Boca Raton council approves CBRE contract to manage public-private partnership proposals

The Boca Raton City Council voted 5-0 on Dec. 16 to approve Resolution No. 146-2024, authorizing an agreement with CBRE Inc. to provide professional services to solicit, evaluate and help negotiate public‑private partnership (P3) proposals related to the city’s governmental master plan.

The vote followed a short discussion in which multiple council members said they had concerns about the contract’s reimbursement and commission provisions but ultimately supported moving forward. Mayor Singer said the agreement is ‘‘not a perfect agreement, but ... net, net, I’m supportive of it and would like to move forward today.’’

Council member Nacklis told colleagues he remained uncomfortable with certain reimbursement and commission terms, particularly as they relate to two unsolicited proposals the city had already received. ‘‘I just wanted to have it stated that I am uncomfortable with ... the commissions for the 2 unsolicited proposals, but still ready to move forward today,’’ Nacklis said. He did not request further delay, and the council proceeded to a vote.

Miss Recker urged clearer communication between staff, the consultant and the council. She said staff had sometimes failed to implement the council’s prior directions and stressed a preference for private partners familiar with Boca Raton. ‘‘If you don’t know who Boca Raton is, we don’t wanna do business with you,’’ Recker said, urging that future outreach favor firms vested in the community.

A city staff member, Mr. Lukasik, offered to answer technical questions but said he had ‘‘not a ton to add’’ beyond responding to council concerns. Council member Wachter described CBRE’s role as twofold — a marketing function to attract potential submitters and a negotiation/consulting function to help the city select and finalize a development partner — and said a commission or success fee component was reasonable for the brokerage aspect. Council member Thompson agreed that CBRE’s value would include identifying the best development partner and negotiating favorable terms.

Miss Sittins called the roll after discussion; Deputy Mayor Drucker, Council members Nacklis, Thompson and Wachter, and Mayor Singer voted yes. The motion passed 5-0.

The resolution authorizes city staff to execute the agreement with CBRE and includes a waiver of procurement procedures as described in the resolution title. Mayor Singer said revised guidelines have been circulated to potential submitters and that responses are due Jan. 9. The council did not receive any public comments on the item during the hearing. The special meeting was adjourned at 1:41 p.m.