09-07-88SpMtg260
SEPTEMBER 7, 1988
A Special Meeting of the City Commission of the City of Delray
Beach, Florida, was called to order by Deputy Vice-Mayor McCarty at the
Chamber of Commerce Building at 5:05 P.M., Wednesday, September 7, 1988.
Roll call showed:
Present - Commissioner Patricia Brainerd
Commissioner Marie Horenburger
Commissioner Mary McCarty
Mayor Doak S. Campbell (Arrived 5:10 P.M.)
Absent - Commissioner Jimmy Weatherspoon
Also present were - City Manager Walter O. Barry and
Assistant City Attorney Jeffrey Kurtz
Deputy Vice-Mayor McCarty called the meeting to orde~ and
announced that this meeting has been called for the purpose
Holding a joint meeting between the City Commission and the C~
discuss goals and directions of the CRA.
1. Leon Weekes, Vice Chairman of the CRA, reported that as their
~rst order of business the CRA discussed the matter of West Atlantic
Avenue and. a proposal by Mr. Finley for some redevelopment along the
Avenue; in particular, to do something about the vacant lots and try and
address the problem of loitering.
Mayor Campbell stated the areas the Commission primarily wanted
to look at were: (1) give the CRA an opportunity to relate to the
Commission what their agenda might be for the upcoming year, how they
might expect some interaction from the Commission and perhaps give the
Commission a recap where they are on their main project and where they
expect to go; and (2) specific recommendations for improvements along
West Atlantic Avenue.
Bill Finley, Interim Executive Director of the CRA, advised
that in discussions with the Police Department he felt that their
frustrations, at least in part, seem to focus on the fact that they are
somewhat helpless to deal with people who are on the edge of the law in
the West Atlantic area, partially because there is so much freedom to
roam out there. Mr. Finley displayed an aerial map of the West Atlantic
area from 1-95 to Swinton Avenue with all the major vacant parcels
outlined in red; it turns out that over 50% of the frontage on West
Atlantic Avenue is vacant and many of these areas are used for people
just to park in and throw trash on. He advised that what has been tried
in other cities and has worked is, in effect, the obtaining of permis-
sion from the owners of these properties and effectively barricading and
modestly landscaping the lots. Barricading would consist of reinforced
concrete posts on about 30 to 40 foot centers with 3/4 inch cable
stretched between them. The lots would be sodded and irrigated. Mr.
Finley advised he has discussed this with the Director and staff of the
Parks Department and the current estimate is that it would cost about
$100,000 to landscape all of these; obviously, they may want to do some
on an experimental basis. He has also spoken with Major Lincoln of the
Police Department and it was his opinion that this would do a lot to
focus their ability to deal with people who are trespassing inside these
barricaded areas. It may well be necessary to establish a business
curfew in this area and eventually, as the City did in two other loca-
tions, if there is a business that refuses to cooperate, the City may
end up having to close it.
Mr. Finley stated the other side of this isa more positive
one. The businesses that are in that area are in need of help; this can
be done by giving them design assistance and assistance in getting loans
and guarantees to expand their business.
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Upon question by Ms. McCarty, Mr. Finley advised the posts are
only about four feet high, eight inches in diameter and will be painted
white. Mayor Campbell asked if an inventory has been done as to how
much legitimate parking is required; it is his concern that some of the
businesses need some of these vacant unpaved lots and would not the City
have an obligation, as it is doing downtown, to address those needs and
turn some of the lots into commercial use. Mr. Finley stated most of
the businesses have parking of their own and when the time comes to get
the permission of the property owner it would quickly be revealed if he
had an arrangement with an adjacent property and those rights would be
respected.
Clay Wideman, businessman in this area, stated he is very
encouraged by the discussion of the vacant lots, the landscaping plans,
etc.; he would like the whole Avenue from 1-95 to the ocean to be
referred to as "downtown".
There was discussion on signage for the lots with regard to
trespassing and the liability incurred if children were allowed to play
there.
Mr. Weekes suggested taking a specific parcel or doi
two,
experiment and see how it works; this would not costa lot of
they would find out if it is, indeed effective. Ms. Horenburger
she would like to pick a spot that is really a hangout, a car pa~ki~g~' '
place, and do that first; then see what reaction there is. Mr. ~weekes
felt it would be better to ease into it.
With regard to the lots, Mayor Campbell recommended that Mr.
Finley and the City Manager get together and bring something before the
Commission, perhaps at the next regular workshop. Mayor Campbell
clarified that the CRA will be working closely with members of the City
staff and local community leaders.
David Randolph commented that with regard to the area between
7th and 9th Avenues, there is a great deal of on-street parking between
those two blocks and this is quite a bit of the problem during late
nights and early mornings. The barriers are not going to do any good
there, so this will have to be addressed also.
Major Lincoln commented that the law died that would have
prohibited the loud radios and music heard within 50 feet; he has copies
of the Bill and perhaps if the Commission is interested they may want to
do something with a municipal ordinance. The Commission concurred.
Mayor Campbell advised he felt it would be helpful if the CRA
would give the Commission an overview of their plans and objectives for
the coming year and how they would factor in the Commission as a partic-
ipant.
Mr. Finley stated they are actively involved in moving toward
acquiring the rest of the Courthouse site. The parking garage is moving
along, and while they have been sued, the attorneys tell them they are
in reasonably good shape and that the garage should start construction
in January. With regard to the West Atlantic Avenue area, Mr. Finley
advised that from 1st to 1st and from Swinton there is 75 acres with 450
families living in this area and 50% of the land is vacant. Beyond the
year 2000 there could be an investment of up to $150,000,000 and it will
take at least a decade to clean it up.
Mr. Weekes stated he felt it would be appropriate to sit down
and discuss 2nd Avenue and some other things and perhaps prioritize some
of them.
Mayor Campbell commented that with regard to the housing
project, there is a need to integrate this with the CRA's needs as
replacement housing. It would be helpful, with regard to redevelopment,
.to estimate how many people, in the near term, might realistically be
replaced by redevelopment. Ms. McCarty stated she felt they need to
elaborate on this even more fully, i.e., whether the homes are single
family owned or rental. There might even be a public/private situation
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262
wherein the developer would provide the infill housing for the displaced
person.
Major Lincoln commented ~that there is some State money avail-
able through grant for a Neighborhood Improvement program.
Dr. Michael Wiatrowski, Florida Atlantic University, stated he has
spoken before the Human Relations Committee advising them that there are
funds available through the Safe Neighborhood Improvement District and
has since met with Mayor Campbell. He felt there was a good opportunity
here for bringing in some expertise from the University and expects to
meet with the Chairman of the CRA when he returns from out of town. Dr.
Wiatrowski offered his services from the University to help in any way.
Mayor Campbell declared the meeting adjourned at 6:05 P.M.
The undersigned is the City Clerk of the City of Delray Beach
and that the information provided herein is the minutes of the meeting
of said City Commission of September 7, 1988, which minutes were formal-
ly approved and adopted by the City Commission on ~ ~ 4'-
NOTE TO READER:
If the minutes that you have received are not completed as indicated
above, then this means that these are not the official minutes of City
Commission. They will become the official minutes only after they have
been reviewed and approved which may involve some amendments, additions,
or deletions to the minutes as set forth above.
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