Palm Bay Charter Review Committee Prepares for First Meeting
Palm Bay Charter Review Committee sets October 20 first meeting to begin City Charter review
Palm Bay, FL - The Palm Bay City Council has established a new Charter Review Commission (CRC) to review the city’s governing document and recommend updates for future voter consideration. The 2025 CRC is preparing for its first meeting, where members will set priorities, elect leadership, and plan their work for the coming year.
2025 Charter Review Commission established
The inaugural meeting of the 2025 Charter Review Commission will be held at Palm Bay City Hall Council Chambers on Monday, October 20, 2025, from 6:00 to 7:00 PM. Members are expected to review organizational procedures, select a Chair and Vice-Chair, and receive an overview of the Sunshine Law and Public Records Act before beginning their review of the city charter.
The City Council voted on January 16, 2025, to move forward with forming the new commission. Appointments were confirmed during the Regular Council Meeting on May 15, 2025.
Each of the five councilmembers appointed two registered electors, creating a ten-member commission as authorized by the City Charter.
The commission will meet regularly through May 2026, when it is expected to deliver formal recommendations to the City Council.
Topics under review
According to council discussions, the 2025 CRC will explore several key charter provisions, including:
Procedures for filling Council vacancies
Eligibility requirements for candidates seeking office
Possible voting districts or boundary revisions
Supermajority requirements to terminate charter officers
Removal of the three percent (3%) cap
Consideration of an Auditor General or Inspector General position as a potential charter officer
Councilmembers emphasized that the commission will conduct a thorough and transparent review to ensure Palm Bay’s charter remains modern and effective.
Consultant support and budget
City Manager Matthew Morton recommended hiring an external consultant to assist with coordination and facilitation of meetings. The Council approved seeking this consultant at a cost not to exceed $12,000.
The consultant will help ensure the CRC’s process remains organized, efficient, and consistent with Florida law and best practices in municipal governance.
First organizational meeting
In an August 12 email to CRC members, Terese Jones of the City Clerk’s Office outlined the agenda for the first organizational meeting. Even without a facilitator, the meeting will move forward with the following items:
City Attorney overview of the Sunshine Law and Public Records Act
Selection of Chair and Vice-Chair
Overview of the CRC Rules of Procedure
Discussion of timetable and order for reviewing the City Charter
Discussion of meeting schedule
These initial steps will establish the structure for how the commission will operate and guide its work throughout the review period.
Looking ahead
The Charter Review Commission offers Palm Bay residents a direct voice in shaping how their city government operates. Once the CRC completes its review, its recommendations could be placed on a future ballot for voter approval.
The first meeting marks the start of months of discussion, research, and public input as Palm Bay’s 2025 Charter Review Commission begins its work to ensure the city’s governing framework reflects current needs and values.
removal of the 3% cap.... what's the point of voting then?
Pardon my naivete, but what's the problem we're trying to solve here? My paranoia drives me to think this is like a national constitutional convention, where you wake up one day and you've lost some of your rights.