Task Force Recommendation Tracker

Recommendation: Provide and promote a more accessible portal for community members to share information or file complaints of misconduct toward police officers and provide the choice for citizens to remain anonymous.

• Action: In May 2023, the City of West Palm Beach rolled out SaferWatch, a program that helps residents and visitors stay safe, informed, and prevent crime. This new initiative allows people to text photos, videos, or live-stream directly to the 911 Emergency Communications Center and Strategic Intelligence Center.  Police can also send real-time alerts about major incidents to keep residents informed and safe. The free SaferWatch app aligns with Mayor Keith James’ commitment to enhancing a customer-friendly culture in City Hall that focuses on neighborhood initiatives, regional collaboration, and community partnerships. SaferWatch does not replace 911 in an emergency but provides technological capabilities that are not currently possible using conventional phones. SaferWatch is free on Apple and Android devices. Download the application and learn more at Saferwatchapp.com. 

Last updated: July 7, 2023

Recommendation: Develop or support initiatives that solicit bids from and offer contracts to small- and medium-sized minority-owned businesses from both city and private enterprises in multiple languages

• Action: In the Spring of 2023, the City of West Palm Beach launched First Steps: Small Business and Minority/Women Business Enterprise Grant Programs. This $500,000 funding initiative was offered for four areas critical to small business success including marketing, inventory/equipment, property improvement, and new business development.

• Action: In observance of Small Business Week, the City hosted the West Palm Beach Small Business Resource Fair on May 10, 2023. The objective of the event was to allow Small Businesses to network, get SBE-, M/WBE- Certified, and learn about upcoming business opportunities.

Recommendation: Target programs towards financial education, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship with a focus on youth and young adults 

• Action: Mayor’s Jumpstart Academy (MJA) – In Partnership with Urban League of Palm Beach County, Justine Petersen and the Co. Starters network, MJA provides underrepresented and underserved communities with credit building and entrepreneurship training that will help starters go from an idea to a business in 90 days (about 3 months). To learn more and sign up for the MJA mailing list, please visit the MJA webpage.

• Action: In August 2023, the City of West Palm Beach, Office of Small Minority/Women Business Programs partnered with The Foundation Builders and Sophisticated Out Loud to host STEM in the City Forum. This event covered the importance of STEM careers in the black community, the disparity in the statistics, STEM advancement in America’s future, how to foster more black-owned STEM businesses, and highlights how the panelists advanced their careers and businesses within STEM fields. This event is STEM-focused but will share tips and tools for advancing all businesses overall within the black community. To register for this event, click the link here: https://STEMintheCity.eventbrite.com

Last Updated: August 15, 2023

Recommendation: Prioritize policies aimed at ensuring equitable access to and increased education about healthy, affordable food options 

• Action: City of West Palm Beach has partnered with Florida A&M University’s Cooperative Extension Program to provide educational programs and activities to City of West Palm Beach residents, including: 

• • 4H development programs 
  • Family consumer science nutrition, financial literacy, senior living & aging, emergency preparedness & safety 
  • Community gardening 
• Action: FAMU will be overseeing three community gardens that will serve residents in our north and south communities. The community gardens are to be located at Coleman Park Community Center, the Gloria Y. Williams Multicultural Center in Pleasant City, and Phipps Park on South Dixie Highway. The Coleman Park Community Garden opened in January 2023 and the Pleasant City Community Garden opened in July 2023. To share your thoughts on the community garden please complete the Community Garden Survey. To learn more about the initiative, please visit the WPB & FAMU Partnership webpage.

• Action: On November 13, 2023, the Mayor and City Commission approved two resolutions accepting a grant for $10,000 from Simply Healthcare Plans for a gardening program at the Pleasant City Youth Empowerment Center (YEC) and a second resolution appropriating the funds to integrate healthy gardening and healthy eating habits programs for students at the YEC.

• Action: The Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach partners with the School Board of Palm Beach County to feed children and teenagers free nutritious lunches and snacks during the summer. 2023 will be the first summer this partnership will extend to the City’s Parks and Recreation Department to provide children and teenagers attending City summer camps access to free lunch and snacks. City summer camp locations to be served lunch include South Olive, Vedado Park, Gaines Park, and Pleasant City. All meals and snacks are provided by the School Board of Palm Beach County at no charge and meet USDA guidelines for the National School Lunch Program. 

• Action: In September 2023, Mayor Keith A. James assembled a panel of community leaders and experts at the Mandel Public Library Auditorium for a critical discussion on mental health issues affecting the City of West Palm Beach and neighboring communities. The panel discussed mental health policy initiatives, advocating for financial transparency, multi-stakeholder engagement, community awareness and engagement, and inclusivity and outreach

Last Updated: November 20, 2023

Recommendation: Develop programs that target the use of vacant lots, support partnerships to buy distressed properties, and build affordable housing on city-owned land 

• Action: The 600 in 3 initiative implemented by the city’s Housing and Community Development (HCD) department, aims to create 600 workforce and/or affordable housing units in our city within the next three years.  

• Action: On February 19, 2023, in accordance with 24 CFR 91.505, the City of West Palm Beach proposed allocating program funds in the amount of $1,474,119 to the development of affordable rental housing. If accepted, the City will utilize these funds to acquire, construct, or rehabilitate affordable rental housing to increase the current rental housing stock available to low- and moderate-income individuals. The full document can be viewed on the City’s website at https://www.wpb.org/government/housing-community-development/reports

• Action: On November 13th, the Mayor and City Commission approved a resolution declaring six City-owned vacant parcels as not needed for City purposes and are suitable for development of affordable/workforce housing.

Recommendation: Prioritize greater investment in programs that help people, especially historically excluded populations, purchase and maintain homes 

• Action: WPB has partnered with the Florida Housing Coalition to invest in Black homeownership by participating in Closing the Gap, a Florida Housing Coalition Center for Racial Equity program. Through this 24-month program, the city will learn how to close the racial gap in homeownership by learning historic patterns of discrimination that may lead to racial inequalities and how to combat them. To learn more visit the West Palm Beach Closing the Gap website.

• Action: The City of West Palm Beach has launched WPB Key, an online and mobile-app-based service that connects residents with staff to request support on various needs and allows residents to track the progress of those requests. Residents can make service requests related to water issues, sanitation, inspections and permits, container requests, sanitation pick-up, assistance programs, and more.

Last updated: November 20, 2023