Displaying 1 - 25 of 236

 Name Meeting Date Choose Which Item Your Comment Corresponds With Comments to be read into record
Donna Kerner12/6/22Item A

Dear Mayor Resch and Commissioners McVoy, Malega, Stokes and Diaz

I am writing to express my support for a new oceanside municipal swimming pool to replace the 51-year-old pool that has been shuttered since 2017. Lake Worth Beach has debated the pool on and off since 2015. Since then, there have been changes on the city commission and in city administration. My understanding is that the former mayor had promised roughly $6 million to refurbish and/or redesign the pool. But then that money was unwittingly spent before the current city commission came on board.

After years of repeated studies and inaction, tonight you will consider two pool designs. The City has already awarded $320,000 to CPZ Architects, Inc to conduct many of these studies since 2015. I don’t know how you will vote and what design you will decide on, but I urge you to approve one of them and to be single-minded in making the pool become a reality. You will need to focus on how to pay for the pool. It is a valuable beachfront asset that will greatly benefit both Lake Worth Beach residents and tourists who come to enjoy the best of our fair city. Lest I remind you, you ran on the promise of re-opening the pool. I hope it wasn’t just a campaign slogan.

Bernard Guthrie12/6/22Item A

This pool needs to be located in a place where more residents can have walking or bicycling access to it and not have to pay $3.00 per hour to park and swim in a fresh water pool steps from the Atlantic ocean.

The day you cut the ribbon for this fiasco, we, the tax payers of Lake Worth Beach will be losing over $350,000.00 per year over what the pool takes in in revenue.

Yes, a community pool is good if located where the community can use it. It is an extremely bad idea for a money sucking hole in the ground to be located on our most valuable piece of real estate. How about a smatter of fiscal responsibility?

cindy lookabaugh11/29/22Item J

I am concerned about #1 transparency of LWB utility decisions and #2 Management of LWB electric services: Why are we being charged or buying natural gas at 400% markup when the rest of the country and Florida is paying 165% markup from last year's price??
Instead of telling the residents to better manage their electric use, we want LWB electric to better manage their electric production, or better yet, let's convert to better-managed lest costly FPL.

Daniel Hitchcock11/15/22Item A

Dear Commission,
I live in the Parrot Cove area and am concerned about the rise in short-term rentals. I love my neighborhood and will continue to raise my two young children here, but I would prefer to be surrounded by families that are invested in the community and not by investment properties that typically sit vacant for weeks or months until the next group of inconsiderate vacationers arrive. Come to find out, short term rentals are already banned in Lake Worth Beach. Why is this ordinance not enforced?

Kate Schofield11/15/22Item A

Please approve restrictions on investor owned/non-owner occupied short term rentals. The short term rental two doors from my home has caused a lot of disturbance in our quiet, single family neighborhood. The property in question is a 2 bedroom/2 bath home with a pool. It is listed for rent on the various platforms as "sleeps 8". The argument that AirBnB has strict vetting rules doesn't apply to all short term rentals; this property is often listed on Booking.com - anyone with a credit card can reserve it, no vetting at all.
The noise of partying, dogs barking, and kids screaming would not be tolerated in a hotel/motel - why is it allowed in our single family residential neighborhood?

Yvon Brisson11/15/22Item A

Please crack down on airbnbs they are ruining our community. Not to mention they are hurting affordable housing and the golf stream.

Anthony Gallegos11/15/22Item B

Good evening,

I believe that the city should enforce the ordinance banning short-term rentals under 60 days. These properties create a nuisance, reduce the supply of long-term rentals, thereby reducing affordability for local renters in favor of profits for absentee landlords, further contributing to high real estate speculation in the area and creating a positive feedback loop of local displacement, skyrocketing rents, and dissipation of local character and community cohesion.

Catherine Nolan11/15/22Item A

Dear Mayor Resch and Commissioners,
I’m writing about the unfettered of growth of short term rentals in Lake Worth Beach and related anti-social issues in residential neighborhoods.
Properties with absentee owners are the primary concern. There is one adjacent to my property that has been an ongoing nuisance with an out of state owner that appears to show no regard for their neighbors with continual noise and disruption. The recent Air BnB ban on short term rentals is to no affect as these property now advertise their listings on other platforms with no restrictions.
New York City only permits short term rental of a room or partial property, such as an in-law suite, if the host is present and provides evidence that it’s their primary property.
San Francisco has a similar ordinance as do a host of other cities in the US and worldwide.
I have seen no successful legal challenge to these ordinances thus far.
Might we consider similar parameters in Lake Worth Beach for the same reason? 
To preserve the well being of the community and its residents?
There are certainly many legal avenues worth exploring that have been implemented elsewhere.
With kind regards.
Catherine Nolan
222 N Palmway

ROBERT D'AMICO11/15/22Item A

Dear Mayor Resch and Commissioners-

I’d like to start by saying that personally, I have no issues with the short-term rental industry ( AirBnB, VRBO, etc.) and have enjoyed staying at many all over the world. I came to discover and love this unique, little city because I randomly stayed at an AirBnB property on North O St., six years ago.
Because I had stayed at many other locations previously, I knew that every property and its municipality have rules that regulate the behavior of its temporary tenants and the owner of the house as well.
But apparently, Lake Worth Beach is one of the rare municipalities that has almost no rules that regulate this industry and the ones that do exist are not enforced. As a homeowner in this city that fact comes at great disappointment and unfortunately, I live adjacent to an out of control property that is a short-term rental house with an out of state owner. As neighbors we have no recourse other than calling PBSO once it gets late. We pay a high amount in taxes and I expect this city government to create a mechanism for permanent residents and homeowners to voice their complaints resulting in enforcement of existing laws and much needed new rules governing these out of state owners profiting off the misery of their neighbors. I suggest a 3 strikes and you’re out- type system that would occur once enough complaints are filed.
Please do something.

Regards-
Bob D’Amico/230 N Palmway

Gwen D'Amico11/15/22Item A

I just need to know why the youtube channel isn't actually live streaming? I'd really like to watch this meeting.

catherine nolan11/15/22Item A

Please read this comment card. There were typos in first one submitted.

Dear Mayor Resch and Commissioners,
I’m writing about the unfettered growth of short term rentals in Lake Worth Beach and related anti-social issues in residential neighborhoods.
Properties with absentee owners are the primary concern. There is one adjacent to my property that has been an ongoing nuisance with an out of state owner that appears to show no regard for their neighbors with continual noise and disruption. The recent Air BnB ban on short term rental
parties is to no effect as these properties advertise their listings on other platforms with no restrictions.
New York City only permits short term rental of a room or partial property, such as an in-law suite, if the host is present and provides evidence that it’s their primary property.
San Francisco has a similar ordinance as do a host of other cities in the US and worldwide.
I have seen no successful legal challenge to these stricter ordinances thus far.
Might we consider similar parameters in Lake Worth Beach for the same reason? 
To preserve the well being of the community and its residents?
There are certainly many legal avenues worth exploring that have been implemented elsewhere.
With kind regards.
Catherine Nolan
222 N Palmway

Micaela Martin11/15/22Item A

" I would like to ask the commission to please enforce the rules regarding short term rentals. Neighborhoods are better served by families looking to settle down long-term."

Erin Allen10/6/22Item A
JIM FINNEGAN10/6/22Item N

I AM AGAINST THE PROPOSED RATE INCREASE.
WHY CANT WE GET OFF OF NATURAL GAS AS PART OF OUR UTILITY. THIS HIGH COST FUEL IS WHAT MAKING THE WHOLE TOWN PAY MORE. WHY ARE WE SO DEPENDENT ON THIS? THIS COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED WITH PROPER PLANNING.
I WOULD LIKE OPTIONS FOR 50-100 PERCENT RENEWABLE ENERGY.
WHY DON’T WE HAVE MORE SOLAR AT OUR LANDFILL?
HAS OUR UTILITY WON ANY AWARDS FOR BEING A SMART ENERGY PROVIDER? IF NOT WHY NOT? OUR ELECTRIC IS ONE OF OUR BIGGEST BILLS TO PAY, PLEASE MAKE IT A PRIORITY ON LOWERING THE COSTS FOR EVERY CITIZEN. THANK YOU. JIM

Jim Finnegan

Gael Silverblatt10/6/22Item A

I still have hope for the swimming pool project at the Lake Worth Beach Park but am very concerned after seeing the presentation renderings from CPZ. After hearing from the public and commissioners over the last few years describing their wants for the project this group seems to have come up with a very boring project that could be placed at any motel anywhere.

In order for this project to attract tourists and residents it has to be an attraction. Having artificial turf covering the concrete and individual lawn chairs is not very exciting or worth the cost of the project. It shouldn’t take much imagination to design a colorful unique environment surrounding a pool and I am really surprised that they could not.

Nearly everyone suggested being able to look at the pool and also being able to look west towards the Lake Worth Lagoon but why use separate seating for that, why not combine the seating into a long snake-like bench with seating on both sides where families with small children or couples can crowd together on either side and converse. Why not use paint or tile mosaics for the benches to make them fun and exciting? Why use artificial turf on the concrete around the pool instead of large colorful tiles?

The project is crying out for an imaginative approach, for a fun atmosphere that will draw people to talk about it to their friends and take vacation photo selfies. If the final project looks like the renderings submitted then it is not worth the cost as it will not draw the public to use the facilities.

Without adding to the expenses paid to CPZ please request they resubmit new plans with versatile seating, colorful uses of materials and a more imaginative approach to the design. After all this is what the commission requested in the first place.

Sam Goodstein10/6/22Item A

One of the things that makes Lake Worth a good destination is its downtown. when I think of Provincetown, Bar Harbor, and Key West, I think of how the historic structures are used make What Might Have Been residential into something new. really that's what our downtown is done. New Orleans is also a good example.

Right now the CRA is looking to contract for the demolition of the downtown properties that are contributing structures in the historic old town district. We haven't decided as a city what to do with that area and we have not even heard back the final report following the charette where many citizens contributed good ideas.

Respect for those citizens' input and the fact that this commission never decided on demolition formally, Plus The fact that in consideration of the properties only one Rehabilitation estimate was obtained by the CRA against 6 demolition estimates leads to me to request that this Commission instruct the CRA not to sign any demolition contract.

I see the city and the CRA coming to a new arrangement about how to work together and I think that this is a moment when the responsiveness of both parties to citizen input is being tested. Please hit the pause button for the moment on those historic properties.

Thomas Conboy10/6/22Item A

Honorable Commissioners and Mayor,
I attended a CRA Meeting a few weeks ago where some misrepresentations were made and need to be rectified.
1. CRA staff did not know which properties were purchased with penny sales tax when the question was asked.  This is very important.  Properties bought with penny sales tax have restrictions associated with them.  It is critical the City and CRA research the limitations on these properties purchased with these funds.  It is my understanding that the RFP that selected the Element did not spell out these limitations and that it would have become a major problem with the project.2.  The attached HRPB backup document demonstrates that all of these properties were in good shape when purchased by the City and/or CRA.  Packet for 2019-01-09 REVISED.pdf 3.  Recently the City had one contractor make a bid to restore these properties.  I highly encourage that at a minimum an additional 2 bids are received to restore these properties.  It became clear that the City Commission did not vote to demolish any of these properties or give direction to the CRA to demolish these properties.  It became clear a city planner instructed the CRA to demolish these properties.  3. The CRA Lawyer told the CRA Board the circuit judge had given his permission to demolish these properties.  This is false; the Circuit judge dismissed the case without prejudice.  That means he did not make a decision either way in his ruling.4. The charrette conducted by the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council has not been completed.  It is scheduled to be presented in January.  Many of us gave up our Saturday to participate in this activity.  It was by far the most positive collaborative experience I have had yet in this City with residents and business owners. CRA Board Member Fairfax pointed out how absurd it was to vote to demolish these buildings prior to completing the charrette process.  To me it really makes it seem like the charrette was a farce if decisions have already been made.5.  If these properties have degraded so bad that they need demolition, then this is clearly demolition by neglect.  In this case the City and or the CRA should be obligated to restore them to avoid demolition by neglect.6.  I urgently encourage the commission to take up this important topic and stop the demolition of these buildings ASAP.

Respectfully,
Thomas Conboy
30 S M Street
Lake Worth Beach, FL 33460

Anthony Segrich10/6/22Item A
Richard Crossley10/6/22Item A

I am in favor of this Ordinance regulating the use of drones from taking off or landing within the Lake Worth Golf Club, Snook Islands, and Bryant Park to protect the American Oystercatchers nesting on the Snook Islands north and south of the bridge between March 1st to October 31st.
The American Oystercatchers view the drones as aerial predators and will chase them relentlessly while the drones are flying. During this time the eggs/chicks are left unprotected by the adults and are vulnerable to predation.
The Oysteratchers are an endangered and threatened species and need the assistance of this ordinance to survive and raise their vulnerable chicks. Please vote in favor of this Ordinance No 2023-01.
As someone who travels extensively to write and talk about birds (Crossley Books), I am well aware of the damage drones do to nesting birds.

Thomas Arabia10/25/22Item N

This comment is regarding Item N on the meeting agenda references Power Cost Adjustment (PCA).

Prior to April 2022, a calculation or explanation of the proposed Power Cost Adjustment increase was prepared and published by this Board of Commissioners for the period April 2022 through June 2022. The bottom line of that calculation represented an increase of approximately $4.93 per 1000 kWh per rate payer per month.

The Power Cost Adjustment charge on my April 2022 Electric bill was $68.26. The PCA charge on my May bill was $112.93. The June was PCA charge was similar at $112.18.
To my knowledge, there was no PCA calculation or explanation prepared or published, by the Board of Commissioners, for the period of July 2022 through the present, yet the PCA continued to increase. In July, my PCA charge increased to $139.04. In August my PCA charge, was $ 216.80, which was almost as much as my charge for actual usage. I just got my September bill, as of the preparing of this comment. The PCA charge was $173.12.

I ask this question as the voice for all 27,550 rate payers. How does this Board justify such excessive PCA charges? They are so much greater that your published projection. If the average rate payer was charged a PCA of $100.00 per month. That equates to 2.750,000 per month. Mind you this estimate is quite low, as I am sure there are many customers such as myself, where their PCA was equal to their actual usage charge ($200.00+ per month).

There are two paramount issues with this. The first is the enormity of these numbers, requires and demands a full and transparent accounting as to where these funds were used. As a Co-operative owned Utility, this should be public information and readily available for release and should be!

Secondly and so much more important! The economy being what it is, these types of un-expected and totally excessive PCA charges are an incredible hardship to the average rate payer. Many are being forced to make difficult life decisions as to what to pay and what not to pay to simply survive, what can I do without and have to have. Many will have their Electric service disconnected and be accessed additional charges to have it re-connected. This is a matter, a crisis, that needs to be addressed immediately! The rate payers cannot be made to suffer because of the mis-management and lack of fore sight by this Board of Commissioners. You need to right this wrong IMMEDIATELY!

To close this comment – this Board needs to get out of the Electric Supply business, where it does not have the expertise or qualifications and concentrate on running our fair City of Lake Worth Beach to prosperity – instead of into the ground!

Thank you for your time!

Amy Ferriter10/25/22Item M

Utilities are part of housing costs.

This City Commission declared a “Housing Emergency” on August 16th.

Vice Mayor McVoy indicates “There are a number of angles and we are eagerly looking to go in a number of different directions, anything that works.”

Source:
https://www.wpbf.com/amp/article/florida-lake-worth-beach-state-of-emergency-housing-crisis/40919467

Utility costs are part of what we all pay per month to stay in our homes, but I don’t see any action (beyond lip service) to address this issue.

On average, Floridians spend about $257 per month on electricity (https://www.energysage.com/local-data/electricity-cost/fl/).

The Lake Worth Beach utility bills are currently out of control, and much higher than the state average. Many of us cannot afford $700-$800 monthly utility bills on top of rent, insurance, food, medicines and other basic needs.

I appears that this commission is unable to manage the utility cost effectively - and keep us in our homes during this “housing emergency.” I urge you to keep housing affordable by addressing runaway UTILITY COSTS.

Raising rates is not the answer!

catherine nolan10/25/22Item M

Dear Mayor and Commissioners,
The commission has stated that the Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) would raise residential electric bills by 16%-18% beyond usage but many residents, myself included, are receiving bills with a PCA far exceeding that.
This issue has been raised numerous times over the last month with no formal clarification from the city as to why this is happening and to such a degree that it requires a published explanation.
Will the commission make a formal inquiry to Lake Worth Utilities as to why there is such a disparity in the PCA charges?
With kind regards,
Catherine Nolan

Luis Tamayo10/25/22Item N

LWB needs to assign someone, outside of the Electric Utility Dept., who reports directly to the City Manager, to oversee the City’s efforts to promote Energy Conservation, renewables and Climate Change mitigation. This person should be responsible for the following:
1. Apply for grants to help and assist our residents with funding, available in the inflation Reduction Act 2022, to install:
a. Heat Pump Water Heaters and AC systems
b. Upgraded breaker boxes
c. Home and City owned facilities, Insulation and weatherization improvements
d. Rooftop solar

2. Apply for grants to help and assist our residents with funding, available in new Infrastructure Bill 2021 to help fund:
a. Expand the installation of plug-in vehicle chargers
b. Improve our electric grid to accommodate renewable energy
c. Electrify the City’s fleet of vehicles and support equipment.
3. This person or “Energy Guru” should be also responsible for all other aspects of energy conservation and climate mitigation such as:
a. Study alternative ways of dealing with the millions of gallons of treated water that are wasted each year to flush our portable utility pipes.
b. Installation of rooftop solar panels and storage batteries on City owned buildings.
c. Solar Street lights, solar generators, battery powered blower, mowers, etc.
d. Expansion of our tree canopy to provide more shade.
e. Sea level rise mitigation.
f. Storm Preparation and cleanup coordination.

Ellen Ashford10/25/22Item N

My daughter cheers for every solar panel she sees in the city. Even kids can see that we need to use less fossil fuels and more solar. What is our utility doing to protect us from natural gas price increases. What kind of community solar program do we have, how do we make it better? Fossil fuel prices will only go up in the future. Why don’t we have more solar at our landfill? Does our utility use batteries to get the most benefit from solar panels? What is our utility doing to maximize benefits to residents?

Michael Beautyman10/25/22Item N

Please develop forthwith a comprehensive solar power source for Lake Worth Beach. Let's shed ourselves of dependence on the vagaries of the marketplace.

 Name Meeting Date Choose Which Item Your Comment Corresponds With Comments to be read into record

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