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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_Workshop_02/26/2001 VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA VILLAGE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES FEBRUARY 26, 2001 C] I. II. VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA Post Off ce Box 3273 250 Tequesta Drive Suite 300 Tequesta, Florida 33469-0273 (561) 575-6200 Fax: (561)575-6203 CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL The Tequesta Village Council held a Village Council Workshop Meeting in the Village Manager's Conference Room, 250 Tequesta Drive, Tequesta, Florida, on Monday, February 26, 2001. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Joseph N. Capretta. Councilmembers present were: Mayor Joseph N. Capretta, Councilmember Basil E. Dalack, and Councilmember Geraldine Genco; Councilmember Sharon Walker arrived at 7:01 p.m.-Vice Mayor Elizabeth A. Schauer arrived at 7:18 p.m. Also in attendance were: Village Manager Michael R. Couzzo and Village Clerk Joann Manganiello. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Councilmember Dalack made a motion to approve the Agenda as submitted. Councilmember Genco seconded the motion. The vote on the motion was: Joseph N. Capretta - for Geraldine Genco - for Basil Dalack - for • III. The motion was therefore passed and adopted and the Agenda was approved as submitted. PRESENTATION BY THE YMCA OF THE PALM BEACHES FOR AFTER Recycled Paper • VILLAGE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES February 26, 2001 PAGE 2 ----------------------- SCHOOL CARE PROGRAM, SUMMER PROGRAM, AND ALTERNATE RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS. Mr. Robert Giese, President and CEO of the YMCA, introduced Julie Roberts, who was in charge of preschool, day camps and outreach programs and could answer any questions regarding licensing. John Woodcock, whose expertise was in skateboard parks, was also introduced. Mr. Giese explained that he had prepared a budget which addressed Councilmember Walker's concerns from the last meeting, and it had been rather large and he needed specific direction of where to go from here. Mr. Giese stressed that the YMCA was not in a position to assume any financial responsibility in connection with recreational programs for Tequesta, since the YMCA was a non-profit organization that just about broke even every year. Mr. • Giese reported the YMCA received their money from membership fees, fees for specific programs, and philanthropic donations. The largest source was the philanthropic donations, which accounted for approximately 90 cents of each dollar. Mr. Giese discussed the proposed preschool program, which would be for two to five-year-olds. It had been learned that two schools were closing, so everyone had a waiting list. The proposed rate was $130 per week, which would result in $130,000 annually for 20 children or $195,000 annually for 30 children for 50 weeks, providing a base income to offset expenses. Expenses were estimated at $103,000 for 20 or $195,000 for 30. Mr. Giese explained that the problem would be coming up with initial funding for setup and licenses, etc. Mr. Giese commented that all the programs showed a reasonable surplus after expenses except for the Friday night teen dance program for which income of $1,800 and expenses of $2,600 were estimated, or an $800 loss. Income for the Saturday Drop In Program from 4 to 9 p.m, was $5,002 with estimated expenses of $13,200. • The total revenue was estimated at $269,600, and the total expenses at $260,509. Mr. Giese commented this was a • VILLAGE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES February 26, 2001 PAGE 3 ----------------------- gamble that the YMCA could not take. In response to questions from Councilmember Genco, Mr. Giese explained that built into each line item of the budget presented was a 12o administrative fee for the YMCA which covered human resources, accounting, insurance, transportation, and office expenses. Mr. Giese stressed the budget numbers were not hard and fast numbers. Councilmember Dalack asked for the track record for similar use programs. Mr. Giese described a summer camp program in Dade County. Mr. Dalack asked how close to zero it could come for the worst case scenario. Mr. Giese indicated the YMCA did have history for the summer camp so he could not imagine that it would not be successful. The Friday night dances to be held once a month might be delayed until a reserve was built up since that appeared to be a loss. As for the Saturday drop-in program, he doesn't know if the need is here. Mr. Giese • commented that the Village wanted the after school program, and a school bus would need to go to all the elementary schools to pick up the 30 children. Mayor Capretta commented some of these kinds of services were currently provided by some of the churches and the question was whether there were enough providers for these services since the population was growing. Discussion ensued regarding what services were currently offered and that the Village would like to provide preschool, day care, and teen dances. Mayor Capretta commented that it was almost like the churches would be competitors of the Village, and discussed ways the Village could be sure the programs were available, since that was what the Village wanted. Alternatives suggested by the Mayor were to help the churches provide the programs, or for the Village to provide the programs. Mayor Capretta commented he took his young granddaughter to Constitution Park recently and the use of the park by mothers and children was much greater than he had every expected. The Mayor indicated that a policy was needed regarding what services the citizens wanted and how the Village could help them get it. If the • Village could provide it by having churches do it, or by having private organizations do it who did it for a living, . VILLAGE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES February 26, 2001 PAGE 4 ----------------------- that would be okay with him, but if from those efforts the Village still could not provide the programs would the Village provide them. If the Village provided the programs a decision must be made which programs they wanted, and the policy might be to set it up and work through an organization like the YMCA and to expect to fund it. A decision would be needed what percentage of loss, possibly 250, was acceptable or if the program must break even. Mayor Capretta expressed his opinion that it was more important than whether some money was lost to provide the services wanted by the residents, and if mothers were saying they had no place for day care, perhaps a Village sponsored YMCA day care service would be appropriate. Councilmember Walker commented that this was not what she had asked Mr. Preston, and that she never wanted the Village to be in the day care business at all, but what she • had asked was that in summer camp, after school care, and Saturday programs that the Village provide opportunities for parents with children. Mrs. Walker indicated she was not looking for a service where a child was dropped off for "X" number of hours and the parent paid hourly to have them cared for, but was looking for programs such as Gymboree, which allowed parents and child to interact. Councilmember Walker explained that Gymboree was usually a six-month program where parents went with their child and learned how children liked to play. Councilmember Walker described a free program offered by Home Depot where her husband and son went and made coat racks, airplanes, etc., and commented that Home Depot might be interested in working with the Village. Mr. Giese indicated all the programs needed to be licensed, and explained that programs for seniors had been mentioned but if that was done and the building was licensed for children there would have to be a fenced play area so the children could go to their own space or the seniors would have to be fingerprinted, etc. to be able to use the childrens' space, and there were a lot of such issues to be worked out. Mr. Giese indicated • he would have to work on Councilmember Walker's suggestions, which he had not understood correctly. • VILLAGE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES February 26, 2001 PAGE 5 ----------------------- Councilmember Genco questioned the ages that would be covered by a traditional after school program, and asked who would pay for liability insurance. Mr. Preston responded that an after school program would start with age 5 and it had not yet been determined whether the YMCA or the Village would be responsible for liability insurance. Mr. Preston reviewed how the budget had worked last year. Councilmember Genco suggested starting with one or two programs and expanding later. Mayor Capretta suggested this was being looked at backwards and this should be discussed as if the YMCA were not present, and the Village Parks Department should propose the programs. Mr. Preston explained that the Parks Department only offered facilities and the YMCA offered recreational programming, and the Parks Department did not have staff to provide programs. Mayor Capretta detailed his idea of appropriate procedure, • in which Mr. Preston would come to the Village Council and state he was interested in providing a program, for example day care, and would present a proposal for funding such a program which would show the costs and possibly hire the YMCA to run the program. Mr. Preston could present another such proposal for the teen dances, another for an after school program, etc., but the program needed to come first and then how to fund it and how to operate it. Councilmember Dalack stated that first there must be a need. Mr. Preston explained a survey had resulted in 42 families asking for an after school program, which staff had discussed and concluded it would be cheaper to have the YMCA run the program. Mr. Preston explained that the recreational activities would start out with an after school program from 2:30 to 6:30 and summer camp, and once those were going well staff would like to bring in morning programs for senior citizens to play cards and other games, and morning classes for ages 2 to 5. Mr. Preston indicated he felt the cost would be something the Village could well afford, and commented that the Village had already programed $55,000 to handle the cost of hiring the YMCA. • Mr. Preston explained that the Village had a problem in contracting with people to provide programs because the • VILLAGE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES February 26, 2001 PAGE 6 ----------------------- amount of participation was unknown, and the YMCA had staf f available to provide the services. Councilmember Walker explained that at the last meeting she had said that a significant portion of the population was being left out because after school and summer camp programs would not touch children between the ages of two to five. Licensing was discussed and it was noted the licensing was for ages two to twelve. Councilmember Walker commented she had been asking for the summer and after school programs to be expanded to include ages 2-5, and estimated the population had increased about 400. Mayor Capretta commented population increase of children had gone up 75%. Vice Mayor Schauer recommended focus on utilization of the building to get the most possible use out of the building for the entire community. The Vice Mayor suggested using mornings for such programs as "Mommy and Me" and "Gymboree" . and for senior citizen activities; commented the after school program would be a definite benefit for the building; plus the summer camp and teen activities for possibly Friday and Saturday evenings if enough advertising could be done to draw in teens . Vice Mayor Schauer had learned during her campaign that many seniors and other citizens were interested in paying a fee for day bus trips . Another popular activity in the past had been line dancing. The Vice Mayor indicated that the public should be notified that the Village Council was working on this type of thing and needed to be educated on what was needed because most of them did not have young children. During ensuing discussion it was noted that the Village Council needed to start the program and Councilmember Walker requested that when that happened all of the population be included. Vice Mayor Schauer commented that the residents could be told it would be coming since all the programs could not start at once. Mr. Preston was asked to bring proposals for specific programs. Vice Mayor Schauer suggested working with Lighthouse Gallery to provide a puppet show possibly on Sunday afternoons, and she believed after the building . was opened other ideas would come. Mr. Preston commented the intent was to get the building open again, get back to VILLAGE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES February 26, 2001 PAGE 7 ----------------------- the summer program, and start the after school program, and people would then indicate what they would like, and by the first of the year the Village should have a good idea of the desired programs. Mr. Preston discussed the possibility of offering some type of program during the period September through December. Vice Mayor Schauer suggested having a questionnaire form for people to fill out when they signed up so they could suggest other programs they would like. Vice Mayor Schauer thanked Mr. Giese for working with the Police Department on the skateboarding. Mr. John Woodstock reported he had built the skateboard park for the YMCA and that the building had been donated. This was now four years later and the skateboard park was very successful, and provided a place 7 days a week for youth most of which • were ages 12-16, although there were younger and older skateboarders. Mr. Woodstock indicated he could provide information on proper budgeting, design, etc., that would help get the desired result, and he was now consulting with the Town of Jupiter on a skateboard park for them. Tequesta Park was discussed as a possible location. Mr. Woodstock indicated the site would dictate the best design. Mr. Woodstock described the hours of operation of the YMCA park, indicated it was overcrowded on Saturdays, and commented there were not enough skateboard parks in Palm Beach County. Mr. Woodstock explained that Tequesta could offer something different than offered in Jupiter or Stuart, and it could probably be staffed with one or two people. A fee could be charged for a few hours or a whole day. Mr. Woodstock commented this was not day care but parents could drop off a 12-year-old for a few hours and know their child would be safe, and staff would be necessary. Other activities such as having a band could be added. Vice Mayor Schauer indicated that in researching different municipalities which had established skate parks she had learned that after the parks had been in operation • for awhile they usually contracted out staffing. Discussion ensued. Councilmember Dalack expressed his • VILLAGE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES February 26, 2001 PAGE 8 ----------------------- opinion there had been a demonstrated desire for a skateboard park and questioned how the process could get started. Vice Mayor Schauer explained that she had been working with the Police Department and the Village Manager, and had just come from a meeting at the Police Department, with parents and youngsters interested in skateboarding and they were being shown a power point presentation on the Police Department's proposal. Mrs. Schauer indicated that the Police Department had gotten information from the YMCA, and that a temporary solution to address immediate needs had been found which would be a storefront at County Line Plaza, and a lease was being negotiated. This would provide a safe place that would be run by police officers and volunteer police officer, and would present the police in a positive role. Mr. Woodstock discussed the popularity of skateboarding and presented designs which could be used, • with the option of purchasing materials and hiring someone such as him who knew how to build a safe facility. Councilmember Genco questioned whether this was a fad that might not last. Mr. Woodstock explained that skateboarding was now a very popular sport and it was not a fad. Mayor Capretta indicated he would like to see Martin County participate in a skateboard park at Tequesta Park, since they used the park. Mr. Woodstock discussed the fees charged by the YMCA. IV. PRESENTATION BY ROY-FISHER ASSOCIATES, INC. FOR SEABROOK ROAD SOUTH LANDSCAPE, IRRIGATION, AND STREETLIGHT IMPROVEMENTS Scott Hall, Landscape Architect with Roy-Fisher Associates, Inc., described the proposed landscaping design and landscape materials, and indicated the intent was for the live oaks to create a canopy along the roadway. Gary Preston explained there would be sidewalk on both sides of the road, and that at next week's Council meeting there would be a bid proposal from Terracon for landscaping, . irrigation and streetlight conduit. A second bid from the County Contractor Dan Wynn would be for all the concrete-- • VILLAGE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES February 26, 2001 PAGE 9 ----------------------- curb and gutter and sidewalks, and that both bid proposals were for this project. Mr. Preston reported $138,000 had been budgeted and the two bids totaled $118,000, so that even with additional costs the project would come in under budget. Mr. Preston explained that the curb and gutter would be at the roadway edge, the streetlights would be 4 ' - 6' off the road, then a Swale area for drainage, then the landscaping, and then the sidewalks. Mr. Preston noted some people might be upset that the sidewalks would be moved closer to the property lines, but it must be done in order to have a nice project. Mr. Preston recommended that a 5' section be removed from each of the three existing asphalt driveways on the west side of Seabrook Road to make the concrete sidewalk continuous. The Vice Mayor asked if the residents would be notified of this project before the Village Council meeting. Mr. Preston explained that • current policy was to contact residents when a notice to proceed was issued. Vice Mayor Schauer requested this item be listed on the agenda that was to be published in the newspaper, and Mr. Preston was requested to send a letter to each homeowner. Mr. Preston indicated that the intent had been to notify everyone at once rather than for each section, and since Phase III landscaping for the Country Club was also to be on the agenda he needed direction regarding who he needed to notify. Direction was to send letters to those property owners also. Mr. Preston noted there was some landscaping into the right-of-way that would have to be trimmed or removed to put in the sidewalk. Mr. Preston explained every street would be stamped to comply with ADA. Mr. Preston indicated the asphalt/concrete contractor estimated his work would take 30 days and the landscaping contractor estimated 45 days, so the project should be completed in approximately 2-1/2 months if the bids were approved by the Village Council. Councilmember Walker questioned how the sabal palm groupings would look, which Mr. Hall described as curving and intended to create interest between the oaks, just like Seabrook Road north. • • VILLAGE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES February 26, 2001 PAGE 10 ----------------------- V. COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITIZENS Robert Steinborq, Golfview Avenue - asked if there are any other tree/landscape options. Mr. Hall responded, yes, but live oaks and sabals are the theme. Mr. Steinborg asked if the village can have some diversity, perhaps in the future. Peggy Verhoeven, Point Drive - noted she liked the streetscape and commented it seems like back to the future with skateboards. Harold Taylor, Chapel Court - asked for the status of sidewalk repair on Old Dixie Highway. Gary Preston noted that the contract had been let. Mr. Taylor commented that the railroad track along Old Dixie Highway would be a great place for a park. Councilmember Walker responded that the overlay zoning district is addressing this area. VI. ADJOURNMENT Councilmember Genco moved that the meeting be adjourned. Vice Mayor Schauer seconded the motion. The vote on the motion was: Joseph N. Capretta - for Elizabeth A. Schauer - for Basil Dalack - for Sharon Walker - for Geraldine Genco - for The motion was therefore passed and adopted and the meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Betty Laur • Recording Secretary VILLAGE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES February 26, 2001 PAGE 11 ATTEST: Joann Manganiello Village Clerk DATE APPROVED: •