Boca Raton City Council Workshop: May 26, 2026 – Police Complex, Softball Fields, and Civic Area Plans
Boca Raton City Council Workshop: May 26, 2026 – Police Complex, Softball Fields, and Civic Area Plans
The Boca Raton City Council held a workshop on May 26, 2026, starting at 10:00 AM. The meeting included presentations on the Downtown Civic Area Plan, Police Services Complex, City Services Building (6551), Softball Fields Update, and Free Standing Emergency Facilities. Council provided direction on the police station funding and timeline, and staff reported a resolution for youth softball field assignments.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Mike Liebelson (398 NE 3rd Ct) urged the council to expand the scope of the Downtown Civic Area Plan RFQ from 17 acres to the full 31 acres to allow innovative planning, including a downtown police station and city hall.
- Diana Cooper (3240 Equestrian Dr) expressed heartfelt thanks for the softball field solution, highlighting the community benefits of moving youth softball to Countess de Hoernle Park (Spanish River Athletic Complex) for fall 2026.
- Joe Majus (254 NE 5th St) criticized Council Member Prolman for spreading misinformation about a $190 million police station when council had been informed of a $120 million plan, accusing him of undermining trust.
- Jonathan Ungar (6501 Congress Ave) supported the freestanding ER ordinance questioning its authorship by a lobbyist for an adjacent property owner, and noted discrepancies in the proposed location restrictions.
- Paige Hunter (200 SE Meisner) complained about aggressive homeless activity downtown, calling for stronger action and questioning the city's transportation policies.
- Dr. Lorraine Blank (545 NW 7th St) urged a comprehensive citywide master plan before pursuing individual planning initiatives, arguing that piecemeal planning creates distrust and inefficiency.
- Brianna Hagquist (5710A Coach House Cir) thanked council for preserving trees at Sugar Sand Park and supported freestanding ERs, citing a historical tragedy where delayed hospital access led to children's deaths.
- Richard Warner (1322 SW 9th Ter) suggested using the eight acres east of NW 2nd Ave for softball fields with a police presence, and noted the bond issue may be necessary due to state property tax changes.
- Earl Starkoff (address not given) requested that the city attorney verify the supervisor of elections' authority to prohibit a municipal bond question from the August 26, 2026 ballot, preferring that date over March 2027.
- Shannon Otto (233 NE 31st St) advocated for keeping the police station downtown, criticized past neglect of the station, and urged the city to conduct its own elections rather than relying on the county.
Discussion Items
- Downtown Civic Area Plan (Informational): Deputy City Manager Luke Cassack presented the RFQ process timeline for a consultant to develop a master plan for the city hall campus (approximately 17 acres). Key dates: RFQ issued, pre-submittal conference May 27, responses due June 5, shortlist June 18, council presentations June 30, contract by July 17, plan completion by January 2027. The six-month engagement process will include public listening, validation, design charette, and refinement. Council had no questions and accepted the update.
- City Services Building 6551 (Informational): City Manager George Sahaney reported the 70,000 sq ft building (purchased for $17M) is being renovated ($8M estimated, budgeted $10-12M) to house most operational departments, with construction beginning early 2027 and move-in Q1-Q2 2028. Council Member Yvette Perlman requested details on hurricane rating, architect (SRS), and procurement method. Staff will send plans and schedule separate walkthroughs to avoid sunshine law violations. Council Member Strucker cautioned against micromanaging.
- Police Services Complex (Direction Sought): Manager Sahaney recommended proceeding with a 94,000 sq ft headquarters (today's needs, down from 164,000 sq ft for 2045). Estimated cost: $80M for construction plus $120M fully operational turnkey. Staff proposed using a community advisory panel for outreach, retaining a polling firm, and seeking a general obligation bond for a March 2027 election. Council discussed cost misinformation: Mayor Thompson clarified that the $190M figure from the failed March referendum was for a full 2045 build-out; staff had been re-engineering to a $120M project since March. Council Member Prolman contended that the prior meeting had the $190M station on the table and accused staff of a bait-and-switch. He argued the city has $150-200M in available funds for a smaller station ($50M for 60,000 sq ft) and advocated a fast-track process. Council Member Sippel supported the bond but asked about population growth; she noted Tallahassee (larger population) is building a 137,000 sq ft station. Council Members Rucker, Grow, and Drucker affirmed they received the $120M figure at the Thursday agenda review and expressed frustration with misinformation. Acting Police Chief Dubenski detailed operational shortfalls (cramped briefing, detectives split across sites, closets used as offices). Council gave direction: proceed with a bond referendum for up to $125 million (as recommended by the Financial Advisory Board) for a new police headquarters, with engagement via the community advisory panel, and location to be part of public outreach (central location at Spanish River & Broken Sound favored by Mayor Thompson and Ms. Strucker; Ms. Strucker also wanted a downtown station). Timeline: panel reports back in October, council decides on bond language in November, election March 2027.
- Softball Fields Update (Informational): Recreation Services Director Greg Stevens reported that after meetings with the youth softball league, a solution was reached: youth softball will move to Countess de Hoernle Park (Spanish River Athletic Complex) for fall 2026, providing four fields, batting cages, on-site staff, and maintenance. This avoids costly renovations at Memorial and Meadows Parks (estimated $920k for lighting, $240-300k for batting cages, etc.). Staff also initiated a review of residency requirements for athletic field use.
- Free Standing Emergency Facilities (Informational): Development Services Director Brandon Shad presented background on a pending code amendment to allow freestanding ERs in specific zoning districts (medical center, CG, CH, office, B4, LERP) with conditional use. The ordinance originated from former Deputy Mayor Knackless and was drafted with assistance from land use attorney Bonnie Miskel, who also represented the property owner that appealed a previously approved ER. Council Member Prolman raised conflict-of-interest concerns. No action was taken; discussion only.
Key Outcomes
- Police Complex: Council directed staff to pursue a general obligation bond measure of up to $125 million for a new police headquarters, with community engagement through a community advisory panel and polling firm. Target election date: March 2027. Location will be part of public input, with preferences for a central site (Spanish River & Broken Sound) and a potential downtown substation. Staff will return in October with findings.
- Softball Fields: Council accepted staff's update that youth softball will relocate to Countess de Hoernle Park for fall 2026, resolving equity issues without immediate capital investment. A review of residency policies for athletic fields was initiated.
- City Services Building: No formal action; staff will provide requested information to council members individually.
- Free Standing ER Ordinance: No action; informational only. Council may revisit later.
- Public Comment Responses: City Manager addressed homelessness concerns, noting ongoing enforcement of a new trespass ordinance, installation of signage at six priority parks, and transfer of park rangers to police department for enhanced enforcement.
- Meeting adjourned at approximately 12:15 PM, with regular council meeting to reconvene at 1:30 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Welcome back, everybody. Thank you for your patience. We are here again for our workshop meeting of the Booker's own City Council. The time is May 26, 2026. First item of business we have is a presentation related to the downtown civic area plan. Mr. Manager will be providing the presentation on that item. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I'll start off the presentation and also have uh Mr. Luke Cassock, our deputy city manager as well speak to this. So this particular item here is in the workshop is really intended to provide a broader discussion regarding several ongoing and upcoming planning and facility initiatives across the city. The first portion of today's presentation is primarily informational and provides updates on planning initiatives already underway. The second portion focuses on the police services complex project. And I just want to note uh I also have our lead public works engineer, Mr. Zach Beer here, as well as his deputy, Mr. or Ms. Barack is here. She is a civil engineer as well. And then we've got the acting police uh chief here, uh, Mr. Dubenski. Um the second portion, like I said, focuses on the police services complex project where staff is seeking council direction regarding the proposed engagement approach, timeline, preliminary project framework. And when I mean preliminary project framework, it we need to understand the baseline. What is our baseline needs for our police department today? That's where we want to start. And then as we go forward uh in this process throughout the next couple months. We can take a look at what the community desires in terms of future expansion of uh our police uh force. But let's look at what we need today and then a funding strategy associated with that uh potential baseline framework. Uh and that's important because we need to understand that the timeline associated with the potential funding strategy. Um that's really the focus is getting council direction today on those initial key elements uh for this potential project moving forward. And then finally, I'm going to conclude with a broader overview real quickly of our future planning initiatives and next steps just to make sure council is aware uh and can provide discussion and direction on uh where to go next if we get uh some direction today on the police services complex. And again, I just want to make sure that this is very clear. The goal today is not a final decision uh making on every component about the police services complex, but rather it's really to ensure that I can get council alignment on the process sequencing and really the strategic way we want to move forward uh with our police services complex. So that is uh really the goal today. And and this is what you're looking at is uh it's update and informational. We're gonna talk a little bit about the downtown civic area master plan, then we'll go into the police services complex, uh, looking for council direction, as I mentioned, and then a brief uh overview of the future planning of initiatives. And so here's kind of where we're at. We just we're at Q2, if you will. At the end of May, we're we're at the downtown Civic Area Master Plan. Uh you approved an RFQ process, uh, the last meeting, and we're in the middle of that. We're gonna talk about that here. And then I'm gonna talk about the City Services Building that's 6551 and that operational transformation transition uh that needs to occur in the next 24 months. After that, we'll go ahead and talk about the police services complex, and then the last thing is just that community master plan. So with that, I'll turn it over to our deputy city manager, uh Mr. Lucasic to talk about the downtown civic area master plan. Thank you, Mr. Sahaney. Uh good morning, council. Um just just to make sure that we're all all oriented and on the same page. So the direct the policy direction we received from the council at your last meeting uh was to proceed with the RFQ to pursue uh or to solicit proposals from consulting firms that will help us do two things.
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