HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Council 101493CITY COUNCIL
WORKSHOP MEETING
CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS
OCTOBER 14, 1993
7:30 P.M.
The Workshop Meeting 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 CALL The Deputy City Clerk called the roll and present were
Mayor Russo, Vice Mayor Monroe, and Councilman Clark.
Councilwoman Furtado arrived at 7:48 P.M. Councilman
Jablin arrived at 8:32 P.M.
ANNOUNCEMENTS Mayor Russo stated that the announcements were as posted
on the City's Bulletin Board.
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION
PGA GRANT /MILITARY
TO I -95 LANDSCAPING City Manager Herakovich introduced Mark Hendrickson, City
Forester, who brought the Council up to date on the 1993
PGA Boulevard Florida Highway Beautification Grant of
$60,675.00 which will be forfeited if not used in 1993.
City Forester Hendrickson presented a proposal which
would use $37,854.30 (reimbursable cost) of the Grant
monies. The City's in -kind contribution is $38,860.00,
of which $13,000.00 would be paid to an outside
contractor to construct a sidewalk. The modified
landscaping plan incorporates the new construction at the
intersection of PGA Blvd & Military Trail & underground
CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS, WORKSHOP MEETING, 10 -14 -93 2
& overhead utilities which were not shown on the original
conceptual plan. The biggest change is the addition of
palmetto clusters which were added to the plan to conform
to the Parkway System conceptual plans. The City does
not have approval for the median landscaping yet, however
no problems are anticipated. Vice Mayor Monroe expressed
concerned with trees in a straight line 20 feet apart,
and suggested they be staggered, if possible. Vice Mayor
Monroe was also concerned that the State Department of
Transportation may make other changes without the City's
knowledge. After discussion of maintenance costs, it was
the consensus of the Council that the hotels that now
maintain the landscaping be asked to continue, which
would reduce maintenance costs for the City. It was the
consensus of the Council to proceed with the landscaping.
PGA STREETSCAPE/
MILITARY TRAIL TO TURNPIKE
City Manager Herakovich stated the PGA Streetscape plan
west of Military Trail to the Turnpike was included in
the City's comprehensive plan, but was never adopted by
the Council. The widening of PGA Boulevard was required
by the Ballenisles Development Order, and Northern Palm
Beach County Water Control District and Ballenisles were
requested to inform the City of lighting plans and to
scale down the streetscaping plan to be more economical.
Also, the residents of Gardens of Woodberry have
CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS, WORKSHOP MEETING, 10 -14 -93 3
requested the City's assistance in asking that an 8 -foot
wall be included in the landscape design to provide a
safety barrier between the widened street and the back
yards of homes that back up to PGA Boulevard. Ray
Ludwig, past President of the Gardens of Woodberry, spoke
at the request of Councilwoman Furtado and gave his
opinion that a solid wall was needed to stop a vehicle
from hitting these homes in case of an accident. At the
request of Mayor Russo, Jerry Johnson of 5029 Diane Lane
in Palm Beach Gardens, current President of the Gardens
of Woodberry Homeowners Association asked the City
Council to use their influence to protect the homes along
2100 feet of PGA Boulevard which will have drastically
reduced footage between the 6 -lane street and the homes.
Since residents did not know the widened road would be so
close to their homes, Vice Mayor Monroe requested
research by Staff to compare roadway plans that existed
when citizens conveyed land for right -of -way to plans
being used now, to determine whether the plans are still
like the original, and exactly what was shown on them, or
whether any changes have been made that these residents
did not know about. City Manager Herakovich stated that
Northern, the financier for BallenIsles, has a bond issue
under which BallenIsles residents would pay for the
landscaping. Mayor Russo stated he had a concern that
the BallenIsles development would be asked to fund a wall
CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS, WORKSHOP MEETING, 10 -14 -93 4
that was not technically a part of their road
improvements. Rich Walton stated the Petitioner had
agreed, as part of the construction on the road, to
provide a landscape program of the same palate that
currently exists in front of The Gardens Mall, from
Military Trail to the Turnpike. An additional condition
within the BallenIsles Development Order required
BallenIsles to landscape the South side of PGA from
Central west to the Turnpike, per the Streetscape Program
when it is adopted. This landscape program would be
finalized for Phase II development. Councilman Clark
suggested some landscaping costs might possibly be traded
for cost of constructing the wall. It was the consensus
of the Council that the original design of the
Streetscape and Beautification Program, using a more
xeriscape planting, would be appropriate and City Manager
Herakovich was instructed to continue negotiations with
BallenIsles and Northern Palm Beach County Water Control
District, asking them to help create the design, which
would be subject to final approval by the City Council.
Ted Rondowski, a resident of Gardens of Woodberry since
1984, expressed his concerns with the lack of safety and
probable drop in property values and recommended the
Council mandate BallenIsles and MacArthur Foundation to
build the wall. Marilyn Slater, 5214 Nutmeg Drive,
stated she was told by a representative of Northern Palm
CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS, WORKSHOP MEETING, 10 -14 -93 5
Beach County Water Control District that a barrier would
be constructed, and can provide the name of the
representative. It was the consensus of the Council that
the City do whatever it can to remedy the situation and
requested the residents provide the Council with any
information that would help.
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO
LANDSCAPING CODE Mark Hendrickson, City Forester, asked for clarification
and direction on the pruning code as it relates to
topiary trimming of trees. Councilman Jablin felt there
would be only two main reasons why topiary trimming would
be allowed: (1) in a constraining situation such as
under a power line, or (2) to make an architectural
statement. It was the consensus of the Council that the
code be amended to read under section 153.20 ( F ) (3), "If
other than the normal expected tree canopy shape is
desired by the owner of said tree(s), the desired shape
and size shall be indicated on the approved site plan;"
that Hatracking would be defined as "to flat -cut the top
and sides of a tree" instead of only the top; and in the
case of existing trees that have been trimmed in a
rectangle before the code was adopted then pruning may
continue in the same shape; however, in the amendment now
being proposed, this would not be allowed unless it was
a part of the design approved up front and intended as an
accent and not the total landscape design. Since the
CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS, WORKSHOP MEETING, 10 -14 -93
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intent of the City was for trees to look like trees, a
resident could request that their site plan be amended.
CHARTER REVIEW
COMMITTEE REPORT Tom Baird, Chairman of the Charter Review Committee,
reported recommendations of the Committee to address
areas of concern and modernize the Palm Beach Gardens
Charter. After discussion, it was the consensus of the
Council that the Committee's recommendations were
acceptable, with the following clarification and changes:
Article IV, Section 4 -1: The term of office of council
members shall commence on the first scheduled regular
meeting of the city council. Article IV, Section 4 -4,
VACANCY: An individual who did not wish to run for
election could be appointed to fill a vacancy. Article
VI, Section 6 -1, shall clarify and establish the
responsibilities of the City Manager, clarify and
emphasize that the City Manager is responsible to the
Council. The City Manager must designate in his or her
absence an Acting City Manager by doing so in writing.
A period of one year residency is required. An annual
performance review establishes salary benefits. Goals
and objectives which the City Manager is required to
establish are included in the contract between the City
Manager and the Council; which also establishes the City
Manager's authority for appointment and removal of
CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS, WORKSHOP MEETING, 10 -14 -93 7
J Department Heads, i.e., the annual reappointments and
removals of Department Heads will be the responsibility
of the City Manager but the selection of a new Department
Head must be ratified by the City Council. In Section 6-
1, D, last sentence, insert a comma after city employees
then add the word "policywise ". In Article VI, Section
6 -2 (b): After "The city attorney shall be the chief
legal officer of the city responsible for all legal
affairs of the city," insert "the City Manager." In
Section 6 -2 (b) (3) remove the word "such ".
ITEMS BY CITY MANAGER
ITEMS FOR UPCOMING
AGENDAS City Manager Herakovich requested direction from the
Council as to the order of items for upcoming agendas.
Vice Mayor Monroe asked that Northern Palm Beach County
Planning Forum be placed on the next regular council
meeting agenda since the City of Palm Beach Gardens
needed to appoint one of the three resident
representatives to the new steering committee, and that
resident representative needed to be notified of their
appointment so they can attend the November 17, 1993
meeting. A City Council member and an alternate from the
City would also be appointed as representatives. It was
decided that the Workshop on Policy Statement would be
placed at the end of the agenda for the next regular
council meeting and if there was not sufficient time to
CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS WORKSHOP MEETING 10 -14 -93 8
do it, it would be discussed at a workshop meeting. For
review of the City Attorney proposals, a summary sheet
will be furnished by the City Manager with every proposal
so the City Council would be able to determine the top
candidates they wish to interview . It was the consensus
of the City Council to schedule a workshop meeting for
October 28, 1993, and to place on the agenda for the next
regular Council Meeting, City Attorney Proposals, North
County Planning Forum, visionary workshop, zoning code,
LDR's and Comprehensive Plan Amendments.
ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to discuss, the meeting
was adjourned at 11:26 P.M.
APPROVAL /
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VIIE MAYOR MONROI3
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EXA M. RIEF, bEPUTY CITY CLERK
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