Council Agonizes Over Gun Control for Almost 2 Hours

If one adds the time also spent on the topic at the May City Council Meeting, our Council has devoted almost 2.5 hours to Resolution 26, 2018 – a resolution that states their personal positions but has no legislative effect. All on the Council participated, with much of the discussion centering around proposed resolutions by Council Members Litt, Marciano and Mayor Marino. Much less passion and in-depth discussion has been devoted to policy topics within their direct purview – e.g. the City Charter.

(Note:  Council – Moms Demand Action do NOT represent the views of all residents in the City. Council Member Marciano – just because you have not heard from residents does NOT mean ‘everybody agrees’.)

Voices of reason during the debate over what should be included in Resolution 26, 2018 – which will be discussed yet again at the July 12 City Council Meeting, were City Manager Ferris and City Attorney Lohman. State Representative Roth also ventured to make some suggestions (and was met by derision by the Moms Demand Action attendees in the audience). Four members of Moms Demand Action spoke during public comment on the resolution. The Mayor allowed applause, giving the impression that the only time applause IS allowed is when the Council agrees – although she did say that allowing the applause was the exception to the rule. Clearly. Please watch discussion of Resolution 26, 2018 to see your Council at work.

Dr. Kim Delaney of the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council gave an overview report on the Palm Beach Gardens Tri-Rail Station Area Planning. Her presentation covered the South Florida Transit Oriented Design Grant Final Report and included demographic, residential and economic opportunities in the immediate vicinity of the long-planned station. Dr. Delaney’s presentation is worth viewing and can be seen here.

Veteran Colonel Howard C. “Scrappy” Johnson was honored by Proclamation, read by former Council Member Annie Delgado and Mayor Marino for his Service to our Country in WW II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, setting the world altitude record in the F-104A, his charity organization Joint Mission, Inc and numerous other accomplishments. See the Proclamation here.  Col. Johson then spoke and described how he received the nick-name “Scrappy”. It was a heart-warming ceremony.

Comments from the Public included:

• Gabe Ermine – candidate for County Judge Group 4 – describing his courtroom experience and letting all associate his name with a face.
• Matthew Kamula, Bob Gilbert, and Patricia Rodriquez-Piloto of Osprey Isles all spoke on the lack of a right turn lane into their subdivision. The right turn is exacerbated by school buses entering the community and stopping immediately thereafter as well as the high speed on Northlake.
• Robert Jaeger of the Montecito Subdivision (and HOA President) spoke about the speed limit on Northlake Blvd. and requesting that the speed be reduced from 55 to 45 for that section of Northlake.

Council Member Lane requested that the Purchase Award for Purchasing Card Services be pulled from Consent so that Purchasing Director Km! Ra would describe the award process. That item and the Consent Agenda passed 5:0.

City Manager Ferris had two items in his report:

• Police Chief Clint Shannon described the ongoing discussion with the Palm Beach County School Board on providing security for the four elementary schools in Palm Beach Gardens. The School Board cannot meet the staffing requirements passed by Florida in time for the upcoming school year, and the City desires to assist, has the knowledge of the schools, trains in those schools and it’s the City’s children attending those schools. Hopefully a win-win resolution will come from the discussions.
• Crystal Gibson of Code Enforcement, gave another update on recent projects helping residents upgrade their properties.

All Ordinances passed 5:0.

The Council Meeting was preceded by a heavily attended FDOT Workshop on BeeLine Highway – mostly by residents of the Steeplechase Community.  See Will Gardens Residents Get Wall to Shield Them from Beeline Traffic.

Next City Council Meeting on Thursday June 7th at 7pm

• Kim Delany with Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council – South Florida Transit Oriented Design Grant Final Report for Station Area Planning

• Resolution 32, 2018: Confidentiality Designations for Economic Development Initiatives Consideration for Approval: A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida designating official representatives of the City of Palm Beach Gardens authorized to receive and distribute confidential information pursuant to Section 288.075, Florida Statutes. – replacing Resolution 68, 2012 due to updated/changed position job titles.
• Purchase Award – Public Art – Repairs, Maintenance, and Conservation – openly competed 2 year contract with no option to renew – $199.3K
• Purchase Award – Exercising Option to Renew the Agreement for Vision Care Insurance – no cost to city
• Purchase Award –  Lease of Backhoe and Skid Steers – Piggyback/Access Contract – 3 year contract – $105K
• Purchase Award – Purchasing Card Services – openly competed – 5 year contract with option to renew for 5 years – $5 million per year expenditure
• Purchase Award – Emergency Medical Services – Medical Director – Fire/Rescue (EMS) – new five year agreement – $268K
• Purchase Award – Annual Asphalt Milling and Resurfacing (2018) – Piggyback/Access Contract – not to exceed $480K

City Manager Report  – no details listed

• Ordinance 6, 2018 – 2nd Reading and Adoption Amending Chapter 26, Elections
• Ordinance 10, 2018 – 2nd Reading and Adoption Voluntary Annexation for Richard Road Seacoast Utility Authority Parcel
• Ordinances 11,12, 2018 (and Resolution 27, 2018 on 2nd reading) – Carlton Oaks post-annexation large scale comprehensive plan amendment and PUD rezoning
• Ordinances 13,14, 2018 (and Resolution 28, 2018 on 2nd reading) – Osprey Isles post-annexation large scale comprehensive plan amendment and PUD rezoning
• Ordinances 15,16, 2018 (and Resolution 29, 2018 on 2nd reading) – Star of David Cemetary post-annexation large scale comprehensive plan amendment and rezoning
• Ordinances 17,18, 2018 (and Resolution 30, 2018 on 2nd reading) – Northlake CLF Parcel post-annexation small scale comprehensive plan amendment and PUD rezoning

Items for Council Action/Discussion:   

• Resolution 26, 2018 – Calling on the State of Florida and Federal Government to implement sensible gun control legislation, enhance mental health programs, and increase school security measures in order to help prevent future gun violence and mass casualties. This is the second discussion on the topic and lists the individual comments submitted by Council Members Litt and Marciano to be included in the discussion of the resolution  

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

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.