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