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Record of Proceedings

Boca Raton CRA Meeting: Downtown Campus Resolution & Park Vision - January 20, 2026

Boca Raton Public Meetings — Tuesday, January 20, 2026
BodyBoca Raton, Florida
SessionBoca Raton Public Meetings
DateTuesday, January 20, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Okay, everybody, let's call this regularly scheduled meeting of the Boca Raton Community Redevelopment Agency to order.

0:07

It is Tuesday, January 20th, 2026, and the time is 42 p.m.

0:14

Please everyone rise for the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:26

One nation undervisible justice for all.

0:36

Thank you, Ms.

0:37

Siddons.

0:37

Please call the roll.

0:41

Wake her?

0:42

Here.

0:43

Sorry.

0:44

Vice Chair Thompson.

0:45

Still here, still things.

0:47

Commissioner Knackless.

0:49

Here.

0:49

Commissioner Drucker.

0:51

Here.

0:51

Commissioner Singer.

0:52

Here.

0:52

All present.

0:54

Very good.

0:54

Thank you.

0:55

Without objection, I would like to just move item number eight, the public hearing in front of item number seven and consolidate them.

1:04

Hearing none, we will proceed.

1:06

So moved.

1:07

Thank you.

1:08

Without objection.

1:09

Mr.

1:09

Wigner, I'm sorry, you said consolidate eight and seven move eight up first.

1:12

Yes.

1:13

Yes, please, thank you.

1:14

Without objection.

1:15

Thank you.

1:16

There are no minutes to review, no, nor are there any other presentations to consider, nor are there any other quasi judicial or related public hearings.

1:25

So we will turn to our resolutions and public hearings.

1:30

Ms.

1:30

Siddons, please read the title.

1:32

Resolution number 202601 CRA.

1:35

A resolution of the Boca Ratone Community Redevelopment Agency authorizing a transaction between the CRA, the City of Boca Ratone, and Boca Ratone City Center LLC in connection with the redevelopment of the downtown campus, providing for severability, providing for appealer, providing an effective date.

1:53

Thank you.

1:54

Mr.

1:54

Sahini.

1:55

Thank you, Mr.

1:56

Chair, the City Attorney, Mr.

1:57

Kaler will make the presentation.

2:00

Thank you.

2:01

Mr.

2:01

Kalar.

2:02

Thank you, Mr.

2:02

Chair.

2:03

Very briefly.

2:04

This resolution authorizes the CRA to participate in the downtown campus redevelopment in partnership with the city and Boca Raton City Center LLC, Terra Frisbee.

2:16

The resolution affirms that the project is part of the CRA's adopted redevelopment plan.

2:22

The CRA is not selling or leasing or transferring any land because it doesn't own the downtown campus or any part of the downtown campus.

2:33

The CRA's role is limited to potential funding and participation in eligible, it's called tax increment financing or TIFF public improvements.

2:46

And so this resolution authorizes the CRA to sign those transaction documents.

2:52

Again, the effectiveness subject to the conditions, meaning contingent on voter approval at the March 10th, 2026 referendum.

3:00

Thank you very much.

3:01

Commissioners, any questions?

3:04

Seeing none, we'll no we'll open the public hearing.

3:06

Any member wishing to speak on this issue may speak and have up to three minutes.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Engagement██████████████████████████████30%
Downtown Planning██████████████████████22%
Historic Preservation███████████████15%
Parks and Recreation███████████11%
Ethics And Compliance██████████10%
Procedural████4%
Pending Litigation████4%
Real Estate Acquisition████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Boca Raton CRA Regular Meeting - January 20, 2026

The Boca Raton Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) met on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at 4:30 PM. The primary action item was a vote on Resolution No. 2026-01-CRA, which authorizes the CRA's participation in the Downtown Campus redevelopment project. Chair Marc Wigder also presented conceptual visions for a restored City Hall and strategic downtown park acquisitions. The meeting adjourned at 4:57 PM.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • John Perlman (representing Save Boca Inc.) urged Chair Wigder not to sign the transaction documents before the March 10, 2026, referendum. He questioned the City Attorney's fiduciary role, alleging a conflict of interest. Chair Wigder and Commissioners Singer, Drucker, Nachlas, and Thompson strongly defended City Attorney Kaler's integrity and commitment to the city.
  • Mr. Warner (1322 SW Ninth Terrace) stated he believed the process and project were "corrupt" (clarifying he meant flawed rather than criminal), asserted that the council lacks public trust, and claimed "nine out of ten people feel the way I do."

Discussion Items

  • Resolution No. 2026-01-CRA (Downtown Campus Redevelopment): City Attorney Kaler presented the resolution. The CRA's role is limited to providing Tax Increment Financing (TIF) for eligible public improvements. The CRA does not own the property. The effectiveness of the resolution is contingent on voter approval in a March 10, 2026, referendum.
  • Chair Wigder's Vision for City Hall and Memorial Park: Chair Wigder presented a conceptual design by architect George Garcia (Garcia Stromberg). The proposal calls for restoring the 1964 City Hall as a mid-century modern landmark, integrating a police substation, post office, and community/museum space. It also includes converting surface parking to underground parking to create a large park field, maintaining the Banyan villages, and creating an east-west connection.
  • Strategic Park Acquisition Plan: Chair Wigder proposed acquiring two parcels for public parks as downtown gateways: 1) The old church site at Palmetto Park Road and 12th Avenue (gateway park, potential pedestrian bridge landing). 2) The site adjacent to Wildflower Park (eastern gateway from the barrier island). Funding would come from the city's Recreation Fund and potential CRA/county cooperation. Commissioner Singer cautioned that negotiating specific parcels publicly could weaken the city's position and suggested private owners might consider donations for the public benefit.
  • Announcement: A public meeting for the new Police Department headquarters was announced for January 21, 2026, at 6:00 PM at the Spanish River Library.

Key Outcomes

  • Resolution 2026-01-CRA Passed (4-1): The CRA voted to approve the resolution authorizing transaction documents for the Downtown Campus project. Commissioners Drucker, Singer, Nachlas, and Wigder voted in favor. Vice Chair Thomson voted against.
  • Future Workshop Discussion: Chair Wigder's conceptual plans for City Hall and park acquisitions will be discussed at a future CRA workshop.

Meeting Transcript

Okay, everybody, let's call this regularly scheduled meeting of the Boca Raton Community Redevelopment Agency to order. It is Tuesday, January 20th, 2026, and the time is 42 p.m. Please everyone rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. One nation undervisible justice for all. Thank you, Ms. Siddons. Please call the roll. Wake her? Here. Sorry. Vice Chair Thompson. Still here, still things. Commissioner Knackless. Here. Commissioner Drucker. Here. Commissioner Singer. Here. All present. Very good. Thank you. Without objection, I would like to just move item number eight, the public hearing in front of item number seven and consolidate them. Hearing none, we will proceed. So moved. Thank you. Without objection. Mr. Wigner, I'm sorry, you said consolidate eight and seven move eight up first. Yes. Yes, please, thank you. Without objection. Thank you. There are no minutes to review, no, nor are there any other presentations to consider, nor are there any other quasi judicial or related public hearings. So we will turn to our resolutions and public hearings. Ms. Siddons, please read the title. Resolution number 202601 CRA. A resolution of the Boca Ratone Community Redevelopment Agency authorizing a transaction between the CRA, the City of Boca Ratone, and Boca Ratone City Center LLC in connection with the redevelopment of the downtown campus, providing for severability, providing for appealer, providing an effective date. Thank you. Mr. Sahini. Thank you, Mr. Chair, the City Attorney, Mr. Kaler will make the presentation. Thank you. Mr. Kalar. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Very briefly.

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