by Commissioner Hal Valeche

As your District 1 County Commissioner, I understand the importance of working with our municipal leaders to address issues of mutual interest, resolve problems, and partner on improvements to our communities.  In my view, policy should not develop in a vacuum, but rather, the process requires input from affected governments, agencies, and the public.

To encourage good communication between the county and our cities, I organize a quarterly meeting of the North County Intergovernmental Committee.  The committee consists of mayors, councilpersons and city managers from the cities within District 1, and meetings provide a forum where members bring up matters of concern and seek information on local and regional issues.  We provide presentations and updates on a variety of subjects, including roads and transportation, beach renourishment and dune restoration, legislative affairs, parks, and more.  This helps build relationships and promotes collaborations on projects. 

Working with our city partners helps achieve positive results for our residents.  For example, the City of Palm Beach Gardens is working closely with the county on the development of the Gardens District Park, north of PGA Boulevard and west of I-95.  The demand for additional park facilities is increasing, and I am so pleased that we have had the opportunity to work together to design a first-rate, multi-use athletic complex, where the City will be constructing the first phase of the park.

Sometimes, our combined efforts involve state agencies as well as local business interests.  In response to concerns raised by the municipalities of Tequesta, Jupiter Inlet Colony, and Jupiter, the Board of County Commissioners asked the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to conduct a review of a section of the Intracoastal Waterway in the area north of C.R. 707/Cato's bridge to evaluate it for a minimum speed zone or no-wake zone.  This is a popular area for boating, swimming, snorkeling and paddle-boarding enthusiasts.  Residents expressed concerns that the wake generated by boats in the channel appeared to be creating safety issues.  The review process will include public forums where resident, government, commercial and recreational views will be considered.

Our next North County Intergovernmental Committee meeting will include a discussion on beach improvement projects.  The county is requesting more than $22 million for county shoreline restoration projects from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.  This includes appropriations for Coral Cove Park dune restoration, the North County Comprehensive Shore Protection Project, and the Singer Island Shore Protection Project and we hope to be successful in working together in funding these vital projects for our precious coastal resources.

I appreciate the cooperative efforts of our North County cities, and welcome their continued input as we strive to provide our residents with a high level of service. 

As always, if there is any way that my staff and I can assist you, please contact us at (561) 355-2201 or by email at hvaleche@pbcgov.org.