CRA hears Meisner Park maintenance plan, East‑West feasibility RFP and parking‑meter options; Boca Connect praised

City staff and commissioners spent the Sept. 9 meeting reviewing several downtown operational and project updates, including a proposed amendment to the Meisner Park maintenance agreement, an RFP for East‑West pedestrian connectivity, and a discussion about parking‑meter programming.

Mr. Brown said the Meisner Park maintenance amendment would allow enhancements such as fountain resurfacing and rebuilding, retiling, lighting and electrical upgrades to support holiday tree illumination, irrigation upgrades, gazebo restoration, new resilient sod and paver repairs. He said staff has issued a purchase order for lighting and a photo‑op artwork installation at the park’s south end, replaced umbrellas, tables and chairs, and begun a pilot sod replacement.

Brown also reported recurring vandalism to downtown assets — including the large decorative chair — and said staff is considering installing cameras to assist in identifying those responsible. "We continue to have damage to our improvements, vandalism, etcetera," Brown said, noting removal of damaged trees and other repairs underway.

On broader downtown improvements, Brown said Sanborn Square umbrellas have been replaced, historic plaques and busts restored, utility‑box wraps installed at several downtown locations, and staff has issued an RFP for an East‑West Connection feasibility study; committee meetings are scheduled for mid‑October with a recommendation due to the council by year‑end.

Parking meters drew commissioner questions about short free periods and zoned hours. Commissioners noted examples from Delray Beach where meters have different start times and staff said currently meters can be programmed to provide short free intervals (10–30 minutes) but typically require the user to interact with the meter to receive free time. Staff committed to researching other municipalities’ approaches to timed hours and implementation options.

Commissioner Wigder also praised the new Boca Connect on‑demand shuttle during his remarks, saying when he used the service a driver arrived in about three minutes and described riders asking for greater promotion to boost ridership. "Every person or family that takes these finds it so helpful and useful and convenient," he said.

What’s next: Staff will return with the East‑West feasibility study timeline, options for water refill stations and meter‑programming examples from other cities, and further details about proposed maintenance‑agreement amendments for Meisner Park.

Ending: The board had no public comments on these items and moved on to other reports; the meeting adjourned at 2:06 p.m.