OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Boca Raton CRA Regular Meeting – September 22, 2025

Boca Raton Public Meetings — Monday, September 22, 2025
BodyBoca Raton, Florida
SessionBoca Raton Public Meetings
DateMonday, September 22, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
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0:03

Good morning.

0:03

Good morning, everyone.

0:04

Good morning and welcome to this regular but early regular meeting of the community redevelopment agency of Boca Ratone.

0:11

It's Monday, September 22nd, 2025.

0:13

The time is 10 a.m.

0:15

The meeting will now be called to order.

0:17

Please all let's rise for the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:25

And to the republic for which it stands lending under God in the individual justice.

0:37

Thank you all very much.

0:38

Ms.

0:39

Siddons, please call the roll.

0:40

Chair Wickter.

0:41

Here.

0:42

Vice Chair Thompson.

0:43

Thankful to be here.

0:44

Commissioner Drucker here.

0:45

Commissioner Knackless.

0:46

Here.

0:47

Commissioner Singer.

0:48

Here.

0:48

All present.

0:49

Thank you very much.

0:50

Before we begin, let me just make a quick comment as to the time of this meeting.

0:53

There was some chatter on the internet about the time.

0:56

As you know, uh tomorrow, uh this evening really begins the Jewish holiday.

1:01

So many times for many, many years, uh the city has moved its meetings to an earlier time.

1:07

In fact, I think it will also happen when public holidays uh happen at the same time like Columbus Day.

1:13

Uh so we do move the meeting uh to 10 o'clock so we can make sure we get all the city's business in as we have to.

1:19

Uh Mr.

1:20

Brown, any other comments?

1:21

Yeah, just to remind everyone that the schedule for the meetings for the city council for this fiscal year and calendar year rather, was approved last September 10th, 2024, including the schedule for today's meeting starting at 10 and being a consolidated meeting.

1:40

That was posted on our website in September of 2024, and it was revised in November when we adopted the summer schedule.

1:50

Uh we have, in addition to this meeting today, as Mr.

1:53

Wagner mentioned, on October 14th, we will be having all the council meetings starting at 10 a.m.

1:58

because of Columbus Day on the 13th.

2:01

And in November, all the meetings will occur on November 4th beginning at 10 a.m.

2:06

because of Veterans Day and Thanksgiving week.

2:09

And next year we have similar changes.

2:12

This has been a standard practice.

2:14

And I just want to comment that we're always able to receive input real time via email and the my Boca app, so it's not like there's uh not an opportunity to comment.

2:26

Thank you.

2:27

Thank you very much, Mr.

2:28

Brown.

2:28

Uh Mr.

2:29

Brown, any amendments to the agenda?

2:31

No amendments today.

2:32

Thank you.

2:33

Thank you.

2:33

Are there any corrections to the minutes of August 25th, 2025 or September 8th, 2025?

2:40

If not, I'll entertain a motion.

2:42

So moved.

2:43

Moved by Ms.

2:44

Drucker.

2:44

Second.

2:45

Second by Ms.

2:45

Knockless.

2:46

All in favor?

2:47

Aye.

2:48

Aye.

2:48

Thank you.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural███████████████████████23%
Transportation Safety█████████████████17%
Public Engagement████████████████16%
Capital Improvement Planning████████████████16%
Public Records███████████11%
Parks and Recreation████████8%
Downtown Planning█████5%
Historic Preservation██2%
Urban Planning██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Boca Raton Community Redevelopment Agency Regular Meeting – September 22, 2025

The Boca Raton Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) held its regular meeting on Monday, September 22, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. The meeting was rescheduled to an earlier time due to the Jewish holiday that evening. The CRA approved its fiscal year 2025-2026 budget and the 2026 meeting schedule, heard public comments on downtown issues, and received updates from staff and commissioners.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes of the regular meetings of August 25, 2025, and September 8, 2025, were approved unanimously without correction.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • John Perlman (498 NE A Street, founder of Save Boca) spoke during public requests, criticizing the city’s reliance on Brightline, citing its financial decline (missed bond payment, junk bond rating, $549 million loss in 2024), increasing fatalities, and a lawsuit by Florida East Coast Railway. He urged the CRA to stop investing in the Brightline station.
  • Mac Johnson spoke in support of the referendum petition on parks, arguing that the city should not sign away parkland for development, referencing the successful 1973 preservation of Red Reef Park.
  • Barbara Powers (192 NE Spanish Trail) expressed support for renovating City Hall, community center, and police department downtown but opposed private partnerships that reduce parkland.
  • Joe Graubart (120 SE Fifth Avenue) asked whether the CRA would hire an executive director with a vision for a more pedestrian-friendly downtown and noted the lack of continuous sidewalks and comfortable bus stops. He also observed the parking lot was full.
  • During the public hearing on the CRA budget, John Perlman again spoke, alleging that $80 million in capital outlay and redevelopment projects lacked line-item transparency and that funds would primarily benefit developers like Terra and Frisbee. He requested detailed line items be posted online.

Discussion Items

  • FY2025-2026 CRA Budget (Resolution 2025-08-CRA): Stephen Timberlake of Financial Services presented the budget. Key points:
    • Total revenue projected at $31 million, with $26.75 million from tax increment financing (TIF).
    • Total expenditures budgeted at $70 million, including $54 million in operating costs and $15 million held over for multi-year projects.
    • Capital projects include transit-oriented community development, sidewalk improvements, Meisner Park upgrades, downtown traffic lights, Palmetto Park Road connectivity, parking analysis, amphitheater roof replacement, and support for Brightline station.
    • Three new positions funded: a customer service representative, a police officer, and a cultural/community programs administrator.
    • Commissioners discussed TIF mechanics, fund reserves, and the importance of spending CRA funds on downtown infrastructure to avoid reversion to the county.
    • Commissioner Drucker noted Brightline’s safety investments and called for public education on train safety. She also mentioned the countywide transportation master plan.
    • Chair Wigder emphasized that downtown investments should stand on their own regardless of Brightline’s future.
  • 2026 Meeting Schedule (Resolution 2025-09-CRA): Mr. Brown presented the annual calendar, adjusting meeting dates for elections, holidays, and legislative session needs. The schedule was approved as amended.

Key Outcomes

  • Resolution 2025-08-CRA (FY2025-2026 Budget) passed unanimously (5-0).
  • Resolution 2025-09-CRA (2026 Meeting Schedule) passed unanimously (5-0) with amendments proposed by Mr. Brown.
  • The CRA director and commissioners offered final remarks. Commissioner Nachlas recognized a “parking day” event at Meisner Park. Chair Wigder thanked outgoing CRA Executive Director Mr. Brown for his service and urged collaboration on downtown improvements while noting legislative threats to CRA funding in Tallahassee.
  • The meeting adjourned at 10:43 a.m.

Meeting Transcript

Good morning. Good morning, everyone. Good morning and welcome to this regular but early regular meeting of the community redevelopment agency of Boca Ratone. It's Monday, September 22nd, 2025. The time is 10 a.m. The meeting will now be called to order. Please all let's rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. And to the republic for which it stands lending under God in the individual justice. Thank you all very much. Ms. Siddons, please call the roll. Chair Wickter. Here. Vice Chair Thompson. Thankful to be here. Commissioner Drucker here. Commissioner Knackless. Here. Commissioner Singer. Here. All present. Thank you very much. Before we begin, let me just make a quick comment as to the time of this meeting. There was some chatter on the internet about the time. As you know, uh tomorrow, uh this evening really begins the Jewish holiday. So many times for many, many years, uh the city has moved its meetings to an earlier time. In fact, I think it will also happen when public holidays uh happen at the same time like Columbus Day. Uh so we do move the meeting uh to 10 o'clock so we can make sure we get all the city's business in as we have to. Uh Mr. Brown, any other comments? Yeah, just to remind everyone that the schedule for the meetings for the city council for this fiscal year and calendar year rather, was approved last September 10th, 2024, including the schedule for today's meeting starting at 10 and being a consolidated meeting. That was posted on our website in September of 2024, and it was revised in November when we adopted the summer schedule. Uh we have, in addition to this meeting today, as Mr. Wagner mentioned, on October 14th, we will be having all the council meetings starting at 10 a.m. because of Columbus Day on the 13th. And in November, all the meetings will occur on November 4th beginning at 10 a.m. because of Veterans Day and Thanksgiving week. And next year we have similar changes. This has been a standard practice. And I just want to comment that we're always able to receive input real time via email and the my Boca app, so it's not like there's uh not an opportunity to comment. Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. Brown. Uh Mr. Brown, any amendments to the agenda? No amendments today. Thank you. Thank you. Are there any corrections to the minutes of August 25th, 2025 or September 8th, 2025? If not, I'll entertain a motion.

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