Boca Raton’s City Council and Community Redevelopment Agency took a series of actions at meetings on Oct. 27 and 28, including naming a new interim city manager and placing a $125 million police headquarters bond before voters.
Council appointed Deputy City Manager and CFO James Zervis as interim city manager after City Manager Mark Sohaney resigned, effective Nov. 11. Zervis began overseeing city operations on Oct. 28, and Sohaney will stay on to help with the transition. Sohaney delivered his final city manager’s report, bidding farewell to council, residents and staff.
Voters on March 9, 2027, will be asked to approve up to $125 million in bonds to replace the aging Police Department headquarters and related public safety facilities. The new building would include a dedicated 911 communications center and evidence storage. If approved, the bonds would be repaid over up to 30 years through property taxes.
In Downtown, the CRA approved changes to The Residences of Boca Raton, a 12-story project on Southeast 4th Street. The number of units drops from 190 to 133, while the building grows taller and larger and adds ground-floor restaurant space. The CRA also approved a renovation of the two-story building at 101 East Palmetto Park Road, which will add a restaurant and courtyard and receive a parking exception.
Council approved a site plan change for the Bertani at Broken Sound, an eight-story building with 60 units, 10% of them affordable, at 5901 and 6001 Northwest Broken Sound Parkway.
Council also clarified the 25-foot height limit for single-family homes. Roof structures may rise above that line, but the extra space cannot become an occupied floor. Applications filed after Oct. 27 will follow the new rules.
Votes on the Mizner Park property transfer to the city and changes to the Downtown Plan were postponed to Nov. 9 and 10. A third budget amendment for fiscal 2025-2026, which moves $960,000 from General Fund reserves to cover a Beautification Fund shortfall, goes to council on Nov. 10.
