Multi-Million $ Capital Improvements Managed by Cross-City Team
The May 5th City Council meeting was dominated by an enthusiastic update on the City’s Capital Improvement Projects, anchored by David Reyes, Community Services Administrator. Several members of the cross-city department team presented updates on: mobility projects, baseball, monument signs, exhaust filtration systems for all the fire-stations, Burns Road Community Center Modernization and Expansion and Aquatic center, including the pool,... [Read More...]
Mayor and Vice Mayor Swap Roles; City Ably Handles Tornado
The April 7 Palm Beach Gardens City Council Meeting began with the annual reorganization, nominating and selecting the Mayor and Vice Mayor for the following year. Congratulations to Mayor Chelsea Reed and Vice Mayor Rachelle Litt! Council Member Marciano was ‘under the weather’ and not in attendance. Christ Fellowship Church has had a big volunteer role and impact on our City. Daniel Prieto, Deputy Leisure Services Administrator,... [Read More...]
Avenir Pod 9 Gets the Go Ahead
The March 3, 2022 Palm Beach Gardens City Council meeting was relatively short. Council Member Woods was not present. The Consent Agenda, and Ordinances 1,3 and 4, 2022 passed on second reading 4:0. March 3 Public Comment was made by Dana Middleton, Chair of the PGA Corridor Association thanking the City (council and staff) with special kudos to Police and Fire/Rescue for their making the several events of the last month (eg ArtiGras and the Honda... [Read More...]
Acceleration of Western Fire Station Proposed
If passed on 2nd reading, Ordinance 1, 2022, presented by Allen Owens, Finance Administrator, the annual budget adjustment ordinance includes accelerating the construction of Fire Station 6 in Avenir. The requested allocation of $6 million for the project would be funded by: Restricted Reserves for Other American Rescue Plan $3,744,066, Budget Stabilization Reserve Account 1,055,934, and Fire Impact Fees 1,200,000. The fire station was planned to be funded by a loan in the future, but given projected inflation, staff calculated that building it sooner and without the need for a loan would both save the City money and provide necessary coverage to the western communities earlier. The ordinance also includes the staffing of 8 new full-time employees for the Recreation Department. The Council was supportive of the proposals and Ordinance 1, 2022 passed 5:0.
February 3The meeting began with a presentation by Casey Mitchell, Director of Golf. The City’s 2021 15th Annual Mayor’s Golf Classic, is the largest event conducted every year, and coincides with Veteran’s Day. She recognized the 60+ staff and volunteers that made the event a reality, along with the sponsors. Dr. Ronald Williams, Jr., Chief of Staff at the VA Medical Center described how funds are used to help find veterans homes. $72691.11 raised this year.
The Consent Agenda passed 5:0 – with Mayor Litt pulling and reading the Black History Month proclamation, and Vice-Mayor Reed pulling the 211 Awareness Week proclamation and thanking the 211 services in suicide prevention.
In other business:
- Ordinance 2, 2022 – presented by Martin Fitts, Principal Planner, was primarily statutory in nature, however there was an explanation and some discussion about the rationale for removing the Urban Growth Boundary. The ordinance passed on first reading 5:0
- Ordinance 3, 2022 – City Attorney Max Lohman explained that the Council was previously granted, for a ten year period, the ability to abate property taxes for new capital investment satisfying certain qualifications or for existing investments if expanded – to encourage economic development. In the last ten years, the only company qualifying/granted the abatement by the Council was the Carrier Corp. The referendum is to renew the ability, and keeps ‘this tool in the toolbox’. The City will undertake an information program to inform the voters and is the only city question on the August ballot. The ordinance passed 5:0 on first reading.
- Ordinance 4, 2022 – Martin Fitts explained that the ordinance would allow covid testing/vaccination sites to be handled as a special event plus increase the time pumpkins and Christmas trees can be sold. In both topics, this allows for easier handling and approvals for setup and logistics. The ordinance passed 5:0 on first reading.
In Items for Council discussion
- Vice Mayor Reed highlighted a TPA Conference that discussed the Beeline Highway project. (Note: Joel Engelhardt covered a recent zoom meeting on the topic in his article here.)
- Mayor Litt mentioned major activities in February including Artigras and the Honda Classic.
- Council Member Tinsley raised the issue of proposed redistricting maps dividing the City into more than one district. The Council still thought it was too early to raise a concern and weren’t sure whether being represented by more than one district was a good or bad thing.
Quiet Zones In Our Future
Todd Engle, City Engineer kicked off the meeting with an update on Quiet Zones (rail) – a topic always of great interest to those of us who live in the City. The City will be submitting a notice of intent to create quiet zones for 6 intersections within the City limits (3 belonging to PBG and 3 belonging to Palm Beach County). The entire Palm Beach County corridor is being coordinated via the PBC Transportation Planning Agency (TPA) which... [Read More...]
No Balloons for You! No Waterslide for PGA Resort Either!
The December Palm Beach Gardens City Council meeting had more attendance and resident participation than has been seen in quite awhile. The two agenda items drawing public comment and engendering the most council discussion were the PGA National Resort Core modifications and the Council initiated resolution banning Balloons and Confetti products on City property. Ordinances 13,14/2021 and companion Resolutions 60,61/2021 – Second Reading and Adoption... [Read More...]
PGA Station Development Dominates Nov. Council Mtg
Several development projects were covered during the very long Nov 4 City Council meeting. PGA Station was viewed by the council (and the developer) as integral to the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Overlay District within the City’s Comprehensive Plan. Resolution 62, 2021 outlined approval of a PUD Amendment to modify the uses on Pods Band C, including a new 8-story, 396-unit multi-family building with a 606-space parking garage on Pod B, modify... [Read More...]
“Infrastructure is Destiny”
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... [Read More...]