DELRAY BEACH, FL - Delray Beach commissioners voted Tuesday to move forward with a $59.2 million construction agreement for the Pompey Park Recreation Center project, approving a guaranteed maximum price after a public debate over cost, timing and whether the city should pause to consider a late claim of potential savings.
The City Commission approved Amendment No. 2 to its agreement with Core Construction for construction manager at risk services on the Pompey Park project. The guaranteed maximum price was listed at $59,193,363.
The vote was 4-1. Deputy Vice Mayor Tom Markert, Commissioner Judy Mollica, Vice Mayor Angela Burns and Mayor Thomas Carney voted yes. Commissioner Juli Casale voted no.
City staff said the agreement follows months of work with Core Construction to review the project, identify conflicts, value-engineer the proposal and arrive at a final guaranteed maximum price.
According to the staff presentation, the project started with an initial offering of about $65.8 million. Staff said the amount was reduced to $63.3 million through value engineering, bid leveling and alternates. Additional negotiations lowered the number to about $59.39 million before Core withdrew a preconstruction services invoice, bringing the final guaranteed maximum price to $59.19 million.
The approved agreement covers the Pompey Park Recreation Center project under RFQ No. 2024-031. The agenda identified the project as Public Works Project No. 16-102.
Before the vote, staff also addressed community concerns about the existing concession stand at Pompey Park. Staff said Core Construction agreed to demolish the current concession stand at no cost, but the demolition would not happen at the beginning of the project. Instead, staff said the building would remain until the new community center is built and the old community center is ready for demolition.
Staff said the concession stand is in poor condition and not salvageable. The city plans to grass over the area after demolition and provide a restroom trailer. Staff also said a concession trailer could be provided if the community wants one.
The future replacement of the concession stand remains a separate issue. Staff said Core would not charge management fees to oversee construction of a new concession stand, but the replacement would still be an additional city cost. Staff said the city has existing design plans from a concession stand and press box built at Little Fenway in 2017, but said no decision would be made without working with the community that uses the facility.
During public comment earlier in the meeting, Ivonne ODM raised concerns about the concession stand, saying it is more than a concession area. She said the building includes storage, offices, meeting space, batting cage-related uses and other functions connected to baseball activity at the park. She urged the city to work with the people who use the facility before tearing it down.
The commission also discussed a late letter from another company that claimed it could reduce the project cost by about $4.2 million. Mayor Carney said he could not ignore a potential savings of that size. Casale also questioned whether a delay could be justified if it saved taxpayers more than $4 million.
City staff said they had not had time to meet with the company or review exactly how the savings would be achieved. Staff also said switching course could require negotiating a new contract, sending the project back through bidding and bid-leveling steps, and returning to the commission for approval. In a best-case scenario, staff said that could take about five months.
Burns argued against changing course, saying the project has already gone through a process and that the community has waited decades for the work. She said Core was the city’s first choice and has been working with local firms, which she said was important to residents.
Mollica also questioned whether the promised savings would hold once hard costs were reviewed, saying the alternative company had not gone through the same detailed project pricing.
In other business, commissioners approved an opioid settlement expenditure plan for 2026-2027. Assistant City Manager Jeff Oris told commissioners the city had $395,524.93 available to allocate. The option selected by the commission funds up to 50 percent of the startup cost for a mobile integrated health unit, estimated at $125,500, and splits remaining money between workforce and job assistance grants and affordable or supportive housing grants.
The mobile integrated health program would be connected to Delray Beach Fire Rescue and would focus on follow-up care for Delray Beach residents after emergency medical calls, including people affected by opioid use. Fire officials said the program is intended to help connect patients with resources after hospital discharge.
Several public speakers supported using opioid settlement money for the mobile integrated health or community paramedicine model, while also pointing to separate prevention funds available through Karen Foundation money. Some speakers said the settlement funds should focus on people currently in recovery or in crisis, not duplicate school-based prevention programs.
Commissioners also reviewed the city’s Tree Trust Fund and community tree planting program. Staff said the fund has received about $1.38 million in deposits since 2004 and spent about $1.22 million. The current balance was listed at $199,940. Staff said the average tree planting program costs about $333,000 per year and supports about 2,000 trees.
No vote was taken on the tree program. City Manager Terrence Moore said the city would continue discussing options as part of the fiscal year 2026-2027 budget process, including potential grants and outside partnerships.
Commissioners also approved Resolution No. 94-26, a budget amendment involving a $272,912.50 transfer within the fire department. Staff said the item was neutral to the general fund and moved money among line items to fund equipment, salary-related costs and an information technology intern.
The commission approved Resolution No. 102-26 for the Run With The Chief event, correcting a date issue during the meeting. The event is scheduled for June 27, 2026, with a route from Libby Wesley Plaza along Atlantic Avenue. Police Chief Daryl Hunter said in a video that the 1.4-mile run or walk is intended to promote connection between residents and police officers.
Commissioners also approved the first reading of Ordinance No. 11-26, a city-initiated land development regulation change affecting pet grooming, pet hotels, animal training and daytime boarding uses in several zoning districts. The ordinance would make some pet-related uses permitted rather than conditional uses in specified districts. A second hearing is still required.
During commissioner comments, city officials also discussed future action on cemetery concerns, possible e-bike and micro-mobility regulations, a lobbying ordinance discussion item, and a pending complaint against the Town of Highland Beach. The city attorney said a draft complaint was being prepared against Highland Beach, alleging breach of contract and breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, with mediation required under Florida law before the case could move forward.
Moore said cemetery concerns are expected to return at the July 14 regular meeting, followed by a workshop discussion. Residents and commissioners raised concerns about burial space, maintenance, historic preservation, recordkeeping and communication with families.
Parks, public land, beach access, recreation facilities, and green space planning are important issues in Delray Beach. Follow Boca Post for updates on Delray Beach planning, land use decisions, and community concerns.
