1999.04.27_TC_Minutes_Workshops
TOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH, FLORIDA
MINUTES OF TOWN COMMISSION MEETING
WORKSHOP MEETING
Tuesday, April 27, 1999 1:30 P.M.
Mayor Thomas J. Reid called the Workshop Meeting to order in
Commission Chambers at 1:30 P.M.
Town Clerk Doris Trinley called the roll. The Mayor, Vice Mayor
Michael W. Hill, and Commissioners John J. Sorrelli, Paul R. Kane
and Robert L Lowe were present.
Town Attorney Thomas E. Sliney and Town Manager Ben Saag were also
present, as were members of the general public.
After roll call, the Pledge of Allegiance was given.
ADDITIONS, DELETIONS OR ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA
Mayor Reid advised that Division Chief Douglas Trawick had been
assigned by Chief Robert Rehr to give the Delray Fire/Rescue
presentation at today's meeting. There being no other changes, and
hearing no objection, the Mayor declared the Agenda accepted as
• presented.
99.1 PUBLIC CONII~iENTS AND REQUESTS
The following residents addressed the Commission:
.Alan Kaufman, 3606 S. Ocean Blvd., asked that the Commission
reconsider including the Town seal on the elevated water
tank.
.Mike Browner, 4740 S. Ocean Blvd., said he was not in favor
of library expansion.
.Leonard Bell, 2727 S. Ocean Blvd., spoke in his capacity as
President of the Library Foundation, requesting information on
when the current proposed library expansion had taken place.
.Arlin G. Voress advised that as former Mayor he had received
calls from several residents, some of whom had contributed to
the recent library renovation/expansion, questioning the basis
of the recent plan to further expand.
Mayor Reid responded that there was no rush to accomplish library
expansion into the Chambers; however, in conjunction with this
plan, the issue of what he felt to be the inadequacy of Commission
facilities would need to be ultimately considered. The Mayor also
said that. a-plan would be available within a reasonable time that
would address short and long-term priority projects.
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• Minutes of Town Commission Workshop Minutes
April 27, 1999 Page 2 of 5
.Artie Quad, recent Ocean Grande purchaser, asked if the
construction of an Reverse Osmosis Plant on Town property
would be an eyesore, and was assured that if built here,
it would be aesthetically matched to the Town Hall complex.
Immediately following Public Comments, Talent Bank Applicants
Merton Rubin and Gerald Church were interviewed by the Commission.
PRESENTATIONS
OVERVIEW OF SERVICES PROVIDED THE TOWN BY DELRAY BEACH FIRE RESCUE
Division Chief Douglas Trawick gave this presentation. (Copy
attached to and made part of these Minutes.)
99.2 BOARDS AND COMMITTEES
Vacancies•
The Mayor announced one vacancy each on the Planning Board and
Board of Adjustment; and one (1) on Financial Advisory Board (Byron
McKinley eligible for reappointment. Two (2) vacancies on the Ad
Hoc Committee were also noted.
• 99.3 PROPOSED ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS
None.
MISCELLANEOUS - ITEMS LEFT OVER
1) The following sets of Minutes were moved to the May 4 Regular
Meeting Agenda for further consideration and possible approval:
March 30, 1999 - Workshop Meeting
April 6, 1999 - Regular Meeting.
April 20, 1999 - Special Workshop Meeting
2) Discussion re Expansion of Library into Existing Commission
Chambers, Building of a New Commission Chambers, and Increase in
Parking facilities.
After lengthy discussion, the following was agreed upon:
.Commissioner Sorrelli and the Town Manager will work together to
develop a master plan for the property behind Town Hall. This will
include meeting with the architect chosen to renovate the
maintenance garage to request detailed exterior and interior
drawings, as well as drawings of expanded parking facilities. The
architect wi1l.aJso be asked to address the feasibility of adding
• a second story to the garage to house new Commission Chambers.
(copy of Town Manager's 4/21/99 memorandum attached to and made
part of these Minutes.)
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• Minutes of Town Commission Workshop Meeting
April 27, 1999 Page 3 of 5
REPORTS - TOWN COMMISSION
Commissioner Robert L. Lowe had no report.
Commissioner Paul R. Rane agreed that establishing priorities
regarding short and long-term goals was necessary; however, he
noted the water and sewer issues would be better defined as
urgencies, and asked the Commission to consider moving CH2M HILL
Task Orders 12 and 14, both dealing with water treatment plant
projects, including the feasibility of a reverse osmosis plant, to
the May 4 Regular Meeting Agenda, which the Commission agreed to.
Commissioner Kane also encouraged that the upgrade of the
wastewater conveyance system proceed as soon as possible.
As an advocate of reverse osmosis treatment for the Town's water
supply, the Commissioner noted a recent tour of the Boynton Beach
R.O. plant, and pointed out water samples he had arranged for
display today, explaining that one beaker contained raw well water;
another Highland Beach treated water; and still another with water
treated by reverse osmosis.
Commissioner Kane also noted he was in favor of eventual library
expansion and new Commission Chambers; he also said he was in favor
• of certain sections of the Town's beaches being renourished, and
hoped that government assistance could be obtained to accomplish
such a project.
Commissioner John J. Sorrelli said he was in favor of all the short
and long-term goals identified by the Town Manager in his 4/15/99
memorandum; however, he encouraged that nothing be rushed into to
ensure that all projects be done right. In this regard, the
Commissioner noted the necessity of the development of a master
plan.
Vice Mayor Michael W. Hill referred to the possibility of the Town
building a reverse osmosis water treatment plant on the property
behind Town Hall, and suggested that Boca Raton might be interested
in purchasing the property the existing water treatment plant now
occupies. Town Manager Saag noted Boca Raton had right of first
refusal by virtue of an earlier agreement, but a current property
appraisal should be sought.
Regarding previous comments on beach renourishment, Vice Mayor Hill
noted that due to natural migration of the sand, the north end of
the Town has actually enjoyed accretion, while the south end,
because of rock f-ormations which stop the flow of the sand, show
signs of erosion. The Vice Mayor said the south end's proximity to
a public park (Spanish River in Boca Raton) might make government
assistance reg~:rding renourishment of this section a possibility.
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Minutes of Town Commission Workshop Meeting
April 27, 1999 Page 4 of 5
Vice Mayor Hill suggested that if the issue of what to build behind
Town Hall did go to a "Straw Ballot," the ballot question be posed
in clearer language than the previous one, which he felt confused
rather than enlightened.
Concluding his report, Vice Mayor Hill thanked Town Manager Saag
for the excellent job he did in prioritizing, in a fair and
rational manner, the issues facing the Commission regarding short
and long-term goals.
Mayor Thomas J. Reid questioned what criteria would cause the
Building Department to make an inspection, using the example of
what information regarding the necessity of a permit that a
building manager would give a unit owner who wanted work done in
his apartment. Town Manager Saag responded that he would request
the Building Official to answer questions in this regard at the May
4 Regular Meeting.
Regarding comments on beach renourishment, the Mayor noted that it
would need to be determined if government assistance might require
the Town to provide public access and/or public parking.
Mayor Reid next wholeheartedly endorsed the need for a Master. Plan.
Regarding the possibility of selling Town-owned land in Boca Raton,
the Mayor commented that should in the future the Town find itself
in a position where it must take care of wastewater disposal
itself, having the land in Boca Raton might would prove to be
advantageous, not only for this purpose but for reverse osmosis
waste also.
In conclusion, Mayor Reid also applauded Town Manager Saag's
efforts, thanking him for his assistance to the Mayor's office as
well as members of the Commission, and noting it was a pleasure to
have him "on board."
REPORTS - TOWN ATTORNEY
Town Attorney Sliney had no report.
REPORTS - TOWN MANAGER
Town Manager Ben Saag reported on several issues:
.Explained CH2M HILL task order 12 goes beyond the study of reverse
osmosis ~~~ater treatment feasibility; it also addresses whether
anion exchange might be a better method to consider. Further,
should the Towr. decide to build an R.O. plant, whether it would be
better placed: on the property behind Town Hall or on the Town' s
• Boca Raton site. This item was moved to the May 4 Regular Meeting
Consent Agenda..
.Advised CH2M HILL Task Order 14, a risk management study, is an
unfunded mandate having to do with the storage of chlorine at the
Minutes of Town Commission Workshop Meeting
• ,~~~ 27 , 1999 Paae 5 of 5
water treatment plant, and the Town is now attempting to reduce the
amount stored so as to preclude the necessity of filing a report.
In this regard, Mr. Saag asked that until it is known if this item
can be withdrawn, it be placed on the May 04 Regular Meeting
Consent Agenda at this time as the report, if it must be completed,
is due by June. The Commission agreed to move the item to the
Consent Agenda.
.Requested that the proposal from Duncan Associates for consulting
services to the Planning Board regarding revisions to Chapter 30
(Zoning) be moved to the Consent Agenda; it was the consensus to do
so.
.Reminded all of the DOT-sponsored Workshop scheduled for May 4, 4-
6 P.M., in Commission Chambers. It was the consensus to request
that a DOT representative appear at the May 4 Regular Meeting to
give a preview of the Workshop, which Mr. Saag said he would
arrange for. During discussion, it was also agreed that
Representative Bill Andrews be invited to attend the DOT Workshop.
.Advised of a request from Palm Beach County League of Cities,
Inc., asking for an update of a voting delegate and alternates,
which Mr. Saag said would be in the form of a Resolution for
approval at the May 4 Regular Meeting.
.Regarding discussion of a "straw ballot," as an alternative Mr.
• Saag suggested a "Citizen Survey" and said if the Commission so
desired he would have a draft copy ready for review at the May 4
Regular Meeting, which the Commission agreed to.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Commission at
this time, Mayor Reid adjourned the Workshop Meeting at 3:15 P.M.
upon MOTION by COMMISSIONER LOWS/COMMISSIONER SORRELLI.
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APPROV~:
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Thomas J. Reid, Mayor
f
ri J. S relli, Commissioner
Robert L. Lowe,
ssioner