BCC Briefs

At the May 3, 2011, Board of County Commissioners meeting, the board took the following action:

Redistricting – adopted a list of criteria to be followed in the analysis, review and development of proposed changes to BCC district maps based on 2010 U.S. Census data.

Campaign-free zones – rejected a resolution that would have designated BCC meetings as campaign-free zones.

Ethics – approved on preliminary reading and to advertise for public hearings on May 17 new ordinances for the Office of Inspector General, the Commission on Ethics, and the Code of Ethics. The measures, per voters’ approval, extend jurisdictional oversight to elected officials and employees of each municipality in the county.

Audit/budget efficiency study – directed staff to gather data from other governmental entities that have hired efficiency consultants to review budget and audit procedures, and to get bids and proposals for possible consideration next year.

Budget workshop – announced that a June 13 budget workshop will be held in the evening in the board chambers.

Domestic partners – approved creation of a family care leave policy for domestic partners of county employees mirroring the provisions of the Family and Medical Leave Act.

Marinelife Center – adopted a resolution expanding by 1.1 acres the amount of land leased for research and educational purposes at Loggerhead Marinelife Center and extending the lease term to 35 years.

Tax exemption – granted The Breakers hotel on Palm Beach a tax exemption as a historic property. An estimated $61,767 per year for the next 10 years will be exempted from tax rolls

Sand transfer plant – approved a request by the town of Palm Beach to fund operation and maintenance of a sand transfer plant at the Lake Worth Inlet at a cost of approximately $300,000 per year.

Palmetto Park Road – agreed to go forward with two proposed widening projects on Palmetto Park Road from I-95 to west of St. Andrews Blvd. FDOT had advised that failing to move forward would result in losing state grant monies totaling approximately $8 million.

Annexations – approved the voluntary annexation of six parcels on Kirk Road near Park Lane in Palm Springs, and a 1.88-acre enclave south of Boynton Beach Blvd. and west of Congress Avenue in Boynton Beach.