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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Council 091478r: r �, LL CALL: ANNOUNCEMENTS: WORKSHOP MEETING CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS SEPTEMBER 14, 1978 The Workshop Meeting of the City Council of Palm Beach Gardens was called to order by Mayor Kiedis at 8:00 P.M. in the Assembly Room, 10500 North Military Trail, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. The roll was called by the City Clerk and present were: Mayor Kiedis, Vice Mayor Laurie, Councilman. Martino and Councilman. Aldred. Councilman Feeney was absent. Attorney Brant was in attendance. Ihe Minutes of the Regular Meeting of September 7, 1978 were unanimously approved as written. Mayor Kiedis announced there would be a meeting of the PBGYAA Board of Directors on Septe ber 19, 1978 at 8:00 P.M. in the conference room. CANTS FROM THE PUBLIC FOR ITN NOT ON TlI 0GENDA: Sam Carsillo spoke from the audience regarding the articles in the newspaper about abolishing the Police Department and contracting for police protection with the Sheriff's Department, and urged the Council to keep the Police Department and stay with the PBA. Other members of the audience addressed the Council expressing that they did not want to lose the Police Department add asked that it be put to a referendum vote of the residents. Paul Patti, a police officer with the City, told the Council they would not receive the same service from the Sheriff's Department, and all the officers were asking was a salary equal to those in the surrounding municipalities. The City Manager, John L. Orr and the Council members assured the audience that they were exploring,with a thorough study of the advantages and disadvantages, the proposed change for police protection with the Workshop Meeting, September 14, 1978 Sheriff's Department. Page 2 Councilman Martino stated that the problem arose with the advent of the negotiations and the unionization in the area when North Palm Beach and lake Park renegotiated their contracts prior to the City which enabled those patrolmen to garner more money. He further said that the Council had no gripes with any union, that the negotiations are part of the City Manager's job and part of the Council's job on the residents behalf. He also is concerned about duplication of the tax revenues and services, but something as drastic in nature as this would not happen in a 3 week period. Councilman Aldred stated he didn't know this service was available from the Sheriff's Department until last week, but in order to make an informed decision as to what to do, the Council has to know what the alternatives are. Vice Mayor Laurie felt that the job of the Council was to protect the health, welfare and safety of the citizens of Palm Beach Gardens and it was his desire that the negotiators get with the City Manager at the bargaining table. He stated he had a very high regard for the Police Department and felt they were a very professional force and that the Council would not take any drastic measures. Mayor Kiedis urged the citizens to trust the Council, that they were seeking information and would keep them drell informed as to what is happening. BEAUTIFICATION Mrs. Linda Monroe, a member of the B&E Committee, presented a sketch T MT IAN STRIP: ' of a typical half of a median strip on PGA Blvd., showing a proposed landscape plan including plants, sod and sprinkler system, for a cost of approximately $4,000.00. She explained that the B&E Committee will request that the City finance one portion of the median landscaping with the idea that as businesses develop along PGA Blvd., they will continue and finance the remaining portion. She will obtain the exact cost of a sprinkler system, etc. for a formal request at the September 21, 1978 Workshop '4ceting, September 14, 1978 Page 3 Council meeting. Mayor Kiedis cautioned Mrs. Monroe that they will first have to obtain permission from the State relative to installing a sprinkler system, cutt-ing the road, etc. Councilman Aldred, Council liaison to the BE Committee, expounded on Mrs. Monroe's comments, asking the Council to consider this request and use some of the unallocated funds to start this project. Mayor Kiedis expressed no objection to using money from the Contingency Fund for this project, but suggested that the Plat 4 median strip be beautified where it would benefit the residents residing there, Lather than doing an undeveloped area. PROCLAMATIONS: Mayor Kiedis read a Proclamation declaring the week of September 17 --23, 1978 as Constitution Week. RESOLUTIONS: City Manager, John L. Orr, presented the Council with a Resolution prepared INTERIM by the City Attorney increasing the Interim Service Fee, which will be SERVICE 1,'m; : considered at the Regular Meeting on September 21, 1978. ORDINANCES: Ordinance 23, 1978 rezoning lands in Section 1 -42-42 from R -1 to C -1, ORDINANCE 23, lands located west of North Military Trail, north of PGA Blvd. was workshopped by the Council. Mr. Bob Rousseau from Royal American Realty was present stating that they had no particular long range plan for the area, however fhe parcel was wedged in between the existing commercial property and Carden Lakes and lends itself to commerical zoning. Mr. Philip Crannell, Gee and Jensen, Engineers, added that they envision a development tread for a single professional commercial center or not more than 2 or 3 separate centers, greatly reducing the access points, and providing a greater set back with more landscaping. Ordinance 23, 1978 will be read on Second Reading with a Public Hearing on September 21, 1978. ORDINANCE 25, Ordinance 25, 1978 modification to Ordinance 7, 1969, PUD knmi, as 1978: Workshop Meeting, September 14, 1978 Page 4 Tanglewood Shopping Center to allow an addition to the north side of the building, presently occupied by the Abbey Road Restaurant, was workshopped by the Council. Don Small, Architect showed a site plan of the proposed addition explaining they intend to expand the building 6 feet to the north, by adding a new front, however they do not plan any additional seating capacity or parking space. Mayor Kiedis suggested that the 6 foot median strip in the center of the parking lot be landscaped with sod, shrubbery and trees with a sprinkler system. The Council concurred with this suggestion, and Mr. Small agreed to contact the owners with this request and dial not consider it a problem. Ordinance 25, 1978 will be read on second reading with a Public Hearing on October 5, 1978. ORDINANCE 24, Ordinance 24, 1978, the Budget for the Fiscal Year 1978 -79 was workshopped by the Council. Mayor Kiedis presented the Council with figures regarding the cost of the Tri -City Animal Control Program, resulting in a cost of $45.76 for every animal that was picked up, and he recommended dropping out of the program. A poll of the Council revealed that Councilman Aldred, Councilman Martino and Vice Mayor Laurie voted to leave the amount earmarked for this program in the Budget for 1978-79, but to review it during the year with the idea of excluding it from the Budget next year. , Ccuncilman Aldred suggested that the Police Department turn more of the complaint calls over to the Animal Warden, and to also determine why she is unavailable at times. Vice Mayor Laurie proposed that the millage of 5.663 be maintained and the additional monies generated be earmarked for a coujim pity center. He stated that the Seniors and younger citizens,that he had talked to, were in favor of this. Mayor Kiedis, Councilman Aldred and Councilman Martino a&eed this item Workshop Meeting, September 14, 1978 Page S should be put before the citizens on a referendum vote; to arrive at a cost for a ccuaminity center in the meantime, and add 1--12 mills to the mi.11age for this purpose until the building is paid for. Councilman Martino related to the Council the thoughts of Ken Staggs, Chairman of the Recreation Advisory Board, that he is wholly in favor of Vice Mayor Laurie's suggestion. Vice Mayor Laurie was asked by the Council to take over the project by obtaining sketches of a proposed building. Vice Mayor Laurie suggested using $5,000 from the contingency fund toward architectural drawings and renderings. Vice Mayor Laurie suggested an increase in the salary of the Director of Recreation to $13,500, and by a vote of 3 to 1 this change will be made in the Budget. Vice Mayor Laurie suggested in increase in the salary of the Chief of Police to $17,830, and by a 2 to 2 vote, the salary will remain the same. The Council concurred to set the millage at 5.286 for the Fiscal Year 1978 -79. REPOTS: Councilman Aldred reported he had attended the B&E Conmittee Meeting held September 13, 1978. Vice Msy�r Laurie reported he had attended &.e P &Z Commission Meeting held September 12, 1978." ITS FOR DISCUSSION: UPDATING THE Discussion on the updating of the Zoning Codes was postponed until a ZMTG- MM: full Council was present. ITEMS BY THE CITY MANAGER: ECn1N MANUFACTUR- The City Manager, John L. Orr reported that the P &Z Commission did not TNG SUIT: rescind the conditional use on the request of the Echlin Manufacturing Company for the zoning use of corporate office headquarters on lands located within Section 12--42 -42. He reiterated that the conditional use Workshop Meeting„ September 14, 1978 Page b was granted for a corporate office, and if the Council sticks to the original concept that a conditional use is a rezoning classification, it can only be used for a corporate office which makes it impossible for the property to be sold. He recom ended that the conditional use be rescinded and the property returned to the R -3 classification. Tie Council agreed that the vote taken at the Regular Meeting on September 7, 1978 authorizing the City Attorney to make a settlement with Echlin Manufacturing Company as per the stipulation and return the property to R -3, be initiated. Vice Mayor Laurie, who made the dissenting vote not to rescind the use, stated he had no objection, in light of the $200,000 suit, and would go along with the majority of the Council to authorize the Mayor-to sign the the stipulation, prepared by Attorney Brant, regarding the suit with Echlin Manufacturing Company, and that it be dropped with prejudice. SHERIFF'S DEPT. The Council.unanimously concurred and directed the City Manager to GTION: continue and pursue with the Sheriff's Department, and to explore all avenues relative to police protection by that Department. ITEMS BY MAYOR AND COUNCIL: Councilman Martino expressed concern and asked for an explanation on two items in the minutes of the September 7th meeting: one that the Council authorized the 2 ball fields on the 10 acre parcel be open to the public, and the other that the Council had voted to curb the radii of the Holly Drive median with concrete. He was of the opinion that the ball fields cannot be used for softball and doing so would ruin them, and that the Council had previously decided to do the curbing of the Holly Drive median strips with asphalt and had so indicated in the proposed Federal Revenue Sharing report. Vice Mayor Laurie stated that the curbing of the median strip on Holly Drive was not his top priority. Vice Mayor Laurie asked that the Hetzel pageant people be contacted Workshop Meeting, Septenber 14, 1978 Page 7 relative to the removal of the buildings on the property at the entrance to the City, when they are not in use, and that a letter be written to �. the persons who wanted the name of Catalpha Street in Plat 4 to be changed. ADJOURNMENT: No further business, the meeting adjourned at 11:05 P.M. Mayor Kied.s Councilman Martino Vice Mayor Laurie Councilman Feeney ti Councilman Aldred t Clem �'� y