City Council - Regular Meeting

All right. Uh, good evening, ladies and gentlemen. We're going to go ahead and call the regular city council meeting for March uh, 11th to order. We'll please rise for a moment of silence, and then we'll have the pledge of allegiance led by council member Dodd. Great. Thank you to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you. Madame clerk, roll call. Mayor Jones here. Vice Mayor McPartland here. Council member Nun here. Council member Matthews. I think she's on Zoom. I do have her on Zoom. One second. Miss Matthews, could you try speaking one more time, please?

All right. Well, we're going to go ahead and move forward. We have a quorum. So, um, when she comes in, please let us know. And Council Member Dodd here.

All right. Um, next order of business is we have uh two proclamations tonight. Um, and I'm going to go ahead and do those in order from up here. Um, first proclamation is um for professional buyers day procurement month and um this is for March 2026. Whereas the public procurement professional plays a significant role in the efficiency and effectiveness of government. And whereas in addition to the purchase of goods and services, procurement professionals and add value to the organization by performing such functions as executing and implementing and administering contracts, developing strategic procurement strategies, and cultivating working relationships with suppliers and other departments within the organization. And whereas public procurement professionals safeguard the competitive process and ensure it's uh conducted in a with fairness and transparency to maximize value for taxpayer dollars. Whereas the institute of public procurement has designated the month of March as procurement month to expand awareness of the purchasing professionals role to government officials, the public, business and corporate leaders. Whereas professional buyers day on March 11th is the day we highlight the purchasing professionals role to government officials, the public, business, and corporate leaders. Now therefore, I Fred Jones, mayor of the city of Sebastian, do hereby proclaim the month of March 2026 as procurement month and March 11th, 2026 as procurement professionals day. Next, we have a proclamation for flood awareness,

and this will be accepted by Miss Faulner. Flood awareness week, March 9th through the 15, 2026. Whereas the city of Sebastian has experienced severe weather in the past and in the form of extreme rainfall or tropical system events resulting in flooding in both coastal and riverine areas. And this flooding has caused damage and flood losses to homes and buildings in all areas whether they are high-risisk special flood hazard areas or to low moderate risk flood zones. Whereas the city of Sebastian is a voluntary participant in the national flood insurance program that provide our residents with the opportunity to protect themselves against flood loss through the purchase of flood insurance at a reduced insurance premium rate. And whereas public education and awareness of potential weather hazards and methods of protection are critical to the health, safety, and welfare of our residents, the Florida Flood Plane Managers Association, FEMA, has declared the week of March 9th through the 15, 2026 as flood awareness week to promote awareness and increase knowledge of flood risk. uh the availability of flood insurance, flood protection methods, and how to prepare for emergencies. Now, therefore, I Fred Jones, mayor of city of Sebastian, do hereby proclaim March 9th through the 15th as flood awareness week. Thank you. Ladies, you can come forward.

Sorry. All right. Uh, thank you. Next item on our agenda are the brief announcements. Mr. Nun, would you mind reading those for us?

Brief announcements. Saturday, March 7th, the Sebastian 7th annual Sebastian River Art Club in Riverview Park from 10:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, March 13th, Chamber of Commerce into concert in the park. It'll be St. John's Wood at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, March 14th and Sunday, March 15th, the Craft Club with Sebastian in Riverview Park from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Saturday, March 21st and Sat Sunday, March 22nd, Shrimp Fest in Riverview Park. Saturday 11 to 9 and Sunday 10 to 5:00.

All right. Uh, thank you so much for that, sir. Next item on our agenda is public input. And this is a time where anyone from the public wish to speak on anything that's not on the current agenda. You may please step forward. Yes, ma'am. Come forward. Everybody's buzzing to get into public input.

Oh, you have a be in the chambers, right? Thank you. I'm happy to be here. Haha. Um my name is Cara Meckling with Spirit of Sebastian. I'm representing because I'm really excited. We have some wonderful news happening at Spirit of Sebastian. Um, every year, if you don't know, TC Palm holds what they call the Treasure Coast Community Choice Awards for celebrating the best businesses and organizations on the Treasure Coast. Well, this year, we're happy to say that Spirit of Sebastian has been nominated as best new community. Woohoo. All right. So, I'm here with my pompoms to celebrate that. And but we need your support. Um, right now we're in the nomination phase. It runs from now until the end of the month. It's very simple to nominate Spirit of Sebastian to get enough votes to move on to the voting phase, which I would be back looking for your support to vote, but hopefully we will win. But um I have some flyers which I'll pass out for you. There's some in the back. There's a QR code takes you right to the website on TC Palm and you can click there to nominate Spirit of Sebastian for best new community. Uh or you can go to our website um spiritfl.com and we have a link right on the homepage that pops up and you can vote. You can vote once a day. So, please put that with your morning coffee and do a vote for Spirit of Sebastian. So, um our campaign for this is show us your spirit. Yay. That's why I had the pom poms. So, please do. Um we'd love to be nominated and make it through the top five in each category. There's a lot of categories. Amber can tell you she was just looking at stuff. Um a lot of categories, but we are under new home community under the services category. You'll find us. It's pretty easy. and um if the top five in each category go through for the voting round. So hopefully I'll be back letting you know we won or at least asking you for your vote because we made it to the next round. So thank you very much for letting me come and present this awesome exciting news about Spirit of Sebastian.

May I pass these out? Yes, ma'am. Thank you. Is there anyone else in the chambers that would like to speak on anything that's not on the current agenda? You can come on forward, sir. Um once she finish, you can start. Thank you, ma'am. Thank you. Thanks. Cheerleader. You need me to say? Sure. Come on. We need a cheerleader. Um, a couple things. Um, your name, sir?

Richard Gilmore. Sebastian. Um, want to an adab boy to the parks and wreck uh for their work in Hardy Park. Um, my wife and I walk there just about every day. done a great job of uh putting in new uh stuff for the kitties, uh new equipment for the kiddies, and they've done a good job of scraping the path so we don't trip over roots and uh just done a really good job in that park. So, addable waste to the whoever's doing that parks and wreck. I guess the other thing kind of was on the agenda, but I I came with treasure maps and this is uh we're having our third annual treasure um treasure hunt in the park on Saturday. Craft Club has put up hundreds of dollars worth of gifts along with for the um the real the the big gift is a coin, a replica silver coin from the Atoia. So, it's made with silver that was under the water for about 400 years. It's pretty cool. Comes with its own certificate of authenticity and uh it's a great uh time in the park. Um the kids love it. It's a family affair. So, there's a uh treasure map and also there's a riddle that has to be solved. So, there's 20 spots. Um, and once they solve the riddle, then they can get a chance to win one of the gifts from the crafters or the grand prize, which is the silver coin. So, I want to invite you all to come and try your luck pirating getting some treasure. Thank you, sir. Thank you, Richard. Is there anyone else in the room would like to speak on anything that's not on the current agenda? Thank you, sir. Do we have anyone on Zoom?

No. has raised their hand. All right. Um, thank you so much. Uh, public input is closed.

All right. Uh, council, we're on to item eight, consent agenda. What's our pleasure, Mr. Mayor? I'll make a motion to approve the consent agenda as it stands. Second. So, we have a motion and a second. Um, any discussion? None. Um, Madame Clerk. Vice Mayor McPartland. Yes. Council member Nun. Yes. Council member Matthews with us yet? I heard. She is in. But yes, I heard her. All right. There you go. Uh, Council Member Dodd. Yes. And Mayor Jones. Yes. Motion carries.

All right. Uh, thank you. Any committee reports? There's no committee reports, but I heard a little birdie told me that uh while I was in Louisiana, uh one of my fellow council members uh attended the uh affordable housing committee meeting and I was uh nominated and uh elected as the vice chair of the affordable housing committee. So, it was unanimous. And it was unanimous. Awesome. You know what they say when the cat's away. But uh I appreciate that. Thank you for the uh support on that. You're welcome. I think you'll do a great job. Thank you. I think so, too.

All right. Um we're going to move on to uh item 10, uh public hearing, consideration of of resolution R-26-01. Uh this hearing is now open. Attorney, can you read the title for us?

Yes. This is a resolution of the city of Sebastian, Indian River County, Florida, approving the preliminary replat for a two lot subdivision known as Maxwell Schuman Commercial Subdivision located east of Historic Park, north of Schuman Drive, west of US Highway 1 and south of Old Dixie Highway, providing for conflicts here with providing for scriveners errors and providing for effective date. All right. Uh, thank you so much for that, sir. Um, council members, anyone have any exparte communications? No. Hearing none, Miss Matthews? No.

All right. Uh, thank you. Um, now anyone who is going to be testifying or speaking and please rise and be sworn in. Do you swear or affirm that the factual statements and factual representation which you are about to give or present during this public hearing will be truthful and accurate?

All right. Thank you ma'am. Um the applicant is is the applicant here. All right. You can come forward and make your presentation please. Good evening. My name is Joseph Schuli. Joe Schuli at uh 59 Blue Island Street, Sebastian, Florida is my residence and I am a civil engineer at Schuli Bill and Stoddard in River Beach, Florida. I'm here to represent Todd Maxwell, the applicant for the uh Maxwell Schuman subdivision. Uh it's a simple project. There was a piece of property on the northwest corner of Schuman in US1. It's been sitting there uh actually uh empty for quite a while. They did demo the building. It was looked like it was a residence one time and then some kind of medical office for a while and it's just been sitting there abandoned. Um we've been working with the staff for about a year, maybe year and a half on the plans. And of course, you may remember a year and a half ago, more or less. Uh we came to council for a little bit of a land swap uh which straightened out the border on our west border with the city's park in the lake there Schuman Lake because it was kind of a funny border and uh um it benefited I think both the city and the and the applicant in straightening that out. Part of the uh agreement is uh the applicant would also do some improvements. We'd extend the the sidewalk from US1 past this frontage past the park all the way to the railroad and the railroad had built the uh sidewalk crosswalk there. So we'll connect to that and some landscape improvements in the park as well as uh uh upfront landscape improvements to his parcel even though it wasn't being developed with a building yet. Uh so he had agreed to all that as part of the agreement. So, uh, since that time, we were going through the process to get a, uh, basically a southern approved for two lots to make it a, uh, you know, and

we don't know exactly what will be there yet. Um, you know, the ideas would be maybe a fast food or maybe a convenience store or maybe some retail shops, but we wanted to get it prepped so it's kind of pad ready to be able to put commercial development there. So, we got the St. John's permit for storm water already approved um and a and a stormwater area uh uh set up on the which would be the southeast corner of the site at the intersection. Um we got our permitting for utilities, make sure we had water service there, sewer connections there. Uh we would fill the lot. Uh we preserved a bunch of the trees. We relocating others as the proposal around the perimeter. So, we're just basically getting this pad ready so that we can see some uh nice commercial development at that uh that corner in the future. Um so, it's a pretty I think pretty simple and straightforward. You know, I've read the staff report. We agree with the report and the recommendations and um unless you have anything to ask of me, I don't think I have anything further to add.

All right. Anybody anyone have any questions for the applicant for now or are we gonna I just want to just want to say state one thing because I people hear subdivision and obviously we understand what that means but that doesn't mean we're going to put houses there commercial subdivision of of this property to create two commercial properties there that corner. Okay. Just wanted to clarify cuz right people start hearing subdivision and think oh my god put a bunch of houses on the corner. No right. No, it's technically it is a subdivision, but it's a subdivision for future commercial purposes. Thank you. Yes. Right. Um any any Miss Miss Matthews, you have a question? Not we'll move on.

All right. Um staff I'm sorry. Go ahead. I said no, sir. I'm good. Thank you. All right. Thank you. Yes, sir.

All right. Good evening. Uh Jim Man, Community Development, and like as Mr. Scholky said, "We have a proposal for a preliminary plat for two commercial or two lot commercial subdivision uh located at the intersection of Schuman and US1. Um currently it is eight lots and a full tract A and a portion of track B that they are going to convert to a two lot um commercial subdivision. Um the proposed two lot subdivision is consistent with the comprehensive plan and the code of ordinance and the land development code and staff does recommend the proposed preliminary replat of this block located at the intersection of US1 and um Schuman Drive um to be recommended for approval and according to some of the following conditions. uh the public benefits listed in exhibit C of the parcel exchange agreement dated November 14, 2023 to be installed before certificate of completion of the subdivision. And if you have any questions for me, I'm available for that.

All right. Um any questions of staff? All right. Um do we have any questions for staff or applicant? Mr. Dot? No. No, no, no questions. I was just uh going to make a motion we approve resolution R 2601 uh with the condition that the staff recommended. Let me finish getting to first stage of this and then Okay, I think so. Um and we're going to open the floor for anyone speaking in favor of this. Anyone against? All right. Now we can go forward. the applicant. Do you There was nothing else said, so do you have anything final before us?

No, sir. All right. Thank you so much. Staff, anything final from you? All right. Now, it's our time. Sorry for stepping forward on the process there, sir, but uh I move that we approve resolution R2601, um a two lot commercial subdivision, um with the condition that the staff recommended. Second. All right. Um, we have a motion and a second. Um, Madame Clerk, Council Member Nunton, yes. Council member Matthews, yes. Council member Dodd, yes. Mayor Jones, yes. Vice Mayor McPartland, yes. Motion carries.

All right. Um, thank you so much for that. Um, next item on our agenda is nothing for new business. Um, next is city attorney matters. Mr. Stokes.

Uh, one thing I wanted to bring to you, um, I I don't know if you've been watching, but our charter review, uh, committee has been meeting and have been very productive. Uh, we've gone through the whole charter once. Um, and we're getting ready to kind of go back through it again. But one of the things that I mentioned to them this week and I wanted to to see how council felt is the way this process works and I know you're all familiar but after the committee uh discusses everything and comes up with ideas. They'll make proposals. It'll ultimately come to council you'll have public hearings. You'll have opportunity to discuss and you you are the final say on what goes to the voters when it comes to any charter changes. Um, so since the CRC got done so quickly, um, I was thinking that there might be some benefit to having a joint meeting with the CRC now where you could you could come to a meeting of the of the uh, charter review committee. We would have to advertise it as a joint meeting. It'd be a public meeting. Um, but maybe have get some input. Let them run by you what they've come up with. Get some input from you. maybe things that they might have glossed over thinking did need change that some of you had other ideas about um or uh or some moving some forward like that. It's a different way of doing it. It it could be productive. It might be counterproductive if you'd rather just stick with the process and let them finish their work and then kick it to you to do your work. That's that's you know would be the more traditional route as well. So, um, I just wanted to get some some ideas, get it out there so you guys could,

you know, discuss. I I think so. I I I think we should leave it the way it is now. I don't I don't think we should have the joint meeting. My experience with being the charter and the chair of that is we did our thing and then we presented to the council the things of course the council would have known if they were watching some of the meetings what was going to be coming forth anyway. So, um I kind of like that idea of letting them do their work and then bringing it to us and then um you know those are what is 15 members, right? We've got a 15 member committee 15 members of the community looking at our charter in depth and um whatever they decide to bring before us that should go before the voters. I think that's their decision there. So,

Mr. Nun, sorry. I I'm up for either direction. I I like the I know in the past we've never had a workshop between between the council and and the uh committee and obviously uh I I know from my own perspective and I'm can only assume for the others that the people that they've assigned to this committee they've talked about things and concerns and ideas and changes they'd like to see. So I think our input as myself I can speak my input has been given. So I I I'm okay with staying with the existing plan. All right, let's we have nothing else. So,

yeah, and as as Councilman Nun said, you are all free to speak to members of the committee because sunshine because you're on separate boards. Uh there's no sunshine problem there. And that's uh you know, a traditional way and a very good way. Uh if there's something that that you've seen that that you know, you want uh something discussed or you can bring it to me and say, you know, you know, this one article, maybe think about that or whatever. So, we want the best possible product to come out of the CRC that comes to you so that that you have something good to work with. So, uh so we'll keep uh we'll keep moving forward on that. It's a good committee. They're they're putting a lot of work into this. So, yep. Yep. All right. And that's it. Thank you. Nothing else. All right. Um Mr. Benton.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Just a couple items. Um the first one, I just want to kind of let the public be aware of this and also all of council. Uh the mayor and I attended a meeting yesterday um with the what we're currently labeling as the Indian River County Coalition. Um it is city managers from every municipality within the county. Um also mayors and city attorneys are attending as well and then uh representatives from county from the county are also there. And yesterday we had the pleasure of of meeting and having a a good discussion with Congress member Herodopoulos. Um so we got some good feedback from him about what's going on in DC. But then also um really the the idea behind it was having discussions about you know projects and things that we have within our areas that we could potentially seek uh funding from a federal level and seek some assistance from his office. Um, so the conversations went really well yesterday. Um, I did in in working in conjunction with um the legislative staff from the county, Kathy Copelan. I did submit quite a few projects that I knew were coming forward for next year um this morning and um we are working on one specific project that that uh we may have a possibility of having him submit um to the the legislature in DC uh for potential funding in next year's uh cycle. It's a very quick turnaround for that um for us, but um we'll be better prepared as we go forward looking into next year. Um as you know, we start the pro we're learning the process now. We'll be better prepared in the future to make additional requests as we go forward. But I thought it was a really good meeting and and it was good to kind of get face to face with him and and a couple members of his staff as well. Um, second thing, um, just making the

public aware, uh, we do have quite a bit of road pave pavement work that's taking place. They have gotten started in in certain areas. Um, that'll take place from now all the way until, um, the middle of April, weather dependent. Obviously, if we run into some weather issues, that could delay it a little bit, but that would complete our our paving for this year. Um, but they do have quite a few streets that they're working on now. I know they did. We had a discussion on Monday, Tuesday in regards to a small section that was not paved previously um on Schuman by the elementary school. So, they were trying to do that work around the school drop off and school pickup. So, I know that work's being done there as well. Um but throughout the city and if anyone has questions, they can feel free to reach out to myself or or the citizen request line um in the public works department to get any information on that, anything with that. And the last thing I have is we've got two um long-term employees within the city that are retiring uh this month. Denied

the the the first one, Mr. Mayor, I move we don't accept retirements.

I would I would agree with you. Um but the first one, Rich Aini, who is a code enforcement officer, uh he's been with the city almost 21 years. His last day with the city is March 20th. So we still have him for another, you know, week and a half. But, um, I want to wish Rich the best and and appreciate everything he's done. It's a tough job as a code enforcement officer. Um, you're trying to work and and bring people into compliance and and so it's a it's a difficult situation to be out there in the field on that one. And then the second one, um, well known around the city, uh, Miss Dory Bosworth. She's retiring after 31 and a half years with the city. Um, her last day is Friday. And just want to, uh, thank Dory for everything she's done. she has uh you know what what we see Sebastian now in regards to development um she's had a heavy part in that and been able to maintain the the growth in Sebastian the slow growth and keep it um you know in what what the public wants to see in regards to still you know that that small fishing village type scenario and and maintaining that. So just want to say thank you Dory for everything you've done and and uh we wish you the best. Um, Brian, are you going to bring up the other thing under your matters?

No. Oh, no. No. We already talked about that one. Now, uh, Madam Clerk, your turn. I have nothing tonight, sir. Thank you. All right. Thank you so much. Um, city council, Mr. Nun. Yeah. Um the only thing I want to talk about tonight is uh obviously we have a lot going on in the world and uh to you know pray for our servicemen and women in in uh the way of harm. Obviously I have two two sons that are serving in the Navy currently. One is is an instructor in Connecticut so he's he's safe but the other one is serving in the theater of uh of the region over there. So uh you know uh just keep our our men and women in in your prayers.

All right. Thank you, sir. Um, Mr. McPartlander. No, sir. Um, and nothing for me. Uh, Miss Matthews, I have nothing tonight. Thank you. All right. Thank you so much, Mr. Dodd. Last but not least. No, sir. All right. Thank you. Then we are journ.