Boca Raton council sets schedule to evaluate public‑private proposals for government campus

Mayor Singer presided over a special Boca Raton City Council meeting on Jan. 7 where the council refined a schedule to review unsolicited public‑private partnership proposals for the planned government campus and directed staff to begin drafting an interim agreement.

The mayor said the city received two unsolicited proposals and that Jan. 9 is the submission deadline. He described a process for reviewing proposals, inviting public input and negotiating an interim agreement that would allow a lead proposer to begin work while final terms are developed. "We received 2 unsolicited proposals and then set us on the stage where we are now in the process of accepting other interested proposals," Mayor Singer said.

CBRE consultant Mike McShay told the council an interim agreement could be prepared in "1 to 2 months" and that CBRE will provide staff support to develop a template and begin negotiations immediately. "The interim agreement can be done in 1 to 2 months, and we are making ourselves completely available," McShay said.

Council members debated the pacing and timing of public engagement. Deputy Mayor Drucker and several colleagues said the original schedule was aggressive and urged additional opportunities for public review before ranking. Some members suggested an open house for community review either before ranking or as part of presentations; others said the public presentation of proposers in February could serve as an open‑house forum.

The council discussed program expectations for the campus, including a new city hall, a community center, relocated police facilities, parks and potential residential and commercial uses. Council members emphasized proposers should submit financial models, phased plans and explanations of how the development would connect to surrounding neighborhoods and preserve public open space. One council member noted proposals in circulation ranged from about 75,000 to 162,000 square feet for certain municipal space assumptions and urged staff to provide a refined space‑needs figure before presentations.

Residents raised concerns during a public‑comment period. Lorraine Blank, who lives four blocks from the site, asked the council to slow the process and publish any environmental, social and economic analyses so that neighbors can assess impacts on historic communities. "I really caution you to think as you reach your centennial, what are you doing to your oldest communities," Blank said. Other speakers asked for clarity on how much of the site will be dedicated to public open space, suggested sequencing the new police station build first, and warned about traffic and congestion.

Mayor Singer and staff responded that final plans will be posted online when received and that staff is compiling usage data for recreational fields and exploring relocation options with the Beach and Park District and on city land. City staff and council agreed the police headquarters concept will move to the Spanish River Boulevard site while retaining a downtown substation.

After extended discussion, the council settled on a working schedule: proposers submit by Jan. 9; proposers make presentations later in January/early February; the council will aim to rank proposers on Feb. 11; staff will begin drafting interim agreement materials tied to that ranking; and the council identified a target for more formal interim agreement action in March. The city attorney confirmed the "cone of silence" will prohibit private negotiations after Jan. 9 but allows written communications and public meetings.

The council directed staff and CBRE to finalize a refined square‑footage and space‑needs estimate for City Hall before the presentations, to continue land‑use and overlay planning, and to prepare interim‑agreement templates and related analyses. The meeting adjourned at 7:40 p.m.

Next steps: proposers are expected to submit final materials by Jan. 9; the council expects presentations and public review in February with a targeted Feb. 11 ranking and further interim agreement work through March.