Boca Raton council approves candidate residency rule, multiple waste franchise agreements and rental-relief funds

The Boca Raton City Council on Sept. 22, 2020 adopted Ordinance 55-41, a standalone ordinance adding a proof-of-residency requirement for candidates for city council and mayoral office. City Attorney Diana Grubb Frieser said the ordinance tracks a 30-day residency requirement and would take effect immediately for the next election cycle. The council adopted the ordinance on a unanimous roll-call vote, 4-0.

City staff also presented and the council approved several five-year franchise agreements for construction-and-demolition debris and commercial solid-waste services. Municipal Services Director Zack Bier summarized the franchise items: Ordinance 55-44 would authorize nonexclusive C&D debris franchises with Waste Management Incorporated of Florida, Waste Connections of Florida Incorporated, Bicon Incorporated d/b/a S & S National Waste, and Dumpster King Incorporated; estimated C&D revenues were $580,000 for FY 2019-20 and $600,000 for FY 2020-21. Ordinances 55-45 (Sunshine Recycling Services of Southwest Florida LLC) and 55-46 (FCC Environmental Services Florida LLC) would add or continue commercial solid-waste franchisees; staff cited commercial solid-waste revenues of about $700,500 in FY 2019-20 and an estimate of $720,000 for FY 2020-21. All franchise ordinances were adopted on unanimous 4-0 votes.

City Manager Lee Fannell reported the city’s federal/state mortgage and rental relief allocation has increased from $317,000 to an additional $230,000, bringing the program total to $547,000; staff will advertise the program and begin taking online applications in October, subject to federal and state rules.

The council also authorized the city attorney to schedule executive sessions to receive advice on pending litigation, including Natural Land LLC v. City of Boca Raton (2500 North Ocean, case no. 1981407) and 2600 North Ocean LLC v. City of Boca Raton (case no. CAOO4116). The motion to authorize executive sessions passed unanimously.

Votes at a glance: Ordinance 55-40 (mobile food-dispensing vehicles): adopted 4-0; Ordinance 55-41 (proof of residency): adopted 4-0; Ordinance 55-44 (C&D franchises): adopted 4-0; Ordinance 55-45 (Sunshine Recycling franchise): adopted 4-0; Ordinance 55-46 (FCC Environmental franchise): adopted 4-0; Authorization to schedule executive sessions on pending litigation: adopted 4-0.