[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6745788,"mediaKeyId","5352648-8aadb491417d90f8cb6a62a35f287632","parentId",5352648,"title","Sebastian council praises charter officers, defers merit decisions until budget hearings","audioSeconds",103,"startMs",5378000,"endMs",5481000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5352648-8aadb491417d90f8cb6a62a35f287632&start=5378&end=5481","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5352648-8aadb491417d90f8cb6a62a35f287632/thumbnail_5378000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6745788/Sebastian/Indian-River-County/Florida/Sebastian-council-praises-charter-officers-defers-merit-decisions-until-budget-hearings","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6745788-6332c3ec977e28c3cfecdd59383c01fd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152933&Signature=gphyGFfkJeNhFmVyfs88rvFy4uQ63DL0N1Gwy-5g4vHkXil3RepBb-~5bxdjqM~5ae5zdbtjS84i-KpkXYuDfWQAMPTM1uq1KbinG5pb9V4Q~1ieLBFtWeDVvrKlrWzlggZQqoOxsi43FUnid4Yr3tlVxEr7df8qOH9Ihfjd43iKnfZ2SRHwMUbsqfZrIwEVpK8BhdpUGnpKpuUpBs6qcpzjhwz3ii8Qj4HmAHgcHabiJy1wCbVuGz8hgZzepbRZzxFQjiwMqC~qrugOXf2n5PbGaHFgHbOg6S4Fd8TMCk~ILL-A4xZ4BBPl09nBPNCyC2iowITAB9xctQYwuBnxag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Sebastian, FL","date","2025-07-10T11:32:58Z","article","The Sebastian City Council reviewed performance evaluations for charter officers and agreed to consider any merit increases after completing the budget hearings.

Staff noted the evaluations were prepared under Resolution R-23-03, and councilmembers summarized their assessments during the meeting. Several members praised City Manager Brian Benton for improving communication and providing timely project updates; Councilmembers said Benton had provided information they had previously requested under earlier administrations. Council members also commended City Clerk Jeanette (spelled in discussion as \"Jeanette/Janette\") for packet preparation and organization and the City Attorney for timely legal research and responsiveness.

Councilmembers generally supported merit increases in principle but preferred to confirm amounts when the draft budget is finalized. One councilmember recommended that charter officers receive the same percentage increase that general staff receive under the adopted budget; others made similar comments about fiscal prudence and awaiting the budget workshop outcomes.

No formal merit increases were approved at the meeting; council agreed to consider and vote on any raises after budget hearings scheduled for next week.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","July 9th 2025 - Sebastian City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Council members praised the performance of the city manager, city clerk and city attorney but agreed to wait until budget hearings to set any merit increases. Members said improved communication and staff responsiveness were factors in their positive assessments.","taxTitle","Sebastian , Indian River County, Florida","taxId",52013,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6745794,"Supervisor of Elections tells Sebastian voters to renew vote-by-mail requests after 12/31/2024 expiration",207,1863000,2070000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5352648-8aadb491417d90f8cb6a62a35f287632&start=1863&end=2070","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5352648-8aadb491417d90f8cb6a62a35f287632/thumbnail_1863000.jpg","/articles/6745794/Sebastian/Indian-River-County/Florida/Supervisor-of-Elections-tells-Sebastian-voters-to-renew-vote-by-mail-requests-after-12312024-expiration","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6745794-81e35f5c4c13854ee823d4bc25c471dc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152933&Signature=UIAFnyCdVWa4eaMJZO1VrNlqK0dp54JLjiyJGaPn0qpYRMac9v4nn4zrfBSLtMoMRz2-K8I~ozhrMu5W-oP7ubkuAn5s-nPS7DDjKwsodKkX~ciXmCCengQcmkSOenZdSnF0TUS9EIBOcWiBV7wq85YwRM49oooIyNtLTxM8hMUkj0hOpH9a3kTluzOCefrwBNXCfFxUQo6VrgYhAKMsHHDkqNifxCCltsQDJsV4Pd4mEuulI4mrI2MzqRMe0R8JK5QaqVZycJV9hHRON3x6apwyXn9DFW6a-gpKAYVaB-e2Qn9v-HQvZfOfobI4CwnPglZiDRRyebL~zK9fLhv~zQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Leslie Swan, Supervisor of Elections for Indian River County, told the Sebastian City Council that changes made by the state legislature require voters to renew vote-by-mail requests more frequently and that all existing requests expired on Dec. 31, 2024.

Swan said the prior practice allowed a mail-ballot request to remain valid for two general elections or four years, but recent statutory changes now require renewal after each general election. \"As of 12/31/2024, all vote by mail ballot request expires,\" Swan said, and she explained how residents can renew for a single election or for all elections through the end of 2026.

Swan described the options for renewing: use the county elections website (voteindianriver.gov), call the Supervisor of Elections office, email or fax a completed state form, deliver it in person, or mail it by U.S. Postal Service. She noted a ballot must be requested by the voter, a designated immediate family member, or the voter's legal guardian and that the request must include either a Florida driver's license/ID number or the last four digits of the voter's Social Security number to allow staff to verify the voter registration record. Swan also said ballots are mailed roughly 40 days before an election and that voters away from their Sebastian residence on mailing day can request ballots be sent to another address anywhere in the world, but the request must be in writing.

Swan outlined outreach the office has already done: emails and phone calls to prior request holders (roughly 28,000 prior requests) and a second round of calls in June to residents of Fellsmeer, Sebastian and Vero Beach for upcoming elections. She said roughly 53% of Sebastian residents had renewed their vote-by-mail requests by the time of her presentation and that the office includes a vote-by-mail request form with voter information cards when residents register or update their voter records.

The Supervisor encouraged residents who want to continue receiving mailed ballots to submit their requests promptly and offered assistance via the office website and phone.","Leslie Swan, Supervisor of Elections, briefed the Sebastian City Council on state changes to vote-by-mail rules and outreach efforts. Residents whose vote-by-mail requests expired must reapply; staff described online, phone, and paper options and an outreach campaign reaching tens of thousands of prior requestors.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6745799,"Sebastian council directs staff to pursue full rebuild of Fisherman's Landing at 1540 Indian River Drive",1892,3386000,5278000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5352648-8aadb491417d90f8cb6a62a35f287632&start=3386&end=5278","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5352648-8aadb491417d90f8cb6a62a35f287632/thumbnail_3386000.jpg","/articles/6745799/Sebastian/Indian-River-County/Florida/Sebastian-council-directs-staff-to-pursue-full-rebuild-of-Fishermans-Landing-at-1540-Indian-River-Drive","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6745799-6c6a2f650b238022bb71abc3a86eb21f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152933&Signature=OFu7zwLvjZeDj-Q~iHUvVo6aB6Y878I3-v4w7aA536QkwoMsyjXLbKl6Q8PxkLDVTF7G9hD5OWQ3Ql0~fLjuTPoPmDA3BaH2yxcn82p2WMd3NirGnh-p7-0jaSvvnn1xv~NlBM9XFwgaYyT2tpKzSh6LXm7zbBKSupsN01cCFTcTKOQwoR6oNI2qZMhsQ3g1ylJXB6ulVXj5Naz9ebLn-dGthClNNDPkMbzLHcwDzsth9geEwTsdDXZOxbZouuoxLyM~wyzPQRZVsVAIsAdKxfhvlmdf1PRJnoxxxW68H5pdFA63PpYi8Ee3iv8QsdSqS1JCVt7NDiifBXoWvqJprg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Sebastian City Council voted to direct staff to pursue a full rebuild of the Fisherman's Landing building at 1540 Indian River Drive, selecting Option 1 for schematic design and future construction planning.

At a regular meeting, Miss Miller, a city staff presenter, reviewed the building's condition and three alternatives. She said the eastern portion of the building was closed in 2021 after staff found the foundation undermined and significant termite damage. Miller told the council the city has a $100,000 match and a $100,000 grant from the Florida Inland Navigation District available for schematic design but not for construction.

The three alternatives presented were: demolish and rebuild the structure (Option 1); remove the eastern portion and restore a smaller footprint closer to the original 1927 layout (Option 2); or retain most of the building while making foundation and flood-elevation repairs and selective removals (Option 3). Staff characterized the cost outlook as preliminary: Option 1 was described as a rough estimate near $2,500,000 (about $2,000,000 for the building envelope and roughly $500,000 for systems and incidentals); Option 2 and Option 3 carried similar or higher preliminary estimates once required structural reinforcement and floodplain upgrades were considered. Miller explained that triggering a FEMA/NFIP substantial-improvement determination would require bringing existing construction up to current codes and increase project scope and cost.

Public commenters urged the council to weigh long-term operating and maintenance costs and past procurement history. Kevin Dixon, a civil engineer and Sebastian resident, recommended a lifecycle comparison of operation and maintenance costs for each alternative. Damien Gilliams criticized earlier management of the property and said a private-public partnership option should be considered; he also raised procurement and cost-overrun concerns from prior city projects.

Council discussion focused on program uses for the site and the balance between preserving historic elements and reducing future risk and maintenance costs. Several councilmembers said they favored a design that provides community use, with a retained museum or educational component promoting the city's fishing history, and a simple catering kitchen rather than a city-run restaurant. Councilmembers also debated whether to include the adjacent northern dock and outdoor deck areas in the design scope.

Following discussion, a councilmember moved and another seconded a motion to support Option 1 (remove and rebuild) and to proceed with an RFP and schematic design work using the available design grant and city match. The motion carried on roll call; Ms. Williams performed the roll call and the council recorded affirmative votes and announced the motion carried.

Council directed staff to bring back schematic designs and to include public input in the scope of work for consultants, with the Parks and Recreation advisory committee and a public meeting identified as part of the early design process. Miller and staff will return with consultant proposals and public-engagement plans before final design or construction decisions.

Details recorded in the staff presentation included the site's FEMA flood zones (VE, AE and X), the Limit of Moderate Wave Action (LiMWA) line affecting deck edges, and the city's intention to preserve historic character where feasible while reducing future flood and structural risk. The council emphasized that the single $200,000 design funding package will be used to prepare focused schematic drawings for the option they selected rather than multiple parallel concepts.

Councilmembers said they expect additional public meetings during schematic design and asked staff to draft a scope of work that sets clear deliverables for consultants, including the community uses the council wants to see. The council did not commit to a construction budget at the meeting; staff described pursuing additional grants and other funding sources for construction.","After hearing structural assessments, public comment and three design options, the Sebastian City Council voted to focus schematic design resources on Option 1 — removing the existing building and constructing a new structure — and to use available grant funds and a local match to proceed to the design phase.","actionData","errors"]

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Sebastian council praises charter officers, defers merit decisions until budget hearings

Supervisor of Elections tells Sebastian voters to renew vote-by-mail requests after 12/31/2024 expiration

Sebastian council directs staff to pursue full rebuild of Fisherman's Landing at 1540 Indian River Drive