Workshop on Public Private Partnerships

The City of Lake Worth (Beach) is determined to barrel ahead to screw up our beach.  And it's not only the beach...it's the entire city. They love developers and they love abrogating their responsibility to someone else, anyone else.

Look what they did to the Steinhardt property...a 99 year lease is like giving the County the property. Back on January 7, 2014, the suggested 99 year lease to the County (on the dry as well as the submerged land) was approved to make this property a nature preserve. Now the 99 year lease to the County will be on the ballot.

But I digress--The intent of this particular workshop was to familiarize the Commission on Public/Private Partnerships as the majority of them is all for spending millions. We have already spent millions but those millions apparently are not enough. 

Basically, the City can't manage itself out of a wet paper bag. They can't manage the beach. They made a decision to have public transportation with a bus that goes down our main streets to bring people to our beach...precious parking revenue lost that we depend upon to make our budget.


Time for Term Limits

Election Endorsements 2008

A Blast from the Past--2008

My endorsements on September 30, 2008

When scrolling back to 2008, there was a lot of coverage on Greater Bay and the near "theft" of our casino, pool and park in general. What a year. It took a lot of citizens to stop this but history has a way of repeating itself. Now we are going through beach "issues" again.

And September 30, 2008 was the start of this blog. What has changed the most for me is my politics. It took the election of Barack Obama and his tenure in office to permanently change my viewpoint and general attitude. In the beginning I was into his "hope and change" and gave him the benefit of any doubt. Now, I will never go back. The Democrat party is unrecognizable today.

As far as local politics, I will always speak up for our small town charm. And even in 2008, we were fighting off 99 year leases (to no avail--(they were overwhelmingly voted in and go against our Charter Amendment), something that will probably be on our March 2019 ballot on the Steinhardt property. After the city's survey, the ballot initiatives will be worded so carefully that everyone will fall for them in a positive vote.

The pendulum swings, always coming back to the same old things of the past...the same old fights and the people believing what the city tells them is the best for them.

Steinhardt on the Consent Agenda

Well, this time the city actually outdid itself with 22 items on the Consent Agenda...4 short of a complete alphabet.

July 18 Agenda

One of the more interesting items on the Consent Agenda is the approval of the naming rights on the property known as the "Steinhardt property." No discussion on this--just pushing items forward in this "transparent" city environment.

A little background:
Originally leased to Marshall, owner of the Gulfstream Hotel back then, who flipped the lease 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, chaired by Laurence McNamara along with other members, one of whom was the late Peter Timm,  went out on a petition in 2005, Steinhardt's dream was soon ended in spite of elected officials such as the then mayor, Rodney Romano, trying to keep it off the ballot. Eventually, the PAC got it on a March ballot and won at the ballot box on a Public Land/Public Vote Charter Amendment with 60% of the vote.

Betty Resch, former City of Lake Worth attorney represented the Steinhardts and came before the City Commission some 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.

The heirs eventually terminated the lease with the city and the city accepted (they owed a bunch of money to the City of Lake Worth) after their dream of development was shattered.

Read my blog of January 6, 2014. They don't deserve their name on this property as they never owned it.

"Steinhardt" Property

Comment Up

All of us who go to the beach or drive down A1A have seen the clearing of land on the western side of AIA formerly known as the Steinhardt property.  Betty Resch was the attorney for the Stenhardts who years ago leased this property from the City of Lake Worth in order to build.

Read about it...

Steinhardts voluntarily terminate lease

Back on January 7, 2014,  the suggested (I am still trying to get a copy of that agreement) 99 year lease with the County on the dry as well as the submerged land was approved to make this property a nature preserve.  Former commissioner Suzanne Mulvehill had everything to do with this eventual occurrence.

The Steinhardt's wanted it called Steinhardt Cove. After objections from some residents who contacted their commissioners, the naming rights were  removed from the Contract. The County is now occupying and developing the land and the deal was that after 20 years the city would go out on a referendum for the electorate to approve a 99 year lease.  Or they could get around the 20 years minus a day by renewing them every 19 years and 364 days. Of course, by then this watchdog will be long gone.

Project Overview
• Restore habitat within 11-acre Jewell Cove site.
• Stabilize the shoreline and install access at Old Bridge Park.
Phase I (to be completed in June 2016)
• Remove invasive vegetation along shoreline (completed).
• Install over 700 feet of rock reef to stabilize the shoreline, while providing mangrove, marsh and oyster habitat.
• Place sand behind the created breakwater to form a mangrove planter and protect the shoreline.
Phase II (to begin in winter 2016)
• Install native maritime hammock vegetation along 1,100 feet of shoreline.
• Construct a new seawall, fishing pier/floating dock and associated landscaping at Old Bridge Park.
Project Partners
Palm Beach County, City of Lake Worth, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida
Inland Navigation District, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Interlocal Agreement with PBCounty. We have never received a signed agreement back from the County as of this date, May 9, 2016.

We did hear back from the County on what they're presently doing:

The site that we presently call Jewel Cove is indeed being transformed into a passive park highlighting native hammock species.  There was, unfortunately, quite a significant population of invasive exotic vegetation on the site, but they have now all been removed in preparation for our extensive replanting work.  A more detailed explanation of the project can be found here:

http://www.co.palm-beach.fl.us/erm/downloads/pdf/projectfactsheets/OldBridgePark_FS.pdf

but we would be happy to tour the site with you at any time during construction.  At this point, our contractor is building some nearshore breakwater habitat and stone revetment to protect the site from further erosion.  Once he has completed the work, we will be able to establish the trail and begin the planting.

Should you have any questions/concerns/suggestions, please feel free to call me.

Daniel Bates
Deputy Director
Palm Beach County Department of Environmental Resources Management
561-233-2445     pbcgov.org/erm    facebook.com/PBCERM

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.

Steinhardt outstanding Balance to the City of Lake Worth

Comment Up

The following is a letter dated January 13, 2011 wherein it shows that the corporations involved in the "Steinhardt property" or in actuality the submerged Lake Worth leased property,  owe the city of Lake Worth $26,238.21 for the two submerged parcels of land under the Lease terms. All amounts owed will be written off by the city.
.

Submerged Land in Lake Worth - Proposed Nature Preserve

Comment Up

The City of Lake Worth owns 13 acres of submerged land in the Intracoastal Waterway that has been referred to as the Steinhardt property although the Steinhardts never owned it.  They leased it from the City in 1967 and were given a 99 year lease in order to develop it.  Steinhardt wanted to build five, 10 story condos on three man-made islands. The city even applied for the permits on his behalf in order to push it along. And although the developer crowd still exists in Lake Worth today, this is one project that didn't get off the ground...errr, water. 

Nothing was done as they never could get the permits they desired.  There was a lot of hassle from government agencies. So, back in 2011, former commissioner Suzanne Mulvehill met with Palm Beach County officials to see about a grant-funded nature center. She put the bug in their ear and that's what's on the table today.

In June 2012, the corporation finally gave up its lease and said it wanted the property to be used as a conservation area. It was anticipated that Palm Beach County Environmental Resources Management would restore and manage the property with us waiving all fees and keep it as a passive park. We will take care of Public Safety.  Before anything is restored or constructed on the property, the County will submit plans and get approval from the City. The property will be opened to the public and the city will be responsible for the opening and closing of the preserve. The $1 dollar a year, 99 year lease agreement provides that the upland area will be reserved for future public amenities, including parking. Nothing is said in the Lease about revenue that could be generated from parking (land is across from the beach property) or admission.

The most ridiculous request and made a part of this proposed lease is that the Steinhardt family wants the property acknowledged with their name.  They never owned it.
The suggestion is to call it Steinhardt Cove.

Now, on Tuesday night under New Business C, the city will present this latest scheme that has been obviously under discussion for quite some time. This has to be voted upon by the residents and the city/county has devised another plan by allowing this lease for the first ten years and then going out on a Referendum that they must do by City law for any lease of Public property that is more than 20 years. By that time, the citizenry will be used to the nature preserve and vote it in. Also, the voters might have more trust in the local government regarding  elections in general.

Previous blog on this submerged property