No Sportplex for the Gardens North County District Park

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New news for the City came at the very end of the November 3rd City Council meeting when Council Member Marciano suggested having a workshop for the newly available remaining undeveloped parcel in the North County District Park. Apparently, the sign that had been visible on the corner for several years advertising the future Sportsplex was no longer there. Through the ensuing discussion it became clear that the proposed Sportsplex, to be developed by Palm Beach North Athletic Foundation, had not secured funding and was no longer a viable proposal. The foundation had been awarded the contract to build the facility in Ordinance 60, 2019. Several other entities are coming forward with fully funded proposals which the administration will review before bringing them to the Council.

Second Reading and Approval of Ordinance 13, 2022 – which would have raised the purchasing sign-off authority of the City Manager without Council approval, was delayed until the December meeting at the request of Mayor Reed.

All other Ordinances and Resolutions on the Agenda were passed 5:0. These included two new communities in Avenir as well as the new clubhouse in Frenchman’s Creek.

Public Comment was made by:

• Pamela Payne – CEO of the Homeless Coalition of Palm Beach County – The City had a proclamation in honor of National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week
• Richard Ormond of Garden Isles wants city to take a more proactive role in code enforcement in neighborhoods without HOAs as well as protection against Air BNB type of businesses in residential areas. City Manager Ferris said they’ll look into how the City can help.
• Dr. Tracy Pellet – Provost and Dean of Palm Beach State College, Gardens Campus – introduced himself, gave greetings from President Ava Parker.

The City Manager Report included:

• Brief presentations by Fire Chief Keith Bryer and Chief of Police Clint Shannon on the significant assistance both departments have been rendering to areas hard hit by Hurricane Ian. All the deployments of Garden’s staff have been on a voluntary basis with the teams working under difficult conditions. Kudos to all for aiding Florida’s hard hit communities.
• City Manager Ferris also spoke to Operation Sister City assistance to Wauchula – where their 91 employees and families were especially hard hit by flooding from Hurricane Ian. The Garden’s sister city of Calloway was aided in the past and is ‘paying it forward’ by donating $15K towards Wauchula and Ferris is spearheading the effort to provide $35K to Wauchula including Calloway’s assistance, $10K donated by Christ Fellowship and (at the end of the meeting by a vote of the Council) $10K from the City Council budget. In addition, the City will be providing deliveries of personal items/necessities, Christmas gifts for children and ability for the public to donate via Amazon wish-ists. Look to the City website or facebook page for future links to help!

The December City Council meeting will be held on December 14 at 6pm; the January meeting will be conducted on January 12th 2023.