Public Notice of Lake Worth election

Last night's Commission Meeting

I only stayed at the city commission meeting for an hour and 20 minutes--there was a gorgeous sunset to capture.

Cpt. Baer gave a long presentation on crime. With 8,000 activities a year, he says that crime is down in Lake Worth. Vandalism is up by 41.7%, vehicle thefts up by 20% and heroin overdoes are out of control. And whatever you do, never pick up a used needle without proper protection. Cpt. Baer presentation

While I was there, everything passed on a 5/0 vote under Public Hearings and no one from the public spoke.  Millage was set. The budget was set (we're spending more money than we're making), and two ordinances were passed involving land development regulations and assigning fund balances from year 2016.

One item under New Business was pulled and will be on the October 4 agenda:  Ordinance 2016-28 which was to be the first reading adopting Palm Beach County's solicitation and distribution on public roads. City attorney, Glen Torcivia said something was wrong with it.

The ordinance prohibits a person from going upon a public road for the purpose of displaying information of any kind, distributing materials or goods or soliciting business or charitable contributions of any kind. PBSO may issue a notice to appear to persons who violate this ordinance. The notice to appear shall require the person to appear in court to respond to the municipal ordinance violation charge.

Sec. 19-87. - Peddlers, solicitors or canvassers prohibited in downtown area and major thoroughfares; exceptions.

(a) No peddler shall conduct or engage in any business activities in the downtown area or along the major thoroughfares.

(b) No solicitors or canvassers shall conduct or engage in any soliciting or canvassing activities in the downtown area or along the major thoroughfares.

(c) This section shall not apply to:
(1) Authorized peddlers at the city green market or arts market;
(2) Authorized peddlers acting as concessionaries at a special event with the express written approval of the city or special event organizers/sponsors;
(3) Authorized peddlers conducting business pursuant to a franchise, permit or other written agreement with the city; or
(4) Solicitors or canvassers who solicit or canvass exclusively for a non-profit or charitable cause in the downtown area or along major thoroughfares or are otherwise authorized by law in such
areas

Quote of the Day - Mobile Home Park HO Association president speaks out

Comment Up

"All notices from the City of Lake Worth are published in the Lake Worth Herald and not in the Palm Beach Post.

The Lake Worth Herald's owner is in the pocket of The Trio. Maxwell admitted at the protest that he doesn't read the Palm Beach Post that he only reads the Lake Worth Herald [for news]. That should tell you enough. The Post reports the news; the Herald reports only what they want to have posted. As it is a low reader paper that is how they got away with what they did to the mobile home park and God only knows what else."

~ Jerri Greene
President of Palm Beach Mobile Home Park Homeowner's Association

Public Notices and Transparency

Comment Up

Katie asked me if I had read an article in the PBPost regarding public meetings. It is an interesting article by Dominic Calabro of Florida TaxWatch that focuses on government accountability and transparency, something we are always complaining about here in Lake Worth.

The first paragraph reads: "We must continue to fight to protect the public’s right to maintain a vigilant eye on their elected officials. The cornerstone of our constitutional democratic republic is protecting citizens’ right to full and public notice when their elected officials are discussing or making decisions that could affect everyone’s daily lives."

One of the revealing tidbits of important information and something neither Katie nor I knew is that in 2012, the Florida Legislature voted in a law that said newspapers are required to e-mail any new notices free of charge to anyone who has requested that they be notified.

So, with that said, everyone needs to contact the Lake Worth Herald, a news publication that is totally partisan and one that gets all of the city business, and request that your e-mail address be included for all future public meeting notices.

Road Closure Announcement

October 26, 2015
Contact: Jamie Brown, Public Services Director Phone: 561.586.1720
Email: jbrown@lakeworth.org

PUBLIC SERVICES DEPARTMENT PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT

The City of Lake Worth’s Public Services Department would like to inform the community that beginning October 27, 2015 through November 3, 2015, a section of 2nd Avenue North between Boutwell Road and Everett Court will be closed for underground utility work for the Villages II at Lake Osborne project and will experience temporary road closure for water and drainage installation. MOT including detour signs and alternate routes will be in place. The road will remain closed each day.

Please be cautious while driving in this area and obey all traffic workers. Safety is of the utmost importance for our residents as well as the workers.

Public Services would like to thank you in advance for your support and understanding during this construction.

For more information regarding this underground work activity for the Villages II at Lake Osborne project please feel free to call Paul Hundley with Dawson-Williams, Inc. at 561-346-0546 or Rusty Barton at 561-262-1737 or Dennis Montague with AHS Construction at (305) 420-8617.

Lake Worth is keeping you in the dark

Comment Up

All sorts of stuff goes on behind closed doors with this city administration (and normally Commissioner Christopher McVoy is kept out of the loop) but RFP's have to be posted by law.  That is one thing they can't hide from the public. And some things have to be published in the local newspaper by law.

Even when they do that, unless you subscribe or just happen to run across a legal notice, you would still be in the dark. Nothing of importance is printed in the city's monthly newsletter.  It is a waste of paper.

The City of Lake Worth (“City”) is seeking competitive, sealed replies from responsible offerors to commence negotiations regarding offers to manage, maintain, operate, redesign, renovate, expand, equip and/or implement creative ventures at the newly renovated Lake Worth Beach Complex. You would think that there would be some discussion of something as important as and RFP on managing our casino and pool, wouldn't you?  The city manager NEVER gives a report and NEVER lets the public know what's going on. The city manager report section of the Agenda should just be removed. And while your'e at it, get rid of the City Attorney's section as well.

On November 4, 2014, the city put out a Public Notice (did anyone know?) of the selection committee meeting that was held in the city's conference room in order to discuss the proposals from the responsive firms to mange our casino and pool. This was a public notice but now no one can find out anything about it per Cristy Goddeau: The meetings and replies are exempt from the Public Records laws and the Sunshine Law at this time (see section 286.0113(2)(b) and 119.071(1)(b)(2), Florida Statutes).

The Energy Performance Contract with Siemens is coming up at a public meeting AFTER the election.  The fact that Hudson Holdings was told that they could build 65 feet at the Gulfstream Hotel with a new addition  (if even renovations ever happen) is being kept quiet. And whatever they have in store for us at our city owned beach, will also be AFTER the election.  All is strategized here.  City government is all political and they will purposely time it so that they have a better chance of screwing around with your assets and/or take your cash.

ITN 14-211

Casino Beach Complex Expansion-------

Addendum #1 Addendum #2

Notice of Selection Committee Meeting Attendance Sheet 11-4-14 Meeting

What would we ever do without efficiency?

Comment Up

Always being a "company man," the City Clerk just put out this announcement:


From: Pamela Lopez
Sent: Wednesday, August 01, 2012 8:27 AM
To: Andy Amoroso; Christopher McVoy; Elaine Humphreys; Michael Bornstein; Pam Triolo; Scott Maxwell; Silvina Donaldson; Suzanne Mulvehill
Cc: 'glen@torcivialaw.com'; 'christy@torcivialaw.com'
Subject: ballot question public hearing

On Saturday, I sent the City Commission, City Manager, and City Attorney an email regarding the Commission action needed to continue the above public hearing from Aug. 7^th to Sept. 18^th based on the  Commission’s approved motion on Saturday, July 28^th….as you may recall a public hearing notice was advertised on July 28^th in the PB Post announcing the public hearing date on Aug. 7th.  After discussing the new public hearing date with the City Attorney and best method to proceed with the new date, it was decided that an advertisement will appear in the PB Post on Saturday, Aug. 4^th amending the previous public hearing date from Aug. 7^th to September 18^th….this method will negate the need to have this subject matter on the Aug. 7^th Commission agenda for any action.   

A second public notice will be advertised no later than 10 days prior to the Sept. 18^th public hearing date.