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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/01/2026 (2)erIndian River County,Florida Indian Complex 1801 80ty27th Administration te pG Street (( Vero Beach, Florida 32960 Meeting Minutes - Final indianriver.gov OR1 Board of County Commissioners Deryl Loar, District 4, Chairman Laura Moss, District 5, Vice Chairman Susan Adams, District 1 Joseph Flescher, District 2 Joseph H. Earman, 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, September 1, 2026 9:00 AM Commission Chambers 1. Call to Order Present: 5 Chairman Deryl Loar Vice Chairman Laura Moss Commissioner Susan Adams Commissioner Joseph Flescher Commissioner Joe Earman 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 Added Item 12.A. A motion was made by Commissioner Adams, seconded by Commissioner Flescher, to approve the Agenda as amended. The motion passed by the following vote: Aye: 5 - Chairman Loar, Vice Chairman Moss, Commissioner Adams, Commissioner Flescher, Commissioner Earman Nay: 0 -None 5. Proclamations and Presentations 5.A. Honoring the 25th Anniversary of September 11, 2001 & Reaffirming Our Commitment to Remembrance, Service & Unity Each Commissioner shared heartfelt reflections regarding the 25th anniversary of 9/11, noting the lasting personal impact of the tragedy and the continued importance of remembering the lives lost and the resilience shown in its aftermath. Read and presented by Chairman Loar Indian River County, Florida Page 1 6. 7. 8. 9. Approval of Minutes 6.A. Regular Meeting of August 04, 2026 A motion was made by Commissioner Adams, seconded by Commissioner Flescher, to approve the Regular Meeting Minutes of August 04, 2026, as written. The motion passed by the following vote: Aye: 5 - Chairman Loar, Vice Chairman Moss, Commissioner Adams, Commissioner Flescher, Commissioner Earman Nay: 0 -None Information Items From Staff or Commissioners Not Requiring Board Action 7.A. SWDD Closures and Collection Service Changes for Labor Day No Action Taken or Required 7.B. Dori Slosberg Driver Education Safety Act - Driver Education Program Trust Fund Report - Cumulative Reporting Through 06/30/2026 No Action Taken or Required 7.C. September -October Event Calendar No Action Taken or Required Public Comment: Agenda -Related Matters (Except for Public Hearings) Consent Agenda A motion was made by Commissioner Flescher, seconded by Chairman Loar, to approve the Consent Agenda as amended, pulling 9.T. for discussion. The motion passed by the following vote: Aye: 5 - Chairman Loar, Vice Chairman Moss, Commissioner Adams, Commissioner Flescher, Commissioner Earman Nay: 0 -None 9.A. Approval of Checks and Electronic Payments July 18, 2026 to July 24, 2026 Approved 9.B. Resolution Canceling Taxes on Property for Public Purpose: Pelican Key Dedicated Right of Way Approved staffs recommendation and Resolution 2026-054 9.C. Approval of Checks and Electronic Payments July 25, 2026 to July 31, 2026 Approved 9.D. Resolution Canceling Taxes on Property Purchased for Public Purpose — John M. Luther, Trustee of the William M. Luther Irrevocable Trust dated July 13, 2004 -36.99 -acre Winter Beach 73rd St. site (ELAP) Indian River County, Florida Page 2 Approved staffs recommendation and Resolution 2026-055 9.E. VAB Language Approval Approved staffs recommendation 9.F. Approval to Execute and Submit Liquor License Application for Sandridge Golf Course Approved staffs recommendation 9.G. County Capital Asset Inventories Approved staffs recommendation 9.H. Quarterly Tourist Development Tax Report for Quarter Ending 06/30/2026 Accepted 9.I. Approval of Checks and Electronic Payments August 1, 2026 to August 7, 2026 Approved 9.J. Miscellaneous Budget Amendment 08 Approved staffs recommendation and Resolution 2026-056 9.K. Quarterly OPEB Trust Report for Quarter Ending 06/30/2026 Accepted 9.L. Quarterly Investment Report for Quarter Ending 06/30/2026 Accepted 9.M. Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) Memorandum of Understanding between Indian River County Department of Emergency Services (IRCDES) and Indian River County Sheriffs Office (IRCSO) Approved staffs recommendation 9.N. Approval of Expenditures for Emergency Management Preparedness Assistance (EMPA) State - Funded Subgrant Agreement #A0712 Approved 9.O. Approval of Expenditures of the 2026/2027 Volunteer Florida Community Emergency Response Team Sub -Grant Approved 9.P. Approval of Checks and Electronic Payments August 8, 2026 to August 14, 2026 Indian River County, Florida Page 3 Approved 9.Q. Resolution Accepting Final Plat Dedications for Pineapple Preserve [SD -19-11-05 / 98010174- 98604] Approved staffs recommendation and Resolution 2026-057 9.R. Economic Opportunities Council Board Appointments Approved staffs recommendation 9.S. Award of Bid 2027005 — Annual Bid to Furnish and Deliver Polymer Approved staffs recommendation 9.T. Approval of Stop Loss Renewal with Highmark for Group Health Plan Fiscal Year 2026/2027 A motion was made by Commissioner Flescher, seconded by Chairman Loar, to postpone the Item to a future meeting. The motion passed by the following vote: Aye: 5 - Chairman Loar, Vice Chairman Moss, Commissioner Adams, Commissioner Flescher, Commissioner Earman Nay: 0 -None 9.U. Resolution to Rescind Resolutions Regarding Committee Monitoring Approved staffs recommendation and Resolution 2026-058 10. Constitutional Officers and Governmental Agencies 10.A. FY26 Offender Fees There was no dis A motion was made by Commissioner Flescher, seconded by Chairman Loar, to approve FY26 Offender Fees. The motion passed by the following vote: Aye: 5 - Chairman Loar, Vice Chairman Moss, Commissioner Adams, Commissioner Flescher, Commissioner Earman Nay: 0 -None 10.B. FY26 Auction Proceeds There was no discussion on this Item. A motion was made by Commissioner Flescher, seconded by Chairman Loar, to approve FY26 Auction Proceeds. The motion passed by the following vote: Aye: 5 - Chairman Loar, Commissioner Earman Nay: 0 -None 11. Public Items Vice Chairman Moss, Commissioner Adams, Commissioner Flescher, Indian River County, Florida Page 4 11.A. Public Hearings 11.A.A. Developers Agreement Between Gurukirpa Land Holdings, LLC and Indian River County - Madaan Deputy County Attorney Susan Prado presented the proposed Developer Agreement between Indian River County and Gurukirpa Land Holdings LLC, for an ice manufacturing plant located west of town, east of I-95, west of 90th Avenue, and between 16th and 17th Place. She explained that the Utilities Department required infrastructure improvements beyond what was typically needed for a project of this type, and the agreement would allow the developer to be reimbursed for those additional costs as future users connect to the utility system. She noted that the agreement carried a five-year term under County Code 201 and emphasized that the project qualified as an economic development initiative expected to bring jobs and other community benefits. Ms. Prado affirmed Chairman Loar's understanding that the developer would initially pay for the required infrastructure and would later be reimbursed when future users connected to the system, and clarified that the County itself was not paying for the infrastructure. The Chairman opened the public hearing. There being no speakers, the Chairman closed the public hearing. A motion was made by Commissioner Earman, seconded by Commissioner Flescher, to bring the Proposed Developer's Agreement back to the Board for the required second public hearing on September 15, 2026. The motion passed by the following vote: Aye: 5 - Chairman Loar, Vice Chairman Moss, Commissioner Adams, Commissioner Flescher, Commissioner Earman Nay: 0 -None 11.B. Public Notice Items 11.B.A. Notice of Scheduled Public Hearing to Discuss and Approve a Resolution Adopting New Fiscal Year 2026/2027 Utility Services Impact Fee Rates Read into the record by County Administrator John Titkanich. 12. County Administrator Matters 12.A. Sandridge Event Agreement & Venue Pricing [Clerk Note: Staffs memo and attachments are on file with the Clerk to the Board] County Administrator John Titkanich reported that the new Sandridge Golf Clubhouse was expected to receive its Certificate of Occupancy on October 20, 2026. The facility was intended to support year-round events, and staff had prepared the event agreement and rental policies, though final venue pricing was still in progress. He said a prospective client wanted to secure a wedding date immediately, so staff proposed using the All -Inclusive Wedding Package pricing as a temporary basis for negotiation. He requested approval of the event agreement and authorization to negotiate this single event, emphasizing it would not establish future pricing standards. Commissioner Adams added that this approach allowed the client to secure their date while giving Indian River County, Florida Page 5 staff additional time to finalize the venue's pricing structure. A motion was made by Commissioner Adams, seconded by Commissioner Flescher, to approve staff's recommendation. The motion passed by the following vote: Aye: 5 - Chairman Loar, Vice Chairman Moss, Commissioner Adams, Commissioner Flescher, Commissioner Earman Nay: 0 - None 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.A. Proposed Regulations for a Hospital at State Road 60 and 66th Avenue Assistant Planning and Development Services Director Ryan Sweeney presented proposed regulations related to a potential hospital at State Road 60 and 66th Avenue. He explained that the County's Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Regulations (LDR) included criteria for mixed -use planned developments, as well as special allowances for larger projects and increased commercial uses in that preferred location. He reported that a hospital development group had approached staff and expressed interest in constructing a hospital in that area. Current regulations, adopted in 2017, limited individual buildings to 60,000 square feet to prevent large retail stores. The developer requested amendments to both the Comprehensive Plan and LDR to allow a hospital building of 200,000 to 300,000 square feet, while retaining the 60,000 -square -foot cap for all other structures. Because the Comprehensive Plan and LDR criteria mirror each other, both would require modification. If consensus was reached, the applicant intended to submit formal amendment applications. The Board discussed whether to amend the Comprehensive Plan and LDRs to allow buildings larger than the current 60,000 -square -foot limit in the SR 60/66th Ave area. Several Commissioners voiced concerns regarding building height. Commissioner Flescher recalled prior community opposition to taller structures and stated that those concerns remained relevant. Vice Chairman Moss objected to introducing the height issue without public notice and emphasized that the public had not been given the opportunity to participate. Commissioner Adams stated that the Board was not prepared to have a meaningful height discussion, noting that the community wanted both a hospital west of the railroad tracks and preservation of height limits, which could conflict. Chairman Loar added that prior height debates had mostly involved beachside properties. Indian River County, Florida Page 6 Commissioner Earman argued that discussing height at this stage was premature and asserted that the Board's immediate decision was only to consider increasing the maximum square footage. He said height should be addressed later during design review and public hearings and cautioned against dismissing the hospital proposal solely because of anticipated height needs. Mr. Sweeney explained the existing size restriction and noted that a hospital was an allowed institutional use but would require significantly more square footage. He stated that no formal amendment process had begun and outlined the months -long procedure involving Planning & Zoning hearings, state review, and final adoption. Driver, McAfee, Hawthorne & Diebenow, PLLC, Attorney Dylan Reingold, speaking on behalf of the project, along with Real Estate Consultant Tim Zorc, presented the need for a modern hospital facility of approximately 250,000 square feet and up to five stories. Mr. Zorc noted that the County was 108 beds short, according to the Bieber report. They highlighted the strategic value of the proposed site because of roadway access and proximity to Indian River State College, and asked the Board for direction to begin drafting necessary amendments. County Attorney Jennifer Shuler advised the Board that any height increase could trigger broader, unintended consequences under the state's Live Local Act, potentially extending higher allowable heights to surrounding parcels. She warned that such changes were difficult to reverse and noted the lack of sufficient detail in the current materials. After extended discussion, the Commissioners asked staff to return with a clearer package, explicitly including the height discussion in the agenda and public notice for the October 6, 2026, meeting, and to outline the sequence of hearings and legal considerations. The Board reached consensus that staff would return with a more detailed and clearer package at the October 6, 2026, BCC meeting. 13.J. Public Works 13.K. Sandridge Golf Club 13.L. Utilities Services 14. County Attorney Matters 14.A. Amended and Restated Interlocal with City of Vero Beach regarding Humiston Beach Boardwalk County Attorney Jennifer Schuler provided a summary of the amended and restated Interlocal Agreement with the City of Vero Beach in support of reconstructing the historic Humiston Beach Boardwalk. She explained that the revised language removed earlier provisions related to offsets for Federal or State grant funding and instead clarified that the County's contribution would not exceed the city's cash contribution, with a final accounting due upon project completion. County Administrator John Titkanich noted that the maximum contribution remained $400,000 and was already budgeted. A motion was made by Commissioner Flescher, seconded by Vice Chairman Moss, to approve staffs recommendation. The motion passed by the following vote: Aye: 5 - Chairman Loar, Vice Chairman Moss, Commissioner Adams, Commissioner Flescher, Indian River County, Florida Page 7 Commissioner Earman Nay: 0 -None 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.C. Environmental Control Board 17. Public Comment: Non -Agenda -Related Matters 18. Adjournment There being no further business, the Chairman adjourned the meeting at 10:27 A.M. Indian River County, Florida Page 8 Board of County Commissioners Meeting Minutes - Final September 01, 2026 ATTEST: A42 Ryan L. Butler Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller By: Deputy Clerk Deryl Loar, Chairman Approved: October 6, 2026 Indian River County, Florida Page 9