Boca Raton City Council Regular Meeting – September 22, 2025
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Boca Raton City Council Regular Meeting – September 22, 2025
The City Council met on Monday, September 22, 2025, at 4:00 PM (transcript indicates 3:58 PM) for a regular meeting. The agenda included consent items, a government campus redevelopment partnership opportunity, quasi-judicial public hearings, regular public hearings, and public requests. The meeting adjourned at 4:54 PM.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes Approved: Seven sets of minutes from August 25, 2025 (workshop and executive session), August 26, 2025, September 8, 2025 (special meeting, workshop, tentative budget hearing), and September 9, 2025 (regular meeting) were approved unanimously.
- Resolution No. 145-2025 (Meeting Schedule Changes): Adopted by a 5-0 vote, as amended to adjust meeting weeks in January as discussed at the prior workshop and CRA meeting. The amendment responded to public concern about meetings scheduled during holiday weeks.
- Consent Items (A–I): All other consent agenda items (including procurement contracts, sole source agreements, bond referendum resolution, disaster debris removal agreement, Palm Tran bus service funding, board resignations, and board minutes) were approved unanimously without removal, except Resolution 145-2025 as noted.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Government Campus Redevelopment (Item 10): Multiple speakers expressed strong opposition to the proposed public-private partnership (P3) with Terra Frisbee for redeveloping public land. Key points:
- Martha Parker (64 NW 7th St) criticized the lack of public trust, the absence of a public vote, and the timing of land appraisals. She urged council members to return campaign contributions from Terra Frisbee.
- John Perlman (498 NE A St) accused the city of using the citywide email database to promote the developer’s project while ignoring citizen opposition. He noted that over 70 speakers at the previous meeting and approximately 40 at this meeting were all opposed except one.
- Jonathan Unjin (6501 Congress Ave) acknowledged the city’s intent but said the community was not included early enough. He urged the city and developer to engage in constructive charrettes to win over more residents.
- Alexandra Avelo (498 W 12th Terrace) reported knocking on doors and hearing widespread dissatisfaction, stating the council has lost the trust of the people.
- Resolution 147-2025 (Telxius Cable Rights-of-Way): John Perlman questioned the benefit of the cable to Boca Raton residents, stating the only benefit was financial ($2.6 million) and that the cable serves Caribbean infrastructure. Jonathan Unjin supported the revenue but urged expedited payment timelines.
Discussion Items
- Government Campus Redevelopment Partnership Opportunity (Item 10): No staff presentation was made. Public comment was heard. City Manager Brown clarified that the appraisal of the conveyed land cannot occur until the final plan is tied down, and that the acreage potentially conveyed is less than earlier estimates (31 or 18 acres). Mayor Singer noted the city’s email said “interest” not “support” for the project.
- Quasi-Judicial Hearing – Resolution 141-2025 (Conditional Use – 104 NW 20th St): The applicant sought conditional use approval for approximately 10,560 sq ft of retail (AutoZone) in an existing building in the M-2 General Industrial district. Staff reported that the existing building was nonconforming for parking, but the new use does not increase parking requirements. The applicant proposed landscaping improvements, including added palms, removal of an asphalt driveway, new canopy trees, and a dumpster enclosure. The Planning and Zoning Board voted 6-0 to recommend approval, and the Community Appearance Board provided favorable preliminary review. The Council approved the resolution unanimously (5-0).
- Regular Public Hearing – Ordinance 5750 (General Employees Pension Lump Sum Payment): The ordinance provides a one-time lump sum payment to retirees: 5% for those who retired before October 1, 2015, and 3% for those who retired between October 1, 2015 and October 1, 2020. Total cost is $490,465, funded by the pension plan with a city contribution of the same amount, resulting in no net impact on the unfunded liability. The ordinance was approved unanimously (5-0).
- Regular Public Hearing – Resolution 147-2025 (Telxius Cable Rights-of-Way): Staff (PWE Director Zach Beer) explained that the agreement updates an existing right-of-way use agreement for Telxius Cable’s existing conduits, increasing the annual per-linear-foot fee. The cable is part of a transcontinental system that lands at Spanish River Park via horizontal directional drilling, with environmental permits from the Army Corps and Governor’s office. The city receives $65,000 per year for the right-of-way, plus an easement payment of $2.6 million (already wired). The resolution was approved unanimously (5-0).
- Council Member Reports:
- Council Member Wigder raised the issue of delayed construction projects, citing structural and life safety risks. He sought consensus to direct staff to develop an ordinance requiring enhanced inspections and compliance for significantly delayed projects. City Manager Brown confirmed staff is already evaluating the issue and will bring a recommendation.
- Council Member Drucker provided updates on Tri-Rail funding (state reinstatement of $27 million), the countywide transportation master plan (pbcmoves.com), and congratulations to colleagues appointed to Florida League of Cities policy committees.
- Deputy Mayor Nachlas thanked the public for attending and reiterated her openness to meetings. She noted the Police Department’s 100-year anniversary celebration.
Key Outcomes
- Postponement Granted: Items 11 B.1 and B.2 (Congress Avenue school conditional use and CIMD amendment) were postponed to November 18, 2025, by unanimous vote.
- Resolution 141-2025 Adopted: Unanimous (5-0) approval of conditional use for retail at 104 NW 20th St.
- Ordinance 5750 Adopted: Unanimous (5-0) approval of one-time lump sum pension payments.
- Resolution 147-2025 Adopted: Unanimous (5-0) approval of telecommunications rights-of-way agreement with Telxius Cable.
- Consent Agenda Adopted: All items approved unanimously, with Resolution 145-2025 amended as discussed.
- Next Steps on Government Campus: The city and developer will hold charrettes (sessions announced via city email) to gather community input. A public vote on the proposed bond referendum ($175 million for a new police headquarters) is scheduled for March 10, 2026, contingent on approval of Resolution 148-2025 (adopted under consent).
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon and welcome to a regular meeting of the Book Ratone City Council. It is Monday, September 22nd, 2025. The time is 358. Our first item of business is the invocation. I will ask Councilmember Thompson to deliver it, please. Thank you, Mayor. Thinking maybe we should have done this earlier in the day, but nevertheless, Heavenly Father, we're so thankful for the chance we have to conduct the people's business here in this fantastic city, and we pray that as we do that, we do so with your wisdom, with humility, and with the heart of servants, recognizing that we are here not to be served, but to serve. And as events over the last few weeks and months have reminded us, there are divisions in our city, in our country, in our in our world. And we pray that those divisions be healed through you in a way that only you can do. And that all of us here and all those listening are all become instruments of your peace. We give you all the praise and the glory. Amen. 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. Roll, please. Mayor Singer. Here. Deputy Mayor Knackless. Here. Councilmember Drucker. Here. Councilmember Thompson. Thankful to be here. Councilmember Wigter. Here. I'll present. Thank you. I understand, Mr. Brown, we've got a request from the applicant to postpone to the date certain of the first November. Excuse me, the second November meeting of November 18th, the items at 11 B1 and B2 concerning Bokora. Is that correct? That's correct. All right, thank you. Mr. Kalar, would can I do a joint motion to amend the agenda with that postponement in it? Be a council act. All right, thank you. Council members, then would someone like to make a motion to postpone to the date certain items 11A and 11 B1 and B2 to November 18? Oh, excuse me. Sorry, 11 now. That's right. 11 B1 and 11B2 to November 18, 2025, and amend the agenda thusly. So moved. Second. Any further discussion? All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Aye. Very good.
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