Political Program

A vibrant downtown that maintains its small beach town charm and unique character
Thriving tourism with multiple 4 and 5 star hotels sprinkled along the main thoroughfares including a fully restored Gulfstream Hotel
A bustling beach and casino complex with a family-friendly zero entry wading pool and splash pad alongside a multi-lane lap pool
An active arts and music district
Updated playground equipment in our parks with plenty of shading
A strong relationship with community and neighborhood organizations
A large variety of small businesses up and down a walkable Dixie Highway
Plenty of uniquely designed mixed use condos and market rate apartments for young professionals and active seniors, with public spaces and a percentage of affordable units
A global tech hub for marine renewable energy surrounding our newly installed ocean current technology testbed
Well maintained infrastructure and highly reliable electric utilities
Frustration-free permitting process for homeowners wishing to improve their homes and increase their home values
A and B rated public schools along with a dual-language homeschool umbrella program
Bringing back the Lake Worth Beach Municipal Institute for future leadership training
Small business incubators and an entrepreneur training program for residents
Up to date technology and processes for staff and city hall that make their jobs easier and faster

Engage with the community and push for monthly virtual town hall meetings for all elected officials to individually and informally interact with the public
Ensure that all volunteer boards are filled and tasked with appropriate action items
Work with staff to analyze core city processes and design more efficient outcomes to reduce wasteful spending
Work with the IT department to ensure all city departments have technology they can rely on
Seek to lower the millage rate for our hardworking taxpayers
Promoting equality and diversity in the workplace
Find a way to offer free on-site daycare services to parents who wish to attend city meetings with small children

Work with the Lake Worth Beach Education Task Force to improve school conditions and morale
Lay the groundwork for installing a dual-language homeschool umbrella program for our residents who cannot sustain virtual schooling
Work with community organizations to create an entrepreneur training program for residents

Promote smart, and thoughtful, redevelopment in the CRA district and South Federal Highway with timely community input
Produce a Master Parks Plan for the city which would also determine the best possible use for the Beach and Casino complex and Northwest Ballfields
Promote an environment in which small businesses can create jobs and startups can have access to grants and shared office spaces
Work with the CRA on designing an app featuring local restaurants and shops
Allowing for short term vacation rentals to supplement the increasing demand for temporary lodging amongst tourists who wish to spend their money here and possibly become future homeowners

Review the road bond project results and begin repairs on the highest rated roads for maximum savings
Support projects that would mitigate sea level rise in our coastal neighborhoods prone to flooding
Seek parity with FPL on commercial electric rates, revamp residential and commercial deposit requirements, introduce new payment options, and update our inflexible utility billing software
Support a 2nd tie-line with FPL for a more reliable electric grid and push for alternative connections to the beach complex in order to retire the aging and fragile underwater cables
Continue to support solar power net-metering and promote green energy choices
Work with FAU and SNMREC to bring the ocean current energy project to fruition

Enforce Quality of Life laws to clean up our streets and encourage more community policing
Fill empty positions within Code Compliance, provide better training, and develop proactive ways to encourage compliance with homeowners and small businesses

Vision without action is merely a dream
Joel A. Barker