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Council approves ordinances on impact fees, utility charges and takes first reading of FY2025–26 budget
Summary
The Palm Bay City Council passed several ordinances updating water/wastewater impact fees, utility charges and reclaimed-water rates, heard a public question about reuse versus deep‑well injection, and took the budget ordinance on first reading; final adoption will follow a separate rate resolution.
The Palm Bay City Council approved a package of ordinances updating impact fees and utility charges and took the fiscal year 2025–26 budget ordinance on first reading.
Ordinance 2025-34, which adjusts water and wastewater capital impact charges, passed 5–0 after brief remarks about economic uncertainty in the building industry and the timing of fee changes. Deputy Mayor Jaffe moved the measure and Councilman Langevin seconded.
The council also approved Ordinance 2025-35 (adjustments to utility rates and meter fees) and Ordinance 2025-36 (sewer-use permit fees) on unanimous votes after staff summarized cost-recovery changes to meters, permits and inspection fees.
On reclaimed water (Ordinance 2025-37), resident Bill Batten asked how much of treated wastewater the city reuses and how much is injected into deep wells. City staff answered that the city currently reuses about 1,000,000 gallons per day via reuse distribution ("purple pipe") to a limited set of customers and that roughly 3–4,000,000 gallons per day are sent to deep-well injection. Staff noted upcoming regulatory tightening of total nitrogen limits that will require investments to increase reuse or reduce discharges.
Assistant Finance Director Angelica Collins told the council that the ordinance adopting the budget is on first reading and that the millage rate will be adopted later by separate resolution. "This is simply just the first reading of the ordinance where you're officially adopting the budget," Collins said, noting that the resolution to adopt the rate will appear at the next hearing.
Votes at a glance - Ordinance 2025-34 (impact fees, water/wastewater): passed 5–0. - Ordinance 2025-35 (utility meter fees and charges): passed unanimously. - Ordinance 2025-36 (sewer-use permit fees): passed unanimously. - Ordinance 2025-37 (reclaimed water rates): passed unanimously; staff answered a public question about current reuse volumes. - Ordinance 2025-38 (adopt FY2025–26 budget — first reading): approved on first reading; final adoption to follow rate resolution.
Next steps: Staff will return with the resolution to adopt the final millage rate and any amended budget language at the next hearing. The council also said it expects further presentation from consultants (Stantec) on impact fees at a future meeting.
