BOCA RATON, FL — Boca Raton City Council members are scheduled to rank three finalist consulting firms Tuesday for a master plan covering roughly 17 acres of city-owned downtown property that includes City Hall, Memorial Park, the Community Center and the Singing Pines Building complex.
The item is the only one listed under resolutions and other business on the July 28 agenda. Resolution No. 86-2026 would establish the city's final qualifications-based ranking and direct the city manager to begin contract negotiations with the top-ranked firm. It would not award a contract, and it would not approve any design or planning decision for the site.
City Manager Mark Sohaney recommended the council proceed with the evaluation and ranking in a July 21 memo included in the agenda packet. The memo said the meeting is not the start of the master plan itself and that no planning or design decisions will be made about the future of the civic area or Memorial Park.
Each shortlisted firm is scheduled to receive up to 30 minutes to present its qualifications, planning philosophy, project approach and public engagement methodology, followed by up to 30 minutes of questions from council members, according to the memo.
How the field narrowed
The city issued Request for Qualifications No. 2026-035-IG on May 18. Four firms submitted statements of qualifications by the June 26 deadline:
- ADG Architecture, LLC
- Brooks + Scarpa Architects
- Chen Moore & Associates
- The Corradino Group, Inc.
A city staff evaluation committee met in a publicly noticed meeting July 16 and scored the submissions against published criteria that included proposed project team and key personnel, project understanding and approach, public engagement expertise, urban design and planning experience, architectural capabilities, relevant project experience and proposed schedule.
The committee ranked Chen Moore & Associates first, The Corradino Group second and Brooks + Scarpa Architects third. Those three advance to the council presentations. ADG Architecture did not advance.
The committee's ranking does not bind the council. Resolution No. 86-2026 as drafted in the agenda packet leaves the three ranking slots blank, and the resolution states that the request for qualifications reserved the final comparative evaluation and ranking of the shortlisted firms to the council following the presentations.
The evaluation committee consisted of Deputy Chief Financial Officer Carlisha Jenkins, Deputy Development Services Director Erin Sita and Public Works and Engineering Director Zach Bihr. Deputy City Manager Andy Lukasik served as a non-voting member. The memo was originated by Lukasik.
Council members will not see fee proposals Tuesday. Under the Consultants' Competitive Negotiation Act, Section 287.055 of the Florida Statutes, the city selects on qualifications first and negotiates compensation afterward. The resolution states the council did not request, receive or consider proposed fees, compensation or pricing information during the ranking.
What the master plan would cover
The city owns approximately 17 acres comprising the Downtown Civic Area and Memorial Park, including City Hall, the Community Center, the Singing Pines Building complex, Memorial Park and associated public spaces and rights of way, according to Resolution No. 86-2026.
The resolution states the plan is intended to produce recommendations on civic facilities, recreational and open-space uses, public spaces, connectivity, historic resources and the relationship between the civic area and adjacent uses.
The memo describes the process as built around a "listen first, design second" philosophy. If a contract is ultimately approved, the memo said the selected consultant would spend approximately six months engaging the public, evaluating alternatives and developing recommendations for later council consideration.
The memo lists the ranking itself as carrying minimal cost to the city. Staff said they intend to bring a negotiated contract to the council at its August 25 meeting.
Mizner Park ordinance up for introduction
Council members are also scheduled to introduce Ordinance No. 5790, which would amend the Amended Downtown Plan, the city's community redevelopment plan, to add an implementation policy to Section VIII, "Management, Implementation, and Safeguards."
The agenda describes the policy as intended to promote long-term certainty and stability relating to property owned by the community redevelopment agency, including Mizner Park. Under city rules, the council does not take public comment on ordinances listed for introduction only, and no vote on the substance occurs at introduction.
Iguana feeding ban and budget amendment also introduced
Ordinance No. 5792 would create Section 5-4 of the city code, "Feeding of Certain Nuisance Animals Prohibited," barring the feeding of iguanas, rats, mice or pigeons in a quantity or manner reasonably likely to attract or sustain their presence or congregation. The ordinance would authorize enforcement through direct citations under the city's supplemental code enforcement procedures.
Ordinance No. 5793 would amend the fiscal year 2025-2026 budget through the second budget amendment. All three ordinances are listed for introduction, meaning a public hearing and adoption vote would come at a later meeting.
Millage notice and fire assessment on the same agenda
Two items with direct taxpayer impact are listed under city manager recommendations and reports. One is the millage notification to the property appraiser and the tax collector, the step that sets the maximum rate the city can advertise on TRIM notices. The other is the fire services assessment fee, listed with both a staff report and a staff presentation.
The agenda's attachment titles for both items were not included in the materials reviewed for this story, and no proposed millage rate or assessment amount appears on the agenda itself.
Consent agenda items to watch
The consent agenda carries 17 resolutions and a fire equipment purchase. Items with the clearest public interest include:
- A $700,000 budgeted purchase of fire equipment, supplies and services from five vendors, including Fisher Scientific Company LLC, MES Service Company LLC, Municipal Equipment Co, North American Fire Equipment Company and Ten-8 Fire & Safety LLC
- Resolution No. 67-2026, a second amendment to a work order with Hazen and Sawyer P.C. for engineering services tied to PFAS benchmark review and pilot testing
- Resolution No. 70-2026, an emergency services agreement for mutual assistance and automatic aid with the City of Delray Beach for fire rescue
- Resolution No. 71-2026, levying special assessments in the Downtown Special Assessment district, accepting a preliminary assessment roll and setting a public hearing at which the council would sit as an equalizing board
- Resolution No. 72-2026, a contract with Johnson-Davis Incorporated for 35th Street drainage improvements
- Resolution No. 80-2026, a two-year agreement with SEIU/Florida Public Services Union Local #1227 covering October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2027
- Three claim settlements, filed by Rita Riva, Alan Perry and William Pazanski III
No dollar figures appear on the agenda for the resolutions listed above other than the fire equipment purchase.
The council is also scheduled to consider appointments to eight advisory boards, including the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, Financial Advisory Board, Library Board, Marine Advisory Board, Parks and Recreation Board and Sustainability Advisory Board, and to accept resignations from Victor Rodriguez from the Community Appearance Board and Dr. Georgia Christakis from the Community Advisory Panel.
What happens next
The regular meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 28, at Boca Raton City Hall, 201 W. Palmetto Park Road. If the council sets a final ranking Tuesday, staff have said they aim to bring a professional services agreement back to the council on August 25. No firm may begin work and no binding obligation arises unless the council approves and the parties execute a final agreement, according to Resolution No. 86-2026.
If negotiations with the top-ranked firm fail, the resolution directs the city manager to formally terminate those talks before opening negotiations with the second-ranked firm, and the city may not negotiate with more than one ranked firm at a time.
The Boca Raton City Council meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, and its votes on budgets, ordinances, and development touch every neighborhood in the city. Boca Post's Boca Raton city government coverage tracks what happens in Council Chambers.
