Last night's (4/22) CRA/City Commisison meeting on Setting Priorities

I thought you would be interested in what happened at the joint CRA/City Commission meeting last night, held at Compass. All were present but for Commissioner Lowe. At our meeting back in February, we refined the priorities identified from last year and came up with a revised list. The City Commission and CRA board members were asked to rank the projects/issue areas from 10 to 1 - with 10 being the highest priority. There is a spreadsheet showing how each person ranked the items and the overall result as a web page that accessible by clicking the above title. It shows some interesting common points, as well as some key differences. The overall priority is reflected in the order of the items on the spreadsheet.

It seems that everyone is generally excited about the cultural redevelopment project. Mark Barone with "Hands On" consulting is still getting up to speed on everything - actually started last Wednesday - and gave a brief presentation on what he is looking at in order to build the information he needs to get moving.

A couple things were discussed that you might find revealing. One was that Vice-Mayor Golden suggested that we should look at ways for the CRA to create revenue. She gave an example of a situation where if the CRA boundaries included parks, then the CRA may be able to share in revenue from the concession stand - my hand to God! I suggested that it might be a better way for the CRA to create revenue by getting someone to build something in Lake Worth and add to the tax base. One of the obstacles to doing that is the nightmare in the building department - permitting, plan review and inspections. I said that many contractors and people with money to invest in Lake Worth aren't - they have essentially red-lined the city and refuse to do work here. CRA board member Lynch referred to this as "adverse selection" which ends up costing each Lake Worth resident more money and less of a quality result whenever they try to improve their property or better their place of business. I asked what the elected officials have done to improve the situation.

Surprisingly, Mayor Clemens took the blame for this saying that he could have done more over the past two years to make it better. He pointed to the new city manager coming on board at the end of April and at the same time realized that is not an answer. He said that he tried to work out some easy permitting process, but that went no where. He acknowledged the problem. Vice Mayor Golden says that they are doing more training now. Commissioner Jennings was silent on the issue. Later, Commissioner Mulvehill acknowledged the problem of long lead times and the effect that has on businesses.

Many board members identified the need to come to a conclusion about fixing the re-appointment process where 6 board positions are up for renewal at the same time. Attorney for the CRA said that he can work on an answer and have something by the end of the month. I suggested that, even though I don't know if I'll be re-applying, that the board is working well together, has good discussions and communication with the City Commission is better - so I encouraging the Commission to keep the same composition as much as possible.

Commissioner Jennings noted that Dixie Hwy seemed to be getting worse with more vacancies - she has noticed this while riding her bike along the road. She suggested that the culutural redevelopment program - which ranked universally high amongst most responses - include some blighted neighborhood area that abutts Dixie Hwy. I agreed and suggested - as I have before - a way to capitalize on our past as being a beach town that grew up around US 1. Let's find a way to honor that history as an asset and make it a redevelopment theme along the corridor. This could be done in junction with West Palm Beach, as well.