WEST PALM BEACH, FLA (March 9, 2021) -- Below is a summary of some of the approvals and decisions made by the City Commission at a meeting on Monday, March 8, 2021. To watch meetings live or to watch recorded meetings on-demand, please visit the City’s YouTube channel at: www.youtube.com/user/WestPalmTV.

• Approved authorizing the appropriation of $150,000 from the Public Utilities Capital Fund 453 reserve for the purchase of a tanker and a trailer for use by Public Utilities personnel to respond to emergencies and repairs of force mains and lift stations. In October and November 2020, southeast Florida saw unprecedented rainfall, king tides, and Tropical Storm Eta, which resulted in a high-water table and saturation of the ground. The city contracted with vendors to help pump down the sanitary sewer system and lift stations to avoid sanitary overflows. Having a tanker in house will allow a rapid response to similar emergencies in the future and will be used by Public Utilities' Sanitary Collections and Pumping Operations staff to respond to emergencies with downed lift stations, high-water events, force main repairs, pump outs, and bypassing of lift stations.  The resolution provides appropriation of $150,000 for the purchase of a 7,000-gallon tanker at an approximate cost of $82,726 and a lowboy trailer at an approximate cost of $58,396.
• Approved accepting donations from the West Palm Beach Police Foundation “Foundation” of canine equipment and, also, of safety helmets and underwater flashlights for the Dive Team, totaling an approximate value of $12,000. The West Palm Beach Police Foundation is forwarding a donation of canine training equipment which they received from Crazy Tuff K9 Gear. The retail cost of the training equipment to be donated is approximately $6,500 ($600-$650 in equipment per dog). The Foundation also received a donation from Justice for Kids in the amount of $2,500 to assist with the expenses of retrofitting a vehicle for the bloodhound sponsored by the Jimmy Ryce Foundation. The Foundation also became aware of the needs of the Dive Team and committed to purchase safety gear required for the team. The Foundation purchased underwater flashlight systems to assist with nighttime or dark water searches and has reimbursed a purchase made by the City to provide safety helmets for the newest of the Dive Team vessels. The safety gear has a total value of $2,905.40 ($940 for the helmets and $1,965.40 for the underwater light systems).
• Approved amending the Fire Department's FY21 General Fund operating budget for the purchase of a subscription service for $34,495.75 to implement an annual fire policy and training manual program from Lexipol, LLC. The West Palm Beach Fire Department was seeking funding to purchase a subscription from Lexipol, LLC as an editing company for the Fire Department's administrative policies, procedures, and tactical guidelines. Lexipol provides state-specific, customized policies, and training solutions. The product will align the Fire Department's internal policies with state and federal law, national standards, and local regulations. Lexipol's all in one product will save hundreds of administrative staff hours per year attempting policy review and training on the policies, especially ahead of promotional examinations. Lexipol solely offers this service and guarantees consistency of language and content throughout the Fire Department's more than 2,500 pages of material. The total cost for the first year of implementation and training is $34,495.75.
• Approved accepting and appropriating funding in the amount of $5,000 from The Walter & Adi Blum Foundation, Inc. to reimburse the Parks and Recreation Department for the funds used to purchase Christmas presents for school-age children who attend schools, aftercare and childcare programs that serve the Pleasant City community. The Walter and Adi Blum Foundation, Inc. has once again generously donated $5,000 to reimburse the Parks and Recreation Department for the purchase of Christmas presents. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, every effort was made to ensure that a child went home with a present, with the need being more significant due to COVID-19 mitigation.

For a complete list of the approvals and decisions made at the March 8, 2021 City Commission Meeting, please click here to view the pass/fail agenda.