Special City Commission tonight

Monday, October 6 at 6pm

The important items on the agenda are under Unfinished Business.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS: A. Potential charter amendments – election certification
B. Potential charter amendments – police & fire departments
C. Potential charter amendments – most votes
D. Potential charter amendments – term limits
E. Potential charter amendments – lease terms east of A1A
F. Potential charter amendments – lease terms other city properties
G. Potential charter amendments – building heights
H. Potential charter amendments – others not previously discussed

Commissioner McVoy has shared his thoughts on these amendments:

My overall thoughts on all of these charter amendments, regarding rushing to put them on a March 2026 ballot, are:

1) The charter is our strongest city document. It should only be changed if there is widespread understanding of, and support for, the changes. That certainly is not the situation now;
2) at a minimum, the changes should be researched and considered by a charter review committee; followed by lively community discussions;
3) these changes are being rushed through to remove thoughtful PROTECTIONS that were previously adopted to protect our public park beach from development;
4) the argument, “let the public vote,” is disingenuous. What will really happen is the developers will spend serious money for a PR campaign; way outspending the means of any grass roots citizens group trying to defend the public character of our beach (and golf course).

Christopher McVoy
Commissioner, District 2
City of Lake Worth Beach, FL
cmcvoy@lakeworthbeachfl.gov

Bogus propaganda by the City of Lake Worth

Ballot measure seen as vital to Lake Worth Beach’s future

Melodramatic to say the least!

There is NO reason that anyone wanting to develop on the Gulfstream property can't build to 65 feet and make a profit. NONE. We have heard all the arguments for years--the developers "want" or "must have" an additional 20 feet. This is all a load of bogus propaganda.

The city, as well as its elected officials, continue to pull the wool over your eyes...they are capitulating to developers all over the city. They continue to roll over to all developers' desires and allow themselves to fall under and believe a form of developer coercion. There is still no guarantee that a hotel will be built there no matter what developers tell you. Until you see a contract between the seller (Hudson Holdings) and a buyer and that contract is contingent on building a hotel, then the Amendment #3 should be rejected.

Our lame duck commissioner gave his opinion: "If the measure is rejected, it’s likely that the developers won’t close the deal, leaving the hotel empty indefinitely." Hardy said this would result in the downtown area’s 'continued stagnation.' "It’s a no-brainer for me...this is a backward-or-forward moment, not just for the Gulfstream, but the city. This ballot item is a test for us. And I hope that we pass it.”

The continued "stagnation"of our downtown to which Hardy refers, is attributed to high rental rates. And, there are very few stores where people want to shop. We've been a city for over 100 years now, Commissioner, and we have been and are sustainable. "Moving forward" does not mean we have to change our LDR's and zoning for developers or knock down historic buildings.

Hardy is running for state representative and he will need developer campaign contributions--so will all our present commissioners down the road.

Read more...

VOTE NO ON ALL THREE AMENDMENTS.

Lake Worth (Beach) State of the City

Free parking will be available at the Lake Worth Casino and Beach Complex starting at 5:30 PM. Seating and parking will be provided on a first come first serve basis.

Admission is free.

Every year, this is done directly before an election. This State of the City is just in time to promote the city's three referendums that we will be voting on this March 17th. Don't forget to get out and vote NO on all three.

Vote YES on Trump; Vote NO on Lake Worth questions

Lake Worth Ballot Questions

VOTE NO

Lake Worth Beach
Ballot Question	Response
Ballot Question One     In order to reduce the city’s maintenance costs and enhance city facilities, shall Article II, Section 3, of the City of Lake Worth Beach charter entitled “City-owned Property East of the A1A Roadway” be amended to allow for a lease of up to 30 years with all proceeds used exclusively for the city-owned property east of the A1A roadway?	Yes   No
Ballot Question Two     In order to continue the county’s management and maintenance of the Jewell-Steinhardt Cove as a nature preserve, which preserve is generally located adjacent and west of A1A and adjacent and south of the Lake Worth Beach Bridge, shall the city be authorized to extend its current lease with Palm Beach County to a total lease term of 99 years?	Yes   No
Ballot Question Three     To make the renovation and reopening of the historic Gulfstream Hotel financially feasible, shall Article IV, Section 11, of the charter entitled "Building Height Limitation" be amended to allow a maximum height of 87 feet (matching the existing height of the Gulfstream Hotel) instead of 65 feet, for those properties located north of 1st Avenue South and south of Lake Avenue and east of South Lakeside Drive and west of South Golfview Road?

Hear Buyers of Gulstream Hotel at Casino

This should be interesting as the City of Lake Worth is counting on its residents to vote favorably for a height amendment on March 17 (Amendment 3) for these parcels at the Gulfstream Hotel. We should find out if they are indeed going to build a hotel on that property and what they have in mind and why they need 87 feet. Of course, every good intent is subject to change. If you notice, the announcement only says "their plans to restore the crown jewel..." and "save the historic Gulfstream hotel"

Important items on Tuesday night's Commission Agenda

12. NEW BUSINESS:

• A. Educational Initiatives brought forward by Commissioner Maxwell
• B. Sales Tax discussion brought forward by Commissioner Robinson
• C. Resolution No. 78-2018 - supporting the Community ID program in Palm Beach County brought forward by Vice Mayor Amoroso

Following is the City's Propaganda:


BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION for C: The Palm Beach County Community ID Program, coordinated by the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County,is modeled after a successful program in Greensboro, North Carolina. Identification cards would be issued to any resident of the county who is in need of a valid and accepted form of identification. The process of verifying the person’s identity includes a vetting process in which they must provide proof of identity including; Embassy ID, national ID card, passport, driver’s license, and proof of address (utility bill, medical record, bank statement or lease agreement). By providing this useful form of data residents in the county such as elderly who have lost their birth certificates can get basic services including banking. Another benefit in working with this program is to increase participation in the Census 2020 and help provide a valid population count.

• D. Approval of $10,000.00 to assist with the approval of the Community ID program
• E. Ordinance No. 2018-18 - First reading - Ballot language to change name of City to Lake Worth Beach by referendum on March 12, 2019, and setting the second reading and public hearing for December 13, 2018

BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION for E: The City’s eastern municipal boundary is generally from the City’s property at the municipal beach and along the western boarder of the Intracoastal waterway the City’s western municipal boundary is generally adjacent to the eastern boarders of E-4 South Florida Water Management Canal, John Prince Park and Lake Osborne. There are only two zip codes within the City’s municipal boundaries (33460 and 33461), but the United States Postal Service associates seven (7) other zip codes with “Lake Worth” and parts of unincorporated Palm Beach County are often referred to as “Lake Worth” in descriptions of physical addresses, news reports and a variety of population and criminal statistics. The City desires to distinguish itself from these surrounding unincorporated areas and eliminate confusion regarding the City’s municipal boundaries.

• F. Ordinance No. 2018-19 - First reading - Ballot language to allow the sale of 501 Lake Avenue (our former chamber of commerce building) by referendum on March 12, 2019, and setting the second reading and public hearing for December 13, 2018
  

BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION for F:  The City is actively engaged in efforts to improve downtown infrastructure and surrounding infrastructure including, but not limited to, improving the water and sewer facilities, stormwater facilities, street-lighting and signage, neighborhood roads, murals, streetscapes and working with community partners to improve other existing facilities and the City is also actively engaged in efforts to enhance re-development in the downtown area and surrounding areas by purchasing and developing properties to provide more public parking; by creating an economic development incentive program; by creating a sustainable bonus incentive program; by investing in the overall appearance and betterment of infrastructure downtown; by attracting new businesses to downtown; by motivating existing businesses to expand or relocate downtown; and, by utilizing public events to market downtown.

I am against all 3.

Judge rules on Co-Ed California bathroom bill

Comment Up

JUDGE RULES IN OPEN-BATHROOMS FIGHT

America's absurdity over bathrooms is now being fought in the courts, and one gutsy judge has just jumped right into the fray with an important decision.

"This is as far as they've ever gone. This is the most extreme" ...

Read about it... at WND.

In 2013, California, a state always ahead of the liberal progressive curve and probably why they're nearly bankrupt, adopted a law allowing students in schools to use facilities, showers, restrooms, locker rooms, etc., based on their “gender identity.”

Supervisor of Elections Palm Beach County - Even complaints are political

Comment Up

It's always the cities that have referendums whose results are unpopular with city governments that give Supervisor of Elections, Susan Bucher, a hard time.  Now it's Palm Beach Gardens.  David Levy, councilman, has never seen a development project he didn't like and certainly term limits are something for which he did not advocate. Lots of politicians want to be in there for life--it's more difficult voting out an incumbent.  Unfortunately, the voters thought differently in PBG and voted in term limits by 79%. Now Palm Beach Gardens is balking at the supervisor's bill for this election.

The last time, it was Lake Worth and the General Obligation Bond. Lake Worth didn't balk at the cost which at the time was estimated to be approximately $5,500 as the majority of the expenses were borne by the County Supervisor of Elections as there were several candidates and another issue on this August 26, 2014 primary election. But our city complained about this initiative being defeated, losing by 50.40% of the vote, and went after poll volunteers and those at some of our precincts for not counting 14 votes because of various issues like not signing their ballot. Also the city didn't like having to pay a charge of $400 for copies and refused to pay the SOE's legal fees.

When elections go their way, especially city backed initiatives, there are never any complaints about the Supervisor of Elections Office by any city government for anything.

SB 374 Growth Managment - Florida

The law is now tighter than ever. What about Charter Amendments?
Some Trivia: In Section 23.1-3 in our Code of ordinances, the Purpose of the LDR's is--

c. Preserve the basic subdivision, design and layout of the city by its forefathers.

e. Preserve residential properties to assure that future development will be in conformity with the foregoing distinctive character, with respect to type, intensity, design and appearance.

SB 374: Growth Management

GENERAL BILL by Detert

Growth Management; Revising restrictions on an initiative or referendum process with regard to local comprehensive plan amendments and map amendments, etc.

Effective Date: June 20, 2014 Upon becoming a law
Last Action: 6/20/2014 - Chapter No. 2014-178
Location: Became Law
Bill Text: Web Page | PDF