Special Commission on Beach Re-Opening

BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION: On March 20, 2020, Governor DeSantis issued Executive Order (EO) 20-70 directing the closure of beaches in Palm Beach County. In his subsequent EO 20-90, the Governor provided the authority to the Palm Beach County Administrator to enforce, relax, modify or remove the closure of beaches in Palm Beach County (subject to the parameters set for in EO 20-70).

On May 8, 2020, the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) considered the issue of re-opening the beaches. Subject to a follow-up meeting on May 15th, the BCC voted to re-open the beaches in Palm Beach County on May 18th with certain restrictions (i.e., Palm Beach County residents only; no beach concessions provided; and, consistent with the parameters of EO 20-70).

In anticipation of the BCC’s follow-up meeting on May 15th, City staff has prepared a plan for re-opening the City’s beach (including the re-opening of the tenants’ businesses at the beach and parking). The plan will be presented to the City Commission for its consideration. City staff seeks official action from the City Commission (motion and vote) on the beach re-opening plan and possible input to the BCC for their follow-up meeting.