WEST PALM BEACH, FLA (September 9, 2021) -- Below is a summary of some of the approvals and decisions made by the City Commission at a meeting on Tuesday, September 7, 2021.

• Approved accepting a grant in the amount of $28,982.17 from the University of North Florida Training and Services Institute, Inc., Institute of Police Technology and Management for the reimbursement of overtime costs incurred for the public education and enforcement of bicycle and pedestrian safety. The funding is intended to support activities that should reduce pedestrian and bicycle crashes as they are more likely than any other types of crashes to produce serious injuries or fatalities. The Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Enforcement Campaign is approved for overtime hourly costs plus benefits for operations to be completed with sworn police officers at locations identified by the grantor.
• Approved a fifth amendment to the Trolley Operating Agreement with Hoffmann PB Trolley's, LLC. The city entered into a Trolley Operating Agreement with Hoffmann PB Trolley's, LLC for operation of the city's trolley system. The agreement expires on September 30, 2021 and has no renewal options. Prior to COVID-19, the city had completed a mobility study and was in the process of developing a request for proposals to solicit a new contract, which would have included expansion of the trolley system and modified routes. The solicitation was scheduled to be released during the pandemic after trolley operations had stopped within the city. Due to uncertainties of COVID-19 and uncertainties related to the future operation of the trolley system, the parties desired to extend the current trolley operations agreement for an additional year, to September 30, 2022 to allow the city further time to re-establish the trolley operating system and to prepare a solicitation.
• Approved requesting the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to convey surplus property to the city for use as part of the city's public golf course. The city owns an approximately 172-acre area within the city, which has been used since 1947 as the city’s public golf course. The State of Florida was granted approximately 2.1-acres for roadway/right-of-way purposes by the city, adjacent to the city’s public golf course and the Interstate-95 right-of-way. FDOT has now declared this 2.1-acre parcel as surplus. The city, and its lessee, West Palm Golf Community Trust, desire to incorporate these 2.1- acres into the redeveloped public golf course and are requesting that the surplus property be conveyed back to the city by FDOT. Conveyance to the city will serve a public purpose by providing outdoor recreational use, as such property will be incorporated into the city’s public golf course for the use and enjoyment of the general public.
• Approved an agreement between the city and the Historical Society of Palm Beach County to host a series of traveling history exhibits in the Urban Living Room of the Mandel Public Library during the months of September 2021, February 2022, and March 2022. A series of traveling history exhibits will be a way for the library, through a partnership with the Historical Society of Palm Beach County, to bring local history to the forefront for our patrons. The library will host the following exhibits: "Greetings from the Palm Beaches" from September 1-30, 2021, "City of Hope" in celebration of Black History Month from February 1-28, 2022, and "Women's Suffrage" in celebration of Women's History Month from March 1-31, 2022. These exhibits will be provided to the Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach free of charge.
• Approved submittal of an application to the Florida Department of State, Division of Library and Information Services, for the State Aid to Libraries Grant in the estimated amount of $91,179 to assist the Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach in maintaining and developing vital services during FY 2021-22. The Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach has received state aid funding since 2003, and may only be used for operating costs and will supplement the Mandel Public Library's operating costs for goods and services.

For a complete list of the approvals and decisions made at the September 7, 2021 City Commission Meeting, please click here to view the pass/fail agenda.

To watch meetings live or to watch recorded meetings on-demand, please visit the city’s website, wpb.org, or tune in to WPB-TV on Comcast Channel 18.

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