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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 CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL REGULAR MEETING, 9114195 PAGE 2 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 �1 3'Ct:)Z4N4 IL 4PECL4L RFGTTT.AR MFF.TING, 9114195 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 PAGE 4 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 PAGE 5 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: PAGE 6 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 CITY COUNCIL SPECL4L REGULAR MEETING, 9114195 PAGE 7 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 CITY COUNCIL SPECL4L REGULAR MEETING, 9114195 PAGE 8 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 PAGE 9