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06-04-2002 Regular Meeting• • MIAMI SHORES VILLAGE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING The Miami Shores Village Council held it's regular Council Meeting on Tuesday, June 4, 2002 at the Village Hall. The meeting commenced at 7:30 PM with the following members present: PRESENT: Mayor Davis Greg Ullman Bob Blum Prospero Herrera Mark Ulmer ALSO PRESENT: Tom Benton, Village Manager Barbara Fugazzi, Village Clerk Richard Sarafan, Village Attorney PRESENTATION Al Berg, Planning & Zoning/Code Enforcement Director, presented a certificate to Edwin Lopez and Tim LeBel in honor of their home being named "House of the Month" for the month of June, 2002. Mr. Ullman arrived at this time. CONSIDERATIONS 1) MINUTES Barbara A. Fugazzi A) APPROVAL OF THE MAY 21, 2002 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES. Mr. Herrera moved to approve the May 21, 2002 Regular Council Meeting Minutes. Mr. Blum seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous in favor. 2) VILLAGE MANAGER Tom Benton A) DISCUSSION OF ACCEPTANCE OR REJECTION OF THE PROPOSED CHANGE OF CONTROL AND INTERNAL RESTRUCTUING OF AT&T CORPORATION, THE VILLAGE'S CABLE TELEVISION PROVIDER. Following a request from AT&T Broadband and at the suggestion of Mr. Sarafan, Mr. Ulmer moved to table the matter until the July 2, 2002 Council Meeting with the express • understanding that the July 2, 2002 meeting is within the 120 day window prescribed by Federal Law for this consideration to be heard. Mr. Herrera seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous in favor. • • B) DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE 95TH STREET AND GRAND CONCOURSE TRAFFIC REPORT AND PROPOSED ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS. Mr. Benton provided background information on the issue and indicated that the issues to be addressed are: 1) Does the Council want to fund the improvements for 95th Street. 2) If so, to what extent, Modified Version D or something more/less. Mr. Benton indicated that he has included funding at $100,000 per year in the proposed 5 year capital budget for the improvements to Grand Concourse. For discussion purposes, Mr. Ullman moved that the Village implement Version D with the exceptions 1-3 outlined in the Village Manager's back-up memorandum. Mr. Herrera seconded the motion. Individual Council members expressed their thoughts on the proposal, addressing such issues as solving one street's problems only to create a similar problem for another street; funding limitations, and whether or not the matter is one of beautification or safety, and that perhaps better enforcement of the traffic laws was needed. Mr. Ulmer moved to table Mr. Ullman's motion and discuss improvements to Grand Concourse first. Mayor Davis seconded the motion. The vote was 3-2 with Mr. Ullman and Mr. Herrera dissenting. Mr. Ulmer moved to adopt the Village Manager's Grand Concourse improvement recommendations to construct medians and knuckles from N.E. 2nd Avenue to N.E. 6th Avenue to be constructed by the Village Public Works Department and funded by Local Option Gas Tax dollars dependent upon approval of the proposed five year capital budget. The project should be completed in three phases: 1) paint striping of medians and knuckles from N.E. 2nd to N.E. 6th Avenues; 2) construct the medians and knuckles; and 3) landscaping of the medians and knuckles. The Manager should report back to the Council with a landscaping plan and additionally, assess the feasibility of installing speed humps and/ or stop signs. Mayor Davis seconded the motion. Council members discussed variations of Mr. Ulmer's motion, with a major concern being committing to spending dollars from the capital budget when the capital budget has not yet been presented. Mr. Blum suggested an amendment to Mr. Ulmer's motion which would be to immediately stripe the medians and knuckles on Grand Concourse and install speed humps on N.E. 95th Street. Mr. Ulmer and Mayor Davis accepted the amendment. Mayor Davis opened the floor for public comment. Dan Dower Mr. Dower spoke of the traffic volume and speed of vehicles driving along N.E. 95th Street. He endorsed the Village Manager's plan for the roadway. Terry Cusan Mr. Cusan indicated his support of Mr. Benton's plan and further • suggested installing four way stops signs along Grand Concourse. James Fee Mr. Fee expressed his belief that Grand Concourse is a defective roadway and that 95th Street is an enforcement issue. He urged the Council to look at the larger traffic issue as the cars will go to another street and create new problems. Jan Rayburn Ms. Rayburn spoke about the possibility of starting the striping of the medians and knuckles at both ends of Grand Concourse rather than starting at one end and working north or south. Jim McCoy Mr. McCoy indicated that shifting the burden of traffic to other streets would cause additional problems. He asked the Council to consider the implications. Ralph Rayburn Mr. Rayburn spoke of the traffic problems on Grand Concourse. Donald Shockey Mr. Shockey stated that speed humps on 95th Street would be a significant improvement. T. F. Chambers Mr. Chambers suggested putting up signs like Biscayne Park. Donna Hurtak Ms. Hurtak spoke of the traffic at Grand Concourse and N.E. 6th Avenue. She suggested the possibility of using rumble strips to slow traffic. Mayor Davis closed public comment. Mr. Ulmer re -stated the amended motion, moving to have the Village proceed immediately with the striping of medians and knuckles on Grand Concourse and install speed humps on N.E. 95th Street and review the availability of capital funding with an eye towards completing the modified Version D plan for N.E. 95th Street. Mayor Davis seconded the amended motion. Mr. Blum verified that everything proposed would need Miami -Dade County approval. Mayor Davis called for the vote which was unanimous in favor of the motion. 3) VILLAGE COUNCIL A) DISCUSSION REGARDING AMENDING THE VILLAGE'S GENERAL EMPLOYEE PENSION PLAN. Greg Ullman Mr. Ullman briefly outlined the purpose of his placing this item on the agenda, highlighting the fact that the Village's employee pension plan is not competitive with other municipalities. Following a request by the Mayor, Mr. Ullman moved to discuss amending the pension plan criteria to allow for a 30 year and out clause. Mr. Ulmer seconded the motion. Mr. Ullman requested that Mark Malatak, the Village's Finance Director, review the components of the plan. Mr. Malatak provided the Council with information regarding the proposed plan, indicating that the amendment would move the Village's pension benefit more in line with what other municipalities offer. The proposal would allow for employees who started their careers at an early age work 30 years and retire, regardless of their age. As the plan is currently structured, the employees would have to wait until age 62 before their benefits would begin. 3 • • • The Village Clerk confirmed that the item would need to come before the Council in the form of an amending Ordinance and that tonight's action would only be to approve of the concept of amending the pension plan. Mr. Ullman amended his motion and moved to instruct staff to prepare an ordinance which would provide for a 30 year and out pension benefit clause. Mr. Herrera seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous in favor. B) DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING A REQUEST TO CLOSE THE ALLEY BETWEEN N.W. 95TH & N.W. 96TH STREET, JUST WEST OF NORTH MIAMI AVENUE. Prospero Herrera Mr. Herrera explained the problem of traffic cutting through the alley. He indicated that one of the property owners, Mr. Forero had obtained the signatures of his neighbors and is requesting that the Village chain the alleyway. Mr. Herrera moved to direct staff to close the alleyway between N.W. 95th and N.W. 96th Streets, just west of North Miami Avenue. Mayor Davis seconded the motion. Following clarification on the location of the alleyway and Mr. Benton's concurrence with the request, Mayor Davis called for the vote which was unanimous in favor. 4) ANNOUCEMENTS The Clerk read the announcements. 5) PUBLIC COMMENTS Ann Fernandez Ms. Fernandez spoke of her concerns regarding the proposed charter school. Jan Rayburn Thanked the Council for their actions relating to Grand Concourse. Bill Cate Mr. Cate spoke of the proposed charter school and asked that the Council look at everything carefully and ask whether its worth the risk. 6) COUNCIL COMMENTS Mr. Ullman Mr. Ullman announced the Council Workshop session scheduled for Wednesday, June 5. No Comment No Comment Mr. Ulmer Mr. Blum Mr. Herrera Mr. Herrera congratulated the "Home of the Month" recipients and thanked the residents of Grand Concourse and N.E. 95th Street for their attendance. • • • Mayor Davis Mayor Davis spoke of the Memorial Day program. 7) ADJOURNMENT The June 4, 2002 Council Meeting was adjourned at 9:00 PM )6' G1�". Barbara A. Fugazzi, Village Clerk 5 Davis, Mayor