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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_Workshop_08/03/2000VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA DII'ARTMENT OF C01~~VIL)NIT'Y DEVELOPMENT Post Office Box 3273 357 Tequesta Drive Tequesta, Florida. 33469-0273 (561) 575-6220 Fax: (561) 575-6239 VII..LAGE OF TEQUESTA VH.LAGE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MIlVUTES AUGUST 3, 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 Thursday, August 3, 2000. The meeting was called to order at 7:04 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, Councilmember Geraldine Genco, 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. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Vice Mayor Schauer made a nation 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 Geraldine Genco - far Basil Dalack - for Sharon Walker - for The motion was therefore passed and adopted and the Agenda • Recycled Paper • VILLAGE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES Auqust 3, 2000 PAGE 2 was approved as submitted. 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 had lived in South Florida for thirteen years and had been a professor at Florida Atlantic IIniversity; that he studied urban development and politics in government and wrote about those subjects; and that he also helped groups who disagreed. Dr. deHaven- Smith reported that he had worked with the Florida Senate and House of Representatives in Tallahassee, and had worked on a three-year project in Southern California to allocate water. Dr. deHaven-Smith • commented that he was used to dealing with conflict, and that the mast conflict he had ever seen was on the subject of teaching sex education in the public schools of Louisiana. Dr. deHaven- Smith explained that his presentation dealt with looking at Tequesta within the broad scope of change going on generally in Florida. Dr. deHaven-Smith commented that in his experience he had found that people who disagreed or had strong feelings about issues were usually focused on one concern, and it helped to smooth feelings when people understood the various concerns. Dr. deHaven-Smith announced that he, rather than the Village Council, would be facilitating this meeting, and that anyone heckling or making cat calls would be escorted from the meeting by the police officer who was present. Dr. deHaven-Smith noted that those who had lived in Florida for some time had seen the transformation of Florida from rural to urban, and that the problem facing Tequesta was to protect itself from the enormous amount of surrounding • development, and advised that protection would be affected by what the Village did internally. Dr. • VILLAGE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES Auqust 3, 2000 PAGE 3 ----------------------- deHaven-Smith commented on the beauty of the Village and spoke about the growth cycle in Florida. Dr. deHaven-Smith explained that every community goes through a growth cycle, a part of which dealt with urban development, redevelopment, and urban blight. Dr. deHaven-Smith cautioned that there was a growth wave moving up the east coast of Florida that was currently about six miles south of Tequesta, which posed real challenges for older coastal communities. Dr. deHaven-Smith invited those who wanted to see those challenges to drive Dixie Highway from Miami to Jacksonville, where the changes could be seen approximately every two miles. 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; 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 distal and proximate urban forum and calendar (the surrounding growth}. Dr. deHaven Smith explained that what the Village did along their borders could have an effect on crime and that who locates around the Village could affect the property values within the Village.Dr. deHaven-Smith discussed the image that Boca Raton projected which added value to their property. 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 such as Cuban, Haitian, and retirement groups. Dr. deHaven-Smith noted that in 1985 there had been 17,000 Haitians living in • Delray Beach, that different groups tended to live together, and that the population of Florida was • VILLAGE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES August 3, 2000 PAGE 4 ----------------------- 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. 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. 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 the center of Latin disco. 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 reviewed four stages of urbanization: (1) rural (or older cities); (2) a retirement boom; (3) after that young people move in to provide services; and (4) retirement decline (when retirees move to the next county). Housing left vacant by retirees was then filled by ethnic minorities-first generation immigrants, which could have a big effect when there were 17,000 of them in one area. 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 there was also the same trend around Orlando in Orange County, with most of the seniors living in adjacent Lake County. Dr. deHaven-Smith showed a map depicting the Hispanic population, which showed the Spanish population to be as large in • areas around Orlando and Tampa as in Dade County. Dr. deHaven-Smith explained that in central • VILLAGE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES August 3, 2000 PAGE 5 Florida the Hispanic population was Porto Rican, and on the west coast Mexican. 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 that the Hispanic wave coming ug the southeast coast now came as far north as just north of West Palm Beach. Dr. deHaven-Smith discussed why urban blight existed along the coast in predominately African American neighborhoods, explaining thatstating it was a vestige of Florida's southern history. The state of Florida had been the third state to secede from the IInion, and its motto on its first flag had been "Leave us alone". 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. This was now the congressional district of Alcee Hastings. 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. As this urbanization moved west, the jobs held by African Americans, domestic help and agriculture, disappeared. Also, the civil rights laws allowed healthy, educated African Americans to leave this area, so that the remaining black population consisted mainly of young, sick, and old individuals. Dr. deHaven-Smith explained that Tequesta was not insulated from this old Florida tragedy running up the east coast. In the growth cycle, Tequesta was in between stages 3 and 4, with young people moving in, creating a mix of young and old, and a beginning decline in retirement population. 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 • VILLAGE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES August 3, 2000 PAGE 5 ----------------------- which surrounded them. Tequesta's population was leveling off as the Village was approaching buildout. 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. Photographs of urban blight in locations south of Tequesta were presented. 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 Olas 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. Another example, Delray Beach was shown. Delray • Beach 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. Dr. deHaven-Smith discussed Mizner Park, a real success which had been accomplished with a publiclprivate partnership to develop a rundown shopping center with closed down businesses and a parking lot that flooded with each rain. 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. Dr, deHaven-Smith commented that the shopping center in Tequesta where the Municipal Center was proposed looked like the shopping center in Boca Raton that had become Mizner Park. Dr. deHaven-Smith expressed his • opinion that the Village was doing the right thing, investing in a place that was a drag on property VILLAGE COUNCIL WORKSHOP • MEETING MINUTES August 3, 2000 PAGE 7 ----------------------- values and a source of potential problems, and could turn a bad thing into something good through a public/private partnership. Dr. deHaven-Smith stated his 4].eW was that this was a smart move, that the agenda tonight was to talk about the particular locations, and that he would keep the discussion to that agenda to the best of his ability. IV. OVERVIEW OF PROPOSED MUNICIPAL FACILITIES Aj 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 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 VILLAiGE COUNCIL WORKSHOP • MEETING MINUTES Auqust 3, 2000 PAGE 8 ----------------------- Police Department and the east wing in the. annex building available to Fire Rescue Administration. In Phase II 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 police department lobby, dispatch communications room, work stations, mail distribution center, holding cells, and a sally port. Acting Village Manager Manganiello noted that the Police Department currently had no available holding cells or sally port, 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 VILLAGE COUNCIL WORKSHOP • MEETING MINUTES August 3, 2000 PAGE 9 ------------------''--- 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 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. • VILLAGE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES August 3, 2000 PAGE 10 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 Municipal 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 Municipal 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 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 VILLAGE COUNCIL WORKSHOP • MEETING MINUTES August 3, 2000 PAGE 11 ----------------------- 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 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 Kimley 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 • VILLAGE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES August 3, 2000 PAGE 12 ----------------------- 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. V. INPUT ON MUNICIPAL CENTER SITE OPTIONS A) Dr. Lance deHaven-Smith requested residents stay focused on the issue and to share their reasons for their preference of location. Jim Hum~age stated he would reserve additional comments for the Village Council meeting. Mr. Humpage agreed new facilities were needed, commented that the presentation was good, and that he appreciated the endeavors of staff and Council. Harold Taylor commented two choices of location were presented and suggested three additional options: (1) do nothing; (2) lease additional space, move the Police Department and Fire Rescue and revamp the current building; or (3) build a new town center on the current site of Village Hall. Mr. Taylor commented he had a moral and ethic question of taking tax money paid by residents to build a facility which would complete with local businesses. Mr. Taylor expressed his opinion that • JMZ properties would continue their development whether or not the town center was located there, • VILLAGE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES August 3, 2000 PAGE 13 ----------------------- and expressed his opinion that things such as a swimming pool should be built to have activities for children that they would want. John Giba commented he believed that after all the years of study, this plan was the best solution. Mr. Giba suggested the Village look into providing a small office in the new Municipal Complex for each of the Village services not represented in the administration building: Fire Rescue, Police, and Public Service, so that people inquiring about any of these services only have to go to one place. Mr. Giba commented he hoped room for expansion had been built in. Mayor Capretta expressed pleasure with the turnout and announced two more upcoming sessions, one on Saturday morning and one next Tuesday. The Mayor • responded to the suggestion of renovating the present building that studies had indicated it was in such bad condition that it could not be feasibly renovated to comply with hurricane regulations. Mayor Capretta announced that more citizen input would be requested at future meetings. Vice Mayor Schauer requested a show of hands to express preferences for each site. Approximately 30 were in favor of the Tequesta Drive site, and approximately 15 favored the Bridge Road location. In response to a question from a resident who asked whether a vote could be held on locating the facilities on the present site or on the JMZ site, Dr. deHaven-Smith reported that decision had been made, and at that time that there had been many discussions. Ron Poirier, Tequesta Oaks resident, questioned whether one site had any advantages over the other. Acting Village Manager Manganiello responded that both sites would have the same parking, both would be an integral part of the central business district, the Tequesta Drive site would be more visible, however, the Bridge Road site was a lovely VILLAGE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES August 3, 2000 PAGE 14 ----------------------- site, plaza space would be the same, the Tequesta Drive site would necessitate the cost of a land swap; however, with the clock tower for the Bridge Road location the sites would be about equal, so it was really a matter of preference. Another member of the audience expressed concern regarding increased traffic on Tequesta Drive and questioned whether there would be additional traffic lights. Dr. deHaven-Smith listed traffic concerns as an issue and indicated that traffic differences between the two locations could be studied. Acting Village Manager Manganiello responded that the traffic study which was done had indicated that Tequesta Drive could accommodate the extra anticipated traffic; howevez, the railroad crossing presented a problem in that traffic tended to back up. A resident questioned whether Village • Green Park would be eliminated, to which Ms. Manganiello responded the park would remain. Ed Perin, Tequesta Oaks, favored the Tequesta Drive location for its visibility. Another member of the audience commented if she were a store owner she would want the visibility for the stores, and if she lived on the east side of the railroad tracks she would want some kind of fire rescue services provided on that side of the tracks. Tom Romak, Tequesta Oaks, favored the Tequesta Drive site because he felt it would promote development more than the other site. Jim Humpage questioned why the Tequesta Drive site would cost $2.00 more than the Bridge Road site, which Acting Village Manager Manganiello clarified the land was more expensive and would be considered in the cost of the land swap, although the exact square footage did not have to be swapped, and the cost of the clock tower could be a trade-off. A member of the audience expressed an opinion that Bridge road had never been anything but a back road and never vital, therefore, did not understand the use of the term revitalization of Bridge Road. She also commented that she saw no harm in asking for a show of hands • in favor of having the municipal complex at another location. Acting Village Manager Manganiello . VILLAGE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES August 3, 2000 PAGE 15 responded that shop owners on Bridge Road had indicated at the charrette that their businesses had been hurt as a result of FDOT closing access from II.S. One coming north, which the Village had fought against, and that their primary concern had been access, which the new Main Street would provide and would open up Bridge Road again. Mr. John Giba asked that the Village do this project right and commented that one should not try to save $10 on a mattress that would last 20 years. Mr. Giba commented he liked two ideas: The choice of the Tequesta Drive site if ingress/egress problems could be solved; and the idea of a clock tower as a landmark. Another member of the audience asked if the Bridge Road location would help traffic, which Dr. deHaven-Smith noted was an item to study. Councilmember Genco asked Dr. deHaven-Smith whether in his expert opinion the Bridge Road location • would foster more commercial development, and free up commercial space on Tequesta Drive. Dr. deHaven-Smith explained that the commercial spinoff benefits around these kinds of facilities were not immediately adjacent, and either location would have spinoff economic development activities, and that what he was hearing was two different considerations, one economic and the other appearance coming into the town. Councilmember Genco commented that the main purpose was revitalization financially. IV. COMMUNICATION FROM CITIZENS Harold Taylor asked why the question of preference of these sites compared to somewhere else was being avoided. Dr. deHaven-Smith responded that was not on the agenda and had not been advertised for discussion. Mayor Capretta announced that two more sessions would be held and expressed appreciation for those who had attended and for their input. The Mayor commented that the Village Council would try to formulate a plan preferred by the • majority of the people. VILLAGE COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES August 3, 2000 PAGE 16 ----------------------- VII. ADJOURNMENT Vice Mayor Schauer moved that the meeting be adjourned. Councilmember Genco 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 8:30 p.m. • Respectfully submitted, ~~:. Betty Laur Recording Secretary ATTEST: J ann Manganie o Village Clerk DATE APPROVED: l~. 02 000 •