Presentations/Public comment and Council Discussion Book-End Mtg

The August PBG City Council was relatively short. All Ordinances and Resolutions passed 5:0.

Presentations included Lauren Berkson on the Gold Star Families Memorial (passed late in the evening at the July mtg – see the Palm Beach Post article here.),  an American Heart Association Gold Plus Award to PBG EMS for the 3rd time – for measures taken to deal with a special type of heart attack known as a ‘stemi’, and an award to PBG EMS as EMS State Provider of the Year for 2019. PBG EMS is the first to receive this award in Palm Beach County.  See Palm Beach Gardens Fire Rescue Earns State EMS Honor, for more details.

Public Comment included Attorney Jim Carroll announcing his candidacy for FL State Representative District 85, Julia Jackson of Lake Catherine expressing concern about the number of buoys now on Lake Catherine attributable to the model sailboat club races, and Barbara Grossman expressing concern about plans for Virgin Trains and requesting that the opposition group(s) be allowed to make a presentation to the Council at a future date.

During the presentation for Resolution 53, 2019 – Fire/Rescue Training Tower – it was mentioned that while such towers are typically made of concrete (as is the County’s tower off Southern Boulevard), the City’s training site uses movable and temporary structures, and thus a modular structure was necessary. See the Palm Beach Post article “Palm Beach Gardens is going to Build a 4 Story Fire Rescue Training Tower“.

Towards the end of the Council meeting – during Items for Council Action/Discussion, the first item for discussion was SPONSORSHIP OF THE 8TH ANNUAL SENATOR PHILIP D. LEWIS CENTER LUNCHEON, HOMELESS COALITION OF PALM BEACH COUNTY, proposed by Vice Mayor Litt. Sponsorship costs $1800 and includes 2 tickets to the luncheon. Council Member Marino asked how is the Council going to determine which non-profits are worthy or not? She pointed out that it is tax-payer money being used. Council Member Woods was leaning to approve, saying “we’re a large city and we have the money.” Mayor Marciano said that sometimes we have to spend outside the city to help people who can’t help themselves. Both Woods and Marciano discussed budgeting in the future for such expenditures for charities/non-profits using the City’s tax-payer moneys. The discussion continued during the next item CO-SPONSORSHIP OF THE PALM BEACH NORTH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS BEFORE HOURS MAYOR’S BREAKFAST, where a $500 sponsorship was approved.

The discussion then segued to traffic on Northlake Boulevard – a topic of much complaint by residents. Council Member Woods said that actions were in early stages and to let staff processes continue and decide alternative solutions after working with the county.

Mayor Marciano raised the topic of Brightline/All Aboard. He said that the City has had three resolutions in the past expressing concern about the crossings and the trains impacts to the City. He is continuing to try and reach Congressman Mast to see what can be done on a federal level. If the train is going to come then the City, then the City has to be prepared with safe crossings and quiet zones, and even a train stop if that would benefit the city.  The Council will support the citizens in any way they can. But it didn’t seem likely that the Council will allow a presentation by opposition groups. (Note that while it’s interesting that the Council may have seen such a presentation by opposition groups elsewhere – it doesn’t make it public record for the citizens of the City.)