Email: ddavis@juno-beach.fl.us or DianaDavisJunoBeach@gmail.com

The Town Council deadlocked with a vote of 2 to 2 over whether to select:

• Jay Boodheshwar - resume click here, full package click here; from Naples and Palm Beach, Florida.

or

• Darren Coldwell - resume click here, full package click here; from Page, Arizona and Lincoln County, Montana.

While there was not a final decision at the December 6th meeting, which was disappointing, the dialogue from the dais was professional and respectful. (sometimes we are grateful for baby steps)

Enclosed are my thoughts on why I support Jay Boodheshwar for Town Manager. I urge you to contact Town Council by clicking Town_Council@Juno-Beach.fl.us to give your thoughts on the two finalists for Town Manager.

Protection Against Over-Development - The biggest issue facing Juno Beach is slowing growth, preventing over-development, preserving what is unique, and maintaining our quality of life. The Town Manager is our first line of defense and is the face of the Town in meetings with developers. I believe if we do not have someone with strong experience in Florida standing up for the property rights of existing residents that our community could change overnight and forever. 

Most Qualified- In my opinion, Jay Boodheshwar is the most qualified based on the written materials he provided, the individual interviews, and the group interview. Mr. Boodheshwar’s experience in Florida coastal communities, and specifically in Palm Beach County, give him more relevant experience, so that he can act immediately to add value for the residents of Juno Beach by protecting our Town from over-development. 

Known and Respected by Local Community Leaders - Jay Boodheshwar received “glowing” recommendations from residents of Juno Beach and other locals who worked with him in the municipal government of Palm Beach. It was these neighbors, who are experts in municipal government, who gave their positive observations and opinions regarding Jay, after working with him and knowing him for many years.  (including residents, Jane LeClainche, Carolyn Stone, and Tequesta neighbor, Tom Bradford.)

Process Oriented and Experienced Using Planning Tools - Based on his past municipal government experiences, Jay Boodheshwar will raise the performance level of both Council and Staff.  He has experience with Strategic Planning and using Master Plans. Jay also has experience with Vulnerability Assessments and using those findings for federal funding of adaptation projects.  Jay's experiences will contribute to and enrich these on-going projects in Juno Beach, and will allow us to develop process improvements for our Town.

Relevant Experience Obtaining Federal Funds and State Appropriations. Jay Boodheshwar has been very successful in Naples receiving Federal and State funding for projects. We have big projects such as beach renourishment where we rely on County, State and Federal funding, Jay will be an asset to the Town in these negotiations. Also if our residents decide by voting for it in a referendum, that they want to pursue funding for large expensive projects such as undergrounding overhead power lines, Jay has experience and already completed this project in Palm Beach. If residents decide to lobby for a project such as the Marcinski bridge or Marcinski Tunnel to divert beach traffic from Donald Ross Road, then Jay Boodheshwar would be the best of the two candidates to pursue some of these loftier long-term objectives. 

A word on Mr. Coldwell. While Darren Coldwell was very personable, his experience out west in Arizona and Montana is very different from the development and land use challenges he would face in Florida. I anticipate that there will be a steep learning curve regarding development or amendments to our land development regulations preventing his immediate effectiveness that could be detrimental to our Town.  Darren Coldwell in his previous roles, had a coal mine shutdown and then addressed how to attract tourism business to his town. When I asked about the land development regulations, Mr. Coldwell said that they only allow buildings to be three-stories in height because that is the length of their ladder on their fire truck. Darren's experience does not include addressing development pressures that we have on the east coast. I have heard from residents who believe the number one issue in Juno Beach is healing the divisiveness in our community and on the Town Council, and that Mr. Coldwell, as an outsider, would be the better candidate to address these issues.

Addressing Division in our Community - I agree that divisiveness is a major problem. Jay Boodheshwar, who is also an outsider, is capable of addressing both development concerns and community divisiveness.

Current Steps: The Town Council divisiveness is being addressed currently by the Town Attorney who is drafting decorum rules for Council members. Jim Karas, who is the Town's Strategic Plan consultant has developed action steps for Council decorum that have not yet been approved. Finally, for division within the community, at the December 17th Town Council meeting, the quasi-judicial procedure or land development hearing rules are on the agenda. In my opinion, they should allow adequate public comment time and should require open public forum workshops for development projects at the project’s proposal and again prior to its land development hearing, so that the public is included in the decision-making steps. Click here for a past newsletter on improvements needed to our land development decision-making procedural rules. We have much more to do to bring our community together.

Your opinion matters. Which finalist do you believe will best serve the Town of Juno Beach as our new Town Manager? Please contact the Town Council by clicking town_council@juno-beach.fl.us to email the Mayor and the Town Council with your opinion on Jay Boodheshwar and Darren Coldwell. Thank you in advance for taking time to care about your community.

Your input and opinions: Public engagement is a vital part of the work that Town Council does for our community. Your comments and thoughts are encouraged and welcomed. We are "Better Together!"

Happy Holidays!

Diana Davis

phone: 561-267-7772 official email: ddavis@juno-beach.fl.us

Save the Dates:

• December 17th 5:30pm - Town Council Meeting
• December 18th 3:30 pm *Ecology Group Bird Walk* with Benji Studt in Juno Dunes meet at Bert-Winters Park 13425 Ellison Wilson Road south parking lot, click here for a link to the invitation.
• December 19th 5pm - Hanukkah Celebration

[link to Town Calendar December]

Click here for the agenda and backup materials for the December 6th Town Council Meeting. Click here to view the video of the December 6th meeting.