OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Boca Raton City Council Workshop Meeting - April 13, 2026

Boca Raton Public Meetings — Monday, April 13, 2026
BodyBoca Raton, Florida
SessionBoca Raton Public Meetings
DateMonday, April 13, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:22

Welcome back everybody.

0:23

We're now here on the workshop for our Brokeratone City Council.

0:28

The date is April thirteenth, twenty twenty-six.

0:30

The time is seven minutes after two o'clock in the P.M.

0:33

Our first order of business is a presentation of proclamation.

0:36

And we are honored to give a proclamation to the Paralyzed Veterans of America month.

0:42

So Ms.

0:43

Siddons, if you could please read the proclamation.

0:47

Whereas April is recognized as Paralyzed Veterans of America Awareness Month, a time to honor and acknowledge the invaluable contributions and sacrifices of our paralyzed veterans.

0:57

And whereas since 1946, Paralyzed Veterans of America has been dedicated to ensuring paralyzed veterans receive the benefits earned through their service to our nation.

1:07

And whereas many of our Bo Coritone neighbors have served as members of the armed forces and in doing so honored our community with their great sacrifice of civilian comforts to protect our nation, leaving behind a legacy of exemplary service and life-affirming lessons for all of us.

1:22

And whereas it is important that we recognize the sacrifices made by our community's veterans who are paralyzed because they personify the highest ideals of service to country courage and overcoming adversity.

1:34

Now therefore, I, Andy Thompson, Mayor of the City of Bo Curatone, Florida, do hereby proclaim April 2026 as paralyzed veterans of America Awareness Month in Boca Retone, and encourage all citizens to honor and support our paralyzed veterans for their courage, service, and enduring contributions to our community and nation.

1:55

Thank you, Ms.

1:56

Siddons.

1:58

Here to accept the proclamation is Mr.

2:00

Juan Perez, the immediate past president of the Florida chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America organization.

2:06

And I read, Mr.

2:07

Perez, that this organization was created eighty years ago, following the conclusion of World War II.

2:13

It was formed by several people who would come back from World War II with spinal cord injuries.

2:18

And since that time, the organization has worked to make sure that this important group of veterans, returning veterans, got the recognition and the dedication from the Q the country that they deserve.

2:29

So do you care to say a few words, please, sir?

2:31

Well, yes.

2:33

I just want to say, you know, thank you, Mr.

2:35

Mayor, Commissioners.

2:36

You know, so on behalf of the Parliament's veteran of America, so thank you very much.

2:42

And uh and I appreciate you know for this proclamation.

2:46

I just want to say something, you know.

2:48

If you see a veteran, you know, please give the give uh at least you know say thank you.

2:55

Right.

2:56

Well, let us be the first ones to do that very thing.

2:58

Thank you, sir, for your service.

3:00

And I think let's give them a round of applause.

3:02

Thank you, everybody.

3:08

Thank you.

4:10

Next up, we have some board interviews.

4:12

Thank you again to everyone who has well before we get there, actually, Mr.

4:15

Kritchman, I know you're waiting patiently, and I'm I'm sorry, I owe we owe as a staff owe you an answer.

4:20

Mr.

4:21

Soheny, could you uh provide any kind of response to Mr.

4:25

Kritchman's questions?

4:26

And I think we did as part of the IDA a few weeks ago, have some measures put in place regarding the construction that was going to be undertaken across the street there.

4:34

Do we have any response from staff?

4:36

Yes, thank you, Mr.

4:37

Mayor.

4:38

And I've also got our development services director still here, Mr.

4:40

Shad, if he wants to uh expand on this.

4:43

But big picture, you know, we would not order uh a stop work order today.

4:48

Uh what we would do is uh we would address this uh if and when the applicant were to come forward in the pre-construction phase and the permitting phase uh is when we would address this.

5:00

And then of course uh if construction were to uh follow after that, we would uh be monitoring the construction phase and address it um as it went forward.

5:08

Uh that's that's how we would handle it as of today.

5:12

Okay.

5:13

Mr.

5:13

Critchman, I am sorry.

5:14

That's uh if if you would like to ask additional questions, that's fine.

5:17

We're gonna have to wait till public request comes as part of the workshop.

5:21

But we're not going to have a back-and-forth uh with you yelling from the crowd.

5:24

I hope you understand that.

5:26

So if that's uh if you need more clarification, remember you can always email or call us.

5:31

Staff is very responsive.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Parks and Recreation███████████████████████23%
Real Estate Acquisition██████████████14%
Community Engagement████████████12%
Public Engagement██████████10%
Procedural█████████9%
Downtown Planning████████8%
Election Procedures███████7%
Historic Preservation█████5%
Public Safety████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Boca Raton City Council Workshop Meeting - April 13, 2026

The Boca Raton City Council held a workshop meeting on April 13, 2026, beginning at 2:07 PM and concluding at approximately 5:40 PM. The meeting covered a proclamation, board interviews, a review of regular agenda items including Memorial Park updated recognition, Save Boca citizen petitions, and a downtown civic engagement task force, as well as a general discussion on Memorial Park and public comments.

Proclamations

  • A proclamation declaring April 2026 as Paralyzed Veterans of America Awareness Month was presented. Mayor Thompson read the proclamation, and Mr. Juan Perez, immediate past president of the Florida chapter, accepted and thanked the council.

Board Interviews

  • Only one applicant, Elliot Popper, was present and interviewed for the Citizens Pedestrian and Bikeway Advisory Board. No applicants appeared for the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, Environmental Advisory Board, or Marine Advisory Board.
  • Councilmember Thompson clarified that an erroneous appointment to an auditing committee at the organizational meeting two weeks prior was invalid; the committee was formed in 2024 and its contract extends to 2029, so no appointment was needed.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Martin Castellanos, a 27-year Coast Guard veteran, urged the council to focus on improving Memorial Park facilities rather than the wording of the plaque.
  • Judy Morrow celebrated the new council and raised concerns about the condition of the Boca Raton Tennis Center, noting safety and maintenance issues.
  • Brianna Hagquist spoke in support of the Save Boca petitions, emphasizing that residents knew what they signed and that the petitions should be honored.
  • Meredith Madsen suggested the downtown civic engagement task force be divided into smaller sub-task forces by topic (e.g., tennis, softball, skate park) to allow focused charrettes.
  • Earl Starkov advocated for equal treatment of girls' softball compared to boys' baseball, and urged planning that considers the entire city, not just downtown.
  • Jonathan Unge stressed the need for equity in youth sports and for city planning to extend beyond the downtown core.
  • Joe Majus supported a professionally facilitated task force and cautioned that ordinance language should be clear to avoid legal challenges.
  • Frank Patton proposed using temporary fencing and dual-base systems to convert baseball fields to softball fields without taking additional land.

Discussion Items

Memorial Park Updated Recognition (Item 4A)

  • City Manager Sohaney presented a revised resolution and proposed plaque language that acknowledges the park's original 1947 dedication and the 2025-2026 civic advocacy.
  • Councilmembers thanked Frank Patton for his historical research. Councilmember Perlman offered a more concise 51-word plaque alternative.
  • The council agreed to discuss the plaque language further at the regular meeting on April 14, 2026.

Save Boca Citizen Petitions (Item 4B)

  • City Attorney Kaler outlined three options: (1) place the original petitions on the next ballot, (2) was removed due to lawsuit dismissal, (3) consider revisions. The next available election would likely be March 2027.
  • Councilmember Perlman argued the petitions should be adopted as-is, noting the identical language already exists in the city charter for the beach (Section 7.07). He made a motion to add the ordinance to the next regular meeting agenda for adoption, but it lacked a second.
  • Councilmembers Drucker, Thompson, and Sipple supported revisions to address concerns about utilities, drainage, easements, and nonprofits. They directed staff to draft revised language for future consideration.
  • Councilmember Perlman indicated the petitioners committee is open to some modifications but wants the core intent preserved.

Downtown Civic Engagement Task Force (Item 4C)

  • Mayor Thompson proposed a nine-member task force to advise on the government campus, starting in July 2026 for up to six months, with the mayor as chair.
  • Councilmember Perlman opposed, arguing it would create an unnecessary layer between the council and constituents.
  • Councilmember Drucker supported the concept, citing her experience with an education task force, and noted the importance of public input.
  • Councilmember Grow suggested using the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council (TCRPC) for professional charrettes instead, and recommended the task force chair be independent of the mayor.
  • Councilmember Sipple preferred an independent consultant to restore public trust.
  • Staff confirmed that TCRPC is already engaged for community outreach and is experienced in charrette processes. The item will be taken up again at the regular meeting.

General Memorial Park Discussion (Softball Fields)

  • Mayor Thompson highlighted concerns from the softball community about field quality, safety (homeless incidents), and disparities compared to baseball fields. He asked staff to prepare cost estimates for upgrades (scoreboards, bullpens, batting cages, drainage, restrooms) at Memorial Park and Meadows Park.
  • City Manager Sohaney reported increased police presence and other safety measures were already implemented.
  • Councilmember Perlman sought to direct staff to create a scope of work and solicit bids for improvements, but Mayor Thompson advised against formal motions in a workshop, recommending instead that staff gather estimates first.
  • A discussion on the Lake Wyman ADA project (removing one field) ensued. Councilmember Perlman wanted to explore preserving the field, but Councilmember Drucker noted the project is already under construction with grant funding and serves the disabled community. No consensus to change the Lake Wyman project.
  • Councilmember Perlman also raised the possibility of terminating the interlocal agreement with the Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District for a softball complex at Sugar Sand Park, noting a 30-day termination clause. Staff confirmed the agreement is currently suspended and does not authorize expenditure. The mayor suggested adding the topic to the April 28, 2026 agenda for formal discussion.

Key Outcomes

  • Staff will prepare revised language for the Save Boca ordinance and charter amendment, with carve-outs for utilities, drainage, easements, and nonprofits, and return to council.
  • Staff will cost out improvements to softball fields at Memorial Park and Meadows Park and report back.
  • The Sugar Sand Park softball complex interlocal agreement will be placed on the April 28, 2026 regular meeting agenda for possible termination discussion.
  • The Lake Wyman ADA park project will proceed as planned; no action to preserve the softball field.
  • The downtown civic engagement task force concept will be further discussed at the regular meeting on April 14, 2026, along with the possibility of using the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council.
  • The plaque language for Memorial Park will be finalized and voted on at the April 14, 2026 regular meeting.

Meeting Transcript

Welcome back everybody. We're now here on the workshop for our Brokeratone City Council. The date is April thirteenth, twenty twenty-six. The time is seven minutes after two o'clock in the P.M. Our first order of business is a presentation of proclamation. And we are honored to give a proclamation to the Paralyzed Veterans of America month. So Ms. Siddons, if you could please read the proclamation. Whereas April is recognized as Paralyzed Veterans of America Awareness Month, a time to honor and acknowledge the invaluable contributions and sacrifices of our paralyzed veterans. And whereas since 1946, Paralyzed Veterans of America has been dedicated to ensuring paralyzed veterans receive the benefits earned through their service to our nation. And whereas many of our Bo Coritone neighbors have served as members of the armed forces and in doing so honored our community with their great sacrifice of civilian comforts to protect our nation, leaving behind a legacy of exemplary service and life-affirming lessons for all of us. And whereas it is important that we recognize the sacrifices made by our community's veterans who are paralyzed because they personify the highest ideals of service to country courage and overcoming adversity. Now therefore, I, Andy Thompson, Mayor of the City of Bo Curatone, Florida, do hereby proclaim April 2026 as paralyzed veterans of America Awareness Month in Boca Retone, and encourage all citizens to honor and support our paralyzed veterans for their courage, service, and enduring contributions to our community and nation. Thank you, Ms. Siddons. Here to accept the proclamation is Mr. Juan Perez, the immediate past president of the Florida chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America organization. And I read, Mr. Perez, that this organization was created eighty years ago, following the conclusion of World War II. It was formed by several people who would come back from World War II with spinal cord injuries. And since that time, the organization has worked to make sure that this important group of veterans, returning veterans, got the recognition and the dedication from the Q the country that they deserve. So do you care to say a few words, please, sir? Well, yes. I just want to say, you know, thank you, Mr. Mayor, Commissioners. You know, so on behalf of the Parliament's veteran of America, so thank you very much. And uh and I appreciate you know for this proclamation. I just want to say something, you know. If you see a veteran, you know, please give the give uh at least you know say thank you. Right. Well, let us be the first ones to do that very thing. Thank you, sir, for your service. And I think let's give them a round of applause. Thank you, everybody. Thank you. Next up, we have some board interviews. Thank you again to everyone who has well before we get there, actually, Mr. Kritchman, I know you're waiting patiently, and I'm I'm sorry, I owe we owe as a staff owe you an answer. Mr. Soheny, could you uh provide any kind of response to Mr. Kritchman's questions? And I think we did as part of the IDA a few weeks ago, have some measures put in place regarding the construction that was going to be undertaken across the street there. Do we have any response from staff? Yes, thank you, Mr. Mayor. And I've also got our development services director still here, Mr. Shad, if he wants to uh expand on this. But big picture, you know, we would not order uh a stop work order today. Uh what we would do is uh we would address this uh if and when the applicant were to come forward in the pre-construction phase and the permitting phase uh is when we would address this. And then of course uh if construction were to uh follow after that, we would uh be monitoring the construction phase and address it um as it went forward.

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