Page 7 - Boca Club News - September '19

Boca Club News, Page 7
Government

Update from Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer

Scott Singer and his wife are my town hall meetings, outreach, and regular communications, hope you’ll consider sharing your views there and hearing what
members of Broken Sound Club. I’ve gained a wealth of views and comments that have helped your neighbors think. Thousands of residents have taken part,
After just 16 months as Mayor, I’m me better address the needs of our families and businesses. I’m and our community is stronger for this participation. You can
proud of the results we’ve achieved for honored to work with my colleagues on the city council and the receive updates on these public discussions and more Boca
Boca Raton. We finalized plans for, dedicated team of nearly 1,900 employees whose dedication news by connecting on social media at @ScottSingerUSA on
and saw, the construction of the first to providing world-class services shines through every day. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
new public school in Boca Raton in We have more work ahead, and I hope we can continue Huge thanks go out to every resident who has taken a few
more than a decade. We added many this journey together. As fall approaches, I’m grateful for the hours, or even minutes, to share your thoughts, concerns, or
millions of dollars in improvements to many dedicated residents who have encouraged me to continue questions with me. The cornerstone of serving constituents
roads, green space, and infrastructure with no tax increase and my service as Mayor. With their support, I’m excited to kick is actually listening and responding to your concerns, and
while keeping our millage rates low. We raised standards for new off my campaign for re-election as Mayor with a reception that guides me every single day. As always, I welcome your
buildings and have seen better designed projects as a result. We at Loch Bar at Mizner Park on Thursday, September 26th, thoughts at ssinger@myboca.us. Your opinion matters to me!
partnered with the School District to better ensure the safety of at 5:30 pm. I am running for re-election to continue working If you’d like to see more of my policy platform or learn
our students. We’ve continued to attract high-paying jobs to our for long-term solutions for safe and livable neighborhoods, more about the campaign---and how you might help---as
thriving economy. Crime is down, and home values are up. And, appropriate development, stronger job growth, improved traffic we prepare to knock on thousands of doors, please visit
just recently, we started an important discussion about mobility and mobility planning, and better schools and opportunities for SingerForBoca.com.
that might have long-range benefits to our business strength, our our children. Hope you and your neighbors might join us. I trust you share my commitment to working for long-term
downtown, and beyond. Between now and the important March 17th, 2020 municipal solutions for safe and livable neighborhoods, stronger job
My time serving the residents of Boca Raton has been made election, I look forward to doing what I’ve done since I was growth, improved mobility, and better opportunities for our
all the more special by the opportunity to work with so many first elected to serve five years ago: be a leader who listens. As children. To keep up our progress, I hope to keep working
dedicated people. It starts with the residents, and I’m honored to of the print deadline, we are finalizing the dates for my next with you and for you. Thank you for the opportunity to serve
represent the 100,000 residents of our unmatched city. Through in-person town hall in October, and telephone town halls. I as a strong voice for the residents of Boca Raton!
Council Corner: 2019-2020 Priorities and Goals

By Andrea Levine O’Rourke, Mission. “Responsibly providing outstanding services to Drilling down into all of the above includes hundreds of
Boca Raton City Council Member, enhance our unique quality of life.” ongoing and new initiatives and projects.
Community Redevelopment Chair Guiding Principles: As a city, we are proud of the 2019 accomplishments:
As Summer winds down, I hope •Financially Sound City; Infrastructure Improvements included five major
everyone has enjoyed a wonderful •World Class Municipal Services; sidewalk repairs, six roadway projects completed with nine
vacation season. Boca’s City Council • Strong Partnership with Community; more in the works. Plus, we are following the Innovative
will now resume its regular twice • Vibrant and Sustainable City. Sustainable Infrastructure Program (ISIP), which is a long-
monthly meeting schedule. However, Policy Agenda: term initiative by our Utility Services Department using
even with the change of summer Financially Sound City. Innovation business hub; technology and data to evaluate, prioritize and improve
monthly meetings, the engine of our city never slows down! Financial plan to address long-term impacts of growth; critical underground areas throughout the City.
In Mid-April the Mayor, City Council, Managers and preparation for the next financial downturn. Planning & Zoning improvements included expanding
Department Heads participated in the Annual Boca Raton World Class Municipal Services. Government Master the over-the-counter permitting experience, a downtown
Goal Setting Session. The purpose is to collaborate and Plan, City Services and staffing. parking availability program, and rewriting the sign code,
form the Guiding Principles, Mission, Visions and Goals Strong Partnership with Community. Public schools’ to name several.
of our city going forward. safety structure; Public schools’ strategy, advocacy and Economic Development offers interesting stats. Since
With the guidance of a new professional facilitator, we actions; Partnership with Greater Boca Raton Chamber 2010 Boca has attracted 43 companies, added 10,139 new
began by reviewing the past year’s successes and challenges. of Commerce, Greater Beach and Parks District, Florida jobs, provided $5,333,600 of city incentives (matched by the
We then took a 30,000-foot view of where we are today University Town & Gown… and other institutions. state with $15,003,030 and the county’s $3,091,200).
in all aspects of our city, followed by consideration of Vibrant and Sustainable City: Comprehensive traffic Recreational Service saw advances with the addition of
future challenges and goals. After active participation of and connectivity planning; Explore Midtown enhancements; the Art in Public Places Program (a personal initiative I’m
all attendees, including public comment, the facilitator Revisions to land development plan; Downtown’s IDG/ very proud of) and Gumbo Limbo boardwalk completed.
organized all of the ideas. Several months later the elected Pattern Book/4035; Sustainability Action Plan. We added youth sports programs, as well as beautification
officials reviewed, voted and came to consensus. Top 3 Priorities: projects. Approved and began planning/development
Vision. “Boca Raton – a beautiful , prosperous, safe and • Comprehensive Traffic and Connectivity Planning; of Hillsboro El Rio Park, Lake Wyman Rutherford and
vibrant coastal community.” • Public School Safety Infrastructure; Wildflower Waterfront Park. Signature Events included the
• Innovation and Business Technology Hub. Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl at FAU, the Festival of the Arts
at Mizner Park and the Oasis Golf Championship at Broken
Sound. I hope you joined us for a couple of these great events.
Rounding out our community with memorable opportunities
such as these are not only great community builders, they
offer outstanding economic opportunities.
Community Partnerships saw great success this year,
beginning with the Palm Beach County School District by
establishing a new temporary elementary school that will
become permanent with the completion of the rebuilds
of Verde Elementary and Addison Mizner El. We value
and maintain communication with our city’s universities;
Florida Atlantic University, Lynn University, Palm Beach
State University. Important relationships include the Greater
Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce and Boca Raton Airport
Authority and the Hospital.
Innovation, which was a top priority last year, saw great
advancement. After a long search we hired a Manager and
now have an Office of Innovation. We assisted and funded
FAU Tech Runway, collaborated with the FAU Research
Park, and introduced supporting STEM and STEAM
education in public schools and city programming.
Sustainability also took great leaps this year. We hired
a Manager and added an Office of Sustainability. That
office introduced a Coastal Connection Program rewarding
restaurant participants. We began working with 4Oceans on
Intracoastal cleanup. Instead of handing out plastic water
bottles, we introduced a portable water station to have at
events around town.
I am proud of our many steps forward in providing
services and infrastructure improvements to our city. Stay
tuned for my next report. I will have lots of new facts and
stats and updates on further progress that I believe you will
find very interesting.
It’s important to mention that the Virgin/Brightline train
station proposal did not come before us until the end of July.
It offers opportunities to consider and add as a priority as
more details become available.