March 13, 2025
1:00 pm
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
BOARD MEETING
PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA
ADDITIONS, DELETIONS, & SUBSTITUTIONS
MARCH 18, 2025
PAGE ITEM
A *DELETED
– pulled/moved for a later date by the BCC. (CJC)
B *RENUMBERED
– Item A (ADMIN)
*ADD-ON – Process for Hiring of New
County Administrator (ADMIN)
NOTE: Items that were revised, added, deleted, or
backup submitted and were not listed on the preliminary addition/deletion sheet
distributed to the Board the prior day are noted with an asterisk (*).
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BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA
MARCH 18, 2025
TUESDAY COMMISSION CHAMBERS
9:30 A.M.
1. CALL TO ORDER
A. Roll
Call
B. Invocation
C. Pledge
of Allegiance
2. AGENDA APPROVAL
A. Additions,
Deletions, Substitutions
B. Adoption
3. REGULAR AGENDA (Pages 2-4)
A) John D. and
Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Safety and Justice Challenge:
Palm Beach County Updates (CJC)
A) Palm Beach County
Organization Review and Assessment (ADMIN)
B) Process for Hiring of New County Administrator (ADMIN)
5. ADJOURNMENT
MARCH 18, 2025
A. CLERK
AND COMPTROLLER
1. Staff
recommends motion to receive and file:
Warrant List – Backup information can be viewed in the Clerk &
Comptroller’s Office.
2. Staff recommends motion to approve:
Contracts (regular) and claim settlements list as submitted by various
departments to the Clerk & Comptroller’s Office. Countywide
B. FACILITIES DEVELOPMENT &
OPERATIONS
1. Staff recommends
motion to approve:
A) the conceptual operational
strategy for the provision of supportive housing for seniors;
B) a Budget Transfer in
the amount of $3,802,000 from the Owner Occupied Housing Rehabilitation ARPA
Replacement dollars to the La Quinta Hotel Property Acquisition Unit within the
ARPA Response Replacement Fund to provide funding for the purchase of
approximately 2.99 acres improved with a 114-room hotel located at 5981
Okeechobee Boulevard in unincorporated Palm Beach County(Property); and
C) an Agreement for
Purchase and Sale with Rore Asset 5981, LLC, a
Florida limited liability company (Seller), for the acquisition of property
consisting of approximately 2.99 acres improved with a 114-room hotel located
at 5981 Okeechobee Boulevard in unincorporated Palm Beach County (Property) for
the purpose of providing senior housing accommodations at a purchase price of
$15,000,000 plus closing costs estimated to be $40,000.
MARCH 18, 2025
3. REGULAR AGENDA
B. FACILITIES DEVELOPMENT & OPERATIONS
1.
Summary: On
September 17, 2024, the Board of County Commissioners (BCC)
authorized staff to negotiate for the acquisition of
the Property with the Seller conditioned upon: 1) conducting outreach sessions
with the surrounding community, 2) developing a conceptual operational strategy
for the provision of temporary housing and supporting services from the
Property, and 3) providing the BCC an overview of the condition of the
Property. The BCC further instructed staff of its interest in considering all
matters concurrently, prior to making a determination on the acquisition of the
Property. Following BCC direction, staff
met with residents of Century Village on October 4, 2024 and on January 24,
2025. Copies of the presentations provided during said meetings are included as
Attachment 2 to this agenda item. Song and Associates, Inc. (SAI) was
commissioned to conduct an assessment of the condition of the Property with a
goal of identifying any renovations needed for the building to be operational
for the County’s intended purpose and compliant with current codes; no fatal
conditions were identified. The final Assessment Report estimated approximately
$2.8M in renovation costs. Staff’s proposed conceptual operational strategy for
the provision of temporary housing services should the BCC decide to acquire
the Property is included as Attachment 3 to this agenda item. Two (2)
appraisals were obtained from Callaway and Price, Inc. and Appraisal
Acquisition Consultants, valuing the Property at $13,600,000 and $14,250,000,
respectively, with an average appraised value of $13,925,000. Although the
initial asking price for the Property was $16,000,000, the Seller agreed to a
purchase price of $15,000,000, which is $1,075,000 (approximately 7.72%) above
the average appraised value. The Property is currently operating as a LaQuinta-brand hotel and is subject to a Franchise
Agreement between Seller and LaQuinta Franchising
LLC. The Franchise Agreement provides
for the payment of a franchisee release fee (FRF) to terminate the Franchise
Agreement. The Purchase and Sale
Agreement provides that, in addition to the purchase price, the County will
contribute an amount not to exceed $1,762,000 towards the FRF. The County will pay closing costs estimated
to be approximately $40,000. If the BCC
approved the conceptual operational strategy and approves the acquisition of
the Property, staff estimates recurring annual operational costs totaling
$1,687,800 consisting of $882,000 for facilities-related expenditures (i.e.,
maintenance, utilities, security) and $805,800 for staffing and wrap-around
services.
MARCH 18, 2025
3. REGULAR AGENDA
B. FACILITIES DEVELOPMENT & OPERATIONS
1.
SUMMARY (cont’d.): The rooms will be transformed into single
room occupancy
efficiencies to offer permanent supportive housing for
eligible seniors and veterans aged 55 and older. The County will collaborate
with nonprofit organizations to manage the property and provide an array of
activities and support services. Staff
estimates that an initial investment of $1M will be required to bring the
Property’s card access, intrusion, security camera, fire alarm and cable
systems into compliance with the County facilities’ standards. While engaged in
negotiations with Seller, staff was approached by the owner of the Ramada Hotel
located at 1901 Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard, West Palm Beach regarding its
potential sale to the County. As a
preparatory step to better inform the BCC, staff initiated basic due
diligence. Two (2) appraisals were
obtained from Anderson & Carr, Inc. and Callaway
& Price, Inc., valuing the Property at $21,500,000 and $20,000,000,
respectively, with an average appraised value of $20,750,000. Preliminary
conversations with the Ramada Hotel’s owner indicate his willingness to engage
in negotiations. Staff is notifying the
BCC of this additional opportunity should the BCC deem it appropriate to
authorize staff to negotiate the acquisition of the Ramada Hotel (i.e.,
inclusive of performing a condition assessment, conducting community outreach,
and preparing an operational framework). Acquisition of the Property (i.e., LaQuinta) will be funded from the ARPA Replacement Funds
and Infrastructure Sales Tax funds.
These are County ARPA Response Replacement funds that do not require a local
match. This acquisition must be approved by a supermajority vote (5
Commissioners). (Property & Real
Estate Management) District 2 (HJF)
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