Notes of the Special Workshop and Regular Commission Meeting of February 22

On February 22, the City Commission met for a Special Workshop and Regular Commission Meeting. The following are some notes of interest (all votes are unanimous unless otherwise indicated):

SPECIAL WORKSHOP:

1. AUDIT PRESENTATION - As of 9/30/09, the city had a Unreserved Fund Balance of $6,215,673 (about 12%), and a Total Fund Balance of $7,563,845 (about 15%). City policy is to have a minimum of 10%, so we exceed it. The Fund Balance was a decrease from 2008 to 2009 of 12.3% and 3.5%, respectively, due to settlement of one time union contracts and employee buy outs (which will be beneficial in subsequent years). Additionally, a new Reserve Account for Natural Disaster was created with $500,000 moved from Unreserved Fund Balance. Subsequently $1,000,000 has been assigned to the Lauderhill Housing Authority for start up.



To date we have raised 51.56% of the revenues, and expended 48.10% in the General Fund. However, it is being projected no increase for this year for the Fund Balance. Of the 19 financial indicators for this year shows 8 indicators with an upward trend, 4 downward, with 6 inconclusive. Downward trends were all related to cash balances, and the City knew that would happen. It relates to the spending down of the GO Bond, which was expected. The Overall Rating is Favorable.

2. PRESENTATION/DISCUSSION OF LAUDERHILL HOUSING AUTHORITY - was already discussed at the Retreat.


REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING:

PROCLAMATION:

A. Black History Month with plaques to members of the MLK Task Force.


ORDINANCES & PUBLIC HEARINGS ----- FIRST READING:

1. ORDINANCE NO. 10O-02-110: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LAUDERHILL, AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES CHAPTER 8, ELECTIONS, SECTION 8-6, RESIGNING FROM OFFICE TO RUN FOR ANOTHER; VACANCIES ON CITY COMMISSION; CREATING A PROCEDURE FOR FILLING A VACANCY IN CANDIDACY AS REQUIRED BY FLORIDA STATUTES, SECTION 166.031(6); PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE (REQUESTED BY MAYOR RICHARD J. KAPLAN). Not ready to present to Commission at this time. Withdrawn to the next Commission Meeting.


ORDINANCES & PUBLIC HEARINGS --- SECOND READING:

2. ORDINANCE NO. 10O-02-106: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF LAUDERHILL, FLORIDA AMENDING THE LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS; AMENDING SCHEDULE M, MINIMUM HOUSING QUALITY STANDARDS, TO PROVIDE REFERENCES FOR SPECIAL MASTER HEARINGS AND TO REVISE ENFORCEMENT AND PRACTICAL PROCEDURES RELATIVE TO VIOLATIONS FOR THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS: SECTION 1.1, DEFINITIONS; SECTION 1.7, ENFORCEMENT; SECTION, 1.8, INSPECTIONS; SECTION 1.9 REQUEST FOR HEARING; SECTION 1.10, HEARING ON NOTICE OF VIOLATIONS; SECTION 1.11, UNCONTESTED NOTICE OF VIOLATION; SECTION 1.12, FINAL ORDERS, SECTION 1.13, EMERGENCY ORDERS, AND 1.14, ACTION TAKEN UPON NONCOMPLIANCE WITH FINAL ORDER.

3. ORDINANCE NO. 10O-02-107: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF LAUDERHILL, FLORIDA AMENDING THE LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS; REPEALING SCHEDULE P., DESIGN STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES IN ITS ENTIRETY; PROVIDING FOR FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS; PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION.

4. ORDINANCE NO. 10O-02-108: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF LAUDERHILL, FLORIDA AMENDING THE LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS; CREATING A NEW SCHEDULE P., DESIGN STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES; CREATING THE FOLLOWING: SECTION 1., INTRODUCTION; SEC. 2., GENERAL DESIGN STANDARDS; SEC. 3., ARCHITECTURAL STANDARDS; SEC. 4., STREET LEVEL STANDARDS; SEC. 5., LANDSCAPE AND IRRIGATION STANDARDS; SEC. 6., SIGNAGE AND GRAPHICS STANDARDS; SEC. 7., SITE FURNISHING STANDARDS; SEC. 8., LIGHTING STANDARDS; SEC. 9., ROAD AND PARKING DESIGN STANDARDS; APPENDIX A, DEFINITIONS; AND APPENDIX B., COLOR PALETTE.

5. ORDINANCE NO. 10O-02-109: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY OF LAUDERHILL’S CURRENT INVESTMENT POLICY TO EXPAND ITS ABILITY TO INVEST IN REAL ESTATE FROM $60,000.00 TO $4,000,000.00.


ORDINANCES & PUBLIC HEARINGS --- THIRD READING:

6. ORDINANCE NO. 10O-01-105: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LAUDERHILL GRANTING AUTHORITY TO THE CITY MANAGER TO WAIVE ANNUAL BUSINESS TAX FEES ON AN AS NEEDED BASIS IN CASES OF DEMONSTRATING A PERMITTED HARDSHIP TO LAUDERHILL BUSINESSES; PROVIDING THAT THE CITY MANAGER SHALL PROVIDE A WRITTEN REPORT, INCLUDING ANY SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS, TO THE CITY COMMISSION WITHIN TEN (10) DAYS OF GRANTING HARDSHIP RELIEF TO A LAUDERHILL BUSINESS; PROVIDING THAT THE TWO PERMITTED HARDSHIPS ARE: PROLONGED CONSTRUCTION NEAR THE BUSINESS OR A NATURAL DISASTER.


RESOLUTIONS

COMMISSION

7. RESOLUTION NO. 10R-02-46: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF LAUDERHILL, FLORIDA, CONGRATULATING PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA ON HIS AWARD OF THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE FOR 2009; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE (REQUESTED BY COMMISSIONER M. MARGARET BATES).

8. RESOLUTION NO. 10R-02-47: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF LAUDERHILL SUPPORTING THE LIVABILITY GRANT APPLICATION FILED BY THE BROWARD COUNTY TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT FOR GREEN FLEET EXPANSION, TRANSIT ACCESSIBILITY, BICYCLE/PEDESTRIAN ENHANCEMENTS, BUS SHELTER UPGRADES AND LANDSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS TO BROWARD BOULEVARD; PROVING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE (REQUESTED BY MAYOR RICHARD J. KAPLAN).


POLICE

9. RESOLUTION NO. 10R-02-48: A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF LAUDERHILL AND 2500 INVERRARY CLUB APARTMENTS, LLC FOR LOCAL TRAFFIC CONTROL AND PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE AREA KNOWN AS THE 2500 INVERRARY CLUB APARTMENTS.

10. RESOLUTION NO. 10R-02-49: A RESOLUTION WAIVING COMPETITIVE BIDDING REQUIREMENTS; APPROVING THE EXPENDITURE OF 2009 JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT (JAG) FUNDS AND CURRENT OPERATING BUDGET FUNDS IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $70,000.00 TO PURCHASE PRIN TRAK AUTOMATED FINGERPRINT IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM (AFIS) FROM THE SOLE SOURCE SUPPLIER MORPHO TRAK SAFRAN GROUP.


NEW BUSINESS

A. CANCELLED MARCH 15, 2010 COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING, SINCE THERE WILL NOT BE A QUORUM.

B. CANCELLED MARCH 29, 2010 COMMISSION MEETING, WHICH IS THE FIRST NIGHT OF PASSOVER.