HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Council 121900CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING, 12/19/2000 1
CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS
CITY COUNCIL
WORKSHOP MEETING
December 19, 2000
The December 19, 2000, Workshop Meeting of the City Council of the City of Palm Beach Gardens,
Florida, was called to order at 12:15 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Complex
located at 10500 North Military Trail, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
ROLL CALL: The City Clerk called the roll and the following elected officials were found to be
in attendance: Vice Mayor Eric Jablin, Councilmember David Clark, and Councilmember Carl
Sabatello. Mayor Joseph R. Russo and Councilmember Lauren Furtado were absent.
CITY MANAGER REPORT: The City Manager announced that a report would be presented at
Thursday's City Council meeting regarding the Status of Building Permit - Veridian Office Building.
City Engineer Dan Clark commented a staff report had been prepared and staff had reviewed the
plans, which would be presented at the City Council meeting, and that there were still conditions to
be satisfied by the petitioner. Vice Mayor Jablin encouraged anyone present to speak up regarding
anything that the Council needed to know ahead of time in order to speed up the City Council
meeting. City Engineer Clark commented that the challenge with Veridian was it is in Unit 19; the
administrative appeal regarding Unit 19 had been resolved, meaning that on January 11 South
Florida Water Management District would most likely issue an Environmental Resource Permit; and
that South Florida Water Management District was still reviewing construction permits for a number
of parcels within Unit 19. Mr. Clark indicated that there were 30 conditions of approval for the
Veridian construction plans, one of which would provide two options —to wait until the lake system
was built in Basin 3 before beginning their construction or to demonstrate to the City the
construction will have no negative effect in or adjacent to Unit 19, which would allow the petitioner
to proceed with construction providing they could meet the other 29 conditions.
Customer Service Report - Dr. Beth Ingold -Love reported Dr. Hayes would be present to provide
a report of the Executive Summary, which was in the packet.
CONSENT AGENDA:
Cancer Survivor Park - Councilman Sabatello recommended the Cancer Survivor Park be removed
from the consent agenda, and questioned whether this would be the best use for this property or if
it could be better used to correct deficiencies in some of the recreation programs. Recreation
Director Sue Miller responded that this property was not considered conducive to satisfy the program
deficiencies, and that the City had obtained another grant which would take care of replacing the
Tanglewood Park activities on the south end of the site. Councilman Sabatello noted the conceptual
plan looked beautiful but expressed concern regarding the cost of maintenance. Ms. Miller indicated
she could provide maintenance cost estimates for the fountains and lakes at the City Council
meeting. Councilman Sabatello requested the sidewalk location be moved away from the edge of
the road. Councilman Clark indicated the Letter of Intent would be generally in accordance with the
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING, 12/19/2000 2
conceptual plan, with details to be worked out later. This was confirmed by Ms. Miller, who
explained that the Letter of Intent was to be presented to Mr. Block in order for him to approve the
grant and the conceptual plan, and an agreement would be presented later to the City Council.
Councilman Clark stated agreement with Councilman Sabatello's comments, and stressed that the
City needed assurance that the grant would cover the maintenance costs. Ms. Miller indicated the
costs would be reviewed at the City Council meeting. Vice Mayor Jablin indicated the northern end
of Burns Road should be developed to a similar level as the southern end. The Vice Mayor noted
that the Art Task Force had not received a copy of the contract and a copy should be given to the
attorney for review before the meeting on Thursday.
Fire Department Vehicles - Councilman Sabatello questioned the need for such large vehicles, to
which the Fire Chief responded that the Suburban was a replacement vehicle and contained a
command center.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
Ordinance 30, 2000 - An Ordinance of the City of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, Providing for
Approval of the Application of the Benjamin Private School, Inc., for Rezoning of 50 Acres of Land,
Located at the Northwest Corner of the Intersection of Central Boulevard and an Unnamed Future
East -West Road as more particularly described herein, from Planned Development Area (PDA) to
Public /Institutional (P /I) with a Planned Unit Development (PUD) Overlay, in Order to Construct
a 187,671 Square Foot Private High School Campus; Providing for Waivers; Providing for
Conditions of Approval; Providing for Severability; Providing for Conflicts; and Providing for an
Effective Date. Staff indicated conditions of approval had been developed to meet all concerns
previously discussed.
RESOLUTIONS:
Resolution 97, 2000 - A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida,
Providing for the Approval of an Application from Communities Finance Company requesting
Approval for Removal of Exotic Vegetation, and Conceptual Upland Preserve Set Aside for Parcels
4.03 and 4.06 located at the Southwest Corner of Alternate AIA and Donald Ross Road, as more
particularly described herein; Providing for Conditions of Approval, and Providing for an Effective
Date. City Forester Mark Hendrickson explained the City wished the vegetation removal and
creation of the preserve to be done right, which was the reason for using the process as presented.
Mr. Hendrickson indicated that doing this work ahead of the actual development would save time
for the petitioner later and provide visual confirmation of exactly how the preserve would look and
how much buffering and additional landscaping would be needed. Councilman Clark expressed
concern that if concurrency was not met, if the property was re -sold, or if the developer did not build
for years, that having removed existing vegetation would make this property an eyesore and destroy
habitat for wild animals. The City Forester explained that he expected the petitioner's
environmentalist to be at the City Council meeting and that this was presented as being done not for
development but solely for the environment by eradication of exotics, and that the petitioner would
commit in perpetuity to keep the exotics out, so that in ten years there would be more native
vegetation on the parcel than existed today. Vice Mayor Jablin commented Councilman Clark was
referring to a look like Bent Tree and expressed concern regarding having a denuded parcel until
development occurred, which was verified by Councilman Clark. The City Forester commented he
would call the petitioner to learn the locations of the exotics on the property, noted that a benefit of
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING, 12/19/2000
3
the proposed process would be that vegetation that would normally be destroyed could be relocated
to the preserve area, and indicated he would address the timing issue with the petitioner. The City
Forester clarified there would be no excavation or removal of anything, and that fill could not be
added to the property without obtaining another permit.
Resolution 105, 2000 - La Posada. - A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Palm Beach
Gardens, Florida, Providing for the Approval of a Site Plan for a Senior Assisted Living Facility (La
Posada) located within the Regional Center Development of Regional Impact (DRI) Consisting of
301 Units, as more particularly Described herein; Providing for Six Waivers to Allow the Addition
of 209 Covered Parking Spaces, the Location of Covered Parking Spaces within the Required 100 -
Foot Setback, the Elimination of Two Sidewalks, a Reduction in the 15 -foot Landscape Buffer, the
Reduction in the Street Side Setback along the Eastern Perimeter, and the Encroachment of
Structures within the Lake Maintenance Easement Tract; Providing for an Amendment to the Master
Signage Program for the DRI as Adopted in Resolution 64, 1998 to Modify the Design and Location
of the Permitted Signs and Add Two Directional and Two Directory Signs to the Master Signage
Program; Providing for Conditions of Approval; and Providing for an Effective Date. Senior Planner
Talal Benothman reported petitioner had provided additional clarification of justification for the
waivers but had not revised any plans. Councilman Sabatello reported he had visited the model, and
still had concerns regarding the covered parking and the length of the roofs, and his biggest concern
was setting precedent of a certain percentage of covered parking and what it looked like.
Councilman Sabatello commented regarding the pedestrian walkways that he felt the change made
by the petitioner would not affect circulation. Councilman Sabatello reported he had expressed
concern regarding security to the petitioner, and whether there would be controlled access into the
property or merely an information center, and the petitioner had indicated they would address these
issues at the City Council meeting. Mr. Benothman explained the new justification for the sidewalk
waiver was that they were actually relocating the sidewalk and providing it internally within the site,
and the petitioner was not actually providing a sidewalk for public access along the perimeter.
Councilman Sabatello indicated he had no problem with the circulation, and the internal walkways
were actually available to the public. Mr. Benothman noted staff had no problems with the requested
waivers but was recommending denial of the proposed amendment to Resolution 64 which
established a master signage program for the regional center, and requested direction regarding
whether staff should request applicants having projects within the DRI to conform to the master
signage program. No problems were indicated by the City Council as long as some of the elements
of the master plan were included in the signage. It was reported that Fire Rescue staff had indicated
the City's levels of service would not be overburdened because of the medical staff on the site;
however, at the request of the City Council the petitioner was to be requested to provide a description
of the planned medical services which could be incorporated into the development order with the
requirement that no material changes from that standard would be made without the consent of the
City. Mr. Benothman indicated staff would revise the Resolution prior to the City Council meeting
based on petitioner's description.
Resolution 126, 2000 - School Concurrence. A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Palm
Beach Gardens, Florida, Adopting the Interlocal Agreement with the Municipalities of Palm Beach
County, Palm Beach County, and the Palm Beach County School District to Establish a County -
Wide Public School Concurrency; Authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to Execute the Interlocal
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING, 12/19/2000 4
Agreement; and Providing for an Effective Date. The City Council discussed and then directed staff
to draft a cover letter to go with the School Concurrency agreement listing the City's concerns and
expectations so that if the School District did not live up to their commitments there would be a
paper trail.
ORDINANCES:
Ordinance 32, 2000 - St. Mark's School Expansion. Ordinance 32, 2000 - An Ordinance of the City
Council of the City of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, Providing for the Approval of an Application
from St. Mark's Church, Inc., for an Amendment and Expansion of a Planned Unit Development by
Approving the Construction of a 14,000 Square -Foot School Building, a 945 Square -Foot Church
Addition, and a Two (2) Year Time Extension for a Trailer on an 11 Acre Site, Located at the
Northeast and Northwest corners of Burns Road and Gardens East Drive, as more particularly
described herein; Providing for Conditions of Approval; Providing for Waivers; Providing for
severability; providing for Conflicts, and providing for an Effective Date. Fred Schwartz and Ray
Royce provided a presentation of the revised circulation plan for internal stacking, which would add
a new loop at the north end of the east parking lot where there was an existing playground.
Councilman Sabatello made a recommendation to make the median slightly smaller and make the
outside of the loop a little wider to provide a clear stack lane all the way around the loop. Applicant
committed to hiring off -duty City Police to direct traffic and to add no parking signage along
Gardens East Drive. It was decided to change condition of approval number 4. Principal Melba
Hardy reported 489 enrolled with 469 on campus at one time, and requested 570 enrolled when the
new building was completed. More signage and traffic cones were suggested.
ITEMS FOR COUNCIL ACTION:
Appraisal of Preserve Lands - Councilman Sabatello stated he disagreed but he knew the rest of the
Council agreed.
Executive Search Firm - City Manager - City Manager Ferris responded to Councilman Clark's
question regarding other positions that an offer had been made for a Public Works Director and for
a Human Resources Director; and Growth Management Director interviews had been conducted and
a decision was in progress. Councilman Clark indicated he had no problem choosing the search firm
that was the most highly rated. Councilman Sabatello requested that the search firm be asked if all
the information compiled during the search firm could be turned over to the City and made a part
of the permanent record or if it would be kept by the search firm.
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION:
Ordinance 35, 2000 - Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center - Ordinance 35, 2000 - An ordinance of
the City Council of the City of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, providing for the approval of an
application from Tenet of South Florida Health Systems for an amendment to the Palm Beach
Gardens Medical Center Planned Unit Development which was originally approved by Ordinance
28, 1991 and was subsequently amended by Resolution 92, 1992, Resolution 3, 1995 and Ordinance
26, 1995; approving a change in uses of 81,600 square -feet of previously approved unbuilt medical
center uses located at the southeast corner of Burns Road and Gardens East Drive, as more
particularly described herein; providing for conditions of approval; providing for waivers; providing
for severability; providing for conflicts; and providing for an effective date. Interim Growth
Management Director Steve Cramer indicated staff supported approval of the requested waivers.
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING, 12/19/2000 5
ADDITION OF AGENDA ITEM:
City Manager Ferris indicated that at the request of Mayor Russo the following item was being added
to the agenda: Consideration of Awarding Contract for Design/Build of Park Storage Facility.
Councilman Clark indicated if there was an outstanding claim that assurance was needed it would
go away upon signing of a new contract. Councilman Sabatello expressed his opinion that using
design/build would not mean the facility would cost 33% less than conventional construction but he
would go along with the vote.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to discuss, upon motion by Councilman Clark, seconded by
Councilman Sabatello, carried 3 -0, the meeting wad. aourn,pd at 1/30 p.m.
SO
VICE MAYOR
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COUNCILMAN DAVID CLARK
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CAROL GOLD
CITY CLERK