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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_Stormwater_05/16/2002yt. a. L` VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA Post Office Box 3273 250 Tequesta Drive, Suite 300 Tequesta, Florida 33469-0273 (561) 575-6200 Fax: (561)575-6203 VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA STORMWATER UTILITY BOARD MEETING MINUTES MAY i6, 2002 I II. III. Call to Order and Roll Call The Tequesta Village Council held a meeting sitting as the Stormwater Utility Board, at the Tequesta Recreation Center, 399 Seabrook Road, Tequesta, Florida, on Thursday, May 16, 2002. The meeting was called to order at 6:05 p.m. by Mayor Geraldine Genco. A roll call was taken by Mary Wolcott, Village Clerk. Councilmembers present were: Mayor Geraldine Genco, Vice Mayor Joseph N. Capretta, Councilmember Russell von Frank, and Councilmember Edward D. Resnik. Also in attendance were: Village Manager Michael R. Couzzo, Village Attorney John C. Randolph, Village Clerk Mary Wolcott and Department Heads. Councilmember Basil E. Dalack was absent. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance Mayor Genco led the pledge of allegiance to the flag. Approval of Agenda MOTION: Councilmember von Frank made a motion to approve the agenda as submitted Councilmember Resnik seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous S-0 vote. Recycled Paper • Stormwater Utility Board Meeting Minutes May i6, 2002 Page 2 IV. Review of Stormwater Utility Accomplishments, Capital Improvements Mayor Genco stated this was the second meeting to discuss capital improvements. Village Manager Couzzo indicated the budget had been provided; however, the focus was to prioritize items proposed for capital improvements over the 2002-2003 fiscal year, which were listed as follows: The Village's component of South Cypress Drive drainage improvements for which an agreement would be entered into with the Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District and Town of Jupiter, South Cypress Drive streetscape improvement program, miscellaneous swale construction throughout the Village, pipe and structure placement and rehabilitation throughout the Village, and golf course pond restoration and rehabilitation. Mayor Genco questioned if there was an existing commitment for 15 years for the drainage improvements, to which Village Manager Couzzo responded no, that it had been amortized over 15 years to try to keep it within the scope of the anticipated annual • revenues that were generated by the Stormwater utility, but that amortization period could be changed. Village Manager Couzzo explained that the agreement with Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District, which was to be considered for approval at tonight's Village Council meeting, stipulated that the Village would pay Northern up front to acquire the FEC property and install exfiltration areas, and then obtain a loan. The approximate cost of the Village's portion of the drainage improvements was estimated at $280,000. The streetscape, which would be handled the same way, was estimated at $450,000. The Village Manager explained that with both of these projects, there were details for which administration would need direction from the Stormwater Utility Board and the Village Council since in the figures for Northern Improvement District of South Cypress, there were calculations for assessment for property the Village currently owned in the JMZ Tequesta Plaza area which equated to $39,000, and based upon the closing scheduled for May 26 that could come into play. Also, the South Cypress Drive streetscape improvement must meet Ordinance 377 and the Village had previously scheduled assessments for the business owners which would reduce the cost to the Village, so the cost would not be $450,000. Tom Jensen, Reese Macon & Associates, explained that the proposed agreement stipulated the Village would pay Northern $231,000+ ;however, the Village would realize dollars from areas not included in Northern's assessment, such as Main Street, which would equate to $17,420. Mr. Jensen explained that if the Village maintained the 1.2 acre parcel within Tequesta Plaza that would be $32,429. Mr. Jensen clarified that was the Village's fair share of the drainage which they would • contribute based on properties they owned within Unit 36 established as part of the Stormwater Utility Board Meeting Minutes May i6, 2002 Page 3 ----------------------- South Cypress Drive improvement project. The other component of this project was the streetscape project, which was a joint project with the Village and the property owners there. Mr. Jensen explained that those property owners had no means to abide by the Village's Ordinance 377, so several years ago a plan was developed to do the streetscape, adding parking spaces, islands, and curbing to allow them to come into compliance, and the estimate for that project was $450,000 with a 15% contingency, and within that the property owners would be assessed $175,000. A former planner of the Village had discussed this with the property owners and some had wanted to be assessed on the tax roll and some wanted to pay up front. Councilmember Resnik questioned why those property owners were being assessed rather than this being added to the general tax rolls as a stormwater utility cost. Mr. Jensen responded that some of these improvements would not be done with just a drainage project, and this would improve the whole road, and it was his understanding the property owners had discussed with the Village entering into this as a means to improve their properties and comply with Ordinance 377. Vice Mayor • Capretta reported the business owners had been glad to do this to improve their properties. Discussion ensued regarding this project being a stormwater utility project, rather than a public works project. Mayor Genco explained this had historically been a stormwater project but future streetscape projects would not be done this way but would stand alone as public works streetscape projects. Mayor Genco commented at the last meeting she had requested the three storm drains in the Country Club area that were going from the golf club area to the Loxahatchee River be looked at, where she had seen a lot of sediment. Mr. Jensen responded alignment of the pipes was in next year's budget. Mayor Genco noted that a lot of construction debris had been dumped into the drainage outlet in front of the country club at Country Club Circle. Village Manager Couzzo commented the Village would consider using a vehicle to rehabilitate those areas, and that $40,000 had been anticipated in next year's budget for the program of pipe rehabilitation and replacement. In subsequent years budgeted amounts were $25,000, $30,000, and then $35,000 for the next two years. Vice Mayor Capretta commented a large drain had been put in to resolve the flooding problem in front of the Country Club parking lot, but it went nowhere. Another area that had problems was at Club Place and Golf Councilmember von Frank noted that at South Dover and Dover Circle there had been problems with flooding. Village Manager Couzzo commented that this year the Dover Ditch rehabilitation project had been completed. Vice Mayor Capretta asked if Joe Hall's question regarding drainage for the golf course pond by his house had been addressed, to which Mr. Jensen responded that area was included in the proposed program. Stormwater Utility Board Meeting Minutes May 16, 2002 Page 4 Councilmember Resnik commented it was his understanding that this board was only supposed to discuss the priorities, but because they were also the Village Council they talked about costs and budgeting. This board was deciding things and then recommending to themselves as Village Council what they had already decided. Councilmember Resnik proposed that the ordinances be changed so that the stormwater utility board would be made up of three residents-at least one living on the west side of the Loxahatchee Fork and two living on the east side with one possibly being a business representative, and those individuals along with the Stormwater Director and the Village engineer, looking at stormwater needs and priorities, and they should recommend to the Village Council the lists of stormwater projects and priorities. Councilmember Resnik expressed his opinion that doing it the way it was being done currently was onerous and he thought the way business was being done should be changed. Mayor Genco responded the legislation could be looked at and a determination made whether or not the composition of the board could be changed, and if so it could be placed on the Village Council agenda. Vice • Mayor Capretta commented when his yard flooded he was not going to some bureaucrat and that it was a political issue, and initially there had been discussion of using staff members but every time there was flooding the Village Hall was full of residents looking to the Council to resolve the problem. The same thing had happened with zoning issues and the Council had had to negotiate out of a big problem, so had given themselves the power to decide these issues itself. Councilmember Resnik commented the ultimate decision was by the Village Council. Mayor Genco commented the biggest problem was the former Council had not seen the difference between taking advice from a committee or board and the authority the Council had, and expressed her opinion that things should be done at a grass roots level in the Village, with committees made up of residents from various areas to make recommendations to the Council. Councilmember von Frank commented that Board of Adjustment had absolute power. Vice Mayor Capretta commented the Mayor had wanted the Council to do everything and had gotten rid of the finance committee, etc., which was completely inconsistent from an organizational point of view to turn around and appoint committees. Mayor Genco commented that was a total mischaracterization; that the former Council had not wanted to know about the financial affairs of the Village, and the Council had a fiduciary responsibility to know about those affairs and if the Councilmembers had known about them she thought they ought to be arrested because of the agony the Finance Department had gone through to straighten out the finances. Vice Mayor Capretta commented that was why this strong Council was not giving up any power to anybody. Councilmember • Resnik did not agree, and made the following motion Stormwater Utility Board Meeting Minutes May i6, 2002 Page 5 MOTION: Councilmember Resnik made a motion that the composition of the Stormwater Utility Board be changed from members of the Village Council to five members consisting of the Stormwater Utility Director, the Village Engineer, and three residents--one residing west of the Loxahatchee Fork, and two residing east of the Lozahatchee Fork with one of those residing on the east being a business person, that they be volunteers and knowledgeable in their areas. Mayor Genco recommended a member of the Village Council also be a member of the Board; however, Councilmember Resnik added to his motion that the Village Manager be the sixth member of the Board. Motion died for tack of a second. MOTION: Councilmember von Frank made a motion to make a recommendation to the Village Council to adopt the proposed Capital Improvements Summary. Councilmember Resnik seconded the motion. Motion carried by unanimous 4-0 • vote. Councilmember Resnik expressed his opinion that the Village Council should not play God and the Council did not have to do everything that needed to be done in the Village, and there were a lot of good people who could serve the Village well, and if the Council did not like what they did they did not have to accept it. Councilmember Resnik commented that individuals making recommendations to themselves smacked of playing God, which he did not like. Dr. Taimor Carey, 199 River Drive, commented to Mr. Capretta that the Council had the final say about any recommendations that any board brought before them; therefore, the Council would not lose their power to approve any recommendations byany board. Vice Mayor Capretta commented that was not true because the Board of Adjustment made a decision which legally the Village Council could not reverse. Dr. Cary indicated he thought Councilmember Resnik's suggestion was good for the citizens and the Council would have the final say, and he was surprised Councilmember Resnik's suggestion had not passed. V. Adjournment MOTION • Councilmember von Frank moved that the meeting be adjourned Vice Mayor Capretta seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous 4-0 vote. The motion Stormwater Utility Board Meeting Minutes May i6, 2002 Page 6 was therefore passed and adopted and the meeting was adjourned Respectfully submitted, Mary Wolcott Village Clerk DATE APPROVED: • •