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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_Miscellaneous_05/19/1994_Public Safety Committee r VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA a Post Office Box 3273 • 357 Tequesta Drive Tequesta, Florida 33469 -0273 • (407) 575 -6200 f Fax: (407) 575 -6203 O d 4 f,CN COUNty VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES MAY 19 1994 I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL The Tequesta Public Safety Committee held a regularly scheduled meeting at the Village Hall, 357 Tequesta Drive, Tequesta, Florida, on Thursday, May 19, 1994. The meeting was called to order at 2:30 P.M. by Chairman Joseph Capretta. A roll call was taken by Betty Laur, the Recording Secretary. In attendance were: Chairman Joseph Capretta and Co- Chairman Ron T. Mackail. Village Staff present were: Village Manager Thomas G. Bradford, Village Clerk Joann Manganiello, Fire Chief James Weinand, Police Lieutenant Steve Allison, and Steven Kennedy, Deputy Building Official. Elizabeth Schauer, Village Council member, arrived at 4:10 P.M. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The Agenda was approved with the addition two items: discussion of the Lantana Project and a request from Lighthouse Gallery regarding use of the parking lot and closing Tequesta Drive for their annual Arts and Crafts Festival. III. STATUS REPORT ON MAJOR CODE ENFORCEMENT CASES. (STEVE KENNEDY, DEPUTY BUILDING OFFICIAL) Deputy Building Official Kennedy reported that since the Police Department had started handling initial code enforcement complaints that the number of cases he handles is much less, probably only 10% of the total. Most cases are violations of health and sanitation code which in the past were brought to Code Enforcement Board and approximately 20 to 25 cases would be placed on the CEB agenda year. Under the new system a violation notice is issued that states if the offender does not comply that the Village will enter the property and abate the nuisance, Recycled Paper Public Safety Committee Meeting Minutes May 19, 1994 Page 2 ----------------- - - - - -- which has resulted in compliance in most cases. The first case of this year to be placed on the CEB agenda will be on the June meeting agenda. Health and sanitation violations include overgrown yards and stagnant swimming pool water. Building Code violations include breached swimming pool enclosures. Deputy Building Official Kennedy discussed the status of the LaDuca case, in which fines have accumulated for a total of over $100,000 and are still running, and preliminary foreclosure steps have been taken which would allow the Village to foreclose on Mr. LaDuca's personal property since the real property is homestead. At present the swimming pool water is unsanitary and the gates leading to the swimming pool enclosure are left unlocked. Deputy Building Official Kennedy stated that the unlocked gates are a violation of the building code which does not allow the Village to enter the property and abate the nuisance as can be done for Health and Sanitation code violations. He stated the only way the Village could legally chain the gates shut was upon issuance of an order by the Building Official, and that Building Official Scott D. Ladd had issued this order the day before this meeting. The next step will be to either padlock the gates or install self - latching locks. Co- Chairman Mackail stated since this situation is life - threatening he felt a strong -arm policy should be adopted. Chairman Capretta impressed upon Mr. Kennedy that a sense of urgency is lacking by Building Code Officials and that life - threatening situations must be fixed in a matter of hours, not days, and he would rather spend money for legal fees if necessary because code procedures were not followed, than to risk public safety in a life - threatening situation such as unlocked gates to a swimming pool where a child could enter and drown. He reported to Building Official Kennedy there are open gates to a pool at a house on Golf Club Circle. Deputy Building Official Kennedy answered Village Manager Bradford's question as to how the Village could resolve the problem of unsanitary pool water would be to either drain the pool or to introduce chemicals to clear the water. Chairman Capretta questioned whether garnishment of Mr. LaDuca's wages would be a possibility. Deputy Building Official Kennedy was asked what more could be done to accelerate public safety matters, the answer was possibly to give him more authority to handle matters on the spot, by adoption of an ordinance allowing him to issue a ticket imposing a fine. Fire Chief Weinand stated he would also like this power in order to Public Safety Committee Meeting Minutes May 19, 1994 Page 3 ----------------- - - - - -- have gates and exit doors unlocked by people inside in life threatening situations. It was decided that Co- Chairman Mackail would visit the LaDuca property on Monday morning May 23 to inspect the property and take Building Official Scott D. Ladd with him. Chairman Capretta stated if the Village adopted a policy similar to the Lantana Plan that Building Code enforcement would be expanded, and that the Village must make sure the system is now working properly, with priorities for public safety violations over cosmetic violations. During discussion of the Lantana Plan Co- Chairman Mackail stated he planned to obtain a copy of the plan for review. Chairman Capretta suggested homeowners associations be utilized as the initial contact to homes in their communities so that they would be upgrading their communities, and if homeowners did not respond then the cases would go to code enforcement, and that the approach should be positive before going to negative methods. Deputy Building Official Kennedy stated in the Walters case massive fines have accumulated and the Code Enforcement Board has approved foreclosure steps. Since this property located at 370 Maple Drive is not homestead, the Village may be able to acquire the property. The Committee asked Deputy Building Official Kennedy to advise Building Official Scott D. Ladd of the matters of this meeting. IV. CONSIDERATION OF FIRE RESCUE IMPACT FEE ORDINANCE. (JAMES M. WEINAND, FIRE CHIEF) Fire Chief Weinand presented for consideration a fire /rescue impact fee ordinance for new buildings based on startup operation costs, numbers of residential and multifamily units, and commercial square footage. If the Village Council passes this ordinance, the Village Manager was asked to notify Jupiter Inlet Colony so that they could institute a similar ordinance if desired. Fire Chief Weinand reported commercial fees would be slightly less compared with other impact fees and residential fees would be higher, which was a result of having a higher number of residential units than commercial. Mackail reported the auditors were concerned with Fire Department asset classifications in the general ledger, and Public Safety Committee Meeting Minutes May 19, 1994 Page 4 ----------------- - - - - -- that a base needs to be established for each piece of equipment in case of loss. Fire Chief Weinand reported he has one employee working with the Finance Department to resolve this situation. It was suggested a Police impact fee also be instituted. Fire Chief Weinand stated Section 2(C), page 2 of the ordinance exempts public facilities which he would like changed to a waiver that could be instituted if desired, since in the case of the VA hospital they made an in -kind contribution to fire service by building a station and a substation in Riviera Beach and the exemption would negate this type of contribution. It was decided to consult the Village Attorney for proper verbiage to change the ordinance. Motion was made by Co- Chairman Mackail to approve the ordinance with the deletion of Section 2C. Motion was seconded and agreed to by Chairman Capretta. V. CONSIDERATION OF TEQUESTA ADOPTION OF FIRE - RESCUE COST RECOVERY ORDINANCE. (JAMES M. WEINAND, FIRE CHIEF) Fire Chief Weinand presented committee members with a copy of Lake Park's cost recovery ordinance requiring carriers to pay back fire /rescue costs incurred by the municipality. It was the consensus of the Public Safety Committee to have Village Attorney Randolph adapt this ordinance for use by Tequesta, and to ask Jupiter Inlet Colony to adopt a similar ordinance. Motion was made by Co- Chairman Mackail to approve the cost recovery ordinance as drafted by Village attorney Randolph. Motion was seconded and agreed to by Chairman Capretta. VI. CONSIDERATION OF BURET AMENDMENT TO ALLOW FOR PURCHASE OF POLICE AND FIRE - RESCUE VEHICLES (TWO -FOUR WHEEL DRIVE TRUCKS AND ONE DETECTIVE UNMARKED VEHICLE) Village Manager Bradford stated three vehicles in next year's budget could be purchased now to reduce next year's budget by approximately $55,000, and the vehicles are needed now. The vehicles would include two 4 -wheel drive trucks for the Fire Chief and the Police Chief, and an unmarked car for a detective. It was the consensus of the committee to institute this budget amendment. Public Safety Committee Meeting Minutes May 19, 1994 Page 5 ----------------- - - - - -- VII. ANY OTHER MATTERS Chairman Capretta asked about status of Auxiliary police volunteers doing traffic details. Village Manager Bradford stated the reserve officers have other full -time jobs so that they could only help with traffic details on weekends, and that this item was not on the agenda since the Police Chief was out of town. Chairman Capretta inquired as to the status of "No Thru Truck" signs on Country Club Drive, to which Village Manager Bradford responded that the Police Chief had sent a memo to Public Works stating where signs were to be placed. After discussion of turn lanes on Bridge and Eyeball Roads Village Manager Bradford was asked to find out what the FDOT engineer who visited Public Works Department yesterday had said. Elizabeth Schauer suggested Police Department use a motorcycle on Country Club Drive, however, Village Manager Bradford stated it would be extremely hazardous. Police Lieutenant Steve Allison showed the committee an advertisement for a credit -card size device that would attach to the center line of the road and operate on the magnetic field of vehicles passing over it to record traffic information, and then would plug into a computer to perform different types of traffic studies at a cost of $295 -$895, with a 30 -day free trial. It was the consensus of the committee that this should be ordered. Village Manager Bradford reported Lighthouse Gallery had requested Tequesta Drive be closed for a two -day period from approximately 7 A.M. on Saturday, November 19 to 5 P.M. on November 20 for their annual arts and crafts festival. Since both the Fire Chief and the Police Lieutenant felt this would cause problems, it was the committee's consensus that Village Manager Bradford contact them to see if a compromise could be worked out possibly closing the street only during hours the festival would be open, and not during the night. Public Safety Committee Meeting Minutes May 19, 1994 Page 6 ----------------------- VI. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 5:38 P.M. Respectfully submitted, 4 4 Betty Laur Recording Secretary ATTEST: Jo n Manganiel.eb Village Clerk DATE APPROVED: