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Delray Beach commissioners look to raise business tax
By Palm Beach Business.com
DELRAY BEACH — It’s about to get a bit more expensive to run a business in Delray Beach.
Delray Beach city commissioners on Tuesday approved first reading of an ordinance raising the city's business tax by 5 percent, the maximum allowed under Florida law. A second reading will be held during the June 19 meeting; a public hearing on the tax increase will be held before commissioners vote.
Commissioner Al Jacquet cast the only vote against the increase.
Most city businesses will see their tax bill raised to $164.36 a year from the present $156.56. The increase is expected to bring in $34,000 more a year.
Community Improvement Director Lula Butler said the city has not raised the tax since 2008. She also noted the city has registered 896 new businesses so far this year, with 20 percent of them home based.
Also Tuesday, commissioners received a presentation on Delray’s bid to become the first city in Florida to be named an All American city three times. The National Civic League named Delray Beach as a finalist for the award last week. City representatives will travel to Denver to make a pitch on behalf of the city during the All America City Conference on July 2.
The city based its application on its efforts to improve reading among third graders.
“I’m very proud of the city,” Jacquet said. “If we become the first city in the state to be an All America city three times, it will be a huge accomplishment for us.”
The city won All America honors in 1993 and again in 2001.
Also Tuesday, commissioners approved a list of new requirements for organizations holding events in the city. Among the more prominent changes: organizations will be required to pay 100 percent of overtime expenses the city might incur, plus an additional 5 percent fee to cover a portion of the city’s administrative costs.
The city also will require new events to pay a deposit, and all events will be required to pay the city in full within 60 days of the invoice date. The number events will be limited to three per month.
Commissioners shot down a request from Presidential Auto Leasing and Sales to install pavers in the right of way to accommodate tractor-trailers unloading vehicles. The business is located at 3201 S. Federal Highway.
Presidential wanted to install the pavers in a now-grass-covered swale along a 100-foot stretch of Avenue L because large tractor-trailers can’t make their way onto the company lot to unload their cargo. The trucks tear up the grass, which Presidential frequently has to replace.
Planning and Zoning Director Paul Dorling recommended against the approval because it would set a precedence that other businesses might follow and because Presidential had previously promised to find a way to unload the trucks on its land.
Commissioners approved a waiver to land use regulations so that a proposed restaurant at 9 NE 2nd Avenue can establish an outdoor dining area without encroaching into the adjoining sidewalk.
A series of city residents asked commissioners to consider adopting a resolution calling for a constitutional amendment to overturn the Citizens United Supreme Court decision that equates money with speech and eliminated most restrictions on election spending by corporatons.
Commissioner Adam Frankel said he’s not against the idea of a constitutional amendment but he questioned whether the Delray Beach city commission was the proper body to consider the resolution.
