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Riviera Beach CRA approves E.L. Waters on‑call planning contract over procurement concerns, 3‑2
Summary
The CRA authorized a resolution to contract with E.L. Waters & Company for on‑call planning and development consulting on an as‑needed basis. Several commissioners pressed for future procurement steps and asked that future consultant work follow a documented selection process.
The Riviera Beach CRA on Aug. 27 approved resolution 2025‑15 authorizing the agency to enter an as‑needed agreement with E.L. Waters & Company LLC for comprehensive planning and development consulting services.
Vote and context: The resolution passed 3–2. Commissioners Davis Paneer, Commissioner Guyton and Chair Lanier voted in favor; Vice Chair Miller Anderson and Commissioner Spiritus dissented, citing concerns about the selection process and the lack of local competitive procurement.
What was approved: The agreement authorizes the CRA to call on E.L. Waters on an as‑needed basis for planning, entitlement and development consultation to support multiple projects in the CRA pipeline. Staff said the firm initially served under a short pilot contract and the new resolution formalizes a continuing as‑needed engagement; the executive director said the contract would be limited and paid only when services were used.
Procurement concerns: Vice Chair Miller Anderson and other commissioners questioned why local Palm Beach County firms were not interviewed and asked that future on‑call contracts use a procurement selection process. Executive Director Jadel Mercius said the firm had been operating under a pilot engagement and that the current arrangement is an as‑needed contract; Mercyus agreed to use a standard selection process for future procurements and to bring procurement steps to the board before similar future awards.
Next steps: The director committed to following a formal procurement/selection process for future on‑call services and to reporting back to the board. The contract is to be executed with scope and fee arrangements for specific tasks to be issued as needed.
Ending: The board approved the contract but asked staff to run future engagements through a transparent selection process and to document local outreach.
