Council approves package of ordinances, resolutions and agreements; PUD hearing continued to July 28

Port St. Lucie City Council approved a slate of ordinances and resolutions and managed several procedural items at its July 14 meeting, including a motion to reopen and continue the quasi‑judicial hearing for the Gatlin Plaza planned unit development (PUD) amendment to July 28, 2025.

The council unanimously approved the consent agenda after pulling one item (7h) for separate comment and then approving it. Councilmembers also approved second readings and first reading ordinances and several resolutions related to utility easements, sign-code amendments, property abandonments and construction agreements with the Florida Department of Transportation, and authorized a lease for storage of evidentiary vehicles.

The votes bundle together routine and substantive items that set development, infrastructure and municipal operations in motion. Several items were approved with no extended debate; a small number required additional procedural steps or negotiation authority for staff.

Key approved items and formal outcomes

- Consent agenda: Approved (motion carries unanimously). Item 7h (agreement with property broker/brokerage) pulled for brief discussion and approved separately; discussion note: Councilwoman Morgan said the 4% compensation rate appeared high and asked that her comment be placed on the record; Cushman & Wakefield representative Ken Krasnow said the contract includes a sliding discount on higher‑value commercial parcels.

- Ordinance 25-36 (utility easement to Florida Power & Light): Approved on second reading (motion carries unanimously).

- Ordinance 25-37 (amendments to Title 15 sign code): Approved on second reading (motion carries unanimously).

- Ordinance 25-38 (fourth amendment to the Gatlin Plaza PUD, P23-159): Council voted to reconsider the item for the limited purpose of reopening the quasi‑judicial public hearing to consider new FDOT evidence and recommendations; council then voted to continue second reading and re-notice the matter as a quasi‑judicial public hearing on July 28, 2025. (Motions carry; hearing to be re-noticed and reopened.)

- Ordinance 25-39 and Ordinance 25-40 (abandonments of portions of rear utility and drainage easements): Approved at first reading (motions carry unanimously).

- Resolution 25‑R‑37 (lease of Unit 4 at 660 NW Peacock Blvd. to store evidentiary vehicles for the Police Department): Approved (motion carries unanimously).

- Resolution 25‑R‑38 (amendment to locally funded agreement with FDOT for Port St. Lucie Boulevard reconstruction): Approved (motion carries unanimously).

- Resolution 25‑R‑39 (interlocal agreement with St. Lucie County for solid waste disposal): Approved with direction that the council’s redline version be used, while authorizing the City Manager to continue negotiation with the county on revenue‑sharing exhibit(s) and to accept a more favorable outcome for the city without returning the item to council so long as legal determines no significant substantive changes are required. (Motion carries unanimously.)

- New business: Authorization to advance Torino Regional Park Phase 1 design to 90% (council approved, with direction to staff and consultants to incorporate council feedback on design “wow” elements and cost considerations).

What the votes mean going forward

Most of the approved ordinances and resolutions are procedural steps that enable construction, design or administrative actions (utility easement, sign code amendment, right‑of‑way and property abandonments, FDOT construction agreement and a police storage lease). The Gatlin Plaza PUD will return July 28 to allow council to consider FDOT’s subsequent comments and applicant revisions. The ILA with St. Lucie County on solid waste disposal was approved with explicit authority for the City Manager to continue working with the county on revenue‑sharing exhibit details and for legal review of any final tweaks.

Council roll call and unanimity

Where the meeting record shows a vote, the chair called for “All those in favor? Aye. Any opposed?” and the record indicates motions carried unanimously. The meeting transcript does not provide a roll‑call tally by individual name for each vote, so the recorded result is unanimous approval for the listed items.

Ending

The council’s approvals move forward a mix of development approvals, administrative contracts and intergovernmental agreements. Several items will return to the council (most notably P23-159, Gatlin Plaza PUD) for additional public quasi‑judicial consideration and final action on July 28.