Tuesday, June 7, 2011

At City Commission meeting 6/7/11

Commissioner Golden asks to add an item that would move board appointments to after the date of the November election.  McVoy is not here and they are having trouble re-arranging the agenda so that he can be here for some of the items.  The agenda stays as is, except for the awarding of the plaque - Item G under presentations.  That was heard first.

 The Inspector General was allowed to go over the ten minute time limit.  The Marketing and Branding Task Force is giving presentation.  Role model cities are Austin, Delray Beach, Savanah, Key West and one that I missed.  They also looked at what makes Lake Worth different from other communities.  Their conclusion is that we are one of the most unique cities...period.  "Hip Retirees" were one of the target groups.  Focus on a one mile radius from city hall (see post "Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold.")  They point out the website as a weakness and points out the West Palm Beach website as a good example - Hollywood, FL was pointed out.  This is one of the short term goal. June 4th is the official city birthday, by the way.

Lynda Mahoney wants P&Z board to have "hand me down" I-Pads.  I do agree with her on involving the Planning Board in decisions that affect city property - in an advisory capacity.  Mulvehill wants to prioritize sign enforcement and getting rid of illegal signs - especially in this one mile area around city hall.  The city is a regular user of A-Frame signs - which is an illegal sign under our Zoning Code.  They are going to set up a joint City Commission/Planning Board meeting.

The "Voice in the Choice" meeting got its time in the sun.  Yeah!

Public comment:  Peter Timm called out the Commission about their back-peddling on the city police department idea - said that you are either for or against and you should pander to the public.  Lynn Anderson laid wreaths at the feet of Susan Stanton for jobs well done.

We had a visit by Betsy Ross tonight:
Panagioti Tsolkas talked about political apartheid  - meaning that people who have lived here a while, he believes, that don't have citizenship - they should be allowed to vote.

Chip Guthrie again brought up the requirement contained in the Charter for an internal auditor - which would report directly to the City Commission.  Golden didn't get what it was all about and both she and Mulvehill tried to hide behind the fact that the Charter also calls for a Police and Fire Chiefs - which technically the city doesn't have.  The City Attorney further diluted the requirement by saying it was o.k. to determine last year that they didn't have the money for one for one year.  But, if time went on and the position wasn't filled, then it should be taken out of the Charter.  Commissioner Maxwell noted that the Charter didn't contain the clause - if you don't have the money, you don't need to fill the position.

Click here for full "Voice in the Choice" meeting summary and PowerPoint presentation...

This is on the City Commission agenda for tonight under presentations.  I'd like to thank fellow meeting moderators Bob Lepa and Karri Casper for their help in putting together the meeting and the report - as well as others who promoted and help with the organization of the meeting.  Most importantly, I'd like to thank the public for their input.  This was the public meeting that should have been part of the Willdan study.

Because we made noise and were ever vigilant, it looks like we will have the services of the sheriff for two years - according to media accounts.  However, we all know that it is not over until the Commission votes on the amended contract - the LESA.  Stay tuned for further updates.

Please note that the PowerPoint presentation is not as inclusive as the full report due to the presentation's ten minute time constraint.

Click here for info on LW Fourth of July event in Bryant Park

Right deal on sheriff: Now, Lake Worth must deal with its fire-rescue contract

An opinion from the PBP on the PBSO bru-ha-ha. Good to remember how we got here, from the article:

"This is good news for the city, which has seen crime rates drop considerably since the sheriff's office took over in 2008. Despite that progress, City Manager Susan Stanton had pushed commissioners to consider booting the agency and reconstituting the Lake Worth Police Department. She said the sheriff's office's contract had become unaffordable. She even persuaded commissioners to pay a consultant $46,000 to study the costs of a new city department. "

And this gem: "Ms. Stanton and some city commissioners continue to grumble that the sheriff's contract is still too costly, but it is the city's most important investment. Losing the agency's management experience and manpower would have been a step backward for a city trying to move forward."

Click title for link.

Monday, June 6, 2011

Something the Branding Task Force should look at and adapt as needed?

Lisa Maxwell on Code Enforcement

June Events - Reef Rescue

June 17 & 18, 2011-SCUBA FESTIVAL
DIVE SHOW
Located at FAU Boca Raton
777 Glades Road
Boca Raton,FL33431
http://www.scubafestival.com/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
June 18-Annual Kayak-a-thon Fundraiser
The date is set for the 6th annual Kayak-a-thon fundraiser. Beginning at 7:30 AM on Saturday June 18, 2011, kayakers will paddle their way along a 7 mile course from the Riviera Beach Marina to Munyon and Peanut Islands then back to the marina.
Like a walk-a-thon, kayakers raise money by collecting donations or pledges for completing the predetermined course. It is similar in format to other physical activity based fundraising events such as marathons and cycling races, but this low intensity, non-competitive event is ideal for mobilizing broad-based community support.
If you do not have a kayak there are some kayaks available, but the supply is limited, so act fast.  http://www.kayakathon.com/
Click to watch video of last years event.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
June 25-Encore Dive, Dinner Party & Benefit for Reef Rescue
Last month Force-E filled two boats and had a party for over a hundred divers with dinner and a live band. This month will be bigger and better. Come out and dive for fun and a great cause. Dives are $75 and include dinner and the party. Party with dinner is $15. Please consider a donation to Reef Rescue. All proceeds from this event goes to Reef Rescue. Last Month Force-E raised $1700. With your tax free gifts we feel we can push that figure past $3000.
Boat and Dinner reservations call Riviera Force-EToll free 866-845-2333 or direct 561-845-2333 Boat space is limited.
Bring your own beverage if you want anything other than soft drinks.
Saturday, June 25, 2011 at 12:00pm
Lake Park Harbor Marina

Click to watch slideshow of the last event.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hope to see you at these events.
Palm Beach County Reef Rescue
Keep up to date at our Coral Reef Blog
PO Box 207 * Boynton Beach, FL 33425 *

Lake Worth residents could keep hens for eggs under proposed city ordinance

More riveting news from the pen of Mr. Howard. Funny that he chooses to point out this group's FaceBook presence but in none of the articles on PBSO does he mention our FaceBook groups. Ms. Stanton is clearly touting the party line - How is this sustainable if it will take a higher level of service from code enforcement in order to maintain the requirements of whatever regulations the city implements? Clearly, it is not the time to burden the city with additional sources of potential problems. And Ms. Cara Jennings, just because people are breaking the law now doesn't mean the law should be repealed. Should we allow boarding houses as a permitted use in single family zoning districts so that you can continue to have three or more unrelated people living there? Those people in the "Canew" all seem to be registered voters, by the way. Click title for link to article.

Friday, June 3, 2011

Lake Worth CRA names arts program LULA

The Lake Worth Community Redevelopment Agency is pleased to announce an important next step in creating an Arts Program. LULA Lake Worth Arts was voted the name for the Arts program formally known as the Cultural Renaissance Program. With the letters LU standing for Lucerne Ave. and LA for Lake Ave., LULA is a perfect fit. Lake Worth is known for its unique downtown and large artistic community. The goal of this program is to support existing local artists, encourage cooperation and build synergy in the arts community. Palm Beach County Cultural Council will be moving to downtown Lake Worth fall 2011.This partnership will add to the concerted effort of the arts community and will create a very unique arts destination. Lake Worth is fortunate in that it is known to be a community with an abundant interest and support for the arts. Through LULA, Lake Worth will soon be the cultural mecca for Palm Beach County.

Lisa Maxwell on the Environment

Just submitted an application for a volunteer board position...

I applied, in order of preference, for the CRA - P&Z and HP boards.  There is still time to fill out an application and submit it by Monday.  You can e-mail it to Pam Lopez, City Clerk - that is the fastest way.  Click title for link to my filled-out application.

NOTICE: Application Deadline for Board Appointments is this Monday - June 6th

Click title for link to application.  I am hearing there are very few applications so far.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

From a loyal reader - "Hydroponic" sign along I-95:


Close-up
Wes,
Here is a Photo of 2 wall signs. One at far left and the other to far right.  They are vinyl slapped onto the building, not in any for of structural frame.
The maximum allowable size is 100 sq ft per  code  23.28.05.02.   The signs look to be double that.
I'm sure they don't meet the following 

C.
Labels required. Every sign installed, constructed or maintained for which a permit is required shall be plainly marked with the name of the person, firm or corporation installing and maintaining such sign and shall have affixed on the front thereof the number of the permit issued for said sign by the building official.
D.
Wind pressure. All signs shall be so constructed as to withstand the wind pressures as specified in the current ASCE-7 as referenced in the adopted Standard Building Code.

Many signs in the dixie corridor are simply a vinyl affixed to the building. It seems like that should be nonconforming. Probably violating D above.

Also, window signs often cover way more than 25% of the window. This is especially true with the convenience stores . 

M.
Window signs.
(1)
Window signs may co-exist with freestanding signs, pylon signs, wall signs, projecting signs, mansard signs, roof signs, illuminated signssigns painted on buildings, and all other permittedsigns.
(2)
No individual window shall have more than twenty-five (25) percent of its total area covered with window signage or product advertisement(s). Window signs shall be added to the total sign area permitted in subsection 23.28.05.01 F. above.
(3)
Handwritten or hand-lettered signs affixed to the window shall be prohibited pursuant to section 23.28.06.01 B.
(4)
Method of calculation. Window sign(s) shall be computed by straight lines drawn closest to the copy extremities. Each line shall be calculated individually if no border exists and each glass panel shall be calculated separately.

After reading the sign code, I can drive around and literally  find 100's of nonconforming signs.
What do our employees do all day?

Campaign Info...

Official Name for CRA Cultural Renaissance Program:

Website now under construction.

Seeing is believing!

Before

After
Thank you!  Now, what's next?

Lake Worth man uses 'Bookcycle' for selling his books at beach

Bookcycle article in PBP - neighbor Tim Lunney featured. Click title for link.

Click here for NOAA announcement of Rainy Season

Some highlights:

- West Palm Beach only received 10.45 inches of rain between October 1, 2010 and May 31, 2011. This is 22.64 inches below normal for the period and is the driest October to May period on record for the city, beating the old record of 13.23 inches set back in 1971.

DROUGHT IMPACTS
These large and prolonged rainfall deficits have led to a worsening of drought conditions across South Florida, with areas of metro Broward and Palm Beach counties now in a D4, or exceptional, drought status (Figure 2). The rest of South Florida remains in severe to extreme drought conditions. Not only are water and soil moisture levels at extremely low levels, but the fire danger remains very high over most of the southern Florida peninsula.

OUTLOOK
Although La Niña conditions are expected to dissipate in June, the precipitation outlook for South Florida for June is for near normal conditions. While near normal rainfall in June would begin to alleviate the very dry conditions across the region, it would likely not be enough to totally eliminate the drought across South Florida. Therefore, drought conditions and increased fire danger are likely to linger over the area through June and perhaps into July. A return to significantly increased rainfall, probably to above normal levels, is not expected until beyond July. As a result, heeding the advice of water conservation officials is strongly recommended, as well as burn bans issued by forestry officials due to the very dry ground conditions.

Lisa Maxwell on PBSO

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

2011 Candidates' Debate | Special Election

Dear Lake Worth Bloggers,

Below is the flyer for the Candidates' Debate being held for the upcoming special election.  Please assist the NAPC is getting the word out to all Lake Worth voters about this debate and the subsequent election. Citizens may also go to www.lwnapc.org to submit questions they would like asked of candidates during this event.  Thank you for helping to get the word out!  I look forward to seeing some great questions submitted by each of you.  Thanks again and have a great day!
 
 

College Park neighbors work to improve Spillway Park

Good College Park and Lake Worth news - regarding Spillway Park. Commissioner Golden gets a gratuitous quote. Click title for link.

Four set to run in June 28 special election for Lake Worth mayor

This is the PBP's summary of the Mayoral field - click title for link. Fun to read the comments.
Rachel Waterman

You betcha ol' Blue Eyes...

Commissioner Maxwell following up with City Manager re PBSO