At the September 18, 2018, Board of County Commissioners meeting, the board took the following action:
 
Forbes – announced that Palm Beach County was named to Forbes magazine’s list of America’s Best Employers. Forbes selected 500 large companies in the U.S. with 5,000 or more employees, and Palm Beach County placed No. 243 overall. The county also ranked No. 10 nationally among large government services employers.
 
School security – approved a budget amendment of $223,200 for law enforcement services provided by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office to the Palm Beach County School Board. The funding pays for 10 deputies per day for campus security on days to be designated by the School Board.
 
Bear’s Club – postponed to October 16 a request by the Bear’s Club to swap an existing conservation easement over a 15.54-acre scrub habitat preserve for other fragmented parcels of land within the club’s property to accommodate future development of the parcel and provide a one-time contribution of $1 million to the Natural Areas Fund.
 
Tourist development – approved on preliminary reading and to advertise for public hearing on October 16 an ordinance amending the Tourist Development Ordinance to require hosting platforms and booking services to verify that a residential unit is registered with the Tax Collector’s Office and has a business tax receipt and tourist development tax account prior to advertising a short-term rental. The amendment requires short-term rentals to retain certain records and authorizes the Tax Collector’s Office to issue administrative subpoenas to obtain records, and provides for civil and administrative penalties.
 
Project Paper – conceptually approved an ad valorem tax exemption up to $478,873 over a ten-year period for Project Paper. The company is considering relocating its Florida-based manufacturing business to Belle Glade. The project will invest $33.7 million to purchase land and construct and equip a 400,000-square-foot facility, creating 40 new jobs over a two-year period and retaining 150 jobs at an annualized average wage of $34,999. The estimated five-year local economic impact is $108.5 million.
 
Workers comp – approved a contract with Walton Lantaff Schroeder & Carson, LLP to provide workers compensation litigation defense services for Palm Beach County, Palm Tran, and constitutional officers participating in the county’s self-insurance program. The contract is for three years with two one-year options at an annual rate of $497,650 plus reasonable costs and expenses not to exceed 3 percent ($14,929) per year.
 
TPA – adopted a resolution authorizing the payment of per capita member dues to the Palm Beach Transportation Planning Agency (TPA) in the estimated sum of $61,811. Payment to the TPA for membership dues will commence on October 31 of each year following the termination of the interlocal agreement for staff and services and continue each year thereafter until discontinued by the BCC.
 
Okeechobee Business District – adopted a resolution initiating the Florida Government Conflict Resolution process regarding the challenge to the city of West Palm Beach’s proposed comprehensive plan amendment creating the Okeechobee Business District.
 
Library – approved the Library System’s strategic and long-term plan for FY 2019 through FY 2021. The plan represents the Library’s mission statement, goals and objectives, and strategic plan.