Smart Investment or Costly Obstruction - Bryant Park Fitness Court

Lake Worth Beach leaders scrap proposed $245,000 fitness court in Bryant Park over waterfront views

City commissioners abandoned the project after residents raised concerns about the cost and a large workout wall blocking waterfront views.

A study was suggested to get more input from residents but Commissioners decided against the study and opted to abandon the project entirely.

"I was prepared to vote no. I just don't want to waste staff time on doing a study on something that's not going to pass," Anthony Segrich said.

They decided to use the resources they have to improve the equipment that exists.

Read more...

Future plans for Bryant Park's fitness area?

President Donald J. Trump Boulevard

Palm Beach County Commission

District 1: Maria Marino (R), re-elected for four-year term ending in November 2028.
District 2: Gregg Weiss (D), four-year term ends in November 2026.
District 3: Joel Flores (D), elected for four-year term ending in November 2028.
District 4: Marci Woodward (R), four-year term ends in November 2026.
District 5: Maria Sachs, Mayor (D), re-elected for four-year term ending in November 2028.
District 6: Sara Baxter (R), four-year term ends in November 2026.
District 7: Bobby Powell, Jr. (D), elected for four-year term ending in November 2028.

A busy stretch of a roadway in Palm Beach County could soon be called “President Donald J. Trump Boulevard.”

The Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners voted Tuesday on a resolution that would rename a 4-mile stretch of Southern Boulevard that runs from Palm Beach International Airport to the president’s home at his Mar-a-Lago resort.

Despite some public comments that opposed the renaming, the measure passed by a vote of 7-0.

Legislation passed by the Florida Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis earlier this year directs the Florida Department of Transportation to erect a sign along the stretch of Southern Boulevard honoring Trump.

Read about it...

I would have lost this bet.

Oceanwalk Restaurant at the Lake Worth Casino

Benny’s on the Beach seeking $50,000 rent waiver from LWB during Oceanwalk renovation closure

BENNY’S ON THE BEACH is planning about $400,000 in renovations to its Oceanwalk restaurant at the Lake Worth Beach Casino complex, work that will close the restaurant from Labor Day until mid to late October, interim City Manager Jamie Brown said.

The restaurant is asking city officials to waive two months of Oceanwalk’s lease payments, roughly $50,000, “since they will be closed and have no revenue coming in,’’ he said.

When Brown mentioned the rent-waiver request at a pre-agenda work session June 27, a majority of city commissioners voiced support for approving it:

• “Benny’s brings so much. They're like our big attraction. I would allow that to happen as a courtesy,’’ Mayor Betty Resch said.
• “This business is a good city partner,’’ said Vice Mayor Sarah Malega. “They have a good track record. I think that’s a good return on investment.’’
• Commissioner Chris McVoy indicated he would vote against the request when it’s formally presented to the commission later this summer.
• Commissioner Mimi May said she would support the request if it’s limited to a specific timeframe.

Although there was no quote from Commissioner Anthony Segrich, Commissioner McVoy confirmed that he was the only one who voted "no."

Read Joe Capozzi's article

April 16 City Commission Meeting

It started off with two presentations 1) resurfacing project on Lake and Lucerne and 2) Palm Beach Fire Rescue Report. These presentations were followed by 8 Proclamations. Then the commission skipped to the Subregional forcemain break on Florida Mango Road where sewage has entered our waterways, even Lake Osborne.

Finally it got back to the Designation of Appointments around 2:10 into the meeting:

• 1. Appointment of Vice Mayor and Vice Mayor Pro Tem.

Mayor Resch asked for a motion for Vice Mayor. Mimi May nominated Sara Malega. There was no second to the motion so Mayor Resch passed the gavel to Vice Mayor Commissioner McVoy and seconded the motion. She then asked for the vote and it passed to appoint Malega. Public comments followed although the city clerk told the commission that there were public comment submissions before the vote was taken. McVoy had his supporters in the chamber who gave public commentary but their wishes were stomped on as the Mayor went against protocol and Roberts' Rules. The initial vote should have been recanted and then taken the vote after public commentary.
McVoy was voted in as Vice Mayor Pro-Tem

• 2. Transportation Planning Authority--Reinaldo Diaz with Christopher McVoy as an alternate

• 3. Palm Beach County League of Cities--Betty Resch

• 4. CRA--Sarah Malega

• 5. NAPC--Mimi May

• 6. Education Task Force--Reinaldo Diaz

Special City Commission Meeting

To swear in newly elected officials--

Swearing-in Ceremony for Commissioners

The City of Lake Worth Beach will be holding a Special City Commission Meeting

swearing-in ceremony on March 26th, 2024 at 05:00pm

Directly before the Utility Meeting.

Congrats to Lake Worth Beach Commissioners

Run-Off on Tuesday, April 2, 2024

Palm Beach County approves Ordinance on rent increases

New rules: Palm Beach County tries to get a grip on astronomical rent increases from landlords

Landlords throughout Palm Beach County will soon have to provide tenants with 60 days’ notice if they intend to raise rents more than 5% or terminate a lease.

County commissioners Tuesday unanimously approved an ordinance that calls for a 60-day notice. County Mayor Robert Weinroth said he expects the new rules to be in place by mid-September. State law currently requires notice of just 15 days.

"This is a good first step to help tenants facing increases of more than 20%," said Takisha Miles, supervising attorney for the Palm Beach County Legal Aid Society's elder law and fair housing project.

First-time violators could be fined $1,000 per day per violation; $5,000 per day for a repeat violation, and up to $15,000 per violation if the violation is found to be irreparable or irreversible in nature.

“This ordinance is anticipated to have a beneficial impact for residents and will help renters navigate the highly competitive rental market by providing more time to adjust to higher rents or seek alternative housing,” according to a staff memo prepared for county commissioners.

Lake Worth already declared a State of Emergency and want rent controls. Rental rates are out-of-control.

Read about it in the Palm Beach Post

Palm Beach County Commissioners want to extend their terms

Palm Beach County Commission to workshop extending their terms

Despite the public voting overwhelmingly in 2002 to term limit county commissioners, this Tuesday, the issue will be “workshopped” to get commissioners another four-year term.

The workshop includes adding four years so that each commissioner can serve twelve consecutive years.

Commissioners can only serve two consecutive terms for eight years currently.

Read about it...

Palm Beach County has New Mayor and Vice Mayor

Yesterday, the Palm Beach County commissioners elected new leadership for next year:

I want to thank Dave Kerner for doing a great job.

Lake Worth just can't get enough development!

Lake Worth Beach approves 230-unit multifamily development

City commissioners also amended a program that awards “bonus” levels of building height and density

This is a program that has been abused...abused by developers and the City of Lake Worth.

We have zoning codes for a reason and it's not to hustle developers for cash and more density. We have told the city for decades that we do not want more density. No commission ever listens.

"Advantis, is a cluster of four residential buildings that will range from three stories to five stories on a 6.39-acre development site at the northwest corner of 10th Avenue North and Boutwell Road. This area is one of the most congested areas in this city without development."

William Waters, Sustainability Director, suggested that commissioners adopt the zoning-in-progress option because “it would not send as negative of a message as a moratorium might.” They went along with that.

Read about it...

Temporary Moratorium to be considered on Sustainable Bonus Program

Proposed apartment complex in downtown Lake Worth Beach

Under New Business tonight: Resolution 23-2021.

This resolution proposes a zoning-in-progress notice to address the City Commission’s concerns regarding the Sustainable Bonus Program.

If approved, the resolution directs the Department of Community Sustainability to prepare a temporary moratorium ordinance to be reviewed by the City’s Planning and Zoning Board and Historic Resource Preservation Board to then be scheduled for consideration and a public hearing before the City Commission.

I have utmost confidence in this city commission to approve this Resolution.

Read about it... in the Palm Beach Post and see the rendering.

Lake Worth Commission Meetings today

Special City Commission Meeting #1 03/16/2021 04:30 PM City Hall Commission Chamber

ROLL CALL:
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:

NEW BUSINESS:
A. Resolution No. 07-2021 - certifying the results of the March 9, 2021 Municipal General Election

COMMENTS FROM OUTGOING MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSIONERS:

A. Mayor Pam Triolo
B. Vice Mayor Andy Amoroso
C. Vice Mayor Pro Tem Scott Maxwell

ADJOURNMENT

Swearing In Ceremony 03/16/2021 06:00 PM Bryant Park

SWEARING IN OF THE NEWLY ELECTED OFFICIALS BY THE CITY ATTORNEY:

A. Commissioner Sarah Malega, District 1
B. Commissioner Kim Stokes, District 3
C. Mayor Betty Resch

COMMENTS BY THE NEWLY ELECTED OFFICIALS:
A. Commissioner Sarah Malega
B. Commissioner Kim Stokes
C. Mayor Betty Resch

ADJOURNMENT:

Another Lake Worth Commission Meeting from Hell

Utility shutoff issue fuels personal attacks at Lake Worth Beach meeting

The venom was there and commissioner Hardy continues to fan the flames.

The commissioners agreed to Mayor Triolo's request to continue the moratorium on Utility cut-offs until the beginning of October

"Maxwell jumped into the fray as well, threatening to release "hard evidence" he said proves Hardy knew at the March 19 meeting that utility customers were not being shut off. Hardy smiled and shook his head as Maxwell fumed.

"And you can sit back there with that smug smile on your face and create your next viral video," Maxwell said. "I hope that works out for you really, really well."

Read about it...

More on the dysfunctional Lake Worth (Beach) Commission Meeting

Racial equity program sparks latest fiery exchange on Lake Worth Beach commission

Read the article by Jorge Millian at the Palm Beach Post

It really was an unpleasant representation by Commissioner Hardy.

More on Lake Worth Commissioner travel

Analyzing Lake Worth Beach’s travel budget: Was $39,000 well spent?

"Katy Sorenson, former founder and CEO of the Center for Good Government at the University of Miami, county commissioner in Miami and current fellow at Florida State,said staying at a beachfront resort or casino while making layoffs and cutting library hours might not have been the best trip to take this year.

“Maybe they could have gotten some other kind of networking done in the lower 48.

Under difficult circumstances Hawaii might be a little extravagant. The optics aren’t good on that one, even if they learned a lot.”

Read about it...

And what "gets" me the most--they never give a full report on spending taxpayer money.

Last Night's "crazy" Commission Meeting

The commission discussed Resolution 78-2018, which was supporting a community ID for our residents whether citizens or not. This was a contentious discussion but I knew going into the meeting it would be very one-sided as Lake Worth is predominantly ultra-left wingers.

When I say "crazy," I'm talking about the stacked chamber of organized Alt-Left Liberals--possibly open border people who like to tell us that no one is "illegal." They even brought three men of the clergy to support their argument, an elderly woman who had some ID problem, and Guatemalens were sitting in the hallway, some with little kids, who were probably encouraged to attend by the director of the Mayan Center. The director of FLIMEN spoke and he was laughed down at one point in his commentary. There was a guy with PEACE sitting next to me cheering the left position and clapping in my ear with cupped hands. I asked him if he were a Communist. :)

The Mayor wanted to follow the rules and send the discussion to a workshop as it was way over the 30 minute rule. As usual, ultra liberal Omari Hardy dominated the discussion, making motions that he thought were better, and made a motion to over-ride the mayor and continue discussion to a vote saying a workshop would just be a waste of time. Mayor Pam Triolo then shocked the crowd by adjourning the meeting. She then left the meeting and commissioner Amoroso took over as chair.

A five minute break was ordered to find a legal precedent for adjournment. The meeting was then resumed and the City attorney said that the mayor was mistaken for adjournment as she did not get a motion or a 2nd. A motion was made to continue the discussion with a vote of 3/1. Hardy made a motion to accept the resolution supporting a community identification program (passed on a 3/1 vote) making us the ONLY city in Palm Beach County to do so. No other city or even Palm Beach County approved this ID program and our city is being used as a start point for left wingers. It went immediately to discussion for approval of $10,000 to assist with the community ID program. Eventually, that was tabled to bring back the item to a workshop within three months.

I would like to know who placed this on the agenda. We should not be aiding and abetting illegal aliens.

Ordinance 2018-18, changing the name of our city to Lake Worth Beach, passed on a 4/0 vote to have it placed on the March ballot. Ordinance 2018-19, selling 501 Lake Avenue (chamber building) passed on a 4/0 vote as well.

Vision Meeting Commissioner Comments

I wandered into the Vision Meeting yesterday. The first two pews in the chamber were removed and a conference table was moved into the room in order to accommodate all present. It was fairly interesting at least for the two hours I attended.

Following are a few comments from commissioners:

Andy Amoroso:

• How do we keep the small town feel and get smart growth to pay the bills?

• Allow staff to do their jobs--codes that are on the books.

Omari Hardy:

• We need growth to pay the bills

• To change the demographics, have a housing project

• If we have a really small sword, we should sling it even more violently

• Employees haven't had raises in years

• We need a literacy coordinator

Scott Maxwell:

• How do we change the demographics?  Let's be honest on our demographics.

• We can start with the 800 lb gorilla in the room

• How are we going to transport thousands of people who don't belong here?

• Change the demographics. Lake Worth has become a depository for the poor and indigent.

Herman Robinson:

• Says "bull shit" to Maxwell's statement.

Pam Triolo:

• Reminded Omari Hardy that it was this commission that gave employee raises

Mayor of Wellington speaks to Republican Club

I attended the Republican Club of Central Palm Beach County Meeting last night.  The keynote speaker was Anne Gerwig, mayor of Wellington. She talked about the structure of city governments and how they operate.

A few interesting bits of trivia that were revealed in her talk--



WELLINGTON
Wellington commissioners are term-limited--two terms
Salaries are $800 a month with a stipend of $45 monthly for dry-cleaning.
Wellington pays $9 million a year for PBSO
There are approximately 62,000 residents
Land mass is 45.25 square miles

LAKE WORTH
Lake Worth commissioners are NOT term limited and they now serve three year terms
Lake Worth commissioners make $24,500 a year with the Mayor making $29,500 plus they get $6,000 a year for a car allowance.
Lake Worth pays over $15 million a year for PBSO
There are approximately 37,000 residents
Land mass is 5.88 square miles. Including the water, it is 6.67 square miles