Executive Director’s Update: May At A Glance
June 1st, 2026
Downtown West Palm Beach continues to evolve, and with that growth comes the need for thoughtful planning, sound operations, and clear priorities. This month, the DDA Board focused on several important items that will help shape the district’s future, from selecting a consultant for our five-year strategic plan to reviewing infrastructure and policy matters that support long-term growth and organizational readiness.
Board Meeting Highlights:
Strategic Plan Moves Forward: A major focus of the meeting was the DDA’s Strategic Plan RFP process. The five-year strategic plan is intended to guide policy, programming, investment, and performance management as Downtown West Palm Beach continues to grow and respond to changing community needs. Following presentations from the three top-ranked firms, Starkey Strategies, MIG, Inc., and Stratus Team LLC, the Board evaluated each proposal and awarded the agreement to Stratus Team LLC.
FY26 Budget Amendment: Following acceptance of the FY2024-2025 Independent Financial Audit at the April Board meeting, staff presented a budget amendment to the FY2025-2026 DDA budget. The amendment reflects carryforward adjustments, recognizing grant funding received for the Placemaking Mini-Grant Program, and reallocates funds to address operational needs for the remainder of the fiscal year.
Organization Use of Artificial Intelligence: The Board and legal counsel discussed the importance of approaching artificial intelligence thoughtfully and with the right expertise. Staff was directed to obtain a cost estimate from a consultant specializing in AI applications and policy development, then return to the Board for further review and discussion on potential implementation and next steps.
Downtown Master Plan Update: The Downtown Master Plan Update continues to move forward as the City plans for the next phase of growth. Since the adoption of the original 1995 plan and the last update in 2007, Downtown West Palm Beach has experienced significant growth and transformation; growing from approximately 1,000 residential units and 8 million square feet of nonresidential space to nearly 9,000 residential units and more than 10.4 million square feet of nonresidential development today. The current DMP update is focused on addressing the next phase of growth, including investments in main streets, public spaces, transportation, resiliency, and smart city technologies. The most recent presentation to the Downtown Action Committee (DAC) was held on Wednesday May 13, 2026 and included the following recommendations:
- Do not impose 25 % parking reduction within legislation
- Flexible language built into code regarding height with in DMP
- Lesser number of stories along Flagler waterfront
- Increase impact fee to allow for additional funding for street level improvements
- Traffic flexibility and systemwide analysis within the DMP to ensure long-term planning efforts do not increase congestion
- An independent opinion regarding the referendum
This update remains an important process for shaping how downtown grows in the years ahead. To view the full session: Click Here.
To view schedule of upcoming public meetings: Click Here
Residential Partner Meetings:
Property managers interested in discussing district needs and DDA programs can reach me at [email protected].