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Lots of CRA money to be spent here.
Awaiting Director Lisa Bright’s reply for more info (READ from the bottom up):
—– Original Message —–
From: Victoria Castello To: Bright, Lisa
Sent: Tuesday, July 27, 2010 10:54 AM
Subject: Re: Ocean Breeze project
May I have the names of the respondents to date and will you kindly inform me whenever others come in.
Thank you,
Victoria
—— Original Message —–
From: Bright, Lisa
To: Victoria Castello
Sent: Tuesday, July 27, 2010 10:15 AM
Subject: RE: Ocean Breeze project
Good morning Victoria,
Yesterday at the Pre-Bid Conference we had 8 respondents for the bid. The closing bid date is August 2nd so we might have additional respondents to the RFP.
Lisa
From: Victoria Castello [mailto:victoria@ccin.com]
Sent: Tuesday, July 27, 2010 9:43 AM
To: Bright, Lisa
Subject: Ocean Breeze project
Good Morning Lisa,
Please advise the outcome of this:
ftp://www.ci.boynton-beach.fl.us/CRA/RFP/COMBINED.pdf
Thank you,
Victoria
Added info…not in the emails: TO READ THE ABOVE ftp://www.ci.boynton-beach.fl.us/CRA/RFP/COMBINED.pdf
YOU MUST
FIRST Go to: ftp://www.ci.boynton-beach.fl.us/CRA/
The login is: ftp4cra
The password is: ptf4cra
The CRA doesn’t make it easy for us to get information. Maybe, at some point, they will do what THE CITY does…put it on the home page and just one click will take us to it…
Think of it as a HEARING… Our ELECTED city commissioners sitting as the CRA Board will be asking tough questions of CRA Director Lisa Bright
6:30 – 9:00 PM at our City Library
For those of you who wish to study the figures NOW, here it is CRA budget information online:
Go to: ftp://www.ci.boynton-beach.fl.us/CRA/
The login is: ftp4cra
The password is: ptf4cra
…not fast pretty pictures in PowerPoint presentations. This morning I emailed Lisa Bright:
Sent: Friday, July 23, 2010 7:44 AM
Subject: 7/26/2010 CRA Board agenda / Back-up
Good Morning Lisa,
Please advise how I can obtain the back-up information to the
Thank you,
Victoria
I am an accountant. You, my readers, may not be. I will help anyone who wishes to learn how to “read the books” . It is OUR money which is being spent. Large salaries are being paid
Let’s all attend the CRA Budget Work Shop on MONDAY July 26 at the Boynton Beach Library 6:30-9pm
Tonight’s meeting is VERY IMPORTANT
7/20: 6:00pm, Special Community Redevelopment Agency Board meeting: City Hall, Commission Chambers, (view Agenda).
This editorial from the Palm Beach Post tells you:
In Boynton, two options: Bring CRA under city staff, or suspend agency director.
“Boynton Beach city commissioners have only two credible options at today’s special meeting to deal with the infighting over the community redevelopment agency.
The CRA director has sued the city over its response to her public records request. That same director, Lisa Bright, refused to let the mayor and a resident into the agency’s office; they wanted public records. A resident checking public records found that Ms. Bright had joined the board of Strategic Broadcast Media Group, a not-for-profit seeking to buy WXEL’s broadcast licenses. Ms. Bright said she joined to keep the public TV and radio stations in Boynton Beach, but left in February when Strategic focused on raising $4 million. Corporate records, however, date her departure to July, after the matter had been raised publicly.
Ms. Bright also never told the commission of her involvement, which is particularly noteworthy because Commissioner Marlene Ross is a WXEL employee. Strategic’s president, Joseph Ferrer, received $170,000 over three years for work at the annual downtown holiday event. Ms. Bright also has listed Mr. Ferrer’s home as her own. In an interview, she claimed that she never lived there, using his address to help her daughter attend a middle school outside of her assigned zone. Finally, Ms. Bright and the CRA’s second-ranking employee have started a company together, raising questions about how they spend their city time.
Ms. Bright argues that Mayor Jose Rodriguez and his supporters want to discredit her because they want to control agency projects. She retains a lifeline of support from Commissioners Ross, Woodrow Hay and Bill Orlove. They are moving forward with plans to cede control of the agency to a seven-member citizens board. Among the applicants commissioners will consider early next month is former Mayor Jerry Taylor, who has remained active in city politics.
No matter whom commissioners name to an oversight board, the CRA is a city agency, and they are ultimately responsible. It makes no sense for them to pass off this mess. Ms. Bright may have damaged her credibility beyond repair. She appears to be preparing for a legal battle against the city, rather than doing what it takes to retain her job.
If commissioners believe, nonetheless, that Ms. Bright deserves to stay, they could hand oversight of the CRA to the capable city manager, Kurt Bressner, until allegations against Ms. Bright are investigated, or suspend Ms. Bright with pay. That August deadline for transfer to an independent board is now unrealistic.”
Look at it and think of yourself as the business owner of Boynton Beach. More money is going OUT than is coming IN.
Yes, these are difficult times and we have to navigate them with care and good intention.
All ideas given with that thoughtfulness will inspire our elected officials to do their VERY best for the residents/citizens/taxpayers of Boynton Beach.
Subject: Unable to access 2010-2011 Proposed Budget online
Hello City Manager Kurt Bressner
On www.boynton-beach.org it states:
The City Commission will hold a series of special meetings from Monday, July 19, through Wednesday, July 21, 2010, for the purpose of reviewing the proposed Capital Improvement program for FY2010-2011; the proposed budget for FY2010-2011; adoption of the preliminary Fire Assessment rate resolution for FY2010-2011; and adoption of the tentative millage rate.
Monday, July 19: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 pm.
Tuesday, July 20: 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday, July 21: 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
All meetings will be held in the Program Room at the Boynton Beach City Library, 208 S. Seacrest Blvd. View > 2010-2011 Proposed Budget.
View> doesn’t link to anything except to a “Could not find document” notice
Citizens’ ideas are a terrible thing to waste.
It is Thursday. Tomorrow City Hall is closed. We, who wished to work on this over the weekend, are unable to do so.
Am posting this on my blog. You may wish to give input there
Sincerely,
Victoria
Victoria Castello
www.boyntonbeach.com/news
Copied: Rodriguez, Jose <RodriguezJ@bbfl.us>; Ross, Marlene <RossM@bbfl.us>; Orlove, Bill <OrloveB@bbfl.us>; HayW@bbfl.us <HayW@bbfl.us>; Steven <HolzmanS@bbfl.us>
IT IS AT STAKE!
(An Open Letter to the Elected Officials of Boynton Beach)
If you are reading this you are probably at a computer. Google “Boynton Beach CRA” and right up there is a headline which causes me and other Boynton Beach citizens much…(you fill that in). When the comments cease, the headline will stop coming up so prominently in google searches. That’s why I stopped writing comments there. I am “Victoria”. Know that I reported two comments to the newspaper’s editor as “abusive”. Gave my reasons and they were removed.
On this blog, comments must be approved by me.
I have been spending a lot of time reading and researching about our CRA and other CRAs. Gained a lot of knowledge about CRA matters
Read the OLD minutes of our CRA Board meetings to learn what is the history of our CRA Directors and staff? What happened to cause our City Commission to disband the seven member independent board?
Checking and cross-checking my research lead me here to many articles in our leading local newspapers. To be fair, I will give you one of each:
July 13, 2006
http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2006-07-13/news/0607121460_1_cra-s-future-cra-director-trolley
(Saying doesn’t make it so)
and Nov 6, 2007
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_8163/is_20071106/ai_n51972861/
(Deja Vu!)
We the citizens of Boynton Beach hope that our elected City Commissioners will listen to us NOW although…. it isn’t election time. All FIVE represent ALL of us. Our Commissioners, while elected from districts, have the responsibility and duty to work for the betterment of the ENTIRE City.
Please look at of our Downtown. The decrepit conditions, the tall huge new building, right in the center and so empty looking. It speaks volumes…
PS Will send to the members of our elected City Commission an email notifying them of this blog entry.
Reading the Palm Beach Post headline “Boynton CRA director refuses office access to Mayor, calls Police”…. made me realize how destructive the actions of our present Boynton Beach CRA Director have become. At this point it renders her totally ineffective
At the 6/8 CRA Board meeting the Board has requested that CRA Director Lisa Bright and CRA Board Chairman (Mayor)Jose Rodriguez work together on the former Holiday House project to become the new CRA home. The very visually blighted areas of downtown Boynton Beach have been and remain blighted. It appears that our CRA is comfortable with the status quo and has to be prodded to seek innovative solutions. Converting the Holiday House to house the CRA staff was a suggestion which had to circumvent Ms Bright’s objections to working with the principal owner of this property. Now it may be that the present CRA Director doesn’t wish to work with the CRA Board Chairman on this opportunity to bring hope to a blighted area…..
Broward land developer, GL Homes has requested our County Commissioners consider a trade of about 900 acres of publicly owned farmland in the Agricultural Reserve for about 5,000 acres in Loxahatchee.
Why are we (our County Government) being asked to bail out this developer who purchased 5,000 acres in Loxahatchee/ The Acreage area during the real estate boom at high cost? Take note that the Agricultural Reserve property which is PUBLIC LAND has no development rights, but GL will ask commissioners to give them the right to build about 2,700 homes there. Let our County Commissioners hear from you:
District 5 Burt Aaronson (Chair) (561) 355-2205; 877-930-2205; email: BAARONSO@pbcgov.com
District 1 Karen Marcus (Vice Chair) (561) 355-2201; 877-930-2201 email: KMarcus@pbcgov.org
District 2 Jeff Koons (561) 355-2202; 877-930-2202 email: jkoons@pbcgov.org
District 3 Shelley Vana (561) 355-2203; 877-930-2203 email: svana@pbcgov.org
District 4 Steven L. Abrams (561) 355-2204; 877-930-2204 email: SAbrams@pbcgov.org
District 6 Jess R. Santamaria (561) 355-6300; 877-930-2206 email: jsantama@pbcgov.org
District 7 Priscilla A. Taylor (561) 355-2207; (561) 276-1350 email: ptaylor@pbcgov.org
Ask them whether at a time where there are over 20,000 vacant new home on the market right now…do we need 2,700 more?
And
Reassert to them that this Agricultural Reserve belongs to us, the taxpayers. It was purchased for current and future residents as a place where sustainable agriculture would be safe. WE WANT IT KEPT AS SUCH!
On May 13th as part of their Company’s second year RED DAY (RENEW, ENERGIZE and DONATE) this office which is located west, (8188 Jog Road) far from our Downtown, donated the time of their 40 or more, agents and staff, to renew and energize Our Senior Center on Federal Highway across from the Woman’s Club. Not only did they paint and landscape…they enhanced the entrance patio with new tables and chairs.
Saw it today and was so very impressed. I am sure that I am expressing the heartfelt feeling of appreciation of the seniors who visit and the City staff who work there. What a wonderful example of community spirit to emulate. And those who have the means should reward those in our community who step forward in such a community building way. On my part….real estate inquires coming to this citysite www.boyntonbeach.com, will be directed to Keller Williams Realty Boynton Beach.
 
It takes hard work and dedication to improve blighted areas. CRAs are formed for that purpose. There are times when the CRA director/staff have to set aside thoughts of “political suicide”, egos, personalities or personal comfort and step up to the plate and support its mission.
Our CRA is one of the largest yet its core, comprised of THE DOWNTOWN and our Marina, is not flourishing as it should.
View the online video of last CRA meeting (5/112010) Listen to the dialogue regarding “Consideration of CRA Office Options” which is towards the end of that segment.
The blighted former Holiday House on North Federal is now being considered. It was not submitted as an option in the back-up information given to the CRA Board.
NOTE:(Right now a citizen must request from the CRA staff the back-up information to the agenda. It is NOT readily available online.)
You will hear how Chairman/Mayor Jose Rodriquez had to bring in the blighted former Holiday House as an option. This was not agreeable, at first, to CRA Director Lisa Bright. I find it puzzling as to why the CRA staff included in their suggested CRA office five locations….four locations which were smaller than 2500 sq ft space needed for their new office. It would appear that CRA staff were steering the CRA Board to a preferred choice.
As I am writing this I was alerted to an in coming email: The first paragraph reads:
“As it moves to establish an independent, seven-member governing board for the Boynton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), the Boynton Beach City Commission is seeking applications from City residents or City property and business owners; or officers, directors or managers of City-based businesses to serve on the board. The CRA serves the community by guiding redevelopment activities that create a vibrant downtown core and revitalized neighborhoods within the CRA district, which consists of 1,650 acres along the eastern edge of the City of Boynton Beach.”
The “steering” I perceived above makes me wonder if the present CRA staff has earned the trust to guide that independent board. Maybe we need the transitional step of just adding two new members to the present CRA Board.
Want to share with you info regarding the Boynton Historical Society’s Annual Dinner and Program this Sunday evening at 5:15 for the dinner, and 6:00 for the FREE program if you cannot make it to the potluck dinner to be held at the Boynton Women’s Club.
It sounds like great fun! I don’t know about you, but I haven’t been to a potluck dinner in many years!
The Society will provide the main dishes, beverages, plates and silverware. Everyone is asked to bring a vegetable dish, or a salad, or a dessert sufficient to serve eight people. If you are unable to bring a dish, you may pay $5.00 per person at the door to cover the cost of your meal, or you can come at 6:00 and simply enjoy the speaker and fellowship, but please plan to come!
Dinner will be followed by a presentation by one of the wonderful speakers from the Florida Humanities, Carrie Sue Ayvar. Carrie is a nationally acclaimed bilingual storyteller dedicated to preserving and promoting the art of storytelling. Believing that stories are one of the best means of explaining and passing on the beliefs, traditions and history that individuals or communities wish to keep alive, her program is titled “Stories of Florida – Con Sabor!”
All programs of the BB Historical Society are open and free to the public! Please pass the word and bring your friends!
While there is no sense of urgency at present, we the citizens of Boynton Beach would be foolish to ignore the threat to our beach and local drift boat fishing. Both great tourist attractions. The Gulfstream comes closest to Boynton Beach’s shoreline.
We have a problem of unknown consquenses. I suggest that you click here http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/site/2931/ as a start to understanding what our coastal cities are confronting. It may happen that at some point informed local volunteers will be sought to assist. Start learning now.
We have heard from our newly elected Mayor that next year our City faces a 5 Million dollar budget shortfall. With property values falling, property tax revenue is down significantly. Other cities have bitten the bullet by workforce reduction such as laying off staff, furloughs and hiring freezes. Our past mayor frowned on that but he had a reserve to work with. That reserve is now gone. The low point for our City’s fiscal condition will likely be experienced sometime in 2011.
It may be more palatable if the bad news comes from “City property and business owners; or officers, directors or managers of City-based businesses” which will comprise the soon to be formed nine (9) member (7 regular and 2 alternate) Financial Advisory Committee. Interested? Appointments to this committee will be made at the regular meeting of the City Commission on Tuesday, May 18. Completed applications must be returned no later than Monday, May 17, 2010.
UPDATE: Not enough qualified citizens applied.
Tomorrow (5/4) night’s City Commission meeting has on the agenda the request by Commissioner Orlove to consider changing the meeting time from 6:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Since previous commission meetings have been running into the late hours, this may not be a bad idea. Will it deter citizen participation? It need not. With the information now easily available online, citizens can inform themselves much easier than in the past. And you can email your city commission representative and given him or her your input. For those who are not connected to online sevice, you must do it the old-fashion way of going to City Hall, which is now open at 7 a.m.
 After a presentation of the ongoing improvements to the Marina, Mayor Rodriquez conducted a very fruitful meeting wherein the boat slip tenants “wish list” was discussed.At the top of the list was parking. Especially annoying to boat owners is that at 8 a.m. on Saturdays public parking becomes restaurant employee parking rather than the intended customer parking. The spaces are now labeled public spaces but it was hoped that the employees would be considerate and park at nearby empty parking areas.
If wishes come true, there will be fish display stations to show “the catch” was not just a fish story and it would proudly state that it was caught at the Boynton Beach Marina. One way to tell the world that the very best fishing is here.
Some shady workstations would be nice and lastly non smelly fish disposal is a hoped for dream . If there are other thoughts, suggestions or complaints, there is now a dockmaster on duty to assist.
A vibrant downtown begins with a well-run creatively developed BOYNTON BEACH MARINA. Our Marina is one of the last working marinas in Palm Beach County. It is part of Palm Beach County’s strategic plan to activate the Intracoastal Waterway as a means of commerce.
A public meeting will be held in the Marina on Monday, April 26, 2010, 4:00 p.m. at 700 E. Boynton Beach Boulevard. There will be discussion of the Master Plan for Marina Redevelopment Design which will turn the Marina into a downtown attraction and mixed-use waterfront village. Also post-Marina slip construction improvements will be addressed and a roundtable discussion of slip tenants’ concerns and suggestions.
Boynton Beach will become part of that 21st century vision of hometown beauty which stays true to its roots. This is how it begins….
Mayor Rodriquez is on record for an independent CRA Board. The last item on tonight’s (4/20) City Commission meeting: Item14. UNFINISHED BUSINESS :
A. Review of application packet and process for CRA appointments. City Commission is asked to review the application materials and selection process for appointment of two additional members of the Community Redevelopment Board. The timeline for the appointment of the CRA Board per Ordinance 09-030 is subject to the discretion of the City Commission. download backup (11,275 KB .pdf)
is a step towards that goal. For “the rest of the story”, as the late Paul Harvey would say, check out the backup.
Get to know your Neighbors!… at the newly renovated Pence Park area (SE 5th Avenue and SE 4th Street). Bring your gently used items out for sale and enjoy a pleasant time.
Boynton Beach Recreation and Parks will provide a FREE table to those who RSVP by May 1. So call 742-6243 or email your name, address and phone number to phillipsj@bbfl.us and look forward to an old-time friendly get-together.
UPDATE: It was a really fun day. Looking forward to the next one whic h may be in the Fall. Here’s a a photo to give you a feel:
 Do we ever tell the City Commissioner who represents us? Well I did this morning to the newly elected District 3 Commissioner Steven Holzman. Let me share it with you:
“Good Morning Commissioner Holzman,
Thank you for representing me, and our District 3, so well at last night’s City Commission meeting regarding the Neighborhood Stabilization Program. That our City Manager did not feel comfortable with the process which lead to the selection of the CDCs, who would act as developer under the City of Boynton Beach’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) would give a reasonable man pause for concern and request another look at it.
I was surprised that one of the newest member of the Commission, Bill Orlove, felt that our City Commission should override the City Manager’s concerns. Commissioner Marlene Ross and Vice-Mayor Woodrow Hay concurred and it was passed 3-2 with Mayor Jose Rodriquez the other dissenting vote.
With that in mind I, as a concerned citizen, have requested, as a start, a meeting with Quintus Greene, Director of Development and Octavia Sherrod, Community Improvement Manager.
If you have any suggestions, I would appreciate hearing them.
With warmest regards,
Victoria Castello”
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