New City Hall Complex Coming

The agenda for the upcoming city council meeting on 9/13 indicates that the city staff is recommending hirng an architectural firm in WPB, Song & Associates, "for professional planning & architectural services associated with the development of City of Boca Raton's Government Campus Master Plan."  This will be considered as resolution #119-2016 at this meeting which starts at 6pm.

It appears that the city leaders have already decided how they are going to spend the $40+ million the city will receive from selling the current municipal golf course on Glades Rd.  Is this what the voters of Boca Raton want from their local government leaders, that is, selling recreational facilities in exchange for a larger government complex?

Local Election Endorsements

Boca Teeca residents encourage all Boca Raton voters to support Earl Starkoff & Dennis Frisch for re-election as commissioners to the Greater Boca Raton Beach & Park District.  These commissioners have done an excellent job of building and maintaining the beaches and parks with our community and they should be re-elected based upon their commitment to continue working with the residents to meet their recreational needs in our growing city.

We also encourage voters to support the referendum on the waterfront properties which will provide more assurances of open space and access to the limited waterfront areas that are owned by our municipal government.  This referendum was put on the ballot thanks to the efforts of many residents who were not pleased with the direction the city leadership was taking on the former Wildflower property.  The entire city should support this referendum as an effort to show cooperation of all residents in the improvement of the residential character of our community.

Call City Hall

Lennar nor Wells Fargo bank are maintaining the vacant ocean breeze golf property according to city code requirements.  Please call the city manager's office at 393-7708 in order to demand immediate action be taken to cut the grass and maintain the property.  There is also a potential public health concern as the vacant property could be a breeding area for mosquitos that carry the Zika virus.

Municipal Golf Course Sell Timeline

At yesterday's city council workshop meeting assistant city manager George Brown laid out a recommended process and timeline for the sell of the current municipal golf course on west glades road.  At tonight's city council meeting the city council will consider this recommended process and timeline, but in comments after the presentation most council members were in agreement with the process and time recommended.

Timeline:
10/21/16 - Best Offer submissions due from interested buyers
11/22/16 - City Council considers offers & selects buyer
               - Revised offers may be made up until this meeting vote, so expect some last minute
                  maneuvering by the several interested buyers

The presentation also provided information on the estimated cost to refurbish the Ocean Breeze course should the city acquire this during the process:
 $6 million to rehab & open "as is"
 $12 million to reopen as a quality municipal golf course
 $20 million to reopen as a world class golf course

At tonight's city council meeting, at the end of the meeting, the city council will direct the city staff toward the process and timeline as recommended by George Brown.   This appears to be a fairly good process but in order to protect the city it is suggested that at least 10% of the purchase price should be a non-refundable deposit in order to encourage the buyer to process the county development approvals on a timely basis so this transaction will close upon those approvals being obtained.

EBAY OR BUST

After waiting over a month for a detailed analysis by city staff of the offers for the city's municipal golf course, the only staff publication on this issue is a bigger spreadsheet of offers.  Similar to an EBay auction, there will be expected to be more offers gradually to be received by the city until they set a specific deadline at which time the inerested buyers submit their best offers at the last minute.
Maybe the city should try EBay for the selling process?

Wells Fargo Fined $185 million

Wells Fargo has been fined $185 million for systematic consumer activites thT resulted in their opening around 565,000 credit card accounts without the authorization by their clients.  Could this consumer failing also involve other credit issues, such as mortgages?

This does not appear to be a trustworthy financial institution, so if you are still doing business with them, then you better watch your statements carefully, both checking and loan statements.

Could Wells Fargo be less than trustworthy on their lending relationship to Boca Raton area residents?

Beach & Park District Candidate Forum

Residents filled the large community center room for the Boca Watch sponsored debate by the 6 candidates for the 2 seats.  While all 6 candidates were in favor of saving green space there were some notable differences in their support, or lack thereof, for acquiring and operating the closed Boca Teeca golf course property.

Two candidates stood above the crowd as they clearly understood the importance of this issue and the benefits to the entire community.  Incumbent commissioners Dennis Frisch & Earl Starkoff were both  more aware of the issues facing the district and providing clear solutions that are within their power to implement, as compared to broad generalizations and finger pointing by their challengers.  None of the challengers had even attended a full meeting of the beach & park district which was demonstrated in their lack of knowledge about the details of many issues under the control of the District.

Two challengers are being heavily supported in their campaign finances by fire fighter unions from around the state which certainly raised questions about their motivations for being elected to the district.  Forum moderator Randy Schultz of the Sun Sentinel questioned these campaign finance issues, but there was not a clear answer from the 2 challengers.  What do fire fighters have to do with the recreational mandates of the Greater Boca Raton Beach & Park District (GBRBPD)?

At least one residential group announced their endorsement of the incumbents Frisch & Starkoff as the candidates recommended for their members and supporters of Keep Golf in Boca.