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02-11-2021 VC REG-MMINUTES OF THE REGULAR SESSION VILLAGE COUNCIL OF NORTH PALM BEACH, FLORIDA FEBRUARY 11, 2021 Present: 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 ROLL CALL Mayor Bickel called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. All members of Council were present. All members of staff were present. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Vice Mayor Mullinix gave the invocation and Mayor Bickel led the public in the Pledge. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mayor Bickel asked that it be indicated in the minutes that she requested that Zoom chat comments be turned off for future Council meetings due to the fact that profanities were being used on the chat during the January 28th Council meeting. The Minutes of the Regular Session held January 28, 2021 were approved as amended. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC Chester Coles, 118 Easterly Road, expressed interest in forming a "Junior Council" for the Village. CONSENT AGENDA President Pro Tem Norris moved to approve the Consent Agenda. Councilmember Searcy seconded the motion which passed unanimously. The following items were approved: Receive for file Minutes of the General Employees Pension Board meeting held 11/3/20. Receive for file Minutes of the Recreation Advisory Board meeting held 12/8/20. Receive for file Minutes of the Planning Commission meeting held 1/5/2 1. Receive for file Minutes of the Recreation Advisory Board meeting held 1/12/21. Minutes of Village Council Meeting held February 11, 2021 Page 2 of 4 MOTION — Partial Release of Retainage in the amount of $375,000 to the Weitz Company for the North Palm Beach Country Club Project. A motion was made by Vice Mayor Mullinix and seconded by President Pro Tem Norris to approve a Partial Release of Retainage in the amount of $375,000 to the Weitz Company for the North Palm Beach Country Club Project. Special Projects Director Chuck Huff gave an update on the work that was completed at the Country Club. Mr. Huff stated that there was one outstanding item for the Weitz Company to complete and the release of $375,000 was a partial release of the $458,042 retainage. A remainder of $83,042 would be retained in order to fix the faulty lights in the grand staircase and west side of the Grille Room at the Country Club. Thereafter the motion passed unanimously. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MATTERS/REPORTS Vice Mayor Mullinix recommended installing fishing piers at Lakeside Park. Councilmember Searcy stated that she welcomed the idea of installing fishing piers at Lakeside Park, but was concerned that residents would be upset if it created more activity at the park. Vice Mayor Mullinix stated that most of the residents' concerns were due to people parking in front of their houses in order to go to the park. Discussion ensued among Council regarding the installation of fishing piers at Lakeside Park and the possible issues that could arise. Council agreed to have future discussions on the subject. Mayor Bickel stated that Chester Coles gave a great presentation for his request on the possibility of forming a "Junior Council". Discussion ensued between Council regarding the possibility of forming a "Junior Council". Council agreed to have a future discussion on the subject. Councilmember Searcy asked Library Director Zak Sherman if there were community service hour opportunities for students. Mr. Sherman stated that there were opportunities for students to help out at the Library during the summer at the Library. Mayor Bickel stated that she has heard concerns from residents regarding fireworks in the Village and asked Council and Attorney Rubin if there were any ideas or ways to address those concerns. Attorney Rubin explained that nothing could be done unless the Village already had an ordinance in place prior to 2007 which was when the Florida Legislature preempted the regulation of the use of fireworks on certain holidays. Discussion ensued between Mr. Rubin, Council and Police Chief Jenkins regarding fireworks. Mayor Bickel recommended pushing out more public education regarding fireworks in the newsletter and on social media. Minutes of Village Council Meeting held February 11, 2021 Page 3 of 4 MAYOR AND COUNCIL MATTERS/REPORTS continued Mayor Bickel asked Chief Jenkins to give an update on the incident where a child was struck by a vehicle in the Village and the resulting requests for a crosswalk. Chief Jenkins stated that Police Officer Hachigian was engaged with and has had discussions with the mother of the child who was struck and the person who had requested the crosswalk. They were informed on how to do a neighborhood petition. The circumstances surrounding the crash did not suggest that a crosswalk was necessary and it was determined that the person who was struck by the vehicle was at fault, but if residents want a crosswalk their input and request would be considered. VILLAGE MANAGER MATTERS/REPORTS Mr. Lukasik stated that there were issues that had recently arisen with the use of political signs within the Village. Mr. Lukasik explained that there was an issue of candidate signs exceeding the limit allowed on corner lots. The code permits one sign per candidate per parcel. It has been observed that corner lots were exceeding this limit. Mr. Lukasik stated that he was ready to enforce the code and remove the excessive signs but had received multiple requests from doing so until the candidates had a chance to discuss. Discussion ensued between Council and Mr. Rubin regarding temporary sign code and whether or not to permit two signs per candidate on corner lots. Mayor Bickel asked Candidate Colby Briggs and Candidate John Frerking to voice their opinion regarding permitting two signs per candidate on corner lots. Mr. Briggs and Mr. Frerking stated that they were okay with Council's decision whether they allow two signs per candidate on corner lots or not. Mayor Bickel asked the three Councilmembers who were not candidates in the upcoming election to discuss and make the decision regarding the signs. Vice Mayor Mullinix, Councilmember Aubrey and Councilmember Searcy agreed to allow two signs per candidate on corner lots within the Village. Only one sign per candidate would be allowed on regular lots. Police Chief Richard Jenkins gave an Annual Police Report. Chief Jenkins reviewed and discussed the response time analysis, crime statistics and revenue generated by the Police Department over the past year. Mayor Bickel thanked Chief Jenkins and the Police Department for their service to the Village. Mayor Bickel opened public comment. Colby Briggs, 400 Oyster Road, asked if he could have until Monday to remove candidate signs from regular lots that have more than one sign per candidate. Council agreed to allow Mr. Briggs until Monday to take care of the excessive signs on certain properties in the Village. Minutes of Village Council Meeting held February 11, 2021 Page 4 of 4 VILLAGE MANAGER MATTERS/REPORTS continued Jean Somerville, 728 Lagoon Drive, expressed his concerns regarding the time it has taken to investigate and retrieve DNA results for a burglary that took place at his residence. Mayor Bickel closed public comment. Mr. Lukasik distributed a handout to Council regarding proposed legislation to preempt vacation rental rules. Mr. Lukasik discussed and explained the handout and requested direction from Council on whether or not to implement a resolution supporting the Village's stand on home rule with regards to proposed Senate Bill 522. Council directed Mr. Lukasik to bring forward a resolution for consideration. Mr. Lukasik stated that he was seeking direction regarding the paint colors of the Library and Village Hall. The Planning Commission had given their recommendations for proposed paint colors for the Library. Library Director Zak Sherman began a presentation regarding a proposed paint color for the Library. Mr. Sherman discussed the history and current conditions of the Library. Mr. Sherman stated that the proposed color of the Library was the same color as the Tennis building. Discussion ensued between Council regarding proposed colors for the Library and Village Hall. Council came to consensus to approve the proposed color of the Library which is the same color as the Tennis building and other Country Club facilities and to consider the same color for Village Hall and Public Safety Building when the time comes for those buildings to be painted. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 8:28 p.m. Jess' a Green, MMC, Village Clerk