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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1747 - MINUTES - City Commission MINUTES DANIA BEACH CITY COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING SEPTEMBER 6, 2001 1. Call to order Mayor Flury opened the meeting at 7:00 p.m. 2. Roll Call: Present: Mayor: Pat Flury Vice-Mayor: Robert Chunn Commissioners: John Bertino C.K. McElyea Bob Mikes City Attorney: Tom Ansbro Acting City Manager: Jason Nunemaker Acting City Clerk: Charlene Johnson Item #5 was heard first on the agenda. Item #3 was heard after Item #5. 3. Discussion of short-listing the city manager applications and selection process. Dr. George Hanbury, ICMA Range Rider, read the names of the 10 candidates selected by the City Commission for further review from the last meeting. He asked the City Commission to include any additional names from the 69 applicants that they wish to interview for the position of city manager. Dr. Hanbury mentioned that the City Commission had the option of conducting interviews in public or individually with each City Commissioner. He agreed to provide the City Commission with interview questions and a rating system for the selection process. At this time, the City Commission reviewed each candidate and removed John Shepherd, Henry Sinda and William Sizemore from the list. Dr. Hanbury agreed to contact the following seven candidates and to advise the City Commission of the availability of the candidates for interview: Paul Brandenburg Donald Giancoli Rod Irwin Terry Leary Horace A. McHugh Jason Randall Nunemaker James K. Whitlock, Jr. MINTLIES 1 SEPTEMBER 6, 2001 SPECIAL MEETING Commissioner Bertino mentioned that he was not pleased with the rating system from the ICMA that was used in 1995 and that he preferred to take a straight vote on hiring a city manager. The City Commission generally agreed to interview as a group at an open meeting. Dr. Hanbury agreed to provide some basic score cards for the selection process and suggested that the City Commissioners may want to use their own rating system to narrow the candidates down. He highly recommended that the city manager be selected on a five to zero vote. Dr. Hanbury agreed to advise Acting City Clerk Johnson within the next couple of days on whether or not all 7 candidates would be available for interview so that she could proceed with sending out thank-you letters to the other applicants. 4. Continued discussion of Pier Restaurant plans with Neal Aronson, Architect. -- Acting City Manager Nunemaker advised that Mr. Aronson had presented two proposals outlining a one-story structure and a two-story structure. In addition, he mentioned that the one-story structure provides the ability for a two-story structure conversion in the future. Neal Aronson, Architect, presented basically the same plan as was previously presented that had now been broken down into three separate versions as follows: 1st set -One-story option with a minimal shell with perimeter walls and windows, no interior walls, with 2,000 square feet per seating and 4,524 square feet of total a/c, excluding the bait shop. Sheet A-2 and A-3 shows elevations on a minimal shell; 2nd set —The shell with first floor, stair tower, and interior stair for the first floor and a small portion of the second floor, not showing any interiors. The seating area square footage was 3,145 for 209 people, interior seating only, for a total square footage of 6,724. Outdoor seating was not counted. (3rd set) A two-Story option furnished with kitchen, bathrooms, seating area and elevations. Mr. Aronson presented a cost estimate schedule showing actual costs for items to build the shell. In reference to a one-story floor structure (5,872 square feet), the estimated construction cost was $55 to $65 per square foot for a total job cost of $322,960 to $381,680 including doors and windows With the inclusion of a 25% contingency, the final costs to complete the entire process were estimated at $65 to $75 per square foot for a total job cost of between $381,000 to $440,000 for the shell. Mr. Aronson pointed out the difficulty of providing cost estimates for construction without viewing a full set of construction documents and stressed the need for many items to be defined in order to firm up certain aspects of the structure in relation to electrical, lighting, security, etc. Acting City Manager Nunemaker explained to the City Commission that he directed Mr. Aronson to present liberal cost estimates on the proposals so that the City's budget could provide sufficient funding to cover the project. Mr. Nunemaker recommended moving forward with construction drawings on a one-story structure with the potential for • a two-story addition being added later on the west end with a stair case in order for staff to bring better cost estimates back. MINTUES 2 SEPTEMBER 6, 2001 SPECIAL MEETING Discussion followed on the types of window (operable, fixed, horizontal rollers, single hung, French doors) styles that could be selected. Commissioner McElyea expressed dissatisfaction with the length of time it has taken to build a restaurant at the pier and recommended that the financing be resolved before going any further. Mayor Flury advised that $650,000 had been provided in the fiscal year 01/02 budget as part of the Capital Improvement Program and that the City Commission must decide whether or not to move forward on building a one-story or two-story restaurant at the pier. Her recommendation was to go with a one-story structure at this time. Acting City Manager Nunemaker explained that the reference to $400,000 being in the previous budget to build the pier restaurant shell was misleading, as the City did not actually have the money available. Mr. Nunemaker explained that the current budget allocates $650,000 to specifically use towards constructing the pier restaurant. Commissioner Bertino clarified that the budget includes $350,000 for a debt service payment in order for the City to borrow the money to fund the projects outlined in the Capital Improvement Program. Commissioner Mikes suggested that the City spend $600-$800 to prepare a rendering of both the one-story and two-story building before extensive money is spent on construction drawings. He thought the rendering would provide a better picture of the project for the public. • Mr. Nunemaker requested that he be given the opportunity to work with Mr. Aronson on bringing back renderings on a one-story structure with an open-window atmosphere and an observation deck. Mr. Aronson agreed that mylars could be created to show several types of window options with an elevator tower going to the second floor. Mr. Aronson agreed to work with Laurence Leeds, Growth Management Director, and Jason Nunemaker, Acting City Manager, to prepare renderings showing a finished and attractive structure with an open and airy view. A motion was made by Vice-Mayor Chunn, seconded by Commissioner Bertino, directing staff to bring back some renderings for a one-story structure showing several design options. The motion passed on the following 5/0 roll call vote: Commissioner Bertino-yes Vice-Mayor Chunn-yes Commissioner McElyea-yes Mayor Flury-yes Commissioner Mikes-yes Item #6 was heard after Item #4. Item #5 was heard first on the agenda • 5. Discussion of Seaboard railroad proposal for new bridge with lowered clearance. (Commissioner Mikes) MINTUES 3 SEPTEMBER 6, 2001 SPECIAL MEETING • Mayor Flury mentioned that the City was concerned about the lowering of the bridges located on the Dania Cut-off Canal and advised that representatives from Tri-Rail and the Coast Guard were present to discuss the matter. Dan Mazza, Director of Engineering and Construction for Tri-County Commuter Rail Authority, explained that a misunderstanding was presented in the correspondence recently sent out and that the bridge was not going to be lowered. For the record, Mr. Mazza stated that there would not be any reduction in the vertical clearance underneath the bridge,at the-Dania Cut-Off Canal. Mr. Mazza explained that Tri-Rail had plans over the past five years to double track portions of the South Florida Rail Coordinator in order to obtain 20-minute headways between tri-rail trains. The last segment of the project called the Segment 5 Project involves 45 miles of track, installation of 12 new bridges, replacement of five bridges, and the completion of work on nine stations. The project was estimated to cost $327 million and to be completed by March 30, 2005. Mr. Mazza advised that the existing east bridge at the Dania Cut-Off Canal was built in 1926 and would be replaced and changed to a Main Line Track because the load rating on the bridge was not enough to handle a Main Line Track. The west bridge would remain with the same vertical elevation and clearance. Dennis Lysniac, Senior Project Manager for Tri-Rail Authority, explained that drawings would be corrected and that the permits would proceed. Dredging would be conducted to get the canal bottom down to the same vertical elevation from the main high water level to the bottom quarter of the bridge. Mr. Lysniac expected the Segment 5 Project to eventually provide Tri-Rail the ability to run trains at 20-minute schedules in the morning and evenings to help the South Florida Region. Evelyn Smart, 7th Coast Guard District Bridge Administration Branch, Environmental Protection Specialist and Area Manager, explained that she issues permits for the State of Florida. Ms. Smart confirmed that the Coast Guard had no intentions of lowering bridges or approving permits for bridges with a vertical clearance less than what currently exists nor to prohibit navigation. She advised that the permit had been submitted with incorrect,data and that all paperwork would be corrected. Commissioner Bertino stated that boating is a primary concern for Dania Beach. He urged the representatives to raise the elevation as well as widen the underneath of the bridges based on the fact that $326 million .was proposed for the project. Mr. Mazza explained that the eastern bridge is being replaced and that the western bridge had 75 years of life left and there are no plans to replace it at this time. Commissioner Mikes stressed the importance of the Dania Cut-Off canal to the marine industry as well as the tax base to the City and Broward County agencies. He agreed that the bridges should be redesigned wherever possible and mentioned that there may be grant funding available to raise the bridge. Commissioner Mikes recommended that the Coast Guard proceed with raising the bridge incrementally based on the fact that the Dania Cut-Off Canal was a major waterway and artery to Broward County. He suggested that a letter be sent to Governor Jeb Bush requesting that the Florida Department of Transportation raise the western bridge. • MINTUES 4 SEPTEMBER 6, 2001 SPECIAL MEETING Commissioner McElyea mentioned that the US #1 bridge was built in 1931 and that it • should be demolished and rebuilt. He advised that the Ravenswood Bridge was rebuilt in 1958 and that the City had 37 marine facilities all along the Dania Cut-off canal and felt that the bridge should be raised. Mayor Flury agreed that a letter should be sent to the Florida Department of Transportation and Tri-Rail Authority asking that the bridge be elevated and requested that the U.S. Coast Guard halt the issuance of any permits for changes to any of the bridges on the Dania Cut-off Canal unless community input has been provided. Ms. Smart-agreed to present the letter to the U.S: Coast Guard Bridge Administrator. Mayor Flury assured the public that the bridge was not going to be.lowered and did not see a need for further public comment. Commissioner Mikes urged the public to send letters to Congressman Clay Shaw, the Senate, and State House of Representative Tim Ryan urging them to have the bridge raised on the Dania Cut-Off Canal. He also recommended that a resolution be prepared and sent to all relevant agencies. Bill Flint, Avon Isles, confirmed with Mayor Flury that a corrected letter would be sent out from the U.S. Department of Transportation and United States Coast Guard. Mark Lorocca, 4511 SW 45 Avenue, requested that the City provide a resolution requesting that the bridges be elevated. ® Bill Hyde, SW 28 Terrace, advised that there are three things that have affected the change on the elevation of the Dania Cut-Off Canal in the last 12 years: (1) The removal of the tide gate at the Florida Power & Light Plant; (2) Construction of the 30th Avenue Bridge; (3) Reconstruction of the Florida Power & Light bridge. Mr. Hyde advised that the City must take action to work with the Coast Guard and pursue support from higher governmental levels. Item #3 was heard after Item #5. 6. Discussion of proposed budget regarding deputy-staffing level. (Commissioner Mikes) Commissioner Mikes mentioned that he had requested staff provide a report on the deputy staffing over the past several years and that there was a disproportionate increase in deputy staffing after the 1991 annexation. Commissioner Mikes mentioned that the funding commitment for the fire station would be reduced this year if the City is able to rent space at the Hollywood Fire Station on Stirling Road. Therefore, he recommended allocating funding to provide for two more deputies with the understanding that a contingency fund would provide reserves for building a fire station out west to address future needs. Commissioner Bertino recommended leaving the fire assessment fee at $87 and to sequester the increase in the fee for building a future fire station. Commissioner Bertino stressed the importance of the City being independent in supplying fire services and having its own fire station. MINTUES 5 SEPTEMBER 6, 2001 SPECIAL MEETING r,7 Commissioner McElyea recommended cutting costs as much as possible but was • concerned with reducing safety services to an extreme. Mayor Flury clarified that there were no police or fire positions being cut this year and that services are not being reduced. The issue is about increasing fire and police personnel in this budget. Her other concern was whether or not the City should increase the fire assessment fee from $81 to $87 this year. Mayor Flury pointed out that the City Commission voted a few months ago to fund a deputy and drug dog program and that Law Enforcement Fines and Forfeiture funds were going to be utilized. Acting City Manager.Nunemaker advised that he halted the inclusion of the drug dog program in the budget until after he had the opportunity to better view the City's financial situation with the City Commission during budget sessions. Mayor Flury stressed the importance of having a drug dog available for Dania Beach specifically in order to deal with the drug problem that exits in the community and felt that one of the two deputy positions being considered should be for the drug dog. Acting City Manager Nunemaker explained that the balance in the Fines and Forfeiture Funds is estimated at $100,000- $110,000. Turn Around Dania Beach presented a contribution to the City of $4,000 - $5,000 and the City authorized $45,000 for a draw down for architectural services for the 803 NW 1st Street property, Center for Success and MADDADS programs. Dave Keller, Finance Director, agreed that money could be found in the budget without raising any fees or the millage rate by reprogramming debt service that could be brought back at the proposed budget hearing. He advised that roughly $144,000 would be • needed to cover two deputy positions. Chief Anton, BSO, advised that six deputies (1 criminal investigator and 5 deputies) currently assigned to 105 zone (newly annexed area) have been budgeted since January and paid from the BSO District 1 budget. He advised that the addition of two more deputies would keep services status quo. Commissioner Mikes felt it made more sense to dispatching emergency medical and rescue services from the Hollywood station that is close to the newly annexed area instead of building a station at this time and leave the $87 for a contingency fund to build a station later. Chief Anton, BSO, stated that BSO had been able to provide a drug dog 99% of the time as part of the ancillary services provided in the contract and agreed that it would be a tremendous benefit to have a dog in District II. He stated that he would not want to give up a road patrol position or tactical position to the drug dog but would want the drug dog in addition to the current positions in order to provide efficiency in the district. A motion was made by Vice-Mayor Chunn, seconded by Commissioner Mikes, to include two (2) more BSO deputies in the budget with the understanding that one deputy would be associated with the drug dog program. The motion passed on the following 5/0 roll call vote: • Commissioner Bertino-yes Vice-Mayor Chunn-yes Commissioner McElyea-yes Mayor Flury-yes MINTUES 6 SEPTEMBER 6, 2001 SPECIAL MEETING Commissioner Mikes-yes • 7. Adjournment This meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m. 7 G✓��— PAT FLURY MAYOR-COMMISSIONER ATTEST: CHARLENE JOHN N ACTING CITY CLE APPROVED: October 9, 2001 • MINTUES 7 SEPTEMBER 6, 2001 SPECIAL MEETING