SOUTH BAY — The City of South Bay Commission will ask the Florida Legislature for funding to address deteriorating roadways and substandard storm water drainage in the coming legislative session. Also on the city’s Legislative priorities list are a multipurpose community facility and the Herbert Hoover Dike rehabilitation project.

The city commission approved the Legislative priorities list at their Jan. 5 meeting in the city hall.

The city is asking the state for funding for several projects.
• South Bay Park of Commerce: Cost, $1 million. The city would like to develop a 88.28-acre parcel of publicly owned land, known as the South Bay Park of Commerce, adjacent to U.S. 27 with direct access to the Inland Logistic Center. The requested funding would provide preliminary engineering and design for future developments in the Park of Commerce.
• Multi-purpose Emergency Shelter and Care Center: Cost, $2.3 million. This center would be operational during catastrophic events. The facility would be supported by American Red Cross, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and the local governing authority. The center would include: shelter, feeding, emergency first aid, bulk distribution of emergency items and “safe and well” information.

• Roadways, sidewalks and street lighting: Cost, $5,860,705. Residential roadways proposed for reconstruction/resurfacing include portions of: Southeast Third Street, Northwest Sixth Avenue, Northwest Ninth Avenue, Northwest 10th Avenue, Northwest Fifth Avenue, Northwest Seventh Avenue, Northwest 11th Avenue, Northwest Second Avenue, Northwest 12th Avenue, Southwest 10th Avenue, Southwest Fourth Avenue, Southwest Sixth Avenue, Southwest Fifth Avenue and Southwest Third Avenue. Estimated funding requested for road projects totals $4,390,520. Estimated funding requested for sidewalk projects totals $1,470,185.
• Herbert Hoover Dike Rehabilitation: the South Bay City Commissioners support the Board of County Commissioners of Palm Beach County, urging Congress to provide the necessary funding to complete the Herbert Hoover Dike Rehabilitation and urging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to expedite dike repairs to ensure the public health, safety and welfare of the cities surrounding Lake Okeechobee.

In other business, the commissioners approved an agreement with the county to operate a congregate dining site for elderly persons at the Tanner Park Community Center.

They also approved an amendment to the sub-grant agreement between the city and county regarding brownfields clean up. The county and the city entered into an agreement June 2, 2015 to provide $350,000 of United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) County Brownfields Revolving Loan Funds for remediation of property located at 480 U.S. Highway 27 N. The EPA has determined additional remediation of the property is required and has agreed to provide an additional $86,032.

An update to the City of South Bay’s employee handbook topped the workshop session before the meeting. One change allows employees to donate sick time to others who are out of work and run out of sick leave time. Previously, employees were only allowed to donate from their vacation time.

“This is an excellent change,” said Mayor Joe Kyles.

Another update involves employees who are charged with a crime. If an employee is incarcerated and cannot come to work, that person’s employment may be terminated after an investigation. Whether or not the employment will be terminated depends on the circumstances, and the best interests of the city.

March 9 is the South Bay City Election. Qualifying for candidates begins Jan. 11 and ends and Jan. 15 at noon.