[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6581699,"mediaKeyId","3071290-2757bbac2e041da7f172657b722d9200","parentId",3071290,"title","Tamarac to launch redesigned website, new call-center features and Alexa skill; city outlines accessibility and service goals","audioSeconds",348,"startMs",1367000,"endMs",1715000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3071290-2757bbac2e041da7f172657b722d9200&start=1367&end=1715","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3071290-2757bbac2e041da7f172657b722d9200/thumbnail_1367000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6581699/Tamarac/Broward-County/Florida/Tamarac-to-launch-redesigned-website-new-call-center-features-and-Alexa-skill-city-outlines-accessibility-and-service-goals","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6581699-3bee63b92e76cc25b87139b11b6aebe7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771167909&Signature=MhSgaeBothSmKHYmAIsPPB4V8YkrEx7KIbZvGc5gJ6Y2V7lWJwgJoYXPBzEQzucDjwoDpGSBfEy3kSlPnMqpekjWBso5x2-rVi6czIcZHPMSy6JidaaqoQjSlLGYUk4GDsTl7tkTv4XMglM0LCrYFYb~nWcI3ReWIKyiEkju~hLesVw-uwEvmK2UfCVCga69gZ7eXBi6uncgTtXZtPxynkdYQOQVjojMzA6P0H8SIzgIbfEYaIchIMAV04TU6MrCC1Tv68K1qhZOhAvD1BH4ECJ7V9f6YeRSTWvBp-MFR2wK~e2UP9KZCrjji~-f0ymugDXbJsMwlNzdZz1r8Ow87w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Tamarac","date","2025-04-21T00:00:00Z","article","James (Jim) Plager, the city’s chief information officer, briefed the commission on a suite of digital-service upgrades that the city planned to launch the day after the workshop.

Plager said the new city website was scheduled to go live April 22 around midday and will use the tamarac.gov domain; the site includes an accessibility widget, an updated community calendar (which can ingest events from partner organizations and county library feeds), embedded publications, a GIS portal and virtual park and public-art tours. He emphasized the site is a work in progress and that staff will continue to refine navigation and department content.

Plager described the city’s recent deployment of an Amazon Connect call-center solution that adds text messaging and (soon) web-based chat and video-chat options. He said the system can provide automated responses from publicly available city content, offer callbacks to callers who prefer not to wait on hold, and integrate with emergency alerts so callers interacting with the system receive real-time notifications.

Plager also said the city developed an Alexa skill that lets residents ask for upcoming events, connect to city contact numbers, or receive emergency-alert signals on Echo devices. He said the city is not yet exposing personalized account details (for example, individual utility bills) through voice or chat, though that capability is on the roadmap.

Plager asked for ongoing feedback from commissioners and staff as the digital services rollout continues and noted the city hosts an Amazon Connect user group for other Florida municipalities to share lessons learned.

No formal commission action was taken at the workshop; the presentation was an update on scheduled public-facing releases and ongoing system integrations.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Tamarac - Workshop - Apr 21, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Chief Information Officer James Plager said a redesigned Tamarac website will go live April 22 with accessibility features, virtual park and public-art tours, a community calendar, and an integrated Amazon Connect call-center offering text and web chat; staff also developed an Alexa skill for city services.","taxTitle","Tamarac, Broward County, Florida","taxId",8839,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6581704,"Tamarac staff outline multiple budgeted capital and technology projects including culvert upgrades, cameras, fiber and fleet replacements",113,107000,220000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3071290-2757bbac2e041da7f172657b722d9200&start=107&end=220","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3071290-2757bbac2e041da7f172657b722d9200/thumbnail_107000.jpg","/articles/6581704/Tamarac/Broward-County/Florida/Tamarac-staff-outline-multiple-budgeted-capital-and-technology-projects-including-culvert-upgrades-cameras-fiber-and-fleet-replacements","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6581704-9aea96f7b16a52f3226088af759b1c2e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771167909&Signature=krq-woWGmkEE1m8H89Dyu71IMhRtpYVSNHFHkWalXQXc6YO8UctLIET2LRT73BI5-dd2Pln6Uu7g7AtzYlGeptzld1sA1Eff1UdrNEMpGZVq51PqikVMNgznFwdBYN~v5tMb6bK7dkpwOqVQwuPPkJMCtFeTZYpLVHzD~TZe7IRlSSwywKUIyWmTqmg4jRZpHYhy~26d2F5le46jf4Ug6CfoylH1CLwnuBstzUNc7pLYV4DGKxYEWQEgeLmsFk5Zso1kwGeDTtwq-dWVO9Twg0nKVZpJLX3Pv4cbxO9NwYZ2mBVNPF0TRsbAWYLfucY5QWlcOe6d8WhDFLsi2FrjIA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff used the workshop to summarize several budgeted capital and technology projects scheduled for FY25 and near-term procurement.

Mustafa (surname in transcript varies) described a state grant for a culvert/headwall improvement project that will include a gate and a SCADA system to control water basins. He said design is nearly final, the city expects to advertise for bids by late summer and construct within about a year, noting construction requires review by Broward County surface-water authorities because the work touches a water body.

Information-technology and facilities items included a Phase 2 of the city security master plan presented by James (Jim) Plager, the city’s chief information officer. Plager said Phase 2 covers about 11 facilities and will install equipment the team described as “28 cameras but that's the equivalent of 79 cameras” when counting multi-camera assemblies; the phase also includes card readers, intercoms and contact sensors. Plager said the work was planned and budgeted in the current year at approximately $767,000 and that the city completed a bid process.

Plager and staff also described a fiber-optic extension to connect Fire Station 38 to the Sable Palm Park site (part of the city's ongoing underground fiber network begun in 2018), which will prepare the park for online services once it opens.

Public-art maintenance is on the consent agenda: staff described a three-year agreement with the option to renew for maintenance and conservation of roughly 33 public-art pieces, for a total of $111,100.

Fleet-replacement staff presented a vehicle-replacement package that flagged unit-level repair costs and mileage as replacement criteria and proposed replacing nine vehicles plus one crane truck. The presentation included two close-but-different totals in the record: a fiscal-impact slide said “the total cost shall not exceed $1,108,960” while the recommendation slide stated staff would seek authorization for expenditure “not to exceed $1,189,160.” Procurement will use cooperative contracts (Sourcewell, Florida Sheriff's Association and Bradford County Sheriff contracts) to leverage pre-negotiated pricing.

Smaller facility upgrades included an AV-system replacement for the Community Center Ballroom (last replaced around 2013) to address frequent malfunctions in audio and projection quality, and an enterprise time-and-attendance system replacement (the current system from 2012 could not be upgraded and the new system integrates with the city’s fire-rescue shift scheduling software). Christine (role in transcript) described the new time-and-attendance product as “really user friendly.”

Staff also reported adding two charitable organizations to the city’s approved list after verifying IRS status and Charity Navigator standing: “Karen Heart Health and Hunt Inc.” as listed by staff at the meeting.

Most items were presented as budgeted or as recommended procurements; no final contract awards or commission votes were recorded during the workshop. Staff indicated items will return to the commission on the regular agenda for formal approval as required by procurement rules.","Staff reviewed a series of budgeted capital and technology items: a state grant-funded culvert/headwall project with a gated SCADA control, a security master-plan Phase 2 (camera/card reader installations), fiber to Sable Palm Park, public-art maintenance, fleet replacements, AV upgrade for the community center, and a time-and-attendance system.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6581709,"Tamarac to buy backup bunker-gear sets for firefighters to reduce contamination risk, chief says",84,770000,854000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3071290-2757bbac2e041da7f172657b722d9200&start=770&end=854","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3071290-2757bbac2e041da7f172657b722d9200/thumbnail_770000.jpg","/articles/6581709/Tamarac/Broward-County/Florida/Tamarac-to-buy-backup-bunker-gear-sets-for-firefighters-to-reduce-contamination-risk-chief-says","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6581709-64e04a835a3db2da34f9460bd283ea53/orig.mp4?Expires=1771167910&Signature=EHwHKI0NUXJUx2EIWxKCzbigcUDhJxtMXWM1qxFGfqr4xWQJy7XMVQ67FnXvfnAx0VRg1gKljhvyrvb--dXwG7XjReCy~AIKVLhoC2vhbmfcTj9OvDAMt-feNrkZbRJUgqzS-2TsdxCxvJP6sTEzQuziEh55mJRVwwmqUwJ0nQg9ar54VsC5ZC8S3nlUUeko6pRQkw9GSsZyoIJ4cvKYjaO7xaE9xXbH6dPDuJwse71PA28jrIfZ9~dOjVbYlk3Vzt1I8mVsznfS3u-M~hAI8lQDPNB8AihnfVu5cxwFd8oN5L2DHI9cfcH0s1slG0N-rhoTsxwJwFdn457vPF-DmA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Fire Chief (name not provided on transcript) presented a budgeted purchase to provide each firefighter with a second set of bunker gear and to replace expired gear, citing national firefighter health guidance and operational continuity.

The chief said the FY25 budget includes up to $383,932 for purchasing 100 additional sets and 16 replacement sets, funded through the approved budget. He said the city is buying the Globe brand gear through the vendor Bennett under a Lake County contract and that the change follows guidance to keep a backup set available while dirty gear is washed and serviced.

The chief framed the purchase as a cancer-prevention measure and operational necessity: \"Sometimes if it's exposed to electric vehicle, we have to get rid of the entire set of gear. So we don't want to have a truck down or a person down.\" He told the commission the backup sets help keep units in service and avoid borrowing incompatible gear from other departments.

The presentation noted industry practice has shifted toward providing a second set of gear for each firefighter, and that turnout gear also has an expected service life and periodic replacement schedule (gear typically expires after about 10 years). The chief said the city will continue an annual replacement program for expired or damaged sets.

No formal vote or contract award was recorded at the workshop; the purchase was described as budgeted in FY25 and expected to proceed through the standard procurement process.","The fire chief outlined a FY25 purchase for 100 additional bunker-gear sets plus 16 replacements, funded in the FY25 budget and intended to follow NFPA guidance to reduce long-term cancer risk among firefighters.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6581713,"Tamarac building official reports CRS rating and steps toward NFIP recertification",88,909000,997000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3071290-2757bbac2e041da7f172657b722d9200&start=909&end=997","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3071290-2757bbac2e041da7f172657b722d9200/thumbnail_909000.jpg","/articles/6581713/Tamarac/Broward-County/Florida/Tamarac-building-official-reports-CRS-rating-and-steps-toward-NFIP-recertification","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6581713-a7891d16f9b9642ca9eb48ae20685478/orig.mp4?Expires=1771167910&Signature=DrEYItVojcjnNnx-N~y-2R950wYyL-HJ3wNGH60EQm3WIoRKWinKuM8AVnR63CWy6sd5gOd4y~NUoRGn6Otug20rWJs6jxYzFgv2Z7Uf2GiN7ChwIrYcmZeB5QbIXL8q3TCq7DwPY6hcPqiDXsHKWhe7nMbiKu6raqR8uxSJ5vg-ts3N4SbSd0fjeM4yKpo6TrqdVbnhX3SF45qmN0YnIDzWEjtNFd8otS-oLd-aQI-X5dB4Ksp5EWkTcpdrr3g2PtFT2Pjt2DQskpaDY3rKHfrXXFYDPBFyd1M-E2yw7R4b7jt-E8RNkLEAY~umJiMKBjVtPItpwQrwOWkwfa952Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tony Palacios, the city’s building official and floodplain manager, updated commissioners on Tamarac’s floodplain administration and insurance-rating status.

Palacios said Tamarac maintains a Class 6 rating in the National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System (CRS), which provides citizens a 20% discount on flood insurance, and that the city will pursue full NFIP certification in 2026.

Palacios explained that properties across Tamarac fall into different FEMA zones: X, AH and AE, and that properties mapped in AH or AE zones can be subject to mandatory flood insurance requirements when a mortgage is in place. He advised residents can check flood-zone status on the city website, through Broward County Property Appraiser’s (BCPA) FEMA map link, or by contacting the building department for a letter stating the property’s flood zone.

In his presentation Palacios said the update to the committee members named in the plan reflects staffing changes; the prior resolution referenced former employees and the amendment modernizes the list for submittal to the CRS. He said the annual documents submitted to CRS and ISO support Tamarac’s insurance-service grading and accreditation work.

No formal action or vote was recorded during the workshop; the item was presented as an informational update to prepare for upcoming certification steps.

Palacios also noted examples of neighborhoods (for instance, Woodlands) that include properties in higher-risk zones and reiterated how residents can confirm their property's status online or through staff assistance.","Building Official Tony Palacios reported that Tamarac holds a Community Rating System Class 6, which yields a 20% flood-insurance discount, and that the city will seek full NFIP certification in 2026; staff noted properties remain in multiple FEMA flood zones.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6581718,"Tamarac attorney outlines amendment requiring unanimous commission vote and 100% neighbor consent to release golf-course covenant",106,1121000,1227000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3071290-2757bbac2e041da7f172657b722d9200&start=1121&end=1227","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3071290-2757bbac2e041da7f172657b722d9200/thumbnail_1121000.jpg","/articles/6581718/Tamarac/Broward-County/Florida/Tamarac-attorney-outlines-amendment-requiring-unanimous-commission-vote-and-100-neighbor-consent-to-release-golf-course-covenant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6581718-eecfb446b802956152d055a248e79966/orig.mp4?Expires=1771167910&Signature=c~j2pfJ7TAwg~mcjzZkepe4IQHQsxv4AVJWGeQnVUM~MgguQ9AZuxKn43mIJGLFTvLTlzx7F7FHbc9ybKk2XT8V2aFjlN~rbPNm3FotAzNi0AXCGTvHQeEYZLoCFNiBfsBAt2b60Jha~fIxZCZq2qMcvAJ8pjCa1jAKy-eQo~OPDdnI35oaoIaBl74DxHWHDlFxQgLD-hchSRWCxK7J0YytlmV7vUYJlN6~0Jf6Apg-Ij1ab9563a~jO2uUe6LgFEMFP0JXzEudAQXz4-Xqd8r5oO2FiMKS7WUsdJ3ESVqre3kBv50RM8iVwlhvyBgOsxOJNmM8hw7~8uOzvYTW2FA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City Attorney Hans Atsun presented an amendment to a recorded restrictive covenant that would make it harder to remove golf-course use protections for two Tamarac courses.

Atsun told commissioners the amendment would require a unanimous City Commission vote to release the restriction and require “100% vote of residential property owners within 400 feet of these properties to release the restriction.”

The amendment updates an earlier recorded covenant that preserved “Championship Golf Course, Colony West Golf Course” as recreational uses. Atsun said the city requested the amendment to reflect two new conditions intended to keep the existing amenities in place and to require broader local consent before the restriction can be removed. He cited a comparable arrangement at Woodmont Golf Course, which uses a different radius and consent threshold.

Commission staff did not present a formal motion or vote during the workshop; Atsun described the change as an amendment directed by the commission. There was brief clarification from the manager that the amendment applies to both sides of the golf course and that the original covenant already covered both properties.

The discussion was informational and procedural at this workshop; no formal action was recorded in the transcript. City staff indicated the amendment will reflect the commission’s direction and be returned for legal and recording steps consistent with prior practice.

Clarifying details from the presentation include: the added requirements of a unanimous City Commission vote and a 400-foot notification/consent radius requiring 100% of residential property owners’ approval to release the covenant. The recorded covenant and the proposed amendment retain references to the existing on-site amenities.

Next steps were not specified in detail on the record; the item was described as an administrative amendment following prior direction from the commission.","City Attorney Hans Atsun presented an amendment to a recorded restrictive covenant for Colony West Golf Course that would require a unanimous City Commission vote and 100% consent of residential property owners within 400 feet to release the golf-course-use restriction.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Tamarac to launch redesigned website, new call-center features and Alexa skill; city outlines accessibility and service goals

Tamarac staff outline multiple budgeted capital and technology projects including culvert upgrades, cameras, fiber and fleet replacements

Tamarac to buy backup bunker-gear sets for firefighters to reduce contamination risk, chief says

Tamarac building official reports CRS rating and steps toward NFIP recertification

Tamarac attorney outlines amendment requiring unanimous commission vote and 100% neighbor consent to release golf-course covenant