Letter from Historic Resource Preservation Board that I read under public comment at the 1/17/12 Commission Meeting...

"We are proud to serve on the City of Lake Worth's Historic Resource Preservation Board.  We take the board's duties and responsibilities seriously, acting to preserve the many historical resources found in the city's built environment.  We hope to take a key role in the upcoming celebration associated with the city's centennial in 2013.

Even though the board's primary focus is preservation of the city's past, we also are concerned about the city's future.  The city cannot adequately protect its physical heritage if it doesn't have the regulatory structure and staff needed to support that effort.  We are looking forward to our joint meeting with the City Commission and Planning and Zoning Board on the completion of city's land development regulations.

While that will go a long way in laying down the regulatory framework for future redevelopment in the city, the rules are only the beginning.  Staff of sufficient quantity and quality is needed to make sure that the city's wishes, as embodied in those regulations, are carried out on a day-in, day-out basis.

We are aware that the 2011 City of Lake Worth budget includes many positions within the Sustainability Department that are designed to meet the existing and future needs of the city.  Traditionally, the city has under-staffed planning department functions in relation to the size of the city and the complexities unique to Lake Worth.  The positions included in this budget address historical staffing deficiencies in this critical area.  The operational efficiencies afforded by these positions pay off in improved quality of life for residents, property owners and business owners.  More than any other department, the work of the Sustainability Department, over the long term, contributes to the city's "bottom line" in the form of increased property values and greater private investment in property throughout the city.

Therefore, we urge the City Commission to preserve the positions already in the approved 2011 budget and look elsewhere to find opportunities to make up any shortfalls.  Time is of the essence, especially as the city experiences the initial signs of an improving economy.  Thank for your attention to these matters."