Palm Bay City Council Meeting: Community Concerns and Big Decisions Dominate the Agenda 🏙️

A Night of Key Decisions Shaping Palm Bay's Future

Palm Bay, FL — The Palm Bay City Council held its regular meeting on August 13th, 2024, addressing a range of significant issues, including potential cost savings through streetlight ownership, proposed impact fee increases, and ongoing discussions about affordable housing development. The meeting was marked by extensive public comment, as residents voiced their concerns and urged the council to prioritize community needs and responsible growth.

Consent Agenda Approvals: $1,811,186 Spent in a Single Vote

The meeting began with the approval of the Consent Agenda, a block of routine items typically passed with a single vote and no discussion. This agenda included expenditures totaling over $1,811,186. While this expedited process streamlines meetings, it also raises concerns about transparency and public input on spending decisions.

Here are some of the key consent agenda items:

• Road Bond Paving: A change order for road bond paving on Country Club 1-10 and Cimarron Circle will add $423,377 to an existing contract with Timothy Rose Contracting, Inc.

• Fire Rescue Equipment: The council will consider a “cooperative purchase” agreement for a 2024 Sutphen Heavy Duty Monarch Pumper HS 8090 for the Fire Rescue Department at a cost of $1,362,000.

• Property Acquisition for Minton Road Widening: The council will vote on the acquisition of property for the future widening of Minton Road between Malabar Road and Jupiter Boulevard, costing $64,659.

• CPEP Grants: Two Commercial Property Enhancement Program (CPEP) grants, totaling $20,000, are proposed for improvements to commercial properties on Palm Bay Road NE.

Streetlights: Shining a Light on Potential Savings 💡

Jason Tanko, CEO of Tanko Lighting, presented a streetlighting feasibility study to the council, recommending the city explore purchasing its streetlights from Florida Power & Light (FPL) and converting remaining high-pressure sodium (HPS) fixtures to energy-efficient LEDs.

"You guys are experiencing really high costs with the streetlights from FPL, and of course, this is a very serious public safety item," stated Tanko, emphasizing the potential benefits of municipal ownership.

The study highlighted:

• Significant cost savings: Palm Bay could save an estimated $626,051 annually, totaling over $12.5 million over 20 years, by switching to city ownership and LED conversion.

• Control over lighting design: Municipal ownership would allow the city to adjust lighting levels, color temperatures, and potentially incorporate smart city technology.

• Improved maintenance and response times: The city could contract with an outside provider to ensure timely repairs and a well-maintained system.

Councilman Weinberg expressed support for moving forward with the proposal: "I would like to see us… go ahead and proceed with the audit and negotiate with, with, with FPL." He added a crucial provision, " I'd like to see… city council commit to any savings that we, we see through this program, that that savings be committed to, to, our first responders, police and fire."

The council unanimously approved moving forward with both an audit and data reconciliation of the streetlight system and an exploratory negotiation meeting with FPL.

Impact Fees: Proposed Increases Spark Debate 💰

The council held a lengthy discussion about the proposed increases in police, fire, and transportation impact fees, which are intended to help fund infrastructure needed to accommodate growth.

The proposed increases, based on studies conducted by Stantec and Benesch, reflect rising construction costs and continued population growth in Palm Bay.

"The transportation impact fee study was last updated in 2012, and the other fees were last updated in 2018," stated City Manager Suzanne Sherman. "Based on the needs of the city, all fees were recommended to be increased by the consultants."

However, Councilman Johnson voiced strong opposition to the proposed increases: "The concern is… this fee is going to… consider the pass through fee… we take pride that our communities, very affordable community… this is certainly one way that that's just going to, change."

Mayor Medina acknowledged the need for increased infrastructure funding but expressed a desire to avoid placing the burden on existing residents: "The increasing our infrastructure, not on the taxpayers that are been here for so long and that that's my perspective on this."

Despite the concerns about affordability, the council ultimately voted 3-1 to move forward with the proposed impact fee increases. Councilman Johnson cast the sole dissenting vote.

Affordable Housing: A Continued Conversation 🏘️

The council revisited a tabled discussion from the August 1st meeting regarding the donation of six city-owned surplus lots and $370,000 in HOME Investment Partnership Program funds to Macedonia Community Development Corporation of South Brevard for affordable housing development.

Concerns were raised about the proposed 15-year affordability restriction on the properties, prompting further discussion and a request for additional information from the applicant.

Councilman Johnson, while acknowledging the need for affordable housing, reiterated his desire for greater returns on investment: "I'd just like to see more, especially such a need... I'd just like to see our tax dollars at work and giving us a lot more than what we've been getting."

Ultimately, due to a scheduling conflict, the council voted to table the discussion and reschedule the vote for the September 19th meeting.

Expansion of Public Safety Services: Addressing Critical Needs in Growing Areas

The council tackled the pressing issue of expanding public safety services, particularly in the rapidly growing northwest and southeast quadrants of the city. Recognizing the urgent need to improve response times and enhance public safety resources, the council discussed two key proposals:

Temporary Fire Stations: An Immediate Solution

The council considered utilizing undesignated funds to purchase two temporary fire stations, one in the northwest and one in the southeast. These portable, hurricane-rated structures could be deployed relatively quickly, providing a much-needed boost to public safety services while plans for permanent stations are finalized. Palm Bay’s Fire Chief highlighted the urgency of the situation, stating, "The only thing that would slow this down is a hurricane... If everything goes correctly... they're looking at approximately 60, maybe 90 days before it's on our site. And when it gets on our site, they get in here in the morning and we should be sleeping in it that night."

Long-Term Planning: Debt Service for Permanent Stations

Recognizing that temporary stations are just a first step, the council also explored the possibility of pursuing debt service (a bond issuance) to fund the construction of three permanent stations:

• A permanent fire station with a police substation in the southeast.

• A permanent fire station with a police substation in the northwest.

• A replacement for the aging Fire Station 2, located near City Hall.

City Manager Suzanne Sherman explained that this strategy would allow the city to capitalize on existing debt payments that are being retired, essentially maintaining the current level of debt service while addressing critical long-term needs.

Deputy Mayor Felix, a vocal advocate for expanding public safety services, emphasized the council's responsibility to act decisively: "We must look at every possible way and let let not let us not let any stone unturned... I think tonight is a great, great move forward."

The council unanimously approved both proposals, signaling a commitment to addressing Palm Bay's public safety needs in both the short and long term.

Chaparral Properties Development Project: Traffic Concerns and a Delayed Decision

The council heard from Chaparral Properties, requesting approval for their development project's final plat, which would create 167 new single-family homes as part of a larger 522-lot subdivision. This project sparked considerable debate, particularly among residents of the Tillman Lakes and Brentwood Lakes communities, who voiced strong concerns about:

• Traffic congestion: Residents expressed fears that the additional homes would exacerbate existing traffic problems on Malabar Road, which is already congested, especially during peak hours.

• Emergency response times: With only one entrance and exit for the development, residents voiced concerns about delays in emergency response times in the event of an accident or traffic jam.

• Environmental impact: Some residents expressed concerns about the potential environmental impacts of a large-scale development, especially its effects on stormwater management and wildlife habitat.

Council members acknowledged the residents' concerns and engaged in extensive discussion with the applicant's representatives, including the engineer of record and traffic consultant, to explore potential solutions. Despite the applicant's efforts to address some concerns by agreeing to pay the proposed higher impact fees upfront and make a substantial contribution to the Malabar Road widening project, several council members remained hesitant, citing the significant traffic issues and the lack of a clear timeline for the road widening.

Councilman Weinberg, acknowledging the potential legal complexities of denying a previously approved development plan, urged a cautious approach: "I think we should go ahead and approve the 167, that way it will give [the City Attorney] time to do her research and everything as far as before, we approve the rest of the 521, lots in this subdivision."

Ultimately, the council voted 3-1 to approve the final plat for the 167 homes. Mayor Medina, however, voted against the motion, stating, "I'm not for this today... right now, I'm not comfortable with adding additional homes on that corridor, I'm really not, gentlemen." The council will consider the remaining phases of the development at a later date, allowing for further review and consideration of traffic solutions.

Citizen Concerns: A Range of Issues Brought Before the Council

The August 13th meeting was notable for the level of public participation, as residents seized the opportunity to voice their concerns on a wide range of issues. Some of the key concerns included:

• Road conditions: Residents spoke about specific roadways in need of repair, highlighting the "San Filippo Hump" and the need for pedestrian safety improvements on Minton Road.

• Pedestrian safety: Residents expressed concerns about the lack of crosswalks in certain areas, citing specific locations where pedestrian safety is compromised.

• Hazardous tree: A resident brought to the council's attention a large, rotted oak tree on county property that posed a potential hazard to pedestrians. The city manager assured the resident that the issue would be reported to the county for appropriate action.

• Transparency: Several residents expressed a desire for greater transparency in the council's decision-making process, urging council members to consider community concerns more seriously before making major approvals.

• Affordable housing and job creation: Residents advocated for greater investment in affordable housing and the creation of higher-paying jobs, expressing a desire for the city to prioritize quality of life for all residents.

The council and city manager responded to these concerns, providing updates on ongoing projects, clarifying the city's role and limitations regarding certain issues, and encouraging residents to continue engaging in the public process.

For more detailed information on these proposals, please refer to the meeting agenda at https://palmbayflorida.primegov.com/Portal/Meeting?meetingTemplateId=1466.

For more Palm Bay news and information, be sure to visit The Palm Bayer.

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For those interested in reviewing the Palm Bay City Council meeting held on August 13, 2024, you can watch the full video here. Below are links to some of the key discussions highlighted during the meeting:

• Streetlight Feasibility Study Presentation - 6:41

• Impact Fee Increases Discussion - 33:32

• Affordable Housing Development Conversation - 1:32:46

• Expansion of Public Safety Services - 2:30:41

• Citizen Concerns and Public Participation - 4:02:58