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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Council 033095CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS MARCH 30, 1995 The Workshop Meeting of the City Council of the City of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, was called to order by Vice Mayor Furtado 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 CAIJ. The Deputy City Clerk called the roll and present were Vice Mayor Furtado, Councilwoman Monroe, and Councilman Clark. Mayor Russo and Councilman Jablin arrived at 7:40 P.M. ANNOUNCEMENTS Vice Mayor Furtado stated that the announcements were as posted on the City's Bulletin Boards. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION #95 -1 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT City Planner Kim Glas explained that an application had been received from Mr. DiVosta for a change in land use from (RM) Residential Medium to (C) Commercial for a 1.01 —acre parcel approximately 0.01 miles west of the PGA Boulevard and Military Trail intersection on the south side of PGA Boulevard in order to submit plans for a bank; however, a change to (PO) Professional Office would also allow a bank without the other commercial uses that the Commercial rezoning would permit. It was the consensus of the City Council that PO would be appropriate zoning for this parcel as well as for the adjacent CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING, 3/30/95 PAGE 2 corner property where the existing bank and offices were located. Ms. Glas discussed an application from Mr. Campbell for annexation of his 142 -acre parcel on Northlake Boulevard with concurrent rezoning of the 15 acres fronting Northlake Boulevard from Palm Beach County Industrial to the City's Commercial category in order to provide services to the western residential area, with the balance of the site to remain Industrial. Mr. Campbell's request also included an amendment to change the minimum size of a master planned development (PUD) from 250 acres to 125 acres. Staffs concerns were urban sprawl and efficient delivery of services. After discussion, it was the consensus of the City Council that this property could be annexed with the clear understanding that the rezoning request and amendment to reduce to 125 acres would be denied. City Council's consensus was agreement with the city - initiated amendment to align Hood Road between Alternate AIA and Prosperity Farms Road as requested by Palm Beach County, and to continue to show Flamingo Road extension in order to provide emergency access between Alternate AIA and Prosperity Farms Road. City Planner Glas requested Council direction whether to undertake a city- initiated amendment to designate the Sherman Property (7.76 acres between RCA Boulevard and Burns Road with frontage on Prosperity Farms Road) with City land use prior to its annexation. City Council consensus was that Staff proceed with the amendment. The City Council agreed with staff recommendation that adoption CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING, 3/30/95 PAGF 'A of tiered level of service be delayed. Attorney Ray Royce requested consideration of a second submittal date during 1995 since land use plan amendments filed by December 31, 1994 had not yet been completed so that it could be a year from the current date before his client would be able to proceed with a retail sporting goods store on property located on the south side of Northlake Boulevard between Costco and K -Mart, which would need to be rezoned from its current industrial category. It was the consensus of the City Council to establish June 1, 1995 as a second deadline for comprehensive plan amendment change submittals for the current year. MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSE PROGRESS REPORT Pat Dorgan, PGA Head Professional, reported that Councilwoman Monroe was the winner of the City Council Members Cup held on March 25, 1995. Brahm Dubin, President of Dubin and Associates reported on the progress of the Golf Course for the past year. The progress report was positive for the first year of operation under the new management, since in 1992 -93 the golf course lost $95,000, in 1993 -94 the course lost $88,000, and this year $39,000 profit would be made. Mr. Dubin reported that many people Iiked the course and that management had learned much during the first year and explained to the Council how they intended to change promotions and programs to increase participation and business in the coming year. Mayor Russo expressed safety concerns and was assured those would be addressed. CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING, 3/30/95 PAGE 4 PROPOSALS FOR MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS Finance Director Olson reported five options had been identified as locations for the City Hall and Police Station (1) the existing site for City Hall and a new building for the Police Department to the north, (2) new building on the existing site for City Hall and a new building for the Police Department to the north (3) Northcorp Center, (4) PGA & Central Boulevard, and (5) North County Governmental Center. During discussion of the locations, PGA and Central Boulevard was the preferred location and the City Council directed staff to research what could be done at that location. Councilwoman Monroe suggested staff include a request for possible blocking off of land for future purchase by the City. The City Council decided that they would want this issue taken to the voters; Councilwoman Monroe suggested research into recent history regarding bond payoffs to give the public a comfort level that the City was paying off debts and not continually adding debt on top of other debt. Staff was also directed to provide additional information regarding advantages and disadvantages of land purchase versus leasing. Jeff Ornstein, former member of the Building Committee, contributed his opinion that the land at PGA and Central Boulevard would be quite expensive and explained that a bond could be raised for lease as well as purchase, and if used for lease that the process could be accelerated approximately two years. Dan Catalfumo agreed, and commented that a lease with option to purchase financed by a bond would be CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING, 3/30/95 PAGE 5 the best of both worlds, since as a developer he would provide a turnkey operation, with everything preapproved by the City, the City would have a guaranteed purchase price and guaranteed payment, and on the day of C.O. the City would write a check through the bond for the total price if they were purchasing, or would write a check for a lease payment if leasing, and could wait to exercise the purchase option. The City would save interest costs by using a bond which would carry a lower rate of interest than standard financing. City Attorney Baird suggested that he research the legal issues involved since some could become rather complex, and report back to the City Council at the time staff presented their report. Mayor Russo requested the reports be scheduled for the second City Council meeting in April. Mr. Len Lindahl cautioned that a greater degree of specificity would be needed to include all possible details in the plans up front in order to provide a guaranteed price. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR 1995 Recreation Director Sue Miller explained that her department would like to provide a presentation at a later date to show the City Council ideas for renovation and upgrading of each park, had met with the YAA for their input, and planned to work together with the YAA to accomplish mutual goals. Ms. Miller explained that the report given to the City Council summarized a master plan for all the existing parks, and stated that considerations had been what to do with each sport and how to move the fields, but did not address acquiring CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING, 3/30/95 PAGE 6 new park lands. The goal was to locate a single sport in each park. The City Manager reported intense negotiations with the School Board had resulted in agreement to move both high school softball and high school baseball out of Gardens Park, which would free two fields for City use. High school baseball would be moving to Plant Drive Park, and the high school tennis courts would be opened at night; also, $100,000 in funding had been obtained for girls' softball. Vice Mayor Furtado expressed concern that parents of children involved in sports through the City, the schools, and other programs such as YAA were uninformed regarding how the fields were used and many rumors and resulting problems be stopped by full communication. It was the consensus of the City Council to hold a workshop meeting for the presentation by the Recreation Department and to invite everyone to attend so that everyone would be fully informed. City Manager Herakovich stated that staff needed to identify funding; Mayor Russo stated that needs must be identified and then the dollar amounts allocated for each one, so that the voters could decide. Charter amendments were discussed, with the request that this item be placed on an upcoming agenda so that language for the referendum could be decided upon, and the decision was made to place this item on the March, 1996 ballot instead of the November 1995 ballot. City Manager Herakovich commented that the business survey was in process and that she would provide the City Council with a timeline for that item. Visioning/Community Input was discussed. The CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING, 3/30/95 PAGE 7 City Manager requested more time for staff work and the decision was made to try for September for a session to be attended by residents. Mayor Russo stated that the remaining listed goals and objectives, Revision of the Merit System, Foreign Trade Zones, Industrial Sites, Attracting Economic Development, and Donald Ross /Central Boulevard Land Uses were all ongoing processes. Staff goals and objectives were included in the City Council's packet, which City Manager Herakovich explained would be updated after the six -month review. Vice Mayor Furtado announced that a wildlife artist would be in town during the week of April 20 and suggested he be invited to provide a presentation at a Council meeting. Mayor Russo suggested that Council members attend a luncheon honoring Wackenhut to be held April 20. City Manager Herakovich reported that she and Mayor Russo had passed along a key to the City and items from the Recreation Department to the First Family, although they had not been able to see President Clinton except from a distance. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to discuss, motion was made by Councilwoman Monroe, seconded by Councilman Clark, and unanimously approved to adjourn the meeting at 10:41 P.M. CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING, 3/30/95 APPROVAL N A7lrR J E RUSSO VICE MAYOR LAUREN FURTADO COUNCILMAN DAVID CLARK COUNCILMAN ?IC BLIN COUNCILWOMAN LINDA MONROE ATTEST: CINDY HARVEY, DEPUTY CITY CLERK PAGE S