Email: ddavis@juno-beach.fl.us or DianaDavisJunoBeach@gmail.com

Len Rubin, Town Attorney provided a draft “Code of Conduct” for Town Council members to review. There were comments from Council that will be considered and the proposal will be brought back for further discussion or adoption. The hope is to create a structure for the Council to communicate in a way that brings us together as a community by focusing on issues and problem solving rather than focusing on personality differences or past gripes that divide us. Roberts Rules of Order were rejected as guiding principles because it's focus is on large deliberative bodies and not necessarily a group of five council members. Enforcement mechanisms within the "Code of Conduct" were rejected by a majority.

Decorum Rules for Public Meetings

It was agreed that the public should be allowed to speak without restrictions on the content of their statements even if it is critical of the actions taken by public officials.  Len Rubin is bringing back this proposal to the Town Council with revisions to the language provided.  

The quasi-judicial hearing process governs the procedure for land development hearings ("hearings") before the Town Council and the Planning and Zoning (P&Z) Board. Proposed changes to the procedure for hearings were considered and it will come back to Council for further review. When development projects are initially proposed they are added to the Town's website on-going projects list. CLICK HERE TO VIEW.

How can the procedures be changed to improve the process?

(1) How can we add greater opportunity to vet development projects to make sure that they are optimized to benefit our existing residents?

(2) How can we involve residents and decision makers earlier in the project review process, so that the project addresses existing or perceived problems? Can we place the development plans and technical review (DRC) comments on-line for greater visibility?

(3) How do we ensure residents are aware of the development project, potential issues with the project, proposals for resolving those issues, and give adequate time during the public comment portion of the land development hearing, so that residents may have their opinions heard?

Some items that may be considered to amend our procedures are to:

(1) add requirements for open public forum workshops, early in the process when the site plan, architectural plan, engineering and landscape plans are available, and then when complete prior to board & council review (a/k/a prior to hearing), and to

(2) allow adequate time for presentations in the public comment portion of the proceeding by those who oppose the project, and to

(3) add required steps to overcome perception of bias created by private-meetings by Town Council or P&Z Board Members with the developers and their team, for example; (a) requiring a P&Z Town staff member to be present, and/or (b) appoint a resident ombudsman to be present at these meetings, (c) ensure that private developer meetings are limited to fact finding statements only, by recording the meetings, and by keeping notes of the meeting with both questions asked and responses, which are added to the record of the hearing; and/or (d) no in-person meetings and only allow written fact-finding questions from the Board or Council members through Staff to the developer.

The Town Council voted to pursue a Master Plan with Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council (TCRPC). Dana Little of TCRPC described the steps needed that will occur over a one-year timeline to create a Community Vision and Master Plan for the Town of Juno Beach. He rejected adding terminology to their contract such as having the Master Plan seek “slow growth” and “maintaining the character and small town charm” in favor of waiting for public meetings to gather information for this direction directly from the residents, rather than from their elected Town officials. We hope that residents will attend these important public workshops that can shape the future land use in our Town. The focus will be on gaining critical information through resident forums as to what will enhance the quality of life for our current residents. Research will be completed for a market study and to determine infrastructure capacity. The Master Plan will address issues such as traffic, walkability, and preserving our local mom and pop businesses. The Master Plan will result in a community vision for the future anticipating what redevelopment may look like and memorializing a preferred path to prevent over-development through land use planning tools, including changes to our Comprehensive Plan, zoning, and land development codes.

The Planning & Zoning Director presented a plan to execute on previously approved topics for code changes to our land development regulations LDRs (Chapter 34, municipal code). The Council gave their priorities of the topics for further evaluation by either a consultant or by staff, and/or through a hybrid approach of the consultant providing the substantive code language proposals and staff holding the public hearings for input and adoption. The rule topics that are pending, not in priority order, include; (1) Landscape Requirements, (2) Sign Regulations, (3) Techniques for Sound and Slow Growth, (4) Volume and Massing of single-family homes/ Floor Area Ratio, (5) Exterior spillover lighting, and (6) Walls & Fences and Topographical Features. There are other code amendments that have been approved by the Council for further discussion, such as limiting density for Commercial/Residential projects, tower structure height and subterranean parking. The contractor will benchmark other towns and bring back ideas to the Council for code language that is right for Juno Beach. The first step is prioritizing the work load and obtaining new proposals from the consultants. Town staff will continue to work on code language to return site plan review to the Planning and Zoning Board for single and two-family homes, to expand excavation permits to include remedies for over-excavation or neighbor damage, and to update definitions.   

• NO on a Moratorium for Commercial Mixed-Use Projects (e.g., Caretta) for a limited period of time to complete the Master Plan, to study infrastructure needs and traffic concerns. This was approved by the Planning and Zoning Board, and was previously approved by a majority of Town Council.
• YES to Private-Developer meetings for Town Council or P&Z Board members who will ultimately vote on the land development project. This is a reversal from what was agreed to April 2024, where only open public forum workshops were to be allowed instead of private meetings. The majority of Town Council reversed their vote to now allow private-developer meetings after the most recent land development applicant did not hold a public workshop after plans were complete and prior-to-hearing. [note: we can change our process to require these additional prior-to-hearing open public forum workshops]

The consultant Jim Karas, after an initial round of meetings with Town staff, Town Council and holding a public workshop for citizens, held a half-day Town Council workshop on Tuesday, October 22nd. The Strategic Plan identifies town goals or initatives to be achieved over the next 2-5 years. My suggestions to our consultant were for the Strategic Plan to be: (1) a work plan/project management tool for current funded (grant, surtax, appropriation) projects, (2) a vehicle for setting priorities for new projects, and (3) a means to explore loftier large-scale long-term future potential projects. Whatever is ultimately decided through the Strategic Planning process, we are better as a community for engaging in short-term project management and in long-term planning to ensure our resources are focused on strategic initatives and the action plans to achieve them.

APTIM, our consultant for our Vulnerability Assessment, is holding their first public workshop at Town Hall on October 29th at 3pm. The Vulnerability Assessment can address topics such as shoreline protection, stormwater system upgrades, roadway improvements, utility resilience, and code changes needed. We appreciate your participation.

WM, formerly known as, Waste Management, began its automated collection program for trash the week of October 7th. For more information, WM phone number 772-546-7700, website www.wm.com or call the Town of Juno Beach Andrea Dobbins 561-626-1122, or contact the Town juno-beach.fl.us/contact

• Trash is collected in the new large sized carts on Tuesday and Friday. All trash must fit inside the cart with the lid closed.
• Recycling on Tuesday - keep items loose inside the bins (not in plastic bag) click here for recycle tips
• Yard Waste on Tuesday and Friday
• Bulk Waste on Wednesday or call to schedule 772-546-7700

Residents interested in smaller carts for their garbage other than the 64 gallon size delivered, must call Town Hall or WM, if your HOA has not already called.

Your input and opinions: Public engagement is a vital part of the work that the Town Council does for our community. Your comments and thoughts are encouraged and welcomed.

I want to recognize our Veterans as our hometown heroes - with heartfelt appreciation for your service. I wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving! It is the perfect time of year to count our blessings. I am grateful for you, family, friends, and our wonderful community.

Happy Thanksgiving Season,

Diana Davis

phone: 561-267-7772 official email: ddavis@juno-beach.fl.us

Save the Dates: October 29th 3-4:30pm - Vulnerability Assessment Public Workshop at Town Hall

November 1st - 15th Collecting for Veterans drop-off at Town Hall

November 5th - Election Day Town Hall - make your plan to VOTE

November 6th 9:30am - Coffee with a Cop

November 6th 3pm - Audit Oversight Committee

November 8th 4pm - Council Hour

November 8th 5:30 pm - Art Show

November 11th 11am - Veterans Day Ceremony

November 13th 5:30pm - Town Council Meeting

November 14th 6:pm - Civic Association's Fall Get Together

November 18th 4pm - Planning & Zoning Board Meeting

November 20th 5:30pm - Special Town Council Meeting

November 25th 5pm - Ecology Group Meeting with environmental writer Max Chesnes, who broke the story on the proposal by the State to build golf courses in our Jonathan Dickinson State Park

November 28th - Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!!!

[[link to Town Calendar on webpage]][Calendar Dates to End of Year listing]

Click here for the agenda and backup materials for the October 23rd Town Council meeting Click here to see the video of the October 23rd Town Council meeting.