Three commissioners turned down the Lease for Benny's on the Beach
Concerned with ridiculous things
Top citizen speaker for the night: Peggy Fisher
This has to be the most stupid decision this commission or any commission has ever made.
As seen on Nextdoor: 3 of 5 commissioners just voted to evict Benny's on the Beach this evening. 200 people will be out of their jobs soon, the city will be out $250k/year, and the pier will sit vacant for years.
Congratulations to...
Christopher McVoy, District 2
Kim Stokes, District 3
Reinaldo Diaz, District 4
...
for killing a small business.
Our city attorney recommended a 6 months extension on the lease. The Three commissioners did not listen...did not want to negotiate further.
Lee Lipton, owner, says evict us, I am not re-negotiating the Lease.
This amendment authorizes RTT - Benny's on the Beach, Inc., to extend its lease located at the Lake Worth Municipal Ocean Pier and provides for increases in rent during the extension.
BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION:
On February 11, 2013, the City entered into a Lease agreement with RTT - Benny's on the Beach, Inc.,for the lease of certain space located at the Lake Worth Municipal Ocean Pier for use as a restaurant and a bait shop. The lease allowed for ten (10) years with the option of renewing initially for an additional eight years. After the initial renewal the lease allows for one additional renewal for twenty-three (23)months.On August 5, 2015, the City and Tenant entered into the First Amendment of the Lease to address the use of additional outdoor patio area.
On May 19, 2020, the City and Tenant entered into the Second Amendment to the Lease to revise certain terms and conditions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
On February 21, 2023, the City Commission approved a 90-day extension to the Third Amendment at the new lease terms (2% increase in rent) to allow for further negotiations of the proposed lease.
The Fourth Amendment will extend RTT - Benny's on the Beach, Inc., lease at the Lake Worth Municipal Pier for the full nine (9) years and eleven (11) months authorized under the Lease (i.e., eight (8) year “Initial Extension” option and 23 months “Second Extension” option). The amendment provides for an increase in rent beginning April 19, 2023 wherein the Tenant will pay $42.00 per square foot for the Premises and $15.30 per square foot for the Patio Area. This rent will increase during the second year of the extension, beginning on February 11, 2024 wherein the Tenant will pay $44.00 per square foot for the Premises and $15.30 for the Patio Area. For the remaining 3-9 years and 11 months of the extension, the rent for the Premises and the Patio Area will increase annually by 3.5 percent beginning on February 11th of each year.
See Channel 12 News
