Page 12 - Boca Club News - April '25

Page 12, Boca Club News

From the Desk of Commissioner Marci Woodward • 9th Avenue South Outfall Restoration–City of Lake Worth • $4.65 million HIP award to One North Lake, LLC for
from page 11 Beach ($371,250); 54 affordable units in Pahokee, capped at 70% AMI for 50
• Daniels Way Water Quality Improvements–Town of Jupiter years.
We also had meetings with Senator Calatayud and ($103,500); • $3.15 million HIP award for Westgate Terrace
Representative Tendrich about the Mid-Lease Rent Increase • Loxahatchee River Headwaters Easement Mapping Apartments, with 37 affordable units capped at 120% AMI
Bill. This is a local bill request for something we were ($75,000); for 50 years.
unaware of until a local resident brought it to our attention. • Loxahatchee Slough Habitat Restoration Phase II • $4.3 million HBLP award to Village of Valor in Palm
Our workforce/affordable housing tenants have been ($180,000). Springs, providing 54 affordable units for veterans and their
surprised with rental increases, some only a month after It was great to meet with so many key leaders this past families for 50 years.
signing a yearlong lease. The federal government, through week, including FDOT Secretary Jared Perdue, Senator • $2.25 million grant for Davis Commons, a 20-unit
HUD, releases the AMI numbers every April. AMI stands Alexis Calatayud, Secretary of State Cord Byrd and Senator affordable townhome project in Lake Worth Beach.
for Area Medium Income, and it is based on a formula the Danny Burgess. I also had the opportunity to connect with Over $1 Million Saved in Insurance Coverage. Palm
Federal Government uses to determine the local income of Representative Debra Tendrich, Representative Jervonte Beach County is making smart financial decisions while
residents in a county. Edmonds, Department of Commerce Secretary Alex protecting public buildings and infrastructure. The latest
We are a large county, and with the influx of many high- Kelly, Department of Economic Development Secretary insurance renewal reduces costs by 5.7%, saving over $1
wage earners our AMI has risen to $104,000, expected to be Jason Mahon, Appropriations Chair Senator Ed Hooper, million, and increases coverage in key areas.
adjusted again next month. This number is important because Natural Resources Appropriations Chair Tiffany Esposito, Significant improvements include stronger hurricane
it is what we must use to determine rental rates for affordable Appropriations Chair Representative Lawrence McClure, protection, with named wind coverage rising from $145
housing. The request of the bill is to prohibit landlords from Attorney General James Uthmeier and Chief of Staff for million to $155 million per storm, and the hurricane
increasing the rates with the release of new AMI numbers in Governor Ron DeSantis, Cody Farrill. It was an incredibly deductible dropping from $33.25 million to $25 million per
April and, instead, only at the time of lease renewal. Regular productive few days, and I look forward to continuing our occurrence.
rental agreements do not allow for an increase until renewal; collaboration to achieve our shared goals. Non-hurricane property coverage has increased from
we are asking the same for tenants in workforce housing. As always, we are grateful to our state partners for their $200 million to $215 million, and the total insured value of
Our Intergovernmental Affairs and Community time and effort. As session continues throughout the month, municipal and utility properties has grown to $3.1 billion.
Engagement Division Director, Ed Chase, also got us a a team of county lobbyists will remain in Tallahassee to Cyber liability premiums have decreased by 2.42%,
meeting with Senator Burgess’s staff to begin the discussion monitor appropriations that are important to our residents. A expanding coverage limits, while workers’ compensation
for a Veterans’ initiative I am working on with the Hanley big thank you to TEAM PBC and my escorts, PBC Firefighter excess insurance rose 4.6% due to payroll growth. This
Foundation, No Fallen Heroes, and the Grey Team. Thank Craig Gerlach and Kayla West, for keeping me on schedule renewal strengthens our coverage while saving taxpayer
you, Ed, for helping me plant the seed. I can’t wait to tell and ensuring everything runs smoothly. dollars.
you more once we are on stronger footing. Recently Approved Agenda Items. Each month the The county’s Risk Management team played a key role
My advocacy extended to key areas of our legislative Board of County Commissioners approves a wide range of in securing these benefits and maintaining strong insurance
agenda, including vital infrastructure and water resource important agenda items that impact areas such as engineering, relationships, ensuring the County’s financial security.
protections with appropriation chairs. Our meeting with facilities, housing, airports, and more. Here are some key Nonprofit Spotlight:
Environmental Resources Management (ERM) Director Deb items approved this month: Boca Helping Hands (BHH) is a local nonprofit dedicated
Drum and AEG Chair Jason Brodeur on the Loxahatchee • A resolution encouraging collaboration among to serving South Florida by providing food, financial
River and Lake Worth Lagoon projects provides hope to municipalities, stakeholders, state agencies and taxing assistance and job training to individuals, children and
continue the amazing work of restoration and protection of authorities for the successful development and adoption of families. Their Resource Center offers emergency financial
these vital natural resources. a Countywide Transportation Master Plan. help for rent, utilities and childcare, while partnerships with
Other Palm Beach County initiatives I supported include: • A 12-month agreement extension with FDEP to share Genesis Community Health and FAU provide affordable
• Australian Avenue Road and Drainage Improvements costs for the Singer Island Dune Nourishment project. medical, dental and behavioral care.
($2,500,000); • Direction to staff to return with a resolution amending I recently secured support from the Board of County
• Fire Rescue Water Vessels for Hazard Mitigation ($200,000); the Boards Rules and Procedures, adding a Board Direction Commissioners to add BHH’s Job Training Program request
• Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens Bridge to Heaven section to the agenda. for $427,700 to the county’s appropriations list this legislative
Design ($500,000); • A 360-degree survey to evaluate the County Auditors, session. The program offers scholarships for vocational
• Peanut Island Historic Restoration ($2,000,000); County Administrators and County Attorneys performance. training in healthcare, IT, construction and transportation.
• Palm Beach County Affordable Housing Initiative • $11.6 million for Transit Signal Priority and Emergency BHH always needs volunteers, donations and food for their
($2,550,000); Vehicle Preemption hardware and software for Fire Rescue pantry. For more information, call (561) 317-0913.
• Palm Tran Patriot Passes Pilot Program ($150,000); and Palm Tran. If you require assistance, please contact our office at (561)
• RESTORE Re-Entry Program ($500,000); • $34 million in bonds approved for Calusa Pointe II in 355-2204 or email Mwoodward@pbcgov.org.
• Lake Worth Lagoon System Assessment ($154,500); Belle Glade, providing 168 affordable units for 30 years.
Memo from County Tax Collector Anne M. Gannon:

People and Events You Should Know About!

By Anne M. Gannon, Constitutional to highlight the efforts and initiatives undertaken by my Joe tells us that his approach to tackling challenges or
Tax Collector serving Palm Beach office. Among our areas of focus this past fiscal year problems is “taking the time to come together to understand
County. You can reach her office were improving communication, continuing to enhance the issue and make sure everyone is on the same page.”
by Email: ClientAdvocate@ our online service and expanding the convenience and He emphasizes that computer security and improving staff
taxcollectorpbc.com. Phone: (561) availability of the vehicle registration renewal kiosks experience are among his department’s top priorities.
355-4271. throughout the county. When the topic of artificial intelligence arose, Joe had this
The arrival of April means that There is a great deal of valuable information in this 16- to say, “AI can’t replace what our people do, but can accelerate
the 2024 property tax season is a page report and I encourage you to review it by visiting our processes,” noting that “the benefits outweigh the potential
done deal, so hopefully everyone www.pbctax.gov/annual-report where you can also request consequences with the proper policies and managed approach.”
paid their taxes before the March 31st deadline. In addition, a copy be mailed to you. With 13 years at the TCO and extensive experience, Joe
before the onslaught of the summer heat, we have a flurry of Meet Joe Sverak. was asked what career he would choose if he had not chosen
community events around this time that we look forward to Whether you transact with IT, and he quickly answered, “an automotive mechanic.”
participating in each, one of which was the Jupiter Jubilee, us in person, by mail or Joe, we are glad that you chose IT and we value the integral
which you will read more about in this column. online you are interacting part you and your team play for our organization’s success.
This time of year also means our staff is embarking on with systems that have been TCO in the Community. The Town of Jupiter is
our annual Journey to Good Health program that provides put in place by our dedicated celebrating its 100th birthday this year and our organization
them with an opportunity to learn more about their Information Technology (IT) took part in the Centennial Celebration by participating in
individual health profile. We then help them through one- team, a department that often the Jupiter Jubilee. This event is Jupiter’s biggest hometown
on-one sessions with a licensed nutritionist, to set personal goes unnoticed. Joe Sverak, celebration and the town’s official birthday party! It was
health goals to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Over the years a Chief Information Officer, a great day of celebrating with our neighbors in the North
good number of our employees who have participated in the oversees our IT department of sixteen team members who County. TCO employees were on hand to answer questions
program have achieved amazing results. And the program manage and safeguard the stability of our equipment and about TCO services and distribute informational materials.
is designed to reward those employees who meet standards technology, which includes everything from computers and Thank you to our staff for volunteering their time to share
for good health or who make progress toward their goals. I software to the servers that keep everything afloat. They are their expertise with attendees. We all look forward to this
am very proud that we are able to offer this program to our part of the fabric that binds the organization together. When event to provide outreach to our North County residents
employees and that we are committed to promoting good asked about the role that he and his team play at the TCO Important Dates & Holidays:
healthy lifestyles. he said, “There is more to IT than just computers; there are April 18th Good Friday
Publishing our organization’s annual report is a huge a lot of moving parts behind the scenes, which means there April 20th Passover Ends
undertaking each year. Data for the report is gathered from are often several ways to do something, and I give my team April 20th Easter
many of our departments in order to accurately and fully the latitude to explore those options.” April 30th IPP Enrollment Deadline for 2025
detail our performance during the previous fiscal year. As
you can imagine, this can be tedious when working with
dollar amounts in the billions and servicing numbers in the
hundreds of thousands. My team did a fantastic job pulling
this together and I am pleased to present our “Report to Our
Citizens” for fiscal year 2023-24.
This year’s report has been thoughtfully designed to
present the data and information in an organized fashion