The Brevard County Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday directed county staff to negotiate minimum terms with the City of Melbourne on an amended interlocal agreement that would support a downtown parking garage and associated hotel development.

Jenny Lam, Melbourne's city manager, told commissioners the city had revised the draft interlocal agreement after a Nov. 25 city-council discussion. Lam said the city agreed to adjust the redevelopment agency (CRA) sunset from 2038 to 2033, incorporate low-impact green infrastructure into the garage's stormwater design and guarantee a minimum of 270 dedicated public parking spaces in the revised agreement. Lam also said the city proposed 15 years of free public parking after the garage opens, followed by a 10-year period during which rates would be set to recover maintenance and operations.

Supporters — including Katharine Estruck of the Brevard Cultural Alliance and local artists — said the garage and hotel would boost foot traffic for downtown arts businesses. "It will create more foot traffic for those local arts and culture businesses," Estruck said, urging commissioners to help the arts district thrive.

Opponents asked why the county would direct CRA funds to the project while pressing residents for infrastructure investments. A public commenter questioned cost escalations and said the county should not "pick winners and losers" by subsidizing a hotel developer.

City and CRA officials said the current design could yield as many as about 542 spaces but that, because final site plans are not complete, the city sought to guarantee a specific minimum (270) rather than a percentage. City staff said roughly $6,000,000 is currently available in CRA funds and that the city's requested contribution to enable a larger project and public-private partnership would bring the project's effective budget to just over $12,000,000.

A motion from a commissioner asked staff to begin negotiations with the minimums: 270 public-dedicated spaces, 15 years of free parking and 10 years of fees restricted to maintenance costs, with no fee differential between residents and non-residents. The motion was seconded and, after brief debate about CRA timing and additional financial details, the board approved the direction; the roll call showed one negative vote from District 1 and the motion carried.

Commissioners said staff should return with final negotiated terms for the board's review before any binding commitments are made. The city council also plans a Dec. 9 meeting where the city may take further action on the interlocal draft.