Martino: The New City Council – What We Expect

The City Council of Palm Beach Gardens elections for 2017 are over and my mailbox now has room for my bills. Let me add my congratulations and best wishes to the new Council members, Ms. Rachelle Litt, and Messrs. Mathew Lane and Mark Marciano. They join with Council members, Ms. Maria Marino and Mr. Carl Woods to form the first 5-member City Council since the overwhelming passage of term limits in 2014. At their first meeting the new Council elected Maria Marino as Mayor and Mark Marciano as Vice-Mayor.

So what should be this new City Council’s imminent priorities one might ask? Is it traffic, is it All Aboard Florida, is it development, is it sports fields, is it concerns for our older neighborhoods, is it sober homes, is it fiscal responsibility, is it health, safety, and welfare? The answer to all of those questions is a firm, YES. However, in my opinion, the most pressing subject facing the new City Council is Council protocol. What will be their modus operandi? How will it differ from the past?

From my perspective, embedded in the discussion of protocol are the problems of transparency, Council-Manager relationship within Charter boundaries, agenda framework, more City Council meetings, among other concerns. Accountability for transparency is only assured by communicating with the public the ideas and thought processes of the collective governmental body that go into the consideration and making of policy decisions in the openness of an advertised meeting. The City Charter spells out the interface that must pervade between the City Council and the City Manager, particularly concerning policy directives and initiatives. Preparation of an agenda format that is more business and resident conscious is a needed modernization. City Council workshop meetings on a regular advertised basis to discuss all City issues among the five Council members in public before the regular meetings for final vote are a vital component in the protocol process.

It is my observation, that the passage of term limits by an overwhelming 80% of the Palm Beach Gardens voters was not based solely on a “changing of the guard” mentality. It was also a desire for refreshment. It was a hope for new ideas and innovative approaches to our local government with more consideration for the concerns of the residents. It is my suggestion that our new City Council members consider these premises.

Next City Council Meeting on May 4th at 7PM

The next City Council Meeting will be on Thursday May 4th at 7pm in City Hall.

Announcements/Presentations:

•     Palm Beach North Brand Initiative
•     1st Place Award for Palm Beach Gardens Police Explorers
•     District at the Gardens (?)

Consent Agenda includes:

• Resolution 35, 2017 – setting the July City Council Meeting to 7/13 as to not conflict with the 4th of July holiday
• Purchase Award for Annual Asphalt Milling and Resurfacing – openly competed Piggyback/Access contract (City of Wellington), not to exceed $500K to resurface City streets and locations

City Manager Report  – no details listed

Public Hearings and Resolutions:

• Ordinance 11, 2017 – Amending Chapter 78 Land Use Regulations to provide a definition and details for new use Specialty Pet Boarding which must take place within enclosed building with no outdoor activities.
• Ordinance 13, 2017 – 2nd reading and adoption of Crime Prevention through Environmental Design approved at last month’s meeting.
• Ordinance 14, 2017 – 1st reading Amending Procedures for filling Board and Committee vacancies, absentee policy and eliminating council liaisons to board and committees.  (Editorial Questions – 1) did the council request eliminating the liaisons?  2) doesn’t this increase the influence of staff?)
• Resolution 31, 2017 – Alton PCD Parcels D, E, F – approving site plans for 316 single dwelling units and 199 town homes.
• Resolution 33, 2017 – Appointments to the PBG Police Officers Pension Board
• Resolution 34, 2017 – Appointments to the Budget Oversight Committee
• Resolution 38, 2017 – North County District Park – approving the conceptual Master Plan and giving the City Manager authority to negotiate with Palm Beach County, within the limits of the Sales Tax Surcharge ‘appropriations’.

Council Discussion:  Appointments to Boards and Committees and Forum Club Membership.

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

A New Council Takes the Reins

The Council Chambers were packed with friends and family of the incoming and outgoing Council members on Thursday, Apr 6th. Mayor Tinsley called the meeting to order, and after the Pledge of Allegiance and acceptance of the results of the Municipal Election, she, Vice-Mayor Jablin and Council Member Premuroso stepped off the dais while incoming members Mark Marciano, Matthew Lane and Rachelle Litt each took their oaths of office and took their places at the dais. At this point, City Manager Ferris spoke about his relationship with each of the outgoing members and presented each with crystal gavels as a token of the City’s appreciation for their accomplishments, love of and dedication to Palm Beach Gardens.

Next came the nomination and appointment of the Mayor and Vice-Mayor. In both cases, Council Member Lane moved to nominate and close nominations for Maria Marino and Mark Marciano, respectively. Both were voted-in unanimously and new Mayor Marino took the gavel.

Comments from the public included welcomes and well wishes from Tom Cairnes of PGA Corridor, Ken Tuma, also of the PGA Corridor, former Mayor Joe Russo, former Mayor David Levy, Gunster Attorney, Gardens resident and member of many PB County organizations Brian Seymour, resident Pat Hughey, former Council candidates Joseph R. Russo and Michael Paolercio.  Margaret Kennard of North Palm Beach addressed concerns about handicapped space distance from Planet Fitness and asked that the Council address alternatives. Tom Murphy, President of the Palm Beach Gardens Police Foundation spoke of upcoming two $2500 scholarships along with welcomes to the new council.

As the Council turned to business, the chambers literally cleared out, leaving a handful of folks and staff for the remainder of the meeting. Both Ordinance 12, 2107 (and related Resolution 22, 2017) second reading and adoption, and Ordinance 13, 2017 passed 5:0.

There were no City Manager or City Attorney reports.

During Items for Council Action and Discussion, each of the new Council members expressed in turn what their election meant to them and their hopes for the City’s future. Vice Mayor Marciano asked City Manager Ferris for some ideas on how to coordinate future outreach by the Council to the communities throughout the City. He expressed the idea for town-hall (our term, not his) type get-togethers in both those communities that have HOAs (and respective club houses) and those that don’t (perhaps having such informal meetings at the library). We are very supportive of Marciano’s proposal and hope that it will be a continuous effort by the Council members.  This will be discussed further in the May City Council meeting, as will board and committee assignments for the Council Members.

Mayor Marino also pointed out that only 2 members of the public attended the New Council Orientation earlier in the week and hoped that others would take the time to view it online. It has an excellent overview of the various responsibities of the Council and staff alike and we encourage any future candidates and all residents to check it out here.

We also wish to thank former Mayors Jablin, Premuroso and Tinsley for their contributions to the City, and congratulate the new council for taking on the responsibilities and commitment to Palm Beach Gardens!

New City Council to be Sworn In on Thursday, April 6th at 7pm

A new City Council takes the reins on Thursday, April 6th at 7pm when term-limited Mayor Tinsley, Vice-Mayor Jablin and Council Member Premuroso step down and are replaced by newly elected Matthew Lane, Rachelle Litt and Mark Marciano. Council Members Maria Marino and Carl Woods were seated in 2016. While there is a light agenda, active residents may want to attend to see the transfer to the new council, swearing in and election by the council of the new Mayor, Vice Mayor and any discussion of future actions. This will happen right after the meeting is called to order and the roll call is taken.

Announcements/Presentations: National Congenital Diagphragmatic Hernia Awareness Month

Consent Agenda includes 3 Purchase Awards:

• Emergency Equipment for Police Vehicles – Piggyback/Access Contract for $116K – ” Each year the City purchases new police vehicles to replace the vehicles that are scheduled for replacement. The new replacement vehicles are not sold with installed sirens, light bars, etc. The City must purchase these items and their installation elsewhere.”
• Bunker Gear for Fire/Rescue Department – Piggyback/Access Contract for $114K
• Renovation and Repair of Splash Playground at Burns Rd Community Center – Piggyback/Access Contract for $130K. The splash playground is not currently in operation and must be repaired prior to re-opening.

City Manager Report – no details listed

Public Hearings and Resolutions:

• Second Reading and Adoption of Ordinance 12, 2017 and related Resolution 22, 2017 – Business Center at the Gardens – which passed 5:0 on First Reading.
• Ordinance 13, 2017 – a City-initiated Amendment to Chapter 78 – Land Development Regulations, to provide for the inclusion of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles into the City’s Land Development Regulations. CPTED has been a part of development reviews since 1998 but was never codified into the regulations. The Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board (PZAB) approved this on March 7, 2017 7:0 and recommended approval by the Council.

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

Rachelle Litt wins the Group 5 Runoff

Congratulations to the winner in the Group 5 runoff election, Rachelle Litt, who won the race by 16 points, 58% to 42% over challenger Joe Russo.

The newcomers, including Ms. Litt, Dr. Mark Marciano and Matthew Lane, will be sworn in at the next Council meeting on April 6. The Mayor and other Council officers will be selected at that time.

Turnout for the race was 5235 – 13% of registered voters, and 83% of the turnout on 3/14. As runoffs go this was respectable as in the last March runoff in 2004, only 59% of the original voters returned to cast their ballot.

Group 5 Runoff
Strong Litt	Weak Litt	Very Close	Weak Russo	Strong Russo
Click the precinct on the map for vote totals.

1186	1426	196	14	132	64	67.3
1188	869	65	7	39	26	60.0
1189	75	17	23	0	17	0.0
1190	3166	248	8	112	136	45.2
1192	1476	160	11	94	66	58.8
1194	2023	390	19	264	126	67.7
1238	1667	288	17	195	93	67.7
1240	2479	341	14	231	110	67.7
1242	2490	459	18	290	168	63.3
1244	1544	200	13	118	82	59.0
1246	2380	282	12	168	112	60.0
1247	221	50	23	6	44	12.0
1248	1488	226	15	133	93	58.8
1250	61	3	5	3	0	100.0
1252	2355	797	34	356	441	44.7
1254	454	63	14	48	15	76.2
1260	1320	164	12	107	57	65.2
1266	478	5	1	1	4	20.0
1268	293	9	3	3	6	33.3
1272	1911	196	10	116	80	59.2
1274	1589	186	12	94	92	50.5
1280	396	39	10	25	14	64.1
1284	2290	153	7	86	67	56.2
1288	37	3	8	2	1	66.7
1290	2114	216	10	127	89	58.8
1292	67	9	13	5	4	55.6
1296	732	38	5	22	16	57.9
1324	1288	62	5	32	30	51.6
1326	553	77	14	45	32	58.4
1340	11	1	9	0	1	0.0
1352	2200	198	9	114	84	57.6
1360	883	94	11	47	46	50.5
1372	157	4	3	4	0	100.0
TOTAL	40513	5239	13	3019	2216	57.7

Vote in the Group 5 Run-Off Election on Tuesday March 28th!

Congratulations! 14% of us turned out for our City Council Elections on March 14th. But we’re not done. There is a run-off election for Group 5 between Rachelle Litt and Joe Russo on Tuesday March 28th. One of these WILL be on the Council – so it’s up to you to vote again! I’ve linked to their profile answers above, and if you want to do more research – look at responses from our forum here: Candidate Forum Synopsis with Videos for each question.

The polls are open from 7am to 7pm on Tuesday March 28th. There will be no lines! Here are the polling locations. Here is your sample ballot.

You’re active residents – please encourage your family, neighbors and friends to vote too!

Here is a detailed analysis of the March 14th election results. Congratulations to Group 1 winner Mark Marciano and Group 3 winner Matthew Lane.  And thanks to all the fine folks who gave of themselves to run for the Council.

We get the government we deserve – and it’s up to us to watch what they do.

An Analysis of the 2017 PBG Council Election

The March 14 municipal elections in Palm Beach Gardens yielded a pair of winners – Dr. Mark Marciano in Group 1 and Matthew Lane in Group 3. No candidate got a majority in the four way race in Group 5, so Rachelle Litt and Joe Russo will meet in a runoff on 3/28.

In Group 1, the seat currently held by Bert Premuroso, Dr. Marciano performed strongly in most areas of the city, winning by 33 points with 66% of the vote. A long time participant in city government, Mark served on the budget committee for quite a few years and is a regular at city council meetings. His challenger, Michael Paolercio, a newcomer to city politics came closest in Frenchman’s Reserve and Creek, where he lives.

In Group 2, the seat currently held by Eric Jablin, Matthew Lane avoided a runoff in the three way race by capturing 50.2% – a majority by 13 votes. Matthew, who entered the race over a year ago has also been a regular at council meetings and is active in many local civic organizations. Of his two challengers, Quicken Loans founder and past Senate candidate Ron Berman did well in the Gardens last fall, but was a newcomer to city issues and that may have come across. Challenger Katie Gettinger has been active in local issues and a regular at council meetings, but her lightly funded campaign did not do any direct mail or put up signs, possibly limiting her exposure to the voters.

In Group 5, the seat currently held by Mayor Marcie Tinsley, Pharmacist Rachelle Litt and tech enterpreneur Joe Russo won 37% and 34% of the vote respectively, advancing to the runoff election on 3/28. Of the others in this four way race, challenger Kevin Easton, who has run for Council several times before and was a principal in advancing term limits in the Gardens, polled 9% while retired Attorney George Wicker won 20%. Mr. Wicker did especially well in BallenIsles (where he lives), getting 51% of the vote there, 41% of his total vote count. Mr. Wicker also won Frenchman’s Reserve and Creek by 12 votes over Rachelle Litt.

Group 1

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Group 1
Strong Marciano	Weak Marciano	Very Close	Weak Paolercio	Strong Paolercio
Click the precinct on the map for vote totals.

Precinct	Registered	Votes Cast	Turnout %	Marciano	Paolercio	Marciano Margin
1186	1428	238	17	167	66	71.7
1188	867	68	8	41	26	61.2
1189	73	15	21	3	12	20.0
1190	3158	346	11	225	111	67.0
1192	1474	187	13	134	51	72.4
1194	2024	620	31	316	296	51.6
1238	1668	348	21	218	124	63.7
1240	2483	404	16	289	106	73.2
1242	2488	531	21	378	121	75.8
1244	1539	254	17	175	70	71.4
1246	2377	305	13	166	132	55.7
1247	221	51	23	9	40	18.4
1248	1488	259	17	169	82	67.3
1250	61	14	23	6	7	46.2
1252	2349	1010	43	544	332	62.1
1254	454	66	15	51	11	82.3
1260	1320	186	14	127	54	70.2
1266	479	5	1	2	3	40.0
1268	294	11	4	7	4	63.6
1272	1912	256	13	171	77	69.0
1274	1590	237	15	159	58	73.3
1280	396	47	12	26	21	55.3
1284	2287	184	8	135	42	76.3
1288	37	3	8	2	1	66.7
1290	2114	258	12	196	58	77.2
1292	67	24	36	22	2	91.7
1296	733	45	6	25	19	56.8
1324	1287	82	6	55	26	67.9
1326	553	79	14	61	17	78.2
1340	11	1	9	1		100.0
1352	2202	222	10	145	68	68.1
1360	882	116	13	71	41	63.4
1372	156	6	4	5		100.0
TOTAL	40492	6478	16	4101	2078	66.4

Group 3

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Group 3
Strong Lane	Weak Lane	Very Close	Weak Berman/Gettinger	Strong Berman/Gettinger
Click the precinct on the map for vote totals.

Precinct	Registered	Votes Cast	Turnout %	Berman	Gettinger	Lane	Lane Margin
1186	1428	238	17	58	25	149	64.2
1188	867	68	8	18	27	22	32.8
1189	73	15	21	8	3	1	8.3
1190	3158	346	11	100	85	146	44.1
1192	1474	187	13	39	35	107	59.1
1194	2024	620	31	181	50	341	59.6
1238	1668	348	21	95	33	207	61.8
1240	2483	404	16	125	49	221	55.9
1242	2488	531	21	130	75	303	59.6
1244	1539	254	17	62	38	135	57.4
1246	2377	305	13	79	119	102	34.0
1247	221	51	23	40	2	7	14.3
1248	1488	259	17	72	75	103	41.2
1250	61	14	23	3	2	9	64.3
1252	2349	1010	43	417	90	394	43.7
1254	454	66	15	11	2	48	78.7
1260	1320	186	14	49	41	88	49.4
1266	479	5	1		1	4	80.0
1268	294	11	4	4	5	2	18.2
1272	1912	256	13	74	69	105	42.3
1274	1590	237	15	66	73	87	38.5
1280	396	47	12	13	12	20	44.4
1284	2287	184	8	51	36	87	50.0
1288	37	3	8			3	100.0
1290	2114	258	12	65	47	142	55.9
1292	67	24	36	4	6	9	47.4
1296	733	45	6	19	17	9	20.0
1324	1287	82	6	28	22	32	39.0
1326	553	79	14	16	17	43	56.6
1340	11	1	9	1			0.0
1352	2202	222	10	59	46	106	50.2
1360	882	116	13	29	35	50	43.9
1372	156	6	4	2	2	2	33.3
TOTAL	40492	6478	16	1918	1139	3084	50.2

Group 5

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Group 5
Strong Litt	Weak Litt	Very Close	Weak Russo	Strong Russo
Click the precinct on the map for vote totals.

Precinct	Registered	Votes Cast	Turnout %	Easton	Litt	Russo	Wicker	Litt/Russo Margin
1186	1428	238	17	20	127	61	24	67.6
1188	867	68	8	13	22	23	10	48.9
1189	73	15	21		2	13		13.3
1190	3158	346	11	32	119	153	31	43.8
1192	1474	187	13	10	70	73	28	49.0
1194	2024	620	31	53	186	132	198	58.5
1238	1668	348	21	17	161	104	54	60.8
1240	2483	404	16	17	206	132	43	60.9
1242	2488	531	21	25	242	169	77	58.9
1244	1539	254	17	17	104	110	20	48.6
1246	2377	305	13	59	111	97	35	53.4
1247	221	51	23		3	40	8	7.0
1248	1488	259	17	31	104	89	35	53.9
1250	61	14	23	2	6	2	4	75.0
1252	2349	1010	43	11	172	307	515	35.9
1254	454	66	15	4	30	21	10	58.8
1260	1320	186	14	42	69	58	16	54.3
1266	479	5	1			4	1	0.0
1268	294	11	4	1	2	3	5	40.0
1272	1912	256	13	72	76	84	22	47.5
1274	1590	237	15	37	71	110	15	39.2
1280	396	47	12	7	19	14	5	57.6
1284	2287	184	8	11	89	61	18	59.3
1288	37	3	8			2	1	0.0
1290	2114	258	12	21	107	93	32	53.5
1292	67	24	36		5	15	1	25.0
1296	733	45	6	12	21	9	3	70.0
1324	1287	82	6	10	19	44	8	30.2
1326	553	79	14	8	41	27	3	60.3
1340	11	1	9			1		0.0
1352	2202	222	10	25	88	86	21	50.6
1360	882	116	13	18	41	37	20	52.6
1372	156	6	4	3	2	1		66.7
TOTAL	40492	6478	16	578	2315	2175	1263	51.6

Good turnout for PBG Election

Congratulations to the winner in Group 1, Dr. Mark Marciano, who dominated the race with 66% of the vote over challenger Michael Paolercio, and in Group 3 to Matthew Lane who topped 50% in a three way race by 13 votes to avoid a runoff. The Group 5 race moves to a runoff between Rachelle Litt and Joe Russo who captured 37% and 34% respectively in the 4 way race.

Election results last evening were somewhat sporadic, with the Supervisor’s website lagging some of the other reporting sites. Accurate vote counts were not available at pbcelections.org until this morning. At one point during the evening, the wrong candidates were reported in various places as having won or advancing to the runoff. For some reason, Palm Beach County still has difficulty with election results and we really haven’t shaken the “curse of the hanging chad.”

Turnout for the three races averaged about 6200 – about 14% of the registered voters. Although low by November election standards (72% of the Gardens voted for President), it was near the top of the range for a March election. The record was reached in 2014 when 7085 turned out for the Jablin /Peragine race. To find another that surpassed this year’s turnout you need to go back to 2005 when 6400 voted in the Jablin / Sartory contest.

The runoff election will be held on March 28. Historically, turnout drastically declines in runoffs. The last March runoff election in the Gardens was in 2004 when David Levy defeated Carl Sabatello in Group 4. Although 6552 voted in the original contest, only 3850 showed up for the runoff. Mr. Levy got 74% – 2864 votes, which was down from the 2909 he got in the first race. Mr. Sabatello’s votes declined from about 1340 in the first contest to about 1000, so turnout (or lack thereof) can have dramatic results. Mr. Russo and Ms. Litt will have to keep their supporters focused to prevail in two weeks.

There was another runoff in 2004, when 6 candidates competed coincident to the August primary election in Group 1. Three times the August vote turned out in November, giving Hal Valeche a narrow victory over Jodie Barnett. It was the presidential election of course that drove that turnout.

Here are the results as reported by the Supervisor of election:

You Passed Term Limits – Now Vote on March 14th!

Almost 80% of the Gardens’ voters in 2014 passed Term Limits. Over 16,000 of us voted for it. So now – it’s time to repeat that kind of voter turnout on Tuesday and select 3 new members for our City Council, rather than the abysmal turnout numbers, (3500-5000 voters) typical in our Municipal Elections. Our local government impacts all of us daily; think about safety, traffic, parks, taxes, ordinances, regulations, policies and practices.

We have good candidates – but they’re not identical in experience or outlook and you have more than enough information to make an informed decision. If you haven’t had an opportunity to meet the candidates or research them, then please check out our

• Candidate Profiles
• Candidate Forum Synopsis with Videos for each question
• Martino Minute – Educate Yourself, Pick Your Favorite and Vote on March 14th!

The polls are open from 7am to 7pm on Tuesday March 14th. There will be no lines! Here are polling locations. Here is your sample ballot.

You’re active residents – please encourage your family, neighbors and friends to vote too!

Is it Architecture or Art, Plus Council Goodbyes

This, the last full Council meeting for three of the members, began with heartfelt thanks and goodbyes from Council Member Premuroso, Vice Mayor Jablin and Mayor Tinsley during Items of Resident Interest. See Sarah Peter’s article here.

Comments from the Public also were related to their upcoming departure, with former Mayor Joe Russo, Tom Cairnes of the PGA Corridor, Joseph R Russo and Joanie Elias all thanking the departing council and recounting memories and accomplishments.

Resolution 30, 2017 sparked the most fireworks at a Council meeting in quite awhile. Mayor Tinsley had asked that the item be moved to immediately following 2nd reading and adoption of Ordinance 9, 2017 and its associated Resolution 20, 2017 which approved the Gardens Corporate Center PUD – with two eleven story office buildings and a three story garage for the NE corner of PGA Blvd and Alt A1A. The corporate center was approved 5:0 with pyramids (shown in the picture). The controversy arose over the applicant’s request to consider the two pyramids atop the office buildings as art, to meet the AIPP (Art in Public Places) requirement for the complex. The City requires that 1% of the cost of the $40 million project be alloted to AIPP. The cost of the two pyramids atop the buildings come out to almost $1 million, thus over twice the amount needed to meet the AIPP requirements. However staff disagreed strenuously that the pyramids were an intrinsic part of the buildings and in the approval of related waivers (eg height) and were NOT art. The disagreement began immediately with a request by the developer’s representative to postpone the Resolution 30, 2017 to the May City Council meeting. This would mean that an entirely new Council would be hearing the request, while the current Council – which had been involved with the project and just approved it, would have no say. After hearing arguments on both sides, Council Member Woods wanted to postpone to the May meeting, and Council Member Marino also wanted postponement as well. Vice Mayor Jablin made a motion to not postpone the discussion. The motion passed 3:2 with Marino and Woods voting nay.

Both the developer and staff then made their presentations. The developer made his case based on lack of functionality of the pyramids, that the Corporate Center’s site was not visible to the public while the pyramids would be seen by those driving in any direction, and that they were designed by an artist. Staff reiterated that the building approvals were obtained with the pyramids there, that one of the requirements of AIPP is that the artwork be unique (but the buildings are inspired by almost identical building pair in Miami where the pyramids were not counted as art), and that a 2007 ordinance specifically rejects architectural features as art. After much discussion, the Council voted 5:0 to reject the applicant’s request. Council Member Woods did offer compromise suggestions saying that perhaps the developer could do something art-related with the water wall. However staff was quick to point out that the water wall itself was not art and that an art element would have to be added. But that is for a future discussion with the new council.

All other Ordinances and Resolutions passed 5:0 with little discussion. Kathryn Gettinger made comments regarding Ordinances 7 and 8 2017 raising her concerns about the regulations with respect to wheel stops and parking on the grass. George Wicker, on the board at Ballenisles spoke in favor of Resolution 21, 2017 amending documents for the development.

There were no City Manager and City Attorney reports.

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