BOCA RATON, FL — Boca Raton’s proposed Police Services Complex remained one of the most closely watched issues coming out of the May 26 City Council meeting, as city officials moved forward with planning for a possible bond referendum while opposition from Commissioner Jon Pearlman and SAVE BOCA continued after the meeting.
According to the City of Boca Raton’s council recap, staff presented an overview of the proposed Police Services Complex planning process, including community engagement, polling, preliminary facility needs and possible funding approaches. City Council reached consensus to continue exploring a bond referendum for new police facilities of up to $125 million and directed staff to move forward with public outreach and project planning.
The issue has already created tension at City Hall.
As Boca Post previously reported, Pearlman clashed with other members of the board over messaging tied to the cost of the police complex ahead of the meeting. Pearlman also runs SAVE BOCA and has acknowledged wearing two hats: one as a city commissioner and one as the leader of the advocacy group.
Following the May 26 meeting, SAVE BOCA sent another email to supporters with the subject line: “COUNCIL CONTINUES TREATING YOUR HARD-EARNED TAXPAYER DOLLARS LIKE MONOPOLY MONEY—NOW FUELS $120M STATION.”
In the email, SAVE BOCA criticized the city’s direction, saying the council “continues to treat your hard-earned taxpayer dollars like monopoly money” and describing the proposal as a $120 million police station financed through a $125 million bond. The email also referred to the project as the “Taj Mahal station,” language used by opponents who argue the facility is too expensive.
SAVE BOCA said Pearlman was the only council member to oppose the $120 million station and $125 million bond concept. The email quoted Pearlman as saying, “$120 million, $150 million, $190 million, you’re talking like we’re dealing with monopoly money here. I deal with real money and so do the taxpayers and the voters of this city.”
The group also disputed whether the latest version represents a meaningful reduction in cost.
“You can’t put $190 Million on the table and then cut it down to $120 Million and then say this is reasonable,” Pearlman said, according to the SAVE BOCA email. “You’re still gouging the tax payers for something they didn’t ask for. And that was evidenced in the hundreds of emails that came through.”
The city’s recap did not describe a final bond vote or final approval of the police facility. Instead, the city said council reached consensus to continue exploring the bond referendum and proceed with public outreach and project planning.
SAVE BOCA’s email also criticized the project timeline, saying construction would not begin until 2029 and could extend into the 2030s. The email compared the timeline to Fort Lauderdale’s police station project and argued that current cost estimates could increase before construction begins. Those claims were presented by SAVE BOCA in its email and were not part of the city’s written recap provided for this article.
The email also took aim at other council members. SAVE BOCA said Mayor Andy Thomson praised staff for continuing work with the architect tied to the earlier police station concept and said Deputy Mayor Michelle Grau supported increasing the potential bond amount from $100 million to $125 million.
The email also criticized Commissioner Stacy Sipple’s comments about the volume of emails council members received. According to SAVE BOCA’s email, Sipple said it was “a waste of our time” and complained that council members were being swamped with hundreds of emails.
Beyond the police complex debate, the May 26 meeting included several other city issues.
Staff updated council on the Downtown Civic Area Plan, including the city’s Request for Qualifications process and a proposed timeline for selecting a consultant. According to the city, the project will focus on community engagement, planning and conceptual design for the City Hall campus and surrounding civic areas. A final master plan is expected in early 2027.
The city also provided an update on youth softball field assignments. Following discussions with league representatives and the community, Boca Raton Recreation Services announced an agreement with the Greater Boca Raton Beach & Parks District to relocate youth softball activities to the Spanish River Athletic Complex at Countess de Hoernle Park beginning with the 2026 fall season.
Council also reviewed regulations related to freestanding emergency facilities, including zoning districts, parking requirements, access standards and comparisons with nearby jurisdictions. According to the city, no formal action was taken by council on that issue.
In formal council action, City Council passed Ordinance No. 5785, establishing lobbyist certification and disclosure requirements for development applications. The ordinance requires applicants to identify people authorized to represent them before City Council, advisory boards or staff, and whether those representatives are registered lobbyists or exempt under existing Palm Beach County regulations.
Council also introduced several ordinances, including a proposed lease extension for a hospice facility on city-owned land at 1531 West Palmetto Park Road, a proposed construction and demolition debris franchise agreement with Classic Recycling Inc., and amendments related to the city’s pension and retirement plans.
The Police Services Complex issue is expected to continue as the city moves into public outreach and further planning around a possible bond referendum.
Stay informed on zoning proposals, City Council decisions, and major development projects shaping Boca Raton. Visit our Boca Raton City Government and Development page for ongoing coverage from City Hall and planning meetings.
