Page 6 - Boca Club News - February '24

Page 6, Boca Club News

Government

George S. Brown Named Boca Raton’s New City Manager

The City of Boca Raton has Brown will continue to guide the city based on the goals Apart from his service with the city, Brown has long
announced the appointment and and priorities set by City Council. been active in public administration organizations. He is
promotion of George S. Brown as the A dedicated public servant, Brown has worked a 40-year service award recipient from the International
new City Manager effective January since 1977 across several city departments including City Management Association and has served in various
1st. A City of Boca Raton employee Building Inspection, Code Enforcement, Public Works, and leadership positions with the Florida City and County
for over 40 years, Brown brings a Development Services. He served as the city’s first Code Management Association and the Palm Beach County City
wealth of knowledge and experience Enforcement Officer, and as Public Services Administrator, Management. Brown has also served on the Florida League
to the position. He will lead the city Development Services Director, Assistant City Manager and of Cities Legislative Policy Committees and has received
following the retirement of Leif Deputy City Manager, a position he held since 2004. many Home Rule Hero awards from the League for his
Ahnell, who served as City Manager for 24 years. His significant experience overseeing the city’s legislative advocacy in support of municipal home rule.
In his new role, Brown will take over all aspects of Development Services department and spearheading major A native of Baltimore, MD, and graduate magna cum
running a full-service city of more than 100,000 residents. projects has included significant annexations to the city, a laude of Georgetown University, Brown has called Boca
He will manage almost 1,800 city employees across eight partnership with Florida Atlantic University to develop its Raton home since 1976.
departments, including Police and Fire Rescue Services, stadium and campus, the sale of a city golf course, and the Learn more about the city, its services, goals and
Municipal and Utility Services, Recreation, Financial and recent lease of city land in Mizner Park for the proposed The amenities at www.MyBoca.us.
Development Services and the City Manager’s Office. Center for Arts and Innovation.
Mayor’s Update: I’m Not Running This Time,

But Please Vote on March 19th

Scott Singer is the 35th Mayor of Boca I am not on the ballot this cycle, having won re-election • Mail-in ballots will be sent by the time you read this. You
Raton and was re-elected in 2023. in 2023, but I still encourage all residents to vote and make can still request a mail-in ballot through March 7th. Please
A South Florida native, attorney, your voice heard. Council Member Yvette Drucker faces a note that if you previously voted by mail, you will still have
mediator, and small business owner, challenger for Seat C, and Seat D has former Council Member to refresh your request for mail-in ballots if you did not do
Scott and his wife Bella live in Broken Andy Thomson seeking to return to service against repeat so in 2023. Many people have yet to do so, as there was no
Sound with their two young children. candidate Brian Stenberg. national and statewide election in 2023. You can also do so
While the nation may be focused For decades in poll after poll, the level of government at pbcelections.org.
on the Presidential Primary, an that ranks consistently as the most trusted is the local level • As stated above, early in-person voting will take place
important election is happening for of government. We work in our communities and are seen from March 9th to 17th, but usually not at your election-
all Boca Raton residents on March 19 –our City Council day to day by neighbors. Another bonus in Florida, like many day polling place. You can easily find all locations at
th
elections. The elections are open to all voters, regardless of states, is that our elections are non-partisan, reflecting the old pbcelections.org.
party, and are non-partisan. Because they coincide with the adage that there is no Republican or Democratic way to pick Please take the few minutes to exercise your rights. Our
Presidential Primary, there will be early voting from March up the trash. Yet, municipal elections tend to have lower than republic remains strong and free only through the concerted
9th to March 17th at various locations in Palm Beach County, 15% turnout. Please be an important part of the process–with effort of everyday patriots who take time to participate in our
along with the standard mail-in voting and election-day low turnout your vote matters all the more! processes. I look forward to continuing to work with my City
voting on March 19th at your local precinct. Some important notes and deadlines: Council colleagues to move our city forward. Please reach
• You have until February 20th to update your voter out by email to ssinger@myboca.us with any thoughts or
Mayor Singer Joins White House from page 1 registration. You can do so at pbcelections.org. requests. Thank you.

and business and industry representatives exchanged ideas Council Corner:
on nearly two dozen topics. Said Singer, “The meetings of
the U.S. Conference of Mayors provide great information
on strategies to address common problems, like growing Greater Safety On Our Roads
main-street businesses, housing affordability, infrastructure,
mental health and the opioid epidemic. I look forward to
bringing more of the best practices back to Boca Raton.” By Fran Nachlas, Boca Raton City As your council member, I appreciate the conversations and
Mayor Singer has previously served as the President of the Council Member/CRA Vice-Chair am taking action on responsible solutions for making our roads
Florida League of Mayors and is a graduate of the Bloomberg “Share the road.” What this means safer for all. Late last Fall your city council unanimously voted
Harvard City Leadership Initiative. Through his role with the to one person can vary greatly from to designate Boca Raton as a “Vision Zero City,” launching a
latter project, Boca Raton was selected as one of eight cities what it means to another. At the most Vision Zero Action Plan and establishing the goal of no severe
in 2021 to participate in the Innovation Track, where city staff basic it means motorists, bicyclists and traffic injuries or fatalities. To achieve this goal, Boca Raton
received mentoring and support from academic and business motorcyclists all have the right to be will adopt a true safe system approach for vehicles, bicycles
leaders for an economic development project. on the road and travel safely. In fact, and pedestrians based on engineering, enforcement and
Reflecting on the most impactful moments of the the Florida Department of Highway education, data-driven decision making, and smart balancing
conference beyond the White House meeting, Singer added, Safety and Motor Vehicles has rules for road travelers on considerations in road safety planning and implementation.
“I enjoyed speaking with the former Labor Secretary about how to do just that if you visit their website at www.flhsmv. Please visit www.myboca.us/2239/Vision-Zero for more details.
strategies to amplify our high-tech talent base. It’s an honor gov/safety-center/driving-safety/share-the-road/. In fact, Boca Raton is leading the way, and now 13
to work in a non-partisan setting with other mayors to focus As I’m sure you know from recent columns, I love riding municipalities in Palm Beach County have joined us as Vision
on solving the everyday issues for our cities.” my bike! From tricycles to training wheels to Triathlons, I’ve Zero Communities. They include Belle Glade, Boynton
always enjoyed the opportunity to get some exercise, travel and Beach, Delray Beach, Greenacres, Juno Beach, Jupiter, Lake
enjoy the outdoors on two wheels. So many of our neighbors Park, Lake Worth Beach, Palm Springs, Wellington,West
Southern Exposure Technologies feel the same. Lately though, it seems there has been more Palm Beach and Westlake.
What can we all do as members of our community to make
Computer Install/Setup/Repair and more conflict on the road—cyclists vs. motorists—that the roads safer for all? Recognize the importance of all this and
can become very frustrating, and at its worst deadly.
(561) 315-0144 Just a few weeks ago, on January 4th, six local cyclists on their be part of the solutions. Boca Raton has a Citizens’ Pedestrian
getsetgo.annie@gmail.com early morning ride were struck by a driver who crossed over the and Bikeway Advisory Board which provides citizen input
* DSL, Broadband,Wireless Install yellow line from the opposite side of the road. Three were taken and leadership on these issues. They meet at 6 p.m. on the 2nd
* Networking, Troubleshooting by trauma helicopter to Delray Medical Center, and one remains Monday of the month at the Community Center Annex. Join
* Instruction in the hospital as I write. They were riding on a stretch of State them! In addition, a new advocacy group, the Florida Share the
* Hardware/Software Installation Road A1A in Gulf Stream, which has no designated shoulder Road Coalition, was formed in response to the accident in Gulf
* Virus/Spyware/Adware Fix or bike lane for cyclists. This is just the most recent example of Stream, with a mission to “make A1A in Palm Beach County
* Cleanup/Maintenance/Backup
* Business Consult/Startup/Move what is happening more and more frequently, so the questions safer for drivers and recreational traffic.” They will be making
* Website Design/Maintenance are: What can we do about it, and why is this happening? a presentation at the City Council Workshop on February 12th.
Call S.E.T. to install your “new computer, printer The week after this incident, I brought the issue up at our Personally, I have been getting out on my bike and making
and wireless network”! city council meeting and the reality that when it is car vs. my way through the Boca Raton Bicycle Map, reporting
GET S.E.T. GO! bike that the car always wins. We need to recognize that it is findings to the City Manager and Staff, speaking with
REASONABLE HOURLY, WEEKLY, MONTHLY RATES critical for drivers to decrease distractions and be more aware advocacy groups and also riding with some of the members
FOR SMALL BUSINESSES FOR AS LOW AS $50.00 AN HOUR, of our surroundings. When speaking with people I always ask, of those groups. Realizing that we all, cyclists/motorists/
WITH A MINIMUM OF 6 HOURS A MONTH, what if it were your child, grandchild or spouse on that bike? pedestrians, have responsibilities when it comes to sharing
OR 2 HOURS A WEEK, OR ON AN AS-NEEDED
BASIS RATE OF $75.00 P/HOUR. Would you slow down, put your phone down and make sure the road is the first step. Let’s work together towards the goal
START YOUR NEW YEAR WITH SECURE BACKUPS, to follow the rules of the road? Some say yes, but some will of Vision Zero in Boca Raton.
QUALITY MAINTENANCE, ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND claim no one but motorists should be on the road, and some As always, please reach out to me at fnachlas@myboca.us
PERSONABLE ON-SITE SUPPORT! will come up with examples of innovative infrastructure for or (561) 221-7902 to continue the conversation about this or
(561) 315-0144
CALL S.E.T. TODAY FOR YOUR COMPUTER NEEDS! municipalities to implement. I think we need to be smart and any other ideas you have to make Boca Raton an even better
implement those improvements! place. See you out on the road!