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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Council 011499CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING JANUARY 14, 1999 The January 14, 1999, Workshop Meeting of the City Council of the City of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, was called to order at 7:30 P.M. in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Complex located at 10500 North Military Trail, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida; and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. ROLL CALL The City Clerk called the roll and the following elected officials were found to be in attendance: Mayor Joseph R. Russo, Vice Mayor Lauren Furtado, Councilman Eric Jablin, Councilman David Clark and Councilman Carl Sabatello. ANNOUNCEMENTS Mayor Russo stated the announcements were as posted. Re -ORDER AGENDA Vice Mayor Furtado made a motion to re -order the agenda to hear Item For Discussion #2, Fire Station Locations, ahead of #1, WCI. Councilman Jablin seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous 5 -0 vote. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION Fire Station Locations The City Manager explained 492 Frenchmans Creek residents had signed a petition requesting that the City support continued operation of Fire Station 16 until an adequate replacement was provided on Alternate A -1 -A within 2 miles of Frenchmans Creek. Chief Bergel reported Palm Beach County estimated a cost of $3 million in order for them to stay in the building; and the City estimated $795,000 annually for the City to operate the station. Councilman Sabatello recommended a fire station location at extension of Hood Road to the east, and focusing on going forward with that location if feasible with WCI's plans. Chief Bergel reviewed various fire station locations. City Council expressed support for the residents' plan to ask the County for an extension of time of operating Station 16. It was agreed to prepare a Resolution supporting concerns of Frenchmans Creek residents, and asking for an extension of Station 16, supported by proper documentation. Blanche Davidson, representing Frenchmans Creek, thanked the City Council and Fire Chief Bergel for their support, and requested a copy of the documentation accompanying the Resolution which was to be prepared by Fire Chief Bergel. CITY COUNCIL, WORKSHOP MEETING, 1/14/99 2 WCI Communities Alfred Hoffman Jr., CEO of WCI Communities which had recently purchased MacArthur lands in Palm Beach Gardens, introduced Frank Cazinski, Executive Vice President, and Terry Snyder, head of developments. Mr. Hoffman showed slides and explained that WCI was a land development, community development, and home building company headquartered in Naples and Fort Myers, and described the company and their recent developments at various locations within the State of Florida, and issued an invitation to the City Council to visit one of their mixed communities. Mr. Hoffman reviewed locations of land the company had purchased within Palm Beach Gardens, and some parcels which would be sold. Mr. Hoffman explained that the majority of the land within Palm Beach Gardens would be retained by WCI and developed according to both the standards of WCI and the City as quickly as possible. Mayor Russo requested that all aspects of the community be considered in developing, and that lines of communication be kept open. Mr. Hoffman responded to questions by Council members, stating that the MacArthur land purchase was approximately 1/3 of their business, that they would like to reach agreement with the City . regarding intensity of use, that there were intensity restrictions on land they planned to sell, and that they understood it would take a year or two to develop the land in Palm Beach Gardens. The Council members welcomed WCI Communities into the City. Council members requested invited collaboration on visioning and innovative approaches. Mr. Hoffman expressed interest in integrating education into the neighborhoods and control of schools at the local level. Mayor Russo expressed concern regarding creating problems by building homes without creating jobs for residents, building commercial development without tenants to move into them, and expressed a desire to keep the lines of communication open. Vice Mayor Furtado commented WCI knew what the City expected, and stated the City and WCI must work together. Mr. Hoffman stated their closing on the MacArthur Property would be March 30, 1999, and expressed his company's intent to share all information with the City. Mr. Hoffman expressed the hope that each City Council member would individually commit to visiting their facilities and each becoming engaged in the process. Pension Report Ken Altman, representative for the City's interest on the Fire Pension Board, discussed the concept of retirement base for • different employees. Mr. Altman discussed various plans regarding CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING, 1/14/99 3 how much was given to employees at retirement. Mr. Altman reviewed an example of a new fireman at age 26, starting salary of $30,000, who would be provided a pension of $21,450 plus $106,000 savings from State funds with which an annuity could be purchased to provide additional funds, making a total annual retirement income of $29,640, which was very favorable. Disability benefits were discussed. It was pointed out that the City's plan would be affected by proposed legislature. Mayor Russo stressed the importance of educating residents on the upcoming referendum items. Fiscal Impact Study Western Palm Beach Gardens Consultant Colin Baeniger described five scenarios for development of western areas of the city, including conservation, rural residential, vision, Suburban I (1 unit per acre), and Suburban II (2 units per acre). Requirements to meet levels of service were reviewed. Vice Mayor Furtado expressed concern over using septic tanks. Projected populations were 1,500 for rural, 14,000 for Suburban I and 28,000 for Suburban II. Supplying water and sewer to the • western areas was discussed. Councilman Clark commented regarding rural residential that additional equestrian facilities were being sought in the northern part of the County. The City Manager reported the study had been shared with the current landowner and he desired to request agricultural zoning; and advised that information regarding annexation had been supplied in materials furnished to the City Council members. LPA and LDR Commission Functions Principal Planner Kim Glas- Castro reviewed differences in a Local Planning Agency and Land Development Regulations Commission, and recommended that any changes to the Land Development Regulations go through a consistency review process and that the Planning and Zoning Commission be designated as the Land Development Regulation Commission to serve that function. The LDR Commission would review any code revisions for consistency with the Comprehensive Plan, and make a recommendation to the City Council. Ms. Glas- Castro explained that it was recommended that the Planning and Zoning Commission also be designated as the Local Planning Agency to review Comprehensive Plan Amendments, then make a formal recommendation to the City • Council as the LPA. Mayor Russo stated he was opposed because he did not want applicants considering they were all right because • CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING, 1/14/99 El they had unanimous approval from the Planning and Zoning Commission. Councilman Sabatello expressed concern that the Planning and Zoning Commission currently had a heavy load and might not be able to handle this additional burden. Mayor Russo commented he would feel more comfortable with City Council in the Local Planning Agency role; however, the other members of the City Council felt the process could be handled by the Planning and Zoning Commission. Lyle Sumek City Manager Bobbie Herakovich explained that at their 11/1/98 workshop, the City Council had requested further discussion of ideas presented by Lyle Sumek regarding improving meeting productivity and teamwork . Whether to have an agenda briefing session to streamline the City Council meetings was discussed. Mayor Russo suggested meeting at 4:30 p m.before meetings to workshop the items. Vice Mayor Furtado commented she did not have the flexibility to set her own hours and could not meet at 4:30 p.m.. The Vice Mayor suggested reports be provided to each so that they could contact the City Manager by telephone to clarify • items. The Mayor stated there would be no agenda briefing sessions since the Vice Mayor could not attend. Councilman Jablin suggested that if Council members did not make speeches the meetings would go faster. Councilman Sabatello suggested everything be done in writing. The City Attorney requested Council members call her directly with legal questions, and she would advise the City Manager. A presentation from the last City Council meeting was discussed in which staff had to work out language during the meeting. It was agreed that standards must be set and followed. The City Manager suggested each member of the City Council read their packet and meet with her to get all their questions answered; then when the presentation was before the City Council, for items the Council members did not understand or if a petitioner was trying to convince them of something, they would refer to staff, and if they did not like the petition they would send it back rather than redesign it at the meeting. It was agreed that staff review did not need to be detailed at the City Council meeting, and that residents could attend Planning and Zoning meetings for detailed presentations. It was announced that location maps would be added to staff reports. It was decided to develop a policy of how the meetings were to be run and show it to petitioners, and also • to mirror this process at the Planning and Zoning level so that the processes would match, and it would not be necessary to have as • CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING, 1/14/99 5 much detail at City Council level. Issues of concern presented to the City Manager by each Council member were discussed. The City Manager suggested more workshops and discussing 2 -3 of the issues at each workshop. The City Manager was requested to include the questions with the answers when responding by memo to council members' questions, and to distribute copies to all City Council members. City Manager Herakovich reported staff had been working on a simplified version of wordy adopted vision statements and that a logo was planned to designate vision issues on agendas so that the City Council would instantly know the importance of the items. The City Manager was directed to prepare a policy for City Council meetings and to have all contracts that must be approved by the City Council reviewed by legal counsel. City Manager's Performance Appraisal The City Manager thanked the City Council for taking time to complete the City Manager's Performance Appraisal. The City Manager reported that the points translated to a 4% salary increase, and that she would be working on performance objectives throughout the year. Scoring of the appraisal was discussed. The City Manager requested that each City Council member discuss any items of concern with her. • CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING, 1/14/99 6 ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to discuss, upon motion by Councilman Clar s onde y V' Mayor Furtado, carried 5 -0, the meeting w a urn at 1 . 0 p.m. APPROVAL: 7 `'OSEPH R "RUSSO "';.' VICE MAYOR LAUREN FURTADO CHAIRMAN • TEM E LIN COUNCILKL i • It ATTEST: CINDY HARVEY, DEPUTY CITY CLERK SABATELLO ■