BCC Briefs

At the Nov. 16, 2010, Board of County Commissioners meeting, the board took the following action:

Reorganization – newly elected Commissioners Paulette Burdick, Steven Abrams and Priscilla Taylor and reelected Commissioner Jess Santamaria took the oath of office. The board elected Karen Marcus chair and Shelley Vana vice chair, and recognized outgoing Chairman Burt Aaronson for his year of service as head of the BCC.

Advisory Boards – adopted a resolution granting the county administrator and deputy county administrator approval authority for travel by advisory board members to various training seminars, conferences and meetings.

Lake Park Marina – approved an interlocal agreement with the Town of Lake Park for funding in the amount of $2.4 million to expand boat trailer parking at the Lake Park Marina. The money is from a 2004 waterfront bond program.

Affordable Housing – approved an agreement with the Community Land Trust of Palm Beach County in the amount of $4.523 million in federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2 funds to construct a 25-unit apartment complex in Lake Worth for affordable rental housing.

Energy Efficiency – adopted a resolution urging Congress and President Obama to fully fund the Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants (EECBG) in FY-2012. The program will end in 2011 if no action is taken. EECBG-funded retrofit projects in Palm Beach County are expected to create and retain 143 jobs while decreasing energy use and curbing greenhouse gas emissions.

Veterinary Clinics – approved an amendment to the ULDC Planned Development District Use Matrix to allow a veterinary clinic with no outdoor runs and less than 5,000 square feet of gross floor area to be a permitted use.

Campaigning – directed legal staff to research the board’s authority to make the commission chambers a campaign-free zone while board meetings are being conducted.