Boca Raton City Council Regular Meeting - September 9, 2025
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Boca Raton City Council Regular Meeting - September 9, 2025
The Boca Raton City Council met on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at 6:00 PM for a Regular Meeting. The lengthy session, running over 5 hours, was dominated by a highly contentious public hearing and discussion on the proposed Government Campus Redevelopment Partnership with Terra Frisbee. A clear majority of the dozens of public speakers opposed the project, citing concerns over the privatization of Memorial Park, traffic, financial projections, and process. The Council ultimately postponed the planned October 28 final vote and directed the City Attorney to draft a ballot question subjecting any final council approval to a public referendum. The Council also unanimously passed several routine consent agenda items and ordinances, including zoning changes, franchise agreements, and a clarification of a historic designation.
Consent Calendar
The Council unanimously adopted the Consent Agenda (Items 9A through 9L). Key items approved included:
- Sole source contracts for pump repairs and wastewater services totaling over $1.69 million.
- Resolution 115-2025 designating Fire Rescue Station 3 as "Kerry Koen Fire Rescue Station 3".
- Easement deeds for utility access on Jeffery Street and Kingsbridge Street.
- Resolution 128-2025 for an agreement with the Boca Raton Housing Authority for operations at the Lois Martin Community Center.
- Resolution 134-2025 establishing a neighborhood tree and beautification program.
- Resolutions 135 and 136-2025 formalizing the City Manager transition, extending George S. Brown's contract temporarily and appointing Mark D. Sohaney.
- Pay and classification plan updates and a compensation study implementation (Resolutions 137 and 138-2025).
- Contracts for wastewater treatment facility aeration upgrades and lime sludge removal (Resolutions 139 and 140-2025).
Public Comments & Testimony (Item 10 - Government Campus)
Over 30 residents provided public testimony on the Government Campus proposal, representing the most extensive public comment portion of the meeting.
- Overwhelming Opposition (approx. 25 speakers): A clear majority of speakers voiced strong opposition.
- Memorial Park / Veterans: Numerous speakers, including veterans (Frank Patton, Steve Griffith), firmly stated that the entire 17-acre Memorial Park constitutes a living WWII memorial and that the city's plan to develop it represents a "desecration" and a "betrayal." They argued the park itself is the monument.
- Trust and Process: Many residents (John Pearlman, Ludmilla Perlman, Yvonne Zumtobel) expressed deep mistrust in the council and developer, arguing the process was rushed, the timeline accelerated to avoid scrutiny, and the plan changed so radically in two weeks it could not be trusted. They demanded a public vote.
- Financial Transparency: Speakers (CPA Michelle Grau, Steve Zumtobel) heavily criticized the financial projections. Grau identified a $650 million discrepancy in the net present value of the ground lease, called the 99-year forecast "speculative," and noted the 4.5% discount rate was well below common industry standards. Others questioned the lack of an independent land appraisal and conflicts of interest involving CBRE.
- Specific Objections: Testimony criticized the reduction of tennis courts (10 to 8), the removal of the skate park, the relocation of softball fields (damaging wildlife and increasing traffic at Sugar Sand Park), and the privatization of land for condos and offices. The potential for developer changes under a 99-year lease was a frequent concern.
- Ethics: A speaker called for restoring high ethical standards to the interim agreement, specifically a prohibition on campaign contributions from the developer.
- Minority Support (2-3 speakers): A small number of speakers (Alex D'Angelis, Josh Rosenfeld) supported the project, arguing for the need to create a vibrant, transit-oriented downtown around the Brightline station to attract young people and remain competitive.
- Youth Testimony: Several young residents (Colin, Ariana Curia, Ellie Gascoigne) spoke against the development, emphasizing their desire to keep their parks and fields close to home.
Discussion Items
1. Government Campus Redevelopment Partnership Opportunity (Item 10A)
- Developer Presentation: Terra Frisbee (David Martin, Rob Frisbee) presented a significantly revised plan. Key changes included:
- Removal of a proposed hotel.
- Reduction of residential units from 1,100 to 740.
- Removal of an office building on a triangular lot, replaced with an expansion of Memorial Park and a dedicated veterans' monument.
- Preservation of all six banyan trees.
- Addition of an 8-acre multi-purpose field, a shaded children's playground, and at least eight clay tennis courts.
- Inclusion of a mobility hub for transit options, a post office, and a grocery store.
- Commitment to exploring a pedestrian bridge to Mizner Park and contributing $10 million towards it.
- Total projected revenue to the city over the 99-year lease: approximately $2 billion ($228 million NPV).
- Developer explicitly stated their full support for a public referendum on the final plan.
- Council Discussion:
- Councilmember Thompson: Praised the timeline postponement and the developer's commitment to a referendum. He stressed the need for thorough traffic studies and public workshops before proceeding.
- Councilmember Drucker: Defended the selection of Terra Frisbee as the partner that demonstrated the greatest willingness to listen and iterate. She highlighted the plan's potential for connectivity and activation, and confirmed the developer's commitment to a $10 million pedestrian bridge contribution and inclusion of a grocery/post office.
- Mayor Singer: Corrected public misinformation (the Mayor's Ball is not his fundraiser, financial analysis oversight by independent consultant PFM). He defended the initiative as fulfilling long-standing city plans for a transit-oriented downtown and asserted the park was never formally dedicated as a war memorial, a condition the new plan would rectify.
- City Manager/Staff: Confirmed an independent appraisal would be conducted and the city's fiscal consultant (PFM) was reviewing all projections. They confirmed a full traffic study would be performed.
- Outcome: No vote was taken on the project itself. Council consensus was reached to:
- Postpone the final vote (previously scheduled for October 28).
- Direct the City Attorney to draft ballot language for a referendum making final council approval contingent on voter approval.
- Schedule public workshops on September 29 and October 6.
- Continue due diligence on traffic, appraisal, and financials.
- Place the relocation of Singing Pines Children's Museum to Meadows Park on hold.
2. Ordinance 5741 - R-5 Zoning Height Increase
- Public hearing for a text amendment to allow buildings up to 100 feet (from 85 feet) in the R-5 multifamily district, restricted to properties of at least 100 acres with an approved master plan. The Planning and Zoning Board recommended approval. The Council adopted the ordinance unanimously (5-0).
3. Ordinance 5747 - Singing Pines Children's Museum Historical Designation
- Public hearing to clarify that the historic designation for the Singing Pines structure applies to the building itself, not the underlying land, facilitating potential relocation while preserving its historic status. The Council adopted the ordinance unanimously (5-0). Manager Brown noted the relocation to Meadows Park is on hold pending the outcome of the overall campus plan.
4. Ordinance 5749 - Spanish River Park Telecom Easement
- Public hearing for the sale of an underground telecommunications easement within Spanish River Park to Telxius Cable USA for approximately $2.6 million. The easement allows an undersea fiber optic cable to connect to existing city infrastructure. Public testimony raised concerns about zoning compliance, potential impacts on adjacent private property, and the need for environmental permitting. City staff and the City Attorney confirmed the use is permitted under code and subject to state and city permitting. The Council adopted the ordinance 4-1 (Councilmember Thompson dissenting, citing unanswered questions about the definition of a utility).
Key Outcomes
- Government Campus: The October 28 vote was officially abandoned. The council directed the City Attorney to prepare a resolution for a public referendum on any final plan.
- Terra Frisbee Workshops: The developer committed to public workshops on September 29 and October 6 to present and receive feedback on the revised plan.
- Board Appointments: Brian Feist (Citizens' Pedestrian/Bikeway Advisory Board), Christian Carabia (Community Advisory Panel), Jose Jaramillo, Paula Morales, Ronka Margolina (Community Appearance Board), and Brian Isro (Sustainability Advisory Board) were appointed.
- Zoning Code: Adopted Ordinance 5741, increasing maximum building height in the R-5 district to 100 feet for qualifying large master-planned properties.
- Franchise Agreements: Approved non-exclusive franchise agreements for construction/demolition debris and commercial solid waste collection with Waste Management, Panzarella, All County Waste, and FCC Environmental.
- Historic Preservation: Adopted Ordinance 5747 clarifying the historic designation of Singing Pines applies solely to the structure. Relocation of the structure is paused.
- Downtown Plan: Adopted Ordinance 5748 amending the downtown redevelopment plan to allocate excess TIF funds.
- Telecom Easement: Approved the sale of a telecom easement in Spanish River Park (4-1 vote).
Meeting Transcript
Well, everyone, please be seated. I call to order a regular meeting of the Bokeratone City Council. It is Tuesday, September ninth, twenty twenty-five. The time is six PM. Moreover, compale, pale compared to our opportunities. Now will everyone please rise and join in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Ms. Siddons, will you please call the roll? Mayor Singer. Here. Deputy Mayor Naklis. Here. Councilmember Drucker. Here. Councilmember Thompson. Thankful to be here. Councilmember Wickter. Here. All present. Thank you. I believe we have no amendments to the agenda. Just a reminder, Mayor, that items 11A1 and 2, the Martin Manor public hearings are deleted from the agenda and postponed to a no later than November 4th meeting. That's fine. I think we should take a vote on that. So do I hear a motion on that? So moved. Second. Any further discussion? This item was removed at the applicant's request so that they could reach out to some concerned stakeholders. So for those that reason, I will support it. All those in favor of the amendment, please say aye. Aye. And the amendments approved. We will not have item 11. There are no other amendments to the agenda. So there are also no minutes to review. So we'll turn to presentations. And uh is Brenda Cavallo of the Estehockey chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Oh, there you are. Wonderful. We're very pleased to have Brenda Cavayo, region of the Estahockey chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution to present to accept a proclamation for Constitution Week. And so if you'll take to the lectern and then afterwards, we will pose for a photo with the Council. Thank you. If you know the preamble, you can join us. We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity to ordain and establish this constitution for the United States of America. Almost 250 years ago, in a room about this size, a group of five men undertook the writing for a new nation and proclaimed its Constitution. One hundred years ago, a group of key figures such as Henry Flagger and Addison Meisner helped to found and develop what we know today as Boca Raton using these same principles. Flash forward to today, and we still meet in the same size room, only this time Abigail Adams would be pleased to know that we also invite women.
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