[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6081835,"mediaKeyId","2941376-134eede5388615e6b5c27fd9bce85265","parentId",2941376,"title","Delray Beach faces police departures; commission briefed on pay offer and next steps in negotiations","audioSeconds",1700,"startMs",4020000,"endMs",5720000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2941376-134eede5388615e6b5c27fd9bce85265&start=4020&end=5720","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2941376-134eede5388615e6b5c27fd9bce85265/thumbnail_4020000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6081835/Delray-Beach/Palm-Beach-County/Florida/Delray-Beach-faces-police-departures-commission-briefed-on-pay-offer-and-next-steps-in-negotiations","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6081835-ed9c0751cb3841b3b2ff9c9fe5cf2e6c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770417688&Signature=mDCxUfj6IYAN6oYYac3Jb0ZMnq7uFF0SgNWaB8d0C6o6ibdmZfKxqK~bbf9ItSK-aB30aLhe4nGxmDwh-SSkfNu~vnI75W86vIn~1w-sHn~2IVSLBjslYrb44ONJgEmlFIvsgy~LZj7Yk3ahJ1qr9rswZxdDrKvjjE0SmLgr4jH-YUMZPJpkweDRx9a6sskXrUI0ffc-XjvZSMAP-C4whxJUJKJm41VWXdUC0LP76BVlwWPm2y096~lS6HGnL7Tny0a6-iFYX41pqrxsPr7BSdeKf5LMGFtN~VcT1u~2Gc3PixzdrSTsAsoLa2UFs7UrfLlW93AkVQglVABIQcmbWg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Delray Beach, FL","date","2025-04-10T07:54:16.887Z","article","Public concern about police staffing was a recurring theme at the meeting, and several residents and former law-enforcement officers urged the commission to resolve pay and retention issues quickly.

Multiple public speakers described a recent wave of resignations and urged higher pay and better benefits to retain officers. City staff briefed the commission that bargaining continued: the commission-directed pay plan reallocated dollars to increase starting salaries substantially, with higher pay steps in years one through three. Staff said a starting salary proposal would be in the low-to-mid $70,000 range (higher with a bachelor’s degree), progressing to about $82,000–$86,000 by year three, and that the union’s prior proposal for starting pay was materially lower.

The union made a counter proposal on pensions; staff said they need an actuary and pension counsel to analyze that counter before any final action. The city and union are scheduled to appear before a special magistrate May 16, 2025, and the city proposed the parties might also come before the commission rather than pursue that forum.

Chiefs and commenters described stress on the department from recent retirements and departures. Commissioners asked staff to provide actuarial analysis and confirmed the city’s next bargaining steps.

Ending: The commission directed staff to continue negotiations, obtain actuarial and pension-counsel analysis of the union’s pension counterproposal, and appear before the special magistrate on May 16 if necessary.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Commission Meeting 04-08-2025 5:00 PM","oneSentenceSummary","Multiple public speakers and commissioners pressed the city to address police retention after a recent wave of resignations; city staff said a new pay plan would raise starting salaries significantly while pension counterproposals require actuarial review.","taxTitle","Delray Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida","taxId",5598,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6081840,"Public Arts Advisory Board seeks $14,000 pilot to wrap downtown utility boxes",567,1938000,2505000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2941376-134eede5388615e6b5c27fd9bce85265&start=1938&end=2505","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2941376-134eede5388615e6b5c27fd9bce85265/thumbnail_1938000.jpg","/articles/6081840/Delray-Beach/Palm-Beach-County/Florida/Public-Arts-Advisory-Board-seeks-14000-pilot-to-wrap-downtown-utility-boxes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6081840-05197eb6c482cb2ab7c04d98602e6b43/orig.mp4?Expires=1770417688&Signature=o0DCiizdQUE66OaYAW12ZM65MfeAmhPYiOfMKl2Fl5jrzDd2JyN6L5TqIVA~qcLoINdDkT4Fqc0aFB~1gLaMus8q0Aqv0gJq6EchYFlnvrdbv0jVozXQjudQZizAnkK81x-RI2LhIlJCnooj-2MWPnH8CFu0lXlsrEKB8QmfdMnhzK8MzLiWHaNE7VMy-aPOlO4re206k8qENQwiMks6cPmUAm6E7myUHIi7tZcaJuss1vKbRytLy8oOBFmm-jGI4Ky374HuzPhSu4~UuNcR856FzejlYdbo5a0tWkWAqmFBu-gFYIv8pYbt61R~HY~sTaDHkgG6L-gs1D6kOQso6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Delray Beach Public Arts Advisory Board asked the city commission to authorize a $14,000 pilot to wrap four visible downtown utility and electrical boxes with artwork designed by local artists.

Bob Costello of the Public Arts Advisory Board presented photos of target boxes on Atlantic Avenue and nearby public spaces and said the board had checked neighboring cities’ programs. He said the $14,000 estimate covered four boxes at roughly $3,000–$3,500 each and that the public-arts trust fund has about $23,000 available (less an outstanding contract). Costello noted that some boxes are owned by Florida Power & Light (FPL), which enforces strict standards and can paint or wrap boxes for a fee; the board proposed to avoid FPL-owned boxes in the pilot to preserve local artistic control.

Commissioners and staff discussed vandalism risk and ownership. An FPL representative earlier told the board that wrapped boxes attract less graffiti, Costello said; the board also suggested ordering a spare wrap to replace a damaged one. Public Works and the parks staff had been consulted and raised no objections. Commissioner Long characterized the proposal as consistent with Delray’s downtown branding; commissioners endorsed a proof-of-concept pilot and asked the city manager’s office to proceed with implementation and a call to local artists.

Ending: The commission gave consensus to proceed; staff will coordinate procurement, ownership checks, and a call for artists and use public arts trust fund dollars to cover the pilot.","The board recommended a pilot to wrap four downtown utility/traffic boxes with local-artist designs, funded from the public arts trust fund; commissioners gave consensus to proceed and asked staff to coordinate with Palm Beach County and utilities about ownership and rules.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6081845,"Delray Beach launches small-business outreach effort; city defines target as firms under 10 employees",593,2503000,3096000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2941376-134eede5388615e6b5c27fd9bce85265&start=2503&end=3096","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2941376-134eede5388615e6b5c27fd9bce85265/thumbnail_2503000.jpg","/articles/6081845/Delray-Beach/Palm-Beach-County/Florida/Delray-Beach-launches-small-business-outreach-effort-city-defines-target-as-firms-under-10-employees","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6081845-7b0d332dfd160bc9024a855df1f04127/orig.mp4?Expires=1770417688&Signature=BE1BIRiV7Cu0d-dWraKNNgHfGusXBSMrnBI85bomamz2zFFV5Ao2b1qGjVCIg~wGcn7m5lokwHby3zt5CPpyET501aKE3Ovm~qKesFbIRPMM0AgYULNwvjO4o1NZm2EdstuQMkdpyOTZ~Wbeg1yNozyLt1XwLb08UbwANFgQdEDO1DLc0zrbXi1qwCIlTtokLCsru3x4h8-8UATt~JPDvdr53BlXrj44FSUemc8-arylEhi3XTYKQOVc55AGE5W25RGMDzKUhEh2RsHFR5lNXeu8nvDE4jXiRElTU6rrVvomShk5RqUd-6d1xYgDErnW2ttZX2GXj-tf4EYBb56HiQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Delray Beach staff told commissioners they will begin a targeted outreach program aimed at businesses with roughly 10 or fewer employees, including a seminar series, a small-business expo in May and procurement adjustments intended to make informal quotes and low-dollar contracts more accessible to local firms.

Economic Development Manager Rob Evans and Purchasing Manager Eugene Bittaker presented the plan, which the city described as two-pronged: increase opportunities for Delray-based small businesses to contract with the city, and provide help for local firms to grow and thrive. Staff proposed using the city’s e-procurement portal to flag opportunities and expanding informal-quote outreach. The target definition — businesses with fewer than 10 employees — is a starting point staff said could be adjusted by procurement type.

Staff said the city does not currently maintain a complete list of local small-business contract winners; the presentation said the finance and procurement systems will be adjusted to collect better vendor-level data. Staff also proposed a seminar series in partnership with the chamber, the DDA, CRA and SCORE and the Small Business Development Center to teach owners about licensing, insurance, bookkeeping and how to do business with the city. A signature Small Business Expo is planned for May to connect vendors directly with department buyers.

Commissioners welcomed the outreach and urged staff to market beyond established business groups so that firms unaffiliated with the chamber or DDA also learn about opportunities. Staff said many activities will require little or no new budget, with the expo as the primary line-item cost.

Ending: Staff will move forward with outreach, run the Small Business Expo in May, and return with procurement-data improvements and a marketing plan to reach unaffiliated microbusinesses.","City economic development staff outlined a multi-pronged program — outreach, seminars, a Small Business Expo and procurement reforms — intended to increase opportunities for local microbusinesses to win city work and grow.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6081850,"Delray Beach commissioners debate role and funding of Bridal Festival amid lobbyist concern",3912,488000,4400000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2941376-134eede5388615e6b5c27fd9bce85265&start=488&end=4400","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2941376-134eede5388615e6b5c27fd9bce85265/thumbnail_488000.jpg","/articles/6081850/Delray-Beach/Palm-Beach-County/Florida/Delray-Beach-commissioners-debate-role-and-funding-of-Bridal-Festival-amid-lobbyist-concern","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6081850-b964a97d022cd17d21c020d54e9b590d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770417688&Signature=K~5ygxCiW0FcyTuCS-4Makp48QQyO7yY1mjx3O5oChk8Vf-H5dQk0AfuAQieSet92YToStt3zinE2X1T5yfaToBi6cRUjSAGV8yJs2C2eGpEY0yjE4XKZUm2MsSJ4V3dTaeczFfYuNNUiHnS9mMzxRgL4dcDVX~FLPIMjfZMuNRMiEvRgMOVaFfIvwz2bTI~vBrTJofrZ32EPNd-9PeQpTbNICpjS5~LKV6whgfnTSG87KArrVap-0y7N8oEf27StfUei0BJm9OxzxGh5tFrgfmN-v8-HdFNyAR17JTcEP4hiJ1KtHvR-5M9tik8CXZtquQy2V7~W-Yexxork5i3-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Delray Beach commissioners spent a sizeable portion of their April meeting debating whether the city should continue modest city funding for the Bridal Festival after a commissioner reported advice from the city’s Tallahassee lobbyist that supporting the event could be risky for state appropriations.

The discussion came after a motion to move the item from the consent agenda so it could be discussed. Several commissioners said they supported the festival and Delray’s longstanding practice of funding community events, but they also said they wanted more information about the potential consequences for the city’s state grant requests.

City Manager Moore told the commission the office would contact the city’s lobbyist, Matt Forrest, and bring back written guidance for the April 22 meeting. Officials said staff will also fold event funding and sponsorship alternatives into the fiscal year 2025–26 budget discussions so the commission can weigh economic impact, private-sponsorship options and any collateral risks before changing longstanding support.

Multiple commissioners and public speakers framed the issue as balancing civic inclusion against fiscal prudence. One commissioner said his contact with the lobbyist had been blunt—\"don't do it\"—and asked staff to confirm in writing whether that advice applied to Delray’s modest $15,000 request. Other commissioners and public commenters said removing the festival would send a harmful message to LGBTQ+ residents and could amount to singling out one event. Several commissioners urged a careful, citywide review of all special-event funding rather than immediate cancellation of any single event.

Mayor Thomas F. Carney Jr. and City Manager Moore confirmed the next steps: staff will seek written guidance from the lobbyist, report back to the commission April 22, and include benchmarking of other municipalities and an economic-impact review as part of the budget process.

The commission did not cancel the festival at the meeting; instead it directed the city manager to gather information and return with options and documentation.

Ending: Commissioners agreed to keep the event under consideration and to pursue an evidence-based approach. Staff will present lobbyist guidance, comparative municipal practices and budget options in the coming weeks so the commission can make a policy decision before altering long-standing event commitments.","Commissioners discussed whether city sponsorship of the Bridal Festival (a Pride-related event) could jeopardize state funding, directing staff to get written guidance from the city’s lobbyist and to include special-events funding and sponsorship options in the upcoming budget process.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6081832,"Votes at a glance: Delray Beach commission actions and first readings, April 2025 meeting",5682,928000,6610000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2941376-134eede5388615e6b5c27fd9bce85265&start=928&end=6610","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2941376-134eede5388615e6b5c27fd9bce85265/thumbnail_928000.jpg","/articles/6081832/Delray-Beach/Palm-Beach-County/Florida/Votes-at-a-glance-Delray-Beach-commission-actions-and-first-readings-April-2025-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6081832-202067226a9a15eed69e6ccddf5454e7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770417688&Signature=YSNmukSustioPLTUihka~4zE1Ka5Yb5T~hZc4dsY~-83-Me35RkkIdz9wzxYcrbwaLdnYAbkaIHqgMlkGOc-YAx5KzdQ5ZuOPIgzB6vmaCHEKIUw9f6GHRcffquQHygjpY-cJtJxShlBCr8jI1d6efxDMKXc9P6BsBJ0mowpDl9mpPltD6KgyRv4xQnDgfDwUrUlgF6o5adT1p0-or7-10jO1QJ6NjU3AK8k2~UuJ0c9k1v5sD9VvgevWgItqjSrqbNVKcEi3VNT-u8WlIBnf5IeMXj0WKqc9votsQ2-2h0SD7GYbvZnWfkj9AADzIr1RPfOABgThmdS3vzlyY8gDA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Delray Beach City Commission took a series of formal actions at its April meeting. Several matters were routine or first readings; this roundup lists each formal action and the outcome recorded on the meeting record.

Key votes and procedural actions

- Agenda as amended: Motion to approve the agenda as amended carried by voice vote (all in favor; no recorded opposed votes).

- Consent agenda: Approved by voice vote following public comment.

- Resolution 65-25 (Final plat for 1201 George Bush Boulevard): Commission approved the final plat (three townhomes) after staff confirmed administrative site-plan approvals and demolition completion requirements. Passed by voice vote.

- Item 7B (Fifth Avenue townhomes; final plat, landscape and pedestrian easement agreements): Motion to approve 7B1 and 7B2 passed by voice vote (commission consensus to proceed). Agreements tied to the project were approved.

- Ordinances (first readings and public hearings scheduled where applicable):
- 9A–9D: Comprehensive plan amendment and two companion land-use/zoning ordinances for 975 S. Congress Avenue (small-scale land-use amendment and rezoning). Commission approved to proceed and set for further reading as required. Passed on first reading.
- 9E: Text amendment modifying where overhead doors are allowed in MIC/LI/industrial districts. First reading approved.
- Ordinance 15-25: First reading — water and wholesale sewer rate increases (amend Chapter 52 and 53). Approved on first reading.
- Ordinance 14-25: First reading — stormwater-management assessment definitions and rates, including condominium/common-element clarifications. Approved on first reading.

- Resolution supporting statewide hands-free driving legislation (Resolution 76-25): Read into the record and approved on the consent agenda (voice vote).

Procedural notes

- Where the meeting record shows \"All in favor? Aye. Any opposed?\" votes were taken by voice and recorded as passed; the transcript does not list individual roll-call tallies for each item.

Ending: Several items were final actions (plats and agreements). Major code and rate changes advanced on first reading and will return for additional readings or effective dates as required by ordinance procedures.","Summary of the meeting's formal actions: plat approvals, multiple first-reading ordinances, rate ordinances on water/sewer/stormwater, and routine agenda approvals. Where roll-call tallies were not read, items passed by voice vote or consensus as noted.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Delray Beach faces police departures; commission briefed on pay offer and next steps in negotiations

Public Arts Advisory Board seeks $14,000 pilot to wrap downtown utility boxes

Delray Beach launches small-business outreach effort; city defines target as firms under 10 employees

Delray Beach commissioners debate role and funding of Bridal Festival amid lobbyist concern

Votes at a glance: Delray Beach commission actions and first readings, April 2025 meeting