Perhaps the first hopeful sign was when Mayor Shelly Petrolia didn’t show for this month’s key meeting on the future of Old School Square in Delray Beach.
Petrolia is the only remaining commissioner who voted two years ago to end the city’s lease of Old School Square to the cultural complex’s founder—Old School Square Center for the Arts (OSSCTA). That action led to the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) assuming operation of the Cornell Museum and other parts of Old School Square except for Crest Theater.
The Sept. 7 meeting brought together the city commission and representatives of the DDA and OSSCTA. After the March election, four of the five commissioners—Petrolia being the exception—made clear that they wanted OSSCTA to have a role. The meeting brought that role more into focus and left almost everyone pleased.
In Petrolia’s absence, Commissioner Ryan Boylston ran the meeting in his capacity as vice mayor, having found out “as I walked in.” Boylston voted against ending the lease. Without Petrolia, participants didn’t have to endure the kind of accusations—lacking evidence—that the mayor made against OSSCTA at a meeting in June.
As a result, this gathering was “productive,” as Brian Rosen described it. He chairs the DDA board. Boylston said of the meeting, “It was great. The mood was really positive.” Patty Jones, who chairs OSSCTA, said, “We were pleased.” Her group, Jones said, wants to “collaborate” with the city and DDA.
Based on what emerged from the meeting, that collaboration will center most on Crest Theater. The DDA’s primary, tax-supported mission is to market downtown Delray Beach. Because Old School Square drove the revitalization of downtown, the DDA offered itself when the city had no alternative after Petrolia and two others ended the lease. A vibrant Old School Square makes for better marketing.
The DDA, however, never has done programming, which is the key to Crest Theater. The DDA also has no background in the sort of fundraising that made Old School Square possible. Indeed, DDA Executive Director Laura Simon noted that, as a taxpayer-financed agency, the DDA’s ability to raise money is basically limited to seeking sponsorships.
Speaking for OSSCTA, former Old School Square Executive Director Joe Gillie asked the commission to amend the agreement under which the DDA is operating the complex through Sept. 30, 2024. That new agreement would put OSSCTA in charge of Crest Theater. A second one would allow OSSCTA to assist the DDA with fundraising and promotion for all of Old School Square. As he ended his presentation, Gillie said, “We’re proud to be here.”
Public Works Director Missie Barletto updated participants on Crest Theater itself. Renovation of the interior areas, including construction of a new, industrial kitchen, will be complete by the end of the year. That kitchen could offer, among other things, culinary training for residents who can’t afford private classes. A meeting room will hold 200 people.
When OSSCTA had the lease, a private donor was financing that work. Just before the commission ended the lease, though, the city stopped work, claiming that OSSCTA had not obtained a permit. The group denies that. Either way, city taxpayers are paying for what had been a private project because the donor withdrew the balance of her money.
Then there’s the theater portion. Under its lease, OSSCTA was allowed to remove all the equipment it owned after the city evicted the group. Barletto said the city received a “ballpark” estimate of $4 million to make the theater operable again.
The real amount, Barletto said, likely would be less. Jones said OSSCTA could return some of the equipment, which also could reduce the cost.
Again, though, taxpayers will be on the hook for work that a non-profit group had been paying for. Discussion of how to finance returning the theater to what Barletto called its “former glory” remains. Even in the best case, the Crest would not be able to stage productions until early 2025.
Procedurally, City Attorney Lynn Gelin now must prepare a document seeking interest from any group wishing to operate Crest Theater. Presumably, the only applicant would be OSSCTA. After the lease termination, the city sought interest from any organization willing to replicate what OSSCTA had provided. There were no takers.
All the new legal work might not be ready until 2024. In addition, Rosen said the DDA might ask for an early five-year extension of its agreement. “We need some long-term certainty,” Rosen told me, to hire staff and finalize plans.
Still, Rosen said, “We’re making progress.” Gillie and Simon laid out ambitious goals for the complex. As the meeting ended, though. Boylston put things in perspective.
“We’re done fighting,” he said. But Boylston also called it “disheartening” that Gillie and Simon were talking about 10-year plans to get Old School Square back “to where it was two years ago,” when the previous commission ended the lease. “I hope it doesn’t take 10 years.”
Boca to approve next year’s budget
At Wednesday night’s special meeting, the Boca Raton City Council will approve next year’s budget.
According to the staff memo from City Manager Leif Ahnell, the operating budget—which finances most basic services—will increase by $12.5 million to roughly $222 million. The tax rate won’t change, but property owners will pay more because values are higher.
About $5 million of that increase is from salaries and benefits. Another $5 million will go toward ongoing renovation of the Boca Raton Golf & Racquet Club. The owners of The Boca Raton donated the facility, which replaced the city’s municipal golf course. Money for that work will come from proceeds of selling the course for development.
Boca to discuss joining “forever chemicals” suit
On the agenda for Wednesday’s regular council meeting is approval of making Boca Raton a plaintiff in lawsuits against the makers of polyfluroalkyl (PFAs) chemicals.
These products, which are used in many common household products such as non-stick cookware, carry serious health risks at high levels in drinking water. They are called “forever chemicals” because they take so long to break down. Delray Beach, where PFAs have been an issue for at least three years, previously entered the nationwide litigation.
Boca Raton has held back. A memo from City Attorney Diana Frieser, however, said that “taking a more active role would be beneficial” to the city. Boca Raton would use settlement money to clean up dramage from the chemicals.
Downtown mobility and Live Local Act discussion
On Tuesday, council members will make their latest attempt to agree on two long-running issues.
Acting as the community redevelopment agency, council members again will discuss proposals for moving people around downtown Boca Raton. The operator of Delray Beach’s popular, subsidized, Freebee service will be among the speakers.
Successive councils have discussed “downtown mobility.” Each time, it’s been clear that any option will cost the city money, and the council must decide how much it’s willing to spend. One service tried to run solely from advertising on vehicles. The money wasn’t enough, and the service stopped.
In their workshop meeting, council members again will try to agree on ordinances to implement the new Live Local Act. It’s designed to encourage development of affordable housing.
FAU trustees to hold virtual meeting today
Florida Atlantic University trustees will hold a virtual meeting today at 10 a.m. The presidential search is not on the agenda, but the topic still could come up. Few people in the FAU community are talking about anything else.
The trustees’ last meeting, a month ago, devolved into accusations by Vice Chair Barbara Feingold against Chair Brad Levine over the search. State University System Chancellor Ray Rodrigues halted it two months ago over what he called “anomalies” and ordered an investigation.
Last week, the Faculty Senate approved a resolution asking the trustees to give Interim President Stacy Volnick a three-year contract. Any trustee could bring up the idea for discussion.
