Mayor’s Column
January Mayor’s Column
Happy 2016 and Happy Birthday to Wellington! This year marks our Great Hometown’s 20th anniversary of incorporation. Celebrating this milestone begins with New Year’s resolutions reflecting on the previous year and anticipating the upcoming year. Whether it’s spending more time with the family, learning a new skill, adopting a healthier lifestyle, or volunteering and helping in our community, Wellington offers numerous programs, opportunities and activities that will help you keep those resolutions.
One very serious resolution we all must make is to promote safety and educate ourselves about crimes of opportunity. Wellington has been focused on home security tips and has been spreading the message through our Wellington TV channel, social media, and our newsletter – “Don’t become a victim of a crime of opportunity.” We want to remind residents to:
- lock doors, including garage and sliding glass doors
- arm security systems
- report suspicious activity to PBSO immediately
Please watch our very informative Public Service Announcements available on our YouTube page: http://bit.ly/1Ja1Xyi. We work with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office to provide timely information and encourage safety throughout our neighborhoods.
To further our efforts, Village of Wellington staff is partnering with PBSO deputies to attend neighborhood HOA and POA meetings. We appreciate your continued efforts to keep Wellington safe, and look forward to working with you.
Another important resolution for Council and staff is our ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability. We have just released a comprehensive public service announcement highlighting some of the ways in which Wellington is working to create a greener future. Click this link to watch: http://bit.ly/1k0LEwX. Wellington’s Mission is “to provide high quality services that create economic, environmental and social sustainability for residents.” Wellington’s efforts are multi-faceted and include:
- Water conservation initiatives with reclaimed wastewater used for irrigation and low-flow fixtures using rainwater collected from rain cisterns.
- Equipment and vehicle modifications to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions
- Installation of native plants throughout Wellington.
- Green purchasing guidelines in our infrastructure construction and material purchases.
- Energy efficiencies include installing LED lights in all Wellington buildings and parks to use 75% less energy, along with reducing the quantity and timing of replacements.
- Using Best Management Practices to address waste disposal with the production of fertilizer, increased recycling, and treatment of storm water.
- Increased use of technology to reduce paper through electronic bill paying, permitting, and records management options.
- Offering improved alternative transportation options for bicycles, walkways, golf carts, and horses.
Due to the upcoming elections cycle, the 2016 Florida Legislative session will begin early. Along with safety and sustainability, we will begin the New Year coordinating with our legislators, closely monitoring issues involving: agricultural exemptions, agri-tourism, and transfers of costs from private utilities to local governments. We are also watching Amendment 1 funding, as it relates to water supply projects, litigation relating to the final EPA rule amendment to the Clean Water Rule which defines “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS), sober homes regulations, affordable housing, and a potential solar power constitutional amendment. Council is very active during the legislative session. .
To keep things well-rounded, Wellington’s Parks and Recreation Department is committed to offering programs and activities for the entire family. On Saturday, January 30th and Sunday, January 31st, come out and show support for our local artists at Art Fest on the Green at the Amphitheater. This is a free event which features music, food vendors, and one-of-a-kind art pieces.
Enjoy ongoing free entertainment at the Wellington Amphitheater with live concerts, movie nights, and local singers. Our Thursday night “Food Truck Invasion” continues this month with live music at each event. View the schedule on our website wellingtonfl.gov for more details on all of the January events.
The Father Daughter Dance is scheduled for Saturday, February 6th from 5:30 to 9:00 pm. Tickets are on sale at Village Park and will be available for purchase through February 4th or until the event has sold out. Tickets are $50 per resident couple and $62.50 per non-resident couple. Additional tickets may also be purchased at a cost of $20 per resident and $25 per non-resident.
If one of your resolutions is to get outside, stay active, and have some fun, spending more time at our wonderful local parks will keep you on the right track. Nature lovers can enjoy seeing dozens of animal and plant species at Peaceful Waters Sanctuary or exploring the trails at The Wellington EnvironmentalPreserve at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Everglades Habitat (Section 24). Don’t forget to stop by the many learning centres in the Preserve as well as the six story observation tower.
Open Gym at Village Park is available to residents and non-residents. Make sure you register to participate. There are also numerous athletic programs for our younger residents including basketball, softball, soccer, Taekwondo, and many more. You can find more information and register for many programs on our website.
Major construction projects are well underway and we look forward to their completion. One of the biggest improvements is the construction of our new Community Center, scheduled for completion in July 2016. We are also completing the 3+ mile long Flying Cow Multi-Use Pathway in February 2016. Our Engineering Department is busy designing the Fairlane Farms/Stribling traffic circle with construction to be completed tentatively by early Fall 2016. The 120th Avenue South road improvement project is also in the design phase with construction tentatively scheduled for the end of the year.
We wish everyone the best for 2016. There is so much to look forward to as we kick off Wellington’s 20th year, and I encourage you to participate in our quality, fun, family-friendly events, and to stay active in our Great Hometown. It is an honor to serve and work with you, and I can’t wait to see everyone around the Village this year and at all our upcoming events.
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Bob Margolis, recently elected as Mayor of the Village of Wellington, was first appointed to the Village Council in April of 2003, and was then elected to a four-year term in March, 2004. Prior to that initial appointment, he had proven his community spirit many times over by a long list of community endeavors and volunteer efforts.