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Residents urge broader business promotion, preservation of historic neighborhoods and a local shelter at Boca Raton workshop
Summary
During public request at the April 24 workshop residents called for more equitable city promotion of local businesses, preservation of long-standing neighborhoods such as Dixie Manor and creation of a state-of-the-art homeless shelter to respond to new state rules; an Eagle Scout preview and council transit items were also raised.
Several members of the public used the workshop's public-request period to press the council on community priorities ranging from business promotion to historic preservation and homelessness.
Jonathan Ungeen (6501 Congress Avenue) told the council he appreciates promotional work downtown but urged the city to provide an equitable channel to highlight businesses and events across Boca Raton, saying the current approach "seems very much favoritism" toward downtown venues like the Funky Biscuit and asking that other neighborhoods be included.
"Those are good jobs that the city should be highlighting," Ungeen said, noting a tenant's hiring event that created positions paying between $100,000 and $300,000 a year.
Marie Hester (135 Pearl Street) urged stronger measures to protect the city's historic neighborhoods. Hester described work on a local historical board to develop neighborhood handbooks and warned that long-standing communities such as Dixie Manor (she said "80 years") should be recognized and preserved rather than paved over.
Colette McKenyon, a volunteer and former director with the local nonprofit Changing Lives, spoke about the new state law on camping that she said will take effect in October and urged Boca Raton to plan shelter capacity and supportive services. McKenyon referenced a widely shared video showing a police interaction with a homeless person that she said resulted in severe injuries and said the matter is now before the Supreme Court; she called for a "state of the art shelter" in Boca Raton as a humane model and asked the council to engage with her organization.
"We need shelters for these people," McKenyon said. "They're going to need transportation. They're gonna need food. They're gonna need case managers." The mayor asked McKenyon to provide contact information by email so staff could follow up.
The council also accommodated a short preview from Eagle Scout Rocco Pasquerella (744 Apple Tree Lane), who described a plan to improve the dog wash station at Boca Barque Beach by installing drainage under a plastic deck to keep surfaces cooler for animals and preserve sidewalk space for pedestrians.
Council member reports later in the workshop included announcements about local transit outreach: Council member Drucker encouraged participation in Palm Tran events and highlighted the city's membership in the National Association of City Transportation Officials as a step in promoting mobility and multimodal options.
The mayor closed public requests and the workshop proceeded to staff reports and presentations.
No formal council actions on the public requests were recorded during the workshop; staff invited speakers to provide contact information and said the council and staff would follow up as appropriate.
