Council Agonizes Over Gun Control for Almost 2 Hours

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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.