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Boca council previews 15‑month "Boca 2050" master plan; staff asks whether to hire Treasure Coast or run an RFP
Summary
Consultant Kim Delaney and staff outlined a proposed 15–16 month, five‑phase community master plan called Boca 2050 with an ambitious public‑engagement program and a rough cost estimate of $250,000–$300,000; council debated direct contract with Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council versus issuing an RFP and signaled a desire for speedy downtown outcomes alongside the citywide plan.
Kim Delaney of the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council told the Boca Raton City Council at a workshop April 27 that a thorough community master plan could take about 15 months and would include a five‑phase process of document review, listening sessions, focus groups, a weeklong design charrette and multiple council briefings. “This is community engagement on steroids,” Delaney said, describing intensive outreach and charrettes that would aim to capture seasonal residents and hard‑to‑reach groups.
Delaney, who identified herself as representing the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council, described the council's public‑sector work across four counties and offered examples from prior projects — including corridor and waterfront plans in Palm Beach County and a public‑private remediation plan in Fort Pierce. She estimated the scope presented to the council would cost in the “$250,000 to $300,000 range,” with past seven‑day on‑site charrettes nearer $225,000, and said the council works for local governments and typically provides work at cost.
Council members pressed Delaney and staff on procurement and timing. Staff told the council no funds have yet been committed and that the city can either contract directly with Treasure Coast as allowed by statute or run a competitive RFP, which would take roughly three months for solicitation and evaluation. Deputy City Manager Luke Kasik told the council that if staff were directed to seek proposals, a high‑quality procurement would allow two to four weeks for firms to respond and time for interviews and negotiation.
Several council members said they supported both a robust, citywide master plan and fast action on immediate downtown needs. Mayor (chair) and multiple members said the council should not let the citywide process delay near‑term projects such as a new city hall, a community center, or improvements to Memorial Park. “We can get started with Treasure Coast and pivot to a private firm later if needed,” one councilmember said during deliberations; others urged using an RFP to avoid any appearance of insider influence.
Staff said the council will need to weigh two separate questions: whether to launch a master plan at the scale presented and whether to engage Treasure Coast directly or open a competitive procurement. Staff also highlighted a calendar challenge: Boca's seasonal population means in‑person engagement is less effective between May and October, which can stretch timelines. If the council moves forward this spring, staff said it could aim to begin public engagement in early summer and return a draft master plan in roughly a year.
What happens next: staff requested direction from council on whether to proceed with Treasure Coast or to initiate an RFP; councilmembers agreed to revisit and provide a preference imminently so applications and outreach can begin. The council also emphasized it wants some downtown priorities advanced more quickly than the overall 15‑month schedule.
