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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Council 071971i WORKSHOP MEETING CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS JULY 19, 1971 The Workshop Meeting of the City of Palm Beach Gardens was called to order at City Hall, 10500 N. Military Trail at 8 :00 P.M. on July 19, 1971 with Mayor DeLonga presiding. The meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. ROLL CALL: Roll was called by the City Clerk and present were: Councilman James, Councilman Kiedis, Vice Mayor Wiley and Mayor DeLonga. Councilman John Orr was absent on vacation. Present were Attorney Brant and City Manager, Robert Carlson. REPORTS: Mr. Carlson reported that the air conditioning of the two rooms at City Hall Complex would be started on Thursday of this week or Monday of next week by Barlin Cooling and Heating and the electrical work will be done by Beacon Electric who submitted the lowest bid of $595.00. The use of the school tennis courts was discussed and Mr. Carlson was asked to contact Mickey Neal regarding the placement of nets so that the residents could make use of these courts during the summer. Mayor DeLonga announced a meeting of the City Managers of the neighboring communities for Wednesday evening, July 27, 1971 at 7:30 P.M. PRESENTATION BY Mayor DeLonga delivered a presentation on situations that affect the MAYOR: welfare of the Community in regards to the adoption of a County Tax Roll, the failure of the School Board to reduce the millage rate and the proposed pairing and clustering of schools. (Attached is the presentation). He advocated opposition to all three items. The large audience in attendance was in accord and so stated and discussed ways of pressing the ruling County Boards to adhering to their desires, such as continuing neighborhood schools. Vice Mayor Wiley stated he agreed with Mayor DeLongs's views and r Workshop Meeting July 19, 1971 Page 2 and individuals of the audience spoke strongly against busing and urged the Council to do something. Vice Mayor Wiley moved to authorize Attorney Brant to prepare a formal resolution based on thi contents of Mayor DeLongals speech to present to the School Board and Judge Eaton. Motion seconded by Councilman James. Vote 4 ayes and O nays. The audience asked Council to request the County consider a vote at the next general election to find out how strong the opposition was to the busing and change in the school boundary lines, and to suggest setting up smaller school districts and to get the School Board to postpone the issue of busing and change of boundaries. Mayor DeLonga suggested everyone contact representatives of the School Board and let them know how they feel. An announcement of the School Board meeting of Wednesday at 3:30 at North Shore was made and everyone was urged to attend and state their views. FEDERAL URBAN AID Mr. Kirksey of the Transportation Department, Ft. Lauderdale gave SYSTEM: a presentation of the Federal Urban Aid System. He urged the Council take action by signing the form and stating we approve. Mayor DeLonga assured him of the Council approval. SWIMMING POOL: Council discussed amendments to the swimming pool ordinance and authorized Attorney Brant to prepare an ordinance after review and clarification with Robert Munsell, Building Inspector and Councilman Wiley. Ordinance to be discussed at next Council Workshop meeting. SIGN ORDINANCE: Discussion of the amendment to the Sign and Advertising Chapter 24 of the Code was tabled. PLANNING AND Consideration of the recommendation from the Planning and Zoning ZONING RECOMMENDATION: Commission to amend the Zoning Ordinance, Article VIII, Section 7 -1 of the Municipal Code: changing 20 acres to read 10 acres of land for Planned Unit Developments. Council suggested tabling Workshop Meeting July 19, 1971 Page 3 for more information on the reasons for the change and to have Attorney Brant get in touch with Gerald Dake Associates and get their reasons for the 20 acres being set up in the Code. This was referred to future workshop. RECOMMENDATIONS AND DISCUSSION BY MAYOR AND COUNCIL: Mayor DeLonga complemented the Utility Company for the new paint job on the Sewer Treatment Plant. Mayor DeLonga suggested the Council authorize Attorney Brant to draw up an Ordinance to change meeting nights to Thursday evenings. Councilman James and Vice Mayor Wiley were not in favor at the present time. Councilman James questioned whether anything further had been accomplished as to correcting the lighting situation at Plant Drive. Mr. Carlson was asked to definitely get estimates by Monday, July 27, 1971 so that work could be started immediately on the placement of new lighting. Vice Mayor Wiley reported there would be a meeting of the Central Fire Station Committee on Tuesday evening July 20, 1971. ADJOURNMENT. No further business and motion to adjourn by Vice Mayor Wiley seconded by Councilman Kiedis. Time for the record 11 :30 P.M. Mayor DeLonga Thelma Compton, City Clerk 7// �/71 WHENEVER SITUATIONS ARISE THAT AFFECT THE WELFARE OF THE COMMUNITY THE COUNCIL " FINDS IT NECESSARY TO ASSERT ITS VIEWS ON THESE SUBJECTS EVEN THOUGH WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DIRECTLY AFFECT THEIR OUTCOME. TONIGHT WE WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON THREE ITEMS PERTAINING TO OUR COMMUNITY. YOU CAN BE SURE THAT MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE TAX ASSESSORS OFFICE, COUNTY COMMISSION, AND SCHOOL BOARD WITH RESPECT TO THESE PROBLEMS. THE FIRST ITEM IS THE ADOPTION OF A COUNTY TAX ROLL THAT INCLUDES INCREASED ASSESSMENTS FOR ONLY HALF THE PROPERTY IN THE COUNTY. WE FEEL THIS IS GROSSLY UNFAIR TO THE PEOPLE BEING ASSESSED AT THE NEW VALUES, AND WE REQUEST THAT THE COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR RETAIN THE OLD VALUATION UNTIL THE ENTIRE COUNTY HAS BEEN REASSESSED. SHOULD THE OLD VALUATION BE RETAINED IT WOULD: 1. ELIMINATE THE FINANCIAL INEQUITIES IN ADOPTING THE HIGHER ASSESSMENTS FOR ONLY HALF THE COUNTY ?. ALLOW MORE TTME FOR TH4 PEOPLE TO APPEAL THEIR ASSFSSMENTS, PARTICULARLY SINCE THE APPEAL PERIOD CAME AT A TIME WHEN MANY PEOPLE WERE AWAY ON VACATION 3. PROVIDE MORE TIME FOR THE ASSESSORS TO DETECT AND CORRECT ANY DISCREPANCIES, AND 4. PROVIDE MORE TIME FOR THE PEOPLE TO CONTACT THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO INDUCE THEM TO REDUCE THE MILLAGE RATE. WITH THE NEXT YEAR BEING AN ELECTION YEAR, EFFORTS TO HAVE THE MILLAGE REDUCED WILL PROBABLY MEET WITH MUCH GREATER SUCCESS. PERHAPS SOME OF THE "STING" OF THE REASSESSMENT COULD HAVE BEEN SOOTHED IF THE VARIOUS TAXING BODIES WOULD HAVE IMMEDIATELY DECLARED THEIR INTENTIONS TO REDUCE THE MILLAGE AND THEN FOLLOWED THROUGH WITH IT. THE FEASIBILITY OF HAVING TWO MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD SIT ON THE APPEAL BOARD SHOULD ALSO BE EXAMINED SINCE THEIR EFFORTS ARE SO URGENTLY NEEDED IN DIRECTING THE OPERATION OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. PERHAPS THE APPEAL BOARD COULD FIND IN OUR 77 0 PAGE —2— AREA QUALIFIED RETIREES EXPERIENCED IN ASSESSMENT PROCEEDINGS WHO WOULD BE WILLING TO SERVE AT A NOMINAL FEE. I THE SECOND ITEM IS THE FAILURE OF THE SCHOOL BOARD TO REDUCE THE MILLAGE RATE IN AN AMOUNT COMMENSURATE WITH THE INCREASE IN ASSESSMENTS. AFTER THE CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY HAVE EXPRESSED THEMSELVES SO CLEARLY IN TWO SUCCESSIVE REFERENDUMS s INVOLVING INCREASED FUNDS FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IT IS APPALLING TO HAVE OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES ACT IN SUCH A FASHION. IN OUR OPINION, IT IS IMPROPER FOR ANY REPRESENTATIVE BODY TO ACQUIRE FUNDS IN THIS FASHION, REGARDLESS OF THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH IT WILL tR USED, AND DOES NOTHING TO INSTILL CONFIDENCE IN t THEIR ACTIVITIES. EVEN THOUGH OUR COMMUNITY APPROVED THE RECENT BOND REFERENDUM FOR SCHOOL j CONSTRUCTION, CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT THE REACTION MIGHT BE WHEN WE ARE APPROACHED — FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDS NEXT YEAR? WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW HOW MUCH OF THESE APPROPRIATED FUNDS WILL BE USED TO ELIMINATE DOUBLE SESSIONS IN OUR SCHOOLS AND ACTUALLY IMPROVE THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESSES? YOU CAN ALSO BE ASSURED THAT THE PEOPLE WILL NOT BE DECEIVED BY THOSE WHO PROCLAIM THEY ADVOCATE A REDUCTION IN MILLAGE THEN VOTE FOR AN INCREASE IN THE OPERATING BUDGET UTILIZING FUNDS THAT RIGHTFULLY BELONG TO THE PEOPLE, PURE AND SIMPLE, THE SCHOOL BOARD SHOULD HAVE REDUCED THE TAX RATE BY THREE MILLS. d THE THIRD ITEM CONCERNS THE PROPOSED PAIRING AND CLUSTERING OF SCHOOLS. THIS COUNCIL, AS WELL AS THE MAJORITY OF RESIDENTS OF OUR COMMUNITY, WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS, UNEQUIVOCALLY, OUR OPPOSITION TO ANY PLAN REQUIRING THE FORCED BUSSING OF THE CHILDREN OF OUR COMMUNITY, OR ANY OTHER COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THOSE CHILDREN OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AGE. u � PAGE —3— IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR, AN ORGANIZATION OF PARENTS, CO— CHAIRED BY MRS. WALTER PELLISH AND MRS. JOHN ORR, CIRCULATED A PETITION THROUGHOUT OUR CITY PROTESTING ! THE ABANDONMENT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL CONCEPT. THIS PETITION, REPRESENTING 6 THE FEELINGS OF APPROXIMATELY 1,271 FAMILIES IN OUR CITY WAS PRESENTED TO i JUDGE EATON AND TO THE SCHOOL BOARD. THE PETITION READS AS FOLLOWS: n "WE, AS CONCERNED CITIZENS OF PALM BEACH GARDENS, SUBMIT THIS PETITION i TO CONTINUE THE NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL SYSTEM]. WE FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THE PRESENT SYSTEM PROVIDES A SOUND AND MEANINGFUL EDUCATION FOR ALL CHILDREN. i WE BELIEVE THAT EXCESSIVE BUSSING RESULTING FROM THE CLUSTERING OF SCHOOLS ENDANGERS THE SAFETY OF THE CHILDREN. ADDITIONALLY, FUNDS PRESENTLY NEEDED FOR CLASS ROOM EDUCATION WILL BE REQUIRED FOR TRANSPORTATION. WHILE WE FULLY ESPOUSE DESEGREGATION OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND ACTIVELY SUPPORT ITS IMPLEMENTATION, WE CANNOT SUPPORT MR. HOLLAND'S PROPOSAL AS A MEANS TO THIS END." SINCE THE BIRTH OF OUR COUNTRY THE SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES HAVE BEEN THE CENTER OF COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES AND DEVELOPMENT. OUR COMMUNITY IS FORTUNATE TO HAVE ELEMENTARY, JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS PLUS CHURCHES OF PRACTICALLY EVERY FAITH. THEIR EXISTENCE IS THE REASON THAT MOST OF US DECIDED TO MOVE TO PALM BEACH GARDENS AND WHY THE COMMUNITY HAS EXPERIENCED SUCH A FANTASTIC GROWTH RATE. OUR CHILDREN CAN EITHER WALK OR RIDE THEIR BICYCLES TO ANY OF THE THREE SCHOOLS THAT THE DEVELOPER PLACED IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE CITY. WITHOUT THESE NEIGHBORHOOD INSTITUTIONS THERE IS LI-rr1.E REASON FOR A FAMILY TO WANT TO S-t;e `LE IN A COMMUNITY OR FOR A GROUP OF FAMILIES TO ESTABLISH A COMMUNITY. • - w PAGE —4 — THE SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN THE SOURCE OF PERSONAL IDENTITY FOR THE STUDENTS AND OF COMMUNITY PRIDE. THE MASSIVE BUSSING THAT WOULD RESULT FROM THE PAIRING e AND CLUSTERING WOULD CAUSE A MAJOR DISRUPTION IN FAMILY LIFE AND LOSS OF COMMUNITY SPIRIT, CAN YOU IMAGINE THE CHAOS WITHIN A HOME HAVING CHILDREN ATTENDING SCHOOLS IN THREE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES? I IT IS INCONCEIVABLE THAT ANY PARENT, BLACK OR WHITE, OR ANY OTHER RATIONAL GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS WOULD FIND IT DESIRABLE TO BUS ELEMENTARY CHILDREN AWAY FROM THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. DO THEY CONSIDER THE ADDITIONAL DANGER THESE CHILDREN WOULD BE EXPOSED TO, THE INSECURITY THEY EXPERIENCE JUST IN LEAVING HOME TO GO TO SCHOOL, AND THE ADDITIONAL COST TO THE TAXPAYERS OF THE COUNTY. PERHAPS THE PEOPLE ADVOCATING AND CLAMORING FOR SUCH CHANGES WILL NOT BE AFFECTED FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS: e THEIR CHILDREN ARE EITHER PRE— SCli00L OR PAST SCHOOL AGE e THEY HAVE NO CHILDREN 0 THEIR CHILDREN ARE ATTENDING PRIVATE OR PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS. THE YEARLY GERRYMANDERING OF BOUNDARIES WOULD ALSO HAVE SIMILAR EPFECTS AND IS NOT ADVOCATED BY THIS COUNCIL. ONE POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE DILEMMA MIGHT BE TO ESTABLISH SMALLER, MORE MANAGEABLE SCHOOL DISTRICTS EACH WITH THEIR OWN NON— PARTISAN, ELECTED SCHOOL BOARDS THAT WOULD MORE ADEQUATELY REPRESENT AND BE MORE RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF ALL THE PEOPLE LIVING WITHIN THE DISTRICT. IF SUCH A PLAN WERE ADOPTED, IT WOULD PERMIT THE RETENTION OF NEIGHBORHOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF REGIONAI i JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS, AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUSES. IT IS IRONIC THAT IN 1954 MR. HOLLAND'S ORIGINAL SUIT RIGHTFULLY PETITIONED THAT HIS CHILDREN BE PERMITTED TO ATTEND THE SCHOOL CLOSEST TO HIS HOME. NOW, IN 1971, ALL ACTIVITIES APPEAR DIRECTED TOWARD BUSSING ALL CHILDREN AWAY FROM THEIR f v R PAGE -5- 1 • NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS REGARDLESS OF SAFETY, COST, OR THE FEELINGS OF STUDENTS AND PARENTS ALIKE, REGARDLESS OF THEIR COLOR. AT PRESENT, THE SCHOOLS IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE BEING INTEGRATED AND WE ARE ALL P WORKING HARD TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL. WE THINK IT IS TIME TO BECOME TRULY AWARE OF THE ENORMITY OF THE PROBLEMS FACING OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THE NEED FOR INNOVATIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE SOLUTIONS. OUR CHILDREN ARE PAYING A CRIPPLING PRICE FOR OUR INABILITY TO OFFER THEM A SOUND EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.