Friday, November 7, 2014

“Sister Cities;” let’s stay with Treasure Coast planning council | www.mypalmbeachpost.com

This issue related to Palm Beach County staying within the auspices of the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council came up at last Tuesday's (11/4) City Commission meeting. You can hear the discussion that took place at the end of the meeting in the accompanying video. The push for a change seems to be coming from the County Commission. Mayor Triolo also discussed this "sister cities" group that the city is a part of earlier in the meeting. Some of the larger, central Palm Beach County municipalities have gotten together off and on for a while on issues that they share in common. Click title for link to the article:
Since 1976, Palm Beach County has been part of the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council, one of 11 such councils in Florida. On Oct. 7, county commissioners voted 4-3 to give serious thought to joining the South Florida Regional Planning Council. Also an option: splitting the county north and south, with each half gravitating toward the appropriate council.
Any move would take 18 months.
West Palm Beach Commissioner Ike Robinson was against going with the south group, which covers Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties.
“You’ll be a new kid on the block, dealing with the big boys on the block.” Robinson said. “Their issues are theirs, and we have to become part of what they’re doing.”
Lake Worth Mayor Pam Triolo said the Treasure Coast group, which also includes Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties, “take our interests seriously.” She said that, with the southern council, “we’re such small fish in that very large pond.”
Here is our Commission's discussion on the topic. It also included a resolution to urge that the County remain with Treasure Coast.