1986.02.25_TC_Minutes_Workshop
• TOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH, FLORIDA
Minutes of Meeting of Town Commission
WORKSHOP MEETING
Tuesday, February 25, 1986 1:30 P.M.
A Workshop Meeting of the Town Commission was called to order by Mayor
Edward J. Sullivan in the Chambers at Highland Beach Town Hall. Also
present were Vice Mayor Mary Louise G. Blosser and Town Commissioners
John J. Basso, William A. Grier and Betty Jean Stewart.
Also present were Town Attorney Thomas E. Sliney; Town Manager Hugh D.
Williams; Town Clerk Mary Ann Mariano and various members of the gen-
eral public.
85.1 Public Comments and
Mrs. Doris Rome addressed the
March 26, 1986 Public Hearing
into the matter of re-zoning
dicating that all appropriate
Requests:
Town Commission regarding the upcoming \"~~5
of the Planning Board to receive input ~,
the Boca Highland and Hoffman RPUD's, in- ~-
parties had been notified.
Mr. Roy Burkhart of 1005 Russell Drive addressed the Town Commission
with a request for the clarification and possible amendment to the
• method by which the Town charges for water, citing the imbalance in
the installation of water meters versus the units in a structure. The
Finance Department will be requested to review and give a report on
this matter, utilizing the statistics submitted by Mr. Burkhart to Mr.
Williams. This report will be submitted to the Town Commission in a
timely manner, as well at the Financial Advisory Board for their
review and comment.
Mr. David Custage, of Boca Highland, requested that the Town consider
the amendment of the proposed Ocean Warning Sign Ordinance to include
the requirement of life preservers and line. Mr. Custage further
stated that should this matter be included, the property owners should
be required to pay for such life preservers and line.
Mr. Michael Dent also spoke in favor of Mr. Custage's representation
that property owners should pay for any costs incurred in the imple-
mentation of the proposed Ordinance. Further, Mr. Dent reiterated his
earlier request to the Town Commission to consider purchasing property
in Boca Raton for future use as wellfields to provide additional water
to the Town .
Mrs. Rome addressed the Town Commission further agreeing with Mr. Dent
that the Town require the individual property owners to absorb the
cost of implementing any beach safety ordinance.
85.2 Boards and Committees:
Vice Mayor Blosser suggested that the Town re-consider its policy re-
garding acknowledging the service of board members. This suggestion
Town Commission Workshop Meeting
February 25, 1986
Page 2 of 5
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was prompted by a letter received from the Chairman of the Code
Enforcement Board requesting that a Resolution be adopted by the Town
Commission honoring the service of a board member. Commissioner
Stewart noted that in June of 1985, this matter had been reviewed and
it was the consensus of the Town Commission that letters of apprecia-
tion from the Mayor would be adequate in lieu of any Certificates of
Appreciation. Although Vice Mayor Blosser recommended the use of
Certificates of Appreciation which could be hung on a wall, it was the
opinion of the Mayor, as well as all of the Town Commissioners, that
personal letters from the Mayor were more appreciated by board
members.
At 2:05 p.m. the Workshop Meeting was recessed in order to hold a
Special Meeting for the purpose of possible adoption of the Coastal
Construction Code.
Upon re-convenining the Workshop Meeting at 3:00 p.m., the Town
Commission chose to take up Item 85.33, being a presentation by Camp
Dresser & McKee (the Town's engineers) rather than continuing with the
published agenda in order.
Mr. Robert J. Moresi and Mr. Jay Ameno were present representing Camp
Dresser & McKee. Mayor Sullivan noted that a final report regarding
• the existing wellfield capacities was expected a week ago and had not
been received yet. Mr. Moresi stated that the report was in "peer
review" at CDM and would be submitted by Monday morning (3/3/86) for
review and possible acceptance by the Town Commission at their Regular
Meeting of March 4, 1986. After receipt and review of the report by
the Town Commission, the Town Manager will advise Mr. Moresi if his
presence is desired at the March 4, 1986 Regular Meeting. Mr. Moresi
re-capped information presented to the Town with their preliminary
report on January 28, 1986. Based on this study, it was the opinion
of CDM that the Town begin studying alternative methods of providing
additional water. Alternative methods cited included re-cycling
effluent, rehabilitating existing wells, purchase of additional land,
and reducing the need (population). Substantial discussion took place
regarding a proposal for the next phase of the project, with Mr.
Moresi stating that he was unsure of the actual scope of services
desired by the Town. Mr. Moresi cited a scope of services which
included the location of additional wellfields, computer models, etc.
It was the consensus. of the Town Commission that at this time, the
only scope of service desired was for CDM to determine whether or not
it was possible to locate additional wells on the wellfields already
owned by the Town to meet future needs. It was noted that future
population calculations already existed in the Town's Comprehensive
Plan, and that other documentation already existing in the Town's
files could be utilized. A proposal encompassing this scope of
services will be submitted to the Town at the same time the final
report on Phase I is submitted. Mr. Moresi further noted that upon a
favorable proposal for this scope of services, the report could be
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Town Commission Workshop Meeting
• February 25, 1986
Page 3 of 5
rendered to the Town within three months and probably sooner, due to
the complexities involved in creating a computer model.
Additionally, the Town Manager noted that the use of a reverse efflu-
ent system might be an alternative. Commissioner Stewart noted that
the Town Manager had brought this matter up on several occasions and
requested that Mr. Williams get some actual facts on the feasibility
of this system to present to the Town Commission for consideration.
Jay Ameno then addressed the matter of the quality of the Town's water
with specific emphasis on carcinogens and THM's. Commissioner Grier
noted that the last report regarding the quality of the water from CDM
was dated February 23, 1982, stating that an update might be in order
due to the publicity and concerns which have been raised over the past
four years. The 1982 report indicated that the THM count was well
above the amounts required by larger communities (over 1P1,~100 pop.).
Commissioner Grier questioned the quality of water in the acquifers
and stated that the Town should find out the cost to meet the standard
set for larger communities, inasmuch as Highland Beach was an affluent
community.
• Mr. Ameno gave a history of the laws promulgated to set the THM
standards, noting that this matter was being re-addressed at this time
by th EPA with a view towards establishing standards for volitile
organic chemicals, synthetic organics and radionucliides. According
to his discussion with EPA representatives, Mr. Ameno stated that such
review would also include a THM study which he feels will culminate in
the decrease of allowable THM levels from 1P10 ppb to 3Pl-40 ppb with no
population cut offs. Mr. Ameno stated that such report will probably
not be completed for 18 months to two years. It was noted that the
Town was already taking samples to test for other organics on an
informational basis as no mandates exist at this time. Mr. Ameno
cited CDM's recommendation of 1983 to convert from a chloramine system
to an ammonia system which inhibits the growth of THM's in the water.
In response to Commissioner Stewart's inquiry regarding the cost of
such conversion, Mr. Ameno stated that the 1983 figures of $60,000-
$90,000 probably had not changed substantially. Mr. Ameno stated that
due to the new studies being conducted by the EPA, the Town, should it
convert to a chloramine system, might be faced with a totally
different set of levels necessitating a different method at additional
cost. Mr. Ameno noted that the levels of contaminants in raw water
could change from well to well in the same wellfield and would need to
be analyzed. Mr. Ameno was directed, under CDM's general account., to
provide the Town with alternatives, including cost factors, to have
the Town come into compliance with those standards currently mandated
to larger cities. It was noted that Mr. Ameno was to use the
information already contained in the Town's files where possible to
• analyze this matter. Mr. Ameno will submit a letter report to the
Town Commission Workshop Meeting
February 25, 1986
Page 4 of 5
Town regarding this matter within three to four weeks.
Dr. Otto Weiss made a statement that the Town should review the matter
of water quality more often than it has been doing in the past.
Due to the lateness of the hour and the fact that representatives were
present regarding the matter of the Holiday Inn Seawall discussion
listed under the Town Manager's Report, which item was then addressed.
Mr. Harvey Sasso of Coastal Technology was present representing
Holiday Inn.
It was noted that the original request for the construction of the
seawall had been made in 1984 with the Planning Commission reviewing
same and determining that it was not in their jurisdiction, but
possibly in the purview of the Board of Adjustment. The Town
Commission also reviewed this matter in 1984, however, the seawall had
not been built. Several questions were raised as to the jurisdiction
of the matter, the status of past state permits, etc. It was the
opinion of the Town Attorney that the Town Commission receive a staff
update from the Building Official as this matter had not been reviewed
in several years. Bruce Sutherland, Building Official, will be
requested to submit a written report outlining the history of the pro-
ject (including his recommendations with regard to jurisdiction and
the validity of existing permits) by Friday, February 28, 1986. This
• matter will again be addressed by the Town Commission at it's Regular
Meeting scheduled for March 4, 1986.
The Ocean Warning Sign Ordinance was briefly discussed. It was the
full consensus of the Town Commission, concurring in the opinion of
the Town Attorney, that the matter of requiring life preservers and
line as a provision in this ordinance as recommended by Mr. Custage
not be considered. This item will be placed on the Regular Meeting
Agenda for further discussion.
The matter of submitting a Resolution establishing updated police
fines and other administrative fees was then discussed. Information
received by the Town Manager from the Chief of Police will be used for
the drawing of an appropriate Resolution for the March 4, 1986 Regular
Meeting Agenda.
All other matters appearing on the Workshop Meeting Agenda were
deferred until the March 4, 1986 Regular Meeting.
This meeting adjourned at 5:
APPROVED:
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Town Commission Workshop Meeting
February 25, 1986
Page 5 of 5
Mary L ise G." losser, Vice Mayor
JgShn ~ `B'asso, Comm},ss over
William A. Grier, ommissioner
Bett Jean Stewart, Commissioner
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