BCC Briefs

At the April 1, 2008 Board of County Commissioners meeting, the board took the following action:

Water Utilities – approved on preliminary reading and advertised for public hearing on April 15 an ordinance establishing a 15-percent water restriction surcharge, which would apply to potable water base facility fees, potable water commodity fees, wastewater base facility fess and wastewater commodity fees. The surcharge is needed to make up for lost revenue due to restrictions imposed by the South Florida Water Management District. Royal Palm Beach customers, who are on a fixed contract, would be exempt.

Environmental Resources Management  – approved an update to the Lake Worth lagoon management Plan, originally adopted in December 1999.  The 2008 update includes an action plan for development of a Lagoon initiative in cooperation with the South Florida Water Management District; also approved a management plan for the 79-acre Pondhawk Natural Area.

Loxahatchee Slough bridge – approved an interlocal agreement with the City of West Palm Beach and the South Florida Water Management District for construction of a bridge over the Grassy Waters Preserve at Northlake Boulevard; (signature withheld pending clarification of the South Florida Water Management District’s continued involvement with the project.)

Pheasant Walk – agreed to allow previously installed paver brick sidewalks at the Pheasant Walk development to remain in residents’ driveways, on the condition that property owners provide insurance and indemnify the County.

Clerk & Comptroller – approved a budget transfer of $176,000 to supplement the value Adjustment Board’s budget. The VAB set a record with 14,314 property assessment disputes in the 2008 season, up nearly 4,000 from the year before.

Legislative Affairs – received an update on pending local bills and funding requests at the halfway point of the 2008 Florida Legislative Session; passed a resolution supporting two proposed Senate and two proposed House measures pertaining to the prescribing and dispensing of controlled substances.