BCC Briefs

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

Reorganization – named Commissioners Burt Aaronson and Karen Marcus chair and vice chair, respectively, until November 2010; also thanked Commissioner Jeff Koons for his year of service as chairman of the BCC.

Affordable Housing – agreed to appropriate up to $1.03 million in next year’s budget for affordable housing and approved a funding plan for affordable housing that would set aside half the interest earned from developer fees on for-profit projects, beginning in 2014.

Municipal Marina – approved a design concept by the City of Riviera Beach for a $5 million grant awarded in February 2007 for renovations to the city’s marina.

Landscape Irrigation - opted not to file an administrative challenge to the South Florida Water Management District’s (SFWMD) proposed year-round landscape irrigation rule.

Reclaimed Water – approved a revised rate schedule for reclaimed water services. Water restrictions imposed by SFWMD have caused a significant increase in the number of reclaimed water users who previously paid no connection fees. Under the revised rates, new reclaimed water customers will pay a connection fee, but lower monthly base facility fees than existing customers who paid no a connection fee.

Roads - approved an ordinance establishing an amended five-year road program. Changes include delaying construction of Jog Road from Roebuck Road to 45th Street; Okeechobee Blvd. from Australian Ave. to Tamarind Ave./Parker Ave.; Roebuck Road from State Road 7 to Jog Road; Silver Beach Road from Congress Ave. to Old Dixie Hwy.; and Boca Rio Road from Palmetto Park Road to Boca Lago Blvd.

Transit Oriented Development – postponed to December 15 discussion of minimum requirements for a request for proposals (RFP) for development of the Wedge, a county-owned parcel within the West Palm Beach transit-oriented development (TOD) zone.