Les Evans arrested

Attorney Leslie Evans has always been a friend to a certain segment in the City of Lake Worth.  Do you remember when he was involved in the L Street Parking Lot?

Here's a short recap of that bad city transaction:  Cory O'Gorman, former Director of the CRA, presented the parking lot to Leslie Evans. The City of Lake Worth sold this property in March 2005 to Evans, an attorney, and friend of the R&R's (Ramiccio and Romano). Why would anyone sell a downtown parking lot?

They hurried to get the Contract signed one day before citizens were to vote on a charter amendment initiated by Laurence Mcnamara and a few others that would require voter approval for the sale of parks, downtown property and waterfront land west of State Road A1A. This was corruption beyond anything experienced before in the city. Six months before in September 2004, the Commission did everything within its creative power and then some to get the initiative off the ballot, violating their own rules some say as well as Sunshine Laws, canceling the 2nd hearing using the excuse of Hurricane Frances.

Well that was then and this is now...Evans has been arrested for 8 counts of wire fraud, one count of bank fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and 10 counts of illegal monetary transactions.

All these characters find Lake Worth...think Peter Willard and the Greater Bay fiasco and Cory O'Gorman was involved in that too.

Read about it...

L Street Parking Lot

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The City, over the last 15 years or so, has been known to do some mighty stupid things.  Some call it corruption.  The lack of free parking on Lucerne Avenue has been to the detriment of those shops. For the City and some Commissions, it's always been about the tax base and/or helping "friends." Considering that this present commission says it is "business-minded," it now wants to rid itself, once again, of valuable and even historic properties to non-profits or to the CRA, but that's another story.

Facts on the L Street Parking Lot
1. The City sold it to Les Evans, their favorite developer, in March 2005 for $575,000 and he quit claimed it to one of his companies, 601 Lucerne Inc. in August 2005.
2. LUCERNE Holdings LLC bought the property for $375,000 in December 2010. Why didn't we buy it back?
3. Market value is $73,531 FOR 1 PARCEL, the same for another and $147,148 for the third parcel.

607 Lucerne Ave--38-43-44-21-15-509-0050 - $73,531
605 Lucerne Ave--38-43-44-21-15-509-0060 - $73,531
601 Lucerne Ave--38-43-44-21-15-509-0070 - $147,148 

If you have been wondering why there is a meter back on the property--

Finance Director Steve Carr says, "The lot owner did not want to renew the lease so the lot is in private hands and the meter is their meter. There is no City involvement with this lot any more."   

 

Hey, if Lake Worth can make money off of my lot, then I can do it too, thought the owner.  I just don't think Lake Worth was making enough to cover the lease and expenses. The lot was empty again yesterday morning. However, the parking charges are more advantageous than what the City was charging.

The L Street Parking Lot

If you want to learn anything, you go to the guy in the know.  How many times have you been told, in so many words, that "I only do want I need to do under the law, or-- I fulfill my job description--not one little thing over and above that. In this case, it is the meter reader himself who had the answer--

he told me that the meter was temporarily suspended.

I did bring up the fact last week that the parking meter at the L Street Parking Lot was moved to Old Bridge Park. We learned this at the city commission budget meeting. No reason was given but we only can surmise that people actually park at Old Bridge Park whereas during the week they avoided L Street like the plague.

Nothing was said, however, about when the meter would be replaced at L. Street. So in the meantime, you can use your phone app to pay? Is it free? Forgot to ask that question. As my first blog on this got deleted somehow, I have included the finance Director's explanation: "That lease ends in September 2013 and the owner has sent the City notice that they do not wish to continue it.  So it will revert to private hands."

L Street Parking Lot

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The L Street Parking lot has always been a problem--a problem in enforcing the metered payments. Some people have paid; others have not. All in all, it has been a complete failure to have it self-sustaining or bring in any revenue because the city ignored the abuse of those parking there and people don't want to pay.  This was a sneaky way to start the process of  having downtown parking meters by the former city manager...you get a good excuse and then run with it.

The City entered into a Contract on February 1, 2011 to September 30, 2011 for the sum of $10,000 which comes to $1,250 a month which seems like a reasonable rate. At least it came before the commission. It was signed by the Parties (Mayor Rene Varela signing for the City) on February 10, 2011. We  pay the owners, Lucerne Holdings LLC, rent. The new contracts that came up never went before the commission because well gee, it is under $25,000 a year and the city manager gets to make those decisions now. The threshold used to be $15,000 and I guess the mayor's signature rubber stamp is used for contracts too?

The entire idea was to charge parking fees to those using the parking lot thus helping to off-set the cost to the taxpayers of Lake Worth. But now It seems that the lone parking meter has been removed and moved to Old Bridge Park.  This lot is located directly behind  Commissioner Andy Amoroso's store. This is just one more decision that never went before the commission. These managerial decisions continue to happen; the commisison gets more and more irrelevant and the entire process is not transparent when it comes to taxpayer dollars. Because this lot has always been a failure (because no one wants to pay to park in our downtown), the city apparently has said "What the hell, if you can't fight them, join them"-- just another decision with the taxpayers holding the bag...or does the city have a meter on order?

Parking at Lake Worth Beach

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Mark Sykes, Beach Parking Division Manager

Juan Ruiz, Leisure Services Director, gave last night's presentation on the Parking Division. Parking revenue is expected to be over $1 million dollars in the new fiscal year that begins on October 1, 2013. This year, parking revenue is estimated at $883,198 with the year ending September 30.

Mark Sykes is the Field Supervisor of this division under Juan Ruiz's Recreation Department and the only full-time employee in the Parking Division. He has 5 part-time assistants ( Part-time is 29 hours a week or less and the city does not have to pay benefits) and he is asking for one more full-time employee in order to increase parking security, oversight for parking collections and consistency of operations.

At the moment, they are in the process of recommending some updates to our ordinances and our signage. They have implemented the pay by cell phone option rather than someone walking back to their car to feed the meter.   ParkMobile

Questions that went unanswered:

• Cost for one full-time employee with benefits

• Decal parking - no report

• Fines - no history.  The draft budget indicates a revenue stream for violations at $100,000 in the new budget year but there is no break-down offered for the three metered areas in our city.

• Said there were no parking meters in the downtown. What happened to the L-Street parking lot meter on Lucerne?

• Wanted additional inventory in order to repair meters quickly...never gave a cost

• Did not mention income from meters and fines at the boat ramp or in the downtown. Three sections of this division should be separate each having its own line items on the budget-- beach, boat ramp and the downtown for revenue and costs.

• Did not mention the cost of the cell phone option to the city and the income expected from this option.The pay-by-cellphone system has been installed on parking meters at Lake Worth Beach. The Parkmobile system, also used in West Palm Beach and Hollywood, allows users to pay the $2-an-hour parking fee at our beach with their cellphones. Users pay an extra 35 cents per transaction.

If you are asking the Commission to approve of a budget increase, you must give them the costs.

Public Commentary at last night's city commission meeting

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Last night I wore my new t-shirt that said, "Bad decisions make the best stories." I have to say that in Lake Worth, one never runs out of ideas. Thanks to Commissioner Amoroso for addressing my 3 points I made during Public Commentary, one of the first commissioners who has ever done so:

L Street Parking Lot--
The City entered into a Contract on February 1, 2011 to September 30, 2011 for the sum of $10,000 which comes to $1,250 a month which seems like a reasonable rate. It was signed by the Parties (Mayor Rene Varela signing for the City) on February 10, 2011. We  pay the owners, Lucerne Holdings LLC, rent and charge parking fees to those using the parking lot thus helping to off-set the cost to the taxpayers of Lake Worth and hopefully paying for the Lease. I don't recall this renewal ever coming back before the city commission since the original contract. Now that the commission has abrogated rights to the city manager by increasing his authority on expenditures from under $15,000 to $25,000 without commission approval, we may never see these things again or even be allowed to speak to these issues. I look to the City Commission to be on top of all expenditures.

Two-way traffic at the beach--(Thanks, Dustin Zacks!)
Dustin turned in a comment card and with tongue and cheek with a little bit of truth--he wanted to ban all drivers over 55 from driving at the beach...too slow.  I remember when I thought 30 was too old and that they all were "out of it."  Unfortunately, the design there is atrocious and dangerous. Over this past weekend, the city made it a two-way street. We had cars backing out on both sides and traffic coming in two directions.  It was unreal.  If you don't drive 2mph, you will be a victim in that accident waiting to happen and 55 or older folks know that. Just think, Dustin--one of us old birds might have saved you. Thank us.

Glen Torcivia contract
When he and his firm were hired back in July 2012, it was on an interim basis and to be evaluated in six months. The concept of having an outside law firm to represent us in our city on day to day legal issues was new.  We always had our own staff lawyer. With that brought easy access but it also brought retirement and costly benefits. The value of an outside firm was to be analyszed as to cost effectiveness, accessibility and whether he was doing an overall good job for the City of Lake Worth.  The firm would have lawyers on staff who specialized in various issues relative to city business. Other than Torcivia agreeing to a settlement to the flim flam man,  he appears to fit right in but we need to know if we are getting the best bang for our buck.

L Street Parking Lot and General Gripes

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From the CM's report:

A 45 square feet concrete base, built by West Construction, for the Parking Division to replace an eight year old parking meter with a new Parking Pay Station at the Lucerne & 'L' Street Parking Lot.

L. Street Parking Lot

Swell. What was the cost to build a concrete base on or near someone else's property? This is a parking lot that is nearly empty other than weekend evenings. What sort of revenue do we make on this property? What are our expenses? Do we finally have someone giving tickets? How much was the meter? Did we renew this lease? If so, for how much?

I realize that Commissioner Muvehill and some staff believe that we all should be concentrating on the positive--shiny things--but there's a lot more of this stuff than that stuff. Even the good stuff they seem to f**&k up--take the casino hours as an example and their song about it and that song being sung off key and off pitch.

The City entered into a Contract on February 1, 2011 to September 30, 2011 for the sum of $10,000 which comes to $1,250 a month. Around 2 months ago I asked if the city had renewed this lease and never got an answer. I don't recall that it EVER came before the Commission...just another thing happening out of the Sunshine like this entire issue?

We just keep on spending.

There is a certain Commissioner who, along with the city manager, says that I am part of the problem in this city--too negative they say. They don't want to hear the truth. We are supposed to let the city staff run ramrod without a complaint.

Gripes

I'm not the one spending money like a drunken sailor. I'm not taking the free lunch on tax payer money. I am not giving away our casino to the first ugly offer. I'm not part of that Black Hole. All I know is that my property value went down 17% this year and I had nothing whatsoever to do with it. I don't have a cushy city retirement. I live within my income which has been reduced thanks to the banks who got us in the mess to begin with and the government having the nerve to bail them out with tax dollars. I'm getting poorer and the City (and Andrew Marra) wants me to pay my "fair" share on anything it wants to assess me for without the City living within its means. Lake Worth is just a very small part of why the entire country is in the shape it's in.

L Street Parking Lot - Lake Worth

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People, thus far, have rejected this paid parking lot
during the day

At a recent city commission meeting someone happily mentioned that the L Street parking lot was full over the previous weekend. It was also said that the city had not been fining people who did not pay or who had overstayed their parking time. The City said it was going to start writing tickets. The Sheriff does not write parking tickets, so then, who does or who will? Will that someone be checking on the hour? Who is going to follow-up on tickets and try and collect when people fail to pay or will this be on the Honor System? I did not notice any signage informing people that this was a paid parking lot although you can't miss the pay-station in the middle of the lot.

Facts on the L Street Parking Lot
1. The City sold it to Les Evans, their favorite developer, in March 2005 for 575,000 and he quit claimed it to one of his companies, 601 Lucerne Inc. in August 2005.
2. LUCERNE Holdings LLC bought the property for 375,000 in December 2010. Why didn't we buy it back?
3. Market value is $77,405 FOR 1 PARCEL, the same for another and $154,883 for the third parcel.

The above photo depicts the typical look of this parking lot--EMPTY--during the week, morning or afternoon, other than the pick-up and trailer parked in the middle. Also, the very fact that the Finance Advisory Board as well as the City Commission voted down paid parking stations in our downtown, this one exists because of Staff.

The City entered into a Contract on February 1, 2011 to September 30, 2011 for the sum of $10,000 which comes to $1,250 a month which seems like a reasonable rate. It was signed by the Parties (Mayor Rene Varela signing for the City) on February 10, 2011. We will pay the owners, Lucerne Holdings LLC, rent and charge parking fees to those using the parking lot thus helping to off-set the cost to the taxpayers of Lake Worth and hopefully paying for the Lease.

I don't recall this ever coming before the City Commission. This is the main reason why I have always been against a strong mayor type of government. The Commission is supposed to be on top of these transactions. They are the boss, right?

L Street Parking Lot - Skinning the Cat

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UPDATE 3-29-11
Mr. Ramiccio reminded me of the following--
From Tom Ramiccio:
For historical sakes, I served from 1995-2001. I was off the commission when the deal took place to Les Evans.
................

There is a history to this parking lot that now has yellow tape around it. It goes back to the days of R&R (Ramiccio and finally Romano). It goes back to the days when deals were cut for friends that brought on law suits and a total lack of trust of city government-- a little more than a handful of years ago. It goes back to the days of Jeff Clemens when he Chaired the CRA. Some of those who supported these candidates are the ones complaining today and continue to denigrate ethical people and commissioners trying to do the right thing, to make the correct decisions for all the residents of Lake Worth, not just a favored few.


Cory O'Gorman, former Director of the CRA, presented the parking lot to Leslie Evans. The City of Lake Worth sold this property in March 2005 to Evans, an attorney, and friend of the R&R's. Why would anyone sell a downtown parking lot? They hurried to get the Contract signed one day before citizens were to vote on a charter amendment (the ink was not even dry) that would require voter approval for the sale of parks, downtown property and waterfront land west of State Road A1A. This was corruption beyond anything experienced before in the city. Six months before in September 2004, the Commission did everything within its creative power and then some to get the initiative off the ballot, violating their own rules some say as well as Sunshine Laws, canceling the 2nd hearing using the excuse of Hurricane Frances.

It sold for $564,000 with Mayor Romano signing the Contract. Evans wanted to develop this piece and construct 9,000 square feet of retail space and nine lofts. He never did. Evans' development intent languished and the city residents started using it for parking.


On December 3, 2010, two women from Palm Beach bought the property from Evans for $375,000 for investment purposes, and formed a corporation, Lucerne Holdings LLC. They roped off the lot and no one is allowed to park there. They're investors and want to make money.

The new owners have now finalized negotiations with City Manager Susan Stanton for the City to lease the parking lot, length of lease uncertain although eventually it will all come out in the Sunshine, as they want to sell it within 5 years. Quoted as saying, "We never should have sold that parking lot," Stanton will install a parking pay station on the lot to recoup the money being paid on the Lease.


As this lot is owned by a private entity, there always seems to be other ways to skin a cat when it comes to getting your way--paid parking downtown. This is opening the door and just the beginning for pay stations on city parking lots. The Finance Advisory Board voted 6/1 against paid parking downtown and so did the City Commission. But the City Manager's Budget called for it.

The Commission has abdicated its responsibility and power to the City Manager, so
From the latest City Manager's Report:
601 LUCERNE PARKING LOT UPDATE.
The parking lot lease has been sent to the owners for execution. Staff is proceeding with making necessary arrangements for improvements to the site such as resealing and re-striping of the lot and installation of the parking meter and a sign.

Bryant Park Parking Lot Debaucle

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To try and explain this--

Yes, an earlier Commission approved a project at Bryant Park for $1.39 million.

Well into the project, it was determined that the necessary tie-backs to secure the seawall had to be extended further into the existing parking lot.

The Public Works Manager then made the decision to move the parking lot 150 feet north of that location. It now became a NEW plan. At that point, the scope of work changed. The PLAN changed. It was NOT the Plan originally approved by the former Commission. It was now a DIFFERENT PLAN.

The new plan devised by the Public Works Director had reduced parking. He had to move nearly 40 trees. He never informed his boss, the city manager. He just plowed ahead, literally.

There was discussion that 5th Avenue South now had to become a 2 way street. This is a MAJOR change to a city street.

Say for instance, you contracted with someone to do some extensive work on your house. Everything seems to be going along smoothly until the day you come home from work and you notice your front door has been moved, and now instead of entering into the living room, you enter into the dining room. The contractor never consulted with you. You would be outraged. Afterall, it is your house and you are the one paying the bill based on a plan that was agreed upon. Not only would you fire the contractor, you would sue him.

This employee should have immediately reported his ideas and his reasons to move the parking lot to his boss, the City Manager, who would have then taken it to the City Commission and it would have been discussed at a public meeting.

For The L.W. Herald to say that "no commissioner has any business injecting him/herself into projects already approved on the commission level" is just flat not the case. If that reasoning was correct, we would still have Greater Bay and we would still have PB County water. Commissioner Suzanne Mulvehill was catering to the rights of all the taxpayers of this City who actually own this Park and who pay the tab. She took responsibility all because of a major decision made by a staff member, a decision that was not approved nor under his scope of authority.

Who is running this City?