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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-17-2023 VC SP-MPresent: MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL SESSION VILLAGE COUNCIL OF NORTH PALM BEACH, FLORIDA OCTOBER 17, 2023 David B. Norris, Vice Mayor Susan Bickel, Vice Mayor Darryl C. Aubrey, Sc.D., President Pro Tem Mark Mullinix, Councilmember Deborah Searcy, Councilmember Chuck Huff, Village Manager Leonard G. Rubin, Village Attorney Philippa Davis, Executive Assistant Absent: Jessica Green, Village Clerk ROLL CALL Mayor Norris called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. All members of Council were present except for Councilmember Searcy who was running late. All members of staff were present except for Village Clerk Green who was out of town. Executive Assistant Philippa Davis attended the meeting on behalf of Mrs. Green. DISCUSSION/ACTION — Consideration of Annexation of Properties within the Village's Future Annexation Areas Village Manager Chuck Huff provided a presentation regarding annexation. Mr. Huff stated, as Council was aware, Palm Beach Gardens had laid out a plan to take on a massive annexation, some of which included land, which was in the Village Future Annexation Areas. Mr. Huff explained as a result, Council had directed staff to investigate steps to protect the interests of the Village in those areas. Mr. Huff noted that Angela Biagi, Director of Urban and Community Planning, Wantman Group (WGI), was present. Ms. Biagi would be conducting the feasibility study based on the direction of Council at this meeting. Councilmember Searcy arrived to the meeting at approximately 7:04 p.m. Mr. Huff reviewed maps of the areas as created in 2002 and highlighted three (3) specific areas, including: • Portage Landing (North and South) and Hidden Key • Pirate's Cove and the properties located on the eastern end of Canal Road • Properties located on the west side of Ellison Wilson Road south of the "flag" lot Minutes of the Village Council Special Session held October 17, 2023 Page 2 of 4 DISCUSSION/ACTION — Consideration of Annexation of Properties within the Village's Future Annexation Areas continued Councilmember Searcy asked why the area north of the "flag" lot, which is contiguous across the water, could not be annexed. Mr. Rubin stated that the "flag" lot made it an enclave of Palm Beach Gardens. Discussion continued regarding other areas where land had been annexed across the water. Mr. Huff continued to review details of the areas outlined on the maps. Mr. Rubin advised that Canal Road was an enclave, and staff had met with Palm Beach County years prior to discuss annexing by interlocal agreement. Mr. Rubin stated at that time, the County argued that residents objected. Vice Mayor Bickel asked for additional clarification on the areas that were not highlighted, and the reasons they were not being recommended for review at this time. Mr. Huff pointed to the time constraints and noted they had focused on the areas identified in the Palm Beach Gardens plan. Mr. Huff reviewed the map by parcel and discussed ownership and past efforts to annex. He shared the annexation map published by Palm Beach Gardens and identified the areas of overlap briefly. Councilmember Searcy asked about conversations with Juno Beach regarding their annexation plans. Mr. Huff stated he had spoken with the Town Manager of Juno Beach earlier in the day, and they are moving forward with voluntary annexation of Captain's Key. Councilmember Searcy suggested the Village explore annexation of Captain's Key to cross US Hwy 1. Councilmember Searcy stated that they call themselves North Palm Beach. Councilmember Mullinix stated he had brought that up in the past, but Juno Beach and Palm Beach Gardens had both had the area in their plans. Mayor Norris asserted he was not interested in that, because he did not want to do what they were unhappy with Palm Beach Gardens for doing. Discussion continued. Mr. Rubin pointed out that he would be conflicted out of the annexation process if any discussions or decisions regarding Juno Beach created issues with their annexation plans. Mayor Norris stated he only wanted to pursue what had been in the Village annexation plan for twenty (20) or more years. President Pro Tem Aubrey noted that the Village could look at the other areas in the future. Mr. Huff stated that staff had about seven (7) working days to work with WGI to conduct a feasibility study. Mr. Huff sought direction as to whether Council agreed with the areas identified. Vice Mayor Bickel stated she agreed with Portage Landing and Hidden Key but thought they should jump the water and annex the areas identified as 2A and 2B on the map. Minutes of the Village Council Special Session held October 17, 2023 Page 3 of 4 DISCUSSION/ACTION — Consideration of Annexation of Properties within the Village's Future Annexation Areas continued Mr. Rubin advised that he would have to do more research, because there may be an enclave as defined in the statute north of the "flag" lot due to the prior annexation of the road. Mayor Norris stated that he believed the entire Council would agree that they were interested in those properties and asked that legal counsel do the research as to the legal standing. Councilmember Mullinix advised that he was in agreement, but wanted to prioritize the "low-lying fruit" first. Councilmember Mullinix stated that they could get more aggressive and look at other areas. Vice Mayor Bickel asked whether annexation of the road could be removed, as it was no longer allowed to annex roads. Mr. Rubin stated they could not since the roads were annexed prior to the new requirement. Discussion ensued regarding annexation restrictions and historic changes. Mr. Huff recapped the areas identified, including: • Portage Landing (North and South) and Hidden Key; • Pirate's Cove and the properties located on the eastern end of Canal Road potentially to include areas 2A and 2B on the map; and • Properties located on the west side of Ellison Wilson Road south of the "flag" lot. Vice Mayor Bickel stated the daycare center in area 3B should be added to the list. Mr. Rubin advised the Village did not have anything to group the property with, so the property owner would have to consent to coming into North Palm Beach. Council came to consensus was to ask the property owner for consent. Councilmember Mullinix stated that if there needed to be prioritization; he believed Portage Landing (North and South) and Hidden Key were the priorities above the others on the list. Councilmember Mullinix noted that he would like to see Hilltop Gardens explored, as well. Mr. Huff confirmed that staff and WGI would focus on the three (3) areas identified and begin work on the feasibility plan and annexation process. Councilmember Searcy asked to discuss strategy. Councilmember Searcy discussed the map put out by Palm Beach Gardens and asked if the groupings had to be utilized. Mr. Rubin explained that the groupings had to be contiguous and noted that there could be conflicting referendums due to the groupings, using Hidden Key as an example. Councilmember Searcy stated that this was why she wanted to look at Captain's Cove, alerting Juno Beach to the plan that they were looking to also annex the remainder of the area. Mayor Norris pointed out that the Captain's Cove area was in Juno Beach's annexation plan, and they were planning to pursue it. President Pro Tem Aubrey asserted that they should focus on what is the essential core and do a good job on that, rather than spreading themselves too thin. Minutes of the Village Council Special Session held October 17, 2023 Page 4 of 4 DISCUSSION/ACTION — Consideration of Annexation of Prop erties within the Village's Future Annexation Areas continued Vice Mayor Bickel suggested they revisit the idea in six (6) months if Juno Beach had not followed through on the voluntary annexation plan. A motion was made by Councilmember Mullinix and seconded by Councilmember Searcy to proceed with WGI to provide a feasibility study in an amount not to exceed $50,000. Mayor Norris opened the item to public comment. Deborah Cross, 2560 Pepperwood Circle South, stated that she really liked the decision to purse annexation, but was concerned about area 4 and wanted to make sure North Palm Beach protected itself as much as possible. Orlando Puyol, 149 Ebbtide Drive, asked if there was any way to swap the "flag" lot and the daycare so the daycare could be in Palm Beach Gardens and the "flag" lot could be in North Palm Beach, because that would be more logical. Village Attorney Rubin explained that the Village had pursued that option previously and Palm Beach Gardens had ultimately decided they were not interested. There being no further comment from the public, Mayor Norris closed the item to public comment. The motion to proceed with WGI to provide a feasibility study in an amount not to exceed $50,000 passed unanimously. ADJOURNMENT With no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 7:42 p.m. a Green, MMC, Village Clerk