Our City Government
Our City Government
On March 20, 1959, John D. MacArthur, multimillionaire insurance magnate and landowner, announced his plan to develop approximately 4,000 acres and provide homes for 55,000 people in a new community. This land would be developed under his careful supervision. Mr. MacArthur's chosen name for the city was Palm Beach City. However, permission to use that name was denied, so MacArthur, in keeping with his "garden city" plan, decided to call the city Palm Beach Gardens. He wanted this new city to be a place to raise a family and make a living, to realize the American dream. He envisioned winding streets lined with lush native and transplanted foliage named after flowers and trees. He set to work carving the City of Palm Beach Gardens from empty miles of dairy cattle grazing land.
The City of Palm Beach Gardens has grown steadily during its sixty plus years in existence. In 1999, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation sold approximately 14,000 acres of land including approximately 5,000 acres in the City of Palm Beach Gardens. The City Council, entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring quality development, was able to reach an agreement with the purchasers to manage this new growth.
The City of Palm Beach Gardens operates with a Council-Manager form of government, pursuant to the city Charter. Residents are served by five at-large elected officials who are responsible for developing policy for the City.
These elected officials, the City Council, in turn, appoint the City Manager who is tasked with overseeing all administrative duties and the daily business operations of the city.
Mayor, Chelsea Reed
Vice Mayor, Carl Woods
Council Member, Marcie Tinsley
Council Member, Robert G. Permuroso
Council Member, Dana Middleton
The Governmental Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) presented a Distinguished Budget Presentation Award to the City of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida for its annual budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2022. The Distinguished Budget Presentation Award is the highest form of recognition in governmental budgeting.
In order to receive this award, a governmental unit must publish a budget document that meets program criteria as a policy document, as an operations guide, as a financial plan, and as a communication device.
The award is valid for a period of one (1) year only. We believe our current budget document continues to exceed the program requirements.