City Commission

City of Delray Beach 100 NW 1st Avenue - Delray Beach, Florida 33444 Phone: (561) 243-7000 www.delraybeachfl.gov Minutes - Final Thursday, March 27, 2025 4:00 PM Workshop Meeting at 4:00 PM Delray Beach City Hall or Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc2j0JhnR8Hx0Hj13RhCJag/s treams City Commission Mayor Thomas F. Carney, Jr. Vice Mayor Juli Casale Deputy Vice Mayor Rob Long Commissioner Tom Markert Commissioner Angela Burns City Commission Minutes - Final March 27, 2025 Pursuant to Section 3.12 of the Charter of the City of Delray Beach, the Mayor has instructed me to announce a Workshop Meeting of the City Commission to be held for the following purposes: WS.1. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN EDUCATION ELEMENT POLICY AND GOAL CONSIDERATIONS Sponsors: City Manager Department Attachments: Agenda Cover Report Education Policy Amendment Tracking Chart DIA Amendments GOP Amendments The March 27, 2025, Commission Workshop Meeting was called to order at 4:00 p.m. City Clerk, Alexis Givings, called the role, and the following were present: Present: 5 - Deputy Vice Mayor Rob Long, Vice Mayor Juli Casale, Commissioner Angela Burns, Commissioner Tom Markert, Mayor Thomas F. Carney, Jr. Others present were: Terrence Moore - City Manager Lynn Gelin - City Attorney Lynn Gelin, City Attorney, began by reviewing the Florida Statute, Section 163.3177, as it relates to the City of Delray Beach's Comprehensive Plan, also known as the Always Delray Comprehensive Plan. She stated that this document serves as a blueprint for the City's future residential and commercial development. It was intended to guide the area's economic, social, physical, environmental, and fiscal growth, reflecting the community's commitment to implementing the plan and its various components. Janai Bowens, the Education and External Opportunities Manager, noted that the goal of this workshop was to use the collected data to assist the Commission in developing key initiatives that promote early childhood success, family engagement, grade-level reading, and workforce development through the Education Element of the Comprehensive Plan. She delivered a presentation on the schools in the City of Delray Beach, highlighting their current status and proposed policy improvements for the future. She focused on city-wide strategies to enhance academic performance and addressed the barriers faced by many families in the community. Ms. Bowens emphasized the necessity for the schools to align City of Delray Beach Page 2 Printed on 4/23/2025 City Commission Minutes - Final March 27, 2025 with the Palm Beach County School District, especially given the increasing number of non-English-speaking residents, economically disadvantaged families, and children with special needs. Ms. Bowens presented her proposed additional policies and amendments to the City’s Always Delray Comprehensive Master Plan, which aims to improve early childhood literacy through collaboration and funding from the City and County’s partners. She stressed the importance of including the City’s non-profit organizations in these plans. In addition, this data was intended to be used to develop key initiatives that promote early childhood success, family engagement, grade-level reading, workforce development, and other societal influences. The Commission discussed the presentation and acknowledged the importance of gaining support from local non-profit organizations and the Palm Beach County School Board. Vice Mayor Casale expressed her gratitude to several non-profit organizations that have been serving the children of the city without receiving any funding from the City. She emphasized that to create an equitable budget, the Commission should receive a comprehensive list of all non-profits that are receiving financial support from various departments within the City, along with the respective amounts. Mayor Carney suggested meeting with the School Board annually to review progress under the new goals and priorities established by the updated interlocal agreement. Mayor Carney opened the floor to public comments on this subject. Stephaine Immelman, Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce Stated the Chamber of Commerce is willing to assist the City in achieving its educational goals. Allison Turner, Chairman of the Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce Education Fund Discussed grant opportunities available to schools, teachers, and organizations to help make a direct impact on schools in the City of Delray Beach. Barbara Stark, President and CEO of the Milagro Center, Delray Beach Discussed the academic achievements that the Milagro Center has helped make for local students. City of Delray Beach Page 3 Printed on 4/23/2025 City Commission Minutes - Final March 27, 2025 Janet Meeks, 2782 Hampton Circle South, Delray Beach Provided her suggestions to improve education in the City as the former Education Coordinator. Jim Chard, 401 SE 4 Avenue, Delray Beach Suggested implementing goals for education instead of focusing on policies to help ensure they are ready for college or the workforce after high school. Did Not State Her Name Recognized learning challenges children face and parents who work extended hours not being available engage in the child's schoolwork. Irene Rivelas, 331 East Atlantic Avenue, Delray Beach Discussed mandating the interlocal agreement for coordinated planning that governs capital improvements in the city schools. Rita Rona, 50 East Road, Delray Beach Thanked Ms. Bowens for her dedicated work and suggested the City meet with the Rotary Club to assess their educational needs and identify any monetary shortfalls. Montre Bennett, 323 NW 2 Avenue, Delray Beach Mentioned some parents struggle to assist their children with homework and suggested that children walk and meditate before school in the morning. Janice Hill, 309 SW 15 Terrace, Delray Beach Congratulated Ms. Bowens for her work and acknowledged the language and economic barriers that have plagued the city's schools for years. Chuck Ridley, 210 NW 2 Avenue, Delray Beach Thanked Ms. Bowens for an excellent presentation and shared his views on the role that the Commission should play in the local schools. WS.2. HISTORIC CARVER CONSIDERATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Sponsors: City Manager Department Attachments: Agenda Cover Report SHPO+FTHP 2019 Carver Docs-103122 copy Historic Carver - Proposed Campus Revitalization Plan (1) (002) Janai Bowens and Jeff Oris, Assistant City Manager, delivered a presentation on the Historic Carver/Delray Full Service Campus Revitalization Plan. She stated that in February 2019, the Division of Historical Resources designated the Historic Carver Campus as eligible City of Delray Beach Page 4 Printed on 4/23/2025 City Commission Minutes - Final March 27, 2025 for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, deeming several buildings significant contributing resources. She also mentioned that in September 2023, the School Board approved the fiscal year Capital Plan, which included $20 million to revitalize Buildings 1 and 12. The School District of Palm Beach County is seeking the support of the City of Delray Beach in developing a proposed Historic Carver Revitalization Plan/ Phase II, which includes additional education programs and a community clinic. Joseph Sanches from the School District of Palm Beach County was present to request the City’s support for the proposed Phase II of the Historic Carver Revitalization Plan. This phase includes the development of a technical center and a community clinic, as well as the demolition of Building 2 to create a parking lot. The Commission discussed the significance of students who choose not to attend college but instead enroll in a technical school, allowing the students to enter the workforce promptly with valuable skills. They expressed their concern that the on-site clinic should serve as a learning center instead of a medical treatment facility. There was a consensus to allow the demolition of Building 2. Mayor Carney opened the floor to anyone who wished to provide public comment on this item. Michele Gitu, 1020 Citrus Way, Unit 201, Delray Beach Discussed the importance of having a facility for immediate health care in the Set Community and providing a technical school for students. Chuck Ridley, 210 NW 2 Avenue, Delray Beach Spoke about the original plans for the Carver School. Jim Chard, 401 SE 4 Avenue, Delray Beach Stated that the proposal was not presented to the Historic Preservation Board, which is an official board of the City, and suggested that the City’s transportation planner review the plans. Janet Meeks, 2782 Hampton Circle South, Delray Beach Suggested the current plans did not align with what the School Board had initially agreed upon and suggested that the City of Delray Beach enter into an interlocal agreement to reaffirm the School Board's commitment to building a technical high school and a technical college, as was initially promised. City of Delray Beach Page 5 Printed on 4/23/2025 City Commission Minutes - Final March 27, 2025 Irene Rivelas, 331 East Atlantic Avenue, Delray Beach Suggested writing a draft agreement to the School Board to negotiate plans for the Carver Campus before moving forward with construction. Joy Howell, 25 NW 24 Court, Delray Beach Recommended that the Commission act quickly to secure the Education Funds before they are removed. Montre Bennett, 323 NW 2 Avenue, Delray Beach Stated that not everyone will utilize technical schools and some people want to own their own business instead of working for a large corporation. There being no further business to discuss, Mayor Carney adjourned the meeting at 6:13 p.m. WS.3. PUBLIC COMMENTS The City shall furnish appropriate auxiliary aids and services where necessary to afford an individual with a disability an equal opportunity to participate in and enjoy the benefits of a service, program, or activity conducted by the City. Please contact the Human Resources Department at (561) 243-7125 at least 24 hours prior to the program or activity for the City to reasonably accommodate your request. Adaptive listening devices are available for meetings in the Commission Chambers. City of Delray Beach Page 6 Printed on 4/23/2025