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HomeMy Public PortalAbout2022-03-04 Village Council Retreat MinutesBAL HARBOUR - VILLAGE - Mayor Gabriel Groisman Vice Mayor Seth E. Salver Councilman David J. Albaum Councilman Jeffrey P. Freimark Councilman Buzzy Sklar Village Manager Jorge M. Gonzalez Village Clerk Dwight S. Danie Village Attorneys Weiss Serota Helfman Cole & Bierman, P.L. Bal Harbour Village Council Retreat Minutes March 3, 2022 from 9:00 AM until 6:30 PM and March 4, 2022 from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort • 9701 Collins Avenue • Bal Harbour • Florida 33154 May 6, 2021 CALL TO ORDER - Mayor Groisman called the Retreat to order at 9:05 AM. The following were present: Mayor Gabriel Groisman Vice Mayor Seth Salver Councilman David Albaum Councilman Jeffrey Freimark Councilman Buzzy Sklar Also present: Jorge M. Gonzalez, Village Manager Dwight S. Danie, Village Clerk Susan Trevarthen, Village Attorney Ramiro Inguanzo, Assistant Village Manager Dr. Rick Jensen, Retreat Facilitator Dr. Jensen provided an overview the of the 2 -day agenda, including COVID-19 protocols. He reviewed the ground rules for engagement and provided an overview of the qualities of behavioral leadership. He then reviewed the DISC profiles (Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, Conscientiousness) of those present. Mr. Jensen then presented a video showing the achievements of the Village for the last several years. Councilmembers agreed that the accomplishments were a testament to Village Staff and agreed that their ability to stay focused on setting policy guided by agreed upon priorities was essential to success. Dr. Jensen then listed the following Keys to Success: Commitment to Respect; Operate as a Council; Set Policy - Don't Operate; and Leverage One Another's Strengths. Councilmembers then offered additional keys including: • Attend to, respect and support other's passions; • Achieve consensus with willingness to concede/compromise; • Use your "volume control"; • Be willing to be educated; • Do what's in the best interest of the Village; • Be willing to change; • Have a short memory; and • Park egos at the door. Mr. Gonzalez reviewed "The Bal Harbour Experience" that was developed during the first annual Bal Harbour Village Council Retreat in November of 2017 that described Bal Harbour's identity, vision, mission, and values, the elements of which are: Safety, Beautiful Environment, Modernization of Public Facilities 8( Infrastructure, Resilient & Sustainable Community, Destination 8( Amenities and Exclusivity 8( Access. He said that in response to a concern raised at the 2021 Council Retreat regarding the term "Exclusivity", the Tourism Department had surveyed other luxury markets and had suggested the categories Timeless & Elegant, Destination & Amenities, Unique & Uncompromising, and Safety. After a brief discussion, there was a general consensus that the present categories should remain as they are, except that Exclusivity & Access be changed to Unique & Elegant. He then asked Councilmembers to rank the elements of the Bal Harbour Experience. The results of the ranking are as follows. Element Rank Safety 32 Beautiful Environment 20 Modernization of Public Facilities and Infrastructure 19 Resilient & Sustainable Community 13 Destination and Amenities 13 Exclusivity & Access 3 Council Members were then provided a list of initiatives that were placed into the categories: Governance/Administration, CIP/Construction, Tourism, Community Engagement - Parks & Recreation - Special Events, Safety, Appearance-Cleanliness- Sustainability, and Other (write-in). They were then asked to prioritize their top initiatives. The initiatives that received the highest priority, ranked in order, were: Bal Harbour Village Council Retreat Meeting Minutes — March 3 & 4, 2022 Pa g e 1 2 Initiative Rank Jetty Project 25 Waterfront Park Project 16 New Village Hall Project 15 Sand Bypass Project 11 Marine Patrol 11 Collins Corridor Project 8 Jogging Trail Master Plan 8 Mr. Gonzalez clarified that the Village's priority for the Sand Bypass Project was to advocate for the project to the County, State and Federal government regulatory agencies. A general discussion ensued regarding the condition of the sidewalks along Collins Avenue and whether or not a complete renovation, should be part the Collins Corridor Project. There was a general consensus to currently focus primarily on pedestrian safety and repair the sidewalks where needed, then do a wholesale renovation as part of Project, At 12:25 PM the Council took a short break then reconvened at 12:38 PM. Mr. Gonzalez reviewed the Capital Program Schedule for the Utility Master Plan Projects, the Waterfront Park, the New Village Hall, the Jetty/Cutwalk/96th Street, and Collins Corridor. He said that he would reserve the Stormwater project for a separate discussion the following day. The Council commended Matilde Reyes for her diligence in the management of these projects During the discussion of the Waterfront Park, Mr. Gonzalez provided a presentation showing the proposed playground elements designed by Monstrum, including The Egret Chick, The Nest and the Globe, and The Sky City. He then provided an update of construction progress. He said that the park will primarily be for Bal Harbour Residents, except that the plan is to open certain programming to non-residents. He described the coordination with the Bal Harbour Civic Association in the design of the park gate and entrance to the Gated Community. During the discussion of the Jetty and the 96th Street Terminus, Mr. Gonzalez said that the Village had received comments from the regulatory agencies and that design and development drawings were just recently submitted with our own responses. He said that the reaction from the agencies is that they have never seen anything like this project. He said that the Plaza at the west end of the Jetty will be accelerated in order receive grant funds. He then described coordinated efforts with One Bal Harbour to improve pedestrian access. He said that discussions with Surfside officials regarding the 96th Street Terminus had been put on hold due to the Champlain Tower Collapse, and would resume after the Bal Harbour Village Council Retreat Meeting Minutes — March 3 & 4, 2022 Page i 3 upcoming Surfside Elections. He said that if they refuse to share the costs, the Village would pay, but the preference is to reach an agreement. At 1:58 PM the Council took a break then reconvened at 2:25 PM. Mr. Jensen then led an exercise where participants were asked to group into pairs, randomly draw with crayons on a piece of paper, then change partners and repeat the process several times. The drawings were then examined and discussion ensued regarding traits exhibited by participants from their drawings. At 4:20 PM, the Council took a break, then reconvened at 4:40 PM. Councilman Albaum suggested that Mayor Groisman's name should be on the plaques for the new Waterfront Park and the Jetty. The Village Attorney said that she would explore legislative options that would allow current Councilmembers' names to be included. Mr. Gonzalez provide an update on the new Village Hall project saying that a contract would be brought before the Council in April, the money from the Shops is in the bank, that the earliest day to start construction is November 2024, and that the latest the Shops can be on the property is June 2025. The Retreat was recessed until the following day at 5:00 PM. March 4, 2022 The Council reconvened the Retreat at 9:00 A.M. The Village Council, at the Village Council meeting on December 14, 2021 Workshop, opted to defer the Village Manager's performance review, to be discussed more thoroughly, to this Retreat. The Council delegated Councilman Freimark the assignment to work and negotiate with the Village Manager to present a proposed agreement. The Village Manager presented the proposed agreement with his Issue Sheet for this Retreat topic. The Council and the Manager conducted further negotiations and agreed upon a set of terms that would be presented at the March15, 2022 Village Council Meeting. At 11:30 AM the Council took a break, then reconvened at 12:05 PM. Bal Harbour Village Council Retreat Meeting Minutes — March 3 a 4, 2022 Page 1 4 Mr. Gonzalez led a discussion regarding the General Employees' Pension Plan presenting the scenario from agreed upon at the 2021 Retreat. There was a general consensus to not change the existing plan for currently employed staff. They agreed that for future employees, that monthly retirement benefit would be 2.5% of the final average earnings for the highest 60 months over the last 10 years of employment. It was also agreed that the normal retirement age be changed to age 62 (or age 60 with 25 years of service), and that the COLA also reduced to 1.25%. Councilman Albaum introduced a discussion item regarding a pension for elected officials. After a discussion, there was a general consensus that Councilmembers should be allowed to participate in the General Employees' Pension Plan and shall accrue a retirement benefit of 4% of final average compensation up to a maximum benefit of 32%. Mr. Gonzalez said that he would put the numbers together and bring back an ordinance to the Council at its March meeting. Mr. Gonzalez then led a brief discussion regarding an enhanced investment strategy for improved investment yield. He provided a scenario for short-term fixed income portfolio recommending the following steps to proceed: • Establish an Investment Committee/Leadership Team. • Review all laws and regulations applicable to federal, state local governments. • Engage an Investment Advisor (i.e., issue an RFP or piggy back from the GE Pension Plan Contract). • Develop an investment policy. • Establish Banking/Investment Firm Accounts. • Establish risk and return objectives. • Identify funds being invested and develop a cash flow forecast Mr. Gonzalez then led a discussion regarding the Building Department Permit Fee Schedule. The Building Department was recommending separate tiered fee structures for residential and commercial. Tiered Residential Fee • Minimum fee = $150 applied to the job value up to $5,000 • Tier 1 = 3% applied to the job value exceeding $5,001 and up to $1,000,000 • Tier 2 = 2% applied to the job value exceeding $1,000,001 Tiered Commercial Fee • Minimum fee = $300 applied to the job value up to $8,000 • Tier 1 = 3.75% applied to the job value exceeding $8,001 and up to $1,000,000 • Tier 2 = 2.75% applied to the job value exceeding $1,000,001 Bal Harbour Village Council Retreat Meeting Minutes — March 3 a 4, 2022 Page 15 Mayor Groisman said that if fees were going to be increased, he would like top see an increase in service, including more inspectors. Mr. Gonzalez said that he would bring an ordinance back to the Council in April. Mr. Gonzalez then led a discussion on stormwater user fees, saying that, typically, the stormwater is funded from the General Fund. He said as a result of the 2021 Council Retreat regarding this item, the he had retained a firm (Balmoral) to conduct a fee study. He said that the study indicates that the cost to maintain the stormwater system is expected to be about $'1.5 million per year. He said the issue that he was presenting is whether or not a separate stormwater utility should be created. There was a general consensus from the Council that the Village should hold off creating a utility and further explore setting aside a certain amount of surplus funds for stormwater. Councilman Albaum asked if the Council would consider giving the Vice -Mayor a pay raise due to the additional work expected of the position, to which there was a general consensus to tie this discussion with the Mayoral item scheduled for later in the afternoon. Raleigh Flowers, Bal Harbour Police Chief, provided a presentation of statistics from his department showing that there was a notable increase in law enforcement activity in 2021 involving traffic and parking violations and that Part I crimes still remain low. A discussion ensued regarding safety versus the perception of safety. Mayor Groisman said that he would like to see a greater police presence in the Village. Vice Mayor Salver agreed and said that an officer should be stationed on Collins 24/7, adding that more presence would deter. Councilman Sklar said that most of the calls that he receives from neighbors are regarding the traffic on Collins Avenue. Councilman Sklar introduced the idea of changing all the Village police cars to Tesla sans suggested that a pilot study should be done. It was suggested that Councilman Sklar should put together an issue sheet and bring the item back to Council as a discussion item. Chief Flowers made a point to pay attention to the crash rating of a Tesla. Councilman Albaum introduced the idea of having a Hall of Fame for the Village, to which Mayor Groisman suggested that a Hall of Fame should be tied in with the new Village Hall Mr. Jensen introduced the topic of the succession of Mayor since, Mayor Groisman announced that he would not be running for office again, and that he was aware from individual discussions with Councilmembers that at least three members were interested in seeking to be elected to the office. Mr. Gonzalez added that the Council could think Bal Harbour Village Council Retreat Meeting Minutes — March 3 & 4, 2022 Pa g e 16 Dwig1 t S. D riie, Village Clerk about agreeing to a protocol for selection, giving the example that a nomination should have a second as a for -instance. There was a general consensus to wait until after Candidate Qualifying, after which a Council workshop could be conducted to further explore options. ADJOURNMENT: The Retreat was adjourned at 5:00 PM. abriel Groisman Bal Harbour Village Council Retreat Meeting Minutes — March 3 a 4, 2022 Page 1 7