City Commission

City of Delray Beach 100 NW 1st Avenue - Delray Beach, Florida 33444 Phone: (561) 243-7000 www.delraybeachfl.gov Minutes - Final Tuesday, July 15, 2025 3:00 PM Workshop Meeting at 3:00 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 Rob Long Deputy Vice Mayor Angela Burns Commissioner Tom Markert Commissioner Juli Casale City Commission Minutes - Final July 15, 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. FISCAL YEARS 2026 THROUGH 2030 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM BUDGET CONSIDERATIONS Sponsors: Finance Department and Public Works Department Attachments: Agenda Cover Report The July 15, 2025 City Commission Meeting was called to order at 3:07 p.m. Alexis Givings, City Clerk, called the roll, and the following were present: Present: 4 - Mayor Thomas F. Carney, Jr., Vice Mayor Rob Long, Deputy Vice Mayor Angela Burns, Commissioner Juli Casale Absent: 1- Commissioner Tom Markert Others present were: Terrence Moore, City Manager Kelly Brandon, Assistant City Attorney Alexis Givings, City Clerk Missie Barletto, Director of Public Works, and Henry Dackowitz, Chief Financial Officer, presented the Commission with the preliminary budget for the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) budget for Fiscal Years 2026-2030. Ms. Barletto outlined the CIP budget by fund type, which totaled $295,412,650, and noted that this represented an increase of $45 million from last year. Additionally, she pointed out that a significant portion of the budget was dedicated to the City’s new water treatment plant. She also presented the CIP budget by department, highlighting that the Utilities Department accounts for the majority of the expenses. She stated that numerous individual projects were included in the CIP, which this year included a Special Projects Fund that totaled $848,098. Funding for these projects will come from in-lieu parking fees and recouped litigation fees. She discussed the General Construction Revenue Fund, which included grants that support the CIP projects as well as funds appropriated by legislation. The Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) also funds several large-scale projects in the CIP. This year, the City will begin utilizing the funds from the Parks Safety General Obligations Bond, which will support the Fire Stations and Ocean Rescue initiatives. She discussed the Water and Sewer Revenue Fund, for which the City was awarded $1.5 million from the House Committee for the Tropic Isle Neighborhood Improvement Project. The Municipal Golf Course and clubhouse secured financing of City of Delray Beach Page 2 Printed on 8/20/2025 City Commission Minutes - Final July 15, 2025 $24,500,000 for renovations this year and an additional $2,500,000 for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. She discussed the Stormwater Utility / Revenue Fund, which the Commission voted to increase. She stated that this increase would generate an additional $2,224,615 for the upcoming fiscal year. Additionally, she mentioned that the City is exploring various loan and bond options to cover the total expense for this initiative over the next 5 years, which amounts to $6,820,000. The Commission discussed the presentation and expressed their gratitude to Ms. Barletto for her efforts. Ms. Barletto acknowledged that the list of capital improvement projects was crucial for the City’s progress. She stated that she was working to find a source to cover the $6.6 million deficit in the General Construction fund and hoped to have it identified by the next presentation. WS.2. ANNUAL PRESENTATIONS BY CITY-FUNDED NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS Sponsors: City Manager Department Attachments: Agenda Cover Report Boys and Girls Club Spady Cultural Heritage Museum Achievement Center SANDOWAY Discovery Center Delray Beach Historical Society Delray Beach Public Library Jeff Oris, Assistant City Manager, facilitated the presentation and introduced each City-funded non-profit organization that have ongoing funding agreements with the City. BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF PALM BEACH COUNTY Pablo Tejada, Chief Impact Officer, shared the club's accomplishments over the past year. He emphasized that their primary goal is to create a safe and positive environment for the youth and teens in the communities that need support the most. He stated that they achieved this by fostering a welcoming atmosphere, building healthy and supportive relationships, and providing meaningful experiences. They aim to equip children with strong character, leadership skills, and academic success to prepare them for life and future careers. Mr. Tejada also noted that Delray Beach has seen the fastest growth in membership within Palm Beach County. Frankie Pierre-Paul, Executive Club Director, shared that they have partnered with various organizations to teach the children about sports and fitness, cultural arts, mental health, workforce readiness, and other City of Delray Beach Page 3 Printed on 8/20/2025 City Commission Minutes - Final July 15, 2025 essential life skills. He mentioned that since January, they have been providing food to families on Fridays and the last Saturday of each month, so the families have food over the weekend. Mr. Tejada noted that more than 40 organizations collaborate with the club to help the children. He expressed gratitude to the City for its support. SPADY CULTURAL HERITAGE MUSEUM Charlene Farrington, Executive Director, was present to discuss this year's exhibits, workshops, and lectures. She outlined the museum’s plans for the fiscal year 2025-2026, emphasizing their continued commitment to being good partners and stewards of Delray Beach. The museum's goals include maintaining programs and events that foster personal growth for the diverse community of Delray Beach and the surrounding municipalities. She mentioned that management has been challenged to mitigate the loss of national and state funding cuts. She presented the Commission with the museum's year-to-date profit and loss statement, detailing how this year’s funding from the City and the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) was utilized. The Commission expressed their gratitude to Ms. Farrington. Mayor Carney noted that the Spady Cultural Museum is the only museum in Palm Beach County dedicated to Black history. ACHIEVEMENT CENTER FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES Stephanie Siebel, Chief Executive Officer and Strategic Advisor, along with Jalesa Huggins, Chief Operating Officer, were present to discuss their ongoing mission, which is to nurture a collaborative community where children are inspired to reach their full potential. Ms. Siebel noted that they work under an agreement with the City of Delray Beach and the School District of Palm Beach County. She also stated that they serve over 750 children annually, with 63% of them residing in Delray Beach. The families they work with are multicultural, with 45% of the children speaking Creole, and most households earning less than $800 per month. Additionally, many of the students come from single-parent households. The Center offers scholarships and affordable programs to remove financial barriers for families to enable children to receive a quality education and quality out-of-school care. She noted that they hold the highest accreditation in both schooling and non-profit organizations. She stated that they recently launched their EmpowerED Program, which aims to close the learning gap by supporting under-resourced K-12 students in Southern Palm Beach County through personalized academic support, test preparation, mentorship, and social and emotional learning to help them reach their full potential. Finally, she mentioned that the facilities are showing signs of wear and require improvement. They will be implementing a new strategic City of Delray Beach Page 4 Printed on 8/20/2025 City Commission Minutes - Final July 15, 2025 plan for the next 3-5 years. They thanked the City staff for their trust, collaboration, and shared vision. The Commission thanked Ms. Siebel, Ms. Huggins, and the Achievement Center for their positive impact on children and families. SANDOWAY HOUSE NATURE CENTER Danica Sanborn was present to discuss the facility’s accomplishments over the past year, including receiving the All-America City Award. She stated that the center's mission is to inspire students and visitors through experiential conservation. She also mentioned that the center welcomed 17,000 visitors and hosted students from various schools on field trips. She discussed multiple programs that are offered free of charge to children, including the Science Leadership Academy, which focuses on helping students struggling in specific areas of science. Ms. Sandborn stated that the center has taught hundreds of children by collaborating with the City’s partner organizations. She highlighted their partnership with the City in efforts to protect the coastal ecosystem, which includes activities such as beach cleanups, sea turtle nest excavations, and environmental education initiatives aimed at securing Blue Flag Certification. She mentioned that they won the medium non-profit of the year award this year, and were nearing the completion of their new renovations. Lastly, she thanked the City for their continued support of the Sandoway House Nature Center and for allowing them to serve the community by teaching thousands about the importance of our coastal ecosystems. The Commission expressed their gratitude to the Sandoway House Nature Center and its staff for their exceptional efforts in providing educational programs for children who might not otherwise have access to such opportunities. They also recognized the center's important role in preserving the City’s ecosystem. DELRAY BEACH HISTORICAL SOCIETY Winnie Edwards, Executive Director, was present to discuss their annual update. She mentioned that the upcoming year will mark the Historical Society’s 40th year partnering with the City. She emphasized that their mission is to inspire and encourage everyone to reflect on the City's history by inviting residents to study and discover the remarkable achievements and milestones that have made Delray what it is today. She mentioned that they strive to be mindful of both the past and the present to foster community connections through their programming and engagement initiatives. They interact with over ten thousand people each year through their programming and events, on and off-site. Ms. Edwards stated that they have invested in upgrades and improvements to their aerial projects, which will aid City planners in future city initiatives. She also discussed their City of Delray Beach Page 5 Printed on 8/20/2025 City Commission Minutes - Final July 15, 2025 latest historical archive collaboration with PEB Capital that involves identifying historical markers in Sundy Village. The Commission expressed its gratitude to Ms. Edwards, along with the entire staff and volunteers of the Delray Beach Historical Society. DELRAY BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY Mykal Banta, Executive Director, provided a presentation that highlighted the essential free services and benefits the library offers to residents and visitors of the City. Mr. Banta shared the history of the library that was established in 1913. He stated that since 1950, the library's patrons have received library service through a successful public/private partnership between the City of Delray Beach and the Library Association. Mr. Banta discussed the numerous programs offered to children and adults, including a technology training and instruction lab. He noted that since Delray Beach directly funds the library, there has been no library tax since 1967. However, if the City were to stop funding the library, residents would face an additional tax burden of $9.7 million per year. The Commission thanked Mr. Banta for his 31 years of dedicated service to the library and for all that the library offers to residents and visitors. WS.3. PUBLIC COMMENTS Mayor Carney opened the floor to anyone who wished to speak. Marjorie Waldo, Executive Director of the Arts Garage Provided a handout booklet showcasing the organization's achievements over the past year. She mentioned that, until recently, the Arts Garage did not receive separate funding from the City. However, she expressed hope that the Arts Garage would be included in the City’s overall funding budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Additionally, she noted that their accomplishments were, in part, made possible through funding from the CRA. Seeing no one else present, Mayor Carney closed public comments. There being no further business, Mayor Carney adjourned the Workshop meeting at 4:44 p.m. 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 8/20/2025