City Joins Residents in Objecting to Airport Expansion
Nov 12, 2008 - Mayor's Office
City of West Palm Beach Mayor Lois J. Frankel and the City Commission are joining area residents and nearby municipalities in fighting for the quality of life in West Palm Beach neighborhoods by encouraging the Federal Aviation Administration to re-evaluate and seek alternatives to the proposed expansion of Palm Beach International Airport.
“We appreciate the airport’s value to our City and our economy, but expanding it unnecessarily will create more noise, decrease air quality and impact property values for thousands of West Palm Beach residents,” said Mayor Frankel. “We’re proud to stand by our residents and make our voice heard.”
The City is taking issue with several of the major findings in a Federal Aviation Administration study of the proposed expansion. It is the City’s position that:
- The expansion is unnecessary, as PBIA traffic has been steadily decreasing over the past few decades
- The expansion would lower property values in the City’s south-end neighborhoods
- The noise and pollution generated by additional planes would decrease the overall quality of life for neighbors
As most of the activity at PBIA is general aviation (private planes that do not carry commercial passenger traffic) the City believes that there are several strategies that would reduce aviation traffic and eliminate the need for any expansion. These include pricing and fee changes which would help the airport better manage demand and potentially shift general aviation activity to near-by airports.
The City of West Palm Beach is also being joined by Mar-a-Lago and the Town of Palm Beach in supporting alternatives to the airport expansion.
For Additional Information:
Peter Robbins, West Palm Beach Public Information Officer
Office:Â (561) 822-1433
probbins@wpb.org
Veteran’s Day Parade
Nov 07, 2008 - Mayor's Office
When:Â Sunday, November 9, 2008 at 2:00 p.m.
Where:Â Clematis Street and Centennial Square, WPB
(11/07/08) Mayor Lois J. Frankel will participate in the Veteran’s Day Parade on Sunday, November 9, 2008 beginning at 2:00 p.m. along Clematis Street in downtown West Palm Beach. The parade is being organized and produced by Palm Beach Veterans Day Parade, Inc.
The parade route begins on the west end of Clematis Street and finishes at Centennial Square, where there will be a ceremony. Mayor Frankel will join the Veteran’s groups at this ceremony.
Veteran’s Day Parade Comes to WPB
Nov 05, 2008 - Newsletter
After receiving donations from a number of companies, organizations, and individuals, the Palm Beach County Veterans Day Parade will go on as scheduled on Sunday, November 9 in downtown West Palm Beach.
The parade route will be along Clematis Street from Sapodilla Avenue to Centennial Fountain and is scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. Congressman Ron Klein will be the featured speaker at the conclusion of the parade at Centennial Fountain. West Palm Beach Mayor Lois Frankel and city commissioners have also been invited to attend. Parade organizer Bern Ryan said that 51 veterans groups, color guards, and community service organizations as well as municipal and county services will march in the parade, including county chapters of Disabled American Veterans, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Vietnam Veterans of America, 82nd Airborne Division Association, Women Veterans of America, the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Young Marines of the Palm Beaches. In addition, organizations such as Forgotten Soldiers Outreach, the Freedom Team for Wounded Veterans, Shopping for Soldiers, will participate, along with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard, the Palm Beach Shores Fire Department, the United Veterans Advisory Council, and the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Several veterans’ motorcycle groups will ride in the parade, such as the American Legion Riders Post 268 and Post 277, the Patriot Guard Riders, Abate, Rolling Thunder, and The Enforcers.
In addition, on Veterans Day, November 11, the South Florida VA National Cemetery will hold a Veterans Day Ceremony at 4:00 p.m. to honor the veterans for their service to this country.
Great Family Fun this Winter at Clematis by Night
Nov 05, 2008 - Newsletter
There’s lots of free family fun coming up this winter at Clematis by Night! This great fountain-side, award-winning concert series is the area’s Hot Spot to Chill. December features a R&B bands, the Mayor’s Parade and more!
Get the full entertainment schedule at www.clematisbynight.net
WPB Continues Water Improvements
Nov 05, 2008 - Newsletter
As part of the overall effort to improve the quality and reliability of the water system and provide top-quality drinking water to its customers, the City of West Palm Beach has launched a new measure designed to help prevent lead and copper leaching from customer’s pipes into the water and to reduce pipe corrosion. The process began on October 30, 2008. The City has used anti-corrosion measures in the past, but this new treatment will be a significant improvement over the old system. The City will gradually introduce a phosphate corrosion control additive into the water supply at the water treatment plant, using a strictly controlled and closely monitored process. This process is being undertaken with the full cooperation and support of the Palm Beach County Health Department and other regulatory agencies.
Though the City no longer uses lead in water pipes or joints, some water customers with older homes still have lead in their home’s pipes, joints or fixtures. The City routinely tests its water for the presence of lead, copper and other materials. “This measure is part of our commitment to having a top-quality water system,” said Mayor Lois J. Frankel. “We’ll continue to make the necessary investments to improve the quality and reliability of our water supply.”
Water customers are not being asked to take any action as a result of this measure. Should any water customers notice a slight discoloration of their water immediately after this process begins, they should let their water run for a few minutes until it clears. Residents with questions or concerns should contact the City’s 24-hour hotline at 561-822-2222. The anti-corrosion additive is a poly-orthophosphate blend of 70% orthophosphate and 30% polyphosphate. Orthophosphate forms a protective coating on the inside of pipes in both the distribution system and in customer homes. The coating can help prevent copper and lead from leaching into drinking water, particularly in homes that have pipes or fixtures containing lead. Poly-orthophosphate is approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and is commonly used to improve water quality and protect water distribution systems.