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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Council 041196CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS APRIL 11, 1996 The Workshop Meeting of the City Council of the City of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, was called to order by Mayor Russo at 7:30 P.M. in the Assembly Room of the Municipal Complex, 10500 North Military Trail, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. ROLL CAT-T_. The City Clerk called the roll and present were Mayor Russo, Vice Mayor Furtado, and Councilwoman Monroe. Councilman Jablin arrived at 7:38 P.M. Councilman Clark was absent from the meeting. ANNOIJNrRMRNTS Mayor Russo stated that the announcements were as posted on the City's bulletin boards. PRESENTATIONS: EAR - PROPOSED COMP PLAN CHANGES Planning & Zoning Director Walton introduced DCA representatives Richard Post and Roger Welburn. During a discussion of school concurrency, one of the representatives explained that because it was early in the process that all possible processes were being considered and that the main problem was finding a way to mesh the School Board's budget with the Capital Improvement Budget of the Comprehensive Plan. Principal Planner Kim Glas Castro explained that the purpose of tonight's meeting was to continue with the CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING, 4/11/96 PAGE ? proposed amendments which would be identified in the EAR, and that previous amendments discussed had been those which updated data, placed newly required elements and requirements into the Comprehensive Plan, and included staff- initiated vision implementation soft cost items. Ms. Glas Castro explained that tonight's discussion would encompass vision implementation with associated hard costs. $30,000 was estimated to establish a coordinated greenway area to meet preserve requirements for the entire City. $150,000 left from the original master drainage plan was anticipated to be sufficient for completion of the plan. The October flood had revealed various poor drainage areas which were being studied at an estimated cost of $30,000, with an estimated $500,000 needed to correct the areas. The budgeted amount for ongoing maintenance of the canals and drainage facilities was $120,000 per year. Ms. Glas Castro explained that the current average 5- minute response time for fire rescue would remain unchanged, and that the future vision for the next 15 -20 years was to work toward a district -by- district standard rather than an average of the whole City. Tiered levels of service were discussed as an option. One of the DCA representatives confirmed that it was possible to limit service to specific areas by setting an urban CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING, 4111196 PAGE 3 service boundary line. In response to a question regarding police level of service, Ms. Glas- Castro explained that other communities did not currently use a LOS for police, and that staff had used a state average figure of 2.5 officers per thousand. 1150 service calls was the LOS recommended for police, based upon service calls which had been estimated out to the year 2001, and those service calls were anticipated to be a different type of service call than in the past - -as a result of community policing policies. Addition of two police officers per year would be necessary to attain the recommended LOS. For Parks and Recreation, a dual level of service for park acreage and facilities was proposed for development. Impact fees would be distributed among facilities, which would accrue funds for future ballfields and tennis courts. A request was made to add roller hockey rinks. City Manager Herakovich explained that facility standards had not existed in the past and would affect future development, however, if that development did not occur, the City would have to provide a funding source. Assumptions used in the 5- year plan were that approximately 20 acres would be purchased for future recreation and a fire station. Councilmember Monroe expressed concern that the City needed to leave the door open so that all of these CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING, 4/11/96 PAGE 4 proposals would not be required as a result of placing them into the Comprehensive Plan, in case some of them could not be accomplished at some point in the future. Ms. Glas Castro explained that the Comprehensive Plan would have to be amended at that time. Ms. Glas Castro explained that there would be a year to make changes before actual adoption. Planning & zoning Director Walton expressed concern that the County must adopt their EAR amendment before the CRALLS designation for Military Trail could be adopted. Discussion ensued regarding ways to reduce trips. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM Finance Director Kent Olson explained that the Capital Improvements program was intended as a five -year guide, and that budgetary items over $7,500 had been included because of their impact on the budget. Although some funds had been allocated for buildings, the assumption had been made that a referendum or another revenue source would be found for major expenditures. Discussion ensued regarding ways to reduce the highest one -year tax increase of 6.22% which was anticipated to be in the 1997 -98 tax year. The City Manager explained that as large developments were completed that impact fees would be reduced. Possible utilization of the proposed NAMAC regional services were discussed. Mayor Russo commented that CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING, 4111196 PAGE 5 Palm Beach County was proposing amendment of their current ordinance under which everyone in the county paid the same rates for fire rescue services, so that different communities could negotiate different rates; and expressed concern that if one community did not pay its fair share, then that share of the true costs would be distributed among the rest. Vice Mayor Furtado requested figures from staff of the percentage of crimes committed by juveniles. The Vice Mayor cited an ordinance passed in an Oregon community which had made the parents of juvenile offenders accountable for up to a stated dollar amount and had required them to attend parenting classes, which had reduced the juvenile crime rate by 44.5 %. Mayor Russo requested that Acting Chief O'Rourke make a presentation of programs he would like to see instituted at the beginning of May or June. A discussion of crime statistics ensued during which a comment was made that the City must keep pace with current happenings which might necessitate changing procedure. T'TRM.q FOR nTgrTT.SSTON; BOAT AND RV TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATION Linda Hughey, Vice Chairman of the task force, reported that the Chairman had been unable to attend this meeting, introduced those members who were present, and thanked the task force members for their hard work. Safety, aesthetics, and economics had been CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING, 4/11/96 PAGE 6 concerns. The term boats had been changed to watercraft. Grandfathering had been determined to be the best avenue to affect the fewest amount of people in the beginning, and attrition over the next several years would eliminate boats and RVs in front yards. The proposed ordinance would allow watercraft and RVs in the side yard, in the back yard, or grandfathered for the front yard which would require a decal renewable annually and adherence to the ordinance. The annual renewal would provide the City with a count of remaining grandfathered watercraft and RVs, and would help the City with enforcement of the ordinance. The task force recommended a charge of $15 per decal each year as suggested by the Finance Department as a break even amount, and non - renewal would mean the boat or RV could no longer stay in the front yard after a 90 -day period. Discussion ensued regarding enforcement, during which the Vice Mayor suggested merging Code Enforcement with Community Policing. Councilmember Monroe pointed out that the grandfathering section would not allow parking on grass or exposed shell rock, and required current valid registration plates, stickers, and State of Florida decals on watercraft, which must be in operable condition at all times. Staff was requested to review the ordinance for ease of enforcement. It CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING, 4111/96 PAGE 7 was pointed out that a property owner who was grandfathered could sell and purchase another boat; however, City Attorney Baird clarified that a new owner who purchased the property would not be grandfathered, therefore, the term "grandfathered" might have to be changed. The City Attorney suggested changing the wording regarding the fee so that the amount could be adjusted from time to time to reflect administrative costs without changing the ordinance. The City Attorney suggested a one -time recording of the grandfathered status so that prospective purchasers of a property would be on notice that they were not permitted to store vehicles under the grandfather rules. The recording cost could be included in the first decal purchase. Councilwoman Monroe requested that information regarding this ordinance be placed in the next newsletter. The City Council thanked the task force for their work. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to discuss, motion was made by Councilwoman Monroe, seconded by Councilman Jablin, and unanimously approved to adjourn the meeting at 8:58 P.M.