The crisis of October–November 2017: “Rains cause 1.2 million-gallon overflow at West Palm sewage plant”.

So. As we all await for the results answering the question “Is it ‘red tide’ or not?”, let’s take a stroll down memory lane to what happened last year.

There was no mistaking the ‘brown tide’ of sewage and “Icky brown waters” last year along the beaches in Palm Beach County. Read more about that below, news from Palm Beach Post reporters Kimberly Miller, Tony Doris, and more information provided in the Post.

This year in the Post it’s all about the ‘red tide’ along the beaches. Is it for real? No one knows until the test results come back. However, the Post thought they had the answer one day and the next they are aren’t so certain.

Here is the dramatic Post front page headline yesterday, in the Sunday paper “above the fold” meaning what the editor(s) felt, “[W]ill entice people to buy the paper”:

Beaches close as people fall ill; red tide believed to be culprit

Here is the Post front page headline today which seems to call into question the Sunday headline:

27 miles of beach shut; is it red tide?

So as everyone awaits the results, whether it’s ‘red tide’ or not, let’s take a look back at what happened last year.

Following that plague of sewage last year from West Palm Beach as was reported by Tony Doris (see below) then came more breaking news from Kimberly Miller, “Icky brown waters off Palm Beach County concern tourism leaders”.
 

In October/November 2017 Palm Beach County
was in full-blown crisis mode.

Why? Because of an approaching hurricane? No. It was because of noticeably brown ocean water off the coast of Jupiter to Boca Raton and was especially evident off the beaches of the Town of Palm Beach. Tourism leaders sounded the alarm. Government leaders at the local and County level were demanding answers.

That this was all happening at the beginning of the tourism season couldn’t have possibly been worse timing. The fear was our annual migration of Snowbirds from the northeast and Canada would find somewhere else to go. Our entire Winter tourist season was on the brink of being severely impacted.

So the question is, what’s to stop this from happening again? This quote may provide some answers as we approach another tourism and Snowbird Season beginning next month.

“A local newspaper is really a public trust [emphasis added], part of the fabric of the whole community.”

—Timothy D. Burke, “Mission of Post, Shiny Sheet will not change” (both of these newspapers were sold to Gatehouse Media on May 1st this year; November 1st will mark 6 months under new ownership).

Where did all that brown water come from the public wanted to know. There were theories.

As reported by Palm Beach Post reporter Tony Doris on Oct. 31st, 2017 in an article titled, “Rains cause 1.2 million-gallon overflow at West Palm sewage plant” was there a connection to the “Icky brown waters” off the beaches of Palm Beach County? In a Letter to the Editor that was published shortly afterward a resident of West Palm Beach wondered following the news report by Doris:


[D]oes this recent sewage spill have anything to do with last week’s health department closing of county beaches from Jupiter to Boca Raton, the entire Palm Beach County shoreline, due to elevated bacteria levels of “unknown” origin?


Here are two excerpts from Post reporter Kimberly Miller’s article datelined November 14th, two weeks after the news from Doris:


The topaz-blue waters off Palm Beach County have had more noticeably brown days this fall – an opaque sea of tea that is less inviting and even dangerous as high bacteria levels have forced a handful of temporary no-swimming orders.

and. . .

     “I’m seeing a polluted coastline from Jupiter to I don’t know how far south,” said Jack Corrick, a Singer Island resident. “Visitors are starting to come back and if people won’t go in the water, it would be a quick death for us.” [emphasis added]

Should the Town of Palm Beach be worried about the water supply and sewage spills?

Another question, should that town seriously consider getting its drinking water supply from the City of Lake Worth instead of from West Palm Beach? Below is another Letter to the Editor published in the Post following the news from Miller and Doris with the headline, “Sewage spill shows serious problem” written by Anne Kuhl of West Palm Beach:


Re: “Rain causes 1.2 million-gallon overflow at West Palm sewage plant” reporting that Tropical Storm Philippe caused a sewage spill of 1.2 million gallons at the West Palm Beach regional sewage treatment plant.
     With the sewage plant’s location off Roebuck Road just east of the Florida Turnpike and at the edge of the city’s main water supply, the Grassy Waters Preserve, the city’s wastewater operation appears to be a serious threat to its own public water supply. [emphasis added]
     With this major sewage spill and the sewage worker’s drowning death at this same plant, it would seem that all the millions of dollars the city has spent to stop the State Road 7 extension would be better spent repairing and improving their own sewage treatment plant. Instead, a city commissioner chooses to blame the spill on climate change.
     Additionally, I just have to wonder out loud, does this recent sewage spill have anything to do with last week’s health department closing of county beaches from Jupiter to Boca Raton, the entire Palm Beach County shoreline, due to elevated bacteria levels of “unknown” origin?


If this issue is of grave concern to you try contacting someone on the staff at the Post or take the time and write your own Letter to the Editor. Click on this link to learn how.

Explained: The Gulfstream Hotel and current status of approvals.

First, before we get to the approvals from the City for a project to move forward at the Gulfstream Hotel there is new news to report from The Lake Worth Herald and a reminder about false news published in The Palm Beach Post. Remember when the City’s Code Enforcement Dept. was blamed for the Gulfstream Hotel renovation not moving forward?

Read more about that below and the current status of approvals from the City for this historic hotel, the deadline for issuance of a building permit for work to begin.

This week’s Lake Worth Herald has the front page headline, “Activity Raises Questions”. Here is an excerpt from the news:


Word now has it there is a new owner and the building is being boarded up to protect the interior and windows from vandalism. Vandalism, some say is caused by the “homeless in the park”, others say some neighbors are responsible. It doesn’t matter, the building needs some work, and the citizens of Lake Worth and visitors to the city are asking a lot of questions.


Beware of myths, mis- and disinformation.

The Gulfstream Hotel, unfortunately, became a political football in the 2017–2018 election cycle. To learn more about that click on this link.

And there is more. For example. . .

The beat reporter from The Palm Beach Post reported in January 2017 that the Gulfstream Hotel was shuttered because of Code Enforcement. Absolutely false. But it was that story in the Post which sent the City into damage control. And the editor(s) at the Post published a letter on the editorial page which made the City leadership stop everything they were doing to get the facts out. From that letter published in the Post:


“The Gulfstream Hotel should be taken back by the city [emphasis added] . . . The Gulfstream Hotel and the seven years of neglect by Hudson Holdings, which is further delayed due to a lawsuit amongst the partners. A possible solution to look into could be eminent domain, where the city would take back the property. . .”


The Gulfstream Hotel has always been private property. The City of Lake Worth cannot ‘take back’ property it never owned. Now let’s move on.

Recent photos of the boarding up.

This is professionally done work. Boarding to deter vandals from getting into the structure. Since these photos were taken the plywood has been painted as well.

And another:

Now to the approvals from the City of Lake Worth to move forward with a project:

Click on image to enlarge.

Letterhead: From the City of Lake Worth confirming approval status for the Gulfstream Hotel (see text of letter below).

In early 2016 a number of applications successfully went through the Historic Resource Preservation Board and then on the City Commission. There was much excitement back then and many of you will recall this video which summed up the public mood two years ago. Those approvals (which are enumerated in the language from the letter below) have a standard 12 month deadline for work to commence with the possibility of a 6 month extension if necessary. In the City of Lake Worth commencement of development is tied to the issuance of a building permit and continued work after the building permit is issued.

Issuance of a building permit would mean that a complete set of construction drawings has been reviewed and approved by the City’s building official. That has not happened in this case, as yet. But as the letter below identifies, Governor Rick Scott issued blanket Executive Orders based on various emergency situations that extend the life of an approval. This is done through the application process and is a statewide phenomenon.

Thus the deadline for issuance of a building permit for work to begin on the Gulfstream Hotel is now September 2019 for the conditional use approval (hotel) and October 2019 for the remainder of the approvals: expansion of Gulfstream Hotel (pool and restaurant), a new hotel to 65′ on the western lot and a parking garage as well on the southern area of the lot.

These approvals are important as it adds value to the property and allows someone to commence development without having to go through the various approval processes again. Now that Hudson Holdings is not part of the project any longer someone else can assume the responsibility for getting the various construction drawings together and subsequent submittal for a building permit.

There is ample time to do so and would not require a change of ownership. However, it also allows for a change of ownership if that should occur as the approvals run with the property and not the owner.

Text from page 1 of letter follows.

Re:

Gulfstream Hotel at 1 and 11 Lake Avenue and 12,14,20,22, and 24 South Lakeside Drive Notice of Extension for Major Site Plan (PZB 15-0140009), Conditional use (PZB 15-00500013), Variance (PZB 16-0150001), Certificate of Appropriateness (“COA”) for Demolition (HRPB 15-00100214), COA for New Construction (HRPB 15-00100215), COA for Addition (HRPB 15-00100216), and COA for Exterior Alterations (HRPB 15-00100217) (Revised date)

Dear Ms. Schrantz:

The City of Lake Worth is in receipt of your letter dated April 2, 2018, advising the City that you were, on behalf of your client, Gulfstream Hotel, providing notice to the City that you intended to take advantage of the tolling and extension periods allowed under Section 252.363, Florida Statutes, as it relates to the above approvals. In your letter, you are also seeking from the City “correspondence confirming the new expiration dates for the Site Plan Approval, Conditional Use Approval, Variance Approval and COA Approvals.”

As your letter details, the major site plan, conditional use, and variance approvals were set to expire on April 9, 2018. In addition, the COAs for demolition, new construction, addition, and exterior alterations were set to expire on May 2, 2018.

The Governor’s declarations and the extensions thereof which affect Gulfstream’s approvals are as follows:

• On May 3, 2017, the Governor issued EO No.17-146, which declared a state of emergency in Palm Beach County due to the Opioid Epidemic. EO No. 17-146 was subsequently extended by EO No. 17-177, EO No.17-230, EO No.17-285, EO No.17-329 and 18-47, which will expire on April 20, 2018 unless extended.
• On September 4, 2017, the Governor issued EO 17-235, which declared a state of emergency in Palm Beach County due to Hurricane Irma. EO No. 17-235 was subsequently extended by EO No. 17-287 and EO No. 17-330, which expired on February 27, 2018.
• On October 2, 2017, the Governor issued EO 17-259, which declared a state of emergency in Palm Beach County due to Hurricane Maria. EO 17-259 was subsequently extended by EO 17-304 and EO No.18-17, which expired on March 26, 2018.

Accordingly, the City grants Gulfstream Hotel an extension of 353 days plus 6 months for the site plan, conditional use, and variance approvals. The new expiration date is therefore, September 27, 2019. As it relates to the COA for demolition, new construction, addition and exterior alterations, the City likewise grants an extension of 353 days plus 6 months. The new expiration date is therefore, October 21, 2019.

Page 2 of letter:

Click on image to enlarge:

The letter is signed by the Assistant Director for Planning and Preservation, Mark Stivers, AICP.

Thank You for visiting today and hope you found this information helpful.

Public Meeting Notice.

“The MID” will be on the P&Z agenda this Wednesday.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Planning & Zoning Board, of the City of Lake Worth, Florida, will hold a public hearing in the City Hall Commission Chambers, 7 North Dixie Hwy., at 6:00 PM or as soon thereafter as possible, on Wednesday, October 3, 2018 to consider a request by Jeffery Burns of Affiliated Development for the following:

PZB Project# 18-01400011: a Major Site Plan, Planned Development, and Sustainable Bonus Incentive Program for the construction of 230 apartment units, +/- 9,700 square feet of ground floor retail space, and off-site improvements to surrounding streets at 1601 North Dixie Highway, in the Mixed Use – Dixie Highway (MU-DH) zoning district. The subject property’s PCN is 38-43-44-16-06-016-0010.

Written responses can be sent to the Lake Worth Planning & Zoning Board at 1900 2nd Avenue N, Lake Worth, FL 33461 and must arrive before the hearing date to be included in the formal record. You also have the opportunity to attend the meeting to provide oral testimony. For additional information on the above issues, please visit the City of Lake Worth Division of Planning, Zoning and Historic Preservation located at 1900 Second Ave. North, Lake Worth, Florida 33461 or contact City Staff at 561-586-1687.


To read the entire Public Meeting Notice refer to the Lake Worth Herald dated Thursday, September 20th, 2018.

For more information about this project click on this link.

“The MID apartment residences”

This property on North Dixie Hwy. “[M]easures 5.6 acres and is the largest privately owned property in the CRA District.”

Blog post from yesterday for readers who may have missed this. . .

One could say a seemingly mundane topic on this blog yesterday created quite the ‘stir’. Already read this? Thank You once again for visiting and please scroll down.

For everyone else, below is an idea to increase attendance at public parks in Palm Beach County. At first the idea sounds silly. But then when you think more about it. . .

Promoting ecotourism, boosting visits by families, young adults and children to our County and national parks.

Could making PBC the world leader in the treatment of Nature-Deficit Disorder (NDD) be the answer?

Please note, before we proceed:


NDD is not recognized in DSM-5 and has been criticized by malcontents high up in tall buildings as a misdiagnosis that NDD is a “problematic contemporary environmental discourse that can obscure and mistreat the problem.”

NDD was first coined by Richard Louv in his 2005 classic “Last Child in the Woods” meaning that children as reported in Wikipedia, “[A]re spending less time outdoors resulting in a wide range of behavioral problems” such as careening on skateboards into parked cars and walking around in circles texting.

However, Louv claims that causes for the phenomenon (NDD) include “parental fears, restricted access to natural areas, and the lure of electronic devices.” Bolstering Louv’s claims is research demonstrating the contrast between the declining number of park visits in America and increased use of electronic media by children. Draw your own conclusions about NDD but err on the side of promoting and encouraging more visits to public parks.



Please pause here.

OK. If you haven’t figured it out by now, the information above is a little tongue-in-cheek with a dab of satire.

But!

Could a businessman in Jupiter be on to something? This same businessman cites an actual published book titled, Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder, a 2005 best-seller by Richard Louv. Could our public parks in PBC be used as a draw nationwide for treatment of NDD in children and young adults and increasing ecotourism as well?

Continue reading and you decide.

Getting more visitors and tourists to visit our County and national parks in PBC has been a problem for a very long time. The Loxahatchee Sierra Club is one group that has been out in the lead trying to solve this problem at the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge located in suburban Boynton Beach. For more information about that is recent news by the acclaimed reporter David Fleshler at the Sun Sentinel.

Now back to the Loxahatchee River in
northern Palm Beach County.

News from Post business reporter Alexandra Clough headlined, “Jupiter businessman Rick Clegg pursues his passion for the outdoors”; two excerpts:


     Clegg, the owner of Jupiter Outdoor Center on Love Street, across from the Jupiter Lighthouse, is expanding his company. In October, Clegg will be offering kayak, canoe and bicycle rentals at Riverbend Park on Indiantown Road.
     In addition, Clegg will tap into Palm Beach County’s growing eco-tourism industry by offering guided tours, including bird-watching tours at Riverbend Park. [emphasis added]
     “Our mission is to create a convenient, safe and fun way for people to experience nature,” Clegg said. “We’ll be giving people more of a reason to come into the park.”
     Clegg is partnering with the River Center, which provides the expertise on the river and its many inhabitants. Educating people about the river isn’t just for adults. Clegg runs day camps for children, too.

and another quote from Clough’s news. . .

     “I [Mr. Clegg] see north Palm Beach County, and especially Jupiter, becoming a known eco-tourism destination that attracts visitors from around the world and continues to provide those that live here an ‘out-of-this-world’ natural experience.”


When asked by the reporter what one of his favorite books is Clegg recommended the best seller The Last Child in the Woods, subtitled Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder (NDD).

Clegg’s Jupiter Outdoor Center is located at 1116 Love St. in Jupiter and is open every day of the week from 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Call 561-747-0063 and ask about the rental facility opening soon in Riverbend Park for kayaks, bicycles and other popular items.

More information about the Loxahatchee River.

Later in this blog post is a press release and video from the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) about the restoration of two historic dams along the Loxahatchee River in Jupiter for the ecosystem of this federally designated “wild and scenic river” for public recreation, e.g., access for kayaking, fishing, ecotourism and helping children with NDD.

Why the Loxahatchee River matters.

The Loxahatchee flows through Riverbend Park in Jupiter (in Palm Beach County) and north into Jonathan Dickinson State Park between Hobe Sound and Tequesta. Both of these parks are wonderful assets with Jonathan Dickinson being the largest state park in Southeast Florida and Riverbend Park having such a long history here in PBC.

Near Riverbend Park, also on the Loxahatchee River, is the popular historical site of Battlefield Park:


Since acquiring the land, the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department’s goal has been to preserve the natural, archaeological, and cultural significance of these properties and to provide access and education to the public. . . . The parks [Riverbend and Battlefield] are also officially recognized as sites of two Second Seminole War battles and were home to pioneers and farmsteaders after those battles.

Press release datelined May 2018,
“SFWMD Completes Restoration of Historic
Loxahatchee River Dams”:

Jupiter, FL — [T]he South Florida Water Management District’s (SFWMD) Water Resources Analysis Coalition [WRAC] received a detailed presentation about the recently completed restoration of two historic dams on the Loxahatchee River in northern Palm Beach County.
     The dams, first built in the 1930s by local families, control and regulate upstream flow stages of the Northwest Fork of the river, the state's first designated “wild and scenic” river. The dams also maintain the hydrology of the riverine floodplain ecosystem. Modeling has shown that without the two dams in place, the upstream water levels would be about 1.5 feet lower, draining the freshwater swamp and encouraging saltwater intrusion.
     “One of SFWMD’s primary missions is the protection of natural systems and these dam renovations are crucial to ensuring the future of the Loxahatchee River," said Governing Board Vice Chair Melanie Peterson, a Palm Beach County resident and former member of the Loxahatchee River Management Coordinating Council. “These dams are not only living parts of Palm Beach County's history, but they are essential to protecting the cypress swamp floodplain that makes the Loxahatchee so unique.”

The video from SFWMD:

For reference: Note the Loxahatchee River Watershed Project (top right) in the map below and the “Mecca Parcel” to the west.

Click on image to enlarge:

Also of note is the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge (see WCA 1 on map). The Loxahatchee Sierra Club and SFWMD are working together to control the spread of Lygodium. To learn more
click on this link.

Hope you found this information helpful and, as always, Thank You for visiting today.

News in Lake Worth Herald, “Babytime a Hit at Lake Worth Library”.

Attention all parents with babies! Another “Babytime” is coming up next week.

Below are excerpts from the wonderful news last week by reporter Ruth Reading. To see the front page news headlines this week in the Herald click on this link.

To contact the editor call 561-585-9387 or send an email to: Editor@lwherald.com

Support LOCAL small town journalism:

Not a subscriber to the Herald? Go visit the City’s newsstand at 205 N. Federal Hwy for the print edition. “Studio 205” has a whole new menu and great coffee too.

Now to  “Babytime a Hit at the Lake Worth Library” by Ruth Reading:

Fourteen babies brought their parents to Babytime at the Library on Friday, Sept. 7. They had a great time crawling around playing with colorful foam blocks while their parents got acquainted at the first program of the season designed for infants up to 12 months old.

     Once everyone was introduced, the session began. It included singing, rhymes, stories, and plenty of lap activities for the parents and their babies. Each session is just 20–25 minutes long, leaving plenty of time for the caregivers to chat.

and. . .

     The next Babytime will be held in the City Hall Annex at 11 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 5. The program is free and does not require preregistration.


The City Hall Annex is a short stroll across the Cultural Plaza from the Lake Worth Library.

The Lake Worth Herald Press also publishes the FREE Coastal & Greenacres Observer:

To download this week’s Observer click on this link and go to “Options” menu.

Business owners in cities of Lake Worth, Greenacres and Atlantis. . .

. . . and towns of Lantana and
Lake Clarke Shores, and the
Village of Palm Springs too.

And all the suburban (unincorporated areas) west of and in between these municipalities.

Consider becoming a member of the regional
Greater Lantana Chamber of Commerce.

The Lantana Chamber hosts events all over the coastal region in Central Palm Beach County (CPBC). For example, here is the next scheduled event:

Next Wednesday, Oct. 3rd, the Lantana Chamber will be at Brogues Downunder in Downtown Lake Worth for a “Happy Hour Event” from 5:30–7:00. For more information contact Exec. Dir. Lynn Smith at 561-585-8664 or send an email to: Lynn@LantanaChamber.com


And on October 16th at the Lake Worth City Commission the Lake Worth Committee of the Greater Lantana Chamber of Commerce will introduce itself to the City of Lake Worth. For more details click on this link.

Another reason to become a member:


“With only an additional $50.00 to your regular membership dues, you will get a membership with the Finnish American Chamber of Commerce.”

More information about the Lantana Chamber.

Another reason to join the Lantana Chamber.
Learn more about the municipalities in coastal Central Palm Beach County, e.g., the City of Atlantis? Refer to map:

Click on image to enlarge.

The City of Atlantis (shaded regal purple on map): “[T]he permanent population of Atlantis is 2024,
with 1200 residences and an average year round occupancy of 70%.”

The City of Atlantis is named after the legendary island of Atlantis: Total land/water area: 1.4 sq. miles. Municipal borders: Lake Worth Drainage District canal L-14 to north, Lantana Rd. to south, Military Trail to west, South Congress Ave.
and PBC Park Airport to east.

Scenario. You live in a city, town or village in Palm Beach County.

And one woman and four men were stabbed right in your downtown over a six month period of time.

But this is not a scenario. It happened. For example, here are four such incidents:


March 10th: WEST PALM BEACH — A man was arrested on Friday night after police said he stabbed a woman in the neck without provocation outside a restaurant on Clematis Street [emphasis added] in West Palm Beach.


April 8th: WEST PALM BEACH — A woman attacked under the Royal Park Bridge on Sunday morning was stabbed in the right atrium of her heart, WPTV NewsChannel 5, The Palm Beach Post’s news partner, reported Wednesday.


July 16th: WEST PALM BEACH — Two men were stabbed at a Clematis Street nightclub Saturday morning, according to West Palm Beach police.


September 1st: WEST PALM BEACH — A 26-year-old Jupiter man was arrested after police say he attacked two employees of a Clematis Street bar early this morning with a box cutter.


This month there were two more homicides in West Palm Beach. Two more tragedies. Twenty-one of 76 homicides in Palm Beach County have occurred in WPB.

How many homicides have occurred in your city, town or village this year? For The Palm Beach Post’s “Homicide Tracker” click on this link.

October will usher in very big changes to the City of Lake Worth.

One is the change in recycling methods and the other one hasn’t gotten the attention of the press and news media. Yet. A very big change is coming to Code Enforcement: Slumlords Beware.

And expect the ‘G’ word to be resurrected once again. Below is much more information about that.

Another item of note. The scheduled City Commission meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 2nd has been cancelled. The next regular meeting of the Commission will now be held on Oct. 16th. Now to big changes coming to this City and. . .

Starting on Monday, October 1st: Expect to see a lot of press and news media in this little City.

The City is switching from single- to dual-stream recycling. One of the publishing leaders of industry news about recycling in the U.S. is called Waste Dive. Journalist Katie Pyzyk’s news datelined Sept. 4th is headlined, “Lake Worth, Florida reverting to dual-stream collection next month”.

Despite all the information coming from the City and the Solid Waste Authority (SWA) about the change in recycling methods there will always be those who are not informed, for any number of reasons, or maybe they were informed and then claim they weren’t. But regardless, those are the people the press and news media will be attracted to, with scenes galore of people dragging those new 18-gallon bins out to the street like they were each three hundred pound boulders.

There is also a major change coming to the City’s Code Enforcement Dept. as well. For about Code Enforcement below is much more information about what happened at the City Commission meeting held on September 20th and also watch a portion of the YouTube video from that meeting (at end of blog post).

That this information about Code Enforcement and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding has gone unreported in The Palm Beach Post is nothing short of incredible. For example, one recent story in the Post was that old tired distraction about medical marijuana dispensaries. Enough already.

Take note slumlords in this City: October will
usher in very big changes for you.

And expect those slumlords to fight back. And hard. Expect the ‘G’ word to come back with a frenzy. Those slumlords have their allies to protect them. Who are those allies? They are the ones also making tons of money off disgraceful, unsafe and dilapidated properties. The ‘G’ word of course is “gentrification”. If you wish, after reading this blog post scroll back up and read about “the politics of fear” an oft-used tactic in this City.

What happened at the Commission
meeting on September 20th.

At the beginning of the Commission meeting Commissioner Omari Hardy made a request to pull Item B off the Consent Agenda and it was moved to New Business. Item B on Consent was:


Resolution No. 57-2018 - Community Development Block Grant Agreement with Palm Beach County: “[A]uthorizes the Mayor to execute the Interlocal Agreement between Palm Beach County and the City that sets forth the terms and conditions for the use of $294,477 . . . for increased code enforcement activities within the CDBG Target Area.”


Then resolution 57-2018 followed this item on New Business:


Ordinance No. 2018-16 - First Reading - Amending Chapter 2 “Administration”, Article VII “Abatement of Nuisance”, Section 2-75.11 “Foreclosed, Vacant and Unimproved Property Registration Program” and to require additional requirements for vacant and unimproved property and scheduling the Second Reading and Public Hearing [Oct. 16th].


[FYI: To look over Resolution 57-2018 and Ordinance 2018-16 use this link to the City’s website then look for “September 20 Regular Meeting” to download the agenda and all the backup information. To learn more about the City’s Community Code Compliance Dept. click on this link.]


Basically, what is happening is Code Enforcement will be going after the worst of the worst and then going after the less worst. And they are going to keep on going. This information came from the discussion as Commissioner Hardy wanted more information about what would be happening when ordinance 2018-16 passes on Second Reading.

The City of Lake Worth will be getting CDBG funding, this is Federal money administered by Palm Beach County. Due to this CDBG funding more fully-trained and experienced code enforcement officials will be hitting the streets going after “the worst first” in the CDBG Target Area.

The CDBG Target Area is roughly 7th Ave. North to the Town of Lantana border, west of Dixie Hwy. and east of I-95.

Next Monday is the Post’s Lake Worth Very Very Special Monday Cursory Print Edition (LWVVSMCPE) so it will be interesting to see if there is any mention of the increase in Code Enforcement officials considering how much focus that newspaper has put on this City’s Code Enforcement in the past.

Here are some takeaways from the Commission meeting last week:

• City Manager Michael Bornstein emphasized the major goal is compliance with City codes and getting more structures on the tax roll.
• City Attorney Glen Torcivia talked about the high rate of success by the City before the magistrate but expressed some frustration as well not mentioning any cases in particular.
• William Waters from the Community Sustainability Dept. said that magistrates, “Need to treat the bad guy like a bad guy”.
• Vice Mayor Andy Amoroso talked about how important the Neighborhood Assoc. Presidents’ Council will be in getting the word out to neighborhoods.
• The practice of abating fines by 90% will be getting much more scrutiny and expect heavier fines (the limit is $250/day which is State law).
• Commissioner Herman Robinson said, “The public needs to understand there is a new sheriff in town”.
• And “Insert salty language here”, quipped Bornstein at one point in the discussion.

Now to the video.

The YouTube video below is an 8½ minute segment of the discussion about Resolution No. 57-2018 and Ordinance No. 2018-16, a portion of the discussion which sums things up quite well:




To watch more of this discussion, what occurred previously to this video segment, click on this link and go to the one hour and 28 minute mark.

And as always, Thank You for visiting today.

If it’s Saturday, it’s West Palm’s Special Day: One of “Six Special Cities” chosen by editor(s) at the Post.

Every week in The Palm Beach Post, for three years now, the same six (6) Special City’s get featured in the print edition. That’s right. The same 6 Special City’s each and every week. For 3 years. Isn’t three years enough? About time for a change?

Who are the 6 Special City’s? Find out below.

But two Special Cities just got
new beat reporters!

Have you been following the switching out and the new beat reporters at The Palm Beach Post?

Both the Town of Jupiter and the City of Boynton Beach have fresh new talent (see below). And how did the little City of Lake Worth become one of the Special Cities? That happened in late 2015 about the time when the public in suburban Lake Worth and municipalities west would go pick up the day’s paper and say. . .

“Aaaaaaahhhh! Aaaaaaahhhh! Aaaaaaahhhh! GOD!”

All about L-Dub again!

Why are they so Special every week?

It’s true. The “Six Special Cities” in the weekly print edition of the Post has been going on for three years now. For some perspective, that would be around the time the Greenacres Police Dept. merged with PBSO and when the cities of Greenacres and Lake Worth had the same assigned beat reporter.

And why isn’t Delray Beach special? Isn’t it about time reporter Lulu Ramadan gets a Special Day or is Delray just ‘Dull-Ray’ to the editor(s)?

The list of Six Special Cities is below.

The ceremonial process begins each Monday
in The Palm Beach Post.

It all starts on Monday, beginning with the Lake Worth Very Very Special Monday Collector Print Edition (LWVVSMCPE).

Then on Tuesday it continues through the week until Saturday. Note the new beat reporters Morse, Denty, and Todaro (click on links below):

• Tuesday: Town of Jupiter (reporter Hannah Morse; Bill DiPaolo has retired).
• Wednesday: Village of Wellington (last year Kristina Webb replaced long-time reporter Matt Morgan).
• Thursday: City of Boynton Beach (first Red Denty and then Chelsea Todaro replaced Alexandra Seltzer who was promoted to County reporter).
• Friday: City of Palm Beach Gardens (Sarah Peters).
• Saturday: City of West Palm Beach (Tony Doris).

“IN YOUR COMMUNITY”

The Six Special Cities:

Post reporter Lulu Ramadan covers the Delray Beach beat, eclipsed by Boynton Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, West Palm Beach, Lake Worth, the Town of Jupiter and Village of Wellington as well.

FYI: If you are interested in learning more about the City of Lake Worth click on this link for the official website and browse around for a bit. And if you wish, you can follow the City on Twitter as well:

#LakeWorth rocking #CityHallSelfie Day @FLCities #BringIt !!! #LDubLife pic.twitter.com/IKw5CfUlGO

— Lake Worth (@LakeWorthPBC) August 15, 2018

And Save The Date!

Big change coming next week and excitement too. Monday is the change in recycling methods, Friday is the first Lake Ave. Block Party and Monday, Oct. 8th is Columbus Day, a City holiday. For more upcoming events click on this link.

Attention residents of the City of Lake Worth. Start your preparations.

The BIG DAY is next Monday, October 1st.

This IS NOT NEW NEWS. The City of Lake Worth first notified the public on May 1st. See that information below.


Below is a press release:

“City of Lake Worth Changes to Two Bin Recycling”.

How did the City of Lake Worth get here? From single stream recycling using one 55-gallon container to double stream using two 18-gallon containers?

Following the press release below is more information from a City Commission meeting last May. Simply put, the change in recycling methods is, “mostly due to the single recycling container being used as a second household trash container.”

In other words, when it comes to recycling the words “commingle”, “commingled”, “commingling” and “commingler” are considered dirty words. Our City needed more un-comminglers and that’s why the City has to change recycling methods.

Did you happen to see a door hanger recently? Did you read it or just throw into the recycling? Chucked it into the trash? Here is what that notice from the City looked like:

“Recycle Right in Lake Worth”

Have any questions? Contact the City of Lake Worth’s Public Services Dept. at 561-533-7344.

And please don’t yell.

For common FAQs and contact information use this link for the Palm Beach County Solid Waste Authority (SWA):


SWA’s commitment to recycling began in 1987. For more than 25 years, the SWA has been leading the way in providing convenient and efficient services that preserve our natural resources.
 

In Spanish. . .

Below is the press release from
the City of Lake Worth:

City press release issued by Ben Kerr, PIO.
561-586-1631
Email: bkerr@lakeworth.org


Lake Worth, Florida — Starting Oct. 1, residents and businesses in the City of Lake Worth will have two recycling bins instead of one, as the City restarts its partnership with the Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County.

The new partnership will have a big impact on making recycling in the City of Lake Worth more sustainable. Lake Worth’s single stream recycling partner [Waste Management Inc. of Florida; more information below] had raised the cost of recycling by $90 per ton and regular assessments of single stream recycling showed that over a third of loads were contaminated and unable to be cleanly recycled.


[Please note: This is very significant as is explained later.]


By re-partnering with the SWA, the City of Lake Worth will see economic savings as well as benefit from the SWA’s Recycling Revenue Share Program. Recycling efforts through the SWA go back into the local community as a Revenue Share. Since 2010, local municipalities have shared almost $9.3 million in recycling revenue. Lake Worth will now be a part of this program, and benefit from the sale of recyclables.

The SWA has operated a two-bin recycling system since the late 1980s, keeping paper separated from dirty food and drink containers. This ensures that the paper that is recovered is very clean and has a higher value, while wasting as little as possible.

The City of Lake Worth remains committed to environmentally conscious living. An effective recycling program is an important part of that commitment along with our progressive projects such as our Municipal Solar Energy Field, Low Impact LED lighting, and our continued work with the Southeast National Marine Renewable Energy Center on capturing the energy of the Gulf Stream current.

We look forward to partnering with the Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County to provide a more efficient and lower cost recycling program to all residents.

“Gee Wiz, Muriel! We have to start using these two little 18-gallon bins for recycling?”

Yes. Starting October 1st. What will be done with all those green/yellow 55-gallon recycling containers? The City will provide that information at a later date.

Forget about silly things like banning plastic straws! This City has a much bigger problems: like educating the public how to recycle properly and that process, recycling, is about to become much more complicated for many of the public. Everything else is just a distraction.

You see, for too many here in this City, that large 55-g recycling container was used as a second trash can. Trash when thrown into the recycling container is called “contamination”. When the recycling truck becomes contaminated the entire load is considered contaminated; the entire truckload becomes refuse, not recyclables. The truck then delivers the load to a landfill or incinerator instead of a delivery to a recycling facility.

If you took the time to recycle properly all your effort was a waste of time if it ended up in a contaminated truck.

“Whoever voted for this thing will never
get my vote again!”

The vote was unanimous at the City Commission, 4-0, with Commissioner Scott Maxwell absent.

From the agenda item at the Lake Worth City Commission meeting on May 1st:

Interlocal Agreement with Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County for Delivery of Municipal Solid Waste & Municipal Revenue Sharing Recycling Program Program.

 
Summary: The Interlocal Agreement authorizes the City to deliver dual stream recycling to the Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County (SWA) for compensation.

Background and Justification: On September 16, 2008, the City Commission [Jeff Clemens was mayor of Lake Worth] approved an agreement with Waste Management Inc. of Florida (“WM”), for a single stream recycling program. WM agreed to pay the City $10/ton of recycling delivered by the City to WM.


and in conclusion. . .


The single containers are dumped using an automated side load refuse truck, where the driver can only see the recycling at the top of the container and not any comingled [sic] household garbage underneath.

The City does not receive compensation for contaminated loads.

Thank You for visiting today and hope you found this information helpful.

About last night . . . The City of Lake Worth was center stage.

What a great night in Downtown Lake Worth at the Palm Beach County Cultural Council’s premiere screening of “On The Town In The Palm Beaches” produced by WPBT2, the Public Broadcasting Service in South Florida:


As Florida’s largest public media company we are committed to bringing you quality arts, education & cultural heritage content.


This was the first episode of 3rd Season and the featured municipality was the City of Lake Worth. Actor and writer Frank Licari was the host and producer for this episode along with WPTB2 producer Cindy Hing, a longtime South Florida resident.

Frank Licari, Cindy Hing and Melissa Harmon, Dir. of Production at WPBT2.

The City of Lake Worth’s episode of “On The Town” will air at 8:30 tonight on WPBT2 affiliate WXEL-TV, the regional public television service that serves North Miami Beach to Sebastian in Indian River County.

Without further ado. . .

At 6:15 there was already a long line at the door.
The reception began at 6:30.

Click on all images to enlarge:

The Cultural Council is located at the Robert M. Montgomery, Jr. Building in Downtown Lake Worth.

The gallery at the Cultural Council filled quickly.
Before long it was standing room only.

The food provided was exceptional.

One of the screens for the big event. . .

Looking back . . . The Cultural Council “back in the day”, circa 1971, was The Lake Theater.

The sponsors of Lake Worth’s “On The Town” episode:

“Thank You to Our Sponsors”

Thank You to the producers at WPBT2: Also featured on the Lake Worth episode of “On The Town In The Palm Beaches” was The Cottages of Lake Worth book:

Just recently attendees at the annual conference of the Florida chapter of the American Planning Assoc. toured Downtown Lake Worth and The Cottages.

How much do you know about South Florida PBS?

WPBT2 history: “On August 12, 1955, WPBT2
went on the air without a penny of tax money
having been spent.”

A crowd shot:

Notable notables in attendance: Boynton Beach Mayor Steven Grant, Lake Worth City Manager Michael Bornstein, Lake Worth Vice Mayor Andy Amoroso, Lake Worth Commissioner Herman C. Robinson, and Town of Palm Beach Deputy Town Manager Jay Boodheshwar.

And another notable notable. . .

Jon Faust (right), Chair of Lake Worth’s Neighborhood Assoc. Presidents’ Council next to Vice Mayor Andy Amoroso.

Meet the Director of the PBC Cultural Council:
Mr. David B. Lawrence.

Mr. Lawrence addressing those in attendance.

And lastly, a Tweet from last night. . .

Premiere Screening in 15 minutes. City of Lake Worth (@LakeWorthPBC) takes center stage in @WPBT2's "On The Town In The Palm Beaches". Event being held at Palm Beach Cultural Council (@palmbchculture) in Downtown #LakeWorth.

Following screening will be Q&A with @FrankLicari: pic.twitter.com/UrFxFVNhNC

— Wes Blackman (@WesBlackman) September 27, 2018

Hope you found this information today informative and as always, Thank You for visiting once again today.

A regional meeting was held this week in the City of Lake Worth.

City of Lake Worth Vice Mayor Andy Amoroso attended the General Membership meeting of the PBC League of Cities held in the Ballroom at the Lake Worth Casino and Beach Complex.

But meetings like this don’t generate enough clicks or social media ‘kicks’ to get much or any attention in the press or news media.

Especially so when there is a kangaroo on the loose.

How much do you know about the PBC League of Cities (LOC)? More information about the League is at the end of this blog post.

Vice Mayor Amoroso is a board member.

For the 2018–2019 League officers
and board members click on this link:

Andy Amoroso with Vice Mayor Kimberly Glas-Castro from the Town of Lake Park.

Andy Amoroso again. . .

Meet the City of Palm Beach Gardens’
Mayor Maria G. Marino.

This week the only press to show up at the Lake Worth City Commission meeting was editor Mark Easton from The Lake Worth Herald. For the latest edition of the Herald which came out yesterday click on this link.

Last Tuesday evening, of course, the big news in the press and news media was about that kangaroo on the loose. Here is a Tweet sent from the chambers at the Lake Worth City Commission:

Many local govt. meetings in PBC tonight.

But with #Kangaroo on loose in Jupiter press is stretched too thin to cover meetings like City Commission in #LakeWorth. But @LakeWorthHerald is here. Keep hopping you kangaroo!

Follow @LakeWorthPBC to watch video of meeting tomorrow: pic.twitter.com/B4MoORnB1f

— Wes Blackman (@WesBlackman) September 25, 2018

Without further ado, about the Palm Beach County League of Cities:


The purpose of the Palm Beach County League of Cities, Inc., is to promote and advance the collective interest of the municipalities of Palm Beach County, Florida; to analyize municipal issues and seek positive results through cooperative efforts; to respect the principles of Home Rule; and to encourage and enhance the quality of life of the citizens of Palm Beach County.

The League consists of all 39 municipalities in Palm Beach County, as well as over 100 Associate members. The Board of Directors, installed each May, is made up of 18 city officials: four executive officers, one representative from each of the League's five districts, six representatives from the largest municipalities, two at-large seats, and the Immediate Past President, if in office. Past Presidents still in office serve ex-officio.

The Board appoints the Executive Director, who is responsible for the daily business operation of the League. The Executive Director serves as chief liaison to the County Commission, School Board, department staff, and the Legislative and Congressional Delegation.

Premiere TONIGHT: “On The Town in The Palm Beaches” featuring City of Lake Worth.

The City of Lake Worth will be the feature story this evening on the South Florida Public Broadcasting Service (WPBT):

The Premiere Screening.

To register for this event contact the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County. Call 561-471-2901, visit the Council today from 10:00–5:00 at 601 Lake Ave. in Downtown Lake Worth, or send an email to: info@palmbeachculture.com

About the upcoming premiere featuring actor writer producer and host Frank Licari:

South Florida PBS invites you to the complimentary premiere event of On The Town in The Palm Beaches’ newest episode — Lake Worth.

• Reception at 6:30.
• Screening at 7:30.
• Q&A follows with Host Frank Licari and producers.

In the new episode host Frank Licari explores the heart of Lake Worth, a city that’s not just hip, it’s historic too. Frank jumps into the city’s happening arts scene; visits an ocean front restaurant with postcard perfect views and checks out an historic playhouse that just may be haunted.

Join us and discover the beautiful
City of Lake Worth!