“Infrastructure is Destiny”

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Is there a ‘mobility infrastructure’ sur-tax in the County’s future?  There will be if Nick Uhren, Director PBC TPA, and associated municipalities in the County succeed in getting it on the ballot and passed, most likely in NOV, 2024.  During Presentations, Mr. Uhren gave an in-depth presentation on mobility plans for the County, with the theme “Infrastructure is Destiny”.  The current ‘Penny’ sales tax sunsets in 2026, or earlier if maximum revenue targets are reached before then.  He described the County’s current sur-tax as looking backward, doing repair and maintenance on existing projects.  The proposed sur-tax would be looking forward, to a ‘car-optional future‘.  Apparently, Palm Beach County is behind several major counties (Miami-Dade, Broward, Tampa, and Orange) in having such a tax – and it takes local dollars to bring in the necessary state and federal dollars required to implement major projects, by requiring ‘local matching dollars’.  Both the Council and City-Manager Ferris were all on board and the City’s mobility plan fits right in with the proposed concepts.  So ‘watch this space’….

City Manager Report

• The Gardens Green Market opened on October 3rd and is on Sundays from 8-1pm with live music
• Palm Beach Gardens Fall Festival will be on October 23 from 6-8PM.  See here for more details.
• Salute to Veterans on November 11 at 11am in Veterans Plaza – featuring the 13th Army Band

Consent Agenda related presentations:

• Natalie Crowley – Director of Planning and Zoning – Resolution 64, 2021 – Opposing Palm Beach County’s Comprehensive Plan Amendment to widen Northlake both East and West.  The County’s plans do not take into account turning lanes and would affect many communities in the City.  It also is premature, since Avenir is in the process of constructing a Connector Route between Northlake and Bee Line, which is designed to relieve traffic.  The western portion of the County’s plan is on the BCC Agenda for Nov 3 – NCNC and Carlton Oaks have already expressed opposition to the plans.  Residents can write to the Board of County Commissioners or come to the meeting.  Palm Beach Gardens plans to object through established inter-local agreement processes.
• Purchase Award for the Design and Construction of the Burns Rd Aquatic Center –  Km! Ra – Purchasing Director gave a brief overview of the purchase award.  Moneys for the construction came from the existing penny Sales sur-tax.

Consent Agenda Passed 5:0

Ordinances and Resolutions:

• Ordinance 12, 2021 – first reading – regarding a new flag-ship 7-11 featuring fresh food/Laredo Taco to be built on the site of the long-vacant Applebees on the northeast corner of Northlake Blvd and Congress.   The store would be more like a local market than a convenience store.  A deceleration lane would be added to the entrance which would aid traffic both to the 7-11 and Pep-Boys.  Passed 5:0
• Board appointments were made and/or reapproved for AIPP, Parks and Rec, PZAB and Fire Pensions – all passed 5:0
• Resolution 53, 2021 – approving and ratifying the collective bargaining agreement with the Professional Firefighters and Paramedics of PBC local 2928 for fiscal years 2021-2022, 2022-2023, 2023-2024.  Sheryl Stewart, HR Administrator made the presentation;  Jeff Green, PBG Resident, firefighter and District VP for Local 2928 made public comment praising the agreement which was reached with little strife and very quickly.  Passed 5:0

There was no other business discussed nor was there a City Attorney Report.