City Council - Regular Meeting

Oh. Oh, hey.

Good evening and welcome to a regular meeting of the Boca Raton City Council. It is Tuesday, March 24, 2026. The time is 6 p.m. Our first item of business is the invocation which I will deliver. May we be ever thankful for the many blessings we have in our strong, thriving, and vibrant city. The challenges we face as a community pale in comparison to most other places and moreover pale to our compared to our opportunities. Let us give thanks to the many who serve our community and the brave men and women both at home and abroad who protect our city, state, nation, and our way of life. May we find the wisdom to govern among conflicting interests and issues, the ability to discern the true needs of the residents of the bo of Boca Raton, and the grace to work together in harmony for the betterment of our great city. May we as a community continue to come together knowing that even though we may disagree at times, we can share a love for the people in this community and our city. And may future council members who have the opportunity to serve find the fulfillment I have had in working with dedicated colleagues and caring neighbors. Will everyone please rise and join in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Miss Sittens, will you please call the role? Mayor Singer, here. Deputy Mayor Nolas, here. Council member Ducker, here. Council member Thompson, thankful to be here. Council member Wter, here.

All present. Thank you. We'll turn to the amendments to the agenda and following up on the conversation I at least started yesterday. Um I had indicated previously removal of the four ordinances that touched on the downtown land regulations and then brought up the issue that staff had prepared some materials that didn't didn't relate necessarily to the campus plan but were a variety of changes that they would recommend anyway concerning some of the area in the downtown. Uh council members, what's your pleasure? We can take up some of them, we can take up none of them. We can remove the entire thing off the agenda and uh revisit for another day or try to tackle some of those things. Mayor, Mr. Thompson,

I would be my preference to remove all of them and have them consider the remaining portions, the ones unrelated to the government campus. So, I recognize there are some, but I believe it probably makes the most sense to have that addressed at a later date. Very well. Any further thoughts?

Thank you, Mr. Mr. Wagner. Okay, further thoughts? just because I'm going to go on the record. I believe that we can move out the things that were not related to to the actual project because the referendum failed. But there are things on here. There's two ordinances that are on here or two of the of all like two of these that are on here that have to deal specifically with that piece of land that's close to the Bright Line that we're going to do. That's not adding density. It's not adding anything at all in terms of um no input from the from the community. is just basically solidifying the to include Bright Line as part of that area. What we don't want is as we move forward, whether there's growth or the new council decides to stop all growth, but I don't think that'll be the the case because there's other parts of the city that are growing. We want to make sure that we protect our TOD in that area and at least at this point like to hear what staff has to say. um about the rest of it. And then you know yesterday we started off our meeting with nobody wanted to push anything off. Everybody wanted to we were elected for the terms we were elected for and do we make the you know make the decisions you know now um while we're still sitting up here. But I think it's at least worth the conversation. We're here we should hear it.

Okay. Um then I think we need Mr. Soy, I'll have to ask for clarification because I believe is that the parties that were at issue back then, meaning the opposing parties, have been working towards a resolution, which I feel is always almost always the best possible uh end result. And it would be their preference, one of these stakeholders, to have this item removed in order to allow them additional time to potentially come to a global settlement between them. And I think that would make sense. And so I would offer that we remove item 12A as a result. And I would make that motion. Second. Second the motion. Um I

Well, I would like it to stay on. And Mr. Sahaney, I'll ask you the same question, different ordinance. Is it staff's preference that we move forward with this ordinance this evening? the staff is prepared to present this evening and uh yes we recommend a move forward. Mayor Singer,

I would like to move forward with this agenda item. The parties that are at litigation is a separate issue than the ordinance that we've been working on for freestanding emergency room. We've had people come here month after month for I don't know how many meetings wanting these things to get approved and move forward. And we were we had this discussion yesterday and of course this information uh came available now uh Mayor Le Thompson but one of the the project that's that that we're discussing or that's under litigation has nothing to do with the ordinance that we are trying to pass to allow other freestanding emergency rooms to pass in our city. They're they're independent and if our ordinance passes and they're working towards a solution then their solution is going to incorporate whatever policy this body makes. So yesterday I said that I was ready to move forward on this and today I'm definitely moving ready to move forward on this because we've been promising this to our residents have been coming here. Um we have people with signs all over the city accusing us of harming individuals. So I find it really disheartening that we want to move this item again because of some parties that are talking about litigation that does not pertain uh to us. So I would like this item to remain. Staff is ready to make a recommendation. We've gone back and forth. We were here yesterday at workshop and we discussed all the information that they provided. There is no reason why this body cannot take action tonight unless it's a political move and I thought we had put that behind us at the election. Thank you.

Thank you. I have had also similar conversations with the parties and uh the city unfortunately is in litigation uh is part of one of the litigations regarding the appeal of its original application. So you know usually when it comes time for the the judges of the court to make a decision uh on a litigation matter. They're always willing, generally speaking, to give the parties an additional opportunity to try to settle them without going through the entire trial. And that's what's happening here. Uh the city is part of one of those litigation matters. And obviously, if those parties can work together and settle this, settle this globally, the city will be part of the global settlement, and it will save us time and money. People talk about the urgency with which we need more freestanding emergency rooms. Uh needless to say, there are none that exist right now and it's not like these things can be you could snap your fingers and build them, right? They need to file building permits. They need to construct them, right? So, we're talking about something that if you did snap your fingers today, it's still 12 to 18 months away. So, I'd be I'd be more inclined to give those parties the extra two weeks that they, you know, that they that they would need or four weeks because I know there's a vacation coming up so they could uh settle these things and and then, you know, uh have a global settlement. The city will be involved with that. It'll settle all pri prior claims and then it'll cause less work for staff, less work for the city, less litigation, less litigation costs for the city and they'd be able to move on. That's my inclination.

Mayor Zinger, can I have a followup? Uh Mr. Kohler, can you give an update because another thing that I want to say is that this body has never governed and made policy because of litigation. That's not why we create policies. We are tasked here to be the architects of policy. Good policy that applies to business, commercial, or residential. This body does not make policy based on lawsuits. That's not the way we've never governed. And I've been on this body since October of 2020. So, I find it really interesting that all of a sudden some of the members on this council are using litigation because we have pending litigation all the time. Unfortunately, we're a large city and we get sued for a multitude of reasons and that shouldn't prevent us from passing good policy. Mr. Coler, can you give an update um as to the two issues that are um pretty much separate? And I also want to say something before you go, Mr. Coler. So, the parties that the new policy that we have in place that we want to put in place today 5767 is not aligned to the litigation. Just to be really transparent, it doesn't mean that it's not good policy for the city. It could be we might not agree with with what happens on the other side and we might have to make concessions, but in our opinion, staff recommended this policy. We had multiple discussions and again we went back and gathered a lot of information and we've been working on this for I think over a year and a half I want to say and respectfully if we were able to uh build Bright Line in two years during COVID I think we could build anything things go up and we expedite other projects in our city. So I think we can use that's not a real argument in my eyes at least for my consideration. Mr. Kohler can you provide an update please? Thank you. Yes. Uh, mayor and council. So, the ordinance being discussed is would define and expressly allow freestanding

emergency rooms uh, facilities in certain parts of the city. Um, and the ordinance identifies where they could be located and creates the rules for those. Uh, the are two uh, actions pending uh, filed by lawyers. One is an appeal of this council's decision to deny an application for a freestanding emergency room uh off of Yamato and that is currently pending with the circuit court of appeal appellet division. Uh the second matter is a it's called a DOA or division of administrative hearings challenge. It's a challenge to a comprehensive plan designation change for the uh former IBM site, the brick property from plan mobility to enhanced mobility that uh the hearing was held. A recommendation, a recommended order was issued uh in upholding the city council's decision to change that comprehensive plan designation. And just generally legally the council in its legislative role always gets to determine what matters it will consider whether it will consider them and whether or not to take action at all. So that's always within your purview as a body. You get to consider uh any any any issues that help you inform that decision. But there's nothing um there's no restriction on that. Uh so that's for this body to decide. Mr. Kaylor, I have a question. Um, part of the issue is that there was an application that was submitted has been deemed denied because that litigation is

pending. So, if the council took action today, that application is still on hold and can't move forward. Is there a way that we would address that today or we'd have to that would require something else either to be noticed or to be amended?

So, the council denied that application and that was based upon it finding that it didn't meet the standards for technical deviation under the code. There is a code provision that says that if an application is denied, a party can't submit generally a quote a substantially similar application within one year. Uh the issue here is this one is in limbo because it hasn't been officially denied yet for purposes of that time because it's still being challenged in court. Uh this council is certainly a code provision. This council is the interpreter of its code and this council certainly could direct the city manager that if an application that was received was substantially similar perhaps if it didn't have technical deviations for parking or driveway. Um you could certainly direct the manager to receive and process that application.

Mr. Thompson, you had a question or comment.

I was going to respond to a few things that were said, but if you had comments, by all means. No, go ahead, please. Okay. I was going to I I have a few years of of history here on the council, too, and there are many times when we will postpone a matter if, for example, say an applicant comes in and there is a dispute with the neighbors and they're trying to work it out. There have been many times, I can count them probably on two hands where we've said, you know what, if you need a few more weeks to work this out so you come together and everybody's on the same page, God bless you. Go do so. So, that's not exactly a new thing. Um, and I would say too that it to to suggest that this ordinance is completely unrelated to an application for a freestanding ER that happened to precede this. I I don't think that that's necessarily accurate either. Um, they do have a great deal at stake, but anybody who's looking to build a freestanding emergency room in the city has a lot at stake depending on what the result of this ordinance is. So if one such stakeholder has indicated that they have made progress towards a resolution that can make it easier for everyone including their neighbors for this to happen. I think that is a worthwhile request and one worth pursuing. And it's not based on politics. It's based on a request of the party who has been working towards this for some time and just wants a little bit more time in order to make a resolution possible in their eyes. And I think that's a good thing. We should be absolutely willing to accommodate that.

Thank you, Miss Nicholas.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Unfortunately, I think tonight uh postponing this would be putting politics in front of policy. I think it is a good policy and staff agrees and staff has agreed for quite some time actually. And even when you a month ago asked them to come back with additional information, they came back with additional information. We discussed it yesterday. Um, it's been almost a year since we denied the application. I'm not sure. I have not been able to speak to anybody having to do with that application. Um, somebody called me and then I called back and I never got a response um, back again. It was on President's Day because when I called back, I said, "Happy President's Day." Um, so I don't know, m Mr. Wigger, where he gets, you know, they need two more weeks or whatever, but we keep pushing this. It's been almost a year. Um, and this was not a um an ordinance out of the blue. This this came up after our discussion August 27th, 2024. Um, and staff again has recommended it over and over and I think for us to not move ahead with it this evening, I think that that is not good policy and it's not good governance. But I respect everyone's opinion,

Miss Ducker.

And if I could add, of course you always want the parties to get along, but the reason that we declined it was because it wasn't aligned to the policy that we wanted, which is the policy that's in front of us today. That's the reason we denied that application because there were things there regarding parking, our favorite topic. um porticochet was another thing access um the PNZ recommended some things around school zone etc etc so the reason that we denied that application is because we didn't have clear policy how to build these freestanding rooms because they're a new thing in our environment and in our county and throughout and that's why we decided back in August to create the policy and that's why staff drafted the policy that's why staff has come back time and time again including yesterday to provide more information. So the reason the litigation happened was because we didn't have a clear policy in a way and that and we didn't feel it was safe to build it however it was being built in that particular space. If they're coming up with a solution, great. I hope they come up to a solution for the people so that we have more access to health care. But to sit here and say that we're going to wait for the parties to come to an agreement. Um and I agree with Deputy Mayor Knas. Nobody has reached out to me. I had a co a call back in February where I went back and forth um and I'd never connected with one of the parties, but it is news to me that any of this um is happening in terms of them coming to I mean why would they want to why would they tell us in a way um and I would have thought they would have come out yesterday and there's public comment or or maybe they're here today to discuss it. So I think we should move forward.

Right. Thank you. I'm I've heard all these comments and I appreciate all my colleagues. I will say that uh there are times things get adjourned for um a variety of reasons and one of them is the opportunity to resolve this matter, resolve disputes. There is a dispute here. I do think it is related and I know it and it pains me. I I because I know that several members here are passionate, want to get this done now. uh I'd be inclined to to to suggest we postpone this a month and you know I know that some other people will be sitting in these chairs but I think in light of the fact that there's a resolution that may address some of these concerns that are tied to the underlying ordinance. The second practical thing for you all I've continued to have concerns with the way this ordinance is drafted. I personally don't like conditional I don't like right now they can be put in the city under certain standards. So, on the one hand, we are clarifying some requirements, but we're also imposing a conditional use. And I find that um an inconsistency that doesn't provide certainty. I'm not if we heard this tonight, I'm not sure I'm in favor of it as it's drafted. And so, for those reasons, I think better to um see where this see where disputes go, but also give a chance to to resolve that. I would like staff to figure out is there a way that we can look at districts that don't have where you're not setting conditional use? And some of these criteria if we were to layer them on that we saw from the study yesterday about turn lanes, access points, arterial access, I think may give certainty because conditional use as a category creates um ambiguity for someone wanting to invest and place them. So for those reasons and I it pains me. I understand I know I'm sorry we can't make everyone happy all the time. Um, I would be inclined to just uh adjourn this to a meeting. Say, can we can we if it's noticed, can we notice it for a second meeting in April? And then that gives another council time in the first meeting in April to determine whether or not to move forward. How long can how long can we push it rather than start again?

Well, I I think you can I think the staff would renotice it just as a matter of course because it's good practice. Um, as far as start again, you you don't need to start again. you have a recommendation from your land planning agency, this body can again in legislative discretion send it back to its land planning agency, but generally you can simply just notice it or the next council can notice it for uh a date it deems appropriate. Okay. Any pleasure among council members on that date? A month is good.

All right. Then I'm going to suggest second meeting in April. So that we would remove it from tonight's agenda and postpone it to the date certain of the second regular meeting in April. Second for that second. Any further discussion? All those in favor, please say I. I. I. And opposed. Nay. Nay. All right. Thank you. So 12 A is off the agenda for tonight. 12B through E are off the agenda for tonight. So anyone wanting to speak on those items, you you're free to say, but we're not going to hear them. Are there any further amendments to our agenda tonight? All right, seeing none, we'll move to the minutes. We have the review of the minutes of the workshop meeting of February 23rd and the regular meeting of February 24, 2026. Are there any corrections or additions?

Mayor move adoption of the minutes both sets February 23rd and 24th. All right. Any further uh comments? Second. I'll second. Any comments? All those in favor, please say I. I. Minutes are approved. We'll turn to proclamations and presentations. And we have none today. We'll turn to board appointments. And I see some applicants here. First, we'll interview applicants for the community advisory panel. Uh, please come forward. Give your name and address. You have the three minutes. Miss Capayo. Yes. Good evening, mayor and city council and residents. Um, I'm asking to have another term. I came on just for one year and and please just give your name and address.

Jalisa Cabalero, 131 South Federal Highway, Boca Raton, Florida 33432. I here to um ask to be on the advisory board for another term. I came on took over someone's position for a year and we did some really good things and I'm here to give back to the community and uh hopefully make a difference.

Great. Council members, any questions? Thank you for your interest in continuing to serve. Um any other applicants here? Hi, my name is Betsy Neaporti U 404 Southwest 7th Terrace and I would like to apply for the community advisory panel. I've lived here my entire life just about. I've raised my family. I've been very involved in the community. I'm president of my association right now. Um and I would like to try to make Bokeh even better than it is right now. So, thank you. Thank you, council members. Any questions? Mr. Shay.

Uh, thank you. And also I wanted to thank everyone on the panel uh for the memorial dedication today. That was um that meant a lot to to me and to to some of my uh other veterans. So, thank you for that. Um yeah, your name and address, please.

My name is John Shri. I'm sorry. I live at 4686 Northwest Second Court. Born and raised in Boca Raton. Um, and I don't want to say I I I think I bring a fresh perspective, but I bring a different perspective. As I said, I'm born and raised in Bokeh. Um, 10 years ago I was homeless in Bokeh on 15th Terrace. Um, and now I'm a home homeowner in Bokeh. Uh, I have 11-year-old daughter. Uh, I don't have any reason to be on this panel other than I want to keep my daughter safe and I want to see this c this country, well, of course this country, but this city um, grow. And this is the greatest city in the world. I've lived all over uh having been in the Marine Corps obviously. So I I am so blessed to be back here. Uh and I want to give what I can and uh have an impact. Thank you.

Thank you, council members. Any questions? All right. Thank you for your service and interest in serving. Any further applicants today? I believe we had everyone interview except for Linda Morenus, our chair, who advised that she could not be present but wishes to be considered. So, council members, we have four vacancies. What's your pleasure? I would like to make a slate, please. Um, I would like to now put for the put for the following members. I would like to reappoint uh Jolissa Cavayto, Martin Castanos, our chair, Linda Marenos, and John Shesri. Second. Second. Any further discussion? Then all those in favor, please say I.

I. And congratulations. Thank you. Uh, Cababiro, Castanos, Morenos, and Shri. Thank you. We'll now turn to the general employees pension board. Is Mr. Lai present? He actually u he is an incumbent and he is advised he's unable to interview but would like to be reconsidered. Council members, do we have a motion to appoint Mr. Lai? So moved. Second. Any further discussion? All those in favor, please say I. I.

I. And. And he's appointed. Um planning and zoning board. I see some applicants here. Uh please come forward, give your name and address. You have to three minutes. Welcome Mr. Kameo. Good evening, mayor, uh, council members. My my name is George Kho. I reside at 1098 Southwest 10th Avenue. Uh, until rec until recently, I was a deputy city manager with the city of Boca Raton. Prior to that, I've been a CRA director, a development services director uh, both in the city of Boca Raton and in the city of Hollywood. I've overseen implementation both on the regulatory side and on the applicant side of urban redevelopment. And I believe the city of Boca Raton today is at a significant crossroads where every project that will be coming in for review by the city is going to be a case study and redevelopment. And I believe that my background, my experience uh can be helpful uh to guide policy and to implement where appropriate with a focus always on quality uh development and redevelopment in in Boca Raton, which I believe has always been a guiding principle. If you have any questions, I' I'd be happy to answer them.

Thank you, council members. Any questions? All right. Thank you very much. Thank you. Any other applicants present today? I don't Oh, you're back. Welcome, Mr. Nissenbomb. And we have your application now. Thank you.

Yes. Thank you. Uh, Michael Nissenbound, 2665 Northwest 41st Street, Boeran 33434. Um, I'm interested in being part of the planning and zoning board here for Boke. I've been resident for over 30 years. I've been involved in land planning and land development for about 10 or 20 years, but prior to that, I'm a little older than I look. Um, I had an AICP certification which has has lapsed in recent years, but I've been involved in over 3,000 units of single family development, 2500 multifamily units, 3,500 uh, cellular wireless cellular facilities, rooftops, and and freestanding um, towers. Um, 200 2.5 million square feet of commercial space. I've worked up and down the east coast and um I think that experience though I do not have any experience in the public sector. I've been before boards such as yours many times during my career and I think having that private sector perspective can be a benefit to to the city and I'd like to do what I can being a longtime resident I'm I'm interested in serving now. So thank you for consideration.

Thank you. Any other applicants present? All right. Thank you. And I want to thank everyone who's applied. Sometimes we have more vacancies than we have uh applicants. Sometimes we more applicants than vacancies, but I appreciate everyone's desire to serve. As I said uh many times and for the last time here, um the first time I applied for city board, I was not appointed, but I did find a way to be involved and so we encourage people to continue to reapply. And we have a great group of candidates here, but we can only appoint one. So, council members, there motion. I move to uh appoint Jorge Kameho. Second. All right. Any further discussion? All those in favor, please say I. I. Thank you. And for the record, Mayor Singer, I've always applied and got appointed. I'm just kidding. Some people do better.

Yes. And you chair and you chaired boards, so yes, boards. So, thank you. That's okay. Don't win them all. Um, we'll turn to police and firefighters pension system. Either the incumbents here and they both said they were in attendance yesterday. They were unable to stay. They still wish to be reconsidered or considered for reappoint. So, council members, do we hear a motion to reappoint John Gerard and Paul Lawless, our two applicants? So, moved. We'll give that to Mr. Wer, second to Ms. Knacklas. Any further discussion? All those in favor, please say, "I." I. And they are appointed. That concludes our board appointments. We'll turn to responses to workshop information requests. Mr. Sohaney. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I have no information requests.

Thank you. Consent agenda. Would any council member wish to remove any item from the consent agenda? Hearing none. Would any member of the com would any member of the public wish to comment on the consent agenda as presented? Just the consent agenda. Good evening. Joseph Bjowski 17309 bubble point way. I'm an advocate of attracting new companies and new jobs to Bokeh. However, I'd like to request item F to be removed from the consent agenda. I deserve I I I feel that the public has uh a right to know what qualifies as or what constitutes a qualified applicant uh as defined in the resolution uh or it's not defined. Um, here we have a company that uh is planning on leasing office space in brick that's being developed by Terara. They're being given $500,000 and they never once have appeared in front of this council. Uh they uh if you try to call them at their number, this is what you'll get. You can try daily and it never changes. If you know your party's extension, you may enter it at any time. For the company directory, you may press nine. Or for general inquiries, press zero to speak with reception.

The person you are trying to reach is not available. Goodbye. Can't even leave a message. So for a half a million dollars of the public's money, I I I would expect that someone would come in front of the council and appear on behalf of the company. And again that there'd be some definition and clarity on what constitutes a qualified applicant.

Any further comments of the by the public on the consent agenda? All right. Seeing no one come forward, we'll entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented. So moved. Is there a second? Second. Thank you. Mr. Sohaney, we've had a routine number of um economic development incentives. Could you just go over this one and also talk about the fact that we we we certainly know that D-Wave is an existing company who's been reported in the press but had many conversations with city staff notwithstanding that particular voicemail or you know recorded message.

Yes, Mr. Mayor. Um so D-Wave Commercial, they're a publicly traded company, a high-tech company and of course their headquarters in Palo Alto, California. and the attraction uh for corporate headquarters for D-Wave in the city, it's going to result in 100 new jobs and over the next 5 years and the average salary for those jobs for this particular company is about 125,000. Uh also with this particular company D-Wave, they've partnered with FAU uh to install a commercial computer on the campus. And this is a $20 million uh agreement uh that provides students and researchers um you know basically uh hands-on experience with this type of information technology. So this is a a benefit to the city of Boca Raton and this is in accordance in the guidelines of our economic uh development uh program. Can you just generally describe for the public too that this is not cash on the barrel rather the 500,000 gets paid over time um or it's a credit over uh that comes in over time after certain milestones are hit including the 100 jobs with an average minimum salary of 125,000 per year.

Yeah, that's correct. This is not a cash onetime cash payment. And uh I'll turn over to our deputy city manager uh Mr. Lease if you want to add any else in terms of our general overall program.

Yeah, I just just to respond to that question in a little more detail, mayor. So so those 500 jobs that excuse me, the $500 per job um is paid over time. So as those jobs are accounted for and we receive the information, we'll make those payments um in accordance with uh the agreement. I think the important thing to remember um because we did get some questions about well what's the ROI on um the $500,000 well the reality is it's not looking at those hundred jobs um it's a spillover effect from a company like D-Wave so D-Wave publicly traded company uh commercializing their technology which they're a little more advanced than uh many others in the uh uh quantum computing uh industry uh where there's still a lot of research going on uh but they've commercialized our techn technology and they're moving uh moving forward with um um a lot of opportunities to be able to collaborate with existing industries within uh not only the city but the county. Um you know we have a lot of biotech communities, a lot of high-tech communities that can benefit from that quantum computing capability. Um obviously as uh uh the city manager mentioned uh that partnership with FAU um a great attractor uh for very talented bright individuals to come in and train and learn how to use that technology. Um and then just the uh just the uh ability to start attracting new employees to the area with those high skills. So, not only developing uh those high-tech uh uh those high-tech uh skilled highskilled uh employees going forward, but also attracting them to the area. So, lots of spillover benefits. It's not just those hundred jobs. It's the all the opportunities that come along with it

in addition to the $20 million agreement that they're providing with FAU, which serves students in our city. That's correct. All right. Thank you. All right. Is there any further discussion on the consent agenda? I will just say that I'm I think that this is a real coup for Boca Raton. We were competing with cities across America and this is a leading quantum computing company. All of us are here today at a city that looks the way it does and is got the resources it does because IBM chose to make R&D headquarters here 40 plus 50 plus years ago. This may be the next phase and it's a real win for Waverton. So I'm happy about it and I'm glad to be voting yes on it momentarily. Any further discussion on the consent agenda? Then please Miss Sittens Nlas. Yes. Tucker, yes. Thompson,

yes. Wter, yes. Singer, yes. Motion passes, five votes to zero. Thank you. Uh, we have no resolutions or other business. So, we'll turn to item 11 I, quasi judicial and related public hearings. And I'll note the item public hearings on items A1 through A4 will be combined because these items are interrelated. A separate vote will be taken on each item. Because a items A3 and A4 are quasi judicial in nature, the quasi judicial procedures for the city will be applied to the entire discussion. And if item A1 is not approved, no vote will be taken on the following items. Miss Siddens, would you please read the titles of ordinances 5780 and 5781 and resolutions 16 and 17 2026.

Ordinance 5780, an ordinance of the city of Boca Raton considering for an approximately and there's a scrier's error here. It said 1.774. The correct number is 5.224 acre portion of an approximately 140.8 8 acre property generally located at 501 East Camino Rial, a universal conditional amendment to the future land use map of the comprehensive plan pursuant to chapter 23, article 6, code of ordinances from recreation and open space to residential high subject to conditions providing for revisions to the future land use map providing for appealer providing an effective date. Ordinance number 5781, an ordinance of the city of Boca Raton considering for an approximately, and this is the same scrier's error, it originally said 1.774. The correct number is 5.224 acre portion of an approximately 140.8 8 acre property generally located at 501 East Camino Royale. A universal conditional resoning from recreational to multifamily residential pursuant to chapter 23 article 6 code of ordinances subject to conditions providing for the appropriate revision of the zoning district map providing for appealer providing an effective date. Resolution 16 2026 a resolution of the city of Boca Raton considering for the approximately 189.26 26 acre property generally located at 501 East Camino Rial. A an amended and restated master plan approval consolidating city council resolution numbers 38.883 83 19290 22591 15292 14595 29.99 97 597 1909 97 and 152000 and B a master plan amendment to one authorize the construction of an

eightstory 76un approximately 505,840 square foot multif family residential building with one level of underground parking Two, reflect a new three-story approximately 31,696 square ft fitness center. Three, and reflect previously approved site plans, including a relocated golf maintenance facility, pool and amenity areas, core, and beverage area in the Meisner Ballroom, providing for a peeler, providing an effective date. And finally, resolution 17206, a resolution of the city of Boca Raton considering for a 5.224 224 acre portion of the approximately 140.8 acres Boca Raton Resort and Club generally located at 501 East Camino Royale. site plan approval pursuant to a universal conditional request to construct a new eight-story 76 unit approximately 505,840 square foot multif family residential building with one level of underground parking with related off-site and on-site improvements including the reconfiguration of an internal street and considering the abandonment of a portion of a 12-oot utility easement providing for appealer providing an effective date.

Thank you. I'll ask the city attorney to review the quasi judicial procedures that will govern tonight's public hearing. Good evening, mayor, council. Uh there are, as as stated, there are some that are quasi judicial and some that are legislative in nature, but because it's one presentation. And I'll read the quasi judicial rules that state that each applicant requesting approval, relief or action from the council shall disclose at the commencement or continuence of the public hearing any consideration provided or committed directly on its behalf for an agreement to support or withhold objection to the requested relief or action. A summary of the quasi judicial procedures governing the applicable quasi judicial items uh tonight is attached to the agenda and a copy can be obtained from the clerk.

Thank you. Thank you. At this point, I'll ask council members if they have any exparte communications they wish to disclose. I'll start with Mr. Thompson. Thank you, mayor. I had a conversation this afternoon with Bonnie Mscoll, council for the applicant regarding the merits of this project. I received a series of emails over the course of the last few days or weeks regarding this application. And I believe that concludes my exparte disclosures. Thank you, Miss Nicholas.

Thank you, Mayor Sanger. other than what's um already been disclosed to the clerk and emails from um residents regarding service insurance and construction equipment. Um I've also in January of 2023 I had a meeting with council for the applicant Bonnie Mscll CEO Daniel Hostetler. Um Ben from MSD met and Simon from Northview. I'm sorry I don't have last names regarding the merits of the proposed development. February of 2023, met with members of Meiser Grant HOA board, including David Thalheim, Susie Scanland, the building manager, and two other board members, Jay and J.R. again, I don't have their last names. Um, they wanted to share their thoughts on the development on March 20th. And today as well, I had a phone call with Bonnie Mscll. I'm also a member at the Boeron.

Thank you, Miss Rucker. Uh, the same whatever has been disclosed to the clerk already and the emails from the residents. We've received a lot of emails in the last um few days and and the last few weeks. I also had a meeting which should be it's already as a public record. I don't remember the time but a couple years ago uh with Bonnie Mscoll, Dan Hostetler, some of the MSD folks, everything's in the calendar and it'll be it's part of the file already. Thank you, Mr. Wagner.

Yes, same disclosure other than emails already uh with the clerk. I've had conversations with Bonnie Mistll, one as recent as today and maybe last week and then of course several months ago with Bonnie Mskell and uh Daniel Hosteller as well. Thank you. Thank you. And I also had similar disclosures or communications that'll disclose conversations over time with Bonnie MSL council for the applicant representatives of the Boca Raton and its ownership including Daniel Hostetler, Ben Easterland received um a text message from Ben Easterllin which was also inmate as part of the city record. And then I've received emails from residents which are all on the city servers. Um and and I've been to the site many times. Uh that concludes the exparte communication disclosures. So we'll ask anyone who wishes to speak on this matter to please rise while the clerk administers the oath. Please raise your right hand. Okay. Is that everybody? Do you swear or affirm that any testimony you may give before this public hearing will be truthful and accurate?

Thank you, Mr. Seni. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Our development services director, Mr. Shad, and our senior planner, Mr. Develin, will make the presentation. Good evening.

Thank you. Good evening, mayor and council members. My name is Devlin. I'm a senior planner here with development services at the city of Oakton. I'm here to present an application for the property located at 501 East Camino Rail requesting the future land use amendment reszoning master plan and site plan which includes an easement abandonment. Just for reference, the proposed location of the improvements is shown on the screen next to the blue arrow and labeled residential building. In 1983, a master plan was approved for the Boeron Hotel and Club plan unit developments, also known as a PUD. Um most recently that was amended in 2000. Um over the past um several years from 2020 2026 there's been recent development on the property that has come before you guys which will include the new misner ballroom and restaurant in 2020 that was completed. The demolition of the grey hall to authorize the construction of the pool amendy area which was also completed and the new golf maintenance facility which came before um you in December or maybe it was just PNZ I can't recall. Um and then the new fitness center that was here um last month. The applicant is requesting a smallcale future land use amendment for a 5.224 acre portion of the property from recreational and open space PR to residential high. A resoning of the same portion of 5.224 acres um from recreational to multif family residential or five. a site plan approval to construct a new eight-story 76 unit approximately 505,000 square foot multif family residential building on that same 5.224 acre portion of the property and that site plan also includes the abandonment of a 12T utility easement. Um the master plan amendment will be to reflect the proposed development which is this application before you and the previous

development since the last master plan update hasn't been since 2000. The proposed multif family residential building will be 100 foot tall comparable to nearby structures such as Meisner Tower which is 94 ft, Miser Grand which is 141 ft and the Boca Raton Hotel itself which is 294 ft tall. The property is adjacent to the city's downtown which allows heights of up to 140 ft under specific design guidelines. The building complies with all required setbacks with this nearest single family home being located 256 ft away. There's over 700 ft to the western property line and nearly 2,000 ft to the southern property line which fronts Camino L. A line of sight analysis was provided showing several view corridors from various directions and included as part of the package. The project will also enhance the pedestrian environment by adding a 6 foot wide sidewalk along the interior of Meisner Village Drive which will connect the resort itself to the downtown. The application was presented to the community appearance board on September 9th, 2025. The CAB recommended approval of the application with conditions requiring that materials be noticed on the elevation drawings to assist staff during the permitting process. The application has incorporated the necessary changes in the latest site submitt and during that meeting it was noticed that noted that the applicant successfully incorporated the Mediterranean revival and Spanish colonial revival styles for which Allison Meisner was known into a contemporary design. As mentioned earlier the amendment to the master plan will combine all the previous approval site plans since 2000 and also includes this proposed residential building. The master plan was also cap the number of residential units on the property to 1,140.

The applicant and the application went before the planning zoning board on February 5th, 2026. The board voted 6 to recommend approval of the application with no changes. During the public comment portion of the hearing, three members of the public expressed their concerns. The main issues raised include the use of the entrance on Southeast Meisner Boulevard as a construction enter entry point, the timeline and sequencing for the recently approved projects which includes the golf maintenance building and the uh fitness center that was previously approved and the proposed responsibility for services such as water and sewer. Since the PNZ meeting, city staff have received additional correspondence regarding those concerns as well as new issues related to the removal of trees for the relocation of interior road. Staff have engaged with the concerned reticence and have provided the following clar clarification regarding their the issues. Um, regarding the tree disposition, um, city environmental staff have reviewed the applicant submitt and determined that only four trees are proposed to be removed from the required area of, um, interest that are not located from this buffer area, which is going to be north of the proposed building. Um, and as you can see on screen, if I can use my, this is the new proposed layout of the street. Um, two of the trees that are being removed are ficus microcarpa which are category one invasives. Um, one gumbo limbo that is currently in per condition according to the applicant's arburous for the project and one sable palm. City staff have no concern with the removal of these trees with two of them being invasive and the one gumbo limbo in per condition. All trees and pl and palms will be mitigated by planting additional trees on the property. And just for clarification, there will be more trees on the property after this application than before the

application and more inches of trees as well. Um, since the original package that was sent to council, um, city staff have proposed an amendment to two separate conditions. One in the master plan resolution, which is on screen, and one in the site plan resolution, which will be discussed in a later slide. A scrier's error was also corrected regarding the advertised acreage for the future land use and amendments future land use amendment and reszoning which has been corrected to 5.224 acres to match the corresponding site plan. The council has provided with a strike to an underlying version of all four development orders that includes the proposed amendments and this scrier correction. On screen is the proposed amendment to the master plan. This condition was originally set forth as condition number two of city council resolution number 19290 and has been amended to provide clarity to place the potential authorization of construction traffic onto the site plan approval rather than associated with the master plan. Uh this version that's on screen is the city's version that development services has proposed and this is what we recommend approval. The applicant has also submitted a separate uh version of their conditions which is on screen. Um it should be noted that this condition is drafted as if the city version on the previous size was the starting point rather than based on the original condition. Staff is not supportive of the applicant's proposal. Um I don't I guess I can give you a couple of seconds if you guys want to read it or or um I I can move on. Yes.

Could you just go back please? Yeah. Sorry I skipped through the first one pretty quick. And may I ask Mr. Edin on this one? What would be the applicable site plan approval that would govern this? So this is the master plan which will apply to the whole property itself. So this site plan that is before you you today this will apply to but then any further site plans if in six months time they come in with another site plan this will be it's one of the development orders you're considering right now. Okay. Very well. And then can you go forward to the next slide please? Right. Everyone ready? I take it down.

This one has a little bit more reading. Oh boy. All right. I I'll give you twice as twice as long for this one. Um, as mentioned earlier, this amendment is also proposed to the site plan resolution, which was condition number 5C, which would read, "Prior to the issuance of a main use building permit, the applicant shall um, I'll let you guys read it rather than me reading it to you. If you prefer a quick summary, we can do that.

Yes, that would be welcome for everyone to some people watching at home can't read as well." So, so the additions would basically say that um so I should back up. So we don't really uh deal with logistics of construction at the stage of development approval, right? It's really more at the building permit stage. So at that stage, every project submits uh those plans to explain how they're going to park construction workers, how they're going to bring construction traffic in and out, how they're going to deal with maintenance of traffic if they're closing lanes or sidewalks or those types of things. Uh all of those details are worked out at the building permit stage. So what this additional language does is essentially say uh we want to minimize the use of the Meisner Boulevard entrance. Now to be clear that does not mean it cannot happen. It means that would be minimized. Um the applicant would also be required to park their construction workers uh offsite and bust them in. And the reason for that is to limit the amount of construction traffic coming in and out. Um the applicant would also if necessary be required to provide um flag people or or whatever the the case may be to direct traffic including uh detour traffic. Um they would al the city would also have the ability to restrict the times um for use of the various entrances um if that's necessary. Um, and the applicant if if we deemed it necessary, the applicant would be required to make temporary uh roadway modifications, something that might include things like a temporary turn lane or things like that and then to fix it and put it back after the fact. So, that would all be subject to city staff approval. So, that's the the basic summary of of those.

Thank you. And similar to the previous one, the applicant has submitted their version which I guess the applicant when they come up can give a summary of of their logic behind that. Could you please just go back one more time and the just to summarize for the public it seems that because I know it's not legible for everyone when I said you couldn't read it. It's because it's hard to read if you're watching on TV at home. they have in there's a few phrases that are if necessary at times and then uh some things that are struck through. Could you elaborate please Mr. Shad on the differences?

Um sure. So essentially they they don't want the restrictions on where they can uh come in and out on their construction traffic. Um they want to to basically what I would say maybe I shouldn't say it that way. They want to weaken the language with respect to uh requiring directing traffic and those sorts of things for the construction entrances. Um and let's see here. Um they don't want the the city to be able to limit the times of day um that the the various entrances can be used. So they don't they want to strike that language. Do we have a sense already of what times that the city would seek to limit?

Um, likely in the the peak hours of of use. Um, things like we we don't want necessarily people construction vehicles that may disrupt rush hour for might might be a good example. Um, and we do have the public works director here who can come up and give more details if you would like. Um, so I just want to make sure that this gets a little beyond my uh my wheelhouse. Thank you. Uh, why don't we proceed and then we come back to questions, please. Thank you.

So staff findings and justifications. The proposed future land use amendment and reszoning is compatible with the adjacent use. It is adjacent to R5 zoning and a future land use of residential high. The applicant is consistent with the comprehensive plan. there is adequate infrastructure to serve the project. Um the applicant will provide an additional 76 residential units in the city and the application as designed supports goals, objectives and policies in the comprehensive plan related to housing, infrastructure and land use. The applicant also complies with all applicable code requirements. There's no technical deviations or variance associated with this application. Development services department recommends approval of the following subjects to the conditions outlined in the accommodating ordinance and resolutions. The future land use amendment of 5.224 acres from wreck open space to residential high. The reasonzoning from recreational to multif family residential, the site plan approval to construct the eightstory 76 unit square foot um multif family residential building. the abandonment of the utility easement and the master plan amendment to reflect the proposed and previous approved site plans. The community appearance boards has also recommended approval of the application as submitted and the planning zoning board has recommended approval of the application as submitted. Um, thank you for your attention and that's the end of my presentation and I'm happy and Brandon as well to answer any questions.

Thank you council members. Any questions? Ms. Ducker. Thank you for the presentation Mr. Delin. So question the approvals of of development services is with the city version recommendations. Yes. So your package should have those in shaded black line. Um I don't Okay. In here. Okay. Just making sure when we Okay, that was my question. Thanks. Further questions.

I have some relating to open space. We got received some emails where I think some people are not uh fully appreciating the uh were concerned that you know the recreational space was being changed. Can you explain that this is whether this is open to the public if they meet the open space requirements and then I think Mr. Shad you gave me an analogy to um what a residential owner might do in their home yard.

Um so the obviously the the open space on this property is is enormous, right? It's 140 acre property. Most of it is open space. Um it is not generally open to the public. It is a private club. Um I'm not that familiar personally with it, but um it it's open to club members, I suppose, and and hotel guests for the most part. Um and it's it goes way beyond required open space. Um and I I'm not sure what you're referring to. I was going some residents expressed some concern that we would be setting a precedent by taking private land that was deemed a portion of private land that was deemed recreation and changing it to a non-recreation use notwithstanding the fact that there's still copious recreation here. We've had similar things like that in the past, haven't we?

Uh we have and and again the the open space requirements are are way more than met. And um I should also point out that the the master plan approval already allocates a maximum number of residential units. Um and this is within that. It's just that the the land itself is being redesated uh where the building will go. But that that maximum limit on units that was already established remains in effect and does not increase. Okay. All right. Thank you, Mr. Thompson.

Follow up on that. What is that maximum limit of residential units? Perhaps I misspoke, Mr. De. Correct. So, so originally the I don't the exact number, but I think the original master plan or the latest version of the master plan had the units at 100 and I think it's 1,126 um units and then part of this amendment they're increasing it to, I think, 140. So, I think it's going up 40 in spaces. There is additional units left on the property if that makes sense. um because they're proposing 76 why they're increasing the total number by 14. Uh I can check in the staff report to get the exact number but there was floating units already left on site

and for the existing residential that exists on the property there's miser court there's me grand how many total units are we talking there now so the total now is uh let me just sorry one second it's many hundreds right yeah so and the resort also has uh conversion rate of hotel rooms versus um residential units. So they can swap. I think it's one residential unit is equal to 1.5 hotel units. Um so so there is that kind of flexibility I guess within within the property.

Sure. If you don't have that number, it's no problem. I'm sure the applicant will. That's all I have. Excuse me. Few other questions. All right. We'll open up the public hearing. At this point, we'll invite the applicant to come first. Uh, please give your name and address. You'll have to 20 minutes.

Good evening, Mr. Mayor, members of the council. My name is Bonnie Mscoll. My address is 14 Southeast 4th Street, Boca Raton, Florida, and I'm here on behalf of the applicant. I'm also joined by the designers who are standing behind me, Jim Tinsson and Michael Ghart, who will be participating in the presentation to describe um the design that's associated with the revisions and the applications. So, we all know the Bocratone, it recently celebrated its 100th birthday and it's been part of the fabric of our city and has has done a lot to define who we are and I think we're all very very proud of it. Um we're fortunate to have the owners that are there today. They are great custodians of this um building and this important asset within the city of Boca Raton and they are here this evening. So if you have any questions specific to the Boca Raton Mr. Hot Hostettler is over there as well as other members of the ownership and I'm sure they'd be happy to to answer any questions. So, as I said, um just for those of you that may not know about the uh the history of our uh fine asset, it was um built a 100 years ago. Um Addison Meisner and a group of investors created and brought this vision to reality. Uh these are some pictures of that history that will give you a sense of what it was then. It's had a handful of owners since that time. um MSD being the last owner and the current owner, but they included other notable large companies such as Arvita, Arthur Vining Davis acquired this asset in the 50s and was the custodian for approximately 30 years. the concept. In fact, um, Royal Palm and this particular site were one of two of the earliest examples of planned development and many of those

residential communities that are in and surrounding the um, hotel itself are part of the first plan development. So this is uh the harbor side portion of the Boca Raton with the beach club on um on the east side of Lake Bokeh and by the inlet. Uh the beach club is not up for discussion. There are no changes planned for that. The changes are located within Harborside. It is a very large property as Brandon and Owen suggested and the residence portion is circled and highlighted in the north central part of the overall campus. Some other projects have been through the approval. Since the current owner uh bought this property, they have spent over $375 million worth of improvements within the first phase, which I do have a slide to remind us of what it was before that, but they've invested significantly in updating and enhancing the Boca Raton and all of the um land within the overall site to make it better. So ordinarily when you come in with a comprehensive plan amendment and a reasonzoning the end result is an increase in intensity or density occasionally and only one time that I can remember in a while would you consider and I'm using the term downzoning loosely but but amend the underlying map to something that is a less intense category. That is not the case with the zoning and the land use here. And I'll explain in a few minutes with a slide that I have. While we are increasing the number of units that are approved within the master plan by 14 units, we actually are not increasing the maximum intensity of the uses or the

density either by zoning within the master plan or by land use. And you may ask may ask, well, it's 5.24 acres. How do you do that? Well, you do that through the use of a master plan. And the city of Bokeh has a unique application called the universal conditional. That is the application that we filed. And what that does for the city is it gives you more certainty on what you get with an application like that. Typically, if we came in for a comprehensive plan amendment, you are required to do a universal conditional application. With just a straight zoning, it may not be the case. But here you get to see and know what the changes are in the form of the site plan. That's why they are all included here. So we are amending the land use from from the public wreck and open space to residential high. Most of the land uses within the original master plan are at residential high. There were only two um actually three land uses here. Um, we are reszoning the 5.2 acres plus or minus to R5 from Wreck. Some of the questions that we've heard and seen is, are you really reducing the open space and recreational uses? And the answer is no to that as well. And you may say, well, how why not? Well, originally back when this owner acquired the property, they removed the Great Hall and some other residential buildings in the norththeast corner of the overall campus, removing those buildings and creating wreck and open space uses. This master plan amendment also reflects that because those buildings are gone. The great hall alone was over 40,000 square feet. So that is why it's essentially a wash what we're doing here today, but we're amending the master plan to

reflect the changes as they will look when this is constructed. So this uh I I think there was a question as to where are the other residential uses and the densities. And this map up in the lefthand corner tells you of the different properties that are currently no longer part of the ownership but are part of the campus. Meisender Court 200 units um that is also zoned R5. golf villas, which is part of the Boca Raton. Um, and those are rented. Um, those also, um, would allow for, um, could be converted, by the way, to dwelling units should they be converted. Addison Estates and Meisner Lake Estates are the only two single family. Most of the units on the Boca Raton are multif family and in the form of condos. But uh Meisner Lake Estates and Addison Estates are actually peninsulas that come out into the golf course. One is north of the residential site that is the subject area and the other is on the south side closer to Camino but they are single family and they were to part of the PUD. So those are the total numbers. What you also should note is the net density. So the proposed um Boca Raton residences is projected to be at 14.55. It's one of the lowest multifamily uses, condo uses that will be on the site. The only two lower ones would be the um single family. So years ago um when this was originally planned, it was planned as a a PUD and everything was in the aggregate uh back in around 2000 that was amended and that is the latest change to the master plan.

This will update that to reflect the uses as they will be developed by the Bocarone and as they are currently developed by the Boca Raton. So um a footnote and why I can say that we are not increasing the land use density nor are we uh increasing the zoning density is we are leaving them exactly as they are on the master plan and as approved 26 years ago. The land use density provides for a maximum of 144 units which we are well under and we are not changing that. The reszoning and the zoning density currently is at,254.5 and we are not changing that. That will continue to be the maximum density permitted by zoning. The subject area is currently developed with a maintenance facility. You can see it up on the screen. Um it is in fully enclosed by a screened fence and a he and heavily buffered by landscaping. much of that landscaping will remain uh Michael Gayert will talk to you a little bit about it as to how we intend to improve that and you did ask a question about the tree removal or staff provided you with some information about that. We can go over that in more detail too, but this is an improved site today. Um the next slide will show you how we're modifying the roadway system. Um, this is a little bit busy because it includes some of the infrastructure and easements as well, but currently the road connects from Southeast Fifth Street through and north of the conference center and then it loops back up and it goes to Meisner Boulevard. It is in red. We are moving it over closer to the course itself and pushing the residential building further

away from the single family and both the road and the building itself will be significantly landscaped and buffered. But there if you walked the site today you and in fact I did that with the chairman of the planning and zoning board you will note that the landscaping is so thick that from the road you can't currently see in portions of the road at least in this area you can't see the course and we believe it will continue to look like that. So, um, this is an effort to continue the legacy and the tradition that this owner and owners before this owner have worked so hard to do. Um, and I we'll we'll get into the architecture very shortly, but um the from the the proposed design to the proposed layout to the propo proposed landscaping and also to the sensitivity about creating big open spaces between what is um a fairly uh developed community, a planned community. Uh it is known today for the beautiful open space and after this should it be approved it will continue to to to be that way. Uh just to point out and as a matter of fact the upper right hand screen is the pool club that about 50% of that space was the great hall previously and some additional commercial buildings and restaurants. This is what it is today uh with significantly less structures. And these are some of our other um improvements. We have some restaurants here. We have our main bar uh in front of the traditional um uh hall for weddings and other events. We have the main entryway in the upper leftand corner um which is in front of and and on both sides of the check-in. And uh we have another

restaurant, the Botchi um Japanese Botchi Grill, also up on the screen. These are all new renovations and improvements that have been done since this owner has taken possession of this property. So, I think at this point I am going to turn it over to Jim. Sure. Um and he will go over the particulars of the design and we'll be we'll all be available for questions at the end and thank you very much for hearing us. Thanks, Bonnie. It's a privilege to be here with you. Your full name, please, sir?

Yes, sir. My name is Jim Tinson. I'm the CEO of Hart Howardon. I'm based at 10 East 40th Street, New York with an office in West Palm Beach. And I'm the uh CEO of the firm and the architect for the project. And it's a privilege to be here to speak about this. Bonnie just went through in the previous slide talking about transformational investment. When we started working on this project, the focus was we're building on a legacy. Everything we do here has to go back to the original Addison Meisner vision for this place about how do you transform uh Boca Raton into America's winter playground as Meisner used to refer to it. When we came to this site, we've seen, and Bonnie went through this a bit with the history, is how this property has so gracefully over the years adapted to changing uses in the resort. You see that the new amenities, you see it in new facilities. You even see it in the way a tower was built on the site, you know, a generation ago. That has transformed this place. Now, we came to this spot. We spent considerable time identifying this site and one of the principles was if you look at Meisner's great buildings, they're all organized around courtyards. So you get the combination of building with outdoor space. What you see on the screen, and I know there was some emails going around saying, why is it shaped like this? It's actually very much in the tradition of Addison Meisner and the Mediterranean Revival buildings of that period. You have two courtyards, an arrival

courtyard and a golfside courtyard embracing building architecture with landscape and open space. So buildings have companion outdoor spaces as opposed to big urban blocks you would get today that are big, dense, look blocky on the site. We effectively broke down the scale of this building and this program in an effort to integrate with the site, pull it back, as Bonnie said, relocate that road as a much more gracious kind of pathway that moves through the site and importantly protect the majority of the trees that you see on the north side of the site that screen the golf course today. Currently, what they do is sit on the edge of the maintenance building. And that was immediately a clue to us of we need to save this screen that's here. It's beautiful, mature vegetation. Some of it's in poor condition. Michael will speak about that in the middle, but the bulk of them we saw is a real asset. Let's use that as a buffer again to the golf course and move the buildings up to it. Now the landscape then complements that integrates existing trees with replacement trees and replanted trees. And as was pointed out, we'll have more trees here when we finish than what exists today. But Michael, why don't you jump up just for a minute and hit these points.

Good afternoon, city mayor and council members. Thank you for having us this evening. My name is Michael Gayart. I'm a practicing landscape architect here in the state of Florida with the EDSA at 1512 East Broward Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. So, as Jim and Bonnie had pointing out, really celebrating the landscape is paramount to this development and at the forefront of the project that was really instilled at some of the planning principles. I'm going to speak to the next couple slides that really address some of the existing landscape and how we were able to work around that. The following slide is actually an existing condition. Uh you can see on here in green some there are some you know substantial large canopy trees that are placed on the site in pink. Those are also trees that are positioned uh as healthy, mature trees that we wanted to preserve at all cost and really leverage the existing landscape to celebrate this this new product that we're we're looking at achieving. Also, there there are to to kick off the planning process. One of the first steps in the process was to actually go out and do a tree disposition and understand and survey the site. Not only myself but some of my colleagues and also ISA certified arborist went out there to classify and category what value the trees have that are there. The majority of them were healthy and we wanted to protect those again and work around that to celebrate. So as mentioned on that previous slide we did want to protect um at all cost and actually relocate those that we can. And so not only are we just going to keep them, but we're going to mitigate and move them to work within the existing landscape and the site

placement of the buildings. So all those pink trees, substantial healthy trees, we again are leveraging the existing canopy to make sure that it stays intact. And finally, this particular drawing uh is a composite that not only shows the preservation of that existing canopy, but also how we're going to introduce additional tree species to make sure that this is as ecologically rich as it once was.

Okay. So to pick up from what Michael just went through, what you're seeing on the screen is the building architecture itself. So Michael spoke about mature trees, retaining those trees and relocating. What that does, and I'm just going to say as an architect, we love this. What it does is create a mature grouping of trees around this building right from the time of opening. So we get to protect those, relocate, then add existing trees into the planting pallet. The building itself then integrates into that landscape, looks out over the golf course. And I spoke before about how we effectively break down the scale of the plan through those courtyards. We also do that through the massing. One of the great things to me about Meisner's work and then those that came after him was the playfulness that you always get building massing. We all see so many projects today where every building it's the exact same size. They look go to the resort today. You see this beautiful skyline that varies in height is picturesque in its organization. We brought that in here as well. So it was never about just maxing out what we could put on each floor. It was about grace graciously stepping down the building and varying the skyline. What you get as a result is is a building a composition that's different from every angle you look at it and it blends within that landscape and importantly to us in this important tradition that distinguishes this property. So, thank you very much.

All right. Thank you. Your time is elapsed. So, now we'll open up the public hearing to other members that wish to speak. Um, Mr. Mayor, if I may, someone has already asked me this question and I forgot to mention. We are also introducing the concept of a sidewalk to run along the entire expanse of the roadway connecting the center of the resort all the way to Meister Boulevard. I just wanted to mention that.

Well, you'll have time under rebuttal, too. Um, cards I have are from Margie Aloy or Alloy, Judith K, and Stephanie Rosenwag. Please come forward. Give your name and address. You'll flip to three minutes. is truly to preserve those trees. As we just heard them say that they'd like to preserve the trees, there's a simple solution. Move the limit of work line to the south side of the trees. At this scale, shifting the line approximately just 30 feet um just 10 yards would significantly increase the likelihood that these trees would survive. There are additional concerns. The proposed retaining wall will require excavation within root zones of nearby trees and an existing retaining wall sits within the canopy of a large mature tree. Demolishing and rebuilding it will likely destroy that tree as well. All this points to the same conclusion. The current alignment unnecessarily puts a large number of mature trees at risk. And yet the solution is really straightforward. By shifting the road and retaining wall slightly south about 10 yards from the proposed orange alignment to a save all those trees purple alignment, the project can avoid taking

down all those trees while still moving forward with the same scale project. The likely response is that this would require changes to the building layout. But at this stage that the design is still schematic and engineering has not been finalized. So this minor adjustment should be simple. If the limit of work and the road moves 10 yards south, the developer can easily maintain the same number of units and square footage. Uh this is not about stopping the project. It's just about improving it. So, I respectfully request that approval be conditioned on shifting the limit of work line and the proposed retaining wall line approximately 10 yards from the beginning of the western maintance western maintenance entrance area to the eastern edge of the existing pave maintenance area with a corresponding slight southward adjustment of the proposed road. This is a small reasonable adjustment that preserves a significant number of mature trees without changing the project. Once these trees are gone, they're are gone for good. This is a moment to protect them. It doesn't seem any reason to remove mature trees when there's a simple option. Thank you.

Miss Gay,

Judith Kay, 327 East Royal Palm Road. I live downtown and I'll see these new buildings from my condo windows. It looks like a beautiful project and I am not here to oppose it. But today I want to talk about access, specifically the access for Meisner Boulevard. I spoke to Bonnie Berskll today before the meeting um and spec and specifically asked whether it would still be possible to walk or bike into the resort from Meisner Boulevard. But then I saw the language that the council is considering for its resolution and essentially says that no one can access the resort by walking, biking or in any way coming in to the building. So that there's no access to the resort from Meisner Boulevard except for a construction and for um and for workers. So that means that the rest of us would not have access which I object to. Um, and I think that that is not consistent with having a walkable, easily accessible downtown. When I asked Bonnie about whether it would be possible to walk or bike, she said yes. But again, the resolution that you're about to adopt says no. Uh, I would specifically ask you to reconsider the language of the resolution to make sure that those of us who would like to gain access as club members to gain access to the club have the ability to walk. Uh, the new sidewalk is terrific, but if you leave the language in that says that there is no access to the club by by members or guests from Meisner Boulevard, you've essentially closed off that avenue. Thank you. Miss Rosenwag.

Good evening. Um, I'm Stephanie Rosenwag. I live at 200 Southeast Meisner Boulevard. Um, I'm coming to you bringing forth my views that have also been expressed by the four buildings on the street. uh the Alina residences, Towns in Place, Palmetto Place, and 200 East. I believe you've received correspondence from those buildings. Um I'm here again also about access. Uh my concern is the construction vehicles that are slated to possibly come through that entrance. Um, all of you here uh that were on the council uh at the times that the vision zero and complete street resolutions were passed, you all passed them unanimously. So, I know that you are in favor of protecting pedestrians and cyclists along those roadways. Um, so we're just asking for some language in the resolution that protects that vision zero and complete street programs and keeps them in force, gives the traffic department the discretion to ensure that the construction management plans that are presented for this project uh stay in accordance. Um, again, one of our proposals is that there's a pillar of redundancy. um meaning that if there's an alternate route, it should be taken to avoid possible impact on pedestrians or cyclists, that proposition is possibly the member entrance on Camino, which is more of a main arterial road rather than Southeast Meisner. Um, so and I do want to point out that when I spoke last time at the meeting on February 24th, you asked uh Bonnie Mskell to come up and rebut essentially my asking that this um

entrance not be used for construction vehicles because I believe it's not defined for it. It's really defined for service vehicles. Um, and Miss Mskell responded to your question when you asked, "Are you intending to change the use of this um, entrance?" And she emphatically said, "No." Well, if you read what they are proposing here, um, one of the statements here says, "For any other construction, there is no limitation on the use of Meisner Boulevard." That completely contradicts what was said in the last meeting. that contradicts what the use and definition of that entrance is. And I'm asking you to please support what your city staff supports, which is um intelligent language that protects the safety of the pedestrians and the thousands of people that use that rose daily. You have multiple crosswalks and a bus stop right at that entrance. Thank you.

Thank you. Anyone else wishing to speak? Mike Leonson, 398 Northeast, uh Third Court. Just a couple of points. Um I actually uh wasn't going to speak or maybe look at this particular agenda item based upon the 1.7 acre uh listing here. I don't consider going from 1.7 acres to three times as big, 5.2 acres Scriber era. So, I don't believe the public had proper notice with respect to these provisions. With respect to the construction entrance, I would echo what the previous uh public commenters have said. We're not talking about pickup trucks. We're talking about lines of cement trucks. This is a very busy road. Um, I don't see that we had access to this revised language with respect to the access ahead of time to look at it, but when I saw it up on the screen, it had a whole bunch of subjectivities. It should just be very clear that this Meisner park entrance should not be used for construction traffic. It's never been used that way and it shouldn't be used that way going forward. I think this is a um plan to essentially expose the existing residents, existing condos, existing homeowners that use Meisner Boulevard with hundreds and hundreds, if not billions of dollars of real estate and real estate taxes that are paid to the inconvenience of this multi-year construction period instead of that construction traffic flowing through the El Camino main area that um you know the resort uses. So the resort should make provisions for that. They shouldn't try to change this use and it shouldn't be a subjective

um language associated with it. It should just be no construction traffic. You know, something that Miami Beach has, you know, we want to make sure, you know, my question is why is this being considered today when there's going to be a new council coming in in one week? And something Miami Beach has is that any council member that receives funding to their campaign accounts or political committees from an applicant has to recuse themselves. They can't vote on this project. So, I would hope that we would have a similar measure done here today cuz I don't understand why one week from a new council being sworn in, which obviously has very different views on how development projects should be approved, why this is being heard today. I think lastly, um, this whole process of where we've got very lengthy oral presentations instead of detailed written presentations a week beforehand for the public to review. I think that's wrong. I think that also should change going forward. Thank you,

Mr. Warner. Richard Warner, 1322, Southwest 9th Terrace. Uh, I have to agree about everything that's going on with a new council coming in a a week. Why Why are you trying to further sully the legacy of this council by slamming in all these things? I don't live downtown. I live in Bokeh Square, but I do go downtown. And it seems to me nobody's mentioned the project at Royal Palm, which also impacts Meisner Boulevard. Nobody's mentioned the spaceship hotel uh that we discussed yesterday, the ridiculous cruise ship thing there. What how could this traffic impact Meisner Boulevard? It's got to make it impassible. Not just for the people paying taxes there, who I do agree with, but for everybody. for the residents of Bokeh who want to drive downtown. Things are bad enough already. Isn't this something that maybe should be considered? The the construction entrance is insane. I I mean I understand that the private property legality issue stops you from stopping this addition to the crane being the

city bird here. But I haven't really seen this building. I don't see any reason why we need more big buildings. I don't see any reason why we need any more residential development in East Bokeh. But understanding all of those things, I I'd like to focus on Meisner Boulevard and ask you, have you considered these three projects all at once and what that will do? It'll it'll make Meisner Boulevard basically impassable a lot of the time and make a horrible mess. And we've made the mistake of developing without fixing infrastructure beforehand. Are we going to make it again? Thank you.

Anyone else wishing to speak? Pam Pashki, 341 Southwest 2nd Street. I wasn't going to speak, but I have a question. Oh, excuse me. Were you sworn in then? No. Then please be sworn. Sorry. And by the way, if anyone else wishes to speak who wasn't sworn in, please rise now so we can take the care of the oaths. Thank you. Do you swear or affirm that any testimony you may get before this public hearing will be truthful and accurate? Yes. Thank you.

Pam Pashki, 341 Southwest 2nd Street. So, I have a couple questions from my ignorance. So, I didn't hear any mention of parking as soon as we start the clock. Thank you.

Oh, sorry. I I won't go this long. I have I have a question about parking. I know this place has an underground parking. So, is are they under the same code as what we're hearing from downtown as far as they have to do it the calculations and do all that stuff because they didn't say anything and they're not asking for I wanted to also if they are um point out that they're not asking for any kind of a technical deviation. So, that was my main question um because I don't really know what applies and I like to thank you. Thank you, Mr. Bjolski.

Joseph Bowelski 17309 Belboa Point Way. It's a beautiful design. Um, my issue is that it's customary in municipalities across the state of Florida for vested stakeholders to have an opportunity to meet with the applicant. I have some issues that I raised to the applicant. The applicant last Thursday agreed to meet with me today and then subsequently failed to meet with me. I brought these issues to the to the city. You all were CCD on several emails. The commissioners mayor, I know last meeting you mentioned not receiving my email and asked me to send you the email again. I did ask you to confirm receipt and you never did.

Um I did receive this one and the prior one. Okay, great. Thank you. Um, yeah, I'll spare you from reading all of the emails, but I think one of the main issues is that the applicant, uh, there's there's rights under an a recorded agreement, which I'm which I'm a part of. My property is is part of um, and again, it's customary for stakeholders to be able to meet with the applicant. It happened yesterday with the 155 and the applicant. and it happened even tonight um with uh postponing uh the the emergency until next meeting so that the parties can meet. So that's all I'm requesting here especially since it's already been agreed that the applicant has agreed to meet with me. Um the the the applicant seems to be pointing a finger at the city saying the city's responsible under these rights and obligations. the city's pointing their finger at the applicant saying no the applicants responsible for these rights and obligations as it relates to the Boca Raton the fitness center etc. Um so I think that the city and applicant need to get on the on the same page to start to begin with. So I'm limited on time. I'll just read the the last email that I sent to Mr. Shad which I did not receive a a response to. Sure thing Mr. Shad, I have looped others back in and added Greenberg Trog since the Booker Tone and the city appear to be pointing fingers at each other and it doesn't seem that there's much desire from city staff or the Boca Raton to address community concerns related to the application scheduled to be here tonight. The email containing the Boca Raton's position that the city is responsible for the obligations of the agreement sent previously is attached here so it can be entered into the record since you are highly suspect of their assert assertion. Your reply related to matters governed by local authority couldn't be more off. Mr. Develin, who you CCed on your reply, literally gave a presentation talking about how the city board asked if the

fitness center was open to the public and that the applicant responded that it would only be open to members and hotel guests and that the existing fitness center would no longer be available to members. Given that there will be no public act access, clearly the interested stakeholders here are those with recorded property rights to use the existing fitness center and that should be impact the city commissioner's policy decision to propose postpone until said time. applicant. I do have a question because it wasn't clear. Are is your contention that you're saying that you believe as a res I believe you're a resident at Bokeh Country Club that you have access to the fitness center on the property at the Boca Raton.

The the paragraph 7 of the recorded agreement is very clear as to the rights to recreational facilities within the Boca Raton. All right. Thank you. All right. Anyone else wishing to speak on this matter? All right, we'll give the applicant a time for summation. Oh, I'm sorry. Right. If anyone else wishes to speak, please raise your hand now because we were ready to move on.

Hello, my name is Michael Schneider from 5500 Northwest 2nd Avenue, Condo 3. All right. There was an election recently where the downtown development question one was voted down. All right. Well, the uptown with members where I live voted it down because we're having trouble uptown where we are. All right. Basically, we don't want any public private partnerships in the north park. All right. We don't want any skate parks. What? Um I think don't tell No, wait. That the city council money finances this. So please let me finish.

Sure. No, you can. But I think you're speaking if you're speaking to public requests that comes up later in this meeting. Are you speaking specifically to the application by the Boca Raton? If not, you'll have an opportunity to speak in a little bit. So you want me to come back later with this? You're you're you're a little early. You little let me know and I'll come up. I supposed to. All right. Thank you. That's quite all right. I'll reclaim my time of three minutes. You'll get the full 3 minutes, sir. Thank you. Um All right. Anyone else on the Boca Raton quasa judicial applications? All right. Seeing no one come forward, we will invite the applicant up for summation.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, if if we could put up on the screen our master plan. Oh. Oh, thank you. Okay, you guys beat me to the punch. Okay. Let's try. Okay. Well, that's not Let's see if we can. Ah, that's better. Okay, thank you. So, um I'm going to try to quickly go through uh some of the points and probably e the easiest one, Pam, is that we are not asking for any deviations of any sort. Um we have two parking structures. We also do valet, I'm sorry. We also have a valet program. So, we are not asking for any reductions of any sort. So, I hope that was a quick easy one. Um, first of all, and before we get into the conditions, um, uh, to to Judy Kay, um, we certainly intend to improve the connection between Meisner Boulevard and the the Boca Raton, which would also connect to Southeast 5th, and it would ultimately could connect to Camino. So, it is our goal to make it a better internal roadway with better access, which would include a sidewalk. So, that is really important to making this more walkable. Um, and so we certainly would encourage continued use of that. Um, today pedestrians do use it um for and bike it. Um, and it is not set up for that. So, this project will help to improve that and I want to make that clear and we would like to continue to see that. But I don't believe staff's recommendation is intended to preclude that. It's really addressing construction and we'll get into that in

just a minute. So, um uh we have spoken to a number of the communities that surround this site. Anyone that was actually willing to speak to us and if um Mr. Bjolski, if I mispronounced it, my apologies. Um, Mr. Hostetler is here and he he's happy to speak with you. Um, but your dispute does not relate to the applications. It's not specific to the applications and uh, the city can't consider a private contract as it relates to their decision on whether they should approve or not. It has to be based on their their comprehensive plan and their zoning code, which this has been designed to do. Um but as it relates to access uh that seems to be a very important topic that we feel very strongly about as well. We have a number of communities that we are serving. And just to to point out to you, we have um only pedestrian AC and um and bike access between Southeast 5th into the Boca Raton, while the Bokeh shut the Boca Raton shuttle goes through there to pick up their guests at the golf villas and to do a circular route to get to the beach club and back to that. Um, none of the traffic within unless you are an owner of one of the residential properties along Southeast Fifth have access to go northbound out to to Southeast Fifth and Palmetto Park Road. It is closed to vehicular traffic. We are not allowed to use it for guests and members unless those members are also residents of those condos. So it is a very restricted access point that we do not have much control over if any. Currently all of the members and the guest traffic comes off of Camino. And while I appreciate that this discussion

about construction traffic, I want you to understand that um in discussions with Mr. Chad um and hearing some of the feedback that he's heard there. The goal is to have a more balanced a effort here as it relates to access. However, it currently is not balanced. All of the guest and member traffic comes in off of the two entrances off of Camino. None come off of Meisner Boulevard. So, Camino and the suburban community across the street, which is Royal Palm that has over 600 single family residents there, absorb all of the vehic vehicular act uh traffic accessing the Bocratone. That is not my client's desire necessarily, but that is the present condition in the master plan. The master plan does not allow Meisner Boulevard entrance to be used by guests or members of the Boca Raton. So all of that goes to Camino. So it is not balanced today. It is incredibly um put in a manner that Camino absorbs all of the vehicular traffic with a with very few exceptions. Meisner by master plan condition is limited to service vehicles and employees and the employees park in the conference center garage which is immediately north of the conference center. and their access is Meiser Boulevard today. Uh that is the condition that is what we lived we've lived with. Now the reality and there happened to be a couple of members from the single family communities that are s that were sitting around me and reminded me that presently all of the construction traffic that has gone in and out of this particular asset has been off of Meisner Boulevard. All of it. the $375 million worth of construction that has already occurred

since 2019, all came in, which was significant, all came in through Meisner Boulevard. My client, as the owner and operator of the hotel, did not receive one complaint for all of that traffic because they manage it in a very consistent and sensitive way. Um, so I I just want you to know that. So to balance the vehicular movements here, you you li really should consider, which we're not asking you to, but some of that traffic that's coming off a Camino to be distributed otherwise. But we're not here today to suggest or ask for that. But we are here today to ask you to continue to allow us to operate in the manner that we have. This is a five-star hotel and resort that has handled all of their development in an incredibly sensitive manner and we will continue to do so. It is unusual and you probably can't even remember a time when anybody has talked to you about things that are typically reviewed and and approved through the process. all of the other developments, whether it was VM Meisner may not be the best example, Alina, which I happen to work on, or any of the other downtown larger developments, have after their approval come to the city staff who has handled it in an incredibly efficient way and they have worked out all of the conditions and requirements related to constructing the building. And in most cases, they're particularly sensitive to impacts on infrastructure such as roadways. This is a very unique situation. Not one lane of any road surrounding this property will be closed for this construction, which I can't remember a development that has done that. Whereas VM Meisner was closed for hundred years, it seems. Um I'm being

facitious. um some of those lanes were closed and and other developments because they're in very constrained locations and they're on very constrained parcels. We have the luxury of being being able to contain our construction on site and that's exactly what we intend to do. So, we frankly would like to just continue to do what we've done for the, you know, the last several years that they've owned it and the last 100 years that the the Boca Raton has been a hotel and resort and leave the service and the employee driveway to what it is. It if it isn't broken, please don't try to fix it. It's worked and it will continue to work and we'll be incredibly sensitive to make it work and to make it work well. In ha in our conversations that again normally are after this um we have agreed to pretty much everything that that Brandon is asking for, but we would we would fix some of the wording because it's a little bit misleading. We've agreed to have a flag man or woman on site through the hours of construction and on the days of construction, which by the way, you rarely see that a flag person on any other project unless they're doing lane closures. And I happen to know this because my way to my office happens to be by via Meisner and it's only when they're closing the lanes that they have a flag person there. So, we'd like we are willing, my client is willing to do it on all hours of the construction um time period and throughout the the time period. And we think that that in and of itself, having a person available to ensure that pedestrians and bikes are protected should be the best way to um create a safe environment for everyone

concerned. And so, we would suggest that. and we think that that would more than um fix the problem. We've also agreed to require all construction employees to park off-site and we will provide a shuttle or transfer of them from their off-site um area to the the work area and we will do that at hours of the day that are outside of the peak periods. We've also agreed to to uh and I have a few other things but I've got to deal with the conditions and I'm sorry, Mr. Mr. Mayor, but I'll try to wrap it up. Thank you. Well, please do. We can ask questions after that.

Okay. Um, and we will pick up and drop off in locations that are away from the communities that do not disturb them in any way. And again, that's the transport. Um, and I think that's we'll ask questions. I would like to respond to Mr. Leelson's comment on proper notice. First of all, Miss Mll, your time's up. Thank you. Okay. Excuse me. Everyone, please be quiet so we can all hear each other. If you're speaking and we hear you up here, that means your fellow neighbors can't hear you as well. Um, any questions of the applicant? Mr. Thompson, were there any other conditions that the city had proposed that your client is able to accept and can accept now?

Oh, actually, with the exception of the new conditions that were just added this evening, we didn't have problems with any of the other conditions that are in any of the um backup. Um, as to the master plan, the issue that we had today and and I'll give you an example. Um, we had flooding this this year due to rising sea levels and a lot of water at a in a very short time period and the the Closter building, particularly the main entry was underwater significantly. Um, while that did not require a site plan approval, but it was construction and it was restoration, the language that Mr. Shad has included in the master plan condition would require us to ask for permission to use the the the Meisner Boulevard entrance to bring in you know restoration equipment or for that matter if we had a rowdy guest and they put and they damaged the walls of the hotel room to fix something as small as that. This language would require us to have a site plan approval in order to get authorized to use the Meisner Boulevard entrance. I don't think that was the intent of the language, but that's how I read it. So, we do have a problem with the master plan condition. The master plan today has worked. Construction has come in for years off of Meisner Boulevard and we have limited it to employee park to the employees and to the service vehicles and the construction vehicles which by the way are servicing the property and we'd like it to continue. That is not a condition that others have had to to bear. we're willing to keep it, but we we should just leave it alone and allow us to go and provide you with an MOT during the permitting process or prior to the permitting process to work out these details. Um,

may I interject, mayor, please, please? Uh, I would if there were additional proposed conditions that the staff had suggested that you had have you had a

is it true that you haven't had a chance to discuss that with the staff yet? Um we we submitted they provided us with uh condition 8 and 5C and we have reviewed it and we've revised it and we provided each of you with our revised language we which we feel is more cleanup than anything else. But we we cannot live with and it is truly unfair to Royal Palm and the single family um neighborhood to the south for us to minimize the impacts on Meisner Boulevard and dump all that additional impacts on Camino and and most importantly we have two entrances that have buildings in the middle of them and gates. Construction equipment will not fit on those driveways. So when you when we're suggesting and we're proposing a condition that says minimize on Meisner, our only other option is Camino and we can't bring in construction equipment on Meisner. I mean, excuse me, on Camino. So we have a problem with that. But these are things that we can work out with staff through the MOT process. We would suggest that we do that as every other developer does so that they can be aware of all the specific impediments because this language will force us to come back and get it amended in a month when we actually have our contractor at the table to discuss what the problems are with this language. We'd really s we think that this is putting the cart before the horse. Further questions, Mr. Mr. Shad respond to any of that? Um, obviously I see a lot of the black line that was provided to us earlier um indicate that there is going to be a um construction sequencing

plan and a lot of the things that Miss MSL talks about will be uh I guess we'll have to provide for construction vehicle traffic and to minimize all those things. uh but obviously to reasonably allow just access to the site uh in a reasonable manner you know is is it your you know is it your belief that the construction sequencing plan uh will be able to do that and obviously discussing the same with the city traffic engineer or if we're going to change that to the city manager or its designate are going to be able to do accomplish all the things that Miss MSL needs to do. I'm looking at uh so the Six,

the language that we've proposed uh does allow a lot of discretion to the city traffic engineer and the reason for that is because we don't have those logistics to look at right now, right? We need to see what they propose. If it is, you know, maybe they need to use the Meisner Boulevard entrance more than would be ideal, but that's the only way to do it, then we have to have that discretion. We don't have those details right now. we have to that's the reason we don't have a full MOT at the development approval process uh time period because we just don't have the details at this point. Um I do want to point out I mean to be very clear we've been discussing these conditions for over a week. We have provided this language to the applicant at least by last Thursday. I think it was before that and we got their revisions on Friday. Okay. So, this is not brand new and this language has been published online in the agenda. It's not brand new. It's not tonight. Everyone up here has it. So, I just want to be very clear about that. Um, additionally, one of the uh provisions that the applicant would strike is that the city would have the discretion to uh limit the times that the different entrances could be used. We think that's important. Um, yes, things have been happening at the Boca Raton or as it was known as the Boca Raton resort for a hundred years. Things have changed a lot. The city's changed a lot. The downtown has changed a lot. And even near that Meisner Boulevard entrance has changed a lot. The Alina was only built, you know, whatever it was 5 years ago, whatever it was. Uh that's important. We want to be able to limit and I and when I'm responding to Mayor Singer's

question earlier about what are the things we would limit times for and I mentioned, you know, rush hour, that's legitimate. Additionally, impact on residential uh properties that are there or are different than than they were before. We we have to have the discretion is my point. Um I think our language is reasonable. I think that you know, as Miss MCO mentions, we do this all the time and we are reasonable. We we're not going to do something that, you know, makes it impossible. We have to take into account what the real world is, right? and we can only do that when we have the details and that's not now. I think the language gives us the discretion that we need and I think it's it's important. Uh we strongly recommend that you adopt staff's language.

If I can respond, Mr. Mayor. No, hold on. Oh, sorry. Mr. W. Yeah, it's still Mr. Wicker's floor. Yes, I uh have a separate question. I have a question follow Do you want to yield to this topic? Yeah. Yeah. Let me ask a separate separate line of question because we'll come back around.

Yeah. Um, one of the previous speakers came up and talked about shifting the site uh 30 yards or so in a direction uh regarding saving certain amount of trees and root zones and things like that. It seems to me obviously with the landscape architect here that that that could quickly be addressed and we and just discuss Sure. if that was you know obviously the actual site location of why it was placed here.

Sure. And let me pull up one of the slides real quick. We're going the wrong way. So, in response to I guess preserving some of the existing trees that are on there, I do want to make a point that we are protecting all trees with value, healthy, thriving trees. The ones that are being removed are either category 1 invasive species and the city of Bokeh actually mandates a removal of a category 1 invasive species uh plant material with any new construction uh projects that are going on. The other ones that are being removed are of a value of 30% or less. So they're either dying or dead or about to be in decline. And so we're protecting the majority of all healthy living plant material that's on there.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you, Miss Ducker. Yes.

So going back to Mr. Shad, I have a question. So this property has gone through major transformation and we haven't had these provisions. So, ex explain to me why, and I'm going off of what um Miss Miscoco said about we've put in all this work into this property and we've never had these conditions. Is it because this is a residential building and it's a like a taller building? is this property has been under construction and redevelopment and for the last I would say four years at least since I've been on this council whether it was the beach club side whether it was the um the actual property with what they've done to Harbor side and all the restaurants. So what's the difference now? Um and Alina was already being built. Alina was already in the phases throughout their their I'm just trying to understand the conditions. I don't not that I don't agree with the conditions. I just don't understand why we're putting those in now when they've been going through $300 million redoing of of the property and it's worked. I've never received one complaint from either property whether it's a resort or anything on the resort or on the beach side um except when we approved a little bit of the turf with the sea turtles because we had a little patch that we put in and we had some sea turtle conservationists that that that complained. So that's what I'm I mean I'm going off of that recollection. And I've never on other projects I've been approached whether it's Alina or VI or some other projects outside of the downtown. So I just want to get my hands around those conditions and I understand why you want them there but I I need you need to sell me on that.

Um to some degree it's because these have been brought up uh by residents that are concerned about the impacts and we want to be responsive to that. Um so we're trying to you know look at how we can do that. many of these things uh may have ended up being part of the logistics no matter what. Um but we do think it's important that when we we see provisions that we may need that we make sure we have the authority to have them and we avoid those arguments later about whether we have the authority to impose those requirements.

Follow-up question. Did we have restrictions like this on Alina for example? Because that was one of the properties that just completed within the last five years and it was a lot of traffic and a lot of things that happened in that area and we did receive complaints because obviously there three towers that are there in Alina. So do we have these restrictions for Alina because they're kind of similar in the similar area and the similar residents maybe the residents of resort had um complaints about Alina and other things going up. Do we have these kinds of restrictions there? So, I don't recall having uh specific conditions in the development approval like this and I I can't tell you that I'm intimately familiar with the logistics uh of of that project. I can tell you that we have learned a lot um over the years by some of these construction projects, especially in the downtown environment, which is obviously much different than developing in other parts of the city. And one of those uh one of those things we've learned I can remember specifically was with Alena um and the need for overhead protection on the sidewalks and things like that. Um not that we didn't know that but we needed uh we needed to remind her how important that is and and so we try to learn every day and so we think these things reflect uh a lot of the lessons that we have learned and again we're trying to be responsive to what uh is concerning to the residents.

Thank you. Further questions? Miss Nicholas. Um I I just also want to um express my my question about the construction entrance because that long-term transformational page that you put up, everything that was done and I think we were all at the grand reopening of Harborside and I know the tower was redone and the pool was redone and everything was redone, but all of that construction came through Meiser Boulevard. Correct. None of it came through. That is correct. None of it came through the None of it came through the Camino entrances.

You know, knowing this knowing this property um off of Camino Rial, if you had if you had construction traffic go through there, it's a very narrow gate first of all to go to go through there. And then you have um a members garage under the um tennis courts and there's people crossing the road all the time. And you have golf carts crossing the road all the time. There's a golf shop. There's a restaurant. There's valet parking. There's a lot of people. There's the Bocratone has bikes. People ride their bikes around. There's a lot of pedestrianism and bicycling in that area off of Camino Riale where there isn't um off of Minister Boulevard. And but one of the other questions I had for you, Miss Mscoll, was um because I to spoke to Miss Kay before um before the meeting was that currently they said that there there is access not just by biking and walking, but by driving in a car and and coming in. Personally, I've never been able to come in that way. I've been able to leave that way. Um but I've never been able to come in. So, I don't know if there's any way for you for all of the residents that live on the on the northern part of this area if there's any way to set up a some kind of safe pedestrian access for them to keep accessing the property um from that area instead of having them have to walk around all the way to Camino and come in off that entrance. So, those are my two comments.

Um and if I could respond to your last comment, Mr. Postetler has has been working on all the details as far as the sequencing and we can arrange a a bike and pedestrian connection that will allow um our neighbors and members to be able to get to the site without having to go um in a much further during construction approach. Yes. Okay. So, they'll continue to be able to do that. Okay. Mr. Shad, was there something that you wanted to respond to? I think that question was about um pedestrians accessing from Me Boulevard. Is that right?

The question that I just asked Miss Msll was but the first comment was about all the pedestrianism and biking and walk you know everything at the southern end off of the commamino entrance.

I'm going to take them in reverse order. the the the condition um in the master plan regarding access from Meiser Boulevard has been there since 1990 and essentially it says that it's exclusively for hotel employees and service vehicles in perpetuity and guests and patrons shall not gain access that way. So that's old language. It's been there since 1990. I'm confident that it was intended to address vehicles. So, I have no problem saying pedestrians can access that way all the time and I think we can make those language adjustments uh if the council would like. Um I'm going to invite the public works director to uh talk a little bit more about the issues that you were addressing with Camino.

Yeah. So, related to from from the communal perspective, you're talking about the construction. if you could just clarify for me specifically related to construction access and the difference between the the construction activity. So, one of the questions was about or one of the statements was about possible construction vehicles coming into the Camino entrance. And I just think that it's it's just not conducive to the activity that goes on in that in that area when you come off the Camino entrance or come in through the Camino entrance. There are a lot of people always walking around crossing the road. it would be not really conducive for construction equipment to be coming in and d trying to maneuver around the banyan trees around the different curves um to get to the construction entrance. I'm just giving the perspective because Mr. Shad said he wasn't really familiar with with the um property that much, but it just seems to me that since all of the previous construction vehicles um that has been done, particularly on on these renovations that have happened with this owner, all the renovations, all the construction vehicles have come in off of Meisner Boulevard. and understand there's been a lot of changes to Meiser Boulevard, to our downtown, to everything going on. So, I think the concessions and the conditions that you've put on them, having to um limit hours for construction vehicles outside of peak periods and um and having a flag man or woman there and providing for safe uh bicycling and pedestrian um access. I think all those are great and necessary, but I just don't see construction vehicles coming off of Camino, how that's really conducive to

the activity that goes on right inside the gates of the resort.

Certainly. So, I wanted to let you expand on that a little bit, but I think it's staff is trying to find a middle road or a middle ground because generally, I think to Brandon's point, we're at a stage where you don't have the contractor involved. And I think there's also an element where if you say construction vehicles, that can mean a really wide ranging broad thing. It could be the massive crane that's going to go up for vertical. It could be just an early geotechnical truck to do an investigation. So I think the element of having that where staff gets to go through the construction sequencing plan. And I think one of the elements is unrestrict the the applicant provided a comment about unrestricted construction access. And I think Brandon's point is really just trying to dial that back a little bit to get to where we have a dialogue. what what entrance is best fit for construction to balance because really both Meisner has seen u an extreme uh increase in pedestrian activity which we love to see. We've added some protection to that intersection. I would love to have a dialogue with the resort about enhancing that uh because part of that intersection is on their property. We've talked we've staff has looked at that for a while. So really, if we're enhancing the pedestrian experience, that's an element. And then the the traffic on Camino, there's certainly ways from staff's evaluation that construction traffic could turn in and engage, but it's finding the right balance of which which entrance should be utilized at what time. And I think that's a dialogue that happens when the contractor's on board and we get down to how best protect the public because ultimately there are elements like flagmen and other safety area safety additional safety measures during the maintenance of traffic that can be utilized to enhance that safety.

One more just one more comment there. There's also a condition that um is the condition in there that the construction traffic that entered off of Miser Boulevard would have to just come off of uh Palmetto Park Road, not off of um Miser Boulevard to the south. Is that in there or No. No, I don't believe so. Miss, was that was that something we had spoken about? I'm sorry. Would you repeat the question?

Construction traffic if it only went in off Meiser Boulevard that it would enter only from Palmetto Park Road. We could we could offer that if the if it's the will of the deis. We'd be happy to make sure that all the construction vehicles come off of Palmetto Park Road onto Meisner and do not get as far as Alina, which by the way does have two pedestrian crossing lights. So, we would be just as happy if there was no interaction between construction vehicles and the pedestrian crosswalks. Okay, Doug. Thank you for the questions of staff or the applicant. Uh, Miss Ducker, just just because I think we had this question from Miss Rosen Cr. I'm sorry.

Rosen Zwag, I think. Um, Rosen, what is it? Zwag. I think Rosen Rosen Cry. Sorry. Excuse me. And ladies and gentlemen in the audience, if if you're speaking, please, you're free to go back in the room. You can in the anti- room outside. You can watch the video proceedings, but if you're talking here, we can't hear, nor can your neighbors. Thank you.

Rosen Cry. I think she mentioned you mentioned something about um and I just wanted to go back on that of uh vision zero and um and I know Mrs. Beer's here complete street's policy but in the last resolution uh 17-2026 when they're doing the sequencing on page six item C it specifically states that they have to follow vision zero and our complete street's policy when they're sequencing and when they're building out this building. So, I just wanted to reassure you that that is in there um on that resolution that I just mentioned. Um and we can speak after if you're still here and Mr. Beer, you can explain how we always include that. If you could just so we can um make sure that's out there.

Yeah, I was just going to note that's that's certainly part of the process and and really those are those safety measures. Just noting really quick on Palmetto, that's a great example because part of it is having that dialogue where if traffic is coming southbound off Palmetto, they're actually making a left turn across traffic in an unprotected intersection, which is is not the ideal configuration. So, we've really talked about some of those details and and how best to service that, but that comes down to that detailed sequencing plan. And the last thing that I wanted to say because to Miss Knock's point of safety and looking at different things, the applicant is profering $182,000 to the city for beautifification. I'm sure that can also, you know, besides beautifification, it's also safety. So there there's there's there's some profer there. Um, so just kind of a couple things that because I was looking at all the questions that the the residents had and I just wanted to answer those as best as possible.

Mr. Wter.

Yeah. Um I mean I I do think when the construction sequencing plan comes about pursuant to what you know Mr. Beer has been saying I think the idea is talking about that you know looking at this as Mr. Shett has said there is no way for them to flesh out at this time before they start talking to GC's and whatnot how they're going to get these vehicles in here. And to Miss Knox's point and Miss Trucker's point as well, it would be unreasonable for certain machinery to go through the Camino Raleal entrances. In fact, I I think the language needs to be revised to reflect, of course, we always want to ensure safety and minimize traffic impacts to neighboring properties, but that there should be an insert right there that also says and to the patrons of the applicant's property because the concern of driving large vehicles, especially through the narrow communal entrances, could be first of damage to that damage to those trees because some of that foliage really hangs down and uh and whatnot and that's part of the beauty of the the property. So again, those are things that we cannot ascertain right now. We we have to leave it to the staff to create a plan and a logistics plan. And my feeling because this property is so special is that I think that our staff will do an incredible detailed job with the applicant. And the applicant of course wants to protect their property and their patrons and their business as well to to minimize the impact so it doesn't adversely affect their business which this is a business as well, right? So, you know, I would say, yeah, that minimizing the impacts, absolutely, making sure it's

safe for everyone, absolutely, but there does need to be a portion of reasonleness. Like you said, they just did $374 million worth of work and, you know, we haven't heard a lot about that. So, again, I think the idea is it is good to have a construction sequencing plan. There will be a big logistics meeting about this. It happens with most large projects. It's a good thing. It's a good thing to have and obviously they know that we want it to be very very detailed here. So like I said I I I think they need that discretion to be able to do that in that way. They can't be forced just to one street. Mr. Thompson,

I in my time here, I don't remember a moment where we spent as much time as we are tonight on what seemingly are logistical issues that are addressed much later in the process.

Agree. And I appreciate the fact that we're trying to get it into a development order. Give us the the resources we need to make sure that we are minimizing the impact, but I think there must be a better way than doing it this way. So, I would suggest we give direction to staff to allow them to handle this under the normal timing that they would normally do. Um but at least from my perspective do so in a way that minimizes the impacts to the neighbors as best as they can and keeps in mind as I know with staff has been trying to the concerns raised by the neighbors the nearest neighbors Alina towns and place but also builds in a degree of reasonleness given the restrictions that exist the geometry that exists on some of the entrances and the knowledge that we have with respect to communal realale and you know there there are other neighbors apart from just Alina, there is the Royal Palm uh community to the south. So, um but I do think maybe we're at the point where we need this this let's let the the professionals on our staff handle this at the appropriate time with that direction, assuming the consensus agrees with that general premise.

Right. Thank you. That's where I thought we were going to go. I have one question I'm going to suggest we take a recess to allow. Let's circle the horn. Let's see if we can circle up on that thought. Give staff direction. use the resource which we're overdue to take normally given our custom and then see if you can work out language. A couple questions. One, Miss Mskell, do you have a paper copy of the language that you put up in your presentation? We do. Um and I can

please give them to us and to staff. Thank you. Second, um for staff, um Miss Alloy had some concerns about the trees. One, do we agree with her identification of that placement area? And two, worst case scenario, if there was damage from construction to other trees, would they have to be replaced with the same type, caliber, size the way anything else would be? So, the limits of construction that she's identified on the plans, um, just because trees are within those limits, basically meaning behind the construction fence, does not mean they're going to be removed or damaged or destroyed. So the applicant's professional arborist has looked at the construction plans and worked with their their designers and determined which trees need to come out, which trees can be moved and which trees stay where they are. That is their professional deter determination that we've reviewed and found to be reasonable. Um there is there are requirements for protecting trees that are are near construction projects. Um she's raised the specific issue of whether the retaining wall can be demolished and rebuilt given some of the specific trees um that are proposed to be retained. I can only suggest that those questions have to be addressed to the arborist. I cannot address them.

Right. But the second question is if trees are damaged, they got to be replaced. They have to be replaced. Yes. And there will also if they're not approved to be removed, there would be additionally a penalty for that. Right. Okay. Fine. And then um a question for someone here, Miss M. MSL, where this is you got a master plan condition and a site plan condition. Is this in resolution 17206 or uh looks like it's maybe in more than one document here. So refer please. Actually, we are working off of the document that Brandon created. So Owen, you may want to clarify um which resolution or ordinance, please? The master plan is is it's 16206, right?

Yes. The master plan resolution is 16206 and the site plan resolution is 17206. So it is two different documents. Okay.

Yes. staff, what's your thought on I know you recommended this language, but given do you have I'm up at this if you've heard some concerns from us about the timing of this that some of this would go under anot. Do you feel you have enough clarity now to go circle up during a recess and try to come to consensus or do you want more clarity from us? Well, I mean, if what council member Thompson suggested, which is direction to staff as opposed to something in the development order, if that's the consensus of the council, then then I understand. If it's not, I'm not sure where the where the consensus is.

Okay. Council members 105. Mcklas, I'd just like to make sure that if you can add the ped bike access during construction. Is that Yes. Okay. Thank you. And then also, did you want did you want language in there about access accessing Meisner Boulevard only from the north on Palmetto? You you'd mentioned that. I did. I mean, I would, but I hear Mr. Beer's concerns as well. So maybe that can just be something that you consider when you're looking at all the um at all the construction plans,

right? Anyone want to find I I don't know if we all want to go line by line on this because it's a little cumbersome already.

What I said earlier, I thought there were restrictions on a project and I understand the residents complaint, but I know how our staff works. I know when people reach out to us, I know how this property works because of all the work they've done in the last five years and zero complaints. I don't want to put restrictions because what if what if what if like that's not the way we should be doing that if we haven't been doing that with other properties. Um in terms of the time, I guess that would be the only thing that I would caution. But to go back to the actual issue that just happened at the resort and we experienced that the flooding recently and you know there was major damage. They had to call people in right away. I mean the water was up to half of the hotel lobby. So that would prevent them from accessing their property. That could be detrimental. So that's why I'm struggling. I understand time. I don't want a crane truck at midnight coming through the resort or the or anywhere in the city quite frankly. But we had issues during COVID where we needed to allow concrete trucks to come and deliver because it was a emergency. I can't prevent a pandemic. I can't prevent I can't see the future. So I don't want us to be so restrictive, but I also want you the applicant to understand that there are resident concerns and that we need to be cognizant of that when we're doing our MO2 and we're doing all this stuff. So, I'm kind of on the line of Mr. Thompson on this. I

if if I may suggest something. Go ahead.

Um certainly we agree with your staff. Um and I have done this uh on at least six other projects in the downtown. They are reasonable. They help work out solutions on much more constrained parcels than this. And I have confidence that we won't have a problem with your staff. Um but theote is intentionally placed at a particular point in the development that is after the project is approved. We can't come up with anote before we get to the condition phase. And so we will acknowledge that your staff has significant discretion in identifying and making sure that we are sensitive to the surrounding properties, that we minimize the impacts to the traffic infrastructure, and that we work towards the safest environment that we possibly can. And um and and and understand that and we'll recognize that for the record. But every other project downtown and we have done my firm and and I myself included have done at least 90% of them none of them have come up with an MOT plan or these types of regulations at this point in the process. This is something that can't be worked out in 20 minutes forget about even two hours and it needs and it is multiple meetings typically with your staff to get to a point where they are comfortable and we can deliver. So, we will commit to that, but we would suggest that we do it as every other project has, which by the way, we are less constrained than them because we have a large site, but we will do everything we can to provide for the safest and the the most um or the least impact to the surrounding property with sensitivity to our neighbors.

Mr. Miss Mskell, um the staff proposed a series of changes here with respect to construction sequencing. I understand from our discussions they might uh they are uh perhaps just a little too restrictive. Um you've submitted a red line with your proposed changes. If we take a recess and read these uh proposed changes to to their black line, are you okay with would the applicant be okay with your requested lines to the black line? Um that they just printed and gave to me.

If you if you can give us a few minutes, we'll get with staff and we can go back over this. But just that that's the question.

This was the most that we could possibly accept, but honestly, I would rather not come back to the city council to negotiate any changes to the document. I'd really like to do this as everyone else. This particular applicant has never given you something that wasn't the best that you could get. And so, we don't believe that our project would warrant any changes to your process. And so we would ask you to follow your process. Allow us to meet with your staff. And by the way, Zach and I have not necessarily agreed on all points, but we've always found a solution in the end. I think we can here.

Not sure. Yeah. Again, I I see the staff proposed something. I see your changes to that. So is is your recommendation then that not to have any of those additional changes and just you know, Mr. Mr. Thompson, I guess going back to your suggestion is your suggestion to not have any of the staff's proposed changes or uh the applicants proposed changes to those changes so that they could just work on their own MOT during construction phase.

I Yeah, it's kind of more the latter, which is I think this is something that gets worked out typically almost entirely at a later stage and not by us right now. And I think the fact that we're kind of slogging through the mud on this is demonstrates that. So I think we've as long as we as the policy makers give enough direction to the staff that we do care about making sure that the residents and the nearby neighbors the impacts to them are minimized and that we figure out a way to make sure that we can ensure pedestrian and bicycle access through Miser Boulevard and potentially making sure that construction vehicles aren't coming in in a way that leaves them, you know, most impactful to the surrounding infrastructure. I think the staff and the applicant can work this out later.

Yeah. And I have one question for staff and then I'm going to suggest if we'll round out we've I've spoken less than others. Uh have we ever um this language in four which applicant doesn't has some concern concerns with so do I. Applicants shall restrict times the construction vehicles may use one or more ingress egress points in the sole determination of a city staffer. Have we ever done that in an MOT? I'm a little concern if we have. I'm still even concerned about doing it now because it's rather early. So I haven't Sorry Brandon. Go ahead.

Please Mr. Thank you. Sorry. Uh, Zach Pier, the works engineering director. Uh, we certainly it hasn't necessarily been written out in in resolution form, but we absolutely do as part of the construction sequencing plan do restricted times and evaluate sequencing. To give you an example, on a recent project, we're up to phase eight and likely nine of a sequencing plan for construction. Uh, an element, it's part of the downtown construction in areas where there's there's tight construction spaces. That's all part of working that out with the contractor. So it it is brought up frequently. Uh just to to uh council member Thompson's point in the staging, it's generally when the contractor's on board and we're discussing those activities. All right. Can we do that here?

Of course. All right. Thank you. All right. All right. So I think we got consensus on that. So I'm going to suggest this. We take a short recess. Do you think 10 minutes or 15 minutes is enough to go work out language? Sorry. I had understood that we're not doing any of the black lining. We're just going back to the original language. So, if that's the case, we don't need any time at all. All right. We're going to take a recess anyway. Um uh because we need one. But, uh is is that the consensus? Go back to the black line other than the changes we've talked about here with the pedestrian access that raised. Um uh and is there anything that we have agreement on? If there's agreement on something, we might as well just pound it out now. And if there isn't, then

we'll go back to the standard process. My agreement is what Mr. Thompson said. We've never put resp. I don't have I don't have an issue to address Miss K's with the access and some of the the safety concerns that were brought up and some of the entryways etc. But the fact that we just spent 45 minutes on a sequencing and a resolution, I think it was just really not not good use time of a of our of a policy maker. I think that we've never required this from any other and we have construction going on. So I I don't really understand. So I would not go with the black line strike items and I would just go with what has been submitted and you guys have worked out and you guys could have 10 minutes to review it again. That's that's what I'm agreeing to.

No, but there's nothing there's nothing left for them to iron out. That's the point. It's it's that there's no What about this? Why is she submitting this? That would be that would be the whatever theot will eventually look like. It would include that it would be done in the normal course in the typical sequencing of events that happen during construction or pre-construction.

Mr. Mr. Mr. one question Mr. first then Mr. Kaylor Mr. Shad or Mr. Kaylor is there any black line that the council needs to review other than the construction sequencing plan black line that we need to consider. So again, my understanding of the consensus is that we get rid of all of the black lining staffs and the applicants and go back to original. That's my understanding of what you're telling me. And that accomplishes what we discussed here. And we will review those issues at the building permit stage as we do with every project. Right. Okay. That's interested.

Give me a moment. Please hold on. Because in Mr. Shad, in 17 the red lines were just relating to the construction sequencing plan to have specificity put in them. Is that correct? Yes. All right. Okay. Then I'm going to suggest this. We take a 10-minute recess. Staff work on the language that Ms. Knacklas requested. It seems that there's consensus there for the pedestrian access. Do we not need that now? No. I think it's a good idea to put in, but I can read it. I mean, it's there's nothing to it. It's really easy.

Fine. Why don't we work on that and if there's anything else that the meeting of the minds can resolve, we'll do that and we'll come back in 10 minutes. All right. So, we recessed for 10 Heat. Hey, Heat. down. He Heat. Hey, Heat. down. Back.

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Down. Down. Hey. Hey. Hey. We're resumed at 9:02. I will just say during the break I spoke briefly with Ms. MSL heard a resident raise a concern. Ms. Rosenwag repeat the concern about the construction entrance and I

saw some other council members if they want talking with other members of the public. If anyone wants that specificity, you can now. I think that suffices Mr. Kaylor. Yes, that'd be an appropriate part. Yeah. All right. Very good. All right. I understand that there's some uh concessions have been made. An understanding has been reached and we're going to hear it. Mr. Shad. Yeah. I believe Miss Mskell is going to discuss the concessions she's offered. Great. Please.

Bonnie Mskell again for the applicants. So, uh, my client is prepared to number one, design and build, um, ADA ramps across the Meisner Boulevard, uh, entrance in front of their property on their property because they have room on the property to do that, which will, um, help to create the ramps down to a lower level and then back up again. So, we will do that um, prior to um, the building permit, I think, Adam, is that correct? We can do the ramps prior to building permit. Yes.

Yes. Okay. And then the second part, we will agree to work with staff during the PWR process with a focus on um pedestrian and bike safety um in in developing and approving our sequencing our construction sequencing plan and any requirements associated there too. All right. And those two things relate to resolution 17206 or different documents. the site plan for the residential building 17 17 all right thank you thank you very much and then I understand Mr. Shad then otherwise we're prepared to move forward on the language that was with the original agenda and those two changes to 17 only. Is that the understanding?

Um we wanted to make a change to 16 2026 on condition number eight regarding the uh the use of the entrance. Just to clarify the pedest the pedestrians are okay. Why don't we'll take that up when we get to that. All right. Is there any other clarification we want of Miss MSL? All right. You may be seated, please. And we will close the public hearing. We'll now take up first um if there's no more questions of staff, we'll take up an uh we'll take up ordinance 5780, which is to um change universal conditional amendment to the future land use map. So a motion second to adopt. All right. Very good. We've got a motion that's been seconded to adopt ordinance 5780. Any discussion on 5780? All right.

Just a final clarification that So now we're we're back. We're we're doing it as original and there was no necessary amendments since the profer was made. That is correct. It's 5780 as printed in the agenda without any black or red lines. You got it. Just to clarify, 5780 did not have any black lines related to the construction sequencing or the other issues just discussed over the last hour. It did have these corrections. Governor's here. All right. Let's make clear that we're talking make a motion again. Fine. Please let's just clarify. Let's clarify the um I make a motion to adopt ordinance number 5780 with the scrier's era of correction um that's reflected in the ordinance and there was no other items on there.

Very good. Second. Second. All right. Very good. Any further discussion? Is that clear, Mr. Kaylor? Miss Siddens, please. Trucker, yes. Thompson, yes. Wter, yes. Singer, yes. Nlas, yes. Motion passes five votes to zero. Very well. We'll now take is Mr. Mr. Kaylor, is 5781 the same deal with the scriveners error? Correct. That's the reasonzoning. You say you see reszoning. It's got the and that's the black line that was handed out by staff. Fine. Is there a motion to adopt ordinance 5781 with the scriveners arrows corrected as reflected in this black lined version. So moved. Thank you. Second. Second by Miss Nolas. Any further discussion on 5781? See none. Miss Sidens, please. Thompson. Yes. Wter.

Yes. Singer. Yes. Nacklas. Yes. Ducker. Yes. Motion passes. Five votes to zero. Thank you. Now, we'll take up 50 uh excuse me, resolution 16-2026. Uh and Mr. Shad, before we before we take a motion, please clarify what you're saying on number eight, section 8, and if there's any other changes or we're just going off what was in the agenda plus the whatever you're going to talk about on section 8.

It's uh what was in the agenda plus what I'm about to say. Um so condition number eight that is on uh page 10 um would begin with respect to vehicular traffic and then would continue and then on the second line of that condition um guests and patrons shall not gain and add the word vehicular access. So it's just adding the word vehicular on line 22. Yes, but also starting the condition with the words with respect to vehicular traffic, comma, and then continuing from there.

I see. So that would go at the second sentence in between perpetuating guests. No. Okay. Where the very beginning of the condition. Oh, very good. So on line 21, right after the eight. Yes. All right. Read it. Read them both again so everyone can be clear, please. Sure. with respect to vehicular traffic, comma, and then it would continue. You want me to read the whole condition? No, that's fine.

And and then on the second line, the second sentence, uh, guests and patrons shall not gain and then add the word vehicular and then continue with access. Very good. Any questions? All right. I will entertain a motion to adopt resolution 162026 as presented in the agenda with those changes to section 8 and and the scrier's error.

Scriveners er one only in the recital as a cross reference. There's also then a minimal reference on page 8 line and 10 where it's just affirming that resolution 19290 the condition that Mr. Shad just discussed is being amended and restated. So that's just a technicality but It's included in your agenda and it should be included in Very well. Does someone want to move the adoption uh in the affirmative of this resolution with those changes included? Move the adoption. Move the resolution with the adopted changes. Thank you. Second. Thank you. Any further discussion? Miss, please. Wer, yes. Singer, yes. Nquis, yes. Ducker, yes.

Thompson, yes. Motion passes, five votes to zero. Thank you. And then Mr. Kaylor, Mr. Shad, how shall we take up resolution 17206 in light of what Miss Mistl read and any other errors or changes or black lines? Um, it would be what was distributed in the agenda except that the staff black line, those would be deleted, right? But then we would add the uh what Ms. Miscoll said about building ADA access ramps across the Misner Boulevard entrance and working with staff during the PWR pro process to ensure pedestrian bicycle safety during construction.

Very well. And what section would that would go into? It's 5C. Yes. Sounds good to me. 5C. 5C. Yes. All right. Do I hear a motion to adopt resolution 17206 as presented in the agenda with those two changes to section 5C as in Charlie? Yes. And including the Scrier's error as well. And and and just to clarify, while there is a cross reference to the Scrier's error, this title was noticed correctly as the 5.224. Just second.

All right. Very good. And we'll before we call the role, I'll just note that uh the 5.224 224 was um in all of the things that were noticed even um that the whole package kept made repeated multiple and replete references to 5.224. The the notice was both legally sufficient satisfy the elements of the law and consistently notified the public of the address and the 5.2244 acre site plan. Thank you. Any further discussion? Miss Sins, please. Singer, yes. Nice. Yes. Ducker. Yes. Thompson. Yes. Wer. Yes. Motion passes. Five votes to zero.

Thank you. That concludes those items. We'll now turn to item B under quasa judicial which is resolution 192026 relating to golf envy. Would you please read the title, Miss Sittens? Resolution 19, 2026, a resolution of the city of Boca Raton considering for the approximately 4.36 acre property generally located at 6501 and 6531 Park of Commerce Boulevard conditional use approval pursuant to section 28-978 Code of Ordinances to authorize a 3,263 ft athletic training facility in an existing 19,862T warehouse and office building in the light industrial Research Park zoning district providing for appealer providing an effective date.

Thank you. And Mr. Kaylor, will you please confirm that the quasi judicial procedure that we read earlier will still govern this public hearing? I can so confirm. Thank you. Council members, any exparte communications to disclose here, Mr. Thompson? Not for me. No, no exparte. Thank you. No exparte, Mr. Werger. None. Thank you. And nor did I have any? That's unusual. So, um, we'll ask anyone who wishes to speak on this item to please rise so the clerk can administer the oath. Please raise your right hand. Do you swear or affirm that any testimony you may give before this public hearing will be truthful and accurate? Thank you. Great. Thank you, Mr. Sahaney. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, our senior planner, Mr. Develin, will also make this presentation.

Mr. Good evening again. As mentioned earlier, my name is Owen Develin with development services and I'm here to present an application for the property located at 6501 and 6531 Park of Commerce Boulevard requesting a conditional use approval. In September 1985, the planning zoning board approved resolutions 8554 for a six-story 141,000 foot office building on a 15 acre site. This project was never built and the approval expired. The following April, the planning and zoning board approved the three-phase site plan for the Meridian Tech Center. Only phase one was built which included building C and B. Phase two and three planned for the property to the north 6551 Park Commerce Boulevard was not con constructed and their approvals have expired. The pro facility is located within building C. Um the applicant is requesting a conditional use approval pursuant to section 28979 of the code of ordinance to authorize a 3,263 ft athletic training facility within an existing existing 19,862 ft warehouse/off building. The facility proposes four indoor golf simulator bays to provide members with an indoor golf experience. The facility will operate 24/7. Walk up services will not be allowed and no food or beverage or alcohol will be served at the facility. All operations at the facility will be conducted indoors. And due to pedestrian access to the building, the applicant will provide as part of the application a new ADA parking spacing and curb uh 88 curb ramp. The applicant meets the criteria for a letteric training facility outlined in section 281316. The application is consistent and

compatible with the existing and adjacent land uses. From a national perspective, industrial parks commonly include alletic training facilities. The use is completely internal to the building, so will not cause any inconvenience to surrounding neighbors. The application is also consistent with the city's comprehensive plan. No public comment was heard at the PNZ meeting and the development services department recommends approval subject to the conditions outlined and the planning zoning board recommended approval during their meeting on February 19th. That ends my presentation and if you have any questions I'm happy to answer. Thank you council members. Any questions?

All right we'll invite the applicant to come forward. You'll have up to 20 minutes although you may not need it all.

Yes. Good evening. Uh for the record, my name is Christina Baleni. Um here u filling in for my colleague this evening, but on behalf of Golf NB, my address is 14 Southeast 4th Street in Boca Raton. Um I don't think there's a need to go through the whole presentation. I mean, much of it is consistent with what Mr. Develin already presented. Um but essentially, we have a tenant coming into a vacant tenant space. Um but because of their use as an athletic training facility, it does require conditional use approval. Um the space itself is about uh 3,263 square ft. Um so it's not a big space and it'll be utilized for four uh separate golf simulators. Um it is a private membershipbased um facility. So, only those that uh have memberships will be able to access the site. Um, and with that, I'm happy to answer any questions you may have. I do have a representative from Golf Envy here as well. Um, and we appreciate your time this evening.

Thank you, Council Members. Any questions? I have one. Please, uh, Miss Baleni, good to see you. You know that you have a new neighbor coming in to the north of you at 6551 Park and Commerce Boulevard. Uh, do the staff members get any free rounds at I'm joking. Of course. I hope so. Yes. I added that as a condition. Maybe we get in the mud on that condition. Yeah. Yeah. All right. Any other questions? Um All right. Thank you. Anyone else wishing to speak? Miss Pashki, you have to be sworn in. Sorry, I'll swear again.

Do you swear? Affirm that any testimony you may give before this public hearing will be truthful and accurate. Thank you. I'm sorry. I have a question about the woman who just spoke. I wondered is she a lawyer or she said she's representing them and I wondered in what capacity is she just a lobbyist or I have no idea. So I wondered who she worked for. Thank you. Any other speakers? All right. We'll give the applicant opportunity for summation. Um, just to address the comment, I am a land use attorney that is representing Golf End. Thank you. Thank you. Does that conclude your presentation? Yes, it does.

All right. Very well. Thank you. We'll close the public hearing. We'll entertain a motion to adopt resolution 192026. Do I hear a motion? So moved.

I'll give that to No, I think Miss Ducker beat it this time. Second by Miss Nlas. Um, any discussion? I'll just pose this. This is something for staff to figure out in the future. From time to time, I mentioned conditional use. We have at times uh when we going back to restaurants, we used to have a conditional approval for restaurants over 1,000 square feet in the multic-enter multi-tenant shopping center. That went back to the 70s. By the time we got to the 2010s, it was clear that we had never rejected that after 40 years. We've had several of these uh recreational facilities, recreational uses in warehouse facilities. I think they've all passed because they all generally have minimal if no traffic impacts. Uh I would consider I would consider suggest the next council consider whether or not that this type of conditional use is still you know something worthwhile looking at and just food for thought but I intend to support this.

Yeah Mr. Yeah, similar comment. I think in the downtown we have administrative IDAs. If they're under a certain amount of square footage or something to that effect, then yeah, for something like this, if it's less than 5,000 ft or whatever criteria the future council deems appropriate, I think uh yeah, some something like this could be done administratively. Thank you. Any further discussion? I was just going to agree with that premise that there's a series of them and that exists in the city now in this part of town. There's two in particular, two baseball ones that come to mind in addition to a pickle ball or pedel and uh it would seem to be appropriate for an additional streamlining measure to allow that for to be done administratively. So I agree. All right. Very well. All right. Any further discussion? Seeing none, Miss Sins, please. Nas,

yes. Ducker, yes. Thompson, yes. Wer, yes. Singer, yes. Motion passes five votes to zero.

Thank you. Um, all of the items under regular public hearings were withdrawn from the agenda. We have no regular public hearings or settlements or public hearings of settlements. So, I'll open the Florida public requests. I have a few cards in a second. Uh, Palm Beach County does not require direct access from an arterial road, only frontage. So if we went back to that previous slide, Palm Beach County already has four. If it being on an arterial road was an issue, part of their code that their code that they work through and speaking with our development services director, do you not think that that would be part of the code? But it's not. And only one municipality has restrictive parking less than our office or medical one. So which means all of the rest are way more lenient. Yet we are this restrictive. So it begs the question, why does Boca Raton make it a conditional use after jumping through all of these hoops, arterial roads and onemile distance and parking and everything else that we put in this ordinance? Why does it does it make land use attorneys more money requiring many city meetings? Does it slow down the approval process? and does it make that use maybe never happen as a conditional use is a right for the city to always say no. So I completely agree with you Mr. Singer. We need to get rid of these conditional uses especially when you write an entire ordinance to correct an issue. They needed more time and thank you for giving it

Judy Mororrow. that we go back not to four, but we go back to maybe six or eight floor limit in downtown so that the we keep our beautiful, beautiful, sacred parks in our city And I I think that would be something interesting. Also, Boon Beach City Commissioners, what they did to public land, they called it surplus property.

That thing also, it's a nice thing, but put it in Spanish River Park. Don't put it in our in a residential area with the traffic, with the buses going by. Even when the buses for regular school school and during the school year, it's an event to pick them up. All right. By having it in the Spanish River Park, that would be better. They could build a bigger building. There would be activities for the kids. It would be much better. And basically, what do we want in the community? Condo 3. We'd like to have a golf course. All right. 18 holes. We can't wait to get it back again at Bokeatica Condo 3 and the in the area in the surrounding uh condos. We'd like to have a social park, community center where people could, you know, meet, play cards, maybe set up an exercise room, have a library, a pool table, whatever. And the walking trails, which people wanted, that'll be eliminated by the skate park. So, we don't want this. That's one reason why we don't want the skate park. I have a resolution here by board president Joseph King on the things that he wants which I basically have explained in my presentation. All right. I'd like to give it to the deputy clerk and the clerk as proof and evidence. And there was an ocean breeze master plan, but there was no there was never even talk. It was it wasn't even in the top 20 the skate parks and the uh what do you call it? The Boys and Girls Club. All right. And that's about it. So, thank you for your time. I know it's late and that's it. And I went right on the button. Three minutes.

You did, Mr. Schneider. Thank you. Anyone else? That concludes my cards. Please show your hands if anyone else would like to speak. Come on up on that side, please. Thank you.

Martha Parker, 64 Northwest 7th Street. I just wanted to thank everybody for your time and serving. I know on election day I was able to see some of you guys out at the polls and it was a good reminder that even when we disagree, we can all still work together um towards the betterment of our city. I did want to thank you all for tableabling the ordinances on the resoning and I would like to ask maybe Evette um you can kind of spearhead this is can we have some public facing meetings where where residents can be informed on things about the live local act and how how um these resonings would impact that. I think you would find that u many residents in library commons like myself are not opposed to having some sort of different zoning in that area. I think currently right now it's a maximum of four or five stories and this would open it up to being much higher 10 12 stories. So I do think it it warrants having some discussions. The live local act from what I understand if it's institutional zoning it's maybe they can live local act it. So we need to be very careful and make sure we understand um the implications of making that change because in the city of agreed on several occasions, but I do appreciate your service to the community and despite the last year where this room was packed with hundreds if not thousands over the months of residents that you know we're on opposite sides of this

issue with several of you. I personally always felt welcome in this room and I think I speak for some other residents when I say that um we all did so or the majority of us and we appreciate being heard. So I just wanted to say thank you to everyone and congratulations.

Absolutely. Thank you. to uh city manager Zach Beer, your public works and engineering director. I'll provide just a really brief uh update as part of the contract that we have with the uh guiding company. They're required to submit uh monthly reports to us on their progress. And so if we jump right into that uh we have some additional data that we've got. So provided I can show the numbers on the screen. And then also want to point out the approximate distance traveled is is upwards of about 200 miles at this point uh with the average distance per week uh pushing uh 19 and the total service hours 62. Uh total loops completed is 150 uh with the average loop time about 12 minutes. And I think one of the most important things to point out uh from the service that we've been providing to this point is the Mika unit has been operating autonomously at uh 90 93% from what we've seen from the industry standard and other autonomous vehicles that have been in operation. That is an outstanding percentage rate of autonomous operation. uh at incidents at this point very important to point out and note uh none and the total passengers carried as identified on the screen and so far you can see some of the benchmarks from some of our other transit services uh were far exceeding that. Uh then just really quick uh an area of operation where as this is part of the pilot program to come before you uh showing the schedule of normal operation days, operating restrictions and no operations. Meisner the current loop is really the test case to be able to have people understand how to interact with it and understand the autonomous operation. So there's a lot of activities that are happening within Meisner uh plaza. So limiting those days we have some days when we have other activities that are happening. An example I can use is Bokeh Seafood Festival and those elements that have limited the total operation. So with that I just wanted to provide the as

activated as much as possible during those uh operational times. Then the operational details I can share on the screen uh EDVS is one of the top elements. So again when we go through the process and we use that data driven approach we really get to see what are those top stops where should that be and and what type of ridership are we getting? what time of day uh what passengers on which day and each one of those incremental steps we've seen has been really beneficial to start this program and get an understanding back from the guiding company of all of this uh data collection. So they also have completion time by day and by time period. All of that is is really instrumental for us to understand activity that's happening in miser and the best uh best route times and operation hours uh that we have for the vehicle. So really just summarizing that 93% autonomous operation is outstanding from the industry and then the manual operation times even within those obviously miser is a very busy uh pedestrian activity and with a really active space. So we've had times when people are either double parked or we have people that uh have special conditions that come out where uh the vehicle is taken over and part of the whole guidance platform is allow that manual operation. Uh probably the most important update was the council's desire to really turn this into a uh shuttle connecting using technology uh to make up for some of the infrastructure challenges that we have of connecting uh Meisner Park down to Roal Place. And so with that, the uh updated overall route distance currently is 2 miles, but our plan is to go to extended service, excuse me, for Meisner Park uh in the next beginning in April. And then with that, we've submitted a permit to Nitsa for the expanded route, which uh depending upon when the permit

comes back is really seeing that in summer of 2026. And the goal of that operation shown up on the screen is to uh reduce so optimize which which stops we have for pickup and drop off in Misner Park and then have that loop connecting down into R palm place and then back so we can get uh residents connected on either side of Palmetto. Uh so uh we have that uh mandated reporting period and I I think I really appreciate uh the support and the ability for staff to take on this pilot. As I look out in the industry and what we're seeing uh it's it's shocking for me to even have a autonomous robot and some of the things that we've seen in industry before it could barely stand up and it was almost kind of comical to watch autonomous vehicles and robots operate. And now I'm seeing them dance in in unified operation. and I'm watching him do back flips and all these incredible feats. So, I guess the important part is I appreciate us being on the cutting edge of evaluating this pilot program and really look forward to uh additional operation a as it gets expanded. And with that, that is my presentation. I have representatives from guidance here and I'm happy to answer any questions.

Uh very good. um experience and um the feedback so far is uh good and as you know we have to report the emergency stops to Nitsa. Uh there was no only one emergency stop and that was uh that a ball rode through the streets and uh we saw that and we reacted on it and it was an emergency stop so it came out of uh nowhere right so and you need to report such things to Nitsa. So um that was toy to toy the first and the last one and of course the best thing is uh no accident occurred not even close calls uh yet and um there are some challenges here and there we addressing that we are on the

for our city and throughout. So thank you so much. Thank you Mr. Weer.

Thank you. Uh first of all yes congratulations to Mayor elect Thompson. uh look forward to seeing you uh work and uh congratulations also to Mayor Singer. Obviously, it's been uh you know, an honor to work uh with you for the past three years and obviously before that for me the last three years and even as a in my career choice you know or whatever but you know the point is uh a lot of people come before us and you know they they're talking about the issue that's important to them but I always did try to feel you know is this the best decision for the 9960 people that aren't sitting in this room and uh it takes a little more thought you know and I always think about that. I live in Woodfield, which is the farthest away from the Boca Raton Hotel

community. To Mark Wiger, this city was fortunate to have your leadership. I'm incredibly grateful to have served alongside you. And to Avette, keep being the champion that you are for transit, for children, and for this city. Because for you, my friend, the best is still yet to come. Over the past three years, I've had the privilege of working with so many incredible people. And I'm especially proud of the work we've done from advancing thoughtful growth to strengthening our finan financial foundation to supporting initiatives like affordable housing and the CIMD. And I want to give a shout out to somebody else I know who's watching, David Abers, for being the first to step up. We've also embraced a move towards technology like AI and like autonomous vehicles. And while I'm proud of everything we've accomplished, I know there's been some bumps along the way. We have learned lessons and there's always more to be done. And that's the nature of service. We've been entrusted with an extraordinary city. And our responsibility has been to preserve what we love about Boca Raton while preparing thoughtfully for what lies ahead. Keeping our city safe, growing with intention, and maintaining a strong financial footing will continue to be essential for generations to come. To everyone who called, emailed, stopped me in the grocery store while walking my dogs, or joined me for a walk on the beach or for a bike ride, thank you. I have valued every conversation and I've learned from each of you. You are what makes Boca Raton so special. To all of my friends, especially Marilyn, Christy, Debbie, and Jan, my supporters, and even those who don't always agree with me, but engaged with respect, thank you for keeping me grounded and for reminding me why this work matters. To Lisa, Blake, and my team, thank you for your dedication.

To my siblings, nieces, and nephews, thank you for your constant support. to my incredible children, Hannah, Connor, Courtney, Mike, Jake, Maria, Alex, and Elinie, and my beautiful grandchildren, Harper, Hudson, and Zen. You are my greatest joy. And to my rock, Nathan, thank you for your unwavering love, your patience. Thank God for your sense of humor, and for being my sounding board on those early morning runs. I love you more than I can put into words. While I may be stepping away from this role after nearly three decades in this community, I'm not going anywhere. This is home. I'm simply turning the page on the next chapter. I'll close with a favorite quote from Katherine Graham. To love what you do and feel that it matters. How could anything be more fun? Serving this city has meant everything to me. Thank you and I'll see you around town. That's all.

Well, thank you. Um, I can say that in 12 years of sitting here, those are the best prepared marks I've ever heard by a long shot and I'm grateful for them and you said better. You said a lot of the sentiments I would say, but better than I can. So, I'll be briefer as a result. But, uh, thank you. First, let me just highlight something that we did today and then I'll close with some remarks. Can we put something on the screen? Um, so we had said that, you know, going one of the things that came out of this year and a lot of discussions was a name that no one had heard really had been in the zeitgeist been used in the public for a long time, Memorial Park. And I go back to something I said earlier today, which was the Boca Raton news from 1968 when a sign was put up at Memorial Park said a few more than a few residents were surprised to learn that this area had a name, but the kids know where they play. Um it was Memorial Park which had a name that had fallen into disuse and never really caught on. That sign from 1968 was gone within eight years and no no sign had been there any time since. City Council made a pledge that regardless of what happened with the downtown campus plan, that we would find we would finally formally dedicate Memorial Park and begin the hard work with a group of veterans, with many veterans groups and the public to to imagine a fitting space that would be tribute to the men and women who uh in 1942 set forth on the Army Airore base that helped win World War II, to the thousands of members of the Army then, to the thousands and thousands of veterans, our fallen heroes from Boca Raton and their families to properly honor all of them. And today we did that um with veterans groups and under the leadership with great remarks by our our own uh former naval captain and city manager Mark Sohaney uh dedicated Memorial Park. If you go to the next slide, please, you'll see some more images there. And I think this is the start of what the next council and the public will have to take up. And I

hope that nonprofit organizations will fulfill this image. We've not obviously reached the pinnacle of what the downtown campus can be. We all still recognize that there are a community center and city hall that need improvements. There are a whole variety of improvements that are needed. And I think making sure that we honor our veterans appropriately and uh the memory of all those lost and who have served is is a key task that the next council will take up. Um I want to close with some thank yous too. Uh this is my last regular meeting after 12 years and it has been the most incredible ride of my life. It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve the residents of Boca Raton and I'm full of gratitude and thanks. First, thank you to all of my colleagues past and present. Um I know the city will suffer a loss with the departure of Deputy Mayor Naklas and Council Member Wer who are thoughtful, passionate, dedicated public servants. I congratulate Mayor Elect Thompson and the new council members and I hope that they find as much fulfillment as we have in public service. It can be very challenging at times. There are moments of joy when you can actually solve small problems and there are times when you can imagine greater things together and we've had so many of those. You know, we again as a community uh there's a lot of love in this community for our city um and ideas that we can continue to progress in our second century. We prioritize public safety. It's the bedrock of our city and we are blessed to have the finest public safety professionals and first responders. Our police department again uh is the only one in the state that has ever received an excelsier rating of six times. Our fire department, fire rescue department continues to be in the one top 1/ half of 1% of all agencies in the nation. And our crime rates that were low in at 40-year lows in 2018 have now declined another 25%. A staggering decrease when you consider

that crime is on the rise elsewhere. We take for granted public safety in this city and we shouldn't. And we've also done things to enhance safety for pedestrians like vision zero and we'll continue to work on those things. Even our conversation tonight was about small safety things uh that have an impact. Um, we can take for granted so many of the different departments and Miss Nicholas was keen and right to mention them all because our infrastructure is great. We don't we don't have problems that other cities do and that that requires sound fiscal planning. Um, we've maintained the lowest property tax rate of any full service city. We've lowered that rate. We've allowed more wealth to be in to be accumulated in your pockets because of the tremendous appreciation in property values, which for us homesteaded residents um is not taxed incrementally the way it's earned. And we've continued to invest in infrastructure, enhanced reserves, maintained aa bond rating, which is higher than the United States of America. And all of that fuels our strong business presence. We punch above our weight our weight when it comes to business. We have more than half the corporate headquarters of all of Palm Beach County. More than 40 publicly traded companies, another one soon to be added as we're finding out. Um, today I think was another move forward where we continue to harness innovation with our corporate presence um by welcoming the next phase of tech and who knows if we become the center for quantum computing it might do what for our city what IBM's presence did two generations ago. Um, we are innovative in other ways. We found creative partnerships to get a brand new public school for Boca Raton and tens of millions of value that other cities were envious of that allowed more than 1,200 new student seats to be built here to accommodate our growing our increasingly younger population. We innovated with a we innovated with Bright Line by reaching out to them and encouraging them to come here and making sure that we were connected as part of a major

transportation network which as Miss Ducker said will continue as trail continues to expand. um will provide a vital link not just on Bright Line but on the coastal link that's coming. Miss Ducker was also right to point out that um we are lucky to have two seats on the MO because there are millions of federal dollars that come in through that agency. We're blessed to have the chair now um and I hope that continues because uh it does provide great benefits for residents as we reimagine federal highway and there improvements that took six years in the making will start to come online. We've invested in our future. Um, not just economic development programs, but really in our green space. I'm proud that what was first discussed 11 years ago when I brought up the idea of a comprehensive waterfront master plan has now birthed four waterfront parks, a reclaimed dump that has been a beautiful park, Hillsboro, O Rio South, Wildflower, which is a beacon connecting the downtown and our beaches, and reclaimed Lake Ryman and Rutherford parks. We have tremendous green space. We've enhanced it and we'll continue to look to do that. We've increased mobility as you've heard here. And we've increased collaboration and communication. 12 years ago, uh we had no full-time city communication staff and we've now expanded from one to many people sending out newsletters, social media trying to inform the public. Um despite comments that, you know, we didn't have transparency, we had 40 public meetings plus on one issue alone, which probably sets a record. And uh and that just ties into so many other community events. One of which I'll highlight now in closing. This Saturday we have a great another time to come together with Bokeh Streetfest, a festival from 12:00 to 4:00 at Meiser Park Amphitheater. And uh it will be a great moment for our community to come together. We'll be celebrating so many things in our community and still continuing the good vibes from our centennial as we celebrate our nation's 250th anniversary.

Um, again, I just want to say this has been the honor of my lifetime. I'm grateful to all of my colleagues on the council. I'm grateful to our new city manager Mark Sohaney who's brought in fresh perspectives, his predecessors, George Brown and Lee Fell. I'm grateful for Josh Kaylor and his predecessor down group Frasier. Um, we work closely with the manager's department and the attorney's department who've brought u great insight um and counsel and I'm grateful for the entirety of all the people assembled here. Our dedicated staff, the nearly 2,000 people who make our city so great, the nearly hund excuse me, the more than 100,000 residents who make our city so great, the people who take the time like all of you to come and express your views because that's how we uh try to respond to the needs of the residents. We can't always discern them perfectly. Um, and we won't get a full agreement on all of them, but we're always moving with the same goal in mind for a better and brighter and more beautiful and vibrant Boca Raton. And I think we've done a lot and I look forward to seeing our city continue to progress. I wish everyone who serves the city the same joy and satisfaction that I've had. I wish the best for all of my colleagues, the best for our residents and the best for Boca Raton always. So with that, um, we are adjourned from this meeting at 10:15 and we will have our organizational meeting next Tuesday after our street fest on Saturday. Thank you and good evening.