Next City Council Mtg on Oct. 4 at 7pm

• Resolution 66, 2018 – Delegating full settlement authority in the matter of Sears, Roebuck and Co. vs. Forbes/Cohen Florida Properties, L.P. and City of Palm Beach Gardens
• Purchase Award – Building Automation System for New Public Services Operations Center – sole source – $77K

City Manager Report:  Nothing listed

Public Hearings and Resolutions (not in order):

• Ordinance 19, 2018 – First reading – Amending Chapter 78 of the City’s Code of Ordinances in order to provide for the placement of memorials and monuments on City-owned property. 
• Resolution 61, 2018 – A request from NADG/Brock LP to allow for limited outdoor display areas in front of Building A (Publix) within the Town Center (Parcel C) of the Alton Planned Community Development (PCD)
• Resolution 64, 2018 –  A request for a Miscellaneous petition for Alton Town Center Commercial Retail Project to approve a Sign Program for the project. 
• Resolution 53, 2018 – Appointment of Regular and Alternate Members to the Art in Public Places (AIPP) Advisory Board.
• Resolution 54, 2018 – Appointment of Regular and Alternate Members to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.  
• Resolution 55, 2018 – Appointment of Regular and Alternate Members to the Planning, Zoning, and Appeals Board. 
• Second Reading and Adoption:
  • Ordinance 11, 2018, Ordinance 12, 2018/Resolution 27, 2018 – Carleton Oaks
  • Ordinance 13, 2018, Ordinance 14, 2018/Resolution 28, 2018 – Osprey Isles
  • Ordinance 15, 2018, Ordinance 16, 2018 – Star of David Cemetery
  • Ordinance 17, 2018, Ordinance 18, 2018/Resolution 30 – Northlake Congregate Living Facility
  • Ordinance 20, 2018 – Carl’s Plaza Voluntary Annexation
  • Ordinance 22, 2018/Resolution 58, 2018 – Bonnette Hunt Club PUD/Rezone

Items for Council Action/Discussion:   

• None listed

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

Hilltop Property Sale Resolution Cried Out for a Workshop

The September 20th City Council meeting was the second of the month, primarily due to the need for the final hearing on the Budget. Budget related items went quickly, all passing 5:0. Comment was made by resident Barb Grossman regarding the money spent on the Charter Referendum campaigns.   For more on the budget see “$2.5 Million Increase in 2019 Budget“.

Last on the listed agenda was Resolution 60, 2018 – Sale of the city-owned Hilltop Property.  The 6-acre property currently contains 3 Seacoast Utility wells and the property is adjacent to another Seacoast well field. Seacoast provides water to Palm Beach Gardens.  Everything about the item was handled in an unusual fashion.

• There was no staff presentation until Purchasing and Contracts Director Km! Ra did a brief review of the bidders.
• Mayor Marino referred to the packet that all the Council had. Obviously we in the public did not have such a packet unless it was what was submitted as part of the agenda. (Inquiring minds want to know.)
• Comment cards were handed in during the presentation, and all three bidders were allowed to speak – almost in a free form fashion when addressed.
• Speaking for Gardens Business Center One LLC was Steve Craig; speaking for Johan Kriek’s and Ira Saferstein’s Tennis Academy proposal were Johan Kriek and Wendy Link; speaking for Seacoast Utilities was Rim Bishop, Executive Director of Seacoast Utility.
• There was no expert testimony – all on Council deferred to the remarks made by the Seacoast’s Mr. Bishop. He made many what seemed to be ‘off-the-cuff guestimates’ that were used as facts with lifetime use of the wells ranging from 30-35 years to 50 years to 100 to over 100 years….
• No future advances in technology or usage were technically addressed.

For those interested – view council deliberation on Resolution 60, 2018 here.

The discussion was wide-ranging and would have lent itself to expert testimony, further input and preparation by the potential buyers before having the Council decide. In fact – this was the closest to a real workshop that this Council has had – however the right action, speaking as an observer, would have been to have held off and had further discussion prior to awarding the property to Seacoast Utility (of which the City is part owner).

After the peak of the discussion, Mayor Marino made a motion to offer the property to the highest bidder, the Tennis Academy and challenge City Manager Ferris to negotiate the best deal allowing for maximization of sites for future wells for Seacoast; if that didn’t work out then they would go to the next highest bidder (Gardens Business Center One) and negotiate the same way. Council Member Litt, citing her representation on the Water Resources Task Force had an issue with a public utility being beholden to a private property owner for future well usage. Council Member Woods was exploring private deals between the bidders that could get the Tennis Academy. Council Member Marciano didn’t want to challenge the science, deferring to the comments by Mr. Bishop and protecting the water supply. Council Member Lane also leaned to Seacoast and prioritizing the water supply. Lane made the motion to negotiate with Seacoast, Litt seconded it and it passed 5:0. Ferris clarified that he would be executing a letter of interest with Seacoast, the low bidder. Mayor Marino ended the discussion with the statement “Water Trumps All”.   See Sarah Peters article “Gardens Selling 6 acres to utility” in the Palm Beach Post for additional information.

This was not the end of the meeting however. Council Member Litt wanted to discuss creating a formal City Council Resolution on an issue that has come before the Palm Beach County Commission regarding the Bear’s Club property and change in designation, supporting County staff in their recommendation to not accept a payment for property. While all on the Council did agree with the concerns, the conclusion of the discussion was that each on the council should write to the County Commission individually rather than taking a formal position. City Manager Ferris did point out that this Council has waded into political issues before.

Next City Council Mtg and Final Budget Hearing on Thursday 9/20

City Manager Report:  Nothing listed

Public Hearings and Resolutions:

• Resolution 48, 2018 – Adopting a tax levy and millage rate for the City of Palm Beach Gardens for the Fiscal Year commencing October 1, 2018, and ending September 30, 2019 and Ordinance 21, 2018 – Public Hearing for Second and Final Reading Adopting the Fiscal Year 2018/2019 Budget. 
• Ordinance 23, 2018 amends the FY 2018 Budget by transferring accumulated fund balance from the Extra Duty Fund to the General Fund, and recording the financial transactions related to the lease purchase of Fire Department vehicles. 
• Resolution 60, 2018 – Recommendation for the Sale of City-Owned Property at 9290 Park Lane (Hilltop Property).  City Administration seeks guidance from City Council and delegation of authority to the City Manager to execute the Letter of Interest and any subsequent contracts, agreements, or required forms with the interested party that City Council determines has made the best offer for the property, and which offer best serves the current and future needs of the community and the residents of the City of Palm Beach Gardens. 

Items for Council Action/Discussion:   

• None listed

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

When is a tax increase not a tax increase?

A lot of ground was covered in Thursday’s (9/6) City Council meeting.

We’ll start with the Fiscal Year 2018/2019 Budget Hearing – the first hearing of two, the second of which is scheduled for 9/20/18 at 7pm. There was no public comment and the proposed budget and tax rate passed 5:0.

As usual, Finance Administrator Allan Owens presented a thorough, easy to understand presentation of the proposed budget. His presentation can be seen here. What was out of the ordinary, however was Mr. Owens’ exception to some headlines in the Palm Beach Post discussing the City’s budget as a tax increase.

He stated that the headlines were misleading and that they were confusing to the Budget Oversight Committee.

Equally perplexing is this line from the Budget Oversight Committee’s final report “The City has taken affirmative steps to avoid a tax increase for the FY 2019 Budget”.  When operational millage stays flat (as it has at 5.55 and in the proposed out years), and valuations rise – then taxes – the actual dollars taken in, and the actual costs to the tax-payers GO UP. The slight decrease in debt service millage has little influence on the taxes paid by the tax-payer. As former County Commissioner Jess Santemaria used to say ” It’s the dollars not the millage”. PBGWatch’s article entitled  $2.5 Million Tax Increase in 2019 Budget , as well as our agenda item note “(Note – this means that as property valuations increase, your property taxes will go up accordingly – at differing rates depending on whether or not you own a homesteaded property). ” are in full agreement with the Palm Beach Post’s headlines. We hope that the wording in the Budget Oversight Committee’s report is a typo and that it should read “……steps to avoid a tax rate increase’….

The Election Results were approved 5:0 and 3 of the Council chose to speak on the topic during Items of Resident Interest and Board and Committee Reports. Mayor Marino, Vice Mayor Woods and Council Member Marciano, all somewhat defensively, reiterated that it was right to place the charter questions on the ballot and letting the voters decide, even if it was the ‘unpopular’ thing to do. Marino stated that Matthew Lane also wanted to alter term limits to 2- 4 year terms. Yes – that was true during discussions on what, if anything, to place on the ballot. However Council Member Lane voted NO on placing each/any of the charter referendum questions on the ballot both in March and August. The other 4 council members voted YES on all. During Public Comment, Fred Scheibl noted that he’d never seen such uniformity of results, with almost every precinct in the city rejecting questions 1 and 3 by over 15 points, and suggested the Council never do this again. Sid Dinerstein also discussed his assessment of the Election results, and stated his objection to the “… city treasury being used as the Council’s campaign account”.

Two others made Public Comment: Gerald Richman – speaking for Sears regarding Dick’s Sporting Goods and continued issues with the Forbes Company (see Why There’s Still No Dick’s Store at the Gardens Mall ); Steen Ericksson, representing the Fire Chiefs Association of Palm Beach County inviting people to the 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony at Christ Fellowship Church in Boynton Beach at 7pm.

Allan Owens and the Finance Department were awarded the Government Finance Officers Association Distinguished Budget Award for the 21st Consecutive Year by Shannon Ramsey Chessman, Acting COO of the Palm Beach County Clerk and Comptroller’s Office. Mr. Owens thanked his team and specifically Mary Anderson-Pickle, Deputy Finance Administrator.

City Manager Ferris reported:

• The City’s Budget Department (Km! Ra) was awarded the Annual Achievement in Excellence Procurement Award
• Chief Frank Kitzerow of the Palm Beach County School District Police Department spoke on the outstanding support received from the City regarding the City’s supplying police for elementary school patrol and helping in the high schools as well.
• City Manager Ferris  also read many letters of Commendation and thank you letters from residents to the Police Department, Parks & Rec, Building Department, Tennis Center, Code Enforcement and the Fire/Rescue Open House.

Ordinance 22, 2018 – The Bonnette Hunt Club PUD Site Plan Approval discussion resulted in some heated disagreements between Mayor Marino and Council Member Lane. At issue was the very high density and the number of waivers being approved for this very small (6.78 acres) parcel. Also making public comment was John Guastella, President of the Mirabella HOA representing 492 homes – and that this was the first time he was seeing these plans in the entirety and wished the HOA would have had the opportunity to see it. He also expressed concerns about the landscaping on the berm, the two-story homes impact on Mirabella property values. First reading of the ordinance passed 4:1 with Lane voting No.

The Consent Agenda and all other resolutions and ordinances passed 5:0.

There was no City Attorney Report so no status on the two outstanding Elections lawsuits regarding the Appeal to the 4th District Court on the March Election or the status of the lawsuit regarding the August Special Election. See Gardens Election Lawsuit Continues.

Save the date – Thursday September 20th at 7pm for the Second City Council Meeting and Final Reading and Approval of the FY 2018/2019 Budget.

The Voters Speak: A Resounding NO! to More Terms for Council Members

On August 28, almost 12,000 residents weighed in on the three PBG charter questions. This was almost three times the participation in the March election at which the Council first sought to resolve the questions.

In March, 2 questions were thrown out by a circuit court judge for being misleading, and they were clarified and put back on the August ballot as questions 1 and 2, with one issue (City Manager residency) separated out into question 3. March question 3 (Run Again) was allowed to go forward and did pass, but is still being challenged at the court of appeals.

The city had spent $35,000 for the March election, and then another $65,000 for August, ostensibly to “educate” the voters. Unfortunately, the campaign that resulted used misinformation to influence the voters to vote YES on all three questions, and this expenditure is being challenged in yet another lawsuit. The city’s actions, and the challenge to them, caught the attention of many residents through articles in the Palm Beach Post, and citizen’s sharing the news on social media and in emails.

The vote was definitive. Much as the original term limits question was passed with 80% in November 2014, voters said NO to the Council’s desire to have three terms instead of two (question 1), and they rejected the repeal of the City Manager residency requirement (question 3). Both of these were rejected by close to a 2 to 1 margin, and almost every precinct in the city voted NO by more than 15 points.

Question 2, which dealt with a general cleanup of the Charter passed with 60% of the vote.

Given the split vote (The city wanted YES to all, opponents wanted NO to all), you can probably conclude that voters were willing to trust the city to a certain extent that the charter rewrite was necessary, but soundly rejected the Council’s desire for more time in office.

It should be noted that a typical Gardens’s election shows a strong variation in the vote of different parts of the city. There are differences between gated and non-gated communities, eastern and western sections, older and newer areas, those with strong HOAs and those without. The March election showed these differences, but pointedly, the August election did not. It should be noted that March elections where city races are usually decided, have smaller turnout and tend to draw those that are most aware of city issues. City issues are incidental in August and November elections which primarily are deciding state and national races. The larger electorates at these times are likely to decide based on a “policy filter” (eg. “we like term limits”), rather than a personal one (eg: “I trust the Mayor so will vote her way”). Of course, whether you follow city issues or not, if you live in Palm Beach Gardens, your vote is as good as any other, and higher turnout is good for Democracy.

Hopefully, the city and Council will respect the wishes of the voters this time and we can put this all behind us.

Below are the results from the August election:

---

Question 1 – Three terms instead of two?

---

Question 1 – Three terms instead of two
Strong Yes	Weak Yes	Very Close	Weak No	Strong No
Click the precinct on the map for vote totals.

		Registered	Cast	Turnout%	YES	NO	Yes Margin%
1186	Mirabella	1436	417	29	138	257	35
1188	Westwood Gardens	895	263	29	80	169	32
1189	Old Palm – North	95	17	18	4	13	24
1190	The Isles, Paloma, San Michelle, Alton	3547	980	28	344	592	37
1192	Evergreen	1440	400	28	121	253	32
1194	Frenchmans	2023	616	30	257	329	44
1228	Osprey Isles, Carleton Oaks	451	170	38	64	98	40
1238	Mirasol	1696	451	27	93	336	22
1240	PGA National	2454	750	31	266	449	37
1242	PGA National	2542	709	28	261	405	39
1244	PGA National	1537	503	33	185	291	39
1246	Bent Tree, Garden Lks, Shady Lks, Gdns of Woodbury	2382	610	26	146	442	25
1247	Old Palm – South	228	54	24	13	38	25
1248	PGA-east.	1497	499	33	152	330	32
1250	Gardens Glen	63	26	41	11	13	46
1252	BallenIsles	2288	802	35	294	475	38
1254	Hunt Club	445	154	35	39	106	27
1260	Elm Avenue	1294	472	36	118	338	26
1266	Union Square, Randolph Way	462	56	12	26	28	48
1268	Golfers Drive, Lilac	298	37	12	13	21	38
1270	Lilac Park	10	1	10	0	1	0
1272	Holly Drive, Riverside	1900	579	30	172	387	31
1274	Gardenia Dr, Arbor Way	1581	481	30	149	318	32
1280	Lake Catherine	392	129	33	57	69	45
1284	Gardens Mall area	2170	508	23	201	283	42
1288	Oakway Circle	38	13	34	4	8	33
1290	The Oaks	2084	633	30	196	408	32
1292	Nature’s Way	73	29	40	15	14	52
1296	Prosperity Oaks, Marina Gardens	727	149	20	54	84	39
1324	Oaks East, Sandelwood	1258	307	24	96	193	33
1326	Siena Oaks	557	206	37	68	129	35
1340	Landing Place	14	9	64	6	3	67
1352	Steeplechase, Montecito	2202	627	28	237	367	39
1360	Sunset	889	290	33	90	190	32
1372	Sandtree	162	32	20	10	22	31
6062	Bay Hill Estates	814	269	33	104	151	41
6064	Rustic Lakes	122	35	29	7	27	21
	TOTALS	42066	12283	29%	4091	7637	35%

Question 2 – Charter Cleanup?

---

Question 2 – Charter Cleanup?
Strong Yes	Weak Yes	Very Close	Weak No	Strong No
Click the precinct on the map for vote totals.

		Registered	Cast	Turnout%	YES	NO	Yes Margin%
1186	Mirabella	1436	417	29	223	163	58
1188	Westwood Gardens	895	263	29	141	99	59
1189	Old Palm – North	95	17	18	16	1	94
1190	The Isles, Paloma, San Michelle, Alton	3547	980	28	582	305	66
1192	Evergreen	1440	400	28	222	104	68
1194	Frenchmans	2023	616	30	369	181	67
1228	Osprey Isles, Carleton Oaks	451	170	38	102	44	70
1238	Mirasol	1696	451	27	217	203	52
1240	PGA National	2454	750	31	387	304	56
1242	PGA National	2542	709	28	423	233	64
1244	PGA National	1537	503	33	261	190	58
1246	Bent Tree, Garden Lks, Shady Lks, Gdns of Woodbury	2382	610	26	259	288	47
1247	Old Palm – South	228	54	24	33	11	75
1248	PGA-east.	1497	499	33	250	212	54
1250	Gardens Glen	63	26	41	15	9	63
1252	BallenIsles	2288	802	35	435	313	58
1254	Hunt Club	445	154	35	77	59	57
1260	Elm Avenue	1294	472	36	244	197	55
1266	Union Square, Randolph Way	462	56	12	37	13	74
1268	Golfers Drive, Lilac	298	37	12	22	11	67
1270	Lilac Park	10	1	10	1	0	100
1272	Holly Drive, Riverside	1900	579	30	287	257	53
1274	Gardenia Dr, Arbor Way	1581	481	30	232	214	52
1280	Lake Catherine	392	129	33	82	38	68
1284	Gardens Mall area	2170	508	23	335	121	73
1288	Oakway Circle	38	13	34	8	4	67
1290	The Oaks	2084	633	30	355	207	63
1292	Nature’s Way	73	29	40	20	6	77
1296	Prosperity Oaks, Marina Gardens	727	149	20	85	37	70
1324	Oaks East, Sandelwood	1258	307	24	160	117	58
1326	Siena Oaks	557	206	37	107	73	59
1340	Landing Place	14	9	64	5	0	100
1352	Steeplechase, Montecito	2202	627	28	366	200	65
1360	Sunset	889	290	33	155	113	58
1372	Sandtree	162	32	20	22	8	73
6062	Bay Hill Estates	814	269	33	177	57	76
6064	Rustic Lakes	122	35	29	15	17	47
	TOTALS	42066	12283	29%	6727	4409	60%

Question 3 – Repeal City Manager Residency Requirement?

---

Question 3 – Repeal City Manager Residency Requirement?
Strong Yes	Weak Yes	Very Close	Weak No	Strong No
Click the precinct on the map for vote totals.

		Registered	Cast	Turnout%	YES	NO	Yes Margin%
1186	Mirabella	1436	417	29	111	279	28
1188	Westwood Gardens	895	263	29	69	172	29
1189	Old Palm – North	95	17	18	8	8	50
1190	The Isles, Paloma, San Michelle, Alton	3547	980	28	255	642	28
1192	Evergreen	1440	400	28	109	221	33
1194	Frenchmans	2023	616	30	254	298	46
1228	Osprey Isles, Carleton Oaks	451	170	38	47	105	31
1238	Mirasol	1696	451	27	119	305	28
1240	PGA National	2454	750	31	208	493	30
1242	PGA National	2542	709	28	230	426	35
1244	PGA National	1537	503	33	129	332	28
1246	Bent Tree, Garden Lks, Shady Lks, Gdns of Woodbury	2382	610	26	117	444	21
1247	Old Palm – South	228	54	24	18	28	39
1248	PGA-east.	1497	499	33	118	345	25
1250	Gardens Glen	63	26	41	7	16	30
1252	BallenIsles	2288	802	35	286	477	37
1254	Hunt Club	445	154	35	39	100	28
1260	Elm Avenue	1294	472	36	108	343	24
1266	Union Square, Randolph Way	462	56	12	16	34	32
1268	Golfers Drive, Lilac	298	37	12	10	23	30
1270	Lilac Park	10	1	10	0	1	0
1272	Holly Drive, Riverside	1900	579	30	128	417	23
1274	Gardenia Dr, Arbor Way	1581	481	30	106	349	23
1280	Lake Catherine	392	129	33	39	83	32
1284	Gardens Mall area	2170	508	23	149	310	32
1288	Oakway Circle	38	13	34	5	7	42
1290	The Oaks	2084	633	30	177	401	31
1292	Nature’s Way	73	29	40	12	14	46
1296	Prosperity Oaks, Marina Gardens	727	149	20	41	84	33
1324	Oaks East, Sandelwood	1258	307	24	76	201	27
1326	Siena Oaks	557	206	37	60	124	33
1340	Landing Place	14	9	64	1	4	20
1352	Steeplechase, Montecito	2202	627	28	197	373	35
1360	Sunset	889	290	33	78	189	29
1372	Sandtree	162	32	20	8	22	27
6062	Bay Hill Estates	814	269	33	84	149	36
6064	Rustic Lakes	122	35	29	9	23	28
	TOTALS	42066	12283	29%	3428	7842	30%

$2.5M Tax Increase in 2019 Budget

The 2019 PBG Budget raises $2.5M in new taxes, up 4.3% over last year. See the Proposed Budget here.

When the new budget was introduced to set the millage at the July meeting, it contained a generous increase in reserves, and had led one to hope that there was room for at least a token millage reduction, even with the potential for the passage of Amendment 1 in November. (Amendment 1 would increase the homestead exemption and reduce the tax take of the counties and municipalities.)

That is less likely now, as the Council (with a room full of uniformed officers staring them down) unanimously passed an emergency 12% raise for the Gardens Police in August. This was done with little advance notice and with little discussion, other than that the Sheriff was hiring with big bucks and many of the officers would be leaving the Gardens if they didn’t get more money. The net result (since the maximum millage had already been set) was to fund it from reserves.

You may recall that prior to the passage of the sales tax surcharge in 2016, PBG staff had said they didn’t need any additional sources of funds, and if it passed, would return some to the taxpayers in a millage reduction. That too changed of course when the full 10 year revenue stream was captured in a bond and allocated to projects starting immediately, including $11M for a new park.

Assuming the flat millage budget is passed, it will raise about $62M in Ad-Valorem taxes, up over 4% from last year. In the last year, inflation has increased by 2.8% and population by about 1.7%, so the increase is not out of line.

Since 2005, the population of Palm Beach Gardens will have grown by about 16% to its 2019 projection of 56,590 (est.) Inflation, measured by the consumer price index, will be about 33%. Taken together, TABOR would suggest a growth in city spending and taxation of about 55%. (see graph below).

Over the same period (2005-2019), ad-valorem taxes grew 76% and total expenditures (budget less debt payment, capital and transfers) grew 69%. Both are above the TABOR line, but note that in 2013, reductions in tax collection had actually returned to the trendline. It is only since then that we seem to be off to the races.

It should be noted that ad-valorem taxes fund only a part of city expenditures, the rest made up from impact fees, fees for services, other taxes, intergovernmental grants, etc. and have varied from 66% of the total in 2005 to about 69% now. That is why taxes and expenses do not track each other on the chart.

Another useful measurement is taxes per capita – Ad valorem taxes divided by population and then inflation adjusted. By this measure, in 2005 we paid $936 per person to our city and in 2019 it will be $1060 (2018 dollars). It should be noted that as property owners, we pay taxes to other entities besides the city – county, schools, health care district, etc. In 2019 the Palm Beach Gardens portion of the amount on our TRIM statement is about 27% of the total.

So if you trust TABOR, or per-capita as measuring sticks, is this growth in taxation excessive? You be the judge.

Martino: Hear the Messages

For the voters and City Council of Palm Beach Gardens the August 28th election has come and gone. Again in a loud and certain voice the voters sent two succinct messages to the City Council and its Administration. Approximately, 70% of the participating voters in the August 28th election affirmatively communicated…

DO NOT MESS WITH OUR TERM LIMITS

And

DO NOT MESS WITH THE CITY MANAGER RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT

This City Council has been tone deaf when listening to the majority of the voters as it relates to these two issues. However, their hearing seems to be well tuned to the frequency of the developers and special interests whose money and attitudes are not in tune with the desires of the voters. The deceptive, political, and somewhat conspiratorial campaign that was waged against the above messages by the City Council bears witness to their deafness. To make matters worse the City Council used public tax money to support and pay for their crusade against existing term limits and City Manager residency requirements. Augmenting the City’s position in opposition to the messages above, a Political Action Committee, PAC, miraculously surfaced with an employee of the City’s public relations firm as its Treasurer, and lots of developer and special interest money underwriting it.

The reality of and results of the election apparently did nothing to improve the deafness of Mayor Marino. A City Council appointed Mayor, Marino’s comments in response to the results of the August 28th election suggest no improvement can be expected to her and the Council’s hearing. In a Palm Beach Post article she lamented “It looks like every five to six years, we’ll have a brand new council, so we’ll have a limited amount of institutional knowledge.” Marino blamed the term limit election results on a reaction to national politics. Apparently, Marino did not hear well the sounds of the election results concerning the City Manager residency either. She again opposed the voters’ desires as after some simplistic commentary she said, “That’s why it should be a contract item and not a charter item.”

My suggestion to the City Council is to listen and HEAR THE MESSAGES of the voters. Leave term limits alone, leave the City Manager residency as is, and quit messing with the City Charter. Enough is enough

City Council Meeting and 1st Budget Hearing on Sept 6th

• Resolution 50, 2018 – City applied for and received grant for $250K for Stormwater Maintenance, Repairs and Operation Program. 
• Purchase Award – Mowing and Landscaping Services – Streets and Parks – Openly competed – did not choose option to renew – 5 year contract with option to renew for another 5 years – total 5 year contract value $3.7 million.

City Manager Report:  Nothing listed

Public Hearings and Resolutions:

• Ordinance 21, 2018  – First hearing of Adopting the Budget for Fiscal Year 2018/2019.  The Operational millage remains flat at 5.55 and debt service millage is reduced .0503 for a total millage of 5.6003.  Property valuations are up 4.41% over last year.  It is the intention to maintain flat operational millage for several years.  (Note – this means that as property valuations increase, your property taxes will go up accordingly – at differing rates depending on whether or not you own a homesteaded property). 
• Resolution 56, 2018 – A request from Palm Beach County Department of Environmental Resources Management (PBCDERM) for a Major Conditional Use approval to allow various improvements for passive recreation activities and a small public parking lot within a portion of the Loxahatchee Slough Recreation Facility area located off of the Beeline Highway approximately one-mile north of the PGA Boulevard/Beeline Highway intersection.
• Resolution 57, 2018 –  A request from PGA Commons 2, LLC and PGA Commons 3, LLC for a Planned Unit Development (PUD) Amendment at PGA Commons PUD to allow a new outdoor bar for Spoto’s Restaurant
• Ordinance 20, 2018 – First Reading of a request from 11940 Highway One Realty, LLC for a Voluntary Annexation of a 5.74-acre parcel located on the southeast corner of the intersection of Juno Road and U.S. Highway One approximately 0.5 miles north of the intersection of PGA Boulevard and U.S. Highway One. Most of us know this as Carl’s Plaza; it is in the long-term annexation plan for the City and is currently vacant.
• Ordinance 22, 2018 – First reading of Bonnette Hunt Club – Planned Unit Development (PUD) Rezoning and PUD Site Plan Approval – The Applicant is requesting approval of a PUD Site Plan to accommodate the development of a 24-unit single-family residential subdivision. The property is located on the south side of Hood Road, between Florida’s Turnpike and Jog Road. 

Items for Council Action/Discussion:   

• None listed

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