The Final City Council Meeting of 2016 will be on Thursday, Dec. 1 at 7PM

The next City Council Meeting will be this Thursday, December 1, at 7pm in City Hall. The agenda is fairly short.

Announcements/Presentations lists December Events and Activities

Consent Agenda includes:

• Several resolutions including Resolution 79, 2016 – leasing an additional Braun Medium Duty Ambulance under a piggy-back agreement through the Florida Sheriffs Association in the amount of $323,708 for a 5-year lease.
• Four Purchase awards:
  • Two-year contract for Annual Fire-Rescue Training with Rescue Training Associates, Inc in the amount of $140K; under openly competed lists NA
  • Roof repairs at Fire/Rescue Station 5 with Garland/DBS Inc in the amount of $248K; under openly competed lists NA
  • Scanning Project – Unified Services Records to scan records stored off-site with MCCi LLC in an amount not to exceed $100K; under openly competed lists NA and does not state piggyback contract however states “The City will be accessing a competitively solicited City of Miami contract to purchase these services.
  • Purchase of two Toro Reelmaster Mowers from TESCO SOUTH, INCORPORATED dba HECTOR TURF for $98K; under openly competed lists NA and states “The mowers will be purchased by accessing a National IPA {Group Purchasing Organization) contract that was competitively awarded to Toro and its dealers for Grounds Maintenance Equipment. The City is a member of the National IPA GPO. By accessing this contract, the City is able to take advantage of volume-pricing discounts available to the National IPA GPO members that would not be available by individually bidding each requirement.”

City Manager Report – no details listed

Public Hearings and Resolutions:

• 2nd Reading and Adoption of Ordinance 14, 2016 which was the Budget Amendment for 2016 approved 5:0 on November 3, 2016 and Ordinance 15, 2016, which was the amendment to Chapter 70, Parking, Standing and Stopping regulations approved 5:0 on November 16, 2016.
• 1st Reading of Ordinance 17, 2016 – A request from Avenir Holdings, LLC to establish a Community Development District (CDD) for Avenir Planned Community Development (PCD). “Community Development Districts are a local, special-purpose government framework authorized by Chapter 190, Florida Statutes, and is an alternative for managing and financing infrastructure required to support development of a community. The State of Florida has over 600 CDDs. The City of Palm Beach Gardens currently has one·(1) COD that was approved by the City Council in 2002 for the Old Palm PCD. “

Check the agenda to see if any additional items have been added before the meeting here.

Changes to Alton and New Development for the City

Note – The December City Council Meeting will be held on Thursday December 1 at 7pm

There were quite a few items on the November 16, 2016 City Council Meeting – All Ordinances and Resolutions passed 5:0 with the exception of  Playground Equipment for Ironwood Park (pulled from Consent and discussed) – 4:1 ( Council Member Premuroso opposed) and  Resolution 77, 2016 – Appointment to Police Officers Pension Board (Council Member Woods was not present for the vote) – 4:0

The discussion on equipment for Ironwood Park Playground began when Council Member Premuroso pulled the item from Consent and suggested that the neighborhood expected a passive park, and by putting in playground equipment (including a kiddy zipline), the nature of the park had changed. Mayor Tinsley suggested that perhaps the vote be delayed for a month with signage to note what was planned for the site to solicit neighborhood input. But staff seemed to be adamant that the immediate neighbors that were reached were happy with the plans and that it should go forward without further input. Most on the Council supported the active park and the purchase award was approved.

Changes were made to Alton to add a 256-bed Memory Care Assisted Living Facility (Clarity Pointe) as well as a public park, and convert uses in other areas of the property. There was little discussion by Council and no public comment. Immediately upon second reading and passage of the Balsamo property annexation, the property was rezoned (on 1st reading) and will become, upon approval in January, a 97 single-family unit development named Ancient Tree – between Avenir and Sandhill Crane Golf Course. The council welcomed the owners to the City.

Additional development approved included:

• a 2-story bank with professional offices and drive-through ATM located on the south side PGA Blvd. near Military trail and next to the SunTrust Bank.
• the changes to Prosperity Oaks/Brookdale Palm Beach Gardens to add a memory care facility

Art in Public Places was approved for PGA National Commerce Park featuring the work of Peter Garaj. The stainless steel structure is entitled “Hands of Time”

The final discussion of the evening revolved around a long-standing issue between Frenchman’s Creek, the town of Juno Beach, the county’s Property Appraiser and the City with respect to Frenchman’s Creek Beach Club Property Tax (see Palm Beach Post for an overview of the issue from May 2015) .  After debate on whether or not there should be further meetings with the new Property Appraiser, Dorothy Jacks – the council voted to make no changes to the City’s current position, and Mayor Tinsley will inform Frenchman’s Creek.

Next City Council Meeting on Wednesday, November 16 at 7pm

The next City Council Meeting will be this Wednesday, November 16, at 7pm in City Hall. There are quite a few items on the agenda.

Consent Agenda includes:

• Purchase award for remainder of contract Mowing and Landscaping services awarded in 2015 – ” Seacrest Services, the vendor awarded under Group A – Common Areas and Parks, and Group B – Medians, is ending its relationship with the City, effective October 15, 2016. The responsive and responsible vendor with the next lowest pricing is Batallan Enterprises, Inc. dba Property Works. This Agreement will assign the Groups previously awarded to Seacrest Services to Property Works. The City will issue a Purchase Order to Property Works to cover the interim period from October 15 through November 15 to maintain continuity of services
• Purchase award for local Courier Services – 5 year contract for $109K renewable for another 5 years – openly competed
• Purchase award for Playground Equipment for Ironwood Park – piggyback for $107K
• Purchase award for Dell Computer Equipment and Accessories – piggyback for $75K

City Manager Report – no details listed

Public Hearings and Resolutions:

• Ordinance 8, 2016 – First reading – City-initiated Evaluation and Appraisal Review (EAR-based) Comprehensive Plan Amendments – “EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Florida Statutes, specifically Section 163.3191 , requires the City to evaluate and appraise its Comprehensive Plan every seven (7) years and amend it accordingly through Evaluation and Appraisal Review (EAR)-based amendments. Staff has completed the evaluation for the City-initiated amendment to the Comprehensive Plan and Map Series. The amendments are for all elements of the Comprehensive Plan, including: Future Land Use, Transportation, Housing, Infrastructure, Coastal Management, Conservation, Recreation and Open Space, Intergovernmental Coordination, Capital Improvements, Public Safety, Public School Facilities, Procedures for Accomplishing Monitoring and Evaluation Requirements, and Economic Development; and updated Comprehensive Plan Map Series.
• Second Reading and Adoption Ordinances 10, 2016 (Balsamo annexation); 11, 2016 (Brookdale/Prosperity Oaks) and associated resolutions
• Balsamo:
  • Ordinance 12, 2016 – Balsamo Large-Scale Comprehensive Plan Map Amendment – “.. to change the Future Land Use designation of a 96.80-acre parcel from Palm Beach County Rural Residential 1 unit/10 acres (RR-10) to Palm Beach Gardens Residential Low (RL), capping gross density of the property at 97 single-family units
  • Ordinance 13, 2016 and associated Resolution 76, 2016 – First Reading and Public Hearing: A request from Salvatore J. Balsamo Trust requesting to rezone a 96.80-acre parcel from Palm Beach County Agricultural Residential(AR) to Palm Beach Gardens Residential Low (RL-2) with a Planned Unit Development Overlay District (PUD)…
• Ordinance 15, 2016 -Amending Chapter 70. Traffic and Vehicles. at Article Ill. Parking, Standing, and Stopping. at Section 70-62…A need exists to amend and clarify the regulations that govern the use of motor vehicles and the enforcement of parking restrictions in regard to the parking of motor vehicles in swales and off-street parking within the City
• Resolution 72, 2016 – for approval of a Planned Unit Development (PUD) Amendment and Major Conditional Use at the Turtle Beach PUD for a two- (2) story, 9,000-square-foot building with bank and professional office uses and a drive-through ATM. The Turtle Beach PUD is generally located 550 feet west of the intersection at Military Trail on the south side of PGA Boulevard (note: adjacent Sun-Trust Bank)
• Resolution 73, 2016 – to approve proposed artwork for the AIPP requirement for PGA National Commerce Park for Buildings 2 and 3 on Lots 7 and 8, located on Hiatt Drive, north of Northlake Boulevard and west of the Florida Turnpike.
• Alton: 
  • Resolution 74, 2016 – A request for an amendment to the Alton Planned Community Development (PCD) to allow for the conversion of 715 multifamily and 350 apartment units, and 50,000 square feet of neighborhood commercial use to an additional 418 single-family units, 32,000 square feet of Industrial/Research and Development/Biotech use and a 256-bed Assisted Living Facility; provide an 8.44-acre public park on the PCD Master Plan; and modify certain PCD buffers, upland preserve areas, lakes, a roadway cross section, neighborhood district boundaries; revise Condition of Approval Number 3 of Resolution 1, 2010 to allow the provision of the public park; and provide a waiver for a 16-foot-tall perimeter sound wall.
  • Resolution 75, 2016 – A request for a Site Plan and Major Conditional Use approval for a 256-bed Assisted Living Facility on a 6.57-acre site located within Parcel B of the Alton Planned Community Development (PCD)
• Resolution 77, 2016 – Approving the appointment of regular members to the Police Officers’ Pension Fund Board of Trustees.

Check the agenda to see if any additional items have been added before the meeting here.

Sober Homes Presentation Fills the Council Chambers

NOTE: There will be a second November City Council Meeting on Wednesday, November 16th.

The Council Chambers were packed at the Nov 3rd City Council meeting with citizens from primarily the Plat 1 area of Palm Beach Gardens impacted by Sober Homes in their community. City Attorney Max Lohman presented a review of the current definitions, statutes/laws and limitations on local community actions with respect to Sober Homes. His presentation can be viewed here (starting at minute 14:30); you can read a copy of the Powerpoint presentation here (you will need software that can open a Powerpoint file). Sarah Peters of the Palm Beach Post covers the Sober Home discussion.  Those making public comment expressed their frustrations as well as dismay at how such rentals were not considered commercial endeavors in residential areas.

The Council began with a presentation honoring former Mayor/Council Member David Levy for his twelve years of service to the City. He was presented with a plaque as well as a crystal gavel and made touching remarks as well.

City Manager Ferris requested that the presentation portion of the Council discussion on the Central Blvd/I-95 interchange be brought to the front of the meeting while the chambers were full. In short, the interchange hs been 18 years in the making. Development orders required a right of way for all impacted subdivisions and new residents had to be informed about the potential interchange. Alton, FPL, Paloma and Cimmaron Cove were all considered in the studies. Staff concluded that they recommended approval as is. During Public Comment which preceded the presentation Elissa Cohen, President of the Paloma HOA, Sandra Abraham also of Paloma and Dave Rebholz of Old Palm all expressed support for a new traffic study, or to put the project on hold. Don Mathis suggested that it’s the PGA/I-95 PGA interchange needed to be factored more into the plans. The Council, when discussing the topic towards the end of the agenda, praised Andrea Troutman, consultant from Pinder Troutman Consulting, the traffic engineer for Palm Beach Gardens, on her clear explanations of the studies and status of the I95/Central Blvd interchange. The Council had several questions for staff which were addressed. In related discussion, FDOT will be having “An Alternatives Public Workshop will be held on Thursday, December 8, 2016, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Marriott Palm Beach Gardens, 4000 RCA Boulevard, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410.” about the Northlake/I-95 interchange. For more details see http://www.95northlake.com/public-notices.php

All Ordinances and resolutions passed 5:0. Other comments made by the public included Jervonte Edmonds of Suits for Seniors, thanking Council Member Marino, plus a member of the City’s Police department for speaking at his Career Day; Kevin Dalton, who owns 3 business in Palm Beach Gardens, suggesting that Central Blvd be renamed for either Arnold Palmer or Jack Nicklaus. (Council replied that Central is a County road). Mr. Dalton also said that he has employed people from 1/2 way homes (eg Sober Homes) and they do have to hand in their cell phone when having their group meetings so perhaps those meetings could be considered ‘treatment’ – which is forbidden in Sober Homes.

Council, during items of Resident Interest and Board/Committee reports commended staff on their outstanding preparation for Hurricane Matthew.