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Boca Raton CRA officials warn HB 991 could eliminate community redevelopment agencies
Summary
Officials at the Boca Raton Community Redevelopment Agency said March 17 that a fast-tracked Florida bill, HB 991, could eliminate CRAs in coming years and disrupt planned downtown infrastructure projects, and they urged residents and legislators to monitor and respond.
Deputy Mayor Drucker warned March 17 that a Florida bill now moving quickly through Tallahassee, identified in the meeting as HB 991, could eliminate community redevelopment agencies (CRAs) in future years and disrupt Boca Raton’s downtown projects.
The warning came during the regularly scheduled meeting of the Boca Raton Community Redevelopment Agency. ‘‘It’s what’s called fast tracked in Tallahassee,’’ Deputy Mayor Drucker said, urging residents and local officials to contact state representatives and the Florida League of Cities about the bill’s potential effects.
The CRA’s concern, members said, is that language in the bill would remove the ability of CRAs to operate after a specified future date, which could force the acceleration or cancellation of projects now in the agency’s pipeline. ‘‘Because you have one bad apple, please don’t hurt the rest of us,’’ Deputy Mayor Drucker said, referring to misuse of CRA funds in other jurisdictions and arguing that Boca Raton’s CRA has used funds to improve downtown.
Commissioner Winger (referred to in the meeting as Mr. Wigder) said he and colleagues had been in Tallahassee advocating for the city and describing how CRA projects are staged across subareas over many years. He said many downtown infrastructure elements are decades old and that planned work — including replacements of pipes, electrical systems and street resurfacing under the government center — depends on the CRA’s continued authority and funding.
‘‘It could affect how we operate the CRA for the remainder of its life, especially in this critical project that we’re doing,’’ Winger said, noting meetings with state senators, representatives and the city’s lobbyists.
Meeting participants said the Florida League of Cities asked local CRAs to describe how the agencies benefit downtown economic activity; the CRA will continue to track the bill. At the meeting’s close, Chair (title used in the transcript) noted that lobbyists reported the bill has advanced but that ‘‘significant amendments to the bill are anticipated,’’ and that several committee members felt the measure went too far.
No formal action or vote on the city’s position occurred at the March 17 meeting. CRA members said they are monitoring the bill, coordinating with lobbyists and local stakeholders, and will revisit the issue as legislative activity continues.
