Boca Raton council sends citizen measures to Jan. 13 special election after weeks of debate

The Boca Raton City Council voted unanimously Oct. 28 to send two citizen-initiated measures to city voters in a special election on Jan. 13, 2026, setting up a direct public decision on whether the city may lease or sell public land larger than one-half acre without voter approval.

Council members adopted Resolution 159‑2025, which refers a proposed ordinance to the ballot, and Resolution 160‑2025, which refers an identical charter amendment, after a round of public comment that included both supporters and opponents of the downtown campus proposal. Council member Wigter moved to adopt Resolution 159 with the amended date of Jan. 13; the motion was seconded and the resolution passed 5-0. The council later approved the charter measure by the same margin.

Why it matters: The petitions were filed by residents who said they want stronger protections for Memorial Park and other public lands after a high‑profile public‑private partnership proposal—known publicly as “1 Boca”—advanced through staff review and developer presentations. If voters approve either measure, it would constrain the council’s authority to lease, sell or otherwise alienate city land above the threshold in the measure.

What council said: Mayor Singer said the vote to place the measures on the ballot honors the people’s right to decide. "The residents are our bosses," Singer said during deliberations, adding the council will continue to evaluate project details as staff provides more financial analysis. City Attorney Koehler explained the charter gives the electorate a direct role and that the council has flexibility to allow the measures to go to voters.

What residents told the council: Public commenters were sharply split. Supporters of the revised proposal urged action to modernize downtown, create jobs and fund park improvements. Opponents, including organizers of the Save Boca campaign, said they fear loss of public land, insufficient independent financial and environmental analysis and potential long‑term costs to taxpayers.

What happens next: The city will place both questions on the Jan. 13, 2026 special election ballot as adopted. Separate litigation and legal questions raised by residents also continue: one commenter, Dr. Lorraine Blank, said she had filed a lawsuit challenging the project’s environmental and cost‑effectiveness review; the first court hearing was scheduled for Dec. 12, according to her remarks.

Procedure and caveats: Council members said they plan to continue gathering and releasing more detailed financial and fiscal analyses before any final development agreement is executed. The Jan. 13 vote will be a direct up‑or‑down vote on the citizen measures the council referred.