>> Good evening mayor commissioners.
My name is Karen Friedman and.
I'm a senior planner with the Metropolitan organization.
I'm here tonight to give a presentation on the Cooper City
Transportation Master Plan.
Hopefully you can hear me as I'm bouncing back and forth
between a laptop and the microphone.
Is just a brief presentation.
I'll tell you a little bit about what it is
and what we do I'm to give you some information
about the Transportation Master plan
and then promote our online survey.
So for those of you who are not as familiar with the Broward
Planning Organization especially for members in the audience
this evening we are a government agency separate
from Broward County.
We have a federal mandate to do the long range
regional transportation planning for Broward County.
A lot of people know of us because we
are responsible for planning and prioritizing
the federal transportation dollars to be spent here
in Broward County whether for a project in Port Everglades
or a project in 95 or Sterling Road.
In addition to our long range work
we also offer direct technical assistance
to the 31 municipalities and one of our direct technical
assistance programs is the Transportation Master Plan
Program and my name is Karen Friedman
and I am the project manager for that program.
So we work with one city at a time
it takes about 18 months to do a transportation master
plan with the city.
The purpose is to have city staff help provide
the technical assistance for them
to identify transportation projects for roadways
in the city the type of projects we would be recommending
are those based on best practices for safety
and complete streets and I always
like to bring everyone's attention to the graphic
in the center of the slide because what it's showing
you is the impact of speed on a crash involving
a pedestrian so that could be someone walking riding
a bike or a scooter so likely 95% likelihood
the pedestrian would survive.
It goes down to 55% and if that gets hit traveling 40mph
the likelihood of survival is then at 15% so a lot
of our focus Is on good speed management.
So they are technical assistance we
offer cities includes everything from developing
a vision in goals and objectives having conversations
and meetings with critical stakeholders such as Broward
County or the principles of local schools
doing direct engagement with residents and community members
but it's also a lot of technical work identifying a lot of heart
and soft data including walking roadways
and doing a lot of field observations
so that we can actually see what's going on in the roads
here in Cooper City.
In the end the city will be provided a plan report
with scopes of work and cost estimates
for those six roadways.
We want to best position cities to be
able to move forward with having projects
designed and then constructed.
Not going to go through everything on this schedule
but just to give you an idea of where
we are in the process and some of the work
we've already completed and how long we anticipate
this effort to take.
We kick this off in June with your staff.
That being said we were out observing transportation
related to the schools both in April and May
getting out before schools before break.
Since that time we've also had three conversations
with the principals of local schools
having a meeting tomorrow to get a better idea of some
of the related transportation.
Everywhere where it says so we already have it
identified when we will be meeting with them.
And we will wrap up this effort in September of 2027
you may be wondering because I've
referenced six roadways the answer is
we don't know them yet.
At this point we are involved with data collection identifying
existing so our anticipation is those six roadways would
be selected by your staff at the December meeting
where it says plan Study area.
As I said a lot of stakeholder and community engagement
and at this point we anticipate having presentations
at City Commission meetings and ongoing stakeholder
coordination.
And one of the things I really want to approach is the online
survey some fliers for it at the front door going to be active
until October 1st.
There's only 12 questions and to be honest only nine of them
are substantive.
Right now we have received over 350 responses which
is pretty good but it's a great opportunity for residents
and stakeholders to let us know their priorities and concerns
so hopefully my ask here today is that you'll share it
with your networks as well as everyone
in the audience gamma your neighbors,
your congregation and what have you.
It shouldn't take you less than ten minutes.
There's a general comments question where you can write
whatever you want and we do read every comment and with that
at this point we are working with our city staff to select
a community meeting date in October and it will be likely
the week of October 18th so we will bring the staff here
to directly engage with residents in other community
members so we can hear directly from them their concerns
and priorities and will be meeting with city staff later
this week to talk about the vision goals and objectives
and the other information here.
So with that I want to thank you.
This QR code will take you to the project website.
There's also a link to the survey on the project website.
We also keep copies of every presentation
so if you're interested to see what we talked about
with the principal elementary school.
If you want to see what I'm talking about with city staff
that information is also there.
So thank you very much.
>> I know that the high school has been hitting your survey
and putting it out so I just want to make sure that
our children are very precious to us and want to make sure that
we're safe so I will be definitely making sure that they
continue to push those out and you should get a fair amount
of responses.
>> We've seen a lot of general comments referencing
Jeremiah's crosswalk so absolutely.
Commissioner Mallozzi: Thank you for everything.
We appreciate it.
>> Happy to do it.
Thank you very much.
Mayor Curran: Pet adoption Commissioner Mallozzi:
Mia's world changed in an instant.
For two years this beautiful bully mixed breed
had an owner she loved then sadly
her beloved owner passed away.
Through no fault of her own she found herself searching
for a new place to call home.
While her heart may have been broken
she has not stopped believing in people.
She is still the sweet loving girl she has always been
and everyone who meets her can see just how
much love she has to give.
Mia previously lived with another dog and did it well.
It is unknown how she is with cats
since arriving at the Humane Society
at Broward County volunteers have discovered
that a true love bug she is.
She is affectionate sweet and eager to connect with everyone
she meets.
Mia takes treats gently.
Knows sit and even showed off her
sit and stay skills before coming when called.
She may come out of her kennel with lots of happy energy
but she settles down quickly and is ready to spend time
with her people.
She loves to play fetch especially
with the ball that squeaks.
Whoever adopts Mia will be adding a wonderful dog
to their family to meet her or any other pet please
visit humane broward.com.
Thank Mayor Curran: We are on to the public speaking.
Anyone who is here who would like
to speak please sign one of these forms at the front table
and step forward please.
>> Good evening all.
This is my first time doing this so if I screw up I'm sorry.
I did provide a picture of what I'm going to speak to .
I live on 118th terrace and we have a neighbor on the block who
painted his house black .
It's not completed.
There are areas where he has missed on the sides
and all but the front appears to be totally done.
In addition to the color of the house which we all
object to because it doesn't fit in with the rest
of the neighborhood he does not maintain
his shrubbery or the trees.
Occasionally he will cut the grass.
Does not do anything with his sidewalk as the rest of us
are all commanded to do and when we
get the notice if we haven't already cleaned our sidewalks
it is completed.
The people that we have approached regarding this issue
have said nothing can be done.
I'm here to ask you to consider some type of codes in regard
to --
I don't know how to say it but color choice common maintenance
of the home on the exterior and of course
the shrubbery and other landscaping
that surrounds the home.
Essentially that is what we are asking
for is give some consideration to these issues
to help keep Cooper City a lovely place.
Many of us have moved here because it
was a pristine community and we would
like to maintain it that way.
Thank you very much.
Does anyone have a question that I'd be able to answer?
I see the picture has gone around.
Commissioner Shrouder: Can we regulate color?
>> There are certainly code provisions that speak to house
maintenance and yard maintenance and sidewalk maintenance
and the code enforcement staff is listening.
As far as the color of houses that's
more of a challenging issue.
>> When you have an HOA they have better control.
I don't want an HOA.
I would just like my city to have some type of guidance
in regards to the appearance of homes
and that might mean that there are a few colors that are not
appropriate.
That's all we are asking for as a neighborhood is
to please consider.
Commissioner Mallozzi: We are not allowed.
Unless you're in an HOA that has rules and guidelines that you
purchase you agree to abide by them
or another type of planned community
that has some sort of guideline like
that but where this house is it's a regular
and people literally move in there because they
want to paint their front door purple
or paint their house purple.
I'm not saying I agree or disagree
but that's why they live there is
because they don't want to abide by the rules of an HOA.
So I don't see us being able to do anything.
Will get >> But the grass we can address.
Commissioner Mallozzi: We can do the grass and sidewalk and trees
but not a color because we will get sued and lose the lawsuit
and the house is going to stay the same
and it's just going to cost the city money.
>> Okay.
Commissioner Mallozzi: I'm sorry.
>> I tried.
I will go back and report to the neighbors.
Commissioner Mallozzi: Our chief is now aware
that there's issues with the sidewalk the trees
and the shrubs.
>> He never cleans the sidewalk.
Commissioner Mallozzi: They'll go
out there looking at that so if it's not up to par
that will be taken care of.
>> There's somebody in the mansions who has painted
their house black and I'm sure the neighbors have are not happy
with that either.
It's completely black.
It's horrible.
My taste.
>> Out there, there's space between your houses.
Ours are one right on top of another.
Commissioner Shrouder: I live in your neighborhood.
>> We have seen people coming on bikes and golf carts and cars
also stopping and looking and laughing,
literally laughing at what they're seeing.
Commissioner Shrouder: Hopefully it's primer
and they haven't finished it.
>> Oh well.
Thank you very much for listening.
I appreciate it.
>> Good evening.
A couple of issues I want to speak on.
I have some pictures that Jonathan
is going to put up for me as soon as we get the chance.
My discussion this evening is about our sidewalks.
Our sidewalks are atrocious.
Yesterday evening I drove two streets and not that one.
That's my last one Jonathan.
These sidewalks are just atrocious everywhere.
This one here they grind it down.
You see the red paint where they're supposed to do something
and they don't.
They don't at all.
The roots they just did this street
and they didn't cut the roots back.
They're going to go right under this street
that they just paved brand new streets.
And here's another one.
A patchwork .
Look at this.
It's just one after the other.
This is around the block from me.
These are roots coming on the street.
There's 20 pictures that I took yesterday within 20 minutes
two blocks from here.
I think our city manager has got his priorities wrong
spending money on other projects instead of taking
care of her infrastructure.
That's another sidewalk.
People are tripping on them.
Every morning and every evening.
I'm a retired guy and I drive my golf cart with my dogs
every evening and this is what I see.
There's another one.
Instead of putting budgets on pavers around the school we
should do something with -- look at this.
That's a person that doesn't even
have a sidewalk in front of their house.
That's right there.
That's a block from here.
This is one six months ago they painted
that they were going to do something with it
and it's still there.
I don't understand where the budgets are going
and what we are doing but this is crazy.
If you want comment I will take you on my golf cart
and ride you two blocks from here.
I don't have addresses but they're everywhere.
So then this sign Mr. Manager can you explain this sign to me
please?
I'm running out of time.
Hurry up.
>> I'm trying to read it.
>> Tell me what it means.
>> It means not one hour before and one hour after the school
drop off or pick up times you're not allowed to park or stand
in the area.
>> That's ridiculous.
Every day between 8 and 9:00 in the morning that street fills up
with cars of people dropping off three and four year old kids
to the elementary school.
The only people who park there every day is the teachers.
Not one person parks there and in the afternoon the same thing
between 2 and 3:00 they come and pick up their kids.
That's a ridiculous sign.
>> What would you propose?
We have a school where hundreds of kids go?
What would you propose we do?
If we don't have that sign the police department
does not have the ability to tell them to move along.
If they're in the car drop off --
I know.
I go there every morning.
If they're in the car drop off line what would
you propose we do?
Take a helicopter and drop them off?
Just tell us because you've got a lot of complaints
but what are the solutions?
You want us to redo sidewalks throughout the entire city.
That's absurd.
It would be $100 million.
>> Here's another one.
They just paved all the way around a school.
>> Because the amount of people that go there is more than this
specific thing.
>> Let me finish sir.
So now they're paving the back road all the way around.
My understanding is And two of those streets.
Commissioner Shrouder: They wanted to pave around the school
before the school started.
>> What I'm saying is why jump from this neighborhood
to another neighborhood when they're already here working?
Commissioner Shrouder: We did a pavement study that came up with
wet pavement needed to be prepared most and then --
that's what we did.
We paid somebody and I don't know if they made it up or not
but they gave us a thing red yellow green
and implemented it based off of that.
That got hit the most and the least.
We can't get rid of all the trees.
That's not realistic.
>> No.
I love the canopy of the trees in this neighborhood.
It's beautiful.
Commissioner Shrouder: So just think about it.
We try to shave it down and we don't get sued.
And then they try to add up in one area
so that when the cement truck comes and does it
we don't have to pay as much but they
can't go spot treat so to say.
>> What I'm getting at is when you target a neighborhood
complete the neighborhood.
Don't jump from one section of the neighborhood to another.
If you start in a neighborhood finish that job
all the way through.
Commissioner Mallozzi: Can I interrupt?
What happened around the school is it such a high traffic area.
Let me finish.
They took it out of turn to get that area done
but now the problem is you can't go to the areas around it
because all of the cars that are going to and from the school
are on those streets and am I right or am I wrong?
>> We are coming back and doing all of these neighborhoods
in the next few years.
But our paving budget and they only go so far.
So to Do basically west of because we've got
to do a little bit every year.
In the order they were ranked based on the condition
of the pavement.
We are 20 years behind.
>> I don't think you were there then.
I don't know.
I just want to express my citizens concern.
Thank you for listening to me and have a great evening.
>> Is there a intent for there to be a debate between committee
and resident?
I know there are residents asking for questions and closure
but I don't believe that that's what this process is supposed
to be inherently about.
So I know it's to give them the opportunity to speak.
I take notes like I'm sure many of you
do but I don't know if it's supposed
to have that dialog piece.
I just want to make sure I'm following
the rules of engagement with that.
>> intent of public comment is just that.
For your constituents and residents
to always speak to the Commission about any item
on the agenda or any item that might be pertinent to them.
To the extent that your residents ask questions
from time to time the Commission works
very hard to respond to those questions
but there's a legal requirement to have
the dialog back and forth with anyone at the podium.
Commissioner Smith: I appreciate that.
There's been many times I've wanted
to respond or answer or help.
I just don't know is it going to be case by case?
>> I just usually ask if there's anyone that wants to speak
on the item and give you a chance because someone may have
inside information or be aware of the problem.
You've got to go to the microphone.
>> Thank you for seeing me today.
My name is doctor Amy Romanus.
My brother died July 1st last year and I inherited his house.
Thank you for meeting with me.
So I have a question I guess.
There is a young man and his girlfriend who
lives with his mom that lives across the street
from this house I inherited and they have seven vehicles.
So they park two in the front come apparently the house
next door is totally abandoned and has been abandoned for years
so I've been told.
I wouldn't know.
They parked three cars there and two one --
it kind of looks like a used car parking lot
and I did speak to the code enforcement man
and he said as long as you're not
parking on your property which they do you shouldn't have
a problem so that's one issue.
The second issue that I have and I'm
so sorry that he wasn't able to download these pictures
so I want to present them.
[Indistinct]
And this is what I look at every day when I sit on my back porch.
Also there is a smell that is horrible .
[Indistinct]
Mayor Curran: When you get done can you
the gentleman gentleman there?
A
>> I'm okay.
I'm sorry.
Mayor Curran: You're fine Miss Amy.
>> Can we get the address of that house?
>> Where do I go?
That was it.
And thank you very much for your time.
Also are you allowed to plant flowers on your swale?
You are?
Is that true?
Commissioner Shrouder: There are certain things you can
and can't.
Jason, would you tell her which ones you could and can't plant?
>> Off the record he can meet with her.
Commissioner Shrouder: Straight back.
He's the zoning person and can tell you.
>> Hello.
Just want to say thank you.
I reached out to some of you guys.
I did some tree trimming and code
enforcement didn't bother me.
Mayor Curran: It wasn't because of anything I did.
>> I just wanted to say thank you for responding back to me.
I don't know the process of how I could bring it up to the city
making or proposing a change so on the corner of southwest 51st
Street and 95th.
That's a corner with a stop sign everybody just flies
through there.
There's kids in every single house around that stop sign.
Everybody's playing outside.
Since I've been there 11 years there's been four accidents.
Fire rescue taking people in stretchers and everything
there's like 20 and Fire Rescue had to take people in stretchers
and one car ran over another car and that
was all the neighbors trying to help
get the car off the other one and a big whole ordeal.
I saw you guys put speed bumps on 52nd which was nice.
Is there any way maybe in the future
to put a small speed bump just in that corner
there Of that corner?
51st.
95th Street.
Fire Rescue had to take a guy out on --
Commissioner Shrouder: I believe it or not.
Traffic calming things are all sorts of crazy rules.
If you give the location to Mr. Clark
he could look because we have areas we want to put it
and it's got to be so many feet from this and that
and Broward County regulates it.
>> It's not Cooper City then.
Mayor Curran: We pay for it.
We don't get to pick where they go though.
>> I tell guys to slow down and they like to send me to you know
where.
I like to tell them to slow down because there's kids.
All the neighbors there are trying to avoid problems.
Commissioner Shrouder: We are trying
to slow down the traffic on hiatus
in Broward County won't even let us do that.
Just going to do it ourself maybe.
It's crazy rules.
>> Let's roll.
Good evening.
Your consent agenda is items four five
and six for your consideration.
Mayor Curran: Motion to approve?
Need a second.
>> Item four and five mayor.
[Reading names]
>> Item six for the record is a motion to approve.
The item is for the formal approval
as a quasi judicial advertised item for the executed
stipulated agreement for Red Apple Cooper City
LLC and the Renaissance Charter School.
This was approved by the Commission in its existing form
as you'll recall on the July 21st 2026 meeting.
There has been no substantive changes previously approved.
Mayor Curran: Any discussion?
Call the vote.
>> I do have one item on that but from the Renaissance charter
schools here just want the record to reflect that we have
had some communication from the school.
Last week the Broward County School Board
did approve an agreement for the school
and currently have an SRO through the county
at the location.
There's a little bit of overlap in the context of transition
that the school is paying for although we do
anticipate phasing out the city's SRO
and they will take over that responsibility in its entirety.
I request pending for Broward County
to speak to the redirection of traffic as we talked about
and sending a letter of support consistent
with the prior direction hoping to get
some traction from the county in the near future on that issue
and also have some confirmation from the school that
is hooked up to the real time crime Center.
Commissioner Mallozzi: Which one is Mr. Harland?
I love your mom.
>> Item seven under your regular agenda is a request to add
additional expenditure authority in the amount of $429,735 under
contract 3341 awarded to train us for Hvac product installation
and labor based solutions and related products and services.
Mayor Curran: Need a motion.
Discussion?
Commissioner Shrouder: I just had a couple of questions on it.
I just emailed the manager but you probably
didn't have a chance.
Did you get that?
I just want to make sure on some of the contract things
because it also said on the price that they could increase
the price so --
>> The terms are consistent.
Commissioner Shrouder: So they reserve the right to --
any other event beyond control with equitable distribution
adjustments and no event will the prices be decreased .
It also says that their terms control over the city's purchase
order terms.
There's just a couple of things in there and the risk of loss is
on us so we are paying 80% of the thing .
>> Those are the terms of the agreement as well.
>> This is pretty standard .
Kind of guided by that.
Commissioner Shrouder: I'm not sure
if we liked the other person's terms.
>> Any new terms that are getting posed those can change
at any moment but everything else is not very risky at this
point.
What's the timetable as to when they're going
to deliver this equipment?
>> We haven't had the definitive timetable but as soon
as possible once we get the commission approval.
Commissioner Shrouder: If you're okay with it
I'm just pointing it out.
>> We are fine with the accommodations or.
Commissioner Shrouder: If we pay for 80% of it and it
doesn't show up or it burns in the factory .
I'm okay with it.
Commissioner Smith: I have a question.
Through the city manager if I'm correct on this
you are preparing for capital expenditures
and this was expected and that's why it was budgeted.
>> The only reason we have not pulled the trigger on this
before is we are waiting for the outcome of the Public safety
facility recommending that it will stay at it as it is this is
one of the upgrades and they are going to be electrical
and plumbing upgrades in the future but that is just
to maintain the facility.
Commissioner Smith: And based on the budget
we have slated we are under by half of what our budget was.
>> The budget includes some upgrades also here in this
building and the community center as well.
Commissioner Smith: That's all I have.
Thank you.
[Reading names]
>> Item eight is a motion to approve the Citywide medical
insurance renewal plan for 2026 and 2027 with Benecon per the HR
department.
Mayor Curran: HR go ahead.
>> Good evening.
As the staff report indicates we are making a recommendation
for motion to approve the renewal
of the insurance for employees with Benecon UnitedHealthCare.
And hear from the insurance company we have Shauna and Mark
and they will be able to answer your questions.
Benecon is new.
It is a pool of municipalities in Florida
and because they're small they have formed a consortium I
guess for buying power.
As being small is more difficult for us
to get insurance coverage at a reasonable price.
Joining this pool of municipalities
will allow the City of Cooper City
to reduce the price of quality health
insurance for the employees.
There is a presentation that Shauna and Mark
have to share with us and ask them whatever questions come up.
Mayor Curran: Go ahead and roll your presentation
and we'll ask you questions.
>> Before we came to the solution we did print out
your medical insurance to bid to the market after we evaluated
the results that came back it was very clear that the Benecon
solution was the most comparable to the benefits that the city
would like to have and also the most competitive in terms
of the pricing.
So as it stands as you recall last year
we had to make the unenviable choice of changing carriers.
We have UnitedHealthCare with FMC because of a huge increase
that you experienced that year we ended up
having to switch to Florida Blue because there was
significant savings in making that switch and at the time
we knew there were going to be some challenges due to issues
with the Florida Blue network and their negotiations
with local hospital systems that ended up
dropping out of the network.
That was kind of the Bandaid we had at the time.
Since that's happened we have been acquired by Brown and Brown
and we are able to now bring you this solution which is
administered by .
It's a municipal pool very similar to FM I Te.
The actual name of the pool is the Florida Government Health
Care Solutions Pool but it is the administrator of this pool.
So think of what you had with FM I t with UnitedHealthCare
as your carrier.
This is the same exact solution pretty much.
It's a pooled solution of municipalities public sector
entities.
They use UnitedHealthCare as their carrier
so if you were to go to this solution
you would have the same carrier that you previously had
and we had to do two things.
We had them quote the current benefits with the copays and Co
insurances and all that stuff.
We also asked them to quote the plans you previously
had with FMIT which were actually
richer plans at the time and you will see in the exhibits
the pricing and how that played out.
The matching your current benefits came out to about 5.2%
increase in premiums and if you wanted
to go back and have the much richer benefits that you
had it's 6.6% increase.
Compare that to the renewal you would now just a little over 12%
so essentially what it comes down to is you can have better
benefits with a bigger and better network with a carrier
you're already familiar with at almost $100,000 savings compared
to a much greater savings.
So the better benefits and better network and you're
saving money compared to Florida Blue.
So one of the things to note is this is a pool and in this pool
the thing that's a little bit different is that as part
of this pool you are considered a self-insured entity whereas
with --
it was a pool as well but in that
plan you were considered a fully insured entity.
What that means is it's going to be underwritten differently.
The way it's underwritten is going
to weigh more heavily on your claims performance
so that's one big difference but some of the advantages of that
are you're going to have access to claims reports
which we don't currently have with Florida Blue.
That will enable us to monitor the performance on a month
to month basis and will enable us to also plan
further ahead of time because we will know how it's performing
and consult with our HR staff and predict
any spikes in your increases that we see coming forward
in the future.
A couple of things I will say as far as its performance it
is capped at a 20% increase so we
know you won't have higher than 20%
if you remember you got a 40% increase.
The average increase has been about 8%
year to year for groups that are a part of this.
Right now they are currently 11 public sector entities
that are a part of this group and many
of them are very similar in size to Cooper City
and another plus is each member group of the pool
gets to designate a representative who
is part of the board who gets to vote
on the future direction of that pool by committee.
There also is a possibility of surplus share.
I will caveat that by saying the way
the pool is designed is it's designed in a way
so that there isn't supposed to be a surplus.
Rather what happens is any surplus that is realized just
gets spread amongst the pool to help keep those increases down
from year to year.
And in some cases they do get some kind of surplus back.
Commissioner Shrouder: What are the disadvantages of it?
>> One of the disadvantages and we are seeing a good sample
of this is your current increase with Florida blue is about 12%
historically in the last couple of years you've had increases
that were much higher than that.
The reason why that's happening is
because you've become a little smaller in size
under Florida Blue and the way they
are rating you right now is based more on your overall book
of business.
Industry trends on average is a 10% increase.
And that's because you're being rated
more on their book of business.
When you go this route you're going
to be rated more on your actual claims performance.
So if your claims are performing really badly
that's going to be reflected more heavily
in your next renewal.
Commissioner Smith: When you're saying it's self funded is it
based off of our experience or the pool's experience?
>> It's a combination of both but you will get your own rating
every year so your increase is not going to be the same
as the other 11 members of the pool.
>> So what are the terms?
What percentage of it is ours?
>> The terms are spelled out and I believe you all had received
an excerpt.
It's not in this presentation but there was an excerpt
that I know we had discussed with HR
that kind of explained all the factors that go into the rating.
But the thing to know about it is those
are all underwriting terms.
For you guys but that's going to mean
is it's a level of funding arrangement.
No matter how the claims perform throughout the year
you're going to pay the same premium.
Your premium never changes throughout the year
no matter how your claims perform.
Is not until the very end of the year
that they're going to take a look at how the claims are going
and decide what your increase should be in.
Commissioner Shrouder: Is it your increase or you have
to cover the -- >> No.
If you're in the negative you don't --
won't be liable for anything.
So that's another good question and point.
You have to give a year's notice if you want to leave.
So when you get that renewal you can say we know by next year
we're not going to continue with this.
Commissioner Shrouder: Is there a cap on the renewal rate?
>> It's currently 20%.
Commissioner Shrouder: So your worst case scenario
would be a renewal at 20% and you've
got a year notice to get out.
>> Right.
Commissioner Shrouder: And they're willing to extend it
where it starts in January or expires -- add time to that.
Right now you're doing it every October so we play this.
>> The assumption is you do it --
if you want to change the renewal date the effective date.
Commissioner Shrouder: So our staff doesn't --
there on a time crunch every single >> That's a good point.
That will change with this arrangement
because like I said we are going to be getting into the claims
every month so we are going to know well ahead of time what
the renewal should come in at and they aren't bound
by the same restrictions that Florida Blue currently is
and Florida Blue's policy is they're not
giving your renewal before the effective date
and with this type of arrangement
the minimum would be like 90 days.
We could probably get it 20 days ahead of the effective date.
Commissioner Shrouder: It should be even sooner right?
It should be instantaneous.
Because as the claims come in you have a portal to access it.
It's a self-funded plan so you can see --
>> Which we will be reporting to you on a regular basis.
Where it's at at any given month.
>> How many people are in this plan?
>> It's 11 entities.
I have the list here of who they >> When you self-fund at the end
of the day somebody is on the hook so that 20% has to just be
in agreement amongst the 11th or the 12th.
But at the end of the day all of them are on the hook for it?
>> But you have to remember there's a stop loss
that's behind this so the liability is capped somewhat.
Already calculated that we know this
is what the worst case scenario is going to be basically.
[No Audio]
Commissioner Shrouder: And then we end up
engaging them as a broker.
>> So with the presentation tonight --
[No Audio]
Commissioner Smith: We know today is 12.5%.
And by going ahead and making this move to A self-insured plan
--
[No Audio]
>> We are in a pool of hundreds of people --
Working with our employees to promote wellness programs
and try to do things that are --
Commissioner Smith: Use those additional monies
towards enriched benefits for the members.
May cut you off early but things that Cooper City
is going to be able to entertain based upon being
a fiduciary of good health.
>> There is a surplus share possibility with this
arrangement.
I will say historically for this pool
from what I've seen only about half of the entities
actually get paid out of surplus because the explanation they
gave us is they underwrite it so that there isn't that
much of a surplus because they don't want to also charge you
so much in premium that you're creating the surplus you want
to try to keep the premiums low.
Commissioner Smith: The other question
that I would have is I appreciate
it sounding like the executive staff is listening
to the workers and recognizing that there's obviously
some concern of the usage of the medical benefits.
I just myself have not seen any of that come across.
I don't know if any of my colleagues have
or if it's been personal or additional survey sent
that maybe I missed.
>> There was a survey and it was shared with the city Manager
weeks ago.
The employees have been voicing their dissatisfaction because
of lack of hospitals not necessarily the cost
but basically the lack of hospitals
and the lack of hospitals but lack of doctors.
They are in out of a network facility those doctors usually
are out of network as well.
So the employees that need medical attention
I've had to for the most part change doctors and a lot of them
haven't been using them along at all.
They have been unhappy with Florida Blue
and gone through their significant others plan.
>> And might need to go back through HR but I know this
commission allocated monies for any loss and dollar amounts that
were prior expected versus unexpected.
Do we know where that final is?
I thought I saw a number that showed -- less than 2000 right?
Do we feel like we missed the mark of communicating that
or is that just by chance how it played out?
>> We did send that information to employees several times.
I don't know if too many people felt
they have fallen into that gap with this problem
because this provides for all of those hospitals
that people had before potentially going
to go away because now we are providing a program very
similar.
Commissioner Smith: So that money was allocated I'm assuming
that wouldn't be -- >> It would go back to form balance.
Commissioner Smith: Thank you mayor.
I have no more.
Mayor Curran: Commissioner Mallozzi.
Commissioner Mallozzi: Right now at the rate that
they're proposing based on the rate that Florida is proposing
we're looking at a 14% savings between what would be paying
if we get this between what would be paying for that
and then on top of that -- >> Point of clarification 14% is
from the budget to these proposals.
From Florida Blue to this proposal is a 6% change.
12.
20 is the budget and 12 and six just to make the numbers easy.
Commissioner Mallozzi: Got it.
I was looking at the 20%.
I apologize.
I have several questions --
I have to go through --
I found it.
It was given to us in the staff report .
Explained to me the city's six month contribution.
I don't know if you can see what I'm looking at.
600 $0 deductible at a level which stop loss coverage
begins for a large individual claim.
The 110% corridor.
Do you know those bullet points?
So I had harassed staff and given them all of my questions
but these they were not comfortable answering
so it's all on you and I would love you to answer all of that.
Thank you.
If you could explain those six bullet points.
>> I'm going to recall it the best I can.
I'm familiar with it.
Is basically the terms of the stop loss policy
that leaves behind your plan as all that is.
Commissioner Mallozzi: Can you describe each term
because no one could and I was going to call a friend of mine
that deals with this but they were out of town.
>> They called that the --
Commissioner Mallozzi: What does that mean to my employees?
>> What it means is that if you have a claim that is above
$60,000 there is an additional insurance that is being paid
for on the back end that covers that amount over that claim
so earlier I had said that your liability was capped by stop
loss.
This is what I meant.
So basically in terms of the claims cost that gets attributed
to your group in terms of how they are looking at this
financially you're on the hook for 60,000 and you're not
on the hook for 60,000 because you will play that every month
but in terms of how the financing works the stop loss
comes in and covers any amount over 60,000 for any one
individual that's on your plan.
This is all back end financing stuff
that does not affect your employees or even
the city in any way until it comes to time for renewal
because if you have a whole bunch of people who go over
that means they're going to have to purchase more stop loss
coverage in the future and so there's
an additional cost associated with that.
That just means that the claims that are being claimed
are any claims that happened and any claims that were
paid in that 12 month period.
That's what gets covered by the stop loss coverage.
So that's a little bit of a buffer.
It defines when that stop loss protection would
apply if the overall claims exceed what they call expected
levels so when they rate you they are rating you
based on what they would expect your cost to be
but then they build in a corridor to cover the plan.
It's 110%.
Commissioner Mallozzi: Follow up with that they
won't know what our claims would be because there's no backup.
So is that going to be a -- >> All these numbers you're seeing
are actually pretty standard for any group other than maybe
the 60,000 deductible that may change based on the size
of the group but all these other terms like the aggregate
corridor are very common in stop loss.
That's also pretty much standard.
Commissioner Mallozzi: And this is
with the plan having 1500 people I believe with all the entities?
>> In the pool it's about 1200 people so you guys would make it
almost 1300.
Commissioner Mallozzi: So if as a whole the group decreases
for any reason then everything is going to shoot up because we
have less people or that cost again would then be distributed
so instead of us taking the bigger brunt we are taking 1/100
of a percentage?
>> Your group actually in terms of size is right in the middle
of what all your other groups are.
There's a group in here as small as 57
and then on the opposite end there's a group as large as 231
so you guys are right in the middle.
Commissioner Mallozzi: So we're okay.
I just want to say we've spoken with staff and our employees
at different times and not one person
said anything nice about this.
When we were at the Florida League of Cities
I ran into one of the vendors that was at our health fair
and she said how are you guys doing with your insurance
because all your employees that came up
to me during the health fair all of them were miserable.
I said I've heard.
As a parent and as someone that unfortunately you
go to the urgent care and as you go to the emergency
rooms and the doctors and when you have such a large provider
right around the corner and you can't use them
there's so many doctors.
>> That doesn't apply to urgent care.
It's only the doctors that are part of that group that you're
going to.
Commissioner Mallozzi: Which they
are so close to where we are and there
are so many doctors that our employees had to change from
or several of them didn't want to change
and they've gone another way.
So to us this is the coverage that we were used to.
As far as doctors and providers etc.
For a better price and we are back
in with a group which is in my opinion better.
So that's all I have to say.
Commissioner Katzman: I'll be brief.
So a year ago we came here and we took a chance.
We've been with United for 20 years
as you all have mentioned we've been with them for a long time.
And I know that I said I'm willing to take
the risk because the jump wasn't very high.
If we stayed with United.
We went with Florida Blue and they were in negotiations.
We all kind of thought or at least I
thought that they would get back together.
I've never seen this before this long of an impasse
and they didn't get back together
and I don't think they're going to get back together.
I'm not on the city plan but I am on the Florida blue
and I have seen a decrease in the ability
to go to physicians on my end so I know that our city
employees are impacted by this as
well so I would like to switch.
I think you've presented us with a reasonable opportunity here
and the point is if we have a bad year it's going
to go up no matter where we go.
So why not go with the one the employees want?
It's a low increase year over year and everything
is going up so we have an increase.
I think this is a good option unless I hear something
that I'm not expecting.
I do want to just ask --
I know there was a mention of preventative focus.
I'd like to ask our team to incentivize that and incentivize
prevention of whatever tests or whatever health
fairs we have and I'm not aware so maybe we're already doing
this because I'm not on this plan but make it free
and offset it because if we catch something early
we are saving tons of money on the back end that's
all I have to say.
Commissioner Shrouder: So I think
everyone agrees that United health Care is a better product.
I just want to -- to underwrite this is kind of easy.
Florida Blue knows your numbers and they gave you 12%
and they're hitting us with six and 20
so they can hit you for 26 so if it doubles then there's 2%
or whatever buffer.
I don't know what the one year is.
Probably three years because by the time we would get the quotes
and have to give notice maybe they could hit us for whatever.
I'm okay going with a self-funded plan I just want
to make sure we understand what a self-funded plan means and we
don't go ahead and just select a bunch of coverage to restore
what we had before and we're going to end up hitting --
we have to be smart about it.
The health lifestyle stuff is good but at the end of the day
if you put certain coverage in where you've
got a family deductible of $250 everyone
is going to switch back to that plan
especially the people who use it the most
and we are going to quickly max that out.
So that's one thing.
The other thing is I would like to find a way
not to have to look at this each year with very little notice
so I don't know if the plan is negotiable to the first term
being longer than 12 months.
I don't know the plan documents or us paying three months
and then starting --
I don't know.
Even if you're truly fully insured finding your own
administrator all on your own -- you still would not --
the only component of that that would be the same over multiple
years would be the administrative fees
to administer the plan stop loss renews every year.
Commissioner Shrouder: I understand.
I want to change it to January.
If we make decisions and we are doing quotes --
>> That's more of a function of the way Florida Blue works that
they only give us 60 days.
Commissioner Shrouder: That's all insurance companies.
They hold your numbers till the end.
>> In this arrangement we would have the numbers.
Commissioner Shrouder: Okay.
So say we do -- all right.
And who is administering a plan.
>> Benecon is the administrator but the pool has a different
name.
Commissioner Shrouder: Who is the governing board of that?
>> Every member of this pool is allowed to assign who they want
to represent them on the board.
There is an executive committee that --
Commissioner Shrouder: But there has to be some proportionality.
If there's 1500 I would think I'm
getting one third of the votes.
>> That's not how it is right now.
Right now pretty much all the groups are around your same size
and there's only 11 of them so literally one person.
Commissioner Shrouder: So I imagine everyone is technically
on the hook and then maybe the contracts
amongst each other are going to be limited to your experience
or something like that.
>> What do you mean by on the hook?
Commissioner Shrouder: The sponsors of the self-insured
plan have to cover any issues that there are,
any losses regardless of -- they don't go Cooper city you've got
a contract only cover up to 20% next year.
They want the whole thing funded and that's the reality.
>> They have actuaries and all kinds of people working
on the finances to try to prevent that.
Commissioner Shrouder: So if everyone wants to move to United
and that's what you want to do okay I'm fine with that.
However I think we should be cautious
before we go back to exactly what we had
because of the very rich benefits which
is going to get us very quickly into escalating.
>> Along those lines just to remind you they had two offers
and one is the richer benefits you have or matching the current
benefit design you have so not only are you deciding whether
you're going to go with Benecon but which of those two choices
-- one was 5.2 and the other one was 6.6.
Commissioner Shrouder: So that upfront isn't what worries me.
The lower certain things are.
Once you're part of the pool it'll
be easier to make that change.
Commissioner Mallozzi: You said that you could potentially
get the renewal six months in advance prior to.
Commissioner Shrouder: Insurance companies are pros.
I wonder if Florida Blue would let us since we are still
thinking about them -- you don't pick up on cues.
>> That's another thing.
Even if they did extend to if they did agree to extend it
they're going to extend it at the higher rates.
Just want to make sure we are clear on that.
Commissioner Smith: So these are round numbers
but you're saying 6% extra It's major disruption to the staff.
We're just trying to be advocates for the staff .
Commissioner Shrouder: Wouldn't you
love to start something a little bit longer?
>> We had more people enrolled than this year so if we have
to do it this year we can do it this year in October .
January 1st would be probably a better idea .
But from our end in HR we will have to give it a big push.
Commissioner Smith: So we are hearing a lot of employees
are on spouse's insurance so in the window
to make a decision do I go and what do they have
but they can say I think we can see what we're doing
and have that discussion internally
so giving them time might be beneficial for them
because I'm sure right now is a season
where their spouses are at or they have to make a decision.
I would have to assume.
Commissioner Shrouder: We do our budgeting
now doing it at the same time and onboarding.
Mayor Curran: I have a question.
If we have to push and get ready for October and we change
is there another enrollment period between October this year
and October next year or no?
Can we come off of that plan and go to yours?
>> There has to be a qualifying event.
Commissioner Shrouder: I spent the day
actually working on a self-funded plan that
didn't meet the coverage and as a temporary restraining order.
So not always as easy as you think my entire day to day.
But if you could get Florida Blue to just extend it even
a month or two my opinion every month you get further out from
October is better for the staff because our fiscal year runs
October 1st to whatever.
Commissioner Mallozzi: I don't want the price to go up so is it
possible to lock it in but effective January --
Commissioner Shrouder: It's not the new plan
that Commissioner Mallozzi: He said
he can't guarantee the rates we are being presented with now
will be the same in January.
Is that what you said?
Did I misunderstand?
>> If you wanted to extend Florida Blue going into January
they're going to do it but at the new rates.
Commissioner Mallozzi: That's understandable but the rates you
are presenting to us with United and Benecon,
are those rates going to change if we for some reason say --
so is there a way -- you're not the insurance expert.
Is there a way to lock in those rates now?
We say we are signing as of January 1st.
>> I guess we could ask them for a 90 day extension on the quote
that they gave.
I can't say for sure they're going to agree to that.
Commissioner Shrouder: The only one
who knows our exposure and experience right now
is Florida Blue.
They looked at that rate and doubled it and put
a couple of points on it.
Commissioner Mallozzi: And then we're paying an additional 12%.
It's 12% increase so if we pay an additional 12%
for the additional three months then they're
going to look at their rates that they're giving us based
on an additional 12% correct?
>> You can go up 20% and in a two year period we are going --
six and 20 for two years.
That's the total they can cover so they figure they double that
and that's 24 so they've got a 2% buffer
and that's how they did it.
They don't have our numbers.
Commissioner Mallozzi: If only you were working for --
it's his job to know and if not --
I'd like my question answered.
>> It's really going to just be right now based on what
their pool looks like and your demographics which if they did
agree -- let's take a look at this again in three months they
may ask for another census which is it may change probably not
because the public sector doesn't usually change much
in three months but that's one of the reasons why the rate
could theoretically change.
Commissioner Shrouder: But even if we got a one month extension
every day you get away from October is better.
>> I just want to offer an option so we can move forward.
Clearly two questions need to be answered.
One is the question is are you willing to move --
that's the first question.
The second question is are you okay
with us moving the start date one month at the same rate
or not?
But where we are today I would suggest that an alternate
approval -- because if Florida Blue says no --
Commissioner Shrouder: We are not
going to have another emergency meeting.
>> If that's an option that's a very reasonable approach
to take.
I don't think anyone's arguing with you.
Commissioner Shrouder: My preference would be three months
and my other preference would be for you
to look at what we are offering under United
and make sure we are not going to rich to put us
in the exact same position.
So that's my other one.
So we are not revisiting this each year.
>> And that can be as much as we can get.
Okay.
>> I've got one question.
Do you have the two different plans yet?
A and B on United Health?
Commissioner Mallozzi: They're in the presentation.
Mayor Curran: I just want to make sure because whatever we
are giving back -- go ahead.
I just wanted to know what we are keeping at 5 or 6% and 6.5
or whatever it is.
I want to know what the difference is
in the actual as far as 1.4%.
Whatever the difference is I'd like to see it in an easier term
so we know what we're going to because at the end of the day
and paying for an extra month for staff and everybody
else I'm all in favor of.
Anything that can get us out of next year
being in the same position again if we
move at one time it should be the only time we
have to move it correct?
If we go to the January start date
we should be able to stay in that cycle correct as long as we
are in this pool whereas if we go to another company
Florida Blue gets it and they say no our operating
date is only October.
>> Moving forward that would be the date we're operating on.
>> I'm okay with moving it to January.
My only concern is that Florida Blue is not in agreement
and we are wasting the one month that we have to open enrollment
and to enroll people.
Mayor Curran: You guys should know this in ten days.
You did.
You gave it up earlier when we were talking
about keeping Florida blue.
Are we good?
We know the direction we are giving them?
>> You don't have the premium benefits lined up next
to everything else in this chart right?
>> You mean literally right next to it?
No.
We would have to piece them together.
>> In essence you do because on the one that shows the projected
6.6% increase the Florida blue you can see the differences
for each one and since the 5.2% increase is keeping all
the benefits the same then you have your comparison right there
looking at what the offer is with the 6.6.
The difference in the cost is about $27,000 between the 5.2
and the 6.6.
So I'll just make one other point is I know there were a lot
of people that may be switched to their spouse's plans and it
might not only be the coverage so their spouse may also have
united with richer benefits or the same benefits but at a lower
cost because we did increase the cost that the employees were
paying so they may still stay on their spouse's plan
because the cost for them might be lower still .
[Indistinct]
So the family Florida blue same option
has gone from $750 deductible to $500 deductible in network.
Commissioner Shrouder: Certain terms
might make major users like that jump back.
People who use it a lot next thing you know all of a sudden
we get a lot of major users back.
All I'm saying is for staff to look at -- that was one example.
Look at these richer things.
Figure out which one from an actuarial standpoint trigger --
you understand what I'm trying to say?
>> Increases in the people coming back to our plan versus
the spouse's plan.
I don't know.
Somebody should be cognizant of something.
>> And on top of that is if the employee comes back to this plan
it's also a qualifying event for the spouse and their family
right?
So they might come over .
It's really hard to tell because you
don't know what their spouse's plans are
and what they're offering.
>> I'm sure difference in certain benefits have
statistical results.
Does that make sense?
>> I understand what you're saying.
[Indistinct]
Commissioner Mallozzi: Even if you increase 20%
is better than the 40% they did on their own.
>> I think it was higher than 40 actually.
Commissioner Mallozzi: The reason this all
occurred is because United came to us when it was time to renew
and they said great but because you
have this we're upping what you're paying by just under 50%
which is a crazy amount of money but now if we are with Benecon
then they are maxed at 20.
You're saying that and you can say that all you want.
This is a cap.
We don't have to worry about them coming to us
and saying we're going to almost double what you're paying.
Mayor Curran: Do you have what you need?
>> What all do you need voted on?
>> The ultimate conclusion is contingent upon whether or not
your current provider will extend their coverage for up
to 90 days.
>> So that's the first thing.
>> And the second part of that is whether the current proposal
will hold their rates.
Getting the current plan to extend for up to 90 days.
Subject to that extension.
>> And the third would be because they don't give it
to us.
If that's the intent.
>> Move forward anyway but try to negotiate.
You know what I mean?
Commissioner Mallozzi: I'm sorry.
I'm going to make sure this is proper.
Up to 90 day extension with Florida blue.
In addition to getting them to keep the proposed rates
they are giving to us.
Commissioner Shrouder: I wasn't adding
that because that was just one thing I'm not really worried
about.
But if you want to add it we are just adding those conditions.
The third thing I was going to ask is do we need to select
which set of benefits under -- >> This will not come out
to the conditions.
They need to know what option they're going with whether it's
3060 or 90 days.
So discuss that really quick.
A or b.
>> To define what it is.
>> Does it have to be selective at the start of United
or whatever?
I'm going with b.
The 6.2.
It's not so much better.
What we had before compared to what
we have now with Florida blue.
They created that plan for us to match it.
So the question is I'm okay with going up to the richer one
but I would like the manager to have discretion
to make modifications to that.
That's your ceiling.
But look from a mathematical standpoint
I don't want a deductible for a whole family of $500.
I already know what's going to happen.
It will be through the roof.
Everybody will be on it adopting kids.
That's what happens.
It was all or nothing before.
All we had was a single or everyone
you know on the plan and $500 deductible.
They customize that to give us the quote so that's the ceiling
no better than that but put in the long term goal of --
I don't know which data point it would be.
750 but there's something.
Commissioner Mallozzi: 250 and 750.
Commissioner Shrouder: So we authorize the manager
to switch to this and try to get up to a 90 day extension
and customize the benefits not to exceed the plan offer.
Makes sense?
Oliver.
[Reading names]
>> Ordinance for the city of Cooper City Florida development
standards by -- establishing a certain restrictions related
to use maintenance parking and residential property rescinding
registration requirements and clarification conflicts
and providing for an effective date.
The ordinance before you this evening on first reading
and includes the entire elimination of the registration
process as the Commission previously
directed and also includes a provision
stating that the city will establish a system for owners
on its website to track the duration of parking
and that's up to 36 hours which our code currently provides.
Also the elimination of some conflict language in the code
otherwise consistent with your discussion of the last meeting.
Mayor Curran: Motion?
Need a second.
Commissioner Smith: I think at this point it is mirroring
what our residents were asking.
I think at this moment this is where we are at.
So I don't have anything else to add.
Commissioner Shrouder: I missed it.
The only change is getting rid of the registration?
>> Provides of the establishment of a tracking system that
your staff will implement that comes with registration
and the direction to refund the fees was consistent with
the last meeting.
Mayor Curran: Call the vote.
[Reading names]
>> I just wanted to let the commission know that I'm going
to be asking to meet with each of you guys individually over
the next month or so I've been working on a series
of alternatives for the property tax reductions.
I want to spend time individually with each of you
and my goal is to present those alternatives probably
the first meeting in September but some of that discussion
preferred to have it first individually
so you were fully briefed with those options and at this point
they are just options and some of them
are not pretty but decisions that we're all
going to have to deal with.
That's all I have.
>> You may recall earlier this year back in March and April
there was some dispute between the city it was
the administrator of our code system,
one of our databases and finally for the first time over
the course of that exchange about two weeks ago we heard
from their lawyer.
We've been working with their legal counsel in Utah
for the past ten days or so Roughly about $19,000 plus
or minus working with the IT department and counterparts
going to be transferring all of the city's data in that format.
That's all I have.
Thank you.
Commissioner Shrouder: FTP format.
Is that something we can process?
>> We are working to make sure whatever format we transfer
the data is accessible and moves forward.
We intend to work on the IT side of that.
Commissioner Smith: Just a couple of things if I may.
I think I've been seeing some additional information coming
out of social media land which is good so if we can can
we make sure to start sharing content like this sidewalks.
Another question that I would have is this.
I don't think we have talked about it for a while
and speaking with the city manager
about this low level water areas inside of our communities.
It takes over different sections obviously not the whole city
but enough to be said where that's a concern.
I don't think today that can be looked at as a public health
concern.
I think we need to be mindful of things like this
so we need to start preparing for dredging of our canals.
I know different municipalities have
to put a part of their infrastructure focus.
If we can get our partners with the county
because I know that they hold a lot of that responsibility
so if we can just make that a forefront just on our normal
needs of the side of our city.
Figure out what we may need to do
for those population areas of holding water for mosquitoes.
And I think at the end of this I appreciate --
this is my last one.
I want to thank the city attorney and the city
manager and our deputy city Manager
for listening to what's going on with our employees
and working on resolutions to be able to get it
right for health care.
We are at a time and age where that matters.
So with having a smaller population of employees
taking care of them and letting them
know that it's important to me and so I
appreciate you doing that.
Thank you.
Commissioner Mallozzi: I just want
to be thankful to everyone for the work they did
on the insurance and hopefully everyone can get a better rate
and everything works out.
Very happy with that.
I don't know about the mosquitoes but Mr.
City Manager if I remember correctly,
we can request through the county that --
their mosquito management they come and do aerial sprays
and canals.
>> Correct.
And Robert already requested that today.
Commissioner Mallozzi: Perfect.
Okay.
Thank you.
Commissioner Katzman: Two things.
One, I want to thank our team for putting on Cooper City
Connect a nonprofit expo.
It was great.
Particular shout out to Stephanie from our events team
knocked it out of the park had a ton of non-profits there
and if you go to Cooper city.gov/connect you can learn
about all those non-profits and how you can volunteer even
if you didn't come to the event.
Number two on the kindest note there are some middle schoolers
who are starting the program called Cooper City Kindness
Club.
The name is TBD.
But follow it on Instagram and they just met a few days ago
and I want to thank our law enforcement
team for welcoming them in to the lobby
because it was lightning outside and the next activity they're
going to have is making bags to hand out to people in need
and it's a really great opportunity
to showcase the kindness in our community
and for kids to be a part of something bigger
and I'm sure we can give them volunteer hours.
So thank you.
Commissioner Shrouder: So Commissioner Smith s Swamp Thing
reminded me Jennifer Goldfarb behind her house --
we did title work.
We argued over whose it was , fake association and we never
solved it.
I would like to send whoever you want
to send in to clear the thing.
We have the location and we play public works over who should be
-- at the end of the day some of these things fall in a gray area
and it's like an outlet bank to a bigger thing and there is
a public purpose.
It's overgrown so I'd like to do that.
Maybe we can pay Central Broward to do it.
So let's do that and because it's been years
and I should have followed up.
In any of those areas we should just if we can roll through it
and cut it back and dredge it.
Whatever it is.
I'm fine with that.
And the other one is our building department which we
absolutely set up for failure with our software .
I'm hoping you guys are coming up with some plans
because I got a complaint today about a permit
and I said I know what the issue is going to be.
It's going to be we lost staff and then
you compound that on what we did with our software
and paid a lot of money and had inspectors pulling
their hair out and residents that are pulling their hair out
and it's really our fault. So I'm hoping you
guys can be innovative in the meantime
to have the permit staff.
They can help out the inspectors or whatever we've got to do
for all hands on deck .
It's up to you guys but I'm okay paying over or whatever it is
because we have a deficiency in our process right now with
our software and we need to figure out how we're going
to take some of the stress off of staff and the residents .
I see it online and I know what the issue is.
But if you guys are okay with it there is some extra money
temporarily and let's make sure we --
>> If you need consensus you have it.
I want to make sure that's one of the last things I have
to deal with when it seems it's easy enough just to supply
the resource.
Mayor Curran: I do want to apologize
to you for rolling my eyes.
Dealing with a headache.
Wasn't on purpose.
I have three items.
One is Miss Michelle, can we do the app,
can we put that out as one of the things going on in our city?
I have some residents trying to get on
and they do the text number.
Can we put it out on the city -- >> We can do that.
Mayor Curran: Second item.
Captain can you take a minute please
because I know there's some people watching tonight
and explain the flock cameras?
I have been getting some calls and texts and called out
on a couple of apps as far as flock cameras are giving them
tickets because they were parked on the Swale and that was
the closest camera and they know the working type thing and just
take 30s or whatever you need and tell us about the flock
cameras please.
>> Absolutely.
We actually don't have flock cameras.
We don't have flock cameras here in the city.
If they received a citation in the city
it wouldn't have been based on any of our real time crime
center cameras.
It would have been on viewed by our traffic personnel .
Do you know what the citation was for?
Mayor Curran: Parking on the Swale.
>> It was probably a code citation.
Commissioner Shrouder: We don't have any cameras that take you?
>> There are no cameras in the city that ticket you.
Commissioner Mallozzi: Out there there
are no cameras in the city that ticket you?
Commissioner Shrouder: I think we should stay out
of the flock thing.
We are not in Mayor Curran: I'm okay with that.
The third and final thing a couple of weeks ago
we had a meeting and we did some back and forth dialog
but I don't know if it was consensus or not
but we were going to take on the treasurer financially.
Does anyone remember that or am I the only one that heard it?
Commissioner Smith: I remember if it
was they don't meet the obligation then
we take the financial responsibility?
Mayor Curran: We pay for them to bring a treasurer in now
to get the items done.
Commissioner Smith: I think it ended with the and or option.
Mayor Curran: They Need financial help
to get the treasurer on board to get it done on time in 60 days.
That's what they're asking for.
I think they actually went with a company outside.
Do you know anything about this?
>> The item was discussed by the board at their August 20th
meeting.
Those minutes were summarized by our staff
and issued a few days after that where
looking for the recruitment of a club administrator
also trying to replace a bookkeeper as well.
But in regards to the treasurer gum
I believe the mayor is correct and there was some discussion.
Let us know what you need and we might be able to help you.
They discuss it their meeting an amount of $75,000
for the administrator and bookkeeper and the treasurer.
My recollection is that the discussion that we have here was
related to the treasurer coming out to the administrator
or to the bookkeeper but the bookkeeper is somebody --
if the Commission is willing to work the treasurer role I will
say that we need to then be --
I don't want to send a check for $25,000 to the club.
If they have the treasurer will bring it
and put it on a contract by us.
The role of treasurer needs to be basically required
control person.
The person that if you're supposed to be bringing receipts
and reimbursements you will sit down and the other one
have the receipts.
If somebody was supposed to do a procurement process for anything
over 10,000 and everything that was done in.
So this is somebody who's going to ensure that it was actually
being done.
I don't know how many hours this is about ten hours a month
to review things.
This is not a person to be doing the work.
The bookkeeper and administrator are going to be doing the work.
Now whether that ends up being $1,000 a month or $2,000 a month
that role of the quality control would be --
but my preference will be that if we're going to be paying
for this making sure the work that we need done is actually
being done and that those 18 items that we need to be
in compliance with our being complied with.
Just sending a check for $25,000.
I don't know that when we support
that we want to support that with the resources
to do specifically the commission
not anything else that they might be working on.
Commissioner Shrouder: I think it's just
the cart before the horse.
We've always been supportive.
They just need to pick their option Kama get it done
and I'm sure if they're getting it done we will find a way
to support them but I know that they're not stretched
for $25,000.
I don't think it's a matter where
we have to front them the money where
they have those in the bank.
We're just going to write a check for the insurance.
Just shows good faith that they're doing it
and I'm sure we're all going to be reasonable.
I think we will send the progress.
That's just my only thing.
Commissioner Mallozzi: So I believe
and maybe I'm not recalling properly
but first it was an either or.
Going to handle the finances or we will handle that and I
understand what you were saying so basically it's going to be
someone to overseeing that everything else was done
but the easiest scenario is submitting a form to give me
$1,000 reimbursement but yet I've only handled in $400 worth
of receipts and then the person that's hired is going to say
A plus B does not equal C. Fix this, the money's not happening.
Is that correct?
That is correct.
So that person you are saying is we would have no problem paying
that but they need to be a contractual employee
of the city of Cooper City.
That's what you said correct?
>> I'm saying that person is to be accountable to this where all
of the right things are being done.
And all monies would be disbursed through that >> No.
Still going to have a bookkeeper.
The bookkeeper will get the invoices and issue
reimbursements and everything that needs to be happening.
This person is going to be ensuring that A plus b equals C.
So if they have receipts for $100 you get a check for $100.
Three way matching in terms of things that were supposed
to have been delivered.
They're there.
the role as I see it is quality control.
It's not the bookkeeper .
This person is basically doing -- everything is fine in.
One of the things we have in that list
is this is where this person can be making
sure all of those things are happening but if not the person
paying the bills.
Commissioner Mallozzi: So I have no problem if they're
a contractual employee.
>> That's what I'm --
Commissioner Mallozzi: If we are paying them in essence
they need to be under our umbrella.
So this way we pay them takes it off the optimist and they are
our employee, our contractual -- >> That's what I'm suggesting.
Commissioner Smith: Didn't they say
there was conflict of interest with that
and there was push back and debate?
So we brought up under your concern I guess
here's my question .
If there's not consensus let's just say or is there something
waiting on their side because the 45 day
window started ticking.
So let's just be nice and just say we are 40 days into 45.
If we are on 40 days left by onboarding or doing this is that
going to meet the time frame for them to -- we are locked in.
Just trying to figure out they didn't
want for conflict of interest.
I just don't want to be confused because I thought
it's either get the 45 day window right
and or we've got to take over. >> Let me clarify.
They are asking for money.
My recommendation is they keep the money and provide the person
but that's not what they're asking for.
I'm recommending providing the support under our control.
Mayor Curran: At the end of the day what is the difference?
What they're trying to keep the city out
of as far as whatever it is and whatever their purpose is we
are going to tie it in anyways.
You're going to put that on them anyways correct?
>> Here's a difference.
I'm not recommending that this person be the treasurer of.
I think the treasurer can be just anybody in the organization
that has some level of experience
but expect the treasure to be this person.
I call this person an accountant who has hired a bookkeeper
and could be a CPA.
Making sure the processes are being followed.
I don't see any kind of conflict it's
not going to be going to the meetings.
The person is not going to be making decisions.
Smith:
so our commission meeting happens and we give direction
and everyone's on the same page and then we have a subsequent
meeting .
How this Cross-pollinates into meeting the 45 days and what
bridge is this right now because in theory
if what they're asking for is City Manager's saying that's not
what I'm recommending to do but if we're asking for money
I would agree is it really money that they
need because you which I think we all
agree we were like we're going to support you and how
do we get you guys there but that wasn't presented
that night unless I'm confused.
Probably until they went to their meeting
they didn't know what they need.
It doesn't null and void our 45 day window.
Mayor Curran: That's why they're asking
for help with the treasurer right now so they
can meet the 45 days.
>> So the question is the treasurer as far as I understand
Robert's rules that comes from an internal grouping.
You don't have to have any skills.
Next thing you know you're the treasurer.
So if we are staying out of that what dollar amount then
is needed?
Is it more of what our city manager
is saying is what they're trying to establish?
Mayor Curran: Can you come up and explain what you want
or what you need?
I understand but it wasn't mine to get grilled on.
I don't go to any board meetings.
I've never been to a board meeting.
>> I sat here whenever it was two weeks ago and was berated
by this dais about I don't care what it takes,
you need to hire the people to do what I want done.
We have spent several hours now interviewing
ten people for various positions at the club.
We have narrowed it down to a couple of people
that will do this as part of being the club, not as a city
employee.
The same issues of asking -- to do that is the same issue that
Alex is suggesting that you guys hire it and it's the same issue.
You've asked us to fix it.
I'm interviewing people to fix it
and you're not giving me any leeway to do it.
Commissioner Mallozzi: Can I say something?
>> I have a club administrator we want to hire a new bookkeeper
we want to hire, I have a treasurer we want to hire.
These are financial people to do what you want done.
Let me do it.
You used to give us $36,000 a year to support the club.
That has gone away.
Give me something to support the club so that I
can fix what you want fixed.
Commissioner Mallozzi: So the understanding
that I have is the person we are looking at
is not going to be the one writing the check,
is going to make sure that after all the checks are written
and all the money is dispersed they're
going to look at the spreadsheet and say all the numbers add up.
>> We are going above and beyond.
The treasurer that we want to bring on and hire
runs a financial management company.
I am doing this right.
The bookkeeper that we want to bring on
does bookkeeping for those organizations
and is also a local resident.
The treasurer is a resident of Cooper City.
The club administrator to do all of the forms
that you guys have put on us is willing to do it.
She is a Cooper City resident.
We are prepared to fix it and you
need to let me fix it and give me the tools to do it.
I need financial support rather than simply
saying we charge every resident another 25
or $45 whatever it is to make that happen.
Commissioner Mallozzi: But we are not saying that.
We are talking about a person to make sure
that A plus b equals C. We are not talking about someone that's
going to write the checks or anything like that
at this discussion.
>> We are bringing in a professional to do it to make
this day as happy.
Commissioner Mallozzi: But I'm not talking about a --
we are discussing -- we are talking about someone
that's going to oversee to make sure that the reconciliation
every month is done properly.
That's what we are discussing one step at a time.
So are you okay with the city putting whomever
you've decided to fill that reconciliation
role as a contract employee because I don't see
a reconciliation having a conflict or any sunshine
or anything like that.
>> I don't make that Commissioner Mallozzi:
Would I just understood is what I just reiterated and apparently
it's not what you understood.
>> I requested a contribution from the city for these
positions so that we could get everything right the way you
guys want it.
Commissioner Shrouder: The public perception of us to vote
to give $75,000 to the organization.
>> I said up to.
Because if you remember that was screamed at me last meeting.
Commissioner Shrouder: I don't remember
anyone screaming at you.
>> Pull up the tape.
I don't care if it costs 75000.
Get it done.
Commissioner Mallozzi: Whatever he did
last meeting was last meeting.
Commissioner Shrouder: Why don't you
have the money to get it done?
What is 75 divided by 12?
Be reasonable.
Get all this stuff done and then come and say we are short.
>> Promise that you won't move the goalposts on us.
Commissioner Shrouder: Move the goalposts?
All we do is move it closer to you.
If you cut back on that you have the money.
>> I don't want to do this.
Commissioner Shrouder: What kind of organization is under
pressure wants to come and ask us for $75,000 more so you can
comply with federal law?
It's absurd.
I'm saying make some headway.
Do what you got to do and as a favor to the mayor
I'll support something that is reasonable
but I honestly think that you are part of the problem.
So I truly believe -- >> Thank you very much.
I've been with this organization for 30 years.
Commissioner Shrouder: Paid or not?
Which one?
I'm asking you.
I don't know because we don't get the numbers.
>> When is the last time you coached a team?
Commissioner Shrouder: Probably two years ago.
But Mike Russo told me --
I'm not sure if it's paid with a volunteer a --
Commissioner Mallozzi: Stop.
What are we discussing here?
Let's get back to what we are discussing.
Commissioner Smith: I will be willing to do this
and I'll make a motion if it's appropriate.
I would make a motion that at the 45 day window as all of this
comes back to us and is solidified
to work with your recommendation if there's whatever dollar
amount that needs as long as it's not a conflict of interest
for the club as long as it doesn't put us
in any type of federal quagmires I'm willing to support
some type of dollar amount that helps them keep
the threshold but to be very clear so I'm on the record
I do not want nor will I be okay with putting
a dollar towards a treasurer.
That is a volunteered position that
gets acclimated in the club.
So if the other two roles are outside paid non-voting members
and that is something that you see fit that we partner
with them you have my support and I
would be willing to do that.
Mayor Curran: I don't think they're
talking about hiring right now will be a club member.
Commissioner Shrouder: How about you figure it out.
We will support you when it's on you.
You'll have to come back before us.
Commissioner Smith: Just from my perspective then
they need to change the terminology
and get that correct because that's the issue then.
>> The issue is terminology.
You're 100% right.
A treasurer is a club member.
It's a position that their bylaws require
and it doesn't have to be CPA or an accountant.
So if it worked for us it would be a conflict absolutely.
It can be done by a professional CPA.
The person that they discuss at hiring
is a person that's extremely qualified
and everybody knows him.
So I don't have any problem using that person
to perform this quality control things that I'm talking about
but is not the treasurer that is required by those laws.