Page 8 - Boca Club News - June '21

Page 8, Boca Club News

Government

Mayor’s Update:

Boca’s Infrastructure – Keeping Our City in Top Shape

Scott Singer is the 35th Mayor Our roadways and sidewalks are a major part of the easing congestion. We’ll see more of this technology across
of Boca Raton. A South Florida infrastructure we simply expect to work. It would be easy the city. In addition, Palmetto Park Road now has four new
native, attorney, mediator and small to underestimate the great efforts of our Municipal Services flashing signal pedestrian walkways from Federal Highway
business owner, Scott and his wife, Department to keep them smooth and safe. Last year, the to the bridge.
Bella, live in Broken Sound with their engineering and streets division milled and resurfaced nearly 17 Part of the Municipal Services Department’s work
two young children. miles of roadway, 10 miles of sidewalks, and spent over a half includes building out of our coastal facilities and parks,
Few governments invest in their a million dollars on drainage improvements in neighborhoods including the opening last year of Hillsboro El Rio South and
essential infrastructure the way Boca across the city. As part of this multi-year, multi-hundred- the coming work this year at Wildflower, Silver Palm and
Raton does. While other cities suffer million-dollar campaign of upgrades, we link utility and Rutherford Parks. The pandemic saw most of us spending
from crumbling roads, broken sewer lines and outdated roadway repairs to save costs and limit disruption. Residents more time at home, which meant more garbage to be picked
technology, Boca Raton plans to invest more than $750 will notice this work in Boca Square along 12th Avenue in up. Our Sanitation Division, Boca’s Strongest, safely
Million over the next 15 years to evaluate, prioritize and front of the new Addison Mizner School, and beginning soon collected 43,000,000 tons of waste, with greater efficiency,
improve the critical network of pipes and roadways in our in Country Club Village, Lake Floresta, Tunison Palms and through the use of the new 360-degree vehicle cameras.
city. All of this investment is part of our existing budget and Old Floresta. We’ll also see work on Northeast Fifth Avenue, Every day, we rely on much behind-the-scenes work
capital plan, which continues our low millage rate. Here are and continued utility upgrades in Boca Villas. to make sure we enjoy the quality of life we have in Boca
some more details on the complex networks that provide the A favorite topic in every vibrant city, traffic seems to Raton. The next time you turn on your faucet, take out the
safety, security, and convenience we take for granted – but be an ongoing discussion, and we are listening. The City’s trash, or drive our roads, please consider the hard work of the
shouldn’t. state-of-the-art traffic operation center manages 139 traffic dedicated employees who consistently deliver outstanding
Boca Raton is not merely investing to ensure outstanding signals throughout the town, and the Traffic Management service. We have countless reasons to be grateful for their
infrastructure; we are innovating. As part of our Innovative Center monitors signals, travel times and delays at major hard work and creativity, as we do for so many people and
Sustainable Infrastructure Program, we are working on roads. We have invested millions of dollars in upgrades for components of our wonderful city.
replacing and upgrading the city’s infrastructure east of I-95 traffic signals, including our newest one at Clint Moore Road Please share your comments, by email at ssinger@myboca.
before 2040. and Woodfield Circle. It includes the flashing yellow arrow, us, and stay connected for more news @ScottSingerUSA on
Through their innovative work, the Utility Services which will allow more frequent and safe left-hand turns, all social media platforms.
Department earned the Utility of the Future award from the
National Association of Water Agencies this year. Our city
is: Council Corner: Results of the
• Growing our Artificial Intelligence systems to provide
service and reliability to the 130,000 people in the water
service area; Strategic Planning Retreat, and More.
• Installing Smart Meters at residents’ homes that identify
water uses on a real-time basis, and
• Including solar energy systems into the renovation of By Yvette Drucker, who was just re- colleagues and I, along with our senior leadership team,
utility buildings and structures. elected to the Council in her own name. met virtually for two days to focus on our goals, priorities
Ms. Drucker had been serving on the and desired future outcomes. We reviewed our vision and
Council after being appointed to fill the mission statements. We also had a collaborative discussion
vacancy left by Jeremy Rodgers when around our four goals: (1) a financially sound city; (2) world
he was called to military service. class municipal services; (3) strong partnerships with the
I am passionate about our community, and (4) a vibrant and sustainable city... and the
commUNITY. I cannot thank you priority items within each goal. We then voted on the priorities
enough for coming together behind under each goal for FY 21-22.
my vision for common-sense, results-driven leadership. I am Other exciting events included the approval to start our
ready to work with you to jumpstart our economy, maintain new premier downtown parks: Wildflower Park and Silver
our safety and high quality of life, and secure our future with Palm Park. We had the groundbreaking for our Boca Raton
smart fiscal and environmental policy. Community Garden located in Meadows Park in partnership
My love for our city has inspired me to serve you for years with the Junior League of Boca Raton and GoBrightline.
as a nonprofit leader and advocate for children and families. It Arts and culture continue to be an exciting area for the
has been the highest honor to work for you on the City Council city. The Boca Raton Museum of Art was given the go-
since last October, and I am incredibly excited about the next ahead to demolish the western colonnade of the Mizner Park
three years. Amphitheater, and to construct its new museum entrance. The
Now it is time to get back to work. Recovering from the City Council also provided the city with direction on a potential
COVID-19 crisis will not be easy, but I am confident that, land lease agreement with BRADEC (Boca Raton Center for
together, we will emerge from this pandemic stronger than Arts & Innovation) group.
ever. If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at
Despite our recent struggles with COVID-19 and its ydrucker@myboca.us and you can always follow me on @
impact on our lives and our economy, I believe that Boca yvettedrucker on all social media platforms.
Raton is on the path towards a brighter future. I will use my The future, as I said, is bright for Boca! As best stated in
experience in business and my history of volunteerism and our vision statement:
community leadership to make sure that our city continues “Boca Raton – A Beautiful, Prosperous, Safe and
to move in the right direction as we all look forward to the Vibrant Coastal Community”
summer approaching and try to resume to what each of our I am looking forward to this summer, and spending time
“new normal” looks like. We have been extremely busy! with my family and friends. I wish you all the same, as we
Last month, I had the opportunity to participate in our continue to find and live in our “New Normal.” Be safe, stay
City Council Strategic Planning Retreat, when my Council healthy and enjoy our beautiful city!