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
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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