Next City Council Meeting on October 12th, 2017 at 7pm

• Charter Review Committee Final Report

• Charter Review Committee Final Report  – The Charter Review Committee met several times and has submitted recommended modifications to the City’s Charter including:
  • elimination of duplicative, ‘unneccesary’, or sections covered by State Statute
  • removing residence requirement for City Manager
  • increasing number of allowed consecutive Council Member terms
  • allowing for term-limited Council Members to run again
  • changes to Council Member Elections – allowing for plurality instead of majority, and not counting certain votes when tallying total number of votes in election results.
• The report can be read here.  The Council will decide which if any of the proposed changes will be placed on the March 2018 Uniform Municipal Elections ballot in ordinance(s) to appear on the November and December agendas.

• Purchase Award for Rental of Motor Vehicles (Police) – 5 year contract to rent unmarked vehicles on an as-needed basis.  $40K/year for 5 years for total contract of $200K.  Not publicly solicited.
• Purchase Award for Management of Food and Beverage Operations at Sandhill Crane Golf Club – bid waiver since sole bid responder was not recommended by the Selection Committee. Contract value of $1 million over 5 years;  One Million Dollars (expected revenue to City over First Term). Option to renew for two additional 5-year periods.
• Purchase Award – Piggyback/Access contract to construct a public safety training complex for the Police and Fire Rescue Departments, value $250K.

City Manager Report  – no details listed

• Ordinance 22, 2017 – 2nd Reading and Adoption of the Ban of Medical Marijuana Treatment Facilities which passed on First Reading 5:0 on September 7th
• Ordinance 23, 2017 – 2nd Reading and Adoption of a Moratorium on Micro Wireless Facilities through December 31, 2017, which passed on First Reading 5:0 on September 7th
• Resolution 71, 2017 – to approve a miscellaneous amendment allowing for 3 Residential Community Entry Signs for Burwick Residential Community in PGA National
• Resolution 68, 2017 – Appointments and Re-appointments to the Art in Public Places Advisory Board (AIPP)
• Resolution 69, 2017 – Appointments and Re-appointments to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
• Resolution 70, 2017 – Appointments and Re-appointments to the Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board (PZAB)

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

Next City Council Mtg on July 13 at 7pm

The next City Council Meeting will be on Thursday July 13th at 7pm in City Hall.

Agenda Highlights:

• State Senator Bobby Powell – Legislative Session Wrap-Up
• Set Maximum Millage Rate for FY 2017/2018 Budget
• Establishing the 2017 Charter Review Committee targeting March 2018 Municipal Elections
• Annual Evaluation of City Manager
• Inter-local agreement with Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council for Palm Beach Gardens Station Area – transit oriented development (TOD) Master Plan (on Consent Agenda)

• Resolution 45, 2017 – Interlocal Agreement between Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council and Palm Beach Gardens for Palm Beach Gardens Station Area Transit Oriented Development Master Plan. Funding for the grant includes $30K from Palm Beach Gardens.   Public Input will be collected from Sept-Dec. 2017, with a draft plan in 2017 and a Final Master Plan and Report by March 2018
• Purchase  Award – Operate On-Site Employee Health Clinic – $3.3 Million 5 year contract with option to renew for an additional 5 years – openly competed.  Awarded to Carehome LLC – current operator.
• Purchase Award – Renewal of Agreement for Dental Insurance – $80K – City exercised option to renew for 3 years.
• Purchase Award – Construct Prefabricated and Pre-Engineered Metal Building Shell for Golf Cart Storage Barn – openly competed $171K
• Purchase Award – Mowing and Landscape Services for PGA Flyover and Canal Long-Line Mowing – openly competed, 5 year contract for $1.5 million with option to renew for another 5 years.
• Purchase Award – Alert and Communications System for Fire Rescue Stations 1,3,4,5 – sole source $250K – to match system installed in Station 2.
• Purchase Award – Modifications to Johnson Dairy Rd – piggyback/access contract for $303K
• Purchase Award –  Bleachers Shade Structure for Gardens Park piggyback/access contract for $131K
• Purchase Award – Emergency Food Catering Services – City exercised option to renew $200K contract
• Purchase Award – New Tennis Center Clubhouse  Architectural Services – openly competed $220K
• Purchase Award – Dispatch Consoles for Northcom – piggyback/access contract for $79.7K

City Manager Report  – no details listed

• Resolution 46, 2017 – City Initiated Major Conditional Use approval for constructing a 180′ public safety communications monopole at the northern boundary of Lake Catherine Sportsplex  
• Resolution 41, 2017 – Setting a Maximum Millage Rate of 5.6678 which holds operating millage at 5.5 and with lower .1178 debt service, is less than current year 5.6781.  Also sets first Public Hearing on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017 . (Note – there is no budget detail and the backup material states “The detailed proposed line-item budget will be distributed to Council and the Budget Oversight Review Board under separate cover.”)
• Resolution 49, 2017 – Establishes the 2017 Charter Review Committee and associated duties and timeline, with the assumption of final report to the Council on Oct. 12, 2017, for Council approval of the Referendum Ordinance on Nov. 2, 2017 and Dec. 7, 2017 for placement on the ballot on the March 13, 2017 Uniform Municipal Elections.  (Note – the last two Charter related votes took place on November ballots in 2012 and 2014!)

Council Discussion: 

• City Manager Evaluation

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

 

Council Eliminates Liaison Role to City Committees and Boards

Following is a summary of the June 1st meeting.   The key policy change that was made was the elimination of council member liaisons to various City boards and committees in Ordinance 14, 2017 described below.

Announcement and Presentations:

• State Representative Rick Roth spoke on several bills – the most discussion with the Council related to the impact on local or home rule by “WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY: Limits local governments from regulating types of equipment known as “small wireless facilities” in public rights of ways that are used for new 5G wireless technology. (HB 687)” which could over-ride local zoning in placement of towers/devices.
• Marcum LLP, the City’s external auditor, gave the 2016 budget documents rave reviews with a ‘clean opinion’ and ‘no findings’.

Items of Resident Interest and Board/Committee Reports:

Council Member Woods asked the Council (who agreed) to ask that the City Manager have a Workshop by FDOT on the three I-95 interchanges (Northlake, PGA and Central) to inform the public on proposed traffic movement and right-of-way issues in August. Most of the FDOT workshops have been interchange specific which doesn’t get at City-wide issues and traffic movement.

Comments from the Public:

• John Channing – of the PGA Corridor Association, took over from his brother Joel Channing. He mentioned the 4th Annual Mid-Year Economic Update, given by Dr. Weiss and mentioned a 9/13/17 event to be held at the Embassy Suites on Mobility Around the Gardens
• Don Mathis – discussed the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) stating an issue with all projects scheduled for the same construction year and referred the Council to WPB or Boca for ideas on how to change this.
• 3 Employees of Gander Mountain spoke on the imminent closing of Gander Mountain (Travis Holmes, Jon Bagley and Lance B (sorry – he didn’t give address)), the potential loss of 70 to 100 plus (in season) jobs, if the new owner, Camping World is prohibited from displaying RVs outside dues to zoning. They and fellow employees who did not speak, were asked to wait until later in the meeting so the item could be addressed by Council and staff.

City Manager Report:

City Manager Ferris highlighted several recent awards, gave a brief presentation on before/after pictures of the impacts of Code Enforcement and mentoned a city-held event on Weather The Storm (hurricane preparedness) this Thursday, June 8 from 6-8.

Consent Agenda:

Council Member Lane asked that Item D on Consent be pulled for a presentation by Purchasing Manager Km! Ra on Municipal Complex Renovations ($668K). The rest of the Consent Agenda passed 5:0 as did Item D.

Ordinances and Resolutions:

• Ordinance 11, 2017 second reading and adoption of Specialty Pet Boarding passed 4:1 with Council Member Lane objecting. He pointed out that while the facilities themselves would have to be entirely enclosed, the animals would have to be brought in and out of the facilities and at some point ‘neighbors’ would object.
• Ordinance 14, 2017 Second Reading and Adoption regarding Procedures to fill board/committee vacancies, modify how absences are handled, and (most importantly,) alter the policy of having Council Liaisons to various Boards and Committees. County Attorney Lohman’s primary position was that the County Ordinance regarding the Sales Tax called for independent boards, and by expanding the City’s Budget Oversight Committee’s role to oversee the handling of the ‘penny’ sales tax, that committee was precluded from having a Council liaison. Don Mathis made public comment declaring the Council Liaison, especially on the Budget Oversight Committee, invaluable. The Council briefly explored having the Budget Oversight Committee divide their meetings into Budget and Sales Tax, with the Liaison only participating in the former. Vice-Mayor Marciano rightly pointed out that the voters, who the Council  represents, would be left out by the lack of liaison. Both Marciano and Council Member Lane reiterated their transparency and value issues from the prior Council meeting. To Mayor Marino and Council Member Woods, the issue seemed clear cut, and the value of liaisons to other boards seemed of lesser import. Mayor Marino compared the City policy to that of Jupiter, who didn’t have liaisons. Council Member Litt was torn, opining that all the input she got favored the continuance of liaisons, but she couldn’t see treating the Budget Oversight Committee exceptionally. With the vote of 3:2 (Lane, Marciano opposing), the Council ‘threw out the baby with the bathwater’ by eliminating board and committee transparency and interaction with our elected representatives while not modifying the Ordinance in any way to allow for interaction with the boards .
• In passing 5:0 both Resolution 42, 2017 – Opposing Conversion Therapies and Resolution 43, 2017 – Opposing Use of Exotic Animals in Circuses, our new council veered into Social and potentially Religious issues – passing non-binding, opinion resolutions.  Here is the Palm Beach Post’s coverage of Resolution 42, 2017./

Items for Council Action/Discussion:

• Gander Mountain – Mayor Marino thanked the Gander Mountain employees for staying. Natalie Crowley, Director of Planning and Zoning, gave a recap on the original Gander Mountain zoning (which would not have allowed for outside RV display). She had not yet been formally contacted by Camping World and was willing to work with them through issues, eg with such a display would there be adequate parking. Director Crowley needs to see a plan from the owner before discussions can proceed.  See Palm Beach Post coverage here.
• Charter Review Committee – Vice-Mayor Marciano had requested a time-line and proposal.  Staff suggested that any proposed Charter changes be on the March 2018 ballot. The Council did not dispute staff’s opinion that the changes could not be on the November ballot, and accepted staff’s comments that August 2018 would be too busy a ballot reiterating the ‘voter fatigue’ meme that was used by staff in 2012 and with term limits in 2014 – not mentioning that both proposals were on the November ballots in 2012 and 2014 respectively, and voter turn-out is largest. 
• Lastly, Finance Administrator Allan Owens discussed the impacts should the expanded Homestead Exemption to $75K be approved by voters in November 2018. He and the City Manager made the case that had this not passed to be placed on the ballot, perhaps a small decrease in ad valorem tax rate could have been entertained, but now, not so much, by threatening the budget stabilization reserve fund which the prior Council spent down earlier in the year.

Reminder – the July City Council Meeting will be held on Thursday, July 13 at 7pm.

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!

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