Boca Raton CRA votes 5–0 to reimburse city $100,000 for downtown campus planning; budget workshop highlights TIF, homelessness and downtown pilots

The Boca Raton Community Redevelopment Agency voted unanimously to reimburse the city $100,000 for planning services tied to the downtown campus master plan and discussed the CRA’s fiscal year 2025–26 budget and priorities, including transit‑oriented community projects, Meisner Park improvements and pedestrian connectivity work.

The board approved Resolution “20 20 five‑six CRA” (as read into the record) after a brief public hearing. Mr. Daley read the resolution title, which authorizes use of CRA funds to reimburse the city for planning services included in agreement number 20 25 4 37. Mr. Daley called the roll and the motion passed 5–0.

Supporters and critics spoke at the public hearing. Bob Tucker urged the board to back the downtown campus upgrade as essential to Boca Raton’s future. Jonathan Ungehan criticized the reclassification of growth rules into transit‑oriented development (TOD) and questioned the role and selection of outside consultants, suggesting there had been litigation involving a named consultant; Mr. Ungehan’s remarks were not substantiated in the hearing record.

City staff clarified the substance of the reimbursement: the item reimburses the city for an existing LDR (land‑development regulations) contract for the campus master plan that was approved in June 2025. Ms. Seeta of Development Services said the contract is for the campus master plan LDR work and the reimbursement covers that approved agreement.

Budget presentation: Steven Timberlake, Special Projects Manager for the CRA, presented accomplishments from 2024–25 and an overview of the proposed 2025–26 budget. Timberlake said the downtown has about 941,000 square feet of office equivalents required for approval and 845,549 square feet approved but not yet built, which Timberlake said comprised about 631 residential units and 308 hotel rooms as of year end. He reported a taxable base figure of roughly $3.1 billion and said the tax increment for budget purposes equates to roughly $26.7 million; the CRA will carry forward an approximately $39 million fund balance for specific projects.

Timberlake outlined capital priorities that include a downtown transit‑oriented community redevelopment effort, Meisner Park improvements and a downtown Palmetto Park road connectivity project, as well as continued downtown lighting, walkability improvements and parking analysis. Staff said certain projects and staff positions (for example, half of a customer service representative for parking and an additional CRA police officer) are included in the proposed carryover and will be brought back for formal budget approval at two upcoming meetings.

The board asked several questions about program timing and scope. Ms. Novos asked about the Palmetto Park connectivity study schedule and was told the Jeff Speck planning work is penciled in for January; Timberlake said he would confirm details at the next meeting. Members also asked how long CRA funds are available; staff explained that CRA tax‑increment financing (TIF) funds are CRA funds that must be used in a fiscal year unless held for specific projects and that the CRA’s current expiration is 2042. Staff said that in the final year, tax increment will flow back to original taxing jurisdictions and that the city’s retained share is roughly $0.4 on the dollar (approximate figure as reported).

The board and staff also discussed homelessness outreach. City staff and the county HOT (Homeless Outreach Team) representative described existing regional outreach arrangements and warned that localized, stand‑alone services can attract higher concentrations of people downtown. Commissioners emphasized the need for a larger workshop and interjurisdictional planning rather than unilateral decisions.

The meeting closed with the chair reiterating the CRA’s mission to invest TIF funds in downtown infrastructure before franchise or statutory changes occur; the board adjourned at 2:03 p.m. and reconvened immediately for a scheduled workshop.

What’s next: Staff will return with the full proposed budget for formal approval at two future meetings and will follow up on timing for the Palmetto Park work and additional clarifications about staffing and project carryovers.