History

Resume for Bob Berman

Background & Experience

  • 1980: Became a landowner in Palm Beach Country Estates (PBCE)
  • Assisted in the formation of the Donald Ross Landowners Association, Inc. (a not-for-profit) representing the interests of landowners in PBCE and served in various capacities in officer positions for 30 years.
  • Started attending South Indian River Water Control District (SIRWCD) board meetings in 1980 – attending nearly every meeting. Many/most meetings I was the only member of the public there.
  • Represented by proxy over 2,000 landowners at annual meetings for the next several years and successfully elected several candidates to the board of supervisors – starting with Tom Powell.
  • 1980-Present: Have routinely represented the interests of landowners in PBCE at Palm Beach County Planning, Zoning & Building boards along with representation at meetings of Palm Beach County Commissioners
  • 1981: Successfully implemented the marketing name of “Palm Beach Country Estates” for the subdivision.
  • 1984: Hired as exclusive agent for the original development company Palm Beach Development & Sales Corp. of Fl. & Palm Beach Development & Sales.
  • Supervised the construction of unfinished roadways in PBCE north of 167th Court N. that were left uncompleted by John D. MacArthur.
  • 1984: Worked with attorneys Alan Ciklin and Cliff Hertz to allow septic tank permits which were being denied by the health department of Palm Beach County.
  • 1984: Designed, constructed and paid for the entry signs to PBCE located at 69th Drive N. & Donald Ross Rd.
  • 1984: worked closely with staff of SIRWCD to provide legislative authority to SIRWCD to pave roadways.
  • 1984: Served as a commissioner and expert witness for the North Palm Beach Heights Water Control District to certify the plan of reclamation for the North Palm Beach Heights subdivision to install potable water, sewage system and paved roads. Certification through the Circuit Court was required at that time.
  • 1987-1994: Formed and operated Jupiter Farms Realty, Inc. specializing in the sale of land and homes in Jupiter Farms selling more than 3,000 properties.
  • 1987: Built the “Feed Store” addition to community market operated by Bill & Greta Bellew at 16891 Jupiter Farms Rd. which also served as the office for Jupiter Farms Realty, Inc. until moving to manage and occupy the Sierra Square shopping Center
  • 1984-1990: Successfully submitted applications for affidavits of exemptions from the subdivision requirements of Palm Beach County on behalf all the properties in PBCE to insure the buildability of all lots for the future.
  • 1984: Operating as Berman Home Builders, Inc. constructed and sold more than 50 homes in PBCE.
  • 1984: Named Realtor of the Year for Northern Palm Beach County
  • 1987: Contracted with SIRWCD through Berman Title Services, Inc. to obtain quit-claim deeds from landowners for the easement areas on roadways to be paved by Palm Beach County. Was successful in obtaining deeds from at least 85% of the landowners on roadways (both Palm Beach Country Estates and Jupiter Farms) that were eventually paved and accepted by Palm Beach County as ownership for perpetual maintenance.
  • 1987: Was elected President of the Northern Palm Beach County Board of Realtors and the Northern Palm Beach County Multiple Listing Service, Inc.
  • 1988-1989: Assisted SIRWCD Supervisor Murray Frye with overseeing the implementation of the 7th Plan of Reclamation which was the complete major reconstruction of the drainage plan for PBCE.
  • 1990-2011: Worked with attorneys for SIRWCD to achieve legislation providing for the authority for SIRWCD to own and maintain a park. This effort took years of effort met with fierce resistance by the then Florida governors
  • 1992: First elected to board of Supervisors for the Pal-Mar Water Control District served for 12 years. (A similar F.S.298 district in Martin County & Northern Palm Beach County). Was elected again in 2017 and served until 2023 as President of that board.
  • 1997: Served as intermediary between Indian Lakes Estates development (located west of Jupiter Farms) and SIRWCD to provide contract drainage and potential future annexation
  • 1994-2006: Served as Managing Partner of the Jupiter Land Partnership and was responsible for all phased of planning, development, construction and sales of Egret Landing at Jupiter (a 654 unit Planned Unit Development in the Town of Jupiter). Worked closely with SIRWCD staff from the successful approval of the plan of improvements (through circuit court) to all financing provisions for the project.
  • 2004-Present: Participated in and provided advice for local road paving initiatives
  • 1994-2006: Assisted in the development of the Jupiter Park of Commerce in the Town of Jupiter.
  • 1998: First appointed and then elected to board of SIRWCD and served until September 2010. During that term went on weekly road “ride-a-longs” with Gale English who was Executive Director at the time to BOTH PBCE and Jupiter Farms.
  • 1987-1992: Managed and marketed model home villages in PBCE and (what was marketed at the time) Jupiter Farms Estates. (Later abandoned)
  • Lead the effort to have FDOT provide sound walls in future Turnpike expansion.
  • 2005-2007: Planned, organized and successfully initiated the referendum to bring potable water to PBCE. Also assisted with negotiations with the Town of Jupiter to provide the source of water.
  • 2005-2008: Planned, organized and successfully initiated a referendum to pave all remaining dirt roads in PBCE. Due to economic conditions at the time, the referendum failed by an extremely small margin.
  • 2007-2008: Worked with Palm Beach County engineering department to reduce the size of the round-a-bout at 69th Drive & Donald Ross Rd. so the corners where the existing entry signs to PBCE would not need to be condemned for construction.
  • 2009: Donated approximately 3 acres of land to SIRWCD for the development of the Margaret Berman Memorial Park. Park was completed with a combination of additional cash contributions from the Berman Family, construction by SIRWCD and donations raised by the Twisty Pines Playground Foundation, Inc. (a 501c.3.) The value of the park today is in excess of $1,000,000
  • 2010-2020: Volunteered with COP (Citizen Observer Patrol) donating approximately 13,000 hours touring PBCE and Jupiter Farms which provided a first-hand observation of all of the works of SIRWCD on nearly a daily basis.
  • 2011-2024: Worked extremely close and cooperatively with Mike Dillon on nearly a weekly basis to share information helpful to both landowners and SIRWCD regarding operations of SIRWCD
  • 2011: Worked with SIRWCD engineers to have approximately 80 homes exempted from the requirement to obtain flood insurance
  • 2012: Negotiated with Palm Beach County for the installation of side walks along county owned roadways in PBCE
  • 2017: Ran unsuccessfully for seat on SIRWCD board losing the total vote, however winning more votes than the successful candidate if only votes from east of the C-18 canal were to be considered/counted for the seat (East side resident)
  • Re-engaged with the Donald Ross Landowners Association, Inc. and assisted in changing name to Palm Beach Country Estates Landowners Association, Inc. serving currently as Secretary.
  • 2020: Established an excellent working relationship with county commissioner Maria Marino
  • 2021: Deeded two out parcels (portions of canals) in Jupiter Farms to SIRWCD
  • 2023: Coordinated with Palm Beach County engineering and road & bridge divisions to address the flowage problem with the storm water collection and transfer located at the intersection of 69th Drive N. and 140th Lane N.
  • 2024: Continuing work on FEMA Flood Map revisions for PBCE
  • Berman Realty is now a 4th generation local real estate company specializing in the sales of property in Northern Palm Beach County with a particular expertise in the Palm Beach Country Estates, Jupiter Farms and Egret Landing at Jupiter subdivisions and the Palm Beach Heights subdivision. Berman Realty has sold over 3,000 properties in the Jupiter Farms area, over 1,400 vacant lots and over 1,000 homes in PBCE and 654 properties in Egret Landing at Jupiter and over 5,000 lots in Palm Beach Heights. These realty sales (although not directly connected with the operation of a F.S. 298 district) gives a very special and unique insight to the needs and desires of property owners in the PBCE, Jupiter Farms and Egret Landing areas.
  • Although not a supervisor on the board for SIRWCD since 2010, routinely receive calls or inquiries at least once a week from landowners seeking information or direction regarding SIRWCD
  • TOTAL approximately 30 years’ experience serving on F.S. 298 special taxing districts boards
  • Assisting Palm Beach County Facilities Development to locate site for replacement Fire Station within 5 miles to serve PBCE, Eastpointe & Old Marsh.