MEETING: BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND CITY OF WEST PALM BEACH

I. . CALL TO ORDER: October 6, 1998, at 2:30 p.m., in the Thomas McEaddy Memorial Chambers, Governmental Center, West Palm Beach, Florida.

I.A. ROLL CALL

MEMBERS AND OFFICERS PRESENT:

Chair Burt Aaronson

Vice-Chair Maude Ford Lee

Commissioner Ken L. Foster - Absent

Commissioner Mary McCarty

Commissioner Karen T. Marcus

Commissioner Warren H. Newell

Commissioner Carol A. Roberts - Absent

Deputy County Administrator Patrick Miller

County Attorney Denise Dytrych

Chief Deputy County Attorney Gordon Selfridge

County Engineer George T. Webb

Deputy Clerk Carla Valcarcel

CITY OF WEST PALM BEACH OFFICERS PRESENT:

Mayor Nancy M. Graham

Commissioner John (Jeff) Koons

Commissioner Mary B. Hooks

Commissioner Joel T. Daves

Commissioner Howard Warshauer

Commissioner Alfred Zucaro, Jr.

City Administrator Michael Wright

City Attorney Patrick Brown

II. OPENING COMMENTS

II.A. MAYOR GRAHAM

Mayor Graham thanked the County Commission for meeting with city officials and for the opportunity to address important issues.

II.B. COMMISSIONER AARONSON

Commissioner Aaronson welcomed Mayor Graham and the City Commission and said he looked forward to working with the city on the scheduled topics, especially on the convention center.

III. DISCUSSION OUTLINE

III.A. PRIMARY ISSUES

III.A.1. UPDATE OF CONVENTION CENTER. DISCUSSED WITH DIRECTION 10-6-98

Deputy County Administrator Miller reported that County staff had not received the necessary documents in relation to the drainage issues. He said that comments on the proposed townhouse buffer were not received in time for presentation to the Zoning Commission. He added that County staff needed to be prepared when it goes before the City Commission on October 15, 1998, for site plan approval.

Mayor Graham said that the Florida Department of Transportation granted a permit to the city for the drainage, which she expected to receive by late November.

When Commissioners Aaronson and McCarty inquired when all pertinent documents would be received, Mayor Graham said the site plan would be available that afternoon.

Commissioner Aaronson suggested postponing the October 15, 1998, meeting for 30 days and Mayor Graham said that a two- week postponement would suffice.

Commissioner Koons did not object to the postponement but said he preferred to keep the schedule.

Commissioner McCarty requested a written update every Friday prior to the meeting in two weeks and when Deputy County Administrator Miller asked if Mondays would be better, Commissioner McCarty agreed.

III.A.2. REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION. DISCUSSED WITH DIRECTIONS 10-6-98

The discussion focused on improving Palm Tran services and the need for more bus shelters.

Suggestions to improve the transit system included:

• Promotion of ridership by advertising on bus shelters.
• Working with the Metropolitan Planning Organization Technical Advisory Committee and the Florida Department of Transportation to find ways of improving the transit shelter program.
• Developing a better feeder system in the city to serve as a model for other municipalities.

III.A.3. TRAFFIC CALMING - IMPACT ON COMMUTERS. DISCUSSED 10-6-98

A slide show presentation was given by City Engineer Ian Lockwood showing the impact of traffic calming on pedestrians and commuters resulting in safer neighborhoods and cleaner and healthier environment.

Commissioner Newell said that no action had been taken regarding his repeated requests for a study on the road grids. Mayor Graham assured the County Commission that city staff would have that information available in two to three months.

There was some concern from the County Commission over the issue of narrowing Olive Avenue and Quadrille Boulevard south of Lakeview Avenue and the impact on commuters. County Engineer Webb said that County staff was working with the city to obtain an analysis.

III.A.4. AIRPORT GROWTH/MASTER PLAN COMMITTEE. DISCUSSED WITH DIRECTION 10-6-98

Commissioner Aaronson briefed the group regarding the creation of a master plan committee, composed of 15 members, whose main function would be to study future master plans by the Department of Airports and give the committee's position on pertinent issues based on public input. He urged the County Commission to support the creation of said committee.

Mayor Graham emphasized that the committee would not have any authorization to make decisions concerning future master plans.

Commissioner McCarty said that creating a master plan committee would be duplicative of the Aviation and Airports Advisory Committee. She then suggested that, instead of creating another airports committee, broadening the scope of functions of the existing committee would be a logical alternative. She also said that the Aviation and Airports Advisory Committee was offended upon learning of a possible creation of another advisory committee.

Commissioner Aaronson made it clear that his proposal included the existing airports committee and its expansion by adding seven more members.

Commissioner Lee suggested forming an ad hoc committee in conjunction with the Aviation and Airports Advisory Committee to solicit public input.

Department of Airports Director Bruce Pelly was directed to draft a proposal based on the suggestions mentioned and discuss the proposal at a future meeting.

III.A.5. WORKING RELATIONSHIP. DISCUSSED 10-6-98

Commissioner Aaronson suggested for the new chair of the County Commission to schedule future joint meetings with the city for an effective working relationship.

III.B. SECONDARY ISSUES

III.B.1. PORT OF PALM BEACH. NOT DISCUSSED 10-6-98

III.B.2. ANNEXATION OF CITY POCKETS. NOT DISCUSSED 10-6-98

IV. ADJOURNMENT

The Chair declared the meeting adjourned at 5:00 p.m.

ATTESTED: APPROVED:

Clerk Chairman