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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_Workshop_04/04/2016 MINUTES VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA WORKSHOP April 4, 2016 CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. A roll call was taken by Clerk Lori McWilliams. Present were: Mayor Abby Brennan, Vice Mayor Vince Arena, Council Member Steve Okun, and Council Member Frank D'Ambra. Council Member Tom Paterno was absent. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION Council Member Okun moved approval of the agenda; seconded by Council Member D'Ambra; motion carried unanimously 4 -0. 1. All Aboard Florida (AAF) Update Mayor Brennan suggested remaining neutral at this time. 2. Discussion of Public Safety First Responder Enhancement Efforts Council Member Okun suggested the Village consider enhancing the ability to deliver advanced first aid via first responders. He acknowledged the fact that the first responders had a very good record in getting to a call quickly, however he felt there could still be improvements. He suggested police officers should be trained to administer life- saving techniques in order for the patient to have a much better outcome. Council Member Okun reported that fire rescue captains were in agreement that every second could save lives. Council Member Okun related to Council, a recent conversation he had with Village Fire Chief Weinand, who was in support of the enhanced training efforts. Council Member D'Ambra questioned Council Member Okun's statement regarding the county now responding to more calls within the Village. He asked for data to back up this statement. In addition, he wondered if sending a police officer who was not medically trained, would be the best choice, to initiate a diagnosis upon a patient. The exception would be for CPR, which Council Member D'Ambra felt that anyone trained, should immediately deliver. Furthermore, he felt that the response time of the paramedics should not be significant, considering the Village was only two square miles in size. He suggested that instead, the Village police officers be offered enhanced training to further augment their performance as excellent police officers. He concluded that there may be Village Council Workshop Minutes April 4, 2016 Page 2 more negative effects from this type of first responder enhancement than the desired positive outcomes. Vice Mayor Arena stated that the police already did respond appropriately and questioned what additional techniques would be part of this program. Council Member Okun suggested additional training geared towards a victim who was bleeding excessively or had stopped breathing, and also training for instances when CPR was ineffective. He felt the officers should know how to administer the AED. Council Member D'Ambra felt that there was not much additional training needed for the police as they were already performing basic medical emergency first aid. Manager Couzzo responded that there were some changing medical practices that the police could be trained to administer, that could potentially make a difference in saving a life. He commented that some officers were trained in basic first aid many years ago and that there have since been some advancements in treatment and information. Vice Mayor Arena questioned Council as to what they wanted the police to do once they arrived at the scene. He felt that they were already doing everything that needed to be done. Council Member D'Ambra felt that this should be a very basic, common sense approach and it should not take much time to update the officers. He summarized that the keyword was to "enhance" what we already had in place. He added it would be a matter of keeping the skill level up and basically would be considered a form of continuing education. Mayor Brennan, Vice Mayor Arena and Council Member D'Ambra asked for the program to be defined and to show what it would entail. Mayor Brennan confirmed it would be internal continuing education — not paramedic training, not medical training and not costly. Council Member Okun agreed and stated that it would not even be EMT training, but basic first aid. 3. Banyan Tree Park Update Attorney Davis reported that a thorough look was given to the area surrounding the Banyan Tree and it was discovered that there was no parcel control number and in addition, it did not exist as a privately owned piece of land. Attorney Davis suggested a maintenance easement should be recorded over the land. After a year it would then belong to the Village. Village Council Workshop Minutes April 4, 2016 Page 3 4. Update on Crosswalks at Tequesta Drive and Country Club Drive and Tequesta Drive at Tiramisu and Paradise Park Manager Couzzo and Mr. Doug Chambers, Village Public Works Supervisor, updated Council on developments at the location of Tequesta Drive and Country Club Drive. They provided a handout illustration which exhibited the proposed sidewalk on the northeast corner of the intersection. Mayor Brennan requested that a hedge be planted behind the new sidewalk, on the south side of the northeast corner. Manager Couzzo confirmed that the sidewalk would be concrete. Council Member D'Ambra suggested the county be informed of the many violations attached to the corner residence. Manager Couzzo assured Council that the county violations and liens were numerous against the property and that there was nothing that could be done until a closing occurred. Council Member D'Ambra emphasized that there should be sidewalks on both sides of Tequesta Drive and reminded Council that they were trying to promote themselves as a "walking community ". Vice Mayor Arena suggested taking out the portion of the walkway that leads to the road, as he felt it would only lead to jaywalking. Manager Couzzo referenced the walkway near Tiramisu Italian Restaurant and indicated it would need to be revisited. He suggested Council wait for six months in order to avoid doing any one area twice, as other roadway work was planned for this area. 5. Discussion Regarding Mailbox Enforcement Manager Couzzo referenced the mailbox on Country Club Drive which had become larger and more obtrusive over the years. He suggested Council discuss restrictions for the community. Council Member Okun asked if a uniform code would be required throughout the Village. Attorney Davis pointed out that many of the oversized and non - conforming mailboxes predate the ordinance by many years. He added that there were many of these violations throughout the Village and they could pose a liability to the Village. Manager Couzzo agreed and stated that the homeowner would also be exposed for negligence for constructing a non break- away structure within the public right of way. Attorney Davis reminded Council that the approach on the ordinance needed to be uniform and even handed. Council Member D'Ambra mentioned that the only other approach would be to grandfather a portion of the older mailbox structures. Manager Couzzo countered that he did not feel grandfathering certain mailboxes would be a good option, as he felt the right of way violations needed some answers. Mr. Tim English, Building Department Director, stated the Village's ordinances did not address actual structures within a right of way, but felt the ordinance was directed towards communication towers and underground utilities. Manager Couzzo indicated he was concerned about bicyclists hitting a non break- away structure located in the right of way. Council Member D'Ambra suggested the Village send communication to residents asking for a voluntary compliance due to the safety of bicyclists, pedestrians and car traffic. Manager Couzzo suggested inviting the community to a workshop prior to sending a letter. Council Member D'Ambra recommended the Village send the communication to the community first, followed up by a workshop. Vice Mayor Arena asked for Council to Village Council Workshop Minutes April 4, 2016 Page 4 be prepared to provide examples of cases where oversized mailboxes caused injury to pedestrians or vehicles. Manager Couzzo stated that he was familiar with a case where someone had become paralyzed due to a right of way hazard. Mayor Brennan suggested revisiting the mailbox issue at the next workshop. She observed that a decision still needed to be made regarding the large mailbox that was initially mentioned in the discussion. Council Member Okun answered that the owner needed to be notified. Attorney Davis agreed to send the violator a letter based upon the right of way ordinance. 6. Council Discussion on the County's Infrastructure Surtax — Proposed Sales tax (Tabled from 3/10/16 Regular Meeting for Discussion at Work) Council Member D'Ambra questioned if the county had voted on this proposed sales tax. Council Member Okun stated that the county had approved it and Mayor Brennan added that the next stop was putting it on the ballot for voters. ADJOURNMENT: Meeting was adjourned at 7:38 p.m. Respectfully submitted, VA " / Y1 a) L Lori McWilliams, MMC Village Clerk Note These summary minutes are prepared in compliance with 286.011 F.S. and are not verbatim transcripts of the meeting. A verbatim audio record is available from the office of the Village Clerk. All referenced attachments are on file in the Village Clerk's office.