Boca Raton adopts 2025 downtown special assessment; residents raise parking and valuation concerns

The Boca Raton City Council voted unanimously on Sept. 9 to adopt Resolution 85-2024, equalizing and approving the 2025 Downtown Special Assessment that funds debt service and administrative costs for special assessment revenue bonds.

Steven Timberlake, special projects manager in the financial services department, told the council the 2025 assessment rate is 0.00106, an 8.3% reduction from the 2024 rate, calculated using the certified 2023 Palm Beach County tax roll. "The 2025 special assessment is calculated based on the latest certified tax roll," Timberlake said, and the roll lists market value, the special benefit and the installment amount due for each property on or before Jan. 1, 2025.

The presentation noted no written objections were received this year. Timberlake recommended the council approve the resolution "as it stands, equalizing and adopting the special assessment rates for downtown for 2025."

During public comment, longtime resident Eddie Weinstein urged the city to address downtown parking and pedestrian comfort. "One of the biggest problems we have in the city is parking," Weinstein said, adding that some new condominium developments provide what he called an insufficient number of on-site parking spaces and that side streets are underused despite available spaces. He also pushed for shade trees and better-marked crosswalks so people will walk downtown instead of driving.

Another resident, Jonathan Ungeen, questioned the market values used in the assessment roll and said some large multifamily rental properties may not reflect fair market valuations. "I think that some of these numbers that are going into this assessment are inaccurate," Ungeen said, urging the city to review valuations that affect proportional tax and assessment burdens.

City staff responded that the downtown special assessment dates to the Visions 90 infrastructure program in the early 1990s, which financed drainage, streetscape and the creation of Mizner Boulevard. Mr. Brown explained the current payments are for bonds issued at that time and that the final bond payment is scheduled for June 2030. He told residents that shade-tree plantings, crosswalk improvements and a review of the parking system are on the city's mobility and connectivity work plan.

After brief council questions and no additional formal objections, Miss Nagle moved to adopt Resolution 85-2024 and Mr. Wigner seconded. The clerk called the roll; Deputy Mayor Drucker, Council member Nachlis, Council member Thompson, Council member Wictor and Mayor Singer each voted yes and the motion passed 5-0.

The public hearing closed and the council adjourned at 2:26 p.m. The resolution establishes the assessment rate and directs recording of assessments, lien priority and payment terms; staff indicated the total assessment amount will not change although the pro rata share per parcel may be adjusted through the equalization process.