City Council - Regular Meeting

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Welcome friends to a regular meeting of the Boca Raton Community Redevelopment Agency. The date is May 11th, 2026. The time is 1:30 p.m. If we could all please rise for the pres 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, a roll call, please. Chair Thompson, thankful to be here. Vice Chair Ducker, here. Commissioner Growl, here. Commissioner Pearlman, here. Commissioner Sipple, present. All present.

Thank you, Miss Sittens. Mr. Director, do we have any amendments to our agenda today? Thank you, Mr. Mayor. There are no amendments to the agenda. Excellent. Next we have our minutes. We have the set of minutes of the regular meeting of the CRA on April 26, 2026. Are there any revisions or corrections to the minutes? And if not, I will entertain a motion to approve those minutes as presented. So moved. Thank you, Miss Ducker. A second, please. Second. Any other discussion? In that case, all in favor of approval of the minutes, please say I. I.

Any opposed? There are not. So, thank you for that. We can move on to presentations for which we have none. And that allows us to move on to item six on our agenda. Quasi judicial and related public hearings. Miss Sitins, could you please read the title of resolution number DDRI IDA CRP-24-02? DDRI IDA number CRP-24-02 consideration of an individual development approval IDA of the Boca Raton Community Redevelopment Agency for the 101 East Palmetto project on approximately 0.24 24 acres generally located at 101 East Palmetto Park Road to authorize in an existing 8,235 square ft two-story building classified as retail high a change in use of 2555 square ft from retail high to four residential units on the second floor along with site improvements including the construction of a new 2382 square foot outdoor courtyard space and a new 550 foot outdoor customer seating area for a new 2554 ft restaurant on the first floor, which will also include 1,272 ft of indoor customer service area, together with the technical deviation from paragraph 24B1 of the DDRI development order to reduce the required number of off- streetet parking spaces from 59 spaces to zero spaces, a reduction of 59 spaces, and including a conversion of uses, providing for appealer, providing an effective date. Thank you, Miss Siddens. Mr. Kaylor, could you please review the quasi judicial procedures that will govern our quas judicial hearing?

Sure. In accordance with the adopted rules of the CRA, each applicant requesting approval, relief, or other action from the CRA shall disclose at the commencement or continuence of the public hearing any consideration provided or committed directly or on its behalf for an agreement to support or withhold objection to the request of relief or action. A summary of the quasi judicial procedures governing the IDA uh hearing this afternoon are attached to the agenda and a copy can be obtained from the city clerk. Thank you, Mr. Kaylor. Now is the time for us to disclose any exparte communications. I think I'll start with my left and we'll go around the horn. Mr. Pearlman, no exparte communications. Thank you, sir. Miss Sipple, no exparte communications. Miss Grow, nothing.

Okay, Miss Ducker, I have one experte. I had a meeting with Juan Casa. I believe he's the architect or has some relationship with this property on June 20 of 2024 at city hall and it's in the records as well. That's all my expertise. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Rucker. I think going back at least a year, maybe even 18 months, I had discussions with Arthur Delme, the applicant, regarding the merits of the project. Subsequent to that, I had a discussion with Juan Kaisedo regarding the merits of the project. And I believe I I certainly had a meeting over I think it may have been over the phone last week with Ellie Zacharitay as council for the applicant regarding the application at issue. And I think that concludes my exparte disclosures. Now any person who would wish to speak on this item, please stand while the clerk will 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.

Very good. Mr. director who will be making the presentation for us today. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. German, our senior planner, will make the presentation. Mr. German, welcome.

Uh, good afternoon, chair and commissioners. My name is uh, Jacob German, senior planner for the city, and I'll be presenting the 101 East Palmetto project. Um, actually, we have distributed a revised staff memo with a couple corrections. Uh while the reservation of on street parking spaces uh were previously proposed with this application, they are no longer a part of it. Um so the 101 East Palmetto Park project is located at 101 East Palmetto Park Road on approximately 0.24 acre property at the northeast corner of East Palmetto Park Road and northeast First A uh with an existing east west alleyway to the north side of the property. Uh the property is zoned downtown development of regional impact or DDRI and has a future land use designation of commercial business district or CBD. Uh based on the Palm Beach property appraisers and city documents, the original twotory portion of the existing building was constructed in 1939 and the existing one-story portion of the building uh east of the exterior stairwell was constructed in 1955. Uh on March 15th, 1988, the DDRI development order, also known as ordinance number 4035, was adopted establishing the regulatory framework for the downtown. Uh since then, there have been no IDAs adopted relating to this property. Uh the applicant is requesting an individual development approval to authorize the adaptive reuse of an existing 8,235 ft two-story building. Uh this includes a change of use from 2555 ft of retail high to four residential units for a portion of the building, more specifically on the second floor. Uh, it includes minor exterior modifications to construct a new 2382 ft outdoor courtyard area and allow a new 550 ft outdoor customer service area for a new 2544 ft restaurant on the first floor, which

includes 1,272 ft of customer service area. uh together with the technical deviation from the DDRI development order paragraph 24B1 to reduce the required number of off- streetet parking spaces from 59 spaces to zero spaces uh and a uh conversion of uses within downtown sub area B. Um as previously mentioned, the reservation of on street parking spaces is not a part of this application. Uh the property which consists of an approximately 28,235 foot two-story retail office building will be preserved as part of this application. Uh the ground floor of the existing two-story portion of the building will be converted from an existing retail space to a new restaurant use. Uh this restaurant use will include 1,272 ft of indoor customer service area with 550 ft of outdoor customer service area. Uh the current plans have shown the outdoor customer service area to be located along northeast first a notated in the site plan above. However, as part of the planning and zoning board's recommendation, condition number 10 has been revised to allow outdoor seating to be relocated to the courtyard so long as it does not exceed 550 ft. And the applicant provides an alternative seating plan that is approved by city staff. Uh the second floor of the above the restaurant will be uh reconfigured from 2555 ft of retail area to four residential units. Uh these residential units will be studio apartments ranging in size from approximately 584 to 684 ft. Each unit is accessible from the exterior walkway that connects the sidewalk along East Palmetto Park Road to the courtyard. The only physical change to the property is replacing the existing back of house area adjacent to the east west alleyway to the north uh with a landscaped courtyard. Uh this courtyard will include 5 foot wide pathways that connect to various parts of the existing building with new landscaping featuring

shade trees, palms, shrubs, and other ground cover. Uh the existing one-story portion of this building to the east along East Palmetto Park Road will not be modified as part of this application. It will remain a retail use on the property. Um, and there are also no proposed improvements to the sidewalk along East Palmetto Park Road or Northeast First A. Uh, the project requires 15% open space or 1543 ft of open space. The pro the project is providing 41 square ft or 41% or 4,263 ft of total open space which includes areas open to the sky and covered open space. Uh as previously mentioned uh this application is part of an adaptive reuse project. Uh therefore no exterior modifications to the existing building are proposed. Uh the elevations above reflect the appearance of the existing building. Today, uh the applicant is requesting a technical deviation from DDR development order 24B1 to reduce the required off- streetet parking from 59 spaces to zero spaces. Uh the property uh is developed with an existing building constructed in the 1930s and is historically operated without on-site parking. No increase to the building footprint, floor area, or intensity is proposed. Uh the request is generated solely by a change in use including the addition of four residential units and outdoor dining for the proposed restaurant. Uh the property is located within downtown area on a constrained urban site where the provisions of on-site parking is not physically feasible without demolition or substantial al alteration to the existing structure. Uh the building predates current parking standards and has functioned for decades without on-site parking. The site configuration does not allow for the provision of code compliant parking spaces and the application does not propose to intensify the property through expansion or increased floor

area. While all street parking was not required when the property was originally developed, if the us if the same uses that presently exist were developed today, the DDRI development order would require 32 parking spaces. Um, in other words, the requirement for 59 spaces is attributed solely to the change in use rather than to new construction. Now, the city's downtown development framework recognizes that older established buildings may not be capable of meeting contemporary parking standards. Uh, this technical deviation process exists in part to allow flexibility where strict application of regulations would create an unreasonable barrier to redevelop uh to redevelop the existing structures. Uh while the building does not have a historic designation or similar protection, it contributes to the established urban form of downtown and supports a development pattern character characterized by walkability, mixed uses, and reduce reliance on private vehicles. Approval of the technical deviation would facilitate continued productive use of an existing structure, avoid incentivizing de demolition and replacement solely to meet parking requirements. Uh, which would miss an opportunity to support maintaining a building that adds interest and character to the downtowns uh, main east west corridor and provide important and an important corner. Uh, it would also support incremental reinvestment in downtown consistent with long range planning objectives. Um, this project requires a total of 59 spaces for the three proposed uses on the property, retail, restaurant, and residential. This property currently requires 32 spaces, but as previously stated, this property has historically operated without any on-site parking. Uh, any retail business could operate on this property without providing any means for parking on the property for patrons or employees. Uh while the technical deviation request is to reduce the parking by 59 spaces is really to reduce it by the se 27 additional

parking spaces required because of the change in use. Uh this property is located in one of the most walkable parts of the city and in an area served by multiple transit op options including Palmran uh the downtown circuit and Bright Line. Palmran also provides reasonable access to the trial station at Yamato and I95. Uh this application is subject to the downtown transportation demand management or TDM program. As part of this application, uh the applicant has agreed to implement a comprehensive TDM plan that is typical where TDMs are required by code or imposed in specific circumstances such where a park technical deviation is proposed. The conditions in the attach IDA require a series of mitigation measures as part of the TDM program, including appointment of a TDM coordinator, bicycle parking facilities, uh tenant education and participation requirements, and periodic monitoring through tenant surveys. However, due to the extraordinary nature of the request, the conditions in the attached IDA also include the following enhanced TDM measures. a 100% transit subsidy for Palm Tran and Tri Rail services for all on-site residents and employees. A 20% subsidy for uh Bright Line Rail service for the on-site residents only. And an annual financial contribution of $10,1466 to the city's downtown transit program like the circuit. Um while transit subsidies as part of a TDM requirements are typically distributed to users based on specific requests and sometimes cumbersome process the conditions in the attached IDA require the applicant to be proactive in offering and distributing transit passes particularly for Palm Tran and Tri Rail that would be 100% free to users by having easy access to free transit. Residents and employees at the property will be more likely to make

use of such benefits, making traveling to and from the property without the use of a personal vehicle more feasible and likely. Additionally, due to the lack thereof of a formal system based on comprehensive analysis to determine an appropriate contribution to the downtown transit program, the applicant proposed using the planning mobility development or PDM PMD matrix uh which is part of the PMD regulations set forth in the code of ordinances that have since sunset as a comparative tool. The applicant proposed to utilize the lowest transit contribution that would garner any points in the uh PMD matrix, which was $12.80 per daily trip, which yields a annual contribution of $3,148.80 for the project's anticipated 246 daily trips. given the extraordinary nature of the parking technical deviation finds staff finds that the proposed proposal to be inadequate and instead recommends the transit contribution that would be needed to receive the maximum number of points in the PMD matrix which is $40.70 per daily trip yielding $10,14.66 for the project's anticipated 246 daily trips. Based on the findings above, uh staff recommends approval of the parking technical deviation subject to the uh conditions of approval in the attached IDA, particularly those related to uh TDM requirements and transit contributions/s subsidies. Uh staff recommends approval of the application for the following reasons. Uh the project complies with the DDRI development order inclusive of its appendencies with the exception of required parking. The proposed mixeduse building is consistent and compatible with the adjacent land uses. Uh the project will convert 25555 ft of retail high to four residential units of OE development which staff supports. Uh the project proposes the adaptive reuse of the existing building with no exterior modifications relating to this application. Uh the project will not provide any parking on the property. Staff is supportive of the technical

deviations subject to the conditions of approval. Uh the project will add approximately 550 square ft of outdoor seating um along northeast and the project will construct an approximately 2382 square foot courtyard which will add a new landscaped area to the downtown. Um at the February 5th 2026 planning and zon board meeting uh the board had recommended approval with the amendment to condition 10 to allow outdoor seating in the courtyard. Uh the condition has been amended to allow for outdoor seating to be provided in the courtyard um so long as that alternative seating plan can provide can be provided demonstrating that the newly designated outdoor seating area does not exceed 550 square ft. Additionally, the applicant's school capacity determination letter had expired and we're required to obtain a new one from the Palm Beach County uh school district. The new letter founded that there will be no negative impact on the school district with this application. Therefore, no profer was required. As such, the previous condition of approval relating to the SCAD letter had been deleted. Uh staff had asked the applicant if they wanted to volunteer the original profit amount, but they declined. Um as of today, only two comments, well, one comment was received from the public regarding this application. Um the comments were made from the same person who was originally in opposition of the project due to the reservation of city-owned parking spaces. However, upon hearing that the reserved parking spaces are not associated with this application, they stated that uh the uniqueness of the lot and intrusion from the adjacent building that is under construction creates a hardship for the owner and has no objection to the parking reduction. Uh at the February 5th, 2026 planning and zoning board meeting, one member from the public spoke in opposition to the project, citing concerns regarding the lack of parking provided on the property. However, as previously stated, this property does not have any legal

parking spaces existing. Um the project was heard at the CAB meeting on August 19th, 2025 and was formally recommended approval as submitted in a vote of 5 to 0. It was also heard at the February 5th, 2026 planning and zoning board meeting and recommended approval with conditions as we had discussed in a vote of 5 to zero. Uh the development service department recommends approval of the IDA. Um and the project complies with ordinance number 4035 except for parking and the city's urban design consultant reviewed the project and found it to be consistent uh with ordinance number 4035 and its dependencies. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. German. Members, do we have any questions for staff?

I had a couple if you don't mind. Mr. German, I believe you had said that the existing use as it stands now would require it was either 27 or 32 parking spaces currently. Is that right? It requires 32 parking spaces today. 32. And it has zero. It has zero. And it has had zero for decades. Is that right? Okay. I think that's all I have at the moment. And with that, I think we can open up the public hearing. So, we'll allow the petitioner to step forward and speak first. They will be allowed at a time of 20 minutes. Don't need to use all of it. Um, but please first, if you could state your name and address for the record.

Sure. Ellie Zacharitus, uh, Miss Bachman, 14 Southeast 4 Street here this afternoon on behalf of East Ocean Avenue LLC, the property owner. Uh, first and foremost, this is the first time with this new council that I'm before you. So, Mr. Mayor, congratulations. Congratulations to our new council. Um, this project, let me just start by saying, is not a development project. This is an existing building that has been in existence for almost 90 years. The only quote unquote construction that we are proposing at this building is to take an area that's paved in the rear that no longer will have access once Alto is fully um developed. It is under construction today. So, we thought we would utilize that opportunity to beautify it as a landscape courtyard. But again, this is not a development project. To the contrary, we are taking a building, as I noted, that's been in existence for almost 90 years and trying to add a little bit of life into it to adaptive reuse of an existing building. Um, as Jacob noted, the corner, Is this working? No. Um, that's okay. The corner, the twotory on the corner was constructed in 1939. And just to the east is a one-story building that was built in 1955 and at the time, and it's continued to have zero parking associated with it. This is the site. I'm sorry, my little highlighter is not working. Um, this is the site. It is surrounded to the east and to the north by Alto which is under construction. And there's also a building you can see just to the north. Thank you whoever did that. Thank you. Uh this building is in existence. It is not owned by my client,

the applicant. It is separate and apart. So this this particular site really and is truly landlocked. So shy of tearing down and rebuilding, there is no way to get parking on this property. Uh this is just a little breakdown of the first floor. It's 5680 square ft of retail. We'd like to convert approximately 2500 square ft of that to restaurant again to add that vibrancy and have some lights on after 5:00. Um, and then there's the conversion of the outdoor pavement. You see it here that's highlighted in red. This will now be the proposed landscape courtyard. On the second floor is office, a little over 2500 square ft of office. We'd like to convert that to four studio apartments uh and provide some affordable housing within our downtown. Again, zero parking today. Zero parking proposed. Uh this is actually an aerial from I believe the 50s. Um you could see Royal Palm was never developed. Uh the Bokea Mallal was not there yet. Uh, this is what it looked like. But our building was in fact in existence. As Jacob noted and as I previously noted, this is not a development project. So we are not tearing down a building. We are not changing the facade of the building. This is the building and it will remain as it is today. So why should the CRA support this request? Um, again, this is not a development project. This is trying to preserve an existing 1939 building while at the same time adding some vibrancy

and having some lights on after 5:00 on a prominent corner in our beautiful downtown. We could done could have done tenant swaps. So, we could have taken the office end user and switched it with another office end user. We could have taken the retail and switched it and we could have just gone for a business tax license. But again what we're trying to do is have that activation uh again on how important it is on this prominent corner. So it is a very small site but redevelopment is a possibility. This is a project that was approved a couple years back. It was actually approved at 343 East Royal Palm Road. Um it is a fivestory 4unit condominium building. I actually thought it was a beautiful building. That site 343 East Palmetto is actually 0.17 acres and the subject property that is before you today is 0.24. So yes, there is development potential and we could do so without a parking technical deviation, but the property owner was pretty adamant about keeping the historic building that is on site today. Um but with that some flexibility and relief is being requested as it relates to parking. Uh we put OES back. Almost 6,000 square ft of OES are going back into the bucket showing that we are actually of a less intense use than what exists today. Um and affordable housing. The reality is not everybody has a car. So the smaller the units, albeit they are small, but they do meet code. um as it relates to minimum square footage for residential units. Um but providing small units ultimately and off the top reduces the cost of those units. The smaller it is per square foot, the less you are going

to pay in rent. There are young professionals. These are not units for families. These are small units in the 600 range. Um, so we're looking at young professionals that already work in the city in our downtown that would like a place to live that they can walk from where they live to their their employment. And that is exactly what we are proposing. Um, as Jacob noted, it's not really a 59 parking space reduction because there's already a demand of 32 on the property. So the differential is actually 27. And that is all I have. I'm here to answer any questions you all may have as is my entire team.

Members, any questions, Mr. Promo? Thank you for the presentation. Yes. Um you you describe these units as affordable units. Are these um the term affordable being used in the context of this presentation? Um is that in line with Florida statutes 420.0000? 0004. So, we have not found the exact price yet, Mr. Pearlman, but I would venture to guess it's probably going to be in line with the Florida statutes,

but at this time, you have not committed that it will be as defined in that Florida statute. Is that correct? So I have not. But if we think about it logically, a 650 square f foot apartment by definition is going to be affordable because it is so small. So when you lease an apartment, you lease it's when you sign your lease, it's x amount of dollars per square ft. Typically units in our downtown are 1,500 square ft on the smaller side. This is 600 square ft. So, I am pretty confident we have not said we're entering into an affordable housing declaration, but by definition, yes, Mr. Pearlman, these are going to be affordable under the Florida statutes. I think it's important as we know the the state legislature has passed significant legislation in the last several years um to facilitate the construction of affordable housing units. I I my I'd like to comment that um in future presentations if if an applicant is going to um categorize a a certain unit as affordable, I believe that that that these need to have uh certain restrictions have in relation to AMI and such forth. For example, as laid out in 420.004 of the Florida statutes. Otherwise, we're we're we're throwing around the term affordable when the state legislature has provided very significant descriptions and regulations on that term.

If I may add, affordable is also inclusive of workforce. Um, and there's different AMI criterias for that as well.

Any other questions for Miss Acarrettes? Mr. Rucker? No, I just um wanted to um just wanted to comment. Well, I agree on the affordable housing, workforce housing. The AMI is right at 110,000. It changes and it fluctuates and I don't think it's our body and the legislature wasn't written for us to subject future development or redevelopment to the statute. The statute is there as a guidance. So, I I I don't think work orders, especially when things start to get built. So again, I appreciate the fact of the studio apartments. I agree. These are like what they're called like micro units. Um I never thought uh the days on this day I would see a project come before me with no parking. And I look at Brandon and I smile because I'm an advocate of no parking and more walkability and of course more outdoor space for people to come and gather. uh and activating that corner uh would be really nice just because we do have issues with the park that we've been discussing and I think when you have an area that's activated there's more people um and there's just room for other things that are happening in that area of the downtown. Uh so that's kind of my first uh thought on this. Uh, the other thing I was just going to say to this body is it shows how our our C our 4035 is outdated. Um, and how we have to look at that at some point because the parking requirements are so outdated. And if anybody has a cough drop in this audience, which I'm sure does. I left mine. Make sure it makes my way uh through Phil over here. Thanks. So, just to add to council member Ducker's comment, um, SEPTAD, crime prevention through environmental design, number one crime prevention is eyes on the streets. When you have buildings that are vacant in at night, that is when crime happens. Um, adding the

lights, adding activity, adding those eyes is what prevents crime from occurring within our city. Any other questions for the applicant? Missible? Yes, I do. Um, what is going to be the occupancy limit for each unit?

Um, we haven't talked about that either, Miss Sipple, Councilwoman Sipple. Um, I suspect it would be no more than two. Um, again, these are very small units, so you're not we're not gearing towards families. Um, these are studio apartments. So, I would say at best or at most, Councilwoman Sipple, it would be two people, a couple. Okay. But there's nothing set in stone yet because I've seen families of four, families of five crammed into a studio apartment.

Yeah, we're not interested in that. So, more than happy to add a condition if if that would provide some ease for you or comfort. We would be more than happy to provide a condition that that limits two occupants per unit.

So, you're going to have a service area of people sitting outside on the sidewalk right out here. Correct. So, as currently planned, let me go to that first floor plan. As currently planned, there is some outdoor seating that occurs along First Avenue. Correct. You could see some some tables and chairs here. We did ask for some flexibility. So, parking is based on your customer service area. Um, internal. The downtown code allows for up to 25% of the internal customer service area can be outside with no additional parking required. If you go above that 25%, then there is a parking requirement triggered. So what Mr. German had noted to with the amendment to that one condition is let's say councilwoman Sipple we wanted to take five tables from here eliminate them off of first and put those same five tables that have already been accounted for in the rear without adding any additional parking demand.

Okay. But you're not making any exterior modifications. No ma'am. So, how are you going to service that area outside? I walked it yesterday and Friday,

trying to squeeze through there with tables and chairs out there and then online street parking right next to there. This is a main thoroughfare. That's dangerous cuz you're going to have to be walking around people that are eating while you've got people that are parallel parking next to there. And by the way, Friday I drove from the police memorial there. I drove around the building 45 minutes. Went across the street, drove around, hour and a half, could not find a parking space. That was Friday around 1:00. I don't understand how anybody is going to get any parking residential or for restaurant use. It It's just not going to happen on a Friday or a Saturday night. I mean, it didn't happen on a Friday afternoon. I mean, after about 30 minutes, they're going to give up and leave. So, this is a downtown, and as Mr. German noted this is the most walkable portion of our downtown city. Um I personally whenever I go downtown I take the circuit. Um I may be alone in that. I hope not. I am a big advocate and a big supporter of the circuit. I'm so thankful we have it. Um I do not in the evenings ever drive my vehicle to our downtown. I take the circuit. This is a walkable portion of our downtown. What we're trying to encourage, Councilwoman, is people actually getting out of their vehicle and walking. This building has been here for almost 90 years, and we've never had an issue

ever. So, when you go out for lunch, don't you work downtown? I do. Do you drive? I do not. Okay. was told something different about my driving behavior. Yes. Oh, okay.

I don't like the fact that we don't know what affordable is because it's in the application. I can't even tell you how many times and we don't know what affordable is because you know these are being mark marketed as helping very lowincome families or people yet this could also be somebody who's wealthy petted hair who would be willing to pay I whatever to have a location downtown. I think that that's should have been included in the application.

So, I do not believe and and if if I'm wrong, I stand corrected. I do not believe there's anywhere in my application that refers to very low income because that is there's a definition for that as it relates to AMI and I'm confident that's not those are not the terms I used. Okay, those are all the uh questions I have. I'm going to see where I can find that. Thanks. Any other questions, Miss Grow? Are there any other buildings down in our downtown that have zero parking other than this particular property?

Not that I'm aware of, Councilwoman Growl. I I really believe this may be the only property in our downtown that doesn't have parking. And one more question. Um, will this set a precedent for other properties?

So, I don't see how. Right. So, this is again shy of us coming before the five of you with an application to tear down and rebuild. That's our only option as it relates to satisfying the cities. And I I've said it before, maybe not before the five of you, the city's very antiquated parking code in our downtown. Um, so I I I don't foresee this setting a precedent. I think your first question is probably the most important one. Is there any other site in our downtown that has zero parking spaces and has had zero parking spaces for 90 years? I think the answer to that is no, at least to my knowledge. So, I would I personally would be comfortable with this application because you're not setting a precedent. There is no other property like this. And if we want to encourage maintaining certain buildings within our downtown and not tearing down every building, this is the flexibility those applicants are going to need.

Mr. Rucker,

thank you, Mayor Thompson. and a couple of other things. So, yeah, I'm not interested in in in this is a very historic block, Samber Square, and we could get into the details as to why. We also approved the Alto years ago, and they have when Alto is built, they're going to have outdoor seating as well as part of their plan. So, just refreshing some of the memories. Some of you are not on the council, but truthfully, we allow outdoor seating at Louis Basis, which is one of our most busiest areas on Palmetto Park Road. And thankfully, we never had um any issues there. So, I understand the public safety and people parking close to the restaurant area, but a true downtown, if you go anywhere in different parts of different cities, you'll see that tables, people sit on sidewalks and people parallel park right next to them. And um it's just part of a vibrant downtown, so people are not in their cars. But I also know that there's other restaurants even on Palmetto Park Road where folks sit outside. Again, it's part of a downtown walkability. Being able to sit outside, being able to run in and grab food and either bike, walk, or um take circuit. By the way, to answer over 400,000 rides of circuit occur in the city, so you're not the only one that's using that. Um, and also you included the TDM, the transit passes, which is one, it's it's it's music to my ears. So again, I think that the use is very limited here, and if we want to preserve that and incorporate it into what is going to go on in that area of the downtown, I think it's an incredible opportunity to activate, um, that area. Thank you, uh, Councilwoman Ducker. I couldn't agree more. Downtowns, that activation happens with

outdoor dining. It's in every functioning vibrant downtown from Delray to West Palm. I know those are all dirty words, but they are vibrant downtowns and they all have outdoor seating. And your point could not be taken more than Louis Bossy because personally that is to me one of the most unsafe corners in our downtown. Um, Miss Growl, I stand corrected. This building right here also has no parking and never has.

Any other questions for the applicant? No. If not, I see about 7 minutes 30 seconds left for rebuttal, which I imagine we may Oh, yes, I could reserve. May Okay, sounds good. Thank you.

Reserve that. This is a public hearing. If there are any members of the public wishing to be heard in this matter, please stand up, walk to the lectern, and you shall be heard for up to three minutes. Anybody wishing to speak, Mr. Cedo? Good afternoon, Juan Cedo, 5560 Northeast 7th Avenue, Boca Raton. I was originally the architect that actually worked on this project. Um, in fact, I advised the owner to do what we're doing here because I thought that uh the idea of having some some level of uh mixed use residential component into this into this building was significant outside of this or it being affordable or not. I think the idea of having like u Ellie said uh ice on the street is important to have that level of activity that happens 24 hours a day in any type of building in downtown. I've also worked in many many projects in in the city in and the complaint has always been it's too dense, it's too big, it's too tall. Well, this is the time to do a building that actually keeps the historic character and the and the and the and the character of the of the downtown in a lower scale building in a more uh pedestrian friendly building. And and and we I think we enhanced everything that was open space that was not improved into something that is actually very very attractive and something that actually will be uh bringing people into this area. the idea of the of the little cafe or restaurant on the ground floor. This is a corner that actually has uh been pretty much dead for the for a long time. It was been retail right now is vacant. Um it doesn't have really any active uses that that that uses that actually make that that corner something vibrant as it should. And I think that uh for those reasons is what I advise I I advise the the the owner to keep it and to improve it with with uh the open space which is

really what the public will will really enjoy the most and and the the four units changing the the office on the second floor for four units that are not affordable but attainable are are are I I think it's an significant improvement to to the to the area. So I urge you to vote in favor of it. Thank you, Mr. Ciso. Anyone else wishing to be heard on this matter? Yep. Mr. Greenberg, just make sure. Were you sworn? No, I was excited to plan on speaking on this topic. No problem. Still got to do the oath, though. Okay. 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? I do. Thank you.

Thank you. I, as I said, I didn't plan on speaking. My name is Howard Greenberg, uh 66 Carriage Hill Lane, and I also al also am a member of the uh pedestrian and bike committee and that's what prompted me to speak. Uh my this is a major thoroughare from Meisner points that way to the rest of the downtown south of Meisner. So the only ask that you consider there would be enough room on the sidewalk for people to pass by. And I know we're talking about zero parking, which to me isn't a problem. Maybe we need to go negative parking and convert that parallel parking on the street to a really wide sidewalk bike path and that would still allow some outdoor sidewalk space for the restaurant and you might if we I don't see the whole you know satellite view but a wide bike path walking path from uh uh what's the street where just south of Meisner from there all the way to Palmetto might be a great idea. Yeah. So maybe we need to think of bigger plans for for that section of the street.

Thank you, Mr. Greenberg. Anyone else wishing to be heard on this matter?

Sir, can you confirm that you were sworn? I was not. Anyone else wishing to speak who has not been sworn? Please raise your right hand. Do you swear or affirm that any testimony make it before this public hearing will be truthful and accurate? I do. Thank you.

Joe M is 254 Northeast Fifth Street. Um, so I wasn't planning to speak as well, but uh, Mr. Pman brought up an interesting point about the fact that this was going to be an affordable housing unit and asked Miss Zacharitus to define what that would be and notably she couldn't and stated something to the effect of that it would be based on market comps and what a similar studio apartment might go for or the fact that a one-bedroom in downtown runs about 12-,500 square ft if I remember correctly. So, at 101 via Meisner, a 628 ft studio currently rents for two uh 20 $2,675 a month. And an 897 ft one-bedroom rents for $3,146 a month. So, if that's the basis for affordability, I I would argue it's not affordable at all for the types of people that are being said to possibly come live here. Uh secondly, it was mentioned that you know how wonderful it is that there's a lot of connectivity to Palm Tran and Tri Rail. How many people in this room have taken the Palm Tran or Tri Rail to a restaurant? No one. And so, okay, congratulations. But I would argue that when you're going to establish a precedent, which will be said here, that you you can't just say, "Well, there's access to the palm trend, so that's good enough." It's wholly unacceptable. And then the the final thing I would add is there was a slide in the presentation about there being zero parking today. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the current use leases parking spaces from an adjacent property or nearby property. And so I think it's interesting that that wasn't mentioned. And if the applicant wants to have something with no on-site parking, they should at least consider offering some sort of modified plan that would

allow for people to drive to the building. Thank you.

Thank you. Anyone else wishing to be heard on this? Jonathan and 6501 Congress Avenue. Um, I do find it a little remarkable no parking um, with a restaurant. I understand that the existing uses may not have the demand per se for that, but last I checked, you can't land helicopters or there are no flying cars or anything like that as I've heard in many councils uh, of the past um, and never will be apparently in Boca Raton because we don't don't allow that. But, um, last I checked, we do still drive. Um, I pick up food from from, uh, Meisner Park and Yard House weekly. Um, you need to park somewhere. Um, and if there is no parking, um, I find that to be a bit concerning. the the the other part that I think is is more uh of an impact is I did read in this and I wasn't planning to speak but I did read in the supplemental package that the way that we based the the transit fee was on this part of town. Um and at first we took the lowest amount and then we went to the highest amount but um what the circuit cost that it didn't seem like was if we are trying to bring everybody to this place via something that's not their own car seems like they're going to have much more of an impact on circuit that gets people around in that part of town. Um, so as somebody who advocates a lot for this part of town and the bus that that I believe is vacant for for far too much of the time because people don't really

use that in Boca Raton. Um, I think it's concerning that we're going to uh establish a precedent that a restaurant in the downtown doesn't need parking. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Anjen. Anyone else? Last call. All right, I welcome back the applicant to address any points or conclude their remarks in the 7 minutes and 30 seconds they have remaining.

I will not utilize all 7 minutes and 33 seconds, but thank you. Um, Councilwoman Sipple, with regarding the sidewalk, all of our outdoor seating is outside of the downtown required sidewalk. So, just because there's tables there, we are not taking away any of the code required sidewalk. I just wanted to make that very clear. Um, Councilman Pearlman, next month, I think in June, they published Palm Beach County publishes the new AMIs. But just so you are aware, at 120% of the AMI, we have to remember that we live in a very affluent county. Um, it is not Boca Raton's AMI, it's the county's AMI. If it was Boca Raton's AMI, it would actually be excess excessively higher. Um, but it's it's averaged amongst Palm Beach County. So, I know Mr. Majis made a point about other developments. Again, I you're you're comparing apples and oranges. This development doesn't have a pool. This development doesn't have views. This development doesn't have a gym. These are common amenities that residents demand 99% of the time. Those amenities cost money. Things like the size of a unit makes it more expensive. Things like amenities, a pool, gym, lounges, spas, things of that nature also add to the cost of the unit. We don't have those things. So, I personally am not worried remotely as to whether or not these will be affordable in accordance with the statute and Palm Beach County, but by way of example, and I can send this to whoever would like to see it. Again, a new one will be published in about a month from the

county and it will be higher. But today, as I sit here right now, a studio apartment at 120% of the AMI is $2,457. That is Palm Beach County and the state. Those are their regulations. I just want to make that abundantly clear. Thank you so much for your time. Oh, I'm sorry. I have one more thing to say. Tui, which happened to be one of my favorite pizza restaurants in all of Bokeh, never mind just downtown, had zero parking spaces. I am pretty confident 80% of the Bokeh residents have eaten at Tuji's. You went there, you you figured out a way. It had zero parking spaces and it was extremely successful.

M. Zacharias, would you entertain a question real quick? Yes, of course. There have been some questions raised as to whether the units that would be built in this building, if approved, would in fact comply with the state law and the county's AMI, thus making them quote affordable or at least attainable. Is there any interest by your client in agreeing to some sort of commitment or a condition that would place it within that ambit such that it maybe put to rest some of that concern? You you don't I don't mean to put you on the spot. You can think about it. We're going to have some discussion up here in a minute, but Okay. Let me just confer with the client. Sure. Thank you.

Yeah. While that conferral is happening, I believe the city attorney had uh suggested he wanted to make a statement.

Yes, Mr. Chair and and uh members of the CRA. It's it's just a minor comment. There were there were some statements made um that this is not a development project and and I understand the rhetorical point that it's not development in the sense of demolishing a building and constructing a new tower. But I do want to be clear that under ordinance 4035 um it's still treated and legally treated as development. It's it's changing the use and intensity of property. Uh it has a conversion of OES, a technical deviation. So that's precisely why an IDA is required. So I understand the point was being made more rhetorically but as a matter of law under the ordinance it is uh treated as development.

Mrus. Thank you Mr. Keeler for that. I do think by definition if you want to consider this um development by all means um to me tearing down and building a building is actually development but that's okay. Um, with regard to the affordable housing, we are more than happy to have a condition added that the four studio apartments be restricted to the 120% of the AMI in accordance with Palm Beach County's yearly um, statement as to what that number actually is.

Okay. Thank you. I believe that calls us for that we can now close the public hearing. Beg your pardon? And I would ask for a motion, a second to adopt resolution number DDRI IDA CRP24-02. Do I hear such a motion? So moved. And I will second. And at this time, the commissioners, we can discuss. Who would like to go first? Would you go ahead, Mr. Rucker?

Thank you, Mayor Thompson. Sorry that I I write Tri Rail because I do write Tri Rail. I've also been on the bus. I was on the bus tour and I gave the feedback that the bus routes were too complicated for the average user of the city. I say this with all respect, but I walk the walk and I talk the talk. I do both or if that's backwards. Um, I believe that this is an incredible project. I believe that it starts not even putting a dent into our affordable housing or workforce housing or attainable housing in the city. I agree with Missaritis because we look at the entire county and the city of Boca Ruton is one of the second not only largest but more affluent zip codes in our county. I I believe that people will find food where they need to come to get food. I didn't know that Mr. Anjen uh moved to Bokeh. I thought because I because you're saying you're always you know having to come get food in Miser. Maybe now you live here. That's great. Um, but most people will find their way to the downtown or to wherever they're at. And what we continue to see throughout where I live, which is out this way. I wish we had the circuit, but in the downtown, we use funds from the CRA to support that effort. And those funds are your taxpayer dollars. And our taxpayers want the circuit in the downtown because they want that convenience. Whether it's to get around to go to a restaurant or go to a doctor's office, whether it's the elderly that gets around, whether it's students. So again, we have taxpayer dollars that we put into the pot in order to use these types of services. So I think to answer the question that somebody mentioned um from the audience, as you're aware, uh I've always been one of reduced parking in the downtown. The only way you're going to have a walkable downtown that's vibrant, uh again, I know those are bad words, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, downtown. Um unless we have that, Boca Raton will

die. It'll just be a place where nobody wants to come as it is. Uh usually in the evenings most people they ask like we don't want to be in Bokeh. There's nothing to do. I get that very often from many many people. So because of all that and because I believe that this is a right use for that area based on what we've approved in that area and the park and all the improvements in the downtown, I'm going to support this today. Thank you. Any other comments, Miss?

So, I have a comment um regarding affordable. So, Florida's definition of affordable means that it does not exceed 30% of the applicable income level. Correct. That may be a question for staff, Mr. Shad. Yes, that is part of the definition.

Okay. So then if we go over to the applicants narrative, let's see, hold on one moment. Let me pull that up. And their consistency with a comprehensive plan. Everything says this project provides an increased number of affordable housing units to low and moderate income households. This was the applicant findings. This project is a half mile from a Bright Line station and provides affordable housing. This project is a half mile from a Bright Line station and provides affordable housing. Once again, policy HO1.5.3, this project provides affordable housing units. So, I would expect these to be affordable by the definition that Florida states is affordable.

May I respond briefly? I I believe we had asked if they were willing to accept a condition on an approval that would put it within where they would guarantee that these units the price would be consistent with the state I guess the county guidelines up to 120%. Well, that's what gets him within the affordability uh requirements. Yeah. I mean, if if if what you're suggesting is having a condition that has additional terms to it, I maybe it's something we were worth worth asking the applicant if they'd be willing to accept that as well. Mr. Thompson, just one second, Miss Sipple, can we you want to close the loop on that? Do we want to invite them up?

I would like Yes, I would like them to have that in there that it is affordable by the Florida statutes. Also, I would like to move to table this until they can rectify the parking for the residential units. I know there's something in place now. Perhaps they can work something out in the interim because somebody in those residential units is going to have an automobile and they deserve to have a place to park.

Let me let me offer this. Those are two separate issues. One is the definition of affordability which is a perfectly fair point and I think the other point you raised has to do with providing some mechanism to having parking for the residential units. There had been I think Mr. Delmea's law firm had had an a license agreement with the city that allowed for parking of four at four parking spots in a city-owned parking lot. Right. That agreement or any kind of um extension of it is not part of this application. I think we'll bring back up Miss Zacharitas if that's okay. Could you explain? Sure. Um you want me to start with parking or affordability? Let's go to parking.

Okay. Um, so we've been at this for I'm ashamed to say because my client is here. Um, but we've been at this for almost two years and this is not even a tear down and rebuild. There were no setbacks to analyze. There was no nothing to analyze and we've been at this for almost two years. Um, so when we started this process to Mayor Thompson's point, Mr. Delm's actual office, the property owner, his actual law office is on the second floor. So when for many years, many many years prior to this application, he had been renting three either three or four spots from the city owned lot that is just north of Sovis um on on I think that's second on second. So, and federal. So, he had been renting spaces. The city staff had asked similar questions. Where are the residents going to park? To which I responded, not every person has a car. We agreed that there would be in any lease agreement with any renter in bold language denoting there is no parking. So if you have a car that the onus will be on the resident to find a place in an somewhere else. And by the way, we have ample public parking spaces in private garages throughout our city. throughout our city. Royal Palm Place right now has six in the Chops parking garage and they're about to add during the next phase of construction another 27 if memory serves in that parking garage. The Mark has public parking spaces in their garage. Alletto will have ample

parking spaces cuz guess what? the 99% of that building is going to be dark come 5:00 when the office users leave and go home. There is plenty of parking within not city-owned spaces but within private garages that are in fact open to the public. Okay. So, we had said if there's concern, we have these parking spaces at the parking lot just north of Soonovas, but they expire, I believe, either at 5 or 6:00 p.m. at night. So, they are only available to Mr. De Delm's law office until 5 or 6 at night, which is not really what a resident needs. A resident, if they have a car, really needs it for the nighttime. So, we had said if the city wanted to and if the city was willing, we can amend that existing license agreement to allow for evening overnight parking. The city wasn't interested in that. Now, if if Councilwoman Sipple would like to entertain that, we are more than willing to add additional time to an existing license agreement that is already with the city and Mr. Delme. Um, I hope that answers the parking. So, now let's go to affordability. Councilwoman Sipple, you are absolutely right. It is 30%. And those numbers I gave you, that is what it's derived from. So, that is a standard for anybody, not just irrespective of your economic status, the rule of thumb is you should not be paying more than 30% of your gross income. 30% of your gross income on housing. That is common knowledge throughout the country, not just the state of Florida. That is a staple. So when those affordability

numbers are generated by Palm Beach County, that is how they are generated. So, by definition, to Councilman Pearlman's point, by definition, the Florida statute says affordable is up to 120% of the AMI. That is taking into consideration what the average median income is in the county. And knowing that that person, any person, anyone in this room should not be paying more than 30% of their gross income on housing. That is how the county generates the 120% number. It's based on that. Does that make sense? Okay, I'm here if there's any more questions.

Doesn't that also include taxes, insurance, and utilities? Your total housing cost should not be more than 30%. And again, it is gross. It is not net. It is before taxes are taken out, things of that nature. I could sit here and and debate how the statute is drafted and whether I agree or disagree with it, but that is how it is calculated. Not all utilities, not your phone bill, not your electrical bill, that is not included in that 30%. But again, I don't work for the state. That's just how it was drafted and created.

Thank you, Miss Zacharitus. Uh, we're still on council member discussion. Miss Cibil, did you have any other comments you wanted to make? No. Okay, Mr. Pearlman.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Up until a few moments ago, the affordable housing as was described on this application did not meet the criteria, the established criteria for affordable housing, which provides a cap as 30% on an individual's uh percentage of income based upon AMI. Miss Sipple, thank you for sharing all of the terms where affordable was used throughout the application and and also today we saw in the presentation that again prior to any guarantee on abiding by this established criteria, the applicant referred to the housing here as affordable. Uh to me that's very troubling to put in an application uh selling pitching to the city council that units as part of a project are affordable when they don't meet the a very wellestablished standard of affordable housing in the state of Florida. Okay, I'll I'll provide my comments now. I I think this is a application worth supporting. The last thing on my notes here to talk about was the affordability piece. Uh I think the applicant has addressed that. They've already committed that these units will be affordable under state and and state law and the county standards. So I think we've addressed that. And and by the way, that's not uncommon for a condition to be added during the the discussion on this. It happens frequently. Residents, council members can raise questions. Some things may not have been fully, you know, fleshed out in the course of the review process, but that's why, you know, we have we get to have public hearings because it can bring to light issues like this and a reasonable

applicant, as this one has already shown, is willing to address those issues head-on and accept a condition, demonstrating and proving that these units will be upon being built that they would be affordable under state law. That satisfies me, at least as it relates to that to that issue. I also note that there's this is a there's no external modifications being made to this building that's been around for nearly 90 years. It hasn't had parking in decades. Even based on it current use, it was it was supposed to have 32 and it's been surviving quite well in that time without having any. Somebody made the comment that one of its nearest neighbors, the the pizza joint Tuis, had no parking available to it, at least assigned directly to it, and was thriving as far as I could tell. I don't think that it creates any kind of precedent because this is kind of an anomaly that and the building right next to it. There just really aren't that many other instances of buildings being this old in our downtown for which there is no parking. So, I'm not It doesn't strike me as being an issue we're going to have to address a lot. I don't think we'll address it hardly at all. Um I and I note too that the applicant explained that this isn't going to be occupying or overtaking the city sidewalk. The restaurant usage is going to be on a sidewalk, just not the portion that would normally be the sidewalk that you would have folks walking or or etc. So I don't think there's any issue with this is and I guess the main takeaway this is pretty modest as far as these things go. I don't think I recall a single time being asked to vote on a on a project that had no exterior modifications and that all that they were asking to do is carry over the same kind of anomalous parking that they had been having that they had in in existence for for for decades. So, I'm going to be supporting this and I think with the commitment by

the applicant to have these units be required to be affordable. I think that should satisfy any address any issue that folks have on that. Uh, any other comments? We probably need to modify the motion to incorporate the the commitment. Can you can you help me with that? And if I could just add one thing, Mayor Thompson, I agree. We're in a quasa judicial matter, which means we're in a live hearing. We can't come here predisposed with what we feel should happen during this hearing. That's a real big issue of governance. So, we have to listen to everything. Many times when you hear things, we're going to be making these decisions in person live as a body. And that's really important to be able to work with applicants that have been working on projects to bring better not only housing but also activation and it's taken them two plus years. So let's not lose sight of what the ask is as we understand this process. I want to also go back to the Senovas that parking area. I personally don't have any desire to extend because then you're taking away parking for people that want to come and park here at night in the downtown. So the reason we approved that contract the way we did that licensing agreement, excuse me, was to have because during the day people less people freak in the downtown. So we gave that that parking for a rate to the to the Diamadas and then at night it turns over at 5. But that was a specific intention when we did that licensing agreement. So those parking whether it's for I think it's four they're available to people coming into the downtown. So I don't think that's a viable in my opinion something that I would want to get behind. So that's my last comment. So do you want me to adjust the motion?

Can may I make one additional comment? Sure. Yeah. Go ahead. Mr. I'd also like to say that uh the applicant made a reference to Tu Cheese uh as the restaurant that had no parking and Mr. Thompson, you also spoke about that. But this project is different because in addition to the restaurant, they are also seeking four residential units on the second floor without any allocated parking. And that to me that I don't I don't agree that that should be passed forward in that state. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Pearlman. Okay. So, it go ahead, Miss Gra.

Um, Tuki's did not close. Um, they're now located on Yamato Road. They moved out of downtown. And in a local article, it said they've been looking to relocate. And one of the reasons was parking. I happen to remember that Tui's relocating, and it had to do with the fact that the the building that was being done nearby was called the Alto. that's their that's their family. Um I think it may have been slightly more complicated than that, but be that as it may, I think we need to modify the motion. Can we uh Mr. Ducker, can you help? Excuse me one second. Please don't tell me to be quiet. First of all, be respect.

Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. Let's I I I hear you. But let's please speak to each other one another with kindness. Please. Please shown you grace and kindness since I since you arrived on this deis. So do not ever tell me to shut up on the deis. Guys, ladies, please. I just because you're you're interrupting me. Ladies, why don't we work on the motion? Does anybody else want to take a stab at the motion?

It was your motion, but let me suggest this. Can we modify the motion with your permission since you were the movement? modify the motion to include the condition profered by the applicant that the four residential units would be affordable under state and county standards. So we would be adding we would be adding a condition uh to that effect. Can you indicate a motion or make a motion that would modify your existing motion to include that please?

So the motion on DDRI- number CRP-24-02 to include the comments made by Mr. Thompson to add the affordable housing reference made by the applicant during discussion. Are we satisfied on that Mr. City?

Mr. Chair, uh CRA members and and staff may have a more articulate way, but generally I think in addition uh and I think that motion is fine. I think then the form we might want to discuss in the record the form of the condition because I think does involve a declaration of covenants and restrictions if that's going to be part of of what the profer is and uh I had come up with and Brandon may have better language prior to issuance of a building permit the applicant shall execute and deliver to the CRA for recordation uh uh together with all applicable fees a declaration of covenants and restrictions in a form acceptable to the CRA attorney requiring that all four residential units approved as part of this IDA shall be maintained as affordable workforce housing units in compliance with the affordability requirements and definitions set forth in Florida statutes 420.00004 including applicable area medium income AMI limitations and required and requiring continued compliance with such affordability requirements for so long as the residential units remain in existence. Um, our development services director reminds me that we've done this kind of condition language before and uh, Stacy may have some language that may be a hybrid of what I just read into the record, but I think that that's the idea that I've heard discussed on the dance.

So, I I actually think we need some clarification before we get there. Um, Miss Sipple is correct on the definition of affordability and the statute refers to 30% of the household income and then it goes on to state four different categories of income that are being served. Right? And it appears that what we're talking about is the same as the income category that's targeted by live local and by our own CIMD program which is 120% of area median income which is called moderate income. So, if we're specifically targeting that, which is what it sounds like we're doing, we should state that in the condition. Um, but on the applicant findings, it actually says low to moderate income.

Yes. And maybe they can clarify further if you like, but I think and low is up to 80% of the area median income. Moderate is 120% of the area median income. I also had made a motion to table this until parking was found for the four residential units, at least four spots. Um, I think it's fair to say that when they use those terms, they were speaking colloquially and not trying to, you know, cite what the statute says. They didn't say that. I don't think that's what they meant. But they could clarify better than I could. I didn't write it for them. Um, but

well, saying and what's in writing is pretty important. I mean, we need it. Their findings say that this is going to support low to moderate income. So, which is it? Is it going to be 80% of the area median income or is it going to be 120% of the area median income?

Let me suggest this. It does seem like we're uh between the the planning professionals and the lawyers and the council members we have and and the applicant, we may have to put our heads together on what this looks like. Can I suggest like a 10-minute break for council to talk to our city attorney and planning director and then I think we may have some better options to contemplate and consider. Does that work? All right, 10 minutes, folks. We'll be back here at 3 o'clock.

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Everybody could return to their seats. We will get back to business here. I just had a brief conversation with council for the applicant to discuss how they wish to proceed in light of the comments and discussion that the council members had. So I will welcome back to the podium Miss Zacharitis. Go ahead ma'am.

Thank you. Uh we respectfully request a postponement to I believe June 9th date certain. Um, I will respectfully request an opportunity to meet with each of the five council members individually to discuss the application and understand more some of their concerns. Uh, to date, I haven't been able to meet with the council. We requested meetings and I did not hear back um from many of you. Uh so I do would respectfully request an opportunity to meet individually with each of you to discuss um and then come back on June 9th.

Okay. Thank you, Miss Zacharitas. Mr. Kaylor, uh we've closed the public hearing now. We were undertaking council member discussion. I am willing to entertain this motion. I'll make the motion myself to postpone this matter to June 9th, 2026. I believe that's Tuesday meeting. We had talked about that. um how would we best accomplish that given the quasi judicial nature of this procedure?

So right right before the break we were having a discussion regarding a a potential amendment regarding the affordability uh condition and um procedurally how to do that. So, I guess big picture, the CRA as a body always retains full discretion to decide whether to proceed today or continue to the hearing. And uh there there was a in addition to the amendment, there was a a motion that was out there still on postponing the matter uh for purposes of addressing um parking for the residential units uh made by uh Commissioner Sipple. But uh to answer your question, the short answer is this body there there's no rule that says you have to vote on X Y or Z. If this body desires to continue the matter as as requested by the applicant till June 9th to address some of the matters that have been raised today, uh that's absolutely within your discretion.

And I believe part of the intention on seeking the postponement was in order to address the parking situation involving the four residential units. So I believe that speaks to Miss Sipple's request in that matter. Miss, you're recognized. It was regarding the affordable housing and also the parking. Okay. Very good. Well, they have asked to postpone consistent with your request in that manner because they want to address those things and have the opportunity to address those things prior to a vote. Uh so I'll make the motion to postpone this matter. It's CRP24-02 to June 9th, 2026. Do I have a second? Second.

Okay. All in favor of postponing to June 9th in accordance with the motion, please say I. I. I. Any opposed?

Okay. Well, we will see that applicant back here on June 9th. We can move on now to I believe that concludes our quasi judicial and related public hearings portion of our meeting. So we can move on to public requests. So if anyone wishes to be heard on matters relating to the Boeron Community Redevelopment Agency, your CRA, you can step forward and be heard for three minutes. But please first give us your name and address. Mr. Unjen. Jonathan Unian, 1938 Northeast 6th Street, Deerfield Beach, Florida. Uh, thought I'd give a different address. Uh, you may not be familiar with that area. It's the town next door. Deerfield ends on 7th Street. One side of it, 7th, the other side of it is northeast or southeast 31st Street. It's on the island. You may not be familiar with it. It's closer to the downtown, half the distance than when you where you live, council member Ducker. So I happen to be a property owner direct your comments to the chair.

I happen to be a property owner pretty large commercial property owner as well as a business owner in this municipality. So to shame and to try and act like my voice doesn't matter is disrespectful and disgusting. So last I checked I do go to Meisner multiple times a week cuz I live half the distance to the downtown than you. Thank you very much.

I did miss a card here. Here I beg your pardon, Mr. Starkov. You had indicated you wanted to speak on our CRA agenda. Go ahead. Name and address, please, sir. Earl Starkov, 3260 St. Charles Way here in Bokeh. Uh good afternoon, Mayor and Council. My comments relate to public safety uh impacts associated with traffic parking circulation uh and emergency access within the downtown CRA. Last month uh during my Memorial Park uh campus request, I spoke about reducing unnecessary vehicle trips into the downtown area. As I reviewed the uh particular application, the 101 East Palmetto uh application and the full staff report, I noticed the project itself is estimated to add 99 additional daily trips to the downtown area. Uh that's the observation that brings me here today. I want to be clear, this is not an anti-development or an anti-redevelopment statement. Uh downtown Bokeh has benefited from redevelopment and investment for many years, but we are now at a point where the city has decades of realworld operational experience to evaluate not just theoretical assumptions regarding mobility, parking behavior, and transportation patterns. This application uh proposes increasing intensity through residential and restaurant air uh uses based in part on historical DRRi assumptions, DDRI assumptions regarding walkability, transit availability, shared parking, and reduced automobile dependency. Yet what many residents observe daily is

continued heavy vehicle reliance, parking stress, circulation conflicts, ride sharing uh congestion, stacking of valet stacking of vehicles and increased operational friction throughout the downtown area. This is not simply about to me counting parking spaces. It is about how the downtown system functions operationally as a whole. and especially emergency response movement when every second matters when police, fire or medical responders need unobstructed access through increasing activity. I asked the council to step back and conduct a broader empirical operational review of downtown district, including traffic patterns, parking utilization, resident and employee vehicle demand, ride share impacts, emergency access, pedestrian and bicycle safety, and cumulative system operational impacts. I sped up, Mr. Mayor, because I'm watching the clock this time. uh there is no longer simply about individual projects. It is about how downtown system safety and functionally operates for residents, businesses, visitors and emergency respondents under continuing intensification. Thank you. Made it.

Thank you, Mr. Starkov. We appreciate that. Anyone else for public requests? Mr. Cedo.

Good afternoon. One more time. Juan Caisedo, 5560 Norththeast 7th Avenue. And I'm here to talk about placemaking. How do you make a city? And actually, I want you guys to consider this when you're voting for a project. How do you make a city? A city is made of every single building that that has some historical quality to be demolished and and be built brand new to comply with with uh certain data that that that we have or is it a or is it a is a place where you keep some of these historical elements that are important for the city to retain some of the character and I wish and I hope that that you guys consider that when when you're voting for a project. I think it's important to keep the consistency in the city's character. Not every project should be pushed to be de redeveloped and I am obviously I was part of the project that that was uh postponed just before but actually triggers the the that that thought in my mind that what will happen to the city of Savannah Charleston if every historical building that is there will have to be demolished because it didn't comply with parking or it will it will be pretty catastrophic. So we we have to think about how do we create places that are memorable, cities that are significant. I've been involved in the city of Boka for many years and for those of you who don't don't know me, I was also part of the of the community appearance board for 14 years. I served the city 14 years uh taking care of of of the character of the city, making sure that that what we were allowing to be built was in character and in keeping with with the beauty of our city. So I'm very much in favor of that and I respect every one of your decision and and and and your opinions about these things. But when you think about specific projects, also think about what is the place that we're trying to create, not the the type of cars that are moving in or the the number of parking spaces that we have associated with those with those uses. If if there are buildings that are

uh um non-compliant, especially in the downtown, which are many of them are not, most of them are are are non-compliant with today's standards ex except for the brand new development. Um yet those buildings will add character and scale to what otherwise would be a pretty dense downtown. Uh so I I am here to speak as an architect, as an urban designer, as a city citizen of this uh place that I've been living here for for a long time and and I believe that creating a place that that is significant also involves kind of looking back and saying, okay, what is it that we can keep from the back from the past from the history to retain the character of some of these streets? I hope that the the the move in this project that is coming in front of you in the future doesn't involve redevelopment of that corner because I think it will be detrimental to to to the downtown and to that section of the San Square um section. But in addition to that, it happens it will happen every everywhere that you see this this type of condition. Make sure that we are creating a place and I guess my time is up.

Thank you, Mr. Kaiso. Well done. Next up for public request. Yes, Mr. Gwyn.

Yes. Hi, my name is Dan Guuan. I live at 850 Southwest 2nd Street. For those of you that don't know me, I am also the president of the Bocarone Cultural Consortium. I am the executive director and co-artic director of Boca Ballet Theater. I moved here when I was a young man. I've been here 35 years now trying to promote the arts and culture in this town. I'm very proud of all of the cultural organizations that are here. I'm speaking just generally on behalf of all of them that uh we are really looking forward to uh your support and uh this is a lovely community. I've devoted my life to it. Um this community has a history, believe it or not, of undersupporting culture when you look at other communities like Naples or Sarasota or those around. Um, so as we're moving ahead and trying to look at what our plans are going to be, I not I know a lot of the plans of what have been tried in the past or what we're trying to move ahead with have been uh possibly altered, but I just want to say that we have a lot of wonderful cultural institutions in this town. I know that you're about to have an agenda item come up. Um, we are a strong, vibrant community. My name is Dan. If you want to talk to me about what's going on in this community, I'd be glad to meet with you. But I am in support of supporting the cultural organizations in this town. They are strong. They are beautiful. They are vibrant. And they need a home. That's it. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Gwyn. Anyone else for public requests? Last call. You want to take another bite of the apple dam? All right, we'll close the time for public requests. Moving on to resolutions, regular public hearings. We have none. Same with other business and settlements. So, we move on to director's report. I hope surprise you, Mr. Sahini. What report, if any, do you have today, sir?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. No report. City attorney or I should say CRA attorney report. Mr. Caleb, I I don't have a report, but I do have a comment. Just in terms of the downtown legally, I do want to state that no one's ever required to tear a building down. Um, you know, the issue is again when parties come and seek to intensify or change use that sort of triggers issues under our development approval. So it it it doesn't mean that existing properties can't continue to exist. Um, so I just wanted to state that for the record that we're not requiring people to tear things down. Uh, that's it's not the option between either and or. Thank you, Mr. Kaylor. Does that conclude your report? That does. Thank you.

All right. Thank you. Now it's time for commissioner's reports. We'll start on my left. Mr. Pearlman, no report. Thank you, Miss Cibil. No report. Thank you, Miss Grow. No report. Okay, Miss Rucker, no report.

Oh, that's a that is music to my ears. Although I do have a brief report just to say, and I don't want to steal your thunder, Mr. Suhane, but I wanted to report because this happened in our CRA uh last Friday. The city held its annual police memorial ceremony. It was extremely well done. and it always is. But this one was was fitting and touching and somber and it it was highlighted in part by a fantastic rendition of the uh of the Star Spangle Banner by one of our own staff members. And it was a a fantastic time where we remember the service given by and and the dedication and sacrifice made by those who keep us safe all the time. And we want to highlight that for everybody that um our staff did a fantastic job at our most recent police memorial ceremony and I wanted to make sure that the staff was aware of how well that was received.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That concludes my report. So, at this time, it is now 3:20 in the PM. We can adjourn this meeting of the Book Raton CRA. We will be back shortly with a workshop meeting of your Book Ron City Council. Thank you.

Hey. Hey. Hey. Hey, hey, hey. All right.

Hey. Hey. Hey. Oh. Ah,

All right, friends. We are back in action. This is your Book Ron City Council workshop. We will start. I think we would normally start with proclamations and presentations, but I do recognize that there have been several members of the public or interviewees for our boards that have been waiting patiently and with everybody's indulgence, I think we may move that up to the front so we can uh hear from our applicants for our board interviews and then we can go into proclamations and presentations. Is that okay with everybody? All right. So, then we can go to board interviews. First one is affordable housing advisory committee. I don't believe we have any applicants here for that, but if you're here and you submit an application, please let us know. We're excited to have you. Not seeing anybody, we can move on to the Booker Tone Airport Authority. Who would like to interview first?

Mr. Pollock, congratulations.

Good afternoon. My name is Melvin Pollock, 2003 North Ocean Boulevard in Boca Raton, Florida. I have been on the airport authority board for a few years now and also served as chairman for two years. Likewise, before that I was chairperson of the authority noise abatement committee for two years and we had great success. Excuse me. I am the only aviation airport management professional and trained aviation safety expert from the University of Southern California Safety Center on the board. I hold an FA I hold an FAA commercial pilot's license with instrument rating since I'm sorry to say 1966. And I have been I have functioned as the airport manager of two large Air Force bases here in Florida, Homestead Air Force Base and Patrick Space Force Base. In my civilian career, I have been involved with master planning and design of major airports here in Florida and all over the world, including all safety and noise abatement protocols. I also spent 20 years as an Air Force fighter pilot and instructor fighter pilot and flew 78 combat missions in Vietnam. From a local perspective, I was trained and certified as an aircraft accident investigator, which allows for my input on Boca Raton air and ground safety enhancements. Also, from a local perspective, I have vast experience in both my military and civilian airport and aviation experience with noise issues, noise studies in the basement, master planning, and overall airport design. I have been on the board now for about eight years and I hope you'll consider appointing me again. I think we're doing

great things. We have a fantastic airport manager, a fantastic staff and the airport is just booming. Thank you very much. Any question? Thank you, Mr. Pollock. Any questions for Mr. Pollock? Doesn't look like it. Thank you, sir. Thank you for your service.

Who's up next? Mr. Tucker. Good afternoon, Mr. Mayor and me members of the city council. Bob Tucker, 2609 Northwest 23rd Way. I have lived in our beloved Bokeh since 2008 after leaving California with my wife and four children. Now 18 years later, the children are grown and we are empty nesters. That plus being retired gives me plenty of time to serve our community. Not only do I lead the Boca Raton Police Foundation, which helps keep our brave men and women in blue safe and secure, but I also serve on the Chamber of Commerce board, and I'm a incoming president of the Downtown Rotary Club, plus I serve on a couple of other nonprofits like Men Giving Back. In these roles, I leverage my four decades of marketing and PR experience as an executive with Boeing, Disney, and my last assignment at ADT, which is headquartered here in Bokeh. Serving on the airport authority board for the past eight years has been an absolutely incredible experience. Along with my six other board members, we give guidance to the world's best airport executive director, Clara Bennett, and her extremely highly talented team. During my recent term as board chair, we kicked off the airport's 75th anniversary celebration and opened our new observation area, which I'm very pleased to tell you has hosted 15,000 visitors to learn more about the magic of flight. The airport is truly a crown jewel of our community. Its treasured history and diamond bright future propel me to continue serving. I want to help continue to make a difference and adding

value to our residents. I come before you today to kindly ask for reappoint. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Tucker. Any questions for Mr. Tucker? Nope. Any other applicants for the Book Raton Airport Authority? Please step forward.

Hello again, council members. Uh my name is Howard Greenberg, 626 Carrie Chill Lane in Bokeh. Uh the Boca Raton Airport has been an important part of my life since 1980. That's where I first went there to learn to fly. And ever since then, the last 45 years, I've been an active pilot operating out of the Boeron airport. I've formed many friendships. Many of my best friends I've met at the airport and I'm pretty much there every day hanging out. So, I know what's going on. This long-standing involvement has given me a really deep understanding of the airport's operations, the tenants who are there, the different businesses, and the important role that the airport plays in our city. Personally, I hold a airline transport pilot certificate and I'm also a certified flight instructor. In addition, I serve as a volunteer with the FAA as a FAA safety uh representative. And in that role, I lead uh meetings monthly of the Boertome Pilot Association where we bring in guest speakers to talk about safety um as well as have a representative from the airport authority speak about operational issues etc. Uh my professional background includes 12 years working at uh IBM uh followed by ownership of a technology consulting firm that um I operated for 30 years. I'm also a certified public accountant in the state of Florida retired now and that gives me a lot of experience in the finance and uh accounting end as well. After I retired from the technology industry, I served as a pilot for Delta private jets, which is a part 135 charter operator. Actually even flew into Boca Raton. Um, today I work part-time as a Czech flight

instructor for Ling University, which you may know is located on the airport and has a pretty extensive uh training program. So, it's very uh um important to me to help mentor and train the next generation of pilots. I've witnessed the airport's growth. We didn't have a tower back when I started flying. Now, we have a tower. We have many, many hundreds of times the operations especially of uh jet aircraft. I believe I can bring a historical perspective and practical experience to the airport authority board. I believe strongly that the airport should continue to develop in a very balanced and thoughtful way. One that supports all segments of general aviation that serves a community and accommodates the diverse type of aircraft users and aircraft that are operating at the Boertown airport. Thank you for your time.

Thank you. Any questions for Mr. Greenberg? No. All right. Thank you for applying. You're welcome.

Any other applicants for this board? Hello, I'm Michael Grana. Uh 745 Northwest 6th Avenue. Uh I'm an ATP uh pilot, CFIMEI. Spent a lot of time in the skies. Got about 20 years of strict corporate aviation flying Gulf Streams and private jets all over the world. Um, aviation to me has always been my passion. I have a degree in aeronautics with airport development, planning, aviation management from St. Louis University Parks College. I believe that this airport is a cornerstone to this community. It brings in good business. It brings in good people and it helps the community expand its outreach. I believe that the airport is very vital to the community. Over the years, I've worked for various uh private individuals uh for charter companies flying part 135. I've even worked with foreign governments setting up uh IO landing sites for individuals with their private helicopters on neighboring islands next door. Um, me in a nutshell, aviation nut. Fell in love with it at 13 years old. Right now, I know I'm look young, but I'm kind of semi-retired flying um just contract right now. Bringing a child up with the passion for aviation. We go to the airport, we hang out at that beautiful observation center. I feel that this airport and this community can only benefit from the growth and

the conservation of the airport.

Thank you, Mr. Grana. Any questions for this applicant? No. All right. Thank you, sir. Any more applicants for the Bocarone Airport Authority? Mr. Balden. Good afternoon, mayor, member of council. I am Jean Fulton, Boca Raton. When my family moved here to the airport, 35 uh the airport was 35 years old. Uh today, uh the airport celebrates its 78th anniversary. over the 42 years that uh I have lived here and um much has changed at the airport and uh during my tenure we've created a lot of I think change uh particularly in the earlier years has been my privilege to be a member and former chairman of the airport over that 14 years and previously uh speakers who have spoken here I think have addressed most of the contributions the benefits and uh the future of the airport. So, I won't repeat all of that only to say I'm very optimistic about the future of the airport and the accomplishments that we've made over the past years and for those reasons I ask for a reappointment to the Bocarone Airport Authority Board and I certainly invite any questions you might have. Thank you, Mr. Fulton. Anyone would take him up on that. Any questions? Not at this time, sir. Thank you for applying. Any more applicants to the Book Rome Airport Authority? All right. Thank you. The applications will be considered and an appointments the appointments will be made tomorrow night. No obligation to be here for that though. Please, if you would like to come, you're more than welcome. We can move on then to our next board which is the Citizens Pedestrian and Bikeway Advisory Board. Do we have any applicants here for that board today?

Seeing none, we'll move on to the advi environmental advisory board. Any applicants for that board here today? I don't see Miss Gray. I think she was the only applicant. We can move on then to the beg pardon. Historic Preservation Board. I do believe we have an applicant here today. Step forward. Please state your name and address and you'll have three minutes.

Hi, good afternoon. Fabiola Bernier N um 1908 Northwest 4th A and I'm really grateful for the opportunity to be here today. Um my background is in culture anthropology and community engagement. Um two disciplines that or disciplines that really shape me as a person and the way I approach historic preservation. I have spent time in the classroom teaching and in the community building relationships. Beyond that, I am civically engaged. I currently serve on the board of a local social justice organization dedicated to preserving the history of Pearl City, which is the first uh community established in Boca Raton for African-American farm workers. And I previously previously served on a board appointed by the city council. So those experiences brought me to Spatty Cultural Heritage Museum, the only ma um African-American museum in Palm Beach County where I serve as a museum educator. Um I work to make history meaningful and accessible to the public and I bring an um anthropologist lens to my work. um centering the stories of the community and allowing visitors to see themselves um reflected in the history. So many of you may know me from my work um that I have done in the community, but I hope today um you have a fuller picture of who I am um and my perspective and my experience that I would bring to this board. Um, and I'm fully committed to contributing to the board and I I thank you for your time.

Thank you, Miss Bernier. Any questions for this applicant? Nope, not today. Thank you. Appointments will be made tomorrow night. We can move on then to our last board for the day, that being the Marine Advisory Board. Are there any applicants? No, because nobody had applied. So, we can conclude those interviews. And, uh, I'll reiterate that appointments will be made tomorrow night. No need to be there, but please, if you would like to come and see your city council in action, by all means, you're welcome. Mayor Thompson. Yes. I apologize for the interruption. I believe we had the applicant for the bike board that just walked in. Oh, is that right? We can hear him out of order. By all means, sir, step forward. State your name and address. And tell us why you're interested in serving.

I apologize for being so late to uh just rushing from work. My name is Larry Dinner. Uh my address is 130 Northeast Spanish Court here in Boca Raton. Um, I'm applying for the uh pedestrian and cycling committee. Um, I a I'm a 40year resident 40. God, I can't even believe I said that out loud quite frankly. Uh, the city of Boca Raton and an avid cyclist and walker. So, uh, cycling and this is a committee that's near and dear to my heart. Um I ride my bike about two three times a week probably for the last 25 years as well as walking um along A1A and our parks and our wonderful parks and uh just to commend the city for doing such an amazing job for keeping them clean and neat and I just want to uh be part of it as uh somebody who uh cares you know about the city walkability and the importance of keeping it the way it's been for the last uh 40 years since I've been here. So, uh my personal experience, I'm a uh licensed commercial realtor. Um I do industrial properties. I've been on the development side, but only warehouses and mostly in Brower and Day County at this point is uh my work. So,

okay. Thank you, Mr. Does that conclude your remarks? I mean, that concludes my remarks unless some someone has questions for me. And do we members have questions? We do not. Thank you for your interest in serving me tomorrow night.

So with that, we can conclude our board appointments and move on to proclamations and presentations. We have several and I'm happy to report this is a shout out to you, Miss Blank, that we will have public comment on all matters related to these uh issues on our presentation list at the end of the once those matters are concluded. So after 1 2 3 four of these items uh are discussed we will be have we'll have a time for public comment relating specifically to them. Our first one is a presentation by Joanna Marie Kay regarding the Festival of the Arts 2025. Miss Kay and Miss Oor I see. Welcome.

Yes I have been invited to do this. Uh my uh I'll just start with for the record. I'm Andrew Livian Oor, 47year resident of Bocar Raton, as well as a former city council member and deputy mayor of this fine council. Um I and I'd like to wish you all the best of luck. It's the first opportunity I've had to say that publicly. So, good luck to all of you. Um in Boca Raton, we speak about quality of life and the arts is an essential component of what makes that meaningful. The Festival of the Arts, Bokeh, has become a cornerstone of our community identity, bringing people together while attracting audiences from across the region for the past 20 years. Culture is not only vital to integrate into the quality of life. It's also an important economic economic driver and brings vitality to the community and a distinction to the community of who we are and what what we are as a culture. A huge thank you to the city of Boca Raton for supporting the festival of the arts boer for this 20 years. It's been very very meaningful to us and the community at large. And now it is my greatest pleasure to introduce Joanna Marie Kay who will speak of the festival's cultural and economic impact and why continued partnership with the city is so important in sustaining and growing the success. Thank you very much Joanna.

Thank you Mr. Miss Kay. Great to see you again.

Oh thank you so much. Um I am Joanna Marie K 6325 Los Flores Drive and thank you so much for allowing me to speak and congratulations to all of you on this wonderful council. Okay, Boca Raton 20 years thanks to the city of Boca Raton's continued support. Festival of the Arts Bokeh has just completed a highly successful 20th season. For two decades, this festival has brought world-class arts, culture, and educational programming to our community, enhancing Boca Raton's reputation as a vibrant cultural destination. Over these 20 years, we've presented an extraordinary range of internationally acclaimed artists, authors, and performers from classical music and jazz to dance, popular music, and our wildly popular films with live orchestra. This slides highlights just a few of the remarkable names we've welcomed, including Prman, Sergio Menddees, Bill Murray, and Doris Karns Goodwin. What makes Festival of the Arts Bokeh unique is our breadth. We're the only organization in this area offering programming of this scale and diversity and we truly offer something for everyone. This year's attendance was exceptionally strong with more than 6600 attendees. According to the Americans for Arts Economic Impact survey, festival goers spent an estimated 154,954 beyond ticket purchases at Boca Raton restaurants, shops, and parking facilities. 32% of attendees came from outside of Boca Raton and 19% came from outside of Palm Beach County. That means the festival is not only serving residents, it's attracting visitors and

driving outside dollars directly into our local economy. The festival itself also invested heavily in the local economy. This season, we spent nearly $500,000 with Boca Raton businesses and organizations, including printing, hospitality, lodging, transportation, production services, and more. These are dollars reinvested directly into our community. While city support is essential to our success, the festival also enjoys broad support across the community. This year, we received nearly $450,000 of inind contributions from local businesses and partners. That level of private sector commitment reflects strong confidence in the festival and its value to Boca Raton. Using the Americans for Arts Arts and Economic Prosperity 6 calculator, the festival generated a total economic impact of more than $1.3 million for Boca Raton. This is a powerful return on the city's investment. The festival is not simply a cultural asset. It's an economic engine for our community. Our media reach this season was extensive, generating nearly six and a half million impressions. That included more than three million through television and radio, more than a million in print, and nearly two million through web and social media. A special highlight was our partnership with WPTV Channel 12, which conducted instudio interviews throughout the week leading up to the festival and broadcast live from Meisner Park on both Friday evenings. The photo shown here at the top is from channel 12's coverage of our instrument petting zoo, a free public

event held outside the amphitheater and open to everyone. No ticket required. This kind of visibility showcases Boca Raton as a dynamic center for arts and culture. So, what is an instrument petting zoo? I thought you might want to know. It's an engaging hands-on experience that introduces children and adults to the orchestral instruments by allowing them to see, touch, and even try playing them with guidance from professional musicians. It's often a child's very first connection to live music making and it creates excitement about the arts that can last a lifetime. Education and community outreach remain central to our mission. This year, students from the Youth Orchestra of Palm Beach County performed on stage with Time for Three. More than 70 students and adults participated in festival master classes. Our Boca Reads partnership with the Boca Raton Public Library continued as a free annual literary event. We provided more than 500 complimentary tickets to students and their families. We awarded more than $8,000 in cash prizes through our annual music competition. And last year's competition winner had the extraordinary opportunity to perform with the festival orchestra. These programs help cultivate the next generation of artists and arts patrons. It's also documented fact that when you teach a child music, they have higher academic achievement, better school engagement, and stronger social emotional skills and so much more. I could send you countless studies on the benefits. We are deeply grateful for everything the city of Boca Raton does for Festival of the Arts BOCA. From direct grant

funding to critical logistical support, including the amphitheater tent, your partnership makes the festival possible. The festival's cultural, educational, and economic contributions to Boca Raton are only possible with your continued support, and we need to start planning soon. Thank you for helping us ensure that Festival of the Arts Bokeh continues to enrich this community for many years to come. I'm happy to answer any questions you might have. Thank you, Miss Kay. Thank you for that presentation. Members, do you have any questions for Miss Kay? No. All right. Yep.

Thank you again. Fantastic job. I know this has been a staple in our city for many years and it is not just put it this way. It's not necessarily just children's first interactions with some of these things when they get to have and come and participate. Children's of all ages. That that's a good way of putting it and that includes me. So I appreciate very much the opportunity that you all give to the community by providing this this level of of performance and I think it's a it's a gem in this community. It has been for a long time. Thank you. Any other comments? You want to make comments, trucker?

Sure. Thank you so much for the presentation. I'll keep it short. U I attended one of the events. I try to make at least one or two because it always coincides when we're traveling to Tallahassee, but um great event. Every year there's momentum. There's a lot of folks that are local, but a lot of people that I don't recognize in the audience, and I always like that. So that's showed in your in your statistics. Uh, anything we can do to support culture and arts in our area is always um deemed necessary. I think we need more of it. Uh, you know how I feel about that. And um, thank you so much for all the work that you put in to staff for helping facilitate some of the festivals and keeping everyone safe and and moving. So, thank you. Thank you. Okay.

All right. Thank you very much.

Thank you. That was item 1A under proclamations and presentations. Item 1B is the downtown civic engagement task force discussion. It says here to recognize the city manager, but I talked to city manager about this and I wanted to offer the following. So, I know that this was something that we had talked about now for a couple of meetings and I know tomorrow there's on the agenda a a resolution that would resend or repeal the downtown civic engagement task force. I happen to think that there is still merit to this task force continuing, but I recognize also that since last meeting where we pivoted towards hiring an outside consultant through an RFP process to undertake kind of a larger civic area master plan. I think it would make sense for us to consult with that consultant, meaning once we identify these folks, have them opine as to whether we should have a downtown civic engagement task force, what need, if any, there might be. Um, since they're going to be in a way help facilitating the discussion on that. So my suggestion would be we table any discussion of the downtown civic engagement task force until we've brought on a consultant through the RFP process which we're going to get to in a second the discussion about that. Um and then once we've identified these this firm we can have a discussion with them and and consult with them. I think there is value in that to see if they have uh thoughts on a task force retaining its place in this discussion or not. Um, happy to have any further discussion about it. Now, that was kind of my thought is it might make sense to have the consultant opine and we're at least a few months away from potentially that happening. Uh, any other thoughts on that matter?

Mr. Thompson? Yeah, Mr. Premlin, I just thank you for sharing that. I just want to confirm that the resolution to repeal the task force will still be on the agenda tomorrow night. I'll respond only to say that I'm going to be making a motion to postpone a vote on that until we get to the point where we have a consultant who can give us some input on it, but that's up to the council's discretion tomorrow whether to postpone that matter or to uh have it heard then. It stays on the agenda for now, but at the moment, my plan is to have make that motion tomorrow night regarding postponing a vote on that until we have a consultant on board. Okay.

Any other thoughts? Yeah, I think that um you know discussion has evolved since the proposal of this task force and as we've gained more information on it with its potential to create division within the community and and exclusion of residents from the process. So, I'm looking forward to taking a vote on that tomorrow night.

Okay. I I'm I can't I can't not say that I um I don't dis I don't agree with you necessarily that it creates division or uh has kind of the negative effects that you uh outlined, but reasonable minds could disagree on that. That's why we'll talk about it tomorrow. Any other comments on that, Mr. Rucker?

Sure. Um I agree. If we're hiring an outside entity to run not only the public engagement portion of what we're calling the civic downtown civic area discussion, um let's see what they recommend. Maybe they recommend something completely different. Maybe they've ran task force. Maybe they are against task force. We don't know what that looks like. So tableabling the resolution and not spending any more time on that discussion is good for all. So that way when we decide whether we put the resolution back later and it's voted down or voted up again, we have everything in order so that we're not continuously discussing items that are going to keep coming up before the body. There's a lot of work to be done. And I've said it and I'll say it again, we can't spend the entire rest of whatever days we have on the downtown. We have a huge city to run. We have to focus on all different areas. So, I think it makes good sense to just put on hold, see what the experts that we're looking for with this RFP bring to the table and then we can move forward.

Okay. Thank you. Any other comments, Miss Grow? I agree with Miss Ducker. Okay. Very good. I think that concludes our discussion on the downtown civic engagement task force. So, we can move on. Despite what you just said, Miss Ducker, we're going to move on to a discussion of the downtown civic area. It's here on the agenda. So, Mr. Sohaney, who will be making a presentation or introducing this item?

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I'll just kick it off, then I'll turn it over to our deputy city manager, Andy Lucassich. Uh so, big picture uh on the agenda is uh an RFP. And I just want to clarify you know uh generally it's referred to as an RFP in public because that terminology is more commonly understood. Uh but this particular procurement process itself is actually an RFQ. Uh which is a pro that process is consistent with the CCNA. Um so uh that's uh so don't don't be confused by RFP and RFQ. It's it's fundamentally the same thing from for this discussion uh going forward. And and so we're the big thing is we're going to look at the civic area as we mentioned before uh in particular uh the 17 acres and uh Mr. Luke will will talk about uh the the RFP process timeline which begins today uh and it proposes that that timeline uh ends at the end of July. And we're going to focus on the scope of work uh in front of the council members. You've got a copy of of the the visual representation of the RFP process timeline as well as you have a copy of the public engagement and master planning timeline in front of you as well as a the scope of work associated uh with this RFQ RFP. And one thing that we'll also talk about is in the scope of work of the civic area uh which is generally defined as uh Memorial Park the 17 acres west of Second Avenue. We'll we'll talk a little bit separately about uh the police uh facility uh on a and we'll we'll talk a little bit more about that as we move into the process. So with that I'll turn it over to Mr. Kasich to start the RP process timeline discussion.

Thank you, Mr. Sini. Uh, good afternoon, Mayor, Council. Um, so you've you've seen um a lot of this information. I'm going to put up on the screen for you in your PowerPoint, but um I I'll walk through it at a relatively high level just so the uh public can understand what we're planning on doing. You we've all had individual conversations with you, but gives you the opportunity then to ask us any clarifying questions or if there are some changes that you want to see. um in terms of what our process is and what some of our objectives are. Um you know, this is a great time to start making sure that we understand them and we can pivot and change some directions slightly if need be. Um so I want to talk first about the RFP process or as Mr. Soy was talking about, you know, this is really an RFQ process that's really based on the qualifications of the firms that were looking to um help facilitate this process, this public engagement process, as well as doing the design work. So, we're going to be looking strictly for um those firms that those firms or those uh uh teams of firms that have the qualities and have the uh uh meet the criteria of the RFP to make sure they can implement the project uh the way that we think it it needs to be done in order to get the uh robust public engagement and make sure that we have some direction going forward. Um so, as Mr. Sohaney said, you know, today is really the the kickoff on this timeline that's represented on the screen for you. Um this is opportunity for us to get um any questions um that you might have answered, get any um direction uh that you might want to shift um in terms of the process or uh some of our objectives. Get those things clarified now so that we can move forward. Um and and we've talked about this individually, but this is a an incredibly aggressive timeline. Um you know, the and I'll and I'll I'll describe the describe how aggressive it is as we're going through it. um trying to issue the RFP. Um we're we're

targeting the end of the week um which is fast. Uh but you have uh you've actually seen the um really the meat of the RFP or the RFQ. It gives the scope of work. It gives the framework for what it is that we want to accomplish, which which is what I'll talk about on the next screen. Uh but it gives it it it really it really provides the body of what the RFQ is going to look like. There are certainly some technical components to what our RFQS or RFPs generally look like. Um, but you're you're looking at the the bulk of what the consultants are going you've looked at what the bulk of the consultants um are going to be reviewing. Um, so hopefully that goes out by the end of the week. So that's May 15th. Um, we're we're giving firms about three weeks to respond. That that is pretty quick. Okay. um you know so so with within that 3 weeks we have to make sure that we can have some sort of uh pre uh presubmitt conference with them so we can make sure that we're answering any questions that they might have. Uh we can make sure that we're walking them through the process so they understand how this process is going to work um and still have them have enough time to be able to respond in a complete way so that we can evaluate uh their ability to perform the work. Um then once we receive um those responses internally so at a staff level we'll have a technical committee that will review um the submitts from the firms based upon the criteria that we've established and within one of the documents that was shared with you all individually. You've you've seen some of the waiting on the scoring. So you can see like how we're evaluating um uh their their ability to lead public engagement processes, their uh experience with similar types of projects. Um so that that criteria is already established that the technical review committee will uh be looking at. They'll use that information. They'll do the review on all of the submitts and develop a short list for council's consideration. Okay. So this this is a

this is an important piece of the process because it it it does differ from how we generally handle um this selection process. So whereas normally uh once we get a short list we might do some interviews uh have some presentations with those shortlisted firms we'll do that generally internally and then begin the contract negotiate negotiation process. in this particular case um to make sure that you all uh knowing how important this project is, how important the direction is, you all have the opportunity to be able to weigh in on who's coming in to doing to do this work. So, completely public, you public will hear the presentations, any questions that you have for the uh firms all out in the public uh available for everybody to listen into. um that that process will probably hap have to happen uh or that interview process will probably have to happen you know late June early July uh later June would be better for us because it gives us a little bit more time to get through the next piece which is a contract negotiation. Um so once council has reviewed the firms and you've kind of ranked you've ranked which ones you know the highest lowest of those three firms because we're anticipating providing you with three firms to select from. Um, we'll begin the negotiating process with the highest ranked firm. Um, now you'll see that, you know, there's less than a month of time to negotiate a contract until we have to actually get an agenda put out. Um, so we have to, you know, we're there's a little bit of good fortune that's going to have to, you know, fall into our laps in order to make sure that that happens. So hopefully, um, we'll we'll be able to, um, work successfully with, you know, the highest ranked firm. we don't have to go then to the second highest ranked firm uh which would delay the process a bit. Okay. So if everything goes well contract process works. We're pardon me

we're targeting uh publishing for the um July 28th uh council meeting on July 21st. So, we'll have to have uh the contract squared away, have our agenda item pulled together, everything ready for you by July 21st so you can review it and take action on July 28th. So, so again, an aggressive timeline, but in order to try to get to a point where we can wrap up the entire process by January, it's necessary for for us to have this as a goal. Okay. Um any any questions on this process, Mr. Sy? Yeah, I just want to add here. So the scope of work is as I mentioned and of course that includes city hall and the community center and then the recreational amenities associated and then just so you understand is we would look at the police department facility separately and we would be able my my recommendation is we'd be able to do that pretty much tomorrow uh with council approval because we don't have to have an RFP RFQ process for that facility and that would be a different uh approach. approach uh and and we can do both of these in parallel and and then that would be a different community outreach uh process and maybe that's our community advisory panel doing that community outreach process and and then we've got you know some survey and polling we can do as well. Uh but ultimately it's important to understand that a little bit because uh we don't know what those options are going to be and what those concepts are going to be of course but with community outreach we can get conceptual plans for a police uh department facility uh whether that's on the west side east side whatever size it is it doesn't matter at this point today but we don't want to lose sight of the urgency of moving that forward because

we would need those concepts uh to be generally complete by uh end of October if the council eventually saw those concepts and and wanted to pursue funding that was a bond measure in March. Um so I just bring that out now to to recognize that that scope of work is not included here but we can do that uh and we can table that discussion a little bit um if that's not pertinent um to this particular discussion but it's important to understand because there's a lot of things eventually we want to look at uh with the new uh police facility uh and that is the different concepts and of course what the community wants. We want the outreach uh to be done and then eventually look at uh the you know the cost associated with construction and take a really really hard look at that when we finally scope out what the citizens want for a police uh facility. So uh with that Andy uh I'll turn it back over to you.

Okay. Thank you.

Pardon me. So I wanted to I wanted to talk a little bit about the framework for the public outreach process and the development pardon me and the development of the uh civic area master plan. So uh you'll you'll notice that this is a six-month timeline. Uh each major uh function has a month dedicated to it. Now, I'll I'll tell you that probably in response to an RFQ, uh, the consulting firms have a little bit of liberty to say, well, I need a little more time here. I might need a little more time here, but I need less time here. So, this might slide a little bit, but I want to give you an idea of the general phasing and um, and the timeline for how the project would work. And again, we're going to anticipate, we're going to ask uh, the firms to that are interested in responding to comment on this as well. So this again is just the framework. They can fill in the blanks. They can tell us exactly how they would do things or if they would do some things differently. Um so the the first phase is really the the launch and the alignment. So it's the initiation of the project. Um it's planning for the project and it's getting in alignment with the city council. So gives the consulting firm the opportunity to start working with us at sta at a staff level and also talking to you all individually um to to make sure that they have a good understanding about what some of your individual priorities are, what sort of things you're thinking about. So that'll help them set the framework as they're starting to move forward. um think about what sort of things they want to ask the community um what what sort of overarching questions that they need to um try to get some answers to. Um so so their their big focus is going to be on getting the program together um getting their engagement plan together and making sure that there's some alignment alignment with you. So there'll be a public launch as part of this. So, we'll be explaining to the public in more

detail what this project is about. Uh, we'll have a project website. By the way, we will have we will have some historical documents set up on the project website so that there's a an understanding of some of the work that we've done in the past. Uh, for instance, uh, the community advisory panel did a really did did some really good work about two years ago. The last hot take. Keep going, Eddie.

Thank you. did some really good work about two years ago engaging the public in terms of what sort of activities should be located on the civic area. So we'll have all of that data up and available not only for the consultants but also for the public in general. Um so we'll we'll have that type of information up on the website to start with until uh we start getting through the process and we can start populating it with uh the data that we're collecting from the process. Um we'll um my eyes are getting bad. I have it down on my piece of paper. Um like I said, we'll have the one of the one of the uh deliverables towards the end of the month will be um their project uh project plan. So that'll that'll really be driven by some of the information that they get from you, but they'll also talk about their public engagement plan. So So we'll we'll we'll work with them to identify the stakeholders. uh we'll start talking about what that outreach program looks like uh because we do want to have it be multiaceted. So we do anticipate uh some things will happen in you know workshops, some things will happen in open houses, uh some things will happen virtually, there will be some online surveys, uh there'll be different ways for people to engage based upon their availability um and their preferred style of engaging. So we'll we'll um develop that plan as we're going forward. And then also important is um identifying those stakeholder groups. So we want to make sure that you know we do enough outreach you know to the adjacent neighborhoods to the residents downtown uh anybody who has an interest in the civic campus uh the downtown businesses uh whoever it might be we want to make sure that those uh interest groups are uh we we uh reach out to them and we engage them and make sure that they're involved in the process. So that'll be that'll be the first phase. So the deliverable again at the end of the first phase will be a project management plan and a public engagement plan. Uh the second phase is going to be that active listening piece.

Um so that that's going to be the time where um we're going to be engaging the public. We're not going to be doing any designs. You know kind of the mantra of this framework is you know we'll we're going to listen first and design after. So this will be the opportunity to listen. Uh it'll be uh documenting what we hear. uh it won't be um it won't be won't be developing designs or developing plans. It'll purely be listening and capturing what we hear from the public. So that that'll be the expectation uh for the um for the consultant group. Um and we'll have you know a number of discussion items and I and I highlighted a couple that um we identified within the uh RF RFP or RFQ document that we shared with you. um you know a couple of things that we'll we'll reach out from a high level with um you know like um uh you trying to get a description of civic identity you know what what what does it mean that this is the heart of the city um start talking to them about Memorial Park and what's the design and purpose what should it look like oh and and I do want to mention going back to the uh project website one of the things that I that we mentioned to you and um in our correspondence with you when we uh gave you all of this documentation is that you know we while while I don't intend on having the one Bokeh information up on that project website the piece of information I think is valuable is the work that uh they Terra Frisbee did with us in conjunction with the veterans community to develop some memorial park concepts. So whether or not we use those or whether or not we use those sort of irrelevant, but they're there to kind of validate the work that the veterans community did um and maybe even build on that as we're starting to think through what it ultimately looks like. So I wanted to highlight that because I think that's some important information um that deserves to be in that site, but I also don't want it to be interpreted the wrong way. You know, it's it's stuff

it's work that we did with the veterans community, so I think it's valuable. Um but we'll we'll engage them on um all all of their expectations in terms of uh the look and feel of the buildings downtown, what their purposes should be. Um you know, the the Singing Pines building complexes. Uh you I mentioned location in here, but really the the core of our conversation with the community, I think, is going to be the programming on those on those facilities because um they're somewhat difficult to use. Um they're pretty small. They're pretty pretty chopped up. Um so trying to trying to deploy them in a uh a good programmatic way is uh going to be a challenge but getting that feedback from the public is going to be very very very important for us. Um and what we'll have at the end of uh that second month is um an engagement report. So we'll have an understanding of uh what it is that the consultants heard as a result of all of the outreach that they did. Uh month three will be a um validation um and understanding of the direction um that we're that we're going in as a result of what we heard in that second phase. Um so this is the opportunity for the consultant to say hey this is what we heard. Um did we get it right? Um so you know they they might interpret certain things a certain way. We want to make sure that um in this iterative process, we take that step back and we check, hey, this is what we heard. These were the things that we think are important to you. Did we get it right? So, it's that opportunity to have that that engagement with the public again to make sure that we're on the right track as we're starting to think um about getting to the design phase. At the end of the month, there'll be this um community values and direction report. So, it gives us the opportunity to get some additional feedback from the public. Did we get it right? Uh, but also get some, pardon me, some input from this council to make sure that we're going down the right going down

the right path. All of that kind of leads us into the shre process. Um, so that's the fourth phase. Um, hoping that'll take place in November, early in November. Um but that that fourth phase um is going to be really important and the basis of it the big the meat of that that uh that this portion of the process is going to be a roughly 7-day design um process open to the public. So anticipating that we'll have workshops, we'll have design sessions, we'll have uh virtual opportunities for people to ask questions about what's happening with the designs or give some input in terms of how things are progressing. So we we want to make sure that we have this open studio, this workshop uh type environment where the public can actually ask the consultants questions uh see what's happening in real time um and make comments on the direction that we're going in as we're going through the design that design process. Um so at at the end of you know that fourth fourth phase you know we'll end up getting a uh sharet report back along with some concept designs. So so we'll have something that you know we'll start building on that'll kind of be the foundation for the for the master plan going forward. Uh the fifth phase is refining and testing what we are starting to show within the shre process. So again, you know, that iterative process, we we've we've heard you. We've taken another step forward to try to articulate what we think we hear in terms of the values of the community, but it's the opportunity to take another step back to confirm that, hey, this is this is actually going in the right direction. So, it's again another opportunity to show where we're going, what we heard, and make sure that we're still going on the right going down that right path. Um, and at the end of that that fifth month, you know, we'll get a feedback summary. We're anticipating

getting a feedback summary. So, you know, what we heard will be articulated and you'll you'll see it. Um, we'll have a report on what changed. So, there's there's going to be something that changes between the shre process and uh where we ultimately end up when we're we're testing all of those um all those concepts. Um, so we'll report out on that so they'll it'll be clear what's changing. Um and then you know refined uh refined concepts. So you know there might be some uh representation of one of the buildings or where it's located on the civic area. Uh maybe those things have to change. So we'll have some of those refined concepts as we're going through. And then um lastly lastly is really um doing that last bit of finalization. So we'll do a little bit more outreach in that last phase. Um and then that'll really be the piece where or the phase where all of the concepts are finalized. We get council's feedback. Um uh we, you know, do our last presentations to the public, make sure that we're not missing anything and ultimately end up with a uh a master plan for the civic area um along with all the designs that need to go with it and a public engagement report. So documenting everything that we did in terms of all the public outreach. Um so that that's a really high level of how that process is going to work, what the framework is and um uh how how we think it'll be structured. Now again uh we're going to ask the consultants to you know comment on it and make any changes or make any suggestions that they feel are important because that'll be a good good way for us internally and you as a council to evaluate who that who the most appropriate firm might be for us. Um a couple a couple of things just to mention. Um the key features throughout um you'll see that um portion at the bottom of the slide. You know the transparent feedback loops. You know I've talked about the iterative process.

You know go out listen do some work make sure that it's right. So back and forth with the public making sure that we get it right. Um multiple engagement format. So we'll have multiple opportunities and multiple ways for people uh to share their thoughts with us. Monthly council touch points. So every month it's anticipated that we're going to be coming back and either giving you a report or asking you for your feedback. So you'll you'll you'll be engaged throughout the entire process. Um we've developed this so that depending upon what decision uh you make regarding a task force um it's optional. It can can be in there. Um if you all decide to the mayor's point that you want to um put that in the hands of the consultant to let them make a recommendation then you know we'll we'll change the RFP slightly to make sure that it reflects that. Um and then there are clear decision milestones. So at at the end of every phase there's always something that the the consultant is going to have to submit to uh show us what where we are in the process. So make sure that the public understands where we are. um uh you we everyone can see the progress um and see what's changed throughout the entire process.

Um

yeah, thanks Andy. I was just going to jump in on a couple things. Um so, you know, the the the idea, right, is maximum community outreach for this this effort. That's the goal. Um and then the a couple things I want to mention just to make sure the public understands. Of course, we're going to look at city hall in this scope of work, but um we do have another building that we're going to relocate um most of the current staff at city hall and that's 6551 Congress. So, uh the concept there is in January first quarter of 2027, we are going to move functions to the west side of the city in that building. uh we'll have forward- facing uh services and then those uh folks are going to stay there uh permanently. That's the strategy. Um and then I just mentioned that because we don't need the square footage of the current city hall if if we continue on that path, right? And that um so that's just something to note as we go forward u that might simplify uh the future of city hall uh at this particular location. So with that, um I think this is a good point, uh mayor that we can talk about the the RFP, RFQ process, uh and then the engagement master planning timeline and then maybe if if we if we get council's, uh questions answered and a little bit more direction, if you don't mind, maybe we can just bring back the police uh facility uh just to make sure I've got clear direction on how we want to proceed there as well.

That sounds good. Mr. So, I guess we can start first with any questions. Any members have any questions for staff on the processes outlined? Anyway, Mr. uh Mr. Zohaney, you you stated earlier that there's not there will be no RFP for the police station. Uh what did you mean by that? Do you have a contractor that you intend to hire? Why will there be no RFP?

Uh yes, uh Mr. Pearlman, there there could be an RFP, but if um since we're talking about an RFP for this particular project, um I you know, I kind of misqued a little bit. We're taking the police I recommend taking the police department facility out of this process, this RFP process. And what we currently have is we have an internal architect, ADG, that has already done a a body of work for us. They've done a space and needs analysis uh and they've done conceptual plans for a police department headquarters uh that was on that ballot in March. So, we have an internal um contractor architect ready to go that we could with council's direction, we could give them uh direction at another scope of work. Right? For example, if the council wanted to bring the community advisory panel in to lead the outreach effort for a uh a potentially new police uh facility, we could start that without an RFP process that's going to take two or three months. we could internally um have our architect firm ADG uh work with a community advisory panel, get the community outreach, and then present options to the council, whether that's a west option for a police facility, whether that's an east option for a police facility. Uh and we can do all of that and we can start that right away. And if we did that, then we can accomplish the timeline if the council eventually wants to look at a funding option that's in March uh uh for the election. So that's a way to continue addressing the police uh facility without including it in this process with using the body of work that we

already have.

Uh thank you, Mr. Zohaney. We've already paid ADG over half a million dollars to get a glimpse of this Taj Mahal that they've proposed to the city uh which could become the Bokeh's boondoggle if if we proceed with this $190 million um which seems to be if not the most expensive one of the most ex one of the most expensive police stations in the history of the world. Um, so at this point in time, is is the intention of staff to proceed with the with the the scope of plans that have been provided by ADG for this 190,000 square ft, $190 million police station?

No, we don't have any plans to proceed with this particular architect firm whatsoever without council direction. Uh and so we can separate to this conversation uh we can introduce that conversation later on at another workshop and get a little bit more particular but we have no this doing work with that firm is not related to this subject. It's just I want to make sure clear that the police facility is not in this conversation and we do need to address a way forward sooner rather than later because of the condition of our police department headquarters and the possibility of funding it via bond measure in March. So it's something that's germanine to to the city in terms of devel uh you know going forward with a civic building or facility. Um, and I just want to make sure we're talking about that now a little bit and then I can come back with more information and more options going forward.

Okay, thank you for explaining that because I think that we're having all the focus over here. Uh but I and I think we're avoiding the the real conversation here, which is why aren't we focusing on this bloated plan of the $190 million police station? Um, why are we looking to expand the existing space of the of the police station by six times uh for a $190 million station when similar cities with similar crime rates and police forces have done it for a small fraction of that? So, I I'd actually I have a presentation um since we're speaking about this. Could we could we pull it up? and and while that's coming up just or go ahead.

Okay. So, as Mr. Sohaney was explaining work a a firm by the name of ADG was contracted by the city in the last year and a half two years to provide architectural plans to the city for a possible police station. Uh the city has already paid this this uh this firm over half a million dollars. And what they they've given after the payment of this amount was the ability to see a plan that they can that they presented to the city to build a $190 million police station. So which is an as I mean when you think about that number is extraordinary. And it you know this this was put to the voters on March 10th. it was turned down and the community came out loud loud and clear on March 10th. If if the community speaks loudest, it's during an election and they came out in record numbers. And we have to listen to what the voters were are telling us in this election. And what what the community said is that they wanted a new course and they wanted us to actually respect their hard-earned tax dollars because as we know um in the government campus scenarios, not only we were we in a position to lose hundreds of millions of dollars of public land, but this the plan had set forth us in addition to the loss of that valuable land, spending hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayer money to subsidize

this private development of highrises from the CRA. There was an intention to utilize $80 million of taxpayer money to be allocated towards this transit oriented development. And in addition, there was uh a $30 million subsidy to one of their buildings for parking at the at the expense of out of the coffers of of taxpayers um to subsidize Terra Frisbee's high-rise. And by the way, that's $30 million is the cost of a new city hall. Clearwater is underway. They've been building for a year and a half. And by the way, Clearwater is the same size uh population. And it's actually more than Bokeh, $17,000. Bokeh is $104,000. And they've commenced construction and are set to complete their new city hall for $31 million uh later this year. So the city of Bokeh was prepared to subsidize Terra Frisby's parking garage in their high-rise for the the same cost that we could have built our own city hall. With that said, I'd like to talk about this presentation. And I've done some research on police stations costs and and such so forth. Jupiter, they built a police station um it it it's it was finished several years ago in 2020 for a cost of $590 a square foot, $23 million. Jupiter has less of a population than ours uh at 64,000. They also commenced construction and completed subsequent to that a new city hall for a similar price, a similar square footage price at around $600 a square foot. Again, the Jupiter Police Station was built several years ago. So, this is the

new police station that's currently underway and being built in Bradenton, Florida. It's a 550,000q foot facility for $35 million. The price per square foot is $694 a square foot. In addition, the 35 million is also allowing them is included in that price is a 61,000 square foot parking garage. The population is 60,000. Bokeh has a hundred a little over a h 100,000. No matter how you break down the math, if you double this price to to provide so 60,000 let's say for 120,000 people, which is more than we have in Bokeh and we double this, you get to $70 million. So you don't even get close, not even close to this $190 million Taj Mahal that ADG prop has proposed to the city. This is the proposal that Bokeh spent $561,000 on over half a million dollars to have a glimpse of this proposed project. this $190 million station. $1,000 a square foot. Many mo 30% more than or more maybe 30 to 40% more cost per square foot than was is currently being built in Bradenton. We have 104,000 residents in the bo in Bokeh and this plan was turned down by voters on March 10th.

ADG designed a similar station, a similar Taj Mahal for Tallahassee. By the way, Tallahassee has 28,000 residents, double double that of Boca Raton. They're also recognized as having one of the highest crime rates in the country compared to cities of similar size. Residents who live there, there's a 1 in 20 chance of being a victim of of a violent crime. So, their violent crime rate is exceptionally high. They also have double the population and even this Taj Mahal that they're that they're underway which by the way they began so when you build the bigger the building that you build the longer it takes so they began construction in 2023. They were working three years just on the ground laying the electric, the the fiber optics, the the plumbing. It it took 3 years of construction before they went vertical. So, this project and the the state that it's in now, I mean, steel has been erected, but this building has already been in construction for over 3 years, and it's not anywhere near completion. And this project, who knows? It could take six years, maybe more. Who knows how long this is going to take. And and actually, this is a similar square footage price, $1,000 a square foot. So if a city like Tallahassee with double the population of Bokeh and with significantly more crime, one of the recognized as one of the highest crime

rated cities in the US, doesn't need 190 million doesn't need 190,000 square feet, $190 million station. Why? Why bo why does Bokeh with a low crime rate city why do we need 190,000 square ft a police station that could fit every single resident inside the building of Bokeh within two square feet every resident could go into this building. So when we think about moving forward with this RFP, we we need to start thinking about efficiency and leverage because we we need to protect the the taxpayers money hardearned taxpayer dollars, which is that was the mandate why we were sent here. that that's why we why we're here today to to make sure every tax dollar works for the residents and and provides a purpose and we don't waste any of their money. And look, we have some of the most honorable honorable men and women keeping our city safe. As a father in Bokeh, I want them to have everything. But do we need six times the space for this Taj Mahal? at at one point at what point do we stop and think about the taxpayers right now in the scope of work that we're that we're talking about with respect to the government campus facilities. We're we're only speaking about the community center and the the city hall. By doing these buildings separately from the police station, we're not being efficient and we're not leveraging our negotiating ability. We are weakening our negotiating stance with anyone who

wants to do business with us by not including the police station in this RFP. And with that said, we all know that construction prices are going up and have been going up very rapidly. So, with this six-month process, and by the way, we're we're going to be paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to a consultant who's simply going to be having us talk. We're not we're not initiating an RFP to get these buildings done for the residents in the criteria. Wait, they have a weighted average of how how this this uh this RF this consultant is going to be selected. Only 15% of the weight is allocated towards architectural capabilities. A very small fraction. We have needs that we need to address. Keeping people safe. Like every household, we need to prioritize the needs. And we need to prioritize across all the three buildings. And we we can't be doing them at one at a time. That's going to improve efficiency and it's going to give us leverage in getting the best price for the residents in building these three necessary buildings that we need. Therefore, we need to now include the police station in the RFP because we we can't wait anymore. We we need to this this this this plan that ADG provided to Bokeh this Taj Mahal which is going to become Bokeh's boondoggle if it's commenced with it's not usable it's not a it's not a usable plan we saw

in we saw in Bradenton the math doesn't add up Bradenton with the population of 60,000 people $35 million $694 a square foot. So double that even. You you don't get anywhere near this price. Therefore, we we this I believe that based on these comps and the the recent the recent uh city hall in that's currently being built in Clearwater. Uh which by the way I spoke with the then mayor enst who took down who took down the price of that building because at one point there was discussion among the council in Clearwater to build a building for $90 million and all the people who supported that got voted out. the the residents did didn't want to proceed with that and anybody who supported the $90 million plan was voted out shortly thereafter and Mayor Ens came in and he was he was came in to bring efficiency to the project and he reduced the the project to the $30 million price which they are they are have commenced with and are moving towards completion on that building. So in the same way we need to we need to execute our and follow through with efficiencies here with with doing this. And I believe that if we I believe that the RFP should be an RFP for the three buildings that we need to build and that we know we need to build. I think we should build a 30,000 square foot city hall for for the for the offices of of the senior staff, the council, the mayor, the city manager. We have the building out west of of 70,000 square ft. And Mr. Sohaney, you you discussed that the a large portion of staff will be there. So, we have that

capability there. We can build a 30,000 square foot facility for council meetings, the city staff to the senior staff. We can build a 30,000 square foot uh community center. And we can build a a 40 to 40,000 to 60,000 square foot police station all and we can build them all in the same all in the same locations. And if if we do that with the efficiencies that will be carried through with proceeding for these three buildings at the same time, I believe we could rebuild all of the buildings at under $und00 million, which the the the the as we know, I've reviewed the finances with Mr. Zervis. That's possible given given the financial position of Bokeh to to pay for that. And if we can get if and instead of wasting six months because the community, they've already been engaged. I mean, I as somebody who spoke to residents over the last year doing this, this is not how we get to where we want. We we must have real conversations. That's how we get this done. We've already engaged the community over the last year. Now, we need to make sure that all of their hard-earned tax taxpayer dollars are put to work for them. Therefore, I think we we need to change this RFP to to make it an RFP for an architect to to make a bid, make proposals for the construction of the three buildings in the same locations. Nobody when the residents rose up this year, nobody was rising up because they didn't agree that we should should build a new city hall, police station, and community center. This the what happened over the last year was a response to the city council's attempt to transfer over

away public land for for generations under the feet of the residents. And that's why the people that's why the residents spoke up and why we had crowds filling up the this this auditorium, the anti room and more. So everyone's on board. All of the residents are on board that we need to do this. Every month, every day that we wait and have these disc put on this show, this show of this community engagement, we're losing time because the the the construction prices are going up. We we need to get the RFP on these buildings right now. Boost boost this boost this criteria up to 100% on architectural project experience. Let's get an architect. Let's get an RFP to build the three buildings that we need and let's get going on it now. Thank you.

Does that conclude your presentation, Mr. Pearlman? Yes. Thank you. Anyone else? There's a bunch of stuff we're going to deal with in there, but uh anyone want to go next, Miss Ducker?

Sure. So, um Okay. So, lots to digest here. Uh so everyone in the public understands and listening because we have a lot lot of listeners. When we brought up today was a downtown civic area master plan and we sit with the city manager and staff and we review what's going to be discussed at these meetings. The police station was not going to be discussed at this meeting because that was an independent project from the downtown whether it was voted up or voted down. In this case it was voted down. So I'm not ready to opine on the police station because we had police chief many people involved with what the needs of our entire community were when they decided to have that building where the building is smaller or bigger. We knew that in the downtown we had had grown our space. I don't know the property values and no offense to Bradington, Clearwater or any other city but in Boca Raton the property values are much higher and building in the downtown was going to not only cost more for the taxpayer dollars it was just a way of putting the police station in the middle of our city and having a substation in the downtown because once again the entire focus cannot be the downtown. It has to be a full city. So, I can't opine especially on buildings being built in 2020 uh because that was six years ago and that was before COVID and everything changed. So, I'm not here today to talk about the police station. I'm a little confused um Mr. Pearlman because now you're saying the public doesn't want to give input. We had discussions two weeks ago where we said we were going to have the engagement for the RFP. So now you're saying they've been speaking for a year, but you don't

want to give them the option. You want to say the building should be 30,000 square foot, 40,000, 30,000. What basis do you have? That's what we actually need. I haven't seen any data in terms of staff, people moving to the west, what we're going to keep there, what we're not going to keep there. So those are things that we can't just like make decisions on today and then leave the public out. So in one stance you say we want public input and that's what you you stood for for the for 12 months and I commend you for that. And then now you're saying no public input. We got all the public input. Let's just put these buildings up. Let's just send the RFP out. I mean we we don't make decisions like that when you're governing a city of this size. We have to have that discussion. And truthfully, I want to see the cost of even using these consultants. We had an opportunity with Treasure Coast Planning Council to get immediately in place at cost and now we're going back out for an RFP that can come in a lot higher. So, you know me, you you you've been here every meeting. I like data. I like to understand how this is going to impact. I can't say that today I want to add the police station because we were not discussing that today. Today we were just discussing this downtown Pacific area master plan public engage engagement and master planning timeline and we knew since a week ago everyone knows because it's public information that the police station wasn't going to be a discussion today. So I do appreciate that you're bringing it up today but I can't support that addition to the RFP without proper data.

Thank you. Thank you Mr. Ducker. Any other comments grow? I was just under the impression that we were going to be working on the police station parallel parallel planning along with Memorial Park. That's what I was told. And so it will go forward. It's just we are pulling out the 17 acres and getting that done because everybody knows we need to get that done. We need a new community center. We need a new park. So these the future planning for the eight acres I recommended slowing down on it because this there's a lot of things out there we don't know and we need sufficient analysis to complete that future planning.

Thank you Miss Grow. Miss Sipple, anything to say? I'm just trying to figure out in 2024 we had a community input discussion regarding what to do in that area and basically out of the ideas that the people gave us we went in the absolute opposite direction. So it was just basically a waste of time. Um, I don't even know if residents want a police station on that section. They would be happy. I know that a lot of them, everyone wants a substation, but they may not want the main police department downtown. That's something I think that should be included in the resident discussion before we start anything.

Thank you, Miss Simple. think that's fair. Um, let me give my two cents. Uh, let me just ask is did did Mr. Pearlman, did you share this information with staff in advance of just now? I had a conversation with staff last week about the police station uh where it was revealed that as I mentioned we were discussing ADG and that the city had spent over five over half a million dollars for this plan for this Taj Mahal this $190 million station. So that was late in late week in the week last week. And from that I began I was began to look into all of this all of current and past police stations uh and started to get gather this information um because again in response to Miss Ducker th this this scope of work uh for the for this current scope which doesn't include the police station that was provided by staff which is is a good start but the the council has has the discretion and is ta as a as an elected body is tasked with the responsibility to lead the path of significant city projects such as this. Therefore, therefore, we need to step up as as elected officials and address this because if if we if we ignore the the police station, if we don't gain efficiencies from the three buildings by by proceeding and and putting them together as leverage to negotiate a good contract for the residents, we're going to lose that window.

Okay. Uh here's my view on this. Um I think this the downtown the civic area master plan RFP process that was outlined is a good start. I I happen to agree with Missiple that it probably is worth having the discussion part I and let me take a step back. I think not nearly all but much of the need for this area master plan is to get community input. The voters spoke loudly when they said what they did not want to have happen with our downtown government campus, but that didn't necessarily illuminate anything that they did want. They said that they didn't want a public private partnership in the manner that had been contemplated. But that doesn't give you any more insight into what they want in terms of the size or character of the city hall, the size or character of the community center, or whether they want to have the full police station downtown or not. So, we still need and I'm I I hear Mr. Promo when you say you spoke to lots of residents. Turns out I did too. And I would though think that it would be better for us to have a more comprehensive process for determining what the community wants. And I think we all want this to be a resident-driven process. That part matters. And so I think having a community engagement and public input component to this RFP is a pretty significant portion of what they should be doing. That's why there is waiting that is assigned towards that. It should stay that way in my view. But I think Miss Sipple's point is a good one, which is we should include in this not necessarily the construction of the police headquarter building because I do think though while the community was not in favor of the plan that was proposed on the ballot which was $175 million. I do think it's a good idea to have some idea from the community as to whether they do want it to have be downtown or

in the western communities like we had contemplated. My take is that it should be where we had originally said it would be, which is on Spanish River and Broken Sound. For what it's worth, when they when the staff, Mr. Zervis can attest to this, when this plan came up going back six, eight months, whenever it was, I expressed some concerns about the dollars and about the look of it. Okay? So, I don't think I was the only one who expressed those kinds of concerns. But I don't think that we can simply take what ADG did and completely throw it out. It wasn't meaningless what they did. And I think they're capable of tailoring their designs based on strong direction from this council in terms of how much we are willing to pay and where it should be and what it should look like. I think they are capable of doing that. I don't think we need to start completely over with somebody else to have them design a new building that could be end up being in the same location as what ADG had contemplated. Mr. Zervvis indicated he had something to say. By all means, sir.

Thank you, Mary. Just just like to add a little context. So, so a lot of the work that ADG did is not lost um on this project. So the foundational work that they did was to was to work with our public works and engineering department and the police department at at a very low level in the detail with the department to understand the police department's needs at the functional level to look at all the different functions and the officers and what they're doing and what the community how they're serving the community and what that space looks like today. not just in the existing building downtown, but all of the buildings that they have people spread out across in six different buildings across the the community and and where they're working. So, so they did this space needs analysis both in the current state and then they worked with our team to project that out for the next 10, 20, and 30 years to project those spaces out. So there's a lot of work before there was any architecture drawing or actual size of building contemplated there was this foundational work around the space needs analysis and functionally what the department not what public works or what I think but what the police department thinks is going to be needed to protect the community for the next 30 plus years. So all of that work it was not for not right all of that work um should is retained and will inform um our project as it moves forward whether it's east or west uh and as we look at how we can refine those spaces and see where we can optimize that and and bring those price those costs down because I I hear you uh on the price and so so but I do want you to know that it wasn't they weren't just paid to draw a picture of the building and a site plan. There is a tremendous amount of work that's behind that that developed into that point and what you saw was really just just the you know

the kind of the public facing output of what that project looked like. So, a lot of that work we we still have and we will use it in whatever context the council wants to move forward with whether that's through an RFP or if you want to retain ADG. ADG worked at the request of of the city, right? And so, they responded in the design and uh and sizing and scoping working alongside city staff. We can we can reimagine that. We can look at different locations. We can look at different size options. We've already started that to to to hit different price points and try to to descope that without um taking away really the the functional delivery to the community that we're trying to provide for. Um so I I guess I would just I just want to reiterate it's it's not all lost and even if you choose not to use ADG I'm and and use a different architect going forward, we still retain that work product and that still informs our process. So there's there's still we still retain the benefit of the effort that was going on you know up most through last year really.

Very good. Thank you Mr. Zervis. Um one other thing that Mr. Sohaney had mentioned was and I think Mr. Rucker too was having this and it does I think merit a full-blown discussion on where to do the police station whether it should be downtown or whether it should be at the Spanish River location. I think we need to have that. Why don't we you had suggested maybe having that on the next workshop meeting. I think that's a good idea. We could all come fully armed for bear as they say to have a full discussion on that and that way we can address kind of the largecale question as to uh where it's happening. That said, I think it the question as I think Mr. Ducker mentioned earlier was the question before us today is the RFP process and uh I for one am largely good with it including the community engagement and public input portion of it because I do think we need to have a good strong solid sense from the community have be resent driven on what they want to have happen in our government campus. Miss Ducker, you had something to say. be recognized.

Just a couple things on the police station that I alluded to when I met with staff was and I know we've not we don't have the cost in the downtown, but I think for the purpose of our discussion, there has to be some estimate as to if we built this police station in the downtown with what it's needed, what is it going to cost us to build it there? And I know in preliminary discussions with us, we are saying, you know, it could be eight to 10 stories high. I think we need some of that data because I don't know if our residents want eighttory high building in that area um because that was a really big concern in the past year about shading about all these other things. So if we're going to have that workshop I guess what did you say in two weeks uh we got to have a lot of that data I'm going to need to have that data so I can really make better decisions in terms of cost. what is it this building gonna look like, etc., etc., because I know we're not comparing apples to apples, but we're going to need to have a lot more data than what we have now. And then, of course, all the information without revealing security measures, right? Because there's a lot of things that are housed in that building that are confidential and I understand that, but I think that's going to be a big part of the decision- making. Thank you, Mayor Thompson. Thank you,

Mr. Thompson. Yes, Mr. Promo. Go ahead. First of all, we we know the the impetus behind the relocation of the police station. Terror Frisbee was set to take control of that land and build two high-rise uh condominium buildings on top of where the current police station was. So the what was going on with the government campus was an attempt to clear out from all of the areas, all of the all of all of the resident civic buildings, park features, everything. They were going to move they they were going to move out the children's museum. They were going to move out the police station. All of it was was it was being cleared out to lay the red carpet for Terra Frisbee. So, so we know that that in was that we know that that informed this idea about the about moving the police station elsewhere in terms of um the the work product of ADG there. They they were either the the wrong consultant or they were mismanaged. the the plan that that was proposed for the the Taj Mahal of $190 million is not workable. Which and by the way, just so you know in the presentation, the cities that that did a a fiscally responsible construction of the police station, for example, Jupiter and also Bradenton, those were not funded with bonds. They Bradenton was paid from the capital development program and Jupiter did not use a bond. Whereas Tallahassee is

underway on on their their Taj Mahal courtesy of ADG 3 years in they just went vertical. It's probably going to take another three. It's going to be a six sevenyear construction process possibly. And they they funded this the majority of it with a bond. So by proceeding with it's it would be a boondoggle for Bokeh and we we we should not become we should not have this boondoggle on our watch this new city council. We were tasked with responsibly managing the hard-earned taxpayer dollars. So I I my opinion and I'd like to hear from other council members is um because based on what Mr. Soy stated earlier that no that there would be no RFP for the police station that indicates and tells us that staff intends to continue to move forward with this $190 million plan. So can can some other council members weigh in? Do do we think that this is a fiscally responsible project for the residents?

Before we do that, why don't we have staff opine on a couple of things? One is I believe Mr. So indicated that that staff's position is that they are not not moving forward with the design and the of the the police station as originally contemplated and the cost associated with it. So that's we can put that to bed. We can stop saying that. The second issue has to do with the impetus behind the moving of the police station. Mr. Zervis, you had worked with the police department, police services department on that question. was clearing out the land for Terara Frisbee, the impetus behind the decision to move the station to the west.

No, that was an operational decision that that was operationally a better place to have the police department headquarters to make that investment. So, and do I understand then that you meant that the the police department told you we would prefer to be out west? That's correct. Okay. And it's central really, not west. You're absolutely right. That was the that was one of the the points was the accessibility uh the space the neighbors it was for a number of reasons the the command staff in the police department it was their recommendation that that was a superior location

and how by you know how many years back was that their position on the need to move it to the like you mentioned the center of the city so I I don't know the answer to that just because I've been here I was here been here for a little over two years now. So I can tell you my work on this project that's been the the preferred location. Okay. Is it does can somebody from staff confirm that the police have been suggesting the movement to a more central location going back?

So I can tell you looking back at the files throughout this project, there's been a a few different locations identified um for this investment. Um, everyone's recognized building in place has not been the preferred option because what you have to relocate the police department to another facility and and it's very difficult to and costly to house a police department somewhere else while you're rebuilding on site. So that becomes challenging and just the constraints of the site itself being at its location have always been challenging. Um so so the last the two other locations I'm aware of at one point there was they were looking at making an investment here um and and on this location and they ran and there were some development related issues about what they could or couldn't do I guess with respect to the the on the property here because of the POA that restricted that plan and and they pivoted away from that. The other location and the most recent location they were looking at was actually building on the softball fields um adjacent to city hall in the on the down memorial memorial park. Um and for I don't know why that project why that stopped moving forward. Um I I think COVID happened and everything stopped frankly and then when we picked back up on the project um you know that's when we started really looking at all of the property the city owned and what the opportunities were and that's when Spanish River was identified.

Okay. So it sounds like the idea of moving it off its current location at least dated back to CO or prior to CO. Oh for sure. Okay. Yeah. Well that's that my point is it wasn't at the instigation of Terara Frisbee to move it out there. This has been talked about for many years. Yes. Okay, that's correct.

Okay. Um, the topic on our agenda here is the downtown civic area discussion. I know the staff is looking for our direction as to whether they should move forward in the manner described in their background. Does anybody else have any more suggestions or discussion they'd like to make in that regard? Miss Grow. Um during my agenda review this week, I did mention the need to do a post-mortem analysis on the failed referendum and that would entail like was it the facility size, the scope, the cost, the sites um in order we need to collect that data before we can move forward. Go ahead, Mr. S.

Yeah, thank you. Uh Deputy Mayor Crow. do have a scope of work identified for survey and polling results to to capture the reasons why uh the uh proposed police department headquarters failed as well as what the citizens would like going forward. Um and we can get that scope of work uh to you shortly uh as a council uh and then we can uh go ahead and make a a firm hire uh to conduct that and inform uh the future of our police department facility. Okay. Anyone else? Miss Sipple?

Yes. So, in the 2024 when we asked people what they wanted, they wanted coffee shops, they wanted restaurants, they wanted small mom and pop stores, small affordable boutiques. You're taking some of the most affordable or expensive land in Boca Raton and you're going to put a police department on it and you're going to expect people to want to come downtown to see what the police department. I mean, seriously, you've got Meisner Park. It's honestly it's going downhill and who knows if it's going to be sold off or not. And that could all become residences. Who knows? It's entirely possible, but you're limiting what people are going to come downtown for. So, I think it's very important to find out what the residents want before we do anything. And I do see the logic to Mr. Pearlman's putting it all together because I do think we would get a it would be cheaper if we did it all at one time as opposed to doing each different project peace meal.

That's Mr. Thompson. May I? Yes. Yeah.

I thank you. Does does anybody else um on the deis support the idea to to bring it all together as myself and Miss Sipple support? Be let's be if you don't mind trying not to put words in other people's mouths. Um I'm happy to have this discussion on the location at the next meeting like we had talked about. Um I think staff was looking for guidance on this master plan RFP process. I've provided that. happy to have a discussion as to whether it's east or west or central or east. I I do happen to trust our police services department when they say operationally it makes more sense for it to be in a different location, but I'm happy to have that discussion uh next time. We can all be fully prepared to have that discussion then. I just don't want that to hang up anything that's happening on the master plan RFP process given that this is an already very aggressive timeline and they need to have direction from us on what to be doing.

Anybody else? Uh Mr. Thompson. Yeah.

Yeah. So given given that you are delaying the this discussion until next week uh for further input and information I would I would request that the RFP does not go out until that discussion is had at the next workshop. I I would hesitate to say that I'm the one delaying it. That was what the seems like a consensus wants to have the discussion at that point and that's what staff had suggested. Um I don't think it's too big of a lift for us to process the master plan RFP in the meantime, but if if that's your suggestion, you want to hold off on that. I mean, I guess that's subject to the will of the body here. Mr. Rucker,

I think we can move forward on the downtown civic discussion and we could have separate conversations that are running parallel. I like that word you use, Deputy Mayor Growl, because there are parallel conversations. There's two there's just two different things. With the downtown civic area, we're just dealing with that area. With the police station, we're dealing with are we going to keep it downtown? We don't have the resident input. Are we going to put it in the center part of town, which I like better than saying west, so we don't confuse folks. So those are a lot of conversations and a lot of missing pieces. And one thing I learned because I definitely learned something from the last 14 months is resident input and listening to resident input early enough. So I want the engagement. I want them to say where they want their police station, where do they want the sub? Do they want it over here? So I believe we can move forward on this today. If not, this entire I guess timeline will will shift again. And um I'll just bring it to some folks attention. There's like special meetings that are that are going to have to be scheduled and um you know the bodies are you know this is our summer schedule and we all have other priorities as well with our own personal travel etc and staff. So I don't want to see this go until you know four or five months from now. So again, I think we have enough stuff here to start this part. And if we come back and we decide we're going to have a conversation with the police station that we need an another RFP that's separate, but they it's two separate things. They have they should be running separately because they're different items that we're focusing on. They're just different. There's a lot more data that we have on the police station. It was a process that's been happening, by the way, since I've been on this day. has been I just entered year six. So again, I think that we're we're confusing things. So I would vote that we're not voting no vote today, but to just move forward with

this process and then bring back the workshop, have a healthy discussion. Those listening, residents in the audience, others, we're going to be discussing this in a few weeks. Start sending your feedback. Okay. Any more discussion on this item? If not, we can conclude item 1 C and move on to item 1D, the CIMD discussion. Mr. Saney, who will be making the presentation on this matter? Thank you, Mr. Mr. Thompson. I have one last question pertaining to the prior Okay. for staff.

Um, what's the difference between an RFP and an RFQ? You you me you stated that that for the purposes of this procurement, this is an RFQ.

Yeah. So this generally you know the public understands uh what RFP means. Uh it's commonly understood that that's part of the procurement process. Um and and that's a request for proposal. This is a request for qualifications. Uh and so when we started this process, we were we didn't say RP. We're talking about Treasure Coast and scoping it out. And then it became, hey, do you do we go with Treasure Coast or an RFP? And we use the term RFP because it's publicly understood, right? A request for proposal. This is is we're requesting, you know, a firm's qualifications, a request for qualifications, experience, project approach, and then once we get all that and they perform this work, then we're going to negotiate uh or when we select the firm, then we would negotiate pricing with the firm. And that's generally the difference between RFP and RFQ. And I don't know, Josh, if you want to get more technical than that,

I think that's a a fairly big good big picture. I mean, there's we could have an extended discussion. Um, I don't have anything further to add. Uh, Mr. Zohaney, when when these proposals come in, are there going to be prices associated from each firm? No. Will will we have prices from each firm prior to the selection of the contract? comparative pricing from firms. We will have pricing for sure before selection.

Can I clarify pricing on what? How much they're being paid? How much the buildings are going to cost? Like what do you mean? What do you mean, Mr. Pearlman? How how in an RFQ, how is the cost of the services of the consultant factored into the selection of the consultant? I'll default to Mr. Luke Kasich.

Yeah. Really really in this in this particular case when you're you know looking at the qualifications of the firms um you're solely looking at qualifications. So you're looking for the best fit in terms of what you want to accomplish related to the project. So in the timeline that I laid out for you recall that uh once council um ranks the highest three firms. So you'll you'll say this is this is the highest ranked firm. This is this is the group we really want to work with. um and then uh second highest ranked firm and then the third. So what'll happen is that we as staff will start working with that highest ranked firm try to negotiate a contract to go through the scope of work um that we we need in order to deliver the product. So you'll before you before something happens with the firm with a consultant you're going to see a contract but you won't see competitive pricing amongst those firms. You'll you will have a negotiated contract with the highest ranked firm. that's what you'll take action on.

So, thank you for explaining that. So, I see I and I I believe that this informs why I believe that this is a flawed process and it doesn't provide the transparency that that was included in the mandate and why we were sent here. So, what Mr. Luke Kasich just explained is that in the selection of a firm we are not we are not weighing in the the pricing of each consultant services are not being weighed in in the selection of a consultant which in my opinion doesn't um doesn't provide fiscal responsibility. We're only going to be based on Mr. Lucas's explanation getting pricing from one firm and that the rankings are done through qualifications. Whereas if we were to proceed for example with the three building structure you you are proceeding with a very concrete scope of work. when we when you would when you would seek RFPs for the construction of these three buildings, we would get pricing from each request for proposal, which is the type of transparency and the fiscal responsibility that the citizens are demanding.

Before you jump in there, Mr. Carol, let me just comment a couple things. One is we can't possibly get prices from a construction firm for how much these buildings cost because we don't know what the buildings are going to look like yet. We don't know how much there space there going to be. We have one person just now saying I think we should have ABC. That's great. I'm happy you've come to that conclusion. I have my own views on it. But I think most importantly, I think we had determined we wanted to have citizen input on what they wanted. That was the whole premise of this this exercise. Yes, to get the buildings built eventually, but also to make sure that the residents are driving what they look like, what they have in them, where they are, where they're situated, what kind of amenities they have. All of that needs to be determined. As I said before, I think the vote indicated what people did not want, and that's helpful, but it doesn't complete the entire picture. We need to have that picture painted for us by the residents. And until we do that, we can't possibly go to a firm and say, "How much is it going to cost to build a city hall?" you just we don't have that information yet. We as the decision makers need to come to that determination on our own and we do that through a combination of our own decision-m but also with public engagement and public input. Uh Mr. Jervis and then we'll come back to Mr. Kaylor.

Thank you. So the the Yeah, I'm glad you brought up this issue because it's it's not as simple as just going out with an RFP to build three buildings. Um so there's a couple different ways to get there. Um, one of them is is the track we were going with ADG. And it doesn't have to be ADG. It can be anyone where you have an architect or an engineer that develops a a plan, right? So, we know exactly what we're looking for. And then we go out with a competitive solicitation based on that plan and we take it to and and it is public. It's a public solicitation in its own right. So, it's not that it doesn't require an RFP. You then do the RFP and you say, "Hey, here's what we'd like to build." Those are not fully buildable drawings at that point. It's conceptual, but it's enough to say, "Here is exactly what we're looking for." Then you can you can solicit a construction manager at risk and they come on and they help you deliver the project within our budget and they work with us to do that. So that's but but you absolutely have a cost at that point that we are budgeting to. The other way to do it is you go out and you get the the buildings fully designed, right? You do full buildable plans and then you take those bids out and you do an RFP based on the actual construction documents and that's a hard bid and then you get contractors that bid and you're going for low bid at that point and they will build exactly what's in those plans and they won't deviate from it without charging us. So that's a a different model. That's a design bid build model. Um, you know, we were angling, we were planning on going towards a construction manager at risk model because it helps shift some of that risk to the the construction manager um and and moves faster than going the design build bid build process which takes an extended amount of time because you have to do each step individually. You can't do them really concurrently. So I say that to say you it's not as easy as just saying RFP to

build three buildings because we have to tell them what we want to build. So getting a firm in whether it's through the RFP through this visioning process or otherwise to then have a conceptual plan something and further along enough where we can go solicit a construction manager at risk to come in and help deliver that vision and deliver that project. You know there's there's two steps there. It's not ADG that would build the police department building in the process that we were on. they would simply get us to the point of having a project that we could then go out and solicit a construction manager at risk to actually deliver the project and that would have been its own competitive solicitation. So I hope that just helps describe the difference the different ways of actually delivering a project of of this scope. Not that you can't do all three together. You could do all three together, but you wouldn't do it you couldn't. It'd be very difficult to do with just one RFP that you issued today to say build three buildings. M

Mr. Thompson, may I ask one? Yeah. Yeah.

Yes. But if we were to if we were to, as I mentioned, boost up this number right now, it's 15% architectural capabilities, which is that's the weight that you have to architectural capabilities in this current RFQ. If you were to bump that up to actually provide plans, bump it up to 100%. We are seeking a concrete RFP. We are seeking architectural plans from an architect. They we are going to see how how much do these architects want to charge us per square foot. We're going to have exact numbers from each of the proposals. Whereas this is a this this type of RFQ there's no we we don't get the price until we have already selected a a candidate potentially and therefore it's not a it's not a competitive process for full transparency which I believe the citizens have sent us here with a mandate to follow through on.

Yeah. I think fundamentally that's a different type of RFP. you're one that is you're looking at hiring an architect to design the three buildings. That's that's just not what's envisioned in in in what's been presented here. But I I think I I understand what you're saying and that's you know that's a that's an option. It's very similar to what we did with AD ADG in designing the a police department headquarters and then taking out to bid and building it. That's that's a I I think what you're describing is something along those lines for the three the three properties for all of Memorial Park or whatever that scope looks like. Yeah.

Okay. I think we've had a robust discussion on the downtown civic area discussion. Oh, wait. There's more. I just had one circling back to Mr. Sohaney. you had said something about um can you just clarify what you meant about follow through with the memorial park design that you worked on with veterans and you said you were going to incorporate the design into the with the urban planner. Is that what you said?

No, I'll uh I think Mr. Luces commented there, but the general gist what I understood was the veterans groups were involved for months on how to enhance Memorial Park and uh that work is been saved and then I'll turn it over to you Mr. Leases to further comment there.

Thank you. Yeah. So, when I when I raised that issue, I was talking about the project website that we'll ultimately develop as a communication tool and and on that site, we'll we'll host some data that's been out there that we want to make sure that the public is aware of. It made sense to me given the relationship that Mr. Soy established with the veterans community even though Terara Frisbee was working on the plans with their consultant uh they worked collaboratively with the veterans community to come up with some ideas about how do we get that um space that's reflective um that um uh that is appropriate to uh recognize the contributions of the veterans community. Um, so it felt like that's information, those are plans that are valuable to share with the public as we're talking through what is it, what does Memorial Park look like as we're going forward. Now, again, may not use those concepts, but the veterans community had partnered with us to be able to start developing them. So, I I didn't want to lose the work that was already done. So, that that was what I was referring to. And the the good news is I was a part of that planning process. So I understand the basic uh input from the veterans. Um so whether we want to retain that or not um I understand fully with that group generally what their the concept of honoring veterans going forward is. So I think we're in a good spot uh to to go forward whether we keep that data or not.

Okay. Is that something that you can share with the council? Absolutely. Thanks. Thank you, Miss Growy. Question, Mr. Mayor. Yes, Mr. Kaylor. I didn't forget about you. Maybe I did.

I know. Just without getting into, you know, a lecture on on Florida law because I think the policy discussion is is a really good one and it's important for the public to know what the difference between these, you know, these acronyms are RFQ, RFP. Um, I just do want to point out for the for the body that that there is also state law that's at play when you're dealing with architectural uh services. Uh, it's called CCNA. Um, and it doesn't ignore pricing. It just considers it later in the process so that firms are ranked as Mr. Les said, you look at qualifications, experience, and then once the top ranked firm is identified, then the city negotiates pricing. And if the council's not satisfied with the pricing and and doesn't find it to be fair or reasonable, the law says then you can go to the end negotiations with that uh firm and go to the next ranked firm. So So I I just want to make clear that there is this other legal component to it. It's not about whether pricing matters. It absolutely does, but it's just that pricing is sort of considered within this process established by Florida law a little later on when you have things like architectural services, engineering services, there's series of types of services that trigger the requirements uh of the law under the uh state law and a procurement code. Uh but again, the public uh policy discussion is is still a critical one. I didn't want to downplay that. Just to point out that that rule we had to follow.

So, Mr. Mayor, sorry to Yes, sure. No, please. So, I to jump on that and I need to correct I think maybe clarify my prior statement. So, if we you can't go out with an RFP for an architect for a low bid award. My understanding is that that is a violation of the CCNA law that Mr. Kaylor just spoke about. So there it's not that price is relevant, but the idea that you would issue an RFP for an architect and go with a low bid, it has to be qualifications based for that kind of a service. So

yeah, thank you for that reminder. I believe that now can conclude our downtown civic area discussion which allows us to move on to the CIMD discussion. Mr. Suaney presentation.

Thank you. Uh development service director Mr. Shad will make the presentation. Good evening, mayor and council. Um, we're going to talk a little bit about the uh commercial industrial multifamily development um program that's in our code. Um, most of this as a as a reminder, I've provided most of this information in the past. So, um, in terms of history, after the passage of the Live Local Act in 2023, the city council, uh, directed the preparation of a local ordinance to implement the mandatory and preemptive provisions of the live local act that was adopted in October 2023 as ordinance number 5653, the um, mixeduse multif family development is what we call it locally, but again, that is the mandatory preemptive uh, portion of live local. The city council at that time also directed the preparation of a local affordable housing ordinance that was eventually adopted in February of 2024 as the CIMD or as I mentioned the commercial industrial multif family development is the acronym. So I'm going to talk a little bit in detail about um the CIMD provisions. Um, one, in order to be eligible for one of these, uh, types of developments, um, a property would have to be designated planned mobility or enhanced mobility um, on the future land use map of the comprehensive plan, would have to be zoned for commercial or industrial development, um, cannot abut an existing or zoned single family property, and cannot abut Palmetto Park Road east of the intra coastal waterway. the process for these developments. Um the city council takes final action on the site plans after a recommendation by the planning and zoning board. There is a um maximum number of units that can be

approved under this program we call the unit cap. That is 2500 dwelling units except that there was a subsequent ordinance that exempted those at the tri rail station from being included in that cap. So, it's 2500 plus the those approved at the dry rail station. This ordinance sunsets um just like the uh live local act does on October 1st of 2033. Um in terms of density, if a project is providing the minimum which is 10% affordable units, that is uh the maximum density is 20 units an acre. If the project provides an additional 5% of workforce units, so that would be 15% affordable and workforce combined, then the maximum density is 25 units an acre. And we'll get into what affordable and workforce means in a moment. In terms of total intensity, there is a maximum 1.0 F um with limited exemptions for amenities and for non-residential uses when required to uh to comply. And we'll talk about that again in a minute. So floor area ratio for anybody unfamiliar means the ratio of square building square footage to um the size of the property. So a 1.0 F would mean um the same however many square feet the lot is. That's the maximum um building square footage on the lot. There is a requirement for proximity or inclusion of non-residential and this has been amended a bit since originally adopted. Um, one of these three must be met. Either the property is within a quarter mile of at least 25,000 square feet of existing non-residential um which has to include a minimum of 10,000 square feet of retail sales or services or include non-residential as

part of the project and that would be 5,000 square feet or 10% of the building square footage whichever is greater and that must include a minimum of 2,000 square feet of retail sales or services. Or the third option is a combination of the two. um meaning 25,000 with the 10,000 retail um that can be provided by a combination of on-site and off-site. Maximum building height is 85 ft. Um sidewalks and street trees must be provided. Um I've had a lot of um challenging situations with developers on this, but that is an absolute. There is no exception to that. Um the minimum open and green space is 25%. In terms of parking, there is a automatic 10% reduction from what the code would otherwise require. Um, and there is the possibility of a 20% reduction um where it is within a half mile of a major transit stop. Provides um basically off-site sidewalk and uh multi-use path enhancements. participates in the transportation demand management program and provides a 50% subsidy for residents or employees to purchase monthly tri rail and or palm trend passes. Um we also require um equivalency and proportionality between the market rate and the um affordable units. Basically meaning that um they have to be equivalent in terms of quality. they can't be put, you know, the affordable can't be put in a separate building or have to use a separate entrance. They all have have access to the same amenities, all those types of things. And in terms of the number of bedrooms per unit, it has to be approximately proportional between the market rate and the affordable. So, if 20% of your market rate units are three bedrooms, then approximately the same percentage of your affordable units also three bedrooms.

The affordability commitment refers to a 30-year deed restriction and we have a a template that the council has previously blessed that essentially lays out the um enforcement mechanisms u for how the affordability is ensured and um again that is a 30-year commitment. This is a map that shows um where those plan mobility and enhanced mobility areas and meet the other criteria for you know to to qualify for this type of development. Um there have been these um CIMDs approved in the city. Um so as you can see the total approved is 2,176. You can see the affordable and workforce units that have been approved. Um update since the last time I showed this is that um we now have two building permits issued for the Bokeh Center project and for the Tri Rail project. As of when I made this slide, these were the pending uh applications, but this is a fluid situation. And this has changed um as of Friday. We had one withdrawn. So it's more or less but um that was what we had at the time that I made this slide. And at the time there were 517 pending units um which given the exemption of the tri rail from the unit cap would have left um 147 left after the pending applications. But again um this does change and it has changed since this these slides were made. Um, also we were asked a couple of months back to do a high level analysis of level of service impacts if a thousand additional units were to be

added to the CIMD bank. Um, and so we did that analysis and presented it and we looked at those things for which the comprehensive plan establishes a level of service standard and those are sanitary sewer, uh, portable water, storm water or drainage, um, parks and traffic. We also included preliminary evaluations on police, fire, rescue, and school impacts again of a thousand additional units. I'm not going to go these through these in great detail. I hope you appreciate that. But if you want to talk more about them, we can. Um, essentially sanitary sewer is not an issue. Plenty of capacity. Same thing with water. Um, storm water. uh essentially there's this is met on a sightby-sight basis and the each development including CIMDs or any other kind of development simply has to engineer a solution that complies with the standard. So that's a sightby-sight situation. In terms of parks, as you can see here, um the standard is 11 acres per thousand population. And so with the additional units, um we would still be well over um that standard. Um, with respect to police, um, you can see that we would be looking at the equivalent of, uh, two additional officers at current service levels, um, to meet that standard for another thousand units. And for fire rescue, um, we're looking at approximately 122 additional calls uh, per year. And that's based on what would typically be expected for multifamily development. Um this is the information we got from the schools showing a um a couple of slight overcapacity uh situations but we know that you know the schools typically do shift around students shift boundaries uh those kind of things. So we don't expect any major impacts uh

there either. The big um issue of course is traffic for most people. And so our level of service standard is a is D. And I'm not qualified to tell you exactly what that means. Um but uh that is the standard that's typical uh countywide including in the in the city. Um, so we had a um the U Town Center Mall um was kind enough to have their traffic engineer evaluate these impacts and provide us a study. And so their analysis evaluated uh projected conditions in 2036 um assuming uh made some assumptions assuming a full buildout of what's expected at the Booker Raton Innovation Campus. Um and assumes that a half one half of the thousand units would be built in in this area we're at now at the Park of Broken Sound and a half at Midtown which is the Town Center Mall area. The analysis does project um failures of the level of service at the following intersections based uh only on background traffic. So that means not including the additional units. We're just talking about background growth which includes you know uh changes in driving patterns. it. It includes developments that are happening in and particularly outside of the city boundaries um that would cause the the um those that you see there to exceed the level of service standard. So again, those are without the additional units. So I should say more clearly with or without the additional units, not excluding necessarily, but with or without the additional units. Um the traffic division has identified some potential um mitigation that could be um brought to bear on these um level of

service for traffic issues. Um there's, you know, things like closing gaps in the multimmoal network, upgrading signal infrastructure, some streetscape improvements, um additional transit investments, those kind of things that we believe would be um would help to mitigate those impacts. Um you can see some of these you know again we can talk more in detail but it's it's infrastructure enhancements, transit investments, those kind of things. Um so again those are uh that's information that we have previously presented and we're recapping now and I'm happy to address any questions you might have.

Thank you Mr. Shad. Any questions for Mr. Shad? Mr. Pman. Thank you Mr. Thompson. Thank you, Mr. Shad, for that presentation. I have 10 questions for you on CIMDS. It's an important zoning overlay in the city. So, I'm going to just start by asking you from the beginning. So far, there have been many approved CIMD projects totaling around 2200 units. How many live local projects have been approved? There have been none approved. We have one in process.

Okay. So there's there's roughly um seven projects of CIMDs totaling 2200 units that have been approved and there have been no approved live local projects in the city. Correct. Given that CIMDs only offer 10% affordable housing and live local projects offer 40% affordable housing, how has this ratio of CIMDs to live local projects impacted affordable housing in Bokeh?

I think the point you're making is that if they were live local projects, they'd be be providing more affordable housing. That's true. So how many So if if I mean if these so if these projects were live local projects and not CIMD projects is it safe to say that we would have four times the amount of affordable housing units roughly in the city currently

if they were developed as live local projects. Yes. That's significant. By allowing these CIMD developments that can have 90% market rate units in zones that don't allow residential development, is Bokeh simultaneously reducing residential development density in zoning areas where residential is allowed?

We have not done any density reductions though. So therefore, density of residential development is is is being increased with developments of up to 90% market rate units with no simultaneous reduction. Again, on these these market rate units are being built on land on in zoning districts that don't allow residential yet no reductions are being reduced. Sorry, no reductions are being made in residential zones that do allow residential development. Correct. Correct.

Okay. Is there any plan to reduce density reductions elsewhere on account of these CIMD projects? No.

Why were the tri rail units exempted from the cap on CIMD units? Um so this was a initiative of the council that uh we processed the ordinance but the the rationale is essentially that um those units are the most um likely to use transit, the most likely to um have a lesser impact on the transportation system. And the residents of those uh units, including the affordable units, would have the most availability of those um transportation options. That would, you know, that that aids affordability in the sense that if you don't have to have a car, you don't have to use it as often, then it's it increases the affordability of of your lifestyle

because that's that's a significant number of units to pass through using CIMD zoning, 340 units, and simply exempting them from the cap. That's significant. I'm going to maybe Mr. Kaylor or or yourself can answer this next one. Is there any limit to how many units future city councils can exempt from the cap by law? I'm not aware of any limit on the exemption uh directly but the overall density would be limited by those future land use designations I believe. Um but in terms of utilizing CIMDs to pass through development the CIMD overlay designation there's no cap on on city councils exempting units. Is that correct?

It's a legislative decision. So, no, there's not.

Okay. So, so that Okay, that's good to know. So, the so councils can exempt as many as many units as they want from the cap. So, so my next question pertaining to that is staff has brought up, it wasn't in this presentation, but it was brought up that there's there's a discussion possibly coming forward or that's being had right now to possibly add another 1,000 units to the CIMD bank. In line with the prior question, do future city councils have the power to increase the unit bank like this by by by law?

Yes, I think the answer is it's a legislative policy decision constrained by the comprehensive plan andor uh density and other considerations. Yes, generally the answer is this is a discretionary program that the legislature allowed and and you can a future council can increase it can decline to increase it. It can take any action it wants with regard to

Okay. So what you've told me just now is that city future city councils can exempt as many units as they want from the cap at will. They can also increase the unit bank at will. So if city councils can exempt units and they can and they can continue adding units to the bank, why is there a cap at all?

Well, again, I mean, I I never had a vote, right? So, I can't tell you the why of the city council members that voted, but the basic idea is that um if you were to give, you know, potentially allow 20 units an acre on all land that has a PM or EM designation, that would be many thousands of units. So I think the idea was to put the cap in place, get that many units and test the program as a pilot and then make future decisions from there rather than just opening it wide to

Okay. Okay. So ba based on what you're telling me that the possibility given the lack of legislative restriction on the council that CIMDs as long as this zoning overlay is in place councils have the ability to potentially have tens of thousands of units pass through across the city with no so it doesn't seem like the cap really has much effect. You you presented a level of service analysis today specific to CIMDs. Has a level of service analysis been performed at large for the city taking into account all residential developments that have been approved and are in the process of being built? Well, yes, the um the entire development potential allowed in the comprehensive plan uh has been evaluated at the time the comprehensive plan was adopted. Um and so, you know, every time that the plan is amended in a way that would change that development potential, then that that change that delta is analyzed. And when was this comprehensive plan passed through with this analysis?

So we re-evaluated uh all of that in I believe it was 2020. Um and then again like any kind of peace meal sightby-sight changes would have also been evaluated for the change that they were making. And when was the original comprehensive plan? And I I understand it was re-evaluated in 2020, but when was the original one passed through with this this analysis on development?

Um I'm not sure I can I can confidently answer that. Um today the you know the comprehensive plan of the city has been in place for I don't know probably since the 70s and I the growth management act was passed in 1985 which significantly changed comprehensive plans. So you'd probably be looking for the first plan adopted after that was probably 1989. Okay. So it's safe to say that the original plan was pushed forward. This analysis was from decades ago. Is that correct? The original. Yeah.

Yeah. So then I think we're we're arriving at the the question the the crux of this which is that this original plan in terms of taking into account all development in the city was is is from many decades ago. I I believe some evaluations were made in 2020. I'm not sure how significant those were, but regardless, since 2020, there's been city councils in place that have that have allowed aggressive development throughout the entire city. Therefore, and and countless dozens of projects have been passed through recently in the last year or two um that are that have not been built that are in have been green lit and therefore there's been no level of service analysis conducted to take into account all of that development across the city. Meanwhile, these CIMDs are in existence, which by the way, they were passed in 2024. um with many of the members of of the count the council that was pushing forward the Terra Frisbee government campus redevelopment project allowing residential development in zoning districts that do not allow residential development with very limited affordable housing units with developments of up to 90% of market rate units essentially essent essentially increasing significantly ly the the residential development in the city but not taking into account or lessening density reductions in zones that do allow residential development. Um so this has been very informative. Thank you Mr. Shad. And I'm going to likely come back after I study and review your answers come back to this

council with some further insight. Thank you. Any other questions? If there are no further questions, we can close the or close the book on the CIMD discussion for today. We have set aside some time now in case anybody's interested for public comment on the presentations that have been made during this workshop meeting up till now. That's on the festival of the arts, downtown civic engagement task force, the downtown civic area discussion, and now the CIMD discussion. If anybody would like to be recognized for this special period of public comment, please step forward, state your name, and you will have up to three minutes. Name and address, please. Dr. Blank,

congratulations. You've worn us all out. 80 four hours in and we get you get about 80 minutes per hour. One one minute each. So, it's quite fair. Um, anyway, I want to talk very quickly on the planning process. I'm very concerned about your planning process. I'm handing out things that I'm not talking about today because you took it off the agenda. Dr. Blank, I'm not going to hold the time against you. Need your name and address, please. Oh, I'm sorry. Lorraine Blank, 545 Northwest 7th Street. Thank you.

Um, what you're getting is um the task force, which we um believe very strongly should exist. A task force plays a an important role in terms of policy advice. Um, you shouldn't I don't believe that you should have your consultants decide whether you need a a task force. That's an abdication of your responsibility because the task force is needed to guide them, not them to guide you. I also believe that you are rushing the process so quickly that you may be consulting with um your residents but you will give no time to residents to review and comment on what the consultants give to you to give to us. So this rush process is not in the public interest is no reason to rush as fast as you're doing. I also believe strongly that you are you have a post to note at the bottom of your plan. will think about a communitywide master plan. I think you need and I agree with um Mr. Pearlman that you need to think about the bigger picture all at one time. You shouldn't be thinking about the downtown and not thinking about uptown, west, east, all of bokeh. Um, so deciding on a downtown plan when you need to decide on where the police station will be, where the city hall will be, what the residents want, you need a bigger plan than just a downtown plan. I think you need to do it all together or else you're going to be working in silos with competing outcomes and competing in competing information. So I strongly believe that the the decisions about the future of Bokeh need to be made as a unified process. There needs to be time. The last council rushed and look what happened when you rushed. People objected. Um don't re don't repeat those same mistakes. We have time. We're not under a huge pressure to make these decisions within the next six months to pick a consulting firm within a 3 weeks.

that doesn't even meet best practices for allowing consulting firms to review the RFQ. And an RFQ isn't going to tell you anything except what their qualifications are. It's not really going to give you much about their proposal. And like John said, it's not going to give you anything about their costs. So, I'm not sure that you really fully comprehend the the the the ramifications of everything you're trying to do and how you're condensing it into a into a very restricted process when what you need is more time and a wider process to consider all of Bokeh and all of Bokeh's residence and what we feel and give us time to reflect, to come back to you, to give you our input, not our initial opinion, but our opinions on what you and the consultants and the task force are coming up with. Thank you.

Thank you, Dr. Blank. Anyone else wishing to be heard on the presentation matters that were addressed during today's workshop meeting? Mr. Runen,

Jonathan Nunie in 6501 Congress Avenue. Uh, so I agree with Mr. Pullman's line of questioning except for I disagree with a little caveat of it in regards to the cap. Um I think if you try and put a cap on development, you're going to hear from the development community and the state because I don't think caps are really legal um for a prolonged period of time. So um just something to consider. However, what I don't think this council nor Mr. Chad was considering was how bent over backwards this council was to the development community to not enforce greater mixed use because if you're trying to create a downtown or an area where it's walkable or people are you know taking cars off the road. I remember a meeting here where one council person was begging a developer in a recess like you had today to go from zero square ft of retail in every one of these projects to now at least have 2,000 square ft. 2,000 square ft out of a building that's 400,000 square ft. Tell me, is 90% of our homes in Boca Raton greater than that? We're talking nothing. 2,000 square feet's like there maybe go greater, but not very much. It's a coffee shop. That's what we're putting in all this. That's not creating a walkable area. So, we need to look at CIMD and what it did for that mixeduse component. You were also a little bit not correct in terms of there are

residential units allowed in all of these areas that we don't really have a district such as that under planned mobility development which reached its cap and nobody really challenged that cap. Um they're they're they're introduced here in these mixeduse districts. That's why they're they're called mixed use. It's a component of CM uh C I M D I should say. Um so that's the only thing I'd ask this council to think about is make development a little bit harder and help the community by having a greater retail component because we're not getting it. So um and if we want a walkable area, that's what we need is more retail, more more not having a food desert such as what you see around here. um and uh creating for a a what CIMD stood for. Uh thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Unjun. I have a card here from Susan Pierce, although I don't see Miss Pierce in the audience. Mr. Thompson, may may I I'd like to get through public comment. We'll deal with it at the end. Um I do see Marie Hester here. She may not necessarily be commenting on one of the items during our discussion on the presentation. That's okay with me. So, Miss Hester, you've been very patient. step forward. State your name and address.

Marie Hester, 135 Pearl Street, Boca Raton, 33432. First, I would like to say congratulations to the new mayor, Andy Thompson, and the new city council members. I am here to support Fabiola Bonire who is an applicant for the historical preservation board. She works at Spatty Museum as a museum educator is secretary of dis developing interracial social change. She's also on many special committees that we have in the the uh community Pearl City. She believes deeply in the power of history, not as something stored in the archives, but as something that shapes our our identity, our community, and our future. Today we face a moment where preserving our past is more important than ever. Rapid change, digital noise, and shifting priorities can make it easy for history to fade into the background. But I believe in this board with fab with Fabola sitting on it. It has the power to ensure that it does not happen. Her knowledge and involvement in the Pearl City community is extensive and considered invaluable. Thank you.

Thank you, Miss Hester. I have a card here also from Judy Morrow, who I saw earlier, but I don't believe is here any longer. You're not going to believe this. It has to do with tennis. I also have a card here from Mr. Starkov. So you've been patient also. Sir, please step forward. State your name and address. No, I think at this point we can entertain any form of public request or comment.

Earl Stark off uh 3260 St. Charles Way. In my best newfound efforts to watch the clock, I'm going to throw out some dots and let the decision makers connect them as best they can. Um this is regarding the downtown cultural proposal discussion as well as the the general proposal uh discussion that was going on. We need to balance in my mind the urgency and the need for cost efficiency leverage with public input and we can have both on a streamlined basis. I want to throw out a couple of timeline dots. Um the uh review of the building structures will be due in four months that plays into this decision process that we discussed that you had the proposal on for the engineering four weeks ago. Uh the city manager, thank you for answering the question I had, which was in January, there will be a move of about 400 personnel if you stick to the plan, and that's 800 trips a day out of downtown by those administrative people. There are about another 150 in the city manager's office and rec services, many of which are backroom operations, which could be considered as additional moves of traffic out of downtown. We don't know what is involved with police personnel that are administrative. Uh that could also be moved to some other location that or otherwise. But for any of you who have tried or had a recent experience with the police department, such as going for a police report, your public interface with the police department is a glass wall and somebody meets you in the lobby and if they need a patrolman there, they call them in from their patrol. So the idea of a public presence of a police department versus an annex, you've just heard my opinion on it. um the uh public

facilities and this was very interesting that the city man assistant city manager raised there is so much technical work some of it's confidential for good reason security but I think that we need to rely on information gathered um of the operational side to know what's needed perhaps now perhaps in a phased in approach as we respond to the needs of a 21st century rather than a mid 20th century building. Um, and I believe that um I'll just relate to you that when we went about in the district uh for the uh the Hornley Park facility that the voters voted in a large number to proceed with council me uh uh council members decision makers who would proceed with that as a primary agenda took time. Uh the initial forecast of needs from the city uh was $24 million and we didn't do bonds. Everything was based on savings we had on hand or project by the time that construction started. We got it in for $12 million with widespread bidding. We were able to leverage the need to people who wanted to eat or companies eat at the public trough. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Starkoff. Anyone else for public comment on any matter? Go ahead, Miss Bernier.

Thank you for letting me speak again. Um, I'll be really brief. I just wanted to um thank uh the city and staff. Um, I know I sent uh a email to um Andrew um uh uh sorry, I forgot your last name. the uh the gentleman over there, Luke Cassich.

Thank you. Um so on behalf of the uh community of Pearl City, um I just want to thank you guys because um your work that you have done has been noticed. Um and we appreciate the attend attention that you have been given um to a little Pearl City. So the um street signs, the speed bump that it has made a big impact on on the community. So, I just wanted to say thank you.

You're very welcome. Thank you for those comments. Any other members of the public wishing to make comments during public requests? Now's the time. Last call for public requests now. Okay. Well, we will close that. I don't think we'll need to revisit it towards the end. Uh with that, we can move on on our agenda to future agenda matters and items of public concern. Mr. Manager, are there any such items today? Mr. Thompson, I'm sorry.

Oh, yes. May I ask one? May Mr. Shad, can may you can you please come back for one moment? I just would like to clarify one thing having to do with something that one speaker stated just now with respect to zoning districts that do not allow residential development. the main ones, the the two of commercial and lurp without a CIMD zoning approval or a live local approval. Is there any other mechanism by which a developer can build residential units in those zoning districts?

Not currently, no. But it's it's complicated because the plan mobility and enhanced mobility design comp plan designation the comprehensive plan designations they provide for residential development uh potential but without the zoning in place it can't be used. So currently um CIMD is the only way that residential can use that developer potential um except for at brick then the EMD is is in place as well.

Yeah, that's an important I'm glad you clarified that. So right now based on what Mr. Shad said is that residential development cannot take place on in zones of commercial and lurp without a CIMD approval or with a live local approval. Yeah. Does that conclude our questioning? I think it does. Okay. So, back to future agenda matters items of council public concern. Mr. Manager, any such items? Thank you, Mr. Mayor. No such items.

Great. Item four, review of regular agenda items. Does any council member have any questions relating to what is on our regular agenda tomorrow? Not hearing any. We can continue. We can move now to city manager reports. Mr. Manager, do you have any reports for us today? No report. Thank you. Mr. Kaylor, any city attorney report? No report. Thank you. Raise your hand if you're member of the council and you want to give a report now. Anybody? I didn't think so. All right. Well, me either. So, no reports on our end. That is excellent. And now with a time of 6:10 in the PM, we can conclude our business and announce that the meeting is adjourned. Thank you.