HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Council 091495ITEMS BY MAYOR
AND CITY COUNCIL
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
ORDINANCE 24, 1995
CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL REGULAR MEETING
CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS
SEPTEMBER 14, 1995
The Special Regular 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.
The Deputy City Clerk called the roll and present were Mayor Russo, Vice
Mayor Furtado, Councilwoman Monroe, Councilman Clark, and Councilman
Jablin.
Mayor Russo stated the announcements were as posted on the City's bulletin
boards.
There were no items by the Mayor and City Council.
Mayor Russo declared the Public Hearing open, which was duly advertised by
the Property Appraiser's Office via Proposed Tax Bills, and held on the intent
of Ordinance 24, 1995, Levying a tax on real and personal property located
within the corporate limits of the City of Palm Beach Gardens for year ending
12131195; affixing a total valuation thereon and tax rate thereon for said year;
adopting a Fiscal Budget for the Fiscal Year beginning 1011195 and ending
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9130196, inclusive; appropriating funds for expenditures. Assistant City
Attorney Greg Dunham stated that the proposed 1995 -1996 budget was
presented for first public hearing and that staff was present to answer questions.
Finance Director Olson announced the proposed tax rate of 3.9530 and provided
additional highlights of the proposed budget. There being no comments from
the public, Mayor Russo declared the Public Hearing closed. Finance Director
Olson requested City Council consideration for a $10,000 addition to the
proposed budget for Fire Administration. Deputy Chief Bergel explained that
the large number of brush fires during the past year had brought to light a
serious problem in notifying volunteer firemen that their services were needed,
and that a paging system had been located which could be leased for $20,000
per year, and the County Fire Rescue had agreed to pay half. This system
would interface the pagers with the radio system so thatwhen a dispatcher
entered information into a computer as it was received from a 911 call, it was
being dispatched to the station printers and to the pagers simultaneously. The
volunteers had agreed to pay for the pagers. Finance Director Olson explained
that there would be sufficient surplus left from the current year's budget to
cover the proposed $10,000 addition. Councilman Clark made a motion to
approve the additional $10,000 to the budget as proposed. Motion was
seconded by Vice Mayor Furtado, and unanimously carried. Vice Mayor
Furtado requested further information on the amount the City was paying each
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PAGE 3
month for actual air time for cellular phones. Chief FitzGerald responded to
Vice Mayor Furtado's question of why the Police Training Coordinator position
was filled by a sworn police officer, and explained that the person who had
filled that position had come to the position with a lot of police experience and
had requested that he be allowed to renew his police certification with the State
of Florida so that he could receive career incentive monies and would be
allowed to testify in criminal cases, and explained that he was one of the
foremost forensic crime scene officers in the State. Chief FitzGerald stated that
allowing this employee to renew his police certification had absolutely no
impact on the existing patrolman positions, and that whether this police officer
would receive the police pension was the decision of the pension board. Vice
Mayor Furtado questioned the comparison of recreation revenues between
1990 -91 and 1993 -94, and was concerned with the large differences shown.
The Vice Mayor requested 1992 figures and additional information in order to
interpret the comparison. Vice Mayor Furtado questioned the community
development item. Discussion ensued regarding whether these items should be
discussed at this time. Mayor Russo suggested that the City Council provide
direction to the City Manager, discuss her performance evaluation in a meeting
to point out strengths and weaknesses, and give her a plan for the coming year
which would include the items being questioned so they would not be forgotten.
Mayor Russo suggested that City Council members could phone department
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL REGULAR MEETING, 9114195
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heads for information. Vice Mayor Furtado requested information from staff
present at the meeting regarding mulching mowers since that might be a savings
in dollars to the City. Mr. Patty explained that mulching mowers were not
appropriate for all types of grass, that fertilizer was still needed, and that the life
of mulching mowers was much less than that of regular mowers. Sue Miller
clarified some of the recreation information which the Vice Mayor had
questioned. Mayor Russo requested from the Finance Department 1990 -91
revenue from all recreation classes and workshops with a breakdown by
category. Vice Mayor Furtado requested information of vending machine
revenues for the years since 1990. Mayor Russo requested a report of items
requested be provided at the next meeting. Councilwoman Monroe requested
a comparison salary chart, an EMS cost comparison with income, and
questioned the City Nursery dollar cost per tree, since that cost did not include
employee benefits or any equipment cost and maintenance. Councilwoman
Monroe proposed an April 1, 1995 update of benefits and costs of the City
Nursery and if there was not a significant improvement that the nursery be
abolished. Mayor Russo requested additional dollar information regarding the
former dance program, and requested that all items questioned including cars,
etc., be explored at another workshop meeting when the City Manager was
present. Motion was made by Vice Mayor Furtado to approve Ordinance 24,
1995 on first reading by title only. Motion was seconded by Councilman Jablin
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL REGULAR MEETING, 9114195
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and unanimously carried. The Deputy City Clerk read Ordinance 24, 1995 on
first reading by title only.
RESOLUTIONS:
RESOLUTION 93, 1995 Planning and Zoning Director Walton reviewed proposed changes to the project
under Resolution 93, 1995 - Consideration of approval for amendment to
NorthCorp PCD - West Park Lot 1 Landscaping and Building B Modification.
Jeff Lis reviewed building architectural changes to make Building B and C
more compatible with the neighboring Marriott Hotel. Since Building C
changes were not included in Resolution 93, 1995, the applicant was requested
to provide material samples at the next meeting for City Council review before
the start of the meeting so that approval could be given on the Consent Agenda.
After discussion of signage, it was the consensus of the City Council to
eliminate the south facing sign on Building B and to lower the east facing sign
on Building A, and to remove the signage from Resolution 93, 1995 for
approval on the next Consent Agenda, Mr. Lis commented that a request would
be made for nine covered parking spaces which would be presented for
approval with Building C. Councilwoman Monroe made a motion to approve
Resolution 93, 1995 with items 4 and 5 in Section 2 deleted. Motion was
seconded by Councilman Jablin and unanimously carried. Councilwoman
Monroe made a motion to reconsider Resolution 93, 1995. Vice Mayor Furtado
seconded the motion which unanimously carried. Councilwoman Monroe made
a motion to modify Resolution 93, 1995 as in the previous motion as well as by
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL REGULAR MEETING, 9114195
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION:
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the following changes under Section 1: after the words "landscape plan' to
insert "and for;" to place a period after the words "Site Plan;" and to delete the
words "and approving the building identification and monument signs." Motion
was seconded by Councilman Clark and unanimously carried.
BRIDGE CENTER Larry Smith, agent for the Petitioner, reported the site plan changes which had
been made were: the orientation of the dumpster had been changed, the wall
height had been raised to eight feet near the road, the pavilion had been deleted,
the restaurant orientation had been changed 90 degrees, restaurant seating had
been increased by adding former pavilion seating to the lower floor, total square
footage of the revised package was reduced, Seacoast Utility requirements had
been agreed to, and outdoor seating and entertainment had been eliminated.
Bob Basehart addressed land use issues by comparing the qualities of a high
end restaurant with fast food restaurants and retail establishments, and also
reviewed the efforts which had been made by the current applicant to be a good
neighbor to surrounding residents. Sound expert Stanley Dunn reported that he
had done an environmental noise assessment of this project and had proposed
containment of noise from the restaurant within the building, and reduction of
outside noise by a noise wall along the north side of the property which would
vary from ten feet high for the two westernmost properties and eight feet high
for the rest of the properties. Mr. Dunn commented that this noise wall would
also reduce existing noise from PGA Boulevard, the bridge, etc. to neighboring
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properties so that they should experience no increased level of noise from the
addition of the restaurant, and possibly reduction from current noise levels.
After extensive discussion, suggestions made by City Council members were
to investigate total valet parking, and to incorporate requests from residents as
conditions of approval.
RICHARD ARNOLD Mr. Arnold stated his residence was situated twenty feet from the wall and
asked the City Council to consider impact and intensity. Mr. Arnold reported
that one of his neighbors had sold their home, and that six were currently on
vacation so could not be present at this meeting. Mr. Arnold questioned the
closing time of a high - quality restaurant, to which Mr. Basehart responded
usually from 10 -11 P.M. to 2 -3 A.M., and Mr. Arnold made the point that Mr.
Basehart and Mr. Dunn were paid by the petitioner to be present. Mr. Arnold
objected to the large size of the restaurant. Discussion ensued regarding the
size of the building and how the number of parking spaces had been determined.
DON COLVIN Mr. Colvin, 2035 Waterway Drive, made comments regarding noise, density,
and safety concerns because of traffic, and requested a report from traffic
studies regarding people safety. Mayor Russo requested that staff provide Mr.
Colvin with information which would answer his questions.
ROBERT REISENBERG Mr. Reisenberg indicated that he did not have a problem with a restaurant on
the property but objected to the size of the building; pointed out that Panama
Hatties and Waterway Cafe had both purchased property to provide a buffer
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between their buildings and the surrounding residents, while this restaurant was
larger than either of those. Suggestions were to reduce the size of the restaurant
so that it could be positioned farther away from the residential area.
After further discussion, Mayor Russo stated he was not comfortable with the
hours of operation or the open windows in the rear. Vice Mayor Furtado did
not object to the open windows on the water side since that sound would carry
across the water rather than to property beside it, and felt that the traffic
situation would be improved, but was concerned with the 2 A.M. closing.
Mayor Russo commended Mr. Smith for his efforts to work with the residents.
This item was proposed for further consideration at the first City Council
meeting in October.
INVESTMENT POLICY Finance Director Olson commented that the investment policy would be
incorporated into a resolution for consideration at the second budget hearing on
September 28.
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 10:40 P.M.
MAYOR JOE RUSSO
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL REGULAR MEETING, 9114195
VICE MAYOR LAUREN FURTADO
COUNCILMAN DAVID CLARK
C UO NCILMAN ER J ilN
COUNCILWOMAN LINDA MONROE
ATTEST:
CINDY HARVEY, DEPUTY CITY CLERK
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