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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_Workshop_08/08/2000VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA DEPAR'TN)ENT OF COMMUNTI'Y DEVELOPMENT Post Office Box 3273 357 Tequesta Drive Tequesta, Florida 33469-0273 (561) 575-6220 Fax: (561) 575-6239 VII..LAGE OF TEQUESTA VII..LAGE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING 11~IINUTES AUGUST 8, 2000 I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL The Tequesta Village Council held a Public Information Workshop Meeting on the subject of Municipal Facilities at the Village Hall, 357 Tequesta Drive, Tequesta, Florida, on Tuesday, August 8, 2000. The meeting was called to order at 7:03 P.M. by Mayor Joseph N. Capretta. A roll • call was taken by Betty Laur, Recording Secretary. Councilmembers present were: Mayor Joseph N. Capretta, Vice Mayor Elizabeth A. Schauer, Councilmember Basil E. Dalack, and Councilmember Sharon Walker. Also in attendance were: Acting Village Manager and Village Clerk Joann Manganiello, Acting Assistant Village Manager Richard Diamond, Fire Chief James Weinand, and Police Chief Steve Allison. Councilmember Geraldine Genco was absent from the meeting. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Vice Mayor Schauer made a motion to approve the Agenda as submitted. Councilmember Walker seconded the motion. The vote on the motion was: Joseph N. Capretta - for Elizabeth A. Schauer - for Basil Dalack - for Sharon Walker - for The motion was therefore passed and adopted and the Agenda • Recycled Payer . VILLAGE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES August 8, 2000 PAGE 2 was approved as subanitted. III. URBAN DEVELOPMENT ON FLORIDA'S EAST COAST A) Dr. Lance deHaven-Smith, Professor and Assistant Director of the Institute of Government at Florida State IIniversity, was introduced by Mayor Capretta. Dr. deHaven-Smith commented that he would talk about growth and development patterns in Florida and where Tequesta fits into those patterns, and that anyone who had been here very long had seen the change from rural to urban, which could occur in as little as 15 years. Dr. deHaven-Smith commented that he would briefly go over some items that should be kept in mind as facilities which required a significant investment • were considered, and advised that he had found that when there was disagreement over such matters usually people were focusing on one item or issue rather than on the bigger picture. The Village Council must balance the considerations, and a few more items had been added from the previous workshop. The presentation would also cover Florida's growth cycle and the origins of the urban blight running up the east coast along the Dixie Highway corridor, where Tequesta fit into all of this, and that Tequesta should invest in the new municipal facilities which would help prevent the Village becoming a victim of growth patterns which seemed to affect even the best of communities in the State. Dr. deHaven-Smith commented that the presentation would also include information on public/private partnerships, which had been done successfully around the State. Implications for facility investments would also be discussed. Dr. deHaven-Smith`s presentation began with facility investment cost, and he explained that although short-term cost could be cheaper, maintenance costs would be very high as opposed to • spending more for long-term investment. Dr. deHaven-Smith noted the effects on property values; • VILLAGE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES August 8, 2000 PAGE 3 ----------------------- appearance of the facility and how it would fit currently and long term in a changing community; impacts in contiguous land uses in surrounding neighborhoods and to surrounding businesses; the effects on the Village image short term and long term, and effects on the surrounding growth. Dr. deHaven Smith explained that what the Village did along their borders could have an effect on crime and that who located around the Village could affect the property values within the Village. Traffic impacts to the Village must be considered. Dr. deHaven-Smith asked everyone to think about the image of the Village both to the residents and to surrounding communities, because how others think about an area affects property values. An example was Boca Raton, which was thought of as a premier city, although it really was no different from other cities in large parts of it. Boca Raton • had developed a persona which added value to their property. Although the Village was almost built out, growth around it was just beginning; and although protected by the water bodies, the Village would still feel some impacts from the development, and must think about traffic coming in from outside and must think about crime. Dr. deHaven-Smith presented a growth chart showing the state's population of under 2 million in 1930, increasing over the years to 15 million approximately eight months ago. Dr. deHaven-Smith explained that Florida's growth was not all alike-citing examples of Cuban, Haitian, and retirement groups. The population of Florida was currently increasing at the rate of 550 people per day, which was .not as rapid as in the past. Dr, deHaven-Smith discussed the baby boomers, people born between 1946 and 1964, which were now approaching retirement, with one baby boomer turning 50 every seven seconds. This would greatly impact the retirement population, with enormous change by 2025, which was significant for the • Village because of where the senior retirement population located. Since people tended to vote • VILLAGE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES August 8, 2000 PAGE 4 ----------------------- more as they grew older, it was estimated that almost half the population would be voting seniors. Dr. deHaven-Smith presented a map showing the percentage of seniors in each county, and indicating that they do not locate in the big cities, but rather one or two counties out, which creates a growth pattern. Falco Beach County was now entering a retirement growth phase, and the southern part of the county had already gone past it. Dr. deHaven-Smith reviewed four stages of urbanization within the counties: (1) rural (or older cities); (2) a retirement boom; f3) after that young people move in to provide services; and (4} retirement decline (when retirees move to the next county). Dr. deHaven-Smith explained that Florida is a foreign immigrant destination, and • housing left vacant by retirees was then filled by ethnic minorities-first generation immigrants, which could have a big effect. Dr. deHaven-Smith explained that this trend was coming right up the east coast, with Dade and Broward declining in retirees as they moved north to Palm Beach County. Dr. deHaven-Smith noted that around 1975 Miami had been a Jewish retirement community, which had subsequently moved up to Broward County, and were now moving into Palm Beach County. Dr. deHaven- Smith commented that Miami had changed very quickly, in only ten years, from a Jewish retirement community to a Latin population center. Dr, deHaven-Smith explained that Charlotte County currently has the highest percentage of retirees in the state, and commented that in 15-20 years there will be a lot more people in the senior counties. Dr. deHaven-Smith noted there was also the same trend around Orlando in Orange County, with most of the seniors living in adjacent Lake County. Poverty rates for different racial and ethnic groups were reviewed. Dr. deHaven Smith noted that Professor Julius Wilson of Harvard IIniversity had studied urban poverty in relation to race and he • argued that this issue had been avoided. Dr. Wilson's main point was that the poverty of African • VILLAGE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES August 8, 2000 PAGE 5 ----------------------- Americans and Hispanics was different from the poverty of whites, because the minorities were living in concentrated groups while whites were spread out. Dr. Wilson had written a book on the subject, titled The Truly Disadvantaged. Dr. deHaven-Smith explained that poor people living next door to poor people created a totally different situation than poor people living next to middle class people, and gave an example that if one's car broke down or a baby sitter was sick the next door neighbor could not help out if they were also desperate. Also, there were no good success role models, resulting in high levels of crime and drug use. The state of Florida was expected to be 40$ minority by 2025. The African American population, which had declined for the last 50 years, was now increasing; and the Hispanic population was also increasing, changing the • population of the state very dramatically very quickly. Dr. deHaven-Smith pointed out from census tract information that the Hispanic wave coming up the southeast coast now came as far north as just north of West Palm Beach, and that the Hispanic population located a little south of Orlando was comparable in size to that in Dade County; however, the Dade County Hispanics were Cuban, and the central Florida Hispanics tended to be Mexican. Dr. deHaven-Smith discussed why urban blight existed along the coast in predominately African American neighborhoods, explaining that it was a vestige of Florida's southern history. The state of Florida had been the third state to secede from the IInion, and had segregated beaches, restrooms, etc., up until the mid-1960's. The reason African Americans live in a strip running up the coast was because there had been a zoning category "Negro Housing" in the 1940's and 1950's. The belt of blight now ran from Miami to Jacksonville and run- down neighborhoods could be seen approximately every two miles. Dr. deHaven Smith discussed a book by Leon Dash, who won a Pulitzer prize, titled • Rosa Lee, which was the story of an African American family living in Washington, D.C. In • VILLAGE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES August 8, 2000 PAGE 6 ----------------------- studying this family, Mr. Dash found that some of their dysfunctional patterns-drug use, etc., went away back historically, and they had come out of a. very different situation. Dr. deHaven-Smith expressed his opinion that the same thing was true of African Americans in Florida, and commented they had lived here for 4-5 generations but had had a very difficult time. The civil rights laws allowed healthy, educated African Americans to leave the corridor, so that the remaining black population consisted mainly of the least-educated, the young, sick, and old individuals. The corridor could be seen today by looking at the congressional district of Alcee Hastings, which had been designed to be a majority minority district. Dr. deHaven-Smith explained that typically as predominantly white urbanization occurred inland, malls were built approximately every six miles. The reason they • were built every six miles was because it takes 100,000 people to support a regional mall, which occurred within a three-mile radius in the development patterns here. As this urbanization moved west, the jobs held by African Americans, domestic help and agriculture, disappeared. Dr. deHaven Smith commented that another book by Dr. Julius Wilson was When Work Disappears, who had studied this problem in different areas of the country and found that although in the African American communities most males had a job, it was usually for only a part of the year, and Dr. deHaven-Smith explained that was the situation in the corridor moving up the coast. Tequesta was not insulated from this old Florida tragedy. Pictures of areas in Ft. Lauderdale, Deerfield only a short distance from Mizner park were displayed which depicted run-down conditions, which Dr. deHaven Smith explained could be very close to affluent areas. Dr. deHaven Smith commented he was currently working with another community roughly the size of Tequesta located half a mile from a run-down area and they were seeing a decline in their housing values. In the growth cycle, • Tequesta was in between stages 3 and 4, with young people moving in, creating a mix of young and old, • VILLAGE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES August 8, 2000 PAGE 7 ----------------------- and a beginning decline in retirement population. Dr. deHaven-Smith noted that at the last workshop a resident had mentioned that when a retired person or couple moved out they were typically replaced with a family of three or more, so that Tequesta would experience growth. Dr. deHaven-Smith presented a Palm Beach County population chart and a Tequesta population chart. Dr. deHaven-Smith commented that Tequesta was a small village and had no control over the pressures created by the growth which surrounded them. The Village was approaching buildout, but the population would change to be more racially diverse, and Tequesta was currently about six miles north of this diversity. The African American and Hispanic populations were a little south of Tequesta, with Tequesta being the last point of growth coming up from the south. • Dr. deHaven-Smith discussed the impacts of public investments, and what the Village could do to keep their community healthy and to pick it back up if it deteriorated. Photographs of Las Qlas Boulevard in Ft. Lauderdale were shown. Dr. deHaven-Smith gave a brief history of Ft. Lauderdale and explained that the county had invested heavily in the city and eventually turned it around, and that. they had turned their beach around in ten years by arresting everyone with a beer in their hands, and advertising in Germany to attract German tourists. This example showed that Tequesta could shape their future by making investments in the community. Another example, Delray Beach was shown. Delray Beach had been in dire straits but had invested a lot of money and had made a lot of progress. Boynton Beach was now in the process of turning itself around, as was West Palm Beach with Clematis Street and the Kravis Center, after 5-6 years of no development downtown after Ross Development Corporation had gone bankrupt. Dr. deHaven-Smith commented that Mizner Park was the closest comparison he could think of to what Tequesta was doing, and was a real success which had been • accomplished with a public/private partnership to develop a rundown shopping center with many closed • VILLAGE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES August 8, 2000 PAGE 8 ----------------------- down businesses and a parking lot that flooded, where teenagers would hang out. Dr. deHaven-Smith explained that the developer came in, the City bought the land and leased it to the developer at a very low cost, and the developer invested privately to build Mizner Park. As the park becomes more successful, the City's lease increases, creating additional cash flow over time from something that had been a drain on the tax base. In Tallahassee, an example was Kleman Plaza, and Ft. Pierce was now working on the same kind of redevelopment. Dr. deHaven-Smith provided a summary and implications, and asked the residents to think about what would happen in Tequesta in the next 15 years, and explained that. now was a decisive time in this community, which could get better, but which could also deteriorate rapidly if the right. • things were not done to maintain quality of life. Dr. deHaven-Smith expressed his opinion that the Village was doing the right thing by investing in a place that was a drag on property values and a source of potential problems, and investing in new facilities in that location through the proven method of a public/private partnership could be very good. Dr. deHaven-Smith stated his view was that building a new municipal complex on the Village border was a smart move. IV. OVERVIEW OF PROPOSED MUNICIPAL FACILITIES A) Acting Village Manager Joann Manganiello provided an overview of the proposed municipal facilities and explained that the Village, incorporated in 1957, was a full service community, offered a highly attractive living environment positioned between the Loxahatchee River and Atlantic Ocean, a small town with home-town friendliness, shops, parks and recreation, and churches of various faiths. Acting Village Manager Manganiello explained that the importance of planning and • managing growth could not be underestimated nor ignored, and that a priority and vision of the • VILLAGE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES August 8, 2000 PAGE 9 ----------------------- Village Council for more than a decade had been building for Tequesta's future. The Village Council had taken a pro-active, aggressive, and fiscally conservative approach to ensure that the vitality and overall quality of life in Tequesta would not be compromised. An integral part of building for the Village's future included a municipal facilities master plan. The history of the Village Council's actions regarding municipal facilities began with a master plan charrette in 1989, followed by a space needs study in 1993, life safety and code compliance evaluation in 1995, space needs study update in 1997, central business district charrette in 1997, Tequesta Village Center master site plan approval in 1999, and approval of the Redevelopment Committee recommendation in 2000. The Master Plan Phase I had relocated Village Manager, Village Clerk, finance, and water service • offices to the Wachovia bank building, making the east wing of the Village Hall available to the Police Department and the east wing in the annex building available to Fire Rescue Administration. In Phase TI the public services facility was built on Bridge Road and the reverse osmosis water treatment plant had recently been completed. Phase III, construction of a public safety facility for Police and Fire Rescue, and a Municipal Center, was the final planning effort in the municipal facilities master plan. New municipal facilities would address the following concerns: space that was inadequate and overcrowded; functional obselence; deteriorating physical conditions; inadequate life safety code compliance; and occupying temporary facilities. Photographs depicting existing facilities conditions which were the Tequesta employees' working environment were shown, and included inadequate storage areas, overcrowded employee work space, and inadequate space for equipment. A series of pictures compared existing to prototype public safety operations space and included a golice department lobby, dispatch communications room, work stations, mail • distribution center, holding cells, and a sally port. Acting Village Manager Manganiello noted VILLAGE COUNCIL WORKSHOP • MEETING MINUTES August 8, 2000 PAGE 10 ------------------------ that the Police Department currently had no available holding cells or sally gort, and that detainees were now transferred to the Palm Beach County jail. Next shown were pictures depicting deteriorating conditions, temporary quarters which had housed firefighters since 1993, and rented office space which had cost approximately $50,000 annually since 1996. Acting Village Manager Manganiello commented that the need for new facilities was real and warranted, and that the Village Council had made the decision to provide new facilities. A rendering depicting the southeast view from Tequesta Drive of the new public safety facility was presented, to be built on the present site of Police and Fire Rescue with the Village Green Park remaining intact. Another rendering was presented • which showed the facility from Tequesta Drive and that the fire rescue apparatus bays would be right up front. A conceptual site plan of the public safety facility delineating separate operations by use of different colors was presented. Acting Village Manager Manganiello explained that in September, 1989, the Village Council had held a Master Plan Charrette to develop a conceptual master plan for future development east of the FEC railway. The area consisted of 90 acres of mostly vacant land and deteriorating shopping plazas. The master plan provided for mixed use zoning, including residential, commercial, cultural, and civic uses. As a result of this Charrette, the Village Council had created the mixed use zoning district to stimulate development and redevelopment in the central business district. A Village Hall was envisioned in this district, as well as a traditional urban design pattern with emphasis on pedestrian-friendly access. In May, 1997, a Tequesta Village Center Charrette had been held to focus more intently on development and redevelopment of the central business district by • receiving input from property and business owners in the study area. Preliminary site plans • VILLAGE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES August $, 2000 PAGE 11 reflecting ideas and concepts resulted. Among the many concepts were a new main street, streetscapes, new buildings with plazas, and people places. In August 1999 the Master Site Plan for Tequesta Village Center, which was in keeping with recommendations from both charrettes, was unanimously approved by the Village Council. Acting Village Manager Manganiello explained that the groundbreaking and subsequent development of Tequesta Village Center was of major significance in the revitalization of Tequesta's downtown central business district as conceptualized in the 1989 Master Plan. The focal point was to be the new Municipal Center. Acting Village Manager Manganiello presented a rendering of the new Municipal Center on Bridge Road, and explained that a land swap was available which would place the facility on Tequesta Drive. The proposed facility on each site was described. The Village Council was requesting the residents' preference of the two sites at this meeting, which they would take into account in making their decision for the location. Acting Village Manager Manganiello explained that the Village Council envisioned a Munieigal Center that would provide people places for children to play, adults to relax, and families to gather; a place to hold outdoor community events and to host meetings and seminars; a vibrant Municipal Center of which the residents could be a part; and that the Municipal Center would provide a sense of identity for the Village. The Municipal Center would include space for administrative offices, public records, finance department, water customer service, utilities department, public works and recreation, community development, and the Village Council chambers. The Munieigal Center would be a place for community meetings, such as homeowner association meetings; business-professional association functions; social gatherings, such as receptions, parties, and ceremonies; informational seminars and lectures; • children's special activities such as youth movie nights; government-sponsored special events such as • VILLAGE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES August 8, 2000 PAGE 12 a citizens' appreciation barbeque. The Municipal Center would offer a friendly, small-town atmosphere. The Bridge Road streetscape plan was presented, which together with the Municipal Center would revitalize the central business area, benefit existing businesses, attract new businesses, enhance and compliment new development and renovation in the downtown area, and increase property values. Acting Village Manager Manganiello explained that the Bridge Road Streetscape Plan would be the finishing touch for Tequesta's downtown, and revitalization of Bridge Road would involve major infrastructure improvements as well as major aesthetic improvements. • Costs for the proposed Village facilities were reviewed. Total estimated cost for the public safety building and site was $3.2 million; total cost for the municipal center based on approximately 17,000 square feet to provide for future expansion was $1.8 million for the building and site The cost of the land swap-$106,000; carillon clock-$20,000; and carillon clock tower-$65,000, were not included. Acting Village Manager Manganiello explained that for their investment the residents would be provided with a Public Safety Facility which would include Police administration, communications, patrol services, investigative services, compliance inspection, Fire administration, emergency medical services, and fire suppression services. The Municipal Center would include administrative offices, public records, finance and utilities departments, public works and recreation, department of community development, and the Council chambers. The facilities would be paid for by 30-year bonds using utility tax revenues now going into the General Fund. The General Fund would be replenished by additional revenues generated by new development • and redevelopment, along with revenue increases from other General Fund sources, so that to a • VILLAGE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES August 8, 2000 PAGE 13 ----------------------- significant extent the new facilities would pay for themselves. Acting Village Manager Manganiello explained that new development generates new value, new value generates additional tax dollars, additional tax dollars increase revenues of the General Fund, increased revenues of the General Fund replenish utility tax revenues pledged for debt service on the bond, for which the following example was provided: The current assessed value of the Tequesta Plaza property today was $725,000, while the projected assessed value of Tequesta Village Center was $10 million. Current tax revenue from Tequesta Plaza based on a millage rate of 6.7305 was $5,000; while the projected future tax revenue was $67,000 annually. Acting Village Manager Manganiello noted that Rimley Horn & Associates estimated a $4.00 return on every $1.00 invested in streetscaping. The Bridge Road/Main • Street streetscaping would involve an investment of approximately $600,000, resulting in a return on that investment of $2.4 million increase in property values, business revenues, and other monies. Acting Village Manager Manganiello noted that this project was the culmination of planning which had taken place over the years since the 1989 citizen charrette, and that the Village Council had had the foresight to reserve funds for debt service payments over a number of years in anticipation of the municipal facilities project. Acting Village Manager Manganiello explained that the goal of the past eleven years could now be made a reality. Ms. Manganiello commented that the Public Safety facility would bring each resident a sense of safety and security, and the new Municipal Center would provide residents with a sense of community and a sense of identity--of the Village as a place for families to call home. Acting Village Manager Manganiello introduced Architect Jim Stergas of Stergas & Associates, and • explained that Mr. Stergas and his artist Wallace McTammanay had been responsible for the renderings • VILLAGE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES August 8, 2000 PAGE 14 ----------------------- shown in the presentation. V. INPUT ON MUNICIPAL CENTER SITE OPTIONS A} Dr. Lance deHaven-Smith requested input from residents for their preference of location. John Gibs commented that he was in favor of the plan because as a 31-year resident he had seen many developments including correction of stormwater problems, acquisition of a Fire-Rescue Service, a reverse osmosis water plant which would allow the Village to be independent of Jupiter and prevent salt-water intrusion, new malls, etc. During this period the Village population had grown from 2,000 to about 5,000, and Mr. Giba estimated the community's population would peak at about 6,000. • During all this progress the government facilities had not kept up with the growth of the Village. Mr. Giba described the inadequacies of the present facility, which was built 45 years ago, before any of the new developments. Mr. Giba explained that splitting the Village facilities made sense, leaving Fire and Police near the residents who needed those services. Administration at a Municipal Center could be in either the Bridge Road location or on Tequesta Drive. Mr. Giba favored Tequesta Drive since it was on the main road, everyone would know the location, and he liked the idea of a clock tower as a landmark. Mr. Giba commented that this plan gave identity and an image to Tequesta that was currently lacking, which was a serious consideration. Mr. Giba favored a carillon clock in the clock tower, which would preserve the small town image. Mr. Giba explained that this was a bargain - $1.25 a day over 40 years, and urged the Village to be visionary and to provide a municipal center which would last for 40-50 years. Joe Hall commented that Mr. Giba had mentioned most of the things he had planned to mention. Mr. Hall thanked the Village Council for holding the three public information workshops and complimented those • VILLAGE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES August 8, 2000 PAGE 15 responsible for a great job. Mr. Hall explained that for a long time he had wanted the Village facilities all in the area of the present Village Hall, but now felt the planned facility would do a good job for Tequesta. Mr. Hall stated he was happy to see that the Public Safety building would be on this side of the railroad track. Mr. Hall indicated that the proposed building seemed to have a lot of the and he assumed the roof design was to make it hurricane hardened. Mr. Hall expressed his opinion that the new Municipal Center should face Tequesta Drive, since it was the main drive, everyone knew that location, it was where the monument and traffic light were located and was the same street on which the Public Safety facility would be located. Mr. Hall stated people should be able to see the Municipal Complex when they were coming into Tequesta Drive facing into the town. . Mr. Hall commented that looking at the renderings of the buildings, the one shown for the Bridge Road location looked like a lot nicer, warmer, people building than the one shown for Tequesta Drive. Mr. Hall commented the Tequesta Drive building looked like a wonderful Fire station. Mr. Hall suggested using the Bridge Road building at the Tequesta Drive location. Mr. Hall commented the clock tower was icing on the cake. Russell von Frank commented both Mr. Giba and Mr. Hall had made the comments he would have liked to make, and he was only concerned about one other item, which was what would happen in the event of an emergency if paramedics were blocked by a train, during the time of the temporary move while new facilities were under construction. Acting Village Manager Manganiello responded that was a very important concern, and explained that during the temporary move that would be required, emergency services would be available on both sides of the railroad tracks. Tom Bradford expressed his preference for the • Tequesta Drive location for the reasons given by Mr. Giba and Mr. Hall, and suggested incorporating • VILLAGE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES Auqust 8, 2000 PAGE 16 the clock tower into the architecture of the building itself on the corner rather than having a stand alone tower. Jae Hall suggested keeping in touch with Jupiter, since he had learned while attending a convention in Denver, Colorado, that they planned to place a clock tower between the new Eckerds and Walgreens stores on Military Trail, and Tequesta should not have the same design. Joe Baker questioned why the Bridge Road building looked so different from the one shown for the Tequesta Drive location. Acting Village Manager Manganiello responded that the renderings were conceptual and that from input at these meetings, probably the best features from each building could be used in the new facility. The same artist and architect had done both renderings; and since the available space for each building was configured differently that might have been why the buildings were depicted to look different. Mr. Baker expressed his opinion that the architect had clouded the issue by depicting the buildings differently. Dr. deHaven-Smith indicated that input from the residents suggested putting the Bridge Road design on the Tequesta Drive site. Neil Vander Waal expressed preference for the Tequesta Drive site. Mr. Vander Waal commented Mr. Giba's points had been very appropriate. Mr. Vander Waal expressed concern with underwriting the project and stated he found it hard to believe this project would generate $10 million. Mr. Vander Waal explained that he was a realtor and always had vacancies in his office facilities and that other vacancies always existed. Mr. Vander Waal commented he saw no reason people would want to go to this project, since there was no real draw. Mr. Vander Waal requested the Village Council watch the first building very closely to see if it was leased, expressed concern regarding paying for the • facilities, but hoped the project would work. • VILLAGE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES August 8, 2000 PAGE 17 ----------------------- A show of hands to express preferences for each site indicated an oberwhelming majority in favor of the Tequesta Drive site, while only two people favored the Bridge Road location. Richard Berube commented there were a lot of new people present who had not attended Village meetings and were not aware that there was a group of residents challenging what the Village Council wanted to do but were not challenging that new Fire Rescue quarters were needed and that the Police needed new facilities. Mr. Berube commented several scenarios for using the present property had been presented to the Village Council, which if done by building the new facility beside the existing Village Hall would eliminate the necessity for a temporary move. P~nother idea discussed by Mr. Berube was that the Village could get $477,000 back for their property at Tequesta Village Center which could be applied to building a new Village Hall on the present site and free that downtown site for another building that would generate tax revenue. Mr. Berube commented that at these meetings the Village Council was telling the residents what they were doing, and he wanted people to realize there were others who did not think this was the best plan. Mayor Capretta commented there had not been any discussion about how to pay for the facilities, which would cost of $5.7 million. Increased tax revenue to the Village from new developments already under construction as well as others to be built in the near future would provide sufficient income to pay for the proposed facilities over a 30-year period. The population would be increasing since a downtown apartment complex would house 1,400 new residents very shortly. Mayor Capretta commented that there were some other residents like Mr. Berube who believed the new facilities should be on the present site; however, he believed that placing the Municipal Complex downtown would help • assure the developer's success. VILLAGE COUNCIL WORKSHOP i MEETING MINUTES August 8, 2000 PAGE 18 ----------------------- IV. COMM[JNICATION FROM CITIZENS There were no additional communications from citizens. VII. ADJOURNMENT Councilmember Walker 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 • The motion was therefore passed and adopted and the meeting was adjourned at 8:46 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ~~ j Betty Laur Recording Secretary ATTEST: J ann Manganiel Village Clerk DATE APPROVED; •-~ ~~-~/f .~DOd --~ •