Possible changes to petition requirements for citizen initiated ballot questions
The City Council had a relatively brief meeting on Thursday night. Police Contract The item with most financial impact to the city was the ratification of the 3-year contract with the Police Benevolent Association (PBA), who represent the Gardens Police. The contract provides for a 2.5% rise in base pay over two years, and requires the union to make a contribution to the pension plan. The contract is expected to cost the city about $1M for its 121... [Read More...]
February Council – Unanimous Council Opposition to Beeline Flyover
NOTE: Video of this meeting has been provided by Steve Tarr. See part 1 and part 2. Even when the City Council meetings are well attended, very few in the audience stay until the meeting is adjourned. Thus there was hardly anyone left to hear the final discussion of the evening about the proposed flyover at Beeline and Northlake, prior to adjournment. (Listen to the meeting audio at timestamp 2:18:34) Councilwoman Marcie Tinsley interrupted... [Read More...]
January Council – Has Peace Returned to the Gardens?
NOTE: Video of this meeting has been provided by Steve Tarr. See part 1, part 2 and Video Discussion By a 4-1 vote, the City Council last night closed the door on a baseball stadium at the 117th street location. Councilman Joe Russo, in a much anticipated move, proffered the motion to stop all work on the site plans, to assist the county in searching for alternate locations, and to require that if a similar proposal ever comes back to the city,... [Read More...]
Now on to topics actually on the December City Council Agenda…
While much time was devoted to the proposed stadium in Public Comment, there were other items on the agenda at the December 5th, 2013 City Council Meeting. Bus Shelter Jamie Voss, assistant to the City Manager, took the Council through various alternatives on how bus shelters could be provided for key locations using various funding sources. She presented four options ranging from $188K to $670 for 12 shelters out of a total of 163 bus stops within... [Read More...]
Stadium Fight Kicks Up a Notch – December Council
Are you for it or against it? This was the mantra repeated by a dozen or so opponents of the proposed stadium on 117th street, backed up by a sea of red shirts in the audience. Speakers included Bent Tree residents Cathy Sorkin and Bruce Oestreich, Vito DeFrancesco of Shady Lakes, former Gardens Mayor Mike Martino, and Mike Peragine Sr. a former mayor of a northern city. Cathy Sorkin charged that the city has not shown the residents respect –... [Read More...]
Stadium prospects draw large crowd at November Council Meeting
The published November 8 Council agenda was light – only a couple of project approvals and some board appointments. Yet opposition to the proposed baseball stadium in the city from residents who live in close proximity to the site has been growing, complete with petition drives organized efforts by homeowners associations. Word got around that they would bring their case to the council this month during “Comments from the Public”. The... [Read More...]
Stadium discussed at October 3rd Council Mtg – Save the date for the 10/16 Workshop!
The proposed baseball stadium came up at several points in the Thursday, October 3rd City Council meeting. Early in the evening, City Administrator Ferris announced that there will be a Public Workshop to be held at the Double Tree Inn on October 16th. This had also been announced in the Palm Beach Post earlier. Written invitations will be mailed to residents in subdivisions directly adjoining or affected by the project, however all are welcome... [Read More...]
Public Comment dominates an otherwise short Final 2014 Budget Hearing
The Final Budget Hearing on September 19th went smoothly, as expected. So too did the 2nd readings on the 2013 budget update, and the changes to the Investment Policy. More interesting were the topics brought up during Public Comment. Polly Taormina from Sun Terrace at the Oaks, spoke about the subdivision’s reroofing project which she believes is being done improperly and not in accordance with the Master File. City Administrator Ferris directed... [Read More...]