More on "Reconstruction" as it applies to the Secretary of Interior Standards for Historic Preservation

Click title for link.  Note the following:

"Because of the potential for historical error in the absence of sound physical evidence, this treatment can be justified only rarely and, thus, is the least frequently undertaken. Documentation requirements prior to and following work are very stringent. Measures should be taken to preserve extant historic surface and subsurface material. Finally, the reconstructed building must be clearly identified as a contemporary re-creation."

More from Tuesday night's (10/9) City Commission work session on the Casino building...

Other revelations from that meeting:

• "The building was unsafe and falling down" - according to Rick Gonzalez.  He said that they left 25% of the building.  The Office of the Inspector General said that 4% was left.  The OIG's opinion was not mentioned during the meeting or their recommendation that a code analysis needed to be performed to see if the designation of the project being a "substantial improvement" - above 50% of the total value of the project - triggered other code requirements.  This is where the need for an "armoring device" comes in.
• "The seawall is not in our scope." REG.  Bornstein: "That is a Mr. Biggs (Mock/Roos) question." 
• The pool and pool building are "condemned."
• The casino building only had one electrical meter - meaning John G's or the former tenants weren't charged for electricity.
• Pregnant pause after the question was asked, "Does the city have control of the building now?"
• Willie Howard was there all during this meeting and the Palm Beach Post has not published anything about this meeting.  If a tree falls in a forest and no one reports it, did it make a noise?
• The architect represented, in response to whether or not the project was "historic" - he said that the building was "close" to what was there at one time, that he was an expert and could make that claim.  Last night, at the Historic Resource Preservation Board meeting, I reminded those present that the building that WAS there WAS "historic."  In fact, a designation report done on the 1949 version of the building was worth designation on the National Register of Historic Places.  It never was designated.  What is there now is a new building and meets none of the Secretary of Interior standards for historic preservation.
• The condition of the seawall and whether it qualifies as an "armoring device" required by the Florida Building Code remains an unasked and unanswered question.
• The pool structure was included as part of the total project appraisal of value - but no work was done on that building.  It was thought that it was attached to the casino building, but discovered that it wasn't during construction/demolition.
• More square footage and retail space was considered, but eliminated to allow the project to be built for $6 million per the GMP.

AIArchitect, January 27, 2006 - Best Practices | Substantial Completion, Where Art Thou?

Enlightening article on what the American Institute of Architects says about "substantial completion" - a phrase that we heard a lot about at last Tuesday's City Commission work session.  Click title for link.  From the article:

"Substantial completion also triggers payments to the contractors. When a project reaches this milestone, it is customary to release all retainage except for an amount that can safely cover the cost of work remaining for correction or completion. In many cases, this remaining money equates to the contractors’ profit. This occasion also allows the contractor to reassign team members to other projects, leaving only a skeleton crew to complete the work and administer closeout, thus reducing overhead and general conditions costs."

Reading the entire article (highly recommended), it would seem as though the architect would have a role in preparing a "punch list" that accompanies the letter announcing the project's "substantial completion."  It seems that the city - owner - prepared the punch list for the project in late July - two months after this letter.  A question that really wasn't answered is whether the city is retaining any money still - or did this letter of substantial completion release any money that was held?  Has Morganti been paid in full?  Did the warranty period begin in May of this year?

The first 23 or so minutes of the City Commission work session last night...

This is the first part of the meeting.  For most of us present, we experienced many RPMs.  What are RPMs?  Revelations per minute.  Here we find out that there was no management team in place during most of the project, that "oil finished bronze hardware" should stand up to oceanfront conditions but hasn't, that a "substantially complete" letter was issued by the architect in May indicating that the project - at least according to the contractor and architect - was then handed over to the city.  At that point, it was the city's job to maintain the building?  Given the city's record on building maintenance, I question whether or not we are up to the task even if we had assigned staff (there was none in this last budget) to do whatever maintenance is required for this building that is less than six months old.  Whether or not we are getting a new wood floor in the ballroom seems to be based upon how much water content is "normal" in a wood floor versus how much they can dry out the one that is there.  They are putting in replacement hardware and adding astragals to the doors - on the inside in addition to the ones outside - to prevent wind driven rain from entering the building.

I will put up the second video - somewhat shorter than this one.  The card in my camera allows about 40 or so minutes of video and longer ones take a while to upload to YouTube.  Check out the 19 minute mark for some particularly revealing information in this first video.  The second one begins during the discussion of what "substantially complete" means.

I still believe that it is unconscionable that our two representatives that a) were the most ardent advocates for this project, b) told people during the process that if they asked questions about the process or the project that they were somehow "against the project", c) were elected on the premise on "saving the building" d) used this project to campaign for office and e) reassured us all along that everything was o.k. and it will be a "shining achievement" when all is said and done weren't there to participate in the discussion.  They weren't there to stand up for the constituent's interest when the heat got hot.  That is why we elect people - to be responsible for successes and failures - to take ownership when things go wrong.  Then to have the two of them both - serendipitously - not show up was just too much to take.

Now, as for excuses why they couldn't attend, I say this.  Let's say that an elected official gets word minutes before a meeting that something terrible has happened to someone they know or are related to.  That person should immediately inform the City Manager, in this case, of the situation and ask that it be announced at the beginning of the meeting.  If it was that serious, we should have all had a moment of silence before or after the Pledge of Allegiance.  There might be some grumbling in the audience, but at least then we would have an excuse for their absence that had been made in a public way.  Not through some back-channel, rumor mill the day after the meeting.  As for Commissioner Mulvehill, maybe this officially sealed her lame-duck status and she couldn't bear witness to the bitter fruits of her labor.  I just know that those in attendance felt like their elected representatives shirked their duty last night by not being there - having no idea what could be more important than bringing a major issue the city has dealt with for 30 + years to a successful conclusion.

EMPTY CHAIRS - NO McVOY or MULVEHILL

...to hear about the condition of the casino building, the contractor and architect's responses to the conditions present and how or when the city began, or was supposed to begin, maintenance of the building. 

This is complete ducking of responsibility on the part our representatives that were the strongest proponents of the project.  Where are they now that the chickens are coming home to roost?  Shameful...

Citing a Pisa-Style Tilt, Rome Unveils Plans for Three-Year Colosseum Restoration | Artinfo

Will Morganti bid on the project?  Click title for link.  Here they aren't tearing the Colosseum down to "restore" it.

This just in from an astute reader...

Regarding the audio hum from the dais, Selection Committee Meeting last night.


"What seemed to be a low frequency hum was present last night as the Selection Committee met at City Hall.      Some of us use wide range speakers for computer playback, which amplify low frequencies.

It was particularly noticeable when residents were speaking, since the automatic  gain in the system was being suppressed by the hum, causing a slightly lower volume than we are accustomed to at home.    This hum can not be heard in the chamber.

Upon closer examination, it appeared that  Commissioner Mulvehill’s laptop was leaning directly against the microphone.

The end result was difficulty hearing the residents comments at the podium, since the auto gain lowered the usually crisp and clear statements by citizens of Lake Worth.

Five minutes before the meeting ended, the laptop was closed up, and the hum disappeared.    Simply, the cause was the fan running in the laptop.

This can be verified by viewing playback of the meeting.

It is recommended that Commissioners and guests pull their laptops away from direct contact with the microphones, in order to avoid this problem at future meetings."

This from a person who is a Life Member, Society of Broadcast Engineers “SBE”

Trailer for ‘Parker,’ filmed in Palm Beach, now on YouTube

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This was filmed in the area during September of 2011 - the film will be released in January of next year.  Click title for link to the Palm Beach Daily News article for more details.

Next Step for Seven50: Work Group Road Show - Seven50.org

Click title for link.  This looks like a worthy effort in what is called a southeast Florida Prosperity Plan - covering seven counties over the next 50 years.  These are a series of interactive work groups - the one in Palm Beach County will be taking place on November 16th from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Vista Center - near Okeechobee Boulevard and Jog Road.  Let me know if you are interested in going.  Perhaps we can share a ride?

Palm Beach County, FL Supervisor of Elections

LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE FOR THE NOVEMBER 6TH ELECTION.  CLICK TITLE FOR LINK TO SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS WEBSITE.

Florida League of Cities Webinar on Amendment 4

Click title for link to a webinar that will take place tomorrow (10/10) from 2 to 3 p.m. It will deal with potential impacts to cities if Amendment 4 passes.  Amendment 4 seeks to change significant parts of the property tax assessment system in the state and would give an additional exemption for first time home buyers.  But that isn't the only change.  You can learn more tomorrow - reserve your space by following the instructions found on the linked page.

Jane Howard

"Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family: Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one."

The Mars Rover - Found!

One of the 1400 plus vacant, blighted structures in the city...

We came across this "house" along Cochran Drive this past weekend.  The neighbor across the street, with a nicely manicured yard, said that it has been in this condition since 2004.  She said that every year or so someone (?) comes by and puts a blue tarp where there used to be a roof.  She also said that she has talked to many people in the city about this property and has had zero response, so she just doesn't call any more.

Anaïs Nin

“When you make a world tolerable for yourself, you make a world tolerable for others.”