Politics may have broken out last week at the Delray Beach City Commission meeting. Again.
Commissioner Juli Casale, who is up for reelection in March, had asked to discuss having the city give money to a program that trains young African-Americans for a career in health care. St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, Casale said, is a partner with Florida Atlantic University.
Casale wanted the city to get involved, she said, because the Palm Beach County School District hasn’t done enough for Delray Beach. Such inaction “has gotten us where we are.” Delray Beach has no A-rated schools under the state system, though Atlantic High got a B last year.
Casale’s comments prompted Commissioner Ryan Boylston to email the seven Palm Beach County School Board members the next day. Boylston referred to Casale’s “discouraging remarks,” which he said had prompted “a number of calls” to him.
Boylston wrote, “Any negative generalizations” about Casale’s “disappointment in or failure of the school district does not in any way represent a shared viewpoint.” They represent “Mrs. Casale’s individual and personal views only” and are not “a position taken by or supported by our city.” Boylston addressed the email to “Our School District Partners.”
On Monday, Boylston said he sent the email to avoid having “a bad relationship” with the board and district. He attributed Casale’s comments to “election season.”
Why? Casale’s opponent is Rob Long. His girlfriend is school board member Alexandria Ayala. Her district does not include Delray Beach, but criticism of the board and district could amount to criticism of Ayala. Boylston supported Long when Casale and Mayor Shelly Petrolia criticized Long for comments about the safety of Delray Beach’s water.
In addition, former Commissioner Mitch Katz—who serves on the city’s education board—has spoken before the commission about what he believes are harmful actions to the city by the school district. Katz is politically aligned with Casale and Petrolia.
St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church is very civic-oriented. Among other things, the church helped with COVID-19 vaccinations. It’s an important institution in the minority-heavy southwest section of Delray Beach and a potential source of political support.
Though Casale wanted a decision on the money immediately, the commission asked for more information on the program and a formal presentation. Commissioner Shirley Johnson wondered whether “a school setting” would be better than operating out of a church. Noting similar work the district does, Johnson worried about “duplicating our school system.”
Unlike Boca Raton and West Boca, which are in Board Chairman Frank Barbieri’s district, two board members share Delray Beach. Erica Whitfield has one portion, while Debra Robinson has the other. Whitfield won a new term in August. Corey Smith or Edwin Ferguson will succeed Robinson, who did not run again.
Boylston said that split can make it harder. It also is one other reason why he sent the email. With Delray Beach’s new education coordinator just starting, Boylston said, the city can’t afford to alienate the board and district, whatever the politics.
Politics in considering developer’s request?
One item on today’s city commission workshop agenda also seems flavored with politics.
The owner of a roughly one-acre property along the Florida East Coast Railway at Northeast Second Street wants the city’s help in developing the site. It lies between two planning districts that have different rules.
To “maximize the permitted density of 30 units per acre,” the developer wants the property classified under the district that would allow five-story buildings, not just four stories. Doing so, the owner’s attorney said in a letter to City Manager Terrence Moore, would allow construction of 25 residential units on the top four floors and commercial space on the ground floor.
For the city to consider such an amendment, a commissioner must sponsor it. According to the letter, Casale agreed to schedule the item “for sponsorship consideration.”
Yet Casale, with Petrolia, regularly criticizes developers who ask for more than what rules allow. Why now?
The owner is Harold Van Arnem, of Delray Beach-based Van Arnem Properties. When the company sought to develop three blocks of city-owned property on West Atlantic Avenue, Petrolia tried very hard to get Van Arnem Properties the contract. The community redevelopment agency chose BH3, which sued after the CRA found the company in default. The lawsuit has not been resolved.
As noted, Petrolia and Casale are the closest of allies. I’ll have an update after the meeting.
Delray noise ordinance
Another item on today’s agenda is an update on Delray Beach’s proposed noise ordinance. Boylston said residents hoping for a quieter city may be disappointed.
For months, technicians have been measuring decibel levels on and around Atlantic Avenue. City officials have received many complaints about excessive noise. Example: motorcycle riders revving their engines as they pass people dining outside.
The commission must approve any noise ordinance, which would go through the legal department for review. As it stands, Boylston said, the ordinance likely will leave current levels in place, based on the data collected, but not allow higher levels. The exception, Boylston said, may be for the level of live or amplified music after 1 a.m.
I’ll update after the meeting.
Informational campaign about bond issues
According to Moore’s newsletter to the commission last Friday, Delray Beach in January will begin a communications program to “educate” residents about the public safety and parks bond referendums on the March ballot.
The public safety bond would allocate $100 million toward police and fire stations. The parks bond would cost $20 million. The city commission will review the “informational campaign” before it goes to the public.
Boca Council called to discuss ALF lawsuit
Boca Raton City Attorney Diana Frieser has called an executive session for the city council to discuss the lawsuit over a proposed adult living facility (ALF) in Boca Square.
It would be on the site of the closed church near Addison Mizner School. Sale of the property depends on city approval of the ALF. In March, the city notified the developer that the project would require a comprehensive plan amendment. The property owner then sued, alleging that the city wrongly added the requirement and did so because of neighborhood opposition.
Three weeks ago, Palm Beach County Circuit Court Judge Samantha Schosberg Feuer issued a case management plan for the lawsuit. On her schedule, if mediation could not resolve the case, a trial would start May 30. Neighbors have said they also would oppose a smaller project.
