The Reef Institute, an organization dedicated to the preservation of coral reefs, presented their ambitious expansion project to the council. Plans for relocating to a larger facility were unveiled, with the aim to grow their coral facility to become one of the largest in North America. Emphasizing the significance of community involvement, the institute’s representative discussed an upcoming documentary and educated the council on coral bleaching and the effects of human activities on marine ecosystems. The annual budget requirements were also addressed, with a projected need to increase from $500,000 to $2 million to effectively scale operations. The council showed support for the organization and considered potential partnership opportunities.

On the housing front, the council tackled the second reading of an ordinance to integrate the revised Live Local Act into the village’s code. The act, recently updated by the state legislature, includes a provision that enables municipalities to limit building heights, prompting debate among council members regarding its applicability to Tequesta. Amendments to the reporting requirements for affordable housing units were agreed upon, changing from semiannual to annual submissions. Furthermore, the ordinance clarified that fines for violations of affordable housing criteria would be enforced on a per-unit basis.

The meeting also delved into proposed ordinance number 0527, which aimed to introduce private museums into the RC3 zoning district. After some deliberation and minor adjustments, including a 500-foot separation requirement between private museums, the council voted on the matter. However, due to the absence of a council member, the decision to defer further discussion to the next meeting was made, taking into account the possibility of a tie vote.

A report from the village attorney highlighted a recent Supreme Court opinion on homelessness and the forthcoming Florida statute addressing camping on public property. The attorney outlined the statute’s operational requirements and discussed the challenges of its practical implementation, bringing to light the potential implications for local governance.

In other updates, the village manager briefed the council on various ongoing projects such as the development of Remembrance Park, the installation of school zones, and updates on water infrastructure. Additionally, the Tequesta Police Department reported on their activities, including the success of the nautical club registration and the hiring of a new officer. The department also noted the enforcement of parking regulations and various training initiatives.

The council further addressed a resolution to establish a discretionary fund policy. Other topics of discussion included the amendment of the building department fee schedule to ensure proper allocation of building permit fees and the reversion of the electric bicycle ordinance to defer to state law, both of which were resolved expeditiously.

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing potential code violations and the associated penalties, focusing on the daily fines of $250 per violation. Additionally, discussions on variances, incentives for development, and the impact on the live local building project were brought forward.

Fiscal responsibility was also on the agenda, with the council setting the proposed maximum millage rate and scheduling public hearing dates. The annual performance review of the Village Manager, Jeremy Allen, concluded with positive feedback on his leadership, communication, and fiscal management, leading to a proposal for a significant bonus.