Public Comment

Good Evening even though it may not be when this is read due to banning public comments,
Last time I checked 2+2 still equals 4
Percentages are definite numbers
And algebraic equations are logical
The disparity in utility rate hike increases does not mathematical sense nor logical sense.
We the people deserve transparency logic and mathematical sense to be made. Please provide it.

With our city being under a declared Housing Emergency, seeking to enforce our existing ordinances regarding short term rentals is as vital as it is common sense. Over the last year I have engaged countless neighbors of ours who all seem to share the same concern regarding the proliferation of Short Term Rentals (STRs) within our community. While not being permitted to exist for well over a decade, STRs continue to pop up and profit while providing no economic return to the city.

If State Law did not prohibit us from regulating, permitting, or taxing these STRs, I would not be in favor of such an ordinance. However the fact is clear: When a real estate investor buys a home in our city, leases it as a vacation rental knowing it is full well illegal to do so, that investor is removing an economic resource from our community while providing nothing in return as the bed tax goes straight to the county, for wish we receive return on. Let alone the reminder that we again are in a declared housing emergency. While we are concerned enough about housing to declare a city wide emergency, we must be equally concerned to act. The city is in a unique position to address an aspect of such crisis.

According to AirDNA, a dashboard and consulting firm whose data is trusted by major firms such as Marriott and Hilton, 577 STRs are operating in 33460 alone on the day of this comment, February 2nd, 2023. While many may argue that STRs offer homeowners a means to supplement their income by leasing a portion of their home, per the same data only 3% of these housing units are leased partially, seventeen of the 577 to be specific. These units are operating in violation of the law of our city knowing that the lack of enforcement will keep them in business.

As we face a declared housing crisis, we as a city are in a unique position to reintroduce 560 housing units back into the free market for long term renters. Renters who wish to call our town home. Renters who care if there's noise late at night, who care if there's trash on the street, who wish to work here, send their children to school here, shop at our local stores and businesses. It is simply to reduce these numbers into assets, but let us not forget that we are not discussing housing, we are discussing those who occupy it: Families. By not enforcing the existing written ordinance, we are robbing 560 families of a place to call home in the town that we have the privilege of doing so already.

In past discussions, concerns regarding enforcement has been brought up. My solution to enforcement is simple: Ask pertinent city staff to install AirBnB/VRBO and merely search our local zip codes. Rely on the code complaints of neighbors. This issue is no more difficult to enforce than any other code related issue, in fact it is easier, as there are multi-billion dollar tech companies building the database of problem properties for us.

Neighborhoods are for neighbors. Not hotels. The Gulfstream Hotel is around the corner, we have a cottage motel industry already. The city receives no benefit, no zero cents, from allowing STRs to operate under the radar. If we are truly in a declared housing crisis, make the call to enforce the law as it's currently written, if not to preserve the integrity of our neighborhoods, but to reintroduce over 500 housing units back on the free market for those who actually wish to live here, shop here, work here, and take pride in their streets here. Please enforce the existing law as written.

Overall, the plans are disasters. They look like someone trying to fit square pegs into round holes; misguided social engineering. They do nothing to attract visitors between the hours of 9am to 4pm to come to our “historic” town and its businesses. Consider using the properties to create a Yesteryear Village, even asking the County if they could relocate Yesteryear Village here. The City Museum could even be relocated to the Village. Many cities have the large Brown exit signs on the interstates for the city’s “Old Town.” Visitor attraction should have been the first step before special interest buildings were studied. Commercial establishments then could have been built adjacent to the “Village” core.

Substantially increased property heights on any part of Lucerne, and Lake west of Dixie and east of M Street are fine, but increased heights on Lake east of Dixie and west of M would destroy the possibility of creating a historic core downtown appearance. Not having the Bohemian and the Mid one or two stories higher were missed opportunities.

When the public meeting was held for the Element, gasps burst out when the image was unveiled.

I notified the City many years ago about flooding on the property of many of the existing historic homes. Notwithstanding, the City has approved structures that take up the remaining unbuilt land on the lot forcing rainwater to the adjacent lots. So, I have a senior citizen neighbor that the City has further injured by forcing more rainwater on to her lot. And that does not consider the damage caused to her when the approved second story removed her view of the sky. Many of us are in the 4th Quarter of our lives, our father’s fought in World II, and our uncles died there, and the City continues to reek havoc, misery and damage on us.

Alex Schultz
612 2nd Avenue South

As a city resident, I am proud to support the Item E Net Zero Resolution proposed by Lake Worth Beach to reduce the emissions of Lake Worth Utilities.
It's crucial for us to take action towards sustainability and the reduction of carbon emissions, and the resolution is a step in the right direction.
The resolution not only benefits the environment but also promotes economic growth and energy efficiency, making it a win-win for our community.
I believe that implementing this resolution will not only create a healthier and cleaner environment but also set an excellent example for other cities to follow.

Lake Worth Beach City Commissioners & Staff,

Our family is very blessed to live in a part of our City with ample parking, very little litter, great walkability, and all the things that allow for a healthy environment for everyone.

All our residents deserve to live like this regardless of what neighborhood they are in. This is why I ask you to please not allow Micro Units outside of our core commercial zones and without all the requirements necessary to make these equitable places to live like parks, walkable corridors, and robust employment opportunities. 

We also need to protect our existing workforce housing. Micro Communal Units should not be allowed at the expense our existing workforce housing.

This comment is related to the city attorney’s report:

You are a city commission grappling with many serious issues. Taking over the CRA board is a baffling thing to even consider.

You face overwhelming public opposition to threats to public safety, out of control utility bills, crumbling roads, and increased property taxes.

A derelict pool sits on the city’s most valuable piece of public property with no apparent plan forward. You also lack any vision in addressing vacant oceanfront commercial space on the same valuable city-owned beachfront property. These all amount to opportunities lost.

Vice Mayor McVoy demanded this report from the city attorney as a first step in taking over the CRA’s responsibilities. The CRA does great work for our downtown and gets things done efficiently.

This commission’s misplaced priorities and endless virtue signaling about everything other than addressing the real issues facing our city is disappointing and hurts our entire town.

Do your job as a city commission and let the CRA continue to do what it does best.

This is in response to the CITY ATTORNEY's REPORT

The concept of the City of Lake Worth Beach Commission taking over the CRA responsibilities is beyond troubling.

The Commission’s plate is full. This is obvious from attending or watching the meetings. Turn times to address items is slow, Commission meetings are so long that they are not effective (unfair to both the Commissioners and the PublIc), and finally, CRA responsibilities are well outside of most Commissioner’s areas of expertise. I don’t recall anyone mentioning to take over the CRA when you ran.

Soaring Utility Bills, reports of increased panhandling, citizen’s not feeling comfortable using Bryant Park due to the presence of Home/Houseless and Redistricting (to name a few) are more than enough to keep the Commission busy. Leave Community Redevelopment to the CRA.

It is difficult for me to understand why you think you can fix something that is not broken. The CRA works very well - the past, current and upcoming CRA projects are impressive. The CRA has been responsible for a huge amount of the economic developments and improvements. in the LWB.

I urge you not to change the structure of the CRA.

Regards,
Amy Kabcenell
20 Harvard Drive

I am opposed to the City Commission going back on their word to accept the recommendations made by the Treasure Coast Regional Council on L&M Street Land Parcels. Considerable time and effort from stakeholders and the community, not to mention taxpayer expense, went into the Treasure Coast Regional Council recommendations. It was the result of structured community input that led to a compromise of various points of view. This type of compromise is what the City Council should applaud. It’s time to be stop rethinking past decisions and move forward.

Revitalizing our neighborhoods is important to LWB residents and businesses. Continuing to ‘do nothing’ with properties is a financial burden to us all. In addition, there are health, safety, security and crime concerns associated with the stall/do nothing approach.

Please do not continue to waste tax dollars, time and put the health and safety of our residents at risk.

Amy Kabcenell
20 Harvard Drive
Lake Worth Beach
561.704.1496

Population changes make redistricting in Lake Worth Beach necessary. This is unprecedented and should be done with the utmost care to ensure that voters’ rights are retained. Therefore, Option 5 should be approved.

At the beginning of the redistricting process, the Commission’s goals were to keep neighborhoods intact and keep each Commissioner in their district. Input at Public Meetings supported these goals.

I am curious – what has changed? And why are some Commissioners once again ignoring the advice of the “Experts” and the will of the Public.

Voter representation is at stake, this behavior is appalling, dangerous and anti-democratic (small d).

Stop playing political games and approve Option 5.

Please approve the lease renewal for Benny’s on the Beach. This business brings countless visitors to our city and is an important landmark on our beach.

Benny’s also provides jobs and a good income for our residents and their families.

It’s important for our downtown and beach businesses to thrive. We should all encourage more positive economic growth, and Benny’s is an important part of our city.

Renew the lease tonight.

Hi, my name is Andy Gottlieb. I live and work in Lake Worth and have been a resident for the last 15 years. I would like to make a general comment about the loss of historic structures, the loss of affordable housing (often in the guise of workforce housing), and the generous use of resident tax dollars to developers. I am concerned that CRA and City Staff believe development for development sake alone benefits our community. Quality of life for (all) existing residents needs to be part of the decision making process. Not all of us have time to participate in every meeting. Some folks have financial interest and often have what appears to be an outsized voice.

Many of us moved to Lake Worth because it was a smaller beach town. We set roots and invested our time and resources to make the City a healthy, enjoyable place to live. I am commenting under this agenda item because after reviewing the RPC recommendation package I see yet again we are aiming to give large sums of money to developers and at the same time thinking about placing a large 5 story building on Lake Ave. I hope the commission will consider this is not a good idea. We need to maintain some of the open feel in our community and destroying an existing city building and creating a canyon along Lake Ave will degrade the feel of our downtown. Currently you can feel the ocean breeze and see the blue sky. The open space makes events like the street painting festival special, and uniquely Lake Worth. Please be cautious in how you aim to develop downtown. We can wisely integrate green space, existing historic buildings, and add housing. Also please note that the Planning Council mock up had inconsistent drawings and hence one really could not fully review the recommendations. Again, I hope we can find an answer that is not another 5 story building and cookie cutter development. Let's keep Lake Worth special and take advantage of our unique character. Thanks for taking the time and thanks for all of the hard work.

Regards,
Andy

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.

I believe the city ought to enforce the existing ordinance prohibiting short term vacation rentals under sixty days, though exemptions should be considered for properties designated as homesteads.