Boca Raton CRA approves $100,000 reimbursement for downtown campus planning; budget highlights TOD, Palmetto Park study

The Boca Raton Community Redevelopment Agency on Aug. 25 approved a resolution authorizing the CRA to reimburse the city $100,000 for planning services related to the downtown government campus, and staff presented the agency's draft fiscal 2025–26 budget emphasizing transit‑oriented development and downtown infrastructure investments.

The vote on the resolution (identified in the meeting record as Resolution 2020Five-six CRA) was 5-0. Chair Wigder, Vice Chair Thompson, Commissioner Drucker, Commissioner Nockel and Commissioner Singer all voted yes. The resolution reimburses the city for work on the campus land development regulations and related TOD LDRs performed under agreement number '2020Five-four37', according to staff presentation.

Why it matters: The reimbursement clears payment for consultant work that feeds into a larger effort to update the downtown plan and to prepare for the expiration of earlier downtown limitations. Agency staff and commissioners said the planning work is intended to help the CRA use tax increment financing to support infrastructure and housing goals before the CRA's authority to collect TIF ends in 2042.

Details of the action and discussion

Mr. Brown introduced the resolution as a reimbursement to the city of $100,000 for the campus LDR and TOD LDR work. After a public hearing in which a downtown supporter and an opponent spoke, the CRA closed the hearing and approved the resolution. The public comments included a three‑minute statement by Bob Tucker, who said he supported the downtown campus upgrade and urged commissioners to "be bold and think big." Jonathan Ungehan spoke during the public hearing expressing opposition to the proposed change in downtown rules and criticizing the use of outside consultants, including naming CBRE and raising concerns about prior litigation related to the Surfside collapse.

CRA staff presentation and budget overview

Stephen Timberlake, special projects manager for the CRA, presented a draft FY2025–26 budget and a summary of accomplishments for FY2024–25. Timberlake cited completed projects including Sanborn Square safety barriers, evaluation and expansion of the Boca Connect shuttle program, and the Palmetto Park road connectivity and mobility study (evaluation phase).

Timberlake told the board the CRA operates through an interlocal agreement with the city and that most CRA staffing is provided through city contracts. He said the CRA's taxable base has a frozen base of $73,800,000 and that the tax increment used for budget purposes reflects a larger current taxable value; staff showed a tax increment figure that equates to roughly $26,700,000 for planning and capital programming, plus approximately $5,000,000 in additional revenues and a $39,000,000 fund balance carryover identified for near‑term projects.

Planned capital programs in the draft budget include the downtown transit‑oriented community (TOD) implementation, Meisner Park improvements, downtown streetscape and lighting upgrades, Palmetto Park connectivity initiatives, a CRA parking analysis, east‑west pedestrian connectivity work, decorative street lights, Sanborn Square renovations and downtown electrical upgrades. Timberlake said the draft budget also includes modest new positions: a half‑time customer service representative for parking, an additional CRA police officer, and a cultural arts administrator.

Commissioners and staff discussed timing and scope. A commissioner asked about the Palmetto Park connectivity work and whether a scheduled appearance by consultant Jeff Speck is planned for January; Timberlake said he would confirm dates. City financial staff (Jim Zervos, CFO and deputy city manager) participated in the budget presentation.

Homeless outreach and regional coordination

The meeting included extended discussion about homelessness and outreach services. Commissioners and staff described existing cooperation with the Palm Beach County Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) and county partners, and cautioned against creating localized services that might simply draw people to downtown. Mr. Brown said the HOT team provides citywide services that include the CRA district and suggested that a regional approach may be preferable to a strictly local program. Commissioner comments emphasized the need for coordinated, multi‑jurisdictional solutions and additional discussion with nonprofits and county partners.

Public comment and planning concerns

During the public hearing, Jonathan Ungehan described the downtown amendments as "the reorganization of the DRI... to call it transit oriented developments to allow for much greater development," and he criticized reliance on outside consultants. Mr. Brown and other commissioners responded that development services staff had been involved in the government campus planning and that the record asserting no staff involvement was incorrect.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution (recorded as Resolution 2020Five-six CRA): Approve reimbursement of $100,000 to the city for campus LDR and TOD LDR work performed under agreement number 2020Five-four37. Motion seconded; roll call vote 5–0; outcome: approved.

What happens next

Staff said the full CRA budget will return to the board in two meetings for approval. Commissioners directed staff to continue planning work on the downtown campus and related TOD items, to confirm consultant schedules (including Palmetto Park work), and to continue coordination with county and regional partners on homelessness outreach and transit planning.

Ending

The meeting adjourned at 2:03 p.m.; the board planned to reconvene for a workshop that same day to continue discussion of downtown planning and related CRA projects.