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2008.06.24_TC_Minutes_Workshop• TOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH MINUTES OF TOWN COMMISSION MEETING WORKSHOP MEETING Tuesday, June 24, 2008 1.30 P M Mayor Jim Newill, CPA called the Workshop Meeting to order in Commission Chambers at 1:30 P.M. CALL TO ORDER: Roll Call: Members present: Mayor Jim Newill, CPA; Vice Mayor Miriam S. Zwick; Commissioner Doris M. Trinley; and Commissioner John J. Pagliaro. Absent -Commissioner John J. Sorrelli. Also present: Town Attorney Tom Sliney; Town Manager Dale S. Sugerman; Town Clerk Beverly M. Brown; and members of the public. Pledge of Allegiance: The Pledge of Allegiance was given, followed by a minute of silence in honor of members of the military, both living and deceased. • Civility Pledge: The Civility Pledge was recited by the Town Clerk. 1. ADDITIONS, DELETIONS OR ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA • None 2. PUBLIC COMMENTS AND REQUESTS Lucy Miller - 3301 S. Ocean Blvd -Ambassadors East Ambassadors East residents, Judy and Mike Lupella, have lived in Highland Beach since 1978 and they both recently celebrated their 100th birthday. In addition, they will soon be celebrating their 80th wedding anniversary. The residents at Ambassadors East will be acknowledging these milestones on July 4th and wanted to know if the Town could do something special. MOTION: Commissioner Trinlev moved to present a proclamation to Judy and Mike Lupella; seconded by Commissioner Pa liaro. Motion carried by unanimous voice vote. Jason Brodsky - 4517 S. Ocean Blvd. Recently walked the entire beach with my son and his friends and found very little litter. • Rather than create a special taxing district, why don't we just use volunteers that need to Town Commission Workshop Minutes June 24.2008 Pa eg 2 of 7 • donate community hours? People walk the beach in front of my home all the time. Where exactly is the private beach? Commissioner Trinley -Have tried using volunteers before. They start out strong and then lose interest. Town Attorney Slim -The beach area above the mean high water line is considered private. Town Mana eg r Superman -There is an agenda item to discuss what steps are needed to be taken to create a special taxing district. We are just gathering information. The Commission will discuss this further and decide if it should be put on the ballot for consideration of the voters. The voters will determine if there is any value to this proposal. Joe Yucht -Boca Highlands Would like to thank the "Friends of the Library" for a great concert last evening. Where are we with the trees? Mana eg r Su erman - We recently forward the "Memorandum of Understanding" and the "Joint Participation Agreement" to FDOT. Once their attorney's agree that all the paperwork is complete, FDOT will issue a "Notice to Proceed." We are guessing that will be sometime in July. The trees will be planted probably in August. Arlin Voress -Bel Lido The state does a fly over once every three months to determine the coastal construction line. These prints also indicate the mean high water line, and are available to the public. 3. PRESENTATIONS • A. John Archambo -Director of Recycling, Solid Waste Authority On behalf of the Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County, thanked the Commission for their continued support and participation in the recycling program. As a token of their appreciation, Mr. Archambo presented a plaque to the Commission thanking the residents for their outstanding teamwork and dedication. B. Lucy Miller -Chairman of Beaches and Shores Advisory reviewed the recommendations previously presented to the Commission by that Board in regards to beach cleanliness. She then proceeded to introduce Dr. Will Stronge, Ph.D. -Senior Fellow in Economics; recently retired from Florida Atlantic University and is active in helping communities to set parameters for special taxing districts. Dr. William Strome, Ph.D. Have been involved in doing economic evaluations or studies of taxing districts. My role has been to develop a formula that is the basis for the tax. The methodology in establishing the formula is to determine the value of the benefits compared to the cost. Most of the projects that I have worked on have been re-nourishment of beaches. To determine the recreational benefit of the beach, we do actual surveys of people on the beach. Studies show different people on the beach in the summer compared to the winter and weekdays versus weekends. In developing a formula you would also consider locations, housing, and footage. What is a fair benefit to the user? What is the front footage compared to the • assessed footage and benefit received? First step is to determine where the properties are that get the benefit from the beach. Properties away from the beach get less use or benefits. Town Commission Workshop Minutes June 24, 2008 Page 3 of 7 • Lucy Miller -That is not a good formula for what we want to do to keep the beaches clean. We feel the formula should use the availability of using the beach rather than actual use. The Beaches Board has asked Dr. Stronge to come up with a different type of formula. Mayor Newill - I need to see a formula before I can make a decision. Vice Mayor Zwick - It was mentioned about tax districts being established for beach re- nourishment. Can the same formula be used for beach cleaning then change to beach re- nourishment? Attorney Sliney -Referendum questions can only be single topics. Dr. Stronge -The formula would be different for re-nourishment compared to beach cleaning. Commissioner Pagliaro -This subject needs to have some clarification. Presently the "turtle volunteers" pick up debris as they walk; while some property owners have cleaning services come in. What is the most economic and efficient way to keep the beaches clean? Manor Newill -How do we proceed? Town Mana eg_ r Su erman -The first step would be to engage an economic analysis. He needs to present to the Town Commission a defensive methodology to tax themselves and demonstrate a statistical significance. Does the Commission want to go down that path? • Dr. Strome -Sometimes these matters end up in court and it is necessary to prove the competence of the study/formula. Mayor Newill -Put on the agenda and the Commission will vote on it. Town Mana er Su erman - If Dr. Stronge would put together a proposal, I will submit it to the Commission. (Dr. Stronge verbally agreed.) C. Lou Stern, Chairman, Planning Board Mr. Stern thanked his fellow members on the Planning Board stating that they had spent five months on review, workshops and public hearings prior to making the advisory recommendation for a Special Exception with conditions for Milani Park to the Commission. (The complete report is attached to these minutes as part of the file.) Mayor Newill thanked Mr. Stern and the other six members of the Planning Board, this is a well thought out .report. Vice Mayor Zwick also stated that it was an intelligent thorough report. Mayor Newill -How do we proceed? Town Attorney Sliney - We now continue with Part 2 of the Special Exception Process. The Planning Board does not have final approval, the Commission does. It is a very complicated matter. My recommendation to the Commission is to familiarize yourself with • the information provided by the professional's contracted by the Town and the information submitted by the County. Town Commission Workshop Minutes June 24, 2008 Pale 4 of 7 Town Mana er Sherman - I would also like to thank the Planning Board. The Highland Beach Code of Ordinances provides for this unique situation. This is the only parcel in town where this intended use can take place. The Town's Code prescribes how we will move forward. The next step is for the Town Commission to take a look at what the Code says on how we are going to proceed. Planning made a foundation for what this Commission will continue to do. The Commission can either start from scratch or pick and chose from the recommendations received from the Planning Board. The Code is very clear on the steps the Commission needs to take. The County is a very responsive applicant. Do not know if they want to start from scratch, and the staff is not ready to make a recommendation. We will schedule that discussion for the Workshop on the July 29~' . I will check with the County to see if they want to submit a new set of packets to the Commissioners. Audrey Wolf, Director of Facilities and Development for Palm Beach County - We are very anxious to get started. We will have no new submittals, but will summarize for the Commission what has already been submitted. Request a single point of contact, and if possible to receive correspondence ahead of time so that we can be prepared to respond at the meeting. D. Emily Firtell, Chair of Cultural Advisory Board Presented 2008-2009 Calendar of Events: December 7, 2007 -Light Up the Holidays, rain date December 14th; February 9, 2009 -Sweetheart Concert with Josephine Dolce; Month of March -Local Art Show; March 8, 2009 -Dancing Under the Stars with Paul Cohen and his 17 piece Swing Jazz Band; plus weekly art classes in Cultural room at Town Hall. Will include with Consent Agenda for July lst Meeting. 4. BOARDS AND COMNIITTEES A) Board Correspondence • None B) Board Action Report • None C) Board Vacancies Code Enforcement Board -Reappointments Completed first three-year term interested in being reappointed: Louis Reidenberg of 3720 S. Ocean Blvd. #lOlA and Eugene DeLiberto of 3224 S. Ocean Blvd. #113. • Include on July 15` Consent Agenda. Town Commission Workshop Minutes June 24, 2008 Page 5 of 7 • D) Monthly Board Meetings • Beaches & Shores Advisory -July 8th -Regular - 9:30 A.M • Bd. of Adjustment -July 15d' Regular - 9:30 A.M • Code Enforcement Board -July 16th -Regular - 9:30 A.M • Cultural Advisory -July 23rd -Regular - 9:30 AM • Planning Board -July 30th -Regular - 9:30 A.M. 5. PROPOSED ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS None 6. NEW BUSINESS None 7. MISCELLANEOUS -ITEMS LEFT OVER A) Minutes Approval Workshop Meeting -May 26, 2008 Regular Meeting -June 3, 2008 • Special -June 9, 2008 Include on June 3, 2008 Consent Agenda. 8. REPORTS -TOWN COMMISSION Commissioner Pa liaro - No Report Commissioner Trinley -Has any progress been made on the Audit Committee? Mayor Newill - We are still playing phone tag with the Sd' person. Vice Mayor Zwick - No Report Mayor Newill - I have a number of items: 1) Would like to compliment the Police Department on the 110% rise in citations last month. Please keep it up. 2) While campaigning, I made a pledge to schedule meetings with the residents. On July 22nd between 9:30 am and 11 am, I have scheduled the first "Coffee with the Mayor." It will be held in the Commission Chambers and all residents are invited to attend. 3) Do we have an update on the early retirement incentive? Reply - 8 were eligible; 7 have responded with 3 accepting the incentive and 4 turning it down; and 1 has not responded. uestion -When will these employees be leaving? Reply -September 26`t'. Sometimes, when employees . make the decision to leave there is no incentive to continue working. 4) We need discussion on replacing the Chief. T'he Commission needs to make a decision: a) accept Town Commission Workshop Minutes June 24, 2008 Page 6 of 7 • proposal of sheriff; b) consider proposal of sheriff and look for a Police Chief; or c) just look for a Police Chief. My preference is "b." C_ ommissioner Trinlev - Do not know how many Police Chiefs that would put their names on the line in applying for a position that might be eliminated. Commission Pagliaro - I also like "b." Commissioner Trinlev - When are we going to hear the presentation from the Sheriff's Department? Reply -July 29a'. Comm. Trinlev -Wait until then before we make a decision. 9. REPORTS -TOWN ATTORNEY • No Report 10. REPORTS -TOWN MANAGER • Consideration of setting FY 2008-2009 Budget Workshop Dates I would like to schedule two public workshop sessions. Propose -August 7a' at 1:30 P.M. and August 19~' at 4:30 P.M. The proposed budget is not finalized. Still need to meet with the Commission's liaison whom is the Mayor. The first draft is suppose to be completed by the 7`~, but it might be a few days late. The staff is working hard to meet the scheduled date. The 60 day freeze ends on Monday. I will be reviewing the figures to see where we stand. 11. CONSENT AGENDA . • None 12. PUBLIC COMMENTS AND REQUESTS RELATED TO ITEMS DISCUSSED AT MEETING Joe Yucht -Boca Highlands Suggest that the Commission hold their public hearings on the Milani Park Application when the snowbirds return in order to receive their input. Feel the proposed beach taxing district is coming from left field. Next you will have a special inter-coastal taxing district. In establishing a formula, it will be set by how you want it approved. Lou Stern - 115 Russell Drive Unless the Commission is comfortable going with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Department, the search must begin for a new chief. Tony Ruotolo - 3400 S. Ocean Blvd. I was a late arrival and had difficulty finding a seat. Everyone likes to sit on the aisle. If you take out a row of chairs right down the middle, you will create three sets of aisle seats. Joe Cannizzaro -Bel Air Drive Highland Beach is a beach community. Why doesn't the town provide pristine beaches? • Include it in the budget as a separate line item. We do not need a special taxing district. Town Commission Workshop Minutes June 24, 2008 Page 7 of 7 Town Mana er Su erman -Other than the land owned by the county, all the beaches are private property. Everything above the high water tide line is private and the town cannot go on that property. Mr. Cannizzaro -Why doesn't the town clean up to the high tide line? Reply - We let the tide do what it has to do. 13. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Commission. Mayor Newill adjourned the Workshop Meeting at 3:30 P.M. upon a MOTION by Vice Mayor Zwick seconded by Commissioner Pa l~o_ APPROVEr~ n/7 • TTEST: Jim N~vill, CPA, Mayor V r .-n ~... ., Miriam S. Zwick, Vice 1~X'ayor Doris M. Trinley, Commissione Beverly M. B wn, MM/C, Town Clerk Date: ~ ~5 ~~