Singer Island Civic Association

Singer Island Voice | Update #23 | Sept. 5, 2014 

 (Now reaching over 1979 neighbors each week)

 

 Together We Are Making a Difference:   

Join Us, please click here to become a
member of your Singer Island Civic Association Today!
 

 

   Share this message with your neighbors and

 let's keep building unity ...in our commUNITY! 

Sign up for the Singer Island Voice
...your free weekly eNews @ SingerIslandCivic.org 

Note to Island Facebookers:  SICA has taken down our old (and little used) Facebook page.  We will be launching a brand new page that will be much more closely tied into our website and this newsletter in the next few weeks. Stay tuned for more...

 

Singer Island Area News of The Week: 

  

After Supreme Court win over Riviera, man envisions floating homes - Palm Beach Post- Fane Lozman tours his property on the western shore of Singer Island in Riviera Beach, Fla. on Wednesday, August 13....
 

[ Editor's note:  Below is an image from the property appraisers office showing property lines on the 29 parcels in this area of Singer Island (for context and perspective). The area in red is the main property mentioned in this article.  Click here for video/audio  (at 20 seconds into this video) for this weeks' public comments on the owner's plans for developing a "$150 million dollar community of 40 floating homes on this 29 acre parcel" (again highlighted below in red below. Note: there are 28 other parcels in green) and please click to view: SICA's Point of View on Lagoon Development ] 
 

 

Day to define vision and future in Palm Beach County - Sun Sentinel- Pollution from suburban-type runoff would drain into the C-51 Basin, and from there into Lake Worth Lagoon. Planting seagrass and oyster ... 

 

Happy Skyscraper Day! The 5 tallest buildings in Palm Beach - Palm Beach Post (blog)- The 42 story Tiara and The Ritz-Carlton Residences at 2700 North Ocean, Singer Island, 27 stories. The Ritz-Carlton Residences at 2700 North Ocean Blvd. Photo: ...

 

[ Editor's note: sorry folks it was a slow week in the news!  Sometimes less is more. 
 

CommUNITY Voice: 

Neighbors, we got a bunch of input in this week on Ocean Mall and other issues.  PLEASE keep sending in your comments, ideas and input ...to be shared here next week! 

 

From: Lyn H
Subject: Blue Heron Bridge

My husband and I feel so blessed to live in PBS/Singer Island.  For exercise, I walk the Blue Heron Bridge everyday, enjoying the beautiful scenery, boats and the amazing reformation of the bridge during the past three years.  However, I am disgusted by the filth fishermen leave behind: dead fish, bait, seaweed, and personal trash that they cannot travel two feet to dispose of in the available trash cans.  This results in a horde of flies throughout this unkempt area.


Riviera Beach Public Works Dept. is very diligent about cleaning up after these unsavory characters, even resorting to using bleach to cleanse the contaminated area.


Another issue....there are signs posted on the small bridge stating "do not block walkway."  Yet, tackle boxes and fishing poles continually hamper pedestrians' ease of walking.


My question...why can't fishing from the bridge be banned since there is a "fishing" bridge in Phil Foster park?

 

From: Roe K.
Subject: Ocean Mall business input
I would love to see Yoga and/or Pilates or any kind of health food/book store. Thank you for all your help!

 

From: Pauline C.
Subject: Possible Tenants for Ocean Mall
Starbucks, ice cream, casual but good food, restaurant. Wawa is coming into FL but think they prefer freestanding bldgs ( we are from Philly where Wawa started and they are iconic and amazing stores- much better than Seven Eleven)

 

From: Diane@Tiara
Subject: Possible Tenants for Ocean Mall
We bought on Singer Island one year ago this month.  By now I would have thought the Ocean Mall would have been complete with stores and overflowing with people traffic.  To say that I'm disappointed is an understatement - until now.  I have faith that there will be movement - and am thrilled to have found the SICA newsletter this past month.  Plus while still part timers on SI, I tune in and watch Dawn every opportunity I get while in town.  Thank you for representing us.  I know its no easy task!
My family of four (husband and 2 teenagers) would love to see:  A dunkin donuts (or similar donut/bagel shop); a Rita's (or similar ice cream/yogurt shop) and a pizzeria (we have yet to find good pizza in the Singer Island/PBG area!).  Personally I would also love a jewelry store, a upscale clothing shop (for casual wear a few steps above Wings please) and an art gallery full of local artists work!  I would frequent all - we promise!

 

From: Robert S.
Subject: Site plan for lot just south of the Marriott Resort
Hi,  Thank you for your informative letter. Do you know if a site plan has been filed yet for the lot just south of the Marriott Resort?  I heard it recently sold and that the new owner wanted to modify the previous site plan for more density for a high rise condo project . . . I do not know if this is true.
 

As for the Amrit site plan, all I can say is thank you for sending it out!  Another hotel on Singer Island will have it's positives and negatives.  It may be good for bringing visitors to our Island, and hence increase real estate demand and values.  It will definitely help out the Ocean Mall tenants with more customers and that would be good for all of us!  Obviously Riviera Beach will benefit with more property tax $. 

 

On the negative it will be a drag on infrastructure, etc, and may bring more completion and perhaps lower rates on hotel room and short term condo rentals . .  . which some view as good, some as not so good.
 

From; David C.
Subject: Riviera Beach proposed budget for LEGISLATIVE GROUP,  2014-15 (sent to city council and cc'd The SIVoice)
                        Average cost to taxpayer per person
                                          2012-13        2013-14        2014-15
Council member
District 1 thru 5.. each     $75,000        $79,000        $93,000
Ceremonial Mayor           $80,000        $81,000        $94,000 

 

Total increase for group  2014-15 vs 2013-14......$83,000       
Total cost to taxpayers for legislative group 2014-15..$560,000 

 

How can this increase be? One of the contributing factors is the cost of your part time (30hrs/week) legislative aides which will rise to about $40,000 per aide per year. The increase in cost is because the city has to offer them health insurance.....approximately $8,000/year each ...under the Affordable Care Act.


As I have said many times before, it never ceases to amaze me that, over the years, Council and the Mayor have managed to increase a $19,000 stipend to this year's record of $93,000 EACH. Our mayor and council are the gold standard, nay, the platinum standard when it comes to overall compensation compared with surrounding townships.


I think the LEAST you could do for the next fiscal year is to trim your budgets so that there is no increase to the taxpayer's burden over 2013-14. GIVE US A BREAK!! 

 

[ Editor's note: Thank you to everyone for all of this great feedback! ...please keep sending in your input!

  • The Ocean Mall and Bridge information will be shared -  
  • On the property next to the resort, to our knowledge, no site plan has been submitted yet.
  • On Rivera Beach budget issues -Do we have any folks out there who are interested in serving on a new SICA committee to keep an eye on city spending and budgets and develop long term fiscal strategies to help our entire community? Commitments are very flexible--it's your analysis and insight that we need.  Please contact us here if you can help. ]


 
Please keep sending in your input to be shared here next week with over 1979 of your neighbors, and your Singer Island Civic Association WILL stay on these issues.


...Here are a few links, please keep in mind that Singer Island actually spans 3 cities and 1 Unincorporated Village: PLEASE send in your concerns and ideas to the appropriate contact(s):
 


North Palm Beach (includes John D MacArthur Park):
 
Lost Tree Village: Our private unincorporated village - no contacts listed - but working on it!

...and Together We Will Make a Positive Difference!
 

Upcoming Island, City and Area Events:
Please send us any upcoming event notices and press releases, ...so we can get the word out here to 1979 neighbors!
 
[ Editor's note: A special Thank you to the Marriott Singer Island Resort Team's Monthly Beach Clean-up - they netted 116 Lbs. of trash off the beach on Saturday's 8/30 clean-up event! ...Stay tuned for the next clean-up date! ]

 

Every Thursday Night: 3 Reasons Why You Should Check Out the Sailfish Marina "Sunset Celebration" on Singer Island 

 

Sept 6: Zero Adoption Event IS HERE! - wflx - presented by The Lois Pope LIFE Foundation, Inc., is Saturday, September 6, 2014 from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm inside the Palm Beach County Convention Center, Downtown  West Palm Beach. The Countdown 2 Zero Adoption Event is a collaborative effort between local animal rescue organizations to save the lives of healthy adoptable animals in Palm Beach County.  To date, there are over 30 local animal rescue organizations participating in this exciting event.  These local rescue groups will bring in over 600 of Palm Beach County's adoptable dogs, cats, kittens, puppies and other furry companion animals all available for adoption. 

 

Sept 16: Lake Worth Lagoon Initiative Public Outreach Working Group Meeting. The LWLI Public Outreach Working Group helps to create an engaged constituency of citizens who understand the environmental, recreational and economic value of the lagoon, and who actively participate in restoring and protecting it. The executive summary of the Lake Worth Lagoon Management Plan, which can be accessed from www.LWLI.org, may be helpful in providing an overview of the initiative and its working groups. 
 

Sept 18: (Please view the Demo & Debut invite at the bottom of this email) Mark your calendars and PLEASE send in your RSVP'S Today! The tear down event is coming and it promises to be a great opportunity to show support for progress on Singer Island.  Please see the invite at the bottom of this email and rsvp today!!!
 

Sept 19: Life Line Screening - Palm Beach Shores Town Hall is pleased to offer a preventive health event.  Life Line Screening, a leading provider of community..

  

Sept 20: World's Largest Volunteer Beach Cleanup Comes to Palm Beach County - Keep Palm Beach County Beautiful joins hundreds of thousands of people around world for the 29th annual International Coastal Cleanup. The Ocean Conservancy announced the date for the 29th annual International Coastal Cleanup, a global event that mobilizes hundreds of thousands of people to take action for our ocean, for September 20.  By joining the movement for Trash Free Seas, volunteers will help clean up trash already in the ocean and work to reduce their own trash impact before it happens. Saturday, September 20, 2014
with additional dates in September and October. For start times, site, and registration information visit www.keepPBCbeautiful.org - or call Keep Palm Beach County Beautiful, Inc. (561) 686-6646
*Community Service Hours Given *Free Commemorative T-shirts provided to volunteers while supplies last. *Pre-register by contacting the Volunteer Coordinator listed for select Site.          
 

Sept 27: Riviera Beach local outreach fishing trip - goodnewsfishing.org - Riviera Beach local outreach fishing trip. September 27 @ 9:00 am - 1:00 pm. Intracoastal Snook Fishing Trip ... 

 

View City Council Meetings: 
 

Name ▼ Date ItemsDurationVideo
(NEW) Regular MeetingSep 03, 20143603h58mPlay 
Regular MeetingAug 20, 20144205h53mPlay 
Regular MeetingAug 06, 20144702h40mPlay 
Regular MeetingJul 16, 20143102h37mPlay 
Regular MeetingJul 02, 20143403h00mPlay 

 (view archived city meetings - click here 

 

Upcoming Riviera Beach City Meetings: 

 

City News & Events:

 

Palm Beach Shores Event Calendar 

Clean & Green in September!  Check out the fun and educational events at our John D MacArthur park this month!  

 

Cool Link(s) of The Week: 

 

693-pound swordfish caught by 17-year-old Adam Satter off Palm Beach County - WPTV - A massive swordfish, that could break a record, was caught by a local 17-year-old on Labor Day. Adam Satter, an avid ... 

 

Waterspout near Singer Island, Riviera Beach, FL filmed on 04 09 2014 @JimCantore Supernatural News

 

Beautiful Wave Ocean Reef Park Singer Island Florida - captainkimo.com - HDR image produced in Photomatix Pro using two exposures. Photo taken at Singer Island Florida at Ocean Reef Park in Palm Beach County. 


Storm Season: Please remember that storms can heat up very quickly at this time of the year.  Here are some great links for hurricane preparedness: Palm Beach Post | WPTV5 | WBPF25 | WFLX29 

 

   

We Love Singer Island: 
Check out the current beach/ocean conditions on the Live Beach Cam
...and Have a Wonderful  Weekend!



Of Interest / Stay Tuned:

More news as we get it on: 

Ocean Mall | CRA District & Marina Development | Lake Worth inlet widening project | Digital License Plate Readers | Proposed development projects: Lozman's Cove, Amrit, PGA waterfront | Pending sober house legislation |  ...and more as we get it. 

 

Let's all work together to stay informed and aware of events taking place on and around Singer Island!

 

Send in your Island News, Events & Tips Today!


 
We ARE: The Singer Island Civic Association  
Founded in May of 1967 |  www.SingerIslandCivic.org  
  
SICA is your eyes and ears, and "the" voice for Singer Island
...whether you are here or away.  
 

Together ...We Are Making a Positive Difference in this Community! 

 
Please help Singer Island, by forwarding this email to your neighbors and asking them to sign-up for this free weekly news and event alert service.