Next City Council Mtg on June 3rd at 6pm
The June City Council Meeting will be on Thursday, June 3. You can watch it livestreaming either during or after the meeting, if you are unable to attend.
Presentation: Seal of Excellence Award from the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation
Consent Agenda:
- Purchase Award – Office Furniture for City Hall (2nd Floor) – Piggyback/Access Contract – no option to renew – $114k
- Purchase Award – Street Sweeping Services – Openly competed – 5 year contract no option to renew – $530K *taking option to renew from prior contract
New Business:
- Ordinance 6 and 7, 2021 – Downtown Palm Beach Gardens – Large-Scale Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Map Amendment and Rezoning – First Reading and Transmittal – A request from Excel Gardens, LLC for a Large Scale Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Map Amendment to change the land use designation of the 49.04-acre Downtown Palm Beach Gardens site to Mixed Use Development (MXD), limit the development intensity and density of the property to the proposed development program, and change the zoning to Planned Community Development (PCD) overlay with underlying zoning designation of Mixed Use Development (MXD).
- Resolution 27, 2021 – A request by Avenir Holdings, LLC and Avenir Development, LLC for a Planned Community Development (PCD) Amendment to amend the PCD Master Plan internal parcel boundaries (including creation of a new internal parcel), shift entitlements between parcels, modify the PCD internal roadway network including adding driveway connections, revise PCD and roadway buffer landscape plans, update development standards, and modify certain conditions of approval in Resolution 4, 2016.
- Resolution 28, 2021 – A Resolution approving the Design, Survey, and Permitting Services related to providing a westbound right-turn lane roadway improvement at Northlake Boulevard and Osprey Isles Boulevard as part of the Neighborhood Improvement Assessment Program (NIAP). In addition, this Resolution authorizes the City Manager to take all actions and execute all documents necessary to provide services . for Design, Survey and Permitting for the identified area.
2nd Reading and Adoption: Ordinance 5, 2021 – Voluntary Annexation Request -A request from Sheela Shah MD, PLLC for a Voluntary Annexation of a 0.13-acre parcel located on the north side of Bomar Drive approximately 400 feet west of U.S. 1.
Annual City Manager Evaluation
Please check the agenda before the meeting for additions or modifications.
Martino: Shame on the School Board
The Palm Beach County School Board approved new Mission, Vision, and Equity statements for The School District of Palm Beach County. I would strongly encourage all parents of K-12 grade level students enrolled in public and charter schools in Palm Beach Gardens and Palm Beach County to read these statements, carefully, to draw your own conclusions. It is too important, for you as a parent not to. Express your concerns to Barbara McQuinn, District 1 School Board representative, phone 561-434-8038, email barbara.mcquinn@palmbeachschools.org
I would opine that a substantial portion of the Mission Statement and Vision Statement is shameful. Much of it should be stricken entirely. It is offensive, inaccurate, antagonizing, accusatory, and divisive. A significant amount of the text is social discourse and racially charged with little association to educational inspiration or excellence. Equity has replaced equality. In a May 4th Palm Beach Post article a School Board member suggests that the pronouncements by the School Board, among other things, where influenced by “last year’s protests about racial justice…”. It is my belief that policy based on emotion is bad policy.
If this is the best Mission and the best Vision the elected School Board members can offer for the 197,000 students in their charge than Palm Beach County, parents you have a problem. The real dangers of the declarations are the curriculums and books that they generate. Will the teachings be based on the traditional American educational classroom basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic, if you will permit me, the 3 R’s? Or will the classroom teachings be nuanced in the direction of the questionable and unproven, critical race theory, the 1619 project, cancel culture, and other abstract thought. I ask, are our teachers’ to be educators or social workers?
Palm Beach Gardens and North Palm Beach County enjoy a reputation for great schools which has enhanced our quality of life and economic viability. I would encourage the City Council of Palm Beach Gardens along with the other North Palm Beach County local governments to discuss the consequences and affects of The School District of Palm Beach County’s new Mission, Vision, and Equity policy statements. I would also persuade the business community and organizations and the Parent Teacher Organizations to offer their voices concerning the influences and effects these pronouncements may have on our children and community.
Here is a link to the statements below. Contact information for all schoolboard members here.
Mission
The mission of the School District of Palm Beach County is to educate, affirm, and inspire each student in an equity-embedded school system.
Vision
We envision…The School District of Palm Beach County is an educational and working environment, where both students and staff are unimpeded by bias or discrimination. Individuals of all backgrounds and experiences are embraced, affirmed, and inspired. Each and every one will succeed and flourish.
The School District of Palm Beach County will take ownership for students’ academic mastery, emotional intelligence, and social-emotional needs by creating environments where students, families, staff, and communities will develop agency and voice.
A joy of learning is fostered in each student and a positive vision for their future is nurtured. Each student’s cultural heritage is valued and their physical, emotional, academic, and social needs are met.
…WE SEE YOU.
Equity Definition
Equity means each student—regardless of race, ethnicity, poverty, disability, language status, undocumented status, religious affiliation, gender identity, and sexual orientation—will have access to the opportunities, resources, and support they need to imagine, nurture, and achieve their dreams.Equity Statement
The School District of Palm Beach County is committed to dismantling racism and other systems of oppression and inequity. We will create equitable and inclusive schools that ensure students have what they need to be successful in school and life.Achieving racial equity requires proactive and continuous investment in historically marginalized groups who have endured centuries of systemic oppression. The School District of Palm Beach County is committed to dismantling structures rooted in white advantage and transforming our system by hearing and elevating under-represented voices, sharing power, recognizing and eliminating bias, and redistributing resources to provide equitable outcomes.
The School District of Palm Beach County will take ownership for students’ academic mastery, emotional intelligence, and social-emotional needs by creating environments where students, families, staff, and communities will develop agency and voice.
The School District of Palm Beach County acknowledges the existence of—and will eliminate—systems, processes, and mindsets that perpetuate race, ethnicity, poverty, disability, language status, undocumented status, religious affiliation, gender identity, and sexual orientation as predictors of achievement.
The School District of Palm Beach County will embrace, celebrate, and honor our students, families, staff, and community members and their unique cultural histories, while ensuring each student achieves personal and academic success.
Storm Clouds – both literal and figurative
There was a very heavy thunderstorm during the May City Council meeting which disrupted the meeting briefly so that a system could be rebooted. But the topic of a traffic signal at Northlake and Bay Hill Estates highlighted conflicts between Palm Beach Gardens and Palm Beach County.
Finance Administrator Allan Owens, and the Tammy Goldstrich of Marcum LLP kicked off with the first presentation on the audit of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for 2020. The report can be found here..
May 6Bayhill Traffic Signal update
- City Manager Ferris informed the Council about a community meeting with residents of Bayhill, Osprey Isles, Carleton Oaks, Ancient Tree, Avenir and Ibis regarding the progress on the desired traffic signal for the intersection, which has been worked on for three years now. Much of the meeting was taken by the presentation by Natalie Crowley, Director of Planning and Zoning and Todd Engle, City Engineer about the proposed signal, Council discussion, public comment and discussion by the City Attorney and City Manager. The City has had issues with Palm Beach County over several topics – but the jurisdiction and permitting for the signal have raised yet another ‘stormy’ conflict.
- Read Joel Engelhardt’s in-depth piece entitled “‘Abuse of Power:’ Gardens Ready to Sue County of Bay Hill Stoplight”.
- Public Comment regarding the traffic signal was made by Matthew Kamula, resident and HOA President of Osprey Isles (and accompanying residents), Victor Martin, HOA President Carlton Oaks, Gia Muirragui, Judy Ahrens, Douglas Grant.
- City Manager Ferris, as his report, started by asking Mayor Litt to comment on Monday’s meeting on the Bay Hill Traffic Signal.
- City Attorney Lohman added Resolution 31, 2021, which passed 5:0 – authorizing a law suit in Circuit Civil Court and additional steps to streamline moving forward with the traffic signal..
Public Comment:
- Andres Torrens regarding issues with the tree-planting program and a tree in memory of his nephew.
- Head football coach McKinley Rolle from Dwyer HS, a community school, requesting an athletic field since the one from the school is in poor condition
- Lisa Wade, resident, also asking that the Dwyer field be replaced – that the school district has told them is not in budget to be repaired and that they’d have to fundraise. She found out that both the fields in Jupiter and Wellington were in great shape and were paid for the respective cities. So she was asking PBG to do the same. Mayor Litt replied that Deputy City Manager Stepp would be contacting them and working with them to see what can be done.
- Douglas Grant from Balsam Street had concerns about day care businesses surrounding his residence and seeking the help of code enforcement. City Manager Ferris said that Deputy City Manager Stepp would step out and get additional information from him.
The Consent Agenda passed 5:0 with a few items pulled by the Mayor Litt and Vice Mayor Reed, and the following passed 5:0
Purchase Award – Furnish and Install Playground at Miracle League Field – Litt lauded the Parks and Rec department for the new playground, presented by Km! Ra, Purchasing and Contracts Director; Charlotte Presensky, Leisure Services gave credit to Todd Engle and David Reyes, Community Services Administrator.- Proclamation – Mental Health Awareness and Trauma Informed Care Month – Vice Mayor Reed was pleased to have mental health awareness focused on.
- Proclamation – Professional Municipal Clerks Week – Mayor Litt honored City Clerk Snyder with an award trophy from the Council.
Ordinances and Resolutions:
- Ordinance 4, 2021 – Annual Budget Amendment passed 5:0 on 2nd reading without any changes/addition discussion
- Ordinance 5, 2021 – Voluntary Annexation of one parcel on Bomar Drive– passed 5:0 after brief discussion with the owner
Ordinance 6, 2021 – Automated Express Car Wash facility – on empty lot on Northlake near Roan Lane – all on the Council were very supportive, passed 5:0 on 1st reading.
Under Items for Council Discussion – Council Member Marciano described progress on the beautification of the main Post Office – with assistance of staff and involvement of Representative Mast.
Next City Council Mtg on Thursday May 6 at 6pm
Another light agenda for the May City Council Meeting. You can watch it livestreaming either during or after the meeting, if you are unable to attend.
Announcements and Presentations – FY 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report
Public Hearings – Ordinances and Resolutions
- Ordinance 4, 2021 – 2nd Reading and Adoption Budget Amendment – which was passed on first reading 4:0 in April.
- Ordinance 5, 2021 – 1st Reading – Parcel Voluntary Annexation Request – A request from Sheela Shah MD, PLLC for a Voluntary Annexation of a 0.13-acre parcel located on the north side of Bomar Drive approximately 400 feet west of U.S. 1.
- Resolution 26, 2021 – Tricore International, LLC is requesting approval of a Planned Unit Development (PUD) Plan Amendment and a Major Conditional Use approval for an automated, express car wash facility on an approximate 1.54-acre vacant parcel. The parcel is located on the north side of Northlake Boulevard, approximately 200 feet west of Sunrise Drive.
Consent Agenda includes
- Resolution 25, 2021 – Economic Development Incentives Agreement with Virtu Financial, Inc. Final approval for economic development incentives agreement with Virtu Financial to include an Economic Development Employee Incentive Grant and expedited permitting through the City’s Targeted Expedited Permitting Program. Grant amount $165K.
- Purchase Award – Landscape and Irrigation Products and Services – Openly competed – Five year contract – $6.643 Million
- Purchase Award – Furnish and Install Playground at Miracle League Field – Piggyback/Access Contract – $238K
- Purchase Award – Bleacher Covers for New Showcase Baseball Playing Field at Gardens Park – Piggyback/Access Contract – $112K
- Purchase Award – Installation of Bleacher Covers for New Showcase Baseball Playing Field at Gardens Park – Piggyback/Access Contract – $67K
Please check the agenda before the meeting for additions or modifications.