Brooksville council moves to revise brick-street list, approves $400K for repaving and $200K for sidewalks; North Avenue sidewalk pushed to budget planning

The Brooksville City Council on March 3 directed staff to prepare an amendment to the city's brick-street ordinance to remove specific streets that are no longer viable as brick roads, and it approved a $600,000 fiscal-year 2025 plan allocating $400,000 for road repaving and $200,000 for sidewalk repair and replacement.

Public works staff told the council several streets listed in ordinance 9-60 are currently covered by asphalt or are so deteriorated that preserving brick is not practical. The staff presentation recommended removing Early Street, Fort Dade Avenue and Main Street from the brick-street district because those segments are now asphalted and are in near-term repaving schedules.

Council members and members of the public debated preservation of historic brick character versus day-to-day infrastructure needs. One councilmember said explicitly, “This is not paving over brick roads,” noting the council's direction is to remove streets that no longer have exposed brick or are unsuitable for brick restoration and not to repave sections that currently have visible bricks. Staff clarified the change would not remove legal protections where bricks remain exposed; instead, it aims to let staff proceed with necessary asphalt repaving for streets that already have asphalt overlays.

The council voted unanimously 5-0 to direct staff to draft the ordinance revision. Separately the council approved a prioritized list of streets for FY25 repaving and sidewalk repairs and replacements by a 5-0 vote. That list included Hernando Street, Beale Street, Oakland Street (Fort Dade to Irene), Garland Street, Early Street (South Brooksville Avenue to Main Street), Bell Avenue (Cherry to Olive), Fort Dade Avenue (Main to Gary) and Gary Avenue. Staff said paving on some brick-under-asphalt locations will include design features such as brick crosswalks at intersections to retain historic character where practical.

Council discussion also focused on a long-standing request for a new sidewalk on North Avenue near the school. Staff said the North Avenue project would require engineering, stormwater adjustments and possible easement work, and estimated the full construction would be a multi-year effort that $200,000 set aside for FY25 would not cover. Council consensus directed staff to prepare a multi-year capital plan and cost estimate for a North Avenue sidewalk so the council can consider funding during the FY26 budget process. Council also asked staff to develop a five-year pavement management plan and to pursue grant opportunities and possible piggyback contracts to reduce construction costs.

The council vote to approve the FY25 repaving and sidewalk priorities carried 5-0. The motion to direct staff to draft and bring back the brick-street ordinance amendments also passed 5-0.