The eVolo 2014 Skyscraper Competition is Now Accepting Submissions! | Design Competitions

The registration period ends January 14th and submissions are due on January 20th. FYI - get those nominations in now! Click title for more information.

Comments by the Public on Unagendaed Items and Commission Response from last night's meeting...(1/7/14)

This is worth watching as the issue of the lawsuit on the height limit election is discussed. First up, Ms. Anderson comments at the 15 second mark about how the December 2013 hearing before the judge was cancelled and it was her understanding that a new date needs to be set and she asked if the city has done anything to get with the Judge to come up with a new date. I think it's important to note that there are two parties to this lawsuit and the lawsuit is against the city. The person who filed the lawsuit is being represented, one would suppose, by an attorney. That party is equally as capable as the city to make contact with the judge for a new date. One would think that the onus would be on the party that feels aggrieved enough to file a lawsuit to make sure things move along quickly, not necessarily the city. I think she may be asking the question to the wrong person.

At the 9:40 mark in the video, the Mayor asks Mr. Torcivia, in response to Ms. Anderson question regarding a new hearing date for the lawsuit. Mr. Torcivia responded that the parties were notified shortly before the December hearing by the judge that he had a scheduling conflict and the hearing would be cancelled. Mr. Torcivia did not know the exact status, but indicated that he would get with the judge. He said that getting back on a judge's calendar can be a 6 to 8 week wait at times.

Then, as if we hadn't already heard enough of the issue, at the 14 minute mark in the video, cue the violins. Commissioner McVoy talks about the importance of this election held back in March and attempts to re-iterate what has already be iterated enough and the Mayor, rightly, attempts to quell the discussion. However, Commissioner McVoy asks if there is another way to get around state law and, by changing our land development regulations (that took eight years to do when we did it last), or some other measure. Mr. Torcivia was a bit fuzzy in his memory as this issue was discussed some six months ago, but he recalled Mr. Waters saying that it could be done, but through the required quasi-judicial hearings, re-doing the Comp Plan and the LDRs. He was also careful to give a general answer that would not affect the pending lawsuit. The Mayor then recalls, as do I, that the period of time estimated to consummate such a process would be two years.

And one asks what would we gain from such an exercise? No six story building proposals are on the horizon. However, the hysteria in the community remains. Again, the big, bad developer wolf is not at the door and is not attempting to destroy our town with an additional 10 or 20 feet in building heights. And one has to ask if such a limited allowance for buildings of that height is worth the fight to begin with. I guess the ultimate answer to that question resides with the plaintiffs.

City Commission Liaison Reports and Comments from last night's (1/7/14) meeting...

Mayor Triolo reports that the Metropolitan Planning Organization (transportation planning agency) has projections that show Lake Worth lagging in population growth projections compared to other municipalities, but out-gaining others in job creation in the future. Commissioner Szerdi also has an update from Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council on the Seven50 planning exercise.

Neighborhood Association Presidents Council Presentation at last night's (1/7/14) City Commission meeting...

Mary Lindsey addresses the City Commission with a presentation on the activities of the NAPC. I've added a link to their website in the righthand column of the blog. Enjoy! Note that the early part of the video is dark before the camera focused on the laptop which had the PowerPoint presentation on it. That happens at about the 3 minute mark.

Rob Robbins' Presentation on the Living Shoreline along Bryant Park and other joint projects with the city...

Rob Robbins, Director of Palm Beach County Environmental Resource Management, gives an update at the City Commission meeting last night (1/7/14). He highlighted a future "living shoreline" project along the Bryant Park seawall, which will involve the Michael Singer Group. You might recall that group was involved in the design of the downtown West Palm Beach waterfront and also our beach project site plan. It might be part of a National Endowment of the Arts grant project, with Michael Singer Group as the lead. We will hear more about that from staff in the future. He also talked about installing floating docks by the boatramp.

He also addressed the mangrove trimming issue along the golf course. He is actually meeting with South Florida Water Management this Thursday about removing some of the mangroves and replacing them with Spartina grass, which would not require as much maintenance and only grows waist high. There has already been some removal of exotics in the area. I was impressed how the county is responding to the city's concerns about maintaining views. Really must listen to his presentation. He stayed until later in the meeting to talk about the submerged lands on the west side of the barrier island that appeared as item 12 C on the agenda.

He also talks about water quality in the Lake Worth lagoon and that they are looking at the water control structure at the C-51 canal. It sounded like they are studying changing it from a bottom-opening structure, which allows a lot of silt and muck into the lagoon.

Activists play Agent Orange scare card in hopes of derailing USDA approval of 2,4-D resistant corn and soybeans | Genetic Literacy Project

Creative use of the public ignorance of chemistry and a good way to stoke fear in the hearts of consumers. How is this different than someone who lives on Montague Street, in the southwest part of Lake Worth, made to be so concerned about an additional 20 feet of allowable height in the downtown for a hotel east of Federal? It's because opponents are fighting facts with an emotional appeal. Who needs facts when we are teaching children that our world is 7,000 years old and that our ancestors walked with the dinosaurs? Click title for link.

New genetically modified corn and soybean seeds, already approved in Canada for rollout this year, are closer to being greenlighted in the United States—unless activist protests derail the process yet again.
Last Friday, a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) released by the US Department of Agriculture recommended that full deregulation is the “preferred alternative” for Dow AgroSciences’ corn and soybean traits resistant to the herbicide 2,4-D–products known as the Enlist Weed Control System.
What is 2,4-D? According to scientists, it’s an effective herbicide and plant growth regulator widely and safely used for decades in household weed killers, such as Scotts TurfBuilder, and also by farmers. To opponents, it’s “Agent Orange”.

FPL to begin charging extra fees in May to customers who... | www.mypalmbeachpost.com

I wonder how this fee affects the relationship between FPL and City of Lake Worth rates? Is the city still rolling out its smart meter program. I remember some talk about it a few years ago, but it seemed like a "pilot" project. This arrangement with FPL is a compromise with the Public Service Commission - an organization that the city doesn't have to report to. From the article:

Florida Power & Light Co. customers who decline a smart meter will be charged a one-time $95 enrollment fee and a $13 monthly surcharge beginning in May, regulators said Tuesday.
The Florida Public Service Commission unanimously approved its staff’s recommendation to reduce Juno Beach-based FPL’s original request for a $105 up-front fee and $16 a month. Approximately 33,800 residential and small business FPL customers — including 2,193 in Palm Beach County — have refused a smart meter or failed to allow installers access, but FPL officials have said they expect that to dwindle to 12,000 once the extra fees take effect.

Judge sides with feds against environmentalists on pollution limits | The Florida Current

Click title for link. The state can now set its own water quality standards. From the article:

A federal judge on Tuesday sided with Florida and the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency on their agreement in 2013 allowing the state to set water quality standards in waterways.

And this:

 DEP issued a statement saying that the judge's decision allows the state's rules to be implemented. "This is the necessary catalyst to move beyond litigation and end needless delays that prevented us from applying these additional protections," the department said.

Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control educates the public on the effects of sea level rise

Lake Worth apartment building fire located at 1400 block of South Federal Highway

BREAKING NEWS - no more details available. Click title for link to video.

New York Pastafarian Christopher Schaeffer Sworn Into Town Council Wearing Colander

He declares himself a member of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Click title for link of the swearing-in picture. It doesn't look like a Bible is being used in the ceremony. Feeling like you are leaning toward the Pastafarian? You can become a minister. Click here for more information.

Coastal Palm Beach County

Coastal Hazard Statement
Statement as of 5:01 AM EST on January 07, 2014

... High risk of rip currents in effect through this evening... 

The National Weather Service in Miami has issued a high risk of rip
currents... which is in effect through this evening.

* Timing... surf along the East Coast of Southeast Florida will
build through the day today as the strong northerly winds shift
to onshore and seas continue to build. This will lead to
hazardous rip currents by the end of the day.

* Impacts... hazardous swimming conditions will be expected by the
end of the day. 

Precautionary/preparedness actions... 

There is a high risk of rip currents.

Rip currents are powerful channels of water flowing quickly away
from shore... which occur most often at low spots or breaks in The
Sandbar and in the vicinity of structures such as jetties and
piers. Heed the advice of lifeguards and the beach patrol. Pay
attention to flags and posted signs.

If you become caught in a rip current... do not panic. Remain
calm and begin to swim parallel to shore. Once you are away from
the force of the rip current... begin to swim back to the beach.
Do not attempt to swim directly against a rip current. Even a
strong swimmer can become exhausted quickly.

Scouts, others clean up 1928 hurricane gravesite in West Palm... | www.mypalmbeachpost.com

Great article by Eliot Kleinberg recognized the efforts of Palm Beach County residents to honor and preserve an important and grim chapter in the county's history. Click title for link. From the article:

The great 1928 hurricane, Palm Beach County’s most profound event, killed as many as 3,000, ranking-second only to the 1900 Galveston storm as the single biggest killing event in U.S. history. While whites were interred with dignity at the city’s Woodlawn Cemetery, the black dead went into the hole at 25th Street and Tamarind Avenue.
The city bought the site in 2000. It installed fences, a winding sidewalk, palm trees and benches and spread fresh mulch, all in time for the 75th anniversary in 2003. A marker and pillars went up; many of them saying, simply, starkly, “1928.”

Be sure to check out the video too. I am not embedding it here since it is on "autoplay" once it is shared. 

Famous Festivus Pole Is for Sale on eBay

Don't look now, but you can buy Chaz Stevens's slightly used Festivus pole from e-Bay. This is the one that was on display in the Capitol rotunda and mentioned on Colbert and the Daily Show. Proceeds will go to the organization Women in Distress. Click title for link.

Christians, Atheists Say 'Keep Capitol A Free-Speech Zone' | WLRN

Despite the clutter in the Capitol rotunda, and the fact that one group was denied display space due to being "grossly offensive," most want the "free speech zone" concept to stay. They are looking at adjusting the policy but there doesn't seem to be a rush to do so. Click title for link to article where all the displays are mentioned that were installed this season. From the article:

The policy review will be undertaken as the ACLU of Florida continues to warn the Department of Management Services that a lawsuit remains an option over the department's rejection of an exhibition proposed by the New York-based Satanic Temple.
“What we hope happens is that the department will realize you can’t pick and choose which messages or organizations get represented if you create an open forum --- or that they make the determination after all that’s happened that maybe creating a venue for religious messages isn’t the best use of a government building in the first place," said ACLU of Florida spokesman Baylor Johnson.