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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_Special Meeting_05/03/2005VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA • SPECIAL VILLAGE COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES MAY 3, 2005 I. Call to Order and Roll Call The Tequesta Village Council held a Village Council Special Meeting at the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at the Public Safety Facility, 357 Tequesta Drive, Tequesta, Florida, on Tuesday, May 3, 2005. The meeting was called to order at 10:08 a.m. A roll call was taken by Gwen Carlisle, Village Clerk. Council Members present were: Mayor Jim Humpage, Vice Mayor Pat Watkins, Council Member Edward D. Resnik, and Council Member Tom Paterno. Also in attendance were: Village Manager Michael R. Couzzo, Jr., and Village Clerk Gwen Carlisle. Council Member Geraldine A. Genco was absent from the meeting. II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Humpage requested that a flag be provided for the EOC so that the pledge of allegiance to the flag could take place at future meetings. III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA • MOTION: Vice Mayor Watkins moved to approve the agenda; seconded by Council Member Resnik, motion passed 4-0. 1) DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE ACCEPTANCE OF A FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION FROM THE RESIDENTS OF JUPITER HILLS TO ASSIST IN FURTHERING THE HURRICANE CLEANUP EFFORTS OF TEQUESTA PARK Mayor Humpage passed the gavel to Vice Mayor Watkins so he could propose a motion. Consensus of Council was no objections to Mayor Humpage passing the gavel. MOTION: Mayor Humpage moved to accept the proposed financial contribution from the residents of Jupiter Hills to assist in furthering the hurricane cleanup efforts of Tequesta Park; seconded by Council Member Resnik. Mayor Humpage indicated because of his work relationship with Jupiter Hills he was familiar with the situation, and explained there were two entities-Jupiter Hills Property Owners Association and Jupiter Hills Club. Their initial contact to Mayor Humpage was to express their concern with the hurricane damage to Tequesta Park and the possibility of fire hazard. Mayor Humpage commented he was sure they also wished aesthetic improvement. They had gone to Rood Landscaping, and had selected an area consisting • of all of the western border, all of the northern border, and down to the basketball courts • VILLAGE COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES May 3, 2005 Page 2 on the eastern border, and their intention was to completely remove all dead vegetation, grind it all up and use it in areas of the park where it was needed. Mayor Humpage noted a machine would be brought in to make the vegetation into small mulch, and it would be stockpiled on the property for use at Constitution Park or wherever it was needed. Their initial offer right now was $45,000 in the form of two checks being held by the Village Clerk, which was the amount Rood Landscaping had told them this would cost, and they were willing to pay the Village to have the work done immediately because of their concern about the possibility of a fire which could spread into Jupiter Hills. They had indicated this was only a portion of what they wanted to give-that once all this area was cleaned up they would like to put in a berm, which would intrude 8'-10' onto the state property. The Village was in process through Jack Cory, the State, and Joe Negron to allow that to occur. Jupiter Hills would pay for everything-removal of the fence, the berm, replacement of the fence, irrigation, landscaping, and new trees. The Village's obligation would be to keep their side of the berm manicured. The Village was still waiting for the State's approval; however the April 6 letter from the State regarding hurricane issues allowed the Village to clean up debris from the 20 acres in Tequesta Park within a time frame of six months. This fit within the time frame and the fact that the Village was doing this was a housekeeping issue-to accept the money and then appropriate it and have Rood Landscaping do the work--because the Village was the • caretaker for the property. Because of time constraints, this must be done now. Vice Mayor Watkins asked if both entities-Jupiter Hills Property Owners Association and Jupiter Hills Club-had approved the project. Mayor Humpage responded the Village Clerk had a check for $22,500 from the Jupiter Hills Property Owners Association, and a check for $22,500 from the Jupiter Hills Club. The berm would only be done by the Jupiter Hills Club. This $45,000 was strictly for the debris cleanup. Maintenance of the berm by the Village within the Park would consist of mowing the grass, which could be done by the Tequesta Park caretaker. Vice Mayor Watkins commented she could not see any down side. Council Member Paterno asked if $45,000 had been received from them prior to this, to which the Village Manager responded $29,000 or $39,000 for initial cleanup had been received from the State, and that had been done. Mayor Humpage clarified that the initial State money was to clean up the areas used by people-the areas where children played, and the pavilion. Then Jupiter Hills had offered the checks totaling $45,000, and at the same time expressed their desire to do the berm. To do the berm, State approval was needed because it would be modifying property leased from the State. Initially the $45,000 offer came linked to the berm. Now, they still wanted to do the berm but had not linked it and were worried about fire, so they were saying they would still like to do the berm later but were offering the $45,000 for the debris cleanup now because of the worry about fire. • VILLAGE COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES May 3, 2005 Page 3 Vice Mayor Watkins asked if the Village was in any conflict with FEMA as far as having accepted FEMA money to clear a portion of the park. The Village Manager responded no, and advised that Joe Negron had $350,000 more in the State budget to clean up the property. Council Member Paterno asked who would control the irrigation. Mayor Humpage responded that would be Jupiter Hills Club, on the berm, and they would be paying for the water, and when the berm was done the Village would require language to assure they would install the berm and would maintain it so there would be no additional financial burden on the Village. Council Member Paterno commented the berm would potentially cover parts of the trail, which was heavily used. Village Manager Couzzo explained that there would be plenty of time to look at that berm and an agreement regarding the trail could be done at a later date, and that was not before the Council at this time. Mayor Humpage clarified there were no stipulations tied to the $45,000, and he had talked to the president and the superintendent at Jupiter Hills, and they had both said the trail would remain and if it had to be modified they would do that. Council Member Paterno asked about the fence location, which Mayor Humpage clarified would be on the berm and on the property line. MOTION: Mayor Humpage made a motion to accept the contribution from Jupiter Hills for . cleanup of the debris at Tequesta Park and allow staff to move forward with those funds to contract with Rood Landscaping to complete the project as stated. Council Member Resnik seconded the motion. During discussion of the motion, Council Member Resnik commented he had walked around the park the previous day, and the part which had been cleared looked great, and around the pavilion looked nice and clean. The big open area by the ball fields needed to be raked, because he had almost fallen on a piece of log. Council Member Resnik asked if the circle around the park was the area that would be within the scope of this project. Mayor Humpage referred to a map, showing the area that would be covered. Any dead vegetation would be removed. Council Member Resnik indicated he was in favor of the project. Council Member Paterno asked if big rocks, etc. could be cleaned up at the same time. Village Manager Couzzo indicated that would be looked at, and the Village needed to assess what needed to be done. It was suggested grass seed be used to make the area green. Motion carried by unanimous 4-D vote. Vice Mayor Watkins passed the gavel back to Mayor Humpage. IV. COMMUNICATIONS FROM COUNCIL Mayor Humpage commented that when this project began, he had contacted the Village's lobbyist, Jack Cory, and Joe Negron, Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, who had delegated in this year's budget $350,000 for improvements to Tequesta Park. So, hopefully, the park could be greatly improved. Village Manager Couzzo cautioned that was not a given, and suggested a letter from the Council • acknowledging Mr. Negron's efforts. Vice Mayor Watkins commented it was also on • VILLAGE COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES May 3, 2005 Page 4 the back burner to do some type of plaque for the Kiwanis at the pavilion. Council Member Resnik indicated the lights needed to be fixed, to which the response was that was an insurance issue and that money would be received in May from hazard insurance and the lights would be fixed. Council Member Paterno indicated the clay was starting to deteriorate and would need fixing. Discussion ensued regarding landscaping improvements, etc. Vice Mayor Watkins commented the Village might be able to coordinate with Jupiter High School Environmental and Science Academy, to use the students to help. The Village Manager disclosed that Jack Cory was working on making Tequesta Park a part of the Village. Council Member Paterno asked if there were other items Mr. Cory was working on. Vice Mayor Watkins commented she had asked Mr. Cory if there was any way to get the piece of property at the corner of U.S. One and the road going over to Jupiter Island cleaned up. Village Manager Couzzo confirmed Mr. Cory was also looking at funding for U.S. Corridor One landscaping in Tequesta to do something more in line with Jupiter's plantings. Vice Mayor Watkins commented she believed there were paths on that property already and a couple of residents had requested benches be placed by the water. The Village Manager indicated that was on federal property, that Jupiter might want to be • involved, and this would be a lengthy bureaucratic issue. The Village Manager confirmed that the State approval for the Tequesta Park berm could take approximately two months. Mayor Humpage noted the Village must provide a survey. The Village Manager advised that was in process, that Mr. Corbitt had been contacting the people with the State on an almost daily basis, and a promise had been made to expedite the process. V. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Council Member Resnik moved to adjourn the Special Meeting; seconded by Vice Mayor Watkins, motion passed 4-0. The Meeting was adjourned at 10:31 A.M. Village Clerk Gwen Carlisle •