City Commission Meeting: 5/15/07 - A Meaty Agenda

This should prove to be the most substantial meeting since the formation of the new Commission. The following items are of particular interest:

• Item V. E. - Report by the Stakeholders Advisory Committee - the Committee was formed to monitor the public input process in the formation of the vision for the Master Plan. That portion took about the first half of the three year process. Now, we will start seeing the tangible results of the effort - the product will be the Comprehensive Plan revisions (based upon the Evaluation and Appraisal Report) and the revised Land Development Regulations. The report also includes a recommendation by the Planning and Zoning Board that the panel be sunseted as the visioning process is complete. Further public input will come through the Planning and Zoning Board and City Commission meetings that will consider the changes based on the Master Plan vision. I also understand that the current chairman of the Stakeholders Advisory Committee will recommend the Committee's dissolution, as well.
• Item V. G. - Update regarding the City Manager search from the consultant. Should include information on time lines.
• Public Hearings - Items under VII. These are fairly perfunctory changes to the zoning code. You might want to check the back up on the City's website, but most of these are second readings or continuations of already initiated changes.
• Many items under new business: Commissioner Jennings has put together a proposal for an Ecology and Sustainability Board (perhaps a good idea - staffing might be an issue along with who will populate the board - another Affordable Housing Task Force?); discussion of the status of the Palm Beach County Health Department building and its use as a Day Labor Center; discussion of next year's preliminary budget (no Finance Director, property tax reform implications); and the response to the Objections, Recommendations and Comments report related to the creation of the Beach and Casino Land Use District (look for previous posts on this - you also might want to check out my archived "Truth Matters" shows. This item needs to be waved on and sent back up to the state as all the items have been adequately addressed).

I'll be there - hope to see you there tomorrow. I think we will get a sense of the chemistry of this Commission after the meeting. Stay tuned!