Highlights of September 16, 2009 COBWRA Meeting at Villaggio
Speaker Sheryl LeGates, Palm Beach Post, began with a short history of Boynton Beach excerpted from a book The Palm Beach Post will publish this fall to celebrate Palm Beach County’s first Centennial. Then she described the major demographics of COBWRA area residents.
· In 1894, Nathan S. Boynton, a former American Civil War major first set eyes on the area that bears his name. He was so impressed he bought 400 acres at $25/acre including a mile of beachfront.
· The Boynton Beach Hotel opened on the beach in 1897 for his friends to enjoy their Florida winters. The hotel was destroyed by a hurricane in 1926.
· Nearly 1 in 6 Palm Beach County residents live in the COBWRA service area. The median age is 45 years compared to 37 for the USA. 32% of adults are age 65+ compared 27% age 65+ for the county.
· Retired COBWRA adults are 28% compared to 23% of the county population. 57% of COBWRA adults are employed vs. 60% of Palm Beach County adults.
· COBWRA area adults are more likely to be college educated, homeowners and have children over age 18.
· The median household income is $57,300 and per capita income is $32,100.
· 93% of COBWRA adults live here year round.
· More than 1/3 of residents have lived in their current home for 10 years or more. 62% live in single-family homes and 13% live in condos.
· 39% have a household size of 2 persons and 20% have 4 or more persons.
· The median owner occupied home value is $233,500.
· The most popular activities of residents are casino gambling followed by gardening, bicycling, photography and volunteer work.
· For recreation, we like live theater, going to the zoo and museums, attending the Kravis Center and visiting Lion Country Safari.
· 55% travel outside the US and 38% of us take cruises.
· 35% of us invest in mutual funds, 27% invest in money market funds and 18% invest in bonds.
· 72% of COBWRA area adults accessed the Internet within the past 30 days with more than half using DSL; 35% used a cable connection. Two thirds spent more than 5 hours per week online and 24% spent 20 hours or more.
· 64% read newspapers or visit newspaper web sites.
Officials’ Reports
Commissioner Burt Aaronson stated he voted against spending $175,000/year for a dedicated worker to fast-track permit applications at the Corps of Engineers. He promised the traffic signal at Flavor Pict & Hagen Ranch Rd would be operational by Thanksgiving, 2009.
Commissioner Shelley Vana, reported the County Commission is identifying places where dollars can be saved in the 2010 budget. The final county budget will be approved on Monday, Sept 21.
State Representative Joseph Abruzzo, District 85, reported one of his bills was signed into law by the Governor and is known as Nicole’s Law. It requires all minors to wear helmets while horseback riding.
Tara Lynn Laxer, Aide to Sen. Ted Deutch reported the Senator filed a bill to ban texting while driving.
Capt. Marty Bechtel, PBSO Dist. 6, reported the crime statistics for August: 39 residential burglaries, 75 vehicle burglaries with 28 unlocked, 11 business burglaries and 27 stolen cars. There is an increase in items stolen from garages with open doors: golf clubs, bikes & tools.
Chief Tom Tolbert, PBC Fire-Rescue Battalion 4, reported 2,315 service calls in August, a slow month.
COBWRA Committee Reports
Joan Brunswick, Chair of the Health and Flu Shots Committee, announced flu shot clinics begin Sept 30 and run until October 14. Over 9,400 people from 44 communities are scheduled. H1N1 flu virus shots will be available sometime later in October or November.
Next Meeting (Open to the public)
Oct 21, 9:30 am: COBWRA meeting at Palm Isles, Boynton Beach Blvd between Jog and Hagen Ranch Rd
Speaker: Bob Weisman, PBC Administrator
POSTED IN: Community Issues (42)
> Discuss this entry
