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Home My WebLink AboutMinutes_Workshop_05/01/2017 MINUTES VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA WORKSHOP May 1, 2017 � CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. A roll call was taken by Village Clerk, Lori McWilliams. Present were: Mayor Abby Brennan, Council Member Vince Arena, Council Member Steve Okun, Council Member Tom Paterno and Vice Mayor Frank D'Ambra. 1. Update on Tequesta Country Club Resident Concerns and 2. Discussion on Speed Enforcement Issue Raised by Council Member Okun These two items, since closely related,were discussed together. Manager Couzzo spoke on behalf of Assistant Police Chief James McGrew who was not present but after observing in the area, concluded that the perception of speeding was greater than actual speeding and cited an example of driving at 10 mph when some children ran out in front of his vehicle from behind a hedge. Even at that slow speed, he had just enough time to stop and no one was hurt. Possible remedies were to trim vegetation in public rights of way, send a letter to Tequesta Country Club residents, educate and raise awareness with a "Drive 25" program, traffic enforcement, and physical traffic calming methods. Mayor Brennan felt that a Drive 25 program might cause people to drive faster and that regardless of the perception of speeding, 25 mph was too high to which Council Member Okun agreed. He suggested lowering the speed limit to 20 mph with signs that drew attention to the speed limit. Mayor Brennan thought a neighborhood speed watch might be effective and Council Member Okun mentioned changing the road texture (using pavers or rumble strips) but thought a more serious measure (lowering the speed limit) was needed. Village Attorney Keith Davis weighed in stating that a municipality could alter speed limits in certain areas if it was reasonable as supported by a study and conformed to the Florida Department of Transportation criteria. The Mayor asked for input from Council Member Paterno who stated that landscaping obstructed views and that the residents were the cause of the speeding problem. It was a matter of common courtesy and education. He did not think 25 mph was too fast but found navigating various landscaping trucks parked in the road to be a problem. In his opinion, there were already too many signs. Daily police presence kept people honest— not more signs. The residents themselves needed to make some adjustments. Council Member Arena identified 16 properties with tall hedges, explained the length of his view while driving around a curve and provided statistics in support of Council Member Paterno's sentiment about too many signs. He also found that vehicles parked in the road were an obstacle and felt that intersections were approached before drivers realized it. He liked the idea of changing the road texture in some areas and opined that acting Vi11a�� ncil WorKsl�t�p �1ir�utes May �, 2{?�7 Page 2 an the issue w�� difficult due ta � I��k of group coh�sic�n (for legitimate r��a�ons) on the solution. He a�reed with sending fihe Tequesta Country Cfub residents a letter but wondered wt�et��r any more action was needed at this#ime_ Vice i�ay�r Frank D'Arn�ra stated that t�er��as nc�one s4fut�c�� and uftimately, rer��cing spee�v�ras the �'esidents' responsibility. He thought a lefiter anc� reducin� the spee� Iimi# made sense and �uggested they st�rk with a letter, inst�ll pavers in certain�reas, and ask residents to mav� �ome landscapir��, �s those thing� needed no study. A visible police presence serv�c� as a deterrent �nd the goal w�s not to issue more tickets. If a t�a�fc stu�y was co��eted, Nlanager G��azzca wished tQ t��as t�orough as �c�ssib�e on tl�� r��ac#various ��r�s would have�r� r��arby streets. ��fett that#he Vi��v+ras respc�n�ing we11 and shaulci take one step at a time ra#her tl�an c�fl too much at once. �ouncil Member �'atemo was not in favor of more si�ns or curbing as b+�th impeded the movement of bi�ycles and pedestri�ns out of the way�af traffic. He thau�ht that a letter, more police presence and informafiian in Smoke Signals was a good start�nd those alane mi�#�t��rk. T�►�Village �a� dc��e rnuch in a s�ort tim�e and �e��nc�erec� if the Tec�uesta Gaur��r�r �1c�k� Associat�r�r� �c��ld particip�te �r� �� solutic�n s�� s using the "��e 25" �royra�. IVlanager Couzzo stated he a}r�ea�y sent information �c�the Assr�ciat�on. Further discuss�i�n included police i��uing tickets for minimal speed infr�ctions and play items such as b�sketball hoops Ic��ted on roadway �dges. Most se�rr�ed in favor of strategic installatic�n of pavers. Council Member Aren� asked that lands��pe cutbacks on 1ti�lar�e property nat be severe. VVhi�e �n regu��r duty, #he Ca�e Enforcement De��r�n�nt could be ��ert t� Qbstructions c�� tc� landsca�in� �nc� �ent(y ap�r�ac� tl�e owr�er t� rer�tedy. Resident Tracey Kerwin thanked �auncil for listeninc� and respondinc� ta residents' �oncerns and r�e�Mi�ed that influen�irrc� behaviors taak time. Ken Levine �w� behalf of the Tequesta Country Club Association thanked Council �nd agreed that it w�s difficult to reach a conse�n�u�. He appreciated meeting with Pu�lic Safety and fav+�red a natural pr��re�sic�n o€ measur��. �ari Branden, a Te�uesfia Cc�un�ry ��ub Board 1�1��n�er, wan�� keep her lar�dsca�ing far privacy ��at thought t�e rr►��#��le cavers �rere a �i� problerr�. She mentioned a "20 is Plenty� campaign and voiced concern about eiderly area residents. �'edestrians alsa r�eeded education an moving over ft�r cars, reconfigurin� to single file or moving to #he grass for a momer�t, Surrounding feeder streets would have reduced spe�c� ��rnits in the futur�. �ttillage wi��e��ati�n camp�ic�n f€�r drivers and pe��s��ians was s��ested. Qvera��, re�i�ents were t��py that Councit ar�c� �taff listened. I�esident John Ritz distributed a I�tter regarding renavating the Teques�a Country Club narth gates scr th�y matched the �aw�th gates. Vice M�yor D'Ambra requ�sted that it be put on the Cauncil �genda. Vil�a�� Gc��ncii Workshc�� 1J�ir�utes l��y '�, �{317 Page 3 3. All Aboard �'Iqrida Update Mayor Brer�nan explained that Fortress Investments sc►!d FECI (All Aboard Florida) to a Japar��se Bank and FEGR {t�e freight c�r��4nent} to a IVl�xican c�ngtc�merate. Since tl�ey�vere nc�w awne� k�� tvv� separate en��es, they were wor�c�n� c�n an agreer��r�t far all tracks ta be owned jointly. Mayar Brennan had heard tl�at tl�e Iine from V11est F�alm Beach to Miami wauid remain, however due to many intricacies the final autcome of All Aboard Florid�w�� unknown at thi� time. 4. Update on US Highway 9 Raad Diet Pro�ect ��[1��C�011ZZO�£�YtS�C�'��1�'�t'Q�t�WQt'��t1S 1tV�i��13�tC1�S�1i��{�Tc��t�SS�@��ti�lT�t�ii��l, �dV@1'�tSftlt� Wt?UId �B�CC� j��C2 IlE',X� l7i011��1, �I1C� C(?t1S�t`l1C�143� IIVOIlICJ S'�c�t'f t11 �1t7V�CTI�1@i', Thaugh the st�rt date was nat ideal, it was based on the Florid� Clepartment of Transportation'� time frame. Repl�rement of the (U a 1) bridge was sch�duled for 2020 along with work �n the Dixie Highw�y turn lanes. A��umptions were th�t work would be done first an one bridge, then the oth�r, allowing for two�way trafflc on an� span at a time. 5, ��scussion on Sr�c��c�Signa[s P�t��ication Manager Couz�o noted that incre�sing the firequency of Smoke Signais publications per year would en�ure that more timely infarmation reached residents; ther�fc�re, Manager Couzzo recamm�r�ded five issue� per year. Caun�il Member Paterr�t� suggested a condensed mr►nthly version on our website while Vi�e Mayor D'Ambr� and Mayor Brennan tl�ought that �ea�le still liked to read a hard co�y. A lot c�� informa#iar� v�as c�l��t��C��1 ��l� Vtll��@ V�1��SI�@. �Ot15�tlS�l��c�S�4 111GC��5� �11� C1U11'1�3�t'O�' IS8�1E�'S �t��Vf: {�@T'}t��i`. 6. Update can 2017/2018 Cauncil Budget Village Manag�r Cauuo advised th�t the current caperating budgefi was tight. The hurricane and air conditioner uvork were an�malies �s were some palice department items. The budget as �r��sed was a��r�xirnately �0% €�ve� �he current b��c�et and muct��rk remained t� re�c� the 3,62°lo rr��rr�um incr�ase r�ir�ctive. No c�ne �ar��u�ar thing ca�zsed this, it was simply that wants and needs were greater than availakrle f�nds. When asked ifi Council did anythir�� tta cause this, Mr. Couuo explained that the bar of expectations k�� rising and the d�p��rtments genuin�My tried to do better each year but there were assa�iated costs. There was brief discussi�n of the number��police officers on duty at any on� time. Counci! M�mber Paterno thaught that when nat on a call, the Fire De�artmen# co�� Qvide free, vo��r�tary, in-ham� sa��ty checks to res��en�s; Aitorr��r C�avis w�s v�t�r�t�� aufi the inc�et�r��fication de#ails_ �r= Cc�uzzo stat�c� ��ere woul� �e a better i�ea af revenues in June k�ut the ch�llertg� v�it� the budget �his time was with the exp�nses rather than the revenues. It wa�felt that the prop��ed homestead exemption incr�� would not have r�uch impact on Th� Village. Village Council Workshop Minutes May 1, 2017 Page 4 Mayor Brennan asked Attorney Davis about the banyan tree park. Though some details needed finalizing including a name, she wanted an official opening in May and since this was a young man's school project, she wished to invite him, his teachers and the media. Council Member Okun asked the status of creative health care requests. Manager Couzzo stated he was working on some things now but two union contracts were involved. Discussions were probably eight to nine months away and started with the Fire Department. Initial budget reviews with Department heads would be done in May with the first Council review expected at the June workshop. Employees wanted to do more, the community needed more but there were limitations. Council Member Paterno, speaking optimistically, felt that generally a larger expenditure resulted in only incremental benefit to The Village. Discussion continued about the effect of property taxes, the penny sales tax, the new assisted living facility, new townhomes, infrastructure investments, and annexation. Manager Couzzo would discuss the budget with department heads in the next few weeks, which allowed Council an opportunity for meaningful discussion at the next Workshop. Additional conversation touched on road adjustments to slow traffic (pavers, painting, etc.); sidewalk repairs; the ability of nice landscaping to slow driving speed; number of personnel versus quality of service; and potential additional revenue opportunities. Attorney Davis advised that the Village prevailed in the Cox arbitration and that the Village had filed for payment of attorney fees. ADJOURNMENT: Council Member Okun moved to adjourn the meeting; seconded by Council Member Arena. The motion to adjourn carried unanimously 5-0; therefore, the meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, . � �.c. r'Y��Qkc�cM 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.