Palm Beach Civic Association Newsletter

This Week In Palm Beach

December 18, 2019

Happy Holidays!

Your friends at the Palm Beach Civic Association wish you a joyous Holiday Season!

Hundreds Deck the Halls

at the Civic Association Holiday Party

Decked in holiday finery, 300 Palm Beach Civic Association members came together to celebrate the holidays, at the new Morton and Barbara Mandel Recreation Center.

The annual event was generously co-sponsored by Freijomel and Boruff Architects and Nievera Williams, and Favor Sponsor Boca Nursing Services, Inc..

Guests were greeted by melodic voices of the First Serve Dimensional Harmony chorus.

The facility glittered and shined, as the Civic Association was the first to host an event at the new facility. Our valued members enjoyed holiday cheer in the Smith Family Fieldhouse, transformed with carpet and décor to create a festive celebration.

To hear from speakers at holiday party event, CLICK HERE.

To view photos from the Holiday Party, CLICK HERE.

Expensive Sand

As the Mid-Town beach project moves forward, and more sand is pumped onto the beaches there to fill in what erosion and waves have taken out, the price tag for the project has dramatically shot up $3 million to $5 million dollars.

Why? 11 property owners along the stretch have refused to grant easements to their property, easements that would have entitled the Town of Palm Beach to more federal money to cover the project costs.

In areas where easements have been granted by property owners, the cost sharing of beach re-nourishment was split 65% paid by the federal government, 35% paid by the Town. However, in areas where easements were not granted, the split will be 50-50, costing the Town of Palm Beach up to $5 million dollars more.

The holdout properties will receive new sand along their beaches even without their granting the easements to the federal government.

Dogs on the Beach?

Yes, but not in that utterly free and untethered kind of a way, that dogs and their owners enjoy right now.

The Town of Palm Beach Council was considering a total ban on dogs on the beach between Sunset Avenue and Wells Road. The complete dog ban was rejected at Council's December 10th meeting.

However, what replaced it, was talk of a middle ground... a mandatory lease law. Former Town Council President and current PBCA Executive Committee member M ichael Pucillo is a dog owner, who urged the council to avoid the total ban, in favor of a leash law.

Town Council members directed staff to come back in January with an ordinance that will allow dogs on the beach, but only if they are on a leash.

'Protect Our Paradise'

The Palm Beach Civic Association Forum 'Protect Our Paradise' drew an enthusiastic crowd on Thursday, December 12th.

That was the day the Town of Palm Beach was to enact its ordinance banning single-use plastic bags and polystyrene cups. Dodging a lawsuit threatened by the Florida Retail Association, the Town rescinded its ban.

Even so, public support for the ban has not waned. Already the Town of Palm Beach has gathered over 2200 signatures in support of a bill to allow municipalities home rule status to make laws on the use of plastic bags and cups. To sign the petition, click this link to the website: https://www.townofpalmbeach.com/931/Prohibition-of-Single-Use-Plastic-Bags .

(To view the full 'Protect our Paradise' video, C LICK HERE.)

The President is Here for the Holidays

Plan your Driving Accordingly

Traffic Alert from the Town of Palm Beach:

CHANGES IN TRAFFIC PATTERNS BEGINNING FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019 NO LATER THAN 5AM

The process of establishing checkpoints and road closures in and around Mar-A-Lago will begin Friday, December 20, 2019, no later than 5AM. Expect traffic delays and road closures in this area thru Sunday, January 5, 2020. Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes.

It is recommended that all household staff, landscaper maintenance companies, pool companies, etc. adjust their schedules accordingly so as not to spend an unnecessary amount of time in traffic due to the closure.

As always, motorists are strongly encouraged to refrain from cellular phone use or any other distractions while driving to assist in the movement of traffic.

During the closure period, all forms of travel, including pedestrian travel, are prohibited on S. Ocean Blvd from the intersection of S. County Road to Southern Boulevard. The travel restrictions will also extend eastward to the ocean. If you are a resident living south of the South Ocean Blvd. and South County intersection you will be granted access with proper credentials.

As a reminder, commercial vehicles (including landscaping trucks) are prohibited from traveling east on Southern Blvd and North of the 1200 block of S. Ocean. Marine security zones will be in effect during this period.

Global Speaker Series

Kicks off in January

January 13, 2020 Migration Policy: A Global Crisis

Keynote Speakers: Austin Fragomen and Gwen Robosson

Sponsored by the Stanley M. Rumbough, Jr., Legacy Society

February 10, 2020 'An Insiders Look at Intelligence' :

Keynote Speaker: A.B. Buzzy Krongard

March 2, 2020 'A Changing Ocean: The Impact On Society' :

Keynote Speaker: Oscar Schofield