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:
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PATRICIA SNIDER, CMC
CITY CLERK
RUS
VICE MAY-OR LEVY `
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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.