Delray Beach DDA approves audit, opposes state CRA bill and urges city to rethink Swinton–Atlantic redesign

The Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority on March 10 accepted a clean audit for the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2024, voted to oppose state legislation that would curtail community redevelopment authorities, and asked staff to send a formal recommendation to the city on a proposed redesign of the Atlantic Avenue–Swinton Avenue intersection.

The audit, presented by Scott Montgomery, the DDA's outside auditor, carried an unqualified opinion. Montgomery said the financial statements “present fairly, in all material respects,” the authority’s financial position and that auditors found no material weaknesses in internal control. The board moved and unanimously approved acceptance of the audited financial statements.

The vote on a state bill targeting CRAs — referenced in the meeting as Senate Bill 1242 and related House proposals — was more contentious. Chamber and business leaders had warned the board earlier about proposed legislation that would restrict CRA activity. After brief discussion the DDA voted to join the city and the CRA in opposing the measure; the motion passed 5–1. The board instructed staff to coordinate with the city and CRA leadership on a single, joint letter describing local impacts.

Public comment on traffic planning dominated the meeting. Several residents and neighborhood groups urged the DDA to press the city to preserve the existing right‑turn lane from Atlantic Avenue onto southbound Swinton Avenue, saying its removal would push traffic into small residential streets. “When you remove the lanes from a main thoroughfare, you eliminate the ease of traffic flow,” said Claire Feldman, president of the Koda Homeowners Association, after describing a traffic backup she witnessed. Townhouse resident Kiara Bosses and condo association representative Bruce Leach raised similar safety and circulation concerns; Leach urged redesign options that avoid diverting through‑traffic onto Southeast First and Second avenues and that respect nearby site geometry for the Sunday Village development.

Laura (DDA staff) said the city sought the DDA’s formal opinion and offered to consolidate feedback from the February 19 workshop and the March 10 meeting into a memo to the city. The board directed staff to prepare a concise letter that: (1) urges the city to preserve the right‑turn lane where feasible for safety and traffic flow, (2) requests clearer traffic‑study data and a neighborhood outreach summary, and (3) asks the city to coordinate design changes with nearby projects such as Sunday Village.

Parking and wayfinding were another major topic. Joe Jozeman, chief parking facility administrator for the city, reported that newly installed parking sensors and the mobile app are being calibrated daily and asked the DDA to request monthly utilization reports. He said sensor miscounts have occurred after garage power outages and that the city is exploring backup power and calibration fixes. Board members discussed directing visitors to underused garages and testing time‑based pricing or employee permit programs for lots that now function primarily as employee parking.

On public art, Bob Costello — representing the Public Art Advisory Board — described a ready plan to wrap or paint utility boxes downtown. Cost estimates vary by owner: County traffic boxes will accept artist calls for entry; Florida Power & Light allows vendor wraps (FPL quoted about $3,000 per wrapped box). Costello said an initial program of roughly six boxes would cost about $14,000 and that $10,000-plus remains in the public arts trust; the advisory board plans an April presentation to the city commission.

The DDA also reviewed ongoing Pineapple Grove art maintenance and Old School Square activity. Staff reported repairs to public pieces in Pineapple Grove and said Maruska and museum staff have staged a major icons exhibition that drew strong attendance and about $14,000 in art sales at opening events. Old School Square confirmed plans for a summer rebrand and a late‑summer rollout tied to a new “pop culture” concert on July 5.

Formal actions recorded at the meeting included the board’s acceptance of the audited financial statements and the vote to oppose state legislation limiting CRAs. Board members also agreed to make parking updates a recurring agenda item and asked staff to provide the DDA with the city’s draft traffic study and outreach documentation for the Atlantic–Swinton project.

The meeting closed after routine board reports and announcements.