Stantec, formerly Burton & Associates, have been working for Lake Worth since 2008. They were at the City Commission meeting last night to give their integrated Budget Scenario Analysis. There was some good news and some bad.
THE BAD NEWS:
I stayed for about 1.5 hours and left to watch the meeting on the Internet. Unfortunately the audio continued to cut out and was off more than it was on. Ironically, I had just congratulated Darrian Dority of PrimeStar Digital Network for improved audio who had put in the system. This happened during the crucial discussion on our Beach Fund and pool. The only thing I did gather from it was that our pool is not funded in year 2018. I can conclude that the city will close this pool, which has always been the city manager's intention, for good. The mayor is afraid that little red signs will pop up all over town.
The commission still decries unsustainability at our beach and that we are losing money--bad business model, etc. and seem to insist that our beach make money rather than looking at it as an amenity like any other park. They want to replace the meters and install a shade structure over them for $188,000. The two deputies assigned to the beach are costing $260,000 and then we have the loan from ourselves owed by the Beach Fund that was used to build the Casino in the amount of $600,000 per year according to Juan Ruiz. There will be a $150,000 expense to the Pier. The Beach Fund continues to face a cash flow deficit that will deplete reserves by the end of next year.
THE GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS:
We have reached a milestone on our electric rates. It was this commission that voted on achieving rate parity with FPL. If staff can adjust its rate structure components to achieve a 3% estimated reduction in residential rate revenues in 2018, then FPL parity would be achieved.
At present, the average monthly residential bill is $114.73 for 1,000 kilowatts. Their prior study projected $115.88 for 2018. By reducing the rate of $4.59 per average kilowatt usage, we could be a little under FPL's rate by $0.21 cents. The proposed rate is $111.29 for 2018. I don't recall them mentioning how much income we would be losing in order to do this.
MORE BAD NEWS:
The proposed budget will be $36,051,360 for 2018, up $2,098,091 from 2017 (6.182%)
Public Safety/Policing is up by $828,440 or $15,636,280 (5.30%) apparently with the mayor screaming to get them to agree to that.
There is a line item for aquatics of $53,801.
Proposed General Fund Revenues: $34,448,310
Proposed General Fund Expenditures: $36,051,360
That's what was said folks, but I didn't get to hear the explanation, if there was one, for spending more than we are bringing in.
19 comments:
Was there any discussion about building a pool in a more logical place? It won't make money there either, but would get much more use and bring the deficit down.
No. The logical place for this pool is right where it is. Repair it and open it.
I'm really sick of the a-holes in Bryant Park trying to get THEIR neighborhood a pool by trying to steal our beach pool.
keep the damn pool. What the heck is wrong with you people?
It is not the A-holes in Bryant Park although that would make more sense than where it is now. Somewhere in the middle of Town, maybe near Hatch 1121. Royal Poinciana N/A could use a park. Then you A-holes that live closer can use it and not have to pay to park or take your life in your hands riding your bike over the bridge.
What is wrong with "us" people? We are looking at spending a ton of money for a amenity that is severely underutilized, outdated, poorly designed as it no longer has a high-dive, has no appeal at all, has a deteriorated building blocking the view of our Atlantic Ocean keeping people from even seeing that it is there. Shall I go on?
Intelligent people wish to keep the pool, just not at the beach because it makes NO SENSE THERE! It is not salt water, it's a half mile from the main part of town where we ALL live, it costs money to park in addition to admission. I have no problem subsidizing a well used amenity.
It can be "well used" again.
It will cost $508,000 to repair it and renovate the locker rooms/bathrooms. Now you want to talk about spending $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ building a pool somewhere else?
Kidding me.
It MAKES ALL THE SENSE IN THE WORLD to keep the pool where it has always been.
Even YOU admitted; it wasn't "always there".
Historic significance isn't something built in 1972.
If it was moved back then, why not now?
It was always behind the Casino. It was built around 1922 around there and just a little north to where the pool is now right behind the shops.
We don't have any Park in our neighborhood herein north o and 13th and we don't complain, we ride to Bryant, tropical ridge or south olive. As far as Bryant Park residents wanting the pool I don't think they are the only ones we would like that also. I wouldn't want it around the corner from me either with the added traffic and noise. If they leave the pool at the beach get rid of the ugly wall and make it salt water again, chlorine is terrible.
Why do we always have to put up with below standard amenities like our present pool. Why can't we have a nice aquatic facility like other communities have? Is it because we are ...... Lake Worth.....?
Time to start thinking like other nearby progressive communities. Ever seen Wellington's or Royal Palm Beach's aquatic facility? Now there is something to be proud of. We already have the ocean and shops and restaurants over there. Put the pool where regular people can walk or ride their bikes and take the kids to a place THEY want to go.
2:13--We are proud of our pool...it just needs to be repaired. We don't have a pot to P in and you want some "progressive" amenity. We can't even afford to repay the loan to ourselves. Let's be realistic. BS. And "where kids want to go?" This is about finances and reality.
it would be nice to know how many of the people bitching about where the pool is now and do they have pools in their backyards and don't even use them.these idots have given most of our public buildings away to special interests and that is exactly what they are trying to do with the pool.leave the damn pool where it is and fix it properly .if you assholes don't like what we like in lake worth I think there are enough of us to help you move to wellington you like it so much
If it were about finances, the answer would be clear.
How many different individuals use the pool? Maybe 100?
Do the math. The answer is clear.
https://www.google.com/search?q=wellington+aquatic+center&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjJxZmlzoTVAhUO7mMKHWOYCkEQ_AUICygC&biw=1451&bih=928#imgrc=Kwt5LKqVIwzavM:
Where kids want to go.
Sure, we might not be able to afford that, but half a million dollars to repair an old outdated standard, no-frills pool is insane. I think we finally have a group of commissioners who realize that. Put that half mil towards a nice facility on the mainland and let the oceanfront property generate funds to help pay for it.
The choice is not even close if you use your head and not your "feelings".
If Stanton made the suggestion to build a aquatic center at Bryant Park you'd be all over it like white on rice.
@5:31...that's how much you DON'T KNOW. Stanton did bring up the idea of an aquatic park. I was against it then too!
Triggered! Lol!
$508,00 is not the cost to renovate, its just the cost to repair. It will still look exactly the way it does, read the report. The first report was the real cost to renovate, what was it again? oh yea 2.6 to 5 mill. Do your research before you open your mouth.
Hopefully, it will look exactly the same that it does now but with one-half million in repairs that include the bathrooms, etc.
I do my research. You do yours. My blog will come out at 8am.
What is it that you don't understand about our city and those who want to save our pool and be conservative on the costs to do that...
Non-corrupt people. A real concept some won't accept. It's more fun spending someone's money or turning over responsibilities to some "partner" that wants to steal our pool and land.
Time to buy the 4.2 acre Sunset property in the ROLO area and put an ADDITIONAL POOL THERE!
For the amount of money ,millions they are talking about now-they could repair our beach pool AND open another pool on the Smith property!
WIN-WIN!
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