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Residents spar over downtown government campus and ‘Save Boca’ referendum; council hears hours of public comment
Summary
Dozens of residents addressed the council about the proposed downtown government campus, ballot language, appraisals and PFM financial analysis; speakers on both sides accused the other of misinformation and undue influence, and the council recorded multiple public‑records and follow‑up requests.
The Boca Raton City Council heard more than two hours of public comment Dec. 16 on the proposed downtown government campus master plan and the associated March 10 referendum, with speakers sharply divided over ballot language, appraisals, financial analysis and perceived developer influence.
Several members of the public urged stronger protections for parkland and a public vote on any sale or long‑term lease of city property. "The Save Boca laws are not unconstitutional," said John Perlman, recounting municipal precedents and court rulings he said support voter approval before long leases or sales of public recreational properties. Other speakers, including groups supportive of the developer‑led partnership, said opponents have relied on misinformation and urged voters to trust the process and the partnership’s proposals.
Concerns frequently cited by commenters included the city’s fiscal analysis, the independent appraisal, the ballot wording and the timing of required traffic and environmental studies. Dr. Lorraine Blank said the city’s cost‑effectiveness analysis (CEA) was not adequate in her view; Michelle Grau and others presented alternative financial calculations that, they said, showed the city receiving less than appraised value under the proposed deal if standard commercial discount rates were applied.
"Using an appropriate discount rate and reverse analysis test demonstrates the city is not being fairly compensated for the 7.8 acres of prime public land," Michelle Grau said during public comment, citing alternative discount‑rate scenarios and arguing the city would receive substantially less than an independent appraisal suggested.
Supporters of the project criticized the petition campaign and called for civility in public debate; Rescue Boca’s representative requested investigations into alleged campaign and petition law violations related to Save Boca. City staff and the city attorney answered procedural questions on sunshine‑law disclosures and said ex parte communications had been disclosed on the record for quasi‑judicial items.
Council members and staff took several follow‑up commitments: staff promised to respond to specific public‑records and technical questions on appraisal comparables and field maintenance; the city attorney explained that the city prepared the ballot language but that the council adopted a modified version after public hearings; and staff committed to post‑hearing follow‑ups on traffic and other technical studies ahead of upcoming planning and zoning and council schedule items.
The meeting produced no immediate council action on the downtown campus matters: council and staff reiterated a schedule that includes planning and zoning review Dec. 18, ordinance introduction Jan. 6 and final council consideration Jan. 20, with the voter referendum on March 10.
