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Residents urge Riviera Beach council to prioritize water, transparency and community engagement
Summary
At the March 19 meeting residents pressed the council on long-running water problems, asked for clearer public communication and urged investment in mental-health supports and community programs.
Residents used the March 19 public-comment period to press the newly seated Riviera Beach City Council on long-running problems with drinking water, demand greater transparency from city government, and request more outreach and mental-health supports.
Why it matters: water quality and communication were recurring themes; residents said those issues affect daily life and trust in municipal government.
Key public comments:
- Cindy March (public commenter): “I hope our number one priority is to clean water here in the city of Rivera Beach. If we have any obstacles with the water, let’s be transparent.” She told the council that water problems “have been bad for many, many years” and urged the new council to prioritize fixing them and to adhere to the city charter.
- Roy Brown (resident): Brown said residents needed accountability and urged churches and community groups to help solve neighborhood problems. He raised concerns about local economic opportunity and community safety.
- Rochelle Hughes (Lone Pine Estates resident): Hughes thanked city staff — including the utility district and specific staff she named — for help responding to a household leak and urged the council to continue work on water infrastructure.
- Chandra Stringer (resident/community advocate): Stringer urged the council to increase resident outreach and to ensure that publicly advertised events and flyers also appear on the city website. She asked whether the city received a $20 million grant for water infrastructure and asked for clarity when council addresses the topic during the budget process.
- Terrence Davis (resident): Davis praised returning and newly elected officials and urged the council not to forget longtime residents as it pursues redevelopment and other initiatives.
- Cheryl Melvin (resident, Sincere 2000 Foundation): Melvin urged “total transparency” and asked the council to engage year-round, not only during election cycles. She described her nonprofit’s work on suicide prevention and asked council members to support mental-health and youth programs.
What the council heard: multiple speakers pressed for more and clearer communication from city staff and elected officials, continued attention to the water system, and support for nonprofits addressing mental health and youth services. Several speakers singled out the utility district and specific staff for responsive service and urged the council to maintain and expand that responsiveness.
Ending: The public-comment period concluded and the council moved on to manager and staff remarks and to internal business.
