NCNC JULY 2025 by Seabreeze Communications

Message from the NCNC President

SAL FASO, PRESIDENT | NORTH COUNTY NEIGHBORHOOD COALITION

In the past fourteen years the North County Neighborhood Coalition Mission and strategies have been tested but remain true to form.

To improve the quality of life for our members, we remain committed to focusing on 7 issues that may affect our communities: Safety, Security, Character of Area, Economic Development, Education, Environment, and Fiscal Responsibility.

I am most proud of us in our ability to maintain our strategy which is to gather the issues and facts, then work with business, government, and community leadership to promote a better county.

The cornerstone of this strategy is to build a brand of TRUST with our partners. Professional, respectful, integrity are the pledged characteristics of our actions.

I would like to thank all

our community leaders, government officials and business partners for their access and relationships. Which has allowed us to continue to achieve our mission.

Together we share a common success…we have made our region a highly sought out place to live, work, play, raise families and or call it a home to retire.

Thank you for your support. We could not do it without all of you.

Our Focus: Safety & Security

PALM BEACH GARDENS POLICE

DEPARTMENT CRIME

UNIT

PREVENTION

WHAT IS IDENTITY THEFT

• Identity theft involves using someone else's personal information without permission to commit fraud.

• Common targets include Social Security numbers, credit card details, and bank accounts.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Data 2024

• FTC received 2.6 million fraud reports in 2024, similar to 2023.

• Imposter scams were the most reported, with government scams losing $789 million.

• Online shopping issues and business job opportunities followed, with losses of $750.6 million.

HOW DOES IDENTITY THEFT HAPPEN?

• Personal information can be stolen through various methods, including data breaches, phishing scams, and dumpster diving.

VICTIMIZATION OF SENIOR CITIZENS

• Seniors are attractive targets due to their assets and credit.

• Many do not report fraud due to shame or lack of knowledge.

GRANDPARENT SCAMS

• Scammers create urgency, often requesting money for bail via prepaid gift cards.

• Verification with family members is crucial to avoid falling victim.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SCAMS

• AI scams use deepfake technology and voice manipulation to impersonate individuals.

IRS SCAMS

• The IRS will never demand immediate payment or personal information over the phone; always verify claims.

SOCIAL MEDIA

• Adjust privacy settings and limit personal information shared online.

• Be cautious of prize scams and avoid clicking suspicious ads.

ONLINE DATING SCAMS

Scammers often ask for money under false pretenses; never send money to strangers.

BEST PRACTICES

Use strong passwords, enable two-factor authentication, and regularly check financial statements.

Shred documents with personal information and avoid sharing sensitive data online.

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Andie Reynolds www.seabreezecommunications.com

ALERTPBC

AlertPBC is Palm Beach County’s Emergency Notification System allowing you to opt in to receive notifications via phone calls, text messaging, email, and more based on locations you care about. You can choose to receive notifications about events that may affect your home, workplace, family’s schools, and more.

HOW AlertPBC WORKS

When we issue a notification about a potential safety hazard or concern, you will receive a message on the voice or text communication methods that you have registered. If requested for the notification, you can confirm that you have received the message and you will not be contacted by any subsequent methods regarding that particular notification. If you do not confirm, the system will continue to attempt to reach you at all of the contact paths that you have registered.

All information provided will be kept strictly confidential. AlertPBC offers two types of notifications: weather and county/city alerts.

WEATHER ALERTS

Seabreeze Communications, Inc. does not endorse any advertising as it relates to the communities. Advertising is not screened by Seabreeze Communications, Inc.

When we issue a notification about a potential safety hazard or concern, you will receive a message on the voice or text communication Choose which weather hazards you would like to be alerted of. Only hazardous weather that is or will affect one of the addresses in your profile will be sent to you.

Click here to register for AlertPBC today.

The

The information you provide is protected and will not be used for any other purpose.

Neighborhood Crime Watch Can Build Safer Communities

A 2023 DOJ study found that neighborhoods with active watch programs experienced a 30% decrease in burglaries and a 20% decrease in violent crimes compared to areas without such programs.

Get Involved, Stay Informed

Joining or starting a Neighborhood Crime Watch group not only helps reduce crime—it strengthens community ties. Regular communication with neighbors, staying alert to suspicious activity, and partnering with local law enforcement can make a real difference in keeping your neighborhood safe.

Our Focus: Character of Area & Economic Development

STATE ROAD (SR) 710/BEELINE HIGHWAY RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT

Financial Number: 419251-1-52-01, 02, 03

Project Length: 3.142 miles

Project Limits: State Road (SR) 710/Beeline Highway from Northlake Boulevard to SR 708/ Blue Heron Boulevard and Florida’s Turnpike bridge over SR 710/Beeline Highway in the cities of Palm Beach Gardens, Riviera Beach, and West Palm Beach.

Scope of Work: Project improvements consist of widening SR 710/Beeline Highway from Northlake Boulevard to SR 708/Blue Heron Boulevard from 4 lanes to 6 lanes, replacing and widening the Florida’s Turnpike bridge over SR 710/Beeline Highway, constructing an at-grade partial Continuous Flow Intersection (CFI) at the intersection of SR 710/Beeline Highway and Northlake Boulevard, adding sidewalks and bicycle lanes on both sides of SR 710/Beeline Highway, upgrading railroad crossings, drainage, signage, lighting, signalization and pavement markings throughout project limits, and upgrading Intelligent Transportation System (ITS).

Start Date: March 18, 2024

Completion Date: Late 2029

Contractor: The deMoya Group Asphalt Group Joint Venture

Estimated Construction Cost: $148.2 million

WATCH THE VIRTUAL DRIVE THROUGH VIDEO:

INSERT VIDEO HERE

https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=L7nQMZYJIGM&t=134s

PRE-CONSTRUCTION

DURING CONSTRUCTION

• Strengthened resilience measures:

◦ Flood and stormwater management (SB 810): mandates regular inspections for stormwater systems.

◦ Nature‑based coastal resilience (SB 50/HB 371): funds green infrastructure and feasibility studies.

◦ Resilient Buildings Tax Credit (SB 62/HB 143): LEED certified structures get credits from 2026 onward.

Rural & Local Policies

• Created Office of Rural Prosperity, funded rural infrastructure, grants, hospital supports (SB 110/ HB 1427).

• Agriculture & land-use reforms increased local rule clarity, allowed drones in plant disease efforts, set EV charging standards (SB 700/ HB 651).

Summary Takeaway

Florida’s 2025 legislative session centered on increasing environmental conservation, improving community resilience, and updating planning processes—particularly through

View the full Florida Legislature Wrap Up report from 1000 Friends here.

housing and land-use reforms. While several major proposals stalled, key wins in sustainable infrastructure and rural support reflect priorities in protecting resources and streamlining development.

Our Focus: Environment

PRESERVING OUR WATER

Why Conserve Water?

Water is one of our most important resources. We use it every day for drinking, bathing, recreation, watering our lawns, growing crops, and more. Even though South Florida receives about 53 inches of rainfall each year, our unpredictable weather means we can go from saturation to drought conditions very quickly. Water conservation efforts ensure that we have a steady supply of water year-round.

In Florida, as of 2020, the average person uses about 128 gallons of water a day. As water demands continue to increase in our area, it is projected that Florida will need about 4.1 billion gallons a day by 2040.

Palm Beach County Water Utilities

Department's (PBCWUD) drinking water is drawn from wells extending approximately 150 feet underground into the surficial aquifer. It is important for us to conserve water and replenish the aquifer for our benefit and for the environment.

Keep reading to learn about what we are doing to conserve water and how you can help, too. And stay tuned for the latest on RECAP and Green Cay Phase II- an exciting new water reuse project which PBCWUD will open to the public in late 2026. Click here to learn more about RECAP/ Green Cay Phase II.

What is PBCWUD Doing to Conserve Water?

Reclaimed Water

Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department provides reclaimed water to golf courses, commercial and residential lawns for irrigation. Using reclaimed water alleviates the demand on our aquifer and therefore increases the amount of fresh drinking water available.

Reclaimed Water Benefits:

• Increases the availability of drinking water

• Helps sustain the life of plants and animals

• Eliminates restrictions on irrigation

• Contains nutrients to promote healthy landscaping

Click here to learn more about Reclaimed Water.

Wetlands

Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department provides reclaimed water to the Wakodahatchee and Green Cay Wetlands. These wetlands act as percolation ponds and return billions of gallons of fresh water back into the aquifer.

Click here to learn more about PBCWUD Wetlands.

SOLID WASTE AUTHORITY OF PALM BEACH COUNTY

Palm Beach County Remains State’s Top Recycling County for Third Consecutive Year

The Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County is the state’s top recycler for the third straight year thanks to county residents, businesses and visitors, and a robust recycling program. In 2024, Palm Beach County achieved an overall 90 percent recycling rate, as calculated by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). That’s a six-point increase from 2023 when the county achieved an FDEP calculated 84 percent recycling rate, preceded by an 80 percent recycling rate in 2022, and exceeding the state’s 75 percent recycling goal.

Per FDEP calculations, Palm Beach County recycled approximately 3.4 million tons of the 3.8 million tons of municipal solid waste generated in 2024. This calculation includes traditional, construction and demolition debris, and vegetation recycling, as well as waste-to-energy recycling credits.

“This achievement reflects the commitment of our entire community. Our residents, businesses and visitors continue to make smart recycling choices every day. Our combined efforts — along with the strength of our recycling programs and private permitted partners — keep Palm Beach County leading the state,” said SWA Executive Director Dan Pellowitz. “We thank everyone who plays a role in making recycling a priority and helping us protect our environment for future generations.” continued >

Palm Beach County residents, visitors and businesses have many options for recycling right:

• Use the blue and yellow recycling containers;

• Take excess or oversized recyclable items to one of seven SWA Home Chemical & Recycling Centers; or

• Drop off paper (fiber) materials at one of more than 250 community drop-off locations throughout the county.

In 2010, the Florida legislature set a 75 percent state recycling goal by the year 2020. See the complete list of 2024 county recycling rates from the FDEP.

The Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County invites the public to see that

recycling is alive and well in Palm Beach County by visiting its Recovered Materials Processing Facility (RMPF/recycling facility). To arrange a presentation and/or group tour, contact education@swa.org or visit swa.org/ education to learn more. Another option is to bring your friends and family to the annual open-house celebration of America Recycles Day in November for a self-guided tour.

REMINDER: Hurricane season started June 1. Complete your vegetation trimming now. Once a storm threatens, it’s too late to trim trees. It’s best to make a year-round tree trimming plan a part of your hurricane season preparations to minimize property damage and help our community quickly return to normal after a storm passes.

ABOUT THE SOLID WASTE AUTHORITY OF PALM BEACH COUNTY

The Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County (SWA) is a local governmental agency that manages the municipal solid waste generated in Palm Beach County. The SWA owns and operates a fiscally and environmentally responsible integrated solid waste management system to serve the residents, businesses and visitors of the county.

Through this system, the SWA has:

• Achieved the highest recycling rate in the state for the past two years

• Operated two renewable energy facilities that consistently operate well below EPA standards for the past 36 years

• Recovered 1.3 million tons of metals that would otherwise be mined from virgin ores

• Eliminated the need for a new landfill until 2057

Learn more at swa.org. Find technical reports at swa.org/technicalreports.

Our Focus: Education

ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

Please note that the following meeting has been CANCELED.

Event: Natural Areas Management Advisory Committee Meeting

Location: Vista Center, 2300 North Jog Road, West Palm Beach FL 33411

Start Date/Time: Friday, July 18, 2025 1:30:00 PM This meeting has been canceled.

Regular meetings of NAMAC are generally held on the third Friday of each month. Meetings begin at 1:30 p.m. and are held in the Vista Center at 2300 North Jog Road, West Palm Beach, Florida. All meetings are open to the public. The purpose of the Advisory Committee is to review and comment on management plans developed by staff for natural areas and conservation lands managed by the Palm Beach County Department of Environmental Resources Management ("ERM"), with a specific focus on proposed public uses of these sites, and to make recommendations to staff on possible changes to each plan prior to making a recommendation to the Board on approval of the plan.

ERM administers environmental programs that protect, preserve, and enhance Palm Beach County’s natural resources on land and in & under water.

GET INSPIRED

This 30 minute documentary takes you behind homes and freeways in suburban Palm Beach County through an incredible network of swamps, scrub, and waterways.

INSERT VIDEO HERE

https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=kyp-4gQDvAo

Our Focus: Fiscal Responsibility

PALM

BEACH COUNTY TAX

COLLECTOR’S 2023 – 24 ANNUAL REPORT

How the Office Is Funded

The Palm Beach County Tax Collector’s Office is 100% fee-funded, meaning it does not use taxpayer dollars to operate. All services—like driver’s license renewals, vehicle registrations, and property tax collections—generate the revenue that

supports the office. Any surplus at the end of the year is returned to local taxing authorities.

Expanded Services & Technology

More services are now available online and through self-service kiosks, making it faster and easier to handle renewals and payments without visiting an office. These updates are designed to improve customer convenience and reduce wait times.

S en ior L i v i n g

Focus on Community & Staff

The office actively participates in local events such as Palm Beach Pride, the Jupiter Jubilee, and other outreach efforts. Internally, wellness programs like the “Journey to Good Health” initiative support a strong and healthy workforce. Employees are regularly recognized for their service and contributions.

Want to Learn More?

The full annual report is available online and highlights all financial details, service updates, and community programs. Printed copies can also be requested by visiting pbctax.gov.