Town Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening. Are we on? I want to welcome everyone to the April 21st, 2026 regular town council meeting. Time called for 6 p.m. Time is approximately 6.08. Meeting officially called to order. Roll call town clerk, please.

Mayor Singer. Here. Vice Mayor Mandel. Here. Council Member Leskin. Here. Council Member Bernstein. Here. Council Member Einstein. Here.

If we could all please rise, and Chief Rudy Habello, can you lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance, please?

Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Once again, good evening, everybody, and welcome to our monthly meeting. First is on the agenda, presentations, proclamations. I believe we have none. Next is motion to set agenda, additions, deletions, removal of items and consent agenda, or changes to the agenda. I have none. Fellow council members? None. Town manager?

Speak into the mic, please Staff should have that prepared for me. Mr. Mayor. We added to the dais item number 10, which we had originally had as a placeholder So we added item number 10 to the dais And mr. Mayor just real quick on their presentations the proclamations I'd like to introduce our new executive assistants to the police chief, Ms. Karen. Karen Rosales, if she could please stand. Karen joins us from the city of Coral Gables, where she was prior to joining us here in Golden Beach. And before that, she has extensive experience in the New York area. One of the great things about bringing Karen on board Funny how life works. So Karen actually applied to be an employee in the finance department. And Maria tried really, really hard to get me to hire her in the finance department. For a variety of reasons, I felt that that wasn't where I would want her to be placed. So the great thing about having Karen now as an executive assistant to the police chief is we have somebody with a solid payroll and finance background to be on staff that could help step in if we have issues in finance, as we have had over the last two years. And Tramia has been excellent. So we actually added somebody to the finance team. So what we're doing is hiring employees who are multi-disciplined. that can step in whenever we have some issues. So Karen is a resident of North Beach. She lives very close to the town. So if we ever had an emergency, she could come out and help with Code Red and the like. So I just wanted to introduce Karen, welcome her to our team. Sorry, Coral Gables, that we stalled her away from you. But I think that she has a long future ahead of her here in Golden Beach. And so just welcome to our team.

Welcome, Karen. Okay, next moving on the agenda, good and welfare. Do we have anyone for good and welfare? Before that, I just need everyone to consent changes the addition to the agenda item number 10. All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Anyone opposed? Item 10 is added. Going back to the agenda, good and welfare. Anyone for good and welfare?

No, sir.

Okay, moving right along. Mayor's report. I'm going to keep mine real quick. I just want to say that the Mayor's Speaker Series was a big success. I appreciate everyone that came. I know everyone enjoyed it. Aventura Hospital sent five physicians and they talked about women's health I want to thank Aventura Hospital for participating in our event, and I want to thank everyone who attended. Thank you for coming. It was a big success. Tonight, we're going to select both the park and the gym equipment. The town council, town manager and the staff have been working extremely hard on this. This is very exciting. It's just another step in the progress of finishing the wellness center and the parks around it. So very, very excited. Town manager is going to give us an update on the Wellness Center this evening and the progress it's taken and time frame exactly where it is. Two other quick comments is one is on security and safety. again uh golden beach has been very fortunate uh we have not had no incidents recently and i just urge the residents especially going into the summer months a lot of us go away for the summer if you do go away please notify the town administration and the police department so they can put an extra watch on your house and Please be vigilant and if you see anything, please dial the guardhouse or 911. Don't hesitate and work all together to continue the safety for the Golden Beach residents. And that along with the summer coming along, I can't urge you enough to please make sure you stop at the stop signs, drive slowly through town, especially with the summer break coming up and try to stay off your phone when you're driving through town. So with that, I'll move that on to council comments. Start with Vice Mayor. Vice Mayor.

Just wanted to thank the town staff for their phenomenal work on the park and on the Wellness Center Really you've you you've been amazing Thank You councilwoman Luskin I have no comment councilman Einstein well, that was quick I like to echo the vice mayor sentiments on the

tremendous job and transparency that the administration did all of the wellness presentation the The gym equipment the park equipment that we had the workshop on I think that was a tremendous meeting in which we were able to vet and which type of equipment we wanted, and also for the furniture package that is going into the Wellness Center. And last but not least, I got to go around while we were looking at audio video up there to kind of make selections. look at what needed done. So, you know, the town has had the opportunity to make their input on all of these items. And I think we're going to have a tremendous, tremendous success at the end of the day. And I thank everybody who had a part in doing it.

Thank you. Also, I want to add one more thing before I turn over you, Bernstein. I want to thank The committees that participated in the wellness equipment and the park equipment, the residents, they did a great job and really appreciate their input. And everything was taken extremely serious. And they were a tremendous addition to selection of what we selected.

Councilman Bernstein, I guess I'd like to first start by reiterating the same comments. I love where we're at and with the park. And with the gym, I think by the time it got to us for review, it had been extensively examined and made the decision making a lot easier. And I'm very happy and proud to be building these structures that we're doing. In addition, though, I think as we're looking to do more things. And as we've recently had more support with the beach, thank you, Ms. Mendel, Commissioner Mendel. I just thought we should start thinking about some things. Maybe we don't have the money now, but for the future, I'd love to see, as I'm starting to see more and more people thinking about longevity, the possibility of putting a cold plunge and a sauna out there and seeing if there's a way to put that. I just think it's, You're seeing them more and more in different places. And this might be a little bit further down, but I don't know if you guys have seen these hyperbaric chambers. But the ability, they're one of the few things that's extending telomeres, which is basically how they're judging longevity. And I just think We might not be there yet, but we should be thinking about space while we're going through these spaces. And there's different things. There's different sizes. There's different. But I just think it should be on our radar for the future is I just think these are kind of some of the, you know, going to be the more popular device.

And that's all my comments. Thank you. Thank you, Councilman Bernstein. Close council comments. Town managers report.

Did Judy say comments?

Town managers report.

Oh, sorry. Alex Diaz. That's me. I didn't realize I didn't hear Constable Luskin's report. So I thought I missed it. OK, that's right. That's how I missed it. Mayor, just I need to put something to the record. This is for the auditors. So the town of Golden Beach is part of this. raising of the old town hall has surplus any and all material of non-values as directed by the town manager as of September 30th of 2025. Any of all materials of non-valued as surplus by the town were disposed of and not sold. So the fixed asset team is to remove any fixed assets from that building and take it off of our fixed asset list as of 9 30, 2025. So let's the record reflect that so that we could be in proper setting for our disposal of surplus equipment for that building also mr mayor members of the council thank you all for the uh hours that you've put forth on helping us uh get to where we are tonight tonight we're going to be presenting to you your final gym equipment selection we're going to be recommending that you award a contract for playground design and administration furniture selection we've already gone through. We won't present that any further. We are ironing out the color scheme on the carpet that we've agreed to kind of revisit, but that won't come back to the council. So we have two more meetings left before the summer break, and we're hoping that we'll bring everything back for final vote by your June meeting. Mr. Mayor, members of the council, I also want to just put into the record that we understand that there's a lot of things going on on the global scale as it relates to wars, economic challenges that are happening. The chief of police and I have met several occasions to make sure that we have adequate staffing to make sure that during the high holiday seasons, we have extra patrols and we'll be very extra vigilant. It's imperative that if residents see something, they say something and not wait till, you know, 10 hours later or the next day, the person on the group chat. We want to be proactive in our approach. We have stepped up our patrols on the intercoastal waterways and we have extra marine patrol in that area. We'll be soon getting ready to to look at our budget tonight. You'll be making a budget amendment that will help us put in proper footing all of our projects. And Mayor, what I'll do is I'll hold the rest of my report for the Projects report because in the project report I can get into more depth Perfect.

Thank you town attorney. Do you have any update? Okay, moving right along ordinances first reading item number k1 ordinance of town council a town of Golden Beach amending the town code of ordinance chapter 24 personal article to retirement amending benefits amount and eligibility of deferred retirement Option plan. I'm going to turn that over to the town attorney Steve.

I

This is really some clarifications and just updates in giving the members of the plan, the drop plan, to actually self-direct some of their investments. The matter related to the manager simply states the actual benefit at the end of his employment should he choose to retire.

Okay, first I need a motion to approve. First, clerk, can you read into the record? I apologize. A little backwards today.

No problem, yes, sir. An ordinance of the Town Council of the Town of Golden Beach, Florida, amending Chapter 24, Personnel, Article 2, Retirement. division one general employees by amending the Town of Golden Beach employees pension plan at section 24-33, benefit amounts and eligibility, section 24-41, deferred retirement option plan, providing for conflicts, providing for severability, providing for codification and providing an effective date.

Kenny, a motion to approve?

Second.

I have a first and a second. Town attorney went over it. Did council first? Did everyone understand it? Any questions? Nope. Close it to the council. Public? Any public questions?

It has no financial impact. Zero. Correct.

Okay. Okay. Public? Close it to the public. Roll call, please. Ordinance K-1.

Mayor Singer?

Yes.

Vice Mayor Mendel? Yes. Council Member Luskin? Yes. Council Member Bernstein? Yes. Council Member Einstein? Yes. Motion passes.

Motion passes. Item L, ordinances, second reading. Item L2, ordinance of the Town Council, Town of Golden Beach, amending the Town Code of Ordinances, Chapter 66, zoning to amend piling requirements. Town Clerk, please.

An ordinance of the Town Council of the Town of Golden Beach, Florida, amending the Town's Code of Ordinances by revising Article 1 in General, Section 66-6, General Construction Requirements within Chapter 66, Zoning, to amend piling requirements providing for severability, providing for codification, providing for conflicts, and providing an effective date.

Any motion to approve?

Motion to approve. Second.

Okay. Town manager, you want to go over this? Mr. Mayor, members of council, what this item does, it gives a discretion to the town building official and the town manager to determine whether or not some structures that are not structural in nature will require pilings. This is a way to help relieve some of the financial burdens on our residents.

Okay. Thank you. Town council, any comments?

I was a little bit concerned about what type of structures

This just seemed kind of non-habitable, non-habitable in nature.

But, like, if it's where pool pumps are put on or different things, that all of a sudden you might have a change, just thinking about how that impacts.

Good point.

You know, I just think I'd rather see a little clarification in terms of what these are.

So he brings up a good point. So the question is, so when it goes through the building process, the building permit process, do at that point, is it decided or is it?

Yes. So so during permitting. So there's there are some structures like decorative elements, decorative screening where this would apply places where there isn't true live load. A pump may have live load. So if it's going to have live load that we think is going to cause for settling, then a pile may be required. But some of the issues like if you have to to to aluminum fest pulse as a decorative post area, that doesn't have light load, it has distributed load, then we wouldn't require a pile in those area. So it gives a discretion to the building official who is a structural engineer to determine whether or not a piling would be needed.

And I know I have no issue with decorative.

Oh, it's a good point.

This our code required

Until this you put piles under everything Okay structures that don't require the support of a pile and there was no ability to waive that right? All this does is says that you still got to put them there Except where the town measure manager or his designee, which is the building official? Determines that for minor structures. It's no longer required Okay, so

This leaves some discretion. With a retaining wall, for instance.

No, training walls are structured.

I wouldn't think it, but I'm just saying with a retaining wall.

Retaining walls, absolutely.

What about his first example, pool pump?

Well, it depends on, like, it depends on, yeah, so most, one, most of your pool pumps are being built into the shell of your house because your cove requires that you put them into the cove of the house.

You no longer allow them on the outside.

So I think that.

And they're generally elevated up, too. So they're not really sitting.

Below base flood. Gotcha.

A chain link fence.

We wouldn't require policy.

Those type of things.

And that's why this came up. There's been a couple of new fences that our building officials like adamant we have to follow the code. And I'm like, the intent isn't a pile underneath every fence.

The definition of a structure, which is in our code, includes virtually every single thing except something that's I can't. That doesn't attach to the ground, basically. So this pavers wouldn't be a structure, but almost anything that attaches to the ground in a permanent manner is a structure. So this required that you put pilings in for anything. If it was a column at the entrance to your driveway, for example, that wasn't supporting anything, it was decorative. It would require pilings. You don't really need it.

Any other council comments?

Just a real question. Just as we're on this topic. So I've got one of those situations where the house that's being built across the street from us, you know, lateral to me. Their house is on a new elevation, and I see their physical pool pump now. They do have a retaining wall, but the pool pump is up pretty high, and so I can see the mechanicals currently. I assume they're going to have a bush or something camouflaging it. Yes. But should we make that a requirement? I don't know if it has to. It is. It is.

Everything has to be. It's already required that there be a buffer between all of those.

For noise and aesthetics.

Yeah. Right. And it's more than just Bush. So we require screening. Right.

Anyway, going back to raising the point, I just thought if we could just kind of define structures Just make sure that we're not structures is where we structures are.

Right now, what I'm saying. Yeah, but exactly. So everything still needs a pilot except when it was a what we call minor structures. If there's a minor structure, OK, the manager or the building official do not necessarily require a piling. Every structure otherwise, if they don't waive it, it's required on everything.

So maybe the way to solve this is just by... giving some clarification, what is a minor structure?

No, they don't. He just said anything that's not... I agree with you. The problem is that that list would be so voluminous that it would take up chapters of the book. I'll give you another example. A mailbox today. If you want to put a new mailbox on Ocean or anything, we require a pile in there. The intent's not to put a pile underneath a mailbox. So it would be difficult, it would be cumbersome for us to list everything.

It could be a list of...

Right, and you'll be always adding to things.

I'm just trying to think of the easiest way to skin it. If it's not the city manager and somebody else is making that decision, we've seen in the past where things have been done improperly.

It's not. It's the building. It says in the code, building official.

Manager or designee, which is the building official.

Right. Okay. Any other council comments? Any public comments? Close to the council, close to the public. Roll call L2.

Mayor Singer?

Yes.

Vice Mayor Mandel? Yes. Council Member Einstein? Yes. Council Member Bernstein? Yes. Council Member Luskin? Yes. Motion passes.

Item two passes. Moving on to M, Quasarisu Resolution. Before I get started, there's two items, item three and four. Anyone that's going to speak on item three or four, if you could please stand up and face the town manager and town clerk. And she will swear you in. If you do not stand up and you're not sworn in, you will not be able to speak on these two items. So go on.

Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?

I do.

Thank you.

Thank you. M3, a resolution of town council approving a variance request for the property located on 317 Ocean Boulevard, seeking relief from setback requirements.

A resolution of the town of Golden Beach, Florida, authorizing and approving variance requests for the property located at 317 Ocean Boulevard, Golden Beach, Florida, 33160 to permit portions of the main residence to be placed closer to the front lot line abutting Ocean Boulevard to permit the northern structure to be constructed 41.6 feet from the front lot line and the southern structure 46.2 feet from the lot line where a minimum 60 feet setback is required.

Need a motion to approve?

Motion to approve.

Second. Second.

Mr. Mayor. Town manager, go on. Mr. Mayor, if you may, if you could allow the clerk to go ahead and read the second item, that way we could discuss both of them as one item and then put them in separately.

Hold on. Item number M4 is a resolution town council approving a variance request for the property located on 317 Ocean Boulevard seeking relief from the side and step in setback requirements.

A resolution of the Town of Golden Beach, Florida authorizing and approving variance requests for the property located at 317 Ocean Boulevard, Golden Beach, Florida 33160 to allow for the north side setbacks along the second story at 10 feet as opposed to the minimum 22 feet on the north side of the property and to allow the south side setback along the second story at 14 feet as opposed to the minimum 22 feet on the south side of the property.

Okay, before we go on that, I need a motion to approve on that.

Motion to approve.

I need a second. Second. Okay, town manager.

Mr. Mayor, we do have presenters, but let me just try to kind of give an abridged version of what they're requesting. So the first request is, so our code requires a 60-foot setback for any structures that are attached to the home. All right, so this is an existing house that they're going to remodel and they're going to, add an addition to the home. So what they're asking is instead of having a 60-foot setback for the north, and this particular house is unique because it has a north garage and a south garage, and in the middle it has like a carport area. It's an existing carport area. So they're asking to bring those two attached structures an additional 20 feet forward. I'll remind the council if this was a detached garage guest house, the setback requirements for that structure would be 20 feet off of the property line. So if they had knocked down the house and they wanted to build a new guest house, and under that scenario, they only get one, not two, because they have two garages, they could be at 20 feet from the property line. So in that case, we would have a structure 20 feet from the popping line. So what they're asking for on this existing two garages is to be afforded an additional 20 feet from the main house setback requirement, which is 60. So that's request number one in its simplicity.

Can I ask a question on that before we say that?

Mm-hmm. So instead of having 60 feet, you got 40 feet, 40 feet for the two garages and everyone else has 60 feet. So because if it was if it was correct, because they're attached, if they were detached. So if they had a separation between the home and the garage, they could actually be at 20 feet. But they don't. They don't. This is an existing house that's being remodeled.

If they're detached, they're considered accessible buildings. And they have a different setback. When there's an attachment, it causes it to be part of the main structure. And their main structure is supposed to be All the way back at six.

And I and ironically, when you look at the home itself, so not the garages, the home actually sits further back at the 60 actually sits further back because these two garages come forward from the main home. And again, they have a court carport in the middle.

The second part of this, but before you get off the set, pull up that picture.

Yeah, let's put it up before you get off that screen. The when you have 20 foot setbacks for the separate structure, You're only allowed one. One structure, correct. And isn't there like some sort of distance in between that in the main house?

You have to have an amount of square footage between the properties. 2,200 square feet of land, green space between the two structures.

Which I don't know why they... Can't they do the 20 feet the other direction toward the house?

No. No, because it's attached. It's already on the house.

Oh, it is already attached.

Yeah, it's on the house. Oh, that's right. It's attached. So let's pull it up, please. Let's put it on the screen. This is an existing house? I'm going to give you guys a chance, but just let me work this through real quick. So let's go to the rendering. This is an existing home, correct?

You had it.

Do you see a picture of the house, not the plans?

You had it here.

Keep going. I can go back to the first page if you want.

Yeah, the first one you had. First page. With the picture. That's the back of the house. There you go.

So this is the existing house. They want to come 20 feet forward from where the garage currently sits, which is bring it to 40 instead of 60. With two stories? The garage's existing two-story, correct. And if you notice, the main house sits further back. So the code says if they weren't attached to the home, because it's an auxiliary structure, they get one and they could be 20 feet off the property line. So this has it 40 feet off the property line, but it's to expand an existing garage further to get more space on the garage. So that's issue number one. Issue number one is whether or not the town council would like to have an existing home that's being remodeled had the benefit of having a an additional 20 foot not required to be set back. So we go to 40 instead of 60. So they can achieve the goal of getting that third garage on either side. And the measurement's a little bit off. I think it's from 1.26 feet on one and 41.2 on the other. But in essence, 40 feet off the property line. The second request becomes a little bit more difficult for me to explain because I'm having a hard time getting my head Supporting this item. So I'd like the second item for the presenters to present because this one is a pretty straightforward request The second one relates to the step in requirements on on the second floor for the main house So I got a question. Yep.

Does the second one relate to the first one?

No, they're both independent So why don't we vote talk about the first one first definitely talking to second I'd like to give the presenters an opportunity if I missed something on this particular request Yeah, let's talk about this one first and Alex.

I'm sorry before we before we get there. I I thought the guardhouse was...

So the guardhouse is not being asked as part of this variance process. Part of ours, and we're gonna talk about this after we vote on these variances, the mayor and I have been talking about me announcing zoning in progress as it relates to a independent guardhouse or as a second auxiliary structure that we would allow in zone one. And we'll talk about that after the two variances, because it is an important topic of discussion for tonight.

Welcome. Good evening. Thank you so much. My name is Jaime Torres. I represent Fairfax and Salmon's Architects. You need to talk into the mic.

I can't hear you.

I'm not in the microphone.

Can you hear me now? Better. Okay.

Again, Jaime Torres, Fairfax and Salmon's Architects. I'm here with my coworker, Chris Glapinski, and we're representing our clients, Ron and Aliyah Tudor at 317 Ocean Boulevard. So I'm going to speak about the first variance and the reasons why we came up with this solution. As opposed to taking advantage of the letter of the law, which allows a separate building to be 20 feet away from the street, we elected to what we think is a better architectural and massing solution in regards to the street. So what we're presenting you is a solution that's Set back, not obtrusive, more practical, and it keeps the U-shaped party to the house, keeps the house intact as is, and just adds the two garages on each wing. So basically everything is set back. And, you know, we've seen many new buildings here on the street which are taking advantage of the language for adjacent accessory structures and really pushing themselves forward really strongly and massively on the street. So we think that we're presenting a more sensitive solution to the house and to the neighborhood. We could have you know, there's that void in the center that you shape. And, you know, one could say that square footage, we could fill that void, but then that would result in a bad architectural solution, a darker and more cavernous building. So we're hoping that this is a more sensitive and beautiful solution. I think that you can see the 3D drawings on the screen and the plants and hopefully on the merits of the architecture and the solution.

Let's get to the question. because we really want to try to keep it on schedule today. So the request is being made because you wanted to add additional parking. Is that what the request is for?

The request is for the additional garages on each wing and the second floor above that.

I want to make sure that we're, because I want to be fair to the process because Council Member Bursey, made it very clear. And it's the point that I was trying to stay away from. So we don't want to be disingenuous to the process because to keep it, to bring it, you could have brought it further to the 20 feet. However, you only get one side, not both sides. So you're wanting to have both sides keep the garages on either side and they're attached because if you detach it, you only get it on one side, not on both sides. So to answer your question, Council Member Bernstein earlier, should they follow the code, they only get one structure, but because this is an existing home that has both structures already attached, The reason the town is okay with giving them that 20 feet. So instead of bringing one unit up to the road, they're both sitting back. And here's where we do support it. Because it is for garage and garage purposes only, not other things like a gym or whatever, our code now as part of the Zone 1 process is to maximize garage parking. as best we can. And we're trying to maximize that. And in fact, we are going to be looking at changing the code with that green space between the properties for the detached garage so we get more parking in there. So that's why the 20 feet doesn't really necessarily bother us because it's an existing home that they're choosing to preserve. The aesthetics and what it has today, they're adding garage space, which is what the bonus is.

You put the picture up again?

Which is what the bonus is for parking. I got you.

Put the picture up one more time.

Alex, are you saying this is currently there?

That's currently, that house is there today.

No, but the two structures.

The two garages are there.

So it has four car, with the second story is there also? Yes, yes. It's all there.

Each wing has two garages and second floor. Correct. So we're adding one more bay to each one.

They're not ancillary because they're all connected. They're extending both garages towards the street and adding one bay.

Yes. And that's an existing home?

Correct.

Can I ask why are they doing it?

Because their needs have increased. Their kids are getting older. They're going to have their own cars. There is a staff and they want to have, they need to have more space for them.

Okay.

They have.

The building regulatory denied it?

Correct.

Totally?

They denied all residents, all of them. And the discussion wasn't favorable either? Yeah, the discussion wasn't favorable.

Any other council comments?

And of course, the concern is you allowed one, why not I? And I will tell you what my answer to that is. If an existing home that's being added or remodeled, I would say, why not? But if you're building from scratch, then there's no reason to try to preserve it, right? So if you're building anew, you don't get this. You have to follow the rules the way they are. But if you're trying to preserve an existing home and the aesthetics of that home, but your needs are growing, then the fair answer, why not give an existing home owner who's looking to kind of expand their home? I could see where the town would say, look, we're going to help our existing homeowners, but you bought a lot, you're building it from scratch. No, you have to play by the rules. But somebody who's trying to expand their existing home, the why not question seems very fair.

Yeah, I don't agree with that. I definitely don't agree with you. What's good for the goose, good for the gander. Can't let one people, these people do it and not someone else to do it. I don't care. I agree. If it's an existing home.

I don't care.

No, if it were existing and they were not going 20 feet further, you know, so they're not, they're adding. They're adding to the base. Quick question. Scott Schlesinger's house. Okay, he's close his Outstruck whatever you want to call those structures, right? They're close to the road, right? He has two little garages garages, but they're they they're not back.

They're not attached Right.

The code wasn't different then but they're not they're not attached.

They're not attached different scenarios.

That's a different scenario the Gate in front of Joel Newman's house, like his front gate.

You could not even see what's behind that area.

And I don't know if that is current, if someone else could get, you know, how Joel Newman's.

Wall.

Yeah, that wall.

Yes, you can get that today.

It's like a, you know, 14 foot wall. They say, though, from the other side of the street, it's only six feet off the ground.

You can get that today. Can you put that house up again? He brings up a good point. So with the wall being that low, you can see it?

You can see it, but the other thing is there are other houses that are closer to the main road.

Aesthetically... Not houses, structures.

Aesthetically, it looks... Are we opening up Pandora's box by allowing this and other people saying, oh, you went, you know, one thing that's sort of sacred is the setbacks.

But they currently have a six-car garage, correct? They currently have four cars.

Four, and then we are adding two more.

According to the picture, there's three on the right.

Yeah, that's not... This is the proposed, yes.

Can I ask how much additional square footage would you be adding Forgetting the second variance, but just with the first variance, how much additional square footage would you be adding to each floor? About 800 square feet of garage in the second floor.

I'm sorry? Each garage space about 10 feet times 20, that's 200, 400, about 800 square feet. Plus, there is a stair in between. That's why one is closer to the street than the other one because one has a stair up to the second floor. So, 8,000 square feet. Aesthetically, it looks pretty.

It doesn't bother me. Can I give my thoughts? Yeah, go. Okay. So when I'm looking at this house and I'm realizing you have an existing structure, they're only adding on an additional 800 square feet. It seems it seems like I get it. They want to put another garage there, got a growing family. And it seems kind of harmful to them to force them to tear this all apart, to add on a little bit of space. But in the same respect, as you guys were saying, I don't want to create a, if that makes sense, I'm just thinking to add on 800 square feet is not that big of a deal to me in the big scheme of things. But I'm concerned about creating a floodgates of every other house wanting, making an argument, saying, hey, we allowed this. We allowed a house coming out 40 feet. And I think it's going to end up. What's on the second floor?

On the second floor, one is a stop bedroom and on the other side is a guest room. Is what? A guest room.

A guest bedroom. Let me just finish with what I was saying. I'm just concerned that if we start doing this, we're going to start having a lot of new homes say, hey, we have a house now that's 40, that's Connected that's now 40 feet as opposed 60. Why can't we have that? So if there's a way that we can distinguish this so that we don't have that I'm okay, but I do remember a lot of conversations we had five years about about too much being on a 1a and us wanting to move stuff back well, I Didn't want to go there publicly, but I will also say the alternative to this variance being granted because of the size of this lot and because they do have the 2200 square feet of green space and

If we reject this, then they're just going to bring in a detached garage that they're entitled to have right on the property line with as many parking bays. they have more than enough green space requirement. They could have brought an auxiliary structure because they're permitted to have one auxiliary structure and it could be as big as they want. You've seen a 255, the auxiliary structure runs the entire length of the property. And that was one of the design considerations that they presented to us. So the alternative was if we give them the 20 feet, they wouldn't have that new structure. If you look out the window, you see it right here. Yes. And so the goal for us was let's not get that auxiliary structure brought in given the 20 feet. Now, if we deny this, they're just going to bring in the two garages as an auxiliary structure and block the entire house.

How do we put it in such a way so that we distinguish it from future people coming in to keep the 60 foot setbacks set for new structures? And additionally, I think the idea of we don't want We're setting up as garages, so we do want a right to make sure that it is a garage going forward.

And again, I think maybe what I said earlier may have been misunderstood. I am 1,000% against a new design coming in and saying, I want this right. I would be against that. But I think where I think the mayor and I may disagree on this one, I don't see why on an existing older home to not force them to build these new detached structures that we give some consideration to allow the garage spaces to be built, even if it does encroach on the front setback, because we're eliminating an auxiliary structure being put on an existing home. And there's something to be said about that, because if not, you're going to start seeing all of these random rectangular buildings. You see, look at 255, and I love that design, but 255, what they have done is, and 215, the same thing, they have built the entire length of the property, the entire length of the property, a rectangular... garage with a massive overhead that has a plaza area, a fire pit. And so now you don't even see the house because all you see is the auxiliary structure. And that may be on the newer designs, but on the older homes, I think there should be some consideration to try to preserve what the older homes. That's just my personal and professional opinion.

But Steve, correct me if I'm mistaken. if we allow it, okay? And someone argues, someone's building a new house, and someone argues, says, hey, I don't care if it was an existing home. You let them go within the setback. I mean, you're setting, as Ken said, you're setting almost like a precedent that they have a leg to stand on, don't they? You can't say, because they're an older home, we let them do it, but a newer home, we can't. I mean, how do you set that precedent?

They're all they're all subject to the same same standard. And that's a hardship standard.

Right.

And what's the hardship on you?

But someone's going to come in next week and go and set an example.

Let's say the house next door to them. They knock it down. And they say, I want to build the same house that's next door to him, to me, exactly the same, with the garages just where they are, with a gatehouse, whatever it is. I just want the exact same house. And we say, no, you can't do it. You've got to have your garages back. It's not right. I'm just.

He's right. It's not fair. And I don't care whether it's a new home or not. You're setting, you know, what's good for one should be good for the other person.

Consider the alternative, though. By the way.

I understand what you're saying. You're saying the alternative is an entirely separate structure.

Go back to the original picture. On the property line.

I get that.

Go back to the original picture.

Quandary.

Where would you put the other structure? Go back to the picture.

Right by the fence. They would have an auxiliary structure 20 feet from the fence. Are they limited in square footage if they go there?

On the street, basically.

So long as they meet the 2,200 square feet of green space, which they have more than plenty of. This lot is so big that they have a lot of that green space.

By the way, in those garages that you're playing, what is there now?

In the four existing bays, just garages.

I know, but what's there now? Asphalt? Right now, yes. Okay.

Right, and grass and, exactly. The staff parks their cars there.

They're getting 800 square, how much is 800 square feet on the ocean right now? Conservatively?

A lot.

Huh?

A lot.

Give me a number.

big number.

Not that that should be important. Well, again, I think the bigger argument is what we have to do is a setback. And that is something that we've always.

Steve, am I wrong? Are we all wrong? Can I have been that the next guy that comes in and says knocks down the house, whatever, or and says, hey, I would tell you how you are wrong.

They have to build to the code. Right. So they would have to prove in the code that they have a hardship. And so in order for a new house to come in and say, I have a hardship when I have a clean canvas, there's nowhere to stand on. You have a clean canvas, you have to meet the town's code, right?

Steve's not agreeing with you, Alex. No matter who you are, you have to prove under our code, it's not a special exception or a... You have to prove that you really can't meet the requirements of the code and that's why you're here for a variance Okay. Now we've been very generous with variances and we don't Always hold people to the strict requirements of the code. Okay But once you begin to do that as a pattern it opens Pandora's box. Yes. You can be you could open up the an issue of the consistency of your rules. Now, this happens to be an existing structure. So that makes it a little bit unique, okay? The fact that they're working with an existing structure as opposed to having a vacant site. So I understand, and I understand the competing goals, which is if it's denied and they want to still have an extra to garage spaces.

No, no, but let me ask this very candidly. Would we be opposed as a community to say, you know what, if you don't wanna have a detached structure that's 20 feet from the proper line, then we give you a bonus on the front setback, right? Are we opposed to that additional 20 feet of setback if it's for garage purposes so not the house and we give a bonus hey you keep it attached and you keep it set back well maybe we gotta revisit and so and so maybe what we do is you get a choice of you can either have a detached structure 20 feet or we'll give you whatever the bonus is because i have a question under your scenario mr mayor Would we be opposed to a new house coming in and saying, hey, I want this same design because I really don't want to put the massing of my home on A1A. I want it to feel open and safe. Would we be opposed to that? Are we opposed to the design?

No, but our code, I'm not opposed to it. I'm just following the code. We're here to follow the code. The other thing that's unusual.

We have always talked about changing the code in zone one, and we've been trying for years to figure out what that means.

But at the same time, we've always, always want A1A, the homes to be back further, not directly on A1A.

But that's not very true because if you look at every single new house, 365, 299, 255, 215, they all have an auxiliary structure that blocks the entire front.

I know. And that's what we're trying to avoid.

The reason you have that, which is very unusual, is generally there's a limitation on the size of auxiliary structures. Because what Alex is explaining to you is that, well, There's no limit. These guys can build a two-story auxiliary structure 20 feet from the property line and just have this entire mass. I got you. Most codes for accessory auxiliary structure place a limit on the size because these can be almost as big as the house. In the other zones, we have the restriction of only 500 square feet.

for an auxiliary structure. You can only do 500. So I'm not sure why. We should really revisit the code and say, why is this indefinite? But going back to this particular one, I I'd like to support this. I mean, I'd like to if we can figure out a way and maybe the way of figuring it out is to look at it and say that for new structures, we're going to continue. This is this is a special case. This is an older home to add on 800 square feet is going to be a lot less construction time. It's going to be a lot less nuisance. than to put a brand new, to tear everything down, put a brand new structure, and not only that, but just to try to look out for our residents and try to make it easier for them.

Hey, Alex, did the neighbors have to, no? No, they didn't object. Because it's not insane?

But Glenn, Mayor, we're going to go back to the original Reason we changed the code a few years ago and that it up It's sort of like a slap in the face to building regulation board You know like why show up if if they come in and they were 5-0 against this how much was the vote 5-0 5-0 You know, did they say well we did it looks nice, but we should have done it or I hear you You know, I just said 5-0 and now we say no I You know, come to me, come to your building regulation court, and we'll just throw it out the window.

Councilman Einstein, to your point, and this is important, and we've talked about this in the past. So we always, what's important with the BRAB vote is the discussion, right? Because remember, they're obligated to vote no. Because your code says that if they don't meet those, they have to vote no. I will tell you that in this discussion, They voted no because they felt they shouldn't get it. So that's important for you to know that.

They didn't mind it?

No, that they shouldn't get it. What? They were not in favor of this because they were not in favor of it.

Not because it didn't meet the code. No.

They were not in favor because they didn't like it.

They were opposed to the design.

They were opposed to design. That's what we hire them for.

I thought that the design was beautiful.

Any public comments?

Well, then let's be clear then. What was the stated reason for not supporting this? The code did not allow them to vote. Okay, so they felt like, and I don't want to misstate this, that they supported this application but felt they couldn't do it because of the constraints.

Well, what about the hardship?

That's why that's the reason they said we can't meet. They don't meet the hardship.

But very quickly, they could have. I mean, it could have gotten by the code if they said it had a hardship.

Oh, if yes, but they are. They stick to the rigid provisions within your code. They don't believe that it meets the hardship criteria, although they felt the design was.

But they like this question. Is he? Town Manager, in your opinion, as to what you've seen going on for 20 years of your tenure, do you feel that the next time we have a code revision of the ocean that we should allow this type of setback?

So a couple of things. I think that in zone one, we need to become a little bit more adaptive to the designs that we're seeing be presented from renowned architects throughout. And we have to ask ourselves two questions. Do we want to stifle the creativity of what's being able to be designed and so on? The mayor just last week texted me a picture of a house that's going to be proposed right across from this building that looks absolutely stunning, right? A lot of curvature features. Some of it, I'm not sure how it meets our code requirements for the building. but it's stunning, right? And so personally, I would like to see more of the homes sit back in an open feeling.

I don't want this to feel like we're in a warehouse district where everything's on the road, right?

And if you look at all four homes that are getting sealed this year, You look at the house, and all you see is a block wall at the property line. I personally don't like that. But that's how they can maximize the square footage of the garage and living space. So they have taken advantage of our code. Would I have liked to have seen that amassing further back and more of a garden feel in the front that creates more of an estate look? That's a personal decision. I think that we've talked about this in the prior council meetings. One, we know that no one ever meets the hardship rules. So we've been looking at changing the hardship requirement to more of a- Compatibility, something based on compatibility. We also know that as it relates to the rear lot lines, we're looking at some hardships there. I think that there are some fundamentals, right? We don't want to we don't want to infringe on your neighbors. So the setbacks on the sides are very to me, those are non-negotiable. You don't you don't want to ever impede on your neighbor. whether or not we want to mass in on the street or further back i think that's a matter of taste do we want a more estate-like feel or do we want a more modern warehouse i got you so that's that's my opinion all right any other council comments i i'd like to ask um i i would be supportive of it but i'd like the ability

to make sure you guys keep it as garages and not change it to livable use in the city to be able to...

It's tied to the plans.

I'm just saying for the city to be... We have a lot of clauses now where the city can come in to ensure that in two or three years that it continues to be maintained as a garage.

Is there an intent to have anything...

It's a non-conversion covenant.

But we have that in new codes that we're... We don't even need to put in the code. If they can agree to a condition that there be a non-conversion covenant, which means you can't convert the garage space... Aren't they all that? No. No.

When they build a garage?

No.

If they build a garage, they build a garage.

We can agree to that.

Okay. When they build this garage, do you have to come up to GNAD?

No, not because it isn't existing.

And it's not 50% rule or anything else.

Well, there is a 50% rule. And I'm assuming that they're not going to go over that threshold.

Not with that 800 feet, no. Okay.

And one other thing, just to your point. That's not all they're doing. How much are they doing? I don't know. We're going to hear the rest of it. So before we vote on this. That's a separate issue. If they have a issue of whether or not they meet the nonconformity provision, which is generally a 50% rule, and they have to bring this house into compliance, Then they don't have that issue.

They don't have that issue. They don't have that issue.

Okay. They have to beat it under the building code and under the zoning code. I got it. And the FEMA regulation.

It looks very nice. Okay. Any public comments? Close it to the public. Roll call.

Mayor Singer.

I'll approve it.

Vice Mayor Mandel. I'll approve it. Council Member Leskin. Yes. Council Member Bernstein.

Yes.

Council Member Einstein.

Yes. Motion passes. Thank you so much.

Okay, item number four that we've read already. Mr. Mayor, on item number four, I could tell you that this one, I agree with the building advisory board. This is one of those difficult ones for me because we are looking... The town attorney's been working with former BREV members and current BREV members to change the two-thirds step-in requirements because we understand that when we change the code for the two-thirds to one-third ratio, we now see the amassing occurring on the front and rear and creating these narrow homes in the middle. So we are currently in zoning in progress to allow for greater flexibility on your second floor to first floor ratio. That said, I think that what they're proposing in this variance, and I'll have them present it quickly and focus on just that, not your qualifications. There's still an overreach on what we're exploring to allow, which is a percentage of first floor to second floor area ratio. And under what they're requesting, it seems like they're even getting more than that benefit. I'll allow them to kind of present what they're asking for as it relates to second floor step in.

Can they share the picture? Yeah.

Can we see the image for the second floor plan, please?

That's the rear of the set.

This is the rear, yeah.

What did you say? That was the rear. It's the side yards that we're looking at. Yeah, I'm sorry.

Let me just look for it.

Just put it up.

Yeah, the drawing second floor plan.

You wouldn't know what it is.

Proposed second floor plan. No, the footprint where it shows the dash line with the red.

Oh, you could.

So right there.

This one? Yeah. Okay, so the drawing that you have on the left is the existing, there's the proposed floor plan on the second floor. And is this the one, yeah, it's the same. So there is a red line which shows you on the side, I can really point that from here, what's being added on the second floor, which is really that whole master bathroom and closet area. So to the right of that, right that that area is what's being added right and that is being added on top of the first floor which is allowed that is the most practical way to add to the house for that master suite the needs of the master suite on the opposite side on the left side of the building there is also a red dash line which shows the extent of what is being added on the second floor which is again added on top of the first floor expansion which is allowed. So it's really the second floor portions that we are building and It is because it's an existing structure and those are the most logical places to add to the house for the needs of the client.

I totally don't understand.

Yeah, neither do I. Let's focus specifically on what the code requires. The code requires you step in and you're asking us to ignore that. Show us why you're asking us to ignore that.

Okay, the second, the code asks you to have a 22-foot set, side yard setback on the south side.

Our code requires a 10-foot side yard setback. Yes, I'm sorry. Height. Above 18 feet to go one foot in height.

Correct.

So let's make sure to be accurate, like what you're asking for, because you're not.

So Alex explain it in layman's terms because I'm totally lost On the second floor.

Okay, so you're on your second floor for every 18 foot of height you're required a one-to-one ratio Step in okay, not for every 18 after after after 18. Okay, so that's what your code says So you're required to step in your home a certain link of distance to create these, to not have a massing on the side yard. They're asking that we ignore that and go from 18 to 10, to 14, right? 14. On one side and 10 on the other. And 10 on the other. So what they're asking for is not to require that additional step in on the side yard, but we need to see what you're asking for. You're not, that's... Can I ask a quick question? Yeah.

From here to here, How much feet is that?

You have a 10-foot setback on the first floor. I understand. And on the second floor, you're required an additional step in.

From the property line. Instead of 10 feet, it's got to be further in.

And that amount that it's required. Like what?

Nine feet? We can't understand it. We can't hear you.

Oh, that extra amount is based on the existing building height, which we're not changing. So if the existing building height is 30 feet, that's where the extra 12 feet come. So that would be the hardship is the existing structure. It's already that tall.

Explain the hardship, Alex.

So one, we don't support the hardship issue on this case. They're asking for us to, and here's where it becomes more difficult on this house. So when this house was built and designed, the step-in requirement did not exist. They had a percentage of first floor to second floor.

Oh, a first floor ratio, right.

Okay. So it was... You were allowed to build 70% of the first floor to second floor. So... Here's where it becomes difficult for us. So the code changed, and now we said, well, now you have to step it in. Well, how do you step in on a home that was a percentage of first floor to second floor? Now, what they want to do is they want to increase square footage on the second floor. But they're tied, that square footage, that additional square footage is tied to the new code that says that on the second floor, you cannot have it, yet the maximum that you're allowed to build is based on a percentage of height of building to length of building. And so they're stuck on the- Any council comments? Can I?

Yeah.

Go on.

When we did this code, because I can't wrap my head around why we, did some of this stuff. Right.

I wasn't here. 70% was way before.

And I had that fight. Ben, that was when we were on council.

Know that we are looking to change that.

Yeah. So if he goes parallel to his bottom floor and just draws, that's what he wants to do. Is that correct?

No. More or less. Pretty much. Yeah. Okay.

Okay. How is that affecting his, he's still going to be 10 foot back on a second floor or how many he's going to be 10 foot back. Correct.

Correct.

From the step. How's that going to affect his neighbor? Did we pass this because we didn't want people looking down on the neighbors next door? For an aesthetic law.

So here's what's funny. So what I've always heard during my tenure here is that the council didn't want box houses, right? What this code forces you to do is box your front and your back and create these narrow – and I would think that what the town would want is for the walls to be in the side yard instead of the walls in the front and the back, right? So I honestly – and by the way, in terms of looking down, when you create these narrow – areas on the side yard, you create balconies that people are now looking into your home versus a wall with a window where you kind of can't see into your home. So the code never really worked in that respect. And we are looking, Steve has been working to change the language to be more creative on the second floor.

We're trying to legislate aesthetic.

You were trying to legislate the masses. I wasn't here, but that's what I've read in every report that I've ever read was we didn't want box houses. We didn't want- That's exactly why they did it.

Yeah, but that's an aesthetic, but it didn't work. No, it didn't work. If they wanted to not make a box house, then they should have made a code that-

What hasn't been articulated, and you guys really focus on the question, why are you asking us to ignore the amount of square footage that you're allowed on the second floor over the first floor And why should this council grant you for us to ignore that rule? Because we do limit, the purpose of the second floor ratio is that you do not have the same amount of square footage on the second floor as you do on the first floor. And under this particular request, what they're saying is we want to get to as close as possible to that equal amount of square footage. Satisfy that question.

We're really not trying to get to a certain amount of square footage. We're really trying to add based on the needs and requests of the client to where it's more logical. And that unfortunately because of the setback and the height of the building restriction leads us to a variance. That's what creates the hardship.

How many square feet by, how many square feet would this add?

We'll have to look it up. I'm sorry, I don't remember this.

And when all is said and done, aesthetically, how is this going to look?

Well, you have the renderings.

I know, but is it going to look bad?

No, I mean, it squares it off on the side yard. It seems like the client has asked to be able to add more bedrooms. What's difficult for me is because the code under the design was a percentage not to step in, they don't have any steps in on this house. It was a building regulatory board it's not as we decline it's about 1,700 square feet I believe I'm something like that.

Yeah any other come comments? Close it to the council any public comments But roll call please Mayor singer no vice mayor Mandel.

No councilmember Leskin. No councilmember Bernstein. No councilmember Einstein No motion failed

Thank you so much for your time.

Thank you, guys. One out of two, you're batting 50.

The house looks nice. No one else has ever got this, so it's...

Okay, moving right along. Item number N, major project update, overview of the current active town projects by the town manager.

Mr. Mayor, members of the council, I'll try to be brief, but I just kind of want to just remind... the residents kind of where we are so we're focusing all of our efforts on the town's wellness center reimagined turtle park project so right now we're although we're doing minor maintenance projects throughout the town we are going to be setting aside the the gatehouse project to after the first of october out of next year's budget year so you won't see anything coming to this council for gatehouse you won't see anything coming to this council for For Beach Pavilion, all of our capital projects are going to be delayed to after October 1, so the town administration can focus solely on reimagining Turtle Park, on the Wellness Center, on the furniture, and the road realignment and civil project that's working on the south side of town. We have done some maintenance on the fountains, and we're still going to work on maintenance on the fountains. I think that once we approve tonight the gym equipment, and Jeff is here to go through that in a few minutes, and Miracle for the park, you're going to see that we've come full circle to bring all the players onto the team so we can deliver these projects to you before the end of the year.

Can I ask a question? When will the site work start on the parks and when are we closing the tennis courts and the pickleball courts?

So we've already announced that we're looking to close them hopefully as early as end of May. We won't close them too prematurely because the council won't make final approval on the design of the park until your June meeting. Maybe Maeve I can get Connie to work a little bit faster with me. Maybe Maeve will bring you the design I will tell you that John Bell would like for us to close it now But I am one of those managers that I hate when you close something and it sits without anything I would ask that we prolong it as long as possible till we actually start moving dirt Yeah, because once close it I agree with the tennis courts and pickleball courts get used and I will tell you that once we close Office at least tennis and it will be completely closed. So yeah, we'll work on that. So we'll try to put all that so after me Okay, but it won't be open during the summer months.

Okay, that's it. That's it. Okay moving on to consent agenda There are four items on the consent agenda item number 05 official minutes of the March 17th 2026 regular Town Council meeting item number 06 Resolution of Town Council approving a budget amendment number one for the 2025-2026 fiscal year operating budget. Item number seven, a resolution of Town Council approving a contract with CTC Disaster Response Inc. for disaster recovery services. And item number eight, a resolution of town council authorizing a proposal from Southeastern Engineering Inc. for the roadway improvements to Massini Avenue. Those four items on the consent agenda. All in favor say aye. Aye. Anyone opposes? Those four items pass the consent agenda. Thank you, congratulations. Moving on to P, town resolution. There's resolution number nine, a resolution of town council authorizing the town manager and mayor to begin final design and contract negotiations with Miracle of South Florida Inc. for playground equipment.

A resolution of the town council of the town of Golden Beach, Florida, authorizing the town manager and town mayor to begin final design and contract negotiations with Miracle of South Florida Inc. for the procurement and installation of playground equipment at Tweedle Park, providing for implementation and providing for an effective date.

You motion to approve? Motion to approve. You second? Second.

Mr. Mayor, just let the record reflect that's a scribbler's error that were added to the title.

What?

Just let the record reflect that that's a scribbler's error that we added to the title. Okay. We've met with eight bidders. Great workshop. Thank you for your time and patience. Ironically enough, we've selected Miracle of South Florida for the residents to know. Miracle of South Florida has been the town's park vendor for over 30 years. They're the ones who originally designed and installed the original Twiddle Park. And during the last 19 years that I've been your manager, they've worked with us on all the repairs. And so we're happy to be working with Connie. Honestly, I didn't think that's who we're going to go with, but I'm really glad that we are. It shows that we're committed to the vendors that provide the services. The mayor knows we already started working on tweaking some of their design elements. The goal is to kind of create a vibrant, fresh feel for the space. We're going to be maximizing the number of offerings in both playgrounds. One of the things that Miracles has proposed is that we keep some of the existing shade structures and trees over by Turtle Park. We are still identifying how to bring in some kind of water element to the program and also a wow feature. We are looking at a calisthenic wow feature that we have in Miami Beach as a possible wow to the site. But I think that what Connie presented, what Miracle presented, works well for us. We're excited about tweaking it a little bit. Originally, my goal was to bring it to you in June. The May and June meeting are two weeks apart. So whether I bring it in May or June, it doesn't really make a big factor because we're meeting on June 8th. The June meeting is two weeks after your May meeting. Help me with the date. And so it'll be either at the May meeting or the June 9th meeting. But we'll bring to you the final design for your final approval. So what you're doing tonight is allowing us to select Miracle to work with for design.

Okay, any council comments I didn't know any public comments I

Mayor, one last thing. Again, some of you are more vested in this project than others. So if you have some ideas and you really want to work hand in hand, stop by my office. I'll start sending you what we've done. I know Vice Mayor Mandel has been instrumental in making sure that we add certain swings and stuff like that, climbing and grabbing. I know Councilman Einstein, Mrs. Einstein has been very instrumental in helping us with the shade discussion. But see me outside of this forum because we're going to bring to you a final design at either the next two meetings.

And with that, my biggest thing is to try to get more long-term trees.

Yes. Alex, quick question. When we start this, we're doing the basketball court and Padel court the same time, right?

We're actually going to be doing basketball and Padel ahead of this because those two can go in first.

Okay. All right. Roll call, please. Go on.

Just with regard to the shade trees, the one oak tree that we bought, I think it was under Waskura and Stanley Feynman. I forgot where they brought that oak tree from, but they paid- Central Florida, I remember. Yeah, it was about $10,000. And let me tell you, it didn't get you much wood. It was about nine feet tall. It was like the Dr. Seuss Christmas tree that tried or could- Oak trees are really expensive. I mean, when they're in bloom, they're great. And if there's another type of tree that can provide... We're on item number nine. Oh, I thought you were talking about trees.

No.

I just said...

This is the park. He just said that. We're on item number nine. I want to stick to this subject.

You can do that after, but I just want to stick to nine. Well, we still like oak trees.

I will tell you that one of the things, an excellent question. This vendor does propose keeping the three trees. I will tell you where the biggest issue with these three trees are. Because we are raising the site by two feet, that may choke the trees. And so we are exploring creating what they call a tree well, where you build a well around the root of the tree. That does become a hard surface that kids can fall on, but some parks have been very successful with creating the tree wells and that allows the trees to remain in place. If we can't do that, then we have to, root prune the trees and move them out of the park because by bringing in two feet of fill, you choke the trunk of the tree and then it dies. So the arborists are working with us on a solution on that.

You're saying by compacting the ground more, it chokes the tree?

Rather have a wishing well and a tree. Well, it was for the fact.

Yeah Going back to trees. I mean, I love the trees with the large Umbrella coverings and stuff young circle is the perfect example But if you go by young circle after a hurricane the northern trees that you plant down here They can't withstand it. They just the top acts like a top-heavy like a parachute and they just go right down. They have to be righted again.

Well, you know, one of the beauties about keeping these... That's the Miami Shores golf course. One of these... So one of the beauties about these... All right, I'll finish up then.

Item number nine. Roll call, please. Sorry, got that.

Mearsinger.

Yes.

Vice mayor Mandel. Yes. Council member Laskin. Yes. Council member Bernstein. Yes. Council member Einstein. Yes. Motion passes.

Town manager, if I could suggest something for you, I think you should invest in maybe a dog. And this way you can at home, you can talk to him and he'll listen nonstop.

Item number 10, a resolution of town council. I've been twice the amount of time. He could talk to the dog all night long.

Dog would sit there, wag his tail, and his boyfriend's visa would have been a three.

Did you hear Ben's comment? That's why Glenn has two dogs. Oh, that's right.

Thank you. Item number 10, a resolution of town council awarding audio and visual equipment contract to the town wellness center.

A resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Golden Beach, Florida, entering into a contract with John Bell Construction Inc. for the installation of a comprehensive audiovisual AV system for the town's wellness center, providing for a waiver of competitive bidding procedures, providing for implementation, providing for authorization, and providing for an effective date.

Need a motion to approve? Motion to approve. Second?

Second.

Mr. Mayor, let me just put for the record this. I want to be fair to the process. And so I've made a commitment to one of the council members, should Should one of the respondents that we've been waiting for tomorrow surprise the hell out of me, then I may not act on this item. But should they not meet our recommendations, I will act on this item. So my commitment publicly tonight is that if the respondent comes in and wows us and completely just goes in the direction that we needed to go in, we won't. enforce this item, so I want to make that publicly known. But to be fair to the process, we do want the council to go ahead and give the approval to allow me to act on this should that not be the case.

Just to clarify, I think, though, if the other bid has to be all-inclusive with wiring and everything like the first bid.

And the design, the commercial design.

And the TVs. Any council comments? No. Any public comments? No. Roll call, please. Item number 10.

Mayor Singer?

Yes.

Vice Mayor Mandel? Yes. Council Member Luskin? Yes. Council Member Bernstein?

Yes.

Council Member Einstein? Yes. Motion passes.

Item to discussion, direction, town manager. Presentation of recommendations of the town equipment for the Wellness Center.

Mr. Mayor, we have Jeff in the audience. Let's go ahead and bring Jeff up. Mayor, I want to be very clear. We'll be quick in our presentation. We invited the members of the Wellness Center Advisory Committee to be here tonight. We invited the residents to be here tonight. Let me be very clear. This is important. Once we bless this tonight, we're moving forward, okay? We're not delaying a vote. You've already select, guys, please. We've already selected, we've already gone through the exercise. So your direction to me was work with both Life Fitness and Live. It worked out beautifully. There's good synergy between Kelly and Jeff. They worked together. Kelly ended up getting hired by John Bell to do the flooring. Kelly's going to help us do some of the purchasing that we can through Life Fitness. And you will see that we've gone through four iteration of floor layout and equipment selection. I will tell you that working with Jeff has been wonderful. I get things turned around same day. I will also tell you this very publicly today, and hopefully the advisory committee members are watching, although they're not because they're on the screen. My recommendation tonight to you is that we not lease equipment. That we what? That we not lease any equipment.

Agreed.

There is no financial incentive for us to lease the cardio equipments. In fact, it costs us more to lease them. And at the end of the term of the lease, we don't have anything to show for it. I will tell you that if something becomes obsolete, then we look at buying and replacing them. This way we're not committed to a term of a lease and paying 9% on money that we have today. That's number one. And then we only look at replacing equipment as they become obsolete and their replacement value, their fixing value does not make sense. So tonight I'm asking that you do two things. We accept all of the equipment from Life Fitness for what I call the hammer strength, the fixed gym equipment, that we accept the proposed mechanical spin treadmill equipment. We accept the equipment that we're buying from Live and that we talk to both Live and Lifestyle for preventative maintenance moving forward. With that said, we're going to show you the layout. And then we're going to go through each of the equipment. And Jeff is here to answer all your questions. What we've done during the last month is we've taken your feedback, we've added, we subtracted, and we put it together. So there's conversations being held sidebar. So let's have that publicly so we don't have sunshine issues. I need to know what you guys are discussing on the Deus, please. It's important for sunshine that we know what the three... All right. So let's so put it up there. We need. So let's go ahead and put it on the screen. Let's set the floor plan. All right. Not that one. The floor. No. Well, Alex, that's a pretty good one.

You can tell from that.

We can go through the rendering.

Yeah. So this. Yep, this is the 2D rendering. Hello, everybody. Nice to see you all again. So this is the, as Mr. Diaz said, an aggregate of all the feedback from the committee, the council members, and what we've arrived on. So I'll kind of go clockwise here starting with cardio so over on the at the three o'clock position um we have two recumbent bikes uh what you see on the rendering is an upright bike that's actually going to be replaced by a peloton by a peloton instead of an upright bike so an actual spin bike with on-demand content um that the the the towns or that your members will have access to i missed that sort of say again

It's nothing is clear. Oh, it's not your fault. Go with the mic and come closer to us. Yeah. Yeah. Come closer to us. You can come up here.

OK. Yeah. I think we did this last time, too. So maybe a little bit more helpful. So at the so starting over again, the three o'clock position from the bike. So, yeah, if you can follow my cursor, that's beautiful. So those are two recumbent bikes. Instead of those two upright bikes, we elected to go with two Pelotons. A bike that we're all familiar with, a spin bike. Around there are represented are treadmills. Adjacent to the treadmills are two stair climbers. So actually, Lisette, go down. We're just following the row of cardio. Yep, there you go. Those are two stair climbers.

What is this thing here? That's a treadmill.

That's a self-powered treadmill. So that's the curved treadmill. Yeah, you'll see that in a rendering. Okay. Yep. Yep, two power mills. And then we actually have two ellipticals and one arc trainer. So again, not represented here on the rendering, but was recommended by the committee to do one arc trainer. So it's just another alternative low-impact movement. Blends a little bit of strength into it as well. Adjacent to that is a new step, which is a recumbent step machine or recumbent elliptical. Popular in a lot of fitness centers as an alternate to a standing elliptical. Adjacent to that is a air bike and then a row machine rounds out that. But up against that column and maybe if you can go to the next.

There's only one rowing machine?

Yes. And then there is one skierg.

With the fan type of thing?

That's the air bike. That's next to the rower.

What is the purpose of that air bike? High intensity.

Arms and legs. Oh, arms and legs.

Okay.

Yeah, the harder you push it, the harder it pushes back. It's a short interval type of movement. Yeah, I know. And then butted up against that column, you can't really see it, but you'll see it in future renderings as we go through the slides, is a skierg. So that's your concept two rower. But instead of using it in a seated position, you're rowing down. So questions or comments on cardio?

Why get rid of, so before you had two bikes and then you had two Peloton bikes? That way you replace, you got rid of the upright?

We got rid of the mechanical upright bikes and replaced those with two Pelotons.

And so all we have in the whole gym is the two Pelotons.

Two pelotons for upright and two recumbents, yes.

How many uprights? Zero. Well, I think uprights. Yeah, I think you need uprights. You need uprights because we, the gym, there are always people on the uprights. The only thing I would add on the cardio equipment, which is my opinion, is I agree with Councilman Bernstein, two uprights and the rowing machine, there's always, it's nice to have two of them in case someone wants to compete with the other person. Yep.

Well, especially, I mean, my thought is just having someone, a son that did crew. Whenever I would go to the gym, he would be with a friend who would be doing that. Right, the same time. So if we have the space, they're not that expensive.

No, they're right here. So add two rows and add two upright backs.

No, only one row. We have one row there.

We just need one. Add two rows and two ergs. Yeah, good.

Okay. And then, Kelly, I'm assuming you're hearing this in space as well.

What we'll do is we'll add an additional row. We'll add an additional road and then we'll add two upright bikes. Two upright bikes.

And I don't know, I haven't seen this machine in a while, but I remember, do you remember the cross country thing? The NordicTrack. What was that?

NordicTrack.

Yeah. No, no, no. Go on.

I don't think that that exists anymore. It died with bally's.

Goodbye.

Different people. Yeah. It's two, it's two different people. People love the Peloton content. It's great.

We're not taking away the Peloton. So we'll have the two Pelotons and two upright.

Yeah.

That's a go on. Go on next.

All right, so let's start with the circuit of equipment. So there's the hulk of equipment there behind the cardio to the right here. Yeah, so this is all your selectorized. So we've, I'll go, yeah, we'll start there. So that's a leg press. So what I did is I divided this by body part. So the idea was to be able to have your legs, your core and your upper body, you know, so that you can move from one machine to the next. So you have a leg press, you have a leg curl, you have a leg extension. We're actually going to go, we're going kind of down the row. Yeah, there you go. Leg curl, leg extension. These two machines here, I think Mr. Bernstein, you had, your comments were having two separated hip abduction and adduction machines. So those are separated out instead of having a dual. You have a hip abduction and a hip adduction.

I'm okay. Just whenever we do eggs, I'm always seeing those machines being waited on. So if we can have the dual capability on both those machines. Two duals? I think.

Okay. So- Yeah, it would be it would be I agree to both duels. Okay, so the one Yeah, the one comment I'll make on that is the hip adduction We have the opportunity for you to stand while you do it or sit so it's really popular in glute movements I think you had mentioned in anatomy so you can stand and do it. So it's actually it really nails the glutes. It's just Okay

The other one.

Just keep them. Fair enough. Two duals.

We'll do. Yep. Does that get used more than anything? Go on. And then after that, you have a.

It's going to get used.

I'm lost. You're where?

Keep going down on the cursor. Yep. Right there.

So I just want to make sure we're being consistent. So what we're going to do is we're going to eliminate the single purpose machines and we're going to make them. both dual inner and outer?

Correct.

All right, next.

OK.

Correct.

What's the next machine?

And then we wrap around to core. So we have abdominal and back extension selectorized. You can go down the set just a little bit. There you go. So there's our core machines. Then you have a bicep tricep machine. So now we're going back around. Yep. So we've got bicep tricep. You have seated dip. They got everything. Peck fly, shoulder press, lateral raise, and chest press to round it all out. So I can't think of a body part we've missed. Only thing we don't have is a lat pulldown, which is represented in the cable machine.

And this has the capability? when you say you have the capability of doing adjustments at all the different areas for the lap pull-downs and things, right? Yeah, yeah.

So you got the bars, you got the ropes. Oh, yes. You got the bars.

So you have potentially four lap bars.

Yes.

And Mayor, Members of the Council, So we added a third station originally. Yeah, it was only one. There's only going to be two stations. So we added a third station. And each of those stations are on three sides. They have different functionality.

That's going to be a great machine. Turnberry has one that's just one.

And for our calisthenic people, if you notice, you have all the hangings, pull-ups, chin-ups, you know, back on those two. So we have them in two sections. We have it here. We have it there.

And butted up against that column, we also have a chin-dip assist on this machine. So for those that can't do pull-ups, we can do chin-dip assist.

I'm sorry, which? This is the one you're on?

Yeah, Harold.

If you don't mind, sorry. So the chin dip assist sits right here on the other side of this column.

We had it as a separate standalone circuit machine, but now we just have it as a, we have it attached to this.

All right, keep going.

So on that, what we call a power player, a multi-jungle. So you have two low row stations. You have three lat pull stations. One, two, three, four, five just adjustable cable column stations and a tricep station. So you have 12 different exercises represented here in this one unit.

Can you do like where you grab the two and you do

Yes, yep, yep. So yeah, cable crossovers or chest flies. So to go, just if we follow along the columns here, this was also recommended. This is a belt squat, a plate-loaded belt squat. I have a rendering of it to show you a little bit cleaner of what that looks like. But it's a really popular leg training tool. You do not need a barbell attached to it. And you can brace and it's a pretty sweet piece. And then on the other side of that column is a dual pulley. So in addition to the 12 station pulley, we have a dual pulley for additional training modalities. So your cables are covered. To the left of that, Lisette, is our half rack. The half rack is for your bench press, your shoulder press, your squat, your deadlift, any kind of free bar movements. assist it right this is correct this is not a smith machine with where where it has a the catches on the bars that's correct and this is where you would take it and you would put it on the rack afterwards it's not yeah it doesn't have any it doesn't have the clamps on it right it's a complete free system correct yeah it's an open olympic bar uh system correct

But it does have a safe, like a, if you go up an inch.

So you have what's called bar hooks, where the bar nestles, and then you have safety bars. So if you're squatting and you can't come back up, you just fall to the floor and then you have safety bars to... That is a Smith machine.

So this is a... No, this has a thing on the bottom. No, you're talking about the Smith machine.

Yeah, and I'll show you a different rendering of that. This is for if you wanted to do barbell bench press without any kind of catch system, this is an open free bar.

anatomy all the way in the first floor on the right. There's two pages.

So those of us that just want to do a regular bench press without any assist, without any hooks, I want to get the bar, put it there, and do my presses. Right. You could do incline. You could do flat bench.

Yep. And we'll have a platform here, too, as well, to help with any kind of impact. If people are doing deadlifts or things like that, we'll put a rubber platform down. Around this column is what we designated this area for where you see the mats and the exercise balls. So this is more for core. So you have represented around that column, you have a leg raise dip machine, You have an additional abdominal crunch machine. This one is actually where you're coming over and crunching towards your body. And then you have a reverse hyper or body weight back extension bench. So this is where all of your core training can be done. And then adjacent to that where you see the mats and a mat table is where we will have open space for stretch, functional workout. That rack holds kettlebells, medicine balls, functional training tools.

You got this bill already.

There is also a stretch cage represented here, that spider web looking thing is the stretch cage.

Before we get, I'm sorry, before you get to the free weights. Yes, sir. I'll ask my question after you're done with this before we get to the free weights. Are we there right now?

I was going to go to the free weights right now.

I mean, me personally, What I would have liked to have seen a little bit more of is I would have liked to have seen a flat bench for chest. I would have liked to have seen an incline. And I would have liked to have seen the old-fashioned squat or squat rack. I know space, when we were corresponding back and forth, space is an issue.

Well, let him do the dead weight first. It might be the room there. What's in the dead weight room in the left?

I'm bringing it up because... When I look at this stretching area, maybe it's the time of day we're going and people our age who are there, but we are always seeing a ton of people doing stretching. And I was just thinking maybe if space is a problem, maybe we could put those type of machines, a flat bench, an incline, and a structure.

Can you have a flat bench here? That's like one little one that's... No, and then you have machines here for chess. How many machines you got?

You don't have one flat pitch. You don't have your traditional... You don't have your traditional... What are you calling? Squat machine. And so when you're looking at the police officers who are using that and you're looking at...

I'm just saying...

You want a Smith machine?

No, there's a Smith machine there, so we'll get to that.

Let him go over this, then we'll go.

Go over the dead weight, then we'll... Yeah, we'll go through the free weight area, and then also I think it'll be helpful to look at the renderings too, but I understand your point. So in the free weight area, we have... multiple adjustable benches here. So we have a utility 75 degree bench. We have one, two, three adjustable benches. There's also a fourth adjustable bench in the squat rack. And then you also have a decline bench and a preacher curl bench. Adjacent to the preacher curl bench is a barbell rack. So we have preloaded barbells We're going to go two different sets, 30 to 70 with the easy curl and 30 to 70 straight bar. And these are the preloaded bars that you'll be able to grab. Yes.

I'll tell you, I'll tell you, and I agree with Councilman Bernstein and it's my fault that I didn't catch this earlier. I agree with Councilman Bernstein and I, So when I think of, when I see that free weight area and those benches, that's for me to do freestyle stuff with dumbbells, right? I think what Councilman Bernstein and I both agree that we feel like we're missing is an air, like the old school LA Fitness, you have a bench with a bar assist so that you could do pecs and upper and bottom, and it's just a bench with a bar, single, no assist, no safety, where you put the place on it. But that's more what we have here. That's like an assisted. So like, could we put a bench with a bar and plate somewhere?

Like, what you're referring to is what we call an Olympic flat bench, where you have the bench is welded into a frame, and then you have weight horns behind it, and you have a bar catch. That, yes, we could. We'd have to take a look at spacing.

Well, you have this machine.

You could do the same, but then you could add legs and everything else.

We're not getting rid of the Smith machine. I will tell you that. And I don't and I don't go to the gym too often. But if I want to bench press, I hate the Smith machine. It has those stupid wheels that go up and down. Yes.

That's the Smith machine.

And it doesn't allow me to move it forward or back. So he's looking for a free weight.

An Olympic free weight bench.

I think you got enough.

I'm just saying with all the equipment you have, you're not really providing for a traditional type of weight.

Yeah, he's not wrong on this one.

We're not providing for the traditional weights that your kids would do. There's no freestyle weights here.

which is what we're looking for. There's no freestyle weights? Like where you have your plates and you're bringing them onto a bench.

Can you go forward a little bit?

That's what we have in this building.

Sorry. I just want to show what the half rack looks like. Keep going. I'll show you. I'll tell you when to stop. Just keep rolling. Right about there. One back? Yeah. So this is your half rack. So this is what we're talking about here. So this is where you would load an Olympic bar. We don't have that? This is what you have. So this unit allows you to do all of those movements in a free bar type of pattern. You would pick up a plate, you load it, you roll a bench underneath.

Mayor, we currently have this piece of equipment in our existing gym. And because of that big mass arm that you have there, it doesn't give you the free mobility to be able to adjust where you want to push the bar forward or back.

Do it on the other machine, don't you have it?

No, definitely not on the Smith machine. That's the Smith machine, right? No, this is the half rack.

So add whatever you want.

I will tell you, I was surprised to see today, and I didn't catch it. Go to the next slide, Lissette. I'm not sure when we added this piece of equipment, since we already have three of these already in the system. So why did we add this so close to the front door?

This was added as a request along the way.

Because don't we have three of these already?

Yeah, I think you have adequate cable.

So maybe like a squat machine. Yeah. I mean, like this. I'm just thinking.

So we could move that. So if we want to.

Are you saying this is going to be in the combo area?

No, this, I didn't remember when it was added, but this is, as soon as you walk in, you're going to have this machine, which is basically, we have three of these, don't we?

Alex, don't you do your pecs in that? I don't.

I don't have any pecs. Where is that right now? The other three of them.

They're just adjustable cables represented on the big multi cables are the cables are.

Jeff, I guess what I was going with this, just looking at the space and I was thinking the stretching area looks kind of small to me. And I'm looking at these rooms that we have. What if we took one of these rooms that we have and lock them with the barbells?

For the stretch?