochures and how to obtain elevation certificates.
2. TR13013 - 2018 State Legislative Agenda: Item No. 6 (d) on the Consent Agenda.
(TR13013) A Resolution of the City Commission of the City of Tamarac, Florida,
approving the City of Tamarac Legislative Agenda for the 2018 State of Florida
Legislative Session; directing the City Clerk to transmit a copy of the City of Tamarac
Legislative Agenda for the 2018 State Legislative Session to the Florida League of
Cities, the Broward League of Cities, the Broward County Legislative Delegation and
the Broward County Board of County Commissioners; providing for conflicts; providing
for severability; and providing for an effective date: Assistant City Manager Kathleen
Gunn and Management Analyst 1 Laura Karpaviciute appeared. Management Analyst
Karpaviciute gave a presentation, a copy of which is on file in the City Clerk's Office.
Ms. Karpaviciute highlighted the advantages of the Legislative Agenda and solicited
additional input from the City Commission to include before finalizing the next
Legislative Agenda for the City. City Commissioners discussed their concerns on
important issues such as Home Rule, the need of "A" rated schools, funding of water
and transportation, infrastructure and local government control. Commissioner Julie
Fishman suggested attending the next Broward Legislative Delegation meeting taking
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place on October 18, 2017 at the Sunrise Civic Center where City Officials will have an
opportunity to voice City issues to State Legislators.
3. TR12989 - SBA Towers Lease Agreement - Aquatic Center: Item No. 6 (c) on the
Consent Agenda. (TR12989) A Resolution of the City Commission of the City of
Tamarac, Florida, approving the option & land lease agreement, memorandum of land
lease and the memorandum of option and land lease with SBA Towers IX, LLC and
authorizing the appropriate City Officials to execute the said documents for the
construction of a stealth cellular facility in the City's Aquatic Center property located at
9300 NW 58th street, Tamarac, Florida 33321 at a monthly rent of $2,200 per month for
a maximum term of fifty-five (55) years: Information Technology Director Levent
Sucuoglu appeared and gave a presentation, a copy of which is on file in the City
Clerk's Office. Following the presentation, Mayor Harry Dressler opened the floor to
questions by the City Commission. Having no questions, Mayor Dressler thanked IT
Director Sucuoglu closing item discussion.
4. Presentation and Discussion Regarding Vacation Rentals: Community Development
Director Maxine Calloway appeared and gave a presentation, a copy of which is on file
in the City Clerk's Office.
Community Development Director Maxine Calloway provided a brief Legislative History
on Vacation Rentals. Mayor Dressler left the meeting at 10:36 a.m. and passed the
gavel to Vice Mayor Placko, Ms. Calloway made a recommendation against a
Registration Program and produced statistical data validating her recommendation.
Mayor Dressler returned to the meeting at 10:43 a.m. and Vice Mayor Placko passed the gavel back to Mayor Dressler. Ms. Calloway entertained questions from the City
Commission. Commissioner Michelle Gomez expressed her disagreement with Ms.
Calloway's recommendation and stated areas of concern related to Vacation Rentals
that are affecting the community. Mayor Dressler asked City Attorney Sam Goren about
the ability for HOA's to regulate vacation rentals. Attorney Goren will research and
report back to the Commission. Mayor Dressler said from the City's standpoint the
Commission is deciding what is the City's expense, is it worth the expense, what is the
cost for this type of process, and who investigates compliance. Mayor Dressler
indicated there is a consensus to ask City Attorney Goren's office to continue working
on drafting a legally tailored Ordinance that protects our residents and businesses from
non -compliant vacation rentals. City Attorney Goren said he will draft an Ordinance that
carefully follows the State Statutes and give the City it's due process rights under the
Home Powers Act. With no further discussion to add on Vacation Rentals, Mayor
Dressler thanked Ms. Calloway for the presentation.
5. Other
Item 5a. City Manager Update RE: Debris Removal - City Manager Michael Cernech
reported to the City Commission that as of last Friday, FEMA has accepted the City's
application to include private streets and roads in the debris cleanup implementation.
City Manager Cernech explained that if FEMA decides to allow it, the City may be _
reimbursed. In response to FEMA's decision, City Manager Cernech said private cutting
crews will be working cutting trees and pilling them up for collection in private
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communities beginning Friday, Saturday and Sunday of this week. Commissioner
Fishman asked a question related to Parks & Recreation building's "empty box". Public
Services Director Jack Strain responded it is a C&D site and vegetation cannot be
comingled with construction and demolition debris. Director Strain explained that the
site on University Drive is for vegetation only because there are wells on the site.
Director Strain stated there is a propensity of hazardous waste in C&D debris and as a
rule it should be a site dedicated for vegetation only, therefore having to open the
second site for C&D debris. Director Strain said the C&D site should accommodate
approximately 1,000 to 2,000 cubic yards and he will contact the contractor, foreseeing
removal by the end of the month. Director Strain explained the current C&D site used to
be primarily with vegetation and is a current problem as options of vacant properties are
diminishing greatly. Commissioner Gomez left the meeting at 11:28 a.m., returning at
11:30 a.m. Commissioner Fishman left the meeting at 11:31 a.m. returning at 11:33
a.m.
Mayor Dressler agreed with Director Strain that creating a debris schedule is difficult
because it is hard to predict. Director Strain said the City had a successful process
implementation and added there is no need to spray debris for mosquitoes or bugs.
Director Strain reported collection of over 50,000 cubic yards of debris. Mayor Dressler
commented he received good feedback. City Manager Cernech reported Director Jack
Strain and his staff has done a great job and received compliments from neighbors on
how issues were resolved quickly, and issues regarding contractor's hours were taken
care of. Director Strain reported his staff visited neighborhoods approaching residents
that had questions and concerns. Director Strain provided the Commission with copies
of a map depicting a Debris Operations Report showing debris pickup locations within
city limits, which is on file in the City Clerk's Office.
Item 5b. Request for Policy Guidance — City Manager Cernech asked the Commission
for guidance as Commissioner Bolton has planned a District 1 Awards Dinner to take
place at the Community Center, which is a district event, and falls outside the scope of
the City Policy. City Manager Cernech said the Mayor and City Commission have
discussed the cost of the district events and district initiatives in the past, responding
"no", as City events are coordinated by City staff. City Manager Cernech said that in
order for Commissioner Bolton to proceed with this event he needs to first find out if the
Commission would like to have a discussion on those policies and if so whether or not
the Commission would like to make any changes to the policies. Mayor Dressler said
everything in the City has been done by the book under City Policies and it is the third
time this issue is being presented to the City Commission which have voted "no" each
time. City Attorney Goren referenced related regulation of rules and procedures codified
in 2007 which provides that an item brought three times for consideration, if not
successful on consent or vote process cannot be presented again for consideration for
six months unless a majority of Commission members vote to bring the item back for
consideration. Mayor Dressler called for a consensus on changes to the rules and
procedures currently in place, having the majority of the Commission voting "no" to
make changes. Mayor Dressler confirmed to City Manager Cernech that no changes to
policy will take place. Mayor Dressler asked Commissioner Bolton to discuss any further
questions he may have. Commissioner Bolton said he never asked to change the
Policies and requested clarification from the City Manager. City Manager Cernech
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explained the event Commissioner Bolton refers to does not benefit the City as a whole
and is a District event that was not budgeted for and not planned for by City Events
staff. City Manager Cernech added that if the Commission wishes to proceed approving _
the request, then the City Commission needs to revisit the policies already discussed.
Commissioner Bolton referred to an event hosted by Vice Mayor Placko of a luncheon
honoring COP's that gave him the idea to host a lunch for HOA Presidents.
Commissioner Bolton said Financial Services Director explained the expense could not
be paid by the City, pay the expense out of pocket to honor the HOA Presidents and
produce a receipt to the Financial Services Department for reimbursement which is part
of the policy in place. Vice Mayor Placko affirmed she took the COPs to eat at Colony
West. Mayor Dressler said he did not know City Letterhead was used and there are
ways things can be done at their districts. Mayor Dressler said the City does not have
discretionary funding and the Commission voted against the item 3 times at previous
meetings. The Mayor stated the City will not fund this event as the rules are for
everyone and recommended Commissioner Bolton to postpone the event until he is
ready to hold the event.
Commissioner Bolton directed questions to Attorney Goren regarding how to proceed.
Attorney Goren clarified he does not write policies and City Manager Cernech writes
Administrative Policies only. Attorney Goren added he does not know daily operations in
order to make a decision and cannot answer Commissioner Bolton's question, adding it
was done by the Vice Mayor as a reimbursement.
City Manager Cernech said he did not intend to be disrespectful or distasteful to --
Commissioner Bolton. City Manager Cernech said he was very clear on what the
objections were and why. City Manager said that after receiving the invitation on
September 29 for the First Annual Civic and Community Leaders Awards Dinner on
Saturday, November 4 at 7 or 8 p.m. at the Community Center he advised
Commissioner Bolton to meet privately as this would require a discussion in terms of the
Commission policies because what Commissioner Bolton was proposing was in direct
contradiction to the direction given by the City Commission to Mr. Cernech and staff.
City Manager Cernech said there is a difference between paying for City volunteers and
paying for a District event.
Commissioner Gomez commented on correspondence received where: (1) City
letterhead for the event was used and (2) event will earn money for personal use that if
it was intended as a fund-raising program it must follow legislative requirements to do
so. Commissioner Gomez stated that inviting people from other agencies gives the
perception it is a City event. City Manager Cernech said he concurs it is for events that
are directly related to City events adding that his response to Commissioner Bolton was
clear, professional and not disrespectful or distasteful. City Manager Cernech stated he
advised Commissioner Bolton to inform his colleagues of his plans for the event
otherwise he would as this is his job as City Manager.
Mayor Dressler said to recall separate instances where discretionary spending was _
brought to the City Commission by Commissioner Bolton. Mayor Dressler said when
Commissioner Bolton first discussed discretionary spending, the City responded it does
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not have discretionary spending, but there is a budgeted amount of $1,500 for
reimbursement for district expenses adding this is not the way the City conducts
business. Mayor Dressler spoke of other requests made at public meetings by
Commissioner Bolton regarding discretionary spending, where it was explained it is not
discretionary to Commissioner Bolton, to City Manager Cernech or to City Attorney
Goren, but it is discretionary to the City Commission. Mayor Dressler said it is offensive
for Commissioner Bolton to make a 4ch request on discretionary spending that has been
previously denied three times by the City Commission and agrees with City procedures
in place. Mayor Dressler directed City staff for this item not to come before the City
Commission again during the next six months. Mayor Dressler confirmed City Manager
Cernech's request was answered.
There being no further business to come before the City Commission for consideration,
Mayor Dressler adjourned the meeting at 12:37 a.m.
Lillian Pabon, CIVIC
Assistant City Clerk
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