HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-23-2024 VC REG-MPresent:
ROLL CALL
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SESSION
VILLAGE COUNCIL OF NORTH PALM BEACH, FLORIDA
MAY 23, 2024
Susan Bickel, Mayor
Deborah Searcy, Vice Mayor
Lisa Interlandi, President Pro Tem
Kristin Garrison, Councilmember
Orlando Puyol, Councilmember
Chuck Huff, Village Manager
Len Rubin, Village Attorney
Jessica Green, Village Clerk
Mayor Bickel called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. All members of Council were present. All
members of staff were present.
INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Bickel gave the invocation and Vice Mayor Searcy led the public in the Pledge.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
Mayor Bickel presented Proclamations for National Safe Boating Week, National Gun Violence
Awareness Day, and Emergency Medical Services Week.
All recipients of the proclamations expressed their appreciation and thanked Council.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The Minutes of the Regular Session held on May 9, 2024 were approved as written.
STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Mary Phillips, 525 Ebbtide Drive, spoke on behalf of the Environmental Committee. Ms. Phillips
stated that the Environmental Committee took a field trip to the Country Club in order to look at
the trees and make recommendations for bat houses and bird houses.
The following individuals made a public comment expressing their concerns regarding past
elections and how they were conducted by the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections:
Erin Atkas
Patty Testa
Candace Rojas
Cathy Savage
Mikki Isackson
Minutes of the Village Council Regular Session held May 23, 2024 Page 2 of 4
CONSENT AGENDA APPROVED
President Pro Tem Interlandi moved to approve the Consent Agenda and Councilmember Puyol
seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. The following items were approved:
Resolution approving and ratifying a Memorandum of Understanding with the Federation of
Public Employees to amend Article 36 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement pertaining to
wages; and authorizing the Village Manager to execute the Memorandum of Understanding.
Receive for file Minutes of the General Employees Pension Board meeting held 2/6/24.
Receive for file Minutes of the Police and Fire Pension Board meeting held 2/13/24.
Receive for file Minutes of the Environmental Committee meeting held 4/1/24.
Receive for file Minutes of the Planning, Zoning and Adjustment Board meeting held 4/2/24.
Receive for file Minutes of the Recreation Advisory Board meeting held 4/9/24.
Receive for file Minutes of the Golf Advisory Board meeting held 4/15/24.
PUBLIC HEARING AND QUASI-JUDICAL MATTERS
ORDINANCE 2024-07 — CODE AMENDMENT — ELECTRONIC PUBLICATION OF NOTICES
A motion was made by Vice Mayor Searcy and seconded by Councilmember Puyol to adopt on
first reading Ordinance 2024-07 entitled:
AN ORDINANCE OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF NORTH PALM
BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 1, "GENERAL PROVISIONS," OF THE
VILLAGE CODE OF ORDINANCES BY ADOPTING A NEW SECTION 1-12,
"ELECTRONIC PUBLICATION OF NOTICES;" PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION;
PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS; AND PROVIDING
FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Mr. Rubin explained that during its 2022 session, the Florida Legislation adopted Section 50.0311,
Florida Statutes, allowing municipalities to publish advertisements and legal notices on the
county's publicly accessible website in lieu of publication in a newspaper of general circulation.
The Village has executed the necessary agreements with Palm Beach County to utilize its website
for the publication of legal notices. Additionally, as required by Section 50.0311(6), Florida
Statutes, the Village will publish a notice in a newspaper of general circulation indicating that
property owners and residents may receive legally required advertisements and public notices from
the Village by first-class mail or e-mail upon registering their name and address or e-mail address
with the Village. The Village is also required to maintain a registry of such names and addresses,
as well as publish the required notice in a newspaper of general circulation at least once per year.
A link to the advertisements and public notices must be "conspicuously placed" on the Village's website.
Mr. Rubin stated that a number of Village Code provisions require publication in a newspaper of
general circulation. The attached Ordinance would amend Chapter 1, "General Provisions," of the
Village Code in order to allow the Village to publish on the county website in lieu of publishing
in the newspaper.
Thereafter, the motion to adopt on first reading Ordinance 2024-07 passed unanimously.
Minutes of the Village Council Regular Session held May 23, 2024 Page 3 of 4
MAYOR AND COUNCIL MATTERS/REPORTS
President Pro Tem Interlandi stated that there was a very successful cleanup of Lakeside Park. A
teacher from Palm Beach Gardens High School and approximately 20 of her students collected
sixty (60) pounds of trash. President Pro Tem Interlandi suggested having local schools compete
to pick up trash at the park.
VILLAGE MANAGER MATTERS/REPORTS
Discussion — Country Club Restaurant Request for Proposals
Mr. Huff gave a brief background and an update on the Country Club Restaurant Request for
Proposals. Mr. Huff explained that he and Country Club General Manager Beth Davis worked
together to draft an RFP that has been legally reviewed. Mr. Huff stated that he believed that the
RFP encompassed and covered more than any RFP that has been done in the past.
Vice Mayor Searcy stated that there was not enough information in the RFP related to the current
restaurant's financials.
Councilmember Puyol stated that the process of the RFP would allow the restauranteurs to
envision the potential of the Country Club restaurant based on their expertise.
Mayor Bickel stated that she agreed with Councilmember Puyol's assessment of the RFP.
Vice Mayor Searcy recommended that more detailed information regarding the revenues of the
past five (5) years be provided to the restauranteurs and stated that she did not agree with the
proposed revenue being the number one criteria in the RFP.
Vice Mayor Searcy explained and discussed additional concerns she had with the RFP and gave
recommendations for revisions.
Discussion ensued between the Councilmembers, Mr. Rubin and Mr. Huff regarding the Country
Club Restaurant Request for Proposals.
President Pro Tem Interlandi stated that the Environmental Committee was requesting that
Farmer's Table's herb gardens and beds be allowed to remain at the restaurant and to allow the
garden group to maintain them.
President Pro Tem Interlandi asked Mr. Rubin to explain the "Cone of Silence" as it pertained to
the Country Club Restaurant Request for Proposals.
Mr. Rubin explained that the potential vendors of the RFP could not lobby or speak to the
Councilmembers until the award of the contract has taken place.
Councilmember Puyol congratulated staff on putting the RFP together in a short amount of time.
Discussion continued between Councilmembers regarding Vice Mayor Searcy's concerns with the
Country Club Restaurant Request for Proposals.
Minutes of the Village Council Regular Session held May 23, 2024 Page 4 of 4
Discussion — Country Club Restaurant Request for Proposals continued
Russel Beverstein, 415 U.S. Highway 1, Unit 210, stated that he had been in the restaurant business
for fifty (50) years. Mr. Beverstein made recommendations, and gave advice on how to choose a
restauranteur for the Country Club.
Vice Mayor Searcy commented that it was very nice to be ending the Council meeting at 7 p.m.
instead of starting at 7 p.m.
Mayor Bickel asked Mr. Huff to add a discussion regarding the start time of Council meetings on
the next Council meeting agenda.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 7:05 p.m.
Jeca Green, MMC, Village Clerk