Next City Council Mtg on Thursday, Feb 4 at 6pm

The February PBG City Council Meeting will be held on Thursday, February 4 at 6pm.  You can watch it livestreaming either during or after the meeting, if you are unable to attend.

The Agenda is a light one featuring two presentations:

• Honda Classic Community Impact Presentation
• Carrier Corporations’ Mobile Application

The Consent Agenda includes:

• Resolution 11, 2021 – Approval of an agreement with the Children’s Healthcare Charity, Inc. for the 2021 Honda Classic PGA Golf Tournament to provide a public safety grant for Police and Fire Services and related staff services, and the use of specific portions of Parks, as described, for various parking facilities and general operations….”Just as in last year’s agreement, marketing objectives are included to leverage the exposure the tournament brings to our City. Through the partnership with the tournament staff, we have strategically developed concepts that will bring to the forefront that Palm Beach Gardens is the “Host City” of the event.
• Resolution 15, 2021 – A request by the property owner for approval of a platting exception to allow a portion of Lot 29 in the E-1 single-family parcel to be sold and transferred to Lot 28 within the Frenchman’s Creek Planned Community Development (PCD). The Frenchman’s Creek PCD is located at the southeast corner of Donald Ross Road and Alternate A 1 A.
•   Resolution 17, 2021 – SUPPORTING CARRIER FIRE & SECURITY AMERICAS CORPORATION’S BLUEDIAMOND CONTACT TRACING FEATURE. Consideration for Approval: Endorsement of Carrier Corporations’ BlueDiamond Contact Tracing Feature and its availability as part of Carrier’s BlueDiamond mobile credentialing mobile application on the Apple Store/Google Play Store….:To most easily make Carrier’s contact tracing app available to their customers’ employees for their use, Carrier needs to have the app available for customers to download on both the Google and Apple online stores. At present, both Google and Apple require apps that reference COVID-19 to have certain government or healthcare affiliation. Therefore, City Council’s endorsement would allow Carrier to add its contact tracing feature as part of Carrier’s BlueDiamond mobile credentialing mobile application on the Apple Store/Google Play Store.”

Regular Agenda – Ordinances/Resolutions:

• Ordinance 1, 2021 – 2nd reading and Adoption: An amendment to the City of Palm Beach Gardens Firefighters’ Retirement Trust Fund. Required due to IRS changes and “the proposed amendment will have no actuarial impact on the cost of the Plan.”
• Ordinance 2, 2021 – 2nd reading and Adoption: An amendment to the City of Palm Beach Gardens Police Officers’ Retirement Trust Fund. Required due to IRS changes and “the proposed amendment will have no actuarial impact on the cost of the Plan.”
• Ordinance 3, 2021 – 2nd reading and Adoption: A City-initiated request to update the 5-Year Schedule of Capital Improvements (Table 9A) and the Palm Beach County School District’s Summary of Capital Improvements Schedule (Table 9B) of the Capital Improvements Element (CIE) of the City’s Comprehensive Plan, in accordance with Section 163.3177(3)(a)5.(b), Florida Statutes.

Please check the agenda before the meeting for additions or modifications.

 

March 9th Election – Candidate Profiles

In March, there will be a Palm Beach Gardens City Council (Group 2) Municipal Election to fill the seat vacated by newly elected County Commissioner District 1, Maria Marino.

The election is considered a “special election”, and the winner will fill out the remainder of Maria’s term which ends in March of 2022.

The candidates are previous Council Member (and Mayor) Marcie Tinsley and newcomer Rob Nanfro.

Marcie Tinsley, a land planner and landscape designer is Vice President of Karl Corporation, a land management company. She was term-limited out in 2017, and is eligible to run again after sitting out a three year term.

Rob Nanfro, A CPA and Sr. Director of Taxation for ECN Capital in West Palm Beach is a newcomer to the Gardens, having moved here from New Jersey in 2019.

To help you make sense of who these candidates are and what they would do if they win, we asked each of them to describe themselves to our readers by answering 5 questions:

1. Why do you want to be on the Council?
2. What do you see as the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats facing Palm Beach Gardens now and in the near future?
3. What involvement have you had in the issues that the council has faced over the past few years?
4. What is your “vision” for the city?
5. What else would you like the voters to know about you and your candidacy?

Further information and links to their websites can be found in our online voters’ guide, and a printed copy of these profiles can be had at the [PRINT] link to the right of the title (above).

Here are their responses:

Group 2
Rob Nanfro	Marcie Tinsley
1. Why do you want to be on the Council?
Rob Nanfro: My wife, Claudia, and I instantly fell in love with Palm Beach Gardens and I immediately became PBG Proud!. I believe – if you love where you live you should get involved. With the encouragement of a few long-time residents, I did my due diligence and decided, as a tax expert, that I could help PBG by serving on the City Council. I am running for Transparency, Fiscal Responsibility and will honor the current “Term Limits’ of 2 three-year terms. What made me run was the lack of transparency for just 4 issues over the last decade: 1. $14M Bond – At the 01/14/2021 City Council meeting, various reports and documents were brandished from 2013 through 2019 as transparency in government for the Resolution [Lucky #] 7, 2021. Why weren’t the materials, brandished from the dias, from 2013-2019 easily accessible on the website? The truth about the $14M Bond – it is dependent on recreational impact fees and “projected” revenues, not guaranteed revenues. Any shortfall will be footed by the taxpayers. 2. The “Sears Lawsuit” – The City Council became involved in a private corporate dispute when it passed an Ordinance that affected Sear’s ability to sublet its retail space at the Gardens Mall. Sears sued and the Appellate Court ruled the City Ordinance was unconstitutional and it awarded Sears $625,000 in legal fees to be paid by the City. Ultimately it was the taxpayers that paid because it was not covered by the city’s insurance policy. Not only was this a waste of time but costly to our residents. 3. The Stadium – Astros Leadership acknowledged that the City had been in talks with the City since 2012 for a potential spring training Facility in PBG. Even with the team’s general council stating in mid-November 2013 that the Astros were only focusing on the 117-acres site off Central Blvd. After the City Council approved $60K for a PR firm to work on the stadium project, my opponent stated, just three days later – “I would love to be able to tell you what my position is,” Tinsley said. “At this point, there is no proposal to base a decision on.” We all know an MLB team would not make such a statement unless some guarantees and a preliminary proposal were in place. 4. Term Limits – In 2014, the residents voted for term limits of 2 three-year terms but in 2017, the City Council put forward a deceptive measure trying to extend the term limit to 3 three-year terms. This strategy landed the City back in court which cost the taxpayers $100K to put the measure on the ballot with court-ordered mandatory education for the voters. These funds were on top of the monies already spent by the City to try and defend what the City Council wanted to extend the term limits the residents voted for in 2014. Originally my opponent stated the voters should decide “Term Limits” but once she was “termed-out”, she changed her tune. Her subjective view stated approval for ‘reasonable’ term limits and what is out there isn’t reasonable.” Her return to the political landscape after sitting out for one term might be legal, but in not in the “spirit’ of the term limits concept. This “spirit” is to have new people with fresh ideas and diverse expertise in leadership positions of our City for two 3-year terms. As a CPA and tax expert, I am the best choice to bring government transparency and fiscal responsibility to the City Council.	Marcie Tinsley: Palm Beach Gardens has been my home for almost 20 years. I began public service by Volunteering at Allamanda Elementary School in 1989 while attending college. My husband and I have raised our three children in PBG, I have continued to serve my community by volunteering on boards and committees on a local and regional level for the last 20 years. My family and home are the biggest investment of my life and are located in our beautiful city. I supported term limits and have listened to the will of the voters. I took a break from politics and had an opportunity to watch our city grow from the sidelines. I was encouraged by friends, many residents and business owners to serve again. As an empty nester, I now have more time to dedicate my leadership skills and experience to our city. I have always been a consensus builder. In today’s challenging time, I can use my knowledge and history to protect our neighborhoods from over development while protecting our natural resources. I can help bridge the gap between the past and present and lead our city into the future.
2. What do you see as the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats facing Palm Beach Gardens now and in the near future?
Rob Nanfro: strength and a weakness are derived from the same dominant thinking. A Strength for a City Council is having consistency in leadership structure. The weakness creeps in when the leadership structure does not change and there is complacency with a lack of improvement relying on the status quo. Strengths – “Our Signature City” has many strengths. I believe that we can all agree that Our #1 strength is the reputation for being a best city to live in Florida, with great quality of life metrics and stellar public safety programs. BUT, the “Palm Beach Gardens Biggest Strength” came from you, the voters. In 2014, you passed a measure with 80% of the voters supporting “term limits” with City Council members serving 2 three-year terms and then they must step down. History has shown that “term limits” strengthen democratic institutions over time because the change in political hierarchy encourages a rising generation of leaders with fresh ideas and views to suggest policy changes that will strengthen a municipality. The election of the new City Council members does not allow city management nor council members to become stagnant and complacent which helps “Our Signature City” grow and encourages “Fiscal Responsibility” and “Government Transparency”. Weaknesses – I always look at a weakness as an opportunity to improve. In reviewing the current 2021 Adopted Budget, I noticed that the City Council’s budget is a staggering $545,129 for 5 members. This is an astonishing 40% higher than the 2019 Actual Budget of $388,572 during a pandemic. Why is it so high? The answer is that the City Council is paid a salary with health benefits, a pension, travel per diem, memberships/dues, professional service fees and contingency fees. This is a part time position and our City is budgeting over $109,000 for each person. I believe that this is too much and should be curtailed. Opportunities – Fiscal Responsibility, Government Transparency, Impact Tax & Helping local businesses. Fiscal Responsibility – Trimming the City budget and redirecting monies to areas where it is needed and adjusting it on an annual basis depending on where the critical needs are for the communities served. Government Transparency – This supports fiscal responsibility. When there is government transparency and a true participatory government by the governed, there are checks & balance. We should reinstitute the resident’s workshops and use social media to broadcast the City Council meetings in real time to engage the residents. With true transparency, we can learn from past mistakes to prevent wasteful spending, i.e. The Stadium and the Gardens Mall Lawsuit. Threats – The lack of Government Transparency, no resident workshops, and the planning with no oversight from the community are dodgy practices which lead to rapid growth, the misuse of impact fees, and a neglect of the infrastructure. I am sure if the City Council is scrutinized, there will be a finger-pointing blame game. I have three questions: 1. Why is there NO COLA (Cost of Living Increase) for the PBG Police Department when all other departments have it? 2. When were the resident workshops for the Workforce Housing and Loehman’s Plaza plan to become a train station? 3. What worker will be able to afford the housing being discussed and who, with such a car centric community will use the train?	Marcie Tinsley: Strengths: The strength of our city is its people, businesses, amenities, and government working together. It provides an opportunity to live, work, play in a safe and beautiful environment. Our community leaders and residents are able to voice their concerns. It is up to local government to listen and respond. Our city has award winning first responders that are second to none. Weakness/ Threats can blossom into opportunity: Our city has always been faced with the challenges of over development and traffic congestion. However, my planning background allows me to have a thoughtful approach to both and the knowledge to turn a threat into a natural resource. A perfect example is the North County District Park. I was able to turn that property from the threat of a Major League Baseball Stadium into a beautiful District Park with 23 acres of preservation, walking trails, multi-purpose fields and an outdoor public playground for all North County to enjoy in perpetuity. My business mind has been instrumental in keeping taxes low while luring high paying jobs and business to our City. In the past, I was the deciding vote in favor of lowering the mileage rate. I have a track record of being an independent thinker and doing my homework before making decisions.
3. What involvement have you had in the issues that the council has faced over the past few years?
Rob Nanfro: As a tax expert, I have been involved with various municipal councils regarding multi-million-dollar projects regarding footprints, job growth, and working with the various state/municipal councils to ensure that the entity I represented was being a good corporate neighbor. Most recently, I have been attending current and reviewing previous Palm Beach Gardens City Council meetings. While the City seems to be run efficiently, I believe fresh ideas and full transparency are needed at the Council level. During the last two council meetings, observing first in December and then participating in the January meeting, I left the last council meeting perplexed – how could the City Council vote on a Resolution [Lucky #7], a $14M Bond, and claim transparency when no document or study they referenced was available on the City Council website, for public review?	Marcie Tinsley: As a public servant, volunteer and resident, I have been an active problem solver in our community for many years. I now have the unique perspective of being able to see things through the eyes of a resident, property owner, mom and government official. I have protected property owners by lowering taxes, protected neighborhoods from over development and also supported local business. I listened to residents and I fought for more transparency in government. This resulted in live streamed council meetings and a very informative city website. In addition to the examples above, serving on the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council, gave me the tools to solve many traffic problems. It also was instrumental in creating policy to keep developer impact dollars local to pay for roadway improvements in our city. More specifically, I used my land planning skills to improve the safety and traffic flow of 117th Court North. I witnessed parents driving up on the same sidewalk that students of both Timber Trace Elementary and Duncan Middle school were walking. Cars were backed up on Central Blvd causing mayhem each morning. I collaborated with the School Board, The City Public Works and Engineering Department and came up with a plan to solve the traffic, parking and access issues while vastly improving the safety of our young pedestrians. There are a myriad of examples to share that exemplify my passion in helping to improve local government and our community.
4. What is your “vision” for the city?
Rob Nanfro: A more transparent City Council that will create meaningful change that encompasses MacArthur’s vision and the opportunity to become a forward-thinking community. Innovation is the key to success. The City Council should invite participation from the residents by; having interactive council meetings, when necessary, to review project areas and the neighborhood(s) that will be affected, resident workshops and interactive council meetings that include social media and local cable stations, with the ability for residents, not attending in person, to be able to ask questions or make comments and be on the record.	Marcie Tinsley: My near term vision and goal is to help our residents through the pandemic and help get our economy moving again. I also want to make sure our city grows in a thoughtful manner while keeping taxes low and protecting our natural resources.
5. What else would you like the voters to know about you and your candidacy?
Rob Nanfro: I have No Agenda I will Fight For Transparency I believe in Term Limits I will Fight To Close Loopholes	Marcie Tinsley: It is not easy to get things done in a bureaucracy. I am a consensus builder and am proud of what I have accomplished. I have taken a step back and have a clear vision, I am willing to dedicate the time and use my knowledge, history and skills in leading our city into the future. I would love the opportunity to do more.

Artigras Returns to the Gardens and new Par 3 City Golf Course

Highlights from the January 14th City Council Meeting

• Artigras (Feb 13 and 14) will be held at the North County District Park.  Noel Martinez, CEO and President of Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce briefly described the economic impacts. See “Artigras Moving Back to Palm Beach Gardens“.
• Covid-19 Vaccinations – Fire Chief Bryer outlined the preparations made by the City for the Jan 15th administration of 200 doses of Covid-19 vaccines to City residents (over the age of 65). The appointments sold out in minutes. He credited the work of Cory Bessette (Division Chief of EMS) with outstanding efforts in staying on top of all things ‘covid-related’ in the Gardens. The City is prepared to administer 200 doses, 6 days a week if there were supply. (Editor’s note – I happened to be on the website when the vaccination appointments went live and was able to make an appointment and receive my first dose on Jan 15. The process was extremely well organized and smooth, the staff was engaging, Chief Bryer was very visible greeting those waiting for their vaccines. Unfortunately, the City has not received any additional doses so far).  For the latest vaccine information from the City, see the City’s Covid-19 Vaccinations page here.
• Western Golf Course Expansion
  • Casey Mitchell, Director of Golf, presented the plans for a new Par 3 Golf Course and Clubhouse adjacent to Sandhill Crane Golf Course on land deed to the City as part of the Avenir development approvals.  See the Palm Beach Post article here.
  • Resolution 7, 2021 and it’s companion Resolution 13, 2021 were “Authorizing the issuance of the City of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, Public Improvement Bond, Series 2021, in an amount not to exceed $14,000,000 to finance construction of an 18-hole par-3 golf course and related facilities.
  • Financial details of the bond were presented by Allan Owens, Finance Administrator.
  • There was significant discussion by City Manager Ferris regarding public ‘chatter’ and emails about the expansion. He appeared to be quite irritated with wrong information being circulated and wanted to ‘set the record straight’ outlining references to the intentions for the 115 acre parcel going back to 2013 and citing references to golf course expansion in various meetings with golf course residents, the study for the Sandhill Crane Golf Clubhouse improvements and other discussions over the years. The last reference he made, however, was 2016 – where the parcel was referenced to be used for ‘parks and rec‘.
  • Resident Rob Nanfro, making Public Comment, said that none of this history was included in the Resolution whereas many similar resolutions have included previous actions by staff and Council. PBC Commissioner Maria Marino, speaking as a professional golfer was pleased by the references to her work on the Clubhouse study and was in full support of the Par 3 Course which would be an asset not a liability and augment services already provided, such as a good driving range and other amenities and a practice facility.
  • Both Resolutions were passed with whole-hearted support and discussion by the Council 4:0.
• Resolution 14, 2021 – Prohibiting the use of polystyrene products on public property, directing City Administration to negotiate “No Polystyrene” provisions in applicable City contracts, and encouraging all residents and retail businesses within the City to reduce or eliminate the use of polystyrene products was passed 4:0. This was the resolution requested by Council after discussion in prior council meetings and the subject was most recently raised by Council Member Reed, and a couple of years previously by Vice Mayor Litt.

• Charlotte Presensky, Leisure Service Administrator – earned the National Recreation and Park Association “Certified Park and Recreation Executive” certification – which is the highest level a Parks and Recreation Professional can achieve, and only one of 250 such certified individuals in the Country. Congratulations to Ms. Presenky!

All other ordinances and the Consent Agenda passed 4:0.

Public Comment

• Commissioner Marino spoke briefly regarding Covid vaccinations, and the upcoming SR 7 Virtual Workshop on Thursday, Jan 28th.
• Rob Nanfro (candidate for City Council Group 2) introduced himself.

*** There were some last minute technical issues which prevented the secondary camera from recording the presentations from the meeting.  Here are links to the Power-point Presentations made at the January 14th meeting:

• Ordinance 1 2021 Fire Pension Amendment 1st reading: https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:6e899979-d67f-43c0-95ca-2dcffe814e30
• Ordinance 2 2021 Police Pension Amendment 1st reading: https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:c25556d7-d28c-4451-a21e-2385dee740c0
• Resolution 7 Series 2021 Bond- Golf Expansion: https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:9ad4522b-3c62-47c4-b599-2a08bdc76e90
• Western Golf Course Expansion January 2021 Council Presentation: https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:93d0006c-2616-4637-a053-537728cd112b

Why are workers chopping down oaks on a key Gardens road?

Why are workers chopping down oak and palm trees along Kyoto Gardens Drive, that great short cut to the Gardens Mall from Military Trail?

It’s all part of the massive plan for the new FPL office headquarters taking shape along Kyoto Gardens just northeast of the I-95/PGA Boulevard interchange. 

The plan for the $67.9 million construction project calls for moving a road. 

Little-known RCA Center Drive, which runs north from RCA Boulevard and under PGA Boulevard, intersects with Kyoto Gardens Drive too near the FEC Railway tracks to allow a stoplight there.

And even though Florida Power & Light Co.’s preliminary studies showed the new intersection wouldn’t immediately generate enough traffic to justify a stoplight, FPL is spending the money now to move the road about 85 yards to the west. 

That means chopping down live oaks along Kyoto. A recent visit revealed seven new stumps west of RCA Center Drive and five east. It also means taking out some of the foxtail palms and hedges that decorate the roadway median. 

Traffic engineers will conduct studies after the six-story office building opens in 2022 to up to 1,000 employees to see if enough cars line up at the newly rebuilt intersection to justify a signal. 

In the meantime, FPL contractors are moving the road.

Workers are ripping out the concrete medians, tearing up sidewalks and chopping down the trees, many planted in the past five or six years. On Jan. 11, an earth mover in the median slowed traffic in one eastbound lane. In the other, a Mercedes-Benz crunched into the tailgate of a Toyota Tundra blocked traffic.

The new intersection will have a second northbound left turn lane and more room for cars to line up to turn but until it meets county stoplight criteria, stop signs will rule. 

The sidewalk along Kyoto Gardens will be 12 feet wide instead of 5. That means ripping up more landscaping lining the road. There’s already been some clear-cutting behind the landscaped hedge line planted a few years ago by FPL but it’s not clear if those hedges will be removed. FPL did not return calls Thursday and Friday requesting comment.  

 

Stunning new building

FPL’s new building — that long, low-slung concrete structure rising now on the 86-acre site east of Military Trail — could be a stunner. 

Built to withstand Category 5 hurricanes, drawings by architects Perkins + Will of Coral Gables show a sleek modern design that looks like an airship dropped into a forest clearing. The top four floors, which house the offices, seem to float over the bottom two floors, devoted to a cafeteria, workout rooms and other large meeting space.

The building sits south of a berm, already constructed, and dominates the view across the lake from the Kyoto Gardens bridge east of the Trail. It can be seen from southbound Interstate 95 and it’s southern face dominates the view on the westbound PGA Boulevard exit ramp off of northbound I-95.

 

Saving some trees, clear-cutting others

FPL previously cleared the entire site of non-native trees, saving pines and sabal palms that have dominated the property for decades, although thinned by a March 2017 fire. 

Moving the road means more clear-cutting of native trees, which took place the week of Jan. 11, to forge the road’s new path. 

Another path has been cleared through the forest on the southern perimeter, just below the elevated on-ramp to southbound I-95. The path will be paved for an internal perimeter road emptying onto RCA Center Drive. The main entrance is off of Kyoto.

Construction began in July, with building permits issued in 2020 showing an estimated cost of $51.5 million for the six-story building, $13.5 million for the three-story parking garage and $2.8 million for road work. 

Catalfumo built the road

The property, long held by the late insurance magnate John D. MacArthur, went to his foundation after his 1978 death. The Chicago-based board sat on it for decades before selling it to Dan Catalfumo as part of its liquidation of its north county holdings in 1999. 

To get the rights to turn the vacant property and another nearby tract into a commercial center, Catalfumo partnered with the city to build and landscape Kyoto Gardens Drive and RCA Center Drive in 2007. Building the roads, which included the rail crossing at Alternate A1A, cost about $5.6 million. The city kicked in about 40 percent because it wanted Kyoto to be four lanes instead of two.

But the economy went south and Catalfumo never built planned hotels, office buildings and stores on the huge site just west of the Gardens Mall. The developer lost the land to lenders.

FPL paid $24 million in 2011 for all but 4.2 acres, which it bought in 2018 for $4.9 million. 

In July 2013, the city gave the Juno Beach-based power company the right to build nearly 1 million square feet of office space on the site. 

Landscaping, some of which now will be removed, went up along the site’s perimeter after that. 

Plans show FPL intends to replant foxtail and sabal palms, live oak 12 to 18 feet high and even South Florida slash pines in the medians, along the roadside or throughout the property.  

 

Joel Engelhardt wrote and edited stories at The Palm Beach Post for nearly 30 years before departing in December. He lives in Gardens not far from the FPL office building site, known as PGA Office Center. He tried for two days to get FPL to return his calls to get its take on the tree-clearing. Not only would they not return his calls, they wouldn’t tell him the name of the appropriate spokesman for the project. You can email him at InTheGardensPBC@gmail.com.

Martino: Groundhog Day in the Gardens

After reviewing the Palm Beach Gardens January 14th agenda items,  Resolution 7, 2021 and Resolution 13, 2021, I felt as if I was experiencing the movie Groundhog Day. Groundhog Day is a 1993 American fantasy comedy film. It centers on a weatherman that finds he is inexplicably living the same day over and over again while covering the annual Groundhog Day event in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. However, I am really in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, not Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. In my opinion, Resolution 7, 2021 and Resolution 13, 2021, are not a comedies but tragedies of transparency failures. Like the cynical weatherman in Groundhog Day I feel as if I, too, am in a time loop of repeated City Council public transparency, communication, and openness transgressions and failures.

Resolution 7, 2021 authorizes the issuance of the City of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, Public Improvement Bond, Series 2021, in an amount not to exceed $14,000,000 to finance construction of an 18-hole par-3 golf course and related facilities. According to the council meeting agenda the 18-hole par-3 golf course and related facilities will be discussed under Presentations by staff entitled “Western Golf Course Expansion” and during discussion of Resolution 13, 2021 which adopts a policy and plan for the expenditure of the proceeds from the Public Improvement Bonds – Series 2021 that were adopted by the approval of Resolution 7, 2021 earlier on the Regular agenda It approves the bond for a golf course in Avenir on 115 acres or so, of property owned by the City. This land was conveyed to the City by the Avenir developers as a condition of the development approvals.

What are the problems with the Resolutions above the City Council might ask? Many and varied I would respond. The lack of transparency, communication and openness with the Public are the main irritants.  To my knowledge, none of the above has been discussed in a public meeting by the City Council. Concurrently, the residents were not noticed or informed through advertised public meetings. Thus, we are ignorant of this extraordinary expenditure and massive new public project, plus, not knowledgeable of who hired the “consultants and experts” advising the City, as well as, the financial and contractual arrangements. We currently have a public municipal golf course on which we have budgeted and spent millions of dollars on new facilities and equipment in recent years. Is there a golfing capacity problem that has not been revealed? Why are we considering a new golf course in a private development? From my perspective, it is speculation and conjecture to state that various new western growth impact fees and revenues from this new course would cover the repayment of the bonds. The perpetual maintenance, future equipment needs and facility renovations, are future burdens that undoubtedly will have tax consequences to residents. This once again appears to be an Administrative and staff driven policy effort devoid of significant policy contribution by the City Council and with no consideration for information to the Public or input by us.

Why the Groundhog Day analogy?

• In 2013 and 2014 the City Council secretly began negotiations to allow for development of a $100,000,000 Major League Baseball stadium in the middle of prime residential areas of the City.
• In 2017 the City Council authorized a $30,000,000 loan for major City renovations to City buildings, new City facilities, and major recreational field and facilities, using the penny sales tax income as collateral.
• In more recent years the City Council has named a Park and City facility after Council members.
• In 2020 the City Council renamed the City Municipal Complex after the current City Manager.
• In 2020 the City Council, in a less than ideal location, allowed a prefabricated building to be placed in the beautiful Lake Catherine Park to be used as a restroom facility which ignored previous Council commitments to not allow any structures or facilities in the Park.

All of these City policy issues have a common thread, a repetitive loop, and déjà vu characteristics. All were quietly instigated by the Administration and staff with little to no City Council policy involvement until almost after-the- fact. In most cases there was little to no Public involvement, meetings, or input. All challenged the rights of the Public to transparency, communication, and openness. In most of these issues Gardens’ residents were canceled out.

First 2021 City Council Mtg on Jan 14 at 6pm

The first City Council meeting of 2021 will be held on Thursday, January 14 at 6pm. You can watch it livestreaming either during or after the meeting, if you are unable to attend.

Highlights:

• Artigras will be held at the North County District Park in Palm Beach Gardens on Feb 13-14, moving from Abacoa. This will be covered under Presentations by North County Chamber of Commerce and described in Resolution 12, 2021 on the Consent Agenda entitled: Supporting the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce’s decision to move ArtiGras to the City of Palm Beach Gardens.
• Resolution 7, 2021 – Authorizing the issuance of the City of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, Public Improvement Bond, Series 2021, in an amount not to exceed $14,000,000 to finance construction of an 18-hole par-3 golf course and related facilities. This will be covered under Presentations by staff entitled “Western Golf Course Expansion” and during discussion of the Resolution on the Regular agenda approving the bond for a golf course in Avenir.
• Elections – there will be an election on March 9, 2021 for City Council Group 2 – the seat vacated by Maria Marino. Candidates are former Mayor Marcie Tinsley and Rob Nanfro.  The contract with the Supervisor of Elections for conducting the election is under the Consent Agenda Resolutions 1 and 3, 2021.
• Resolution 14, 2021 is being presented to the Council after much discussion at the last City Council Meeting: Prohibiting the use of polystyrene products on public property, directing City Administration to negotiate “No Polystyrene” provisions in applicable City contracts, and encouraging all residents and retail businesses within the City to reduce or eliminate the use of polystyrene products.

Consent Agenda also includes:

• Purchase award: Maintenance of Fire Alarm Systems – openly competed – 5 yr contract with no option to renew – $114K
• Purchase award: Parks and Grounds Equipment – piggyback/access contract – $71K
• Purchase award: Swipe Card Access for Fire Rescue Stations 3, 4, and 5 – piggyback/access contract – $140K
• Resolution 2, 2021 – Project Gator – “The Business Development Board (“BOB”) has approached the City of Palm Beach Gardens (“City”) to request an Economic Development Employee Incentive Grant and expedited permitting through the Targeted Expedited Permitting Program for “Project Gator.” “Project Gator” is focused on designing, developing, and marketing a full line of autonomous air and surface treatment devices and falls within the medical device/technology targeted industry. The company is evaluating key positions across the U.S. and determining whether it should locate its national headquarters in the City of Palm Beach Gardens…..””Project Gator” is requesting an Economic Development Employee Incentive Grant in the amount of $300,000 and expedited permitting through the Targeted Expedited Permitting
  Program. The company intends to create 100 new jobs in Palm Beach Gardens over the next three years, with the new jobs having an annual average wage of $140,000. A capital investment of $7.075 Million will occur with the Project within three years to modify an existing building in the City of Palm Beach Gardens. “
• Resolution 6, 2021 – Project Branch – “Conceptually approving economic development incentives for “Project Branch” to include an Economic Development Employee Incentive Grant and expedited permitting through the City’s Targeted Expedited Permitting Program”….””Project Branch” is requesting an Economic Development Employee Incentive Grant in the amount of $165,000 and expedited permitting through the Targeted Expedited Permitting Program. The company intends to create 55 new jobs in Palm Beach Gardens over the next five years,
  with the new jobs having an annual average wage of $175,000. A capital investment of $550,000 will occur with the Project within five years to modify an existing building in the City of Palm Beach Gardens. “
• Resolutions 8-10, 2021 – Approving Avenir Site Plan Pods 6-8 respectively.
• Resolution 4, 2021 – moving the July City Council meeting to Thursday, July 15, 2021

Public Hearings and Resolutions also include:

• Ordinance 1, 2021 (first reading) – An amendment to the City of Palm Beach Gardens Firefighters’ Retirement Trust Fund. Required due to IRS changes and “the proposed amendment will have no actuarial impact on the cost of the Plan.”
• Ordinance 2, 2021 (first reading) – An amendment to the City of Palm Beach Gardens Police Officers’ Retirement Trust Fund. Required due to IRS changes and “the proposed amendment will have no actuarial impact on the cost of the Plan.”
• Ordinance 3, 2021 (first reading) – A City-initiated request to update the 5-Year Schedule of Capital Improvements (Table 9A) and the Palm Beach County School District’s Summary of Capital Improvements Schedule (Table 9B) of the Capital Improvements Element (CIE) of the City’s Comprehensive Plan, in accordance with Section 163.3177(3)(a)5.(b), Florida Statutes.
• Ordinance 14, 2020 (second reading and adoption) – “This Land Development Regulations (LDRs) text amendment is a City-initiated request to amend Section 78-159. Permitted uses, minor and major conditional uses, and prohibited uses. of the City’s LDRs to permit an accessory dental or medical laboratory use to professional office use as a Minor Conditional Use within the General Commercial (CG1) zoning district, subject to the standards outlined in a new Note 0)(47.2)” “On November 5, 2020, the City Council adopted Resolution 72, 2020, expressing support for the relocation of National Dentex, LLC corporate headquarters and laboratory to the City of Palm Beach Gardens. National Dentex, LLC has expressed its desire to relocate to the Seminole Shoppes site, zoned General Commercial (CG-1 ).”
• Resoluton 13, 2021 – “Adopting a Policy and Plan for the Expenditure of the Proceeds from the Public Improvement Bonds – Series 2021. – see Resolution 7, 2021 in Highlights. “Through the adoption of Resolution 7, 2021, the City Council has issued $14,000,000 Public Improvement Bonds – Series 2021 (the “Series 2021 Bonds”). The City Council desires to adopt a formal policy and plan that authorizes the City Manager to expend the bond proceeds to construct the capital improvement projects included in the plan and any other supporting or necessary infrastructure he deems necessary and prudent. This proposed policy and plan includes approval of the capital improvement projects to be funded with the Series 2021 Bonds; provides a mechanism to facilitate and expedite the construction of the projects; and amends the Fiscal Year 2021 Budget to reflect the Series 2021 Bonds proceeds and the proposed spending and financing plan, and authorize the City Manager to solicit, negotiate, and execute any and all documents, contracts, and/or legal instruments he deems necessary and prudent to complete construction of the capital improvement projects included in the plan.”

Please check the agenda before the meeting for additions or modifications.