WEST PALM BEACH — At the Oct. 6 Palm Beach Board of County Commissioners meeting, the board took the following actions:

COVID-19 — received a report from Dr. Alina Alonso, director of the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County, and Bill Johnson, director of Palm Beach County Emergency Management, on local COVID-19 mitigation efforts. Statewide, 1,415 new cases were reported on Oct. 5 with 66 new hospitalizations and 41 new deaths. Palm Beach County reported 74 new cases (47,153 total), three new hospitalizations (3,718 total) and no new fatalities (1,394 total). The county’s daily lab positivity rate is 3.13%; about half the cases of COVID locally are in the 15-44 age group. Flu season typically runs from October into February; Dr. Alonso advises getting a flu shot.

Elections — heard a presentation from Supervisor of Elections Wendy Sartory Link on rules and procedures for voting by mail, early voting and voting in person. Early voting at 18 Palm Beach County sites begins on Oct. 19. The general election is Nov. 3.

CARES Act — approved a budget amendment in the CARES Act Relief Fund of $1.05 million to recognize interest and balance brought forward and reallocate funds due to changes in fiscal strategy. As presented to the BCC on Sept. 15, there is approximately $41 million available in the various fiscal strategy categories. These funds will be transferred to broadband ($3.75 million); culture grants ($1.025 million); not-for-profit grants ($4.24 million); Health Department contract tracing ($1 million); general expenses ($4 million); and the balance ($28.055 million) to reserves. CARES Act funding must be used by Dec. 30.

TEFAP — adopted a resolution urging the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to require a competitive process for the 2021 expiring contract for the USDA’s Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) for Region 8, and to split Region 8 into two separate regions. Currently, Region 8 combines Palm Beach and Broward counties. Dividing it would establish Palm Beach County as its own independent region for administration of TEFAP.

Land development — approved on first reading and to advertise for public hearing on Nov. 17 an amendment to the Land Development Division (LDD) ordinance to update the fee schedule. This will provide funding for the various functions and services of the LDD, as well as other agencies that perform various functions and services on behalf of the LDD, such as the Roadway Production and Traffic divisions of the Engineering and Public Works Department.

Airports — approved an amendment to the general consulting agreement with AECOM Technical Services in the amount of $1.789 million for continued professional planning and design services related to the Palm Beach County Airports Capital Improvement Plan.

BDB — approved an amendment to the agreement with the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County (BDB) regarding scope of services. Revisions were made mainly in response to COVID-19 and reflect efforts to minimize in-person meetings and travel to comply with health and safety best practices.

PBSO — approved two amendments in the Law Enforcement Trust Fund (LETF) to establish the balance brought forward and reserve in the amounts of $408,463 and $360,528 and a budget transfer of $220,000 from the LETF to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO). The transfer of funds will provide office space for PBSO staff, via lease, for six months of the current fiscal year.

Westlake — approved an interlocal cooperation agreement with the City of Westlake to participate in forming an Urban County Program jurisdiction. To receive certain types of federal program funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Palm Beach County must requalify every three years for HUD’s designation as an Urban County Program. The current designation will expire Sept. 30, 2021, and a new application for requalification for fiscal years 2021-2024 is now due. With the addition of Westlake, 31 municipalities have agreed to participate with the county.

Calusa Pointe — approved a HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) award of $670,000 to SP Palm Beach LLC and directed staff to negotiate a grant agreement for the development of Calusa Pointe, a 140-unit multifamily rental facility for the elderly in Belle Glade. The project will offer one-, two-and three-bedroom apartments for households with incomes no greater than 60% of area median income (AMI). The project includes 37 HOME-assisted units: 14 will be set aside for households with incomes no greater than 50% of AMI, and 23 set aside for households with incomes no greater than 28% AMI.

Christian Manor — approved the issuance of $18 million in Housing Finance Authority of PBC multifamily housing revenue bonds to finance the costs of acquiring, constructing, renovating and equipping a 200-unit multifamily rental housing facility for the elderly known as Christian Manor. Located at 325 Executive Center Drive in West Palm Beach, these units will be rented to qualified persons and families whose household incomes do not exceed 60% of area median income. No county funds, nor its taxing power, faith or credit are pledged to pay the principal, redemption premium, if any, or interest on the bonds.

San Marcos Villas — approved the issuance of $50 million in Housing Finance Authority of PBC multifamily housing revenue bonds to finance the costs of acquiring, constructing, renovating and equipping a 400-unit multifamily rental facility known as San Marcos Villas. The project is located at 800 Venetian Isles Drive in Lake Park. These units will be rented to qualified persons and families whose household incomes do not exceed 60% of area median income. No county funds, nor its taxing power, faith or credit are pledged to pay the principal, redemption premium, if any, or interest on the bonds.

Carmelite System — approved the issuance of Public Finance Authority revenue bonds for the Carmelite System Inc. Obligated Group, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $74 million, including an amount not to exceed $22 million for the purpose of financing or refinancing the costs of acquisition, construction, improvement and equipping of health care facilities owned and operated by one or more affiliates of the Carmelite System Inc., including Lourdes-Noreen McKeen Residence for Geriatric Care in West Palm Beach, and authorized a TEFRA public hearing. No county funds, nor its taxing power, faith or credit are pledged to pay the principal, redemption premium, if any, or interest on the bonds.

Legal — agreed to schedule a private attorney-client session for Oct. 20 at noon to discuss settlement strategy in two opiate litigation cases in which Palm Beach County is a party.

Child care — sitting as the Child Care Facilities Board, adopted a resolution clarifying that two seats on the seven-member Child Care Advisory Council may be filled by county employees. The board approved the appointments of Sandra Wilensky and Terry Newton to the Child Care Advisory Council.