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Town of Ocean Ridge |
Town Hall: |
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Town Hall Building & Zoning Police Department
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Special Town Commission Meeting of the Town of Ocean Ridge held on Monday, March 8, 1999 at 5:00 PM. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Aaskov and roll call was answered by the following: Commissioner Bingham Commissioner Bridges Commissioner Kaleel Commissioner Stamos Mayor Aaskov Pledge of Allegiance Actions and Reports
Town Manager Dunham advised that in November, the Town Commission had approved Kilday & Associates to design a new concept for the Town Hall. He explained that the staff completed a space needs analysis which discovered that the existing space is inadequate. He added that the existing building maintenance is high. He stated that certain assumptions were made for the new concepts including that the town may have a need for a sewage collection or water treatment plant in the future. Mike Champagne, Kilday & Associates, advised that the three concepts which he would be presenting were, in fact, in the early design phase and questions were welcome. He explained that he took two different approaches, one which kept part of the existing Town Hall and two designs which included a totally new Town Hall structure. He stated that the space analysis done by the town staff had determined that 8300 square feet was needed. He added that all three sketches kept the fire garage in its current location and assumed that the right-of-way would be abandoned and the north parcel would be acquired. In describing the first concept, Mr. Champagne advised that the existing Town Hall would be maintained with the addition of a second story. He advised that there would be an entrance area or lobby for the Town Hall and a separate entrance for the Department of Public Safety. He added that there were pavers shown in the drive near the mailbox, the employee parking would be in the rear of the building (as in all three sketches), the water and sewage treatment facilities would be in the rear (also in all three sketches), there would be sufficient pavement area for the operation of the fire vehicles, and that the area north of the Town Hall would not have to be used. In describing the second concept, he advised that a new two story Town Hall would be built north of the current building. He added that a new Department of Public Safety building would be one story, pavers would be placed in the parking lot, and there would be staggered parking in the entrance area. In the third concept, the current building was replaced with a two story Town Hall and Department of Public Safety building. He added that this design also gave the highest number of citizen parking spaces. Town Manager Dunham stated that since the space needs analysis had been given to Kilday & Associates, the Environmental Resources Advisory Board has stressed the need for an area for children to play which may need to be included in the Town Commission’s planning. Comm Bridges stated that he was upset that there were no single story concepts presented. Mr. Champagne explained that the second story was used to free up the land for other requirements. Comm Bridges added that cost-wise he felt the Town needed to have a single story Town Hall. Comm Bingham questioned if the garage could be reversed so that the fire trucks would come out the north side of the building and not have to interact with citizen traffic. Director Hillery explained that there are no doors on the north side of the garage and that the firing range would have to be removed to place doors there. Mr. Champagne explained that the third concept tries to keep a separate entrance for citizen traffic and emergency vehicles. Comm Stamos advised that when creating similar concepts, he always tried to have stacking room in the parking area. He stated that all three concepts have parking right off of A1A which could cause a traffic problem when someone was backing out of a space. He also stated that he would like to see more green space between the parking lot and the building. He stated that he would like to utilize the north side for some sort of traffic pattern and that the buildings being placed away from A1A is better. Mr. Champagne explained that keeping the existing Town Hall causes tightness with the parking and that moving the Town Hall north would alleviate that. He added that a single story Town Hall would spread out to a larger area and take away some of the landscaped area. Comm Kaleel stated that he agreed with Comm Bridges regarding the single story and maintaining the existing Town Hall. He advised that he did not believe there was enough traffic to justify changing the driveway/traffic patterns. He added that he would like to see a "bandshell" placed around the Town Hall to give it a Town Center type of feel. Comm Bridges stated that he wanted to keep the existing building even though it will be more expensive to do so. Mayor Aaskov stated that she would like to keep at least part of the existing building a single story adding that she liked Comm Kaleel’s concept of a Town Center feel. Comm Bridges asked what the present elevation of the building was to which he was told that the elevation of the existing Town Hall chambers is 10’5". Comm Bridges reiterated to Mr. Champagne that the Commissioners would like to keep part of the existing building. Mr. Champagne clarified that the commission wanted to keep the east end of the building where the steps started in the hallway. Mr. Champagne added that to bring the current building up to code would be very expensive. Comm Stamos stated that he felt something needed to be done in order to eliminate the possible bottleneck in the parking area adding that if the town is going to obtain more land, they should expand to use it. Comm Kaleel questioned if the entrances could be changed to accommodate more traffic to which Mr. Champagne advised that access was a weakness in keeping the current building. He added that the second concept tried to give more open area in parking. Comm Bridges stated that the Town Commission would also like to provide a sufficient buffer for the neighbors to the north and south. He added that he felt Mr. Champagne had sufficient direction from the Town Commission to return a new concept to the Commission. Comm Kaleel stated that he felt there would not be any problems with traffic flow as there are no problems now. He added that he, too, felt the consultant had enough information to design a new concept. Mr. Champagne questioned if there were any other issues to be included to which Town Manager Dunham stated the possibility of a children’s play area. Comm Stamos stated that the Commissioners were trying to accomplish two goals. He stated that the first was to save the old Town Hall and the second is to modernize the facility. He stated that they are trying to add on to a building that is not functional. He stated that he felt trying to keep the existing building might not be the best way. Mr. Champagne stated that if the town wanted to confront the environmental/mangrove issue, they could possibly find another route for the emergency vehicles to exit the property. Comm Bridges stated that he did not feel there was or would be any traffic problems. Director Hillery stated that when the Town Hall is having a large function, a fire truck is parked near A1A so that it would not have to go through the lot in order to exit. Mr. Champagne concluded that keeping the existing Town Hall was really a sentimental situation and that it would limit what can be done and significantly increase the cost. He added that from a design standpoint, it would be very limiting to keep the building. Comm Kaleel moved to have Kilday & Associates present a new conceptual plan which includes a one story building and incorporates the comments made at this meeting from the Commissioners, seconded by Comm Bridges. Motion carried – yea 5. Resolutions 2. Resolution No. 99-07
Town Clerk Hancsak read Resolution No. 99-07 by title only. Town Manager Dunham stated that he felt the Town Commission agreed that the current Town Hall facilities are inadequate and that the surrounding property would have to be obtained for that reason. Comm Kaleel moved to approve Resolution No. 99-07 for discussion purposes, seconded by Comm Bridges. Atty Nicoletti advised that he had contacted the firm of Vance & Doney in regards to this issue as they are experts the specialized field of land acquisition. He added that in order for the Town to try and acquire the land, the Commission would need to pass this resolution. Bill Doney, Vance & Doney, stated that an issue resolved by the use of eminent domain would eventually be brought before a judge. He advised that a public facility conceptual plan be agreed upon before the Town reaches that stage in order to show a judge how much thought has been given to the needed land. He suggested that the Town Commission withdraw the motion until the time when a plan is agreed upon. Comm Kaleel advised that he would like to withdraw his motion. He stated that he hopes the land situation can be resolved amicably, but that the Town would have to move ahead with the issue, as Boynton Beach will not. Comm Bridges advised that he would like to withdraw his second to the motion adding that he agreed that he would like to solve the problem amicably, if possible. Mr. Doney advised that no matter when the resolution is passed, there would still have to be a period of negotiations with Boynton Beach. Comm Kaleel moved to retain the firm of Vance & Doney as special counsel for their assistance on this issue, seconded by Comm Bridges. Comm Stamos asked Mr. Doney his opinion of the Town attempting to use eminent domain against another municipality. Mr. Doney advised that if Boynton Beach were using the property, the Town could not claim it, but since the Town has been using the land for many years and it is next to the Town Hall, it would be natural for the town to want to take it. Comm Kaleel questioned what Mr. Doney’s hourly rate would be to which Mr. Doney replied that it is $200 per hour. Comm Kaleel suggested that a cap be placed on the amount for Mr. Doney’s services. Mr. Doney explained that the process in claiming eminent domain would be a long one in which there would be a jury trial to determine land value after the issue is brought before a judge. Comm Kaleel amended his earlier motion to include a $10,000 open cap on Mr. Doney’s services to be funded from the legal professional services account, seconded by Comm Bridges. Motion carried – yea 5. Comm Kaleel volunteered his services to work with Mr. Doney as the Town Commission designee. Comm Bridges volunteered his services to work with Kilday & Associates as the Town Commission designee as did Comm Stamos. Comm Bingham moved that Comm Kaleel assist Vance & Doney on the recommendation of the Town Commission, seconded by Comm Bridges. Motion carried – yea 5. Comm Kaleel moved that Comm Bridges assist Kilday & Associates on the recommendation of the Town Commission citing that two commissioners would fall under the provisions of the Sunshine Law, seconded by Comm Bingham. Motion carried – yea 5. Comm Bridges commented that a larger company was buying out Browning-Ferris, the town’s garbage company. He stated that he wanted to discuss a new garbage contract at the next meeting adding that he felt the service has gone down since County Sanitation was bought out. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 6:20 PM. |
