New Marina To Swallow up our Waterfront

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This story was written by PB Post journalist Wayne Washington and I believe he has done an excellent job on giving residents a full picture of the how WPB does business. Below is the story, and my comments will be in BOLD  Italic, if underlined it’s to draw your attention.

“”WPB selects bid on new marina Winner has the backing of boat show’s operator”

Wayne Washington Palm Beach Post USA TODAY NETWORK

“West Palm Beach will begin negotiations with City Harbor LLC to build a $16 million marina off Flagler Drive that will generate an estimated $324,000 per year for the city and protect one of its signature cultural events, the Palm Beach International Boat Show.”

“Backing from Informa, the international events firm that puts on the boat show, was critical to City Harbor’s proposal, which beat out one submitted by Safe Harbor LLC, the largest owner and operator of marinas in the world.”

How is it possible Informa can work with City Harbor LLC and not with Safe Harbor and leisure Resorts? Is Informa making decisions concerning our waterfront?

“This is a very exciting day for our city,” Mayor Keith James said. “Just the opportunity to discuss having a worldclass marina on the front door of our waterfront is extremely exciting.”

“The marina negotiations are a major step forward in a process that started two years ago, when City Harbor made an unsolicited bid to expand the city’s two docks into a marina.”

Two years ago James was mayor, and were just learning about it now?

“Rather than accept City Harbor’s proposal, the city announced its intention to consider other proposals for a marina. ”

It’s the old story being repeated. James wants City Harbor’s but for appearance sake lets have other proposals.

“Three firms submitted plans and projections — City Harbor, Safe Harbor and Leisure Resorts LLC, which ultimately dropped out of the running.”

I want to know why Leisure Resorts LLC dropped out of the race. My opinion wouldn’t allow the city to use them or play their games.

“James and city commission members held a special meeting on Monday to decide whether to rank and choose a bidder and begin negotiations, delay the process or end it.”

The meeting was held at 9:00 AM when most people are at work. Good not to have folks against the proposal attending, even though they weren’t allowed to voice an opinion.

“Commissioner Christy Fox argued in favor of delaying a decision to give the public more time to weigh in, but her colleagues voted to rank and choose a bidder and begin negotiations. Fox initially refused to rank either bidder, but, after City Attorney Kimberly Rothenburg told her she was required to offer a ranking,”
“she joined James and three of her Commission colleagues in ranking City Harbor first and Safe Harbor second.”

Commissioner Fox between a rock and a hard place. Shame the other commissioners wouldn’t back her up and ask for more time to inform residents. If she was forced to vote she could have chosen Safe Harbor. It’s a learning lesson.

“Commissioner Cathleen Ward, who had noted the far larger revenue projections Safe Harbor included in its proposal, ranked Safe Harbor first and City Harbor second.”

Can’t argue with that. Commissioner Ward bucked the system. I hope she and her district aren’t punished to severely for doing the right thing.

“Why did West Palm choose City Harbor for the marina?”

“The way the city decided to move forward with City Harbor — no request for proposals process, no public meetings with dueling proposals upon which the public could comment or shape — appeared to frustrate Fox, just as it frustrated a Downtown Development Authority board member, who spoke to The Palm Beach Post anonymously because of fears of retribution.”

“Normally, with a project like this, the city would do all sorts of outreach,” the board member said. “I’m all for a publicprivate recreational use, but the public should have been involved in specifying what that recreational use was.”

The above paragraph is most telling, and please pay particular attention to what the Downtown Development Board member had to say concerning retribution. Mayor James has the reputation of being vindictive if you cross him. I want to bring readers attention to agenda item #9.3 on tonight’s (6/12/2023) agenda. it can be found at the end of the story. Don’t peek!

“The city has seen other large development projects hit snags as they undergo public scrutiny and feedback.”

I believe this will also hit a s”snag” but only if residents find the courage and their voice to speak up at City Commission meetings. Your silence means acceptance.

“The most notable instance of that occurred with the Sunset Lounge, a 1920sera supper club the city has rebuilt with at least $16 million in public money. Multiple firms vied for the lounge’s management contract, and, after one was selected during a contentious, protracted public meeting, the city later determined the firm its violated anti-lobbying rules.
The city moved to the second-place management bidder, but determined that it, too, violated anti-lobbying rules. The first management bidder sued, arguing that it did not violate rules against lobbying. A judge ruled in its favor, but the legal questions surrounding who would manage the lounge has delayed its re-opening.”

Mr .Washington makes excellent point and comparison. The city lost it’s lawsuit in the Sunset Lounge and residents haven’t heard if the city is negotiating a new contract or how much taxpayer dollars were wasted on a frivolous lawsuit.

“West Palm Beach avoided that type of drama with the rebuilding of its municipal golf course.
After a redevelopment project at the golfing site failed to get financing, James reached a handshake deal with Seth Waugh, chief executive of PGA of America, who asked for an exclusive period during which he would raise money to redesign the facility.”

James is a Harvard Law School grad. What the hell is a handshake deal? If Seth Waugh takes James at his word, he’s in for a rude awakening.

“Waugh said he raised $53 million in donations to rebuild the course, which has drawn rave reviews from golf experts. But Waugh has refused to disclose who, specifically, paid for its reconstruction, and high prices at the course have drawn complaints from some golfers. It’s not clear if the city has the authority to alter rates at a course it, technically at least, owns.”

This wont pass the smell test. What is Waugh hiding, and why should that be acceptable to the city and residents?

“James said he was motivated to move forward with Waugh’s vision for the golf facility because it included numerous community benefits, particularly for children.”

Now James is using children. The very man that is attempting to starve the homeless out of existence. James is not known for his empathy.

“That, he said Monday, is the reason he backed City Harbor’s proposal, which foresees various programs at the marina that would give children and those who aren’t wealthy equal access to the water.”

“Equal access to the water” When James and City Commissioners are through you won’t even be able to see the water, let alone have access.

“What would the new West Palm marina feature?”

City Harbor’s proposal included sightseeing cruises from the marina, as well as ecotours, educational trips for children, a water taxi, day fishing trips and dive excursions.

“West Palm Beach would retain ownership of the marina under City Harbor’s proposal, which includes 84 slips for vessels as long as 130 feet.”

Sounds like the city is allowing a dam to be built.

“City Harbor has proposed a 100-year management contract, though that term is subject to negotiation.

Safe Harbor’s proposal is significantly different. It pledged to build a $34 million marina and retain ownership of it.

The firm’s plans call for dinner and sunset cruises as well as water taxis at a marina that includes 97 slips for vessels as long as 284 feet.

Safe Harbor said it would pay the city a $500,000 acquisition fee for a 40-year lease with options for two 15-year extensions. The firm estimates its real estate taxes would be $250,000 per year, and it has promised to give the city $986,000 per year, which it estimates would equate to about 12% of its gross revenues from the marina.

Commissioners noted that Safe Harbor’s proposal offered the city more money.

Commissioner Christina Lambert said, while she appreciates “the additional revenue that is on paper” as part of Safe Harbor’s proposal, “for me, that wasn’t the primary goal of this project.”

She added: “Many times, we’re presented with projects and we’re looking at evaluating who is the best partner for the city, and, sometimes, we choose the one that isn’t the most revenue for the city.”

“Safe Harbor, which came up with a marina project after City Harbor, was fighting an uphill battle once officials for the Palm Beach International Boat Show told commissioners City Harbor’s marina plan was the only one that worked for the boat show.”

I would like to know who invited the boat show to the meeting to voice their opinion in favor of City Harbor being the only one that worked for the boat show. Who got what?

“What is the impact of the Palm Beach International Boat Show?”

“One study showed that the 2022 boat show had a statewide economic impact of $1 billion. Residents and others from far and wide crowd onto West Palm Beach’s waterfront each spring, providing a steady stream of patrons for downtown restaurants and bars.”
After questioning from James, Safe Harbor officials said they had discussions with the boat show and that its marina project would be a fit.”

So who is lying? Obvious to me is when boat show officials appeared at the meeting and stated City Harbor being the only one that worked for the boat show.

“From where I sit, I wasn’t satisfied with the answer to the boat show question that I asked,” he said. “There were a lot of word gymnastics there that didn’t really address the issue. There must be a reason why the boat show went with one of them and not the other.”

Really, ya think?

“Boat show support for City Harbor’s plan was critical, as James and other commissioners cited it in discussing the dueling proposals.”

That would be James and his bobble heads trying to please the master.

“The boat show is very important to our city,” James said. “It’s a tremendous economic driver. And anything that can be done to ensure the future of the boat show of our city, I think, is in the city’s best interests.”

Boat show not so important to the city as it is to James. What does he get out of the deal? My opinion the boat show will never move from WPB. I compare the boat show to Related. While they are both making millions off the City of WPB neither will look the gift horse in the mouth.

Wayne Washington is a journalist covering West Palm Beach, Riviera Beach and race relations at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at [email protected]. Help support our work; subscribe today.

https://palmbeachpost-fl.newsmemory.com/?publink=0a9c2ecd1_134abf5

City Commission meeting to be held 6/12/2023

“9.3. City Commission approval is requested for the Mayor’s appointment of Timothy K. Harris to the Downtown Development Authority for a term of three (3) years to expire on July 1, 2026. Mr. Harris will fill the seat of Ms. Cynthia Nalley. It is required that the Commission confirms this appointment.
Originating Department: Mayor’s Office”

Could Ms. Nalley be the Downtown Development Authority board member, who spoke to The Palm Beach Post anonymously because of fears of retribution. I don’t believe in coincidences . If you double click the text message between Mayor James and Gregory Key you can read what occurred when Mr. Clemente wouldn’t support the mayors decision to replace Police Chief Mooney with Police Chief Frank Adderley. Double click the text message to enlarge. This is the guy running the City of WPB into the ground.

The end.