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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_Miscellaneous_04/27/1998_Public Safety Committee G F t F vP - �, G ��.� � � � VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA � �� Post Off�ice I3ox 3273 • 3�7 Teyucsta llri� � �� o` lequest<�, I'lorida 33469-0273 •(�6U �7�-C200 m _� �` ��� Fax: (�G�1) 57�-6z03 F4 �h COU <-1 VILLAGE OF TFQIIESTA PIIBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES APRIL 27, 1998 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 Monday, April 27, 1998. The meeting was called to order at 4:30 P.M. by Chair Joseph N. Capretta. A roll call was taken by Betty Laur, the Recording Secretary. In attendance were: Chair Joseph N. Capretta and Committeemembers Co-Chair Alec Cameron and Co- Chair Elizabeth A. Schauer. Village Staff present were: Village Manager Thomas G. Bradford, Village Clerk Joann Manganiello, and Department Heads. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Co-Chair Schauer requested the following additions under ANY OTHER MATTERS: Discussion of Jupiter's proposal to raise bulk water rates and discussion of the NAMAC meeting. Vil.lage Manager Bradford requested addition under ANY OTHER MATTERS of discussion of Country Club Drive. Co-Chair Cameron requested addition under ANY OTHER MATTERS of discussion of the preliminary design for landscaping Country Club Drive which did not allow for traffic calming devices. Co-Chair Cameron made a motion to approve the agenda as amended. The motion was seconded by Co-Chair Schauer. The vote on the motion was: Rc�c rrR�d �'r�/a•r Public Safety Committee �eeting Mi.aute� April 27, 199$ Page 2 Elizabeth A. Schauer - for Alec Cameron - for Joseph N. Capretta - for The motion was therefore passed and adopted and the agenda was approved as amended. III. CONIl�ltJNICP,TIONS FR4M CTTIZENS There were no communications from citizens. IV. REPORT ON LOCAL MITIGATION STRATEGY Fire Chief James Weinand announced that in February the Village had been notified they had been awarded a local mitigation strategy grant. Chief Weinand had attended a workshop on this matter, and explained that the County's grant was approximately $450,000, of which Tequesta's share was $15,000, and that the State of Florida Department of Community Affairs gave these grants to encourage communities to look at how to minimize recurring disaster claims paid by FEMA, such as the October 1995 flood damage. It had been proposed that Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council put this plan together for the county and all its participants, which would take 50�-600 of the grant money, however, they would be doing the bulk of the work and the Village would only need to supply data. Chief GVeinand explained the advantage to the Village after the plan was developed would be a larger share of disaster costs paid by FEMA. If a community developed no plan, in the event of disaster, FEMA would pay 500 of the cost. FEMA had paid 75� of the cost for the 1�95 flood damage, and the Village had received between $300,000 and $400,000. Chair Capretta commented he had not seen a final report on the improvements funded by FEMA for the 1995 flood, to which Village Manager Bradford responded those had not yet been finished. Village Manager Bradford explained that if the Village participated in this plan, their ratio of payment from FEMA would increase to 90%/10%. Chief Weinand explained that the report would identify things that needed to be fixed in order to minimize damage in a disaster, and although the Village could do its Public Safety Committee Meetiag Minutes April 27, 1998 Page 3 own plan, it would be best to work with the County because of the large amoun� of tiine the work would require. Chief Weinand reported that when a final decisian on how funds would be split had been made, an agreement would be presented to the Village Council for approval, which would outline the Village's responsibilities as a subcontractar for the County. The committee discussed the scope of work involved in creating the plan. Co-Chair Cameron made a motion to recorn�nend to the Village Council that Tequesta work in partnership with Palm BeaGh County in the development of a Local Mitigat�on Strategy plan. The motion was seconded by Co-Chair Schauer. The vote on the motion was: Elizabeth A. Schauer - for Alec Cameron - for Joseph N. Capretta - for The motion was therefore passed and adapted. V. REVIEW OF TRAFFIC COUNTS Village Manager Bradford announced that this report had resulted from Chair Capretta's request for periodic traffic count reports. Chair Capretta reviewed the Village's history of ineetings regarding traffic problems on Country Club Drive, and commented that the Village had always had a strategy that they would not close the road or make it one- way, but to discourage traffic from people using that road to enter the Village or making it a throughway. The Village had passed a truck ordinance permitting no through trucks, had reduced the speed limit to 25 mph, and had installed stop signs at Turtle Creek and the south gate of Tequesta Country Club, and rigidly enforced the speed limit. Chair Capretta explained that his request for periodic data had been to find out if the strategy was wor�ing, and whether growth was reduced by people no longer using Island Way Bridge and coming down Country Club Drive. Police Lt. Robert Gario reviewed charts which indicated a decrease in traffic vo].ume in both directions, and explained Public Safety Committee Meeting Miautes April 27, 3.998 Page 4 that traffic counters were placed in the 100 and 300 blocks of Country Club D�ive monthly, which had indicated approximately half �he traffic was entering in the south end, going north and not leaving the Village, so most of the traffic was composed of Village residents who live there. Police Lt. Garlo explained that traffic had been tracked on River Drive and on Golfview Drive to determine whether those roads were being used to cut through, and counts had indicated that Golfview continued to experience about twice the volume of that on River Drive, which indicated that a lot of River Drive residents used Golfview at some point. A study on F�irway North for a 48-hour period indicated traffic speeds in compliance according to other areas of the Country Club. Chair Capretta commented that the President of the Turtle Creek Homeowners Association had complained that Tequesta Police only ticketed Turtle Creek residents for speeding and not Tequesta residents. Palice Lt. Garlo responded that he had checked citations issued this year and tha� allegation was untrue. His research �.ad indicated that out of 117 citations issued this year, 5 had been to Turtle Creek residents and 12 to Tequesta residents. Chair Capretta commented that he had been thinking about how to respond to the allegation, and believed the Village Council had been very generous to Turtle Creek by not closing oz� one-waying the road, which would have hurt them, and by installing a stop sign, which helped their residents cross the road when going to the golf course. Co-Chair Schauer suggested that a copy of the traffic report be given to the Turtle Creek HOA president. Chair Capretta concluded that the Village strategy appeared to be working to reduce traffic growth, and complimented Police Lt. Garlo on the good program and on his report. Chair Capretta related an experience of following a large transport truck loaded with six new cars across Island Way Bridge and proceeding to Alternate A1,A, and concluded that the driver must have been lost. VI. ANY OTHER MATTERS Co-Chair Schauer announced a NAMAC workshop meeting to be held May 11 at Juno Beach for all members of Councils that were NAMAC m�mbers, Al1 the Councilmembers were urged to attend, since a quorum of each Council had been requested. Public Safety Commi�tee MeetiAg �inutes April 27, 1998 Page 5 Co-Chair Schauer reported that a letter had been received from Jupiter announcing their intention to increase the bulk rate for water. Village Manager Bradford explained that upon advice from the Vi].lage Attorney he had written to Town Manager Lee Evett on April 14 indicating that Tequesta did not pay increases because their contract said atherwise. Village Manager Bradford commented that the lawsuit would go before the 4th District Court this summer. Village Manager Bradford commented that at the l�.st Village Council meeting he had reported that County Commissioner Marcus' office had indicated that they would be willing to change the right-of-way on Country Club Drive from 80' to 50'; however, had since changed the 5Q' to 60'. Village Manager Bradford explained that the problem with 60' was that technically 60' could accommodate four lanes, and questioned whether the Committee wanted to accept reduction to 60'. After discussion, it was the consensus of the Committee that 60' would be better than 80', especially since with this reduction the County would be forced to announce any future plans, thereby alerting the Village if they ever intended to actually install 4 lanes; and that the Village could proceed on its own to increase the number of items they could do to discourage 4-laning. The reduction of the unusually large right-af-way areas in spots on Tequesta Drive was dzscussed. Vil�age Manager Bradford indicated that he was nervous about reducing the right-of- way because he could foresee needing to make intersection improvements, which allowed postponement Qf 4-lanes. The Village Manager explained that at a Local Planning Agency meeting discussion had been held regarding improvements at the intersection o� Old Dixie Highway and Tequesta Drive to make a left turn lane, a right turn lane, and two straight lanes, and as large as the right-of-way was, it was still not large enough to do that. Chair Capretta explained he was only concerned with the 175' right-of-way in the area just across the bridge where originaZly Tequesta's founder, Mr. Martyn, had p].anned to have a divided roadway with a landscaped median in the center. Village Manager Bradford commented that could be handled with landscaping or an easement like that the Village had made on Country Club Drive, or both. Chaix Capretta discussed the unbelievable amount of traffic Public Safety Committee Meeting Miautes Apri2 27, 1998 Page 6 on Village Boulevard. Police Lt. Garlo reported that a traffic count there had indicated 5,000 cars per day. Discussion ensued regarding the increased traffic which would result from the new 252-unit apartment complex to be built on the Dorner property. Village Manager Bradford advised that the Village Council should closely scrutinize any traffic reports presented at the site plan review for the apartment complex to be sure they were credible. Co- Chair Schauer reported that St. Jude church did not want any access from the new development because of the vandalism experienced in their parking lot since access had been granted to Tequesta Oaks, Village Manager Bradford commented that traffic counts were getting close to allowing a traffic light at Village Boulevard. A proposed restricted turn onto U.S. Highway One from Broadview was discussed and whether it was intended to be to the north or the south. Co-Chair Schauer indicated it was to be no left, or south, turn onto U.S. Highway One. Co-Chair Cameron questioned that the preliminary landscape plan for the Country Club Drive streetscape had made no allowance to increase the landscaping rnedian at the north end or to provide space for any chicanes or other traffic calming devices. Village Manager Bradford reported that the contract with Landscape Architect Steve Parker required him to design a plan to accommodate traffic calmi�g devices, and that the engineer who had done a study had indicated that increasing the landscaping median at the north end would not have much effect. Chair Capretta commented that the head of the Country Club Community wanted to beautify a lot in the Country Club where cars come around to go into Turtle Creek and questioned whether they had requested approval from the Village Manager. Village Manager Bradford responded that the Vice President of the Homeowners Association had asked for his perrnission, and he had responded with a request for a letter fram the Tequesta Country Club stating it was all right with them, since they also had the right to landscape that lot. Tom Little questioned the use of the red light at the railroad tracks at Tequesta Drive and Old Dixie Highway intersection on the west side of the tracks which was Public Safety Committee Meeting Minutes April 27, 1998 Page 7 installed for the purpose of not stopping ori the tracks, since some people did not stop, but crossed the tracks and then stopped at the traffic light. Police Lt. Garlo indicated that a stop was required at any red light. VII. ADJOURNMENT Co-Chair Cameron made a motion to adjourn. The motion was seconded by Co-Chair Schauer. The vote on the motion was: Elizabeth A. Schauer - for Alec Cameron - for Joseph N. Capretta - for There being no further business before the Committee, the meeting was therefore adjourned at 5:28 P.M. Respectfully submitted, • � � �„� �i-' r '(� l� i �ti'� _'t.' Z - '�y-�� �; �;= � ��. Betty �aur � Recording Secretary ATTEST: �� � _ v� Jo nn Mangani lo Village Clerk DATE APPROVED: °�+--.-, /�, i 9 9�"