Stephen Bedner

The workshop covered several agenda items concerning infrastructure and data management. Discussion items included seeking approval to issue a permit for an AT&T utility installation parallel to the L-13 Canal on the west side of Congress Avenue, including associated fees. Another item involved the recommendation to abandon, surplus, and sell a portion of the L-2 Canal Right-of-Way (4.32 acres) to petitioners for fair market value, considering two options related to the petitioners' distribution facility construction. Furthermore, staff recommended entering into an Access Exchange Agreement with JDS Delray Inc. and Joseph H. Mulvehill Jr. concerning temporary access licenses over the E-1 and L-32 Canals due to existing encroachment and restricted access. The Board also addressed proposals regarding Automated Rain Gauges, including a cost-sharing agreement with the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) to install three new telemetry-enabled gauges to address data gaps, and a discussion on District-Wide Modeling Efforts, seeking approval to expend previously budgeted funds for data acquisition and model development.

The key discussion topics for the meeting included initial items such as retirement recognitions for three employees and general public comment. Significant agenda items involved approvals related to construction and maintenance projects: awarding a bid for the construction of E-1WS Culverts (Project #19-10173L.01), approval to advertise a Request for Bids for construction of Control Structure #9 (Project #19-7170P.07), and approval to award a bid for vegetation and tree removal services for the Consolidated Canal Rehabilitation Program (CCRP #6). Further items included the approval of a license agreement transfer for L-18 Canal piping/paving and consideration of a variance for a right-of-way permit to install a sidewalk on the L-16 Canal for ADA compliance. The agenda concluded with considerations for surplus property disposal and staff reports on the Canal Rehabilitation Program and the Executive Director's report.

The meeting included discussions and presentations on regional water supply conditions, including rainfall deficits in South Florida and Lake Okeechobee stages, and seasonal precipitation outlooks for 2026. A major topic was the Palm Beach County Conceptual Water Resource Project Proposal concerning the C-51 Canal, which involves diverting excess water to improve Lake Worth Lagoon water quality, requiring a potential cost-share agreement with the District. Another agenda item addressed an existing Banyan Tree encroachment issue related to the City of Delray Beach Golf Course redevelopment, for which a formal permit application was pending. Additionally, the board reviewed the final costs for improvements authorized under Resolution 2024-04, totaling $289,951.48, with a recommendation to assess $189,951.48 against the sole benefited property after the District assumes $100,000 of the cost.

The agenda for the meeting, conducted electronically pursuant to Executive Order No. 20-69, includes several key items. Discussions cover the preliminary operating budget and the subsequent resolution for the final operating budget for the Fiscal Year ending September 30, 2021. Other topics include the approval of employee health benefit renewals, an update on the Canal Rehabilitation Program, and reports from the Executive Director and District Counsel. Public input options via email, video conference, or in-person at District offices were provided.

The meeting addressed multiple agenda items related to property rights and permits. Key discussions included the approval to release Lake Worth Drainage District's (LWDD) chancery and reservation interest for Yamato Acquisition Company, LLC, subject to an Exclusive Easement Deed and a $250.00 Release Fee. Another major topic involved the Florida Department of Transportation's (FDOT) revised conceptual design for the Atlantic Avenue roadway widening and L-34 Canal modifications, including the potential surplus and sale of approximately 3.84 acres of L-34 Canal right-of-way to FDOT, and the abandonment of another portion of the right-of-way with maintenance responsibilities transferred to FDOT. Furthermore, staff sought approval to convert existing Piping, Paving, & Parking Agreements to Right-of-Way Permits for Crampton Family Trust (for CVS Pharmacy Store # 02966-01) and to assign/transfer the Piping, Paving, Parking License Agreement from Office Depot Inc to BH Offices Venture LLC concerning the L-41 Canal. Finally, the board considered the denial of a request by a resident (Knight Residence) to keep encroachments within the L-29 Canal Right-of-Way.