Artistic Bus Shelters and Eminent Domain Dominate Mtg

What we expected to be a brief meeting took a little bit longer on Thursday, December 4th.

The agenda began with a very uplifting presentation on the results of the 9th Annual Mayor’s Veterans’ Golf Classic which in total awarded $29,114.47 to the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center. The sponsors were honored and many staff participated on their own time for this worthy cause.

The Annual Investment Update generated a little discussion on whether or not interest rates would be rising any time soon and in support of the strategy to focus the bulk of investments in 1-2 year bonds.

Presentations were added to the agenda:

• Artistic Bus Shelters – 13 locations were identified based on passenger usage and by virtue of the Consent Agenda approval – those would be the sites for the shelters. The contract approval was also in the Consent Agenda – and manufacturing of the shelters could begin in early January with a target to have them all in place by summer.
• Neighborhood Improvement Assessment Program (NIAP) at 40th Terrace/Sunset Drive
  • The roads have been transferred/accepted from Palm Beach County and one payment is still outstanding
  • Two contracts have been awarded – one for the water and the other for the roadwork
  • The projects can commence on January 15, 2015 and expected assessments will be $2,032.39/yr/parcel or expressed monthly $169.37 monthly/parcel.
  • All necessary easements have been obtained (for no charge) except for one big exception which was met by extreme consternation and frustration by the Council.  Kevin Easton, who has been the face of the neighborhood for several years and pursued these neighborhood enhancements wants payment for the easements on some of his 5 parcels – necessary for the water loop as well as for a Fire/Rescue turn-around.  He and the City have not come to an agreement.    Any payments to Mr. Easton will raise the costs for the entire neighborhood, according to the Council discussion.  City Attorney Lohman recommended that the Council approve Eminent Domain proceedings, which he assured them would go through.  Legal costs incurred would also be spread to the project costs.  The Council voted 5:0 to commence with the proceedings.  All hoped this can be resolved without such an action being taken.  Mr. Easton was not at the meeting and so his side of the argument was not represented.

City Manager Ferris gave quick updates on the stormwater inspections, swale repair, referenced the Palm Beach Post article on RAIDSONLINE , an excellent presentation made by Natalie Crowley at the Business Development Board Forum, The 31st Annual Holiday Bazaar underway now and the Holiday Joy Drive.

Council member Tinsely recused herself on the Azure Plat resolution – which passed 4:0 and the remainder of the Consent Agenda passed 5:0, as did first reading of the Budget Amendment. There were no other items for council discussion or a City Attorney Report.

All on the Council wished everyone Happy Holidays.

Note that the January City Council Meeting will be on January 8th at 7pm.

Next City Council Mtg on Thursday, December 4th

The next City Council Meeting will be this Thursday, December 4th at 7pm at City Hall.

Thursday’s meeting looks like it will be relatively short because many of the significant resolutions appear on the Consent Agenda rather than the Regular Agenda.

Presentations include the annual investment update by Steven Alexander with PFN Asset Management, LLC.

The Consent Agenda includes:

• Approving the Discovery Village Assisted Living Facility (ALF) Plat within the Gables Planned Community Development (PCD).  On February 6, 2014, the City Council approved a site plan for the Discovery Village Assisted Living Facility, consisting of a total of 120 units/138 beds comprising 129,831 square feet.
• Adoption of the Palm Beach County Local Mitigation Strategy.  The purpose of the Palm Beach County LMS Plan is to develop and execute an ongoing unified strategy for reducing the community’s vulnerability to identified natural, technological, and societal hazards, as well as place Palm Beach County in a position to compete effectively and productively for pre- and post-disaster funding. Palm Beach Gardens has participated in the Palm Beach County LMS Plan since 1998 and is required to adopt the updated LMS Plan to be eligible for pre- and post-disaster funding in the upcoming year.
• Approving the Azure Plat: In 2005, the subject site was approved to allow the development of 113 multifamily dwelling units and 9,900 square feet of ancillary office/retail space for use by the marina – the property is at the intersection of Donald Ross Road and Prosperity Farms Rd at Loggerhead Marina (previously named Frenchman’s Marina).
• Approving the Alton PCD Plat – which is part of the Briger tract between Donald Ross and Hood Rd.
• Purchase awards for the Artistic Bus Shelters, Tennis Center Parking Expansion and for the Neighborhood Improvement Asessment Program (NIAP) at 40th Terrace/Sunset Drive.  The latter will provide paved roads and piped water for residents of the community to bring the neighborhood up to the infrastructure standards of the City.

The Regular Agenda consists of only one item:

• Ordinance 14, 2014 which is an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2013/14 Budget. “As a part of the annual fiscal year closeout process, it is necessary to review the financial statements to determine if any post-closing budget amendments are required to properly reflect certain accounting transactions, and to ensure compliance with legal levels of budgetary control.”  Only 2 items are in this amendment – one with no impact on the City’s fund balance position and the other adding $1809 to Golf reserves.

The agenda (with links to full detail) can be found here.

See a summary of the November meeting, and the latest Martino Minute on the PBG Watch website.

We get the government we deserve – and it’s up to us to watch what they do.  Hope you can make it.  If you can’t make the meeting try and watch live-streaming or on-demand.