Oct. 12–LAKE WORTH — You can kiss the controversial Invitation to Negotiate process goodbye in Lake Worth.
"It was a major failure," Mayor Pam Triolo said at this past week's City Commission meeting. "I know other cities do it, but Lake Worth requires an extra level of scrutiny over every single process. It's not a good process for us."
The city used the method — an invitation for a preliminary discussion to negotiate or make an offer — to solicit developers for the Lake Worth Casino project. But after numerous complaints from city officials, residents and local developers, the commission voted unanimously to end the process.
"The ITN created so much ill will," resident Mary Watson told commissioners last week.
Former Commissioner Jo-Ann Golden called it a "travesty."
Three companies — Hudson Holdings, Anderson & Carr and Wavehouse Miami — responded to the ITN. Now all three of those companies' proposals have been officially rejected.
Hudson Holdings dropped out this past month, saying the ITN lacked "clear direction and structure" and that it was "fundamentally flawed."
In a statement issued this past week, Steven Michael, the company's managing director, applauded the city's decision to end the ITN.
"A different path must be taken after 13 months without a decision," Michael said in the statement.
Hudson Holdings recently submitted a revamped, public-private partnership plan to develop the casino. Under an amended Florida Statute (Chapter 287), a public-private entity is allowed to help local governments either build or upgrade a public facility.
Some residents are still leery of the new proposal.
"This needs to be explained by the city commission, city manager and city attorney," Golden said at this past week's meeting. "We need our leaders, not developers, telling us what to do."
Last month, Michael said the city has 30 days to respond to the proposal, which was made in a letter dated Sept. 28 to Triolo.
The city, however, contends state law doesn't require it to respond to the proposal because it was unsolicited.
In an email to The Palm Beach Post, City Manager Micheal Bornstein said the city's attorneys are advising officials on whether the city should respond.
"We wanted to get pass the ITN," Bornstein said.
But the issue is far from settled even with the ITN being closed.
At the Oct. 20 commission meeting, Bornstein is expected to go through the Beach Fund, since, as he said, there has been so many questions and concerns about the actual budget numbers after the casino opened in March 2013.
"From there maybe (the city will receive) some direction on how to proceed," Bornstein said.
