The End of the Beach Saga?

Comment Up

They want to screw this up?

Mayor Jeff Clemens thanked City Manager Stanton for exposing the "security breach hoax" but that is another story. I had to throw it in here because it is a good one. Jeff does have some lines.

This synopsis, however, is what happened on our beach last night.

Under Unfinished Business (the understatement of the decade), was to approve the conceptual plan on the beach renovations. Michael Spruce of Kimley Horn proposed two concepts each with designated decal parking areas, his assignment.

Under the City’s rules and written directly on the reverse side of the Comment Card, it states that any business discussed over 30 minutes will move to a workshop. This was brought to the City’s attention by Barbara Jean Webber who borrowed Katie Mcgiveron’s watch and started pointing at it while holding it in the air. Retha took the clue and mentioned the rule from the dais. The Commission voted to extend the discussion that had already been in place for over an hour. Incidentally, the beach discussion went on for almost 3 hours. They were still discussing it after 10pm when I was home listening.

But back to the story—The plans are confusing to some degree, allowing traffic going in both directions on one plan, traffic going through a parking lot on the upper level (Michael Singer’s plan did that too) whereby parked cars backing up will cause untold accidents. In that area and up to almost where the casino’s south end, you will not be able to even see the ocean as you drive by. I asked Michael Spruce the distance and he said about 80 feet from the sidewalk. You can see the ocean now, the reason why people just take a drive to the beach and what makes our beachfront unique for the world. There are not too many places today that you can drive by and see the ocean as Florida was over-developed and land bought up for condo development all along our coast. People actually come here for our natural beach. That IS the money maker and the main contributor to its popularity. This ambiance will be gone now until you get in front of the Casino for a short stretch but then you will be worried about cars coming in the other direction.

But back to the story—These new plans will have as many of the Singer amenities that are affordable. Windmills? Yes, even that. You know that is how we operate; if you have the money, spend it. One plan has 550 parking spaces for the public with 30 decal parking spaces. The problem with this plan is that the County, in its agreement, states 628 public parking spaces. The other plan has 669 parking spaces with 41 designated to decal holders in a section starting at A1A on the north side of the property. Retha and Jeff both say that the County will not budge on 628—that they have talked to various members of the PB County Commission. I say get a better, tougher, more dedicated city commissioner to negotiate. They chose Cara Jennings and she is the best choice. This was Cara’s doing from the get go—more green and sacrifice income for our city by eliminating convenient parking across from Benny’s—eliminating convenient parking for trees. She, obviously, has the passion here.

Back to the story—The Michael Singer Plan was introduced by Candidate for Mayor, Rene Varela six months ago or so. Just mention the word “green” and certain commissioners go nuts. Cara introduced his plan; Singer had an entire day showing it to the public with a skewed survey whereby we could vote. The decision to change our beach was decided by about 184 people in this entire city of 36,000 +-. Last night, on the other hand, it was decided by 3 people on the Commission. The people of this City should have had the right to vote on the beach.

Back to the story again—There was one person who appeared unhappy with the changes to Life is Beautiful, Michael Singer and his plan—Rene Varela. The rest who were there were just unhappy in general that the Commission had decided to “sell” our beach for $5 million and to encumber it with strings and controls. There was no one there in support of changing our beach at all. No Palm Beach County Commissioner was there and basically they could care less just as long we stay under their thumb and do what they say. A representative for new commissioner, Patricia Taylor, was present and taking notes. School teacher, Becky Hinson, blasted the decision as well as the “sale” of our beach to the County all the while looking right at the County rep.

The end of the story—We will get a changed beachfront. We will have less parking. We will probably get decal parking in a designated area. We will no longer be able to drive up there and see the ocean. We will have more trees and sea oats. We will no longer have what makes Lake Worth beach great. The negative is that we will be spending $5 million to ruin our beachfront and be under the control of PB County for 30 years. The positive? We will have a new, clean, fresh looking boardwalk and newly designed parking lots until we mess that up a few years down the road and all for the measly sum of $5 million, if not more by the time it is all through. Does anything ever come under budget other than 6^th Avenue South which was overpriced to begin with?

This was decided on a 3 to 2 vote with Retha and Jeff steadfast in their opinion...Retha saying she doesn't want so much asphalt and Jeff insisting that negotiating with the County is a waste of time. It is the asphalt that will ultimately pay for our new casino building. The more people we can accommodate to park at our beach, the more revenue generated and less burden on the taxpayers of Lake Worth. There were 3 commissioners, although ultimately responsible for spending $5 mil to redesign parking, who cared enough for the people they represent to include decal parking on new conceptual plans.

Is it really the end of the story?