Satellite Beach — The Satellite Beach City Council on Oct. 15 approved a suite of procurement actions and capital adjustments, including county piggyback agreements for disaster debris removal and monitoring, a change order for the city’s tennis facility project, and a proposal to install a military medallion wall at City Hall.

The council voted to piggyback Brevard County’s contract with Crowder Gulf for disaster debris collection and to piggyback the county’s monitoring contract with Tetra Tech. Councilors also approved a $77,968.14 change order for Watauga Company tied to the Delores Park tennis facility project, and authorized $2,000 from the city for a dedication plaque for a proposed military medallion wall to be funded primarily by donations routed through the Satellite Beach Volunteer Fire Department.

Why it matters: The debris agreements let Satellite Beach issue a notice to proceed quickly after a declared disaster and to use pre-vetted contractors for debris removal and FEMA-eligible monitoring documentation. The tennis project change order adds air conditioning and other items omitted from the original contract; the council said the city will use an underrun of $24,149 from the general contractor to offset part of the cost, reducing the actual additional outlay to $53,819.

Debris management and FEMA reimbursement

City staff explained that after a federal disaster declaration, commercial waste haulers do not perform disaster debris removal, so having an established contractor is necessary to clear roads and to pursue FEMA reimbursement. Staff said smaller jurisdictions risk being deprioritized by national debris contractors unless pre-vetted through larger agreements and noted that the county piggyback can make the city part of a larger pool.

Councilors discussed market dynamics for debris removal contractors: those firms typically subcontract truck drivers and direct crews to where the work and pay are greatest. The council heard that a piggyback contract does not guarantee immediate service but improves the city’s ability to secure vendor attention and FEMA reimbursement documentation. Staff said the city could still use in-house crews if a vendor did not arrive quickly, but in-house removal can be harder to document for FEMA purposes.

Tennis facility change order

Staff said the change order to Watauga covers items left out of the original scope, notably HVAC for the restrooms and associated work. The change order price presented to council was $77,968.14; staff said a $24,149 underrun from the Doug Wilson Enterprises contract will offset that amount, leaving a net expected expenditure of $53,819.

Military medallion wall

A council member proposed installing six 3-D bronze medallions representing the branches of the U.S. armed forces on the rock wall in front of City Hall and adding a dedication plaque funded in part by a $2,000 city contribution. The project is planned to be funded primarily by donations accepted by the Satellite Beach Volunteer Fire Department; staff said donations could be made by cash, check or card. The council approved the proposal and the plaque funding.

Other procurement approvals

The council also voted to:
- Piggyback the School Board of Brevard County contract with Palmdale Oil Company for gasoline, diesel and fuel oil through the School Board contract term (current bid runs through March 9, 2026).
- Approve a service agreement with Florida Technical Consultants (FTC) for onetime and ongoing GIS work, including mapping required for the Community Rating System (CRS) flood-insurance program and public-works mapping. James Barton, FTC, told the council, “we are probably lower by at least 20 to 30% comparatively.”

Administrative and community updates

City Manager Brittany announced upcoming community events including a Halloween golf-cart parade (Oct. 24), Founders Day (Nov. 1) and a dog-park ribbon cutting Saturday at 11 a.m. She also said the police department is applying for a nonmatching JAG residual grant of $28,900 for a drone and rifles and asked for council consensus to cancel the Dec. 17 meeting, which councilors supported.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda (minutes and Florida Department of Environmental Protection Coastline Partnership application): adopted (unanimous).
- Military medallion wall and $2,000 plaque: approved (unanimous).
- Tennis project change order — Watauga Company, $77,968.14 (net new spend $53,819 after $24,149 underrun): approved (unanimous).
- Piggyback agreement — Brevard County / Crowder Gulf (disaster debris collection): approved (unanimous).
- Piggyback agreement — Brevard County / Tetra Tech (debris monitoring): approved (unanimous).
- Piggyback agreement — School Board of Brevard County / Palmdale Oil Company (fuel): approved (unanimous).
- Service agreement — Florida Technical Consultants (GIS services): approved (unanimous).

What’s next

Staff will proceed with vendor notice-to-proceed steps where needed, finalize fundraising guidance and plaque text for the military medallion wall, schedule the tennis project change order work through the contractor, and continue preparation of FEMA documentation procedures tied to the debris contracts. Council members and staff encouraged public participation in upcoming events.

(Reporters: the meeting transcript provided council discussion and staff presentations on the items above.)