HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Council 060106CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS
CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
June 1, 2006
The June 1, 2006 Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Palm Beach Gardens,
Florida, was called to order at 7:01 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Complex,
located at 10500 North Military Trail, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, by Talia Suskauer,
Mayor for the Day, and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL: The City Clerk called the roll and the following elected officials were found
to be in attendance: Mayor Russo, Vice Mayor Barnett, Councilmember Jablin,
Councilmember Levy, Councilmember Valeche, and Mayor for a day Talia Suskauer.
ANNOUNCEMENT:
Mayor Russo thanked Mayor for a Day Talia Suskauer and presented her with an award.
RE -ORDER AGENDA:
Councilmember Jablin made a motion to re -order the agenda to place the Proclamation in
recognition of Chatsworth under Announcements and Presentations. Councilmember Levy
seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous 5 -0 vote.
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND PRESENTATIONS:
Recognition of the Palm Beach Gardens High School Girls Softball 2nd State Championship
Mayor Russo reported this was the second year in a row this team had won the
championship, expressed how proud everyone was of the accomplishments of the members
of the team, and presented a plaque of recognition and a softball signed by all the members of
the City Council to the team. The team presented their picture to the Mayor and City Council.
Councilmember Levy recommended dedicating a brick in the courtyard to this team, last
year's team, Palm Beach Gardens Boys Football 6A State Championship, the Dwyer High
School Girls' Flag Football Championship and both of the Dwyer High School Boy's
Basketball Championships. Consensus of Council was to dedicate the bricks as proposed by
Councilmember Levy.
Proclamation -- in recognition of Chatsworth at PGA National, a division of Devonshire
Senior Resort Communities for receiving the Governors Gold Seal Award - Councilmember
Levy made a motion to accept the proclamation. Councilmember Valeche seconded the
motion, which carried by unanimous 5 -0 vote. Mayor Russo presented the proclamation to
representatives of the facility, and noted only sixteen of the 651 skilled nursing centers in the
entire state had received this award.
Basketball Camp - Mayor Russo reported Zack Minor, a Palm Beach Gardens resident who
had started a baseball camp for underprivileged children, had been picked by the Detroit
Tigers.
ITEMS OF RESIDENT INTEREST AND BOARD /COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Vice Mayor Barnett reported that she and the City Attorney had attended a Florida in the
Sunshine Law seminar. Councilmember Levy commented the Recreation Department had a
great staff, reported he had attended the pre - school graduation and the senior club luncheon,
and had just started his sixth year coaching flag football. Councilmember Valeche reported
property values in the City had increased approximately 26% to about $9 billion, which
would provide an opportunity to cut the millage rate and add to reserves. Mayor Russo
announced the budget process would begin with a Council workshop on June 14 where staff
would present their budgets to Council during a public meeting. Councilmember Jablin
recommended proceeding with the changes to waivers which had been discussed previously,
CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS REGULAR MEETING, 6/1/06 2
by having Treasure Coast participate, using this as a planning tool for the future. Mayor
Russo recommended a planning charrette with all residents of the City in the fall to address
this issue and build consensus of the community. Vice Mayor Barnett recommended holding
a workshop to discuss affordable housing, and a separate workshop to discuss waivers, and
indicated she did not want to see Treasure Coast involved. The Vice Mayor urged that
affordable housing be discussed sooner. Mayor Russo indicated his idea was to discuss high
rises in the fall, in coordination with affordable housing; and agreed that affordable housing
should be discussed sooner. Councilmember Valeche expressed his opinion the results of the
charrette would depend on the questions asked, and he would rather have a referendum than a
charrette. Discussion ensued. Vice Mayor Barnett made a motion to direct the City Manager
to look into language for a referendum and at the same time schedule a charrette to occur
before the referendum, but prepare the language now. Councilmember Valeche seconded the
motion. During discussion of the motion, Mayor Russo, Councilmember Jablin, and
Councilmember Levy indicated they were in favor of a charrette and finding out if there were
appropriate places in the City for high rises. The Vice Mayor indicated she favored a
moratorium on high rise buildings. The City Attorney advised that zoning in progress could
be instituted if it was planned to change the code. Staff was directed to bring back
information on zoning in progress and on holding a charrette. Motion failed 3 -2 with Mayor
Russo, Councilmember Jablin, and Councilmember Levy opposed. Mayor Russo indicated
he was getting calls from people who wanted generators in place before hurricane season,
and he had requested this permit process be accelerated. Todd Engle, Construction Services,
reported there was one plans examiner on staff, there were three vacancies, and two
consultants had been hired to help get plans out as fast as possible. The goal was to get the
plans out ten days after the application was submitted. All personnel who had the proper
certification had been brought in to help with the permitting process. Mayor Russo reported
he and Councilmember Jablin attended the funeral of Milt Stern, a resident who attended
many Council meetings and worked tirelessly on Ryder Cup Boulevard. A moment of silence
was observed for Mr. Stern.
CITY MANAGER REPORT:
On- going Service Assessment and Community Outreach Annual Report — Charlotte
Presensky, Community Services, reported one of the tools being used to communicate with
the public was the resident opinion survey that had been conducted. Ms. Presensky provided
an overview of the charts which were created by the research firm, which would be used as a
future planning tool for different items and to focus on what could be done for the residents.
Ms. Presensky reported 400 residents had been surveyed at random, regarding services
provided by the City, taxes, perceived return on taxes, the City's budget process, contact with
the City, communication by the City, preferred method of communication with the City,
phone broadcasts of City Council meetings, reasons for listening to or attending meetings,
the City's website, transportation, and areas being developed.
Compensation and Classification Study Report - Sheryl Stewart reported the study had been
provided by an outside firm, HR Management Partners. Laurie Barefoot, with HR
Management Partners, presented the findings of their report, including an overview of the
scope of services including market study results, current pay and practices, and the
recommended pay plan. The position of senior accountant was used as an example, and the
firm's recommendation was to bring pay up to current competitive levels.
CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS REGULAR MEETING, 6/1/06 3
PGA Boulevard Construction Update — Dan Clark presented a schedule for construction for
widening PGA Boulevard. Phase I would rebuild the North side of the road with traffic
transferred to the South side. The road would be raised about 2 -1/2 feet, which would mean
portions would be closed for short periods of time while construction was being done. Phase
II would entail construction for the North side of the road. All of the construction up to
Avenue of the Champions was anticipated to be finished by November, so that the section
needed for the Honda Classic would be completed by the time of that event. All of the work
should be completed in approximately one year from now. Mayor Russo requested this
information be communicated to the Honda people and property owners associations for the
communities affected.
COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC:
Carol Estrada, Riverside Drive, commended staff on the code meeting the previous evening,
and advised she had heard only good reports regarding that meeting.
Paula Magnuson, Gardens East Drive, expressed her opinion that many permits for the 2004
hurricane repairs for Sandalwood had been pulled without notice of commencement, asked
why information on their air conditioner skirts was not on the computer, and indicated she
had sent a letter to the Mayor that was never answered. The City Clerk indicated there had
been a reply, and she would check the date.
Suzanne Archer, indicated she lived in the same community as Ms. Magnuson, and she had
been attempting to do a forensic study as to how Sandalwood was repaired, and reported staff
had gone beyond what they needed to in order to provide answers, but some items did not
exist, which was very troubling. Staff responded to comments from Ms. Magnuson and Ms.
Archer.
Linda Hughey recommended more than one item be discussed at charrettes, and suggested
locations for high rise buildings and an overlay, and also noted a moratorium was not a bad
thing. Ms. Hughey asked the amount paid to the consultant for the salary survey, and
expressed her opinion this consultant had talked down to the City Council. Staff reported the
cost was $18,000, which was similar to past salary surveys, but this one had also included
software to maintain the plan. Mayor Russo responded regarding the moratorium that zoning
in progress would be considered after the charrettes.
Joan Elias, Diamond Head Way, noted Milt Stern had been very active in the visioning
process and he would be missed. Ms. Elias commented she agreed with Linda Hughey; they
were both interested in the whole City. Ms. Elias recalled an all -day transportation workshop
for North County, and stated she believed in looking at how things were integrated, that
affordable housing could not be discussed in isolation and more time than one night might be
needed for the discussion.
CONSENT AGENDA: Councilmember Jablin made a motion to approve the consent
agenda. Councilmember Levy seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous 5 -0 vote.
a. Approve Minutes from the May 4, 2006 Regular City Council meeting.
b. 2nd Quarter Financial Report.
CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS REGULAR MEETING, 6/1/06 4
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
Part I — Quasi - judicial - None
Part II — Non - Ouasi - iudicial
—(2 n' readine and adontion) Firefighters' Pension Plan. An Ordinance of
the City Council of the City of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida relating to the Firefighters'
Pension Plan; amending Section 38 -54, Code of Ordinances, entitled "Finances and Fund
Management," to permit investments of up to ten percent of the pension plan's assets in real
estate; providing for codification; and providing an effective date. The City Clerk read
Ordinance 11, 2006 by title on second reading. Finance Director Allan Owens reported
changes to the proposed revised language had been submitted within the past few hours, and
that the changed language would read: Up to 10% of the assets of the fund at cost may be
invested in real estate investment vehicles, including private placement open end funds,
Exchange Traded Funds, ETF's, Real Estate Investment Trusts, REIT's, Mutual Funds,
Annuity Funds, Insurance Company pooled funds under group annuity contract as
recommended by financial consultant and recommended by the board. Discussion ensued.
Hearing no comments from the public, Mayor Russo declared the public hearing closed.
Councilmember Jablin moved approval of Ordinance 11, 2006 on second reading by title
only. Councilmember Levy seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous 5 -0 vote. It
was clarified for the record that the approval included the proposed language as read into the
record.
ITEMS FOR COUNCIL ACTION /DISCUSSION:
Budget Oversight Committee — Mayor Russo noted this board, originally an oversight board,
had been in operation three years, and had sunset. Councilmember Valeche had been the
liaison for this board. Councilmember Valeche recommended increasing the members to five
and asked that the name be changed to Budget Oversight Board. Concern was expressed that
the function of the committee needed to remain the same and that the business community
should be represented. Mayor Russo made a motion to authorize staff to bring to the next
meeting a resolution to continue the committee, which would be amended at that meeting to
change the sunset date and expand the membership. Councilmember Levy seconded the
motion, which carried by unanimous 5 -0 vote.
Councilmember Valeche questioned the City Council's actions regarding the pay plan study.
City Manager Ferris responded he was authorized to implement the pay plan study under
Ordinance 15, 2004, and planned to do so by July 1, and he would be happy to discuss this
with members of the Council before that date.
CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS REGULAR MEETING, 6/1/06 5
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to discuss e ' g w djourned at 9:19 p.m.
APPROVAL:
O RUSSO
VICE7 BARNETT
JABLIN
COUNC EMBER LEVY
COUNCILMEMBKR V ALECHE
ATTEST:
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PATRICIA SNIDER, CMC
CITY CLERK