Lake Worth Pool

I was 100%in agreement with Commissioner Hardy last night. Although there was no dollar amount affiliated with the motion, at least we will spend some money on the pool complex.

I still say let's use Kimley Horn's engineering report and rebuild our present pool and locker rooms for $509,000 or whatever the cost is now due to inflation, etc.

Other Remarks by engineers:
Pool structural deficiencies: None
Pool finishes: fairly good
Building condition (locker rooms and restrooms): Fair to good
Building deficiencies: Roof cover and minor mechanical and plumbing issues
Pump House deficiencies: Replace roof system. interior piping near end of its useful life--needs to be removed and replaced.

Lake Worth has another Scheme to spend $$$

Lake Worth Beach launches ‘city of neighborhoods’ plan - what is it and how will it work?

I would think by now that the City Administration would have it all figured out. After all, we have been working on our LDR's and Comprehensive Plan forever. Now they are hiring a series of consultants to work with our neighborhoods so that they can weigh in, offering their ideas. They are asking, "what kind of city do you want?"

Gimme a break and stop screwing around with our Comprehensive Plan. Give it up. You managed to get the vote on our city to change its name after 106 years.  Is this like Obama's transforming America mentality?

It's simple. Get rid of the slum, the blight and the crime for starters and start enforcing code. That's the planning we should be concentrating on.

Read about it...

Workshop Session tonight

So much for an open and transparent city--Yesterday, this was finally listed on the Lake Worth web site as a workshop meeting with no back-up.. Many people won't know about it and no one will get any back-up on what the engineers have to report on our Olympic Pool. And, traditionally the public can NOT speak at work sessions.

CALENDAR
Commission Work Session

Tue, May 23, 6pm – 9pm

Where	City of Lake Worth City Hall, 7 N Dixie Hwy, Lake Worth, FL 33460, USA map
Calendar	dkey@lakeworth.org

AGENDA
CITY OF LAKE WORTH
CITY COMMISSION WORK SESSION
CITY HALL
TUESDAY, MAY 23, 2017 -- 6:00 PM
1. ROLL CALL:
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Led by Vice Mayor Scott Maxwell
3. UPDATES/FUTURE ACTION/DIRECTION:
A. Presentation by Kimley Horn regarding the condition of the pool
4. ADJOURNMENT:

Lake Worth Neighborhood Road Program - Spreading the wealth around

When does all this road work begin?

Tonight and part of the 19 items on the Consent Agenda, we get an inkling as to when the work might begin--the engineering firms have been selected in the non-mandatory pre-bid meeting.

District 1
$358,445--Mock Roos & Associates

District 2
$355,269.38--Matthews Consulting & Baxter Woodman Company

District 3
$493,460--Kinley-Horn & Associates, Inc.

District 4
$442,880--Chen Moore & Associates, Inc.

$1,650,054 GRAND TOTAL FOR DESIGN SERVICES
or 4.125% of the total contract

Bid Submission Deadline Day / Date: April 13, 2017

 Time: 3:00 PM

 Location: Financial Services City Hall

 7 North Dixie Highway 2nd Floor Lake Worth, FL 33460

Hudson Holdings gets upzoning approval from the Historic Resources Preservation Board

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Loretta Sharpe, Jimmy Zoellner, Tom Norris, Chair Herman Robinson, Judith Just, Vice-Chair Darrin Engel, Erin Fizhugh-Sita.

When our city commission came to power, it did a complete and unorthodox sweep of the Planning & Zoning Board as well as the Historic Board and packed them with their friends. Highly qualified and a Senior Planner for Palm Beach County, Erin became a victim of the political juggling maneuver. It's great to see her back on the board and giving time to Lake Worth.

Last night was the first of a three step process to upzone some of the Gulfstream parcels that are still in a multi-family residential zoning so that Hudson Holdings can make their property more valuable and be allowed to build to 65 feet.

Hudson Holdings never told anyone 1.5 years ago that they wanted to build another hotel nor did they mention a parking garage.  They blitzed into town, thanks to John Szerdi, and told us, to our face, that they were going to renovate the building within 9 months. So, what happened? Slum, blight, vagrants, code violations and a lien.

Obviously, they acquired dreams of grandeur and were told they would get what they wanted...be able to get approval for another building and a parking garage...and they were told they had better go for a zoning change to do it all. They tried to steal our casino complex. Our city is extremely compatible that way.

What happened last night on a 7/0 vote was setting up the property to be more valuable so that Hudson Holdings can make tons of more money from their original investment. No one believes they are going to be the owners of this property once it is all through, other than a few naive people in this city.

The one thing they were not told but were very much aware, was the Charter Amendment. The City is being very quiet on that one hoping that democracy will finally be flushed down the toilet. That could very well be the stickler. Elections and the will of the people should reign in this country, not developers wants and desires. It is about the people.

Nine residents spoke against the up-zoning and six people spoke in favor of what Hudson wants to do, three of whom are snowbirds who live in the Gulfstream Condos that face Bryant Park.  If my memory serves me correctly, these two women were the same who complained about getting a decal sticker at our beach. Former commissioner John Szerdi took care of that complaint as well. They are not voters here so the hell with our Charter Amendment. They have been promised a parking spot by Hudson in their plans for a parking garage and are hoping for their parking problem at their condo to be solved as well.

The motion went something like this:  The HRPB recommends approval to the commission of 15-01300001 and recommends appropriate scaling of the project on the southern part of the property. It also recommends unity of title.

A few members of the board did not want the buildings to go that high (they can go 65 feet with the zoning change) near 1st Avenue South and William Waters brought up compatibility to adjacent properties.

It will now go before the City Commission, the very same majority that did not honor the vote of the people, on December 8 for the First Reading and on January 5 for the Second Reading.

Sea Level Rising

3.281 feet equals 1 meter

Commissioner McVoy brings up sea level rising and global warming and every time he does, the eyes roll and the groans begin. You know who they are--Lake Worth bullies. The rest of the commission usually sits there politely but unenthusiastically. Now and then you will hear a smart-aleck comment from someone. There is only one other commissioner who understands this very real problem but that is as far as it goes.

The average elevation in Florida is 6 feet and in some areas only 3 feet according to Keith London, commissioner in Hallandale Beach. According to Climate Central, the sea has already risen more than a foot in south Florida over the past century and new research by Climate Central shows that some 2.4 million Floridians are at risk of flooding from even a moderate hurricane-driven storm surge. The odds of a catastrophic 100-year flood by 2030 are now 2.6 times higher than they would have been without global warming.  NOAA says that there is strong evidence that global sea level is now rising at an increased rate and will continue to rise during this century.

As some of those supposedly in the know and who are always pushing growth and development on the coasts,  here is an article which says Forget global warming and melting polar caps – groundwater extraction is causing cities to SINK beneath sea level. A major cause for severe land subsidence is excessive groundwater extraction related to rapid urbanization and population growth. One in four are skeptical of global warming and those are the folks who roll the eyes and moan a little. Planners should understand everything about sea level risings.

Who knows, but I leave it up to scientists and experts who say that parts of Florida will disappear right off the map.

See the sea level rising map.
Corner of S. Golfview and 2nd Avenue South  on a heavy rainy day

Wantman Group selected by City of Lake Worth

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PRESS RELEASE
Wantman Group, Inc. selected for City of Lake Worth Continuing Contracts June 2014

WGI is pleased to announce their selection by the City of Lake Worth for two continuing contracts; one for Survey services and a second for Water and Wastewater Engineering services. WGI has consistently provided engineering and surveying services for municipalities and other public agencies throughout South Florida over its 40+ year history.

“We are committed to providing exemplary service to the City of Lake Worth and welcome them as a new client. We anticipate a long standing relationship with the City and look forward to continuing our commitment to the local community,” said David Wantman, PE, President of WGI.

For more information, please go to www.WantmanGroup.com or call (866) 909-2220.

The REAL Priority of the Lake Worth City Commission - A Pipe Dream

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All on a wing, a prayer, a dream and YOUR MONEY--

Basically, the commission has been downplaying the Park of Commerce lately, particularly when people are screaming about slum, blight, crime and potholes. They don't really want you to know what they are doing with your money.

If you were ever wondering about what the city's priority is for that $63.5 million general obligation bond money, not to worry. It is very clear and on their web site. In fact, Scott Maxwell has told you that this is his top priority--he dreams about it--"build it and they will come."  Some people still believe in fairy tales as well as paying for infrastructure for developers--the guys who make all the money. Mr. Maxwell says he is a staunch conservative but he has abandoned his conservative values and believes city taxpayers should pay to allow free enterprise to capitalize on your hard earned dollars. How do you ever believe politicians?

The Park of Commerce--situated on 313 acres, is land that the City does NOT own. This is Vice Mayor Scott Maxwell's dream. Originally they wanted to pour around $17 million into the infrastructure to attract developers, money that we will NEVER recapture in ad-valorem. NEVER.

The project will entail a complete overhaul of the infrastructure and roadway including:

• storm water,
• potable water,
• sanitary sewer,
• electric,
• telecommunications,
• and a new boulevard style roadway with lighting, landscaping and pedestrian/bike way access.
  

The City Commission has already spent OVER $1 MILLION of taxpayer money (they tell us we're BROKE) on Phase 1 at the POC. The Design and engineering of the project that has been taking place since January 2014, will be completed this year.  Construction of the improvements will begin shortly thereafter.  The new completed roadway is scheduled to be finished in early 2016. They have paid Mathews Consulting ($349,930.00) for consulting services and Mock Roos ($644,120.00) for the Design, Engineering, Construction, and studies. That money will be reimbursed to the City from Bond proceeds.
 

Government Grants and Sustainability

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CSX tracks

It took six years for ROLOH to get a Quiet Zone for

the benefit of its neighborhood's quality of life

Per Tuesday night's agenda backup, the Palm Beach County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) finds that the preliminary quiet zone cost estimate for the work in the County is around $17.9M. The County MPO has dedicated $6.6M in funding; however, there is an $11.3M deficit that must be borne by local municipalities or another agenda.

The MPO is hoping that the other agency can be the US Department of Transportation via its Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program. The Palm Beach County and Broward County MPO’s are preparing a joint application for TIGER funding to supplement local funds designated by the MPO’s for quiet zone implementation. The application window is very short and requires accelerated work. (Final applications through Grants.gov by April 28, 2014, at 5:00 p.m. EDT (the “Application Deadline”) The MPO has asked affected municipalities to approve a resolution of support for the TIGER funding and sending a letter to the US Department of Transportation supporting the installation of additional safety equipment for quiet zones.

As with previous rounds of TIGER, funds for the FY 2014 TIGER program (“TIGER FY 2014”) are to be awarded on a competitive basis for projects that will have a significant impact on the Nation, a metropolitan area, or a region. Lake Worth has All Aboard Florida on its mind.

All Aboard Florida on the FEC track is supported by planners and cities that subscribe to sustainable development and walkable life styles...Agenda 21. It is all about land grabs. Expected to begin offering service by early 2015, All Aboard Florida would be the first passenger service on the FEC tracks since 1968. William Waters, director of community sustainability for Lake Worth, said the "added mobility could encourage people to move into walkable cities such as Lake Worth...You could live in Lake Worth and work in Fort Lauderdale. You could hop on a train and be at work quickly.”

Lake Worth looking for a Certified Engineer

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UTILITIES
2). ENGINEER Job Code (4184)
Salary Range: $36.97/hr-$49.21 hr
Closing: TBD
Independent professional and technical engineering work requiring applications of standard engineering principles and procedures independently perform more complex engineering work requiring application of standard techniques, procedures, and criteria in carrying out a sequence of related engineering tasks. Exercise judgment in decision making related to selection of engineering alternatives, techniques, procedures, and criteria. Through knowledge of engineering principles, procedures and practices applied in planning, location, design, construction, and operation in area of assignment. In this position the applicant will report to a designated supervisor and work under general supervision receiving instructions on specific assignment objectives and complex features.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Entry level: Prepares long and short-range master plan studies; Assist in design and preparation of plans, specifications, and cost estimates for changes, additions, and deletions to the engineering projects; Assembles and assists in the correlation or data and preparation of routine reports needed for operations control; Assists in inspection of construction work in progress to determine whether proper materials and workmanship are used and compliance with plans and specifications; Assists in the assembly and preparation of data, reports, and cost estimates used in budget preparation; Assist with revision of plans for contracted improvement projects by consulting with engineering firms; Compiles engineering statistics on proposed and completed reports.
Experience As a certified Florida-Engineer- in- training (FE): Prepares engineering analyses of modest difficulty and writes specifications and reports; Assembles and assists in the correlation or data and preparation of routine reports needed for operations control; Prepares long and short-range master plan studies; Assist in design and preparation of plans, specifications, and cost estimates for changes, additions, and deletions to the engineering projects Assist with revision of plans for contracted improvement projects by consulting with engineering firms; Assists in inspection of construction work in progress to determine whether proper materials and workmanship are used and compliance with plans and specifications; Assists in the assembly and preparation of data, reports, and cost estimates used in budget preparation; Assists in training or orientation of new engineering personnel.
Professional Engineer: Prepares engineering analyses of some difficulty and prepares specifications, process studies, research investigations and reports; Requires negotiating skills and diplomacy; Evaluates, selects, and applies standard engineering techniques and procedures; makes minor adaptations and modifications; Inspects construction work in progress to determine whether proper materials and workmanship are used and compliance with plans and specifications; Designs, prepares and reviews plans, specifications, and detailed cost estimates for changes, additions, and deletions to the applicable area of assignment; Designs, and develops equipment with relatively few complex features; provides consultative services to management relating to sound environmental practices; Assists in preparing departmental budget estimates by assembling and preparing data, reports, an cost estimates; prepares long and short-range master plan studies; represents organization interests to a variety of outside groups.
Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Science in engineering and Technology (ABET) accredited institution.
Certifications:
FE: Valid State of Florida Engineer –in- Training certificate may be required.
PE: Professional Engineer license in the State of Florida or ability to obtain one within six (6) months of employment

Last night's meeting Lake Worth

Comment Up

Mathews Consulting Presentation
If you recall, they were hired by the city to oversee Mock Roos Engineers on the Park of Commerce project (the salvation of Lake Worth according to the "visionaries") and a firm that has worked for our city for 50 years. We are paying them $349,930 to ensure that everything the engineering firm is doing is right and on time.

Inmate Labor
Florida Department of Corrections will provide inmate labor in work programs under the supervision of the Florida Department’s staff. An inmate work squad consists of up to seven inmates plus a Florida Department of Corrections Guard/Supervisor. The work squad is available five days per week throughout the year except when a Department of Correction Guard is on vacation or sick. This service will continue to be overseen by the City’s Ground Maintenance Division. And get this--they have to use E-verify to verify eligibility of all persons employed during the contract term. Cost:  $23,957.08.

CRA Shuffleboard Court property Lease
We turned over control of our shuffleboard Court property to the CRA to be used for arts. We just can't get enough art or enough CRA. They in turn sub-leased the property to the Armory Art Center for one year. Because of that action, the lease with the CRA had to be amended. For various tuition charges, you too can become an artist.  Go with the flow.

Sun Recycling and our Landfill
Not once did the city mention the contract terms...out of sight for city staff and commissioners and certainly out of the minds of the residents. They bent over backwards in sending out surveys with self-stamped return envelopes. Only 10% returned them which showed that there was little interest or no problems left in the Osborne area. It is a landfill that was compromised--big time--by a firm whose operators had no conscience. 6,000 truckloads of construction material, some highly questionable, dumped on our property as a pretense to building a staging area for hurricanes.  We believe that the membrane was penetrated by these heavy trucks allowing gas to escape causing odors and sickness. We did find out that one commissioner, Andy Amoroso, has walked on the property without experiencing any odors or any problems. Sun Recycling got off the hook because of our lack of resolve. It was cheaper to forget about what they did, forget about the contract terms and move on. Anyone can come to Lake Worth and get away with just about anything because our legal team will find a way to appeasement.

Right of Way at 1501 N. L Street
The City gave that away too on a Revocable Permit on the First Reading. It was said by the city manager that we don't understand rights-of-way. 

Beach Decal parking
As predicted, the city commission gave away the availability of use of our 50 decal spots to non-residents. Even after having made the motion to do so, the speaker for the out-of-country Snowbirds said that charging them more money than residents was "unfair." You can't win with people who want it all. And you definitely can't win with a commission that is confused about what is "fair" or the circumstances of today compared to the circumstances of yesterday.

Also it was said last night that residents who rent couldn't get a decal which is not the case. Then Juan Ruiz clarified by saying that they had to have a year's lease which is a requirement.  Also mentioned was that the decal could be pro-rated. When did that happen?  I talked to Juan this morning and he wants to change that stipulation and I agree. The city will bend over backwards for these non-resident property owners for 50 decal spaces. Unbelievable. There even was a person who complained that there was no handicapped parking in the resident decal parking area. WTF?

Parking spaces are always filled on weekends, according to Juan Ruiz Recreational Director.  Holidays, forget about it.  Spring Break--don't even go there.

Some interesting quotes from the beach decal discussion:

Remembering that we have 50 decal parking spots--

Scott Maxwell:  We need to take a hard look at costs...wants to significantly increase the benefit to the residents and ridicules the amount we have been paying. (We now know where he disappeared to for 45 minutes or so--he traveled to the ROLOH neighborhood association meeting, a rare appearance)
Pam Triolo:  Let's charge $50 for residents and $75 for Snowbirds.
Andy Amoroso:  I don't want any cap on the number sold because it would discriminate against your residents. (It was said that 1745 permits had been sold for 50 spots)
Mike Bornstein, city manager:  Sell as many as you can...it will be like a lottery ticket to find a parking spot. It will be car "bling."

In looking over my beach decal receipts, the following charges applied not including tax:
2006:  $10 for a resident---$30 for a snowbird
This continued until...
2009:  $20 for a resident---$60 Seasonal
This continued until...
2013:  $30 for a resident

Some of the required Documentation to purchase a beach decal:
For Residents: Fl Drivers License, FL Vehicle regisgtration, homestead Exemption card, Ad Valorem tax receipt, Utility bill and if a renter, a one year lease minimum.
For snowbirds in the past when we had an unlimited number of spaces:  FL Driver's License, Vehicle registration, Ad Valorem Tax Receipt or Mobile Home Registration.

Roadway and utilities master Plan Capital projects
There was some question as to whether this was the 2020 Plan. Answer-- NO.

Professional services agreement with URS Corporation Southern for engineering, design and construction services for the Roadway and Utilities Master Plan Capital Projects for a twenty-four month term with provisions for three two-year renewals. The initial work authorization is for engineering and permitting services for Year 1 Projects # 2, 4 and 7 in a lump sum amount of $681,807.

Agreement with Craven Thompson & Associates, Inc. for engineering, design and construction services for  the Roadway and Utilities Master Plan Capital Projects for a twenty-four month term with provisions for three two year renewals. The initial work authorization is for engineering and permitting services for Year 1 Projects # 1,3,5,6 and 8, in a lump sum amount of $467,185.

Time Settles Everything - The Sun never shined with Sun

The city states:  Since the official closure of the City’s landfill in 1993, the City has dealt with a variety of issues. The issues include matters related to a 2007 lease to Sun Recycling Systems (SRS) as a hurricane staging area, allegations of odors emanating from the landfill, and allegations of contamination. At this time, a report from Mock Roos & Associates conclude that the odor and contamination issues are insignificant. City staff would like to move forward with analyzing viable uses of the landfill including a possible photovoltaic array.

Residents near site complaining about illnesses they
suffered  because of the debris dumped on landfill--some of which had arsenic

Well, of course it wants to move forward and forget about this past nightmare.  This is the MO of our present administration.  It conducted surveys in 2013 and sent out 56 of them to property owners adjacent to the landfill. Only a handful of residents bothered to complete them and send them in to the city which is a typical response rate.  After all those years of total city silence to their complaints, the city is using that response against them. The city had Mock Roos do studies, a company that has made multi-millions off the city.  Now the city wants the commission, a commission that probably has never even been on the landfill property, to accept  Mock Roos’ reports and close the book on all prior issues. This will allow the city to move forward in its analyzation and pursuit  of viable uses of the landfill.

On August 3, 2010 Mock Roos's John Biggs said, "In my opinion, RSM should not have been placed on the site. Arsenic was found in the samples indicating higher levels than acceptable (1/3rd over threshold) in certain areas of the landfill for surrounding residential areas. He also said that it would cost $1.5 million to restore the property. Per the lease Sun Recycling had with the city, they were supposed to do just that. They never did.

Even though Sun was required to restore our landfill to its original condition per the lease agreement, our city attorney, Christy Goddeau of the Glen J. Torcivia law firm, had recommended against the pursuit because of the cost which also includes attorney fees that they say we would never recover. It's just easier and cheaper to forget about it. The "bad" guys just keep on winning in this city and the city just keeps on minimizing everything, other than the Heights Referendum, that is.

This matter is on the Agenda tonight. The landfill is closed and the entire matter will be history. Time heals all wounds. Everything that Sun ever did is now minimized or reduced to little importance. Now this commission can feel free to accept any and all contributions from Sun Recycling companies without further scrutiny. Who knows, Sun might once again get our roll-off business.

About Seven50 - Counties dropping like Flies

Comment Up

Seven now down to Four Counties in South Florida

  What Seven50 Really Means

From the Seven50 website:

It’s a land use, housing, zoning, and transportation Plan for the 7 counties of southeast Florida for the next 50 years but now it's down to 4. Palm Beach County is NOT considering dropping out. There was a mini-demonstration made up of a lot of senior citizens at the County Commission meeting on Tuesday. Extra deputies were called in to shut them up.

• Designed with little public input
• Adds a layer of regional governance
• Encouraged by Federal agencies (your taxes)
• THEIR vision for OUR growth controls all:
  • land and water
  • plants and animals
  • energy
  • construction
  • human beings
  • and more

It will CHANGE FOREVER the way your children and grandchildren live and work in south Florida

• Housing choice – LOST
• Unlimited travel by car – LOST
• Private property rights – LOST
• Local County control – LOST
• Low density character of county – LOST
• Voter access to effect change – LOST

Chapel By the Lake - Quotes of the Day

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Another part of our Florida waterfront skyline soon will be gone--zip, over, done.


The West Palm Beach Commission approved a 22 story condo to be built on the Chapel by the Sea property on the Intracoastal Waterway.  Last night, residents talked for two hours, mostly against it...no one on the commission heard. The Commission believes that it is private property and people can do what they want with it as long as it is within their zoning codes.  Why can't waterfront property be protected?  Why do commissions constantly give waiver after waiver so that developers can come in and do what they want with property within our State?  Why does a city like West Palm Beach or Lake Worth go around a vote all for their development aspirations?  They got rid of Lois Frankel years ago and look what happened to her--now a United States Congresswoman. Can it get any worse than that?  It is no wonder residents believe there is corruption.

Quotes from the meeting:

• Mayor Jeri Muoio:  "We all, we all, find it incredibly insulting that people suggest there's money being exchanged, there's corruption going on."

• Associate pastor of the First Baptist church, Kevin Mahoney:  "We're very pleased with the work of the city commission to accomplish this project for our city."  What he failed to say, 'We will make double digit millions to block the waterfront."

• Kilday Associates, Planners on behalf of the developer:  "Almost every recent major development in the city has received waivers."  Why do we have a Comprehensive Plan when waivers are dished out like M&M's to anyone who asks?

• Former jailbird West Palm Beach commissioner Jim Exline who spent 10 months in a Federal Prison:  "Developer's concessions make it palatable."

Last Night's Commission Meeting

Comment Up

The commission had a lot to cover last night in its 5 hour meeting--

1.  The contract with Street Outdoors regarding the modular news-racks was not renewed. We will no longer have to see billboard blight in our city. This is not the same as the billboards we see along I-95 that we will have to see for another 17 years or so, perhaps forever. Why the city ever allowed modular newsracks ten years ago is a mystery as no revenue came to Lake Worth.

2.  Mural removal. The property owner must agree to remove a mural at their sole expense in the event that it becomes deteriorated and no longer satisfies the terms of its approval. The P&Z and Historic Preservation boards have sole authority to approve murals, not the commission--just another thing off their table.

3. The Trojan House (first Chamber of Commerce building from 1912) will be bought by the city for a total of $40,000 that includes demolition, an historic building that was allowed to rot.  Not one comment was made by any commissioner about an historic building being allowed to decay to the point of demolition. We just celebrated our 100th birthday with fanfare but another historical building bites the dust. Although we received some vacant parcels from the High School in exchange for this building back in 2004, the parcels were a donation to the school...the school had no actual cash in the game according to an historian.  No money ever changed hands. Former Commissioner Bo Allen was the broker involved and he stated that he was receiving no money for the transaction..."he could have sold it but it was all for the children."

Former Lake Worth Commissioner, Bo Allen

4.  There were six Second readings under Public Hearings that all passed--a few are:  A) Allow the Planning and Zoning and Historic Preservation Boards to approve proximity waivers for consumption on premises and for the City Commission to have final approval for package alcohol sales. It was stated that all restaurants that have a bar are allowed to have a waiver.  So why doesn't the city simply change that section and not have these types of properties subjected to waivers to begin with?  C) The old FEC warehouse that was never used by the FEC, later sold to a private individual and eventually donated to the city, was declared a local historic landmark. There will be an historic overlay for the property.  It's all about government grant money but the reason for the designation has never been given. D) Construction hours passed--8 to 7 and no work on Sundays.  The vote was 4/1 with the mayor dissenting as she said she had 2nd thoughts on this. Her husband was or had been in construction and they start early because of weather. E) Public rights-of-way restrictions--would limit the transaction of business in the vehicular rights of way and on other public property.

5.  Spent one million dollars in a wink of an eye. This Commission's big dream is to develop the Park of Commerce as a shovel ready light industrial, research and development park to serve not only Palm Beach County but also the Gold Coast Region. Please note that the commission had previously voted on an affordable rental project to be built at the corner of Boutwell and Lake Worth Road in the Park of Commerce.  Build it and they will come. Last night they approved to spend $644,120 on the engineering and design phase. Directly following that vote was the one to spend $349,930 on Mathews Consulting to assure that everything the engineering firm was doing was right and on time. Of course, the engineers have probably worked for the City for 50 years or more.  City Manager Bornstein referred to it as a "tremendously significant vote"...they were brave or words to that effect and that the commission should be commended. I guess it is brave to spend money that you don't have and no guarantee that the Plan will be voted in by the electorate. We will be spending over $11 million there.  How long will it take to make-up that investment from ad-valorem from businesses that locate there? 

6.  The most shocking item on the agenda was the budget Amendment for $12.5 MILLION dollars.  They are moving all that money into operations for 2014. Supposedly it is for capital carry forward projects and accelerating other capital projects (probably the Park of Commerce is included here...no commissioner asked about that but then, it's their desire to develop it). And we have wondered through the years where all the"missing" money went. 

7.  Certain fees were omitted in the Beach Complex Special Events Fees section and this vote was for all charges for city events..

8.  The submerged land and the 99 year lease with the County was approved to make this property a nature preserve.  After objections from some residents who contacted their commissioners, the naming rights was removed from the Contract. The County will occupy and develop the land  (the city was ready and willing to give over control of its property--they like to do things like that), and after 20 years the city will go out on a referendum for the electorate to approve a 99 year lease.  This is one way to get around illegal 99 year leases....keep renewing them every 19 years and 364 days.

Field of Dreams and Wish Lists - Lake Worth

Comment Up

The development of the Park of Commerce "wish" has been trekking along. This has been Scott Maxwell's wish for years now and the rest of the commission has followed suit--get it all shovel ready and developers will come.

On August 26, 2009, the City was awarded a $250,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) to develop an infrastructure needs analysis for the POC. The City used matching funds and the Study was done with a total of one-half million invested.

Over the last four years, discussion has been virtually non-existent until lately. Now it's all a part of the Commission's WISH LIST to develop the POC with your $13 million dollars doing it.  Maxwell and friends have suggested a possible general obligation bond for roads infrastructure to be approved by the voters with phases 1, II, and III of the Park to be included if the bond goes forward. The city is not being forthcoming as to the exact amount they want to charge the taxpayers or if they can even get the financing.

Tonight, the commission will be voting on a professional services agreement that has been negotiated with Mathews Consulting (yes, I said "consulting") to serve as the city's representative for Phase I of the Boutwell Road Infrastructure Project (Project) in an amount not to exceed of $349,930 for a term of thirty (30) months.  I don't know why they don't round the figure up to $350,000. Considering this commission has always ridiculed Studies and Consultants, just proves the importance of them when politics dictates.

So, that will mean $850,000 into the project that we don't know will ever get off the ground. We can't even get rid of slum, blight and crime. Soon we will be looking at affordable rentals there that overlook Lake Osborne.  The political WISH is to make it easier for developers by obligating taxpayers to spend millions of  money over decades. It is a righteous, virtuous, good, honorable, upright, decent, worthy, moral, ethical and reputable pursuit, so they tell us.

So much for Liberals and Planners - Detroit's Demise

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Detroit emergency manager Kevyn Orr is returning to court as a witness in the sixth day of the city's bankruptcy trial.
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Old video but applies more than ever today.  And the last I looked, we still had graffiti in our downtown. We continue to give away or lease away valuable properties to non-profits and we encourage affordable housing.  No problem trying to grab federal grant money...we do it willfully. No problem for this commission in trying to make our entire city an enterprise zone to encourage development in blighted neighborhoods through tax and regulatory relief to entrepreneurs and investors who launch businesses in our city. We are attracting more and more poor.  We compare ourselves to BelleGlade...why not Detroit...does that come next? We give a waiver to anyone who asks that wants to sell beer and wine. We spend a fortune on policing and still have tons of crime. This video is about the fall of Detroit but we are following their plan.

Chaz Equipment back in the News

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Gary Czajkowski was convicted of 14 felonies that involved unlawful compensation and a third degree felony of conspiracy. He is back in the news today asking for a new trial.  The PBPost originally reported that his company got at least $73 million over a decade in public water and sewer business. What it didn't tell you was, some of those millions were from Lake Worth taxpayers. Click here.

Chaz Equipment worked as a sub-contractor in Lake Worth, working closely with Mock Roos. Chaz had a manhole contract with Delray Beach. Other cities could use that same contract's pricing for their own manhole work, a practice known as piggybacking, without putting the contract out to bid. In part to keep the piggyback contracts coming, according to the charges, Chaz showered officials with a steady stream of gifts and entertainment.

There was one contract back in 2004 through Marine Engineering as the Contractor and Mock Roos, the engineers, for manhole rehab on 6th Avenue South for $435,099. By the time the last change order came through, the contract was up to $551,506.  West Palm Beach paid Chaz Equipment $30 million between 2004 and 2010. I have no idea what the City of Lake Worth has paid to them (there would be an extensive research charge)  through the years but the above was during the same period where millions were spent at the Utility and millions seemed to vanish overnight. "Piggybacking" contracts were the norm of the day. Have you noticed there is no mention of "piggybacking" lately.

Park of Commerce -

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The only way the public knows what's going on within this city is when the city has to declare its intentions by law. Otherwise, we are totally kept in the dark--no city manager reports and no transparency. We can't even tackle the basics of eradicating slum and blight. We don't have the money to upgrade our shuffleboard court building or fix the pot holes correctly in our streets but we can spend money on engineering services on some dirt.  The Lotto anyone?

Engineering services through the years have cost the taxpayers tens/hundreds of millions of dollars.. just ask Mock Roos. Will this money for the Park of Commerce be coming out of the $63 MILLION  Roads improvement program that is on the table?  They haven't yet told us how we will pay for all of that. And infrastructure has been maintained for the last 100 years, Mayor. The city does the best it can with the revenue it has.  It is commission politics that has diverted us from sound decisions. Bad leadership has cost us millions in waste.

The RFP (RFP #12-13-200) for the Park of commerce Phase I engineering Services is due by 3:00pm on June 18th.

Infrastructure Improvements will center on upgrading Boutwell Road from 10th Avenue North to Lake Worth Road. These improvements also include intersection improvements at 10th, 7th, 4th, and 2nd Avenues North, and Joyce Avenue. Note that Boutwell Road is under the jurisdiction of Palm Beach County.

The consultant(s) shall provide engineering design services necessary for the development of Phase 1 of the Lake Worth Park of Commerce Infrastructure Improvements. The scope of work shall meet the recommendations described in the Infrastructure Needs Assessment and Preliminary Engineering Study, shall take into consideration the 2012 Operational Traffic Analysis performed by Pinder Troutman, and shall include the following Right of Way Needs Analysis, Feasibility Study and Implementation:

• Transportation and Street Improvements

• Storm water Collection System Improvements

• Potable Water Distribution System Improvements

• Sanitary Sewer Collection System Improvements

This development project is a dream of Scott Maxwell's and the Mayor's. Of course, the city doesn't have a pot to pee in but gosh, we just must have development at any and all costs even going so far as to lie about the need for heights to rise in our downtown because "no developer will build a hotel" with only 45 foot high limitations. How long will it take to recapture (in ad-valorem taxes) what the city plans on spending for engineering and infrastructure at the Park of Commerce? 

With all of the millions in expense that is being planned by this commission and all of it on the backs of the taxpayers, perhaps the city should play the Powerball.

Kicking the Can No. 3 - The Lake Worth City Commission

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Kicking the can down the Road No. 3

Every single person sitting on the dais should be informed on Sun Recycling and the course of events that began the problem at our landfill up to the day their lease was not renewed and what they did to our property. There is no excuse for ignorance in this matter...not one.

What Southern Waste Systems (Sun Recycling) means to Lake Worthians--a condensed history through Susan Stanton's tenure:

• 1993 - $2,375,000 cost to Lake Worth taxpayers to close the landfill (not mentioned last night)

• 20 years to reclaim land to make it safe for re-use (Mr. Biggs of Mock Roos in July 2010 said it would cost $1.5 million to restore our property but on Tuesday night he implied all was cool now--(It's going to cost much more than that)

• 5-25-07 - Commission entered into a 3 year Contract with Sun Recycling for $1,000 a month to use the landfill as a staging area to haul debris from violent storms (hurricanes). If there was a hurricane, the ante went up to $3,000 a month. We made exactly $36,000 on our landfill that will now cost millions to restore.

• Sun dumps over 6,000 truckloads of construction material on our landfill, some of which is 3.6 or 3.8 feet thick, hauling in material from south Florida construction sites. Trucks entering property late into the night. Contract was from 7am to 7pm.

• Endless complaints by residents near the landfill regarding health issues. Extensive research and exposes from Bill Coakley, informing the public and Commission as to what was occurring. No response from sitting Commission or Staff in charge.

• 2010 - City did not renew Contract.

• 6-1-10 - Mock Roos gives report that no testing or inspection was done at the landfill. City manager says although not budgeted, we need to evaluate the fill material. Mock Roos does borings and takes test samples at 12 locations on the dump site. 

• 8-3-10 - Mock Roos's John Biggs says, "In my opinion, RSM should not have been placed on the site. Arsenic was found in the samples indicating higher levels than acceptable (1/3rd over threshold) in certain areas of the landfill for surrounding residential areas. (residential not mentioned Tuesday night)


• Joe Kroll, then Public Works Director who was in charge of the landfill site, says that it would cost $3 a yard to dump RSM elsewhere. Ed Deveaux, contractor, disputes that figure and says that it would cost $45 a ton and $90 a ton in Okeechobee. Stanton says, "Sun does not see the duty of restoring the site in the same way that the City does." (not mentioned Tuesday night)

• Biggs reports that the Health department was to hold Sun Recycling accountable. Material was shipped to Sun's Site 4 and then shipped on to Site 5 implying that the testing requirement was circumvented.(not mentioned Tuesday night)

• The City Manager was directed to write a letter to all those in the neighborhood of the landfill and notify them of MORE discussion.

At any rate, all of the above lead up to where we are today. Sun was to surrender the property (Article 23) in accordance with the lease terms, in good order, condition and repair, as the same shall be on the date tenant opens for business in the Premises..."  Article 21 (c) says:  In addition to other rights and remedies available to landlord under this Lease and/or at law and/or in equity, tenant shall reimburse landlord upon demand all other reasonable costs, expenses and other sums reasonably incurred by landlord in connection with preparing and/or improving the Premises for Tenant's occupancy under this Lease and all collection costs and attorney's fees incurred in enforcing this Lease.

The above breach of lease is the only thing that should have been considered Tuesday night...not that grass had grown over the mess and all ''looked" fine...not that residents bordering the landfill were no longer hacking to death. It wasn't mitigated nor was the landfill "fine" as attested to by residents regarding the oder and the illness. 6,000 trucks drove onto our property depositing all sorts of material, some of it nasty, and their trucks very possibly/probably did damage to the membrane cap.

Sun agreed, per the Lease, to have our landfill looking exactly the same when they exited from the day they first signed this contract. It doesn't. They didn't. Now to make it right, someone has to pay multi-millions. City Manager Bornstein says it will be done. Who will pick up the cost?  We know it won't be Sun Recycling because the city does not want law suits and the city attorney advised Sun's lawyer to stay quiet and not say too much Tuesday night per Bart Cunningham. Good advice but he's OUR lawyer.

This is another major incident in our city that is being played down. I suppose it is because of costly litigation. The message that was given in THREES on Tuesday night, was that anyone can come into Lake Worth and do just about whatever they damn well please and it all can get twisted to justify it all.