When Save Boca organized last summer, its goal was clear: to have a public vote on the Terra/Frisbie downtown redevelopment plan. In September, the group succeeded. City council members scheduled a vote for the March 10 election. Terra/Frisbie representatives agreed.
Last Wednesday, however, Save Boca filed notice of a petition seeking to overturn the council’s approval one day earlier of a master partnership agreement with Terra/Frisbie and a lease of 7.8 acres of land for the private portion of the project.
As a result, the city has scheduled a special council meeting for 9 a.m. today. Before the council is a resolution disputing Save Boca’s contention in the petition affidavit that the city must hold an election if the council does not rescind last week’s votes.
According to the resolution, Save Boca’s affidavit is “duplicative” because the city has scheduled the vote. As a result, the resolution directs the city clerk not to accept any signatures related to the affidavit.
Some opponents of the plan argued that the council should have withheld approval until—and if—voters approve the plan. City officials made a case that without a specific plan to put before the public, the referendum could have been invalidated by a legal challenge. Someone could have argued that voters didn’t know what was on the ballot.
The resolution reiterates the city’s position that the “effectiveness” of the master partnership agreement is “expressly conditioned upon and subject to” that March 10 referendum. If voters reject the plan, the resolution states again, the agreement is “null and void.”
I wanted to ask Save Boca founder—and council candidate—Jonathan Pearlman why he filed a petition demanding what the city already has granted. As usual, Pearlman did not return a voicemail seeking comment. I also did not hear back from council candidates Stacy Sipple—whose name appears on the petition—and Michelle Grau. Sipple and Grau form the Save Boca slate with Pearlman.
On Monday, Save Boca—meaning Pearlman—emailed to warn voters that the council was “playing dirty tricks.” Only by signing the new petition could the public “guarantee our right to vote” on the agreement and lease. Mayor Scott Singer, the council and the city attorney “cannot be trusted.”
Save Boca accused the council of signing “a binding contract” with Terra/Frisbie last week. Section 3 of the document states that it is subject to the referendum.
Today, the council no doubt will approve the resolution. No doubt, Pearlman and others will lambaste the council. But Pearlman’s recent history on legal issues is shaky. A judge found that Save Boca’s proposals to require referendums on public land were unconstitutional.
I’ll have more after the meeting.
Proposal to remove property taxes moves to full floor vote
A proposal to partially phase out residential property taxes over a decade cleared its third and final Florida House committee last week, setting up a full floor vote.
House Joint Resolution 203 would add $100,000 a year to all homestead exemptions between 2028 and 2037. After that, property taxes on primary residences would end for all government agencies except schools. The proposal would go to voters this fall as a constitutional amendment.
In addition, HJR 203 would prevent cities and counties from reducing how much they spend on police and fire services. As property tax revenue dropped and then ended, first-responder spending would have to remain at 2025-26 or 2026-27 levels, whichever is higher.
During last week’s Ways and Means Committee hearing, no one spoke in favor of the proposal. Opponents noted that none of the House’s property tax proposals has received a thorough analysis of all possible consequences. To name a few:
Cities have options to make up the money. They could increase or create fire-rescue fees, like the one Boca Raton assesses but Delray Beach does not. They could raise utility taxes and various fees.
But the Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District, which levies a tax throughout the city and in West Boca to the Florida Turnpike, would have no such options. The agency might have to drastically increase what it charges Florida Atlantic University and recreation leagues for field rentals or how much it charges the city for field maintenance.
And what about the South Florida Water Management District and Lake Worth Drainage District? They provide the flood control that makes South Florida possible. They also are heavily dependent on property tax revenue.
Finally, this proposal simply could shift the property tax burden to owners of commercial property. They would pass that on to tenants.
It’s hard to tell where the Legislature will wind up. There are no Senate companion bills to any of the House proposals. Gov. Ron DeSantis wants to cut property taxes but has criticized the House approach.
I’ll have more as the regular session progresses toward a scheduled March 13 adjournment.
Boca and Delray set records for high school graduation rates
High school graduation rates in Boca Raton and Delray Beach exceeded those of the state and Palm Beach County—both of which set records.
Statewide, 92.2% of students graduated last year. The countywide rate was 93.5%—second among Florida’s large counties. Only Orange County was higher.
Olympic Heights High had the highest local rate—99.8%. Just behind were West Boca (99.7%) and Spanish River (99.2%). Atlantic High School in Delray Beach did better than Boca Raton High—97.3% percent to 96.8%. That may hearten Delray Beach city commissioners who have worried about the performance of Delray Beach schools.
Notably, the graduation rate for district-operated schools in the county was 96.7%. Charter schools had a graduation rate of 71.6%.
Fundraising for vacant Delray Beach City Commission seat
Andrea Keiser is largely self-funding her Delray Beach City Commission race.
Keiser, a land-use lawyer who is part of the family that founded Keiser University, donated $102,000 toward her campaign for the Seat 2 vacancy. Three other family members each contributed $1,000 toward Keiser’s total of $123,000 through Dec. 31.
Judy Mollica raised $13,000 in the final three months of 2025, bringing her total to nearly $60,000. Mollica has a background similar to many past candidates. She serves on the Planning and Zoning Board and is president of the civic group Friends of Delray. Among her contributions is $200 from Seat 2 Commissioner Angela Burns.
Delores Rangel, the third candidate, has raised just $1,775. She got $250 from Janet Meeks and $250 from former Mayor Cary Glickstein. Rangel worked for many years in the city manager’s office.
The election is March 10.
Clarification
I recently wrote that Boca Raton City Councilwoman Yvette Drucker had donated $42,000 to her campaign for county clerk and comptroller. That money came from Drucker’s state Senate campaign, which she ended last year. Candidates may transfer funds from one race to another.
In May 2024, Drucker announced that she would run to succeed fellow Democrat Lori Berman, who is term-limited this year. Drucker switched races last year after then-Clerk Joe Abruzzo—also a Democrat—was named county administrator. According to state records, Drucker had donated $25,000 of personal money to her Senate campaign.
No house arrest modifications for developer accused of child pornography possession
Palm Beach County Circuit Court Judge Cymonie Rowe took no action last week on Scott Porten’s request to modify the terms of his house arrest.
Porten, a Delray Beach businessman and community activist, faces 11 counts of possessing child pornography. He wants permission to use electronic devices for conducting business transactions. A status check is scheduled for March 17.
Meanwhile, a judge allowed Boca Raton restaurateur Louie Bossi to have contact with his wife “only by electronic means and telephone and only for work purposes.” Bossi is accused of misdemeanor domestic abuse.
