OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Boca Raton City Council Regular Meeting - July 28, 2026: Board Appointments, Master Plan RFQ, Fire Assessment

Boca Raton Public Meetings — Tuesday, July 28, 2026
BodyBoca Raton, Florida
SessionBoca Raton Public Meetings
DateTuesday, July 28, 2026
StatusNEW · FILED
Video Record
0:00 / 4:56:54
Transcript — Verbatim
0:03

Good evening, friends, and I'd like to welcome you back to the Booker Tone City Council.

0:06

This is our regular meeting on July 28th, 2026.

0:10

The time is 6 p.m.

0:12

First order of business for us is the invocation.

0:14

And I will ask Councilmember Drucker to deliver it.

0:17

Good evening, everyone.

0:19

We are gathered here today as we come together again to do the good work of the people.

0:24

Those of us sitting up here are always challenged on how to attain positive outcomes that are for the greater good of our community and the city of Boca Ratone.

0:32

And that our purpose is driven by our common goals and the end.

0:44

Tonight, as we are posed with big decisions for this council, I hope that we can all lead with patience, that we can all lead with compassion, caring, and loving and giving heart.

0:55

This is the only way that together we're able to improve this community and help move this community forward in a unified way.

1:03

As I always say, the best is yet to come.

1:06

Thank you.

1:07

Thank you, Councilmember Drucker.

1:08

And could everybody please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance?

1:21

One issue under Godstic.

1:29

Thank you.

1:30

Mr.

1:30

Deputy Clerk Daly, could you please do the roll call?

1:34

Mayor Thompson.

1:36

I am here.

1:36

Deputy Mayor Grow.

1:38

Here.

1:38

Councilmember Drucker.

1:40

Here.

1:40

Councilmember Pearlman?

1:41

Here.

1:42

Councilmember Sippel.

1:43

Present.

1:44

All present.

1:45

Very good.

1:46

Amendments to the agenda you had mentioned yesterday, Mr.

1:49

City Manager, that we were removing one item from introduction.

1:53

Was there any did any council, any other council members have any other amendments to the agenda beyond that?

1:58

Minister Thompson, maybe.

1:59

Yes, Ms.

2:00

Promethear.

2:01

I would like to make a motion to resolve unfinished business from yesterday.

2:06

Specifically the unfinished business of the skate park and the police station before moving to new business.

2:13

We continue bringing things up and not reaching consensus.

2:16

We continue to not have an actual discussion.

2:20

We are told what the staff has found and presented, and it is declared with no with no discussion that consensus has been reached.

2:28

The absence of conversation does not equal consensus.

2:31

And we continue to make decisions and build policy in that way.

2:35

Save Boca put these council members up here to give residents a voice.

2:41

And instead they just sit here in silence.

2:45

Rubber stamping whatever the unelected staff is suggesting with no discussion and no thoughtful approach whatsoever.

2:53

Nobody is speaking and nobody can be bothered to have these conversations.

2:57

They didn't send us here to rubber stamp.

3:01

Let me start with the unfinished business of the skate park.

3:04

I want to be clear.

3:19

I'm going to let me pause you there.

3:20

If you want to make a motion to amend the agenda, why don't you do that?

3:24

Say what you want to amend to add, be succinct about it.

3:27

And we'll see if there's a second.

3:28

And if there's not, we can continue.

3:30

Yeah.

3:30

I would like to make a motion to resolve unfinished business from yesterday.

3:35

Is that a motion to amend?

3:36

What way do you want to amend the agenda?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Engagement██████████████████████22%
Procedural██████████████14%
Downtown Planning████████████12%
Historic Preservation█████████9%
Parks and Recreation███████7%
Board Appointments████4%
Community Engagement████4%
Urban Planning████4%
Fire Services Assessment████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Boca Raton City Council Regular Meeting - July 28, 2026

This regular meeting of the Boca Raton City Council began at 6:00 PM on July 28, 2026. The council addressed board appointments, approved the consent agenda, ranked firms for the Downtown Civic Area/Memorial Park Master Plan, introduced two ordinances, and received reports on the proposed millage rate and fire services assessment. Public comment covered retiree health benefits, beach sargassum, the police station and skate park, and property tax concerns.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved minutes from the June 9, 2026 workshop and regular meetings and the June 18, 2026 special meeting.
  • Approved Resolutions 67-2026 through 85-2026 and other consent items including fire equipment contracts, PFAS engineering services, CDBG Annual Action Plan, emergency fire rescue mutual aid with Delray Beach, downtown special assessment roll, 35th Street drainage improvements, Yamato Road landscaping MOA, emergency utility repairs, settlement approvals, SEIU/FPSU Local #1227 labor agreement, fleet management software, pathway construction, P25 radio system enhancements, public safety communications equipment, and board resignations (Victor Rodriguez, Dr. Georgia Christakis) and board minutes received.
  • Vote: 5-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Richard Warner: Criticized the RFQ selection process as rushed and reminiscent of past controversial consultant selections; urged the city to focus on fixing existing park facilities rather than large-scale redevelopment.
  • Mike Liebelson: Supported the selection of Chen Moore but stressed the need for council consensus on key decisions (e.g., police station, city hall) before launching the master plan; urged clear scope including connectivity beyond the 17-acre site.
  • Steve Starkov: Warning that the CIP includes $7.5 million for design/engineering and $150 million in bonds; requested that scope be finalized after community polling and engineering assessments before committing funds.
  • Juan Caicedo: Emphasized the importance of listening to the community, expressing a personal preference for the Corradino Group.
  • Robert Ducate: Advocated for keeping the skate park in downtown or moving to Spanish River Park, citing the new Pompano Beach skate park as a model.
  • Martha Parker: Expressed concern over the impact of property tax reform on seniors and renters; requested more information on potential fee increases.
  • Marie Marini: Representing city retirees, urged the council to preserve retiree health insurance subsidies, noting that the changes could impose thousands of dollars in added costs on fixed incomes.
  • Teresa Dwyer: Retired city safety officer, supported maintaining reasonable retiree health insurance access.
  • Avi Yesowich: Complained about poor beach sargassum cleanup, especially at Boca Inlet; asked the city to work with Palm Beach County for better response.
  • Martin Bell: Proposed using the base building temporarily for a downtown police station but ultimately converting the site into a pocket park; argued a second police station is supported by data.
  • Alexandra Abelo: Asked about homelessness coordination with NGOs, whether the selected consulting firm has been paid, and questioned the city's audit firm.

Discussion Items

**Board Appointments:

  • Affordable Housing Advisory Committee: No applicants.
  • Citizens’ Pedestrian and Bikeway Advisory Board: Appointed Fran Knockless and Ed Lynch (moved by Deputy Mayor Grau, seconded by Councilmember Drucker; vote 5-0).
  • Community Appearance Board: No applicants.
  • Financial Advisory Board: Reappointed Michelle Ferrara and Ron Crudeau (motion by Councilmember Drucker, seconded by Councilmember Sipple; vote 5-0).
  • Library Board: After nominations, Councilmembers voted: Andreas (3 votes), Feinberg (5 votes), Lask (2 votes). Appointed Nancy Joe Feinberg and Jacob Andreas.
  • Marine Advisory Board: No applicants.
  • Parks and Recreation Board: Seven applicants for four vacancies. After nominations and vote, appointees: Keith Nelson, Joel Rask, Brianna Hagquist, Judith Mora.
  • Sustainability Advisory Board: Reappointed Tamara McKee (motion by Councilmember Drucker, seconded by Councilmember Pearlman; vote 5-0).

**Resolution 86-2026 – Downtown Civic Area/Memorial Park Master Plan RFQ Ranking: Three firms presented qualifications and answered council questions:

  • Brooks Scarpa Huber (Brooks Scarpa + Sasaki + Kimley Horn + KMF + Urban Impact Lab)
  • Chen Moore and Associates (with REG Architects)
  • Corradino Group (with Divney Valek, Savino Miller, Cultural Plan Group) Presentations focused on public engagement, historic preservation, connectivity, and recreation integration. Council ranked firms after hearing public comment. Vote: 5-0 to adopt resolution ranking Chen Moore #1, Corradino #2, Brooks Scarpa Huber #3, and authorizing staff to negotiate with the top-ranked firm.

**** City Manager Reports – Millage Notification and Fire Services Assessment:**

  • Proposed total millage rate 3.6639 (operating 3.6476 + debt service 0.0163), a 4.39% increase over the rollback rate. No action; notice transmitted to the county.
  • Proposed fire services assessment: residential rate increase to $224 per dwelling unit (from $155) due to additional staffing; commercial/warehouse rates generally decrease; implementation for multi-structure properties corrected.

**Introduction of Ordinances:

  • Ordinance No. 5792: Prohibits feeding iguanas, rats, mice, or pigeons in a manner likely to attract them; authorizes direct citations. Introduced.
  • Ordinance No. 5793: Second budget amendment for FY 2025-2026. Introduced.

Key Outcomes

  • Board Appointments Completed: Financial Advisory Board (Ferrara, Crudeau), Library Board (Feinberg, Andreas), Parks and Recreation Board (Nelson, Rask, Hagquist, Mora), Sustainability Advisory Board (McKee), Pedestrian and Bikeway Advisory Board (Knockless, Lynch).
  • Master Plan Consultant Selected: Chen Moore and Associates ranked first; staff directed to negotiate a contract; back to council anticipated August 25, 2026.
  • Consent Agenda Approved: 5-0.
  • Ordinances Introduced: Animal feeding prohibition (5792) and budget amendment (5793) set for public hearings at a future meeting.
  • No Decisions on Millage or Fire Fee: Noted for information; formal adoption in September.
  • City Manager Noted: Transition of park rangers and ocean rescue to police/fire complete; homelessness initiative implementation beginning; coordination with county on sargassum cleanup.
  • City Attorney Clarified: Council members may express personal opinions on Amendment 3 using their First Amendment rights; written guidance to follow.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, friends, and I'd like to welcome you back to the Booker Tone City Council. This is our regular meeting on July 28th, 2026. The time is 6 p.m. First order of business for us is the invocation. And I will ask Councilmember Drucker to deliver it. Good evening, everyone. We are gathered here today as we come together again to do the good work of the people. Those of us sitting up here are always challenged on how to attain positive outcomes that are for the greater good of our community and the city of Boca Ratone. And that our purpose is driven by our common goals and the end. Tonight, as we are posed with big decisions for this council, I hope that we can all lead with patience, that we can all lead with compassion, caring, and loving and giving heart. This is the only way that together we're able to improve this community and help move this community forward in a unified way. As I always say, the best is yet to come. Thank you. Thank you, Councilmember Drucker. And could everybody please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance? One issue under Godstic. Thank you. Mr. Deputy Clerk Daly, could you please do the roll call? Mayor Thompson. I am here. Deputy Mayor Grow. Here. Councilmember Drucker. Here. Councilmember Pearlman? Here. Councilmember Sippel. Present. All present. Very good. Amendments to the agenda you had mentioned yesterday, Mr. City Manager, that we were removing one item from introduction. Was there any did any council, any other council members have any other amendments to the agenda beyond that? Minister Thompson, maybe. Yes, Ms. Promethear. I would like to make a motion to resolve unfinished business from yesterday. Specifically the unfinished business of the skate park and the police station before moving to new business. We continue bringing things up and not reaching consensus. We continue to not have an actual discussion. We are told what the staff has found and presented, and it is declared with no with no discussion that consensus has been reached. The absence of conversation does not equal consensus. And we continue to make decisions and build policy in that way. Save Boca put these council members up here to give residents a voice. And instead they just sit here in silence. Rubber stamping whatever the unelected staff is suggesting with no discussion and no thoughtful approach whatsoever. Nobody is speaking and nobody can be bothered to have these conversations. They didn't send us here to rubber stamp. Let me start with the unfinished business of the skate park.

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