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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Council 062388the City had a great d,al of leverage in terms of the recreation program that had not been mentioned in the media. There were representatives of the Northeast County Homeowners Association appearing before the Council ,ndicating they were going to the County Commission to fight proposed annexations. After these statements this group stated that they enjoyed the City's recreational facilities and the Council felt this may be the leverage to let the people in the unincorporated area know they need to think about opposing the City and not focusing on the positive items actions by the City. Mayor Feeney stated the City Council has alwaos been CITY CG��CIL SPECIAL WORKSHOP MEETING JUNE 23, 1588 ® 7:30 P.M. Mayor Feeney called the Special Workshop Meeting of the City Council to order at approximately 7:30 P.M. in the Assembly Room of the Municipal Complex Building, 10500 North Military Trait, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. ATTENDAN ^E In atten_arce were: Mayor Feeney, Vtce Mayor Martino, Councilman Aldred, Councilwoman Monroe and Councitnan Kiselewski. RECREATION PROGRAM FOR RESIDENTS AND NON- RESIDENTS Mayor -ieney stated he brought the subject of excluding non - residents from the City, recreation program up at previous Council meetings for the following reasons: (1) in previous annexation procecures the Council was 1nnundated with people from unincorporated areas, Northeast County Homeowners Association, Palm Beach Firefighters Union, and other assorted Ankh groups, opposing the annexation of any properties into the City of Palm Beach Gardens. The Mayor felt the City had been misjudged to the stand- point that the media and the County had in essence singled out one item - firefighting - and the claims that the City could not prev:ae the infrastructure to the areas being annexed i3to the City. The Mayor felt the City had a great d,al of leverage in terms of the recreation program that had not been mentioned in the media. There were representatives of the Northeast County Homeowners Association appearing before the Council ,ndicating they were going to the County Commission to fight proposed annexations. After these statements this group stated that they enjoyed the City's recreational facilities and the Council felt this may be the leverage to let the people in the unincorporated area know they need to think about opposing the City and not focusing on the positive items actions by the City. Mayor Feeney stated the City Council has alwaos been CITY C =XCIL SPECIAL WORKSHCP MEETING, 6/23/88 Page 2 0 c,.•.erneo with the c;,ridren of residents as well as non- residents receiving the most in recreational facilities as the City could provide. Mayor Feeney stated he was concerned that residents in the unin- corporated areas did not want o become a part of the City, however, enjoyed using the City's recred0 onai facilities. These statements, and the media attention, resulted in no opposition at the Public Hearing for the recent annexations. Mayor Feeney felt If the non - residents were going to participate in the City's recreational facilities they should help pay for them. Mayor Feeney stated he would like the non - residents charged a fee by the Youth Athletic Association, to be turned over to the City treasury. Councilman Kiselewski felt that a certain percentage of the millage paid by ' , residents went toward recreation and felt if non - residents wanted to ,enjoy those same facilities they should pay an amount equal to the per- cent of the millage that was for recreation. It was stressed that the residents of the City would have first opportunity, and if there was room available then the non - residents would be accepted. Councilwoman Monroe agreed wit:i the concept, but felt the charge should be determined by wha- tever effects the City's ability to provide the recreation (such as fertilizer for the fields, etc.). Councilwoman requested an eva- 1,:at'on of the number of teams and the non - resident status of members for different sports and different ages. Councilman Aldred suggestk:d a fee be charged (membership fee) to non - residents and if there was space available in the recreation program then they could participate. Those funds could then be turned over to defray the cost of the recreation. Vice Mayor or Martino stated the Youth Athletic Association has a set of bvlaws }hat states the residents of the City will be offered "spots" first, beyond CITY COUNCIL SPFCIAL WORKSHOP MEETING, 6/23/88 Pag_ 3 0 tha " is thert is a w,xtcing list, any of the City's residents will be put on that waiting list first. If there are any openings beyond that point, they were to be given to non - residents who were card carrying members. Vice Mayor Martino stated the YAA has strayed from the bylaws in this regard and requesteG the YAA evaluate how their programs are being put together. Mayor Feeney felt that non- resident coaches and directors of the YAA should not pay a fee and further felt there should be some recognition at the end of the year (barquct, etc), for the coaches. Mayor Feeney requested the s.,ff of the Recreation Department work with the YAA to accomplish this. Mayor Feeney also requested the City inform residents of expansion plans for recreational programs as areas are annexed so they do not resent th, .,inexations. The City Manager and Director of Recreation and Parks were requested to determine needed information from the YAA and to determine an amount for a family membership for non - residents to participate in the YAA. Mayor Feeney requested consideration be given to what months the men —, softball teams should play to provide adequate time to provide proper care and maintenance for the fields. Mayor Feeney also suggested that teams should be sponsored by businesses or organizations within the City. Vice Mayor Marino suggested that Doug Hood consider the following for iext y.:ar's suirmer program: (1) consider two sessions; and (2) determine what it will take to enable the City recreation program to use the public school facilities (i.e. janitor for the summer). Councilwoman Monroe requested Mr. Hood also research when another building would be needed and where the appropriate place would be. CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL WORKSHOP MEETING, 6123188 PAGE A *OVISOPY BOARDS & COMMITTEE RESPGNSIBILITIES Mayor Feeney requested members of any advisory boards or committees of the City to introduce themselves. In attendance were: Jack Horner, Vice Chairman of the Site Plan and Appearance Review Committee; Jeff Renault, member of the Beautification and Environmental Committee; David Panczzo, alternate member of the Zoning Board of Appeals; Henry Mitchell of the Code Fnforcement Board; and Gene Nowak, Chairman of the Code Enforcement Board. Vice Mayor Martino stated the City Council desired to attempt to meet with the advisory boards to share some philosophies and policies. Vice Mayor Martino stated the Site Plan and Appearance Review Committee has a very succinct charter and an ordinance that's been built for it to carry out certain functions for the City. When this ordinance was put together it was to take various pieces of property in the City that already contained a zoning category and make sure a new project in that zoning category matched the neighborhood that was around it. Vice Mayor Martino stated the Council would like to determine if this board is still serving a need, if the board needed anything from the Council, to make sure thn board understood the philosophies and policies of the City Council, and determine if the board was still adhering to it's charter. Vice Mayor Martino referenced the Pier One Import project located within PGA Plaza shopping center on PGA Boulevard, stating he did not think the architecture of this building does not fit in with the shopping center. Vice Mayor Martino stated there are very few parcels left in the City with specific zoning categories and felt perhaps the Site Plan: and Appearance Review Committee may need to be merged with the Planning and Zoning Commission. Councilman Kiselewski agreed and added that it is CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL WORKSHOP MEETING, 6/23/88 PAGE 5 40 that a project's arch;tecture and landscaping agree with surrounding pro - jects. Councilman Kiselewski stated the Zoning Board of Appeals should look more closely at what hardships petitioners are claiming, pointing out as an example the pole signs at Crossroads at Northlake shopping center, Councilman Kiselewski felt it was important that the boards work together and use the same philosophy. Mayor Feeney stated the board members had the sam^ ability to extract the same concessions from petitioners as the City Council does, and stated the City Council is totally behind the board members. Councilman Kiselewski requested the Code Enforcement Board needed to be less lenient with code violators and stated the City Council Is also supportive of this board. �ouncilwofiiar. Monroe felt it would be helpful if members of the advisory boards informed the City Council where the City codes may be inadequate. Councilman Aldred requested the boards qW to be fair with the petitioners, buc to be tough where necessary. Mr. Horner of the Site Plan and Appearance Review Committee stated his board needed new members, and that at times there is a problem getting a quorum. Mr. Horner further stated there is a difficulty in coordination with City staff, and pointed out projects have been turned down because there were no staff reports, with the City Engineer being the most fre- quent report missing. Mr. Horner stated it is difficult to make a responsible decision when all the information is not available. The City Manager stated he has requested the Site Plan and Appearance Review Committee to meet on a workshop basis first, then on a final deci- sion meeting. The City Manager stated engineering plans are preliminary. Vice Mayor Martino stated there is a checklist for Site P ar and Appearance Review Committee, and if the checklist is not complete, then the item does not get placed on the agenda. CTTY COUNCIL SPECIAL WORKSHOP MEETING, 6/23188 PAGE 5 CP The City Council recoranended the City purchase video equipment for use in the Council room. ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS Vice Mayor Martino stated the Zoning Board of Appeals is constituted sole- ly to gram variances. Vice Mayor Martino stated he could never conceive of granting a variance for a sign based on any type of hardship. Vice Mayor Martino requested the representative from the Zoning Board of Appez..s relay this message to that Board. CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD Vice Mayor Martino stated the Code Enforcement Board is beginning to func- tion and encouraged them to continue moving in a positive direction. Mr. Nowak of the Code Enforcement Board felt this Board was not being used to its full potential and also felt the City needed an additional Code Enforcement Officer. Mr. Nowak felt the proposed sign code should be passed before all the advisory boards for input. Councilman Kiselewski felt the City Attorney should be present at all advisory board meetings to protect the City's interests and to ensure nothing illegal is done by the boards. A discussion ensued re: imposing of fines against violators of the Code. The City Council requested the board review the ordinance and make recommendations to the City Council. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 10:15 P.M. nj ,L