A possible Public/Private Partnership at our beach complex?

Lake Worth Beach Commission takes first step to re-open ocean-side complex

That was the headline in Yahoo News...a little misleading!

One of the major hindrances that was not mentioned in this article is that the former city manager, Michael Bornstein, did not want the pool. When he first came into office he called it a "White elephant," thus it languished for years and eventually died once the water was removed and left to the elements to decay..

Most of us want the pool rebuilt exactly as is in exactly the same place and do NOT want a public/private partnership. But this commission is willing to listen to proposals that could give up control of our entire beach park but still retaining ownership

How much is our beach worth? There is no price tag on this extremely valuable property. And commissioners, it is not all about making money. Get the correct employees in place to manage and market this park. It is an amenity that attracts tourism and residents alike.

Personally, I believe it sinful to not repair this when we had a chance for $509,000. Staff went along with Bornstein and so now we have a pool that will cost millions to replace. But a public/private partnership really could give away the whole enchilada.

The residents have told the city that they want our pool to be repaired and re-opened and Kimley-Horn told them in 2019 that it could be repaired for $509,000--We don't need millions poured into our pool--fix what you messed up.

Read about it...

Delray Beach hired new City Manager

Read about it...

Terrence R. Moore

Quote of the Day - Michael Bornstein

Speaking to the New Commission on Gulfstream Hotel

"I can't shoot unicorns and skittles out my ass...don't miss the big picture here."

Go to around 2:17:56 of the meeting on the discussion regarding the Gulfstream Hotel. At 2:29:48, Bornstein walks out of the meeting with over an hour to go.

Lake Worth Casino and Pool

It's been a most unfortunate situation that the city NEVER took the advice from Kimley Horn to repair our pool and locker rooms when we had the chance for $509,000. And it totally ignored the will of its residents.

I agree with Betty Resch at the time--"It was the will of the city to make it fail."

It is unfortunate, and that's stating it mildly, that the city drained the pool  allowing the sun and the elements to further its deterioration. People are unhappy, rightfully so.We could have fixed it at the time for $509,000 (we paid for the engineering study) but the city wanted it out of there. Michael Bornstein was behind this travesty from almost the day he was hired as Lake Worth city manager even calling it a "white elephant."

The city stopped funding our pool in 2018. It was never their desire to save it.

Now, not only have they allowed our pool to go to hell in a hand basket and beyond repair, the city is not maintaining the area either. Blight abounds.

New Commissioners, please have the blight cleaned up and rebuild our pool at the Lake Worth beach.

Michael Bornstein Resigns!

Lake Worth Beach city manager Michael Bornstein resigns after nine years on the job

HOLY MOLY! But I'm not surprised.

Michael Bornstein said Tuesday night that he is resigning as Lake Worth Beach city manager.

Bornstein's announcement came near the end of Tuesday's 5 1/2-hour city commission meeting. He will remain on the job for 60 days before departing.
"It's been a pleasure working with the city for almost nine years now," Bornstein told the commission. "I asked my wife to give me five years, and I've been here nine years."

Read more about it...

Lake Worth Mayor Pam Triolo has three challengers

Lake Worth Beach mayor, Pam Triolo, will face at least three challengers in March election

Wes Blackman:
Urban Planner. He says he runs calm, cool and collected meetings. Has years of experience as former Chair of the Planning & Zoning as well as the Historical Preservation boards

Betty Resch:
Practicing attorney and past city attorney for Lake Worth. If elected she says she will push for term limits and look into the role of city manager Michael Bornstein. "Who's running the show?" asks Betty.

William Joseph
Investigator. Says more investment is needed to create jobs. Says he can unite people.

Challengers believe Mayor Pam Triolo is vulnerable after former commissioner, Omari Hardy, pulled his Academy Award racist performance that went viral. In 2020, when he decided to run for higher office, he continued to agitate and dominate conversation at the dais. It's surprising to me that they all, for the most part, maintained their cool. Of course, the meetings were Zoom so you couldn't punch his lights out. It is rumored that Omari is behind the over-throw of everyone presently on the commission.

Read the PBPost article

Tuesday's Commission Meeting

Three takeaways from Lake Worth Beach’s city commission meeting

1. RE-OPENING BEACH NOT HAPPENING “AT LEAST JUST YET”
Since Jacksonville re-opened its beaches on Friday, Vice Mayor Andy Amoroso said he’s been “inundated” by calls from residents wondering when that might happen in Lake Worth Beach. The city closed its beach on March 20 following an executive order issued by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Referring to Jacksonville, City Manager Michael Bornstein said: “It’s not something that I see happening here in the south end [of the state] from what I’m hearing from the state...and least just yet.” Bornstein said that the city is taking direction from Palm Beach County and state officials in response to the coronavirus pandemic...

but Commissioner Omari Hardy said the final decision should be made at the local level. “I don’t want to be relying on anyone but us,” Hardy said. “I want to do what the [scientific] evidence suggests that we do and not go along to be along.”

Commissioner Scott Maxwell also advised proceeding deliberately in regards to re-opening the city’s beaches, parks, restaurants, etc.: “I’n my opinion, we have to be very, very cautious about how we go about opening the city. Remember, this whole virus started with one person so I think we should all be very cautious about running out there willy nilly just because some other counties are doing it.”

Read the other two highlights...

**The Beach and the Beach Park are closed to ALL VEHICULAR, BICYCLE, AND PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC! The only exception being made is for those in vehicles that are picking up food from Benny’s, Mulligan’s, Kilwin’s, or Mama Mia’s.

Bornstein in charge of Lake Worth (Beach) - SURPRISE??!

Coronavirus Florida: Another Lake Worth Beach commissioner has concerns with city manager’s actions

We've always known that City Manager Mike Bornstein runs this city, not the city commission that rubbers stamps everything. Now one of our elected commissioners is just finding this out? I know Robinson knows this but he's never wanted to admit it or cause any waves.

"In a Facebook message posted Wednesday, Commissioner Herman Robinson said Bornstein has canceled two scheduled meetings involving the city commission without explanation and added he’s been told Bornstein will correspond with commissioners only through “non-verbal communication.”

Bornstein was handed emergency powers during a raucous city commission meeting Thursday, March 19 that drew wide national attention after video of a heated verbal exchange between Mayor Pam Triolo and Commissioner Omari Hardy went viral."

Well, Commissioner Robinson, you're a day late and a dollar short as the expression goes and you voted to give him the power--you and the Trio. Commissioner Hardy was the only one who voted "nay."

Read about it...

Lake Worth (Beach) Commission Meeting Tonight

The Lake Worth Beach City Commission is meeting tonight at City Hall.

LAKE WORTH BEACH — "A power struggle inside Lake Worth Beach City Hall sparked by the coronavirus crisis appears headed for a showdown tonight.

The five-member city commission is expected to vote on a resolution seeking to “reaffirm” emergency powers bestowed on the mayor and city manager during a declared emergency.

After previously being canceled, Thursday’s meeting was rescheduled, in part, at the prodding of Commissioner Omari Hardy, who has urged the board to discuss what he said are “broad powers” granted without sufficient oversight to City Manager Michael Bornstein." [Palm Beach Post]

We will be able to watch it live online tonight beginning at 6pm.

Omari Hardy has hissy fit

Well, Commissioner Hardy is a lame duck commissioner. His time is short lived here as he is running for higher office so it is probably easier to take a shot at City Manager Bornstein rather than going through protocol. The city manager is the one who makes the decisions regarding staff.

Click here to read the City of Lake Worth (Beach)'s policies regarding the Coronavirus and Commissioner Hardy's complaints.

"Omari Hardy needs to calm down"

Coronavirus: Why Lake Worth Beach’s commissioner’s request for emergency meeting was denied

Gosh, can you believe it? City Manager Bornstein made the right decision.

Our alt-left Commissioner Hardy wanted an emergency meeting to discuss the Coronavirus and what he wants the city to do: "discontinue shutoffs of water and electric to city residents with derelict accounts during the crisis, the city to pay employees’ out-of-pocket medical expenses related to the pandemic and allow paid leave for city workers if operations are curtailed or if they are parents who need to stay home with the school-age children."

Mike Bornstein said "no" and in so many words, told Hardy to grow up.

Read about it... and the rest of what the City Manager said.

Wow--such a priority in Lake Worth!

\(L-R) Palm Tran Interim Director of Transit Planning Steven Anderson, Lake Worth Beach Commissioner Herman Robinson, Lake Worth Beach Vice-Mayor Andy Amoroso, Lake Worth Beach Mayor Pam Triolo, Palm Beach County Mayor Dave Kerner, County Administrator Verdenia C. Baker, Lake Worth Beach City Manager Michael Bornstein, Commissioner Mack Bernard, Assistant County Administrator Todd J. Bonlarron and Palm Tran Executive Director Clinton B. Forbes.

Now, tell me why losing parking revenue is beneficial to the City of Lake Worth. Is it because you plan to have a public/private partnership at the beach and you don't give a crap? Some of those in this photo should be solving our problems in this city such as slum, blight and crime and stop demolishing historic homes and catering to every developer alive. Those in the county should be concentrating on Tent City and the Homeless in John Prince Park.

“The beach is the heart and soul of our community,” said Pam Triolo “As the county population continues to grow, we need to come up with innovative transportation solutions, and of course Palm Tran is a key to that conversation.”

Is it ever possible to get priorities straight instead of photo ops and ribbon cuttings?

Sh*t Happens in Lake Worth Beach

Families forced from their homes due to sewer backup in Lake Worth Beach

"The city says raw sewage backed up into three homes Jan. 21 near the corner of 3rd Avenue North and North D Street, when city workers from the Water Utilities Department were cleaning a sewer line and hit a clog—possibly made up of grease and oil—and that caused sewage to back up into the three homes."

City Manager Michael Bornstein says, “We really understand what they’re going through. It’s horrific and we’re profoundly sorry for that. This is a very unfortunate set of circumstances." In the meantime, the city has accused home owners of perhaps pouring grease down the drains.

Read about it... SH*T HAPPENS

Last Night's Commission Meeting -

Everything passed but one Ordinance, 2019-2 which changes the lease terms on parks, city-owned waterfront property and city-owned downtown property. Every time the people speak and win at the polls, years later the city administration decides the hell with the people--we will do what in hell we want..new people in town...no one will remember.

It seems that the city took a survey by some unknown firm (I wonder what that cost!) (one pollster was from California) on some of the Ordinances that will be on the ballot.  I don't know what households in the city they called but I know of one gentleman who gave the caller hell...said he was voting NO on everything.

Fast forward the video at around 1:00 and see City Manager Bornstein informing the Commission that the question did not poll well and by passing it, it would affect Ordinance 2019-10, the one that changes the lease terms at the beach. They really want to screw around with that property. This Ordinance comes back before the Commission and public on December 12 after they have had a chance to talk with the pollsters.

People who have been active in the past have dropped out of the Lake Worth scene. It has been a lot of hard work to keep our city out of the hands of developers. We have a developer happy commission in place right now. I asked the question last night about the citizens referendum of 2013 keeping our downtown low rise that was won by 56% of the vote. The city would not move the results on to Tallahassee. At the time we were fed some BS. But it was a Charter change. Their Gulfstream ordinance is exactly what we did--changing the Charter. I still want to know why our vote was not accepted, but the city wants to do the exact same thing. HB-537 hasn't changed...still the law. We didn't fall under it and the city used it against us. They wanted their way.

I ended my comments by stating that the only ballot question I would support would be that of term limits. And the only way that will ever pass would be by a citizens referendum.

City of Lake Worth Keeps Screwing Around

Once again, it's a developer/investor heaven in Lake Worth and once again, Lake Worth is rolling over for developers.

Tonight, Ordinance 2019-16 is on the agenda to change our heights. The ordinance provides for a referendum question on the March 17, 2020, General Primary election to amend the Charter downtown building height limitation of 65 feet to allow a maximum height limitation of 87 feet for the Gulfstream Hotel and adjacent properties within the same block.

We in Lake Worth have been against raising heights in our downtown, speaking out about it for decades. This commission does not give a fig about what the people have told them. Respectful Planning PAC won at the ballot just a few years ago keeping the heights to 45 feet and the city attorney pulled a fast one on the people--so did the commission. Small town charm to them is antiquated and of no importance, neither is the vote of the people. The staff believes that raising the stories by two will improve the chances of a developer/ investor to build. Once again, the city manager and staff are getting their way and this commission approves anything City Manager Bornstein wants.

As nothing else is on the agenda for March 2020, there will be a very low turn-out. The City counts on that and they will make sure that voters agree with them. And the rest of us don't have the money to fight City Hall.

I checked with the Clerk's office and was told that the Commission (no particular human being) put this on the Agenda. Of course they will approve the Ordinance that will come back for a 2nd public Hearing on December 12. And the naive voters will also approve. It's all about changing our city and handing it over to developers. Everyone had better guard our golf course and beach property like a hawk.  With this group, you just never know what's next. As a reminder, my blog of October

One thing we do know, people would like to see the Gulfstream Hotel open once again as a hotel. There is zero guaranty that it would be a hotel built on that property. ..ZERO. A video from 3 years ago--

Quote of the day - City Manager Michael Bornstein

"If you're delusional enough to think you're going to shove this white elephant of a capital improvements budget into an operating budget, you're in for a rude awakening. Now this deferred maintenance is on the record."

~ Michael Bornstein
City Manager Lake Worth speaking specifically to Commissioner Omari Hardy

Does anyone know what he's talking about? We know when Bornstein was first hired here in 2012, he referred to our pool (that was alive and well and functioning at the time) as a "white elephant." He has wanted to yank out our pool for seven years now. Why? He has been so adament about not having a pool, he emptied all the water out of it and has allowed it to dry out and crack from the sun.

He can't maintain it because the city maintains nothing. He treats it as something that should be paying for itself instead of an amenity. The city has never marketed our property and they complain they are losing revenue.

The residents have told the city that they want our pool to be repaired and re-opened and Kimley-Horn told them just two years ago that it could be repaired for $509,000--We don't need millions poured into our pool--fix what you messed up.

City Manager wants to change our Charter - Part II

TONIGHT

With five issues up for discussion to possibly place on the ballot, this one really galls me--Benny's.

Charter Revision regarding Lease Term - Benny's, Beach Park, City at Large.

It is disappointing that there is no backup on the five issues they will discuss tonight. You would think there would be considering the importance of all five.  Agenda

Omari Hardy has suggested, more than once, that we have a referendum to give the owner of Benny's a 99 year lease on our Pier property. This is what this city does when it can't/won't maintain anything...you find a public/private partnership or another clever way to give up an asset. And this city is smart enough to know putting it on the ballot has a good chance of passing because that is the typical voter in this city.

Essentially a 99 year lease means turning over our valuable pier property to Benny's on the Beach, Inc. The last lease I have shows they are paying $20,000 a month to the city for ten years plus applicable taxes. Their Lease is up on February 13, 2023. Benny's has control of our Pier and can open or close it to the public based on a threat to public safety. They collect and keep all entrance fees to our Pier.

We all should be very interested to learn what the City has in mind as far as our assets especially our Pier and our Beach Park worth untold millions.

Budget Cuts at Lake Worth (Beach) on WPEC

Last night,  CBS12 had a segment on the layoffs at Lake Worth (Beach). City Manager Michael Bornstein was interviewed giving his reasons for the budget cuts.

Next they interviewed the owner of Dave's Last Resort who complained about all the power outages and hopes that our electric utility gets more reliable. Dave, our power is very reliable--perhaps you need to get an electrician to check your wiring if you are having so many problems.

Read about it... and see the video.

Lake Worth Takes Strong Measures

‘We’re trying to make gold out of lead:’ Lake Worth Beach cuts 35 jobs

That sounds exactly like something City Manager Bornstein would say--

"The budget passed Tuesday by a divided City Commission -- slashes monthly block parties and library hours and eliminates 35 positions, including five in which workers were laid off."

 The city even got rid of Vickie Joslyn, the Librarian who has been with the city for 20 years!  It closed the aquatics department that oversaw the pool as it is the administrations desire to spend $10 million for a new aquatics center. You remember what they did to Sally Welsh. Code enforcement has been cut as well.

**Commissioners Maxwell and Hardy were in a unique position last week when they said they were against this new budget. It would have gone down in defeat on a 2/2 vote as Herman Robinson was absent. It would have given them a few more weeks to digest all the repercussions of passing it. They both were intimidated by others saying they had to pass this budget by October 1 and changed their minds.

Part of the intimidation was when the city attorney said that if the budget did not pass on the 2nd reading it would revert to the vote of the First Reading. This was wrong. The budget amount would have continued with the same amounts as the 2019 budget and line items.

Read the Palm Beach Post article

They can have pipe dreams and want to spend millions but treat our employees and city in this manner.

The Costly Situation in Lake Worth (Beach)

The Lake Worth city manager has reminded us that Lake Worth has had decades of neglect that has placed us in the situation we find ourselves in today--falling farther and farther behind the 8 ball. Lake Worth has never maintained anything. When talking about our electric utility and a second tie-line to the statewide electrical grid, Michael Bornstein said  it was undoing 30 to 40 years of neglect. Shocking. Beside our beach property, this is our most important and valuable asset.

They have installed new little palm trees in front of city hall but haven't swept the steps in months which gives a blighted appearance to our government building. If you neglect the little things, you will definitely overlook the big ones. And now Omari Hardy has suggested more than once, that we have a referendum to give the owner of Benny's a 99 year lease on our Pier property.  This is what you do when you can't/won't maintain anything...you find a public/private partnership or another clever way to give up an asset.

Due to all the major and ungodly costly issues in the City of Lake Worth (Beach) such as roads (even a $40 million bond won't fix them all but around 1/3rd),  pool, parking, rebuilding the public works building and another Tie-Line for our Electric Utility (how many millions would this cost?), I have to think that former city commissioner Bo Allen had a viable idea years ago--raze the entire city to the ground and start over.