City Commission Excerpts 08-19-08Meeting Minutes
Regular City Commission
Boynton Beach, FL
August 19, 2008
Commissioner Ross moved to table Item IILC.2. Commissioner Ross seconded the motion.
The motion passed unanimously.
(The following item was taken out of order.)
IX.B. Provide direction regarding future action plan for construction of a new Police
Administration Building on City -owned property at the comer of Gateway
Boulevard and High Ridge Road and the sale of bonds in the amount of $25M to
fund this project.
Mr. Bressner reminded the Commission that as the budget got tighter; it would be his
recommendation that other larger projects be held in abeyance and the police facility given
priority. Construction of Fire Station #5 was ongoing at the proposed site that was designed as
a safety complex. He noted the proposed State legislation requiring Green Code compliance
would necessitate a higher cost as would the addition of a parking deck, for a total estimated
expenditure of $31M. The City had bonding capabilities in the range of $25M to $28M. The
original capital plan was to borrow $25M if the project would be brought in under bid and stili
take advantage of lower bidding prices.
Currently there was $2.9M budgeted for Phase 1 of the Boundless Playground with the cost of
the project being funded by creation of the Foundation. If the police facility project went to
$31M, the funding for the Boundless Playground and beach project would be jeopardized. The
Recreation and Parks budget has $4M available for parks, The Oceanfront Park project has an
estimated cost of $2.4141 which could be funded from Recreation and Parks available funds.
Alternative funding scenarios were discussed. Mr. Bressner stressed many projects had been
completed over the last ten years. He felt it was necessary to move forward with the police
facility construction and the beach project, but to continue to strive for the completion of the
Boundless Playground project.
The three funding options were as follows:
Proceed with building the police facility assuming the cost of $25M, with the
Green Code compliance adding 10%.
❖ Proceed with the $31M and adversely affect the other capital projects, adding
10% for Green Code compliance
❖ Investigate other independent financing and near term debt requirements.
Vice Mayor Rodriguez clarified that the public service tax money of $1.8M was debt service.
Commissioner Hay developed the fact that other park projects such as the Nautical/Meadows
Park, Winchester Park and Optimus Park would be delayed, all within Commission District four.
Mr. Bressner pointed out the increase in the bond issue above $28M would cause an issue.
Vice Mayor Rodriguez supported building the new police facility, but felt with value engineering
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Meeting Minutes
Regular City Commission
Boynton Beach, FL August 19, 2008
and a decrease in the square footage, the building should be brought in at the $25M figure to
keep the bond issue at $28M. Mr. Bressner indicated the new Green Code implications were an
issue and the building would be one of the first to comply with those regulations.
Commissioner Hay agreed with Vice Mayor Rodriguez with the caveat that the Heart of Boynton
and Ocean Breese projects continue also. Chief Immler advised the anticipated growth in
personnel would be approximately 40 officers over _the next ten years, for a total of 200
officers.
Commissioner Welland also wanted to move forward with the police project, He did raise the
question regarding storage facilities for vehicles. Chief Immler explained cars Involved in fatal
accidents were required to be kept In storage until all civil and criminal proceedings had
concluded, which could be 10 to 15 years. Either a new storage facility would need to be built
or the tow companies could store the vehicles on their lots. Commissioner Weiland agreed the
police facility should move forward as well as the public beach project, with the Boundless Park
put on a temporary hold.
Mayor Taylor suggested proceeding with Phase 1 of the Boundless Playground as the $2.9 M
had already been budgeted for that segment. With the $4M available In the Recreation and
Parks fund, $2.4M could fund the beach improvements and $600,000 could be used to develop
that Nautica/Meadows Park, leaving a balance of $1M. Mayor Taylor did feel the police facility
should be built at the 81,000 square foot size utilizing alternative financing and interest rates to
obtain the $35M. He felt a challenge to the Green Code mandates may be appropriate.
Mr. Bressner suggested another option may be a lease to own situation with a developer. Vice
Mayor Rodriguez offered the option that a basic price point could be used and specifics
provided how that could be funded either with a bond issue or a bank financing project. Mayor
Taylor wanted the City Attorney to investigate challenging the Green Code unfunded mandate
and any alternative financing available with a bank loan.
Vice Mayor Rodriguez challenged the City Manager to build a 81,000 square foot facility at the
$25M price range. Mayor Taylor agreed. Commissioner Hay questioned if police substations
throughout the City had been considered as an alternative, Chief Immler contended
substations were not cost effective and were not a deterrent to crime.
Mayor Taylor declared there was consensus to move forward with the 81,000 square foot police
facility to be built at the $25M price range plus incorporate the 10 percent Green Code
mandates.
Commissioner Ross remained concerned with the needs of the residents of District four and the
lack of park and recreation facilities. Commissioner.Weiland pointed out additional park and
recreation fees would be gained as new construction continued. Other projects would be
developed as the revenue stream increased.
Mayor Taylor declared there was consensus to proceed with the beach project for $2.4M and
proceed with the Nautica/Meadows Park project for $500,000.
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