Boca city officials may take another look at annexation
February 12, 2010 · 0 Comments
By Dale M. King
It’s been a few years since Boca Raton city officials looked into annexation – the process of bringing land adjacent to the community’s borders into the city limits.
The mayor and three fellow City Council members expressed a desire this week to consider annexation again. Only Councilman Anthony Majhess rejected the idea, saying he is “happy with the boundaries” as they are.
City Manager Leif Ahnell actually brought the idea of studying annexation to the floor at Tuesday’s council meeting. He said that of all the ideas that came out of last year’s goal-setting sessions, annexation was the only one that had not been acted upon.
Historically, annexation is only done when it is a financial benefit. Normally, if a parcel of land or a housing development becomes part of the city of Boca Raton, the municipality adds new tax revenue. If that revenue exceeds the added cost of providing services, it’s a thumbs-up for Boca.
Mayor Susan Whelchel cited the need to consider ways of pumping up revenue in light of the tight economy and budget restrictions. She noted that the preparation of the 2010-2011 spending sheet later this year will require the council “to make some really tough decisions. We can’t say no to any idea that could possibly benefit the city.”
Ahnell said a study of annexation would likely center on areas north of Clint Moore Road and possibly the Boca Grove development adjacent to the Florida Turnpike.
It’s unlikely, he said, that the city would consider annexing Boca Del Mar.
A study of annexation earned the council’s support, but didn’t get a raving review. “I support studying it,” said Councilwoman and Deputy Mayor Susan Haynie. “That doesn’t mean I support doing it.”
Councilwoman Constance Scott said the idea has “a lot of pros and cons.” And Councilman Mike Mullaugh said he felt a study “is a good idea.”
Majhess said east Boca and west Boca are different, so he saw no reason to try and meld parts of those areas. And during the discussion of providing services, he said he “almost took offense” at the implication that the city provides better services than the county. Majhess is a Palm Beach County firefighter.
Perhaps the most historically notable annexation of this century took place in 2003, when Boca added a total of 494 acres of formerly county property into the city. That land included the entire Town Center at Boca Raton mall and such surrounding developments as Via Verde, the Coach Houses at Town Place, Santa Barbara and Fairfield Court at Boca Raton.
Because the move was considered involuntary, it required approval by referendum vote. The balloting in November of 2003 showed nearly unanimous support of annexation.
The city hired a consulting firm to study the issue before it was put to referendum.
A voluntary annexation requires only approval by the city council.
