Page 8 - Boca Club News - May '22

Page 8, Boca Club News

Government

Mayor’s Update:

Boca Raton Infrastructure and School Upgrades

Scott Singer is the 35th Mayor For many governments, from the federal level to nearby In August, it will open as the first additional public school
of Boca Raton. A South Florida cities, one of their biggest problems is infrastructure: failing in Boca Raton in nearly two decades. How did we get here?
native, attorney, mediator, and small roads, bursting pipes and other issues. We have prevented Again, it comes back to hustle and partnership.
business owner, Scott and his wife countless problems by investing in these crucial assets year Boca Raton was already ahead of all other cities in Palm
Bella live in Broken Sound with their after year. In fact, we are in the midst of a multi-year, half- Beach County in getting two of the first seven schools to be
two young children. billion-dollar campaign to upgrade our roads, sidewalks rebuilt with sales surtax funds. This school was originally
Last month, I spoke of how and network of underground utilities, as part of the city’s planned to go elsewhere. When that site fell through, we moved
hustle helped us bring business and Innovative Sustainable Infrastructure Program. quickly to donate 15 acres to bring the new school to our city. We
amenities to Boca Raton, including The innovation comes from using advanced sensors to got this new campus only because we seized this opportunity,
the new Brightline station slated to open in the fall in detect problems and prioritize areas to be replaced. Boca becoming the first city in at least 30 years to do so. After our
Downtown Boca Raton. Brightline is just one of our many Square is only one of more than a dozen neighborhoods that initiative, years of planning and much collaboration, we look
investments to address traffic and build infrastructure for have undergone major improvements in the last few years. forward to the opening in August. Our creative partnership with
roads, utilities, schools and more. The upgrades above and below ground are done together to the District will add nearly 1,200 student seats, serving both the
Newspaper articles from the 1960s talk about a traffic save millions in costs. It also saves residents money each many families in Boca Raton and creating space for more new
problem in Boca Raton, so that has long been a concern. month; our water rates are only a fraction of what some students as more people move here.
To address it, we are constantly upgrading our technology nearby cities charge. The investments in infrastructure both help us continue
to better time our traffic lights and, unlike other cities, have This work on Southwest 12th Avenue in the Boca Square to deliver outstanding services and also help our bottom
synchronized control of all intersections. The North Federal neighborhood was completed in time for the opening last line. Boca Raton again has one of the lowest tax rates of
Highway corridor has historically lagged other areas because August of the new Addison Mizner School. 2021 was the any full-service city in Florida. And when you layer in the
of limited road connections. second of three straight years that we will see a new, state- additional costs, like the water fees that are much higher in
I am pleased that we are in planning stages to connect Clint of-the-art public school added to Boca Raton. We appreciate other cities, we see how much more efficiently we serve our
Moore Road across the railroad tracks to Jeffery Street within our strong partnership with the School District and Board residents–with the higher level of service we expect for our
the next few years. We have only a few options to link major Chair Frank Barbieri, and it was this partnership that takes city. You can see some great slides showing these savings,
roadways and this connection will be a major improvement. us to our next topic, schools. and other topics, as part of the recent State of the City address
We have also invested in more options for bicyclists and Progress continues on the brand-new Blue Lake at myboca.us/soc.
pedestrians. This year, we will begin work on connecting Elementary, which will be located off Military Trail. For the Please email me at ssinger@myboca.us with any
our award-winning El Rio Trail with the expanded multi-use past two years, this site was used as a temporary school while thoughts and stay connected with me on social media @
path along Palmetto Park Road. both Addison Mizner and Verde K-8 were under construction. ScottSingerUSA on all platforms.
Council Corner: Downtown Updates

By Monica Mayotte, who was for the organization for the property on the NE corner of the rest of our downtown parking, you can pay at a meter
re-elected to another term on Mizner Park and the Mizner Park Amphitheater. I am excited or by using the ParkMobile app which can be downloaded
the Raton City Council, and who and hopeful that this project will move forward. to a smartphone from your App Store.
is CRA Chair. Ms. Mayotte has And, a heads up: more parking meters are coming to Lastly, I’d like to highlight our city libraries. They are a
been a resident of Boca Raton downtown Boca Raton. This can be a divisive topic, but let wonderful community amenity that is enjoyed by residents
for more than 20 years, active in me explain why parking meters help ensure there are more of all ages. Our libraries are fully open so come in, look
the community both in our local available parking spaces when you come to the downtown. around, and even check out some books. Our libraries offer
schools and as a city advisory When parking is free, there is no reason for drivers to move many interesting programs and classes. You can check out
board member. their cars. People who live downtown will take up these all of the libraries’ offerings at www.Bocalibrary.org and
Spring has sprung! There are so many exciting initiatives spaces instead of parking in their own parking facilities www.BocaLibraryFriends.org.
happening around town. because it is more convenient. This makes it difficult for As always, please continue to be kind and considerate
Our new Brightline station is under construction. The visitors to the downtown who want to shop or dine to find to one another.
official groundbreaking ceremony was held in January. But parking. Feel free to contact me with any city concerns you may
now, actual shovels and all types of heavy equipment are The newest meters will be located on Palmetto Park Road have. I can be reached at my email address: mmayotte@
being used to build both the train station and the new parking between Federal Highway and NE 5th Avenue, along SE myboca.us or my city cell phone: (561) 212-5543.
garage. If all goes well, we are hopeful that the station will 3rd Ave, SE 4th Ave, and along Royal Palm Way. Just like Take care. Be well.
be opened towards the end of the year.
The city council held a discussion in April at a City
Council Workshop about the ground lease for the proposed
Boca Raton Center for Arts and Innovation in Mizner Park. Home Health Care
We discussed the final outstanding issues for a ground lease
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