[CALL TO ORDER]
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ALL RIGHT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO OUR 9:30 COMMISSION MEETING.
IT IS WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2022 CITY CLERK.
MADAM MAYOR COMMISSIONER BOLTON.
GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONER PLACKO.
COMMISSIONER VICE MAYOR GELIN.
GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS.
GOOD MORNING, MADAM MAYOR GOMEZ.
AND IF EVERYONE WOULD PLEASE STAND AND JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
[1. CITY ATTORNEY REPORT]
MADAM MAYOR NOTHING.ACTUALLY, IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU MIGHT BE REMINDING EVERYBODY THE RULES OF THE ROAD IN YOUR REPORT.
ABOUT WE DON'T TALK OVER EACH OTHER.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, NORMALLY I WOULD READ THE RULES OF CONDUCT PRIOR TO THE DESCRIPTION OF THE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.
BUT AGAIN, TO THE EXTENT THAT I'LL SAY IT AT THAT POINT IN TIME, I'LL REITERATE IT HERE.
YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THE IDEA OF THE ADOPTED RULES OF PROCEDURE THAT YOU ALL HAVE SET FORTH FOR YOURSELVES IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ALL CONDUCT OURSELVES IN A PROFESSIONAL MANNER.
WE GIVE EACH OTHER THE APPROPRIATE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITHOUT SPEAKING OVER EACH OTHER AND BASICALLY SHOW EACH OTHER THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF RESPECT TO ALLOW ALL TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DISCUSSION WITHOUT BEING SPOKEN OVER, I GUESS, WOULD BE THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE THAT.
AND CERTAINLY, AS I SAID, I'LL READ THE RULES IN MORE DETAIL, AS I NORMALLY DO DURING THE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PORTION OF THE AGENDA.
YOU HIT ON THE ONE THAT WE NEEDED FOR NOW.
CITY MANAGER, YOUR REPORT, PLEASE.
[2. CITY MANAGER REPORT]
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COMMISSION.THIS MORNING, I'D LIKE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE AND CONGRATULATE OUR EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE RECENTLY REACHED CITY SERVICE MILESTONES.
THE CONSISTENCY OF GOOD PEOPLE IN OUR ORGANIZATION IS WHAT MAKES US GREAT.
WE ALL APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS AND LOYALTY TO THIS CITY.
I AM DAILY REMINDED OF WHAT A PRIVILEGE IT IS TO SERVE ALONGSIDE THE PEOPLE WHO WORK HERE IN THE CITY OF TAMARAC.
SO, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I WILL TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO JUST CONGRATULATE EVERYONE.
STARTING WITH OUR FIVE YEARS OF SERVICE RECOGNITION FOR JEFF STREETER IN BUDGET, HE'S OUR BUDGET MANAGER IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
MICHAEL GIVENS IS OUR PERMIT SUPPORT REPRESENTATIVE IN BUILDING.
RISA GROSS-DILLON PERMIT SUPPORT REPRESENTATIVE IN BUILDING.
CORNELL RAMSEY GROUNDSKEEPER ONE IN PUBLIC SERVICES.
MUSTAFA ALBASSAM, ACTUALLY, HIS NAME IS MUSTAFA.
THAT'S THE WAY IT'S PRONOUNCED, I JUST LEARNED RECENTLY HE'S OUR CITY ENGINEER AND HE'S IN PUBLIC SERVICES.
RONNIE WILLIAMS, OUR EQUIPMENT OPERATOR TWO IN PUBLIC SERVICES.
JIMMY WADE, THE WASTEWATER SERVICE WORKER ONE IN PUBLIC SERVICES, AND LAMAR GRAHAM, TECHNICAL SUPPORT REP ONE IN INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY.
AND MILLIE VELASQUEZ, OUR HR TECHNICIAN IN HUMAN RESOURCES.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU ON COMPLETING FIVE YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE CITY.
AND RECOGNIZED FOR 10 YEARS WE HAVE MICHAEL [INAUDIBLE], WHO IS THE LIEUTENANT PARAMEDIC FOR FIRE RESCUE.
[INAUDIBLE], OUR LIEUTENANT, PARAMEDIC IN FIRE RESCUE, AS WELL.
GIOVANNI [INAUDIBLE], LIEUTENANT PARAMEDIC IN FIRE RESCUE.
AND OMAR OMAR [INAUDIBLE], FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDIC ALSO IN FIRE RESCUE.
SERGIO PUERTAS, FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDIC, FIRE RESCUE, CHRISTOPHER RODRIGUEZ [INAUDIBLE] FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDIC, FIRE RESCUE.
WE'VE GOT A LOT THAT CAME IN 10 YEARS AGO, A LOT OF NEW FIREFIGHTERS AT THAT TIME.
EVAN ROSENBAUM, FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDIC, FIRE RESCUE.
ALEX SEAMAN, LIEUTENANT PARAMEDIC, FIRE RESCUE.
AND RAY VALEZ, FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDIC, FIRE RESCUE.
THANK YOU FOR ALL A DECADE OF SERVICE.
RAYMOND [INAUDIBLE] DRIVER ENGINEER, PARAMEDIC, FIRE RESCUE.
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CHRISTOPHER MCCARTHY, DRIVER ENGINEER, PARAMEDIC, FIRE RESCUE.JAMES SCOTT II, FIREFIGHTER AS WELL.
BRANDON WALKER, FIREFIGHTER, PARAMEDIC AS WELL.
JASON BENTLEY, WATER PLANT LEAD OPERATOR, PUBLIC SERVICES.
LINDA PROBERT, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION.
AND WILLIAM [INAUDIBLE], RECREATION PROGRAMMER ONE, [INAUDIBLE] IN PARKS AND REC.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE CITY AND 20 YEARS WE'VE GOT JONATHAN FRASHER, FIRE DIVISION CHIEF, JAMES BLEDSOE, FIREFIGHTER, PARAMEDIC, AND CHARLENE-- SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
15 YEARS IS QUITE EXTRAORDINARY.
AND NOW FOR 25 YEARS, CHARLENE NEVADOMSKI RECREATION PROGRAMMER TWO.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATED PROFESSIONALISM.
THIS PLACE MOVES AND TICKS BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO, AND THE LONGEVITY THAT YOU BRING TO THE TABLE MAKES THINGS MOVE SEAMLESSLY.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE AND THANK YOU FOR THIS INDULGENCE.
VERY PROUD OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR DEDICATION.
I BELIEVE THERE IS ONE MORE THING UNDER THE CITY MANAGER'S REPORT, AND I'M PROUD TO INTRODUCE VAN SCHOEN, OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR, WHO WILL BE PRESENTING THE NEXT PROCLAMATION FOR FLORIDA SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK.
IS HE THE ONE READING IT OR ARE YOU GOING TO READ IT? [INAUDIBLE].
[INAUDIBLE] WHEREAS EACH YEAR, TAMARAC RESIDENTS FACE THE THREAT OF SERVICE WEATHER EVENTS SUCH AS TORNADOES, THUNDERSTORMS, FLOODING, LIGHTNING AND HURRICANE.
ALL [INAUDIBLE] LIFE AND PROPERTY AND WHEREAS NUMEROUS WEATHER RELATED [INAUDIBLE] SUBSTANTIAL PROPERTY DAMAGE [INAUDIBLE] 2020 [INAUDIBLE] SEVERE WEATHER AND.
WHEREAS IT IS VITAL THAT AN EFFECTIVE PUBLIC OUTREACH PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT ALL TYPES OF SEVERE WEATHER RISKS, AND A PREPAREDNESS CAMPAIGN [INAUDIBLE] EDUCATES CITIZENS.
AND WHEREAS THE FLORIDA [INAUDIBLE].
LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL PARTNERS, VOLUNTEER AND PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS, ELECTED LEADERS AND NEWS MEDIA ARE COMMITTED TO EDUCATING FLORIDA CITIZENS [INAUDIBLE] VISITORS ABOUT SEVERE WEATHER PREPAREDNESS AND WHEREAS THE STATE OF FLORIDA [INAUDIBLE] AND WELCOME TO [INAUDIBLE] KIDS, PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS, FELLOW CITIZENS AND VISITORS UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PROVIDING THEM.
WITH THE TOOLS NECESSARY TO BE PREPARED IN AN EMERGENCY AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF TAMARAC APPRECIATES THE COOPERATION OF THE [INAUDIBLE] OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AND THE NEWS MEDIA IN RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING PREPARED FOR SEVERE WEATHER.
NOW, THEREFORE [INAUDIBLE] MAYOR OF THE CITY OF TAMARAC.
FLORIDA DO HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 7 TO FEBRUARY 11, 2022, AS FLORIDA SEVERE WEATHER [INAUDIBLE] WEATHER [INAUDIBLE].
[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU FOR THAT.
SO, WE'RE NOW MOVING ON TO PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.
[3. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION]
AND AT THIS TIME NOW, IF YOU WOULD [INAUDIBLE] ATTORNEY READ THESE RULES OF THE ROAD.THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION.
PURSUANT TO SECTION 2-29 OF THE CITY CODE, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY SPEAK AT CITY COMMISSION MEETINGS DURING PUBLIC HEARING OR AT A TIME SPECIFIED BY THE MAYOR, OR PRESIDING OFFICER OR DURING THE PERIOD SET ASIDE FOR PUBLIC DISCUSSION.
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SEE COMMISSIONER AGENDA [INAUDIBLE] THE FOLLOWING RULES.MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY SPEAK ONLY AT TIMES DESIGNATED BY THE CITY COMMISSION.
SPEAKERS WILL BE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES AND ALL REMARKS SHALL BE ADDRESSED TO THE CITY COMMISSION AS A BODY THROUGH THE MAYOR AND NOT TO ANY MEMBER.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SHALL ADDRESS ONLY THE TOPIC BEING DISCUSSED.
DISRUPTIVE, BELLIGERENT OR ABUSIVE CONDUCT BY ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC IS PROHIBITED AND SHALL NOT BE PERMITTED.
ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO VIOLATES THE SECTION MAY BE INSTRUCTED BY THE CITY COMMISSIONER TO REMOVE HIMSELF OR HERSELF FROM THE COMMISSION CHAMBERS OF THE CITY.
UPON HIS OR HER FAILURE TO DO SO.
A MEMBER OF THE BROWARD SHERIFF'S OFFICE SHALL EJECT THE PERSON FROM THE COMMISSION CHAMBERS UPON INSTRUCTION BY THE CITY COMMISSION.
IT SHALL BE UNLAWFUL FOR ANY PERSON TO REFUSE TO LEAVE THE CITY COMMISSION CHAMBERS VOLUNTARILY OR INVOLUNTARILY WHEN INSTRUCTED TO DO SO BY THE MAYOR OR PRESIDING OFFICER.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE REQUESTED THEY STATE THEIR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
IN LIEU OF THEIR ADDRESS, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY GIVE THEIR CITY OF RESIDENCE.
WITH REGARD TO THE CITY COMMISSION, IT HAS THE FOLLOWING DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES PURSUANT TO SECTION 2-34 OF THE CODE, RECOGNITION HALL BE GIVEN ONLY BY THE PRESIDING OFFICER.
UPON BEING RECOGNIZED, THE MEMBER MAY PROCEED.
NO MEMBER OF THE CITY COMMISSION MAY FILIBUSTER AND MAY NOT SPEAK FOR MORE THAN FIVE MINUTES CONTINUOUSLY, EXCEPT BY LEAVE OF THE CITY COMMISSION.
THE DECISION OF THE CITY COMMISSION IS FINAL.
GENERALLY, BRIEF PRESENTATIONS BY CITY COMMISSIONER SHOULD NOT COUNT AGAINST THE FIVE MINUTE TIME LIMITATION.
A MEMBER MAY SPEAK A SECOND TIME ON ANY ONE TIME QUESTION.
ONLY AFTER ALL, MEMBERS HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
GENERALLY, THIS IS LIMITED TO TWO MINUTES.
THE MAYOR SHALL REGULATE DEBATE IN ANY OTHER MANNER THAT SHE HE DEEMS NECESSARY, PROVIDED THAT THE RIGHTS OF ALL PERSONS TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS ARE RESPECTED.
QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS BY MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION SHOULD BE RESERVED INSOFAR AS POSSIBLE FOR THE END OF A PRESENTATION TO AVOID INTERRUPTING SPEAKERS [INAUDIBLE] THE TIMEKEEPING PROCESS AND DUPLICATING GROUND THE SPEAKER MAY COVER.
ALL MEMBERS OF CITY COMMISSION SHALL BE PERMITTED TO SPEAK ON ANY MATTER AND SHALL NOT BE RULED OUT OF ORDER BY THE PRESIDING OFFICER UNLESS THE MEMBER HAS MADE ABUSIVE, DEROGATORY OR RUDE REMARKS.
NO MEMBER OF THE CITY COMMISSION SHALL BE LIMITED IN HIS OR HER DEBATE ON ANY ISSUE, EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED HEREIN, UNLESS THE MEMBER ENGAGES IN ABUSE OF DEROGATORY OR RUDE COMMENTS.
ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION SHALL ACCORD THE UTMOST COURTESY EACH OTHER TO CITY EMPLOYEES AND TO PUBLIC MEMBERS APPEARING BEFORE THE CITY COMMISSION AND SHALL REFRAIN AT ALL TIMES FROM RUDE AND DEROGATORY REMARKS.
REFLECTIONS AS TO INTEGRITY, ABUSIVE COMMENTS AND STATEMENTS AS TO MOTIVE AND PERSONALITIES.
THE CITY MANAGER MAY SPEAK TO ANY MANNER ON WHICH HE OR SHE HAS INFORMATION FOR THE CITY COMMISSION.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, IN THE EVENT THAT THE MAYOR OR PRESIDING OFFICER FAILS TO ACT, ANY MEMBER OF THE CITY COMMISSION MAY MOVE TO REQUIRE THE PRESIDING OFFICER TO ACT TO ENFORCE THE RULES AND THE AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF THE MAJORITY OF THE CITY COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT AT THE TIME SHALL REQUIRE THE PRESIDING OFFICER TO ACT.
AT THIS TIME FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, WE HAVE ONE PERSON WHO SIGNED UP.
NAME AND LOCATION FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
DARCY SCHILLER, KINGS POINT, TAMARAC.
MONTHLY, I'M IN RECEIPT OF THIS TAMOGRAM, WHICH IS REALLY VERY NICE.
IT PROVIDES YOU AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF INFORMATION, INCLUDING ALL THE CITY EMPLOYEES AND PHONE NUMBERS, ET CETERA.
SOMEHOW OR ANOTHER LAST COMMISSION MEETING I HAD, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY, FALSE HOPES AND HOPING THAT THE COMMISSION WAS GOING TO MOVE FORWARD AND NOT BE SO ACRIMONIOUS WITH EACH OTHER.
AND IN THE MAIL, I RECEIVED A PIECE OF PROPAGANDA WHICH I WOULD HAVE CONSIDERED CAMPAIGN PROPAGANDA PAID FOR BY THE CITY OF TAMARAC.
AND I WAS VERY, VERY PUT OUT BY THAT BECAUSE THAT'S MY TAX DOLLARS FOR AN INDIVIDUAL SENDING OUT CAMPAIGN PROPAGANDA ON TOP OF WHICH THAT INDIVIDUAL MISLED EVERYBODY.
THIS IS THE PROPAGANDA I'M TALKING ABOUT.
I REMEMBER WHEN WE HAD ONE COMMISSIONER SEND OUT SOMETHING OVER A HOLIDAY.
HE WAS CHASTISED BECAUSE HE USED CITY MONEY.
SO HOW IS IT, OUR VICE MAYOR SENDS OUT THIS FLIER, WHICH IS CLEARLY WELL OVER $1000 TO PRINT AND DEVOTES AN ENTIRE PAGE THANKING THE COMMUNITY FOR HIM BEING VICE MAYOR.
IF I'M CORRECT, AND SOMEBODY PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, HE'S ONLY BEEN VICE MAYOR FOR LESS THAN 28 DAYS.
SO IS THIS APPROPRIATE OR IS IT DECEPTIVE? BECAUSE I UNDERSTOOD THAT ELVIN VILLALOBOS WAS OUR VICE MAYOR FOR THE LAST YEAR, SO I WANT TO UNDERSTAND AND I'M GOING TO PURSUE IT WITH QUESTIONS OUTSIDE THE COMMISSION.
BUT I WANTED THE PUBLIC AT LARGE TO HEAR MY COMMENTS, HOW IT IS THAT THIS CAN BE
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PAID FOR WITH OUR TAX MONEY? I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND IT, AND I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS COMMISSION CAN OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN ABUSE MONEY.AGAIN, I REFER TO THE WAL-MART CARDS, THE PUBLIX CARDS, THE FOOD.
NOW WE'RE DOING CAMPAIGN PROPAGANDA.
I WANT TO KNOW, AND SO DOES A LOT OF PEOPLE IN TAMARAC BECAUSE I WAS QUITE SURPRISED THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE LISTED THIS ON THE WEBSITE NEXTDOOR.
HOW DO WE GET AWAY WITH THIS OR HOW DO YOU ALL GET AWAY WITH THIS? AND WHERE IS THE OVERSIGHT? AND THIS IS ABSOLUTELY HORRIFIC.
I HOPE THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS ON THE COMMISSION DON'T TRY TO DO THIS KIND OF PROPAGANDA BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS DECEITFUL AND I THINK IT'S A WASTE OF TAXPAYERS MONEY.
I HOPE THIS COMING YEAR SHOWS TO BE BETTER, BUT SO FAR IT'S NOT OFF TO A GOOD START.
THANK YOU, IF THERE'S ANYBODY ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK WHILE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IS OPEN.
NOPE, NOT SEEING ANYBODY COMING TO THE MIC.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IS NOW CLOSED.
WE WILL NOW MOVE TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
[4. CONSENT AGENDA]
CITY MANAGER.ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS? JUST ONE CORRECTION, MAYOR AND COMMISSION FOR THE JANUARY 10TH 2022 STRATEGIC PLANNING MINUTES, SPECIFICALLY THE DIRECTION FOR THE PARKING ORDINANCE.
THE CLERK WILL MAKE A SCRIVENER'S ERROR AND ADD THE PROVISION BEING REMOVED IS THE PROHIBITION ON PARKING FROM TWO A.M.
TO SIX A.M.. COPIES OF THE CHANGE HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO ALL ON THE DAIS.
CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY FIVE TO ZERO.
MOVING ON TO OUR REGULAR AGENDA 5A, TR13718, AGREEMENT WITH THE FERGUSON
[5.a. TR13718 - Agreement with The Ferguson Group for Federal Lobbying Services]
GROUP FOR FEDERAL LOBBYING SERVICES.CITY ATTORNEY PLEASE READ THE TITLE FOR THE RECORD.
MS. MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION.
THIS IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF FLORIDA APPROVING AMENDMENT NUMBER 13 TO THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF TAMARAC AND THE FERGUSON GROUP LLC FOR FEDERAL LOBBYING SERVICES, EXTENDING THE TERM OF THE AGREEMENT FOR A ONE YEAR PERIOD EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 13, 2022, AT A COST NOT TO EXCEED $85,500 DOLLARS PER YEAR.
AUTHORIZING THE APPROPRIATE CITY OFFICIALS TO EXECUTE AMENDMENT NUMBER 13 TO THE AGREEMENT PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
THANK YOU, I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND, PLEASE.
LAURA KARPAVICIUTE WILL INTRODUCE VAL GELNOVATCH OF THE FERGUSON GROUP, WHICH I GUESS I ALREADY DID.
LAURA IS COMING UP TO THE MIC.
LAURA PROCEED WHEN YOU'RE READY.
GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND COMMISSIONER.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE.
SHE'S BEEN REPRESENTING THE CITY OF TAMARAC IN TALLAHASSEE FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
SO HER AGREEMENT IS IN FRONT OF YOU FOR RENEWAL.
AS YOU KNOW, THIS YEAR, WE HAVE SOME EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL, INCLUDING EARMARKS, AND I BELIEVE VAL WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT THAN SHE DOES HER PRESENTATION ON FURTHER LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.
BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, VAL AND I ARE HERE TO ANSWER, THANK YOU.
I WILL NOW OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED.
SEEING, NO DISCUSSION BY THE COMMISSION.
CITY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY FIVE TO ZERO.
[5.b. TR13720 - City of Tamarac Federal Legislative Agenda]
CITY OF TAMARAC FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.CITY ATTORNEY PLEASE READ THE TITLE, FOR THE RECORD.
MS. MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS, THE COMMISSION, THIS IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSIONER OF THE CITY OF TAMARAC, FLORIDA, APPROVING THE CITY OF TAMARAC 2022 FLORIDA-- FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT A COPY OF THE CITY OF TAMARAC 2022 FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA TO THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES, THE U.S.
SENATORS FROM FLORIDA, THE FLORIDA CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION AND THE BROWARD COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
THANK YOU, I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND, PLEASE.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS MOTION WILL NOW FAIL FOR LACK OF A SECOND.
[00:20:02]
SECOND.AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION.
MS. KARPAVICIUTE WILL MAKE THE SAME, PLEASE.
ACTUALLY, VAL GELNOVATCH WILL MAKE THE PRESENTATION.
WILL I BE IN CHARGE OF THE SLIDES OR LAURA, WILL YOU BE OR SOMEBODY ELSE MOVING THE SLIDES? I CAN MOVE THE SLIDES FOR YOU OF VAL, IF YOU'D LIKE.
WELL, THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO REPORT TO YOU TODAY.
I WANTED TO START WITH AN OVERVIEW OF 2021 TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF KIND OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THE PAST YEAR.
IT WAS A YEAR OF MANY, MANY CHANGES.
AS WE ALL KNOW, THERE WAS A NEW PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION THAT CAME IN.
OF COURSE, WITH THAT NEW PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION, WE HAVE ALL NEW AGENCY HEADS.
WE HAVE A NEW HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL MAJORITY.
AND THEN THERE WERE-- WE HAD PASSAGE OF SEVERAL PIECES OF MAJOR LEGISLATION, INCLUDING COVID 19 RECOVERY FUNDS AND AN INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE AT THE VERY END OF LAST YEAR THAT I'LL TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT FURTHER IN THIS PRESENTATION.
I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT EARMARKS FOR YEARS AND MY, YOU KNOW, MY ANTICIPATION OF THEM COMING BACK, WHICH THEY DID FINALLY DO LAST YEAR.
AND I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT MORE AS WELL.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE UNFORTUNATELY HAVE THE PASSING OF OUR LONG, LONG TIME CONGRESSMAN, CONGRESSMAN HASTINGS, WHICH WAS A BIG LOSS TO US.
THE KEY AREAS OF OUR FEDERAL AGENDA IN 2021 WERE AS FOLLOWS, WE ADDED OF COURSE, COVID 19 RELIEF FUNDING, WHICH WAS A BIG DEAL AND WILL REMAIN A BIG DEAL TO US IN THE COMING YEAR.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PUBLIC SAFETY, PARKS AND OPEN SPACE, FLOOD INSURANCE.
THOSE WERE ALL OUR KEY AGENDA AREAS LAST YEAR AND WE WILL REMAIN FOCUSED ON THOSE AREAS THIS YEAR AS WELL.
[INAUDIBLE] WANT TO GO OVER A FEW HIGHLIGHTS FROM LAST YEAR.
WE DID QUITE A SUBSTANTIAL BIT OF LOBBYING TO OBTAIN COVID 19 RELIEF FUNDS THROUGHOUT 2020.
WHAT WE SAW IN TERMS OF COVID RELIEF OR IN TERMS OF COVID IN GENERAL, WAS THAT CITIES LIKE TAMARAC HAD NO ABILITY AT THAT POINT IN TIME, ALL THROUGH 2020 TO OBTAIN RELIEF FUNDS DIRECTLY TO THE CITY.
WE HAD TO WORK WITH THE FEDERAL, THE STATE AND EVEN THE COUNTY IN ORDER TO TRY TO OBTAIN FUNDS THROUGH THOSE ENTITIES.
WE HAD NO MEANS OF GETTING DIRECT RELIEF TO THE COUNTY, WHICH WAS A REAL BURDEN ON THE BUDGET BECAUSE AT THAT POINT IN TIME, THE CITY HAD TO REALLY MAKE UP FOR, I THINK, OVER A MILLION DOLLARS OR SO OF BUDGET, REVENUE SHORTFALLS THAT WERE DIRECTLY RELATED TO COVID EXPENDITURES.
WE ALSO HAD NO WAY AT THAT POINT-- AT THIS TIME LAST YEAR OF OBTAINING COVID RELIEF FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE REVENUE LOSSES.
SO, THOSE WERE TWO HUGE ITEMS THAT WE STARTED 2021 LOBBYING VERY STRONGLY FOR.
THROUGH THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THREE THINGS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO OBTAIN IN TERMS OF COVID RELIEF.
THE FIRST IS THAT OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, WE WERE ABLE TO-- THE CITY WAS ABLE TO OBTAIN $7.627 MILLION IN COVID RELIEF FUNDING, WHICH WAS SPREAD OUT OVER THESE FOUR DIFFERENT AREAS THAT YOU CAN SEE ON THE SLIDE.
THIS IS A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF FUNDING.
WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO HELP THE CITY WITH THE TECHNICAL SUPPORT NEEDED TO UNDERSTAND THESE COMPLICATED COVID 19 BILLS.
THERE ARE HUGE, HUGE BILLS WITH MANY DIFFERENT POLICY AREAS AND WAYS OF RECEIVING FUNDING.
WE ADVISE THE CITY ON HOW TO WORK WITH THE STATE AND FEDERAL AND THE COUNTY
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GOVERNMENT TO OBTAIN THESE FUNDS.WE PROVIDED TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND WE ALSO DID A LOT OF-- ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT AND HELPFUL IN THESE HUGE PIECES OF LEGISLATION, ESPECIALLY IN NEW AREAS LIKE COVID FUNDING, IS REALLY TO PROVIDE A SYNOPSIS OF THESE PIECES OF LEGISLATION AND HIGHLIGHTING JUST THOSE AREAS THAT ARE REALLY PERTINENT TO THE CITY SO THAT STAFF DOESN'T HAVE TO SPEND ENDLESS HOURS TRYING TO INTERPRET THESE BILLS.
IN THE END, WE WERE ABLE TO USE WE GOT FEDERAL LEGISLATION THAT ALLOWED THE CITY TO USE THE COVID FUNDS FOR REVENUE LOSS, WHICH WAS, I THINK, A HUGE BENEFIT TO THE CITY IN TERMS OF RATIFYING THE NEW BUDGET AND BUDGETS GOING FORWARD.
I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT EARMARKS, WHAT SEEMS LIKE FOREVER.
THIS IS ALSO KNOWN AND-- PARTICULARLY KNOWN NOW AS CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING.
WE HAVE BEEN ANTICIPATING THIS FOR YEARS, AND I'VE BEEN TELLING THE COMMISSION THAT WHEN IT HAPPENED, WE WOULD BE READY AND READY IN TERMS OF ALL OF THE FORMS AND THE BUDGETS AND THE PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS AND THE INFORMATION ABOUT PROJECTS AND THEIR REGIONAL AND NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE.
ALL OF THOSE THINGS NEEDED TO BE READY TO GO WHEN THIS PROCESS STARTED.
SO, WE HAD ALL OF THIS LINED UP FOR, YOU KNOW, IN ANTICIPATION OF EARMARKS COMING BACK LAST YEAR.
THEY DID, AND WE DID SUBMIT SEVERAL PROJECT REQUESTS.
WE, UNFORTUNATELY, THE CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING, OR EARMARKS, ARE SPEARHEADED BY EACH CITY'S INDIVIDUAL CONGRESSPERSON.
SO WITHOUT A CONGRESSPERSON LAST YEAR, WE WERE UNFORTUNATELY NOT ABLE TO GET VERY FAR IN THE PROCESS WE ACTUALLY WORKED WITH--.
WHEN WE LOST OUR OWN MEMBER OF CONGRESS WE WORKED WITH NEIGHBORING MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WHO ACTUALLY DID TRY TO SUBMIT OUR PROJECTS AND OBTAIN FUNDING FOR THEM, BUT THAT WAS NOT ALLOWED IN THE PROCESS LAST YEAR.
WE, OF COURSE, HAVE A NEW MEMBER OF CONGRESS THIS YEAR WHO HAS JUST BEEN IN OFFICE FOR LESS THAN A WEEK.
SHE, OF COURSE, IS THE SECOND HAITIAN-AMERICAN IN CONGRESS, AND WE REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HER.
I THINK THAT ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF HAVING A FEDERAL LOBBYIST IS TO BE ABLE TO BE AGILE ENOUGH TO MOVE WITH THESE CHANGES AND SUCCESSFULLY ADAPT TO ALL THE CHANGES, WHETHER THEY BE A CHANGE OF ADMINISTRATION, THE LOSS OF A MEMBER OF CONGRESS AND THEN OF COURSE, DEVELOPING QUICKLY THE RELATIONSHIPS AND THE EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION WITH YOUR NEW MEMBER OF CONGRESS.
THIS IS GOING TO BE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.
WE'VE DONE THIS MANY TIMES BEFORE WITH VARIOUS MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND GETTING THEIR STAFF UP TO SPEED QUICKLY, NOT ONLY ON TAMARAC'S PROJECTS AND PRIORITIES, BUT ALSO ON THE EARMARKS PROCESS IN GENERAL.
I MEAN, AT THIS POINT, THEY'RE NOT THAT MANY PEOPLE AROUND WHO ARE EXPERT IN THE FEDERAL EARMARKS PROCESS.
IT'S A VERY COMPREHENSIVE PROCESS THAT YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH.
YOU GOT TO-- YOU NEED TO KNOW WHICH TYPES OF PROJECTS ARE BEST SUITED FOR CONGRESSIONAL FUNDING.
AND WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD, LIKE WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST, TO WORKING WITH THE CONGRESSWOMAN'S STAFF AND HELPING THEM QUICKLY GET UP TO SPEED ON THIS PROCESS SO THEY DON'T MISS ANY DEADLINES AND THEY'RE ABLE TO PRIORITIZE TAMARAC PROJECTS.
I WANT TO GO OVER-- WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE MEETINGS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS WITH STAFF AND TO REALLY MAKE SURE THAT OUR PRIORITIES LOCALLY ARE ALIGNED TO THE DEGREE THAT THEY CAN BE WITH CONGRESSIONAL PRIORITIES, SO THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PUTTING FORWARD THOSE PROJECTS THAT YOU HAVE THE MOST CHANCE OF BEING SUCCESSFUL WITH.
SO AS YOU CAN SEE, THESE ARE OUR KEY AGENDA AREAS.
THEY ALIGN WITH THE AGENDA AREAS AND PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
THERE ARE NO MAJOR CHANGES HERE.
[00:30:02]
AND LET'S GO FORWARD WITH SOME OF THE INDIVIDUAL AREAS.ACTUALLY, BEFORE WE GO FORWARD WITH SOME OF OUR INDIVIDUAL PROJECT AREAS, I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT CONGRESSIONAL PRIORITIES FOR 2022.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE AWARE OF WHAT A CURRENT CONGRESS IS PRIORITIZING FOR THE YEAR SO THAT WE KNOW WHERE TO REALLY TO FOCUS ON.
OF COURSE, THERE'S THE BUILD BACK BETTER ACT, WHICH I'M SURE EVERYONE HAS HEARD ABOUT FOR MANY MONTHS.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE IN TERMS OF TRYING TO PASS THIS BILL.
IT INCLUDES MAJOR PROVISIONS FOR CLIMATE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.
THE OVERALL PRICE TAG OF THE BILL HAS BEEN A REAL STICKING POINT IN THE SENATE.
AND SO AT THIS POINT IN TIME, THE PRESIDENT IS REALLY ADVOCATING TO KIND OF BREAK THIS BILL INTO VARIOUS PARTS THAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO TRY TO PUSH THROUGH INDIVIDUALLY.
SO THERE ARE CLIMATE PROVISIONS THAT HAVE A LOT OF SENATE SUPPORT THAT WILL MOVE FORWARD.
THEY, OF COURSE, HAVE HOUSE SUPPORT.
AND THEN IN TERMS OF THE SOCIAL JUSTICE PROVISIONS, THE CURRENT PRIORITIES FOR THE ADMINISTRATION ARE TRYING TO MOVE A CHILD TAX CREDIT FORWARD AND MOVING A PROVISION THAT WILL HELP WITH THE COST OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES.
I'M SURE EVERYONE WATCHED THAT LAST WEEK.
THE SENATE VOTED LAST WEEK AND FAILED TO CHANGE ITS FILIBUSTER RULE AND ULTIMATELY FAILED TO PASS THIS IMPORTANT LEGISLATION.
THERE ARE TWO OTHER MAJOR PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT ARE-- SORT OF MUST PASS LEGISLATION .
EARLY IN THE YEAR, THERE'S A FLOOD INSURANCE BILL THAT WILL REAUTHORIZE THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM THAT WILL EXPIRE NEXT MONTH THAT NEEDS TO BE PASSED AND THEN THE OMNIBUS BILL THAT FUNDS ALL OF THE CONGRESSIONAL PROGRAMS FOR 2022.
IT HAS A DIRECT IMPACT TO TAMARAC IN TERMS OF OUR HOUSING AND CDBG FUNDING THAT'S ANTICIPATED TO BE TAKEN UP AND PASSED BY THE END OF NEXT WEEK.
OK, MOVING FORWARD WITH 2022 COVID RELIEF REMAINS A MAJOR ISSUE FOR US.
WE ARE GOING TO BE SEEKING ANOTHER ALMOST FIVE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN FEDERAL CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUNDS FOR THE CITY OF TAMARAC THIS YEAR.
WE ARE ALSO HELPING THE CITY STAFF INTERPRET THE REGULATIONS THAT ARE COMING OUT OF THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS.
WE'RE AT THE POINT OF A FINAL RULE ON A RECOVERY FUND FOR PROJECT AND EXPENDITURE, REPORTING THAT-- THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT HELPS OUR STAFF MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE STAYING IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE MAJOR AMOUNTS OF FUNDING THAT WE ARE RECEIVING.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE ALSO SUPPORT THE ADMINISTRATION'S PLAN TO PROVIDE FREE ACCESS TO AT-HOME COVID 19 TESTING KITS TO RESIDENTS WHO WANT THEM.
THAT PROGRAM HAS ALREADY ROLLED OUT.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, A HUGE ITEM.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT IN TERMS OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL, WHICH WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT LATER WHEN WE GET TO THAT POINT IN THIS PROGRAM.
BUT THERE WAS A ONE POINT TWO TRILLION DOLLAR INFRASTRUCTURE BILL THAT WAS PASSED AT THE VERY END OF 2021.
IT OPENED UP FIVE HUNDRED MILLION, EXCUSE ME, FIVE BILLION DOLLARS IN NEW FEDERAL SPENDING, WHICH IS AN UNPRECEDENTED AMOUNT OF NEW FEDERAL SPENDING THAT'S GOING TO BE ALLOCATED IN LARGE PART THROUGH COMPETITIVE GRANTS.
SO IT REALLY REQUIRES A DEDICATED FOCUS AND AN IN-DEPTH KNOWLEDGE OF BOTH AGENCY PROGRAMS AND CONGRESSIONAL PROCEDURE IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO OBTAIN THIS FUNDING THROUGH COMPETITIVE GRANTS.
IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THE CITY, OF COURSE, WE STILL-- WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE NEW MARKET TAX CREDITS AND EXTENSION OF THE FEDERAL OPPORTUNITY ZONE.
AND WE WILL BE ACTIVELY SEEKING THIS YEAR FEDERAL EARMARKS THROUGH ALL OF THE DIFFERENT CONGRESSIONAL BILLS.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAVE ALREADY STARTED TO WORK WITH STAFF ON.
WE HAVE A STAFF WIDE MEETING COMING UP IN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO WHERE I'M GOING TO GO
[00:35:07]
OVER THE INDIVIDUAL REQUIREMENTS FOR VARIOUS EARMARK PROGRAMS AND HOW THEY ALIGN WITH THE PROJECTS IN OUR CIP, SO THAT WE CAN PINPOINT THOSE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH OUR, NOT ONLY OUR HOUSE MEMBER, BUT OF COURSE, OUR SENATORS TO TRY TO BRING ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO THE CITY FOR A MYRIAD OF PROJECTS, ANYTHING FROM EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS TO EASTSIDE REVITALIZATION.WE'VE, OF COURSE, PARTNERED WITH THE BROWARD UP PROGRAM ON EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN CERTAIN ZIP CODES, AND THEN WE'RE CONTINUING TO REMAIN OPEN TO OPPORTUNITIES FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES FOR THE FORT LAUDERDALE EXECUTIVE AIRPORT.
THE CITY OBTAINED OVER $500000 LAST YEAR FROM A VARIETY OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS. WE ANTICIPATE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS THIS ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY BILLION DOLLARS IN ADDITIONAL FEDERAL FUNDS THAT WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR FEDERAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING THROUGH THE BUILD BACK BETTER BILL IF THAT IS PASSED.
SO WE'RE ACTIVELY MONITORING THAT BILL AND DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO TRY TO GET THAT BILL PASSED.
THOSE FUNDS WILL BE-- THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE THROUGH THAT BILL WILL BE IN ADDITION TO THE FUNDS THAT WILL BECOME AVAILABLE WHEN THE OMNIBUS BILL IS PASSED, THAT I DISCUSSED BEFORE IN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO, THAT OPENS UP OUR CDBG AND HOME FUNDS.
INFRASTRUCTURE IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, THE LAST ADMINISTRATION TRIED FOR SEVERAL YEARS TO PASS AND WAS UNABLE TO DO SO.
THE CONGRESS WAS ABLE TO DO THAT LAST YEAR THROUGH A RECONCILIATION PROCESS, WHICH ESSENTIALLY ENABLES THE-- JUST A SIMPLE CONGRESSIONAL MAJORITY TO PASS LEGISLATION.
THIS BILL, THIS BILL IS SO EXCITING FOR THE CITY BECAUSE THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT BUT DIDN'T REALLY HAVE A HOME IN THE FEDERAL-- IN THE-- NOT NECESSARILY IN THE FEDERAL BUDGET, BUT IT DIDN'T HAVE A HOME FOR FEDERAL FUNDING THAT COULD BE ACCESSED THROUGH EITHER GRANTS OR EARMARKS.
THOSE THINGS ARE NOW HAVE A HUGE POT OF MONEY, AND WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT IS AN UNPRECEDENTED $50 BILLION IN NEW WATER INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDS.
THIS COMES AT A GREAT TIME FOR THE CITY, WITH THE MULTIMILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT THE CITY HAS IN ITS BUDGET FOR VARIOUS WATER INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS.
WE NOW HAVE THE ABILITY THROUGH EARMARKING AND THROUGH A GRANTS PROCESS TO GO AFTER THESE FUNDS, SO THE TIMING COULDN'T BE BETTER.
LIKE I SAID, THERE'S $50 BILLION IN NEW WATER INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDS.
TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY FIVE MILLION DOLLARS OF THAT WILL GO TO FLORIDA JUST THIS YEAR, AND THAT WILL BE THE LEAST AMOUNT OF FUNDS THAT GO TO FLORIDA OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
THE PROGRAM IS GOING TO RAMP UP IN YEARS TWO AND THREE.
NEARLY HALF OF THESE FUNDS-- ALL OF THE FUNDS WILL GO THROUGH THE STATE REVOLVING LOAN FUND, WHICH YOUR STAFF IS USED TO WORKING WITH, AND NEARLY HALF OF THOSE FUNDS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH COMPETITIVE GRANTS AND LOANS AND PRINCIPAL FORGIVENESS.
SO THE EPA-- WE'VE ALREADY HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS WITH STAFF ON THIS STARTING IN MID-DECEMBER BECAUSE THE EPA IS PROVIDING-- THESE ARE NEW DOLLARS AND NEW PROGRAMS. THE EPA IS PROVIDING FURTHER GUIDANCE, BUT-- AND THEY'RE GOING TO HOLD A CALL FOR PROJECTS FROM ALL THE STATE DEPARTMENTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.
AND SO WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO STAY COORDINATED WITH [INAUDIBLE] DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT WHILE THEY PUT TOGETHER THEIR INTENDED USE PLAN WITH PROJECTS THAT THEY'RE PRIORITIZING FOR THESE TYPES OF FUNDS.
OK, SO THAT IS JUST THE WATER PART OF THE BILL.
THE BILL ALSO FUNDS THINGS LIKE FIBER, WHICH WE'VE BEEN WANTING FOR YEARS BUT REALLY DIDN'T HAVE A HOME FOR.
THE BILL HAS ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS FOR SMART FIBER AND DIGITAL CONNECTIVITY THAT ALIGN WITH OUR PRIORITIES.
SO IT'S AN EXCITING YEAR IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO GO AFTER FUNDING FOR THE THINGS THAT
[00:40:01]
I'VE MENTIONED AND THEN ADDITIONAL THINGS LIKE ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS.THERE ARE NEW PROGRAMS FOR THAT AS WELL.
THE NEXT SLIDE IS SORT OF A REITERATION OF THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
OF COURSE, WE WANT TO PRESERVE TAX EXEMPT STATUS OF MUNICIPAL BONDS AND WE WANT A REAUTHORIZATION OF THE WRDA BILL, WHICH IS THE WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT.
AND THEN THIS SLIDE IS SOME OF OUR INDIVIDUAL PROGRAMS THAT WE WILL-- THAT ARE PRIORITIES FOR THE CITY THAT WE WILL BE DISCUSSING WITH OUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS IN TERMS OF POTENTIAL EARMARK PRIORITIES.
SAME FOR THE NEXT SLIDE-- THIS SLIDE, IN TERMS OF OUR MAJOR ARTERIAL CORRIDORS, THERE ARE LOTS OF FUNDING, LOTS OF NEW FUNDING FOR-- IN FACT, WE'VE, YOU CAN'T SEE THIS, BUT THERE'S A-- CAN YOU SEE THAT? WE'VE PUT TOGETHER AN ENTIRE BOOKLET OF ALL OF THE NEW GRANT PROGRAMS THAT WE'VE ALREADY GONE OVER WITH STAFF THAT HAVE ORIGINATED FROM THIS NEW $50 BILLION IN FUNDING THAT'S COME OUT OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.
I DON'T WANT TO JUST READ THE SLIDES TO YOU, SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND SKIP THROUGH THIS.
IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS ON THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO GO FORWARD IN ADVOCATING FOR FUNDING.
I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THOSE AT ANY POINT IN THE-- AFTER THE PRESENTATION.
OUR NEXT SLIDE IS ON PUBLIC SAFETY, WHICH IS, OF COURSE, REMAINS AN IMPORTANT PRIORITY TO THE CITY.
WE WILL BE MONITORING LEGISLATION AND ALSO SEEKING POTENTIAL FUNDING FOR ANYTHING HAVING TO DO WITH COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING STRATEGIES.
WE'VE ALSO BEEN, OF COURSE, MONITORING EVERYTHING GOING ON WITH FEMA TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN AND IF THERE IS A DISASTER THAT THE CITY IS ABLE TO OBTAIN MAXIMUM FUNDING.
THERE HAVE BEEN EXAMPLES OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS WHERE THE REGULAR MATCH THAT FEMA PROVIDES HAS BEEN UPPED FROM 75 PERCENT TO 90 PERCENT AND EVEN 100 PERCENT FOR THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
WE'RE GOING TO WANT TO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON THAT.
HOPEFULLY WE DON'T HAVE A DISASTER THAT WE HAVE TO SEEK REIMBURSEMENT FOR, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THAT SEEMS TO BE THE CASE AT LEAST EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS.
OK, MOVING FORWARD TO THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM REAUTHORIZATION, I THINK I MENTIONED THAT AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS-- OF MY TALK HERE, THAT THIS NEEDS TO BE REAUTHORIZED IN FEBRUARY.
SO WE'RE GOING TO BE MONITORING THAT AND REPORTING TO YOU.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, OF COURSE, TO YOUR RESIDENTS AND THEIR HOME INSURANCE BILLS.
WE WANT TO-- THIS IS ANOTHER AREA WHERE WE WILL BE ABLE TO OBTAIN OR GO AFTER FEDERAL FUNDING FOR EARMARKS.
WE'VE ALWAYS HAD GRANT OPPORTUNITIES IN THIS AREA AND NOW WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEEK EARMARKS AS WELL.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE NEXT SLIDE, GREEN INITIATIVES.
I THINK I MENTIONED THAT ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS NOW HAVE A HOME IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN TERMS OF A HEALTHY POT OF FEDERAL FUNDING.
WE'RE GOING TO WANT TO STAY FOCUSED ON THAT AND OF COURSE, FOCUSED ON WORKING WITH OUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO TRY TO GET THIS BUILD BACK BETTER LEGISLATION PASSED.
OK, WITH THAT, I WILL TURN TO THE NEXT PART OF THE PRESENTATION, HAVING TO DO WITH CHANGING ZIP CODES.
I THINK EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT A ZIP CODE IS, THAT'S THE NEXT SLIDE, THANK YOU.
BUT I WILL POINT OUT THAT IN TERMS OF WHAT A ZIP CODE IS, THEY DON'T ALWAYS NECESSARILY REPRESENT GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS, WHAT THEY REALLY DO IS THEY CORRESPOND TO GROUPS OF ADDRESSES OR MAIL DELIVERY ROUTES, AND THEY'RE REALLY SET UP MORE FOR THE ORGANIZATION OF THE POSTAL SERVICE TO TRY TO CREATE EFFICIENCY FOR THE DELIVERY OF THE MAIL.
[00:45:03]
NEXT SLIDE.THERE ARE TYPICALLY, YOU KNOW, ALMOST A HANDFUL OF REASONS WHY ZIP CODES ARE CHANGED.
OFTEN HAVE TO DO WITH EITHER MAJOR POPULATION GROWTH IN AN AREA OR, ON THE FLIP SIDE, MAJOR DEPOPULATION.
SOMETIMES THE POSTAL BOUNDARIES ARE REALIGNED.
BUT ALL IN ALL, THEY'RE GENERALLY CHANGED TO IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY.
AND BASED ON REALLY BASED MORE ON THE OPERATIONAL NEEDS OF THE U.S.
POSTAL SERVICE TRYING TO MAKE THINGS FOR THEM MORE EFFICIENT.
SO, THE PROCESS FOR CHANGING THE ZIP CODE BOUNDARIES IS THAT IN ITSELF HAS CHANGED WITHIN THE LAST FIVE YEARS OR SO.
IT USED TO BE SOMETHING THAT YOU WORKED WITH YOUR MEMBER OF CONGRESS OR YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.
IT WAS A CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED PROCESS WHICH SOMETIMES ACTUALLY GAVE THE DEPENDING ON THE MEMBER OF CONGRESS AND DEPENDING ON A VARIETY OF FACTORS, COULD SOMETIMES GIVE YOU SOME EXTRA LEVERAGE IN THE PROCESS.
BUT NOW THE PROCESS IS STRICTLY AN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS.
AND I KIND OF WANT TO WALK YOU THROUGH SORT OF HOW IT GOES.
THE LOCAL POSTMASTER IS NOT THE DECISION MAKER IN THIS PROCESS AT ALL.
THERE'S BASICALLY WHAT'S CALLED A BOUNDARY REVIEW PROCESS, AND THEY CONSIDER THE NEED FOR ZIP CODE CHANGES.
WHAT YOU DO IS ANY CITY CAN SUBMIT A ZIP CODE CHANGE REQUESTS TO THE MANAGER OF YOUR PARTICULAR DISTRICT WITH YOUR RATIONALE AND YOUR JUSTIFICATION FOR WHY YOU MIGHT WANT THE ZIP CODE CHANGED.
THE DISTRICT MANAGER WILL THEN IDENTIFY THE ISSUES AND POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS.
THEY'LL QUANTIFY THE IMPACTS AND THE FEASIBILITY, AND THEY'LL EVEN MEET WITH GROUPS OF INTEREST AND PROPOSE SOME KIND OF DETERMINATION WITHIN ABOUT 60 DAYS.
SO, WHAT HAPPENS IS THEY NEED TO GET BACK TO YOU WITHIN 60 DAYS ABOUT WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO GO FORWARD WITH THIS OR NOT.
SO WHAT HAPPENS THEN IS IF THEY DO GO FORWARD, THEN IT GOES UP THE CHAIN AND EVENTUALLY TO WASHINGTON, D.C..
I THINK THE TAKEAWAY FROM THAT IS THAT ANY CITY WHO GOES THROUGH THIS PROCESS IS SUPPOSED TO KNOW WITHIN 60 DAYS WHETHER THIS PROCESS IS NOT GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL FOR THEM.
SO THAT'S ONE PART OF THE PROCESS.
THE SECOND PART OF THE PROCESS IS THAT, IN ORDER TO BE SUCCESSFUL, IT TYPICALLY TAKES MANY, MANY YEARS.
I MEAN, I'VE SEEN EXAMPLES OF FIVE, SIX, SEVEN YEARS THAT IT TOOK A CITY TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS IN THIS PROCESS, AND IT WAS NO EASY GOING.
SO THE POTENTIAL REASONS TO SEEK A ZIP CODE CHANGE ARE LISTED IN THIS SLIDE THAT SOMETIMES THE HIGHER CAR INSURANCE RATES FOLKS EXPERIENCE BECAUSE THEY'RE IN A PARTICULAR ZIP CODE.
SOMETIMES THERE ARE SOME VOTER CONFUSION.
PROPERTY VALUES CAN BE IMPACTED BY A ZIP CODE, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, THAT ARE ON THIS SLIDE.
CAN WE HAVE THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE? THERE'S ALSO SOME UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES TO CONSIDER BEFORE MOVING FORWARD WITH SEEKING A ZIP CODE CHANGE, AND THAT HAS TO DO WITH RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES.
THERE-- IF THERE IS A ZIP CODE CHANGE, THOSE WHO ARE IMPACTED, OF COURSE, ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CHANGE THEIR SUBSCRIPTIONS.
THEY'LL HAVE TO NOTIFY VARIOUS CORRESPONDENTS.
SO, YOU COULD WIND UP WITH SOME IRATE FOLKS WHO DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH THIS.
BUSINESSES ALSO WOULD INCUR EXPENSES HAVING TO MAKE NEW MARKETING MATERIALS.
POST OFFICES, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES PEOPLE WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE POST OFFICES AND THEN OTHER THINGS LIKE THE PROSPERITY BROWARD INITIATIVE, WHICH IS BASED ON VARIOUS ZIP CODES, MIGHT HAVE AN IMPACT, COULD HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON DATA IN THOSE PARTICULAR ZIP CODES.
[00:50:02]
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.I MENTIONED ALREADY IT CAN BE A VERY LENGTHY-- I THINK IT'S NOT ONLY THAT IT CAN BE, IT SHOULD BE EXPECTED THAT IT WILL BE A LENGTHY AND INVOLVED PROCESS.
AND, LIKE I MENTIONED, HAS AN IMPACT ON RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES.
THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS OTHER THAN CHANGING THE ZIP CODE THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER IN ORDER TO RESOLVE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE PROPELLING YOU TO EVEN THINK ABOUT CHANGING THE ZIP CODE, AND THAT'S THAT IT'S POSSIBLE FOR A RESIDENT OR A BUSINESS TO PUT VARIOUS THE CITIES-- IT DOESN'T JUST HAVE TO BE ONE CITY THAT YOU LIST, YOU CAN-- IN TERMS OF YOUR ADDRESS, YOU'RE ACTUALLY ABLE TO LIST, AS LONG AS IT'S ACCURATE, WHATEVER THE CITY IS THAT YOU ARE LIVING IN WITH THE CURRENT ZIP CODE.
AND THAT SOMETIMES WILL HELP THE MAIL CARRIER, OR THOSE THAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH, IN THE POST OFFICE TO, YOU KNOW, ENSURE THAT THE MAIL COMES TO THE CORRECT PLACE.
WITH THAT, I THINK I WILL OPEN THIS UP TO QUESTIONS.
I KNOW THAT THIS HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN CONSIDERED AND IT'S BEEN KICKING AROUND FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
I PROVIDED SOME INFORMATION IN A MEMO ON THIS BACK IN, I THINK IT WAS MARCH OR SOMETIME IN 2020.
SO I WOULD HAPPILY OPEN THIS UP TO QUESTIONS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EVERYONE THIS YEAR.
AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO OPEN IT UP TO PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.
IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? SEEING NONE, PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IS NOW CLOSED.
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
VERY WELL DETAILED AND I APPRECIATED IT.
I'M ALSO GRATEFUL FOR EARMARKING COMING BACK.
I KNOW THAT WE TALKED EXTENSIVELY ABOUT EARMARKING IN THE PAST.
JUST ONE QUICK QUESTION ON THAT.
I KNOW THAT THE PASSING OF ALCEE HASTINGS WAS DETRIMENTAL TO THE PROCESS, AT LEAST FOR US.
HOW DETRIMENTAL IS THE PROCESS NOW FOR US, SEEING THAT THERE IS A NEW MEMBER OF CONGRESS? DO YOU THINK THAT SHE UNDERSTANDS THE PROCESS OF EARMARKING OR JUST FOR THE BODY IN THAT OFFICE NOW IT WILL POSE A BENEFIT FOR US? OKAY, GREAT QUESTION.
SO I WILL ANSWER THAT IN SEVERAL PARTS THAT NUMBER ONE, NOW THAT WE HAVE A MEMBER OF CONGRESS REPRESENTING US, WE HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE.
WE UNFORTUNATELY DID NOT LAST YEAR.
WHEN WE LOST OUR MEMBER OF CONGRESS, WE LOST OUR SEAT AT THAT TABLE.
WE THOUGHT THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO WORK THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORING MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, LIKE I MENTIONED, BUT IN FACT, WE COULD NOT.
SO HAVING A MEMBER OF CONGRESS IS THE-- GIVES YOU A TICKET TO PLAY.
NOW, THE SECOND PART OF YOUR QUESTION IS DO I THINK THAT THE CONGRESSWOMAN AND HER STAFF WILL BE-- ABLE ARE KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE PROCESS? I IMAGINE THAT WHETHER THEY ARE OR THEY ARE NOT IS-- THEY ARE GOING TO BE VERY QUICKLY BECAUSE WE ARE VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE PROCESS AND WE'VE DONE THIS WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.
I AM SURE THAT THE CONGRESSWOMAN HAS SOME KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROCESS AND THAT-- BASED ON HER STAFF, SHE HAS NOT APPOINTED A CHIEF OF STAFF OR A LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR YET.
BUT AS SOON AS SHE DOES, WE'LL BE WORKING WITH THEM TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THE PROCESS, WHICH WE'RE VERY ADEPT AT DOING.
WE'VE DONE IT WITH YOUR OWN STAFF AND WE'LL BE DOING IT WITH THEM, SO THEY'LL GET UP TO SPEED VERY QUICKLY.
I MEAN, THE GOOD THING ABOUT THIS PROCESS IS THAT EACH OF THE EARMARK CATEGORIES COMES WITH ITS OWN SET OF QUESTIONS, WHICH THE VARIOUS COMMITTEES PUT OUT LAST YEAR.
SO THAT INFORMATION HAS ALREADY BEEN ORGANIZED BY US AND IT'S READY TO GO.
READY TO HELP AUGMENT ANY LACK OF INFORMATION THAT ANYBODY HAS OR TO HELP THEM JUST MOVE FORWARD.
THEY WILL BE ARMED AND READY WITH ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT YOU HAVE FROM THE CITY AND HOW IT ALIGNS WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.
[00:55:02]
AND THEY WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A TIMELINE SO THAT THEY WORK WITH THEIR COMMITTEES AND OTHER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO GET ALL OF THEIR INFORMATION INTO THE CONGRESSIONAL PORTAL.SO YOU'RE GOING TO BE READY TO GO AND THEY'RE GOING TO-- THEY WILL BE READY TO GO AND I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM ON THIS.
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR THAT DETAILED ANSWER.
NOW, JUST AS A FOLLOW UP TO THAT, I KNOW THAT THE NEW CONGRESSWOMAN WAS JUST SWORN INTO OFFICE.
HAVE WE MISSED THE DEADLINE FOR THE EARMARKING PROCESS FOR THIS GO AROUND? AND CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE EARMARKING PROCESS AS FAR AS THE DEADLINES SPEAKERS] WITH THIS NEW OFFICE? ALSO, A GREAT QUESTION.
YOU HAVEN'T MISSED ANY DEADLINES YET.
IN FACT, THE CONGRESS IS GOING TO BE APPOINTING NEW MEMBERS TO NEW COMMITTEES.
THEY HAVEN'T EVEN DONE THAT YET.
SO THE PROCESS-- THE OFFICIAL PROCESS HAS NOT EVEN STARTED YET FOR 2022.
SO, NOBODY-- EVERYBODY IS IN THE SAME BOAT IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCESS FROM BEGINNING TO END.
I KNOW THAT THE CITY HAD SOME ISSUES IN THE PAST WITH COLLECTING FEMA FUNDS.
ARE THERE ANY ISSUES STILL WITH THOSE FUNDS OR ARE THERE ANY OUTSTANDING FUNDS THAT SHOULD BE PAID OVER [INAUDIBLE] GRANTED OVER TO THE CITY? I MAY DEFER TO STAFF ON THAT.
I'M NOT AWARE OF OUTSTANDING FUNDS THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH FEMA OR YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ON.
I'LL NOW TURN IT TO THE CITY MANAGER OR MS. KARPAVICIUTE.
I THINK CHRISTINE IS PROBABLY THE BEST PERSON TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
CHRISTINE, WOULD YOU ANSWER THE QUESTION, PLEASE? GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS.
WE DO HAVE FEMA PROJECTS THAT ARE PRESENTLY IN PROGRESS FOR WHICH WE HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED THE FUNDS.
WE JUST COMPLETED HURRICANE DORIAN AND WE ARE WORKING ON THE COVID 19 RESPONSE WITH SOME OVERTIME THAT'S DUE TO US BECAUSE OF THE VACCINATION SITE.
SO THOSE PROJECTS ARE ONGOING AND HAVE NOT YET BEEN PAID OUT.
SO COMMISSIONER BOLTON, I SHOULD PROBABLY INTERJECT WITH, TO MY KNOWLEDGE THAT THE FEMA FUNDS THAT ARE OUTSTANDING ARE STILL GOING THROUGH THE REGULAR PROCESS.
THERE ARE DEFINITELY TIMES WHEN THAT REGULAR PROCESS IS TAKING TOO LONG, AND IT'S SORT OF OUT OF THE TIMELINE OF THE REGULAR PROCESS.
AND THAT'S WHEN WE DECIDE TO WHETHER OR NOT TO GET OUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS INVOLVED TO TRY TO INTERVENE AND EXPEDITE THE PROCESS.
I APPRECIATE THAT AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE CARES ACT FUNDS THAT WERE ALLOTTED TO EACH CITY OR THROUGH EACH COUNTY.
I KNOW THAT THE CITY IS RECEIVING A PORTION.
CAN YOU TALK TO US ON THAT? YES, ABSOLUTELY.
SO THE CITY HAS ALREADY RECEIVED ABOUT FIVE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN 2021, IT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT SHY, I THINK, OF FIVE AND A HALF.
AND WE ARE ELIGIBLE TO GO AFTER ANOTHER FIVE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN THE COMING YEAR, WHICH WE ARE ORGANIZING OURSELVES TO DO.
AND HOW WOULD YOU SAY THAT YOUR SERVICES TO THE CITY HAS PAID OFF THE RETURN ON OUR INVESTMENT? WELL, I WOULD SAY THAT IN 2021, THE CITY RECEIVED CLOSE TO SEVEN AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS JUST IN COVID RELATED FUNDS AND AN ADDITIONAL FIVE HUNDRED PLUS THOUSAND DOLLARS IN HOUSING RELATED FUNDS.
LIKE I SAID, WE'RE GOING TO BE GOING AFTER ANOTHER FIVE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN COVID FUNDS THIS YEAR.
SO IF WE'RE SUCCESSFUL, THEN IN 2021 AND 2022, WE WILL HAVE DOUBLED WHAT WE OBTAINED WITH THE CITY WAS ABLE TO OBTAIN IN ALL THE PRIOR YEARS WORKING WITH THE FERGUSON GROUP.
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTION.
I BELIEVE THAT YOU REMAIN A CONSUMMATE PROFESSIONAL AND WE'RE SO GRATEFUL TO WORK WITH YOU.
I'M SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOU ON OUR TEAM AND I HOPE TO SEE YOU SOMETIMES SOON IN
[01:00:01]
MARCH.I APPRECIATE THAT COMMISSIONER.
JUST TO PIGGYBACK A LITTLE BIT, DID WE RECEIVE OUR FEMA FUNDS FOR HURRICANE CLEANUP? THAT WAS OUTSTANDING FOR A VERY, VERY LONG TIME.
CHRISTINE? I WILL DEFER TO CHRISTINE ON THAT.
IN 2021, WE RECEIVED MOST, IF NOT ALL, ALMOST 100 PERCENT OF WHAT WE RECLAIMED FOR HURRICANE IRMA.
WE HAD JUST A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN A HUNDRED THOUSAND THAT WE CLAIMED FOR HURRICANE DORIAN THAT WENT [INAUDIBLE] AND THAT JUST COMPLETED.
AND WE'RE EXPECTED TO GET THOSE FUNDS THIS MONTH.
AND THEN WE HAVE NOT-- WE DON'T HAVE A NUMBER YET ON THE OVERTIME THAT WE'RE CLAIMING FOR THE COVID VACCINATION SITES THAT WE HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED FROM FEMA.
AND THAT PROJECT IS JUST BEING DEVELOPED.
VAL, WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THIS ADMINISTRATION'S PRIORITIES? EVERY ADMINISTRATION HAS A PRIORITY THAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR.
WHAT DO YOU SEE WITH THIS ONE? I KNOW COVID OBVIOUSLY HAS BEEN, BUT HOPEFULLY RIGHT.
SO, I WOULD-- THE HANDFUL OF PRIORITIES, INFRASTRUCTURE WAS OBVIOUSLY A HUGE PRIORITY, AND THAT, AS I MENTIONED, THAT A MAJOR PIECE OF LEGISLATION WAS PASSED THAT WILL FUND THINGS LIKE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE, UNDERGROUND FIBER, ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
THE BUILD BACK BETTER ACT REPRESENTS OTHER PRIORITIES OF THE ADMINISTRATION HAVING TO DO WITH MORE DOLLARS TOWARDS CLIMATE CHANGE AND THEN SOME SOCIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVES THAT ARE DEFINITELY A PRIORITY OF THE ADMINISTRATION VOTING.
VOTING RIGHTS IS ALSO A PRIORITY.
I KNOW THAT WAS A HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT TO THE ADMINISTRATION LAST YEAR.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, MORE COVID RELIEF FUNDS.
THAT'S BEEN A BIG ISSUE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION.
I KNOW THAT THEY WERE HOPEFUL THAT THE NATION WAS GETTING AND I GUESS THE WORLD WAS GETTING A HANDLE ON COVID WHEN THEY ROLLED OUT ALL THE VACCINES LAST YEAR, AND THEN OF COURSE, WE HAD DELTA AND NOW OMICRON.
SO THEY'RE STILL VERY, VERY FOCUSED ON GETTING, NOT DOLLARS OUT THE DOOR TO CITIES AND STATES TO HELP HELP RELIEVE BUDGETS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT ALSO GETTING COVID TEST KITS INTO THE HANDS OF NOT JUST BUSINESSES, BUT INDIVIDUALS TO TRY TO MOVE THE NATION TO A DIFFERENT PLACE WHERE WE CAN SOMEHOW LIVE WITH COVID.
THAT OBVIOUSLY HAS STARTED NOW, I THINK, EVERYBODY HAS REQUESTED THEIR HOME KITS.
WITH THESE PRIORITIES, DO YOU THINK WE WILL SEE ANY ACROSS THE AISLE PARTNERSHIPS? I SURE HOPE SO.
I MEAN, I THINK WE'VE ALL SEEN THAT IT'S BEEN A ROUGH ROAD FOR MANY YEARS, FRANKLY, IN TERMS OF FOLKS REACHING ACROSS THE AISLE.
BUT THE-- PRESIDENT BIDEN IS KNOWN FOR A PARTICULAR ABILITY TO DO THAT.
SO I CAN'T REALLY SAY HOW MUCH COOPERATION WE'LL HAVE BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIES, BUT I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT WE WILL HAVE MORE THAN WE'VE HAD ON SOME OF THESE REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUES.
I'M CERTAINLY GLAD TO HEAR ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE.
TRANSPORTATION IS A BIG THING.
I MEAN, ESPECIALLY DOWN HERE, THAT WOULD BE ONE OF MINE, DEFINITELY.
I ASSUME YOU WERE GOING TO SET UP A MEETING TO MEET WITH OUR NEW CONGRESSWOMAN.
WELL, I WILL OBVIOUSLY KEEP THE CITY INFORMED ON INTERACTIONS WITH THE NEW MEMBER OF CONGRESS.
AND I'M HOPING I'M VERY HOPEFUL THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO A TRIP THIS YEAR, AN ADVOCACY TRIP TO WASHINGTON THIS YEAR.
IT'S PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT EARLY SINCE WE'RE SORT OF IN THE THROES OF OMICRON AT THE
[01:05:04]
MOMENT.BUT I THINK WITH THE WAY THINGS ARE TRYING TO MOVE IN TERMS OF JUST LIVING WITH COVID, IT'S MY, AND IT'S A IT'S A GUESS BECAUSE NO ONE REALLY KNOWS, BUT I'M VERY HOPEFUL THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO SCHEDULE AN ADVOCACY TRIP TO WASHINGTON THIS YEAR IN ORDER TO MEET WITH OUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND THEIR STAFF AND THE COMMITTEES AND ESPECIALLY THE FEDERAL GRANTING AGENCIES ON OUR GRANT PROPOSALS, OUR PROJECTS AND THEN HEARING FIRSTHAND FROM FOLKS ON THE EARMARKING PROCESS.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS.
GOOD MORNING, VAL, AND THANK YOU AND THE FERGUSON GROUP FOR THE SERVICE YOU PROVIDE TO THE CITY.
WE OBVIOUSLY SEE THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT ON THAT.
ONE, HAVING HAD EXPERIENCE LAST YEAR, THE PASSING OF ALCEE HASTINGS AND THE TROUBLE THAT WE KIND OF GOT OURSELVES INTO WITH THAT, WITH THE NEW ADMINISTRATION CONGRESSWOMAN, DO YOU PERCEIVE THAT SOMETHING AT THE END OF THE YEAR WITH A NEW ELECTION COMING UP AND A CHANGE OF A NEW ADMINISTRATION, THE POSSIBILITY OF A NEW ADMINISTRATION ON THAT END.
WOULD WE BE SUFFERING ANY LOSSES OR THERE WOULD JUST BE A VERY TRANSITIONAL PERIOD SHALL THAT HAPPENED? WELL, I WILL SAY THAT ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF HAVING A FEDERAL LOBBYING FIRM IS TO BE ABLE TO WEATHER THE CHANGES THAT INEVITABLY COME.
NOW, WE HOPE NEVER TO HAVE TO EXPERIENCE THE PASSING OF OUR OWN CONGRESSPERSON.
BUT THE OTHER CHANGES ARE BUILT INTO THE PROCESS.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ELECTIONS IN THE HOUSE EVERY TWO YEARS, IN THE SENATE EVERY FOUR YEARS OR SIX YEARS OR SO, AND A NEW ADMINISTRATION EVERY FOUR YEARS.
SO BEING ABLE TO BE AGILE AND MOVE WITH THOSE CHANGES IS OUR JOB AS YOUR LOBBYIST AND AS YOUR LOBBYING FIRM TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF WHAT THE CHANGE IS AND HOW TO DEAL WITH IT.
SO IN TERMS OF YOUR NEW MEMBER OF CONGRESS.
LIKE I SAID, WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH HER AND HER STAFF TO GET THEM IMMEDIATELY UP TO SPEED IN THE AREAS THAT THEY NEED.
THEY MAY-- SHE MAY WELL BRING ON STAFF THAT ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROCESS, BUT IT'S JUST-- IT'S A PROCESS THAT IS-- IT'S-- I DON'T WANT TO SAY IT'S EASY.
I'M LOOKING FOR A DIFFERENT WORD.
IT'S A PROCESS THAT WHEN YOU KNOW IT LIKE WE KNOW IT AT THE FERGUSON GROUP, YOU CAN TEACH OTHERS HOW IT GOES AND IT, YOU KNOW, IT SORT OF TRAVELS ALONG A CONTINUUM AND IT HAS DATES AND DEADLINES AND ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND ALL THAT.
SO WE'RE ABLE TO DO A LOT OF THAT WORK IN COORDINATION WITH THE MEMBER OF CONGRESS.
I FEEL REALLY CONFIDENT HAVING DONE THIS WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.
I MEAN, I WORKED WITH DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ AND HER STAFF WHEN SHE FIRST CAME INTO CONGRESS, AND THEY WERE REALLY HELPFUL IN THE BEGINNING, OR REALLY THANKFUL TO KIND OF JUMPSTART THE PROCESS.
AND THEN SHE BECAME A MEMBER OF THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE YEARS AGO.
AND, YOU KNOW, AND THEN HER STAFF WAS, YOU KNOW, INFORMING US IN TERMS OF WHAT WAS GOING ON.
SO YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO GO ON, BUT I DON'T THINK YOU'RE AT A DISADVANTAGE HAVING A NEW MEMBER OF CONGRESS.
AND I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT IF CHANGE DOES COME, IT WILL NOT AFFECT US.
MY SECOND QUESTION IS WITH A ZIP CODE PRESENTATION.
CAN-- I'M CONFUSED AS TO WHY WE'RE DISCUSSING ZIP CODES.
IF YOU COULD JUST GIVE ME A BRIEF--.
SO THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CONVERSATIONS BROUGHT UP IN THE PAST ABOUT THE CITY OF TAMARAC REQUESTING TO HAVE A SINGLE ZIP CODE FOR THE ENTIRE CITY TO HELP WITH CITY'S IDENTITY.
SO WE WANTED TO BRING IT BACK TO YOU SINCE WE CONVENIENTLY HAD VAL ON TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THAT PROCESS AND JUST TO GAUGE THE CITY COMMISSION'S INTEREST IN CONSENSUS ON ENGAGING IN THAT PROCESS OR NOT, DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU AS A BODY DECIDE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK YOU VAL AND THE FERGUSON GROUP.
BASICALLY, WE APPRECIATE THAT YOU HAVE BEEN HERE TODAY.
YOUR DETAILED PRESENTATION, IT'S KIND OF HARD TO FIGURE OUT WHERE TO LOOK FOR YOU AT
[01:10:06]
THIS POINT, BUT [INAUDIBLE] THE EXPLANATION, JUST LIKE ALL OF US HERE, AT ONE POINT, WE WERE ALL NEW.AND WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE WITH HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE AND THE EXPERTISE AS YOUR FIRM DOES AND AS OUR CITY STAFF HAS AND THE TRAINING THAT WE GET WHEN YOU FIRST COME ON BOARD, WHETHER YOU'RE A COMMISSIONER OR A CONGRESSPERSON, YOUR HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE HELPS WITH THAT TRANSITION, WHICH IS WHY I APPRECIATE YOU SHARING WITH US AND THANK YOU FOR MAKING SURE THAT TAMARAC IS ALWAYS CONSIDERED NUMBER ONE.
WHEN YOU LOBBY FOR US UP IN D.C.
AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU WHEN WE'RE THERE.
I DO APPRECIATE THE UPDATE ON THE POST OFFICE AS COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS WAS-- I DON'T BELIEVE YOU WERE ON THE COMMISSION WHEN WE BROUGHT THIS TOPIC UP.
AS VAL MENTIONED, CONCERNS ABOUT PROPERTY VALUES, CONCERNS ABOUT IDENTITY, CONFUSION FOR OTHER BUSINESSES, KNOWING WHERE THE CITY IS AND MAKING SURE-- BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN VERY MUCH THE PAST 10 YEARS OR SO TRYING TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNEW THE IDENTITY OF THE CITY OF TAMARAC.
AND SO ONE OF THE WAYS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THAT WAS THROUGH ZIP CODES.
SO CERTAIN PLACES YOU GET A THREE THREE ZERO SOMETHING YOU KIND OF KNOW WHERE IT IS HERE.
WE HAVE 33309, 33319, 33321 AND AN EXTENSION INTO 33351 NOW.
AND ACTUALLY, OUR CITY HAS GROWN ALMOST TWELVE THOUSAND PEOPLE IN THE PAST 10 YEARS, SO IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING WE BRING BACK AGAIN FOR DISCUSSION NOW THAT WE KNOW THAT IT IS NOT A FEDERAL LOBBYING IDEA.
THAT WE DON'T-- VAL HAS PROVIDED US THE INFORMATION WE ORIGINALLY THOUGHT WE NEEDED IT TO BE LOBBIED FOR ON OUR BEHALF, AND SO IT WAS PART OF THE AGENDA, I GUESS, RIGHT BEFORE COVID.
AND I KNOW THROUGH THE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE, THE NEW BILL AND ALSO THROUGH PROBABLY CLIMATE AND EVERYTHING THAT'S ON THERE RIGHT NOW, THE MONEY.
IT'S IN OUR LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE, BUT I JUST WANT TO BRING IT FORWARD, CANAL WALLS ARE A REALLY BIG THING AND IT'S A BIG PUSH DOWN HERE AS WELL BECAUSE PEOPLE FORGET THAT JUST BECAUSE WE'RE THE WESTERN SIDE OF BROWARD, WE'RE STILL AFFECTED BY THE EVERGLADES.
OUR HOMEOWNERS NEED THE ASSISTANCE AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
SO HOPEFULLY WITH THESE, NOT NEWFOUND DOLLARS, BUT THE DOLLARS THAT ARE NOW IN THESE BILLS, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO GET SOME FUNDS FILTERED TO US TO BE ABLE TO HELP IN OUR CITY.
MUCH-- SOME OF THE OTHER STUFF THAT I HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT YOU'VE ALREADY ANSWERED.
SO BOTTOM LINE IS LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU WHEN WE GET A CHANCE TO UP IN D.C.
AND HELPING ADVOCATE FOR OUR CITY.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR TIME.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT TO YOU.
NOW I BELIEVE WE HAVE TO DO A VOTE, SO NOW THAT-- I WILL ASK OUR CITY CLERK FOR A ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY FIVE TO ZERO.
ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR DAY UNLESS YOU WANT TO HANG ON.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU THIS YEAR.
SO NOW WE'LL GO INTO 5C, TR13732, FIRST AMENDMENT TO SOLID WASTE MOU FOR WASTE
[5.c. TR13732 - First Amendment to Solid Waste MOU for Waste Generation Study]
GENERATION STUDY.CITY ATTORNEY PLEASE READ THE TITLE TO THE RECORD.
MS. MADAM MAYOR, COMMISSIONER.
THIS IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF TAMARAC, FLORIDA, APPROVING THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH BROWARD COUNTY AND OTHER PARTICIPATING MUNICIPALITIES REGARDING COLLABORATIVE STUDY AND SUBSEQUENT DEVELOPMENT OF AN ANALYTICAL, LOCAL AND INTEGRATED SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING SYSTEM, AND AUTHORIZING THE PROPER CITY OFFICIALS TO EXECUTE, SAID FIRST AMENDMENT.
TO MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING AND EFFECTUATE THE EXPENDITURE OF THE FUNDS AUTHORIZED BY THIS RESOLUTION.
AUTHORIZING THE EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS FROM THE APPROPRIATE ACCOUNTS, PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WE HAVE TROY GIES, OUR INTERIM ASSISTANT, PUBLIC SERVICES DIRECTOR, WHO WILL PROVIDE A PRESENTATION AND ON THE LINE FOR QUESTIONS FOR A LITTLE BIT, WE DO HAVE COOPER CITY MAYOR GREG ROSS.
MAYOR, WE NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND.
I WENT STRAIGHT TO SEEING MR. GIES ON THE BIG SCREEN AND LOST MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT.
A MOTION AND A SECOND? SO MOVED.
SO WE WERE QUICK TO CORRECT ME, BUT WE DON'T QUICK TO GET ME A SECOND? DO I HAVE A SECOND, PLEASE? ANYBODY.
I GUESS WE'RE GOING TO FAIL FOR A LACK OF A SECOND, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING THE BUSINESS OF THE CITY.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? WE DON'T HAVE A SECOND.
COMMISSIONER-- VICE MAYOR GELIN.
CAN WE TAKE A 10 MINUTE RECESS? AFTER THIS ITEM, THIS ITEM IS UP.
[01:15:01]
PLEASE GIVE ME A SECOND.ALL RIGHT, THE FLOOR IS YOURS INTERIM ASSISTANT PUBLIC SERVICES DIRECTOR.
I'VE GOT A PRESENTATION HERE THAT I WILL PULL UP.
SO, TODAY WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING REGARDING THE SOLID WASTE DISTRICT.
THIS AMENDMENT ADDRESSES THE NEED TO PERFORM A COUNTY WIDE WASTE GENERATION AND COMPOSITION STUDY.
I WILL DO THE REALLY ABBREVIATED VERSION.
MOST OF YOU HAVE HEARD THIS, BUT JUST TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE.
SO IN THE BACKGROUND, WHAT'S GOING ON IS WE'RE LOOKING AT REPLACING THE RESOURCE RECOVERY SYSTEM THAT HAD BEEN IN PLACE FROM 1986 TO 2013.
THE RESOURCE RECOVERY SYSTEM PROVIDED COMPREHENSIVE SOLID WASTE SERVICES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL, BUT THAT'S PART OF THE WASTE ENERGY PLAN AS WELL, RECYCLING, PROCESSING, HOUSEHOLD, HAZARDOUS WASTE DISPOSAL, ELECTRONICS RECYCLING, PUBLIC EDUCATION, ET CETERA.
THE SERVICES WERE PAID THROUGH THE TIPPING FEES CHARGED AGAINST SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL.
WHEN THE RESOURCE RECOVERY SYSTEM WAS ALLOWED TO SUNSET, IT HAD BEEN COMPRISED OF 26 MUNICIPALITIES AND BROWARD COUNTY.
SO REGARDING SPECIFICALLY THE MOU, ON AUGUST 28TH, 2019 VIA RESOLUTION NUMBER R2019-77.
THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF TAMARAC APPROVED AN MOU REGARDING COLLABORATIVE STUDY AND SUBSEQUENT DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTEGRATED SOLID WASTE RECYCLING SYSTEM.
THE MOU ESTABLISHED A SOLID WASTE WORKING GROUP, WHICH IS A GROUP OF ELECTED OFFICIALS CHOSEN AMONG THE ELECTED OFFICIALS OF THE MUNICIPALITIES IN BROWARD COUNTY AND A COUNTY COMMISSIONER.
UNDER THE APPROVED MOU, THE COUNTY AND MUNICIPALITIES, INCLUDING THE CITY OF TAMARAC, AGREED TO JOINTLY UNDERTAKE THE CONTINUED STUDY AND ANALYSIS OF CRITICAL SOLID WASTE ISSUES AND RECYCLING PROGRAMS. THE STUDY, WHICH WE IDENTIFY AS A WASTE GENERATION STUDY, IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE THE SOLID WASTE WORKING GROUP WITH INFORMATION CONCERNING THE AMOUNT AND COMPOSITION OF SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLABLES COUNTY WIDE.
AND THIS IS THE NEXT CRITICAL STEP TOWARDS DEVELOPING AN INTEGRATED SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING SYSTEM.
THEREFORE, THE COMPLETION OF THE STUDY IS ALSO TIME SENSITIVE.
THE WASTE GENERATION STUDY WILL DETERMINE HOW MUCH WASTE IS GENERATED, SPECIFICALLY THE AVERAGE AMOUNT OF WASTE BY WEIGHT CREATED RESIDENTIALLY AND COMMERCIALLY.
THE INFORMATION IS GATHERED BY USING DATA FROM [INAUDIBLE], SCALES, SCALE HEALTH REPORTS AT THE DISPOSAL PROCESSING SITES, MUNICIPAL DATA AND DIRECT OBSERVATIONS.
THE KEY USE OF THE WASTE GENERATION STUDY IS FOR PLANNING PURPOSES BOTH LONG AND SHORT TERM, AND COULD ALSO BE USED TO HELP DETERMINE SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS, FEE STRUCTURE, ETC.
THE WASTE COMPOSITION STUDY WILL DETERMINE WHAT TYPE OF WASTE IS GENERATED, FOR EXAMPLE, RECYCLABLES, YARD WASTE, HOUSEHOLD GARBAGE, ETC.
THIS IS TYPICALLY OBTAINED BY DIRECT OBSERVATIONS.
THEY'LL EITHER DO SORTS ON THE TIPPING FLOOR OR THEY'LL OBSERVE OF SORTS ON THE TIPPING FLOOR.
SO AGAIN, THEY'RE LOOKING SPECIFICALLY AT WHAT TYPE OF WASTE IS BEING GENERATED.
THE COST OF THE STUDY WILL NOT EXCEED ONE MILLION DOLLARS.
BROWARD COUNTY WILL BE CONTRIBUTING UP TO 50 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL COST OF THE STUDY, WITH THE REMAINDER PAID BY THE STUDY PARTICIPANTS, WHICH ARE THE PARTICIPANT CITIES.
THE REQUIRED POPULATION TO MOVE FORWARD THAT NEEDS TO BE REPRESENTED IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT APPROVE THIS FIRST AMENDMENT IS 90 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL COUNTY POPULATION.
WE'RE OPTIMISTIC FOR A HIGHER PERCENTAGE, BUT OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION, THE CALCULATION FOR DISTRIBUTING THE COST IS SET AT 90 PERCENT OF THE CITIES PARTICIPATING.
THEREFORE, THE CITY OF TAMARAC MAXIMUM COST WOULD BE $20,783 DOLLARS.
AT THE END OF THE STUDY, ANY THE REMAINING FUNDS, WHICH COULD BE FROM THE STUDY ITSELF BEING LESS THAN A MILLION DOLLARS AND OR MORE THAN 90 PERCENT OF THE CITY'S PARTICIPATING .
AGAIN, ANY FUNDS THAT ARE LEFT WOULD BE REDISTRIBUTED EXACTLY UNDER THE SAME FORMULA BY WHICH THE COST WERE ALLOCATED.
SO WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND APPROVING THIS FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE ILA, THE
[01:20:02]
INITIAL-- I'M SORRY.THE INITIAL MOU SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED THIS AS PART OF THE NEXT STEP.
AND NOT ONLY DOES THIS STUDY PROVIDE THE FOUNDATION FOR THE CREATION OF THE SOLID WASTE DISTRICT, IT ALSO PROVIDES VALUABLE, ACTIONABLE INFORMATION FOR THE DISTRICT, THE COUNTY, THE PARTICIPATING COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING THE CITY OF TAMARAC.
IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, THEY'LL BE HAPPY TO TAKE THOSE.
ALL RIGHT, BEFORE WE GO TO QUESTIONS, WE WILL OPEN IT UP TO ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE WHO HAS ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
SEEING NONE, PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED.
I AM NOT SEEING ANYTHING FROM THIS COMMISSION, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? I'M SORRY.
COMMISSIONER PLACKO, AND THEN IT SEEMS-- I'M NOT SURE.
TROY ARE ALL THE CITIES INVOLVED? I DO NOT HAVE A COUNT YET OF HOW MANY CITIES HAVE APPROVED OF THIS.
I KNOW THAT AS FAR AS THE INITIAL MOU, I BELIEVE ALL CITIES ARE REPRESENTED.
WE MAY BE MISSING A COUPLE OF THE SMALLER CITIES LIKE LAZY LAKES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
THAT MAY BE SOMETHING, IF MAYOR ROSS IS ON, HE MAY BE ABLE TO ANSWER THAT BETTER THAN I CAN.
HOWEVER, WE DO HAVE REALLY ACTIVE PARTICIPATION FROM THE MAJORITY OF CITIES THROUGH THE SOLID WASTE WORKING GROUP AND THROUGH THE TECHNICAL ADVISORY GROUP.
SO I DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER FOR YOU, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE COUNTY AND THOSE OF US THAT ARE ACTIVE IN IT ARE REALLY PUSHING OUR CITIES TO PARTICIPATE.
THE REASON I ASKED THAT IS, IS THIS $25000 ROUGHLY, IS THAT BANKING ON ALL CITIES INVOLVED OR COULD THAT CHANGE IF ALL CITIES ARE NOT INVOLVED? WELL, THERE HAS TO BE 90 PERCENT TO MOVE FORWARD.
IF THERE'S-- IF 90 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION DOESN'T PASS THIS, THEN THE MOU TERMINATES AND THERE'S NOT ZERO.
SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE REALLY PUSHING FOR THE APPROVAL OF THIS.
BUT YES, THAT NUMBER COULD CHANGE, BUT THAT NUMBER CAN ONLY GO DOWN FOR US.
SO IF ADDITIONAL CITIES PARTICIPATE, SO IF WE GET TO 98 PERCENT, 99 PERCENT OR 100 PERCENT, THEN THAT SHARE AMONG THE CITIES DROPS ACCORDINGLY.
AT 100 PERCENT, OUR PORTION IS APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 18 AND 19 THOUSAND, SO IT'S NOT A HUGE VARIATION, BUT THAT'S-- THE NUMBER COULD ONLY GO DOWN.
HOW LONG SHOULD THIS STUDY TAKE? I DO NOT RECALL THE SCOPE, BUT TYPICALLY THIS WOULD TAKE A MINIMUM OF SIX MONTHS TO PERFORM.
WE DON'T YET HAVE THE CONTRACT IN PLACE FOR THE CONTRACTOR.
THAT'S WHY-- JUST LIKE WE HAVE TO BUDGET MONEY BEFORE WE SECURE A CONTRACTOR.
WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MONEY IS IN PLACE SO THAT BROWARD COUNTY CAN ENGAGE THE CONTRACTOR.
AND I SEE YOU DO HAVE IT BUDGETED.
YOU HAVE $25000 BUDGETED IN PUBLIC SERVICES? YES.
IT'S A COST THAT WE CAN ABSORB, AND WE HAVE AND WE HAVE MONEY SET ASIDE SPECIFICALLY FOR CONSULTANTS.
AND I'M JUST GOING TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR TIME AND EFFORT ON THIS, [INAUDIBLE] AND MAYOR ROSS, I HAPPEN TO BE ON THE GROUP WITH EVERYBODY AND I KNOW THE TIME AND ENERGY THAT YOU HAVE PUT INTO THIS AND--.
APPRECIATE YOU GOING THROUGH ALL THIS TO TRY TO MAKE THE BEST OUT OF THIS SITUATION THAT OCCURRED YEARS AGO AT THIS RATE AND TIME.
AND KNOW THAT FOR THE-- WE WILL KNOW MORE BY MID-FEBRUARY IF ALL PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED UP BECAUSE IT'S GOING BEFORE ALL THE COMMISSIONS NOW OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, IF MY UNDERSTANDING IS CORRECT.
SO WITH THAT, CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE.
I HAVE BEEN ASKED FOR A BREAK.
WE WILL RESUME AT TEN AFTER 11, SO 11:10.
ALL RIGHT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE ARE READY TO ROLL IT IS 11:10 AND WE ARE BACK WITH, I BELIEVE OUR LAST ITEMS ON THE AGENDA, SO WE ARE NOW AT 10A,
[10.a. Discussion and selection of the 2022 Inspiration Way sculptures]
DISCUSSION AND SELECTION OF THE 2022 INSPIRATION WAY.AND WE HAVE A PRESENTATION BY A PUBLIC ART CONSULTANTS, GEORGE GADSON AND BETH
[01:25:04]
RAVITZ.GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY, IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO SEE YOU.
OK, WE'VE SELECTED-- THE PUBLIC ART COMMITTEE HAS SELECTED 12 NEW SCULPTURES FOR OUR THIRD INSPIRATION WAY EXHIBIT.
OK, AM I GOING TO BE CONTROLLING THIS? I ASSUME? OK.
AND WHILE WE'RE WAITING FOR THAT, I DID NOT DO ROLL CALL AND ALL PEOPLE ON THE COMMISSIONER NOW PRESENT.
OK, LEVENT, ARE YOU GOING TO DO IT OR SHOULD I FORWARD? OK.
AND I'VE GIVEN YOU WHAT IS THE SUGGESTED LOCATIONS OF EACH SCULPTURE.
THIS IS AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF NOB HILL AND MCNAB, WHERE WE HAVE HANNA JURBAN ALLEGRO.
HERE'S BOB DOSTER AND HIS NEW, HANNAH JURBAN HAS BEEN WITH US FOR THREE YEARS ALREADY.
HE'S BEEN SELECTED AND THIS IS BOB, AND HE'S NEXT ALONG THE WEST SIDE OF NOB HILL.
THIS IS CALLED DANCING BLISS, AND JONI HAS BEEN WITH US THIS PAST YEAR, AND SHE'LL BE REMOVING HER OTHER SCULPTURE AND DELIVERING HER NEW ONE.
THIS IS JAMES FUTREL, AND IT'S HIS FIRST YEAR.
AND THEN THESE ARE THE THREE WHICH ARE NEXT TO PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING IN THE OPEN FIELD.
THE MIDDLE SCULPTURE IS CALLED LIFE CYCLE AND THE THIRD ONE IS CALLED PULSE.
THIS IS BY THE CHURCH AT THE CORNER OF STATE STREET, WHERE WE ALWAYS HAVE SCULPTORS SUBMIT WHERE THE SCULPTURE IS SMALL, BUT WE LIKE IT.
SO, [COUGH], EXCUSE ME, GEORGE AND I CREATED A PEDESTAL THAT'S THREE FEET HIGH IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE A SMALLER SCULPTURE.
AND THIS ONE IS SMALLER AND IT'S CALLED-- WHAT'S THIS ONE CALLED? I THINK HE'S CALLED PEACOCK.
AND THE CHURCH PASTOR, WE INVITED HIM TO OUR MEETING BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO SEE WHAT WE WERE SELECTING, AND WE WERE VERY RESPECTFUL AND WE WORK VERY WELL TOGETHER.
AND HE LOVED THIS SCULPTURE AND WE LIKED IT, SO WE SELECTED IT FOR HIM ON THE CORNER OF STATE STREET.
AND WHICH, BY THE WAY, THAT'S MADE OF ALL SILVERWARE THAT SPOONS AND FORKS, AND IT'S INTERESTING UP CLOSE.
THIS IS ALSO CHURCH APPROVAL WITH THE PASTORS.
AND THIS IS HARRY MCDANIEL CALLED RISING SPIRITS.
AND THEN WE ARE ON THE EAST SIDE, BEGINNING AGAIN AT AT MCNAB, AND WE'VE GOT, EVERYBODY LOVED THE TITLE OF THIS, A REFUSAL TO STOP AND ASK FOR DIRECTIONS.
THE CENTER ONE IS DAVID HAYES.
AND THE INTERESTING THING WITH THIS IS THAT DAVID HAYES IS DECEASED AND HIS SON RUNS HIS COLLECTION, AND HE'S VERY FAMOUS.
SO I FEEL VERY LUCKY THAT WE GOT HIS SCULPTURE BECAUSE FOR US, IT'S $2500 BUT THIS SCULPTURE SELLS FOR $72000 BECAUSE HE'S FAMOUS, SO THAT'S GOOD FOR US.
AND THE THIRD ONE THERE, WHICH IS A LITTLE OUT OF THE PICTURE, A LITTLE OUT OF THE FRAME IS BY ROLLIN KARG, AND HE WORKS IN GLASS AND METAL, AND THOSE ARE THE 12 FOR INSPIRATION WAY.
I WANT TO PRESENT ONE ADDITIONAL ONE, WHICH YOU SHOULD HAVE LEVENT.
THIS IS AN INSPIRATION WAY RIGHT NOW.
AND AT THE LAST PUBLIC ART MEETING, THE COMMITTEE DECIDED TO PURCHASE THIS AND
[01:30:04]
PUT IT IN MAINLAND'S PARK BECAUSE APPARENTLY ONE OF THE MEMBERS TOLD US THAT THERE'S A LOT OF TURTLES NESTING THERE, AND SHE REALLY WANTED TO SEE MORE SCULPTURE ON THE EAST SIDE OF TOWN.SO, SOMEONE MADE A MOTION AND IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY ACCEPTED, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE THIS AS WELL AND PLACE IT IN MAINLAND'S PARK.
I ALREADY SPOKE WITH GREG AND LINDA, AND THEY--, LINDA AND MELISSA [INAUDIBLE] AND SANDY EHRLICH, WHO IT WAS HER REQUEST, AND MYSELF WILL BE GOING OUT TO SELECT THE EXACT SITE THERE, AND I'LL HAVE A FOOTER MADE IF YOU ALL APPROVE.
ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER PLACKO.
I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT DANCING BLISS.
THE PICTURE THAT WE SAW AT THE ART COMMITTEE MEETING WAS A LITTLE LARGER AND MORE DETAILED, AND AT THAT POINT, THE PASTOR FROM COMMUNITY CHRISTIAN CHURCH VERY CLEARLY SAID, NOT NEAR MY CHURCH, AND I VERY CLEARLY SAID IT IS INAPPROPRIATE.
IT SHOWS WOMEN'S BODY PARTS, AND IT IS INAPPROPRIATE.
I DO NOT WANT TO SEE THIS ANYWHERE--.
ASSISTANT MANAGER SUCUOGLU, CAN YOU PUT UP--.
DANCING BLISS, I'M NOT SURE WHICH PAGE--.
LEVENT, I'LL TELL YOU, WHEN WE GET TO IT.
[INAUDIBLE] YES, THE THIRD PAGE.
I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU, I JUST WANT TO SEE WHAT [INAUDIBLE]--.
YOU HAVE YOUR BOOK? DO YOU HAVE YOUR BOOK? OK.
DANCING BLISS IS A SERIES OF LEGS THAT ARE DANCING.
AND WHAT ARE THE LEGS ATTACHED TO? MORE LEGS.
WHAT ARE THE LEGS ATTACHED TO? THEY ARE ATTACHED TO LEGS THAT ARE ON A BASE PLATE.
WHEN WE ALL LOOKED AT IT, IT WAS VERY CLEAR.
WE ALL SAID IT LOOKED LIKE A WOMAN'S BUTT, WITH LEGS COMING OUT, AND IT WAS, AS THE PASTOR STATED, NOT NEAR MY CHURCH, SO THAT FOR ME WAS AN INDICATION THAT MAYBE IT IS NOT OUR BEST IDEA.
I UNDERSTAND THAT ARTIST'S OBJECTIVE AND YOU ARE VERY, VERY FORCEFUL AND VOCAL ABOUT THAT, AND I GET THAT AND I APPRECIATE ART.
BUT WE HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN THAT WE ARE TRYING TO ENGAGE IN ART.
AND IN MY OPINION, THIS IS NOT AT ALL ACCEPTABLE.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN OUR CITY THAT WE'RE GOING TO BRING CHILDREN TO NOB HILL TO SEE ARTWORK.
YES, BASED ON YOUR OPINION, I RESPECTFULLY WENT BACK TO THE ARTIST, AS WE HAD DISCUSSED IN THE MEETING, THAT I WOULD GO BACK TO THE ARTIST AND ASK FOR 360 DEGREE VIEWS OF THIS SCULPTURE AND IF SHE WOULD ALSO SEND ME A VIDEO IF SHE COULD.
AND THE COMMITTEE DECIDED THAT BASED ON WHAT THEY SAW OF ADDITIONAL IMAGES, WHETHER THEY WOULD ACCEPT THE SCULPTURE OR NOT.
ADDITIONAL IMAGES WERE SENT TO EACH COMMITTEE MEMBER AND EACH COMMITTEE MEMBER UNANIMOUSLY DECIDED THAT IT WAS NOT AT ALL IN ANY WAY OFFENSIVE.
AND I ALSO SAID THAT I WOULD PLACE IT IN A WAY THAT THE BACK OF THE SCULPTURE, WHICH COMMISSIONER PLACKO, RESPECTIVELY, SHE IS CORRECT IN HER ASSESSMENT.
SHE FELT THAT IT SHOWED A REAR END AND THAT IT WAS NOT APPROPRIATE.
AND GEORGE AND I HAD SAID THAT-- I MEAN, WE DIDN'T-- WE UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AND THAT WE WOULD PLACE THE BACK OF IT WHERE NOBODY WOULD SEE IT.
BECAUSE NOB HILL EXHIBIT, AS WE ALL KNOW, IS A VEHICULAR EXHIBIT.
IT'S REALLY NOT A WALK BY EXHIBIT, AND THE SCULPTURES ARE PLACED FAR OFF THE ROAD WHERE PEOPLE DON'T GET OUT OF THEIR CARS AND WALK AROUND THE SCULPTURE.
[01:35:01]
AND EVEN IF THEY DID, THE COMMITTEE FELT IT WAS NOT OFFENSIVE THAT IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL, VERY ORIGINAL WORK OF ART, KIND OF LIKE A ROCKETTE DANCING.AND THE COMMITTEE DECIDED IT HAS-- GEORGE AND I, AS YOU KNOW, ARE NOT VOTING MEMBERS.
WE ARE ADVISED, YOU KNOW, WE FACILITATE AND THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED.
AND IT'S NOWHERE NEAR THE CHURCH.
AND I RESPECT YOUR OPINION AS AN ARTIST, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT I MAY SEE IT DIFFERENTLY FROM A NONPROFESSIONAL ARTIST STANDPOINT.
I STILL STAND BY MY OPINION THAT IT'S INAPPROPRIATE.
I'M JUST GOING TO TAG ON TO THAT.
OUR EMPLOYEES WILL SEE IT, BUT THE VEHICULAR TRAFFIC DOESN'T SEE IT.
THE WAY THIS PLACE IS LINED OUT.
OUR EMPLOYEES WILL SEE IT, SO IF IT IS-- BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T SEEN ALL.
IF THERE TRULY IS THEIR BUTT THERE, OUR EMPLOYEES WILL BE SEEING IT, THAT NEEDS TO BE KEPT IN MIND.
SO I KNOW THAT COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING FIRST.
ASIDE FROM ALL OF THEM, THAT QUESTION THAT COMMISSIONER PLACKO'S RAISED, I'D LIKE TO JUST SEE THE IMAGES, MORE IMAGES, THE OTHER ONES I'M FINE WITH.
SO BASICALLY, I THINK YOU HAVE CONSENSUS FROM THIS DAIS, AT LEAST FOR THE THREE HAVE SPOKEN THAT, THAT ITEM, WE EITHER LIKE TO SEE MORE IMAGES OF IT.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE COMMITTEE MAY BELIEVE THAT IT'S ALL 100 PERCENT.
WE DON'T HAVE THAT ABILITY TO SAY SO WITHOUT SEEING IT, AND I'D LIKE TO SEE SOME OTHER PIECES THAT COULD POSSIBLY REPLACE THAT ONE.
IF IT IS DETERMINED BY THIS COMMISSION THAT, THAT PIECE IS NOT SUITABLE FOR OUR CITY.
OK, I WILL SEND MORE IMAGES WHEN I GET BACK TO MY COMPUTER.
I'LL SEND THE ADDITIONAL IMAGES THAT THIS ARTIST SENT TO ME.
AND OF COURSE, WHATEVER YOU DECIDE IS WHAT WE WILL DO.
SO ON THIS, I BELIEVE WE HAVE CONSENSUS AS IT OCCURS-- AS IT IS FOR THE REST OF INSPIRATION WAY, WHEN YOU SEND MORE IMAGES, THOUGH, I'D LIKE TO ALSO SEE PANHELION.
I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT BECAUSE IT WAS ALL CUT OFF.
AND A BETTER SHOT OF THE MIDDLE ONE BY HANNA JURBAN, THE ONE THAT YOU SAID THE ARTIST IS DECEASED.
I'D LIKE TO SEE A BETTER SHOT OF THAT ONE TO PLEASE.
BUT IN THE INTERIM, SO PROCESS CAN GO FORWARD.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED TO HAVE CONSENSUS OR A MOTION REGARDING PURCHASE OF THE TURTLE.
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE ASKING US? YES.
FOR PURCHASE OF THE TURTLE AND FOR THE TURTLE TO BE PLACED IN AN APPROPRIATE PART OF MAINLAND'S PARK.
IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO MAKE A MOTION WITH RESPECT TO ANY OF THESE PIECES OF ART AND WHERE YOU WOULD LIKE THEM TO BE PLACED.
WELL, TYPICALLY THE DISCUSSION ON THE WAY HAS ALWAYS JUST BEEN A DISCUSSION BECAUSE IT WAS SET BY THE COMMITTEE, HOWEVER, YOU WANT A MOTION FOR THAT CITY ATTORNEY? AGAIN, AS I UNDERSTAND THE ITEM IS DISCUSSION AND SELECTION OF THE 2022 INSPIRATION WAY SCULPTURE.
SO, WHATEVER YOU ALL DECIDE WHICH ONE-- THE-- AS I UNDERSTAND OF THE COMMITTEE HAS PRESENTED VARIOUS PIECES OF ARTS FOR PLACEMENT IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS, SO IT WOULD BE UP TO YOU ALL TO EITHER ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE BY VOTE OR ALTERNATIVELY TO MODIFY IT AND THEN APPROVE IT.
SO AT THIS TIME ON THE FIRST PART, I'M GOING TO ASK FOR A MOTION IN A SECOND TO ACCEPT INSPIRATION WAY MINUS ITEM OR ART ITEM NUMBER THREE, DANCING BLISS TO BRING BACK-- IF THAT'LL BE ACCEPTED AT ANOTHER TIME OR A REPLACEMENT WILL BE PUT IN.
DO I HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND? JUST A COMMENT, MAYOR.
I TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY WHEN ART IS PLACED IN MY DISTRICT OR IN THE PARK, AND I MADE IT CLEAR TO THE BOARD TO BRING THOSE TO ME FIRST, JUST TO AS A MATTER OF DISCUSSION.
EXCUSE ME, COMMISSIONER, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE ONE THAT'S GOING IN YOUR DISTRICT JUST YET.
WE MAY HAVE THOUGHT THAT THE MURAL AT-- ON THE BATHROOM WAS GREAT, BUT RESIDENTS COMPLAINED ABOUT THAT.
AND WHEN WE MAKE DECISIONS LIKE THIS WITHOUT THE INPUT OF THE COMMISSIONER IN THAT
[01:40:03]
DISTRICT, FIRST, WE'RE THE ONES THAT GET THE BLOWBACK.AND AGAIN, IT'S NOT COOL, IT'S NOT PROFESSIONAL, AND IT'S AND IT'S NOT APPRECIATED.
THANK YOU, AND WE WILL GO BACK AROUND TO THE MAINLAND'S PARK ITEM AFTER-- IF WE GET A MOTION IN A SECOND REGARDING INSPIRATION WAY MINUS SCULPTURE DANCING BLISS.
DO I HAVE A MOTION ON A SECOND? SO MOVED.
AT THIS TIME, YOU DON'T HAVE-- INSPIRATION WAY IS NOW ON HOLD UNTIL SUCH TIME, DANCING BLISS AND THE ARTIST PIECES COME BACK FOR US TO LOOK AT IT ANOTHER TIME.
OK, MAYOR, PLEASE ADVISE ME HOW TO MOVE FORWARD, MEANING IT'S BEEN SCHEDULED.
EVERYTHING IS IN WITH THE ENGINEER FOR CALCULATIONS AND INSTALLATION HAS BEEN TENTATIVELY PLACED FOR FEBRUARY 14TH, WHERE ARTISTS THEY ALL COME FROM ACROSS THE NATION AND THEY ARE ALL SCHEDULED TO INSTALL THAT WEEK.
SO TELL ME HOW I CAN EXPEDITE THIS.
I BELIEVE AT THIS TIME THE-- CITY MANAGER, GO AHEAD.
WELL, I GUESS THE QUESTION IS, ARE THERE OTHER-- IS THERE A REASON BEYOND JUST WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT AS FAR AS DANCING BLISS THAT THE REST OF THE ART PIECES AREN'T ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMMISSION? I HAVE NO OBJECTION TO THAT.
VICE MAYOR YOUR ANSWER? I HAVE A QUESTION FOR EITHER MAXINE OR THE ARTIST.
ASK YOUR QUESTION AND WE'LL FIGURE OUT WHO GETS TO RESPOND.
HOW MANY WOMEN ARE ON THE ART COMMITTEE? HOW MANY WOMEN, OK, WE HAVE TWO SANDYS, WE HAVE ALEXANDER HERNANDEZ--.
FOUR WOMEN? FOUR WOMEN AND ONE MAN, YES.
CHAIR BRIAN ZAMBRANO IS THE ONLY MALE AND THE OTHER MEMBERS ARE FEMALE, AND IT'S A TOTAL OF FIVE MEMBERS.
DID ANY OF THE FOUR WOMEN OR THE MALE FIND THE DANCING PIECE TO BE DISRESPECTFUL OR, I CAN'T THINK OF A TERM, BUT--? INAPPROPRIATE? INAPPROPRIATE OR SALACIOUS? THE SCULPTURE, IN THE OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE, IS VERY BEAUTIFUL AND VERY DIFFERENT AND A VERY HIGH QUALITY OF ORIGINALITY.
AND IT WAS LOVED BY EVERYBODY, AND WE DO RESPECTFULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT COMMISSIONER PLACKO FEELS.
WE ABSOLUTELY RESPECTFULLY FEEL IT.
BUT AS ALL OF YOU KNOW, ART IS VERY SUBJECTIVE AND IT'S IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER, AND WE KNOW IT'S BEEN MADE VERY CLEAR, GEORGE AND I EVERY MONTH MAKE IT VERY CLEAR, THAT THE PUBLIC ART COMMITTEE IS A RECOMMENDING BODY AND THAT YOU, AS COMMISSIONERS, HAVE THE FINAL SAY AND-- BUT EVERYBODY LOVED IT.
WE DON'T FEEL IT'S OFFENSIVE AT ALL, BUT WE UNDERSTAND HOW SHE CAN FEEL THAT IT IS.
AND THAT'S WHY I'D LIKE TO SHOW YOU MORE IMAGES OF IT, WHICH I DID GET.
AND IT WAS REVIEWED BY THE COMMITTEE AND THEY STILL VERY MUCH WANTED IT IN THE EXHIBIT.
SO IT WAS RECOMMENDED BY A VOTE OF FIVE TO ZERO? YES.
AND COMMISSIONER PLACKO, DID YOU TALK TO YOUR PUBLIC ART APPOINTEE ABOUT THIS PIECE? I'M SORRY.
DID YOU TALK TO YOUR PUBLIC ART APPOINTEE ABOUT THIS PIECE? YES, I HAVE SOMETHING ELSE TO SAY.
I DON'T AGREE WITH THIS AT ALL.
IN THE PAST, WE'VE BEEN ASKED TO MAKE SURE WE ALIGN THE REMOVAL OF THE EXISTING EXHIBIT WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF THE NEW PIECES, AND SO TIMING IS IMPORTANT IN THAT WE HAVE SCHEDULED THE REMOVAL OF THE EXISTING PIECES STAGE TO OCCUR AROUND THE SAME TIME THE REPLACEMENT WILL HAPPEN.
SO, IF THERE'S AN ISSUE WITH THAT PIECE AND RESPECTFULLY, AS THE ADMINISTRATIVE SAYS COMMISSIONER PLACKO, AS WELL AS THE REST [INAUDIBLE] OTHER PICTURES OF THAT PARTICULAR PIECE.
WE CAN ALSO BRING IT FORWARD TO YOU AT THE FEBRUARY 9TH MEETING OR IF THERE'S A WORKSHOP ANY TIME BEFORE THEN.
BUT FOR THIS MORNING'S MEETING, AND IF THERE'S ANY WAY WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ADDITIONAL PIECES AND THEN BRING YOU BACK-- HAVE THOSE PICTURES SENT TO YOU AND THEN BRING BACK FOR DISCUSSION ON FEBRUARY 9TH, WE'D LIKE TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
I'M GOING TO GO TO COMMISSIONER PLACKO ON THIS ONE, AND THEN IF YOU HAVE
[01:45:02]
ANY FURTHER-- OK.I REALLY HATE TO DO THIS, HOWEVER, WHEN THIS WAS INITIALLY BROUGHT BEFORE THE COMMITTEE AND THE PASTOR SAID NOT NEAR MY CHURCH, MY REPRESENTATIVE SAID, LET'S REMEMBER WE HAVE ANOTHER PASTOR ON THE CITY COMMISSION.
AND THE OTHER MEMBERS SAID, THAT'S RIGHT, AND IF IT'S GOING TO BE OFFENSIVE, THAT MAYBE WE BETTER MOVE ON.
YOU WERE VERY, VERY FORCEFUL IN YOUR OPINION THAT IF IT WAS TURNED A CERTAIN WAY, IT WOULD NOT BE OFFENSIVE AND I WILL USE THE WORD BADGER BECAUSE THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID.
AND THIS DISCUSSION WENT ON FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, I STUCK WITH MY OPINION.
THERE'S SO MUCH ARTWORK OUT THERE.
THIS, TO ME WAS INAPPROPRIATE AND WE SHOULD MOVE ON AT THAT POINT, YOU SAID.
I'LL GET OTHER PICTURES OF THE WAY WE COULD PLACE IT, SO IT WON'T BE NOTICEABLE.
SO OBVIOUSLY, YOU'VE GOT PICTURES.
YOU SENT IT TO YOUR MEMBERS, AND THAT WAS THAT.
BUT AS WE NOTICE, THE BACK STILL HAS TO GO SOMEWHERE.
AND AS THE MAYOR SAID, WE DO HAVE EMPLOYEES THERE.
SO WHEN YOU STAND HERE AND SAY THAT THEY ALL LOVED IT AND THEY ALL WERE IN FAVOR OF IT, I TAKE OFFENSE TO THAT BECAUSE THAT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENED.
I APOLOGIZE IF YOU TAKE OFFENSE.
I SENT ALL THE PICTURES, ADDITIONAL PICTURES TO EACH COMMITTEE MEMBER AND THEIR OPINION-- THEY VOTED AND THEY VOTED TO KEEP IT IN THE SHOW.
AGAIN, I'VE BEEN AN ARTIST MY WHOLE LIFE, AND I ALWAYS TRY TO DO WHAT'S BEST, AND I-- GEORGE AND I LOVE WORKING FOR THIS CITY.
AND WHATEVER YOU AS COMMISSIONERS WOULD LIKE IS WHAT WE WILL DO.
YOU GOOD OR NOT? OK, I THINK I'VE MADE MY OPINION VERY CLEAR, AND I THINK I'VE STATED WHAT HAPPENS AT THE MEETING WAS NOT EXACTLY AS YOU STATED IT, SO THANK YOU.
WE SEE THINGS-- I DON'T THINK-- I REPRESENTED AND SAID AS I REMEMBER, AND I'M SORRY IF YOU DON'T REMEMBER IT THE SAME WAY.
WE'RE NOW GOING TO MOVE-- WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS.
AT THIS POINT, CONSIDERING HOW COMMISSIONER PLACKO FEELS, AND SHE HAS SEEN THE IMAGES.
I'M GOING TO TAKE HER WORD FOR IT.
I DON'T NEED ADDITIONAL PICTURES.
I'M JUST GOING TO SAY THAT WE JUST NEED TO FIND SOMETHING NEW TO REPLACE THAT.
SO THEREFORE, I WILL MAKE THE REQUEST AGAIN.
CAN I GET A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR THE INSPIRATION WAY TO PROCEED, AS IS WITHOUT ITEM NUMBER THREE AND WITH OTHER ITEMS BEING PRESENTED TO US TO FILL THAT GAP AT ANOTHER TIME, MAYBE AT THE FEBRUARY 9TH MEETING? DO I HAVE A SECOND? I-- OK.
IT SEEMS THAT WE DON'T HAVE SUPPORT FOR EVEN MOVING IT ALONG WITHOUT NUMBER THREE.
SO, I'M GOING TO ASK THIS QUESTION OF OUR REPRESENTATIVE ON THE DAIS FOR THIS.
IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE ABOUT THE OTHER ITEMS ON INSPIRATION WAY COMMISSIONER PLACKO THAT TROUBLE YOU? I THINK THAT-- I THINK THE PROCEDURE FOR COMING BEFORE THE COMMISSION TO SHOW US THIS AND THEN ASK US FOR APPROVAL SHOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH PRIOR TO THIS RATHER THAN HURRY UP, WE NEED TO GET THIS DONE NOW BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY MADE ARRANGEMENTS FOR IT TO BE INSTALLED.
I THINK THAT'S NOT A GOOD PROCEDURE AND WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN THIS MUCH FURTHER ALONG RATHER THAN NOW.
AND WHILE I AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT, THE UNFORTUNATE SITUATION FROM WHAT I HEAR IS THAT WE'D ALSO ASK THEM TO MOVE TIMING TO BE SIMULTANEOUS.
SO WITH THAT, CAN WE MOVE FORWARD TRYING TO COME UP WITH AN IDEA TO MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT THE ITEM NUMBER THREE IS WHAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED AND MIDDLE OF SPEAKING COMMISSIONER, I WILL RECOGNIZE YOU WHEN MY SENTENCE IS FINISHED.
SO, COMMISSIONER PLACKO, AS YOU ARE THE REPRESENTATIVE ON THIS BOARD, I'M ASKING WHAT OTHER THOUGHT THAT YOU HAVE TO HELP MOVE THIS ITEM ALONG? I THINK IT'S UP TO MY COLLEAGUES.
[01:50:02]
CITY ATTORNEY, IS IT PROPER TO CONTINUE DISCUSSION AFTER AN ITEM HAS FAILED FOR LACK OF SECOND? WELL, YOU ALL CAN PRESUMPTIVELY THE CONCEPT HERE IS TO TAKE ACTION ON SOMETHING.SO TO THE EXTENT THAT A MOTION WAS MADE AND IT HAS FAILED, THAT ITEM IS NO LONGER ON THE TABLE.
SO YOU'RE BACK TO DISCUSSION AND POTENTIALLY MAKING AN ALTERNATE MOTION TO GIVE STAFF AND THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE DIRECTION ON HOW YOU WISH FOR STAFF AND THE COMMITTEE TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS ITEM.
AND I GUESS WE HAVE A FOLLOW UP ON YOUR POINT OF CLARIFICATION? SO, ATTORNEY, WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING THIS VERY SAME ITEM, TWO EXACT SAME MOTIONS TWICE SO AS THE ATTORNEY--.
[INAUDIBLE] A SEPARATE MOTION, BY THE WAY.
IT WAS, IF I WILL FINISH MY STATEMENT EVERYONE--.
THAT WE DO NOT SPEAK OVER EACH OTHER AND I'VE TAKEN YOU TO THAT.
AND SO I'D RESPECTFULLY ASK THE COMMISSIONER, THE GENTLEMAN, FROM DISTRICT THREE DO NOT SPEAK OVER ME.
ATTORNEY, THE VERY SAME MOTION IS AT PLAY.
SO WHY IS IT THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING THE VERY SAME MOTION TWICE? I WOULD DEFER TO BOTH INDIVIDUALS WHO MADE THE MOTION-- THE RESPECTIVE MOTIONS, BUT THE ITEM IS ULTIMATELY A DISCUSSION AND DIRECTION TO STAFF AND TO THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON HOW THIS BODY WANTS BOTH OF THOSE, THE COMMITTEE AND STAFF TO MOVE FORWARD WITH REGARD TO THE 2022 INSPIRATION WAY SCULPTURES.
MY POINT IS THAT AT SOME POINT A DIRECTION HAS TO BE GIVEN AS TO WHAT YOU ALL WANT TO SEE RIGHT NOW.
AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE DISCUSSION IS TO LEAVE THE RECOMMENDATION, AS IS, BUT A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT HAS YET TO BE MADE.
AND AS A POINT OF CLARIFICATION, THERE WAS TWO DIFFERENT MOTIONS, THE FIRST MOTION WAS AN ALTERNATE OF WHETHER OR NOT LEGS WOULD-- DANCING LEGS WOULD STAY OR THERE BE ANOTHER ONE.
THE SECOND MOTION HAD DANCING LEGS DEFINITELY GONE.
AND BRINGING BACK AT THE SECOND MEETING, THE NEXT FIRST MEETING IN FEBRUARY, A NEW ITEM.
SO THEY WERE DEFINITELY TWO DISTINCT MOTIONS THAT WERE REQUESTED.
THEY WERE MOTIONS, BUT THEY WERE NOT SECONDED.
VICE MAYOR, YOU WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT? YEAH, JUST ABOUT IN TERMS OF THE PROCESS SO THAT, COMMISSIONER PLACKO MENTIONED, I THINK WE GET REGULAR EMAIL UPDATES FROM STAFF ABOUT WHEN OUR DIFFERENT COMMITTEES ARE MEETING.
SO IN TERMS OF A PROCESS AND NOT BEING SURPRISED BY ITEMS THAT COME UP, YOU KNOW, WE ALL APPOINTED PEOPLE TO SERVE ON DIFFERENT COMMITTEES.
SO, WHAT I IMPLEMENTED WAS I HAVE REGULAR PHONE CALLS WITH MY PLANNING BOARD MEMBER, DIVERSITY BOARD MEMBER, PUBLIC ART MEMBER.
I KNOW WHAT'S COMING BEFORE US.
SO THERE REALLY SHOULDN'T BE A SURPRISE FOR ANYONE HERE BECAUSE WE GET PROPER NOTICE.
SO WE HAVE TO BE PROACTIVE IN DOING OUTREACH TO THE PEOPLE THAT WE APPOINTED TO REPRESENT OUR NEEDS OR WANTS OR OPINIONS ON DIFFERENT MATTERS.
SO THERE SHOULD BE NO SURPRISE FOR ANYONE HERE ABOUT WHAT'S BEFORE US NOW.
AND SO STAFF HAS SET A TIMETABLE FOR IMPLEMENTATION.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE JUST HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB OF BEING PROACTIVE IN GETTING THE INFORMATION WE NEED AND BEING PREPARED TO MAKE A DECISION.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS.
YEAH, I JUST WANT TO ECHO YOUR COMMENTS, MAYOR.
THERE WAS TWO MOTIONS COMMISSIONER BOLTON FROM DISTRICT ONE.
ONE, FOR THE CLARIFICATION, WAS TO ALTERNATIVELY GET ADDITIONAL PICTURES AND POSSIBLY VOTE THAT ONE IN THE SECOND MOTION WAS JUST TO COMPLETELY REMOVE IT AND REPLACE IT.
SO, I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOUR EARS ARE HEARING, BUT THEY'RE LYING TO YOU.
WHEN WERE THESE ITEMS PLACED ON THE AGENDA? THIS PARTICULAR ITEM? LAST WEEK? [INAUDIBLE] WE RECEIVED OUR AGENDAS?
[01:55:02]
RIGHT, THE STAFF PROCESSES THE AGENDAS BEFOREHAND.WHEN DID THE ART COMMITTEE MEET TO DISCUSS THESE ITEMS? DO YOU KNOW WHEN THE ART COMMITTEE MET BETH? I DON'T KNOW OFFHAND.
YES, THEY MET JANUARY 18TH ON A-- WE MEET THE THIRD TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH.
ARE WE DISCUSSING THIS? [INAUDIBLE].
NO, SHE ASKED WHEN THE LAST MEETING WAS I THOUGHT.
NO, BECAUSE IT HAD ALREADY-- WE HAD VOTED MONTHS BEFORE.
I THINK THE-- IN DECEMBER, I BELIEVE WE HAD-- NO, WE DIDN'T.
NOVEMBER, I BELIEVE, WAS WHEN INSPIRATION WAY 2022 WAS JURY SELECTION FOR THE PUBLIC ART COMMITTEE, AND GEORGE AND I HAD PREPARED IT FOR THE COMMITTEE AND THE SELECTIONS WERE MADE AT THAT TIME.
MS. MAXINE, WHAT'S THE REGULAR PROCESS FOR INSPIRATIONAL WAY? IS IT USUALLY PRESENTED IN MONTHS PRIOR, VOTED ON AND THEN IT COMES TO US WHEN WE'RE READY TO VOTE? IS THIS THE NORMAL WAY OF DOING THINGS THAT WE USUALLY DO IT? THIS IS SOMEWHAT CONSISTENT WITH THE WAY WE'VE DONE IT IN THE PAST WITH ANOTHER DIFFERENCE WE'RE TRYING TO EXPEDITE AT THIS TIME.
IN THE PAST OR FIRST EXHIBIT, THE FOUNDATIONS REMAINED VACANT FOR A WHILE UNTIL WE WERE ABLE TO GET THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
THIS BODY INSTRUCTED US TO EXPEDITE GOING FORWARD.
YOU DIDN'T WANT TO SEE THE FOUNDATION REMAIN VACANT ONCE ONE EXHIBIT WAS REMOVED.
AND SO YOU ASK US TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE DOING REPLACEMENT AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE DOING THE INSTALLATION.
SO THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'RE SOMEWHAT EXPEDITED THAT PROCESS SIMULTANEOUSLY WORKING WITH OUR CONSULTANTS SO WE CAN ENSURE THAT ONCE ONE PIECE IS REMOVED, THE REPLACEMENT IS PUT IN AT THE SAME TIME.
SO WE DON'T HAVE VACANT FOUNDATIONS ALONG NOB HILL.
SO CONSIDERING THAT DIED FOR A SECOND, ARE WE HAVING A DISCUSSION AS TO-- WE HAVE A LOT OF MOVING PIECES HERE AND IT'S NOT JUST A, YOU KNOW, AN AGENDA ITEM, WE HAVE, AS SHE MENTIONED, ARTISTS THAT ARE FLYING IN INSTALLATIONS THAT ARE BEING REMOVED.
IT DOESN'T EVEN NEED OUR VOTE TO HAVE THEM REMOVED.
SO, WE'RE NOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE EMPTY PIECES IN DISTRICT TWO THAT PEOPLE DRIVE BY EVERY DAY.
SO, ARE WE HAVING A DISCUSSION TO FIGURE OUT WHY OUR COLLEAGUES ARE NOT EVEN GIVING THEIR INPUT, WHY THEY DON'T WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT? OR ARE WE JUST NOT HAVING A DISCUSSION AT ALL? AND WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE PIECES REMOVED AND HAVE EMPTY LOTS.
THIS IS A DISCUSSION ITEM AND THE REASON THAT IS BEING MADE TO-- THERE BEING A FINAL MOTION IS DUE TO THERE NEEDING TO BE A DECISION FOR THESE ITEMS, PER OUR CITY ATTORNEY.
BUT-- THERE MAY NEED TO BE CLARIFICATION ON THE PROCESS.
IF THIS ISN'T A VOTING ITEM BEFORE US, THEN IS THIS WHOLE CONVERSATION A LITTLE BIT MOOT ? IF WE AS A BODY DON'T HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE THE DECISION OVER THE SCULPTURES THAT ARE GOING OVER THERE, AND THIS IS JUST AN INFORMATIONAL PIECE.
BECAUSE IF IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE AN ITEM THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DISCUSS AND THEN MOTION ON FOR SELECTION.
THEN THIS IS OUR DISCUSSION, OUR WORKSHOP PIECE, AND IT COMES BACK TO US AT A FUTURE MEETING WITH THE ITEMS FOR A VOTE ON THE REGULAR AGENDA.
THIS IS THE WAY WE HAVE LISTED IT IN THE PAST, IT'S INTENDED TO GAIN CONSENSUS FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD.
IT IS NOT JUST FOR DISCUSSION, WHICH I THINK IS WHY IS DISCUSSION AND CONSENSUS, I THINK, IS HOW THE ITEM IS WRITTEN.
BUT TYPICALLY WE DON'T-- WE HAVE NEVER LISTED IT AS A RESOLUTION OR FORMALIZE IT IN THAT WAY.
WE HAVE LISTED IT UNDER OTHERS OFTENTIMES HAVE TAKEN IT TO YOU AT A WORKSHOP FOR CONSENSUS, AND DIRECTION.
AND THEREFORE, I THINK THERE HAS BEEN-- WELL, I KNOW THAT COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS HAS MADE IT CLEAR HE WAS WILLING TO MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT THE PIECE ON THERE.
I'VE MADE IT CLEAR THAT I'M WILLING TO MOVE OUT WITH THE PIECE FORWARD WITHOUT THERE.
I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM MY OTHER COLLEAGUES IF THEY DO.
COMMISSIONER PLACKO, ARE YOU WILLING TO MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT DANCING LEGS? YES.
COMMISSIONER BOLTON, ARE YOU WILLING TO MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT DANCING LEGS? WITHOUT DANCING BLISS AND WITHOUT THE TURTLE IN MY DISTRICT.
TURTLE IS NOT FOR DISCUSSION, WE'LL COME BACK TO THAT, BUT THANK YOU.
VICE MAYOR, ARE YOU WILLING TO MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT DANCING BLISS?
[02:00:05]
I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED, I WANT TO KNOW WHERE WE ARE FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY.I THOUGHT THIS WAS DEAD ISSUE? IS-- AND I MUST APOLOGIZE BECAUSE I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED.
ARE WE-- I THINK AS I UNDERSTAND IT, WE ARE JUST DEALING WITH THE SCULPTURES ON INSPIRATION WAY.
THERE ARE APPARENTLY OTHER SCULPTURES THAT IN THE PRESENTATION, I WASN'T.
I WASN'T SURE THAT IT WAS SEPARATE FROM INSPIRATION WAY THAT WILL THEN BE BROUGHT UP AND DISCUSSED.
IS-- ARE WE-- DO WE ALL AGREE THAT THAT'S? THE TURTLE IS NOT PART OF INSPIRATION WAY.
IT IS PART OF INSPIRATION WAY, AS IS.
BUT IT IS-- THAT DISCUSSION OF WHETHER OR NOT THE CITY WILL PURCHASE THIS TURTLE AND PLACE IN ANOTHER DISTRICT IS SEPARATE FROM INSPIRATION WAY AT THIS TIME.
OK, SO I-- THEN THE CONSENSUS THAT IS BEING SOUGHT AT THIS POINT IN TIME IS, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, IS HOW STAFF AND THE COMMITTEE ARE TO PROCEED WITH SOLELY THOSE ITEMS THAT ARE, FOR LACK OF A BETTER DESCRIPTION, JUST INSPIRATION WAY RELATED.
SO, VICE MAYOR, YOUR RESPONSE THEN.
I'M COMFORTABLE WITH THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE.
OK, SO WE ARE FOUR TO ONE CONSENSUS THAT INSPIRATION WAY MOVES ON WITHOUT DANCING LEGS.
WE'LL BE BACK BEFORE YOU WENT THE NEXT MEETING WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REPLACEMENT OF THAT LOCATION.
NOW THE SEPARATE ITEM THAT WAS INTRODUCED AT THE LAST MINUTE THROUGH THIS CONVERSATION BECAUSE IT IS NOT ON HERE IS REGARDING THE TURTLE.
AT THIS TIME, I'M SEEING THAT THERE MAY NEED TO BE SOME MORE OUTRAGE.
CITY MANAGER, DO YOU RECOMMEND POSSIBLY DISCUSSING THIS AT ANOTHER TIME? I DO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, EVERYBODY.
AND WE ARE NOW UP TO 10B, CITY COMMISSION QUESTIONS DIRECTION TO THE CITY
[10.b. City Commission Questions/Direction to the City Manager or the City Attorney]
MANAGER OR CITY ATTORNEY BY COMMISSIONER BOLTON.SEEING, THE DISCUSSION THAT WE JUST HAD ABOUT PUBLIC ART.
I AM INCLINED TO ASK THE CITY MANAGER TO FORWARD ME AND ALSO MY COLLEAGUES A COPY OF THE AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVE WITH BETH RAVITZ AS WELL AS GEORGE GADSON TO SEE HOW WE MAY MODIFY THAT AGREEMENT OR TERMINATED AT SOME POINT BECAUSE I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THERE IS RESPECT OR UNITY FROM THEIR CONSULTING FIRM TO THE CITY COMMISSION.
IT IS NOT AT THIS TIME A CALL FOR TERMINATION.
IT IS A CONSIDERATION FOR REVIEWING OF THE AGREEMENT.
I BELIEVE THAT I SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MY DISTRICT AND WHEN I MAKE SOMETHING VERY CLEAR TO BETH AND GEORGE, IT MUST BE ADHERED TO.
WE ARE ELECTED OFFICIALS IN OUR DISTRICT AND WHEN YOU PLACE ART THAT IS OVERLY EXPENSIVE AND JUST IS NOT SOMETIMES PLEASING TO THE EYE TO RESIDENTS, IT IS A CALL FOR CONCERN.
I REPRESENT THOSE RESIDENTS AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW THAT I'M A VOICE FOR THEM AT CITY HALL AND THEY CAN ALWAYS COME TO CITY HALL AND EXPECT A FIGHTER IN ME FOR THEM.
AND SO IF THAT IS THE CALL FOR A FIGHT TO LOOK AT THIS AGREEMENT, I WILL.
THE NEXT ITEM IS THE CITY ATTORNEY CHANGING HIS DANCE ALL THE TIME.
IT SOUNDS LIKE THE CITY ATTORNEY IS NOT IN UNITY WITH THE KIND OF ITEMS THAT ARE ON THE AGENDA.
IT SOUNDS SOMETIMES THAT HE TRIES TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE WIND IS BLOWING, SO TO SPEAK, AND THEN GO WITH THE WIND.
THAT IS NOT HOW A CITY ATTORNEY SHOULD OPERATE.
YOU SHOULD BE ON THE SIDE OF THE LAW, NOT ON THE SIDE OF ANY ELECTED OFFICIAL.
AND SO WHEN THE CITY ATTORNEY WAS VOTED IN, WE HEARD A BEAUTIFUL DANCE
[02:05:01]
ABOUT $50000 AS A FLAT FEE AND REALLY AND TRULY THE CITY ATTORNEY'S INVOICES TO THE CITY IS TRENDING TO BE WELL OVER WHAT EVEN SAM GOREN WAS CHARGING THE CITY.SO MY REQUEST NOW IS THAT THE CITY MANAGER FORWARD ME ALL INVOICES FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY FROM THE TIME OF INCEPTION, FROM THE TIME OF HIRING HIM UNTIL NOW, HIS CONTRACT, ALL INVOICES MUST BE SENT TO US.
AGAIN, IT'S NOT A CALL FOR TERMINATION FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY, BUT THE RESIDENTS OF THIS GREAT CITY MUST BE IN THE KNOW WHERE WE'RE SPENDING, HOW WE'RE SPENDING THEIR MONEY, NOT JUST ON GIFT CARDS, BUT ON HIGH TICKET ITEMS SUCH AS THESE.
IT IS NOT A JAB AT THE CITY ATTORNEY.
I BELIEVE THAT HE HAS EXPERTISE IN SOME AREA, CLEARLY, NOT ALL.
AND WE NEED TO TAKE HEED TO THAT.
THOSE ARE MY TWO ITEMS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS.
SO COMMISSIONER-- VICE MAYOR GELIN, WAS IN UNITY WITH-- WHAT [INAUDIBLE] AGAINST OUR DISCUSSION REGARDING THE ART PIECES BECAUSE HE FELT THAT THE COMMITTEE'S DECISION WAS THEIR DECISION? SO, MY QUESTION IS TO COMMISSIONER BOLTON, DIDN'T YOU SPEAK TO YOUR APPOINTEE? THE GENTLEMAN FROM DISTRICT THREE WILL NOT SPEAK TO ME DIRECTLY.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM DISTRICT I'M MAKING REFERENCE OF THE GENTLEMAN FROM DISTRICT THREE.
I'M NOT ASKING THE GENTLEMAN FROM DISTRICT THREE A QUESTION.
IT WAS THE GENTLEMAN FROM DISTRICT THREE RIGHT BACK TO ME.
GENTLEMEN, WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE THIS.
COMMISSIONER EVERYBODY ON THE DAIS KNOWS YOUR COMMENTS.
GO OUT NOT TO ONE ANOTHER UNLESS IT'S A SPECIFIC ITEM SUCH AS WE HAD WHERE COMMISSIONER PLACKO SITS ON THE BOARD OR THE COMMITTEE FOR THE PUBLIC ART.
AND AS SUCH, THAT'S WHY SHE WAS ASKED DIRECTLY FOR THAT ITEM.
IF THE GENTLEMAN DISTRICT THREE WILL ASK THE QUESTION THROUGH THE CHAIR.
AND THEN IT WOULD BE MY PREROGATIVE TO ANSWER THE QUESTION OR NOT.
THANK YOU FOR TRYING TO REINFORCE THEM.
THE FLOOR IS BACK TO COMMISSIONER VILLALOBOS.
SO THROUGH THE CHAIR, IF YOU DID, IF PEOPLE WERE TO ACTUALLY HEAR WHAT WE'RE SAYING INSTEAD [INAUDIBLE] TALKING OVER EACH OTHER, WE WOULD HEAR THAT I DID SAY TO THE CHAIR.
SO JUST FOR CLARITY PURPOSES, SO ALL OF US HAVE AN APPOINTEE FOR EVERY BOARD.
WE SHOULD BE DISCUSSING THAT WITH OUR APPOINTEES.
SO, WE SHOULD ALL KNOW THAT THERE WAS A TURTLE THAT WAS UNANIMOUSLY CHOSEN TO GO INTO A MAINLAND'S COMMUNITY.
RIGHT? SO FOR IT TO BE A QUESTION NOW, IT SHOULD BE UP TO THAT COMMISSIONER--.
POINT OF ORDER TURTLE IS COMMISSIONER BOLTON, YOU ARE NOT RECOGNIZED AT THIS POINT OF ORDER FOR YOU ON A THIS IS--.
SO I THINK TO THE POINT COMMISSIONER BOLTON IS TRYING TO MAKE IS THAT THE AGENDA ITEM THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING-- THAT'S UNDER WHICH WE'RE-- THIS DISCUSSION IS TAKING PLACE IS LISTED AS QUESTIONS AND DIRECTIONS TO THE MANAGER AND TO THE ATTORNEY.
IT'S GONE BEYOND THAT AND ARGUABLY OUT OF ORDER BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED ISN'T PART OF THIS AGENDA ITEM.
YES, BUT AT THE SAME TOKEN, AS WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO SAY TODAY, WE WILL LET THE PERSON FINISH THEIR SENTENCE.
SO AND THIS IS NOT A MATTER OF A RESPONSE.
THERE'S A POINT OF CLARIFICATION AFTER YOUR SENTENCE.
[02:10:03]
THIS TOPIC THAT YOU WANT TO GO BACK TO AND DISCUSS IS NOT UNDER [INAUDIBLE] WHERE THE QUESTIONS ARE FOR THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY.YOUR QUESTIONS ARE MORE BACK TO TOPIC 10A.
SO, ATTORNEY ON THE PROCESS OF HOW THIS COMES FORWARD AND HOW IT IS REVIEWED IN THE FUTURE FOR ARTWORK.
THAT'S HOW YOU CAN REFRAME YOUR QUESTION FOR THAT [INAUDIBLE].
THANK YOU AND SEEING NOTHING FURTHER IT IS 11:56.
ENJOY THE FOUR MINUTES LEFT IN THE MORNING.
HAVE A GREAT AFTERNOON AND WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE ON FEBRUARY 9TH, I BELIEVE WHATEVER WEDNESDAY IS, AT SEVEN P.M., THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
BE SAFE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.