• The 2021 Budget Resolutions, which approved both the 2021 operating budget and the 2021 debt service millage was passed on a 5–0 vote. The detailed budgets are available on the Town website. In summary, the operating and debt service millage remained unchanged at 6.3500 and 0.4290. respectively.  The operating budget is $5,377,248. The debt service budget $495,855 with $247,927.50 coming from the assessed millage and the same amount coming from the Town utility tax. For questions on the budget or debt service, call either Town Administrator, Wendy Wells, or me.

• A resolution was passed adjusting and updating various fees for Town services. Included in the resolution was a stipulation directing Town staff to collect development site review expenses that exceed the $350 fee, as follows: District A 50% of excess; District B 75% of the excess, and District C & D, 100% of the excess. This action will bring the expenses of the Building Department into balance. Before this adjustment, the Department has been running a deficit, which means residents have been subsiding new development approvals.

• A District C ordinance authorizing street-level parking and increasing building height by four feet to compensate for the height lost by eliminating depressed parking was passed on the first reading by a 4–1 vote. Commissioner Mills was the dissenting vote. At the suggestion of Commissioner DeReuil, language to increase the rear building setback from 25 to 30 feet and decrease density from 30 to 20 units per acre when using the new height allowance was added as a stipulation in the ordinance. The second and final reading of this ordinance will be at the October Commission meeting. Commissioner Mills felt the height increase is sufficient to require a referendum.

• An ordinance regulating the use of storage PODS was passed on a 3-2 vote. The ordinance authorizes the use of PODS in residential (District A) for 30 days with one extension for an additional 30 days. A no-cost permit for PODS will be required. In multi-family dwelling, PODS are allowed ONLY when a valid building permit has been issued by the Town. Commissioner Mills and I voted in the negative. Mills wants no POD authorization and I wanted the 30 + 30 day limitations of POD placement at multifamily dwellings.

• An ordinance updating parking regulations was passed on the second reading by a 5-0 vote. This ordinance reiterates, clarifies, and enhances Town parking restrictions. It is also authorizes PBSO Deputies and the Code Enforcement Officer to enforce the parking regulation. It adds a stipulation regulating parking in undeveloped lots. 

• An ordinate updating Town code enforcement procedures was also addressed. This is a “housekeeping” ordinance updating our code to reflect the changeover to the PBSO and the existence of a full-time Code Enforcement Officer. It passed on a 5-0 vote.

• And, an Ordinance eliminating the requirement for all vendors and service suppliers who do not pay a Town Business Tax to register with the Town was passed on a 5-0 vote. The registration requirement has not been enforced for at least five years, and it seemed unreasonable to require ALL cleaning and yard services providers to register. 

• The last item on the agenda was an update on plans to address the stormwater drainage issue on Lake Drive. As everyone who lives in Town is aware, we have chronic King tide flooding at Lake and Bamboo, chronic stormwater flooding at Lake and Cascade, as well as on the west side of Lake at the Buccaneer and north Sailfish parking lots. We will address and eliminate these issues by:

1. Installing a back-flow valve at the Bamboo stormwater outflow pipe that flows into Lake Worth. This will stop the saltwater flooding during high tides;
2. Water tests on the flows to the stormwater catch basin on the east side of Lake at Blossom, Cascade, Edwards, Tacoma, and Claremont Lanes. If the water flows into the catch basin is obstructed, we will correct the grades, using the Town 10 foot right of way, to channel stormwater runoff into the catch basins. And, if necessary, we will install a new catch basin on the west side of Lake somewhere near the Buccaneer fire lane.  All but this last step will be done within the next few months.