CHECK OUT Better Delray movement (4)
DON’T MISS the Klezmatics (13)
SEE WHO
MARCH 2017
is Delray’s new chamber chair (36)
Hit the polls for Delray Beach’s city election on March 14 By: Marisa Gottesman Associate Editor Delray Beach residents can hit the polls on March 14 to select who they want to see serve in commission seats 2 and 4.
Delray. For your vote to count, you must
To participate in the local election, you must be a registered voter in the city of
To see where your polling site is located,
be registered for at least 29 days before the election.
check your voter registration card.
Last month, we featured questionnaires completed by the candidates vying to serve. This month, we will take a more in-depth look at who is running, their position on city topics and what their campaign coffers look like as of the first report due in 2017. That report covers finances through Jan. 31. We will break
the candidates down by races: Seat 2 There is no incumbent running for Seat 2. The seat was vacated by Commissioner Al Jacquet who is currently serving as a state representative. Four candidates officially qualified to appear on the ballot. They will be dis[CONT. PG 2] cussed alphabetically for
Delray Beach looks toward alternative modes of transportation Staff report Delray Beach is looking to add more ways for people to get around besides their cars. The city already has dedicated golf cart parking and promotes the use of the free downtown trolley. But it is now looking into adding a bicycle sharing program and possibly pedicabs. At a recent commission meeting, commissioners agreed to move forward with plans to add a bicycle sharing program in the city. The program won’t raise the city any money nor will it cost the city any money. Bicycle sharing is common throughout European cities and other destinations where people can rent bicycles and hop on and off of them at various stations. Technology is often incorporated into the program so riders can check on an app where stations are located and if there is an available bike. City staff will spend the next eight months coming up with a plan that outlines where the stations will be located, what technology will be used, how much rentals will cost and other logistics. Two companies responded to the city’s request to add a bike sharing program, P3 Global Management and Zagster. Commissioners agreed with staff ’s recommen-
FIND US ONLINE DelrayNewspaper.com
dation to rank P3 Global highest and enter into negotiations with the company, which operates the program in West Palm Beach. The agreement will have to come before commissioners for approval. While commissioners recognize they need to promote other modes of transportation in the city, there is concern about the program and whether the city should add more bicyclists to the streets. Some say they want to see the stations located off of Atlantic Avenue even though it may look charming to see a
bicycle program downtown. “Atlantic is just too crowded with stuff,” said Colony Hotel owner Jestena Boughton. Bicyclists are excited to implement a bike share program, but they have concerns about the number of bicycle accidents in the city and the city’s infrastructure to handle more bicyclists. “I ride my bike downtown it’s very dangerous,” said resi[CONT. PG 2] dent Christina Morrison.