Delray's Eliopoulos elects against a third commission term

By Palm Beach Business.com

DELRAY BEACH — City Commissioner Gary Eliopoulos announced Tuesday that he will not seek a third two-year term during the March municipal elections.

Eliopoulos, who has served on the commission since 2007, cited both personal and professional reasons for the decision. He made the announcement during Tuesday’s commission meeting.

“These four years, it’s been great up here,” Eliopoulos said. “I’m not leaving; I still want to be involved.”

Eliopoulos in leading up to his announcement noted that Tuesday evening happened to be his daughter’s 13th birthday. Eliopoulos, an architect by trade, runs his own architectural firm in Delray Beach. He and his wife, Toni, have three children.

Eliopoulos moved to Delray Beach in 1995. He has served as a member of the city’s  Planning and Zoning Board, Site Plan Review and Appearance Board, Pineapple Grove Main Street Design Guidelines Committee, Pineapple Grove Main Street Executive Board, Beach Property Owners Association Design Guidelines Committee.

Also Tuesday, commissioners approved first reading of an ordinance that would establish a $30 annual renewal fee for monitored alarm systems in the city. New systems would have to pay a $25 registration fee, up from the current $10.

There will be a public hearing on the ordinance scheduled for Jan. 4, when commissioners consider final approval. It’s expected that the fee will generate $375,000 annually for the cash-starved city. And while commissioners could decide against implementing the fee, it’s unlikely that they would do so, since the fee is already built into the budget.

Commissioners had questions about details of the ordinance, including what happens in cases where the fees aren’t paid and alarm systems aren’t registered, and how the city intends to publicize the fee, but indicated no reluctance to adopting it.

Commissioner Adam Frankel commended Sara Martin of the Downtown Marketing Cooperative for her efforts in the city’s annual menorah and tree lighting ceremonies last week.

“Sara and staff and volunteers, bravo!” Frankel said.