West Palm Beach City Commission Meeting and Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Approvals and Decisions

WEST PALM BEACH, FL (DATE) – Below is a summary of the approvals and decisions made by the City Commission meeting on Monday, December 11, 2023.

MAYOR’S OFFICE – Approved a resolution approving as Face of the City, a large-scale sculpture titled: “Ripples” by local artist Nestor Guzman, to be installed at Echo Lake Park; approved a resolution approving art concepts of Amy Lincoln, Annie Morris and Klip Collective for 575 Rosemary Avenue by The Related Companies to satisfy the public art requirement.

CITY ATTORNEY – Approved a resolution approving a conditional settlement agreement for $189,747.71 in the matter of Ardy Jean-Francois v. the City of West Palm Beach; approved a resolution authorizing the assessment of $16,367.62 in City liens for unpaid water service, sewer service and storm water charges for September 2023; approved a resolution for a conditional settlement agreement for $70,000 in the matter of Ruth Ann Ellis v. the City of West Palm Beach; approved an ordinance after second reading amending the definition of special event to specifically include large group feedings, adding a time to process large group feeding special event applications, providing for a waiver of the permit application fee and making other minor modifications.

COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY – Approved a resolution authorizing issuance of up to $5 million in tax increment revenue bonds, taxable series 2023 by the West Palm Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA).    

DEVELOPMENT SERVICES – Approved a resolution establishing the calculation for the historic preservation height bonus assessment applicable in certain sub-districts of the Northwood Mixed Use District; approved an ordinance after second public hearing designating the Florida Public Utilities Company (FPUC) building at 401 South Dixie Highway on the West Palm Beach Register of Historic Buildings; approved an ordinance after second public hearing designating the Locust House at 1225 North Sapodilla Avenue on the West Palm Beach Register of Historic Places; approved a resolution after a public hearing for a Major Planned Development Amendment to the CityPlace Commercial Planned Development (CPD) to amend the Rosemary Square – CityPlace CPD Master Sign Plan, updating definitions and clarifying provisions regarding tenant sign criteria and locations; approved a resolution for a Major Amendment to the Centrepark CPD with waivers from the City’s Zoning and Land Development Regulations to allow for the construction of a 13-story office building at 1545 Centrepark Drive North; approved a resolution after public hearing for a replat of property located at 4714 North Flagler Drive.

In the appeal of a Historic Preservation Board denial of improvements to the historical house at 221 Greenwood Drive, the Mayor and City Commission overturned the denial and approved the Certificate of Appropriateness for replacement of wood siding based on the factual testimony presented, the application submitted and the staff report, along with the findings that: the feature matches the old design, color, texture, and other visual qualities and where possible materials with the intent to use hardie board or a similar product.  

ENGINEERING – Approved two resolutions approving an Interlocal Funding Agreement between the West Palm Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and Florida Department of Transportation for additional design costs to add multi-use pathways to the FDOT Okeechobee Boulevard and Lakeview Avenue projects and a companion resolution accepting the CRA funds for redesign of Okeechobee Boulevard and Lakeview Avenue.

HOUSING and COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT – Approved a resolution finding that City-owned property located at 815 Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard is not needed for City purposes, declaring the property as surplus and providing a method of disposition to be negotiated with the Sickle Cell Foundation.

PARKS and RECREATION – Approved a resolution accepting and appropriating funding of $9,000 from The Breakers Palm Beach, Dedicated Senior Medical Center, Children’s Service Council of Palm Beach County and Rodriguez Charities for the annual Share-a-Supper Thanksgiving Dinner; approved a resolution approving the $14.77 million construction contract with West Construction for Gaines Park Community Center, Tennis Center and Tennis Courts project.

POLICE DEPARTMENT – Approved two resolutions accepting the Fiscal Year 2023 award of $84,568 from the U.S. Department of Justice Edward J. Byme Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program for the purchase of virtual reality training equipment and technology, and a companion resolution recognizing and appropriating the funds; approved two resolutions amending the Fiscal Year 2024 Miscellaneous Trust Fund Budget to authorize appropriations of $127,226 from the State Law enforcement Forfeiture Receipts for law enforcement equipment, police canines and police motorcycle upgrades and a companion resolution approving a contract with Southern Coast K-9 Incorporated for the purchase of five police canines; approved two resolutions accepting a donation from The Fund for West Palm Beach in the amount of $22,500 to fund the purchase and operation of police canine vehicle and up fitting, and a companion resolution recognizing and appropriating the donation from the Fund for west Palm Beach Police in Fiscal Year 2024 for police caning replacement and vehicle up-fitting.

PUBLIC UTILITIES – Approved a resolution approving the development, publication and distribution of a children’s book about the Grassy Waters Preserve, granting licenses associated with the book and execution of an agreement regarding the book among Vera De Chalambert, Christine Eure, Grassy Waters Conservancy, Inc., and the City of West Palm Beach.

For the complete list of approvals and decisions made at the Monday, December 11, 2023 City Commission meeting, click here.

Below is a summary of the approvals and decisions made by the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meeting on Monday, December 11, 2023.

Heard a presentation updating the CRA Board on the status of the Broadway Mixed Use District (BMUD) zoning code project; approved a resolution for a second amendment to the Development Incentive Agreement with HTC Banyan to provide an extension of time for construction of the linear park adjacent to the Flagler Station Affordable Housing Project; approved a resolution authorizing issuance of up to $5 million in aggregate principal amount of West Palm Beach Community Redevelopment Agency subordinate tax increment revenue bonds; approved two resolutions approving and Interlocal Funding Agreement between the CRA and City of West Palm Beach for additional design costs to add multi-use pathways to the FDOT Okeechobee Boulevard and Lakeview Avenue project and a companion resolution authorizing the appropriation or transfer of funds in Fiscal Year 2024 for the redesign of the Okeechobee Boulevard and Lakeview Avenue project; approved a resolution authorizing negotiation of a conveyance and development  agreement with Signet Foundation, Inc., for a new affordable housing project at 816 3^rd Street.

For the complete list of approvals and decisions made at the Monday, December 11, 2023 CRA meeting, click here.