WEST PALM BEACH, FLA (April 23, 2021) -- Below is a summary of some of the approvals and decisions made by the City Commission at a meeting on Monday, April 19, 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 a license agreement between the City of West Palm Beach and Florida Power and Light Company ("FPL") and authorizes the appropriation of $40,000 from the Public Art Account to issue a Call to Artists, commission an artist, and for an art installation on FPL property located at 810 Charlotte Avenue. The identified site serves as a visually prominent entry way to the City's downtown corridor. The theme of the project is "Florida Fauna". The colorful foliage of South Florida will inspire the design. The final design will be presented to City Commission for approval at a later date.
• Approved a first amendment to the landscape maintenance memorandum of agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) for maintenance and a right of way maintenance agreement with SHP VI Datura West Palm Owner, LLC for of a portion of State Road 5/Quadrille Boulevard from Datura Street to mile post 0.502. As part of the development of Watermark Senior Living, located at 445 Datura Street, the applicant is proposing to install landscape material, including sod and oak trees, as well as irrigation within the Quadrille Boulevard right-of-way. As part of this proposal, an amendment to the landscape maintenance memorandum agreement with the FDOT is required to transfer the maintenance of the landscape and hardscape improvements from FDOT to the City. Maintenance obligations will transfer from the City to the developer.
• Approved amending the Code of Ordinances to create the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) ; amending the Procurement Code to transfer authority for the Small Business Program and the M/WBE Program to the director of the OEO; and amending the Small Business Program to increase the small business participation goal for construction and master contracts to 18%. The City’s OEO was established by Mayor Keith A. James to ensure fair business practices in the City of West Palm Beach. The OEO is responsible for coordinating and facilitating programs that foster workforce development, business development, and professional education and training. This Ordinance amends the code to reflect the administration of the Small Business Program by the OEO. In keeping with Mayor James’ vision of working to create a "Community of Opportunity for All" in the city, the City's Small Business Program exceeded the 15% small business participation goal in the competed procurements for 2019-2020. In its final 2020 report, the OEO announced that an 18% participation level was achieved. OEO staff believes that the higher level of small business participation can continue to be achieved and recommended amendment of the Small Business Program Ordinance to establish a goal of 18% participation by small businesses in construction contracts, and master contracts, when Minority/Women-owned Business Enterprises requirements are not applicable.
• Approved the first reading of Ordinance No. 4934-21 amending the City's Code of Ordinances to prohibit sleeping/camping in certain designated areas in the City. The City has experienced conduct threatening the public health, safety, and welfare. Such conduct includes camping/sleeping in public areas, as well as in the entrances and exits of businesses located in the City. This has become a systemic problem that threatens the use of the City's public areas and businesses by its citizens and visitors, placing businesses, patrons and residents in those areas at risk and threatening the individual well-being of citizens and visitors. The City wishes to promote the health, safety and welfare of its citizens, visitors, and businesses. To that end, Ordinance No. 4934-21 regulates and prohibits sleeping and “camping” in public areas, as well as in the entrances and exits of the City's businesses. However, the City wishes to make enforcement of such prohibitions applicable only after the City has undertaken significant outreach measures, including offering social service and/or housing/shelter assistance and where housing/shelter is available.
• Approved the first reading of Ordinance No. 4942-21 modifying the Comprehensive Plan Downtown Master Plan Element to amend Policy 2.4.2 and Policy 3.1.3 in relation to the creation of a new Downtown Master Plan (DMP) Housing Incentive Program. Over the last few years, there has been significant discussion within the City regarding the availability of reasonably priced housing for individuals and families earning a salary close to the Area Median Income (AMI) which is currently $79,100 for Palm Beach County. There has particularly been an emphasis for housing that is affordable to this income group for those that also work within the downtown area. As employment in the downtown continues to increase, the availability of reasonable-priced housing for workers within downtown has not followed pace, forcing workers to commute to downtown every day and increasing the potential of existing and future traffic congestion. The proposed amendments will modify Policy 2.4.2 of the DMPE of the City’s Comprehensive Plan to remove the existing reference to the specific “Affordable Housing Incentive Program” and maintain a more general policy. Proposed amendments to modify Policy 3.1.3 of the DMPE of the City’s Comprehensive Plan will allow, with incentives, additional development capacity and height for certain sub-districts.

For a complete list of the approvals and decisions made at the April 19, 2021 City Commission Meeting, please click here to view the pass/fail agenda.