A heavy buildup of sargassum created less-than-picture-perfect conditions for visitors to Lantana’s beach park in July. Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star

By Mary Thurwachter

Lantana Town Council members have revised the town’s beach cleaning directive to incorporate measures for the management of sargassum seaweed accumulation at the public beach.

Marc Fichtner, the town’s marine safety supervisor, said at the council’s July 14 meeting that sargassum has already begun to show up on the beach and that two sea turtle nests had been found on the north end of the beach. He said raking of the beach would be done on an as-needed basis starting this month.

Until this year, the town’s policy has been to limit raking and not to remove sargassum. The thinking was that seaweed was essential for marine life, kept replacement sand on the beach and provided nutrients to plants on dunes.

But the council became more receptive to clean up the seaweed this year after experts warned of more sargassum than ever making its way to the shoreline — and knowing the public’s distaste for dealing with the mess. Experts also said occasional raking would not be damaging.

“I’m just excited to get it going,” said Council member Jesse Rivero, who suggested the town revisit its beach raking policy in recent months.

Council member Chris Castle said he appreciated all the work Fichtner and others had put into the effort.

Mayor Karen Lythgoe agreed with Castle and said, “There are still people who say, ‘Don’t touch it,’ and there are others that say, ‘Get rid of it.’” But the council voted unanimously July 14 to proceed with the raking plan.

Key proposed revisions to the beach cleaning directive include:

• Allowing both manual and mechanical cleaning (previously only manual was permitted);

• Restricting cleaning to seaward of the high tide line and daytime hours only — and requiring pre-cleaning surveys by a marine turtle permit holder authorized by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission during nesting season;

• Establishing rules for mechanical raking, including depth limits (maximum 2 inches) and equipment setback (10 feet from vegetation);

• Mandating immediate removal of debris after cleaning;

• Allowing options for managing sargassum, including removal or in-place burial with specialized equipment; and

• Aligning policy with Florida statutes and FWC mechanical beach cleaning guidelines. 

By Mary Thurwachter

Lantana held its second budget workshop on July 14, and the process is running smoothly, according to Town Manager Brian Raducci. 

Residents may be pleased to learn that the Town Council is not planning an increase in the tax rate, which will remain at $3.75 per $1,000 of taxable value. The rate has not changed since 2022, though taxes will increase due to rising property values.

Significant factors affecting budget preparation, in addition to economic uncertainty, include world unrest, a challenging labor market and the 2.3% inflation rate, Raducci said.

Budget priorities and goals, Raducci said, are to maintain infrastructure, continue beautification projects, develop responsibly, attract and maintain valuable employees, continue to attract new business (especially along Ocean Avenue), continue to support the library, resume a dune restoration project, install an ADA accessible ramp at the beach, and enhance public safety with state-of-the-art technology.

At their visioning session in April, Town Council members agreed by consensus to support the redevelopment of Ocean Avenue — on land owned by Steve Handelsman and Marsha Stocker — with three of the five council members saying they would consider building heights of up to five stories. The other two wanted heights to be limited to four stories. Raducci said each potential project would be independently evaluated.

At the beach, the town would like to replace sections of the boardwalk and install the ADA accessible ramp. Working with CPZ Architects, the town wants to develop a comprehensive 7.10-acre conceptual site plan to be constructed in phases. The goals are to:

• Gather input from stakeholders through public charettes, staff reports, the master plan committee and the Town Council;

• Maximize site utilization in a cost-effective and consistent manner;

• Minimize disruption to parking, the playground, the beach and businesses; and

• Allow sufficient time to secure the necessary funding.

Also being considered is a rebranding project that would include creating a new town logo and tagline, official color palette, and logo usage guidelines. Raducci said that minimal cost would be involved and that the plan is scaled down from what had been discussed during the visioning session.

Another considered expense involves speed bumps and a speed table pilot program. A speed table is a flat, raised surface of road designed to slow traffic. Traffic engineer Kimley-Horn is working with the Palm Beach County Traffic Division/Fire Rescue to ensure that the specs of the proposed speed tables meet all their requirements, Raducci said.

“We want to ensure that the new speed tables still have the same impact in terms of slowing traffic down while providing a smoother transition from the existing asphalt to the speed tables,” Raducci said. The town will test that theory by conducting the pilot program on four speed bumps, Raducci said, on South Lake Drive between South Oak Street and East Ocean Avenue. He said each speed table will cost between $3,000 and $4,000.

The town is also interested in seeking public input regarding selling some town-owned property along the Intracoastal Waterway. That would require a potential amendment to the Town Charter.  If sufficient public support is identified, a special election would be planned.

Finance Director Stephen Kaplan presented budget details. He said the certified taxable value for the upcoming fiscal year is $2.061 billion, surpassing the taxable value for the current year, which was $1.938 billion, an increase of 6.37%, or $123.5 million.

Kaplan said the proposed tax rate, given a 95% collection rate, will produce about $7.343 million in tax revenues, a 5.6% increase of about $390,000.

He said total revenue projections are $18.06 million, a decrease of $1.2 million compared to the fiscal year 2025 adopted budget. Other budget highlights include:

• There is no change in electricity franchise taxes & fees;

• A $25,000 increase in metered parking revenues;

• A $63,000 increase in interest income, and

• A $1.6 million decrease related to a one-time grant budget in FY 2025.

As for special assessments for garbage collection, property owners will face a 2% increase for curbside pickup and a 1% increase for container pickup.

Employees can expect a 4% cost-of-living raise, and — based on annual evaluations —  could receive up to a 5% merit raise. 

Kaplan said health and dental insurance premiums are projected to increase 24% for a total cost of $2.3 million.

Some new staff positions are in the works.

Lantana will spend $42,000 to add a part-time administrative assistant at the Police Department, $91,000 for a youth librarian, and an additional $14,000 to reclassify one water plant operator to lead water plant operator.

The Development Services Department will add a business development specialist. That person, whose salary remains unfunded, will partner with the town’s liaison from the Chamber of Commerce.

By category, 70% of the budget will fund personnel, 25% other operating expenses, and $1.26 million for capital expenses. The town has no debt.

“The budget is nearly balanced after considering using $175,000 worth of the building permit fund balance and $324,000 worth of capital carryover,” Kaplan said.

The first budget hearing is at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 8. The second hearing, including final adoption of the budget and tax rate, is at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 17 in the council chambers. 

Parking lot proposal denied — Local developer Tony Mauro failed to convince the Lantana Town Council that building a private parking lot and small structure at 200 N. Third St. in the commercial zoning district was a good idea. 

The council unanimously voted against Mauro’s request for a variance for the lot during its July 28 meeting.

Mauro has owned the land, a vacant parking lot next to what once was a bowling alley, for 20 years. He wanted to use the lot to park vehicles driven by construction workers involved in building projects in eastern Lantana. A parking supervisor would be on hand, he said. Once parked, workers would be shuttled to construction sites, thus eliminating traffic on East Ocean Avenue and at construction sites.

The lot, which would hold about 95 vehicles, would be surrounded by trees, Mauro said, and give a park-like look to the area. But residents speaking against the proposal said having the parking lot would bring too much traffic into the area, which is very close to the well-utilized town library, and that it would cause an unsafe environment.

Nicole Dritz, director of development services, said engineers and staff urged the council to deny the variance. 

Council members didn’t think the lot would add substantial benefit to the community and should be located elsewhere.

Beach planning — The Town Council will meet at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 11, prior to its regular 6 p.m. August meeting, to discuss a conceptual plan for the beach. The meeting will be held in the council chambers.

Employees recognized — Executive assistant Karen Dipolito was honored as Employee of the Second Quarter by Police Chief Sean Scheller. Dipolito has worked for the Police Department for 27 years. Scheller said she is always willing to accept additional duties and responsibilities. For the Public Services Department, senior ocean lifeguard Sam Janssen was honored as Employee of the Second Quarter by Public Services Director Eddie Crockett.

                                                                                  — Mary Thurwachter

By John Pacenti

So much for the bully pulpit.

Delray Beach Mayor Tom Carney put commissioners on notice, blasting them in two newsletters in July for not being serious about saving taxpayers money.

“I have proposed specific budget cuts to the Commission, but unfortunately, none of my fellow commissioners have offered any cuts,” Carney said in his July 19 newsletter, titled “Stop the Tax Hike: Protect Delray Beach’s Financial Future.”

Carney’s effort at the July 22 special meeting to keep the tax rate the same as last year failed, with only Commissioner Angela Burns joining him. Instead, Vice Mayor Rob Long joined Commissioners Juli Casale and Tom Markert, who voted to adopt a total rate of $6.19 per $1,000 of taxable property value, which also contains a small rate for voter-approved debt.

In addition, property owners can expect their taxes to increase because the values of their homes went up 8.74% on average, according to the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser’s Office — though homesteaded properties are capped at a 3% increase in taxable value under the state’s Save Our Homes Act.

“I have to tell you, you sent out two emails that threw us all under the bus,” Casale scolded Carney about his newsletters. “It is pretty clear you are basically acting like you’re the only one up here working for the residents, and I feel like that’s super unfair to us, because we all work really hard.”

Casale said she has informed City Manager Terrence Moore where she thinks cuts could be made — she just didn’t make the ideas public.

‘Challenging’ budget

Moore said this year’s proposed budget “was especially challenging” given the decision of a very different commission two years ago to have the fire department go from a 24/48 shift structure (24 hours on, 48 hours off) to a 24/72 shift structure starting Oct. 1.

Earlier in July, Moore told commissioners that without a tax increase, the city faced a $25 million shortfall for the fiscal year 2026 budget that begins Oct. 1. He makes up for that shortfall in the current proposal by taking $7.3 million from reserves, then adds in revenue from the tax increase and increased property values, and does not fill vacant positions in departments across the board.

All of this could be temporary as the commission can whittle away at the tax rate until its final adoption in mid-September. The commission can lower that proposed rate, but not increase it, during the public budget hearings scheduled for Sept. 3 and 15.

However, commissioners were under pressure to either get on board with the mayor or break with him because notices to residents of the proposed tax rate go out in August. 

And break with Carney they did as the mayor went after some sacred cows that were pretty unsavory cuts to the majority.

Carney said he was looking for an additional 1% cut in the proposed $201.3 million budget. He said in his July 3 newsletter that residents have experienced a 45% tax increase in the last five years. He also cited bureaucratic bloat to residents, saying the Delray Beach budget has expanded from being only $103 million ten years ago.

Old allies split with mayor

Last year, a Carney-led majority — including Markert and Casale — did hold the line on taxes, approving a lower “no new taxes” rate referred to as the rolled-back rate. The total rate was $5.94 per $1,000 of taxable value, which contained a small rate that went for voter-approved debt. This year’s proposed rate amounts to about a 4.2% increase.

In discussing the impact of the proposed rate, staff used an average home valued at $447,000. With the rate increase and a 3% increase in value, such a home would see a city tax increase of about $190.

The mayor took umbrage with that, saying neighborhoods in Lake Ida, Tropic Isle and Palm Trail have taxable values exceeding $2 million. A home valued at $2 million last year would see a city tax increase of closer to $900 under the proposed rate.

How unpopular were Carney’s ideas on the dais? Well, for a brief shining moment, Long and Casale — who often loudly disagree (Long defeated incumbent Casale in a 2023 election contest) — were on the same page.

Carney suggested stripping $500,000 away from the city’s 505 Teen Center (at 505 SE Fifth Ave.), saying a nonprofit could run it better. He said about 13 to 15 kids use the center after they get out of school.

“That’s $33,000 a child,” he said.

Casale said there is one employee at the 505 and questioned Carney’s $500,000 figure. Carney also suggested nonprofits take over public events, such as the St. Patrick’s Day parade and other festivals.

“Do we think that nonprofits in this current economic climate are going to have the wherewithal to step up and do Jazz on the Avenue? No,” Casale said.

Pressure from state

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a MAGA Republican, last year declared war on nonprofits that put on arts and culture events, vetoing many grants the Legislature had included in the state budget for them. He is now going after Democratic strongholds like Broward County and the city of Gainesville, saying they are wasting taxpayers’ money.

“They have a new DOGE department,” Carney said at the July 22 special meeting, referring to the state’s Department of Government Efficiency, which is based on one instituted at the federal level by President Donald Trump that was once headed by billionaire Elon Musk. “They’re going to all the cities and they’re asking them to review their budgets, to review all kinds of stuff.”

Long wasn’t buying what Carney was selling, saying the mayor was talking about small amounts of savings for residents if the tax rate stayed the same as last year compared to the proposed rate. That difference is about $115 for a home valued at $447,000 last year and $515 for one valued at $2 million.

“I’ll pay $20 a month to make sure that my roads are paved, our Police Department staffed and our fire department staffed, and that we actually can still have our signature events, yeah, I would, I would happily pay $20 a month for that,” Long said.

Markert didn’t like that the proposed budget would take from reserves, noting how the Federal Emergency Management Agency has been “decimated” by Trump’s budget cuts.

“You need only look at the results of what happened in Texas last week,” he said of the July 4 weekend flooding along the Guadalupe River that killed at least 134 people. “We have to be prepared to handle a disaster on our own because you cannot count on FEMA being available.”

By John Pacenti

It’s been ugly. It’s been weird. And it’s not over yet.

It’s been a nine-month standoff in contract negotiations between the Police Benevolent Association and Delray Beach — particularly Mayor Tom Carney.

The mayor has said an increase in the Deferred Retirement Option Program, known as DROP, is meant to put millions of dollars into the pockets of negotiators and top brass.

The PBA has used every tactic it has to shame Carney, employing movable billboards during the St. Patrick’s Day Parade — a stunt that got it banned from next year’s event. 

Union leaders filled the commission chambers with police officers. They have deployed various citizens — at the July 15 meeting, it was moms. Vice Mayor Rob Long has read statements on behalf of the PBA during meetings.

The dispute revolves around extending the DROP from five to eight years.

The program allows police officers who are eligible for retirement to continue working for a set period, all while their retirement benefits accumulate. During this time, the officers earn their regular salaries, while their pension payments are deposited into a special account. 

This accumulated amount is then paid out when the officer officially retires at the end of the DROP period.

DROP is primarily used as an incentive to retain experienced officers. It offers a compelling alternative to officers simply retiring to start collecting their pensions and pursuing other employment opportunities.

Now, Special Magistrate Thomas W. Young III has ruled in the union’s favor after hearing both sides at a May 14 hearing. 

“The plain and obvious answer is not only can the city afford it, but it saves the city millions of dollars,” Young wrote in his July 4 ruling. 

“This would appear to be contrary to the elected officials that claimed to have run, as the City Manager (Terrence Moore) stated, on a platform of ‘fiscal conservatism, doing what they can to restore savings and municipal operations to every extent possible.’” 

This financial jujitsu occurs, according to an independent actuary cited by Young, because the DROP funds would help write down the city’s unfunded pension obligation, thus resulting in $6.1 million in savings. 

Furthermore, extending the DROP — Young said — would make Delray Beach competitive with other municipalities. The union said in June that 26 officers had left the force since negotiations started last year.

The city has offered a $15.3 million pay increase over three years, raising starting salaries to $72,000 — up from $61,000. Third-year salaries will increase to more than $80,000.

The commission met in an in-the-shade executive session on July 22 concerning the contract, but was told by City Attorney Lynn Gelin not to speak on the matter. Commissioner Juli Casale has sided with Carney on the DROP issue, while Long and Commissioner Angela Burns have supported the PBA.

The swing vote has always been Commissioner Tom Markert, who was waiting on the magistrate’s report.

It is worth noting, as a formality, that the city responded to the magistrate’s report on July 24, rejecting all of Young’s findings. It appears to be a formality as negotiations continue, but there seems to be plenty of daylight between the city’s and the magistrate’s positions. 

The city rejects not only the DROP finding, but also findings on mandatory drug testing and mental health evaluations. Attorneys representing the city in front of the magistrate say the DROP recommendation would siphon nearly $30 million over 30 years from the taxpayers. 

By John Pacenti

Jeri Pryor will not stay silent.

Delray Beach’s neighborhood and community services director blasted a report authored by an outside investigator that her complaints against City Manager Terrence Moore and Vice Mayor Rob Long were “unsubstantiated.”

Pryor — who oversees code enforcement — said she was told by Long to “back off” on certain businesses in a conference call initiated by Moore.

Attorney Brooke Ehrlich’s report reduced Pryor’s complaints to he-said-she-said, she-said-he-said. Ehrlich also found that Pryor was not a whistleblower because “no adverse employment action has been taken by the City” against her.

Not so, Pryor says in a seven-page letter to City Attorney Lynn Gelin in what very much has the look and feel of a coming lawsuit. Pryor was particularly outraged that Ehrlich did not investigate who on the commission leaked her complaint to The Coastal Star and to the South Florida Sun Sentinel and the Facebook group Delray Matters.

“The leak caused changes to my employment terms, including reporting to a new supervisor,” Pryor writes in the June 30 rebuttal. “I have been facing public and private attacks, resulting in a hostile work environment.”

She said the public disclosure jeopardized her right to a fair resolution of the complaint that Long — who denies any wrongdoing — threatened her position and violated the City Charter by ordering “selective enforcement.”

At issue was restaurateur Rodney Mayo, whose Dada establishment was the subject of the complaint during the three-way conversation. He told The Coastal Star separately that his coffee shop, Subculture, has also been unfairly subject to code violations.

Mayo released the partially redacted personnel file of Pryor when she worked for Fort Lauderdale, including evaluations and some personal identification information.

“I have seen public attempts to damage my reputation and influence the investigation by the government body that should be impartial,” she wrote to Gelin.

As for Moore, Pryor said the city manager’s silence when Long was allegedly violating the City Charter spoke volumes. Ehrlich noted in her report that Moore never said “don’t enforce the code.”

“Remaining silent when bullying, intimidating and questionable tactics are used by the public to gain favor underscores the need for accountability and systemic changes at the highest level of government in the city of Delray Beach,” Pryor wrote in one of the most stinging sections of her letter to Gelin.

Pryor had plenty to say about Ehrlich, as well, noting the attorney did not have experience in code enforcement to properly investigate her complaint.

“Ms. Ehrlich failed to consider and appropriately apply the totality of the evidence provided for her investigation,” Pryor wrote. “She did not consider all the evidence that was direct or indirect that proved a violation of the city charter, a violation of the Whistleblower Act or selective enforcement.”

In an email response to The Coastal Star’s request for comment, Ehrlich wrote: “The report speaks for itself. I was engaged as an independent investigator, and my investigation concluded with the submission of my report to the City on June 27, 2025.” 

Mayo criticized the “politically motivated witch hunt” and the investigation’s cost in a July 22 email to commissioners, city officials and the media — while at the same time urging officials and the media to dig deeper.

“What could $30,000 have accomplished if spent wisely within our City?” Mayo asked. “This is an absolute outrage, and it warrants investigation.” 

Cheryl Arena of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea trades her keys for a claim ticket at the valet stand on Atlantic Avenue between Northeast First and Second avenues. Ameristar Parking Solutions runs the stand, but Delray Beach wants to manage all such stands via one contract. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

Some downtown parking rates to increase; garage changes under consideration

By John Pacenti

Delray Beach commissioners like a new centralized parking and valet plan that some downtown business owners say would hurt their customers and their employees.

The proposed system would utilize the public garages and lots connected to City Hall, the library, and behind the South County courthouse, Public Works Director Missie Barletto told city commissioners at their July 8 meeting.

The plan represents a significant shift in how Delray Beach manages downtown parking, with staff promising to streamline operations, potentially reduce traffic congestion and provide a more user-friendly experience for visitors and residents alike, Barletto said.

Staff asked and received consensus from the commission to move ahead on implementing various components of the Parking and Curbside Management Master Plan. However, the public blowback from businesses was significant the following week at the commission’s July 15 meeting.

Barletto made her hour-plus July 8 presentation at the end of what would amount to six hours of public meetings for commissioners that day. It came as commissioners were exhausted and much of the public had left the meeting.

At one point, Barletto was asked by Commissioner Juli Casale about parking for workers, whether they be employed by the city or one of the restaurants that make downtown Delray Beach such a desirable destination.

Casale noted she had seen a restaurant worker running down Atlantic Avenue after apparently not being able to find a parking space. Barletto was not moved by the plight, saying maybe the workers can park on the barrier island and stop taking up spots meant for visitors.

“So what I would say to my staff is, ‘We’re all adults here. You know how to get to work on time, right? And it’s not necessarily the city’s responsibility,’” Barletto said. 

“I think everybody should pay for parking,” Mayor Tom Carney said. “It’s a user fee. People who use it should pay for it. I’m sorry, but that’s what they do everywhere else.”

Under the plan, the current fragmented valet system would be replaced with a single city-managed contract. Currently, the city has license agreements with adjacent businesses, restaurants that then contract with independent valet operators, Barletto said.

The current system, which generates $189 monthly per valet queue space for the city, would be transformed by utilizing city-owned lots. The proposal aims to address the multiple traffic challenges caused by the current system, she said.

“The majority of the valet stands are located on the south side of Atlantic Avenue, which is also where the majority of the traffic is entering the downtown area,” Barletto said.

Fees would remain consistent with the current system: $15 for the first four hours and a $10 surcharge after those four hours.

Barletto noted that because the city currently does not have a direct contractual agreement with valet operators, it is difficult to ensure compliance with rules. She said there have been reports of valet operators asking for more money than what they’re allowed to charge and using oversized signs that violate pedestrian walkway regulations. 

By managing the contract directly, the city would have a better handle on enforcing those rules, Barletto said.

Vice Mayor Rob Long supported the concept, though he also worried about parking for downtown employees. Carney said he had personally experienced the model: “I’ve used it in Coral Gables, and it worked great,” he said.

At the July 15 meeting, Siobhan Boroian, an operations executive for three stores on Atlantic Avenue, said downtown business leaders were not consulted on the parking proposal.

“How dare you rush through a decision that is going to change and affect the blueprint of our downtown Delray Beach,” she said. “Using the city of Coral Gables as a comparative model for parking is like comparing apples to oranges.”

Rachel Citren, manager for one of those stores, Periwinkle, added, “This places an unfair burden on all of the employees and penalizes them who now just have to pay just to show up to work.”

Periwinkle employees said the new system is designed to create turnover, ignoring that many customers visit Delray Beach for the day — going to the beach, shopping, dining.

Al Costello, owner of Big Al’s Steak and chair of the Downtown Development Authority, said the city is willing to throw out a working parking management system to generate revenue.

“It will dramatically affect the businesses and employees that support and create the wonderful downtown economy in our delicate ecosystem,” Costello said.

Long told the crowd that the new system is still being tweaked and staff is looking into free parking for employees. “There are going to be more conversations about this. People will have an opportunity to speak,” he said. 

Downtown businesses say valet, parking plan would hurt customers, workers

As the master of ceremonies sang in Cabaret, money makes the world go around. And so it goes with Delray Beach’s parking rates as the city tries to generate revenue at the expense of visitors, residents and workers.

Delray Beach is moving forward with adjustments to its downtown parking plan, starting with an increase in some metered parking rates off East Atlantic Avenue. Residents, though, can have a say as a larger proposal will be on the agenda for the Aug. 19 City Commission meeting.

As a follow-up to discussions from the July 15 commission meeting, City Manager Terrence Moore and Director of Public Works Missie Barletto have announced a rate increase — from $2 to $3 an hour — for metered on-street spaces on the side streets a block north and south of Atlantic Avenue. That is projected to generate an additional $150,000 in annual revenue for the city.

The City Commission will also consider changes to parking garage rates at its Aug. 19 meeting. This includes the possibility of implementing a 24/7 charge for parking of $1.50 an hour in all three downtown garages. If approved, this new rate structure could bring in an additional $450,000 annually for the city.

In addition to the garage rate discussions, the Aug. 19 meeting will address a proposed $15 monthly employee parking pass and further evaluate the feasibility of metering various surface lots in the downtown area. 

— John Pacenti

EV battery fires are especially dangerous in a garage where they may spread to the house. Photo provided

By Rich Pollack

Delray Beach Fire Rescue Chief Ronald Martin knows firsthand that electric vehicles and salt water driven by hurricanes don’t mix. 

As the incident commander for the Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District when Hurricane Ian hit in September 2022, Martin oversaw teams of firefighters who were confronted with two or three electric vehicle fires caused by saltwater corrosion of the cars’ lithium-ion batteries. 

“The problem was we couldn’t extinguish the fire, so we moved the vehicles to a location where they could burn themselves out,” he said. 

With hurricane season upon us, fire safety leaders want to make sure electric vehicle owners — especially those living on the barrier island — know the risks that come when hurricane-driven salt water interacts with the batteries of plug-in electric vehicles as well as hybrids and other vehicles with lithium-ion batteries. 

“If you own an EV, it is imperative that you have a plan that addresses your unique risk,” Martin said. 

One of the best things you can do, says Highland Beach Fire Marshal Matt Welhaf, is to move the electric vehicle away from the ocean. 

“If you are in the path of a hurricane, you should get the vehicle off the barrier island to higher ground,” he said. 

Fires in electric vehicles are caused when salt water or even seaside salty moisture invades a compartment in the car that houses sometimes a hundred lithium-ion battery cells. 

“Corrosion from the salt damages the connectors and that shorts out the battery,” Welhaf said. 

It doesn’t always happen right away. 

Martin and Welhaf, along with others, say it could take days or even weeks before the corrosion leads to a fire. 

“There are cars that have burned months and even years later,” Welhaf said.

While firefighters are concerned about the electric car fires, which are difficult to put out, they’re also concerned about structures being destroyed if an electric car in a garage combusts. 

Firefighters and city leaders in Tampa believe a fire that destroyed a home in the city’s upscale Davis Islands neighborhood after Hurricane Helene in September was caused by an EV in the garage. 

When electric vehicles catch fire, the blaze is extremely hot and destructive and is extremely difficult to put out. 

Fire officials warn about keeping an EV in the garage during a hurricane and say that if you can’t get it off the barrier island, move it as far away from a structure and other vehicles as possible. The same goes for golf carts and other vehicles such as scooters or e-bikes that have lithium-ion batteries.

It’s also important to not try to start or move an EV that has been flooded by salt water without first having it checked out since any movement could cause a fire. 

A concern in South Florida is that part-time residents may keep their electric vehicles in  garages while they’re up north for the summer. An owner, Martin says, should have a plan to have that vehicle moved off the barrier island or away from a structure if a storm is coming. 

In Fort Myers Beach, the challenge of battling an electric car fire was compounded by damaged infrastructure, including broken water lines and fire hydrants that were ripped away by 16-to-20-foot storm surge. 

One of the strategies in putting out an EV fire is to use large amounts of water, but that is challenging when there is no water coming to an area. 

The techniques firefighters use to address EV fires are evolving, according to Delray Beach Fire Rescue’s David Garcia, the assistant chief of emergency management and homeland security. 

There are now hose nozzles that can be used to put water under the burning vehicle —  to reach the batteries more efficiently — and new blankets that can be deployed. 

Still, the best strategy for EV owners is to take preventive steps. 

Tips to prevent EV fires

Recommendations for owners of electric vehicles if there is a hurricane watch or warning in place in their area:

• Consider moving your electric vehicle off the barrier island and to higher ground.

• If you can’t move it to higher ground, make sure the vehicle is outside and away from structures and other vehicles.

• Avoid driving the car or moving it if it has been exposed to salt water or salty moist air — even after the storm has passed — without having it checked out. 

• If you’re a part-time resident, make sure you have a plan to have the vehicle removed from the barrier island. 

• Avoid charging your vehicle during a storm.

Source: Local fire departments

Rita Rana, the newly installed 78th president of the Rotary Club of Delray Beach, stands at a bus stop near Old School Square that she says makes her think of kids. She got into volunteering at the Rotary Club after learning about the low literacy rates in Delray Beach schools. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

Longtime Delray Beach resident Rita Rana, an investment executive with LPL Financial, recently became the 78th president of the Rotary Club of Delray Beach. Over her years in the industry, she attributes her success to “helping clients understand complex investment strategies with a focus on education, transparency and results,” adding that she plans to apply that skill to benefit the Rotary Club. 

She got into volunteering at the Rotary Club after learning about the low literacy rates in Delray Beach schools: 55% of K-3 students are not reading on grade level and in the four Title I schools (typically serving the city’s lower-income students), the situation was more serious, with only 29% of K-3 students reading at grade level. 

“I was so shocked,” she says. “The rates were horrible, and I started looking for an avenue to make a positive impact with respect to education.”  

During that process, she was impressed with educational endeavors undertaken by the Rotary Club. “It’s the second-oldest nonprofit service organization in Delray Beach and every year since its inception, it’s given over 750 scholarships to graduating seniors,” she says. “It also gives a dictionary to every third-grader throughout Delray schools and some in Boynton. 

“At first I thought, ‘a dictionary?’ and then I volunteered to hand them out. The kids were so appreciative. For some, it was the first book they had received to call their own.”  

In May, she chaired the Rotary Club’s inaugural Run for the Roses Kentucky Derby fundraising event at Old School Square. 

“It was a huge success. We really need for people to know about that event because it helped support our charitable efforts,” she says. “Everyone was dressed Kentucky Derby style, and we had contests for best female outfit, best male outfit, and best derby hat. We had mint juleps and old-fashioneds and phenomenal delicacies from Chef Tim of Palm Beach.” 

Groups supported by Rotary volunteers and contributions include the Achievement Centers for Children and Families in Delray Beach, the Soup Kitchen in Boynton Beach, the Miracle League, DAF, and the Scholastic Achievement Foundation of Palm Beach County. 

“We are actively looking for more members, so if inclined, contact me,” Rana says. “I’d love to invite people to understand the Rotary experience.” 

Rana can be reached by email by clicking on her name at delrayrotary.org. 

Toward the  goal of improving literacy rates, Rana also became a member of the Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce’s education fund board, and she invites people to attend that group’s Stepping Up for Our Schools annual education breakfast benefiting eight Delray Beach public schools.

It will be held at 8 a.m. Aug. 28 at the Delray Beach Golf Club, 2200 Highland Ave. The cost to attend is $40. For more information, visit delrayeducation.org/educationbreakfast.  

— Christine Davis

Q: Where did you grow up and go to school? How do you think that has influenced you?

A: I grew up in Setauket, a quaint unpretentious town with water views on the north shore of Long Island, similar to Delray Beach. I graduated from the University of Miami where I was president of the Public Relations Student Society and writing press releases for the Miami Chamber of Commerce. 

There are so many ways both my hometown and education were influential. Most relatable is the appreciation for Delray Beach. For several years I volunteered as a docent at the Delray Beach Historical Society and have presented on the history of Delray Beach at the Beach Property Owners Association.

Q: What professions have you worked in? What professional accomplishments are you most proud of? 

A: My career has been a somewhat unique experience in the investment industry. Initiated on an institutional MBS (mortgage-backed securities) trading desk on Wall Street, then as a successful investment adviser and a regional manager responsible for 75 investment advisers followed by the challenge of director of sales responsible for 200 investment professionals.

The second half of my career I was responsible for a billion-dollar territory working with a multitude of financial advisers throughout Florida. I’m proud to have successfully navigated through a highly competitive and sought-after male-dominated industry with integrity and respect, coupled with a human-centered focus.

Q: What advice do you have for a young person selecting a career today? 

A: Have a clear understanding of who you are and where you excel as well as what inspires your unlimited enthusiasm. … Be open-minded; where you start may not be the ultimate road you take.

Truly, take nothing for granted. If you want to accomplish something, think of every possible angle. Do not be afraid to ask for input or help. 

Compare yourself to no one. 

And … save money … just as you pay for your car insurance, just as you pay your rent or mortgage … set aside money monthly and pay yourself.

Q: How did you choose to make your home in Delray Beach?

A: I was visiting my parents monthly to be of any support as my mom was terminally ill. I had requested my regional director relocate me as soon as possible so I could be with my mother full-time. 

Occasionally, while visiting them, we would drive down Atlantic Avenue to the beach. Whenever we would drive by Old School Square it would remind me of where I grew up. Over 20 years ago, I made Delray Beach my home. It is another positive influence my parents had in my life.

Q: What is your favorite part about living in Delray Beach? 

A: Overwhelmingly, the people who live here appreciate it. We know it’s unique and special. I’m among those who pull together to keep the vibe and allure that made us fall in love with this town intact as much as possible. 

Q: What book are you reading now?

A: Typically, I read for relaxation and escapism. However, our book club had read Klara and the Sun. That led me to thoughts on the implications of AI.

Q: What music do you listen to when you need inspiration? When you want to relax? 

A: I love music, especially live music. Having attempted playing the piano, I am in awe of musical talent. Actually, all of the arts. Another reason to love Delray. We have varying live music and art venues, talented musicians and artists. 

For inspiration, it can really range. When I’m just waking in the morning, I like classical, but my song list genuinely is a huge genre span. If I had to pin down a favorite, I might say the Eagles.

Q: Do you have a favorite quote that inspires your decisions? 

A:  “Reach for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.”

Q:  Have you had mentors in your life? Individuals who have inspired your life decisions?

A: Grateful for my parents, the role models of integrity, work ethic, organization, generosity and fairness. My brother, for the model of unassumingly demanding the most from oneself and excelling in various ways. And my aunt for demonstrating the power of effective communication.

Q: If your life story were made into a movie, who would you want to play you?

A: I’m not sure … but it seems Meryl Streep can play anyone.

By Rich Pollack

DELRAY BEACH — Frances Bourque’s name will forever be synonymous with Delray Beach’s Old School Square. 

A tenacious and passionate supporter of the complex that serves as the city’s cultural center, Mrs. Bourque spent decades as a volunteer advocate for the former school complex she helped save from destruction.

Those who best knew Mrs. Bourque, who died July 15 at 84, will tell you that her impact on Delray Beach goes far beyond bricks and mortar, even eclipsing her enormous influence on cultural arts.   

“Her legacy is that of making a community come together and building a gathering place for all,” said Joe Gillie, who served as Old School Square’s president for more than two decades. “And she did it in such an amazing and graceful way.”

As the driving force in advocating for Old School Square, Mrs. Bourque donned many hats, meeting with community members in the early days to persuade them to help save the chain-link-fenced property that was the victim of neglect, or later meeting with donors. 

“Frances had a passion for uniting people,” Gillie said. “She went to every segment of the city and talked with everyone.”

No matter the venue or who was in the audience, her passion for the project seeped from her words. 

“Whenever she stood up to speak, you stopped what you were doing,” said Gloria Adams, who initially worked with Mrs. Bourque out of a trailer and later became director of the Cornell Art Museum in the 1913 Delray Elementary School.

“She touched your heart when she spoke about Old School Square and what she wanted it to be. No matter who she spoke to, she always made you want to be a part of it.” 

Gillie recalls going to media interviews with Mrs. Bourque and hearing her describe the effort to save the old school as being done sort of on the fly. 

“She would always say, ‘I don’t have any idea of what I’m doing, we just do it,’” he said. “But she knew exactly what she was doing.”

Through the years, Mrs. Bourque’s involvement in Old School Square evolved as she remained a leading voice as chairwoman of the board and a board member in more recent years. 

All of her involvement, Gillie says, came while she was raising a family with her husband, Bob, an OB-GYN in the community. 

“It was fascinating to see the woman who said she didn’t know what she was doing, doing it all,” Gillie said. 

Born in Belle Glade, Mrs. Bourque managed to mix Southern charm with a toughness that was a requirement of the job at hand. 

“She was a steel magnolia,” Gillie said. “She was beautiful and she was strong — and she was always humble.”

Gillie said that while Mrs. Bourque was often the face of Old School Square, there was much that the outside world didn’t see. 

“Behind the scenes she was working twice as hard,” he said. 

Mrs. Bourque was serving as vice president at the Delray Beach Historical Society in the mid-1980s when she and then-Mayor Doak Campbell hatched the plan to save the historic buildings that comprised the school. 

In 1985, a community task force was created with Mrs. Bourque at the helm, and the following year Old School Square Inc. was formed. 

Three years later, Mrs. Bourque recruited Adams to work side by side with her to make her vision a reality, and in 1990, the Cornell Museum opened with Adams at the helm. 

Much of the work came at a time when Delray Beach was struggling to restore a once-vibrant downtown that was in decline.

“Nobody wanted to come downtown,” Adams said.

Over the decades, Old School Square became a hub of activities and played a significant role in rescuing downtown.

Along the way, Mrs. Bourque and Adams developed a deep friendship that included taking vacations with their families together or just being there for each other through tough times.

“Frances was just someone who made life better for everyone she touched,” Adams said.

Mrs. Bourque is survived by her husband of 63 years, Dr. Robert G. Bourque; four children, Andrew Bourque (Kira Brown), Chris Bourque, Nicole Wisniew and Noel Bourque (Julie); nine grandchildren, and a great-grandson. 

The eldest of six siblings, she is survived by her brother Andy Fontaine and three sisters, Mary-Helen (Rassi), Judy (Tom Deery), and Angel (Steven Welsh). She was predeceased by her brother Joseph Fontaine and her parents.

A funeral Mass was scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Aug. 1 at St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church, 840 George Bush Blvd., Delray Beach. A flower ceremony was to be held at 7 p.m. Aug. 1 at the Cornell Art Museum at Old School Square, 51 N. Swinton Ave., in front of the Angel Statue.

The 12-story, 306-unit apartment building known as Modera Boca will be built on the 1.7-acre lot at 400 S. Dixie Highway in downtown Boca Raton. Rendering provided

By Mary Hladky

A 12-story apartment building with 306 units will be constructed in the downtown after the Boca Raton City Council, sitting as Community Redevelopment Agency commissioners, unanimously approved the project on July 14.

Modera Boca, which will be located on 1.7 acres at 400 S. Dixie Highway, will be built by Mill Creek Residential and Group P6, both Boca Raton-based developers. Two well-known Boca Raton architects — Derek Vander Ploeg and Tiery Boykin — are involved in the project.

The Arbor Professional Office Park office condominium now on the property will be demolished.

The building will include studio and one-, two- and three-bedroom units, and penthouses of about 2,200 square feet.

Plans call for the developers to incorporate a small city-owned vacant lot adjacent to the property that will provide trees and green space. The developers expect to spend about $300,000 to improve that one-tenth acre parcel, which will remain under city ownership.

A new 8-foot-wide sidewalk flanked by large shade trees will be built along Dixie Highway. A meandering path up to 8 feet wide will be added along Southeast Third Street that also will have shade trees.

The Arbor Professional Office Park (site outlined in red) will be demolished to make way for the development. Google Map photo/Coastal Star graphic

Two existing banyan trees will be cut down. An arborist determined that both are in poor health and cannot be moved, said project attorney Ele Zachariades. Two mahogany trees will be relocated.

One city resident, Monique Rambo, spoke against the project, saying it was too large and its architectural style does not fit in with the city.

Both Vander Ploeg and Boykin praised it, with Boykin saying that that part of the city needs improvement and Vander Ploeg, who did not design the building, praising its appearance.

In 2021, a developer proposed building The Bristal at Boca Raton on the site, which would have included two nine-story buildings. One building was to house an assisted living facility and the other featured apartments for seniors. Engel Burman Boca LLC later withdrew its application for the project. 

State Rep. Joe Casello

Election slated to fill Rep. Casello’s House seat

Gov. Ron DeSantis has scheduled a special primary election for Sept. 30 to fill the Florida House of Representatives District 90 seat vacated by the death of State Rep. Joe Casello (D-Boynton Beach).

Delray Beach Vice Mayor Rob Long was the only declared candidate as of late July. Rep. Casello, who could not run for re-election in 2026 due to term limits, had earlier endorsed Long as his 2026 replacement in the heavily Democratic district.

A special general election, if needed, is slated for Dec. 9. The District 90 seat, which includes parts of Delray Beach and Boynton Beach, will be up for election again in November 2026.

— Tao Woolfe

Election slated to fill Rep. Casello's House seat

By Tao Woolfe

BOYNTON BEACH — Longtime firefighter and Florida state Rep. Joe Casello, D-Boynton Beach, who went from fighting fires to fighting for his constituents, died on July 18 from a heart attack. He was 73.

The popular politician, who previously served as a Boynton Beach city commissioner, will be missed. 

Term limits prevented him from running for re-election in 2026, so Rep. Casello was planning to run for the Palm Beach County Commission, which was a longtime dream, said his friend and colleague Justin Katz, president of the Palm Beach County Classroom Teachers Association.

“He was 100% gung-ho about the Palm Beach County Commission, even though it would mean a lot more work. Nothing would have stopped him, except this,” Katz said. 

Rep. Casello was born and raised in Worcester, Massachusetts. He joined the Worcester Fire Department in 1974, and was promoted to lieutenant in 1984. During his 33 years with the department, he served many roles, including as an arson investigator and as a liaison to the Massachusetts state Fire Marshal’s Office and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The Worcester Fire Department posted a statement on its website announcing  Rep. Casello’s death. It said in part: “Joe was dedicated to the Department, the Worcester community, and public service, and his contributions will surely be missed.”

Rep. Casello retired from the department and moved to Florida in 2009. He was first elected to the City Commission in 2013 and the state House in 2018.

“He served people all his life. He would meet with anybody on any issue, even if he completely disagreed with someone. He was a statesman who enjoyed interacting with people,” said Katz, who served with Rep. Casello on the Boynton Beach commission.

Nikki Fried, chairwoman of the Florida Democratic Party, had similar observations.

“Joe Casello was the kind of public servant every community hopes for,” Fried said in a statement posted on the Florida Democratic Party website.

“As a firefighter for 33 years, he literally ran toward danger to protect others. As an Air Force veteran, he understood how important it was to serve selflessly. As a city commissioner and state legislator, he brought that same courage and steady leadership to the halls of government.”

She added, “Whether it was delivering for working families or making government more accessible, Joe always led with heart and common sense.” 

The House Democratic Caucus also issued an obituary, saying Rep. Casello died “surrounded by his loving family and girlfriend.” It called him a champion for first responders, police and firefighters, as well as military veterans, saying, “He has sponsored legislation strengthening medical benefits for firefighters who contract cancer in the line of duty. He also worked with his colleagues to pass a joint resolution allowing the surviving spouses of deceased, disabled veterans to continue claiming the same tax credits to which their families were entitled before death.”

The son of a Navy World War II veteran, Rep. Casello served as a noncommissioned officer in the U.S. Air Force, installing radio transmission sites across the country. He was also an electrical contractor and owned Casello Electrical Services.

He volunteered his time to many organizations, including serving on the boards of the JFK Hospital and the Palm Beach County League of Cities; as president of the Knollwood Homeowners Association; and as a member of both the Palm Beach Sober Home Task Force and the Municipal Retirees Association. 

“He just did lots of good,” Katz said. 

The two men still met regularly at the Copperpoint Brewing Co., where the staff had nicknamed Rep. Casello’s favorite beer “The Commish,” Katz said.

The family has announced that a private ceremony will be held in Massachusetts. A public memorial service is yet to be announced. 

By Mary Hladky

Keeping with longstanding practice, Boca Raton’s property tax rate likely will remain nearly unchanged for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1.

The proposed FY 2026 tax rate is $3.66 per $1,000 of taxable property value, or 1 cent less than the current $3.67 per $1,000 rate.

That amount allows city officials to say they are decreasing the rate, although the decline is a negligible 0.2%. City officials have long prided themselves on keeping the tax rate low.

Residents owning a home with a taxable value of $450,000 would pay $1,649 in city taxes.

The fire assessment fee for residential properties, which is also included on property tax bills, will remain unchanged at $155. The fire assessments for commercial and industrial properties, which are based on the size of the buildings, also will stay the same.

Although the tax rate remains stable, most property owners will see higher tax bills because taxable values in the city increased 7.5% this year.

To avoid a hike for the average property, the city would have to lower its millage rate to $3.49 per $1,000 of taxable property value, an amount known as the rollback rate.

And even though going to the rollback rate would provide the city an extra $2.5 million from new construction that has been added to the tax rolls this year, city officials say that isn’t enough for a growing city — its population is now 101,000 — that needs to hire more employees, buy more equipment, upgrade facilities and pay the increased cost of materials and supplies that have risen due to inflation. The city also is under pressure from residents to provide high-quality services.

Most homeowners are shielded from the full effect of the increased values because state law caps the taxable value increase for homesteaded properties at 3% a year. Non-homesteaded properties are capped at 10%.

In outlining the tax rate and budget to City Council members on July 14, Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer Jim Zervis noted that the city’s taxable values rose to $40.2 billion this year and new construction added to the tax roll totaled $729 million. Both are higher than in any other Palm Beach County city or town.

Next year’s proposed general fund budget is $254.9 million, up from this year’s $247.4 million. About half of the higher amount is due to salary, pension and cost-of-living increases.

A public hearing on the tax rate and budget is tentatively set for Sept. 8 at 6 p.m. at the city building at 6500 Congress Avenue.

The tax rate and budget will be finalized at the end of September. 

By Rich Pollack

Water and sewer system improvement projects and road renovations, along with public safety enhancements, were among projects in south Palm Beach County that survived state budget cuts and received funding.

While Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed many of the appropriations that made it through the legislative approval process, infrastructure projects in Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach and Lantana received a green light as did public safety projects in Highland Beach and Delray Beach. 

“The governor, the speaker of the House and the House budget chair all want to support Palm Beach County,” said state Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman, who fought for many of the appropriations received by the area’s municipalities. “They recognize that we work hard to keep our residents safe and thriving.” 

Water and sewer projects were a priority for the governor, according to Gossett-Seidman, and several projects in south Palm Beach County were funded. They include:

• The Golden Harbor Water Infrastructure improvements project in Boca Raton, which received $750,000 for replacing old pipes in the Golden Harbor community near Lake Wyman Park, east of Federal Highway. The project is scheduled to begin this year. 

• The Boynton Beach Water System Improvement project, which includes replacing old pipes, received $375,000, half of the total $750,000 cost. The project is set to begin and end next year. 

• Lantana’s Water Main Improvement Project, which included the second phase of a large-scale pipe replacement project that began last month, received $1.3 million.

Among the sewer projects funded are: 

• A lift station replacement project in Lantana, which received $500,000 to rehabilitate four lift stations. 

• The Sanitary Sewer Collection System Improvement Project in Boynton Beach received $500,000 to replace existing pipes. The total cost of the project, which is set to begin next year, is $1 million. 

Both approved projects in Boynton Beach were sponsored in the Florida Senate by Sen. Lori Berman, and co-sponsored in the House by State Rep. Joe Casello. Berman also co-sponsored the Lantana water project, and the Golden Harbor project in Boca Raton with Gossett-Seidman. 

Berman and Casello also shepherded a $600,000 request from Ocean Ridge for its water main replacement project through the Legislature — but DeSantis struck it from the budget. 

One of the biggest South County projects to receive funding is the El Rio Trail Project in Boca Raton, which will include creating an underpass for the trail at Spanish River Boulevard. The trail is now detoured to Northwest Sixth Way and back at the boulevard because of safety crossing concerns following numerous crashes there. 

The trail is a pathway for pedestrians, joggers, bicyclists and for other non-motorized uses along the El Rio Canal, east of Interstate 95 south of Yamato Road and west of the interstate north of Yamato. The city will receive $1 million for the project, which could cost as much as $7.5 million.

“The primary purpose of the El Rio Trail Project is to construct an underpass crossing of Spanish River Boulevard,” city officials said. “This underpass will connect the two segments of the El Rio Trail, thereby reducing illegal pedestrian crossing maneuvers and creating a more pleasant and safer experience for all trail users.”

Gossett-Seidman, who sponsored the appropriation in the House while state Sen. Tina Polsky sponsored it in the Senate, said that the crossing of Spanish River Boulevard has become more treacherous with the opening of the I-95 interchange.  

The project could begin next year and be completed in about two years. 

Another road improvement project, this one on the border of Delray Beach and Boynton Beach, received $1 million in funding.  

The Gulfstream Boulevard/Southeast 36th Avenue Streetscape Improvement project will address degradation issues that are causing sinking of the roadway in several areas. The project, which has a total price of $2 million and will begin as early as this month, was sponsored by Berman in the Senate and Gossett-Seidman in the House.

“As someone who lives in the community, I was well aware of the significant degradation issues and am confident that this funding will help restore the roadway so it can stay in service in good condition for years to come,” Berman said. 

The Legislature also funded two local public safety projects, including approving $250,000 to expand the reach of the Delray Beach Police Department’s Real Time Crime center, which includes cameras on the barrier island as well as in other areas of the city. 

In Highland Beach, the town will receive $250,000 to help pay for a public safety dock on the Intracoastal Waterway that can be used by police and fire rescue personnel in the event of water-related medical emergencies. The town is hoping to get additional funding for the $2.2 million project from the Florida Inland Navigation District.

Gossett-Seidman and Highland Beach Town Manager Marshall Labadie say that the dock, specially designed for public safety, will be a facility that is available to all police and fire rescue departments in the area. 

“The funding is a commitment from the state to put a regional public safety facility on the Intracoastal Waterway,” Labadie said. 

By Brian Biggane

Over the past three years, the South Palm Beach Town Council has consistently planned to construct its new Town Hall with structural insulated panels (SIPs), a modern approach council members have said would enhance the town’s reputation.

That may yet change.

Joe Barry, vice president of CPZ Architects, the firm responsible for drawing up plans for the project, said at the July council meeting that he plans to present options in tilt wall and concrete block construction as well as SIPs when the time comes to make that decision.

“We’ve decided to explore our options and keep them open, based on construction costs and project duration,” Barry said moments after leaving the meeting. “The council supports being better informed to make that decision.”

Council member Elvadianne Culbertson said the protracted time frame of working through myriad issues to get to this point may have changed the equation.

“Five years ago, SIPs was definitely faster and less expensive, so is that still the case?” Culbertson asked. “I want to be sure that the new technology is still what we want.”

Barry assured the council that CPZ is fully prepared to go ahead with SIPs if that’s the decision, and he recalled that when CPZ made its formal presentation to win the contract in late 2024, that an SIPs expert was one of its five representatives at the meeting.

Later, he added, “The initial studies we did early on didn’t indicate any difference (in cost) between any of the construction methods.”

Mayor Bonnie Fischer, who has been a proponent of SIPs almost since the decision to build a new Town Hall was made, said she will wait until she gets more information before making up her mind.

“I’ve been adamant about it; my only issue is it’s been three years and we don’t know if the price has gone up. That’s my preferred choice but I’m open to other alternatives,” she said.

“But I would like to stick with (SIPs). I think it would expedite the building process. And it’s something that would put South Palm Beach on the map, if we did something unique.”

Fischer and Vice Mayor Monte Berendes also quizzed Barry about altering the size of the building, Fischer wanting to make the ceilings higher to enhance the views of the ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway and Berendes to make the building smaller.

“We’re going to look more closely at the overall size of the building,” Barry said. That needs to be done before other consultants he plans to bring on board get involved, he said.

Updating what has been done so far, Barry said an environmental task force had uncovered remnants of old storage tanks — containing contaminants — underneath the current building. The council approved a motion to continue that work.

“It’s not, ‘Oh my God, we have all these contaminants,’ it’s just slightly elevated,” Barry said. “So, what this allows them to do is come back and do a little more to expand their exploration, to get a better picture of what this ground contamination is doing or where it exists to get a better understanding of what we’re dealing with.”

Barry said he expects his firm will require another nine to 12 months to complete its work, meaning it will likely be at least April 2026 before a groundbreaking ceremony can be held.

“This is a typical process that I would see in most municipalities,” he said after the meeting. “What’s different is council was very careful to go through a conceptual design process first to make sure all the needs and wants were taken into account and they came to a consensus. 

“The council unanimously approved the conceptual design, which is really important. I really celebrate how they went about that, and uniting them is going to help us move forward from here.” 

By Mary Hladky

Even as the residents’ group Save Boca tries to halt redevelopment of the city’s downtown campus, Boca Raton officials are moving ahead to relocate municipal offices that won’t be part of the new campus.

With Council member Yvette Drucker not present for a portion of the meeting, the City Council on July 15 voted 4-0 to buy the Meridian Office Center South, located at 6551 Park of Commerce Blvd. — west of Interstate 95 and south of Clint Moore Road — for $17.4 million.

The 70,000-square-foot building will accommodate 430 city employees who now work in City Hall and the nearby Building Administration and Code Enforcement building, which is the former downtown library.

Employees who work in the offices of the city manager, city clerk and city attorney will work in a new City Hall on the planned campus that is about half the size of the current one, but the rest would be relocated.

City officials previously planned to build new space for the code and building department offices near City Hall, but they changed course when the decision was made to redevelop the 30-acre downtown campus, which includes government and park space.

City staff and consultant CBRE evaluated 15 properties and city staff toured 10 of them. Most were located west of Interstate 95 and north of Yamato Road. The city’s northwest is its fastest-growing area and city officials now consider it to be the city’s center.

They considered leasing space, but high lease costs prompted them to consider a purchase. The $17.4 million is about half the cost of constructing new buildings for those employees on the campus due to the increase in construction prices, said CBRE’s Will Portfolio.

City officials also said the Meridian building will need very little refurbishing before city employees move in. City Manager George Brown described it as a “valuable asset to the city” that can be sold if city needs change.

“It was a superior, more efficient building,” said Council member Marc Wigder.

“Considering the costs of construction, it is a decent deal for the city,” said Council member Andy Thomson.

Referring to the fact that the current City Hall leaks, is old and in poor condition, “It gets our people into suitable working conditions,” he said.

Police station plans
The city also plans to build a new police headquarters on city-owned land east of the Spanish River Library, while a police substation would be on the downtown campus. City officials will provide details on that project by early fall. Voters will be asked to approve bond financing for the headquarters in the March 2026 elections.

Historic building may stay
Meanwhile, the city might backtrack on a decision to move three historically notable homes off the downtown campus and into Meadows Park — near Boca Raton Middle School — and the Boca Raton Cemetery and Mausoleum on Southwest Fourth Avenue. The relocation would cost $4.2 million.

“We are evaluating whether we need to move all three buildings,” Brown said July 14. Under consideration is possibly keeping the Singing Pines Children’s Museum building, which has the most historic significance, on the campus. 

Tax rate holding steady as values take a hit — The South Palm Beach Town Council has tentatively approved keeping the town’s property tax rate unchanged from last year — at $3.40 for each $1,000 of taxable value.

The council made that decision after Town Manager Jamie Titcomb reported the town was the only municipality in Palm Beach County to see its taxable property value drop this year — if only by 0.21%, or roughly a $1.4 million decrease to $639.5 million.

Titcomb credited the drop to “the cooling off” of the market for older condos in recent years, fueled in part by higher assessments needed to meet requirements that condo associations build up their reserves to fund future repairs.

On a related subject, Town Accountant Ron Bennett reported that the town had spent only 60% of its budget and the fiscal year was 75% complete. Titcomb said any surplus would be added to the Town Hall fund.

Letter carrier honored — Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Mark Garrison announced that U.S. Postal Service employee Veronica Thompson had been named the recipient of the Star Resident Award. She received it for coming to the aid of a resident she found unresponsive in a car in June. 

Garrison said Thompson not only called first responders to the scene but, upon seeing the woman had groceries in the back seat, arranged for them to be held in a nearby condo until she could return to claim them.

Mayor Bonnie Fischer also recognized Deputy Donna Korb on her 25th anniversary with PBSO.

CAAB appointment — Louis J. Urban was appointed to the Community Affairs Advisory Board.

Council plans road trip — In an unusual move, the entire five-person Town Council plans to attend the annual Florida League of Cities meeting in Orlando in August. Fischer will be the town’s voting delegate.

— Brian Biggane

Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer scored airtime after the Democratic mayoral primary in New York. Screen grab provided

By Mary Hladky

As soon as democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani won the Democratic primary for mayor of New York on June 24, Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer sprang into action.

Mamdani’s campaign promises included free city buses and child care, a rent freeze, government-run grocery stores, and hikes in the minimum wage and the corporate tax rate, all likely not to sit well with many business leaders.

So, Singer scored interviews with conservative outlets including Fox News, Fox Business, Newsmax and the New York Post to talk up the benefits of relocating to Boca Raton.

“FL Mayor Offers Escape from a Mamdani-led NYC” and “FL Mayor Offers Sanctuary for NYC Capitalists,” proclaimed two of the television station chyrons.

Singer, whose final term as mayor ends in March and who reportedly is considering a run for Congress, capped the media blitz with an advertisement in Times Square showcasing the city’s virtues and urging businesses to “Join Us.”

The city staff-created ad, 56 feet wide and 29 feet high, will be in place through Sept. 30. The regular cost would have been nearly $210,000, but the city got a discounted rate of $70,000,

“We took to Times Square to remind decision-makers that there’s a smarter place to grow,” Singer wrote on Facebook. “For businesses in NYC and beyond looking to thrive in a business-friendly, lifestyle-rich environment, Boca Raton stands out as the clear choice.”

He directed those wanting to know more about what the city offers to NYtoBoca.com, a new website created by the city’s Office of Economic Development.

Singer always has been an enthusiastic Boca Raton booster who promotes the city’s advantages to the business community. What’s different this time is the overtly political edge to his message after Mamdani’s primary win.

But his underlying pitch to business is unchanged. Boca Raton is a good place to do business. It is headquarters to more than 40 publicly traded corporations, three universities, has relocation and business incentives and a low tax rate.

As a place to live, it has five miles of coastline, 49 parks, great public and private schools and quality city services and public safety.

In a July 14 email to residents, Singer noted the “positive national media coverage” of the city that he had generated.

“The timing couldn’t be better because our contrast to ideas in the New York City mayoral primary helped Boca Raton’s story catch fire,” he wrote.

“So, if we are able to capture a few more corporate headquarters to add to our more than 40 publicly traded companies, we can enhance our business base and quality of life for all residents.”

So far, though, no businesses have made the leap.

Asked if they had, Singer instead cited positive media coverage that he said is valued at more than $3 million and that received 86 million views in just two weeks.

“Our marketing campaign generated, in just a few weeks, nearly two thousand website visits and a four-fold increase in visits to our city’s business development website,” he wrote to The Coastal Star. “We hope to attract a steady business growth that will continue to add to our success.”

The city’s economic development director, Jessica Del Vecchio, said no business yet has said it will come to Boca Raton as a result of the recent city efforts, but she also noted the increased attention her office is getting since the billboard went up in Times Square.

“There is a lot of uncertainty going on (in New York City). We thought now is a good time to market to people who might be considering a move,” she said.

City residents responding to Singer’s social media posts are divided on his actions. He drew praise, but also criticism from people who say Boca should not try to attract any new residents.

“Booo! It’s already overcrowded and getting worse with each new project,” said one.

“We’re full! Stop it,” said another, while a third said, “No thank you. Boca is better off without any influx of NYers.”