CITY OF NORTH LAUDERDALE

COMMISSION MEETING

 

JANUARY 13, 2009

REGULAR MEETING –5:30 p.m.

 

MINUTES

 

1.                  INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE –Commissioner Hilton gave the invocation.

 

2.                  ROLL CALL – All present with the exception that Commissioner Moyle was conferenced in by telephone.

 

            Mayor Jack Brady

            Vice Mayor John R. Cangemi

            Commissioner Gary Frankel

            Commissioner Rich Moyle

            Commissioner David G. Hilton

            City Manager Richard D. Sala

            City Attorney Samuel S. Goren

            Interim City Clerk Patricia Vancheri

 

3.                  APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

a.      October 25, 2007 – Motion to approve by Commissioner Frankel; seconded by Vice Mayor Cangemi.  All in favor.

b.      February 26, 2008 – Motion to approve by Commissioner Frankel; seconded by Vice Mayor Cangemi.  All in favor.

c.       October 14, 2008 – Motion to approve by Commissioner Frankel; seconded by Commissioner Hilton.  All in favor.

d.      October 28, 2008 – Motion to approve by Commissioner Frankel ; seconded by Vice Mayor Cangemi.  All in favor.

e.      December 09, 2008 - Motion to approve by Commissioner Frankel; seconded by Commissioner Hilton.  All in favor.

 

Minutes approved unanimously as submitted.

 

4.                  PRESENTATIONS - None

 

5.                  PROCLAMATIONS

 

a.      Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday – Clerk read Proclamation declaring January 19, 2009 Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday and encouraging residents to observe this special day.

b.      Diversity Community Month – Clerk read Proclamation declaring the month of January as Diversity Community Month.

 

6.                  PUBLIC DISCUSSION

 

Don Schlictman, SW 4th Place, addressed the Commission with regard to Sec. 38-75, pertaining to the noise ordinance.  He advised the Commission that he reported an excessive noise violation to BSO on January 1st, between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. and wanted the Commission to be aware of the problems.  Mayor Brady indicated that Chief Cavallo would handle it.

 

7.                  OTHER BUSINESS

 

Commissioner Hilton made a motion to read.  Commissioner Frankel seconded.

Attorney read:

 

a.      RESOLUTION –Payment to Broward Sheriff’s Office for Youth Soccer Program

 

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF NORTH LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA, APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE EXPENDITURE OF $16,605.00 TO THE BROWARD SHERIFF’S OFFICE OUT OF THE RECREATION DIVISION 171 FUND 1717072-549750 TO COVER THE SHERIFF’S FEE FOR THE 2008-2009 YOUTH SOCCER PROGRAM AND, PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

 

Commissioner Frankel made a motion to approve.  Seconded by Commissioner Hilton. 

No Commission discussion.  All yes.

 

RESOLUTION NO.  09-01-5393  PASSED AND APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY

 

 

8.                  REPORTS

 

a.      Re-districting of Commission Districts

 

Attorney Goren gave some background on Ronald R. Schultz, Ph.D., and indicated that he had done re-districting for the City before and said he is a professor emeritus at FAU and is qualified to present options with regard to re-districting, which under the City Charter must be done every four years.  Dr. Schultz provided a power point presentation outlining the districting criteria; providing four alternatives based on projected population numbers and indicating how those numbers were arrived at.  Dr. Schultz indicated that the data comes from several sources, one being the US Census, Broward County Property Appraiser’s Office and the City’s own records on CO’s and housing units that are being added since the last re-districting.  Based on this data, Dr. Schultz said he then comes up with a population forecast.  Dr. Schultz went on to explain the four options and said all have a reasonable population balance and all sitting Commissioners remain in their current districts.  Dr. Schultz advised that these four options are reasonable and alter the four districts very little, and asked the Commission to consider the options. 

 

Commissioner Frankel was opposed to Alternative I, but said all others are fine.  Commissioner Hilton said he would be fine with any one but Alternative III.  Commission reviewed and discussed the boundaries on the alternatives.  Attorney Goren said that under the standpoint of timing, an ordinance needs to be adopted no later than the end of February ’09, due to a six month residency requirement prior to an election, which in this case is November ’09.  Therefore, the Commission concurred that they will review the alternatives and bring this back at the meeting at the end of January to solidify the re-districting and Attorney Goren said at the Commission’s direction he will draft an ordinance for first reading, and the ordinance can be refined between first and second reading.

 

9.                  COMMISSION COMMENTS

 

a.      Discussion and possible motion to approve attendance at Broward Days in Tallahassee scheduled for Tuesday, March 10th and Wednesday, March 11, 2009

 

Commissioner Frankel moved to approve attendance for all those who wished to attend Broward Days.  Seconded by Vice Mayor Cangemi.  All yes.

 

City Manager Sala commented that the legislative team, which consists of the City Manager, Assistant City Manager, the City’s lobbyist, Assistant City Attorney, and at some point the Finance Director, has strategized dividing up the trips to the Tallahassee legislative sessions for not only Broward Days, but for other meetings they will need to attend.  He said it is best to break up into different groups so that multiple trips can be made at the right time to handle the important issues such as the law enforcement bill and property of right. 

 

Commissioner Frankel amended the motion to include approval of subsequent trips to Tallahassee.  Seconded by Commissioner Hilton.  All yes.

 

 

b.      Discussion and possible motion to approve the re-scheduling of the March 10th Commission meeting to March 17, 2009 at 5:30 pm, due to Broward Days

 

Commissioner Hilton made a motion to approve.  Seconded by Vice Mayor Cangemi.

 

10.              CITY MANAGER COMMENTS

 

City Manager Sala introduced Steven Chapman who has accepted the position of Finance Director, and said he is happy to have him on board. Mr. Sala mentioned that Mr. Chapman was the former Finance Director for the City of Tamarac; has Florida experience in government and is familiar with all the City’s legislative issues, and has consulted over the years with North Lauderdale on other issues.  Mr. Chapman addressed the Commission and said he is excited to have the opportunity to work for the City of North Lauderdale and gave his background, which includes 17 years experience in finance and is familiar with all the issues and concerns with the legislation and has been to Tallahassee in the past to deal with those issues.  Mr. Chapman said he is willing to give 100%, work hard and establish a good relationship with everyone.

 

Mayor Brady welcomed Mr. Chapman.  Attorney Goren commented that he has also worked with Mr. Chapman, through the City of Tamarac and he has known him personally and professionally during that period of time and he is competent, responsible and qualified.


 

11.              CITY ATTORNEY COMMENTS

 

a.      Update on Traffic Magistrates State-Wide Bill sponsored by Ari Porth and Jeremy Ring

Attorney Goren reported that Representative Porth and Senator Ring had agreed to sponsor a bill currently in place which would preserve and protect the position of Traffic Magistrates forever by creating a surcharge that would be applicable to traffic and parking ticket violations.  However, the legislature meeting in special session has done something that may support Magistrates in a different way.  Mr. Goren said there is a movement in North Florida to compress about 21 court positions statewide, to provide a funding source, along with the additional parking ticket and speeding ticket violation fines to support Traffic Magistrates for this coming fiscal year and beyond.  Representative Porth and Senator Ring have temporarily pulled their bills from the docket pending outcome of the special session.  Further, Mr. Goren said the bills are bookmarked and may be put back into place if the special session does not yield a conclusion.  He said Representative Porth and Senator Ring have worked very hard to support this program to support law enforcement .  Mr. Goren also said the Clerk’s office, Sheriff’s Dept., Magistrates and Florida League of Cities also support this bill.

 

b.      Status/discussion of Law Enforcement Special Assessment Bill/Ch. 170, F.S.

 

Mr. Goren said a bill is currently being prepared in conjunction with the City Administration, staff, lobbyist David Sigerson and the finance director, which would modify Chapter 166, to create a venue within state law to provide for law enforcement special assessments, which would not affect the non-ad valorem tax ability.  He said he is working diligently on a draft bill and the concept has been supported by the Broward League and hopefully by the next Commission meeting he will bring back a proposed document which will assist local government with the issues pertaining to law enforcement and safety and finding a mechanism to allow for assessment consistent with Florida law in providing a fair and balanced assessment.

 

Mr. Goren gave an update on an item not on the agenda.  He referred to a Federal Statute called the “Honest Services Act” with regard to violations of federal law.  Mr. Goren passed out an article referencing this act.  Mr. Goren commented on the seriousness of this document, the laws and gave a briefing regarding the issues and the cases cited. 

 

12.              ADJOURNMENT – There being no further discussion, the meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

 

Patricia Vancheri

Interim City Clerk