City’s CFO promoted to deputy manager — James Zervis, Boca Raton’s chief financial officer, has been promoted to deputy city manager.
Zervis was hired one year ago to replace Linda Davidson, who retired after 41 years with the city.
Zervis will remain chief financial officer, but his responsibilities have been expanded to include overseeing the Public Works and Engineering, and Information Technology departments. He also is involved in efforts to redevelop the city’s downtown government campus.
Before joining the city, Zervis served as chief administrative officer for Kern County, California, which at the time had a $3.5 billion budget.
The city long has been recognized for its financial acumen. It recently received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association, a distinction it has held for more than four decades.
That association also awarded the city’s Office of Management and Budget the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the 42nd consecutive year, and the Florida Association of Public Procurement Officials recognized the city with the Award of Excellence in Procurement.
Police Department honored — The city’s Police Department has been honored with reaccreditation by the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation as an Excelsior agency.
The department is the only one in Florida to earn Excelsior status for the sixth time. To earn Excelsior status, the department must complete five successful reaccreditations. The department was first accredited in 1997 and earned Excelsior status in 2012.
Downtown shopping plaza celebrates 60th — Joining the roster of important birthdays in Boca Raton, Royal Palm Place is marking its 60th anniversary.
Also in party mode is the city, now 100 years old, and the Boca Raton Museum of Art, which is 75.
Royal Palm Place celebrated on March 29 with a free festival that included live music, an antique and supercar car show, roaming performers, an outdoor vendors market and special deals at restaurants and retailers.
Royal Palm Place, located south of the younger Mizner Park, opened in 1964 to the enthusiasm of local residents who yearned for upscale shopping. They called it the Pink Plaza for many years — a name still used by some today — and it echoed the architectural style and color of what is now The Boca Raton resort.
“The citizens were very happy,” said Susan Gillis, Boca Raton Historical Society curator. “They did not have to schlep to Fort Lauderdale or Delray (to shop). It was a welcome addition to the downtown.”
Prominent landowners James and Marta Batmasian purchased the 14-acre property, then known as Royal Palm Plaza, in 1987 for $14.5 million, according to the Boca Raton News. At the time, it had fallen into disrepair and was largely vacant.
Since then, Royal Palm Place has evolved, and shed the pink paint. It now includes apartments, fashion and jewelry boutiques, dining and entertainment, salons, fitness centers and art galleries.
Nachlas chosen to be deputy mayor — Boca Raton City Council members unanimously chose Fran Nachlas to succeed Yvette Drucker as deputy mayor during a brief March 31 council organization meeting.
Council member Marc Wigder nominated Nachlas, and Drucker seconded the nomination.
Drucker, who is term-limited from seeking another three-year council term, announced last year that she was joining the 2026 contest to succeed term-limited state Sen. Lori Berman, D-Boca Raton. Berman has endorsed Drucker.
Drucker was first elected to the council in 2021 and won reelection last year with 77% of the vote. She is a first-generation Cuban American and is the first Hispanic to serve on the council.
Nachlas, a retired surgical nurse, won election to the council in November 2022 when no other candidate filed to run for the seat. She would have had to wait until the following March to assume office, but the seat was already vacant and her fellow council members, seeing no reason for that wait, appointed her to the position.
Wigder was chosen as chair of the Community Redevelopment Agency, a position he had held until Nachlas took it last year. Council member Andy Thomson was named CRA vice chair.
Council members do double duty to also head up the CRA, which oversees the downtown.
“I just say congratulations to my colleagues in your new roles,” said Mayor Scott Singer. “Thank you for your prior service in your past roles.”
— Mary Hladky
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