City of Sebastian Pelican Newsletter
City Council
Meet your Council
Mayor, Ed Dodd Biography
Vice Mayor, Kelly Dixon Biography
Council Member, Fred Jones Biography
Council Member, Bob McPartlan Biography
Council Member, Christopher Nunn Biography
City Council
City Manager’s Office
Social Media & Communications Update
Communications and Social Media Coordinator, Avery Joens continues to share hurricane preparedness tips on social media. In June, Avery traveled to the IRC Emergency Operations Center to meet with Public Information Officers around the county to discuss emergency communication plans.
See the video below where Avery shares some important preparation tips!
If you have an idea for our social media reach out to Avery Joens at: ajoens@cityofsebastian.org or 772-228-7074
City Clerk
Proclamations
June
National League of Cities Small Cities Month - June
July
Parks and Recreation Month – July 2024
Treasure Coast Waterway Cleanup Week – July 20 through 28, 2024
The Role of Records Specialist
The history of records management dates back to around 4,000 B.C. when the Sumerians began to use picture symbols marked into clay tablets to keep their records.
My role as the Records Specialist is to ensure that accurate records are kept and can be accessed when needed.
The most essential skill for a Records Specialist is organization; this is because records must be able to be retrieved quickly and efficiently.
Integrity is another essential skill that is critical for a Records Specialist. The Records Specialist often maintains records that contain sensitive data
I work hard to achieve records compliance and I am dedicated and proud to serve the residents of Sebastian.
- Cathy Testa, Records Specialist
Upcoming Meetings & Events
Tuesday, July 2, 2024
• Natural Resources Board in Council Chambers – 6 pm
Thursday, July 4, 2024
• City Hall Closed
• Annual 4th of July Freedom Festival
Wednesday, July 10, 2024
• Regular City Council Meeting in Council Chambers – 6 pm
Monday, July 15, 2024
• Budget Review Board Meeting in Council Chambers – 6 pm
Tuesday, July 16, 2024
• Special Magistrate Code Enforcement Hearing in Council Chambers – 2 pm
• Police Pension Board Meeting in Council Chambers – 5 pm
Thursday, July 18, 2024
• Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting in Council Chambers -6pm
Friday, July 19, 2024
• City Council Budget Workshop in Council Chambers - 9 am
Monday, July 22, 2024
• Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Meeting in Council Chambers – 6 pm
Wednesday, July 24, 2024
• Regular City Council Meeting w/ CRA in Council Chambers – 6 pm
Saturday, July 27, 2024
• Treasure Coast Waterway Cleanup Main Street Boat Ramp | 8 – 12:30 pm
Monday, July 29, 2024
• Budget Review Board Meeting in Council Chambers – 6 pm
Police Department
June COPE Events
June1–BlueWaterOpen
June3through7-RADforSeniorstrainingatPelicanLanding
June8-AttendingtheRoselandChurchFather’sDayCarShow
June10through14-RADKidstrainingatTheLearningNest
July COPE Events
July8through12-RADKidsat505AirportDrWestSebastian
July22through25-RADWomenat505AirportDrWestSebastian
July23through29-PublicSafetyCadetsBootCampinTequesta,FL
July27-LaPorteFarmsFunDay
Police Department
Welcome New Officers
DuringJune,theSebastianPoliceDepartmenthad5newofficerssworn in.Congratulationstothefollowingofficers,JoshuaRomanowski, DavidGreene,TaylorRatelle,CodyHatton,andViancaVazquez! Wewanttowishthemallasafeandsuccessfulcareer!
Police Volunteers
Ourpolicevolunteersassistedwithtrafficcontrolforamajor crashinwhichpowerlinesweredownandhadtobereplaced. Theyalsocontinuetoconducttheever-growinghousechecks.
Parks, Recreation, and Public Facilities
Parks & Recreation Month
Interactive Parks & Recreation Map
Check out the new interactive parks & recreation map for the City of Sebastian. The map allows you to see where each park is located and gives you details about what activities are there, hours of operation, size, etc. check out the map!
Building Department
Building Department
Community Development | CRA
June Council Decisions
City Council awarded a contract with Doug Wilson Enterprises on June 12th to remodel the Community Development Offices. This remodeling project is estimated to take six months to complete and will provide extra security measures for the department.
Grant Applications
The City of Sebastian has made a grant application through FIND (Florida Inland Navigational District) for the assessment and evaluation of the working waterfront building at 1540 Indian River Drive. The building was found to be unsafely and needs to undergo major repairs to its structure. If the City is awarded this grant, it will provide funding for an updated structural report and analysis of the options moving forward for the building which was originally constructed in 1927. The building has provided an outlet for the local commercial fishing industry to sell its products for many years.
Community Development | CRA
City of Sebastian Facade, sign, and Landscape Grant City of Sebastian is here to help!
The City of Sebastian is offering financial assistance to qualified property owners in the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). The CRA Facade, Sign, and Landscape Grant Program is designed to encourage visible, exterior improvements to commercial property that meet the intent and mission of the CRA. In order to encourage private investment within the CRA, the grant program provides up to $15,000 of CRA funds per property as a 50:50 match to private funds
To qualify, an application must be submitted to the Community Development Department and approval is required by the CRA Board prior to commencement of work.
The FSL Grant is available to commercial properties that are located within the CRA district of the City of Sebastian. Eligible project applicants are businesses located in the CRA district that are:
Licensed through the City’s Local Business Tax department; Performing permitted/confirming uses; Current with all property taxes; and Must not possess outstanding code liens or code violations. Grant monies cannot be used to pay or remove code liens from a property or bring to code compliance following a notice of violation.
To learn more about the Sign, Facade, and Landscape Grant and how to apply please contact:
Michelle Faulkner (772)388-8220 or email mfaulkner@cityofsebastian.org
Community Development Department 1225 Main Street Sebastian, FL 32958
Community Development | CRA Projects in Progress
Type
Subdivision
SpiritofSebastianPUD
SitePlan
SquidLips
SitePlan
Subdivision
Subdivision
SitePlan
Subdivision
SitePlan
SitePlan
SitePlan
Subdivision
DunkinDonuts
TreasureBayPUD
CrossCreekLakeEstates
CrailManufacturing
SebastianHighlands Unit17
MavisTireStore
Sportsman’sLodge
SebastianOaksApts.
SebastianPreservePUD
Completed
Construction
InReview
InReview Construction
DelMonteRdand SWimbrowDr
1660IndianRiverDr
InReview
InReview
900U.S.Highway#1
VickersGrove Sandmine
YearlingTrail
7756130thStreet
SpringValleyAve 1055Sebastian Boulevard
412IndianRiverDr
LouisianaAve
86thAve&89thStr
Subdivision TerraEstates Construction LaconiaStreet
208Single-FamilyHomes
New8400SqFtOverWater restaurant,2300SqFt Smokehouse,2100SqFt
MarinaOffice,IceCream Shop,&associatedparking
Demo-RebuildRestaurant withdrive-thru&2retail units-4810TotalSquareFeet
70Single-FamilyHomes, 126Townhomes,54 TownHomeVillas
35Single-FamilyHomes
New40,000sqftbuilding
99Single-FamilyHomes
New6970sqftbuilding andassociatedparking
NewUse-FreedomBoatClub
126Multi-FamilyApts
118Single-FamilyHomes &158DuplexVillas
3LotResidentialSubdivision
The Spirit of Sebastian, Pod 2 received their certificate of completion on May 31 which allowed for the ribbon cutting on Thursday, June 6th. The approval of the subdivision will allow for the construction of 60 new single-family homes in The City of Sebastian’s first agrihood. An agrihood is a community built with a community garden as a focus. This new subdivision community is a place for the flora and fauna to flourish. There are an additional 3 pods planned for this subdivision that are currently under review
Public Works | Engineering
Welcome Lee Plourde
On June 3 Lee Plourde joined the City of Sebastian as the new Public Works Director! He started his career with the Bureau of Prisons after serving in the United States Marine Corps from 1994-1998. In 2014, he was promoted in the Executive Ranks of the Bureau of Prisons to Executive Assistant and the Public Information Officer at MCC New York in Manhattan. In 2023 Lee was promoted to Associate Warden at FCI Otisville New York He retired on May 31, 2024, from the Federal Bureau of Prisons before joining the City of Sebastian in June of 2024. We’re so excited to have Lee with us and can’t wait to see all he accomplishes in his new role!
Citizen Requests
The City of Sebastian has recently updated their citizen request system. It’s now easier than ever to submit and track your requests. You can also report illicit discharge and illegal dumping into the stormwater system through the citizen request website. Need to make a request? Click here: citizen request website Below is the citizen request data from June 2024.
Public Works | Engineering
Recent Roads Projects
A milling and paving project took place within the city from late June through early July. The project includes milling and paving along Spring Valley, Schumann, Faith, and Del Monte. The sidewalks along Schuman Dr were also redone.
The City is Re-designing another handicapped parking spot in front of the Art Center which will involve removing asphalt from two existing spots bringing the sub base up to grade and putting down new asphalt before the Sign Shop can restripe.
Put asphalt down on Aspen and Dickens road crossing that the Stormwater Department has replaced the pipes on.
Perform quarterly Sidewalk inspections including Indian River Drive.
Main Street sidewalk extension to U.S. 1.
Stormwater
Watch this video with Eric Brierton, Sebastian’s Stormwater Utility Inspector. In this video he shares how our city’s stormwater system works, as well as answers some frequently asked questions!
Stormwater Master Plan
On May 23, the City of Sebastian held its Stormwater Master Plan Public Workshop. Thank you to everyone in the community who showed up and gave input! Residents who attended had the opportunity to participate in workshops to give their opinions on the importance of different aspects of the stormwater plan.
We are looking forward to receiving more of your input on our stormwater plans in the future! If you missed the meeting or haven’t filled out the survey yet you can do so using the link below or by scanning the QR code:
Human Resources
June New Hires
Lee Plourde - Public Works Director
Available Positions
Administrative Assistant - City Clerk
Finance Director
Fleet Superintendant
Police Recruit (Non-Certified)
Police Officer
Scan the QR code below to be redirected to our job site!
Human Resources
Employee Hurricane Preparation Recovery Training
It’s that time of year again when we must be vigilant about being prepared for hurricanes. Therefore, the City of Sebastian presented an employee training program, for all employees, focused on hurricane preparedness and recovery. The training program was presented by Evan McClellan, Risk and Safety Consultant, from the Florida League of Cities, Inc. This initiative aims to ensure the safety and well-being of all staff members while maintaining business continuity during severe weather events
The training program covered:
1. Emergency Response Plans: Employees were educated on emergency response plans, steps to take before, during, and after a hurricane. This includes evacuation routes, shelter locations and communication protocols.
2. Resources: The program reviewed the need for equipment and truck preparation, fuel readiness, and emergency power such as generators.
3. Safety: Employees were taught to check flooded areas for pits, holes or protruding objects; Be aware of slip, trip and fall hazards; be on the alert for dogs, rats, gators, snakes and insect nests; be alert for sharp or jagged debris. In addition, look all around, watching out for broken hanging limbs and leaning trees. If possible, do not work alone but work in small teams. Be aware of where other crews are located.
4. Safety – Heat Exhaustion and Illness: With the heat in Florida, employees learned the risk factors of heat exhaustion. They need to pace themselves, take frequent breaks and schedule the most strenuous work for the coolest part of the day and most importantly…drink plenty of water. They learned to lesson heat exhaustion by using equipment rather than manual labor if possible; use only the necessary protection equipment; Wear light colored clothing; use sunscreen.
5. Communications, Warning and Notification: The program emphasized the importance of maintaining open lines of communication. They were taught to stay informed and connected during a hurricane. They were told of the staff notification list and how they will receive warnings.
Human Resources
Employee Hurricane Preparation Recovery Training
Continued:
6 Workplace Safety: The program focused on securing the workplace Employees learned how to protect company assets, shut down equipment safely, and ensure that all hazardous materials are stored properly to prevent accidents.
7. Personal Preparedness: The program emphasized the need to review your homeowner’s policy for coverage and gaps in coverage. The program reviewed the need to reinforce garage doors and covering of windows; be sure the trees around their home were maintained; to clean out gutters and downspouts; test generators; partially drain the pool; to stock up on tarps, etc. Last, take pictures and keep a list of valuable items and the cost estimate in the event those items are damaged, stolen or destroyed.
8 Building of an Emergency Kit – According to the training, the items to include in an emergency kit are: change of clothes and shoes, essential medication, toiletries (soap, deodorant, towel), radio with batteries, food and water (1gal/person/day), first aid kit, multi-tool, utensils, plates, cups, insect repellent, batters/solar charger, distractions (books, games), and cash.
Our goal is to create a culture of preparedness by equipping our employees with the knowledge and tools they need to handle hurricanes. We are not only protecting our city but also our most valuable asset – our people. This proactive approach sets a standard and highlights the importance of preparedn
Finance
Best Practices for Submitting Bid Proposals
Review all documents | The first common mistake vendors make is not reviewing all relevant documents. Sometimes, vendors miss addenda which can include important updates such as answers to questions, closing date changes, and specification changes. The best practice is always to check the solicitation notice for any updates before submitting your response.
Submit electronic responses early | Another common mistake suppliers make is submitting their bids before closing. Don’t let yourself get into the unfortunate situation of a technical issue occurring right before the deadline and you are unable to submit on time.
Proofread the bid or RFP response | One crucial mistake a supplier can make is not reviewing and proofreading their bid proposal or RFP response before submitting it. Make sure you double-check the price and that the attached documents have accurate information about your business.
Current Bids
We are accepting bids for the solicitations below. If your business is interested in submitting a bid, please ensure you are registered with VendorLink. All bid documents are posted on: VendorLink
• 24-14-ITB - Hangar D Office Space Build-Out (Closes 7/3/2024)
• 24-16-RFP Sebastian Municipal Airport AWOS (Closes 7/31/2024)
• 24-17-ITB - Concrete Services (Closes 7/15/2024)
Upcoming Bids
Below is a list of bids the City anticipates issuing this fiscal year
• Diesel and Gasoline Contract
• Electrical Services
• HVAC Services
• Plumbing Services
• Roofing Services
• Barber Sports Complex Chain link Fence Backstops
• Sports Netting for Sebastian Municipal Airport
MIS
Understanding Email Size Limits: What You Need to Know
Email, a vital tool in personal and professional communication, often presents challenges when sending or receiving large files due to size limits. Email size limits are set to ensure efficient and reliable message delivery Sending an email with a large attachment can use up server resources and cause delays or delivery failures. By imposing size limits, email providers can keep their email infrastructure running smoothly and avoid congestion.
The specific size limits for attachments and overall message size vary among email service providers. It's important to note that the total message size, including the email body and attachments, may have a separate limit For example, the City of Sebastian's total message size limit for sending and receiving is 30MB. File types that can cause the emails to be oversized are usually videos and images.
So, what do you need to do when you need to send the City larger attachments? When you need to share files that exceed the email size limits, a couple of alternative methods are available. One common approach is to compress the files into a zip folder to reduce their size before attaching them to the email.
Additionally, the City of Sebastian employees have access to a file transfer service that allows them to send large files via email without running into size restrictions These platforms typically generate a download link to share with the recipient, enabling them to access the files directly from the service's website. They can also send the requestor a link to allow them to upload specific files the employee needs to complete a request.
Ultimately, understanding email size limits is essential for both senders and recipients to navigate the potential hurdles of sharing large files via email. By familiarizing themselves with the limitations of their chosen email service and exploring alternative file-sharing methods, everyone can ensure seamless communication and efficient file exchange with the City.
Airport
Runway 05-23 Rehabilitation Project Update
Runway 05-23 re-opened on May 16th with all new asphalt, markings, and lighting, yet the rehabilitation work continues. Due to supply-chain issues, additional lighting equipment is being installed the week of 6/24, along with the final paint and markings with reflective beads. The funding for this major project was provided by the FAA, FDOT, and the City of Sebastian. Some last additional light installation work will take place over the next 2 months before the final closeout of the project becomes official.
Separately this month, two aircraft parking aprons located along the Alpha Taxiway were milled, leveled, and re-paved by Dickerson Infrastructure Inc., under an FDOT grant. These new surfaces will serve an existing hangar location and a proposed new, privately funded facility. These two aprons will be finished with final paint and markings by July 1st.
Golf Course
Summer Rates
Summer rates began on June 1st and will run until September 30th.
18 holes with cart: $32 7-noon
18 holes with cart: $25 After 12 pm
18 holes walk: $18 After 11 am
9 holes with cart: $20 All-day
9 holes walk: $12 After 11 am
Junior walk 9/18: $2.25 After 2 pm
Rounds
In June, the Sebastian Municipal Golf Course did 3,113 rounds and took in a grand total of $79,215.
July Aeration Dates
The front 9 will be closed on July 22 & 23. The back 9 will be closed on July 24 & 25. Aeration entails punching thousands of ½ inch diameter holes in the greens and then filling those holes with sand. Aeration accomplishes 3 major objectives: Relieves compaction: the greens would become rock hard without aeration over time. Improves drainage: all the holes filled with sand improve the percolation of rainwater
Reduces thatch: thatch refers to “layers” of grass growing on top of each other. Too much thatch and water will sit on top of the turf and not drain & the golf ball will not roll as well as it should.
Reminders
On July 4, the golf shop will close at 3 pm and the cart barn at 5 pm Happy 4th from The Staff at SMGC!
Saturday, September 21 at 8 am(shotgun) is the Sebastian River High School Football and Cheer Golf Tournament. Contact the Sebastian River High School Football Booster Club for more information.
