HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Council 102998• CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS
CITY COUNCIL
WORKSHOP MEETING
OCTOBER 29, 1998
The October 29, 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 City Clerk called the roll and the following elected officials
were found to be in attendance: Councilman Eric Jablin,
Councilman David Clark, and Councilman Carl Sabatello. Mayor
Joseph R. Russo arrived at 8 p.m. Vice Mayor Lauren Furtado was
absent from the meeting.
ANNOUNCEMENTS Chair Pro Tem Jablino stated the announcements were as posted.
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION
Seacoast Voting Share City Manager Herakovich described her duties as the City's
representative on the Seacoast Board, and explained that most of
the voting was on developers' agreements, infrastructure
improvements, and expansion of facilities. Because of the number
of users within the City, Palm Beach Gardens held the majority of
voting shares. Issues under consideration involved what constituted
a quorum; should it be clarified that the majority entity with more
than 50% of the weighted votes must also have some other
government agree with it when it voted against something; and
when an entity had more than 51 % of the voting shares could it veto
a vote or block a meeting by simply not attending. City Attorney
Acton provided information regarding terms of the interlocal
agreement in regard to voting shares. Because amendments to the
interlocal agreement required all five governments to agree, it was
recommended that attempts be made to address issues without an
amendment. The City Attorney advised that if rules and regulations
were adopted instead of an amendment, any that violated terms of
the interlocal agreement could not be passed but must be done as an
amendment. Attorney Acton commented that some items could be
done as a rule or regulation. The City Attorney answered questions
from the City Council. Seacoast Attorney Herb Gildan discussed
• the operation of the utility and the fact that he agreed with Attorney
Acton regarding the interlocal agreement; but outside counsel hired
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CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING, 10/29/98 2
by the Board did not agree with them; however, a way to give every
government a say in matters was needed. Gail Nelson, a member
of the Seacoast Board representing Juno Beach, reported the utility
was great and everyone got along beautifuly and there were no
problems; but taking action now could prevent future problems.
City Manager Herakovich raised the question of whether the entity
with the most voting shares should have veto power. Councilman
Sabatello expressed concern that changing the interlocal agreement
would cause problems where now there were none. Mayor Russo
joined the meeting, and agreed with Councilman Sabatello.
Councilman Clark was against removing the blocking ability of the
majority interest but agreed to consider good faith provisions and
rule changes recommended by the City Attorney. Councilman
Jablin agreed with Councilman Clark. Councilman Clark suggested
resolving a possible future deadlock by a provision to resort to an
impartial third party. Consensus was not to change the current
agreement but to address rules. Councilman Jablin expressed his
opinion that the rules should contain a provision to make the other
entities comfortable so that they would not feel their input did not
count.
Palm Beach Gardens
Municipal Golf Course
(a) Golf Committee The possibility of setting up a golf committee in order to provide
communication was discussed. Mayor Russo requested the Finance
Director provide figures as to how much it cost the City to set up a
committee. The City Manager suggested a survey of residents.
Two City Council members favored a committee while two others
were concerned that a committee would try to control the golf
course; however, it was agreed that citizen input was necessary.
It was agreed to delay this matter for approximately six months.
(b) Future Options The City Manager recommended that the new management be
allowed to operate for six months before considering future options.
Current interest rates and refinancing were discussed. The Finance
Director was requested to provide figures of the cost of refinancing,
and gave approximate figures. Possibly adding the cost of a
clubhouse when refinancing was discussed.
Citywide Parkway System Mayor Russo commented that Vice Mayor Furtado had concerns
regarding the parkway system. Principal Planner Kim Glas
• provided a slide presentation regarding the Comprehensive
Plan/Parkway System. Councilman Sabatello expressed his
S CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING, 10/29/98 3
preference for more landscaping than for open land, and suggested
a landscape plan for open areas and guidelines for maintenance
rather than negotiating with developers on each project, and favored
City control of buffers. David Barth provided his concept of a
parkway system, using Kansas City as an example. The City
Manager explained that staff was looking for possible strengthening
of the code and comprehensive plan to avoid situations where
developers bargained their way out of it. A plan to set aside
necessary corridors regardless of how landscaping concepts might
change in the future was recommended. Ms. Glas showed a plan
developed for the city in 1987 by Team Plan which showed
developed cross sections for corridors, and a parkway concept
developed by the MacArthur Foundation in 1990. Mr. Barth
pointed out that the MacArthur concept was for a rural setting while
the Team Plan design was for an urban area. During discussion,
Councilman Sabatello pointed out that the County's major corridors
were almost fmished and future roadways would penetrate large
residential communities, for which rights -of -way needed to be
established. A discussion ensued regarding the Golf Digest project.
• Consensus was to stay with minimum standards established for
existing parkways and refine them for some of the smaller roads
which had not been considered as part of the plan going forward.
On smaller roads issues would be addressed regarding shrinking the
size of right -of -ways and trading landscaping for land. Staff
direction was to return with a cross section and a landscaping plan.
Turnpike Interchange City Engineer Len Lindahl presented the interchange plan and
impacts to Steeplechase residents. Concern was expressed by the
City Council members who did not know the Jog Road Extension
access road would be built as a part of the interchange. Mayor
Russo requested that residents and the Homeowners Association be
alerted and invited to come in to speak with Vice Mayor Furtado.
Fire Station Cost Analysis Chief Bergel presented an analysis which showed that the cost of
relocating Station 4 to the Golf Digest Development would be
significantly less than building a new Station 5 at Frenchman's
Creek. The existing station could not service both Golf Digest and
PGA with the level of service called for in the Comprehensive Plan,
and did not currently provide a sufficient level of service for PGA.
The level of service in District 5 was sufficient and would not
change when the County's station at Cabana Colony closed. The
• City Manager recommended that the fire station analysis be
adopted into the code. The City Manager noted that the
i
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CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING, 10/29/98 4
Environmentally Sensitive Lands Acquisition Committee was
looking at acquiring land just south of Frenchman's Creek, and also
that the Devonshire ALF would double call volume in that area.
Consensus was in favor of relocating rather than building a new
station.
Tennis Center Update Sue Miller presented a color scheme for the tennis center,
showing a pale yellow with dark forest green accent, and a
metal roof. Councilman Sabatello agreed to meet with the
architects to revise the roof color.
CITY MANAGERS REPORT
Burns Road City Engineer Lindahl reported that increased traffic resulting from
new devleopment would soon trigger a higher level of service for
Burns Road which was the City's medical access, and hoped impact
fees from North Palm Beach projects could be used to widen the
roadway and provide additional landscaping. Traffic problems at
St. Mark's school were discussed. The City Manager reported the
Weiss School and St. Mark's had different starting times, and that
Northcorp employees had been encouraged to use RCA Boulevard
rather than Burns Road.
Terrace Lighting at
Municipal Complex Alternative lighting designs were presented. The City Manager
reported Joel Channing and John Glidden had volunteered time to
work on designs, and commented it was hoped the design chosen
for the terrace could be used in other areas throughout the City.
The City Manager requested that at some point a light pole design
or use in parkways was needed. Consensus was for either design 3
or 4.
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CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING, 10/29/98 5
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APPROVAL:
ATTEST:
There being no further business to discuss, upon motion by
Councilman Jablin, seconded y Councilman Clark, the meeting
was adjo 1 0 P. .
R JOSEPH R. RUSSO
ERIC JABLIN
COUNCILMAN DAVID CLARK
COUNCIL N CARL SABATELLO
r
IND V. KOSIER, CMC, CITY CLERK