Tourism up/unemployment low, update on George Bush Blvd. Bridge, newly appointed fire chief and more...

Our office provides a wide variety of services and our staff and I are ready to assist.

-Mayor Weinroth

Services include:

Community outreach

Speaking engagements
Proclamations
Certificates of Appreciation

Economic Development

Small business assistance
Property improvement projects

Housing & Homelessness

Workforce housing
Homeless resources

Environmental Protection

Parks and recreation
Environmental Resources Management

Infrastructure

Roads & bridges
Resurfacing
Construction coordination

Public Safety

Disaster & emergency preparedness
Fire rescue

Mental Health/Substance Abuse & Disorder

Opioid abuse
Addiction
Mental health & wellness

Transportation

Road & bike safety
Palm Tran

Community & Veteran Services

Temporary emergency housing
Rent & utility assistance
Referral to nonprofits & other agencies
Food resources

Planning, Zoning & Building

Permits
Code enforcement
Zoning

District 4 staff

Lucia Bonavita

Yailen Mejias

Caitlin Joyce

(561) 355-2204

The county recently received the single largest Tourist Development Tax (TDT) remittance totaling $9.7 million. Clearly, our tourism industry is on the rebound and remains a top industry in the county.

TDT funds reduce the tax burden on our residents and are reinvested in our community in areas such as beach renourishment, infrastructure and tourism-related marketing.

Additionally, the county's unemployment rate was reported at just 2.6% for March, well below the national and state averages.

According to CareerSource Palm Beach County, there are more job openings than unemployed for the ninth consecutive month – 40,134 job openings vs.19,235 unemployed people.

This is an important milestone for the county; traditionally, summer is a slow season for employment, but we are only witnessing new and better job opportunities for our residents!

The George Bush Blvd. Bascule Bridge (built in 1949) located in Delray Beach is currently closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic for repairs.

Currently, all replacement components have been manufactured and installed. Testing continues, and the bridge's overall functionality is still being evaluated. We hope to have the bridge open as soon as possible.

In the next few months, the Engineering Department will be requesting a $1 million allocation for a replacement evaluation. Early estimates include $5 million for design and $40 million for construction of a new bridge.

We appreciate the public's patience and will provide updates as they become available.

I recently had the honor of administering the Oath of Office for newly appointed Fire Chief Patrick Kennedy.

The new chief replaced Reginald Duren who was recently promoted to assistant county administrator.

Chief Kennedy has served the department since 1996, and is the sixth chief since Palm Beach County Fire Rescue was created in October 1984.

The Palm Beach County Guide to Services is a comprehensive guide providing brief descriptions

and contact information for services provided by municipalities, county, state and federal

government offices and local agencies, including nonprofits. It also includes an entertainment

and leisure section and much more.

Learn more

The county's Parks and Recreation Dept. offers senior and veteran discounts for recreational programs and services at Morikami Museum & Japanese Gardens, waterparks, and pools. Additionally, all fees are waived in Senior Softball Leagues!

Moreover, Environmental Resources Management, in partnership with Veteran Affairs, hosts fishing events and guided kayaking tours for veterans free of charge at Pine Glades and Cypress Creek natural areas.

Learn more

Family Fun Earth Day Celebration (4/23)

Join Parks & Recreation mascot Oakly for a butterfly plant sale and ladybug release!

Daggerwing Nature Center

435 Park Access Rd.

Boca Raton 33498

Earth Day Extravaganza (4/30)

Live animal encounters, crafts and meet-and-greet with the PBSO Therapy Dog Unit!

Okeeheelee Park

7715 Forest Hill Blvd.

West Palm Beach 33413

Eligible veterans and their spouses can receive up to $8,000 for job training through CareerSource Palm Beach County's Careers for Veterans Grant program.

The program pays for licenses, degrees and certifications to help veterans and spouses gain credentials for many in-demand careers, including law enforcement, information technology and trades (electrical, HVAC and more).

Learn more

Looking for the best source to discover the heartbeat of our community? Tune in to my podcast series featuring special guests ranging from nonprofits to local business discussing topics important to our community. One recent episode features a "State of the County" address to the Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce.

Learn more

The Volen Center (Center) is a local nonprofit dedicated to supporting South Florida seniors through health care and supportive services that meet their physical, emotional and social needs.

Throughout the pandemic, the Center was an agent of change by mobilizing its meal site programs, serving nearly 3,000 senior residents.

Additionally, the Volen Center maintains a large fleet of buses to transport seniors to medical appointments and other crucial destinations at an affordable cost. Each year, they average over 85,000 trips!

Learn more

As reports of the beautiful Lake Worth reached the North, hotels were built to accommodate the first winter tourists.

In 1880, Elisha and Ella Dimick added eight rooms to their house to accommodate visitors who managed the difficult journey from Jacksonville to Palm Beach. They gradually enlarged the island's first hotel to 50 rooms.

The Cocoanut Grove House (using the old-fashioned spelling of coconut) was located on the site that is now the Flagler Museum. The hotel was fully booked each season, and some years they housed guests in tents in the yard.

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