HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007 1018 Regular City Commission Meeting
SUMMARY MINUTES
Regular City Commission Meeting
Thursday, October 18,2007, 7:30 p.m.
City of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida
A TTENTION ALL LOBBYISTS: CITY LAW REQUIRES YOUR REGISTRATION PRIOR TO ENGAGING IN
LOBBYING ACTIVITIES BEFORE CITY STAFF, BOARDS, COMMITTEES OR THE CITY COMMISSION.
PLEASE CONTACT THE CITY CLERK FOR FORMS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
AGENDA
1. CALL TO ORDER / ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Edelcup at 7:30 p.m., with the following officials
present:
Mayor Norman S. Edelcup
Vice Mayor Lewis J. Thaler
Commissioner Roslyn Brezin
Commissioner Gerry Goodman
Commissioner Danny Iglesias
City Manager A. John Szerlag
City Attorney Hans Ottinot
City Clerk Jane A. Hines, CMC
Assistant City Manager/Services Jorge Vera
Assistant City Attorney Fernando Amuchastegui
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE / INVOCATION
Action: Lee Liebman led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag, and Richard C. Schulman gave
an invocation.
Mayor Edelcup gave opening remarks of decorum.
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
3A. Special City Commission Meetingll st Budget Hearing FY 2007/08 - Sept. 17, 2007.
Action: Vice Mayor Thaler moved and Commissioner Brezin seconded a motion to approve
the above-mentioned Summary Minutes. The motion was approved by a voice vote of5-
o in favor.
3B. Regular City Commission Meeting - September 20, 2007.
Action: A revised page 8 was distributed with changes in the second paragraph, in the second
sentence added entire before community, in third sentence added local before facilities, and at
the end of the paragraph added at the most popular bathing hours.
Vice Mayor Thaler moved and Commissioner Iglesias seconded a motion to approve the
above-mentioned Summary Minutes, as amended. The motion was approved by a voice
vote of 5-0 in favor.
Summary Minutes: Regular City Commission Meeting October 18,2007
City of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida
3C. Special City Commission Meetingl2nd Budget Hearing FY 2007/08 - Sept. 27, 2007.
Action: Vice Mayor Thaler moved and Commissioner Brezin seconded a motion to approve
the above-mentioned Summary Minutes. The motion was approved by a voice vote of5-
o in favor.
4. ORDER OF BUSINESS (Additions/Deletions/Amendments)
4A. Request to Hear Items: Amended Items 3B (page 8 of the September 20, 2007 City
Commission Meeting) and 10F of a revised interest rate of 6.375% for Mansiana, and
additional information regarding Items 12A and 12C were handed out prior to the meeting.
Action: Mayor Edelcup noted the above changes to the agenda.
Vice Mayor Thaler moved and Commissioner Brezin seconded a motion to approve the
above changes to the agenda. The motion was approved by a voice vote of5-0 in favor.
5. SPECIAL PRESENT A TIONS
SA. Police Department Promotion: Dwight Snyder promoted to Captain (from Lieutenant).
Action: Police Chief Fred Maas announced the promotion of Lieutenant Dwight Snyder to
Police Captain. City Manager Szerlag presented Lt. Snyder with his promotional badge to
the rank of Captain. Captain Snyder introduced his wife and son, and Mrs. Snyder pinned
the Badge on her husband. Chief Maas announced that following tonight's Commission
meeting there would be light refreshments served in the 1 st Floor Meeting Room.
5B. Recognition of Victor Mercedes, Facilities Maintenance Worker of the Public Works
Department, for his Efforts in Significant Savings in Annual Power Consumption.
Action: City Manager Szerlag reported that Victor Mercedes came up with a very simple
idea that saved the City a lot of money, when the buildings are not occupied turn off our
heating, ventilation, air conditioning equipment including lights, and that should save us
some money. He said that Victor did his own implementation, he tracked our savings, and
over a period of five (5) months, he saved us close to $10,000, and over a year that would be
about a $20,000 savings per year.
City Manager Szerlag said that Victor as well as Captain Snyder, represent a culture of
professionalism, and we would like all our full time employees to buy into that program as it
makes for a better workday, employees, and organization. He said in light of that, we also
like to reward our employees for coming up with ideas that save the City money on a
continual basis, and Victor is the first such recipient of this program. Mayor Edelcup
thanked Victor and presented him with a $5,000.00 check.
6. ZONING
None
2
Summary Minutes: Regular City Commission Meeting October 18,2007
City of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida
7. ORDINANCES FOR FIRST READING
7 A. An Ordinance of the City Commission of the City of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, Amending
Section 26-10 of the City Code Relating to the Installation of New Officers After an
Election; Providing for Severability; Providing for Inclusion in the Code; Providing for
Repealer; Providing for an Effective Date.
Action: City Clerk Hines read the title, and reported noting that this is a housekeeping item.
Public Speakers: none
Mayor Edelcup explained that when we had a Charter revision recently, this brought into call
a need to change our City Code to conform to what we had passed when we had the Charter
Review, and so the swearing-in time is within the first 30-days after the Election as opposed
to the very next day after the Election, and that is what this Ordinance proposes to do.
Vice Mayor Thaler moved and Commissioner Goodman seconded a motion to approve the
proposed ordinance on first reading. The motion was approved by a roll call vote of 5-0
in favor. Second reading, public hearing will be held on Thursday, November 15,2007,
at 7:30 p.m.
V ote: Commissioner Brezin yes
Commissioner Goodman ~
Commissioner Iglesias ~
Vice Mayor Thaler yes
Mayor Edelcup yes
7B. An Ordinance of the City Commission of the City of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, Amending
Sections 129-65 and 129-66 of the City Code Relating to the Registration for Placing or
Maintaining Communications Facilities in Public Rights-of-Way, and the Transfer,
Sale, or Assignment of Assets in Public Rights-of-Way; Providing for Severability;
Providing for Inclusion in the Code; Providing for Repealer; Providing for an Effective Date.
Action: City Clerk Hines read the title, and City Attorney Ottinot reported that this Ordinance
is being proposed in conformity with a new State law, which was effective on July 1,2007,
precluding local government from regulating cable operators. He said that local governments
can no longer award a new cable franchise for the provision of cable services within its
jurisdiction, and instead, an incumbent cable or non-incumbent cable service provider is now
required to file an application with the State for a State Certificate to operate a cable franchise
in the City. City Attorney Ottinot said that this ordinance properly amends the City's cable
regulations to require cable service providers to register with the City upon the issuance of a
State license. He stated that the City's incumbent cable provider, Atlantic Broadband, will
continue to operate under the existing franchise agreement until the expiration of that
agreement in 2012.
Public Speakers: none
3
Summary Minutes: Regular City Commission Meeting October 18, 2007
City of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida
Commissioner Goodman moved and Commissioner Iglesias seconded a motion to approve
the proposed ordinance on first reading. The motion was approved by a roll call vote of
5-0 in favor. Second reading, public hearing will be held on Thursday, November 15,
2007, at 7:30 p.m.
Vote: Commissioner Brezin yes
Commissioner Goodman yes
Commissioner Iglesias yes
Vice Mayor Thaler yes
Mayor Edelcup ~
7C. An Ordinance of the City Commission of the City of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, Amending
Section 265-35 (8) of the City Code to Clarify the Width ofthe Required Beach Access;
Providing for Severability; Providing for Repealer; Providing for Inclusion in the Code;
Providing for an Effective Date.
Action: City Clerk Hines read the title, and City Manager Szerlag reported noting that this
amendment will give us continuity on what we are requiring for beach access widths, if we
took the larger width which will be an average of 20- feet.
Public Speakers: none
Mayor Edelcup said that some of our beach accesses were IS-feet, some 20- feet, and some of
them were 5-feet, so we are clarifying this to make sure that any beach accesses in the future
have the minimum of 20-feet on average. Commissioner Iglesias said he agrees with it on
those that are required, but someone might want to donate a smaller beach access, and we
would accept such easements.
Commissioner Goodman said if the beach access is not in the proper area or in a dangerous
area we can still move it to a better area. Mayor Edelcup said our Ordinance provides that if it
is in a spot that we deem to be not in the public's best interest or dangerous, it is not required,
but this says whenever there is one created it would be at least 20-feet.
Commissioner Brezin moved and Commissioner Iglesias seconded a motion to approve the
proposed ordinance on first reading. The motion was approved by a roll call vote of5-0
in favor. Second reading, public hearing will be held on Thursday, November 15, 2007,
at 7:30 p.m.
V ote: Commissioner Brezin yes
Commissioner Goodman yes
Commissioner Iglesias yes
Vice Mayor Thaler yes
Mayor Edelcup yes
8. PUBLIC HEARINGS (Other than Ordinances for Second Reading)
None
4
Summary Minutes: Regular City Commission Meeting October 18,2007
City of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida
9. ORDINANCES FOR SECOND READING (Public Hearings)
9A. An Ordinance of the City Commission of the City of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, Amending
Section 265-11 of the City Code to Require Site Plan Review for Charter Schools and
Private Educational Facilities with a Student Population Over 40 Students or More;
Providing for Severability; Providing for Repealer; Providing for Inclusion in the Code;
Providing for an Effective Date.
(First Reading 9/20/07)
Action: City Clerk Hines read the title, and City Attorney Ottinot reported noting that this
Ordinance requires a public hearing if a private education facility or Charter School has over
40 students, it requires administrative approval if it is under 40 students, and it exempts
daycare from this regulation, as daycare will be governed by State regulation.
Public Speakers: none
Commissioner Goodman said whether it is a school or daycare, it would still come under the
regulations of all agencies involved including County and State.
Vice Mayor Thaler moved and Commissioner Iglesias seconded a motion to adopt the
ordinance. Ordinance No. 2007-288 was adopted by a roll call vote of 5-0 in favor.
Vote: Commissioner Brezin ~
Commissioner Goodman yes
Commissioner Iglesias yes
Vice Mayor Thaler yes
Mayor Edelcup yes
10. RESOLUTIONS
lOA. A Resolution ofthe City Commission ofthe City of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, Authorizing
the City Manager to Apply For, Receive and Expend Grant Funds from the Miami-Dade
County Federal Drug Control & System Improvement Formula Grant Program (Byrne
Grant), in the Amount of$6,219.00, Representing a 75% ($4,664.00) Grant Award and 25%
($1,555.00) in Matching Funds; Authorizing the Mayor to Execute Said Agreement;
Authorizing the City Manager to Do All Things Necessary to Effectuate this Resolution;
Providing for an Effective Date.
Action: City Clerk Hines read the title, and Captain Mike Grandinetti reported noting that
this grant will allow them to purchase a SANINAS Network Storage Device to expand the
electronic storage capabilities ofthe Police Department's Automated Records Management
System.
Public Speakers: none
Commissioner Goodman moved and Commissioner Brezin seconded a motion to approve
the resolution. Resolution No. 2007-1161 was adopted by a voice vote of 5-0 in favor.
5
Summary Minutes: Regular City Commission Meeting October 18, 2007
City of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida
lOB. Disaster Recovery Plan - Phase I.
Action: City Clerk Hines read the titles, and Assistant City Manager/Finance Doug Haag
reported that in the last two years the IT Department has put in Police Systems, a Blackbear
System for the Building Department and Code Enforcement, and a few years back we
implemented a Financial System, as well as our day-to-day operations including the phone
systems, email, security, etc. As we become more reliant on those systems there has become
a need to become more sophisticated in terms of developing a backup and a Disaster
Recovery Plan in the event of a major catastrophe. He said we are attempting to layout a
plan and a vision over three (3) years to phase in backup and recovery systems, and he
commended Information Technology Director Edel Fonseca for his vision in laying out this
plan. He said that they are presenting the entire five (5) phased Plan but tonight they are only
asking for approval on Phase I, and noted that they will come back to the Commission for
approval on the subsequent phases because of the cost involved. He said Phase II will take
place later this Fiscal Year, and the other phases will be in 2008/2009.
Public Speakers: none
10B.l A Resolution of the City Commission of the City of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, Authorizing
the Chief of Police, in Accordance with the Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984 to
Expend $30,000.00 from the Federal Forfeiture Fund for the Purpose of Funding
Computer Equipment and Associated Software for Phase One ofthe Disaster Recovery
Plan; Providing for an Effective Date.
Action: Vice Mayor Thaler moved and Commissioner Goodman seconded a motion to
approve the resolution. Resolution No. 2007-1162 was adopted by a voice vote of5-0 in
favor.
10B.2 A Resolution of the City Commission of the City of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, Approving a
Budget Amendment to the Fiscal Year 2006-2007 Budget, in the Amount of $11,000.00
for the Purpose of Funding Computer Equipment and Associated Software from Dell
for Phase I of Disaster Recovery Plan; Authorizing the City Manager to Do All Things
Necessary to Effectuate the Terms of this Resolution; Providing for an Effective Date.
Action: Mayor Edelcup asked if this is coming out of FY 2006/2007, or should it be
2007/2008, and Assistant City Manager Haag said that if funds have been committed to a
particular project, it is still acceptable in this particular situation, to expend 2006/2007 funds.
Vice Mayor Thaler moved and Commissioner Goodman seconded a motion to approve the
resolution. Resolution No. 2007-1163 was adopted by a voice vote of 5-0 in favor.
10B.3 A Resolution of the City Commission of the City of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, Authorizing
the Purchase of Three (3) 2950 Power Edge Servers, Two (2) NX1950 Data Servers, One
(1) Power Vault MD3000 and VMWare ESX Enterprise Software from Dell for Phase I
of Disaster Recovery Plan, in a Total Amount Not to Exceed $99,204.18, as Outlined in the
Quote Attached Hereto as Exhibit "A"; Authorizing the City Manager to Do All Things
Necessary to Effectuate the Terms of this Resolution; Providing for an Effective Date.
Action: Vice Mayor Thaler moved and Commissioner Goodman seconded a motion to
approve the resolution. Resolution No. 2007-1164 was adopted by a voice vote of5-0 in
favor.
6
Summary Minutes: Regular City Commission Meeting October 18, 2007
City of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida
10C. A Resolution of the City Commission of the City of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, Approving
a Charitable Contribution to the Jewish Community Services, in the Amount of
$5,000.00, to Help Fund Various Vital Social Services Programs; Authorizing the City
Manager to Do All Things Necessary to Effectuate the Terms of this Resolution; Providing
for an Effective Date.
Action: City Clerk Hines read the title, and Mayor Edelcup reported.
Public Speakers: none
Commissioner Goodman moved and Commissioner Iglesias seconded a motion to approve
the resolution. Resolution No. 2007-1165 was adopted by a voice vote of 5-0 in favor.
10D. A Resolution of the City Commission ofthe City of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, Authorizing
the City Manager to Expend Funds in an Amount Not to Exceed $50,000.00 in Order to
Pay the Sunny Isles Beach Resort Association to Hire a Public Relations Firm and to
Staff a Gift Shop; Authorizing the City Manager to Do All Things Necessary to Effectuate
the Terms of this Resolution; Providing for an Effective Date.
Action: City Clerk Hines read the title, and Administrative Services Director Alyce Hanson
reported, noting that a Gift Shop will open once the Cultural and Human Services
Department moves out of the first floor.
Public Speakers: none
Commissioner Brezin moved and Commissioner Iglesias seconded a motion to approve the
resolution. Resolution No. 2007-1166 was adopted by a voice vote of 5-0 in favor.
10E. A Resolution of the City Commission of the City of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, Approving
the Renewal of the City's Property, Casualty, Auto, and Workers' Compensation
Insurance with the Preferred Government Insurance Trust (PGIT), in the Amount of
$934,657.00, as Outlined in Exhibit "A"; Authorizing the City Manager to Do All Things
Necessary to Effectuate this Resolution; Providing for an Effective Date.
Action: City Clerk Hines read the title, and City Manager Szerlag said that they secured an
independent insurance consultant from Waters Risk Management to review the proposal
from Mr. Hollander who gave us costs from Preferred Government Insurance Trust. He said
that the Consultant indicated that, roughly over 5% over last year's rates are reasonable, and
he read a statement from the consultant's report, at the bottom of page 1, "In our opinion a
5% increase overall, despite a 38% increase in buildings and contents values, and a 15%
increase in payroll, is reasonable. Obviously, lower rates were used and the City's Workers
Compensation experience modification improved by a 7% credit. Had there been no rate
reductions and no experience modification improvement the premium could have been over
$1 Million Dollars and the increase could have approximated as much as 18%." He said the
consultant still made some recommendations, and two (2) have salience: 1) a higher
deductible per occurrence on liability from $5,000 per occurrence to $10,000 per occurrence;
and 2) a coverage reduction for liability from $10 Million Dollars to $5 Million Dollars.
7
Summary Minutes: Regular City Commission Meeting October 18, 2007
City of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida
City Manager Szerlag said he would like to assemble a core group consisting of Robert
Hollander, Human Resources Director Tom Acquaro, City Attorney Ottinot, Assistant City
Manager/Finance Haag and ChiefMaas, who will analyze all the recommendations from the
independent consultant, and then he would like to implement them based on their joint
recommendation, and advise the Commission of that implementation. In addition, next year
we will either take this consultant or another independent consultant, and bid the insurance
competitively through Mr. Hollander and the Florida League of Cities.
Commissioner Goodman asked when the insurance is due, and Human Resources Director
Tom Acquaro said that the insurance renewed on October 1, 2007, however we are covered.
Mayor Edelcup said that he thought it was commendable to note that our experience ratio did
go down, and that is a tribute to our senior staff for making sure we are a safer work place so
that our experience modification has improved. He said the recommendations about
changing the limits seem apropos and after staff has had a chance to study it, bring it back to
the Commission and they would be more than happy to be apprised of it. City Manager
Szerlag said he will bring it back to the next meeting [November 15, 2007].
Public Speakers: none
Vice Mayor Thaler moved and Commissioner Goodman seconded a motion to approve the
resolution. Resolution No. 2007-1167 was adopted by a voice vote of 5-0 in favor.
10F. A Resolution of the City Commission of the City of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, Amending
Resolution No. 2007-1158 to Extend the Time for Payment of Transfer of Development
Rights ("TDRs") by Mansiana Ocean Residences, LLC. (Commonly Known as the Solis
Development Project); Approving the First Amendment to Promissory Note, Attached
Hereto as Exhibit "A"; Providing the City Manager and City Attorney with the Authority to
Do All Things Necessary to Effectuate this Resolution; Providing for an Effective Date.
Action: City Clerk Hines read the title, and Assistant City Manager/Services Jorge Vera
reported noting the revised interest rate from 7.75% to 6.375%, starting from August 22,
2007, with the balance due by December 31, 2007.
Public Speakers: none
Mayor Edelcup noted that is the blended rate of the original 5% and the 7.75% for an average
of6.375%. City Manager Szerlag said that he received a phone call this afternoon from the
developer Danny Tantleff, who indicated that it is extremely important for the Commission
to grant this extension for the viability of their development, and if the Commission so
desired, he would be willing to pay the 7.75% rate from August. City Manager Szerlag said
that the initial discussions were in an amount that would equal the blended rate that is now
before the Commission. Mayor Edelcup said if you have negotiated this rate with him in
good faith, he would respect those negotiations and recommend that we accept the rate that is
shown here. He said the only caveat that he would put in here is that this is the final
extension, the note has to be paid by December 31, 2007.
Commissioner Iglesias moved and Commissioner Brezin seconded a motion to approve the
resolution, as amended. Resolution No. 2007-1168 was adopted by a voice vote of5-0 in
favor.
8
Summary Minutes: Regular City Commission Meeting October 18,2007
City of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida
11. MOTIONS
None
12. DISCUSSION ITEMS
12A. Discussion regarding Landscaping the Medians Along Collins Avenue.
Action: City Manager Szerlag stated that this is pretty narrow in scope, going from 3
plantings to 2 plantings, giving alternatives on what those plantings could look like, and also
to talk about a method of bidding our landscape maintenance service.
Public Works Director Rick Conner said we currently spend about $270,000 a year for our 3-
cycle plantings, and that City Manager Szerlag had asked them to come up with some
options, and he was able to do that with Kathy O'Leary Richard's help. He gave a Power-
Point presentation on landscaping the medians along Collins A venue with alternatives of
different plantings. Commissioner Goodman asked if this is for the whole City or certain
areas, and Kathy O'Leary Richards said this is City-wide. Public Works Director Conner
said they added a new Alternative 6 which is going to mostly perennials but adding some
color in specific key locations in annuals and that blending would save us some significant
money, reducing the amount of the triangular amount of planting sections.
Mayor Edelcup said he would like to see as much as we can do with the perennials because
over the lifetime beyond the first year we are going to save considerable funding and also be
in a position where the planting looks pretty uniform consistently throughout the year. The
final suggestion of maybe putting some annuals in smaller bull nose locations is an
interesting idea that we can try and if it works well, than we can continue to do something
like that, and experiment the first year. The second year we can continue with the perennials
ifit didn't work out with the annuals, so he is in favor of the 6th alternative. Public Works
Director Conner said that the nice thing about that suggestion is that we will still have some
savings over the previous year even if we went to a significant number of perennials, and it
gives us the opportunity to experiment. He complimented Vice Mayor Thaler as he has an
eye for those kinds of things as he pointed out in the 165th Street area that there is a planting
of perennials and they are three (3) tiers and each ofthe three tiers is a different color, and so
you can really introduce color and still stay with perennials.
Commissioner Goodman said if you have short flowers in the medians it is a problem
because people stomp on them, we are not allowed to put in a fence there but he would like
to see a tight bush where people cannot cross which would prevent jaywalking and still give
us some beauty. Mayor Edelcup said the Crown of Thorns will help that because they are
full of thorns, and they will grow taller. Commissioner Brezin asked how high do they grow,
and Kathy O'Leary Richards said no more than 24-inches, because you can't go any higher
than that on the bull noses. Mayor Edelcup said when they plant them to plant the full-sized
plants even if we have to spend a little more.
Vice Mayor Thaler said that this does not include the William Lehman Causeway which will
have a separate entity. City Manager Szerlag said that is an excellent point as there are a few
phases here that interrelate to each other in terms of not only landscaping but also sustainable
development. He said Phase I, which is the medians, are essentially narrow and how we are
9
7
Summary Minutes: Regular City Commission Meeting October 18, 2007
City of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida
going to handle them with 2 or 3 plantings, and Phase II, which actually started back in April,
we commissioned Mrs. O'Leary Richards to design the larger areas that include William
Lehman Causeway and the area by 163 rd Street. He said we are going to try to introduce
more canopy through trees as well as apply for a grant to help defray the cost of that. He said
what is important is that we had good reviews on the median between Government Center
and Tony Roma's which we will like to expand upon and we would like to make that our
signature which is mostly perennials. Additionally, we then have the final Phase, the Collins
Avenue Corridor Study, that would take into consideration the promenade as well as
sustainable development, particularly on the west side.
Commissioner Goodman said he didn't hear 174th Street, and he has been after that for two
years since the hurricane and it is about time that we beautify that area, and City Manager
Szerlag said he heard Kathy O'Leary Richards indicate that our ground cover and
introduction of perennials will include all medians including 174th Street. He said in
addition, on a drive-through, again with Vice Mayor Thaler who had another good idea, on
174th Street, where there were many large patchy areas where plantings were lost because of
the hurricane, by increasing the area of grass it would help it look better and they can do that
at almost no cost. Commissioner Goodman said that there has to be more plantings.
Commissioner Iglesias said when we did the bull nose coming into the William Lehman
Causeway with all the seasonals, it gave a lot of color but sometimes accents work a little bit
more like we saw in Israel, there are a lot of green areas but they accent certain areas with the
seasonals, and second if we do the Crotons and Duranta we will have color all year long.
Mayor Edelcup said it was the consensus of the Commission to go forward with Alternative
6 and they will look forward to seeing it implemented including 174th Street, with a splash of
color.
City Manager Szerlag said that we also have the best value bid award methodology and
Public Works Director Conner distributed draft bid specifications on Landscape Maintenance
Services, and noted that he and his assistant Shaun Gelvez put in a lot of work and effort in
putting this document together, of which Commissioner Iglesias said is a very good package.
He said they sent the package out to other municipalities for any comments or suggestions
they may have, and someone suggested that in the landscaping business it is partly the bid but
it is also partly the quality of the people doing the work, it is a bit of an artistic talent. He
said that he has used a best value criteria in many different shapes and forms but it is
basically to score the bids, not just to open the bid and see what the bottom line is, which
would become part of the score. In the example he presented, the low bid is 80% of the
scoring but there are other issues such as, are they reputable, have they done well in the past
for other municipalities, do they have facilities that are close, do they have the right
equipment, those types of issues. He said it is ready to go to bid but this might be one of the
cases where best value is appropriate. Mayor Edelcup said he thinks it is a great concept, the
cheapest price isn't always the best price, the quality of work should be paramount and the
price should probably be second.
Public Works Director Conner said that he would put that in the package, finish it up and
they will be ready to bid it out.
10
Summary Minutes: Regular City Commission Meeting October 18,2007
City of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida
12B. Discussion regarding Increase to Bonus Participation Unit.
Action: Assistant City Manager/Services Jorge Vera reported noting that staff has been
looking at the Bonus Participation Unit price and are recommending an increase from
$50,000.00 to $72,000.00 taking into account the increase in land value together with Capital
Improvement costs over the next five (5) years.
Mayor Edelcup noted for the record that they received a letter from Greenberg Traurig
requesting that they do not move forward at this time due to economic conditions. He noted
that it would be about the same percentage increase of approximately 45%-50% increase that
we passed the last time. Assistant City Manager/Services Vera said they are paying $23 a
square foot and this would be going up to $33 a square foot.
Commissioner Iglesias said he is not disagreeing with this but that we should be very
cautious in these times. He said he read the letter from Greenberg Traurig and he went
through that himself, and we are going to see some blight times in the next couple of months,
because of what is happening in the real estate market. Commissioner Goodman said this is
for new development, the current construction is under the old system.
Mayor Edelcup said it was the consensus of the Commission to bring this forth as an
ordinance in November or December. Vice Mayor Thaler said there is one other thing that
should be brought out, on the east side there is only 5 or 6 more major projects that this
would affect, on the west side we really don't know what the future will bring, so if you look
at the numbers today, there is a minimum amount of buildings that this would affect.
12C. Discussion regarding Proposed Increase in Stormwater Fees.
Action: City Manager Szerlag reported that each household pays $30 per year in these fees
and we are proposing an increase of $18 per year for an aggregate annual amount of $48.
This increase would yield roughly $306,000 in additional revenue per year and the funding
would be used to help defray the cost of upcoming Capital Stormwater expenditures as well
as 0 & M costs related thereto, it would also result in a reduction of a subsidy from our
General Fund in the form of a transfer.
Public Works Director Rick Conner gave a Power-Point presentation on the proposed
increase in Stormwater fees comparing it to different municipalities in the State. He said we
currently collect $2.50 per month which generates about $510,000 a year, we are suggesting
that we look at an increase to make it a true enterprise fund, as stormwater is becoming
nationally recognized especially with the new NPDES requirements.
Mayor Edelcup said it was the consensus of the Commission to go ahead and prepare the
documents so we can approve the $4.00 rate which works out to about a nickel a day, and we
will be at the State average.
12D. Discussion regarding the Use of Video Cameras for Anti-Red Light Running Campaign.
Action: City Manager Szerlag reported noting if the Commission approved this concept that
we would go out to bid which would be structured to install cameras at various intersections
along Collins Avenue. Salient elements of this program are: the red light violator would be
11
,..
Summary Minutes: Regular City Commission Meeting October 18, 2007
City of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida
caught by a camera instead of a Police Officer and the violation would be a civil offense as
opposed to one under the Florida traffic code; the successful bidder will be responsible for
maintenance of the camera system as well as collection of fines which would be in the area
of $120 per violation, with an introductory period of about one month where drivers will be
issued warnings; look at a program that will enable a bidder to offer either a flat fee for their
services or a percentage ofthe revenue collected; develop an anti-red light running campaign
ordinance; and we are looking at a spring 2008 implementation.
Mayor Edelcup said he thinks that we are joining many other cities that are going through the
same process and he thinks it is very good and something that Sunny Isles Beach will benefit
by. We know that there are a lot of people that continue to run through red lights, and rather
than take Police time, he feels this camera is an effective way of doing it, and it is presented
to us tonight without any cost to the City for the Capital Improvement and we will be sharing
any revenue collected, and we don't have to do the collection process.
Public Works Director Rick Conner and Chief Fred Maas reported and gave a Power-Point
presentation on video cameras at major intersections to detect people running red lights, and
noted that the focus is on safety. Public Works Director Conner noted that the cameras in
these units click on when the computer says something is about to happen that shouldn't.
Vice Mayor Thaler noted that the clarity of the picture is fantastic, not only the license plate,
but the picture of the driver from behind will also be shown. Chief Maas said last night he
stood with the motor officers prior to the start ofthe Sunny Serenade, and in 15 minutes there
were four (4) drastic violations where two of the lanes stopped and someone coming up in a
third lane blew by the vehicles that had stopped properly and went through a red light.
Mayor Edelcup said that it was the consensus of the Commission to go forward with this
project and present it to the Commission as quickly as possible.
12E. Add-On:
Discussion regarding Construction Noise on 172nd Street and Collins Avenue.
Action: Mayor Edelcup said that Gloria Taft wrote an email to City Manager Szerlag to
complain about some construction noise on the corner of 172nd Street and Collins Avenue
which is taking place throughout the entire night and the noise levels are so high that it is
causing residents in the area sleepless nights, and she would like to know if there is
something that the City can do about this. City Manager Szerlag said that the work being
performed is by W ASA, which is sanitary sewer work that had to be done in the evening
because the permit is essentially for Collins Avenue and because ofthe high traffic volumes
during the daytime, it is safer and better for the motoring public to have the work done in the
evening. He said the good news is that the contractor, who is under contract with the County,
will be done with their Collins Avenue work in about 2-3 days, and after that the work
proceeds down 172nd Street with daytime construction, and that we are sorry for the
inconvenience. He said that either Assistant City Manager/Services Jorge Vera or Public
Works Director Rick Conner will talk to the contractor to see if there is a way to mitigate
their sound, but the real sound is the backup alarms that are tough to mitigate.
12
Summary Minutes: Regular City Commission Meeting October 18,2007
City of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida
13. CITIZENS' FORUM: REQUESTS, PETITIONS & OTHER COMMUNICATIONS
None
14. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Edelcup adjourned the meeting at 9:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by:
~~.~~
Jane A. Hines, CMC, City Clerk
13
15,2007