BCC Briefs

At the December 15, 2009, Board of County Commissioners meeting, the board took the following action:

Ethics Reform – adopted a series of ordinances establishing an independent Office of Inspector General, an independent Commission on Ethics, and a local Code of Ethics for county employees and elected and appointed officials.

PREM - adopted an amendment to the Property and Real Estate Management (PREM) ordinance requiring all purchases, sales and exchanges of real property other than interdepartmental transactions to be approved by a supermajority vote of the BCC. The amendment also provides for establishment of a property review committee to review, evaluate and advise the BCC on real estate transactions.

Transit Oriented Development – directed staff to proceed with advertising a request for proposals (RFP) for development of a county-owned parcel known as the wedge located within the West Palm Beach transit-oriented development (TOD) district.

Towing Companies – approved on preliminary reading and to advertise for public hearing on Jan. 12, 2010, amendments to the county tow truck ordinance requiring all tow truck drivers to have an I.D. badge and pass a basic criminal and diving record background checks, and for all towing companies in PBC to be licensed and meet minimum safety, insurance and operating rules.

Climate Change – adopted amendments to the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact, a coordinated climate change strategy with Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. Amendments include the addition of nuclear energy to the suggested policy statement issues and language stating that no county will work at cross-purpose with the other counties.

Fire-Rescue – adopted an ordinance amending the boundaries of the Fire-Rescue MSTU to include the Town of South Palm Beach; also approved a consulting/professional services agreement with Kathleen Owens to assist with implementation of a level-of-service common communication/dispatch system.

Economic Development – approved creation of a time-limited economic development specialist to be paid by federal energy grant funds under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. The position will terminate upon exhaustion of federal funds on August 30, 2012.

Convention Center – approved an extension to the existing agreement with Aramark Sports and Entertainment Services at the Palm Beach County Convention Center for food and beverage services through June 30, 2010.

Airport Hilton – granted an 18-month extension to Shiraz, Inc., owner/operator of the Airport Centre Hilton, to complete expansion of the hotel’s meeting room facilities.