Florida Leads the way in Luxury Golf Course Real Estate

UNIQUE HOMES: Stateside, Florida Leads the Way in luxury golf course real estate with 545 golf-course communities. Since 2001, 1764 new golf holes have been added, which would equal 98 new 18-hole golf courses. In 2006, 153 new holes appeared through August.

PORTABILITY PETITION (re property taxes)

TO SIGN and WHERE TO MAIL PORTABILITY PETITION (re property taxes) go to:

http://www.co.palm-beach.fl..us/papa/

and click on link to portability petition - get address to mail petition to, print it out and sign and mail it.

"The Florida Legislature could add the issue of Portability to its January special session agenda and adopt our ballot language," said Palm Beach County Property Appraiser Gary Nikolits, a member of the Board that sponsors the petition drive. "That would save us the work of gathering the nearly 750,000 signatures needed to place the issue on the ballot," he added.

MARILYN FARBER JACOBS

7th ANNUAL DOWNTOWN DELRAY BEACH ART FESTIVAL

Free Admission + Free Parking and a chance to walk off holiday calories will draw you to the Juried Outdoor Art Festival being held on Saturday, November 25th and Sunday, November 26th, 10 am – 5 pm. The work of artists from around the US will be featured and will include paintings, jewelry, photography, glass, sculpture, ceramics and more. The Festival being held in downtown Delray Beach will be in Pineapple Grove. Prices will range from $15 to $20,000. You have an opportunity to talk to the artists whose work you admire and may wish to purchase. For more information call 954-472-3755.

STATE OF FLORIDA MANDATES HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMEN MUST CHOOSE A MAJOR

HIGH SCHOOL WAS DIFFERENT IN OUR DAY… A new state law mandates that incoming high school freshmen must choose a major. Palm Beach County School Board members recently approved the Florida Department of Education’s high school major areas of interest, including: Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources; Architecture & Construction; Arts; A/V Technology and Communicaions; Business Management and Administration; Education & Training; Finance; Government & Public Administration; Health Science; Hospitality & Tourism; Human Services; information Technology; Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security; Manufacturing; Marketing; Sales & Service; Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics; and Transportation, Distribution and Logistics. Students must take for of 8 credits in their field of interest in addition to 16 core curriculum credits, to graduate. Majors can be changed during the registration process.

SPANISH RIVER ROAD LIBRARY CONSTRUCTION MAY RESUME IN JANUARY

City Manager Leif Ahnell said at a meeting last week that the city would hire a new contractor, following the firing some months back of the then current contractor over a dispute about cost and timing. Work should begin on the site by January 15th, aiming to open the library in September 2007. However, the former contractor, South Florida Construction Services In. of Hallandale says a negotiation was in process that would allow the firm to continue, with a settlement. SFCS contends that they worked for 5 months and received no payment. So far there has been one mediation session, and another is schedule. SFCS has been in business 18 years and constructed 240 projects according to their CFO, Jerry Gillman.

The 2004 and 2005 hurricanes delayed construction and the cost of building materials skyrocketed. SFCS had, according to Ahnell, failed to lock in pricing of materials before the hurricanes and the prices to the City went up. SFCS blames the city for delays in purchasing materials.

A 2003 bond issue funded the new downtown library on Spanish River Road, which is partially built now.

COUNTY OFFERS FREE AMPLIFIED PHONES FOR PEOPLE WITH HEARING LOSS

All Palm Beach County residents who are deaf or hard-of-hearing are offered specialized telephone equipment, at no charge, provided by the Deaf Service Center in West Palm Beach and Florida Telecommunications Relay.

According to the Deaf Center, there are more than 170,000 residents who are entitled to use this equipment and the proper training to use it. Requirements are proof of Florida residency and hearing loss.

For those with a moderate hearing loss, telephones with volume and tone control are provided, easily operated by both the hard-of-hearing individual and anyone else living in the same household. For those with a severe to profound hearing loss, and who also have intelligible speech the Center can provide a CapTel telephone which uses relay operator assistance to communicate messages. The relay operation captions everything said and it appears on the phone display screen. The telephone also has amplification, so the hard-of-hearing person can both listen to the conversation and read the captions.

A text telephone (“TTY”) is offered to deaf clients. The message is either directly typed to another TTY user, or to a person using a standard telephone through a third party relay service.

Proper training and instructions on how to operate the phones are provided. Those eligible can call for an appointment at the Delray Beach office at 561-278-6444.

SHARP DECLINE IN BOCA STUDENT ENROLLMENT IMPACTS COMMUNITY

Palm Beach County is experiencing a decline in student enrollment, and Boca even moreso, according to a recent district report. Housing affordability is mentioned as one possible reason. Hurricanes also may have played a role in families moving out of state. Lower cost-of-living and more job opportunity in other states may be a factor for families who have sold their homes and moved elsewhere. One benefit is smaller classes.

Less students means fewer dollars for the district and therefore, cuts in county programs.
A large percentage of new enrollments are children of baby boomers who want to retire in Boca Raton.

EMINENT DOMAIN MAY RESULT TO CREATE DOWNTOWN BOCA “SPINE”

A pedestrian walkway is proposed from Mizner Park to Royal Palm Place and negotiations soon will begin for the purchase of land in the area, with eminent domain (“the forced taking of land”) a possible consideration. The aim is to create a path with eye-appealing amenities to draw people to see it, and to shop along the way. The Boca Raton Historical Society is trying to preserve certain sections of the city’s retail center because of the historic value. The land acquisition should end by the 3rd quarter of 2008. A bond issue will develop to cover costs, and public input will be involved Design of the spine should run from mid-2008 to the first quarter of 2 009. Construction and engineering could start in the 2nd quarter of 2009 with completion planned for the 4th quarter of 2010.

9-PASSENGER JET CHARTER ADDED AT BOCA RATON AIRPORT

Executive Jet Management added a private jet to Boca Raton which has a non-stop range of 4400 miles, and can fly Boca to Los Angeles or Miami to Brazil. The company is a leading provider of worldwide jet charter and aircraft management services which has earned the “Best Charter Service” award from Professional Pilot magazine subscribers for it’s 9th consecutive year. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of NetJets Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway company and manages aircraft in more than 60 locations throughout the country. The jet features a DVD player, two 18” video monitors, two data ports, flight phone and galley with microwave and conventional ovens. The plane is a Falcon 2000EX.

BOCA SETS NEW NON-RESIDENT LIBRARY CARD FEES

The construction of the new western library, which has been held up due to litigation, will be finished at some future date. With a “significant decrease” in non-resident card users in the past few years, according to City Manager Leif Ahnell, the City Counsel voted to set fees of $100 for a non-resident individual library card, and $`75 for a non-resident family library card.

Non-residents have been paying $150 for a library card but it costs city residents $161 in taxes to get the same services. Dorothy Gunn, a 5-year member of the Library Adivsory Board in Boca Raton and LAB liaison to the Friends of the Library Boards says that public libraries should be free. Ahnell said the cost of a non-resident card was $35 in 1999, $40 in 2000, $50 om 2001 and 2002, $65 in 2003 and 2004, and $150 in 2005.

Tax payments cover the cost of a library card for residents.

TRUTH or FICTION in the headlines?

An article in the Wall St Journal on September 12, 2006, stated that home sales have "plunged over the past year in many areas where prices had soard over the preceding five years." The full story is that prices only went down 1.7% although the number of home sales did plummet 12.6% in August 2006 vs. August 2005. More accurately, sales have EASED. Not a huge plunging change! Although not the case in 2004 and 2005, there is a slowdown in home sales during most summers in home sales in Florida!

SOME COURT DOCS GOING ONLINE Oct 17, 2006

30 years of criminal and traffic court records will begin being converted to a modernized computer system that the public will be able to access online at http://pbcountyclerk.com/.

Included will be traffic citations (which can be paid online), court dates and other information docketed in a court file, e.g., listing of filings and activity. The ability to view the individual documents in a particular case is not yet available, but is slated for the future.

From 5 pm this coming Friday until Oct. 9, court filings will be done the old-fashioned way, by hand while all the records are being transferred. The information will be entered into the new system once it is up and running.

The vendor, Affiliated Computer Systems, signed a contract in 1999 for $4.9 million to convert the civil and juvenile records, which went online in 2002. That same year, the county signed contracts totaling $6.9 million to do the same thing for criminal and traffic records.

With 7,000 hits per day, the Palm Beach County Clerk of Court's Web site -- www.pbcountyclerk.com -- already competes with the property appraiser's site as the county's busiest. That number is expected to double when criminal and traffic records are added.

NEWSPAPERS HAVE LOST MANY REAL ESTATE ADS TO THE INTERNET

Newspapers will face a huge loss of real estate ads to the Internet, according to Borrell Associates, a national consulting and research firm that tracks local internet advertising and crafts strategies for media and websites. See http://www.borrellassociates.com/product.cfm?prodID=55 .

"Toward the end of 2005, the Internet became the most-used method of selling a home -- beating out even the old-faithful yard sign," says Borrell. “The $11 billion spent on total real estate advertising stagnated, growing less than 4% over the past four years, while the available advertising inventory -- the number of existing homes for sale on the market -- rose 41 percent in the last 12 months. That metric alone is enough to stop a real estate advertising executive dead in his or her tracks."

The Newspaper Association of America reports that classified ad revenue amounted to $16.6 billion in 2004 -- down from $19.6 billion from 2000. Corrected for inflation the situation is far worse: Newspapers would have to have taken in $21.5 billion in 2005 to equal their 2000 classified revenues. See http://www.naa.org/thesource/20.asp .

Will INTEREST RATES GO FARTHER DOWN NOW?

September 18, 2006 - Says David Lereah, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors, "Mortgage rates are one of the bright spots in the economy right now, with an unexpected decline recently in the 30-year fixed rate to a narrow range around six-and-a-half percent. This should encourage some of the nearly 4 million people who’ve found newly created jobs over the last two years.”

CITIZEN's DEFICIT to cost ALL FL HOMEOWNERS

CITIZEN’s DEFICIT to cost ALL FL HOMEOWNERS

A one-time charge of $20.70 for every $1000 of annual homeowner insurance premiums due for Florida homeowners with their next renewal bills, added to rate hikes that have already appeared. This is to HELP cover Citizen’s Property Insurance Corp’s $1.7-Billion deficit from 2005, to shore up the state’s home insurer of last resort and now its biggest property insurer.

This is the second time in 2 years that all Florida home insurance policyholders are being forced to bail out Citizens, which has been drained by hurricane-related claims.

Once the assessment gets the go-ahead from the state Office of Insurance Regulation, homeowner insurance companies will pay Citizens and pass the charge on to their customers when the policies are renewed.

This assessment, already approved, is expected to raise $163-MM, and combined with $715-MM in sales tax money already set aside, plus the assessment Citizens is to consider next month which is expected to raise $822-MM.

This information is from the 9-17-06 issue of the Sun-Sentinel newspaper.

COMMUNITIES TAKE NOTE: DEVELOPERS ARE WOOING FAMILIES

9-1-06: Today’s Wall St Journal has an article about the ways developers are wooing families to their properties, and the ideas may have merit everywhere.

Developers tout fancy gyms, pools just for children, water parks, fake “fossil digs”, couture designer romper rooms, playgrounds with slides and climbing equipment, “kids-only” activity rooms, child-sized “Wild West” sets with saloons and teepees, squirt-gun shootout areas, plastic monkey bars, tunnel labyrinths, and on-call “nanny” staff.

According to Packaged Facts, a New York-based consumer-research company, it costs a middle-income family $191,000 to raise a child to age 18.

BONUSES TO “A” SCHOOLS OR GRADE INCREASES

Bonus checks in various amounts, at $100 per student, were handed out recently to 1800 Florida schools by Governor Jeb Bush and other top government officials. Rewards totaled more than $157-MM. Bush says the best use for the extra money is to provide bonuses to teachers and staffers… but he says there are all sorts of creative ways that schools celebrate their success.

Among Boca Raton schools receiving these bonuses were:

Boca Raton Community Middle School: $109,264
Boca Raton Elementary School: $36,450
Boca Raton High School: $194,224
Calusa Elementary School: $74,304
Eagles Landing Middle School: $126,497
Omni Middle School: $123,500
Spanish River Community High School: $212,816
West Boca Raton High School: $213,703
To see a list of schools receiving recognition funding and amounts visit www.firn.edu/doe/evaluation/schrmain.htm

Have You Read About CarePages?

CarePages.com is a free secure private internet space for families and invited friends to form an online support community around a patient. This space can be used to post get-well wishes, upload photos and share info about the loved one’s illness, recovery and/or rehab. Patients can respond online, and family members can communicate with staff.

One family member is designated to be in charge of the space. CarePages currently manages over 50,000 individual CarePages communities with over 5-MM members in 190 countries around the world. Over 500 hospital and health care facilities across the US and Canada are offering their own customized versions of CarePages.

Go to www.carepages.com for a visit.

About 99 Palm Beach County schools, including Boca Raton Elementary, Carver Middle, Delray Boynton Academy and Delray Full Service Center will reap benefits from the Microsoft settlement, resulting in enhancement of technology e.g., sound field enhancement, document cameras, servers, computers and software. The settlement resolved class action lawsuits alleging that Microsoft violated Florida’s antitrust laws and now provides benefits to consumers and businesses that purchased licenses for Microsoft operating system, productivity suite, spreadsheet or word processing software between 11-16-1995 and 12-31-2002 for use in the sate of Florida, up to a maximum amount of $202-MM.

More than $80-MM in vouchers will be distributed to receive reimbursement for purchases of any manufacturer’s desktp, laptop or table computers running any operating system, training, or software used with those computer products. To qualify, a school must have at least half of its students eligible for free and reduced price lunch. A website will be established for school districts to determine leigibility and identify items appropriate for voucher use. Vouchers may also be used for services including curriculum development for school administrators. Half the funds can be used for software and half for hardware and other services.

CONDO INSURANCE RATES MAY FALL

There has been a change in how association’s policies are handled by Citizens Property Insurance Company. Previously one policy would group condo buildings together, and now Citizen’s board decided they will treat the buildings separately. A stricter criteria will still apply to individual condo buildings that cost $10-MM or more to replace. This change could save associations thousands of dollars on their insurance premiums. Depending on how the associations decide to use the refunds, either homeowners could receive refunds or the funds could be held in reserve by the association. Rate reductions could be 20% to 30%, but that will still be more than associations paid to Poe Financial Group previously. Change will apply retroactively to any policies issued on or after May 15, which is when Citizens first issued condo association policies using the stricter standards. About 2000 associations are affected. It will take 60-90 days for Citizens to process the refunds.

SINGLE WOMEN HOME BUYERS: A Market Segment to Consider

The Harvard University Joint Center for Housing Studies’ report states that unmarried women (2/3 were previously married) have become a large segment of the home buying population, with 63% of buyers being married couples, 17% being unmarried men, and 20% being single women. Many of the women have children.

While single women average 11% less median income than single men, at $37,000, and while at first the single women do not purchase single family homes, they tend to move up by building their net worth by buying low, selling when the market grows and moving into a larger, more expensive dwelling.
The Women’s Mortgage Industry Network was launched four years ago to help women in their quest for home ownership, and is sponsored by Freddie Mac.

Agreement Reached on Site for Botanical Garden in Boca Raton

The de Hoernle Park may be using 48 acres of property on the south side of Blue Lake for development of the botanical garden, although 24 acres just north of the property is also being considered.

Ann F. Wood, President of the Boca Raton Botanical Gardens Association said that the 48-acre site would allow the association to increase the number of amenities, and put in Japanese and Chinese Gardens as well as enhance to Children’s Garden. A Learning Play Area is also envisioned, which will include a cave with stalagmites and stalactites, vine-covered tunnels, shooting water and topiaries as well as unusual plants. The Flowering Tree Society and Orchid Society are both expected to be involved.

A conservatory is proposed with a 210’ diameter geodesic dome structure. It will house classrooms, laboratories, research facilities, offices and rest rooms, and the dome interior will be a tropical garden with one of the world’s largest aviaries.

FAU Purchases Super High-performance computers for their Boca Raton Campus

With the concentration of high tech companies here and moving into the region, including Motorola, IBM and Scripps as well as medium-sized and small technology companies, these computers, purchased from SGI in Mountain View, CA, may be serving the needs of these technology companies. Initially there will be six projects:

… creation and analysis of advanced tools for parallel program development
… biometrics
… experimental mathematics
… solid state physics
… biomedical sciences
… media systems development.

University research and possible future collaboration with Scripps Florida are in the plans.

RESIDENTS STILL WRANGLING WITH BOCA HOSPITAL OVER CANCER CENTER

Boca Raton Community Hospital wants to build a 98,000 sq ft 3-story high-tech cancer treatment center on the 4-acre site of the vacant Town Center Patio apartments at the corner of 13th Street and 7th Avenue which will be called the Lynn Comprehensive Cancer Center. The hospital paid $13-MM for the Town Center Patio apartment building earlier this year and plans to demolish it.

While the matter seemed to have been settled a year ago, according to an attorney for the hospital, Wendy Larsen, objectors have thrown new demands on the table – including moving the entire building further down 13th Street so there will be no access from 7th Avenue. Some area homeowners who want to keep NW 7th Avenue a residential street, particularly those on the board of the adjacent Lands End townhouse community, say a multi-story cancer treatment building would create traffic, noise and privacy problems.

The hospital agreed to move the new building further away from the Lands End property line and scrap a proposed covered overpass leading to the parking garage across the street. Hospital officials said that design changes have already been made, along with signs pointing drivers away from the residential area, and landscaping also has been enhanced, with these modifications done to please residents costing $400,000. It is hoped that the proposal for the cancer center will go before the planning & Zoning Board in September and to City Council in October.

Retirement-Haven names Boca among top 15% of cities for retirees

While only 20% of Boca Raton’s residents are ge 65 and older, according to the article, the climate and wealth of outdoor and cultural activites put Boca in the top 15% of all desireable cities. For more statistics, go to the website.

WORK SOON BEGINS ON BLAZING STAR NATURE PRESERVE

Boca’s newest nature preserve has opened for bidding for its creation, running from the rear of Sugar Sand Park nearly to the CSX railroad tracks.
The company that wins the contract will be responsible for grading, paving, landscaping and irrigation. A kiosk is also planned. School groups can visit here and it will eventually be tied in with Sugar Sand Park. There will be a small parking lot and a pathway to connect the area. Once the contract is awarded, perhaps at the August 22nd City Countil meeting, it will take about 9-10 months to complete, and work might begin this October.

BOCA FESTIVAL DAYS: August 1 to August 31

BOCA FESTIVAL DAYS: August 1 to August 31

Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce President Troy McLellan said that, “our main goal these days is to contribute to the various non profit charities in the area… it’s all about giving back to the community.” Thirty-five years ago the month-long citywide series of events were intended to help boost business during August, a traditionally slow month. Now there are a huge variety of activities and about 40 events are scheduled, with thousands of participants. In 2005, more than $200,000 was raised.

Events being held include:
August 1, 5:30 – 7:30: 2nd Anuual Splash of Gold Fashion Show at the Marriot Boca Raton Center with local celebrities participating and modeling. $40 per person in advance, $60 at the door. Marriott Boca Raton at Boca Center. Raffle prizes, dj, h’ors d’ouvres, libations and drinks. For more info call Kate Volman at 561-395-4433 or kate@bocaratonchamber.com.
July 31 through September 8: Juried art exhibition sponsored by the Artists Guild of the Boca Raton Museum of Art and Coneca Properties, open to all Florida artists (Courtyard Building, 5301 N. Federal Highway). Awards Reception is August 5, 2-4 pm. For information call Gloria Berger, 561-738-4842 or Roni DiSabello at 561-487-3362.
August 5: Mr. Boca Legs Competition at Mizner Park
August 7: Seminar in love and relationships at the Kabbalah Centre, 7 pm. Call 561-488-8826 for more details and registration.
August 8 at noon: Boca Raton Public Library, 200 NW 2nd Avenue, will hold a book discussion of “The Great Fire,” a romance novel by National Book Award Winner Shirley Hazzard, who will speak about the book. For more information, call 561-393-7968.
August 8, 8 pm: Kabbalah Centre will present food, dancing and more to celebrate Tu B”av, The Holiday of Love. For more information and to register, call 561-488-8826.
August 9, 5:30 – 8:30 pm: PIP Printing & Document Services at 1200 S. Rogers Circle, Unit 8 will hold their “2nd Annual BBQ For A Cure” with minimum donation at $20 per person to support the American Cancer Society’s “Relay for Life” event. BBQ fixins, fun ,games, karaoke, entertainment, chance drawings with prices and more. Country & Western attire is welcomed, rain or shine.
August 11m 6-8 pm: Sweet Jazz by Steve Gryb and ensemble along with Chablis, Red and Chardonnay wines among friends – dance and mingle at this wine tasting party at the Boca Raton Resort & Club’s Mizner Center, 501 E. Camino Real with complimentary on-stie self parking. $50 tickets must be purchased in advance at www.bocaratonchamber.com (events calendar) or at the Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce at 1800 N. Dixie Highway. Call Jo Scannell at 561-395-4433, Ext 21 or email at jo@bocaratonchamber.com.
August 11, 7-9 pm: Marshall Turkin and his Classic Jazz Ensemble present Gershwin music at the Mizner Park Amphitheatre, with a free concert under the stars- bring your chairs and blankets. Chair rentals are $2 and food may be purchased. For more info call 561-393-7806, selection 2.
August 12: Sea Turtle Conservation Day, a family affair, 10 am – 3 pm at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center on North Ocean Blvd (A1A) below Spanish River Road. For more info call 561-338-1473.
AUGUST 12, 11-3: Skating Competition at Tim Huxhold State Park, 400 Crawford Blvd. For ages 5-17. Early registration began July 29 at 10 am. For more info call 561-393-7818. $10 registration fee.
August 13, 2-3 pm. Boca Museum and FAU South Florida Storytelling Project will hold an educational program demonstrating how to create and tell effective, entertaining stories, using voice momevment, eye contact andimagination. Free with paid museum admission, children 12 and under are free. Go to www.bocamusuem.org for more info.
August 17: Sports Fans & Family Night at Wilt Chamberlain’s is free
August 1, 15, and 29: free skin cancer screenings – advance appointments can be made by calling sponsor Boca Raton Community Hospital at 561-95-LEARN.
Saturdays August 5, 12, 19, 26, 2-4 pm: Guided Tour of the historic Boca Raton Resort & Club on Camino Real. Cost is $12 per person, $10 for BRHS members, $9 per car valet parking, and benefits the Boca Raton Historical Society. Not for children under 12. For more information call 561-395-6766 Ext 100, or go to www.bocahistory.org.

Some of the charities who will benefit from Festival Days are Boca Helping Hands, Kids in Distress, March of Dimes and Hospice by the Sea. Included as event sponsors are the Boca Raton News, Boca Rton Resort & Club and West Boca Medical Center.
For more information call Myles Kornblatt, Director of Communications for the Chamber at 561-395-4433, Ext. 235 or email: myles@bocaratonchamber.com.

POSSIBLE $30-MM BOND ISSUE ON BOCA’S PROPOSED “SPINE”

The possibility of developing a pedestrian walkway along the route between Mizner Park and Royal Palm Place will be decided by City Council, yes or no, in the near future. Three plans have been drawn up by an architectural firm, each showing either low- medium- or high density solutions..

“Sixty years of Boca history is contained there,” said Mary Csar, the executive director of the Boca Raton Historical Society, whose group hopes to retain the historic nature and “flavor of the 1950’s” for the Boca Raton Road area east of Sanborn Square.

This idea was first presented in the late 1960’s, and again in the 1980’s. The second proposal was adopted by the City Countil, but opponents forced it onto a referendum question, which voters rejected.
City Manager Leif Ahnell said the bond issue would be intended to cover costs of the project.

CAMINO REAL BRIDGE TO BE REHABILITATED

Designated as a Historic Landmark in 1997, the Camino Real Bridge will be rehabilitated in 2007 with a new deck and painting and repair of the beams. Some are afraid if it is not fixed now, it will pass the stage where it still can be repaired and a new bridge will be necessary. Camino Real Boulevard was also designated at the same time as a Historic Landmark.

The roadway was designed by Addison Mizner in the 1930’s, but he did not design the bridge. That was built in 1939. Palm Beach County is responsible for the bridge and it’s bills. In 1998 the County spend more than $100,000 to replace gearboxes at the bridge.

MONEY MAGAZINE RATES BOCA AS ONE OF THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE IN THE US for 2006

MONEY MAGAZINE rates BOCA RATON as 30th BEST PLACE TO LIVE IN THE US for 2006, and #1 for FLORIDA. No other Florida cities placed in the TOP 100.

HOA and CONDO laws

FL OFFICIALS DECIDE CONDOS MUST HAVE GENERATORS and HOAS CAN CONTINUE OPERATING WITHOUT RESERVE FUND TO PAY EMERGENCY CLEANUP AND OTHER EXPENSES
While the lack of reserves last year forced many association to impose huge special assessments on owners, the mandatory HOAs can continue operating without a reserve fund to pay emergency cleanup and other expenses.

High-rise condos must install sprinklers in hallways and lobbies by 2013, and associations must provide a generator for at least one elevator in each building by 2007 for at least 5 days after a disaster, so that the elderly and infirm residents won’t again get trapped on upper floors.

The length of time a condo owner or association can file suit against the buildrer for construction defects has been reduced from 15 years to 10 years.
State condo law is 93 pages, compared with 30 pages for the homeowner law. Governor Jeb Bush has ordered the state Department of Business & Professional Regulation to recommend by October 1st whether the state should consider combining laws for all “common interest communities,” include HOAs, condos, co-ops and timeshares.

Palm Beach County studies slightly larger cut in property taxes

A proposal to cut property taxes by 2% has been upped to a proposal to cut by 3% bby Commissioner Mary McCarty, with residents with homestead exemptions having no change in their county tax bills. The 3% tax rate cut would offset the rise in property values, with homeowners paying $4.30 for every $1000 in assessed values instead of the current $4.45.

Public hearings on the budget are set for July with voting in September. The 2006 budget was $3.9-billion; the 2007 budget calls for a $4.3-billion spending plan.
With a 21% spike in property values, about $100-million in extra revenues was created, even after McCarty’s proposed tax rate cut. Property value growth is expected to slow in 2007 due to a softened real estate market.

The Economic Council of Palm Beach County submitted a letter saying the tax rate reductions being discussed aren’t enough, considering the county has benefited from a soaring real estate market in recent years.
A 9% property tax cut was voted on for Broward County, although new projects proposed there might eat deeply into that tax cut.

PALM TRAN GETS STATE & NATIONAL AWARDS

C’mon aboard!

The 33-year old PalmTran Tri-Rail system continues to be heavily subsidized as Palm Beach County has about 2000 sq ft of real estate to traverse.

The state award was based on the “para-transit” connections, to address the needs of seniors along with disabled and handicapped persons. The Community Transportation Association of America award was for fixed route and para-transit operations, for innovative and creative service to the community along with its responsiveness to customers and community needs.

The CTAA highlighted “the many programs PalmTran offers to the community, the improvement and growth in these programs, and the hard work of the PalmTran Service Board… recognized the strong relationship PalmTran has developed with its customers and the continued efforts of Palm Tran’s staff to improve service, according to Chuck Cohen, PalmTran Executive Director. He continued, “this award recognizes that freedom of mobility that Palm Tran Connection provides to seniors and disabled residents.

PalmTran runs 7 days a week excluding holidays, serving more than 3500 bus stops and provides more than 7-million rides per hear. Buses arfe equipped with wheelchair ramps and automatic stop announcement systems. Surveillance cameras and bike racks are on buses. There is also door-to-door service.

Florida Atlantic University’s Board of Trustees is expected to approve a lease with Boca Raton Community Hospital that will pave the way for a new teaching hospital on the university’s Boca Raton campus when Trustees meet on June 28th. Approval is also needed from the Florida State Cabinet. The campus is pictured above.

Boca Raton Community Hospital would pay FAU $21.1 million over 10 years to lease land for a new teaching hospital on the school’s main campus, with an option to try to buy the land after all lease payments are made and requires the hospital to work with FAU’s new four-year medical program. The hospital’s lease would be for 68 years, which is the remainder of the 99-year master lease that FAU has with the state and could be renewed when FAU renews its master lease. The property’s estimated value is about $29-million, and FAU agreed to take less because of the benefit to FAU of having a teaching hospital on its campus. The hospital’s rent would help pay for multi-level parking garages at FAU that would take up less space than lots on the ground, but would be more expensive to build.

The medical facility will become a teaching hospital for interns graduating from FAU’s medical program and will continue to provide medical care for residents of the community and the local area.

A 550-bed hospital would be built on 38 acres of vacant land in the southeast section of the Boca Raton campus along Glades Road, with construction scheduled for completion by 2011, according to FAU President Frank Brogan.

The Florida Attorney General created a program for an office of Seniors vs. Crime in 1989, and the office has opened this past week at the Mae Volen Senior Center at 1515 W. Palmetto Park Road in Boca Raton.

Seniors vs. Crime offers free and direct assistance to seniors who have been targeted for specific crimes based on their age. A Senior Sleuth volunteer is assigned to the individual case in an attempt to resolve each situation. All criminal cases are turned over to the proper law enforcement agency for appropriate action. This program allowed seniors to become involved not only in their own protection, but also that of fellow citizens.

“The Senior Sleuths program is well-known around the state and can serve as the Attorney General's eyes and ears, volunteer, or actively assist in consumer protection investigations. These crime fighters have been responsible for recovering more than $4 million for seniors who were the victims of con artists,” according to Attorney General Charlie Crist. "Senior Sleuths volunteers are providing important assistance to the crime fighting effort," said Crist. "Unethical businesses and individuals may believe that their senior target is helpless when, in fact, these citizens may be working for the Attorney General." More than 3000 Volunteers work in storefronts.

"This is an important partnership among Boca Raton police, the Attorney General's office and the Mae Volen Center," said Mayor Steven Abrams, who was among those attending. "Fraud and abuse - especially toward the elderly - is particularly prevalent. It is important to have a program to educate seniors and recover the money they lost from being scammed."Also present were Interim Boca Raton Police Chief Jim Burke; Commander Maria Maughan, head of the police department's Family Services Bureau and Al Payne, deputy regional director of the program.

The Seniors vs. Crime office at Mae Volen will be open and staffed during regular business hours.For information about the program, call 1-800-203-3099.

20 BOCA RATON SCHOOLS RECEIVE A GRADES

Mayor Steven Abrams said, "In recruiting bio-tech companies, a great selling point is to say all our schools are A-Rated. I regularly visit city schools and regularly observe first-hand how hard our students and teachers work towards this."

20 Boca Raton public schools received A grades, one (Olympic Heights) fell one point short of an A, and none were C,D, or F. The Palm Beach County school district is the only large urban district in Florida to receive this distinction.

Grades are abased mainly on how well students perform on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment test (FCAT).

BOCA RATON FESTIVAL IS COMING SOON...

Raising more than $200,000 last year from participating organizations, the 35-year old festival is held in August, a traditionally “slow” month for sales. Organizer is the Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce, who is also the promoter.

The Festival’s feature event run by Wine & All That Jazz, will be held Friday, August 11th from 6-8 pm at the Boca Raton Resort & Club’s Mizner Center, located between A1A and Federal Highway in "Downtown Boca". August 1, the 2nd Annual Splash of Gold Fashion Show will be held at the Marriott Boca Raton at Boca Center. Proceeds benefit education. Many local restaurants will be hold activities connected to the Festival. For more information, call 561-395-4433.

A1A CONCESSIONS TO SOUTH COUNTY BICYCLISTS

Last week a Judge ruled that the FL DOT must execute and file formal documentation setting forth its decisions regarding bike landes on State Road A1A in Palm Beach County.

Following a number of hearings, the FL DOT (FDOT) decided to make improvements to bike paths as part of a $22-MM plan to repave a 27-mile stretch of A1A from Boca Raton to Palm Beach, over the next few years. Last year FDOT decided to put standard 5-ft wide lanes in Delray Beach but nowhere else.

Attorney for the plaintiffs said that, according to FL statue, "there are only 3 reasons for not placing desingated bicycle lanes along any state road." These are: where their establishment would be contrary to public safety; where the cost would be excessively disproportionate to the need; and where other available means or factors indicated an absence of need.

"All of these," he said, "clearly do not apply to A1A in Palm Beach County." FDOT plans to file the documents within the week, which the plaintiffs will review and accept or reject. Chairman of SAFE, a Delray Beach-based bicycle and pedestrian safety organization said, "The suit is an action for delaratory relief and not for damages... The action involves providing safe bicycling facilities among the 22 miles of A1A from Highland Beach to Palm Beach." SAFE was not a party to the suit, but supports it. He further said, "The lawsuit simply asks a judge to issue an order requiring FDOT to build bicycle lanes where there is sufficient right-of-way."

GUMBO LIMBO programs

Three nights a week from May 22nd to June 6th, Gumbo Limbo staff and Turtle Program employees escort 40 people to the beach to view a nesting loggerhead sea turtle. You will be entertained by videos, talks and a night-time tour of the tanks. It is hoped that on these nights (Mondays, Wednesday and Thursdays from 9-11:30 pm) the sea turtles will show up on schedule, but there are no guarantees. Open to ages 6 and up, and an adult must accompany a child. Cost is $5 each. Reserve with Gumbo Limbo Nature Center at 561-338-1473. Located on west side of A1A below Spanish River Boulevard.

If you can’t make it at night, try the daily 2 pm Nature Talks by naturalists, re Florida’s flora and fauna. Wander the boardwalk, pet a snake (optional), and see a tank side feeding (also Saturdays at 11 and Sundays at 2). Free admission.

Call re other activities such as Netting and Seining (wear your old sneakers, grab a net and search for fish, shrimp and crabs. Try Canoeing the Mangroves, a Beach Walk looking for treasures or studying mollusks making their shells, or take the Basics of Surfing course… without even getting wet.

Learn more at www.gumbolimbo.org.

Life is GOOD in Boca Raton, Florida...

Life is GOOD in Boca Raton, Florida... so c'mon down!

Sunshiny days, star-lit nights, cool and balmy breezes on the beach or on your boat... beautiful golf holes to conquer, tennis courts galore, play areas and parks for your children... theatre, movies, wonderful restaurants, bistros and cocktail lounges... antiques shoppes and art galleries... flea markets and ultra luxury stores... there is something here for everyone. If you've ever been to Boca Raton, or if you live here, let us know what YOU think about Boca!

Marilyn Farber Jacobs

HOMESTEAD INFORMATION for 2006

HOMESTEAD for 2006

Property Appraiser Extends Office Hours for 2006 Homestead Exemption Filings (last day to file: March 1, 2006)

501 South Congress, Delray Beach

Service Center, Governmental Center, 301 North Olive, 1st Floor, West Palm Beach

Service Centers, 3188 PGA Boulevard, Palm Beach Gardens

200 Civic Center Way, Royal Palm Beach

NEW HOURS:Weekdays 7:30 am to 6 pm

Bring copy of recorded deed and ID (drivers liense or voters registration) and social security number.

Application can be downloaded at:pbcgov.com/PAPA. For further information call 561-355-2866