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Public commenters press council on Housing Authority policy, government campus and local traffic
Summary
Public commenters at the workshop urged action and transparency: a resident commissioner alleged a policy at the Housing Authority was designed to silence dissent, another speaker criticized council decisions on the government campus, and others raised concerns about a freestanding ER variance and lane closures on Palmetto Park Road.
Several residents used the public‑request portion of the workshop to press the council on governance and local planning issues.
Angela McDonald, a resident commissioner on the Boca Raton Housing Authority, said she opposed a January 28, 2026 policy that restricts individual commissioners from requesting information of the executive director and said the board's majority may seek to enforce it against her. "My vote was the only one against it," McDonald said, and she read a public record into the workshop to ensure the matter is documented. Mayor Singer replied that the workshop was probably not the best forum and suggested she follow up by email.
Richard Warner criticized council handling of the government campus and said recent actions had "tarnished" the council's legacy. Jonathan Unjean criticized recent zoning changes and variances, including a freestanding emergency room parking variance, and urged better planning for parts of the city outside downtown. Joe Majes reported that recent utility work on East Palmetto Park Road removed on‑street parking and narrowed lanes, calling the temporary configuration a "nightmare" for weekend traffic near the bridge at NE 5th Avenue and urging caution about proposals to permanently narrow Palmetto Park.
The mayor clarified that the recent lane changes were not a covert pilot to implement a permanent one‑lane configuration and reiterated interest in enhancing walkability while preserving essential travel lanes for residents. The council did not take formal action during the workshop; appointments for various boards were confirmed to be decided at the regular meeting the next night.
