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Palm Bay sustainability board narrows focus on 2025 fair, plans action-plan workshops
Summary
The Palm Bay Sustainability Advisory Board agreed to seek updated vendor quotes and hold two special workshops to revise its action plan, while staff said the city will fund a May sustainability fair if the board submits an itemized budget.
The Palm Bay Sustainability Advisory Board on Wednesday agreed to push ahead with planning a May sustainability fair while narrowing longer-term goals and scheduling special workshops to revise its advisory action plan.
Board members and staff debated how to use limited resources and how best to persuade a newly seated City Council that the board’s work is active and measurable. Staff said the interim city manager indicated city funds could be made available for the fair if the board provides an itemized list of expenses; board members discussed a rough cost estimate of about $10,000 to stage a larger event.
Nut graf: The board voted to continue vendor outreach and to hold dedicated revision workshops in February and March so members can produce measurable, council-facing action items. The board treated the May event as both an outreach tool and a potential public launch point for an updated action plan and branding.
Board business and votes: The board directed staff to obtain updated pricing for the fair’s vendor items (bounce house, Kona Ice, food trucks, live entertainment), and to register and secure nonprofit and vendor participants. Staff recommended investigating a professionally timed 5K through a vendor such as Running Zone or an alternative “Color Run” format to broaden attendance; members asked staff to return to the February meeting with cost and partnership options.
Members also focused on how to demonstrate short-term accomplishments to Council. Several members urged smaller, achievable projects (signage at Building E, informational displays at City Hall, tabling at existing events) that could be completed before the October budget deadline and used as evidence of activity when the board requests a recurring budget for FY2026.
A majority of members supported holding two special ‘‘workshop’’ meetings before the regular February and March sessions to complete action-plan revisions; staff will propose possible dates and handle the required public-notice scheduling. The board further asked staff to compile a vendor contact/status list and to circulate a registration template the board can use for outreach.
Public comment: Resident Bill Batten urged the board to regain community trust and to prioritize both “progression” and sustainability. Batten also recommended emphasizing permanent, educational installations (signage, walking tours) in addition to one-day events.
Ending: Staff said they will return in February with updated vendor quotes, constraints related to vendor registration and insurance, and options for the run (professional vendor vs. in-house Color Run). The board set a goal of producing a more measurable action plan by late spring and to use May activities as outreach and a possible platform to showcase completed items to the Council.
