By Brian D’Antoni
Sundaze Gazette · Palm Beach County / Boca Raton Development & Budget
AI-assisted reporting; millage and fire-assessment figures verified against City of Boca Raton Granicus packets and labeled tentative/proposed. Parcel-specific downtown roll only—no invented typical assessments.
Labor Day is today. The chamber work is tomorrow.
Tuesday, September 8, 2026, Boca Raton’s City Council calendar—rescheduled because Labor Day falls on Monday, Sept. 7—stacks an entire owner-facing day into one address: the Auditorium of the City’s 6500 Building, 6500 N. Congress Avenue, Boca Raton, FL 33487. Morning CRA and Council sessions. A Special Meeting on the Downtown Special Assessment District and the Visions 90 capital program. Workshop and Regular, including Ordinance No. 5794 updates to the Building Recertification Inspection Program. Then, at 5:15 p.m., the Tentative Budget Hearing—proposed millage (Res. 102-2026), tentative budget (Res. 103-2026), fire services assessments (Res. 104-2026), and an amended user-fee schedule (Res. 105-2026).
If you own or manage commercial space downtown, bid city work as a contractor, or sit on a board that pays fire assessments and user fees, this is not a spectator calendar. It is a process day with four different clocks and four different document trails. Primary notices live on the City’s Public Notices page. Agendas and packet PDFs live on Granicus. This Gazette package maps the stack for owners—what is noticed, what numbers are in the packets, what is already past deadline, and what you can still do tomorrow—without rewriting the City’s budget book and without inventing a “typical” downtown assessment from a 156-page parcel roll.
The day map: CRA → Special (downtown) → Workshop → Regular → 5:15 budget
Start with the sequence the City itself published.
Morning stack (from ~10:00 a.m.): Per calendar EID 12836, the CRA Regular Meeting is followed by City Council Workshop and City Council Regular Meeting at the 6500 Building. Live coverage options listed on the calendar include the City’s Facebook and YouTube accounts; Comcast Channel 20 (city limits); AT&T U-verse Channel 99; Hotwire Channel 395; radio 1650 AM; and web streaming on the Agenda webpage.
Downtown Special Meeting (Res. 99-2026): Noticed to follow the conclusion of the CRA meeting that is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. Granicus lists the Special Meeting agenda at event_id=23619 (face time shown as 10:15 a.m. on that agenda viewer—treat CRA conclusion / Special start as sequenced after the 10:00 CRA open, not as a freestanding guess). Item: Resolution No. 99-2026—equalizing assessments; levying them against benefited properties in the Downtown Special Assessment District; directing the City Clerk to record assessments in the Improvement Lien Book; establishing priority of lien and payment of principal and interest.
Soft calendar flag (Res. 99 notice): The Resolution No. 99-2026 special-meeting notice PDF twice says “Monday, September 8, 2026.” September 8, 2026 is a Tuesday. The companion Downtown Special Assessment notice, the Public Notices hub, and the City calendar all place the hearing on Tuesday, September 8. Soft-flag the Monday wording as a day-of-week typo on that one notice; do not move the hearing to Labor Day Monday. Confirm live with the Clerk if any counsel is parsing notice language for a client.
Regular Meeting (Ord. 5794 and other ordinances): Granicus Regular agenda event_id=23629. Public hearing on Ordinance No. 5794 (AM-26-02)—Building Recertification Inspection Program updates to Chapter 19, Section 19-162. Same Regular calendar also carries other noticed ordinances (e.g., pension/procurement items on the Public Notices page); this package’s owner focus is 5794 plus the assessment and budget stack.
5:15 p.m. Tentative Budget Hearing: EID 15795 · Granicus event_id=23623. Agenda order: presentation on tentative budget, proposed millage rates, and Capital Improvements Program; public hearing on tentative budget and proposed millage (Res. 102, then Res. 103); then Resolutions and Other Business with public comment before motion—Res. 104 (fire) and Res. 105 (user fees, Parts I and II on Granicus).
Venue for all of the above, unless a later official amendment says otherwise: Auditorium, 6500 Building, 6500 N. Congress Avenue, Boca Raton, FL 33487.
Downtown Visions 90 special assessment: roll, deadlines, oral still open
The Downtown Special Assessment notice is the controlling public face for owners in the district.
City Council holds a public hearing on September 8, 2026, following conclusion of the CRA meeting scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m., to hear objections to approval of the 2027 Preliminary Assessment Roll for the Downtown Special Assessment District, as described in Resolution No. 71-2026, adopted July 28, 2026 (the 2027 Special Assessment Resolution). The City has determined to acquire and construct certain capital improvements known as the Visions 90 Project within the Downtown Special Assessment District and to finance those improvements through variable special assessments on specified lots and parcels. The 2027 Special Assessment Resolution and the 2027 Preliminary Roll establish the amount of the special assessments due January 1, 2027.
Written objections: Affected persons had the right to file with the City Clerk, not later than September 1, 2026, written objections as to the amount to be assessed against each parcel. That written-objection deadline is past as of this Monday, Sept. 7 package. Oral objections / appearing and being heard at the Sept. 8 hearing remain available under the notice’s language: all affected persons have the right to appear and be heard.
Parcel-specific only. The Special Meeting packet / Res. 99 materials include a multi-page assessment roll (Granicus event_id=23619). Amounts vary by parcel. This Gazette package will not invent a “typical” downtown assessment, a median, or a round-number example pulled from a handful of roll lines. If you need your figure for a lender, lease pass-through, or association board, pull your folio from the posted roll or ask the Clerk for the controlling line—do not brief from rumor.
Res. 99-2026, as noticed, is the equalizing/levying resolution that would record assessments in the Improvement Lien Book and set lien priority and payment terms. For counsel and asset managers: read Res. 71-2026, the preliminary roll, and Res. 99 together; do not treat a secondary summary as the lien instrument.
Ordinance 5794: building recert updates owners and contractors actually use
On the Regular Meeting calendar, Ordinance No. 5794 amends Chapter 19, Article IV, Division 1, Section 19-162, “Building Recertification Inspection Program,” to align the City program with state building-recertification requirements, clarify that uninhabitable building stories are included when determining whether a building is subject to recertification, amend deadlines for submittal of recertification reports and for permitting and completion of required repairs, provide for extension requests, and clarify technical submittal requirements (AM-26-02).
Staff background in the Granicus Ord. 5794 materials (as reviewed for this package) frames the update against 2025 House Bill 913 statewide changes, and notes that while state law focuses on inhabitable stories for the state threshold determination, the City’s practice has included uninhabitable areas such as underground and lower-level parking, and the ordinance would codify that more-stringent City practice. The same materials describe a 60-day extension path for owners to request more time to submit reports or commence work; require that necessary repairs commence within 365 days of the City finding that a submitted recertification report meets ordinance requirements (subject to extension, except where a faster schedule is required for safety); retain mandatory electrical inspection elements in the City program (including infrared thermology criteria expansions described in staff backup); and incorporate a “duty to report” for licensed engineers finding safety-impacting deficiencies.
Who is already in the program (existing Code page, not invented): Per the City’s Building Recertification Inspection Program page, the program reaches condominium or cooperative buildings that are 3 stories or more in height, or 50 ft or greater in height (Florida Building Code determination); buildings with age 30 years or more, or 25 years or more for condominium/cooperative property within 3 miles of a coastline (as defined in F.S. § 376.031); and threshold buildings (excluding detached 1- and 2-family dwellings) at building age 30+. Recertification Coordinator: Ranya Fakih, 561-393-7894 (email via the program page).
Fee note (separate from Res. 105): The same program page states that Resolution No. 39-2022 established a $500 per recertification review fee for submittal/review of reports. That existing fee is not invented here from Res. 105. Treat Res. 105’s amended/restated Municipal Facilities and Services User Fee Schedule as a separate packet trail (Parts I/II on Granicus)—see gap note below.
Contractors and engineers: Ord. 5794 is a compliance-calendar item (extensions, 365-day commence-repair clock, uninhabitable-story counting, technical submittals). Landlords and condo boards: it is a reserve-study and capital-plan item. Neither audience should wait for a social-media paraphrase of AM-26-02.
Tentative Budget Hearing 5:15 p.m.: millage, fire, fees
Florida’s TRIM calendar puts the first (tentative) municipal hearing after 5:00 p.m. Boca’s clock is 5:15 p.m. EID 15795. The notice PDF lists Res. 102–105 by title only—no millage numbers, no fire dollar amounts. Rates below are from Granicus packet materials for those resolutions and remain tentative/proposed until Council acts.
Res. 102-2026 — proposed millage (tentative)
From the Res. 102 Granicus packet cover memorandum (Aug. 19, 2026) and resolution text reviewed for this package:
| Component (proposed / tentative) | Mills |
|---|---|
| Operating | 3.6476 |
| Debt service (voter-approved) | 0.0163 |
| Total proposed | 3.6639 |
| Rolled-back rate | 3.4941 |
| Operating vs. rolled-back | 4.39% greater |
Packet example: a home with taxable value of $450,000 would pay $1,648.76 in City ad valorem taxes under the proposed total millage (packet comparison table also shows prior-year total millage 3.6649 / $1,649.21 for the same example taxable value). Cite every figure as tentative/proposed. A mill is $1 per $1,000 of taxable value. Your November bill still stacks school, county, and other authorities—this hearing sets the City millage/budget track, not the whole TRIM page.
Res. 104-2026 — Fire Services Assessments (FY beginning Oct. 1, 2026)
From the Res. 104 packet memorandum and rate exhibits reviewed for this package:
- Residential: $155 → $224 per dwelling unit.
- Estimated total assessment revenue: ~$18,204,656.50.
- Cost recovery: City budget narrative tied to this fee states the City recovers approximately 33.9% of assessable fire protection costs through this fee.
- Commercial (structure-size tranches as shown in packet):
- <3,500 sq ft: $406.38
- 3,500–9,999: $1,844.47
- 10,000–29,999: $4,485.07
- 30,000–49,999: $8,021.63
- 50,000–74,999: $13,500.75
- ≥75,000: $22,224.78
- Warehouse/Industrial (W/I):
- <30,000: $513.20
- 30,000–100,000: $2,897.90
-
100,000: $4,018.73
Commercial landlords: map your PBPA square footage and use code to the correct tranche before you brief a tenant or underwriter. Fire assessments are non-ad valorem—not millage—even when they appear on the same tax bill cycle.
Res. 105-2026 — user fee schedule (GAP)
Granicus agenda 23623 attaches Resolution No. 105-2026 Part I and Part II. This package does not invent line items from an unread or incompletely extracted fee schedule. Check Granicus Parts I/II for the amended and restated Boca Raton Municipal Facilities and Services User Fee Schedule before you quote any specific fee other than the separately documented $500 recertification review fee under Res. 39-2022 on the Building Recertification program page. If a line item matters to your permit desk or association budget, open the Part I/II PDFs and cite the page—do not rely on secondary press.
How to comment tomorrow
Owner-process rules for this stack (as briefed from City practice for these meetings and the Clerk contacts on City materials):
- Public comment: typically 3 minutes per speaker at Council comment opportunities—confirm the live chair’s instruction when you arrive; do not assume another city’s timer.
- Presentations / materials for the Clerk: send to BRCityClerk@bocaraton-fl.gov at least 4 hours prior if you need materials in front of Council. (Some notices also list BRCityClerk@myboca.us—use the address on the specific notice you are working from, or confirm with the Clerk.)
- Clerk phone: 561-393-7740.
- ADA / special accommodation: notices direct contact with the Clerk’s Office at least three business days prior when possible.
- Fill out a speaker card in the auditorium when you intend to testify; quasi-judicial procedure language appears on Granicus agendas for applicable hearings—read it if your item is quasi-judicial.
Written downtown assessment objections were due Sept. 1. Tomorrow’s oral record is still a live tool. Budget and fire comment at 5:15 p.m. is a separate clock—plan travel and parking if you intend to speak at both the morning Special and the evening TRIM hearing.
Owner & contractor checklist
- Confirm venue and sequence: 6500 Building Auditorium, 6500 N. Congress Ave.; CRA → Special (downtown) → Workshop → Regular → 5:15 p.m. budget.
- Download primary PDFs tonight: Downtown assessment notice · Res. 99 notice · Ord. 5794 notice · Budget hearing notice.
- Open Granicus packets: 23619 (downtown) · 23629 (Regular / 5794) · 23623 (budget / 102–105). Screenshot what is posted Monday night vs. Tuesday morning.
- Downtown owners: find your parcel line on the preliminary roll—no “typical” substitute. Note amounts are due Jan. 1, 2027. Written objection window closed Sept. 1; prepare oral comment if you will appear. Soft-note the Monday typo on the Res. 99 notice; hearing is Tuesday.
- Recert / threshold buildings: read Ord. 5794 backup (uninhabitable stories; 60-day extension; 365-day repair commence). Contact Ranya Fakih, 561-393-7894, for program questions. Remember existing $500 review fee (Res. 39-2022) is separate from Res. 105.
- Commercial / W-I landlords: map fire assessment tranche from Res. 104 packet to your square footage before 5:15 p.m.
- User fees: open Res. 105 Parts I and II—do not invent lines.
- If speaking: draft one concrete ask per clock (downtown equalization/levy; recert deadline clarity; millage/fire/fee). Email materials to the Clerk ≥4 hours prior. Clerk: 561-393-7740 · BRCityClerk@bocaraton-fl.gov.
- Stream backup: calendar lists City social, cable channels, 1650 AM, and Agenda-page streaming if you cannot sit the full day.
- After adjournment: pull adopted resolutions/ordinances from Granicus or the Clerk before you update leases, reserve studies, or bid assumptions.
FAQs
Is the downtown hearing Monday because the Res. 99 PDF says Monday?
No. September 8, 2026 is Tuesday. Soft-flag the Monday day-of-week wording on the Res. 99 notice as a typo; the Downtown Assessment notice, Public Notices hub, and City calendar place the hearing on Tuesday, Sept. 8, after the CRA meeting that begins at 10:00 a.m.
Can I still file a written objection to my downtown assessment amount?
The notice set written objections not later than September 1, 2026—that deadline is past. You may still appear and be heard orally on Sept. 8 per the notice.
What is a “typical” downtown Visions 90 assessment?
There isn’t one this package will publish. The roll is parcel-specific. Pull your folio.
Are the 3.6476 / 3.6639 / 3.4941 millage figures final?
No. They are proposed/tentative from the Res. 102 Granicus packet for the Sept. 8 Tentative Budget Hearing. Finals follow the TRIM second-hearing track later—do not treat tomorrow’s tentative adoption as the November bill in advance.
Why does operating millage sit 4.39% over rolled-back if the headline operating rate is what the packet proposes?
Rolled-back is the statutory revenue baseline on the new taxable roll. A proposed operating rate of 3.6476 against rolled-back 3.4941 is what the packet states as 4.39% greater—even when year-over-year operating millage is unchanged in the packet comparison table. Read TRIM columns on your notice; do not equate “same millage number” with “same tax dollars.”
Is the $224 residential fire fee a tax millage?
No. It is a Fire Services Assessment (non-ad valorem) under Res. 104, proposed $224 per dwelling unit (up from $155), with commercial and warehouse/industrial tranches by size as listed above, estimated revenue ~$18,204,656.50, and packet/budget narrative of roughly 33.9% cost recovery of assessable fire protection costs.
Does Res. 105 change my recertification review fee?
Do not assume. The $500 recertification review fee is documented under Res. 39-2022 on the program page. Res. 105’s full line-item schedule is in Granicus Parts I/II—check those PDFs; this package will not invent fee lines.
Who do I call about building recert deadlines?
Recertification Coordinator Ranya Fakih, 561-393-7894. Clerk for hearing logistics: 561-393-7740.
Where is the meeting?
Auditorium, City’s 6500 Building, 6500 N. Congress Avenue, Boca Raton, FL 33487.
What to do today and tomorrow
Monday, Sept. 7 (today — Labor Day observed): Download the four primary notice PDFs and the three Granicus event agendas. Find your downtown folio if you are in the district. Draft Clerk emails for any presentations due ≥4 hours before you speak. Map commercial fire tranches. Open Res. 105 Parts I/II if user fees hit your desk. Soft-flag—and do not over-litigate—the Monday typo on the Res. 99 notice.
Tuesday, Sept. 8 — morning: Be present or on stream for CRA → Special (Res. 99 / Visions 90 roll) → Workshop → Regular (Ord. 5794). Take notes keyed to document titles and parcel IDs.
Tuesday — 5:15 p.m.: Tentative Budget Hearing—Res. 102 millage, Res. 103 tentative budget, Res. 104 fire, Res. 105 fees. Bring the packet tables, not a screenshot of someone else’s summary.
After the gavel: Follow adopted instruments, not hallway paraphrases. January 1, 2027 downtown assessment due dates, October 1 fiscal-year fire assessments, and recert clocks under 19-162 each run on their own calendars once the paper is signed.
Process over theater: four stacks, one auditorium, packet-only numbers, parcel-only downtown amounts. That is how commercial landlords, contractors, and assessed downtown owners stay inside the record on September 8.
Source notes (end matter)
Primary City of Boca Raton notices, calendar EIDs 12836 and 15795, Public Notices hub, and Granicus agendas/packets for event_ids 23619, 23623, and 23629 as of Sept. 7, 2026. Downtown Visions 90 / Res. 71-2026 / Jan. 1, 2027 due date / Sept. 1, 2026 written-objection deadline from the Downtown Special Assessment notice. Res. 99 Monday-day-of-week wording soft-flagged against Tuesday calendar consensus. Millage table from Res. 102 Granicus packet (operating 3.6476; debt 0.0163; total proposed 3.6639; rolled-back 3.4941; 4.39% over; $450k → $1,648.76 example)—all tentative/proposed. Fire rates and ~$18,204,656.50 revenue from Res. 104 packet; ~33.9% cost-recovery statement from City budget narrative tied to the fee. Res. 105 line items: GAP—Parts I/II on Granicus; not invented. Ord. 5794 from notice + Granicus staff backup (uninhabitable stories; 60-day extension; 365-day repair commence). Program scope and $500 Res. 39-2022 fee from myboca.us Building Recertification page; coordinator Ranya Fakih 561-393-7894. Tentative Budget Hearing notice PDF confirmed to contain no dollar figures. No parcel-typical downtown assessment invented.
AI disclosure (publish line): AI assisted research and drafting; human editorial standards apply; Brian D’Antoni approves publish.
