THIS WEEK IN PALM BEACH
September 1, 2017 Edition - The News Palm Beachers Need to Know 
HURRICANES
Hurricane Irma
Irma rapidly intensified into a Category 2 Hurricane this morning.  It is centered near 16.9°N 33.8°W at 31/0900 UTC, or about 450 nm W of the Cabo Verde Islands, moving WNW at 10 kt. Estimated minimum central pressure is 979 mb. Maximum sustained wind speed is 100 mph.
Local Pathfinders Taskforce Seeks First Responders to 
Deploy to Houston
Scott Lewis
The Pathfinders Task Force (PTF) is seeking all credentialed first responders who are available to deploy on a short-term emergency response mission in Houston, TX to support local response efforts following the impact of Hurricane Harvey.
South Florida Steps Up Efforts to Help Hurricane Harvey Victims
Hurricane Harvey Help
South Florida stepped up its efforts Tuesday to help the people of Texas reeling from Hurricane Harvey. Firefighters and doctors began heading to the devastated region.
PBC Sends First Responders to Texas as Hurricane Disaster Unfolds
hurricane relief
Five first responders from Palm Beach County have been sent to help storm-ravaged east Texas, Fire Rescue Chief Jeffrey Collins wrote to county commissioners Tuesday.
Scott Says Harvey Flooding Makes Case for Hoover Dike Repairs
Herbert Hoover Dike
Epic flooding in Texas from Hurricane Harvey underscores the need to repair the Herbert Hoover dike around Lake Okeechobee, Florida Gov. Rick Scott said Tuesday during a visit here to announce a business expansion.
Are People Scared Enough of Flood Waters? Harvey a Brutal
Reminder of Dangers
Thomas B. Shea AFP Getty Images
Thomas B. Shea/AFP/Getty Images
The National Hurricane Center has in recent years worked to distract the public from the familiar forecast cone with colorful graphics and detailed maps that better communicate threats beyond wind speed.
Safety Advocates Concerned Florida's Building Codes Could 
Become Less Strict
Florida Building Comission
Twenty-five years ago Thursday Hurricane Andrew ripped through south Florida destroying more than 25,000 homes. In the aftermath, Florida beefed up its building codes to become the strongest in the nation, but a new law has safe home advocates worried Florida's building codes are at risk.
TOWN of PALM BEACH
Check out 12 New Luxury Shops Coming to Palm Beach's Royal Poinciana Plaza This Fall
Royal Poinciana Plaza
Storefronts at the Royal Poinciana Plaza are almost full as the historic shopping center prepares for its first full season in Palm Beach since being revitalized.
Why Palm Beach Regulates Charity Events at Venues Like Mar-a-Lago
Mar-a-Lago
The departure of more than 20 charities from President Trump's Mar-a-Lago Club this week was, among other things, a reminder that Palm Beach is one of the philanthropic capitals of the world.
UNDERGROUNDING
Palm Beach Asks Judge to Throw Out Class Action Lawsuit over Utilities

South End resident Carol Kosberg and North End resident Michael Scharf sued the town in July, alleging the assessments on property owners are invalid because the town relied on a consultant's "arbitrary assessment methodology."

They want a judge to certify the case as a class action, declare the special assessments void, and permanently block the town from imposing special assessments.

Town Manager Tom Bradford has said the town is using an assessment methodology similar to that which Palm Beach County courts have approved in the past.

In its motion, filed Aug. 22 in Palm Beach County Circuit Court, the town asserts that the class action claim is "insufficient." Once the Town Council approved the assessments on July 12, any resident who wished to object had 20 days to take legal action.

Read More (Palm Beach Daily News)
ZIKA VIRUS
Visiting NIH Researcher Says Zika Vaccine Coming Soon
Florida Zika Virus
A top researcher with the National Institutes of Health said Monday that a vaccine for the Zika virus should be available in a year or two.
BEACHES
Town Beaches Re-Opened
Midtown Beach

After a temporary closure due to higher than normal levels of enterococci bacteria, all public beaches have re-opened for swimming.
More Money Sought to Widen Beaches
Although the state spent more this year on beach widening than anytime in a decade, beach advocates say it's not enough.They're asking the state to designate a specific pot of money that can be counted on each year to support local projects that replenish lost sand along the coast.
Planning a Beach Party? Leave the Balloons at Home.
from ballonsblow.org
Starting Sept. 1, balloons will be prohibited at 11 Palm Beach County beaches spanning from Boca Raton to Jupiter as part of a broader effort to save sea turtles.

MEETINGS & EVENTS
Monday, September 4, All Day
Labor Day-Town Hall Offices
& CIVIC Association Offices Closed
 
Wednesday, September 6, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting
Town Council Chambers
 
Thursday, September 7, 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Underground Utilities Task Force (UUTF) Meeting
Town Council Chambers
 
Thursday, September 7, 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Ordinances, Rules, and Standards Committee Meeting
Town Council Chambers
 
Tuesday, September 12, 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Town Council Meeting-Regular Business
Town Council Chambers
 
Tuesday, September 12, 5:01 PM - 6:00 PM
Special Town Council Meeting
Town Council Chambers
 
Wednesday, September 13, 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Town Council Meeting-Development Review
Town Council Chambers

TOWN
PENSION PLAN
Palm Beach May Spend Millions on Pension Shortfall
Next month, the Town Council is expected to discuss how to make the town's long-term pension plan financially whole, a decision that could mean annual contributions of millions of dollars for years to come.
Read More (Palm Beach Daily News)
PORT OF 
PALM BEACH
Why Port of Palm Beach OK'd Second Cruise Ship Despite Concerns
NeoClassica
A second cruise ship is slated to join the popular Grand Celebration at the Port of Palm Beach by May 2018. Plans call for the ships to sail on two-night cruises to Freeport on alternating days.
Read More (Palm Beach Post)
WEST PALM DEVELOPS
Rents at Related Cos.' Proposed West Palm Beach Office Tower Would Top $50 a Foot, Developer Says
If West Palm Beach approves Related Cos.' proposed One Flagler office tower, the property will command the heftiest rents in the city, developer Kenneth Himmel says. 
Read More (Palm Beach Daily News)
Boca Developer has Grand Plan for West Palm Beach Land Near Northwood
Northwood
Mario Caprini is battling two lawsuits but he said they don't affect his plans for homes and offices in WPB Offices, a grocery store and "micro-condominiums" might soon rise out of the ground on a prime piece of land in West Palm Beach west of Northwood Village.
Read More (Palm Beach Post)
Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Clear First Step in Palm Beach County
Medical Marijuana
Medical marijuana dispensaries are one step closer to operating in unincorporated Palm Beach County after county commissioners gave preliminary approval Thursday to an ordinance regulating their location and operation.
Read More (Palm Beach Post)
BRIGHTLINE
All Aboard's Brightline Won't Start Until Track Upgrades Finished
Brightline
All Aboard Florida's Brightline stations in West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale may look like they're ready to open, but the company can't start shuttling passengers until it completes a series of safety upgrades along the train tracks that connect the two buildings.
Read More (Palm Beach Post)
SCRIPPS FLORIDA
New Exploratory Grant Will Help Scripps Florida Scientists Advance Treatment Development
Joseph Kissil
Joseph Kissil
Scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute have been awarded nearly $1 million from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, part of the National Insti­tutes of Health.
Read More (Scripps Florida)
TRAFFIC
Construction Traffic Report for the Week of 
August 28
traffic 8-25-17
Click on the link below to download a copy of the Construction and Traffic Report for the upcoming week.
Read More (Town of Palm Beach)
Palm Beach Recreation Department
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