BCC Briefs

At the April 5, 2011, Board of County Commissioners meeting, the board took the following action:

Charter Review – directed staff to proceed with a public participation plan aimed at obtaining suggested changes to the Palm Beach County Charter to be placed on the November 2012 ballot. The next step will be a series of public meetings around the county to gather input from citizens.

Redistricting – approved a contract with Jerry Wilson, PC, for legal and consulting services for the development of BCC district boundary maps based on the 2010 Census. The contract will not exceed $50,000.

Head Start – approved contracted catering of meals for children in the Head Start/Early Head Start programs, and approved a two-year contract with Classic Caterers for approximately $1 million per year. The change will result in an estimated annual cost savings of $400,000.

Health Department – postponed adoption of a resolution to increase fees for the Office of Vital Statistics for the issuance of birth and death certificates.

Roads – approved a contract with Community Asphalt Corp. in the net amount of $3.38 million for construction of Northlake Boulevard over the Loxahatchee Slough. The board also authorized a special assessment of $25 per abutting foot for paving and drainage improvements on Sylvan Lane, and approved a $145,773 contract with DP Development.

Neighborhood Stabilization – approved three Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2 (NSP2) funding awards in the following amounts: $2.092 million to Community Land Trust of Palm Beach County, Inc.; $9.5 million to Neighborhood Renaissance, Inc.; and $1.132 million to the Westgate/Belvedere Homes CRA. These are federal monies that require no local match.

Tow trucks – approved on preliminary reading and to advertise for public hearing on May 17 a series of amendments to the county’s tow truck ordinance. Changes include clarification of when companies located outside Palm Beach County must obtain operating permits; new I.D. badge requirements; prohibiting a tow truck company/driver from acting as a property owner’s agent; and making it illegal for tow truck companies/drivers to use pre-signed manifests, invoices or authorization forms.