Thursday, May 7, 2009
Horrific Story from South Palmway, Lakeside Area...
From the NY Times: The Manure Chronicles
Click title for more...actually a fair article - but notice that these are "registered organic gardeners" and the operation is part of a community "co-op" - a little more structured and regulated to a greater degree than what was proposed here. And, how well does the city do at regulation? My point entirely.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
10th Avenue Update
A construction progress update in provided for your viewing below. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Thank you
Joan
Construction on north half of the road :
· Installation of band curbs at corner features
Construction on south half of the road:
· Installation of street light poles to follow sidewalk completion
· Installation of band curbs at corner features
· Water main tie-ins
· Installation of signal pole foundations at “D” and “A”
· Installation of conduits for franchise utilities
Also continual:
Redesign of handicapped ramp at “B” and 10th and discussions with property owner
Discussions with FDOT regarding requirements for pavers vs. concrete at 10th and Dixie – information from FDOT expected late May
Discussions with the County for a change in timing/ light fixture at the intersection of “A” and 10th
EDITORIAL: Jennings failed her own test
Announcement from City: Grand Re-opening of the William O. Lockhart Municpal Pier
Saturday, May 9th at the Lake Worth Municipal Beach.
Ribbon Cutting at 10:00 a.m.,
Activities Throughout the Day
- Fishing Tournament With Prizes - 8:00 am start ; Registration Begins at 6:30 am
- Free Admission to the Pier and Parking
- Free Food and Drink
- Free Giveaways
- Free T-shirts to First 300 Guests
Another result of our "progressive" City Commission...
Click title for link to story on Channel 5.
We don't have lifeguards at our beach again on Tuesdays and Wednesdays - this after we had a drowning no less than a month ago. I provide here again the ocean rescue statistics from 2007 and 2008 on our beach.
TRAGEDY does not obey the calendar - this is a basic public safety function - what more is there to say?
Below is a letter from the United States Lifesaving Association - written in January of this year - begging for lifeguard coverage at our beach.
Have we hit bottom yet?
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Sources for Rain Barrels:
Click here
Click here
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Click here
No recommendations on retailer or manufacturer, just a resource you might want to consider.
Click here for live link to City Commission meetings on 5/5
They decided not to pay the $6 million to the County. They are going forward with the Conflict Resolution Process with the County. Much talk about conservation of water related to our Emergency Order from the South Florida Water Management District.
Annabeth Carson called green lawns a luxury for the rich if they are not producing food. A lot of talk about rain barrels and catching what rain we get from the sky. Commissioner Jennings wants big signs at the entrance to the city proclaiming water crisis. They also want increased enforcement measures by the Sheriff for violators of watering restrictions (a good idea.) They also talked about going to a modified "Phase 4" (most critical) water restrictions. Commissioner Jennings brought up an idea they implemented in Australia about the length of showers, turning off fountains, etc. And they still talk about hooking up to West Palm Beach water, which is operating under a court order regarding their system.
There is also no guarantee that the city will get a permit for deep well injection. There is no guarantee that we can hook up to West Palm Beach or the County (they even asked if the County would let the city connect to the new line on an "emergency basis")
No one either would or could come up with the complaint that the city has with the County agreement - they'll let staff come up with the reasons. Commissioner Golden said there were lots of complaints.
And we are approaching the County, having not honored our obligation, and expect them to go along with our Conflict Resolution process and at the same time we are going to them to negotiate an extension of our $5 million grant for the beach redevelopment.
Any guesses what will happen next?
E-mail communication between Commissioner Jennings and Rachel Bach - prior to last Monday's meeting on Comp Plan...FYI
Click here for review of residential real estate sales in 33460 last 30 days
That is the trouble with the thinking of people who complain about vacant units in townhouses. First of all, these buildings are on the tax rolls and property taxes have to be paid whether vacant or not. Second, as noted above, it is a temporary situation that will resolve itself with the market. Third, the townhouses built in Lake Worth during this national and international BOOM in housing are a relatively small number compared to other local municipalities. Fourth, in many cases, these buildings took care of some blighting influences that couldn't be eradicated in other ways...6th Avenue South and Federal Hwy. come to mind. Fifth, for every unit built in Lake Worth - one less is built in environmentally sensitive or sprawl-prone areas.
Commissioner Jennings talks a lot about the FPL plant at "the headwaters of the Everglades" - she even lent her negotiating talents between protesters and law enforcement -and frequently references how that power plant represents the beating heart of development.
Question: If we wall off the already urbanized area (which Lake Worth is in the middle of) from redevelopment, then where will that go? The only place left will be interior regions of Palm Beach County and the rest of the state of Florida. All of which will be aided if Hometown Democracy makes it on the ballot in 2010 and becomes law.
One last hope for Tri-Rail's 14,700 weekday passengers: Mangonia Park to Miami service faces shutdown
Lake Worth commission to debate paying $6 million to Palm Beach County for water
Monday, May 4, 2009
Article by yours truly in current CRA newsletter...
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Revised "Beach Site Vision Study" as of Friday...
Myths, misinformation, selective memory, hysteria, bungling bureaucracy...who benefits?
These same people would not like you to know the amount of public input and protections put into the regulatory actions as it relates to this property. They point to the zoning allowing 80 units - when the project would be restricted to 40 units through an annexation agreement designed to protect surrounding residents. They would also like you to ignore the fact that the property is surrounded on three sides by one of the more dense residential developments in the city of Lake Worth - Murry Hills.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
A hopeful sign...
I don't think she actually got to the City Hall annex and met with our customer service personnel. See below:
Friday, May 1, 2009
Relay for Life - Today at John Prince Park - 6 p.m. - Lake Worth Kiwanis Team
A team from Lake Worth Kiwanis will be doing the Relay for Life at John Prince Park. I was hoping to join them, but was called out of town. Click title for link for more information and a way to donate to our hometown team! Good luck!