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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Boca Raton City Council Regular Meeting - April 22, 2025

Boca Raton Public Meetings — Tuesday, April 22, 2025

BodyBoca Raton, Florida

SessionBoca Raton Public Meetings

DateTuesday, April 22, 2025

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 2:49:48

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:01

Good evening and welcome to a regular meeting of the Boca Ratone City Council.

0:05

It is Tuesday, April 22nd, 2025.

0:07

The time is 6 p.m.

0:08

Our first item of business is the invocation, and I'll ask Deputy Mayor Knackless to deliver it, please.

0:13

Thank you, Mayor Singer.

0:15

This evening, let us give thanks for all who have gathered here with us and watching online.

0:19

Grant us the wisdom to govern amid the conflicting interests and issues we're presented with today.

0:24

And may we always have a sense of the welfare and true needs of our residents and confidence in what is good and true.

0:30

Bless us with the ability to work together in harmony, even when there's honest disagreement, and may all of us here speak out when it's time to speak out and listen patiently and receptively when it's time to listen.

0:41

Let us always be thankful for all who protect our city, state, and nation, and may we always be guided by the spirit of community, by the spirit of justice, and by the honor of serving our beloved city of Boca Raton.

0:52

Thank you.

0:53

Thank you.

0:53

Will everyone now please rise and join in the Pledge of Allegiance?

0:58

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

1:05

One nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

1:12

Ms.

1:12

Siddons, will you please call the roll?

1:14

Mayor Singer?

1:15

Here.

1:15

Deputy Mayor Knackless.

1:16

Here.

1:17

Councilmember Drucker.

1:18

Here.

1:18

Councilmember Thompson.

1:19

Thankful to be here.

1:20

Councilmember Wakeder.

1:22

Here.

1:22

All present.

1:23

Thank you, Mr.

1:23

Brown.

1:23

I understand we have some amendments to the agenda.

1:25

Could you go over those, please?

1:26

Yes, thank you.

1:28

Consent agenda item number 9F, which is Resolution 61 2025 will be removed from the consent agenda and heard under regular public hearings as Item 12A.

1:39

And we would propose to add resolution 62, 2025 to regular public hearings as item 12B.

1:47

The second resolution that I mentioned is to continue the existence of the city's community redevelopment agency until the year 2043.

1:55

All right, very well.

1:56

We'll entertain a motion to adopt the agenda accordingly.

1:59

Do I hear a motion?

2:00

So moved.

2:00

Second.

2:01

Thank you.

2:01

Motion by Wigder, second by Dorfer.

2:03

Any further discussion?

2:04

All those in favor, please say aye.

2:05

Aye.

2:06

And we have amended the agenda that way.

2:08

Um I can that concludes amendments to the agenda.

2:11

So we'll now turn to minutes, and we've got the review of the minutes of the workshop, excuse me, the organizational meeting of March 31st, 2025, the workshop meeting of April 7th, and the regular meeting of April 8th.

2:20

Are there any corrections or additions?

2:22

Seeing none will undertake and ortain a motion to approve all three sets of minutes.

2:25

So moved.

2:26

Second.

2:27

Second.

2:28

Second by Drucker, thank you.

2:29

Any further discussion?

2:30

All those in favor, please say aye.

2:32

Aye.

2:32

Aye.

2:33

And the minutes are approved.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Code Enforcement███████████████15%

Public Engagement████████████12%

Public Safety███████████11%

Land Use Regulation████████8%

Procurement████████8%

Procedural███████7%

Economic Development█████5%

Downtown Planning█████5%

Education█████5%

Summary of Proceedings

Boca Raton City Council Regular Meeting - April 22, 2025

The Boca Raton City Council held a regular meeting on April 22, 2025, at 6:00 PM. The meeting included proclamations for Water Reuse Week and Water Conservation Month, awards for the Drop Savers Poster Contest, approval of consent agenda items (with discussion on the Hispanic Entrepreneur Initiative grant), an update on the Government Campus Redevelopment Partnership, quasi-judicial hearings for Boca Raton Christian School enrollment expansion and technical deviations, a resolution authorizing a speed camera system pilot program, extension of the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) term, a code enforcement lien reduction, public requests, and council member reports.

Consent Calendar

Approved minutes from March 31 (Organizational), April 7 (Workshop), and April 8 (Regular) meetings. (Unanimous)
Resolution No. 54-2025: Local Housing Assistance Plan for SHIP Program. (Unanimous)
Resolution No. 58-2025: Purchase of two Sutphen fire pumpers. (Unanimous)
Resolution No. 59-2025: Closure of NW 28th Street crossing and opening of Jeffery Street crossing with Florida East Coast Railway. (Unanimous)
Resolution No. 60-2025: Agreement with Palm Beach County for Mobility On Demand service connecting to Tri-Rail station. (Unanimous)
Resolution No. 61-2025 was removed from consent and heard separately (Item 12A).
Resolution No. 57-2025 (Economic Development Grant with Hispanic Entrepreneur Initiative) was pulled for discussion and approved 4-1 (Council Member Thomson voted no, citing lack of performance metrics).

Public Comments & Testimony

Jonathan Ungjin (6501 Congress Avenue) commented on Consent Item 9E (Mobility on Demand), criticizing continued funding for the Northwest Shuttle bus service and suggesting using on-demand electric vehicles instead. He later commented on the Government Campus project, expressing concerns about unit density and lack of affordable housing in northwest Boca Raton, and referenced potential legislative action on the Live Local Act.
Judy Morrow (1305 NE 5th Avenue) spoke on the Government Campus redevelopment, noting a Coastal Star article and stating she had turned in 404 petitions supporting keeping tennis downtown. She urged the council to approve clay courts for Patch Reef Park.
Stephen Abrams (representing Altamont) spoke against the RedSpeed camera contract during the school zone speed camera hearing, advocating for Altamont as a faster and cheaper alternative.
Ron Klein (4620 NW 24th Avenue, representing Jenoptik) likewise advocated for his company, citing local presence and pricing. He suggested an RFP for a permanent program.
Michael Wood (18516 Ocean Mist Drive) praised the Building Department for concierge services and efficiency on large projects, noting his clients have paid over $10 million in permit fees.
Anastasia Collis (199 Mansfield E) requested formation of a volunteer cyber task force ("Cyber Knights") to combat hacking and support community safety; she mentioned gathering over 75 signatures and collaboration with local cybersecurity professionals.

Discussion Items

Government Campus Redevelopment Partnership Opportunity: Staff reported no new developments. Council discussed the planned open house (originally limited to 100 participants via tabletop exercise). Council Members Drucker and Thomson suggested opening the event to more residents, including a presentation by Terra Frisbee followed by Q&A rather than small breakouts. Staff agreed to pivot and readvertise to allow larger attendance. The open house will take place April 28, 2025 at the Studio (capacity ~290).
Resolution No. 61-2025 – Speed Detection Camera System Pilot (RedSpeed Florida, LLC): Director Zach Beer presented the contract for school zone speed cameras; the pilot will begin with city roads (county road permitting is still a challenge). Discussion included vendor selection (staff evaluated 4–6 vendors, chose RedSpeed via a piggyback contract from Plantation), safety focus (tickets issued only for >10 mph over limit), and plans for a warning period. Council Members expressed support for moving forward with the pilot, with the understanding that a full RFP may be pursued after evaluation.
Resolution No. 62-2025 – CRA Term Extension: Staff explained that state legislation (SB 1242) could restrict future extensions unless action is taken by May 1, 2025. The resolution extends the CRA to 2043. Council approved unanimously.
Lien Reduction – 1489 W. Palmetto Park Road: Staff recommended a 75% reduction ($30,000 payment) based on serious life safety violations and staff resources expended. Applicant (Ellie Zacharitis) requested 100% reduction ($0), noting that the current owner (Grover Curlew) acquired the property in 2019 and invested over $30 million in renovations, paying $356,000 in permit fees; they were not the violators who caused the original 2014–2015 fines. Council discussion focused on whether the applicant knew about the lien at purchase; it was clarified that the lien was recorded only against one condominium unit and was not discovered in title searches. The council voted 5-0 to reduce the lien to $0.

Key Outcomes

Boca Raton Christian School (Resolutions 55 & 56): Approved unanimously (5-0) to increase student enrollment from 800 to 950 and grant five technical deviations for driveways (reduced reservoir distances, median separator, egress lanes).
Speed Camera Pilot (Resolution 61): Approved unanimously (5-0). The pilot will begin on city roads with RedSpeed Florida; warning period precedes citations; staff will engage Palm Beach County on permitting issues.
CRA Extension (Resolution 62): Approved unanimously (5-0) to extend CRA existence to 2043.
Lien Reduction (Resolution 53): Approved unanimously (5-0) to reduce the $118,220 lien to $0.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening and welcome to a regular meeting of the Boca Ratone City Council. It is Tuesday, April 22nd, 2025. The time is 6 p.m. Our first item of business is the invocation, and I'll ask Deputy Mayor Knackless to deliver it, please. Thank you, Mayor Singer. This evening, let us give thanks for all who have gathered here with us and watching online. Grant us the wisdom to govern amid the conflicting interests and issues we're presented with today. And may we always have a sense of the welfare and true needs of our residents and confidence in what is good and true. Bless us with the ability to work together in harmony, even when there's honest disagreement, and may all of us here speak out when it's time to speak out and listen patiently and receptively when it's time to listen. Let us always be thankful for all who protect our city, state, and nation, and may we always be guided by the spirit of community, by the spirit of justice, and by the honor of serving our beloved city of Boca Raton. Thank you. Thank you. Will everyone now please rise and join in the Pledge of Allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Ms. Siddons, will you please call the roll? Mayor Singer? Here. Deputy Mayor Knackless. Here. Councilmember Drucker. Here. Councilmember Thompson. Thankful to be here. Councilmember Wakeder. Here. All present. Thank you, Mr. Brown. I understand we have some amendments to the agenda. Could you go over those, please? Yes, thank you. Consent agenda item number 9F, which is Resolution 61 2025 will be removed from the consent agenda and heard under regular public hearings as Item 12A. And we would propose to add resolution 62, 2025 to regular public hearings as item 12B. The second resolution that I mentioned is to continue the existence of the city's community redevelopment agency until the year 2043. All right, very well. We'll entertain a motion to adopt the agenda accordingly. Do I hear a motion? So moved. Second. Thank you. Motion by Wigder, second by Dorfer. Any further discussion? All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. And we have amended the agenda that way. Um I can that concludes amendments to the agenda. So we'll now turn to minutes, and we've got the review of the minutes of the workshop, excuse me, the organizational meeting of March 31st, 2025, the workshop meeting of April 7th, and the regular meeting of April 8th. Are there any corrections or additions?

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