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Commission orders weekly public updates as town rolls out Decker STR compliance tools
Summary
After months of preparation, the commission directed the manager to deliver weekly status updates on Decker software deployment, the STR hotline and enforcement steps. Commissioners also heard lengthy public comment urging faster enforcement and more transparency about legal costs tied to litigation.
The Melbourne Beach Town Commission on April 16 ordered the town manager to provide weekly written updates on short‑term rental enforcement and on launching the contractor‑provided Decker software and hotline.
Commissioners and staff described the Decker system as a multi‑part service: the town already has read‑only access to Decker data showing listings and booking activity; staff and code enforcement are completing training; the vendor still must configure the public hotline and permit‑registration workflow to go live. Town Manager Elizabeth Mascaro told the commission the vendor provided a telephone number April 16 and staff is finalizing the remaining configuration.
Several commissioners and town staff asked the manager to keep the commission informed during the final deployment steps. A motion carried directing the manager to send a weekly status email to commissioners listing the four items the town is completing for Decker: (1) full vendor configuration and hotline activation, (2) integration of the town’s registration documents into the platform, (3) training for staff, and (4) routine searches for unregistered listings. The commission said enforcement should continue in parallel; staff confirmed notices of violation already are being issued by the code‑enforcement officer to addresses identified as not registered.
Public comment on the item stretched for more than an hour. More than two dozen residents urged faster enforcement and described repeated noise and other impacts from STRs. Multiple speakers said they want notices and complaints to generate a police record; several called for immediate enforcement rather than extended grace periods. Several speakers also pressed the commission about legal costs tied to litigation involving the mayor — public comment reflected strong community sentiment but were not actions by the commission.
The commission’s directive does not change the town’s ordinances; it establishes a reporting cadence so commissioners and the public can track the vendor rollout and enforcement activity. Manager Mascaro said she will email the commission weekly until all Decker features are live and provide updates at regular commission meetings.
