Page 1 - PGA Community News - February '20
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VOL. 30 NO. 2                                    FAX 561-624-9088 • E-MAIL canpga@yahoo.com                                     FEBRUARY 2020

      PGA POA Jottings



      February, 2020                                     $500 Grand Prize. Thank you to Patty Pond and the Special   wearing dark clothes with no lights or reflectors. Another
                                                         Events Committee who organized the event. Patty completed   car was approaching so I had headlights in my eyes and
      By Dawn Levinstein,                                the second year of her Board term; she will be missed.  if both of us did not have our guardian angles with us it
      PGA POA                                               Llywd Ecclestone, the Developer of PGA National, was   could have been tragic. I saw my headlights glint off the
                                                         kind enough to attend this year and gave a brief history of   aluminum wheel and realized they were in front of me
      ANNUAL MEETING                                     PGA National. It was interesting to hear how PGA, one   and was able to go around them.
         Thank you to everyone                           of the first planned unit developments in South Florida      It is important for cyclists and drivers to read through
      who mailed in their ballot.                        came about and how far the community and the area have   the article. I certainly learned a lot but it boils down to
      There were some very                               come over the years.                              what we learned in first grade: Be courteous and share!
      qualified candidates again                            The Board of Governors will elect officers at the Jan.   In this case, share the road and be patient.
      so thanks also go to the                           27 meeting. Committee Chairs will also be appointed and
      Nominating Committee.                              the updated information will be on the POA website at   CENSUS
      The POA Board members                              www.pga-poa.com.                                     It is again time for the U.S. Census. Everyone must
      elected this year are Keith                                                                          respond and it is suggested that you fill out and mail back
      Ahronheim, Bob Brown, Mike Engelsher, Ralph Infanti and   BICYCLES                                   the form you will receive in the mail; otherwise, someone
      Bob Kramer. Congratulations everyone!                 I think I mentioned that there would be some detailed   may be knocking on your door. To get more information
         For those who were not able to attend the meeting, you   information in this issue regarding bicycles. Please see   about the census, go to www.2020census.gov.
      missed a good one! The POA celebrated its 40th Annual   the enclosed article titled “BICYCLES.” In PGA National,      Please be aware that information collected may only
      meeting and everyone was given a reusable shopping bag   there are no marked bicycle lanes so drivers must share   be used for statistical purposes and no other purpose. For
      containing discount coupons for local businesses, umbrellas   the road. Cyclists should also have lights on the front   information about the Census Bureau’s data protection and
      and golf towels. The Board then held a raffle of a number of   and back of their bicycle. I came upon a cyclist properly   privacy program go to www.census.gov/privacy.
      great items including cash gift cards, dinners, and a Best Buy   riding along the right curb but it was dark and they were
      Commissioner’s Update




      Palm Beach County’s 2020                           appropriations for affordable and workforce-housing projects,   in  the  Glades,  including  road  resurfacing,  workforce
                                                         as was the intent of the fund.
                                                                                                           and career training, water facilities, rail transportation,
      Legislative Agenda                                 • Substance Abuse/Sober Homes/Mental Health       ecotourism, and development of an inland port – all of which
                                                            Based on the recommendations of the Sober Homes Task   contribute to the economic growth of the region.
      By Commissioner                                    Force, we urge the legislature to support programs for life   • Criminal Justice
      Hal Valeche                                        saving interventions, medically assisted detox, and diversions      We support diversion programs, re-entry efforts, and
         Palm Beach County, along                        from the criminal justice system for those suffering from opioid   alternatives to detention for juvenile offenders. This requires
      with the School  District,                         addiction. Additionally, we are requesting the legislature to   upgrades to juvenile detention centers and Department of
      the League of Cities, and                          provide additional beds for mental health treatment, with a focus   Children and Families facilities.
      the Economic Council has                           on youth services.                                • PreK-12 Education
      developed a joint legislative                      • Water And Natural Resources                        We support an increase in the base student allocation
      agenda for this year’s                                The federally funded Comprehensive Everglades Restoration   to provide meaningful salary increases to all PreK-12
      State legislative session in                       Plan is the most critical, long-term environmental project in   teachers and support staff; expansion of Voluntary Pre-
      Tallahassee. These entities,                       Florida, and there are significant projects in our county affecting   Kindergarten programs; enhancement of career and technical
      supported by our lobbying                          our water resources and ecosystems that tie into those efforts. We   education programs; creation of a dedicated revenue stream
      teams, work to protect the                         are asking for the legislature’s continued support and funding   for safety and mental health reforms mandated by the
      interests of our local communities.                for projects to restore and maintain Lake Okeechobee, the   Marjory Stoneman Douglas Act; and, the requirement for
         Of paramount importance is defending home rule authority.   Loxahatchee River, and the Lake Worth Lagoon. Additionally,   accountability and standards for all schools, including school
      This is to ensure that preemptions are not passed that can prevent   we are  seeking policy  changes and  a  recurring  $50M   hardening, safety and security.
      local governments from responding to constituents needs. We   appropriation benefiting beach management, funding for Glades   •  Palm  Beach  State  College And  Florida Atlantic
      seek to support sound legislation while blocking shortsighted   Region infrastructure improvements, funding to help residents   University
      bills that can result in unfunded mandates to city and county   convert from septic to sewer systems, and legislation to enhance      Increase operational funding and capital outlays to
      governments. This is essential to being able to maintain current   the development of alternate water supply sources.  complete medical and life science facilities.
      levels of service to the public.                   • Hurricane Response And Preparedness             • Economic Development
         Here is a summary of the issues and initiatives we have      Palm Beach County supports a public records exemption      Fund incentive programs that support economic growth,
      identified as priorities for the 2020 session:     that protects residents from vendors seeking their information   workforce housing and financial stability for regional
      • Affordable Housing/Homelessness                  in the aftermath of a storm.                      businesses.
         Homeless programs require a dedicated revenue stream.   • Transportation/Glades Regional Initiatives
      The Sadowski Housing Trust Fund should be restricted to      We support funding to provide much needed improvements   Commissioner’s Update on page 2
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