HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Council 022698CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS
WORKSHOP MEETING
FEBRUARY 26, 1998
The February 26, 1998, 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 roll was called by the City Clerk and the following elected
officials were found to be in attendance: Mayor Joseph R. Russo,
Vice Mayor Lauren Furtado, Councilwoman Linda Monroe,
Councilman Eric Jablin, and Councilman David Clark.
Councilwoman Monroe left the meeting at 9:30 p.m.
JOINT MEETING WITH
PLANNING & ZONING
COMMISSION Roxanne Manning, Director of Growth Management, reviewed the
authority and responsibilities of the City Council, the Landscape
Review Committee of Adjustments, the Planning and Zoning
Commission, Site Plan and Appearance Review Committee and
the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Marty Minor, Principal Planner, reviewed the process for zoning,
site plan and planned unit development approval. Kim Glas,
Principal Planner, reviewed the process for amendments to the
City's Comprehensive Land Use Plan.
Mayor Russo stated that he hoped this joint meeting would provide
for a better understanding of shared responsibilities between the
Commission and the Council. Mayor Russo expressed that he
wanted the Commission to be very strong and the best organized
board in the City and asked that the members of the Commission
be tough and thorough.
Vice Mayor Furtado felt that it was important for the Commission
and the Council to be in sync with philosophies on growth and
development in the City.
Joel Charming felt that the Commission tried to stick to the rules
. and rarely bent them for development. Mr. Channing stated that
the members of the Commission were mystified when they missed
• CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP, 2/26/98 2
something, especially when there were drastic changes to a project
once it left the Planning and Zoning Commission and received City
Council approval.
Councilman Clark, referencing the recent church project, stated
that it was clear to the City Council that even though it had a
negative recommendation, it came to Council with proper
conditions.
John Glidden felt that the Commission failed on the church issue
by recommending denial instead of sending the project on to City
Council with proper conditions.
Mayor Russo stated that if the Commission denied a project,
efforts should still be made to improve the project, and pointed out
that if a petitioner would not work with the Commission and
forced a denial, he would vote against the project.
It was suggested, and agreed upon, that Planning and Zoning
Commission recommendations would include their reasons for the
recommendation, especially on controversial issues. It was further
decided that the Commission would discuss needed Code revisions
on agendas that were not crowded with projects. It was further
agreed that petitioners would not be placed on an agenda when
their submittals were not complete. Mr. Glidden suggested, and
the Council agreed, that petitioners would be required to submit a
three- dimensional drawing with every project over a certain size
and submit full color elevations as well as reduced submittal plans
to be included in agenda packets.
Councilwoman Monroe asked that rear elevations include some
aesthetic creativity, pointing out that the Council has always been
sensitive to this issue.
Members of the City Council expressed their opinion that a project
should never be approved over the objection of the City Engineer.
It was also pointed out by Councilman Clark that on projects where
the Planning and Zoning Commission makes the final decision
they needed to be especially tough because a precedent could be set
. for the City.
• CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP, 2/26/98
New Complex Phasing
Plan Kevin Radigan of Architects Design Group addressed the City
Council regarding the phasing plans for the new municipal
complex. Mr. Radigan stated that one phasing alternative would
maintain 6 of the 8 tennis courts until March, 1999, by redoing the
phasing of the ballfields. The phasing of the entire project would
provide for the following order of completion: Gardens Park/Fire
Station; Police Department/City Hall; City Center/Parking/Plaza.
Mayor Russo expressed his displeasure with not knowing the
additional cost for maintaining the tennis courts by leaving the
completion of the one ballfield until later in the development plans.
Vice Mayor Furtado agreed with Mayor Russo, stating that future
reports to Council should contain all the facts, including costs.
Councilman Clark and Councilwoman Monroe stated that they
preferred that alternatives be presented for Council consideration
before ADG worked cost estimates.
Mr. Radigan stated that the cost estimated for the entire project,
based upon the 75% complete plans was under budget at a cost of
$15,163,645.00. Mr. Radigan pointed out that they had been
working with a figure of $15,248,211.00, however, the project now
had $210,000 in alternates. Mr. Radigan stated that at the next
meeting with the City Council he would discuss the Sales Tax
Savings Exemption Plan. It was suggested that another workshop
meeting be held on March 26, 1998.
800 MHZ North County
Communication Tower
Location Audrey Wolfe, Director of Facilities Development for Palm Beach
County, made a presentation to the City Council regarding the need
for a tower to complete the County's 800 MHZ trunked radio
system to reduce congestion and coverage inadequacies of the
existing radio systems and to provide communications between the
Sheriff's Office, Fire Rescue and local government agencies for
joint operations and mutual assistance.
Ms. Wolfe presented three sites that were determined to meet the
needs for the proposed tower. These sites include the North
County Courthouse Annex, Burns Road (immediately east of the
• City's soccer fields) and Seacoast Utilities on Hood Road.
Several suggestions were made, including locating a tower on the
• CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP, 2/26/98 4
roof of the VA Hospital on 45th Street. It was the suggestion of
the City Council that the County research other possible sites
within the City that would serve their purpose, but would not
impact residents. Ms. Wolfe was directed to again meet with City
staff to research other sites within the City that would not impact
residents and would meet the criteria set forth by the City's
communication tower ordinance.
City Sign Re- Design Greg Dunham, Assistant City Manager, presented a miniature
example of the re- designed City Sign. Mr. Dunham pointed out
that the message was bigger with letters being increased by 50%
and that a white background was added to make the sign stand out.
The Council directed staff to present the re- design to the
Beautification and Environmental Committee at their next meeting
and to show the sign to Councilwoman Monroe before the next
City Council meeting.
ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was
0 adjourned at 10:30 p.m.
APPROVAL
VICE MAYOR LAUREN FURTADO
GA9IG30 1 a 1 01.1y 01 • 0 1 ' •
COUNCIL N E C JABLIN
. COUNCILMAN DAVID CLARK
• CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP, 2/26/98
ATTEST:
,� V. KOSIER, CMC, CITY CLERK