[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6161590,"mediaKeyId","5441562-fe897407731c00d09b021cb9318bcddd","parentId",5441562,"title","Delray Beach commissioners give unanimous consensus to name new station for former Fire Chief Kerry Cohn","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",5159000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5441562-fe897407731c00d09b021cb9318bcddd&start=5159&end=5159","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5441562-fe897407731c00d09b021cb9318bcddd/thumbnail_5159000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6161590/Delray-Beach/Palm-Beach-County/Florida/Delray-Beach-commissioners-give-unanimous-consensus-to-name-new-station-for-former-Fire-Chief-Kerry-Cohn","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6161590-4baa5d60e132061ad17c1348866ef8d8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163414&Signature=k23nouTgMpPOjg50r4RG3FtIfkc6-lGKlXDZ6tpEWFG73bk85yl9xdSnYthp0bfd9uwc-7SKxU7ndOzjGCIHkZFV1Vxyw6b0kM85XfPSWkEX244cZRubmJrjA3iMzMTzI3fSMC-NhZfzDycNwZmxn5yuBGOVEeJEKXF4WoR-~GPzmH2zWptZ1wXQnLu1G6DTkv8HzSqicITS1nOQaYLLDGfHSDpfKLb6tw7q5Q8Mmsckj7b9pwLY3-4IXTJ~d-WnnqXobOYz86rIvMYc6sUDF5f4vqo7lpAscoLpm2oIpdfTa45Q-SEiIi4BCHfNpWLwgQg85LeDz7mD21jN0uaKsA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Delray Beach, FL","date","2025-07-22T19:15:28Z","article","The Delray Beach City Commission on July 22 unanimously agreed in consensus to dedicate Fire Station 113 in honor of former Fire Chief Kerry Cohn, who recently died.

A commissioner proposed that the new station be named for Cohn in recognition of his years of service and contributions to the department, including work on community monuments. Commissioners on the dais expressed immediate agreement; City Manager Terrence Moore said the dedication would be acknowledged at the station’s ribbon‑cutting scheduled for July 25.

The item was acted on by consensus rather than a formal ordinance or resolution; staff indicated the naming and recognition will be incorporated into the station opening ceremony and related materials.

Ending: City staff will include the dedication as part of the July 25 ribbon cutting and follow the city’s standard naming procedures for formal recognition.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Commission Special Meeting 07-22-2025 4:00pm","oneSentenceSummary","At the July 22 meeting the commission gave unanimous consensus to name a new facility — Fire Station 113 — after retired Fire Chief Kerry Cohn; staff said a ribbon‑cutting and dedication will acknowledge the naming at the July 25 ceremony.","taxTitle","Delray Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida","taxId",5598,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6161595,"Residents and commissioners press city to revisit Freebee contract and downtown funding",2275,614000,2889000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5441562-fe897407731c00d09b021cb9318bcddd&start=614&end=2889","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5441562-fe897407731c00d09b021cb9318bcddd/thumbnail_614000.jpg","/articles/6161595/Delray-Beach/Palm-Beach-County/Florida/Residents-and-commissioners-press-city-to-revisit-Freebee-contract-and-downtown-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6161595-a8a39f0d7402840e82db0beb850e8f1f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163414&Signature=baQ7WD5bGnSFD0CQD81E8s9tkFyuv5VjKF2yVWbOl9YW4YTJiXR58kCyv2asCnlSq3gHfz0Bjbu3s-dYu59zcniEiWVzZvy1joC0D-cqpdCvJclrvTNnVLwMzjWgyEd91fUP4OjsRBOk1auPTVgNLiUc6Wncgy0Maeh3WfAWfuqdbl88PANajhyUrohur6iWXWwPk~eTE21TO5DYdV8VP5EsvsmZjpClnw5Ua8CaW6jBi9drPNCMga4i1g5Mnjt9Ao1HzngOi-HYaceqX5Oq5NTyAjOASWKdhBH2UHwpNFs9oBm8jisqx2XPfnSDrwx34QNE7M~YOFv4bC~XsYfysQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Public commenters at the July 22 Delray Beach special commission meeting urged the city to reconsider how it funds and oversees Freebee, the downtown on‑demand electric ride service.

Michelle Danish, a Delray Beach resident who said she briefly worked as a Freebee driver, described operational problems and safety concerns. \"There’s no set allocation for where you're actually scheduled to drive in a certain area. You can drive wherever you want,\" Danish said, adding she left the job after a frightening safety incident in a neighborhood. Danish and other speakers also said drivers regularly accepted tips despite program rules that prohibit tipping.

Vice Mayor Long noted the city will face a Freebee contract renewal later in the year and suggested staff evaluate alternatives, including issuing a request for qualifications (RFQ) or pursuing a low‑cost user fee so participating cities receive revenue. \"It may be worth discussing if we want to do an RFQ ... [or] a pay model ... that money goes back to the cities,\" Long said.

Other residents urged that downtown‑focused programs that principally benefit the central business district — including Freebee, certain signature events and some arts programming — be funded by the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) or nonprofit partners rather than the city’s general fund. City commissioners acknowledged the concerns and asked staff to review options ahead of the contract renewal and budget hearings.

Ending: Commissioners asked staff to return with information about the Freebee contract, potential RFQ requirements, and whether revenue‑sharing or a fee model is feasible before the current contract renewal.","Multiple public commenters described safety, service and enforcement issues with the Freebee ride program and urged the commission to require contract terms that return revenue to the city or move the service off the general fund; Vice Mayor Long said the upcoming contract renewal is an opportunity to seek a revenue model or RFQ.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6161600,"Delray Beach sets proposed FY2026 millage at 6.1611 mills after divided commission debate",3697,1349000,5046000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5441562-fe897407731c00d09b021cb9318bcddd&start=1349&end=5046","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5441562-fe897407731c00d09b021cb9318bcddd/thumbnail_1349000.jpg","/articles/6161600/Delray-Beach/Palm-Beach-County/Florida/Delray-Beach-sets-proposed-FY2026-millage-at-61611-mills-after-divided-commission-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6161600-f75dfc3b23f6e0e4cebec7265c97b4ee/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163414&Signature=WhRqBMr99~IMjNKIq2JZNcNhCSTmj-lB-0sTdAeJHzypFoX~PczikwF3cbi2U2VUjBIziDVYlWG7sD4VMk2OuoOYyK~cinTFq5~ZzMcsYtjbaHnbMdGPChitabMWW1svd4qbmxVHv~oeyB6iXGMt969kJbHUXCdFBadb6JT1aMbo-AXSVUVJGQeyCcsitruw5ZQRhByR~i8NLldWC2pLQmCpEciklvHR02isvT2f4QMQBa4kUqMfIlyF~e-tNHXPNhvwSlhMnwMuXzB3kXifyUPVTo0cK1oh8RWubURpK6UrCHWzHc5QMXj~jg2JctF~YSsGRPVvklWZVeWOcbmeZg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Delray Beach City Commission on July 22 set a proposed fiscal year 2026 operating millage rate of 6.1611 mills, plus 0.0309 mills for debt service (a combined total of 6.192 mills), at a special meeting called to consider the city’s budget gap and service levels.

City Manager Terrence Moore told the commission the 6.1611 operating rate would increase projected ad valorem revenues and, together with identified efficiencies and use of reserves, would allow staff to submit a balanced proposed budget while maintaining current levels of service. \"We were more dependent on any and all opportunities to identify efficiencies and operations to help streamline cost to this extent that we possibly can,\" Moore said during his summary.

Moore explained staff examined multiple scenarios and identified vacancy savings, attrition estimates and other cuts to reduce a multi‑million dollar shortfall. He said the recommended budget keeps the city’s fund balance within the policy range of 21%–25%, estimating a fund balance position of about 21.2% (roughly $41.5 million) under the proposal.

The commission’s discussion mixed policy and public comments about which programs should be paid from the city general fund. Several residents and business owners urged commissioners to avoid raising the millage or to shift items such as the Freebee ride service, Old School Square operations and certain signature events back to nonprofit sponsors or the downtown development authority. Christina Morrison, a former chair of the city’s financial review board, urged shifting downtown‑specific costs off the general fund: \"The freebie started as a pilot program by the CRA ... it benefits only the downtown. So why isn't the downtown paying for it?\" she said.

Commission members disagreed about how far cuts could go without reducing services. Vice Mayor Long supported the proposed rate, saying the roughly $10–$20 monthly change for the median assessed home was justified to preserve police, fire and road maintenance. \"I would happily pay $20 a month to make sure that my roads are paved and that our police department staffed and that our fire department staffed,\" Long said. Commissioner Cassell, who supported the request to raise the rate last year, said she would not back deep service reductions and criticized some public messaging for understating the size of the budget gap and the location of planned vacancy savings.

Mayor Kearney proposed a substitute cap — holding the operating rate at 5.9063 mills — and led debate that emphasized shifting specific costs (parades, holiday lighting, teen center operations) out of the general fund. That substitute did not survive the final roll call. The motion to set the proposed operating millage at 6.1611 mills, plus 0.0309 mills for debt service (total 6.192 mills), passed 3–2. The roll call on the adopted rate recorded votes in favor from Vice Mayor Long, Commissioner Cassell and Commissioner Markert; Deputy Vice Mayor Burns and Mayor Kearney voted no.

Speakers raised a range of operational and budget specifics during public comment and commission discussion. Points included: the city’s long‑term commitment to convert Delray Beach Fire Rescue staffing to a 24/72 schedule and maintain three‑person EMS units (a cited cost driver); an estimated vacancy savings calculation and an attrition allowance Moore described; the teen center’s annual operating cost (public commenters and one commissioner referenced a roughly $500,000 city subsidy and said the after‑school attendance was about 13–15 children); and repeatedly stated concerns about preserving reserves for disaster response.

Moore outlined next steps: staff will provide updated proposed budget materials prior to the two required public hearings in September (first hearing Sept. 3, final hearing Sept. 15). The commission also directed attention to capital matters on the August 12 agenda, including the water treatment plant and the municipal golf course, and asked staff to continue seeking efficiencies.

The decision on a proposed millage rate at tonight’s meeting sets the number used by the Palm Beach County property appraiser for TRIM (tax notice) calculations; final adoption of the budget and millage rate remains subject to the September public hearings and any adjustments the commission adopts then.

Ending: Commissioners and staff emphasized the action is a step in the budget process: the rate adopted July 22 is the proposed (TRIM) rate and will be subject to final public hearings in September when the commission must adopt a final millage and budget.","The Delray Beach City Commission on July 22 set a proposed operating millage of 6.1611 mills (plus 0.0309 mills for debt service, total 6.192 mills) to close a multi‑million dollar budget gap and preserve services, after a split vote and extended public comment about downtown programs and service levels.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Delray Beach commissioners give unanimous consensus to name new station for former Fire Chief Kerry Cohn

Residents and commissioners press city to revisit Freebee contract and downtown funding

Delray Beach sets proposed FY2026 millage at 6.1611 mills after divided commission debate