HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Council 101096CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS
CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL REGULAR MEETING
OCTOBER 10, 1996
The October 10, 1996, Special Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of
Palm Beach Gardens 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 began with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
ROLL CALL The Deputy City Clerk called the roll and the following elected officials were found
to be in attendance: Vice Mayor Lauren Furtado, Councilwoman Linda Monroe,
Councilman Eric Jablin and Councilman David Clark. Mayor Joseph Russo arrived
at approximately 8 P.M.
Upon a request by the City Manager, the City Council unanimously voted to reorder
the agenda to hear a report from Public Works Director Bob Patty regarding Holly
Drive Landscaping.
HOLLY DRIVE
LANDSCAPING Public Works Director Bob Patty stated there were a number of trees prepped and
ready for planting on Holly Drive before the medians were ready. The project was
planned to be completed in four phases. After the plan was received from the
Landscape Architects, it was decided that the major trees would be planted and try to
get all of the oak trees and palm trees planted with City and County services in an
attempt to save money. This part of the project was Phase 1. Phase II would give the
City the opportunity to plant the minor trees and canopies so the Council could look
at Holly Drive and see how extensive the maintenance would be. If the Council
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approved of what was done after Phase II, Phase III could be eliminated. Phase III
would include the planting of extensive under story and mulch beds. The project
could then be ended at the phase that would include irrigation, sod and mulch. Mr.
Patty stated that staff has been comparing prices with contractors that have done
plantings for the Town of Jupiter and Boca Raton and the type of maintenance. Mr.
Patty stated that if Holly Drive could be kept at the same maintenance level as Military
Trail, then the City could compete and do the maintenance with City staff or contract
the maintenance out to a contractor. If Holly Drive is taken to the fourth phase, it
would cost more to maintain Holly Drive then it would to maintain PGA Boulevard.
City Manager Herakovich stated that staff was prepared to come back to the City
Council on October 17, 1996, with Phase II and eliminate the under story and ground
cover. The City Manager stated that the Council would have to approve the awarding
of a bid on 10/17/96 for the mid -size trees. Once that planting is completed, it is felt
that there would be no need for the under story which required high maintenance. The
City Manager stated that there have been comments from Council Members and
residents as to whether the current trees were planted too close together and staff was
prepared to answer those concerns. Vice Mayor Furtado stated there was an oak tree
planted in the median across from the high school that is very close to a street light
and felt that as the tree began to grow the tree would not give as much illumination.
Mr. Patty stated that some of the lights would have to be moved to the side of the
road and may have to be done at the City's expense. The City Manager stated that
the old lighting system went down the middle of the median and FP &L no longer
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permits lighting in the median. In the reconstruction the City has identified three
corner locations where the lighting would be located. In order to minimize that
relocation so that the lights would not be located in a resident's yard, a few lights were
left in the median. In response to Vice Mayor Furtado, the City Manager stated that
the lighting plan would be included in the 10/17/96 City Council packet.
Councilwoman Monroe stated that she thought there was a decision to plant live oaks
as opposed to laurel oaks. Councilwoman Monroe stated that there is a live oak
planted next to the 1 -95 overpass and felt that over the life of the tree it would get too
large for that location. Mr. Patty stated that the landscaping plan has been reduced
by 25 oak trees and those that have been planted have been spread out to
accommodate canopy spread. Mr. Patty stated that there are still 14 trees coming
from Earth Day Park to be planted in the remaining two medians on Holly Drive.
Councilwoman Monroe stated that she was assured that the trees planted in the
median would be bushy and as large as the ones out front. Mr. Patty explained that
when these trees are grown in the nursery they are close together and tend to grow
more tall than out and once planted on Holly Drive they will spread out.
Councilwoman Monroe requested staff look at the oak tree planted next to the I -95
overpass to determine if it is located to close and would require more trimming than
it should. Mr. Patty stated the City would have to pay $80,000 a year on high
maintenance and felt that if the under story could be reduced the maintenance cost
would be reduced by 30 %. Councilwoman Monroe stated that she would like the
current planting to be completed and requested a monthly report on the status of the
landscaping on Holly Drive.
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Mayor Russo arrived at the meeting and stated that he attended a meeting of the Palm
Beach County School Board where there were discussions regarding boundary
changes. Mayor Russo felt that there should be a law that when a student started at
a particular school he should be allowed to finish at that school instead of being
threatened with boundary changes every year. Mayor Russo stated that, hopefully,
through the efforts of the residents and Commissioner Marcus at that meeting the
boundaries for the City's schools will not be changed. Mayor Russo stated that he
pledged the City staff to assist, as far as planning was concerned, in an effort to avoid
some of the boundary changes. Councilman Jablin stated that this was discussed last
night at the City's Education Advisory Board and that the Chairman of that Board was
also in attendance at the Palm Beach County School Board meeting. Councilman
Jablin stated that Mr. Adams was in attendance at that meeting to voice their opinion
that the children attending the schools should be able to continue through completion
without interruption.
RESOLUTIONS:
Resolution 148,1996 City Manager Herakovich stated that Resolution 148, 1996, was on previous agendas
and the Councils thoughts have been incorporated into the revised resolution that has
been presented for their consideration tonight. City Manager stated that she asked
staff for the pros and cons of this resolution, and it was determined that the cons were
that the City Council would be included in the process more at an earlier date and
would be looking to approve a site in a phase situation. The pros were that it would
allow a major attraction for the City to go forward and at this point, staff was
comfortable with the resolution as presented.
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Councilwoman Monroe stated that she was concerned with the language in the second
paragraph of Section 1, which stated, however the City Council may accept and
process an application for site plan or which has been submitted concurrent with an
application to amend the City's Comprehensive Plan. Councilwoman Monroe
questioned whether it was more appropriate to say "to amend the property's Land Use
Designation of the City's Comprehensive Plan" or was just "Comprehensive Plan"
good enough for this process. Richard Walton, Director of Planning and Zoning,
stated that the attorneys have determined that the tern "Comprehensive Plan" would
suffice.
Councilwoman Monroe requested that the word "to" be added in the 6th line of the
second paragraph of Section 1, between agree and Master Plan.
Councilwoman Monroe made a motion to approve Resolution 148,1996, as amended,
approval of simultaneous processing of applications. The motion was seconded by
Vice Mayor Furtado and unanimously carried.
Attorney Steve Mathison, representing Golf Digest, addressed the City Council stating
that while this resolution facilitated the filing of their application, wanted to make clear
that the golf portion of the project being proposed can go forward simultaneously
rather than coming back for another hearing. Mayor Russo stated that the City
Council would have to receive a report from staff as to the recommended procedure.
Resolution 152, 1996 Richard Walton, Director of Planning and Zoning, stated that the developer for
Sunset Cove PUD was requesting to amend the PUD (Parcel 16B) located in the
Ballenlsles PCD to allow a new model "F ". Mr. Walton stated that this was the same
model approved by the City Council for Parcel 17. Mr. Walton stated that the reason
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this was being requested was because the present models could not meet the setback
requirements. Models "C" and "D" have already been approved for a reduction in
setback requirements when the project was originally approved.
Vice Mayor Furtado made a motion to approve Resolution 152, 1996. The motion
was seconded by Councilman Clark and unanimously carried.
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION
Visioning City Manager Herakovich stated that in preparing for this evening's presentation, the
Planning staff has informed all members of the Blue Ribbon Committee as well as
those residents that have expressed an interest in this item.
Vice Mayor Furtado stated that Mr. Ecclestone has agreed to fund the traffic study
for the Turnpike Interchange.
Mayor Russo asked Kim Glas to explain mixed use so that those residents from
BallenIsles that were in attendance this evening could better understand what that
particular zoning would mean.
Kim Glas, Planner, explained the Visioning process that has taken place over the last
two years and added that at the same time the City has also been doing the Evaluation
and Appraisal Report. Mrs. Glas stated that the Visioning process was an optional
section to the EAR. The EAR had to be adopted by 9/l/96 and the optional Visioning
section has to be adopted by the end of 1996.
Mrs. Glas stated that the Vision was the ideas from the community and a Strategic
Plan was drafted from the EAR/Visioning Blue Ribbon Committee's recommendation,
as well as the comments from the community and informal input from the Council.
Staff has prepared revisions to the Vision document and map and Mrs. Glas stated that
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those revisions were part of the Council's packet. Mrs. Glas stated that not all
recommendations would be immediately put into the City's Comprehensive Plan, but
would be phased in over a number of years. Mrs. Glas explained that some of the
items were visionary and staff did not really know how they would be accomplished
at this time, but would keep working to try to implement them through the years, and
as new technology and planning principles come along those items would be easier to
start putting into the plan and formalize into the Land Development Regulations. Mrs.
Glas stated that this was not a document that staff wanted to be kept on a shelf, but
want the ideas worked into the City's operations. The mission statement was written
before the Visioning process was begun and has been put on hold until some of the
Visioning goals could be included into the mission statement. Mrs. Glas stated that
once there is a formal City mission statement each department would write their goals
and objectives to be consistent with the City's statement. Mrs. Glas detailed the minor
changes to the visioning document.
Mrs. Glas stated that the major change in the vision map was the introduction of a
conceptual overlay that was applied on a majority of the City's vacant tracts. The
concept of the Mixed Use Overlay was to encourage a mix of uses that create liveable
neighborhoods, promote a sense of community and encourage pedestrian/bicycle
travel. It is not necessarily the neo- traditional development that is being advocated
around the country, but the concept is based on a lot of the same principles. Specific
criteria are deemed by the Council to be met, the developer may pursue a mixed use
development project, if the criteria are not met, the underlying residential land use and
regular PCD/PUD standards apply. One of the criteria would need to be no net
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increase in traffic volumes on the roadway network over what would be expected
from the residential PCD/PUD. Others would be the integration of uses and
"walkability ".
Mrs. Glas pointed out that a traffic run of staffs recommended land uses has not yet
been conducted, however, it was noted that through the EAR analyses the inclusion
of proposed city thoroughfares improve traffic volumes over the 2015 network. The
Committee's land uses were entered into the traffic model, the numbers were run, and
in some areas, the land uses improved the traffic situation and in others it increases
volumes over capacity. Mrs. Glas pointed out that the 2015 network did not operate
at adopted levels of service to begin with, so it may be desirable to the City to
influence traffic volumes through land use designations. Mrs. Glas asked for Council
feedback regarding staffs recommendations and further recommended another public
input session or an opportunity for the community to review and comment on the
"vision" before it was finalized.
Mayor Russo and Vice Mayor Furtado stated that they had a major problem with a
zoning of "Residential Low" next to the Turnpike. Mrs. Glas stated that the area in
question could be incorporated into Ballentsles with the use of a lot of buffering.
Mayor Russo stated it would require BallenIsles to amend the PCD, at which time he
would be willing to listen to the reasoning, however, felt there was a problem with it
being kept outside of Ballenlsles because there would be the Turnpike and the bridge
with a lot of traffic. If kept in a "Residential Low" zoning category it would then have
houses that would be difficult to sell that would add to a blighted area. Mayor Russo
stated that the residents are concerned with the value of their homes. Mayor Russo
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stated that his concern was that if the Council allowed the Residential Low category
to happen and it became a problem it would flow back into Ballenlsles. Mrs. Glas
stated that staff sees the Residential Low area becoming part of the Ballenlsles project
and the commercial area sharing access with the professional office building to the east
so that it becomes a transitional professional office plaza. It was determined that this
would not require an entrance from the Ballenlslcs community.
Mrs. Glas stated that the Meadows Mobile Home Park residents would like the area
to remain zoned for mobile home use, however, Mrs. Glas stated that mobile homes
were incompatible with the area. Mrs. Glas stated that while that area may not remain
zoned in the future for mobile home use, staff felt there was no need to upset the
residents by changing the zoning at this time. Vice Mayor Furtado stated that the City
Council had discussed that this area could be another area for some semi - affordable
housing. Mrs. Glas stated that many people have come into the City asking for areas
for more affordable type units, especially adult living facilities and felt that this site
may be appropriate for that type of use.
Mrs. Glas stated that she thought the future plans for the City would include more
liveable communities where you could walk or ride a bicycle to a park or to shopping
areas.
Mayor Russo questioned why the Committee did not include commercial zoning on
Donald Ross Road. Mrs. Glas stated that the Committee thought that while the same
thing could be accomplished use, they were afraid that with that strong of delineations
the projects would not be integrated and would help to avoid distinct projects
throughout the City. Planning Director Richard Walton stated that another concern
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was property rights legislation, feeling that if commercial was put on that land, it could
never be changed. Mr. Walton stated that the same end could be accomplished
through design criteria. Mayor Russo stated that he did not have a problem as long
as mixed use would be allowed on Donald Ross Road. Mayor Russo pointed out that
with the stadium and the Abacoa project on the north side of Donald Ross Road, there
would be low density residential. Councilwoman Monroe stated that it was important
to be good neighbors with a design that would fit the area in terms of attractiveness.
Vice Mayor Furtado stated that her concern was with the areas that I -95 went through
already had existing homes and could not think of too many people that would want
to buy a home knowing that the road is there and is being widened. Vice Mayor
Furtado was concerned with what type of uses in terms of housing could be used next
to I -95 and the Turnpike. Councilman Clark stated that in Boca Raton they have built
homes right up against I -95 that have had no problems being sold. The Council
recommended that the triangle below the property in question should also be labeled
as mixed use instead of commerce and trade so that the same advantages could be
realized. Councilwoman Monroe pointed out that by changing the zoning to mixed
use a landowner could not request the City to change the traffic standards to fit
property zoned commercial so that if the City did not do so his land could be labeled
as undevelopable.
Mrs. Glas stated that included in the Committee's recommendation was the adoption
of a City Thoroughfare Plan for City roads throughout the vacant areas of the City so
that they are not waiting for developers to decide where the through roads would be
located. Staff added two roads to this plan. Mrs. Glas compared the Plan to that used
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by the County, stating that the City would protect the rights -of -way along these
roadways for future roads. Councilman Clark pointed out that the residents on the
east side of Prosperity Farms Road were still concerned with Hood Road being
extended through their neighborhood with the possibility of a bridge and would not
want them to think the City was proposing that by planning for the extension of
Flamingo Road.
Mrs. Glas presented the parkway overlay and stated that the only change was the
extension of Hood Road being a parkway that would provide for the pedestrian
pathways for residents to get to the nature center.
Mrs. Glas discussed the traffic volumes for some of the proposed roadways and land
uses. Vice Mayor Furtado pointed out that the figures did not take into consideration
the proposed Turnpike interchange at Northlake Boulevard.
Mayor Russo stated he would like to get the Blue Ribbon Committee back together
and thought that the only issue was the Ballenlsles issue. Mayor Russo felt that the
City Council should meet with the Blue Ribbon Committee to discuss any remaining
issues that the City Council or staff would like to resolve. Mayor Russo felt that the
residents from Ballenlsles should also be invited to the meeting. Vice Mayor Furtado
stated she would like to have the traffic models run so those figures would be available
for the joint meeting. Mrs. Glas stated that it would take a while to run the models,
and would probably take one week to do one model, however, once the network is
set the other models would be done quicker. Mrs. Glas stated that staff would like to
have this document completed by the end of December. Mrs. Glas stated that staff
just looked at the City limits and did not look at the future annexation area or some
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of the surrounding areas that are part of another municipality's future annexation area.
Mrs. Glas asked if the Council would like these elements included in the visioning.
Mayor Russo did not feel this was necessary as these areas were taken into
consideration during the visioning process. Vice Mayor Furtado agreed with the
exception of the parcel on the northeast corner of Military Trail and Northlake
Boulevard. Vice Mayor Furtado stated there is an "L" shaped piece of property and
the Amoco Station and the strip mall. Vice Mayor Furtado stated there is a move to
do something with that area. City Manager Bobbie Herakovich stated that the statutes
allow for the involuntary annexation of smaller parcels. Vice Mayor Furtado stated
that she saw the potential of cleaning up a nice parcel and pointed out that the City at
this time does not have control of that parcel. Vice Mayor Furtado stated that if this
was annexed, Code Enforcement could assist in cleaning this area, making the people
that own the property more apt to sell. Mayor Russo stated that if the landowners
wanted to annex the property into the City and upgrade the center he would be
interested, however, as far as annexing the land into the City so it can be sold would
not interest him. Mayor Russo, referencing the Westwood Gardens area, stated that
the City should not have annexed the area because of some of the problems that
existed and did not want to inherit any additional problems. Mayor Russo stated that
this area would not affect the vision and most of the area, unless it was a large parcel,
would change the vision. Councilwoman Monroe stated she was interested in what
was happening across the street, such as the Abacoa development and the proposed
commercial section of Ibis. Councilwoman Monroe felt that this was an excellent time
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to do something that would facilitate the equestrian area should it come to fruition.
Councilwoman Monroe stated there is a need for 100 acres to make the equestrian
facility work, however, associated with that area would be the need for a veterinarian,
a tack shop, etc. Councilwoman Monroe asked that staff try to determine the number
of acres needed for this or perhaps develop some language to be included in the vision
document that would state that the number may fluctuate based on what would be
needed.
Milton Stern stated that the changes requested by the Ballenlsles were appropriate and
should be incorporated into the vision document. In response to a question from
Councilwoman Monroe, Mrs. Glas stated that the borderline around the conservation
area showed a local thoroughfare dividing that connection where Donald Ross Road
used to be shown on the County Thoroughfare Plan.
Mr. Bob Kaplan, resident of Ballenlsles, addressed the Council stating that he was
representing several hundred Ballenlsles residents that have sent letters to the City
Council. Mr. Kaplan stated that the developer made a presentation regarding the
parcel that abutted the Ballenlsles development. Mr. Kaplan presented slides of the
area in question, showing that the entrance to Ballenlsles was developed with beautiful
landscaping that lead into a community that was well planned. Mr. Kaplan stated that
when the residents in BallenIsles purchased their property the zoning maps of the City
showed residential uses surrounding the community and did not show commercial.
Mr. Kaplan presented slides of the Ballen1sles entranceway, stating that it was
designed to let people know they were entering that community. Mr. Kaplan stated
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that the residents of Ballenlsles agreed that the land at the southwest corner of the
community should become a part of the community and developed by Ballenlsles. Mr.
Kaplan stated that the residents would like the City to leave Ballenlsles the way they
wanted it to be and expected it to be when they purchased their homes. Referencing
the Vision document, Mr. Kaplan stated that the document stated that one of the
major goals in the vision was to preserve land use patterns and types which currently
characterize the City. Mr. Kaplan suggested that the residents of Ballenlsles were
asking the City Council to do exactly what the goal states because they did not feel
that the corner in question was a commercial site. Mayor Russo encouraged the
residents of Ballenlsles to meet with their developer so they could stay informed as
to his plans for the total development of the community.
Councilwoman Monroe questioned the section of the Vision document regarding the
Education System, asking how it fit since there is not a section of the Comprehensive
Plan that dealt with education. Mrs. Glas stated that in the present Comprehensive
Plan update the City has to provide for siting criteria for new schools. Councilwoman
Monroe felt that the areas of diverse learning styles tailored to the learning abilities of
the students did not fit in with the City's Comprehensive Plan. City Manager
Herakovich stated that the Education Advisory Board put this section together,
however, the City has no authority to insure that the selection of administrators of the
schools have strong leadership and managerial skills. City Manager Herakovich felt
that some of the language should be changed where it discusses the City's input in
these areas and should rather include some advisory language. Councilwoman
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Monroe asked if the Council agreed on five districts for the City Council. The
consensus of the City Council was that the language should read smaller districts
instead of five districts. Councilwoman Monroe stated she looked at the fire and
police portions of the document and noted that the fire department had many figures
on response times, vehicles and personnel, however, the police department has almost
nothing with regard to these figures.
Councilwoman Monroe expressed her concern that some of these numbers would be
placed in the document when it may not be possible because of cost to implement
them for 25 years. Councilman Clark agreed that there was too much specificity in
the fire department portion of the document. Mrs. Glas stated that this information
came from the Fire Chief and that this was their internal policies today.
Councilwoman Monroe, referencing the goal on page 13 of the document that stated
"to protect the City's character of high quality housing, concentrating on the
provisions of units for moderate to high income families ", compared that statement
to the one further on the page that stated "rehabilitation of existing units objective to
affordable housing ". Councilwoman Monroe felt that something was missing in these
statements in that the Committee discussed the high end of the units in the City, yet
the DCA required the City to provide for affordable housing. Councilwoman Monroe
felt that the title and the objectives did not match. Mrs. Glas stated the Committee
saw this community as being for moderate upper and upper income and our affordable
units are what we have and the City should not encourage new affordable housing.
Richard Walton stated that the Town of Palm Beach went to war with the DCA and
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was very successful in the end on this issue. Councilwoman Monroe stated that HUD
publishes the median income annually for specific areas. Councilwoman Monroe
stated she had a problem if a community was established as a high income and a
$150,000 home was the City's affordable housing because it did not meet the needs
of Palm Beach County. Councilwoman Monroe stated that the City was a broad
community and could not rely on other communities to supply the laborers in various
jobs such as dry cleaners, drug stores, etc. Vice Mayor Furtado questioned what the
City's percentage of affordable housing was at this time and how much more was
needed. Richard Walton stated that the DCA was comfortable with the City's current
numbers and projections, however, mentioned that the City needed to become a full
service community in providing housing types for employees. Richard Walton pointed
out that as the children in the community grow up there would not be any affordable
housing should they want to move back into the City. Councilwoman Monroe would
like staff to run the affordable housing figures based on Palm Beach County median
income rather than the City of Palm Beach Gardens median income. Vice Mayor
Furtado disagreed, stating that while she wants to be a good neighbor, would rather
stay with the City's median income figures. Councilwoman Monroe explained that she
did not want to go as low as Palm Beach County's median income, but would like a
comparison for the future vision. Councilwoman Monroe stated that she read an
article in the newspaper regarding long term provision of waters that discouraged
massive development to the west. Councilwoman Monroe stated she did not want the
language in the plan to be so strong that the City would encourage massive storage
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areas and requested softer language.
Mayor Russo stated that if the City did not want to spend money on economic
development why it would be included as a position in the City. City Manager
Herakovich stated that the Mayor was referring to the reorganizational structure study
that was performed by Griffith and Associates that recommended a position of
Economic Development Coordinator. Mayor Russo stated it was also included in the
vision document, and expressed his concern that if there was an advisory board
formed that did not have any funding, it would serve no purpose. Mayor Russo felt
that the North County Economic Advisory Board was sufficient for the time being.
City Manager Herakovich stated that the goal should be redrafted so that it would
work through the existing economic agencies. City Manager Herakovich stated that
the recommendations and the plan needed to have a financial analysis done so the City
Council could approve the provisions.
Mrs. Glas stated that she would meet with Councilwoman Monroe to review her
concerns, meet with the Blue Ribbon Committee, and run the numbers for traffic
models.
CITY MANAGER
REPORT City Manager Herakovich, referencing the capital improvement list, stated there was
an overlay of asphalt scheduled for Bums Road parking lot, however, in assessing the
situation and need at that location, there would be a requirement to trim trees along
Burns Road and in the parking lot in order to get the required machinery in that area.
City Manager Herakovich stated the only alternative would be to concrete the parking
lot spaces and asphalt the driving area. City Manager Herakovich state that Mark
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Hendrickson, City Forester, stated that the trees would survive, but there would be
concerns from the residents. Councilwoman Monroe asked if this was the only
equipment available. City Manager Herakovich stated that along Burns Road there
are trees with dead branches because of the equipment that was used and the City's
goal was to avoid that problem by trimming the trees.
ITEMS BY MAYOR AND
CITY COUNCIL
Vice Mayor Furtado Vice Mayor Furtado stated there was a problem with the Military Trail and Northlake
Boulevard crossing situation because there have been no crossing guards to assist the
children going to school. City Manager Herakovich stated that the City has had police
officers in cars at that location to assist the children. The City Manager stated that she
would look into the problem further and report back to the City Council. Vice Mayor
Furtado stated that the City has not taken a stand on the reliever road (Park Avenue
extension) that comes in on the south side of Grove Park Elementary School. Vice
Mayor Furtado stated there are 283 children from the City that attend that school and
have to cross the problem area to get to the school. Councilman Clark felt that this
was a County road and the City was limited to solutions to the problems. It was
suggested that Vice Mayor Furtado call Commissioner Marcus regarding the problem.
Vice Mayor Furtado asked when Burns Road is widened, if it was possible to put a
sidewalk in on the south side for the children to use in getting to the Community
Center. Mayor Russo stated that this would be a problem when the road is widened.
Vice Mayor Furtado stated this addition of the sidewalk would not only accomplish
the convenience for the children in getting to the Community Center, but would help
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when the road is widened it would give the use of a sidewalk during the construction.
The City Manager was directed to research the possibility of installing a sidewalk on
the south side of Burns Road. Vice Mayor Furtado also requested a traffic counter
at Bums Road and Riverside Drive to determine if a traffic light was needed for this
intersection.
In response to Vice Mayor Furtado, City Manager Herakovich stated that the County
was responsible for RCA Boulevard. Vice Mayor Furtado stated that the road is a
mess because they trimmed branches and left them beside the road. City Manager
Herakovich stated that the City is working with the County in getting some
maintenance in the area and added that the area would look this way for a time while
some of the exotics were removed and the work was completed.
Vice Mayor Furtado stated that the Recreation Advisory Board has agreed to being
more project oriented, but did not feel the Board should be abolished.
Councilwoman Monroe Councilwoman Monroe stated that before being elected to the City Council she was
always bothered by the Items by the Mayor and City Council portion of the agenda
was at the end of the agenda. Councilwoman Monroe stated this City Council
changed that back to the front and then moved it back to the end of the agenda.
Councilwoman Monroe suggested that this item be placed at the beginning of the
agenda and developers be informed that their items would not begin until 8:00 p.m.
Councilwoman Monroe felt that this would give the City Council a half hour to
discuss items and would limit the time as well. Councilwoman Monroe felt that the
residents in attendance at the meetings may want to hear items by the Mayor and
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Council, however, may not want to wait until the end of the agenda. It was suggested
that the Council members be limited to the time they can talk, perhaps five minutes.
It was further suggested that the first half hour after "Presentations" should be
devoted to Council discussions. Councilwoman Monroe felt that the City Manager
Report, as well as the City Attorney Report should be included at the front of the
agenda. City Manager Herakovich suggested that the section on the agenda labeled
"Announcements" is not used as they are legally posted, and that the Council
announce some of their items under this section. Staff was directed to research this
issue and make recommendations to the City Council.
ADJOURNMENT There being r}O� h� busine to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 10 P.M.
APPROVAL: / ��r
(M or6o ►p R. Russo
ra..n' {A <r
Vice Ma r Lauren Furtado
until an Li a Monroe
C�'ltn nc J `in ,
�uncilman David Clazk l
Attest:
Cindy Harvey, Deputy City Clerl
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