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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Council 011807CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING January 18, 2007 The January 18, 2007 Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, was called to order at 7:02 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Complex, located at 10500 North Military Trail, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, by Mayor Russo, and opened with the pledge of allegiance. The City Manager reported Leo Stewart was much improved. 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, and Councilmember Valeche. ADDITIONS, DELETIONS, MODIFICATIONS: Mayor Russo announced staff had requested Resolution 10, 2007 be deleted from the agenda and postponed to no date certain, and that it would be re- advertised when placed back on the agenda. Councilmember Jablin moved approval of the deletion. Councilmember Levy seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous 5 -0 vote. ITEMS OF RESIDENT INTEREST AND BOARD /COMMITTEE REPORTS: Vice Mayor Barnett announced Arbor Day would be celebrated the next day with a tree planting ceremony, and on Sunday the Community Aesthetics Board would be handing out seedlings to those attending the Green Market. Councilmember Levy announced he had attended the Advisory Committee for the Palm Beach Gardens High School Magnet Program and learned that on Groundhog Day a business person could have a student shadow, and there was also an intern program where students worked for businesses. Anyone interested should call Artie Falk at the High School, 694 -7388. Councilmember Valeche expressed disappointment that Comcast had taken over Adelphia without notifying the City, and reported Comcast was changing email addresses, which he felt was unnecessary. Councilmember Valeche requested the City Attorney write Comcast a letter asking them to be more solicitous of their customers in the future. Mayor Russo noted when a contract was negotiated, comments regarding their treatment of residents should be considered. Councilmember Jablin advised he could not attend the Arbor Day ceremony, and that Frenchman's Creek would hold their charity concert on that day at Eissey Theater. Councilmember Jablin reported he had attended the Metropolitan Planning Organization meeting, where George Webb had made a presentation regarding Western development and increasing the density per acre in the Acreage, a desire had been expressed to invite the public for their input. Councilmember Jablin noted the density issue to the West was a huge threat to the City, and asked that everyone join together to fight this. Mayor Russo expressed concern that concurrency could have been granted, and he wanted to know what the City could do. Councilmember Valeche expressed his opinion that large employers should be brought in first. Vice Mayor Barnett expressed her opinion that participation by the League of Cities should be monitored. It was announced that the PGA Boulevard Bridge construction was to be completed in March. Mayor Russo reported he had attended the Economic Advisory Group meeting and they would meet with the City Council in March regarding biotech and biotech related companies. The Mayor expressed hope the State would help the biotech companies, and spoke about the work that was needed to get the State to provide funds. Mayor Russo reported Zack Minor's baseball camp had been well attended and thanked him and everyone who helped. CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS REGULAR MEETING, 1/18/07 2 CITY MANAGER REPORT: Charlotte Presensky, Community Services, read aloud a proclamation regarding the upcoming Celebrate Your City Day on January 27. City Manager Ferris advised staff and the developer of the Borland project had done everything they could to benefit the residents by providing more buffer than required. Kara Irwin, Growth Management Administrator, presented the draft ordinance limiting height, which resulted from the height charrette that was held. Discussion ensued. Richard Orman, 4203 Oak Street, spoke in favor of the City's direction regarding height, and requested requiring an extra ordinary majority to change it, and also asked that it be included in the comprehensive plan. Vito DeFrancesco, Shady Lakes, requested addition of a tiered system, definition of a story, and requested this be added to the comprehensive plan. Consensus of Council was to move forward with the ordinance. Talal Benothman provided an update on the Western Northlake Corridor Land Use Study, including the Callery Judge Development of Regional Impact and the sector plan on the Mecca Farms site. Consensus of Council was to request the County delay the study until issues of concern could be addressed. Direction to staff was to pursue this issue as aggressively as possible. Mr. Benothman also presented the proposed annexation by the City of West Palm Beach of a small parcel along Northlake Boulevard, to which the City had objected. Mr. Benothman's third presentation was on the Seminole Marina Redevelopment Plan. Consensus of Council was to contact Marina Gardens for a meeting with the residents. Mr. Benothman provided a report on the directional signage at Downtown at the Gardens and Legacy Place. The City Manager was to bring Council a proposal to recoup monies from developers for traffic signals. City Manager Ferris announced a County meeting regarding the District Park, and reminded Council of an informational picnic at Plant Drive park regarding campus modernization of Palm Beach Gardens High School on Saturday at noon. Mayor Russo reported staff had been instructed to report back regarding Bent Tree, and a letter had been developed to send to homeowner associations. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC: Joan Elias, 1009 Diamond Head Way, expressed appreciation for the great reports presented tonight, and commented the County did not hold public hearings, which she felt had caused them trouble. John Chaplik, 715 Hudson Bay Drive, commented that at the intersection by the post office to the library there was a blind spot at the stop sign; it was reported that was being changed. CONSENT AGENDA: Councilmember Jablin made a motion to approve the consent agenda. Councilmember Levy seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous 5 -0 vote. Therefore, the following items were approved on consent agenda: a. Resolution 6, 2007 - Grant Funding Agreements. A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida authorizing the City Manager as the signatory authority for Grant Funding Agreements and Financial Assistance Agreements; and providing an effective date. b. Resolution 9, 2007 - Purchase award to Landscape Structures, Inc. A Resolution of the City Council of the City Palm Beach Gardens, Florida approving a purchase award to Landscape Structures, Inc., for playground equipment at the Burns Road Community Recreation Campus via an existing contract with Palm Beach County (No. 05- 074/A); and providing an effective date. C. Proclamation — Arbor Day. CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS REGULAR MEETING, 1/18/07 3 d. Proclamation — Celebrate your Signature City Day. ORDINANCES: Ordinance 3, 2007 - Amendment to the General Employee Defined Benefit Pension Plan. An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida relating to the General Employees' Pension Plan (DB); amending Section 3 -126, Code of Ordinances entitled "Definitions "; amending Section 3 -127, Code of Ordinances entitled "Membership "; amending Section 3 -135, Code of Ordinances entitled "Optional Forms of Benefits "; amending Section 3 -140, Code of Ordinances entitled "Distribution of Benefits "; amending Section 3 -147, Code of Ordinances entitled "Direct Transfers of Eligible Rollover Distributions', providing for codification; and providing an effective date. The City Clerk read Ordinance 3, 2007 on first reading by title only. Finance Administrator Allan Owens presented the staff report. Councilmember Jablin moved to place Ordinance 3 on first reading by title only. Councilmember Levy seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous 5 -0 vote. ITEMS FOR COUNCIL ACTION /DISCUSSION: Consensus of Council was to direct the Mayor to sign the letter that had been developed to send to homeowner associations. Vice Mayor Barnett commented she had suggested an Ordinance to provide an alternative method of qualifying for elections rather than paying a filing fee. Suggested changes were discussed, and the City Attorney indicated this would be brought back to the City Council. Councilmember Levy requested an update on progress on the lights at the Borland project. CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS REGULAR MEETING, 1/18/07 4 ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to discuss, the meting was adjougppd at 8:57 p.m. APPROVAL: ATTEST: -104ze0( PATRICIA SNIDER, CMC CITY CLERK RUS VICE MAY-OR LEVY ` r Note: These summary minutes are prepared in compliance with 286.011 F.S. and are not verbatim transcripts of the meeting. A verbatim audio record is available from the Office of the City Clerk. All referenced attachments on file in City Clerk's office.