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2015.05.26_TC_Minutes_Workshop TOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH MINUTES OF TOWN COMMISSION MEETING WORKSHOP MEETING Tuesday, May 26, 2015 1 PM Mayor Bernard Featherman called the Workshop Meeting to order in the Commission Chambers at 1:30 PM. CALL TO ORDER: Roll Call: Members present: Mayor Bernard Featherman; Commissioner Carl Feldman; Commissioner Louis P. Stern; and Commissioner Rhoda Zelniker. Member Absent: Vice Mayor William Weitz. Also present: Town Attorney Glen Torcivia; Town Manager Beverly Brown; Town Clerk Valerie Oakes; Finance Director Cale Curtis; Public Works Director Edward Soper; Library Systems Analyst Jerry Williams; Police Chief Craig Hartmann; and members of the public. Pledge of Allegiance: The Pledge of Allegiance was given, followed by a minute of silence. Civility Pledge: The Civility Pledge was recited by the Town Clerk. 1. ADDITIONS, DELETIONS OR ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA: Mayor Featherman called for any additions or deletions to the agenda. Town Manager Brown requested that Item No. 2, Public Comments and Requests, be moved to the end of the meeting so both public comments are heard at the same time. By consensus, the Agenda was accepted as amended. 2. PUBLIC COMMENTS AND REOUESTS: Moved to item #11. 3. PRESENTATIONS: None. Town Commission Workshop Meeting Minutes Tuesday, May 26, 2015 Page 2 of 8 4. BOARDS AND COMMITTEES: A) Board Correspondence: • None B) Board Action Report: • No Report C) Board Vacancies: • Code Enforcement Board — Three -Year Term Talent Bank Interview: • Carl Gehman, 1123 Highland Beach Dr. gave a brief description of his background and stated that he is very interested in serving the community. • Myles Schlam, 3594 S. Ocean Blvd. felt his background would be beneficial to serving as a member of the Code Enforcement Board and is very familiar with code enforcement issues. • Lori Wolin, 1101 Bel Air Dr. has been a resident of Highland Beach for 13 years and a former member of the Code Enforcement Board. She stated her credentials and feels she would be qualified to serve again on the Code Enforcement Board. The Commission thanked each candidate for applying to the Code Enforcement Board. Consensus was to place this item under Miscellaneous Items — Left Over on the agenda on June 2, 2015. • Code Enforcement Board — Term Expiration March 2017 Talent Bank Interview: o George Kelvin, 4740 S. Ocean Blvd. gave a brief description of his background and indicated that he is interested in serving on the Code Enforcement Board. Consensus was to place Mr. Kelvin's appointment on the Consent Agenda on June 2, 2015. D) Monthly Board Meetings: • Town Commission Regular Meeting — June 2 nd — 1:30 PM • Beaches & Shores — June 9' — 9:30 AM • Town Commission Workshop Meeting — June 30 — 1:30 PM Town Commission Workshop Meeting Minutes Tuesday, May 26, 2015 Page 3 of 8 5. PROPOSED ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS: A) ORDINANCE NO. 15-005 O — Scheduled for 2 °d Reading on June 2, 2015 AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN COMMISSION OF THE TOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH, FLORIDA, REPEALING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, CHAPTER 7 "ELECTIONS", AT SECTION 7 -4 "ELECTION DATES" AND SECTION 7 -5 "QUALIFICATIONS OF CANDIDATES" DUE TO CONFLICTS WITH THE TOWN CHARTER; AND PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, THE REPEAL OF LAWS IN CONFLICT, CODIFICATION AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Town Clerk Oakes read Ordinance No. 15 -005 O into the record. Town Manager Brown — This ordinance will last for one year only. The Presidential preference primary is the third Tuesday of March and the municipal election is the second Tuesday of March. The Supervisor will not have two elections within a one week period and has asked us to change our election to the third Tuesday of March 2016. No further discussion from the Town Commission. B) ORDINANCE NO. 15-006 O — Scheduled for 2 °d Reading on June 2, 2015 AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN COMMISSION OF THE TOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE TOWN CHARTER, SECTION 1.06 AT THE REQUEST OF THE PALM BEACH COUNTY SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS TO AMEND THE DATE OF THE MARCH 2016 MUNICIPAL ELECTION AND ASSOCIATED CANDIDATE QUALIFYING PERIOD TO COINCIDE WITH THE PRIMARILY PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION; AND PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, THE REPEAL OF LAWS IN CONFLICT, CODIFICATION AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Town Clerk Oakes read Ordinance No. 15 -006 O into the record. Town Manager Brown — This ordinance is in conjunction with the ordinance no. 15 -005, which repealed the second Tuesday in March. This one is setting the election for the third Tuesday in March and sets the qualifying period for November. No further discussion from the Town Commission. Town Commission Workshop Meeting Minutes Tuesday, May 26, 2015 Pame 4 of 8 C) ORDINANCE NO. 15 -007 O — Scheduled for 2 °d Reading on June 2, 2015 AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH, FLORIDA CREATING CHAPTER 33, - ACQUISITION OF GOODS AND SERVICES -, TO PROVIDE FOR REQUIREMENTS AND REGULATIONS AS IT RELATES TO THE PURCHASING OF GOODS AND SERVICES; PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION, CONFLICTS, SEVERABILITY AND FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Town Clerk Oakes read Ordinance No. 15 -007 O into the record. Commission Discussion: Commissioner Feldman — Is everything in the purchasing manual going into this ordinance? Finance Director Curtis — The ordinance provides a global look at purchasing and the manual gives us the methods to enact the ordinance. Once this is adopted, the manual becomes adopted with it. 6. NEW BUSINESS A) Review and Approval of Request for Proposals for the Water Infrastructure Improvement Project. Town Manager Brown — This past March a referendum was passed by the voters of the Town to fund a capital improvement project to replace the publically owned water distribution lines on the side streets and to upgrade the mineralization process at the Water Treatment Plant. After meeting with the Town Attorney and the Public Works Director, we decided the best way to do this was to go out for Request for Proposals and separate the two items. Attached to this file are the legal notices and the requirements for each project. Commission Discussion: Comm. Feldman — In separating these two items, will we have to get two engineering studies or could the one engineering study be for both projects? Town Manager Brown — One engineering company could be for both projects, but not all companies will be able to do both projects. By separating the two, we would give ourselves the flexibility of separating them or combining the two. Comm. Stern — I have had plenty of opportunity to read this and feel it is excellent. Comm. Zelniker — I also had the opportunity to read this and make a comment. I felt we should have something in there about nepotism since we did have a problem with this. The Town Attorney assured me that it is understood in the Ethics Code in the State of Florida that you could not be related to someone. Town Manager Brown — We have added this to the requirements. Town Commission Workshop Meeting Minutes Tuesday, May 26, 2015 Paee 5 of 8 Mayor Featherman — I am in favor of separating the two items. Consensus was to place this item on the Consent Agenda on June 2, 2015. B) Renewal of Employee Health Insurance. Town Mgnaer Brown — The Town's group health insurance is up for renewal on July 1, 2015. The renewal of our existing plan is 8.42 %, or approximately $64,000 higher than last year. We have reviewed alternative quotes, and any other insurance policy that we take would up the co- pays of the employees if a catastrophe did happen to their family. We are asking that the Commission authorize us to stay with our present plan. Commission Discussion: Comm. Stern — We have excellent employees, and would hate to see us cut a corner and make them double what they would have to pay for generic drugs or a co -pay for doctor visits. In reviewing the other plans, I am not happy with them even though they would cut our costs. I am in favor of staying with the same policy and giving our wonderful employees the same benefits. Comm. Zehiiker — I am in agreement with Comm. Stern, but will make my comments about the health insurance at the end of the meeting. It is very important that we keep this policy for our staff. Comm. Feldman — The residents should be informed that the employees do pay for part of their insurance and that is mainly on a family plan. Town Manager Brown — We have four different levels of insurance where the employees contribute. Comm. Feldman — The 8.4% rise is incidental from what we see in the national average is going up as much as 30% indicated in today's Wall Street Journal. The Town has done an admirable job in getting other proposals and keeping with this policy. Mayor Featherman — We have a wonderful staff and I believe we should maintain our present policy. Consensus was to place this item on the Consent Agenda on June 2, 2015. 7. MISCELLANEOUS — ITEMS LEFT OVER A) Minutes: • April 28, 2015 — Workshop Meeting • May 5, 2015 — Regular Meeting Consensus was to place the minutes on the Consent Agenda on June 2, 2015. Town Commission Workshop Meeting Minutes Tuesday, May 26, 2015 Paae 6 of 8 8. REPORTS — TOWN COMMISSION: A) Commissioner Rhoda Zelniker — At the April 28 meeting, Town Attorney Torcivia stated that you could adopt an ordinance that says you have to maintain your property. There are maps indicating where the property line is and where the public part of the beach begins. There was a gentleman who came to that meeting and was very disturbed that some people do not clean their part of the beach. Has anything been done on this ordinance? Town Attomey Torcivia — Attorney Brian Shutt met with Chief Hartmann. He has a map that shows where the property line curves throughout Highland Beach. They are working on an ordinance to bring back to you. Comm. Zelniker — I believe we should keep our current health insurance policy. However, I have done some research on health insurance and the federal government, most states (Florida included), towns and communities do have their employees pay some amount towards their health insurance. For the new budget year, and for new hires only, I would like to investigate the possibility of them making a small contribution towards their health insurance. Comm. Zelniker read an article from the Science Journal regarding plastic on our beaches and the danger it imposes on our ocean wildlife and habitants. She would like to get involved with the Department of Environmental Protection and try to get every city to take a little interest in eliminating plastic bags in the grocery stores. She stated that we are a beach community and owe it to our community. B) Commissioner Carl Feldman — The employees do pay part of their health insurance. Regarding the beaches, the articles I have read state that most of the debris comes from the boats and not the people on the beaches. The condominiums pay the beach rakers to clean the beach. Some of the private homes do not. I was wondering if the Town could pay the beach rakers to clean the beach, and it would be part of everyone's taxes. It would be very little on the tax rate. I think there is an accident waiting to happen on A I A, and I think it will be a very disastrous one. Last Wednesday and Thursday there were over 150 bicycles on AIA. I know they have the right -of -way, but they don't have the right to hold up traffic or impede the flow of traffic. They took up the entire northbound lane and almost caused an accident when a driver was trying to pass them. I would like to see the Police Department out on Wednesday and Thursday at 6:00 PM. Also, the bicyclists do not stop for pedestrians in the crosswalks and perhaps the police officers could pull them over and educate them. It is important that something be done before it is too late. C) Commissioner Louis Stern — I want to thank you for moving your comments to the end of the meeting. My wife was operated on this morning and I will be leaving shortly. Last Wednesday, the elected officials attended the induction luncheon for the Palm Beach County League of Cities. Our Town Attorney, Glen Torcivia, won the Associate Member of the Year Award for the work that he has done for the League of Cities. We owe him big congratulations. Town Commission Workshop Meeting Minutes Tuesday, May 26, 2015 Page 7 of 8 D) Vice Mayor William Weitz — Absent. E) Mayor Bernard Featherman — Several people have contacted me about the new mailbox in front of Town Hall. It is very difficult to open from the car and they have to get out of their car to place mail in the box. Town Manager Brown — The prior mailbox had a snorkel where you could drive up and drop your mail into it. The snorkel was rusted and any heavy rains would get into the mailbox, and the mail would get wet. When I called for a replacement they indicated that it would be six to eight months before we could get a new one. With the rainy season coming up I did not think it was a good idea to wait. This mailbox is temporary and we are on the list to get a new mailbox with a snorkel, but they cannot guarantee a time limit. I agree with Commissioner Feldman's suggestion to have the police monitor the bicyclists for the safety of the residents. Mayor Featherman questioned the number of Code Enforcement meetings during the year. Town Manager Brown — The Code Enforcement Board is now meeting on a quarterly basis. The Code Enforcement Officer attends the meetings and provides a report on the cases that she has been working on. The monthly report is sent to each member of the Board by the Town Clerk's office. 9. REPORTS — TOWN ATTORNEY GLEN TORCIVIA: Thank you for all your congratulations. I would also like to thank the team that I work with, Brian Shutt and the other lawyers. It has been a pleasure working with Town Manager Beverly Brown and her team as you can see on this agenda. You are moving forward with the Request for Qualifications for the water project that you are seeing ahead of time. The Purchasing Policy, which has been worked on for a very long time, is finally moving forward. 10. REPORTS — TOWN MANAGER BEVERLY BROWN: The Special Olympics Torch Run came through town today. Mari Suarez, Library Director, and Alice Witkowski, Library Clerk, are retiring next week. We put in new landscaping in front of the building which is neat and clean and displays the building. The tree at the end of the driveway was removed; there is greater visibility. Our Finance Director and all the supervisors have been working on the 2015/2016 budget and are hoping to get it to you in another month. 11. PUBLIC COMMENTS AND REQUESTS RELATED TO AGENDA ITEMS DISCUSSED AT MEETING ONLY: James Jiovanazzo, 3700 S. Ocean Blvd — Some of the residents at Toscana have indicated their concern about the height of the homes being built on the east side of the road opposite Toscana. I know there was a meeting where they were granted the additional height because they were putting in an elevator shaft. Town Manager Brown — They appeared before the Board of Adjustment for a variance. The Clerk's office has the minutes for that meeting. Town Commission Workshop Meeting Minutes Tuesday, May 26, 2015 Page 8 of 8 Carl Gehman, 1123 S. Ocean Blvd — The new benches are very nice and I want to thank the Town for them. I agree with Comm. Feldman about the bike situation. Some of these bicyclists have taken over the road. Don Gill, 4740 S. Ocean Blvd — I am the Vice Chair on the Code Enforcement Board and am pleased that we are now having quarterly meetings. Mike Stein, 3912 S. Ocean Blvd — Mari Suarez was the person who generated a grant request that gave us the funding from the County for our Library as it exists today. She is retiring and I feel this Commission owes her a great debt of gratitude as does our entire community. I know there have been some issues of late that have come up. I think they should be put to rest, forgotten, irrelevant in the context of her service which is what we should acknowledge. Myles Schlam, 3600 S. Ocean Blvd asked about the status of the Sex Offender Ordinance. Town Clerk Oakes stated that it was passed and codified. 12. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Commission, Mayor Featherman called for a motion to adjourn the Workshop Meeting at 2:27 PM. MOTION: Commissioner Feldman moved to adjourn the workshop meeting at 2:27 PM. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Zelniker which passed unanimously. APPROVED: Bernard Featherman, Mayor r William Weitz, Ph. D, Vice XTayor o P. S ern , ioner Car Feldman, Commissioner a Zelniker mmissioner TT �C' r Valerie Oakes, CMC, Town Clerk Date