BCC Briefs

At the March 17, 2009, Board of County Commissioners meeting, the board took the following action:

Water Utilities – approved a revised schedule of rates, fees and charges for potable water, wastewater and reclaimed water services. It includes an 11.75 percent increase for potable water and wastewater, replacing a 15 percent surcharge imposed last year to offset revenue losses due to mandatory water restrictions. The new rates take effect April 1; Royal Palm Beach customers are exempt. The board also authorized raising the security deposit to 150 percent of the normal amount, if a customer’s service is terminated twice in any 12-month period.

Facilities – agreed to allocate $10 million in bed-tax reserves to establish a renewal/replacement account for repairs and maintenance of the County Convention Center and Roger Dean Stadium.

Transit Oriented Development – directed staff to draft a request for proposals for development of the so-called wedge property next to the West Palm Beach Tri-Rail station, but not the entire TOD zone.

Tri-Rail – directed staff to draft a resolution supporting a proposed $2 surcharge on rental vehicles to fund Tri-Rail operations and opposing having to pay any amount above the statutory requirement.

Roads – agreed to support a Broward County resolution opposing the privatization of Alligator Alley and other publicly owned roadways.

Westgate – adopted a resolution abandoning a portion of Genessee Avenue in Westgate Estates to accommodate a storm water management system associated with the Westgate Belvedere Homes CRA North Westgate Improvement Project.

Cigarette Tax – adopted a resolution supporting a $1-per-pack increase in the state cigarette excise tax to promote nonsmoking by young people and to fund critical health-care priorities such as medically needy health insurance, emergency room care and disease prevention.

FAC – named newly appointed Commissioner Steven Abrams to replace Addie Greene as a Palm Beach County representative on the board of the Florida Association of Counties (FAC).