After public pushback, council directs competitive RFP for Royal Oak small-area study with public workshops

Amid sustained public concern that a previously proposed small-area study lacked technical rigor and meaningful public engagement, the Titusville City Council directed staff to issue a competitive RFP to study the former Royal Oak Golf Course area.

Residents and speakers urged that any study include hydrologic and stormwater analysis, thorough wetland and recharge-area evaluation, and meaningful early public workshops to capture community goals and constraints. One speaker urged hiring teams that combine technical engineering capacity (hydrogeologic and drainage modeling, FEMA/AE flood analysis) with community-engagement skills rather than issuing a narrow task order to an engineering firm.

Council asked staff to ensure the RFP requires: two public workshops (including an early scoping workshop), multiple land-use scenarios, basic stormwater/flow scenario analysis (not a full engineering rebuild but scenario-level implications), and transparent public reporting. The council authorized issuance of a competitive RFP rather than direct award; staff said returning an award recommendation for council consideration could be targeted to the first meeting in July depending on solicitation length.

The motion to move forward with a competitive solicitation passed unanimously. Council set a budget goal of up to $90,000 for the work and asked staff to include both technical and engagement capabilities in the scope.