Category Archives: Community Initiatives

West Palm Beach Budget Reveal This Thursday

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It’s all about the money at August’s SENA General Meeting this Thursday, August 4 at the Palm Beach Zoo. Elected officials will be on hand to give a legislative update and reveal the proposed budget.

District 5 Community Budget Workshop with the Mayor and City Staff will start at 5:45 before the Legislative update.

The City’s finance department will make a presentation on the City’s proposed budget for October 1, 2016-September 30, 2017. This is a great time for you to review the proposed City budget with your neighbors and give your opinion on what you feel is most important in the budget.

Speakers for the Legislative Update include:
Mayor – Jeri Muoio
State Attorney – Dave Aronberg
Representative – Bill Hager

Find out what’s coming up next in our City.

SENA

About SENA
The South End Neighborhood Association was formed in 2004. Our neighborhood in West Palm Beach, Florida is bounded by Southern Boulevard to the north, the Lake Worth spillway to the south, the intracoastal waterway to the east, and the FEC railway tracks to the west. There are more than 2,500 homes in the South End. Currently we have over 300 households as members and SENA is growing fast!

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Tee Up A Design For Your Dream Golf Course In The South End

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WPB Golf Course

This Thursday’s SENA meeting will address one big topic: What would South End Residents and those who utilize the golf course like the city to put into a request for proposal for the possible development of the golf course.

A request for proposal (RFP) is a type of bidding solicitation in which the City announces that funding is available for a particular project or program, and companies can place bids for the project’s completion. Think of this as an opportunity to create a “wish list” of ideas that the City can use as a benchmark to help them draft the RFP. This can include things like: where should the entrance be, what size clubhouse, what amenities at the clubhouse, etc.

Need inspiration to get your started? Check out a drone video of the course here.

The meeting will be

Thursday July 7th,
6:30 pm
The South Olive Recreation Center (345 Summa Street)

SENA

 

 

Drink Beer and Run 5K to Save Wildlife

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Whether you are more of a sprinter or sipper, the Palm Beach Zoo has the perfect way for you to help animals with an activity that matches your personality.

Brew 16

Enjoy wild animals, lush surrounding, live music and unlimited samples of craft beer from 25+ Florida breweries at this year’s Brew at the Zoo. All the beer is brewed in Florida with more than half of the participating breweries within 50 miles of the Zoo, and none more than 200 miles away.

Here’s what is included:

General Admission $35.00
6:00pm-9:00pm admission to the event inside the Zoo
Collectible sampling mug
Lanyard to hold your mug while you eat, etc.
Sampling from 25+ breweries, each with 2 or 3 brews
Great food available to purchase from local restaurants, see list below
Live music in the Fountain Plaza by The Brews Brothers
Strolling live music by The Hot Java Band trio

VIP Admission $65.00
LIMITED QUANTITY AVAILABLE…ONLY 200!
VIP Food Sponsor at Brew At The Zoo 2016 – Carrabba’s Italian Grill
Includes all of the above
Early entry at 5:30pm
Free food in the Tropics Cafe, courtesy of Carrabba’s Italian Grill
Premium beer samples not available to General Admission
Collectible t-shirt (be sure to select your ticket based on preferred t-shirt size, however, size not guaranteed)
LIve music by Andre Michaud

Designated Driver $15.00
Free water and soft drinks at the Tropics Cafe Snack Window
Live Music
Great food available to purchase from local restaurants
Designated Driver ticket purchasers PLEDGE to NOT CONSUME any alcohol during the event or prior to arrival
May enter at 5:30pm if accompanying a VIP ticket holder

Click here to purchase tickets.

Save tiger

Run or Walk to help save the Malayan tiger!

The Malayan tiger is the most endangered of the 5 remaining species of tigers. It’s estimated that there are fewer than 250 in the wild. The Palm Beach Zoo works closely with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), supporting species and habitat research and protection at Endau-Rompin National Park in Malaysia. A portion of your race registration fee helps fund our involvement with WCS.

You’ll run or walk through the beautiful paths of Dreher Park and finish the race inside the Palm Beach Zoo passing the Tiger River habitat where 2 of the 4 Malayan tigers reside. You’ll also run past wallabies, Fennec foxes, New Guinea singing dogs, ocelots, and siamang gibbons on your way to the finish line at the fountain plaza.

Your registration includes admission to the Zoo for the day and discount coupons for friends and family to see you finish and explore the Zoo for the day. Be sure to register soon- the first 500 runners registered get a free t-shirt.

Awards will be given in the following categories:

Top 3 Overall Male & Female

Top 3 Masters Male & Female

Top 3 Male ages 9 & under, 10-14, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80+

Top 3 Female ages 9 & under, 10-14, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80+

Tonight’s SENA Meeting: Sober Homes, Chain of Lakes, Sugar Tour & Property Tax Question are all on the agenda

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SENA

March SENA General Meeting
Thursday, March 3rd : 6:30pm till 8:00pm 
South Olive Community Center at 345 Summa St.

Tonight’s SENA meeting is packed with information and issues that may impact you as a South End resident.

SOBER HOMES IN THE SOUTH END
Legislative update from Commissioner Materio. Get the newest information about what’s happening in Tallahassee to address this situation in our neighborhood.

BLUEWAY TRAILS CHAIN OF LAKES PRESENTATION

Blueway TrailsBlueway logo
This is the project to build a lift system in the C-51 canal that would create open access for small boats to the intracoastal from the western waterways.

FREE TOUR OF THE SUGAR INDUSTRY THIS SATURDAY:
RSVP at the meeting, by email or on Facebook.

PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION QUESTION
A referendum to answer this ballot question: Shall the City Commission of the City of West Palm Beach be authorized to grant, pursuant to s. 3, Art. VII of the State Constitution, property tax exemptions to new businesses and expansions of existing businesses that are expected to create new, full time jobs in the City of West Palm Beach?

Yes – For authority to grant exemptions
No – Against authority to grant exemptions

Presented by Chris Roog Economic Director of the City of West Palm Beach.

NOT TO MENTION PIZZA, COOKIES AND THE SENA KIDS CLUB WITH REC CENTER COUNSELORS PROVIDING ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN.

 

Sober Homes in the Southend? Town Hall Meeting This Wednesday.

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meeting_4

This Wednesday, October 14, there will be a community engagement town hall meeting to discuss sober homes and responsive actions that policy makers can take to balance the issue. The town hall will be an opportunity for residents to engage early in the discussion and offer local solutions to community needs and challenges.

What’s the skinny on this issue?

  • Many towns and cities have attempted to regulate sober homes, but have found themselves restricted by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as well as federal fair housing laws.
  • Sober homes, or halfway houses, are not regulated by the state since they do not provide treatment. And because alcoholism and addiction are recognized mental disorders, people who suffer from these conditions are protected under the ADA.
  • In February 2015, Rep. Lois Frankel, D-West Palm Beach, told a group of mayors and other municipal officials from her district that she had asked Housing and Urban Development Sec. Julian Castro and officials in the Justice Department about ways to help local governments regulate sober houses without violating federal law.
  • In June 2015, Governor Scott signed the “Sober Home Bill” into law. This bill establishes a voluntary certification program for recovery residences and recovery residence administrators. It prohibits licensed substance abuse treatment providers from referring patients to recovery residences which are not certified or not owned and operated by a licensed substance abuse treatment provider.

This is an issue that can impact our local community. Learn where the government officials stand and voice your opinion this Wednesday.

sober homes

The New West Palm Beach Golf Course: The Public Spoke, But Did The City Listen?

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WPB Golf Course

In recent months, the city has been looking to WPB residents to give their opinions on the future of 8111 S. Dixie Hwy, the Palm Coast Plaza, and the West Palm Beach Municipal Golf Course.

Among the ideas proposed by the City were to shrink the Municipal Golf Course to a Par-3 course or to a 9-hole course and develop the land as residential property.

In a September 8 city commission workshop, Natasha Alonso, Director of urban design and planning for consultant group Redevelopment Management Associates, said that residents made it clear they wanted the course to remain 18 holes and have a clubhouse that would “make it more than a golf course — a true gathering place.” They were also pushing for more trees, better entrance approaches and more of a connection with the surrounding community.

RMA heard what the public had to say- kind of. While all the options they presented left the course with 18 holes, three of the four proposals would shorten the course from slightly to significantly.

The Palm Beach Post described the four scenarios from RMA (which range from an estimated $5.9 million to $19.5 million) as follows:

Scenario 1
Scenario-1
Described as requiring the “least invention,” would redesign entries on the north and southeast of the course; add 16 townhomes near Forest Hill; improve landscaping, shading; add bike paths; and redesign the canal waterfront to have more of a connection with the course, which would remain a 72-par, 7,000-yard regulation/championship course. The negatives: it doesn’t maximize waterfront potential, and since it offers little opportunity for private residential development the project would solely rely on public money. Estimated price: $5,933,3766.

Scenario 2
Scenario-2
Introduces a road that rings the course; puts a clubhouse on the south central part of the course, near the water; also has 16 townhomes but adds 218 residential units around the course at a variety of prices; adds heavy landscaping, a perimeter path, promenade, fishing pier, kayak-launch area and a connection to the Dreher Park bike trail. The downside: shifting the clubhouse to the south and adding housing means reconfiguring and shortening the course to a par-62, 4,775-yard executive course. Price: $12,908,156.

Scenario 3
Scenario-3
Has entries in the north and southeast; adds a road that rings the course and another that goes through the middle, with 225 houses there and 18 townhouses in the north. The course is reduced to a par-63, at 5,170 yards. The site connects to Dreher Park trail. Southeastern placement of the clubhouse brings opportunity for a connection with the city’s 8111 S. Dixie Hwy. property and “under-bridge connections to really activate that waterfront,” consultant Natasha Alfonso says. Waterfront would include a kayak launch, pavilions, fishing pier, possibly a small restaurant and dock at the clubhouse. Cost: $12,319,815.

Scenario 4
Scenario-4
A marriage of the least-intense and most-intense development scenarios. It contemplates apartment buildings three to six stories tall with 250 units on the east side of the course. The course is left at almost its existing size, with no ring road or central road. The canal would be dredged to make room for 33 houses surrounded by water. The clubhouse would be in the south central section of the waterfront, with a public marina. The trade-off: Most if not all the golf course size would remain but the mid-rise condos would add height and density. Price: $19,493,512, a number elevated by the cost of dredging and sea walls.

Other key points that came out of the workshop:

  • The course is not for sale.  Mayor Jeri Muoio once again asserted that the City has no plans to sell the golf course.
  • Commissioner Shanon Materio revealed her preferences. Materio, whose district encompasses the golf course, said she preferred Scenarios 1 and 4 as they left the course intact as a full-sized championship course and are the most do-able for potential developers. She also stated that she does not oppose putting houses around the course or scenarios that would put housing on Mary Brandon Park.
  • The next step. According to Muoio, the city is looking for redevelopment partners and will present options in meetings with the public soon.

This project is far from over…or even getting started…stay tuned for more…

Trash Talking In SoSo: Be a Part of this Weekend’s Beach Clean-up.

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Beach Clean-up

Save sleeping in for Sunday and do your part to help beautiful the Southend. This Saturday, September 19th from 8:30 – 10:30, SENA will be participating in its intracoastal beach cleanup at Summa Beach. Earn ice cream and a free t-shirt…read on to learn all the details.

cleanup

BEACH CLEAN-UP
Saturday, September 19th
8:30 am – 10:30 am

SUMMA BEACH
(Intra-coastal beach at intersection of Summa St. and S. Flagler Dr.

City of West Palm Beach Firefighters from Station 2 will deliver ice cream to all hardworking volunteers.

All supplies are provided: gloves, garbage bags, and water. All we need are hands to help. Reward offered for the most unusual item discovered.
Contact Robert Norvell: 561-628-5264 or rnorvell@norvell-law.com
*Community Service Hours Given
* Free Commemorative T-shirts provided to volunteers while supplies last

Does Gregory Road Have A Pole Position? Learn More Tuesday Night.

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Logo-FPL

In a July post, we told you about FPL’s community powerpoint presentation and open discussion related to their project on Gregory Road (specifically the portion between Olive Ave. and Dixie Highway.) It was FPL’s intention to replace all the old wood poles with concrete poles. The July discussion focused on placement options, back of sidewalk or within the swale area.

FPL has now halted its work at the City’s request. See the note below for more info…

Florida Power & Light Company has been investing in new technology and grid improvements to ensure our customers have reliable electricity every time they flip the switch and that we can get your life back to normal faster when outages do occur. These improvements include installing new, stronger poles, which we are currently doing along Gregory Road. At the City’s request, we have halted this work to address the neighborhood’s questions about our improvements.

We invite you to join us and West Palm Beach City staff on Tuesday, September 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the South Olive Community Center, 345 Summa St, West Palm Beach, as we outline the benefits of these improvements and review the permitting processes necessary to complete the work.

We welcome your engagement and participation at this meeting. Please feel free to contact me at (561) 691-7048, should you have any questions or concerns. Thank you for your interest.

Sincerely,
Don Kiselewski
Director of External Affairs, FPL

While specifically directed at Gregory Road residents, anyone living in the South End is welcomed to attend.

See Into The Southend’s Future Tomorrow Morning

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crystal ball

With two public meetings and a 3-day design charette behind them (see more info here), the RMA is ready to unveil its options for the development of the 8111 S. Dixie Highway property. See the note from SENA below.

Dear Neighbors,

As you may know RMA, the company which manages the City of West Palm Beach’s Community Redevelopment Agency, has been working to create some proposals for the development of the 8111 site and possible tie-ins with the golf course and the Palm Coast Plaza.

After two public meetings and a 3-day design charrette, RMA developed some options which they will present to the public tomorrow at 10am. This is hugely important for the South End and we need as many people to come and show support as possible.
RMA will be presenting on Tuesday at 10am
at the Flagler Gallery, City Hall

We hope to see you there!

Best regards,
Your South End Neighbors

SENA

About SENA

The South End Neighborhood Association was formed in 2004. Our neighborhood in West Palm Beach, Florida is bounded by Southern Boulevard to the north, the Lake Worth spillway to the south, the intracoastal waterway to the east, and the FEC railway tracks to the west. There are more than 2,500 homes in the South End. Currently we have over 300 households as members and SENA is growing fast!