01-21-1992 Regular MeetingMIAMI SHORES VILLAGE
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
JANUARY 21, 1992
The regular meeting of the Miami Shores Village Council
was held on Tuesday, January 21, 1992, at the Miami Shores
Village Hall commencing at 7:35 p.m. with the following
members present:
Mayor Johnson
Henry T. Courtney
Herb Spahn
Stephen Loffredo
Robert Cook
Also present: Galt Macdonald
William F. Fann
ITEM *1 MINUTES
Mr. Spahn moved approval of the minutes from the 1/7/91 Regular
Council meeting. Mr. Loffredo seconded the motion and the vote
was unanimous In favor. Mayor Johnson acknowledged receipt of
the minutes from the following meetings:
Pension Board 11/21/91, 12/11/91
Country Club Advisory Board 12/23/91
Recreation Advisory Committee 12/9/91
Code Enforcement Board 1/2/92
ITEM *2 REQUEST FOR AUTHORIZATION TO DEFER LITIGATION PURSUANT TO
EPA INVESTIGATION. Ms. Macdonald reviewed the background and
recommended at this time to defer any action. She Introduced Mr.
Donald Fann and Ms. Betsy Gallagher from the law firm of Kubicki,
Draper et al. Ms. Gallagher stated that there would be no harm in
delaying any action. Mr. Donald Fann reviewed the progress with
the EPA case and the different phases of clean up. Mr. Cook asked
If Miami Shores contributed any oil to the site. Mr. Donald Fann
replied that 6 barrels have been Identified as of this time. He
also discussed the possibility of a de minimis group being formed
to limit liability of parties In the EPA action, such as the
Village, which had a nominal amount of waste oil Involved In that
site. Mr. Loffredo inquired about the statute of limitations in
this case. Ms. Gallagher replied 5 years from the date of denial
of claim by Travelers. Mr. Courtney asked about the reasons for
Travelers denial of coverage. Ms. Gallagher stated that the
reasons included:
1. No claim for damages by the Village
2. Cost to Investigate and remediate is not
property damage
3. Pollution exclusion In policy applies
4. Village gave late notice
Mr. Loffredo moved to accept the Village Manager's recommendation
with regard to pending Litigation against Travelers and defer a
decision on bringing an action against them based upon their
denial of the Village's insurance coverage for a period of six
months from this date. Mr. Courtney seconded the motion and the
vote was unanimous In favor. Mr. Courtney requested that the
Village Manager report to the Council the costs thus far and what
the original budgeted amount was.
ITEM *3 AWARD OF BID TO RESURFACE POOL TUB AND APPROPRIATION OF
ADDITIONAL PROJECT FUNDING. Ms. Macdonald reviewed the background
and recommended that the bid be awarded to the low bidder, Smith
Sandblasting, in the amount of $18,500 and that the Village
Council authorize the additional appropriation of $997 from the
contingency for swimming pool repairs. Mr. Courtney stated that
he was concerned that the first protect Is over budget by
approximately $5000 from the figure given by HJ Ross. He moved to
accept the Village Manager's recommendation and the appropriation
request. Mr. Loffredo seconded the motion and stated that he was
concerned that the engineers are off on the price by so much. Mr.
Varney stated that the specifications have been reviewed with the
low bidder and previous Jobs performed by Mr. Smith have been
checked and they were satisfactory. Mr. Spahn suggested that the
Village Manager send HJ Ross a letter regarding their estimate of
the cost of repairs for the pool. The vote was unanimous In favor
for the motion on the floor.
ITEM *4 AWARD OF BID FOR FUEL STORAGE TANKS AND APPROPRIATION OF
ADDITIONAL PROJECT FUNDING. Ms. Macdonald reviewed the
background and recommended that the bid be awarded to the low
bidder, Service Station Aid, Inc. and that the bid be awarded on
the basis of replacing all three tanks at Public Works with two
6,000 gallon double walled fiberglass tanks and removing and
abandoning the Police Department gas tank. She further
recommended that the Village Council allow the transfer of $12,103
from the tub chipper protect, $12,500 from the street lighting
protect and the appropriation of $5,367 In unbudgeted Interest
earnings from the Capital Improvement Fund. Mr. Spahn asked Mr.
Benton when the protect would be finished. Mr. Benton replied 2-3
weeks. Mr. Cook spoke about a process to determine if there Is a
leak In the system. Mr. Benton reviewed the history of the tanks
and stated that it has been determined that there Is a problem
with the Village Hall tank. Mr. Loffredo asked why the protect Is
so far above the budgeted amount. Mr. Benton replied that at
budget time the Village did not know of the problem with the tank
at Village Hall. Mr. Benton stated that the open end of the Job Is
removal and replacement of contaminated soil. Mr. Courtney stated
that he was concerned with the police traveling to the Public
Works yard to get gas. Deputy Chief Brenton reviewed the time to
fuel at Public Works vs. fueling behind the station. Mr. Benton
reviewed the Dade County DERM involvement with the Village tanks.
Mr. Cook asked If the Village needs to do the work now or if it
can wait. Mr. Benton replied that the work must be completed
because the ground is contaminated. Mr. Spahn moved to award the
bid for fuel storage tanks and allow the Village Manager to
appropriate the additional project funds as she recommended. Mr.
Loffredo seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous In favor.
ITEM *5 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 2-81 OF THE CODE OF
ORDINANCES OF MIAMI SHORES VILLAGE, FLORIDA, LIMITING ACCUMULATED
FINES FOR A SINGLE OFFENSE TO A TOTAL OF TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS
($10,000); PROVIDING EFFECTIVE DATE. Second and final reading.
Mayor Johnson read the caption of the ordinance and Ms. Macdonald
reviewed the background and recommended approval. Mr. Loffredo
moved approval on second reading. Mr. Spahn seconded the motion
and stated that the Village will reduce any outstanding fines over
$10,000 back to the $10,000 level. Ms. Macdonald concurred. Mr.
Spahn stated that the Village may have to litigate more cases In
order to get the fines. He asked for a report from the Village
Manager regarding the disposition of the cases. Mayor Johnson
asked for mileage patrolled by code enforcement officers to be
Included on the monthly code enforcement reports. The vote was
unanimous for the motion on the floor.
ITEM *6 DISCUSSION REGARDING BURGLAR ALARM FINES. Mr. Spahn
reviewed the background and discussed the article In the Miami
Herald. He suggested a $25 fine for false alarm number 4, 5, and
6 because the Village Is too tough and the new ordinance will hurt
some people. Mr. Loffredo stated that he would like to give the
new ordinance a try In Its present form. He stated that If it
proves to be a burden the Council can revisit the Issue. Mr. Cook
asked about the cost to respond to false alarms. Ms. Macdonald
responded $45-$50. Mr. Cook suggested having a rate that would
cover costs. Mr. Cook and Mayor Johnson suggested reviewing the
ordinance in 6 months and getting a report from the Village
Manager outlining the number of false alarms for residential and
commercial.
ITEM *7 PRESENTATION OF PROPOSAL FOR VITACOURSE ON FIVE ACRES
NORTH OF COUNTRY CLUB. Mayor Johnson Informed the Council that
the Item had been withdrawn.
ITEM *8 ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Johnson read the announcements.
ITEM *9 COUNCIL COMMENTS
Mr. Spahn spoke about a vltacourse on the N. five acres.
Mr. Cook spoke about the Dade County Youth Fair.
Mr. Courtney spoke about the Taste of the Shores, March 22nd on
Grand Concourse.
ITEM *10 PUBLIC COMMENTS
Mr. Mike Boyle spoke about the Cable TV franchise public hearing
being held at the Community Center.
Mr. Jim Condit spoke about the traffic survey and the cost of
checking intersections and what he feels needs to be done to
alleviate traffic problems.
ITEM *11 ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:47 p.m.
Attest: Gall Macdonald
Village Clerk
By:
Scott W. Davis
Deputy Village Clerk
Steven
Mayor