CRA discusses downtown upgrades, camera study and amphitheater evaluation

City staff told the Boca Raton Community Redevelopment Agency on Jan. 27 that a string of downtown capital improvements is underway, including water‑bottle‑filling stations, paver repairs and landscaping, and that staff is researching security-camera options for public open areas.

Ruby Riley, downtown manager, said the first potable water‑bottle filling station with a dog fountain will be installed at the north end of Meisner Park once a plumber completes the potable water line, with completion expected in February; two other stations are planned (one just south of the main decorative fountain and one at the south end) with more extensive utility work scheduled to begin in late March and an anticipated completion prior to the holidays in November. Riley also said paver repairs are ongoing in downtown zones 5, 7 and 8, Centennial‑branded pavement markers and banners will be installed in February, and recycling bins for Sanborn Square are expected to be delivered and installed in mid‑February.

Riley said there are currently no security cameras in the POA (public open area) and staff is coordinating with city IT and municipal recreation to study camera options; installation will require fiber, power and a site walkthrough scheduled in February. She reported vandalism to Downtown Boca branded elements during the holidays and said the team is pursuing permanent signage and more regular maintenance while working with police and code enforcement to monitor incidents.

The board spent notable time discussing the amphitheater. City staff (Mr. Brown) recommended conducting an analysis and issuing an RFP for a theater consultant or an architect/planner with amphitheater experience before committing capital dollars. “Should we have a roof? Should we have a retractable roof that covers part but can retract so we have an open lawn?” Mr. Brown asked as examples of questions the evaluation would address. Board members expressed support for exploring modest, right‑sized improvements and emphasized doing the analysis ahead of budget season; one member noted annual roof expenses of roughly $400,000 and said that a multi‑million‑dollar redo would be larger than desired, favoring a targeted plan.

Members also praised recent downtown programming, including BocaFest, and asked staff to report back on Boca Connect usage and logistics (staff said a Boca Connect update will be provided in February). Several members urged the CRA to consider a longer strategic vision for the remaining term of the CRA rather than one‑off projects.

Next steps recorded in the meeting: staff will follow up with Brookfield on maintenance responsibilities (no new update since the holidays was reported), staff will schedule the camera‑connectivity walkthrough in February, and staff will prepare an evaluation/RFP approach for amphitheater improvements prior to the budgeting process.