Shining the Light on Lake Worth2020 - The cash grab continues

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Siemens says that LED Street lighting will reduce
 energy consumption 60 - 65%

Hector Samario of Siemens Infrastructure and Cities division gave the presentation last night to the city commission. The entire commission is enthralled that it will be taking Lake Worth into the 21st Century at least as long as the capital improvements last--15 or 20 years? Whenever the commission hears the word "sustainability" they all have orgasms.

Any company that is in this sustainability business and makes its money off of improving energy performance will emphasize that infrastructure is the backbone of our economy. Mr. Samario didn't have to do that last night.  This commission already understood that as Siemens has been around our city for the past eight or nine months delving into our needs. "It moves people and goods, it powers our lives, it fuels growth," says Siemens, whose head company was founded in 1847.  Lake Worth certainly is no exception with its struggle of aging infrastructure. We are a poor city with no money and the city manager along with the commission has been planning on how to take your money for well over a year in order to rebuild our city in various ways.

Last night's presentation was not too long and only touched on what Siemens said that we needed.  The mayor asked about Smart Meters and she was assured that the smart metering is outside the home. She also said that she wants to see "lights everywhere." There was supposed to be a high level discussion of the entire project but street lighting seemed to be the commission's major concern.

The public was not allowed to comment nor did the mayor ask anyone if they wanted to comment.  And not once did the commission ask anything about the $20 to $25  million dollar cost.  This is a decision that the commission can do all on its own.  They don't need a vote of the people unless they were to go with a general obligation bond. They are all in total agreement that smart building technologies drive energy efficiency and reduce costs.  Not only do they want to rebuild all of our infrastructure, they want this city "green" and in the red.

Perhaps a lot was not explained. We need to see the contract proposal and understand the financing and why it won't cost the City money. Someone(s) is going to make a lot of money off of Lake Worth.

Siemens Industry - Energy Audit for Lake Worth to grab $20 million of your money

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Well, it's probably not a scam but it definitely is being sold by an expert salesman who makes big bucks to convince deep pocketed municipalities to partner up. The only thing that will be "energized" will be your "walking wallet," a phrase coined by Peter Timm.

A. Hector Samario, Siemens Industry, Inc., (a salesman) will be at a city of Lake Worth tonight to give a 26 page Power Point presentation in order to provide an update on Energy Performance Contracting Services. They will try and convince this commission to take on a partner to implement their ideas on how Lake Worth can be more energy efficient. This is about SMART GRIDS and SMART METERING.

"Mr. Samario is on the Board of Directors of the USGBC South Florida as Vice President. Hector Samario, LEED AP, a Senior Project Executive with Siemens Industries, Inc., works with municipalities, counties and school districts to develop energy and water conservation strategies aimed at reducing utility consumption, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the overall cost of operations. Moreover, the strategies developed have the additional focus of creating and/or maintaining "green" jobs in the local economies." Their targeted and lucrative market has the deep pockets from taxpayers.

Back on April 1, 2014, every single commissioner voted to hire Siemens Industry to conduct an audit on energy efficiency--Peter Timm, the resident this commission loves to muzzle, spoke out saying we could not afford this $148,000 audit.  Siemens only charged the County $89,000 for an audit. Suzanne Squire said that we paid $199,400 for Energize Lake Worth (a study by Lewis, Longman and Walker) for the same service (Read the PBPost article) and asked that city money not be wasted. Bornstein brought it to the table and now it appears that the audit might be complete.  If the plan is accepted, we are obligated to enter into an energy performance contract and/or pay the $148,000 audit fee. 

Siemens says that its guarantee ensures energy consumption savings throughout the contract period. If the agreed upon energy goals are not met, Siemens pays the shortfall. If your energy savings surpass the Guarantee goals, you receive 100 percent of the excess savings – an unbeatable formula they say. After the initial implementation is done, in a sense, free of charge, with the payment coming from the percentage of the energy savings collected by a financing company or the ESCO.

Now nothing is free.  That's my take on it. This all would have to be paid by the taxpayers in some form and Siemens is there to "help" the city to that end when this crack jack administration (that already wasted $200,000 of your money on Energize Lake Worth) decides to implement their audit findings. That's the only way you might come out ahead. You can't save money until you implement their suggestions.  And you can't save money until you go into debt. Until you do that, you owe them. And how much is this contract?

Scope of Work
$20M - $25M Project
Annual Guaranteed Savings $2M - $2.5M 

So, this is about borrowing $20 to 25 million over approximately 20 years or putting it on your tax bill. They can help our new finance director craft financial options that meet the city's  requirements and get as creative as the last idea (still on the table), the general obligation bond for infrastructure.  Remember, that finance director disappeared in the middle of the night?

• Standard general obligation bonds
• Revenue bonds
• Tax-exempt municipal leases
• Capital leases
• Energy services off-balance sheet agreements

In June 2005, the GAO released a report, “Energy Savings: Performance Contracts Offer Benefits, But Vigilance Is Needed To Protect Government Interests. The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Technology, Acquisition, and Logistics agreed with the GAO findings. “While these complicated contracts are structured to ensure that savings will exceed costs,” the DOD noted, “we recognize that our measurement and verification procedures must be improved to confirm estimates with actual data.” Unverified savings, often stipulated rather than proven, do not put more oil in the ground, take CO₂ out of the air or reduce operating budgets.

You've heard that old saying--If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.  Energy and Carbon Management says that the biggest barrier is the lack of appropriate, low-cost, long-term financing.  The biggest problem here is that the city continues to have pipe dreams to spend millions that they do not have.

And we can't even fix a pothole.

Hacking Smart Meters  of a Utility
 

Lake Worth loves Studies?

If you look at tomorrow night's city commission agenda, you will readily see that it's almost a waste of time attending them. The commission wants to get in and out in a flash.

It wasn't too long ago that when it came to hiring firms to complete "studies" (analyses), the idea was condemned. I have always approved of knowing the facts and have approved of feasibility studies but everything in that regard under former city manager Stanton was lambasted. Now it seems that this commission has had an about face over the past few years and have come to realize that studies might be smart afterall.  Before making crucial decisions that affect our city and its budget, we have to know all the specifics.  But what I have noticed with this commission is that they approve of all staff recommendations...whatever it is, it's great going in their eyes. In order to grab the cash, they always find justification for spending the money by citing other cities who have implemented the one they are promoting. This particular study will cost $139,529. It is under New business and will be approved on Tuesday, January 20:

Agreement with Burton & Associates for a Comprehensive Integrated Financial Sustainability Analysis for the City's 2015/2016 budget

SUMMARY:
This Contract will provide for the development of an inter-active Comprehensive Integrated Financial Sustainability Analysis that will provide the framework for the development of a City wide business plan and the basis for the FY2015/16 through FY 2026 Budgets. The program will provide the information for multi-year plans and will be based on the consultants wide ranging knowledge of local government finance projections. The system will plot multiple variables and changes through all funds that would be affected and allows for realtime changes of variables.

That platform has now been expanded and can be used for a Comprehensive Integrated Financial Sustainability Analysis on a City wide basis. This analysis will allow the City to immediately observe the impact of proposed fee and rate changes across all major funds and over a 10 year planning horizon. Using this analysis will significantly increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the preparation, approval and maintenance of the City’s budget as well as provide the Commission with the information to clearly see the result of policy decision on the budget.

About Seven50 - Counties dropping like Flies

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Seven now down to Four Counties in South Florida

  What Seven50 Really Means

From the Seven50 website:

It’s a land use, housing, zoning, and transportation Plan for the 7 counties of southeast Florida for the next 50 years but now it's down to 4. Palm Beach County is NOT considering dropping out. There was a mini-demonstration made up of a lot of senior citizens at the County Commission meeting on Tuesday. Extra deputies were called in to shut them up.

• Designed with little public input
• Adds a layer of regional governance
• Encouraged by Federal agencies (your taxes)
• THEIR vision for OUR growth controls all:
  • land and water
  • plants and animals
  • energy
  • construction
  • human beings
  • and more

It will CHANGE FOREVER the way your children and grandchildren live and work in south Florida

• Housing choice – LOST
• Unlimited travel by car – LOST
• Private property rights – LOST
• Local County control – LOST
• Low density character of county – LOST
• Voter access to effect change – LOST

Misinformation being disseminated by Obama administration on Immigration

Jan C. Ting, a Delaware resident, is a professor of law at Temple University’s Beasley School of Law and wrote an article for Delaware OnLine wherein he states that the Obama administration and Joe Biden in particular, are guilty of misinformation when they use the dishonest example that "their ancestors came to the United States and they were illegal."

Read his article, Why does Biden claim his ancestors are illegal immigrants.

The next time one of those open border people give you this line, remind them of the policy and laws at the time...tell them to remember history. You can not compare the first century with today and all our present laws on immigration. Open borders and/or amnesty is not sustainable for America.

60% of those polled believe that our government is not aggressive enough on illegal immigrant deportations.  Read about it here.

Code Compliance Division

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In the Back-up for tonight's special meeting is the following:

Department for Community Sustainability
1. What changes are planned for FY 2014?

· Administration Division
o Economic Development Manager moved to City Manager’s Office
· Business Tax Receipts/Use & Occupancy Division
o No changes
o Some increases in revenues due to improved collections and code
· Planning, Zoning & Historic Preservation Division
o Proposed half time Associate Planner to handle Business Tax Receipt and Use &
Occupancy applications due to increased work load demands
o Additional fee revenue from adoption of Land Development Regulations and
establishment of new fees.
· Code Compliance Division
o No staffing changes
o Some increases in revenue based on improved collections
· Building Division
o No staff changes
o No increase in projected permit revenue

So which is it?  Are we outsourcing this department as the city manager announced or are we not per the city's own documentation?

What is Seven/50?

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We heard Commissioner John Szerdi mention it.  And there are many people alarmed about it.  What is it?

From the Seven/50 web site: Seven50 (“seven counties, 50 years”) is a blueprint for growing a more prosperous, more desirable Southeast Florida during the next 50 years and beyond. The plan is being developed to help ensure a vibrant and resilient economy, and stewardship of the fragile ecosystem in what is quickly becoming one of the world’s most important mega-regions.

Spearheaded by the South Florida and Treasure Coast Regional Planning Councils (the Treasure Coast gets its  nose into everything in Lake Worth) and the Southeast Florida Regional Partnership (SFRP), a unique collaboration of more than 200 public, private, and civic stakeholders, Seven50 is mapping the strategy for the best-possible quality of life for the more than six million residents of Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties.

The plan is being devised through a series of public summits, workshops, online outreach and high-impact studies led by the region’s top thinkers. Seven50 has been made possible by a grant from the US Department of Housing & Urban Development’s Sustainable Communities Initiative.  Click here for a comprehensive overview of Seven/50 from their web site.

We have heard Lake Worth resident, Suzanne Squire, talk about Seven/50 as well as Agenda 21.  Read her letter to the editor of the LW Herald this week's edition. What is Agenda 21?

In a nutshell, the plan calls for governments to take control of all land use and not leave any of the decision making in the hands of private property owners.  It is assumed that people are not good stewards of their land and the government will do a better job if they are in control.  Individual rights in general are to give way to the needs of communities as determined by the governing body.  - See more at: http://www.democratsagainstunagenda21.com/#sthash.36L50R7Z.dpuf

In a nutshell, the plan calls for governments to take control of all land use and not leave any of the decision making in the hands of private property owners.  It is assumed that people are not good stewards of their land and the government will do a better job if they are in control.  Individual rights in general are to give way to the needs of communities as determined by the governing body.  - See more at: http://www.democratsagainstunagenda21.com/#sthash.36L50R7Z.dpuf

 It is the taking over of all land use on private property by the government and ties in with Seven/50.  See what the mayor of Vero Beach has to say about it.

China--why aren't we concerned?

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Nexen Oil rig in Gulf

What do you think of when you think of China?  Lots of people?  Coolie wages? A China doll?  China is the world's second largest economy with growth rates of  10% a year over the past 30 years. What's going on with China? And what's going on with the United States when it comes to them? They export 2.021 trillion dollars of goods every year and the U.S. is the main export for them. They  are the largest foreign holder of U.S. debt which owns more about $1.2 trillion in bills, notes and bonds, according to the Treasury. It has to make you wonder and perhaps it should make you worry.

Obama decided to allow China, a country with over 1.35 billion people and the 2nd largest country by land area, to take over strategic drilling interests in the Gulf of Mexico in a move that will bring riches to several of the president’s financial supporters, according to claims made in a lawsuit. Read more... about it at Judicial Watch. Obama's top bundlers, you know, that dreaded 1% he is so phony about,  will make a fortune on this deal. China has been buying up oversees rivals since 2009 and has spent 92 billion buying already discovered reserves and even entire groups such as Canada’s Nexen.

According to The New York Times who quoted the International Energy Agency,  the United States will overtake Saudi Arabia as the world’s leading oil producer by about 2017 and will become a net oil exporter by 2030.

Per CNN,  and its article, Is China our new Enemy, "without a major public debate of the kind we have about raising taxes, or a congressional vote, the U.S. government is moving slowly but surely toward characterizing China as an aggressive superpower and is preparing for war, should it become necessary."

Because of an exchange rate that is partially set to be always priced lower than the dollar, last year the U.S. trade deficit with China was $315 billion, higher than any previous year. Donald Trump is always alerting us to this and "libs" aren't listening.

It seems that we are allowing China to build up their economy at our expense. Why? American innovation has always been part of our DNA but even China is stealing our technology and hacking into our systems. We used to be number one in innovation but we are losing ground. China is taking the lead and it is predicted that they will be ahead in two to four years.

Unbreakable and we're helping them right along.

Heights in downtown Lake Worth

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As the Palm Beach Post has made it much more difficult to comment, I have provided the link to Andrew  Marra's editorial in today's paper entitled, Reject overly strict Height Limits as proposed by Commissioner Mulvehill that will be on tonight's agenda.

Andrew Marra is a resident of Lake Worth and certainly entitled to his opinion even if it does differ from mine. The Planning & Zoning Board as well as William Waters, development Sustainability Director, have both recommended the proposed heights. There are sound and concrete reasons to do so as well as to just wanting to keep our downtown a low-rise city.

I have always believed that the people have the right to vote on land-use issues. However, the Florida Legislature in 2011, made it illegal to challenge Comprehensive Plans. Governor Rick Scott, supported by big business, believes that it stops growth. We will have no recourse on land-use changes unless we take action now to protect our city in how we want it to look.

Agenda 21

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I was thinking about Suzanne Squire--that I hadn't seen her lately--and then she commented on a blog here. She is passionate about Agenda 21 and it sure sounds scary. She, along with many informed people on this subject, believe that the UN is ruthlessly advancing a new plan that will make America a HOSTAGE to the United Nations among other things. Some feel that we are all being lead down the garden path when we talk about sustainable and walk-about cities.
It has been said that UN Agenda 21 could...

• Wipe private property off the face of the earth.
• Force you and your family to live in a multi-family energy efficient mega-complex.
• Confiscate private farms and farmland.
• Snatch away private landholdings.
• Ban individual ownership of cars.

Here's how the UN describes it:

"Effective execution of Agenda 21 will require a profound reorientation of all human society, unlike anything the world has ever experienced a major shift in the priorities of both governments and individuals and an unprecedented redeployment of human and financial resources. This shift will demand that a concern for the environmental consequences of every human action be integrated into individual and collective decision-making at every level."

Go to the AmeriPac web site and learn more.

Lake Worth Needs Responsible Growth

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As everyone knows, we don't have any more trees to cut down.

 We are the most densely populated city on the eastern part of Florida. 

Have you ever heard anyone say that they didn't want "smart growth" in Lake Worth?  Anyone?  Name that person.  This is a  myth that has been circulating way too long by all the political "pavers" here. It is just plain ridiculous politics by those who want taller buildings within our city just for "taller" sake with the false assumption that it will bring in more taxes.  This group is determined to get taller heights by hook or by crook and they all have bent the ear of the local news editor who is going along for the ride.

Lake Worth is vulnerable right now and the only town left that developers want to get their hands on. We have a lot going for us being a seaside city with the new casino, the beach redevelopment and people looking to buy the Gulfstream Hotel. We are on our way to prosperity. Developers know this and want to make as much money as they possibly can. That will happen if their friends have the political clout to raise the heights in our city. They also know that they can do that by a 3 to 2 vote. Politicians have been known to "sell out" in the past.

The local newspaper has always listened to that side of politics. Not once has anyone there ever sought the opinion of just average Joe Citizen, you know, the guy with no ax to grind and with no special interests.  If The Herald has, please let us know.

Today Mark's editorial said:  "Those who have voiced opposition to any increase in height are the same ones who want no growth in Lake Worth. They know that stagnation will cause a city to collapse into chaos, and that is precisely what they want.  Those who want unlimited height will turn Lake Worth into a concrete jungle of condos for [people with no jobs."  What a bunch of hogwash. Does The Herald really feel that all of us who want to keep a low rise city are stark raving mad? The Herald insults the majority of people in this City.

Right now Planning & Zoning is attempting to ensure that we have a sustainable city now and well into the future and has presented a Plan that will work. Heights are fine west side of Dixie and at The Park of Commerce.  As one citizen recently said, "False perception from "Politicos" is nothing more than pander and slander in order to be self serving to those who want "their way" instead of what is best for our city as a whole.

Following are the dates for the Comp Plan:
June 6, 2012: Public Hearing before the PZB
June 13, 2012: Public Hearing before the HRPB
June 19, 2012: Public Hearing before the City Commission
July, 2012: State Review of draft amendments
July 17, 2012: Public Hearing and Second Reading before the City Commission

If you are as insulted as I by the above commentary and if you care about what your city will look like, please turn out to support all the work of this present Planning & Zoning board and voice your opinion. Drive south down Dixie Highway and look at some of the ghost towns and empty buildings--you will get a feel of what I am talking about.

Palm Beach State College Students to Present at Lake Worth Shuffleboard Courts

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Palm Beach State Community College architectural students developed ideas to enhance the city of Lake Worth.

Come to the meeting on Thursday to see what Lake Worth could look like going well into the 21st Century. All of you artists out there will love this inspirational and re-imagined image of our great city.

What: A group of architecture students at Palm Beach State College in Boca Raton, guided by Professor Dharmesh Patel, have spent part of the Spring Term developing innovative ideas for how to spruce up the city of Lake worth. Now, they will present their “Lake Worth Image-ability” project, aimed at enhancing the city’s characteristic and charm, to city officials in a public meeting this week.

When: 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 26, 2012

Where: Lake Worth Shuffleboard Courts Community Center, 1121 Lucerne Ave.

Background: This Think Local, Learn Global initiative is part of a three-way split cultural exchange program with Lake Worth’s sister city in Southend-on-Sea, England.

The students’ work focuses on three areas: (1) Biomes, natural simulated environments that entertain, educate and inspire; (2) Connect, which includes the creation of a cell phone app for the city (3) Access. The students have created site plans, PowerPoint presentations and other visuals to show how the city could look.

Patel worked with Lake Worth City Commissioner Suzanne Mulvehill to get the project underway. “We want to try to improve Lake Worth and create a better image of the city," Mulvehill said.

Media Professor Dharmesh Patel
Contact: (561) 862-4430

Tabatha McDonald
College Relations and Marketing Specialist
(561) 868-3127

Serving more than 51,000 students annually, Palm Beach State College is the largest institution of higher education in Palm Beach County, providing the bachelor’s degree, associate degrees, professional certificates, career training and lifelong learning. Established in 1933 as Florida's first public community college, it offers more than 100 programs of study at locations in Lake Worth, Boca Raton, Palm Beach

Commissioner Suzanne Mulvehill to travel to Bonn, Germany to give a Presentation

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Yes, it is true...I have been talking against the "free lunch" for years. All that spending for commissioners to go to conferences or luncheons and wonderful trips with absolutely NO benefit to Lake Worth, has been more than a pet peeve of mine. If there is NO benefit to our city and only about rubbing shoulders (politicking) with others in the "biz," it is not a good enough reason to waste tax payer money, not in my book. This budget is not about personal benefits to an elected official but the benefit of Lake Worth and its citizens.

Last night there was an exception to the conference spending when Suzanne Mulvehill was invited to present a program to the Global Forum on Urban Resilience and Adaptation Conference in Bonn, Germany. Just think...little Lake Worth being recognized amongst the giants in the global community, advertising for our city for $2,500, the entire cost of her expense.

It is our goal to build the Park of Commerce one of these days. It is our goal on the beach redevelopment to attract international tourist dollars. Suzanne Mulvehill had everything to do with Southend-On-Sea, England becoming a sister city that now has its own street painting festival crafted after our very own here in Lake Worth. The advertising we get from this event, as well as the tourism across the globe, is priceless.

The Commission made a good decision last night by approving Commissioner Mulvehill's travel to Bonn, Germany thus allowing our city to be recognized in a way that it has never been recognized before. This travel expense does promote as well as enhances Lake Worth, not only now but well into the future.

Quote of the Day - Timothy Geithner

“Our fiscal commitments are unsustainable over the long run, but we cannot put our long-run fiscal challenges above all others. We have to be willing to do things, not just cut things.”

~ Timothy Geithner
Treasury Secretary
As told to the Economic Club of Chicago on Wednesday

Hello! Is anyone listening besides Allen West?

Read more at CNS News.

Lake Worth beefing up Sustainability Department

New management positions in Lake Worth. Read about it here.

Commissioner Suzanne Mulvehill gives presentation

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It really is about time to finally get a presentation when you consider all of the travel to conventions, seminars, etc. that some commissioners make throughout the year who never ever give a presentation to the taxpayers who pay the tab. We are interested in how these "free lunches" benefit the city. We want to know that our commissioners are actually learning something, not just rubbing elbows with political cronies.

Pioneering clean energy projects, an aggressive carbon-reduction strategy and North America’s greenest building have helped the UBC to garner Canada’s first gold rating in a new international program that assesses sustainability achievements in higher education.

The 8th International Conference on Environmental, Cultural, Economic and Social Sustainability held in Vancouver on January 10-12, 2012 was attended by Commissioner Mulvehill who gave a presentation Tuesday night at City Hall. While she attended the conference, she promoted our city by giving a presentation of her own on Lake Worth and what we are doing for sustainability.

One of the themes at the conference was that of community resiliency in building environmental, economic, cultural and social sustainability which are all the components of sustainability. She said that it is important to note that resiliency is something that can be cultivated and constructed in communities.

Key Resiliency Factors for Communities in Transition were developed following the fall of the lumber industry in small towns in British Columbia and some cities transitioned to a new economic model more successfully than others. It struck her how this applies to Lake Worth. Our community underwent a significant transition as a result of the recession.

Commissioner Mulvehill says, "Build on our natural resources – and I don’t mean the way other communities build on their natural resources – like with condos. As an example, the four corners of our bridge – are all natural areas. That’s unique in Palm Beach County and probably unique to many places in Florida, a distinct advantage that we have. Another plus is the diversity in population.

I have heard people say, Lake Worthless or that’s Lake Worth for you or we are a drinking town with a beach problem. Statements like those negatively influence people’s perception of us and we are allowing that to become our brand by default.

We are a great town with a bright future. The concept of community confidence is also quite relevant for us, and I think the notion of 'coping rather than being proactive' as a result of low community confidence is key for us. And I’m not pointing this out to make us feel bad about ourselves, but rather because I believe we have begun to reverse this lack of confidence by being proactive in some areas of governance.

We’ve adapted the '8 pillars' approach used by HB Lanarc for sustainable planning and applied this with a healing cities lens. Within each of these, considerations are made to the different facets of health: body, mind and spirit.

• Complete Communities (Land use, density, site layout)

• Conscious Mobility (Environmentally-friendly and community oriented transportation systems)

• Restorative Architecture (Green buildings)

• Thriving Landscapes (Multi-tasked open space)

• Integrated Infrastructure (such as greywater reuse)

• Nourishing Food Systems (from production to consumption to the return of resources to the cycle)

• Supportive Society (Community facilities and programs, social systems and governance)

• Healthy Prosperity (Economic development)"

A few thoughts on Sustainability

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When politicians debate issues and they have already made up their minds before they even listen to the argument, the argument is impossible to defend. The now, very obvious 3/2 vote on just about everything, proves the point. It will get worse as meetings will be shorter and the time that commissioners have to bring forth their reasons will be reduced. Time clocks will ring. The right of free expression has been curtailed. The commission "visionaries" only want to hear the sound of their own voices and do not want to waste one minute hearing or even trying to comprehend another view.

We need to reduce our peak usage for 2013 to get the best electric rates for our contract beginning in 2014. This is one of the main reasons why we have a Conservation Department that is doing just that by showing people how they can become more energy efficient. From every report Joel Rutsky has given to the Commission, it has been successful in its goal.

Thinking over the events of earlier in the week and the deplorable behavior of some in the chamber when Commissioner Mulvehill spoke about funding a position for sustainability, I couldn't help but reflect on my own thoughts just a few years ago when we formed a new department for conservation. I was against this department when it was first introduced. Spending $1.5 million was not on my radar (the department cost even less then). Even a majority of the Finance Advisory Board were against it or perhaps they were just against spending money in general. Their main mission, given to them by a former commission, was to find new revenue sources. I failed to comprehend the importance of what the City was trying to achieve. I am not sure if that was my fault or the City's fault but the message was unclear. Somehow the communication failed then and it has failed now for totally different reasons.

We will lose so much more than the salary for a sustainability manager, $10,000 coming out of our operating budget, if we don't reduce our peak electric usage. All of you crying about your big electric bills will be crying even louder. Instead of a $300 bill, look for hundreds more per month. Crude oil prices just dropped to $98 a barrel on Friday but they expect that we might be paying over $5 a gallon at the pump this summer. Electricity is not commonly produced directly from oil, but as oil prices rise, so do conventional energy prices. Our Utility needs to recover its cost for the fuel it uses and its cost to purchase power from FMPA. One reason for the high cost of electric is because of the rates that are charged by FMPA that sell electric power to us.

A big part of the job of a sustainability manager would be to set up the "Beat the Peak" program. 90% of the budget for this position is already covered in the Utility Budget. The Utility department planned for this position. The funds are there. The greatest amount of time spent by this manager would be to ensure that consumers reduce our peak load for this year and next. It is imperative that we do so.

The other point that Commissioner Mulvehill made is that the position of sustainability manager is vital. Someone in a comment on this blog had ridiculed the fact that corporations that have sustainability programs was even referenced or mentioned here. If you Google private corporations and the increase in the number of sustainability managers that are on-board in the corporate world, you will see that there is a growing market and one that is intensifying. Corporations are looking for locations that align with their sustainable vision and goals. We eventually will develop the Park of Commerce. Afterall, Scott Maxwell has said that this is his number one priority now. We could be on the cutting edge if we do it right.

Politicos keep mentioning here that we should run the city more like a business but diss the fact that sustainability is exactly what successful corporations are concentrating upon by hiring their own sustainability managers. Real visionaries see that. It's just that our "visionaries" don't. They are looking only to "now." It is fair to say that they deem continued "education" more important by attending conventions and the like as Mulvehill's suggestion was to reduce that budget by $10 thousand to fund and hire this position.

Having a well grounded program is sensible. We just continue to kick the can down the road (I like that expression ever since Scott Maxwell used it) but the commission is looking at the immediate. The new commission has said that it has been talking to employees about this or that and the next thing but obviously they have not been talking to our department heads who have approved this position and obtain their reasons for it.

A Sustainability Manager position is justifiable. It is already budgeted in the Utility Budget. The unfortunate thing was that the argument was not sustainable as Maxwell did not want to listen to any more argument for it; The excuse was "We already voted and turned that down...no more discussion." It was indefensible in this public forum that was filled with his supporters and the rest of the trio who follow his lead. It is impossible to sustain and defend anything, good reasoning or not, against this kind of political mindset.

Community Sustainability

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The other day I talked about thinking "big." This city has done it a few times of late-- the casino rebuild and our RO plant-- but more times than not, we have failed and have only looked at the short term, sometimes saving a penny here or there. But commissioners still are trying to convince us that their trip with the League of Cities to Colorado, or their trip to Washington DC or other exciting places is important to the City.

Community Sustainability--the questions we all should be asking are, can we continue to endure the lack of forward thinking from this present government? Will the City survive and be better off? We had a city manager striving for sustainability and the first act of this commission was to fire her. On Tuesday, the "visionary" commission, prompted by Vice Mayor Scott Maxwell, voted to receive and file the funding of the position of Sustainability Manager... kicking the can down the road again. It was recommended by all top staff to be funded in this present Budget. There was no vision shown in that vote.

The suggestion by Commissioner Mulvehill was to pay for the cost of the position out of the commission's travel and training (going to fun trips) budget. It was her belief that it is vitally important to the City. She ended up being humiliated and jeered from the politicos in the Chamber. It was outrageous behavior and something Lake Worth is becoming well known for lately and something for which the Mayor is ignoring not to mention her losing her cool at almost every meeting. This was a commission that was supposed to end the divisiveness but instead the rhetoric has all escalated to an unacceptable and unheard of level of rudeness.

What we Know about the Community Sustainability position and why it is so important

• 1. The position would have cost the general fund $10,782 out of a total cost of $111,365.
  

• 2. The PB County Business Development Board has a federal block grant of $6 million to attract green industry. The Sustainability Manager could have leveraged this money and sought out grant monies as incentives to attract businesses to the city and Park of Commerce

• 3. Green industry is growing at a rate of more than 9% per year and is one of the nation's top growth industries

• 4. Private industry is placing an increased value on sustainability - hiring Chief Sustainability Officers (CSO) elevating the importance of sustainability as a corporate strategy for business growth and expansion. Companies like UPS, EMC, DuPont, AT&T, SAP, Kellogg, PG&E and Coca-Cola, have Chief Sustainability Officers. Read more: click here

• 5. This position of community sustainability manager was provided for in the Energize Lake Worth Plan that we adopted in August 2011, a $250,000 program, only 6 months ago. The Commission, including Scott Maxwell, thought it all fine and dandy then.

• 6. Commissioner Maxwell now says that his number one goal is the Park of Commerce at a cost of $11 million. If he really wanted to see business growth and expansion in the Park of Commerce, he would have approved this position that could target one of the fastest growing industries in the country - the green industry. The goal there is to construct facilities in an energy efficient, cost-effective and sustainable manner. This green initiative was already prioritized by the Commission including Maxwell. $11 million is ok but $10 thousand out of the general fund is not.
  

• 7. Lake Worth would strengthen its brand as a sustainable city by working towards the Energize Lake Worth Plan's goals.

• 8. It is well documented through organizations such as the National League of Cities that building community sustainability can stimulate the local economy.

• 9. The Energize Lake Worth Plan will also meet the goals for greenhouse gas reductions, reduce energy demand, and will oversee audits and the eventual feed and tariff program among other things.

• 10. 10% of this position is devoted to the general fund and the other 90% is the Utility thus the cost allocation.

What the "Visionary" NO vote was Really all About

• 1. A political strategy to diss anything Commissioner Mulvehill deems important, be as rude as possible towards her and render her insignificant.

• 2. A political strategy to do the same to Commissioner McVoy and accuse him of pontificating.

Why?

• 1. To marginalize them in every aspect of Lake Worth government and to

• 2. Kick them to their knees and out of the game this November.

Where does this leave Lake Worth?

• Going backwards.

Take a look at this report - it shows how : Click here.

Assistant City Manager Speaks on Sustainability

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We just can't get enough when it comes to "sustainability" in Lake Worth nor can we get enough of managers and commissioners traveling to and fro. They all sure do work hard and this has become the norm even if some of it IS a free lunch and Commissioner Maxwell won't admit it. This time the excuse is "sustainability" and it is one of our Staff.

Our Assistant City Manager was a panelist at the Tallahassee Sustainability Conference. She traveled to Tallahassee a few weeks ago to present at the 2011 Sustainable You Conference sponsored by the Collins Center for Public Policy, the City of Tallahassee and Leon County. The City Manager announced that Ms. Margoles was a participant on a panel consisting of representatives of Lake Worth (unnamed), West Palm, Lantana and Boynton Beach that featured discussion on innovative initiatives to plan for and promote energy conservation. The title of the session is "A Rising Tide Floats All Boats: New Sustainable Partnerships."

This panel, headed by Erin Deady of Lewis, Longman & Walker, (the same law firm whose request for legal expenditures in the amount of $50,658.89 was pulled from Tuesday night's agenda by Commissioner Maxwell with NO explanation--yes, I do repeat myself) featured new innovative partnerships in planning, grants, funding and initiatives to plan for and promote energy conservation among several municipalities. This certainly sounds worthwhile as we have an energy conservation program in effect and that department swears people who have complied with the energy audit results are saving big bucks.

The conference was held at the Augustus B. Turnbull III Florida State Conference Center, 555 West Pensacola Street Tallahassee, Florida 32306

Ms. Margoles also presented locally on Sustainability in the Public Sector on November 17 for the Palm Beach Green Building Council.

Anyone traveling on taxpayer money, particularly when it is out of State, to any conference anywhere should give a presentation in front of the public. I, for one, would be interested.

Sustainability

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Tim Newcomb cartoon published by Vermont's Seven Days newspaper.