Boca Raton

[DShoost88]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/communit...,6334293.story

Tight budget has Boca Raton looking to annex wealthy communities
By Luis F. Perez
May 13, 2008

Boca Raton - Income from utility service taxes, down. Money from telecommunications taxes, down. State revenue sharing, half-cent sales tax income, property taxes, all down. Building permit income, way down.

All but one of the 11 slides presented Monday by Merv Timberlake, Boca Raton's financial services director, at a City Council workshop showed less money coming into city coffers next fiscal year. Each one showed a part of what makes up Boca Raton's general fund — money used to run day-to-day city operations.

"What part of your report has good news?" Councilman Bill Hager asked.

Timberlake's slides showed a combined drop in major revenue sources to $95 million from $105 million for the upcoming fiscal year that runs from Oct. 1, to Sept. 30, 2009.

Hager said it's good news for taxpayers because they're paying $10 million less. But it's bad news for the city because it won't get that money.

Timberlake's presentation was the first of three the council asked for in an effort to let residents in on the budget formulation process much earlier this year. During the next two workshops, the council will see presentations on expenses and what options it could take to balance its spending plan in the leanest of budget years.

"We want city residents to give us input," said Councilman Peter Baronoff.

Boca Raton's budgeting process starts with its annual goal-setting sessions, which were held two weeks ago. From those sessions, the city staff puts together a budget that's presented to the public and City Council in July.

The council holds two required public hearings in September before approving the plan. But with a slowing economy and stated-mandated cuts, Boca Raton wants to prepare residents for service cuts, increasing fees or some combination of the two.

Raising the property tax rate is one thing the council agreed it didn't want to do during the goal-setting sessions, said Mayor Susan Whelchel. Instead, the council directed City Manager Lief Ahnell to come up with alternative revenue sources and budget cuts. The city wants to maintain its essential services, such as fire rescue, police services, water and municipal services, Whelchel said.

"After that, everything is on the table," she said.

The city's looking at annexation as a way to bring in more money.

In 2003 and 2004, Boca Raton annexed Town Center mall and several neighborhoods surrounding it. Those additions brought the city more money than it spends on providing services to a bigger area.

Last year, city officials talked about targeting wealthy neighborhoods adjacent to Boca Raton's northwest borders, such as Boca Country Club, the Polo Club of Boca Raton and St. Andrews Country Club.

The council also is considering raising fees, especially for nonresidents who use the beach or city services, such as the library or the boat launch, Whelchel said.

[DShoost88]

The Office Depot World Headquarters is making schedule... will open before year's end.

http://www.bocaratonnews.com/news/lo...ew-boca-hq.php

Office Depot eyes November opening of new Boca HQ

Published May 26th, 2008
By Dale M. King
CITY EDITOR

On a cloudy, humid day in November 2006, a group of local, state and county leaders trekked along a muddy road to a remote section of heavily overgrown woods in Boca Raton.

On a section that had already been cleared, then-Boca Mayor Steven Abrams and Office Depot Chairman and CEO Steve Odland took shovels and broke ground for the new headquarters of the office supply giant.

Officials predicted a move to the new site by 2008. And that, apparently, will come true.

The firm should vacate its current quarters in Delray Beach and move to the facility at the southeast corner of Military Trail and Clint Moore Road by November of this year, said Office Depot spokesman Brian Levin.

“All aspects of the project are going well and we are on schedule for a November move,” Levine told the Boca Raton News.

The groundbreaking in November 2006 for its new global headquarters in Boca Raton actually coincided with the 20th anniversary of the firm.

Officials said the 625,000-square-foot facility being built on 28 acres of land will house state-of-the-art technology in a facility designed to motivate productivity.

‘Significant Milestone’

"The creation of a new global headquarters marks a significant milestone in Office Depot's history," Odland said on groundbreaking day. "It symbolizes not only our growth - from a company operating a single store in South Florida - to a $15 billion enterprise serving customers in 42 countries.”

He said it also shows “our commitment to the local community that gave us our start."

Odland said the project consists of three vertical, interconnected, five-story buildings that are linked by glass-enclosed atriums and will accommodate up to 2,500 Office Depot associates.

As part of its relocation from Delray Beach to Boca Raton, Office Depot expects to expand its workforce over time, Odland said.

Also on hand for the event was then-Gov. Jeb Bush, who said he was “honored to recognize Office Depot's longtime commitment to Florida, the state where it first established roots in 1986.

"Office Depot is instrumental to the economic engine that is South Florida, and I’m pleased that we were able to support the decision to stay in Palm Beach County," said then-Mayor Abrams.

Actually, Office Depot will lease its new facility from Flagler/Codina Development Group, the wholly owned commercial real estate arm of Florida East Coast Industries, Inc. and joint venture partner TIAA-CREF Global Real Estate Group.

Flagler Development Group has overseen the design, development and lease of the complex.

Office Depot has sold its current complex in Delray Beach and is leasing space from the new owner, who will take over the site when the office supply company vacates.

[DShoost88]

Progress on 200 East Palmetto Park (courtesy of their website). Photos taken on May 22nd.

[kevinkagy]

Looks nice. Looks a lot better than that shitty building on Military next to Town Center Mall. Seriously, ever time I pass by that building my eyes tear up, it's that bad. There's more parking than offices in that building, it's hideous!

[floridian-will]

Hey Dshoost how bout these? I went to Gumbo Limbo today and to my suprise they have a 40' lookout tower.












Scroll------------>

[DShoost88]

Thanks for the pics, Floridianwill. I use to work @ Gumbo Limbo--you must've had massive swamp ass by the time you climbed up the tower. I haven't been home in a year, let alone Gumbo Limbo for almost 2 years, but it's nice to see how 200 East is adding density to Boca! Granted, it's low-rise, but year-by-year Boca is starting to look more like a real city.

[floridian-will]

It wasnt too bad of a climb to be honest. I could've stayed up there for an hour taking pics but everyone else was movin on I was a little upset that it was overcast cause the sky turned out so bright on my pics.

[brickell]

where is it? I'd love to stop next time I'm in the area.

[floridian-will]

Originally Posted by brickell

where is it? I'd love to stop next time I'm in the area.

Heres a map to it:


And heres a link to the main site with certain events they have:
http://gumbolimbo.org/

Its free to get in, they do turtle walks, they are right by a very nice beach, and they have a few nature trails. Its definitely worth a visit.

[floridian-will]

hmmm, sorry the maps is a little small.

[Andyxox]

Is that next to the section of A1A where they actually have lights in the road instead of overhead as to not attract turtles away from the ocean?

[DShoost88]

Yes. From Red Reef Park to Spanish River Blvd (maybe further, I know there were talks about expanding into Highland Beach), street lights were embedded into A1A as not to affect the nature of Turtle hatching. Actually, when I volunteered at Gumbo Limbo I had a whole spiel for this. There's a display of different types of lights next to one of the sea turtle tanks at the facility. The display demonstrates the types of lights a human's eyes can see vs. the types of lights turtles' eyes see. Essentially, the brighter the light, the more inclined a turtle will be to see it.

The reason the lighting along A1A is such a big deal is because when sea turtles hatch from their nests along the beach (about 100 eggs to a nest), they only come out at night time and have historically been guided by the reflection of the moon and the stars onto the ocean water. Unfortunately, with all the urban development along the coast from Jupiter to Key Biscayne (and then some), high-rise balcony lights and street lights from A1A have confused the baby sea turtles and instead of heading east toward the water, they head west to the road. This vicious cycle year after year has led to a dramatic decrease over the past 3 decades in the number of nests laid on South Florida beaches. In Boca Raton a couple years ago, there were about 400 to 500 nests for Loggerhead turtles, down from 2500+ in 1984.

Thankfully, Gumbo Limbo and the City of Boca Raton have been very proactive about enforcing laws that mandate balcony light visibility during turtle-nesting season, as well as expanding the network of lights embedded in the road throughout the city. Fortunately for Boca, most of the condos on the beach are not occupied during the summer months (turtle nesting/hatching season) and the lights have not been as much of a problem as in other municipalities, namely Fort Lauderdale Beach, Pompano, and Hollywood. Also, Boca Raton was wise in the 70's and 80's to purchase any remaining vacant oceanfront spaces to preserve as park space and reserve, a move that would have solved a number of ecological problems SoFlo faces today (i.e. severe beach erosion, loss of natural habitat, and loss of marine habitat).

[spellbound]

Originally Posted by DShoost88

Yes. From Red Reef Park to Spanish River Blvd (maybe further, I know there were talks about expanding into Highland Beach), street lights were embedded into A1A as not to affect the nature of Turtle hatching. Actually, when I volunteered at Gumbo Limbo I had a whole spiel for this. There's a display of different types of lights next to one of the sea turtle tanks at the facility. The display demonstrates the types of lights a human's eyes can see vs. the types of lights turtles' eyes see. Essentially, the brighter the light, the more inclined a turtle will be to see it.

The reason the lighting along A1A is such a big deal is because when sea turtles hatch from their nests along the beach (about 100 eggs to a nest), they only come out at night time and have historically been guided by the reflection of the moon and the stars onto the ocean water. Unfortunately, with all the urban development along the coast from Jupiter to Key Biscayne (and then some), high-rise balcony lights and street lights from A1A have confused the baby sea turtles and instead of heading east toward the water, they head west to the road. This vicious cycle year after year has led to a dramatic decrease over the past 3 decades in the number of nests laid on South Florida beaches. In Boca Raton a couple years ago, there were about 400 to 500 nests for Loggerhead turtles, down from 2500+ in 1984.

Thankfully, Gumbo Limbo and the City of Boca Raton have been very proactive about enforcing laws that mandate balcony light visibility during turtle-nesting season, as well as expanding the network of lights embedded in the road throughout the city. Fortunately for Boca, most of the condos on the beach are not occupied during the summer months (turtle nesting/hatching season) and the lights have not been as much of a problem as in other municipalities, namely Fort Lauderdale Beach, Pompano, and Hollywood. Also, Boca Raton was wise in the 70's and 80's to purchase any remaining vacant oceanfront spaces to preserve as park space and reserve, a move that would have solved a number of ecological problems SoFlo faces today (i.e. severe beach erosion, loss of natural habitat, and loss of marine habitat).

It's beyond wonderful that you have participated in this. Being a true South Floridian is much more about caring for things like that rather than condo floor plans. Kudos to you.

[DShoost88]

Well this is news that absolutely sucks: Boca Community hospital lost $110 million this year and won't be able to build the new $650-million teaching hospital at FAU "in the foreseeable future". The city's really having an awful year. Here's the article:

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/loc...,1783662.story

[kevinkagy]

Originally Posted by DShoost88

Well this is news that absolutely sucks: Boca Community hospital lost $110 million this year and won't be able to build the new $650-million teaching hospital at FAU "in the foreseeable future". The city's really having an awful year. Here's the article:

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/loc...,1783662.story

I guess FAU won't be getting a hospital on-campus anymore.

[cityscapes]

Sad news about the hospital it would have been great for FAU. Great pictures Floridian Will that park is really nice!

[DShoost88]

Boca was featured in the Sun-Sentinel today; apparently they're having a meeting in a few hours to discuss downtown redevelopment. Here's the article:

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/loc...,3762373.story

Plan to liven up downtown Boca Raton to be discussed today
By C. Ron Allen | South Florida Sun-Sentinel
July 21, 2008
Boca Raton - Change could be coming to this city's sleepy downtown.The city has heard from residents on how to make downtown more lively but not "hard-edged." A consultant will present recommendations to do that to the Community Redevelopment Agency today.

The proposals from Pittsburgh-based Urban Design Associates are expected to get the nod from the Community Redevelopment Agency at the meeting.

The city formed a nine-member committee to draft a vision for downtown, which is generally bordered by Camino Real to the south, Mizner Park to the north, Mizner Boulevard to the east and Dixie Highway — and, in some places, Crawford Boulevard — to the west.

"The stores here are conducive to longtime residents or high-end customers, and they need some stores that are more [trendy]," said Brad Ingwell, a downtown restaurant manager. "Come 6 o' clock everybody leaves, and if you want to get something to eat you have to go to Delray or Deerfield."

The plan suggests adding a mixture of tall and short buildings, more and wider sidewalks, "streetscaping" and a redesigned traffic pattern. Under the plan, the height limit would increase to 140 feet, which is facing opposition.

City leaders have talked about a main thoroughfare through the downtown, lined with shops, restaurants and homes, for more than 40 years. Michael Ging, a developer who has a business downtown, thinks it would be a positive move to link Mizner Park to Royal Palm through pedestrian-friendly walkways.

"It [would] create the core entertainment, retail area in this one downtown area and in the long run be beneficial for the residents and business," he said.

Another downtown businessman, Dr. Robert Willix, CEO of Cenegics, said he thinks the downtown area could be a destination with some minor tweaks.

"I love the way Boca downtown is now. I think with Mizner Park, there is a place you can go walk around, eat and shop," he said.

He would like to see another Mizner Park in the Camino Real area, along with a luxury hotel downtown.

"I love Mizner," he said. "If we can duplicate Mizner, we can we have the best of all worlds."

If the CRA members approve the plan, it will be forwarded to the City Council members for their adoption as the master plan. The City Council members sit as the CRA board.

C. Ron Allen can be reached at crallen@ sun-sentinel.com or 561-243-6611.

[floridian-will]

Sounds great. The boom may be over for South Florida, but cities are never complete. Good luck to Boca.

[kevinkagy]

Great news. Boca has so much potential for a greater downtown. I really hope they pursue it.

[DShoost88]

I just had a feeling that there was a photo update!

These are photo updates of 200 East Palmetto Park from their webpage. They've added paint!