02-07-1978 Regular MeetingREGULAR MEETING
MIAMI SHORES VILLAGE COUNCIL
February 7, 1978
The regular meeting of the Miami Shores Village Council was held on
February 7, 1978, 7:30 p.m. at the Village Hall, with the following Council
members present:
Mayor Joseph P. Farina
Ralph E. Bowen
W. Alfred Davis
Mrs. Elspeth Jensen
Absent: Donald W. McIntosh
Mr. 0. Sam Ackley, Village Manager, and Mr. William F. Fann, Jr.,
Village Attorney, were also present.
The meeting was opened with an invocation given by Mr. Henry Gruenberg,
Elder and Chairman of the Board of the Miami Shores Christian Church, and
followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Minutes of the meeting of January 24, 1978, as corrected in an addendum,
were approved by motion made by Mr. Davis, seconded by Mrs. Jensen and carried.
Consideration of applying for a grant to assist in the
Comprehensive Plan required by State law.
Mr. Ackley stated that he was requesting consideration of making applica-
tion to find out if we are one of the communities qualified to apply for a grant,
without deciding now as to what we would do with the grant or how it would be
applied. Mr. Ackley read a proposed resolution required for applying. Mr. Bowen
stated he would not vote for any resolution that was controlled by HUD, without
knowing what we are getting into. Mr. Davis moved that the Council approve making
this application. Mr. Bowen moved that the motion be tabled until the Council has
a work shop session to determine in more detail as to what is involved. The motion
was seconded by Mrs. Jensen and passed 3/1 with Mr. Davis dissenting.
Award bid for riding mower.
A memorandum was received from the Golf Course Superintendent recommend-
ing purchase of the Toro Groundsmaster offered by Hector Turf & Garden, Inc. for
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$5275.00, with reasons as listed in the memo. Mr. Davis moved that the
recommendation be approved for purchase of the mower at $5275.00. The motion was
seconded by Mrs. Jensen and carried unanimously, after the Village Manager reported
that the money was available in a line item in the budget.
Schedule workshop for February 14, 1978, to consider:
1. Amending our present health & sanitation code re vegetation on
public right-of-way enforcement.
2. Recreation playground regulations.
3. Motion picture industry regulation.
It was requested that the planning grant be added to this list, the
Country Club Association By -Laws, and Animal Control.
Mr. Davis moved that the work shop be set for 7:30 p.m., on February 14th.
The motion was seconded by Mr. Bowen and carried unanimously.
Village Manager's report:
1. Participant insurance for Recreation program - to be effective
February 1, 1978, those signed up prior to be given same benefits
until their next anniversary date.
2. N. E. 2nd Avenue - Inman Company a week behind schedule but now
in preparation for re -paving. Regarding the beautification Mr. Ackley
reported that he had written to the County for a starting date but
had not yet received a reply. In answer to Mr. Bowen's question
about the planter boxes, Mr. Askley stated that they are to be removed.
Several persons voiced concern in learning that the street was to be
paved only over the patch and not from curb to curb. Mr. Davis asked
that this be put on the workshop agenda and Mr. Bowen asked that someone
from Metro meet with the Council.
3. New public works building - completed and we will move some equip-
ment in this week. Mr. Ackley stated that there will be a dedication
when all moving is complete.
4. Shores Fest - The merchants are planning a "Shores Fest" to be
held in October, 1978, with outside displays, outside entertainment, etc.
which will require Council action.
5. Little River Commerce Association - Mr. Ackley reported that a
commerce association had been formed to the south of us which will
provide a buffer to the Shores.
6. Equipment - In the Waste Department there is $18,000 budgeted for
"other" waste equipment and we plan to use this money plus interest
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to purchase a trash crane and truck. Mr. Ackley stated that a
demonstrator truck had been located for $19,500 and he recommended
its purchase, waiving bid procedure. He also reported that there is
$19,500 available in the Parks Department budget for a chipper and
truck. This is not enough for new equipment. Mr. Ackley stated that
a used chipper truck has been located which can be purchased for
$12,000, and with the balance of the money a new chipper can be
purchased, and he requested that competitive bids be put out on the
new chipper.
Mr. Davis moved that this be placed on the next agenda for consideration
to purchase the trash crane and truck, and the used chipper truck, waiving the
bid formality, and to initiate the bidding procedure for a new chipper. The
motion was seconded by Mr. Bowen and carried unanimously. Mayor Farina asked for
justification of this equipment.
7. Beautification - At the next meeting of the Beautification Committee
They will consider the median strips, the public works complex and the
Club. They are also interested in the Optimist Park regarding new
furniture, etc., as well as upgrading certain ordinances.
8. Pay Plan - Mr. Ackley reported that his staff has been working
on the plan which is based on six merit steps, with annual review,
job evaluations, etc. When it is completed it will be given to the
department heads, and then to the Council, but needs no Council action.
9. Country Club - (a) Fairway markers - Mr. Ackley reviewed the
proposal at no cost for new fairway markers with
space for advertising. Mr. Bowen asked that the
Country Club Association be contacted in this regard
and that no action be taken at this time on the
markers.
(b) Turnover - The Club is experiencing unusually
high labor turnover. Mr. Ackley felt it was due
to the very low salaries.
Mr. Ackley reported that the budget report for the Country Club was now
available and distributed it to Council for discussion at the work shop.
Mr. Norkum submitted a report on comparative revenues at the club for
the three months ending 12/31/77 and 12/31/78.
Tennis courts - The Club Manager reported that the reconstruction
program had not been completed on time, two of the shelters have been
completed but the third was held up; hopefully, the entire project
will be completed by the end of next week.
New golf cars - Mr. Norkum reported very little breakdown and as a result,
they are able to generate more revenue and complaints are becoming
minimal.
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Mr. Norkum explained some of the reasons for the high turnover of
personnel at the Club, principally due to the labor market for
service personnel who are only interested in salary and not fringe
benefits.
Mr. Bowen stated that he had asked that the Invitational Golf Memberships
be an agenda item at a Council meeting and not a work shop meeting. The Mayor
stated that it must go through a work shop session first.
Mr. Bowen asked that the record indicate that he had requested that it
be put on the agenda for this meeting and his request was not honored. Mr. Ackley
explained that the Country Club figures were not ready to go out with the agenda.
After discussion of whether or not this could be considered an emergency
measure, Mr. Bowen moved that the Council consider, in view of the fact that the
by-laws have not been completed and we are showing an increase in revenue, that
we suspend our Invitational Golf memberships at this time, and that the item be
deemed to be an emergency issue to place it on the agenda. Mrs. Jensen seconded
the motion but it failed to carry. Before the vote was taken the Mayor ruled that
the motion covered only the issue of placing it on the agenda.
Mr. Bowen then requested that the Invitational Golf Memberships be put
on the work shop agenda as a priority item and on the next Council meeting agenda.
Mr. Bowen brought up the dog ordinance and criticized the article in
the Village Hall news as not being responsive to the citizen complaints.
It was announced that the Midyear General Membership dinner meeting of
the Dade County League of Cities will be held on February 24, 1978 at the Miami
Lakes Country Club.
Mrs. Jensen reported on the programs that the Dade League of Cities is
working on.
The meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m.
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