July 2022 Newsletter

JULY 2022

In this newsletter:

Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners votes to reduce property tax rates.

Vice Mayor Gregg K. Weiss receives an award for Outstanding Leadership.

PBI voted 5th Best Domestic Airport.

Tarpon Cove update.

Summer hazardous waste tips from the Solid Waste Authority.

It has been a busy month for Vice Mayor Weiss. We're sharing pictures of several events he attended. Let us know if you'd like him to visit one of your neighborhood meetings or events.

Property taxes

Board votes to reduce

property tax rate

Because of rising property values and new construction, the Board of County Commissioners is able to present a balanced budget at public hearings that are scheduled for Sept. 13 and 20. In addition, the board voted during a meeting on July 12 to lower the property tax rate from 4.7815 to 4.715 per $1000 taxable value.

The last time the board reduced the property tax rate was 15 years ago. By lowering the proposed millage the typical homeowner is expected to save around $30 per year compared to not lowering the rate. Most homestead property taxpayers will see a slight increase in their tax bill because the value of their properties has risen.

“I want to be a good steward of taxpayer dollars,” said Vice Mayor Weiss, “so if we can give people back some of their money after balancing our budget without cutting services, I’m in favor of that.”

Vice Mayor Weiss receives an award

At the Florida Association

of Counties (FAC)

Annual Conference,

Vice Mayor Weiss received an award for Outstanding Leadership as Vice Chair of the FAC Presidential Broadband Task Force!

PBI voted 5th Best Domestic Airport

It is great to have one of the best airports in our backyard.

Travelers voted Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) the 5th Best Domestic Airport in the renowned Travel + Leisure Magazine’s 2022 World’s Best Awards.

For the 6th year in a row, PBI ranks in the top 10 Best Domestic Airports category for access, check-in/security, restaurants, bars, shopping and design.

Congratulations PBI for the recognition!

Tarpon Cove update

Restoration work continues at Tarpon Cove, located in Lake Worth Lagoon, just south of Okeechobee Boulevard and adjacent to the El Cid neighborhood. Two northern mangrove islands are under construction.

This multiyear restoration project, begun in 2018, will encompass 46 acres that includes five islands and approximately 23 acres of seagrass habitat. One of the most visible successes of Lake Worth Lagoon restoration projects, like Tarpon Cove, is the wildlife attracted to the islands.

In 2022, the coastal bird nesting story at Tarpon Cove continued with 45 black skimmers and 200 least terns observed in early July. At least 20 black skimmer nests were recorded, along with many least tern nests. This is the third year of nesting for black skimmers and the second year for least terns. These nesting islands are marked with “Do Not Enter – Important Nesting Area” signs to allow the birds to successfully raise their young.

In addition to black skimmers and least terns, a pair of American oystercatchers successfully nested for the fourth year and are in the process of raising their chick at Tarpon Cove.

Other birds observed utilizing the created islands include great blue herons, black-necked stilts, Wilson plovers, white ibis, roseate spoonbills and a wide variety of gulls.

Learn more about the Palm Beach County Department of Environmental Resources Management's restoration work within Lake Worth Lagoon at pbclakeworthlagoon.com.

Summer hazardous waste disposal tips

2017 Solid Waste Authority of PBC Propane, Pool Chemicals, and Pesticides

Summertime is prime for playing on the patio:

grilling out, splashing in the pool and sprucing up the landscaping.

These items should never be placed in the garbage:

• Pool chemicals • Pesticides • Propane tanks

Palm Beach County residents may bring these three Ps to one of the Solid Waste Authority's (SWA) seven Home Chemical and Recycling Centers (HCRC) listed below, where they will be recycled or disposed of properly.

Home Chemical and Recycling Center

6161 N. Jog Rd., West Palm Beach

Monday-Friday: 7 a.m.-5 p.m.

Saturday: 7 a.m.-5 p.m.

For a complete list of recycling centers and other inquiries visit:

SWA.org.

Commish in the community

Whether celebrating a special birthday, participating in a long-standing tradition, recognizing a county department's milestone, joining neighbors' festivities, or going to neighborhood meetings, Vice Mayor Weiss spends a lot of time in the community.

“As an elected official, I want to be part of the community I represent," said Vice Mayor Weiss, "I want to understand the issues in my district and that’s why I spend many evenings going out to meetings to listen and learn.”

If you’d like to invite Vice Mayor Weiss to your

neighborhood meeting, let us know.

FIRE RESCUE PUSH BACK CEREMONY

Vice Mayor Weiss attended the Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Push Back ceremony, a long-standing tradition, for its new truck at Station 29 on Belvedere Road in Royal Palm Beach. This new truck will serve Wellington, Royal Palm Beach, the Acreage, Loxahatchee Groves and Westlake. Vice Mayor Weiss even got the chance to try it out!

PARKS 50TH ANNIVERSARY

Back in 1972 when Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation became its own department, there were just 392,000 people living in the county.

Since then, the population has grown by more than a million, or 20,000 each year. With 86 active parks and more than 8,500 acres, we have the 11th largest Parks and Recreation agency in the country. Learn more at www.pbcparks.com.

HAPPY 100th BIRTHDAY!

When Vincentia Cliff was born, Warren G. Harding was president of the U.S. Today, Vice Mayor Weiss had the honor of congratulating “Vinny” and about a dozen other residents of Elison Independent Living of Lake Worth at their monthly birthday celebration. Vinny will turn 100 on Saturday. Here she is with Vice Mayor Weiss laughing it up for the picture after receiving a certificate of congratulations.