WEST PALM BEACH, FLA (June 15, 2021) -- Below is a summary of some of the approvals and decisions made by the City Commission at a meeting on Monday, June 14, 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 accepting and appropriating funds in the amount of $20,000 from the West Palm Beach Library Foundation for programming at the Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach. The West Palm Beach Library Foundation recently raised, or was provided funding, to continue many of the Library's popular programming initiatives including the"Summer Reading Program" for elementary age children; "Grab and Go Kits" and in-house art, crafts, and lecture programs; and the Dog Tales program.
• Approved authorizing the mayor to sign a State of Florida Statewide School Readiness Provider Contract between the Palm Beach County Early Learning Coalition (Coalition) and the city and the Coalition and the Children’s Services Council (CSC) Provider Contract for approximately $75,000 in funding for the provision of providing childcare services at the City’s four licensed facilities. The City’s Parks and Recreation Department, in conjunction with the Coalition and CSC, provides childcare services for school age children at Coleman, Gaines, Howard, and South Olive Community Centers. The services are provided part-time for afterschool hours and full-time on days where there is no school and during the summer. The services provided include childcare, instructions and activities, and character development programs.
• Approved amending the General Fund to provide appropriations for additional costs associated with vote-by-mail ballots for the March 9, 2021 Municipal Election services in the amount of $171,117.95. The invoice for the city’s March 9, 2021 Municipal Election totals $171,117.95. This includes an increase in the unit costs for the Municipal Package that services 65 precincts, additional costs for the vote-by-mail ballots, and disposable forehead thermometers for the COVID-19 public health requirements. The number of vote-by-mail ballots increased from 9,600 to 25,368. The General Fund budget of the City Clerks’ office has current budget appropriations based on prior election costs for a total available FY21 budget of $74,910. Additional budget appropriation was needed in the amount of $96,210 to allow payment of the $171,117.95 invoice to Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections.
• Approved an interlocal agreement between the West Palm Beach Community Redevelopment Agency and the City of West Palm Beach to fund the mobility intelligence project with Florida Atlantic University (FAU) for its final two years totaling $200,000. The City of West Palm Beach has been collaborating with FAU, Knight Foundation, and Community Foundation in ways that improve our services and quality of life. The Mobility Intelligence Project, proposed with FAU, will use technology and messaging to understand how people move around the downtown core using different modes of transportation. The Mobility Intelligence Project is anticipated to conclude in the Spring of 2022.
• Approved accepting and appropriating funds in the amount of $5,853.40 from Prime Time of Palm Beach County funded by Children Services Council in recognition of the after-school programs at Gaines Park, Howard Park, Coleman Park, South Olive Park, and Vedado Park achieving outstanding performance. Prime Time’s incentive awards are as follows: Gaines Park: $967.95, Gaines Park Teens: $995.93, Howard Park: $1,000, Coleman Park: $963.24, South Olive Park: $1,000, Vedado Park Teens: $926.28. These funds must be expended by August 31, 2021 and are solely to be used for program supplies and electronics.
• Approved providing $296,435 for the repair of the east and west parking garage elevators in the Evernia Parking Garage. The city’s Evernia Street parking garage was built in 1988. The Evernia Parking Garage east and west elevators have endured wear and tear due to maximum utilization. Over the years, routine scheduled maintenance and necessary repairs have been performed. The use and current age of the elevator cars have caused malfunctions to occur more frequently. The elevators are slow to respond when called, stop moving when carrying passengers, or the doors are slow to open or fail to open when they should. These failures create an unsafe environment for transporting customers from floor to floor. The Parking Department will use the Parking Systems Fund Balance to make the necessary repairs to the east and west parking garage elevators at a cost of approximately $296,435.
• Approved ratifying a collective bargaining agreement between the City of West Palm Beach and the Fraternal Order of Police, Inc. (FOP) for October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2024. The agreement includes market adjustment increases and also provides for 5% annual step raises for all FOP employees on their employment anniversary date as part of their progression through their respective step plans. With the combined market adjustment increase and the 5% annual step raise, the majority of police officers will receive a total increase in their compensation from approximately 15% to as high as 29% in FY22. Similarly, the combined salary increase for FOP civilian employees will vary from approximately 10% to 15% in FY22. The estimated FY22 cost of implementing this agreement is approximately $5,241,000 and will be included in the proposed FY22 budget for the Commission's consideration as part of the annual budget review and approval process.

For a complete list of the approvals and decisions made at the June 14, 2021 City Commission Meeting, please click here to view the pass/fail agenda.