Sister Cities Joint Intergovernmental Meeting

Yesterday a few of us attended the Sisters Cities Joint Intergovernmental Meeting. West Palm Beach was the host for this quarter's get together held at their City Hall. This is a brainstorming session that involves officials from West Palm Beach, Mangonia Park, Riviera Beach, Lake Park, Palm Beach Shores and Lake Worth. It was suggested that they invite Lake Clarke Shores to the next meeting that Lake Worth will host.

The topics of discussion included the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council of which the above are all members. Palm Beach County is considering breaking away from it and becoming a part of the South Florida Regional Planning Council or as Commissioner Ike Robinson would say, "dealing with the big boys." All of the attendees agreed to stay in the Treasure Coast. WPB Commissioner Shanon Materio was in favor of going with the southern council because counties to the north of us are "no growth" but brought up the idea of having our own planning council in Palm Beach County.

Lake Worth Mayor Triolo talked about the recent Lake Worth Panhandling Ordinance that just passed here on a 4/0 vote that involved only "aggressive" panhandling. Thomas Masters, Mayor of Riviera Beach, mentioned that they had an ordinance on the books that involved ALL panhandling--none is allowed there. He's not afraid of the ACLU or the liberal press. I saw Mayor Masters after the meeting and thanked him for his "Droopy Drawers" Ordinance that he initiated and that passed by 70% of the voters in 2008.

WPB Commissioner Ike Robinson, City Manager of Lake Worth Mike Bornstein, Lake Worth Mayor Pam Triolo