Saturday, February 25, 2012
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Message received from William Waters this afternoon (2/22)
Board Members,
On Tuesday, February 28, 2012, the City Commission will be discussing the contract the Morganti Group for the beach redevelopment project. This project is very important to the future of the City and the Commission needs to hear your input on Tuesday evening. Your thoughts on the beach project being shared with the Commission on Tuesday evening would be greatly appreciated by all. The meeting begins at 6:00 pm in the Commission Chambers of City Hall. Thank you.
William Waters, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, NCARB
FL AR#94136 & FL ID#5745
Director for Community Sustainability
City of Lake Worth
On Tuesday, February 28, 2012, the City Commission will be discussing the contract the Morganti Group for the beach redevelopment project. This project is very important to the future of the City and the Commission needs to hear your input on Tuesday evening. Your thoughts on the beach project being shared with the Commission on Tuesday evening would be greatly appreciated by all. The meeting begins at 6:00 pm in the Commission Chambers of City Hall. Thank you.
William Waters, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, NCARB
FL AR#94136 & FL ID#5745
Director for Community Sustainability
City of Lake Worth
South Palm Park's Garage Sale
18th Annual Community Yard Sale
Saturday February 25th from 8:00 am till 12:00 noon
5th Ave South to 18th Ave South on both Lakeside Drive and South Palmway
Usually about 20 or so families take part and usually draws about 800 to 1000 buyers from as far South as Miami and Port St. Lucie to the North.
Saturday February 25th from 8:00 am till 12:00 noon
5th Ave South to 18th Ave South on both Lakeside Drive and South Palmway
Usually about 20 or so families take part and usually draws about 800 to 1000 buyers from as far South as Miami and Port St. Lucie to the North.
Neighborhood Cleanup February 25th
We have many opportunities for volunteers this weekend. One is we need one representative from the ROLOH Neighborhood who can help with a walk around Survey at the Street Painting Festival! This will be done to help gather information from visitors and I believe its only 4 questions. The people who take the survey will get a unique and cute Sticker to display as a souvenir. If you can donate 4 hours for Saturday or Sunday to do this please contact me for details either by email or phone at 909-8708. This will be in conjunction with the Festival and NAPC in which we have a seat.
Also, Below I and other volunteers will be at the clean up listed below in Tropical Ridge for Saturday Morning and hope that a couple of people can join us for this clean up event and then visit the Street Painting afterwards :-)
There is a Paint Your Heart Out and Rebuilding Together events both Saturday and Sunday:
Paint Your Heart Out
Saturday, 2/25/12 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
FPL
1 House in Boynton Beach
Rebuilding Together
Sunday, 2/26/12 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Temple Beth David
1 House in Jupiter
What a big weekend and I'm sure there are many other organizations out there needing Volunteers. Seek out something you enjoy doing and volunteer a little of your time! Remember funding is very limited for almost all Non-Profits so the Sweat Equity of Volunteers have become a very valuable contribution and asset.
THANKS
Robert E. Waples II
Also, Below I and other volunteers will be at the clean up listed below in Tropical Ridge for Saturday Morning and hope that a couple of people can join us for this clean up event and then visit the Street Painting afterwards :-)
There is a Paint Your Heart Out and Rebuilding Together events both Saturday and Sunday:
Paint Your Heart Out
Saturday, 2/25/12 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
FPL
1 House in Boynton Beach
Rebuilding Together
Sunday, 2/26/12 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Temple Beth David
1 House in Jupiter
What a big weekend and I'm sure there are many other organizations out there needing Volunteers. Seek out something you enjoy doing and volunteer a little of your time! Remember funding is very limited for almost all Non-Profits so the Sweat Equity of Volunteers have become a very valuable contribution and asset.
THANKS
Robert E. Waples II
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Ribbon Cutting
Stop by and welcome another NEW BUSINESS!
Jackpot Treasures and Collectibles
1014 Lake Avenue
Lake Worth, FL. 33460
Grand Opening
Wednesday February 22nd
10:00 am
Tonight's City Commission meeting agenda (2/21):
Click here for back-up material. A few items drew my attention. One is the proposal on the consent agenda (Item 8 D) for the city to accept a "gift" for Bryant Park in the form of a brick paver labyrinth. This is apparently being handled by Public Works staff. You know, regardless of the merits of this request, this really should be brought before the Planning and Zoning Board for review and a recommendation. The Planning and Zoning Board's duties include (from the city's Code of Ordinances):
Let's stick to procedure here. I remember when I was on the PZHRPB and we turned down many requests for statues or memorials in Bryant Park. By handling them in this haphazard manner sends the message to other groups that they can do the same thing. Let's go a little further and set some standards for these sorts of things. And, let's also not forget to run this by nearby neighborhood associations - if for information only.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Female, 17, 'unconscious but alive' after being pulled from ocean at Lake Worth Beach
Other news from today at the beach. Click title for link to PBP article. Great work lifeguards!
Pics of the NEW Casino Building, taken today...
It's been a big bike riding weekend. Yesterday, I took a 20 mile trip to the Palm Beach inlet and back to my house. Then today, I went to the Boynton Beach inlet which is about a 17 mile round trip. I made sure I had my camera with me today so I could stop at the beach and take some pictures of the casino building. The one above is of the south tower. There are metal screens that hide the air-conditioning units. I am not sure about the architecture as you approach the building from the south. To me, it seems fairly plain and if you think about it, it is one of the first impressions of the building as you come up the loop road.
Is the clock here (above on the tower) one of the value engineering items that have been eliminated?
Above are some paint color samples for various elements on the building.
A decorative element on one of the panels facing east along the 2nd floor patio.
There were a lot of people under this canopy today. Is this coming out?
Welcome to the land of pavement.
Is the clock here (above on the tower) one of the value engineering items that have been eliminated?
Above are some paint color samples for various elements on the building.
A decorative element on one of the panels facing east along the 2nd floor patio.
There were a lot of people under this canopy today. Is this coming out?
Welcome to the land of pavement.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Candidates for city manager down to 8
Susan Stanton dropped from consideration for City Manager in League City, Texas. It's a suburb of Houston. Click title for link.
Click here for live audio from City Commission Work Session (2/17)
This is on the major portion of the beach redevelopment project and the Morganti Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) contract. Click here for back-up. Mulvehill is absent, or at least not present at the beginning of the meeting.
Staff is making a presentation. Ms. Margoles is leading it. Representatives from Kimley Horn and Morganti are present, along with Jason Bregman (Micheal Singer Group) and John Szerdi (Living Designs Group.) The GMP is set at $6,424,000 which includes a $800,000 allowance for parking lot lighting that will light only 300 and some parking space - it is not for the entire parking area. There is also an allowance for repairs of the seawall at $224,207.50. Contingency amounts to $50,000 (?) They are reviewing the changes made for value engineering and the exceptions to the contract. There is quite a list of alternates - Margoles is saying the direction from the Commission was to go out and get a base bid and then make adjustments from there. There are 33 separate alternates.
They are talking about the phasing plan. It has two main phases and keeps 50% of the parking available throughout the project. The plan is also being reviewed by Palm Beach County for impact to their park to the north. Phase 1 includes the back of the dune, installation of utility lines in the western parking lot and allows normal access through the site. Phase 2 includes the eastern area, the promenade, beach area and the main entrance. They are reviewing the lighting plan now. The western parking area would represent half of the total number of light fixtures.
They anticipate beginning in March, finishing up everything by January. Two access points would be maintained during the entire construction period. Work around the casino building would be over with in September, which would allow the tenants to do their improvements and move-in sometime in October.
They are taking 5 minutes to get back-up material distributed from the December 20th meeting. (9:35 a.m.) They are back at 9:42 a.m. This material shows the break down of the bids and actual item costs.
Mayor thanks everyone for their presentation and notes that the project is more expensive than anticipated. She also notes that the $800,000 for lighting leaves the western parking area unlit. 346 spaces would be lighted and are enough, per code, to serve the building/tenants. She points out that there are more "adds" than "deletes" in the alternates. She asked about the total number of parking spots available for the pier during May and June. Answer: 33 plus 2 handicapped. Most of the spaces in the western lot will be open during that time.
McVoy thanks everyone and is excited that they are at this stage. He thinks that the total is $5 million for the county and $1.2 million that was budgeted already and expected. We are not looking for unbudgeted money. The exception is the seawall. He has a number of questions on the alternates and what is in and what it out. The way he looks at this is that Micheal Singer group presented design concepts - they were interesting features and had an overall concept. This would be a big part of what makes this project extraordinary. He is concerned that many of those are sliding off the map now.
The Mayor asks about the county grant and what is eligible. Margoles says that the agreement specified items that would be paid by the grant. She says the disconnect this point is that some of the individual items cost more than the original bid, once they were bid out.
Maxwell says that $280,000 was the original estimate for utilities. The cost now is $1.8 million, including the lights. He says that finally we are having a conversation on the totality of the project, which is what we should have been doing all along. The cost now is more than what was promised to the community - that was $11 million. (listening on-line - stream went down at 10:15) - will try to get it back. (Back up now a few minutes later) They are talking about the main entrance features and those are unknown at this point. He asks about the numbers today have been bid out and did they actually get the three bids. He said yes, and Morganti says that yes, they did. They can present the actual bids. Maxwell would like an explanation if there was less than three sub-contractors bidding on an item. The county money cannot fund anything related to the casino building area and areas that would be used for decal parking. He asks if we are in jeopardy of losing the grant based on the timelines contained in the agreement. Margoles says that the city is fine with the County regarding the timelines. He wants to make sure that the County can't back out of the agreement. The next deadline is February 2nd of 2013 and that would be for the end of construction. He would like a letter from the County acknowledging same. Carr says that they will ask for that. The bid documents can be available Monday or Tuesday of next week. The meeting concerning the contract and the Commission issuing it is scheduled for Thursday. He is concerned about the amount of time he has to review them.
McVoy talks about getting a Good Housekeeping letter from the County. To do that, the County needs to know what we are doing and when we are doing it. Right now, the meeting is scheduled for Thursday. If there isn't time, then we are going to have re-schedule the meeting and the County would need to know that new date. Amoroso would like a breakdown given to the Commission so that everything is identified that is making up that total. How can you bid it out without a breakdown? (have to step away for a few minutes)
Staff is making a presentation. Ms. Margoles is leading it. Representatives from Kimley Horn and Morganti are present, along with Jason Bregman (Micheal Singer Group) and John Szerdi (Living Designs Group.) The GMP is set at $6,424,000 which includes a $800,000 allowance for parking lot lighting that will light only 300 and some parking space - it is not for the entire parking area. There is also an allowance for repairs of the seawall at $224,207.50. Contingency amounts to $50,000 (?) They are reviewing the changes made for value engineering and the exceptions to the contract. There is quite a list of alternates - Margoles is saying the direction from the Commission was to go out and get a base bid and then make adjustments from there. There are 33 separate alternates.
They are talking about the phasing plan. It has two main phases and keeps 50% of the parking available throughout the project. The plan is also being reviewed by Palm Beach County for impact to their park to the north. Phase 1 includes the back of the dune, installation of utility lines in the western parking lot and allows normal access through the site. Phase 2 includes the eastern area, the promenade, beach area and the main entrance. They are reviewing the lighting plan now. The western parking area would represent half of the total number of light fixtures.
They anticipate beginning in March, finishing up everything by January. Two access points would be maintained during the entire construction period. Work around the casino building would be over with in September, which would allow the tenants to do their improvements and move-in sometime in October.
They are taking 5 minutes to get back-up material distributed from the December 20th meeting. (9:35 a.m.) They are back at 9:42 a.m. This material shows the break down of the bids and actual item costs.
Mayor thanks everyone for their presentation and notes that the project is more expensive than anticipated. She also notes that the $800,000 for lighting leaves the western parking area unlit. 346 spaces would be lighted and are enough, per code, to serve the building/tenants. She points out that there are more "adds" than "deletes" in the alternates. She asked about the total number of parking spots available for the pier during May and June. Answer: 33 plus 2 handicapped. Most of the spaces in the western lot will be open during that time.
McVoy thanks everyone and is excited that they are at this stage. He thinks that the total is $5 million for the county and $1.2 million that was budgeted already and expected. We are not looking for unbudgeted money. The exception is the seawall. He has a number of questions on the alternates and what is in and what it out. The way he looks at this is that Micheal Singer group presented design concepts - they were interesting features and had an overall concept. This would be a big part of what makes this project extraordinary. He is concerned that many of those are sliding off the map now.
The Mayor asks about the county grant and what is eligible. Margoles says that the agreement specified items that would be paid by the grant. She says the disconnect this point is that some of the individual items cost more than the original bid, once they were bid out.
Maxwell says that $280,000 was the original estimate for utilities. The cost now is $1.8 million, including the lights. He says that finally we are having a conversation on the totality of the project, which is what we should have been doing all along. The cost now is more than what was promised to the community - that was $11 million. (listening on-line - stream went down at 10:15) - will try to get it back. (Back up now a few minutes later) They are talking about the main entrance features and those are unknown at this point. He asks about the numbers today have been bid out and did they actually get the three bids. He said yes, and Morganti says that yes, they did. They can present the actual bids. Maxwell would like an explanation if there was less than three sub-contractors bidding on an item. The county money cannot fund anything related to the casino building area and areas that would be used for decal parking. He asks if we are in jeopardy of losing the grant based on the timelines contained in the agreement. Margoles says that the city is fine with the County regarding the timelines. He wants to make sure that the County can't back out of the agreement. The next deadline is February 2nd of 2013 and that would be for the end of construction. He would like a letter from the County acknowledging same. Carr says that they will ask for that. The bid documents can be available Monday or Tuesday of next week. The meeting concerning the contract and the Commission issuing it is scheduled for Thursday. He is concerned about the amount of time he has to review them.
McVoy talks about getting a Good Housekeeping letter from the County. To do that, the County needs to know what we are doing and when we are doing it. Right now, the meeting is scheduled for Thursday. If there isn't time, then we are going to have re-schedule the meeting and the County would need to know that new date. Amoroso would like a breakdown given to the Commission so that everything is identified that is making up that total. How can you bid it out without a breakdown? (have to step away for a few minutes)
Click here for Video of CRB 02-13-12 Meeting
Panagioti Tsolkas has this authority questioned. Thank you Mark Parrilla for the video!
There seems to be some confusion about how Robert's Rules allows the creation of a sub-committee and how that could be at odds with the Sunshine Law. It is not as much "at odds" with the Sunshine Law, it is just that if two or more members of a public board meet, the meeting has to have a public notice and minutes need to be taken.
There seems to be some confusion about how Robert's Rules allows the creation of a sub-committee and how that could be at odds with the Sunshine Law. It is not as much "at odds" with the Sunshine Law, it is just that if two or more members of a public board meet, the meeting has to have a public notice and minutes need to be taken.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
West Palm Beach audit committee member Gregory Daniel quits, calls city corrupt
Our neighbors to the north are having issues with their Internal Auditor. It also seems like citizens are seeing what is really happening, but everyone else chooses to look the other way. Click title for link.
Susan Stanton interested in Sarasota city manager post | HeraldTribune.com
Click title for link to Herald/Tribune article. This is a good way of putting it (emphasis mine):
"After she was cut from the finalist for Sarasota city manager, Stanton eventually landed a job as city manager in Lake Worth. But after less than two years, she was fired again as commissioners responded to public anger over her management of the city."
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