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02-07-1989 Regular MeetingMIAMI SHORES REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1989 The regular meeting of the Miami Shores Village Council was held on Tuesday, February 7, 1989 In the Village Hall commencing at 7:34 p.m. with the following members present: Mayor Spero Canton Stephen Loffredo Robert S. Butler, Jr. Karen Kirby Marty Stofik Also present: Elly F. Johnson William F. Fann Gall Macdonald Reverend Morrell S. Robinson from the Rader Memorial United Methodist Church gave the invocation and Mayor Canton led the Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Canton presented Citizen Service Awards to Mr. Gary Dunkley and Mr. Ramon Florez for outstanding assistance to the Miami Shores Police. ITEM *1 MINUTES Ms. Stofik made a motion to approve the minutes from the regular Council Meeting of 1/17/89. Mr. Loffredo seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous In favor. Mayor canton acknowledged receipt of the following minutes: Fine Arts Commission 1/9/89 Recreation Advisory Board 1/9/89 Historic Preservation Board 1/16/89 Downtown Revitalization Board 1/18/89 Downtown Revitalization Board 2/1/89 Planning And Zoning Board 1/26/89 ITEM *10 REQUEST BY NORTH MIAMI SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL GOLF TEAM, FOR PERMISSION TO USE MIAMI SHORES GOLF COURSE FROM FEBRUARY 10TH, THROUGH MAY 5, 1989. Mr. Loffredo made a motion to move Item *10 on the agenda up to *2 position. Ms. Stofik seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous In favor. Mr. Jim Rodgers the Athletic Director from North Miami High School explained the request. Mr. Loffredo moved to approve the request. Ms. Stofik seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous In favor. ITEM *2 REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF TRAFFIC STUDY AGREEMENT WITH DAVID PLUMBER AND ASSOC. INC.. Mr. Johnson explained the request. Dr. Butler stated that the Council should hold off on expending $28,000 until after the Council finds out what the citizens request or what their desires are. Ms. Kirby stated the study will provide other Information In relation to traffic In the Village and therefore she supports the study. Mr. Loffredo moved to approve the agreement. Ms. Stofik seconded the motion and the vote was 4 to 1 In favor with Dr. Butler In opposition. ITEM *3 REQUEST FOR COUNCIL APPROVAL FOR BARRICADE PLAN Mayor Canton stated that the Council already approved the plan when they sent it to the County but it was never fully approved as a plan of action. He went on to say that the plan Is contingent on approval by the traffic study and the County. Dr. Butler stated that the plan was approved already and the action Is redundant. Mr. Loffredo agreed with Dr. Butler. Ms. Stoflk stated the Council approved the plan as a test program and until the traffic study Is completed she would not want to approve It as anything other than a test program. Mr. Fann stated a resolution Is appropriate for the Council to signify support. Mr. Loffredo stated the plan is a starting point and Is not cast In stone. Mayor Canton agreed with Mr. Loffredo. Ms. Kirby suggested, and It was a consensus of the Council, that the Village Manager write up a resolution of the 65 closures which are represented on the map being the phase 1 consideration plan that the Council Is looking to adopt as it was presented to the County and contingent on the traffic study. ITEM *4 DISCUSSION ON REFERENDUM QUESTION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN (BARRICADES). Mayor Canton explained that the Council meetings are the only time the Council can discuss among themselves the referendum question. He suggested to Install environmental design devices to reduce crime and traffic. Dr. Butler stated the Council has already directed the Village Attorney to look Into drafting an Initial proposal and bring that back to the Council for the Council to work with. Mr. Fann stated that was correct but that he had some other Information to discuss also. Mr. Fann said that If the special taxing district consists of the entire Village then the tax will be counted In the 10 mil cap that the Village Is under. Mr. Loffredo stated that It wouldn't matter because the Village Is at 7.5 mil now and the Council Is only talking about 1/2 mil for 5 years. Dr. Butler stated the Council has not raised taxes appreciably and the 1/2 mil would not have a big effect, but the situation Is changing and In 5 years it may become a critical Issue. Ms. Stoflk asked If the Council can exceed the 10 mil cap with a vote of the residents. Mr. Fann replied not that he knew of. Dr. Butler asked Mr. Fann If the Council can stop the 1/2 mil tax If the situation changes later on and the 10 mil cap Is approched. Mr. Fann replied yes. Ms. Kirby stated that she Is very upset that 2 months before the referendum It took a former Councilperson to alert the Council that the proposed tax would be Included In the 10 mil cap. Mr. Fann stated that he was asked for the first time at the last meeting. Ms. Stoflk stated that she agrees with Ms. Kirby and Is also very upset. She said that Mr. Fann was at all of the meetings where a special taxing district was discussed. Ms. Stoflk also said a mil Is not alot of money and a 1/2 mil Is a tiny amount of money. Mayor Canton stated that he was led to believe that the only way to fund the permanent barriers was to have a referendum. He said the procedure has been altered because of the information Mr. Fann presented. Dr. Butler stated that the referendum would be a platform to see If the residents wanted to spend the money on barricades. Mr. Loffredo stated the capital loan that the Village currently has will be lower In the future and the Village Is financially strong. He said the 10 mil cap will not be an issue In 5 years. Mayor Canton called for public comments on this Issue. (All comments were from Miami Shores residents.) Ms. Barbara Burton stated that she was confused because the public was told that they needed a referendum and now they are told that a referendum Is not necessary. She stated If it wasn't necessary to have a referendum let's get on with it. Dr. Butler stated that the Council could not raise the ad valorem tax until September. Mr. Herny Abrams stated that acquisition costs will be much greater than the maintenance costs and why does the Council need so much money. He also stated that some people don't read English and the signs should be In international symbols. J.C. Brown asked how much will It cost for each barrier. Mr. Loffredo replied approximately $4,000 per barrier. Mr. Seth Bramson Inquired how individual neighborhoods could set up a special taxing district. Dr. Butler stated the Council should ask Mr. Fann to create a referendum question around a 1/2 mill tax for 5 years. Mr. Fann stated there may be a 2 year limitation on the question and It might require a referendum every two years. Ms. Kirby stated that a year ago the Council decided that they would not proceed without a referendum vote of the residents. Ms. Stofik stated that it didn't matter how the Council proceeds because there will be no funds available until the fall. She went on to say that she was stunned at the positive effect that a new barricade has had on her street. Dr. Butter moved that the Council use Mr. Loffredo's recommendation that the referendum be worded that the Council Is asking permission to set up a special taxing district involving the entire Village of Miami Shores to assess a 1/2 mill per year for up to, but not to exceed 5 years, and that these funds be used for the protect as designated as the barricade or traffic alteration or environmental design. Ms. Kirby seconded the motion. Mayor Canton offered an amendment that the environmental design concept will be used to reduce crime and traffic In the Village. Dr. Butler accepted the amendment and Ms. Kirby seconded the amendment. Mr. Loffredo stated the Council will not need 1/2 mill for the full 5 years, this only gives the Council room just in case. Ms. Stofik asked if funds can be advanced to the protect If the residents vote for the protect. Mr. Johnson stated yes but . only If funds are available. He went on to say that approximately $20,000 In the contingency fund is available. Mr. Johnson said that by the time the barricades are approved by the County the funds will be coming In anyways. He said that no barricades will be approved until the traffic study Is completed. The vote was taken for the motion on the floor and was unanimous In favor. The Council took a recess from 9:07 until 9:22 p.m.. ITEM *5 REQUEST FOR APPROVAL TO TRANSFER FUNDS FROM PUBLIC RELATIONS ACCOUNT TO VILLAGE HALL NEWSLETTER ACCOUNT. Mayor Canton explained the request stating it would cost an additional $6,000 per year to have the newsletter professionally done. Mr. Johnson stated $2,500 was donated and with the balance there Is $7,500 In the budget. Mayor Canton stated the presentation will be more ascetically pleasing. Dr. Butler moved to transfer $3,500 from the public relations account to the Village Hall newsletter account. Ms. Stofik seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous In favor. ITEM *6 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 18-49 (B), ARTICLE III, CHAPTER 18, OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF MIAMI SHORES VILLAGE, FLORIDA REDUCING THE AGE TO BE USED IN COMPUTING EARLY RETIREMENT BENEFITS FROM SIXTY-FIVE TO SIXTY-TWO, PROVIDING EFFECTIVE DATE. Mr. Johnson read the title of the ordinance. Dr. Butler moved approval and Mr. Loffredo seconded the motion. Mr. Loffredo asked what the long term effects of this change will be. Mr. Johnson replied there will be no effect. The vote was unanimous In favor. ITEM *7 DISCUSSION ON GROUP R. ASSOCIATES PROPOSAL. Mr. Johnson explained the particulars of the proposal. Mr. Loffredo stated that the proposal split the revenues and the continuing expenses at the Club. The revenues went to the group making the proposal and the expenses stayed with the Village. He said it was not a proposal that he considered to be reasonable. Ms. Kirby stated that the Council did not request the proposal. Dr. Butler passed on a message that he received from Mr. Rose. Ms. Stoflk stated that it made no difference that Mr. Rose was not present because she felt the proposal was out of the question. ITEM *8 DISCUSSION ON PLACING "FOUR (4) WAY STOP" AT NE 95th STREET AND NE 5th AVENUE. Dr. butler stated he was not notified that a 4 way stop was going to be created and that the County should notify the Council. Mayor Canton agreed with Dr. Butler and said that It Is a slap In the face by altering the Village's traffic patterns. Mr. Loffredo stated that the Council Is owed an explanation why the stop sign was put In. Dr. Butler moved that the Council approve that the Council direct either through the Mayor or the Village Manager, a letter to Commissioner Gersten and Mr. Herndon asking for a rationale and an explanation as to how this (installation of the 4 way stop) came about. Ms. Kirby seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous In favor. ITEM *9 REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF USE OF MEMORIAL PARK. Mr. Johnson explained the request. Ms. Kirby moved approval Dr. Butler seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous In favor. ITEM *11 ANNOUNCEMENTS Mayor Canton read the announcements. ITEM *12 COUNCIL COMMENTS ITEM *13 PUBLIC COMMENTS ITEM *14 ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:52 p.m.. Attest: Elly F. Johnson By: Scott W. Davis Deputy Village Clerk