Related: Mayor and police union battle over benefits

By John Pacenti

Less than 12 hours after Delray Beach Mayor Tom Carney criticized his department at a June 3 City Commission meeting, Police Chief Russ Mager resigned.

Mager submitted his resignation on June 4 after serving the city for 29 years. He had long hinted at retiring. His last day was to be July 4.

Just weeks later, officials in Longboat Key, a barrier island town off Sarasota, announced Mager will be police chief there of its 23-person department starting in August.

Delray Beach officials said on June 6 that Assistant Chief Darrell Hunter will serve as the interim police chief. Hunter joined the Delray Beach Police Department in 2007.

Mager’s resignation came after Carney criticized Mager’s department for failing to conclude an internal investigation involving the firefighter who drove a truck into the pathway of a Brightline train in December.

It also came the same week that Mager sent an email to commissioners expressing concern about 15 vacancies in the department, as the police union and the city haggle over a new contract. 

“Chief Russ Mager has been a dedicated public servant and an integral part of the Delray Beach Police Department for nearly 30 years,” said City Manager Terrence Moore.

“His leadership, integrity, and commitment to our community have left a lasting impact on our city. We are deeply grateful for his service and wish him all the best in this next chapter.”

Carney struck a positive tone, as well, on hearing of the resignation. “He’s had a great career with Delray Beach, and it’s been an honor to have him,” he said. “I wish him the best in his future endeavors.”

Carney said he wasn’t criticizing Mager personally at the June 3 meeting, saying his comments on the internal investigation were more directed to Moore.

But the mayor wanted to make clear he was unhappy the internal investigation had not been concluded by Mager’s internal affairs unit.

In June 2023, firefighter David Wyatt drove his car into a tree on Atlantic Avenue. Though police suspected a DUI, neither a breathalyzer nor a blood test was taken. Some police officers also turned off their body cameras once they learned Wyatt was a firefighter.

The investigation was looking into police conduct in responding to the crash. Wyatt ended up getting a ticket, and his license was suspended for failing to attend a driving class. For nearly two months, he drove a firetruck without a valid license.

Wyatt was behind the wheel of an aerial ladder firetruck when it went around lowered railroad crossing gates on Dec. 28 and was struck by a Brightline train.

“I don’t know how this city can be satisfied that it has taken as long as it has to investigate that accident on West Atlantic,” Carney said about the inquiry into the 2023 crash. “It’s been over four months.”

Mager has previously said he has had trouble scheduling officers for interviews.

“If I couldn’t get people in to testify, I would suspend them,” Carney said at the June 3 meeting.

Moore told Carney that he would have Mager approach the dais and explain, but the mayor said, “I don’t want to hear from the chief. These are the commissioners’ comments. I think I made my point pretty clear.”

The investigation has since concluded, with police officials determining the officers at the scene did nothing wrong in how they treated Wyatt. 

The department still has yet to conclude another inquiry into police competency in the investigation that led to the arrest of a code enforcement officer for bribery in October. 

In that case, the State Attorney’s Office has so far declined to file charges because of problems with the case. 

By Mary Thurwachter

Sean Scheller won’t be calling it quits as Lantana’s top cop this month — as he had been scheduled to do.

The police chief wants to stay — and the town wants him to remain. Council members told him so at their June 9 meeting and approved an ordinance change at their June 23 meeting that makes it possible.

Scheller has been in the five-year Deferred Retirement Option Plan, Town Manager Brian Raducci said. Employees in DROP are considered “retired” for pension purposes, but remain active employees for all other aspects of their job. 

Being in DROP allowed Scheller to receive his regular pay while also earning pension benefits, which accumulate and are paid out when the DROP period ends.

Scheller’s DROP period was set to end July 31, when he would have to retire. But the council approved an ordinance change that allows Scheller to continue working as chief while stopping any additional DROP benefits, Raducci said. Scheller also won’t receive his accumulated DROP benefits until he officially retires from his job and begins collecting his pension.

Scheller turns 55 this month and has worked for the Lantana Police Department for 30 years. He wants to remain in his job, Raducci said at the June 9 meeting.

“He loves his job, he loves who he works with and he’s been in it for 30 years, so he’s committed that he wants to stay on,” Raducci said. “He could go somewhere else and collect his full retirement and a salary comparable to his salary here, but that’s not his preference. He would love to see some projects he started here come to fruition.”

Town Council members praised him and so did residents, including Michelle Donahue of Hypoluxo Island.

“Our chief is the greatest and our town is so incredibly lucky to have him here,” she said. “We have the best Police Department, and I agree, it comes from the top down. He’s engaging. He listens. He cares.”

After hearing a round of applause, Scheller said the decision to stay was “a no-brainer.” He thanked the council, the staff and his officers for their dedication and support.

“I don’t want any of my successor chiefs to go through what I went through,” he said, remembering the day 13 years ago when he became acting chief after a previous top cop left abruptly.

He said he wants to see some of the projects he started take hold. One of them is the take-home car policy, which will go into effect Oct. 1. The policy will allow officers to take their vehicles home at the end of their shifts. The program will be phased in, starting with five vehicles, and be based on seniority.

“We are very progressive in our staffing and hiring right now,” Scheller said. “When I leave here, I want this department to be fully staffed.”

Scheller, whose annual salary is $200,322, said he “really enjoys working with people and solving problems on a daily basis.”

He promised to give the town his “heart and soul” for the next two years … or maybe more. 

Note: This is the story as it appears in the July print edition of The Coastal Star. A more detailed version is available online: Investigation finds code director’s complaints against vice mayor ‘unsubstantiated’

By John Pacenti

Accusations that rocked Delray Beach apparatchiks for weeks came to an end June 27 when an independent investigator found the claim by a recently hired director that her job was threatened by Vice Mayor Rob Long to be “unsubstantiated.”

Still, the investigator — attorney Brooke Ehrlich — found plenty of room for improvement, recommending City Manager Terrence Moore stop his practice of conference calls with city employees and individual commissioners. She also recommended that commissioners stop directly contacting city directors — and, if they do, ensure the city attorney or internal auditor is on the line.

In the meantime and before the investigation’s conclusion, the center of the storm — Rodney Mayo, lightning rod restaurant and coffee shop owner — decided to pour gasoline over
the already raging fire by releasing a scathing email that blasted the director who leveled the complaint: Jeri Pryor, the neighborhood and community services director who also oversees code enforcement.

“Was there any due diligence, background checks or concern of Mrs. Pryor’s past job performance and strange anomalies? Is this the best hire the city of Delray can offer its residents?” he wrote.

The investigation’s report redacts Pryor’s name, but The Coastal Star previously identified her as the complainant, citing a leaked document.

Pryor did not return a phone call for comment. 

Pryor accused Moore and Long of telling her in a Feb. 20 conference call to “stand down” on code enforcement for Mayo’s Subculture coffee shop and his restaurant Dada. She said they “threatened her employment,” according to the report.

The 52-page report — obtained by The Coastal Star July 1 through a public records request — also found “unsubstantiated” Pryor’s complaint that Moore directed her to go soft on businesses represented by the Downtown Development Authority. 

“With the conclusion of this investigation, the City remains committed to fostering a respectful and supportive work environment,” Moore said in a July 1 statement.

“We look forward to strengthening leadership within Neighborhood and Community Services and across all departments to ensure positive, productive relationships both internally and in service to our community.” 

Long emailed a statement, saying the complaint called his integrity into question.

“The report also raises legitimate concerns about the reliability of the complainant’s account. She waited two months to raise her complaint, never brought her concerns to her direct supervisor, and acknowledged that her decision to file was shaped by prior trauma in a different workplace,” Long said.

“Those factors, combined with the absence of corroborating evidence and the consistent accounts of multiple witnesses, speak for themselves. I’m grateful that the facts are now on the record.”

Pryor, when she was working as chief of staff for Fort Lauderdale Commissioner Warren Sturman, filed a complaint against Commissioner Steve Glassman there for using an expletive in her presence on Jan. 9, 2024. Pryor accused Glassman of “violent, hostile and aggressive behavior.”

The investigator in that case concluded that Glassman’s comments did not constitute harassment or bullying.

Another significant finding in the Delray Beach report: Pryor was not considered a whistleblower. Pryor had claimed protection under the state law, stating that Long and Moore violated the city’s charter by telling her to engage in “selective enforcement.”

“Whether or not (Pryor) engaged in a protected disclosure is unnecessary to examine in this matter, given that ultimately, no adverse employment action has been taken by the City against (Pryor) since the time her disclosure was made,” Ehrlich found.

Pryor was hired in January and Moore said he felt the phone call was more of an introduction between her and Long. 

Long said he felt the phone call was cordial.

Both men denied putting any pressure on Pryor to go easy on Mayo’s establishments but said the conversation may have addressed prioritizing “big” code violations, rather than “small” ones.

Mayo’s Dada had been cited for using an A-frame sign, which is prohibited by the city.

Mayo said he went on the offensive with his email because he is being singled out and targeted for political reasons. 

By Steve Plunkett

The two-month report card for Phase 2 of Gulf Stream’s Core District construction project is good, but work will likely stretch through the year-end holidays and into 2026.

Rebecca Travis of Baxter and Woodman Consulting Engineers told town commissioners at their June 13 meeting that the construction contract now has a 56-day approved extension of the completion date.

“So the original date was Dec. 13 of ’25 and now it’s Feb. 7 of ’26,” Travis said.

Commissioner Joan Orthwein, who had hoped the construction would be over before the holidays, wanted more details.

“Are you going to be paving roads in January, February or December? Or will you be … finishing up little things like mailboxes and driveways?” she asked.

“In December they’ll probably be paving, but typically the contractor takes off the week between Christmas and New Year’s. That’s up to him. He can still work it, but the restoration, the cleaning up on the mailboxes and that, that should be probably January,” Travis replied.

Once Phase 2 is done, contractor Roadway Associates LLC will then pave Phases 1 and 2 together with the final lift of asphalt. Part of January’s restoration work includes replacing broken curbs and valley gutters, Travis said.

The 56 extra days were based on additional road widening the town requested, a water main change and some weather and holiday delays, she said.

Commissioners approved paying Baxter and Woodman $68,170 for the extra time the company will be coordinating and supervising the project. 

They also approved taking a loan not to exceed $7 million from Seacoast National Bank to finish the construction and  pay for a water pipe connection to Boynton Beach, which has agreed to supply Gulf Stream with drinking water. The interest rate will be 5.32%, said Mark Bymaster, the town’s chief financial officer.

Roadway started on Phase 2 of the Core construction on April 21.

“We are pleased with the progress that they are making,” Town Manager Greg Dunham said. ”I think one of the reasons is that they’ve not run into water like they did” previously. “It wasn’t necessary to do as much dewatering in Phase 2 as it was in Phase 1.”

Phase 1 included Polo Drive and the finger roads, the scene of much flooding during previous king tides and storms.

Helping neighbors — Lantana has launched Neighbors Helping Neighbors, a program connecting volunteers with residents who need extra help in keeping up their homes.

The program is designed to assist residents with non-professional tasks such as mowing, weeding and trimming bushes, painting houses and cleaning gutters, taking out the garbage, storm prep and cleaning debris after a storm.

“I’ve been talking about it for some time,” said Mayor Karen Lythgoe. “As people grow older and/or get sick, it gets harder to maintain yards and homes. Not everyone can afford to hire someone. And then they get code violations and fines. If we had some way to match those in need with those who want to help, that would be great.”  

Development Services Director Nicole Dritz and her team came up with the program, and they facilitate the registry, Lythgoe said. 

“I see people asking for help putting up shutters before a storm and then after, they need to come down,” she said. “This might be a solution. It is at least worth a try.”

Homeowners who need help or people who would like to volunteer can email codeenforcement@lantana.org with a completed application form available at tps://www.lantana.org/DocumentCenter/View/349/Neighbors-Helping-Neighbors-Application-Form?bidId=.

Emergency operations center renovations — The Town Council on June 9 authorized an agreement with CPZ Architects, Inc. to provide architectural design and engineering services for the Lantana Police Department. The police are renovating their emergency operations center and training room. The cost for CPZ services is $39,560.

— Mary Thurwachter

By John Pacenti

Barrier islands were supposed to be just that — a barrier for the mainland, mostly shifting sands that ebbed and flowed with the whims of Mother Nature. 

Then, Florida’s pioneers started building on these pristine sand bars — which were even desirable in the time of the Tequestas and the Jeaga, Native American tribes that settled here long before the pioneers arrived.

With every building, home, neighborhood, or resort that followed the pioneers’ arrival, there also came a sea wall — and with every sea wall, the beach or coastline would eventually erode and vanish.

For decades, the solution has been to dump sand on the beach and rebuild sea walls where they have degraded.

An innovative solution — living sea walls — aims to keep the coastline from degrading.  Using unique substrates and designs, a living shoreline employs native vegetation and natural rocks to reduce erosion. 

Ocean Ridge is considering such a proposal, with commissioners hearing from Texas-based Shoreline Erosion Control Solutions, which wants to install its first living sea wall in the town. Lisa Burgess, executive vice president of the company, told the commission at its May 5 meeting that the company’s marine-engineered interlocking units diminish 99% of wave energy.

“In the U.S. alone, it’s estimated that coastal erosion causes $500 million annually in damage to property and infrastructure,” said Burgess, who was invited by Commissioner Carolyn Cassidy to give a presentation on how to replace the sea wall at the end of Hudson Avenue at the Intracoastal Waterway.

The design includes special baffle openings specifically designed for mangrove growth. “We would be growing mangroves through the baffle openings,” Burgess noted. “Sand and sediment build up naturally at the bottom.”

The Hudson Avenue project, estimated to cost just under $500,000, could be the first of its kind in Florida and is cheaper than the $750,000 the town has earmarked to build a new sea wall at the location, Burgess said.

“Until now, the only solutions were beach nourishment, planting native grasses, or installing rock riprap or vertical structures,” Burgess explained. “Nature-based solutions often get washed away in the next storm, while rock and riprap structures shift, sink and erode from behind.”

Cassidy said Shoreline’s presentation was only that — a presentation. She said the town needs to explore grant options, but said that the sea wall at the end of Hudson is deteriorating and will need to be replaced.

When Mayor Geoff Pugh asked about potential cost benefits, Burgess highlighted her company’s commitment: “We have not put any profit on this ... we are doing it at cost.”

Ocean Ridge would be the first living sea wall in Florida for SECS — but it has installed two others in Rockport, Texas.

Interim Town Manager Michelle Heiser said she knows that the company will be meeting with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and is meeting with the South Florida Water Management District.

“They need to be able to give some guarantees that we’ll be able to get a permit before I would be comfortable moving forward,” Heiser said.

Burgess said the company will start testing its project with the Army Corps of Engineers on July 28. “We’re making sure that we have a full battery of testing. There are a lot of projects that we’re under consideration for across the country,” she said.

A Google search for “living sea wall” will return numerous companies working in the space of coastal retention. It’s a vibrant area for academic and governmental researchers, as well. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has catalogued all the projects nationwide on its Living Shoreline Map.

Last year, the town of Palm Beach approved $157,000 for Applied Technology & Management to design a living shoreline along 500 feet of Lake Worth Lagoon on the town’s North End. 

Palm Beach Public Works said the project is moving along, currently in the design and permitting process.

The Coastal Star previously reported on Delray Beach’s Singer Studio, which has invented a substrate for an artificial reef that encourages coral growth and interlocks to prevent beach erosion, creating an offshore breakwater. 

The newspaper also reported how the University of Miami developed its SEAHIVE system — perforated, hexagonal concrete pieces that fit together to dissipate wave energy.

While wave energy eventually degrades sea walls from the bottom up, Burgess said her company’s sea walls are robust.

“They interlock and pin to the sea floor, so once you put them in, they don’t move,” Burgess said. The company has already tested similar units in Texas, with installations surviving Hurricane Beryl in 2024 without displacement.

Ocean Ridge Vice Mayor Steve Coz probed the timeline, learning the project would take approximately 18 months, with engineering, environmental studies, and permitting consuming much of that time.

Permits would be needed from the Army Corps of Engineers and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. 

Delray Beach resident Patricia Torras, standing on the Old School Square campus, holds the sketches and watercolor designs she will use to create new logos for the cultural arts center: one main logo and one for each of the four venues. Torras received the most public votes in a contest to choose the designer. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

Graphic designer Patricia Torras made news recently when she won the Legacy Through Art Initiative, a competition for a design that would inspire a new logo to celebrate and revitalize the visual identity of Old School Square, Delray Beach’s iconic cultural arts campus. The initiative was launched in March by the Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority and the city of Delray Beach.

“I live just down the street,” she said, when asked why she decided to participate. “I took out my watercolor brush and my sketchbook, and I kind of just started. I traced over the memorable architectural details of the buildings — a window or arch that are easy to identify — I sketched it out in my book and then digitalized it.” 

What she came up with was a quadrant of squares in the color palette specified by the city and DDA, each with an easily recognizable architectural detail of Old School Square venues: the Amphitheater pavilion, Cornell Museum, fieldhouse, and the Crest Theatre and Creative Art School.

A panel of art and design professionals narrowed the entries to three finalists, and after a three-week public voting period, Torras, 32, emerged as the community favorite.

Now, she is fine-tuning her “inspirational” designs into five actual logos: an Old School Square main logo along with four individual venue logos.

What will they look like? They will be revealed early fall as part of Old School Square’s Centennial Celebration. But she gives a hint. Sort of.  

“They are going to be in watercolor — that’s the medium Old School Square chose. They will be vibrant, colorful and very Delray.”

She’s happy to have won this competition, which came with prizes: the $5,000 design commission, a Spotlight Gallery feature at the Cornell Art Museum, recognition across Old School Square’s branding and media campaigns, and special honors at the official unveiling event.

“Old School Square is such a great venue,” she said. “I’m super honored. I’m trying for my creation to be a timeless piece that is recognizable and memorable, and it will be cool to see my art daily. It’s part of my legacy.

“I love Delray, as cheesy as it sounds — I really do live and breathe Delray.”

Torras has a new nickname: pattypalms. That’s because during the pandemic, she spent a lot of time walking and taking photos of palms that she put up on Instagram with the hashtag pattypalms. So, as a freelance graphic artist she has a website that’s officially torras.design, but if you put in pattypalms.com you’ll be automatically redirected.

“I’m a South Florida girl. I like my palm trees,” she explained. “I never had a nickname, and it just stuck.”

— Christine Davis

Q. Where did you grow up and go to school? How do you think that has influenced you?
A. I’m originally from Miami, born in Coral Gables, and spent my early years in the Miami Beach area until my family moved to Boca Raton in October 2001. Even after the move, Miami remained a significant part of my life, but my educational journey firmly took root in Palm Beach County, where I attended various schools: Orchard View Elementary, Calusa Elementary, Boca Raton Middle, Don Estridge Middle and Boca Raton High, before earning my bachelor in communications from Florida Atlantic University and my master of business administration in marketing from Lynn University.
Summers were a mix of family vacations and local camps: Camp Boca and Delray Beach Junior Lifeguard. I always embraced these experiences, finding excitement in making new friends. And having stayed in the area, I love the hometown feeling of always getting to run into someone I know. 
Growing up in South Florida instilled in me a deep desire to live by the water and foster my creativity, a privilege I don’t take for granted, as our coastline is rich with art and history, greatly influencing my ambitions for a career that provided the freedom to pursue creative outlets.

Q. What professions have you worked in? What professional accomplishments are you most proud of?
A. I’ve always been a graphic designer. My professional journey began at FAU, designing the marketing of events and promoting the programs and resources within the Division of Student Affairs. Currently, I’m the creative manager at Atlantic Pacific Cos., directing the design projects for their residential portfolio and corporate branding. I also freelance, helping local small businesses with their branding and marketing initiatives.
My passion is to connect people through design, transforming complex information into tangible, inspiring visuals.
I’ve won a couple of awards and design contests in my day, but I’m most thrilled about recently winning Delray’s Old School Square logo contest, which allowed me to design the inspiration for their rebrand. I’m working on that this summer and excited to unveil it in the fall. Fun fact: This isn’t my first Delray Beach win — back in 2002, I won the Fourth of July bike decorating contest.

Q. What advice do you have for a young person selecting a career today?
A. If something sparks your curiosity, learn everything there is to know about it. Aim to become the ultimate best in that field, striving for excellence but knowing the balance of not taking yourself so seriously that it stops being fun. Remember that beyond the allure of high salaries or travel opportunities, your career should be something you’re proud of for the impact it makes in the world.

Q. How did you choose to make your home in Delray Beach?
A. I chose to make Delray Beach my home because, simply put, my boyfriend and I never wanted to leave. While it may no longer be a hidden gem to these high school sweethearts, Delray is our favorite village by the sea.

Q. What is your favorite part about living in Delray Beach?
A. What I love most is the welcoming atmosphere, particularly the distinctive “chill vibe” of its residents. Taking a walk or bike ride alongside A1A with my Vizsla pup, Vinny, often feels like I’m on an episode of Cheers — he’s a hit.
The DDA is also exceptional in ensuring there’s always something engaging for people of all ages happening throughout downtown. Delray is where all my friends want to meet up; it’s a guaranteed good time for everyone. And I can’t forget my amazing neighbors! Our street is small, but there’s so much love on it!

Q. What book are you reading now?
A. Just finished Freida McFadden’s “The Housemaid” series. An absolute psychological thriller, and now I’m ready for the first movie to come out later this year.

Q. What music do you listen to when you need inspiration? When you want to relax?
A. For inspiration, I always choose upbeat music; I’m not really a fan of slow jams. My playlists are diverse, ranging from Latin and 2000s hip-hop/rap to classics like John Mayer, the Beatles and the Eagles. If I need to focus while working, I often listen to instrumental versions of my favorite songs.

Q. Do you have a favorite quote that inspires your decisions?
A. When I’m feeling self-doubt, I remember Paula Scher’s words: “It’s through mistakes that you actually can grow. You have to get bad in order to get good.” This quote reframes failures as learning opportunities, encouraging me to embrace experimentation and see setbacks as steps toward growth.

Q. Have you had mentors in your life? Individuals who have inspired your life decisions?
A. Yes, my dad. He was a great man who carried himself with such poise and intelligence, combined with his deep understanding of who I am, truly set him apart as my favorite mentor. He was my unwavering supporter, making me feel worthy and seen in every possible way.
Though he recently passed in June 2025, a loss I’ll always deeply feel, the knowledge that he prepared me so well for life without him brings comfort, making me believe he’ll always be with me. He taught me invaluable lessons like empathy and humor, inspiring me to strive for perfection while understanding the need for flexibility and patience, knowing when to pivot. Most importantly, he taught me to be independent, to believe in myself, and to find happiness within.

Q. If your life story were made into a movie, who would you want to play you?
A. I think I’d want someone who can embody my vibrant and imaginative energy, but also be hilarious and unserious. Perhaps someone like Florence Pugh.

By John Pacenti

Manalapan Town Manager Eric Marmer has a whiteboard in his office full of projects that need addressing, but he says the top priority has long been on the municipality’s to-do list: converting its multimillion-dollar homes from septic to sewer to protect against a future environmental disaster.

The plan is to present a feasibility study of extending the central sewer system at the July 8 Town Commission meeting. Engineers have 30% of the design complete. Installing a sewer system would run between $15 million and $20 million, but Marmer says 50% of those costs could be covered through state and local grants.

“The thing that was most shocking is the fact that in just a few short years, the water intrusion potential into the current septic systems people have here is troubling,” Marmer said.

Septic systems release nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus into the surrounding soil. In coastal areas, these nutrients can leach into the groundwater and eventually leach into bays, estuaries in the Intracoastal Waterway and the ocean, where they feed algal blooms which choke marine life and cause coral bleaching.

And Florida — one of the most ecologically sensitive states in the U.S. — loves septic. Roughly 30% of its population relies on these onsite sewage treatment disposal systems — translating to roughly 2.6 million septic systems.

As such, Manalapan is hardly alone as other coastal Florida cities, towns and villages are struggling with the septic problem. Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, for instance, has made eliminating septic tanks one of her signature issues, tied to the health of Biscayne Bay.

In the coastal areas of South Palm Beach County, septic systems are common and used by the majority of single-family homes in Ocean Ridge, Manalapan and Gulf Stream.

In Ocean Ridge, for instance, there are 728 single-family homes on septic and 873 multi-family units with approximately 15 “package plants.” Multi-family developments utilize small “package plants” that are privately owned, privately maintained and must be permitted through applicable state and local agencies.

Connecting homes to sewer has been talked about in Manalapan since at least the 1990s, Marmer said. Currently, its commercial and government properties — Manalapan Town Hall, the Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa, Plaza del Mar, and La Coquille Villas — are connected to a central sewer that feeds into the Lake Worth Beach system.

The commission is looking at the options because 220 properties in town use septic tanks: 155 on Point Manalapan and 65 along State Road A1A. Only 93 properties are part of the gravity sewer system from Town Hall to the north.

Florida has mandated that some vulnerable areas — homes along the Indian River Lagoon in Martin County, for instance — convert to sewer by July 2030.

If the state does require Manalapan and other communities to move from septic to sewer, Marmer said that the competition for contractors and grant dollars will be fierce, putting the town in a bad position.

“We’re racing against the clock,” Marmer said.

Manalapan is home to large residences, often with unique designs that make their way to architectural magazines. For such a sophisticated community, it may come as a surprise to some — such as potential homeowners — that there is a septic field beneath those manicured lawns.

“The investments that are being made in this town and the development of more modern homes here, it’s just something that people who come to live here expect is already done,” Marmer said.

“I think doing this not only raises the property value, but also brings this municipality up to the standards that people expect it to be at.”

Tom Biggs, vice president for Mock Roos & Associates, the engineering firm that conducted the feasibility study, explained that the assessment uses multiple National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration sea level rise models. The study indicates that some septic systems are currently impacted by seasonal high tides, with regular flooding along State Road A1A.

With sea level rise, Mock Roos models show that between 70% and 80% of the septic fields in Manalapan will be inundated. NOAA’s intermediate-high sea level rise predicts a rise of 1.65 feet this century.

“I’m confident right now with seasonal high tides, there are probably systems in the town that are impacted,” Biggs said.

Along the Indian River, municipalities struggled to get residents to connect to the central sewer because of the cost. Marmer told the commission at its April meeting that a connection fee is currently projected at $32,500.

“It’s going to be expensive to connect. We’re going to look at different ways to fund that, to try not to have residents bear the brunt of that connection fee,” Marmer said. “But we’re still exploring that.” 

Revisions by the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser’s Office to preliminary taxable property values released earlier this year show that those valuations have increased in all cities and towns in southeastern Palm Beach County.

Property Appraiser Dorothy Jacks releases two sets of numbers each year, with the first estimates reported in May. The numbers are updated as the office refines them and finalizes the additions of properties to the tax roll before they are sent to the state at the end of June.

The office’s data released on June 26 shows that Palm Beach County-wide taxable property values increased by 8.2%, up from May’s estimate of 7.7%.

The total market value of county properties now is $528.8 billion. New construction added to the tax roll was nearly $5.5 billion, the second year in a row that new construction topped $5 billion.

In southeastern Palm Beach County, the largest upward change was in Briny Breezes, jumping from a 9.5% increase to 10%. Delray Beach moved from 8.3% to 8.7% and Lantana increased from 6.4% to 6.8%.

South Palm Beach was an outlier this year, seeing a 0.62% decrease — the first such year-to-year drop for a county municipality since 2013. The updated numbers still show a drop, but reduced to 0.21%.

South Palm Beach Town Manager Jamie Titcomb has attributed the decrease to the town’s aging condos that must comply with laws enacted after a Surfside condo’s collapse in 2021. The resulting higher maintenance fees and special assessments have prompted potential buyers to seek price reductions.

Local governments use taxable values to calculate how much property tax money they can expect. They then set their annual budgets and tax rates.

— Mary Hladky

By Steve Plunkett

The Bookmobile stops at Briny Breezes every other Monday afternoon. All town residents can get a free Palm Beach County Library card and have access to the county library’s e-resources. They can also get free library cards in Boynton Beach, Delray Beach and other municipalities with a cooperating library.

That would all end if Briny Breezes withdrew from the county system. But if the town did leave, its property owners would save a collective $57,000 a year in county library taxes.

So town officials are exploring the possibility of the town’s leaving the county system and relying mostly on its own volunteer library.

Town Manager Bill Thrasher suggested the breakaway at the Town Council’s monthly meeting June 26.

He had contacted Douglas Crane, director of the county system, about Briny Breezes’ leaving and was told that the town would need to meet five criteria: having an organized collection of library materials, paid staff, an established schedule of time open to patrons, the necessary facilities and being supported in whole or in part by public funds.

Thrasher said the town easily meets four of the requirements, but “it is a volunteer system. That might be a sticky wicket.”

Town Attorney Keith Davis said some preliminary research showed the idea of having a paid staff was not part of the law establishing the county’s library, and a legal challenge to that requirement might be made.

Crane also told Thrasher that 56 town residents hold county library cards, 119 have Boynton Beach privileges, and 36 have Delray Beach cards. He did not specify whether one person might have more than one card.

If the town leaves the system, a resident might still get a county card for $95 a year as a nonresident, Crane said. Boynton Beach extends library access for $30 for a three-year period, Thrasher said.

Mayor Ted Gross said paying county library taxes is similar to town residents’ paying the corporation for the shuffleboard courts.

“That’s because collectively, together, we’re able to end up having more resources,” he said.

Also, he said, the town’s library is “jigsaw puzzles, books and some movies. It’s nothing compared to what we’re talking about, the resources, the Bookmobile.”

The council wound up directing Thrasher and Davis to explore the matter further.

Earlier, at a June 21 special meeting, the council accepted the Resilient Florida Grant Agreement and authorized Gross to sign it, approved paying Baxter and Woodman Consulting Engineers up to $30,664 to file a State Revolving Loan Fund application, and agreed to pay Engenuity Group up to $190,000 for design and permitting of a stormwater drainage system. 

OCEAN RIDGE — Harold Louis “Sonny” VanArnem III, a visionary technologist, entrepreneur, sportsman and loving father, died on June 5 in Ocean Ridge. He was 84 years old.

Born in Cincinnati, Mr. VanArnem defied convention and exceeded expectations. A gifted athlete, he played college football as a wide receiver at the University of Cincinnati before launching a groundbreaking career in technology. He began at the General Electric Computer Division, quickly rising to a top sales position, then boldly left GE to pursue a more human-centered vision of computing, founding one of the earliest computer timesharing and software firms in Silicon Valley.

Mr. VanArnem’s contributions to the tech world were pioneering. He helped launch one of the world’s first doctoral programs in computer engineering and launched ACTS Computing, an early leader in cloud computing and remote access. He later co-founded Cybergate, one of the first internet service providers in the Southeastern U.S., and later led TOTALe, Europe’s largest network integrator, to a successful IPO. Decades ahead of his time, Mr. VanArnem was already envisioning the future of the internet and artificial intelligence.

But his ambition didn’t stop at technology. He was a true Renaissance man: owner of the Detroit Express professional soccer team, which won the 1982 ASL championship; an early cable television pioneer with a vision for sports and entertainment that anticipated the rise of networks like ESPN; and a film producer, co-producing the blockbusters Love at First Bite and The Quick and the Dead.

He lived boldly and took risks, once pursuing the purchase of the Detroit Red Wings hockey team and the Pontiac Silverdome. He was also involved in auto racing, reflecting his ever-curious spirit and love for challenge.

Yet for all his professional triumphs, Mr. VanArnem’s greatest devotion was to his family. He is survived by his loving children Aleise VanArnem, Heather Chidiac (Jean Chidiac), Sean VanArnem, and his grandson, John “JJ” Chidiac. He was predeceased by four of his beloved children: Heidi, HL (Harold IV), Adam, and Max VanArnem. Each of their lives and legacies carry forward Sonny’s indomitable spirit.

Heidi, despite becoming quadriplegic after a tragic injury, became a national advocate for people with disabilities and received recognition from President Bill Clinton. HL founded the financial platform Money.net. Adam is honored with a hotel in downtown Delray Beach, and Max will be memorialized through a future project named “The Maxwell.”

Mr. VanArnem bore unimaginable loss with grace and faith, never ceasing to lead, give back, or live with passion. He was a man who could fill the lives of many and, in fact, lived a life that would take several men to duplicate. His story is one best told in his own words, in his published memoir, Sonny Side Up.

Mr. VanArnem’s legacy is etched into the lives he touched, the industries he transformed and the family he cherished. He was a pioneer, a dreamer, and above all, a father whose love knew no bounds.

A funeral Mass was held June 13 at St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church in Delray Beach. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Avenue Church or to a charity of your choice.

— Submitted by the family

Concerned that the cost of police services might go up by double digits, Briny Breezes officials told Police Chief Scott McClure to politely ask his Ocean Ridge bosses if they would temper a proposed contract renewal.

“No push, you know, respectful. Be kind to us,” Town Manager Bill Thrasher said.

Ocean Ridge has policed Briny Breezes since 2019, with the cost going up 3% per year to a proposed $214,928 starting in October.

But this time, Ocean Ridge wanted the payment to rise in following years by the greater of 3% “or the May All Urban Consumer Price Index CPI for the Miami-Fort Lauderdale Region.”

That May CPI figure brushed 10% in 2022 and was more than 3% in 2023 and 2024. Officials don’t know where it might land in future years.

“I’m wondering if we could possibly get a letter signed by the mayor respectfully sent to the Ocean Ridge council asking if we could just stay at the 3% rate. Is that a possibility?” Town Council President Liz Loper said. 

Thrasher and others said the CPI wording also appears in the 10-year contract the town signed with Boynton Beach for fire and rescue service. 

“It’s kind of standard rate increases in contracts,” Mayor Ted Gross said.

In the end the council designated McClure its ambassador on the matter.

— Steve Plunkett

By John Pacenti

A flood-prone stretch of State Road A1A in Delray Beach is getting a $2.2 million upgrade starting this summer. 

The Florida Department of Transportation aims to bolster pedestrian safety, enhance storm drainage, and lay down new asphalt.

The 1.6-mile, two-phase project from Linton Boulevard to just south of Atlantic Avenue will address longstanding issues with the roadway that partially abuts Delray Beach’s award-winning Blue Flag beach. 

The original design of the road had shallow swales paralleling it. 

“This allowed the water some place to go as it runs off the paved area,” Fernando Gomez, a consultant with Allbright Engineering Inc., said at FDOT’s June 11 open house about the project.

“Through the years, with the residents adding landscaping and that type of work to their properties, many of them filled in that swale so it wasn’t performing.”

FDOT aims to restore a minimal swale and enhance the natural percolation to remove the water more quickly.

The project, which was to start in late June and go until spring 2026, comes at the tail end of another FDOT project immediately to the south — covering A1A in Delray Beach south of Linton and extending through all of Highland Beach — that populated the scenic drive with plastic barriers to protect property along the highway. 

Besides repaving, upgrades will include safety measures such as installing rectangular flashing beacons at crosswalks, upgrading pedestrian signals and adding LED lighting at critical intersections.

There will be green bicycle markings at A1A and Linton Boulevard.

After initial public workshops, the team adjusted plans based on resident feedback, particularly regarding flooding and sidewalk concerns, Gomez said.

Traffic disruptions will occur from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, with flaggers directing traffic as needed.

Sidewalk and curb ramp closures will be implemented as needed, with temporary pedestrian detours. Access to businesses and residences will be maintained at all times.

Phase 1 will kick off the infrastructure project with foundational groundwork. According to project details revealed in a recent public meeting, contractors will first focus on constructing new swales, concrete sidewalks, and pedestrian ramps. This initial stage will also include installing new signage and lighting, along with critical enhancements to traffic signaling.

The second phase will concentrate on the road surface itself. Contractors will mill and repave most of the roadway within the project’s 1.6-mile limits. This stage includes installing new pavement markings and implementing signal detection loops to improve traffic flow and safety.

The lighting along A1A is currently turtle-friendly because hatchlings can be attracted to artificial light. So, the challenge was how to upgrade pedestrian crossing locations without endangering beloved marine animals. 

“So whatever lighting was added in that section of the project was done to match the existing decorative lighting. And all lighting, both existing and new, is turtle-friendly,” Gomez said. 

A1A PROJECT DETAILS

• Milling and repaving A1A from Linton Boulevard to Casuarina Road, and at Nassau Street;

• Upgrading curb ramps and replacing sections of the existing sidewalk;

• Regrading swales on the east side of A1A between White Drive and Brooks Lane — and at Carissa Road — for enhanced drainage;

• Upgrading the pedestrian signal at A1A and Casuarina Road; 

• Installing rectangular rapid flashing beacons for crosswalks at Rhodes Villa Avenue, Bucida Road, Anchor Park, Nassau Street, and north of Ingraham Avenue; 

• Upgrading lighting to LED fixtures at Linton, Rhodes Villa, Bucida, Casuarina, Nassau, north of Ingraham and at Atlantic; 

• Upgrading signage and pavement markings, including installing green bicycle markings at A1A and Linton. 

A new state law is giving a reprieve to condo associations that are being required to build up quickly their reserve funds needed for future repairs. The legislation (HB 913), signed into law on June 23 by Gov. Ron DeSantis, aims at giving relief to the sudden, large fee assessments facing many condo owners.

The law extends a reserve study requirement for one year and allows a two-year pause in reserve fund contributions, to give time “to prioritize funding critical repairs identified in a milestone inspection,” according to the governor’s office.

The law also increases the cost of repairs required to be included in reserves from $10,000 to $25,000, and it provides alternative funding options to provide flexibility to associations, the governor’s office said.

“The legislature and the governor responded to requests from residents to re-evaluate requirements,” said State Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman, who lives in Highland Beach. “We are aiming to keep everyone safe but with reasonable time frames that don’t put undue stress and demands on our residents.”

— Larry Barszewski and Rich Pollack

By Mary Thurwachter

When 3550 South Ocean opened in 2019, developers boasted that the six-story structure offered opulence unlike anything South Palm Beach had seen, with concierge service, a dog park and VIP access to the Eau Palm Beach Resort and Spa. Every unit came with an ocean view.

Building across from Town Hall on land previously occupied by the Hawaiian Inn, an icon that was demolished in 2015, developers squeezed every inch of the property to erect 30 luxury units that sold for between $3 million and $7 million each.

To meet the 60-space parking requirements, 25 mechanical parking lifts were installed. The ocean views and concierge service are still there, but the lifts haven’t fared well. Only four of them still work.

That’s what brought representatives of the condominium, located as its names suggests at 3550 S. Ocean Blvd., to the Town Council meeting June 10. They asked for a variance to remove the mechanical lifts and to reduce the minimum required off-street parking spaces from 60 to 47. A second variance permits the condo association to reconfigure the parking layout to allow for valet-operated tandem parking.

Both variances were granted after representatives of the 3550 South Ocean Condominium Association made their pitch.

Attorney Janice Rustin of Lewis, Longman & Walker, representing the association, said the changes were needed for several reasons.

“These variances are necessary due to unique conditions affecting the property, including the prior installation of mechanical parking lifts by the original developer,” Rustin said.

“The mechanical parking lifts have proven to be unsafe, inefficient and incompatible with modern vehicles. The requested relief is supported by a professional parking accumulation study, national and regional planning data and a revised parking plan.”

Karen Mazurek, property manager for the condominium association, said the lifts, ruined by exposure to salt and sand, have reached the end of their life expectancies (five to seven years) and are rarely used.

Council members Sandra Beckett and Monte Berendes questioned whether the association had considered adding a second floor for parking. But Rustin said the plan presented was what the association wanted.

Association representatives said 47 parking spaces were adequate and that there hasn’t been a need for more. 

Correction: An earlier version of this story misspelled the name of the attorney representing the 3550 South Ocean Condominium Association. The attorney's name is Janice Rustin.

By Tao Woolfe

The Florida Department of Transportation this month is set to begin the four-year, $64 million widening of Boynton Beach Boulevard near and over Interstate 95.

The project will widen the overpass with room for dual left turn lanes onto I-95 in both directions, create additional turn lanes for the on- and off-ramps and add a third through-lane for westbound traffic over the interstate.

The work also includes:

• Milling and repaving the roadway;

• Constructing 5- to 7-foot bicycle lanes;

• Replacing signal mast arms, installing traffic monitoring cameras and wrong-way detection devices;

• Upgrading curb ramps and adding 8-foot sidewalks;

• Installing new LED lighting to improve visibility and safety at night; and

• Providing new signage, including bicycle markings, to enhance visibility.

The project extends from Old Boynton Road west of I-95 to Northwest Third Street east of the interstate.

Traffic impacts are expected to be felt throughout the project, but the work will be implemented in phases to minimize inconvenience, the FDOT said in a press release.

While FDOT said business and resident access will be maintained at all times, it warned motorists to expect numerous lane closures and detours — mostly at night. 

Remembering Rob Weber — South Palm Beach Mayor Bonnie Fischer paid tribute to coastal engineer Robert “Rob” Weber, 46, who died on May 29. Weber, of Boca Raton, was the coastal coordinator for the town of Palm Beach. He played a vital role in restoring and preserving local beaches, including South Palm Beach’s.

Weber and Fischer were instrumental in forming an interlocal agreement with Palm Beach, South Palm Beach and Lantana for dune restoration.

“Our beach today is significantly better due to his engineering expertise,” Fischer said.

Committee appointments — Council member Elvadianne Culbertson, Lantana Town Manager Brian Raducci and Manalapan Town Manager Eric Marmer were appointed to serve on the newly established Auditor Selection Committee. The committee will help the town select a qualified independent auditor for financial audits.

New employee — Town Manager Jamie Titcomb introduced the town’s newest employee, Emma Trotto. She is the administrative assistant to the town manager and town clerk. She works from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekdays.

Trotto, a Lake Worth Beach resident, previously was a community relations director and tour guide for the Florida Sugar Cane League. She has a bachelor’s degree in management, sustainability and marketing from State University of New York.

— Mary Thurwachter

Motorists on State Road A1A in Highland Beach who enjoyed a short respite from lane closures during an ongoing road project can expect once again to face slowdowns as crews prepare the road and adjacent areas for a final layer of asphalt. 

The 3.35-mile-long project with a price tag of about $8.3 million began about a year ago and is about 75% complete, Florida Department of Transportation officials say.

Workers will now focus on grading driveways and widening the northbound lane within the project. For the first couple of weeks of July, the emphasis will be on continuing the widening of the northbound roadway, reinstalling paver driveways and reconstructing asphalt driveways throughout the area. 

Crews will continue paving on widened parts of the road, which will be followed by temporary striping until the final layer of asphalt and permanent striping are applied. 

One much-requested improvement has been the completion of the left turn lane from northbound A1A to Linton Boulevard. The lane has been extended but will receive a final asphalt layer and final striping. 

“Once all roadway construction activities are finished, the contractor will install sod as needed,” an FDOT spokesperson said in an email. 

— Rich Pollack

By John Pacenti

The Florida Legislature passed a law in 2008 to protect fragile coral and marine life off South Florida’s coastline. The law directed municipalities — except in extreme weather events — to eliminate the release of treated wastewater through ocean outfalls by the end of 2025.

It’s been a long time coming, but Boca Raton, Delray Beach and Boynton Beach say they are meeting the mandate.

The South County municipalities got there through different methods, though. Boynton Beach and Delray Beach jointly own and operate the South Central Regional Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Facility and utilize two deep-injection wells. Boca Raton, on the other hand, has found a home for treated wastewater in the city’s many lakes.

The cities also have reuse programs that provide treated effluent for residential or commercial irrigation purposes.

Delray Beach and Boynton Beach’s first deep-injection well went online in 2009, but it was the second well, which started working in mid-June, that will really help those municipalities redirect the effluent that doesn’t go to golf courses, homes or businesses.

The second well came at a taxpayer cost of about $8 million.

“We are in a much better position than other coastal communities, because during the high rain, typically they don’t have any other outlet,” said Delray Beach Utilities Director Hassan Hadjimiry.

“If you didn’t have this deep well and, let’s say, we get 20 million gallons extra flow to the treatment plant because of rain, then that would have gone to the ocean outfall,” he said.

Changing old habits
The 2008 legislation was named after environmentalist and Everglades advocate Leah Schad. It prohibited the construction of new domestic wastewater ocean outfalls and required that any effluent that is discharged meet new standards. It also created the 2025 timeline to eliminate discharges from outflows — except as emergency backups — and required cities to use 60% of the effluent for “useful purposes.”

“Ocean outfall legislation represents an amazing collaborative effort between environmental, scientific and political communities,” said Delray Beach City Commissioner Juli Casale. “We are fortunate our Utilities Director Hassan Hadjimiry had the foresight to move forward with a second deep-injection well, ensuring our ability to meet ocean outfall compliance by 2025.”

The outfall for Delray Beach and Boynton Beach is a large pipe that reaches about a mile into the ocean near Atlantic Avenue. The plant itself is at 1801 N. Congress Ave. in Delray Beach and treats about 17 million gallons per day.

Kent Edwards, who was Delray Beach’s sustainability officer before moving over earlier this year to Boca Raton, said once the effluent is sent to the netherworld through deep-well injection, it is gone for good. “It will never get back to the surficial aquifer,” he said.

Edwards said the misapprehension about the 2008 legislation is that it would eliminate outfalls for treated wastewater completely.

Doug Levine, plant manager for the wastewater treatment facility, said that the last time the South Central outfall was used was in September, because of heavy rainfall associated with Hurricane Milton. However, he added, that would not have been the case if the second deep-injection well had been online.

The problem with outfalls
Treated wastewater is a cheap irrigation alternative for golf courses and communities with large green spaces — it even acts as a fertilizer with high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus. But those pollutants can harm the marine environment and coral reefs, causing fish die-offs and loss of coral diversity, according to the Reef Resilience Network. 

“Florida’s outfalls are threatening its coral reefs, which have seen increased rates of disease in recent years,” the organization states on its website. “For instance, stony coral tissue loss disease has been reported across more than 300 miles of coral reefs in Florida, from the southeastern coast all the way down to the Florida Keys and Dry Tortugas National Park.”

Casale — who is also on the South Central facility’s board — said, “This legislation enjoys widespread support because it focuses on creating a healthier, more resilient ocean environment.”

She said the two deep-injection wells have a capacity of more than 35 million gallons per day, “providing a sustainable solution for excess flow during high rainfall seasons.”

“Prior to the installation of the Deep Injection Well 2, excess treated influent had to be diverted to the ocean outfall,” Casale said. “However, with the construction of Deep Injection Well 2, we have a sustainable alternative to ocean disposal.”

Lakes instead of wells
In Boca Raton, Utilities Director Chris Helfrich said the city is meeting the state’s mandate on reducing use of ocean outflows that jig and jag from the plant on Glades Road down to Palmetto Park Road and into the ocean.

The city right now is at “zero outfall,” sending any unused effluent to the man-made lakes to the west, Helfrich said. “There are a lot of lakes,” he said. “We’d rather put it into lakes than to send it to the outfalls.”

Boca Raton became a 100% reuse city in 2018, using the reclaimed water for irrigation for 1,700 residential customers and multiple golf courses, he said.

Helfrich said deep-injection wells are very expensive. “We think we made a good strategic move,” he said. 

There has also been a rethinking when it comes to treated wastewater since it was seen as the bogeyman of the reef some 17 years ago.

“It’s kind of evolved that reclaimed water is acceptable, and reclaimed water is something that is a resource,” Helfrich said. “It’s a resource, and people appreciate it. Now, the golf courses really appreciate it.” 

Commissioners were not sold on all design features for signs such as this one for city gateways. Rendering provided

By Tao Woolfe

Boynton Beach city commissioners are considering spending about $1.5 million on signs to help ensure that all who wander — within city limits, anyway — are not lost.

Dani Moschella, the city’s public affairs director, presented several artists’ renderings of proposed signs in various sizes to the commission at its June 3 meeting.

Some 89 new signs were included, from huge welcome signs for four of the city entryways, to 32 medium-sized signs for use in street medians, 33 park signs, eight digital information-providing signs and 12 directional signs to city destinations, such as City Hall and the Children’s Museum.

The city would start the installations next year if commissioners approve, but they had differing concerns about the designs.

All the signs feature blue lettering as well as the city’s signature sailfish, which, as it turns out, is not universally beloved.

“I hate the fish,” said recently elected Mayor Rebecca Shelton.

Commissioner Thomas Turkin, a boating and fishing enthusiast, argued in favor of keeping the soaring sea creature, whose Latin name is Istiophorus albicans, at least on the most prominent signs.

“We are the gateway to the Gulf Stream,” Turkin said. “I like the fish on the big signs, but not so much on the little ones.”

The 8.5 feet high, 15 feet wide entryway signs, which say, “Welcome City of Boynton Beach,” would light up at night. They feature “Boynton Beach” in dark blue letters on a silver, mesh background, with grassy shrubbery at their bases. The tops of the signs are wavy, to show the city’s relationship to the sea. The sailfish is ubiquitous.

Vice Mayor Woodrow Hay questioned the wisdom of the overwhelmingly blue lettering on the signs proposed by the unnamed consultant.

“I like blue. It’s my favorite color,” Hay said. “But doesn’t blue have a tendency to fade?”

Commissioner Angela Cruz’s comments were less nuanced.

“I don’t love the signs,” she said of the artist renderings.

She added that she would love the idea of using big entryway signs to sell the city and make a statement.

“Let’s get one big sign — something huge,” Cruz said, pointing out that massive, well-designed signs in other municipalities, such as those of Hollywood, California, Orlando, and Miami Beach, make a lasting impact.

Hay reminded his colleagues that closer to home, Delray Beach has done an excellent job with its entryway signage.

Delray Beach’s so-called gateway feature, which was installed in 2013, consists of six lighted, free-form sculptures designed by San Antonio artist Michelle Newman.

The forms tower 28 feet above the pavement and flank Atlantic Avenue, the main road into the city, on the east side of Interstate 95. They are front- and back-lit at night and depict images, such as gladioli to honor the city’s old gladiola festival, and pineapples to represent the city’s early history as a prime grower.

Moschella explained that branding is a way to market the city. A brand incorporates such elements as a city’s culture, values, natural beauty, architecture, its businesses, history and people, she said.

“It’s more than just a logo or a motto,” Moschella said.

Signage is considered part of a city’s visual identity, which is a particular aspect of branding, the public affairs director said. It incorporates color schemes, design aesthetics, logos and city seals, and text font.

The sailfish is part of the city seal, Moschella said, so must be kept for official purposes.

Shelton conceded that the sailfish would be an appropriate addition to some signs — such as those that grace the city’s marina — but overall, she’d like something less hokey.

“The fish looks a little cheap sometimes,” the mayor said.

The commission did not vote on the matter and no public input was allowed, but Hay suggested the city solicit suggestions and opinions from residents about what sets Boynton Beach apart from other coastal cities.

Hay also recommended the city look into whether a small impact fee — which the city collects for public artworks from developers for construction projects of $250,000 and up — could be levied for the signs.

“It is art,” said Hay, who also suggested that residents be enlisted to give alternative suggestions based on their perceptions and memories of the city.

The vice mayor offered the top question residents should ask themselves to start the visioning process: “What’s special about Boynton Beach?”