April 9, 2019 City Commission Workshop Meeting Minutes FINALTuesday, April 9, 2019
3:30 PM
City of Delray Beach
100 NW 1st Avenue - Delray Beach, Florida 33444
Phone: (561) 243-7000 - Fax: (561) 243-3774
www.mydelraybeach.com
Delray Beach City Hall
City Commission
Mayor Shelly Petrolia
Vice Mayor Shirley Ervin Johnson
Deputy Vice Mayor Bill Bathurst
Commissioner Adam Frankel
Commissioner Ryan Boylston
Minutes - Final
Workshop Meeting
April 9, 2019City Commission Minutes - Final
Pursuant to Section 3.12 of the Charter of the City of Delray Beach, the Mayor has instructed me to
announce a Workshop Meeting of the City Commission to be held for the following purposes:
Mayor Petrolia called the Workshop Meeting to order at 3:30 p.m.
The roll call was taken by the City Clerk.
The following were in attendance:
Mayor Shelly Petrolia
Vice Mayor Shirley Ervin Johnson
Deputy Vice Mayor Bill Bathurst
Commissioner Adam Frankel
Commissioner Ryan Boylston
Others present were:
Neal de Jesus, Interim City Manager
Lynn Gelin, City Attorney
Katerri Johnson, City Clerk
W.S.1.19-387 Intracoastal Waterway Water Level and Infrastructure Vulnerability:
Presentation of Ordinance Alternatives for Implementation of Seawall
Elevations and Improvements of Private Seawalls
Recommendation:Provide direction regarding the City's desired ordinance to mandate
seawall elevations and timing of improvements to improve resiliency to
coast flooding City-wide
Sponsors:Public Works Department - Programs & Project Management
Agenda Cover Report
Other Municipal Ordinances
City of Delray Beach - Water Level Infrastructure Vulnerability
Study_FINAL
Seawall Vulnerability Summary
Seawall Ordinance Presentation 3.29.19
Attachments:
Missie Barletto, Assistant Public Works Director, gave a presentation on
Improving Resiliency to Coastal Flooding and noted the Seawall
Vulnerability Analysis was completed in October 2018. In addition, Ms.
Barletto gave an update regarding the Stormwater Master Plan and
reviewed the top 5 ranked projects and noted staff will start to address
these which are prioritized based on the flooding problem severity. She
noted that the City is working on raising the seawalls and commented that
the City will need to work with the private sector in bringing their seawalls
up to the same level. Ms. Barletto stated staff will be requesting a policy
direction from the City Commission on what type of ordinance they would
Page 1City of Delray Beach Printed on 5/8/2019
April 9, 2019City Commission Minutes - Final
like staff to bring forward. Also, staff will be requesting Capital
Improvement Plan (CIP) dollars to line pipes that are old and have become
susceptible to infiltration from ground water, and implement the backflow
prevention devices to prevent the water from coming up through the
stormwater system and flooding streets.
Mayor Petrolia noted while in Tallahassee it was used as an opportunity of
sharing findings with those in higher positions that could potentially
mandate monies at a later date that everybody along the coast will be
dealing with. She stated in receipt of this is Congresswoman Frankel at the
Federal level, State Senator Lori Berman and State Representative
Caruso who received Delray's reports which will help start that conversation
moving forward in trying to find ways to get money earmarked at a Federal
and State level coming down to a local level.
Secondly, Mayor Petrolia stated the City has to have the support of the
public and she suggested that staff reach out to the community and
distribute educational information from the City to the public to give them a
better understanding of what is going on with respect to the rising tides.
Ms. Barletto explained that approximately 78% of the City's population has
seawalls that are below what City standards need to be built up to over the
next few years.
Vice Mayor Johnson inquired about the possibility of replacing the Thomas
Street pump station. Ms. Barletto stated with respect to Thomas Street
there is: (1) an immediate fix in order to continue the current level of
service, (2) look at an immediate need to re-design the pump station by
putting in two pumps that are equally capable of keeping up with the flow
and use one at a time; however, if one pump breaks, there is another pump
for backup. Ms. Barletto stated this is currently under design.
Interim City Manager stated a permanent solution under a previous Capital
Improvement Program (CIP) was initially estimated at $6 million. He stated
this mid-term solution will carry the City out several years and those pumps
that are being designed for that station will be usable in other stations. He
noted there will be a significant impact to the residents of that street and
they will not have access to their homes for approximately six months.
Interim City Manager stated until the City gets there, utilizing the
engineering firm that is now designing this for the City, is going to be the
quickest and best mid-term solution.
A brief discussion between Mayor Petrolia and Interim City Manager de
Jesus ensued regarding the $6 million not being an actual line item in the
budget, but it was part of the original Vulnerability Study of these lift stations
Page 2City of Delray Beach Printed on 5/8/2019
April 9, 2019City Commission Minutes - Final
and pump stations that were failing.
Commissioner Boylston suggested that the City Commission meet
individually with the firms for a more in-depth discussion. In addition,
Commissioner Boylston concurred with comments expressed by Mayor
Petrolia with respect to getting the information out to the community. He
suggested that staff have a Town Hall Meeting with this information and
data, and that the individuals from these firms be present as well.
Mayor Petrolia concurred that a Town Hall Meeting would be beneficial for
the community and stated she would like to make sure that they reach out
to the coastal communities.
Commissioner Frankel commended Ms. Barletto on a great presentation
and asked that this information be made available and easily distributed for
the members of the Beach Property Owners' Association (BPOA).
Mayor Petrolia suggested that the City consider having an enterprise fund
where everyone contributes a very minimal amount of money on a monthly
basis that the City is going to need during this transition. Interim City
Manager de Jesus concurred that the City needs to start to consider this
now. Mayor Petrolia stated that taking a proactive approach could help to
put Delray Beach as a priority on the list for receiving grants moving
forward.
Interim City Manager de Jesus stated with respect to the media report
regarding the cost to address the sea level rise, this is over several years
to prepare for the future. He stated when the pump station was installed it
was installed, for then with no future capacity and this new one in the
re-design brings it out 35-50 years in terms of its capacity based on these
projections.
W.S.2.19-421 GREEN IMPLEMENTATION ADVANCEMENT BOARD 2019 ANNUAL
PRESENTATION
Sponsors:City Manager Department
Agenda Cover Report
GIAB Annual 2019 Update Powerpoint
Attachments:
Mayor Petrolia stated students from Lynn University and Florida Atlantic
University (FAU) came into her office today to discuss "straw fish" and
explained that their new straws are all paper and super durable.
Page 3City of Delray Beach Printed on 5/8/2019
April 9, 2019City Commission Minutes - Final
Hal Stern, Chairperson of the Green Implementation Advancement Board
(GIAB), reviewed the GIAB's 2019 accomplishments. Mr. Stern stated their
goal is to eliminate single use plastics and polystyrene from all City
operations, modify contracts for all special events to eliminate the use of
single use of plastics and polystyrene, and organize a "green team" among
City departments. He suggested to develop or revise the City's green
building ordinances, and support a Community Vulnerability Assessment,
reduce single use plastics community-wide, and brand a Green Civic
Culture.
W.S.3 COMMISSION COMMENTS
Commissioner Frankel commented about an email from Interim City
Manager de Jesus with respect to fire inspections at local establishments.
He expressed concern over how the first responders and inspectors were
treated and noted this is unacceptable. Commissioner Frankel asked the
City Attorney about the City policies regarding fines for violating certain
occupancy loads and the treatment of the 15 Police Officers. He inquired if
the City can bill the establishment for the overtime for these officers who
were there. Commissioner Frankel asked if the fees can be higher and
suggested that a Magistrate review these violations versus a Board
because the Board is dismissing 95% of the claims.
The City Attorney stated she retained a law firm to take an unbiased look of
the City's Code of Ordinances. The City Attorney stated the City has the
ability to utilize a Special Magistrate which would not require a code
change; however, there are some policies that would need to be
determined (i.e. which cases would move forward and what the criteria
would be).
Mayor Petrolia suggested that commercial property violations go to a
Special Magistrate and residential be more on a case per case basis; or,
allow the establishments to choose to go before a Board or a Magistrate.
Mayor Petrolia stated this needs to get under control and stopped
immediately. In addition, Mayor Petrolia suggested to push back the times
that these establishments are allowed to be open.
Commissioner Frankel requested a review of any policies or ordinances
that as a group the City Commission can discuss.
Deputy Vice Mayor Bathurst stated the town at night needs to be safe for
everyone and he concurred with comments expressed by Mayor Petrolia
and Commissioner Frankel.
Page 4City of Delray Beach Printed on 5/8/2019
April 9, 2019City Commission Minutes - Final
Interim City Manager de Jesus stated there was staffing at most
establishments; however, the one establisment that was shut down Friday
night did not have staff because previously they were compliant. He stated
they were cited for some fire code violations, however, they were
cooperative. Interim City Manager stated there were two establishments
that were not staffed on Friday night and the rest of the establishments had
multiple fire inspectors. Staff is working with the Police, Code, and
Fire-Rescue and the occupant load is under control. However, he noted
that the rest of the establishments are still converting to a restaurant. Interim
City Manager de Jesus stated he has asked the City Attorney to see if the
City can force these establishments to hire more Police so that we can
ensure our personnel are safe because the Police are working the detail
for them, however, the City personnel is getting threatened. Interim City
Manager stated there is an equal amount of residents and visitors in this
community that have expressed their gratitude to the City for getting back
Atlantic Avenue.
Mayor Petrolia stated at the late night hour, there is so many people lined
up waiting to get into these establisments, that the average population has
to go out into the road in order to be able to walk because the sidewalks
are not large enough for people to line up and allow others to walk by. She
noted that this was not intended to be a "nightclub city" and there are
droves of people walking out into the street with the cars right at their feet in
order to be able to pass by these large crowds that have assembled
outside of these restaurants.
Deputy Vice Mayor Bathurst stated he wants to ensure that Delray Beach
has a sustainable economy for this downtown destination and shared the
identical concerns expressed by Mayor Petrolia.
Vice Mayor Johnson expressed concern over the Public Safety personnel
being verbally assaulted and having beer thrown on them. Interim City
Manager de Jesus stated there are not laws against this; however, through
the Police Department and the Legal Department they are looking at the
"threshold of obstruction" when a manager or owner refuses to comply, and
it forces the City to take action on their behalf.
Commissioner Boylston concurred with comments expressed by his
colleagues and supports Interim City Manager de Jesus with whatever he
decides should be the next step for the City.
Mayor Petrolia stated if the City staff was not in front of these restaurants,
they would be well beyond capacity as they have been in the past and
creates a dangerous situation.
Page 5City of Delray Beach Printed on 5/8/2019
April 9, 2019City Commission Minutes - Final
There being no further business to discuss, Mayor Petrolia adjourned the
Workshop Meeting at 4:56 p.m.
Page 6City of Delray Beach Printed on 5/8/2019
City ¢ferl<
ATTEST:
The undersigned is the City Clerk of the City of Delray Beach, Florida, and the
information provided herein is the Minutes of the Workshop Meeting held on April 9,
2019, which Minutes were formally approved and adopted by the City Commission on
May 7, 2019.
CityClerk
NOTE TO READER:
If the Minutes you have received are not completed as indicated above, this means they
are not the official Minutes of the City Commission. They will become the official
Minutes only after review and approval which may involve some amendments, additions
or deletions as set forth above.