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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-31-2026 VC SP-MMINUTES OF THE SPECIAL SESSION VILLAGE COUNCIL OF NORTH PALM BEACH, FLORIDA AUGUST 31, 2026 Present: Lisa Interlandi, Mayor Orlando Puyol, Vice Mayor Deborah Searcy, Councilmember Kendra Zellner, Councilmember Sarnia Janjua, Deputy Village Manager Len Rubin, Village Attorney Jessica Green, Village Clerk Absent: Susan Bickel, President Pro Tern ROLL CALL Mayor Interlandi called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. All members of Council were present except for President Pro Tern Bickel. All members of staff were present. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Vice Mayor Puyol led the public in the Pledge. AWARDS AND RECOGNITION Mayor Interlandi read a Proclamation for Library Card Sign -Up Month. Library Director Julie Morrell accepted the Proclamation and thanked Council. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The Minutes of the Regular Session held July 23, 2026 were approved as written. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC Jason Walsh, 409 Southwind Drive, expressed his appreciation for the sinkhole on Southwind Drive being fixed. Mr. Walsh expressed his concerns with the usage of flock cameras within the Village and gave an update on the latest legislation regarding the usage of flock cameras on Florida State rights of way. Russ Beverstein, 415 U.S. Highway 1, asked if the Village had an official position on the use of and sharing information on flock cameras. Minutes of the Village Council Special Session held August 31, 2026 Page 2 of 5 STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC continued Bill Brown, 905 Lighthouse Drive, expressed his concerns regarding the Village's 30% increase to Golf Membership fees. Police Chief Robert Coliskey discussed the flock camera issue stating that it has been a national issue. Chief Coliskey stated that the Village had approximately ten (10) flock cameras and that the Village's policy has been an evolving document. Chief Coliskey discussed the advantages of the flock cameras and that the Supreme Court had not yet outlawed their use. Chief Coliskey stated that the flock cameras have been used as a tool to keep the Village safe. Attorney Rubin discussed and explained the latest legislation regarding flock camera usage and stated that it was not currently a 4ch Amendment violation. Discussion ensued between Councilmembers and Chief Coliskey regarding the use of flock cameras within the Village. Vice Mayor Puyol and Mayor Interlandi discussed and explained the reasoning behind the increase in Golf Membership fees. CONSENT AGENDA APPROVED Vice Mayor Puyol moved to approve the Consent Agenda. Councilmember Zellner seconded the motion, which passed with all present voting aye. The following items were approved: Motion to grant a merit increase of 4.6% to the Village Clerk based upon the average score of performance evaluations, include the Village Clerk in the proposed COLA for October 1, 2026 and directing Village Administration to process same. Resolution approving Easements in favor of Florida Power and Light at Anchorage Park and Lakeside Park for the installation of transformers as part of the Storm Secure Underground Program; and authorizing execution of the Easements. Resolution approving a Fifth Amendment to the Interlocal Agreement to Establish the Municipal Public Safety Communications Consortium of Palm Beach County; authorizing execution of the Fifth Amendment and providing for the repeal of Resolution No. 2026-11. Receive for file minutes of the Library Advisory Board meeting held 4/28/26. Receive for file minutes of the General Employees' Pension Board meeting held 5/5/26. Receive for file minutes of the Police and Fire Pension Board meeting held 5/12/26. Receive for file minutes of the Charter Review Committee meeting held 7/2/26. Receive for file minutes of the Environmental Committee meeting held 7/6/26. Receive for file minutes of the Planning, Zoning, and Adjustment Board meeting held 7/7/26. Receive for file minutes of the Charter Review Committee meeting held 7/30/26. Maiy Phillips, 525 Ebbtide Drive, asked how large and where the easements in favor of FPL would be placed at Anchorage Park and Lakeside Park. Ms. Phillips expressed her concerns regarding saving green space at the parks. Minutes of the Village Council Special Session held August 31, 2026 Page 3 of 5 Mr. Rubin stated that the easement at Anchorage was 15 feet by 15 feet and the easement at Lakeside Park was 10 feet x 18 feet and that there were mockups of what they would look like in the agenda backup materials. Village Clerk Jessica Green pulled up the mockups on the computer to show the locations and examples of what the transformers would look like at both parks. Discussion ensued and concluded between Council regarding the FPL Easements at Anchorage Park and Lakeside Park. There were no ex-parte communications declared for the following item: MOTION - SPECIAL EXCEPTION USE APPROVAL AND SITE PLAN APPEARANCE APPROVAL FOR 631 NORTHLAKE BOULEVARD A motion was made by Vice Mayor Puyol and seconded by Councilmember Zellner to approve a Special Exception Use and Site Plan Appearance for 631 Northlake Boulevard. Planning and Economic Development Director Dodi Glas gave a brief background and explanation for the application. Ms. Glas stated that the applicant would give a presentation. Emily O'Mahoney with Gentile and Co. showed a brief video regarding Nautical Ventures North Palm Beach. Ms. O'Mahoney began the presentation by explaining and discussing the request stating that it was a request for a Special Exception Use to allow vehicle sales or repair and a request for a Site Plan Amendment to update the property and bring it more into compliance. Ms. O'Mahoney reviewed the property location, existing condition, current site view from Northlake Boulevard, Site Data, parking, proposed condition of approval, Site Plan, Landscape Plan, proposed building sign, site history. Ms. O'Mahoney concluded the presentation by stating that the applicant was seeking approval for a Special Exception Use and Site Plan Amendment to allow the sale of boats and increase landscaping and watercraft displays on site. Discussion ensued between Ms. Glas and Councilmembers regarding the request. Councilmember Zellner requested less palm trees and more shade trees. Ms. O'Mahoney explained that the palm trees were existing and that they would be adding one shade tree. Discussion began between Ms. O'Mahoney and Councilmembers regarding the request. Russ Beverstein, 415 U.S. Highway 1, expressed his concerns with the special exception request with regards to vehicle repairs. Mr. Rubin addressed Mr. Beverstein's concerns and stated that language would be added to the order to address vehicle repairs on site. The language would state that there would be no repairs of any sort. Thereafter, the motion passed with all present voting aye. Minutes of the Village Council Special Session held August 31, 2026 Page 4 of 5 VILLAGE MANAGER MATTERS/REPORTS Village Website Demonstration Oliva Suarez and Kate Pokorny of the Communications Department reviewed and explained the newly updated Village of North Palm Beach website. Council thanked Mrs. Suarez and Mrs. Pokorny for all their hard work on the new website stating that they loved the new look. Question and answers ensued between Councilmembers and Mrs. Pokorny regarding the website. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MATTERS/REPORTS Councilmember Searcy asked if Human Resources Director Jennifer Cain could include Council in all employee workplace training sessions. Council agreed that Council should participate in all employee workplace training sessions. Councilmember Searcy requested that Council issue a Proclamation for Hunger Action Month. Council agreed to issue a Proclamation for Hunger Action Month for the month of September. Mrs. Pokorny indicated that the Communications Department was doing a news article for Scarlet's Food Drive in the October newsletter and could tie in the Village's issuance of the Hunger Action Month to the article. Councilmember Zellner requested an update on the Village's code regarding prohibiting hat racking of trees within the Village. Mr. Rubin stated that Ms. Glas was working on that code revision and would ask her to provide an update. Councilmember Zellner asked for an update on the Village's tree fund. Mr. Rubin stated that the tree fund has been established and Mrs. Janjua stated that she would provide Councilmember Zellner with the details. Councilmember Zellner stated that other municipalities in Florida were adopting codes to require the installation of dark sky lighting on all residential and commercial developments to cut down on light pollution and asked if Council could discuss further to consider doing the same. Mayor Interlandi requested that Mrs. Glas discuss the proposal of code requirements to limit light pollution at the next Council meeting. Councilmember Zellner announced a vertical oyster garden building day on September 19`" at 10 a.m. at Anchorage Park and invited residents to attend. Minutes of the Village Council Special Session held August 31, 2026 Page 5 of 5 MAYOR AND COUNCIL MATTERS/REPORTS continued Mayor Interlandi announced that a coyote expert would be giving an educational speech on coyotes at the Country Club on October 3`d at 10 a.m. Vice Mayor Puyol stated that he attended the last PBC League of Cities luncheon where they discussed AI chat bots and answering services. Vice Mayor Puyol stated that Mr. Huff had indicated that the Village would follow same. Vice Mayor Puyol stated that the next "Read for the Record" book will be "Brave Like a Lion" and encouraged the Village's full participation for the next Read for the Record Event. ADJOURNMENT There being her business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 8:13 p.m. Jessic reen, M C, Village Clerk