REGULAR BOARD MEETING AGENDA
Downtown Development Authority Tuesday, April 15, 2025 8:30 AM
107 S. Olive Avenue, Suite 200 West Palm Beach, FL 33401
https://downtownwpb.com/DDA Dial: +1 301 715 8592
Webinar ID: 869 4087 0389
CALL TO ORDER
PUBLIC COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
PRESENTATIONS
• WPB Police OT Update LT. Colombino
CONSENT CALENDAR (Action Required) Rick Reikenis
• Minutes of Regular Board Meeting March 18, 2025
• Financial Statements of March 31, 2025
OLD BUSINESS
• RFP 2025 – 001 Landscaping Services Catherine Ast
• WPB Mobility Coalition/WPBgo Agreement
NEW BUSINESS (Action Required)
• FY 2023 – 2024 Financial Audit
• Trash Can Replacement
ANNOUNCEMENTS ADJOURNMENT
107 S. Olive Avenue, Suite 200, West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Phone: 561.833-8873|Fax: 561.833.5870| www.downtownwpb.com
Teneka James-Feaman
Samantha Moore
Catherine Ast
Rick Reikenis
Teneka James-Feaman
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES
Downtown Development Authority Tuesday, March 18, 2025 8:30 AM
107 S. Olive Avenue, Suite 200 West Palm Beach, FL 33401 https://downtownwpb.com/DDA
ATTENDANCE
DDA Board members in attendance: Chair Rick Reikenis, Vice Chair Robert Sanders, Peter Cruise, Daryl Houston, Tim Harris, Bernardo Neto and Samantha Bratter (electronically) DDA Staff in attendance: Teneka James-Feaman, Samantha Moore, Marley Angervil Catherine Ast, Krystal Campi, Tiffany Faublas, Sabrina Lolo, Sherryl Muriente, and Attorneys Zoe Weiser-Dalton and Janice Rustin LLW. Guests in attendance: Linda Cullen. Virtual Guests in attendance: Alana Wortsman and Alexander Esposito.
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Reikenis called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
None.
Neto raised concerns about an increased presence of unhoused individuals and crime downtown. He shared feedback received from local business owners James-Feaman explained that the DDA’s budget includes $600,000 for extraduty officers Payments are made once the overtime shifts are worked. The shortage of officers has made it challenging to fill all shifts, but adjustments are being made. A recent meeting with Chief Araujo and Deputy Chief Shearer highlighted efforts to address these challenges, including forming a Homeless Intervention Team As well as a new Quality-of-Life detail, launched last week, is already yielding results, including arrests, referrals to treatment, and shelter placements. The board discussed their concerns and directed James-Feaman to schedule a meeting with Chairman Reikenis and Chief Araujo prior to April Board Meeting to address and identify solutions.
James-Feaman requested to amend the agenda to remove the Mobility Coalition agreement. The agreement will be brough back to the April Board Meeting.
Sanders made a motion to amend the agenda and remove Mobility Coalition agreement Cruise seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
James Feaman provided an update on Chest Park, noting that the permanent tables and chairs are scheduled to be installed this week. She provided an update on noise issues; she has met with 2 of the 3 businesses that were the main culprits to address the issues. The businesses have made adjustments to help alleviate the noise issues. James Feaman highlighted the first annual Coffee Fest that had over 130 attendees and was well received by all attendees. She shared that the DDA has been asked to partner with City Community Events for the first weekend of May, former SunFest weekend, to activate the waterfront; the theme is Vintage Vibes more details to come.
The last Que Bacano of the season is on Friday April 4th with a finale contest. Let’s Vibe is scheduled for April 9th and Silent Disco is on April 16th. James-Feaman also shared images of recent rust removal improvements, pressure washing with Trike success and enhanced fuller, greener landscaping in the planter beds on Clematis.
PRESENTATIONS
Muriente presented a recap of Placemaking Mini Grants and highlighting its overall success. These projects are community led placemaking projects that help create change through small interventions for the greater good of the community and generates cultural learning experiences. The report showcased the four projects that were awarded placemaking mini grants. The four projects: Flamango Vending; Kahani’s Readers’ Theater; The Fantastical Walk; and The Lantern Festival Muriente shared highlights, images, and feedback from the community for each project She then shared next steps and goals for Placemaking Mini Grants 2.0.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Minutes of Regular Board Meeting February 18, 2025
Financial Statement of February 28, 2025
Harris made a motion to approve the consent calendar. Cruise seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS
James-Feaman stated that the city is in the process of issuing an RFP for transportation services. Our current agreement with Circuit expires next month and we would like to renew the piggy-back agreement so there is no interruption in service. Alana Wortsman presented an update on Circuit fares, reduced wait times, and ridership data. Sanders made a motion to approve the 5th extension to the Circuit Piggy-back agreement. Cruise seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS
None
ANNOUCEMENTS
Rustin provided an update on the status of DDA Office space and landlord correspondence. Elevator repairs are now completed. The landlord has raised the CAM rates from 1800 in 2024 to 3800 in 2025. Additionally, the charges he has listed for CAM reconciliation for 2024 may not all be applicable. Rustin is working with landlord to reconcile charges and confirm actual CAM rates for the DDA Office.
ADJOURNMENT
Sanders made a motion to adjourn the meeting Cruise second the motion. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 11:02am
MEMO
TO: DDA Board
Rick Reikenis, Chairman
Robert Sanders, Vice Chairman
Samantha Bratter
Peter Cruise
Tim Harris
Daryl Houston
Bernardo Neto
FROM: Teneka James-Feaman, Executive Director
RE: West Palm Beach Mobility Coalition (WPBgo) Agreement
DATE: April 15, 2025
The West Palm Beach Mobility Coalition, a public / private partnership led by the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches and Downtown Development Authority to address mobility and transportation issues in the West Palm Beach downtown core.
The vision the Coalition has built upon recent studies and leverages past community engagement of the city, including the Gehl Public Realm Action Plan, Mobility Plan, Okeechobee Corridor Study, Dixie Highway Lane Elimination and Parking and Transportation Demand Management Study - while looking to the future.
The Coalition will focus on:
1.) Providing professional services to assist in prioritized mobility initiatives.
2.) Leveraging county, state and regional grants and funding opportunities.
3.) Creating and mobilizing a coalition of advocates and community members to provide support for downtown mobility initiatives.
At the November 2024 DDA Board meeting the board directed DDA staff to work on a multi-year agreement with the Mobility Coalition. DDA Staff and Legal have drafted the attached agreement for review and approval.
Agreement Details:
Under the terms of the agreement, the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) agrees to provide funding to WPBgo in a cash amount not to exceed $100,000 per fiscal year during the term of this agreement. In addition to cash funding the DDA shall provide WPBgo with certain in-kind services. This agreement shall commence on the effective date and continue until September 30, 2027.
WPBgo shall submit a funding request by May 1 of each year of this agreement for consideration by the DDA board during the annual budget process. DDA shall disburse the annual funding amount on a quarterly basis after receipt and approval of required quarterly reporting.
Recommendation:
Staff recommends the Board approve the agreement with West Palm Beach Mobility Coalition (WPBgo) as outlined above.
FUNDING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE WEST PALM BEACH DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND WPB MOBILITY COALITION, INC.
This Agreement, by and between the WEST PALM BEACH
DOWNTOWN
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, an independent taxing authority created pursuant to Chapter 189, Florida Statutes (hereinafter referred to as “DDA”), and WPB MOBILITY COALITION, INC., a Florida not for profit corporation, whose principal offices are located at 107 South Olive Ave #200, West Palm Beach, FL 33401 (hereinafter referred to as "WPBgo"), is entered into this ____ day of _______________, 2025.
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS, the DDA is a Florida independent special district established under Chapter 2003-800, Laws of Florida ("DDA Charter"). One of the primary goals of the DDA is to revitalize the Downtown area of the City of West Palm Beach by promoting commercial and economic development in the Downtown area and to improve the quality of life of Downtown residents; and
WHEREAS, WPBgo is a non-profit public private partnership of community leaders whose purpose is to help find unique ways reduce traffic impacts and improving mobility to, from, within and around downtown West Palm Beach to enable economic growth, reduce commute times and make everyday life easier; and
WHEREAS, the DDA Board finds that the services and programs provided by WPBgo furthers the goals and objectives of the DDA; and
WHEREAS, the DDA desires to provide funding to the WPBgo, pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, to assist the WPBgo in providing its services and programs; and WHEREAS, the DDA Board finds that this Agreement serves a public purpose, is consistent with the DDA Charter, and conforms with the requirements of Florida law.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises, mutual covenants, provisions and undertakings hereinafter contained and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:
1. Recitals. The foregoing “Whereas” clauses are hereby ratified as being true and correct, and incorporated herein.
2. Term. This Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and shall continue in full force and effect until September 30, 2027, unless terminated earlier by the DDA in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
3. Funding Amount. The DDA agrees to provide funding to WPBgo in a cash amount not to exceed $100,000 per fiscal year during the term of this Agreement in order to support WPBgo services and programs as further described in Exhibit A. In addition to cash funding, the DDA shall provide WPBgo with certain in-kind services, as further described in Exhibit B. WPBgo shall submit a funding request by May 1 of each year of this Agreement for consideration by the DDA Board during its regular budget process. The DDA’s obligations under this Agreement are subject to and
contingent upon the Funding Amount being budgeted for and appropriated by the DDA Board for each year of this Agreement.
4. Disbursement Schedule. DDA shall disburse the annual Funding Amount as budgeted by the DDA Board on a quarterly basis starting in FY 2026. In FY 2025, payment of $100,000 will be disbursed upon endorsement of this agreement and invoiced by WPBgo. Payment shall be made upon DDA’s receipt and approval of the required report as described in Paragraph 5 of this Agreement.
5. Reporting Requirements. Prior to the issuance of DDA’s scheduled disbursement of funds, WPBgo shall submit to the DDA a written report as further described in Exhibit A. WPBgo acknowledges that failure to submit required reports in a timely and complete manner may result in DDA withholding scheduled disbursements until compliance is achieved.
6. Media/Public Relations. WPBgo shall insure that all WPBgo-generated publicity, public relations, advertisements, and signs clearly recognize the DDA for the support of all activities conducted with the funds provided by the DDA and include the DDA’s logo.
7. Termination For Cause. If the DDA, by a majority vote of the board, determines that WPBgo is not using the Funding Amount to further the DDA’s goals and objectives, the DDA shall provide written notice to the WPBgo of such deficiency(ies), and the WPBgo shall have thirty (30)) days from the effective date of the notice to cure the deficiency(ies) to the satisfaction of the DDA. Should WPBgo fail to cure such deficiency(ies) to the satisfaction of the DDA, the DDA Board has the right to terminate the Agreement immediately after delivery of written notice to WPBgo. Furthermore, the DDA may, in its sole and absolute discretion, cease future payments, The DDA Board shall have sole and absolute discretion with respect to the determination as to whether WPBgo is furthering the DDA’s goals and objectives.
8. Contract Changes. This contract may be amended at any time by mutual written consent and supported by a majority vote of the Boards of both parties.
9. Termination For Convenience. The DDA, in its sole and absolute discretion, by majority vote of the DDA Board, reserves the right to terminate this Agreement without cause upon thirty day written notice to WPBgo. Upon receipt or effectiveness of such notice, the DDA shall not provide any additional funds from the DDA. In no way shall the DDA be subjected to any liability or exposure for the termination of this Agreement under this Section.
10. Audit Rights. The DDA shall have the right at any time to conduct audits including free access of the WPBgo’s records pertaining to the Funding Amount, this Agreement, its financial status, performance, and expenditure of funds in accordance with this Agreement. Such records must be maintained by the WPBgo for a period of seven (7) years. WPBgo agrees to cooperate with the DDA in the performance of these activities. Such audits shall take place at a mutually agreeable date and time. If it is determined, in the DDA’s sole and absolute discretion, during the course of the audit that the funding under this Agreement was used for unallowable costs, the WPBGO agrees to promptly reimburse the DDA for such unallowable payments upon request,
including unlawful and/or unauthorized expenditures discovered after the termination of this Agreement. The right of the DDA to conduct audits pursuant to this Agreement shall exist for seven (7) years from the completion and/or termination of this Agreement. This Section shall survive expiration or early termination of this Agreement.
11. Independent Contractor. WPBgo shall at all times act as an independent contractor in the performance of its duties under this Agreement Accordingly, the WPBgo shall be responsible for the payment of all taxes including Federal and State taxes arising out of the WPBgo's activities in accordance with this Agreement including by way of illustration but not limitation, Federal income tax, Social Security tax, Unemployment Insurance taxes, and any other taxes or business license fees as may be lawfully required.
12. Notice. All notices, requests, and responses provided for herein shall be in writing. Such documents shall be given by deposit in the custody of the United States Postal Service, by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid), return receipt requested, and notice shall be deemed effective on the third (3rd) business day after mailing. The DDA and WPBgo designate the following as the appropriate people and places for delivering notices and other documents:
DDA: Teneka James, DDA Executive Director
107 S. Olive Avenue, Suite 200
West Palm Beach, FL, 33401
WPBgo: Jonathon Hopkins, WPBgo Executive Director
107 S. Olive Avenue, Suite 200 West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Both parties reserve the right to designate a different representative in the future, or to change the address for notice, by providing written notice to the other party of such change.
13. Governing law and venue. This Agreement shall be governed by and in accordance with the Laws of Florida. The venue for any action arising from this Agreement shall be in Palm Beach County, Florida.
14. Attorney’s Fees. If any legal action or other proceeding is brought for the enforcement of this Agreement, the successful or prevailing party or parties shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys’ fees, court costs and expenses.
15. Severability. The validity of any portion, article, paragraph, provision, clause, or any portion thereof of this Agreement shall have no force and effect upon the validity of any other part or portion hereof.
16 Entire Agreement. No prior or present agreements or representations with regard to any subject matter contained within this Agreement shall be binding on any party unless included expressly in this Agreement. Any modification to this Agreement shall be in writing and executed by the parties. All amendments to this Agreement shall be in writing, signed by both parties.
17. Assignment. Neither the WPBgo nor the DDA shall assign or transfer any rights or interest in this Agreement.
18. Effective date: This Agreement shall become effective when signed by the DDA Chair.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this agreement to be executed on the day and year first written above.
WEST PALM BEACH DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY
By: ____________________________
Richard A. Reikenis, Chairman
WPB MOBILITY COALITION, INC.,
By: ___________________________
Chair
ATTEST:
Approved as to form and legal sufficiency
1. WPBgo Services and Programs
