Boca Raton’s rescue, rehabilitation and release program for sea turtles officially passes tonight from the city to the Gumbo Limbo Coastal Stewards.
On the city council’s regular meeting agenda is approval of a five-year agreement—renewable for another five years—between the city and the non-profit group for the program at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center. The Stewards will assume management and all costs. Though the group has covered many expenses for a decade, three city employees ran the program.
The runup to the transition got messy. The former director and veterinarian refused to work for the Stewards. Because the director held the state permit for the program, the nine turtles—two of them permanent residents—had to be moved temporarily. Critics charged that the process had been abrupt and haphazard. In fact, the city had coordinated the transfers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
During an interview Monday, Executive Director John Holloway said the Stewards have hired the new staff to run the program—three full time employees and two part-timers. He declined to give their names because all are in an “onboarding” probationary period that began April 10.
Holloway could give no estimate for when the Stewards will get the new permit and resume the program. The first step, he said, is city approval of the agreement. After that, the group will start working “in earnest” with the FWC. Holloway said again that the group would obtain an “organizational” permit not tied to any staff member.
The budget for the new hires, Holloway said, would be about $300,000 annually. Because the Stewards’ budget year starts Jan. 1, the cost will be less for 2023. Holloway said the Stewards would hire volunteers for any additional work.
An obvious question is whether the Stewards can raise the money to keep running the program. Board Chairman Manjunath Pendakur said the organization is financially sound but soon will begin a “robust” fundraising campaign tied to the new arrangement. The group also will seek grants.
Assistant City Manager Chrissy Gibson worked with the Stewards to craft the agreement. On Monday, she called the initial deal “an engagement period.” If things are going well after five years, the city might discuss a longer agreement.
And if the Stewards come up short on money? “Hopefully, that won’t happen,” Gibson said. “If it does, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”
Holloway and Pendakur, though, reinforced what Gibson had told me earlier: The city initiated this change. It’s no takeover by the Stewards. City officials worried about the program’s increasing cost and didn’t see sea turtle rehabilitation as a city function.
But Gibson stressed that the city appreciates the importance of the program and its value to Boca Raton. “We want to do everything possible to support it.”
Holloway believes that the change will be mutually beneficial. The turtle program, one of just a few in Florida, has operated “with no codified laws or policies.” Under the agreement, the roles are clear, even beyond the program.
The city will continue to maintain Gumbo Limbo itself—and hire volunteers for city programs. The city and the Stewards will pay to maintain the sea water pumps. Donations at the door go to the city, to be channeled back into Gumbo Limbo. Proceeds from the gift shop go to the Stewards.
As for the program, Holloway said the Stewards now can go beyond rescue, rehabilitation and release to “outreach.” The first milestone will be the return of the turtles. Six are at Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach, two are at Zoo Miami and another is at the Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center in Stuart. A representative said the Stewards plan to throw a welcome-home party.
A pivotal FAU meeting
Florida Atlantic University’s board of trustees meets today at a key moment for FAU and higher education in the state.
By Monday, FAU must submit its 2023 “accountability plan” to the Board of Governors (BOG), which oversees the university system. The plan’s highlight is FAU’s intention to start a dental school in 2025. The BOG has approved what will be the second public dental college in Florida.
In addition, FAU is in the middle of a $600 million fundraising campaign. The university surely will try to leverage the Final Four appearance by the men’s basketball team that gave FAU national exposure. FAU also wants to “communicate” its “many remarkable success stories” beyond hoops.
The biggest overall issue, though, is the search for a president to succeed John Kelly. At today’s meeting, the trustees will approve what the agenda calls the “presidential profile.”
Aside from the predictable wish for a “charismatic leader,” the draft profile contains other preferred traits. Example: “The president must exercise creativity, an ability to assess and calculate acceptable risk, a tolerance for ambiguity and nuance, optimism, a sense of self-confidence, humility and humor.”
The search comes as the Legislature and Gov. DeSantis prepare to enact broad changes at public universities. Among many other things, the bills essentially would eliminate faculty tenure. Legislators did remove language that would have eliminated diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. FAU’s student body is the most diverse of any state university.
I asked the university’s senior vice president for media relations if I could speak with Brad Levine. He’s chairman of the trustees and the presidential search committee. I was told that Levine is “unavailable at this time.”
“Mall Wars” verdict headed to appeals
Seritage Growth Properties will appeal its loss of a lawsuit over the former Sears site at Town Center Mall.
Simon Property Group, the mall’s owner, prevailed in court last month, After Seritage applied in 2019 to redevelop the 18-acre property, Simon sued, claiming that it has the option to buy the land if Seritage plans anything but retail. The company’s proposal contained more than retail. Seritage also wanted to sever its relationship with the mall, which Simon argued would reduce the value of its property.
Last week, Seritage filed notice of appeal. The company asked Palm Beach County Circuit Court Judge Samantha Schosberg Feuer to delay issuing her final order in the lawsuit while the appeal proceeds.
Delray to discuss Gretsas lawsuit
The Delray Beach City Commission will meet in private today to discuss the lawsuit by former City Manager George Gretsas. He sued after a previous commission fired him in 2021.
Mayor Shelly Petrolia and former commissioners Juli Casale and Shirley Johnson put Gretsas on notice of his potential firing after just five months on the job. When the actual firing came, City Attorney Lynn Gelin had rewritten the charges.
Gretsas has maintained that he was fired for investigating problems with the city’s water. In his lawsuit, Gretsas also claims that his alleged violations were of policies that did not apply to the city manager. As a result, he said, he was not fired for cause and thus deserves 20 weeks’ severance.
The city lost its motion to dismiss the case. It lost its appeal of that ruling. Though the case went to mediation last month, the report said that session resulted in “impasse.”
Status check on Delray officer charged with misconduct and theft
There is a status check today in the criminal case against Delray Beach police officer Jacaria Stringer.
Last year, Stringer was accused of collecting roughly $6,500 in city pay while claiming to be on military leave. According to the probable cause affidavit, Stringer was not fulfilling any military obligations during those times.
Boca Bowl funding on the agenda
Also on tonight’s city council agenda is approval of money for the 2023 Boca Raton Bowl. The city’s contribution will be $183,000, matching that from the county.
