Sep 19, 2024 City Council

[00:00:04]

GOOD EVENING. I'D LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE CITY COUNCIL FOR PALM BEACH GARDENS FOR SEPTEMBER 19TH, 2024.

[Call to Order]

OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

IF WE COULD PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

MAYOR REED HERE, VICE MAYOR MIDDLETON HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER WOODS HERE, MA'AM.

COUNCIL MEMBER TINSLEY HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER PRIMAROSA.

HERE. EXCELLENT.

THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY ADDITIONS, DELETIONS OR MODIFICATIONS TO OUR AGENDA THIS EVENING?

[III. ADDITIONS, DELETIONS, MODIFICATIONS]

YES, SIR. AS YOU KNOW, ALL OF YOU KNOW, DURING THE MEETING, I MEAN, DURING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER, WE'RE REQUIRED TO HAVE TWO MEETINGS TO APPROVE OUR BUDGET AS PER STATE LAW THAT ARE TO APPROVE THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2425.

IT HAS TO BE APPROVED BY OCTOBER 1ST.

THEREFORE, I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER SOME AMENDMENTS TO THE AGENDA SO THAT WE BE SURE WE ACCOMPLISH THOSE PIECES OF BUSINESS UP FRONT.

OKAY, SIR, WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS, WITH YOUR PERMISSION, IS TO MOVE RESOLUTION 45, THE TAX LEVY, AND THE ORDINANCE TEN TO BE THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS.

AS FAR AS OUR BUDGET IS CONCERNED.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO RECOMMEND THAT WE MOVE RESOLUTION 1557 TO BE THE ORDER OF BUSINESS RIGHT AFTER THAT, WHICH IS THE RATIFICATION OF THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT WITH LOCAL 5470.

THEN BY ALL MEANS, GO TO CONSENT.

I HAVE NO CITY MANAGER'S REPORT.

THEN YOU COULD TAKE COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC AND CONTINUE WITH THE AGENDA AFTER THAT.

THAT'S MY REQUEST.

I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO REORDER THE AGENDA AS STATED.

SECOND. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. I GUESS WE NEED A VOTE.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

SO THAT MEANS THAT WE ARE GOING TO GO RIGHT INTO NUMBER EIGHT ON OUR AGENDA, WHICH IS THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR RESOLUTION

[VIII.a. RESOLUTION 45, 2024 – ADOPTING A TAX LEVY AND MILLAGE RATE. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA, ADOPTING A TAX LEVY AND MILLAGE RATE FOR THE CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2024, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2025; DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO FORWARD A CERTIFIED COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE PALM BEACH COUNTY PROPERTY APPRAISER AND TAX COLLECTOR WITHIN THREE (3) DAYS AFTER ITS ADOPTION; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. ]

IF THE CLERK COULD PLEASE READ THE TITLE.

RESOLUTION 45 2024 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA, ADOPTING A TAX LEVY AND MILLAGE RATE FOR THE CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1ST, 2024 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025.

DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO FORWARD A CERTIFIED COPY OF THE RESOLUTION TO THE PALM BEACH COUNTY PROPERTY APPRAISER AND TAX COLLECTOR WITHIN THREE DAYS AFTER ITS ADOPTION, PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

LET'S GO AHEAD AND OPEN THE HEARING.

WE HAVE ARIANNE PENCZAK FROM OUR BUDGET DEPARTMENT HERE.

GOOD EVENING MA'AM. HOW ARE YOU? GOOD EVENING. VERY WELL, THANK YOU.

GREAT. GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

FOR THE RECORD, ARIANE PENCZAK, FINANCE ADMINISTRATOR.

TONIGHT IS OUR SECOND AND FINAL BUDGET HEARING FOR FISCAL YEAR 25.

BEFORE YOU TONIGHT WILL BE RESOLUTION 45, SETTING THE MILLAGE RATE AT 5.0537 MILLS.

AND ALSO ORDINANCE TEN, ADOPTING OUR BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 25.

THERE'S BEEN NO CHANGES SINCE OUR LAST BUDGET HEARING.

AND IF COUNCIL WOULD LIKE, WE CAN MOVE STRAIGHT INTO THE REQUIRED ACTIONS FOR TONIGHT.

COUNCIL WITH ME.

EXCELLENT. YES, PLEASE. THANK YOU.

PERFECT. SO THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS TO PUBLICLY ANNOUNCE THE PROPOSED RATE AND THE INCREASE OVER THE ROLLBACK RATE.

SO STAFF RECOMMENDS A MOTION THAT THE CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS ADOPT A FINAL OPERATING AND TOTAL MILLAGE RATE OF 5.0537 MILLS, WHICH IS GREATER THAN THE ROLLBACK RATE OF 4.7798 BY 5.73%.

ALL RIGHT. I'D LIKE TO ASK FOR A MOTION AND A SECOND.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY COMMENT CARDS I SHOULD MENTION, SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE HEARING.

I'D LIKE TO ASK FOR A MOTION AND A SECOND.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT THE CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS ADOPT THE FINAL OPERATING AND TOTAL MILLAGE RATE OF 5.037 MILLS, WHICH IS GREATER THAN THE ROLLBACK RATE OF 4.7798 BY 5.73%.

I'LL SECOND. THANK YOU BOTH.

ANY DISCUSSION? I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY, VICE MAYOR, YOU READ 5.0357.

IT'S 5.05370.

LET'S DO IT AGAIN. YEAH, PLEASE.

FOR THE RECORD, THANK YOU MA'AM.

SO I WANT TO MAKE A MOTION THAT THE CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS ADOPT A FINAL OPERATING AND TOTAL MILLAGE RATE OF 5.0537 MILLS, WHICH IS GREATER THAN THE ROLLBACK RATE OF 4.7798 BY 5.73%.

I'LL SECOND THAT ONE.

[00:05:01]

WE APPRECIATE IT. SO WE DON'T SEEM TO HAVE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.

ALL IN FAVOR. AYE.

ANY OPPOSED.

SO THAT RESOLUTION 45 2024 PASSES WITHOUT NOTE.

THAT WAS JUST THE MOTION ON THE MILLAGE RATE.

I APOLOGIZE THEN WE HAVE TO READ THE TITLE OF THE RESOLUTION.

THANK YOU. MAX.

WE HAVE TO DO ONE MORE MOTION.

ONE MORE SETTING. THE.

THANK YOU. SO THE FIRST MOTION WAS FOR THE ROLLBACK RATE, AND THE SECOND MOTION IS SETTING FOR IT.

THANK YOU. CAN I GET A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 45 2024, SETTING THE FINAL MILLAGE RATE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024 2025.

MADAM MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 45 2024, SETTING THE FINAL MILLAGE RATE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 AND 2025 AT 5.0537 MILLS.

I'LL MAKE I'LL SECOND THAT ONE.

ANY DISCUSSION? NO. ALL RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? YES. YEAH. AND THEN ONE MORE.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. SO.

ONE MORE. YOU HAVE TO READ THE TITLE.

[VIII.b. ORDINANCE 10, 2024 – (2ND READING AND ADOPTION) ADOPTING THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024/2025. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA, ADOPTING THE BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2024, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2025; PROVIDING A CONFLICTS CLAUSE AND A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.]

ADOPTING THE BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1ST, 2024 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025, PROVIDING A CONFLICTS CLAUSE AND A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

THANK YOU. LET'S GO AHEAD AND OPEN THE HEARING.

HAS ANYTHING CHANGED SINCE FIRST READING? YOU SAID NOT AT ALL. SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON.

WE DON'T NEED ANOTHER PRESENTATION.

SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE HEARING.

AND I'M ASKING FOR A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE.

ORDINANCE TEN ON SECOND READING.

ADOPTED THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024 2025.

MADAM MAYOR, I'LL MOVE ORDINANCE TEN 2024 FOR SECOND READING AND ADOPTION.

I'LL SECOND. THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH.

AND NO FURTHER DISCUSSION FROM COUNCIL.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

AND THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

THE BUDGET IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE SPEND OUR YEAR DOING.

AND YOU CAN SEE, I THINK WE ALL TAKE EVERYTHING WE DO HERE SERIOUSLY.

BUT I THINK THAT'S PART OF WHY YOU SEE US HICCUPING A LITTLE BIT.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET IT PERFECT.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

LET'S MOVE ALONG AND JUST BEAR WITH ME WHILE I MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE WHERE WE NEED TO BE ON THE LIST OF THINGS, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE RIGHT ALONG TO RESOLUTION.

[IX.a. RESOLUTION 57, 2024 – APPROVING AND RATIFYING A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT WITH LOCAL 5470, IAFF, INC. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA, APPROVING AND RATIFYING A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS AND THE PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS AND PARAMEDICS OF PALM BEACH GARDENS, LOCAL 5470, IAFF, INC. FOR THE FISCAL YEARS 2024-2025, 2025-2026, AND 2026- 2027; AUTHORIZING THE APPROPRIATE PERSONNEL TO EXECUTE SAID AGREEMENT; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.]

THANK YOU GUYS. RESOLUTION 57.

SO. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

FOR THE RECORD, CHERYL STEWART.

I APOLOGIZE, I WAS JUST GETTING THE PAGE.

I'M JUST A LITTLE FLIPPED AROUND.

WE DO HAVE TO HAVE THE CLERK READ THE TITLE REAL QUICK.

RESOLUTION 57 2024, A RESOLUTION, THE CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA APPROVING AND RATIFYING A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS AND THE PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS AND PARAMEDICS AT PALM BEACH GARDENS LOCAL 5470 IAFF FOR THE FISCAL YEARS 2024 TO 2025, 2025 TO 2026, AND 2026 TO 2027, AUTHORIZING THE APPROPRIATE PERSONNEL TO EXECUTE SAID AGREEMENT, PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

THANK YOU. AND HERE WE HAVE CHERYL STEWART, OUR HUMAN RESOURCE ADMINISTRATOR AT THE PODIUM.

THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR.

FOR THE RECORD, CHERYL STEWART, HUMAN RESOURCES ADMINISTRATOR, I'M PLEASED TO BE BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING TO BRING FORWARD FOR RATIFICATION, FOR COUNCIL TO CONSIDER A NEW THREE YEAR AGREEMENT WITH THE NEW LOCAL FIRE UNION, 5470.

YOU'VE ALL RECEIVED THE STAFF REPORT, WHICH HIGHLIGHTS THE MAJOR CHANGES IN THE CONTRACT THAT WOULD BE EFFECTIVE STARTING OCTOBER 1ST THROUGH SEPTEMBER OF 2027, WE HAD FOUR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING SESSIONS.

I WORKED REALLY HARD TOGETHER, BOTH TEAMS PRIMARILY FOCUSING ON WORK HOURS AND SALARIES.

JUST TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW OF THE NEW WORK SCHEDULE IN STARTING IN YEAR THREE OF THE CONTRACT WOULD TRANSITION TO 2472, WORKING 24 HOURS ON AND THEN 72 HOURS OFF.

IN ADDITION, AS A RESULT OF THE SALARY ADJUSTMENTS, THE TOTAL INCREASE WOULD BE 24%, A TOTAL OVER THREE YEARS FOR THE SWORN PERSONNEL AND 18% FOR THE COMMUNITY RISK REDUCTION OVER A THREE YEAR PERIOD, BRINGING OUR SALARIES AND OUR WORK SCHEDULE IN LINE WITH THE GROWING TREND OF HAVING 24 OVER 72 WORK SCHEDULE AND SALARIES TO BE WITHIN THE TOP THREE COMPARABLE DEPARTMENTS PARTICULARLY THOSE THAT HAVE THAT SAME WORK SCHEDULE.

AND WITH THAT, WE'RE VERY CONFIDENT THAT THIS WOULD BE MAKE US EXTREMELY COMPETITIVE FOR PURPOSES OF RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF THE MOST QUALIFIED PERSONNEL THAT WE HAVE.

QUESTIONS? NOT QUITE YET.

SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE HEARING.

MAY I GET A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 57 2024?

[00:10:02]

I'LL SECOND. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S BRING IT BACK FOR.

I HAVE TO APOLOGIZE AGAIN.

I'M SORRY. I GUESS I GOT A LITTLE BIT PUT ASIDE.

I DO HAVE A COMMENT CARD, SO I DO NEED TO GO AHEAD AND PAUSE FOR A MOMENT TO ALLOW FOR THAT.

IS THAT OKAY IF I GO BACK AND DO THAT? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

IF I COULD PLEASE CALL DAVE TERRANA TO THE PODIUM.

IF YOU COULD COME TO THE PODIUM, STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS.

YOU CAN CALL THEM. I KNOW YOU FEEL BAD.

GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS DAVE TERRANA.

MY ADDRESS IS 400 QUADRANT ROAD, NORTH PALM BEACH.

WHAT? YOU DON'T NEED TO.

OKAY. DID YOU WANT TO SHARE ANYTHING ABOUT WHY YOU'RE NOT SHARING YOUR ADDRESS THIS EVENING? OH, YEAH. THAT'S PROBABLY A BAD IDEA GOTCHA.

ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.

I'D LIKE TO SAY A FEW THINGS, IF THAT'S POSSIBLE.

YES, SIR. AS YOU ALL KNOW, MY NAME IS DAVE TERRANA.

I'VE BEEN A FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDIC WITH THE CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS FOR THE PAST 21 YEARS.

I'M ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF THE PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS AND PARAMEDICS OF PALM BEACH GARDENS.

LOCAL IAFF LOCAL 5470.

AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, WE TOOK A HUGE LEAP OF FAITH WHEN WE STARTED OUR OWN UNION IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR.

WITH THIS STEP CAME A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY AND UNKNOWNS.

YET WE KNEW THE ULTIMATE GOAL WAS TO STRENGTHEN OUR LABOR MANAGEMENT RELATIONSHIP AND HAVE MORE CONTROL OF OUR OWN DESTINY.

I STAND BEFORE YOU TONIGHT TO EXPRESS MY SINCERE GRATITUDE FOR THE MOST RECENT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT.

IT WAS ACCOMPLISHED IN JUST FOUR MEETINGS, WHICH I BELIEVE IS A RECORD THAT HAS QUICKLY BECOME THE BEST AND MOST ATTRACTIVE CBA FOR FIRE DEPARTMENTS IN ALL OF PALM BEACH COUNTY.

WE HAVE A CITY AND FIRE ADMINISTRATION THAT TRULY CARES ABOUT THE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELLNESS OF THEIR FIREFIGHTERS.

I'D LIKE TO PERSONALLY THANK CITY MANAGER FERRIS DEPUTY CITY MANAGER LEFEBVRE LORI.

SORRY, LORI, YOU CAN HR ADMINISTRATOR STUART, FIRE CHIEF KEITH BRIER, DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF JAMES EPPOLITO, DIVISION CHIEF SHAWN BODELL, MAYOR REED.

VICE MAYOR MIDDLETON, COUNCILMAN AMAROSO.

COUNCILWOMAN TINSLEY COUNCILMAN.

WOODS. ALL MY FIREFIGHTERS.

STAN. THANK YOU FOR TAKING SUCH GOOD CARE OF US, FOR PROVIDING US WITH THE BEST BENEFITS, THE NICEST TRUCKS, STATE OF THE ART EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING TOWER.

ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND ALL YOUR FIREFIGHTERS, WE'LL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE INDUSTRY LEADING FIRE AND EMS CARE TO THE BEAUTIFUL CITIZENS IN THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I GUESS THAT'S MY TIME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I THINK FOR ALL OF US, IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO PASS THIS TONIGHT.

LET'S GO AHEAD. DO WE HAVE SOME DISCUSSION AT ALL? ANY COMMENTS? NO, I JUST LIKE DAVE SAID, IT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE TO GET SOMETHING DONE IN FOUR MEETINGS WITH A NEW UNION, NOT KNOWING WHAT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN YOU GO INTO IT. BUT CERTAINLY STAFF IS WELL FAMILIAR WITH OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND HOW WONDERFUL A JOB THEY DO TO PROTECT OUR RESIDENTS AND THEMSELVES AS WELL.

SO CONGRATULATIONS ON THE CONTRACT.

GOOD LUCK WITH STATION.

THE NEW STATION THAT'S GOING TO OPEN UP IN APRIL.

MY FAVORITE STATION 63.

SORRY, GUYS. THAT'S WHERE I'VE DONE SOME SOME TRAINING WITH MIKE AND MY BOYS THERE.

BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

WE APPRECIATE IT. AND I'LL VISIT THE OTHER STATIONS EVENTUALLY, SO IF YOU'LL HAVE ME.

THANKS. ACTUALLY, BEFORE ANYONE HAS ANOTHER COMMENT, LET'S OFFICIALLY VOTE.

WE DIDN'T VOTE YET, SO ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

ANYONE ELSE HAVE A COMMENT? I JUST WANT TO CONCUR. AND I REMEMBER WHEN IT YOU HAD MENTIONED THE WORD GRATITUDE.

AND I KNOW WE ARE ALL GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF YOU AND WHAT YOU DO FOR OUR CITY.

WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN GRATEFUL AND WE CONTINUE TO BE GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING YOU GUYS DO.

I REMEMBER WHEN IT WASN'T SO EASY TO GET A CONTRACT APPROVED MANY YEARS AGO AND LIKE YOU SAID, I THINK IT IS A RECORD.

I'M SURE WE ALL THINK IT'S A RECORD.

SO WE WE DEFINITELY APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S GREAT EFFORTS IN MAKING THAT HAPPEN.

THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? I'LL SAY SOMETHING. I'VE BEEN A COUNCIL MEMBER FOR NOW, EIGHT YEARS, AND I KNOW BACK WHEN I KIND OF SORT OF WHEN I STARTED, NOT LIKE I DID ANYTHING. WE'VE MADE SOME AGGRESSIVE CHANGES TO SUPPORT THE POLICE AND THE FIRE, LIKE SOMETIMES INSTANTLY, WITH SOME MIDDLE OF THE YEAR CONTRACTS WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO BRING THEM UP TO TO A PAY RATE EQUAL TO OR ABOVE THE SHERIFF OR EQUAL TO SCHOOL BOARD, WHICH I KIND OF THOUGHT WAS A JOKE,

[00:15:03]

AND WE'VE ALWAYS HAD, EVEN WHEN I WAS A COP HERE.

GOOD EQUIPMENT, FIRE DEPARTMENTS HAD ALWAYS HAD REALLY GOOD STUFF.

BUT WITHOUT YOU GUYS DRIVING THE TRUCKS AND SAVING THE LIVES, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE JUST DIE.

SO WE RECOMMEND, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS HAVE A COUNCIL THAT THAT SUPPORTS STAFF, NOT JUST IF YOU'RE IN A UNIFORM, BUT EVEN PUBLIC WORKS.

SO YOU KNOW, HAVING A RELATIONSHIP, YOU KNOW, FROM ME ON THE OUTSIDE, LOOKING IN, HAVING A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE TOP OF THE FOOD CHAIN.

WHO SITS UPSTAIRS IN THAT OFFICE IS A LOT BETTER THAN ARGUING POINTS.

SO IT COMES REALLY DOWN TO YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY, AND YOU GET THINGS DONE BETTER ON A HANDSHAKE THAN YOU DO ARGUING OVER ARBITRATION.

SO I YOU KNOW, WE LOVE YOU GUYS.

SO THANK YOU FOR A GOOD JOB AND KEEP DOING IT.

OKAY. WELL I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AS WELL.

IT IS UNIMAGINABLE TO THINK THAT WE WOULDN'T HAVE THE AMAZING SUPPORT THAT YOU GUYS DESERVE.

SO THANK YOU FOR SHOWING UP, FOR COLLABORATING, FOR ALWAYS COMMUNICATING, FOR ALWAYS BEING RESPECTFUL IN YOUR NEEDS.

AND IT'S JUST AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO PASS THIS TONIGHT, KNOWING THAT IT INCLUDES THINGS THAT ALLOW YOU TO RECOVER AND HAVE EVEN FURTHER MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, AND ALSO PHYSICAL SUPPORT AS WELL.

YOUR FITNESS IS EXTRAORDINARY.

WE'RE SO PROUD OF YOU GUYS.

I THINK WE ALL ARE.

SO WE'RE JUST THRILLED.

SO CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR NEGOTIATING.

[VII. CONSENT AGENDA]

[b. RESOLUTION 56, 2024 – ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORIZATION OF P3 AGREEMENTS. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO APPROVE AND EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO FACILITATE AND MANAGE THE CITY’S EXISTING PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. ]

OKAY, I'LL SECOND THAT.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

RESOLUTION 56 2024, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO APPROVE AND EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO FACILITATE AND MANAGE THE CITY'S EXISTING PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS, PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

THANK YOU. PATTY. ALL RIGHT.

SO FOR THIS RESOLUTION, WOULD THERE BE AN AVAILABILITY FOR A STAFF PRESENTATION OF ANY SORT? I CAN ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.

I MEAN, BASICALLY WHAT THIS RESOLUTION IS DOING, IF YOU READ THE WHEREAS CLAUSES, THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF IT, I'M THE ONE THAT ASKED FOR IT.

BECAUSE WE'VE HAD TO MAKE MINOR AMENDMENTS TO SOME OF THE AGREEMENTS THAT WE HAVE, BECAUSE AND IN THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE, THE REASON WE NEED IT IS BECAUSE WE HAVE A, A, AN ERROR IN THE LEGAL DESCRIPTION WHERE AN ADDITIONAL PIECE OF PROPERTY WAS INCLUDED IN THE PLANT DRIVE PARK P3, AND WE NEED TO AMEND IT. AND SO WE'VE ALSO HAD OTHER INSTANCES OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS WHERE WE'VE HAD TO MAKE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES TO THE AGREEMENTS, LIKE WE'VE WE'VE EXTENDED TIME FOR PEOPLE TO MEET DEADLINES AND ON OCCASION.

AND WHILE THAT'S WITHIN THE CITY MANAGER AND THE ADMINISTRATION'S AUTHORITY TO DO AS A CITY ATTORNEY, I WOULD RATHER HAVE IT BE IN WRITING.

AND SO THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS.

AND AGAIN, FOR THE SAME REASONS, MOST OF THOSE AMENDMENTS, WELL, ALL OF THOSE AMENDMENTS, EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE DONE ON THOSE THINGS SO FAR HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY MINOR.

AND THIS WILL NOT ALLOW THE CITY MANAGER TO MAKE SUBSTANTIVE AMENDMENTS TO THE AGREEMENT, SUCH SUCH AS EXTENDING THE TERM APPROVING SITE PLAN OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. THAT DOESN'T OBVIATE OUR CODE.

WE STILL THE ALL THE P-3S, NO MATTER WHAT STAGE THEY'RE IN, THEIR APPROVALS HAVE TO GO THROUGH OUR NORMAL APPROVAL PROCESS.

THE AGREEMENT CANNOT CHANGE THAT BECAUSE YOU CANNOT CHANGE YOUR CODE BY RESOLUTION.

YOU CAN'T CHANGE. WE CAN'T CHANGE OUR CODE BY BY DOING IT BY RESOLUTION.

WE'D HAVE TO PASS AN ORDINANCE.

AND YOU CAN'T AMEND YOUR WAY AROUND AN AGREEMENT TO SUBVERT OUR PLANNING PROCESS BECAUSE IT SETS FORTH OUR CODE, SAYS IT'S GOT TO GO TO DRC, IT HAS TO GO TO PLANNING AND ZONING, AND IT HAS TO COME TO YOU FOR APPROVAL FOR THE SITE PLAN AND THE LANDSCAPE PLAN, ETC..

SO THAT'S WHAT THIS IS.

THIS IS PURELY ADMINISTRATIVE.

WE HAVE DONE THIS IN THE PAST ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS.

YOU'LL IF YOU'LL HEARKEN BACK TO THE PARK, THE DISTRICT PARK BUILDING PHASE ONE AND EVEN PART OF PHASE TWO IN ADVANCE.

YOU DELEGATED ALL THE AUTHORITY TO DO THAT TO THE CITY MANAGER.

THERE WAS A CONCEPTUAL PLAN, AND YOU DELEGATED THE AUTHORITY TO DO IT BECAUSE WE HAD TO GET IT DONE QUICKLY.

WE GOT IT DONE IN 13 MONTHS.

WE WOULD NOT HAVE GOT IT DONE IN 13 MONTHS.

NOT THROUGH ANY FAULT OF YOUR OWN, BUT JUST BECAUSE OF SCHEDULING AND MEETINGS AND PROCUREMENT.

WE WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THAT IN 13 MONTHS IF WE HAD TO COME BACK AND HAVE PUBLIC MEETINGS ON EVERY ONE OF THOSE SINGLE ITEMS, AND WE DID IT WHEN WE DID THE OUR SPECIAL, OUR $0.01 SALES TAX FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF ALL THE THINGS YOU SEE AROUND THE CITY.

THE COUNCIL APPROVED THOSE THINGS IN CONCEPT AND APPROVED THE BUDGET OF THAT MONEY, AND THEN AUTHORIZED THE CITY MANAGER TO GET IT DONE.

[00:20:04]

IT'S AND THERE IS OVERSIGHT BECAUSE HE AND I BOTH ANSWER TO YOU, TO YOU FIVE PEOPLE.

AND YOU GUYS ARE THE POLICYMAKERS, AND YOUR GUYS ARE THE ONES THAT THAT HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE THINGS THAT WE DO AND THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE.

SO THERE'S THE THAT'S THE SYNOPSIS OF THE RESOLUTION.

ALL RIGHT. WELL, I THINK WE SHOULD GO AHEAD AND BRING IT BACK FOR DISCUSSION.

BUT BEFORE WE DO, LET'S GET A MOTION IN A SECOND SO WE CAN HAVE PROPER DISCUSSION, IF THAT'S OKAY.

CAN I GET A MOTION IN A SECOND REGARDING RESOLUTION 56? JUST TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT IT.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 56 2024.

SECOND. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. LET'S BRING IT BACK FOR DISCUSSION AND QUESTIONS.

ANYTHING. MARCIE.

THANK YOU FOR EXPLAINING THAT I APPRECIATE THAT.

ALTHOUGH THE AS YOU MENTIONED, ALTHOUGH THE RESOLUTION SPECIFICALLY SAYS ANY AND ALL AMENDMENTS ALONG WITH ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS, THE INTENT OF THE FOR THE RECORD, THE INTENT IS MINOR AMENDMENTS.

AS YOU STATED THIS, IF IT'S FOR THE CRASSEST, IT SAID IT WAS FOR 2P3 PROJECTS.

SO THAT WOULD BE THE CREST AND THE ICE RINK, SO TO SPEAK, SO TO SAY, THE PALM BEACH NORTH ATHLETIC FOUNDATION APPLICATION, AND THAT DOES NOT PRECLUDE IT FROM COMING TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

WHEN AND IF THEY MEET ALL OF THE CRITERIA, IT WILL STILL COME TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR A VOTE FOR THE SITE PLAN.

CORRECT? YES, MA'AM.

AND THERE'S NOTHING THAT THE CITY MANAGER OR ANYBODY ELSE CAN DO ABOUT THAT PROCESS.

RIGHT. AND AS YOU STATED, YOU KIND OF STATED THE GUARDRAILS OF THE MAJOR, MAJOR VERSUS MINOR AMENDMENTS.

AND THIS IS SOLELY FOR THOSE MINOR AMENDMENTS.

LIKE YOU SAID, I'VE SEEN IT WHERE LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS ARE INCORRECT.

I HAD A SURVEY THAT WAS INCORRECT.

TO ME, THAT'S A MINOR MODIFICATION, BECAUSE IT HAD A SCRIVENER'S ERROR IN THE SURVEY, AND IT STILL HAD TO GO BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL, AND THAT TOOK A WHOLE NOTHER MONTH ON ANOTHER PROJECT. SO THESE ARE THE TYPE OF THINGS THAT YOU'RE THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO, THAT SCRIVENER'S ERRORS AND THAT SUCH A THING.

THAT'S CORRECT. AND AGAIN, THIS RESOLUTION DOESN'T AUTHORIZE AMENDMENTS TO THE AGREEMENT THAT WOULD NOT FURTHER EFFECTUATE AND ADMINISTER THE AGREEMENT, MEANING THAT THE AGREEMENT HAS A PURPOSE.

IT HAS A MAIN PURPOSE, SO YOU CAN'T AMEND THE AGREEMENT AND CHANGE THE PURPOSE OF THE AGREEMENT.

WE COULDN'T CHANGE THE PARTIES, WE COULDN'T CHANGE THE LOCATION.

WE CAN'T EXTEND THE TIME, THE TOTAL TIME OF THE LAND LEASE.

THOSE ARE SUBSTANTIVE, SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES THAT WOULD, IN MY LEGAL OPINION, WOULD CHANGE THE CHARACTER OF THE AGREEMENT.

AND AS MOST OF YOU KNOW I KNOW YOU HAVE FAITH IN YOUR CITY MANAGER, AND I THINK YOU HAVE FAITH IN ME, AND HE WON'T SIGN ANYTHING IF I DON'T SIGN IT, AND I DON'T.

HE KNOWS HOW I READ AGREEMENTS AND I DO THINGS, AND AND YOU GUYS DO, TOO.

I STAY PRETTY MUCH.

I'M PRETTY SQUARE. I'M A I'M A GUARDRAILS KIND OF GUY.

I LIKE TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS DONE EXACTLY THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE DONE.

AND THAT'S THE MAIN REASON I WANT THIS.

THIS RESOLUTION IS SO THAT THEN WE CAN BRING I CAN I'LL HAVE A SIGNED PIECE OF PAPER THAT WILL DOCUMENT ANY MINOR CHANGES WE MAKE TO THIS AGREEMENT, INSTEAD OF THEM BEING MADE ADMINISTRATIVELY, WHICH HE CAN ALREADY DO.

I JUST WANT THIS TO BE A PROCESS SO THAT WE HAVE FORMALIZED PAPER HE'S.

THIS IS GOING TO HE'S GOING TO BE HE COULD DO ALL THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO IN THIS RESOLUTION RIGHT NOW.

I WANT IT IN PAPER AND I WANT IT TO MEMORIALIZE THE DELEGATION OF THAT SO I CAN REQUIRE THOSE AMENDMENTS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

THIS IS ACTUALLY PROVIDING SAFEGUARDS, NOT TAKING THEM AWAY.

THAT MAKES SENSE. AND AGAIN, I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT THIS BOTH D'ARCY AND PALM BEACH NORTH ATHLETIC FOUNDATION, THERE ARE THREE PROJECTS WHICH BECAUSE THEY'RE A PRIVATE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP, THEY ARE GOVERNED BY NOT JUST OUR CODE, THEY'RE GOVERNED BY FLORIDA STATUTES, WHICH HAS A WHOLE NOTHER LAYER OF PROCESSES TO GO THROUGH AND REGULATIONS TO ABIDE BY.

SO THIS DOES NOT NEGATE ANY OF THAT.

AND, YOU KNOW, AS LONG AS IT'S, IN MY OPINION, MINOR IN NATURE AND THE CHANGES TO THE AGREEMENT, LIKE YOU SAID, ARE NOT TERM RELATED OR FINANCIAL IN NATURE.

I SOLELY SUPPORT THIS APPROVAL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

BERT. YEAH.

YEAH. MAX, CAN WE GO BACK TO JUST A LITTLE HISTORY, THE 2017 BOND THAT WE DID FOR ALL THE DIFFERENT FACILITIES.

THAT WAS KIND OF MY LAST MONTH ON THE COUNCIL MY FIRST TIME AROUND.

AND I KNOW THAT WE AUTHORIZED THE CITY MANAGER TO DO.

I FORGOT WHAT THE BOND AMOUNT WAS.

$30 MILLION, I BELIEVE, FOR HIM TO SPEND ON VARIOUS PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

AND I KNOW WE DID THAT UP FRONT BECAUSE WE HAD TO GET TO MARKET QUICK.

[00:25:01]

BUT IN THAT PROCESS, THE CITY MANAGER WENT OUT AND ENGAGED CONTRACTS AND TALKED ABOUT PROJECTS THAT WE WERE DOING AND THEN BROUGHT THEM BACK TO THE COUNCIL AS EACH ONE CAME FORWARD. IS THAT HOW IT WORKED? BECAUSE I WASN'T AROUND BACK THEN FOR APPROVALS.

YEAH, THAT'S HOW SOME OF IT WORKED, I THINK.

YEAH, MOST OF THOSE MAJOR BECAUSE THEY WERE MAJOR PROCUREMENTS, BUT IT ALLOWED US TO MOVE FORWARD AND PUT ALL THOSE THINGS IN PLACE WITHOUT HAVING TO, TO, TO ASK PERMISSION TO DO IT WITH EACH ONE.

SO YOU GAVE A BLANKET APPROVAL FOR THE ALLOCATION OF THOSE FUNDS.

AND THEN AS EACH ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS CAME FORWARD, WE BROUGHT THOSE CONTRACTS FOR YOU AFTER WE WENT THROUGH THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS.

BUT IT ALLOWED US TO MOVE MUCH, MUCH MORE RAPIDLY THAN EVERYONE ELSE.

I KNOW WE'VE SAID THIS BEFORE AND NOT TO SOUND LIKE A PALM BEACH GARDENS APOLOGIST, BUT IF YOU LOOK AROUND THERE WERE ONLY TWO MUNICIPALITIES IN THE WHOLE COUNTY THAT DID A BOND FOR THAT. IT WAS GARDENS, AND DEL REY AND DEL REY ONLY DID IT BECAUSE I WAS REPRESENTING HIM AT THE TIME AND BROUGHT THE IDEA TO THEM.

THEY NEVER GOT OUT OF THE STARTING BLOCKS WITH THAT MONEY.

YOU GUYS, THE COUNCIL, MEANING YOU WERE HERE.

I THINK MARCIE MIGHT HAVE BEEN HERE, BUT THE REST OF YOU I DON'T THINK WERE AT THE TIME.

BUT THIS COUNCIL, THIS BODY HAD THE FORESIGHT TO TO RECOGNIZE TO SUPPORT THE, THE, THE, THE, THE, THE IDENTIFICATION OF ALL THOSE PROJECTS AND THEN THE ALLOCATION OF THAT MONEY IN ADVANCE.

SO WE GOT TO INSTEAD OF GETTING A DISCOUNT TO PRESENT VALUE, WE GOT REALLY KIND OF THE REVERSE.

WE GOT A BOOST TO PRESENT VALUE BECAUSE WE GOT TO SPEND ALL THAT MONEY RIGHT AWAY.

WHEN BEFORE CONSTRUCTION COSTS GO UP, BEFORE DOLLARS GET DEVALUED.

EVERYBODY ELSE THAT WAITED TO GET THEIR MONEY PIECE BY PIECE YEAR OVER YEAR, THEY HAD PIECEMEAL LITTLE PROJECTS.

AND THE OTHER THING THAT IT DID THAT YOU GUYS ALLOWED US TO DO IS THAT WE CAN'T BID PROJECTS WE DON'T HAVE MONEY FOR.

SO WE HAD ALL THAT MONEY UP FRONT SO YOU COULD GO OUT AND YOU COULD BID FOR A $6 MILLION PROJECT OVER HERE, OR A $10 MILLION PROJECT OVER THERE, AND YOU HAD BECAUSE YOU HAD THE MONEY, IF THEY WERE GETTING IT YEAR BY YEAR, YOU HAD TO WAIT TO STACK IT UP AND THEN TRY AND DO IT.

SO IT WAS IT WAS ACTUALLY IT WAS A LOT OF FORESIGHT.

IT WAS SMART.

I THINK IT WAS COURAGEOUS AND THERE WERE CHECKS AND BALANCES LIKE THERE ALWAYS IS.

AND YOU'RE AND YOU'VE HIRED A PROFESSIONAL STAFF TO DO A PROFESSIONAL JOB FOR YOU.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE ALL TRY TO DO AS A TEAM HERE EVERY DAY.

AND I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF SUSPICION OF GOVERNMENT, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE THINGS THAT GO ON.

BUT THIS IS THE MOST TRANSPARENT.

AND THE GOVERNMENT THAT'S THE MOST RESPONSIVE TO ALL THE GOVERNMENTS THAT ANYBODY DEALS WITH.

AND I KNOW ALL OF YOU TAKE CALLS AND EMAILS AND ANSWER THINGS, AND THIS IS NOT LIKE I SAID, THIS IS ACTUALLY INCREASING OVERSIGHT AND TRACKING AND ACCOUNTABILITY RATHER THAN DECREASING IT. YEAH.

AND I THINK THE BEAUTY OF THE BOND, THAT'S WHY I GET BACK TO IT, IS STAFF WAS ABLE TO DO THEIR THING.

PROBABLY DOUBLE THE MONEY THAT WAS BORROWED FOR THE PROJECTS THAT'S BEEN DONE AROUND THE CITY FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS, AND IT DIDN'T COST THE TAXPAYER HERE A DIME.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT BACK.

SO. OKAY. THANK YOU.

I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY ON THAT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YOU GUYS GOT THEM ALL ANSWERED FOR ME ALONG THE WAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND ESPECIALLY MAX.

THANK YOU FOR. ONE OF MY MAIN QUESTIONS WAS TELL US HOW THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE.

AND THOSE ARE EXTRAORDINARY EXAMPLES THAT MAKE IT EXTREMELY CLEAR.

SO THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM.

YES, I DO WANT TO MAKE ONE MORE COMMENT, WHICH IS I WANTED BECAUSE I WAS NOT ON THE COUNCIL WHEN CRESSEY SPORTS AND THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT WAS MADE.

SO I LITERALLY WENT ON OUR WEBSITE.

I DIDN'T ASK ANYBODY FOR TO SEND ME A COPY OF IT.

I LITERALLY WENT ON OUR WEBSITE THROUGH YOU KNOW, THROUGH THE SEARCH BAR.

AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL UP NOT JUST THE MEETING AND THE MINUTES, BUT THE ACTUAL AGREEMENT.

AND I WAS ABLE TO SEARCH AND READ THE AGREEMENT FOR THE FIRST TIME, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I WASN'T ON THE COUNCIL WHEN THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT.

SO I WANTED TO READ THAT ORIGINAL AGREEMENT, AND I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT JUST BY LOOKING ON OUR WEBSITE.

IT'S ALL THERE FOR EVERYBODY TO SEE.

I JUST WENT THROUGH THE NORMAL WAY OF SEARCHING THE WEB.

SO IT WAS VERY EASY TO ACCESS.

AND I JUST WANT TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT IT'S THERE.

YOU CAN READ IT, YOU CAN READ EVERY SINGLE AGREEMENT THAT'S BEEN APPROVED.

AND ALSO ANYTHING THAT WE HAVE ON OUR COUNCIL AGENDA, OUR BACKUP MATERIAL, IT'S THERE FOR EVERYBODY TO READ.

WE READ IT THE SAME TIME THE PUBLIC READS IT.

SO I JUST WANT TO JUST TO SAY THAT BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE MIGHT NOT REALIZE THAT.

BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THAT AND WE DO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT, I KNOW, AND THEN I DON'T WANT TO FORGET TO MENTION.

DO YOU WANT TO MENTION IT? YES. IN OUR SUMMER PRODUCTION OF SIGNATURE MAGAZINE, WHICH COPIES ARE OVER THERE, THERE'S TWO PAGES HERE DEDICATED TO THE P3 PROJECTS, AND IT TELLS YOU WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CRESSY, AS WELL AS PBG AND WHAT THEY CALL THEMSELVES.

[00:30:07]

IT'S AND IT'S A WELL WRITTEN PICTURES AND EVERYTHING.

THE MIRACLE FIELD, THAT'S ANOTHER P3.

WE WE HELP THEM RAISE MONEY AND THEN WE PAID.

WE HELP FUND MIRACLE LEAGUE.

SO THE BENEFITS OF P3 SAVING TAXPAYERS DOLLARS, PROVIDING SERVICES AND FIELDS TO OUR PUBLIC.

TO ME, THAT'S A WIN WIN.

THANK YOU. WE DID HAVE A COUPLE.

YEP. WELL, WE HAVE A COUPLE COMMENT CARDS, SO I WANT TO GET THOSE IN.

IS THAT OKAY? MAX, BEFORE WE VOTE.

ALL RIGHT. SO WE HAVE THREE PUBLIC COMMENT CARDS.

I BELIEVE SOME OF THEM THERE MIGHT BE 1 OR 2 THAT PEOPLE DIDN'T NECESSARILY LIST IT.

AND IF SO, JUST LET US KNOW.

SO YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES PLEASE, TO COME TO THE PODIUM.

STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.

FIRST WE'LL HAVE HELEN BROWN AND THEN SCOTT G.

I L O W IS HELEN HERE? OKAY. GOOD EVENING, AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

MY NAME IS HELEN BROWN.

I LIVE AT 101 6010162 PLANT DRIVE, PALM BEACH GARDENS.

AND I'M HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE I FEEL THAT WE NEED TO REMOVE RESOLUTION 56 FROM THE AGENDA.

AND I'M JUST GOING TO READ KIND OF THE EMAIL THAT I'VE SENT TO EACH OF YOU REAL QUICK.

BASICALLY IT SAYS I'M WRITING TO EXPRESS MY STRONG DISPLEASURE WITH THE DECISION TO TO PLACE RESOLUTION 56 ON THE AGENDA FOR A MID-MONTH MEETING SEPTEMBER 19TH, 2024.

I'M EMAILING YOU TO REQUEST RESOLUTION 56 BE PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA TONIGHT.

THE TIMING OF THIS DECISION FEELS UNDERHANDED AND SNEAKY, PARTICULARLY GIVEN THE LARGE AMOUNT OF RESIDENTS WHO ARE OPPOSED TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE ICE RINK.

I QUESTION THE TRANSPARENCY OF THIS PROCESS, ESPECIALLY SINCE YOU'RE REQUESTING GIVING VOTING AUTHORITY OF THIS ISSUE TO OUR CITY MANAGER, WHO SLEEPS THROUGH MOST OF THE MEETINGS. THAT'S NOT IN MY THING, BUT IT'S JUST A COMMON THING.

WE HAVE SO MANY PICTURES OF THIS GENTLEMAN JUST SLEEPING.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF YOU'RE IF YOU'RE THERE RIGHT NOW.

WHERE IS THE JUSTICE OF THIS APPROACH? NOT ONLY ARE WE DISHEARTENED BY THE NEWS OF COUNCIL MEMBERS RENTING SPACE TO PB AND AF, MR., FERRIS APPEARS TO WANT TO COMPLETE CONTROL OVER THE DECISION THAT COULD DRAMATICALLY IMPACT THE LIVES AND PROPERTY VALUES OF THE RESIDENTS, LIKE MYSELF.

IT SEEMS UNFAIR.

IMPROPER THAT THE ONLY INDIVIDUALLY ESPECIALLY YOU'RE GOOD, ESPECIALLY ONE WITH A VESTED INTEREST IN THE OUTCOME, SHOULD HAVE SO MUCH POWER OVER A DECISION THAT WILL AFFECT OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY.

I BELIEVE THIS PROCESS RAISES SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT THE INTEGRITY OF OUR CITIES GOVERNANCE.

AND IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THAT MR. FERRIS MAY HAVE HIS PRIORITIES ALIGNED MORE WITH THE DEVELOPERS AND BUSINESS INTERESTS THAN WITH THE RESIDENTS HE IS SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT.

THE POTENTIAL CONSTRUCTION ACROSS THE STREET FROM MY HOME THREATENS NOT ONLY MY QUALITY OF LIFE, ALSO THE VALUE OF MY PROPERTY AND MY FAMILY'S FUTURE.

IF THIS WAS HAPPENING OUTSIDE OF YOUR DOOR AND YOU HAD ONE PERSON GETTING THE VOTING RIGHTS, NOT COMING AND SITTING ANYMORE, AND HE COULD PUSH THINGS THROUGH, JUST BOOM, BOOM, BOOM. YES, LET'S MOVE THINGS ALONG QUICKLY, I HEAR YOU.

THAT'S WHY I'M HERE.

I URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO MOVE TO REMOVE RESOLUTION 56.

NEVER SHOULD THERE BE A RESOLUTION THAT GIVES MUCH, THIS MUCH POWER TO ONE INDIVIDUAL.

AT THIS MONTH'S COUNCIL MEETING, I ADDRESSED THE RUMOR AT LAST MONTH'S AT AT THIS THIS MONTH, I ADDRESSED THAT THERE WAS A RUMOR THAT THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN IN PGA NATIONAL THAT WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW THIS WAS A DONE DEAL, AND IT'S A ONE VOTE, AND WE'VE GOT IT DONE.

AND THIS IS JUST ADDING TO THE FACT THAT THIS IS NOT A RUMOR.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SOMEBODY OBVIOUSLY IS NOT REALLY BEING QUIET ABOUT THIS.

AND THEY THINK THAT IT'S THIS, THIS OUR COMMUNITY, THEY'RE BASICALLY WHAT WE'RE HEARING IS THAT OUR COMMUNITY SHOULD JUST BE LEVELED SO THAT WE CAN MAKE THIS A WHOLE TOURIST AREA. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

NEXT WE HAVE SCOTT G.

I L O W AND THEN SORRY NANCY RIM RIM K RIMKUS.

THANK YOU. SORRY I'M PROBABLY NOT PRONOUNCING THAT RIGHT.

HRINKO. THANK YOU SCOTT.

738 DUCHESS COURT, PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA.

BRAVO MR. FERRIS BRAVO.

LEAST COULD WAKE UP.

WHEN? WHEN? WHEN I WAS HERE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, I TALKED ABOUT HOW GREAT OF A MAGICIAN MR. FERRIS. WAS THE SHOW STILL CONTINUING? IT SEEMS AGAIN, AS I'M SPEAKING ABOUT, I'M SPEAKING ABOUT RESOLUTION 56.

THE RESOLUTION IS NOTHING MORE THAN A SMOKE SCREEN FOR THE COUNCIL'S INDISCRETIONS, AS MR.

[00:35:02]

SO THERE IS DISCRETIONS.

THE GUARDIAN'S COUNCIL WAS CREATED AS A DEMOCRACY.

WE THE PEOPLE HAVE A SAY.

RESOLUTION 56 IS CLEAR TO TEAR AT THE FABRIC OF THIS DEMOCRACY.

AND THE PEOPLE OF THIS CITY WHERE WE HAVE CHECKS AND BALANCES NOW.

PASSING RESOLUTIONS 56 IS A DICTATORSHIP WHERE ONE MAN WILL HAVE CONTROL AND POWER OF WHAT HE WANTS, WHENEVER HE WANTS.

YES. MR. FERRIS IS THE LONGEST SERVING MANAGER IN PALM BEACH GARDENS HISTORY.

CONGRATULATIONS. IF YOU WERE AWAKE, YOU WOULD HEAR ME.

PLEASE KEEP IN MIND, MR. FERRIS OBVIOUSLY IS A 78 YEAR OLD MAN.

THE LIKELIHOOD OF HIM STAYING AS THE MANAGER WILL END SOONER THAN LATER.

WHAT HAPPENS TO RESOLUTION 56, THEN? WHAT THEN? A LITTLE MORE ABOUT ME.

WHEN I PUT MY MIND TO SOMETHING, I CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN.

SO I SAY THIS.

COMING MARCH, THERE WILL BE TWO SEATS OPEN ON THE COUNCIL SITTING UP THERE.

BY VOTING YES TONIGHT, A RESOLUTION 56, YOU WILL BE ANNOUNCING MY CANDIDACY FOR PALM BEACH COUNTY CITY COUNCIL.

NEXT WE HAVE NANCY RIMKUNAS, WHO I'M NOT.

I APOLOGIZE IF I'M MISPRONOUNCING YOUR NAME.

NANCY. THANK YOU.

WHY DON'T YOU STAY? MY NAME IS NANCY RIMKUNAS.

I LIVE AT 4121 OLIVE CIRCLE, NORTH PALM BEACH GARDENS.

EXCUSE ME, MA'AM, CAN YOU PLEASE SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE? THANK YOU. DO I HAVE TO REPEAT? DO I? NANCY RIMKUNAS, 41, 21 ISLAND CIRCLE, NORTH PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA, 33410.

WE HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT FOR 52 YEARS, SO WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF CHANGES.

WE HAVE SEEN OUR CHILDREN GROW UP.

I KNOW MR. MOROSO, I KNEW HIS MOTHER, SO WE'VE BEEN HERE AND SEEN A LOT HAPPEN.

I DO STRONGLY OPPOSE THIS WHOLE PROPOSAL FROM BEGINNING TO END.

WE NEVER SAW IT COMING.

WE NEVER HAD THE INFORMATION UNTIL WHEN IT WAS.

ALL THIS PROPOSAL WAS SIGNED AND DELIVERED.

THAT TO ME, IS NOT SERVING YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

WE NEED TO FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR CITY.

AND I STRONGLY RESENT HAVING TO TURN OVER RESOLUTION 56 TO RON FERRIS. THAT TO ME SAYS YOU AS A COUNCILOR, ABDICATING YOUR RESPONSIBILITY ON WORKING IT AND GIVING HIM THE CONTROL.

THANK YOU. OH, SORRY. THANK YOU MA'AM.

ALL RIGHT. THAT'S IT.

LET'S GO AHEAD AND DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER FURTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS OR OTHERWISE FROM COUNCIL? LET'S TAKE A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

LET'S MOVE. RIGHT ON. DO WE HAVE A CITY MANAGER REPORT THIS EVENING? EXCUSE ME, MADAM MAYOR.

YOU STILL HAVE TO VOTE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

OH GOODNESS GRACIOUS.

THANK YOU. SORRY I MESSED UP MY.

I'M A LITTLE OUT OF.

WE'RE OFF THE. WE'RE OFF THE CHART NOW.

ALL RIGHT, SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND GO ALL IN.

LET'S GET A MOTION IN A SECOND TO APPROVE THIS CONSENT AGENDA, PLEASE.

MADAM MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

THANK YOU. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT IS THE CITY MANAGER REPORT, SIR.

DO WE HAVE ONE? THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S MOVE ALONG.

WE DO HAVE TWO COMMENT CARDS FROM THE PUBLIC.

[V. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC]

AND THEN.

NOPE, IT WAS FOR SOMETHING ELSE.

AND THEN AFTER THAT, WE'LL HAVE MADELINE ZIRIN.

HELLO. HERE WE ARE AGAIN.

MY NAME IS ERIC BROWN.

10162 PLANT DRIVE.

AND I TO OPPOSE TO RESOLUTION 56.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING HERE, WHY THIS IS BEING DONE AT THIS TIME INSTEAD OF AT THE NORMAL MEETING. THIS IS THE KIND OF POLITICS WE HAVE TODAY.

WHERE WE PASS AGENDAS.

I APOLOGIZE, SIR.

WE PUT YOU AT THIS AREA FOR COMMENTS FOR THE PUBLIC BECAUSE YOU WROTE THAT YOU WERE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE SKATE PARK.

[00:40:06]

DID YOU WANT TO AMEND YOUR COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT. WE'LL DO THE SKATE PARK BECAUSE IT'S ALL TIED TOGETHER.

I WANT TO ASK YOU, ARE YOU CONSIDERING THE PUBLIC, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE OPPOSED TO THIS SKATE RINK? CAN CAN YOU TELL US WHY YOU'RE GOING TO PUT THIS EYESORE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD? WOULD YOU HAVE THIS EYESORE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD? AND THAT'S NOT A RHETORICAL QUESTION.

I'M KIND OF CURIOUS.

WOULD YOU PUT THIS BUILDING ACROSS THE STREET FROM YOUR HOUSE? A LITTLE NOD, A LITTLE SHAKE OF THE HEAD.

TELL ME, WOULD YOU PUT THIS BUILDING ACROSS THE STREET FROM YOUR HOUSE? YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET AN ANSWER BECAUSE IT'S YOUR TURN TO BE GONE.

NOT GOING TO GET AN ANSWER.

I'D LIKE YOU TO THINK ABOUT IT.

WHY ARE YOU TAKING AWAY A PARK THAT OFFERS FREE SERVICES TO OUR CHILDREN AND ADULTS? TO PLAY BASKETBALL, TO SKATE, TO RIDE BICYCLES, AND PUTTING IN A FOR PROFIT BUSINESS? WHY ARE YOU TAKING AWAY A PARK FROM US? WHICH? WHO IS BENEFITING FROM THIS? WHICH ONE OF YOU IS THIS SO IMPORTANT? HOW WILL YOU SERVING THE COMMUNITY WITH? WITH? BY TAKING AWAY A FREE PARK.

I DON'T GET IT.

AND I HOPE YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT WHAT I'M SAYING.

WHAT'S THE REASON FOR THIS? WHO IS BENEFITING? CERTAINLY NOT THE CHILDREN WHO USE THE SKATE PARK, THE BASKETBALL COURTS, THE SOFTBALL FIELD.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

NEXT ON COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC, WE HAVE MADELINE.

SHARON. GOOD EVENING, MADELINE ZARIN 8054 MURANO CIRCLE, SECTION 78 303 OF PALM BEACH GARDENS.

CODE OF ORDINANCES STATES LAND SHALL NOT BE LANDSCAPED, CLEARED OR GRUBBED WITHIN THE CITY UNLESS WRITTEN.

PERMISSION IS FIRST OBTAINED BY SITE PLAN APPROVAL AND A PERMIT AS OUTLINED IN THIS DIVISION.

SECTION 78 302 STATES THAT FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS DIVISION, OR ANY PERMIT OR APPROVAL GRANTED OR AUTHORIZED HEREUNDER, SHALL CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THIS DIVISION.

ACCORDING TO THE CITY'S OWN BUILDING DIVISION, THERE ARE ZERO PERMITS IN THE SYSTEM FOR THE LAND CLEARING OF THE 14 ACRE PARCEL AT DISTRICT PARK, A PERMIT THAT WAS PULLED FOR THE LAND CLEARING OF THE NEIGHBORING 31 ACRE PARCEL IN 2018 HAS EXPIRED.

THE CITY VIOLATED THEIR OWN CODE WHEN IT CLEARED THE 14 ACRE PARCEL OF LAND AT DISTRICT PARK BY NOT APPLYING FOR AND OBTAINING THE PROPER PERMITS PURSUANT TO THE CODE THAT I HAVE CITED FOR YOU HERE TODAY.

HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? FURTHER, PER CHAPTER 68, SECTION 27 OF THE FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE, FWC GOPHER TORTOISE PERMITTING GUIDELINES INCLUDE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR VARIOUS ELEMENTS OF THE GOPHER TORTOISE PERMITTING SYSTEM.

WITHIN THOSE SAME GUIDELINES, IT IS CLEARLY STATED THAT THE CONSTRUCTION MUST BE COMMENCED WITHIN 90 DAYS OF THE MOST RECENT GOPHER TORTOISE SURVEY.

THE MOST RECENT SURVEY THE CITY CLAIMS THEY HAD DONE WAS DATED IN MARCH OF 2024.

THEREFORE, THE CLEARING OF THE LAND THAT ALSO HOUSES PROTECTED GOPHER TORTOISES WAS DONE UNLAWFULLY, WHICH MEANS THE CITY VIOLATED FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE, AS THE CITY DID NOT BEGIN CONSTRUCTION WITHIN 90 DAYS, AND GOPHER TORTOISES WERE IN FACT RECENTLY SPOTTED ON THE SITE, THE CITY SHOULD HAVE OBTAINED NECESSARY PERMITS TO MOVE THOSE TORTOISES, YET THEY FAILED TO DO SO.

THE CITY CHARGED ME $404 FOR RECORDS THAT SHOWED IT WAS LAZY, AND MOST CERTAINLY DID NOT HANDLE THIS DISTRICT PARK LAND CLEARING SITUATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CODE, CONTRARY TO THE SELF-SERVING STORY IN THE PALM BEACH POST.

[00:45:06]

THE CITY BLATANTLY VIOLATED THE PERMITTING GUIDELINES, AND THEY DID NOT EVEN BOTHER TO INSTALL THE SILT FENCING TO PREVENT TORTOISES FROM MOVING ON TO THE DEVELOPMENT SITE, WHICH IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BY THE FWC.

IT SHOULD NOT BE THE JOB OF THE PUBLIC TO ENSURE THAT THE CITY IS FOLLOWING THE LAW.

THIS IS A COUNCIL CITY MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT.

APPARENTLY, WE NEED TO BE CONSTANTLY ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT OUR CITY MANAGER IS DOING AS IT APPEARS.

MR. FERRIS BELIEVES THE RULES APPLY TO EVERYONE EXCEPT THE CITY ITSELF, EVEN WHEN RESIDENTS RAISED VALID CONCERNS FOR THE VOICELESS, THERE WAS ZERO TRANSPARENCY FROM THE CITY WHEN IT CAME TO THE CLEARING OF THE LAND THAT DESTROYED THE HOMES OF GOPHER TORTOISES AND BALD EAGLES.

NEXT, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEMS FOR COUNCIL ACTION AND ITEMS OF INTEREST.

DO WE HAVE ANY THIS EVENING? YES, SIR.

IF YOU WOULD GRANT ME PERMISSION, I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE JUST BROUGHT UP.

YES, PLEASE. GOOD.

I GUESS THE BOTTOM LINE HERE IS THE PROTECTION OF THE TURTLE.

AND IF YOU HAVE SOME EVIDENCE, IF ANY OF YOU HAVE EVIDENCE THAT THE NEST OR TURTLES WERE HARMED, I KIND OF LIKE TO SEE THAT.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE PERMITS THAT WERE ISSUED, WHEN MR. ENGEL APPROACHED MY OFFICE AND HIS SUPERVISOR'S OFFICE, HE WAS READY TO START CLEARING THE LAND.

I STOPPED HIM.

I SAID, YOU CAN'T CLEAR THE LAND UNTIL WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO NOTIFY THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITIES AROUND THERE.

SO YOU CAN BLAME ME, WHICH YOU ALREADY HAVE FOR THAT DELAY IN THE PERMIT.

SO, AS YOU CAN SEE, IF THE DISPLAYED HERE AT THAT TIME, WE SENT CHARLOTTE PROSZYNSKI FROM LEISURE SERVICES TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE HOSE POSE MANAGEMENT COMPANIES OF THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES SO THAT THEY WOULD KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THOSE COMMUNITIES. THIS PLAN HAS BEEN IN EFFECT SINCE 2017.

I BELIEVE IT IS.

AS FAR AS THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS PARK WAS NEVER INTENDED TO BE A NATURE PRESERVE.

IT WAS INTENDED TO BE AN ATHLETIC FACILITY.

THAT WAS THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT AND THE LEASE AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVE WITH PALM BEACH COUNTY.

I DON'T HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS, BUT WE I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTACT THE FWC, IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY.

TALK TO THE GOPHER TORTOISE CONSERVATION BIOLOGISTS AND SEE IF HE'S OKAY WITH WHAT WE'VE DONE.

SO WE'VE DONE WHAT WE'VE DONE.

TO OUR KNOWLEDGE, WE'VE NOT HARMED A NEST OR A TURTLE.

AND THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ALL TRYING TO PROTECT.

IF YOU HAVE EVIDENCE TO THE OTHER.

OTHERWISE, GO THROUGH THE PROCESS.

SO THAT'S HOW THAT HAPPENED.

OUR CITY ENGINEER, BY THE WAY, IS THE PERSON WHO APPROVES THE PERMIT SHE'S RECOMMENDING.

SO FIND IT KIND OF NONSENSICAL TO THINK THAT HE WOULD WRITE HIMSELF A PERMIT, THAT HE WOULD TURN AROUND AND AND SIGN HIMSELF.

BUT WE HAD THAT CONVERSATION.

IF I'VE MISSED ANYTHING ELSE, PLEASE, TODD, YOU'RE WELCOME TO JOIN IN.

STAYING OUT OF IT.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. SIR.

ALL RIGHT. LET'S LET'S GO AHEAD TO OUR ITEMS FOR COUNCIL ACTION AND DISCUSSION OR INTEREST.

[IV. ANNOUNCEMENTS / PRESENTATIONS]

AND THAT IS ALL I CARE TO SAY.

AND WITH THAT, WE WILL GO TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT.

NO REPORT. AND THEN WE ARE ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.