Boca Raton City Council Regular Meeting - October 27, 2026

The Boca Raton City Council held its regular meeting on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, beginning at 6:01 p.m. and adjourning at 9:50 p.m. Mayor Andy Thomson, Deputy Mayor Michelle Grau, Council Members Yvette Drucker and Stacy Sipple were present; Council Member Jon Pearlman was absent. The four present council members voted 4-0 on all roll-call council actions; the Sustainability Advisory Board appointment vote was 3-1.

Opening and Routine Items

• The agenda was amended to postpone Item 11A (Ordinance 5790, Downtown Plan amendment) and Item 11A1 (Resolution 058-2026, Mizner Park intragovernmental conveyance) to the next City Council meeting on November 10, 2026.
• Minutes of the October 13, 2026 workshop and regular meetings were approved as presented.

Proclamation/Presentation: Memorial Park Engagement and Outreach Strategy

• Chen Moore presented the community engagement plan for the Memorial Park master plan, part of the city's broader Boca Forward initiative. The plan uses a listen-first, design-second approach with four phases.
• Upcoming engagement includes a 10-question English and Spanish survey via QR codes; public workshops on Saturday, November 14 from 2 to 4 p.m., Tuesday, November 17 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., and Thursday, November 19 at 6:30 p.m. virtually; kiosks at the November 5 Night Market at Sanborn Square and the November 21 holiday tree lighting at Mizner Park; and a three-day design charrette on December 10-12 with open studio hours from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• A final report and preferred concept are expected by the end of March 2027. Council members did not ask questions.

Board Appointments

• Public commenter Charles Graves supported incumbent Angela McDonald for the Boca Raton Housing Authority and noted she was the only tenant and resident on the board.
• Three applicants were interviewed for two Housing Authority vacancies. Council deferred the appointments to November 10, 2026, after discussion of a legal analysis from Housing Authority counsel questioning Ms. McDonald's eligibility as a subsidized-housing resident commissioner; the city attorney offered to provide her the analysis.
• For the Sustainability Advisory Board vacancy, after interviews and a nomination vote, Ellie Shalhoob was appointed by a 3-1 vote over Jason Perry; an expected applicant, Ms. Doherty, was not present to interview.

Consent Agenda

• No council member removed items. The consent agenda included the sole-source Mack Trucks OEM parts and service agreement budgeted at $400,000, professional services contract authorization, Construction Manager at Risk guaranteed maximum price authorization, police participation in Operation Stonegarden, traffic enforcement agreements, Broward County emergency fire rescue mutual aid, and acceptance of Barry Apfel's resignation. It also included Resolution 121-2026 removing the animal-feeding nuisance violation from the civil penalties schedule.
• Public comment included Mark Stahlbaum's objection to the earlier repeal of the animal-feeding ordinance and the process used; Council Member Sipple disputed his account. The consent agenda was approved 4-0.

Resolutions and Other Business

Resolution 138-2026: Police Headquarters General Obligation Bond Referendum

• Staff presented the resolution to authorize up to $125 million in general obligation bonds and call a March 9, 2027 referendum for construction of a new Police Department Headquarters and related public safety facilities. Staff said a downtown police presence would be maintained, but the specific site and design would come later; the Financial Advisory Board recommended the $125 million amount.
• Public comment included opposition to the lack of a committed site and suggestions to select the site before the referendum, as well as support citing the current headquarters' hurricane, rail, and security vulnerabilities. The resolution was approved 4-0.

Resolution 139-2026: Single-Family Residential Height Code Clarification

• The City Attorney explained that the resolution memorializes existing code meaning, not a new height rule: single-family buildings generally are limited to 25 feet with specified allowances for qualifying roof portions. Staff said five applications were pending, four prior to October 13 and one submitted later.
• Numerous residents and representatives spoke. Some developers and homeowners opposed the interpretation and asked that pending and contracted projects be grandfathered; neighbors and residents supported enforcement and cited the ordinance author's testimony. Developer Mark Elkman said he would downsize the 1300 Coconut Road home from three stories to two; his attorney clarified this was conditioned on pending pipeline projects being allowed to proceed.
• Council added a transition provision before adoption: the clarified direction applies to future applications and any development configuration first properly submitted on or after October 27, 2026, but does not apply to a specific configuration properly submitted before that date if the application remains pending and actively pursued, unless withdrawn, abandoned, materially revised, or affirmatively discontinued. The amended resolution was approved 4-0.

Resolution 140-2026: Interim City Manager

• The City Council appointed James L. Zervis as interim City Manager, effective with the transition, with related transition matters. Public comments thanked outgoing City Manager Mark Sohaney and supported Mr. Zervis. The resolution was approved 4-0.

Quasi-Judicial Public Hearing: Resolution 132-2026 - The Bertani at Broken Sound

• The Council considered a site plan amendment for approximately 11 acres at 5901 and 6001 NW Broken Sound Parkway. The proposal includes a new 8-story, 60-unit multifamily building of about 139,663 square feet with six affordable units, an integrated one-level parking structure, a separate parking structure, a 2,664-square-foot retail and restaurant building, related on-site and off-site improvements, and abandonment of a portion of a 12-foot easement.
• Staff recommended approval; the Community Appearance Board recommended approval 5-0 and the Planning and Zoning Board recommended approval 6-0. Staff asked that two conditions be amended: one crosswalk removal reference should say the 6001 property rather than the 5901 property, and certain references to existing office buildings should be deleted from the resident amenity declaration.
• The Mayor disclosed prior ex parte conversations with applicant representatives. Public comment was generally supportive. The Council approved Resolution 132-2026 4-0 with the staff-recommended condition amendments.

Regular Public Hearings

Ordinance 5810: C&D Debris Franchise Agreement with Dr. Rubble

• The Council authorized a non-exclusive Construction and Demolition debris collection and disposal franchise agreement with Danco LLC d/b/a Dr. Rubble. Staff described it as the 17th franchise under identical terms to prior agreements. Approved 4-0.

Ordinance 5811: Repeal of Chapter 18, Vehicles for Hire

• The Council repealed Chapter 18 in its entirety. Staff said state law now allows vehicles-for-hire approval in one jurisdiction to apply statewide, and Palm Beach County provides the necessary driver background checks and vehicle inspections. Approved 4-0.

Public Requests

• Bonnie Miskill, speaking on behalf of the contract purchaser of the Mizner Park ground lease, offered to assist staff with document review and urged adequate time before action on the postponed items.
• Jerry Liguri presented a conceptual Addison Village vision for the Civic Area and Memorial Park redevelopment and noted community outreach.
• Pam Hashkey urged residents to vote, opposed Florida property tax amendment 3, and criticized gerrymandering.
• Richard Warner criticized the Addison Village concept and also urged voters to repudiate the former mayor.
• Earl Starkov asked that the $225,000 11-building review cost information be made public before final Memorial Park engagement.
• Martha Parker reported a homeless encampment near Library Commons and asked the city to follow up with Brightline on security obligations; the Mayor said staff would follow up.
• Mark Stahlbaum returned to the podium to object to being called a bully and to council decorum.
• Alexandra Abelo requested city and fire department clarification of enforcement at Red Reef beach and criticized Planning and Zoning Board approvals.
• Martin Bell urged consideration of a low-cost golf course at North Park, arguing it would be incremental to required park improvements.
• Fran Knackless thanked Council Member Drucker for her service.
• Jonathan Unjon suggested a city ordinance protecting public spaces, raised questions about the FY 2025-2026 Third Budget Amendment, and asked for transparency on a $105 million pension-to-general-fund movement.

Introduction of Ordinances, Reports, and Adjournment

• Ordinance 5812, the FY 2025-2026 Third Budget Amendment, was introduced by Council Member Drucker.
• City Manager Sohaney gave farewell remarks praising staff and the community.
• City Attorney Kaler had no report.
• Council Member Grau asked to revisit a previously deferred appointment; staff described a timeline with applications open until November 13, interviews on November 23, and an appointment on November 24.
• Council Member Drucker noted this was her last City Council meeting and said she would give fuller remarks later. The meeting adjourned at 9:50 p.m.

Key Outcomes

• Agenda amended; minutes approved; consent agenda approved.
• Resolution 138-2026 adopted 4-0; referendum set for March 9, 2027.
• Resolution 139-2026 adopted as amended 4-0, with pre-October 27 applications protected if actively pursued.
• Resolution 140-2026 adopted 4-0, appointing James L. Zervis interim City Manager.
• Resolution 132-2026 adopted 4-0 with staff's condition changes.
• Ordinance 5810 adopted 4-0.
• Ordinance 5811 adopted 4-0.
• Housing Authority appointments deferred to November 10, 2026; Ellie Shalhoob appointed to the Sustainability Advisory Board by a 3-1 vote.
• Ordinance 5812 was introduced.
• A timeline was outlined for the previously deferred appointment.