Update: September 24, 2019
On Tuesday, September 24, 2019, the Boca Raton City Council passed a Resolution reaffirming its prior offers of financial support to the Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District and opposing the District’s proposed tax increase.
Council members have expressed their ability and willingness to collaborate with the District, including but not limited to assisting with funding and operations of the proposed Ocean Breeze Golf Course and financing for current projects and obligations that the District has de-funded. To see the discussion, watch the meeting here.
The District will conduct a final public hearing in connection with the District’s proposed tax millage rate and budget for the 2019-2020 Fiscal Year on Wednesday, September 25, 2019, at 6:00 p.m. at the Swim & Racquet Center located at 21618 St. Andrews Boulevard, Boca Raton, Florida where they will vote on a proposed increase of 19.43% above the roll back millage rate.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF BOCA RATON REAFFIRMING THE CITY’S PRIOR OFFERS, INCLUDING OFFERS OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT, FOR IMPORTANT CAPITAL PROJECTS OF THE GREATER BOCA RATON BEACH AND PARK DISTRICT AND OPPOSING THE SIGNIFICANT TAX INCREASE PROPOSED BY THE DISTRICT IN CONNECTION WITH THE DISTRICT’S BUDGET FOR THE 2019-2020 FISCAL YEAR; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE
WHEREAS, the Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District (“District”) is considering a number of important recreation and related capital projects for the benefit of the residents of the District and the City, including, but not limited to, a golf course (on property formerly known as Ocean Breeze), improvements to the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, site lighting improvements to Countess DeHoernle Park, park maintenance facilities at Spanish River Park and Countess DeHoernle Park, and restroom renovations at Red Reef Park South; and
WHEREAS, the City in March 2018 provided financing to the District in the amount of 19 Million Dollars ($19,000,000.00) for the purchase of the Ocean Breeze property, at which time the District indicated it would have sufficient funds to undertake development of a golf course and related amenities on the property without a tax rate increase; and
WHEREAS, the District subsequently indicated to the City that its revenues were not projected to be sufficient to accomplish the golf course and other important projects and to meet the District’s ongoing financial obligations and requested funding from the City in the amount of approximately 20 Million Dollars ($20,000,000.00) to support construction of a golf course at Ocean Breeze to be programmed and designed by the District; and
WHEREAS, the City expressed concern about the proposed golf course design and projected construction and operating costs; and
WHEREAS, the City has expressed further concern that the completion of the District's other recreational capital projects outlined above will be postponed, perhaps indefinitely, by the District's golf course plan; and
WHEREAS, the City formally offered to fund the construction and operation of an 18-hole golf course on the former Ocean Breeze property on the west north side of NW 2nd Avenue, including a clubhouse, driving range, and maintenance facility, as well as complementary amenities on the east side of NW 2nd Avenue, to be programmed and designed by the City in collaboration with the District; and
WHEREAS, the City has, in addition, formally offered financing to the District to allow the District to fund the following capital improvements: i) the portion of the golf course project east of NW 2nd Avenue for recreational amenities complementary to the 18-hole golf course on the west, if the west course is undertaken by the District; ii) improvements to the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center; iii) Spanish River Park maintenance facilities; and iv) DeHoernle Park site lighting improvements and maintenance facilities, all in collaboration with the District; and
WHEREAS, the City has planned to construct at City expense the Phase II improvements to DeHoernle Park previously planned to be funded by the District; and
WHEREAS, the District has removed from its 2019 – 2020 proposed budget its funding for the following important and necessary capital projects planned to be completed by the City and the District, all of which have also been previously postponed by the District: i) DeHoernle Park site lighting ($225,000); ii) DeHoernle Park maintenance facility ($170,000); iii) Spanish River Park maintenance facility ($231,000); iv) Red Reef Park South restroom renovations ($185,000), a total of $719,300; and
WHEREAS, the City’s financing, which would not require an increase in the City’s property tax millage rate, would eliminate the need for a District property tax millage rate increase; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Boca Raton desires to reaffirm the City’s prior offers as described above; and
WHEREAS, the District will conduct a final public hearing in connection with the District’s proposed tax millage rate and budget for the 2019-2020 Fiscal Year on Wednesday, September 25, 2019, at 6:00 p.m. at the Swim & Racquet Center located at 21618 St. Andrews Boulevard, Boca Raton, Florida; and
WHEREAS, the District is proposing a significant increase in the tax rate on taxpayers that reside within the boundaries of the District (including City residents) equal to an increase of 19.43% above the District’s roll back millage rate; and
WHEREAS, the City Council encourages the District to accept the City’s offers, including the offer of financing, that will support the District’s fiscally responsible use of taxpayer money and responsible budgeting; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Boca Raton wishes to express its opposition to the proposed significant tax increase being considered by the District in connection with the District’s budget for the 2019-2020 Fiscal Year, especially in light of the City’s repeated efforts to collaborate with the District; now therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BOCA RATON:
Section 1. The foregoing recitals are incorporated herein.
Section 2. The City Council of the City of Boca Raton reaffirms its offers, including the offer of financing, to the District that will support the District’s fiscally responsible use of taxpayer money and responsible budgeting.
Section 3. The City Council of the City of Boca Raton hereby declares its opposition to the proposed, significant, tax rate increase being considered by the District in connection with the District’s budget for the 2019-2020 Fiscal Year, which the District announced will result in an increase of 19.43% above the District's roll back millage rate. The City Council encourages the District to reconsider and to elect not to adopt such increase in the District’s tax rate, and, instead, to collaborate with the City to build an outstanding golf course and other recreational amenities.
Section 4. The City Clerk is directed to forward promptly a copy of this resolution to all District Commissioners and to the Executive Director of the District.
Update: September 16, 2019
At a public meeting on September 12 to discuss the planning and development of the Boca National Golf Course, the agencies were unable to reach a consensus, but committed to quarterly meetings beginning Tuesday, November 12 at 5:30 pm. The next joint, public meeting will be held at 6500 Congress Avenue. View the September 12 meeting.
Update: September 10, 2019
The Boca Raton City Council and the Greater Boca Raton Beach & Park District will discuss the City's conceptual offer regarding the development of the golf course at Ocean Breeze at a joint meeting to be held on Thursday, September 12 at 5pm at 6500 Congress Avenue. The City's offer is to program, design, build and operate an 18-hole golf course on the Ocean Breeze property on the west side of second Avenue, including a clubhouse, driving range and maintenance facility. The City would also be willing to undertake programming, design, construction and operation of amenities on the east side of NW 2nd Avenue.
The City is also offering financing to the District to fund capital improvements. Discussion will take place at the joint meeting.
Update: August 28, 2019
The City Council held a special meeting on Tuesday, August 27, to review requests for information on Boca National Golf Course design. Due to concerns over the cost of the proposed new course being developed by the Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District (GBRBPD), the City issued a Request for Information (RFI) solely for information and planning purposes. The intent was to explore whether a high quality 18-hole course could be designed and constructed under $8 million dollars.
The City Council reached consensus to make a conceptual offer to the GBRBPD which includes a proposal for the City to design, build and operate an 18-hole golf course on the Ocean Breeze property on the west side of NW 2nd Avenue including a clubhouse, driving range, maintenance facility and complimentary amenities. This City is also willing to consider designing, constructing and operating amenities on the east side of NW 2nd Avenue.
Details and agreements will have to be discussed at a joint meeting so that the two agencies can continue their commitment and partnership to keeping golf in Boca Raton.
Original Story
The City of Boca Raton sought information from professional Golf Course Design and Golf Course Design-Build firms for the proposed design and re-construction of an 18-hole golf course. The information included direction and ideas regarding the design of the course and an estimation of the costs of the design and construction.
The golf course is located on the site of the former Ocean Breeze Golf Course, 5800 NW 2nd Avenue, Boca Raton, Florida. This golf course originally consisted of three 9-hole courses (27 holes in total), located on separate parcels of land (for reference, the north, south and east parcels) of approximately 70 acres each. This golf course ceased operation in 2016.
The proposed project would include redeveloping the north and south parcels only (located on the west side of NW 2nd Avenue, separated by Jeffrey Street, as shown on the attached map.) The City was interested in knowing if the redevelopment of the two parcels to create two 9-hole courses could be designed and constructed for under $8,000,000.
The City received 16 requests for information that were reviewed at the workshop, with several submitters presenting and answering questions. View the Boca National Review of Information Responses (PDF). View special workshop discussion.
Please note that this RFI was issued solely for information and planning purposes – it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or an obligation to issue an RFP in the future. This RFI does not commit the City to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. All costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the submitting firm’s expense; the City will not pay for any submitted information or any costs incurred in providing information in response to this RFI. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if any is issued. All RFI responses will be public and should not contain any proprietary or confidential information.
View map of former Ocean Breeze Golf Course (PDF)
View printable Request for Information (PDF)
For more information and updates, visit Boca National Golf Course.
