Video: City of Lake Worth Electric Utility, Solar Field.

For some reason this video includes no sound or any further information except: “This video is about CLWU Solar Aug 2017”.

See below for a press release issued earlier this year.

City Press Release, February 2017.

“In addition to helping the City achieve energy and financial savings, this project also marks a major commitment to diversifying our energy portfolio to include clean and renewable energy sources.”
—Lake Worth Mayor Pam Triolo.

“On Tuesday, February 28th, Mayor Pam Triolo will unveil the Lake Worth Solar Energy Project located at 1200 Washington Avenue. The initial project developed 5 acres of an unused 63 acre landfill into a high capacity solar energy field.
     The 2 megawatt (MW) solar plant is the first step in a long-term investment in solar that will make Lake Worth’s rates more competitive and position the City as a leader in renewable energy in Florida. While a few Florida cities, such as Jacksonville and Orlando, are buying solar power, Lake Worth is the state’s first municipality to own and operate a solar farm.
     Lake Worth expects the initial 6,490 solar panels to generate about two percent of the City’s load — enough to power more than 230 homes per year and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than four million pounds. That’s the equivalent of taking 445 cars off the road. Under its contract with Siemens, the city has the ability to increase the solar farm’s capacity to as much as 10MW at the same location.”

Below is a message from your leadership in our City of Lake Worth about Hurricane Irma.

Prepare the best you can and listen to the
authorities. Here is a message from the
latest “Worth Noting” newsletter:

“On Tuesday night City of Lake Worth Mayor Pam Triolo and City Manager Mike Bornstein joined a conference call with the Governor. Asst. City Manager Juan Ruiz this morning [Wednesday] joined a conference call with Palm Beach County (PBC) and the various cities within it. In this upcoming storm we are not alone. City staff is working directly with the State, the County and our Sister Cities to best serve you.

     Many people assume that the Mayor and City Manager are privy to information about Hurricane Irma that isn’t available to the public but the reality is there is no more information available about the path of this storm than that which is on reputable news stations or websites such as NOAA. The City Manager’s website of choice for looking at the models is Mike’s Weather Page which provides a good cross-section of the available models.
     At this time the City will be following the guidance of the County. If you would like to stay up-to-date with the County download the PBC Dart application.
     City staff has been working hard to prepare the City in case this storm is to hit Lake Worth. You can expect multiple information releases to come from the City. If you haven’t already please follow the City on Twitter:

• @LakeWorthPBC
• @LakeWorthCasino

Together we can make it through whatever comes our way. We are Lake Worth!”

To subscribe to the City of Lake Worth’s
“Worth Noting” newsletter use this link.

Hurricane Irma and 12 safety tips from the Lake Worth Electric Utility.

“The Lake Worth Electric Utility reminds you to stay safe and be ready. If a storm does hit our area, stay away from downed power lines – don’t touch them. Electric crews will be working diligently to restore power as quickly as possible.”

 More news you can use from The Lake Worth Herald.

“The Utility has developed 12 often overlooked
safety tips electric customers should follow
to protect themselves and their home.”

These safety tips remind electric customers
of things people did not know or forgot
during previous hurricanes, tropical storms
and weather-related events:

1. Unplug appliances and electronics during power outages to prevent surges when electricity is restored. Power surges can damage equipment and start electrical fires.
2. Operate portable generators in an open and ventilated area, never in the home or garage.
3. If your home has water leaks or floods, shut off the power to your home until the electrical wiring can be inspected by a licensed electrician.
4. If you smell natural gas, evacuate immediately and call the gas company’s emergency number.
5. Carry proper identification in the event you need to enter identification check points to access your home or neighborhood.
6. Inspect your home’s weatherhead for damage after a storm. The weatherhead is located above the electric meter where the electrical wires exit the conduit. The weatherhead is the homeowner’s responsibility, and utility workers cannot reconnect service if it is damaged. Contact a licensed electrician for repairs.
7. Utility companies typically cannot respond to customers with special needs during or immediately after a storm. Have an evacuation plan and know the locations of special needs shelters. If you or someone you know has special electrical medical equipment, contact the electric utility before the storm’s arrival.
8. To determine a hurricane evacuation route, visit www.FloridaDisaster.org
9. Collect water in your water heater by turning off power to the unit and closing the water valve. If water pressure is lost, approximately 40 gallons of fresh water will be stored in the tank. Fill bathtubs and the washing machine with water to clean with and to operate toilets.
10. Clear patios and yards of lawn furniture, toys, potted plants and other items that could blow away and cause damage or injury.
11. Locate gas water shut-off valves and the main electricity switch in the event they need to be turned off.
12. Create a hurricane survival kit that includes first aid supplies, drinking water (at least one gallon per person, per day), batteries, flashlights, battery powered radio, manual can opener, prescriptions, baby food and diapers, pet food, canned foods, cash, tarps, rope, bleach, trash bags, charcoal or gas grill with plenty of fuel,wooden kitchen matches, and a portable cooler.

And once again, “The Lake Worth Electric Utility reminds you to stay safe and be ready. If a storm does hit our area, stay away from downed power lines – don’t touch them.”

The City of Lake Worth’s newsstand will be open all day today.

However, the newsstand will be closed tomorrow
to prepare for likely impacts from Hurricane Irma
and will open once again when the storm passes.

Make sure to stop in at the City’s newsstand today

and say “Hi” to the proprietor, Andy Amoroso.

City of Lake Worth Commissioner Andy Amoroso (on right) along with another happy and delighted customer at his shop, Studio 205, conveniently located at 600 Lake Ave. in Downtown Lake Worth.

City of Lake Worth Press Release: “City Advisory Board Meetings Cancelled”.

Please note: The much-anticipated meeting of the Lake Worth Planning & Zoning Board tonight HAS BEEN CANCELLED. Here is the news from the City:

Press release.

Due to the upcoming storm the following advisory boards are cancelled pending a reschedule to a future date:

• Electric Utility Advisory Board (September 6).
• Planning and Zoning Board (September 6).
• Neighborhood Road Program Meeting (September 7).
• Financial Advisory Board (September 11).
• Historic Resources Preservation Board (September 13).

Please spread the word.

Public Services will close the Lake Worth Pier today. Press release below.

And. . . what do you do if you have a prescription
for medical marijuana?

It’s important to remember and take special care of your prescriptions and medications. For example, if you happen to have a prescription for medical marijuana keep it in a safe place or place an order today.

If you haven’t heard, one of our new medical marijuana dispensaries in the City of Lake Worth, Modern Health Concepts — call 877-303-0741 or place an order online — will be opening later this month. This dispensary is conveniently located at 1125 N. Dixie Hwy.* If you’re driving north and pass a charter school you went too far. Turn around at the One-Stop (need cigarettes, beer, rolling papers?) and head south; the dispensary is directly across from Blue Front BBQ (which has two excellent bars, one inside and one outside on the patio).

Press Release:

The City’s Communications Specialist is Mr. Ben Kerr. For media inquiries call 561-586-1631; email: BKerr@lakeworth.org

Lake Worth — The City of Lake Worth Public Services Department will be closing the Lake Worth Pier for the public’s safety at noon today (Thursday, Sept. 7th). The pier will remain closed until further notice due to dangerous wave heights expected from Hurricane Irma.

For more information please contact Public Services Administration Office at 561-586-1720.

At this time the City of Lake Worth will continue to monitor and follow the guidance of Palm Beach County and residents are encouraged to do the same.

For City storm updates residents should follow @LakeWorthPBC and @LakeWorthCasino on twitter, as well as subscribe to the City email updates which will be utilized extensively before, during and after the storm to provide information. Click on this link:

https://www.lakeworth.org/newsletter-subscribe/

Subscribe to the City of Lake Worth’s newsletter today.

Please note: the City of Lake Worth does not have an official Facebook page. But the City of Greenacres does: use this link to see the updates, news, and information being provided to the public.

*Use this link to learn more about this new marijuana dispensary.

Stay tuned. City of Lake Worth administration and staff continues to prepare for impacts from Hurricane Irma.

Follow City of Lake Worth on Twitter: @LakeWorthpbc
  
Click on image (Tweet) to enlarge.

Stay tuned for more information from the City today. Oh, and by the way, the bond referendum in 2014 to fix all our roads and potholes failed by just 25 votes. Use this link to learn why:

“NO NEW TAXES!”
?????

But then later, in 2016, the voters in the City of
Lake Worth got a second chance.

“Tired about the condition of your
neighborhood roads?”

Rick Christie, the editor at The Palm Beach Post, wrote in Nov. 2016, “Lake Worth is poised for
some major upgrades following residents’
approval — by a whopping 69 percent . . .”.

Goodwill Outlet Center grand opening on Friday, September 15th.

The new Goodwill Lake Worth Outlet Center will be located at 701 Boutwell Rd., suite B1, in the City’s Park of Commerce. Call 561-848-7200 (ext. 3248) for more information.

Press release.

Get a first look at the new Gulfstream Goodwill Industries Lake Worth Outlet Center* on Friday, Sept. 15th. Beginning at 8:00 a.m. the Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce will be facilitating a ribbon cutting ceremony. Guests may stop in to enjoy light refreshments while they shop. The new, more convenient and expanded Lake Worth Outlet Center includes:

• More than 1,000 additional square feet of shopping space (compared to West Palm Beach Outlet Center).
• Deeply discounted merchandise.
• Constantly refreshed merchandise, including furniture, toys, appliances, household goods, clothing and accessories.
• New inventory received hourly.

*The West Palm Beach Outlet Center at 1885 Old Okeechobee Rd. in West Palm Beach closes Sept. 14th and the Lake Worth Outlet Center opens Sept. 15th.

Preparing for likely impacts from Hurricane Irma, press release from the City of Lake Worth.

For more information contact Mr. Ben Kerr, the City’s Communications Specialist, at 561-586-1631; email: BKerr@lakeworth.org

Press release:

The City of Lake Worth would like to remind all residents that no change has been made to the refuse schedule for this week, no amnesty is in place. It is of utmost importance that residents do not put out items on the wrong day or put out too much yard waste on their yard waste day. Fines will be assessed for debris out on wrong day and over the 4 cubic yards (allowed amount per house).
     The City’s preparations for Irma are extensive and failure to follow the correct refuse schedule endangers staff and other residents. It is also advised that all yard work is limited to what is necessary, refrain from cutting down whole trees or doing major yard or construction projects until after the storm passes.
     For the refuse schedule for Zones 1–4 use this link to download maps and more information.
     Any questions? Please call the Refuse Division at 561-533-7344, Public Services at 561-586-1720 or 561-586-1736.
     At this time the City of Lake Worth will continue to monitor and follow the guidance of Palm Beach County and residents are encouraged to do the same.
     For City storm updates residents should follow Twitter:

• @LakeWorthPBC 
• @LakeWorthCasino 

Also subscribe to the City email updates which will be utilized extensively before, during and after the storm to provide information. Click on the link below to subscribe to City newsletters:

https://www.lakeworth.org/newsletter-subscribe/

Are you tired of hearing about medical marijuana and about that charter school on Dixie Hwy. in Lake Worth too?

UPDATE: The Planning & Zoning Board meeting tonight (discussed below) has been cancelled and will be rescheduled to a later date.

Are you tired of seeing another editorial, press reports and on TV too — over and over again — about all that faux outrage and nonsensical silliness?

Have you heard about what’s happening at Lake Worth’s
Planning & Zoning (P&Z) Board?

Well, guess what? You’re in luck because neither marijuana or charter schools are on the P&Z Board agenda. It’s back to serious business again in our little City.

Below are just two items up for consideration at this meeting:

PZB Project# 17-00500007: A request for a Conditional Use permit to allow for outdoor storage of boats, recreational vehicles and trailers, etc. The subject site is located at 2003 7th Avenue North PCN 38-43-44-20-01-060-0020 in the Industrial Park of Commerce (IPOC) zoning district pursuant to Sections 23.2-29 of the Land Development Regulations.

and. . .

Item H1 (New Business) on the agenda: Consideration of a request for Major Site Plan Approval for a 85 unit multi-family complex on a +/- 183,453 square foot site located in the Low Density Multi-family (MF20) Zoning District, with a Future Land Use Map designation of Medium Density residential (MDR) . . . Banyan Court will consist of 85-units of affordable, transportation-oriented, rental housing in four separate three-story, concrete, garden-style walk-up apartment buildings.

To watch this P&Z Board meeting Live Streaming go to the City’s website at 6:00:

www.lakeworth.org . . . and then scroll down to the bottom of the page for the “Live Broadcast Channel”.

To watch archived City meetings use this link. Hope you found this information helpful.

Following Hurricane Andrew. . .

 . . . Florida created a price gouging law. Here is
the State Hotline Number if anyone experiences
price gouging:

1-866-9NO-SCAM

(1-866-966-7226)

Did you read this month’s “Worth Noting” newsletter published by the little City of Lake Worth?

There’s news about the Grand Opening of CREATe-LAB at the Lake Worth Public Library (see below).

To read the entire September issue of
“Worth Noting” use this link.

“Don’t miss the Grand Opening of the new
Lake Worth Library CREATe-LAB
on September 23rd.”

“CREATe-LAB is the Library’s newly renovated space where students can come and use tools they need for information and to study.
     You are invited to come and see what the LAB contains, with special thanks to the Friends of the Lake Worth Library’s Resident Education to Action Program (REAP) grant.”

The Lake Worth Public Library is located at 15 North ‘M’ St. in Downtown Lake Worth (just west of the City Hall Annex and Cultural Plaza). For more information contact Vickie Joslin, MLS, the Library Services Supervisor at 561-533-7354. Library hours are:

• Tuesday and Wednesday, 10:00–7:00.
• Thursday, 10:00–6:00.
• Friday and Saturday, 10:00–5:00.
• Closed Sunday and Monday.

Big news from the South Florida Water Management District: “Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir Project”.

“A Timeline Toward More Water Storage
South of Lake Okeechobee”

To read the entire “Project Overview”
use this link.

• May 9, 2017 — Completed.
• July 1, 2017 — Completed.
• July 31, 2017 — Completed.
• August 31, 2017 — Pending.
• January 9, 2018 — Status Report to Legislature.
• October 1, 2018 — Submit Post-Authorization Change Report (PACR) to Congress.

December 31, 2019 — Congress must approve the PACR, thereby authorizing the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir Project to be cost-shared 50/50 between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the South Florida Water Management District. Otherwise, SFWMD must request the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to initiate the project implementation report for the EAA Reservoir Project.

Now to another topic:

The Herbert Hoover Dike.

Hopefully by New Years Day in 2020 there will be very good news from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Congress. The work to strengthen and fortify the Herbert Hoover Dike surrounding Lake Okeechobee will be well on its way to completion.

And if you think your voice doesn’t count? Think again.

To learn more about the Herbert Hoover Dike use this link. For the nightmare scenario in South Florida — not for the faint of heart — use this link to read “The Day the Dike Breaks” by reporter
Dan Reynolds.

Tropical Triathlon in City of Lake Worth coming up on Saturday, September 17th.

Use this link for the event details and to register for the race. And there’s a bonus video below!

Here is the course map.
Click on image to enlarge:

“Presented by Friends of Lake Worth High School.”

Below is a video from two years ago, Yours Truly volunteering at the race, giving instructions to the race participants to “Turn Right!” onto Lake Ave.

At the 1:15 mark is when an old man on a old bike, completely oblivious to what was going on, meanders onto the race course not paying any attention to all the volunteers and deputies yelling at him, “Don’t cross the road!”

Thankfully no one got hurt and the race wasn’t affected.

Interested in volunteering for the race this year? Contact Nadine Burns at 561-358-8501 or email: nadineburnslw@yahoo.com

Enjoy the video, especially what happens
at the 1:15 mark.

Village of Palm Springs: Land development, population growth, housing, and canals.

There was a very interesting item in The Lake Worth Herald recently about our neighboring Village of Palm Springs (see below). Like the City of Lake Worth and the Town of Lake Clarke Shores there is a big change afoot: looking at our canals and waterways in a whole new way.

The future of our canal and waterway networks will no longer be just for excess water drainage into the Intracoastal. The future is making these waterways — and the land along these canals — open for economic development, recreation, transportation, ecotourism, and a multitude of other public uses.

Whereas for decades the public paid little heed to the Lake Worth Drainage District system of canals (except during storm events or when the bill arrived), and the public hardly noticed the Keller Canal north of Lake Osborne, and how this all fits in with C-51 Canal operated by the South Florida Water Management District. . . well, that’s not going to be the case for very much longer.

At the same time there is another major transformation happening near and along the coast in Central Palm Beach County (CPBC) and it’s undeniable: western sprawl in the County is winding down. Now many developers are getting creative and looking at places like Lake Worth, West Palm Beach, Greenacres and other areas in CPBC for vacant and under-utilized land.

For example, have you ever heard of Canal 8 Road in Palm Springs? In The Lake Worth Herald recently was this:

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that public hearings
will be held on:

• Tuesday, September 12, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. by Land Development Board
• Thursday, October 12, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. by the Village Council

In the Village Hall Council Chambers at 226 Cypress Lane, Palm Springs to consider:

Site Plan

An application submitted by Raul C. Perez, agent for the owner, Valmel Investments, LLC. (“Applicant”), for a Site Plan (SPR 17-06) for construction of thirty-two (32) 2-story fee-simple townhomes, to be located on 3.20 acres vacant lot at 4234 Canal 8 Road.

All persons interested in these matters may appear at the times and place aforesaid and be heard. Prior to the meeting, the application may be reviewed at the Village Clerk’s Office.

Now imagine this.

The future residents of Canal 8 Road in Palm Springs get in their boat one day and go east to the Keller (E-4) Canal, then head north toward the C-51 Canal, and shortly thereafter head east once again to the boat lift at Spillway Park in the City of Lake Worth.

After bypassing the S-155 Spillway structure (being careful and watch for manatees!), head out into the Intracoastal and then over to the boat dock at Old Bridge Park in Lake Worth. Dock the boat and stroll over to Benny’s on the Beach for lunch.

Imagine that.

That’s why there’s so much interest in the Blueway Trail project. It’s not a “Lake Worth” or a “Lake Clarke Shores” project. It’s a regional project that benefits all of coastal Central Palm Beach County.

Whilst on the subject of Palm Springs, Village Manager Richard Reade gave a spectacular presentation to the Lake Worth City Commission last June on behalf of the Florida City & County Management Assoc., and last March at the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council meeting, Reade addressed the issue of enclaves and annexations:

Mr. Reade indicated because his community is built-out and there has been a large population growth they do a lot of infill redevelopment and annexation. He stated there are a number of ways to annex property that are allowed by statute, but in areas that are more developed the involuntary annexation process is a key economic development tool.