At the July 7, 2015, Board of County Commissioners meeting, the board took the following action:
Legislative Affairs – received a final report from Legislative Affairs Director Todd Bonlarron on local priorities and appropriations approved during this year’s regular and special Florida Legislative Sessions.
Clerk’s budget – heard a presentation by Clerk & Comptroller Sharon Bock on budget cuts her office must implement to cover a $2.6 million state revenue shortfall. Measures include a hiring freeze, elimination of 27 positions and overtime pay, and postponing the new digital access pilot program.
Hotel parking – agreed to a developer’s request for parking modifications for the Convention Center hotel. Rather than construct a parking garage, the Related Companies will provide a surface parking lot on the garage site with 255 valet spaces and utilize 375 valet spaces at the nearby CityPlace parking garage. After the hotel opens, two detailed traffic studies by a third party must be conducted to determine if an on-site parking structure is needed. One analysis will be done after a year of hotel operation and another after three to four years.
Administrator’s contract – approved a two-year employment contract with Verdenia C. Baker for the position of county administrator. She is succeeding Robert Weisman who is retiring at the end of August. The contract provides for an annual salary of $257,500, deferred compensation, an auto allowance, and other benefits afforded county employees.
Project Listen – conceptually approved a Job Growth Incentive Grant in the amount of $70,000 for Project Listen to relocate its headquarters in Palm Beach County. The company promises to make a $4.5 million capital investment to acquire, renovate and equip an existing facility and create 100 new full-time jobs within four years at an average annual wage of nearly $85,000.
Water Utilities – approved a settlement agreement with CDM Smith, Inc. for claims brought by the county regarding alleged design and engineering deficiencies at the Lake Region Water Treatment Plant and Wellfield. CDM Smith agrees to a one-time payment to the county of $700,000 in exchange for release of all claims. The board also approved a credit in the amount of $124,753 toward outstanding connection fees and guaranteed revenues on water and wastewater connections for the Bridges and Hyder planned unit developments as a reimbursement for over reserving utility capacity.
Floating structures – approved on preliminary reading and to advertise for public hearing on August 18 an ordinance prohibiting the anchoring or mooring of floating structures within county waters or county-owned property, unless anchored or moored at a marina, dock or privately owned property.
Human trafficking – approved on preliminary reading and to advertise for public hearing on July 21an ordinance pertaining to the posting of public awareness signs at adult entertainment and massage/bodywork establishments alerting employees and patrons to remedies and protections related to human trafficking.
Howard Schnellenberger – adopted a resolution urging the National Football Foundation Honors Committee to induct Coach Howard Schnellenberger into the College Football Hall of Fame.
