Redeveloping the area around Boca Raton City Hall will move at an even faster pace.
During Tuesday’s meeting, the city council approved the interim agreement with Terra/Frisbie. A notable change from the first version shortens the “due diligence” period from 180 days to 150 days. Deputy City Manager Andy Lukasik said Terra/Frisbie representatives told the city that they “could be a little more aggressive in their timetable.”
On that timetable, Terra/Frisbie would submit an interim master plan for those 30 acres by May 12. That plan would go before the council on June 10. Approval of a final master plan could come on Oct. 28. During that time, Lukasik said, Terra/Frisbie would continue “community outreach.”
All the outreach in the world likely would not sway the speakers who came out Tuesday to oppose the $1 billion-plus project. Beyond their unrealistic demands—the council should “table” the deal, and comments bordering on slander such as suggestions that council members were “taking bribes”—the main continuing issue is potential loss and new locations of recreation facilities. Those are the tennis center, softball fields, the skate park and basketball courts.
As I have reported, the city already plans a new softball complex at Sugar Sand Park. From what I hear, the idea of “equity” with baseball facilities more than offsets any potential inconvenience of the fields being farther west. City Manager George Brown has said that the complex will open before construction displaces the two downtown fields.
There is less certainty on tennis facilities. Terra/Frisbie plans a racket center with tennis, pickleball and padel courts. Speakers noted that there will be only four tennis courts, six fewer than at the center.
Brown said the city has “a clear intent to replace” those 10 courts. “We will have a plan,” he said. The goal is to have them “on the east side, but they may be farther north.” There also is intent to build a new skate park, but nothing is certain. Terra/Frisbie and the city supposedly are discussing how to build a temporary outdoor basketball court or two until completion of the public gym that will be part of the project.
After hearing all the criticism—no one spoke in favor—council members responded.
Of the idea that the public doesn’t support the project, Mayor Scott Singer said, “A lot of people are excited about it.” To hoots from the audience, he said, “You might be surprised.” Of the idea that the city is springing this on an unsuspecting public, Singer said, “We’ve tried our best” to spread the word through social media and the city’s communications staff.
Several speakers noted, correctly, that no council member lives near the target area. All live west of Interstate 95. Councilmember Fran Nachlas denied that geography is a factor. She also denied the accusation that the city is “losing parks.” Terra/Frisbie envisions 18 new public spaces.
But when Councilmember Marc Wigder said, “There is no obligation to proceed” and Nachlas said the agreement “is to gather information,” they were less than candid. Councilmembers very much want this project to happen, and soon. Deputy Mayor Yvette Drucker twice said, “God forbid, this falls apart.”
One speaker said, “So many people don’t know about this.” At this point, lack of awareness is not the city’s fault. Critics might better focus their effort on trying to shape the plan. Lukasik said the city and Terra/Frisbie will hold a public meeting on the design before that May 12 deadline.
A wrinkle in the downtown campus agreement
Another last-minute change in the agreement provoked considerable discussion.
Councilmember Andy Thomson noted that the final version did not contain language barring Terra/Frisbie or any associates from involvement in political campaigns within the city. Thomson said such language has been standard in city contracts for two decades and was in three contracts the council approved Tuesday. Indeed, the language had been in the original version of the agreement.
Terra Group CEO David Martin signed that version, Clearly, Terra/Frisbie did not ask to remove the language, understandably. Why would the developer want to potentially alienate any council member, especially since construction of the project will take a decade and the lease will run for 99 years?
Thomson’s colleagues, however, quickly argued for the exclusion. Terra/Frisbie, they said, is not a typical “vendor,” but a “partner.” Wigder said, “They’re paying us.” City Attorney Joshua Koehler, who made the change, said inclusion had been council policy that is subject to regular reassessment.
Singer contended that the language could pose First Amendment problems and cited the 2010 Citizens United case in which the U.S. Supreme Court first ruled that campaign contributions amount to political speech. Wigder called it “a slippery slope.” Presumably, though, the only party that might sue is Terra/Frisbie, and Koehler acknowledged that the company was fine either way.
Thomson proposed an amendment to include the original language. It died for lack of a second. Singer then proposed an amendment that Terra/Frisbie would have to follow all local and state ethics rules. Thomson responded that such requirements already apply. The amendment passed.
It seemed an odd decision, especially before an audience already hostile to the project. Politics may explain it.
It will be a very active city election in 2026. Singer is term-limited. Drucker is running for the state Senate next year. The first terms of Nachlas and Wigder expire, so they could run for mayor. So could Thomson, although he would have to resign. His term doesn’t end until 2027. Thomson was the only council member to rank Related Ross ahead of Terra/Frisbie.
Through a city spokeswoman, I asked who wanted the language out of the contract, since it wasn’t Terra/Frisbie or the staff. I will follow up when I get a response.
Another Carney and Casale dispute
Delray Beach City Manager Terrence Moore must have felt like a marriage counselor during parts of last week’s city commission meeting.
Mayor Tom Carney and City Commissioner Juli Casale got into it over two items: a proposed $40,000 allocation toward an artificial reef program and whether the development services department should accept project applications every day, rather than from Monday to Wednesday.
With Commissioner Rob Long absent, Commissioners Angela Burns and Thomas Markert became spectators to the increasingly testy exchanges. Moore finally intervened in both cases to move things along, saying, “If I may…” It all happened less than a month after a workshop meeting that Carney called to discuss Robert’s Rules of Order, the guide to parliamentary procedure. He wants to foster “a culture of collaboration.”
Casale effort to discredit City Hall administration falls flat
Speaking of Casale, she came up 0-for-2 last week in her continuing campaign to discredit City Hall administration.
Commissioners heard reports from consultants that the city asked to review practices in the finance and code enforcement departments. Casale asked for the first, having accused finance officials of misspending and poor bookkeeping. The second arose out of the arrest of a code enforcement officer. Charges were later dropped.
The Citrin Cooperman firm reviewed 1,900 budget items. It flagged just three, and those were more to offer suggestions than to imply mismanagement or worse. That’s 0.16%.
Casale railed that the department’s conduct had been “purposeful” to make the city’s finances look better. “You don’t have to comment,” she said to the consultant. Smart move, since the consultant likely wouldn’t have agreed.
As for code enforcement, the Calvin, Giordano firm offered several suggestions, which Moore said the department would implement under its new director. As Burns noted, though, the report found no evidence of “selective enforcement.” Casale disagreed. As with the first report, she got no support.
Will Casale change?
Three times in the last few weeks, Casale has been the object of comments about conduct at meetings. Carney called for the Robert’s Rules of Order discussion. Burns, without mentioning Casale by name, spoke against public ambushes of city officials. On that point, Moore asked commissioners to raise questions with him before meetings, to allow time to prepare and give informed answers. Otherwise, Carney said, other commissioners can’t participate.
Casale brought those comments on herself by regularly trying to hijack meetings. Moore’s request, Casale said, wouldn’t bother her, because she submits all questions in advance. That sure isn’t how it looks.
Former Owls soar on new basketball teams
Florida Atlantic University fans found out painfully this year how good the Owls were when the men’s basketball team made a shocking run to the Final Four two years ago.
The Associated Press reported that four of the five starters in 2023 now play on teams that made the NCAA Tournament. All transferred a year ago, after Coach Dusty May left for the University of Michigan. One of those is Vladislav Goldin, who followed May to Ann Arbor. On Sunday, the Wolverines won the Big Ten Tournament.
Of the others, Alijah Martin stayed closest to Boca Raton, transferring to the University of Florida. The Gators are a No. 1 seed and a favorite to win it all. Nick Boyd went the farthest—to San Diego State. Johnell Davis left for Arkansas.
All four hold prominent roles on their new teams. May was able to get them to Boca Raton when FAU had little if any name recognition in the sport. Though the Owls didn’t make the tournament this year, May showed new Coach John Jakus that all it takes is one good recruiting class.
