Terri Parker Interviews Commissioners on Marina

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Below is a story by Terri Parker, Investigative Reporter, and published on July 21, 2023. Below are excerpts, and the entire story can be read below. My comments are in Italic.   Underlined to draw your attention.

West Palm Beach commissioners react to outpouring of opposition to downtown marina vote

“Facing an onslaught of opposition, West Palm Beach commissioners who voted June 5 to start negotiating a proposed downtown marina said Friday their minds aren’t made up until the public weighs in.” That sentence is important as I hope to show.

“After commissioners moved forward at Mayor Keith James’ urging to select City Harbor, LLC”

“Once they saw the results, they began a petition asking that negotiations with City Harbor cease immediately.

They also began a letter-writing campaign and started a Facebook page called Protect the WPB Downtown Waterfront.”

“WPBF Investigative Reporter Terri Parker contacted each commissioner to see how the public response has impacted their support or opposition to the marina proposal.”

Christina Lambert: “I believe it is essential that we listen to the residents and stakeholders before arriving at any decisions regarding the waterfront.” “I will not support any project on the waterfront without thorough public participation.”

Christy Fox: “I stand by my original ‘No’ vote on the motion to move forward with negotiations for the Marina before the public has had the chance to participate.”

Joe Peduzzi: “I have not yet committed to supporting the marina concept.” “Before we move forward, our residents should be given the opportunity to learn more and to offer feedback; likewise, the Commission should be given adequate time to consider whether a marina is in the best interests of the city.”

It is not in the best interest of the city, but it is in the best interest of Mayor Keith James and the rich & famous yacht owners.

Shalonda Warren: “I’ve also received some responses from people that are in support.” “I can’t say that I’ve made a definitive decision. It’s still just a matter of what people are saying they’re wanting and what’s going to be the right move forward for the city.”

Commissioner Warren’s comment triggered a memory, and I will explain below. If the residents are opposed to a marina, they cannot let down their guard for a minute or we will wake up one morning and wonder why their water view has vanished. 

Cathleen Ward: “I don’t want to do something that an entire community is opposed to. But I don’t think everybody necessarily has the whole picture.” “But if the entire community, thousands of people don’t want a marina at all, of course that would be crazy for me to say ‘No, that doesn’t impact me whatsoever.’”

Commissioners seldom have the whole picture, and are given the information, and only the information, James and Johnson want them to have. Are you aware no city commissioner can ask any questions of a staff member? They MUST submit the question to the City Administrator who will discuss it with the staff member and supply the answer to the commissioner. I find that disgraceful and unacceptable, but it does ensure commissioners receive the answer they are meant to have.

The mayor and commissioners have a meeting called the City Commission Agenda Review, before the scheduled city commission meeting, where they meet to discuss items on the agenda. If they are given information they find questionable, how do they vote on the issue at the commission meeting?

When Mayor James was Commissioner James (8 years) he suggested money be placed in the budget for the commissioners to have their own attorney on retainer if they had questions and disagree with city attorney’s opinion. Good idea, although now that he is Mayor James, he may fight the idea. 

“There will be a special commission meeting on July 31 at 9 am to discuss the request by the losing company, Safe Harbor, to protest the award, citing several irregularities in the process.”

All four Commissioner are now on the same page as Commissioner Fox who wanted input from residents before making a decision.

Commissioner Warren states “I’ve also received some responses from people that are in support.” Her statement jumped out at me. I remembered and it leads to a WPB Watch story I published on November 5, 2021. and it can be found at the end of the story.

What the public can expect when we are allowed to comment on the marina if history repeats itself.

The project under discussion was the “tent site” proposed by Developer Charles Cohen who did not support Keith James in his bid for Mayor.

At the City Commission meeting James was absent and Commissioner Peduzzi, President of the City Commission led the meeting.

At the time the city used a “portal” where residents could email the city with their comments and the City Clerk would read them into the record. Don’t look for it, it’s been taken down. If you want to make a comment you must appear in person to allow your voice to be heard.

It’s the end of the meeting and Commissioner Peduzzi asks the City Clerk if there are any comments emailed to the City. Well, yes there are. In fact there are 77 comments to be read. Due to the amount the Clerk is advised to just read the names and addresses, and if they are in favor or opposed to the project. I listened and wrote every name and address down.

All 77 comments were opposed to the project, and if that’s not surprising to readers this should be. The vast majority who opposed live in my area, District 2, called the Villages and live many miles from the Tent Site. My opinion. Those opposed were invited guests to speak against the Cohen project.

If history does repeat itself, I expect many invited guests to speak in favor of building the marina.

Commission President Warren, and Commissioner Fox, please call for a Special City Commission Meeting. City Commissioners Lambert, Peduzzi and Ward show up for the meeting and vote to end all negotiations for a marina.

Terri Parker’s entire story below.

https://www.wpbf.com/article/florida-commissioners-react-opposition-marina-west-palm-beach/44613947

Petition to Save Our Downtown WPB Waterfront. Now’s the time to sign and share with friends and family. If husband and wife both want to sign, they must use their separate email addresses. If readers have friends in the western gated communities, please forward the petition to them and ask them to sign. This is not a downtown resident problem but effects the entire city of WPB.

https://www.wpbdna.com/waterfront_petition

WPB Watch story published 11/5/2021.

https://wpbwatch.com/2021/11/tent-site/

The end