BCC Briefs

At the June 2, 2009, Board of County Commissioners meeting, the board took the following action:

Boat trailer parking – denied a budget transfer of $160,000 to purchase and install kiosks for boat trailer parking permits at five county-owned saltwater boat ramps. Instead, the board directed staff to bring back other payment options including an online method. The board also agreed to consider lowering the annual permit fee from $75 to $50 if kiosks are not needed.

Supervisor of Elections – agreed to allow the Supervisor of Elections Office to lease private warehouse space for storage of voter ballots as long as the cost does not exceed the supervisor’s existing budget.

Dangerous dogs – approved on preliminary reading and advertised for public hearing on July 21 an amendment to the countywide Animal Care and Control Ordinance to strengthen provisions pertaining to dangerous and vicious dogs.

Roads – directed staff to petition property owners on Fargo Avenue in Palm Beach Ranchettes and to send letters to other affected property owners to determine if a majority are in favor of paving Fargo Avenue at the owners’ expense.

Palm Tran – approved an agreement with the Village of Wellington for development of a park-and-ride lot near the Mall at Wellington Green. The county will pay for construction, estimated at $702,765. The village will provide a two-acre parcel and maintenance of the facility after construction.

Florida Power & Light – approved on preliminary reading and advertised for public hearing on June 16 a new franchise fee agreement with Florida Power & Light. Under the agreement, the average residential bill in unincorporated areas will increase by $2.80 per month.

Housing and Community Development – allocated $1.846 million in HUD Community Block Grant Funds issued through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for shovel-ready projects in the following amounts: $1.387 million for capital improvements, $180,000 for economic development, $95,000 for public services, and $184,676 for planning and administrative costs. These federal funds require no local match.

Economic Development – approved a Job Growth Incentive Grant agreement in the amount of $40,000 as a required 20 percent local match with TBC Corp., parent company of Tire Kingdom. The company agrees to retain 345 jobs and create 50 new jobs in Palm Beach County with an average salary of $65,200 per year by Dec. 31, 2011.

Tourism – approved a plan by the Tourist Development Council to spend $3 million in bed-tax reserves for a marketing campaign to attract visitors to Palm Beach County and to establish a reserve fund for repairs and maintenance of Roger Dean Stadium and the County Convention Center.

Health care reform – adopted a resolution in support of some type of national health care system that includes a public option to ensure health care coverage for all Americans without imposing additional mandates on county governments.

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