The Palm Bay City Council voted 3-1 on Monday to create a Citizens Accountability Task Force to review city budgets and offer recommendations aimed at improving transparency and fiscal oversight.

Mayor Medina outlined the proposal, saying the task force would be a five- to seven-member advisory body meeting in the sunshine from January through June to review the city manager’s proposed operating and capital budgets and to provide feedback on priorities, cost savings and revenue strategies. “Members should have specific financial expertise and or accounting degrees. Members would not be required to be city residents,” the mayor said while describing the membership criteria and mission.

Supporters said the task force would provide additional public scrutiny and bring outside expertise to the city's budget process. Opponents on council argued the council and current staff already hold the responsibility for budget oversight and cautioned against creating additional layers of advisory bodies.

Councilman Langevin moved to approve the task force and Mayor Medina seconded. The motion passed 3-1; the lone recorded dissent came from Councilman Hammer, who expressed concern about layering additional advisory bodies on top of existing budget processes.

Council discussion and public comment touched on appointment procedures, the task force’s advisory (non-binding) role and a planned one-year review of effectiveness. Staff noted the council would retain ultimate budget authority and could sunset or revise the task force after an initial period. The city will draft membership criteria and an operating timeline to return to council for formal adoption.