10 Years later, some things never change

A memory from when the city conspired against the residents

SHOCK III: Committee Conspired to Keep Beach Build Plans from Residents to Get Szerdi Re-elected

The Lake Worth Tribune By Margaret Menge

"In an audio recording of its February 10, 2015 meeting, members of the ITN Committee are heard conspiring to keep plans to build at the beach from the public to make sure John Szerdi would win re-election to the City Commission.

“I would recommend we do not have any kind of public meeting until after the election,” said William Waters, a city employee who oversees the building and code compliance departments. “If we have a public meeting, and it gets out (unintelligible)….you can say goodbye to Szerdi,” he said.

Commissioner Andy Amoroso, the Commission’s liaison to the ITN Committee, quickly agreed, saying, “Absolutely, you cannot do this before…”

News of Hudson Holdings’ proposal to build a convention center and private beach club at the Lake Worth beach did get out before the election – after Steve Michael of Hudson Holdings met with owners of the Gulfstream Condominiums in late February and Commissioner Christopher McVoy happened to be in the room. McVoy took detailed notes of the meeting, and provided them to the Tribune, which published a story just two weeks before the election.

Read the article...

As it turned out, John Szerdi lost his re-election bid on March 10, 2015 to first-time candidate Ryan Maier by a 20-percent margin, winning just 37 percent of the vote to Maier’s 57 percent." And did they ever give Ryan Maier a hard time after that..drove him out of town eventually.

Now the city, with a memory like an elephant and still wanting to screw up our beach and city, is doing that same thing in a ballot initiative.

Vote NO on Amendments 2 & 3 on March 10, 2026. We want to keep our historic beach and small town.

Lake Worth just can't get enough development!

Lake Worth Beach approves 230-unit multifamily development

City commissioners also amended a program that awards “bonus” levels of building height and density

This is a program that has been abused...abused by developers and the City of Lake Worth.

We have zoning codes for a reason and it's not to hustle developers for cash and more density. We have told the city for decades that we do not want more density. No commission ever listens.

"Advantis, is a cluster of four residential buildings that will range from three stories to five stories on a 6.39-acre development site at the northwest corner of 10th Avenue North and Boutwell Road. This area is one of the most congested areas in this city without development."

William Waters, Sustainability Director, suggested that commissioners adopt the zoning-in-progress option because “it would not send as negative of a message as a moratorium might.” They went along with that.

Read about it...

Lake Worth and its Sustainable Bonus Program

Lake Worth's Sustainable Bonus Program

I was really surprised when the new commission did not adopt a temporary moratorium on accepting development applications under this program and made a motion to continue with it with a few changes.

From their decision, they want to continue to attract developers to our city and obviously want more growth just like the last commission, even if we are the densest city around. William Waters spoke to it and frankly, even without speaking with a mask on his face, he was hard to understand.

THE MOTION:
A Motion was made by Commissioner Malega and seconded by Vice Mayor Robinson to revise Resolution 23-2021 to be a zoning in progress only resolution that would amend the current Sustainable Bonus Program to remove dog parks and tot lots, active and passive recreation, require public art to be off site and public spaces to be available to the public and require that the calculation result, in a 50% payment from the developer, go to the city’s Sustainable Bonus Trust Fund.

MAYOR RESCH'S EXPLANATION:
Hi, if you followed our meeting, which is available on Youtube, you will see that we did not do a moratorium, we did a zoning in progress and defined our issues with the sustainability bonus program. What are the properties that you own? Are they under the corporate name? Thanks for your interest in our city. Take care, Betty Resch

Interesting reply.

The City of Lake Worth wanted to grab our ballfields for development

With growth on their minds, on Tuesday, The City of Lake Worth, once again, voted to change our Comprehensive Plan and Future Land Use Map.

We all know that William Waters runs this city as far as his suggestions for growth with the city commission usually lapping it all up but it is our elected officials that should be concerned about resident input and not reducing our green space within the city for the tax base.

Citizen comments at the meeting saved our northend ballfields from being eventually sold off to developers as well as two blocks in Bryant Park from zoning changes with Commissioner Hardy making the motion.  Commissioner Amoroso quietly dissented. We don't know his reason but it suggests that he might have wanted height or to grab our ballfield land for developers. Who knows. He should have said. He talked about our poverty rate and the 2020 census coming up.

Our parks are protected by a 2005 referendum from any sale unless decided by the voters but the clever city wanted to snatch some of them by changing the zoning in order to allow more density, thus going around the intent of the voters. The city attorney said, no big deal, all we have to do is have another referendum to allow the people to weigh in. We already know the odds of defeating City Hall on referendums as they have unlimited taxpayer money to defeat the residents as well as what they pulled on the Heights Amendment that was won by 58% of the voters, which was basically, "just ignore the vote."

It's no wonder no one trusts politicians or many of the leaders at City Hall.

"Lake Worth is off the wall," says property owner

Read about it...

Heart of Palm Beach Report

Comment Up

Nearly a year ago, there was a joint workshop with representatives from Palm Beach County and seven cities in Shelley's Vana's district. The purpose was to discuss major opportunities and impediments to economic development of her District that comprises 18-square-miles. The population is 62,790 people and includes all or a portion of seven cities, including Atlantis, Boynton Beach, Greenacres, Lake Worth, Lake Clarke Shores, Lantana, and Palm Springs. About 60 percent of the land area is unincorporated county, with the remaining 40 percent falling under the jurisdiction of these seven municipalities.

John Prince Park was discussed:

• Address homeless camps at John Prince Park

• Redo John Prince Park based on the changing demographic of the area and potential opportunities for Intracoastal Waterway access

• Create a new Strategic Plan for John Prince Park.

• Gold Coast Builders wants to focus on improving John Prince Park

• Palm Springs said that John Prince Park is a real opportunity that could have a world class facility to attract tourism from all over.

Attendees from Lake Worth: Dolores Key, Economic Development Manager and William Waters, Director for Community Sustainability

Lake Worth's ideas for Economic Growth and comments:

Improve infrastructure within Lake Worth Park of Commerce

Have more community redevelopment; work with other cities to find grant initiatives; provide more housing availability; more business investment. Branding is important.

Crime and panhandling is out of control and gives the cities a bad image. This affects all the community, because it inhibits investment in the area.

Lake Worth has been building consensus from the community on redevelopment and has developed new land development regulations.

There has been $45 million in recent investment to the Lake Worth Park of Commerce.

Read the Heart of Palm Beach Report

Lake Worth Commission amends zoning for a phantom restaurant

Comment Up

Starbuck's slow-roasted ham, Calabrese salami, spicy pickled red peppers, aged provolone and olive spread are layered on a toasted Ciabatta roll. Buon Appetito.

Starbucks may not be considered a restaurant in Lake Worth by William Waters but in Asia or with Bloomberg or even with Starbucks it's a different story--List of Lake Worth restaurants

Campaign Asia-Pacific has released its annual study of Asia’s Top 1000 Brands. Starbucks is listed 15th overall for 2015, and the number one restaurant brand in Asia. Source:  Starbuck News.

According to Bloomberg, Starbucks Corp. has sprinted past Burger King Holdings Inc. and Wendy’s/Arby’s Group Inc. to become the third-largest U.S. restaurant chain by sales, says industry tracker, Technomic Inc. Click here...

Under Public Hearings on the Lake Worth commission agenda was the First Reading to change the downtown permitted uses and amend various sections of the LDR's on the western side of Dixie Highway saying drive-thrus would not be allowed for restaurants.

Commissioner Maier asked if it were true that it was Starbucks that had inquired about that area and asked if Starbucks wasn't indeed a restaurant. He was shocked with the answer from Waters who said it was not a restaurant. "Wow," he said.  Check out Starbucks menu

Apparently no paper-work has been submitted by Starbucks, a corporation that makes over 40% of its income by utilizing drive-thrus. Also, no formal request by Starbucks has been made to build at that location. However, the city is ready, willing and now able to change the permitted uses for a company that may or may not locate there. Both the P&Z and Historic boards voted for the change. And the mayor is for any kind of development. It ended with a 3/2 vote. At least McVoy and Maier know what a restaurant is.

The Trio once again was in its usual mode of barreling on through when it voted to amend a zoning district in our downtown that involved two blocks to the immediate north of Lucerne Avenue and two blocks south of Lake Avenue to allow drive-thrus other than restaurants.

Still believing that Starbucks is NOT a restaurant, Scott Maxwell was satisfied that a Chick-Fil-A could be built north or south of that "special" district. He then "called the question." He didn't want to hear any more discussion from anyone.

Demolition scheduled in Lake Worth

Comment Up

UPDATE: 9-1-15 4:27pm DEMOLITION OF UNSAFE STRUCTURE HAS BEEN CANCELLED
August 31, 2015

Contact:           William Waters, Director for Community Sustainability
Email:              wwaters@lakeworth.org      

DEMOLITION OF UNSAFE STRUCTURE

Lake Worth, FL – The City of Lake Worth has scheduled the demolition of a structure that has been deemed unsafe by the building official.  Located at 417 South D Street, the house has unsanitary conditions and there is fire hazard constituted by the lack of water.  Further, the structure is damaged to the extent where it is a hazard to life and safety and is in danger to partial collapse.

The City’s Chronic Nuisance Service Remediation Program allows the demolishing of unsafe structures, boarding and securing vacant abandoned buildings, and clearing vacant, overgrown lots.  With more than 100 properties requiring these services, residents and property owners eagerly look forward to the removal of blight from across the City. 

What:              Unsafe Structure Demolition
Where:            417 South D Street
Date:               Thursday, September 3
Time:               9:30 am

Ugly Toledo...Enter at your own risk

Comment Up


The videographer has taken all sorts of abuse for reporting on the slum and the blight in this city. This is what happens to reporters who tell the truth--when politicians and special interests do what they do to take good people down, ruin their business, call them every demeaning name in the book to shut them up.  This could be any city, U.S.A. While caring citizens put on their gloves and help clean-up the trash throughout the Lake Worth neighborhoods, the problem returns the very next day.

Put on your blindfold! In some ways, you can substitute the name of the city to Lake Worth and you will see where the videographer's concerns are very similar to ours (ours are on a smaller scale but serious nevertheless), and the solutions from the elected officials are the same--tax and spend. We do, however, give credit to William Waters for enacting Ordinances to help eradicate some of the problem here and our Code officers do the best they can.

Last Night's Motion of Selection Committee on the ITN

Comment Up

Last night's motion of the Selection Committee:

...in essence the motion I made was to recommend to the City Commission that a formal Traffic and Parking Study as well as Impact Analysis be performed with regard to the Beach and Casino Project and its current level of development and the potential development allowed by the Land Development Regulations and the Comprehensive Plan for the Beach and Casino District (BAC). 

Thank you.
William Waters

AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C, SEED, ID

FL AR94136 & ID5745

Director for Community Sustainability

City of Lake Worth

1900 Second Avenue North

Lake Worth, Florida 33461

561-586-1634

wwaters@lakeworth.org

Quotes of the Day - Commissioner Andy Amoroso

Comment Up

Keep Lake Worth Beach Public Facebook page--
 From Feb 10th Selection Committee meeting . . .

William Waters: I would recommend you do not have any kind of public meeting until after the election.

William Waters: But if we have a public meeting and it gets out what (goes on here?), you can say goodbye to Szerdi.

Andy Amoroso: I told Mike (city manager) . . . you want a green architect or you want a hairdresser?

Looks like the Gulfstream Hotel will get "deals"

Comment Up
"The Gulfstream hotel is within the city’s Community Redevelopment Area and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The renovation plans would need to go through the city’s review process to allow the owners to claim a 20 percent rebate on the value of approved renovations for federal income tax purposes, or have the taxable value frozen for 10 years for city and county property taxes (remember when The Lucerne got such a deal?), said William Waters, community sustainability director for Lake Worth.

No plans were submitted as of late August, Waters said. The hotel also has an adjacent vacant 1-acre parcel that developer Steven Michael said they would use to create an additional 125-150 rooms. The overall plan would be submitted soon, he said."

If this lot is developed over 45 feet, it is just another example of this commission running ramrod over the vote of the people.

Correction:  John Szerdi is Worrell’s architect and a Lake Worth city commissioner. He confirmed that Worrell spent considerable sums to renovate the houses in Delray  but “could not get the rents to offset the renovation costs.” Worrell sold property to Hudson Holdings.  Read more...

Government Grants and Sustainability

Comment Up

CSX tracks

It took six years for ROLOH to get a Quiet Zone for

the benefit of its neighborhood's quality of life

Per Tuesday night's agenda backup, the Palm Beach County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) finds that the preliminary quiet zone cost estimate for the work in the County is around $17.9M. The County MPO has dedicated $6.6M in funding; however, there is an $11.3M deficit that must be borne by local municipalities or another agenda.

The MPO is hoping that the other agency can be the US Department of Transportation via its Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program. The Palm Beach County and Broward County MPO’s are preparing a joint application for TIGER funding to supplement local funds designated by the MPO’s for quiet zone implementation. The application window is very short and requires accelerated work. (Final applications through Grants.gov by April 28, 2014, at 5:00 p.m. EDT (the “Application Deadline”) The MPO has asked affected municipalities to approve a resolution of support for the TIGER funding and sending a letter to the US Department of Transportation supporting the installation of additional safety equipment for quiet zones.

As with previous rounds of TIGER, funds for the FY 2014 TIGER program (“TIGER FY 2014”) are to be awarded on a competitive basis for projects that will have a significant impact on the Nation, a metropolitan area, or a region. Lake Worth has All Aboard Florida on its mind.

All Aboard Florida on the FEC track is supported by planners and cities that subscribe to sustainable development and walkable life styles...Agenda 21. It is all about land grabs. Expected to begin offering service by early 2015, All Aboard Florida would be the first passenger service on the FEC tracks since 1968. William Waters, director of community sustainability for Lake Worth, said the "added mobility could encourage people to move into walkable cities such as Lake Worth...You could live in Lake Worth and work in Fort Lauderdale. You could hop on a train and be at work quickly.”

The Mod Squad - William Waters guest speaker

Comment Up

William Waters, AIA, LEED AP BD & C
Director for Community Sustainability

William Waters, speaker at the Mod Squad meeting this morning, told the group that Lake Worth is the least expensive place to invest in Palm Beach County with the city trying to be as development friendly as possible even meeting with investors in order to discuss any possible hurdles, etc. $100 million of projects are on the drawing board or are now in the process of being developed. With 49 changes to code, his department is cracking down on code violators.

He passed out flash cards on the Art of Living Collection with our new city tag line of This isn't just a lifestyle, it's an art form. Within the flash card packet that consists of eleven cards, is a description on the various departments. The project is on-going and more informational flash cards will be added to the presentation when received.

The Mod Squad of Lake Worth

MOD Squad meetings Every Tuesday Morning, 9AM at Brogues

April 1st, 9:00AM-- At the April 1 meeting, they will be discussing a comprehensive list of questions and concerns they would like addressed.

April 8th, 9:00AM-- Guest Speakers: William Waters, with Mark Woods of Code Compliance

Fido just can't stay home - Rule Breakers Rule

Comment Up

You all have heard the old adage--"The good guys win."  They forgot a word in that phrase--"The good guys rarely win" because they refuse to cheat. At least that's how it seems around here. And don't ever bet your last dollar on the people who abide by the rules--they don 't have a prayer right now winning in Lake Worth. Snowbirds scream and complain about beach decals--voilà--"you got them baby." The rule breakers rule and on top of that, they have an entire commission and a city staff giving into their wants and desires. Those who ask questions about it all are ignored--and never ask a question on a Sunday. Leadership seems to be a fleeting memory. Complacency is alive and well.

As everyone knows, there is an ordinance AGAINST dogs on our beach park property.  The City, in spite of that Ordinance, installed doggy waste stations that only encourage dog owners.   How do other cities enforce its laws?  Why is it that Lake Worth ALWAYS caves in to insubordination and allows law breakers to get their way?  Why can't people just understand the word "no?" They have learned that they can get away with just about anything in this city.

Juan Ruiz [mailto:jruiz@LakeWorth.org]
Sent: Monday, March 24, 2014 3:11 PM
To: William Waters; 'lynn113@comcast.net'
Cc: Phillip Johnson; Michael Bornstein
Subject: RE: dogs at our beach park

Lynn, In response to your question regarding dogs at the beach complex, there is an amendment to the existing chapter 7 beach park regulations ordinance being prepared and will be coming forward next month.

The dog liter stations were installed to promote responsible dog ownership. Enforcement of dogs at the beach property has been extremely difficult and challenging along with other activities like skateboarding.  With that being said, staff will be recommending an amendment to allow dogs only west of the wooden rail along the sidewalk and east of A1A, on a leash with dog tags.  Obviously this item still has to be adopted and accepted by the Commission and if it is not then we will decide what to do with the liter stations at that point in time.

Fido's waste in front of our Casino

State of the City - Lake Worth

Comment Up

The end of the speech that took about 40 minutes
 with around 60 in attendance.

I have heard variations of last night's speech so many times. You get to hear all of it if you attend city commission meetings with regularity.  I have written about them. There is nothing more I want nor need to say. The mayor did her job by giving a speech that was to uplift all of us well into the "22nd Century," focusing on things that "could be" rather than the things "that are."

Focusing on the positive is a good plan and it is something politicians do; there are surprising benefits to that. There is never a good reason to focus on the negatives if those negatives can't be changed.

In the case of our city, we have enacted 44 ordinances over the last four years to help rid the city of slum and blight and to give teeth to our code enforcement department.  A large part of the slum and blight comes from the 1,500 homes in foreclosure and the 2,000 abandoned houses in Lake Worth. Graffiti still is ignored even though we have an ordinance that says it must be painted over within 24 hours. Hired by Susan Stanton, William Waters has been a great asset to Lake Worth especially in getting these ordinances written and on the books. Ordinances, however, are as good as their enforcement.

What came across last night, of which there is no doubt, the mayor loves our city and wants to see it prosper. I appreciate that she did not play the blame game that has been ongoing for the past several years and stuck to facts, something that most politicians find difficult or twist to suit their agenda.

Lake Worth bends over backwards for downtown businesses

Comment Up

The downtown businesses say they are hurting. The merchants are trying everything within their power and persuasion to attract more business.  They even formed a new downtown merchant's association, the MOD Squad. They already have a political advocate on their side, Commissioner Andy Amoroso, who owns a downtown business. How much more clout can you ask for?  William Waters has already solved the ADA issue but now it's a city owned alley up for grabs. The city has had discussions about closing it in order to provide seating to adjacent restaurants by renting the space. I never see standing room only at CJ's or any restaurant for that matter.

One thing that we do know by this photograph is that this business is in violation of two city ordinances: Right Of Way Permit and Sidewalk Cafe. Before any business gets a special favor, can they at least prove they will  operate within our ordinances first?

Closing all the alleys in the world won't encourage more visitors to our downtown until we get rid of slum, blight and crime along with the homeless who are scattered about, panhandling downtown businesses and their customers.

Lake Worth Going to the Dogs?

Comment Up

It's no wonder we're in trouble in Lake Worth. We don't follow our own rules--we don't follow our own Ordinances and haven't for years. We had a city manager who tried to turn our city around but she was fired. Our city is consumed by slum and blight that has bred more crime. This commission bends over for snowbirds who complain about not having a beach decal or not being able to vote when they are non-citizens.  I guess we all have to come down with Alzheimer's before we get attention.

Now we have a beautiful beach park that cost multi-millions to renovate with some on our present commission  still bitching about that, complaining that we deferred a $500,000 payment to ourselves, and they all are looking the other way when it comes to following our Ordinance on NO Pets. Fido reigns. It's all about businesses...the slightest little thing that might (I said "might") take one penny away from business is frowned on by this commission. Someone is not going to go to our beach if Fido has to stay home?  Some merchants there are promoting their dog friendly establishment.

Pets are all over our beach park property. Merchants even put down doggy dishes for them.  I know--Fido is cute but can't he stay home? It is worse than ever. Our Ordinance has been allowed to slide just like so many other Ordinances in our city--Why is that? William Waters has said we have no one to enforce them. We either have an Ordinance and we enforce it or get rid of the dang thing...Let all the slumlords and their animals take over.  But--No one needs to bring Fido to the beach.

Months ago, Juan Ruiz, Recreation Manager said, "Dogs at the beach are prohibited by ordinance. We are trying our best to enforce."

The Ordinance in Section 6-3 (b) under domesticated animals prohibited on public property says: "...it shall be unlawful for the owner or custodian of a domesticated animal to knowingly or unknowingly permit such animal to enter or be upon a playground, school grounds, designated sports fields, cemetery, golf course, beach or casino and the beach parking area, or a road, sidewalk, pedestrian path..."

Can anyone do their job? Our city is literally going to the dogs.

Restaurant in paradise

Comment Up

Paradiso Ristorante

Tables, chairs and planters must be six feet away from the curb according to FDOT.


"As long as those businesses can document that their activities are taking place only on private property, they indeed do not need a sidewalk café permit. From the complaints that we have heard and received, activities are taking place on public right of way on the weekends and later in the evening. If the businesses undertake activities on the right of way without an appropriate permit, they will be cited."

 ~ William Waters


"I want a law that has teeth."

~ Vice Mayor, Scott Maxwell