HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-02-24 - City Commission Workshop Meeting Minutes City of Tamarac
City Commission Workshop - Minutes
Monday, February 24, 2020
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Gomez called the Monday, February 24, 2020, City Commission Workshop,
being held in Conference Room 105 at 7525 NW 88th Avenue, Tamarac, Florida, 33321, to order at 9:30
a.m.
ROLL CALL: Mayor Michelle J. Gomez, Commissioner Debra Placko and Commissioner Julie Fishman
were in attendance. Vice Mayor Marlon Bolton arrived at 9:36 a.m. and Commissioner Gelin arrived at
9:39 a.m.
Also present were City Manager Michael C. Cernech, City Attorney Sam Goren, and City Clerk Jennifer
Johnson.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Commissioner Fishman led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mayor Gomez thanked members of the staff for the wonderful job they did, and the residents for
attending, the One Tamarac event Saturday.
Mayor Gomez recessed at 9:31 a.m., and reconvened at 9:33 a.m.
1. Community Update—"On the Right Path"
Broward County Public Schools Superintendent, Robert W. Runcie, provided a presentation, which
on file in the City Clerk's Office.
Following the presentation, Mr. Runcie answered questions from the members of the Commission.
Discussion ensued related to the $800 bond initiative, progress on infrastructure improvements at the
Tamarac schools, potentially closing schools in the future, building new schools, how much funding
each child gets and what the national average is, connecting the Tamarac's Social Services
Department with the Homeless Education Assistance Department, previous decisions regarding the
School Board's finances, teacher pay, repurposing or rethinking the traditional education model
moving forward, etc.
The consensus of the Commission is to formalize an Education Advisory Committee at an upcoming
workshop.
City Manager Cernech asked when there would be an equitable funding formula for School Resource
Officers? Mr. Runcie stated Cernech was right on track and the School Board, along with the Broward
League of Cities, has legislation in Tallahassee to address the funding burden.
Mr. Runcie stated he would provide demographic data to the City related to where Tamarac students
attend school district-wide, and how many students from other cities attend Tamarac schools. Mr.
Runcie stated he would have maintenance staff consider the drainage issue reported at Tamarac
Elementary.
Mayor Gomez recessed at 10:58 a.m. and reconvened at 11:10 a.m. Vice Mayor Bolton returned at 11:14
a.m.
2. Economic Development Update
Economic Development Manager, Lori Funderwhite, provided a presentation that is on file in the City
Clerk's Office.
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Discussion by the Commission ensued, commending Funderwhite on the progress of economic
development, creating a new business checklist on the economic development webpage, status if
retail businesses, encouraging the right businesses to come to Tamarac, the future commercial
development at Tamarac Village, opportunities to incentivize redevelopment, and receiving
certificates for courses taken at Broward College.
Mayor Gomez requested, when planning events in April for Taste of Tamarac, to be sensitive to
members of our community who may be celebrating religious holidays.
Mayor Gomez recessed at 12:10 p.m. and reconvened at 1:04 p.m. Commissioner Gelin was absent for
the remainder of the meeting.
3. Living Wage and Residential Preference (Hiring Policy)
Human Resources Director, Lerenzo Calhoun, provided a presentation, which is on file in the City
Clerk's Office.
Calhoun also provided information regarding Ban the Box..
Discussion by the Commission ensued, with questions regarding current employee salaries, hiring
residents, and formulating one ordinance to address all three issues, or three separate ordinances to
address each issue individually.
Consensus of the Commission is to have the City Attorney, work with staff, to draft legislation related
to a living wage, residential preference when hiring, and Ban the Box. Staff would determine how best
to draft the items and to present them to the Commission at a future date.
4. Youth Advisory Committee
Parks and Recreation Director, Greg Warner, and Recreation Site Supervisor, Sammie Monroe,
provided a presentation, which is on file in the City Clerk's Office.
Discussion by the City Commission ensued commending Monroe on the program, as well as
requesting to extend the invitation to participate to Tamarac students who attend Piper and Blanche
Ely High Schools, and to coordinate for the kids to have one-on-one interaction with members of the
City Commission.
5. Discussion — Earth Day 2020
The consensus of the Commission was to incorporate the discussion into the City Commission
Initiatives/Events discussion scheduled for the Feb. 25, 2020 Workshop.
6. Discussion —Recommend cancelling the March 9, 2020, City Commission Workshop and the
March 11, 2020, City Commission meeting.
City Clerk, Jennifer Johnson, asked for direction on cancelling the above referenced meetings,
considering there will not be a quorum.
Discussion by the Commission ensued related to Vice Mayor Bolton volunteering to cancel
reservations to attend the National League of Cities Conference to make quorum, and scheduling a
future discussion related to a Commission travel policy preventing multiple Commissioners traveling
at the same time and having to cancel meetings.
Consensus of the Commission is to move forward with both meetings.
Discussion by the Commission ensued regarding the items 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 being brought forward by
Commissioner Gelin, and he not being at the meeting to discuss. City Attorney, Sam Goren, stated that
Commissioner Gelin had properly requested the items be placed on the regular meeting agenda but in
accordance with the City's procedures, Gelin would need to pick three to place on the agenda, and they
would need to be properly noticed.
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7. Discussion— Paris Agreement
8. Discussion — EASE College Assistance Program
9. Discussion— Draft Resolution Denouncing White Supremacy
10. Discussion —City Attorney Contract Evaluation &Terms
11. Discussion—City Manager Compensation Consultant& Contract Review Process
12. Other
None.
There being no additional business to discuss, Mayor Gomez adjourned the meeting at 2:42 p.m.
Minutes respectfully transcribed and submitted by City Clerk, Jennifer Johnson.
J nife Jo son, C
pity C erk
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Mich le J. Gomez, M
Note to the reader: The above signature is the City Clerk, of the City of Tamarac, Florida. If the
minutes you have received are not signed, or completed as indicated above, they are not the
official minutes of the Tamarac City Commission Meeting held Monday, February 24, 2020.
Pursuant to Chapter 286.0105, Florida Statutes, if a person decides to appeal any decision made by the
City Commission with respect to any matter considered at such meeting or hearing, he may need to
ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made which record includes the testimony and
evidence upon which the appeal is based.
The City of Tamarac complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you are a
disabled person requiring any accommodations or assistance, please notify the City Clerk's Office at
(954) 597-3505 of such need at least 48 hours (2 days) in advance. Additionally, if you are hearing or
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