Page 8 - Boca Club News - April '21

Page 8, Boca Club News

Government

Mayor’s Update:

Continuing Our Tradition of Innovation and Technology

Scott Singer is the 35th Mayor I’m pleased to report that Boca Raton was one of only nine blessed to enjoy. We will ensure that Boca Raton remains a
of Boca Raton. A South Florida cities nationwide to be selected in this effort sponsored by leader among cities, and a place that exudes what others can
native, attorney, mediator and small Bloomberg Philanthropies and Harvard University. Over the only imagine.
business owner, Scott and his wife, next eight months, a cross-departmental group of senior city The future of Boca Raton is being written every day. This
Bella, live in Broken Sound with their employees will work with academic and business leaders to year was further proof of the resilience and unity in the heart
two young children. bring innovative ideas more to the forefront of the way we of our Boca Raton community. We have been tested and
Innovation has long been part provide services to our residents. I look forward to the results made stronger by our challenges. As a result, we will recover
of our history and culture in Boca on how we build on the gains we have made this past year, and progress with greater speed, courage and determination.
Raton, as we are the birthplace of the and help further the growth of tomorrow’s businesses and Thank you for being a part of Boca Raton and a member of
IBM personal computer. New technology companies are in opportunities for our residents. our community. If you want to discuss anything about our
every corner of the city. At the City of Boca Raton, we are We don’t yet know where the specific innovations will growing tech ecosystem, or anything else, please email me
working to build on this history and improve our strength to take us. But we do know that, as a city committed to making at ssinger@myboca.us. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this
sustain a lasting high-tech economy. innovation part of its core culture of service, Boca Raton will or any other topic, so please drop a line.
FAU is home to two institutions that help build our continue to have the prosperity and quality of life we are
flourishing tech base. The Research Park at FAU is a
technology incubator with 29 early-stage companies. Council Corner: Join Me
Companies at the next early stage may find a home at Tech
Runway, a tech accelerator. The name is both literal—as Tech
Runway sits alongside the runway at the Boca Raton Airport, As I Run Around Your Neighborhood!
a major attractor for corporate headquarters and international
investment—and figurative, as this is where companies take
flight to grow into the next stage. In the last six years, 93 By Boca Raton City Councilman sides to clean. If you add in that second set of sidewalks,
companies have grown from here at Tech Runway, creating Andy Thomson, who was first elected there’s about 475 miles total.
hundreds of jobs. With so many thriving tech companies, it’s during the special City Council Not only will this initiative result in cleaner streets, but
no wonder that the growing number of venture capital and election in 2018, and re-elected by doing this I can get to know our City even better from the
private equity firms in Boca Raton are increasing their focus without opposition to the Council. ground up. Every neighborhood, every business district, every
on companies who are already here. On New Year’s Day 2019, like intersection, every community. This street-level perspective
Several years ago, the City Council made greater support many people, I had a resolution: to will help me see all the ways in which the City is doing a
for a technology ecosystem as one of our top strategic exercise more. Specifically, I wanted good job–and all the ways that we can improve. And I’ve
priorities. We created an office of innovation to serve a to jog more. As I set off on my first run been documenting all of the issues we’ve observed, from
primarily outward facing role to further the technology, that day back in 2019, I noticed lots of litter on the streets, so traffic signal timing and pedestrian safety issues to potholes
medical technology, and cutting-edge environment with I decided to do something about it. I found a trash bag and and cracked sidewalks.
growing companies in technology, like home-grown picked up as much trash as I could. Later, my kids started Since we kicked off #RunTheCity on January 1st,
Modernizing Medicine. joining me. Since then, my kids and I have cleaned hundreds we’ve run 100.56 miles, cleaned up 259.96 pounds of trash
Last year, I led Boca Raton’s application for innovation of pounds of trash from Boca Raton streets. (including 308 pieces of PPE, a major issue), and identified
track of the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative. But the truth is that I should have done more. Like many 188 safety improvements. That’s a lot of progress, but we
folks with New Year’s resolutions, I had a hard time sticking have a long way to go.
with it. Running three times a week soon became two times, As we make our way through the City, I’ll keep you
which became once a week, which became...you get the posted on where I’ll be going and what I’m seeing. But
picture. better yet, join me (from a safe distance) and let me know
So, this year I’m doing something different. I’m running what your neighborhood needs are and what the City can do
the entire City of Boca Raton—every mile of every road in better. Whether you run, walk or just give me your thoughts,
our City—over the course of 2021, and clean it all as I go. I want your input. If you want to join me when I’m in your
We call it #RunTheCity. neighborhood, or if you want to partner with us as we
All told, Boca Raton has about 390 miles of roads. But #RunTheCity, you can sign up at www.andythomson.com/
most larger roads have two sets of sidewalks, meaning two run-the-city
Memo from County Tax Collector

Anne M. Gannon: Inside Our

Department—How We Serve You...

New Members of Our Team

By Anne M. Gannon, Constitutional Installment Payment
Tax Collector serving Palm Beach Plan Application
County. You can reach her office
by Email: ClientAdvocate@ Deadline is April 30th.
taxcollectorpbc.com. Phone: (561)
355-4271. Did you know that if paying your real estate and tangible
Each April marks the end of property taxes in one lump sum each year is too burdensome,
property tax season, and one might you can apply to have your taxes paid in four quarterly
think it is the conclusion of our busy payments through our Installment Payment Plan? By signing
season. While true that property tax payments are a big part up by April 30th, your 2021 estimated taxes will be split
of our volume of work and monies collected, we still have into four payments with the first payment due by June 30th
plenty to do for our Palm Beach clients. Real ID compliant and subsequent installment payments due September 30th,
driver licenses and ID cards continue to be processed as the December 31st and March 31st, 2022. If you’d like to take
October 1st, 2021 deadline nears; our business tax team advantage of this payment plan, please visit our website at
is gearing up for the annual mailing and processing of www.pbctax.com/ipp for details and to sign-up online.
business tax receipts; the finance and budget department is
preparing for the 2021-22 budget planning; our tax services A Community of Caring.
team continues to process volumes and volumes of mail
each day, and our HR team is quite busy screening and Every two years, the employees of the Palm Beach
testing applicants for a number of vacancies we need to fill County Tax Collector’s office select two local non-profit
with qualified applicants. I encourage you to check out our organizations to support through their own monetary and
careers page at www.pbctax.com/culture-and-careers for in-kind contributions. For 2019 and 2020, Families First
our latest open positions. and Living Hungry were the two charities that were selected
We are never too busy to assist with whatever you may and supported by our employees. Through tremendous
need. We are always here to help you.
Memo from County Tax Collector on page 9