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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/02/2026 (2)Indian River County Florida Indian River County Administration Complex 1801 27th Street pG Vero Beach, Florida 32960 Z Meeting Minutes - Final indianriver.gov * * Board of County Commissioners 'ORI'OI Deryl Loar, District 4, Chairman Laura Moss, District 5, Vice Chairman Susan Adams, District 1 Joseph Flescher, District 2 Joseph H. Farman, District 3 John A. Titkanich, Jr., County Administrator Jennifer W. Shuler, County Attorney Ryan L. Butler, Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller Shauna James, Deputy Clerk Tuesday, June 2, 2026 9:00 AM 1. Call to Order Present: 4 Chairman Deryl Loar Vice Chairman Laura Moss Commissioner Joseph Flescher Commissioner Joe Earman Absent: 1 Commissioner Susan Adams Commission Chambers 2. A Moment of Silent Reflection for First Responders and Members of the Armed Forces Followed by the Invocation 3. Pledge of Allegiance 4. Additions / Deletions to the Agenda / Emergency Items A motion was made by Commissioner Flescher, seconded by Vice Chairman Moss, to approve the Agenda as presented. The motion passed by the following vote: Aye: 4 - Chairman Loar, Vice Chairman Moss, Commissioner Flescher, Commissioner Earman Nay: 0 -None 5. Proclamations and Presentations 5.A. Presentation of Proclamation Honoring Pastor Boan's 50 Years of Ordained Ministry Pastor Larry Boan credited the exceptional staff at Central Assembly for the success achieved, emphasizing that their hard work allowed him to enjoy the results. He also thanked the Board for their kindness and generosity. Read and presented by Chairman Loar Indian River County, Florida Page 1 6. Approval of Minutes 7. Information Items From Staff or Commissioners Not Requiring Board Action 7.A. Event Calendar June -July No Action Taken or Required 8. Public Comment: Agenda -Related Matters (Except for Public Hearings) 9. Consent Agenda A motion was made by Commissioner Flescher, seconded by Commissioner Earman, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. The motion passed by the following vote: Aye: 4 - Chairman Loar, Vice Chairman Moss, Commissioner Flescher, Commissioner Earman Nay: 0 -None 9.A. Approval of Checks and Electronic Payments April 18, 2026 to April 24, 2026 Approved 9.B. Approval of Checks and Electronic Payments April 25, 2026 to May 1, 2026 Approved 9.C. Approval of Checks and Electronic Payments May 2, 2026 to May 8, 2026 Approved 9.D. Intergenerational Recreation Center/Dick Bird Park Improvements (AKA South County Regional Park Improvements) Bid Number 2025011 - Change Order No. 1, Final Pay Application/Release of Retainage — Project Closeout Approved staffs recommendation 9.E. Miscellaneous Budget Amendment 07 Approved staffs recommendation and Resolution 2026-038 9.F. Clean Vessel Act Grant Applications Request for Operations and Maintenance of the Pumpout Vessel Approved staffs recommendation 9.G. Fish Florida Fishing Equipment Grant Approved staffs recommendation 9.H. Change Order for Hobart Ballfield Project Approved staffs recommendation Indian River County, Florida Page 2 9.I. Fellsmere Water Control District ILA Approved staffs recommendation 9.J. Approval of Amendment No. 5 - FDEP Grant Agreement No. S0839 for Construction of an Oyster Reef at Foot Island in the Indian River Lagoon Approved staffs recommendation 9.K. Approval of Checks and Electronic Payments May 9, 2026 to May 15, 2026 Approved 9.L. Amendments to Sector 3 Agreements With Guettler Brothers Construction, LLC Approved staffs recommendation 9.M. County Participation in the St. Sebastian River Greenway Feasibility Study Approved staffs recommendation 9.N. Waiver of Bid Requirement for Animal Shelter Equipment Approved staffs recommendation 9.0. Approval for Change Order No. 1, Final Payment, and Release of Retainage for Construction of Oslo Water Production Facility Sand Strainer Replacement, IRCDUS Project No. 12.25.518 Approved staffs recommendation 9.P. Resolution Accepting Final Plat Dedications for The Reserve West at Grand Harbor PD Phase 2, Plat 33 [SD -13-10-03 /2001020101-97850] Approved staffs recommendation and Resolution 2026-039 9.Q. Termination of Award of Bid 2025045 Approved staffs recommendation 10. Constitutional Officers and Governmental Agencies 11. Public Items 11.A. Public Hearings 11.B. Public Notice Items 11.B.i. Notice to Schedule Public Hearing to Discuss and Approve a Resolution Adopting New Fiscal Year 2026/2027 Utility Rates and Fees Read into the record by County Administrator John Titkanich 12. County Administrator Matters Indian River County, Florida Page 3 13. Departmental Matters 13.A. Building and Facilities Services 13.B. Community Services 13.C. Emergency Services 13.D. Human Resources 13.E. Information Technology 13.F. Natural Resources 13.G. Office of Management and Budget 13.H. Parks, Recreation, and Conservation 13.I. Planning and Development Services 13.I.i. Indian River County Local Jobs Grant Program Revision Economic Development Manager Doug Dombroski presented a Resolution to revise the Indian River County Local Jobs Grant Program. He reported that a ten-year review showed minimal participation and consistent feedback from small businesses that the program was too burdensome. He stated that the program's complexity and regulatory requirements discouraged usage, noting that quarterly reporting, lengthy agreement terms, phased hiring, and low incentives placed disproportionate strain on small employers. Mr. Dombroski explained that, following Board direction in February 2026, staff worked with stakeholders and the Chamber of Commerce to simplify and improve the program. He outlined major revisions, including a three-year job creation period, elimination of phased hiring, annual reporting requirements, increased wage thresholds, higher incentives for new and higher -wage jobs, reimbursement only after verified job creation, and the addition of clawback provisions. He noted that the Economic Development Council (EDC) unanimously recommended approval on May 19, 2026. Commissioner Flesher expressed appreciation for the revisions and stated that the changes encouraged community participation, especially in challenging economic times, and would bolster the community's economic development efforts. EDC Chairman Lance Lunceford reported that the Council completed the revision process in only four months and noted that the EDC unanimously supported initiating the revision in January and reaffirmed that support in May. He described the proposal as the most ambitious job grants initiative in the state, explaining that it streamlined requirements while strengthening accountability through a clawback provision. He emphasized that the revisions preserved the existing process of retaining the Board of County Commissioners' final approval. Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Economic Development Brian Cartland voiced support for the proposal. He stated that the revisions aligned with the Treasured Tomorrow Plan and that the program remained performance -based, with incentives paid only after verified job creation. He highlighted additional safeguards, including stricter verification of net -new jobs and wage threshold requirements. He said the updates created a more effective tool for attracting and Indian River County, Florida Page 4 retaining targeted industry employers. The Board expressed enthusiasm and support for the proposed revisions. A motion was made by Commissioner Earman, seconded by Commissioner Flescher, to approve staffs recommendation and Resolution 2026-040. The motion passed by the following vote: Aye: 4 - Chairman Loar, Vice Chairman Moss, Commissioner Flescher, Commissioner Earman Nay: 0 -None 13.J. Public Works 13.K. Sandridge Golf Club 13.L. Utilities Services 13.L.i. Department of Utility Services Integrated Water Master Plan Update to the Indian River County Board of County Commissioners, IRCDUS Project ID: 00.23.547 Howard Richards, Manager of Capital Projects, gave the fifth update on the Integrated Water Master Plan (IWMP). He explained that the plan provided a 20 -year roadmap for water, wastewater, and reuse systems, guided by values of quantity, quality, equity, and resiliency. He reported that Modules 1 and 2 were complete, the first round of stakeholder outreach under Module 3 had been finished, and additional outreach would follow once the draft Capital Improvement Plan was ready. Modules 4 and 7 on treatment alternatives were essentially complete, and Modules 5 and 6 were advancing through workshops and hydraulic modeling. This work would feed into Module 8 and support project prioritization for capital planning. Mr. Richards also noted that of the $742,750 in contingency funds, $272,943 had been used for outreach materials and hydraulic modeling, with another authorization underway related to the Sebastian Septic -to -Sewer study, leaving $469,807 remaining. Chairman Loar thanked Mr. Richards for the update. No Action Taken or Required 14. County Attorney Matters 14.A. Request for Closed Litigation Session - Indian River County vs. Twenty -Two Beachfront Properties, Located Between, And Including, 9586 Doubloon Dr., And, But Not Including, 1820 Wabasso Beach Rd., Vero Beach, Florida, 32963; And Summerplace Improvement Association, Inc.; Case No.: 31 -2018 -CA -000881 Chairman Loar initiated the process to enter a closed Litigation Session. This closed Litigation Session was scheduled for Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at 10:30 a.m., during the regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Indian River County, Florida. This meeting was exempt from the Sunshine Law under Florida Statute 286.011 and was closed to the public because it involved discussions regarding Indian River County vs. Twenty -Two Beachfront Properties, LLC. The closed Litigation Session included Chairman Loar, Vice Indian River County, Florida Page 5 Chairman Moss, Commissioner Earman, Commissioner Flescher, County Attorney Jennifer Shuler, Deputy County Attorney Susan Prado, County Administrator John Titkanich, and outside Counsel for Indian River County, Paul Berg, Esq. A certified court reporter would also be in attendance. The estimated duration of this Litigation Session was one hour. Upon concluding the Litigation Session, the Board of County Commissioners would return to the Chambers to resume the regular Agenda. 15. Commissioners Matters 15.A. Commissioner Deryl Loar, Chairman 15.B. Commissioner Laura Moss, Vice Chairman 15.C. Commissioner Susan Adams 15.D. Commissioner Joseph E. Flescher 15.E. Commissioner Joseph H. Earman 16. Special Districts and Boards 16.A. Emergency Services District 16.B. Solid Waste Disposal District 16.B.i. Request for Approval of Leachate Treatment Pilot Test Himanshu Mehta, Managing Director of the Solid Waste Disposal District (SWDD), presented a request for approval of a leachate treatment pilot test. He explained that the SWDD currently used a 30,000-GPD Heartland Leachate Evaporator and a 500,000 -gallon storage tank but required additional pre-treatment capacity during heavy rain events to reduce reliance on off -site treatment at the County's wastewater plant. SWDD's consultant, Geosyntec, evaluated two reverse osmosis (RO) pilot proposals submitted by Sustainable Landfill Solutions (SLS) and the Indian River Sustainability Center (IRSC). RO was previously identified as the most viable option to supplement the existing evaporator, offer potential PFAS treatment, and avoid the cost and permitting challenges associated with additional evaporation or deep -well injection. Mr. Mehta added that updated analytical data was also needed, as the most recent leachate data was dated 2019. He stated that Geosyntec conducted a technical evaluation of both pilot proposals based on a six-month, 25,000-GPD operating period, using uniform cost assumptions to allow direct comparison. The SLS system resulted in a unit cost of $0.18 per gallon, totaling $831,105 over six months. The IRSC system produced a unit cost of $0.16847 per gallon. After reviewing Geosyntec's analysis, staff supported approving both pilot tests for three months each to more accurately assess treatment efficiency and actual costs. Estimated three-month costs were approximately $415,552.50 for SLS and $379,057.50 for IRSC, for a combined projected cost of $794,610. Mr. Mehta responded to Commissioner Flesher that it would take three to four weeks to have the system on site. He explained that there would be time required for the team to mobilize to the location, and that some piping configurations would also need to be set up. A motion was made by Commissioner Earman, seconded by Commissioner Flescher, to Indian River County, Florida Page 6 approve staffs recommendation. The motion passed by the following vote: Aye: 4 - Chairman Loar, Vice Chairman Moss, Commissioner Flescher, Commissioner Earman Nay: 0 -None 16.B.ii. SWDD Temporary Operation and Maintenance of the IRC Landfill Gas Collection and Control System Himanshu Mehta, Managing Director of the Solid Waste Disposal District (SWDD), reported that the landfill's Gas Collection and Control System required ongoing routine and non -routine maintenance. A Request for Proposal (RFP) for long-term O&M was being prepared, but interim work was currently being handled by Republic Services and Integrity Environmental Solutions (Integrity). He noted that staff received a proposal from Integrity for six months of interim O&M at $27,833 per month, plus a prorated $75,000 allowance for non -routine work. Mr. Mehta noted that Integrity was already familiar with the system and that the six-month period would allow time to complete the RFP process. He stated that the total request for June —November 2026 was $241,998 and was already budgeted for FY 2025-2026. Mr. Mehta responded to Commissioner Flescher, explaining that a substantial portion of the landfill had already been capped. He noted that if the gas was not extracted, pressure could build, causing the cap to balloon beneath the liner and compromise its integrity. For that reason, it was essential to capture the gas to control odors, reduce the risk of fires, and address other related concerns. A motion was made by Commissioner Flescher, seconded by Chairman Loar, to approve staffs recommendation. The motion passed by the following vote: Aye: 4 - Chairman Loar, Vice Chairman Moss, Commissioner Flescher, Commissioner Earman Nay: 0 -None 16.C. Environmental Control Board 17. Public Comment: Non -Agenda -Related Matters 18. Adjournment There being no further business, the Chairman adjourned the meeting at 11:32 A.M. Indian River County, Florida Page 7 Board of County Commissioners Meeting Minutes — Final June 2, 2026 ATTEST: -7 Ryan L. Butler Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller Deryl Loar, Chairman Approved: kEt 4, 202h