Page 20 - Abacoa Community News - March '24

Page 20, Abacoa
Commissioner’s Update

Beach Restoration Efforts In over 22 miles of beach and dune restoration projects for the recovery is not possible. The Singer Island Emergency Dune
Restoration is 50 percent complete, focusing on protecting
benefit of tourists, residents and coastal property owners.
Palm Beach County Dunes are accumulations of wind-blown sand abutting county construction accesses and publicly accessible
the beach. They are stabilized by salt tolerant native plants beach areas. Coral Cove Emergency Dune Restoration will
By Vice Mayor Maria that have deeply-penetrating, extensive root systems. As the immediately follow completion of Singer Island and will
Marino plants become buried, new roots develop on the recently focus on recovery of dune areas within the county park and
Palm Beach County’s 47- buried stems while new stems emerge from the sand. Dunes adjacent public access areas. Coastal Resources Program
mile coastline is a playground help minimize erosion and protect coastal infrastructure from staff are also working with local Inlet Management District,
for millions of residents storm damage. municipal, state, and federal partners to facilitate restoration
and tourists each year. Our Recently you may have observed shoreline erosion. of affected major beach nourishment projects areas where
beaches serve as one of the Our beaches sustained moderate additional damage to a appropriate.
best defenses against wave number of previously identified “hot spot” areas of erosion The county’s dune restoration efforts are funded by a
damage caused by winter through the end of 2023 as a result of repeated strong frontal portion of Tourist Development Council bed taxes which
storms and hurricanes. storm systems and their associated onshore winds. Despite are used as a local match for state and federal grant dollars
However, the constant additional erosion to these localized areas, we have observed that are contingent on providing public access to the sandy
erosion of our beaches is natural recovery and sand accumulation over the past month beach area. The intent of our efforts are to maintain a beach
an undeniable reality and maintaining the quality and as conditions have begun to normalize. These limited periods and dune system using public dollars on a regional scale
sustainability of beaches is of the highest importance. of recovery are more typical to the county’s winter beach where historic development has impacted the natural system’s
The Palm Beach County Department of Environmental season and a number of positive indicators, such as seaward ability to respond to erosion.
Resources Management, through its Shoreline Enhancement accumulation of beach sand and significant nearshore sandbar We hope and expect that recent observations of natural
and Restoration Program, builds environmentally-sensitive, formation, are good indicators that sand perceivably lost to recovery will continue as conditions normalize and the
cost-effective projects to protect and restore the natural erosion in recent months is still present in the coastal system significant amount of sand within nearshore coastal waters
function of beaches and dunes. The department encourages and will continue to facilitate natural recovery. finds its way back onto dry beach areas.
improved sand management practices at inlets and promotes The worst-hit dune-only county project areas have Your input on areas of concern is very helpful. As always,
the removal of non-native vegetation from sand dunes. Since emergency construction contracts in place to facilitate please contact me if I can be of assistance at (561) 355-2201
1989, Palm Beach County has participated in or constructed restoration of engineered dune systems where natural or by email at MMarino@pbc.gov.
Northern Notes

Living Within Our Budget developments, such as Horseshoe Acres, Steeplechase, Arbor manager compiles the information and produces a draft
Parc and Woodbine. Each unit of development is unique budget for review by Northern management. During this time,
By Katie Roundtree, since their needs can be quite different. Currently, there requests are balanced against funding to determine whether
Director of Finance and are 47 active units of development with budgets, excluding or not specific projects or requests remain in the funding plan
Administration, Northern the general fund. Northern’s primary purpose is to provide for the upcoming year.
Palm Beach County stormwater control services to its area. However, in some Budgets are funded from either maintenance assessments,
Improvement District areas, Northern is also responsible for road, preserve, trail reserve funds, loans or a combination of the above. Northern
L i k e m o st l o c a l and gate maintenance. has a policy to keep a minimum of 25 percent of the
governments, the Northern Northern’s fiscal year begins on Oct. 1 and ends on Sept. maintenance budget for each unit of development in reserves.
Pa lm Beac h Count y 30. Each year, starting in January, the budget process begins Reserves are in place for unexpected emergencies, disasters,
Improvement District for the new fiscal year. Staff and department heads submit and cost increases more than budgeted. Any reserves over
(Northern) must prepare and their budgeted requests for projects, services and equipment the minimum can be used to fund future projects or offset
abide by an annual budget. for the upcoming year to the budget manager. The budget assessment increases.
Unlike many other local
governments, Northern
prepares a budget for
general expenses, such Experience Dentistry
as administrative and
overhead expenses, and for
each unit of development
within its jurisdiction.
A unit of development with a
is a separate, distinct
area formed to provide
specific services from
Northern. These areas can
be for individual housing
developments, such as Woman’s Touch
PGA National, BallenIsles
or Abacoa. They can also be for an area that covers several

Cosmetic & Comprehensive Restorative Dentistry
Tax Talk from page 18

Thank you
to everyone who State of the Art & Same Day Restorations
stopped by our booth
for information
about the services Nitrous Oxide/Oxygen Sedation Available
we provide and to
share their positive
interactions with our
offices! Joanne Green, D.D.S.
We look forward
to taking part in these
community events 10887 N. Military Trail, Suite 6
and visiting with our clients. If you missed us at the Jubilee,
look for our booth at these upcoming community events: Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
• Palm Beach Pride, March 23 to 24 at Bryant Park in
Downtown Lake Worth Beach
• Black Gold Jubilee, April 13 at Torrey Island (561) 622-2815
Campground in Belle Glade.
www.joannegreendds.com

Medical College of Virginia School of Dentistry - Cum Laude
Hospital of the University of Penn - General Practice Residency Training
Harvard Dental School - Former Instructor
Boston Brigham and Women’s Dental Group - Staff Dentist