Power went off today...

During the morning rains, I stepped out and had breakfast with friends - actually at the Friendly Greek in Lantana. It's a nice place and they never ask to see your Lake Worth passport. So if you want something different, you may want to check them out.

Anyway, while headed home it was obvious that we were having an electrical outage as all of the traffic lights were out. (However, Lake Worth was not alone - click title for PB Post article re FPL served areas). My passenger in the car and I were counting violations of the sign code from Lake Avenue north to the northern City limits. We tallied about 35 without so much as a glance at 35 miles per hour. And it was without the hoods up at the used car place around 5th and Dixie.

The power was definitely out at the house so I busied myself with things that don't require electricity. The power came back on after about an hour or so - maybe more. That's when I found out that the outage had fried my docking station for the laptop, so off to get a replacement sometime this weekend.

It's supposed to clear up weather-wise this afternoon for all you bar-b-quers. Have a nice weekend.

I'll be looking over the agenda for this Tuesday's Commission meeting and will have comments/questions posted shortly.

Lake Worth man celebrates father honor with expanding family

Nice Father's Day weekend story. Click title for PB Post article.

Wes Blackman Appointed to the CRA

Also appointed to the CRA were Ed Grimm and Donna Ross. Congratulations to all who were appointed to a variety of boards. Great thanks to the City Commission and to all who applied.

Bicycle Activists Take to the Freeways in L.A.

Minnie Ripperton

Click title for link to her life story, tragically cut short by cancer. I hadn't realized that Maya Rudolph, from Saturday Night Live, is her daughter.

Eye spy: Google adds street-level views of Palm Beach County, Treasure Coast

Play around with this Lake Worth is pretty much covered. Look for the blue-lined streets. I found my house, with the car in the drive. Good for real estate agents, but a little creepy. You can see the image, but I don't think there is a way to save it other than through a screen shot or a program like "Snag it".

Notes from my CRA interview...

These were notes that I prepared going into the interview with the City Commission re appointment to the CRA board. As it turned out, I used some but not all of these as most of the interview was devoted to answering Commissioner questions. The Mayor didn't ask any. I urged them not to let political considerations cloud their decision. I'll let you know what happens.

One of my major points was to use the CRA as an advisory board on economic development issues that might set the stage for broader City policy.

· Communication

o Between CRA and City Commission

§ Better alignment of goals and budget priorities

§ Meet at least twice a year to discuss projects/concerns

o Between CRA and other boards

o Between CRA and neighborhood associations

o Make sure that entire packet is available on the web, including exhibits to staff reports

o Avoid drama

· Budget

o Time of many competing demands

o Important to focus priorities – biggest bang for buck, leverage other funding sources in projects

o Look for low cost, high priority issues to address to be most effective

· Examples

o City Image and Business Attraction

§ Many investors scared away from Lake Worth

· Indecisive if we want redevelopment – need to make positive case for investment in the City and lead by example

§ Many better contractors scared away from Lake Worth – get a narrow selection which causes a vicious cycle.

§ Possibility of an “Ombudsman” or the like to troubleshoot problems and delays in permitting.

§ One stop Wednesdays – simple permits are issued the same day – successful in many communities

o Solutions

§ Training of City staff in customer service

§ Examine Palm Beach County as provider of building department services

§ Identify Downtown stakeholder needs through a summit where all issues are discussed

§ Capitalize on Treasure Coast Charrette this month and Robert Gibbs input

o Transit

§ Better partnership with Palm Beach Community College

· Mention National conference participants’ charrette in Lake Worth last October – free of charge, other opportunities – planners required now to fulfill continuing education credits – waiting for the chance.

· Parking lot filled with vehicles

o Keep them off the streets between classes and get them in the recommended shuttle to downtown businesses, promote it jointly, grant possibilities

o Shuttle would serve all of Lake Avenue including Lake Worth Towers, Publix and Condos along water, as well as beach

o Promotion of redevelopment opportunities, especially along North Dixie Hwy.

o Follow-through on 10^th Avenue Gateway project.

Special City Commission Workshop re Sheriff (PBSO) Contract - 6/12

Click title for staff back-up. Below is the agenda for the meeting.

Sheriff plans 'caring' crackdown on homeless in Palm Beach County

We might wish for punch cards when ballot lines are drawn to vote

From 20 years ago...

International Surfing Day Held in Lake Worth on June 20th

Friday, June 20th International Surfing Day will be held at Lake Worth Beach.

5:30 P.M. Beach Clean-Up & Registration for Events

6:30 "PALM BEACH COUNTY OPEN SURFBOARD RACES" & WORLDWIDE PADDLE OUT FOR CLEAN WATER

RACE EVENTS (All paddle events are free, and open to all ages):
Shortboard Women, Shortboard Men, Longboard Women,
Longboard Men, Shortboard Relay(3), Longboard Relay(3).
*All Shortboards must be less than six feet.
*All Longboards must be less than nine feet.
Trophies & After Party/Movie tickets awarded to first, second and third fastest paddlers in each event, and to the winning relay team in shortboard and longboard.

7:15 – FREE STAND UP PADDLE (SUP) Demo & Clinic

8:00 - AFTER PARTY & SURF MOVIE
Join us at the new Lake Worth Municipal Swimming Pool pool deck, right by the pier! Tickets will be available on the beach for $10.00, kids under 12 free. Bring your beach chair and blanket to enjoy free appetizers, beverages & a surf movie under the stars.Free ticket for new or renewal SF membership at event.

If you are interested in volunteering please contact Tom: 561-236-0155.

Released Today from the City....

Transit Oriented Development Charrette:

The City of Lake Worth, the Lake Worth Community Redevelopment Agency, and the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council invite all interested residents, property, and business owners, to participate in a public design charrette to create a vision for the future of redevelopment opportunities along the FEC and CSX (Tri-Rail) corridors in downtown Lake Worth. The concerns and ideas you express during this process can significantly influence the direction of growth in your town as it relates to regional transit opportunities.

The Public Work Session Charrette will be held Saturday, June 21st, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Refreshments and lunch will be provided. Participants will be working with neighbors and with a team of professionals on their vision for the area. At the end of the day, citizens will present their ideas for the future of the area.

The Studio Session will be held Sunday, June 22nd, through Thursday, June 26th, 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. The public is invited to the sessions to give additional input and view the on-going work. No appointment is necessary.

The Presentation of Work in Progress will be held Friday, June 27th, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. This two hour session consists of a presentation of work in progress to unveil the conceptual master plan and to take additional citizen and professional input.

All of the above sessions will be held at:

Lake Worth Shuffleboard Building
1121 Lucerne Avenue, Lake Worth

Lake Worth gets OK to pay missing stop sign settlement

How much more don't we know? Is it a long list? Probably. Besides the terrible loss experienced by this family, this is another needless expenditure of $500,000 due carelessness on behalf of the City. Maybe the City should start printing $500,000 bills to make these sorts of transactions easier. Very disappointing. When will the City be a good citizen, be part of the community of municipalities and essentially get a clue?

Let's demand excellence in the delivery of all City services.

Comment worth reading...

This was left as a comment on a previous post. It's about the gymnasium in District #1. Is a church holding services there?

I have been to this community center twice and once it was locked at 10:30am on a weekday the first week of June (last week)and on this past Sunday at 11:00am there was a church service - HUH??? Is this our tax dollars at work. How can I get a game on?? I honestly tried. Guess I will have to go to South Olive Park.

Environmentalists threaten suits over water permits

Demolition of Palm Beach home put on hold

Another Monday song...

Path width concerns trail system planners

The Big Blow: Remembering the 1926 Hurricane - Today!

Broward County June Brown Bag Historical Lunch Program
The Big Blow: Remembering the 1926 Hurricane

Contact: Helen LandersBroward County Historical CommissionPhone: 954-765-4670E-Mail: hlanders@broward.org

The Broward County Historical Commission will host a Brown Bag Historical Lunch Program on Thursday, June 18, at noon in the Historical Commission Museum, 151 S.W. Second Street, Second Floor, Fort Lauderdale.

The 1926 Hurricane is said to have been the most powerful ever experienced by Broward County in terms of the devastation and affect on the lives of residents. The County was just 11 years old, and the storm ripped through the County from Hallandale Beach to Pompano Beach. There were 15 deaths in Fort Lauderdale, 25 in Hollywood and nine in Dania. Broward County claimed 1,500 injured.

An account of this monster storm will be related by Verlon Burwell, made in a 1987 taped interview by Dr. Cooper Kirk, then Broward County Historian. Never before seen photos of the hurricane�s damage will be viewed through a PowerPoint presentation.

According to R. A. Gray, official in charge of the United States Weather Bureau�s Miami Office, the wind velocity was between 140-150 miles per hour. For years after, time and events were referred to as before and after the 26 Storm.

Participants are encouraged to bring their personal and family recollections, as well as mementos to share with the audience. The program is free and coffee and cold drinks will be provided. For further information, contact Helen Landers, Broward County Historian, 954-765-4670.

Seen in District #2

Click here for e-mail link to your sitting District #2 Commissioner.

Sec. 6-4. Allowable pets.
The animals or fowls permitted as pets to be kept in the City of Lake Worth are exclusively limited to dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, hamsters, snakes, gerbils and fish. All others are expressly prohibited including, but not limited to, chickens, ducks, sheep, goats, cows and horses.
(Ord. No. 87-33, § 1, 11-2-87)

Sec. 6-5. Raising or boarding of animals or fowl.
The raising or boarding of animals or fowl is prohibited except where boarding is incidental to the operation of veterinarian's offices.
(Ord. No. 87-33, § 1, 11-2-87)

Sec. 6-8. Penalties.
A violation of any provision of this chapter shall be a civil infraction, the penalty for which shall be as follows:
(1) If the person alleged to have committed the infraction does not contest the citation, the person shall pay to the clerk of the county court a fine of fifty dollars ($50.00) plus court costs in the amount of eight dollars ($8.00) for a total of fifty-eight dollars ($58.00).
(2) If the person contests the citation and requests a hearing in the county court, and if a violation is found, the court shall order the amount of the fine, not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00).
(Ord. No. 99-4, § 3, 3-2-99)

Click here for link to New York Times article on chicken/salmonella connection.

Investigation of Outbreak of Infections Caused by Salmonella

This explains why Sweet Tomatoes didn't have tomatoes when I went there for lunch yesterday. Click for link to CDC website re outbreak.

Lake Worth Transit-Oriented Development Charrette - 6/21

Team:

Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council - Marlene Brunot, Kim DeLaney, Wynsum Hatton, Michelle Hipps, Dana Little

ArX Solutions Inc. - Esteban Boiko, Ramiro Contreas, Paula Lopez

Dan Cary & Associates - Dan Cary

Economics Research Associates - Tom Lavash

Gibbs Planning Group - Robert Gibbs

Glatting Jackson - Billy Hattaway, Traffic Engineer

Juan Caruncho & Associates - Juan Caruncho

Marcela Camblor & Associates - Marcela Camblor

Urban Designers - Steven Fett, Jose Venegas

Palm Tran Urges Drivers to "Dump the Pump" June 19

For immediate release: June 6, 2008
Contact: 1-800-234-7433

Palm Tran, Palm Beach County's public transit service, along with Broward County Transit, Miami-Dade Transit, South Florida Commuter Services, Tri-Rail and the Florida Department of Transportation, will be participating in the third annual National Dump the Pump Day on Thursday, June 19. Sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), National Dump the Pump Day encourages people to ride public transportation to save money, conserve gasoline, and help reduce greenhouse gases. Households with two workers and one car that use public transportation save an estimated $6,200 every year, compared to households with no access to public transportation. Public transportation also plays an important role in helping to reduce greenhouse gases. By participating in National Dump the Pump Day, Palm Tran officials hope people who have never used public transportation will give it a try, instead of driving their car. As part of South Florida's Dump the Pump campaign, lucky transit riders will receive a scratch-off card to be eligible for the chance to win $1,000 cash, a three-day/two-night Hawks Cay Resort getaway for two in the Florida Keys, tickets to Universal Studios in Orlando, Dunkin Donuts gift cards, transit passes and more. The scratch-off cards will be distributed during the morning of June 19 at select bus and train stations while supplies last. To plan your trip in support of National Dump the Pump Day or to learn more about all commuter options, please call 1-800-234-RIDE or visit www.1800234RIDE.com.

Tax-cut vote blamed for boomerang

Click title for PB Post article. During the City Commission retreat on March 1st, Commissioner Jennings mentioned raising the millage rate a couple times during the meeting. Is this what we can expect? Do we have a choice?