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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Council 101272WORKSHOP MEETING CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS OCTOBER 12, 1972 The Workshop Meeting of the City Council of Palm Beach Gardens was called to order by Mayor Wiley at 8:00 P.M. Thursday, October 12, 1972 in the Assembly Room, 10500 N. Military Trail. The meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. ROLL CALL: The roll was called by the City Clerk and present were: Councilman Dunbar, Councilman Martino, Councilman DeLonga, Vice Mayor Kiedis and Mayor Wiley. City Manager Robert Carlson and Attorney William Brant were also present. INTRODUCTION: Recreation Director Woodrow Dukes introduced Ed Higy, the new Recreation Supervisor. MINUTES. Minutes of the Special Meeting of October 5, 1972 were read by the City Clerk and approved on a motion by Councilman Dunbar, seconded by Council. man DeLonga. Minutes of the Regular Meeting of October 5, 1972 were approved, as corrected, on a motion by Councilman Martino, seconded by Councilman Dunbar REPORTS: Mr. Thomas Gilchrist, Vice President of the Palm Beach Cable TV Company made a progress report to the City Council. He first reviewed the report CABLE TV: of trouble calls for the month of August, that had been submitted to the Council and tabled to this meeting. He reported the Company has 6000 subscribers with 1265 customers in Palm Beach Gardens and has had a rough summer due to cable cuts, blown transistors and trouble with lightnin Due to the many complaints regarding the answering service, dispatchers are now on duty from 8 A.M. to 9 P.M. with additional technicans on call after hours. The Company is working on local programming and have decided on the equipment they plan to use after working on the engineering problems for the past five months. A specific complaint was expressed by Mr. Richard Carsillo, a resident, who stated he was without Cable for 36 hours last month and was assured by Mr. Gilchrist that they would check into his problem. Mayor Wiley concluded that Mr. Gilchrist had covered the three Workshop Meeting, October 12, 1972 Page 2 items of concern by the Council and the residents - the quality of the service, the expanded services covering local events and the answering of complaints. CENTRAL Mayor Wiley reported that he had been informed by Mr. Twitty, Architect, FIRE STATION: that although progress seems slow on the Central Fire Station, the outside and interior of the building are painted, the fixtures are in and the building should be ready for occupancy by the end of October. MEETINGS- Mayor Wiley announced the Councilmen assigned to meet with the Planning and ADVISORY BOARDS; Zoning Board and the Recreation Advisory Board on Tuesday, October 10, 1972 were unable to attend because of another meeting the Council attended. B. & E. Councilman Martino reported he had met with the Beautification and BOARD: Environmental Committee on Wednesday, October 11, 1972, and they have purchased 1000 shrubs and trees with the $350.00 alioted them by the Council. Plants were donated for the City Hall and planted this date; the City was asked to prepare a proclamation declaring Earth Awareness Week- November 25th - December 2nd; they have proposed a resolution to the Council not to lift the moratorium; are considering some type of sculpture, for the City Hall grounds; requested name tags for the Board members and requested an outside source make a lab test of the City Water as it comes from the tap. Mayor Wiley suggested notifying the Council if the Board seem to 1-lave an attendance problem and they will obtain replacements. PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS: CAVANAGH A letter from Mr. Bob Towk, Cavanagh Land Sales Corp. was acknowledged by LAND SALES CORP: Mayor Wiley, requesting the extension of the provisions of Resolution #38, 1971 granting the use of a mobile home trailer located at the Northwest corner of U.S. #1 and PGA Blvd. The City Manager explained the original authorization for a trailer was made by Resolution #34, 1969 to Palm Beach Investment Properties, Inc. and was extended in October, 1971 for one year on the companies guarantee that they were negotiating for the purchase of Workshop Meeting, October 12, 1972 Page 3 land to construct a permanent building. Mr. Towk stated they have kept the trailer in good order with paint and landscaping and intend to build in the future but would have to contact the Miami office regarding their intention Mayor Wiley stated the City has taken a policy of allowing a trailer temporarily contingent upon obtaining a building permit and took a poll of the Council which resulted in placing the resolution for consideration on the agenda for the next Regular Meeting, leaving the appropriate dates blank. Mayor Wiley acknowledged receipt of the following communications: STATE OF FLA.1. Letter from State of Florida Commission on Local Government in response COMMISSION ON LOCAL to the letter sent to Senator Phil Lewis regarding the inequities of the GOVERNMENT: population used as a basis for revenue sharing. The City Manager was directed to prepare data including the number of voters, number of school age children, number of utility connections etc, to convince the State officials we have a larger population. RECREATION 2. Letter from Recreation Advisory Board endorsing the items Mr. Naya, ADVISORY BOARD: President of the Youth Athletic Association had presented to the Council for their consideration to provide for the recreation program next year. B.& S. 3. Communication from Beautification and Environmental Committee BOARD: requesting the City remove the vertical barriers that line the driveway approaches to the Municipal Complex, an item the Council already had requested a plan for their consideration. RESOLUTIONS: Resolution #41, 1972 amending Section IX, Job Classifications, Rules and RESOLUTION #41, 1972. Regulations, Merit System adopting seven different job classifications was discussed by the Council and it was clarified that it was not the intent to fill all these positions immediately but wise to look ahead.-Some of these positions are currently staffed or anticipated positions that will -- be considered for staffing from within the City in the future; it would in no way commit the Council to staff them. Vice Mayor Kiedis suggested dating the job classification sheets. Workshop Meeting, October 12, 1972 Page 4 A review of the Resolution will be made by the Merit System Board at their meeting, October 16, 1972 and recommendation from them will be received by the Regular Meeting, October 19, 1972, when it will be read for adoption. RESOLUTION Resolution #44, 1972 reappointing Department Heads and Advisors to the #44, 1972: Council will be placed on the agenda of the Regular Meeting, October 19, 1972 to be read for adoption. Council agreed this Resolution should be made annually to concur with the passing of the Budget. RESOLUTION Resolution #47, 1972 authorizing the use of a trailer at the PGA Golf #47, 1972: Courses in connection with their Winter Tournament from December 15th through the month of January will be placed on the agenda of the Regular Meeting, October 19, 1927 to be read for adoption. ORDINANCES: Ordinance #16, 1972 reducing the speed limit on portions of Lighthouse ORDINANCE Drive was discussed by the Council. Councilman DeLonga recommended #1672: modifying the Ordinance to read the entire length of Lighthouse Drive from the North Palm Beach City limits to the end. The Council concurred and will also consider a recommendation from the City Manager and the Chief of Police that all City streets have a 25 mile an hour speed limit with the exception of those to be named. ORDINANCE Ordinance #18, 1972 levying the tax and adopting the 1972_73 Budget was #18, 1972: reiterated by Mayor Wiley for the benefit of the audience, in particular in answer to a question from Mrs. Armstrong, a resident, who asked why the miilage was raised, and also stated she hadn't seen any improvements in the City last year. Mayor Wiley presented the following figures and remarks: The valuation for taxes for 1971 was approximately 100 million dollars as compared to this years figure of 94 million dollars. The decrease is due to the loss of business personal property- primarily the RCA personal property tax, plus the City did not experience the usual 15 -20% growth. The tax revenues for 1972_73 at 7.5 mills is $671,664.00. The :� mill increase is due to devaluation of property and the .769 mill due to a voter approved bond referendum. The remaining provides for 2 additional policemen, Workshop Meeting, October 12, 1972 Page 5 increased retirement benefits, insurance coverage on employees, increased salary range for the Police Department, replacement of 4 police cars, a sum for improving the communications within the Police Department, 2�V6 cost of living increase for employees, purchase of a packer, cab and chassis, improved street lights, drainage and paving, 4 new tennis courts, 2 T -ball fields, City nursery, fencing on baseball fields, tri -City animal control and a tune up center for vehicular maintenance. He further explained the Council could have maintained status quo and cut back personnel and services but chose to do what they felt the people wanted by providing the above improvements. The City Manager reported Mr. Paul Bremer, Auditor for the City, had checked the budget figures and will submit a letter by the next Regular Meeting. The total budget will be read in its entirety by the City Clerk at the Regular Meeting, October 19, 1972, The City Manager was requested to submit the number of employees in each Department with their classification which the Council will consider adopting in conjunction with the Budget. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION: SIGN Mayor Wiley explained that the City of Palm Beach Gardens currently adopts ORDINANCE: the West Palm Beach Sign Ordinance, and at the request of the Council the Beautification and Environmental Committee presented some five months ago for their consideration a proposed Sign Ordinance which is lengthy, complete and somewhat restrictive. Mr. Schlaudecker, Chairman of the `-� Committee, gave a brief resume of a 30 page paper he had prepared to explain the reasons and philosophy behind the proposed Sign Ordinance, stating the City of Palm Beach Gardens is unique in that its growth is presently slowed enabling the residents to guide its development in the manner they desire to make it a beautiful City. The proposed ordinance is very restrictive in that it does not allow billboards or pole signs. Workshop Meeting, October 12, 1972 Page 6 Discussion was held by the Council to determine the course of action and how specific to be in terms of what the City will be in 10 years. Consideration will be given to a section dealing with special exceptions and conditional uses as a guide line for the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Zoning Board of Appeals, and how to phase out non - conforming signs and the length of time for phasing out. A poll of the Council was taken and they unanimously agreed to consider the Sign Ordinance as presented with modifications at the next workshop meeting, October 260 1972. The City Attorney was directed to prepare the Ordinance in codified form. LANDSCAPE Mayor Wiley stated the Landscape Ordinance as prepared by the Florida ORDINANCE: Nurseryman's Association had been presented to the Council by the Beautification and Environmental Committee a year and a half ago. Mrs. Hamilton, a member of the Committee explained the proposed ordinance would include beautification of commercial parking areas and off street parking areas, would require a shield between commercial property and T residential areas, that it would require an Appearance Board, and a landscape plan would be required with a building plan when submitted for a permit. The building would not be issued a certificate of occupancy without this Landscape Plan. Councilman Dunbar questioned the hardship such an Ordinance would cause td the owners of existing buildings if required to put in plantings that would take away some of the parking spaces they are required to have. Attorney Brant said the proposed ordinance could not force compliance to exisiting buildings. V The Council agreed to workship this Ordinance at a future meeting. APPEARANCE The Beautification and Environmental Committee has also recommended to the BOARD: Council to consider appointing an Appearance Board to consist of qualified people such as an Architect& a Landscape expert to act as a screening committee to see that the provisions of the Landscape Ordinance are complied with and to act as a regulatory board to grant or not grant permits. The Council authorized the City Manager and the City Attorney Workshop Meeting, October 12, 1972 Page 7 to prepare a draft of an Ordinance making recommendations who should serve on this Board. SITE PLAN The Public Works Director, Leonard Devine, presented the Council with a AND FLOOR 17 drawing of a site plan for the Public Works Complex at 3704 Burns Road PUBLIC fMRKS and recommended extending the canopy on the existing building so that the COMPLEX: vehicles would be under cover, for an approximate cost of $1500.00. He stated he could possibly do away with some of the accessory buildings but the present storage areas in the building were completely utilized. Mayor Wiley suggested using the storage areas in the new Central Fire Station for old City records etc. Mr. Devine stated the floor plan was not complete but he contemplated using the existing rooms as they were in order to spend the least amount of money as the Council had instructed. Mayor Wiley expressed dissatisfaction with the present arrangement of the Public Works area in the Municipal Complex and would consider gutting the old building and approving a plan showing the ultimate use of the area with the Director's office being moved to that location. The City Manager recommended the Council hire a professional to do a feasibility study of the area. The Council decided that Mr. Devine could draw up a plan and directed him to present the Council with a floor plan gutting the building. Councilman Martino suggested that Mr. Devine present what is most feasible without considering the cost involved. ITEMS BY THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY CLERK: PAYMENT TO The City Manager presented an application and certificate for payment to SERRAES : Serraes Construction Company in the amount of $20,727.00 for work completed on the Central Fire Station which the Council, by unanimous decision, authorized payment. ITEMS BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL: to the HELICOPTER Mayor Wiley requested authorization be given /Sheriffs Department to land FOR CARNIVAL: a helicopter in the afternoon of November 4th at St. Marks Church during a carnival. A motion was made by Councilman DeLonga seconded by Workshop Meeting, October 12, 1972 Page 8 granting Councilman Martino directing the City Manager to write / authorization to the Sheriffs Department. Motion unanimously carried. POLICE As a result of a meeting held October 10, 1972 with neighboring Cities, PROTECTION AT FOOTBALL school officials and the Sheriffs Department, regarding police protection GAMES: at football games held at the Palm Beach Gardens High School, the City provided one off duty policeman to work inside the gate at the game held ' October 13, 1972 besides the two policemen stationed at the exits to the school on Holly and Lilac to direct traffic. The City Council took the stand not to assume the Sheriffs Departments responsibility and not to provide policemen at any future event. Councilman DeLonga stated the Council had no objection to off duty policemen serving on a voluntary basis, but objected to using the tax payers money to provide police protection at a school function. Vice Mayor Kiedis stated one of the problems that existed was not enough bleechers to accommodate the crowd. At Councilman Dunbar's suggestion the Council directed the City Manager to formerly write to the Palm Beach County School Board expressing the feelings of the Council regarding the police protection with a copy to Dr. Eissey, the Sheriffs Department, and the County Commissioners. PROCLAMATION:Mayor Wiley reported he had been requested to issue a Proclamation on U.N. DAY which is the end of October and a Proclamation for Earth Awareness Day as requested by the Beautification and Environmental Committee. Council had no objection to preparing these proclamations. The status of the following items were determined in answer to questions from the Council: VICE MAYOR Broken glass on the bulletin board at Plant Drive Ball Park. Mr. Devine KIEDIS : reported the tampered glass had been ordered and not received as yet. COUNCILMAN Self- Service Postal Unit - The building official has inquired of local DELONGA: contractors but a bidder has not been found who will bid within the price range. Workshop Meeting, October 12, 1972 Page 9 Dump Truck - Mr. Devine reported the dump truck is ready to use. Palm tree trimming program - Mr. Devine reported they had trouble with the new saw for the aerial bucket but will be ready to start the program on Monday, October 16, 1972. VICE MAYOR Clearing of the 10 acres adjacent to the City Complex - Mr. Devine reported KIEDIS : Rubin Construction Company would clear the property this coming week. COUNCILMAN Councilman Martino suggested contacting T.C. Saffold to do the job of MARTINO: clearing the 10 acres. Shuffleboard lights - City Manager reported they are installed and ready to use. Newsletter - City Manager reported the Newsletter is scheduled to be mailed on November 3, 1972. Balance of money for school crossing guards - City Manager reported an invoice had been submitted but the City has not yet been paid. Weekly newspapers- list of names placed on Bulletin Boards. City Manager reported the Newsletter will carry a list of names and addresses of do not weekly newspapers for the benefit of residents who/want their circulation and will place the list on the bulletin boards. Councilman Martino requested that the booklets from the Department of Transportation regarding signs be given to Mr. Schlaudecker to review. Councilman Martino suggested the Public Works Director prepare a plan for scheduled maintenance of the canals for next year. Mr. Devine stated because of rain and growth it is evaluated from day to day, but he will work toward a schedule. Storm basin covers - Mr. Devine reported the catch basin covers are not designed to be tied down. The City has experienced no trouble and they are checked by the Police Department and the Public Works Department. COUNCILMAN Trash truck - Mr. Devine reported the trash truck came in two days ago, -- DUNBAR: and recommended that the City advertise for a packer now and for a cab and chassis later. Workshop Meeting, October 12, 1972 Page 10 VICE MAYOR Bids for West Palm Beach Tennis Courts - The City Manager reported Mr. KIEDIS: Dukes had attended the bid opening on October 10, 1972 for 4 tennis courts in West Palm Beach, that four bids were received was follows: Riteway Paving - $25,900, Hardrives Paving - $26,894.00, Crabtree - $28,320.00 and Mondell - $31,380. MORATORIUM: Councilman Dunbar made a statement regarding his stand on the lifting of the moratorium made at the Regular Meeting, October 3, 1972 stating that based on figures he had now received he would not support withdrawing the building moratorium because the health and welfare of the citizens would be in jeopardy. His decision is not based on the average daily gallons in thousands of sewage that goes through the plant, but on more important figures which are the secondary efficiency percentages and the percentage of suspended solids that are raw and the solids that are final. He presented figures showing the secondary efficiency percentages for the months from January through August as 56 %, 67%, 76%, 71%, 75 %, 52 %, 69% and 67%, and the percentage of suspended solids during the same months as 54 %, 63 %, 56 %, 70 %, 71 %, 53%, 68% and 89%. These two .figures according to the State Pollution Board must be over 90% and he would not consider lifting the moratorium until time figures are reached. Vice Mayor Kiedis stated he had talked to Mr. Lukin of the County Health Department who told him any day the Palm Beach County Utilities would get a directive from the State as to the moratorium on all building. He said it was not his intention to lift the moratorium entirely, but the City Attorney had been asked last week to determine if there was any way to help give the individual property owner a chance to use his property, to give him the same opportunity that was given to the Longwood Apartments. Mr. Kiedis would also like to explore the septic tank angle even though the County says there must be an acre of land before the use of a septic tank is granted. Councilman DeLonga pointed out that when the moratorium was declared the Workshop Meeting, October 12, 1972 Page 11 population was 6,000 and now, two years later, it is 7600 and by computing the capacity in gallons with the increase in population, he doesn't believe the figures from the Health Department. He also stated that our moratorium only applies to people living on the sewer line, not to the areas not serviced by the sewer system. Mayor Wiley remarked that the Council would like to offer the opportunity to the 50 some individual property owners to build, but can see no way until the situation changes, based on the opinion of the City Attorney in his memorandum dated October 10, 1972. Jerry Browning, a property owner who desires to build in the City asked the Council for relief to obtain a building permit before January 1, 1973 and let the appropriate agencies tell him he can't build, not the City; that the City should not take the responsibility of the Health Department. He told the Council he was going to the news media to let everyone know what the problem is. ADJOURNMENT: Motion for adjournment by Councilman Dunbar, seconded by Vice Mayor Kiedis. Time for the record 12 :15 A.M. Mayor Walter Wiley Vice Mayor John Kiedis Alice Jean Kerslake, City Clerk _.._rfirYF`- o cilman Jame" - 65. 9a i " Council s Gordon DunlYa?`' Councilman Michael Martino