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
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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
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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
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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