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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_Redevelopment Committee_11/29/1999 VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA Post Office Box 3273 • 250 Tequesta Drive • Suite 300 Tequesta, Florida 3369-0273 (561) 575-6200 Fax: (561) 575-6203 VII,LAGE OF TEQUESTA REDEVELOFMENT CONIlVII'I°FEE MEETING MINUTES NC)VEMBER 29,1999 I. II. CALL TO ORDER AND. ROLL CALL The Tequesta Redevelopment Committee held a regularly scheduled meeting at the Village Hall, 357 Tequesta Drive, Tequesta, Florida, on Monday, November 29, 1899. The meeting was called to order at 4:05 p.m. by Co-Chair Joseph Capretta. A roll call was taken by Betty Laur, the Recording Secretary. In attendance were: Co-Chair Joseph Capretta, Go-chair Basil Dalack, and Co-Chair Sharon Walker. Also in attendance were: Village Manager Thomas G. Bradford, and Village Clerk Joann Manganiello. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Village Manager Bradford suggested that if the committee approved they might want to amend the agenda to include discussion of who would replace Mr. Mackail as Chair of the Committee. Co-Chair Dalack made, a motion to appoint Mr. Capretta as Chairman and to accept the ~.genda as submitted. Co-Chair Walker seconded the motion. The vote on the motion was: Joseph Capretta - for Basil Dalack - for Sharon Walker - for The motion was therefore passed and adopted and the agenda was accepted as submitted. Recycled Paper REDEVELOPI~NT CONIl~IITTEE MEETING MINUTES November 29, 1999 FADE 2 III. CONd~l[1NICATI4NS FR~I CITIZENS There were no communications from citizens. TV. REVIEW OF TE~tIESTA FACILITIES NEEDS Chair Capretta opened discussion by questioning whether the Committee and the public were convinced there was a need for a new or renovated public safety facility, Village Hall, and facilities for staff. Chair Capretta referred to the North .Palm Beach Public Safety Facility and mentioned to Chair Walker that she might like to tour that facility. Chair Capretta commented that points to be considered were whether the present Village Hall was capable of being upgraded, as well as all the requirements of a public safety facility. The next item discussed by Chair Capretta was whether the Village could afford new facilities. Chair Capretta indicated that the Village tax base had increased from $384 million to over $500 million, making possible construction of new facilities with repayment over 20-30 years. Chair Capretta explained that once the Committee was convinced of the need and that the Village could afford facilities, the decision must be made regarding the kind of facilities desired, and offered three alternatives: (1) Renovate the present Village Hall for a Public Safety building, in back of it create sleeping facilities for firemen, and build a Village Hall on the property next door. (2) Renovate the present Village Hall building as a Public Safety facility but build a Village Hall downtown on the lot owned by the Village. (3} Tear down the present Village Hall building and build one building to accommodate all departments. Chair Capretta estimated alternative (1) would cost approximately $4 million; alternative (2) would cost about $4.5; alternate (3) would cost roughly $5 million. Chair Capretta commented that if the Committee was in agreement the public must then be convinced, and that many residents wanted no change. Chair Capretta commented the Village must do something because the present building did not even meet Village codes, and he favored bringing the issue to a head during the next few months while all the "snowbirds" were here. Village Manager Bradford explained that two cost estimates had been prepared by Lisa Lamanovich of Gee & REDEVELOPMENT CON~IITTEE 1~ETING MINUTES November 29, 1999 PAGE 3 Jenson as requested by Gouncilmember Dalack at the July, 1999 Redevelopment Committee meeting--one for a new building for only public safety, and another for a new building that would house all departments. The estimate for a new Public Safety building to house only Fire and Police was $2.5 million; and $4.7 million was the estimate for a new building which would accommodate Fire, Police, and Administration, To build a new Fire station and to renovate the present City Hall for Police, the estimate was $2 million; however, that did not provide space for Administration. Village Manager Bradford commented that Administration was fine in the offices they presently occupied, but council Chambers would be needed. For reference purposes, Councilmember Dalack laid out the glans and identified them as (1) Public Safety only; (2) Public Safety and Administration; (3) Renovate the present building far Fire and Police; and (4) Village Hall at another location. Item one was estimated at $2.5 million, item (2) at $4.7 million, item (3} $1.9 million which would include facilities for Mr. Ladd's department; and item (40 at $4 million when combined with item (3). Chair Capretta commented the $1.9 million plan would be the minimum plan, and once it was implemented there would be no Village Council Chambers. With this plan, a Village Hall could still be built either next door or downtown. Chair Capretta stated the most urgent need was that the Firemen and Police really needed better quarters. Councilmember Dalack commented that placing everything into one building seemed to make the most sense, but questioned what effect building one building to accommodate everything would have on the lot the Village owned at JMZ Tequesta Properties, and stated he did not want to run the risk of Mr. Zuccarelli buying that lot back. Village Manager Bradford explained that if by March of 2001 the Village had not built an applicable building on the lot, JMZ would get the property back and the Village would get $477,000. Couneilmember Dalack responded he would rather have the Village Hall on the downtown lot than to run that risk. Chair Capretta expressed his opinion that the Village would never build a Village Hall on that lot, and that Mr. Zuccarelli would not exercise his option to take back the REDEVELOPMENT COB~IITTEE MEETING MINQTES November 29, 1999 PAGE 4 lot, because of the lack of parking. Mr. Capretta stated he wanted the Village to own the lot, and commented that Mr. Zuccarelli was working on a proposed design for a Village Hall. Mr. Capretta stated his opinion that the best move politically and the most economical option would be to build one new building at the present Village Hall location that would house all of the Village operations. Chair Capretta suggested that the Village could re-negotiate the terms of the agreement with Mr. Zuccarelli. The terms of the contract with Mr. Zuccarelli were discussed. Co-Chair Dalack commented the Village paid 1-1/2 million for the property that Mr. Zuccarelli could take back for $477,000. Chair Capretta commented the Village also bought the road. Co-Chair Dalack commented that if a cultural facility would agree to build, that would safeguard the loss of that parcel. Village Manager Bradford commented that Mr. Zuccarelli was not in a hurry to pay the Village $477,000. Chair Capretta suggested renegotiating the date by which time Mr. Zuccarelli would be required to take back the parcel to 2010. Village Manager Bradford stated Mr. Zuccarelli would prefer not to pay that money to the Village. Co-Chair Dalack stated if the parcel could be taken care of he was in favor of a unitary building, but expressed concern about the Village having paid $1-1/2 million for the lot. Chair Capretta asked if Mr. Dalack would like the Village to sell the road to Mr. Zuccarelli. Village Manager Bradford indicated that the square footage of the road was approximately 27,000 square feet and the parcel was~~3, 000 square feet. The Village Manager commented he would be talking to Mr. Zuccarelli and could explore options of renegotiating the terms of the agreement. Chair Capretta expressed a preference for a unitary building. Co- Chair Walked commented she had serious reservations about renovating a 40-year old building and felt that a unitary building made sense and would provide maximum utilization of this property. Mrs. Walker stated Tequesta did not have other types of facilities such as a sports complex or facilities for children, and that some other type of Village facility might be appropriate for the downtown property. Co-Chair Walker expressed a desire to retain parts of the present Village Hall in a new building if possible. Co- Chair Dalack commented that all three of the Gommitteemembers favored a unitary structure. It was the REDEVELOPMENT CO1~fl~iITTEE MEETING MINUTES November 29, 1999 PAGE 5 consensus of the Committee that a unitary building would be the-best solution and that the Village Manager should explore re-negotiating the agreement with Mr. Zuccarelli. Chair Capretta commented he would like Lighthouse Gallery to build downtown but believed it would never happen because they were not able to raise money. Village Manager Bradford explained there was another estimate of approximately $300,000 more than the $1.9 million option to build the Police a new building and to build the Fire a separate new building on the present site. Chair Capretta stated his first choice was a unitary building for all operations and his second choice was a unitary building for both Police and Fire. Village Manager Bradford summed up that everyone preferred a unitary building to house all operations and if that was not possible to have a unitary building for bath Fire and Police. Chair Capretta commented that the second option could be called a mini North Palm Beach Public Safety Facility. Mr. Berube expressed his opinion that Mr. Dalack was not real happy with possibly extending the date that Mr. Zuccarelli would have to buy back the lot, and suggested renegotiating the requirement for the type of building that could be built on the parcel because the lot might be a lot more saleable if the use did not have to be cultural or municipal. Mr. Berube commented that if there was going to be a committee for deciding on a Village Hall that he would be willing to serve. Chair Capretta commented he liked Mr. Berube's suggestion of changing the use of the parcel and recommended re-negotiating the use so that the Village could build anything they wanted as well as a time extension to 2010. Village Manager Bradford commented that extending the time was not good for Mr. Zuccarelli because he was trying to create a small-town downtown feeling and a vacant lot would not contribute to that feeling. Ed Resnik expressed his preference for a unitary building but commented that a unitary facility would probably be so large it would extend onto the vacant lot next door to the Village Hall, and it seemed that $5 million was not enough to do everything. Chair Capretta commented North Palm Beach REDEVELOPMENT COHflrIITTEE METsTING MINUTES November 29, 1999 PAGE 6 had built their facility for $4.9 million, and that their layout was very efficient. Chair Capretta commented the first problem to be solved was to resolve the problem with Mr. Zuccarelli. Chair Capretta commented that the Chief of Police and the Fire Chief had provided input on what they wanted for the past 1-1/2 years but in separate facilities, and the tour of the North Palm Beach facility had showed how they could share a facility. Chair Capretta commented that if the problem with Mr. Zuccarelli could not be resolved, then he favored a unitary facility for just Police and Fire. Mr. Resnik questioned the required use of the parcel downtown. Village Manager Bradford explained that the agreement required a government building, a civic building or a cultural building to be built on the lot. Mr. Resnik indicated he wanted the Village to keep the lot, and asked what Mr. Zuccarelli would do with the lot if he got it back, to which Mr. Berube responded that Mr. Zuccarelli would sell it for three times what he paid for it. Chair Capretta -commented that Mr. Zuccarelli needed a lot of cooperation from the Village to accomplish what he wanted to do, and therefore should be willing to negotiate. Mr. Resnik asked what the appraised value of the lot was, to which Village Manager Bradford responded it had been $477,000 at the time of the agreement, and that it had been a condemnation. Chair Capretta commented the Village acted like the deal had been all one-sided; however, although it was probably a generous settlement, looking at the situation from Mr. Zuccarelli's viewpoint, he had purchased the property and had been ready to renovate the old shopping center building and if he had done that he could have been collecting rent by now, but the Village had not wanted him to do it. Mayor Hansen commented that the answers to Chair Capretta's original questions of whether new facilities were needed had been yes and whether the Village could afford it had been yes. Mayor Hansen commented when an individual went looking for a house they decided they needed it and could afford a certain amount and asked their real estate agent to find a house in that price range that contained certain features. Mayor Hansen suggested taking that same approach in this situation. The Mayor suggested placing the cost and the Zuccarelli deal in the background and first deciding what was wanted. Mayor Hansen commented he would like the REDEVELOPMENT GOI~IITTEE MEETING MINUTES November 29, 1999 PAGE ? Village Manager to have the Police Chief and the Fire Chief list pros and cons of a unitary facility. Mayor Hansen commented a unitary building would have to be at the present Village Hall location, and questioned whether there would be room. to build without disrupting present operations. Mayor Hansen suggested that before getting involved with Mr. Zuccarelli to decide what was wanted and then look at the cost. Wade Griest commented many residents would like all the Village operations at the present site. Mr. Griest commented that at one time Jupiter Medical and Lighthouse Gallery had been proposed for the downtown property; and at that time he had asked Mr. Zuccarelli what would happen if they did not participate. Mr. Zuccarelli had responded that it would not matter because he had so many applications from people who wanted to rent office space to take care of that property; however, if the Village government did not go in that would be a different story. Mr. Griest expressed his preference for having all the Village operations together. Peggy Verhoeven related her experience in trying to renovate an old building and commented that when one thing was fixed another thing needed repair. Mrs. Verhoeven stated it would be nice to have everything in one place. Mrs. Verhoeven stated she did not want to lose the downtown property, that everything must be done according to government guidelines, and that she believed many people wanted to first see the Police and Fire Chiefs and suggested letting them give input and then tell the people. Chair Capretta responded that the Chiefs had been providing their input. Mr. Berube suggested that any secondary purpose, such as a added to the cost. Chair already included. new municipal building have a hurricane shelter, even if it Capretta explained that was Co-Chair Dalack summarized that consensus of the Committee was a preference for a unitary facility with a fall-back position of a single public safety complex plus developing construction on a Village Hall. Chair Capretta commented that the Committee also wanted the Village Managex to see what could be done about changing the contract. Chair REDEVELOPMENT CONi+4ITTEE MEETING MINUTES November 29, 1999 PAGE 8 v. VI. Capretta commented that another plan was needed for where operations would occur while a new building was under construction. Village Manager Bradford requested a recap of what should be re-negotiated. Chair Capretta responded that both a time extension and change of use should be 'explored and then the Committee could meet again to discuss Mr. Zuccarelli's response. Chair Capretta requested that in the meantime the engineering firm look at two options: a unitary building for all operations and a unitary building for just Police and Fire operations. ANY OTHER MATTERS Village Manager Bradford advised the Committee that Mr. Zuccarelli had purchased the old Alex Webster restaurant site, which could affect the ingress/egress problems at McCarthy's restaurant. i~~~~~i1 ~.~vl ~4 Co-Chair Dalack made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Co- Chair Walker seconded the motion. The vote on the motion was: Joseph Capretta - for Basil Dalack - for Sharon Walker - for The nation was therefore passed and adopted and the meeting was adjourned at 5:26 P.M. Respectfully submitted, .~ ~~~~ ~ Betty Laur Recording Secretary REDEVELOPMENT CON.@~IITTEE MEETING MINUTES Nove.~er 29 , 1999 PAGE 9 ATTEST: Joann Manganiello Village Clerk DATE APPROVED: