Town Council

TOWN OF PALM BEACH

Town Clerk's Office

MINUTES OF THE TOWN COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON JULY 9,2024

1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL (01:51)

The Town Council Meeting was called to order at 9:30 a.m. On roll call, all council members were found to be present.

II. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE (02:16)

Deputy Town Clerk Gayle-Gordon gave the Invocation and President Lindsay led the Pledge of Allegiance.

III. MODIFICATIONS TO THE AGENDA (02:55)

The following modifications were made to the agenda:

1. Item No. XI.B.4. RESOLUTION NO. 067-2024 A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida, Requesting Formal Approval to Reject Previously Awarded Resolution No. 146-2022, Approving RFQ No. 2023-01, Request for Qualifications, CMAR for Phipps Ocean Park Improvement to Burkhardt Construction Inc. TIME CERTAIN: 11:30 AM H. Paul Brazil, P.E., Director of Public Works

IV. APPROVAL OF AGENDA (04:25)

Motion was made by Council President Pro Tem Crampton and seconded by Council Member Cooney to approve the agenda, as amended. On roll call, the Motion passed unanimously.

V. RECOGNITIONS (04:42)

A. Recognition of Fernando Wong's Service on the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) from May 2019 to May 2024.

Mayor Moore recognized Fernando Wong for his service on the Landmarks Preservation Commission and presented him with a plaque.

VI. PRESENTATIONS (06:51)

A. County Commission Update by Vice Mayor Maria Marino, District 1

Palm Beach County Commission Vice Mayor Maria Marino gave an update. She spoke about the county budget, millage rate, the infrastructure surtax, and a possible transportation surtax in the future. She also discussed other issues and initiatives at the county level.

Additional inquiries from Council Members to Ms. Marino included property taxes, traffic plans, 1% sales tax and infrastructure surtax.

Council President Lindsay thanked County Commission Vice Mayor Marino for her role in assisting the Town of Palm Beach with bridge openings.

A brief discussion ensued about environmental issues in the county.

B. Presentation by Dorothy Jacks, Palm Beach County Property Appraiser (41:19)

Palm Beach County Property Appraiser, Dorothy Jacks made a presentation to the Town Council regarding property assessments.

A brief discussion ensued about the age of condominium buildings constructed decades ago and the potential for those properties to be sold to uber developers for redevelopment.

VII. COMMENTS OF MAYOR DANIELLE H. MOORE (1:06:38)

Council Member Araskog asked about taxable property values. Ms. Jacks explained how values are determined. The Property Appraiser aims for values at 80 to 85 percent of true market value because the Appraiser values properties in mass.

* * *

Monica Quint, Telecommunicator (PD) 10 years; Michael Marx, Battalion Chief (FR) 20 years.

Kirt Konopasek, Irrigation and Spray Technician, (PW) retired after 15 years of service. Joseph Guelli, Police Captain (PD) entered the DROP in July after 19 years of service.

Mayor Moore announced that Council Member Moran had completed the training for Elected Municipal Officials conducted by the Florida League of Cities and presented her with the Certificate of Completion.

Mayor Moore announced that March was Employee Appreciation Month, and the Town was one of two municipalities that had earned the Sun Sentinel's Top Workplace award. She thanked the Police and Fire Foundation for their support of the town's public safety employees. She also thanked all the donors to the Mayor's General Employee Appreciation Fund and stated that so far, there had been 20 donations to the fund. The Mayor implored all residents to have hurricane preparedness measures in place and to sign up for the Town's Alerts and News Releases.

Mayor Moore mentioned the recent passing of Dudley Moore, who had served on the Landmarks Preservation Commission; Peter Sommers former President of the Everglades Club, and Richard Lese, Manager of the Everglades Club.

VIII. COMMENTS OF TOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS (1:14:17)

Council Member Araskog mentioned she had felt badly because of something she said to Dustin Mizell at the last Development Review meeting. She clarified that he was not involved in the turf that had been installed at a house and which had to be removed.

Council Member Araskog also felt that two people were hurt by some things that were said about board appointments at the last Town Council meeting. She specifically mentioned Maisie Grace and James Murphy. She felt these two people were owed an apology.

X. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA (1:19:38)

The following items were pulled and heard under Item No. XI.A.:

IX. COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITIZENS-3 MINUTELIMIT PLEASE (1:52:36)

X.B.2. RESOLUTION NO. 070-2024

X.B.3. RESOLUTION NO. 071-2024