PALM BAY, FL (The Palm Bayer) — The Palm Bay City Council meets Thursday, August 6, 2026 for Regular City Council Meeting 2026-19, with a charter amendment referendum, a six-figure engineering contract, updated floodplain rules, and several public hearings on the table.

The session also includes a Chamber of Commerce presentation, two grant acceptances totaling more than $57,500, and a stormwater utility fee item that was withdrawn before the meeting.

Palm Bay Charter Referendum: Voters Could Decide How Council Fills Vacancies

Ordinance 2026-20 is at its final reading Thursday. If approved, it places a charter amendment question on the November 3, 2026 General Election ballot.

The amendment targets Section 3.062 of the City Charter, which governs how the council fills vacant seats. A 12-month threshold determines the method: vacancies with 12 months or fewer remaining in the term can be filled by council appointment; vacancies with more than 12 months remaining must go to a special election.

The official ballot title is “CHARTER AMENDMENT RELATED TO THE PROCESS FOR FILLING VACANCIES ON THE CITY COUNCIL.” The ballot summary spells out the 12-month threshold in plain language so voters can weigh appointment speed against direct democratic selection.

Council approval Thursday would not itself change the charter. It would authorize placing the question before voters in November, who would have the final say.

St. Johns Heritage Parkway Widening Gets $430,330.00 Engineering Contract

Procurement Item 1 asks the council to authorize Supplemental Agreement No. 1 with Scalar Consulting Group for $430,330.38 in additional engineering design services. The work covers the St. Johns Heritage Parkway widening from Malabar Road to north of Emerson Drive, a stretch of approximately three miles being expanded from two lanes to four lanes.

Funding comes entirely from Transportation Impact Fees held by the Public Works Department.

The supplemental agreement became necessary because commercial and residential developments along Pace Drive and Emerson Drive were built after the original design plans were completed. The engineering team must now revisit subsurface utility exploration, signal and lighting layouts, geotechnical investigations, and drainage calculations in those corridors.

The added work also includes a survey re-evaluation of the full segment and updated 90-percent design plan submissions for state and local review. Approving this agreement moves the project toward finalized plans that can support future construction bid packages.

Palm Bay Updates Floodplain Code, Names City Manager as Administrator

Ordinance 2026-22 (Case T26-00003) is at first reading Thursday after being continued from the May 21, 2026 regular meeting. It amends Chapter 179 of the municipal code, titled “Natural Resources,” with administrative corrections driven by guidance from the Florida Division of Emergency Management and FEMA to support Palm Bay’s Community Rating System classification under the National Flood Insurance Program.

The most significant change formally designates the City Manager as the Floodplain Administrator, a role that was previously less precisely defined in the code.

Variance decisions under the updated language will now explicitly require recommendations from both the Floodplain Administrator and the Building Official before they can proceed. The ordinance also corrects cross-references and citation errors throughout Chapter 179.

Definitions tied to Section 171.001 (substantial improvement), Section 179.012 (recreational vehicles), and Section 179.011(D) (regulated floodway crossings) are all updated. Existing wellfield protection standards, including the 500-foot and 1,000-foot prohibition radii for high-risk land uses near public wells set out in Section 179.031, remain in full force and are not changed.

Emerald Lakes East Deal Nets City $142,520 and Drops Pond Maintenance

Consent Item 7 presents an agreement with Excess Land Investment, LLC involving the Emerald Lakes East Phase 1 subdivision. Under the agreement, the developer takes over maintenance of four stormwater management tracts—Tracts B, C, D, and E—totaling 11.51 acres, and pays the city a net amount of $142,520 for excess stormwater capacity.

The arrangement stems from historical land transfers tied to the expansion of St. Johns Heritage Parkway.

The city had previously acquired drainage rights across developer property. The developer constructed a regional pond system that provides the necessary retention for both the city’s roadway project and private development phases.

Approving Consent Item 7 resolves outstanding cost-share obligations from a 2017 agreement. It shifts long-term pond maintenance responsibilities to the developer while delivering a direct revenue payment to the city.

CDD Boundaries, Easements, and Grants: Rapid-Fire Items on Thursday’s Agenda

Several other agenda items move forward Thursday evening across public safety, development, and community operations.

Ordinance 2026-14 is at final reading to contract the boundary of the Malabar Springs Community Development District. It removes a 0.06-acre parcel designated as the Tower Site, adjusting the district’s net area to 283.31 acres.

The council will also vote on two public hearing items to vacate public utility and drainage easements: Ordinance 2026-17 for a 20-foot rear easement in Port Malabar Unit 12 (Case V26-00002) and Ordinance 2026-18 for a 20-foot rear easement in Port Malabar Unit 15 (Case V26-00003).

In presentations, Cory Skeates, President and CEO of the Greater Palm Bay Chamber of Commerce, will deliver the chamber’s semi-annual update on business growth and community initiatives.

On the consent agenda, the Police Department seeks approval for a $47,079.13 state E-911 grant to fund annual maintenance on its voice recording and call-handling equipment.

The Parks and Recreation Department asks to accept a $10,500 Space Coast Office of Tourism marketing grant to reimburse promotional expenses for the 2025 Independence Day celebration.

Finally, Item 1 under Unfinished Business—a resolution updating stormwater utility fee rates—was officially withdrawn prior to the meeting.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the Palm Bay City Council meet for RCM 2026-19?

The Palm Bay City Council meets on Thursday, August 6, 2026 at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers at Palm Bay City Hall, 1200 Malabar Road SE.

What is the Palm Bay Charter Referendum on the August 6 agenda?

Ordinance 2026-20 is a final reading item that, if passed, puts a charter amendment question on the November 3, 2026 General Election ballot. It sets a 12-month remaining term threshold to determine whether council vacancies are filled by appointment or special election.

How much is the St. Johns Heritage Parkway widening contract?

Procurement Item 1 authorizes Supplemental Agreement No. 1 with Scalar Consulting Group for $430,330.38 in Transportation Impact Fee funding to update engineering designs for a 3-mile widening from Malabar Road to Emerson Drive.

Who becomes the Floodplain Administrator under Ordinance 2026-22?

Ordinance 2026-22 formally designates the City Manager as Palm Bay’s Floodplain Administrator under updated Chapter 179 regulations aligned with FEMA Community Rating System standards.

How much revenue does Palm Bay net from the Emerald Lakes East agreement?

Consent Item 7 nets the city $142,520 from Excess Land Investment, LLC while transferring ongoing maintenance of 11.51 acres of stormwater retention ponds to the developer.

Does Palm Bay lose any wellfield protections under the new floodplain ordinance?

No. Section 179.031 wellfield protection radii (500 feet and 1,000 feet around public potable water wells) remain in full force and are not altered by Ordinance 2026-22.

This story is also published at news.thepalmbayer.com/news/palm-bay-council-preview-august-6-2026/ with additional inline visuals, related coverage links, and a video embed where available.