Miramar City Commission Meeting - October 4, 2023
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Miramar City Commission Meeting - October 4, 2023
The Miramar City Commission convened on October 4, 2023, at approximately 6:00 p.m. to address routine consent items, receive presentations, adopt proclamations, and vote on resolutions and ordinances. The meeting adjourned around 8:30 p.m.
Proclamations and Recognitions
- October 2023 proclaimed as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Lorna Walker, a 23-year survivor and city marketing director, accepted the proclamation and urged early detection, noting that one in eight women will develop invasive breast cancer.
- October 2023 proclaimed as National Arts and Humanities Month (Arctober). The Cultural Affairs Director highlighted the $877 billion arts and culture industry, 4.6 million jobs supported, and $27.5 billion in government revenue. Miramar has over $27 million in cultural infrastructure.
- October 2023 proclaimed as National Disability Employment Awareness Month, marking the 78th anniversary.
- October 2023 proclaimed as Community Planning Month.
- Fire Prevention Week (October 8–14, 2023) proclaimed with theme 'Cooking safety starts with you.' Statistics included 2,800 home fire deaths in 2021, 338,000 home fires, and cooking as the leading cause.
- Resident Katia Smith presented a life-saving award to Fire Station 70 Shift A for rescuing her son after a January 17, 2023 accident.
Historic Miramar Advisory Board Presentation
Chairman Nary Tomlinson presented recommendations: replace sand in playgrounds with easier-to-maintain material; install new entry signage at Miramar Parkway and 441; expand youth activities including STEM, with surveys to gather input; improve community participation via live streaming of meetings on social media; and enhance information distribution. The board noted low attendance at its meetings. Mayor and commissioners expressed support and directed staff to work with the board on implementing several ideas, such as conducting youth surveys and exploring social media streaming.
Consent Calendar and Discussion Items
- The consent agenda was approved unanimously, except for Item 3 which was pulled for discussion.
- Item 3: Landscaping Irrigation Maintenance Contract Renewal (DynaServe Florida LLC, third renewal, October 19, 2023 – October 18, 2024, not to exceed $284,001). Vice Mayor Davis inquired about efforts to involve small and minority-owned landscaping businesses. Parks and Recreation Director Billy Neal reported that despite setting aside smaller parks and conducting outreach, no small businesses bid on the contracts. Public Works Director Tony Collins noted challenges: high costs, labor intensity, and economy of scale. Mayor Masson suggested reviewing payment terms (e.g., bi-weekly payments) and insurance requirements to make contracts more accessible. Commissioner Colburn raised concerns about insufficient tree trimming at River Run Park; staff are obtaining quotes for twice-yearly trimming. The item was approved unanimously.
Resolutions
- Item 4: Appointments to Advisory Boards – Appointments made to the Elderly Affairs Advisory Board (Kohath March, Doreen Stevens, Nasima London, Cleopatra Mills, Annette Wellington, Roland Abel, Juan Chiquito) and Historic Miramar Advisory Board (Ruth Senett). Approved unanimously.
- Item 5: Annual Chemical Purchases for Water and Wastewater Treatment – Approved purchases totaling $2,049,580 for fiscal year 2024, using cooperative contracts and sole source justifications. Approved unanimously.
Ordinances (First Reading)
- Item 6: Land Development Code Amendments (Bulk Standards and Uses) – Amended sections 402 and 403 to clarify corner lot setbacks, reduce waterfront rear setbacks, reduce R-7 setbacks, consolidate uses (e.g., restaurants, government buildings), and adjust height regulations (RM-4 maximum height set at 60 feet). Staff noted three changes since backup delivery. Planning and Zoning Board recommended approval. Approved unanimously. Commissioner Colburn requested a meeting before second reading.
- Item 7: Accessory Uses and Standards Amendments – Created new section 505, removed section 809, added summary table, clarified deck as open patio, increased gazebo/detached structure size to 1,000 sq ft for rural estate and single-family one lots of at least one acre. Approved unanimously. Commissioner Colburn requested a meeting before second reading.
Key Outcomes
- All consent items except Item 3 were approved.
- Landscaping contract renewal approved; staff to continue exploring ways to include small/minority businesses.
- Chemical purchase approved.
- Advisory board appointments approved.
- Both land development code amendments approved on first reading; second readings to follow after additional commissioner/staff meetings.
- Staff directed to work with Historic Miramar Advisory Board on youth surveys and social media streaming.
- Meetings streamed on social media (YouTube/Facebook) to be considered for future.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. The meeting of the Mirmar City Commission is now called to order. An opportunity was given to the public to register to participate or email the city clerk 24 hours prior to the commission meeting with any questions, comments, concerns on items, we will hear on this evening's agenda. Any person may be heard by the city commission through the chair and upon registering pursuant to the published notice for not more than three minutes on any proposition before the Miramar City Commission unless modified by the chair. This meeting is being streamed live at Mirmar.gov slash commission meeting and televised on Comcast Channel 78 and ATT Uverse Channel 99 for City of Myanmar subscribers. As of October 4th, 2023 at 6 p.m., one member from the public has registered to participate virtually in this meeting. If someone has registered later than this time and would like to speak, they can raise their hand and at the appropriate time, our IT staff will unmute their mic to allow them to speak. Please be sure to please be sure to state your name and address for the record prior to addressing the city commission. All comments submitted will be included as part of the record for this meeting and will be considered by the city commission prior to any action taken. At this time, Madam Clerk, please call the roll. Mayor Masson. Here. Commissioner Barnes. Commissioner Colburn. Here. Vice Mayor Davis. City Manager Dr. Virgin. Here. City Attorney Norris Weeks. Here. City Attorney Powell. Here. Let us all rise for the pledge. There is no commemoration list for grieving City of Myanmar employees, but at this time we'll pause for a moment of silence for any observances we may have in the City of Myanmar in our community. Thank you. So on to presentations, proclamations. And we invite Lorna Walker to the dais to receive the proclamation. And if our colleagues will join us up front. Whereas October 2023 is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and whereas National Breast Cancer Awareness Month educates women about early breast cancer detection, diagnosis, and treatment. And whereas National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is dedicated to increasing public knowledge about the importance of early detection of breast cancer with national public service organizations, professional associations, and government agencies who work together to ensure that the NBCAM message is heard by thousands of women and their families. And whereas October 20th, 2023 is National Memography Day, and on this day or throughout the month, women are encouraged to make a mammography appointment. And whereas mammograms are the best method to detect breast cancer early when easier to treat. And whereas the chances the chance of developing invasive breast cancer at some time in a woman's life is about one in eight. And whereas death rates are from breast cancer have been declining, and this change is the believed to be the result of early detection through screening, increased awareness, and improved treatment. And whereas in BCAM recognizes that although many great strides have been made in breast cancer awareness and treatment, there remains much to be accomplished. And now therefore, I Wayne Mesa, Mayor of the City of Miramar, and on behalf of Commissioner Yvette Colburn and the City Commission do hereby proclaim the month of October 2023 as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and October 20th as National Mammography Day. And we encourage all of our women in the city of Miramar and throughout the nation to schedule your mammography because we love our women and we want everyone who may have early onset of breast cancer to detect it earlier when it's best and uh more success rates to treat it. Thank you. I just want to um to Lorna, thank you so much for for coming forward and accepting this and being an inspiration to all of us. Lorna is a director here uh of marketing, and she's been here for the past uh four years, and she brings 20 years of experience in marketing with her. She is a breast cancer survivor of 20 years. And I will ask her to say a few words. Thank you so much. It's I'm really honored that you're bringing attention to this very important cause. As you said, I'm a 23-year survivor. I would like to correct the mayor. There are men who get breast cancer too. That's right. So please, early detection saves lives.
openpublica.com