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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_Workshop_11/4/2024 lip MINUTES Workshop Meeting Village of Tequesta, FL Mayor Molly Young Vice-Mayor Rick Sartory Council Member Laurie Brandon Council Member Patrick Painter Council Member Jayson E. French November 4, 2024 6:00 PM Council Chambers CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL The meeting was called to order by Mayor Molly Young at 6:00 p.m. A roll call was taken by Deputy Clerk Mary Ann Grieser. Present were: Mayor Molly Young, Vice Mayor Patrick Painter, Council Member Rick Sartory, and Council Member Jayson E. French. Late were: Council Member Laurie Brandon. AGENDA ITEMS 1. Building Departments Update Mr. Wayne Cameron, Village Building Director gave a presentation to Council on updates within the Building Department. Hls presentation touched upon code compliance, complaint and staff driven compliance issues, construction hours, working without permits, voluntary compliance, notices of violation, construction sites, construction hours, construction screening, vibration levels of heavy machinery, and sea turtle season. Council had questions regarding construction hours and noise and felt making a change to working hours ranging from 8 am to 5 pm on Saturdays, was reasonable. Parking on construction sites was problematic and the building department worked with police on the issue. Cooperation was key in order to avoid having the construction site shut down. Council had questions regarding silt fencing and it was determined that it was part of the initial stage for demolition with a construction fence installed afterwards. Temporary fencing was required for the front perimeter and a portion of the side perimeter of construction sites. Building Director Cameron was looking for direction from Council on: noise, construction hours, timing and activity. Mr. Tom Bradford of 44 Chestnut Trail commented that noise from contractors may not always be from actual work being performed. He recommended the 3 strike rule in order to achieve compliance. Council Member Brandon arrived to the meeting at 6:28 PM. 2. An Update of the Financial Position of the Refuse & Recycle Fund Reserves. Village Manager Jeremy Allen offered Council a brief history of the Refuse and Recycle Fund Reserves. He reminded them of the agreed upon new rate for Waste Management in addition to the administration fee of 25 cents or 1.56%. This fund was collected through the non ad valorem taxes, and those residents that paid early for a discount, were causing a loss of 4% to the Village. In prior years, the Village collected more than was needed and created a fund, which was now being used to cover the deficit. Mr. Jeff Snyder, Village Finance Director explained that the Village had been using reserves for the past 5 years, as was permitted. He reported that during fiscal year 2025- 2026, the fund would no longer be in the black. Mr. Snyder provided a spreadsheet of reserves per year and projections. Finance Director Snyder presented several different scenarios in order to cover costs, and asked Council to be aware for next years' budget discussions. Mr. Tom Bradford of 44 Chestnut Trail commented on the methodology of tax collection. He believed charging 5% would alleviate the shortage scenario. I 3. RESOLUTION NO. 24-24 DRAFT FOR WORKSHOP DISCUSSION A RESOLUTION OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA, FLORIDA, ADOPTING NEW RULES FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND DECORUM AT PUBLIC MEETINGS IN CONFORMANCE WITH CURRENT STATE LAW AND RECENTLY PUBLISHED OPINIONS FROM THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE 11 TH CIRCUIT, REPEALING ALL PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED RULES FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND DECORUM AT PUBLIC MEETINGS; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. Attorney Keith Davis informed Council of the state statute regarding public participation and decorum during Council Meetings. The current Village Resolution complied with the Sunshine Law Statute and the Village also had rules of decorum, which also aligned with the current state of the law. Mr. Davis explained the difference between a traditional public forum, limited public forum, non public forum, and designated forum. Attorney Davis added there was currently no limit on the non agenda comments allowed at public meetings. Attorney Davis proposed a change that would shift the Village into a limited public forum category. As such, it would limit public comment on "non agenda" items to comments deemed "relevant and pertinent" to the Village Council. Another proposed change would be to objectify and define the prohibited behavior within the rules of decorum. Council had questions and comments related to limited public forum, citizen comments, name and address requirements, public comment during ministerial acts, "relevant and pertinent" meaning and consistency , personal attacks, rules of decorum, a warning procedure, and comments under presentations. Attorney Davis reminded Council that consistency was key and this Resolution would provide the guidance. Having the wording available at meetings was recommended, and the Village was already implementing that practice. Attorney Davis would make some updates to bring the Village current with state and federal case law. The item would be brought back to the December 2024 meeting. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:36 PM. MOTION: Council Member Painter made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:36 PM. Council Member Brandon seconded the motion. Carried unanimously 5-0. Respectfully submitted, C� Lori McWilliams, MMC Village Clerk Note: These summary minutes are prepared in compliance with 286.011 F.S. and are not verbatim transcripts of the meeting. A verbatim audio record is available from the office of the Village Clerk. All referenced attachments are on file in the Village Clerk's office.