Lake Worth Farmer's Market to open soon

Lake Worth Farmers Market Making Waves

Saturdays | October 24, 2015 - April 30, 2016 | 9am - 1pm

Old Bridge Park | Across from Lake Worth Beach & Casino Complex

10 South Ocean Boulevard

For more info, contact Peter Robinson at 561.283.5856 or peter@lakeworthfarmersmarket.com

Old Bridge Park Improvements Project

UPDATE: Good afternoon all, Please disregard the previous press release (below)--we were just advised by the county that the project has been put on delay and we will re issue a revised press release at a later time when the project will commence. Thank you in advance Suzanne M. Rosales Public Services Coordinator Public Service Administration City of Lake Worth 1749 3rd Ave, S Lake Worth Phone: 561-586-1720 Fax: 561-586-1750 srosales@lakeworth.org

PRESS RELEASE
FOR RELEASE UPON RECEIPT
CITY OF LAKE WORTH
7 NORTH DIXIE HIGHWAY
LAKE WORTH, FL 33460
LAKEWORTH.ORG

March 10, 2015
Contact: Felipe Lofaso, Assistant Director of Public Services
Phone: 561.586.1720
Email: flofaso@lakeworth.org

The Palm Beach County Department of Environmental Resource Management (ERM) Old Bridge Park Improvements project

In an effort to facilitate future shoreline stabilization work along the Intracoastal shoreline south of the Lake Worth Bridge on the west side of A1A, the County’s Department of Environmental Resource Management plans to begin the exotic removal portion of the Old Bridge Park project the week of March 16th. The Old Bridge Park project will consist of the reconstruction of the deteriorated seawall and associated improvements to the parkon the north side of the bridge along with shoreline stabilization work on the south side of the bridge (exotics removal and replacement with hammock plantings, new pedestrian pathway, rock revetment, oyster reef, and informational kiosk).

The contractor will be working south of the bridge on Ocean Avenue along the water just across the street from the Casino. The attached map shows the exotic removal and replacement with hammock plantings areas in pink. The contractor plans to cut the exotics at ground level and treat to prevent re-growth. The County will have inspectors on-site during the project to ensure quality control. The work is estimated to take between 8 – 10 days. All mangroves, palms, and other native non-exotic species will remain intact.

The City is most appreciative of the County’s Department of Environmental Resource Management for their active involvement in improving the City’s waterways and ensuring the long term survival of our marine assets.
Please direct any questions or comments to the City’s Public Services Department at 561-586-1720.

Located in central Palm Beach County, Lake Worth is a dynamic, multi-cultural city with an individualistic style. People are drawn to the city by its acceptance of different cultures and lifestyles, historic districts, hip downtown and colorful arts district.

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Woman tries to climb bridge railing

Woman stopped from jumping off the Lake Worth Bridge. Read about it...

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."

Let us Remember our History

Comment Up
Letter to the Editor writer Joanne Kelly said, "Let us remember our history." Mrs. Kelly was speaking about past commissioners, who in her mind, made some historical and good decisions for Lake Worth.

I believe in remembering our history. We can learn from it. I believe in concentrating on the positive as Ms. Kelly has done but frankly, I don't remember a whole lot of good from some of the commissioners she wrote about. It is always the bad stuff that lingers, many of which haunt us to this day. When ending relationships there are always very good reasons. Even the mention of Rodney Romano failed to say that he was voted out of office because he was just too close to and supported a favored developer who wanted to build condos at Old Bridge Park, something the people did not want.

First credit was given for the new downtown Publix to the CRA and to State Rep Jeff Clemens, our former mayor. What was left out of her letter was that the CRA doled out our money like candy by giving Publix, a billion dollar corporation, 1/2 million dollars of taxpayer money, a magnanimous gesture that was uncalled for and not asked for by Publix. Publix was going to build there regardless.

Next, the Gateway project was mentioned giving credit to Jeff Clemens and the CRA again. She failed to say that it cost us $15 million dollars for developer friends to get rich. We ended up with some pavers and some skinny trees and the CRA is struggling to pay the loan. The idea to spend all of this money was to attract development to the City. This was a failed pipe dream of the CRA, Jeff Clemens, and those on the Commission back then, one of the worst commissions ever.

She said that Jeff worked with the County to get the Snook Island boardwalk into existence. Perhaps so; who knows? Clemens was Mayor from 2007 to 2009 and the Snook Island project was completed in 2005. The boardwalk along with a fishing pier, floating docks and kayak launch just started in April of this year and Vice Mayor Suzanne Mulvehill had a lot to do with that.

Total credit for the beach redevelopment was given to former mayor Rene Varela which is far from the truth. In actuality, Cara Jennings was the leader in this endeavor. The only thing that Rene Varela brought to the table was Michael Singer (that cost us much more money) and Varelas' vote to proceed.

Mrs. Kelly is a member of the Lake Worth Democratic Club where several Officers and Directors of that club didn't even support Democrat Varela in his first run for office but instead supported a Republican. They did the same thing this year when they supported Tom Ramiccio, a Republican. As an officer/director of the Lake Worth Democratic Club, the most dysfunctional political club around these parts, this is contrary to the oath they swore to uphold.

Everyone brings something to the table; there is always something a commissioner did that was beneficial for the city, like falling asleep at the dais. That helped a lot. However, we also must remember that many of the commissioners that were mentioned in this article were either inept, corrupt or just made some horrible decisions for Lake Worth that we are paying for to this day and for years to come.

So looking at a few good things is dandy but the historical facts support costly and detrimental decisions from those who were cited in this Letter to the Editor that allowed our city to get to where it is today--at last we have a new, progressive commission that is finally leading us out of the messes of the past. Standing independent of the city manager is all that I ask from them.

Old Lake Worth Bridge

The old but the beautiful,
circa 1950

Soon the Old Bridge will be only history
Photos taken 4-22-10

Steinhardt Lease voluntarily terminated

Comment Up

Update: 4-5-11. The City is waiting for a written termination from the Steinhardt heirs.

Save the Waterfront & Town...

Originally leased to Marshall, owner of the Gulfstream Hotel back then, who flipped it to Milton Steinhardt-- submerged land was leased from the City of Lake Worth in 1967 on a 99 year lease. He wanted to develop five, 10 story condos on three man-made islands at the southeast end of the Intracoastal Waterway bridge across from the Lake Worth beach. He also sought federal permits to build a boat marina at the site. The City applied for the permits on his behalf in order to bring some sort of clout to his requests and to possibly speed it along.

He was paying $6,000 a year to the City of Lake Worth and after Save the Waterfront and Town went out on a petition in 2005, won at the ballot box on a Public Land/Public Vote Charter Amendment with 60% of the vote. Steinhardt was stopped from his dream.

Betty Resch, former City of Lake Worth attorney represented the Steinhardts and came before the City Commission several years ago and asked for an extension of the Lease. On first vote, Romano, McKinnon and Burns voted FOR the extension. At the next regularly scheduled meeting, McKinnon brought it back on the Agenda and switched his vote to "no." Steinhardt lost again on a 3/2 vote.

Today, through a reliable source, I was told that the Steinhardts agreed to terminate the Lease and the City accepted.

Power Grab in Lake Worth Continues and the Public can't Speak

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Years ago under Mayor Rodney Romano, holes were jackhammered in the Lake Worth Casino building. Word had it that the government was trying to justify why the building should be demolished. Sweet deals for friends.

Now in yesterday's news, the City is removing the shuffleboard courts. We have had courts for 80 years. It doesn't matter--treat the seniors like crap. The City has been doing that all along to 14% of its population. The voting block of Seniors who are retired, with most of them with resources, is significant--they always vote. They don't cost the city nor do they destroy property; they just don't have the fight in them to put up with politics and bad decisions. They expect we "younger" folks to pursue what's right.

The City eliminated their transportation with the trolley that was costing the City around $165,000 a year--big deal. There are some who say, "Well, let them walk." That's the argument for eliminating 160 upper level parking spaces at the beach. Next it was the Senior Center where they came to play bridge, read, buy lunch, have some camaraderie. They kicked the Seniors out and gave the building to Compass, another voting block of similar proportions but these people are younger and they still know how to fight for rights and for what they want.

Mayor Varela, speaking about the Shuffleboard Court Building is quoted as saying: "Our new recreation facility will serve as green space and activity space for residents (this includes illegals, the very same people who destroyed it) from kindergarten to the elderly." Trust me, Mayor, it will NOT be the elderly driving or walking there to sit on "green." Is this one of the promises to "force change" before you leave town? He did promise to leave certain residents out in the cold when he first took office--a promise now fulfilled.

Joe Kroll, Public Works Director, said that "use of the shuffleboard courts had dwindled," thus justifying this action. Use has dwindled because of the deplorable conditions of the courts. Public Works NEVER took care of this asset. The Mentoring Center never took care of our property. Now the City, once again, would rather just get rid of it. In the mind of Staff, it is the expedient and most cost effective thing to do.

The real reason for jackhammering and taking out the courts is that the illegal population who utilized our building when The Mentoring Center had the Lease attracted those who destroyed our property and The Mentoring Center is responsible for its condition. The City, for some odd reason, is reluctant to go after them for these repairs. To rebuild all those courts would cost the City money that they do not wish to spend. What cost did Joe Kroll give to the city manager for shuffleboard courts? Remember the roof? That cost estimate was totally out of whack.

At our condominium community, we have had tournaments with those who participated at the Shuffleboard courts. We have 6 courts here and we maintain them. If we didn't, we would have people screaming bloody murder and those in charge would be accused of nonfeasance and booted.

It is a sad day for Lake Worth when the City can decide, on its own, to eradicate its history-- from the Commission agreeing to closing the Museum and to other decisions out of the Sunshine like shutting down the Annex? and now jackhammering our shuffleboard courts.

Commissioner Scott Maxwell is correct when he says, the Commission should debate the issue. In fact, the public should have a right to speak on it too. This sounds just like another Bryant Park fiasco.

Will the Commission continue to allow its power to be transferred to Staff?

Pay Stations

Invitation to Bid--Park By Space Pay Stations

As this involves 16 pay stations and the City Commission already voted DOWN pay stations in our downtown, what gives? Originally the City wanted to get the following:

7 pay stations at the beach that will be installed before the beach redevelopment
1 at Old Bridge
1 at our Boat Ramp
5 at our downtown parking lots

On the latest City Manager's Report, page 17, you can see where the contract will be "awarded" either in November or December 2010.

Steve Carr says, "We are looking to buy 10 pay stations for the Beach and Boat Ramp. The item is scheduled for the December 7th meeting."

Our Casino / Beach Re-Development and Lake Worth Politics

Silly green building--similar to what is proposed

As the Finance Advisory Board discussed the financing for the Casino project last night, I got to thinking about the entire project. The question that keeps coming to mind is, how did Living Designs Group, a company from New Mexico with a local office in Lake Worth, get into the mix? Not only are they involved in the building of our Lake Worth Casino but they have become involved in the entire beach re-development project.

Rumor has it that they were never paid for the design and architectural plans for The Eco Centre, the first green building in Lake Worth and a building that was recently sold at foreclosure. Also it has been said that they whined and had lobbied Staff to become part of the beach re-development to help make up for the huge loss they incurred at the Romano building that was owned by John Romano, brother to former mayor Rodney Romano. Why does that become the City’s responsibility and they are allowed to jump into bed with Kimley-Horn, the engineering firm hired by Staff for our beach redevelopment? It is sickening that our beach is all entrenched in politics with elected officials and Staff rewarding friends. Even the City had its own wish list--to buy the Eco-Centre and move City Hall operations there.

As we all know, three commissioners, Maxwell, Mayor Varela and Golden voted Living Designs as their top choice for a modern look of our Lake Worth Casino, so, therefore, these commissioners are in sink with Staff bringing Living Designs into the fold. It wasn't just the modern look that turned these politicians on. It was politics.

I have never seen any commission so obsessed with “green” to the point of being absolutely stupid. Green has been a standard in building construction for quite some time but they keep on talking about it ad nausum. Even the Florida Legislature has recognized the need to build sustainable buildings moving into the future and to that end have enacted legislation. You have to consider all the politics behind the scenes. And this is the power of politics that started with the hiring of (no bid) Singer--Jennings and Varela. Then Living Designs, the 2nd choice in the ranking process, came into the mix to be a big party to the beach redevelopment--Maxwell, Varela and Golden.

Living Designs has designed a bathroom facility for the southend of our beach with an unattractive design or perhaps better stated, a design more in tune to the conceptual drawing in their presentation for the Casino. (More than likely Commissioner Golden will approve of this because she even wanted the word "Mediterranean" taken out of the RFQ by REG Architects, an Hispanic minority Architectural firm from West Palm Beach that IS the architect on the Casino). REG incorporates green features into his buildings. It was said that people can also sit around this bathroom structure in shade and look at the ocean. Who in the HECK wants to sit around a building designed as a toilet facility? Also, the trellises they have designed will give no shade or protection from the rain to the people on the north end of our beach.

When it came time to discuss the REG survey weeks ago on the Casino, Mayor Varela, in a voice that meant business, told REG Architects to be "consistent" when it came to their survey and their proposal. REG, experts in historical building restorations, is being overly generous on the survey questions. The problem is, REG was being fed directions from Staff and REG is doing its best to work with the City. It is individual commissioners who are the obstacle at our beach. They are the ones who are not being consistent as REG won as the top architect choice, not Living Designs. What does Staff and the commission do? Bring in Living Designs anyway, a firm with a total arbitrary and opposite architectural design to REG's. Not any consistency in that.

You have two architects working on the beach with two different design perspectives (Mediterranean and Modern) and one artist, Michael Singer, who is left of green and who is definitely ultra- modern. And he's still hanging around. Commissioner Golden felt sort of sorry for him for not making more money. Of course he will be making more money on this deal. Do you rally think he is hanging around for his health??

Commissioner Maxwell was right when he stated that it was a "flawed process" referring to the survey...mentioning the possibility of "stuffing the ballot boxes." However, instead of more charettes, I think that we have had ten years of time talking about the Casino and we are sick and tired of the stall. The City now will have endless charettes that will allow the public to screw it all up even further, packed with all those who have to have cisterns, solar panels, wind mills, etc. rather than just building a Casino that will attract international tourism...something spectacular, not a Picasso. One city-wide charette is enough if properly noticed. If people don't show up, so be it.

The survey is now closed and I would bet money that it was packed with survey takers who are friends of the "green" people, i.e, Commissioner Jennings. We will get a modern looking building at our beach when it is all over and done. Tourists travel all over the world to see historical buildings, not art-deco. Lake Worth gets in its own way.

In a nutshell- this is what your Commission as well as Lake Worth Staff did-- first by bringing in Michael Singer, an artist, and next allowing Living Design Group to become a party to the deal and to design our 19 acres, outhouses and all. This was not open, transparent nor was it a democratic process, Commissioners.

We have $4.5 million left on our beach redevelopment, a development that does not set well with many residents, and now this group wants to put in monolithic slabs instead of pavers and some modern looking outhouse. Can we at least get very tall trees and not those puny ones the city put in on 6th Avenue South? And don't dare screw up the Casino.

"The current plan for the beach is the first in two decades that reflects what the public wants at Lake Worth Beach - increased open space, improved park areas, 100 percent public access, shade and a surfer viewing area," Commissioner Cara Jennings said. I don't remember voting on this, Commissioner. A statement such as this is why I do NOT like politicians.

Last night Staff presented an idea to the FAB to eliminate decal parking.The next idea was to relegate decal permit holders to Old Bridge. We are the guys who pay the tab for the beach and now they want us to pay like any outsider. We have been paying on the Bond for years in our ad valorem and we pay the yearly maintenance, lifeguards, you name it--not those people who live out of the city of Lake Worth. And why is the beach fund now under $1 million? Where did the money go?

Beach Site Plan

Even though Mayor Rene Varela was responsible for Michael Singer, he and Commissioner Suzanne Mulvehill recognize the importance of our beach redevelopment project including the Casino rehab to help turn around our City for its economic recovery.

Cash Strapped Cities in Money Grabbing Modes

Comment Up

In a cash hungry and money grabbing mode, Lake Worth is considering red-light cameras and parking pay stations downtown even though the City said "NO" to red-light cameras just 1.5 years ago. Even the Finance Advisory Board recommended the "concept" of red-light cameras. I certainly agree that we should ticket all drivers who break the law. PBSO writes a lot of tickets every month and red-light cameras would free up their time at intersections. Do you ever see the Sheriff at intersections?

We have the right to face our accuser per the Constitution and in this case the accuser is a camera. Often times cities play dirty pool and have shortened the Yellow light so that it can "capture" more offenders. Lengthening the yellow light time will ruin this golden goose opportunity.

Under the Bill that was signed by Crist and went into effect on July 1, only red-light camera systems or law enforcement officers would be authorized to give the traffic citations. Prior to this Law, only traffic officers could issue tickets for red-light infractions.

Lake Worth has suggested red-light cameras in its proposed budget that will generate $100,000 in revenue, which is three times less than the yearly cost of the cameras projected by American Traffic Solutions. But relying on a traffic camera alone, without an officer at the intersection, was "invalid" according to the Judge in the Aventura case. Now that Crist has signed this into Law, it moots the case.

An MSNBC report suggests that as drivers are aware of the red-light cameras, they slow down. In many cases, the cost of the camera is greater than the revenue and cities are shutting them down. As tondy cd said, "Red-light cameras are a criminal enterprise promoted by legislators who take payola from shady private corporations, and rubber-stamped by fellow legislators who lack the courage to face their constituents with the distasteful reality that maintaining public services in an economy of declining tax revenues requires a tax increase."

Tomorrow, the budget will be further discussed with a workshop beginning at 8:30.

The City will also be discussing parking station revenue that includes the downtown. One of the companies that answered the RFP, CTR Systems Parking, Inc., out of Davie Florida, says that each pay station will cost $11,684 with annual maintenance costing $9,474 as well as a cost for installation. This company will most likely give a payroll quote on what it will cost the city for three part-time workers working 20 hours each and if the number of workers projected by the City is even adequate.

If our City has no idea of the impact on our downtown businesses and all the neighboring streets, it should not even be considering this even if economic conditions were different.

They propose the following number of pay stations:

9 - Beach
1 - Old Bridge
1 - Boat-ramp
5 - Downtown

FAB and Downtown Parking

parking fees kicked down

I stayed for the meeting for the first part of the Finance Advisory Board's Agenda, the discussion on downtown parking.

The proposal was to have 7 parking stations at the beach, 1 at Old Bridge Park, 1 at the boat-ramp and 5 downtown in our city owned parking lots. The City would be “borrowing” three part-time workers to work no more than 20 hours a week each in the collection and enforcement of the pay stations. These part-time workers would be “borrowed” from other departments, possibly one from the golf-course, one from sanitation and the other, who knows. The details were not really worked out or explained and only in the "thinking" stage. These part-timers would be making an estimated $19,078 a year each.

All the figures that were submitted for parking fee revenue were compiled by Joe Kroll and based on nothing really substantial as well as incomplete data. Also, it was stated that the pay stations at the beach would be replaced now instead of waiting until the beach redevelopment was completed. Certainly makes a lot of sense. (That is sarcasm)

Although some on the Board were looking at revenue, the majority did consider the cost and the effect to the downtown merchants as well as the residents who use off-street parking near the downtown if parking fees were implemented.

A motion was made by Darrian Dority and seconded by John Pickett to oppose the proposal of downtown parking fees with Pickett saying that the entire idea needs to be a well thought out process. Darrian said, "This could be a one, two punch to the merchants who might be at the end of their line."

As Jennifer Marchal was not present and Bill Thrasher was not there at the time of the vote, the only member dissenting was Chair Exline. He is in favor of charging people to come to our downtown because most cities charge. If most people were jumping off a bridge, would you follow suit?

Not taking into consideration the fragile state of our economy, businesses struggling to make it, and commercial establishments in Lake Worth paying the highest electric rate in the State of Florida (pointed out by Darrian), Exline's "reasoning," (and I hate to say this) lacked a certain amount of perception and insight. I want to thank the rest of the Board for its sensitivity toward the merchants and citizens of Lake Worth by opposing parking fees downtown.

Old Bridge Park Saved by the Citizens of Lake Worth

The Park was saved but not the celebration, other than in spirit.

I find it a real shame that after 5 years, the annual celebration for saving Old Bridge Park from condo development and an event strictly funded by citizens (mostly the McNamara's) as well as volunteers giving time and money, had to be canceled.

The City can find all sorts of ways to waste money, spend money, and even lose money, but when it comes time for the 4th at Old Bridge, it had no desire to step up with even one little penny to help with this event, an annual tradition. All the residents and visitors are the losers here. Next year, hopefully we citizens can fund raise and bring it back. Below is Mr. McNamara's message--

Hello Friends,

In case you have not yet heard, I am not planning to host our July 4th barbecue at Old Bridge Park. The event has been a great pleasure for five years but unfortunately I am unable to do it this year.

The original Old Bridge Park barbecue in 2005 celebrated our enormous success at saving Old Bridge Park. That success endures. Old Bridge Park remains a clear symbol of what we can accomplish together to preserve our community.

Dee and I will stop by Old Bridge Park at some point to say a little prayer of gratitude for what we all accomplished. Maybe some of you would like to the same.

I wish to thank everyone for all the help you have provided for this event over the years.

And a very happy 4th of July to all!

Sincerely,


Laurence

A few from today

This had to be the hottest 4th I have experienced...I mean temperature wise. The crowd was no where near the numbers of the past. I believe that people are waiting until this evening when it might cool down a bit. I ran into the Mayor with a lady friend.

Old Bridge Park Party was a success, thanks to the many volunteers but especially for Dee and Laurence McNamara who have organized this event for the past 5 years. George, who works at the Pelican Restaurant dug into his pocket the other day and came up with a crumbled $5 for the cause. Drew Martin was doing some cooking and Commissioner Golden was helping to serve. Besides Jo-Ann Golden, Commissioners Jennings and Mulvehill stopped by. Barry Freedman who owns the T-shirt shop at the Casino, donated some T-shirts to some of the kids who participated in the fishing contest and Brouges on the Avenue gave a $25 gift certificate to the fishing contest winner, Chris Kondas and his little daughter.

I spotted Harvey Millstein, Tricia Fitzpatrick, Annabeth Karson, Laurel Decker, Joan Farrell, Betty Anderson and Ron Exline, Javier and his kids, among those I knew. That's Tom Vaughan from Hypoluxo on the motorcycle, a LW High School graduate, Class of '61. Tom Ramiccio's license tag was just too tempting to pass up--he is operating with an expired tag!

Fishing, Food and Friends

To comment, click on title
Comment up
This free event has been a big success over the past four years and this one will be no exception. It will be the 5th anniversary of saving Old Bridge Park for the people.

This is a strip of land that was saved from development and a sweetheart deal for one developer, Lesley Evans. The parcel was retained for the pleasure of the people and in fact, from that vote, no public land can be sold off without the vote of the citizens. After the people won the vote, the property was to be eventually developed into a park. It has not and has remained virtually the same since then giving the other side a bogus argument of, "See, it still looks like a piece of crap." They would still rather see a highrise condo there.

At the time, the regime in power, fought so hard against the result of the public referenda and wanted to defeat the Ordinance at the elections. The Mayor at the time put out this request at a public meeting:

Authorize up to $5,000 from the General Fund Contingency Account (current balance in this account is $509,600) to the City Commission Promotion Account for the design and mailing of one fact sheet to all voters who voted in the past two City elections, newly registered voters since March 2004, and recent primary plus with regard to the upcoming referendum item "Public Lands, Public Vote".

Luckily, we now have SB 216 in effect and no city government will be allowed to campaign against the people using public funds.

Many citizens volunteer time, money and food for this occasion that is enjoyed by ALL the citizens here in Lake Worth, not just a favored few. All volunteers put aside their political differences on this day (with the exception of Jimbo, poor guy--still fighting it) of celebration, not only for the founding of our country but for saving Old Bridge Park.

Save The Water Front And Town invites all of you to another great day of fishing, food and friends.

If you want to help make it a success, please contact Laurence McNamara at 547-3996.