Boca Raton CRA Regular Meeting - January 5, 2026: Public Comments on City Center Referendum
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Boca Raton Community Redevelopment Agency Regular Meeting – January 5, 2026
The Boca Raton Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) held a brief regular meeting on January 5, 2026, from 1:32 PM to 1:48 PM. The meeting focused on public requests regarding the proposed Boca Raton City Center LLC project and the upcoming March 10, 2026 referendum. City Attorney Gerry Kahler addressed concerns about contract language and proposed clarifying amendments.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes of December 15, 2025: Approved unanimously by voice vote.
Public Comments & Testimony
- John Perlman (498 NE A Street) – Speaking on behalf of about 150 citizens who sent emails to the City Council. He urged the CRA not to approve Ordinance 5769 or sign any contract with Boca Raton City Center LLC until after the March 10 referendum. He argued that contract language stating that failure of the referendum to occur “shall not be deemed a rejection” contradicts prior promises that the project would be subject to voter approval. He called the premature signing a “misfeasance” and called on Chair Wigder to vote against the ordinance and not sign the document.
- Mike Liebelson (398 NE Third Court, mayoral candidate) – Expressed that he does not accept developer contributions. He accused the Council of paving the way for an “anti-democratic move” by extending the deal to May, failing to put the Save BOCA charter amendment to a vote within 90 days, and changing contract language to bind the city. He stated that the people will reject the deal and officials are trying to take away the vote. He urged voting down Ordinance 5769 and not signing any contract until the referendum.
Discussion Items
- City Attorney’s Report on Contract Language: Mr. Kahler explained that the council must finalize deal terms in January so residents know exactly what they are voting on in March, consistent with the Supervisor of Elections’ January 24 mailing deadline. He addressed the clause that some members of the public criticized, stating it was drafted to ensure that the referendum cannot be invalidated by circumstances beyond the city’s or partner’s control (e.g., a state of emergency). He emphasized the intent was to keep the decision with voters, not to bypass the vote. He proposed alternative language to clarify: “the postponement delay or rescheduling of the referendum due to circumstances outside the control or decision-making authority of the city or the partner, including without limitation, a declared state of emergency or other force majeure event shall not constitute a rejection of the referendum.”
- Commissioner Comments: Chair Wigder acknowledged the speakers but noted many inaccuracies. He supported the attorney’s proposed clarifying language. Mayor Scott Singer (as acting Chair) reinforced that the city remains committed to a public vote, that the contract must be finalized for voters to know what they are approving, and that staff worked hard over the weekend to resolve deal terms. No other commissioners offered reports.
Key Outcomes
- No formal votes or decisions were taken on the Boca Raton City Center deal or Ordinance 5769 at this meeting.
- The CRA will consider the final terms and the amended contract language at a subsequent meeting scheduled for January 20, 2026, ahead of the March 10 referendum.
- The meeting adjourned at 1:48 PM, to be followed immediately by a City Council workshop on the downtown campus project.
Meeting Transcript
It's now time for us to call to order the community redevelopment agency meeting on today, January 5th, 2026. The time is now 132 p.m. Our first order of business is the Pledge of Allegiance, and I invite everybody to please stand. Pledge allegiance to the lab of the United States of America. To the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God. Thank you. Ms. Siddons, can you please do the roll call? Chair Wigter. Here as best as possible. Thanks, Andy, for stepping. Vice Chair Thompson. Thankful to be here. Commissioner Drucker. Here. Commissioner Knackless. Here. Commissioner Singer. Here. All present. Excellent. We'll now address any amendments to the agenda, Mr. Director or colleagues. Are there any amendments that we have to the today's agenda? Mr. Vice Chair, there are no amendments to the agenda. Colleagues, anything? Mr. Chair? Sir. We have the amendments to the agenda. I think they all might relate to the downtown campus. Would we want to have the conversation at work for workshop take place or we'll be better informed and then go right into public request there? I don't mind if I I have one card for public requests. I don't mind allowing this person who is asked to speak at the CRA to do so. I don't anticipate it being too much of a length of time, uh, if that's okay with everybody up here. So with that, I think we move on to the minutes, as you mentioned, Mayor. Any corrections or revisions to the minutes? If not, is there a motion to approve the minutes as presented? So moved. Second. In that case, uh all in favor of approving the minutes, please say aye. Aye. Aye. No opposed, it sounds like. Great. Moving on to presentations, there are none. Moving further to quasi-judicial and related public hearings, and again, there are none. So now is the time for public requests.
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