Village Council Workshop

Village of Wellington 12300 Forest Hill Blvd Wellington, FL 33414 Action Summary - Final Tuesday, September 24, 2024 4:00 PM Village Hall - Conference Rooms 1E & 1F Village Council Workshop Michael Napoleone, Mayor John T. McGovern, Vice Mayor Tanya Siskind, Councilwoman Maria Antuña, Councilwoman Amanda Silvestri, Councilwoman While this is a public meeting, there will be no opportunity for public comment at this workshop. This workshop will be Iive streamed, recorded and posted to the Village website for viewing. Village Council Workshop Action Summary - Final September 24, 2024 1. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Napoleone called the meeting to order at 4:00 pm. Council Members in Attendance: Mayor Michael J. Napoleone, Vice Mayor John T. McGovern, Councilwoman Tanya Siskind , Councilwoman Maria Antuña, and Councilwoman Amanda Silvestri. 2. REVIEW OF COUNCIL AGENDA 3. WORKSHOP A. 24-6770 DISCUSSION REGARDING K-PARK Mr. De La Vega introduced the item. He stated that this was the Discussion Regarding K-Park. He noted that the Council directed staff on February 13, 2024 to continue discussions with Related Companies for the sale of K-Park. He provided a brief overview of the previous discussion. He noted that Elkus Manfredi Architects are in attendance via Zoom and Related Companies have brought forward a prestigious private school, Education In Motion (EiM), who are present and have recently made an offer for the sale of the western portion of K-Park. He mentioned the unsolicited proposals from two other developers since the February meeting and two recent appraisals for the property which have been provided to the Council. Vice Mayor McGovern asked what are the recent appraisal values. Mr. De La Vega said that Callaway & Price, Inc. appraised $34 million for the east portion and $19 million for the west portion for a total of $53 million; Anderson Carr appraised $34.5 million for the east portion and $18 million for the west portion for a total of $52.5 million. Kenneth Himmel, President of Related Ross, thanked the Council for the time and focus given to this. He introduced his team: Max Cay, Senior Analyst, Lynn Connelly, Senior Colleague and Partner, Jordan Bargas, Partner, and Kevin Ryan, Partner. He said that Steve Ross, CEO and Chairman, sends his regards as he could not be present because he is in New York receiving an award for World Resources Foundation. He discussed the reception in West Palm Beach, project development and the three things people are looking for: medical, a great university, and K-12 schools. He introduced Fraser White, EiM Founder/Chairman & Chief Executive Officer and Karen Yung, EiM Co-Founder & Chief Collaboration Officer. Village of Wellington Page 1 Village Council Workshop Action Summary - Final September 24, 2024 Ms. Yung conducted a PowerPoint presentation "EiM Presentation - Wellington Village". She discussed the Agenda and the Founder's Vision & Mission. Mr. White showed an EiM video. He discussed the more than $250 million Commitment to the Wellington Village & Community. He said that the school is a not for profit school and there would be twenty (20) pre-funded scholarships available a year, for the first five (5) years. He showed a video of the EiM facilities and discussed the Spaces to Play, Spaces to Learn, Spaces to Inspire, Spaces to Innovate, Spaces to Grow, Spaces to Refuel and Spaces to Perform. Ms. Yung discussed the Educational Vision - Engaging, World-Class Programs and Students. Mr. White said that they want to bring the opportunity for an international school to Wellington and for the students from Wellington to go internationally. Ms. Yung continued the presentation and discussed the Holistic Education: Music & Performing Arts, Sports, International Travel Opportunities Abroad and Our Track Record as School Operators Speaks to Our Operational Excellence in Making Every School a Top Offering, Our Students Matriculate to Great Universities. Mr. White spoke regarding the schools and rankings. Dr. Nicole Assisi, Thrive Chief Executive Officer, discussed her background. She discussed the following slides of the presentation: "New School- Wellington - Educating Tomorrow's Global Leaders Today, Led and Supported by Educators with Extensive Experience, Professional Development for Educators in and Beyond Schools, Entrepreneurship: Developing World Changers, College and Career Success: Architecting Extraordinary Futures, Global Connection Shaping Informed, Engaging Citizens, and Passion Ventures: Nurturing Lifelong Pursuits of Excellence". Marion Weidenhausen, Executive Interim Management EiM Germany, spoke about their Progress to Date, Key Fundamentals for Making the School a Success and Meeting with Top-Tier Architectural Firms this week to Support the Selection Process for A World-Class School Site. She said that before they go into a market they make sure that they hire qualified, successful and experienced heads at least 18-months before the school opens to set it up for success. Village of Wellington Page 2 Village Council Workshop Action Summary - Final September 24, 2024 Mr. White commented that there are a lot of school groups but not many of them have the experience of actually owning, moving into new markets, designing, building and opening schools successfully and managing them. He noted that 11 of the 14 schools they have, they built them. He discussed the level of quality they have to the project that Related would build. He mentioned that they want to open the school by August 2027. Mayor Napoleone thanked Related and EiM for their presentation. He commented on building a school on the back half of K-Park. He noted that Wellington is passionate about education and the Village invests annually in its public schools. He asked what makes an international school model better than an American based school. He asked how do they anticipate the tuition price points in comparison to the private schools like King's Academy, Benjamin, and American Heritage. Ms. Assisi and Mr. White answered questions from Mayor Napoleone. Vice Mayor McGovern asked what is a tier one school. Councilwoman Silvestri asked what are the numbers. Councilwoman Siskind asked how many kids are on the wait list. There was discussion regarding tuition and market research. Councilwoman Siskind asked what type of public sharing opportunities are there for sharing of facilities with Wellington's 11 public schools. Mr. White answered a question from Councilwoman Siskind. Councilwoman Siskind asked if there is a component for boarding. Mr. White answered a question from Councilwoman Siskind. Councilwoman Antuña asked what is the plan to get students to fill this school and what is the plan to implement it. Mr. White and Mr. Himmel answered a question from Councilwoman Antuña. Councilwoman Antuña asked how would teachers be recruited. Ms. Assisi and Ms. Yung answered a question from Councilwoman Antuña. Village of Wellington Page 3 Village Council Workshop Action Summary - Final September 24, 2024 Mr. Himmel mentioned that Mr. Ross is the largest developer of affordable housing to make a difference in the State of Florida. He said that there would be an allocation of affordable housing in Wellington if the Village thinks that it is something that makes sense. Mayor Napoleone asked if there is a plan to prioritize access to the school for kids that live and grow up in Wellington or is there a prioritization plan at all for how to fill the school from the beginning. There was discussion regarding prioritization to the community. Vice Mayor McGovern asked how does this not undercut the Wellington schools. Mr. White asked in what way does this project undercut the schools. Vice Mayor McGovern asked if the public schools are the primary calling card of Wellington, why would the Village want this. Mr. White said that there is no undercutting; this is an answer to the need of people in the Wellington Community who travel a long way to go to school. He said that the professional development programs and sharing of the facilities will be supporting the school system here not undercutting it. There was discussion regarding the professional development, sharing facilities and scholarships. Mayor Napoleone asked what is the thought process on opening the school. Ms. Yung answered a question from Mayor Napoleone. Councilwoman Silvestri asked what is the tuition for the early learning. There were comments and discussion regarding the early learning tuition. Mayor Napoleone asked what type of outreach had been done besides talking to staff. Ms. Connelly and Ms. Assisi discussed the outreach done in the community with local leaders and parents. Councilwoman Antuña asked how is the acceptance of students going to Village of Wellington Page 4 Village Council Workshop Action Summary - Final September 24, 2024 be done as the Village is very diverse community. Ms. Yung answered a question from Councilwoman Antuña. Councilwoman Siskind asked if there are academic requirements. Ms. Yung answered a question from Councilwoman Siskind. Mr. Ryan spoke regarding the focus and advancing the plan. Austin Lee, Associate/Elkus Mandfredi Architects, introduced himself and Katharine O'Malley, AIA/Well AP/Senior Associate, Elkus Manfredi Architects. He presented a PowerPoint titled "Wellington Village". He discussed the Mixed Use District, Residential District and Private School. Mr. Ryan spoke about the interconnectivity points Vice Mayor McGovern asked if there would be lights on the stadium fields. Mr. Ryan answered a question from Vice Mayor McGovern. Mr. Lee continued and presented the Conceptual Site Plan - Private School. Mr. Ryan spoke about the master plan concepts. Mr. White said that we have to work on the program as this is very preliminary. Ms. O'Malley spoke about the Precedents- Campus Green Spaces and Precedents - Campus Architecture. Mr. Lee spoke about the Enlarged Private School Plan, Precedent Palisades Village Retail, Precedent Palisades Village Residents, Precedent Royal Poinciana Landscape, Conceptual Village Site Plan, and Precedents - Dining. Mr. Himmel said that there is the quality demand in Wellington but a lack of supply. He said that Related has the gravitas to bring great retail and restaurants to Wellington. Mr. Ryan commented on the introduction of residential units above the shops as one of the product types. Village of Wellington Page 5 Village Council Workshop Action Summary - Final September 24, 2024 Councilwoman Siskind asked if the units could be office space as well. Mr. Ryan answered a question from Councilwoman Siskind. He spoke regarding the different product types. Mr. Himmel commented on the different product types. He spoke about the Precedents - Retail and Precedents - Residential. Mr. Ryan and Mr. Himmel discussed the Enlarged Village Plan. David P. ManFredi, CEO and Founding Principal, Elkus Manfredi was present via video. He spoke regarding the Village View and environment that they could create in Wellington. There were comments and discussion regarding the connectivity of the school site, safety, viability of the concept of mixed use district and workforce housing. Ms. Connelly asked if the Bellissimo parcel would become a park. Mayor Napoleone and Vice Mayor McGovern answered a question from Ms. Connelly. Mr. Ryan re-emphasized the Conceptual Village Site Plan. Councilwoman Antuña commented on having an equestrian feel somewhere in the plan as the Equestrian Community is a big part of Wellington. Mr. Himmel responded to Councilwoman Antuña's comment. Councilwoman Siskind commented on the modern look of the school. Mr. White and Ms. Yung spoke regarding the school and preparing students for the challenging future. Councilwoman Silvestri inquired if the resident count is still 500 as mentioned in one on one discussions. Mr. Ryan responded to Councilwoman Silvestri's inquiry. Mr. Barnes asked how big is Area-17 for the events lawn. Mr. Manfredi said about 5,000 square feet. Village of Wellington Page 6 Village Council Workshop Action Summary - Final September 24, 2024 Mr. Barnes said that it is consensus that staff will continue to work with the Village Attorney's Office and Related on their Purchase and Sale Agreement (PSA). He mentioned that Related has provided an updated PSA that the Village would need to review and discuss. He noted a term sheet received for the EiM portion on the west half of K-Park. He discussed the next steps to come back to the Council with a draft PSA. Ms. Cohen said that she would need to retain outside counsel and would need direction from the Council if this is the proposal that the Council wants to move forward with in drafting a PSA. Councilwoman Silvestri said in order to make an informed decision she wants to see the other projects that were proposed to compare and contrast. Councilwoman Siskind asked if the Ward's are still interested. Mr. Barnes answered a question from Councilwoman Siskind. Mayor Napoleone said that we need to organize and set up at least one community meeting to discuss what we have seen and give the public a chance to come out and ask questions. Vice Mayor McGovern mentioned the Request for Proposal put out in 2015. Mr. Barnes said that the consensus that he is hearing is that he and Ms. Cohen are to move forward and take whatever steps necessary to get to a final recommended PSA. Vice Mayor McGovern commented on having a public meeting to discuss what is possible. There were discussion regarding a community meeting. Ms. Cohen said that staff needs to solidify if this is the proposal that the Council wants to move forward with since there are a number of proposals. Mr. Barnes said that to some extent staff has the consensus and direction that was given back in February. There was discussion regarding the other projects and the previous process. Village of Wellington Page 7 Village Council Workshop Action Summary - Final September 24, 2024 Mr. White commented that EiM and Related are in a high state of readiness to proceed, plan, fund and work together on the whole project. Councilwoman Siskind asked if this is the only proposal that includes a school. Mr. Barnes answered a question from Councilwoman Siskind. Ms. Connelly spoke regarding Related and EiM's reputation. There were comments and discussion regarding the project and moving forward. 4. ATTORNEY'S COMMENTS None. 5. MANAGER COMMENTS None. 6. COUNCIL COMMENTS None. 7. ADJOURN There being no further business to discuss with Council, the meeting was adjourned at 6:59 p.m. Village of Wellington Page 8