Riviera Beach debate over new police headquarters centers on Barracuda Bay agreement and possible $1.5M buyout

City Manager Jonathan Evans and capital projects staff described a City Hall campus plan that would include a new police headquarters on the Barracuda Bay site, and they told council members the Barracuda Bay interlocal agreement with Palm Beach County contains bond proceeds of about $1.5 million that the county says would be repayable if the city exits the agreement.

Evans told the council county staff had described two possible pathways staff had seen with other municipalities: (1) pay the full bond amount (county staff said $1.5 million) to terminate or exit the Barracuda Bay agreement, or (2) obtain a county‑approved arrangement in which the county holds the agreement in abeyance while the city constructs a new pool, after which the remaining term would be tacked onto the new facility’s operating term. The city manager said staff had discussed both approaches with county staff and with Commissioner Powell and that Commissioner Powell asked for a community meeting to hear residents’ views.

Capital Projects Administrator Terrence Bailey presented site plan images and the history of the Barracuda Bay discussion (including earlier council resolutions cited as Resolution 55‑23 and Resolution 56). Evans told the council staff planned to return the item for formal consideration on September 17 and that, in parallel, staff would work to schedule a community meeting with Commissioner Powell.

Council responses were mixed in the discussion recorded on the transcript. Some members urged caution and said the city should resolve the county agreement before moving forward, noting the city’s large utility commitments and other capital priorities. Other members said the Barracuda Bay site provides an affordable site for a new police headquarters and that moving ahead would avoid acquiring much more expensive land elsewhere.

Staff and several council members discussed mitigation options: negotiate a prorated or developer‑funded buyout (staff said county staff described prior examples in which a municipality or developer paid the full amount), construct a temporary pool to maintain aquatic services during transition, or pursue the abeyance approach and design a new pool to be built within a county‑approved timeframe. County staff had told the city that in past cases the county required repayment of the bond proceeds rather than a prorated credit, but staff said the county had at times allowed abeyance arrangements.

Why it matters: The decision affects the siting and timing of the new police headquarters, the City Hall campus financing strategy, aquatic services for residents and the city’s near‑term capital cash needs. Evans said the item would return for council action on September 17.

Provenance: Topic introduction excerpt: "To brief the board with regards to the conversation we've had with the county. We have had conversations with county staff, and we've had, conversations with, commissioner Powell as well." (transcript timestamp ~4767)

Topic finish excerpt: "We look to bring this item to you all for consideration at your September 17 meeting." (transcript timestamp ~5246)