WEST PALM BEACH – The Palm Beach County Commission approved on preliminary reading – and will advertise for a public hearing March 20 an ordinance requiring the posting of signs by vendors advising that the sale and/or serving of alcohol to persons under age 21 is prohibited.
The vote came after discussion of claims that underage drinking and service of alcoholic beverages to minors is an increasing problem in Palm Beach County.
The ordinance, if approved, will require the posting of signs by vendors and certain other dispensers of alcoholic beverages warning of the prohibition against and the penalties associated with the sale or provision of alcoholic beverages to minors.
In other business at its March 6 meeting, commissioners directed staff to negotiate a no-cost, long-term lease agreement with the nonprofit Drop-In Sk8 Park, Inc. (DISP) for 1.75 acres on the east side of Loggers’ Run Park in West Boca Raton where DISP intends to build a skating and BMX facility. The request came from the West Boca Community Council.
As a provision for using the land, DISP would have to invest up to $500,000 in property improvements on the land.
Commissioners also to the following action:
Homeless shelter – approved the naming of the new central Palm Beach County homeless resource center as the Senator Philip D. Lewis Center. The former state senator was one of the original members of the Palm Beach County Homeless Advisory Board and has been an active participant on several subcommittees.
Medical Home Day – received a very positive follow-up report from local health officials on Medical Home Day. On Feb. 11, pparticipating health clinics throughout the county cleared their schedule of appointments and opened their doors to walk-in patients.
Food initiative – heard a presentation from the Palm Beach County Food Bank on ways to coordinate local food collection and donation efforts for the needy.
Mecca property – selected a lease proposal from Pope Farms, Inc. and directed staff to negotiate a final agreement for a portion of the county-owned Mecca property north of Northlake Boulevard. Pope Farms proposes to lease 750 acres for five years at $150,000 per year for sugarcane production.
Building codes – approved on preliminary reading and to advertise for public hearing on March 20 an ordinance repealing 2007 amendments to the Florida Building Code pertaining to Chapter 1 administration, the basic wind speed map of Palm Beach County, plumbing codes, and building codes for turf and landscape irrigation systems, and replacing them with the 2010 Palm Beach County amendments to the Florida Building Codes.
Annexation – approved an interlocal agreement with the Village of Palm Springs allowing for the annexation of 20 enclaves totaling 14.77 acres.
The board also gave tentative consent for the annexation into the Village of Wellington of two county-owned parcels totaling approximately 25 acres on the west side of State Road 7 north of Forest Hill Boulevard.
EG Board – adopted a resolution dissolving the Education and Government Programming Advisory Board (EG Board). A review determined the mission of this panel would be better served through public forums and meetings with media and public relations groups.