04-23-2020 VC REG-MMINUTES OF THE REGULAR SESSION
VILLAGE COUNCIL OF NORTH PALM BEACH, FLORIDA
APRIL 23, 2020
Present:
INTRODUCTION
Susan Bickel., Mayor
Mark Mullinix, Vice Mayor
David B. Norris, President Pro Tem
Darryl C. Aubrey, Sc.D., Councilmember
Deborah Searcy, Councilmember
Andrew D. Lukasik, Village Manager
Len Rubin, Village Attorney
Jessica Green, Village Clerk
Mr. Lukasik gave introductory comments and explained that the meeting would be conducted
electronically by internet access or telephone.
ROLL CALL
Mayor Bickel called the meeting to order at 7:40 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 President Pro Tem Norris led the public in the Pledge.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The Minutes of the Regular Session held April 9, 2020 were approved as written.
STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC, PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Bickel read into the record a public comment received from Ryan Muller, 720 Cinnamon
Road. In his comment, Mr. Muller asked why the boat ramps in the Village continue to be shut
down and if there was a tentative date of when they would be re -opened.
Mr. Lukasik explained and gave an update regarding the COVID-19 response and Palm Beach
County's Emergency Management Orders that closed and restricted facilities, parks, boat ramps
and recreational activities. Mr. Lukasik explained that the restrictions were beginning to lift in
phases and that the Village was continuing to follow the County's guidelines and requirements.
Mr. Lukasik gave an update on the Village's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr. Lukasik
stated that there was a 10% increase in the volume of trash picked up by the Sanitation Department.
Crime has decreased by 4% and the Police Department was mostly responding to calls by phone
versus in person. Fire Rescue's total call volume has decreased by 41 % compared to the same time
period last year.
Minutes of Village Council Meeting held April 23, 2020
Page 2 of 4
STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC, PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS continued
Councilmember Searcy asked why the Fire Rescue Department's calls have decreased.
Mr. Lukasik explained that medical and automobile accident calls have dropped dramatically and
stated that it was his hypothesis that the decrease may be due to less people getting ready and on the
road to go into work.
Mr. Lukasik gave an update on Village activities that may be cancelled and stated that the Village
was operating as normal as possible with some employees working in the office and some employees
working remotely from home. Two thirds of part-time employees were still active and approximately
half have been furloughed.
Councilmember Searcy asked if the summer camp would be cancelled for the entire summer.
Mr. Lukasik stated that they would have to wait and see how the phases of re -opening the county
progressed and would make a decision on when to open up the summer camp based on those phases
and progressions.
CONSENT AGENDA
Vice Mayor Mullinix moved to approve the Consent Agenda. Councilmember Aubrey seconded
the motion which passed unanimously. The following items were approved:
Receive for file Minutes of the Infrastructure Surtax Oversight Committee meeting held 1/14/20.
Receive for file Minutes of the General Employees Pension Board meeting held 2/11/20.
Receive for file Minutes of the Library Advisory Board meeting held 2/25/20.
Receive for file Minutes of the Recreation Advisory Board meeting held 3/10/20.
Receive for file Minutes of the Audit Committee meeting held 3/11/20.
RESOLUTION 2020-33 — FIREWORKS DISPLAYS
A motion was made by Vice Mayor Mullinix and seconded by Councilmember Searcy to adopt
Resolution 2020-33 entitled:
A RESOLUTION OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF NORTH PALM
BEACH, FLORIDA ACCEPTING THE PROPOSAL OF STARFIRE CORPORATION TO
PROVIDE JULY 4TH FIREWORKS DISPLAYS AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND
VILLAGE CLERK TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT RELATING TO SUCH SERVICES; AND
PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Acting Recreation Director Stephen Poh discussed and explained that one proposal was received
from Starfire Corporation and that the contract was a three year contract for years 2020 through
2022 at a cost of $25,000 per year.
Mr. Rubin stated that the contract allows for cancellation and in the event of cancellation, the
contract would be extended by one year.
Mayor Bickel asked if the 4th of July event could be changed and rescheduled to another day if it
needed to be cancelled.
Minutes of Village Council Meeting held April 23, 2020
Page 3 of 4
RESOLUTION 2020-33 — FIREWORKS DISPLAYS continued
Mr. Poh stated that he spoke with Starfire Corporation and they stated that they would reschedule
the 4th of July event to another date as long as they were notified in sufficient time.
Mr. Rubin stated that language regarding rescheduling of event dates should be included in the contract.
Thereafter, the motion to adopt Resolution 2020-33 and amending the contract to add additional
language to provide for alternate event dates in the year 2020, passed unanimously.
RESOLUTION 2020-34 — AMENDMENT TO GOLF COURSE MAINTENANCE CONTRACT
A motion was made by President Pro Tem Norris and seconded by Councilmember Aubrey to
adopt Resolution 2020-34 entitled:
A RESOLUTION OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF NORTH PALM
BEACH, FLORIDA APPROVING AN AMENDMENT TO THE GOLF COURSE
MAINTENANCE CONTRACT WITH BRIGHTVIEW GOLF MAINTENANCE, INC. TO
INCLUDE BUNKER REPAIR AND POND REMEDIATION WORK, PROVIDE FOR A
PAYMENT SCHEDULE FOR THE ADDITIONAL WORK AND EXTEND THE CONTRACT
TERM BY ONE YEAR; AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND VILLAGE CLERK TO
EXECUTE THE AMENDMENT; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS; AND PROVIDING FOR
AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Head Golf Professional Allan Bowman explained that the grass that was installed on the golf
course has done very well and the majority of the golf course looked very good, but the type of
grass that was installed does not do well on steep slopes and as a result, the bunkers were in need
of repair. Mr. Bowman presented and explained photos of the golf course bunkers that needed
repair and photos of what the bunkers should look like.
Mayor Bickel read into the record a public comment received from Jeff Egizio, 1036 Country
Club Drive. In his comment, Mr. Egizio discussed the issues with the golf course bunkers and
recommended that Council allocate funds to fix the golf course bunkers and lake edges.
President Pro Tem Norris agreed that the golf course was looking great and also agreed that the
bunkers needed repair.
Vice Mayor Mullinix stated that the golf course bunkers required repair immediately.
Councilmember Aubrey asked Mr. Bowman about the issues with the edges of the lakes on the
golf course.
Mr. Bowman explained that the proposal would take care of thephond with the most pressing
need on the golf course which was the pond between the 9th and 18t hole. All of the other ponds
would be addressed over time in the future and would hopefully be repaired by Village staff.
Thereafter, the motion to adopt Resolution 2020-34 passed unanimously.
Minutes of Village Council Meeting held April 23, 2020 Page 4 of 4
VILLAGE COUNCIL MATTERS/REPORTS
Councilmember Searcy thanked staff for all of their hard work over the past month.
Councilmember Searcy commended Chief Richard Jenkins for his hard work on the State of
Florida Opioid Task Force and stated that Chief Jenkins was the only member of the task force
that was asked to return for phase two.
Councilmember Searcy commended staff for being a part of all of the committees that are
involved with the re -opening of Palm Beach County.
Mr. Lukasik thanked former Palm Beach County Commissioner Karen Marcus for having a part
in getting staff involved with the committees that are a part of the re -opening of Palm Beach County.
REPORTS (SPECIAL COMMITTEES AND ADVISORY BOARDS)
Mr. Tom Magill commented on the Audit Committee Annual Report and stated that he was glad
to report that there was a 12% increase in unallocated funds. On behalf of the Audit Committee,
Mr. Magill commended Finance Director Sarnia Janjua and her staff for their hard work.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 8:13 p.m.
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Jessi a Green, MM6, Village Clerk
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