Council approves airport design grant, sidewalk and swale contracts and online memorial program

The City of Sebastian City Council on Feb. 12 unanimously approved a set of contracts and grants to advance airport, street and parks projects, and authorized a city-run online memorial platform.

Council members voted to accept a Florida Department of Transportation grant to pay for engineering and design of a terminal-apron expansion at Sebastian Municipal Airport, approve a purchase order for sidewalk and curb replacement on North Central Avenue, authorize a purchase order for swale and sod work tied to the phase 3 repaving program, and approve a city-hosted online memorial platform called “See My Legacy.” The council also moved Laura Thompson from an advertised alternate slot into a vacant regular seat on the Natural Resources Board after waiving the advertising requirement for that vacancy.

The airport item was presented by city staff as a design-phase grant. “This, we’re asking you to consider the acceptance of this grant that is provided by the Florida Department of Transportation concerning the design and engineering to expand the possible parking spaces at the terminal apron,” staff member Sabo said, noting the airport’s terminal apron currently holds six aircraft and that the design work would allow doubling capacity to about 12 aircraft. Staff told the council that the Federal Aviation Administration had agreed to cover most of the remaining project cost, reducing the city’s share to $5,750 for the grant under consideration. The council voted in favor.

For roadway work, staff described a planned…