The Palm Bay City Council voted on several ordinances, a procurement payment tied to a sanitary force‑main spill, and a partial reimbursement of Bayfront Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) funds during its September meeting.

Council approved the consent agenda and then took votes on ordinances and other items. On the major financial item tied to wastewater infrastructure, staff asked the council to approve a payment related to the Claremont force‑main spill; the council approved the payment. The council also approved three ordinances on final reading: a vacation of a public utility/drainage easement for a private pool; an increase in the number of backyard chickens allowed in certain single‑family zoning districts (from four to six); and a change to public hearing time limits. Council approved returning unexpended Bayfront CRA funds to the city’s road maintenance account and to Brevard County, while withholding a portion for potential litigation.

Ordinance and fiscal items approved during the meeting included:
• Consent agenda: approved by voice vote.
• Ordinance 2025-29 (second reading): vacating a portion of a 20‑foot public utility and drainage easement in Port Malabar Unit 7 to allow construction of a private pool and deck; staff recommended approval and the council approved the ordinance on second reading (motion by Councilman Johnson, second by Deputy Mayor Jaffe; outcome: approved; recorded vote 4 yes, 0 no, 1 abstention).
• Ordinance 2025-31 (second reading): textual amendment to Title 17 (Land Development Code) to raise the allowable number of backyard chickens on certain single‑family lots from four to six; staff offered no recommendation; the council approved final reading (motion by Councilman Langevin, second by Councilman Hammer; outcome: approved; recorded vote 4 yes, 1 no).
• Ordinance 2025-32 (second/final reading): amendments to Title 5 (Public Hearings) creating standardized time limits for public‑hearing items (30 minutes for applicant, 30 minutes for staff, three minutes for public comments); the council approved on final reading (motion by Deputy Mayor Jaffe, second by Councilman Johnson; outcome: approved 5‑0).
• Procurement — Claremont force‑main spill payment: staff asked the council to authorize payment related to emergency repairs to the Claremont force main in the amount stated in the staff report ($1,124,000) and an additional amount reported for related street repairs (about $14,533). Council approved the payment and acknowledged ongoing steps for prevention and outreach to affected residents; staff also said a consent order and a potential administrative fine remain pending (amount discussed in the meeting was described in a range; see clarifying details). (motion by Deputy Mayor Jaffe, second by Councilman Johnson; outcome: approved unanimously).
• Bayfront CRA partial reimbursement (fiscal year 2024): staff proposed returning unexpended CRA funds to the city’s road maintenance account (figure described in the staff presentation) and to Brevard County while withholding a specified amount for potential litigation; the council approved the partial reimbursement (motion by Councilman Johnson, second by Mayor Medina; outcome: approved unanimously).

The council’s formal motions and tallies are recorded in the actions array and provenance below. Several items were second readings with limited public debate; others (notably the Claremont payment and the Bayfront CRA reimbursement) drew extended staff presentations and council discussion about next steps and uses of funds.

Ending: Council staff said it will return with follow‑up information where appropriate (for example, final administrative orders related to the Claremont spill and any further action on withheld CRA funds if litigation is resolved). The meeting record shows unanimous approval on most items and specified roll‑call or voice tallies where a member abstained or voted no.