Singer Island Civic Association

Singer Island Voice | Update #36 | Dec. 12, 2014

(Now reaching over 2586 neighbors each week!)

Our 2015 Membership Drive is Underway!
Please consider joining SICA or renewing your membership ...and together we WILL make a
difference for Singer Island!

Click -here- to join your
Singer Island Civic Association Today!
(Individual and Business Memberships are Available)

Plastridge Insurance Website - Thank you for hosting!

Dec. 8th SICA Meeting Recap:

Chief Williams and his leadership team from the Riviera Beach Police Department and Chief Young from the Palm Beach Shores Police Departments joined us for a very informative update.

We had 12 officers and 3 Riviera Beach City Council members in attendance (Judy Davis, TD Davis and Dawn Pardo).

Thank you to all that came out and a very special welcome to Maj. Spencer Rozier whom will be taking over as Island Police Commander from the retiring Maj. Alex Freeman.

Island Security Update Notes:

Crime is down. There will always be challenges. The biggest areas of concern on the island currently are bike thefts, car and garage break ins. Be sure to lock up your vehicles and bikes. Watch out for UPS/FedEX package thefts during the holidays.

If you see something suspicious ...PLEASE report it using 911.

Get to know your neighbors and look out for each other. There is a new neighborhood social application with community watch tools built into it that is sweeping the nation. It is called NextDoor.com, you might want to take part, you will find that it's already being used on the island.

Riviera Beach also works closely and in realtime with CrimeReports.com -visit the site, type in your zip code and you can keep tabs on things in our area.

Technology is sweeping the city and the Island. There are undercover patrols, license plate recognition systems and cameras all over. Even if you don't always notice them, please keep your smiles on because the police are watching and they vigilantly looking out for all us.

SICA would like to Thank the Riviera Beach and Palm Beach Shores Police Departments for taking time to stop by and share their missions with us. We would sincerely like to Thank each and every member of their respective teams for their tireless service in our community!

12.11.2014 Riviera Beach Planning and Zoning Committee Meeting

Regarding proposed changes to update city zoning codes to reflect the most recent (1997) Coastal Construction Control Line (CCCL). This would move the line 60-140 feet further west of the ocean than it is today, depending on where you are on the island.

Dozens of island residents attended the meeting and commented on the proposed code changes. The Planning and Zoning Board voted 5-1 to adopt the 1997 CCCL and also to allow no exemptions from that line. The issue now goes to City Council for a vote.

Several other important issues were raised at the meeting that SICA will be following up on, including urging city council to properly address the impact of the new CCCL on existing properties and to revisit density provisions for Singer Island in the city's governing Comprehensive Plan.

Planning and Zoning Remarks 12/11/14

My name is Ann Rettie. I am a Riviera Beach resident on Singer Island and I am President of the Singer Island Civic Association (SICA).

I would like to direct the Commission's attention to a provision in Chapter 161 of the Florida Statutes which states:

A coastal municipality may establish coastal construction zoning and building codes in lieu of the provisions of Chapter 161 if such zones or codes are approved by the DEP as being adequate to preserve and protect beaches and coastal barrier dunes adjacent to such beaches...from imprudent construction that will jeopardize the stability of the beach-dune system, accelerate erosion, provide inadequate protection to upland structures, endanger adjacent properties, or interfere with public beach access."

The statute is clear that the DEP has exclusive jurisdiction of beaches and barrier dunes, and that they must approve

any activities seaward of the line they established most recently in 1997. As such, we believe that any exemption granted to developers on Singer Island regarding the coastal construction control (CCCL) line would require DEP approval.

As such, we strongly urge the city to adopt the amendments to the minimum building setbacks proposed in Section 31-243 (5), and in particular the establishment of the 1997 Coastal Construction Control Line;

In accordance with Chapter 161, Fl. Statutes, we also believe the City is required to apply the proposed minimum setbacks, including the 1997 Coastal Construction Control Line proposed in the amendment to Section 31-243 (5), to ALL buildings which have not yet been constructed on the island.

Thank you for your time and consideration this evening.

SICA CommUNITY Support News

SICA $200 Donation
for councilperson Dawn Pardo's
new "Book's Come to Life" Reading Initiative

For more information on this wonderful new program please check out this video. If you would like to donate:

City of Riviera Beach

Dawn Pardo, District 4

600 West Blue Heron Blvd.

Riviera Beach, FL 33404

Make check payable to: City of Riviera Beach

Memo line enter: Books Come to Life

SICA $500 Donation for the
Riviera Beach Maritime Academy

For more information or to contribute to the impressive Beach Maritime Academy program, please visit the:

Riviera Beach Maritime Academy

Ocean Mall Update - coming next week!

Singer Island Area News of The Week:

Rough seas, high tides brings ocean pollution to local shores - WPEC - Just about everywhere you look on a portion of beach on Singer Island, we encountered plastic, bags and other garbage intertwined in seaweed.

Waves keep charter boats docked for nearly a week -

WPTV.com - - Dive and fishing charter boats were finally going out on the ocean with customers Thursday, after high surf and rough seas ...

Palm Beach County crews surveying erosion damage at Carlin Park - WPEC - The strong surf also took a chunk out of the northern end of Singer Island, a beneficiary of $1.3 million in restoration funding. The money is coming ...

Juno Beach pier to be assessed for damage Thursday - WPEC

Inlet Grove hopes to bring reality to school - Palm Beach Post - The crew will be shooting on the Riviera Beach campus all week. Explore the digital extras. GET THE COMPLETE STORY. The story you're reading is

Palm Beach Gardens police to hold safety, sobriety checkpoint - Palm Beach Post - The Palm Beach Gardens Police Department will set up a safety and sobriety checkpoint Friday, from 11 p.m. until 2 a.m. Saturday. The checkpoint will ...

FPL Manatee center groundbreaking held - Palm Beach Post (blog) - The center will include a manatee viewing area, manatee/Lake Worth lagoon exhibits, meeting space, a picnic area and pavilion. Admission and ...FPL breaks ground on Manatee Education Center in Riviera Beach - CNNMoney

Lockheed Martin seeks incentives to retain 400 jobs in Palm Beach County - South Florida Business Journal - Lockheed Martin Corp. has requested $3.2 million in state, county and city incentives to keep 401 existing jobs in West Palm Beach and Riviera Beach ...

$1.6 million awarded in Palm Beach County to provide education to kids up to 3 years old - Ft Lauderdale News - ... the county to create an Early Head Start program that will help 150 young children in West Palm Beach, Belle Glade, Riviera Beach and Pahokee.

Did you know: Singer Island has several fun organizations in our community. Here are a few of them listed below. By clicking each link you will reach the about us pages of each group to get more information.

Singer Island Civic Association (SICA) - Formed in 1967, SICA is comprised of individuals and businesses that care deeply for Singer Island. There is STRENGTH in numbers, the Singer Island Civic Association has had a direct impact on numerous projects on the island since it was founded. Though originally known as the "watch dog" of the island, the Singer Island Civic Association has evolved and grown to include supporting various community and charitable projects. SICA is also the only Singer Island based organization with a Political Action Committee (PAC). Today, we work together with other Singer Island and Riviera Beach organizations in uniting a common goal for a win-win outcome benefiting all residents. (you can help by becoming a member today!)

Community Officers Association of Singer Island (COASI) - This group consists of HOA and POA board members for the Condominiums and the three Homeowner's Associations (Palm Beach Isles, Yacht Harbor Estates and Yacht Harbor Manor).

Singer Island Rotary Club - The main objective of Rotary is service - in the community, in the workplace, and throughout the world. Rotarians develop community service projects that address many of today's most critical issues, such as children at risk, poverty and hunger, the environment, illiteracy, and violence.

Citizens for Responsible Growth for Riviera Beach, Inc -

is a non-profit Florida Corporation composed of unpaid volunteers from our community. It was formed in response to a proposed project that would have massively over developed a portion of Singer Island. Their goal is to prevent unbridled over development of Singer Island and Riviera Beach. They are in favor of redevelopment but not to the extent that it will destroy the things which bring us here. Excessive uncontrolled building would overload our roads, add to congestion, degrade our fragile coastal environment and the quality of life in Riviera Beach.

Friends of MacArthur Beach - Founded in 1990, organization is a non-profit corporation whose function is to generate and employ additional resources and support for and in the best interest of John D. MacArthur Beach State Park. This is done through providing special work projects, special events and programs, community outreach programs, educational activities, guided tours and communications, special exhibits, interpretive programs, fund raising activities and events or any activity which is designed to meet the additional needs of the park.

Sea Turtle Conservation League of Singer Island - The Sea Turtle Conservation League of Singer Island is one of the many not-for-profit volunteer organizations working for the preservation of these endangered reptiles. The League is made of up to 25 volunteers who patrol the approximately 2 1/2 mile length of beach on Singer Island, Florida extending from the southern boundary of MacArthur Beach State Park to the southern boundary of Riviera Municipal Beach

Beaches Coalition - Protect Our Beaches, Inc. is a broad-based coalition of concerned and caring property owners, citizens, businesses owners, civic groups and community leaders of Palm Beach County who share a commitment to finding a permanent, ecologically-sound solution to protecting our beaches and dunes from erosion.

Other News:

Councilwoman Dawn Pardo's Annual Mingle & Jingle (2014) ...is a big hit in it's 10th year!

Check out this YouTube video and special thanks to everyone that attended and supported!

Island Voice:

(please send in your input and it will be shared here next week with 2586 of your neighbors!)

From: Cindy L on Singer Island

Subject: Rumors of high rents at ocean mall

Two different people have told me that they or a relative of themselves has looked into renting a store in the Ocean Mall and that the rent's were extremely high. I don't know if that's true but perhaps SICA could look into this as having some more businesses there paying less rent is better than no rent. Rumor has it that is why the Bagle Store had to live - couldn't sell enough to pay the high rent.

From: KW on Singer Island
Subject: New electric service poles on North Ocean

FPL has installed two utility poles on the properties by Munyon's Cove on Singer Island, what if anything is Riviera Beach doing to stop this insane project of a floating boating community in the pristine Lagoon off the intracoastal?

[ Editor's note: thank you for sending in your input Cindy and KW. We will pass these along to city officials and ask for updates on both issues that we can share with you and 2586 of neighbors next week! Readers, please keep sending in your voice on these issues and if you would like your comments to be published, they will be shared here. ]

Upcoming Island, City and Area Events:

Please send us any upcoming event notices, press releases, and or your input on Island topics...so we can get the word out here!

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

Friday, December 12th at 6 PM, Council Chairlady, Judy Davis, and Councilman Bruce Guyton will co-host the Riviera Beach 2015 Cancer Relay Kick Off Party at the Lindsay Davis Community Center. Deputy City Manager, Danny Jones, is the DJ so put on your dancing shoes !! Special recognition will be given to the 2014 Teams who made this year's event a success. Your e-vite is at the end of this message.

Friday Dec. 12: 2014 Pura Vida Christmas Party - Pura Vida Divers & Pura Vida Surf @ 6:30pm

Monday Dec. 15: Special ICYG Happy Hour Drawing, 5:30-7:30PM, @Frigate's Waterfront - Bar - Grill, 400 US Highway 1, North Palm Beach, Florida : "The Inaugural Boca Raton Bowl" (first-ever postseason college football bowl game in Palm Beach County) will be played at the Florida Atlantic University Stadium, Boca Raton, Florida, 6:00PM, December 23, 2014, between Marshall and Northern Illinois Universities.

Inner City Youth Golfers', Inc. (ICYG) has been chosen as one of the charities to benefit from its proceeds. The Boca Raton Bowl has allowed ICYG to offer the "Inaugural ICYG - Boca Raton Bowl Raffle."

In it to Win it ~ "ICYG Boca Raton Bowl RAFFLE"

By making a $20.00 donation you will get one chance/ticket or $50.00 you will get three chances/tickets to win:

"1st place winner" will receive: 1 (one) parking pass in VIP parking garage and 2 (two) tickets to club level with food and beverages included.

"2nd place winner" will receive: 2 (two) tickets for sideline seats

and 1 (one) parking pass to official tailgate lot.

You may use this "Donate NOW" button below until NOON December 15, 2014. you will be notified electronically of your donation and enter whatever number of chances you secure and verify them electronically to you. Raffle tickets will be available for a short period of time before the event at Frigates.

City of Riviera Beach Event Calendar

View Recent City Council Meetings Here:

Name	▼ Date	Items	Duration	Video
Regular Meeting	Dec 03, 2014	50	03h43m	Play

View Recent CRA Meetings Here:

Name	▼ Date	Items	Duration	Video
CRA	Dec 10, 2014	25	03h10m	Play

(To view more archived city meetings - click here)

Upcoming Riviera Beach City Meetings:

12/19/2014 - Jazz After Dark Concerts

City News & Events:

2015 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration

Palm Beach Shores Event Calendar

Dec 14, 2014 - Youth Council's Christmas
Dec 15, 2014 - Commission Meeting
Dec 18, 2014 - Planning and Zoning Board
Dec 19, 2014 - Environmental Committee
Dec 25, 2014 - Town Hall Closed

Palm Beach Shores News:

MacArthur Beach State Park Event Calendar

Click the link for more information on the many events at the Park this month!

Cool Link(s) of The Week:

It's Back! The 2015 Birdies for Children Challenge
Guess how many Birdies the pros will make during the Honda Classic and you may walk away with a brand new 2015 Honda automobile and help ICYG at the same time. The amount of Birdies made in 2014:1,363 just to give you a hint. Click on the link for more information and to enter...

Aerial Drone Video at the Lake Worth Inlet - YouTube - Aerial Drone Video Lake Worth Inlet.

Fishing Boats at Sailfish Marina Singer Island - HDR Photography by Captain Kimo - Boats docked off Sailfish Marina on Singer Island Florida along the waterway at Peanut Island. HDR image created using Photomatix Pro. Learn How ...

Way Back When: Killer Sam Lewis couldn't flee hangman's noose - Palm Beach Post - In August, 1895, a posse commandeered the sightseeing steamer Lake Worth and crossed the Lake Worth Lagoon, making their way to the town of ...

We Love Singer Island: Check out the current beach/ocean conditions on the Live Beach Cam...and get out there!

Of Interest / Stay Tuned:

More news as we get it on:

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.

Our 2015 Membership Drive is HERE!

Please consider joining us or renewing your membership ...and together we WILL make a difference for Singer Island in 2015!

Click here to Join
or to renew your membership now

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