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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Council 032698• CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MARCH 26, 1998 The March 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. by Mayor Joseph R. Russo in the City 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 following elected officials were found to be in attendance: Mayor Joseph R. Russo, Councilman David Clark, and Councilman Carl Sabatello. Chairman Pro Tern Eric Jablin arrived at 7:39 p.m. Vice Mayor Lauren W. Furtado was absent from the meeting. CONSTRUCTION MANAGER REPORT Construction Manager Bill Mignogna provided an update on the Municipal Complex project, for which groundbreaking was scheduled in early June and target date for completion was December 1999. Mr. • Mignogna reported that the budget was presently on target, and estimated a possible $159,000 savings by taking advantage of items for which the 6% sales tax would not apply. Mayor Russo expressed concern that since the project would cost more than the original estimate that it would go over budget. City Manager Herakovich described changes that had been made which had increased building costs. Mr. Mignogna described bid structuring which would contain a cost breakdown for each building, so that decisions could be made regarding whether some improvements needed to be delayed. Mr. Mignogna reported that final drawings to produce the cost estimates should be ready in approximately one week. Mayor Russo expressed his opinion that if the project came in over the $19 million to be received from the taxpayers, that only the parks should be constructed. Mr. Mignogna explained that the parks were not a separate project and that to realize the best economy and efficiency, one general contractor should be used for the whole project. Councilman Sabatello explained that the parks could be bid separately to the lowest total responsible bidder and the City would have the option of rebidding; however, there would be two general contractors. Mayor Russo stressed that the ball fields must be started June 1 in order to operate the baseball programs as scheduled. Management Administrator Paul Friedman explained the contingency figures, and advised that the cost of site work had been reduced by using a local 0 CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING 3/26/98 PAGE 2 • 0 civil engineer and because site irrigation needs had originally been overestimated. The City Manager reported that this project had gone before the Planning and Zoning Commission. Councilman Sabatello suggested that the money collected for Art in Public Places should go into the City Hall project and the fee allocated for art placed in the contingency line, to which the City Manager responded that the City's Ordinance could be revised to exempt the City from having to pay itself the Art in Public Places fee. The City Manager commented that plans would be 95% complete by Monday, March 30, ready for Mr. Mignogna's review, and that the City was currently advertising to pre - qualify subcontractors. Councilman Clark requested two sets of figures: for the additional cost of concurrently bidding the full project and for bidding the parks separately. Mayor Russo and Councilman Clark requested that staff obtain an opinion on whether or not the City could request a total bid on the whole project and also a separate bid for only the parks. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION: FIRE DEPARTMENT STATION UPDATE Management Administrator Paul Friedman reported that the church was ready for occupancy and that Fire Department Administration and Police Department Community Involvement Officers would move there. Fire Suppression staff would then move from the east side to the west side of the fire station. Mr. Friedman provided estimated costs for this project, which had been previously allocated within this fiscal year's budget. LEGAL REPRESENTATION David Acton, City Attorney, discussed the possible transition of Attorney Carole Post to attend City Council meetings rather than himself, and estimated that she was already doing 90 -95% of the City's work, as well as attending Code Enforcement and Planning and Zoning meetings. Mayor Russo expressed concern that Mr. Acton would not be attending the Council meetings, since in his opinion Mr. Acton was one of the best attorneys he had seen handle those meetings. Councilman Clark requested more information on Attorney Post's background. Attorney Acton explained that Attorney Post would not do everything immediately, but that she might assume some things he was now doing, and that the law firm intended to continue this transition. Mayor Russo commented that he believed one 0 CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING 3/26/98 PAGE 3 attorney should handle the City's work, and recommended that if this transition occurred that the City look into the possibility of an in- house attorney. EMINENT DOMAIN City Manager Herakovich recommended that staff prepare a resolution for City Council consideration to be placed on the next agenda. CHRIST FELLOWSHIP Growth Management Roxanne Manning reported the church had violated code by adding 600 seats without proper permitting or development approval and had been trying to come into compliance since last summer. The church had submitted a petition for expansion of the conditional use, which would require several public hearings before the Planning and Zoning Commission and one hearing before City Council. Ms. Manning explained that the new Planner II Development Officer would review the list of additions on a petition and would be responsible for making sure construction and occupancy conditions were met. Following ensuing discussion regarding occupancy inspections, Ms. Manning stated that staff would • formulate a plan to do regular checks for occupancy violations. The City Manager stated she would bring up the issue at the next Seacoast Utility meeting. In response to Councilman Clark's proposal that the church be required to come before the City Council to explain their position, Ms. Manning responded that she would write them a letter stating that the City Council was very concerned and giving them a date certain to come into compliance. FIRE DEPARTMENT CANINE PROGRAM The City Manager explained that this agenda item was presented to familiarize the City Council with the program and that it would be a budget item. Mayor Russo requested Acting Fire Chief Pete Bergel to provide the City Council with a report on a vision camera, to which Acting Chief Bergel responded that several citizens had taken the initiative to purchase a camera. Mayor Russo stated he expected to see this item in next year's budget. Acting Chief Bergel reported on the dogs' search and rescue program, and requested the City Council's approval for the program, which would be also used in schools in conjunction with the public education specialist. It was the consensus of the City Council that the program was good and should proceed. Mayor Russo requested an update on NAMAC detailing to benefits to the City. Acting Chief Bergel introduced Jules Bolton, owner of a dog which would be used in the program, and a dog handler for the program, who explained that another handler could be • CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING 3/26/98 used. PAGE 4 RELOCATION OF 800 MHZ TOWER Commander Carr reviewed details of the project and reported that relocation of the tower would provide a permanent solution for Palm Beach Gardens police communications, releasing the City from dependency on the County system. The City Manager reported that Seacoast was working on an interlocal agreement to be considered by their board. Commander Carr explained that if the County decided to install a cell system in the fixture the City could utilize that or stay with this system. CITY MANAGER City Manager Herakovich announced that boards with upcoming vacancies included Planning and Zoning Commission, Code Enforcement, Parks and Recreation, and the Beautification and Environmental Board. Consensus was to consider appointments at the second City Council meeting in April. The City Manager reported she had received a request from • Commissioner Karen Marcus to hold two additional flea markets on the church property on April 25 and May 16 to benefit Palm Beach Gardens High School Project Graduation. City Manager Herakovich announced that five applicants for fire chief would be interviewed on April 7 and staff recommended holding a workshop meeting April 9 to review the final three candidates. The City Manager distributed a letter which detailed interests that staff would like addressed by FDOT for the PGA flyover project, including landscaping plans, and announced that a presentation on this project would be made to the City Council during April. ADDITIONAL MATTERS Chairman Sabatello apologized that he would not be able to attend the next meeting. Chairman Sabatello questioned whether the City Council agreed with Planning and Zoning Commission's recommendation that two new office buildings in PGA National be no higher than the Bascom Palmer building. The City Attorney explained that it was legal to ask this type of question at a public meeting and to report the answer to Planning and Zoning; however, cautioned that • direction must only be sought for specific projects and was not to be considered as policy for all projects by the Planning and Zoning Commission. It was the consensus of the City Council that the new 0 0 CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING 3/26/98 PAGE 5 office buildings should be no higher than the Bascom Palmer building. ADJOURNMENT Upon motion by Councilman Clark, seconded by Chairman Pro Tern =SEVI� 'at 9:25 p.m. APPROVAL: 1V�OR LAUREN FURTADO ERIC JAB LIN COUNCILMAN DAVID CLARK COUNCILMA ARL SABATELLO ATTEST: 4A HARVEY, DEPUTY CITY CLERK