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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Council 111678CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS NOVEMBER 16, 1978 The Regular Meeting of the City Council of Palm Beach Gardens was called to order by Mayor John 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. ROLL CALL: The roll was called by the Deputy City Clerk and present were: Mayor Kiedis, Vice Mayor Laurie, Councilman Martino, Councilman Aldred, and Councilman Feeney. Attorney George Baldwin and City Manager John Orr were also in attendance. ANNOUNCEMENTS: Mayor Kiedis made the following announcements: A meeting of the "701" Citizens Advisory Committee will take place on Tuesday, November 20, 1978, at 7:30 P.M.. The Municipal Administrative Offices will be closed on Thursday, November 23, and Friday, November 24, in observance of "Thanksgiving ". COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA: HENRY SKOKOWSKI The duly advertised Public Hearing and consideration of final reading of ORDINANCE 11, Ordinance 11, 1978, rezoning parcels of land from R -5, Mobile Home Resi- T977- dential District, to R -3C, Medium Density Residential, and C -2, General Commercial, was recessed by the Council at their Regular Meeting of June 15, 1978, until December 7, 1978, per the request of the petitioner, Mr. David Hendel of H.G.G.S. Associates, enabling him to prepare plans for a PUD zoning request. Mr. Henry Skokowski, President of Urban Design Studio, addressed the Council representing Mr. Hendel requesting a 90 -day extension for the t submittal of the plans for the Planned Unit Development, adding that Mr. Hendel will provide the City a letter stating that he would not do any- thing with the property until after that date. City Council Regular Meeting, 11/16/78 Page 2 If was the consensus of the Council that they didn't have any objections to the 90 -day extension requested. RESO''LUTIONS: Resolution 60, 1978, authorizing persons to sign and counter -sign checks RESOLUTION 60, and access to safety depository boxes, was read in full by the Deputy i9l/u City Clerk by a unanimous vote of the Council. Resolution 60, 1978, was unanimously adopted by the Council. ORDINANCES: Ordinance 31, 1978, prohibiting commercial ORDINANCE 312 streets of the City except for deliveries, T97U-- City Clerk on first reading by a unanimous 31, 1978, will be further workshopped at a a Public Hearing and consideration of secoi Regular Meeting of December 21, 1978. vehicles from residential was read in full by the Deputy vote of the Council. Ordinance meeting in December, prior to id reading to take place at the ORDINANCE 32, Ordinance 32, 1978, prohibiting the parking of vehicles in road rights - T97U- of -way (swale /drainage areas), was read in full by the Deputy City Clerk on first reading by a unanimous vote of the Council. Ordinance 32, 1978, will be further workshopped at a meeting in December, prior to a Public Hearing and consideration of second reading to take place at the Regular Meeting of December 21, 1978. ORDINANCE 33, Ordinance 33, 1978, providing for a "bonus" in density within a Planned T 7 - Unit Development, was read in full by the Deputy City Clerk on first reading by a unanimous vote of the Council. A Public Hearing and consider- ation of second reading of Ordinance 33, 1978, will take place at the Regular Meeting of December 7, 1978. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION: EMPLOYEE BENS- At the City Council Workshop Meeting of November 9, 1978, Councilman 7[J!°7TTTET` C Aldred proposed an "Employee Benefit Steering Committee" of the City, which was favorably received by the audience and has generated letters from residents requesting its immediate implementation. At that meeting, the Council recognized the proposal; and a majority of the Council felt it required additional study. Mayor Kiedis offered that since that meeting the City Council has given the proposal considerable thought; and with the guidance of the City's legal staff they have prepared statements, which he read for the benefit of the audience, as follows: City Council Regular Meeting, 11/16/78 Page 3 "The City of Palm Beach Gardens is under certain legal constraints, statutes, and regulations that govern our activities. The City Officials will continue and must in accordance with Florida Statutes observe and abide by the rules and regulations set forth for proper negotiations between public employers and recognized bargaining units. The elected officials of the City of Palm Beach Gardens are charged with the responsi- bility of adhering to the legislative mandates of the State of Florida. The officials of Palm Beach Gardens will not interfere in any manner with the rights of any employees to seek affiliation with a recognized bargaining unit or of that bargaining unit to represent and negotiate on behalf of their membership. The City Council and the administration are prepared to negotiate t.ith any properly certified bargaining unit as stipulated in the Florida Statutes which constitute the laws of the State of Florida. The City Council of Palm Beach Gardens is further charged with the responsibility of providing for the salaries and benefits of all employees. We recognize this responsibility to the employees and to the trust placed upon us by the taxpayers of the City to ensure that their supporting tax dollars receive the fullest measure of professional performance. To achieve this end, we shall continually strive to ensure that all employees are treated fairly and that alternative measures are examined closely for the benefit of employees and residents. In so doing, however, it must be clearly empha- sized that the elected officials and the administration will always abide by the laws of the State of Florida and not become participants in any citizens movement, however perceived, that violates any legal restraints." For the benefit of those present, Councilman Aldred read a statement he prepared regarding his proposals for the Fmployee Benefit Steering Committee and Quarterly Employee Meetings as follows: "On Thursday, November 9, 1978, 1 presented two proposals to the City Council. The Council members elected to take these matters under consider- ation for study, before acting upon them. This approach is, in my estima- tion, a very wise one for the Council to take. Any proposals for change, regardless of how appealing they may at first glance appear, must undergo careful examination before they are considered for adoption. Consideration must be given to the effect of proposals on existing governmental systems as well as any possible future effects. Care must be given, to be certain that any proposal adopted will be truly beneficial to the conduct of City government and equitable for all persons who may be affected by them. City Council Regular Meeting, 11/16/78 Page 4 As to the first proposal, labelled an "Employee Benefit Steering Committee ", I shall state once again, that its purpose is to provide the Council with additional, objective data for consideration in setting the City's budget. While its proposed organization-is designed to encourage fresh, new ideas and input into the established governmental process, it was not intended, is not to be used, nor will it be allowed to, in any way, affect the right of any employee or any group of employees from selecting the bargaining unit of his or her choice, I will, and feel certain the other Council members will join with me in protecting and defending the right of these employee units to select whatever representatives they feel will best serve their needs. As to the second proposal, the "Quarterly Employee Meetings ", it is a variation of a technique previously used by the City, which I wish to see reimplemented. In my case, it is designed to serve my need to know the City's employees. Since I work full time, as do the other Council members, it is difficult for me to get to know the City's employees in any other manner. Once again, it is necessary to state that a mature, objective approach to �. these proposals is necessary. Emotional "over- reaction" is to be avoided at all costs, because it usually results in someone's significant disad- vantage. One of the reasons we have rules, which admittedly seem laborious and time consuming, is to protect the rights of all persons who may be affected by adopted legislation. The best results are achieved in those situations where open and reasonable dialogue is maintained. In making the proposals, I did not view them as "stop -gap" or temporary measures. Rather, I look upon them as long -range measures, beneficial to the City over the next 25 years, as the City grows. I have every intention of pursuing the adoption of these proposals, but will pursue them in an atmosphere of care and thoughtful reflection, working within our established governmental system. Finally, as was stated last Thursday, the proposals presented were not, are not, and will not be ultimate solutions in and of themselves. They instead represent, only, a framework within which open, honest, and mature dialogue can be maintained. Anyone who states or infers otherwise, does ` so at his or her own risk." City Council Regular Meeting, 11/16/78 Page 5 Councilman Feeney offered that he had examined Mr. Aldred's proposals and was personally in total agreement with them. Vice Mayor Laurie conveyed that he personally was opposed to adding another committee to the established governmental process of the City. However, he would not be adverse to adding an employee(s) to the City's existing Merit System Board. Mr. Gordon Hunter of 4388 Elm Avenue, PBG, presented the Council a 656 - signature petition stating "We the undersigned residents of the City of Palm Beach Gardens are against the contract with the Palm Beach County Sheriffs Department or the abolishment of the City Police Department. We support the Palm Beach Gardens' Police." Discussion and comments from members of the audience followed. A majority of the other members of the Council concurred with Councilman Feeney's recommendation that Councilman Aldred, City Attorney William Brant, and City Manager John Orr prepare a draft of a Resolution creating the Employee Benefit Steering Committee for the Council's consideration at a future workshop meeting. Councilman Martino suggested that during the preparation of the Resolution the elements contained within the proposal that conflict with the City's Charter and Merit System Ordinance be taken into consideration; and some consideration be given to the City Administration. Councilman Feeney announced that a Special Meeting of the Council has been scheduled to take place Thursday, November 30, 1978, for the purpose of the Council discussing with Mr. Richard Wille, Palm Beach County Sheriff, the proposed Law Enforcement Services Agreement between the City and his department. The members of the audience were assured that there would be public meetings before any decision is made by the Council on the future of the City's Police Department. Councilman Aldred acknowledged a notice posted in the City's Police Depart- ment, which was authored by Patrolman Ken Riley and signed by ten ether members of the Police Department, stating "Councilman Aldred outlined an 'Employee Benefit' proposal on 11 -9 -78 which would be used to the advantage of all City employees when properly implemented. It seems that this pro - posal could be worthy of consideration by us, no matter what union affili- ation our department decides to agree upon. I would be interested in listen- ing to Mr. Aldred elaborate on this matter - anyone else ? ". The Council City Council Regular Meeting, 11/16/7B Page 6 felt this was not in the best interest of the City since it violates the intent of the Sunshine Law and could possibly subject the City to an unfair labor practice. CURBING OF By a vote of 3 -2, the Council authorized the placement of asphalt curbing H.7LY around the medians on Holly Drive, to be substituted with concrete at the intersections; monies to be taken from Federal Revenue Sharing Funds. Mayor Kiedis, Councilman Feeney, and Councilman Martino voted aye; Vice Mayor Laurie and Councilman Aldred voted nay. P9GHS GIRLS The Council authorized the PBGHS Girls Softball Team permission to utilize TAT- the: Plant Drive field for regularly scheduled games and the Burns Road y field for practice games. The Public Works Department will be requested to prepare an area for Soccer practice at Lake Catherine. The Recreation Director will be requested to coordinate the games. PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS: CHARLES WAL- Vice Mayor Laurie acknowledged receipt of a communication from Mr. Charles RIB. 7OUNTY R. Walker, Director of the P. B. County Traffic Division, advising that TtArFIC,DIV. they intend to place the traffic signal at the intersection of Burns Road and Military Trail in full operation in the near future. The City Manager 1 was requested to obtain from the department traffic counts for the inter- sections of Military Trail and Holly Drive and Military Trail and Burns Road; and ascertain whether or not the lights could be functional during certain hours and flashing the rest of the time. JOYCE HIL- Mayor Kiedis acknowledged receipt of a communication dated November 6, 1978, DTE777E. RED from Joyce P. Hildreth, Chairman of the Medical- Dental Wives of the N. P. ffRCOURS Beaches, Inc. re: Heart Parcours; and advised that he relayed to her and Mrs. Virginia McVey, Chairman of the P. B. County Chapter of the Heart Assoc., that the Public Works Department will be starting the program for the installation of the exercise stations as time /workload allows. D. STEWART Mayor Kiedis acknowledged receipt of a communication from Mr. D. Stewart BR77__ Barg, 4271 Althea Way, PBG, requesting appointment to an advisory committee of the City. REPORTS: Councilman Aldred, liaison to the City's Beautification and Environmental PLANTS Committee, was requested to advise the Committee the plants located at READY FOR the Public Works Department are in readiness for installation upon their 11UN selection of a sate. City Council Regular Meeting, 11/16/78 Page 7 COUNCILMAN Councilman Martina reported he had talked to Mr. Luke Thornton, PBGHS MARTI' Principal, re: the landscaping of the school grounds along Holly Drive; LANDSCAPING OF and he is willing to assist the City in this effort. Mr. DiVosta's land- ' P G DS scaper will be requested to provide the City cost figures in purchasing trees similar to those in his development, Garden Lakes /Square, for the school grounds; and Arthur Nelson will be requested to provide a cost figure for a landscape plan for that area. ITEMS BY CITY MANAGER: ANNEX. OF LANDS City Manager John Orr reported that first reading of Ordinance #21, 1978, OF PGA RESQR annexing �IFfD1�'!TY- the lands of the proposed FGA Resort Community, has been scheduled L'€i1 to take place at the Council's Regular Meeting of December 7, 1978; and the Public Hearing and consideration of second reading of Ordinance X621, 1978, has been scheduled to take place at the Regular Meeting of December 21, 1978. ADJOURNMENT: With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10:00 P.M.. MAYOR KIEDIS COUNCILMAN ALDRED VICE MAYOR LAURIE COUNCILMAN FEENEY COUNCILMAN MARTINO CITY CLERK