Titusville council approves grant agreements, budget amendments and planning studies; appeals ordinance fails on tie vote

Titusville City Council took a series of formal actions at its April 2025 regular meeting, including passage of grant agreements, budget adjustments, housing program approvals and direction on several planning studies. The meeting also produced one notable tie vote that left proposed appeal rights to council unchanged.

Key outcomes at a glance:

- Consent agenda (Items 8a–8i) — Approved (unanimous). The consent agenda included: Resolution No. 8‑2025 commending outstanding students; a grant agreement with the state Department of Environmental Protection for the Saint John Basin feasibility study ($500,000); reallocation of $50,000 from the landscape enhancement program as match for an urban and community forestry grant; authorization to submit a $50,000 Florida Division of Historical Resources small matching grant application; authorization to purchase one Lucas chest compression system and related budget amendment ($20,438); use of $10,000 in forfeiture funds for special investigations; purchase and budget transfer for a hot‑car thermometer public‑safety device (not to exceed $2,375); extension of a trial period for the Wheel and Cloud platform service agreement; and approval of a memorandum of agreement between the Department of Homeland Security and the Titusville Police Department. Council moved and seconded approval of the consent agenda and adopted it by roll call vote.

- Ordinance No. 13‑2025, revoking an ad valorem tax abatement for Bridal Brewery Project LLC — Approved (unanimous). City attorney read the ordinance on second reading and the council adopted it by roll call vote.

- Ordinance No. 14‑2025, allowing appeals of Board of Adjustment and Appeals (BAA) decisions to be heard by City Council — Motion failed (2–2 tie). Council considered a second‑reading ordinance modeled on procedures used in some neighboring cities. A motion to approve failed after two members voted yes and two members voted no; the council chair stated that three affirmative votes are required to adopt an ordinance.

- CDBG funding recommendations for FY 2025–26 — Approved. The council approved funding recommendations for the Community Development Block Grant program at an estimated amount of $307,980 to be included in the HUD action plan and presented at the final May public hearing.

- SHIP Local Housing Assistance Plan (LHIAP) for FY 2026–28 and Resolution No. 10‑2025 — Approved (unanimous roll call). The council adopted the city’s three‑year plan for the State Housing Initiative Partnership program, including rehab, weatherization, first‑time homebuyer assistance and new construction strategies; the resolution and associated budget amendment passed unanimously by roll call vote.

- Direction on Housing Affordability Study — Council directed staff to include a base housing affordability study in the FY 2026 proposed budget (estimated base study approximately $40,000–$50,000); council chose not to proceed immediately with the larger $90,000 scope that included inclusionary zoning and linkage‑fee analyses. Motion and second carried.

- FY 2024–25 midyear budget amendments — Approved. Council voted to adopt midyear amendments across the general fund and several enterprise/internal funds, including funding for four new FTEs in the Fire Department (three firefighters and one fire inspector) and other capital and operating adjustments. The net midyear package totaled just under $3,000,000 and was adopted by roll call vote.

- Interim city manager salary recommendation — Approved. Council approved the human resources director’s recommendation on compensation for the interim city manager; the salary was set below the peer average and the earlier city manager’s pay, generating a partial personnel savings in the current fiscal year.

- Fence‑permit code revisions (advisability) — Council voted to direct staff to prepare ordinance language to clarify fence permitting, replacing the current subjective ‘‘50% replacement’’ threshold with a clearer permit/no‑permit approach for repairs where an original permit is on file.

- Natural resources report and recommended strategies — Accepted. Council accepted a consultant’s natural resources assessment and a menu of recommended strategies for water quality, land conservation, tree canopy and wetlands. The report will be a tool for the Technical Advisory Committee and staff to prioritize future amendments, capital projects and grant applications.

- Police, fire, City Hall and public‑works impact fee study — Approved for further action. Council accepted the consultant study and provided direction to implement revised impact fees on a statutory schedule (some fee components phased in over up to four years to comply with state caps).

Ending: Several of these measures require follow‑up ordinances, budget approvals or implementation steps; staff will return to council with proposed ordinances (impact fees and fence permitting), draft budgets reflecting direction on the housing study, and grant‑agreement documentation for the Saint John Basin feasibility study.