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VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA
EMERGENCY
SPECIAL VILLAGE COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 2, 2004
I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
The Village of Tequesta Village Council held a regularly scheduled meeting at the
Tequesta Emergency Operations Center (EOC), Public Safety Facility, 357
Tequesta Drive, Tequesta, Florida, on Thursday, September 2, 2004. The
meeting was called to order at 10:00 A.M. by Mayor Watkins. A roll call was
taken by Acting Village Clerk Betty Laur. The following elected officials were
present: Mayor Pat Watkins, Vice Mayor Geraldine Genco, Councilmember
• Russell J. von Frank; Councilmember Edward D. Resnik, and Councilmember
Jim Humpage. Also in attendance were Village Manager Michael R. Couzzo, Jr.,
Assistant Village Manager Bob Garlo, Village Attorney Scott Hawkins, Acting
Village Clerk Betty Laur, and Department Heads.
II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION:
Vice Mayor Genco moved approval of the agenda as submitted.
Councilmember Humpage seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous
5-0 vote. The motion was therefore passed and adopted and the Agenda was
approved as submitted.
III. PLANS AND PREPARATIONS AND RELATED ISSUES FOR
HURRICANE FRANCES
Fire Chief Weinand provided an update, reviewing the 8 a.m. advisory from the
National Weather Service. Tropical winds were estimated to last 37 hours,
starting the next day at approximately 4 p.m. Hurricane force winds were
estimated for 1 a.m. Saturday with the eye passing over at 8 a.m. Landfall was
estimated for the County Line between Palm Beach and Martin Counties. The
. Chief reported the Village was proceeding with its emergency plan.
Village Council Emergency Special Meeting Minutes
September 2, 2004
Page 2
• Police Chief Allison reported the plan was being followed, and from 7 a.m. the
next day all emergency personnel would be on duty. When tropical force winds
began, the personnel could no longer render assistance. Fire emergency vehicles
could not operate at 70 miles per hour of suspended winds. One ambulance and a
fire truck would be taken out of town, to be available after the storm.
It was announced that waste management would pick up today.
Vice Mayor Genco reported a lot of people in the Village were under the
impression that if they were not in the flood of 1995 they were safe, and asked
what the Village was doing to let them know they should evacuate. Chief
Weinand explained people living in Zone A needed to evacuate for a Category 3
or under storm; Category B residents needed to evacuate over Category 3, so
almost all of the Village needed to evacuate. It was reported a notice was being
put on the website and an announcement would be provided to the media. The
Vice Mayor reported when she worked during Hurricane Andrew, the person who
answered the phone made a call list of who called and what they needed, which
was distributed to someone who prioritized them. Chief Weinand explained
personnel were already doing priority lists for after the storm. The Vice Mayor
suggested adding post-storm activities to the emergency plan in the future. Vice
Mayor Genco requested a list of point personnel be e-mailed today to the
• Councilmembers, so they could make contact if needed, to be used only if they
could not get through to the EOC. Village Manage Couzzo indicated a hard copy
would be made and a-mails sent.
Mayor Watkins commented a lot of residents needed to leave, and expressed
concern that a lot of them assumed the EOC was a shelter. The Vice Mayor
commented she would send a message to all residents she had a-mail addresses
for. Chief Allison indicated early notification was a concern of his, and in next
year's budget he planned for a system to notify all residents by phone within 30
minutes.
John Zuccarelli, Mayor of Jupiter Inlet Colony, confirmed he was relying on
Tequesta to provide information for his town. Councilmember Resnik
commented those on barrier islands had been notified to evacuate and that would
put 300,000 people on the roads. They were being asked to stay with friends in
the area, and shelters were a last resort. Assistant Manager Garlo commented
bridges to the barrier islands would be locked down for use by vehicles. Chief
Weinand explained there could be a 6-14 foot storm surge on top of regular wave
action, and flooding could extend 6 miles inland.
Chief Weinand advised a state of emergency should be declared, which would
allow the Village to be reimbursed by FEMA, and it would only be good for
. seven days.
Village Council Emergency Special Meeting Minutes
September 2, 2004
Page 3
• Councilmember Resnik commented the impact of surf would diminish as it went
inland, and was advised it might only diminish from 14" to 10' .
Attorney Hawkins read the declaration of emergency which he had prepared, and
announced this would provide such powers as providing the ability of Public
Works to do repairs, temporary hiring of employees to assist in the emergency,
etc. "Notice of Declared State of Emergency ". Notice is hereby given that the
Council of the Village of Tequesta has declared a state of emergency pursuant to
Florida Statutes and thereby invokes the powers set forth in Florida statute
X252.38. Inquiries shall be directed to 561-575-6210. "
MOTION:
Councilmember von Frank made a motion to approve the declaration of a
state of emergency as read into the record by Attorney Hawkins.
Councilmember Humpage seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous
5-0 vote.
Attorney Hawkins advised the Acting Village Clerk to post the notice of state of
emergency on all prominent Village building doors.
• It was decided that police would notify residents by bullhorn to leave their homes
as of 2 p.m.
MOTION:
Councilmember von Frank made a motion to suspend operation of the
Village offices as of noon today, September 2, 2004. Councilmember
Humpage seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous 5-0 vote.
Chief Weinand urged the Councilmembers to leave the area, and advised they
could be helpful in keeping citizens calm after the storm.
Village Attorney Hawkins advised the Village Council should be prepared to
convene rapidly after the storm to get reports of damage. Consensus was to set
a meeting for Monday, September 6, 2004, at 3 p.m. Chief Weinand advised
marshall law would be declared and residents would be allowed to return when
the area was safe. Councilmember Resnik asked about Beach Road residents who
would not evacuate; Chief Allison advised the police would ask for their next of
kin who should be notified in case they didn't make it through the storm.
Mr. Zuccarelli thanked everyone for their help in keeping Jupiter Inlet Colony
informed.
Village Council Emergency Special Meeting Minutes
September 2, 2004
Page 4
• IV. ADJOURNMENT
Upon motion by Vice Mayor Genco, seconded by Councilmember Humpage,
and unanimously carried, the meeting was adjourned at 10:32 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
~~L(.~i
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Betty Laur
Acting Village Clerk