Monday, March 7, 2011

How to Make Cities More Livable - US News and World Report

W. Paul Farmer, chief executive officer of the American Planning Association and American Institute of Certified Planners on how to make cities more livable - and the role of planners. Click title for link.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Definition of "URGENCY"

ur·gen·cy

 noun \ˈər-jən(t)-sē\
plural ur·gen·cies

Definition of URGENCY

1
: the quality or state of being urgent : insistence
2
: a force or impulse that impels or constrains : urge

Fiddling while...

Doing a slow burn...

Mulling over the arrogance of anyone in city government that would put words on paper that contemplated a $75,000 groundbreaking party for the casino rehabilitation, resuscitation, recapitulation, reconfiguration and/or regurgitation.  Whatever it ends up being.

First of all, here we are a city that has declared "financial urgency."  We are screaming "poor" to whoever will listen with the main purpose being to wrestle concessions from our unions with existing contracts negotiated in good faith, from PBSO for our stellar law enforcement services and to the County for our fire service.  One might question why we are even pursuing the prospect of re-doing the building given our "urgency."  But we are not supposed to question, we are to hail Caesar and follow.  Why the city has a bulging "cash portfolio" which will finance the project - we are being silly if we ask what that means.

Second, then we get rid of the leasing agent for the property that was going to pursue national, credit-worthy tenants in order to go with one that will pursue regional and local tenants, with preference to those that are current tenants.  Commissioner Mulvehill reminded all at the last Commission meeting these tenants have been there for 30 years and we owe them first right of refusal.  Just think, if all take the city up on its offer, how different will the project be after it is finished?  How big of an economic boon to the city will it be?  Will the project be able to pay for itself?  What about those parking projections again?  And there is this ethics ordinance that was passed late last year.  It states as follows:

  • "An elected official of the City of Lake Worth, who is a current sitting member of the City Commission and has accepted an election campaign contribution in an amount that is more than $100 from an individual or a business entity having an interest in a matter before the City Commission in which the City Commission will take action, must publicly disclose, both verbally and in writing, such contribution prior to any discussion or vote on the matter.  The written disclosure must be submitted to the City Clerk."
Clearly, this decision and others related to the beach project have been made since the adoption of this ethics ordinance.  These actions clearly benefited the existing tenants at the Casino building.  We haven't heard any disclosures by those elected officials that received significant contributions from these tenants and individuals related to those businesses.  Do we just enact ordinances for appearances only and when it comes to abide by them, look the other way?

Third, there is a lot of work that has to be done before we are clinking any champagne glasses.  How is the permitting coming along?  Will the State of Florida agree with the city's interpretation of the percent of reconstruction that is going to take place - given now that the building is essentially being demolished?  Instead of "golden shovels," can we employ a "golden wrecking ball?"
Fourth, would such a groundbreaking party lead those to proclaim themselves, falsely, as "saviors" of the building - continuing the ruse that this is somehow a restoration of the 1922 Casino building?  I think there are those that couldn't resist - how it was the "circle of light" that convinced the city to "save" the building.  We would hear that somehow this project is furthering the cause for historic preservation, which it doesn't.  All these pronouncements would further polarize the community which has been polarized long enough by the beach and the notion that it would see a new day by being reborn in some way, some day.

Fifth, we have a current law suit related to the former redevelopment plan for the beach that has yet to be adjudicated.  In fact, it is still in the "discovery" period and the city has spent around $250,000 up to this point in time.  This is without taking depositions or really spending any time in a courtroom.  What is the city projecting our total legal costs to defend the city's position?  Perhaps the city better save the $75,000 as a down payment for the rest of the legal work - a judicious choice.  What if the city loses and owes the other party a multi-million dollar judgement?  Will that come from the same "cash portfolio?"  Is there any prospect of the city settling given the steep legal fees the city is incurring?

Let's put off any celebration until we have a finished project, the tenants are moved in and paying their rents and the entire site is "improved" with the County's money.  Anything else reeks of political self-promotion and wastes precious money that the city, apparently, can't do without.  Somehow, this proposal reminds me of the awarding the Census Total Count duties to certain political operatives.  How much did we spend on that again?  People have asked but no one is getting an answer.

This is to be discussed at the City Commission work session this coming Tuesday - 3/8.  They can't take action on the item at this meeting.  Public comment is also not permitted this Tuesday.

Hmmmm...a little long, but interesting review of the cultural meanings of "choice" and the predicament of unlimited choices...

Perhaps this is what people are made to wear in the asylum?

Click here for link to "Living the Dream in Lake Worth" t-shirts and other trinkets.  How appropriate for the Commissioners, Mayor, City Manager and Attorney to wear during Commission meetings!  Note:  If you purchase anything, it looks like some of proceeds would go to the PBP - how ironic that they are "living the dream" too.  Caution is advised.

From our ex-patriot L-Dubber from Down-Unda - a little shaken and stirred...

Capt. Wm. S. Stafford (Ret.)
Master of Science Degree (AvSciTech)
Commercial Pilot ASMEL
Instrument Airplane
FCF Flight Engineer C-130B, E & H
Airframe Mechanic
Royal New Zealand Coast Guard Boatmaster # 38155

FROM A FORMER LAKE WORTH RESIDENT AND LWHS GRADUATE CLASS OF 73

32 Kensington Avenue
Knightsbridge
Rangiora 7400
NEW ZEALAND

6 March 2011 

Mr. Wes Blackman
(via E-Mail)

G’Day Wes;

 Here in the Lands Down-Unda, we are holding our own at the moment on the outskirts of Christchurch.

 Since the day of the 22 February quake last week, we have not ventured into Christchurch; the roads are torn-up, roughly patched over and many arteries are no-go areas, causing traffic problems. The busses are running, albeit on minimised routes, and the CBD remains cordoned off.

 However, today the cordon shrunk.  Govt is now allowing homeowners and businesses to go in and gather their personal items, effects and business tools out of condemned buildings and the closed-off CBD. Many businesses have relocated to the western side of the city which still has some underground infrastructure and lots of warehouse space in steel framed buildings that average 15 years old.

 The Australian Police are here to assist, and they were sworn-in shortly after arriving at ChchInternational Airport.  The Royal New Zealand Army is also patrolling the worst hit areas along the coast as they have the ATV’s and Mercedes Unimogs that can traverse the heavily damaged areas. The New Zealand Police responded quickly from several surrounding towns, as did the Fire Brigades.

 The eastern side of town is basically munted, and liquefaction brought-up five times the amount of silt as did the September 4 Quake. University students from Canterbury were out with shovels cleaning up the streets, as many of their classroom and lecture halls are write-offs.

 Seismologists are calling this the world’s most destructive quake based upon it’s gravity acceleration, shallow depth and proximity to Christchurch.  Whilst the Richter Scale magnitude was over 6, the other factors such as loose soils, liquefaction, and 100 year old brick buildings contributed to the overall destruction.

 As a result, Prime Minister John Key has re-assigned many portfolios of the Right Honourable Gerry Brownlee (whose home was heavily damaged in the 4 September Quake) to other Cabinet members to allow Minister Brownlee to focus solely on the two quakes.  Minister Brownlee is cutting thru a lot of red tape to get the mess cleaned up ASAP. Those heritage buildings which were damaged are coming down as they pose a hazard to human life.

 This is the most costly natural disaster, far exceeding Hurricane Katrina in pay=outs from international insurance groups.  Katrina did a lot of wind, and surface damage, but the underground infrastructurewas left intact.  Not so down here.  There are a lot of health hazards (ie raw sewage in the streets, silt dust with bacteria and viruses that is blown-around by high winds, and the constant aftershocks that tip many of the building facades over into the streets.

 Another Minister, the Right Honourable Leann Dalziel, had her house on the east side trashed during the first quake in September, and her neighbourhood of Bexley is probably going to be a write-off, with no further houses being built on that sight.

 We are finishing-up on most repairs to our house this coming week.  We are the fortunate few being 45 km’s from the center of Christchurch, but many have packed what they could carry and have left the region for good, going to North Island, or to Aussie.

 Many of the schools which remained opened are now severely overcrowded due to taking-on students from the condemned schools.  We have seen a dramatic increase in the population of Rangiora overnight, along with the problems that overcrowding begets.

 There is a mathematician here whose name is Ken Ring. He predicted these quakes using astronomy, the moon’s apogee, gravitics and magnetic field variations.  He came within 2 days of each quake. The next big one is scheduled for 19-21 March of this year.  While many have dismissed his forecast (it’s bad for business and the local economy), others are leaving.  Air New Zealand is offering $50 seats to anywhere in New Zealand for quake survivors, and to those who feel the need to get out.

 That’s the latest from Christchurch.  Feel free to post this on the blog for those Kiwis and Brits who may happen to be in Florida.

Cheers-

 Will

Town ad listing property owners owing code enforcement fines nets no payments

Our rich neighbor is having trouble collecting code enforcement fines and went to the extent of publishing a list of delinquent property owners in the local newspaper - with no tangible result. Their "accounts receivable" pales in comparison with ours. At the last City Commission meeting, it was reported that only two code cases were presented before the magistrate at the last Code Enforcement hearing. Selective enforcement? Code equal to a charade? You decide.

The Commission, at the suggestion of Commissioner Maxwell, will be adding an update from Code Enforcement as part of their work session schedule.  A step in the right direction.

Click title for Palm Beach Daily News article.

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Click here for Current Litigation Report to be presented at 3/8 Commission Work Session

Read it and weep.  Dee McNamara has a "slip and fall" claim - there are other interesting items on the list.  Offer comments below.

From presentation to be made on the beach at 3/8 Commission Work Session

FYI - there was no Planning and Zoning Board meeting on December 19, 2010 - before William Waters became Planning and Preservation Director.  The meeting was on January 19, 2011.  Is this the "official" version of the timeline?  If so, for what purpose?  Note that the Planning and Zoning approval was more than just the site plan.

Click here for memo on "Groundbreaking Celebration Plans."

Friday, March 4, 2011

Brief Video from the Madison Regatta 2010


 This was taken from my father's property during the Madison Regatta, Madison, Indiana.

Here is the trailer for "Madison" - a story about the 1971 victory of the town-owned hydroplane.

Summary of Current Legislative Actions related to Growth Management...

Growth Management: 

In the last two weeks before the beginning of the 2011 session (March 8th), additional bills related to growth management issues have been filed.  (To see a summary of all the bills that APA Florida is following, click on the bill tracking report in the section above.)

 SB 1416 (Senator Benacquisto, R-District 27) creates a new definition for a municipality of special financial concern under Chapter 163.3164, F.S.   It defines them as a municipality with a per capital taxable value of assessed property of $58,000 or less, or a municipality with a population under 20,000 with a per capita taxable value of assessed property of $46,000 or less.  This bill provides that under certain circumstances, these municipalities can apply for a waiver for updating the capital improvements element and schedule, a waiver of the requirements for amendments to update the regional water supply plan, and a waiver from the requirements for the EAR scoping meeting and other requirements of section 163.3191.

 SB 1440 (Senator Hays, R-District 20) makes a number of changes to the Rural Land Stewardship process.  It removes the Department of Community Affairs as the designated entity to provide assistance to local governments under the Rural Land Stewardship program and designates the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services as the lead.  Water Management districts are also removed from the list of participating agencies and replaced with the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The above appears to apply when a landowner or local government is not required to demonstrate need, although this portion of the bill is confusing.  Under these circumstances, this bill would allow landowners to directly petition the local government to designate the rural land stewardship area.

Additionally the bill amends where rural land stewardship areas can be located – the requirement that they be outside urban growth boundaries is amended to be outside urban service areas or planned future urban service areas.  A number of other changes to the process are proposed and the bill would also repeal Rules 9J-5.026 and Rule 9J-11.  The bill also specifically states that rulemaking to implement the provisions of 163.3177(11)(d) is  not authorized.

 SB 1512 (Senator Bennett, R- District 21) deals with a number of issues.  It adds definitions of mobility plan and transit-oriented development to Chapter 163.3164, F.S.  It also amends the definition of financial feasibility to include committed or planned funding sources of a local government for years 4-10 of a 10 year capital improvement schedule.  The bill would require that amendments to address military base compatibility to be submitted by June 30, 2011.

 The bill also changes the use of population with respect to future growth, stating that “The amount of land required to accommodate anticipated growth may not be limited solely by the projected population. At a minimum, the future land use plan must provide at least the amount of land needed for each land use category in order to accommodate anticipated growth using medium population projections for a 25-year planning period from the Bureau of Economic and Business Research (BEBR) of the University of Florida and incorporating a minimum 25 percent market factor based upon the total population of the jurisdiction…”  It would require that population projections be reconciled on a county basis, and that counties and the municipalities within enter into an allocation agreement by December 1, 2011.

 The bill also changes the transportation backlog concept to a transportation deficiency concept which includes both existing deficiencies and deficiencies projected to occur with 10 years.  It changes the formula for calculating transportation proportionate share for DRIS, making it a two step process where any road projected to be deficient without any DRI project traffic is eliminated from the calculation.  It would require each local government to adopt by ordinance a methodology for assessing proportionate fair-share mitigation options by December 1, 2011.

 The bill also exempts transit –oriented developments from being reviewed for transportation impacts in the DRI process.

 In order to eliminate concerns about constitutional validity being raised by litigation, SB 7021 (Representative Hooper, R- District 50) reenacts Chapter 163.31801(5) which states that in any action involving an impact fee, the government has the burden of proving by a preponderance of evidence that the imposition or amount of the fee meets the law.   The bill indicates that it would take effect upon becoming a law and would be applied retroactively back to July 1, 2009. 

Madison, Indiana...

Where I spent some time last summer, has a FaceBook page.  Mind you, Indiana doesn't have a Sunshine Law like Florida does, but I wanted to share a FaceBook post from that city which is using FaceBook to publicize an opportunity for interaction with city officials.
I have posted about this city before - that is was the first National Trust Main Street community.  It has a "time capsule" downtown that appears to be from the late 1800s.  It was the setting for the movie "Some Came Running" which starred Shirley MacLaine, Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.  A few weeks ago, I woke up very early, turned on the TV and on AMC, the movie was playing.  It was the first time I had seen it.  The theater on Main Street in Madison plays it often and they also have public showings in the park during the summer.  The town in the movie is called "Parkman." 

This is another example of a community using social media to communicate and interact with its citizenry.  It's also an example of a community that knows how to honor and celebrate its past.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Second county commissioner in a month gets ethics warning for taking free gala ticket

FYI - Click title for link.  Does anyone really think that people aren't taking ethics seriously?

24 HOUR: A Twitter experiment in local government « The Dan Slee Blog

Using a variety of Twitter accounts, FaceBook pages and Flikr, a town in the UK took to tweeting all of its activities during a 24 hour period - from pothole filling to curating a museum. This amounts to a creative effort on the part of a municipality to broadcast all that it does as a way to further engage and educate their residents in what makes local government tick. Perhaps imaginative use of electronic social networks is one way to bridge the divide between the governors and the governed.

This would be a much more proactive step than the continual retreat of our local Lake Worth government  from interacting and soliciting input from the public.  I am sure that those on our dais would have 5,000 plus reasons why we can't or shouldn't do this.

Speaking of that, I have signed up - at least 5 times - for the past current versions of Tropical Mail or Lake Worth News or whatever they are calling it now coming from city hall through the city hall website. Either I am specifically being blocked from receiving updates, which is entirely possible, or the city just doesn't send much out - period. Has anyone else had a similar experience?  When I do get something, others don't and vice versa - it's like the city has more than one e-mail list.  You can try your luck by clicking here and going to the city's website to register for "Lake Worth News."

Click here for further information on the UK municipality story at the Personal Democracy Forum, Tech President blog.  Click title for link to the Dan Slee Blog.

Lake Worth Resident Ted Brownstein...

authored a book Sunshine Republic, Thunder over Lake Worth.  It's set in our humble city 120 years in the future.  Check out the description of the book on Amazon (link above) - you can order one too and support one of our residents!  Ted and I bumped into one another last week at a Lake Worth Kiwanis meeting.  He told me about writing the book and that he'd like to drop off a copy for me to review.  Amongst the barking of my very protective Corgis, he dropped a copy of the book off today.  Thank you Ted and I will start reading it soon.  I'll let you know my reaction to it.  This is another testament to the amount of talented people that we have in our city!

PARROT COVE GENERAL MEETING - 3/10/11 @ 7 p.m.

PARROT COVE GENERAL MEETING
THURSDAY
MARCH 10, 7:00PM                     St. Andrews Church, 100 North Palmway

Cary Sabol, Chair of the Lake Worth CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) is the guest speaker at Parrot Cove’s general meeting on THURSDAY (usual meeting date is Tuesday) at St. Andrews Church hall.
Cary will give us an overview of the CRA:  what it does, how officers are appointed and how it is governed.  In addition he will bring us up-to-date on some of their accomplishments including a $23.2 million award from the federal government, the Transit Oriented Development Master Plan,  Bicycle Network Program, Cultural Renaissance Program, their involvement in bringing Publix to downtown Lake Worth and many other programs.
Cary will take your questions and comments so be sure to attend.  THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN HOW TAX DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT AND TO VOICE YOUR OPINIONS AND CONCERNS.
What is the CRA?  It is an Agency governed by a seven member Board of Commissioners appointed by the City of Lake Worth Commission.  Their role is to direct activities within the CRA in accordance with the approved Lake Worth Redevelopment Plan.  Revenue is generated for CRA projects through Tax Increment Financing (TIF).
 PCNA wants to make 2011 the year for bringing important local issues to you along with our usual social events.  We started the year with Joseph Kroll as our guest speaker and will be inviting other community officials to future meetings. 

ELF - Second-Stage Entrepreneurs - Economic Gardening

Interesting approach to help existing businesses within a community when facing economic challenges. Click title for link.

From the article:

The three basic elements of gardening are:
  1. Providing critical information needed by businesses to survive and thrive.
  2. Developing and cultivating an infrastructure that goes beyond basic physical infrastructure and includes quality of life, a culture that embraces growth and change, and access to intellectual resources, including qualified and talented employees.
  3. Developing connections between businesses and the people and organizations that can help take them to the next level — business associations, universities, roundtable groups, service providers and more.

Justices Rule for Protesters at Military Funerals

Justices Rule for Protesters at Military Funerals
Published: March 2, 2011
The First Amendment protects hateful protests at military funerals, the Supreme Court ruled in an 8-to-1 decision.
Click title for link to New York Times story on yesterday's Supreme Court decision.  I am surprised at the decisive 8-1 decision, but the Supreme Court has always held that freedom of speech is one of the more important rights granted to us through the Bill of Rights.  As offensive as this sort of demonstration is and the hatefulness represented by this "church," it is still protected speech.  I hope that we keep this in mind when we experience some "over the top" displays of freedom of expression around town and in public meetings.

From the article:

"Chief Justice Roberts used sweeping language culled from the First Amendment canon in setting out the central place free speech plays in the constitutional structure. “Debate on public issues should be robust, uninhibited and wide-open,” he wrote, because “speech on public issues occupies the highest rung of the hierarchy of First Amendment values.

Boca Raton is Earth's 12th-rudest city | boca, foursquare, raton - Foursquare - WPEC 12 West Palm Beach

More news on the civility front! Check this out:

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

A tribute to the "other" blogger...

Contrary to what you heard last night...

according to the 02 25 11 City Manager's report, the Publix in the Town and Country Plaza on Lake Worth Road will not be closing when the new Publix opens.
 So, for now, we are not just moving blight from one place to another - one of the charges of the people that wanted the City Commission to takeover CRA duties.

Better living through transparency...

The comments of the other blogger...

are "political" (one of her favorite terms) in nature and do not accurately reflect the tone of the meeting.  With three exceptions, all of the public comment (around 35 people) were civil and didn't stray across the lines.  All but 5 or so of the speakers were in favor of not tempting fate and keeping the CRA as an independent board.  The fate would have been the prospect of HUD seeing the change in administration of the grant a significant change, re-score it and then having to compete with communities that don't have a self-destructive impulse that would be jumping at the chance to snap up the money that our community couldn't see its way to maintain - which all tolled would have jeopardized the $23 million NSP2 grant.

As for transparency on this issue, Commissioner Golden presented a letter that explained she "tendered her resignation from the LWCDC" the night before the Commission meeting.  So much for her not being an employee for the past two years as she was quoted in the Lake Worth Herald.  This was presented as a disjointed factoid without further explanation - which really should have accompanied such a letter.  The REAL reason that it was done is that the newly minted local Ethics Commission became concerned about her relationship with the organization and the conflict that it would create if she was an employee and also had a policy making role which could determine funding of the CDC.  Someone concerned with transparency would have made those comments last night.  One wonders if this is a resignation for a day, three months or if its permanent.  How would we ever really know?

The Mayor picked up on the negative and accusatory tone of the memo from Commissioner Golden which introduced the issue and placed it on the agenda.  He thought that prompted the depth of the reaction from the public about keeping the powers of the CRA with an independent board.  One of the more constant themes of the takeover attempt was that elected officials need to be responsible for taxpayer dollars.  That led the discussion to point out numerous instances where our elected City Commission had been derelict in that duty - $4.5 million deficit, "law suits out the ears," Sheriff's contract, etc., etc.

Commissioner Golden really stepped in it too when she said that the CRA board didn't "have leaders."  She later apologized, but it was reflective of the current mindset of the dais of "we know everything and you know nothing" which has led us to experience the reluctance to truly engage the public in dialog (see comments made under Unagendaed Items)  It was apparent that while the Commission identified problems with communication, it became obvious that members of the Commission - with certain exceptions - did little or nothing to communicate to the board, the Chair, or investigate basic informational items that are available on the CRA website or on the Housing Partnership website.  The Commission was made to look foolish by not taking advantage of such basic tools such as returning e-mails, etc.  All of the CRA board members expressed the seriousness in which they took their volunteer position and did all they could to promote communication - and were willing to do more if asked.

If you were there or listening over the Internet, please share your comments below.

What could have been a disaster was avoided for at least 90 days.

Comments made by yours truly on the CRA takeover issue (3/1)

11. Wes Blackman, 241 Columbia Drive, - I happened to have had the pleasure to serve on the CRA for about a year and was the person who made the motion to apply for the $23 million NSP2 grant. This agenda item tonight represents the third time that this issue has come before the City Commission Each time the conclusion was that there needed to be better communication between the City Commission and the CRA. These attempts were each time led by the same Commissioner – Jo Ann Golden. In her memo re-introducing the item again, she cites some actions that she deems “improper” - like the award of $500,000 to Publix to establish a quality grocery store in the downtown area – a coveted prize amongst any city with a downtown commercial area with residential that surrounds it. There is nothing “improper” about that action – one that is about to be realized in a few months. She also cites committing $700,000 to the Palm Beach County Cultural Alliance as “improper” - it is a cultural agency that broadcasts all of Palm Beach County's cultural offerings to the entire world and will have a special interest in Lake Worth due to it being the location of their headquarters. With them in town, we will have a creative engine to produce other cultural events- not unlike the Street Painting Festival that took place last weekend. The Cultural Council is also going to occupy a vacant, historic building within our Old Town National Historic District – which represents an adaptive re-use of the former Lake Theater – none of this is “improper” - it is the proper role of a CRA to do things to help redevelop our city so that it can prosper. It is all “proper” unless you don't want our city to prosper. What is “improper” is that this proposal is made by a Commissioner and Mr. Grimm, President of the CDC (who had just made his comments which had just questioned the actions of the board he sits on) with long standing ties to an agency that receives CRA funds through the $23 million grant. This is the grant that the same Commissioner didn't want the city to apply for. How are the transfer of city-owned properties which may benefit from this neighborhood stabilization program coming? I suggest both the Commission and CRA work together to make this happen.  Do it, get it done.

What I said under Public Comment on Unagendaed Items last night (3/1)

Item 6: Wes Blackman, 241 Columbia Drive, private citizen – most honorable Mayor and esteemed members of the dais. I'd like to address the issue of civility that has come to the fore and was part of your discussions during a work session last week. I would like to suggest that the emotions of the public that you are experiencing during public comment, elsewhere and at other times, is borne of frustration. There is a feeling that the public's input is either not wanted, purposefully made more difficult or avoided entirely. It is my understanding that the City Manager is refusing to attend neighborhood association meetings and answer questions on topics like the study regarding Lake Worth's police services. The study is going forward despite widespread – near universal support - of the existing PBSO contract. Likewise, we have decisions being made about city buildings being demolished – the Shuffleboard Court building – that have never seen the light of day of a public meeting. Has the Planning and Zoning Board met regarding this? Will they be making a recommendation to the Commission or is it a “done deal?” We have a sitting City Commissioner that has a long-standing relationship with a non-profit agency that leases a city building that was never discussed as part of the analysis of all city-owned buildings with leases. The Mayor asked for an investigation of that agency's relationship with the city at the first meeting in January. We have heard nothing regarding the results of that investigation and the agency is still operating without a current lease. There are more examples, but I am limited for time. What I have seen the reaction to be is one of retreat and defensiveness on the part of the city – which is the wrong way for the city to go. We can't have anymore “fortress Lake Worth” - you need to find ways to be totally transparent in your dealings with the public – which is all the time. I leave this piece of saran wrap here in an effort to bring at least a little transparency into this building.

Transparency is really not nearly this complicated...

Lake Worth commission declines to take over downtown redevelopment board

If you want to read what those in paneled corner offices want you to read, click the title for a link to a PBP article. It was a good night regardless what they say. And by the way, it's not just a "downtown redevelopment board" - guess Willie needs to go on a few kayak trips with me!

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

I brought transparency to city hall! Details tomorrow. An independent CRA is safe for now - but not without a few close calls.

Breaking News: The other blogger is refusing comments that have the phrase "Best Commission Ever" since she considers it "bull."

No further message.

Click here for Cary Sabol's, current Chair of the Lake Worth Community Redevelopment Agency, letter re Commission take-over attempt of CRA...

Re-posted in advance of tonight's City Commission meeting.

Pill mills thrive as Gov. Scott nixes database - Carl Hiaasen - MiamiHerald.com

Chalk up another poor decision by our new Governor. It's going to be a long four years. Click title for link to Carl Hiaasen article in the Miami Herald.

Lake Worth to ask county for help with fire-rescue costs

Number one question: Why is Vice Mayor Mulvehill representing the city on this matter before the County Commission? Here we are being the poor victim again with hat in hand. This from the PBP article:


"As a result, the combined tax rate for city property owners has risen to $8.85 per $1,000 taxable value. Because that's close to the $10 per $1,000 taxable value maximum rate allowed by state law, city officials also will ask the county for permission to levy a fire assessment instead of the property tax to pay for fire and rescue service.


The assessment on parcels of property would allow the city to spread the cost to fire and rescue service to all property owners and remove the county fire levy from the property-tax equation.
Mayor Rene Varela said a per-unit assessment for fire and rescue service makes sense because the levy would not fluctuate with changes in property values.
"The value of the house is not significant," Varela said. "When it's burning down, they're still going to want the service."
This would effectively allow the City to levy higher taxes than the 10 mil state limit.  We are also paying for a study - like we are for the police services.  No word if the study is complete or not.  Brilliant quote from the Mayor.

Did this ever formally come before the City Commission?  Does that matter anymore?