City Establishes Food Services Stabilization Fund
First up, while a last-minute addition to the agenda, was Resolution 45, 2020 – the creation of the Food Services Stabilization Fund under the City’s existing $1 million Economic Recovery Act, which was approved last month. This second ‘wave’ of grants, amounting to $450K is targeted specifically to mid-size restaurants with 3-75 employees, in business for at least 18 months, owned by residents, and operational as of June 1. As before – the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce and the PGA Corridor, plus the City Manager and staff, were instrumental in defining the scope of the (up to) $15K grants.
June 4The first wave of grants targeted smaller businesses; as of the meeting 54 applications were submitted, 21 were approved and approximately $404K has been paid out. There will not be a marketing campaign as was conducted for the first wave. Restaurants will be informed directly via the Chamber, PGA Corridor and the City of the new fund. Council Member Litt expressed concern about the accountability of the grant distribution if only the Chamber and PGA Corridor were spreading the word. City Manager Ferris assured the Council that all three organizations will use their lists and communications avenues to make sure restaurants are informed. Mayor Woods was concerned about the 18 month criteria and spoke on behalf of a specific restaurant that had been in business longer than a year but less than 18 months. Council Member Marciano expressed concern that there were other businesses not being covered by either program. Consensus in the discussion was that there would likely be a third ‘wave’ and a special City Council Mtg could be called to approve additional grants after the second wave grants had been issued, with other criteria. Here is a link to the Resolution which passed 5:0
City Manager Report also included:
- A couple of videos capturing the City Staff and Council in the distribution of the $250 Publix Gift cards (of which 1124 have been distributed and the remaining 124 will be directed towards shut-ins who may not have been able to come in to apply); and the issuance of grants to small businesses.
- In light of the national focus on Police Departments, training and excessive force, Police Chief Shannon made a presentation on the City’s training and practices. He discussed the City’s certifications, 15 years of no non-compliances, multiple 1st line supervisors out in the streets all of the time, body-worn cameras, extensive review of any use of force, all officers are required to intervene with any other officer is using excessive or unnecessary force or doing anything outside policy. He also said that the City’s officers receive 10 times the amount of training that the state of FL requires and the policing policies stress the sanctity of life and the guardian mentality of the officers.
Ordinances and Resolutions:
- Council approved first reading of Ordinance 5 and 6 regarding the approval of a storage facility to take the place of the empty Crunch Fitness site. There was much discussion of the difficulty of access to the site but excellent visibility – both of which are necessary to make such a facility viable. At the same time, the proposed usage would reduce trips to the site on Northlake Blvd. While none on the Council were thrilled with yet another storage facility in the City, they and staff agreed that this was a good use of the difficult location.
- Resolution 35, 2020 – Avenir Pods 6,7 and 8 were approved 5:0 as well. The most unique aspect of the proposed gated community is the land bridges between the pods. Rather than roadway with culverts, each roadway going over the water has a park-like setting – where residents can view wide expanses of water and relax close to their homes.
Items for Council Action/Discussion and Items of Interest:
- Council Member Marciano informed the public that Vice Mayor Marino had submitted her resignation letter (‘resign to run’) effective October 2, 2020. Her last attendance on the Council would be October 1. City Attorney Lohman explained that the Council has the choice of appointing someone to fill the vacancy between Oct 2 and March 2021 when there would be a special election to fill the remainder of Marino’s term, or to leave it vacant until the special election. Marciano stressed that anyone who wants to run for the March election should probably start working on their campaign financing and efforts soon.
- Council Members Litt and Reed made statements expressly regarding racial and social justice, Council Member Marciano echoed their statements and said that the City leads by example and turns crises into the positive.
- Annual Evaluation of City Manager Ferris – all spoke effusively of Mr. Ferris’ leadership, respect by his staff, his results, and his actions so far this year with the pandemic, the Economic assistance to the community and the handling of the most recent social stresses.
City Attorney Report: The Palm Beach County Tax Collector is suing the City over her ongoing refusal to dedicate a 26′ right of way in the new tax collector’s office. City Attorney Lohman will be issuing a response shortly.
There will be a second City Council Meeting on June 25, 2020 – but the topic was not discussed, nor is the agenda available yet.
“Zooming” It In***
The ‘novel’ corona virus resulted in a novel approach to conducting the April 2 Palm Beach Gardens City Council meeting. While most in-person meetings were cancelled in the City, the council meeting was going to be held in the council chambers with minimum representation and adequate social distancing. Council members Mark Marciano, out-going Matthew Lane, Rachelle Litt and in-coming Chelsea Reed participated remotely. Council members Maria Marino and Carl Woods were in the chambers, along with City Manager Ferris, and minimal staff. The Council was mostly visible on the livestream screen, along with presentation materials as needed, and the meeting proceeded fairly smoothly.
Congratulations to new Mayor Carl Woods, Vice Mayor Maria Marino, Vice Mayor Pro-Tem Rachelle Litt and new Council Member Chelsea Reed! See the Palm Beach Post article for more information on the selection of the Mayor and Vice-Mayor and the meeting.
Public Comment was made via email and read by Mayor Woods:
- Marsha Thrower – urged the City to issue a Stay At Home order and to close all non-essential businesses
- Former Mayor Marcie Tinsley – wished every well, thanked Matthew Lane for his service to the City and welcomed Chelsea Reed
City Manager Ferris described the adjustment to City Operations – schedules and staffing, summarized in his status report which can be read here. He also thanked all the first-responders as the heroes in these unusual times and that we all owe a lot to them. He also thanked all the other employees who have been making everything work despite the limitations. The City has reached out to Gardens and Jupiter hospitals who have adequate supplies.
Consent Agenda passed 5:0. Council Member Reed asked that Resolution 11 be pulled – regarding future sidewalk and bike-path on Kyoto Gardens Drive – giving kudos to staff for their application to TPA and for furthering the City’s mobility plan. Council Member Litt asked that Resolution 29 be pulled to have City Manager Ferris or City Attorney Lohman explain the purpose of the Resolution. It would allow the City Manager to have the authority to continue the Covid-19 Emergency status as long as necessary, rather than needing council approval every seven days. Both pulled items also passed 5:0.
Both Ordinance 4, 2020 first reading regarding updating land-use regulations to be consistent with recent state legislation, and Resolution 23, 2020 regarding Nuvo Business Center at the Gardens, passed 5:0 with minimal comment.
The Council then segued to external board and committee appointments, after which a discussion ensued regarding how to better inform the Public about Covid-19 related issues. Most on the Council were getting questions from the Public – unrelated to the operations of the City and described their attempts to communicate with current information. When it seemed that they were going to assign the task of dealing with the issue to the City Manager – he pushed back. His job was to run the city, and he recognized that people were frustrated and scared about all kinds of things related to Covid-19. He is not a physician, nor should the City be trying to get information on the location of affected patients, nor where is toilet paper. The information on those kinds of issues are on tv, the radio, on the internet and social media. He said that he gives the Council all the information he has and it’s their role to use what communications media they have to respond to their constituents. Mayor Woods agreed, as did the Council, to continue to direct the public to the information they did have.
The business of the city goes on and all should be commended for their flexibility and patience during these unusual times.
(*** we have not confirmed that the City used Zoom for the City Council Meeting yet – but will update this comment if we’re able to find out which application was actually used)
Next City Council Mtg on Thursday, April 2 at 7pm
The next Palm Beach Gardens City Council meeting will be on Thursday, April 2 at 7pm. According to Candice Temple, Public Media Relations Manager: “We have arranged the room for distanced seating and there will be signage directing the public to enter through the exterior doors from the breezeway. We are encouraging the public to watch via LiveStream or email the City Clerk (at psnider@pbgfl.com) any public comments in advance, however there will still be minimal audience seating.” (In order to watch the meeting live or any past meeting as an archived video, one can always go to Livestream.)
Top on the agenda will be the official declaration of the Election Results, the administration of the Oath of Office to new Council Member Chelsea Reed, and the Appointment of the Mayor and Vice Mayor. At the end of the meeting, appointments to external boards and committees will be reassigned as well.
Consent Agenda includes:
- Purchase Award – Aquatic Vegetation and Exotic Species Management – Openly competed – 5 years with no option to renew – $180K
- Purchase Award – Contract Labor Services for Golf Course – Openly competed – 5 years with no option to renew – $1.2 Million
- Purchase Award – Employee Benefits Consulting Services – Openly competed – 5 years with no option to renew – $125K
- Purchase Award – Grounds and Turf Maintenance Equipment – Piggyback/access contract – one time – $92K
- Purchase Award – Fuel Card Services – Piggyback/access contract – 1 year with option to renew 4 times – $500K
- Resolution 2, 2020 – Moving the regular city council meeting to July 16, 2020
- Resolution 11, 2020 – A Resolution supporting an application to the Florida Department of Transportation through the Palm Beach Transportation Planning Agency (TPA) for the 2020 Transportation Alternatives (TA) Program for the construction of an eight-foot-wide pedestrian trail and a five-foot-wide bicycle lane on the north side of Kyoto Gardens Drive. “City Staff has reviewed the requirements of the TA Program and determined that the City’s Mobility Plan improvements consisting of an 8-foot-wide pedestrian trail and a 5-foot-wide bicycle lane on the north side of Kyoto Gardens Drive between North Military Trail and Alternate A 1A are eligible for the TA Program.
- Resolution 12, 2020 – Approving the appointment of a regular member to the Firefighters’ Pension Fund Board of Trustees.
- Resolution 24, 2020 – Dedication of easement to Seacoast Utility Authority (SUA) for water and sewer utilities at Kyoto Gardens Drive and RCA Center Drive. “In advance of the anticipated construction of the new FPL site along Kyoto Gardens Boulevard and RCA Center Drive, the City is desirous of providing an easement to Seacoast Utility Authority (SUA) for water and sewer utility lines.”
- Resolution 25, 2020 – A Resolution approving the Plat for PGA Office Center Planned Community Development (PCD). “A request by Florida Power and Light Company for approval of the Plat of the PGA Office Center project. The plat is consistent with the approved site plan and master plan for the project. Staff is recommending approval”
Public Hearings include:
- Ordinance 4, 2020 – First reading of A City-initiated request to amend Chapter 78 – Land Development, Division 1 – Development Review Process; Division 3 – Concurrency; and Article V. Supplementary District Regulations, Division 10 – Subdivisions to remain consistent with recent legislation.
- Resolution 23, 2020 – Nuvo Business Center at the Gardens Planned Unit Development (PUD) Amendment Public Hearing and Consideration for Approval – “The Applicant is requesting approval of a phasing plan for the Nuvo Business Center at the Gardens Planned Unit Development (PUD) project. The subject site is located on a 3.44-acre property at the northwest corner of Riverside Drive and Buckeye Street. The proposal is to develop the PUD in two phases. Phase I will include the completion of the self-storage building (Building 1) and all approved site and landscape improvements except for those to be completed in Phase II. Phase II will include the laboratory/research & development building (Building 2) and the site and landscape improvements adjacent to Building 2. The Applicant will be constructing several improvements to support Phase I until such time that Phase II is constructed. “On July 11, 2019, the City Council adopted Resolution 52, 2019, approving the modification of Condition of Approval 11 of Resolution 22, 2017 and adopting new Conditions of Approval 11 .1, 11.2, and 11.3 to modify the timing requirement for the completion of Building 2 in consideration of the Applicant’s funding of the City’s Miracle League ball fields.
Please check the agenda for any changes or additions prior to the meeting.
2020 Municipal Election Results
The March 17 municipal election in Palm Beach Gardens was a clear win for challenger Chelsea Reed with 52% of the vote over incumbent Councilman Matthew Lane. Many of the individual precincts were close though.
Lane carried BallenIsles, Frenchman’s Reserve and Creek, Old Palm, Osprey Isles / Carleton Oaks, Mirasol, Mirabella, Rustic Lakes and Bay Hill Estates. Reed carried the rest and was particularly strong in PGA National, Bent Tree / Garden Lakes / Shady Lakes, Evergrene and Westwood Gardens. (See Map)
The overall turnout of 22% was twice what a municipal election normally sees, but very light for a Presidential Preference Primary. In 2016, about 16,000 Gardens residents went to the polls for a 42% turnout. That year delivered 51% to David Levy in a three way race before a court overturned it in favor of Carl Woods.
The Group 1 and 5 seats were up for re-election this year, but no one came forward to challenge Rachelle Litt or Mark Marciano and so they won by default.
Municipal elections are non-partisan, meaning the candidates cannot campaign as a member of a political party. In reality though, when the candidates are registered in different parties, the word gets out on who is who, and at least some of the voting is driven by party affiliation, particularly among voters who don’t follow city business. Think about that as supporting candidates who “share their values.” Palm Beach Gardens goes farther than any other city in the county to discourage partisan activity, and actually has an ordinance that prevents a candidate from accepting money or assistance from a political party. (Code of Ordinances, Chapter 26-21 Unfair Acts)
A candidate’s affiliation can often be determined by their endorsements. Chelsea Reed carried endorsements from just about every Democrat office holder in the county, from Congresswoman Lois Frankel, down through state senators and representatives, county commissioners and Democrat officials from other cities. Matthew Lane’s endorsements from individuals were mostly from Republican officials, both current and former.
Since the Gardens has an R+7 electorate, you would think that Matt would have had an advantage, but he made it clear early on that he did not want to associate with his party, and many political activists who would have normally helped such a candidate sat on the sidelines.
Chelsea Reed on the other hand, had a big team of supporters doing sign waving at the library during early voting, seemingly led by former Mayor and Councilman Eric Jablin who was there most days.
Hovering over all of this was the strange turnout numbers county-wide that were influenced by Corona Virus fears, and the preponderance of Democrat voters given the choices in the Presidential primary.
In our opinion though, Chelsea Reed ran the better campaign, put in the work, got out the vote, and deserves the win she achieved.
Group 3
| Group 3 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strong Reed | Weak Reed | Very Close | Weak Lane | Strong Lane |
| Click the precinct on the map for vote totals. | ||||
| Neighborhoods | Voters | Cast | Turnout | Reed | Lane | Reed Margin | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1186 | Mirabella | 1561 | 379 | 24.3 | 170 | 209 | 44.9 |
| 1188 | Westwood Gardens | 957 | 205 | 21.4 | 116 | 89 | 56.6 |
| 1189 | Old Palm – North | 107 | 22 | 20.6 | 7 | 15 | 31.8 |
| 1190 | The Isles\ Paloma\ San Michelle\ Alton | 4555 | 839 | 18.4 | 440 | 399 | 52.4 |
| 1192 | Evergrene | 1547 | 287 | 18.6 | 160 | 127 | 55.7 |
| 1194 | Frenchmans | 2197 | 560 | 25.5 | 229 | 331 | 40.9 |
| 1222 | Avenir | 13 | 4 | 30.8 | 2 | 2 | 50.0 |
| 1228 | Osprey Isles\ Carleton Oaks | 455 | 133 | 29.2 | 54 | 79 | 40.6 |
| 1238 | Mirasol | 1838 | 402 | 21.9 | 189 | 213 | 47.0 |
| 1240 | PGA National | 2576 | 603 | 23.4 | 337 | 266 | 55.9 |
| 1242 | PGA National | 2665 | 673 | 25.3 | 369 | 304 | 54.8 |
| 1244 | PGA National | 1612 | 344 | 21.3 | 188 | 156 | 54.7 |
| 1246 | Bent Tree\ Garden Lks\ Shady Lks\ Gdns of Woodbury | 2556 | 550 | 21.5 | 308 | 242 | 56.0 |
| 1247 | Old Palm – South | 265 | 46 | 17.4 | 15 | 31 | 32.6 |
| 1248 | PGA-east. | 1558 | 381 | 24.5 | 205 | 176 | 53.8 |
| 1250 | Gardens Glen | 64 | 17 | 26.6 | 2 | 15 | 11.8 |
| 1252 | BallenIsles | 2348 | 742 | 31.6 | 335 | 407 | 45.1 |
| 1254 | Hunt Club | 449 | 101 | 22.5 | 52 | 49 | 51.5 |
| 1260 | Elm Avenue | 1333 | 323 | 24.2 | 193 | 130 | 59.8 |
| 1262 | RCA Center | 2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 50.0 |
| 1264 | Northcorp | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 50.0 |
| 1266 | Union Square\ Randolph Way | 475 | 52 | 10.9 | 35 | 17 | 67.3 |
| 1268 | Golfers Drive\ Lilac | 317 | 37 | 11.7 | 25 | 12 | 67.6 |
| 1270 | Lilac Park | 11 | 1 | 9.1 | 1 | 0 | 100.0 |
| 1272 | Holly Drive\ Riverside | 1992 | 472 | 23.7 | 288 | 184 | 61.0 |
| 1274 | Gardenia Dr\ Arbor Way | 1625 | 344 | 21.2 | 175 | 169 | 50.9 |
| 1280 | Lake Catherine | 407 | 97 | 23.8 | 53 | 44 | 54.6 |
| 1284 | Gardens Mall area | 2344 | 405 | 17.3 | 226 | 179 | 55.8 |
| 1288 | Oakway Circle | 36 | 14 | 38.9 | 10 | 4 | 71.4 |
| 1290 | The Oaks | 2165 | 500 | 23.1 | 263 | 237 | 52.6 |
| 1292 | Nature’s Way | 91 | 24 | 26.4 | 17 | 7 | 70.8 |
| 1296 | Prosperity Oaks\ Marina Gardens | 795 | 89 | 11.2 | 57 | 32 | 64.0 |
| 1306 | US1 and PGA | 8 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 50.0 |
| 1310 | Ellison Wilson | 4 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 50.0 |
| 1324 | Oaks East\ Sandelwood | 1329 | 235 | 17.7 | 133 | 102 | 56.6 |
| 1326 | Siena Oaks | 589 | 148 | 25.1 | 91 | 57 | 61.5 |
| 1340 | Landing Place | 16 | 9 | 56.3 | 6 | 3 | 66.7 |
| 1352 | Steeplechase\ Montecito | 2242 | 405 | 18.1 | 245 | 160 | 60.5 |
| 1360 | Sunset | 946 | 253 | 26.7 | 127 | 126 | 50.2 |
| 1372 | Sandtree | 184 | 27 | 14.7 | 15 | 12 | 55.6 |
| 6062 | Bay Hill Estates | 877 | 228 | 26.0 | 87 | 141 | 38.2 |
| 6064 | Rustic Lakes | 127 | 29 | 22.8 | 13 | 16 | 44.8 |
| TOTAL | Palm Beach Gardens | 45239 | 9980 | 22.1 | 5238 | 4742 | 52.4 |
Vice Mayor Litt Asks for the Mayor Job
The March City Council meeting ended with Items for Council Action and Discussion. During the February Council meeting, Mayor Marciano had stated that while he was honored to have served as Mayor, he did not want to be selected by the Council for the position again. (FYI – each April, the City Council selects its Mayor for the upcoming year.) The council members all thanked Mark for his service and praised his actions during the past year. While the results of the Group 3 Election will not be available until March 17 (incumbent Matthew Lane vs Chelsea Reed), the remainder of the Council will be unchanged and a new mayor will be chosen at the time. Vice Mayor Litt spoke to her accomplishments and requested that the Council consider her for the next Palm Beach Gardens Mayor. Meanwhile, Council Member and former-Mayor Maria Marino said that she looked forward to working with Mark (and everyone else) for the next couple of months. Since she is currently running for Palm Beach County Commissioner District 1, one can only assume that she was referring to ‘resign to run’. Mayor Marciano also alluded to upcoming discussions that will occur on how to fill the vacancy.
The meeting was called to order and closed out by “Mayor for the Day” Barron Roberts, a precocious and accomplished second grader from the Weiss School. Barron is already advanced in three forms of martial arts and trains for many hours in the week. His favorite part of being Mayor for the Day was visiting with the Canine Unit.
Vice Mayor Litt gave an update on the Palm Beach State College bus stop safety issue that she discussed last month. Palm Beach Gardens will pursue solutions on Campus Drive, while Palm Tran has asked for 4-6 weeks to look at possible route changes. Later, Brendan Rodriguez, speaking for the Student Government association, described the positive experience working with the City and other entities to come up with possible solutions.
Council Member Marino thanked a long list of the City’s employees who made the Honda Classic such a success and City Manager Ferris added to the list during the City Manager Report. He also showed the latest update from Brightline on the upcoming intersection construction and detours. The dates will continue to shift and the city will post the changes as they occur. You can always check by yourself at https://www.gobrightline.com/railroad-construction for updates. Mr Ferris also described the actions taken by the City for corona virus COVID-19.
Key on the agenda was Resolution 13, 2020 – Denouncing Anti-Semitism which had been discussed during the last couple of meetings. The Council adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of Anti-Semitism. See the Palm Beach Post article for more details. Laurence Milstein, Director of AJC Palm Beach County, thanked the Council for adopting the definition and voting for the resolution.
Vote in the Palm Beach Gardens Group 3 Election on March 17
March 17, 2020, is Election Day for the Presidential Preference Primary Election and Uniform Municipal Elections. The polls will be open from 7am to 7pm at your precinct voting location.
Early Voting will be held Saturday, March 7, 2020, through Sunday, March 15, 2020, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. See the Supervisor of Election website for locations. The closest early voting location for Gardens residents is the Palm Beach County Library – Gardens branch. However you can vote at any of the locations.
Vote by Mail is already underway.
See our Voters Guide – for information on the candidates and links to their websites. See Candidate Profiles for the candidates’ responses to our questions.
While the Presidential Preference Primary is limited to those registered as either Democrats or Republicans, EVERY REGISTERED VOTER IN THE GARDENS CAN VOTE IN THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION – SO PLEASE VOTE!!!!
Martino: Councilman Matthew Lane Deserves Re-election
On Tuesday, March 17, 2020, if you are a legally registered voter in the City of Palm Beach Gardens you have the opportunity to cast your ballot for a candidate of your choice in both the Presidential Primary and City Council elections. As Americans we have the freest and fairest elections of any country on earth yet our participation rate is often abysmal. I would urge each and every reader to caste their precious ballot on March 17th.
The City Council election, though often overlooked, is as important as the Presidential Primary. I would argue that the City Council candidate of our choice in our City elections has as much or more of an effect on our daily lives as our Presidential choice. Our City Council members are responsible for much of the aspects of our local quality of life. The members are directly responsible for the health, safety, welfare, and recreational aspects of life here in Palm Beach Gardens. With the fiscal responsibility of the creation of a City budget Council members establish our property tax rates, as well as, fund our excellent municipal services and administrative departments. Providing for the governing of sustainable and controlled growth within our borders and a vibrant business community to serve us are other important responsibilities that our City Council members are given with our vote. Just about every local convenience we enjoy emanates from the City Council dais. Thus, the importance of our vote and our choice for our local City Council members cannot be overstated.
In the March 17th City election the Group 1, 3, and 5 seats are to be decided. However, Mayor Mark Marciano in Group 1, and Vice-Mayor Rachelle Litt in Group 5 were unopposed at the end of the qualification period, and thus re-elected. In Group 3, incumbent Councilman Matthew Lane has a challenger.
Regarding the Group 3 City election, my choice is Councilman Matthew Lane. In my opinion, he deserves re-election to a second 3-year term. In his first term Councilman Lane has established himself as the chief challenger to the status quo. With his legal background as a foundation he is always prepared to argue for the needs of the residents in making Council policy decisions. Councilman Lane is a tough questioner of Council issues using his always meticulous meeting preparation as a basis for them. He is and was a staunch defender of term limits as approved by the voters in 2014 and voted against attempts to make substantial changes to them. Councilman Lane is a strong and vocal advocate for safe and exceptional Gardens’ schools. Having served on the Palm Beach Gardens Parks and Recreational Board Councilman Lane has a firm grasp on recreational needs in the Gardens.
This is just a sampling of the on the job certification of Councilman Lane’s qualifications for a second 3-year term. He is my preference to continue working as a productive Councilman for the residents of Palm Beach Gardens. Please vote on March 17th and please consider marking your ballot for Councilman Matthew Lane.
Next City Council Meeting on Thursday Feb 6 at 7pm
The next Palm Beach Gardens City Council Meeting will be held on Thursday February 6th at 7 pm.
While the agenda appears to be quite lengthy – all of the Ordinances under Public Hearings are for 2nd Reading and Adoption, (along with their associated companion Resolutions), and all the Ordinances passed with no opposition on 1st reading.
At the end of the agenda, under Items for Council Action/Discussion, is an item to Discuss A Request from the Americans Against Anti-Semitism for a Resolution by the City of Palm Beach Gardens to denounce the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement (BDS) as an anti-Semitic attempt to delegitimize Israel.
Unrelated to the February Agenda – along with the Presidential Preference Primary to be held on March 17, 2020, Palm Beach Gardens will be having a Municipal Election for City Council Group 3. PBG Watch has profiles of each of the two candidates along with their responses to questions posed to them. See more in March 17th Council Election – Candidate Profiles and our Voters Guide. Please VOTE!
Announcements and Presentations include:
- Mayors Veterans Check Presentation
- Update on the One Year Anniversary of the Closets to the Pin Charity Event
- Palm Beach Gardens Police and Fire Rescue Foundation Support of the Veteran’s Hospital
- Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services Award
Consent Agenda includes:
- Purchase Award – Replacement of Playground at Joe R. Russo Athletic Complex – Piggyback/Access contract with no option to renew – $133K
- Resolution 14, 2020: Conceptual Approval for Economic Development Incentives for “Project Greenacres.” – Conceptually approving economic development incentives for “Project Greenacres” to include local support for the State’s Qualified Targeted Industry Tax Refund Program and Expedited Permitting through the City’s Targeted Expedited Permitting Program. “UPDATE On January 9, 2020, the City Council of the City of Palm Beach Gardens adopted Resolution 9, 2020, that granted conceptual approval for economic incentives for “Project Greenacres” to include local support for the State’s Qualified Targeted Industry Tax Refund Program of $30,000 and expedited permitting through the City’s Targeted Expedited Permitting Program. Since the adoption of Resolution 9, 2020, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) has finished its review of the proposal and is recommending an award of $7,000 per job. This award will increase the City’s local support match of 20 percent to $43,400. Staff continues to recommend approval based on the DEO recommended award. If approved, an economic development agreement will be brought to the City Council for final approval.
Public Hearings of the Ordinances are itemized on the agenda.
Please check the agenda for any changes or additions prior to the meeting.
March 17th Council Election – Candidate Profiles
In March, as you go to the polls to vote in your party’s Presidential Primary, Palm Beach Gardens ballots will also have an election for the City Council Group 3 seat.
Three seats were up for re-election this year, but Mayor Mark Marciano in group 1, and Vice-Mayor Rachelle Litt in group 3 were un-opposed at the end of the qualification period, and thus re-elected by default.
In group 3, incumbent Councilman Matthew Lane is being challenged by alternate Planning and Zoning board member Chelsea Reed.
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:
- Why do you want to be on / stay on the Council?
- What do you see as the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats facing Palm Beach Gardens now and in the near future?
- What involvement have you had in the issues that the council has faced over the past few years?
- What is your “vision” for the city?
- 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).
The following is how they responded:
| Group 3 | ||
|---|---|---|
 Matthew Lane |
 Chelsea Reed |
|
| 1. Why do you want to be on / stay on the Council? | ||
| Matthew Lane: It has been my honor and privilege to serve on the Palm Beach Gardens City Council during the last three (3) years. During my term in office, the Chamber of Commerce named us the “Top City to Live in Florida.” This is the result of the efforts of our Council, and years of hard work by the Mayors and Council members who served before us. I want to continue the work that we have done to make Palm Beach Gardens the exceptional place that it is. | Chelsea Reed: I love everything about my beautiful hometown of Palm Beach Gardens, since I am 50 and our City is 60 years old, we grew up together. We face tremendous development, and as a council member I will contribute with experience AND heart, as I have already been involved in bettering our city and county as a leader on impactful boards and committees. I will be an advocate for what residents and businesses deserve: expanded mobility, safe connected streets, sustainable growth and a prosperous economy with a clear view of our needs. My appointed board positions on PBG Planning, Zoning & Appeals as well as my seat as Vice-Chair of the County Transportation Planning Citizen’s Advisory, combined with my life-long local history of raising a family, and running businesses here, makes me the best choice for this election. I will represent our citizens’ needs and voices, providing thoughtful, authentic, and consistent communication. | |
| 2. What do you see as the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats facing Palm Beach Gardens now and in the near future? | ||
| Matthew Lane: We need to keep the leadership team in place that made this City so special, and retain our excellent police, firefighters, administrators and staff. | Chelsea Reed:
Strengths
Our strength is reflected in our recent #1 ranking as ‘Best Cities to Live In’ on the State Chamber of Commerce list. From our 12 Golf Courses, new North County District Park and extensive athletic programs, to our attractive and growing PGA Corridor; our City is one of the most welcoming places to live. Combining these amenities with our award-winning public safety departments, our city staff, lauded for exceptional planning, effective budgeting and dedication to quality – we are even more attractive. The Chamber ranking showed our quality-of-life metrics such as commute time, median earnings and percentage of degree-holders in the state are among the best. Our population’s poverty level is one of the lowest in the entire state of Florida. Weaknesses:
Our weaknesses are potential byproducts of our strengths. Growth brings problems that are nice problems to have, but the city needs to be proactive in anticipating future needs and implement the necessary solutions well in advance. As we continue to attract new residents, we face issues with access to all levels of housing, education, and public safety with increases in traffic. Our essential service and first responder workers need to be able to live nearby, not only for the pleasure of enjoying our #1 rated City in Florida, but to also allow them to be community stakeholders, increase neighborhood safety and decrease commuter traffic. Opportunities:
Forward thinking about the next few decades will help us grow. Working together with the city manager and PBG staff, our County and State agencies like TPA, DOT, combined with input from our residents, we can implement responsible budgeting and maintain the character of our Tree City and green space. We must focus on our PGA Corridor becoming a connected urban environment, while mitigating traffic issues in our growing western communities. Our Mobility Plan, combined with the opportunity for a future Tri-Rail Station, and adoption of ‘Vision Zero’ will all provide ease of access to transportation, helping us get around with a beneficial effect on future traffic pressure points. Threats:
The challenge for Palm Beach Gardens is growth. The city must prepare and plan meticulously. We have to anticipate traffic before it arrives with our increasing population, we must assess safety needs well ahead of natural disasters, and we absolutely must consider our actions’ effects on our environment. I believe in rewarding and encouraging forward thinking, and buoying businesses that combine growth with environmental stewardship. Merging economy and sustainability will help us secure a healthy future for our City, our water and our air. |
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| 3. What involvement have you had in the issues that the council has faced over the past few years? | ||
| Matthew Lane: As a member of Council, I have been directly involved with all the people and all the issues that the Council has faced during my time in office.
I voted: My greatest pleasure has been the extensive constituent service that I have performed during my term in office. |
Chelsea Reed: As an appointed Board Member of Palm Beach Gardens PZAB, I vote on all issues that will then go to City Council, and thus have tremendous experience in development petitions, variance requests and appeals made to our city on issues regarding land development regulations. As Vice-Chair of the Transportation Planning Agency (TPA) Citizens Advisory Committee, I represent all of District One and I am directly responsible for providing the TPA with a “citizen’s eye” view of all transportation, mobility, street and road concerns in Palm Beach County.
I am honored to be Palm Beach Chamber North’s “Volunteer of the Year,” which shows my support of commerce, a prosperous economy and local business development. I have chaired or founded several Chamber Committees which have direct and positive impact on Palm Beach Gardens, such as the Sustainability Subcommittee, Healthcare Committee and Artigras Recycling Committee. Lastly, I assisted our Palm Beach Gardens Fire Department in the development of their Strategic Plan. Recent ride-alongs with Fire Department 63 and tour of our PBG Police Department further reinforced my belief that safety and resilience must always be our first consideration. |
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| 4. What is your “vision” for the city? | ||
| Matthew Lane: As Council members, we need to preserve the quality of life that we currently enjoy in the City of Palm Beach Gardens. We need to maintain our standard of excellence in the police, fire, planning and zoning, finance, and recreational services that we provide. Good is not sufficient. Excellence is our standard in the services that we provide and the constituent service that we perform. | Chelsea Reed: Much like families and individuals make plans for their future as they mature, we must plan similarly for our maturing 60-year-old city, creating a vision for what we’d like to see in a 90-year-old Palm Beach Gardens. We can’t predict the future, but can look to other busy and prosperous cities to see what has succeeded. This educated approach, merged with preserving the beautiful culture of our area, is the answer. We need robust business, sustainable growth, proper traffic planning, and our primary focus must always be on our safety and our health. | |
| 5. What else would you like the voters to know about you and your candidacy? | ||
| Matthew Lane: As your Councilperson, I am known for:
a. exceptional constituent service (usually within 24 hours) I am proud to announce I have received the endorsements of: FORMER MAYOR JOE RUSSO For more information about me, please visit my website at www.votemattlane.com |
Chelsea Reed: The best part of running for office has been knocking on thousands of local doors. I have listened to the hopes, frustrations, and dreams our residents have for our City, and I sincerely want to help make things even better! My focus on others and my sincere desire to connect, will add an accessible component to our Council. I believe in the voice of our community and I want our unparalleled city to stay beautiful and always maintain the character of my beloved home. As a local business owner, parent, and volunteer, my life is woven into the fabric of my hometown. I offer a depth of history and an inspiring vision for the future of Palm Beach Gardens. | |
Congratulations to Mayor Mark Marciano and Vice Mayor Rachelle Litt
After the meeting was called to order and the results of the election were approved, Vice Mayor Woods asserted himself to talk first and nominated Mark Marciano for Mayor and Rachelle Litt for Vice Mayor, and both were unanimously selected. Congratulations to them both!
Comments from the Public included a speech by Weiss School student and former Mayor for the Day (in March) James Delano summarizing the highlights of his experience. He was followed by former Mayor Joe Russo thanked the Council and staff for their outstanding work over the last three years and both outgoing and congratulating the in-coming Mayor and Vice Mayor.
City Manager Ferris had David Reyes, in his capacity as Director of Emergency Management decribe the actions taken the previous Tuesday immediately after the 4pm ‘weather event’ which severely impacted PGA National, the PGA/Military Trail intersection, and areas in Burns Road and Siena Oaks. By 4:30 all public services staff was onboard, and all issues were addressed, including checking areas not directly impacted by 7pm.
The Consent Agenda passed 5:0. Two items were pulled for further explanation. Vice Mayor Litt requested that a description be given of the grant application for construction/enhancement of twelve pedestrian crossings – several in the area of Hood Rd. Council Member Lane requested a detailed presentation on the Fuel Card Purchase Award. Both also passed 5:0.
Ordinance 2,3 2019 and related Resolution 12, 2019 concerning small scale comprehensive plan amendment and rezoning for 2 parcels located on Alt A1A .5 mi south of Hood Rd for Convenience store and gas station, and car-wash/detailing facility passed 5:0 on Second Reading.
New business included first reading of Ordinance 4, 2019 which rezoned the Seacoast Utility Property. Plans were described for an entire redo of the municipal offices on the property. Meg Shannon of The Isles subdivision praised the collaborative working relationship of Seacoast with The Isles community. Also on the agenda was the Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Professional Firefightters and Paramedics of PBC, ratified by Local 2928 IAFF, Inc for fiscal years through 2020-2021. Both items also passed unanimously.
All appointments to External Boards and Committees remained the same except for the few that required participation by the City’s Mayor.