Loading...
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 • 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 • 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. 0 CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING, 10/29/98 5 �* J: ►lul ► 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