Boca Raton City Council Regular Meeting - June 9, 2026

The Boca Raton City Council held a regular meeting on June 9, 2026, starting at 1:00 PM. The meeting covered a range of routine approvals, board appointments, resolutions, and public hearings. Notable actions included approval of a street name change at the Boca Raton Resort, a resolution to place charter amendment questions on the ballot, approval of a state-funded grade separation project, and a waiver of procurement code for brokerage services. A lease extension for a hospice facility was postponed after extensive discussion. The meeting also included reports on police recruitment, traffic enforcement, and ongoing investigations.

Consent Calendar

• Approved minutes from the May 26, 2026 workshop and regular meetings.
• Approved multiple consent items: interlocal agreements for fire rescue equipment, water meter fittings, vehicle safety lighting, a change order for HVAC services, and resolutions for professional services, construction administration, vehicle purchase, revocable license, telecommunications system, and a centennial report. All passed 5-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Resolution 56-2026 (Street Name Change): Pam Pashki (341 SW 2nd St) questioned whether the applicant had complied with the new lobbyist disclosure ordinance. Council clarified that the application was received before the effective date.
• Resolution 60-2026 (Charter Amendments): Pam Pashki expressed support for the proposed charter amendments, calling them "excellent."
• Ordinance 5786 (Hospice Lease Extension): Multiple speakers addressed the council:
  • Councilmember Jon Pearlman (during discussion, not as public comment) raised concerns about the lease terms, including the removal of the city's ability to terminate, the $1 annual rent, and executive compensation at Trustbridge.
  • Pam Pashki questioned the adequacy of the $1 million capital improvement requirement over 20 years without inflation adjustment.
  • John Anderson (290 W Palmetto) asked about the building ownership and lease terms.
  • Brianna Hagquist (5710A Coach House Circle) called the $1 rent a "land giveaway" and suggested charging more.
  • Judy Morrow (1305 NE 5th Ave) expressed concerns about the facility's ratings and her personal experience with charities.
• Public Requests (end of meeting): Pam Pashki urged enforcement of the new lobbyist disclosure ordinance and raised concerns about the Aletto project and appearance standards. Judy Morrow thanked the council for listening to residents and for traffic enforcement improvements.

Discussion Items

• Board Appointments: Appointed members to the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (Greg Mitchell), Executive Employees Retirement Plan (Justin Barrington), Historic Preservation Board (Gerard Ligori, Benjamin Schreyer, Julie Tallarico, Yvonne Sumtoble), and Parks and Recreation Board (Mickey Gomez). The Citizens’ Pedestrian and Bikeway Advisory Board and Marine Advisory Board had no applicants and were held over.
• Resolution 56-2026 (Street Name Change): Approved renaming Mizner Village Drive and SE 4th Street to Banyan Tree Lane at the Boca Raton Resort. Councilmember Drucker noted the banyan trees were protected during the resort's renovation. The applicant confirmed no trees would be removed.
• Resolution 60-2026 (Charter Amendments): Approved three charter amendments: (1) revising election timing from a fixed window to the next available election by the Supervisor of Elections; (2) changing petition signature threshold from "votes cast" to "ballots cast"; (3) creating a status quo preservation mechanism during the period between certification and election. Councilmember Pearlman proposed a minor amendment to clarify the language, which was accepted.
• Resolution 65-2026 (Spanish River Blvd Grade Separation): Approved acceptance of a $1 million state appropriation for the El Rio Trail underpass at Spanish River Boulevard, with the city providing $4 million. Construction is expected to begin in early 2027.
• Resolution 66-2026 (Colliers Brokerage Services): Approved a waiver of procurement code to hire Colliers International for real estate brokerage services related to time-sensitive property acquisitions. The agreement includes a 90-day window, exclusive rights only on designated properties, a 3% commission cap (with city making up any shortfall if seller pays less), and 30-day termination flexibility.
• Ordinance 5786 (Hospice Lease Extension): This item generated significant debate. The lease for Trustbridge (formerly Hospice by the Sea) at 1531 W Palmetto Park Road was to be extended from 2034 to 2044, with four additional 10-year renewal options, requiring a $1 million capital investment. The city currently receives $1 per year rent. Councilmember Pearlman raised concerns about the removal of the city's termination clause, executive compensation at Trustbridge, and the value of the property. Councilmember Grau noted water damage at the facility. After discussion, the council voted to postpone the matter indefinitely, allowing staff to re-engage with the applicant and potentially renegotiate terms.
• Ordinance 5787 (C&D Debris Franchise): Approved a non-exclusive franchise agreement with Classic Recycling Inc., the 13th such franchise in the city. Passed 5-0.
• Ordinance 5788 (General Employees Pension): Approved amending Chapter 12 to add a definition for "actuarial equivalent" and allow limited post-retirement beneficiary changes. Passed 5-0.
• Ordinance 5789 (Executive Employees Pension): Approved clarifying the definition and calculation of "Average Final Compensation" to align with longstanding administration. Pashki asked about the five-year period; staff clarified it corrects a discrepancy of approximately six days. Passed 5-0.

Key Outcomes

• Board Appointments (5-0 votes each): Greg Mitchell (AHAC), Justin Barrington (Executive Retirement), Gerard Ligori, Benjamin Schreyer, Julie Tallarico, Yvonne Sumtoble (Historic Preservation), Mickey Gomez (Parks and Recreation).
• Resolution 56-2026: Adopted 5-0 to rename streets at the Boca Raton Resort to Banyan Tree Lane.
• Resolution 60-2026: Adopted 5-0 (as amended) to place charter amendments on the ballot.
• Resolution 65-2026: Adopted 5-0 to accept state funds for Spanish River Boulevard grade separation.
• Resolution 66-2026: Adopted 5-0 to waive procurement code and contract with Colliers for brokerage services.
• Ordinance 5786: Postponed indefinitely by a 5-0 vote to allow staff to renegotiate terms with the applicant.
• Ordinance 5787: Adopted 5-0 for Classic Recycling franchise.
• Ordinance 5788: Adopted 5-0 for general employees pension amendments.
• Ordinance 5789: Adopted 5-0 for executive employees pension amendments.
• City Manager Report: Announced selection of Jair Phelps as new police chief (from Jacksonville, NC); 425 speeding tickets issued in two weeks; two major investigations cleared (Standard shooting, Camino Real homicide); upcoming workshop on homelessness on July 27; Memorial Park RFQ extended to June 26; and updates on organizational realignments.
• Next Meeting: The next regular council meeting is scheduled for July 28, 2026.