Riviera Beach effort focuses on connecting neighborhoods and building trust

City Council Member Fercella Davis Panier also recognizes young people’s good work.

More than 100 people turned out last week to learn about two new Riviera Beach initiatives spearheaded by Council Member Fercella Davis Panier. 

The meeting comes at a critical time. City leaders are managing a long-awaited construction boom that risks displacing residents, increasing the cost of living and eroding Riviera Beach’s Black culture.

“We want to open a dialogue with the residents of Riviera Beach,” Panier said before the Aug. 25 meeting at the Marina Village event center. 

The initiatives – a neighborhood ambassador program and a series to spotlight good work by young people – are designed to build trust in local government and connect residents and city leaders.

Neighborhood Navigator

The Neighborhood Navigator Program will recruit neighborhood representatives to act as advocates for their homeowners’ associations or more informal groups.  

“It’s about connecting the council with the community and the residents with the resources,” Panier said. “Neighborhood Navigators is a connection point.” 

Along with alerting the community about available resources, the group would meet monthly to discuss issues on the agenda for Riviera Beach City Council meetings.

Panier, elected this year without opposition after a lawsuit disqualified potential opponents, wants to give people a chance to have their grievances heard in advance of council votes, rather than after the decision is made. 

“If ever we had a need to lean on each other, it’s now,” Panier said about sharing information with residents. “We can’t do everything, but we can do some things. There are programs that can help, and we need to get the word out.”

Emerging Leaders 

The Emerging Leaders Spotlight Series will recognize community members ages 6 to 25.

“We want to reignite the community, get them engaged in being a part of government,” said Shandra Stringer, a 24-year resident and Panier’s aide. A good place to start is with the youngest members, she said. 

The program will highlight good work, Stringer said. “We want to shape a new narrative around the youth of our city.”  

Emerging Leaders will recognize youth “who demonstrate leadership, resilience, creativity, or commitment to their community.” Qualities such as kindness and determination that reflect an individual’s character are the focus. 

Nominees must reside in Riviera Beach, attend school in Riviera Beach or have a parent or guardian who resides in the city. 

Panier said she wants to expand the focus on young people beyond academic and athletic achievement. “We want to recognize character, commitment and community impact,” she said. She said they’ve already received nominations.

A committee will choose the winner, with the first recipient announced in October.  

Panier wants to build trust and satisfaction with the government. She cited research that shows few Americans (26 percent) trust local government. The percentage is even lower among young people, highlighting the need for programs that engage youth, she said. 

People want three things from their government: Accountability, transparency and visibility, Panier said. The new programs are designed to foster those. 

“We’re about collaborating and working together, listening to each other and focusing on solutions,” she said. “Every voice matters.” 

Clean water, welfare of senior citizens

The Aug. 25 meeting was designed to get people talking, and it did. Among the most pressing concerns: development. They agreed development is inevitable but want a balance that includes affordable and workforce housing.

A few weeks earlier, the city broke ground on Villa L’Onz on 11th Street and Avenue E, an affordable housing project in the growing Marina District one block west of Broadway. It’s right next to a proposed 500-unit market rate apartment complex. 

Margaret Shepherd, who lives in Lakeview Park and has been active politically for 55 years, said families, including her children, are moving north for more affordable housing in Port St. Lucie.

But her biggest concern is the welfare of senior citizens and access to clean water. Last year, the city was fined for violating Florida Department of Health water standards. It is spending tens of millions to shore up its aging water plant while it launches a $400 million replacement.

The city reports its water is safe to drink, but Shepherd wants to be sure leaders follow through on plans to fix the problems. And, as a planning board member and regular at City Council meetings, she’s focused on making sure the developers fulfill their commitments to Riviera Beach.

“We’re going to hold their feet to the fire,” she said.

A festive event 

Despite the serious topic, the event was festive. Vendors and service providers welcomed guests with swag and information outside the hall, and the city served a catered dinner. After dinner, local service providers, representatives from health care to real estate, introduced themselves to the group.

Neighbors were encouraged to learn fun facts about each other as an icebreaker.

“Showing up, being present and engaged, is step one,” Mayor Douglas Lawson told the audience. 

To register for the Neighborhood Navigators Program, go here.

To nominate someone for the Emerging Leaders Spotlight Series, go here.