The Growth Management Department is requesting $210,678 in General Fund Undesignated Fund Balance to cover the cost of planning consulting services for land development reviews ($100,000), engineering consulting services on land development reviews ($100,000), additional funding for rentals/leases ($2,187), additional postage for code cases related to fire prevention/inspection ($7,000); and funding to cover the cost of the City’s annual Beautify Palm Bay cleanup event held on November 9, 2023 ($1,500). 

Planning & Engineering Consulting Services ($200,000):

The Land Development Division of the Growth Management (GM) Department continues to receive a high volume of applications for public hearing cases (future land use amendments, rezoning requests, conditional use permits, annexations, etc) and administrative reviews (site plans, revisions to site plans, plats and construction plans, zoning verifications and reviews for building permits, etc). Given existing staff capacity to process and review these requests while also undergoing a comprehensive update to the Land Development Code, the Division is seeking to outsource large-scale plan reviews and land entitlement applications. In addition, the Land Development Division, in coordination with the Public Works (PW) Department’s Engineering Division, utilize a Master Contract/RFP #47-0-2021/NC for continuing engineering consultant services related to land development reviews. The previous purchase order, carried forward from Fiscal Year 2023, is now fully expended. Both PW and GM are requesting to replenish funds for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2024 to continue to utilize the continuing engineering consulting services for land development reviews.

Rentals/Leases ($2,178):

During the Fiscal Year 2024 budget preparations, the Growth Management Department funded the lease of a folding machine, utilizing an existing contract with Pitney Bowes. While the lease is billed quarterly at $728.97/quarter, the approved Fiscal Year 2024 budget only appropriated funds for one quarter (October – December 2023). The GM Department is requesting to fund the remaining three quarters for Fiscal Year 2024.

Fire Prevention Inspection Code Cases ($7,000):

Annually, the Fire Rescue Department conducts fire prevention inspections associated with active businesses in Palm Bay. Since July 2023, the GM Department’s Code Compliance Division received notice from the Fire Rescue Department of over 500 unpaid inspection fees. In processing and enforcing the City’s Code of Ordinances on behalf of the Fire Rescue Department, the Code Compliance Division has realized a significant increase in postage costs for mailing notices. The Growth Management Department is requesting additional funding for postage for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2024.

Beautify Palm Bay ($1,500):

In an effort to foster community pride and involvement, the Code Compliance Division brought back a popular trash and debris cleanup event, known as Beautify Palm Bay. On November 9, 2023, the City hosted approximately 100 volunteers across Palm Bay to collect trash and debris from major road rights-of-way. While the City receive some donated buckets and grabbers, the cost remaining cost to host this annual event was $1,500 and included the costs for materials (gloves, trash bags), t-shirts and food and drinks for volunteers. The GM Department is requesting undesignated fund balance to cover the cost of this event.

Contract Utilization:

The Growth Management Department, in coordination with the Procurement Department, has identified an existing contract between the Village of North Palm Beach and Inspire Placemaking Collective, Inc (RFP #2023-06-CGY-COMMDEV-0-2023/CGY) for such consulting services. In accordance with the City’s Code of Ordinance, Section 38.13(F)(4) Cooperative Purchases and Piggyback Purchases: The City may purchase from any cooperative contract, including but not limited to:  term contracts by the State of Florida, Federal General Services Administration, and other governmental cooperatives and entities within and outside the State of Florida provided that the cooperative contract is established in compliance with the procurement procedures and requirements of the issuing body, entity, authority, or cooperative. If such other governmental or cooperative contract is utilized, the public notice requirements and the need to utilize the methods of selection processes are obviated. Any such contracts equal to or in excess of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) shall go to the City Council for approval.

To address ongoing planning and engineering capacity issues, the Growth Management, Public Works, and Procurement Departments will prepare a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to solicit a variety of planning and engineering consulting services to provide and maintain additional capacity on major development projects. The RFQ will be issued in the first quarter of 2024.