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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Council 082472r WORKSHOP MEETING CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS AUGUST 24, 1972 The Workshop Meeting of the City Council was held on Thursday, August 24, 1972 at 10,500 N. Military Trail, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The meeting was called to order at 8 :00 P.M. by Mayor Wiley and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. ROLL CALL: Roll was called by the City Clerk and present were: Councilman Dunbar, Councilman DeLonga, Councilman Bonner, Vice Mayor Kiedis and Mayor Wiley. City Manager Robert Carlson and Attorney William Brant were present. MINUTES: Minutes of the Regular Meeting of August 17, 19729 as corrected, were unanimously approved on a motion by Councilman Dunbar seconded by Councilman Bonner. PRESENTATION OF Mayor Wiley assisted Mike Martino of the Youth Athletic Association TROPHIES TO GOLD MAST BIG LEAGUE in awarding trophies to 13 boys who were members of the Palm Beach BASEBALL TEAM: Gardens Gold Coast Big League Baseball Team, a new team introduced in the area this year for boys from 16 -18 years of age. Mr. Martino stated these boys were unique in that they played as one and were unselfish toward each other. He asked the Council for their continued cooperation in providing the facilities they need to carry on. Additional trophies were presented to seven of these boys who were selected for the All -Star Team and played in the Tournament in Orlando. Mr. Herb Faulconer, the baseball director for the 35 teams which i ncluded 450 boys was thanked by Mr. Martino for a fine job. A trophy was presented to the sponsor of the team,Louts Hoagies, and was received by Mrs. Charles Borcher. PLAQUE TO JILL Mayor Wiley presented a plaque to Jill Denoff, Recreation Supervisor, �,,.. DENOFF: who is leaving the area, and expressed the Council's appreciation for her excellent work. Workshop Meeting, August 24, 1972 Page 2 STATEMENT BY Mayor Wiley, with the concurrence of the City Council, read a MAYOR WILEY: statement in response to an article in the Post Times on August 24, 1972 regarding complaints by three ex-policemen of policies used by the Chief of Police. In the statement he announced that the City Council has every confidence in its Chief of Police, the City is well protected by a force of dedicated, well disciplined men under the capable leadership of Chief Herb Pecht, and it was an administrative matter and would be concluded as such. REPORTS: Attorney Brant reported that the owners of the Cabana Colony Pool LEASING CABANA have a potential purchaser and would like to break off negotiations COLONY POOL: for a lease for the time being. If the sale does not materialize Mr. Hiss will submit a lease agreement for the Councils consideration STATUS OF Mr, John Collins, 397 Lighthouse Drive, representing a group of LIGHTHOUSE DRIVE IMPROVEMENTS: residents from the Lighthouse Drive area, presented a petition signed by 75 residents, of which less than one -half live on Lighthouse Drive; asking the City Council to discontinue plans for the widening of Lighthouse Drive between the Railroad tracks west to the bridge at the Thompson River. Mayor Wiley explained the request for Lighthouse Drive improvements had started from a recommendation made by the Planning and Zoning Commission a year ago. He said that Lighthouse Drive is the only street in the City that is substandard in width, and the Council is considering the widening to make it safer for pedestrian and bicycle traffic as it is a feeder road to the school. City Manager Robert Carlson stated the field work and plans and specifications were completed by the City Engineer and would be ready for review by the City Council at the next meeting. Fred Cunningham, Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission outlined the list of 7 items recommended by the Commission, including the item under discussion to widen the present 20' street to 30' Workshop Meeting, August 24, 1972 Page 3 adding 51 on each side. Councilman Dunbar reported there have been 8 accidents on Lighthouse Drive since the first of the year. Chief Pecht agreed that the speed was too fast for that portion of Lighthouse Drive especially at the curve, but the 30 mile speed limit complies with the State. Most of the residents who spoke agreed that speed was the problem and that widening of the street would not solve it but would invite more speeders and more traffic to the area. They definitely wanted t he speed limit reduced. in conclusion Mayor Wiley suggested that the City Council consider putting a sidewalk on the south side and widen the street 5' on the north side. The residents, by a show of hands, agreed they would rather have a sidewalk than to have the street widened. The Council concurred that something would be done to improve the situation and the residents will be notified when action will be taken. TRAFFIC CONTROL Attorney Brant, as instructed by the City Council, gave his legal DEVICES: interpretation of an opinion submitted by the County regarding their jurisdiction over traffic control devices in Municipalities, saying the opinion was based on Chapter 316 of the Florida Statutes Uniform Traffic Control Law which became effective January 1, 1972 resting in the City itself, jurisdiction over all streets and highways within the City pertaining only to traffic control and regulations. He used Burns Road as an example where jurisdiction would rest with the City. NEWSLETTER: Mayor Wiley announced the Newsletter would be mailed this week -end. ADULT EDUCATION Councilman DeLonga announced the Adult Education Division of the School Board has approved and submitted a list of courses that will be taught in the adult education program at Palm Beach Gardens High School in the evenings beginning on September 19, 1972. The list of courses offered will be printed in the Newsletter. Workshop Meeting, August 24, 1972 Page 4 CENTRAL FIRE Mayor Wiley reported tta t Central Fire Station construction will be STATION: delayed 3 weeks due to a late delivery of roof mounted fans. PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS: LETTER FROM A communication expressing thanks to the Police Department was read MRS. FREEMAN: by Mayor Wiley who asked Chief Pecht to relay the message to his men. SCHWAS AND A communication from Schwab and Twitty, Architects, was read by Mayor TWITTY: Wiley advising of a slight increase in cost due to lowering the ceiling in the Central Fire Station. This cost will be covered out of the Architects Contingency Fund. BEAUTIFICATION Mrs. Lorraine Comstock, member of the Beautification and AL Environmental Committee, briefly reviewed an ordinance prepared by the Florida Nurserymans and Growers Association and recommended its adoption by the City Council. The City Council accepted the recommendation and will schedule it to be discussed at a workshop meeting along with the s4gn ordinance. Mr. Robert Schlaudecker, Chairman of the Beautification and Environmental Committee explained and recommended a proposed ordinance for control of visible emissions making it a violation for any vehicle to omit a visible emission for longer than 5 seconds. RECOMMENDATION Mayor Wiley acknowledged a communication from the Planning and Zoning FROM PLANNING & ZONING BOARD: Commission recommending the City employ a traffic engineering firm to make studies regarding traffic problems in the City, in particular the Publix Shopping Center. City Manager was directed by the Council to explore the possibility of obtaining the services of the County Traffic Engineer to assist the City in this matter. NOTICE OF PUBLIC Discussion was held on the notice of public hearing by the Palm HEARING PALM BEACH COUNTY ZONING: Beach County Zoning Commission regarding a request for change of zoning from R -1 single family to limited commercial use on property located in the County within 3001 of property located in the City. City Manager Robert Carlson was directed by the Council to advise Workshop Meeting, August 240 1972 Page 5 the County they had no objection to the request. JOINT MEETING Mayor Wiley acknowledged receipt of a letter from the Town of Lake COUNCILS OF `-' PARK AND NORTH Park regarding the agenda for the joint meeting of City Councils from PALM BEACH. Lake Park, North Palm Beach and Palm Beach Gardens to be held August 30, 1972 at 7:30 P.M, at the Lake Park Town Hall to discuss areas they can mutually cooperate with each other. Of the 13 items submitted by the Palm Beach Gardens City Council only 4 of them appeared on the agenda, namely, solid waste disposal, water sewage treatment, boundaries and drug abuse prevention. It was the consensus of the Council to ask consideration at the time or the meeting that the items they proposed be brought up if time permits, and to establish at the onset of the meeting what an appropriate t ime of adjournment would be. YMCA: MJWING A communication from the YMCA was read by Mayor Wiley requesting that OF LOTS: the City consider mowing their grounds which consists of 8 acres. A discussion by the Council revealed that the City now has a greater mowing task than it can handle, and agreed that lot mowing should not be a project for the City except -to comply with the weed and trash ordinance when the property owner does not voluntarily maintain his vacant lot to the 18" limit, the City will mow it and bill the owner. City Manager Robert Carlson and Public Works Director Leonard Devine both recommended to the Council that the City not mow the YMCA lots. Motion made by Councilman Bonner, seconded by Vice Mayor Kiedis and unanimously carried that the City Manager answer the letter to YMCA in the negative with appropriate reasons of the lack of man power and time, and suggest they contact a Civic Organization and ask for assistance. a SPECIAL ELECTION: Announcement of Special Election on October 3, 1972 was made by v Mayor Wiley and of the filing dates for candidates between August 28, 1972 and September 12, 1972. Workshop Meeting, August 24, 1972 Page b COUNCILMAN BONNER Councilman George A. Bonner, appointed by the Council to fill the NOT TO SEEK ELECTION: vacancy by the resignation of Councilman Orr, announced that he would not seek election for the reason that it required a considerable amount of time, and at this time he could not do the job justice. He highly recommended that interested people file. Mayor Wiley thanked Mr. Bonner for consenting to serve the interim term. PLAQUE TO MR. John L. Orr, former Councilman, was given a plaque by the City JOHN L. ORR : Council for outstanding service to the Community as a member of the City Council and the Merit System Bcard. PICTURE OF Councilman James DeLonga was requested by the Council, by the next COUNCILMAN DELONGA; meeting, to add his picture to the group of hx- mayors displayed on the wall of the Assembly Room. RESOLUTIONS: Mayor Wiley acknowledged receipt of a plot plan from Mr. Al Davis, MOBILE HOME AT FIRST CHURCH OF Chairman of the Church trustees of the First Church of God, showing .� GOD: the proposed location of a trailer to be placed in the rear of the Church to be used as a temporary class room. A resolution granting permission for the use of this trailer will be read at the next regular meeting of the City Council. The City Clerk was directed to notify the homeowners within 200' of the church property. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION BY CITY MANAGER AND CITY CLERK: EMPLOYMENT OF City Manager Robert Carlson advised that an ad had been placed in RECREATION SUP VI OR: the newspaper to receive applications for a Recreation Supervisor. The Council discussed the possibility of a higher starting salary for this position to attract more experienced and qualified people. The Council decided to defer on a decision until budget time and after interviews had been conducted to determine a suitable salary. PLANT DRIVE City Manager Robert Carlson reported one written and 2 verbal '•' LIGHTING PROJECT: estimates had been received for the erection and wiring of the concrete poles at the Plant Drive Ball Park. The City Council Workshop Meeting, August 24, 1972 Page 7 decided to call a Special Meeting to take action on the project and approve the lowest estimate. TEMPORARY SERVICE The City Manager Robert Carlson reported the Florida Power and Light PLANT DRIVE: Company will not give temporary service at Plant Drive Park, until a new transformer was obtained, as it would mean running a complete new service and would be too costly to both the Company and the City. REPORT OF The City Manager presented to the City Council reports on the VARIOUS ACCOUNTS: condition of the Capital Account, the Contingency Account and the General Fund projected to the end of the fiscal year. He stated he would be ready to present the budget to the Council by Wednesday. BUDGET It was decided by the City Council to have a Budget Workshop on WORKSHOP: Thursday, August 31, 1972 at 7:30 P.M. PRESENTATION OF Mr. E. B. Shearin, past president of the Volunteer Fire Department, TITLE TO WATER presented the City Council with the title to a Chevy truck, which the volunteers had converted by many hours of labor, to a 1000 gallon v capacity water tanker. Motion by Vice Mayor Kiedis, seconded by Councilman DeLonga to formerly accept the title to the 1000 gallon water tanker Chevrolet Truck from the Palm Beach Gardens Volunteer Fire Department. Motion unanimously carried. Mayor Wiley asked Mr. Shearin to convey to those who participated in this project, the thanks of the City Council for their interest in doing something for the City and appreciation for presenting the title to the City Council. ITEMS BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL: SIDEWALKS ON In answer to Councilman Dunbar's inquiry regarding the status of the MILITARY TRAIL: sidewalks on Military Trail, City Manager Robert Carlson reported he and Chief Pecht, Mr. Williams and Mr. Spears had attended a meeting with Mr. Brown, School Board Director of Transportation and were Workshop Meeting, August 24, 1972 Page 8 informed there was a delay in building the sidewalks on the west side of Military Trail to Holly Drive. The County will furnish Mr. Brown with a letter of commitment that they will build the sidewalks, and if they are not built prior to the next School Board Meeting, Mr. Brown will go before the Board,in behalf of the residents of the PGA #1 area,to get permission to furnish bus service until such time the sidewalks are completed. In the meantime the City will provide a crossing guard at Burns Road. The City Manager was directed by the Council to write to the Chairman of the School Board to consider a Special Meeting or a poll of the members, whatever authorization is necessary, to offer bus service until the sidewalks are built. The Council also directed the City Manager to send letters,with copies to Commissioner Culpepper, to the appropriate agencies involved expressing concern by the City Council for the children of this area. ADJOURNMENT. No further business and meeting adjourned on a motion by Councilman Dunbar, seconded by Councilman DeLonga. Time for the record 10:41 P.M. \� � � � �' �' �1&tl Mayor Walter Wiley k LP vig /c :Mayor John Kiedis 4/ Alice Jet5 Kersla e, City Clerk ;ilman DeLon`ga 1 /Councilman Dunbar Councilman Bonner