Annual State of the City Address
Mayor Jerry Taylor
Presented to the Greater Boynton Beach Chamber of Commerce
April 16, 2008

Each year our community grows stronger as we continue to work towards our vision and achieve our goals. The year 2007 can be characterized as a year of discovery and continuing change in Boynton Beach. From the American Assembly process begun in 2006, which brought together a cross-section of the community to discuss issues, voice their opinions, and reach agreement on issues of public policy, the reports of the implementation sub-committees began to emerge. Sub-committee members spent many hours examining how we do business with our stakeholders and proposed significant changes. We executed a number of these changes with the expectation that they will result in better communication between the City and its citizens.

(Development & Redevelopment)
Our goal to redevelop Boynton Beach remains a top priority. In February, the City Manager met with the Realtors Commercial Alliance of the Realtors Association of the Palm Beaches to talk about development in the City. I think we can all be proud of the projects that have been completed, those that are in progress and those that have been planned.

In the west, on Congress Avenue, the 248,898 square foot Boynton Town Center opened with Super Target, Best Buy, Linens -n- Things, Total Wine and a host of smaller businesses. The center contains 244,741 square feet of restaurant and retail space and 4,127 square feet of office space.

Next door to Boynton Town Center, construction continues at Renaissance Commons. Where Motorola once assembled paging devices, this 369,987 square foot mixed use development will ultimately contain 1,281 condominiums, townhouses and apartments, 218,676 square feet of office space and 151,311 square feet of retail/restaurant space.

Across from Renaissance Commons, on the southwest corner of Congress Avenue and Gateway Boulevard, the old Target site has been transformed into Kohl's department store and the 109,392 square foot building is now open.

North of Congress, on Gateway at High Ridge Road, is the new Quantum Park & Village North mixed use development, which contains 25,250 square feet of office space and 68,850 square feet of retail/restaurant space. The center is anchored by a Publix supermarket. Across the street is Quantum Park & Village South, which, when it is completed, will contain 18,768 square feet of office space, 62,984 square feet of retail/restaurant space and 115 condominium and rental units.

In 2007, the total construction value of residential and commercial permits was $79.3
million and $17.7 million, respectively – a total of $97 million. It included 427
residential units and 58 new commercial buildings.

While Boynton Beach is experiencing a slow-down in commercial and mixed-use developments, there is still room for optimism. An assessment of market conditions by Chicago-based Grubb & Ellis, a commercial real estate advisory firm, found that while the sector is expected to experience some hiccups in 2008, retail will continue to rank atop investors' lists of real estate interests, ahead of industrial, multifamily and office properties. Based on current projects in the 2008 "pipeline," a total of 1,157,422 square feet of office/retail/restaurant space and 2,298 condos and townhouses are planned for the next 24 months.

Also in 2007, City staff remained on schedule to clarify, simplify and update Land Development Regulations pertaining, in part, to zoning, land uses, parking requirements, landscaping, building design and aesthetics. These code improvements will also address issues of current concern such as workforce housing; water, energy conservation and greenhouse gas emissions; and redevelopment. The addition of graphics, tables and charts will make the City's regulations more user-friendly, for both lay-person and development professional.

It is now my pleasure to introduce Community Redevelopment Agency Director Lisa Bright, who will update us on activity in the CRA area.

(Lisa Bright presentation)

(Recreation & Parks)
Play, recreation and open space are important to the quality of life in Boynton Beach. Research shows that two-thirds of older adults who visit parks report moderate to high levels of physical activity during their visit; for every mile people walk, they add 20 minutes to their lives and save society 34 cents in medical and other societal costs; recreation and play are important to childhood development, which fosters well being; teens who participate in organized sports are more likely to possess higher self-esteem; conservation boosts local economies and reduces crime; and over a 50 year lifetime, one tree generates $31,250 worth of oxygen, $62,000 worth of air pollution control, recycles $37,500 worth of water and controls $31,250 worth of soil erosion.

Parks are more than just places in the neighborhood. Assets such as air, water and land are among our greatest national treasures and in Boynton Beach we are very concerned about conserving our green space and waterways.

It was a very active year for the Recreation & Parks department. Last week, we came together for the grand reopening of Jaycee Park. The last remaining place in the City for a waterfront park, it includes boccie courts, picnic shelters, two play areas and walking trails.

The Intracoastal Park Clubhouse, which is rapidly becoming a jewel in the City's crown, was completed in October. The $3.2 million, 7,500 square foot facility has meeting rooms and banquet facilities and serves as the Recreation & Parks department's registration office. It also hosts the City's training activities and provides the community with a facility that can accommodate various recreation programs and host commemorative or private events.

The $8.5 million Wilson Park project, which includes the 14,000 square foot Carolyn Sims Center and Denson pool, was completed in December. The Carolyn Sims Center, named in memory of Carolyn Sims, a long time City employee who passed away in 2002, replaced the old 3,000 square foot Wilson Center. The Denson pool, named in honor of one of the pool's original lifeguards when the old pool was built in 1960, features a three flume water slide, interactive games and decorated pool deck. Wilson Park was also upgraded with a new playground, multi-purpose field, picnic pavilion and benches.

At Hester Park, a new play area was installed. No public funds were used. Instead, the $90,000 cost was derived from rental fees for a cell phone tower close to the property.

At Oceanfront Park, the City has $2.1 million in its Capital Improvement Projects budget for renovation of the boardwalk, which includes replacement of the "plastic" lumber with "ironwood" and decorative concrete, sailcloth sun screens, enlargement of the patio area by the concession and landscaping. The project is expected to begin later this year with completion anticipated in Summer 2009.

The City also received $380,000 from Palm Beach County to make improvements to Boat Club Park. These include replacement of the public restrooms, pavilions and landscaping improvements. Upgrades were also made to Laurel Hills, Pioneer Canal, Galaxy, Forest Hills and Oceanfront parks. The department also planted more than 550 trees and palms.

(Public Safety Fire)
City Fire Protection and Prevention Ordinances were amended in mid-2007 bringing City Codes into compliance with State Fire Prevention Code, and updating local code provisions to meet the demands and challenges of existing and future city growth. The Fire and Life Safety Division identified and corrected over 7,000 violations of the fire codes in 2007 representing a 67 percent increase compared to 2006, and conducted 1,365 fire plan reviews for building permits. While keeping Boynton Beach buildings, citizens, and visitors safe, this Division has been insistent in maintaining fees that are reasonable and comparable, essentially funding division expenses with the revenue generated through fire safety-related fees.

The Boynton Beach Fire Rescue Department has begun construction of Fire Station #5 to be located on the Southeast corner of Gateway Boulevard and High Ridge Road. A groundbreaking ceremony was held in February. The 42,700 sq. ft. station will serve as the primary response station for the Northeast quadrant of the city and will include a five-bay station with a training tower, Fire Administration offices, the City's first dedicated Emergency Operations Center, a secure and environmentally controlled area for the City's Information and Technology computer servers, and a secondary Dispatch Center. The Department secured a $1.7 million FEMA grant to harden the entire building to a Category 5 Hurricane wind standard, the first of its kind in Boynton Beach.

Two new replacement Rescue Ambulances were delivered in December. The City also purchased a new Ladder Truck, which was delivered in February, replacing a 17-year-old truck.

The Department received a Life Safety Achievement Award for zero fire-related deaths in 2006 and 2007, due in large part to a significant reduction in response times (from over eight minutes in 2002 to 4.5 minutes today), and building fire inspection efforts. The department responded to 11,652 emergency responses in 2007.

The Department has secured over $3 million in grant funding during the past two years for various capital expenses, safety equipment, and new technology.

(Police)
In July, an assessment team from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA) spent four days with the Police department examining operations, policies and procedures in an effort to determine if the agency is in compliance with the Commission's 256 standards of excellence and competence. The team determined that the department is in full compliance with all of the Commission's standards and once again awarded the department accredited status at the CFA's October meeting. The Police department was awarded its initial accreditation in 2001 and was reaccredited in 2004. Accreditation is a coveted award that symbolizes professionalism and excellence in law enforcement and less than half of all Florida law enforcement agencies have been awarded accredited status.

During 2007, the department's Community Action Team, which operates in our neighborhoods, predominantly on foot and bicycle patrol, intensified its drug enforcement efforts and accounted for 144 felony arrests and 128 misdemeanor arrests. The team also recovered or seized varying amounts of drugs, weapons, vehicles and currency, most of which was forfeited and deposited in the department's law enforcement trust fund. This account was subsequently used to provide funding to the Juvenile Transition Center, the Faith Based Community Development Corporation, Boynton Beach MADDADS and the Boy Scouts of America.

Over the last year, the City prepared for the opening of its Youth Empowerment Center through the Youth Violence Prevention Program. The Youth Violence Prevention Program is grant funded and works to target risk factors that promote or contribute to teen violence. The Center opened in February in conjunction with the opening of the Carolyn Sims Center at Wilson Park. Youth, parents and the community had the opportunity to investigate what would be offered when the Center began operations on the following Monday. This is an amazing opportunity to make a difference in our community from the inside out. It gives youth a safe place to go where they can be themselves and empower themselves through opportunities to grow in areas that they choose.

(Utilities)
Following the adoption of the City's new Water Supply plan, the City has been in discussions with the South Florida Water Management District regarding a new Consumptive Use Permit. A formal application is to be made within the next few months based upon the previously adopted long term supply strategy we outlined in 2007. This plan involves the building of a pipeline from the west well field to the East Plant, which will enable us to maximize the capacity of the existing facilities. Having accomplished this, we will retrofit the West Plant with a low pressure reverse osmosis plant of similar capacity but fed from a new source of water from the deeper Floridan Aquifer. The plan is intended to cover our potable water requirements for at least the next 20 years.

The Utilities department is one of the lead organizations within the City working on our Green Initiative. As a part of that, we continue to promote water conservation as a core issue. We are, therefore, pleased to have a specially commissioned pack of cards promoting water conservation at each of your seats. We have also continued with our successful schools program in which all local fifth grade students receive instruction on the importance of conserving this precious resource.

The City also started on an Infiltration and Inflow program that incorporates the cleaning, televising and repairing of the sewer main pipes and their manholes. The key is to eliminate as much ground water and surface water entering the wastewater system as possible. The program is now in its third phase. Already the Utilities department has cleaned, televised and recorded digitally over 250,000 feet of pipe and 1,100 manholes. We are now working on the repair program following the analysis of the first phase. The benefits that the City will start to see include reduced wastewater treatment costs and prolonged life of the wastewater infrastructure at reduced cost.

In addition to our wastewater system improvements, the City has a very aggressive operations plan to maintain services to our customers during an emergency. We have identified key lift stations that would benefit by having emergency equipment placed at that site. The City is also adding stationary pumps instead of generators wherever appropriate. These pumps start and stop automatically in the event of a power failure rather than the continuous operation of a generator. This means that they will operate longer before needing refueling and there will also be less noise.

Another new initiative we have started is the modernization of our control systems both for the remote lift stations as well as the water plant. We are installing the latest in radio communications in order to improve our monitoring and control of the wells, storage tanks as well as the lift stations. This is being incorporated into a new Supervisory Control system with the water plants providing more secure operation of our facilities around the clock.

All of these on-going programs and projects are helping us to build, maintain and protect the City's Utility.

(Library)
During the last fiscal year that ended in October, Library customers borrowed nearly 300,000 items. Our public computers were used by over 70,000 customers to build resumes, apply for jobs and financial assistance as well as other vital purposes. More than 3,900 customers attended adult programs, and youth and teen programs had an attendance of almost 8,000 customers. The education value of these services to the community is priceless.

Following some unexpected construction-related delays and an unfortunate water leak in November, the Library's new addition opened last month. Currently, the existing Library building is closed for total renovation. By the Fall, it is expected to reopen to greet customers with a grand total of 62,864 square feet. The Boynton Beach City Library will truly be the lifelong learning center of Boynton Beach and beyond.

(Art in Public Places)
Art in Public Places is dedicated to celebrating Boynton Beach's heritage and character, creating a cultural environment, and stimulating economic growth and revitalization. The program is funded through the City's Public Art ordinance that collects one percent on development and redevelopment projects. The 70 percent of the one percent is to create and build Public Art in the development and redevelopment projects in the City. Thirty percent of the one percent funds the Public Art department and Public Art programs.

In 2007, Public Art programs that the City benefited from were:

• Avenue of the Arts – An on-loan outdoor art exhibit. Artists were selected to place their artwork from City Hall, south on Seacreast Avenue and east along Ocean Avenue to the Marina entrance. Citizens, businesses and visitors have enjoyed the artwork, which has created a cultural environment to contribute to the City's downtown revitalization planning. Residents and businesses perceive that the City is making a commitment to the community. Visitors experience the artwork and learn about City amenities along the Ocean Avenue corridor.
• "Eternal Vision" The Carolyn Sims Public Art Memorial – The Art in Public Places program hosted workshops that engaged the public in learning how this public art memorial was made to honor the memory of Carolyn Sims, a long time City employee and community activist.
• City Hall Beautification Project – The Public Works department and Public Art collaborated to improve the esthetics, function and image of the City Hall lobby. With experienced staff, a minimum budget and a call to artists, the City Hall lobby was transformed into a professional, well-organized cultural environment. Original artworks were displayed, professional kiosks installed, fresh paint applied and seating esthetically arranged. Visitors and employees have a positive impression when conducting business at City Hall. 

(Grants)
In Fiscal Year 2006-07, City departments submitted 24 proposals for grant funding (10 more than the previous fiscal year), totaling $6,442,331. Of the 24 proposals, 14 ($3,529,918) were awarded funding with contracts executed. Three of these applications received partial funding. One ($30,000) was not awarded, while the remainder are pending approval.

Since April 2001, the City of Boynton Beach has been on the cutting edge of grants management. While the City receives some entitlement and formula funding, the majority of grants applied for are competitive. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), State Housing Improvement Program (SHIP) and State Aid to Libraries are examples of the non-competitive funding the City receives annually. These dollars are critical to continue providing basic services to our residents.

(Finance)
Economic times are hard throughout the country, and one of the major challenges we faced last year was the amount of taxes you pay. The City Commission is not opposed to property tax reform and, in fact, took the lead in making several new proposals to our legislators that would help provide better equity on how properties are assessed. Following the state legislature's mandate in June to hold residential and commercial property tax rates at FY2006-07 levels and then rollback the property tax rates based on a formula that gave the larger tax reductions to cities and counties where taxes rose the most in recent years, the City lowered the property tax rate. This meant a reduction of $3.5 million in the City's budget for FY2007-08. But through prudent planning, we have been able to maintain services at the same levels in the current fiscal year. However, it is hard to predict at this time what impact Amendment 1 will have on the future.

Boynton Beach is an outstanding community, and elected officials and City staff both are committed to working hard to make it a place that is second to none. The measure of our success as a city is not in outlining year end achievements, but in planning for the future of what we need yet to achieve. The year ahead will be another one of challenges for the City as we wait to see the impact of Amendment 1 on the City. Despite this, the City Commission remains dedicated to maximizing our resources in the delivery of quality services.

President Ronald Reagan said, "Freedom is the recognition that no single person, no single authority or government has a monopoly on the truth, but that every individual life is infinitely precious, that every one of us put in this world has been put there for a reason and has something to offer." Your involvement in the community can have a significant impact on how we approach the challenges ahead. Please consider getting involved.