Palm Bay, FL – The January 22nd Council meeting was defined by “corrections.” Facing a ballooning budget for city facilities, critical delays in utility infrastructure, and a pivotal decision on community services, the City Council spent the night asserting its authority over staff recommendations. In a series of major votes, the Council ordered a full competitive re-bid for a City Hall expansion, chose a neighborhood-rooted partner for the Evans Center, and addressed cascading delays at the South Regional Water Treatment Plant.
The “Reset”: Rejecting the $2.1M Building E Proposal
The most significant financial decision of the night involved the build-out of the City Hall Building E 3rd Floor. Staff presented a “recalibrated” plan with a price tag of $2,115,485 to finish the space for the Finance and Procurement departments (Option 1). This plan was originally sold as a “domino” to free up large sections of Building B for the overcrowded Police Department.
However, the Council rejected this path in a 5-0 vote. Instead of approving the costly change order with the current contractor, they voted to pivot to Option 2 and ordered the project to be competitively re-bid.
What Option 2 Means:
Tenant Swap: Instead of Finance, the Public Works department will move into the new Building E space.
The Urgency: The primary driver for this shift is the “horrible” condition of the modular buildings currently housing Public Works, which are failing and non-compliant with St. Johns River Water Management District permits.
Police Impact: This decision scales back the immediate relief for the Police Department. Instead of taking over the entire east side of Building B, the Police will now only expand into the smaller footprint vacated by the IT Department.
By forcing a re-bid, the Council effectively hit the “reset” button on the costs, signaling a refusal to accept the $735,000 price hike without testing the market.
Infrastructure Gridlock: Water Plant Delays and Development Stalls
Beyond City Hall, the Council confronted significant schedule slippage at the South Regional Water Treatment Plant (SRWTP) Expansion (Project 23WS20). Utilities representative Gabriel Boden detailed a series of setbacks that have pushed the facility’s timeline back by over two months. “Wet checks” originally slated for December are now delayed until February 9, 2026, while the critical “start-up and seeding” phase has been pushed to March.
The delays stem from a mix of technical warranty issues with pumps and performance concerns regarding the contractor, R.J. Sullivan. Deputy Mayor Mike Jaffe expressed sharp frustration, noting he previously advocated for the contractor’s termination. To mitigate further slippage, the City has even resorted to loaning its own shoring equipment to the contractor to facilitate necessary repairs.
The consequences of this delay extend far beyond the plant’s fence line. City Manager Matthew Morton noted that the lack of reclamation capacity is directly stalling the Four Star / Rolling Meadows development project. In a significant leverage play, the developer has indicated they will not discuss dedicating necessary right-of-way for the St. Johns Heritage Parkway until their project could move forward—leaving a major regional transportation link contingent on the resolution of these utility delays.
Evans Center Override: “Heart” Over “Deep Pockets”
In a move that highlighted the tension between technical scoring and community sentiment, the Council voted 4-1 to override the Procurement Department’s recommendation for the Evans Center lease. While staff recommended awarding the lease to CITA (Committee for Improvement of Today and Tomorrow) based on superior evaluation scores (76.83 vs. 69.75) and financial capacity, the Council chose the Community Revitalization Alliance (CRA), led by Alberta Clinkscales.
The debate centered on a clash of visions. CITA representative Brandon Morrow pitched a model of “philanthropic capitalism,” proposing a coffee shop and deli backed by “deep mentors.” In contrast, Clinkscales and the CRA focused on the needs of a “disinvested” neighborhood. “Our community needs people that look like us,” the CRA team emphasized, warning that youth need role models before they “end up in a place where now they’re in jail.”
Council deliberations prioritized these “intangibles” over CITA’s metrics, with Councilman Mike Hammer invoking the “Mr. Evans Standard,” siding with the applicant he believed best reflected the original owner’s vision for the facility. The sole dissenting vote came from Deputy Mayor Mike Jaffe, who cautioned that ignoring technical scoring could undermine the fairness of future procurement bids.
Institutionalizing Oversight: The Citizens Accountability Task Force
Structural reform also advanced with the unanimous (5-0) passage of Ordinance 2026-03, creating the Citizens Accountability Task Force.
This new body will move citizen input from the podium to the conference table. The ordinance establishes a seven-member body (five appointees and two at-large) tasked with reviewing city transparency, fiscal responsibility, and—thanks to an amendment added during the meeting—city ordinances. Crucially, the Council codified that term limits for Task Force members will align with the terms of the Council members who appointed them.
Legal Strategy: Centerpoint Mediation
During the legal reports, the Council made a strategic appointment regarding the Centerpoint land use appeal. The City Attorney requested that Councilman Kenny Johnson attend the upcoming mediation. The rationale was specific: Johnson originally voted against the rezoning and possesses a strong grasp of the technical objections and the Council’s legislative intent. His presence is intended to ensure the City’s firm stance is accurately represented during settlement talks.
Public Safety & Surveillance Concerns
The Council approved two significant technology items via the Consent Agenda. First, a grant amendment for the Police Department reallocated $15,715 to purchase five handheld radar units, with grant terms explicitly prohibiting their use for automated red-light or speed cameras. Second, the Council voted 5-0 to approve $21,542 for AI development hardware.
In response to public concerns raised by resident Kristen Lanzana regarding “surveillance adjacent technologies,” IT Director Robert Beach provided crucial clarification. He stated that the new AI hardware is strictly for internal language models to assist with policy searches and will not be connected to video surveillance systems.
Honoring a Legacy
The evening also held space for solemn remembrance. The Council issued a proclamation honoring Caitlynn Sanaa Pierre, the young Palm Bay entrepreneur behind Haitea and the non-profit No Kanks Cancer. The proclamation celebrated her dual legacy as a brilliant student-businesswoman and a fierce advocate for cancer awareness, recognizing the profound impact she made on the community.
Get Involved
These decisions—from rejecting sole-source contracts to resolving utility gridlock—show a Council under pressure to deliver on infrastructure. Residents are encouraged to attend the next meeting to see how the Building E re-bid progresses and if the water plant timeline holds.
Next Meeting: Thursday, February 5, 2026 – 6:00 PM
Public Comment: Submit cards prior to the meeting start time to have your voice heard on record.
